119
Albums Rated
3.41
Average Rating
11%
Complete
970 albums remaining
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Rating Timeline
Taste Profile
1970s
Favorite Decade
Jazz
Favorite Genre
other
Top Origin
Wordsmith
Rater Style ?
13
5-Star Albums
2
1-Star Albums
Breakdown
By Genre
By Decade
By Origin
Albums
You Love More Than Most
| Album | You | Global | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Fetch The Bolt Cutters
Fiona Apple
|
5 | 3.19 | +1.81 |
|
Rum Sodomy & The Lash
The Pogues
|
5 | 3.25 | +1.75 |
|
Sunday At The Village Vanguard
Bill Evans Trio
|
5 | 3.32 | +1.68 |
|
Court And Spark
Joni Mitchell
|
5 | 3.35 | +1.65 |
|
The Köln Concert
Keith Jarrett
|
5 | 3.4 | +1.6 |
|
Head Hunters
Herbie Hancock
|
5 | 3.56 | +1.44 |
|
Franz Ferdinand
Franz Ferdinand
|
5 | 3.57 | +1.43 |
|
Yoshimi Battles The Pink Robots
The Flaming Lips
|
5 | 3.58 | +1.42 |
|
Out Of The Blue
Electric Light Orchestra
|
5 | 3.64 | +1.36 |
|
Wild Is The Wind
Nina Simone
|
5 | 3.64 | +1.36 |
You Love Less Than Most
| Album | You | Global | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Bug
Dinosaur Jr.
|
1 | 2.92 | -1.92 |
|
Public Image: First Issue
Public Image Ltd.
|
1 | 2.42 | -1.42 |
|
Tommy
The Who
|
2 | 3.34 | -1.34 |
|
Hysteria
Def Leppard
|
2 | 3.21 | -1.21 |
|
Technique
New Order
|
2 | 3.17 | -1.17 |
|
New York Dolls
New York Dolls
|
2 | 3.12 | -1.12 |
5-Star Albums (13)
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Popular Reviews
Fiona Apple
5/5
This is one of my all-time faves. This album reminds me of early covid because that's when I first got into it. I remember listening to it on the drive to pick up my hamster in Oakbank (RIP Sid).
I love how weird and creative it is. There are so many unique musical elements. The lyrics are strange and cool and so are the melodies.
The themes of this albums revolve around breaking out of chains and refusing to be silenced, which is very powerful. Favorite tracks are I Want You to Love Me, Shameika, Under the Table and Cosmonauts. 9.5/10.
1 likes
1-Star Albums (2)
All Ratings
Method Man
3/5
The album opens with a line from Mussorgsky's Pictures at an Exhibition, so that got me intrigued at the start. I'm not a big enough rap fan to be able to appreciate the nuances of this album so I don't have a ton to say it. It's cool and has a nice flow throughout. I have never listened to the Wu-Tang clan before, so it's nice to get an idea of their style through one of the members. My favourite tracks are Release Yo' Delf, Mr. Sandman, and Stimulation. I'll say 6.5/10.
The Beach Boys
3/5
I don't think I really get why people love The Beach Boys so much, but I can definitely appreciate their unique sound and overall musicality. They were certainly ahead of their time. The harmonies in many of their songs are quite elegant and precise. God Only Knows is a great song and I like that it has french horn. Wouldn't It Be Nice is a classic too. It's a pleasant album, but not groundbreaking for me. 7.5/10.
The Mamas & The Papas
3/5
This group is like The Beach Boys meets ABBA. Their sound isn't totally generic though - there are some unique songs on the album too. My favourite song is California Dreamin', which seems to be the album's most popular track. I know a clip of that song was trending on reels (presumably also TikTok) for a while, so not surprising. This was a fun and light listen. 7/10.
Aretha Franklin
5/5
Aretha is amazing! Her voice is powerful and she has so much control over it. Every song has soul (so the album title is apt) and the backup singers enhance the musicality even more with their harmonies. Natural Woman 🙌 🙌 Other bangers include Chain of Fools and Ain't No Way. 9/10.
Electric Light Orchestra
5/5
What a great album! Before now, I only knew Mr. Blue Sky because I sang it in high school choir. I don't know what it is about ELO's sound, but the vibes are excellent. They've got "orchestral" elements like strings and piano, cool electronic elements and sound effects, lovely harmonies and falsettos, and a je ne sais quoi. The album is a journey and has a good amount of variety. I have heard good things about this album and now I can see why. 9/10.
Bob Dylan
3/5
This album really dragged on for me. I like Bob Dylan's folkier songs and ballads, but the bluesy stuff just all sounds the same and isn't that engaging in my opinion. The songs on this album that I did enjoy were Like a Rolling Stone and Ballad of a Thin Man. I actually don't mind his voice or how out of tune the vocals and harmonica often are or how basic the songs are in terms of harmony and structure - I think all of that could have its charm. If the vocals were more emotionally expressive, I think that would go a long way, but they aren't so it kinda falls flat. 5/10.
