289
Albums Rated
3.39
Average Rating
27%
Complete
800 albums remaining
Rating Distribution
Rating Timeline
Taste Profile
1980
Favorite Decade
Punk
Favorite Genre
US
Top Origin
Curator
Rater Style ?
58
5-Star Albums
12
1-Star Albums
Breakdown
By Genre
Top Styles
By Decade
By Origin
Albums
You Love More Than Most
| Album | You | Global | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
|
GI
Germs
|
5 | 2.53 | +2.47 |
|
Sweetheart Of The Rodeo
The Byrds
|
5 | 2.83 | +2.17 |
|
Warehouse: Songs And Stories
Hüsker Dü
|
5 | 2.85 | +2.15 |
|
Cafe Bleu
The Style Council
|
5 | 2.88 | +2.12 |
|
Fromohio
fIREHOSE
|
5 | 2.88 | +2.12 |
|
Talking With the Taxman About Poetry
Billy Bragg
|
5 | 2.96 | +2.04 |
|
Spiderland
Slint
|
5 | 2.97 | +2.03 |
|
Nighthawks At The Diner
Tom Waits
|
5 | 3 | +2 |
|
Duck Stab/Buster & Glen
The Residents
|
4 | 2.03 | +1.97 |
|
Shaka Zulu
Ladysmith Black Mambazo
|
5 | 3.08 | +1.92 |
You Love Less Than Most
| Album | You | Global | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Hotel California
Eagles
|
1 | 3.59 | -2.59 |
|
The Marshall Mathers LP
Eminem
|
1 | 3.46 | -2.46 |
|
Dirt
Alice In Chains
|
1 | 3.46 | -2.46 |
|
If You Can Believe Your Eyes & Ears
The Mamas & The Papas
|
1 | 3.43 | -2.43 |
|
The Fat Of The Land
The Prodigy
|
1 | 3.4 | -2.4 |
|
Wish You Were Here
Pink Floyd
|
2 | 4.3 | -2.3 |
|
The Slim Shady LP
Eminem
|
1 | 3.27 | -2.27 |
|
Make Yourself
Incubus
|
1 | 3.08 | -2.08 |
|
Suzanne Vega
Suzanne Vega
|
1 | 3.02 | -2.02 |
|
Heartbreaker
Ryan Adams
|
1 | 3.02 | -2.02 |
Artists
Favorites
| Artist | Albums | Average |
|---|---|---|
| The Stooges | 3 | 5 |
| Nirvana | 2 | 5 |
| AC/DC | 2 | 5 |
| Prince | 2 | 5 |
Least Favorites
| Artist | Albums | Average |
|---|---|---|
| Eminem | 2 | 1 |
| Eagles | 2 | 1.5 |
5-Star Albums (58)
View Album Wall
Popular Reviews
Prince · 1 likes
5/5
(Image showing five purple heart emojis.)
Jimmy Smith · 1 likes
5/5
I used to play Jimmy a lot at a restaurant I where I worked, with my friend New Orleans Dave Brown. A lot of other friends worked there, including my wife.
1-Star Albums (12)
All Ratings
Fatboy Slim
3/5
Somewhat dated, but still fun and energetic.
U2
3/5
Classic era. The “hits” still sound great, and the lesser known tracks hold up.
Marty Robbins
3/5
Fun, cinematic.
4/5
Listened in a Dallas hotel room. Sublime sounding.
Fiona Apple
4/5
Moody, broody, spooky, snooty. Wonderful.
R.E.M.
4/5
Personal favorite REM record. Songs are great, and the band is tight. Perfect mix of articulated vocals, but mysterious words.
PJ Harvey
3/5
I don’t know much of the PJ Harvey catalog, so I assumed this was from the 90s. Feels very much of a different era. Did it.
a-ha
3/5
Only knew the opening track. Crazy how that smash didn’t produce another single I was familiar with. Impressive debut!
5/5
Great way to start a Sunday. Walking my dog in my bucolic neighborhood. Legends, no doubt. Baby baby baby baby baby baby baby baby….
Peter Gabriel
3/5
So many hits! I didn’t recall knowing all of this tracks. Even though this was an “album” era, I only know these songs as singles. In Your Eyes is an amazing last track!
