231
Albums Rated
3.43
Average Rating
21%
Complete
858 albums remaining
Rating Distribution
Rating Timeline
Taste Profile
1950
Favorite Decade
Electronica
Favorite Genre
UK
Top Origin
Wordsmith
Rater Style ?
25
5-Star Albums
7
1-Star Albums
Breakdown
By Genre
Top Styles
By Decade
By Origin
Albums
You Love More Than Most
| Album | You | Global | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Music
Madonna
|
5 | 2.69 | +2.31 |
|
Too Rye Ay
Dexys Midnight Runners
|
5 | 3.12 | +1.88 |
|
Unhalfbricking
Fairport Convention
|
5 | 3.13 | +1.87 |
|
Live Through This
Hole
|
5 | 3.3 | +1.7 |
|
Joan Armatrading
Joan Armatrading
|
5 | 3.34 | +1.66 |
|
The Band
The Band
|
5 | 3.35 | +1.65 |
|
Ágætis Byrjun
Sigur Rós
|
5 | 3.37 | +1.63 |
|
Stories From The City, Stories From The Sea
PJ Harvey
|
5 | 3.38 | +1.62 |
|
Heaven Or Las Vegas
Cocteau Twins
|
5 | 3.4 | +1.6 |
|
Different Class
Pulp
|
5 | 3.42 | +1.58 |
You Love Less Than Most
| Album | You | Global | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Master Of Puppets
Metallica
|
1 | 3.72 | -2.72 |
|
The Number Of The Beast
Iron Maiden
|
1 | 3.58 | -2.58 |
|
The College Dropout
Kanye West
|
1 | 3.31 | -2.31 |
|
Truth And Soul
Fishbone
|
1 | 2.97 | -1.97 |
|
G. Love And Special Sauce
G. Love & Special Sauce
|
1 | 2.74 | -1.74 |
|
Pearl
Janis Joplin
|
2 | 3.72 | -1.72 |
|
Jagged Little Pill
Alanis Morissette
|
2 | 3.72 | -1.72 |
|
Next
The Sensational Alex Harvey Band
|
1 | 2.71 | -1.71 |
|
Boston
Boston
|
2 | 3.7 | -1.7 |
|
Penance Soiree
The Icarus Line
|
1 | 2.5 | -1.5 |
Artists
Favorites
| Artist | Albums | Average |
|---|---|---|
| Miles Davis | 2 | 5 |
| David Bowie | 3 | 4.33 |
| Beatles | 3 | 4.33 |
5-Star Albums (25)
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Popular Reviews
Mott The Hoople · 3 likes
4/5
It's been a shame to see how flippantly people seem to rate albums like this, with it's average currently under 3 here. I've never purposely listened to the Mott other than when All the Young Dudes gets autoplayed. I'd not have realised how well considered some of their albums are without this 1001 prompt.
This album comes after their Bowie reboot and this album certainly sounds like glam Bowie of this era, but with their own twist and great songwriting and it's great fun. Even on my second listen and songs are already embedding them. The production is great and they're such a solid band (even if they were already depleted in numbers by this point), and it's sad that they would split up after their next album (also very well thought of!), with Hunter then forging what looks like a rewarding solo career.
Yet another artist to be less snobby or dismissive about, thanks to 1001...
Ute Lemper · 2 likes
3/5
I'm shocked by the other reviews of this and wonder why most people do this project and if they're truly music fans, due to the lack of insight, inquisitiveness and open-mindedness they show.
I knew of this album due to being a Neil Hannon/ Divine Comedy fan and to be clear here most of the songs were written for Lemper and this project by major luminaries like Cave / Waits / Costello / Hannon / Glass / Walker. This is a fascinating work and a great performance by Lemper and the band, brought to life by DCs Joby Talbot (his orchestrations are genius). There's a little too much strident bombast on a couple of the songs for a higher score from me, but I hope to come back to it and possibly revise at a later point.
I implore you to dig deeper when doing this project, look more into context. People are so quickly dismissive of any works out of the norm, so why do this and not just stick to your collection of staple canon albums?
Nick Drake · 1 likes
5/5
Generally rated as slightly weaker than his other two albums by myself and other opinion sites (like RYM and AOTY) this is still nearly perfect, especially on its opening run of five tracks and Northern Sky. For me a couple of the later instrumentals bring it down (flutes are a little too twee and pastoral for my liking here) as well as other B side songs that are only great rather than utterly amazing (Fly and Poor Boy). On rateyourmusic this is a 4.5 stars (& 5 stars for FLL and FT), here it JUST rounds up to a 5, especially as it is criminally low at 3.5 on this project.
Elis Regina · 1 likes
2/5
A strange inclusion given that it was apparently a posthumous compilation of tracks and the version I'm linked to from here is not the original line up (3 additional songs in different sequence) so it's hard to evaluate truly. Annoying frequently but at times diverting & striking, it's one of those I haven't got a clue sitting on the fence don't really want to hear it again albums, but veering towards the 2 this time.
Beatles · 1 likes
3/5
Pre Rubber Soul Beatles isn't really my thing, even if their graduation is so historically vital and fascinating. There is raw excitement here and a youthful charm but the real art and craft was still a couple of years off. I didn't necessarily yearn to finish it early, but was quite relieved when it was over.
1-Star Albums (7)
All Ratings
10cc
3/5
Only one listen so this is probably unfair, but it's not really my era of music and the extremely melodic rock washed over me somewhat, though I know from older peers that they hold this in very high esteem. I think this washes over those who were born after it was released who are more influenced by post punk music.
5/5
Not a hardship to listen to this one as it's only a few days that I did in "normal" l know that PJ was not happy with this one as the sound was too slick and mainstream for her, but the songs are so strong and the overall mood so cohesive, that it's power and brilliance is impossible to deny. In my favourite three albums of hers with Rid Of Me and Let England Shake.
David Bowie
4/5
Despite my brother having played me his vinyl years ago and trying it myself more recently through streaming, this album hadn't connected with me beyond the great title song and Fame. Today listening to it on a journey home from long weekend away in Scarborough for my 50th birthday I enjoyed it more, even if still have some reservations on the qualify of a few songs and his singing on them, they're a little loose and lacking in his normal precision and form. Still further to go with this one I think!
The Who
2/5
I'm starting to get the feeling this is going to be hard work. I'm sure this is great for people who like this kind of rock, I'm really not keen unfortunately. There's great songs on there but I find it tedious and tiring.
Willie Nelson
2/5
I do like some Willie but this is too smooth and easy for me atm, I prefer his self penned songs with an edge
Duke Ellington
4/5
Apart from the spoken introductions for the performers, this is great stuff. I probably didn't experience it as per the original release but more the expanded modern edition.
Cocteau Twins
5/5
One of the greatest, especially the closing frou-frou
Johnny Cash
4/5
The title song has been a favourite of late so a great reason to listen to it more. The album always struck me as being too long but it was enjoyable to immerse yesterday. The Nick Cave duet doesn't work as well as hoped unfortunately!
The Human League
4/5
My favourite revelation on this path so far - not that I didn't know the album, but I have felt the need to play it on repeat and the non-singles have really hit home. I must now find a decent vinyl copy.
Are there any other classics where the main hit / best songs are at the end?
Pink Floyd
4/5
Oh God, I'm going to need to feel in a strong constitution to survive this! It was a fave when I was more maudlin / morose / depressive / suicidal / drink in nature!
Listening to it now the shock is how pleasant it is to listen to despite the subject matter and dark introspection. Kudos to Waters for bringing the songs when others were unproductive BUT it's the others that make it so enjoyable and listenable.
Bee Gees
4/5
Bob Stanley had already opened my mind to the Bee Gees in his book Yeah Yeah Yeah (haven't got around to his book specifically about them yet!), but these boys are so much more than SNF and disco. I knew this in part due to songs like New York Mining Disaster, but I didn't know anything about this 1971 album apart from the opening song that became one of the best songs ever in the hands of Al Green.
And it's a great album and repays repeat immersive listens to its consistent sound and quality.
Air
3/5
Whilst I think it was a great soundtrack for a wonderful film, I don't tend to enjoy soundtracks without the visuals. This has a great few tracks however, and Air of this era were superb.
Creedence Clearwater Revival
4/5
Wow was I blindsided by this! The album coming up prompted a less than enthusiastic response but this is is just great swamp blues rock with such a strong vocalist and band. I don't know why I had a negative perception of them, Susie Q was somehow known positively from my childhood (must ask my brother why!) but I think I'm probably a bit snobbish about some US 70s blues rock (thinking it's boring wank jam fears) and need to be more open minded. There is nothing boring about this.
