199
Albums Rated
3.5
Average Rating
18%
Complete
890 albums remaining
Rating Distribution
Rating Timeline
Taste Profile
1950
Favorite Decade
Metal
Favorite Genre
US
Top Origin
Wordsmith
Rater Style ?
49
5-Star Albums
10
1-Star Albums
Breakdown
By Genre
Top Styles
By Decade
By Origin
Albums
You Love More Than Most
| Album | You | Global | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
|
AmeriKKKa's Most Wanted
Ice Cube
|
5 | 2.93 | +2.07 |
|
The Modern Lovers
The Modern Lovers
|
5 | 3.05 | +1.95 |
|
At Budokan
Cheap Trick
|
5 | 3.1 | +1.9 |
|
Henry's Dream
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds
|
5 | 3.11 | +1.89 |
|
Pyromania
Def Leppard
|
5 | 3.13 | +1.87 |
|
Bluesbreakers
John Mayall & The Bluesbreakers
|
5 | 3.16 | +1.84 |
|
S&M
Metallica
|
5 | 3.26 | +1.74 |
|
Fresh Fruit for Rotting Vegetables
Dead Kennedys
|
5 | 3.27 | +1.73 |
|
A Christmas Gift For You From Phil Spector
Various Artists
|
5 | 3.3 | +1.7 |
|
Deep Purple In Rock
Deep Purple
|
5 | 3.32 | +1.68 |
You Love Less Than Most
| Album | You | Global | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
|
To Pimp A Butterfly
Kendrick Lamar
|
1 | 3.63 | -2.63 |
|
Gorillaz
Gorillaz
|
1 | 3.53 | -2.53 |
|
We Are Family
Sister Sledge
|
1 | 3.48 | -2.48 |
|
Drunk
Thundercat
|
1 | 3.11 | -2.11 |
|
Os Mutantes
Os Mutantes
|
1 | 2.98 | -1.98 |
|
Millions Now Living Will Never Die
Tortoise
|
1 | 2.89 | -1.89 |
|
Quiet Life
Japan
|
1 | 2.85 | -1.85 |
|
Heaux Tales
Jazmine Sullivan
|
1 | 2.68 | -1.68 |
|
A Grand Don't Come For Free
The Streets
|
1 | 2.66 | -1.66 |
|
Oracular Spectacular
MGMT
|
2 | 3.62 | -1.62 |
Artists
Favorites
| Artist | Albums | Average |
|---|---|---|
| Led Zeppelin | 3 | 5 |
| Deep Purple | 2 | 5 |
| Beatles | 2 | 5 |
| The Rolling Stones | 2 | 5 |
| Black Sabbath | 2 | 5 |
| The Who | 2 | 5 |
5-Star Albums (49)
View Album Wall
Popular Reviews
Little Richard · 1 likes
4/5
A compilation of his early singles and b-sides, this record is essential for any rock & roll fan. Undeniable record.
Elis Regina · 1 likes
3/5
I could not locate this record. It seems to be a posthumous compilation. Instead, I found the compilation "Elis" (2002) on Apple Music which has all but one song from Vento De Maio; "Aprendendo Jogar / Learning To Play". I did find this song on another compilation, The Essential: Elis Regina (1971). *I’ve read of her being called Brazil’s “most important” singer. She’s brilliant…. Very talented. But slow love songs in Portuguese isn’t really my wheelhouse.
The Adverts · 1 likes
4/5
As with any late 70's punk record, the production is a bit thin and the sound is raw. I like the record and I'm glad I listened to it. It fits right in with the records coming out of that scene in England at that time. A raw, attitudy punk rock record.
Miles Davis · 1 likes
5/5
It's a perfect experiment in modal jazz. It's where Miles reinvented jazz for the first time. No, it wasn't the FIRST modal jazz record but it is clearly the most popular and widely acclaimed example of it. Miles and the musicians on this album, who all went on to individual success, are so in sync with what he was trying to accomplish and the result speaks for itself. A completely undeniable record.
1-Star Albums (10)
All Ratings
Miriam Makeba
3/5
I can certainly appreciate the beauty of the percussion rhythms. She has a very nice voice for the style. That being said, it's so far outside my wheelhouse that I wouldn't rate it very high.
Gorillaz
1/5
Generic kiddie-pop. This band is widely regarded as a joke… quite possibly cause they are one. Ain't my thing and I couldn't care much less if I never hear this again.
Kendrick Lamar
1/5
I've never been a Kendrick fan. I just don't like his approach and style much. I appreciate the talent and the approach but I prefer other rap and hip-hop
Nick Drake
3/5
Mellow, acoustic art-rock. Not bad but not really my wheelhouse.
Def Leppard
5/5
One of the greatest records ever made. Mutt Lange really got the best of this band who came to the table with a great batch of songs. The right sound at the right time.
Pulp
2/5
Britpop sing in a nasally up-tone or whisper/speak. I'm sure there are a lot of people that like this... it truly isn't in my wheelhouse in the least. The hit, "Common People" is an interesting synth-pop song. The most interesting thing is the cover photo and the story behind it.
The Specials
3/5
English 2 tone/ska revival band. Instrumentally, they verge on punk at points… They have that punk ska feel. This is the kind of stuff that influenced Mighty Mighty Bosstones and that whole U.S. ska revival scene
Rush
5/5
Widely accepted as their best work and listed at 379 on the 500 Greatest Albums of all time, #43 on the 100 greatest Heavy Metal albums of all time. Certainly my favorite and very very close to a perfect album.
Amy Winehouse
2/5
I never “got” Amy Winehouse. She’s good.. not GREAT. She has a pretty generic singing style and minimalist music. Sounds like Adele or Duffy or Joss Stone or a lot of other singers. She sure did burn out instead of fading away, though. OK singing, OK songs. Not my thing.
Tortoise
1/5
Ambient-noise alternative type stuff. Not my thing at all.
Thundercat
1/5
I imagine critics LOVE this. I don't. It seems like it's trying too hard OR not trying at all . In either case, it's not my thing.
Sister Sledge
1/5
Oh. Disco. Being Raised in the '80's, I am a "disco's dead, long live Rock!!!" kind of person. That being said, this was an enormously sucuseful record.disco ain’t me forte. And other than the obvious, I don’t know that I’ve ever heard a Sister Sledge song. Can’t say as though I’m tempted to listen to more. This mostly sucks with a slight deviation to “been-drilled-into-my-head-so-much-I-mostly-like-it” for the title track.
