Stone cold classic. Marked the re-birth of rock. Perfection.
Enjoyed every song. Just know they have better records coming, and a lot of sections are a little too Sgt. Pepper rip-offy.
A joy to listen to. Funky and fun with razor sharp production.
So fun, so much energy. A building block for the genre that’s still enjoyable and fresh.
Probably a 4 on a general scale; but I’m rating on the Bowie scale. This was a nice surprise, as I only gave it a few spins back when it came out. An excellent late-career entry worthy of his legacy.
Sounds like 5 shitty, totally unrelated songs being played over each other. And oh yeah, it’s almost 2 hours of this nonsense. Don’t do drugs kids. A torturous cacophony of misplayed notes and unharmonious “experimentation” disguised as high art. I don’t trust anyone that says they genuinely enjoy this.
No surprise that the singles were great. Little surprise that the rest was mostly forgettable, if pleasant, filler.
Wish I could do 3.5. But screw it, I’m in a generous mood so I’ll round up. The highs are gorgeous. Some memorable, emotional folk. “The Calvary Cross” is one of my favorite folk-rock songs ever. Just a couple skip over tracks, and knowing this isn’t my favorite Thompson album drops it a tiny bit.
A bizarre inclusion. Good record. But kinda a boring, meandering, and uninteresting entry in a great Blur catalog. 2.5/light 3 is my real score. Nothing to dislike; but they have some awesome records, so there’s really no reason to waste time with this one.
Funk/disco isn’t really my scene, but this is a fun record. Some really good, danceable tunes, loved a lot of the guitar work.
An absolute classic. From the songwriting, to the pacing, to the production, and most importantly, my favorite vocal performance on record, this album is perfect. Jeff’s voice absolutely soars. A key cog in the discussion of 1994 being the best music year, Grace is in my 90s top 10 and likely one of my overall top 20 albums.
A fun listen from an artist I wasn’t familiar with. Seems pretty cutting edge, pre-Avalanches sample based dance. Surprised and impressed with how engaging the tracks were.
A good record, but hard for me to distinguish or remember any specific tracks other than “Good Times.”
A no doubt 5 starer. The beacon or 90s narrative hip-hop. In a brisk 39 minutes Nas takes us through every nook and cranny of his environment. Every second is maximum engagement. Potentially matched by some early Wu Tang projects, but it will never be outdone. Just more fuel for 1994’s “best music year ever” fire.
I’m sure they’re great musicians, but this is brutal. Boring, cheesy, elevator music. Nothing to connect to emotionally, and with vey dated production. Sounds like what’s quietly playing in the background as you walk around an 80s mall.
A lovely little record from Simon that I wasn’t familiar with. It’s quirky, honest, and very re-listenable. Some experimentation that adds valuable flourishes without taking away from the songwriting. If this was the debut from Joe Shithead from Brooklyn, it’d be 4 stars. But need to grade compared to the rest of this list and his catalogue. An exciting discovery nonetheless.
An all time favorite and as easy a 5 as there will be on this list. The textures and production are still unmatched. It’s an album that you don’t really hear, but feel. Birthed a whole new world of sounds that no one’s been able to replicate. In my top 20 all time and my top 10 for the 90s.
A blast. This is how I was my rock and roll. Loud, lewd, and loose. Banger after banger. All killer no filler. All hail Iggy!
I appreciate the musicianship and impact, but my western brain just doesn’t connect emotionally to this. It’s pleasant, kinda shoothing really. Just not my journey.
Such a great record. Great, Stonesy guitar licks. Perfect 90s slacker attitude and delivery. Self-effacing, honest, funny, and sometimes shockingly vulgar lyrics. It all comes together in a terrific indie rock package.
They’re talented, but this just isn’t my preferred rap style. That jazzy, super aware stuff comes across as so corny. J5 are for someone, just not so much for me.
“Superstitious” is outstanding, but other than that, there just isn’t much here for me to engage with. I know Stevie is exceptionally talented and important, but this just didn’t connect with me. No relisten.
Hard to separate the music from the mega-mega star. I’ve always been kinda agnostic about T-Swizzle, not worth the effort to be a hater, but always found pop music I enjoyed more. But I have to say this is full of bangers, and totally enjoyable front to back. Catchy and fun, I found my head bobbing almost every track. Dinged it a star for the lyrics and rhyming schemes getting a little predictable and cheesy by the end of the record.
