It starts out with a deeply atmospheric soundscape that immediately draws me in, and that feeling continues throughout the entire album. The synth and percussion layers create this gloomy, ghostly, lush, dreamy atmosphere, a very enticing arrangement. The lyrics feel like memories being narrated, like romantic metaphors, as if someone is retracing old thoughts. This would be what polished black chrome sounds like. Sonically this album is the sound of the end of a heartbreak, of melancholy, loneliness, and hopelessness, yet there’s a sense of hope, like the beginning of closure.

The songs are very short, which grabbed my attention. What interests me most is how raw and dirty the production is it feels very authentic. It’s pure aggression and hostile energy compacted into two minute songs. Punchy, fun, straight to the point. The musicianship isn’t technical at all, in fact the songs are built on simple chords and structures. That’s exactly what gives it its charm it doesn’t try to be too clever. I’m more used to the commercial side of punk, mostly 2000s punk and pop punk, but I can enjoy the raw power in this. It actually grew on me more and more from the first track to the last. Six Pack is the my favourite song from all that song would go crazy at a party. And of course I love beer. (CISK GĦAL DEJEM.)

I didn’t expect to enjoy this album. After hearing “Badlands,” I thought the whole album was going to be full of poppier almost 80s style songs but then “Adam Raised a Cain” hit and damn I loved that one. That gritty, bluesy aggression is much more my style. The organ work, the vocals delivery is raw and emotional, very soulful, it reminds me of certain ‘70s bands. This album is versatile it shifts from pop driven tracks to a majority of ballads that add that blues-rock dynamic. The harder bluesy rock songs are definitely my favourites. Even the ballads have weight though, his voice has a rasp and grunt that makes them feel powerful. “Candy’s Room” has an immense build up. It starts slow, almost teases you, then climaxes and explodes into something very intense. Really unique structure for a song. Lyrically most of it centers around blue collar struggle, heartbreak, and defiance, feels very human without pretentiousness. He constantly references cars, romance, and specific women which felt a bit repetitive at times but it still works because it’s relatable and easy to imagine, also because they are easy to understand without being too simple. Production wise, the organ, the piano flourishes, the subtle guitar tone, the saxophone, rich without being overproduced. Overall, this feels like a complete and well rounded album, soulful, gritty, and dynamic.

It starts out with a deeply atmospheric soundscape that immediately draws me in, and that feeling continues throughout the entire album. The synth and percussion layers create this gloomy, ghostly, lush, dreamy atmosphere, a very enticing arrangement. The lyrics feel like memories being narrated, like romantic metaphors, as if someone is retracing old thoughts. This would be what polished black chrome sounds like. Sonically this album is the sound of the end of a heartbreak, of melancholy, loneliness, and hopelessness, yet there’s a sense of hope, like the beginning of closure.

Classic 60s album, mellow and introspective. It captures the feeling of being an outsider, and finding yourself in situations that hurt you even as they feel comforting in the moment. Very strange and bittersweet space where you know you should move on and better yourself, but struggle to let go. Instrumentation has a very classical, restrained approach, nothing flashy, soft percussion, gentle bass, and delicate guitar strums. Gives the songs a fragile, intimate feeling. I like how the instrumentation is played harder or softer depending on the emotion being expressed in the lyrics, dynamics are used quite well. it’s subtle but it makes difference. Themes revolve around love, gender identity, drug addiction, and anxiety. Everything sound very tender, emotionally heavy and vulnerable. Candy Says is very powerful considering how progressive it was for its time, Pale Blue Eyes is a classic love song mentioning both guilt and repetition like stuck in the loop of an old affair and longing that person, or that feeling? After Hours is the one I relate to most in my personal life especially however.

