1001 Albums Summary

Cool 2000's hip hop. Good way to start

Couple good songs

Not as consistent as Thriller but still filled with massive hits

Masterpiece

This was my first tough rating. Awesome album, but does it merit 5? Maybe but I’m going 4 to avoid grade inflation.

Honestly thought it would be better. Knew the famous songs, and they are great. But rest of the album is mid. Gotta go 3. Sorry Jimi

Not his best album. Couple bangers, but uneven. Talent is there. Too bad he’s now nuts

Clearly, a important album in the history of hard rock and heavy metal but not really many good songs

Couple very strong songs. Hard to Handle is a great version. But many forgettable tracks

Very 80’s. Two or maybe three big hits. Filler kinda forgettable.

Some good French beats. Third song is pretty good. But a little hard to really enjoy a hip hop album in another language

A few surprisingly good tracks. Scar tissue is good. But the rapping can be juvenile.

No amazing songs but I can see why it was originally hated but has been reevaluated. The emotions drip off the music. Now I have a sense of what it is all about

Solid all the way through.

Masterpiece. This time I really focused on how much the melodies return throughout the album

Kinda nasty, but has some excellent jams. Can't fade Gin and Juice, G.

Yeah, not for me. They call it art noise. It’s like Trout Mask Replica with more fuzz. First one i almost turned off.

Definitely hipster. More lo fi than I expected. Nico’s voice is actually kind annoying.

Feels like he invented like four genres at once. Some really good soul jams

Perfectly fine pop album. Not his best. Other than the hits nothing struck me as particularly great

Thought this was going to be 5 stars for sure. But having heard it against some other clearly 5 star albums I don’t think so, not for me. I just like the later Miles much better

Has that Devo weirdness, but actually some melodies are hidden in there

Yeah the Eagles still suck

A good number of songs are clearly showing his writing genius. But there are just a lot of ones I can’t really dig. The voice isn’t for me.

Was really surprised about how much good writing is under the punk vibe. Started thinking it would be a 2 but ended up being a 4

While it has moments suggesting their breakout massive hits like Blue Monday, mostly seemed like forgettable 80s synth.

Porto punk indeed. I can see the historical significance but just not any songs I thought were very good

A totally unique musical experience.

Surprisingly pleasant. Obviously now old fashioned but a good listen

Sounds like Kirkland MGMT

Just off the strength of the two hit signals it earns four stars. Will come back to this one again.

Pretty good, although now that I finished it, I can't really remember any of it

Masterpiece. Not a bad song

I mean, not terrible, but I don't get why we need to have this on the list. It definitely isn't an album I needed to hear. Sounds like an aging rock star out of ideas.

The big hits are so good, and in particular Head Over Heels really holds up. Rest of the album is some pretty standard 80's brit synthpop.

Very dope and creative

Really liked Sing About Me. Easy to see why he got so much attention.

Much better than the other Bowie albums on this list. Maybe the only one I might come back to

Nice proto punk. Love the opening track. But not that many good songs I would want to hear again. Don’t particularly dig her voice.

Absolutely beautiful

I've tried it many times. Just can't get into it. Prefer Yes so much better

Absolutely masterpiece. Just love the final song so much

I have no idea where there are three Echo and Bunnymen albums on this list. Whoever put together must have been a British goth kid in the 80's

Definitely can hear the technical prowess on the guitar. But this hard core metal isn't for me.

Another proof point this list is put together by a particular kind of British hipster. Boring

Not sure why this was on the list. It’s not in the top 3 Doors albums

Kind of fun. Don’t love their signing voices. But the songs were entertaining

Kinda interesting genre bending. Glad to be introduced to it.

Very interesting, his voice is not bad at this point in his career. Not my thing but I'll say interesting again

This was surprisingly good. You have to get past the “punk” singing. But once you do the songwriting is so good

Oof. Don’t care for this type of music. Not the right age I suppose.

Had more hits than I remembered. Manages to sound almost like all the songs are covers but yet they wrote them.

So different from their 80s stuff. Pretty unique sound

Just can't get into it

Super classic. So many dank tracks that aren't the famous singles.

I have no idea—none—why this is so revered. The best song is a cover.

Boy, it’s long. And a little hard to take it seriously since my brain associates their voices so much with the disco era. They are definitely talented song writers.

It does seem like a band trying to sound like every other 60 band. But it has a charm about it

Can’t hit five stars fast enough.

So good. Was great to hear all the songs not on Legend

I was expecting garbage but it was some fun early 90’s hip hop. Spouse said “sounds like going to a fraternity party in 1991”

The warm up to bitches brew.

Curtis version of What’s Going On. But more cutting.