Duran Duran
3/5
Solid as ever. Breezy and fun.
Van Morrison
5/5
All timer. Probably listened 1000+ times in my life. Masterpiece
Guided By Voices
4/5
First time ever listening to a full GBV album. Which is wild, since they are chronologically and sonically right in my wheelhouse. I absolutely get the hype.
Miles Davis
4/5
Magical. Ethereal, with just a little edge.
Germs
5/5
Legends. GI is OG.
Terence Trent D'Arby
3/5
Incredible debut. I was 16 when it was released, feels like last week.
The Smiths
3/5
Not giving Moz the streaming satisfaction of listening, but the record smokes.
Norah Jones
5/5
Simply stunning. Still.
Nirvana
5/5
Justifiably iconic. Practically perfect.
SZA
4/5
So much good stuff. Just electric and velvety.
The Velvet Underground
5/5
5 stars.
Nightmares On Wax
2/5
Not my bag. Also, surprisingly, I was completely unfamiliar with this artist. Weird.
Isaac Hayes
3/5
Smooooth
Blondie
5/5
My daughter has a T-shirt of them, with a picture taken by my friend.
The B-52's
3/5
Holds up well. Great follow up to Blondie.
Frank Sinatra
2/5
I outgrew Frank about the same time I outgrew the Beatles. But the instrumentation is good.
Ali Farka Touré
4/5
Just lovely.
Patti Smith
5/5
Icon. Legend. Muse.
The Kinks
3/5
Wasn’t familiar with 95% of these songs. Probably holds true for their whole catalog. Always pleasantly surprised.
Tom Waits
5/5
Waits is 1/1.
Dire Straits
3/5
So many hits. Although I was convinced Sultans of Swing was also on here. So not all the hits.
Joan Armatrading
4/5
Learned about Armatrading from an old, old friend. Literally life-changing times, catapulting me into the first phases of real adulthood.
Frank Sinatra
2/5
Sounds like another Sinatra album. My friend Kurt loved him when we were teenagers, oddly.
The Residents
4/5
Perfect segue way into spooky season. American treasure, they are.
Johnny Cash
3/5
Obvious legend. Love the underlying tone that the rehabilitation system doesn’t/won’t work.
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds
4/5
More appropriate moody vibes, as the seasons change. Underrated genius.
Rush
2/5
Reminds me of my childhood friends’ weird older brothers. Technically, I guess it’s a good record. Technically.
The Who
3/5
Big ballsy emotions.
Janelle Monáe
4/5
Monae will be spoken about like Prince and Bowie and the queens of punk. Wholly unique.
Little Richard
5/5
Icon in so many ways.
Public Enemy
3/5
Unfortunately still timely. Definitely some outdated language and questionable attitudes, but the tone still hits.
Eminem
1/5
5 star MC. -4 star misogynist.
Meat Loaf
3/5
Epic. Hokey and somewhat problematic, but damn epic. Danzig could never.
Eminem
1/5
More one star misogyny.
Oasis
3/5
First listen. I get the hype now.
Beastie Boys
5/5
99 stars. No notes.
Metallica
4/5
Classic of the genre. Holds up well, top to bottom.
Pink Floyd
3/5
Had never listened all the way through before. Solid, indeed.
The Pogues
4/5
What a spirit. RIP Shane.
Penguin Cafe Orchestra
3/5
Fantastically enjoyable. Equal parts and joyous.
k.d. lang
4/5
Icon. Amazing that the lead single, and smash hit, is the final track. Unusual sequencing.
Run-D.M.C.
5/5
Trendsetting, and still holds up incredibly well.
Heaven 17
3/5
Forgotten gem. A little too clubby for 7a, but good stuff nonetheless.
Beatles
4/5
Is it the only Beatles record that matters?!
Radiohead
2/5
I don’t think I had the correct drugs available at 7am. Sounds like an artifact from a time capsule, left by a cult.
Nine Inch Nails
2/5
Didn’t age well.
U2
3/5
Like many resourceful teens, my friends and I would rent seedy hotel rooms to party in. During one such party I was having a spat with my girlfriend, and couldn’t figure out why she was aloof. My friend Tom began singing She Moves In Mysterious Ways. Record holds up well.
