1001 Albums Summary

Not a great start for my first album. Pretty much hated every song. A shame because I like the later Nick Cave stuff I’ve heard. Found the whole thing atonal and can’t imagine ever wanting to hear it again .

I liked this one a lot more than I thought I would, obviously my music tastes have changed a lot since I first heard some of these songs back in the 80s. The music stands up really well and I’ll definitely be putting it on my rotation for a while.

Not surprisingly, nothing else on the album approaches the killer track levels of Take Me Out. A few other decent songs on the album but nothing particularly memorable. Some of the songs grew on me after a second listen, but still not sure the album will make it to my permanent rotation even though the genre is right in my wheelhouse. 3.5 stars rounded down

Happily got to review an album I once owned, back in the days of physical media. Really enjoyed listening again; there are some cracking songs but for me the standout is Scenes from an Italian Restaurant. Other favourites include Only the Good Die Young and Just the Way You Are.

A real slice of history, the Man in Black belting it out live at Folsom Prison. What a voice, what a stage presence. Some great catchy tracks, Folsom Prison Blues and Jackson (ft June Carter) the standouts. Plenty of topical jailhouse material including a few songs penned by inmates, and lots of banter from the great man.

Ok the second listen grew on me and I’m starting to see what all the fuss is about.

Just loved this from beginning to end. Some killer bass lines and great vocals. Hints of Pulp, Human League, The Cure, Pet Shop Boys, Depeche Mode. Definitely going into my rotation.

Never heard of this band before but just loved the album. High energy, catchy riffs, a bit of an attitude. What more can you ask for? I could imagine watching these guys live in some sweaty beer barn, pouring down a few beers and trying to look cooler than I am…

I’m not strong either way on this one. I’d be happy to have it playing in the background at a dinner party or in a cafe but a couple of listens through had me itching to change it up a bit to anything else

Didn’t love it, didnt hate it. Enjoyed getting a taste of 70’s classic blues I hadn’t heard before. Interesting run of cover versions towards the end, all of which were competent but none better than the original versions. I didn’t find any of the band’s own songs particularly memorable or worth putting on any of my playlists. 3.5 stars from me, rounded down.

It’s smooth, it’s slick, it’s technically proficient, it’s just not for me. Would make great background music for a dinner party or focus work session but it’s just too MOR for my general listening tastes.

Another ‘meh’ one for me. Some of the songs were OK and getting a bit more catchy after a second listen. If I had gone through life not hearing this album I would definitely not consider myself deprived.

What a glorious coincidence! A day after securing tickets to see one of my favourite bands, Pulp, when they visit Australia next year, this absolute classic pops up on my feed. I’ve been listening to it since it came out in 1995, a brilliant album full of quirky lyrics and catchy tunes. Common People is one of the all-time great songs, Disco 2000 is a banger and everything else is great too! More like this please 🙏

Nope. Didn’t do it for me at all. Nope.

It’s a big YES from me. Cracking album that gets better and better with each listen. My first exposure to Sonic Youth, definitely getting added to my rotation. Excuse me a second while I slip off and check out their back catalogue .

Sure, old Ray can sing, but these songs are the pits and I’m not sure what I hate most out of the big band backing, the hymnal choristers or the strings.

Beth has a nice voice and the songs were pleasant enough. Didn’t hate it, didn’t love it. Her vocalisations didn’t upset me as much as it did other reviewers. Ok for dinner parties or as background focus music but not one for my general listening rotation.

No thanks

One of my favourite albums from one of my favourite bands. It starts off with three killer tracks, maybe tails off a bit in the middle but I still like the overall song mix. If you like this album, the Bullet in a Bible album contains live versions of most of these songs and is well worth a listen.

If it’s good enough for the cool dudes on the Almost Famous tour bus, it’s good enough for me. Enjoyed listening to this, Tiny Dancer obviously kicks things off strongly, I wasn’t familiar with many of these other songs but enjoyed listening to Elton’s voice at the height of its powers and the piano playing is terrific as you’d expect

Great performance from start to finish. The Bowie cover is amazing and the stripped back versions of No Apologies and Something in the Way are great. Kurt’s voice shines; it’s just so sad to think what might have been if he could have tamed his demons.