Theatrical and very fantasy-driven. I really enjoyed the mythical themes, however the album still delivers surprisingly emotional songs too like Father to Son an The Loser in the End to me personally. I love how the album is split across different singers, Brian May handling the heavier sides and Freddie handling the full theatrical songs, then Roger Taylor a drummer himself having his own track as well, there’s something really cool about a band where every member steps up and sings. To me this is pure proto–prog heavy metal. The instrumental and arrangements are insanely intricate, and the layering constantly adds electricity and tension to the songs. The dynamics are impressive too one moment it’s full blown theatrical heaviness and the it goes into something tender, then a build up to ramp back up again. They have managed to solidify a style that combines a lot of different elements, some of the most technical songwriting I’ve heard from a commercially successful band. My favourite has to be The Fairy Feller's Master Stroke, Ogre Battle and The March of the Black Queen too!

This to me feels like a combination between classic 50s/60s rock and punk, I think it works well. They manage to take the attitude and grit of punk but mix it with classic rock, it creates something fun without being too aggressive like punk. The organ is a huge highlight throughout the album, sets them apart from other punk bands of the era. Some tracks could’ve used a bit more groove and catchy melody however. Songs that stand out to me are Princess of the Streets, the bass line is very 50s/60s inspired, the organ layers elevate it. Goodbye Toulouse is just a nice solid track and Hanging Around feels very fun.

15 minute album? 1 minute songs? I love the concept alone. No fillers just aggressive, hostile, loud, stupid, punch you in the face adrenaline fuelled punk. Back Against the Wall is my favourite, scrappy and fast but with a groove that stands out from the rest. I respect the energy and attitude but it’s not fully my thing overall, not a favourite.

Is this jazz? funk? soul? rock? psychedelic? stoner? I think its all of them combined together, jazz fusion is probably the safest label. This feels like a classic, one of those albums that is a benchmark and defines what experimental art music can be. I love the instrumentation i’m pretty sure i'm hearing flutes, clarinets, saxophone, violin, and the signature guitar tone, everything sounding intentionally weird, crazy, strange, slightly unhinged and uncanny, but technically brilliant and very fitting. It’s like being dragged through a parade by jazz musicians on acid. I love the journey this album takes you on, to me what stands out most is how playfully groovy and engaging it stays even though it’s almost entirely instrumental. Each track feels distinct, very diverse and has a lot of personality. Willie the Pimp caught me off guard with how heavy it is compared to the rest, while The Gumbo Variations leans heavily into funk, however Peaches En Regalia is definitely my favourite.

It's weird, it's quirky and in some ways pretentious. Sounds like soppy whisky sodden music for sitting on a porch or a couch reflecting on what went wrong. The songwriting is very witty, sad, the lyricism is poetic and wistful but not brooding. Everything about the instrumentation feels warm and melancholic throughout, somewhere between indie rock and country. David Berman's voice isn't conventionally good, he sounds real, raw and honest, which can get hard to get used to, and in fact the songs can sound tiresome and mundane at first, but it's the right voice for these songs. Overall this isn't an amazing album for me, but there's something about it that keeps me listening and I want to seek out more of their other songs, so I guess I like it in some way? I cant quite figure out why and how I feel about this yet, but I'm interested enough to explore more of their work so I am going to continue listening until I figure that out. A few tracks that stood were Horseleg Swastikas and Transylvania Blues. Let’s Not and Say We Did caught me off guard, a honky tonk song appearing out of nowhere, somehow still fitting within the album.

This album to me feels loose, intense, chaotic and all over the place. The instrumentation is very good and tight. I don't like the signing, I find it very whiny at times and very hard to get used to. I prefer the lower register singing as I feel it suits the music better than the high register. I enjoyed the blend of hardcore/punk with country/hillbilly... what an odd album. Nirvana covered three of their songs on MTV Unplugged live, Plateau, Oh Me and Lake of fire. I tend to very much prefer these covers rather than the original ones. Overall I ended up enjoying the instrumental tracks the most. My favourite songs are Aurora Borealis, We’re Here, Teenager(s).. but it’s not something I’d ever re-listen.