I just don’t get it. Seen a lot of people give this 5 and have seen it on best of lists as long as I can remember. But after the first song it’s just some idiot squealing randomly on a flute while his friend practices seemingly unrelated guitar scales at the same time. Absolutely nothing here after track one for me to engage with at all. Not my thing.
Spectacular. Not a single quibble on songwriting, performances, or production. Just gorgeous stuff. Still the gold standard for dream pop. Sorry Beach House.
Pretty stereotypical 70s singer-songwriter stuff; soft vocals, bongos for percussion, heavy lyrics, lush acoustic instrumentation. Having said that, it’s a very good version of those tropes.
A stunning record. Haunting and beautiful, JD’s growth just from their debut the year prior to this is still shocking. It’s spooky, atmospheric, and ultimately a devastating look into the doomed psyche of Ian Curtis. In my all time top 20 and 80s top 10.
These building blocks of rock and roll albums are always a lot of fun. Fats rules.
A terrific record. I typically don’t love the “step up in production quality” records from artists that thrive with a raw sound. But PJ’s songwriting and performances are of such high quality the crisp production lifts rather than stifles. Just killer art rock.
Maybe the peak of the first wave of solo-Wu releases. Deeply lyrical, amazing flow, great featured verses from the rest of the clan, incredible thematic consistency, all combine for a stunning classic.
I hadn’t done a full listen in years, as when I’m in the mood for the National, I usually go with Alligator or Boxer (both 5 stars in my opinion), and I really enjoyed it more than expected. The reputation I gave it as quality, but a little sleepy, was unmerited. The songs and lyrics are honest and gorgeous. I must be more patient as I get older because I had no problem with the pacing either. Brought back some wonderful memories from this era also - it’s what this project is all about.
I’d rank this #3 in his Ditch Trilogy, but it’s still getting a 5. This is my favorite era of one of my all time favorite artists. Raw and vulnerable, Neil is on the edge of losing it. Absolutely vital.
This album rules. I’ll always take their thrash stuff over this (Morbid Visions, Schizophrenia, Arise, and Chaos A.D. are all 5 stars to me). But their full embrace of Brazilian percussion and rhythms here is so powerful and just so damn interesting. Metal, more than other genres, seems to have the ability to adjust to geography in really special ways, and this is maybe the best example. Really influential too, seems like most of these riffs ended up on the first couple Slipknot records. More of this! 🇧🇷🤘🏽
This prog/psychedelic scene just isn’t for me. Clearly great musicians, but self-serious to the point of unintentionally sounding like a joke. 2 stars because when the band actually just rocks out, it can be pretty cool. But those parts are too few and far between.
Heard these tunes a million times, but damn, most are still pretty good.
Just 70s dentist waiting room soft rock dogshit. Everyone’s tastes are their own thing, but I just can’t imagine a world where this vanilla lame fest is “essential” to anything.
Tough to grade. The trip-hop type tracks are pretty enjoyable and engaging. The other artsy-fartsy high brow stuff is very much not enjoyable. A 3 is most fair, but it didn’t garner a relisten, which means a 2 on my scale.
No need to overthink this one. Every song is good, some excellent. This is vital new wave/power pop/punk.
This is when I really wish we could do halves. 3.5 with a bullet. This isn’t typical the kind of music that grabs me, just sounds clinical in a way, a little soulless. But as a life long shitty guitar player, I just so respect what Knoffler can do. The guy’s playing is unique and incredible. I’m not going to deny DS a good review. I enjoyed the record.
One of the small handful of records I use as the measuring stick for a 5. It’s perfection. All aspects of the band are at the peak of their powers here.
Cohen is a master songwriter, just wish the musical accompaniment on this one was a bit more varied.
Little overstuffed, but obviously some classic tracks and they really paved the way for other rock operas that I just musically enjoy more.
A prefect album by an all time favorite artist. Everything positive anyone has said about this is true. Exceptional.
A light 2. There are some catchy songs, but the cheesy mid-70s radio rock thing just doesn’t do it for me.
And early hip-hop classic that delivers on its reputation.
Sorta the un-hip cousin to “Exile in Guyville”, Jagged is rammed with hits, most of which hold up well. She still puts on a great live show too. 3.5
Fine I guess, but they got the wrong NERD album. No track on here is nearly as cool as anything on “In Search Of”
I prefer the Bruce era, but this is a genre classic that set Maiden on a path to glorious heights.
