1001 Albums Summary

Wall to wall anthems, you can hear the genesis of later Cure here but even more obviously, Foo Fighters. If Sugar had come along ten years later they’d have been huge

One of the more successful reinventions of a reasonably popular blues rock band into a pop rock format, with several very memorable hits. There’s still about half the album I think of as filler, but I’m not mad about it

Everybody loves the Reverend Billy Gibbons, and this is a major reason why. Texas Roadhouse style colors in juicy, deep-pocketed grooves. A little smattering of smoke and whiskeyed harmonies gives this album the perfect char to the seared outside.

People love Snoop, and his sound is so effortless and cool, the Dre beats are sly and slinky. But the record itself leaves me feeling unfulfilled. This is not Tupac or Biggie skill.

Some bangers but also a lot of meandering filler. I can see how it would’ve been more meaningful in its moment, with Ziggy etc. but I’d rather listen to early Bowie/Ronson

An interesting album that doesn't quite reach the emotional heights of Kid A and Amnesiac because it doesn't have the melodies that grab a hold of your soul and stay there. But it is a very worthwhile listen for the musical ideas at play, and the idea of play itself

Of course I knew the theme song, but the rest of this soundtrack is delightful, both as a snapshot of the moment and as a harmonic dive into the funk of the moment. Normally I go to like an Alphonse Mouzon album but of course this is a bit more accessible. The drums are so present and a main character that you can't help but focus on. This is now one of my favorite "now that's a pocket" albums.

The Omnichord!

Incredible lesson in tight rhythm performance, spot on harmonies, just a tour-de-force

The production is immaculate, but to be honest the actual rapping is not my cup of tea. I had never heard this album until fairly recently, and I don't really feel like I missed anything, even though I know most of my friends who are about ten years younger worshipped this album, even if they dislike what Kanye stands for now. I still don't really get it.

Raw, powerful, you can hear how influential this record was on punk rock within the first twenty seconds

The crime of inspiring hair metal aside, this album was a nuclear bomb dropped on classic rock and roll—a unique blend of prog, metal, punk, and pop with that family sense of swing and Diamond Dave slathered on top