162
Albums Rated
3.4
Average Rating
15%
Complete
927 albums remaining
Rating Distribution
Rating Timeline
Taste Profile
1960
Favorite Decade
Funk
Favorite Genre
US
Top Origin
Wordsmith
Rater Style ?
17
5-Star Albums
3
1-Star Albums
Breakdown
By Genre
Top Styles
By Decade
By Origin
Albums
You Love More Than Most
| Album | You | Global | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
|
The Modern Lovers
The Modern Lovers
|
5 | 3.05 | +1.95 |
|
Time Out Of Mind
Bob Dylan
|
5 | 3.21 | +1.79 |
|
Crooked Rain Crooked Rain
Pavement
|
5 | 3.24 | +1.76 |
|
Live At The Star Club, Hamburg
Jerry Lee Lewis
|
5 | 3.27 | +1.73 |
|
Fun House
The Stooges
|
5 | 3.28 | +1.72 |
|
A Christmas Gift For You From Phil Spector
Various Artists
|
5 | 3.3 | +1.7 |
|
On The Beach
Neil Young
|
5 | 3.46 | +1.54 |
|
Unknown Pleasures
Joy Division
|
5 | 3.47 | +1.53 |
|
Illmatic
Nas
|
5 | 3.6 | +1.4 |
|
The United States Of America
The United States Of America
|
4 | 2.61 | +1.39 |
You Love Less Than Most
| Album | You | Global | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Black Holes and Revelations
Muse
|
1 | 3.59 | -2.59 |
|
Pictures At An Exhibition
Emerson, Lake & Palmer
|
1 | 2.64 | -1.64 |
|
American Gothic
David Ackles
|
1 | 2.48 | -1.48 |
|
Hail To the Thief
Radiohead
|
2 | 3.45 | -1.45 |
|
The ArchAndroid
Janelle Monáe
|
2 | 3.45 | -1.45 |
|
Iron Maiden
Iron Maiden
|
2 | 3.4 | -1.4 |
|
Hybrid Theory
Linkin Park
|
2 | 3.39 | -1.39 |
|
Figure 8
Elliott Smith
|
2 | 3.33 | -1.33 |
|
Live And Dangerous
Thin Lizzy
|
2 | 3.32 | -1.32 |
|
Abattoir Blues / The Lyre of Orpheus
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds
|
2 | 3.32 | -1.32 |
Artists
Favorites
| Artist | Albums | Average |
|---|---|---|
| Bob Dylan | 2 | 5 |
Least Favorites
| Artist | Albums | Average |
|---|---|---|
| Emerson, Lake & Palmer | 2 | 1.5 |
5-Star Albums (17)
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Popular Reviews
Dolly Parton · 1 likes
4/5
Something about Dolly Parton's voice over a pedal steel just soothes the soul. Her crystalline voice and twang are perfectly complimented by Peter Drake's (one of the best to ever do it) and his steel guitar. If the entire album was just the two of them, I'd still dig it. I really enjoyed this one and was not only impressed with Dolly's performance, but her songwriting chops, too.
Goldfrapp · 1 likes
2/5
I guess Kanye was a bit of a Goldfrapp fan. But that is not something I'm willing to call myself.
This was a pretty big miss for me
Soft Cell · 1 likes
3/5
A lil sleazy synth never hurt nobody
Os Mutantes · 1 likes
4/5
See this is the type of weird shit I'm here for! An album that I otherwise would've never come across, but I'm glad I did. No, I don't speak Portuguese. Yes, I do like avant garde music. It's out there, but in the best way possible. You can absolutely hear the Western psych influences but it's still taped together with elements of traditional Brazilian music (the drums on Bat Macumba!?!). If I ever see this in a record store, it's mine!
Favorite Tracks: A Minha Menina, Baby, Senhor F, Bat Macumba
Gene Clark · 1 likes
2/5
Our second installment of Gene Clark on this journey and I have to say, I definitely like the first one better. This album has some nice moments but to me, there wasn't a single song that really stood out from the rest and as a whole, it's pretty forgettable. Even that cover of Stand By Me, one of the greatest tracks in the American Songbook, was lacking any kind of oomph. It all pretty much fell flat for me
1-Star Albums (3)
All Ratings
Paul McCartney
3/5
We get it dude, you love your wife! Not my favorite macca, but it's still macca. Feels pretty disjointed throughout, but the highs are nice and high. The story and context surrounding Paul and the Beatles at the time is more interesting than the record itself, but it all adds to the album's lore and it does deserve some reverence.
Highlights: Every Night, Oo You, Maybe I'm Amazed
Skips: Junk, Teddy Boy, the first two minutes of Kreen-Akrore
Nas
5/5
Best hip-hop album of all-time? It just might be. It's hard to decide what's more impressive between the production or the lyricism. The production team's (Q-Tip, Pete Rock, DJ Premier...I mean c'mon?!?) immense individual talent shines through on every track but everything remains impressively cohesive throughout. The rhyme patterns are insane from beginning to end. Despite the fact that Nas' subsequent work has never reached Illmatic's height, this one, nearly perfect, album has properly cemented him as a living legend of hip hop and music at-large. I'm embarrassed to say it's probably been close to ten years since I've given this one a proper listen but it definitely won't take another decade until I throw Illmatic on again.
Highlights: 0:01-39:51...okay, fine! My favorites are Life's a Bitch, The World is Yours, Memory Lane, It Ain't Hard to Tell
Skip (if I had to pick one): Represent
Paul McCartney and Wings
4/5
David Bowie
4/5
4.5/5
Count Basie & His Orchestra
4/5
An insanely cool album cover for a big band orchestra. Never really listened to or thought about any of Count Basie's work, but after listening to the podcast, A History of Rock Music in 500 Songs (check it out, fellas), it's not an overstatement to say that rock and roll wouldn't be what it is/was without Count Basie. A lot of his earlier work was incredibly influential the jazz musicians and R&B singers that would begin creating some of the early proto-rock and roll songs of the 40s and 50s. The Atomic Mr. Basie feels like the last word from the era of big band orchestras that dominated American music up until the birth of rock and roll, and it's a last word worth hearing.