Sade
4/5
Splendid album of course with one of the best opening 3 song salvos in music history, up there with Let's Dance for perfection. Frankie's first Affair immediately drops the quality substantially (with some of Sade's worst vocals IMO she just doesn't suit it) but the rest of the album is good enough, if not as consistent as later works. Those first 3 tracks though....
Beatles
3/5
Pre Rubber Soul Beatles isn't really my thing, even if their graduation is so historically vital and fascinating. There is raw excitement here and a youthful charm but the real art and craft was still a couple of years off. I didn't necessarily yearn to finish it early, but was quite relieved when it was over.
The Young Rascals
4/5
Not one I'd have known or considered but it's a great listen and has the incredible title song!
The Doors
3/5
Reliably serviceable album from the blues rock behemoths, I need to listen to more intently again but the first couple of tracks in particular were captivating and impressive. Never going to be my favourite band though.
Nitty Gritty Dirt Band
4/5
Some damn fine music here, though I must admit I didn't get to the end - it lapsed into more pure instrumentals after a while and I lost some interest (will finish it off at work today). The mark lost is for the overly American Christian nature of some of the songs, which rankle due to the crap that the Christian right wing are perpetrating in the US today.
Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark
4/5
One of my favourite synth bands, their albums can be a mixed bag but when they hit hard they are perfect
Bob Dylan
4/5
There are so many great songs appearing on his albums by now, which are almost evenly distributed between acoustic and electric forms. Sadly it's the electric ones that Maggie's Farm that bring this down for me (although songs like this can be amazing live). When an album has Mr Tambourine Man and Subterranean Homesick Blues however who can complain.
Portishead
4/5
If this would allow 4.5 stars I'd give it, but even though this album is a standout of the era and is so original and impressive, it is VERY cold, which stops me playing it often and giving it top marks
David Bowie
4/5
The surprise here is that it's the instrumentals that I really like, which is the opposite to what I expected. Apart from the title track I am not fond of his vocals, he has that lack of discipline whine and the recording of them has too much echo and effects, it's just unbelievably pretentious and annoying, stopping me really here any song or tune, like vocal masturbation. What I like is very good and it would be churlish to give it 3 given how amazing the song Heroes is and how much I like the instrumentals, so 4 it is.
Pulp
5/5
An absolute "modern" classic (ahem, it still feels it but of course it's nearly 30 years old now!), the only downside is that the production can seem a.bit lumpen and flat at times, but I can't quite bring myself to allow that to make it a 4*, as it is a solid 4.5 and nearer 5. So many great hit songs and the album tracks like I Spy are fabulous.
The Band
5/5
Absolute classic, just perfect as a band and as a record.
The Damned
4/5
It's a lot to take on fresh as it comes at you like an onslaught with little respite. I find the Captain's switch to guitar unbelievably successful after the departure of Brian James and can't find any fault here on 2nd listen, far too good for a 3 even if as a newbie it's yet to sink it's talons fully yet.
The Divine Comedy
4/5
Overjoyed to see this gem come up, not least because they have just released a new album (Rainy Sunday Afternoon in 2025), but because it's an old favourite. There's rather annoying shouting (roaring basically) on songs like Charge and Through a Long... but otherwise it's an impeccable enjoyable listen. TDC would only improve from here and had more masterpieces to come in the form of Regeneration, Fin De Siecle and Absent Friends but this continued to pave the way nicely.
Terence Trent D'Arby
4/5
Whereas this was his most successful album and I love it, it's not my favourite TTD, but those main singles are perfection "wishing well", "dance little sister", "sign your name" and "if you let me stay". I feel the album tracks improved with the next 3 records to give better overall experiences but this will of course be the one held most in peoples consciousness
Deep Purple
3/5
Child in Time tipped the balance, initially I was daunted - it's exactly the type of thing I'm dreading in this project (70s hard rock), but there was some good stuff, especially CiT which added much more variation shade and colour.
Mott The Hoople
4/5
It's been a shame to see how flippantly people seem to rate albums like this, with it's average currently under 3 here. I've never purposely listened to the Mott other than when All the Young Dudes gets autoplayed. I'd not have realised how well considered some of their albums are without this 1001 prompt.
This album comes after their Bowie reboot and this album certainly sounds like glam Bowie of this era, but with their own twist and great songwriting and it's great fun. Even on my second listen and songs are already embedding them. The production is great and they're such a solid band (even if they were already depleted in numbers by this point), and it's sad that they would split up after their next album (also very well thought of!), with Hunter then forging what looks like a rewarding solo career.
Yet another artist to be less snobby or dismissive about, thanks to 1001...
Travis
3/5
I had the album at the time and there is a wishy-washy slightly boring nature to it and the band (at times) and I definitely didn't hold it in great regard (and had tried it again not so long ago). However, on relisten here it's really not so bad and is chock full of good songs. I imagine the rating from others here will be savage, for me it would be a 3.5 but I've got to lean and it's closer to a 3.
Kanye West
1/5
I'm not going to listen to a self professed modern Nazi, sorry.
Hüsker Dü
3/5
I'm sure it's full of great songs but the production is dreadful (all mid guitar wash and splashy echoed drums/cymbals), which thankfully improved with Bob Moulds next band Sugar and solo albums.
4/5
I can't believe this was 1969! Practically the only thing that makes this understandable is VU, elements of Led Zep / Rolling Stones and the White Album and the Stooges, but this is INCENDIARY! Not what I would normally choose but undoubtedly important and impressive.
Frank Sinatra
3/5
One of my mum's favourites, this is enjoyable and listening to it at work today my colleague said it sounded like Michael Bublé and therefore Christmassy (I pointed out that it's the other way round).
I can't help but be influenced by the fact he was a fairly awful mafia tool, but still I can appreciate his importance as a singer performer.
AC/DC
3/5
I am not averse to all AC/DC and own Powerage but I'm not a fan of Brian Johnsons yell vocals, so struggle here even if it's well known and is their best post-Bon album. I am dying for it to finish tbh
CHIC
4/5
I had already started listening to and loving this album (& all of peak era Chic) due to seeing them support Mariah Carey at Sandringham in August 2025. As my wife pointed out last night I used to hate disco, so this is a major turnaround, but this album is awesome. Fave track "At Last I am Free".
The xx
4/5
I am already a fan of this album (& by extension so is my family, especially my son), so it's no hardship to listen again. Whilst I admired them with their first album and the second was still acceptable (although more wallpaper music), this really broke free and became more expensive, possible thanks to Jamie XX success and more expensive sound. This added excitement to the XX mix paired with their intense introspection. Romy's album then went even further with club beats and euphoria, so who knows what is to come next (which may be forthcoming in 2026 as they are playing Primavera).
Steely Dan
4/5
I've heard a few of their albums and given them a reasonable try, and even if they're never going to be my favourite this is by far their best album. The Dan stew reached perfection by Aja
4/5
A new one that I've never heard of (rare) and an excellent mix of club beats with South American / Brazilian vibes, reminiscent of St Germain, Goran Project etc. I really like it and will add to my listening rotation, which is a good result for this project - to find out unheard gems! Sad story regarding his death however and why there was no more Suba music.
Beck
3/5
A frustrating album, in parts brilliant and others boring and annoying. Beck has proven such over his now long career and leaves me unconvinced. There is enough brilliance here to justify 3 stars but I long for it to finish even now having also owned this from its release.
Nas
4/5
This has been a gradual grower for me over the years, bridging the old school hip-hop from my childhood 80's and more modern production values and forms. This is tight as hell and may not have the colour or variation of a Tribe Called Quest but sometimes a consistent vibe has its place. Nas has great flow and isn't revolting in his subject matter which makes everything easier to stomach.
Joy Division
3/5
There are obvious highs (Disorder) but overall this album tends to be a drag for me and despite being a big Post-Punk / New Wave fan I have never reached for this album much over the years despite it being in my record collection since I was a teenager.
Erykah Badu
4/5
I had Baduizm and had respect (if not total love) for it, but obviously not enough to buy the next album. This was in the days before streaming so I couldn't even easily try it, so Erykah didn't get another look in on my musical journey.
I now find out how well thought of some of her subsequent albums are, and there are certainly many gems on here even if as a whole it can be a little long and strangely cold or abrasive at times (whilst conversely warm and gentle in others).
I'm glad to get to know it better and will certainly check in more with her music in the future.
