1001 Albums Summary

I thought I would like The Who more. But this is kinda boring.

Great first track but I can do without track 3s bleating hipster incantations. Didn’t know where « very nice » was from though. Solid drum breakdown at the end though. Track 4 is why I haven’t listened to The Smiths until now. Proto-hipter pablum with elevatory chorus that grates the longer it goes on. Mercifully, the song ends before it goes anywhere as though they couldn’t be bothered to finish writing it. Track 5: great bridge that makes me think I’ll love the smiths. Solid chorus too. And I like his vocals on this type of track vs the next one, 6, where I feel like he erroneously gave a generation of plaintive hipster bands permission to be whiney. Track 6: notwithstanding the above, when he actually opens up and sings I like his voice (not the falsetto). Track 8: meh. I can’t believe anyone thought this chord progression was song worthy. Track 9: could definitely grow on me a lot, I like it already at first listen. Overall, I’m getting the sense that I like upbeat smiths. And loath their ballady stuff—I think I don’t believe the emotional feel / it has none. Conceptually sad, without any sadness. Track 10: case in point. Can’t stand the plaintive sadness, feels fake. Track 2: missed it earlier. I like this. More confirmation of I like upbeat smiths.

1) Yours is No Disgrace: Coming back to this after listening to the whole album, it is maybe the only song I truly like. While jam-bandy, it feels like it has progression/transformation, without being lame/cheesy, notwithstanding the key change towards the end. 2) The Clap: Would I rather contract the clap or listen to the Clap on repeat forever...Idk. 3) Starship Trooper: Too jam bandy by a mile, but I do like the outro guitar riff that starts around ~6 mins in. And then the guitar solo that comes in the last ~2 min, chef's kiss. And the drums just make it harder. Maybe the first half was worth it. After listening to the album through and coming back to this a second time: it's growing on me, a ton. There's more going on here than aimless noodling. Still kinda annoying at times early on, but the back half is fire. 4) I've Seen All Good People: I guess it would be worse if they couldn't play their instruments or sing. They're solid musicians but this is why I don't like jam bandy. 2nd listen: f'%k, even this song is growing on me. 5) A Venture: great opening, nice groove with good rythmic synch among the instruments. If this was the only jam bandy track on the album I'd love it. 6) Perpetual Change: I do not like this, even on 2nd listen. Comically bad lyrics and whatever the bridge thing is that sounds like a marching band takes over for 10 secs, just no.

I only got one listen of this and from a first listen I like it. I feel like it’s maybe hard to fully appreciate given how generative this feels like it probably was of so much that came after. Easily 4 great songs and other ms that may grow on me. 1) I wanna be adored: What luscious synths, they add such welcome nuance to an already great guitar backed drums classic intro. Don't love the singer's choice on vocal lines or lyrices, but solid first track. 2)She bangs the drums: interesting hearing this now, having heard much more of what came after. I don't love it, seems like a very early example of certain type of rock song that's now ubiquitous. 3) Waterfall: I like this. 4) Don't stop 5) Bye Bye Bad Man 6) Elizabeth My Dear 7) (Song for My) Sugar Spun Sister: this song is annoying--it's a certain type of poppy soft-rock that I don't like unless it's imbued with tons of feeling, which this is not. 8) Made of Stone 9) Shoot You Down: love the intro groove. 10) This Is the One 11) I am the Resurrection: great song. Among my favs on the album 12) Fools Gold: holy shit.

Somehow this album is both derivative and stuffed with classics. 4 of 11 tracks are covers and a 5th sounds like an outright copy. But then there's at least 3 all-time classics of their own--and one of those covers is arguably a classic in its own right. Honestly if they hadn't ripped off Little Richard, and hadn't included the bland "Ooby Dooby", this would be a 4 star album. Fogerty's solo on Ramble Tamble--and his vocals throughout are untouchable, but I never want to hear Ooby Dooby again--and f' 'em for stealing from Little Richard un-credited. Addendum: Apple music played a Chris Stapleton song after playing through this album, which feels about right. Stapleton's output now feels more obviously poppy than CCR, but seeing how many hits CCR covered, I think they were self-consciously pop-driven at the time. 1. "Ramble Tamble": great opening song. 2. "Before You Accuse Me": there's something off, in retrospect, about a bunch of white dudes getting big off of straight-up blues music. 3. "Travelin' Band": Sounds like a Little Richard rip-off. Well-done though. 4. "Ooby Dooby": derivative and forgettable. Oh, just realized it's also a cover. 5. "Lookin' out My Back Door": still a solid, classic song. 6. "Run Through the Jungle": one of my fav CCR songs, the vibe, the vocals and the harmonica, such a solid track. Side 2: 1. "Up Around the Bend": I've never really like this song. Idk, nothing really to it apart from a boring riff and a repetitive chorus. Were the feel right, that can be enough, but in this case the song never goes anywhere, and it just feels like a chorus played on repeat until it was time to fade out. 2. "My Baby Left Me": another cover? 3. "Who'll Stop the Rain" 4. "I Heard It Through the Grapevine": I wasn't sure this needed to be 11 minutes, but Fogerty's version is excellent. 5. "Long as I Can See the Light"

In high-school, I at least thought the singles were good--like I'd defend them to friends. But listening to this start to finish does it no favors: poor songwriting, weak rapping, and largely mediocre production. This gets 1 extra star for the singles, and because I always like Eminem--but that's generous.

