164
Albums Rated
3.03
Average Rating
15%
Complete
925 albums remaining
Rating Distribution
Rating Timeline
Taste Profile
2010
Favorite Decade
Soul
Favorite Genre
US
Top Origin
Wordsmith
Rater Style ?
14
5-Star Albums
21
1-Star Albums
Breakdown
By Genre
Top Styles
By Decade
By Origin
Albums
You Love More Than Most
| Album | You | Global | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Darklands
The Jesus And Mary Chain
|
5 | 3.23 | +1.77 |
|
Mama's Gun
Erykah Badu
|
5 | 3.25 | +1.75 |
|
Bitches Brew
Miles Davis
|
5 | 3.3 | +1.7 |
|
Endtroducing.....
DJ Shadow
|
5 | 3.35 | +1.65 |
|
Bossanova
Pixies
|
5 | 3.38 | +1.62 |
|
The Fat Of The Land
The Prodigy
|
5 | 3.4 | +1.6 |
|
good kid, m.A.A.d city
Kendrick Lamar
|
5 | 3.61 | +1.39 |
|
Chelsea Girl
Nico
|
4 | 2.62 | +1.38 |
|
Live At The Regal
B.B. King
|
5 | 3.67 | +1.33 |
|
Yank Crime
Drive Like Jehu
|
4 | 2.71 | +1.29 |
You Love Less Than Most
| Album | You | Global | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Californication
Red Hot Chili Peppers
|
1 | 3.7 | -2.7 |
|
Blood Sugar Sex Magik
Red Hot Chili Peppers
|
1 | 3.5 | -2.5 |
|
Only By The Night
Kings of Leon
|
1 | 3.24 | -2.24 |
|
Run-D.M.C.
Run-D.M.C.
|
1 | 3.13 | -2.13 |
|
Youth And Young Manhood
Kings of Leon
|
1 | 3.1 | -2.1 |
|
Woodface
Crowded House
|
1 | 3.1 | -2.1 |
|
Safe As Milk
Captain Beefheart & His Magic Band
|
1 | 3.01 | -2.01 |
|
Hypocrisy Is The Greatest Luxury
The Disposable Heroes Of Hiphoprisy
|
1 | 2.88 | -1.88 |
|
Headquarters
The Monkees
|
1 | 2.86 | -1.86 |
|
Quiet Life
Japan
|
1 | 2.85 | -1.85 |
Artists
Favorites
| Artist | Albums | Average |
|---|---|---|
| Miles Davis | 2 | 5 |
Least Favorites
| Artist | Albums | Average |
|---|---|---|
| Red Hot Chili Peppers | 2 | 1 |
| Kings of Leon | 2 | 1 |
5-Star Albums (14)
View Album Wall
Popular Reviews
Adele · 1 likes
3/5
For being one of the most streamed albums of all time I have to say Adele's 21 is still an extremely impressive Pop Soul release that stands the test of time even for it being an early 2010s release. White moms were truly eating good with this album's release. I forgot just how powerful Adele's vocals are when she isn't being played on the radio over and over and over again for 3 years straight. She really was a powerhouse even at such a young age and had quite the killer pen game to back it up. I remember so many of these songs from my childhood and having my mother religiously play this album in her own time and whenever she turned on the radio. To say this defined the 2010s for some time would be an understatement as it was truly inescapable for years until 25 released, and then that project couldn't be escaped either. It is a staple of the time it was released and still passes off pretty well into the modern day. Glad this is better than I remember it being because god damn did Adele hit it out of the park on this album.
Pixies · 1 likes
5/5
You can still continue to fight me all you want, I am not backing down. This album is so much tighter and consistent than Doolittle and somehow manages to balance the rough around the edges approach with a lot of fun and exciting tracks that always put a stupid grin right across my face. I think people want a lot more of the bumps when it comes to Pixies because then it really highlights the best tracks on all fronts, but what they don't realize is that this album is all of those best songs just put together. Not a single song misses a single beat and the vibes are immaculate and sunny all the way through with no breaks until the album is finally over. This is easily the "fastest" feeling Pixies project while also being their smoothest yet, it all goes together so god damn well and it further solidifies this as the best Pixies album in my eyes. I am convinced the slight Surf Rock elements scattered all throughout this album really pushed it more into my alley and made this project much more of a win in my eyes. Sorry y'all but Bossanova rains superior.
The Pogues · 1 likes
3/5
I have never personally heard of The Pogues before, nor have I ever considered listening to a Celtic Rock album but I guess that is what the 1001 Albums to Hear before I die challenge wants me to hear. This unapologetically Irish album is quite a trip to my American brain as the compositions here are so weird and yet oddly fitting for the album and overall performances. The only track I seem to have had any familiarity to was Fairytale of New York, which I personally don't remember hearing at all. If you don't like Irish music or Folk Rock as a whole I would suggest avoiding this album as those are some pretty heavy elements used all throughout this album. The lyrics are simple and to the point and are sang in a way that really bounces off the instrumentation from The Pogues to make a very fun and cheerful listening experience. While I am not super huge on this album, I can appreciate the craft and effort put into making this so unique. Maybe I will return to The Pogues someday, but I think for now I have definitely had my fill of Celtic Rock for the time being.
Kings of Leon · 1 likes
1/5
Only By The Night is easily Kings of Leon's most popular release as it has 2 tracks with over 1 billion streams each. Now with that being said, even with this album's extremely high merits that does not mean this album is good by any means. I think Sex On Fire and Use Somebody will go down as the only Kings of Leon songs I can genuinely get down with as they both have this catchy aura to them and some really fun Rock moments in them that really hit with myself and millions of others. Everything else on Only By The Night is very forgettable and bland, but still better than whatever the fuck the band was doing on their debut album. I really tried again to give Kings of Leon a shot here but they are just so mediocre and uninspired that I can't help but nearly fall asleep listening to the slop this band puts out. This is once again nowhere near a "must hear before you die" status in my eyes.
Sabu · 1 likes
2/5
While I do wish the 1001 albums to hear before I die list had more foreign representation, I am really glad there is at least some. One of those pieces of representation is the album I want to talk about today, Sabu's Palo Congo. For this project being made in the 50s it still has a lot of charm that can be felt through the musicianship on display from Sabu's band. Some of the songs here are a blast and feel very lively and quite engaging with the mixtures showcased in the compositions. Unfortunately not every song here gets the same amount of praise as there are a lot of songs here really missing an "oomph" element that helped drive some of the first songs on this album. The solo bongo bits are cool but get a bit tiresome by the end of the 4+ minute runs. There is a good bit of potential in this project but I feel it only gets tapped into every once and a while rather than across the board. Would definitely listen again but I definitely feel there are far better Afro-Cuban Jazz albums out there to enjoy.
4-Star Albums (41)
1-Star Albums (21)
All Ratings
Black Flag
4/5
Damaged is an album from the very early days of Hardcore Punk and when listening to it you can very much tell that in the overall structure, sound, and ideas the band is throwing out. It is a very simple project much like a lot of The Ramones' work, but instead of being very simple instrumentals and bare bone lyrics this album embodies the rage and angst of your typical teenager/early adult that really hasn't been captured as beautifully in its' harsh and jaggedness as on this LP. Some will hate how raunchy and tough it tries to be while others will enjoy it for the same reasons, it is a polarizing album that still stands the test of time and manages to continue to define a phase I'd argue 90% of people have gone through or are still going through in a way that makes you feel heard. I haven't heard this album in full in easily 3 years, but upon relisten I have to say I still very much resonate with this project. Maybe it is because I am still hugely into Punk music or maybe I am just showing off my age here, either way Black Flag still absolutely slaps and so does Damaged well over 40 years later.
Queen
4/5
When I was a wee-lad, before the Bohemian Rhapsody biopic might I add, I got really into Queen and started rolling the snowball that would lead me to where I am with discovering music in such deep and niche levels. I thought today would be a good day to return back to my roots with listening to what may just be Queen's most iconic project out of a discography of iconic releases. Personally I have always favored The Works, but haven't listened in full in a decent amount of time so that could have easily changed. A Night At The Opera is equally as much Rock as it is also very operatic, this album feels full of emotions and these grand swings that showcase each member's respective skills to their fullest. Brian May makes the guitar parts feel both enjoyable and thoughtful with his masterful guitar playing. John Deacon plays a more unsung role of being a backbone to all the song compositions and providing the final "oomph" the project needs to be seem as huge. Freddie Mercury does what he does best and gives one hell of a vocal performance full of theatrics and swagger unseen by any other artists of his time and beyond. Finally we have Roger Taylor who provides the pace and even some writing credits to help put the final pieces in place to help make this album and Queen as much of a spectacle as they truly are. While not every song on this album is perfect, I do still think the highs make up for some of the more clunky tracks like Good Company and Seaside Rendezvous. Overall I am really satisfied with how Queen has held up through my music listening journey and I hope to adventure through them more later on, but for now I have to say this is solid.
Big Brother & The Holding Company
3/5
Cheap Thrills is a much more confident and consistent album that shows the band really starting to find their sound and develop in a direction that starts to pay off much more than their messy self titled debut album. This album is a slow burn that still does dip up and down in terms of quality, but whenever it hits one of its' "peaks" it really puts in the effort. Janis Joplin is so impressive with her both aggressive and rugged vocals and also softer and more "traditional" styles and how she is able to flip between them so seamlessly. While I do think this album lacks in the writing and flow departments I do think the instrumentation and swagger really does go a long way. Not one of my favorite Blues Rock or Rock albums in the world, but I can get why someone would be pretty gaga about Big Brother & The Holding Company's sophomore project. Nuff said.
Deep Purple
2/5
Today's pick was Deep Purple in Rock, and I honestly have no idea what to expect. I feel like everyone and their mother has heard Smoke On The Water, but I have no idea what to even expect when it comes to this band or the music they make. This album throws you head first into the very loud and instrumental heavy Hard Rock the band was working within even prior to the 70s. I would also argue the music here falls into Progressive Rock though it doesn't all connect as smoothly from track to track, it just has long runtimes throughout the project. I can understand why this is such a big stepping stone as not many people really even knew what Hard Rock, early stages of Metal, and Prog Rock was in 1970 so having a band create such a booming and elaborate album really must have been a big deal, but I just can't seem to really get into this album. I can appreciate the compositions and the ideas behind the album but other than Child in Time, a track I wasn't even super huge on, I really didn't enjoy listening to this album. It came off as more of a chore for myself than anything else. If I wanted to listen to Hard Rock or early Heavy Metal, I'd rather turn on Black Sabbath any day than this Deep Purple project.
B.B. King
5/5
On today's album for 1001 albums before I die, I rolled this B.B. King live project from 1965. I have heard of B.B. King before but never checked out any of his music, and god damn does this album make me want to do that. It isn't often that the music sounds this good live that you wouldn't think there are studio versions because of how definitive this whole album sounds. I also have to say for this being a live project the audience really seemed so scripted with just how perfect they sounded all throughout the 35 minute runtime. Each song feels so perfect to show of B.B. King's vocals and killer guitar playing that both blend so well together on this very bluesy and soulful performance. It is live projects like Live at the Regal that really help sell my point that more people need to hear live albums, they can truly be the best thing an artist has yet to offer but since it is such a niche selection usually people just skip over it all without any question. If you want to hear one of the definitive live releases of the 60s, totally check this project out because it is nothing short of incredible.
Marty Robbins
3/5
Marty Robbins may be a name you may only recognize from his 1959, but honestly I think that's a damn good reason to be known for even if its' the only thing notable in his multi-decade career. This album is pretty by the books in terms of late 50s Country music, but I think what sets this album apart and makes it such an iconic piece of music from its' time is the story telling and world building. This album makes you feel like you are the cowboy of each story. The songs here each feel like their own spaghetti westerns with the whole movie fitting into the 2-5 minute runtimes. There really isn't super interesting about this album, but it just does a really solid job at being this perfect capsule of Western/Cowboy culture. Not bad by any means but solid on all fronts.
Erykah Badu
5/5
If you thought Baduizm was smooth this project takes it to a whole new level that simply hasn’t been seen yet in her discography. Every second of this project is striking in every single way, by the end of Green Eyes my jaw was on the floor by just how beautiful this all was. There are so many highlights but honestly you should just listen to this album over and over again, each time will give such a treat of ear candy to your headphones and you. This album is a classic for a reason but god damn I didn’t expect it to be this mind blowing my first go around. I come back to this album and listen in full at least once a month for just about 2 years now. This album is damn near perfect with each relisten I am always picking apart a new track as a personal favorite. What originally started as Didn't Cha Know, then became Bag Lady, which became A.D. 2000, which is now In Love With You (Feat. Stephen Marley). The production here is so timeless and full of this undying youth that makes you wish to feel all of the emotions present here for years to come. It is an album no matter what stage of your life you are in it will always be relatable. Mama's Gun is nothing short of a masterpiece and a milestone in all of music. It is an essential that should be heard by all no matter what. All I have to say is thank you for Erykah Badu, she is such a gift to music as a whole.
The Cure
3/5
On today's pick of the 1001 albums I should listen to, I rolled The Cure's Pornography from 1982. Believe it or not this is one of the few The Cure albums I have heard in full and yet I distinctly remember not quite getting/understanding this project my first time through. I remember this album being very dreamy and the production and lyrics both bringing this chilly and quite depressing feeling across myself, but I don't think I was into the more melancholic ideas the album was presenting at that time. Now after an unknown of time in between my last listen, easily 3 years at the minimum, I have a new found appreciation for this project even if I don't think it is the best thing in the world. If you like your music moody and full of sad or angry expressions then I would suggest seeing a therapist, or becoming an /mu/ core head as a lot of those albums fit the bill. In all seriousness, this album is a great way to feel like you aren't alone with those emotions as Robert Smith and company put together. While the music does get a bit lost in the production of this album with its' sweeping waves, I do still think there is plenty here to "enjoy" for any sort of music fan. The lyrics are dense and really match the project, the soundscape is still so bold today even if the music may not be as prominent anymore, and it is a short enough runtime where anyone can zoom right through this album without too much thought or effort. With all that being said though I do think everything I said is done to a pretty solid degree and not to anything I am truly impressed with, especially with how messy of a closer the title track is at the end. Pornography is cool and definitely not an album for the summer, but despite that I really don't get what all the hype is about here as The Cure easily has better production and writing on many of their other albums. I'd take Faith over this any day.
A Tribe Called Quest
4/5
On today's roll of 1001 albums to listen to before I die, I got an album I had already heard before but instead of just copying and pasting my already existing review, I thought it would be much more fitting to give this a much deserved relisten. While my original score and review are not really all that crazy or mean towards the album, it really doesn't do this legendary group justice in describing their stellar debut of Jazz Rap legends. While this album may not have the strongest lyrics in the world, I do have to say that this is easily some of their simplest and most accessible production, hence why it is so accessible to all. I genuinely don't get how people can hear something like this and say they don't like Rap, it feels like an afterthought compared to all the soulful Jazz elements scattered all throughout this album. People's Instinctive Travels and the Paths of Rhythm may not be Tribe's magnum opus by any means, but man is this project a tight debut that really shows off who this group is and what they are about.
The Mothers Of Invention
1/5
For today's 1001 albums to hear before I die, I got a Frank Zappa album!!! The Mothers of Invention's We're Only in It for the Money is the first album I have ever heard from this weird side project of Zappa and I honestly have no idea what to expect. Immediately this album throws you into some very on the nose political satire of the current state of the world back in 1969 with very clear jabs at police brutality and politics at the time. What I don't appreciate is how annoying and weird for the sake of being weird this project is, there are maybe 2 or 3 coherent songs and the rest are just the ramblings of a madman put into audio form. The randomness is not charming, fun, or even all the interesting and instead it feels like it too is played for satire rather than any actual meaning. We're Only in It for the Money is a very fitting title as this entire album feels like one giant cash-grab and swindle hosted by The Mothers of Invention. I know they probably have better albums but this leaves quite a sour taste in my mouth for anything else they have to offer.
The Magnetic Fields
4/5
I prepared myself to listen to the longest album in the 1001 Albums to Hear Before You Die series and then got served the second longest one for my listen today, I guess you can say that is karma working against me. Thankfully I have heard this album before, but I wanted to relisten because I feel I'd appreciate this album much more with all the knowledge about music I have now. For this project being the 2 hours and 52 minutes it is, I have to say this album absolutely flies by as each and every song here feels so unique in its' own right and doesn't repeat the same kind of genre, sound, or even vocalist throughout each and every track unalike some other albums of this size I have heard before. This album displays some of the most interesting wordplay and perspectives of love I have heard in some time as it takes quite a high level of creativity to find 69 ways of expressing love that don't sound repetitive, overdone, or bland. I also found that there were a lot more songs I loved this time around and I was able to pick out so many new favorites I have never heard before such as Absolutely Cuckoo, Abigail, Belle of Kilronan, and A Chicken With Its Head Cut Off. It is crazy to say but this album feels pretty consistent in general despite all the left turns it throws at you, it all feels so fitting for one another and I don't usually say that about projects with this much range or length but somehow The Magnetic Fields got it all figured out. This album is nothing short of an impressive feat and I can see why it is so revered and beloved.
