Takes me back to being 26 and having no idea what I truly liked. This is not my style, but I have a soft spot for this album and its harmonies.
Another one that takes me back to figuring out my musical tastes. A (quiet) banger of an album.
I hate Green Day, not looking forward to listening. Hopefully some undiscovered gems. They made this into a stage musical after all.
After listening: I can see why this translated well into a musical setting. Lots of musical tropes with a rockabilly twist. The best music I’ve heard from Green Day. Unlikely to listen to it again, but I’m impressed. 3.5 rating overall
Classic album from my youth. All my friends loved Nirvana, Soundgarden, Pearl Jam and Hole. Grunge hit just as I hit high school. Who can forget the first time they saw the videoclip for Smells Like Teen Spirit?
Zero idea of what to expect. Never heard of this artist or album. Pleasantly surprised with melodic slide guitars, country lyric tropes, charming harmonies and a short run time.
I really don’t get the Beach Boys. And there is whistling. No thanks.
Finally some heavy metal! The last few albums generated for me have been folksy country - genres i wouldn’t normally listen to. I’ve discovered some gems, but Slayer is already a fave.
Not looking forward to this. Christina has a fine voice, but from what I recall of the singles of the era, these are too clean and pop for my tastes. Here we go…
3 songs in, and I am prepared to admit my original feelings were wrong. This album is great. I think I have singles fatigue. Ain’t No Other Man gets too many spins.
End of the album. Sorry I doubted you Christina. 4/5 stars.
Oh no. There’s a second disc. It’s dragging down the score to a 3. Really should have thrown disc 2 in the bin.
Some “world” music making it int the list. I hate that term for such a diverse array of music that falls outside of Western norms. I’d only heard his collab on 7 Seconds (owned the single on cassette tape!) and that’s all I knew going in. I enjoyed it more than expected. Could only listen via YouTube, so I’m missing depth in the mix. The instrumentation and vocals are insane. Not an album I’d put on high rotation, but very happy to have been exposed this once. 4 stars.
Never been a huge Anthrax fan. This is fine. Not going to top their contribution to the Judgement Night soundtrack. Solid 3/5
Hell yeah Bob Mould! Never got around to listening to Sugar, but I love Husker Du. Very excited to give it a spin.
Exactly what I expected. Love this. 4.5/5
80s synth pop. About time. Another solid 4.5 rating to an album I’ve not listened to in full before today. Well aware of Talk Talk, but I assumed they were another Duran Duran/Human League/insert New Wave band here clone. I was wrong.
This is unfair. I was brought up listening to Neil Young - he’s my Dad’s favourite artist. Such a nostalgic fave for me and I can’t rate objectively. 5/5 for Neil.
Another album I’m not excited about. Lemonheads are too slacker grunge bland for my tastes. Let’s see if a forced listen will change my mind.
Not as boring as I feared, but won’t listen again. 2.5/5, straight down the middle.
I’ve only ever heard “Lowrider” by Wat. Excited to see what they’ve got!
Genuinely enjoyed my first listen. The Cisco Kid was a highlight. Heard a few samples from this record on hip hop albums. Some space jazz grooves with plenty of funk. Not my usual taste, very happy to be exposed. 3.5/5
The only song I know at a glance is “You Got Me Floating” and that’s because PM Dawn covered it. Generally only know the huge Jimi hits, never listened to a full album. I’m not a guitar nerd. Let’s see how this goes.
It’s fine. You Got Me Floatin’ is my pick. The rest of the album is meh. I guess hippie psychedelic rock isn’t for me.
Those harmonies! Confident piano, wailing guitar…unexpected fave from this project. I’ve been sleeping on Steely Dan for too long.
I didn’t realise I knew half of these songs already. My parents were of the right era, but this wasn’t their taste. My first listen to a whole Steely Dan album.
I’m pretty sure I’ll like this. I was a little too young to appreciate Pavement when Slanted and Enchanted came out, but I remember liking later singles. First time giving it a full listen.
