1001 Albums Summary

Fun hip-hop grooves, little bit of funk flavor, solid energy, I can see why the singles were picked to be singles against the other songs on the album. A couple songs feel like they sit on a groove and don't really go anywhere with it. Probably a 6 or 7 out of 10 while still listening mid-album.

I've long since known about Born On the Bayou and Proud Mary. Those are classic rock legends. I'm curious to see how the rest of the album compares to what I've already known. ---------------- I feel like Graveyard Train dragged on a bit, but I don't think that detracts much from the album as a whole. Excellent swampy blues rock.

It feels appropriate that I get this album on the day the world loses Ozzy Osbourne. Taking it back to the start of the legend, and the birth of Heavy Metal, this album is a must listen. A dark, powerful sound blending in some blues infused rock. Excellent from start to finish.

Lovely, serene, introspective folk album. Very simple arrangements, almost feeling a little lonely at times. This was really nice for a quick half hour experience.

An enjoyable primarily acoustic folk experience with varied stylings throughout. Me & Julio is the personal pick here.

As a born and raised Jersey boy, it's hard not to know about the Boss and his catalog in some form or another. It's ingrained in New Jersey culture like pork roll and summers down the shore on the boardwalk. I've known Springsteen's major hits for most of my life, but I never sat down and listened to an album from him before. This was some great blue collar Americana rock. Springsteen's singing style can definitely be divisive, but I feel like it adds to the everyman feel of the message and storytelling he puts into his lyrics.

Heart of Gold and Old Man are classics for a reason. A nice mix of acoustic folk, rock, and a little bit of orchestral accompaniment.

A unique indie blend of rock, hip-hop, funk, and Indian elements. Not quite my taste, but I didn't think this was a bad album at all.

Some decent 90s Britpop with some good ideas and catchy hooks. The album couldn't maybe been a bit tighter and more cohesive by cutting a couple songs.

A quirky and eclectic first solo outing from Peter Gabriel. A little bit all over the place sonically, but there's a few songs in here I enjoyed and that I feel give the best framework for where his sound would head from here. Solsbury Hill definitely stands above the rest

Man, I'm torn on this one. I had some high hopes going into this, because I know and enjoy a number of Bowie songs already. For the first half of this album, it was a pretty good, synth-heavy experience. However, from "Sense of Doubt" through "Neuköln", it was purely instrumental experimental soundscapes. Now, instrumentals aren't inherently bad by any means. These tracks, however, just stripped all the energy that the first half of the album had. Some of that energy returned in the last song, "Secret Life of Arabia," but the previous three tracks really killed the flow for me.

Outstanding grunge album. Ranging from loud and aggressive to softer and melodic to straight up noise at times. A staple of the era.

An excellent display of musicianship here. Starship Trooper and I've Seen All Good People stand out for sure.

I'm not much of a hip-hop head, so I didn't know what to expect going into this. I actually ended up enjoying this. Aggressive rhythms and pointed social commentaries that are still (unfortunately) relevant today.

Jazzy, groovy, funky, infectious rhythms. I had never heard of this artist before and had no expectations going into this. I am blown away. This album is outstanding.

Had to chase this one down on YouTube. Interesting proto-grunge punk.

Others have talked about Clapton as a person already. I'm here solely for the music, not the man. This is a decent blues rock album, but most of it's nothing really mind blowing. Layla is the obvious star here. There's a reason that's the one that still gets played on classic rock radio decades later. Other than Layla, I think Bell Bottom Blues is worth the listen.

Hell of a debut album. Already had their sound and style locked in. Fun mix of hip hop and rock. Fight for Your Right and No Sleep Till Brooklyn shine here.

Enjoyable glam rock, if not a bit strange here and there (piano solo in the title track especially so)

Some exceptional soul and funk compositions here. Do Your Thing is a monster of jam, clocking in at just shy of 20 minutes. The iconic theme song sets the mood before the primarily instrumental experience begins to weave a mix of energetic and mellow soundscapes.

I really did not like this album very much. There's some cool musical ideas sprinkled throughout, but too often they go nowhere. These tracks felt more like music beds to accompany other media rather than something to be listened to on their own.

