139
Albums Rated
3.37
Average Rating
13%
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950 albums remaining
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1970s
Favorite Decade
Punk
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Wordsmith
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26
5-Star Albums
7
1-Star Albums
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You Love More Than Most
Albums you rated higher than global average
| Album | You | Global | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Atomizer | 5 | 2.72 | +2.28 |
| Bandwagonesque | 5 | 3.05 | +1.95 |
| Astral Weeks | 5 | 3.27 | +1.73 |
| Daydream Nation | 5 | 3.3 | +1.7 |
| Horses | 5 | 3.31 | +1.69 |
| Red Headed Stranger | 5 | 3.35 | +1.65 |
| Either Or | 5 | 3.38 | +1.62 |
| The Köln Concert | 5 | 3.39 | +1.61 |
| Arthur (Or the Decline and Fall of the British Empire) | 5 | 3.39 | +1.61 |
| Beauty And The Beat | 5 | 3.39 | +1.61 |
You Love Less Than Most
Albums you rated lower than global average
| Album | You | Global | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hybrid Theory | 1 | 3.38 | -2.38 |
| Eliminator | 1 | 3.38 | -2.38 |
| Hearts And Bones | 1 | 3.03 | -2.03 |
| Want Two | 1 | 2.84 | -1.84 |
| Two Dancers | 1 | 2.75 | -1.75 |
| Songs From The Big Chair | 2 | 3.74 | -1.74 |
| ...Baby One More Time | 1 | 2.67 | -1.67 |
| L.A. Woman | 2 | 3.67 | -1.67 |
| Band On The Run | 2 | 3.67 | -1.67 |
| Enter The Wu-Tang (36 Chambers) | 2 | 3.61 | -1.61 |
Artist Analysis
Favorite Artists
Artists with 2+ albums
| Artist | Albums | Average |
|---|---|---|
| R.E.M. | 3 | 4.67 |
5-Star Albums (26)
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Popular Reviews
Randy Newman
4/5
4/5 - I needed to hear this so I could hear Randy Newman beyond animated soundtracks and "I Love LA," as well as pay attention to his smart, biting lyrics. You can just see the sideways grin he's giving with songs like "Political Science" and "Burn On.” I don't love his voice, but I'm jealous of his songwriting talent.
1 likes
1-Star Albums (7)
All Ratings
Mercury Rev
3/5
Would repeat listen Holes, Opus 40, and Goddess on a Hiway. Not an album I need to listen to all the way through again.
George Harrison
4/5
Far too long, but a real survey of “everything George.” I love the uptempo songs with the Spector wall of sound and horns, but could have done without the stoner jam band elements towards the end.
The Stooges
4/5
4.5 / 5 - Has possibly the best first line on a Song 1, Side 1 of any album, and is also one of the most aptly named albums of all time. The influence of Raw Power is obviously far and wide for the future of punk, but this easily holds up on its own legs with door-blasting energy beyond just being an "influential album."
I had never listened to it all the way through, and I listened to it 4 times in a row. Rounding down only because it's early in the reviews and I need to leave space at the top.
Black Sabbath
3/5
3/5 - Imagine bringing this record home in 1970 with this creepy ass album cover and the opening sounds of the rain and bells. This is a demonic, Halloween MOOD. It’s hard to believe a recording this thick with atmosphere is a debut, but the vision of what they wanted to be is clear.
Like many, I’d probably listen to the follow-up Paranoid (from the same year) any day before heading back to the debut, but “The Wizard” rocks.
Alanis Morissette
4/5
4/5 - Why do you need to hear this album before you die? So that you can hear exactly what 1995 and 1996 sounded like. This is not a timeless classic. This is a time capsule that you dig up, dust off, and feel all the disillusionment, angst, and GenX attitude wash over you in waves. written and sung by a woman who is flat out going for it, because who gives a flick what you think.
The lyrics are sometimes brilliant, and frequently bad, while Alanis' voice is sometimes perfect and frequently grating, but this is catharsis on compact disc. There's thousands of singer-songwriter records, but few have this specific of a voice for a particular generation. Just sing along. You know the words.
Lauryn Hill
3/5
2.5/5 - Why did I need to hear this album before I die? I suppose to hear what all the fuss was about. I had no connection to this album in 1998, though I've given it several listens over the last few years. I think it's fine. The hallway chatter interludes annoy me, and most of the album fades into the background for me, with a few strong standouts as the exception.
Sarah Vaughan
3/5
3/5 - Why did I need to hear this album before I die? To get the feel of the ambience in a mid-century jazz club in Chicago from a time well before I was born. Vaughn has a beautiful voice, and the standards are classic material, but this isn't the type of music I really engage with. In terms of musicianship and quality, this is surely higher than a 3, but it doesn't really move me.
Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers
3/5
3/5 - I’m pretty sure I didn’t need to hear this album before I die. Breakdown and American Girl are obvious standout hits, and Strangered in the Night is pretty good, but this isn’t an album of hidden gems. I love dozens of Tom Petty songs, but the debut is a bit thin for me.
Norah Jones
2/5
2/5 - I didn't need to hear this album before I die. It's well executed, relaxing, and beautiful, but also really dull if you've never listened all the way through before. Not for me.
David Bowie
3/5
3/5 - Why did I need to hear this album before I die? To fill in a gap of what I know about David Bowie. This isn’t a Bowie record I’m going to revisit, but Fascination and Right were both worth discovering. The collaboration with John Lennon was also new to me. I didn’t expect to hear a cover of Across the Universe.