Idk how to rate this. Not my thing--or maybe just not the right entry point into heavy metal for me, a genre I don't really know. Also, I haven't yet had the opportunity to blast this on my stereo. That may be what it needs. All that said, it's obvious in listening even on my headphones why some people love motorhead. Driving, powerful songs, and a sound that, at the time at least, was very original.

New band to me, though on first listen I recognized A Minha Menina, though maybe just because it's a cover. Overall, feels like a band with lots of potential, but a little to unfinished for my liking, but maybe that's just the psy-music vibe. Punchbag - this is a solid first track. Nice interplay of the intstruments, keyboard, drums, bass, and horn all working together. Even got a nice contribution to the groove from a triangle, which maybe a first. Writing this on my second listen and still wish they had a stronger vocalist, though I don't hate his contributions here...well, maybe, "use me like a punchbag" just doesn't fit with the overall groove, like someone just decided to sing some gibberish just because. Angryman - also a great vibe--and and again more contributions from a triangle, but I really want them to get a better vocalist. No Trophy - I'm not convinced by their attempt at dub. Feels like they got stoned and were like, we could play this, but it's mediocre. Binnel Bay - No. BS psy-rock stoner drivel. Sunshine - this is solid. I think they're at their best in instrument drive low-key vibes. Honestly, would like this to be longer some musical development, but otherwise good. A Minha Menina - can't complain, nice catchy groove and first time I haven't actively disliked the vocals. I can't place it, but besides actually being a cover this feels rhythmically like a cover of some alt group from the 90s, maybe Janes' Addiction--but I don't think that's right. This Town Sweet Like A Champion Lying In The Snow Zia - meh. This is a vibe track, but doesn't quite nail the vibe. Sky Holds the Sun - This gets the vibe better. The interplay of the rhythm section and the horns creates a great groove. But I could do without the vapid vocals. Seeds - liking the intro groove, but again I could do without the vocals. You Got to Leave - weird vibe change. Little bit of Lou Reed, little bit of White Stripes, little bit of please don't play this again. Elain Whistle Chop - I can get behind this. Has a psy-rock-jazzy vibe that I like. Drum line is nice 'n tasty. Maybe you need to be high to truly enjoy this album? Jackel Head - Out for the Count

God damn, I did not know what I was missing. There are some awesome, awesome songs on here. That said, there's some long-winded jam bandy stuff that lost me. Still, 4-stars for some outright classics, and for an album that I'm sure will grow on me with more listens.

I only got one full listen so far, but what a great album.

I tried to like this. I listened to it almost 3 times through, but it largely feels like an 80s rehash with some Daft Punk ripoff that we didn't need. 1. "Dreamin" - not bad, but not dying to play this again. 2. "Music Makes You Lose Control" - one of the better tracks 3. "Soft Machine" - feels like mid 90s rock meets EDM, like if Filter made a dance album 4. "Hypnotise" - I can def see the influence on what came later. Heavy 80s throwback but with a modern twist. One of the better tracks in some ways, though also kind of annoying. 5. "(Hey You) What's That Sound?" 6. "Take a Little Time" - Am I listening to a Madonna album? Not that I don't like it. 7. "From: Disco to: Disco" - If this is an ode to how much he hates disco, kudos. Most annoying track so far by a mile. I'd almost remove a star for this track alone. There's a repetitive whining wah sound that feels like it speaks for my soul being forced to listen to this all the way through. 8. "Brothers" - not sure we needed this 80s rehash. 9. MDC Vendredi - 9. "Jacques Your Body (Make Me Sweat)" - mediocre Daft Punk impersonation. 10. "About Funk" - no. 11. "Sometimes" - Also no. 12. "Damaged People"

Is there such a think as a perfect album? This comes close. One of the greatest musicians of the 20th century playing the apotheosis of the blues/rock he co-invented--it doesn't get better than this. The version of Mannish Boy on here is fire, as are like 4 or 5 other songs. The whole thing sounds like it was recorded live, and like your listening to it in a little concert hall, absolute gold.

This album starts with Walk On, which is confirmation of why I never listened to Young growing up. Man can't sing--not in any normal sense of it at least--and his guitar playing is meh. But as you go deeper, Wow. If ever there is proof that songwriting, and that the ability to imbue a song and its performance with feeling--with soul--is more important than chops, this is it. Even just 3 tracks in, Revolution Blues is got a classic laid back drivin' Young vibe. The next few tracks until On the Beach I can live without. But my god, absolutely floored by On the Beach: what a glorious bluesy lamentation. I could listen to this on repeat for days and it'd do my sould good. Rest of the album seems solid, but didn't get more than a first listen on this first pass.