Kraftwerk
4/5
On today's 1001 albums to hear before I die, I rolled a band I have always struggled to get into and appreciate due to how dated their sound is. That band is of course Kraftwerk in all their weird synthy glory. I was intially quite turned off of this project by the first song here, Die Roboter (The Robots) but after that misfire of an opener I found this project to be quite compelling as a Synthpop and Electronic album. For the time this came out it was quite ahead of everything else except for maybe a few Ambient artists at the time utilizing electronics in a very early time before they were everywhere, and surprisingly finding Kraftwerk was using these machines to their fullest potential given the technology. I can totally see why Kraftwerk are such influential and important figures as their music truly helped shift the world of music as we know it even if not nearly enough people know this band's name. Die Mensch - Maschine is not only an essential album to hear, but also a time capsule showing a very direct view at the point in which the world of music started to change as a whole. I can really respect the band continuing to push a boundary no one else had gone to and defining every decade of music since then with their discoveries, and while I may not be the biggest fan of their music and how it has aged in 2025, I can confidently say I am so thankful Kraftwerk exists.
The Black Keys
3/5
I am sure everyone my age is aware of The Black Keys, whether you listened to them yourself through the radio or just El Camino as a whole or were exposed to it through your dad. There is no denying they are a staple of the 2010s as a whole, but do they still hold up 15 years later? On today's 1001 albums to hear before I died I pulled The Black Key's Brothers and man was this quite a wake-up call of sorts. This project mixes Blues Rock with a more Garage and slightly Psychedelic sound to create a sound that would define Rock in the 2010s, and I can't lie The Black Keys aren't even that special or good in their own sound. A lot of these songs sound very similar and feel so clocked in that they appeal to a more mainstream audience. To be frank, this album got very lucky and exploded into the mainstream the way the band did because they offer next to nothing besides a barely good listening experience. Nothing here is original or even all that engaging as it is so aggressively safe it waters down the impact of the genres involved. In basic terms it is good and nothing more. Nuff said.
Hole
4/5
Live Through This is a classic album, not because of all the news about Kurt Cobain's death, but because it is a solid grunge project that Courtney really put herself into. There is so much great stuff to talk about here, but I need to just vent some things out first for anyone who needs to hear this. Just because this album was released not even a week after Kurt was confirmed dead is not a Courtney Love problem, that is a label problem, and anyone who thinks she "killed Kurt" can just get the fuck out of here. That is you not being able to cope with the alarming amount of mental health problems the world has and instead taking it out in a misogynistic rage on a woman who has done no wrong. Call them toxic or whatever the fuck you want, I wasn't there and didn't know them, but there are facts out there saying what did and didn't happen, so stop pointing fingers because you didn't like how history turned out. One thing I will say is that it is very hard to not imagine Kurt having at least a few touches in this album whether it is with Courtney's vocal sound or with how the project came together in the end. This album has a much better cohesiveness and quality to it that makes each song meaningful unalike their very fine debut. It rips through the 38 minute runtime like a knife through butter and it never holds back. It's angsty but in a different way from the most male dominated genre of Grunge, it has a lot of empowerment behind it while also being a fresh new experience for all to enjoy. Live Through This is an improvement like no other, and it cemented Courtney Love as an icon in my eyes, regardless of the circumstances happening around this album's release.
3/5
On today's 1001 albums to hear before I die, I rolled an album I have simply never heard of before by a band I am only vaguely familiar with, that album and band is War's The World Is a Ghetto. This album feels like a stroll through a neighborhood with all the different long winded tracks and surprisingly atmospheric feeling felt all across the album. It feels like a walk through the sounds of Funk as they continue to express themselves in unique ways as you continue journeying down the block that is this album. It is a very progressive listening experience that doesn't feel like your typical Funk project, which I find to be very fascinating even if it didn't wow me musically. It is a solid project with some very interesting and intriguing compositions that are definitely worth picking apart and diving into. Nuff said.
Korn
2/5
Follow The Leader is Korn's most well know album by a long shot, this and Issues have somehow managed to stand the test of time and still be some of the most streamed Nu-Metal projects 25 years after it came out. Personally I think this album is a lot messier than Life Is Peachy as it truly is yet another mixed bag of songs ranging from actually great to embarassingly bad. As much as I wish this was on the quality level of Life Is Peachy, it simply is not, it feels a lot less interesting and consistent especially now that their formula is running a bit dry here for me. The first 4 tracks were actually pretty cool, but after that I just didn't really care or connect to the album, it just flowed by with some decent bits and some very bad bits in between. Korn's bit of being gross and sad is really starting to fade fast as their music doesn't really have much going for it other than that, and even Limp Bizkit had something to look forward to as they did try to make solid music for part of their career.
Motörhead
2/5
On today's roll of the 1001 albums I should hear before I die, I got yet another band I have only heard in passing but have never officially checked out any of their projects, I got Motörhead's Ace of Spades. This album is exactly what I'd expect some senior mechanic to listen to as he douses himself in every car fluid imaginable while trying to change your oil. This album is pretty standard and by the books Hard Rock with some influences of early Metal scattered throughout and not much else. The vocals are ragged and at times quite hard to hear, the instrumentals are the main sell as they absolutely rock with each track but lack variety once you get 30+ minutes into this album, and the songs feel very same-y despite the tracklist clearly stating the songs are different. I wasn't really impressed by what Motörhead had to offer outside of the kickass title track, as everything else feels like a copy of the first song. If someone put this on I would enjoy every track except for the very weird song Jailbait, but I would never choose to listen to this again.
Bad Brains
3/5
What an underwhelming release from Bad Brains, really thought this project would be so much heavier after having the title track in my rotation for months now, but turns out this is a more Rock than Punk project. Even though that transition doesn’t sound too far from their original sound, this album really doesn’t make a good argument for the transition and feels like a different band entirely to the point I had to keep looking back to make sure I was hearing this project. If anything I am just glad this was one of if not Bad Brains' shortest album coming in at 31 minutes, but the ride to get through this entire project was quite stale in comparison to their last two albums. The dub elements are pretty much gone and replaced with some very light rock with a few little breaks in their style to have these little punk moments. Honestly really disappointed here and will probably only come back to this for the title track and nothing more.
The Clash
4/5
Speaking of collected punk groups I think it was more then due that I talk about The Clash and their self titled debut album. When punk was blowing up around this time it was all focused on anger and rage, and reasonably so, but The Clash managed to add a bit of camp to it all that ended up becoming apart of the image most people think of when they hear the word Punk. Another thing I enjoy about The Clash is that they aren't super in your face, which is why I think so many people enjoy them. They still hold a torch to more traditional scream-y punk music but they are more cool about it all making it more accessible and open to the masses as kind of a stepping stone. I will say this album doesn't flow as good as some of the other The Clash albums but it is extremely consistent and solid all around.
Butthole Surfers
1/5
Ok it is time to get to the more well known Butthole Surfers albums, starting off with easily their most controversial project Locust Abortion Technician. What a fucking fever dream this album is, pure insanity in every way of expressing it. This album will go on long instrumental tangents out of nowhere and have it evolve and stretch over 4 tracks, and then randomly get back on the original path it was going on with another track with vocals. This album randomly goes into this psychotic area every now and then almost like a tick or a episode unfolding right in your eardrums. This project is more of an oddity than an actual quality release in my eyes, but if you do seriously like this could you explain why to me? I don't get how people could genuinely enjoy Butthole Surfers music unless it is the few songs that are actually appealing. Like how do people enjoy this album, it is an experience more than anything and one I don't think I will be going back to anytime soon.
Curtis Mayfield
4/5
It is insane to me that people really only know him for his debut album and the Superfly soundtrack when he has a discography full of wonderful music. This album is nothing short of badass with a Soul sound to really help capture the Blaxploitation era of films this soundtrack was inspired by so beautifully. It has also very much set a standard for original soundtracks and still impresses over 50 years later. There is instrumental tracks here and there is also plenty of Curtis' sweet and silky voice to help make this album come off so smooth. As with any soundtrack it can feel a bit all over the place but man does it also do a really good job of stringing everything together. Even if you don't really like soundtracks I would totally give this one a shot as it not only defined the 70s beautifully with the production here but has also become somewhat of a timeless classic through plenty of sampling. Thank you Curtis for yet another wonderful contribution!!
Red Hot Chili Peppers
1/5
For today's 1001 albums to hear before I die, I rolled a project I was both very excited to hear and equally not excited at all to hear, today I got Red Hot Chili Pepper's Blood Sugar Sex Magik. As much as I tried giving this a fair shot I really don't see what so many people see in this album, it is quite bland and all over the place listening experience headed by one of the most polarizing voices in Rock ever. My dad used to play a decent amount of Red Hot Chili Peppers for myself and I always enjoyed listening to their hits, but after hearing one of their albums in full I totally understand the hate these guys get. Yes each person here is very talented, but they waste everyone's time with doing next to nothing coherent for 1 hour and 13 minutes on this project. The only songs I could genuinely enjoy here were Breaking the Girl and Under the Bridge which are leagues above almost everything else here. This project feels like a parody of what popular music is and not in a good or funny way whatsoever. Again I am in disbelief at just how bad this album is as I am sure RHCP have better projects but if this is the bar for their most popular album I can't imagine it getting much better with any of their other releases...
Kings of Leon
1/5
Really a Kings of Leon project is considered one of the 1001 albums I should hear before I die? Give me a fucking break... Unfortunately this is the one I rolled for today and while I really could care less to hear this, I am still listening just to see what this is all about. The vocals here are garbage and feel like they are trying to rip The Strokes off while trying a Southern Rock sound, and let me tell you first hand they do not mix at all whatsoever. There are also plenty of voice cracks and weird vocal decisions here to really make you scratch your head as to what exactly Kings of Leon are trying to do. You can only excuse a debut album so much before you start to realize they just suck, and that is the case here. I am still in absolute shock that this album made the cut as it has next to no relevance outside of this listen and isn't even the best Kings of Leon has to offer. Overall such a questionable album to place in a list with stuff like Abbey Road and Mama's Gun to name a few.
Fela Kuti
3/5
On today's roll of the 1001 albums to hear before I die, I got an album by an artist I truly have wanted to check something out from but never did, Fela Ransome-Kuti. While this release is not a studio project it is still a representation of Kuti's music in the live setting and surprisingly is extremely compelling overall. This album is so groovy and is such a great time to get down and dance to. This is music I am sure people in the audience were on their feet for and had an equally great time as I did listening to this album as all the instruments mesh together to create a very wonderful blend of Afrobeat and Jazz-Funk. This is music where it is really easy to get lost in with just how entrancing each of the performing artists here are and with just how skilled each and every member of Africa '70 truly is. While I did very much enjoy this project, I don't get why this is seen as essential by any means. Sure it is really solid on all ends but I don't think anything here really blew my mind in terms of the quality or compositions. It is just some damn good live performing, that's all. While I am glad I finally checked out some Fela Kuti, I do wish I was able to get more out of this in general.
The Temptations
3/5
For today's 1001 albums to hear before I die, I rolled a group I had been wanting to hear a full length project from but somehow never officially got around to. Today I am listening to The Temptations' Cloud Nine from 1969. The Temptations are a Soul group spanning from Detroit Michigan yet helped immensely in expanding and defining the Philadelphia Soul sound during their run in the 60s. Their greatest hits are easily some of the most underrated I have ever heard and I'd totally check that out if you ever get the chance, but that is not what I am here to talk about today, I am here to talk about one of their last 60s albums and see just why this is considered a "must hear" by some. As far as Soul, Funk, and even that small bit of Psychedelia the band mixes in goes this album doesn't really push any boundaries whatsoever and honestly just shows how much the group is able to adapt to the ever-changing sonic landscape of their respective genres. I have never heard a 9 minute song from The Temptations before but man do they pull it off with quite the swagger and style of a group with their elaborate resume. While I did enjoy this project, I don't think I'd say this is anything extraordinary or even all that memorable. It is good for what it tries to do, but is by no means a "gold standard" of any of the genres it is a part of. I am glad I finally got around to a Temptations' project but this one really wasn't all that I hoped it would be.
Lynyrd Skynyrd
5/5
Man I didn't realize how much I was missing out on Lynyrd Skynard's music, especially when it comes to their debut album (Pronounced 'Lĕh-'nérd 'Skin-'nérd). I don't mean to be handing out 5 stars like candy but god damn have I just been listening to banger after banger after banger all week long, and Lynyrd Skynyrd's debut happens to be one hell of Rock album. I may not be too familiar with Southern Rock as a whole other than some of Creedence Clearwater's greatest hits, but this album is a huge collection of some of the best songs the genre has to offer. While I do respect Lynyrd Skynyrd for trying to show off a more friendly and "cultured" version of the south, I do not condone or respect any of their usages of confederate flag media as I find their reasoning to be wildly out of touch and downright stupid. With that being said these white boys from down in the boonies sure can make a tune or two. This album is full of that sweet southern charm oozing off of each track with the help of Ronnie Van Zant's powerful vocals and lyrical abilities and some of the best guitar parts the 70s has to offer all in one 43 minute project. We all know this project is a classic and a truly iconic piece of Rock, but man do I wish I realized that sooner. Oh well, now it will go down as one of my all time favorites and for damn good reasons.
Joan Baez
3/5
Can you believe this thing was recorded in just 4 days by an artist who had never released a single project ever before? That is the story that started the legendary career of Folk legend Joan Baez, who at 19 wowed people for just what she was capable of doing with a guitar in her hand and a whiff of that youthful creativity flowing inside her. While a lot of the songs here are renditions of popular tracks from the past, having them shown on such a display as this with Joan's gorgeous singing is nothing short of stunning. Everything from Scottish Folk tales to the iconic House of the Rising Sun are all pieces that come together to make Joan's beautifully aged debut album. This album is a really solid representation of Folk music as a whole before it really started popping into the mainstream with Bob Dylan. This album is extremely consistent and a damn good time, so if you haven't already you should definitely give Joan a chance here because she really kills it on this album.
Electric Light Orchestra
2/5
If this kind of theatrical and Symphonic Rock is for you then I couldn't be happier, but for myself it was just a bit too much for me to enjoy here. While I can respect the effort to make such interesting Progressive Pop that feels so mystical with the blend of electronics, I can't say I found this album to be very compelling or even up my alley in terms of taste. The only real standout here is Mr. Blue Sky as that song alone is both one I've had plenty of time to digest but also understands how to make a Progressive song much more Pop-y than normal. Everything else here feels like a watered down version of the Alan Parsons Project albums I have previously covered. The songwriting here is also just decent and doesn't help the case of this album just dragging itself out way too much. This album obviously has its' own set of fans and I am okay with not being one of them. I am glad I gave it a shot though and tried my best to see eye to eye with what ELO had to offer, but Out of the Blue was just not my cup of tea. Nuff said.
Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers
4/5
Well I guess I am finally diving back into Tom Petty thanks to the 1001 albums to hear before I die challenge. I feel I should preface that Tom Petty is by no means a great or even good singer, but man does this guy have some killer lyrics up his sleeve that really help make up for his lack of singing ability. I feel that aspect actually makes Tom Petty a much more relatable rockstar of sorts as he is kind of like the average joe with a sharp as a knife pen game. The songs here aren't ever meant to be anything super extraordinary or grand, they are simply some nice and laid back Rock songs to pass the time. I can totally understand why some people wouldn't dig this album, but they are honestly missing out on a pretty solid Rock album. Some of my favorite tracks are Breakdown, Mystery Man, and of course American Girl. If you don't want something that is straightforward and to the point I would suggest listening to something else, but I can happily say that is sometimes exactly how I want my Rock music to sound.
Steely Dan
4/5
Steely Dan may have single handed created and formed my taste for yacht rock and their debut is no exception from that love. From it's cheesy but fun sound to it's jazz rock blend, Can't Buy a Thrill is more then just a throwaway yacht-rock project but a staple of the genre and a hell of a debut. Everything on this project seems simple but so well cordinated to make you want to best the phattest groove anyone's ever seen. I don't get how anyone could hate this project, it's dumb fun in the best way. Steely Dan can really rock my boat.
Michael Jackson
5/5
It makes complete sense why this is one of the if not the best selling album of all time, it is a must hear by everyone and everybody. But after 42 years has this thing still stood the test of time? My answer is yes, but not completely. Don't get me wrong some of the songs here will simply never die down like with that perfect 3 song run of Thriller, Beat It, and Billie Jean but what about The Girl is Mine or The Lady In My Life? In my opinion The Girl is Mine is a bit cheesy, especially with that dialogue interlude part of the way through the song, but overall it is a really nice duet between Paul McCartney and MJ. Besides without them teaming up for this project Michael would have never have known he could buy other people's discographies, like what he did to The Beatles nearly a decade after this. The Lady In My Life is the song everyone seems to forget is on the album, and probably because it is objectively the worst song here. It really feels a bit disjointed from the rest of the more accessible Pop songs as a bit of a wildcard that doesn't always stick the landing with everyone. Literally ever other song here I think is damn near perfect, but this project is held down by two great, but lacking songs that really could have pushed this album into being a definitive best album of all time. I don't have any malice towards anyone who thinks this album is perfect, but for 42 years on its' belt it is surprising the amount of flaws this album has garnered since it was released.
Kings of Leon
1/5
Only By The Night is easily Kings of Leon's most popular release as it has 2 tracks with over 1 billion streams each. Now with that being said, even with this album's extremely high merits that does not mean this album is good by any means. I think Sex On Fire and Use Somebody will go down as the only Kings of Leon songs I can genuinely get down with as they both have this catchy aura to them and some really fun Rock moments in them that really hit with myself and millions of others. Everything else on Only By The Night is very forgettable and bland, but still better than whatever the fuck the band was doing on their debut album. I really tried again to give Kings of Leon a shot here but they are just so mediocre and uninspired that I can't help but nearly fall asleep listening to the slop this band puts out. This is once again nowhere near a "must hear before you die" status in my eyes.