Emmylou Harris
3/5
One of the first albums I feel needs more than one day to rate. Sometimes it makes me queasy, like on more conventional country songs like "Queen of the silver dollar" but on others like Danny Flowers "Before Believing" there is undeniable depth, charm and superb production / playing. I think what makes me veer towards 3 stars rather than 4 is that this isn't essential music for me and I don't think it will ever be my passion. If I reach for Emmylou it will generally be the Lanois drenched Wrecking Ball where she is at her most haunting (& there is less country pedal steel twang)
Red Hot Chili Peppers
3/5
An album loved by those around me at school but left me cold, as most funk rock does. I did my duty here and fought through my distaste of Kiedis and his 14 year old girlfriend's. To my surprise there was plenty to appreciate, and AK was incredibly annoying at times. The guitar playing of Frusciante was awesome at times (If you have to ask sticks in the mind) and there are great songs (Under the Bridge of course but also Breaking The Girl). It's too long but wrestles itself above a probable initial 2.
Green Day
3/5
Torn on this one, whilst it's not the sound I like, there is a high level of sophistication here in the song construction and overall concept. Just as I got bored during Jesus of Suburbia and was ready to give up on it the song flipped to a new form (it lasts for nearly 9 minutes and has 5 stages) and kept my interest for the rest of the album. That alone rewards it with 3 stars, as well as for "Wake Me Up" becoming an earworm for the day.
Blur
4/5
Loved at the time and still holds up today. One of those bands who weren't a favourite but I had all the albums.
The Sensational Alex Harvey Band
1/5
Painful, stuck it out but begging for the end from the second track "Gang Bang" (as awful as it sounds). HTF is this included. It's not even generally regarded as one of their best albums, not that I'm going to be sampling the others on this showing. The worst album on 1001 that I've listened to so far (Ye didn't get heard due to a built in self professed Nazi filter).
Nick Drake
5/5
Generally rated as slightly weaker than his other two albums by myself and other opinion sites (like RYM and AOTY) this is still nearly perfect, especially on its opening run of five tracks and Northern Sky. For me a couple of the later instrumentals bring it down (flutes are a little too twee and pastoral for my liking here) as well as other B side songs that are only great rather than utterly amazing (Fly and Poor Boy). On rateyourmusic this is a 4.5 stars (& 5 stars for FLL and FT), here it JUST rounds up to a 5, especially as it is criminally low at 3.5 on this project.
Jazmine Sullivan
4/5
An album that's been coming up frequently in recommended and Best of the 21st century lists in the last week, this is one that I tried at the time of release but I wasn't quite ready for. I think I was more prudish at the time, and this is definitely only for those that are more sexually open minded! It was a real treat listening to it and it's the first that I've listened to 3 or more times on the day specified (easy as the original work is only 32 mins, though I do recommend the deluxe which has no drop in qualify).
Hot Chip
3/5
As a reasonable admirer of HC (owning 4 albums) and having really enjoyed their recent 2025 best of, this one leaves me a little underwhelmed. The album somehow passed me by at the time (I may have figured that I had enough of their music and it preceded streaming suck it and see services, and didn't seem to have a hit song. The sound is light and spacious and lacks the depth that I prefer in their music either in subject / mood or synth sounds. I've given it a few listens and the best I can give is a muted 3 stars, more out of loyalty than anything (not knowing if there are any other Chip albums on here).
Sex Pistols
4/5
Another album that coming to this project I had no great love, choosing instead the more varied multicultural sound of the Clash. Forced to listen properly here my preconceptions of musical primativism is found to have been unfounded. What has surprised me lately when listening to PiL before the ForeverNow festival in 2025 is how intelligent and creative Johnny Lyndon is, but the overall sound is also far more cohesive, sophisticated and powerful than I suspected. The simple truth is that every song is very listenable and attention grabbing, even if they're not the headline songs of Anarchy or God Save.
Charles Mingus
4/5
A Jazz album I already owned but want necessarily in love with, preferring his other records Mingus Ah I'm and MIngus Mingus Mingus...
This one obviously makes my family uncomfortable and is the least easy listening of the three, but has a formidable reputation and complexity. The final track is over 18 mins and is a Medley in many parts, some of which are my favourite of the album. Overall it is obviously great if not a favourite.
The Libertines
2/5
A poor effort that I once owned and gave away, despite paying homage (ripping off) a favourite band in the Clash this is thin, poorly produced, badly played and drags on well beyond when it should be put out of its misery. Their careers effectively ended here with any dribbles of creativity already spent revealing much. The only redeeming factor is that some of the songs hold some charm, such as Can't Stand Me Down and Campaign of Hate.
Talvin Singh
4/5
As a fan of electronic / ambient / D&B whatever you want to call it at the time, this album was already in my collection at the time and was a regular love of mine and has continued to be over the years. It's obvious that this style of music doesn't appeal to many hear (or is unknown / uninitiated) but for me this is a fabulous twist on things with his Eastern influence.
Yeah Yeah Yeahs
3/5
YYY's dropped off massively for me as Fever to Tell was a real favourite, whilst it's follow up A side was dreadful (somehow it's B side was pretty good!). I therefore didn't bother with this 3rd album but upon listening to it now I was obviously heavily exposed to Zero and Heads Will Roll by radio (6music in UK). This album is definitely better than Show Your Bones but still lacks the energy and audacity of their debut. This time however it's front loaded and whilst the rest is decent enough it touches on pleasant which is not something I come to their door for.
Willie Nelson
3/5
Unfortunately I had written a long review and the page refreshed and got lost, so suffice to say I'm not an aficionado on Country but do own some Willie and like some of his work. This one is okay, but I dislike the Time of the Preacher theme and it comes in 3 times, and by the last one I'm reaching for the stop button.
Blue Eyes in the Rain and Can I Sleep in Your Arms are highlights, as they are less about a concept and more about feeling (but worryingly neither are written by Nelson).
There are a series of very short songs in the middle of the album which don't appeal to me like the standard Over the Water and then honky-tonk of Down Yonder.
So overall with the few highs (the title song is also good) but many underwhelming lows, I can only give it a 3, but have struggled with this and had to listen to it a few times as I'm really not sure (so may revisit).
Elliott Smith
3/5
Listened to this a few times and it just washed over me. I own XO but never grew to love it, the most I've enjoyed his music is on the Good Will Hunting soundtrack, where it just fit ideally.
Arcade Fire
4/5
After the (for me) disappointing Neon Bible, and as a relatively early fan of Funeral (thanks to RYM!), this was a welcome return back to form. My fave is actually Sprawl II and I wish Regine sung more songs. Generally the songs are just very well written and are so satisfying and the concept works. One more good album by these guys (Reflektor) and then things go horribly south.
The Pharcyde
4/5
Pharcyde - Bizarre Ride II
I had their subsequent album Labcabincalifornia and liked that enough, but for some reason never checked this one out. Its really enjoyable with a lively vibrant sound with solid old school beats and plenty of jazz stylings. The mixture of vocalists stops it getting dull and they have a great sense of humour.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (nearly more but just goes on a bit too long for me).
Tori Amos
4/5
I purchased the singles Silent all these years (incredible) and China at the time of release, but was scared off by some of the harsher bleaker stark tracks (like Mother) and didn't get the album. Tori also looked gorgeous and somewhat like my girlfriend at the time.
Listening today the album is very impressive (the first half in particular) but is still hard work to take it all in one go, with the aforementioned Mother still being a long tough challenge. I'm still pleased to see how well thought of it is on review sites like rateyourmusic.
Fats Domino
4/5
An incredibly important artist in the giant leap to modern music, you can hear blues and jazz morph into Rock n roll in real time.
The Police
2/5
Ugh, for me this doesn't sound good in 2025 but the second side is massively superior than the first (with the well known songs on it). Unfortunately the dreadful first five songs make it a 2 for me
Coldplay
3/5
This hasn't aged too badly and I'm a fan of their first Nigel Godrich album Parachutes, but this just borders on the middling overall despite Martin still keeping some eloquence to his lyrics (which will quickly descend into the pithy and banal as their career went on). There are some proper tunes here which tug on the heart strings. 3.5 stars on Rym but here a solid 3
Orange Juice
4/5
There have been incarnations of Edwyn that I have been a fan of ("Gorgeous George" era, post stroke, producer) but I had never given Orange Juice a proper try. I expected this to be quite weak white and derivative but there is a real alchemy of genres here and I love the songs that the drummer(?) songs on with a more world music / African feel, preempting Graceland etc (though still probably in debt to Talking Heads / David Byrne). The album is surprisingly consistent and very relistenable.
