FINAL REVIEW I've decided to give this album a 3/5 after two listens. It's a solid album, with both the raw edges of hardcore punk and the catchy hooks of pop, but it didn't wow me. I am interested in possibly checking out more by this band, as I did enjoy listening to it. NOTES 6:10pm - at first, i thought this was a bit "not my thing", but not bad, but im liking it more as the album goes on. i like the ska influence on some of the tracks, and the melodies are surprisingly catchy. "used", in particular, has kind of an eighties springsteen thing with beach boys-esque backing vocals that i like. the lyrics are also really good, i like that they call for honesty in that confrontational punk way. 6:40 pm - after my first listen, i would give it a 6.5/10. not mind-blowing, but a solid, fun album that id probably listen to again, but not obsessively. im going to go listen to something else before trying it again. i like that it managed to be both raw and also incredibly catchy in a 1960s retro sort of way, kind of like a rougher version of the ramones (a band i love).

FINAL REVIEW I'm giving this a 4/5. I went back and forth between if this was a 4/5 or a 5/5, but I ended up at 4/5. I absolutely loved it, but 5/5 to me is an album that truly moved me. That said, this is a collection of absolutely perfectly crafted pop songs made even more exciting with a hard rock and electronic edge. I already checked out some more of The Cars after hearing this one, and I am definitely a fan now!! NOTES 2:48 am - even before listening, i realize i already know the first three songs, so i kind of know what to expect, unlike last time. these songs are all kind of in that "not my favorites, but not bad either" zone for me, so i'm interested to find out if the rest of the album will be the same, or if something will pop out. 3:08 am - okay it turns out i know four songs. theres a lot of hits on here, wow. so far, i'm really enjoying it. ive only heard the songs i know in passing, never purposefully, and now that i am focusing on them more, i'm realizing how fucking catchy they are. i love the combination of seventies synths with hard rock guitar, honestly i think i have been underrating the cars this whole time. 3:25 am - honestly this was great. i'm currently thinking 4/5 (if we could do half stars, i would probably go 4.5/5 tbh), but i will definitely be revisiting this throughout the day and seeing how i feel. one thing i was thinking about when listening to it was a beach boys album ive been listening to a lot lately that was released the year previous to this album, which featured brian wilson experimenting with similar synths to what the cars used on their debut. the late seventies was a really wild and experimental time for electronic music, and its cool to hear something thats such a classic sound now, but was deeply cutting edge at the time. 8:40 pm - just did my second listen through, and its just as great. i'm now just moving onto the next cars album, bc i really love this sound, but don't want to overplay this album. honestly such a fun and unique sound, the hooks are so fucking catchy, and the vocals are super cool and quirky, with lyrics to match. im thinking 4/5, but who knows, i might like it even more as i listen to it again and again going forward. this is definitely going into my regular album rotation. 9:15 pm - candy-o is also a great album. the cars are so fucking good at pop music, can't believe i've been missing out on this my whole life, like wtf.

FINAL REVIEW A very jazzy rock album with strong songwriting, but after the initial listen, it started to lose some of its shine. The twelve-minute blues (mostly) instrumental probably didn't help either. 3/5. NOTES 11:12 pm - i've heard this name before, but i know absolutely nothing about them. the album cover is kind of funny, though, with the obviously pastedon heads. i expect this to either have typical seventies classic rock sound, or a folk one. 1:34 am - i'm having, uh, technical issues with the website, but fuck it, i want to listen to the album at least once before bed. anyways, this is waaaaaayyyyyy more prog than i was expecting, but i like it. 1:49 am - i really like this a lot!!! it jumps around genre a lot, but it doesn't feel disjointed at all. it has an overall very jazzy sound that i like. 2:00 am - there is a twelve minute blues/jazz instrumental at the end of this album. very very prog lmao. it's good, though, even though it isn't normally my thing. 2:06 am - okay this long ass track a) does have vocals about nine minutes in, and b) i can't do this. it's not like i'm anti-long songs, but this is a long song in a genre that i don't normally like, so it's not working for me. i still enjoy the rest of the album, though. 2:13 am - okay so aside from the second to last track, i really liked it!! the rest of the album moved at a good pace, had pretty melodies and interesting instrumentation. the last track was just meandering to me, though, like too much, though i can see how someone who likes this genre more would enjoy it. i'd give this a 3/5 after my first listen. 7/5 10:29 am - doing my second listen through rn 7/5 11:13 am - i feel like i liked it less the second listen through, though there were some good songs. i think it's one of those that i think is well-done, but its not a genre i am particularly interested in. still, i'm going to give it a 3/5