I think this album deserves multiple listens, preferably on a rainy day where you have nothing else to do. Even over the course of a single listen, the moody ambiance grew on me. There are hauntingly beautiful moments even on first pass and I suspect a lot I’ll grow to love with more listens. Maybe I’m a Nick Cave fan now?

This album in particular--by one of the creators of what became Rap/Hip-hop, raises the question of do you rate based on historical importance, impact, etc., or on how much you actually like the music, today? This is a classic, important album, but I'm not sure it's stood the test of time. There's a couple tracks on here that will always be bangers at a party but otherwise I'm never likely to play this again.

Again I don't know where to land--obviously a hugely influential album, in particular to many subsequent bands that I grew up on and love. I think what surprised me the most was that I like some of tracks more than I expected. I'd always assumed Bad Brains was "just" punk, but the influences of funk and metal on this are interesting.

Halfway through this album, I was thinking 2 stars and would have described this as it sounds like Led Zeppelin forgot how to write songs and morphed into a jam band. But by the time I got to the extended version of My Generation, I found there's more to like. It's a magisterial live performance, full of energy with an amazing ability to ride a knife's edge that feels like at any moment could devolve into chaos and yet holds together--in large part thanks to Moon's excellent drumming. And yet it still feels more documentary than musical statement. I may play this a few more times, the better to grasp the influence The Who had on so much of what was to come--Led Zeppelin included. But it's not an album, and the individual songs are largely forgettable.

I considered giving this one star, but it's not worse than 50 Center, which in retrospect should have gotten one star. Side One: Strange Brew - feels like pre-schoolers trying to make rock. Has the right parts, but kinda vapid. And Clapton can't sing. Sunshine of Your Love - A classic guitar riff sure, but the rest of kind meh. Ginger's drums are hurt by the shoddy recording that was the norm of the time. The song is better sampled that listened too. World of Pain - Not bad. Dance the Night Away - I like the vibe at the start, but then like most every song on this album, it goes nowhere interesting. Blue Condition - what is this droney BS. Sounds like they took too many quaaludes. Side Two: Tales of Brave Ulysses - Perhaps my fav song on the album. SWLABR - Not the worst song on the album We're Going Wrong - No. Outside Woman Blues - Also no Take It Back - Feels like parts of 3 different songs played at the same time. Mother's Lament - bunch of wankers

After so much mediocre 70s rock, it was a relief to get a classic Hip Hop album. This came out when I was in college and immediately takes my back to chill afternoons in the sun and house parties. The intro track, "Intro", is iconic, in my memory at least. And the f'ing gorgeous groove continues into The Corner, perhaps the best track of the album. If the rest of the album sustained this fresh low-key yet powerful vibe, this would be a five star album no question. But this album was always a source for mixtapes or dance mixes more than it was a full-play listen. Intro - have always loved the way the bass drops into this track, a classic intro The Corner - maybe the track of the album, nice laid back textured vibe and Common's rapping on this moves across the beat in a way he doesn't usually Go - I never loved this song, but it's good for a chill-out song in a dance mix Faithful - not bad/not great. Neither production nor his rapping shine on this, feels more like a spoken word piece. Testify - close-second for song of the album. Love Is - perhaps the weakest track on the album. Chi-City - meh The Food - why is Dave Chapelle on this? Recorded version of this might have been better. Would love to have seen what Kanye would do in the studio with this. Real People - one of the weakest tracks on the album They Say - almost a great track, but doesn't quite come together It's Your World - meh

It feels apocrypha to not give this album 5 stars. And really the only reason I'm not is because all these years later, I don't find it that interesting. Is it a classic? Does snoop have perhaps the most iconic flow, next to Biggie, and maybe Eminem, okay also Andre 3000? Yes. But is he a top 10 rapper? No, maybe not even top 20 imo. And so while I love to appreciate this album, and it was interesting to come back to, it feels like a high-school project that you unexpectedly knocked out of the park. It doesn't have anything to say--apart from, "hey, aren't we cool". Heck, I could even talk myself into 3 stars, on the basis of its musicality, were it not so iconic.

This was weird. And not weird-good, but maybe, possibly, weird-interesting, provided many listens, which I just didn't have the heart for yesterday. The first song I though I truly kinda liked by this album turned out to be the Apple Music auto-play of another artist after this album ended. This is better than 50 Cent though--I think I will forever regret giving that album 2 stars.

This is another example of such a classic album. It starts off with a series of rock bangers, songs that immediately feel like you should be cruising in an American v8, windows down, burning out of suburban stop signs for no reason. And yet, listening to it now, I think it's just not my thing. It's not hard enough, imo, to be true hard rock. And if I'm going to listen to stadium rock, I'd rather it be Queen.

Listening to the album's lead track for the first time, Watch That Man, I worried that maybe this was album was just more 70s rock with a glammy flair. But Lady Grinning Soul is a beautiful song. It's textured and soulful and still has a freshness fifty-two years later. That said, Cracked Actor may be the only other song I like. Overall, it doesn't come together as an album, at least the first couple listens, but it's still got at least a couple gems.