Thoroughly enjoyable pre-grunge fuzz rock. 4/5. Would listen again.
Oh no. Not bad, but not for me. 2/5
Slick production. Never inspired to listen to a Lorde album based on her singles, unlikely to listen again. Fine, just not my taste.
I have no idea what to expect.
Ok. The musicianship here is 10/10. But I don’t enjoy this sort of big band jazz. I would probably love this in a live setting. Too tedious as the soundtrack for my afternoon walk. 2/5 to rate it in line with albums I’ve felt the same way about.
An album I know inside and out - bought the week it was released. Medulla didn’t come out long after Dancer in the Dark - another Bjork album that relied on incidental sounds. I love her approach of relying on vocal instrumentation. Easy 4/5. Deducting one point for some of the tedious moments that come from listening with fresh ears.
Core memory unlocked - bought the videoclip for Oceania to watch on my iPod video
Another nostalgic fave. I love how simple and stripped down the music is. It may seem too basic in comparison to the rap music made today, but it’s an easy 4/5 from me.
I know the title track and that’s it. Excited to hear more from Marvin.
Enjoyable R&B. What a voice! Not something I’ll return to, but glad I’ve listened to more than just the singles. 3.5/5
Not convinced a live album is the way to be introduced to a band I know in passing. I knew the song Kick Out The Jams and that’s it. I know they’re wildly influential. Maybe you had to be there. This live album is not it. 2/5 because this still beats the only record I’ve given a 1/5.
Concerned as I’ve found I’m not a fan of 60s Psych Rock. The name and cover lead me to believe it’ll be filled with 60s Psych Rock. Let’s go…
It’s an hour and a half, 27 songs.
Not bad! Def not as “psychedelic” as I feared. More jangly guitar songs and awkward lyrics. Kinda adorable. I’ll be generous with a 3/5. Won’t relisten, but I enjoyed a taste. Also quickly realised that that the version on Apple Music is a “remaster” so not a full 27 song album. The original recordings (in Mono) then a stereo desk mix run. I’ve stuck with the original recordings. 11 songs of this is totally doable.
FUCK YEAH! The video clip for Black Hole Sun blew my 12-year old brain. Immediately bought the CD single with pocket money. My sister received the album on cassette for Christmas. Tape is harder to skip around, so I’ve listened to this album in full more times than I can count. 5/5 RIP Chris Cornell.
A live album that sounds like love and care was put into recording it. Competent sound engineering! Finally! All instruments crisp and clear. The audience noise adds to the vibe without creating a muddy mess of the audio. I feel like all of the live recordings offered to me on this list thus far have been a pain to listen to.
Not my style of music, but I’m rating it a 4 for that fact alone. Lively. I may not have the Blues, but I enjoyed this a lot.
Not another Psych Rock album! I’m sure they’ve inspired a tonne of bands I do like (Looking at you Dandy Warhols) and for that I’m grateful. Some gems. After a slow start, I really enjoyed the middle of the album: Get me to the World on time, Sold to the highest bidder, Try me on for size… but too many wrong turns on the journey. 2.5/5
Not a Tom Waits album I’m familiar with, but I do like Tom in general.
Tom Waits is Tom Waits-ing all over this album. Love. 4/5
One of my least favourite Bowie albums. It always felt pedestrian. It’s still Bowie, so points for musicianship. Hate hate HATE the cover of Across the Universe. Gotta rate this a 2/5.
No thank you. I don’t generally enjoy Country music and this album had zero redeeming features. I suppose it was well recorded. 1/5
Having a run of music I’m unfamiliar with. Not my jam, but it’s a fun album. 2.5/5
I love A Tribe Called Quest. Haven’t listened to this in full for such a long time, but it holds up. Easy 5/5
Something else from my teen years. My kind of electronica. Fun and easy. 3/5. A few duds but solid overall.
I loved this album at the time. Does it hold up?