Pushing boundaries and blowing minds right to the end.
Super fun record. The inspiration I need to finally do a Roxy deep dive.
Way better than it has any right to be. Very cool to hear unique versions of the classics. And even better, the expanded arraignments really elevate the much weaker (shitty) Load and Reload material to new heights.
Knew the name but never listened. Absolutely love it. Kinda like a mix of Spiritualized and Strerolab but with more pop sense. On my second listen now and can’t wait to deep dive. What a fun discovery.
The hits are undeniable, but the rest is a lot of filler. It’s my lease favorite production style, and just hasn’t aged well sonically. Dude’s a pervert too. Pass.
A wild, noise-rock masterpiece.
Been 20 plus years since my last full listen. Enjoyed more than I thought I would - “When the Levee Breaks” rules.
A chill electronic classic. Air make electronic music that’s engaging, catchy, pleasing, and so very French.
As easy as this gets. Every track is an unimpeachable stone cold classic. The biggest, most important building block of metal. I’ve heard these songs 1000s of times and spending the day with them yesterday was still a thrill.
Fun blend of east meets west. Soothing and enjoyable.
A thrilling, fully engaging techno classic.
A brand new discovery. Really enjoyed this set; beautiful classic country with great storytelling. 3.5 now, but I feel like this will grow to a four with more time spent with the artists.
Gorgeous album. A classic for a reason, Joni’s voice is unique and her lyrics insightful and heartbreaking.
When I was 14 I thought these guys were cool. Now I’m 41 and think they pretty much suck. The singles are solid, “Under the Bridge” is still great. But the rest oscillates between totally forgettable and downright embarrassing. Anthony Kiedis may be the worst lyricist in rock history.
Teetering on 5. A tense, electronic album with perfect production and pacing. Having vocals on most tracks keep me engaged throughout and the singles brought back memories of a great era. Breathe with me!
Fun record, just tough to get a real vibe on YouTube with adds. Also a little disappointed that “Our House” is so far and away the best track here. I’ll revisit later.
Very much not the style of rap I typically gravitate to, but the beats, grooves, and lyrics are so creative and clever - just can deny this classic.
Not totally offensive bubble gum pop. But I’m offended that I had to listen to this and someone in a position of power thought this album was essential listening. Email my heart. Shame on you.
I really hated this, but I had Brittney Spears yesterday so I’ll give them a bonus star for being an actual band.
An all-time favorite. Violator is the DM zenith. Everything they’ve ever done well coalesces here. The production is pin perfect, sharp, and panned so wide you can hear and feel everything. A monumental record.
I really want to love Leonard Cohen, but it doesn’t click for me in a way that pulls me back for repeat listening. He was beyond gifted and I respect everything he’s done, just can’t get over the hump to a 4 though.
A revelation. YHF still seems more like an event than a rock album. Shifted my listening and indie rock broadly towards a more daring and outwardly artistic palate. These records that come out from long-running bands that sound nothing like their previous stuff rarely work. YHF managed to reset Wilco’s career and cement Tweedy as an all-time great. In my top 100 of all time easily.
Not a soul expert by any stretch, but I really enjoyed this. Multiple listens, great grooves and heartfelt vocal performances. 3.5
This prog stuff just isn’t for me. I really struggle with the noodling around and lack of structure on a lot of tracks here. But i recently had Brittany Spears, so bonus star for being a real band and good musicians.
Need some more listens because it definitely feels like a grower. Well written, well produced, if subtle indie rock.
His remarkable gift for melody is apparent in every track, but these mostly seem like nuggets more than fully developed songs; Paul finding his footing right after the Beatles. Still very good. 3.5.
What a great record. Such a unique and special project overall, I remember how befuddled everyone was when the debut came out. What is this? Who are they? Is this real? Well “they’re real, and they’re spectacular.”
I love anything Gram related and this is no different. The Rosetta Stone of country rock, there isn’t a missed note on here. Sneaky Pete’s pedal steel through distortion effects sounds like a rocket ship. Gram’s voice is perfect. This record fits the bill of “essential listening”
An easy five. Richly textured and beautifully executed. It’s a rare giant hit record that was artistically daring and stands the test of time. Every song is wonderful and weird in their own way. REM became mega-stars in the most REM way imaginable.