Britney Spears
1/5
1/5 - I most definitely did not need to hear this before I die. Britney Spears was a cultural phenomenon, but this album nose dives after the first track and hits bottom on “E-mail My Heart.” This album is laugh out loud, wretched pop written and produced by an exploitative factory.
I only made it through this because I had 9 hours of driving today, and it made all the other music feel like a savior.
Keith Jarrett
5/5
5/5 - This is an example of why I started on this project — to be introduced to worthwhile recordings I would never have listened to on my own. This is way out of my usual listening tastes, but I absolutely enjoyed it. Would listen again.
Boston
5/5
5/5 - You need to hear this before you die because of the guitar tone of Tom Scholz. This is production perfection joined with great hooks and Brad Delp's voice. I've listened to this album hundreds of times, and it's a cornerstone of 70s classic rock.
Jorge Ben Jor
4/5
4/5 - I needed to hear this because I am unfamiliar with the genre and this was a fun, easy listen. I wouldn’t have guessed this was from the 70s. Taj Mahal and the song after it were standouts for me.
Elliott Smith
5/5
5/5 - You need to hear this because Smith’s influence keeps living on. The whispered melodies and spare production keep the focus on the songwriting here, so I like this even more than XO I think. I’m glad this album came up because it had been a good long while since I sat with some of these songs. Great stuff.
Wu-Tang Clan
2/5
2/5 - I needed to hear this record so I could say I tried. It’s hard to access this album without a guide when it’s so far outside what I typically listen to, especially lyrically. Obviously, this is a landmark hip-hop album, and it will get plenty of high marks. I was fine with several songs, but when you’re not in on the joke on the skits, it’s annoying, and the album doesn’t invite spending more time on it.
Sepultura
4/5
4/5 - I needed to hear this because the drums and guitar rip. Lyrics and Cookie Monster growling do zero for me. Obvious major influences from Master of Puppets and Slayer here. Dead Embryonic Cells and Desperate Cry were my favorites.
Haircut 100
3/5
3/5 - I probably didn’t need to hear this, but I enjoyed the singles, especially Fantastic Day. Their sound was overall pretty tight with the horns, and the songs were light and summery. Enjoyable but really dated. I guess they were bigger in the UK, because I hadn’t heard of them.
Randy Newman
4/5
4/5 - I needed to hear this so I could hear Randy Newman beyond animated soundtracks and "I Love LA," as well as pay attention to his smart, biting lyrics. You can just see the sideways grin he's giving with songs like "Political Science" and "Burn On.” I don't love his voice, but I'm jealous of his songwriting talent.
Stan Getz
5/5
5/5 - I needed to hear this because I could put it on repeat all day. Admittedly, on first listen, I wouldn’t be able to tell this apart from any of a thousand other albums in this genre, but this hooked me. “Desafinado” and “Samba Dees Days” were my favorite tracks, but I enjoyed it the whole way through. Guitar playing was fantastic.
Elbow
2/5
2/5 - I didn’t need to hear this. It has some interesting moments, but doesn’t leave me with any lasting impression other than over-produced rock with a singer who reminds me of Chris Martin. By no means is this a bad record, but it doesn’t belong on a list of albums I need to hear. “One Day Like This” was pretty good, but ought to end 1:30 earlier.
Dr. John
4/5
4/5 - I needed to hear this because I didn't know psychedelic voodoo was a thing. I thought it was trouble after the first track, but it got a lot more tuneful after that. The music here has a real "feel" and rhythm that I don't think I have the words to describe; it just kinda makes you move. "Mama Roux" and "I Walk on Guilded Splinters" were the standout tracks for me.
Fela Kuti
5/5
4.5 / 5 - I needed to hear this because I didn't think I could enjoy a 15 minute drum instrumental. This is the sort of album I'm here for. I have no idea of this is a good Fela Kuti live album or how much Ginger Baker is adding to the sound, but I listened all the way through twice, and to a couple tracks 3 times. Great groove. Would listen to more Fela Kuti. Rounding to 5 for the drums.
Bruce Springsteen
2/5
2/5 - I needed to hear this only if I wanted to revisit the post-9/11 feeling. This feels very dated to me, and not a Bruce album I'd want to spend additional time with. Musically, this just doesn't do much at all, and lyrically, it's hard to engage for the first time with something that is so particular to a moment in time.
Waylon Jennings
3/5
3/5 - I guess I needed to hear one of the early outlaw country albums, but nothing here is going to stick with me.
Dolly Parton
4/5
4/5 - I needed to hear this because the harmonies are great and it feels like a landmark supergroup album, since I'm not aware of a woman-led supergroup before this, though there probably was one. I'm not a huge country fan, but "Wildflowers" was a standout track for me.
The Smashing Pumpkins
4/5
4/5 - I needed to hear half of this album. There’s a solid 12-15 songs here, but like the production, and everything else, it’s all just so much. As a whole, it doesn’t hold up to repeat listens 30 years later, but the high points here are among my all-time favorites. Muzzle, Porcelina, 1979, BWBW.
Rufus Wainwright
1/5
1/5 - I did not need to hear this album, and I barely made it through. Just absolutely not my thing, though The One You Love and The Art Teacher were OK.
Rod Stewart
2/5
2.5/5 - I don’t think I needed to hear this, because it’s not going to open any new doors on what I think of Rod Stewart. The country-influenced rock and roll is perfectly listenable, but very little surprises here except the funky ending track. Rod sounds like Rod. Rounding down for lame album art.