I guess this is post hardcore? Apparently some band that only existed for about 5 years. Not my thing

So many hits. Just really strong album

Not bad. Not sure why they put her up with queen bee though

Just way too many Bowie albums on this list

Obviously a few of the songs are huge hits. She had something special to be sure. And I didn’t realize that she wrote most of these songs. But other than the hits I thought the rest were just “fine”. But definitely an album that should be on this list

Very pleasant trip hop. Background music at best though

Couple good songs. Boy the lyrics really match the attitude

Surprisingly good. Great beats. I thought it might be too British but actually not so much. This is a good one for this list because if it was not on there I wouldn’t ever have known about it.

Definitely like Harvest Moon better. Some of the songs sound recycled. But it’s got that fuzz he likes

Cool reggae vibes. Started out standard UK reggae but then had some interesting stuff later in the album

Great covers.

Not available on Spotify. Gave it a listen on YouTube. So German cabaret music translated into English. Not my jam.

More pedestrian British stuff. Nothing jumps out here as special

The hits still stand up.

Still had that strong voice even in her third album.

Obviously Love the One You Are With is massive. Some of the songs feel like outtakes of a CSN album. But also has some great jams.

Fantastic, obviously. But feels more like Kid A outtakes

Super classic with attitude and a bunch of good songs

Didn’t ever care for the singles. I’m not a Goth teenager

Oof. It’s the British Biz Markie of the 00’s. Not good

Sure, it’s not the masterpiece of the later albums. But take a look at any list of great albums released in 1964. Other than a couple early Dylan albums, nothing in this year even comes close. Even on this album they were so far ahead of their peers it isn’t fair.

After getting a Beatles album from this era, this just comes off as pretty mindless pop fluff from the 60’s.

The two hits are fantastic, but the rest feels underdeveloped

The two hits are so good. Rest of the album was a little all over the place.

I know we are supposed to hate Coldplay but gosh darn it this album is filled with bangers

Cool historical period. If you close your eyes you can hear him taking the swing of the 40s and turning it into rock and roll

Oh boy are there really 5-6 Sonic Youth albums on this list? Brutal.

Absolutely perfect prog rock. Amazing writing, great harmonies. Easy 5

Boring. Least interesting Damon project

Oh boy. Not good. Let’s hope that’s the only Residents on the list.

The man can really sing. Absolutely oozes charisma. But blues songs kinda all sound the same to me. I would giver a 5 if I liked that kind of music

Honestly pleasant enough but can’t remember any of it.

Kirkland Oasis with a side of Walmart Stone Roses

I knew them only from the two hits that charted in the US -- Holding Back the Tears and Money's Too Tight to Mention. Those songs hold up completely, but I was charmed by the other songs. Really varied types of songs, plus a live song just plopped in the middle. Their version of Talking Head's Heaven is pretty good. This list has way too much UK stuff, but this is an example of one I'm glad I heard all the way through.

Enter Sandman rocks. The rest sounds like those kids in high school who wore jeans jackets

The original US version did not include High Tide or Low Tide. Which is insane it’s the best song after Stir it Up

I’m glad to know why they are so famous. Post hardcore isn’t for me but this is a great example of it for sur

It took a bunch of Canadians, with just one American, to make one of the greatest albums about the American experience.

Every teenage boy who doesn’t have a girlfriend yet discovers this album. Does it hold up years later? Absolutely. The medieval, renaissance fair, etc nonsense doesn’t hit anymore. But the music continues to be amazing. Sure Stairway is a cliche now, but it’s famous because it is so good.

A nice taste of the Afro Cuban jazz scene. Great energy

Really cool find! Can’t believe he only made one album. Really interesting beats

An album that is brilliant, but I can barely stomach listening to. I wouldn't dare say Eminem can't rap about murdering women and use homophobic slurs (among other topics). And the album was hailed by critics, and he got lots of defense from other artist. The guy really spoke to many young men. But it's not for me. At least nine of the songs have some reference to violence against women in some way. Is it great art? Most definitely. Is it distasteful? To me, yes.

Four absolutely monster hits on this album.

Starts with arguably his two greatest songs. And there a couple other bangers

This one is tough to rate. It has incredible songs, but it's overstuffed, including with scream rock. Keep 1979, Bullet with Butterfly Wings, Tonight, and Zero, and round it out with the best remaining tracks to fill one CD, and it gets 4 or 5 stars. But I find it hard it get to higher than 3 with all that scream rock.

Huh, never heard the Pogues before. Kinda different but gave it two listens and no song jumped out at me.