Elliott Smith
2/5
Never really been an Elliott Smith fan. This sounds like an okay Beatles album to me.
The Black Crowes
3/5
A fine album, but not my kinda thing.
Pere Ubu
3/5
You guys know me. I like loud. I like weird. But something tells me you got to be in the right mood for this album, and I guess I just wasn't. Cool sound though, fellas!
Janet Jackson
3/5
Neil Young & Crazy Horse
4/5
Julian Cope
4/5
I dig it
Creedence Clearwater Revival
4/5
It's a classic for a reason! The original songs are all strong, even if a few of them have been mercilessly overplayed on classic rock stations for 40 years. Personally, I still get stoked when I hear those screeching guitars at the start of Run Through the Jungle. The danger feels imminent from start to finish; it sounds like getting chased. Probably my favorite CCR song. Four cover songs throughout the album and all of them are also pretty solid (Ooby Dooby? Gimme a "hell yeah").
Emerson, Lake & Palmer
2/5
The musicianship is a 5/5. But as someone who doesn’t play a single instrument, I have a hard time truly appreciating each member’s proficiency and skill. In most cases, if you ask me, what makes prog rock appealing is how incredibly talented the bands usually are and how they like show it off; it’s music for musicians. Tarkus from ELP is prog rock at its finest, I can acknowledge that. But I guess most of it is just one of those finer things in life that I can’t seem to get in rhythm with. For the record, I still enjoy lots of prog rock (The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway better be on this list), but I often feel a lot of this scene was too full of itself and too difficult to digest for the average dumb guy like me.
Gene Clark
4/5
I remember the title track for this album popping into my Spotify sometime during Covid and almost immediately becoming obsessed with it. I should've taken the time to listen to this album back then, because not only is it catchy as hell, but it's a near-perfect blend of most of my favorite genres of music. There's something for everybody on here! From country to rock to gospel and even a little psychedelic and funk.
I think the first half of the album is a little stronger than the second, but it all comes together nicely. Silver Raven sounds like a Townes Van Zandt song and is probably my favorite track besides No Other. Lady of the North was another beauty.
It's a shame to think about what Gene Clark probably thought of this album. After reading up on it, you find out that it was basically a critical and commercial flop and it essentially discarded Clark to the trash bin of has-been's. He died in 1991 from complications of his addictions to alcohol and heroine and one wonders if the failure of No Other contributed to his downward spiral. At the time of his passing, the album was slowly on its way to being rehabilitated, but he never got to see it get the true praise it deserved. Unfortunately, I'm sure we're going to come across several albums with similar stories.
Weather Report
3/5
I’m sure this album sounded much fresher upon release, but it comes off as a bit corny to my 21st century ears. The 80s ruined synths for a lot of people, and I think this album is a victim of it to some extent. The over-saturation of this type of music in the decade that followed this album is tough to ignore. That said, there’s still some great moments brought to us by straight up maestros. You’ve got Jaco on bass, Wayne Shorter on sax, and Zawinul on synths; these guys are literally legends of modern jazz. They knew how to make cutting-edge and incredible music, and maybe that’s exactly what they did on this album, but the shine has faded. Birdland is one hell of an opener, but unfortunately, it was also when the album peaked in my opinion.
Thin Lizzy
2/5
Thought I was gonna like this a lot more than I did. I like Thin Lizzy and I think Phil Lynott was a hell of a front man, but this live album just didn’t do it for me. There’s still some great songs but it’s a little uneven for me.
B.B. King
3/5
Can’t go wrong with the King. The way he makes that guitar cry still blows my mind. You can tell that both he and the crowd are really into it and that makes for a fun listen. Makes me wanna go smoke a cigarette inside somewhere with sunglasses on.
Tom Waits
4/5
Actually, *this" is the album that makes me want to throw on a pair of shades and chain smoke cigarettes in a dimly lit subterranean bar. Tom Waits does what he does best on this album. Genuinely funny at times and surprisingly tender in other spots. The atmosphere created throughout the album is really cool, too. Still can't believe this was recorded in a studio and not live in some tiny, hole-in-the-wall jazz club. I'm not the biggest Tom Waits fan but I won't hesitate to back to this album.
Sarah Vaughan
3/5
Just a lovely jazz album. Perfect for the autumn evening where it's pitch black outside by 6pm; a very cozy listen. Beautiful voice, beautiful set. Will definitely be coming back to this one over the next few weeks.
The Smiths
3/5
The Smiths are bit of a guilty pleasure for me. I know that Morrissey is like top-10 shittiest people in music but he knows how to write a good pop song, even if they all start to have a pretty similar vibe (i.e. I'm mopey and horny but nobody gets me). What I really like about the Smiths is Johnny Marr's guitar work. That jingle jangle sound he uses is infectious and it's his hooks that really get stuck in my head. I think it's fair to say he's one of the most influential guitarists of his generation given how many other bands and acts have built off his work (The Killers, Arctic Monkeys, Radiohead, Oasis, etc.)
The Queen is Dead seems to be the consensus pick for The Smiths' best album and I can see why, but I'd personally take their debut over this. Marr's guitar work is incredible and Morrissey turns in some great songs, but that raw energy they exhibited when they first burst onto the scene is missing if you ask me.
Favorite Tracks: I Know It's Over, Cemetery Gates, The Boy With the Thorn in His Side, There Is a Light that Never Goes Out
3.5/5
Os Mutantes
4/5
See this is the type of weird shit I'm here for! An album that I otherwise would've never come across, but I'm glad I did. No, I don't speak Portuguese. Yes, I do like avant garde music. It's out there, but in the best way possible. You can absolutely hear the Western psych influences but it's still taped together with elements of traditional Brazilian music (the drums on Bat Macumba!?!). If I ever see this in a record store, it's mine!