MGMT
3/5
Every Frat Boy's favorite album and just for 3 songs. Oracular Spectacular is more then just a mouthful of an album title, it is MGMT's debut album and it is pretty solid. Not going to touch on the big 3 songs because that horse has been beat to shit so lets talk about the other 7 tracks. Weekend Wars is a slow but really fun track that honestly deserves more respect, it is a fun "rock anthem" electronic track that just feels great to listen to. The Youth is a very misplaced song on this album and the start of a bunch of questionable picks for this project. It is mostly an indie rock song which is weird on a heavily electronic album, or at least that's how I see this project. 4th Dimensional Transition is yet another forceful attempt to make this project half electronic and half indie rock when the indie rock really doesn't work at all with this duo. This is an electronic group and once they realize that then they are golden, but the indie rock songs are rough and decent at best. Not going to lie completely forgot what Pieces of What sounded like mere minutes after. Of Moons, Birds & Monsters is the only good rock song here because it is heavily electronic in a trippy way that makes you want to sink into the ground. The Handshake is a simple and well executed track that gets the pass because it is simply good, no other reason. Future Reflections is such a let down closer for this project because it does the stupid indie rock thing again, just shows how this album struggles with any sort of identity and instead becomes a very lop-sided game of tug-o-war. I think one of the best ways to sum this up is with the comment @polduan made, "split this album in half and you get two different projects - first one is amazing, the latter just okay."
The Monkees
1/5
For today's 1001 albums to hear before I die I rolled The Monkees' Headquarters, and I have no idea what to even expect here as I never thought I'd listen to one of their albums in full. If you have never heard any 60s music before and don't want some crazy Psychedelic obscurity to ruin your perspective of this decade, this is a pretty safe choice to listen to. I don't see why this is an essential must hear before I die as it is a pretty standard and by the books Pop Rock album from that time with absolutely nothing interesting to offer. This is one of the most nothing-burger releases from this decade I have heard. I only really liked Forget That Girl and everything else here was just fine to decent with no other real standouts in my mind.
Talvin Singh
2/5
On today's pick for 1001 albums to hear before I die, I rolled an album and artist I have never heard of yet the description of the album seemed to really intrigue myself. Today I got Talvin Singh's OK, a late 1990's Atmospheric DnB album. Even from the very beginning it is clear that Talvin's music here is heavily influenced by the European underground and his own musical heritage from India, which I find to be quite a unique perspective as I feel it brings to light some sounds that simply don't get as much recognition or praise as they normally would. As much as I can respect this album's very original approach to the genre it is embodying, I can't help but say that most of this project just wasn't really for me. While I was never bored throughout the project's 1 hour runtime, I can say that there wasn't too much I latched onto outside of Butterfly, Eclipse, Light, and the very intense Vikram the Vampire. This album for sure has its' moments but I feel as a whole it doesn't quite ever stick the landing. I don't understand why Vikram the Vampire has like 20 seconds of silence at the end but okay I guess? I can definitely see why OK is so divisive as I continue to add a very mixed review to the pot, but I also can see someone really digging the blends of cultures and musical ideas here as I truly have never heard another project like this. OK is commendable but that doesn't automatically make it good by any means.
Janelle Monáe
3/5
For today's 1001 albums to hear before I die I got an album I did not expect to be hearing today of all days with Janelle Monáe's acclaimed debut album The ArchAndroid (Suites II and III). While this album isn't nearly as direct and in your face about following the story started on Suite I, it does in fact add chapters to the overall story and continue building Janelle's own world. This album is theatrical and grand while never feeling cheesy or over the top. I completely get it if some of y'all want to call me crazy for this, but I far prefer Suite I to this album. Don't get me wrong I still like this project but man did I definitely feel like I was getting lost in the entire tracklist by the time it was coming to an end. It is such a huge project in terms of scale but if you aren't super invested in what is going on like with the flashy Suite I, you can definitely drift out of this album's focus without it ever picking you back up. Unfortunately that is exactly how I felt despite really liking some truly amazing tracks here like Faster, Neon Valley Street, and Dance or Die. I can appreciate all the time and effort Janelle put into this project but it just wasn't as much for me as I had initially thought.
Miles Davis
5/5
Bitches Brew is one of many jazz masterpieces underneath Miles Davis' belt, but I'd argue it's his most important release of them all. It started a whole new movement of jazz and created a giant ripple into the world of jazz that can still be heard today in modern jazz and jazz infused projects. The music in this project doesn't quite reach the same heights as Kind Of Blue, but I do think it is the closest to reaching it out of everything by Miles I have heard. The songs are long but full of thought provoking sound combinations that keep your mind thinking from front to back. As I slowly wrap up the album I don't really have too much else to point out other then the textures of the sounds feel amazing with some good headphones on. It's a classic. Nuff Said.
Big Star
4/5
Man it has been a while since I have heard Big Star, but boy am I glad the 1001 albums to hear before I die is making me listen to this killer debut album again!! This project is a very intimate experience that far exceeds any of the other elements at play here. All things considered this album really isn't all that special and is honestly quite standard, but how it presents itself is really what sets this apart and makes this one of the more essential Folk Pop albums of its' time. The instrumentation along with Alex Chilton's vocals are so touching that you can't help but simmer down and relax as he soothes you with his charm. It is a very to the point album that doesn't pull any punches, some would even call it simple, and yet I feel that is why I like this album so much. Really glad I finally got back around to relistening to this album as it is just as good as I remember it being.
Buena Vista Social Club
3/5
Buena Vista Social Club is a nice relaxing summer day with an ice cold lemonade in your hand, but I think the backstory of this album may be more interesting then the music itself. I do not want to discredit any of the artists involved with this project as they all absolutely kill it with their craft but I think the music as a whole isn't the most engaging or entertaining. I feel like suits itself better as background music to a walk through a historic oldtown. I don't see myself coming back to this project anytime soon as it really doesn't mix well with anything other then walking around.
Led Zeppelin
4/5
I don't think I've ever seen a rock trilogy, let alone a Tetralogy with as much respect and love as Led Zepplin's. Led Zepplin IV is arguably the band's most recognized and beloved release of the entire 4 album run the band was on and when listening to the album it is easy to see why. Not only are the songs here incredible in their own rights, the instrumentation, album structure, and just everything is so well coordinated and put together that you really can't ever stop listening once you start. As much as I feel I can add comments about this album's overall quality, I truly don't think I can because of how many other people have dissected this album over the past 52 years. I totally get why this is so renowned and seen as a staple of the genre because of just how impactful each and every song here is on Rock and Roll even to this day. Each track feels like an odyssey put into musical form, especially Stairway to Heaven and When the Levee Breaks. While I do think Led Zepplin III is more my speed, I have to say this album is still great nonetheless.
Destiny's Child
2/5
For today's 1001 albums to hear before I die, I got an album I had never heard of by a group I had only heard of from word of mouth. Today I got Destiny's Child's 2001 album Survivor. In case you didn't notice the very young photo of Beyoncé on the cover, this was her musical group before she went solo and really made a name for herself. I get that this project may be a big deal as it is one of Beyoncé and company's best work in Destiny's Child, but can we be a bit honest with ourselves and realize just how mediocre this project really is? There are some solid singles here, but other than that this is a pretty fine to decent Contemporary R&B project that doesn't do a whole lot in the grand scheme of things. This album walks a very fine line of being just fine to being decent and I think I am just barely leaning on the decent side of things. It runs out of ideas and really tries throwing anything at the wall, including the main "survivor" theme of this album back at tracks just so it can feel more cohesive and it just doesn't work. There are solid tracks here but not an album by any means.
Neil Young & Crazy Horse
4/5
Ok Neil I didn't know you got down like that, you are one groovy motherfucker and all it took you was a trial run with your debut album. Right after leaving Buffalo Springfield Neil jumped right back into a brand new group, Crazy Horse, and made sure he would get the recognition he deserved by making himself the main centerpiece of the band. This album is much more Rock oriented than Neil's usual solo Folk sound, and honestly I much prefer what he is doing with Crazy Horse if you ask me. This album shows range and craftsmanship from all of the musicians attached as they are able to switch up emotions, genres, and even soundscapes quite a good bit all across this album's runtime while also having 2 long songs where they still keep the momentum going. Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere is an impressive sophomore/debut album that shows a whole lot of character and leadership from Neil as he manages to really guide this band to greatness. Makes me really excited to see what else he has up his sleeve later down the line, but I feel I need to finish up some other loose ends before I start diving into him more.
The Pogues
3/5
I have never personally heard of The Pogues before, nor have I ever considered listening to a Celtic Rock album but I guess that is what the 1001 Albums to Hear before I die challenge wants me to hear. This unapologetically Irish album is quite a trip to my American brain as the compositions here are so weird and yet oddly fitting for the album and overall performances. The only track I seem to have had any familiarity to was Fairytale of New York, which I personally don't remember hearing at all. If you don't like Irish music or Folk Rock as a whole I would suggest avoiding this album as those are some pretty heavy elements used all throughout this album. The lyrics are simple and to the point and are sang in a way that really bounces off the instrumentation from The Pogues to make a very fun and cheerful listening experience. While I am not super huge on this album, I can appreciate the craft and effort put into making this so unique. Maybe I will return to The Pogues someday, but I think for now I have definitely had my fill of Celtic Rock for the time being.
Slayer
4/5
For today's 1001 albums to hear before I die, I got an album I have been wanting to hear for some time but never got around to on my own. Today I got Slayer's Reign in Blood, and I couldn't be more pumped to be rocked by this project. I also had no idea Rick Rubin of all people helped out with the making of this project, because damn did dude have good taste in Metal if he helped out here. If you want to hear some killer 80s Metal that doesn't feel cheap or watered down this is definitely the shit you should be looking for because holy hell does this album feel like a 28 minute long rollercoaster, and one I really got down with. Thrash Metal has always been one of my favorite Metal subgenres because of just how much the guitars get to shine through as their own lead singer of sorts. Thankfully it isn't just the shredding that is incredible but the vocals, drum work, and overall pace of this project all feel so synched up to create one killer album. This thing beats you down and doesn't hold back but you can't help but enjoy yourself as you go through the ass-whooping of a lifetime. If this is how good Slayer is in their early years I am definitely going to have to come back and listen some more as I had a great time all around. Definitely should have gotten to this sooner but I am glad I got to it now.
John Mayall & The Bluesbreakers
2/5
As much as I have heard about Eric Clapton and his contributions to music, never have I ever heard an Eric Clapton album before. So when I was recommended Blues Breaker to hear by the 1001 albums to hear challenge all I really expected was some great guitar parts, and it definitely delivered, just not to the extent I had initially hoped. Other than this having the collaboration between Eric Clapton and John Mayall, I really don't see why this album is deemed as significant by the author of the book. Yes the guitar playing here is nice and dandy, but without that this project has nothing to stand on and falls apart more than a house of cards. I can appreciate the technical elements on display here thanks to Clapton's signature guitar playing, but I don't find this album to be impressive or all that essential even with its' inclusion here. It is an album with a lot of lost potential that really isn't made up with anything else here. Honestly feel like this was picked for the artists alone and not for any other reason because this is decent at best.
2/5
For today's 1001 albums to hear before I die, I got what is said to be an extremely influential Country album, yet I have never once heard the artist's name or the album title. Today I got Loretta Lynn's 1967 classic? Don't Come Home a Drinkin' (With Lovin' on Your Mind). This album looks, sounds, and feels like something you'd find at an estate sale listed for $20 with a shit ton of writing or scribbling on the cover and more cracks than a sidewalk in the sleeve. This is surely a "grandma essential" and I bet if you were to ask your grandparents they would probably tell you about hearing this project for the first time. Country has never really been my strong suit, but these long ballads really are putting me to sleep more than anything. If this had more changes in speed and even rhythm I am sure I could have gotten down with it more, but this album is one slow dance after another and it gets quite tiresome by the end of the 28 minutes. I really tried here y'all but I guess I'll have to giddy up to the next album without much more thought.
Arcade Fire
2/5
I never was the biggest Funeral fan, but when I was reminded of this album through Fantano's most recent "Overrated and Underrated" video I knew I had to give this another chance to see just how poorly this album has aged in my mind as well. To my complete surprise I think Melon might have actually been onto something. It feels very dry in a lot of spots that I originally loved and thought were pretty exciting, now it feels like a memory I wish lived up to how it originally felt. All of the moments this album helped create and inspire afterwards have been washed down to pieces of what they used to be by 20 years of aging gone horribly for this album. Not even the once incredible Neighborhood #1 has survived the onslaught of aging as well as I want it to, it was once a go to winter staple for me and now it feels like a fading memory. Man I wish I liked this more, but I think this album will continue to fall for me as time goes on as it truly isn't as remarkable as many people make it out to be anymore. Instead of being a spectacle it once was, it now lives in the shadows of other albums it inspired.
Tortoise
2/5
I am a bit behind on my 1001 albums to hear before I die challenge so don't mind me if I try and get all caught up here real quick. Recently I was assigned yet another project I had absolutely no idea or expectations with Tortoise's Millions Now Living Will Never Die. This borderline Ambient/Post-Rock project is a really weird blend that I surprisingly got down with a good bit. This project feels like it should have more meat on its' bone, but is in actuality a pretty lean project with not too much to it outside of some very subtle compositions. With no vocals whatsoever, the performers really have to carry their weight with their compositions, and I'd argue they do a decent to good job throughout this project's runtime. Even during Djed I can't lie this album was losing me a bit. I respect the hell out of having an entirely instrumental album with such soft and gentle instrumentals, but sometimes it comes off as more background music than really thoughtful pieces painting pictures of a landscape. I like what Tortoise was going for here, but I want something a bit more focused next time around. Maybe TNT will be just that, but I'll have to wait another day before I get around to it...
The Disposable Heroes Of Hiphoprisy
1/5
The Disposable Heroes Of Hiphoprisy is not only a fucking mouthful of a name for this side project from Michael Franti, but is is also the name of the artist behind the album I got for my 1001 albums to hear before dying challenge. Today I got this odd project's one and only project, Hypocrisy Is The Greatest Luxury. I am all for Political Hip Hop or some lyrically dense shit, but god damn do the beats and Michael's half-assed rapping/slam poetry voice really not do it at all for me here. This album tries to be more serious than it even takes itself by having some utter goofy beats over some really intense commentary on media as a whole. He just doesn't sell this new side at all and just comes off as very ill-suited for this kind of music. Again I respect everything this album is bringing to the table but this just did not work for me whatsoever and really rubbed me the wrong way in almost everything I tried digging at. I really tried here but man did this just not hold up, I don't even think it even sounds all that great for a 90s Hip Hop album either if I am being honest...
The Cars
4/5
Last time I listened to this project according to my Last.Fm was back in 2022, and today I was asked by the 1001 albums to hear before I die gods to revisit this album and see if my liking of this project has grown or shriveled up in the past 3 years. This unapologetically New Wave album feels like something that would exist in a Post-Talking Heads world, but was actually released side by side with the group's earlier works just as they were starting to get very weird and experimental. As another comparison of bands, I felt a lot of Oingo Boingo influences coming from this project not only in compositions but also the vocal characteristics of the lead frontman Ric Ocasek. This project is really confident in presentation while also being just enough Rock to feel like a transition from one era of music to a new.....wave. please laugh. Anyways, I really enjoyed this project and would totally recommend it to anyone curious in diving into some more niche albums from the 70s with a bit of swagger to them.
Bad Company
3/5
Bad Company is a band I have heard of but never dove into any of their music, my only real association with it is that Paul Rodgers' daughter, Jasmine Rodgers' is in the band bôa. Anyways, for today's 1001 albums to hear before I die I got Bad Company's debut album Bad Co(mpany). This project is a pretty laid back and groovy Rock album that fits the stereotypical mold of the times so beautifully it almost hurts a bit. Everything from rocking to sappy love songs are all encapsulated in this 34 minute run-through of just about your standard Rock album for the time. This album isn't remarkable or even all that memorable by any means, but I can't lie and say it isn't good if barely even so. There really isn't much to say or look at here and I again question why this album was even included, especially when the popular song here isn't even all that good or special. This album kind of does its own thing and takes its' time which can be a bit frustrating as you wish it would get on with itself a lot faster or in a more meaningful way, but it truly doesn't care about what you think or want. Bad Company's debut self titled album is definitely a project I wouldn't mind hearing again, but is far from being essential in my eyes and that is quite evident even from the beginning.
Taylor Swift
3/5
I guess the 1001 albums to hear before I die gods knew of Taylor's newest album coming out at the end of this week as they assigned me her 2014 album 1989 to hear today. This album was always one of my favorite Taylor Swift projects to hear as I remember it coming out and my mother/sister being obsessed with it. Again this is an album where I am very clearly not the target demographic, but even I didn't mind this squeaky clean and extremely polished Synthpop album. I can't lie I was raised on the 2000s and 2010s radio so I do have a bit of a soft spot for some of the cheesier releases from around those times, and 1989 is one of them. Don't get me wrong I don't love this project, and I totally understand for some I definitely will rate this higher than expected but like can we at least try to have some fun and enjoy this for what it is worth? As I mentioned before this is a very squeaky clean sounding project and I very much know this is kind of what Taylor's sound is, but here it is done in a way that is not very annoying and is pretty tame all things considered. She has a tendency to over do it or to not bring enough substance to the table but I think this album works in finding a good balance to have everything at. It is a very plain album and, in my humble opinion, does not deserve to be anywhere near a list you need to hear before you die. 1989 is serviceable, and that seems to be the bar Taylor likes to shoot for when it comes to her music.