Paul Simon
4/5
I am a fan of Paul Simon, but had never listened to this album before. I liked the simpler, more pared down version of his musical style. This was only his second album, so it seems that his music became more experimental later in his career. My most-enjoyed songs were Mother and Child Reunion, Duncan, and Run That Body Down. 8/10.
CHIC
4/5
This is the only properly danceable album we've had on the list, so I'm glad I finally gave it a listen. Le Freak is obviously a classic song, but the rest of the album also grooves. This got me dancing around my apartment while getting my chores done - great Saturday morning vibes. A fun disco album! 8/10.
4/5
The Beatles were my favourite band in middle school but this wasn't one of the albums I owned so I only know about half of the songs really well. The Beatles are always a nostalgic listen for me. This is an eclectic album for sure. Some of the songs are silly/theatrical, some are reminiscent of their earlier albums, and some are more experimental like Within You Without You. The title track is a great tune. My favourite song that I don't know well is Lovely Rita. A Day in the Life is by far my favourite from this album though. 8/10.
James Brown
3/5
I can understand why this made the list because it's a piece of music history. Very cool to hear the audience going wild for James Brown. He has a lovely voice with a lot of power and emotion. This recording isn't the most engaging to listen to though and likely doesn't do this performance full justice. 7/10.
3/5
I'm not a punk fan, but I do think this is the best punk album on this list so far. It feels like proper punk rock. Both vocalists have great voices that blend well and they create some really interesting harmonies. I particularly like Exene's voice and the tracks she sings. The songs I enjoyed the most were The Once Over Twice, Some Other Time, and When Our Love Passed out on the Couch. 7/10.
Nina Simone
5/5
Nina Simone's voice is so emotive. She brings so much subtlety and elegance and heart to each song and really tells a story. I love that she's a contralto too. Four Women is such a cool song that I've never heard before. That last line, "My name is Peaches!" is fucking great. I love Lilac Wine, but had only heard a Miley Cyrus cover of it (also great). Nina's version is lovely. It reminds me of my favourite Nina Simone song called Stars. 9.5/10.
Aerosmith
3/5
I went through a classic rock phase as a tween, but never really listened to Aerosmith. This album is exactly what I expected it would be though. It's a totally fine album, but nothing to write home about imo. My favourite song is Home Tonight - I love me a rock ballad. 6.5/10.
Napalm Death
2/5
Lol I actually didn't mind this album, though it is quite grating overall. I have to say, the micro songs are fun and provide lots of variety. Plus they give the opportunity for so many more edgy song names. I got a kick out of the spooky, unintelligible vocals and some of the more consonant instrumentals. A lot of the songs actually made me laugh because of the grunting and higher-pitched, goblin-like screeching. I'll give this 4/10.
Linkin Park
4/5
First off, In The End is a classic and great song that automatically adds a star to this album for me. My step-dad introduced me to the song and I listened to it 100 times as a kid and did a sweet rendition of it at karaoke this year. I don't fully know what sub-genre of rock this is, but there are some cool, metallic sounds. It sounds hip-hop/rap adjacent, which is interesting. It's very angsty and a bit cheesy, but I think it's a solid album. 8/10.
Louis Prima
4/5
This is a great album! The band is tight, the horns are giving it their all, and the vocals from Louis and Keely are fantastic. I always enjoy this style of jazz when it's well done. The New Orleans jazz tracks are a standout on this album. I really enjoyed this instrumental version of Body and Soul and the little snippet of "In the Hall of the Mountain King" at the end. The horns killed it on that track and on Night Train. A really solid album overall. 8.5/10.
The Mars Volta
3/5
This wasn't my cup of tea. I actually thought every aspect of it sounded quite good except for the pop punk/rock opera vocals. All of the instrumentals were really solid and it was cool to listen through a prog rock album. The idea of having an overarching story that plays out throughout the album is interesting and reminds me of classical tone poems. 5.5/10
Bill Callahan
3/5
My first review! I enjoyed this album. I liked the talk-singing style of the vocals. Bill's voice reminded me of the band Friendship. The album had a quirky, eccentric quality that made it a fun listen. 7/10.
Solomon Burke
3/5
I didn't have strong feelings about this album. I liked all of the songs but none of them stood out to me. Solomon has a nice, soulful voice. Lyrics were pretty generic. 6/10
Isaac Hayes
3/5
This album made me laugh at first because it is a bit cheesy. I got into it though as I listened further and some of the songs really got me groovin'. There were lots of cool instrumental moments, like sweet brass lines and some jazzy flute. 7/10.
Leonard Cohen
4/5
I really liked this one. It is very powerful and has lots of emotional depth. And vocal depth! I appreciate the existential quality of this album - a man coming to terms with the end of his life and trying to make sense of it all. I think the title track is my favorite. You can hear the grief in the vocals, but the choral interludes are reverent. It really captures the duality of life and death. 8.5/10
Elvis Presley
3/5
I mean, it's Elvis. He's obviously a very talented singer and was ahead of his time. I enjoyed the album, but it didn't blow my mind. I think Elvis shone as a live performer so recordings don't convey his charm as much. Still a 7.5/10 for me.