FINAL REVIEW This album is a 4/5 from me. It's the closest to a 5/5 anything has gotten so far, but it doesn't just quite have that spark for me. Still, it's an absolutely beautiful album, one that reveals more on a second listen, with still so much to discover about it. The world it creates is so vivid and so interesting, and Nick Cave's voice is very charming in a dark way. I will definitely have to check out more of his music. NOTES 2:51 pm - im finally getting to this nick cave album. the only song i know of him is the one with my idol, kylie Minogue, so im excited to hear more!! this first song is more rocking than i expected, i like it!! 3:19 pm - this album makes me think of other artists i love, like jeff buckley and pj Harvey. nick cave has been an artist i've been meaning to check out, bc of how much i love where the wild roses grow, and i'm really wishing i had sooner. this album is really great!! 3:34 pm - i just started the second half on the album, and i'm excited to see how it differs from the first half. this album is so great!!! 3:57 pm - the second half is more quiet and slow, for the most part. i think i like the first half more, but this is still really pretty. i don't really get the lyrics much while listening, but what i can catch sounds interesting, so i will read along with the lyrics when i do my second listen. 5:46 pm - due to my computer freaking out, i didn't get to finish the album until now, but it's awesome!!! like the whole gothic feel to it, especially with nick caves voice, which has this really deep, smokey tone to it that i love. this is definitely going to get at least a 4/5, maybe a 5/5 after i look at the lyrics more during my second listen.

FINAL REVIEW After two listens, I'm giving it a 4/5, liking it a lot more on the second go. It's very bombastic and exciting, and I feel more energetic just from listening to it. It's a perfect album to fill a stadium, but even just in my house, it's great to turn up loud and rock out to. After reading more about it, I am not surprised that this was originally meant to be a stage production or a movie. I will probably end up listening to more The Who albums through this list, and I'm looking forward to it after hearing this one. NOTES 5:49 pm - i'm excited to hear this album, as i've heard it's amazing. i already know the singles, ofc, though i admit i mainly associate them with either memes or fred durst lmao. they are fun, energetic songs though, and i'm in desperate need of some energy right now, so lets go!!! *removes glasses* YEEEEEAAAAAAAAAAAH 5:58 pm - i had to make a playlist just to get a normal, un-remastered version of this album on spotify, jfc. anyways, the opening to baba o'riley is pumps me up so much, like what a fucking banger tbh 6:27 pm - my impression of this album is that it was made with live performances in mind, bc it has the kind of sound that would make it perfect for a stadium concert. really bombastic, like even the ballads have this epic, grand feel to them, with the impassioned vocals and big drums and guitar. for sitting and listening, though, its one of those albums where i can see why ppl who like this style of music would find it absolutely amazing, but its not really for me. it's a strong album, but it doesn't really grab me the way the nick cave album did earlier. it's a 3/5 for me, but i can understand why it's a 5/5 for others.

FINAL REVIEW Another 4/5!! This is very much "my style", in that it has pretty melodies and dreamy backing vocals, but also a distorted, hard edge. I'm a fan of many bands influenced by the Pixies, so it's no shock that I loved this album too, and will probably love even more of their discography when I dive into it. NOTES 4:52 am - i know the pixies were influential on many bands that i like, but i only know one song by them, so im interested in finding out if i like them as much as i like many of the bands they inspired. 5:33 am - my first listen through, and i really enjoyed it!! i can see how bands like nirvana and radiohead were influenced by this. they themselves seem very influenced by the b-52s, another band i love, so making all of those connections is fun. honestly, i can see myself listening to this a lot. it has the kind of sound that i often like to put on while working.