Yes
4/5
4/5 - I needed to hear this, because I’ve never voluntarily listened to a full Yes album before. I enjoyed this much more than I thought I would. Maybe prog isn’t so bad after all. Lots of great instrumentation here obviously, but I also really liked the opening vocal hook in Starship Trooper. Adding this one to my rotation.
Pantera
2/5
2/5 - I didn’t need to hear this, because I never got into Pantera, and this album doesn’t change my mind. Maybe on a different day, but probably not.
Prefab Sprout
3/5
2.5/5 - I needed to hear this because I didn’t know sophisti-pop was a thing before today. This album starts off pretty strong, but side B is a snore. I listened to the acoustic version of this album, and that was better for me, because it’s a little more focus on the songs without the overly lavish synth production. Everything about this record is really British, including the album art. “Bonny” was probably my favorite track.
Rounding up because of the really unusual lyrics that kept surprising me. “Turkey hungry, chicken free. I can breakdance on your knee.” ?!
Nitty Gritty Dirt Band
3/5
3/5 - I needed to hear maybe 5 songs of this album, but certainly not 2 hours. This is like when someone suggests The Count of Monte Cristo for your bookclub. You've got an epic assignment of 1200 pages of classic material to consume, and you've more or less got the gist 1/5 of the way in, because it's all more of the same. There's not going to be any surprises on side B of this monster.
This is a documentary-worthy piece of work that is important for all sorts of reasons, I'm sure. It belongs on this list. I'll give it a 3 because if I'm in the unlikely mood for some bluegrass, now I know where to go. That said, it can't go any higher because: a) It's more of a catalog than an artistic statement as an album and b) I hate skits on country/bluegrass albums as much as I do on hip-hop albums. Just play the song; isn't the album already long enough?
Patti Smith
5/5
5/5 - I needed to hear this in my life because it’s one of the original seeds that influenced so many bands I love. Smith is a complete badass on this recording and sets the tone right from the first line of Gloria. I don’t care if her voice is all over the place, and it’s often just 3-chord rock. It’s about the attitude and the message — still real 50 years later.
Little Simz
4/5
3.5/5 - i needed to hear this because Little Simz is a fresh voice that I otherwise wouldn’t have heard. This album surprised me with its musicality. Selfish, Wounds, Flowers, and FM 101 were the better tracks for me. I didn’t love all of it, but definitely plenty here to listen to again.
Bob Marley & The Wailers
5/5
5/5 - Needed to hear this because I’ve heard all the hits hundreds of times, but never listened all the way through a Bob Marley album. Strong all the way through without a miss, it’s obvious why this is a classic. Marley writes timeless lyrics that were very much grounded in the politics of his home and time. The band is impeccable. This is music that lifts.
James Brown
3/5
3/5 - I needed to hear this because it is a brief window into a particular moment in time that I’d never get from a studio recording. That said, I don’t care much for live albums, and they are almost always “one and done” listens for me. The tracks here are mostly shorter than I expected and feel like they’d be especially flat without the audience. I have a ton of respect for the outsized influence Brown would have for the decades to come, but I doubt I’d revisit this recording.
Marvin Gaye
4/5
4/5 - I needed to hear this because I know it’s one of those “soundtrack to people’s lives” albums, and it has a beautiful, smooth sound with darker subject matter than the earlier Motown records. Enjoyable listen for me, but I hadn’t listened all the way through before, and I didn’t really connect with it.
4/5
4/5 - You really need to hear Revolver more than you need to hear Sgt. Pepper's, because it's the real masterpiece. A Day in the Life is one of the grandest pop songs of all time. Mr. Kite makes no sense. John opines dreamily about the girl with kaleidoscope eyes. Paul has some charming songs like 64 and Getting Better. Sitar! You've already read and heard everything about this album. It's one of the "important" ones, but it's definitely not the best one.
Sebadoh
3/5
3/5 - I don't think this is an album of this era you need to hear, but it hits a spot for me. It has several solid tracks with Soul and Fire a clear standout, but Sister, Sacred Attention, and Think (Let Tomorrow Bee) are also really good. This is an album with three separate songwriters, and it really shows, with Barlow easily being the most talented writer of the group. Overall, a good discovery for me, and I'll be back.
Run-D.M.C.
4/5
4.5/5 - You need to hear this, because it launched hip-hop and rap into a generation of young suburban ears. The first 4 tracks are all-timers. It gets spotty in places after that with weaker songs like Perfection and Dumb Girl, but this is a must-listen classic. Pop culture juggernaut.
5/5
5/5 - You need to hear this because Ray Davies doesn’t get enough credit as a songwriter. Other than the leadoff Victoria, I had never heard anything on this album, and I loved every bit of it. Some Mother’s Son, Australia, Shangri-La — all so good, but I was into the whole concept of Arthur and the story of the lyrics. I clearly need to listen to more by The Kinks.
Jah Wobble's Invaders Of The Heart
2/5
2/5 - I didn't need to hear this, because it made very little impression on me. The band name and album art put me in a skeptical mood from the jump, and the music didn't turn me around. Immediately felt like some 90s take on "world music" and all the generic associations that brings along. There were a few moments when I thought it was alright, but I kept thinking : "Is this anyone's favorite band?"
Jurassic 5
4/5
4/5 - I needed to hear this because discovering a hip-hop album with a positive message and great samples was a helluva good time. Day at the Races was the standout for me, but I had fun listening the whole way through, even if it got a bit long at the end.
Girls Against Boys
2/5
2/5 - I didn’t need to hear this, because I couldn’t recall one hook or anything else after finishing it. I tried again and still nothing. I tend to like this type of sound compared to some other genres on this list, but this was a dud for me. Listenable, so I’ll give it a 2.
