204
Albums Rated
3.09
Average Rating
19%
Complete
885 albums remaining
Rating Distribution
Rating Timeline
Taste Profile
2010
Favorite Decade
Funk
Favorite Genre
US
Top Origin
Perfectionist
Rater Style ?
10
5-Star Albums
2
1-Star Albums
Breakdown
By Genre
Top Styles
By Decade
By Origin
Albums
You Love More Than Most
| Album | You | Global | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Drunk
Thundercat
|
5 | 3.12 | +1.88 |
|
Hybrid Theory
Linkin Park
|
5 | 3.39 | +1.61 |
|
Foo Fighters
Foo Fighters
|
5 | 3.48 | +1.52 |
|
Raw Like Sushi
Neneh Cherry
|
4 | 2.7 | +1.3 |
|
Scream, Dracula, Scream
Rocket From The Crypt
|
4 | 2.76 | +1.24 |
|
A Night At The Opera
Queen
|
5 | 3.95 | +1.05 |
You Love Less Than Most
| Album | You | Global | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Buena Vista Social Club
Buena Vista Social Club
|
2 | 3.67 | -1.67 |
|
The Velvet Underground & Nico
The Velvet Underground
|
2 | 3.61 | -1.61 |
|
Moon Safari
Air
|
2 | 3.57 | -1.57 |
|
GI
Germs
|
1 | 2.53 | -1.53 |
|
The Velvet Underground
The Velvet Underground
|
2 | 3.53 | -1.53 |
|
The Clash
The Clash
|
2 | 3.53 | -1.53 |
|
Violent Femmes
Violent Femmes
|
2 | 3.5 | -1.5 |
|
Blonde On Blonde
Bob Dylan
|
2 | 3.48 | -1.48 |
|
Blackstar
David Bowie
|
2 | 3.48 | -1.48 |
|
Ellington at Newport
Duke Ellington
|
2 | 3.43 | -1.43 |
Artists
Favorites
| Artist | Albums | Average |
|---|---|---|
| Beatles | 2 | 5 |
| Stevie Wonder | 3 | 4.33 |
5-Star Albums (10)
View Album Wall
Popular Reviews
Stevie Wonder · 1 likes
5/5
Mastery of several instruments.
Mastery of rhythm.
Mastery of lyricism.
Mastery of the genre.
Influential in ways I never knew.
If this isn’t a 5 star album I don’t know what will be.
Super Furry Animals · 1 likes
3/5
As albums go this is about as eclectic as it gets. Real hodge podge across genres and styles. Unlikely to revisit but I admire a band that has the ability to successfully change lanes mid album
Wu-Tang Clan · 1 likes
3/5
Another interesting listen. I still like the concept feel. Of the 2 WuTangs we’ve listened to, this one feels like the more important to the bands history
Keith Jarrett · 1 likes
3/5
As a 10-year student of the keys myself, I can definitely appreciate the performance. Honestly not sure if it belongs on the list but I don’t regret the listen
1-Star Albums (2)
All Ratings
Alice In Chains
4/5
Lot of iconic songs on this one, with lots of staying power. Surely a Seminal work for the genre at large. Only nit pick is that a few of the songs felt self aggrandizing. Length for the sake of length. Good album overall
Television
3/5
Overall: neutral opinion.
Favorite track: Elevation
Couldn’t Have Gone into this album any more blindly. Never heard of the band, album, and never heard a single song.
Feels like a disservice to listen to this on something other than vinyl. This band feels like one part Pink Floyd, one part Rush, and one part Rolling Stones. I liked it just fine. Band would be right at home on a Classic Rock station. Not mad to listen to them but not worth seeking out for additional listens
AC/DC
3/5
This band is like Taco Bell: Same 4 ingredients, dozen different combinations. Instead of tortillas, cheese, beans and meat, AC/DC works in a medium of parties, fighting, booze, and chicks.
You have to admire a band that knows their strength and stays in their lane. No, they’re not going to win a Michelin star anytime soon, but hell, sometimes a quesadilla and a burrito really hit the spot.
Thin Lizzy
4/5
“The Boys Are Back in Town” has been a personal favorite for decades, so my excitement for this album is unmatched so far.
It’s rare that a band is as good live as they are in the studio, but Thin Lizzy might have done it. Great listen
Napalm Death
1/5
Favorite track: “You Suffer”
You know what they say about things that are subjective (art, music, theater): You either get it or you don’t.
I don’t.
Black Sabbath
3/5
Impressive to see a genre defining album that plays like greatest hits album.
RIP Ozzy 🤘
Dolly Parton
3/5
Absolute icon. Fun to hear the early days
Lorde
4/5
Admittedly I’d written Lorde off as something of a one hit wonder after “Royals” came and went over 10 years ago, but apparently she had more to give. Honestly not sure why she’s not mentioned in the same conversations as Taylor Swift, Sabrina Carpenter, or Charlie XCX, but I honestly think she fits right in.
Good listen
A Tribe Called Quest
4/5
It’s obvious how influential this group is. This was a great listen.
Pixies
3/5
Billy Bragg
2/5
Take the stadium country assholes that sing about blue collar living while wearing $3,000 boots and touring on $15M gulfstreams, then make them English, and you’ve got this album.
