Every song is incredible as an individual song, but they all have the same cadence with little to no variation. As a whole, it just didn’t work for me.
Great showcase of their varying talents and songwriting abilities.
Very atmospheric. Interesting mix of indie and hip hop elements along with some industrial and synth. That said, none of it was particularly interesting or distinct, just vibes. Not great to exercise to, but would be a decent album for sitting pool side on a summer day.
Definitely speaks to a specific time and place in history. The mixture of funky organ with 90s synth is certainly dated by 2025 standards, but gives a sense of nostalgia. Feels like music that would have been in Cruel Intentions or some other sexy thriller. Funky, but nothing super noteworthy.
Showcases Elton John’s versatility and talent. Each song feels like a testament to loss and the different ways we experience saying goodbye. Whether it’s a relationship ending, a close friend dying, or even just saying goodbye to a personal hero, each stage of grief is represented.
Tons of differing influence in this album. Kind of all over the place, but they definitely pull you in with their unique style. That said, the wide differences in their individual songs gives a sense of an identity crisis in the music. Like, they weren’t sure who they are, so they tried on a lot of hats. This leads to some shock going from one track to the next. Each song is interesting, but as an album there isn’t much flow which impacts the enjoyment. Plus, I felt like the vocals were regularly drowned out by everything else.
Be careful with this album. I listened to it while at the grocery store, and now I’m pregnant. And I’m a guy, so…
A look back at 1960s Americana and the sentiments of the counter culture. A great album with some silliness and a whole lot of soul.
Best DJ to come out of the 90s. His music is definitely great to work out to. High energy and fun, highly recommend.
Interesting protest album during a psychedelic era. His music is full of metaphor and poetry, and I’ll be the first to admit that I don’t fully understand what he’s trying to say. He has a strong fantasy influence in his lyrics, which comes across as spending too many days at a Renaissance fair on LSD.
Fun island vibes. Not being a speaker of Portuguese, I have no clue what any of the songs were about, but they were definitely a solid vibe. Good for listening in a beach or at a pool.
It’s a fine album. Costello stretches his musical Coors and tries some different styles and genres, which typically work well.
A very sweet, soulful album filled with acoustic and piano melodies and wonderful vocals. Not the most energetic album, but wonderful to listen to while enjoying a coffee, sitting under a blanket, watching the rain.
A decent album with a few solid songs. There were a couple I wasn’t a big fan of, and without a through story that I noticed, they felt like they didn’t fit.
A genuine punk album from its early establishment within the music industry. Some of the songs were pretty solid, but then they got into some of the more out there styling, which was done well, but not to my liking.
Great metal album from one of the best. RIP Ozzy!
I really enjoyed this album. Early hardcore that might be better labeled as part of the transition from punk to grunge. And with a name like Dinosaur Jr, what’s not to like?
This album is very fun and boppy with solid performances. My only issue is that I genuinely don’t like Elvis Costello’s voice. Tried not to hold it against the album itself, but that definitely has an impact in my enjoyment.
A strong album from the mid 00s indie scene. Strong influence from 60s and 70s rock, especially the protest songs during Vietnam. I had not heard of this band prior, but I’m definitely going to look into more of their albums.
Quintessential Metallica album. If you haven’t listened to any of their albums, this is a great place to become acquainted.
Decent album. Definitely something to listen to, but nothing that grabbed me and made me listen.
60/70s jam band. Interesting story telling and some fun, era appropriate licks.
Strong album from the quintessential 90s hip hop scene. Wu Tang still resonates 30 years later.
One of the most iconic rock albums ever released.
A testament to feminism and the experience of being a woman in the 90s. Catchy tunes and riffs mixed with poetic and frustrated lyrics. She expresses love, rejection, growth, and the continuous fight to prove your worth. This is a wonderful and heartfelt album, and a personal favorite of mine.
Good album to work out to as the entire thing is super high energy. The lyrics are strongly about sex and rebellion. My big issue is that the songs all bleed into one another with little variance. Hell, Ace of Spades and Fire Fire are the same guitar lick, just in reverse. And then there’s Jailbait which not age well at all.