I have a special appreciation for 'In the Ghetto' because of that one scene in New Girl.
New Order
2/5
This album was not my fave. It's not bad music, but I think I just don't like whatever genre this is. Every song sounds essentially the same. I kinda just felt like I was being Rick Rolled. Lol. Still objectively fine so 5/10.
Björk
4/5
Maybe I'm being influenced by my Icelandic roots, but I actually enjoyed this album. I've always been curious about Björk but have been apprehensive to listen because I thought her music would be too weird for me.
This album is definitely strange, but I liked the strangeness. The last half of the album didn't capture me as much, but I got a kick out of the first five songs. 8/10.
Koffi Olomide
3/5
Cool to see the DR of Congo represented! This was a pleasant listen. Some sweet percussion and a nice groove. I got a kick out of the fact that he was often singing in French. 7/10.
The Verve
3/5
This one was cool. I, too, was stoked to hear Bitter Sweet Symphony - it's a great song! I wasn't blown away by this album but did really enjoy the more ballad-like songs (Sonnet, The Drugs Don't Work). I can appreciate the grungy, 90s sound. 6.5/10
David Bowie
4/5
This album is unique and pretty intense. It acts as David Bowie's swan song because he released it two days before he died of cancer. The songs on this album are darker and even more bizarre than his earlier music, though they still have his signature sound. I'm a fan of David Bowie so I actually really enjoyed this one! I like almost all of the songs. My favorite is probably Dollar Days because I love the saxophone. 8/10.
Dead Kennedys
3/5
This is an interesting one. Though the songs are about heavier topics, the music feels less emotional and more clean and technical. Musically interesting with lots of complex and precise rhythms and very quick tempos.
I like the character of the vocals, and the song titles are definitely entertaining. The funniest song title is Stealing People's Mail. I agree with James that I'd have to be in a very specific mood to want to listen to this album - amped and maybe a little angry.
I liked the little waltz interlude in Chemical Warfare. Also the Viva Las Vegas cover was unexpected and funny to me. 7/10.
Fela Kuti
3/5
This album has some really cool percussion, saxophone, and brass. I appreciate the jazz influence on the afrobeat sound.
All of the songs feel pretty chill, but it is actually quite a political album (thanks Kerri for referencing the Wikipedia page about the album - the backstory is wild). Fela Kuti seems to have been an important political activist in Nigeria. He also apparently had 27 wives at one point. Knowing the context, I can definitely see why this album is on the list.
My favorite song was Mistake. 7/10.
Tricky
3/5
This is a cool one. I like pairing of the sultry, ethereal vocals with rap. Very musically interesting and diverse album. All the songs are pretty vibey and chill. 6.5/10.
There are a couple songs that I decidedly didn't really like, but others that I enjoyed. Least favorite: Ponderosa. Favorite: Hell is Around The Corner
Bert Jansch
3/5
A classic folk album with some bluesy influence. This is right up my alley. He's clearly a skilled guitar player and singer. There are some really cool guitar melodies on this album, like in Finches, Alice's Wonderland, Casbah, and Angie. The lyrics are a bit less inspired, so I enjoyed the purely instrumental songs a lot more. 7/10.
50 Cent
3/5
I don't have much to say about this one. Most of the songs kinda feel the same to me. Though I can appreciate some of the little details and nuances that make them all a bit different. I can get into In Da Club. And P.I.M.P. lol. Love that steelpan. Not my fave but not my least fave. 6.5/10.
Bruce Springsteen
4/5
It's the Boss, what more can I say? This is a great album. Born to Run was an anthem for me a couple years ago and I still love it. I hadn't listened through the rest of the album before, but it's great. The saxophone is amazing!! 8.5/10
Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark
3/5
I was rooting for this album because the album name and art are super cool, but the music is less cool. It's a typical 80s sound. I wasn't enthralled by it, but the songs were kinda soothing actually. Definitely more of an ambient album and a bit experimental too. 6.5/10
Gang Starr
3/5
Pretty cool, lots of variety. I liked it. 7/10.
The Strokes
5/5
I really likes this album!! Apparently I like the Strokes. I knew a couple of these songs already but had never listened to the album before. I like that the music has a grungy quality to it but the melodies and harmonies are pleasing. Idk what I mean by that but they're onto something haha. 9/10.
Ms. Dynamite
3/5
Joanna Newsom
4/5
I liked this whimsical little album. Her vocal tone bordered on being too nasal for me, but it does fit the music really well so I can let it slide. I loved the instrumentation and especially the harp - so ethereal. This felt like a fairy tale.
Bonus points because Joanna Newsom is married to Andy Samberg and I love that for them. 8/10.
Incredible Bongo Band
3/5
This was definitely a fun listen and I do like bongos so can't complain. I think it's funny that most of this album is just instrumental bongo covers of other songs. I don't know if I needed to listen to this before I die lol. But I did enjoy it. 7/10.