Van Halen
3/5
Not a genre I generally listen to or an album I have heard before. This was surprisingly enjoyable, mainly because of the incredible guitar playing. The song I knew was "Ain't Talking Bout Love" which is so ahead of its time and still sounds incredible, and the instrumental showpiece of Eruption is jaw dropping. I could do without Lee Roth but in general his vocals serve a purpose and its Eddie Van Halen who is very much centre stage.
John Lennon
3/5
A pantheon album and a few classic songs (title track, jealous guy, oh yoko!) but it can be patchy elsewhere (I don't want to be a soldier, crippled inside, it's so hard). On Rym it's a 3.5 for me, but the average songs bring the classics down here. It's not a vinyl I reach for often
James Taylor
3/5
This album was a massive seller and ubiquitous in 1970's houses, but time hasn't been kind to it's innoffensive pleasantness. There's nothing inherently bad about it, and some songs like Country Road and Fire & Rain definitely grab the attention more, but out of the Laurel Canyon era this isn't an album that feels cool and happening in 2025.
Buffalo Springfield
3/5
Surprisingly good, but then it shouldn't have been with Stills and Young involved, but so early in their careers I hadn't expected such a developed sound. The Young songs I was acquainted with through collections and are excellent (Mr soul well known to be a bit of a rolling stones rip off but still enjoyable, Broken Arrow has a MAD construction, Expecting to Fly is just beautiful) but the album holds up pretty well during the others band members contributions. However I can't imagine this is one that I will want to revisit.
The Offspring
2/5
My ears hate me listening to this, a distinct headache coming on every time I try. During the day I had to break it down in 2 song chunks as it's so wearing, samey, at times tinny and bludgeoning. Not an experience I want to repeat (although i'm sure there might be similar kinds of album in the 1001). At least the song "Self Esteem" has some subtlety in structure, although many of the more tolerable tracks just have me reaching for Nevermind.
Ice T
4/5
I was a hip-hop head in the late 80's / early 90's but was a bit scared off by early gangsta rap (until NWA Straight outta Compton) so I originally missed this. It's great! Everyone reviewing it saying it hasn't aged well are totally off mark, this is old school hip-hop not Kendrick Lamar and the beats are superb and there is such a mix of stuff here, always interesting and colourful. Shame like most rap artists of his era his solo work seemed to fall off a cliff soon after (apart from Body Coun stuff!).
Depeche Mode
4/5
The singles were excellent and I owned a couple from the time but never the album. It's consistently good throughout and was understandably massive. A solid 4 stars.
Jorge Ben Jor
3/5
This is one that needs more time, I enjoyed it but don't really know how much I love it and would keep coming back for me. This may be one to revisit my rating in the future so don't be surprised if a 3 changes to 4!
The Byrds
3/5
Crosby, Stills & Nash
2/5
Sometimes there's no getting around the initial reaction you have when an album pops up, and for this one it was "oh God, no". It's not that these albums are inherently bad, but that for me they are fairly boring affairs, and lean towards technical excellence rather than feeling and excitement. The harmonising tends towards the stale and bleaching of sentiment. Only on a couple of songs do things elevate at all with the help of a electric guitar and band like Long Time Gone, but even here the energy is sapped by the harmonies in the chorus. I find myself longing for a voice to break out (as on Long Time verses) and seperate from the ooze.
It doesn't help that this came after a Byrds & Buffalo Springfield album, so I was already tired of the style (although the latter was a lot more exciting and varied). Suffice to say I won't be coming back for more with CSN with or without the Y.
4/5
Earlier this year I purchased my own original vinyl copy of the album, after growing up with my brother and father being big admirers of it. I enjoyed elements but actually found the pressing fairly unlistenable on the latter half of side one, they must have compressed it heavily to fit it on to thin vinyl. The second side was more enjoyable and richer in sound.
For this I am just streaming and the sound problems don't exist, what we are left with are supermaximalist songs with no room to breathe but full of drama tunes and ideas. Is it very 80s? Yes possibly due to Trevor Horn who partially invented the 80s but ABC themselves could come from any era or none, being utterly outside of fashion or scene.
Do I love this album, no. Do I admire it, absolutely.
Fiona Apple
3/5
Justice
4/5
Forgive my ignorance but I didn't know who Justice were and when this album cover came up I thought I was going to be required to tolerate another metal album (it reminded me of Ministry name and imagery). Such a relief this was actually French dance music ala Daft Punk.
A few listens in and it's generally full of delights that keep me interested, despite many reviews here and on Rym saying that it goes on too long. There is an element of these electronic albums where you want the length to be able to immerse yourself, or lose yourself to dance.
5/5
I only have 36 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ albums out of 4000 odd on Rateyourmusic, and this is one of them - & the only Bowie. Just perfect.
Dire Straits
3/5
A band very much inherited from my father, and this and a couple of other albums were literally handed down to me on vinyl by him. Apart from Sultans of Swing nothing hits here, but I know its well thought of by fans as more of a band album rather than Knopfler in all but name. There is certainly a good feel and flow to some of the songs, but it's not what I want in 2025 in all honesty.
Elbow
4/5
This was the album that somewhat saved their career, won them a Mercury Music Prize and gave them their first "hit" (one day like this which became ubiquitous on radio and tv) and big seller. It wasn't my first album of theirs (I loved Leaders of the Free World more and still do) but if was somewhat of an event album. There are weaker tracks that let it down (the fix with Richard Hawley and an audience with the pope) but overall it is very strong and has their trademark deep layers and strong subject matter.
The Undertones
3/5
A fascinating first time listening to this album, I really enjoyed the energy and of course Teenage Kicks is classic. It would take far longer to rate this more highly, but it's a good 3, but amazes me how cool Fergal Sharkey comes across in this setting when he seems like the most square man now!
Brian Eno
4/5
Not one of the Eno albums I know best, so it was mostly very enjoyable to listen to this as it's one of the most groundbreaking modern influential records there is. Had me at least humming along to some of the progressions and tunes, and contemplating how even genres like shoegaze / mbv would be born from here.
Parliament
4/5
If I'm going to listen to Funk, it's going to be Parliament / Funkadelic. This was great fun and sexy, I knew a couple of tracks but first time hearing. Thanks 1001
Dion
3/5
An unexpected one to crop up given that this isn't one of his early rock n roll key albums (like runaround she) this is later wall of sound syrupy crooning mid 70s with Phil Spector. The first track Born to be with You is worth a listen (incredible, I love songs where it takes over 1min 40 secs for the vocals to start a la sound and vision) whatever you do but elsewhere his voice doesn't quite have the rich depth to suit the setting, but it did warrant a few listens to try and get a grip of it. Not unpleasant but doesn't set the world on fire!
Fugees
4/5
An album I come back to periodically anyway but enjoyable to listen to for this project a few times in a row. You won't find much in the way of original musical ideas, any tunes or songs are borrowed / sampled, but it's the background to the interplay of rappers with the added bonus of Lauryn Hill's singing voice, and for me she makes this a 4 more than anything else.
Boston
2/5
Torture, saved by some tunes like the massive hit "More Than A Feeling" but not my kind of music and the first in a long while that I have been tempted to skip.
Jimmy Smith
4/5
Although I own and know a lot of jazz classics I haven't come across this, so thanks 1001 for the introduction! A great mix, reminding me of Brother Jack McDuff at times with the organ. Funky, Jazzy and Bluesy in turn. Bears repeat listening and apparently has a sister album with the same red jumper on the sleeve so I'll have to check that out!
Black Sabbath
3/5
There's some great band moments on here that raises it amongst the rest in a genre of hard rock / metal that isn't a favourite of mine. The second half of Wheels of Confusion (the instrumental part), the drumming in particular of Supernaut in particular. I like that it's got some light and breaks from the onslaught at times like Changes and Laguna Sunrise. I guess I like the band but am not such a fan of the yelling version of Ozzy.
LTJ Bukem
4/5
Thankfully I actually have this album as it seems this either isn't on streaming sites (Qobuz) or what is there is utterly butchered and wrong (Spotify), hence the ratings and reviews on here are even worse than the d&b snobbery would have been anyway (given the poor ratings of Talvin Singh / Goldie).
For me this was the perfect distillation of the genre into two distinct discs of mood and effects, with the second disc being a dj seamless mix and the first more varied individual tracks. Key tracks by PFM (I adore Danny's Tune), Links (aka Global Communications), Peshay and Bukem himself.
Michael Jackson
3/5
One of those problematic artists that are naturally going to come up a few times on this project. This album has some corkers but is very front loaded and isn't one I would actually choose to listen to, so for me is an enjoyable but inessential 3.