Big Star
4/5
This is a good pop-rock record but I don't always understand the hero worship that goes with it... it's good, not GREAT. It's bubblegum in the beginning of the AoR phase.
N.W.A.
5/5
Contrary to popular belief, it's not the FIRST gangsta rap record, it's just the first one to spill over to the mainstream. It IS influential AND important. It is an undeniable, yet very flawed record. It challenged the listener to confront uncomfortable "street" truths about race, poverty and violence in America. It didn't compromise on it's stand against law enforcement and politicians and it spurned a billion-dollar industry of indie producers putting out rap records.
Deep Purple
5/5
Since this came up in my queue, I've been debating… IS this a perfect record? The answer I came up with: This is the perfect response to adversity from a band that was at it's absolute peak in every single way. As artists, they created. As musicians, they wrote special songs and as a band, they made the perfect record. The stars aligned for them to deliver this one.
Blondie
4/5
Mike Chapman's first collab with the band… whom he found less-than-great. Full disclosure: what I know about Blondie couldn't fill a thimble. I "realize" they're considered great. I never took the time to deep-dive. I've jammed a song and a record here and there over the years.This is probably my first critical foray. I found it above average, to be sure, but not stellar. Released the same year as VH1… not even close.
ZZ Top
4/5
ZZ Top's Third record. Released the day I was born. Classic records gonna classic. And this is an undeniable classic record just for the opening 1-2-3 punch. Add in La Grange and you have this record in a nutshell. The rest of the songs are good, if a bit generic, Texas blues.
Orbital
3/5
Techno/Electronica (EDM?) record. I don’t find it terribly groundbreaking or original, having listened to Delerium, FLA, The Prodigy, etc. for years. It was a pretty big hit and is considered influential in the genre, which I’m not a huge fan of and don’t follow
Magazine
2/5
I find it difficult to listen to due to it's lack of hooks and melody but it is full of soundscapes and deep, rich textures. Reminds me of The Fall, PiL, Joy Division and the like. Challenging and not really my wheelhouse but I "get" it.
Billy Bragg
3/5
The folky Bob Dylan-esque feel is hard to escape. It really isn’t in my wheelhouse but there are moments of brilliance. I can see the appeal.
Foo Fighters
2/5
I guess it's inevitable that this would sound like Nirvana. The claim is that most of the songs were written before or during Grohl's time in that band. I don't see any reason why that's not true, but they were definitely influenced by Nirvana at least to my ears. It certainly didn't make me a Foo Fighters fan and I don't get the appeal, really.
Morrissey
2/5
Atmospheric alternative music that touches on Punk, Pop and soft rock. There are some flashes of brilliance here, but it just isn’t anywhere near what I’d choose to listen to. Maybe because I just never caught onto the Morrissey thing and am a bit biased against him. If it had a different name on it…. Who knows?
Rage Against The Machine
3/5
I don't LOVE RATM. I like this record and I like what they do. I LOVE Morello's playing, but not the fusion of "things" - the poltics, the rap, the mentality. I like the music. I don't HATE the poltics. I just don't love it.
Booker T. & The MG's
5/5
There are many reasons this is considered a classic, but far and above, it's the ability for this band to make these songs sound amazing through their talent and abilities. There are very few bands that could walk into a studio, do their thing and walk out with a stone cold classic but that is exactly what happened here.
Meat Puppets
4/5
Bored of the constraints of hardcore punk, they did what they wanted to here. Like Husker Du and Black Flag, they proved that Punk could be more than thrash and scream by just doing what they wanted to, even if it pissed off their core audience. I hate the term "important", but this is an important landmark in early punk rock that influenced grunge bands like Nirvana and pushed from punk into alternative before that was really a term. This is one of those great records that one doesn't often think about but once you're listening, you remember and "get" it.
Herbie Hancock
5/5
Hancock's commercial breakthrough album and widely considered a defining moment for jazz, this has inspired and influenced a wide range of music including jazz, funk, disco and hip-hop. I can easily recognize the genius behind this record.
Patti Smith
4/5
This record IS a product of it's time. But it's more than that. It's a true expression of poetry over music. It has been frequently cited as the first punk rock album, or at lest a key recording of punk rock.
Violent Femmes
5/5
This is a magic-in-a-bottle type of record that captured everything perfectly and established a career. No, they would never live up to this, but more importantly, they MADE THIS. An amazing record full of instant classics.
Brian Eno
3/5
I've seen this called "important" and "vital" and who knows how many other words of inflated value. It's a decent enough album but the experimental sound combinations aren't really my thing. It's always hard to rate things that are THIS far outside one's wheelhouse. This record, to me, would make good background noise, but I'd never reach for it off my shelf to actually listen to for entertainment.
Kings of Leon
3/5
A typical modern rock record. It's good but not groundbreaking.
Nirvana
4/5
I get why everyone loved this record. At the time I didn’t, but in the ensuing decades, it’s grown on me. I never cared for the drama around this band and its “importance”, but this is a great record. Hard stop. I could still give or take it and in 1991, there were a lot of great records released.
Jurassic 5
2/5
Hip hop/rap has become so formulaic and predictable that the critics pick records like this to put on lists. And they become bigger than they are. This is mediocre mass produced uninspired rap. I’m certainly not the intended audience but it’s just not exceptional and doesn’t belong on the 100 albums you should hear before you die.
Little Richard
4/5
A compilation of his early singles and b-sides, this record is essential for any rock & roll fan. Undeniable record.
Pere Ubu
3/5
I'm sure there are those who like this as their go-to listening. Couldn't be me. I appreciate the "art" of this and I can hear the influence it's had on stuff that came later and I get the individualism of the work. But I can't see this being a style I gravitated towards.
John Coltrane
5/5
Coltrane's magnum opus. A perfect record in every conceivable way.
Femi Kuti
3/5
Sure ain’t my thing. However, It is brilliantly performed. Catchy rhythms and vocals. The percussion is amazing. Very well produced. These are upbeat pop songs and it was enjoyable to listen to.
