151
Albums Rated
3.62
Average Rating
14%
Complete
938 albums remaining
Rating Distribution
Rating Timeline
Taste Profile
1960
Favorite Decade
Soul
Favorite Genre
UK
Top Origin
Wordsmith
Rater Style ?
24
5-Star Albums
3
1-Star Albums
Breakdown
By Genre
Top Styles
By Decade
By Origin
Albums
You Love More Than Most
| Album | You | Global | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Traffic
Traffic
|
5 | 3.07 | +1.93 |
|
The Black Saint And The Sinner Lady
Charles Mingus
|
5 | 3.32 | +1.68 |
|
From Elvis In Memphis
Elvis Presley
|
5 | 3.35 | +1.65 |
|
Elvis Presley
Elvis Presley
|
5 | 3.37 | +1.63 |
|
Hot Buttered Soul
Isaac Hayes
|
5 | 3.43 | +1.57 |
|
Diamond Life
Sade
|
5 | 3.45 | +1.55 |
|
Aja
Steely Dan
|
5 | 3.47 | +1.53 |
|
The Suburbs
Arcade Fire
|
5 | 3.5 | +1.5 |
|
With The Beatles
Beatles
|
5 | 3.66 | +1.34 |
|
The Queen Is Dead
The Smiths
|
5 | 3.66 | +1.34 |
You Love Less Than Most
| Album | You | Global | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
|
High Violet
The National
|
1 | 3.24 | -2.24 |
|
Foxbase Alpha
Saint Etienne
|
1 | 2.94 | -1.94 |
|
G. Love And Special Sauce
G. Love & Special Sauce
|
1 | 2.74 | -1.74 |
|
Highway to Hell
AC/DC
|
2 | 3.64 | -1.64 |
|
Violent Femmes
Violent Femmes
|
2 | 3.49 | -1.49 |
|
The Downward Spiral
Nine Inch Nails
|
2 | 3.34 | -1.34 |
|
Abattoir Blues / The Lyre of Orpheus
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds
|
2 | 3.32 | -1.32 |
|
Horses
Patti Smith
|
2 | 3.3 | -1.3 |
|
B-52's
The B-52's
|
2 | 3.29 | -1.29 |
|
Youth And Young Manhood
Kings of Leon
|
2 | 3.09 | -1.09 |
Artists
Favorites
| Artist | Albums | Average |
|---|---|---|
| Beatles | 2 | 5 |
| Elvis Presley | 2 | 5 |
| Pink Floyd | 2 | 5 |
| The Rolling Stones | 4 | 4.25 |
| Radiohead | 3 | 4.33 |
5-Star Albums (24)
View Album Wall
Popular Reviews
Duke Ellington · 1 likes
4/5
Duke Ellington is a genius. One of the best composers in the history of music. I know this is like, the "big" album of his that you might see in the Borders catalog, and it's probably his band at their absolute most smokin, but its not where I might start with his enormous catalogue (and admittedly I'm no expert). Even so, that band is ripping and it reminds me of the kind of music we played in HS band so I'll go 4.5 with a round down, only because I prefer other albums of his (particularly the one with John Coltrane).
Nirvana · 1 likes
4/5
Whenever I listen to this album, I wonder if it sounds like an album made by someone about to kill himself, or if hindsight is 20/20....on one hand, I'm tempted to say its pretty demented and less melodic than "Nevermind", but at the same time, my favorite songs are the slow, moody songs like "Dumb", "Heart-Shaped Box" and "All Apologies". Would have loved to hear where Cobain would have gone next musically.
Peter Gabriel · 1 likes
4/5
A smash album from a curious, interesting and unique artist. The 80s synth sounds still work, don’t sound dated. I appreciate that he’s letting the R&B influence permeate naturally, and not doing the “white singer does soul” thing that can be cringe. Feels natural…It’s a good mix of styles that still feel a part of a vision. The Kate Bush duet is a little slow, but i enjoy it…feels like St Vincent based her whole singing by style on KB. Gonna be singing “Big Time” in my head for a week. Fun album overall.
Thin Lizzy · 1 likes
4/5
Thin Lizzy is badass…for me, “Jailbreak” is a perfect song, and a perfect album opener. They manage to mix and balance a lot of things - hard rock without being self-indulgent, Irish attitude/influence without it being a novelty, glam rock aesthetics without sacrificing any of the music, and as a live band, they’re smoking. It’s kind of the same song over and over, but you know what? I like that song so screw you….Great rock, great energy, great album.
G. Love & Special Sauce · 1 likes
1/5
Man, this was annoying. I used to associate G Love with everything I hated about the puka shell Hollister preppy types who were so annoying in HS. At first, I thought/worried I was just being a hater, and that I was primed to not like this from subconsciously hanging on to those associations. But despite my best efforts to listen with fresh ears, this album is kind of a perfect collection of the musical quirks that annoy me the most - that vocal affectation that white guys do when they're trying a hip hop/dub accent and ends up just sounding like they have a mouth full of peanut butter (number 1 most annoying FWIW), sloppy loose jams, bad improvised guitar solos/playing, long songs that go nowhere, etc. Initially, I got lulled into thinking it was more dull than terrible, but by the time I got to "Shooting Hoops", I was thoroughly irritated. Sounds like Gen-X dads doing some unholy mix of a Grateful Dead/Beastie Boys/Dave Matthews jam at a block party, and I was ready for it to end.
1-Star Albums (3)
All Ratings
Bill Evans Trio
4/5
Bill’s playing is sublime as always. What’s with all the crowd noise/dialogue during the performances? It almost sounds like they turned it up
Alice In Chains
4/5
Wish i could do 3.5. Liked it more than i was expecting, great vocals and more melodic than i thought. Sounds like the only grunge band who would admit they listen to Queen and Metallica.
R.E.M.
4/5
Strong debut from a band that would kind of perfect their thing over the years. Michael Stipe at his most mumble-y….I love the jangly guitar sound and “Talk About the Passion” probably one of my favorite REM songs. Also particularly Mike Mills’ bass playing this time around
The Beach Boys
5/5
Leonard Cohen
4/5
Wow, wasn’t expecting to like this as much as I did. Never could get into Leonard Cohen’s folk-y stuff, since I’m usually a music over lyrics guy, but I really enjoyed this album. He mixes melancholy and humor delicately, and it’s almost more like spoken word. Sounds like Tom Waits (with less creepy circus vibes) and/or music that you would expect to hear over a montage during The Sopranos
Waylon Jennings
3/5
Good tunes…three chords and the truth. I like “outlaw country” and enjoyed this, but I’m also not sure what made the editor of this list pick this particular album. I found the exaggerated Beatles-level panning of the stereo mix really distracting…it made the individual instruments louder, but in a ham-handed way that I think was disorienting and took away from the experience. Nothing like checking your right AirPod is broken because a harmonica solo blasted into your left out of nowhere
Saint Etienne
1/5
Oof, this one was just not my thing…I know it’s a matter of taste and I guess I’m too cynical but the whole album sounds like it’s 1996 and I’m in the Air France lounge, listening on a Walkman on my flight back to London, looking at a Benetton ad and imagining what the world could be if everyone would just DANCE. I don’t really like 90s London sunshine/psychedelic rave, adidas track suit, buzz cut with an earring music to begin with, and the singer sounds like Diana Ross if she was from Manchester and not allowed to see the sun. Refrains like “People get free…”, “in this world of ups and downs”, ”nothing can stop us now”, “let’s kiss and make up”….meh I’ll pass
Siouxsie And The Banshees
2/5
It had some moments but i won’t be going back any time soon…I like the energy and the songs that are actual songs, but not the noisy bits…”Mirage” has traces of proto-Nirvana. This feels like one of those albums that’s “important” or influential but people don’t actually enjoy listening to it, and it feels like it influenced people to play out of tune Jazzmasters. The “Helter Skelter” cover was bad. Probably would have liked it more or found it interesting when it came out but now it’s been copied to death, not Siouxsie’s fault.
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds
2/5
I don’t know what to do with Nick Cave. Every time I’ve listened to him, i enjoy the music, like the energy of the band, appreciate the density of the lyrics, am intrigued by his persona, etc….and then never remember the songs or come back to them. I like “The Lyre of Orpheus” song, but this is essentially two short albums combined. There’s something about it that just doesn’t grab me, even though I know it’s good and similar to a lot of other music I like. TBH, an 85 minute run time probably doesn’t help make it feel more accessible. Idk how the band remembers these songs, or how his fans can discern their favorites. If “undefined” were a rating, that’s what I’d give it, but after about an hour, i was pretty solidly bored. Wish i could go 2.5.