Not as good as their other album. Ends so strong though

Yeah, one Sonic Youth album is plenty and there’s like 6 on the list. Maybe one song or two songs on here I could get into

Well, the singing isn’t for me. But gosh darn it the guitar playing and song writing charmed me. I get it why they rose to the top of the heavy metal genre in the early 80’s.

So old school I felt like I was a club in Brooklyn in 1979 about to breakdance on a piece of cardboard. I was impressed with the variety of ideas beyond the Message. Super fun. Look the music now sounds kinda simplistic compared to what modern hip hop produces. But still a fun time capsule.

Well, today I got one of the 134 Bowie albums on the list. But I actually kinda liked this album. Opening track intro is beautifully written. Golden Years is actually better than I remembered. And it’s not too long. Still find Bowie’s voice not my thing but this was enjoyable overall

Sigh. Nothing to inspire me here

Definitely the best McCartney solo album. Opening tracks are just fantastic. Love how some of the themes return at the end.

Has the big hit. And definitely not just manufactured.

Not bad. She had some good songs

A return the Odeley style after Sea Change. But I’m more of a fan of the Sea Change era. Couple good songs though

Not as nasty as I was expecting. Many of the songs were as good as In Da Club. Really strong beats throughout. I’m not not a hip hop guy but if I was this would be a 5

Rips off Velvet Underground, the Rolling Stones, and a bunch of other late 60’s acts. One song sounds like Elvis. Another sounds like boogie woogie blues. It’s like the AI of the 1970’s. :) Passable attempts to emulate but nothing as good as the bands they are emulating. I can see how they say it was a bridge to punk and the ramones and garage rock.

This was my first time listening to a Smiths album all the way through. I still don't dig Morrissey's voice. He sounds like the most punchable human ever. And I know I have a bunch of Smiths and Morrissey's solo albums to get through with this list. But I admit I was impressed with the song writing and guitar work. Headmaster Ritual and Barbarism Begins at Home were standouts.

Super creative and unusual. I would like to listen to it again

Not sure why there are three Echo albums on this list. Is the weather in the UK so miserable? This album isn’t as bad as I was expecting. Little bit of cure, little bit British new wave. But not enough to convince me we need three of their albums on the list.

Yes it’s punk. It’s got attitude. Couple okay songs

Fun as usual. They branched out a bit in this one.

A nice find. Had never heard of them. No impact in the US. Stay and Heatwave were the best tracks.

The list has Like a Prayer, Ray of Light and this one. Which tells us more about the weird bias the critics who put the list together. In the early 2000's there was an obsession critics had with Madonna's later career output. I mean, this is fine, a good album. But no True Blue or Like a Virgin are in there? Anyway, definitively some good songs on here. This guy Ahmadzaï who she hired to write the songs had some cool ideas.

Tried many times to get into it. And pretty much anytime the singer is not singing I totally dig it. You can hear shades of Talking Heads, Pink Floyd, Blondie, etc. But that singing voice. Bruh.

For a bunch of guys who had basically no musical talent, no training, and were all around a-holes, it’s hard to imagine how they put out such an incredible debut. I had thought this was famous more for the antics of these punks but the songs are really good

Oof. This was hard to get through. It has aged very poorly. The word that kept coming to mind throughout the album was "juvenile." The rapping is actually really not very sophisticated. Sounds like a high school gym teacher. And also gave me a foreboding sense of dread as to the what was soon to descent upon the American psyche once the right fascist appeared on the scene. Even though there are way worse albums on the list, this was my most distasteful day so far.

Like a lot of the post punk, proto punk, Brit punk etc on the list, this one is full of great songs. The guitar is full of great ideas. But can’t take the singer’s voice. Glad I heard it. Don’t need to hear again

Absolute masterpiece. Every time I listen I change my mind on my favorite song.

While it’s not their best album, it’s a fantastic balance of experimentation and songwriting. Come for the Once in a Lifetime and Crosseyed, stay for the Overload.

Absolutely massive album in terms of success. But I’ve long since outgrown it

Supertramp is criminally forgotten by most people. They had a number of forgettable albums but this one is just fantastic

While it’s not their best album, it’s a fantastic balance of experimentation and songwriting. Come for the Once in a Lifetime and Crosseyed, stay for the Overload.

When I was 12, an older kid put on the Circle Jerks and I pretended to like it to fit in. But now I’m grown up and don’t have to pretend to like terrible music.

Very forward looking for a 50’s jazz album.

A few good songs but singer is like a lot of albums on the list. Not good.

Amazing vocal harmonies. Only thing keeping me from giving it a 5 is the song selection is not as strong as should be.

Like What’s Going On, it maintains both a lyrical and music theme throughout.

Perfect example of an artist where the greatest hits would have been a better choice.