How many songs can you record that pander the same message over and over? Listen and find out.
The Rolling Stones
3/5
Never been a huge stones fan. Listening to a full album was interesting, especially to see the band beyond their greatest hits. I simultaneously understand why the band is as big as they are, but also still don’t see what all the fuss is about.
Favorite song: Paint It Black
Jimi Hendrix
4/5
Obvious why Hendrix is considered an all timer. Great instrumentation, great songs.
Duke Ellington
2/5
Echo And The Bunnymen
3/5
Pretty 80’s-Tastic. My only familiarity with this band was from the Donnie Darko soundtrack. Good listen overall, but overall pretty one-note
Abdullah Ibrahim
2/5
Hole
3/5
I can only describe this album as “Campy”. It feels like the epitome of the 90’s grunge era “I’m not part of your system, and you can’t define or label me” mentality. Instrumentally proficient and occasionally even interesting. Lyrics and vocals on the other hand, a bit one note.
Overall good listen, feels like a Time Machine to Seattle circa 1994.
Sister Sledge
4/5
I liked this album a lot more than I was expecting to. The influence on artists that followed is obvious. The overall album was a funky fresh listen.
Public Enemy
2/5
I wanted desperately to like this album more than I did.
The mixing was horrible. The sound effects are louder than the lyrics. Also the sound effects sounded a lot like a squeegie on a window.
Milton Nascimento
2/5
Picture this: you’re at your bachelor pad, mixing up an overly complex cocktail (you’re a mixologist, not a wanna-be bartender) because you’re trying to impress this girl you managed, somehow, to lure home from the speakeasy (bars are too pedestrian). You consider yourself to be a gentlemen of culture; you pronounce Ibiza “Ibitha”, because your parents took you to Madrid one time when you were in your teens, and you want to convince this girl you’re worldly. However, you’re irrationally afraid of awkward silences because, despite how interesting you project yourself to be, you know deep down that under your Patagonia vest that you’re just another hedge fund douche, and you don’t want an awkward silence to force you into an actual conversation wherein you reveal this fact.
Have no fear, because Milton Nasimento has entered the chat (on vinyl obviously).
You have no idea what he’s saying, because you gave up on Spanish after high school, but you talk about your experience in Spain (where you seldom left the Hilton your parents paid for), in hopes that she would be so impressed that her bra just falls right off (adequate forplay in your mind).
Unfortunately she doesn’t like the drink you made for her. She leaves your bachelor pad, bra intact. You feel successful however because tonight was 40% closer than you’ve been to sealing the deal for a while now. You turn off Milton and turn on a Joe Rogan podcast, convincing yourself that girls like her are the problem.
Fatboy Slim
3/5
Give me a pair of wire framed sunglasses, a trench coat, a wardrobe with a suspicious amount of latex in it, a pair of calf length jack-boots, and jack my ass into the matrix baby. Then turn on this album, and let me stop some bullets and punch some agent smiths, and you’ve got a great Saturday night right there.
OutKast
4/5
One of my favorites so far 🤩
“Ms.Jackson” remains to this day one of the most iconic songs of the hip-hop genre.
“So Fresh, So Clean” is so engrained in the lexicon that it’s quoted by people who’ve never even heard the song.
“B.O.B.” Belongs on every gym/exercise playlist ever.
Even the interludes like “Kim & Cookie” give the album a “concept” kind of feel.
Simply fun to listen to.
The Kinks
2/5
I’m a mad scientist tasked with creating a new band. I take 1 part Beatles, 1 Part Rolling Stones, make the result 40% worse and 70% gayer. Voila, The Kinks.
In all seriousness, it wasn’t unlistenable, but it was by no means enjoyable. If I believed in half-stars, this album would be a 2.5 for me. Maybe if I was listening to this while gardening outside of my cottage in Liverpool it’s a 3 star album. But alas, I’m in Seattle, and not in the mood for gay Beatles.
Beck
3/5
I’ve been a fan of Beck for a while and I’ll confess, I wanted to like this album more than I did.
It’s impressive to me that Beck plays like 19 instruments, as well as writing, producing, and I think even editing his own music.
That being said this album felt like a freshmen effort more than a third full length album. He was all over the map from a genre perspective. It was probably on purpose but to me it felt disjointed, like he was still figuring out what kind of musician he wanted to be.
Marvin Gaye
2/5
I owe Taylor Swift an apology for accusing her of being too hung up on her ex.
Fishbone
3/5
Another album I went into triple blind (never heard of the band, the album, or a single song).
Liked it quite a bit. Felt like a perfect encapsulation of where the 80’s ended and the 90’s began. Like someone put Huey Lewis and the News, and Reel Big Fish in a blender and turned it on. Not sure which “wave” of ska you’d assign this to, but really fun listen
Everything But The Girl
2/5
Things that should have stayed in the 90’s:
-Furbys
-The Clintons
-Frosted Tips
-Your Boyfriend’s Dallas Cowboy Fandom
-Kid Rock
-This Album
Marvin Gaye
3/5
Iconic, but a little one note. “Let’s Get It On” will forever be the anthem of getting down with the one you love, but did it require a whole album to get that point across?