Not really my genre. Didn’t find any of the songs particularly catchy. Unlikely to play again.

Not for me. Would no doubt be an experience hearing someone like this live in a jazz club but the record fell flat for me and the songs and arrangements were uninspiring

Some nice hypnotic tunes. I really liked Desire Lines. Happy to have a few more listens.

Didn't love it, didn’t hate it. Enjoyed a few of the tunes on first listen, happy to give it another listen later in the week and see if it grows on me.

Meh, bland middle-of-the-road pap. And WTF was that Steamroller of Love song?

I was very familiar with this album. Played it quite a lot when I first came across it. Some great songs, some so-so. Probably expected I’d give it a 5 stars when I first saw it on my feed, but this listen had me thinking it was a step below some of the 5 star albums I’ve reviewed recently. 4.5 rounded down.

Definitely worth a listen. Would be a great background music track while I’m working or studying. But now I do neither I can’t imagine I’ll seek it out again.

Another album I liked, having previously had a Best Of compilation I was familiar with a few of the songs. The standout songs were Bigmouth, Boy with a Thorn in his Side and There is a Light, no surprises there, they seem like everyone’s favourites. Most of the others are pretty good, a few non memorable tracks. Mozzie’s voice is a love it or hate it type, I’m ok with it for one spin through the album and then need a rest for a while. Marr’s guitar is great as usual, not sure if it was because I was listening in the car but the guitar mix seemed very low. Good listen, would happily listen again soon.

I’m a big Cure fan but haven’t listened to this entire album before. Loved it from start to finish. Very atmospheric and some great tunes.

I thought it was a pretty good listen. Sharp Dressed Man and Gimme All Your Lovin’ the standouts. Wouldn’t be on high rotation at my place but would be happy to listen to it occasionally when the mood was right

I’m on the road at the moment so probably not ideal conditions for listening to this type of album. I think it would be great as a focus soundtrack during work or study, and probably also as a backdrop to a Sunday session knocking back cold ones watching the waves roll in. I could see it growing on me in a Pink Floyd DSOTM or WYWH type of way after a few listens. Sure there are a few freaky parts I could do without but in general I thought it was OK. 3.5 rounded down.

Thought it stood up pretty well to be honest. I used to be into the whole new wave kinda stuff back in the day. My tastes have moved on but I enjoyed this trip down memory lane.

I liked it. Haven’t heard any of it before but the songs are well produced and sound surprisingly modern

Gets a big tick from me. Wasn’t sure after the first listen, mainly Perry’s voice was annoying me. Subsequent deeper listens revealed some great musicianship and some great songs. 4.5 rounded up.

I guess it’s impressive that a 19 year old put this together in 1973 but it didn’t do anything for me.

Abysmal

Not for me.

It has some nice songs on it. You just have to get past the dick singing them.

A couple of OK parts but not enough to salvage the rest of the shouting and dissonance

Further confirmation that jazz is not for me.

I hated this type of music back in the day and I still can’t stand it now. It’s definitely something my bank would play as their on-hold music just to encourage me to hang up and improve their call clearance times.

Thought it was pretty good. Definitely preferred the last few tracks to some of the earlier songs. Would happily listen to it again every note and then. 3.5 rounded down.

Some strong songs including the classic Respect. I can appreciate Aretha’s amazing voice and her cultural impact but ultimately the genre is not for me. Would make a nice background to a dinner party with friends but not the sort of album I’d put on for my own listening pleasure

Another one where I could appreciate the talent and the cultural significance but couldn’t wait for it to end. Not my kind of music at all, and even if it was, 16 songs with same tone and arrangement would have done my head in anyway. 2 stars, sorry Frank, I know you were a god.

I actually enjoyed this one a lot more than I was expecting. Maybe it was because my listening week has been full of dated lounge music and other so-so recordings of various genres. Anyway, I quite liked the sound of something a bit more modern.

