Verve is a British Matchbox 20 but sounds a little like Smashing Pumpkins.

Wasn’t expecting to love this album so much. It’s now in my top 5 jazz albums of all time. What an incredible piece!!!

Generally enjoyed it, despite it kinda being like background/score for my day. Notable standouts, IMO, were Airbag, Paranoid Android and No Surprises.

Baby making music for those who have incredible stamina. Good stuff!

I would put this album ahead of its time. Grooves like Prince or a Funkadelic, but had that British rigidity, like a breadstick.

Absolute classic. 5/5. No notes. If I had a chance to hear this album the day it came out, I would take it. It’s scary, beautiful, catchy, poppy, smart, and timeless. From first beats of Five Years to the final notes of Rock N Roll Suicide, there isn’t a disappointing measure on this album. Long Live Ziggy Stardust!

Technically her second record, but widely considered her first, the cosmic-country Queen delivered on this heavy hitting, ballad fueled classic. Would listen again.

I like about half this album, despite it being cool, calm and collected. It’s jazzy and soulful and honest, but it is not an every day listen for me. I listened to this 3x this morning, and I will be okay not hearing it for a while, in the least offensive way. Feels a little stark or bleak, I guess, but maybe it’s just me!

While not my favorite Costello record, it’s a banger. Specifically the middle of the album from Green Shirt through Busy Bodies. Pure gold. Of course, the Nick Lowe written Whats So Funny (‘bout Peace, Love & Understanding) ending the album and Accidents Will Happen at the beginning are perfect bookends. Where are the strong? Who are the trusted? Where is the harmony?

Fun record. Would put on for background music, more than likely. I’m not super into this type of EDM, but I love the sample work. Definitely a good party band/album.

Overall great album, lot of classics, but in my opinion, just a smidge too long. Funky, tons of cool samples, great rhymes.

This album is bleak, stark, grey, drab, depressing, sad and introspective… It’s a great piece of music, but I don’t think it’s the quintessential Cure album other think it is. While well written, produced and executed, it kind of all stays in the same vein, save for “Lullaby,” which is not what I like about The Cure. I like there to be a bouncy upbeat song or a sort of weird, but totally engaging song. These are all songs of being overwhelmed and sad and anxious. Apparently, for Robert Smith, turning 30 was a big, sad deal. Enjoyed the album, but if someone said “hey, if you had to pick a Cure album to show the world on a list of 1001 albums, what would it be?” it would’ve been The Head On The Door. Points for having my favorite 311 cover.

“Mr. Brightside” has been consistently on the charts for over 20 years. That is incredible! However, outside of the 3 big ones on this record, I thought it lacked. “All These Things that I’ve Done” is still one of my favorite 00s rock songs. The non-single tracks are just kinda there. Would listen again, but got the gist. This is another instance where I would recommend a different album (Sam’s Town).

The three big hits on this record are the hits for a reason. The three at the end (Dirty Dogs through Bad Girl) are legitimately good songs. Outside the 6 I mentioned, the remaining 5 could’ve been scrapped and this could’ve been an incredible EP. Sharp Dressed, Legs, and Gimme All Your Lovin’ are a solid example of the 80s aesthetic. 10/10 would listen to the hits while working out. This album created some tension within the band and you can’t hear it at all. However, that’s because the band isn’t playing on most of it. It’s drum machines and synths and Billy F Gibbons. Now I’m going to eat a microwaveable Salisbury steak in front of the tube and watch Johnny! Note to self: acquire fuzzy spinning guitar

While not totally my cup of tea, I enjoyed the listen through. I could see this being one of Mickey Hart’s favorites or at least an inspiration for the Rhythm Devils. Would probably listen again, but quietly and in the background. Favorite song: “Rhapsodia Del Maravilloso”

Loved it. Solid record. Made me feel defiant whilst filling out a work survey that I was too honest on. What’re ya gonna do? RIP to this beautiful soul of a human, Sinead O’ Connor. Her version of “Nothing Compares 2 U” is great, but I’ll say that I prefer the Prince demo or the live version with Rosie Gaines more, but again, what an incredible cover. “Feel So Different” would be my choice for second best on this album, or maybe “Black Boys on Mopeds.” Great album. Period.

I was not truly familiar with Blur’s game before listening to this album. I’m not convinced they’re THE “quintessential” Brit-pop band but i would say this is an essential Brit pop album. Took a few tries to get into it, but once I did, I found myself really enjoying the back half more than the front half. Would listen again probably.