Blue Cheer
3/5
Heavy. Duty. Heavy duty rock and roll.
Arcade Fire
2/5
Eh.
Buddy Holly & The Crickets
4/5
Was just listening to a John Prine cover of Oh Boy! the day before. Was also reminded of my friends The Craigs covering Not Fade Away. These songs were on one of the first mix tapes anyone ever made me (a friend’s older brother maybe?)…so much history!
David Crosby
2/5
Adequate background vibes.
Iron Maiden
4/5
Fantastically fun. However, I just realized The Prisoner sounds like Van Hagar.
New Order
2/5
Never quite gets going. Love Vigilantes is an all-timer though.
Sonic Youth
4/5
New fav SY.
The Icarus Line
2/5
Had absolutely no idea this existed. Rare occurrence on this list. Not life changing otherwise.
.
The Notorious B.I.G.
4/5
Juicy is one my favorite vocal turns ever.
The Disposable Heroes Of Hiphoprisy
4/5
Michael Franti! I had no idea. Sounds fresh and the social commentary is still on point. Incredible discovery.
Public Image Ltd.
3/5
Perfectly weird on an early fall day.
Dolly Parton
4/5
My wife was just as Dollywood a few days ago. Started a fascinating discussion about what is real and what is myth. Her persona is becoming more Dylan-esque to me over time. But more importantly, these are some of the few songs that were playing on my childhood home.
Franz Ferdinand
3/5
These songs made me nervous.
Jane's Addiction
4/5
These songs made me nervous. But in a much better way than yesterday. Still incredibly prescient.
Talvin Singh
2/5
Nah.
4/5
I saw George Martin speak about making this record, once. Cheap
Trick played.
Nanci Griffith
3/5
Sweet sounds.
Talking Heads
4/5
Just spooky enough for Halloween week.
3/5
Shocking number of hits. Basically marked the end of U2 listening for me, however. Nothing after this was ever as good as what came before.
The Rolling Stones
5/5
My wife was just talking about brown sugar the day before, but she was enjoying a pop-tart. I mean…
Steely Dan
2/5
I thought it was A-Ha. Once, my friends covered Dirty Work, but that’s not on this record.
Manu Chao
3/5
Very pleasant surprise!!
AC/DC
5/5
No notes for the record. I saw them once in a smallish venue in Iowa, with some of my closest friends. During a blizzard. Epic.
Nina Simone
4/5
Exquisite. Iconic. Important.
Simple Minds
2/5
Could have been wrong long track. Shouldn’t have been but could have been.
Ash
2/5
Might have enjoyed this in 1994, but I don’t remember hearing it. Sounds dated now.
Parliament
4/5
One time at the Cubby Bear, I hugged Bootsy and his belt buckle knocked off my glasses.
Prince
5/5
(Image showing five purple heart emojis.)
Hole
2/5
Sheryl Crow with reverb. Doesn’t sound as fierce as originally did.
The Smashing Pumpkins
2/5
TL,DR. But congrats on 40 years. Once, I called Billy Corgan on Thanksgiving.
Aretha Franklin
5/5
Queen.
Alice Cooper
2/5
I dig some Alice records, but not necessarily this one.
Kings of Leon
2/5
One of these guys had something to do with the Nashville Food & Wine Festival. Weird.
Tears For Fears
3/5
Oddly long songs, with unexpected instrumental interludes. But nice and nostalgic.
Billy Bragg
5/5
So chuffed to see this pop up. Bragg is one of the most underrated artists of all time, so completely caught me off guard to have this as a selection.
Justice
2/5
The great Todd Snider passed away this weekend, so I mostly listened to him instead. Plus, this isn’t my bag.
Radiohead
3/5
I unexpectedly knew a lot of the words. So did Olive.
Red Snapper
2/5
Solid background vibes. I love a mellow acid jazz situation.
Jimmy Smith
5/5
I used to play Jimmy a lot at a restaurant I where I worked, with my friend New Orleans Dave Brown. A lot of other friends worked there, including my wife.
Miriam Makeba
5/5
It’s been too long! What a talent. Fantastic record!