Gee I’m not having a good run lately, lots of one dimensional albums from icons of eras gone by and genres I don’t enjoy - Sinatra, Aretha and now Loretta. Again, sure, she has a great voice, but this style of country is just not my cup of tea.

I really enjoyed this one. Marvin’s voice is unctuous. The arrangements and backing harmonies are first class. Hopefully I’ll remember to pull this one out for a dinner party sometime soon.

It was better than I expected, though some parts had me thinking I’d stumbled onto the set of This is Spinal Tap. The piano ballad and the chill instrumental were unexpected. I gave it a few plays through today and liked it better each time. Has me interested to hear some of their other stuff that other reviewers have mentioned.

My first time listening to an entire Led Zeppelin album. I enjoyed most of it and it would definitely grow on me with a few more play throughs. Kashmir is a cracking song.

This was a great listen. Not going to lie, I was a bit apprehensive when I saw there were 21 songs over 1 hour 44 minutes. Great production, some catchy tunes, Stevie obviously can sing and there was a nice mix of styles and tempos (unlike say the Sinatra and Loretta Lynn snoozefests I had on my listen list last week). Bravo, Stevie, I really enjoyed it.

My second Zep album in three days. Thought this one was pretty good too, would definitely listen to it again. A few parts are overly indulgent but on the whole I found it enjoyable.

Haven’t listened to this for a while. Aside from the overwhelming cultural significance, it’s an all-round banger of an album with some great singles and other decent tunes. I was pleasantly surprised at how good some of the playing was when I listened closely. I think I was of the impression that none of the band could play but clearly the drums and guitar work are more than competent.

To be honest I was pretty disappointed with this. The title track is of course an all-time classic and The Beauty and the Beast one is ok. Other than that I found it unremarkable. I’d been looking forward to hearing some Bowie albums in their entirety, having familiarity only with his multitude of hits. Hopefully some of the others on the list are more to my liking

I really enjoyed this one. Had given it a listen a few years ago and was pretty neutral about it. This time around it really resonated with me. Great voice. Sad story.

Would be more than happy if this was on in the background at an African restaurant but it’s not the type of music I’m interested in listening to for enjoyment

Loved it.

Not for me. I liked it marginally better than other rap stuff I’ve listened to.

Plenty of energy from these guys but I found the songs pretty one-dimensional apart from Hate to Say I Told You So, which is a banger.

She’s got a great voice and if piano ballads are your thing, this is for you. Unfortunately it’s not my thing and this album is not for me.

I hate Christmas Carols. These sound marginally better than supermarket muzak.

Really enjoyed this. Sits at a 4 for me on first listen but I suspect given a few more plays through I would be reaching for the 5 card.

I thought it was pretty good. Not sure where all the hate is coming from. Will definitely listen again.

Bought back some good memories of the time I spent in Havana drinking Cuba Libres and smoking cigars. Fun times! Would definitely play this as a backing soundtrack to a themed dinner party. Probably not on my rotation for general listening though.

Pretty solid album. I didn’t enjoy it as much as Songs in the Key of Life. Not really my kind of music but I have to admire his musicianship and talent.

Simply a brilliant piece of work and astonishing to think it’s almost 60 years old. The world is so lucky that the stars aligned to give us to gift of The Beatles.

I can’t imagine ever playing a rap album for my own entertainment so I was pleasantly surprised to find myself grooving away to a couple of the tracks. Much better than I thought it was going to be, which I guess is the power of this 1000 album journey- listen to stuff you wouldn’t normally listen to and give it a chance to surprise

The title song was outstanding and I enjoyed the rest way more than I expected. 3.5 stars rounded down but would probably go to 4 with a few more listens.

Very enjoyable listening. I’d heard some of the songs on radio but never the whole album. Would definitely listen to this regularly.

I enjoyed this on first listen. It was a lot better than I expected.

15 Gunfighter Ballads is 14 too many for this cowboy.

Not really my genre but an enjoyable enough listen. The production was first rate and the vocals as smooth as you’d expect.