There is no wonder that the Beatles became the sensation they were. This album is a wonderful mix of rock and doo-wop with boppy riffs and incredible pacing. The album takes you through an entire relationship from young love to bitter split, and every moment is perfectly sold by wonderful harmonies. Not my favorite of their albums, but I will never discourage anyone from giving it a listen.
Good reggae album. Not exactly my jam, but I could definitely see the talent behind the messaging and music.
One of the best metal albums out there. Black Sabbath embodies the revolt against the powers that be, calling out their selfishness and callousness of our leaders.
It’s not often that a website says, “So, anyways, here’s Wonderwall”. This album is a wonderful listen. Perfectly depicting 90s ennui through poetic lyrics and very catchy tunes. If only the brothers had been able to get it off their own way, who knows what they would have accomplished.
Decent 90s dance album with hip hop influences. High energy and very dated, but quite enjoyable to listen to while doing any activity.
This album blew me away. I had, of course, heard “School’s Out” before and went into it expecting a somewhat generic early metal album. And, boy oh boy is this anything but. Once I got to Gutter Cat vs The Jets and the Blue Turk, the depth of talent hit me. This album wasn’t a metal album, it’s a lesson in music theory. Interludes from literal musicals. Blues and jazz influences. Songs reminiscent of the Animals and old school cowboy country. The depth of talent and songwriting ability with a theme of education and graduation is truly mesmerizing. Every song works with the next despite the wide variance in tone and style. This website has recommended some great albums to me already, but this might be the best I’ve heard so far.
Solid punk album in the same vain as the Sex Pistols. More poppy than some punk albums, but still firmly counter culture. All about sex, rebellion, and being a teenager.
The quintessential (and, I believe, first) rock opera. Tommy is the story of a boy who witnesses a murder and loses his senses as a result. His life is filled with abuse and torture before miraculously regaining his senses and becoming a cult leader. It’s a twisty turvy story that will break your heart. The Who’s style may not be for everyone, and this album is firmly placed in the psychedelic rock era of the late 60s/70s, but the story is something everyone should hear at least once. And, for an added bonus, go watch the old movie that brought the album to the screen. It’s a trip!
Interesting album, though I didn’t really connect to it. Some very dark, poetic lyrics with an unexpectedly upbeat tempo. Not that I dislike it, but it’s definitely not something I’m gonna be seeking out.
The Dire Straits are most known for The Sultans of Swing and their incredible blues guitar, both featured in this album. The vocals don’t pop on most tracks, but the guitar never ceases. If you’re listening for soulful lyrics speaking to your core, this ain’t it. But if you’re looking for a crash course in how to play a guitar like the devil himself, this is the album for you.
True Appalachian country showing a strong mix of guitar skills and solid harmonies. While this isn’t my typical listening, it is certainly enjoyable and showcases Gillian’s talent as a vocalist and guitar player. Poetic lyrics elevate the album with a depth of experience and heart.
From the very first note, this album is aged for a specific place and time. Pure 80s bass, guitar, and drums greet you before the iconic voice of Tina Turner welcomes you with open arms. Her talent cannot be denied, and a couple of the entries in this have (and will most likely continue) to stand the test of time. The songs tell the story of triumph and failure, of finding your strength as a woman and trying to maintain your vulnerability as a person. It’s a well paced album for its time, giving us ups and downs throughout. Sure, it sounds dated, but that is definitely part of its charm.
Very interesting mix in this album. Largely folksy blues, but there are some heavy influences of country, rock, soul, and just a hint of psychedelic. Solid album and great outing from The Band.
Early aughts indie that struck big with Take Me Out. A fun, boppy album with pop influences along with rock and funk that fits in perfectly with the indie scene in England at the time. Not the most creative lyrics, but every song is catchy and high energy. Themes of being a young man and poor decision making, particularly where hitting on women is concerned. My main takeaway in the lyrics was the desperation and games that men played to try and seduce women and the frustration that comes out of the continued rejection.