A fun discovery. Exciting, compelling post-punk. Not sure how essential it is, but a good listen nonetheless.
A jazz record I didn’t hate! Some song structure, and mercifully 32 minutes. Not unenjoyable to put on while working a nine to five desk job.
His voice is great, the album is produced and performed very well, but the songs overall aren’t strong enough for a lot of repeat listens.
A fun record with a few great party jams on there. James Broooooown!
4.5. A near perfect record with some absolute bangers. Document is the perfect bridge album between their indie and major label sounds, showing the band wouldn’t lose any artistic integrity. Would be a 5 for 99% of bands, but I need to consider the rest of their excellent catalog in my score.
Some interesting stuff, but mostly boring 70s drug psych mumbo jumbo. 💤💤
Really enjoyed this. All the heart and soul of Blue but with a lot of experimental sonic elements and effects tastefully sprinkled in. Cool stuff.
3.5. I love Earle, but enjoy his rougher later career stuff over the commercial country. The Mountain, Copperhead Road, Transcendental Blues, all 4 or 5s.
This feels overproduced, but his songwriting is great. “Someday” is an all-time classic. Great artist, glad he’s represented on the list, this just isn’t my go-to album.
Beautiful record. Such a haunting voice. Soothing melodies, mysterious lyrics. Elite folk music.
Solid funk-disco. Gotta say I’m a bit disappointed though considering its reputation as an all timer. Fine, but not inspired to come back for more.
Started with a bang, but faded quickly. The revisionist history that the Doors were just okay seems to be deserved. 2.5
Super fun listen. Hits hold up and the tracks I didn’t know impressed me. It will stay in the rotation.
I don’t know shit about bossa nova. I do know that I enjoyed listening to this.
Vital proto-punk. The Dolls paved the way for the punk explosion that followed this record. Still fun too.
All my other 5s so far were albums I knew I loved and would be getting a 5 the second they popped up. This is different because I really don’t have much experience with classic soul. But by the end of my third listen all I could think was - this truly cannot be improved upon. That’s a 5 in my book. Great stuff.
Great post-punk, spooky new wave. Every song was interesting and catchy. Great album.
Enjoyable psych rock. You can hear a lot of these riffs and melodies in Velvet Underground’s stuff a couple years later. Not a ton of repeat value, but I respect the influence.
3.5. No skips, good repeatability level. Paul certainly has a unique gift for melodies and hooks.
Very cool indie rock mixed with a unique western/cowboy esthetic. Little surprised to see it here considering how stacked this era was, but I really enjoyed it and it brought me right back.
Gun to my head, this is my favorite metal album of all time. The pure thrash that dominated metal at the time is replaced by rhythmic grooves. The simpler riffs made Pantera sound heavier and more punishing than the shredders. Dime’s guitar tone is pulverizing, punchy, crisp, and defined heaviness despite mostly being in standard tuning. His full embrace of the whammy pedal gives us his most mind-bending solos. At the peak of the grunge-era (which I love), Vulgar Display seemed to hold the torch for all extreme music; the follow-up, Far Beyond Driven, being even heavier, AND somehow debuting at #1. It’s the best punch to the face you can hear.
My favorite rap album of all time. In my top 10 of all time. In my 90s top 5, and probably a top 5 debut.
The best rap posse ever putting their stake in the ground. RZA’s grimy, smoky production is immediately recognizable and still influencing almost all hip hop I like today. 36 Chambers is a vision.
A great live recording of a young JB. You can feel the energy and excitement vividly. I just wish it was longer.
Pleasant enough new wave, but not particularly memorable. Not a fan of this production style either.
A great mix of dark, gloomy new wave with exciting industrial scrape. A unique take on a well-represented genre and era on the list. Awesome record.
Crazy high highs that set the stage for the Stones incredible run of albums that soon follows. Under my thumb…
A couple songs are cool, a couple songs are forgettable, a few songs are annoying, and a few songs are total garbage. Their album prior to this, Absolution, is mostly good and would have been better on the list.
Generously rounding up because Frank has a nice voice. Jesus this was a slog. All the songs sound exactly the same. All slow to mid tempo sob fest. More like ol Snooze Eyes, amirite?
I don’t like Christmas music. But this is probably as good as it gets.