Milton Nascimento
4/5
Before Fishmans was as widely accepted in online music board circles, there was Milton Nascimento and Lô Borges' Clube da Esquina leading the charge on widely appreciated foreign releases breaking into American audiences. This album is widely considered to be one of the greatest musical releases of all time, and that was quite daunting to be aware of prior to going into this album but I wanted to still try and go in with a clear mind as I had no idea what to expect. While I do not know what Milton is saying on this project whatsoever, I can still appreciate the feelings and compositions this album puts me smack dab in the middle of. It is a journey of an album that takes you across so many different sounds, styles, and emotions until it finally comes to rest at the end of its' 1 hour and 6 minute runtime. Again I do not understand a lick of Portuguese, but what I can tell you is that you can feel how Milton is portraying each word in a way that crosses language barriers to be interpreted in a beautiful way. I wish I had more to say here but I feel that more people shouldn't be afraid to cross borders musically and give stuff like this a chance because there were some tracks here that utterly blew me away once I gave them a spin.
DJ Shadow
5/5
This album continues to impress and relax me into a place of pure comfort. I don't know what is so relaxing about the scratchy and disjointed mixing heard on this album but it makes me want to lay down and float. The main reason for the score drop are some of the interludes and small choices in sounds that I feel make them a bit clunky at times. This album and Portishead's Dummy continue to put me in such a relaxing trance and have dug a deep hole in my heart where they will forever stay treasured and praised. I listen to this album at least once a month for the past couple years and never once has it gotten old or repetitive in my eyes. Such a thought-provoking and impressive piece of music.
Drive Like Jehu
4/5
How does one even begin to explain an album as entrancing and musically dense as Drive Like Jehu's debut album Yank Crime. This isn't your typical kind of Post-Hardcore album as there is a more of an emphasis on the instrumentals than the lyrics. This album feels like mixing Swans and Fugazi together as the instrumentals can really get you into a "flow state" and the lyrics punch as hard as they are as dense as your typical Fugazi track. If you aren't a fan of the more Post-Rock elements I would avoid this despite all the rave reviews as that is a key element to the project with the secondary focus being the more Post-Punk/Harcore pieces. This album is an odyssey of sorts and takes a lot of patience and time to chew through, but is such a delight in the end even with the heavy subject matter and soundscapes. Really glad I got around to this and I'd recommend it to anyone even slightly interested in hearing as those 53 minutes felt like a lifetime in the best way possible.
Lana Del Rey
3/5
Chemtrails Over the Country Club feels like Lana decided to ditch everything she had working towards with Lust for Life and NFR and return to the Honeymoon era of things, and like expected it is underwhelming. Underwhelming seems a bit harsh when you put it against two of my favorite Lana Del Rey projects, but the more this project went on the more I did like it, but I do wish it was more consistent for the first half of the album. The folk change is not a change I expected but came to admire more especially with the standout track Dance Till We Die, god I love that little saxophone. I am surprised at how much this album turned my feelings around and I feel like if anyone would give this a proper chance they'd agree.
The Band
2/5
The Band is a band I have wanted to dig into for some time as I have always heard great things about their music and band as they stand as somewhat of an underrated gem of their time. While I initially thought I'd be hearing their self titled album The Band by The Band, The Band's first album was actually Music from Big Pink, a much more laid back and calm Folk Rock album. The writing and instrumentation really didn't pop as much as I had hoped for a 60s Folk Rock album and instead felt like lukewarm and plain if you will. I just didn't find a whole lot to latch onto despite the fact that the music is well put together. I was quite underwhelmed here and I really hope their self titled can reel me back in as this was quite stale to me.
Captain Beefheart & His Magic Band
1/5
Before they were known for their utterly wild album, Trout Mask Replica, Captain Beefheart and His Magic Band were a pretty by the books 60s Blues Rock band. Their debut album, Safe as Milk, is the most recent album in my 1001 albums to hear list to be selected for my ears and I wanted to give it a peep to see what this project has to offer in the grand year of 2025. This project really isn't anything special even for the 60s and it honestly shows to me just how novice Captain Beefheart and His Magic Band is. The one standout song here was I'm Glad, but it seems that most people who hear that song enjoy it. Everything else here felt fine and very middle of the road. None of the songwriting, instrumentation, or even effort felt all that special or unique and this album just went in one ear and out the other. Wish I had more to say here but unfortunately this was just not it for me y'all.
Ryan Adams
3/5
Ryan Adams as a person may be pretty murky with all we know about him now, but back in the day he was a pretty respected and beloved artist who's work ethic, even today, is like next to no other. My father is more of a Ryan Adams fan than myself, but I can't lie I do catch myself going to his discography every now and then, mainly with his album Prisoner which I would HIGHLY recommend. Anyways, for the 1001 albums to hear before I die project I got his debut album Heartbreaker, an album I've never heard before, and I'd like to talk about it! This album is a lot more Country than I expected as I am more used to it being more subtle in his music. It isn't anything super crazy or out there as an album but does establish Ryan Adams as someone to look out for in the Alt-Country/Singer-Songwriter scene in the 2000s as he brings quite a refreshingly accessible take for the new millennium. It is a nice project to have on in the background while working in your garage, but I wouldn't call this a "must-hear before you die" kind of album. Hope I can dive into some more Ryan Adams at some point as I am starting to itch for him again as the fall season comes around.
Japan
1/5
As I continue to catch up on all the 1001 albums to hear before I die recommendations I have piled up, I stumbled across Quiet Life by Japan. While I do very much appreciate the very 80s sounding New Wave this project embodies, a whole month before that decade would take off, I do also feel it holds this project back as a product of its' time. This project tries to be challenging but just comes off as subpar after all these years of aging. The songwriting is pretty unremarkable outside of Quiet Life, which also happens to be the only song from here I enjoyed. It is pretty fine and doesn't do a whole lot for me other than fill in 44 minutes of my time. I can see why others would enjoy this but I just couldn't care a single bit about this album after the first 5 minutes. Glad I checked it out but I won't be back anytime soon.
Elton John
3/5
I think it is quite undeniable that Elton John and Bernie Taupin are a match made in heaven as songwriter and performer. With Elton's album, Madman Across the Water, I feel they were finally able to tap into their creative potentials as artists on a much greater level than some of their one song hits on previous albums. Even with that being said I do feel this album is very front heavy and does wane off more in the back, but still has some nice deep cuts to offer all around. The writing of songs like Tiny Dancer, Levon, and even Indian Sunset paint such beautiful pictures full of depth and detail that really make the songs here pop so much. While not Elton's sharpest musical output ever, I do have to say this is when I really would have started paying attention to him as an artist because listening to this album feels like watching a shaken soda about to explode in glorious fashion. Don't sleep on this project it is full of some of his best material to date!
The Young Gods
1/5
For my next 1001 albums to hear before I die I got a French Industrial Rock album from the late 80s by the name of L'eau rouge by The Young Gods. As much as I commend the french for being such bold and outgoing people, in the case of L'eau rouge it just really doesn't work for me. The lead singer sounds like a drunkard and is 3 times louder than the background instrumentation which really threw me off for the entire runtime of this album. This project feels like a metal album without any interesting riffs and just has a very intimidating sound that feels heavy for no rhyme or reason other than to match the deep-voiced vocalist at the front. If I could understand French I feel like I would have a greater appreciation for what is going on here, but man is this just not checking any boxes for myself and is feeling more like a burden to hear than an enjoyable experience. Definitely wouldn't recommend this, but that's just me and my opinion. I can understand why someone will think this influential and important, but I found it nothing short of annoying.
Lucinda Williams
4/5
I don't know why but the 1001 albums to hear before I die challenge has been recommending me a bunch of Alt-Country, and it is a genre I have been wanting to get more into so I can't argue too much with being exposed to some great music. Lucinda Williams and her 1998 album Car Wheels on a Gravel Road are two things I have never heard of until now, but man did I really get a kick out of how soft this album was. It never feels forced or cheesy, even with the very authentic 90s Alt-Country sound, and comes off as a very nostalgic album for myself despite never hearing it before. This album feels like visiting my grandparents, whom live in a more rural borderline farm area, and watching the sunset go down over the rolling hills. It is a very comfy and simple at its' core to the point where I think just about anyone could pick this up and have a good time with it. Really glad I got around to this one as I really enjoyed what it had to offer myself.
Steely Dan
4/5
Whether you hate Steely Dan or adore them, you can't deny that the vibes given off by Aja are undeniably some of the chillest and most relaxing you've probably ever heard. It starts off and you slowly sink into the music until you feel like you are rocking back and forth of a shiny sailboat under the basking sunlight. It continues to whip out song after song full of bangers in terms of the production and sounds Steely Dan mixes as well as some very solid songwriting that will surely give you plenty to chew on. It is super fun and can either be taken seriously or not at all and still have the same level of enjoyment all throughout. It is Aja and you should already know what you are getting into when you press play on this project. Was it really a surprise to anyone that I like this project? I am cheesy as fuck like that.
Led Zeppelin
4/5
Oh Led Zepplin III, what an odd project you are. I have always had pretty mixed feelings about Led Zepplin II and III but I feel on this relisten I have actually gained much more appreciation for this album as a whole. It may not be as exciting or energetic as I or II, but damn it does this album slowly build up on you and really hit you with some killer compositions and song structures that have you on a whole other level. The writing really gets to shine here as I would say Led Zepplin III has some of the band's best written songs from what I can remember about their discography. I mean come on, just listen to Tangerine and tell me that song isn't gorgeous on every level you can think of. I know not a lot of people enjoy the final track Hats Off to (Roy) Harper, but y'know what I actually found that track to be quite fascinating even with it being the obvious black sheep of the album. Much like the rest of this album, it is a departure from what we knew Led Zepplin could do while also keeping a lot of the core elements of the band we all know and love. Led Zepplin III is a risk in nearly every way you could imagine, and I can see that still being shown in the overall reception of this album. The ratings are all over the place and my own rating will add to the sporadic nature of this album's reception. I implore you all to give this album another shot as I originally thought this was the weakest of the tetralogy but now may just happen to find this to be the best one of the 4. I will have to see how much I enjoy Led Zepplin IV, but what I can confidently say now is that I will surely be returning to this album much more than I did before as I now see this as quite the spectacle I never appreciated fully before.
New Order
3/5
Technique is when New Order as a band took a real turning point with their music, as they were about to leave the 80s behind and enter a new decade for the music they thoughtfully craft. Some may call this project cheesy while others may find a lot of charm in it. I am personally somewhere in the middle, and I'd like to talk about it here today. The production here isn't New Order's best by any means as that Synthpop they went on to help push feels very tried and true on Technique while also feeling reinvigorated at times. Song of my favorite tracks here have to be All The Way, Love Less, and Dream Attack as they all bring back that killer Pop and Club sound New Order meshes so well. I do feel all things considered this project is quite weak and doesn't pack nearly the same punch as some of their other material, but hey at least it is good? On a final note can we appreciate just how beautiful of an album cover this project has, one of my favorites for sure. Nuff said.
Sonic Youth
2/5
Okay it is finally time for me to return to Sonic Youth to talk about my infamous hatred of Goo and how I will never understand why people go so crazy for it. Sonic Youth as a band is one that really perplexes me because they are so well renowned and yet so fucking snobby at the same time. Most of the songs here are either just fine or are barely good at that and I will stand on that point firmly. This is a pretty plain and generic Alt Rock album that doesn't offer anything to it of note other than some kick ass vocals from Kim Gordon and occasionally good guitar parts, but everything else feels so lacking for some reason. I don't know how this album managed to grow even further off me in the 3 years since I last heard this in full but that is truly impressive. I don't think I'll ever understand what people see in this album but I will gladly not sugarcoat my opinion just because others seem to rave about this project.
Rage Against The Machine
3/5
Rage Against The Machine seems to be quite a spectacular meeting ground of 3 genres, Punk, Hip Hop, and Metal. While it teeters the line of being Nu-Metal, I feel Rage has enough personality, meaning, and sense of pure unapologetic anger that feels authentic and genuine over 30 years later. This project is very perplexing because it by no means should have had any Pop appeal and yet this album has acclaimed the rare feat of having a song with over 1 billion streams. This project was a cultural shift in a decade where it seems like just about every essential album of nearly every genre was coming out, and yet this project still stands out as one of the most iconic pieces of its' time. Personally I have never been crazy about this project, even with me owning it in my own personal collection, but I can still appreciate just how much it is going for while still being this group's debut album. It is nothing short of courageous and bold as Zach and the rest of his band put on one hell of a show in sounding the alarms of society in warning everyone of the current state of the world in such a way where it is extremely relevant in the grand year of 2025. This album is freedom of speech and quite creative and impactful usage of wording at its' finest. Even if the music may not hit for yourself, the meaning behind every note of this project can still leave quite a mark.
Van Morrison
4/5
A very beautiful album and somber album that sadly ends on its lowest
The Velvet Underground
4/5
The Velvet Underground is yet another band where I would like to completely flesh out their discography and dig into all their work, but for now we have to start with the infamous banana album. This album is very unapologetically 60s and that is ok but does come with its own set of problems that I will talk about later. I have always been very polarized with how this album sounds, it is so grainy it feels like you are chewing on a granola bar just listening to this project. On the other hand though the song writing, experimentation, and chemistry between The Velvet Underground and well known racist/borderline nazi Nico. Even for as rough around the edges this release sounds I still think that charm when this album was originally being made still carries over all 57 years later. After listening to this project at least 5 times before I can finally confidently say that something has clicked for me, maybe it is the fun factor of this project that is hidden in plain sight or maybe I am in more of a 60s kick. What I can say is that even though Lou Reed cannot sing if his life depended on it, he can still make a damn good song that impresses you with how sharp it is without any sort of killer vocals. Yeah I get why people call this a classic, but I will never understand the hype around it being one of the best albums ever made. After this project I am stepping into unknown territory as I have never made it farther than this in their discography ever, and I can only hope it lives up to or surpasses this project.
Joni Mitchell
4/5
I am once again back on my Joni Mitchell grind, this time I am covering her "return to form" with 1974's Court and Spark. I can definitely tell a difference in sound between this and For the Roses that continue to cement that project being just great, while Court and Spark has hints of something much more spectacular and consistent throughout its' entire 36 minute tracklist. Maybe it is how well everything flows together here or all the new instrumentation Joni is throwing into her songs, regardless this album pops and once again blows my mind with how high of quality she is able to continuously pump out since her debut album. There is surprisingly a good bit of variety with the tracks here, but for the most part if you like Joni doing her own thing solo then there is plenty here for just that. Down to You has these subtle yet much needed orchestra compositions that weave in and out of the track's 5 minutes and 36 second runtime that make it feel like a whole experience in itself. Whether it is the strings, brass, woodwind, or even the simple piano parts, this track feels so cinematic and yet so touching and personal with each note. Twisted on the other hand takes a very different approach while using a trumpet to make for a very fun and lighthearted track that very much strays away from anything Joni has done before. It is punchy, funny, and at times very unserious with itself while still feeling very lyrically dense and captivating with just how Joni works herself into the music. Overall Court and Spark is a blast of fresh air in a discography full of refreshing and top notch Singer-Songwriter music. Joni really doesn't miss and it seems her streak doesn't quite end here which is super exciting.
King Crimson
3/5
I didn't expect to be listening to King Crimson today, but the 1001 albums to hear before I die project had other ideas in mind for me. Other than In The Court and Red, I am pretty unfamiliar with what else King Crimson has done, so I am walking into this project completely blind yet hopeful it will impress me. While this album may not as flashy or as well structured as Red or In The Court, Lark's Tongues in Aspic is yet another very detailed and thought out Progressive project from King Crimson that will really having you leaning forward in your seat for a proper analysis. I am starting to feel that maybe Prog Rock is not really as up my alley as I'd originally thought because I found Larks' to be quite plain and not nearly as compelling as a whole 46 minute adventure. Yes it has moments on the title tracks Part 1 and Part 2, but a lot of the middle work really felt like quite a step down. I appreciate all the thought put into the instrumentation and design of this project, but it really didn't do a whole lot for myself other than give me something to think about for 46 minutes. Really bummed I didn't like this more, but oh well I guess it wasn't meant to be.
Devendra Banhart
3/5
Contemporary Folk has not sounded this good in so long, and that is why I am so excited to be covering this stunningly beautiful album from Rejoicing in the Hands by Devendra Banhart for the 1001 albums to hear before I die challenge. Much like what @DREscapePlan stated this album is "A nice, serene, campfire-y record that's perfect for October and only October." It is warm and flickers with pieces of sharp songwriting but for the most part settles down as being quite enjoyable. Devendra's vocals are so sweet and mix beautifully with his soft strumming all throughout the project. While Devendra may get a bit lost in the music here from time to time, I still feel he has such a nice grasp on the feelings he provides all throughout this project. It is a straightforward and stripped down album that will surely hit if you are a sucker for any Folk music as a whole. Not a standout project by any means, but just a really good time through and through.
5/5
Once again I may be committing some kind of sacrilege by saying this, but this is my first time hearing The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars in full. After listening to this album in full I totally understand why this album is so revered, it is an incredible concept album that really pulls no punches and delivers banger track after banger track throughout the entire 38 minute runtime. The instrumentation on this project is truly so special and well organized to the point that I would not change a single thing here, it is all placed so beautifully and has such touching effects on myself when listening through. This projects can jump from very slow and thoughtful tracks like Starman to more hard rocking kickers like Suffragette City in an instant and yet make the transition feel so smooth and deserved. There is so much I can say here but I feel that everything has most likely been picked apart in the 53 years since this album's release, so I will cut myself short and just say to listen to the project if you haven't already. This is one of those albums where it shouldn't even be a question as to why it is a classic, it simply is.