All that said, the guitar and bass riffs are spectacular. The vocals work incredibly well, and the drums elevate the tempo of every track.
Definitely influences from hip hop and electronic mixed in with rock bass licks and drums. Strong instrumental tracks break up the lyrics giving an otherworldly sound. Different instruments are brought in, from banjos to organs, and all help to elevate this album from generic to very interesting. A story is told through the emotions felt while listening to the instrumentals rather than a clear dialogue expressed through lyrics. It’s out there and special in a way that few albums are.
Very atmospheric and intriguing, with some clear influences in jazz and funk along with psychedelic rock.
Wonderful British Invasion album with strong themes of counter culture and protest. The trademark zaniness of that era in rock is present throughout with the implementation of kazoos and intentionally flat harmonies. Truly worth a listen.
Pure rock and roll, this band knows what they’re doing. From the drums and vocals to the bass and lead guitar, no time is wasted or moment spent waiting. High energy and powerful every step of the way. They were truly a wonder to listen to!
Atmospheric and hypnotic. I felt every song.
This album is so 90s hip hop it almost hurts. The beat, the cadence, the lyrics, everything cements this so firmly I can see the shifting camera angles closing and pulling out during the chorus. Enjoyable, sure, but goodness. Though, special shoutout to Milky Cereal for being so cleverly corny that it may as well have been sold by General Mills.
Interesting album showing some early alternative vibes, though it quickly fell into synth pop and music that could have been produced by Wham! Decent, but after the first two tracks it sort of lost me.
Very enjoyable largely instrumental album. Santana is a maestro on the guitar and these compositions are a blast to listen to.
This album is a mixed bag for me, as my favorite Van Halen song is Hot for Teacher, and my least favorite is Jump. There is definitely plenty to like here, and the talent of everyone is on full showcase for many of the songs, but I just dislike Jump enough that it hurts the entire album for me.
I love this album. I bought it when it came out after seeing the music video for I Bet That You Look Good On The Dance Floor simply because the song was good and the band was the Arctic Monkeys, and it quickly became a favorite of mine. Their high energy London indie vibe resonates along with the narrative of getting into trouble in the underground. Then you get Marty Bum and Riot Van, which break up the tempo and tell very real stories of no win situations that the narrator caused. Then it closes with A Certain Romance, which serves as a perfect reflection of a 20 year olds level of cynicism. It’s a wonderful tribute to ruffians getting their comeuppance without a sense of self reflection. Plus, the guitar and bass are spectacular!
This album caught me off guard completely. I was not expecting poetic and punk, so the first couple of tracks were a bit of a shock. Once I settled in, Patti took me for a wonderful ride. Great lyrics, solid (but sometimes too punk) vocals, and great guitar and song structure give this album a great feel.
Atmospheric and good background music, but ultimately not super interesting. Clearly, he’s a talented DJ, but a full album of just DJ is tough the sell.
Stevie Wonder is an incredible artist with dozens of hits from his decades long career. This album features a few of those hits along with some other solid songs about civil rights. I especially liked Village Ghetto Land for the ironic instrument choice, choosing the violin setting on an electric keyboard to play a very aristocratic sounding melody while singing about life in a poor neighborhood. That said, this album was long as Hell and somewhat disjointed for me. There wasn’t a solid theme throughout or a generally interesting and engaging flow from song to song. It just kind of kept going to the point I kept checking that Spotify didn’t change albums on me. Definitely plenty to love here, but not a go to album for me moving forward.
As a fan of 90s dance music, I loved this album. Madonna shows us exactly why she stayed relevant for so long in an ever changing pop scene. The ethereal vocals, high energy beat, and soulful lyrics make each song a treasure. Vibes of pain and longing mixed with hopefulness hit you right in the heart. A truly wonderful album and definitely worth your time.
High octane death metal. Solid vocals, great drums and guitar. Something I was into in my youth, but I definitely didn’t enjoy this as much as I once did. Still, if you’re into death metal, can’t go wrong with Pantera!