There's obvious musical talent here, but I doubt it will ever grace my ears again.

I think the last song alone earned a star: it was the first I liked on first listen, and may be the only song I liked. While listening I had the thought that only Dylan and Young had earned the right to release entire albums filled with terrible singing--and right on cue Apple Music played a Dylan song right after this, like, "oh, you like acoustic music by people who can't sing", how about this. Reading a little about the band, and this album, the morning after listening I find myself thinking I should go back and listen again--and actually pay attention to the lyrics, which I always come around to last. Apparently they're really good, according to various reviewers. Yet, my first impression is still that most of this is unfinished or just not very good. It would be 2 stars, but I do love that last song.

I've never been a big Depeche Mode fan. But I've also never listened to any of their albums all the way through. I'm finishing a 2nd listen as I write this and more than anything I am struck by how this is, on the one hand, obviously early synth pop, but on the other hand there are a surprisingly large number of timeless songs--songs that to my ears at least still sound good 35 years later. And that's not easy to do. There are a lot of classic early albums that, while you can appreciate them now for what they represented then, fall flat so many years later, at the very least, or are even boring and bad, even comical. Not every song is solid here. At least a couple do fall prey to the trap of their time, sounding comically kind of dumb now. I think Mephisto is a great (bad) example in this vein. Their attempt at moody drama is laughably tame, like a toddler jammin' on a fisher price keyboard, compared to what musicians have been able to do since with better tech. So, if I could give this 4.5 stars, I think that's where it lands for me, but I'm going to round up, given how much its grown on me with only 2 listens.

Is there any other possible rating? I actually considered a 4, only because there's something almost too sentimental, maybe a little cheesy, to me about some of the arrangements on this album. It's a little too self-conscious, trying a little too hard. It feels like it could be a soundtrack, or worse, a musical, especially the title track, which just has too many soaring violins for my liking. But maybe it's just that, as someone who generally prefers sad music, this album is unrepentantly upbeat, even when the lyrics are mournful, like a hippie sing-a-long. Hippie-sing-a-long vibes notwithstanding, what jumped out at me the most listening to this all the way through is how much they owe to the very produced rock 'n roll of the 50/60s. It's like they took that sensibility and infused it with a hippie folk vibe. But I couldn't give any less than 5 to the album that has The Boxer, The Only Living Boy in New York, Song for the Asking, and of course Cecilia, plus a great version of Bye Bye Love

Listening to this, I was thinking about why I've never really listened to their music. I think it's the name. The band name is stupid. But that's a bad reason to not give something a chance, so I listened. There's a couple tracks on here that I love, but I don't get the hype. This was apparently album of the year among pitchfork readers back in the heyday of when pitchfork mattered. And this does exist in a pitchfork sweetspot, somewhere at the intersection of arty and pop, but I don't think it does either really well. Is it kind of interesting? Yes. Is it a little pop-y in a good way? Absolutely. But there's nothing truly experimental here, and as pop it hasn't aged especially well. It's possible this would grow on me with more listning, but othe of the gate, nearly twenty years after release, meh.

I tried to like this, but no. A couple songs early on stood out as listenable, maybe even likeable, but this isn’t anything I’ll come back to.

An artist and album I didn’t know but at the confluence of two things I love: big band and latin jazz. I didn’t fall I love with the songwriting/arrangements, or this would be a 5 for me, but the playing is gorgeous.

This was close to a 5 for me, such an untouchable voice, such heart and feeling, and thing that fell short was some of the songwriting.

This should be rated higher but I'm still learning to love progressive, arena, whatever this is rock. Had to break my first listen into 3 just to make it through this lol.

Interesting pick for Waits. I don’t know how catalog that well but am a fan of his later work. This was an interesting insight into his early work but something I’ll come back to

This was interesting to sit down with. While I think I'd heard of the band by name, I'm not sure I'd every listened to any. The songwriting and production grew on me over the course of a listen. This is probably 3.5 for me, but rounding down as I can't tell which way this is going to go for me. Is it canned 80s pop? Or is it a piece of brilliantly sparse yet lush songwriting that, while very much of its time, still sounds fresh so many years later. I'm not sure yet.

This was an interesting listen, but I don’t feel like aged super well.

First song could be a Raffi song. Is Springsteen the source of Eddie Vedder "I'm constipated" while I'm singing vocal styling? 2nd song: love how it kick in, this may be my fav song of the album, though I wish the recording of the drums sucked less. And this has a bit more of a talking screaming, a la Waits, vs the constipated Vedder, which I like better on Springsteen. 3rd song: more Raffi? yeah, no. "I just relieved my constipation" Springsteen and a piano are not it. And my god, who recorded that snare drum, awful. I don't have time for a full 2nd listen, but I'm close to rating this a 2, but just can't because I'm sure if I listen to it a few times, some of it will grow on me. And it's not as bad as 50 Cent, which I will forever regret no giving 1 to.

This was close to a five for me--and maybe should be, but I only got in one listen. What a stellar recording of such a fantastic musician.