Jimmy Smith
3/5
3/5 - I needed to hear this so I'd know how to get back to the chicken shack in case I want to visit again. I'm never going to have anything technical to say about listenable jazz like this, but I like this era of music, even if it doesn't really stick with me.
The Who
4/5
3.5/5 - You need to hear this because a big part of The Who's legend (for better or worse) is based on their live performances. I love this era of The Who and the setlist is great, but I'm just not a fan of live albums. Still, there's worse ways to spend my time than listening to a set of really familiar songs backed by Moon's constantly crashing cymbals.
Michael Jackson
3/5
3/5 - I'm sure I needed to hear this at some point in my life, but I don't need to hear it anymore. The hits were huge, but as a whole album, it's overrated. Deserves a place in pop culture history and on this list, but not in my listening rotation.
Ice T
3/5
3/5 - I needed to hear this because it’s the closest I’ve come to enjoying a 90s gangster rap album. Don’t care for skits, but the samples were really good throughout. New Jack Hustler, Mind Over Matter, Fly By, Escape From the Killing Fields were standout tracks for me.
Kings of Leon
2/5
2.5/5 - I don't think I needed to hear this album. Despite recommendations, I've never thought that much of this debut. The vocals are uninteresting at best, and the music is totally fine. By no means is this a slog to get through, and there's a few tracks I like well enough, but no idea why this is on this list.
Green Day
5/5
5/5 - I needed to hear this album because it is one of my favorite artifacts of the GWB administration. At the time, I had no idea I needed a rock opera from Green Day, but I did. I love this album front to back because it's simply a blast to listen to.
Happy Mondays
2/5
2/5 - I didn’t need to hear this album because it took the same track being on repeat 3x in a row before I finally noticed something was awry. I could not possibly listen to this as a focused experience, but as background while working on a weekday, it never grabbed my attention once. For that, I’ll give it a 2.
Brian Wilson
3/5
3/5 - I needed to hear this album as a whole once because of its mythology and history. This is an incredibly hard album to rate. It’s like an Old Masters painting presented as modern art depicting a landscape from an imaginary Disney planet. Smile has moments of incredible beauty, jarring transitions, barnyard animals, and then comes back and hits you with heavenly harmonies. It’s a masterpiece I don’t really understand and find hard to access. It also contains Good Vibrations which is about as good as it gets in pop music on par with God Only Knows.
The Icarus Line
2/5
2/5 - I didn’t need to hear this album, and I almost didn’t make it through. I’d like to either have some groove or some melody with my noise, and this had neither for me. Generally annoying, but I can see how some would find merit in it, so it’s a 2.
The Rolling Stones
2/5
2/5 - I didn’t need to hear this, because the album tracks were fairly repetitive and the misogyny was gross. There’s better Stones albums than this.
Bill Callahan
3/5
3/5 - I don’t that I needed to hear this album today, but I might need to hear it again sometime in the future. The instrumental aspects of this are pretty enjoyable, but his vocal delivery put me off. I could see this growing on me if I let it.
Lambchop
2/5
2.5/5 - I didn't need to hear this because this was back-to-back with Bill Callahan yesterday, and I hope this isn't a trend. That said, I was prepared to hate this more than I did, and The Butcher Boy was alright. Still, it's too sedate for me in a way that isn't engaging. Rounding down for the falsetto and 90% of the lyrics which made no sense to me.
Beatles
5/5
5/5 - You need to hear this, because it's a masterpiece. I've listened to it many times and will keep on returning. I think it is The Beatles most representative album, as it has all their styles in one package. Yes, even Yellow Submarine has a role to play in this regard.
Duke Ellington
4/5
4/5 - I needed to hear this because it seems like a good example of what a live album can deliver. I'm not versed on the history of Ellington, but I like this style of jazz when I hear it. I usually don't care for live albums with the crowd chatter and all that, but the Dimuendo and Crescendo in Blue track is a keeper. I give it a 4 for that alone.
Big Black
5/5
5/5 - I needed to hear this because it melted my face. This is beautiful, raw noise. I listened to the whole thing 3 times and played Kerosene and Passing Complexion about 5 more. I’ll probably do the same tomorrow.
Johnny Cash
3/5
3/5 - I needed to hear this once as a strong social statement and to hear how Cash commands and plays to the (literally) captive audience. Solid Cash songs as expected, but unlikely to revisit.
Tears For Fears
2/5
2/5 - I didn’t need to hear this. I have no nostalgia for it, and never liked Shout or Head Over Heels on the radio. I do love EWTRTW, but that’s a really easy one to like. I know this album gets a lot of love, but it’s not for me.
Rush
3/5
3/5 - I don’t know how many Rush albums are on this list, but they are a band that should have exactly one on the list. I enjoy the music more than a 3, but between Lee’s vocal quality and whatever nonsense lyrics he’s singing, I’m often left thinking that their albums would be better as full instrumentals.
Marvin Gaye
2/5
2/5 - I didn’t need to hear more than one song about Marvin’s divorce. When “attorney’s fees” is in a lyric, you’re not winning. This album goes on forever.
The Go-Go's
5/5
5/5 - I needed to hear this, because I only know their hits. This was a solid debut album that was a lot of fun to listen to a couple times through. If you’re looking for depth here, you’re not gonna find it, but it’s perfect for what it sets out to be.