The White Stripes
3/5
Am I not seeing what everyone else is with White Blood Cells??? I get The White Stripes are supposed to be the "last rockstars" for some with their stellar reputation for revitializing that Garage Rock sound people wanted for the 2000s, but this project just feels like just another piece in the puddle that is Garage Rock, not a defining masterpiece. Yes there are some truly great songs here like Feel In Love With a Girl and We're Going to Be Friends, but for the most part I felt very underwhelmed with what Jack and Meg White were cooking up on this album. A lot of the tracks here felt a bit aimless and had no idea how to fit itself together into the album and were just barely scratching a "good" itch in my eyes. I can appreciate The White Stripes for all that they did, but I expected so much more from White Blood Cells that really has me wondering if this band still stands up 20 years later...
Crowded House
1/5
I am only familiar with Crowded House through their absolutely insane Don't Dream It's Over, but when their album Woodface got recommended to myself I really started scratching my head and wondering what exactly was so special about this album that I should hear it before I die. After listening to the whole project I can confidently say there is nothing here worth hearing before you die, this is a pretty average Alt Rock album with not a whole lot going for it. The one song here I really got behind was Whispers and Moans, but even then that track really wasn't all that special. This album went in one ear and out the other without much thought and I don't really know what else to say here. I am disappointed but also not surprised in the least.
Buddy Holly & The Crickets
3/5
I guess I can cover more of the 1001 album series since I have nothing better to do tonight. One of the albums I have lined up is none other than Buddy Holly's original band, The Cricket's debut album. If you aren't a fan of that old fashion Rockabilly and Rock & Roll sound then this will surely not be your cup of tea, but as someone who doesn't mind its' very simplistic and straightforward style I had a nice time with this project. It is super straightforward and doesn't do anything special at all whatsoever. It is a staple of its' time and maybe that's not a bad thing. If you want something cheery, slightly Pop-y, and one hell of a throwback maybe you should turn this on? Maybe I'll dive more into Buddy Holly's music to see what all the hype about him was about, but for now this was a solid introduction.
Radiohead
3/5
Boy did I forget how much I like this project at times. Believe it or not I actually like Amnesiac a good bit, I think it still suffers from the biggest problem Kid A also has. That problem being this album wants you to feel things at the cost of the tracks coming together a bit clunky. I won't lie I get why people don't like Pulk / Pull Revolving Doors but it is far from Radiohead's worst song. Also call this Kid A B-sides all you want but we all know that this was supposed to be a double album so that means they are in fact not B-sides but a whole other experience. I find this album to be a really good driving album, everything feels so vast like watching a mountain slowly fade into the distance when driving on the highway. There was a point in time where I thought this album was better than Kid A but now I know that opinion is just wrong. It's a solid listen but is nothing compared to it's much more appreciated and loved twin.
Neneh Cherry
3/5
I have actually listened to a few of the songs from this project many many years ago, and yet I never finished it. Thankfully today I finally got through this album in its' entirety and I really wish I had stuck it out all those years ago. Neneh Cherry is not an artist I am particularly familiar with, but the fact that she was a popping 80s Rap MC in a time when it wasn't common at all for women to make Rap music, she instantly stood out as somewhat of an icon in her genre. Her Boom Bap/Pop Rap style is definitely a product of its' time and yet still holds up as being a bold staple of 80s Hip Hop. The bars are fun and cheeky and never take themselves too seriously and Neneh seems to be having a lot of fun all throughout this entire project. Far from being a Hip Hop classic, but I'd say it is quite important to hear this album if you have the chance to. Nuff said.
Dolly Parton
3/5
As I continue to catch up on the 1001 albums to hear before I die series, I wanted to talk about some good ol' fashion Dolly Parton. I don't think Coat of Many Colors is anything crazy by Country and Dolly Parton standards, but it is still a solid album in her absolutely massive catalog. Thankfully this project is extremely short and to the point, despite it not having any of Dolly's best written or performed songs in my eyes. It shows her at one of her creative highlights but I wouldn't call this one of her best releases out of the very limited stuff I've heard. It is good, but don't expect a masterpiece here unless you are a ride or die for this country gal.
Madonna
3/5
After coming off what I consider to be her magnum opus with Ray of Light, Madonna decides to revitalize her sound once again for the year millennium with her very boldly titled project, Music. This project unalike Ray of Light, feels like a staple of its' time and really starts to show the downfall of Madonna's music quality as her futuristic and forward thinking sounds are finally starting to catch back up with her. Don't get me wrong there are some great songs on here like Don't Tell Me, but for the most part I was expecting a lot more from here. This project for the most part has a pretty consistent identity, but when it tries something completely different it really loses itself in a way I really didn't think Madonna would let slide so easily. It also doesn't help the beginning of this album seems very all over the place despite the high quality shown off, but thankfully it does manage to catch itself later down the tracklist. I appreciate what Madonna had in mind with this project but its' own worst enemy happens to be itself and the tracklisting of this project. Would it have killed anyone if this was 2 songs shorter, because if it simply removed Impressive Instant and Amazing this easily would be one of her better releases.
Arcade Fire
3/5
It may or may not be the best time to listen to Arcade Fire seeing how much this band has gone through in the last 5 years, but since I got recommended Neon Bible, I thought I'd give it a shot and see what the hype is all about. I wasn't very huge on Funeral, and every time I hear that project it grows off me more and more at a rapid rate, so going into Neon Bible I was a bit hesitant. Thankfully I can say that Neon Bible is a far better project in my eyes, but I still don't see the full hype behind this band just yet. The overarching sound of this project as well as the songwriting and production feels so much more consistent and handled much better than with Funeral's very messing and all over the place sound. While it may not have the same level of highs, it does have a consistency that is felt across every track here that keeps it all tight. I really enjoyed the three track run of Ocean of Noise to (Antichrist Television Blues) as that stretch showed how much more work Arcade Fire had put in as a band and boomed with confidence. I can totally see this project continuing to grow for myself as I really enjoyed the thoughtful compositions of this project. While sometimes it can be a bit much more than one can chew, I respect the hell out of Neon Bible for continuing to show growth and maturity from the band as they continue to expand on their explosive mix of Indie Rock and Chamber Pop. Nuff said!
Primal Scream
4/5
This is yet another one of those niche 90s albums I have seen a lot of people rave about and now that I have finally gotten around to it I am both very perplexed and impressed with what this shaped up to be. The sounds here shift up so much and play with some really odd textures that on paper should not work and yet come together to create a really mystifying 1 hour and 2 minute experience. This album has more mellow Folk-adjacent? music hidden between a lot of very forward thinking and confident Dance tracks that even by today's standards still feel refreshing. The unusual feelings this album provokes may not stick upon first listen, but with repeated lustens of tracks like Don't Fight It, Feel It and Movin' On Up it feels all the more special. If I could strike a similarity it would have to be to Pulp's 1995 hit Disco 2000 where it borders the line of being hardcore Rock anthem and club/dance music in a really spectacular way. Screamadelica is a very odd project, and I love it for that so much.
808 State
3/5
As much as the 1001 albums to hear before I die can dish out some very unfavorable projects, I am glad that recently they have been giving me plenty of electronic releases to feast on as it has been exactly what I've been looking for during these cold mornings. 808 State may not be the most familiar name to most, but if you are a fan of any 90s House, Ambient, or Electronic music I am sure you are familiar. They may not have made any huge splashes but their work in shaping the Electronic scene in the UK back in the 90s is nothing short of important. Yes this project surely is dated, but what do you expect from an Acid House album from 1989?? It is an impressive feat that continued to help define Acid House for the 90s to pick up and really make it into its' own. 90 may not be super striking by today's standards but its' influence on the world of electronic music should always be appreciated whenever possible.
Beatles
4/5
I think on my relistening to the entire Beatles discography that White Album may now be my favorite of the band. Of course the length and sheer amount of Beatlemania that is on display here surely helps the group, but the songwriting all across the board is arguably the best the boys ever had. It is weird and a bit janky with how varied the tracklist is, but when taking a step back you can see just how surprisingly well it flows together for the most part even with the constant genre shifts. It is a larger than life painting of the band to this point with everything in between and even some new sounds they never dabbled with before. Some of my favorite tracks from here have to be Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da (I song I always quote unironically), Helter Skelter, and Rocky Raccoon to name a few but just about every song here I enjoyed quite a fair bit. Of course on each disc of this project there is one odd song that feels even more out of place than the rest and it is Wild Honey Pie and Revolution 9, I tried getting down with both tracks but they simply never clicked with myself despite me really trying to open my mind. Honestly for this album being 1 hour and 33 minutes and only really having 2 misses in the entire runtime, the shortest and longest song here, that isn't too bad. The band was coming down from their Psychedelic Pop/Rock phase after really throwing themselves out in the open and releasing some really stellar tracks, but now are returning to a strictly Rock phase. You can still feel the hints of the remaining Psychedelia remaining but for the most part the band had mostly cut entire ties with those sounds to finish off their years in a more rocking way. I found this album, even with it's noticeably large length, to be quite replayable and enjoyable throughout the entire runtime. It is catchy, funny, thoughtful, and an all around good time for any Beatles fan like myself. White Album may not be everyone's favorite from the group, but I think to a certain extent it is their most impressive as it really challenged the band to go places they never had been before while sustaining their fans for the duration of what is for most a very harsh runtime. All in all White album is nothing short of a classic and while I do wish those two filler tracks were cut out, it still doesn't stop it from being a classic that should continue to be praised over 50 years later.
Suicide
3/5
Out of all the different kinds of Punk music popping up in 1977 I think Suicide's self titled stands out amongst the rest as it is not only a trailblazer for Synth Punk but No Wave as well. For the most part this album is pretty simple in execution with a basic synth backing the band as they sing, moan, and groove around the music. This album is erotic and electrifying with it's oddly satisfying sound and very unsettling atmosphere. If this came out 2 years earlier I wouldn't be surprised if it was apart of The Rocky Horror Picture Show with just how well it matches the energy of that movie. This album may really stick with you or it may not, but to understand the evolution of Synths, Synth Punk, and No Wave this album must simply be heard.
Echo And The Bunnymen
2/5
As I continue to try and catch up on more albums I missed in my 1001 albums to hear before I die list, I wanted to check out one recommendation I had saved up, Echo and The Bunnymen's debut album Crocodiles. If you are a fan of more alternative music with a bunch of weird singers and instrumentals that will make you both dance and stare off into your ceiling then this is for you. While I wouldn't call this a very strong project, it does stick to the sound it wants to have and feels very consistent from front to back with its' overall execution. There isn't much I really remember about this project in hindsight as it isn't a very remarkable song on this album, but it is enjoyable. Not super huge on this release as much as I would like to be, but I feel their later projects will win me over a lot more when I get to them.
Elbow
2/5
I have been feeling a little burned out from music on this recent "vacation" I am on, but I am wanting to power through some of the piling up recommendations from the 1001 albums to hear before I die list. Today I got yet another album I have heard absolutely nothing about, Elbow's The Seldom Seen Kid, and it is both not what I expected at all and unfortunately really middle of the road. This project at first comes off like a very thoughtful Indie Rock album and then slowly loses itself as it continues to try and stretch itself thin with all these theatrical ideas in a project that really doesn't need it. This album is far from essential but it is novel in its' efforts to try and bring more over the top efforts to their Indie Rock sound. It is cool for what it is, but I would definitely not call this a "must-hear" album by any means. Nuff said.
Miles Davis
5/5
Simply Beautiful.
The Fall
2/5
I know there is definitely someone who has tried to get me really into The Fall, and while I am by no means committing to their humungous discography of music, I did want to check out this project to see what the hype is all about. This album feels like a much darker and moody version of Talking Heads with the very unique and off-putting vocals. This project is just about as weird as that last description should have you think it is, and if you are looking for a unique factor to the music then this does not disappoint. I definitely don't think I will fully get this project now, which is both a bit saddening and exciting, but unfortunately my score seems to reflect that in the current state. I can see why some people have quite a love for The Fall but I just don't quite see eye to eye on this oddity today...
Sabu
2/5
While I do wish the 1001 albums to hear before I die list had more foreign representation, I am really glad there is at least some. One of those pieces of representation is the album I want to talk about today, Sabu's Palo Congo. For this project being made in the 50s it still has a lot of charm that can be felt through the musicianship on display from Sabu's band. Some of the songs here are a blast and feel very lively and quite engaging with the mixtures showcased in the compositions. Unfortunately not every song here gets the same amount of praise as there are a lot of songs here really missing an "oomph" element that helped drive some of the first songs on this album. The solo bongo bits are cool but get a bit tiresome by the end of the 4+ minute runs. There is a good bit of potential in this project but I feel it only gets tapped into every once and a while rather than across the board. Would definitely listen again but I definitely feel there are far better Afro-Cuban Jazz albums out there to enjoy.
Adele
3/5
For being one of the most streamed albums of all time I have to say Adele's 21 is still an extremely impressive Pop Soul release that stands the test of time even for it being an early 2010s release. White moms were truly eating good with this album's release. I forgot just how powerful Adele's vocals are when she isn't being played on the radio over and over and over again for 3 years straight. She really was a powerhouse even at such a young age and had quite the killer pen game to back it up. I remember so many of these songs from my childhood and having my mother religiously play this album in her own time and whenever she turned on the radio. To say this defined the 2010s for some time would be an understatement as it was truly inescapable for years until 25 released, and then that project couldn't be escaped either. It is a staple of the time it was released and still passes off pretty well into the modern day. Glad this is better than I remember it being because god damn did Adele hit it out of the park on this album.
Stevie Wonder
3/5
Stevie Wonder's Fulfillngness' Full Finale is by no means on par with Songs in the Key of Life, but this album isn't trying to be this behemoth of a project. Stevie was just being himself and continuing to craft some of the greatest Soul music known to man. The instrumentation on this project is immaculate and so delicately placed all throughout each song's composition that you can't help but be impressed. While I did think a lot of these songs are more long winded and not as impactful as some of Stevie's other music in his discography, I do still think they hold quite a special place in his catalog. I wish I was able to get more into this project but I personally think Stevie has much more simple and effective projects that scratch a much better itch than this project, even with all its' beauty and glory. Very glad I finally got around to some Stevie but I just hope next project swoons me a bit more.
Emmylou Harris
3/5
Country may still not be one of my favorite genres ever, but I do have to say I can see why people can get so down to Emmylou Harris after listening to her sophomore album, Pieces of the Sky. This album is very cut and dry with some extremely simple project. The songwriting and sounds here aren't anything crazy and I feel if I wasn't such a fan of Folk music as a whole this album would not appeal to me as much. It is very straightforward and definitely has its' own audience, though I do not understand why this is seen as an essential to hear before you die... Glad I am discovering new music but I am also quite underwhelmed by how a lot of it is sounding from this challenge, I was expecting a lot better overall...
The B-52's
2/5
The B-52s are quite an oddity of Pop music in the 70s and 80s as their unconventional sound reached such boundaries that it managed to somehow break into the mainstream and cultivate radio waves with its' very 50s inspired sounds. As much as I appreciate the kookiness of this project I found it wasn't often very up my alley. I appreciate weird and unapologetic music a lot for how bold it is willing to be, but sometimes I have to stop and wonder why didn't someone step in and say something before it got this far. The B-52's feel more iconic for how they are spoken of rather than how their music actually sounds in my eyes. Maybe I am not the target audience for this album or maybe it is an overrated gem of its' time but either way I don't think I'll be coming back to this anytime soon. Nuff said.
Fleetwood Mac
3/5
If Fleetwood Mac’s self titled album was the honeymoon project and Rumors was the break up project, Tusk would definitely have to be the emotional rollercoaster that is the post-break up project detailing all the emotions of regret, anger, and of course loads of sadness. Out of all the musicians working on this project I'd argue this is mostly Lindsey Buckingham's magnum opus as a majority of the songwriting and vocal moments are her own and she really gets to shine in her own spotlight here unalike on some of Fleetwood Mac's other projects. Much like how most people act after a break up, this album is quite all over the place and never manages to really settle on a sound or mood for the entire project and really comes off as nothing short of sporadic. My favorite songs from this project have to be Think About Me, Sara, and Sisters of the Moon. While I appreciate how vulnerable all of Fleetwood Mac is being here, to say this was a bit of a chore to get through would be a bit of an understatement. It feels like a bunch of tracks thrown together and the only reason people see it as passable is because of the context in which this album lies in, and that works on me as well. There is no rhyme or reason to anything here in this tracklist, just a mix of good, great, and 2 decent songs that all are from the same band. I feel I would enjoy this more as a broken up selection of singles rather than a 1 hour and 13 minute album, but that is just me I guess. I don't get why people are so crazy about this album as it feels just as messy as all the band feuds just put into audio form. Oh well, glad I got it out of the way I guess...
Emerson, Lake & Palmer
1/5
I usually wouldn't dive immediately into an artist's discography with a live project, but because I am being told to by the 1001 albums to hear before I die challenge, I guess I can bend my own rules a little bit. I am very vaguely familiar with Emerson, Lake, and Palmer as I have heard the band name before but none of their music to my knowledge. In true Prog Rock fashion, this shit gets real weird, maybe I just need to take more acid in my freetime because I don't quite get what makes this so remarkable? It seems like both critics and audiences don't like this album, so why is it seen as "essential listening before you die?" If anything it sounded like a 38 minute warm-up and I honestly wasn't a fan. This is a hard pass in my eyes and I really wish I would have gotten something more meaningful from Emerson, Lake, and Palmer than this wack ass bullshit.