Neil Young & Crazy Horse
4/5
One time in college, I was riding with my friend Tony (who is a great musician) and he was playing a Neil Young tape. I didn’t know who it was, and actually thought it was a female singer. Boy, was my face red.
The Pharcyde
3/5
Felt fun and fresh at the time (maybe it was the giant bong?), but now it sounds dated and juvenile. Extra star for nostalgia.
GZA
4/5
I saw GZA perform this once, the whole record.
David Bowie
4/5
My daughter loves that guy.
Leftfield
2/5
Extra star for the Johnny Rotten cameo. Otherwise meh.
The KLF
1/5
Ladysmith Black Mambazo
5/5
The White Stripes
4/5
Same them in November 1998 with about 8 other people, then never again. Even the headliners that night don’t believe it actually happened.
Girls Against Boys
4/5
One time I walked four miles home, after seeing them play at Empty Bottle in Chicago. It was late, but it was a lovely night.
Jane Weaver
3/5
Perfect backseat roadtrip vibes.
The Velvet Underground
4/5
Wish it would have snowed.
Led Zeppelin
3/5
Never caught the bug as a teen, and probably won’t now. Killer drumming though.
Nirvana
5/5
5 for nostalgia.
Echo And The Bunnymen
5/5
Best surprise so far!
Cyndi Lauper
5/5
Still underrated icon!!
Dinosaur Jr.
3/5
Fuzzy wuzzy.
Sly & The Family Stone
4/5
Made me dance in my kitchen while making breakfast tacos. People should dance more.
Electric Light Orchestra
2/5
Shocked at how familiar this record was. Never listened intentionally, but I knew several songs. Mediocre, and went in too long, but still!
Justin Timberlake
3/5
Sounded surprisingly fresh. Holds up well.
Coldplay
2/5
Sounded nice in the car on a cold morning.
Van Morrison
3/5
I line one Van Morrison album with my whole heart. Astral Weeks is top 10 all-time for me, maybe top 7. But I’ve never really listened to much else.
This was nice.
Adele
5/5
That voice! Somehow still underrated!
Bad Company
3/5
Fun one, for sure, on a cold Saturday. Grocery shopping.
Garbage
4/5
Shirley Manson (and this whole band) is an absolute treasure.
Stevie Wonder
5/5
Isn’t he lovely? Really? Yes he is.
Booker T. & The MG's
5/5
The feel-good record of the year!
Love
3/5
Waaaaaay softer and folkier than I anticipated. I guess I didn’t know this band at all.
Arcade Fire
2/5
Neighborhood.
The Style Council
5/5
Wonderful band, wonderful album, wonderful memories of my life when I heard them first the first time.
Neu!
2/5
Unexpectedly enjoyable and somehow appropriately wintery.
Frank Ocean
3/5
Hadn’t ever listened all the way through. Some great songs, but Eve better as a collective album.
TV On The Radio
4/5
Ahhh. What a unique sound, and a singular voice for so many years. Tunde’s solo album was one of my favorites of 2025.
Slint
5/5
Saw them play this album live once. With GZA and Sonic Youth. What Friday.
Various Artists
5/5
Random album generator really hit this one out of the park. Classis.
The Beach Boys
3/5
This led to an extremely in-depth discussion with friends about the value of The Beach Boys. I don’t think I understand what they were trying to do on this record, and therefore don’t really understand The Beach Boys catalog I have friends who love this record, but to me it sounds like a joke. Overall three stars based on friends and opinions
The Divine Comedy
3/5
Nice and smooth.
Beatles
3/5
Road trip with the family. We all sang along, perfect use of this record/band.
The Who
3/5
Perfectly dated, for being back in my hometown.
R.E.M.
3/5
More highschool vibes.
Tom Tom Club
3/5
Another mesmerizing road trip vibe.
Amy Winehouse
4/5
Beautiful and smoky. What a loss.
Herbie Hancock
3/5
As my wife said…”alright Herbie.”
Funky, playful, expansive.
The Dave Brubeck Quartet
3/5
Just lovely. Had an unexpected drive on a nice winter afternoon. Perfect.
Elastica
3/5
Still underrated Brit-pop, even though someone put them on this list. Unexpected classic rock vibes sometimes.