Amy sounds fab. Love the Mark Ronson production. I must’ve been going through something at the time, but it doesn’t hit the same way. Still giving it a 4/5
RZA and GZA released my favourite solo Wu Tang Clan efforts. This is a solid entry. Ghostface always performs better with others. 3.5/5
Haven’t listened to this album since a guy I had a crush on recommended it to me in my early 30s. Over 10 years later, let’s see how this holds up.
Had to give the album a second listen. First time I was out running errands. Pink Moon requires your full attention, otherwise easily drowned out by sounds of life. Everything is so delicate. Lovely. No need to add to my regular rotation, but this album absolutely deserves a place on the list. 5/5
Iconic act. Lucky to catch them live a few years back. Such a great album, I left it on repeat while i cleaned the house. 5/5 good vibes.
One of those acts I loved in the indie sleaze 2010s era because they weren’t as pop and polish.
Listening with fresh ears and this album is a product of its time. Still really enjoy the dreamy shoegaze elements. I need to go back and relisten to all of those old Deerhunter albums. 4/5
My favourite Radiohead album. Don’t need to listen to know this is a 5/5
I’m not a person who slavishly follows and enjoys Radiohead. Fell off around In Rainbows, but Kid A and Amnesiac are up there on my personal favourite album list.
We ride tonight!
This was fine. I know they influenced some of my favourite bands. I liked it, but wasn’t blown away.
I only know Rod’s crooning era. This is a rollicking good time. Some blues. Some folk. Slide guitar. Those raspy vocals. I enjoyed this much more than I expected. Not my thing, and I won’t be seeking out more Rod. Solid 3/5.
Violator is a favourite album and I swore I’ve listened to all DM had to offer. I haven’t. I knew the main single and that was it. This is how I like my DM - moody, synthy, dark. Adding this to the regular rotation!
Yereeaaaahhhhhh boooooiiiiii.
Iconic. Influential. Not one of my faves, but I appreciate what Public Enemy have done for rap music. Love the Anthrax collab. 3/5
This project has started disturbing my Apple Music algorithm. Random artists from my previous listens end up in my “radio station”. Most of the time it’s great! Apple knows I’m expanding my knowledge and throws me new tunes from newly discovered faves. But then there are the bad ones. Latter day ABBA. That terrible Beach Boys album. I fear the Flamin’ Groovies are on that list. Not for me. 1/5.
This project has started disturbing my Apple Music algorithm. Random artists from my previous listens end up in my “radio station”. Most of the time it’s great! Apple knows I’m expanding my knowledge and throws me new tunes from newly discovered faves. But then there are the bad ones. Latter day ABBA. That terrible Beach Boys album. I fear the Flamin’ Groovies are on that list. Not for me. 1/5.
Nothing else reminds me of being 20 something than this album. Do I want to go on that trip down memory lane?
Not many standouts besides the three huge singles. The Handshake is good. Don’t mind Future Reflections. 3/5
I have no idea what to expect, but check out those outfits!
They’ve gone all in on “flute”. Wouldn’t say this is truly “Psychedelic Rock”. Hints of, for sure, but this feels much lighter and airy compared to much psych rock. Really enjoyed how clear and bright everything sounds.. Despite some weirdness - is that a bicycle bell? - I enjoyed this more than I had any right to. 4/5
Infamous recording and performance. Amazing artefact. The audience participation adds so much to the listening experience. Do I like Johnny Cash? No. But this album is fantastic.
Oh no. Bland commercial jazz incoming! I did listen to the whole album. Norah has a lovely voice, but not for me. Rounding up to a 2/5 because I enjoyed I’ve Got To See You Again. Handing out 1 star ratings to irredeemable listens.
Orbital sampling Sydney pedestrian crossing signals way before Billie Eilish. Throwback to raves in Uni days and attempting similar sampling techniques in my “audio” classes. 4/5
Liars rock. Amazing to catch live. 5/5
Everyone I know loves Liars, so I wasn’t expecting the bad reviews. Maybe you had to be there in the early 00’s? Was it a Pitchfork thing?
Another classic album from Neil. Know this album well - my parents are huge fans and they played this record constantly. It’s not just nostalgia. This album is seriously good.