Despite owning Paranoid, the 2nd album, in highschool, I don't think I've every listened to this one. Wow. May inspire be to go and listen to more of their catalogue.

I've never listened to anything apart from the singles of this album. One of those, Time to Pretend, I won't mind if I never hear again, but the other 2, Kids and in particular Electric Feel, still bring a smile and make me wanna dance. Add to those one new-to-me song, Of Moons, Birds & Monsters, which I quite like after a couple listens, and this is a solid 3.

This album came out during the years when I wasn't buying albums--and I kinda regret maybe never listening to this all the way through (honestly can't recall). It's an album that makes me wish I had a record player and that I could put this on and listen with that visceral connection that I picked this album to play and now I'm going to listen to this. In other words, it's fantastic album. This is the kind of music I love: grounded in real human suffering, which is to say in true feeling, yet also expressive of the optimism and even joy that can come out of engaging, directly, in that suffering. Let us weep and let us smile because in true sadness there is also joy. There's a lot of music I listened to in the years around when this came out that I've totally forgotten. I had forgotten this too, in that it's been too long since I've listened to it, but coming back was such a delight.

Beautifully crafted, wonderful music, but a little boring at times. As I've gotten older, I've come to appreciate Sinatra's singing more. Years ago, when I played drums, I practiced to his music as his band was unparalleled. But I always found his singing too pop-y, too produced. But what a gorgeous voice. It remains "Christmas" music for me, i.e. it's music I gravitate too when the days are short, when the weather outside is frightful, and I want to bring some cheer into the house. On any given day, I'm still 10x more likely to listen to Duke Ellington or Nina Simone, but I've finally come to appreciate Sinatra.

Hadn’t previously listened to this all the way through, but wow! Iconic and truly exceptional.

I got so bored about halfway through this album that I skipped to "Layla" to confirm it was in fact still good. It is, but doesn't rescue an otherwise bunch of meh.

One start for obvious musical talent, but this ain't my thing. Not the worst album we've suffered through in this series, but not one I'll every put on again.

This was almost a 4 for me, but considering I didn’t think I like The Bee Gees this was a major revelation.

I still have a soft spot the "Right Here, Right Now", and a couple other tracks still hit, but the rest of this album sounds like a bunch of meh 25 years later. I mean, it's not Clapton levels of "meh" but I'm not sad that big beat has been relegated to the dust heap as a genre. Right Here, Right Now - this still hits, if not quite as hard as I remember it in highschool. The Rockafeller Skank - I feel like this may be the only track on this album that is more than just a big beat experiment. Put differently, it also still sounds good 25+ years later. Fucking in Heaven - in retrospect, it doesn't feel like this should have made the album cut. Besides the sophomoric lyrics, the song itself is pretty forgettable. Gangster Tripping - the more of this album I hear, the less I like. Build It Up – Tear It Down Kalifornia - maybe it's just the big beat hasn't aged that well imo, or more likely that I was never a huge fan, but I can't find anything to appreciate about this track 25+ years later. It feels like another b-side that shouldn't have made an album. Soul Surfing - again, feels like we're repeating the same schtick. You're Not from Brighton - its just shy of 5 min runtime was 3 mins too long. Praise You - somehow this song feels like it never quite gets going, like a perennially repeating bridge Love Island - have already forgotten what this sounded like. Acid 8000 - this may actually be the most interesting track on the album.

I really enjoyed coming back to this album. It's been a few days since I listened, but I did get most of a 2nd listen in and there's a number of tracks on here that still resonate. Especially right after Fatboy Slim, this feels like it has staying power.

Not as "hard" as I was expecting, and that was perhaps the only interesting thing about this, the discovery--to me-that bands I think of as early punk aren't as "hard" as I'd assumed. In any case, not bad but also kinda forgettable.

This was almost a five for me. I'd probably rate it 4.5 if the platform allowed. Her voice is resonant, soulful, and beautiful. Her performances nuanced and powerful. The the songs are kinda boring at times.

Somehow this just barely threads the needs to achieve classic status--instead of floundering into an 80s sore-thumb of synth vibes.

This is a difficult rating for me. It's not Radiohead's best, no, but some of their albums break the scale imo--Kid A in particular is a 6+ next to some of the albums I've given 5s to already. All that said, I really like this, save maybe 2 tracks that feel like they'd have benefited from more refining. I could easily be swayed into giving this a 5--it keep growing on me after 3 listens this week, but let's call it 4.5.

I liked this more than I expected and it grew on me over the course of a few listens. Maybe 3.5 but rounding up because it's solid throughout, good songwriting and good performances.

There's a few tracks on here, e.g. Buddy or the all-time classic Me, Myself, and I, that still delight, but most of this feels dated or just indulgent. Would have been improved tremendously by cutting ~half the tracks and focusing on a core album.

This was probably the most revelatory of the 1001 albums for me. I'd never heard of Jansch and omg what a guitar player. Reading about him a little I saw that Neil Young called him the Henrix of the acoustic and I don't disagree. His playing has a vitality that's rare in fingerpicking, which I often find too weak in its folksiness. But here, there's so much power and musicality. Alice's Wonderland is a fav, and Smokey River and Casbah, and then of course Angie and Needle of Death of both gorgeous. Makes me want to buy a record player and start collecting vinyl--because listening to this across multiple "full" albums on youtube was annoying.