Favorite Tracks: A Minha Menina, Baby, Senhor F, Bat Macumba
Radiohead
3/5
Smarter people with better ears for music will probably rate this a 5/5 and I can understand why. But at the end of the day, despite giving it the ole college try every couple of years, this album has never done it for me. I've come to realize that Radiohead is not my kinda band but I'm still able get down with some of their other albums (The Bends, In Rainbows). I find OK Computer to be quite boring for long stretches, but I'm sure that says more about me. While I can still acknowledge how important and influential this album is for 21st century music, I'm finally saying it, once and for all:
I don't like OK Computer, and that's OK!
Joy Division
5/5
This one’s an all-timer for me. Whenever I listen to anything else, this is one of the albums against which all others are measured. Every part could exist on its own and still be incredible. The vocals, the bass, the drums, the guitar could be listened to in isolation and it’d still be a great piece of music. Every British band that have come after these guys have stolen from them whether they know it or not. Just one of my favorite pieces of recorded music in all of history. One of the great tragedies of modern music is Ian Curtis’ suicide. I truly believe Joy Division could’ve been the biggest British band of the 80s (not a diss to New Order). I’d give this 10 stars if I could.
G. Love & Special Sauce
2/5
Little Richard
3/5
It's hard to overstate how important Little Richard's impact on rock and roll was/is. I feel that 50s music is typically assigned a bit of a squeaky-clean image and maybe some of that is deserved. But "Here's Little Richard" is a toe-tapping reminder that even the earliest rock and roll, could still make you feel dirty in all the right ways. Audiences weren't stupid; they knew what a lot of these songs were about, but thank god they didn't care. A lot of these tracks begin to feel pretty repetitive, especially musically-speaking, but if it wasn't broke, then there was nothing to fix.
At the time of its release, Little Richard had just been surpassed by Elvis as the biggest musical star in America. Unfortunately, Little Richard had a hard time getting out of his own way over the next couple of years and eventually, his star faded. However, the fact that an effeminate, semi-openly gay black man from the deep South was able to reach the heights he did, when he did, really is kind of amazing. But when you can wop bop a-loo bop like that, it's easy to see why.
3.5/5
Favorite Tracks: Tutti Frutti, Can't Believe You Wanna Leave, Baby, Long Tall Sally
John Cale
4/5
Funny that this is the album we got and upon my return home last evening, my wife wanted to show me the new Charli XCX song...featuring this random old guy named John Cale? Once I effectively mansplained who he was for about two minutes, I wrapped up my spiel with a line I find myself repeating to her often, "your Dad would know who he is."
I have immense respect for John Cale and believe he's one of the hidden architects of contemporary music that still can be seen today (a special thank you to Charli XCX for helping prove my point). His work with the Velvet Underground speaks for itself. If Lou Reed was the lyrical genius of the band, then Cale was the musical maestro. He was a classically-trained prodigy who kicked Beethoven for Chuck Berry but never lost touch with the elements of classical music he loved best. You can hear it in every piece of his work, including the Charli XCX song he released this week. Beyond his own personal work, he's produced for some of the most important and acts of the 20th century. Do we have punk music without John Cale? Probably, but it's fair to wonder.
Paris 1919 is a wonderful album and I really enjoy it, but it's not quite my favorite post-VU Cale album. I remember listening to a podcast about it once and the hosts posited that Americans typically don't appreciate this one as much as they do across the pond. The album's content is clearly Eurocentric, from the lyrics to the song titles themselves. John Cale grew up in post-WWII UK and it had a great impact on him throughout his life and especially, this album (The title, Paris 1919, was inspired by the 1919 Paris Accords that ended WWI). Maybe if my childhood neighborhood was bombed to rubble by Nazis, I'd like it a little more, but I'd prefer not to find out at this point.
Favorite Songs: Child's Christmas in Wales, Hanky Panky Nohow, Andalucia, Paris 1919, Half Past France
Kate Bush
3/5
Never been a big Kate Bush fan but I can see the appeal. Stranger Things, which I loathe, has ruined the opening track for me.
Jack White
3/5
Jack White is pretty hit or miss for me, but this one's got quite a few hits. A true student of the game we call rock and roll.
Michael Jackson
5/5
I know Thriller is bigger, but I think Off The Wall is better. My favorite MJ album. Quincy Jones worked his magic and his impact is immeasurable. But at the end of the day, Michael Jackson and his insane abilities makes this album what it is.
Bee Gees
2/5
A Bee Gees concept album? Not one disco ball in sight? Pass!
Willie Nelson
4/5
Don't cross him! Don't boss him!
Love me some Willie and this album's a bonafide classic. Part of why I like the Red Headed Stranger is that it's not afraid to be really simple or sparse. A lot of the album is just Willie singing unaccompanied or with just a little bit of guitar or maybe a touch of percussion. Sometimes, I think simplicity brings out the best in country music. Another reason this album stands out is because of how much it went against the grain of what was popular in Nashville at the time. There's no string arrangements, no highly polished duets, no backup vocals from the Jordanaires. It sounds like something you'd hear some cowboy playing in a dusty old honky tonk outside of Amarillo.
One last thing that I think makes Red Headed Stranger special is the fact that it's a concept album with a coherent story that's pretty easy to follow but it’s largely made up of covers and traditional American songs. Willie's performance ties it all together and makes it all make sense. It sounds like he'd sung each of these songs a thousand times before, and he probably had.
4.5/5
P.S. There's a great live album from like 1977 where Willie plays this 20-minute medley of songs from Red Headed Stranger. Highly recommended!
ZZ Top
3/5
Me at 9y/o: Man, ZZ Top rocks!
Me at 19y/o: Man, ZZ Top sucks.
Me at 29y/o: Man, ZZ Top rocks!
Quintessential beer drinking music. I’d do anything to grow a beard like that.