Bluesy tracks accompanied by a very unique gritty growling voice. I can see how his voice might grate on some, but I found it rather fitting and enjoyable for the style it's accompanying. It was also a pleasant surprise to discover this was actual the origin of the song Jersey Girl.

Speakerboxxx came out of the gate swinging. High energy, aggressive, and funky. Phenomenal instrumentations accompany many of these tracks (which also applies to Love Below). I was surprised how much I was enjoying this album. As for Love Below, it just didn't carry the same strength that Speakerboxxx had, in my opinion. That's not to say it's bad; Hey Ya! and Roses especially are outstanding songs on Love Below. I can also respect a good concept album, with this focusing on love. Maybe my opinion will change with another listen, but this is where my first impression with this double album as a whole sits.

What a nice and relaxing experience this album was. The one and only Willie Nelson provides a serene half hour of folky classic country tunes, among them a lovely cover of Unchained Melody.

This album holds some nostalgia for me from the time this came out, specifically Clocks, so I have a bit of attachment to it. As a whole, I'd call this album just 'fine.' It's nothing that's gonna blow your mind, but it's definitely not an objectionable listen.

Loud, noisy, and a great indicator of where grunge was headed just a few years before the genre would really take off. You won't find the more well known Sonic Youth songs here, but this album is a good listen for some noisy, messy grunge.

Just some classic hard driving rock. Killer riffs, excellent drums, and high energy.

Absolutely legendary grunge album. From the opening distortion of Once to the final placid strains of Release, this album is a masterpiece. It's no wonder this was one of the albums that heralded the explosion of grunge in 1991. If you've never listened to this album beyond the hits like Even Flow or Alive, I can't recommend listening to the whole thing enough.

The Black Album is a landmark record for Metallica, and for good reason. About half this album comprises of very well known songs amongst their catalogue; most notably, of course, the first track on the album: Enter Sandman. I won't say this album's perfect, as some songs just kinda didn't feel like they had a notable individual impact compared to others like Unforgiven or Nothing Else Matters. However, I think this album is worth your time to experience why it pushed Metallica into the limelight.

This album did a good job of catapulting Justin Timberlake to solo stardom after leaving NSYNC. Cry Me a River and Rock Your Body absolutely dominated the airwaves when this album came out, so I'm long since familiar with those. The rest of the album doesn't feel as interesting to me as those two songs are.

Herbie Hancock is an absolute master of his craft. Funky, groovy, jazzy jams. An absolute must hear

A good mix of funk and glam from the Thin White Duke. An enjoyable experience that feels like it ends almost too soon, clocking in just shy of 40 minutes.

Absolutely legendary piece of jazz. Messy, brilliant, noisy, and beautiful.

Decent, chill folk album. Overall, it's okay, nothing exceptionally interesting. Neighborhood Girls had more energy than the rest of the album, and I wouldn't have minded if the rest of the album had a bit more of that energy.

A lot more of the quintessential Peter Gabriel sound comes through on most of this album. A couple of kinda oddball, experimental type tracks here, but it doesn't hinder the experience.

Most interesting song here was Jeff's Boogie for sure, followed by What Do You Want. The rest was kinda meh.

Pretty good album start to finish. Certainly helps that the first 3 songs on the album are some of the most well known amongst U2's catalog.

Alt rock, hip-hop, and a little electronic all mixed with some classic Beck weirdness. Excellent album.

I just couldn't really get into this album. There's some flashes of interesting stuff in here, but for the most part, the songs really didn't hold my interest.

Sonically, this feels like some amorphous amalgamation of the alt rock scene of the time, with no defining characteristics of its own. The arrangements aren't bad, but the album as a whole is very forgettable.

Legendary prog album from a legendary prog band. Absolutely worth the listen.

Some of the best of the 90s. Despondent and beautiful all at once.

Good samples, great beats, excellent flow. NY energy to spare here.

Well, this was an experience. Experimental, psychedelic, wild, noisy, and just plain strange. Not sure I'd look to revisit this one, personally.

This was a really rough listen. I'm trying to see some of the good here, because there are good songs here, but they're buried under a wall of noise comprised of half distortion/fuzz tones that are cranked way too high, and half feedback.

Smooth, cool jazz. A relaxing and enjoyable experience.