Yep it’s another Bowie album

Masterpiece

I mean, I can see why they never broke through. Nothing offensive, just not as good as the other San Fran bands at that time.

Never heard of this before--super interesting. Got a bit repetitive by the end though.

Can I say best U2 album? I think I can.

Not terrible, glad to hear it. But basically nothing I haven’t heard from a bunch of other alternative bands, and done better by others

Well the song structures are pretty basic. Basic blues songs etc. But you can hear why he stood out. And dripping with sex appeal

One of the best of Stevie’s classic period

What’s up with all these albums with singers who can’t sing? Couldn’t get through the whole thing

Now THIS is why I am doing this project. What a cool find. Combines Western rhythms and instruments with Indian instruments. Nomads in the Valley is a standout.

Begins with the big hit, but honestly there are some incredible bangers on side B. Such interesting guitar riffs, socially conscious, raw.

No doubt, one of the greatest songwriters of his generation. But can’t get over his singing style.

Part Pavement, Part Uncle Tupelo. Not as good as either.

Pretty pleasant

Definitely the best ac dc album

It hits differently than it did 30 years ago. I understand better where this fits in within the alt music scene. The title track continues to be the standout track

Kinda boring

Is Bjork unique? Yes. Should someone hear one of her albums at least once? Yes. Do we need 3 or 4 albums on the list? No. I get it, but it's too weird for me. Fundamentally, my issue is she never seems to be singing a melody that has anything to do with the music.

Like many of Prince’s albums, a couple masterpiece songs, and a lot of filler. You got the look and I could never take the place of your man are great. Rest is fine

Kirkland Björk

Honestly I might have liked it more if Stranger Things had not played the same 5 seconds over and over

Had the hit Killer Queen, otherwise nothing jumped out at me

Kinda generic folk. Pleasant enough

So much character and charisma. Not something I would listen to all the time. But the man was a legend. Love that they kept all the banter in

She certainly had her moment during the 80’s. Then largely disappeared from the forefront of culture.

Now THIS is a Madchester album worthy of being on the list.

Why is this album so much better than any other ambient album?

Starts so strong. They put the big hits up front. Rest is filler

I have a hard time distinguishing the various white stripes albums to be honest. But this is one of them.

Can't believe it's been 20 years. I remember seeing Common and Kanye on Chappelle doing The Food. I hate to say it, but the best songs feature Kanye. Yuck.

These boys literally started their career with the song Good Times Bad Times. Not my favorite Zeppelin albums but still very strong

Didn’t like it much on first listen. But then put in on my nice stereo at home. Much better. Definitely an album that benefits from high quality speakers—good production hiding under the surface.

Very cool but somewhat old fashioned

What does it say that all the best songs are just Dylan covers?

You know, I thought I would like it even more than I did. But I’ve just never gotten into it. Definitely a classic, earns my “should be on the list” rating of 3, but I just can’t go higher

Not the best Band album for sure. But a pretty darn good debut.

He got much better after this. Also not an album I would just put on. Better for a dance club

There's no one like him. Great album that captures, as best as a recording can, the way he could enthrall the audience. Not something I would put on a lot, but a cool time capsule to a great performing that the amazing band he put together.

Meh. Average voice, not nearly as edgy as the song titles would lead you to believe

If Joni had not made Blue, this would be her masterpiece. I think it has one of the greatest opening lines: “Love came to my door with a sleeping roll, and a madman’s soul…”

His comeback album after uneven output late 70’s. Feels a couple years ahead of its time.

Actually starts pretty good, with some punk songs that are listenable. But there a ton of songs, trying out one different punk approach after another. Most of it is a simple idea or rift. I can see why this is placed as a transition from early punk. Later bands maybe picked one idea in the whole album and ran with it. But in the end still middling punk. Just don’t like the genre enough to come back to it.

It's insane that this is routinely ranked outside his 5 best albums. His output was just so good.

If you’ve heard one White Stripes album, you’ve heard them all. Pretty much what I expected. Unique approach, good riffs, etc.

First time hearing it. Was expecting more Frank Zappa/Cheap Trick and what I got was ABBA.

Incubus? I’m Outcubus

A bold experiment in music. So many have tried to recreate it. Miles himself never recaptured it quite perfectly.

I was today years old when I found out that Suzanne Vega had an album before Luka. Not to bad, but many of the songs feel unfinished.

Pretty interesting experiment in a variety of genres. But I can see why the kinks have largely been left behind while contemporary such as the Beatles and the Rolling Stones continue to be relevant.

This albums is like my dad's tackle box: filled to brim with hooks.