My first impression is Allmen Brothers guitar with Violent Femmes vocals. Wonderful guitar licks mixed with somewhat punk lyrics and vocals. I truly enjoyed this album as something different, yet still familiar.
Soulful lyrics and great beats make up this disco era classic. We Are Family is a major hit that I’ve heard countless times, but I cannot honestly say I’ve ever heard a single other song of this album. Which is a pity, frankly, because it’s wonderful. While firmly cemented in its era, it’s boppy and fun that I hope continues to stand the test of time.
Fun and funky, this album reminds you that they’re playing funk. A lot. I enjoyed each song individually and would play most of them at any given event, but the songs definitely blended together as they weren’t demonstrably different song to song. Still, I enjoyed it and will certainly listen to Give Up The Funk again.
I’m glad to see a Sinatra album on this list. I’ve listened to Sinatra my entire life, but never just sat down with one of his albums or collections. And this one does not disappoint! His smooth vocals and charm are timeless. The music resonates as much today as it ever did and should be in everyone’s list.
I’ll be honest, I was not a fan of this album overall. I love David Bowie, but this album was a bit too industrial for the era it was released in. There were some interesting mixes of jazz and pop, and it wasn’t bad, per se, I just didn’t connect to it as I have with other albums of his.
As a fan of 90s alternative, there isn’t any better than Soundgarden. The vocals are absolutely incredible. Pair that with the guitar prowess and poetic lyrics, and you have an incredible album!
A little more goth and avant garde than I prefer, but I certainly respect the talent with which they did it. Some songs were more accessible than others. One was downright impenetrable. But still, their talent was on display and is worth noting.
This was an interesting take on honky tonk country done by an indie band. It wasn’t bad, but I didn’t totally connect to it. The entire album, competently done, was a lot slower and sadder than I prefer with nothing to break up the droning on about a bad relationship. A song here or there to increase the tempo would have helped this album fully.
I love Fatboy Slim. He’s my favorite DJ. Still, an entire album is a bit much. His talent shines through, and this is great exercise music. Just a bit too much DJ without much else.
Fine folk album, but I see why only Me and Julio survived the test of time. Again, nothing wrong with this album, just no songs outside of the aforementioned were super smashing for me.
I love Crosby Stills Nash and Young. Their harmonies and mixture of folk, honky tonk, and psychedelic have always fascinated me, and this album is no exception. Heartfelt and hopeful, it takes you through the lives that they built and the hardships they endured with messages of hope and encouragement. Their harmonies are spectacular and enchanting. Truly a wonderful group and a splendid album.
Solid flow and good beats make this a very enjoyable and pretty chill album. I didn’t connect to all of the lyrics, but the beat and Common’s vocals made it an overall enjoyable experience.
80s industrial goth rock. Certainly more approachable than some other artists in this genre. I enjoyed it enough, but it firmly let you know when it was recorded with some rather specific 80s synth and drums.
This album got me through high school and will never not be a favorite of mine. Between Chester’s vocals, Mike’s rhythm, and Mr. Hahn’s DJ skills, this album is truly unique, even in the nu metal/screamo genre. It is certainly not for everyone, and the anger and angst don’t resonate as much as they used to, but this album will never not take me back to a time of growth, frustration, and a desire to be better and stronger. I will note that the album linked here doesn’t include the extra track My December which I highly recommend giving a listen to. It really shows Chester’s vocal range and talent.
Queen is so wonderfully bombastic and operatic. Queen II delivers perfectly on that approach. Freddie’s incredible vocals elevate the high energy guitar and powerful keyboard to an almost fantasy quality. The harmonies and backup vocals add so much to giving this entire album a sense of adventure and journey. Absolutely worth your time to fall in love with this album.
If you enjoy stories of gun duels and jealous cowboys, this album is going to be a delight. The tales that Marty tells are full of old Hollywood cowboy lore: Gunslingers hunting down bandits; cattle runs and stampedes; running from the law.
