1001 Albums Summary

Not my usual genre at all. I found it really evoked the feelings of isolation that one can feel when in a vast, foreign city. Perfect listening for travelling around Europe.

Maybe it’s because I’m exhausted by the sort of people who think hard rock/metal is the only genre worth listening to, but this really doesn’t do it for me.

Eternally baffled by what counts as “punk.” Especially loved the title track, great 10 minute song that really builds. Will definitely revisit this in its entirety.

Man this list is very rock heavy so far… I’m hoping for more varied genres further down the line. Anyway, 90s kids like me have 80s pop culture forced down our throats our entire lives, and I, for one, absolutely guzzled it up. This album is so much fun. I love New Wave; it always makes me feel like I’m living in Back To The Future. The opening 2 tracks are my favourite, but the whole thing is so enjoyable and listenable. I have a feeling this will be one I revisit over and over.

(1.5 stars) AC/DC (and this album), are so conflicting. On the one hand, they are a riff machine. On the other, the lead singer sounds like Miss Piggy being tortured. Low-key unlistenable. I skimmed the 1001 list and there’s so many albums like this: ones from rock bands obsessed over by the most boring white man in a bar. Dunno if I can stick it out tbh.

Now *this* is why I got into the 1001 challenge. I love country and I’ve always meant to get into Willie. He’s one of the greats of country, and, for bonus points, hasn’t turned into a right wing moron like some of his contemporaries. Some really pleasant and listenable tunes. The storytelling is so good that this album literally got a film adaptation - now that’s a flex! Lovely songs, lovely man.

At one point, the blaring horn of the train I was on synchronised perfectly with those of Ray Charles’ band. That moment was the closest I’ve been to literally shitting myself since the time I drank 12 pints of Guiness in 4 hours. Anyway, he’s a legend. I don’t listen to enough big band stuff. Probably should have listened on speakers as the audio quality in headphones wasn’t the best. That’s no shade to Ray though. He gets 5 stars.

Absolutely delightful. I would use this to soundtrack my life if it didn’t feel slightly problematic. Or is it problematic *not* to have it soundtrack my life? Fuck…

I miss when hiphop was goofy

Great stuff. I get why people bang on about these guys being some of the greats.

Jaaaaaaaaazz

Sultans of Swing is very close to my heart. It’s particularly beloved by the friends I grew up with, and provided the soundtrack to many formative, drunken nights as an adolescent. That, I think, is where Dire Straits belong best. When concentrating my full attention on their music, it can be a little samey and simplistic (for me, anyway). But give me a cold brewski, a sunset garden and some old friends, and it provides the perfect ambience.

We used to play these tunes in various secondary school bands, so I never felt the need to listen them because they were drilled into my skull. Or so I thought, turns out professional jazz pioneers are much better than a band of school kids. Despite having Grade 5 jazz clarinet (please, hold your applause), I don’t have the vocabulary to describe what makes this slap so much. I like the way all the instruments work together. I like how the main tunes evolves and changes over 15 minutes in each song… it makes me feel nice… the 70s electronic music sound very cool… I would have loved to see this live and watch the way the musicians interact, or perhaps stare in awe as they do all this amazing collaborative improvisation based on pure, unspoken vibes.

This Bob Dylan fella’s pretty good aye? Wonder what became of him. Lyrically this is obvs a masterpiece. Unfortunately I have the attention span of a 7 year old, so really ought to read along while I listen. Alas, I’m a busy multi-tasking man. Still giving this 5 stars because, even though the main attraction frequently flies over my procrastinating head, it’s ruddy good.

Love these guys

Not quite my vibe, but respect how singular it is.

Nina Simone is the greatest singer of all time. That is all.

Taylor Swift would not made it to icon level without Folklore and this album. I do doubt that posterity will see this as the Taylor Swift album that must be listened to above all others (unless she has other ones on this list, but it’s still great stuff!

Knew the hits, but hadn’t heard the album tracks. Mostly bangers.

I mean… It’s The Wall. The last thing music discourse needs is another take on it; it’s a masterpiece.