Yeah Yeah Yeahs
3/5
If you don't like the Yeah Yeah Yeahs then we are going to have quite a bit of a problem because they were truly putting in their hearts and souls along with other acts like The Strokes, Interpol, and The White Stripes to bring back Garage Rock in full swing. This project may be extremely noisy and energetic as hell and I can totally understand why some of y'all don't get it, but man does this shit feel so good!! Also how are y'all going to rate Is This It? as one of the highest rated albums of all time but not give this album its' same deserved flowers? Yes I can totally get behind someone saying almost all of the good tracks are pumped out in the very beginning and then Maps being the real standout of this album, but even the weaker songs on the B-side like No No No and Poor Song still have a lot to offer about Yeah Yeah Yeahs more tame and intimate sides. I will gladly endorse Maps as being one of the best songs of the 2000s and still holds up beautifully to this day, also am so happy it got a bunch of love recently on Social Media because it is that stellar and worthy of love. At the end of the day this is a debut album from a band with a lot more to offer down the road, but for their very simplistic start I have to say I am pretty satisfied with everything they offered here. Nuff said!
Jeff Buckley
4/5
I have finally decided to come back and re-evaluate Jeff Buckley's one and only album, Grace, now with much more specific musical tastes under my belt. It is still so incredible, despite the many listenings of individual songs and full play throughs of this album that I have gone through, that Jeff's vocals still sound so stunning and surprising. His ability to showcase such artistry at such a young age and be so proficient with his skills is unalike anything I have ever seen from such new talent when crafting their debut piece. While I may not have the same undying love for this album as I did before, I can still appreciate a wonderful piece of music when I hear it and Jeff Buckley's Grace is most certainly one of those kind of albums. Maybe this will grow back upon myself with time but for now I feel pretty comfortable with this album's greatness and confidence but don't have the same overwhelming admiration I once had for such a defining album of its' time.
Elvis Costello & The Attractions
2/5
I did not expect Elvis Costello & The Attractions to come off so much poppier on their follow up album to This Year's Model, but hey I am here for it! As much as I wish I could rave about this project and what I hoped to have been interesting songwriting and production, but this album feels like Elvis and co. really clocking in rather than actually trying to make something meaningful. I get at some point you have to try and make some money rather than committing fulling to artistic visions but did it have to be this plain and unseasoned? This project feels so uninspired and more clocked in than I ever expected Elvis to ever get. I thought there would be at least one or two memorable tracks but this whole albums feels so forgettable despite it coming right after two great projects from the mind of Elvis. Genuinely confused as to what happened here and I hope Elvis learns his lesson for the next couple of albums in his discography because this is not it....
Stevie Wonder
5/5
Is Songs in the Key of Life one of the greatest albums ever made? Oh definitely. That's why I decided to revisit it today and give this behemoth of an album a much deserved relisten and rating. What is there to be said about this album that hasn't been said before, it manages to tackle a 1hr 46 minute runtime, one that would kill most artists careers, beautifully and in a way that makes you wish there was even more to be desired here. Stevie Wonder somehow created one of the most tight and unbreakable streaks in music.
Every section, song, and note is some of the most uplifting music ever created and yet it never gets old. Stevie Wonder is one of the greatest artists and no one can take that away from him, even if he just released this album his name would be known for the rest of time. Songs in the Key of Life will forever be a classic album, and beloved by all.
Massive Attack
4/5
Blue Lines is not only slick but it's smart, this debut from Massive Attack really packs a punch for a new and interesting song no one had played with before. This album truly kickstarted the godly streak that was TripHop music from 1994 to 1998. This is very much a more traditional TripHop release that follows a textbook definition of the genre: A psychedelic mix of HipHop and Electronica. As much as I love Massive Attack I do want to point out one flaw with this project, it's extremely front loaded and the back half is a bore. I don't mean that to be harsh but I want to be honest, people really overlook the second half because of how good the first half of this album is. I think this is a solid start for the group but nowhere near their potential for this time.
The Doors
3/5
The Doors are easily one of the most important and influential bands of their time, and it came as quite a surprise when Jim Morrison unexpectedly passed away soon after the release of their 1971 album L.A. Woman. This album was subsequently given an eerie aura around it that still can be felt to this very day. While The Doors never strayed too far away from Blues Rock, this album feels very much like the band paying tribute to the sounds that inspired them all those years ago more than ever. The slow crawls of the music here mixed with Morrison's more swinging vocals make for one of the more thoughtful kickback albums I've ever heard. For most of The Doors music it is very exciting and engaging through its' wild instrumentation and ideas the band throws at the walls but for L.A. Woman it feels so much more thoughtful and subtle with its' choices. The closing track is the perfect way to end off such an interesting and innovative career with Riders on the Storm being a very haunting finale to one of the best band's of its' time. This is a weird album to "end" on and while I may not be crazy about it, I can still appreciate the art the band brought to the table and paid homage with so beautifully.
1/5
I think a lot of people can collectively agree this is where Limp Bizkit's ego got to their head. I mean did you expect an album that disses Nine Inch Nails and interpolates a song about using sex as a substitute so the main character doesn't kill himself in the first song would be any good? It shows how surface level they are and that is painfully obvious by the horrible aging this album has gone through in the last 23 years. I could deal with Fred Durst on the last two albums but now he sounds obnoxious and annoying, almost like a prepubescent 13 year old with how squeaky his voice is at times. Can we also mention how terrible this album cover is and was even for 2000? Like I've seen way better usages of the stock text, color, and font on a high school powerpoint presentation. I can't lie the music here isn't bad, I mean the production is pretty solid but it is a matter of how wimpy Fred Durst sounds that holds this project back. The mission impossible sample on Take a Look Around was actually pretty cool but that's easily the best thing to come out of this album by a long shot. I just wish this album didn't try being so mean because it just comes off so laughable in every way, again I can understand it for the time but again this album shows just how childish the band can be at times in the worst ways. It's again not as bad as people say but you can also very much see the downfall in quality start picking up here, and it'll only get worse the more we go on... This album solidified Limp Bizkit as the secretly racist, homophobic, etc. person's favorite rap group.
Tori Amos
3/5
I am glad that I am revisiting Little Earthquakes after a few years off of this album as I think I will get a much better appreciation for this project as a whole. Tori Amos is not an artist I was particularly huge on when I first got around to her music, but I feel as my tastes have shifted and grown, this album seems to stick a lot better than my first go around with it. Tori's more thoughtful lyrics and sometimes more contemporary production may not be for everyone, but I see her as the 90s response to Kate Bush's very artistic take over of indie music during the late 70s and 80s as a new face to take up the mantel in a whole new way. Kate was very bold and weird, Tori is confident and yet somehow very accessible even with the unorthodox sounds that still managed to be somewhat of a popular hit for people during that day and age. I felt like I could appreciate this album a lot more than I enjoyed it, how Tori presents herself on this debut album is nothing short of impressive and the ideas she brings to the table are complete and extremely thoughtful. She was already a deeply focused and detailed artist right out of the gate and it makes sense why such a project would be seen as an essential to hear before you die. Even if I am not huge on this album, I would still recommend it to others looking for someone on Kate Bush's level that takes a complete different trajectory and still manages to be great all throughout her career.
Solomon Burke
3/5
Much like a lot of the older and legacy picks for this list, I don't really see what is so essential about this project despite it having a very well known track like Cry to Me. It is a pretty standard Soul project from this time with the string arrangements and very surface level writing that feels so overdone when looking back on this era of music, but hey I guess I can't complain too hard because this project is still "good" in my eyes. I didn't get a whole lot out of this project but I guess I enjoyed it during the entirety of its' runtime. I think it is a solid and safe Soul project but there are much better efforts in the same genre from the 60s I would rather have than this.
LCD Soundsystem
3/5
Just when everyone thought LCD Soundsystem was over they came back in 2017 with american dream and off the bat you can tell this is not on the same page as their first 3 albums. Something about the music here isn't as special or intriguing as the original trilogy with the electronics often switching from the main focus to the background all the time over this album and it feel more like a rock album with electronics then an electronic album from LCD. There are some really high highs then they are some good lows but it's always jumping around like a kid on a trampoline. I hate to say it but black screen was such a hollow ending to such a phenominal band, it really left a sour taste in my mouth as I could never imagine the band making a song like this to close out what will probably be their final project ever. american dream is more then just disappointing it's not in character at all and that's why it is so frustrating. I wish I liked this more but this is not the LCD Soundsystem I knew when I first started getting into their music.
Dwight Yoakam
2/5
It was only a matter of time before I got served up yet another Country album, and once again I have to ask, is this really a must hear album before you die? If you ask me that answer is no, because this album feels like what you'd hear after walking into a Country bar. The music here is painfully simple, surface level, and solid in being consistent but this is nowhere near a must hear. This is probably someone who isn't very into music's favorite album because it does everything they want all in a short 36 minute runtime. I by no means hated this project, in fact I actually like a decent amount of the songs here, but this is just so plain and unseasoned that I can't give it anything higher than the score I have listed. This album feels like eating rice and nothing more, sure it fills you up but there is no flavor to make it enjoyable. Nuff said.
Johnny Cash
4/5
I really wish I was more familiar with Johnny Cash before I was assigned his "final" album American IV: The Man Comes Around. Even though I am quite inexperienced in his discography I have to say this is a very striking album full of both chilling originals and very inventive cover songs. If you aren't a fan of Johnny Cash's very minimalist Americana/Country approach to music then this surely won't be for you. As for those of you who are fans of this very authentic presentation of music, this will be right up your alley. I feel this album is incredible because it showed that even at his twilight years, Mr. Cash still could make a memorable project worth your time and effort. It may not be his best album by any means, but it is easily one of the most memorable ways an artist has gone out on along with Black Star by David Bowie. Mad respect to Johnny for putting in his all one last time for all his fans to still rave about all these years later.
Guns N' Roses
3/5
I don't know what it is but I have really been wanting to check out Guns N' Roses for a little bit now, I am not even a huge fan of them or anything but something inside me has been craving this cheesy Hard Rock sound. This album screams asshole in every which way I can imagine it, whether it is that asshole neighbor who revs up their motorcycle at 5am on a weekend or this being a 12 track anthem for a deadbeat father who loves Natural Light. In all seriousness I think that aspect comes from Axl Rose being the frontman of this band, he has one cool vocal trick he can do and he pulls that out whenever he can to assert some kind of dominance over all the scruffy and not nearly as vocally ranged lead singers of the time to seem like he is the best one out there. Maybe on a hypothetically technical level yes he is, but Axl Rose is not using his skills in any sort of interesting ways here outside of suiting that late 80s Hard Rock mold to a T. I think one of the main reasons this album is looked so fondly upon is because of all the hard work Slash does to make this one killer project for the ages with those consistently top notch and meaty guitar parts that make me water each and every time I hear them. There is literally no reason why Guns N' Roses should be given any sort of serious attention other than the fact that Slash is in their band. This project is a perfect example of just how good and bad Hard Rock can be all together in a 53 minute album by one of the worst mainstream bands out there.
Jacques Brel
1/5
I am not exactly sure what Chanson is as a genre, but it is the sound that embodies Olympia 64 and is apparently seen as an essential release to hear before you die. According to Google, Chanson is a lyrically driven French genre using a wide variety of instruments to help convey the stories and words told by its' respective artists. I appreciate the 1001 Albums to Hear Before You Die list for including yet another piece of foreign music on the list, but how can I be expected to enjoy a lyrically driven album when I haven't the faintest clue how to speak French? It is almost setting itself up for failure with my ears and there isn't anything I can do to change that. With that being said the instrumentals also aren't very good at all either, and all in all I have nothing to say about this album. It is very in the middle of the road which is unfortunate because I'd like to have a more informed opinion but I just have nothing to offer...
Mekons
1/5
This album is so funny to be because you either can't hear a single thing anyone is saying or you don't want to hear any time they try to sing because of how bad it is. The instrumentals feel as loose and questionable as the singing itself, and as much as I tried I really could not seem to get the hype behind Mekons and their album Fear and Whiskey. Last Dance is the only bearable song here and even then it isn't even good in my eyes. This whole album is a mess, and not in cool Post-Punk kind of way, moreso in a "I have no idea what I am doing but I'll make an album out of it." Everything here feels so disjointed and unorganized to the point where it is hardly comprehensive. I am sorry to all the Pitchforkers and AllMusic fans out there but I just don't get this man....
Depeche Mode
3/5
Another step in the right direction for Depeche Mode, but this time they come swinging out the gates with a hell of an opener, "Never Let Me Down Again." I really wish this album held the same energy as that one song because it truly is phenomenal and I'm glad to see it getting the attention it deserves. The rest of this album feels very much in the shadows of the opener but decides to play it a lot more cool, I don't think this album is amazing but it's pretty close to reaching it.
Dead Kennedys
4/5
Dead Kennedys are the Chaotic Evil of punk music, and that's exactly why I love these guys so much. Each and every song here is very over the top in performance and yet somehow that doesn't make it any less impactful. Some of these lyrics are so absurd but also show just how fucked in the head a lot of these people were. All I have to say is just listen to the chorus of Funland at the Beach and you'll get what I mean. Their whole sphel is to satirize the world we live in by showing the madness of it all, and I think it is perfectly illustrated in the really out there song titles and lyrics. It is badshit insane at times and definitely worth anyone's time regardless if you are a fan or hardcore or punk.
Black Sabbath
4/5
Now this is what I was I was looking for in that debut. Not even a full year after Black Sabbath’s self titled debut they returned back to shelves with a 41 minute Heavy Metal project that feels much more confident in both its’ songs and sounds and really lets loose in all the best ways. Even with that being said I was very surprised by the variety here in the track list, not every song is a booming Hard Rock classic like with Paranoid and Iron Man, there is also the very calm and soft Planet Caravan to help add even more styles to Black Sabbath’s very small yet impactful discography. For the most part though this album is full of head banging classics to do a line of coke to. Ozzy feels much more dialed in as both a vocalist and a lyricist which makes me very happy after his very underwhelming and disappointing turn on the debut. Paranoid is totally a Metal classic no matter how you look at it, whether for sound or influence, it still reigns as one of the most important releases of the 70s regardless of how much you like it. I think this definitely has room to grow on me, but for now I can say I thought this was really great and quite a stepping stone for the band.
Coldplay
3/5
I am shocked that I have never heard Parachutes in full before, despite being raised on Coldplay as a child. It is also so blatantly clear that Coldplay wanted to walk in the shadows of Radiohead, and I don't mind that by any means but it does make this album feel a bit plain in terms of sound. There are some excellent songs here like Sparks and Yellow, but everything else felt like a watered down and more accessible version of already existing Radiohead tracks. This album had a consistent sound and I can definitely give it that, but the writing here with the exception of the highlights was pretty basic and not really all too noteworthy. I can get why someone would adore this album for how accessible it makes the depressing themes, but just listen to Radiohead and they will do it 10 times better if not more. Maybe A Rush of Blood to the Head will be different, but for now I am not super impressed with what Coldplay has to offer here.
Pixies
5/5
You can still continue to fight me all you want, I am not backing down. This album is so much tighter and consistent than Doolittle and somehow manages to balance the rough around the edges approach with a lot of fun and exciting tracks that always put a stupid grin right across my face. I think people want a lot more of the bumps when it comes to Pixies because then it really highlights the best tracks on all fronts, but what they don't realize is that this album is all of those best songs just put together. Not a single song misses a single beat and the vibes are immaculate and sunny all the way through with no breaks until the album is finally over. This is easily the "fastest" feeling Pixies project while also being their smoothest yet, it all goes together so god damn well and it further solidifies this as the best Pixies album in my eyes. I am convinced the slight Surf Rock elements scattered all throughout this album really pushed it more into my alley and made this project much more of a win in my eyes. Sorry y'all but Bossanova rains superior.
Louis Prima
3/5
I was honestly a bit scared to get into this album as I had no idea what to expect from Louis Prima on his 1956 album The Wildest!, but by the time this quick 32 minutes came to an end I was pleasantly surprised with the overall output. This album is full of very fun and groovy energy that feels perfect for defining the 50s as a whole. Louis Prima has such a great time recording this album and comes off in such a playful manner that it is truly hard to hate anything here. The back-up vocalists also do a great job helping support the songs here and making them feel even more lively to help add to Louis' leading vocals. The instrumentation as well feels very jazzy and yet also treading into more of a Pop sound like what mainstream music would see in the 60s as well. I am not going to say The Wildest! is amazing, but it does the job in helping a very lost decade in music find its' footing and be a defining piece of its' time. This is exactly what I hope to find when I go through any other albums of the 50s.
Sister Sledge
3/5
For this album having the iconic track We Are Family in its' short but fulfilling tracklist, my expectations were surprisingly a bit low, but after finishing this album I have to say I was thoroughly impressed with what Sister Sledge had to offer for the entirety of this 42 minute Disco project. This project will make you dance and this project will also make you stare up at the ceiling and reminisce on all the mistakes you ever made in your life, and yet make it all feel so fitting for each other. I will say this album does feel a bit long thanks in fact to You're a Friend to Me, but other than that track everything else here feels really well paced, it just sucks how much that one song ruins the overall momentum of this album. This is quite an interesting Disco album that really tries to be more thoughtful than a lot of the feel good music of the genre and time. Even with my slight disappointment of this album, I am still more than impressed with what Sister Sledge offered and I would totally recommend it to anyone else looking for a refreshing take on Disco back in the 70s.