Holger Czukay
4/5
4/5 - I needed to hear this because it was delightfully weird, and I never would come across it otherwise. Each track here is pretty different from the others, but they all hit in their own way. I loved the early electronic sampling sounds. I'd definitely check out more by Czukay.
De La Soul
5/5
5/5 - I needed to hear this because it’s a genuinely fun album that made me smile. I had heard the hits before, but skits aside, there were no skips here for me. Playful and goofy. I like it.
The Byrds
2/5
2/5 - I didn’t really need to hear this album. Other than Eight Miles High, nothing even prompted me to check the song title. It’s an extremely 60s record without much appeal for me. I don’t get why this is on the list.
Prince
5/5
5/5 - Dearly Beloved, I am here to tell you that you need to hear this because it’s so damn good. I was too young when this came out to really get it, but even now, this is an exciting album. The funk, the sex, the guitar, the pop vision all in one package here.
The Clash
5/5
5/5 - You need to hear this because it’s one of the seminal UK debut punk albums of the time. Absolutely belongs on the list and sets the template for hundreds of bands to follow.
The Zombies
4/5
3.5/5 - You need to hear this because it has a couple solid hits, and so you know the music behind the insane back story of the "Fake Zombies." Go look it up on Wikipedia. The album cover and misspelling of Odessey are pretty classic as well. I'd probably have to spend more time with this to really get into the album cuts, but I like it overall. Rounding up to 4 for the Fake Zombies story.
Willie Nelson
5/5
5/5 - Amongst Willie Nelson’s dozens of albums, I never would have found this on my own. This is 34 minutes of simple singing, guitar and some harmonica, and I was enthralled with the storytelling throughout. “Hands on the Wheel” was an immediate favorite.
George Michael
2/5
2/5 - I'd probably have to spend a lot more time engaging with they lyrics to understand why I need to hear this. I think "Freedom! '90" is fantastic, but I listened to the rest of it twice, and nothing stuck with me. Listenable, but I wouldn't return to it.
Janis Joplin
5/5
5/5 - It’s hard to imagine this list without one of the most iconic voices in rock history on it. Janis was a total powerhouse. I love this album. You need to hear it, because you can’t begin to tell the story of women in rock without Janis Joplin.
Spacemen 3
1/5
1/5 - A scrapbook of noise in many formats. I can imagine some have drug-induced nostalgia for this and think back to college days of pondering the universe to the background din of what sounds like a broken piece of machinery. This could only be worse if Rufus Wainwright sang on top of it.
Leonard Cohen
4/5
3.5/5 - You need to hear this because it's not every day you hear a poet speaking at death's door. This felt morose, genuine, and somewhat like spending time with someone at their own funeral. Like a really intense movie, I enjoyed it and certainly appreciated the raw feeling, but there's no way I could listen to this regularly. Rounding up to 4 because it's a concept album without being a concept album.
The Doors
2/5
2/5 - The hits are well known and great, but the rest of the album was mostly standard blues tunes, and didn’t do much for me. I didn’t need to hear this, and I’ve heard enough of The Doors to last me.
John Coltrane
3/5
3/5 - I’m not sure how to rate this style of jazz albums that are way out of my usual listening zone. It’s obviously a classic for the genre, but I’d get a lot more out of it with a knowledgeable guide.
Songhoy Blues
4/5
3.5/5 - I listened to this 2, almost 3 times through, and enjoyed the "desert blues" quite a bit -- good guitar sounds. I'd probably put the lead track on a mixtape. I don't think I'd explore more in this sub-genre, but this was worth a few listens for sure. Rounding up because it's not from the 70s or British.
The Smiths
4/5
4.5/5 - This is a helluva album from start to finish. The songwriting and melodies are really good, but the lyrics are the star of the show once you tune into them. The silly pretentiousness of invoking Joan of Arc and dead poets in the cemetery is classic, but it's the whole sentiment of Frankly, Mr Shankly that really drives this home for me. Rounding down because Morrissey is a douche.
The Divine Comedy
2/5
2/5 - There were moments when I got hints of The Decemberists or The Magnetic Fields, who I like, but the orchestral arrangements and excessive crooning here are just too much. The horse and sheep comparisons in the lyrics were also pretty odd. I didn't entirely hate this, but I didn't need to hear it, and I won't be back.
Paul Simon
1/5
1/5 - From a lesser talent, this would be a 2, but Simon is too good to make such a lazy snooze of an album. “Cars are Cars” is one of the dumbest songs I’ve ever heard. “Hearts and Bones” was the only thing I needed to hear off this album. Disappointing.
R.E.M.
5/5
5/5 - I've listened to Murmur countless times in the last 35 years, and I listened twice more yesterday when this came up on the list. It's an all-time classic for me. I wouldn't change a single thing about it. This sets the stage for everything that follows in their amazing early career run of albums.
Portishead
2/5
2/5 - This is a really challenging listen. It gives me the same feeling as going to view modern art — I have no idea what’s happening other than occasionally noticing something cool; I know some people are way into it, and I’d rather just be doing something else with my time.
Wild Beasts
1/5
1/5 - If this gets reissued without the vocal track, I might make it though it. Until then, no.
U2
4/5
3.5/5 - The first 3 tracks and "40" drive the album. I tried to imagine listening to this for the first time, beyond the familiarity of the 2 big hits, and I think it's a way above average early 80s rock record and it shows where U2 was headed. Rounding up because naming yourself The Edge and then becoming a superstar is a badass move.
Teenage Fanclub
5/5
5/5 - I knew a guy in high school who knew all these bands that weren’t on the radio from his older brother in college. This was my favorite of the lot he introduced me to and my first real exposure to this style of power pop. I still regularly come back to it, because it does what it does so well. Obviously, The Concept is great, but What You Do To Me, Pet Rock, Star Sign, and Alcoholiday are other favorites.