Less of a bummer than his divorce album though, I’ll give you that
Stevie Wonder
4/5
A delight to listen to
Neil Young & Crazy Horse
2/5
If 70’s/80’s rock was ice cream, this album would be vanilla.
If it came on my FM radio i probably wouldn’t change it. Nor would I choose it if I was streaming music.
It just felt basic
Nick Drake
3/5
It’s October. You’re in your Tuscan themed kitchen, standing over your stove with soup on a low simmer. You made the soup with vegetables you bought at the farmers market for an unreasonable markup, but you don’t even care. You insert the immersion blender, real smooth. For some reason you’re wearing a turtleneck. You kind of pull it off, you kind of don’t, but you’re at peace with this fact. Your golden retriever is napping on the carpet, unbothered by everything happening. There’s a candle burning because you’re too poor for a fireplace, but that’s ok. You’re white, middle(ish) class, you live in Connecticut, and you have Nick Drake. The pumpkin spice latte of the music world. Is he the best? No. Does he make you feel like everything might be ok though? Also no. But your soup is going to be killer.
The Jon Spencer Blues Explosion
2/5
I can’t tell if these jokers are angry or horny or high or all three.
This was a 1 star for me until the back half of the album. There’s even a couple tracks here that you might confuse for music.
Good riddance
Beck
3/5
I think I just may not be a Beck fan, and that’s ok. When I listen to a full album, I can always tell the songs that I like the most were specifically added for people like me, people that don’t understand the experimental side of what Beck’s doing, people that the record company was surely trying to placate with more palatable radio fare.
He has my admiration, but not my fandom.
Bob Dylan
3/5
I don’t really like Bob Dylan. But listening to this album taught me that I do like Bob Dylan’s lyrics.
In another universe, there’s an Elton John/Bernie Taupin arrangement where the Bob Dylan teams up with someone who’s actually good at singing, and in that universe, I love Bob Dylan. But this is the universe I’m stuck in…
Rod Stewart
3/5
Huh. There’s more to him than mom rock. Color me pleasantly surprised.
Creedence Clearwater Revival
4/5
CCR has a unique ability to transport you to a road house on the side of a highway in Louisiana, where you can get cheap beer and groove out while you hope that cops don’t break up the party. What’s more impressive is that they can achieve that, despite themselves being from San Francisco.
Fun listen. Strong A Side AND B Side
Rocket From The Crypt
4/5
Another triple blind album.
I don’t know anything about this band, but in another universe I think they could have hit it as big as Nirvana (or at least on par with Pearl Jam). Great quintessential 90’s sound. Not sure what they’re doing now but this band goes to show that the difference between success and oblivion is a proper marketing strategy.
Elliott Smith
3/5
This album WAS a four star for me. Then the next song played. And then the next one. Then the next one. And then i realized i didn’t realize where one song ended and the next song began.
Overall i like Elliot smith. I love his use of piano and his overall not quite rock, but cooler than indie vibes. Mostly just wish he wasn’t so one note…
AC/DC
3/5
AC/DC is the PBR of rock music.
It’s not special.
It’s not that good.
It’s been the same since the 80s.
But damnit, sometimes it’s what the party needs.
Germs
1/5
This album is turning me into a republican. I find myself thinking these guys need to get out of their mother’s basements and get a proper job. It’s ok to give up on your dreams.
Echo And The Bunnymen
2/5
If this group comes up again they’re getting a 1-star. Fuck sakes…
Nick Drake
3/5
If you told me that Nick Drake was worthy of inclusion on a list of 1000 albums, I’d believe you.
If you tell me Nick Drake is worthy of inclusion twice, and that there aren’t 999 other artists and albums that are better, I start to have questions.
Algorithm, you’ve been put on notice
Eminem
4/5
Expected to be entertained, but didn’t necessarily expect to be impressed. It was funny, angry, and vulnerable, all in one package. Plus, I’m a sucker for a well made concept album.
The Who
4/5
Played like a greatest hits album. Easily one of the most influential of the 20th century.
Siouxsie And The Banshees
3/5
Another triple blind.
This album started as the reason I wanted to do this challenge, and it ended with me thinking this was 5 songs too long.
Treating this like an anthropological discovery of emo music’s precursor. No regrets, no repeats.
GZA
4/5
When I was a white boy going to kindergarten in Wyoming in 1996 when this album came out, I was much more into the west coast rap scene. Long live Tupac. You couldn’t have convinced me otherwise. But GZA convinced me that Brooklyn has a lot to offer.
I liked this album quite a bit. Another rap album with a “concept” feel. Really enjoyed the samurai movie interjections. It’s the kind of album that makes me want to explore GZA and WuTang more. Great representation of the spirit of this challenge.
The Beach Boys
3/5
I know The Beach Boys get better (God only knows), but I’m not sure if they get more iconic.
U2
2/5
Soft rock for people who think they like hard rock. Yawn.
Stevie Wonder
5/5
Mastery of several instruments.
Mastery of rhythm.
Mastery of lyricism.
Mastery of the genre.
Influential in ways I never knew.
If this isn’t a 5 star album I don’t know what will be.
James Taylor
4/5
Reminds me of my dad. Can’t help but be nostalgic.