FINAL REVIEW 4/5. A dreamily produced, sensual, and romantic album made by a vocalist whose passion can be felt in the sound of her voice. I think what I wrote in my last note really captures how I feel about this album, so I'm not going to repeat myself lol. NOTES 5:51 am - ive heard this name before, but i dont know anything about her. time to check it out, then!! 5:52 am - this album isnt on spotify :( i will check youtube then 5:55 am - only like a minute in and i love it. i actually know this song too??? lol idk from where. but this is the kind of r&b i really love, so lush and dreamy~ 6:13 pm - i didnt end up listening to the album last night (morning?) bc i got tired, so i just did now, and uuughhhhh it's so pretty. i wish we had half-ratings, bc to me this is a 4.5. like its pretty much perfect, but like my five star standard is "is it was good as the albums on this list that i've heard before this project and would call a 5/5" (ftr, those are pet sounds by the beach boys, hounds of love by kate bush, heaven or las vegas by cocteau twins, discovery by daft punk, and to pimp a butterfly by kendrick lamar) and it doesn't quite reach that. but, nonetheless, it is an absolutely beautiful album, and anita baker's voice is just so powerful and emotive and incredible. the lush, sensual production and yearning lyrics highlight it so perfectly. i can absolutely understand why this style was called "quiet storm", as it really does bring to mind the feeling of staying inside during a storm, curled up with someone you love. i'm honestly just going to do my second listen right now. this might even get a third. who knows.

FINAL REVIEW After going back and forth in my head, I'm giving this album a 2/5. The instrumentals did eventually make sense to me, and those are a 4/5 for me. However, John Lydon's voice and the way the album seems to drag on bring it down to a 2/5. NOTES 11:28 pm - public image ltd. is one of the guys from the sex pistols, right? so i'm guessing this with be either punk or post-punk/new wave. let's see lol 4:41 am - i am finally listening to this, a few songs in, and i think i now understand how everyone around me feels when i put on mr bungle. like......i dont get this. every song is the same un-tuned guitar chords on loop with the most irritating, british screaming i have heard in music. to me, mr bungles avant-garde works bc they are all super talented and use that to be super fucking weird. this sounds like a bunch of guys who dont know how to play their instruments, but instead of playing fast, intense punk songs, they are playing long, droning, plodding nonsense. 5:19 am - listening to the whole album made me get the instrumentals a little bit more, but that voice is so fucking grating. 5:47 pm - alright, trying this again. i read up a little more on the album, and i'm hoping that background info will help me "get it". one thing i can pick up is that they definitely at least share some influences with one of my favorite bands, siouxsie and the banshees. siouxsie sioux was a huge sex pistols fan as a teenager and would follow the band to all of their shows, so its honestly not shocking that there are similarities here. 6:08 pm - honestly, i think the instrumentals have grown on me, now that i've gotten over the shock. the vocals are still annoying as shit, though. i would totally blast an instrumental version of this album tbh, honestly the discordant nature of it, all held together by some really excellent basslines, creates a really great, dark vibe. no more whiny british men though, please (says the radiohead fan).

FINAL REVIEW i dont have time to write one now. 4/5 NOTES 5:58 pm - ive head this band name before, but i dont know much other than they are punk? two punk albums in a row, let's go for it. 6:05 pm - only one song in, but this seems more metal than punk? i like it a lot!!! 8:39 pm - after taking a break to eat dinner and take a nap, i've finished the album!! it's really great, very much that 00s hard rock sound, but with it's own unique twist. the main vocalist is really amazing too. i definitely preferred the fast/harder songs, but the slower ones were great too. 4/5 so far.

When I saw on Wikipedia that this is afrobeat, I was expecting to sound like Tyla or Burna Boy, but this is jazz with an obvious Nigerian influence. This is normally not my genre, but I actually really loved it. It's great both musically and lyrically. A solid 4/5, could go higher with repeated listens.