Are you kidding me?! This is a disco album which has one largely novelty hit. I dreaded this one when I got it. But holy platform shoes Batman. This album absolutely jams. Long funk jams, crazy hooks. This is why I’m doing this list.

Nothing special

Nice try, hiding more a joke on this list. There a couple good Sugarcubes songs. But not many.

Completely unique sound. A protest album for the ages.

Is it the most generic and boring of all the Britpop albums on this list? Maybe. Still have a lot of those to get through. But this one was a snoozer.

The opening track, The Mother we Share, is great. The rest didn’t live up to that.

Robots back in 1978? Who knew

Like their later albums better

Sure, it's got Fire and Rain, one of the greatest folk songs of all time. Sure, it's got the title track and Country Road. But sweet mother's milk even the lesser known songs are perfect. Blossom, Sunny Skies, Anywhere but Heaven.

Given the lack of international music on the list, feels like an odd choice for the very few albums on here not from the UK and US. But an interesting listen.

Sometimes Jethro‘s thing works sometimes, it’s ponderous and stupid Irish prog . But this album works nearly perfectly.

Never could get into it. I should like it since it has all the elements of music I would like but just don’t think the songs are that good and the voice doesn’t do it for me

Tried to get into King Crimson so many times. Just can’t hear what people love

Some great songs, like Big Poppa. But man the skits and interludes ruin it

Many albums are considered the "poster child" for a genre later mocked. This is literally grunge rock personified. And many of the albums from those days are kinda forgotten. But goodness this holds up incredibly well.

Little old fashioned but not bad

Three MONSTER hits, all of which hold up forty plus years later

Full album not available on Spotify. What I do hear wasn’t bad.

I can see why initial reactions were so poor. I gather views of the album have improved, but not at the quality of George Harrison's solo albums

It’s got some incredible songs. But I’ve just never got into the other songs. This is an album more famous for being famous at this point.

Uneven but a couple good songs

The one single that charted in the US, Brimful of Asha, is very catchy

Wow, not what I expected from a Paul Weller album. Never heard of this, just didn't make any impression in the U.S. And it's a really crazy mix of genres. The soul and jazz stuff definitely works. But the rap songs sound very dated. A Gospel is just so bad.

Yeah not my thing. But good for what it is.

That’s a weird and random choice.

Another Dimery special. A one hit wonder in the US that for some reason had more impact in the UK. It gets two stars solely because of Tainted Love. Then another star because Say Hello Wave Goodbye allowed David Gray to make a gorgeous cover many years later.

A largely forgotten band. Not bad

British tilt strikes again. But kinda interesting album I guess.

Another Dimery special. Brits loved it but less impact in US

Now why would you butcher Country Comfort like that? A perfect song by Elton John. No cover needed. Otherwise pretty good album

What a cool find. Great melodies

Favorite track was Break You Off

Love the title track so much

Oh boy I’m right back in my college dorm.

Some great songs and the fake live vibe is cool I guess but poor recording

Interesting genre pick

Actually the instrumental tracks are kinda good. Don’t love the punk stuff as much

Very sweet and innocent. A different time.

An important album in the development of rap. But doesn’t hold up, flow feels simplistic now.

Definitely operatic rock

Definitely his best solo album. But still uneven

When I was a kid I thought it was just shocking for shocking sake. But I’ve come to see it as a great album with lyrics that are not even that bad compared to what you hear nowadays

Like his entire post Beatles career, this album shows he could still write some of the most amazing songs ever—Maybe I’m Amazed. But without have to compete with the others for space on the album, there is a lot of filler.

Good debut, some nice covers of so far of the era.

One more British rap album. It’s not the worst on the list, but it’s not particularly great either

Like Leonard Cohen, Nick Cave is cool to be into. Yes he does write some good songs. That Gravel voice just isn’t for me. Not my favorite but at least I didn’t get Morrissey today

Because it is completely improvised, some of it is brilliant but not all.

Great fusion album. Birdland is the standout of course

So many classic tracks

An absolute masterpiece. For many years I just kind of took it for granted that the Soft Bulletin was their best album. But I've come around to the idea this is just more cohesive. And kind of more beautiful. Why am I so invested in Yoshimi defeating these robots? They never were quite able to return to the brilliance of the two album run of Soft Bulletin and Yoshimi.

Good, if somewhat straightforward, versions of most the songs. Sounds like a really good bootleg. Other than the My Generation medley, I don't really hear anything other than just a good live performance of the song. It is really cool to hear Keith Moon do his thing.

The British gave us the Beatles, the Stones, Radiohead, and Oasis. We don’t need you to contribute to hip hop. Because you don’t have good tastes, my limey friends. No, this is not good hip hop. Adding in a drum line ain’t enough.