Soft Cell
2/5
Perfect for clubbing with Patrick Bateman, not much more
The Smashing Pumpkins
3/5
Wilco
3/5
The musicianship was honestly great. Good album overall. I wanted to like it better, but it didn’t really leave me with any feelings that are going to stay with me. If this band comes up again though, I wouldn’t complain
Nas
3/5
Cool beats, good tracks. Probably matters more than I’m aware of.
The Temptations
3/5
Easy listen. Cool tunes. Classic.
Taylor Swift
4/5
Makes me nostalgic for the early days of my career. Probably the most iconic album of today’s most iconic performer. Also represents the shift from All American Girl to music megastar.
Favorite track: New Romantics
System Of A Down
4/5
Serj Tankian’s voice needs to be studied for future generations. Not my favorite overall, but I found the ensemble impressive
Joni Mitchell
4/5
Joni Mitchell walked so that Taylor Swift could fly.
Buena Vista Social Club
2/5
Close your eyes. You’re at a Mexican restaurant. Imagine the ambiance, the smells, the sounds, the condensation beading off of your margarita or Dos Equis, with chips and salsa in front of you.
Now open your eyes. All that’s left is the music. That’s what listening to this album is like.
Honestly it was fine. Probably meaningful to someone out there.
The Stooges
3/5
If you’re into the Stones or the experimental phases of the Beatles, this one’s right over home plate
LCD Soundsystem
4/5
Take Nine Inch Nails, make it 50% less horny and 30% less angry and you’ve got LCD. Honestly liked it a lot
Brian Eno
2/5
This sounded like the soundtrack of a movie whenever the zany scientist was on screen.
These songs are the ravings of a lunatic. Who is this album for?
The Cure
3/5
I think this band’s got it where it counts and maybe they’re doing interesting things. Just not for me…
Elton John
4/5
An icon of the genre. Love this album. If it was 20 minutes shorter it would probably be a 5-Star
Jean-Michel Jarre
3/5
Maybe this guy walked so that Daft Punk could fly, idk.
Megadeth
3/5
I really didn’t expect to like this. I always sort of thought Megadeath was a screamo heavy metal band. They surprised me with what felt like the elevation of the genre that came before it. It felt heavily influenced by bands like Aerosmith and AC/DC, but with talented instrumentals to back it up, it was honestly a great listen
Aerosmith
3/5
A classic. Fun to hear what they were like before persona kicked in
Thelonious Monk
2/5
Yep, pretty sure it’s jazz.
Sonic Youth
3/5
Overall I thought the album was fine. There’s a discrepancy between how I felt about the album and the popularity of the band that I think you have to chalk up to “you just had to be there…”
The Velvet Underground
2/5
If they were part of the “British Invasion” (Beatles, Stones, Monkeys, etc), then they were the worst part. This album was milquetoast at best.
R.E.M.
3/5
I liked this album way more than I expected. Their music brings forward feelings of paranoia mixed with a prosperous listlessness that I think really captured this era of American life.
Dinosaur Jr.
3/5
Obviously influential. Not my favorite Gen-X Band but probably inspired them
Adele
4/5
Some people call her the songbird of our generation
Meat Loaf
4/5
This listen was a hoot. Meat Loaf has a way of transporting me to a time and a place that I’ve never been before, but somehow feels familiar. His lyricism takes you in a strange journey, but he backs it up with rock instrumentation that’s better than it has any business being.
The Pogues
3/5
Listening to this album in October is like listening to Christmas carols on Labor Day. Fun listen overall
Penguin Cafe Orchestra
2/5
I feel like I’m missing something…
The Darkness
3/5
I think Glitter Rock had had its 14 minutes of fame. This was the 15th minute.
Janis Joplin
4/5
The lyricism was impressive.
The instrumentation ripped.
Only complaint the vocals. Fun for a few songs but just listening to it felt like I was getting vocal fry after a few tracks. Take it easy Janis.
Fiona Apple
4/5
You could tell me that Fiona Apple was a singer in a seedy 1930’s nightclub, with a voice like cigarettes, or a contemporary of Adele, and either way I’d believe you. Coupled with instrumentation you don’t hear much anymore, this was a great album
Dolly Parton
3/5
If you’re looking for country music that’s right over home plate, this is it
Billy Bragg
3/5
Favorite Song: She Came Along to Me
Overall This album sounds like the soundtrack to a 2007 indie stoner comedy. Maybe that’s why I like it, idk.
The KLF
2/5
Another triple blind for me.
Best listened to at a fashion boutique in 1989 during a dressing room montage. Not bad But also not necessary…
Paul Simon
3/5
Excellent as Paul Simon may be, I’m not convinced he’s 100% for me. That being said, I think if you wanted to give a foreigner an album that explained America in the 70’s/80’s, this album may be a strong contender. Like a slightly folksier version of Springsteen
Led Zeppelin
4/5
As far as freshmen efforts go, this may be the gold standard. Only reason it’s not a 5-Star is because I know they just get better and better.