Steve Winwood
3/5
The year and period of transition of this albums creation, and Steves obvious wish to record this album himself in a home studio using modern technology, means that this is very much of its time and would date almost immediately. Some of the sounds are truly nauseating but even on the title track the song lifts beyond the cheese and has many charms. The bad sucks (second hand woman in particular, what a vulgar hook line), but there a three great songs in "while you see a chance", "Spanish dancer" and "night train". Shame not to be able to give it 3.5 ⭐ here but on 1001 this is a...
ZZ Top
3/5
Great fun with three smash hit classic pop songs and some great guitar throughout. Who would have thought this at the time of tres Hombres.
Violent Femmes
4/5
I didn't realize how much of this album had permeated my mind over the years despite not owning it. A uni best friend loved it and obviously played it & added it to mixtapes enough! It's an enjoyable blast all the way through and has such irrepressible energy.
Billy Bragg
4/5
A favourite of mine since hearing my dad's cassette copy in the car as young teen, then owning it myself on cd (and later original vinyl - slightly warped!). As I commonly see in reviews, the political aspects on here aren't so strong, but what is - and what have always been - are Billy's "slice of life" personal songs. There are so many great ones here such as "The Warmest Room", "Greetings to the New Brunette" and "Levi Stubbs Tears". The added bonus is the guitar of Johnny Marr (who was breaking up with the Smiths at this time), as well as Kirsty MacColl of course.
Aerosmith
3/5
Surprisingly good and bears repeat listening with songs that worm there way to the memory. Still not my favourite kind of thing to come back to, but beats the far more revealed Back to Black for my money.
Flamin' Groovies
3/5
Another new one to me, this had plenty of energy, tunes, vibes and groove although it veered too much into boogie for me at times.
Blondie
4/5
An amazing album chock full of at least three perfect songs (Hanging on the Telephone, Picture This and Heart of Glass) and plenty of other bangers (Fade Away. One Way etc). Debbie Harry was just perfection as a pop star, singer, woman, everything. Nearly a five but a few songs just bring it down.
Neil Young
5/5
Neil hasn't been on my listening list for a few years since reading his Waging Heavy Peace, which detailed his long marriage and caring for their son which was very loving. Soon after he left them to be with Daryl Hannah, which just cheapened everything I had just read and unfortunately affected how I viewed him and I just stopped listening to his music. I have plenty of it and love many of his albums, including this massive hit album where he seemed to make concessions to the mainstream country crowd but with such wonderful songs that it didn't matter, the class just song through. There's plenty of darkness and drama within the sheen to give the album balance as well with Old Maid and Words.
Maybe its time to forgive Neil and accept he's as humanly susceptible to a Hollywood actress as the next man.
Beatles
5/5
Wildly diverging opinions and reactions to this album. I mean it's so obviously totally incredible and beyond 99.9% of anything else on this project. BUT it has Maxwell's / Octopus / Polythene etc so it's so not perfect as such. BUT the highs are just so good and at the end of the day it works so well as a complete article. Simply breathtaking... and therefore incredibly sad of course as it was the Beatles last proper release.
Michael Jackson
4/5
The Boo Radleys
4/5
An album I was a fan of at the time of release, due to their previous album Everythings Alright Forever being a shoegazy obsession. This one was wildly different, varied in scope and universally lauded by the music press (if largely ignored by the masses). I voluntarily listened to it a couple of times recently so this was hardly a trial, it's just really enjoyable and full of hooks ideas grooves and squalls.
Peter Gabriel
4/5
The first times listening to this album despite knowing a few of the songs from singles / compilations. The sound hasn't aged and is very experimental but doesn't alienate the listener with too much austerity or coldness, with Gabriel sticking close enough to melody and emotional hooks to keep us warm. I loved Games Without Frontiers as a kid but now really appreciate Biko & I Don't Remember as well. It reveals that Gabriel is worth visiting for the album cuts beyond So / Up and collections (I'm a child of the 80s).
The White Stripes
3/5
A frustrating album that I owned but didn't grow to love, almost the hype worked against it - in terms of "what are you hearing that i'm not" or vice versa. There are incredible highs like 7 Nation Army and Hardest Button, Ball and Biscuit almost deserves its 7 minute blues length, but in the age of albums being too long (making the most of cd lengths) there is way too many songs and it sags badly in the middle after "You Don't Know" (which is a bit throwaway and annoying).
5/5
After the initial buzz of excitement for their first album and the release and catchy, fun & often euphoric nature of this hugely successful follow up, they became ubiquitous & overexposure led to cooling towards WtSMG. 30 odd years on and being tasked to listen again here and detached from the Britpop wars of the time, this is just a great sing-along rush of an album that has surprisingly few low points and a few highs. I find myself really enjoying the Richard Ashcroft tribute Cast No Shadow, She's Electric and Some Might Say. But then there are the bigger songs and the closing epic Champagne Supernova so you really have quite a complete work here and despite really NOT being an Oasis fan and going nowhere near their recent reform tour (not even tempted), f*ck it this is a 4.5 star album so here leans towards a...
OutKast
3/5
CHVRCHES
3/5
LCD Soundsystem
3/5
A band I have always wrestled over, there are times when they are fun and engrossing and other times they are incredibly derivative and annoying. This album walks that tightrope and has some highs like All My Friends but then gets more workmanlike and boring on Watch the Tapes and the title track towards the end of the album.
The Icarus Line
1/5
It may have come on a bad day, but i've never heard of this album and I totally hated it. Sorry to any fans out there. Seems to me that there was some misguided hype around the time of its release (where it was built up for being something that it wasn't) before the band quickly revealed themselves to be unspectacular. Painful and a living torture to listen.
Peter Tosh
4/5
In 2017-18 I went through a Reggae obsession and picked up a lot of these gems on vinyl. Although this one eluded me (I found Equal Rights & Bush Doctor but this one was more pricey) I streamed this in those days and loved it. It's a relief to get this after the dreadful Icarus Line and have an album I can put on repeat and immerse within. Great tunes, not all about legalising weed, and so uplifting. He was always the coolest in the Wailers.
Machito
3/5
Janis Joplin
2/5
I have tried to get into this album in the last 6 months and purchased an old 2nd hand vinyl copy in the summer, but the overiding feeling I have listening to it this morning is "when is this song going to end" and then get shocked it's only been going for 2 minutes. The kind of rock that Old Grey Whistle Test viewers used to moon over whilst dissing any music that sought to break the mold and move things forward. Her voice just doesn't do it for me (painfully shrill and strained through a meat cutter at times), which is a shame.
Marvin Gaye
4/5
What's Going On was rated as one of the best albums of all time along with Astral Weeks in the early 90s music rags, and that was my introduction to Marvin Gaye and his style of musical suites (with sounds and themes somewhat permiating throughout). This he took much further on Let's Get it on which I sought out thereafter, but the theme here is even more persistent and it can be hard to differentiate the groove and melody of one songs from another.
I was too young to be as adept and successful a loverman as Marvin or to have the opportunity, but let's face it a seductive soundtrack is exactly what this suits most, and it is probably the ideal example for this.
If you can get over the single theme suite nature, it's is almost perfect. So long as your horny baby.
The Stooges
3/5
Bruce Springsteen
4/5
I own most Bruce albums so nothing new here & Darkness is one of his best collections of songs with a gritty, leaner & stark production style. The songs can be hardhitting as well (Adam Raised a Cain) and stretched his emotive storytelling of the everyman and often criminal types. Not my favourite Bruce, but still one of his best and I particularly like "Something in the Night" (that classic Roy Bittan tearjerking piano chiming progression), "Racing in the Street", "Badlands" and the title song.
Dusty Springfield
4/5
An incredible album by Dusty, the musicians, producer and songwriters. So many definitive versions on here and her voice is just sensational.
The Lemonheads
4/5
Concise, cute, cocky, candescent, captivating, catchy, cathartic, charming, cheeky, cheerful, childlike, comely and cuddly.
The cover of Mrs Robinson was a bit of a distraction from a great compilation of short original songs that are over too soon but is kinda perfect for that. A fan of it at the time and still sounds wonderful. And Dando was kinda cute too (& a lot of the other c words).
Personally I prefer it ending as originally intended with Frank Mills.
Various Artists
3/5
It's the first Christmas day during the 1001 project album. Strangely I don't know this one despite having a number of Christmas albums. Maybe the dark spectre of Spector kept me away, but here I don't have a choice. It's wall of sound soul pop and certainly feels Christmassy with harmonies bright instrumentation and lushness. So I can see why it became a staple.