Tina Turner
3/5
Silky. Some of it doesn’t hold up as well (the title track), but most of it is as great as I remember.
Willie Colón & Rubén Blades
3/5
Very fun. Definitely reminded me I need to learn more about Blades’ music career. I was dropping my daughter at school after winter break, so it was the perfect record to get her ready for Spanish class.
Kate Bush
4/5
Stranger and stranger things.
My Bloody Valentine
2/5
Legendary. Just not for me.
The Stone Roses
3/5
Some of my all-time favorite Brit-pop. Not all winners in retrospect, but good stuff!
The Cure
5/5
Top tier stuff from on of the best bands to ever do it.
Le Tigre
5/5
Iconic. Played it with my teenager and her friend in the car, and they both already knew it. My old friend Kevin Brown has always loved this band, he’ll be so proud.
Blur
3/5
So much Brit-pop in this list! So much a moment in time. But this holds up pretty well. Still sounds happy, at least.
Doves
2/5
One of THEE 1001, huh? Nah.
Shack
2/5
Yay! More second tier Brit-Pop!
fIREHOSE
5/5
Legends! Shocked to see this pop up! Watt forever!
The Specials
4/5
Feel good album of the year, so far! Had me dancing in my car, during a rain storm. Epic!
Can
3/5
Fine, if you say so.
Taylor Swift
5/5
Somehow still underrated and under appreciated!
Public Enemy
5/5
One of my all time favorites, from the time of release. Easily my favorite PE album. And always a perfect soundtrack for impending Armageddon.
Minutemen
5/5
I indeed CAN drive 55. Three 5 stars in a row. RIP D. Boon….Watt 4ever!
Sonic Youth
4/5
What a run this week! Still feels fresh. Guitars!!
Jeru The Damaja
3/5
Wasn’t it all familiar with this, very pleasantly surprised. Nice addition to the roster!
Songhoy Blues
5/5
Totally new to me, fantastic find!
Curtis Mayfield
4/5
Perfectly appropriate soundtrack for the current American hellscape.
Neil Young & Crazy Horse
5/5
Another perfect voice during wild times .
Yes
2/5
Yeah…actually no.
Astrud Gilberto
3/5
Solid. I’m currently frozen solid. But solid.
Morrissey
3/5
Yeah yeah yeah. Problematic dude, but songs are incredible.
Röyksopp
2/5
Just fine.
Red Hot Chili Peppers
3/5
So dumb, but so many memories.
Joanna Newsom
3/5
Ys.
Eagles
2/5
I had a rough night, and I hate the fuckin’ Eagles man.
R.E.M.
3/5
Magical moments in time. I was never a huge fan, but the nostalgia is strong.
Deep Purple
2/5
Fine.
Hüsker Dü
5/5
One of my favorite records from one of my favorite bands. Absolute legends still tragically underrated.
Elvis Costello & The Attractions
5/5
Banger from start to finish. One-time top five favorite for me.
Muddy Waters
4/5
Masterful.
John Mayall & The Bluesbreakers
3/5
Chilly run this morning, through a somewhat apocalyptic neighborhood. This felt fine.
Nitin Sawhney
2/5
Soundtracked a nice hike through a state park. Worked swell.
The Prodigy
1/5
Nope
David Ackles
2/5
Weird as shit, but kind of in a good way. Can’t really see how it made this list. There probably 1001 similar records that are better.
Miles Davis
4/5
Took me a minute to get into Miles, because I started with the more avant garde stuff. But once I got it, I got it.
The Stooges
5/5
The rawest. Still sounds fresh and fun.
Hugh Masekela
3/5
Great soundtrack to the day. Perfect energy!
Manic Street Preachers
3/5
Knew them in name only. Seems a younger me would have been totally into this sound. Oops.
Lauryn Hill
4/5
What a marvel. Just remarkable, especially as a debut. Still sounds incredible.
Air
3/5
Mmmm. Dreamy.
David Holmes
3/5
Not something I would ever choose to listen to, based in genre and description alone. But pleasantly surprising.