Aretha Franklin
4/5
X-Ray Spex
3/5
Enjoyed this one quite a bit.
3.5/5
Sly & The Family Stone
4/5
Caught Alex lip-syncing the second song….
Sly doesn’t get enough of the respect that he deserves when people are talking about great music of the 60s and 70s. Incredibly talented as a musician and songwriter but incredibly flawed as an individual. A classic combo
Favorite songs: Everyday People, Sing a Simple Song, Sex Machine
Hole
3/5
4/5
I haven't listened to this album in years, even with all the hype around their reuniting and touring again. I gotta say, those wankers were really onto something. Just a well-made album from start to end. Some great hooks and melodies throughout. Morning Glory still gets a ton of hype to this day and most of it's deserving. Champagne Supernova is goated. And for the record, I'm #TeamLiam
Favorite Tracks: Roll With It, Don't Look Back in Anger, Some Might Say, Champagne Supernova
Patti Smith
3/5
Easily one of the best album openers we've gotten so far, at least if you're asking me. Any cover of Gloria feels like a guaranteed banger, but Patti Smith's might be my favorite. Land is a transcendent trip that I'm always happy to take. Indulgent, however, is a perfect way to describe some of the other songs on the album. It can feel like a little much at times. Big ups to Lenny Kaye and his guitar work on Horses.
3.75/5
Favorite Tracks: Gloria, Redondo Beach, Break it Up, Land
The Modern Lovers
5/5
American Music Club
2/5
Respectfully, why is this one of the 1001 albums I need to hear before dying? What was so interesting about it? Who says this album is the soundtrack to their life? Probably at least one Midwestern guy, but still.
The Dave Brubeck Quartet
4/5
Nirvana
5/5
Yeah, it's perfect music.
Brian Wilson
3/5
Talking Heads
4/5
Back in college, I remember Alex had a book about Fear of Music and the author referred to it as "David Byrne's aspergers album." I think that could've been a pretty great title, too.
A wonderful album to become increasingly paranoid and insane to. It also probably could've been called Music of Fear! I'm not sure if it's my favorite Talking Heads album (there's not really a bad one in the bunch so it's hard to pick), but it's probably their best one. Maybe?
Favorite Tracks: I Zimbra, Mind, Life During Wartime, Heaven
Soft Cell
3/5
A lil sleazy synth never hurt nobody
Iggy Pop
4/5
Laura Nyro
2/5
Bob Dylan
5/5
You guys already know how I'm gonna rate this one
Bob Marley & The Wailers
3/5
As a white man from Pennsylvania who went to Jamaica one time as a child, I feel like I have this special connection to Bob Marley and reggae, like I just get it more than most people.
Jokes aside, I do enjoy a little reggae from time to time. Bob Marley is the only reggae musician most people can name and that's a shame cause there are some other really incredible artists out there, past and present. That said, Marley definitely contributed enough to the genre to warrant being it's biggest star.
Natty Dread isn't my favorite album of his, or even his close to his strongest in my opinion, but there's still some interesting stuff going on.
Fleetwood Mac
5/5
It's Rumors. I'm not gonna over think this one
Van Halen
3/5
Van Halen was my first favorite band and I'll always remain fond of a lot of their work, but 1984 has never really hit for me the way their earlier albums have. Maybe it's because it was their last album with Diamond David Lee Roth and despite the fact that it was 2005, I resented it for being the album that broke up Van Halen. Maybe it's because they leaned a little too far into their pop sensibilities (I'm looking at you, Jump) and away from their hard drinkin' and hard rockin' inclinations. Or maybe it's just because it's the one my Dad played the least growing up.
Either way, it's impossible to overstate how electric and talented this band was at the height of their powers. 1984 is worth the listen just to hear these guys go. DLR was the most exciting front man in that whole scene and Eddie was/is arguably the greatest guitarist of all time, especially for dudes who love tapping. Alex Van Halen's drumming was incredible on that album and throughout their entire discography. It sounds like he has four arms and four legs at the beginning of Hot for Teacher. And as always, Michael Anthony was there with his Jack Daniels bass. Just smiling away.
Van Halen's music isn't exactly aging like fine wine, especially when you examine the lyrical content. But it's got it's place, back in 1984. They were the perfect band for the 80s and with this album especially, they exemplified the excess of the decade with sex, drugs, and rock and roll.
Ghostface Killah
4/5
Pavement
5/5
hey, I've got this one on vinyl!
Talking Heads
3/5
Some of my favorite Talking Heads songs are off 77 but overall, I think it's a pretty uneven album; par for the course from a good debut. Uh-Oh feels like the perfect song to officially kick off the Talking Heads' discography. The energy is palpable on certain songs but other ones feel like they were phoned in a little. A worthwhile listen regardless.
Favorite Tracks: Uh-Oh, Love Comes to Town, Psycho Killer, Pulled Up
a-ha
3/5
I know we're all saying the same thing but that album was pleasantly surprising. Putting their undisputed biggest track as the first song on the album is a bold choice. I do wonder how many people turned the record off after Take on Me. But for those who do stick around, there's just some good quintessential 80s synth pop to be enjoyed.
Jefferson Airplane
3/5
Jefferson Airplane really only mattered for one summer, in 1967. They remained big in California and had briefly flirted with the charts as Jefferson Starship in the 70s and 80s. But as a whole, they really only mattered to the wider world for a few months. But because their music peaked when it did, and because that Summer of Love now lives in notoriety, they're indelibly associated with that time. To this day, few songs are as evocative of Summer 1967 as White Rabbit and Somebody to Love. And while Grace Slick definitely had her problems, she was one of the first prominent women to front an electric rock band which I think counts for something.
I like a lot of Surrealistic Pillow. The two classics off the album both stand the test of time. I've always loved Embryonic Journey and how its just a really nice instrumental break from all of the psychedelic cacophony. Some of the album's other tracks are pretty forgettable, especially the ones led by Marty Balin (sorry, Marty).