Ali Farka Touré
4/5
Perfect for a Sunday train ride…hypnotic, relaxing, melodic, and beautiful guitar tones from two masters. Will definitely be playing around with some of these tunes when i get home. Sometimes i wonder if there’s something freeing about not speaking the language the lyrics are in, you can just enjoy the music.
Louis Prima
3/5
Fun stuff…influential and captures the essence of a certain time and place, maybe feels a little gimmicky/dated at times in 2025, but mostly light-hearted interpretations of great songs.
3/5
Sounds like a strange mix of Patti Smith/Television/CBGB scene but updated with the smooth/suburban production aesthetic of the early 2000s….Somehow it kind of works?? She’s got a great voice. I’m not as crazy about the acoustic/whsiper-y songs and get a little bored with ‘love letter to New York’ type songs. Pleasant surprise to hear Thom Yorke on there. Overall, mostly enjoyed.
The Doors
4/5
The Doors in their prime….little blues, little psychedelia, little poetry, little experimental…if you like that, you like this. In my opinion, they catch too much flack because of the legions of Jim Morrison copycats and boomer classic rock iconography, but still a solid band. Some songs don’t hold my attention but I like the vibe. One note is that this is another one where I listened to and found the mix to be a little tinny and cramped, but I do like the music. Especially great playing from Robby Krieger.
Willie Nelson
4/5
Any album that is 15 songs and 34 minutes is great in my book. Willie’s one of one: simple songs but a great voice because of its emotion and simplicity, and one of the best writer of simple songs that has ever lived. That voice and an acoustic guitar is all you need (but I’ll take some faint didgeridoo in the background). Really enjoyed it and will probably come back to this one. Title track is a highlight
AC/DC
3/5
The ultimate “a little goes a long way” band for me. Good riffs, good energy, good music to be a fat guy pumping your fist to when your relief pitcher comes in and you’re feeling hype, good to play the music in Guitar Center when you’re testing out a Gibson SG, but not especially memorable or interesting after 40 minutes. At its best, sounds like Zeppelin, at its worst sounds like Guns n Roses…”Shake a Leg” is fun. I can enjoy it for what it is but wouldn’t seek it out.
The Mamas & The Papas
3/5
Good songs, good harmonies….kind of sounds like what I’d imagine The Beach Boys would sound like if they didn’t have Brian Wilson and had to rely on Bruce Johnston and Al Jardine for their musical direction; a little corny and dated but still strong harmonies and musicianship. Definitely some interesting covers on here, and I always loved “California Dreamin’ “. I’d like to spend more time with this one and let it grow on me… “Hey Girl” is a low point, a wet noodle of a song with dorky energy.
Kings of Leon
2/5
Sabremetrics must have come to music, because this is a perfectly “replacement level” rock band. I actually saw them in concert and felt the same way after they played for 100 minutes. From the songs themselves to the guitar tones to the vibe, it’s just so perfectly average. Would have given a 3 stars but some of the vocals were reaaaaally grating and it felt like the type of guy who would say he’s singing ragged and out of tune because of “emotion” when in reality he’s just trying to do something he shouldn’t.
Jefferson Airplane
3/5
Liked it more than I expected to, given how I usually feel about hippie music. “Somebody to Love” is a hit for a reason…I enjoy Jorma Kaukonen and Paul Kantner’s guitar playing, good harmonies. Some songs have that goofy flowery singing or flute/fairy vibe that sounds dated, but overall the songs are good and I enjoyed it, wish I could do 3.5 stars. Crazy how much Marty Balin sounds like 1966 Paul Simon
Sonic Youth
3/5
Liked Sonic Youth a lot when I was 17, so it has a sentimental feel/vibe. It’s occasionally abrasive music but they did create a sort of influential noisy, DIY sound. I like the “commercial” songs a lot more than the artsy/noisy stuff, and I think they are more creative musicians than they pretend to be, but I would get why someone wouldn’t like it. Every one of their albums has like 3 songs i really like, 5 that are fine, 2-3 that are just kind of bad, and every song is like 2-3 minutes too long. Kim Gordon’s vocals where she sings like she’s sentimental can be especially tough….but there are still bands - many of whom are highly acclaimed - imitating this sound today, so what do we do with that?
Jurassic 5
4/5
Great indie, lo-fi, west-coast hip-hop…nice and chill, perfect for smoking weed and driving around with palm trees in the horizon. Idk which member is which but i like the guy with the deep voice, kind of reminds me of Scarface. Probably giving this a higher rating than I would have if the last two weeks hadn’t been albums of out of tune noise, but I like it and thought it was easy to vibe and listen to. Why is only the edited version on Apple Music? That’s annoying.
Liz Phair
2/5
The songs are meh, feels like she is kind of a monotonous singer and the hooks aren’t memorable, tries to squeeze a lot of density into each song but it then just feels disorienting. Whatever 1993 moment this arrived in, i guess you had to be there. Mostly indifferent more than hate, also i didn’t finish it so I’ll give a 2 because i liked some of the guitar tones.
De La Soul
4/5
This is a classic…it grew on me as I got through the album, but I feel a little guilty about how it doesn’t always totally hold my attention. Very unique vibe/beats, creative songs, but maybe some primitive production and the vocals are mixed quite low relative to other hip hop. Love “Eye Know” “Tread Water”, and “Potholes in my Lawn”, and of course “Me Myself and I” is a classic…great recognizable samples from Led Zeppelin, Funkadelic, Steely Dan, James Brown, etc. I appreciate the way this album perfectly captures a young, and sort of light, late 80s/early 90s NY hip-hop, and builds on music that came before it while maintaining its own identity. Also feel like it might be like 3-4 songs too long and (as with most hip-hop albums) i could do without some of the skits.
Beatles
5/5
Yeah, I’m biased caus I’m a Beatles fanatic who grew up on them with my whole family, etc. so will probably be giving most of their albums 5 stars. Nonetheless, I think this album is a turning point for them, as it captures a time where Lennon and McCartney were really maturing as individual songwriters but also still collaborating, working, living together; there are no token covers or filler material like some of the early albums - this was an LP made up entirely of strong, original material, which was just not typical in 1965 (especially for rock bands). Even the weaker songs like (in my opinion) “Think For Yourself”, they enhance by trying new sounds in the studio and adding sounds like the fuzz on the guitar that hold you attention and curiosity…Paul’s bass playing also seems to take a leap here, particularly on “Nowhere Man” and “The Word”. Even if you don’t like it, it’s 40 minutes of melodies at 3 minutes a piece, which is more than we can say for a lot of other “important” albums on the list
The Killers
4/5
I didn’t appreciate these guys enough when they were biggest, and have come to really like them. The opener is a banger, great bass line driving the song. Always thought of the Killers of like a millennial take on U2 (but better?), or the Smiths (one of my favorites) but also maintain their own sound. Brandon Flowers has the front man charisma/aura. Good tunes, good mix of sounds, good singles. Knocking a star off because I hate “Mr Brightside” and have heard it too much, but would go 4.5 if i could. Great album
Isaac Hayes
5/5
This is a top tier album for me. “Walk on By” is a perfect opener and one of my favorite recordings, also made for a great Biggie sample. What a unique voice Isaac Hayes had….the narration on the closer is so epic. Glad this was today’s choice because it’s something i wanted to listen to anyway. Great interpretations of very stylistically different songs, walking a tight line between intimate arrangements and anlso also letting the backing band (The Bar-Kay’s?) stretch out. Funky, soulful, unique….Love this one
Kraftwerk
3/5
Interesting, innovative, and decent music to put in the background. But definitely a little dated, little repetitive, and very cold, austere European, trance-y communist synth vibes. That aspect kind of scares me. You can hear all the ways this influenced other artists from Bowie to Radiohead (and Afrika Bambaata) and it’s pretty easy on the ears. I appreciate it more than i like it but i like it enough
AC/DC
2/5
Not as good or anthemic as “Back in Black”, and I don’t love AC/DC to begin with. I don’t really get how they are so - not only popular - but also historically significant in the eyes of music critics. This is cookie cutter rock and roll, and i think it sounded cookie cutter in 1978 too. I can enjoy a moment or two, Angus Young is a fun guitarist, but it’s pretty damn monotonous…all the songs are in the same key, deal with the same subject (in the same goofy way), same instrumentation, same tempo, same guitar tones/style. I think I’m good on that song. “Walk All Over You” sound like Spinal Tap.
