Not for me - I’d never listened to this band, but I knew the Grateful Dead had a large following (“deadheads”) and are considered very influential, so I was excited to listen. This album unfortunately was excruciating to get through and not a great listening experience at all. 1 star is generous.
The atmosphere of this album was great, and it drew me in immediately with the opening track. Unfortunately the vocals felt very drowned out and quiet, and I thought the middle of the album wasn’t as good as the strong finish.
The album itself is enjoyable, but the backstory is what really makes this album. This is exactly the type of music that I’m glad this list has shown me, as there is no way I would have ever heard or found out about this otherwise.
Solid album with classic songs that still feel relevant today.
Some good, some bad, but mostly just meh
Ok album with a couple catchy songs, but a little bland in other spots. Nice to listen too, but nothing that makes me want to revisit anytime soon.
The Velvet Underground is another case of a band I’ve heard rave reviews for that has been a bit of a let down on this project. Maybe I’m just not getting it and at points there were songs I found myself enjoying, but for the most part it was just a bland listening experience. It’s certainly not a “bad” album by any means, but it just feels “meh”. 3/5
Strong opening with some classic bangers, but this album loses some momentum on the back half. Still a really solid fun album overall despite that.
Solid album highlighted by Smoke on the Water. I enjoyed the rest of the album and felt like it had a cohesive early metal sound, but some songs lacked an oomph and overstayed their welcome a bit in my opinion. Even so, I debated giving this album a 4, but I think a 3 is more representative of my feelings.
Dated for sure, but historically important. Not an album that I would ever casually listen too, but I can appreciate it for what it is and the impact it had so many years later.
Nilsson definitely earned his moniker of “The American Beatle”. This album was solid throughout (with the exception of the coconut song).
Definitely understand the Radiohead hype after listening to this album. Solid songs and felt cohesive, but I did find my interest level fluctuating between some songs. Still really solid though.
I’m finding out that I love a good instrumental hip-hop album (“Donuts” by J Dilla anyone?). This isn’t something I would have found on my own, which is why I started this project in the first place. Really awesome beats throughout, and an overall great listening experience.
Great singing throughout, but it’s tough to fully connect with an album from this time period. Still an enjoyable listen today though.
One of the most interesting albums on the list so far. Very cool funky/jazzy/blues type sound, and the influences on modern hip hop are cool to see as well. Still feels relevant despite being from ~50 years ago. Very cool and not something I would ever have been aware of prior to starting this project.
Sort of just a meh album to me. I’ve tried getting into the smiths music before, and it just isn’t my thing. Title track on this album is not subtle and very whiny.
Obviously influential, and I can appreciate the Bowie touches on this album. Unfortunately it just didn’t really do it for me. 2/5.
Classic album with some of Elton’s best hits in his career. This is really close to being a 5/5 for me, but the back half of the album is on the weaker side and drags on a little. Overall still a phenomenal album. 4/5.
A fine listen, but pretty repetitive and stereotypical early 60s poppy rock music.
Fun older album that feels perfect for a chilly fall day. Sarah Vaughan has a great voice, and I enjoyed some of the live aspect of the recording.
An album with a reputation preceding itself, and managed to live up to the hype for the most part. Great lyricism, beats, and energy. Sounds a b it dated, but obviously very influential and relevant still.
While “Sultans of Swing” is the obvious standout, I did enjoy the rest of the album and the overall sound.
Boring, melodramatic and samey. This one had its (very brief) moments but was just so bland. Also so far the worst cover art and band name of any album I’ve reviewed. It’s not quite a 1 star, but not something I’m itching to revisit.
Outside of the hits not something I’d throw on for fun, but a good album regardless. At times the experimentation grabs hold of you, and other times it loses you. I appreciate it for what it is, but wouldn’t put it in the upper echelon.
Synthy elevator music
Solid metal album. I didn’t love the vocals on this one and it wouldn’t be an album I played again, but I can appreciate the sound for what it is. 3/5.
Fun sound and energy on this album. Not something I think I’d revisit much, but a good hip hop album with lots of twists and turns. 3/5
Classic example of a 60’s pop album. Doesn’t do much to stand out either good or bad.
Another review mentions that this is like if Lennon didn’t have the rest of the Beatles reining him in. I tend to agree.