Elis Regina
3/5
I could not locate this record. It seems to be a posthumous compilation. Instead, I found the compilation "Elis" (2002) on Apple Music which has all but one song from Vento De Maio; "Aprendendo Jogar / Learning To Play". I did find this song on another compilation, The Essential: Elis Regina (1971). *I’ve read of her being called Brazil’s “most important” singer. She’s brilliant…. Very talented. But slow love songs in Portuguese isn’t really my wheelhouse.
Dire Straits
5/5
This record reinforces that this band is more than catchy synth tunes and deep blues guitar. They put together some really good pop songs and they created a bunch of soundscapes and amazing jazz fusion songs to go with it.
Brian Eno
2/5
I did not particularly enjoy this record at all and I have zero interest in revisiting it.
50 Cent
3/5
The good is great and the bad is forgettable which makes it very uneven when considered as an album. It's a good album, not a GREAT album.
Sly & The Family Stone
3/5
I can see how it was labelled as challenging. Gone are the "fun" and lighthearted pop tunes. Now we have jazzier, darker songs that speak for the disillusionment and pessimism. It really isn't in my wheelhouse but I understand it.
Neil Young & Crazy Horse
5/5
Young is a genius at his art and this is a phenomenal record that fuses country and rock seamlessly. Even the songs that don't really resonate with me surely impress me. A great record top-to-bottom.
Mj Cole
2/5
It's a protypical EDM album. He found a good singer in Elisabeth Troy and made a record full of songs that fit the genre and mold. This isn't really my thing and I didn't find it good enough to "get" why it's on the list of 1001 albums you must hear before you die.
The Stranglers
4/5
This is widely recognized as one of the greatest punk rock records from the first wave of UK Punk. It's easy to pick out how it's influenced new wave and post-punk music for decades now.
Creedence Clearwater Revival
5/5
This is an iconic album and an all-time classic. There's no disputing how good this record is top-to-bottom. It is easily one of those legacy record that you just nod and agree is awesome.
The Cardigans
2/5
Overproduced Synth/keyboard-drenched pop music with a wispy singer that gets annoying before the end of the record
The Kinks
4/5
With their catalogue, I'm extremely surprised that this record was selected. It was their lowest selling record at the time. It is one of their most diverse and has "Death of a Clown", which is one of my favorite Kinks songs. It just seems like one of those hipster picks.
Sisters Of Mercy
3/5
I didn't hate the record, but I certainly don't love it. It's not really my style.
Beatles
5/5
Not typically my go-to Beatles record, I always enjoy it when I do visit it. An intentional shift from sugary pop singles to artsy albums, the songs are strong decades later. The three-part harmonies and experimental instrumentation are still interesting after hundreds of listens.
Japan
1/5
I don't see the value of this record at all and have no idea why it's on the 1001 albums you must hear before you die.
OutKast
2/5
not my thing. I didn't enjoy very much of this record at all. It's noisy, hectic overproduced hip-hop beats and occasional rapping. The lyrics generally aren't catchy and it just sounds like they're trying to overwhelm the listener until they dance. I do give it an extra "star" for it's legacy and influence, regardless of my personal tastes
Janis Joplin
4/5
I prefer the Greatest Hits package released in 1973 but most of the songs on this record have become classics. It was released posthumously, kind of as a tribute and it is hard to listen to this record and not think about what could have been.
Gram Parsons
3/5
This is one of the records on this list that I wouldn't have visited without this type of list. It's Not a bad record and I'm glad I heard it but I'm skeptical that I'll ever revisit it.
John Lee Hooker
4/5
John Lee Hooker was a blues icon before he recorded this record but its success enabled him to reap the rewards of his long career and hard work. The format was repeated a couple of times in the '90's without as much success. It is a good record, but does not match the quality of his earlier work which is vital listening for even casual fans of the blues.
The Vines
3/5
I can easily see how this would be a critic's darling type record. It's very reminiscent of the '90's grunge explosion with less originality. I think they locked the band into a room and told them they couldn't come out until they came up with Son-Of-Nevermind". They did an ok job of it. The biggest problem for me is... I don't LOVE Nevermind the way many do.
Coldplay
3/5
This record won 3 Grammys and had multiple hit singles. I can see how that happened. It’s not really my thing but radio-friendly light rock with a bit of piano ballad mixed in can’t hurt your commercial appeal
Sleater-Kinney
3/5
I get why it’s so critically acclaimed. The politics and the scenester thing. It’s different enough that it didn’t fit into the power pop scene or the grunge scene. It’s certainly not pop. I don’t love the singing/screaming and the lyrics aren’t catchy. Its ok. Not great.
Deep Purple
5/5
Deep Purple In Rock is one of those records you KNOW is great. You just don't always know how to quantify it. It does have overly long, indulgent songs (side one is three songs...) but it's also concise, in-your-face and exciting. Blackmore told the others "if it's not dramatic or exciting, it has no place on this album". Mission accomplished.
Fleetwood Mac
3/5
This record is unfairly maligned for not being commercially successful. That irritates me deeply. It sold FOUR MILLION records. There's a lot of artists out there who would like to be commercial failures by selling four million records. That being said, it's also a pretty good record. Sure, the sappy ballads and country-tinged passive-aggression aimed at each other aren't really my thing, but I do appreciate the record.
Drive-By Truckers
2/5
I get what they're doing here, with the whole Skynyrd concept. It does get kind of old by the end of the record with the repeated "Sweet Home Alabama" riff and musical theme, but I do get it. This isn't a terrible record and I'm glad I listened to it, so I guess including it on the 1001 albums you must hear before you die has been successful in that regard.
Stan Getz
3/5
I love the production on this... whoever engineered this record should receive a grammy x10. The space... the tones... it's beautiful. The soft guitar parts are wonderfully layered on top of the other instruments and the vocals are layered over it. The saxophone is amazing. This is an amazingly done record.
The Streets
1/5
This is commercially inaccessible "music" that critics see as "art" and want to be successful, regardless of how much people ACTUALLY like it. Cause, let's face it... no one really likes this shit. This is niche art-rock that's totally focused on a "vision" rather than making a good record.
Fela Kuti
3/5
I certainly realize the strength of this performance and the brilliance of just about everyone playing on it. The rhythms and percussion is other-worldly. It is worthy of inclusion in the list of albums you must hear before you die.