Wasn’t quite what I expected given the only song of theirs I knew was There She Goes. Some of the arrangements gave me 1960s Rolling Stones vibes. Didn’t love it, didn’t hate it.

Let’s just leave it at “Goodbye”, Tim. Could not wait for it to be over, then found out the stream had gone back to the start and I got to listen to the first four pretentious, renaissance fair numbers all over again.

Hadn’t heard any of this album before although I’m very familiar with a couple of their more commercially popular albums. Maybe it was the lack of a familiar tune or two but the whole thing didnt really do much for me. I could tell it was Talking Heads but I was wishing for a song I knew.

Bossa nova is not really my scene. Happy enough to have it in the background for a themed dinner party but not for my general listening pleasure I’m afraid

I wanted to really love this album but it didn’t really do it for me. I think it would grow on me with multiple listens

Not a big fan. Stylistically it was a bit of a mess. Some of the songs were ok. Definitely not going on the rotation.

Certified 5 star banger. No notes.

No doubt he’s a supremely talented pianist, but an hour of listening to an improvised jazz piano solo just isn’t for me.

Yeah this one definitely wasn’t for me. I’m not having a good run of albums at the moment.

One of my favourite albums. New Year’s Day is one of my favourite all time songs and Sunday Bloody Sunday is pretty good too. I saw the band in Melbourne when they toured this album and they were electric. More like this one please!

I don’t mind The Kinks, but hadn’t heard any of these songs apart from maybe Victoria. Some of the arrangements were a bit dated and the whole suburban rock opera vibe didnt really gel with me.

You know what you’re going to get with these boys!

It’s a great album. Worth 5 stars for the iconic title track alone, and some of the other songs like Thunder Road and Jungletown are excellent as well.

Certified 5 star banger. One of my favourite albums. Some rollicking good songs - Bottle of Smoke, Fiesta, Turkish Song of the Damned, Thousands are Sailing to name a few - plus the best Christmas song ever written. RIP Shane

THIS IS WHY I SIGNED UP FOR THIS PROJECT! Completely and unexpectedly blown away by this album and this artist. Loved it from the first minute to the last. Have already played it through five times plus had a cheeky explore of his latest album. Just fantastic.

Sorry Charles, it’s not you, it’s me.

I found it a strange but interesting listen. I’m not normally a big fan of the spoken lyric style of singing but after a couple of listens I got past this and just enjoyed the grungy riffs and baselines. Hat tip to the reviewer that pointed me towards the Cortez the Killer cover on the deluxe version.

Loved it! I’m a big Neil Young fan, knew some of these songs from the Live Rust album but hadn’t heard this whole album before. Cinnamon Girl is an all-time classic from the Godfather of Grunge. I also enjoyed Down by the River and Cowgirl in the Sand but really the whole album is right up my alley and will definitely be coming in for repeated listens over the coming week.

Wow these boys go hard. 3.5 stars rounded up for gratuitous 69 mentions. Nice.

Pleasantly surprised at how much I enjoyed this and also in how different it was from the other Madonna songs I’m more familiar with. The Ray of Light song is a banger, testament to Madge’s ability to keep reinventing herself and remaining relevant. Would definitely have this playing at home for a dinner party or for a general relaxation vibe.

Didn’t love it, didn’t hate it. Looking forward to hearing a White Stripes album at some point in this journey so I can compare with this solo effort.

Not for me. Thought it was awful.

It was an OK listen and I enjoyed the familiar swagger of Blue Suede Shoes. Not too many other songs that appealed much to me. The King, of course, has a wonderfully distinctive voice and style. I can understand what all of the fuss was about at the time but ultimately this album isn’t something I’d care to revisit in its entirety. Maybe a greatest hits album would be a better listen for me nowadays.

It’s a great album by any measure and I enjoyed my first listen through of the entire album for many years. I personally prefer The Bends but this is first rate as well. Sometimes Thom is a bit whiny for my liking but generally the hypnotic vocals add to the overall vibe.