Really a tough call. Wish I could go 3.5. Side A is incredible, side B is pretty boring. I appreciate the yin/yang thing, Low is my favorite Bowie record. But there just wasn’t much in the back half that grabbed my interest. Knopfler is a magician on the guitar with a mesmerizing tone and touch. Rounding up on the score to pay my respects to his musicianship.
Raw, urgent, and hectic, this is Costello at his finest. The production, performances, and songwriting are all drum tight and sharp. No wasted notes, nothing that isn’t vital to the experience. Power-pop perfection with nervy edges. Love it!
An alt-country classic that really laid the groundwork for the sub-genre to take flight over the next decade. Gritty and tender at the same time, Car Wheels is just great.
To paraphrase another users’ Bitch’s Brew review:
It’s really true what they say about experimental jazz….
It totally sucks.
Rounding up a star just so the jazz edge lords don’t threaten my family again next time I post my stats on the Reddit group. No other genre’s fan base questions other people’s intelligence when they don’t like their albums. The jazz police (who would be horrible actual police because they’d stop to gawk and fawn over any batch of people making tuneless noises) can zip it.
Not sure how often I’ll come back to it; but I always enjoy these “foundations of rock n roll” artists. Solomon absolutely holds up and I liked every song.
Wow, what a fun surprise. Never dove in on Stills’ solo material, but man, this is great. A double album worthy of its run-time. Terrific blend of alt-country, rock, blues, bluegrass, folk, etc. But all just seamless; really feels like one concise thing.
39 minutes, and every one a punishment. This was brutal. A joke that’s not funny. You know the person that tells everyone how smart they are, but are actually just a total dick? This is the musical version of that.
An amazing debut by an immeasurably influential band. Still sounds fresh.
While their most sedated album, it’s no less amazing. Mar’s playing is intoxicating and mesmerizing. Morrissey is a his whimsical best, self-deprecating, melancholy, and funny. “That Joke Isn’t Funny Anymore” is as good as it gets. Andy Rooke’s bass playing is the unsung hero here, popping and grooving while Mar and Moz work their magic.
A brutal listen. Pseudo-intellectual 60s psych nonsense.
Legendary. One of those unmitigated classics that lives up to its billing. Every song is special. It’s not my favorite Bruce album, but it’d still be impossible to improve upon. “Jungletown” alone would make this a 5. It’s a soaring rock achievement.
Great melodies and harmonizing. Enjoyable from front to back.
Awesome early rock and roll. Great takes on some classics and I really love the grainy production. Proto-garage rock. Fun to connect the dots and hear the direct line from this to the Stooges or the Hives.
A pleasant, easy listen. “Girl From Ipanema” is an obvious classic, but the rest is just as breezy. Nice work music, and I can handle jazzy stuff with vocals. Love the Brazilian influence.
A nice electronic journey. Wish it was a bit more uptempo, but it was enjoyable nonetheless.
Hate to give any Beatles release less than a 4 considering their influence. I’m not making a point or weird statement about anything or trying to have an original “take” on the most popular band of all time. Just listening to this record on its own, there are a handful of tracks that weren’t memorable.
I hated this so much. Music without soul. Soundtrack to many hotel lobbies and dentist waiting rooms. I’ll give it a 2 though because it’s so offensively boring that at least the push back to this sanitized suck-fest helped give birth to punk and all kinds of other music I love. Thank you Steely Dan for sucking. Rock is now better for it. I’m going to listen to Fugazi the rest of the day to make sure I can still feel something.
Outstanding. My first five-star album coming in completely cold. What a discovery! Beautiful use of space and restraint. Love the smattering of electronics, and delicate touches of experimental songwriting. Gorgeous vocal performance. Wonderful, crystal clear production that doesn’t sound tacky like some contemporaries. Just thrilling high art.
4.5. I adore this record and the garage rock revolution it kicked off. Context is everything, and this was the kick in the ass the rock world need at just the right time. Jack’s playing is raw and world beating. Justice for Meg too.
“Lay down your soul to the gods rock and roll… BLACK METAAAAL!”
We metalheads would call this thrash or speed metal now, but Venom really did birth the black metal subgenre here. They created the esthetics, satanic themes, and sonic realm that other bands would run with. A damn good listen in a vacuum, but monumental when its influence is accounted for.
A great record. Pieces of Bowie, the best parts of disco, and right on the edge early 2000s indie. Brought back some great memories of a really magical time.