4:00 am - ofc, i know dolly, but none of the songs on this album. i think i will like it. 4:30 am - ah, such a warm, beautiful album. i used to really like country music, and this is reminding me why. everything about this album feels so cozy in a way that is authentic and not cloying. i feel so happy after listening to it...... 5:12 am - i ended up giving this a second listen right away, and it was even more lovely the second time. maybe a 5/5 tbh........ 9:20 pm - ive been listening to this album multiple times today. just so lovely. theres something about dollys voice that really grabs me emotionally. a definite 5/5.

1:33 am - first time getting an album i've already heard before!! i know i'm giving this a 4/5, but it's nice to revisit this anyways. 1:46 am - wait, this is a 5/5 album, how did i forget lmao. too bad im on vacation now, as i have a dvd of all of the animations for this album, and that would be great to watch with this. also, the original cd could be put into your computer and a program would open up where you could look at song lyrics, and also tour murdocs winnebago. i wonder if that program could be found online.

Okay, so I admit I come into this with a bias--I already know enough Led Zeppelin songs to know I am not a fan. This album didn't do anything to improve my impression of them as rambling stoner music. There are some good ideas, catchy riffs and pretty moments, but they are drawn out into oblivion until they just become nothing. Led Zeppelin clearly needed an editor lol. This album just feels so fucking long, despite only being forty-five minutes. I know this is """"blasphemy"""" or whatever, but I'm giving this a 2/5. I just don't get Led Zeppelin.

beautiful album. perfect mix of folk-leaning country and lush orchestral sections. i might end up deciding it's a 5/5 later, but for now, it's a 4/5.

This is really the kind of indie rock I love. There's a very shoegaze-y kind of sound to it without fully committing to that genre, instead moving from more aggressive, harsh edged sounds to softer ones that sometimes reminded me a little bit of elliott smith. The emotional journey here was really intense, like this seems very much like a breakup album, and whoever it was he had been dating has clearly got him all fucked up. That kind of heavily emotional music appeals to me, though. This is definitely an album that will be in heavy rotation for me. 5/5.

I'm writing this after a second listen, a week after my first listen. I wasn't quite sure what to make of this album, and honestly, I'm still not quite there, but I think the second listen made me understand what it was doing more. The combination of chill drum and bass and ambient sounds with lyrics depicting the fallout of nuclear war and of the struggles of immigrants seemed like a mismatch at first, but I think the simple yet driving nature of the music allowed the message to get through clearer. Not all of the songs were hits--"Pilgrim" is incredibly grating, the vocals provided by a constantly off-beat and awkward sounding rapper--but some, like "Immigrant" and "Nostalgia", were incredibly pretty. I generally prefer to write my reviews focusing on albums as a whole, instead of focusing on specific songs, but due to the uneven nature of this work, it's easier to pick out what I liked and what I didn't like in that manner. Overall, while it did create a nice vibe and was an easy listen, I wasn't overwhelmed by it. A solid 3/5.

Much like I admitted a bias in the Led Zeppelin III review, I have one here too, but in the opposite direction--I'm from New Jersey. Springsteen is ofc very revered here, a true Jersey legend. I honestly kind of geeked out every time he referenced something in New Jersey lol. Anyways, in terms of the actual music, it's amazing. Springsteen is an incredible storyteller, I get so interested in the lives of the people he sings about, and the way he writes about them makes me feel their pain, their struggle, and their joy. The vocals and instrumentals are great too, and really fit the lyrics. I feel like the album doesn't quite make it to 5/5, though, like there's something that keeps me from fully connecting with it emotionally, but tbh I feel like if I was listening to this while speeding down the turnpike instead of sitting in my kitchen, it'd be a 5/5. Alas, I can't even drive, so it's a 4/5 for me.

I've heard this band brought up a lot in relation to other bands I love, such as Siouxsie and The Banshees and The Cure, so I was excited to check this out. There is definitely a similar edgy, gothic post-punk feel that is also present in those bands, particularly their earlier songs, so not shockingly, I enjoyed this too, though not as much as the aforementioned bands. I wish there were half ratings here, bc this is a 3.5/5 for me, but I will have to officially give it a 3/5. I am definitely interested in checking out other music from this group!