The Rolling Stones
3/5
The two singles are the two best tracks. This feels like a transition album for the Stones, as they are growing out of copying the Beatles and growing into the raunchy, macho, 70s version of themselves that people love them for. Plus a little country….Solid album, I think good energy and performances (particularly from Mick and Bill Wyman) paper over some meh songs, but the highs are high. Would go 3.5
The War On Drugs
4/5
This is one of my favorite bands of the last 20 years, so I’m biased (they started in Philly to boot). Some songs can be a little long, and while they sound similar I feel like it’s more thematic than repetitive. What I love about the War on Drugs is the hypnotic sound of their songs - the production, the arrangements, the tones, the vibe, the synths, etc even if I remember those more than specific songs. A little lap steel here, a little bari sax there, a little Leslie speaker here…keeps it interesting and well rounded. Adam Granduciel has a unique voice that still sounds a little bit like a lot of different people (Dylan? Bruce? Tom Petty? Ryan Adams? Win Butler?). I think the perfectionist feel and melodicism is what sets them apart from other similar indie bands. Great lyrics too if you can actually discern (or read) them. I’m a fan
Traffic
5/5
Another top tier/favorite album for me…Steve Winwood and Dave Mason cooking; that’s really all you need to know. Great mix of soul, psychedelica, and 60s rock but doesn’t really sound dated. I love the guitar turnaround on “Am I What Was or Am I What I Am”, the groove on “Who Knows What Tomorrow May Bring?”, the breakdown on “Medicated Goo”, etc. So many great moments. Could pretty much listen to Steve Winwood sing anything.
Pavement
3/5
The opening title track “Silence Kid” has the same melody as Buddy Holly “Every Day” - is that intentional? Pavement is decent indie rock, used to be more of a fan but sometimes it still borders on too noisy and out there. They made a sound that a lot of people continue to copy, even if they never caught on big time Love “Cut Your Hair”, sounds like a theme song to a Nickelodeon show.
Linkin Park
3/5
Another band i dismissed in their day…but Linkin Park fucks. They are a good band. Is it a little repetitive and/or corny at times? Sure, but also they were huge for a reason and perfected the nu metal/rap rock vibe. Way better sounds/songs/musicianship than peers like Limp Bizkit…A perfect crossroads of music to listen to you before your lacrosse game and music to listen to when you think about how much you hate the kids on the lacrosse team. I listened at the gym and enjoyed every minute in that environment.
The Go-Betweens
2/5
Pleasant, but somewhat unmemorable songs…the singer sounds like a more limited version of Marshall Crenshaw (who i like better), and “Quiet Heart” sounds like a U2 song. The use of the oboe is certainly different. I’m fine with it but don’t know why i needed to hear it before i die. “Streets of Your Town” is a good catchy song…would go 2.5
The National
1/5
I can’t totally put my finger on why this band annoys me so much, but they really do. I used to think they were just kinda sleepy, and i was being a contrarian hater, whatever. But listening to the songs and thinking about how huge they are, this album became actively irritating to me…they know four chords, one drumbeat, and the singer has a 6 note range, so they make the same dirge of a song over and over again. But hey, you can always cover it up with some strings, uninteresting horn parts, major 7ths on a piano, and a bunch of reverb/delay pedals, and it will be hailed as “yearning genius” among people who wear wool hats that don’t cover their ears. The fake poetic lyrics are even worse - “Stuck in New York and the rains coming down”….how original. “We’ll play nuns versus priests until somebody cries”….deep. “I don’t have the drugs to sort it out”. What are these songs about? Where is any sense of melody, story, excitement, or even just fun? This is just mumble lo-if for people who lived in Williamsburg in 2011 and take Polaroids at their parties. Annoying.
Queen
5/5
Queen at their best….you have to live in their world to get into it.
The Band
4/5
Not much to say here, just a great album by a great band. Something about this music feels perfect for this fall time of year too. Want to go 4.5 but I’ll round down to save the 5 for when we get Big Pink
Solange
4/5
Remember really enjoying this album when it came out, especially the song “Mad” with Lil Wayne. Songs are good/catchy neo-soul, her voice is pleasant, and it’s not overly long or stuffed with filler. Having said that, some of the spoken interludes feel a little forced at this point and even dated (i know it’s 2016) but overall I enjoy this album. 3.5 stars with a round-up because Q-Tip is involved.
Eurythmics
3/5
This is the kind of thing i was hoping for when i started the album journey…not something i know well (other than the title track) but something that is influential (the influence of Annie Lennox on Lady Gaga and St Vincent is especially present imo), has good tunes, and is interesting to listen to. I want to go 3.5, but I rounded down because of the long repetitive nature of the dance songs on side 2. Still good stuff tho
The Teardrop Explodes
3/5
Never heard of this band. Out of the gate, sounds like a mix of Squeeze, Echo and the Bunnymen, and maybe even some David Bowie. It’s a pretty solid mix of those different sounds and that era. I dig it…some songs were goofy and it was way too long, but makes sense that it’s a compilation.
Thin Lizzy
4/5
Thin Lizzy is badass…for me, “Jailbreak” is a perfect song, and a perfect album opener. They manage to mix and balance a lot of things - hard rock without being self-indulgent, Irish attitude/influence without it being a novelty, glam rock aesthetics without sacrificing any of the music, and as a live band, they’re smoking. It’s kind of the same song over and over, but you know what? I like that song so screw you….Great rock, great energy, great album.
Radiohead
4/5
So Radiohead is one of my favorite bands, and this is the album that started me on that journey, particularly seeing the music video for “There There” from this album. Weirdly, it seems the members aren’t as proud of it as other albums they’ve made, and it’s not their BEST album, but I (mostly) love it as a fan of the band. They always do a great job with choosing album openers and “2+2=5” is no exception… I feel like “Hail to the Thief” does a great job of mixing their Kid A-type experimental/moody music with some really interesting guitar music from “OK Computer”. Plus it retains some of the themes of the Bush-era paranoia about surveillance, the internet, etc. Does have some slow spots, especially early on, but i have the nostalgia and multiple listens working against that for a 4 stars.
Django Django
3/5
This was interesting…kind of infectious pop, but also unique use of electronics. I liked it more than I thought I would at first, and then it slowly wore on me. Decent enough tunes but I didn’t like the vocals after a while…maybe some wannabe McCartney thing in there he can’t quite pull off? Some songs really sound like The Stone Roses, who I love..Idk, it’s easy enough to listen to while you work. Didn’t love, didn’t hate, didn’t finish
Neil Young & Crazy Horse
4/5
For a guy who has 7,000 albums and musical directions, this is really one of Neil Young’s best. This is an album that I love and was due for a revisit, but between “Cinnamon Girl” (way harder guitar tone than I remember), “Down by the River” the title track and “Cowgirl in the Sand”, this is basically a greatest hits for ‘60s Neil. Also his first album with Crazy Horse and it sounds fantastic in the remastered edition…a couple of the slower songs go on too long is the only thing preventing it from being a 5 star.
Bob Dylan
4/5
Dylan at his best and also his most caricatured. You're either with him or you’re not…his virtues as a songwriter and acquired taste as a vocalist have been written/debated to death, but “I Want You”, “Stuck Inside Mobile….”, “Just Like A Woman” are some of his absolute best, and I love the guy for always doing whatever he wanted. If it sucked people wouldn’t be imitating it for 60 years.
Frankie Goes To Hollywood
3/5
Fun stuff…didn’t set the world on fire and was pretty repetitive but i enjoyed and that’s enough.
Nitin Sawhney
3/5
Some cool moments, I like the mix of eastern and western music. Much prefer the instrumental tracks and Indian music to the 90s British “trip hop” thing that I’ve already said in other reviews i find really annoying. Glad i listened tho
Gorillaz
4/5
Oddly, I had never listened to this album all the way through. It’s still so odd and futuristic, but also sounds satirical in a way? What a mind Damon Albarn has.
…there is a mocking element, some of the sounds are cheap and sound like game show music but somehow it all works and sounds original and exciting. I definitely enjoyed it and want to go back for a closer listen.
Christina Aguilera
3/5
Always thought Christina had the best voice compared to her contemporaries (Britney, Jessica Simpson, Mandy Moore, etc), and here she’s got some good songs to show off the pipes. Early 2000s pop is cool because R&B was the dominant influence, so even if a little dated it’s pretty easy to listen to and the songs are more clever and intricately arranged than subsequent eras. “Impossible” is a perfect example of the R&B influence, and I also liked “Infatuation” with the Spanish guitar. A lot of it sounds like early 2000s Michael Jackson, particularly the similarities between “Keep Singin’ my Song” and “Stranger in Moscow”…..“Make Over” was the only song that didn’t work for me, and it’s a little long (78 minutes got you your moneys worth at Borders back in the day!), otherwise I enjoyed it and would say 3.5 stars
Jane's Addiction
3/5
Sounds like Queen, Black Sabbath and Zeppelin on heroin. Another weird mix on this record….sounds tinny overall, the vocals are quiet/unintelligible and the bass is really loud. Mostly a good grungey rehash of 70s rock, but not altogether that memorable or something i would seek out.