Sarah Vaughan
4/5
Brilliant beautiful rich soulful fun, she has an incredible voice and in a way it's a smoother sister to Billie Holidays "Songs for Distingue Lovers" (not sure if that is on here yet). I have only heard Sarah Vaughan on a compilation of hers before, this is a far more enjoyable experience. One of those albums where you truly feel you are present at the gig
Elis Regina
2/5
A strange inclusion given that it was apparently a posthumous compilation of tracks and the version I'm linked to from here is not the original line up (3 additional songs in different sequence) so it's hard to evaluate truly. Annoying frequently but at times diverting & striking, it's one of those I haven't got a clue sitting on the fence don't really want to hear it again albums, but veering towards the 2 this time.
Goldfrapp
4/5
Goldfrapp made each album distinct and this one took a pastoral turn with acoustic guitars, somewhat reminiscent of St Etienne's Tiger Bay, but with a Wicker Man twist. This wasn't unwelcome and led to some of their prettiest tunes and most accessible moment like Happiness.
OutKast
3/5
Over time my allegiance seems to have shifted from the indulgence of the Andre side to the more pure hip-hop side of Big Boi. A great album but exhausting, especially with the final couple of Love Below songs Vibrate and A Life in the Day.
Incredible Bongo Band
3/5
Public Image Ltd.
2/5
Turgid with only a couple of songs of note in Public Image and Lowlife, otherwise a painful slog. Metal Box is far superior.
MGMT
4/5
This was an album I enjoyed at the time, but coming back to it now it seems to be better than I remembered and the first "side" would have been in the running for a 5 star rating. Time to Pretend, The Youth, Kids, Electric Feel are all brilliant indie pop tunes. The second side is good but can't quite keep up the stellar quality.
Sam Cooke
4/5
Enjoyable but also raw and audience fueled, so I wouldn't say it is THE Cooke must listen. It loses a lot of his incredible finesse, even though the band was cooking and it would have been incredible to be there. 3.5 but I can't quite bring myself to round that to a 3 so...
Nightmares On Wax
3/5
It's a very background chill 3 stars kind of album, and apart from the first track Nights Introlude not anything I can get excited about. But then I don't smoke weed.
The Velvet Underground
3/5
Alice In Chains
2/5
Morrissey
4/5
His albums have been dwelling in the shed since he made patently clear how nuts he has become, but it was not an unpleasant ride to listen to this again. Gone are the illusions that he was being wry and observational about far right elements, and this can't help but taint the experience. Ronson does a great job o creating a new (but old) sound for Moz on guitar and production and there's some beautiful more acoustic numbers like "We'll Let You Know" and "Seasick". Hard to rate this lower.
The Thrills
2/5
Initially this had me bewildered and skipping, but it ended up being suitably light weight and catchy to accompany & brighten a crappy work day. The main singers voice isn't very strong, it reminds somewhat of Sparklehorse rockier numbers. I can't see what part this album can truly be considered as one of the best 1089 ever, but it ended up being enjoyable and inoffensive enough. However, the band seemed to run out of puff after a few albums and were as inconsequential as they were destined to be.
For me One Horse Town saves it but Big Sur and Santa Cruz are really overrated poor openers.
Django Django
2/5
Granted that there's often ridiculous hype around some of these acts / albums when they come through (think The Klaxons) but I do think this author made some howlers when choosing contemporary / new albums for inclusion in the book. This is a case in point. All style and very little substance, representing everything I knew I never needed in music, frontier dance rock.
Elton John
3/5
One of only two Elton albums despite an incredible run in the 70s, I'd already broken my duck for opening my mind by buying Tumbleweed Connection a year ago. This one is a more ornate affair, starting with the superb Tiny Dancer, but otherwise being short of "hits" it's still a compact suite of songs that sit well with each other. I've read criticism in particular for "Indian Summer" elsewhere but this even seemed fine to me.
James Brown
2/5
Surprisingly unenjoyable and I couldn't wait for it to end. jBs voice is thin shrill and annoying. The crowd dominate, in the interminable Lost Someone (over 10 mins) the main hook seems to be a repeated scream from the audience, just dreadful. The songs are mostly just grooves or jams without real impact or even soul. The main was a sh*t, but I know he had a massive impact and life must have been so hard. Just don't expect to hear the world changing here.
Baaba Maal
4/5
Of some of the more world music based selections this has been my favourite and I listened to it three times on the trot. Even the alleged cheesy dated elements (trumpet synth) seemed to make sense. Granted I went through a phase of listening to lots of world music so the different language didn't jar, it's more the feeling and vibe and pure musicality, which Baaba has in spades
Joni Mitchell
5/5
Funkadelic
4/5
Radiohead
5/5
An incredible album from the moment it was bizzarely released for a price of your own choosing online. Betters OK Computer & Kid A for me due to having no duff songs and the programming drums, riffs & mood of so many of the tracks is jawdropping. Wierdly the first two songs could be the weakest, but I like it as an album that seemingly gets better as it goes on, it's the opposite of how modern albums now work, where they have to grab you quickly with short attention span streaming.
The Prodigy
3/5
It was hard to be unaware of this at the time and I was a "No Good" fan, but the album wasn't anything I felt attracted to buy, it seemed more something to hear in a club than in the bedroom. Whilst I somewhat still hold to that, and wouldn't necessarily choose to listen to it, the album is a good, enjoyable listen, whilst being very long (although I wouldn't know what to drop or cut).
Alanis Morissette
2/5
A favourite of my wife's but thankfully not something I'm subjected to often. Putting it on tonight even she had to ask that songs were skipped, the singing was so painful to listen to. There are some good tracks Ironic, Head over Feet, You Oughta Know and You Learn, but it's not something I would choose to listen to.
The Rolling Stones
3/5
Not one of the Stones albums I thought would come up, of course it's important and shows their influences through the tracks they covered along with their first self penned song Tell Me. This is the UK version so it doesn't include Not Fade Away (shame).
Therefore there's much in the way of originality here, but there is a well drilled great band obviously obsessed with the music they are finding and finding. Soon they will be writing some even better songs themselves, and that is what we really have to hear before we die.
Television
5/5
Albums like this make this project easy, it's so obviously an absolutely perfect classic. I listened to it a few times in a row this morning and immersed and rejoiced in every moment.
5/5
The Smashing Pumpkins
4/5
Underworld
4/5
For me their best album despite the excessive hype for the (still good) debut, this has a more varied organic vibe - especially the second song Banstyle. The second part of this (probably the Sappys Curry) has some incredible spliced use of acoustic guitar loops, it's just ingenious and blissful. Where many people just diss this as techno, repetitive and too long don't get the context and nature of this music. It wasn't just for dancing to but was also music you can immerse and lose yourself in. They got the balance right, there's enough going on tied to emotion and deep atmospherics.
Pulp
4/5
An uncomfortable follow up to Different Class, leaning further into the darker seamier side of life often with the harsh realities of ageing staring them in the face. I never grew to love it, but songs like Little Soul, Help the Aged and Party Hard are superb.
Metallica
1/5
One of those dread days of enduring aural pain for the project. Initially I was hopeful as it only has 8 songs, but then noticed the album is 54 minutes so they are unfortunately interminably and unecessarily long. When albums like this are listed as the 99th best album of all time, maybe it needs ratings like mine to temper this, but too many non-metal heads steer clear and can't tolerate enough to give it a proper critical rating.
Half way through the title song the mire pauses for some musicianship and my brain wakes up & can believe for a minute that it's listening to music and not an barrage of machinery. That break doesn't last of course and we're chundering away soon enough and shaking our hair around. You have to be there (and have long hair to shake), I guess.
I am not against heavy hard rock per se and two of my favourite albums are by The God Machine, but this is like purgatory before the pleasures of hell.
Can
3/5
An album who's ratings on here have a perfect rating pattern with the peak at 3. That's the ideal score here for me, it's not a hard listen but also is fairly meandering and somewhat indiscernimable.
The Zutons
3/5
Always dismissed them so was surprised how fun this album was! Like The Coral with Sax and some female vocals.
Lou Reed
4/5
Ryan Adams
3/5
"I hope you don't think I'm a monster?"
"No honey, I just think you made some really bad decisions."
The album never set me on fire & definitely isn't something I reach for as a result of his reputation with women, but this is a good album - there's no avoiding that.
Ute Lemper
3/5
I'm shocked by the other reviews of this and wonder why most people do this project and if they're truly music fans, due to the lack of insight, inquisitiveness and open-mindedness they show.