Reggae mixed with dub from Birmingham England! Of course I always enjoy the involvement of saxophones in any genre, especially in this one it made total sense, they fit perfectly. Its quite political lyrically, some songs can get a bit repetitive especially with a 13 song album, but I enjoy this laid back groove shit man. Favourites songs are King, Burden of Shame and Food for Thought.

I tend to prefer the early Foo Fighters albums they’re raw, scrappy, and grungy, with less of that commercial sound even though I enjoy their later commercial sound too. I already knew a few tracks from this album but hearing it all together opened my eyes to how solid their debut album was. Grohl here really shows how impactful he was to the ‘90s grunge and rock movement. He was the drummer of one of the most iconic bands in the genre, but this album also shows he’s a complete musician and a class act songwriter for Foo Fighters too. The whole album overall feels like a burst of emotion being let loose, a mainly a response to the wreckage of Nirvana and the loss of Kurt. Some of my favourites are I’ll Stick Around, Weenie Beenie, Oh George, For All the Cows, and Wattershed.

Powerful album. I've never listened to J5 before but I enjoyed most of the tracks on this album, I was quite surprised that I hadn’t heard of them before considering how much I’m into hip hop. I really enjoy conscious rap it’s my thing, intelligent, fluid, laid back hip hop. From the start I found myself bopping up and down to this. The enjoy the tight flows, scratch-heavy DJ work, and the overall old school style mixed with jazzy and reggae undertones create such a smooth sound. The samples on this are insane too! Overall I feel this album doesn’t get nearly as much credit as it deserves Favourite Tracks: Freedom, Break, A Day At The Races, What's Golden, Thin Line, After School Special, One Of Them, Hey, I Am Somebody

Dreamy, very similar to The Smiths. I wasn’t aware he was the frontman of that band, which makes total sense after hearing this. Really nice instrumentation, very melancholic, wistful, and mopey without any bitterness. It give out that misunderstood energy so many people can feel and relate to. Overall it feels introspective, like an album of reflection and acceptance. My favourite tracks are: Now my Heart is Full, Spring-Heeled Jim, Hold on to your Friends, Used to be a Sweet Boy

I’m mainly rating this based on the compilation that’s available, since the full album isn’t on streaming. I listened to the album on YouTube however, but even through bits and pieces. This feels like a legendary classic, timeless spirit of rock n roll in its early days. If Elvis and The Beatles were inspired by this guy then Fats Domino is truly one of the great legends. To me listening to this feels like listening to the foundations for most of the music we listen to now. The wave of piano fills and air instruments, the blend of blues, jazz and early rock that defined an era and shaped the sound of rock n roll and the R&B scene for decades. Fats seems to have an immense influence yet doesn’t get the credit he deserves compared to those who came after him and his successors. I can easily imagine this was the shit that got tongues wagging, toes tapping, and hips shaking in the 50s. Pure fun music. I also love that he based his whole brand on the fact that he’s fat, turning a flaw into a unique trait, to me that kind of confidence made him stand out even more. Favourite tracks: Blueberry Hill, Whats The Reason I'm Not Pleasing You, Blue Monday, You Done Me Wrong, Reelin' and Rocking, The Fat Man's Hop, Trust in me, Goin' Home

I had never heard of this album before. There are some nice tracks on this album but it’s more of a once in a great while kind of listen for me. The instrumentation is amazing, but I get tired of the “speak singing” delivery, it’s just not my thing for a whole album. It blends folk, country, and indie into a kind of desert psychedelia, which I can enjoy in small doses but the specific style starts to wear on me and gets a bit old after a while. There’s a melancholic emotional journey throughout the whole album, but it also feels unobtrusive and generic. Overall, there are a few songs that stood out but when you throw around 30 tracks into one album, something’s bound to stick. It feels like they focused more on quantity than quality here. Favourite tracks are Shiver, Astonished (In Memphis)

This is a classic, the peak of 70s jazz-funk fusion ! knew half of the songs already but 4 songs in an album is crazy, had no idea it was that short and concise. It is said that this was a commercial and artistic breakthrough for Hancock, one of the most accessible jazz albums of all time for audiences that more inclined towards rock and funk music. Overall whats not to love about 10 minute long jazzy instrumentals? Favourite songs are Watermelon man and Chameleon, but the whole album is top notch!