Ash
4/5
Had never heard of this band, and expected it to be sucky industrial noise rock based on the bizarre and kind of amateur cover art. What I found instead was some pretty solid 90s rock, triangulating “power pop” influences like Big Star and Cheap Trick with 90s contemporaries, reminiscent of early Foo Fighters, Weezer, Dinosaur Jr, etc maybe even some Third Eye Blind. I liked it, nice change of pace to have some good straightforward tunes. This is a Dewey album that I’ll probably come back to…A 3.5 that I round up because I’m a “rockist”, I suppose.
Aphex Twin
4/5
Good stuff…not normally my bag, but there’s something about Aphex Twin’s music that i find easy to listen to as background noise and kind of be hypnotized. A couple songs are more challenging but mostly good to do work to
Hugh Masekela
4/5
This is a perfect encapsulation of a type of music that’s like “record store jazz”….melodic and something you can hum along with, not too avant garde, great musicianship and grooves, fairly suitable for any situation/mood, something you expect to hear in a record store or chopped up in your favorite sample which leads you to find the original, etc. I really enjoyed it, only demerit is a little long at 77 minutes
Charles Mingus
5/5
Mingus is a genius. Not always my first choice to listen to of his contemporaries, admittedly, as there is something that can sound a bit harsh about a lot of his music, but this album is a masterpiece and I think shows off his composition, arranging, and thematic skills at their peak. I of course love the prominence of the bari sax in Mingus’s band too..,my favorite on this is “Track C - Group Dancers”
Fatboy Slim
4/5
More synths, more computers, more songs that sound like they’re in a 1996 Olympics/Nike commercial….but somehow works beautifully. These songs really pop on decent speakers…also a lot of the classic rock samples (Sabbath, The Who, etc) are so recognizable that they almost sound like covers, but he still made something interesting and original out of them. Idk why every album on this list seems to be 75 minutes tho, that’s a turn off for me. But i dig it
The Velvet Underground
4/5
I’d say I have a love hate relationship with Lou Reed. But this album is a classic - “Sunday Morning”, “Femme Fatale” and “I’ll be Your Mirror” are all such great songs. Maybe some of the imagery is a little played out and copied but I feel the sound, attitude, and production leaves the way for so much punk, grunge, noise, etc. Underneath all that scene-y stuff, there are still some really accessible songs, and I was happy to have the reminder to listen to it. Would go 4.5 but I’ll round down to be more in step with the group
R.E.M.
4/5
Maybe repetitive, but still good. Short, easy accessible songs, many of which sound melodically like “The One I Love”, which is a great song.
Patti Smith
2/5
I can understand how it was ahead of its time, some songs have good energy, didn’t roll my eyes as hard at it as i did in the past. Still not for me…2.5 with a round down
U2
4/5
Great album from before they disappeared up their own ass…I think “New Year’s Day” is my favorite U2 song but “Sunday, Bloody Sunday” and “Two Hearts Beat as One” are great songs as well. This is the only one of their albums I’m really familiar with, but I think it’s a classic…I really like Bono’s voice and some of the tunes but was never inspired to get deep into them.
The Doors
5/5
One of the best debuts of any genre…given how many hits and accessible songs of theirs are on this, it really feels like they arrived fully formed. My favorite Doors album, leans more towards than the melodic/blues/psychedelia than the spooky avant-garde stuff of later albums that can feel dated(though it does include “The End”…). Love this album.
System Of A Down
4/5
Never got into SOAD in their prime but…yeah, this rules. Great riffs, great sounding record (the mix and production make every element present), unique vocals…sounds sort of like a more prog version of early (good) Metallica with some of the Armenian/Eastern influence in the harmony. I get not liking it if you don’t like metal, but I think it’s really original and great.
The Rolling Stones
5/5
Probably my personal favorite Stones album…has both a perfect opener (“Gimme Shelter”) and a perfect closer (“You Can’t Always Get What You Want”). I also love the title track and “Monkey Man”…this is the Stones at their peak: best lineup, most creative, starting to mix in country influence and anthemic songs that maintain the blues influence. No skips here, 5 stars
Sade
5/5
Another perfect debut. Toes the line between knowing its sound and having all the songs sound the same, but Sade herself is such a unique and generational singer and the music so easy to listen to that it doesn’t really matter. Love this album
David Bowie
4/5
It’s funny, outside the title track and the opener, this is probably not my favorite Bowie. Even from the Berlin era, I prefer “Low”… But he’s such a visionary and exciting artist that I still enjoy it, even if it’s occasionally too experimental for me.
Beastie Boys
4/5
Some good moments - the run from “Root Down”, “Sabotage” and “Get it Together” (shout out Q Tip). I love hip hop and punk separately, and i respect the Beastie Boys a lot, but there’s something about them that never clicks for me in a way that i personally relate to. It’s good music tho, so I’ll go 3.5 rounded up.
Booker T. & The MG's
4/5
Deep Purple
4/5
Ritchie Blackmore is such an awesome guitarist…some great, influential hard rock guitar sounds on there. Music is mostly fine, sort of proto-hard rock. “Child in Time” feels like Spinal Tap, but somehow kinda rules? I would go 3.5 for Blackmore alone, and it kinda grew on me as the album went on…Feeling charitable today so will round up.
Elvis Presley
5/5
I remember when I was about 18, having my curiosity piqued about this album after seeing some of Elvis’ comeback special in ‘68…everyone knows the impression and the hips and the myth, but this is Elvis as musician first. On this album, he is singing great songs, recording in his hometown, musically and creatively inspired, mixing genres, and backed by beast musicians, and predictably the result is awesome. This is essentially like Elvis doing a Stax record, and recorded almost entirely live in the studio (no overdubs). I love it.
The two sequel albums “Back in Memphis” and “Elvis Country” are approaching the same level of quality, and I so wish Elvis had gotten to explore more musically and have more control, but under the thumb of Colonel Parker we got 30 versions of “Clambake!” instead. But when he was inspired and singing the right songs, his reputation is earned. He was the King.
R.E.M.
4/5
Every REM album/song is kind of the same…some great jangly pop songs with oblique lyrics, some weird mandolin/slow songs, and some filler that falls in between. For some reason that works for me - this is a 3.5 with a round up because of how much I like Stand, Orange Crush, and Pop Song 89.
k.d. lang
3/5
Stan Getz
4/5
Loved this album - Stan Getz has such a unique voice on the sax with his airy tone, perfectly suited for bossa nova and Latin music. Very accessible and listenable jazz for people who are not hardcore fans…Charlie Byrd cooking too.
Talking Heads
4/5
This is probably the best Talking Heads album, and it might also be my favorite. Experimental, dance-y, funky, Afro-beat inspired and still uniquely them. Singles are great but also no filler. “Crosseyed and Painless” is such an awesome song…. “Facts all come with points of view, facts don’t do what i want them to”.
Love
4/5
My dad loved this album and it always pops up on sort of underrated or other overlooked best of lists….sort of a forgotten psychedelic band from CA. Sometimes the psychedelic thing can be a bit much for me, but these songs are really well-written, intricately arranged and produced and mixed well. In spite of a couple corny accent vocals, I dig it. It’s a dense album and I want to dig in more.
Soft Machine
3/5
“Oh, we’re doing that?” -Me, 2 minutes into the first track (is it a song?) on this album. Got better as it went on with some more horns/melody and they are definitely talented musicians, but 20 minute songs still mostly not my thing. You could do worse for background music while you work.
The Cure
3/5
I’ve listened to this album before and found it long and dull…in some ways I still do but enjoyed it more this time around. “Pictures of You” and “Lovesong” are top Cure tracks for me, but idk their catalogue that well to say. It’s a band whose sound and sonic imprint I appreciate more than their songs. Title track is a really stupid song imo, and some of it really begins to feel like a dirge. But if you’re in the mood for reverb and gloom, this it’s good stuff.
The Byrds
4/5
Great songs, great harmonies, love the sound of the lap steel (and/or B-bender) and the marriage of rock and honky tonk country. Feels like the fore-runner to a lot of “alt-country” and I am a Gram Parsons fan, I’d give it a 5 if I listened more.