Janet Jackson
3/5
This was a HUGE record. It was huge in how it was made, the topics and how successful it is. Janet was already successful but certainly sealed her career on how big this record was. The result was 4 #1 hits and 3 more top 5 hits. HUGE.
Machito
4/5
I enjoyed this record tremendously. It sounds great, it is interesting and there are a lot of interesting elements and sounds thrown in there. I certainly understand why this is a classic.
The Rolling Stones
5/5
A masterpiece for the ages. The first of a four-album cycle that includes four of the arguably best albums ever made.
Dizzee Rascal
1/5
Another example of critics pushing a record or artist trying to establish a trend and making something "important", despite how good or bad it is. This is objectively bad. There is so much good hip-hop and rap from this period in time that it baffles me that this made the 1001 albums list.
Radiohead
3/5
Critics and fans LOVE this record. They talk about it as if it's one of the greatest records ever made. But it is so far from what I really like that I don't know if I'm being overly critical, but this doesn't rank anywhere near MY list of the greatest records ever made. I find it lacking energy and overly indulgent art-rock.
The Adverts
4/5
As with any late 70's punk record, the production is a bit thin and the sound is raw. I like the record and I'm glad I listened to it. It fits right in with the records coming out of that scene in England at that time. A raw, attitudy punk rock record.
Talking Heads
4/5
The Talking Heads took punk to a different place... mixing in art-rock and pop and plenty of synth and keys, they made their own sound. This is a catchy record that is enjoyable to listen to.
Yes
3/5
This is a good record. It remains interesting from top to bottom and doesn't lose the listener. There are multiple parts where the instrumentalists go in different directions as they explore the song and take their parts but they do manage to stay on-theme and bring it back. This experimentation is what Yes and ultimately, prog rock, is about. This is a solid example of all that Yes has to offer.
David Crosby
3/5
Full of mellow introspective folk songs, this is pretty much what you'd expect from a folk/country/rocker doing a "come-play-music-with-me" guest-spot solo record. I wouldn't call this groundbreaking or even all that memorable. It is exactly what I'd expect from a David Crosby solo record.
Green Day
5/5
This is an amazing album that I didn't like much at the time. I'd been a fan pretty much since the beginning and I didn't like the "punk rock opera" thing. But it grew on me and I do agree that it's one of the best records to come out of that power-pop revival of pop-punk. Definitely an album everyone should hear before they die.
Iron Maiden
5/5
This record is a classic. The production is the only real flaw. It's OK, not great with a raw and unrefined mix, but at the end, it is a truly undeniable record. A metal classic that definitely deserves to be on this list and should be listened to by everyone.
Black Sabbath
5/5
This is one of the greatest records ever released. It changed a genre, if not invented it. It's influenced just about everything since. It's METAL when there wasn't metal. This record is undeniable.
The Sugarcubes
2/5
I don't like this record. To call it "important" or "groundbreaking" is disingenuous to important and groundbreaking records. It's "artsy" noise-pop. I guess it appeals to someone... not me.
Neil Young & Crazy Horse
4/5
This is a good 70's roots-rock record. I can see why fans would be still pulling this off the rack 50 years later.
Joy Division
4/5
I despise the label "important" regarding records, but this record has undeniably left it's mark. It is one of those records that just needs to be listened to. Despite individual tastes, most people would probably agree that this is good record that captured lightning-in-a-bottle.
Led Zeppelin
5/5
I read somewhere that Rolling Stone said that "Heavy metal still lives in its shadow" about this record. I can't really add more. It's a nearly perfect record that needs to be listened to by anyone serious about music in any way.
R.E.M.
3/5
It's a good record that I wouldn't typically think about listening to other than a song or two. I don't know that I'd call it vital to anything but R.E.M. I would not call this their "best" record, although "Stand" is certainly one of their most known songs. Their career trajectory was defined by this record and the hits generated by it.
The Who
5/5
While I have certain preferences for other records, therefore this doesn’t top my list, I would not argue with anyone saying this is among the greatest live recordings ever commercially issued.
Bruce Springsteen
3/5
I can certainly understand why critics love it, it's kind of an "anti-Springsteen" Springsteen record. That doing it for the sake of art and whatever. There are some great songs on here like "Badlands," "Candy's Room" and "Racing In The Street". The rest of the record doesn't do much for me at all. It's ok.
Suicide
4/5
It's influential in a lot of ways... but it's not always accessible or easy to listen to.
The Clash
4/5
There are two versions of this record… the UK version and the US version (released in 1979). They have different track lists. Both versions should not be missed as this is essential listening.
Elastica
3/5
I'm not sure how it got onto the 1001 albums list, but it's worth a listen at least. I found it to be a decent mid-90's britpop/rock record that doesn't really stand out all that much. I'm glad I listened to it but wouldn't have noticed it otherwise.
ZZ Top
5/5
It had the car. it had the girls. it HAD the hits. Most of all, it had songs. And they were catchy and ready for primetime. MTV's infancy made this happen. and it happened. GREAT album. Listen to it again for the first time. It's worth it.
Depeche Mode
3/5
I get why this is so critically acclaimed. While it's not really my style, I appreciate the complexity and layered sound. The production on this is stellar, particularly in the frame of the late '80's/early 90's when it was made.
Destiny's Child
2/5
I get it. It's a pop record and it's catchy and danceable.
David Bowie
4/5
This is a great record. It's catchy, well-produced and it has stood the test of time brilliantly.
Radiohead
2/5
I don't really get why this would be critically acclaimed. I can only imagine what it was like to be a Radiohead fan from the beginning and to run out and get this. Shocked and disappointed would be just the beginning. This sucks.
The Beach Boys
4/5
It has influenced generations and is widely included in discussions about the greatest album of all time. Justifiably so as it is an incredible marvel of studio production and songwriting. The performances are memorable and the songs are timeless. A true classic that belongs on the list of albums you must hear before you die.
Klaxons
3/5
generic electronic tinged pop. I honestly have no idea why crap like this is on the 1001 albums you must hear before you die. I could have died happy NOT having heard this. It's warmed-over mediocre britpop.
Peter Tosh
4/5
The guitar playing and percussion is amazing throughout the record. It's a solid example of reggae from a former Wailer. I don't really find much fault in anything on this record. It's a good record.