I knew of this album due to being a Neil Hannon/ Divine Comedy fan and to be clear here most of the songs were written for Lemper and this project by major luminaries like Cave / Waits / Costello / Hannon / Glass / Walker. This is a fascinating work and a great performance by Lemper and the band, brought to life by DCs Joby Talbot (his orchestrations are genius). There's a little too much strident bombast on a couple of the songs for a higher score from me, but I hope to come back to it and possibly revise at a later point.
I implore you to dig deeper when doing this project, look more into context. People are so quickly dismissive of any works out of the norm, so why do this and not just stick to your collection of staple canon albums?
G. Love & Special Sauce
1/5
A friend has always loved this, trying to convince me to listen to it and even see them live with him (I declined, sorry Tom). It's never grabbed me and still doesn't on the 1001 test today. It sums up most anything I could ever NOT want in music, like the worst sides of RHCP combined with Spin Doctors and a local band jamming with some bad white boy rap vocals.
I feel disrespectful to my friend but this was one of the most difficult albums to "last the distance" and finish, it was so dull and lacking of redeeming factors that I seek in music. And so full of ones I seek to avoid.
Beck
2/5
Ah Beck, one of the artists who's had the most smoke blown up their ass in the last 30 years and most often proved to be totally overrated. Heck, he even had Willie Nelson sprinkle gold dust over him on a video. This is one of his better albums, but still strangely leaves me cold. He's a head artist for me rather than heart, so this being a slow contemplative work there's something hollow to the exercise. However it still exudes far more charm than most of his work.
It's produced by Nigel Godrich and has his signature depth and richness but even back in more depressed self absorbed days this didn't tick my boxes, with a constant glacial feeling that drags you down, the opposite of catharsis. Today I prefer to listen to more upbeat joyous music so this was hard to get through.
Buena Vista Social Club
4/5
A great album and one I got at the time of release as "world music" was a major interest of mine at the time. It was very popular especially in the UK and led to many spin off albums from the various participants who were able to finish off their lives with a big flourish hurrah! I had only listened to this a couple of weeks ago but it's never a trial to revisit, and especially enjoyable now I know some Spanish and can get the gist of lyrics.
Kings of Leon
3/5
Omnipresent in the year of its release with Sex on Fire and Use Somebody capturing the masses with their hooks, the success wasn't underserved for a band I had tagged as just workmanlike & inconsequential. This wasn't painful to listen to and I didn't notice the lyrics / subject matter on 17 which seems to invite people's ire. It's something I owned and occasionally revisit but not worth more than a 3 here.
The Go-Go's
4/5
Led Zeppelin
4/5
Probably their masterpiece and has the added bonus of including Sandy Denny on Battle of Evermore for that added bit of colour to the mix.
Paul Simon
4/5
Wow I think this confirms I shouldn't read reviews on here, what a bunch of friggin idiots. What a classic and nothing Simon did here is wrong. He is a music lover. He loved their music. So he went to see them. They loved him. They made music together in collaboration that a majority of the whole world loved. He gave exposure of their music to the whole world, as well as their domestic plight which doubtless made a positive contribution to the end of apartheid.
Beyond that it's a great mix of songs joyous and thoughtful. Groovy and heartwarming. A classic and probably his best.
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds
4/5
As one of the few more recent albums added to the list (as the book creator tends to only remove other albums only recently added in the previous edition, rather than ditch clunkers like The Sensational Alex Harvey Band "Next" as that would require reformating the first 3/4 of the book and more cost), i'm really pleased to see this incredible album added.
People mistakenly think that "Skeleton Key" was about his sons death, when in fact that was a coincidence and it was written before hand. This one definitely does however, and to me is immensely brave and oddly beautiful and uplifting. Warren Ellis has been in full effect for this trilogy (going back to "Push the Sky Away") and his minimal loops and effects (including harmonies) steal the show here, although Nick showed how important the piano is to his modern work through his "Idiot Prayer" solo piano covid live album (recorded at Alexander Palance with social distancing in full effect).
This album became a fan favourite to all including my then 8 year old daughter, who could really lose themselves in this mysterious world of Cave.
Only 4 stars as it is just a bit too long, especially towards the end with two 10+ minute songs, Hollywood in particular drags eventually.
Ramones
4/5
Despite loving early Television / Talking Heads era CBGS and some UK punk, I'd never actually taken the plunge with the Ramones. I had a feeling that they were a band for which you had to be there at the time. In fact they make reasonable sense FIFTY years later, not that much guitar / rock based music is permeating through to the mainstream nowadays.
The main criticism here seems to be that all the songs sound the same, which I can't get at all and just proves that most people here don't give albums and their legacy the benefit of the date. Listen to an r&b album from the 2000s and you'll find that the overall sound is consistent throughout the album, same with rap / pop etc there's a sound thats been consciously decided on or produced.
Here the sound is guys with the standard rock tools of drums bass guitar and vocals, with a surprising amount coming in the form of harmonies and backing vocals here, possibly due to their seeming love of Motown. Pop is also obviously a predominant love for them too, as this is utterly hook laden, I mean every short song is packed with ideas and hooks, not just in the chorus.
I am amazed how good this is and can't believe I've assumed I wouldn't like it. One review from a serious music fan (IDK what the f*CK most of you are or what you're doing here when you can only hold albums in contempt unless they blow you away in ONE listen so just give ONE star) on RYM said that the proof was that listening to it today it still makes him smile and I know exactly what he means.
So shit yes they use the same mix of instruments on each song but no way do the songs all sound the same. They're so charming and sing alone and cute and fun. Open your minds dudes, cos albums like this deserve time and respect. They changed music and woke everybody who cared about music like a shot in the arm.
KISS
3/5
Sabu
3/5
Rage Against The Machine
3/5
Elvis Costello
4/5
Lightning Bolt
2/5
T. Rex
4/5
Wow this was stunning, I only really knew Electric Warrior but I think I prefer this it is relentlessly catch and groovy, with those incredible riffs and harmonies.
Dolly Parton
3/5
Dexys Midnight Runners
5/5
I'm a big Dexys fan, seen them twice and love the new albums. This is 42 minutes of concentrated brilliance from a true maverick innovator human tornado who was always looking to be ahead of the game, no matter what he had to achieve to do it. The focus and love on soul music set them apart on the debut and here the folk element takes them even further from their contemporaries. They have three albums on here because they were a really important band and the first two were successful despite being incredible Oddities in music of the time. The third was an insane flop (Don't Stand Me Down) but is now probably their best regarded album by fans, for all the reasons that it wasn't successful. The guy was a total disaster in so many ways, but probably had the biggest balls in bravery in any singer and band leader I've ever known. He even dressed in women's underwear on the cover of a solo album once he'd got himself straight from drink and drugs. I simply find this one hard to fault, apart from the production at times but that's even been fixed on the "as it should have been" new version.
Bob Marley & The Wailers
4/5
The first album adapted for the rock market by Islands Chris Blackwell, this started Reggae's emergence into the mainstream but with such tight fone beautiful songs and playing the experience wasn't so much of a dilution as to be unpalatable for the roots reggae fans.
I went through a big reggae binge around 10 years ago and of course Bob was a big part of this. I loved the upbeat defiant nature despite the serious messages often being communicated.
There's not just Bob here, there's the marvelous Peter Tosh (who wrote two of the songs and was arguably the coolest man alive at the time) and Bunny Wailer of course (check out his Blackheart Man album it's wonderful). This was originally listed (& printed) as the Wailers but got attributed to Marley later on when his brand went through the roof. But this was a true Wailers album.
Aretha Franklin
4/5
The Velvet Underground
5/5
Adele
2/5
The National
4/5
Miles Davis
5/5
Madonna
5/5
It would be a five if it wasn't for the American Pie cover, but even that is not bad (& apparently saved Don McLean from financial troubles, for which he was very thankful).
Ah heck in the US that song wasn't included so I'll give it a 5 (it was still 44 minutes with the original 10 songs).
It still sounds incredible today and is probably my most listened to Madonna album. It was played repeatedly in my first proper place of work. They only had a few albums including Protection (Massive Attack) and Alabama 3, which gives you an idea of their collective taste.
What it feels like for a Girl was my favourite, Don't Tell Me was another great single but all the album tracks really hit die to the great production throughout despite multiple producers and collaborators.
I'm made up this was in the book, as pop can be under represented (even if it was later dropped). Especially I'm happy to give a 5 to a pop girl, for what is the prevalent chart genre in the 2020s and for which Madonna was one of the trailblazers. This album was very important for what was to come.