All of the whining but none of the hits. Not my favourite Radiohead album but I’ll give it a couple more listens to see if it does any more for me

I didn’t like Kiss in 1976 when I was 12. I sure as hell haven’t changed my opinion now I’m a grizzled 62 year old.

This record deserves its place on the list for its obvious cultural significance and tbh the first couple of songs are still great. It’s just hard to get past Michael’s creepy backstory. PS - Today (Feb 2026) I learned that Michael Jackson’s pet chimp, Bubbles, is still alive and well in an ape retreat in Florida. So there’s one happy ending to the MJ story after all.

Classic album. The live versions of some of these songs on the Live Rust album are also well worth a listen.

Didn’t do much for me. The opening song was catchy enough but the whole album just had me thinking Madonna/Spice Girls-wannabe and not a very good one at that. Sorry, not for me

Pretty good effort for a debut album. Breakdown and American Girl are the standout songs for me. I’m interested enough to go searching out some of his other albums that some of our reviewers have said are better. 3.5 stars rounded up.

The Neil Young songs are the stand outs but I found the whole thing pretty dated and folksy apart from that

Had low expectations but liked it was more than I thought I would. Walk This Way is a banger and It’s Tricky is pretty catchy. Not really my wheelhouse but a long way from the worst album I’ve had so far and would be happy to play it again.

Brilliant album. Harvest, Old Man, and Needle and the Damage done the standouts for me

Can’t really see what all of the fuss is about. Found it pretty bland and unmemorable and not the sort of thing I’d be putting on an home for my general listening pleasure.

I would consider myself a Radiohead fan. Really enjoy listening to their albums that I own. Understanding that I’m sure they are an acquired taste and appreciation comes from multiple listens. I did find this one a bit ‘more of the same’ and as I’ve said when reviewing other Radiohead albums, Thom’s whining can be a bit much at times. I found this one OK but probably would put on another Radiohead album if I was in that kind of listening mood.

Not my cup of tea. Glad to listen to Ol’ Blue Eyes do his thing but it’s not something I would return to in a hurry. The Ipanema song is pretty cool and the various studio sessions of that song that appear at the end of the 50th Anniversary Edition I listened to on Spotify were an interesting listen.

I’m not having a good run of late. Had no interest in this album, not sure what sort of person buys this and slips it onto the turntable for their general listening pleasure. If this is Jazz Fusion I can add it to the list of genres I have no interest in pursuing. Please music gods, something rock and roll next.

Another big nope from me. Fred seems very full of himself. The Sweet Cocaine song maybe gives us a clue as to his creative process for this album. There’s also a song called Faretheewell (Fred’s Tune) which he’s obviously dedicated to the most important person in his life.

Nope. Rated by some on this site as the best rap album of all time. So I guess that means Rap and me are not meant to be.

Big band sounds just aren’t my thing. I am having a wretched run at the moment. Rap, big bands, crooning, 60s folk. FFS give me something with electric guitars before I explode.

Roadhouse Blues is a banger. I enjoyed some of the other songs and it was good to have my first listen of a Doors album from end to end. Heaps better than some of the junk I’ve been served up lately, so I’m rounding up from 3.5 to 4 stars.

I liked this one slightly better than the other Ray Charles one I got earlier in my journey - but then again, I like rap and hip hop slightly more than yodelling, it doesn’t mean I want to listen to either ever again.

Some excellent songs with a couple of filler tracks. Enjoyed listening to this, I’ve heard a lot of the songs previously on their Greatest Hits album but it was nice to hear this one in its entirety for the first time. Also happy to hear an album from my part of the world on this list.

I really like this album and don’t really get all of the hate reviews.

Was looking forward to it, only having a passing recollection of the band. Didn’t do much for me, won’t revisit.

Yes I enjoy this album and have listened to it many times over the years. It was a great album to keep me company when I did my weekly 1 hour walk home from work. I no longer do that wss as ll but I still listen to the album.

Started playing this and was immediately transported back a few years to an extended time we spent spent travelling through Cuba and other parts of Latin America. Immediately reached for the rum and made myself a large Cuba Libre and spent 4 full plays through the album while looking at photo highlights of our trip on the big screen. Was quite a night!