I've heard plenty of Doolittle before, but never ventured too far into other Pixies albums besides more known songs like Where Is My Mind. This album was pretty enjoyable. Frequently rides the line between alt and punk.

A staple of industrial rock. Aggressive, loud, and dark. Not really a genre that I seek out, but I respect the sonic artistry on display here.

Nice, folky compositions with a very pointed social commentary.

It was okay, not really my style, but I can respect the uniqueness and power her voice had.

Quintessential 60s psychedelia

I'm a fan of Jack White's various projects, so I'm a bit biased, but having never listened to this album all the way through before, I really enjoyed it.

An absolute masterpiece of an album. That a collection of music of this caliber was put together in the midst of internal strife as the band was beginning to fall apart is nothing short of a miracle. Start to finish, this album is worth absolutely every second of your time.

Moody, brooding, and kinda boring

I thought it was fine, didn't really catch my interest though. Exceptionally 80s

Not bad, but a little all over the place stylistically. I don't think I'd seek this one out again, but I didn't dislike it either.

Really good album, really shit person

I've listened to this album several times, but I'll gladly listen again. Some of the best of 90s alt rock and one of the best albums of the Smashing Pumpkins catalog, second only to Mellon Collie. Cherub Rock, Today, Rocket, Mayonaise, Disarm; this album is loaded front to back with excellent songs.

A high speed and aggressive punk experience that's over before you know it, clocking in around 20 minutes. These songs feel like they'd be right at home in a skate video from the 80s/90s or as part of the soundtracks for the Tony Hawk Pro Skater games

I didn't think it was bad, but it didn't really grab me. Maybe this needs a second listen sometime for me to get it.

As a ska fan, I really enjoyed this. Lots of energy and great grooves.

I was able to enjoy this album much more than I did with Boatman's Call. Overall, though, I don't think Nick Cave's style really does it for me

Some smooth, cool jazz. Nothing too wild here. Really enjoyable and relaxed vibes.

I already knew a couple of songs from here, but never really listened to the rest of the album before. I'm pleasantly surprised. It frequently rides the line between punk and new wave. This was pretty good

A pretty good debut album and a good mixture of new wave and pop

A tragic loss for the music world, and a beautiful piece of art he left behind

An exceptionally Bowie flavored experience. I'd hesitate to call this punk, as it has much more of a rock feel to it. Not bad, but I'd rather just listen to a Bowie album.

Some great classic punk rock. None of the major hits from their history are here, but it's a great debut for another great UK punk band.

Great vibes on this album. Chill, smooth, funky soul goodness

My thoughts on Lust For Life are similar here. A diet David Bowie experience. I didn't hate it, but if I wanted to listen to something Bowie-like, I'd just listen to a Bowie album.

I did not really enjoy this album much. What Can I Do and Fistful of Love were the only songs that captured a bit of interest from me, saving this from being a 1. The rest just did not do it for me at all.

Great album, Nina Simone has a beautiful voice

Talking Heads at the height of their prime. Coupled with the legendary Brian Eno producing for them, this album is a juggernaut of New Wave and 80s music. The first 5 songs are such a fantastic experience, not to downplay the dark and mysterious sonic intrigue of the last 3 songs. Once in a Lifetime is legendary amongst their catalogue and has come back time and again into the pop zeitgeist in one way or another. The energy of Crosseyed and Painless is fantastic, I especially can't recommend the Stop Making Sense version enough (honestly, go listen to Stop Making Sense, too. Absolutely phenomenal). My personal favorite here is The Great Curve. Frantic, energetic rhythms overlaid with layers of vocals and guitar and synth work that really raises the whole experience. Around the 4 minute mark to the end when the whole thing becomes a wall of multiple different backing vocal lines on top of the instruments followed by the outro guitar solo is so good.

Well, I was due for something to be my first 1 rating. I just did not enjoy this at all. Electronica is already a genre I really don't gravitate towards, and these songs felt incredibly repetitive and boring. The only reprieve I had during the album, was when one song ended and a new one began, because there'd at least be some kind of new musical component to be a breath of fresh air. However, as with each song preceding it, that breath of fresh air turns stale rather fast when it's repeated in the exact same unending way for the following 5 to 10 minutes. I'm sure these songs were great in the club/rave scene in the 90s, but it's just not my jam.