This album is fucking crazy, like a whole soundtrack for a made up film, that's just so amazing. It honestly sounds like it'd be a great film too--it's not shocking that a song on here ended up in a David Lynch film, because this sounds like it'd a score a movie that he directed. This album runs the gamut in terms of feelings--from comical to sexy to thrilling, all with a sinister air that really hooked me in and made me want to know what would happen next. The sound reminded me a lot of a favorite album of mine, Music to Make Love to Your Old Lady By by Lovage, and I always thought that the each of the songs on that album sounded like the soundtracks to a bunch of short films. I deeply appreciate creatively ambitious works like this, and it really hit for me. A definite 5/5.

I'm honestly unsure how I feel about Elvis Costello. I got another one of his albums before, and ended up turning it off because I felt so unsure about if I liked it or not, and that was honestly distracting to me. Listening to this album now once through leaves me with more questions than answers. I'm giving this a tentative 3/5, since it's not bad, I just......don't know if I get it? I feel like there is a lot going on with this album, especially in the lyrics, that I need to look into more. I will definitely be coming back to this so I can write a real review.

Great album. Heavy with some surprisingly pretty moments. Will probably listen to this again. 4/5.

A fun synth-pop album thats easy to the dance to. It reminded me a lot of early Depeche Mode, and it seems like their debut album was released at around the same time as this one. I will probably listen to this again, but if I'm in the mood for this type of synth-pop, I'm still more likely to put on some Depeche Mode. 3/5.

This album was rather hit-or-miss for me. The Doors try out a few different sounds here, all united by a general psychedelic leaning and Jim Morrison's rich baritone and poetic lyrics, and not all of them worked for me. I'm not really a blues person, but when they went for more rock or folk directions, I enjoyed it. I can understand why people love this, they are certain a band with a unique, well-developed style, but it's not for me. 3/5.

I was excited to hear this one, because it's such a classic. It turns out I recognize a few songs, or at least a few melodies from it. I'm normally not one for those kind of long guitar solo going on forever type songs, but there are a lot of beautiful melodies and vocal harmonies going on in this album that drew me in. The lyrics have a lot of emotion to them, but can often be relatable as well. I can understand why it is such a beloved album. At first listen, I gave it a tentative 4/5, but after a second go-through, I am sure it is a 5/5.

A pleasant, though not super exciting, album. It's very clear how Radiohead was influenced by this, as it's very similar to their early, pre-OK Computer sound, but it suits R.E.M. a lot more. A pretty album, though it can get a little same-y sometimes. Still, with a sound this good, same-y isn't necessarily bad, just not interesting enough to push it past a 3/5.

Going into this album, I was unsure of how I would feel about it. Though I know this album was very influential on 90s alternative rock, a genre I love, my first two introductions to their existence were from other people negative reviews--my mom, after having seen them open for Pearl Jam, and a line from the movie Juno that describes them, much like my mother did, as "just noise." I love noisy rock music, but I was worried that maybe this would somehow end up being too much. That was not the case, at least in terms of their sound. This album is certainly loud, but it also has clear melodies and hooks. The thing that was too much for me was the length--it truly felt every single one of it fifty-nine minutes, and not in a good way. A little over halfway through the album, I began to get tired of it, only to learn there were still so many songs to go. The standouts here tended to be the songs with vocals by Kim Gordon over the ones with Thurston Moore, though I did like Youth Against Fascism a lot. Overall, I felt like while I wasn't a huge fan of this album, it did make me curious about checking out Sonic Youth's other albums, as the sound itself was great. I'll give this a tentative 3/5.

This was pleasant enough to listen to, but it's honestly not my thing. I probably won't be going back to this, but not because it's bad--everyone performing on the album is clearly talented, and the songs are well-written--but this just isn't a sound I'm into. I'm giving it a 3/5, to acknowledge both of these things. I am glad I had a chance to listen to it, though, as the purpose of me doing this challenge was to hear music I would never have heard about without it.

HO SHIT. HO SHIT. I FUCKING LOVE RUMOURS. THIS IS MY JAM. THIS IS MY ALBUM. I LISTEN TO THIS THING ALL OF THE FUCKING TIME. I LOVE HAVING AN EXCUSE TO JUST BLAST RUMOURS ON REPEAT. I WILL NEVER BREAK THE FUCKING CHAIN. HOLY SHIT. 5/5. 500000000/5 TBH.