Björk
4/5
I completely forgot this was a mostly dance album. That's kinda crazy now that im thinking about it because it's such a Bjork thing to do. Anyways this album is great, filled to the brim with enjoyable moments from the live "There's More to Life Than This", to the classic "Venus As a Boy", and the somber Come to Me. I don't think anything here blows me away but its so rich and filled with ideas that were so taboo and/or influential for the time. Very enjoyable "Debut" album from a one of a kind artist.
Kendrick Lamar
5/5
Sherane is good for leading the audience into this project but the annoying 808 beat always urks me and stops me from liking the opening track more then most do. Bitch, Don't Kill My Vibe and Backseat Freestyle are both godly tracks and I don't need to explain just how good those ones are. The Art of Peer Pressure is a song I am now appreciating more for how lyrically dense the song is, I don't think I appreciated the beat switch and how rich with meaning this song was before and I am happy to say I do like this song now. Money Trees is Money Trees, nuff said. Poetic Justice is yet another song I was very split on before and I still think that it is a skip for me, there isn't much the song adds and it feels very out of place in the grand scheme of things. good kid is easily one of the most underrated songs on this album, why don't more people talk about this song? m.A.A.d city is a certified banger not much needs to be said there. Swimming Pools didn't come off as super repetitive or annoying to me anymore, I can understand repeating this song over and over will do that but it is a very enjoyable track for me now which was really nice to see. Oh SAMIDOT my beloved I am sorry for being so harsh to you before. While the twist may not have gotten me this time around the song's very emotional and impactful lyrics did, this is a beautiful song even if I don't think it is the best on GKMC. It's beat keeps running and yet it never tires out, somehow Kendrick single handedly managed to carry 12 minutes of music on his back and never stopped to take a break and it is awe-inspiring. After the deeply emotion SAMIDOT, Real is the perfect followup to pick up the pieces of the aftermath. It is retrospective on Kendrick's life and what makes him real as a person from the struggles to his personal feelings. Finally we wrap up this wonderful concept album with Compton, a true victory lap for the accomplishment and pure celebration of pulling off one of the most important rap albums I have ever heard.
Pere Ubu
1/5
I don't know what it is about the 1001 albums to hear before you die list's pick of Post-Punk albums, but I keep getting some of the worst Post-Punk I've ever heard right about now in my journey. I had somewhat high expectations for Pere Ubu's albums as there are two on the list, but after hearing Dub Housing in full I am truly not impressed in the slightest. The vocals here are god awful and extremely out of place to the point where the lead singer's voice is so bad you can't comprehend a single word that is being said. It also seems like Pere Ubu's band has absolutely no direction whatsoever and is just playing randomly hoping that something sticks, akin to Trout Mask Replica and its' absurdist concept. I truly don't understand how someone could comprehend listening to this without utterly hating it, let alone listen to it more than once and call it a favorite of theirs. This project is a flaming dumpster fire of music and even that is pretty nice given how much I despised this album. I am really not looking forward to hearing anything else from Pere Ubu, but I know that time will come shortly.
Skunk Anansie
3/5
Yet another album I have absolutely no idea what I am walking into, and with an album title like Post Orgasmic Chill it could either be absolutely kick ass or a total dud. Thankfully this album is pretty fucking dope, and believe it or not is fronted by the very Grace Jones-esc looking lady on the cover. This album is full of very powerful and angsty moments that give this project a lot of spice to play around with. While I wouldn't say the anger of the lead female singer is used to its' fullest potential to make for meaningful Alt Rock tracks here, I would say her vocal range is used in a manner I don't see very often but was quite impressed with. Even with all that being said I am struggling to understand how this album is deemed essential listening by the author other than the technical and unusual factors at play for the time this album came out. It was quite rare to see a female led rock band, let alone one taking the newly formed Alt Rock scene by storm in the late 90s. I enjoyed my stay with Skunk Anansie for the entirety of the 50+ minute of runtime, but I don't think I'll be returning to this project anytime soon as there really wasn't a whole lot that stuck around for me....
George Harrison
4/5
Not even a full year after The Beatles came to an end, George Harrison decided to drop a 2 hour project to win over any Beatles fan who wasn’t already interested/listening to some of his earlier solo endeavors, and let’s just say it is an absolute staple of 70s Folk Pop/Pop Rock and still is a defining album for the genre over 50 years later. This album goes back to back to back with killer songs that never really seem to end. It has a lot calmer songs in the beginning and more guitar heavy pieces towards the back, but they flow into each other so well that you almost don’t even realize how much things have shifted until you go back for another listen. My whole experience with this album for a long time was My Sweet Lord and I'd Have You Anytime, I thought this whole project was going to be very Folk-y and I was totally here for it. Turns out I was completely wrong and that was only 1/3rd of the whole picture. Each section, including Apple Jam, has its' own distinct sound and style that all comes together surprisingly well for a 1 hour and 45 minute album. Apple Jam really is a bit of an oddball because some of it is very goofy songs that sadly hold this project down and then other parts are long absolutely killer instrumental songs just going ham in every way. I don’t know if this is an unpopular opinion or not, but the “second disc” of this album absolutely rips and blows the first half clean out of the water. The 3 song streak of Art of Dying, Isn’t it a Pity (2nd version), and Hear Me Lord is legendary in its own right and really cements that previous statement for me. This project is so cool and definitely will soundtrack a lot of my roadtrips in the many years to come, and I am definitely glad I bit the bullet on the long ass runtime because every second was worth it. Don't sleep on George Harrison, he may not have been front and center for the Beatles very often but this project proves he could have handled it and done it with flying colors.
The Beach Boys
3/5
Pet Sounds is one of those albums everyone will at least know of, it's a perfect time capsule of the 60s with that signature colorful sound and style that truly cannot be replicated. I get why people love Pet Sounds but as more time goes on and my musical journey continues to expand the sounds I hear and the stuff I really enjoy, I find myself distancing myself from Pet Sounds and regarding it as a solid album to define the 60s. It is far from the strongest work from that decade in my eyes now, but at one time I was blown away by this album and I am ok admitting that. This album is a stepping stone, and whether it sticks around with you or fades away it will never not be as important regardless if the project doesn't fare as highly as it did before. If you want a perfect spring album or one to put a smile on your face why not settle with this classic?
The Mamas & The Papas
3/5
The Mama's and The Papa's are a band I have heard the name of many times and are only really familiar with their iconic single California Dreamin', so when I got told to hear their debut album If You Can Believe Your Eyes and Ears by the 1001 albums to hear before I die challenge I was curious to see what would be in store. If you are a fan of 60s Pop music then you will definitely get a kick out of the vocal stacking the band does here as it gives off that sunny feeling akin to Beach Boys. The songwriting here isn't the most sharp or even compelling but I think the showmanship of this album is really the shining star of the entire album. The chemistry of all 4 members is so defined and striking that you can't help but adore the charm of it all. I can see why someone would call this an essential album but personally I think it is a product of its' time with a few notable songs and nothing more. Nuff said.
Beatles
3/5
With A Hard Day's Night, we finally enter the first of 3 Beatles "soundtrack" albums where it blurs the line between original soundtrack for a film and studio release. This is really where The Beatles started to pump out some quality Pop Rock in their typical 60s sound where they still continued to sound above a majority of other releases while not ever doing anything too crazy. It is a safe project by all means, but not to the extent of With The Beatles. The songs are more thoughtful and charming as well as being enjoyable from front to back as this is The Beatles' shortest project ever. All and all, Hard Day's Night is a solid album with solid songs in a solid discography. There really isn't too much else that can be said here if you ask me.
Beck
3/5
This may be a bit of a stretch for some, but I personally see Beck as the male equivalent to Madonna and you need to hear me out on this. Both of them always make it their goal to drastically switch up their sounds all of the time with each project in an effort to try and gather the populations from those sounds to their evergrowing discography. They both were cultural juggernauts of their time and have since been relegated to "old head who won't shut up." Anyways, Guero feels like Beck's attempt to try and bring Trip Hop back into the mainstream after the genre ran dry in the beginning of the 2000s, and honestly I think some of Beck's attempts here are pretty noble but don't quite land in all the ways I would have hoped and liked. This album is pretty safe as far as all the experimentation goes and even with some of the more bold swings here I am just not wowed by Beck yet as an artist. This is definitely worth your while if you have heard some of his work and are looking for a nice entry point, but I don't think I'd see many people coming back after the soft introduction.
Bert Jansch
3/5
Bert Jansch is an artist I have personally never heard of before, but as soon as I saw I was going to be listening to a Contemporary Folk album I became very excited. Folk music is a genre that always really hits for myself in ways not even I expect or anticipate even if it is just a dude playing guitar and nothing grand or special about it. The words are able to speak more towards myself and I always appreciate the more raw and stripped back environments. Bert isn't doing anything revolutionary here but he makes for such a great story teller across this very short and sweet 38 minute album. Once again, wouldn't call this essential but hey it is still something I was happy to give half an hour of my time to. Nuff said.
Ramones
3/5
What happens when you mix a bunch of incompetent musicians with a cult like band? You get The Ramones, every white girl's favorite band since they all wear their merch. It is pretty funny that the reason all of The Ramones' songs are so painfully simple isn't because they are a punk band, but instead because they simply didn't know how to play the instruments at hand. This album by no means stands the test of time but it goes to show just how Punk worked back in the day, you could be the worst musician possible and still make a classic punk album. Call this album accidental genius all you want and honestly I don't think anyone with a clear mind will object that obviously true opinion, but I will say The Ramones do have some better material off of this album but it is very far and few between at times. Yeah it is still a classic but not as amazing as a lot of people make it out to be anymore.
R.E.M.
3/5
Okay y'know what, I am starting to get on the hype train for R.E.M., especially after their very weird and one of a kind debut album Murmur. This album feels just as weird and off-center as their debut EP Chronic Town, but feels much more polished and clear in what exactly the band is trying to do. Lead singer Stipe doesn't feel as under his breath as he did before and I'd argue the writing is much more compelling on this project. It isn't anything I haven't heard before, but for the time when this was released it was pretty ahead of the curve. R.E.M. showcases a very charming and fun soundscape on this project that always leaves you wondering what is next for the band, but I don't ever feel they absolutely embody the sound they are crafting here. They always make a good showcase and never much more. Again take it with a grain of salt as this is their debut studio album but I really like how collected they feel right out of the gate. Excited to see what else this band cooks up as I am quite happy with what Murmur had to offer myself.
Supertramp
2/5
As much as I wish Prog Rock hit harder for me, it seems that none of it is really able to quench my thirst I have for the genre, even with a staple like Supertramp's Crime of the Century. This album is very grand and bold as are many Prog Rock albums, but Crime of the Century feels different as it also have some very theatrical elements I feel aren't as prominent in the genre around this time as many would have you believe. Crime of the Century feels a bit cheesy if you ask me but has some really cool elements all over this project that definitely jived with my likings but as a general album I struggled to full connect to the music at hand. I believe Hide in Your Shell was by far my favorite track here and then again I felt like I could barely get by with liking it. I enjoy some of Supertramp's other work but I really don't get what didn't work here. Oh well life goes on a guess....
Kacey Musgraves
4/5
Kacey Musgraves' Golden Hour seems to be a shining example of modern country music done right, and honestly I couldn't agree more. This project is sweet like honey and colorful like a bed of flowers, and doesn't hit any of the stereotypes most people associate with Country music nowadays. Instead Golden Hour embraces the uniqueness of Kacey Musgraves with her country twang added on as an extra flavor to the music. I think the Daft Punk like vocals on Oh, What a World did take me out of the album, but only slightly to question why they were there in the first place. This album sounds great otherwise with Kacey's vocals carrying the listener through the 45 minute runtime with such ease. It is a soft country pop album that I think deserves the praise it gets.
Arctic Monkeys
3/5
Back before Arctic Monkeys became the global phenomenon they are known for today, they were yet another thoughtful and interesting edition to the Garage Rock Revival movement of the 2000s. I personally don't see this album up there with The Strokes, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, or even The White Stripes but I appreciate what Arctic Monkeys bring to the table as yet another project added to the very same-y pile that was this musical movement. The only real standouts for me are I Bet You Look Good on the Dancefloor which is still an utter bop and Mardy Bum, other than that this album was just solid and not a whole lot more. It is pretty standard and isn't even anything super out of the ordinary or special which really confuses me because of all the critical acclaim this album has gotten. It is pretty standard and that's about all I have to say! Nuff said.
The Prodigy
5/5
Wow what a ride this album was, straight adrenaline the whole entire time. This whole album gave me Hotline Miami vibes and I am so for it, feels like something that would feature in the games. As far as electronic albums go this is something I would love to hear at raves and I can totally see the influence on future artists especially in the "Dubstep" and more modern electronic artists. One of my two problems with this album that keeps it from scoring up higher is some of the songs really don't know when to end, like it'll still be going strong and then just cut off and I was there was some kind of closer to each song. My other complaint is the album is a tad bit too long, I wouldn't cut any one song but I feel like by the time I got to Fuel My Fire I was done with the album. I am really surprised I didn't hear this one sooner but I am glad I checked it out now rather then later.
M.I.A.
4/5
A much bigger improvement over Arular if you ask me but in the right directions. The production can still be annoying at times but for the most part it is a lot more enjoyable then Arular. The one complaint I do have is that the length is a bit much but I also knew Paper Planes was the next song when I was feeling this way so the wait was very much worth it. I am just extremely impressed with how original M.I.A. sounds, the songs have this very different feel from traditional pop and hip hop that make it feel so foreign and new. I am also extremely impressed with just how ahead of her time the production is, I don't think a single song on this album has aged poorly at all and it's over 15 years old. I can see why so many people go back to this album for more then just Paper Planes, it's a banger and a half.
Various Artists
3/5
If you are curious what makes this such a dark release it is the fact that the producer, Phil Spector, is a convicted murderer who shot and killed someone in 2002. He was a very infamous producer who worked with everyone from The Beatles to The Ronettes and had built up quite a career for himself before his act of violence. Besides that very specific thing about this project, I have to say this is really solid for it being well over 60 years old. A lot of these songs are still played each and every December and it makes sense because a lot of these hold up wonderfully and perfectly encapsulate the fun festivities and acts of love that come from Christmas. Every track here is like a nice sip of Hot Cocoa, it does the job just right, and then the final track is like getting to all of the left over grain at the bottom and spitting it out because of how nasty it is. For the most part, this Christmas album is a staple that should continue to be played each and every year as it is a near perfect representation of just how lovely the season can be.
The Rolling Stones
4/5
It is yet another embarrassing thing to admit but I have never heard a Rolling Stones album in full until this very point. I have heard many of their songs before and would consider myself a fan of some extent but once again I didn't know what to expect when going through 40+ minutes of their music. Thankfully I feel Let It Bleed was probably the best place I could have started when it came to their music. Let It Bleed is easily one of the most feel-good albums of all time and it feels so fitting to hear this at the very beginning of the new year. It may not be this big loud Rock album a lot of people would expect from the stones, but it is a more calm and welcoming Blues Rock album that shows some of the finer details of the band's chemistry as well as their writing skills in a much brighter way than usual. The Rolling Stones know how to have a good time with themselves and their sound and I feel this album is the perfect kickback album to drink a beer with a bunch of friends to. How could you not have a great time to Gimme Shelter, Country Honk, or You Can't Always Get What You Want, they are timeless classics in my eyes?!
Nico
4/5
Despite being released the same hear as Nico's iconic collaboration with The Velvet Underground, Chelsea Girl is its' own unique sound and style that showcases the more tragic sides of Nico and her soul-crushing songwriting. I know Nico is a bit of a dicey figure on a more personal level, but when it comes to her music she truly never gets enough appreciation for just how able she is to hold her own ground even with her one of a kind vocal deliveries. The instrumentation that is backing Nico helps to see this tragedy of a project and make it all the more emotionally impactful. I won't lie the pacing is a bit all over the place as having It Was A Pleasure Then and the title track (15+ minutes combined) side by side is definitely a choice of all time, but even with that said it doesn't ruin this album by any means. This is a beautiful album I believe is deserving of much more praise and love especially from Velvet Underground fans and music fans alike. Chelsea Girl is a stunning album showing a more initimate side to Nico I didn't expect to see so soon after her cheery music on The Velvet Underground & Nico self titled. Definitely will be giving this stoic German some more diving in due time. Nuff said!
Run-D.M.C.
1/5
Run D.M.C. may not be talked about as much as they should for their influence on Hip Hop in general, but these guys were truly pioneers far ahead of their time in helping craft one of the first blueprints of what Hip Hop would become today over 40 years later. Calling this album cheesy and a product of its' time is such a basic and yet completely correct complaint that I both shame anyone for saying but also nod in agreement. It sucks saying such an influential project is no longer a worthy piece of music to hear due to how poorly it has aged, but truly that is how it feels listening to Run D.M.C.'s self titled debut. I have a lot of respect for this album, but next to no patience with it in the year of 2026...