Pretty enjoyable. Felt like maybe it ran a little long (probably because Spotify only has the expanded edition of the album), but otherwise pretty good

You're pretty much here for the title track. The rest is kinda whatever.

A tight 30 minute album of excellent jazz playing. Just plain cool.

Smooth and relaxing. Girl from Ipanema shines here

This album was a very strange and exploratory experience. Overall, pretty good.

Decent, chill beats. Not bad, but didn't really grab me.

This sure was a Björk album. I can respect the uniqueness in her voice and creativity, and it wasn't quite as bad as the 1 rating reviews make it out to be, but it's a little too out there for me.

Great, classic British rock heavily infused with southern US blues and soul

Rush in their prime. An absolutely legendary album.

A strange and irreverent combination of soundscapes and 60s psychedelia only possible through the unique artistic weirdness of Frank Zappa.

Decent, aggressive punk. Didn't really grab me, though

A little all over the place stylistically. Not terrible, but I don't really see myself revisiting this one

An excellent live set from one of the finest bluesmen to ever do it

Just a really good album

A bit of reggae and a bit of punk rock makes for a pretty good album

Some pretty solid 90s alt rock here

Really good classic country. You can feel the energy from the inmates as Cash not only delivers an excellent performance, but also chats and jokes around with them between songs.

Chill vibes, made for a good atmosphere while driving around

Nothing but respect for the one and only Aretha Franklin

Kinda interesting, very 80s, solidly 'okay' for me

An interesting mix of punk, grunge, and electronic elements. Overall, I'd say it's decent

A good collection of Christmas music

Some classic British blues and psychedelia. Top listens here are Sunshine of Your Love, Strange Brew, and Tales of Brave Ulysses

What a pull for my 100th review. This is the album that heralded the arrival of grunge and alt rock to the forefront of the musical landscape in the 90s. An absolute masterpiece of noise, aggression, and teenage angst. I could sing this album's praises for days on end, but I wouldn't end up saying anything that hasn't already been said in this album's 34 years of existence. Kurt, Krist, and Dave, along with Butch Vig producing, created something that so strongly defined a generation of music, that it's still lauded to this day. If you've somehow never listened to this album, you absolutely owe it to yourself to sit down and experience the sonic energy that defined the 90s.

Never heard of this band before. Pleasantly surprised how much I enjoyed this. Solid Brit alt-rock

*Aggressive Jonathan Davis noises* Freak On a Leash is good, the rest is kinda whatever unless you're really into nu-metal

I have to agree with the reviews that said this sounded like impending danger and a soundtrack for anxiety. They feel pretty spot on. Definitely a unique sonic soundscape here, but not really my jam

Snappy Latin rhythms and fiery guitar playing, it can only be Carlos Santana. Fantastic album.

Hard to go wrong with some fun New Wave weirdness from Talking Heads

Overflowing with the 80s hip hop vibe. Some songs were really fun and funky, some were not as enjoyable to me. Decent album all around

Gritty as desert sand and a little bit unpolished, but a damn good debut album for QOTSA. In my opinion, though, this isn't even close to their best stuff. Go listen to Songs for the Deaf if you want to hear their best album.

Very good album overall. First half was absolutely loaded. Second half didn't hit quite as hard, but was still pretty good.

Never heard of this album or artist before. This is incredible. Beautiful album.

Nothing like a little classic country story telling. Very chill vibes and very enjoyable

Raw, angry, and a masterful mix of rap and hard rock coupled with a powerful and still relevant message

Had some decent vibes to it, overall I'd say it's okay

A powerhouse of the grunge era. Chris Cornell's voice is unmatched

Boy, this sure was a collection of music and sounds one might call an "album." Some of the music was decent enough to save this from being a 1, but this was overall a strange experience and not one I see myself returning to

This bundle of experimental indie ambience has a bit of sentimental value to me, so I'm already familiar with it. A good album, for sure, just maybe not the be-all-end-all of indie rock that some make it out to be

This album is fine overall, very strong 50s/60s rock and roll styling here. It just doesn't stand out compared to so many other strong entries in the Beatles catalog

Stevie's at his best when he's dropping some serious funk, and we get some of that on this album, especially in Superstition. The rest of the album, though, doesn't stack up quite as strongly for me

Light, airy, folky, and quite enjoyable

Loses a bit of heat in the back half of the album, but still very good

Aqualung and Locomotive Breath fucking rule. Honorable mention to Hymn 43, too

Excellent, chill jazz. Wonderful playing sets a mood both relaxed and refined.