Favorite Songs: Somebody to Love, Embryonic Journey, White Rabbit,
Love
4/5
Love is one of those bands whose story is filled with heartbreak, self-sabotage, and missed opportunities - but I guess there are a lot of stories like that. Despite their obvious talent and musical genius, they never reached the commercial success they probably deserved, but they were incredibly inspirational to artists of their time and for generations to come after. The Rolling Stones were massive fans in the 60s and even "borrowed" a few of their tricks (see: She's a Rainbow). The Doors, Robert Plant, Jesus Mary and Chain, Yo La Tengo, the Stone Roses, King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard (I could go on) have all listed Love as a massive influence on their music and you can hear it in each of their own discographies.
Forever Changes is such an incredible blend of musical styles, and like Alex, I almost forget how good it is until I force myself to throw it on. Next time, I don't think I'll be so hesitant to give it a listen. It's a shame the band basically self-imploded after this album, mostly thanks to Arthur Lee. Even if Love never made another album half as good as Forever Changes, the ripple effect of it's influence can be felt across generations and genres.
Favorite Songs: Alone Again Or, A House is not a Motel, Daily Planet, Maybe the People.., Bummer in the Summer
Aerosmith
3/5
I like Toys in the Attic a lot better, but this one's still got a couple bangers. By 1989, Aerosmith were probably considered part of the old guard of rock and roll but they definitely answered the bell and outdid the likes of Poison, Motley Crue, etc. with this one. Arena Rock has never really been my thing but there's no disputing that Aerosmith did it really well.
Emerson, Lake & Palmer
1/5
I tried, I really did. This was a little much. Do you think there was one woman in that audience?
N.W.A.
4/5
It's a classic for a reason but I remember liking this a lot more in my late teens/early twenties.
Snoop Dogg
4/5
The Stooges
5/5
This album is downright disgusting. Needlessly nasty. Seriously shameless. Glaringly gross. I absolutely love it!
Sade
4/5
Stevie Wonder
4/5
While it might not be my favorite Stevie Wonder album, it's still a Stevie Wonder album and a great one at that. Beautiful melodies throughout. Really thoughtful lyrics on some. Just a wonderful blend of genres and songs.
Favorite Songs: You and I, Superstition, Big Brother, I Believe
Burning Spear
3/5
When I first saw this, my brain clocked it as the album titled "Burning Spear" by Marcus Garvey and I was stoked to give it a listen. Now, obviously I was a little wrong. But this was some good, rootsy reggae. Like something the Mayor of Portland would listen to.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y4KCB3-UZqM
Various Artists
5/5
A straight up classic. It isn't Christmas in America without these songs
The Rolling Stones
4/5
Bill Callahan
3/5
I actually stumbled across this album a month or so ago and was surprised to see it pop up on this list. It's not a bad album by any measure, but I'm not sure what makes it so exceptional either.
Bill Callahan's music is best enjoyed alone, preferably in the chill of fall or winter. It's isolating in a really haunting and sometimes depressing kind of way, but I still find myself digging it. Sometimes, I also wish I were an eagle.
Violent Femmes
3/5
Wait, this album is from 1982? For my entire existence, I've walked the Earth thinking the Violent Femmes were a 90s band.
There's some pretty solid stuff on this album, but it feels like they have one trick and just keep doing it over and over again. At least it's a pretty decent trick
Run-D.M.C.
4/5
The Kinks
3/5
There are far better Kinks albums out there, and I'm sure we're going to come across a few of them. But even an okay Kinks album is better than most.
Led Zeppelin
4/5
Not too shabby for a bunch of studio musicians.
Astor Piazzolla
3/5
I just know this one was added by a user
Aretha Franklin
4/5
Giving Aretha Franklin anything less than a 4 feels sacrilege. Not sure what to say or add other than she was incredible at what she did.
Bob Marley & The Wailers
4/5
When most people think of Bob Marley, they think of Exodus. The most popular songs are pretty good, but I don't think it's fair to Marley that, generally, he's remembered through these songs exclusively. I think several of the tracks on this album outdo Three Little Birds and One Love. It's still a great listen, though.
The Velvet Underground
4/5
Reading some of the public reviews for this one hurt. I love this album! It's so tender and endearing in a way that VU had never really done before. It was their most accessible album they'd made to that point. With John Cale leaving, they basically dropped the entire experimental layer of their music and went for a much more sweet and less aggressive sound. I think they nailed it.
The Who
3/5
I'll take their live albums over this, but you gotta give them credit for their ambition alone. Artists had done concept albums before, of course, but this one felt different, and was marketed as such. There's been plenty of concept albums since that have lapped Tommy, but maybe acts like Pink Floyd or Frank Zappa wouldn't have swung for the fences if the Who didn't first.
I find Tommy to be a little self-indulgent and there are a lot of times where things don't seem to click for me. But when they do, there are some great nuggets of music to enjoy.
Joe Ely
3/5
A perfectly fine late-70s country album. Nothing too exciting, but nothing to complain about either. I do get a little bit of satisfaction knowing how many British people have to listen to this. One click on the public reviews tells me they must not have Honky Tonks across the pond.
The Soft Boys
4/5
Really enjoyed this one. A great blend of psych, post punk, and some pop. Definitely feels a little ahead of it's time, but you can still hear all of the influences they were pulling from (Beatles, Syd Barrett/Pink Floyd, the Byrds, etc.). I'd imagine bands like the Stone Roses and REM were big fans of this album. The energy feels palpable from the first track to the last. I really love the cover art, too. Everything about this album is cool to me.