I’ll be the first to admit that my expectations weren’t high when I saw the album. I was wrong. Between his wonderful vocals, the great backup harmonies, and solid guitar performances, this album is a delight. This isn’t just competent story telling; this is painting a picture with words and a guitar. Carrying on the long standing tradition of traveling troubadours, his cowboy country stories transport you to the untamed world of the Wild West. My only disappointment is that I was unaware of Marty Robbins earlier in life.
Pharrell’s involvement definitely shines through in its genre bending acid rap/jazz/rock stylings. Truly something unique and unexpected with collaborations from all over the map. I mean, I was not expecting a Good Charlotte appearance, but here we are. Part war protest album, part party anthem, part philosophical musings, the lyrics take you on a journey through a mid-aughts mindset and world. The mixing and instruments give an order to their chaos as they sing from the heart and speak their truth.
Competent country and solid performance. Has all the elements of a country album from that era: guitar, fiddle, southern twang? Check, check, check. Lyrics about how broke he is, but everything is alright because of his love who cheats on him in a different track? Big check right out the gate (tracks 1 and 2/3). I won’t disparage someone for enjoying him, but I find it all too cliche in a way that I just don’t appreciate. I mean, he mentions his truck in the first track. Again, clearly talented and good at making music, but I’m just not a fan of pop country as anything other than background music.
Also, can we just acknowledge that I Sang Dixie did not age well. The phrase “Rebel Pride” in particular means the same as it did then, we’re just willing to admit it now.
I listened to as much of this as I could. Truth is, I just dislike live albums, especially for bands I’m not into. Thin Lizzy is fine, but I would never have dreamed they’d end up on this list, so making theirs the live album to listen to was certainly a choice. Listening to a live album is akin to listening to a party you didn’t go to. And considering this party was hosted by Thin Lizzy, I’m not exactly upset I missed it. Would I have had fun had I been there? Probably, but I wasn’t, so listening in later just doesn’t do it for me.
Soulful and poetic, this album is wonderful. Her solemn vocals bring the lyrics to life.
This album is such a fun mix of musical genres, incredible vocals, and some incredibly upbeat songs with dark lyrics. Basically, my favorite kind of music! Her voice was incredible. I cannot overstate that. And the fun mix of jazz, blues, boss nova, and hip hop really sucked me in. Each song felt familiar and completely new. Familiar topics from a new perspective. Truly a great album and wonderful talent lost too soon.
Heck of a blues album. Bob hasn’t ever been able to sing, but his music writing and poetry are unmatched. His prowess on the guitar shines through each track. That all said, there w not a ton of variance from one song to the next, which I find causes albums to feel bland, which is why I’m knocking of a point.
It is interesting to hear the early outings of hip hop compared to what we hear today. Thoroughly inoffensive, heavy disc scratching, super cheesy lyrics, it’s just about as 80s as you get. It’s like the entire industry was still learning flow. Not sure why they introduced themselves in each song. They definitely felt a need to tell us it was, in fact, them on the mic. And, yes, I get it, you dislike “Succah MCs” and love rhyming “Queens” and “Greens”. I mean no disrespect as hip hop is not what it is today without Run DMC, but this album is painfully dated. This has a special place in history, but the early days of any newer media is often still trying to find itself, which leads to some defined growing pains.
I mean, this is a perfect Christmas album. All the necessary hits, great composition, solid vocals. No complaints! Will listen to again next Christmas season!
Easily one of Beck’s best. Funky beats, cryptic lyrics, and weird noises make up his signature album style. Not every track hits as some show his more out there stylings, but overall it is a very enjoyable album.
This indie band signature sound it present from the first chord to the last. The distinctive industrial and boppy guitar riffs give this album a major lift where variance and comprehensible lyrics kind of falter. Their hits are great, but their songs all sound alike to the point where they blend one track to the next. Without reading the lyrics, I genuinely don’t know what most of the songs are about, though I think the through line is about an unhappy relationship(s). Not a bad album by any means, but I’ll probably stick to their hit songs and consider that enough.