Not his best solo album. Another weird pick for the list

Cool 70’s version of the group

I really do try to get through every album on the list at least once. And there are a couple guitar riffs in here that aren't horrible. But this was a tough one, couldn't get all the way to the end. Hopefully once I hit my review and get a new one it will be a brighter day. Hitting rating in 3....2....1....

Very few rock operas really work. But this one really does. I'd forgotten about gems like Go to the Mirror and Tommy Can you Hear Me? But by the way, John Entwistle is a sick dude--he wrote two songs for the album: Cousin Kevin and Fiddle About. He's not right in the head.

Had never heard of this before nor knew the actor was a musician in the 70s. Pretty good stuff

Very few hip hop albums from the 80's and 90's still hold up. Lots of it sounds like a parody of itself at this point. The science and flow of rap just jumped so many rungs in the last 20 years. But not this one. Sure, this is "college" hip hop. Released as a Different World was on TV showing black college students. It felt intelligent and a breath of fresh air. It was fun, silly, and bright. No one gets murdered, there is no fake pretending to deal drugs or pimp. No misogynic lyrics. I will say, I hated the skits back in 1989, and I still hate them. But the rest is amazing.

You know, I don't take back that there are WAY too many Smiths/Morrissey albums on the list. After one or two, you get the point. But gosh, this wasn't bad. Not as deep as Morrissey thinks it is, but the music is not bad.

Another weird choice in the hip hop part of the list. But a few bangers I suppose

I could just use this review to just say how brilliant this album is, but maybe instead some random thoughts I've had about it over the years. --George demonstrates just how much he has bottled up. The two best songs on the album, and two of the best songs in the whole Beatles catalog, are his. --The medley at the end sort of feels like the band trying to get out, and cram in, every last great idea they could. --At times, they give us glimpse of just how amazing they are as musicians. Amazing guitar solos, fantastic bass lines, etc. --I've often felt you can hear in the album a ton of musical ideas that the great artists of the 70's would take and spin into whole genres. They were almost showing us how to take 60's music (folks, psychedelia, rock and roll) and do something new with it. I hear the great Pink Floyd albums. I hear heavy metal and hard rock.

Like all of Beck’s output, it has fantastic highs and some average stuff. He is an original though. You do you Becky Beck

A pretty typical choice for this list--post punk. Never really listened to them before, so glad to know what they sound like. Sort of Husker Du a bit. I liked Unsatisfied and Sixteen Blue. Other songs were a little uneven. I know it is on a lot of best of lists, and I gather if you went to college in the mid-80's and worked for the college radio station this would be your jam.

Despite the fact the songs are still overplayed on classic rock radio, this darn album is one banger after another

Very interesting. Can't think of an album quite like it where the artist literally explains the music before playing it. Not really my kind of thing but glad I heard it.

That’s a weird one to be sure. Didn’t hear much of anything interesting to be honest

Oh what a gem find. Definitely why I am doing this list. Never heard of the guy, never heard of this album, but it's beautiful. Too Many Birds is the standout and I loved the final track called Faith/Void. Kinda of reminds me of bit of Radiohead in that some of the songs don’t at first seem like songs but they get in your head.

I think there are 5 Springsteen albums on the list, which is excessive (and I like Springsteen). This one could surely be dropped to make room for something else. The Promised Land is a classic, and Prove it All Night is good.

This is one of the most meaningful albums to me. So much to say about it. The story of its creation is well known. Check out the movie if you haven’t seen it. It’s also known as America’s answer to OK Computer. But to me the beauty of this album is how well it tells a narrative about communication. The title references a way to communicate. How we as people fail to communicate with each other, leading to heartbreak. How we find ways to get around the communication blocks we put up against each other and find connection and love. Even the music is searching for a new way to communicate. The weird noises that become melody. For those of you hearing this for the first time, I urge you to give it a couple listens. Like OK Computer or Kid A, or like The Soft Bulletin, it is a bit unconventional but has some of the most beautiful music produced in the rock era.

Does show that Brian Wilson wasn’t the only person with some talent. The opening track is pretty good. There are a couple other good songs. But this isn’t exactly George Harrison’s All Things Must Pass. Way too long with too many filler songs

Will forever be in the shadow of Nevermind

Opening track is designed to be delivered directly into the veins of a teenage boy. Other tracks are a bit more sophisticated and can be enjoyed once you grow up a bit. Never Before feels ahead of its time. Honestly I think the big hit Smoke on the Water is my least favorite. Sure the guitar rift is famous, but feels kinda basic as the kids say.