Depeche Mode
3/5
3/5 - My ceiling for Depeche Mode is about a 3, so there it is. This band never surprises me, and I find them to be the most over-serious, joyless act of the 80s, but I still understand why people like their music. The production is good, and they know how to create the mood with the synths, but I find their songs something to endure rather than enjoy.
David Gray
2/5
2/5 - Babylon exists outside of time for me. It makes me nostalgic for something even though I associate it with nothing and have no idea when I first heard it. The first track was also pretty good. And that was about it. This is music that makes me feel 15 years older than I am, and I completely tune out after a couple songs because it’s all so milquetoast-y. To be fair, if I could sing and write like this guy, or knew someone personally who could, I’d be thrilled, but I’m not down for a whole album of this. I need more dynamics or something.
The Flaming Lips
4/5
4/5 - At one time, this would have been a slam dunk 5, but I've gotten older, and I'm seeing the cracks. Fight Test (electronic Father and Son) and Yoshimi Pt 1 are still favorites, and I do think the whole album is worth hearing, but I think I wore through the novelty years ago. It is maybe the most concept album that is not a concept album, whatever that means.
I like to think that our present day pink robots are AI data centers and their need to be omnipresent in our lives. If only a black belt in karate were enough to fend it off.
Sly & The Family Stone
4/5
4/5 - This got me moving on a Saturday morning. Hadn't heard it before and could have been higher, but 10+ minute tracks drive me nuts. Everyday People would be on an all-time top singles list for me. Lots of good early funk here that I'm happy to have heard.
Madonna
3/5
2.5/5 - Listening to this was mostly a surprise to me, since I was unfamiliar except for the title track. There were a couple tracks I skipped after a minute or two because I think I got the point, but I definitely liked some of the others. This isn't quite a 3 based on my own enjoyment, but it feels like something you oughta hear once, so I'll round up.
Linkin Park
1/5
0/5 - You don't need to hear this before you die. You need to hear it after you die, so that your brain is already dead. This is calculated garbage. I regret that this rating system forces me to give it a star.
White Denim
4/5
4/5 - I enjoyed this quite a bit, and this is the sort of thing I'm here for. I hadn't heard of White Denim, but I'll definitely keep listening. Their style seemed a little more on the jam band side of things than I usually listen to (hints of the Dead here and there for sure in the guitar), but given the overall landscape of what we get on this project, this was solid indie rock.
The Beach Boys
5/5
5/5 - Would easily be on a top 100 albums to hear before you die for me. The arrangements are harmonies here are so lush and beautiful, I don’t know what superlative to use. Asher’s lyrics are up to the task of Brian Wilson’s vision and the musicianship of The Wrecking Crew delivers the goods as always. I’m not the first to say that God Only Knows is a perfect pop song, but it’s true.
Hard to believe this was released in 1966 and is still a pillar of orchestral pop/rock. I don’t always love the derivatives of this genre, but Pet Sounds is a masterpiece.
The Monks
3/5
3/5 - This probably deserves another point just for the story behind it and their outfits, but it's about a 3 in terms of my listening enjoyment. This is primitive proto-punk, surf-ish rock, I guess? It's pretty hard to categorize, and a few songs were just straight up WTF? (Cuckoo, anyone?) I could probably find a song or two to add to a mix, but given that it's not streaming anywhere, even that's a tough call. Weird stuff. Glad I heard it, but doubtful I'll ever be in the mood for "I need to hear The Monks."
Alice In Chains
4/5
4/5 - I haven’t listened to Alice In Chains in 25+ years, but this album holds up really well. If this list needed sludge grunge with some fantastic guitar riffs, this is a great choice.
Prince
3/5
3/5 - I definitely prefer Purple Rain to 1999. The front half of this has the 3 hits, and I love it. I lose the thread in the back half, and the tracks are entirely too aimless and long. I think a 3 feels right, because I have no desire to listen to this front-to-back again.
Nine Inch Nails
4/5
4/5 - I recommend walking around a leafy neighborhood on a Sunday morning listening to Heresy on earbuds while fresh faced people enter the nearby churches. It's weird.
Not an everyday listen, but I love the production and sound on this album. 30 years has allowed me to ignore the goth-shock-shtick that was gaining ground at the time and just tune in to how Reznor is trying to connect to an inner pain that feels intense and authentic to me.
Fela Kuti
3/5
3.5/5 - Enjoyed the listen, but this didn't grab me quite as much as the first Fela Kuti that came up on this list. Probably more my mood than anything. Still this is full of fun grooves, and I'm a fan of the sound.
The Band
3/5
3/5 - I like Americana-style music, so this gets at least a 3 just for the "must hear it before you die" aspect and influence The Band had on acts to follow. I liked this, and listened to it twice, having never heard it before, but it wasn't a revelation or anything. Solid, laid back American music from the 60s.
Fiona Apple
5/5
4.5/5 - This is really, really good. Shadowboxer is probably my favorite track. Her voice in that lead-in to the chorus is so strong and confident, and it has an edge to it that doesn't sound dated to the time. Lyrics all around are worth paying attention to, and I just like her voice. I'll keep this in my rotation now. Rounding up for saying f*ck you to the music industry in the 90s.
Deee-Lite
3/5
3/5 - This was a fun 90s dance album to listen to -- better than I expected for sure. I had always thought "Groove.." was an oddball hit, and the whole album has some of that vibe, though nothing gets close to its catchy hooks.
