1001 Albums Summary

Actually kind of enjoyable? Hard rock punk, provocative, anarchical, but with an undercurrent of joy. Imagine it playing in a hipster thrift shop or of course a record store.

Despite a few great songs, this “concept album” doesn’t quite wow. If we could give half stars I’d give it a 3.5. Highlights: Bookends, America, Old Friends, Hazy Shade of Winter. Lows: Save the Life of My Child, Voices of Old People, At the Zoo.

Sheer perfection from the first guitar notes.

My first reaction: This would be cute to play at a 6-year-old’s cowboy-themed birthday party. At the same time, I agree with the reviewer who said any one of these songs would kill around a campfire. My (adult) son loves to perform story-telling songs like this on his guitar. Going to send it to him.

Ah, the early days of rap. Cardboard box breakdancing, back spins and the worm! Setting the stage for the Walk This Way megahit.

Groovy! But also annoying.

Interesting listen. In the end I had to rate each song and average them to decide how to rate it. Track 1 - Cecelia Ann - I dig this instrumental 4/5 Track 2 - Rock Music - “your mouth’s a mile away” shouted 30 times. 1/5 Track 3 - Velouria - melodic. I Like the spelling melody 4/5 Track 4 - Allison - a lot of name songs. 3/5 Track 5 - is She Weird? - great opening guitar tones. The rest Meh. 3/5 Track 6 - Ana - another girl name song! Guitar opening great again. 3/5 Track 7 - All Over the World - catchy. 4/5 Track 8 - Dig for Fire - talky start - I like his whiny voice and the driving drums and her harmonizing - to me this is classic Pixies - 4/5 Track 9 - Down to the Well - Betty. Fine. - 3/5 Track 10 - The Happening - like this opening, bopping beat - about aliens! Best song on here 4.5/5 Track 11 - Blown Away - it’s fine 3/5 Track 12 - Hang Wire - haiku! 3/5 Track 13 - Stormy Weather - repetition - pretty melody 3/5 Track 14 - Havalina - repetition - a band who got them stoned in Texas. Pretty melody. 3/5 Overall: 3.25/5

Okay this is a really cool album. Had no idea about this genre of music or the history of this legend. But even without all that it's just an enjoyable listen. And the cover art! Would be cool to play during cocktail hour or dinner at a party. Feels tropical, wistful and fun.

Really enjoyed this! Solid 4 as I’m leaving room for more of a masterpiece and this one feels like it straddles two sounds so you’re either going to want to listen to Side A or Side B.

This is the 10th album 1001 albums has served me to review, and the 4th from the year 1968. Getting a real feel for that year! This is wacky and clever and annoying in equal measure. Since I’m not a fan of wacky or annoying, it’s a 2 from me.

A great reminder of what a truly perfect album sounds like.

Yes!! Was introduced to this years ago, have always wanted to revisit more deeply. Evokes such a world, such a mood.

Beautiful! Creepy!

I think the only hip hop album I've listed to all the way through before this is De La Soul 3 Feet High and Rising. Really enjoyed this way more that I would have predicted. Loved the jazz elements. Definitely conveyed a whole world and mood. And I got the Scarface references!

Pretty good. Kind of maudlin but like the bluesy aspect.

I tried to love this because it seems really cool. Will keep revisiting.

Beyond the title song, the others are beautiful, important, and the Paul diss track! wow.

Fantastic blues rock. Love Interruption is a standout. Great piano throughout. I don't think it has gotten better with time, though.

My cousins were Grateful Dead fans. I think it was more about the drugs than the music. This album does not change that perspective for me.

Feeling proud that I listened to the whole thing. This is not my preferred genre and while I recognize the talent, the violent misogynistic lyrics are really hard to take.

Perfect in every way.

First listen - a little bored for first handful of tracks. Then increasingly intrigued by the lead singer’s Dracula-like intonations. In the end: a fan

It may be because of the age I was in 1986, but this just feels like such old lady music. But I can appreciate that these are really great, soulful, songs. Maybe because I'm an old lady now haha.

Like a lot! Feels like perfect music to code to. But some songs are jarring and don’t necessarily flow. I’ll return to this one

Hard rock, insanity, weirdness - love where is my mind, the rest I appreciate but don't love

I mean - it's just unpleasant. another "i appreciate the historical significance but..."

Well, yesterday was Halloween and this feels like that would have been the day to have it playing.

Love this

This was so interesting and lovely.

Speed metal! Not my thing but they're good at it!

"Blank Space" is an all-time great song and was my "crossover" TS song where I went from being aware of her to being a fan. Love this album!!

So great. Fell in love on first listen.

Ironic and quirky punk rock. And hugely influential on future music. “Lowdown” is a standout.

More organ and repetitive riffs than I was expecting based on the Wikipedia description. Very swinging 60s sounding to me. Meh.

An absolute classic and an amazing listen start to finish.

Love this early dream pop. Was fascinated to learn that the parts I can’t understand are not in a different language, she made up words!

Fantastic album. The banter is almost as good as the music.

I appreciate the mastery but I find this style of music dated and just meh. Wouldn't put this album on just to listen to / enjoy it. Feels like homework.

An all time classic, so good

For some reason her voice annoys me to no end. 3 stars.

Fantastic album, such a vibe

Very pleasant

Super glad to have been introduced to this album. Great coding music.

So simple and brilliant lyrics.

Dark, creepy, haunting, ethereal

Meh meh meh. Tried to be open minded but yuck.

Pretty good but not a masterpiece. Gets stronger in 2nd half

Yes, a little boring, but altogether quite pleasant

Some amazing songs on here. But basically I'm just waiting for Killing Me Softly when I listen to it.

Just perfection

Way more rock n roll than I was expecting. I like the prettiest star

The jams go on forever

Richard hawleyesque in parts. A little melodramatic and sweeping for my taste

Some gems! Some skips. Some new discoveries

Ugh

Love the harmonies, love the Gram Parsons songs, could (& did!) listen on repeat over & over

Fun!

Went straight to the reviews before listening because - yup. Awful guy. Because I didn't see it mentioned in first dozen or so reviews: listen to Phoebe Bridgers / Motion Sickness!! Apart from all the controversy, and the artist himself, really good album.

It’s pretty perfect

Solid 3 - enjoyable

Went into this listen familiar with most of the songs and aware that it is the top rated on besteveralbums.com ... and I gotta say it lives up to the hype for me. Sounds amazing and so much lyrical depth.

So long. So very very long.

So goofy, so good!