The Doors
4/5
This is a very bluesy album with a bit of a psychedelic flavour. The Doors are pretty iconic tbh. My favorite songs were Love Her Madly, L.A. Woman and Hyacinth House. Riders on the Storm is a great tune too. There were some really cool musical elements on this album: sweet guitar lines, organ, interesting rhythms, and great vocals and lyrics. 8/10.
Deerhunter
3/5
A nice, indie album. I was really vibing with He Would Have Laughed today. 7.5/10.
The Rolling Stones
3/5
Beck
3/5
Fiona Apple
5/5
This is one of my all-time faves. This album reminds me of early covid because that's when I first got into it. I remember listening to it on the drive to pick up my hamster in Oakbank (RIP Sid).
I love how weird and creative it is. There are so many unique musical elements. The lyrics are strange and cool and so are the melodies.
The themes of this albums revolve around breaking out of chains and refusing to be silenced, which is very powerful. Favorite tracks are I Want You to Love Me, Shameika, Under the Table and Cosmonauts. 9.5/10.
Throwing Muses
2/5
Tina Turner
3/5
All the versions of this album I could find were like 25 songs long, but I could only handle listening to the 10 songs that wikipedia says are from the original album. I dig this album. Very 80s. Tina has a bit of raspiness to her singing voice that I like. My favourite was her cover of Help. 7/10.
Jethro Tull
3/5
Public Image Ltd.
1/5
I did not enjoy this one much. The singing is more like talking/yelling and the music is very noisy and grating. I struggled to even listen through the entire first song but I did persevere until the end of the album. The weirdness of Fodderstompf somehow ended up being the best part of this album for me. 2/10.
Leonard Cohen
3/5
Cream
4/5
I like this one. I'm a fan of Eric Clapton and I like the mellow, psychedelic vibes. The songs are varied enough to keep it interesting. This album is also nostalgic for me because I grew up listening to Sunshine of Your Love - I apparently bought it on iTunes in 2011. I also had this record at home as a kid and remember listening to it a few times. I like almost all of the songs on the album. 8/10.
Keith Jarrett
5/5
Incredible! I don't know what style of jazz this is, but I love it. There's some classical in the mix, but also blues, and some other elements I can't put my finger on. Very improvisatory. Also I'm pretty sure I heard "the lick" at some point in the first song on the album lol (iykyk). IMO this is the best album on the list so far. 10/10
Simon & Garfunkel
4/5
This is a solid album. There are some really great songs on it and some fairly forgettable ones. I got very into the Jacob Collier version of Bridge Over Troubled Water which led me to enjoy the S&G (original) version too. I'm also a fan of El Condor Pasa, Cecilia and The Boxer. 8/10.
Rufus Wainwright
4/5
This album started off very strong for me because I *love* the first song, Oh What a World. The song interpolates Ravel's Bolero which is super cool. I enjoyed the rest of the album, though none of the other songs stood out to me too much. I like the pleasant, folky vibe though. 8/10 (if the rest of the songs were as good as the first song I would give it 10/10).
Television
3/5
Randy Newman
3/5
Pulp
3/5
This is an interesting one. It has a bit of a David Bowie/Tim Curry vibe that I like. It's a bit creepy and dark and includes scandalous themes throughout. It's musically interesting and I enjoyed it overall. To me the album sounds very 70s/80s though, so I'm surprised this came out in '95. 7/10.
Bill Evans Trio
5/5
I'm a big fan of this album. Ideal listening while cooking for Thanksgiving. The musical choices all feel very tasteful and clean, while also being expressive and creative. Bill Evans on the piano is lovely, and the bass and drums also shine throughout the set. I love this style of jazz - it feels comforting to me. 9/10.
Doves
3/5
I really enjoy the instrumental aspects of this album. There are some super cool sounds in the mix. Unfortunately the vocal quality of the singer isn't my favourite and reduced my overall impression of this album. I would probably give it 8 or 9/10 without the vocals, but with them it's a 7/10. A lot of the album reminded me of early Coldplay, which is a plus for me because I'm a big fan. The song I liked the most was probably Sea Song.
Pixies
3/5
This is a cool album. It's pretty grungy and unpolished with really interesting drumming. The themes seem to be a bit dark and twisted. I prefer the slower, more ballad-like songs on the album like Where Is My Mind? That song must be having a moment because I've heard it before and it has like 400x as many plays as the other songs on the album. I also like Brick Is Red. The faster songs are a bit too relentless and noisy for me to want to listen again. 7/10 for this one.
New York Dolls
2/5
I'm struggling to understand why this album made the list tbh. It sounds like Generic Rock Music. None of the songs are bad, but none of them stand out to me either. I'll give it a 4/10.
David Bowie
3/5
I really like David Bowie but this album doesn't stand out to me much. It's a totally fine album, but doesn't seem remarkable enough to belong on this list tbh. 6.5/10.
Brian Eno
3/5
This album has a cool vibe. Reminds me of the Talking Heads. 7/10.