The Police
4/5
My old friend Kurt used to love Frank Sinatra and the Police. That seemed that such disparate tastes at the time, but lately not so much. It was nice to be reminded how fun and “modern” the Police were.
Fatboy Slim
3/5
Started the morning with a little run, and this was great. Got it my car for my work commute, and it almost gave me a panic attack. Classic Fatboy Slim vibes.
Siouxsie And The Banshees
4/5
Never listened to a Siouxsie record all the way through. Definitely on the short list of icons that I should have heard sooner. Never realized how similar she sounded to Patti Smith. One of my favorite “discoveries” of this series.
Bob Dylan
5/5
Duh.
Suzanne Vega
1/5
Shockingly monotonous and repetitive. It all sounded like one long uninteresting track.
Boston
3/5
Extra star for nostalgia.
Echo And The Bunnymen
3/5
Lovely. Holds up pretty well across the board.
ABBA
3/5
Fun, but a bit of a throwaway for me.
Sebadoh
3/5
Forgot how all over the place this record is. They really threw everything they had at it, and took advantage of that studio sound. Didn’t realize Weston produced…makes sense.
A Tribe Called Quest
4/5
Still magical. Some of the lyrics didn’t age well, in that they seem a little juvenile. Happens across genres, but seems to occur in hip-hop and (hair) metal most often. Literally had me dancing all day though.
The Stooges
5/5
Those tonez. Those vibez.
Pink Floyd
2/5
Meh.
Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young
4/5
What a record. I have to got back and make sure this wasn’t a retrospective, or “hits” collection. So many classics.
Brian Eno
3/5
Awesomely quirky. Holds up well.
The Clash
5/5
No notes. Forever 5.
The Coral
2/5
A bit all over the place, with a weird amount of klezmer? sounding stuff.
Cat Stevens
3/5
Generally maudlin, but a couple of classics.
Santana
2/5
Slightly less than mid.
The Police
3/5
Always fun, and I love that the deep cuts are always weirder than the MTV/radio hits.
Willie Nelson
3/5
I’m not sure if I “get” Willie. I’ve got tons of respect for his career, idealism, independence, playing, etc. But I’ve never fully gotten the mystique. This is a beauty, though.
The Killers
2/5
Meh.
Björk
4/5
Alien legend. Still amazed she had commercial success. One of one.
2/5
Better than I remembered, but about 110 percent longer than it needs to be.
The Mamas & The Papas
1/5
Shockingly disappointing, even outside the non-musical reasons this is problematic. Just not good.
The Associates
3/5
Completely unknown to me, so a really great surprise. A little bit of a lot of things that I love. Not sure how they haven’t crossed my path before.
LL Cool J
4/5
I was proudly telling a coworker, who was an OG New York hip-hop kid, did I had Scene LL in 1991. He was like oh yeah, I saw him in 1978.
Deep Purple
2/5
Didn’t we do this already? Or was it live? Pretty redundant either way.
Einstürzende Neubauten
1/5
German industrial? In this economy?
The Stooges
5/5
That saxophone!
Prince
5/5
Absolutely what I needed today, this week, this month, this year, this administration. Holds up incredibly well for a record that (at the time) was a departure for Prince. Incredible songs, and incredible production.
Black Sabbath
5/5
Back to back unarguable classics, from very different genres! Hasn’t happened in a minute.
Big Star
5/5
Three 5 star days in a row. Big Star is simply foundational in the music I love. When I was developing my personal taste as a teenager, I was drawn to so many bands they have influenced, but I wasn’t aware of them yet. Once I heard it, I got it. It’s almost impossible to run in the musical circles I do, and not love this record. You’d get kicked out.
Flamin' Groovies
4/5
Really only knew them in name. Silly me for sleeping on listening to a full album. Killer!
AC/DC
5/5
“It came from the back of my sister’s sewing machine. It just means power.”
The xx
3/5
Pretty good chill-vibes on a quiet morning. My daughter is trying to get me to go see them (and 200 other acts) at Lollapalooza. We’ll see.
Erykah Badu
3/5
Fantastic vibes. Smooth and emotional, and still sounds fresh.
Method Man
3/5
Clean, tight, strong debut!
Television
5/5
Friends of mine performed this album the day analog broadcast TV went off the air (2009?). Death to television, long live Television.