Favorite Trax: I Wanna Destroy You, I Got the Hots, You'll Have to Go Sideways, Underwater Moonlight
4.5/5
Gene Clark
2/5
Our second installment of Gene Clark on this journey and I have to say, I definitely like the first one better. This album has some nice moments but to me, there wasn't a single song that really stood out from the rest and as a whole, it's pretty forgettable. Even that cover of Stand By Me, one of the greatest tracks in the American Songbook, was lacking any kind of oomph. It all pretty much fell flat for me
Dolly Parton
4/5
Something about Dolly Parton's voice over a pedal steel just soothes the soul. Her crystalline voice and twang are perfectly complimented by Peter Drake's (one of the best to ever do it) and his steel guitar. If the entire album was just the two of them, I'd still dig it. I really enjoyed this one and was not only impressed with Dolly's performance, but her songwriting chops, too.
Tricky
3/5
This album was a complete unknown to me and I'm not usually seeking this sort of music out, but I thought it was pretty good. The production is really impressive throughout. Who says chaps from Bristol can't make trip hop? Not me....
Hole
4/5
For as complicated a character as Courtney Love seems to be, she does, quite simply, rock. Haven't really listened to Hole too much before getting into this list but I'm just about ready to classify myself as a passing fan.
Jorge Ben Jor
4/5
Eu gostei disso. Me dá vontade de ir para o Brasil e me divertir muito com o Bolsonaro, ou com quem eu encontrar primeiro.
Goldfrapp
2/5
I guess Kanye was a bit of a Goldfrapp fan. But that is not something I'm willing to call myself.
This was a pretty big miss for me
Madonna
4/5
I knew of one or two songs off this album before listening and really wasn't expecting much, but I actually thought this was cool as hell. A major departure from most of her previous work but I feel like she crushes it. Ray of Light is a lot more reserved and less in your face than most of Madonna's discography, at least the parts I'm more familiar with. Instead of hornily observing Madonna from afar, I get the feeling from this album that she wants you to join her on the dancefloor and just cut loose. AND I FEEEELLL LIKE I JUST GOT HOMEE
U2 has been forced upon through my wife, who had them forced upon her by her mother. Remember, generational trauma is a real thing.
Some of their 80s work with Brian Eno and Daniel Lanois sits well with me, but bringing them back for this one didn't end in the same results. Elevation is alright, but everything else sounds like the score to an extended Virgin Mobile commercial.
The Smashing Pumpkins
3/5
The Doors
3/5
The Doors were one of my favorite bands for a good stretch of my late-teens and early-twenties and some of these tracks are dear to me, but I think there are at least two Doors albums that clear Morrison Hotel. The first half does a lot of the heavy lifting, but I admit I found myself enjoying Land Ho much more than I remember.
Calexico
2/5
Eh, it was okay
The Stone Roses
5/5
I personally love this album and think the Stone Roses are criminally underrated, at least on this side of the pond. I'd have to go back and look but this might be the best debut album from a band that we've had so far. It's impact on the Brit rock scene that bubbled into the mainstream over the next couple of years following this release is undeniable. Guitars, drums, bass, lyrics are all great. Everyone brought their best and we're all still reaping the benefits.
Favorite Tracks: I Wanna Be Adored, She Bangs the Drum, Waterfall, Made of Stone, Shoot You Down, This is the One
Sports Bucket List: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k-IyU4IFewQ
Beastie Boys
4/5
And you mean to tell me it only gets better from here?
Yet another incredible debut on this list and this time, from one of my favorites. The lyrics are juvenile but the rhyme schemes and patterns kinda make up for a lot of it. The beats and samples are straight up mesmerizing on some songs. If I'm not mistaken, copyright law changed soon after Licensed to Ill dropped limiting how many samples could be used on a song, which kinda makes this album one of a kind in some ways.
SZA
3/5
I remember when this album came out and was a pretty big hit with critics and friends in my college circles alike. I also remember liking it a bit more back then. Maybe my tastes have changed or maybe the market's been saturated with so many SZA soundalikes that it's gotten to the point where Ctrl no longer sounds as fresh.
Regardless, I think there's still some cool things happening on the album. SZA's got a great voice and most of the beats are pretty strong. A couple really solid features tie it all together.
Probably won't be coming back to this one anytime soon, but if it's on at a party, you won't hear me complaining.
Beatles
5/5
If someone tells you this album is too long or too weird, that says a lot more about them than it does about you. In an era of hot takes and GOAT debates, it's nice to be reminded that the Beatles truly are a class above the rest.
Favorite Tracks: Back in the USSR, Ob-la-Di, Bungalow Bill, Happiness is a Warm Gun, Don't Pass Me By (<3 u, Ringo) Yer Blues, Mother Nature's Son,
Air
4/5
The official backing track to my workday, and I mean that as no insult. Have always enjoyed this album, especially the first half.
Supertramp
4/5
Something about Supertramp has always clicked with me. I find them very easy to enjoy. You can throw them on the background and catch yourself tapping your toes or you can lock in and just appreciate the technical abilities and quality vocals from two completely different singers. Their best album comes five years later but Crime of the Century is still strong.
Curtis Mayfield
4/5
By the time he was like 21, Curtis Mayfield was already a seasoned veteran of the music industry. Revolutionary guitar player who changed the way entire genres approached the instrument. We love some socially conscious funky-ass songs. Now all I need to do is see the movie
Fleet Foxes
3/5
From now on, listening to Fleet Foxes shall be known as going "Hunter Biden-mode." Crack pipe not required.
The B-52's
4/5
A classic party album. Love the sleazy chaos that just oozes out of this record.
The Teardrop Explodes
3/5
TV On The Radio
2/5
Iron Maiden
2/5
I've never really been a metal guy, and while that's slowly started to change, Iron Maiden's debut didn't really do it for me. I can see the appeal, but only if I turn my head and squint.
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds
2/5
I feel like every Nick Cage album could be the score to a movie about a desolate man in a desolate land. It's a good, but not great movie; the kind you find playing on AMC at 2pm on a Thursday before they start their Goodfellas marathon at 5pm. I guess what I'm saying is that I think Henry's Dream is mostly forgettable, save for a few moments and songs.