Muddy Waters
4/5
Dire Straits
4/5
This is a great album! Dire Straits have such a unique sound as far as rock bands go. You can hear elements of folk and jazz music in the mix, which is very cool. The guitar weaves through the songs in a really mesmerizing way. I have loved Sultans of Swing for many years. There are some epic live versions of the song with amazing extended guitar solos. Another standout song for me is Wild West End. 8.5/10.
The Jam
3/5
No complaints about this album, but there was nothing remarkable about it either. 5.5/10.
Portishead
3/5
Moody and strange with many interesting instruments and sounds included. This reminded me of the Maxinquaye album from a few weeks ago. It's innovative and unique and just has a cool vibe. I'm not in the right mood for this album today, but I still think it's a good one. 7/10.
Pentangle
3/5
When I saw that this is a baroque/folk-rock album I was psyched. I'm a big fan of more traditional folk music. Some of the songs on the album are giving renaissance faire, while others feel more folky. I like both. The orchestration is cool and there are some really interesting time signature changes and irregular meters. The vocals fit the music well and there are some sweet harmonies when they sing together. I appreciate this album more because it is quite different from everything else we have listened to so far. It's really in its own lane. 7/10.
The Who
3/5
This album really reminds me of The Beatles' red compilation album from 1962-66. They're from the same era of early rock music that all kinda sounds the same. I saw one review calling it "mod rock". It's their debut album, so they obviously hadn't found their sound/musical niche yet. It's all decent music, but not captivating or all that interesting. 6/10.
Janet Jackson
3/5
This reminds me of the music from my childhood dance classes. This album is really well done and very cohesive. It has lots of variety and most of the songs are enjoyable. The interludes between songs are a cool touch too. I wouldn't go out of my way to listen again because I'm not a big fan of pop music, but I can respect this album for what it is. 7.5/10.
Nick Drake
4/5
I knew of Nick Drake from a different album of his, Pink Moon, which is quite good if I remember correctly (apparently it's also one of the 1001 so I guess we'll find out). Five Leaves Left is a hell of a debut album. He has a unique vocal quality that I enjoy. This music is beautiful and conveys lots of emotion for being so simple. I listened to this while driving around in the rain tonight and it was the perfect soundtrack.
Paul Simon
4/5
This is a fun album. Listened to Crazy Love and Diamonds on the Soles of Her Shoes a lot last year and had heard several of the other songs from this album too. The fusion of South African and American musical stylings is interesting and innovative. 8/10.
Dinosaur Jr.
1/5
How to make cleaning my oven even worse: put on this album. I wasn't a fan of this one. Too noisy and abrasive for me. 2.5/10.
The Byrds
3/5
Laura Nyro
4/5
I was not expecting this style of music based on the album name and art, and it was a pleasant surprise. The vocals occasionally cross into being too bright and theatre-y for me, but for the most part I like her vocal quality. There is a jazzy, folky element that reminds me a bit of Joni Mitchell. Apparently Elton John was a big fan of Laura and he even wrote a tribute song for her with Brandi Carlile called "The Rose of Laura Nyro" - it's a very cool song. My favourite songs were Luckie, Stoned Soul Picnic, and Woman's Blues. 7.5/10.
Herbie Hancock
5/5
M.I.A.
3/5
This album has so many varied sounds that make it really unique as a hip hop album. It is cool to hear the south asian musical elements and the inclusion of so many other musical traditions as well. This isn't an album I would personally be drawn to listen to again, but I think it is objectively well done and very creative. And Paper Planes is obviously iconic.
Syd Barrett
3/5
No real standouts on this album for me, though I didn't mind it. Apparently Syd Barrett was a member of Pink Floyd in their early days, and I can definitely hear that influence in the mix. The album sounds relatively unpolished and the songs are a bit odd/wonky. I honestly don't know how to feel about it, but it's kinda cool. 6.5/10.
Paul McCartney and Wings
5/5
Band On The Run is one of my all-time favourite songs and I think this entire album is fantastic. This is a nostalgic one for me because my parents had this CD when I was a kid so I heard it throughout my childhood and have grown to appreciate it more and more with age. I've always loved Band On The Run because it has multiple distinct sections that build nicely throughout and the story of the "band on the run" is fun too. It kinda reminds me of Bohemian Rhapsody.
I honestly think this album has no bad songs. Each song has a unique musical style, which I really appreciate, and the lyrics tell interesting stories. I like that the last few songs include snippets of the earlier songs on the album. It creates a really cohesive and thoughtful feel. I love the instrumentation too, and the inclusion of organ, saxophone, clarinet, bassoon, cool percussion, etc. Paul McCartney is my favourite Beatle and I really like his work with the Wings. 9.5/10.
Miles Davis
4/5
I sat on my balcony enjoying the view from my new apartment while listening to this tonight and it was a perfect pairing. This is a very cool album. It is so subtle yet intricate and precise. I haven't really listened to jazz fusion before, so this was a great introduction to it. All of the musicians were so skilled that they made the album sound effortless. The best moments for me were the slow, peaceful sections at the start and end of In a Silent Way. 8.5/10.