Robbie Williams
3/5
Wayyy more enjoyable and diverse than anticipated! Great Brit-pop, some more rocking tunes, and one that even sounded a bit Wilco-ish.
The Replacements
5/5
Possibly the greatest record, by the greatest band of all time. The importance of The Replacements, and Paul Westerberg, in my life can’t be overstated. Ten stars.
The Who
2/5
Fine. Just fine.
Alice In Chains
1/5
Wow. Just finished Mark Lanegan’s memoir and a book about In Utero, so the timing seemed great. This was bad when it came out, and is worse now.
Queen
4/5
Somehow I never knew they did “You’re My Beat Friend.” What a voice. My daughter loves them.
Metallica
4/5
Z-Rock (106.7) in Des Plaines IL played premiered this whole record the night before it came out. I could only get reception in my car, so I sat out there the whole time listening. Fun memories, of fun times. Still a fun record.
Jimi Hendrix
3/5
Never once listened to a Hendrix studio release all the way through. I’d only had “collections.” No matter the format, always impressive and interesting. Still feels like one of those artists you outgrow after college, like Morrison, Marley, or Joplin.
Ryan Adams
1/5
Minus 4 points stars for Adams being a shit human.
1/5
That was absolutely awful.
The Allman Brothers Band
3/5
Wow, those are some long songs. But pleasant.
FKA twigs
3/5
Super dreamy and fun. I never knew, but now I know!
Incubus
1/5
Oof.
Todd Rundgren
3/5
A guy walked into a restaurant where I was working, and I could swear it was Todd Rundgren. I asked everyone around, but no one knew who he was. Eventually, I realized it wasn’t him and moved on. No shit, about a week later the real Todd Rundgren came in for lunch.
Creedence Clearwater Revival
3/5
Weird record. It’s like a greatest hits album, with some covers tacked on. The songs holdup though, and JF really shines.
The Byrds
5/5
This record is partially responsible for most of the music insistent to today.
Eagles
1/5
Funny this should come on the heels of the Byrds. This is the follow-up, imitation, watered-down version of what they were doing. To huge commercial success, while the Byrds are still relatively unheralded.
Funkadelic
5/5
In funk we trust! (One time Bootsy Collins knocked off my glasses with his belt buckle)
Manic Street Preachers
3/5
Still not too familiar with them, but sure seems like something I should’ve been into in the moment.
Pet Shop Boys
3/5
Fun, and holds up well. Had me dancing in my car.
Elvis Costello & The Attractions
4/5
All timer for me. Based on WXRT Chicago tradition, I still listen to Battered Old Bird every Thanksgiving.
Blur
2/5
Sounds pretty fresh. Fun stuff across the board.
New York Dolls
5/5
💄💄💄💄💄
Rufus Wainwright
3/5
He’s so dreamy. I’m fascinated by his whole family, and their work. But Rufus might be my favorite.
Dusty Springfield
4/5
My initial reaction was “I can’t believe this record is on the list.” But it turned out to be one of the most fun listens so far. Really great top to bottom.
Tricky
4/5
Still so so great. Blew my mind in release, and it still sounds so cool and unusual.
Buzzcocks
5/5
Snotty chef’s kiss! Still somehow underrated.
Elis Regina
3/5
Completely new to me. Probably the biggest curve ball this exercise has thrown me.
Joy Division
3/5
This feels like Metallica for people who don’t get Metallica. Ultimately the tshirt is far superior to the music. Extra star for goth elder status.
Queen Latifah
4/5
Infectious grooves, strong lyrics that don’t sound aged. Great!
Paul McCartney and Wings
2/5
Dumb fun, if a bit repetitive.
Elvis Presley
2/5
Odd inclusion, I think, for an Elvis record. Ultimately just meh.
Pixies
4/5
Noisy, melodic, fast, slow.
Ian Dury
4/5
Good snotty fun. Somehow still unique, within the pub-punk genre.
John Lee Hooker
3/5
Feels more like a novelty record, with all the features, but John Lee deserves to be on this list.
Ray Charles
4/5
Double album, twice the joy. Ray is just a real treat, no matter the situation.
