1001 Albums Summary

Chelsea Girl by Nico

Straight Outta Compton by N.W.A.

The opening track is amazing, totally timeless and exciting, the rest of the album sounds exactly like you would expect from late 80s hip hop. The gangster lyrics were a huge innovation at the time, but the flows are all in the “well I went to the hat store today and I bought myself a hat, uh huh uh huh” vein

Sticky Fingers by The Rolling Stones

Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band by Beatles

Probably the greatest album ever, this created the concept of an album as a piece of art rather than a few singles and then some filler tracks. As immense as it is, the project is even more impressive when accounting for the fact that Strawberry Fields Forever and Penny Lane were a product of these recording sessions, even though neither track was included on the album

The Village Green Preservation Society by The Kinks

Deeply inessential compared to everything else happening in 1968

21 by Adele

Plays like a greatest hits album. The vocal power is obvious, but the song selection is what takes this over the top

Pearl by Janis Joplin

Amazing voice and the hits really hit, but for an album with only 10 tracks (one of which is an instrumental) there are a few too many forgettable tunes to justify 5 stars

Led Zeppelin II by Led Zeppelin

The Doors by The Doors

2 star album. I’m sure it was amazing at the time, but it’s far too linked to that specific counter culture moment

The Velvet Underground & Nico by The Velvet Underground

Easily a 5 star album if not for a few tracks where Lou Reed is furiously channeling Bob Dylan in a way that makes a listener wonder if he hates Dylan and is satirizing him

Goodbye Yellow Brick Road by Elton John

Should have been great, too many filler tracks

Ingenue by k.d. lang

Hard to justify listening to this instead of Linda Ronstadt if I’m in the mood for a lightly latin-inspired singer-songwriter vibe

Lady Soul by Aretha Franklin

The Queen Is Dead by The Smiths

Coles Corner by Richard Hawley

1 star, inoffensive background music

GREY Area by Little Simz

No tracks that I would be embarrassed if they came up on shuffle (ok that’s not true, the beat on 101 FM is trash) but also no tracks that I’d be excited for

Bone Machine by Tom Waits

The Wildest! by Louis Prima

Feels like the peak of the big band era and the introduction of crooner acts, more modern jazz, and rock all at once.