This is exactly the kind of synth-pop I love. Cold, yet shimmering. Easy to dance to, but also a little dark. This is bound to go on heavy rotation for me. 4/5.

I was hovering between 4/5 and 5/5 for this one, but in all honesty it's a 4.5/5 for me, so I'm rounding down. Normally blues rock is not my thing at all, but the way the White Stripes combine it with garage rock, folk, and even a little punk makes it into something unique and incredible. Jack White is an incredible songwriter and guitarist, and his vocals are so perfectly suited for this sound and heighten the impact of his lyrics. Much has been said about Meg White's drumming, but honestly anything more traditionally "good" wouldn't fit, and her singing on the one song she performs lead vocals are actually quite good. This album has such a raw, unpolished sound for something professionally recorded, and it's that roughness that really makes the album that much better. The songs feel wild and a little dark in such an enticing way. I've been wanting to get more into The White Stripes, and this is an absolutely perfect place to start. 4/5.

Pretty, but it honestly put me to sleep. 2/5.

Post-punk is generally a genre I love, but this leaned way too much towards ska for me. This isn't, like, bad or anything, but very, very much not for me. I know this is blasphemous, but......2/5.

An album that is both eclectic and beautiful. As someone who often feels just outside of the lines of society, a lot of the songs, especially the title track, felt so warm to me, like it was saying that it's okay to be a "freak". I feel like this is an album that I can put on when feeling down that will both cheer me on in a way that doesn't feel cloying or impersonal. I'm a little tentative on giving albums I've only listened to once a 5/5, but I'm going to here. If I end up feeling different, I will change it later, but this album really emotionally connected with me in a way that I feel will stick with me for a long time.

I can appreciate how seemlessly the musicians here managed to blend together funk, rock, jazz, and the blues. However, this is very much not my cup of tea, like, at all. There's just too much jam band-type bullshit on here for me to like this. 2/5.

After days and days of dark, somewhat weird music, I was excited to get some simple fun in the way of AC/DC. While it's not an album I'd listen to regularly, it was definitely a blast to listen to, and something I will probably go back to when I'm in the specific mood for something that just plain rocks. Even the less hype songs still have a lot of energy, and really pumped me up!! I'm going to give this a 3/5--not a masterpiece, but still really solid, with no bad songs or moments.

A breezy, sweet, and very original album. The mix of R&B, funk, and psychedelia feels both very seventies and incredibly timeless. Listening to it, I was reminded of a favorite album of mine, Kaleidoscope Dream by Miguel, released in 2012. I wonder if Miguel was inspired by this album at all, or by Shuggie Otis' music in general. This is certainly a gorgeous album, and it feels like one that will reveal more with with each listen. For now, I'm giving it a 4/5, but it might end up being 5/5 after a few more listens.

Nina Simone is truly one of the greatest vocalists to ever live. Her tone is rich and deep, yet sweet and pretty at the same time, with her always alluring vibrato. She is able to communicate pain in songs about love lost and the hardships of black women in America, and adoration and yearning toward her lover, all in a way that feels so real. I had never heard a full album of hers before this, and I was surprised at how eclectic it was, going from folk to rock to blues to ballads, yet it never felt disconnected. The only song on here I knew previously was Lilac Wine, due to Jeff Buckley's cover of it, and listening to this album makes me realize what a deep influence she had on his music, particularly on his vocal style. All in all, an beautiful album with a voice you can get lost in. 5/5.

This is the album I listen to every time I'm pissed off or frustrated or about to fucking lose it, and like right now I am really about to fucking lose it tbh. I've been listening to this album since I was a young child, waaaayyyyy too young to understand the lyrics, but I understood the anger, the feminine rage, and it's always connected with me. This album is really personally important to me, it basically showed me that women can be angry at the world and no one can stop us, so there is no way I can give this any sort of objective review. 5/5. 31/31, for every year it's been out, every year that I have known and loved this album.