Scissor Sisters
3/5
Great fun! I didn’t realize I knew some of these songs. Perfect for a sunny spring morning!
The Afghan Whigs
3/5
Can’t believe how much Dulli sounds like Tony Parks from Luxury Bucket.
Violent Femmes
5/5
One time my friends and I are driving to an Elvis Costello concert. When we parked, the car of strangers that hand been behind us in the highway correctly guessed we’d been listening to this record. Slowly based on our dance moves. Iconic grooves top to bottom.
ZZ Top
3/5
This was one of the few bands my dad and I bonded over when I was a teenager. Weird now to realize how old they seemed (and sounded). Definitely felt more like old person music at the time. Extra star for nostalgia.
Jethro Tull
2/5
They should’ve just given the Grammy to Spinal Tap.
The Doors
3/5
Way more enjoyable than I wouldn’t predicted. Super nostalgic to that teenage moment in time when most people are into this band.. but hearing them for the first time in many years they sound surprisingly fun and fresh.
Kraftwerk
3/5
I’ve some old friends who have a Kraftwerk cover band. Noteworthy, I think. This was a good listen on a nice spring morning. I was robot-ing all around.
Grateful Dead
3/5
Not the Dead record I what put on this list. Not even the live record I’d include. But it was nice.
Super Furry Animals
3/5
Went into this completely blind, but mostly enjoyed it. A little jazzy sometimes, a little Elvis Costello sometimes, and sometimes weird as hell.
Van Halen
5/5
One of the few bands that my dad and I had in common. He loved those crazy California boys. I got to see them once, but Diamond Dave wasn’t in the band, sadly.
Napalm Death
4/5
Wow! Surprise addition!
Pet Shop Boys
3/5
Just learned they partially chose their name because they thought it sounded like the Beastie Boys…and they were somehow associated with working at a pet shop.
The Smiths
3/5
One of one for sure. Too bad that voice comes with si much baggage.
King Crimson
2/5
Weird online retailer tried to sell me a copy of this record today too. Very weird.
Ananda Shankar
3/5
Wasn’t familiar at all. Fascinating little record.
Jane's Addiction
4/5
Ahhhhhh. Still love it. Later year listens reveal that the bass is phenomenal on this record, and I didn’t fully appreciate early on.
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds
4/5
Epic, gothic, moody, electric.
Giant Sand
4/5
Long overdue accolades for a band that was somehow completely out of place and still grounded in the moment. For a long time. Gelb and Co are legends in my world.
Judas Priest
4/5
Oddly not as hard as a remember, but super melodic and enjoyable tunes too to bottom. And those guitars. Refreshing surprise!
Megadeth
3/5
High school flashbacks. Don’t think I’ve listened to this since then. I don’t remember Dave’s vocal being so low in the mix. My memory is that they were/should be more prominent. Still rocks.
Stan Getz
3/5
Just lovely, and fun. Have it on CD somewhere but rarely pull it out. Some this was a great reminder.
Christina Aguilera
3/5
Surprisingly fascinating. I’m not familiar with Ms. A’s catalog, so this “rebirth” of her persona wasn’t on my radar. Love the mix of classic style with modern lyrics and sass.
Roxy Music
4/5
This is canon, in the civilized world.
Curtis Mayfield
4/5
Memorial Day morning stroll sounds. Felt pretty good.
Neneh Cherry
3/5
A little shocked to see this pop up. It’s got some solid tracks, but sounds dated at times. Swings mostly, though.
The Good, The Bad & The Queen
3/5
Beauty of this being British-based is that I sometimes get exposed to things that were completely off my radar. Very unlikely that I’d have listened to this is the moment, so very fun to learn about it now.
Orange Juice
3/5
Another British band that was almost completely off my radar. A little in the Paul Weller school, I like that it’s all over the place.
Thin Lizzy
5/5
The Lizzzzzzzzzzz! Underrated masters!
Kings of Leon
2/5
1001 total picks, and this band makes it twice? Twice!? Vocals are fascinating, but come on!
Venom
4/5
Soundtrack for a sunny Sunday morning stroll through my neighborhood. Photographing birds that aren’t birds. Perfect.
Otis Redding
5/5
Absolute stone cold classic.