Cars is still a great song and has aged well. The album definitely deserves its place on the list. Was good for a couple of listens through, after that the songs all sounded a little the same to me and I’m unlikely to be revisiting the whole thing for my general listening pleasure.

Listened to this in the car while concentrating on GPS directions do probably didnt give it the attention it warranted. Nothing stood out for me.

Didn’t think much of this.

Yep this one goes hard. Frenetic, fun and ultra-political. Some great songs and some good ones that get catchier with each listen.

Had a few distracted listens. Didn’t love it, didn’t hate it. Will try and have a more serious listen soon. Obviously there’s an Oasis vibe about the whole thing and I like most of Oasis’ stuff so I’m hoping a few more listens will give me more appreciation.

Nope.

Too many horns for my liking.

I’d be happy having this on in the background at a beachside bar or restaurant but not my thing otherwise.

Some catchy tunes with a few nondescript ones scattered about too. I’m not a massive fan of Jack White’s singing, a bit whiny for me. Gave it probably 4 full plays which is 3 more than the dud albums usually get. 3.5 stars rounded down.

Running Up That Hill is fantastic and a couple of other songs were enjoyable but there were a couple of avant garde numbers that didn’t do much for me

I don’t get all the critical acclaim for this album. Bland and uninspiring songs and Elvis Costello’s voice just grates on me.

I’m with everyone else, not sure why there’s a soundtrack on this list. Title song is fine, the rest is elevator music taking you to a cool club

Superstitious is a great song. Not too fussed about the rest.

Some pretty good songs in there. I like the ones where Courtney is less shouty the best. Some good guitar and drum work throughout. I think this one will grow on me with repeated plays therefore rounding up from 3.5 to 4.

I enjoyed it more than the reviews had led me to fear. A couple of catchy tunes but definitely a few shockers.

Yep this was a good one. Didn’t realise most of the Doors songs I knew came from the same album, or that it was a debut effort. A couple of over-indulgent moments and the organ mix could be turned down a bit on a few songs, rated 4.5 but rounded up for cultural significance and general coolness.

Once again I am defeated by the rap and hip hop genre. Pretty much the only songs I liked were the two cover versions.

Fusion jazz is not my bag, man

I thought it was pretty good. I really enjoyed that Motherless Children song. Was surprised at all of the Clapton hate on this site until I did a bit more research and yeah he does seem a dickhead. Rating on the art not the artist.

All time classic and one of my top 5 all time favourite albums. Love the energy, catchy tunes, humour.

I enjoyed hearing BB belt out a few numbers I hadn’t heard before. Some excellent guitar work as well.

One certified all-time banger of an anthem surrounded by a host of juvenile posturing and braggadocio. I get it. You’re Ad-Rock, you’re MCA and you’re Mikey D. And you pull plenty of hot girls and trash hotel rooms and make heaps of money. 2.5 stars marked up for the CCR sample.

1980 me thought this was OK. 2026 me thinks it’s great. Catchy beats and great arrangements. A very good listen.

I was surprised by how much I liked this. Bought back sone good memories of travel through Mexico and South America. Would play it again on the right occasion but probably won’t go onto my year round listening rotation

Certified banger. First listen to wny of these songs and it’s been on repeat for 24 hours +

I found this one pretty inconsistent listening. At times I was thinking ‘this is pretty good’ only to be thinking ‘what the hell is this crap’ a few minutes later, sometimes within the same song. The style seemed all over the place. 2.5 rounded down

I enjoyed a lot of this album but there were a few songs that didn’t do much for me. The Jean Genie is obviously the stand out track.

Liked this a lot. I was familiar with the hits but not the album songs. Will definitely be revisiting

One of my favourite all-time albums. I wouldn’t change a thing. Man there are some killer tunes on here

Thought i would hate it, actually found it pretty good. Kanye is still a dick though.