Rufus Wainwright
3/5
Supertramp
3/5
Count Basie & His Orchestra
3/5
Common
2/5
Nirvana
5/5
The Smashing Pumpkins
5/5
The Chemical Brothers
3/5
Happy Mondays
2/5
The Killers
3/5
Eminem
2/5
This album is so conflicting, as is much rap with commonplace misogyny / glamourised violence towards women and homophobia. Even with it being hidden behind a persona, it's more the influence on listeners (especially young boys) that is the main issue. The production by Dre is great and a lot of the flows are obviously good, but this album is an absolute slog and leaves a dreadful taste in the mouth for someone who has respect for women & LGBTQ+..
David Ackles
3/5
Nowhere as bad as the reviews and ratings on here suggest. It was a totally new name and album to me and was pretty impressive, if not a total success. The orchestration by Robert Kirby of Nick Drake fame gave it all a quality sheen and he's definitely a wordsmith (Taupin produced but everything I've seen suggests Ackled wrote all the words and music). I'll come back to this in the future so it's a 3.
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds
4/5
This albums Straight To You was my introduction to Cave thanks to the UK TV video Chart Show, and from this I got this album and loved it, leading to a lifelong Cave addiction. I then saw him at Reading Festival soon afterwards (just before the legendary Nirvana performance).
I've generally considered it patchy compared to some of his, but listening to it now on decent headphones it just sounds great. I know Cave and Co were somewhat critical of the recorded live production but I love the sound, especially the acoustic guitars, bass and swirling organ.
Public Enemy
3/5
Tim Buckley
3/5
Jean-Michel Jarre
4/5
Miles Davis
5/5
Motörhead
3/5
Bauhaus
2/5
The United States Of America
2/5
Santana
3/5
TV On The Radio
3/5
The Everly Brothers
3/5
Iron Maiden
1/5
The kind of album I dread appearing on my daily feed, this band were a joke in my childhood, and kind of funny when their songs went to the top of the charts then dissapeared again, with titles like "Bring Your Daughter to the Slaughter". Little did I know that years later some people actually treated this music seriously (but I thought they were a joke, which they were in school) and then wind to today and 7 of their albums are bolded - in a row - on rateyourmusic.
Does this mean I treat this album more seriously now? Kind of.
Did I enjoy it? No.
Will I ever willingly listen to it again? No
Run-D.M.C.
4/5
Throbbing Gristle
3/5
Possibly due to having studied fine art time based media and focusing for a while on avante garde music (cage etc), this wasn't so strange or unappealing to me as it obviously has been for others. It was surprisingly enjoyable and stimulating to listen to, with a musical pulse throughout despite it seeming to only be noise. It's the first time I've listened to it (so thank you 1001) and I wouldn't be averse to playing it again. They are such a key and influential collective to so many genres, I think it's fitting that they feature here.
New Order
4/5
The Stone Roses
5/5
A revelation at the time and still superb today. I owned all the singles / 12 inches / tshirts and at the age of 13 thanked my lucky stars for having an older brother who could give me an early heads up on this. It's hard to describe to younger generations quite how momentous it was, and given that their much delayed follow up was far from impressive (though still quite enjoyable) this becomes even more alchemical.
A 4.5 on RYM due to Elizabeth My Dear & Don't Stop, but here it's a 5
Fairport Convention
5/5
Blood, Sweat & Tears
2/5
The Mamas & The Papas
2/5
Whilst California Dreamin is one of the best songs of all time, the album was a dull washed out experience with often annoying stereo mixing that I wouldn't want to hear again.
Jerry Lee Lewis
4/5
Paul Revere & The Raiders
3/5
Pet Shop Boys
4/5
U2
3/5
From the go Mullens drumming is insane, for the best song SBS to be instantly recognisable from the drums is almost unheard of (hello Phil Collins). I enjoyed this is 2026 more than I imagined I would, and despite New Years Day being the other obvious highlight, the rest of the album holds it's own pretty well. What is more obvious to me than ever is how important the band is to the whole - they worked when it wasn't just about Bono (who became insufferable). There's a freshness here that became overbearing in self-righteousness on albums like Joshua Tree.
Jack White
3/5
UB40
4/5
One of those albums that is important to research on this project before you listen, as streamers will offer you versions with added songs (Madame Medusa, Strange Fruit, Reefer Madness) which were on a separate EP included within the album package but - for me - definitely to be absorbed separately.
The album itself is tight (which Madame Medusa definitely isn't!) with great self-written songs, tunes and incisive subject matter (but still just enjoyable).
As I'm sure is stated in more enlightened reviews elsewhere - this UB40 is a totally different beast to the later Labour of Love cover version band they sadly became with huge commercial success. At the time of Signing Off (& it's successor Present Arms) this band and others like Steel Pulse (even early Specials / The Beat / Selector / Aswad/ Matumbi) represented a vital wave of resistance within late 70s Britain where cultures chose to come together and find ways to survive the grey hostility in Thatchers wastelands.
And as my daughter said whilst we listen to it loud on original vinyl - it's a vibe!
John Coltrane
4/5
The Cramps
2/5
Mekons
3/5
Astrud Gilberto
2/5
Hole
5/5
One of the major revelations for me as I never checked out this album despite liking it's follow up Celebrity Skin. Shamefully there was probably an element of sexism to this and either not taking it seriously (as she was overshadowed by her beau Cobain) or being literally scared of it - & strong women in general. Luckily this is not the case now and this is almost perfection. Hoping I get more time on my own to listen to it more (it's good Friday and extended relations won't want to hear it!).
Led Zeppelin
4/5
Another problematic band for my sensibilities and for this challenge, I was struggling between a 3 or a 4 (it's 3.5 on RYM) but the band are undeniably incredible and there are enough amazing riffs and tunes that it just hits 4 here. It's not without bad or average songs, but the great and the good rescue it.
Joan Armatrading
5/5
Pretty much back to back with Hole "Love Through This" these are the bigger finds so far on this journey, both I had failed to listen to before and both blew me away. I had one other Joan album which was okay but nothing like the depth, clarity, class and vivacity of this one. Scandalous that this isn't paraded on music platforms for the classic that it is. Her playing, songwriting and singing are out of this world here. No wonder Glyn Johns said this was the favourite album he worked on.
Kraftwerk
4/5
MC Solaar
3/5
Sigur Rós
5/5
Doves
4/5
Ray Charles
3/5
The Bees
3/5
T. Rex
4/5
Queen
3/5
An album I owned when young but struggled with and things haven't changed. Sure it has some great songs (BH, you're my best friend) but it has a majority of stinker throwaway romps more akin to pub singalongs. That Rogers car song is probably the 5th best here despite the flak it takes is alarming.
A band that suits greatest hit compilations best.
Tim Buckley
2/5
The Cardigans
4/5
A favourite band at the time, this was probably my lowest ranked of their albums from Life through to Long Gone Before Daylight, but it's still a wonderful album. Nina became a true favourite by the time she did the A Camp albums where her voice became a thing of true wonder. Caught them live during Gran Turismo era as well (at the dreadful Royal Albert Hall) and they were surprisingly muscular, the guitarist showing himself to be an extraordinary musician. I heard somebody complaining of the baby vocals but if you listen properly she can and does belt it out at times, even if her best vocals are still to come.
Fishbone
1/5
Oh great, American funk rock. At least the first track is Curtis Mayfield, even if it's a pointless derivative cover that makes you long for the original. I'm apprehensive about getting to their own material... My one hope is that it may be akin to Frank Zappa which is the most hopeful I can be in terms of influence / sound on here.
Track 2... Jeezus what the fuck? Sounds like some kids at school pissing around, with lyrics to suit a 15 year old. Right best get busy and just suffer what might be the most perfect horror to beset my ears in this project (sweats).
Being fair Pouring Rain is much better, cutting bank on the wank rock to actually let a song breathe and the singer to actually emote. There's some actually good production on this track. And then Deep Inside hits in all it's Guns n Roses to be horror making me want to wash out my ears, it's some of the most repulsive shit I've heard, the guy is just cramming in all the words with zero musicality. But thank god it's short. If only I could say the same for the rest of this horror show.
I'm on a day off today, but I'm doing some work from home just so this can sink into the background more and be more tolerable. Jeez subliminal fascism just hit, please finish soon... it does, phew!
I'm sure these guys are an important on the 90s funk rock scene, but that was one of the most foul smelling aberrations to behold music so there's no honour there!
The Smiths
4/5