Television
5/5
5/5 - I've listened to this album many, many times since I first heard it in the early 2000s. There's nothing quite like it. As a long time Built to Spill fan (has Doug ever said Television was an influence??), the guitar work, the hooks, the weird song structure are a perfect mix for my ears.
Thundercat
3/5
3/5 - This has some pretty funny lyrics, and I especially liked the tunes that felt like they could slot right into a video game soundtrack like Tokyo. This is really odd album to say the least, and it often feels like there's just ideas of songs that aren't fleshed out enough to really get into. Definitely not something I'll listen to front to back again, but I favorited a few tracks, and I appreciated the screwball soul here.
Radiohead
4/5
4/5 - This is one polarizing album; if you're going to plant a flag on your feelings about Radiohead, this is usually the exact spot you plant it. I remember being disappointed at the time it came out, because it wasn't the OK Computer follow-up I wanted, but I like it more now than I did then. The feel of this album just gets into my head, and I'm still humming parts of it the day after. If you hate Kid A, I get it. If you love Kid A, I get it.
Dusty Springfield
3/5
3/5 - I don't really get this choice for the list, but sure. I like these songs. I like Dusty's voice, but is this here for the compactness of hearing so many oldies in one shot? That said, I listened to this twice no problem, and had a good time the whole way through.
50 Cent
3/5
3/5 - There are 5 or 6 tracks here that are really, really good, and In Da Club is an all-timer for me. Great beats and fun production on the songs I skip around to. Overall, this is way too long and needs cuts. I would give a 4 to Get Rich or Die Tryin’ the EP.
Paul McCartney and Wings
2/5
2/5 - Band on the Run and Jet are good singles. I can barely recall anything else on this album except the last song, which was I think was 1985 spelled out the long way.
R.E.M.
5/5
5/5 - This is an easy 5 for me. I had this on cassette when I started driving, and I played it on endless loop back then. Every song here has its own mood and is so distinct, but I recognize much of that is from familiarity. One of the best albums from the late 80s.
ZZ Top
1/5
1/5 - I thought this music and their videos were cool when I was 9. I grew out of that by the time I was 11. Eliminator is the definition of lame.
TV Dinners is the worst song I’ve heard on this list, and that’s an accomplishment.
k.d. lang
2/5
2/5 - Snooze-croon adult contemporary. Not for me.
Talking Heads
4/5
4/5 - The front half of this album is really outstanding. Crosseyed and Painless is one of my favorites. Adrian Belew’s guitar work is really really good. Overall, I just love the soundscape the band explores here and how many bands this influenced in the early 2000s indie scene that I really appreciate.
2/5
2/5 - I don't mind listening to Muse as much as some of the other 2s I've rated, but I hardly think this is essential listening. It's overly bombastic arena rock, that I have to admit works really well on the big stage, having seen them in a festival setting ages ago (and enjoyed the spectacle they put on).
This album feels like the music equivalent of a cheesy, summer blockbuster movie. You know it's not high art, but if you know what you're in for, you can enjoy the manufactured drama, and then go do something else with your time.
Björk
2/5
2/5 - I liked the first song a good bit. I lost interest somewhere in what was maybe the third track. I'd need to pay a lot more attention to get anything out of this. It was definitely a sad album with a lot of expression, but I didn't connect.
The Thrills
2/5
2.5/5 - Innocuous and twee California songs. I don't have a whole lot to say about this album, other than there's a whole lot of early 2000s indie that I'd put above this on the list. It was fine, but not essential listening.
Megadeth
4/5
4/5 - This is at the tail end of the metal era I enjoy, starting in the early 80s. Holy Wars... and Hangar 18 are both pretty awesome, so this rises on those alone for me. I doubt this is going to turn anyone on to thrash if you don't like the style, but Rust In Peace is a solid pick for the list in the genre.
Sonic Youth
5/5
5/5 - Noisy in all the right ways. One of the best leadoff tracks ever. I love Sprawl and Hey Joni. Wandering guitars, far off vocals, punk art. Just a great package that challenges and pleases my eardrums.
Malcolm McLaren
4/5
4/5 - I honestly could rate this anywhere between a 2 and a 4. I’m going to go on the high end, because despite the backstory, writing credits, etc, it feels like an important album for the time, and I enjoyed at least half the songs, and wouldn’t mind listening again. The whole project makes you think about how much music is borrowed, stolen, imitated, and pasted together to create new art. I’m not gonna untangle that with my insignificant rating here.
Raekwon
2/5
2/5 - I'll never listen to this again, but the cinematic sounds were kinda fun for a bit, and I enjoyed a few tracks. The sound is relentless, and like many hip-hop albums of the time, it's just entirely too long. Wu-Tang will never be my thing, and I'm OK with that.
Nick Drake
3/5
3/5 - I felt like I was listening to a troubadour at a ren faire for 40 minutes. If that's your thing, this is wonderful, and probably a top 10 album for you. I mostly found it beautiful, but unmemorable in any way. Still, it's a better album to listen to than many of the 2s I've handed out, so I'm going with a 3.
The Beta Band
3/5
3/5 - I liked this well enough. Probably would have been a better listen with headphones to hear all the sounds. Felt like middle of the road british indie music. Essential? Not really.
Sonic Youth
4/5
4/5 - Kinda odd having 2 SY albums in the same week, but there's worse problems to have. Love Schizophrenia, Tuff Gnarl, Pipeline/Kill Time, Hot Wire My Heart, Catholic Block. I think I listened to this 4 times yesterday.
