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

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.

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

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

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

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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 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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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

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?

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.

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.

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.

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

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

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

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

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 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

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

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.

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.

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.

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

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 at their best….you have to live in their world to get into it.

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

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.

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

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 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.

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.

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

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.

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.

Fun stuff…didn’t set the world on fire and was pretty repetitive but i enjoyed and that’s enough.

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

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.

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

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.

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.