Baaba Maal
3/5
I don't think I've listened to Senegalese music before, so this was cool. There are some great guitar and drum moments throughout the album, plus some sweet percussion and flute on certain tracks. I'm not sure what is being sung, but Baaba Mal has a nice voice that interacts well with the backing vocalists. A pleasant listen. 7/10.
Nirvana
4/5
I was a big Nirvana fan in high school and I listened to this album many times. I even had the CD! I really enjoyed listening through it again because it has been a while. In Utero has some great tracks, like Serve The Servants, Heart-Shaped Box, Pennyroyal Tea, and All Apologies. There are some pretty dark themes on the album and some abrasiveness, but that's an essential aspect of their sound. I like the grittiness of Kurt Cobain's voice. My favourite Nirvana album is MTV Unplugged, but this might be my favourite of their studio albums. 8.5/10.
Thelonious Monk
4/5
I played a french horn piece in university called Blues and Variations for Monk. I must've listened to at least some Thelonious Monk to prepare for that, but I have no recollection. Listening to this now, I can absolutely hear the aspects of Monk's style that the piece was drawing from. He makes use of interesting intervals and harmonies that are a bit dissonant, but the overall sound is still quite consonant. I really enjoyed this album. 8.5/10.
Jurassic 5
4/5
This is a really well-made album. The lyrics are thoughtful, interesting, and smoothly delivered. The beats are funky and the rhythmic activity is super cool and creative. This is definitely my favourite hip-hop/rap album on the list so far. 8/10.
Franz Ferdinand
5/5
The aspect of this album that stands out to me the most is how much I like the lead singer's voice. Must be the Scottish accent :P The melodies and harmonies are quite pleasing and I quite like the guitar throughout the album too. I have heard Take Me Out so many times and still really like the song, and there are several other standout tracks for me: The Dark of The Matinee, Auf Achse (apparently that translates to 'on the road' in German), Darts of Pleasure, Michael, Come On Home, and 40'. So pretty much every song.
If anyone is wondering what the German phrases mean in Darts of Pleasure, they translate to "My name is Super Fantastic, I drink champagne with salmon".
Turns out I'm an indie rock fan now because I've recently started liking The Strokes, The Arctic Monkeys, The Smiths, The Black Keys, Radiohead, and now apparently Franz Ferdinand! Younger me would never have expected this turn of events lol. I'll give this album 9/10.
The Flaming Lips
5/5
A vibey and dreamy album. The mix of acoustic and electronic sounds is super cool and channels the imagery of Yoshimi battling against the evil, pink robots. The variety of different instruments and sounds on this album actually blows my mind a bit. The vocalist reminds me of Neil Young, which is interesting. I like that there's a loose concept/story, but the songs all stand on their own. The further I listened, the more I loved this one. There are so many beautiful songs on this album: In the Morning of the Magicians, It's Summertime, and Do You Realize?? stood out to me as particularly lovely. This feels like a very life-affirming album. I also think the album art is sweet. 9.5/10.
Hugh Masekela
4/5
I haven't met a jazz album on this list that I haven't liked so far, and that continues to be true with this album. I like the composition of this album's ensemble. The saxophone and flugelhorn sound quite nice together and shine on their own and the piano has many sweet moments throughout. I like the motown-like quality of some of the songs. My three favourite songs are Minawa, Maseru, and Maesha. The matching intro and outro in Maesha is one of the coolest moments for me. 8.5/10.
Fun Fact: Maseru is the capital city of Lesotho, which is a tiny country landlocked within South Africa.
Def Leppard
2/5
I didn't expect to like this album and indeed I do not. A full hour of this was way too long for me. It's basic, incredibly cheesy, and the lyrics are not that interesting or creative. There's so much dumb, obvious innuendo. I have heard Pour Some Sugar On Me many times and have never enjoyed it. I actually don't mind other similar rock bands like AC/DC, Guns N' Roses, etc. Maybe I'm just nostalgic for the bands I listened to as a kid and Def Leppard wasn't one of them? Though I'd say there's definitely something about their sound that I just don't like. The album could be worse so I will give it a 4/10.
Abdullah Ibrahim
4/5
The Who
2/5
After reading about the concept of this album and the fact that it's a rock opera, I knew I was in for a strange listen. It's cool that they undertook such an ambitious project and had a vision, but it feels like they missed the mark.
Musically, it is completely adequate. The vocals and overall story are where they lost me. The lyrics are way too on the nose. It reminds me of a bad movie or TV show where the characters are essentially narrating everything they are thinking and feeling because the creators don't know how to communicate any of that symbolically through music, set, lighting, body language, etc. Each track on the album sounds pretty musically similar and the lyrics are just saying exactly what happened to Tommy. This album would be much cooler if the lyrics were a bit more symbolic instead of literal and if some emotional context was communicated through the harmony, tempo, dynamics, instrumentation, etc. A lot of the songs are so literal that they come across as incredibly corny and some of them actually make me cringe. The story of Tommy is also whack and doesn't make any sense.
I can still appreciate that the concept is creative and respect the fact that they tried something different. This is one of the first rock operas ever created, so at least they were trying to innovate and expand the genre. I do like a few of the songs: Overture, Pinball Wizard, Go To The Mirror!, and Smash The Mirror. 4.5/10.
