Dark and atmospheric, and at times downright creepy, I can see how this album became influential in within more experimental circles. Unfortunately it didn't resonate with me as much as I thought it might, though it might be worth a revisit at some point.
An absolute classic. Reggae's never been my thing, but you can't deny Marley's talent and influence, and this is a downright fun album.
You can tell how influencial this album was on artists that would follow in the 70s and 80s, The Who really set the standard for that classic rock sound. Great use of early synths as well.
Quintessential 2010s indie, a bit darker at times than their earlier albums but still very much emblematic of their style. Gets an extra point for nostalgia.
Gothic vocals with moody, dreampop synths and shimmering guitar lines all wrapped in plenty of reverb, this is a fantastic album and definitely one I will be revisiting.
The fusion of African rhythm and vocals with upbeat, bluesy rock is a fantastic combination. As the Tuareg guitarist Bombino has demonstrated, the melodies and scales commonly found in African music translate very well to the electric guitar and more modern styles of playing.
Great piano work, both intricate and relaxing. The interplay between the piano and bass make and intriguing listening experience, especially knowing that it would be their last performance together.
Almost every song on this is a certified classic, and the album as a whole really shows off Vedder's unique vocals and the band's foundational alt-rock style.
Pretty fun electronic indie with some witchy, psychedelic vibes. Nothing that really grabbed me, but still had some tracks I'd listen to again.
Chill vibes with a nice rhythm that would make for great background music when Lofi Hip-hop Beats to Study/Relax to is offline, but nothing particularly unique or engaging. 2.5/5
Funky. Fun. Dancy. Sexy. Not really my thing, but good stuff nonetheless.
I didn't really need to listen to this one again for this project, but I decided to anyway. A family friend gave me this album years ago after I played a version of Atlantic City on an old guitar. At the time I hadn't heard much Springsteen, only the hits, so I didn't much know what to expect from Nebraska. I pretty quickly fell in love with the stripped down, minimalist sound that serves so well to highlight Springsteen's songwriting. Putting the record on again and sitting out on the balcony on an overcast day, listening to the mournful wail of freight trains across the river, and sipping some good bourbon, I was again absorbed by this album.
Good, classic, heavy stuff. You can hear bits of this in just about every metal band that came in the decade or two to follow. I kind of miss the underproduced charm of their previous three albums, but this album marks a step in a new direction that really set the path for other acts to follow.
The pop and punk influences bring a unique sound to this classic 80s rock album.
Classic 90's alt rock. The effect-laden guitar tone along with Cornell's vocals create a sound that's unique while still defining an an era.
I can see why this is on the list, but nothing about it really grabbed me. I can also see why Kings of Leon did very well in the UK, the overall sound of this album is reminiscent of English rock. I didn't really hear the southern rock influence that the wiki describes either.
Peak era Metallica. 1988 was a great year for rock and metal music, with Metallica, Sonic Youth, and Dinosaur Jr. all putting out some of their best work.
I was hooked from the first chorus-laden guitar chords. They built such a distinct and influential sound with this album, while still keeping enough variety to keep the album engaging through it's longer runtime.
I like freaky shit and I especially like 70s freaky shit, but I couldn't enjoy the raunchiness when it was sung through such a ridiculously affected voice.
Reggae still isn't my preferred genre, but this seems like one I'll listen to again. I like the clean keyboard, reverby vocals, and the use of minor keys. Very chill vibes.
Bowie is always a great listen, but this short album doesn't really stand out against his other work.
The Who's earlier stuff really showcases the late 60's British Invasion sound. Many aspects being reminiscent of their contemporaries while still showing the unique sound that they were beginning to create that would continue to evolve throughout their career and influence musicians to come.
Classic 80s hip-hop with Run DMC's signature rock fusion. A bit more upbeat and sanitized than my preferred artists in the genre, but it's still a hard album not to enjoy from start to finish.
Noisy, aggressive, and chaotic but not without rhythm and melody. Much more accessible than other noise artists I've heard and would be a good introduction to the genre. 3.5 stars
Smooth vocals and chill synths over driving, frenetic percussion make this a pretty cool entry into the era's developing electronic scene.
J Mascis's vocals and screaming guitar tone have been a singular force in rock music for decades, and this ranks among their best works.
A lot of hip-hop from this era has lost its edge over time as it's been adopted and coopted by mainstream culture, but some works, like this one, stand out as timeless classics.