Radiohead
2/5
No matter how hard this list makes me try, I'm just not a big Radiohead fan. It's my own problem, I know. But these guys just don't do it for me.
The Slits
4/5
I feel like Cut is one of those albums that only gets better the more you listen to it. I really love how "in-your-face" it is and it's a really interesting blend of punk, reggae, ska, etc.
Ari Up (awesome name) delivers some insane vocals. I'm pretty sure she was like 14 joined the Slits and maybe a year or two older when Cut came out. She screams so hard on Shoplifting that she literally pissed her pants, you can hear her say as much. I'm not too sure why I've added this anecdote but I think it's cool how hard she went. And then Johnny Rotten married her mom! The rest of the band might not be the most technically proficient, but the way the approached their music felt original and maybe even a bit brave given how male-dominated their industry and scene were. They gained the respect of a lot of the early British punk bands because they just didn't give a fuck.
What can I say about the cover of Heard it Through the Grapevine that hasn't already been said? It's incredibly groovy and still aggressive as hell. It rocks, as does this entire album.
The Byrds
3/5
When I want to listen to the Beatles, I listen to the Beatles. When I want to listen to Bob Dylan, I listen to Bob Dylan. When I want to listen to both of them at the same exact time, I listen to the Byrds.
The Byrds were great at what they did. I like some of their albums a little better than Younger Than Yesterday but it's still got some strong songs on it.
Jerry Lee Lewis
5/5
One of Rock and Roll's original sociopaths at his finest. The first live punk album? It's worth asking. It's the kinda music that, even to this day, goes straight to the nervous system. Try playing this at max volume without bopping your head and tapping your feet, even just a little. Good luck!
An excellent selection of covers and a couple of Jerry Lee's classics makes for a perfect blend. I think it's the best cover of Money I've ever heard. I love this album
Louis Prima
4/5
Easy to enjoy. No complaints whatsoever
Sepultura
2/5
This rating is based off of my own personal enjoyment of the album, or lack thereof. These guys are all incredible musicians and the concept of Roots is really cool. The fact that they took the time to track down and earnestly work with the indigenous tribes of Brazil on this is admirable and interesting (Itsari was easily my favorite track). But at the end of the day, this shit just ain't for me.
Steve Earle
3/5
No real complaints from me. Just a solid 80s country album all around. Can feel a little too corny at times but it's all part of the charm. The steel guitar work is great and really stands out.
Jethro Tull
3/5
I'll be the one to split the hairs between my two other comrades on this journey. Goddamn, that Anderson guy can play the flute.
Curtis Mayfield
4/5
Soulful as hell.
Don't worry, Curtis! Since the release of this album, America has ironed out all of the harsh realities of economic hardship and inequality, racism, etc. Albums like this are no longer necessary, since we've gotten figured everything out.
Moby Grape
3/5
Hey Grandma sounds like a Helen Wheels prototype. Can imagine Paul digging this album quite a bit. Overall, I think it's just a solid SanFran psychedelic album. Not much to really complain about, but not much to really drool over either.
Bruce Springsteen
4/5
Van Halen
4/5
The start of it all....
Led Zeppelin
5/5
The Clash
3/5
The Cars
4/5
I dig the Cars and always thought Ric Ocasek did a lot of good for the music world. Of all of the FM radio classic rock titans, I think the Cars are a bit underappreciated. As far as debut albums go, you can't really ask for much more than this. Couple of big hits and generally, the music has stood the test of time.
Neil Young
5/5
My favorite Neil Young album. A very special s/o to Rusty Kershaw and his liner notes.
Heaven 17
3/5
Pretty cool snapshot of this time and sound. Not the best synth-pop album ever, but a fair entry into it's catalog. Does it deserve to be on this list? Probably not, but I've been forced to listen to a lot worse than this.
Bob Dylan
5/5
Bob's "comeback" album was certainly a return to form (though who am I to bag on his 80s output - I like a lot of it). It's been said that there's a Dylan album for every phase of a man's life. The older I get, the truer this is. I'm not saying that I can relate to every song and theme from Time Out Of Mind, it's not like I'm 56 years old (physically, at least) but I can feel myself starting to grasp and wrestle with some of the themes he's laid out in albums like this.
By this point, I've listened to every Dylan album at least once. Some, right off the bat, I've loved and others have gone over my head. Time Out Of Mind was one of those albums I first listened to at like 22 and was bored. But the more I live and experience, the more I get it (I think). It's a fun exercise for guys like me. Every 5-7 years I return to a couple Dylan albums I overlooked. And every 5-7 years, I'm impressed.
Janelle Monáe
2/5
Not for me
Beastie Boys
4/5
The Divine Comedy
2/5
Not for me, sorry!
Cyndi Lauper
3/5
Never been a big Cyndi Lauper fan, but she is the perfect snapshot of the 80's. Her music, her look, her New Yorkah attitude. I know she's had a long and successful career, but in my own dumb head, she never left 1983.
Harry Nilsson
4/5
Harry Nilsson is great in my books. The Beatles influence is easy to hear and he never kept it a secret how much he revered them, especially John. Aside from all that, Nilsson's just got a strong singing voice that I find easy to enjoy. Some of the editing choices here are pretty cool, too.
The Black Keys
4/5
My wife has made me a bit of a Black Keys fan, and I think this is their best album.
The Dictators
3/5
Pretenders
4/5
Enjoyed this one quite a bit. Very punchy album that brings it from the start. I think Chrissie Hynde kicks ass. Yet another great debut album on this list.
Korn
2/5
Björk
2/5
Bjork is one of those artists I've really been meaning to get into for a few years now but have yet to get around to it. She's got one of the most impressive singing voices I think I've ever heard. I'm familiar with a little bit of her work but most of it is a blind spot for me. From what I know, nobody is going to argue that Vespertine is her best album and I'd be inclined to agree. She seems incredibly reserved throughout and never really cuts loose with that voice of hers. I spent the whole album waiting for a moment like that but it never came. I'm sure we'll stumble across another Bjork album or two and I hope I get more out of them.