Peter Gabriel
4/5
A smash album from a curious, interesting and unique artist. The 80s synth sounds still work, don’t sound dated. I appreciate that he’s letting the R&B influence permeate naturally, and not doing the “white singer does soul” thing that can be cringe. Feels natural…It’s a good mix of styles that still feel a part of a vision. The Kate Bush duet is a little slow, but i enjoy it…feels like St Vincent based her whole singing by style on KB. Gonna be singing “Big Time” in my head for a week. Fun album overall.
Heaven 17
2/5
This list seems to love 90 minute albums by bands that seem like they only made 90 minutes of music. I could take this for 45 but a little British synth pop goes a long way for me. Pretty campy and overly earnest at times, but in what’s probably becoming my signature line: there is worse music to put on while you work a job at your computer.
Lambchop
3/5
I liked the sound of this band; I think one of our other reviews said it was Wilco-ish, which I agree with and enjoy. However, the singer was meh and the songs didnt really stay with me. I liked it while i was listening and then promptly forgot.
Talvin Singh
2/5
I’ve somewhat had it with these kinds of albums tbh. It’s not bad music per se, but why do I need to hear it before I die? When i think of an album, i think of it like a novel - consistent in tone and vision, with a beginning, middle and end; a defined piece of art. You wouldn’t do a list of the best novels ever and put a collection of short stories by different authors. This sounds like a bunch of tracks, and moreover tracks that would be movie and/or club music and/or kind of just background noise at a coffee shop. So therefore why this album, by this artist and not another album or artist? Why not put John Williams soundtracks on the list? It all just makes it hard to rate or get into the album/artist. Some of the Eastern stuff is cool, but the cover alone made me feel like it’s not something I’d seek out and I couldn't get into it from there. Doesn't help when the album is like 90 minutes and streaming services only have deluxe editions, because you dont even know where the album begins and ends. These list makers seem to have a heavy preference for 90s electronica but hopefully we’re just getting it out of the way
Radiohead
4/5
A lot of "better than I remembered" type tracks on this, some slow spots where they get too experimental. I love it because Radiohead is one of my favorite bands, but its not their best album and its not really even an album per se. Still good stuff.
Deep Purple
4/5
Almost identical to my feelings/review of the last Deep Purple album "Deep Purple In Rock"...to me, the main draw is Ritchie Blackmore. As a guitarist, hes a 5/5, some of the music is a little Spinal Tap-ish (they were the "world's loudest band", at least pre-Led Zeppelin), but also highly influential and seems to bridge psych and heavy metal. "Highway Star"....what a song....they smoke on that. "Smoke on the Water" is played out but cool if you can listen to it with fresh ears..."Space Truckin" is funny but also badass. I enjoy them and this album, but would get why someone wouldn't.
The White Stripes
4/5
I never got big into the Rolling Stone "Jack White is the 3rd best guitarist ever" industrial complex, but I mostly enjoyed this more than I thought. It was good rock music at a time when we needed some, and hes a good songwriter....more of a Beatle and specifically McCartney influence than I expected, but you know a Jack White song when you hear one and thats a testament to true talent and identity. I'll go 3.5 and round up in the holiday season.
Elton John
5/5
This is a perfect album, plain and simple. An epic opener that rocks as hard as anything, followed by Elton - at the height of his powers - dipping his toes in all kinds of genres. The title track rules, there are multiple hits, and an epic closer with "Harmony". "Sweet Painted Lady" is also a personal favorite melody. It's perfectly produced and arranged music without being self-serious; there is a healthy balance of nostalgia and camp in the "old time rock and roll" type tracks and their lyrical content; thematic without being repetitive. This is also the rare double album that never drags on and seems to lack filler material. I genuinely think this has a strong case for any best albums of the 1970s list and am always happy to have a reason to listen to it.
Gillian Welch
3/5
"Dear Someone" is a cool song....shes got a nice voice and they are good tunes, I like this kind of music more than the frequency I listen to it. Feels like something my Dad likes and would listen to on WXPN. I enjoy it, and I would go 3.5 with maybe a round down to preserve my snobbish reviewer credibility.
The Stooges
4/5
I can't believe I'm saying this, but I loved it. Any time I've previously listened to Iggy and the Stooges, I've wanted to like it and come away wondering what the big deal is, but this time around something clicked. The songs are stronger and better produced (thank you David Bowie, though I think thats owed more to Iggy reissuing it because I read that the original suffered from specifically poor fidelity, which perversely may be part of its appeal) than the first two Stooges albums. It sort of feels like the bridge between the Doors and the Stones and the Ramones, Blondie, etc. Great energy for rock and roll, and has more melody and catchiness than I expected, while still being aggressively in your face. This album makes you want to grab a guitar and go to your friends garage and thrash around, I can see how it influenced everyone from Kurt Cobain to Morrissey to RHCP.
The Rolling Stones
5/5
I love that we drew this album on my guy Keith Richards' birthday. To me, this is in a 1A/1B with "Let it Bleed" for their best album. They rock, they roll, they do some sloppy country, and they probably have their prettiest ballad with "Wild Horses". The addition of Mick Taylor gives some really tasteful lead guitar to play off of Keith and Charlie Watts holding it down. "Can't You Hear Me Knocking" is an epic jam with a filthy guitar tone, recorded live in the studio, almost by accident. "Dead Flowers" is a great song. Another 5 star for me.
Pink Floyd
5/5
I'll start by saying that "Shine on You Crazy Diamond" is my favorite Pink Floyd song (or parts 1 -5 are?), and probably one of my favorite guitar songs ever - such an incredible journey to open an album with. Also David Gilmour's tone, economy, and touch make me want to cry, especially given the topic of the song. (And it even has a bari sax solo!) Whenever I listen to this album however, I always feel a little disappointed by "Welcome to the Machine", like there's a drop-off and its kind of just a slog. But they pick it back up with "Have a Cigar" and the title track is obviously a classic...I am so torn between a 4 and 5, because it's an awesome album and includes my favorite Pink Floyd song, but only has 5 songs and one of them I don't care for. I'll go 5 because we're on a heater of classic albums lately.
Tears For Fears
3/5
An album of big hit songs that you know, but maybe didn't realize were on the same album. Yes, some of the sentiments and sounds are a little dated, but the tunes are catchy and it works. I enjoy it for what it is...3.5 with a round down because I feel like I'm getting too generous lately.
G. Love & Special Sauce
1/5
Man, this was annoying. I used to associate G Love with everything I hated about the puka shell Hollister preppy types who were so annoying in HS. At first, I thought/worried I was just being a hater, and that I was primed to not like this from subconsciously hanging on to those associations. But despite my best efforts to listen with fresh ears, this album is kind of a perfect collection of the musical quirks that annoy me the most - that vocal affectation that white guys do when they're trying a hip hop/dub accent and ends up just sounding like they have a mouth full of peanut butter (number 1 most annoying FWIW), sloppy loose jams, bad improvised guitar solos/playing, long songs that go nowhere, etc. Initially, I got lulled into thinking it was more dull than terrible, but by the time I got to "Shooting Hoops", I was thoroughly irritated. Sounds like Gen-X dads doing some unholy mix of a Grateful Dead/Beastie Boys/Dave Matthews jam at a block party, and I was ready for it to end.
Elvis Presley
5/5
If you like rock and roll or even popular music, this is like being asked to rate the New Testament. Elvis is the King, and your favorite music wouldn't exist without him. Forget that some styles have been satirized or overdone or sound corny to our modern ears, that some songs are weaker than others, or that this isn't a real album per se....it changed everything. Feels hard to rate it, but at 29 minutes of mostly upbeat music, its an easy listen even today. The version of "Blue Moon" is one of those haunting tracks that just sounds cursed....one of my favorite Elvis recordings. You can go a long way with a three piece band and some slapback echo as long as you have a dynamite singer.