I’m not 14 years old anymor

Not really my thing but not bad

Like all of their albums, has at least 1-2 complete bangers. Sabotage is an all timer. There are some other good jams on this, like Root Down and the Q-Tip guest star on Get it Together. And the instrumental track Sabrosa could hold up on any great funk album. But also like many of their albums, other tracks are just okay. I find their singing/rapping styles not something I can take for a whole album.

Cool opening track. The rest is less impressive

Dimery's bias to Britpop strikes again. And a reminder that our friends on the other end of the pond have some weird tastes. Apparently Boys and Girls was a massive hit there? You limeys are strange. Didn't crack the top 25 in the U.S. And no cultural impact on us. None. Wikipedia says this a critically acclaimed. To me, felt pretty generic.

Definitely unique group among rap of that time.

Yeah, not my kind of music. She has a good voice, to be sure.

The leap from Rubber Soul, which is really quite good, to Revolver, is hard to believe even after all these years. Sure, there are some simple tracks like Good Day Sunshine, which are more like the early Beatles. But then you have She Said, Tax Man, and Tomorrow Never Knows. I've always viewed Revolver as the album where Lennon and Harrison are showing McCartney how to evolve his songwriting craft.

Yeah, this did not age well. Her rhymes and flow is pretty basic. Beats are basic. We've gone way past this and it doesn't hold up.

Their later albums are better

Look, I have to go 1 on this one. The music is just bad. But I agree this is a good addition to the list. It is something I’m glad to hear once before I leave this plane of existence. The noise and dissonance ideas here will eventually be used by Radiohead, Flaming Lips and Wilco to create Kid A, Soft Bulletin and YHF. I enjoyed it much more than other albums I voted 1.

Definitely an album that would only be in this list. Obscure British punk. Still, glad to have heard it. Some interesting guitar riffs.

Classic funk album.

Serviceable if somewhat short live album

More ambient than anything else. These folks listened to late stage Talk Talk I think

Meh punk

Starts with two all time great songs. But as it go on, begins to feel a bit repetitive, and none of the songs in the second half really stand out as much as the first couple.

I love the Beatles but this is a stupid pick for the list. Very basic stuff. Sure for the kind of music they were making it’s good. But definitely the list already has Hard Days Night which is so much better.

So beautiful. House of Cards and Weird Fishes are standouts. Doesn’t reach kid a or ok computer, but close

Honestly, I can't stand his voice. It's just not for me, in the slightest. I'm sure he's a songwriting genius. To each their own--if you dig the voice, awesome.

Pretty forgettable

Not on Spotify, and if I had been still would fine it meh

Honestly couldn’t get to the end. Germans are a weird people man

All the albums in Stevie's classic period are amazing. This one has some absolute classics. Is it the best of classic period? Probably not, but it probably has some of the most well known songs from the classic period (Superstition and You are the Sunshine). Add to that the gorgeous closer I Believe When I Fall in Love, and I think we gotta go 5 on this one.

Neil wasn’t even that old when he made this but already starting the grumpy activist thing. Boy the guy really knows how to turn a phrase. Southern Man is so famous of course but I’m partial to the title track. Check out the version on Natalie Merchant’s live album if you want to be blown away.

Eno was a pioneer of what we now call ambient music. He envisioned this as an art piece as much as music. It's very influential today. But of course his earliest attempts at it were more about showing what could be done. There are many better ambient albums in the almost 50 years since he released this album. Anyway, I think a good addition to the list as a historical document. But rates a 3 only.

Another day, another Bowie album. Boy this Dimery guy has got it bad for Bowie. Onto the album. Definitely a different sound from prior albums. Half way in, I thought, huh when was this made? It feels later than 1974, which I guess is what folks think he was a bit ahead of his time. The two big hits on the album, Young Americans, and Fame, are clearly interesting and unique. Other than that, nothing stuck me as particularly fantastic. Right has a funky thing that he stole from somewhere I'm sure. There was no reason to remake Across the Universe and he just did it worse than the Beatles.

That’s a weird one.

Was expecting modern prog. More screaming than prog

Another Leonard Cohen? I don't get it, man. I really did try to listen carefully--I listened to it twice through. Not a single song was something I would want to put on again, even putting aside that voice.

This is not just a great music album. This is one of the great pieces of Western art. She weaves tales of the fallout of the 60’s, she reaches into the soul of women to bring their beautiful contradictions, she writes love songs that are true to their power. She finds new chords and rhythms. I discovered this about 25 years ago and have plunged its depths over and over again. This is an album that cannot be appreciated in one day. I beg you to give it time to breathe and reach you.

Kinda interesting.

This wasn't available on spotify, so I just listened on youtube. Pretty boring. Sometimes Dimery's selections are just so strange.