Traffic
4/5
I like a lot about this album. The genre is ambiguous but it seems to draw from rock, jazz, folk, blues, and maybe others too. The singer's voice is quite nice and I like the instrumentals too. The organ moments are cool and the flute is a unique element that sets this album apart. The flautist is truly giving it their all. Overall, this is a high quality album, but I feel like it's missing something that would make me rate it higher. 8/10.
Drive-By Truckers
3/5
Holy cow this is a long album for what it is. I was happy to hear some country music in the mix because the last many albums have been either rock or jazz and I was ready for some variety. I can't tell how satirical this album is supposed to be, but a rock opera about Lynyrd Skynyrd can't be fully serious.
This is actually quite an enjoyable album overall. I like the grungy take on country. This reminded me of Neil Young and of some other Canadian rock/country bands that I like. The wide variety of subject matter really seems to encapsulate the culture and politics in the southern US in a fairly nuanced way (I assume, as I've never been there and don't know too much about it).
Listening through the entire album was a bit of a slog and it definitely felt repetitive and slightly boring at times, but there were also great musical moments throughout. I'm not sure I would listen again, but this was really something! 7.5/10
Norah Jones
3/5
This album brings me back to a very specific time in my life. I played horn in the pit band when my high school performed the musical Bye Bye Birdie and the drama teacher played Norah Jones every night in the auditorium before the show started. The music is not even remotely similar to the BBB tunes, so I think the drama teacher was just a big fan of this album.
This is a pleasant album that gives early 2000s coffee shop vibes. I wasn't feeling it at first, but the music really grew on me as I listened through. All of the songs from Come Away With Me to Painter Song I particularly enjoyed. The music feels warm and inviting. It's not the most musically interesting, but it has its charm. 7/10.
Deep Purple
4/5
I only knew Deep Purple from Smoke on the Water so I wasn't sure what to expect, but this is sweet! Child in Time is fantastic and the rest of the album goes hard too. This is exactly the kind of music I think of when I think of (high quality) classic/hard rock. The organ throughout the album adds a lot and all of the musicians are clearly very skilled. Each instrument really shines on this album. 9/10.
Queen
4/5
This is a super fun album! It's cool to listen to Bohemian Rhapsody within its original context - I have heard the song too much in my life to fully enjoy it anymore, but it is objectively great and I appreciate it more amongst the rest of the album. I'm aware that You're My Best Friend and Love of My Life are the other two big hits from this album, but my most-enjoyed songs were actually Death on Two Legs, The Prophets Song, and '39.
Freddie Mercury's vocals are excellent, and it was nice to hear Brian May on a couple of tunes too. I appreciate that the songs on the album are quite varied, with several different styles represented. I like inclusion of sillier songs like Lazing On A Sunday, Seaside Rendezvouz, and God Save The Queen. The theatrical quality of this album represents the title of 'A Night At The Opera' well. Worst song is I'm In Love With My Car lol. All in all, this is an 8.5/10 for me.
The Associates
2/5
I would have been more forgiving of this album if it was half the length. The full 1.2 hours was daunting because the music did not make me want to keep listening. A lot of this sounded just find, albeit strange and random. I'm all for strangeness when it feels more intentional than this, but there was just way too much going on in these songs. They all felt very similar too, so it was difficult to differentiate between songs or pick favourites. There are some cool sounds in the mix though and I don't mind the vocals either, even though they're a bit wild. They remind me a bit of the Talking Heads at times, which is a redeeming factor. I'll give this 4/10.
U2
4/5
I remember not being a fan of U2 when I was younger, but I surprisingly enjoyed this album a lot. I love the 90s alt rock vibes and the 'edgy' album cover and name. Standout tracks for me are One, Until The End Of The World, Ultra Violet, Acrobat, and Love Is Blindness. Prior to this, I only knew Jack White's cover of Love Is Blindness, so it's cool to hear the original. I like the band's sound and really like Bono's voice. 8.5/10.
George Jones
4/5
I'm not a country super fan, but I can get into most country music because it has a lot of the same elements that I like from other genres like folk and jazz. This is a nice album. The songwriting isn't pushing the boundaries of music or anything (at least not by today's standards), but George Jones's lovely voice adds a warmth that invites you in. He's a real country crooner for sure. The tone of the guitar is quite nice as well and the rest of the instrumental accompaniment and vocal harmonies enhance the musicality. Overall, the album has a comforting feeling and makes me feel nostalgic. 8/10.
The Pogues
5/5
The Pogues have been on my radar recently because I got really into one of their songs, Fairytale of New York, after hearing Hozier cover it on SNL last December. That tune is on another of their albums, 'If I Should Fall from Grace with God', which is also on this list.
This album feels like a drunken night at the pub spent dancing the night away and celebrating life. I appreciate The Pogues's punk twist on Irish/Celtic folk music. Some of the songs are a lot of fun, while others are quite beautiful, and they all tell interesting stories. I love the sound of the traditional Irish band, complete with banjo, mandolin, accordion, fiddle, and tin whistle alongside the guitar, drums and bass. Add in Shane MacGowan's gravelly vocals and it all comes together.