Fugees
4/5
They managed to blend styles and not fall into the gangsta rap or pop-rap traps of the time. Production-wise, it is a product of it's time. It broke big, winning two Grammys in 1997 for best rap album and best R&B vocal by a duo or group for "Killing Me Softly". clearly, it's a big record and belongs on this list.
The Band
4/5
I see the appeal and I understand why this would be influential. After backing Dylan, the attention was on them to make a good record for their debut. This certainly is a good record. The organ really drives the sound and they blend country, folk and rock with.. well, pretty much everything else. It is a very good record.
Queen
4/5
It has one of the greatest songs ever recorded on it. "Bohemian Rhapsody" is undeniable. If you don't like that song, I can't help you. There are some really good songs on this record and there is certainly some filler.
Paul Simon
4/5
This is one of those albums that got lost in a career. Not widely heralded in its time, it has gained acclaim retrospectively. It’s a strong record that was called “way too personal to be a Simon & Garfunkel record”. Maybe. I’m no expert. But it is a product of its time. Too much 80’s production over what would seem to be introspective folk songs. I can see why it’s gained acclaim. It’s a good record.
The Band
3/5
They really diverged from the sound on the last record with the swooning Deep Purple-esque organ driving the songs. There’s way more of a folk country roots rock feel here. It’s a good record. It’s a catchy sound and worth a spin. Good songs, good production.
JAY Z
4/5
This is a great record. The r&b/soul influence and sampling is fantastic and Jay-Z is on fire throughout. It is widely regarded as one of the greatest hip-hop records of all-time. I'm not completely sold on that as I like old-school DJ production a lot more, but I definitely consider this a classic.
Super Furry Animals
2/5
It's interesting enough for a visit, but quite honestly, I don't care if I ever hear another song from this record again. It's not that it's bad, it's not. It's just that this is one of those alternative rock records that indulges the artist (co-self-produced) and doesn't really do a good job on accessibility, melody or catchiness. Without those factors, it's an art-rock album that becomes one of those critics' choices and they foist on the masses to be "smart" and "relevant" by creating a trend.
The Police
5/5
This is, quite simply, one of the best records released in my lifetime, if not ever. It is undeniable. The performance, the songwriting and the production on this record are top-notch.
Stephen Stills
4/5
This is a pretty good 70's album by a legend (to-be at the time...). The songs and arrangements are solid and the hits speak for themselves. This isn't really my wheelhouse, but I appreciate the substance of the record.
The Jam
4/5
This is a decent record. It was well-received at the time and has been critically acclaimed since. It sound very much like most of the Brit-rock being released from that scene at that time. It was worth a listen.
Siouxsie And The Banshees
4/5
Every once in a while, I get around to a record that I "missed". In this case, I'm really glad I did. This is a great record that deserves the accolades and attention that it's gotten over the years.
5/5
It’s hard to mark anything on a classic record down. Still, there are parts of even this that I could do without. Yet, I don’t skip them or shut them off. This record is undeniable and certainly worthy of inclusion on the 1001 albums you must hear before you die.
Penguin Cafe Orchestra
3/5
I'm just going to say that this isn't anywhere near my wheelhouse. It was interesting and yet confusing to listen to. I like being challenged and am glad I've heard this once. I don't forsee revisiting it anytime soon. Or ever.
The Byrds
3/5
I enjoyed the 60's sound with the jangly 12-string Rickenbacker guitar, a sound The Byrds and Roger McGuinn are known for. I liked the record and can see how it's influenced rock. A worthy inclusion on the list of albums you must hear before you die.
King Crimson
5/5
The complex production and soundscapes, including deep mellotron and orchestration are perhaps the strongest points of this record. Yet the complexity is perhaps the reason it has influenced countless musicians but completely forsakes commercial appeal in virtualy every way. At once, it was a statement of purpose, a coming-of-age and a brilliant flash of inspiration unleashed on the world. What it wasn't is accessible. They disregarded commercialism and put out an art-rock record... and proceeded to make a career out of it. It's a near-perfect record that should certainly be listened to... closely... by any music fan. It takes some effort to really dig into this record and appreciate it's depth and complexity.
Le Tigre
2/5
This is synth-pop masquerading as punk that takes itself far too seriously. They try a little too hard to mesh styles instead of writing a melody and concentrating on making good songs. It consistently devolves into an "artistic" statement at the expense of the quality of their art.
Donald Fagen
4/5
I find it to be a pleasant foray into early 80’s pop rock. It’s light and jazzy. It’s fun to listen to and interesting in the layers and textures.
Ice Cube
3/5
It’s a good-to-great record that marks the time it was released in, the post L.A. Riots time when gangsta rap was big. The good songs are great, the skits are not.
MGMT
2/5
This isn’t my wheelhouse but I can’t help thinking that I see how people like it. It’s essentially radio friendly music that people who don’t want to listen to music would select or be fed by a streaming service. It’s not great, it doesn’t suck.
k.d. lang
3/5
It’s a classic sounding country crooning record. It doesn’t try to be too much and the lyrics are well written.
The Modern Lovers
5/5
This is one of those records that you need to be a fan of mid-late-70's alt and punk music to truly appreciate. It mixes what The Doors did with what the CBGB scene (was doing with... well what happened later. It's incredible that this preceded the punk explosion and sounds like what came after at the same time. I can hear every 70's/early 80's new wave/post-punk band and the 70's punk/CBGB bands at the same time. An amazing record that needs to be heard and is more than justified to be on this list.
Led Zeppelin
5/5
Yes, it's a perfect record. Yes, it's got arguably the greatest song ever written on it. This record is absolutely essential listening for all. It has influenced everything since and will influence everything until the end of time. If you don't like this record, I don't know how to help you. And help you probably need.
The Libertines
4/5
This is one of those lightning-in-a-bottle records that happens when a band is in a state of turmoil. The songs are strong, the lyrics are often poignant or sharp barbs. It is a good listen and the brit-pop and Beatles influences are pretty obvious.
Slipknot
3/5
This is a pretty good record. This is their "growth" record where they veer away from nu-metal. The songs are pretty good. I'm not sure it's the record to make someone a fan, but it is a good listen. The song "Snuff" is perhaps the best song they've ever done.
Dead Kennedys
5/5
A punk rock classic. DK were relentless touring beasts honing these songs note-by-note for the two years before it. A couple were re-recordings of singles and/or EP tracks. They were road-tested songs and a battle-weary bunch to record them. Still, at the end of the day, it's about Jello's vocals. The dude has the most unique voice in punk. Killer record.