Smooth, jazzy, and sexy as hell.
The fast, driving rhythm and repetitive bass lines are honestly pretty fun, but I don't think I do enough ketamine to really get this album.
Well produced, mournful indie rock.
Can't go wrong with some Duran Duran if you want some classic, upbeat, 80s tunes.
This is a fun album. There's something to be said about an act that doesn't take themselves too seriously, and doubly so when they are genuinely talented. Good vocals, good guitar work, good times, and great garage beer jams.
Classic, competent 2000s indie. A four star album that I'll give an extra star for nostalgia.
I think that the Talking Heads really came into there own with their later works in the 80s, but this is a competent debut album that gives a taste of the unique, avant-garde sound the band would develop.
I always thought it was a weird coincidence that there was a second Elvis that got famous making music, but learning that he just started going by Elvis because there already was a famous Elvis makes Costello's music make much more sense. Nothing here is bad, and the album is a pretty good listen, but nothing is particularly interesting or unique either.
Everything about this album is well done. The guitars, the vocals, the songwriting, production, and general cohesion is flawless. But it just sounds so utterly generic. I know it isn't their fault; they're so influential that many acts copied their sounds and they're so popular that radios played them to death, so no wonder it just feels tired 50 years later. But I don't see myself listening to this album through again, so I can't bring myself to give it more than three stars.
60s folk rock with a big ol' scoop of americana and country, makes me want to drink a beer on the porch.
Consistent to the point that the songs I hadn't heard still sounded familiar, but the music is good enough that it never gets tired. Classic yet distinct with a pleasant blend of folk and rock influences.
Spacey and atmospheric, lush soundscapes meet classic rock sensibilities.
This is a really fun and interesting fusion of traditional Indian sitar and western psychedelic music that set the stage for a lot of eastern/psychedelic crossover music that would come in future decades.
One of the best songwriters and folk musicians of the era, which is some pretty stiff competition.
Classic Fats, great piano and great vibes.
Irish music is always fantastic, and The Pogues are some of the best.
More aggressive than most of the rap/hip-hop I've heard on this list, which is a good thing in my opinion. Dense lyrics with good rhymes and great rhythm.
The wave of 60s pop following in the footsteps of the Beatles honestly sounds pretty tired and unoriginal to me, so I was pleasantly surprised that The Young Rascals managed to do something different here while still fitting into that same box. There's a good amount of variety between the songs, some of which are more generically 60's pop, some edging into Beatles-like psychedelia, and some showing a distinctly American swing and R&B influence that really differentiates this album from others in the genre.
This is so cheesy and so fun. "Puerto Ricans, do the humpty hump".
Excellent early psychedelic, ranging from spooky and atmospheric to loud and rockin' all while maintaining The Doors' very distinct sound.
A bit more upbeat and rocky than some of his other albums but overall a good example of Dylan's songwriting prowess.
Cyndi came out of the gate swinging and fully formed, this is one of the most competent debut albums I've heard in a bit.
Not the most original out there, but endlessly listenable classic rock.
This album sucked my dick and cured my cancer. 11/5.
I'm learning from this project how much I like new wave, post punk, and similar genres of the 1980s. This is a perfectly middle of the road example, not a whole lot that particularly stands out, but still a very listenable album with it's own signature sound. Not very psychedelic though.
Three of the greats working together, my only complaint is that I hadn't heard it sooner.
One of the most iconic metal albums of all time.
Pretty good but fairly generic british alternative. Albarn has a much more original sound in his other project.
Great beats, great flow, A+ production.
I enjoy Eminem well enough, but how many albums of his do we need in this list? One should have been more than enough in my opinion, and I'd prefer the Marshall Mathers LP over this one.
This rocks hard. It can be a little too much sometimes (looking at you, Gang Bang), but the blues and swing elements create a really fun, unique style. I can definitely see the influence this had on artists like AC/DC and Nick Cave.
This isn't really my kind of electronic music. It's a bit too clean, too bleep-bloopy. I want more reverb and lfo warbles. That said, it is at least creative and well produced. 2.5/5
I usually think of Steely Dan as music for drinking beer in the garage, but this smooth, jazzy album is sophisticated enough for drinking brandy in the living room.
Ranges from bright and atmospheric to dark and mysterious, jazzy and funky to trippy and psychedelic, all while maintaining a cohesive, chill sound.