Public Enemy
3/5
As I wrap up the last "essential" Public Enemy album I think I should come out and say once again that even I am not as huge on their music as some other people, I still have a lot of respect for all the influence they have on the genre and with more detailed lyricists within Rap as a whole. Fear of a Black Planet is what I would argue to be the peak of Public Enemy's sound as a whole as their lyrics are much tighter, track-listing is much stronger, and even beats are more notable but still very same-y. The Ice Cube and Big Daddy Kane feature really help bring together some of the best lyricists of their time for an all-time great Rap collaboration to add to this banger of an album. This album feels serious and has serious subject matter and it works beautifully, the only problem is this album has so many songs and really bogs itself down. There are a good bit of songs here that could be cut like a lot of the shorter tracks and interlude pieces, but all in all I still found this album to be an improvement from Public Enemy's last two projects. Fear of a Black Planet isn't perfect by any means but it is still influential as hell.
Yes
3/5
I don't know why the 1001 albums to hear challenge has been making me Prog it up in my ears, but I am all here for it as long as these projects continue to be as good as they are!! I would call myself more of a casual fan of Yes but I think they have always been my second favorite Prog group of the ones I've heard, with Pink Floyd being the first naturally. Yes makes Prog Rock feel so simple and fun on The Yes Album to the point where I didn't even realize I was listening to a Progressive Rock album. It also helps a lot of the bigger tracks are all under 10 minutes in total length making for a very digestible project for those of you with much shorter attention spans. I wouldn't call any of the compositions here all that memorable or even extraordinary but they are solid enough where you want to continue paying attention to what these guys have to offer all throughout the entire 41 minute runtime. There isn't too much to say here other than this is a pretty good starting place for anyone looking to get into Progressive Rock as a whole.
Adam & The Ants
1/5
As much as I do very much like digging through the 1001 albums to hear challenge in its' entirety, I have to say there are quite a few duds all throughout the list, and Adam and the Ants' Kings of the Wild Frontier happens to be one of those dated duds. I don't know why this list has to keep picking very mediocre New Wave albums but it is pissing me off because there is some really solid New Wave out there, this author just doesn't know where to find it. This album feels so out of touch and very much a product of its' very flamboyant and over the top time period. I truly see nothing on this album worth noting in the current year of 2026 as relevant or even essential in any manner other than showcasing how poorly a lot of 80s antics have aged. What is the point of hearing this project other than to suffer?
Rush
4/5
After three different albums trying to perfect their Progressive Rock sound, Rush finally hit the nail on the head with their 4th album 2112 which started the beginning of their legendary run as one of the best Prog Rock bands of all time, and one of the best acts to ever come out of the great country called Canada. This album is very grand and mystical, as are many Progressive Rock albums, but this one stands out for being a real journey put into music that whisks you through the minds of some highly committed madmen and their wicked fantasy. Some would call this album satanic because of the album cover and outrageously long song runtime of the title track, but I personally find it to all help tie this album up in a beautiful manner that continues to blow peoples' minds nearly 50 years later. Even with some of the more unserious tracks like A Passage to Bangkok, this album still manages to have a great time with itself and rock on in ways that still feel refreshing even if they have been done over and over again. 2112 truly needs no sort of reasoning for why it is so great, it simply is!
The Specials
3/5
It has been a long time since I have heard any Ska music willingly that wasn't Operation Ivy, but I guess since I was assigned an album from The Specials I will be giving them a listen! As much as Ska can be a very fun genre full of youthful energy, it can also be a very laid back genre. To put it bluntly, Ska is a white man's Reggae, and if you can't accept that then I don't know what to tell you other than you are wrong. This project still isn't anything super special *pun intended* or extraordinary and you should really know what you are walking into when listening to this project. It isn't rocket science guys, it is just Ska music and not even that great of Ska music if you ask me. Just listen to Operation Ivy if you want some quality Ska not this shit, with the exception of A Message to You Rudy that song is a bop.
Air
4/5
This is even dreamier and space-y than I thought it was going to be, truly felt like a 43 minute long moon walk through the vast emptiness that surrounds us. This project truly wouldn't be what it is without the help of Beth Hirsch providing very pillow-like vocals that help you relax even further to a lot of these very unconventional Ambient Pop songs. This project gives you quite a lot to think about musically as it continues to be weird and unusual even now over 30 years later. It may not be the most mind blowing Trip Hop I have heard but I still have to hand it to Air, they surprised me plenty of times with this thing.
The Jesus And Mary Chain
5/5
Wow, what an absolute improvement over Psychocandy. Not saying I did not enjoy The Jesus and Mary Chain's debut album, but Darklands blows that project clear out of the water in nearly every single way. This project feels very Lynchian as it sounds like a blend between Alt Country, Alternative Rock, and just a perfect sprinkle of more gothic genres like Post-Punk to create a very odd and yet charming album. I also don't think enough people give this album credit for how romantic it is as well, the songwriting on display here is so passionate like on April Skies or About You that really make you fall in love with this sound. This whole album has this smokey and dimly lit bar feel to it that makes it feel so comforting and at home even if you are unfamiliar with the album like myself. Some may find the dry vocal performances here to feel a bit stale but personally I find them very charming. Darklands is a very cute gothic album, truly an oddball love story of an album, and I wish more people gave this the love and appreciation it deserves because it is beautiful in such a strange way.
Talking Heads
3/5
More Songs About Buildings and Food adds a new element to Talking Heads' music that would not only become a staple for them, but be a huge reason why they are so influential and well respected all throughout the music industry. That element in question is the inclusion of electronic noises in their music. Electronics in music was a fairly new concept that started gaining a lot more traction with the help of Brian Eno's solo career, but Talking Heads took it a step further and made it accessible for a wider rock audience as compared to the more Ambient and New Age compositions coming out around this time. The last real big act I can think of to include electronic sounds on such a mainstream level is probably Lou Reed with Metal Machine Music, and we all know how well that went over. I still think album is working out the kinks of this band's full potential, but for the most part this is a pretty simple and by the books release with nothing too special to talk about once again.
Elvis Costello
1/5
Like many other people doing the 1001 albums to hear before you die challenge are quite perplexed as to why the author has such a deep fascination for Elvis Costello to the point they are one of the most featured artists/bands on the entire list. Thankfully Brutal Youth is the last project I need to hear from Mr. Costello and I am happy to report it isn't as bad as people make it out to be. Yes this album is extremely same-y in sound and style, but it doesn't feel as strung out as Imperial Bedroom or Blood & Chocolate but it also doesn't have the highs of some of his other career moments I have previously covered. Brutal Youth gives Elvis a lane to stick in for when he wants to continue making music late into his career, it is simple and to the point and definitely for some diehard fans and not casual listeners and MOST CERTAINLY NOT people looking for albums to hear before you die. Brutal Youth is definitely an album of all time and by no means an essential piece of music. Yeah man I don't know what else to say here....
Bob Dylan
4/5
Blonde on Blonde is yet another one of the iconic Bob Dylan albums that people will argue back and forth about it being his best, and since I just gave Highway 61 Revisited a perfect 100 this has some high competition to compete with. This album took a little bit to warm up on me, it wasn't immediately clicking in the beginning but now that I am a good chunk into it the music has returned back to form for myself. I don't know how else to describe it but this album feels a lot more sleazy then Bringing It All Back Home and Highway 61 Revisited, but not to the point of this being another victory lap like Another Side. It feels hazy like the blurry cover, not full there but you can make it out even from fair away, like a very subtle tint to all the songs to make them ooze. By Absolutely Sweet Marie I was about ready to wrap this thing up, but Dylan obvious had other plans as he strategically placed an 11 minute right at the end just like he did with Highway 61 Revisited so I knew I had a ways to go still. I know I will get some flake for my score but I will honestly stand by saying this project is a bit too long, call it burnout or call me a hater I don't even think a good chunk of the songs here are on par with some of my other favorites from Dylan before. For the most part I did enjoy this album but I can confidently say it overstayed its' welcome for me.
Fatboy Slim
3/5
I never thought I'd wander over to a more Rave kind of music to review a project, but You've Come a Long Way, Baby stood out as an exception. This album can only really be broken up with the hit single, and reason anyone even knows about this project, Praise You. Fatboy Slim is a DJ and also one of those Rave party songs that just flow really good kind of artist. That is super specific but if you have ever been to a party with a live DJ you would know it could sound like this in the 90s. The music is very hypnotising if you give into it, but the transitional bits kill any sort of individual replayability in a playlist. You have to listen to it all together or not at all, there really is no in-between. It is cool for what it is, but overall I was pretty underwhelmed with the album as it was good but nothing more than that.
Marvin Gaye
5/5
I was originally going to wait to listen to this album more towards the winter time, but I have been in such a Marvin Gaye kinda groove now and I had to come back and gush about this album. The user score is underrating this album in my opinion, it is near perfect if not perfect, and I think this album should be necessary at all costs to listen to regardless of your taste. Marvin Gaye is a once in a billion artist and this album is a shining example of that statement. His charisma mixed with his signature silky smooth vocals makes this album such a heartfelt and deeply emotional connection to each and every person who listens to it. I really hope at some point in my musical journey I can delve into his entire discography, but for now I jump forward to this masterpiece. This album feels exactly like how it does to see snow outside your window as a kid mixed with some of the most impactful and harmonic lyrics. There is so much I can say but I would be retreading the same paths already gone over and over again, so I guess I will cut it here. If you haven't given yourself the blessing of hearing this album, stop what you are doing and turn it on, please?
Jungle Brothers
3/5
For being an 80s Rap album I really thought this project would play more into the tropes of the genre around that time, but this is a surprisingly Jazz-y and sample filled album that I thought felt like a pretty on-par De La Soul copy. Done by the Forces of Nature is lyrically dense and quite catchy all things considered, but again I would take De La Soul over this any day of the week. I feel this album's biggest problem is being able to keep its' momentum, it really struggles to hand its' 1 hour runtime effectively without feeling weak especially in the middle section. Again I'd much rather here De La Soul than whatever Jungle Brothers are doing here but I will say there are some notable beats that make this stand out on its' own. It isn't one of the greatest Hip Hop albums of all time, but it is a surprisingly well aged project that just has a bit of pacing and consistency problems that hold it back from being more memorable. Nuff said.
3/5
Modern Life Is Rubbish is where you really start to see Damon Albarn's direction and writing really start to stand out and shine and make small little ripples that would later become waves later down the line. But let's not get ahead of ourselves here, Modern Life Is Rubbish isn't perfect by any means but holds quite a few notable moments of greatness within its' 58 minute runtime. This album, unalike Leisure, really helps solidify Blur's Britpop sound that would help define the genre and the heated rivalry that would rock the 90s. This album will either feel a bit simple to some and more exciting to others but I personally found it to be a pretty fun and interesting time, even with some of the longer song runtimes I personally found some of the more spunky songs like Colin Zeal and Star Shaped to be some of my favorite tracks, and much like with Leisure the back half feels significantly weaker than the first. Modern Life Is Rubbish is the first true Blur album in their very bratty Britpop sound, even if it isn't anything very extraordinary it is still a very important project in the grand scheme of their sound.
Bruce Springsteen
3/5
Darkness on the Edge of Town is a much more slow Bruce Springsteen project, and for some that may be exactly what they are looking for, but personally I found this album to be a bit of a step down from his usual level of quality. If you want a slow dance of an album full of Bruce's very deep and striking vocals then maybe this will be more for you, but personally I found it to drag its' feet just a bit too much for my liking. I appreciate how much more Bruce tries to focus on his lyrics here and not so much on being a rockstar, but honestly I feel the lack of energy across this project really does hold it back as I need Bruce to pump me up to enjoy the music more. Badlands is a great start and exactly what I wish this project was more like, but then it mellows itself out. Again I don't hate this sound by any means as I think Darkness on the Edge of Town is one of Bruce's best written songs but it definitely sticks out like a sore thumb. I appreciate this album a lot but it is definitely one of his weaker entires during The Boss' prime.
Randy Newman
2/5
Before Toy Story and all the other work on other films later in Randy Newman's career, he was actually seen as quite a respectable Piano Rock musician that knew how to write a good comedic song with the perfect amount of parody sprinkled all over. I wouldn't call Sail Away a remarkable album by any means, but it is a very interesting insight into one of the most wordy musicians of his time and how he works. Personally I didn't mind anything on this album but it feels like it forgets it has 12 songs because some of them are under 2 minutes in total length and just get swallowed by all the bigger tracks around them. This album is pretty forgettable once you finish it up and I really wish there could have been a better Randy Newman album picked that showcases a more memorable tracklist from one of the most unsung heros of the world of music.
Metallica
4/5
...And Justice For All and Master of Puppets have always flip flopped for being my favorite Metallica projects, and after relistening to this album today I think I can confidently say this one is once again my #1 for Metallica. The more political nature of this album always stood out to me as it never really felt like somewhere Metallica would ever go with their sound and yet they absolutely crushed it here. Say what you want about the production but honestly I didn't even mind it this time around and I was honestly just banging my head the whole time without a care in my mind. The lyrics cut like knives and the anger held within the words really helped emphasis the instrumentation. ...And Justice For All is a very jagged and sharp album that I wish more people could give love to even with its' very obvious mixing failure, it still stands the test of time much like many of Metallica's other killer projects. Really happy I have this a second chance because I forgot just how much I adore this album. Nuff said.
Fairport Convention
3/5
I have never heard of Fairport Convention or their album Liege & Lief but after listening to this album I can see why someone would want to point out this very cheery and joyful Folk Rock album, but calling it an album "to hear before you die" seems a bit extreme. I am all here to listen to some new Folk music and while I wouldn't say a lot of the compositions really grasped me here, they were still interesting and refreshing as I had a new voice to pick apart and dissect. I personally found the track Farewell, Farewell to be my favorite of the bunch, but even that track can't hold up this slightly forgettable piece of 60s history. I don't see why this album would be influential on face value, but maybe I am missing some kind of context. Anyways Liege & Lief is cool but pretty unremarkable in the grand scheme of things and when it comes to Folk as a whole.
Red Hot Chili Peppers
1/5
Once again I sit and ponder why I am giving any of my undivided attention to a RHCP album and then I realize that the gun is being held to my head by the 1001 albums to hear before I die challenge. I am sorry to all who enjoy Red Hot Chili Peppers, but they honestly know how to make a few good songs and then mix it with 50 minutes of other bullshit I could not give two fucks about and Californication is yet another example of that bloated bullshit I was talking about. I can't even lie when I say I like Around the World, Scar Tissue, Otherside, and Californication but that is truly it. Every other track here is filled with even more of the weird Rap Rock and just downright frustrating instrumentation RHCP is unfortunately known for. I will never understand how people can stand this band because once again they are proving that they can't fill an album's runtime to save their own lives despite how talented they all are. If you couldn't already tell I don't like RHCP and I think they fucking suck. Nuff said.
William Orbit
1/5
Strange Cargo III is one of those albums that really makes you scratch your head as to why it is included on the 1001 albums to hear before you die list as William Orbit has had a pretty unremarkable musical career with his own outputs but has done some pretty amazing work for other people. Strange Cargo 3 brings absolutely nothing new to the table in terms of Downtempo or Ambient Dub music, even at a time when both genres were just starting to find their roots after the UK indie scenes helped put a face to the sounds. This project feels like a bunch of tinkering but no actual quality work coming from it. I liked Water From A Vine Leaf but everything afterwards just felt so flat and dull. As much as I'd love to praise William Orbit for his work, this album makes it really hard to give any love to the guy and honestly makes me think he just got lucky working with some actually competent artists.
Minutemen
3/5
Double Nickels on the Dime is easily the Minutemen's most comprehensive project, and yet also their most varied and experimental in my humble opinion. Collecting 4 separate parts for each member of the band as well as a "B-side" D-side of the album and combining them together into a 1 hour and 19 minute album when their second longest project before this was a measly 26 minutes is nothing short of courageous. As much as I would have loved to talk about this release, it still feels a bit too weird for my liking even with the occasion click I found within this massive 41 track album. Minutemen will always be quite a weird band for myself and while I have loads of respect for them and their craft, I just don't think I truly "get" anything here. The songs feel a bit too undercooked all the way around and the jumping of sounds was giving me a lot of whiplash to the point where it was hard to even focus in anymore. I honestly preferred the "Chaff" section of this album because it felt that a pretty consistent jam session whereas every other section of this album felt like a flurry of ideas. A very respectable album, but once again not one I am really seeing the hype behind by any means.
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds
2/5
If you couldn't tell by the title of this album, Abattoir Blues / The Lyre Of Orpheus is a double album from Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds and once again completely reinvents the wheel for this band as they go for an at times much more energetic and lively Art Rock sound. As much as I really tried to get down with this sound, this album did everything but click for myself. I can appreciate the instrumentation and the organization of this album, but the writing and actual execution of the music did not fit what I wanted or what I enjoy about Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds other music. This album dragged its' feet and went on for way longer than it needed to, even with some scattered highlights. I appreciate this album for being such a daring and defining piece for the band's modern sound but once again it just isn't for me. Nuff said....
Santana
3/5
I am really not sure why I didn't quite get this project but I dug Santana's self titled so much. Abraxas is Sanatana's sophomore album and is full of what made their debut so good, but expanded even more into more impressive tracks and an iconic cover. I would say this album is more technical than Santana's self titled and while some people may enjoy that, I personally found it made the project feel a bit dry at times in terms of enjoyment and a bit loose with how cohesive everything is here. Don't get me wrong there are some certified bangers here like Oye Como Va and Samba Pa Ti, but I really struggled with more of the instrumental tracks here and listening to this project as a fully fleshed out album. I think Abraxas is solid, but I think there will be plenty of other Santana I will take over this any day.
Fugees
4/5
This album drags a bit, but your patience is also rewarded on each and every track. If you are willing to listen to a slower more methodical rap album then The Score is the choice for you. I really wish Ms. Lauryn Hill was front and center on more of the tracks but overall I was quite happy with this.