The Specials
3/5
"A Message to You Rudy" is such a great song, found out about it from a Sublime recording years ago. Funny to find that they re-wrote it for the same album and called it "Too Hot", that must have been intentional? The album itself is pretty cool, a nice blend of different styles and sort of ska/punk thing that never feels forced. You can hear some of the Elvis Costello influence in the production for sure, especially on "It's Up To You" (which coincidentally sounds a lot like "Watching the Detectives"). Some songs are better than others, its a tad long, but I like it. 3.5 with a round down
Various Artists
4/5
Listened on the way to PA a day before getting this as the album draw. I love Phil Spector, the Ronettes, Darlene Love etc and this style of music, many of these are THE version of Christmas songs…not sure if his pervy, self-indulgent over the top speech on “Silent Night” adds to its charm or is a demerit but I’m happy to give a 4. Tis the season
Beatles
5/5
Hard for me to be objective on any Beatles album as they’re my favorite group; this feels like the album where their love of Black music comes through the strongest (3 Motown covers plus a Chuck Berry), but they always bring something interesting to their interpretations of songs. “All My Loving” is a perfect song imo, and both John Lennon’s driving rhythm guitar triplets (a personal favorite) and George’s solo have been praised and discussed to death in internet guitar circles. I always thought “I Wanna Be Your Man” was a weaker Beatles song but they bring energy and life to it. The reason I love them is because it’s comforting but also because despite being a 4 piece rock and roll band, every time I go back to them I discover something new, quirky, interesting. The harmonies, the energy, the chord voicings, the creativity of the individual parts etc. It’s probably a 4 star album but I have a feeling I’ll to 5 for every Beatles album.
Bob Marley & The Wailers
4/5
I love Bob Marley - even as an atheist, I can feel the spirituality on songs like "Natural Mystic". Songs are similar, but they're all great. He is iconic, and funny enough I had never really dove in to an album outside of his greatest hits "Legend" that I had a burned CD of. Really enjoyed it.
Richard Thompson
4/5
Another favorite artist of my Dad's. Richard is a smoking guitarist, especially as an acoustic player, and the songs are good and enjoyable, hes got a nice voice. The album has a sort of live, spontaneous feel, doesn't feel labored over. I had listened to this years ago and this was the kind of thing I wanted to be reminded of when I started this album exercise. "Little Beggar Girl" is a cool kind of Middle Earth song - they mix that in to more straightforward rock pretty well. I dig it.
Sister Sledge
4/5
Shoutout Philadelphia soul, shout out Nile Rodgers. Funky and fun....wasn't expecting a "Gettin' Jiggy With It" sample in the first 5 seconds but here we are. Honestly, this had like 3 tracks I loved, 3 tracks that were good and two that were meh. Some went on a bit long but the talent, groove and vibe is undeniable. 3.5 rounded up to 4 for Philly.
Primal Scream
3/5
I like Primal Scream and the sort of 90s psychedelic/dance movement in the UK. It's a little background noise-y and not as good as "Screamadelica", but has some cool sounds....you can hear the influence on Radiohead, Gorillaz and similarities to Stone Roses or other UK bands I love, so its adjacent to a lot of music I like. Some of it is overly spacey and campy, but overall its cool. Solid 3
Duran Duran
3/5
Liked it more than I expected…despite being more commercial, it shares at least some superficial similarities with Morrissey, Bryan Ferry, Squeeze, etc. Production and songs are a little sleek but not bad…solid 3.5. Great album artwork too
Elliott Smith
4/5
Elliott Smith, to me, is one of the best songwriters to emerge of the last 30-40 years. “Figure 8” and “XO” are his albums I know best, which are a little more mature production-wise, but a lot of the signature touches were present on “Either/Or”: the lo-fi/DIY aesthetic, the odd guitar tunings to give the instrument a new voice (“No Name No. 5” almost sounds like “The Rain Song”), the melancholy lyrics and sort vocals. I know some people would dismiss it as mopey singer/songwriter music, but already feeling the way I do about Elliott, and knowing the way he actively fought that label, I don’t have that issue. Not always “fun” music but always makes me want to keep listening.
The Who
5/5
One of the best start to finish “classic rock” albums ever…and one of the best opener/closer combos. Great songs throughout that combine the thoughtful neuroses and rock opera themes of Pete Townshend with some great driving riffs and moments for the rest of the band to shine. This is an all timer for me
Wilco
4/5
An indie rock classic...mumble-y, opaque lyrics, some really cool songs like "I Am Trying to Break Your Heart, I love the humorous lyrics of songs like "Jesus Etc." and "Heavy Metal Drummer". I could see people and this group particularly not liking this album, but because I grew up with it I appreciate it. Its a 4 for me that I wont begrudge anyone giving a lower rating.
Meat Loaf
4/5
A classic "I hate that I liked this" album for me. Expected it to be goofier and campier, but it was kind of the right amount of goofy and campy. Some of the tracks are almost Springsteen-ish? Particularly "You Took the Words Right Out of my Mouth"....its got that Phil Spector/Ronettes beat, and when I checked wikipedia, I learned Max Weinberg and Roy Bittan played on this album, so it was an apt observation. This is maximalist music, grandiose and operatic, and while I probably won't revisit it too too much, its enjoyable and deserves inclusion on this list. My ear probably gravitates towards the Todd Rundgren production, as I am a big fan of his (shoutout Upper Darby). Glad I listened, I'll go 3.5 with a round up for Todd
Fleetwood Mac
3/5
Classic "album after the historic smash album" album...good, fine, sounds a little different. I really like "Save Me a Place", sounds like a late 70s Beach Boys tune that I can hear Carl Wilson cooking....n fact, there are a few tracks that remind me of the late 70s Beach Boys.
Not as overproduced as "Rumours", has its moments but overall feels more like a solidly good album that takes the pressure off of "how do you follow THAT up?" than it does an album I would seek out. Double album maybe a little indulgent too but I guess indulgence was kinda just their get down. Another 3.5 for me, but I'll round down because something about Lindsay Buckingham is intermittently annoying.
Willie Colón & Rubén Blades
3/5
Coming out of the gate hot with that funky bassline....this is music that everyone can like. I was expecting a bit more genre shifting after that hot start, but it went to pretty straight salsa/Latin music. Very enjoyable and fits a very specific mood.
OutKast
4/5
A certified classic album of both radio-friendly hits ("Ms. Jackson", "So Fresh So Clean", maaaaaybe "BOB", i don't remember if it was a hit but feels like it was) and tracks that just flat out go hard ("Gasoline Dreams", "Humble Mumble", "Snappin and Trappin", etc). Outkast was so dope: original, unique, complementary of each other's talents, and mixing humor and lightness with straight bars. I always think its funny that people treat it like a given that Andre is the better MC, I'm not positive about that myself.....
It makes me sad to listen to such a great album in 2026 knowing that Andre 3000 is fucking around on a flute, sounding like a 7th grader who just discovered free jazz. Man, the future sucks
Metallica
4/5
Ok lets get this out of the way - "Where is the bass guitar?!? WTF let Lars into the control booth during mixing?!"
As much as been made about the bizarre, tinny mix (Lars' dead snare drum sounds like shit and the total burying of Jason Newsted's bass lines, for reasons no one will ever get), this is still a solid Metallica album. Obviously "One" is a classic, but I love "Blackened" as an opener, and also "Eye of the Beholder". First half is way stronger than the second, in my opinion, makes the album drag a little. In general, Metallica is another band that may not be for everybody, but I think their first 5 albums build on - and are on par with - the best of their idols Black Sabbath. Was raised on them because my brother loves them so admitting bias.
Paul Revere & The Raiders
4/5
This was a lot of fun. Sounds like early Brian Jones-era Stones if they could play in tune. There’s also a sort of sarcastic pre-punk rock energy I like. I’ll go 3.5 and round up because I’ve been feeling generous lately
The Who
4/5
One of the ultimate live albums that I'm happy to revisit for this list....they sound great, loud, full of energy. They basically play "Tommy" in its entirety while mixing in some of the early 60s "mod" stuff. Its like a greatest hits live of 60s Who, but they sound especially energized. I would go 4.5 as a Who fan and will round down because the inclusion of live albums on this list feels a little tricky
Steely Dan
5/5
This album is awesome...call me a dork, I dont care. Top tier musicianship, oddly dense/clever lyrics, and just expertly constructed songs. Steely Dan may have had an ironic millennial resurgence, but to me, its not ironic. Its funny that people think this is "white people music" when the so many of the session players (notably Chuck Rainey and Bernard Purdie) were Aretha's backing band. Shoutout to my hero Wayne Shorter for the sax solo on "Aja". This is their best album...I love "Home At Last" with the Purdie shuffle, "Black Cow" is a great opener, "Josie" is a great closer (the intro sounds like Steely Dan's take on a metal riff), and "Peg" is just a staple. Those loud Michael McDonald harmonies in the chorus always kind of make me laugh....they had to know that was funny, right? 5 stars.
