Wasn't initially going to rate this as a protest against the content. But felt I should express my disgust at the material, whatever the quality of the music. Not an ok topic for an album. And what on earth was Jane Birkin thinking when she posed for that cover? Shouldn't be gracing the list.

I have this album. Some great tracks but some haven't aged so well...

What a conundrum. If I was assessing this on how good some of the songs are I'd give it four stars. But I'm not. It's an album, which should stand as a body of work. And this is a frankenstinian body of disjointed styles and uneven tempo that I can't get into as a result. Now feeling I marked Pentangle really harshly when I at least wanted to listen to that one again.

Day 4 and finally a stone cold banger. Great contrast to the REM album. Hangs together as a piece. Genius tracks. Only one or two less than stellar tracks so marked to 4 (unless I can give a half?)

I know I'm supposed to love AF. I know they've won awards, I know they're very clever, and I know the critics love them. But. I. Just. Can't. Don't know if it's that irritating shuffle beat they love to use. Or a complete absence of emotion in the music. But there we go. Next.

Another failed attempt to like this album. Two (three if you're generous and include Sloop John B) decent tracks. The rest sounds like an Andy Williams Christmas special. Maybe that's the point. It influenced a lot of music and production at the time. But sadly we've all moved on.

It's the tracks that weren't hits that make you realise the depth of songwriting quality on this album. Apart from an excess of (obligatory in the mid 80s) Fairlight synths it's barely aged. Banger.

It's got Neil on it. Always worth at least 4*

Errr, no.

Love the energy and venomous lyrics. Still has it even after all these years. Just a lack of variety on the album (where are the ballads ;-)) stops it getting the full 5*.

Really enjoyed the mix of blues and African roots music. Shouldn't really be surprised how well that works. Cooder's guitar work is amazing.

Some great bits. Some less so. Could be a grower.

Wasn't initially going to rate this as a protest against the content. But felt I should express my disgust at the material, whatever the quality of the music. Not an ok topic for an album. And what on earth was Jane Birkin thinking when she posed for that cover? Shouldn't be gracing the list.

Listened to Enter Sandman and actually quite enjoyed it. Briefly worried I might have missed out on 30 years' enjoyment. Further listening reassured me that wasn't the case. Relieved.

Had forgotten how many great tracks there are on this album. The creativity is amazing. Would sell a kidney for the Comfortably Numb solo alone. If it didn't tail-off quite so badly it would have got 5*

Sadly doesn't live up to memories from my youth. Three good tracks, one of which was a (albeit impressively arranged) cover anyway. The rest is just a soup of 80's musical tropes. Shame.

Starts as it means to go on and doesn't relent. Even the drum solo is tolerable.

Where's this one been hiding? Not often you come across an album you've never heard of, by a band you've never heard of, and quite like it. Some great musicianship and very listenable tracks. Definitely going on the metaphorical turntable again.

I love Bob Dylan, love Neil Young, love Joni Mitchell. Non of them can be described as having conventional voices. But Billie Holliday's voice leaves me cold. Would like it to be different. It is what it is.

Difficult one this. Possibly my least favourite album by one of the bands I most enjoy and admire.But it took me 20 years to realise how good Kid A is (despite loving Amnesiac from the get go) so wouldn't rule out an upward revision when I've had more time.

Beautiful and hard hitting by turns. Proof of how much great lyrics can add to a song. There's a reason this guy won a Nobel...

Hard to deliver a bad album when you open with Respect. But every song here is killer. What a voice (and props to the backing band who generate the excitement Aretha feeds off).

Some interesting songs and might be a grower. But docked a star for the most criminal cover of a rock classic other than the Scissor Sisters' Comfortably Numb. What were they thinking?

I love the tracks it inspired (The Who, ELO?) . But somehow I don't love the album. Maybe it's a grower and I'll definitely listen to it again. But I'm going for a cautious 2* until it's proven its worth.

Enjoyed this. Compared to Green the REM sound is coming into focus. A much more sophisticated blend of musical genres and more interesting lyrics from Stype.

A good album that could have been great if it was 2/3 the length. Maybe the instrumental noodlng can be justified as a necessary pré cursor to Songs for the Deaf. But it gets boring quickly.

Appreciate the artistry. Not for me though.

A grudging 2* for Dancing Queen. Nothing else to see here. Next.

Quite enjoyable. Would need to be in the mood to play it again. But if I was in the mood I might just put Santana on...

Surprised at how much I enjoyed this. Great grooves. Powerful message. Would recommend.

Not as good as I remember. But an amazing album nonetheless.

Have wanted to listen to this for ages, being a massive fan of Jeff Buckley's work. Some great parts on the album, but some of it feels leaden and contrived. Maybe that's just the songs dating a little It's gone on the Listen Later list for review though.

There's a choice here between banging songs with frivolous lyrics, or plodding songs with clichéd words. The former are great. The latter means this just gets 3*.

OK but didn't move me in any way. Basically all stuff that Kanye did, and did better. And that's before we discuss the Outro...

Starts as it means to go on. Sadly, that's with plodding, clichéd, rock seemingly written with stadiums in mind - even though this was just their second album. Such a shame that the talent on display on Parachutes morphed into such formula-based music. So inoffensive that it's offensive.

Compound adjectives are rarely harbingers of something good. And jazz-fusion is no exception. I quite like a bit of jazz. So it must be the fusion bit that leaves me utterly disengaged.

Is this the best debut album ever ? So many genres of music represented. Or should I say invented? Only docked a star because European Star is just a bit too experimental.

Really enjoyed this. Dense and guitar driven but still manages to weave melody into the songs.

Thirty years on it's still got it.

Had never heard of this band or album. What a find. Foot tapping beats and excellent lyrics that go from serious to funny in a heartbeat. Nothing not to like.

Surprised to enjoy so many songs beyond Without You. Self-written songs are beautifully crafted and original. The covers are amazingly performed.