The War On Drugs
2/5
It tries very hard to be "epic" and big but at it's heart, it's an ambient pop record. The critics love it and it was a big hit in it's day but I didn't find it especially interesting. It makes good background music.
4/5
This record is a classic of alt rock and post-punk. Funny thing is that it was released before there was a POST to the punk.
The Mothers Of Invention
3/5
It is just a weird and eclectic collection of noise. It is interesting to visit every once in a while but I've never really considered it essential listening.
Fleetwood Mac
3/5
This is widely considered one of the greatest records ever released. While lighter, poppier rock isn't normally my thing, I do recognize how great this record is. It spurned a lot of hits for a reason; because it's a really good record that people love.
Traffic
3/5
A decent late-60’s rock record. It’s a good balance of folk, blues, jazz and rock. It’s fun to listen to.
Van Halen
5/5
This is one of those records that can leave you panting by the end. The production is stellar. Ted Templeton really captured the essence of these songs and didn't try to restrain Ed. The backup vocals are amazing, the drumming is so so underrated and David Lee Roth is perfect here. No, he's not even the best singer that's been in this band, but he is the PERFECT singer for this band. Until Sammy (lol...). What I mean is he's perfect for Van Halen at this time. This is simply an undeniable record. I don't have the first clue how ANYONE could dislike this record.
Ramblin' Jack Elliott
3/5
Reissued in 2016 as Jack Elliott - Muleskinner with 2 additional songs. A very raw early recording of a folksy country blues singer that has clearly influenced folk, blues and rock as we hear it today. This is one of those roots records that anyone serious about music should listen critically to in order to get a sense of where modern music came from.
Pink Floyd
5/5
This record is a masterpiece. I would argue that it’s their best and most inspired work. The subject matter is so personal and the music is perfectly executed. They’d found a perfect musical and lyrical balance and they captured everything perfectly. There’s just so much emotion packed into it and even in the parts without lyrics it shines through.
Rufus Wainwright
2/5
The singing is great. The orchestration and production are top notch. It just doesn’t do anything for me.
Soft Machine
2/5
A journey through intricate soundscapes woven with synths, percussion, organ and horns. I’m glad I heard it, but I doubt I’d be inclined to revisit it. It’s just not in my wheelhouse.
Bob Dylan
4/5
I find a lot of value in this record as these songs have become standards in the Great American Songbook and deserve praise and credit. I can certainly see how the influence it has had on scores of recordings since, across who knows how many genres. It is sparse folk and blues songs with nothing but guitar and harmonica.
Bob Marley & The Wailers
3/5
It's catchy and danceable music with a message. I get the mass appeal. It's just not my particular style of music.
Common
3/5
It's a good modern hip-hop/rap album. He mixes in plenty of elements of soul, R&B and hip-hop. Solid production by Kanye back when that was a good thing.
Soundgarden
5/5
If there's a place or time that "perfected" this sound (grunge) for the mainstream, this is surely it. They retained the heaviness of earlier records while clearly displaying diverse influences and styles. It debuted at #1 on the Billboard 200 to be the band's true commercial and critical breakthrough. Suddenly, everyone wanted to hear them play their song.
Run-D.M.C.
4/5
It doesn't let up much even on the songs that aren't total and complete bangers. And the bangers are BANGERS. When one thinks of "right album, right time, right group, right audience", this should be the poster child. They'd built up to this one as each of their previous two records did better than the one before it. This record is amazing in a completely amazing year for records.
Les Rythmes Digitales
3/5
It’s a solid dance music album. The first half sounds poppier and much more “played” music than samples and beats where the second half sinks into the looped samples of generic EDM. I prefer the first half and mostly can do without the second half.
The Who
5/5
It’s the greatest concept record ever made… Commercially, it was a smash hit, critically, it was acclaimed. It was adapted into an orchestral version, a ballet, a movie and a Broadway musical. Each song can and does stand on its own outside of the storyline, a rare feat for a concept record. This is a seminal and important work in modern music and easily one of the greatest records ever made. A true masterpiece.
David Bowie
2/5
As part of the "sacred" Berlin trilogy, I think I'm supposed to just swoon over it. Honestly, short of the title track, I don't care at all, in the least little bit, if I hear this again. This is part of Bowie's art-rock electronic phase, heavily influenced by Brian Eno.
Os Mutantes
1/5
It's definitely not in my wheelhouse, but that's not the problem here. It's the annoying production. They needlessly mix in different elements of sound that just don't fit. random bangs, clanks, squeaks and boings in places that just do NOTHING to help the music or emphasize anything.
Kate Bush
2/5
The overproduction ruins a lot of what would otherwise be good pop songs. Strip the dialogue snippets and weird sounds pasted in and this would be a better album for me. Still, I see much of the appeal. She can sing like nobody’s business.
Various Artists
5/5
Widely considered one of the greatest Rock & Roll Christmas albums ever recorded... who am I to disagree? They're all great songs and great performances and I love Christmas music. This is a classic and a classic it shall be.
Bruce Springsteen
5/5
This is a nearly perfect record. Every single was a top 10 hit and still gets regular airplay. The tour was monstrous. This is one of the biggest records ever made.
Scott Walker
4/5
I enjoyed this record quite a bit. The crooning pop songs are reminiscent of the old 50’s crooners. It also reminds me of many Christmas standards…. Without the Christmas lyrics.
Sonic Youth
3/5
As with all Sonic Youth records, it has its charms and there are some really strong songs.. there are also some that don't quite do anything for me.
Miles Davis
5/5
It's a perfect experiment in modal jazz. It's where Miles reinvented jazz for the first time. No, it wasn't the FIRST modal jazz record but it is clearly the most popular and widely acclaimed example of it. Miles and the musicians on this album, who all went on to individual success, are so in sync with what he was trying to accomplish and the result speaks for itself. A completely undeniable record.
Metallica
5/5
It is brilliant, both in concept and execution. Kamen had done a lot of work with rock bands prior to this and did a phenomenal job in scoring the complexities of Metallica's music. The symphony, for the most part, compliments the music perfectly or integrates with it seamlessly, adding a depth and clarity to the compositions that can't be found with simple guitar/bass/drums. This is a virtually flawless integration of metal and orchestra and it is widely praised for good reason.