Not bad but kinda forgettable indie rock electronica throwback mashup. Surprised this came out in 2018--feels very derivative without much of interest. There's 2-3 semi-standout tracks on an otherwise kinda boring album, but I don't hate it.

I like sad music and this is that. Also, generally, beautifully written, save maybe a ~couple. This might be a 5 for me, but I need to listen a couple more times. 4.5 and rounding down for now.

Wow. I had not listened to this start to finish until now. So good, such depth, and something that I'm sure will grow on me with more listens.

Maybe my least favorite Bowie album. Not that I know his music well, this was my first time listening to this start to finish, but bit of a klunker on first listen. Lack the direction/vision that his albums usually have and the songs are just, overall, boring compared to his other work. Will come back to listen to it a couple more times, maybe I've been too hasty, but on first listen this feels like, by Bowie standards, b-sides that never should have been released.

I've never been a a dnb fan, though have at times appreciated its influence on other genres. This used to strike me as odd as I once was a drummer. But most all "drums" on dnb trucks are boring a fuck. Largely dnb feels to me like it likes soul, heart, feeling. And some tracks feel schizophrenic in their combination of a meth-addled drum line and other moody ambient samples. This isn't as bad as most dnb so rouding up to 3.

This is like lifeless Led Zeppelin. I'd give it 2, but the songs aren't actually bad, just of a certain ilk of prog music that feels like the anti-anthem of the cultural transition from hippie let's get high and play at counter-culture to let me just take some chemicals and chill out.

I'm on my 3rd or 4th listen in the last ~couple weeks and this keeps growing on me. I'd never previously listened to Sonic Youth much--I think just not pop-y enough to have easily/immediately grabbed me. But these songs are interesting, often disonantly melodic in a way I like the more I listen to it. Glad to be getting to know their music better.

I really enjoyed this. PJ Harvey is among the musicians I've known of but never really listened to--for no defensible reason I can think of. I'm only one listen in, but I think this may enter my regular listening with additional listens. There's depth and a musicality I like.

Teenager of the 90s that I am, this is a classic. I went to see them live. I had 2 t-shirts. We played Killing in the Name at school dances until a swarm of sweaty teenage boys screaming "F U I won't do what you tell me" scared the assembled chaperoning teachers and parents a little too much and it was banned. I think we played in once more before switching to "Know Your Enemy", which is actually the better song. So it's definitely nostalgic to listen to this almost 30 yrs later. And I think, if I'm being honest, this is going to get one star for nostalgia. This album always had 2-3 skippers, songs I never listened too--and I think it's got a few more than that now.

Album cover looks like something I might have made in Bryce in highschool. Thankfully the Dnb is better. Even so, I'm not much of a DnB fan and while this is less annoyingly "heavy" than most DnB, which felt like it went in a alpha male I like to beat all the heart out of my music direction as a genre, I still don't understand why it's on this list. I was debating between 2 and 3 for this, until I realized on only just made it to track 2--the opening track is an unnecessary 20+ minutes.

I liked this more than Goldie/Timeless and in fact liked it more than I expected to for a punk album, though will probably never press play on it again--still not my thing.

I remember thinking this album was so unexpectedly good. I’d been a big fan of Nirvana but had thought that meant the grungy guitars, grohl’s soul inflected drumming, and cobain’s plaintive screaming/moaning. I think I didn’t think they had the chops to do acoustic. And I was wrong. There’s a lot of great songs on here, but their cover of In the Pines/Where Did You Sleep Last Night may be among my favorite songs of the 90s.

I did not like this as much as I expected. There's maybe 3 all-time classics on here, but the rest is kinda meh. And I can't decide it Petty's vocals are engaging and rockin' and it just sounds like he's doing weird things with his mouth because he can't sing.

Do I have to listen to the Beach Boys? They are incessantly chipper and unrepentantly so, which is just about the opposite of the music I like. Part of that is just because, I think, life is fundamentally sad, in a happy heartbroken alone kinda way. And so music that speaks to that feels more honest to me. But, by the same token, I think it's much easier to write sad music. Genuinely good happy music is hard--and rare. And I'd be happy to never hear "Do you wanna dance" which seems to me to embody the worst of the beach boys instincts. But there's other tracks on here that I actually kinda like.

I listened to this twice and have already forgotten it. In general, my impression is that if it had come out a decade earlier it would have been interesting. Kinda boring as it is, but I don't hate the pop vibes.

I could almost be convinced to give this 4, were it not for the one song that sounds like mumbling on speed. I kinda surprised I didn't like this less. But 3 listens in and some of it is actually interesting--and it's increasingly obvious how influential they were.

I mean it’s got that one song but otherwise forgettable, as good as that one song is.

Meh. They do have the one some. But rest of the songwriting is meh.