The Band
4/5
The United States Of America
4/5
Motörhead
3/5
My throat hurts from just imagining what it would be like to sound like Lemmy. The perfect voice for their sound. While metal really isn't my bag, I feel like Motorhead is a little more approachable for a guy like me.
The Blue Nile
2/5
I enjoyed bits and pieces of it but for the most part, it felt pretty toothless. This seems like an important album for bands like Coldplay and Keane but neither one of those acts are really my bag. I thought the singer's voice was pretty interesting but outside of that, nothing else really was (at least to me)
Derek & The Dominos
4/5
Say what you will about Eric Clapton the man, but the dude knows how to play the blues. Bell Bottom Blues was huge for me when I was like 20. Some incredible guests on this album, too.
Leonard Cohen
4/5
Not my favorite Leonard Cohen album, but it's still a great one. It's got some of his strongest songs from his entire catalog peppered throughout.
Ella Fitzgerald
4/5
Hard to find anything bad to say about this. One of America's greatest singers putting her spin on one of America's greatest composers.
1/5
This is music for people who use the word "epic" way too much. Not sure what it's doing on this list
The Velvet Underground
5/5
Brian Eno once pointed out that this album only sold something like 30,000 copies upon its release but that every one of those 30,000 copies started a band. It's really impossible to overstate how influential this album is, especially for a guy like me. We could probably do a list of 1001 albums inspired by the Velvet Underground and Nico and it'd be packed with 5-star bangers from some of the greatest acts in music.
I first heard Venus in Furs when I was like 19 and it blew my mind, I had no idea a song could sound like that. It's not exactly the kind of jam you blast in your car, but it's the kinda music that hits the nervous system. John Cale is a musical genius, in case you were wondering. Lou Reed ain't half bad either. His lyrics are equally repulsive and enthralling. I go back and forth between liking and being indifferent about the Nico songs; guess it just depends on my mood. Sterling Morrison and Moe Tucker deserve credit, too. Everyone had something to contribute on this album and I'm glad they all did.
Emmylou Harris
3/5
The Charlatans
4/5
Can't say that I've heard of the Charlatans before this but I found myself enjoying this one quite a bit. It's not the best or most interesting britpop album I've heard, but it's a solid and rewarding listen.
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds
2/5
A bit of a snooze fest if you ask me.
Elliott Smith
3/5
LCD Soundsystem
4/5
Aerosmith
4/5
Sweet Emotion, I mean c'mon! An all-timer for radio rock that still goes hard in 2026. While that's definitely the high point, it's still a good ole 70s rock and roll album and a fun listen.
Mj Cole
2/5
Linkin Park
2/5
I know they've got a huge following but Linkin Park has never clicked for me. Even as a kid, I found them to be kinda mopey and boring. Totally swagless!
David Ackles
1/5
One of the albums I've enjoyed least on this journey. Sounds like a Broadway musical with none of the juice, wit, or excitement of a Broadway musical. It looks like people have been trying to rehabilitate this album since it came out but maybe it just sucks?
A Tribe Called Quest
4/5
Can't go wrong with ATCQ. Thank you, MLB the Show 2008, for putting Scenario on your tracklist and opening my mind a little.
4/5
Not a U2 fan by any measure, but it's hard to argue that there aren't at least a few really strong songs on Joshua Tree. Brian Eno and Daniel Lanois as producers will do that for you, even if you're Bono.
The Stranglers
3/5
Some pretty atrocious lyrics, even for a punk band trying to be edgy. But I still kinda dig the sound, just not the snarl.
Grizzly Bear
3/5
Two Weeks is one of those songs I've heard a million times in my life but had no idea who or when it was from. The mystery's been solved! I've always enjoyed that feeling.
As far as the album goes, it ain't half bad! A little sleepy in some parts but it's nicely built around a sound that's easy to enjoy. Probably not something I'll come back to but it's also not something I'll complain about hearing.
Kraftwerk
4/5
Kraftwerk is great for a lot of reasons and are probably one of the hidden architects of modern music. I like some of their earlier stuff as opposed to their full blown electric sound, but it's all catchy.
The idea of growing up in postwar Germany is a bit of a trip. Your parents and all of their friends were probably Nazis and nobody really seemed interesting in unpacking that. Instead, you and some of your boys get together with some other bands, create a whole scene, and make some of the most mind blowing albums for the next 10 years or so. German ingenuity channeled for good and not evil!
Depeche Mode
4/5
When I saw that this was the next album, my first thought was, "Man, I hope it's that fun album with Just Can't Get Enough on it!" Nope! It's one of their depressing albums lol. There's still some cool songs on the album but not sure if this is the kinda thing you throw on for your own listening pleasure unless you've had "one of those days."
Kinda fun that we go from Kraftwerk to Depeche Mode. You can see the former's immediate impact on music based on the latter's work.
Eurythmics
3/5
PJ Harvey
3/5
Television
4/5
Discovering this album during Covid was a God-send. I'd heard Marquee Moon but never fully dived in. I'm a better person for it!
The Style Council
3/5
I thought I was really going to enjoy this album just based off of the first several tracks but it definitely loses it's momentum in the second half, though I think it does recover some of it. They really just threw everything against the wall and turns out, some things stuck pretty well. Some other stuff, not so much.
Jazmine Sullivan
3/5
I remember this being a hit with the critics a few year's back and I always meant to get around to it. It's not really my bag but I can see why some people liked it. The production is pretty sick but it'll be tough for my honky ass to sing a long to some of these.
The Divine Comedy
2/5
It wasn't as bad as I thought it would be, but that doesn't mean it's getting any praise. It's still a bit of a chore to get through the whole thing without grinding your teeth.
Depeche Mode
3/5
Enjoyed the other Depeche Mode album a bit better, but still some interesting stuff going on with Music for the Masses.