John Prine
4/5
It is a strong record and was enjoyable to listen to. The melodies are catchy and the lyrics are good, particularly the ones that tell a story.
The Rolling Stones
5/5
A classic album which is often discussed when contemplating the greatest of all time. It was in the middle of arguably one of the greatest runs of albums ever...
Talking Heads
5/5
It is poppy yet retains the punk edge they'd gained in the CBGB scene. This is an American classic.
k.d. lang
3/5
This isn’t anything I’d pick out to listen to. It’s all soft crooning pop songs. She is a great singer. She just doesn’t sing anything I want to hear.
U2
3/5
The poppy side of U2 is just not my thing.
Jimi Hendrix
4/5
The arrangements and the virtuoso level playing on his record are impressive on any day.
4/5
If it were half the length, I’d like it better. Still, it’s a good picture of where this style of music was at that time. It sold a lot of copies cause people liked it. I like some of it a lot... the rest, I could do without.
Elvis Costello & The Attractions
4/5
I can see how this record clearly influenced musicians across genres. It's diverse and well-written. Costello sings in ways that are both catchy and dynamic and the music is superb. A very good record that is well-deserving of the long-term accolades.
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds
5/5
Cave's crooning and the acoustic alterno arrangements are a perfect match. It was well received at the time and has only grown in mystique. It's one of those albums that leaves you... feeling. It's good and it's dark and it's different.
Fatboy Slim
3/5
It is well produced and has varied sounds. It’s just that DJ loops and beats aren’t really my thing. After a song or two it all begins to blend.
Sonic Youth
4/5
This is an interesting record that I don’t listen to often cause it’s hard to stay focused on. It challenges the listener. They did some weird stuff with tunings and played more open arrangements that were very arranged. It reminds me of a very experimental free jazz record.
Rufus Wainwright
3/5
Like Want Two, I didn’t like this record all that much. I do like it slightly better because it’s a lot more acoustic guitar and piano backed by synths instead of the opposite. Again, he can sing. And the music is done well but it’s still soft pop crooners that don’t really interest me a lot.
The Notorious B.I.G.
4/5
Widely recognized as one of the greatest hip-hop records ever released, who am I to argue? It's a great album. Biggie is so unique with that big bass-heavy voice and cadence. This is a great record.
Cheap Trick
5/5
It sold triple platinum at the time and broke the band wide open. For a time, they were on top of the world and it still remains as one of the best live records ever released.
Carpenters
3/5
This is a good record full of swooning pop songs and melodies. The music is layered in production and well crafted. It is enjoyable to listen to every once in a while.
Santana
4/5
This is one of those records that I don't visit often but always enjoy. Santana is a wizard on the fretboard and the blues fusion material they did in the 70's is always impressive. Of course "Black Magic Woman" is a signature tune.
Wu-Tang Clan
4/5
Brash boasting raps, humor and explicit lyrics and catchy choruses mixed with minimalistic beats. The chemistry and different styles and lyrical themes of each member somehow come together perfectly under RZA’s production. An absolute classic.
PJ Harvey
3/5
This sounds very current with the time it was released. I hear the influence of Nirvana, Sonic Youth and others. Harvey's scream/yell/sing thing fits well with this record.
The Cure
2/5
I could get into The Cure if it weren’t for his voice. It’s like nails on a chalkboard to me. I just hate it. The music is cool… they vary their sound a bit and they’re good musicians. Just that voice.
John Mayall & The Bluesbreakers
5/5
One of the most influential blues records of all time. Having Clapton on this record made all the difference even though he'd left the group before it was released. This is old-school Chicago blues at it's best and Clapton plays the hell out of it. For the most part, all the instruments support Clapton's leads.
Buffalo Springfield
4/5
This is a very influential record with great songs, great production and it’s stood the test of time as a great record.
Sarah Vaughan
5/5
She is otherworldly as a singer and the music is pretty much perfect to accompany her swooning and melodies.
Bob Dylan
5/5
Undeniably one of the greatest rock records from the 60’s, its influence is felt far and wide. Many folk rockers were inspired by the lyrical diversity and electric playing.
The Mars Volta
2/5
Another one of those "critic's choice" records that they make "important" because it's artsy rock that critics tend to pick. It's not my wheelhouse and nothing I enjoy at all.
Elvis Costello
3/5
It’s an enjoyable record. It’s varied well enough that it keeps it interesting and the musicianship and writing is good.
David Bowie
4/5
I read that this is Bowie's first great album. It's a solid album and it's good to give it a spin once in a while.
Thin Lizzy
4/5
It is a solid live record and very representative of Thin Lizzy's live shows at the time. The record sounds good, feels right and has none other than Huey Lewis on harmonica on "Baby Drives Me Crazy". A great live record, no doubt. There is some debate as to how much studio magic was applied to make this sound the way it does and how accurate the credits as to where the songs were recorded are, but it becomes irrelevant when one listens to the record. Like many 70's live records, it was touched up, sure. But it's still great.
Gillian Welch
3/5
I think her voice is amazing. I don't particularly care for the crooning ballads from top-to-bottom. That being said, there are some good songs that she sings very well on. It is a good record that I'm glad I heard but most likely wouldn't re-visit any time soon.
Ice Cube
5/5
There is a lot of great about this record... great beats, great production, great guest spots and of course, ICE F'N CUBE bringing it hardcore the entire way through. The man had something to prove and just WENT OFF. This is one of the best gangsta rap records to come outta the 90's and ultimately, most of them were just imitating this...
The Cars
5/5
A stone-cold classic. They sound so unique on this record. Elliot Easton once said that this record should be called "The Cars Greatest Hits" and that's pretty true. The guitar tones are iconic and their use of synths is brilliant.
Fairport Convention
3/5
It is a good record, well-produced and an amazing singing performance. The guitars are good. I enjoyed listening to this record.
Pet Shop Boys
3/5
I appreciate the creativity and lyricism on this record. It's a good synth-pop record. It spurned a few hits, too. I'm not sure it's "visionary", but I do appreciate the strength of the release and see how pop radio and fans would love it.
Thelonious Monk
5/5
This is a legendary set. It holds a place in music history that cannot be touched. It's close to if not a perfect album.