Justin Timberlake
3/5
100% agree with everything Dakota said. First half bangs, feels like thats mostly the production. Timberlake is clearly a star but with Pharrell and Timbaland, it feels like their identity is the dominant musical force. Mostly enjoyable 2000s R&B, wish I could go 3.5
GZA
4/5
This is a classic. Its so hard to rate albums of the Wu-Tang extended universe, because so much of their music sounds similar, but I do enjoy it. RZA's production holds down the menacing, cold Staten Island vibe perfectly for GZA to go off. Highlights to me are "Liquid Swords", "Cold World", "Gold"
Blondie
4/5
Great, short songs that blend punk energy and pop hooks. Multiple hits...definitely a fun listen and strong album overall.
Crowded House
4/5
Good, straight-ahead pop/rock....sounds Beatle-ish, and Neil Finn has a mild trace of John Lennon, and/or the one guy from Squeeze. I'm always a sucker for 3 minute songs with jangly guitars, so this is a 3.5 that I'll round up.
Milton Nascimento
4/5
Lots of sketches of cool, sort of rhythmic, hypnotic songs that span genres. Good stuff
Michael Jackson
5/5
MJ is in the Beatles category to me....I'm just not going to give it less than a 5. Unless they have "History" on this list, which I doubt. I could credibly argue that this is my personal favorite MJ album, even if not regarded as his masterpiece. There are some weak spots - "Leave Me Alone" and "Liberian Girl", imo, and maybe even the Stevie duet - but enough bangers to make up for it and this is the King of Pop we're talking about here. 5 stars
Goldfrapp
3/5
Good, spacey indie pop. Has shades of Tame Impala at some parts....not totally memorable but I was listening while working. I'm glad I listened but probably wont revisit too much....good for a certain vibe. A standard decent album of the 00s.
The Cars
4/5
Another one of the best debuts ever....as far as I know, kind has all the Cars songs you need. "Just What I Needed", "My Best Friend's Girl", "Let the Good Times Roll"....another band making good , straight ahead 3 minute rock songs with good hooks, and Elliot Easton is a really interesting, tasteful guitarist. What happened to competent rock bands?
Leftfield
2/5
I really dont get electronic/dance music....these guys are supposed to be influential geniuses and the first song sounds like the Macarena mixed with something that would play under a nature video. I dont hate it, but I feel almost nothing. Can they make their beats without appropriating weird African and/or cliche lyrics about "letting go" or whatever? It always sounds dated and uninteresting to my ear. The monologues and voices all sound self-important. I try not to be a hater because there are cool moments where you can get into it, but overall I just dont enjoy the vibe.
Cocteau Twins
4/5
Really cool, atmospheric indie rock. The songs all work well, the synths and reverb effects etc dont sound dated, the melodies are good, its just a really cool listening experience. One I'll probably come back to
Korn
2/5
Initial thoughts: I expected to hate this, and admittedly I don't. I dont love it either, but on the spectrum from Tool to Limp Bizkit, its a little closer to Tool than I was expecting. "Freak on a Leash" is a goofy song but sort of captures the era, and the music video was a classic. Has some good heavy riffs, Jonathan Davis has a kind of annoying voice/manner. The song with Ice Cube is pretty hilariously bad...the 90s were a weird time. Overall mostly repetitive and was over it by the end of the album...Idk how this band can tell one of their songs from the next.
Red Hot Chili Peppers
3/5
Not the world's biggest RHCP fan - I enjoy each individual member's performances but for some reason the overall vibe is always a little corny to me...but this is kind of their peak. Pretty much every song is a hit and feels familiar/memorable, at least on the first half. Second half falls off a bit and they get dumb with songs like "I Like Dirt". But the music videos from this album were dope, especially the title track, also remember "Otherside" and "Scar Tissue" and associate them all with the days when I actually watched MTV. "Californication" has a great, simple melodic guitar solo that every beginner player can and should learn. I'd go 3.5 and round down to be a contrarian.
Bob Dylan
4/5
One of the best openers ever with "Subterranean Homesick Blues"....I love "Maggie's Farm" too, which almost feels like the same song. This is a really good mix of the beat poet influenced, silly caricature of early Dylan and some really nice, simple melodic songs "She Belongs to Me", "Mr. Tambourine Man", etc. If I was trying to get someone into Bob Dylan, I might start here...really torn between 4 and 5 so I am going 4.5 stars but I'll round down because I'm sure my favorite Dylan album is coming later.
The B-52's
2/5
Meh....not terrible, but sort of uninteresting after a while. I like the dance-y, funky songs better than the punk-y yellers that sound like a pre-cursor to Sonic Youth (e.g. "Dance This Mess Around", really didnt like the vocals on that)."Rock Lobster" is a good, hypnotic riff and a fun enough song.
Feels like pretty standard fare for a new wave album: surprising moments of musicality with punk energy; a bizarre, campy, tongue-in-cheek cover (in this case "Downtown", the way Devo did "Satisfaction" or Sid Vicious did "My Way", etc), a whole bunch of synths, and random songs with a bunch of numbers in the title ("6060-842"). Didn't love it, I'm at like a 2.5 and want to round up because it was short, but I think the annoying moments were annoying enough to make it a 2.
Nine Inch Nails
2/5
The first sound of the album is either a boxer hitting a bag, gunshots, or some sort of workers marching? Pretty intense. I never got into NIN, and whats weird is I always thought of them as a sort of anachronistic, forgotten 90s rage band for Woodstock 99 attendees, only to discover in the late 2000s that Trent Reznor is celebrated in music circles as some sort of canonical genius like Kurt Cobain. His talent and vision are undeniable, it has cool moments, but overall as a listening experience, its pretty abrasive and unenjoyable....not a lot of melody, more like a moody sound collage, which is not my thing....and I think the mix is kind of odd. Vocals are too soft, and as much as I appreciate dynamic range in music, the loud parts feel TOO loud and the quiet parts feel TOO quiet. Also to be honest I find Trent Reznor a pretty grating singer, not very charismatic or dynamic; I dont mind the yelling but he kind of has like a karaoke voice or something, and a better singer (like his big influence and collaborator David Bowie) might be able to elevate such aggressive music to a more interesting place. Also, while I'm out here hatin', I'm just gonna say it: "Hurt" is an overrated song.
To the contrary, "Piggy" is a cool song with a cool splashy snare sound. I'm going 2.5 rounded down because it mostly held my attention and has some cool moments, but I cant exactly picture throwing it on in the car.
Supergrass
3/5
Traffic
4/5
You know what you're getting with Trafffic....cool songs that mix all kinds of genres from English folk, soul, and hard rock. I would listen to Steve Winwood sing the phone book, as they say, and hes basically playing every instrument here except drums and percussion. What a beast
Violent Femmes
2/5
Let me come clean with what I'm bringing to this: I've come to really hate "Blister in the Sun", its a catchy tune but it annoys me. Like, a lot. So I knew this would be one I'd have to remove the biases. The album doesnt get much better from there, it is this sort of weird Gen X campy rock that doesnt even know if its ironic or earnest and rough, they actually have a decent sense of melody and musicality but i just hear this and dont really know what to do. Sounds like Lou Reed filtered through a less self-serious and campy Gen X filter. It's a solid 2.5 that I'll round down because some my other 3s were a lot better than this.
DJ Shadow
4/5
This is it - this is perfect music to work to. This is the type of thing you hear in a coffee shop and Shazam it because you know its a sample, but is well-arranged and will probably lead down a rabbit hole to other cool original material. Really nice musical collage, easy on the ears without being boring or distracting, sounds at times like the type of beats I can see MF Doom rapping over. This kind of music is so much better to me to have while working or doing an activity than electronic music, which has no dynamic range. 4 stars for sure.
Hot Chip
3/5
-Fun, synth dance rock/pop of the 00s and 2010s. I wasnt huge into them specifically but I retain an affinity for this genre of music, it just sounds like 2012 to me.... You kinda had to be there, I guess but the millennial nostalgia is strong. I'll go strong 3 because I need to be more discerning with my 4s, but this is a good album.
MC Solaar
3/5
Good beats, good flow, good early 90s hip hop....but its all in French and i dont understand a word he is saying, which puts a definite ceiling on my enjoyment of it. Sorry if that makes me ugly American, but understanding the lyrics is a pretty big part of enjoying hip hop. The Marvin Gaye sample was cool, but probably just because I love that song.
The Pogues
4/5
Irish music is great...tempted to give the album 5 stars for "Fairytale of New York" alone, one of the best songs ever written. It's a good mix of Celtic folk, with a punk attitude/aesthetic, and melodic enough to demand your attention. "Bottle of Smoke" is a highlight. It's admittedly a little repetitive, but they are also kind of the best at it? Its exactly a 3.5 but at the time of writing this, I am still determining if I am going to round up or down...