It's a solid album. I feel like it might be just a bit better if a song or two were dropped. That said, even beyond the major songs of note here (One and Mysterious Ways), other songs like Zoo Station and Even Better Than the Real Thing still make this a good listen

There's a reason this guy was such a force in the late 2000s and early 2010s

A few interesting songs here like Pistol of Fire and Four Kicks. Just okay otherwise. Very styled like the Strokes but with a Southern twang

I don't know if I'd mark this as one of their best, but it's a damn good album all the same.

Great album and great reggae vibes throughout. I feel like the right setting would push to up to a 5 for me

Fun and full of disco funk. Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough and Rock With You are the highlights of the album

This was fine for some 60s psychedelia. Not bad, but I didn't feel like this was really interesting either

Not bad, but doesn't really stand out from the general sound of 90s pop country

Her voice is quite lovely, however, I don't really see myself revisiting this one

A beautiful farewell from Bowie. RIP Thin White Duke

A legendary album in the hip hop sphere. Not all of it's themes and lyrics have aged well, but the theme of speaking out against injustice from police still resonates decades later.

Paint It Black is the only reason this is getting a 3 from me. The rest was at best, just okay, and at worst, just boring

Jazzy, funky, and French with some phenomenal flow

Atmospheric and spacey. Not quite my jam, but not terrible

Definitely in the upper echelon of Beatles albums. Loaded with great songs

Excellent blend of British punk and reggae. London Calling, Guns of Brixton, and Train In Vain are top notch

I'm definitely not opposed to some bluegrass, but this was very same-y from song to song and got boring after a while. It was interesting hearing their take on In The Pines, but I think I'd much prefer the Leadbelly or Nirvana versions over this one.

Very solid alt rock infused with psychedelia. If there were half points, I'd probably give this a 3.5, but I'll round it up to a 4

I could see this growing on me with more listens. Some of the arrangements were enjoyable. Overall, on a first listen, it's okay.

Funky, New Wave and just a bit weird. Never a bad time for some Talking Heads

A classic from the golden age of skate punk. Fun and high energy, well worth the listen front to back

The music wasn't bad, but I can't say it really clicked for me

Raucous, grungy, and crusty. Nick Cave is just not my jam, but I can appreciate the punk energy here

I respect the legacy of Mr. Cohen's body of work, and I respect the art form of storytelling. While the musical accompaniment was peaceful and pleasant, the overall experience, to me, was just kinda boring

Decent 90s alt rock. I wouldn't mind hearing this on the radio, but I probably wouldn't actively seek out the album. Celebrity Skin is the top pick here

Some smooth funk and blues for your soul

A few good tunes in here, and a couple musical ideas that sound like they may have laid some of the ground work for one of my favorite of Jack White's other projects, The Raconteurs. As far as the White Stripes go, however, I wouldn't consider this one of their best. Decent listen overall

This album was definitely not as bad as a bunch of these 1 rating reviews are making it out to be. Sure, there are a couple songs that get a little meandering and experimental. However, there's a number of songs here that have a nice airy, folky quality to them. This album certainly isn't incredible, but it's not bad either.

Some alright psychedelia, nothing especially interesting, but not bad

I'd say 1 song, maybe 2, is skippable, but this is an otherwise excellent album loaded with great songs

What happens when you mix Bowie with funk, soul, and disco? You get this album. Pretty enjoyable all around. Young Americans and Fame stand out here.

This is about as 80s as it gets. A few songs caught my attention here, like the title track and Express Yourself, but I'm not completely into the album as a whole.

This sounds like something that would be playing in a bar where the bartender would tell you "We've got both kinds of music here: Country AND Western!"

's a bit rubbish, innit?

Not as good as Morning Glory in my opinion, but a damn good album all the same