Duran Duran
3/5
As someone who was only in the 80’s for 6 months, my sense of the 80’s is basically defined by pop culture. And Duran Duran is the soundtrack
Laura Nyro
2/5
I had to look her up on Wikipedia to figure out why they would include her in this challenge. I still don’t get it…
Les Rythmes Digitales
2/5
I’m neither mad nor impressed. Was this guy blazing new trails or something? Not certain what makes him any more or less special than your average fuckboi DJ who gets a set at Coachella
Bruce Springsteen
3/5
Good listen. Soulful songs about a way of life that doesn’t seem like it exists anymore.
Iron Maiden
4/5
Honestly never really listened to Iron Maiden before and was surprised at how much I liked it. Rockin like Metallica, but hammy like Jack Black. This was a good listen
Pet Shop Boys
2/5
This didn’t do it for me. I know PSB gets better with catchier songs, but this album wasn’t it. Great for doing cocaine to but otherwise could be left in the 80’s
Arctic Monkeys
4/5
One of the few albums so far that I actually knew pretty well. These songs absolutely rip. Takes me back to my iPod days
Buddy Holly & The Crickets
3/5
Easy listen. Doesn’t challenge the listener with things like nuance. It is honestly nice to hear what music used to be. You don’t need 5 verses, 3 choruses and a bridge to make music worth hearing. Sometimes it is this easy and this simple.
Joni Mitchell
3/5
Another Joni classic. I think she got her stride more on “Blue” but this was another good example of great songwriting
Beastie Boys
4/5
Thoroughly enjoyable. Many have tried to combine rock and rap, but I don’t know many who’ve done it as well
The Triffids
2/5
Why did these guys merit inclusion? They’re like a worse version of all the bad English and Irish bands we’ve already covered. They make Bono sound like Led Zeppelin.
Bruce Springsteen
3/5
Good storytelling, good instrumentation. But didn’t really do much for me
Bon Jovi
4/5
Icon of the genre. Plays like an arena anthem karaoke greatest hits
Michael Jackson
5/5
Most iconic album from one of the most iconic musicians to ever do the thing. 5 stars, no notes
Neil Young & Crazy Horse
3/5
Good listen overall. Some of the guitar solos approached Dave Matthews “jam-band” status. Not really my thing but good in spite of it.
Emmylou Harris
2/5
zzzZZZzzz…
Boomer mom shit.
Dexys Midnight Runners
3/5
REALLY debated giving 4 stars, but I’m not really getting re-listen vibes from these guys. That being said…
Had low expectations and was honestly surprised. I thought these guys were a pretty cut and dry one hit wonder. Turns out they’re less of an 80’s one off and kind of a cool ska meets Chicago meets the kinks type ensemble, while simultaneously being their own thing.
Dire Straits
4/5
Sultans of Swing is handily one of the best songs of all time.
Derek & The Dominos
3/5
Two things are true:
1) Clapton belongs on the Mt Rushmore of guitarists and
2) He gets a lot better than this album.
You’re likely to never find me in the mood for the blues. Different strokes…
Sly & The Family Stone
3/5
It’s funky. It’s fresh. It’s probably historically significant in ways I’m not aware of. Good inclusion.
5/5
About time for some Beatles. Arguably the best album by arguably one of history’s best bands. Excellent listen.
Linkin Park
5/5
The nostalgia factor pumps this up to a 5-star album.
It always felt like Linkin Park took the torch from 90’s grunge to create the sound that began to define the era of millennial rock, the way Nirvana did for GenX, or Zeppelin did for the boomers.
RIP Chester; glad to re-listen to this one
Dion
2/5
Not great, but not terrible. Reminds me a bit of John Lennon’s solo career. Not hard to listen to, but nothing worth returning to
Solomon Burke
2/5
Just kind of generic. Didn’t do anything for me…
Green Day
4/5
Punk Rock Classic. As formative as it gets. Pure nostalgia.
The Roots
4/5
Possibly the gold standard when it comes to R&B. Made me feel 15% cooler just listening to it. Excellent inclusion.
Roxy Music
2/5
Kind of horny. Overall a bit weird. Not my cup of tea.
Mariah Carey
3/5
REALLY thought hard about giving this 4 stars. Mariah has the voice of a generation, one that I don’t think anybody will ever surpass.
But the album isn’t necessarily one that I want to visit again. Tough call…
Pink Floyd
3/5
Good album overall. Floyd does it like no one else. That being said… there were a few times I found myself saying “could we get to the point?” Bit rambly at points…
Muddy Waters
3/5
I don’t really like jazz, and this album didn’t really change that. However… I admire the restraint. Jazz albums like this are usually a massive circle jerk of pointless 8 minute solos, and this album bucked the trend. Cheers to that.
The Adverts
2/5
Another triple blind. Pretty garden variety British Invasion type stuff. Not that impressed…
Robert Wyatt
3/5
Triple blind for me.
I’m honestly not sure what to think. It sounds like a Pink Floyd tribute band. Experimental, but not overly. I don’t see myself coming back again…
Various Artists
4/5
Awesome compilation. Honestly amazing how much this set the tone for every single Christmas movie soundtrack for the next 60 years. Absolutely incorporating into the rotation
The Go-Go's
2/5
This band is like the 80’s incarnate. Not really sure what their place is in the 21st century if at all.
Michael Jackson
3/5
Rating this against all of these other albums, it’s probably a 3-4. But ranking against MJ’s own albums I’d say it’s a 2-3. Thriller was way better and he certainly has more exciting stuff. That being said, the man knew how to entertain…
Captain Beefheart & His Magic Band
4/5
Another triple blind!