Sheryl Crow
2/5
It's a pop record with some tinges of other things. For the most part, the songs are rather disposable. They are well-produced and I understand why they were hits. I just don't like them very much.
The Verve
2/5
I don't particularly care for the guitar tone on this record at all. They were aiming for "alternative" and ended up with "blech". I can see how this spawned several radio hits, particularly in the UK at that time. A quick glance at what was popular.. AiC, Soul Asylum, Smashing Pumpkins... ya. It was good timing. Or maybe it's good and I'm just not into it? I didn't like the record and will likely never revisit it again.
Incubus
3/5
There are a couple of good songs and the rest sounds like pretty much every other nu-metal song released around that time. It's good, not great.
Led Zeppelin
5/5
Led Zeppelin was on top of the world at this point and decided that they were gonna take a break. Plant took Page to Bron-Yr-Aur, an 18th century cottage with no running water or power. So, naturally, they composed on acoustic guitars and arranged the songs around them. The change of direction was, of course, noticeable and threw everyone for a loop... and yet, it still smashed all expectations, topping the charts on both sides of the ocean. An undeniable record.
Big Star
2/5
The story behind the record is better than the record itself. Big Star had essentially broken up, Alex and Jody put this together with producer Jim Dickinson and record labels deemed it "not commercial enough" to release. It got shelved and later issued, reissued and issued again. The original intended track order or even name of the group on the record was never completely aligned to the vision the band had. At the end of it though, the record pretty much bored the hell out of me. It’s full-on art-rock navel gazing. There’s very few traces of the band or songwriter who put together the previous two records. I can definitely see why it was deemed not commercial enough to even release. Only in the minds of the critics is this a “great” anything. It’s boring and rambling and… not very good at all.
David Holmes
3/5
This is a good electronica record. It touches on a lot of different styles of electronica music like trance, beat, techno... It's not generally my style, but every once in a while, I enjoy listening to a record like this.
Arcade Fire
4/5
I enjoyed this record VERY much. Once I kind of latched onto the concept of nostalgia and needing to close the circle on the disappointment of growing up and transitioning from childhood to adulthood, I really dug what they were doing and how they did it. The music isn't nearly as "art-rock" as I thought it was going to be and does a great job of bridging that divide between kid or teen oriented to adult-contemporary sounds.
Sex Pistols
5/5
An iconic album. A MASTERPIECE. It IS truly important... they didn't INVENT punk rock. They certainly ignited it and this record defines the genre for many. Is there a bad song on here? no. Mostly cause I've been listening to it my entire life and oh so many bands in both Punk and Metal have been influenced by it. I just can't find fault in it.
Pixies
4/5
The Pixies came along at a time where alternative music was shifting... the complex, frantic arrangements and screaming vocals built around songs that start and stop and build up to crescendos would get very very popular soon. Seattle was listening... particularly Kurt Cobain. There is no doubt that Surfa Rosa is a landmark alt-rock staple and it should be in every collection.
The Temptations
3/5
It would be very easy to say that "Papa Was a Rolling Stone" drove the success of this record and leave it at that. Of course, that's very true but it would also discount the amazing singing on "Love Woke Me Up This Morning" and the grace and beauty of "Mother Nature", long-forgotten as the first single from this record. The rest of the album is pretty forgettable, especially the obvious attempt to capitalize on Roberta Flack's success with "First Time Ever (I Saw Your Face)" by covering it here. The record mostly holds up and only sounds dated in a few places.
Michael Jackson
4/5
Pop music isn’t my thing, quite honestly. That being said, I know a great record when I hear it and I can appreciate why this was so big at the time and is one of the highest selling records of all time. Timing matters and this was right in the pocket of popular music at that time. A great record.
The Waterboys
4/5
One of their best records. It is well produced and played.
Kings of Leon
3/5
For the most part, it's a pretty good rock and roll record with influences that can be heard from punk rock to southern rock. It's a good record, not really a great one. It is a little uneven in places with a couple of songs I really don't like such as "Trani" and "Dusty", but "Holy Roller Novocaine" and "Molly's Chambers" are really good.
Duran Duran
4/5
Widely hailed as Duran Duran's finest work... and it is. John Taylor (speaking to Yahoo! Music as cited in the wiki article...) said "This is the album thta put us on the map - and hs kept us there." Couldn't have said it better myself. That being said, synth pop generally isn't my thing and I don't really visit this record all that often, except "Hungry Like The Wolf" - that is a masterpiece of a song.
Supergrass
2/5
This record is highly acclaimed and I can't for the life of me figure out why. I don't really like it at all, despite having given it several chances and having seen it on a lot of top lists and such. It's just not my wheelhouse, I guess.
Jazmine Sullivan
1/5
This is a "girl power" album that's not aimed at me. The pop-rap thing doesn't do anything for me regardless of the message. It's just not my wheelhouse.
The Doors
5/5
This is an iconic record. It's arguably The Doors best work. Counterculture lyrics meet the blues... it's still a great listen.
The Allman Brothers Band
5/5
There are many reasons why this record is always ranked in the top few live records of all time. "Whipping Post", all 22+ minutes of it (it took up a full side on the original double-vinyl), "You Don't Love Me" and most especially "In Memory of Elizabeth Reed" are a big part of that reason. Of particular note is the version of “Drunken Hearted Boy" with Elvin Bishop from the expanded edition. It's really no wonder that a jam band with deep roots in the blues and jazz would put out a phenomenal live record. Blues is a live medium and jamming is one reason why. Coupled with the level of talent in this band and that they were still young and hungry and the result is At Fillmore East.
Super Furry Animals
2/5
For a record that was supposed to be NOT Britpop, it sure sounds a lot like Britpop to me.
The Fall
3/5
I've never liked The Fall because I don't like Mark E. Smith's voice, nasal tones, inflections or the way he talks most of the lyrics. It's their style and clearly some people like that... but I don't. His voice ruins songs that I would otherwise probably like.
Black Sabbath
5/5
Top-to-bottom, it is virtually incomparable. It is the perfect record at the perfect time for the right band. It has influenced countless songs and bands and musicians to pick up an instrument.
Skunk Anansie
3/5
She can sing and sure does in a variety of styles. She brings it hard when she needs to and sings soft and mellow when she needs to. The music is very varied going from pop to grunge to hardcore. I enjoyed listening to this record, but I don't think it's anything I'll revisit soon or often.