There’s about 3 great songs on here and the rest is chauvinistic 70s rock sleaze. I initially dug the sounds, but upon further listen, am not as impressed. Lyrically, it’s all over the place. Musically, mostly it’s right up my alley, but then there’s this thing about it that takes me out. When it opened I thought it was going to be an early 70s version of Low Cut Connie. And I am pretty disappointed in the direction it went!

Okay. Here we go… This is final official album from OutKast. Idlewild was a soundtrack, though it did have a few new original singles. I remember the first singles from Speakerboxxx/The Love Below were leaked on the net and how hard I scrounged to find the MP3s on Kazaa or Limewire. All of these songs still hold up, despite sounding very much of the time in production. Speakerboxxx really is like a party rap record, but has some fairly introspective songs from Big Boi. I found myself bopping my head to most of it. I used to hold The Love Below on a pretty high pedestal, and I do think it is truly amazing, but there are some songs that have been nearly overplayed, as if ‘Kast hadn’t ever had an album before. And even those songs drilled into our heads are still amazing. I love this double header mind funk. We got spoiled with a two-fer. Oh, it’s timeless.

I think Jeff Buckley has a great voice and was a talented guy probably with a bright future. But after 2 listens of this album, it’s not my favorite thing in the world. I did rediscover a couple songs I loved in High School, but outside of that, this album falls a little flat for me in my old age. RIP Jeff Buckley. Ps. If I were to revisit JB, I’d pick a random live set, most likely.

Eh, it was decent. I think I’m a hits guy when it comes to Rush.

Who is this guy and why is he yelling?! It’s like hip-HOP, but with a heavy metal soul! Album for the ages, but certainly helping us navigate this day and age. Notable faves: Take the Power Back, Know Your Enemy, Killing in the Name.

I enjoyed this more than I thought I would. Had my Floyd Phase around 23, only thing that really stuck was Live in Pompeii.

Incredible listen! The expanded version is well worth the listen! Wasn’t really familiar with her repertoire, but was thoroughly buh-lown away. Can’t be in a bad mood listening to this album even for a second.

Johnny Cash is 100% on the country western Mt. Rushmore. We aren’t here to talk about the other three, so let’s dig into JC. In the mid to late 60s, Cash was on a comeback. Seems crazy since it’s still toward to beginning of a long career. Live at Folsom had come out and was doing well, so he and a slough of other rockabilly types toured other prisons and venues throughout the country singing about drink, drug, murder, love, prison, and god, and they made pretty good legendary careers for themselves. I will preface this by saying I listened to the Legacy Edition of the album to get the full show experience and it was superb. Carl Perkins, Statlers, Carter Family, and Johnny all putting on a show. The best parts are the little imperfections in rhythm or forgetting a lyric or vamping to give the audience time to react to a lyric. JC and band are tight. They bust out a brand new “San Quentin,” June joins them on “Jackson” and we get an amazing performance of “A Boy Named Sue.” Not to mention a grip of classic Cash Golden Country Greats.

Fantastic album. Less depressing than I remember. I always forget the song The Eternal. Anyway, I only listened to this one once, because I am trying to pull myself OUT of a pit of despair, but I loved it. Great production, great songs. Highly influential.

Great record. A few duds, but overall a solid joint.

Bobby MF Womack. Amazing soul/funk singer probably most popular in the 70s. I know him from “across 110th street,” which is one of my all time favorite soul jams. I have to say this album surprised me quite a bit. I was expecting some early 80s cheese, but was delighted by a great dance track (Lay Your Lovin’ On Me), and several amazing slow jamz/ballads. In fact, I’d say this album is driven by ballads and baby makers. Would listen again.

Outside of Message in a bottle and Walking On the Moon, I wasn’t super familiar with this album. The Police were always a hits band for me. Something about the “appropriation of reggae” (Wikipedia, and it says the album title literally translates to “white reggae”) and the mononym of Sting just doesn’t grip me. Sure he’s good looking, but what’s he REALLY doing? After listening to this album, though, I found a couple more songs that could’ve definitely been minor hits. Meh, I guess I would listen again, but probably not by choice. Again, I think they’re a Hits band.

Great album, would listen again. Loved to hear where the punk and riot grrrl queens got their screams and styles. Also, I love a saxophone.