I was ready to hate on this for the bro band that they eventually became, but this has some catchy tracks. The lyrics are really dumb though. And less than half the songs really that catchy.

I love this. Nuanced and enjoyable, this is going to enter my regular rotation.

Beautiful voice, but only really one song I like. Feels way too much like a product of its era--way too many strings.

Beatles after too many drugs? Maybe it’s unfair to rate this so many years later after so much has come after, but I liked only one song on this I think.

I think I listens to this 3 times back to back on a long flight. Still so chill and vibey yet just interesting enough, and just upbeat enough, to feel at once relaxing and enlivening. Happy to come back to this after so many years.

A few great tracks on first listen and I feel like most of the others will reward further listening. What’s unique and powerful is her voice and her lyrics. Even if the production/flow feel recycled at times, her rapping breathes life into every track.

Did not like this as much as I expected. Songwriting/intrumentation feels very dated. Much as I love Cohen, and a couple of the songs on this album, this feels like it can stay in the past.

I’ve tried, I really have, to give this album a chance. It’s the Eagles. I’ve listened to it like 6 times in the last ~month. It’s boring and lifeless. I can’t not like Take It Easy but it feels like a stretch to even give this a 3.

This just shows that Simon has always been such a craftsman, truly a composer who weaves together parts to create richness and depth in his songs.

Meh. Only on here due to vibes.

Haven't previously listened to any of his albums in their entirety. I'm a convert. I don't love every song on this album, a few are a little too "Billy Joel" for my taste. But gorgeous songwriting.

Feels like someone took all that is good about jazz, threw that in the trash, and then brought in some of that new fangled rock stuff, and found some earnest white boys to front the whole thing.

Easily an all-time classic. So good to come back to this and listen to it maybe ~6 times now over the last month or so.

Had not listened to this and liked it more than I expected. Some very interesting songs that in retrospect seem truly groundbreaking having come out in '72.

Gorgeous, sonically brilliant album with 3 of America's greatest singers collaborating together on an album that bespeaks the greatness of country music and its place among the innovations of American music in the 20th century.

My first time listening to a Costello album all the way through and kinda meh. I'm sure it's tarnished by having been so early and so much after stealing from it. But still, this doesn't make me excited to check out the rest of his catalogue. Rounding up to 3.

I’d probably rate this 4.5 but rounding up because it’s King and this is from 1965.

I could almost give this a 4 for Smoke on the Water, but the rest of this is pretty meh.

This reminds me that I need to listen to more Tom Waits. It’s not a perfect album by any means but he’s got such a unique musicality and it’s one I quite like.

Too long in parts, but this has some gems--and I think they'd grow on me significantly with more listens. Makes me wish I'd rated other 3s lower, but this also isn't a 4.

This isn't bad per se, but it's pretty boring. It's like a pastiche of the most forgettable parts of 90s rock: non-descript electric rhythm guitar, like someone had bleached all the tone from whatever amps they used in post, with someone who can't quite sing pretending to sing/talk at the same time, drums that may as well have been programmed, and song structures that feel like they were written to be tv/movie opening/credits backing. I really have no idea why this is on here.

It’s amazing to come back to this. I haven’t played this start to finish in way too long. Every track is an anger except maybe Da Mystery of Chessboxin, which to my ears isn th only just alright track. And then there’s CREAM. Idk, maybe the most classic rap track ever. No other track is as chill and smooth yet catchy and aggressive. You can’t not feel cool listening to it. It imbues your aura with a little extra swagger. Few records more deserve th moniker groundbreaking. 6/5.

I still like this album, even if their life performance of it was pretty terrible--all songs played way too fast.

I have never really listened to much Mariah. But now I understand where every mediocre aspiring female vocalist on The Voice got her inspiration. Even when Maria does those vocal things, I mostly don't care for it. That said, she has fantastic moments--the opening to My All is gorgeous, if kinda marred by weird percussion choices alas. I would give this 1 star except I think I gave 50 2 stars and this is better than 50.

Idk, I think there's a reason ska has always been a niche genre. It's like almost chill yet annoyingly upbeat at the same time. And not very interesting. About the only place I want to hear it is on a warm, breezy, sunny day sipping drinks on a patio with friends. But even then, I'd probably enjoy something else more. But that wouldn't be a bad vibe for the novelty.

It's still Hooker. But it doesn't need most of the production and ensemble.

This keeps growing on me. On first listen, I was like this is good, but also nothing groundbreaking. Which is true listening to it so many years later. But there's actually a lot more texture, even nuance, to the songs, and with ~four listens now, I'm growing to like it a lot.

This will probably grow on me, and it's better than many of the 3s I've give, so a generous 4.

I don't love every track on here but the ones are do, which is most of them, are soooooo good. Rare to hear such a mix of luscious, catchy and yet innovative and interesting songs. Also a 6/5.

This is hard: there are 2 all-time classic songs on here but the rest of the album is meh. I kinda feel like if this weren’t Prince, and if those 2 songs weren’t so good, this would be a 3, but call it a 3.5 and round up the iconic Prince.