Arcade Fire
5/5
To put it simply: This album means a lot to me, and has really helped me process a lot of feelings over the years. To have it come out in 2010, between my freshman and sophomore years of college really makes it feel like it belongs to our generation, and I was already a big Arcade Fire fan. I am always impressed at their ability to mix big, U2 anthemic type songs with lo-fi aesthetic and themes, and end up sounding totally like themselves. To take on a topic so emotionally raw and make a double album could have been a bloated pretentious mess, but for my money, they made a generational classic. I admit it is hard for me to separate from being 20 years old and pretend I am dispassionately hearing the music for the first time, but aren't the memories and attachments what make us music fans in the first place?
Love
3/5
Didn't enjoy this as much as their album "Forever Changes", but its still pretty good...shades of the Doors, early Stones, the Animals, etc mixed with the summer of love vibes. They have a good sound, and Arthur Lee has a unique singing style, but some moments were a little too on the nose 60s hippies flower children prancing in a meadow. I like it, but I'm going 3.5 with a round down because of some of the goofy hippy stuff and 18 minute closer.
KISS
2/5
Well, it finally happened....this is the ultimate "band that everyone I love loves" and I dont get it. So many musicians I admire, from ?uestlove to Jeff Tweedy to Tom Morello have cited Kiss as an influence, and furthermore I know Paul Stanley himself loves bands like Big Star, the Raspberries, etc. So there should be something to get into for me here...and yet, every time I hear them I think its more or less as stupid as the first time I heard it. There are some cool riffs (and guitar tones, shoutout Bob Ezrin) and fun energy underneath their pedestrian singing and lyrical obsessions over partying and their dicks, but you still leave feeling like without the makeup, they would just be another indistinguishable hair band. I respect theyre not too self-serious, but its still just a little too goofy to be the kind of campy I enjoy. The vocals are often comically bad. Its reeeeeaaally not that far from Spinal Tap, except its not satire. A Kiss greatest hits is probably more than enough, and in 2026 this sounds like an AI rendering of the dumbest excesses of a classic rock band.
Nanci Griffith
3/5
Good voice, good tunes, nice album...I like "Banks of the Pontchartrain" and "More Than a Whisper" (which admittedly I iniitally heard as "more than a whiskey"...), but these kinds of honky tonk albums will always probably max out at 3 stars for me because I find the songs a bit repetitive and the artists indistinguishable, even as I enjoy listening to it. I love simple three chord songs as much as the next guy, but I think there is just so much of this kind of music that it can be hard to separate. I like the music but don't always feel the identity of the artist
Duke Ellington
4/5
Duke Ellington is a genius. One of the best composers in the history of music. I know this is like, the "big" album of his that you might see in the Borders catalog, and it's probably his band at their absolute most smokin, but its not where I might start with his enormous catalogue (and admittedly I'm no expert). Even so, that band is ripping and it reminds me of the kind of music we played in HS band so I'll go 4.5 with a round down, only because I prefer other albums of his (particularly the one with John Coltrane).
Orbital
3/5
Liked this more than some of the other 50 British electronic duo dudes we've drawn, but some songs still sounded so comically dated (e.g. "Philosophy by Numbers"). I really cannot take the cliches they layer on to dance tracks about wisdom, self, philosophy, etc really just makes me want to tell them to stfu already. But not the worst thing I ever listened to
Radiohead
5/5
I know I'm gonna be the minority here, but screw it: I love this album. Always did. As I've said in other reviews, I can't put my fellow reviewers into my head at age 15 and make those memories/associations for them, but musically I think it holds up beautifully. Yes, they took a left turn and demanded a lot from their fans after the radio friendly guitar-driven rock "OK Computer", etc etc we all know the story, but I think this album STILL sounds like the future. To make a paranoid, claustrophobic synth and sample-driven pastiche like this in 2000 is one thing, but to have it age as gracefully as it has into 2026 shows its true brilliance. Bias admitted, this is one of my favorite bands, and I think "Everything in its Right Place" is one of my favorite Radiohead songs and best album openers. If you lay down, get some good speakers/headphones, and listen to this album, you will open your eyes when its over wondering what the hell you just listened to, in the best way. It's like a guided meditation or reading a really dense book, not for multi-tasking or listening out of context. Also - the first time you hear "The National Anthem"....come on. Mind blower
Nirvana
4/5
Whenever I listen to this album, I wonder if it sounds like an album made by someone about to kill himself, or if hindsight is 20/20....on one hand, I'm tempted to say its pretty demented and less melodic than "Nevermind", but at the same time, my favorite songs are the slow, moody songs like "Dumb", "Heart-Shaped Box" and "All Apologies". Would have loved to hear where Cobain would have gone next musically.
Simon & Garfunkel
5/5
My favorite Simon and Garfunkel album. It just sounds like New York City in the winter time, and the cover furthers that setting. Is there any better moment in music than "In the clearing stands a boxer...." with the bass harmonica? Plus this album is a short, easy listen.
Miles Davis
5/5
It's been a little played out because of jazzbo, Berklee university types and people who use it as an entry way to the genre and never explore any further, but can't be too gatekepeer-y, its still brilliant. Miles Davis could well be the greatest American musician of the 20th century.
Eagles
3/5
In my mind, Eagles kind of stand for everything I hate....overly indulgent, excessive music, California guys pretending to be country, ushering in the age of expensive concerts, and now in old age, they are the kinds of grumpy old boomers who have whole teams to make sure no one uses their songs on YouTube. Don Henley and Glenn Frey just seem like huge assholes who sing about easy, simple, peaceful life and I have a mental block about their music. I'd just rather listen to Gram Parsons or Led Zeppelin than try to listen to a pale imitation of a mix of them.
Now, having said all that, they are very talented and there is some really fun rockin' music on here ("Witchy Woman"), some really nice harmonies ("Peaceful Easy Feeling"), and some great center-lane "country rock" songs ("Take It Easy", "Nightingale", both written by Jackson Browne). Some of it is as dull and unmemorable as I expected ("Most Of Us Are Sad"). Basically, I am Squidward and Eagles are the krabby patty. When no one else is around, I like at least some of this, but this album kind of confirms my belief that they are just up to par with their contemporaries in my mind.
Neil Young
4/5
I want to give this a 5, but I'm going to go 4.5 and round down because Neil is one of my favorites and he has other albums I like more. Still a classic tho
Green Day
3/5
Green Day has great pop instincts....good melodies, pop-punk, with some topical influence. Was a little long/repetitive, but is an important document of its era/political moment, so I'll average all that out to go 3.5 with a round down.
Pink Floyd
5/5
Must have caught me on a good day, used to think this wasn't my favorite Pink Floyd but this listen I am really loving it. The transition from "The Happiest Days of Our Lives" into ABITW part 2 is epic, Gilmour's guitar work straddling those classic rock and 80s sounds, and the overall thematic grandiosity of it really hits this time around.
Roxy Music
4/5
Big Roxy Music and Bryan Ferry fan...I prefer "Country Life" and "Stranded", but their sound is already starting to form here. Very influential and original for "art rock"
Britney Spears
3/5
This title track is a banger...so is "(You Drive Me) Crazy". Idc what the haters say, whoever was writing these songs was churning them out. The R&B influence in 90s pop makes the pop music of that era a lot more interesting and msuically sophisticated than today. Album overall has some goofy bubblegum teenage pop songs, shes not the caliber of singer as Christina, but they're little earworms and I was alive in 1998 so I enjoy it. Way prefer this over the braindead British electronic that has dominated this list at times.
Eagles
3/5
Man, I hate how much I enjoyed this album. The title - even after having heard it a million times, still love the guitar work, the harmonies, the epic build. And "New Kid In Town" is a cool song with some great guitar work, as is "Life in the Fast Lane". The ballads can induce eye rolls, but overall great stuff from a band that a guy like me should hate. "The Last Resort" is an insufferable and pompous, overproduced closer, so I'll round down my 3.5
Emerson, Lake & Palmer
3/5
It's cool stuff but not something I can listen to repeatedly
The Smiths
5/5
My favorite album by one of my favorite bands. One of the best openers in album history. I know I'll be on an island for this one and I don't care. Johnny Marr is my god.
The Rolling Stones
4/5
The highs are high - "Under my Thumb", "Think", "Mother's Little Helper", etc. Some of the blues numbers and other affectations can wear a little thin and dated...its like a rougher, worse produced early Beatles album. Cements their bad boy image and shows some glimpses of what they would become. Lots of cool bass parts - "Mother's LIttle Helper" has a really cool "swish" sound by Bill Wyman that I never noticed before, and some of Keith's overdubs on fuzz bass too. I'll round up to a 4 caus its the Stones