Feels very Broadway, sounds like a musical blended with country and folk. It’s not an easy listen the songs are dramatic and theatrical, but there’s definitely something to appreciate about the emotion behind it. You can tell the talent is there, but this style of music isn’t really for me. Favourite track: Love’s Enough

The Kinks were staples of the ‘60s and ‘70s. This album already had a commercially successful song (Picture Book), but I wasn’t familiar with the rest of it, I was familiar with The Kinks however, especially for their hits. Most of the songs aren't particularly memorable but there aren't any songs that I would say are bad either. This wasn’t my favourite on the first listen, but it grew on me the second time around, it’s one of those albums that grows on you slowly. To me this album and The Kinks in general sounds like 'Underground' The Beatles sometimes, especially in the way they do their harmonies, but a bit happier, quirkier, more whimsical, and sometimes a bit melancholic. The arrangements are layered nicely, the blend of folk, pop, and some touches of baroque psychedelia. Also I love the album cover on this one, the swirly neon colours and the warm orange and reddish shades are cool. Favourite tracks are The Village Green Preservation Society, Do You Remember Walter? and Picture Book.

I love this 70s disco groove sound mixed with prog rock and pop. Of course I already heard some of ELO’s songs before, including Mr. Blue Sky from this album, but hearing it as a whole gives the band a new context. I also love the cover art it perfectly captures the feeling and atmosphere of the album. I enjoy the overproduction here, the experimental mix of orchestral sounds, synths, strings, and harmonies felt very fitting. Everything about this album is colourful. The band here really does feel like disco Beatles, but in a way that still keeps ELO distinct. It’s definitely a long album I mean its over an hour which I usually don’t like, but this one justifies it, still feels like quality over quantity in my opinion. This feels homogenous, however each track still feels distinct from one another. Overall, I’ll definitely be exploring more of ELO after this. Favourite tracks: Turn to Stone, Sweet Talkin' Woman, Across the Border, Night in the City, Jungle, Standing in the Rain, Summer and Lightning, Mr. Blue Sky, The Whale, Birmingham Blues

A very theatrical album musically, very orchestral, with string arrangements, piano, and nice touches that make it feel cinematic. I appreciate the suspense, climax, and dynamics created through these arrangements. The songs balance humour and melancholy which present romance in unexpected ways. The album captures and conveys bittersweet, melancholic irony, almost like he's laughing through sadness, signing upbeat cheerful sounding songs paired against sad lyrics, which adds a level of contrast. It’s quite short around 30 minutes, which makes it easy to listen to without getting bored. The album cover evokes melancholy, longing, and emptiness, reflecting the sadder side of the songs. I can appreciate an album like this but it’s not entirely my cup of tea. My favourite track is Someone

Very funky and jammy with incredible rhythms. I didn’t even realize the songs were 12 minutes long! This is exactly why I’m doing this project to find albums like this that I’d never have discovered otherwise. It’s awesome from the start. I’m a drummer so this album was unfair to the rest of the albums that I had or have to rate. Usually I’d say there’s no way I’m listening through a long instrumental album but I’ve proven myself wrong because I just listened to a 15 minute drum solo and was completely captivated. It’s got everything that I enjoy from sax solos, drum solos to Fender Rhodes solos. According to Wikipedia Fela Kuti married 27 women in one ceremony, insane. Overall this album is great it’s got that raw fusion of African rhythms and Afrobeats, funk, and jazz, a showcase of musicianship and a lot of energy. The chemistry between Fela’s band and Ginger Baker is felt very clearly. The percussion is the heartbeat of the album here, felt very organic, funky, and groovy as hell. Felt like watching Whiplash by the end just pure, sweaty fun, funky, jazzy energetic music. I can only imagine how fun this Live album would actually be to see live!