All Things Must Pass by George Harrison

Pink Moon by Nick Drake

Grace by Jeff Buckley

Platonic ideal of 90s singer-songwriter rock

Fishscale by Ghostface Killah

Imagine by John Lennon

At Fillmore East by The Allman Brothers Band

Frank by Amy Winehouse

Kick Out The Jams (Live) by MC5

Rip It Up by Orange Juice

James Brown Live At The Apollo by James Brown

Coat Of Many Colors by Dolly Parton

Shalimar by Rahul Dev Burman

Justified by Justin Timberlake

Parallel Lines by Blondie

Buena Vista Social Club by Buena Vista Social Club

If You Can Believe Your Eyes & Ears by The Mamas & The Papas

Dare! by The Human League

London Calling by The Clash

Pretenders by Pretenders

MTV Unplugged In New York by Nirvana

Meat Is Murder by The Smiths

Trans Europe Express by Kraftwerk

Rings Around The World by Super Furry Animals

War by U2

2 bangers and a lot of filler

What's Going On by Marvin Gaye

Who's Next by The Who

Truth And Soul by Fishbone

Rubber Soul by Beatles

Fulfillingness' First Finale by Stevie Wonder

The Gershwin Songbook by Ella Fitzgerald

Arrival by ABBA

Ghosteen by Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds

Sunshine Hit Me by The Bees

For Your Pleasure by Roxy Music

Blue by Joni Mitchell

Brothers In Arms by Dire Straits

Come Find Yourself by Fun Lovin' Criminals

Better Living Through Chemistry by Fatboy Slim

Vauxhall And I by Morrissey

Enter The Wu-Tang (36 Chambers) by Wu-Tang Clan

Tracy Chapman by Tracy Chapman

Honky Tonk Masquerade by Joe Ely

California by American Music Club

Boy In Da Corner by Dizzee Rascal

Blonde On Blonde by Bob Dylan

(What's The Story) Morning Glory by Oasis

Oar by Alexander 'Skip' Spence

Brown Sugar by D'Angelo

Mermaid Avenue by Billy Bragg

It Takes A Nation Of Millions To Hold Us Back by Public Enemy

Siembra by Willie Colón & Rubén Blades

Sheer Heart Attack by Queen

If I Could Only Remember My Name by David Crosby

The Holy Bible by Manic Street Preachers

The Stone Roses by The Stone Roses

Cloud Nine by The Temptations

Play by Moby

Teenage Head by Flamin' Groovies

Kid A by Radiohead

Blue Lines by Massive Attack

I Am a Bird Now by Antony and the Johnsons

Rattus Norvegicus by The Stranglers

Ramones by Ramones

More Songs About Buildings And Food by Talking Heads

The Dark Side Of The Moon by Pink Floyd

Neon Bible by Arcade Fire

My Life In The Bush Of Ghosts by Brian Eno

Doolittle by Pixies

Heaven Or Las Vegas by Cocteau Twins

The Clash by The Clash

Oxygène by Jean-Michel Jarre

The World is a Ghetto by War

Madman Across The Water by Elton John

Technique by New Order

Hounds Of Love by Kate Bush

Hot Fuss by The Killers

Before And After Science by Brian Eno

Smash by The Offspring

Pornography by The Cure

Desperate Youth, Blood Thirsty Babes by TV On The Radio

Stripped by Christina Aguilera

A Christmas Gift For You From Phil Spector by Various Artists

Rock 'N Soul by Solomon Burke

Pills 'n' Thrills And Bellyaches by Happy Mondays

Now I Got Worry by The Jon Spencer Blues Explosion

Bossanova by Pixies

Le Tigre by Le Tigre

Time Out by The Dave Brubeck Quartet

Tidal by Fiona Apple

Live At The Harlem Square Club by Sam Cooke

Billion Dollar Babies by Alice Cooper

Get Behind Me Satan by The White Stripes

Funeral by Arcade Fire

Tical by Method Man

C'est Chic by CHIC

The Atomic Mr Basie by Count Basie & His Orchestra

Wild Is The Wind by Nina Simone

Fear Of Music by Talking Heads

Remedy by Basement Jaxx

Exile On Main Street by The Rolling Stones

Reggatta De Blanc by The Police

Tusk by Fleetwood Mac

Live 1966 (The Royal Albert Hall Concert) by Bob Dylan

Dusty In Memphis by Dusty Springfield

The Psychedelic Sounds of the 13th Floor Elevators by The 13th Floor Elevators

Night Life by Ray Price

Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers by Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers

Close To The Edge by Yes

Live And Dangerous by Thin Lizzy

Sail Away by Randy Newman

Violator by Depeche Mode

Forever Changes by Love

Morrison Hotel by The Doors

White Blood Cells by The White Stripes

The Hangman's Beautiful Daughter by The Incredible String Band

Pacific Ocean Blue by Dennis Wilson

3 Years, 5 Months And 2 Days In The Life Of... by Arrested Development

Bat Out Of Hell by Meat Loaf

Deja Vu by Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young

Hms Fable by Shack

Are You Experienced by Jimi Hendrix

3 Feet High and Rising by De La Soul

The Who Sell Out by The Who

So Much For The City by The Thrills

A Love Supreme by John Coltrane

Shleep by Robert Wyatt

Lupe Fiasco's Food & Liquor by Lupe Fiasco

Tea for the Tillerman by Cat Stevens

The Notorious Byrd Brothers by The Byrds

Two Dancers by Wild Beasts

Fromohio by fIREHOSE

Blur by Blur

The Modern Dance by Pere Ubu

Groovin' by The Young Rascals

Guero by Beck

Maverick A Strike by Finley Quaye

Young Americans by David Bowie

A Grand Don't Come For Free by The Streets

Bitte Orca by Dirty Projectors

Fear Of A Black Planet by Public Enemy

Electric Music For The Mind And Body by Country Joe & The Fish

That's The Way Of The World by Earth, Wind & Fire

Tigermilk by Belle & Sebastian

Live At Leeds by The Who

Want Two by Rufus Wainwright

Tarkus by Emerson, Lake & Palmer

Sea Change by Beck

Crosby, Stills & Nash by Crosby, Stills & Nash

Lost In The Dream by The War On Drugs

The Visitors by ABBA

Talking Book by Stevie Wonder

Lam Toro by Baaba Maal

Ray Of Light by Madonna

The White Album by Beatles

Larks' Tongues In Aspic by King Crimson

Machine Gun Etiquette by The Damned

Dig Your Own Hole by The Chemical Brothers

The Man Machine by Kraftwerk

Kenya by Machito

Live / Dead by Grateful Dead

Eagles by Eagles

B-52's by The B-52's

Permission to Land by The Darkness

Younger Than Yesterday by The Byrds

Bookends by Simon & Garfunkel

Solid Air by John Martyn

Abbey Road by Beatles

Surfer Rosa by Pixies

Horses by Patti Smith

Chirping Crickets by Buddy Holly & The Crickets

I’m a Lonesome Fugitive by Merle Haggard

Rage Against The Machine by Rage Against The Machine

The Joshua Tree by U2

Either Or by Elliott Smith

Illmatic by Nas

Dub Housing by Pere Ubu

Reign In Blood by Slayer

My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy by Kanye West

Another Music In A Different Kitchen by Buzzcocks

25 by Adele

The Downward Spiral by Nine Inch Nails

Traffic by Traffic

Sound of Silver by LCD Soundsystem

The Stooges by The Stooges

Gold by Ryan Adams

Psychocandy by The Jesus And Mary Chain

The Band by The Band

The Age Of The Understatement by The Last Shadow Puppets

#1 Record by Big Star

Odessey And Oracle by The Zombies

Hypnotised by The Undertones

Vol. 4 by Black Sabbath

Live At The Regal by B.B. King

xx by The xx

You've Come a Long Way Baby by Fatboy Slim

Off The Wall by Michael Jackson

Purple Rain by Prince

White Light / White Heat by The Velvet Underground

Ocean Rain by Echo And The Bunnymen

...And Justice For All by Metallica

Highway 61 Revisited by Bob Dylan

Fly Or Die by N.E.R.D

Nilsson Schmilsson by Harry Nilsson

The Renaissance by Q-Tip

Gentlemen by The Afghan Whigs

Jagged Little Pill by Alanis Morissette

Disintegration by The Cure

Basket of Light by Pentangle

Calenture by The Triffids

Beauty And The Beat by The Go-Go's

Trio by Dolly Parton

Group Sex by Circle Jerks

The Grand Tour by George Jones

Back At The Chicken Shack by Jimmy Smith

Follow The Leader by Korn

Step In The Arena by Gang Starr

The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars by David Bowie

Hotel California by Eagles

Punishing Kiss by Ute Lemper

Honky Tonk Heroes by Waylon Jennings

Definitely Maybe by Oasis

Amnesiac by Radiohead

The Sounds Of India by Ravi Shankar

Bringing It All Back Home by Bob Dylan

The Poet by Bobby Womack

Q: Are We Not Men? A: We Are Devo by Devo

Sunday At The Village Vanguard by Bill Evans Trio

Violent Femmes by Violent Femmes

Fuzzy by Grant Lee Buffalo

Haunted Dancehall by The Sabres Of Paradise

Revolver by Beatles

Skylarking by XTC

Darklands by The Jesus And Mary Chain

Sweetheart Of The Rodeo by The Byrds

Music for the Masses by Depeche Mode

This Year's Model by Elvis Costello & The Attractions

Yeezus by Kanye West

Tapestry by Carole King

Casanova by The Divine Comedy

Here Are the Sonics by The Sonics

Blood On The Tracks by Bob Dylan

Diamond Life by Sade

Giant Steps by The Boo Radleys

Five Leaves Left by Nick Drake

Sign 'O' The Times by Prince

Nothing's Shocking by Jane's Addiction