I honestly liked this album more than I expected. Its influences on bands like The Beatles, Led Zeppelin and The Rolling Stones felt palpable. Songs were also fairly fun. Great inclusion
Bob Dylan
3/5
I’m still not a Dylan fan, but I’ll give this one a pass. It’s far less rambly than a lot of his other stuff. Honestly the songwriting is solid. Why can’t he let people sing it who are, I dunno, good at singing?
Elis Regina
3/5
Triple blind here.
I liked this album more than I expected. Not something I imagine returning to but overall a decent listen the first time around.
The Doors
4/5
This album has got to go down as one of history’s greatest. Plays more like a greatest hits than a freshman EP. Astonishing that this is the album they came into the scene with.
Eminem
3/5
Where I thought the Slim Shady LP was a great balance of funny and edgy, the Marshall Mathers LP is more like funny and whiny. I still like it, but it’s hard to listen to a decamillionaire complain about how hard fame and fortune are
Violent Femmes
2/5
Honestly I don’t think there’s much more to this band than being a one-hit-wonder.
Aerosmith
3/5
I liked the album overall! I think Aerosmith may have honestly peaked in the 70’s but this album had a couple bangers. I especially liked the Dulcimer song
Blue Cheer
2/5
I think this album explores the limits of the effects of narcotics on songwriting. Turns out that you can be too high, even when you’re writing hippie music
Marty Robbins
3/5
This album is fun, it’s easy, and it’s nostalgic for a time that never existed. It’s fan fiction for boomers that can’t ride a horse. Occasionally fun, but overall meaningless
The Velvet Underground
2/5
I honestly don’t get it. It’s just kind of neutral and pleasant, with no point of view. What’s the appeal?
Neneh Cherry
4/5
You open on a hot day. You pan over Brooklyn (Harlem if ya nasty). Old ladies are fanning themselves on the stoop with a glass of iced tea. Children are playing in a fire hydrant that’s open for some reason. Street youths are breakdancing on cardboard next to a boombox. A young man and a beat cop have a minor altercation for little to no reason.
This album is what’s playing.
Directed by and Starring Spike Lee.
Overall I doubt I’ll listen to this again, but this album elicited some very clear mental images and was a fun listen
Joni Mitchell
3/5
*sigh* Joni’s good, I get it. Let’s move on please?
Thundercat
5/5
Triple blind, and this is exactly why I’m doing this challenge. This album was cool. It was fun but also musically interesting. Will be deep diving this guys discography
Foo Fighters
5/5
Even though they have better albums, this album was the start of a band that has defined contemporary rock for over 30 years. It represents a passing of the torch from Nirvana to the Foo fighters, and symbolically from GenX to the Millennials. Crucial album in rock history
Janelle Monáe
4/5
I’ve been familiar with Janelle Monae for a while but never really given her my full attention. Overall I’m pretty impressed with this album. Her songs were accessible while also showcasing real vocal talent. Will be coming back to the well for certain.
Jeff Buckley
3/5
Felt wholly original. Not sure if I’ll be coming back to the well on this one but glad I listened to it
Queen
3/5
Honestly, disappointing. I was locked and loaded to give Queen an immediate 5-star, but this album left me wanting more. Feels like they hadn’t quite gelled as a band
Bob Dylan
2/5
Boring. A worthy inclusion once but the collective delusion that Bob Dylan is the finest of the 20th century needs to be studied…
Queen
4/5
It’s amazing to see what a change Queen went through inside if the same year, from Queen II to this album. Clear to see that this is where they came into their own.
Led Zeppelin
4/5
Great inclusion. Everyone knows the true apex is coming, but this buildup to their best work is a worthwhile listen
The Clash
2/5
They’re angry.
They’re English.
Am I missing something?
Stevie Wonder
4/5
Not as good as “Songs in the Key of Love” but better than most bands at their best
Black Flag
3/5
Important I’m sure, but lost on me, what can I say
Boston
4/5
This album is a 5-Star if you don’t flip it over.
The A-Side plays like a greatest hits album.
The B-Side was weak. But not Bostons fault…
Fleetwood Mac
5/5
Cocaine + Infidelity = Magic, apparently
Richard Thompson
2/5
First double blind actually. I’d never heard of the artist or album, but I realized that I had heard “withered and died” in movies and stuff. Overall not my thing. Kind of low energy, surprised it made the list honestly
Lauryn Hill
3/5
Highly influential. Listening to this feels like I’m watching a movie about an inner city LA high school in the aftermath of the Rodney King riots…
I want to like this album more. I’ve always been very aware of this album and, in conjunction with the enigmatic personality of Lauryn Hill herself, I think the album became larger than life. I honestly find it to be kind of low energy in places and overall just not something I want to listen to again. But I have to give credit for it’s influence and meaning to the genre itself.
Rod Stewart
3/5
Not sure how to feel about this album. Honestly probably the first time I’ve felt stumped in this challenge. At times it felt like a 2, 3, and 4 star album.
I did go in to this album expecting boomer mom rock, and it happened occasionally, but there were other redeeming qualities to the album, among the sleepers.