A classic of early 80's punk. Seems like Blister in the Sun has appeared in a million movies and TV shows--it's almost a parody to use it now. When I was in elementary school all the middle school kids were into this, so I pretended to be as well. Anyway, not bad album.

Never heard of this before. Not bad pop album. Liked her voice

Opening track isn’t bad. Was expecting another punk album but got a pretty generic British pop band.

Second Eminem on the list. Had the same reaction to this one as the last one. He's a genius, there is no denying it. But it's just an unpleasant listening experience, with the violence, misogynic themes, suicide, and just about every other unpleasant thought he could jam in. I don't think this music shouldn't exist, I don't think it lacks artistic value, but it's just plain unpleasant to have on.

"Dance-punk"? Geez people just make up genres now. Meh.

Definitely Bob Mould’s best output. You know what I remember? The green color of the CD packaging. It looked very cool

When Monty Python used to dress up like old British ladies? This is the music those birds would listen to.

Geez this Brit pop stuff is just boring.

While I think OK Computer and Kid A are masterpieces, and this one superficially sounds like Kid A, I just never got into it as much as those albums. Also, a good example of an album that doesn't need to take up room on the list crowding out others. The list has Kid A, which is enough to make sure someone experiences post-OK Computer Radiohead before they leave this earth.

A perfectly fine ska band. But just reminds me how mad I am that Dimery didn’t bother to put Phish on the list. What a snob he is. I mean Phish is selling out massive venues this summer and you can see Fishbone at, no kidding, a public park in Staten Island.

Yep another British punk pop album. Yep has some attitude and a marginal singer. Yep I’m sure Dimery or listened to it as a disaffected British teenager. But I’m deep in the list now and it doesn’t stand out from all the others like it.

After Automatic for the People their second best album

Couple good songs. Was better than I expected

Jane Says is cool. But their next album is better

911 is a joke is the same banger I remember as a teenager. In general, the album holds up better than some of the other early 90's hip hop.

A lot less punk than I had anticipated much more heavy metal

She was a unique sound when she popped on the scene.

Am I obligated to listen to the whole thing if I know for sure this will be 1? I don't think I am.

Great album. Doesn’t reach the heights of Joshua Tree but pretty good

Very generic indie album from the mid 00’s. That’s the best you could do for that year Dimery?

Well, good news, the album was short. I can see why punk rockers dig it. Very DC "we don't care" vibe. Now I've heard it, I'm good. Also, there is too much punk on this list. Too. Much. Punk, Dimery, you POS.

This is a transition album in the Talking Heads discography. It’s a little strange. It’s on the list because the albums before and after this album are arguably masterpieces. But I think this has some of their best ideas in terms of writing a number of songs that are absolute classics.

It was unique to be sure. The concept of course, but also the sound--so different from Blur. Clint Eastwood was a massive hit. On a relisten I think there are number of misses, but definitely deserves to be on the list.

Like the Black Crows, they had their moment in the sun. It's an attitude album, if you will. But their reach is much less than they think. In 2024 they canceled an entire tour because their estimate of the venues they could fill was vastly wrong. But glad to have heard the album.

Humdrum. Hole is largely forgotten now

Robert Smith can write some incredible songs for sure. But like most of his albums there is one or two bangers (Pictures of You) and the rest kinda sounds similar

I have absolutely no idea why this band is so famous. No idea. There's something very wrong with you brits. Very wrong.

I've had a run of Dimery's "terrible male singers but cool to be into" albums. This one was tough to get through. There are so many great singers in the U.S., Dimery. You don't need to do this to us.

Okay, I went into this thinking I would hate it. And I'm not going to take the album to a desert island with me. But as I let the beats flow over me, I think it's more Chemical Brothers and less indie punk. More movie soundtrack and less Breeders. Better than expected.

I've heard Joy Division. I've heard the Cure. I've heard Sioxsie and the Banshees. And I know there is a lot of that nonsense on this list. So here's another one. Oh well.

Prog rock all the way. You know I’m not ashamed to admit I like pop 80’s Genesis better.

Another example of just the weird UK bias of this list. No one in the US ever heard any of these songs. They got massive later because of the Breakfast Club and follow up album. But for some reason Dimery thinks this is the one the hear. Oh well.

Big Me is such a fun tune. Other songs like Weenie Beenie are too thrash metal for me. This album feels like Dave Grohl trying out different personalities for his band.

Feels like bossa nova ahead of its time

I don't care what you "I'm only into UK punk form 1983" fools think. Taylor Swift is amazing. And this album is just chock full of incredible bangers. I know most of the songs were primarily written by someone else and she just took writing credit. I don't care. I don't care that she's overexposed. Good music is good music, man.

The second album is just so much better