The Magnetic Fields
4/5
4/5 - Merritt's magnum opus is a giant mixed bag that is a great fit for this list, just not necessarily on an album-per-day pace. It's asking a lot to listen to this all at once, but there's some wonderful gems throughout. Come Back to SF, Book of Love, Kiss Me Like You Mean It, Luckiest Guy on the Lower East Side, and several others would have made a killer pop album of 12 songs, but there's also plenty of duds too -- it's 69 songs about love songs after all.
This lyric from Acoustic Guitar made me laugh:
Acoustic guitar, if you think I play hard
Well, you could have belonged to Steve Earle
Or Charo or GWAR, I could sell you tomorrow
So bring me back my girl
You'd better bring me back my girl
Willie Colón & Rubén Blades
4/5
4/5 - I don’t listen to salsa music. After this album, I still don’t listen to salsa music, but now I have a go to record for when I start listening to salsa music.
I will play this at all my moonlit, backyard pool parties. We will dance the night away and have a fucking great time, until we realize we were laughing and ignorantly enjoying the story of a tragic double murder. Then everyone will go home.
The Disposable Heroes Of Hiphoprisy
3/5
3/5 - Are you telling me we already knew this country was this fucked up in the early 90s, and we just kept driving down the road to doom? Man, we're dumb. If Nostradamus decided to do a solo record in the vocal stylings of Chuck D and used an AI band name generator, he would have made this record.
This is some damning earnest shit here. I feel frivolous and shallow by comparison.
Red Hot Chili Peppers
3/5
3/5 - I’m being extremely generous because this album belongs on the list given how ubiquitous it was in the 90s, and the musicianship is solid. That said, I loathe Anthony Kiedis’ vocals and pretty much everything about his whole persona. I give him a 1, and Point Break is the classic film it is, because he gets shot in the foot, howls in pain, and exits early.
Why is this 73 minutes?
Supertramp
3/5
3/5 - I guess I'd describe this as prog-lite, which I'm OK with. I like the keyboard sounds and general pop sensibilities of the songs. I'm not going to have a Supertramp ephiphany, but I'll take some "Bloody Well Right" now and again. This choice for the 1,001 betrays the heavy British bias of the list.
Paul McCartney
4/5
4/5 - Definitely not an album I would have listened to on my own, especially after being relatively disappointed with the album cuts on Wings/Band on the Run. Here Paul is noodling around with different song ideas entirely on his own, and while I can't put myself in the place of heartbroken Beatles fans who I'm sure felt let down by the simplicity, I think it's charming and a great listen.
Van Morrison
5/5
5/5 - This music exists out of time and place for me. I first heard it in high school and have relistened now and then over the years. The whole sound of it is unlike anything else. Sweet Thing, Madame George, Astral Weeks are all great. I’m thankful this exists.
Machito
3/5
3/5 - if I need bongos and horns, now I know the genre to turn to. Giving the benefit of the doubt that this represents the style well, so I’ll give it a 3. This is background music for me, and I won’t be returning for more.
Funkadelic
5/5
5/5 - Hell, yes. This is a jam. I should have listened to this years ago.
Skepta
2/5
2/5 - Didn’t care for this at all. Production was monotonous, and the songs were boring. It finally ended.
My Bloody Valentine
4/5
4/5 - When I think of MBV, I think of Loveless and Kevin Shields doing the score to Lost in Translation. I didn't know this decades-later follow-up existed and was surprised to read that it was entirely self paid for and released. The sound here was what I expected from Shields, and I'm pretty much always up for this type of guitar -- ambient distortion or whatever it is. It's like being in a soft noise cocoon with the mood washing over your ears. Obviously, if this is on the list, Loveless will be too, so I'll reserve my MBV 5 for that.
Stevie Wonder
4/5
4/5 - This is the exact mix of overly earnest sweetness and funk that I'd expect from Stevie Wonder. Definitely some filler here, but I enjoyed this, and any album with Superstition on it has to be on the list.
Saint Etienne
4/5
4.5 - This is a good example of something I wouldn't have given 2 minutes to in the early 90s, but 30 years later, I'm here for the relaxed, downtempo sound. The bass lines, the dreamy vocals, the samples -- all of it. I favorited at least 3 or 4 tracks on my way through. Only Love Can Break Your Heart (thanks, Neil Young), Girl VII, People Get Real were standouts for me. Rounding down to 4, because I might change my mind on it.
R.E.M.
4/5
4/5 - Untitled and You Are the Everything are two of my favorite REM songs. Orange Crush is also great. Green was their first album with a clear intent to be more radio friendly, and yet it's still full of mandolins, accordions, and typically meandering lyrics. That's REM for you. I've listened to this dozens of times and was happy to spend another 45 minutes hearing the whole thing through. It's a mid-tier REM album, so I'll reserve the 5s for my favorites.
The Sugarcubes
4/5
4/5 - If I could just make one mixtape, Birthday would be on it. I love that song. Bjork's howling is otherworldly and her range makes my head spin. I could do with far less of the guy singer on this album who sounds like Icelandic Fred Schnieder to me, but the songwriting is different and the rhythms are really cool. I far prefer the post-punk sounds here than the more experimental things Bjork did later. Fun album; definitely worthy of the list.
Santana
3/5
3/5 - So it turns out that while I'm really averse to the Santana songs that have been played a bazillion times on classic rock radio, I don't mind the ones I'm not familiar with. No surprise to say that the guitar work throughout is top notch. I really liked the instrumental track, Samba Pa Ti.