Top tracks for me are The Sick Bed of Cuchulainn, A Pair of Brown Eyes, And The Band Played Waltzing Matilda, A Pistol for Paddy Garcia and A Rainy Night in Soho. 9/10.
The Stone Roses
4/5
Travis
3/5
I really like what the instruments are doing on this album. The very beginning of The Fear has a cool synth(?) sound, the harmonica on Luv is sweet, and I like the contrast between the two sections of Slide Show. Honestly solid instrumentals on every song. The vocals don't feel super original/inspired (both in terms of vocal tone and lyrics) though, so this album isn't a home run for me, though I did enjoy it. Several of the songs remind me of Radiohead and Keane, two bands I'm a fan of, so I'm not mad about that. 7/10.
Grateful Dead
3/5
I don't think I've listened to the Grateful Dead before. I'm not offended by this album, but I didn't find it very impactful either. The image/aura of the band led me to expect bolder musical choices, but this feels like very standard folk rock. The one track that stands out to me is Attics of My Life. It has a more unique, almost ballad-like sound and showcases the close vocal harmonies well. Truckin' is a fun track too. Maybe you need to be high on psychedelics to love this album as much as Dead Heads do? It's a nice, mellow album, but I'm not sure I would listen again.
I will say the band's visual art is pretty sweet though. The bears and skeletons are iconic and I stumbled across the music video for Ripple, which is super cool. It's basically an animated journey through a tarot reading - definitely worth checking out! The video actually made me appreciate the song more. 6/10.
The Magnetic Fields
2/5
Why write 10-12 really good songs when you could write 69 mediocre ones?
I was actually enjoying the album at first, but it gradually lost its charm for me, particularly while trying to get through the last third tonight. There were some truly irritating songs throughout, but also a lot of decent ones. I lost the ability to focus on the smaller details of songs, so they all blended together by the end, except for the really bad ones. I did enjoy how deep Stephin's voice is though. His voice also at times reminded me of H. Jon Benjamin who voices Bob from Bob's Burgers, which I found amusing. There was one song that almost sounded like Bob and Tina singing a duet lol.
I will say that I liked the few popular tracks from the album: All My Little Words, I Don't Want to Get Over You, I Think I Need a New Heart and The Book of Love. They all sound like they'd be in an indie movie, in a good way. I can see why they have millions of listens while all of the other songs have thousands or even only hundreds of listens (on YouTube Music).
I would not be able to convince myself to listen through this again and a lot of it wasn't even worth listening through once. 4/10.
Santana
4/5
Ghostface Killah
3/5
Dinosaur Jr.
3/5
Al Green
4/5
The Divine Comedy
3/5
Korn
2/5
This album came out the year I was born and one of my friends used to call me Korn, so I guess I feel a connection to it. I don't think I liked it that much because my favourite tracks were the three that featured other artists so I clearly liked when the band sounded less like what they normally sound like. The track with Ice Cube was my favourite on the album. Of the nu metal albums on the list so far, I think Linkin Park is better. I'll give this 4/10.
John Cale
3/5
Gorgeous french horn solo in Paris 1919 at 2:25 <3 The Endless Plain of Fortune is a great song too. I liked the orchestral sounds on those two tracks. This album didn't fully grab me, but there is a quality of John Cale's voice that I really like and a nice warmth/richness to the overall sound. Good variety of tracks too. 7.5/10.
Beatles
3/5
Prefab Sprout
3/5
Skunk Anansie
3/5
Fleet Foxes
4/5
MGMT
4/5
The Human League
3/5
My Bloody Valentine
3/5
Joni Mitchell
5/5
I've been waiting for this album to pop up! I'm a Joni Mitchell fan and this is probably my favourite album of hers (though Blue is also excellent). I just finished reading a book about her life and music, so this is good timing. Nice to see another Canadian artist on this list too! I think the only other Canadians we've had so far are Leonard Cohen and Rufus Wainwright.
This is one of the earliest of her albums where she shifts from a folk sound towards more of a jazz influence. I really enjoy the meeting of those two genres. The most iconic aspect of her music is her amazing voice that spans several octaves with ease and her creative and poetic lyrics. Both of those are on full display on this album.
I think it's cool that she created her own alternate tunings on the guitar because she had polio as child so she had trouble playing traditional chords with her left hand. Her tunings make for very interesting chords and harmonies!
I think all of the tracks on Court and Spark are fantastic. I've listened to the first three tracks a lot more than the rest of the album and still think they're great, but I particularly enjoyed listening from People's Parties onward for the first time in several years. I heard a lot of the songs with new ears and was particularly taken with The Same Situation, Car on a Hill and Down to You. I love the inclusion of woodwinds and horn on Down to You.
Fun fact: Joni was born Roberta Joan Anderson, which is also my mom's name.
Brian Eno
4/5
Red Hot Chili Peppers
3/5