Thoroughly enjoyed the first few tracks, some of the latter less so but not bad.

A couple listens while working this AM has been somewhere between a 4 and a 5. I suspect a dedicated listen on high volume through good speakers with immediately convince me the supreme excellency of Bjork's debut. I've always admired and appreciated her music and this one was no different. Such an impressive first album. 4.5/5

I'm on my 3rd listen and I think more than any this is the album that feels like Springsteen. I don't know his music super well, but have become a fan in the last ~5 years or so and I love this with every listen. So intimate.

This was fine. I'll probably never put it on again but I have nothing specific to say about it apart from it was boring.

This is almost a five for me. So chill, so musical, such good vibes. If I can fault it anything, it's that it maybe gets a little boring at times. But regardless, this has entered my regular rotation.

This isn't bad--the playing of all 3 is in fact stunning--but it does little to convince me that Evans is among the greats. There's beauty here, but also a lot of monotony. My general aversion to Evans has always been a lack of feeling or soul and this is, to my ears, painfully apparent here too. Better as a backing musician than a band leader.

This was a great discovery for me, really enjoyed it and definitely entered by regular rotation.

Meh. I always liked, but never loved The White Stripes, and re listening to this, if anything, tarnishes the esteem I held them in.

This gets an extra star for the Neil Young cover, which is still a classic. But I'm not even sure the rest of this merits a 2. Admittedly, I Iost patience ~half way through and just skimmed the songs after Stoned to Say the Least. But this feels like a dorm room experiment that should have stayed as a fond college memory.

This was probably more Pavement than I've ever listened too--and I've had my fill. Admittedly, I only gave this one listen, and this does strike me as an album that could grow on me with more listening. Yet, despite in general being a fan of a lot of indie rock, and various alt/noise-ish music, this didn't gel for me. I appreciate the experimentation, but don't feel like it coheres into something greater than the sum of its parts.

Interesting to listen to this right after Pavement. Where Pavement felt boring this feels inspired, full of interesting musical ideas that even if they don't always gel do keep me intrigued. I do wish they had a better drummer though. Honestly this could be 4 stars with a better drummer

New wave has never been my thing, but this is a classic. Some fantastic, pioneering songs on here, and some I'd rather not hear again.

She has a beautiful voice but not fan of the songwriting for the most part.

Meh.

This was delightful to come back to. I’m my mind it as going to be a likely 4, maybe, maybe a 5. But I’d forgotten just how good this is. To my mind it’s one of the top 10 all time conscious rap/hip hop albums. It is maybe a little soft, a touch milquetoast, even boring a times. Yes. So yes this 5 is rounded up for nostalgia.

Many, most?, of my friends are fans of The Magnetic Fields. And not to set myself apart--I have my own fair share of uber-indie music that I've loved, and even still love. But I've never understood any affection for Merritt's music. Ok, that is overstated: he's an excellent and prolific songwriter. But I find little to like in his voice, nor those of his regular collaborators, and I find many of his instrumentation choices poor. Too often his songs sound to me like someone lobotomized what could have been a good, even great song. Maybe a little like Leonard Cohen, he's arguably a better song writer than performer--though I personally like Cohen's performances, but both have penned songs that spawned covers great than the originals. All the complaining aside, there's song great songwriting here.

I always think I'm going to like REM more than I do. I do own Automatic for the People in Highschool, but even then I don't think I loved it in the way I did the alternative bands I was listening too at the time. And this has a couple great songs but otherwise feels like they could be any cover band playing songs I don't know in a bar somewhere.

This one makes me regret some of my earlier 5s. 10/5. Magisterial.

I mean I'm almost going to give this a 5 for what it was and partially for what it still is. That said, there's some really weird instrumentation choices on this, like what is that a hand drum in the background of the title track? Or the cowbell? Or the weird drum on "I'm Happy Just to Dance with You". But the harmonic play on this album is luscious and while it still harkens back too much to what came before for my taste, in other words it is too staid and kinda boring for it, it is also beautiful at times.

Another UK artist that shouldn't have made the cut: this isn't bad, but it is, to my ears, pretty forgettable. It's not even like it was groundbreaking for its time: this came out in 2017 and sounds dated.

This is interesting to me more as historical artifact than music I will ever listen to. That said, I liked it a little more than I expected. Not terrible.

Steely Dan has been on my "to listen" list for a long time. I've heard a few songs here and there, but was great to dive in. And most of it is stellar, with great songwriting and some really good playing. But sometimes it veers into just hifalutin elevator music.

I tried to like this more, I really did. Shinning Star and Happy Feelin' are both stellar but then you get to e.g. See the Light and nope.

Ah some sad music, the salve of my souls. Joking aside this is so good, though maybe not quite as great as I was expecting.

Despite really really liking that Ike song I’ve never listened to them much so this was good to listen to. Superfluously good indie rock. But it’s still indie rock. That’s an admittedly unfair but excellent as this is in many ways I just don’t find it either super interesting or emotionally resonant.

So much is so good about this but in the end it still sometimes has a tinge of elevator music vibe at times.