I already knew this iconic album already mainly from Disorder and Shadowplay, its most well-known tracks. The whole record is filled with a sense of dread, gloom, and dissociation. Everything feels cold and detached, yet captivating in a strange way. Makes you feel that you want to die or fall in a depression, it so dark and moody that at times its almost too heavy emotionally, but that atmosphere is very well done. Sonically, it’s pure post punk. the groundwork, lead up, or even the peak of gothic music. I can really appreciate the production on this one, the warm, wide drum sound, the rumbling bass, the processed icy guitars, and those haunting cold synth textures filled with odd rhythms and strange noises, all drenched in reverb. Together, they build an eerie and sorrowful soundscape that captures the unique and distinct sound of Joy Division, something they achieved brilliantly. Favourite Tracks: Disorder, Day of the Lords, New Dawn Fades, Shadowplay, I Remember Nothing.

This was my first introduction to the genre of world music. The combination of Western styles with non-Western folk and Ethnic influences really make sense in this context. I enjoyed the mix of Middle Eastern, African, and Asian sounds combined with reggae, dub, and spiritual undertones throughout the album. That said I noticed there are many sound effects layered across the tracks that half of them start to feel a bit synthetic and cheap, even goofy at times like video game music. It’s an odd mix of styles that work well individually, but together as a full album it feels a little disjointed to me. Overall it’s not terrible and the talent is definitely there, but it’s not something I’d really go back to. Favourite tracks: Visions of You, Everyman’s an Island, Soledad.

Very funky and sensual album. This has a very strong flow and fun melodies throughout the whole album. TLC is said to be one of the best girl group albums of the ’90s, so I can definitely understand the influence. I wasn’t born yet to be the audience for it when it came out, so I don’t have any nostalgia attached to it but I really enjoyed it. I love the 90s R&B and hip-hop beats and grooves. The songs are smooth, soulful, and quite minimal, the blend of R&B, funk, hip hop, and a bit of soul is done very well. The production overall is very warm, silky, very groovy and punchy at the same time. Most songs revolve around sensuality, but the female rapping adds a nice touch to the album. There’s even a Prince cover and a feature from André 3000, which was a really cool. What stands out most to me though is their chemistry as a trio, every one of them bring a distinct voice and energy. Overall, I enjoyed this album, it’s laid back but not boring, fun yet emotional when it needs to be. If anything, the only downside for me is that it runs a bit long, 16 tracks is a lot for me. A few songs stood out. I already knew Waterfalls which is their main banger, apart from that I enjoyed Let's do it again, Creep, Kick your Game, Case of the Fake People, Red Light Special, If I was your Girlfriend and Sumthin' Wicked This Way Comes

A lot of people say this is the album that defined trip-hop, which makes it very influential, as inspiring for me. The album feels smooth, hypnotic, hazy, and laidback but also deeply reflective and introspective. It’s the kind of record that feels like nighttime music. The production is incredible as well very detailed. Aggressive bass lines throughout the album, immediately sets a very direct tone. It blends elements of hip hop with breakbeats, sampling, and rapping, along with soulful vocals, reggae, dub, soul, jazz and ambient textures. There’s a heavy atmospheric undertone, a very crisp snare and straight to the point drum beats. All of these elements come together to create a sound I really enjoyed. It’s good at being immersive background music or the full focus of your attention. That said some songs are a hit or miss for me, some songs I didn’t really like, while the majority however are definite standouts. Favourite tracks: Safe From Harm, Blue Lines, Thankful for What you've Got, Five Man Army, Unfinished Sympathy, Hymn of the Big Wheel