Safe to say there’s more to Rod Stewart than what he’s famous for, but I don’t know how much…
Talking Heads
3/5
To me, talking heads seems like the kind of band where you just had to be there. I don’t think they’re bad but I feel like the hype and reputation eclipses the actual product…
Crosby, Stills & Nash
4/5
An absolute classic. Rare to see vocal talent that matches instrumental talent but CS&N delivers. From the joy of “Judy Blue Eyes” to the haunting melancholy of “Helplessly Hoping” these guys have it figured out
Slade
3/5
Overall the album was pretty average. Hard to tell if the band was influential or if they were overly influenced. Either way, other bands have done it better
The Smiths
3/5
It’s kind of a vibes album. Feels appropriate to be playing, softly, on vinyl, in the corner of your room, while other more interesting things are happening. Not bad, but not so special
Laibach
3/5
Triple blind, and wow. What a journey. At times a cool listen. At other times redundant. And at other times a little fascistic, If we’re being honest. Overall, I’m left dumbfounded. Not sure what to say about an album like this…
Björk
2/5
I don’t get it… putting art out into the world is generally always a good thing, but I don’t think this one was made for me
Yeah Yeah Yeahs
3/5
Started as a party album, ended as something else entirely. Overall surprised, liked this more than I expected
Bruce Springsteen
3/5
Baseball. Coca-Cola. Bald Eagles. This album. Classic.
JAY Z
3/5
Always interesting to see where someone starts, especially when they’ve transcended the industry the way Jay-Z has. Overall kind of monotone though, I prefer the genre mixing he would get into later into his career, such as Magna Carta/Holy grail.
Johnny Cash
4/5
I sincerely admire the artist who’s famous for one genre, but who can hop around other genres with ease and their own sense of musical talent.
Ella Fitzgerald
3/5
She didn’t sing them because they’re classics. They’re classics because she sang them. Not a fan of jazz, but this albums influence is undeniable
David Bowie
2/5
Bowie will be immortal for many of the albums he put into this world.
Just not this one.
Super Furry Animals
3/5
As albums go this is about as eclectic as it gets. Real hodge podge across genres and styles. Unlikely to revisit but I admire a band that has the ability to successfully change lanes mid album
Bob Dylan
3/5
Gun to my head, I think if I had to recommend ONE Dylan album to someone, it would be this one. In terms of classic Dylan, this one’s right over home plate. That being said, can we be done now?
The Blue Nile
2/5
It’s like talking heads, but make it weird and low energy. I guess you could call them a “vibes” band if you want to, better listened to on vinyl with a joint in hand. Fun for some, not my idea of a good time
Wu-Tang Clan
3/5
Another interesting listen. I still like the concept feel. Of the 2 WuTangs we’ve listened to, this one feels like the more important to the bands history
Fleet Foxes
4/5
It’s tempting to lump Fleet Foxes in the same box as The Lumineers of Mumford and Sons. Part of that “stomp clap” acoustic movement that took place in the 2010’s. But I think where Mumford tried to tap into an Obama era sense of millennial optimism, Fleet Foxes tapped into a sense of melancholy. It felt more real. Coupled with more interesting instrumentation and interesting vocals, I think more people should know about this band
k.d. lang
2/5
Good voice overall, but music’s not for me. Leave the honky tonk tracks to Johnny Cash
Keith Jarrett
3/5
As a 10-year student of the keys myself, I can definitely appreciate the performance. Honestly not sure if it belongs on the list but I don’t regret the listen
Radiohead
4/5
Iconic work from an iconic band. Music is simultaneously haunting AND catchy. And to think it’s not even their best album
James Brown
3/5
I’m walking away from this album with an overall positive impression of James Brown but I’m sure there’s a better starting place than a 30 minute live set
Nirvana
5/5
An absolute juggernaut of an album. Over 30 years of staying power. Iconic stadium anthems, equally appropriate over headphones or in the car. And may Lithium forever be the sound of a Kraken goal.
The Mothers Of Invention
2/5
The vocals sounded like an attempt at karaoke by someone who had a day-job at something like office administration, dental hygienist, something entirely removed from singing.
The music sounds like a sad attempt to cash in on the fever dream aesthetic of Sgt Pepper’s Lonely Heart Club Band.
I’m not sure if this band matters in the grand scheme of music. If they do, I don’t know why…
Jazmine Sullivan
3/5
This albums inspirations were clear, it felt very “Lauryn Hill meets Alicia Keys”. Overall a fine album, but to me feels like the type of album that’s been done better, before, by different people…
Roxy Music
2/5
Almost nothing about this album sticks out. Unclear on the reasons for inclusion.
Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers
4/5
All timer of the classic Americana genre. This album almost falls into the A-Side/B-Side trap, but ultimately lands the place with “American Girl”
Air
2/5
Sort of psychedelic mumbo jumbo. Don’t really get it…
Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan
2/5
Overly repetitive, twice as long as it needs to be. Meant for a very specific type of person. When I find out what kind of person that is, I’ll let you know…
Pixies
4/5
The kind of album that feels like a time capsule. Could only have achieved this status at the right place, right time, and has since become what seems like a Gen-X gold standard.