Honestly hard to be in a bad mood when you listen to this album. Infectious Beatle-esque power pop/rock at its finest. Before listening to this, I would’ve said I like the hits, but post-listen, I have to admit that the entire album is banger after banger. I don’t know which are hits and which are the “filler.” Great record.

This was an okay listen. I think TitA was a better album, but this was a fun follow up. Little bit of funky blues riffage. The Aerosmith I enjoy is like 90s Aerosmith. Weird affinity, I know. Upon second listen, Back in the Saddle fucks and the rest kind of suck.

Maybe if Lars Ulrich had a puppet master, he’d be good at the fucking drums. My god. If he was in a paper bag, he could not drum his way out. Gun to his head, he would die. That’s not to say it’s 100% shite, but it’s like 87% shite. The rest of the gang are killing it. Technically, I give this a 2.6.

This is the first Joni album I have listened to in full, and admittedly, it’s not for me. Her voice is lovely, the words are great; observational, deep, sentimental. The music is also great. But there’s an ingredient that just doesn’t jive with the rest. It’s like putting paprika in the caramel. I don’t hate it, but I likely won’t revisit.

Fantastic. 3/4 ambient soundscapes and a quarter proto-punk power pop. Epic and perfect. These German fellas are going places!

Classic Queen imagery. The start of that classic Queen layered sound. Yet, a totally underwhelming and slog of an experience for the grand payoff to be Seven Seas of Rhye. I feel like this album needed another single to help float it.

Relaxing, cinematic, dramatic. Sexy, romantic! A fun listen and pretty easy to listen to. Whoda thunk a couple French guys could make such great Latin music?

Not my favorite artist. But during the listen I realized why. His voice and lyrics are just not for me. Doesn’t resonate with me. That being said, this album has some surprise jams. I enjoyed roughly 4 songs. I’ll give it a 1.7

While listening to this absolute masterpiece, I learned that unlike other bands that had done the UnPlugged series at that time, Nirvana did their entire performance in one take. These guys are gonna go places! Hopefully they can stick with it…

I’m pretty basic when it comes to reggae and I’m okay with that. I’ll say I thought this was a great listen. Stop that Train is a major ear worm for me. I get it stuck in my head all the time since I heard JGBs version. I don’t think I disliked any of the songs, but there were some moments of wackness (for me, nothing the Wailers did, per se) for that, I give 4 stars.

Really a great album. Personally I enjoyed the first half more than the second, but overall, amazing. Maybe the first full Nick Cave album I’ve listened to besides Murder Ballads. The gospel choir and the vibe of the album is ‘fun’ and light compared to MB, and the songs have more depth which is cool to see.

This album was fine. Not what I wanted to listen to today, though.

The joke review: “nah, dog, I don’t fuck with Beck.” The album gets better as it goes, especially thanks to Del the Funky Homosapien. It serves as a good introduction to Gorillaz, but I think they really found the way with Demon Days. Eh, I’d listen again, but maybe in background or on some overhead speakers in a coffee shop.

All the songs up to and including the title track are great. This could’ve been an incredible EP. After that, kinda buns. I’d say that Annie Lennox is probably the Chappell Roan of her time.

Loved this album actually more than I thought i would! That’s all I have to say about that. RIP king.

This album was fine, but I really dug the hits and songs that didn’t have Busta Rhymes shouting nonsense. Tbh, the previous album by Leonard Cohen was somehow exactly what I needed this weekend.

Not as good as I remember from my childhood, but the title track still fucks.

Fun 3 chord bops, catchy hooks. A probable catalyst in getting punk into the mainstream. Although Green Day isn’t my favorite band ever, I recognize their influence on modern music and I would listen to this album again. This album doesn’t have enough dynamics I feel like, as a whole.

I like Krautrock as a genre just fine, some of it is more interesting than the rest. This particular one ….well, “it’s a bit of a pain”(for me).

Fly or Die by NERD shouldn’t have been on this list. This attempt at a second album is a major bomb. The two singles on this album are barely memorable. The faux-jazz vibes they’re trying to manufacture aren’t doing it. Pharrell is a genius producer for like 40 years, and during the last 25, I have come to really dislike his whole “wannabe Curtis Mayfield” vocal stylings (save for “Frontin’”, that song fucks.) Lyrically this album is like choppy middle school poetry.