Classic punk that’s fast and in your face. Energy is infectious on this one, but it’s just a little too samey to hit a 5 star rating for me.
Classic Prince. Starts strong and tapers off a bit at the end, but it’s a great poppy/funky album from front to back.
An album and group I’m very familiar with, so I was very happy to see this was today’s album. Classic smooth early 90’s rap with creative rhymes, great flow, and catchy beats. One of my favorite artists and a well deserved 5.
Suprised to see the low rating on this one globally (2.67) as of today. While it’s nothing groundbreaking, I still thought this was a fun glam rock album. There isn’t much here that warrants a further listen, but this seems like a good guilty pleasure album. 3 stars.
I didn’t mind it, but I don’t quite get the hype or why this is considered such a groundbreaking album. I guess you just had to be there.
Parts of this were ok, but for the most part this just wasn’t for me.
Better psych rock than the Grateful Dead, and would be even better if the female vocalist was on more tracks. Other than the standout tracks this album was just alright. 2/5.
Classic outlaw country in a unique live environment that makes for an entertaining listen.
Quite the all over the place album, some songs were really captivating while I couldn’t wait for others to be over. Not sure if I’d revisit aka music on my own time, but there’s enough here that I enjoyed to make this a 3/5.
Not bad, but not memorable either.
Stand is a great funky/groovy album that I’d revisit. I can see how it set the bar for acts that followed.
I can appreciate the history behind this album as one of the early punk classics, although it wouldn’t be something I threw on for a casual listen.
I liked the first track, but the rest of the album was just another early 2000’s forgettable rock album.
Not really anything remarkable about this one. “Meh” might be too kind.
Fun unique hip hop album - considered a 4 but as mentioned by others, that 12 min outro sucks some of the energy out of the end of this album.
I think depending on my mood I could either rate this a 3 or a 4. Album was solid and I enjoyed the folk rockiness of it, so feeling a 4 today.
Catchy and a fun. Exposed me to a Brazilian legend tha I otherwise would know nothing about. I don’t know if I’d revisit, but I appreciate this for what it is.
The title track is great, while the rest of the album is good, but does fade into the background.
Wasn’t bad but wasn’t memorable. I know some of the doors songs but most of this album was new to me. Reading other reviews it sounds like their earlier albums are well liked, so hopefully those come up and are more interesting.
I see why I only know one hit from this band.
Couldn’t get through it, just not my thing.
Kind of a rollercoaster of an album. Parts I really enjoyed, parts made me cringe a bit with the singing, but overall I thought it was an enjoyable listen.
Easy to listen too multiple times. Good jazz album.
Borderline 3-4 but I do love a good funky album.
Really solid album. I don’t think the cure is typically my thing, but this album had great songs and atmosphere throughout. My only complaint is the length as I felt it dragged a bit. I’d give this a 4.5 if I could.
Coming into this album I knew the hype around it and tried not to fall into just automatically going with the crowd and giving this a high score to appear “cultured”. However, this album really doesn’t miss - I was surprised at the amount of the songs I knew on this album, and the overall sound, lyricism, and flow of the album was a pleasant surprise even with my lofty expectations coming into it. I understand now why this is hyped as one of the best albums ever.
What started as a repetitive electronic album grew on me as it went. I wouldn’t put it in the upper echelon of albums on this list, but it was an enjoyable listen and got stronger after a weak first half.
Cheesy synth pop album. It’s not low quality by any means, but I don’t think I would revisit anytime soon.
Not my favorite metal album ever, but not terrible either.
One of my favorites coming into this. AIC rules.
Captivating swing/jazz big band record.
A total slog. The enjoyable bits (few and far between) were drowned out by the sheer length of this album.
In theory this is the type of music I like, but it was all very samey. It gets extra points for very accurate cover art though.
This originally took me to the deluxe version of the album, which doesn’t even include the title track for some reason. Switching to the original release was a much better listening experience.
Weird but weird is good. Not too high or low on this one, it definitely has its spot among these albums.
Much better than the previous album I had from this band (Murder Ballads) which I couldn’t get through. I liked the sound of this much more, but it did feel unnecessary in its length. 3/5.
Fine enough synthy 80’s dance album that has some decent tracks and doesn’t overstay its welcome. The singing is a bit all over the board. 3/5
Solid jazz album, enjoyable listen.