John Martyn
2/5
I didn’t get much out of it. Couple tracks were ok, but a lot of them felt like the LaCroix of music. Like, they know what music is, and created something that’s only kind of close, but obviously not quite there
The Band
3/5
Thought this was a triple blind, but ended up being a double blind once I got into it. Overall I liked the album. It feels like this band could have been bigger, but maybe got market corrected by the Beatles or Springsteen or something like that…
Paul Simon
3/5
Paul Simon is an all-timer for a reason. Although I think I may prefer his dark and brooding “bridge over troubled water” era
The Icarus Line
3/5
Triple blind here. An obscure pull from the mid-2000’s “cock rock/butt rock” genre. Not bad if that’s what you’re into, but not noteworthy from what I could tell.
The Who
3/5
I honestly didn’t realize this version of The Who existed. Unlike their more self-serious greatest hits, this album gives more of a concept album with a whimsical feel. Glad I got to experience it!
The Rolling Stones
3/5
Perfect album for stealing someone’s girl over a milkshake with two straws. Always amazing to see where some of these bands get their start before the psychedelic narcotics kick in.
Red Hot Chili Peppers
4/5
Not a lot of albums that can transport you to both a time and a place, but this one sure can. RHCP was above my pay-grade in 1999, but I’ll never forget watching the “Californication” music on VH1/MTV (channels that my sheltered self wasn’t supposed to watch). At least half of this album went on to dominate the Alt Rock airwaves for the next 20 years, as well as my iPod.
3/5
This album sounds like someone asking the question: what if the Rolling Stones played Sgt Pepper? It feels fairly emblematic of the 60’s in general but not in a way that seems important…
Kraftwerk
3/5
No meaningful opinion here. Honestly more of a fun inclusion than anything. Certainly not going to line up for tickets to a live show, but kind of fun to see an early iteration of bands like Daft Punk and Nine Inch Nails
Prefab Sprout
2/5
Nothing about this album really caught my attention. There were some mildly interesting lyrical choices in a few of the songs but nothing that makes merits inclusion on a list like this…
The White Stripes
3/5
Contemporary Bob Dylan. The lyricism is interesting. The instrumentation is catchy. The vocals are unlistenable. Great stadium jams or high energy road trip jams, but not for the daily playlist
ABBA
4/5
In the center of the Venn diagram of “classic albums” and “fun ways to spend the weekend” there lies this album.
Radiohead
3/5
This album feels like the midpoint of a suspension bridge. It’s decidedly lower than the apexes that are OK Computer and The Bends, but still an integral part of the the discography as a whole.
The Specials
4/5
This album was an absolute party. Next time I hear it I want to hear it live with a beer in my hand.
Finley Quaye
2/5
Occasionally groovy but nothing that hasn’t been done before by someone better. Top 1000 of all time? Not sure about that…
George Harrison
3/5
It’s not an all-timer, but I do think it goes to show that there was more to the Beatles than just Paul and John. The Beatles synergy was obvious, becoming greater than the sum of their parts. Peel off one player and he’s not quite 25% of the Beatles good, but he’s every bit as good as your average 70’s New age yahoo with a record deal and an acoustic guitar
Carole King
4/5
This album is interesting; can’t tell if Carol King is a contemporary of Joni Mitchell or who influenced who, but both are worthy inclusions. I don’t imagine myself coming back to this album regularly but I have to admire the songwriting
The Zombies
3/5
All these British Invasion bands are starting to sound the same… Overall I liked this album. Time of the season has always been a tentpole of any classic rock station, and “This Will be Our Year” is another classic. Overall a good listen, but I’m content to keep The Zombies reserved to classic rock stations
Radiohead
4/5
Haunting, iconic, and years ahead of its time. Great way for a band like this to kick off the new millennium.
Queen
5/5
For one of the most iconic bands of all time, it’s no question that this album is what launched them into the stratosphere.
Sleater-Kinney
2/5
Very much a snapshot in time. Really only the kind of angst that could only exist in the suburban ennui of the Clinton administration. It was created there and there it shall remain.
Soundgarden
4/5
Great listen, one of the all timers of the genre. Chris Cornell we are not worthy
ZZ Top
3/5
Give me this album in a dark dive bar with a cold beer and a loud jukebox and it’s a fun Friday night
Mudhoney
3/5
Nirvana, Pearl Jam, and Soundgarden did it better, but Mudhoney did it first. More of a legacy inclusion than something I want to listen to every day but still interesting to hear these roots of 90’s Grunge
The Monks
2/5
It’s the La Croix of 60’s music. It almost has flavor. It plays more like the backing track to a summertime pool scene set in the 60’s than actual music by an actual band.
Minor Threat
2/5
It’s noisy, it’s quick, it’s edgy. Probably contributed a lot to the pop punk scene overall, but not something I need to visit again
Beatles
5/5
If aliens invaded tomorrow and we had to give them one album to understand The Beatles, this is that album. This is what 9 years of cohesive songwriting looks like and may very well be the crown jewel of one of histories most important bands
Metallica
3/5
There’s a lot to be said about an album like this by people more qualified than me… I’m into Metallica for a few of their songs but I’m not sure the full album experience is for me. I’ll take one rendition of “Nothing Else Matters” over an entire album again. Talented but not my taste