I was never much of a Zep fan growing up but if anything deserves 5 stars and to be on this list, it’s this album. Some great songs, a terrific mix of styles and tempos, and some excellent playing.

I’ve always loved Faith the song. The album was OK, I found it a bit dated and the last few songs were unremarkable.

Thought it was pretty good. I must have listened to Rumours a million times in my life, not do much this one. Tusk the song is great and I enjoyed some of the others, especially the Stevie Nicks vocals. 3.5 stars rounded up for the Tusk drums

This albums rocks. I particularly like Celebrity Skin and Malibu but the rest was great as well.

Some great Neil songs I hadn’t heard before.

Yep I liked this. It was right in my grungy garage band wheelhouse. Never heard of them before but pretty much every song reminded me of another band of the time, in a good way.

This is a great album that I owned and had on high rotation back in the day. Plenty of hits, and I think the album tracks are pretty decent too.

It was OK if you like that kind of thing. Unfortunately this style of country isn’t my bag. Waylon has a great voice and I listened twice through, but I’m unlikely to want to revisit any time soon.

A bit underwhelming. The title track was pretty good, Fame is OK and the Beatles cover is a stinker. The rest I found pretty unmemorable.

Very nice listening. Another for my dinner party rotation.

A great album from start to finish. I must have listened to it a thousand times in my life. Brilliant.

A few well known great songs, a few I didn’t know that I enjoyed, and a couple of head scratchers. 3.5 rounded up.

Some OK moments especially when the sax fires up. Not a big fan of the vocals. Drumming and bass pretty solid.

Some of the arrangements and lyrical sentiments were a bit dated, but Dusty has a beautiful voice and some of the melodies are very catchy. You can see why she was the it-girl of her time.

Not too bad, some solid songs on there and a few grew on the the second or third time around. 3.5 rounded down.

Enjoyable listen. I like Mezzanine better but this one also has some good moments, particularly the opening track

The best album ever recorded. What a treat.

Wasn’t a big fan at the time, still not really my thing. The singles are decent enough and the sax is pretty cool but don’t think I’ll be revisiting any time soon

Didn’t like it at all. All over the place stylistically with a mishmash of all the things I hate - jazz, overblown horns, funk, drum solos. Nope.

Very nice. I liked it a lot, and despite being. Neil Young fan I didn’t know any of these songs.

This one wasn’t for me. Thought I’d wandered into the set for Spinal Tap.

A pleasant enough listen in the background but not really my thing.

Some nice songs and a few that didn’t do much for me.

I’m pretty sure no album needs more than one gruesome murder ballad. Two tops. Didn’t mind the melodies and quite enjoyed Nick’s inimitable voice, but every time I focused on the lyrics someone was getting their head stoved in with a rock or suffocated with a plastic bag. The Kylie duet is great though. Mixed thoughts on this.

Some nice tunes. I made the mistake of listening while working out. PSA - it’s definitely not work out music. Sad and mopey for when you’re on that kind of mood.

Not a big fan. Not even a little one.

Yes I liked this one. Some nice gentle pop songs and I quite like the vocals. Some of the arrangements were very nice too. Have heard some other stuff by Wilco but not this album. Will definitely check out the back catalogue.

I’m a Queen fan but pretty much have heard their only radio hits/ Greatest Hits stuff. Didn’t have high hopes for this one when I checked out the song listing and saw I didn’t know any of these songs. I was pleasantly surprised, some great Queen flourishes scattered throughout.

Actively disliked this. Hated the jazz piano, sax, strings arrangements.

I enjoyed some of the songs, wouldn’t mind another, more focused listen

Really enjoyed listening to this again. The hits are great and so are some of the lesser known songs. IMHO this has aged surprisingly well.

A couple of decent songs and a bit of trademark Morrissey humour but didn’t do that much for me as a whole.

Wasn’t looking forward to this to be honest, but I found it a surprisingly food listen.

Some OK tunes. Stylistically I found it all over the place, none of the styles particularly appealed to me and I found the arrangements dated (not surprisingly from a 60 year old record I guess).

A few nice songs. Probably more for background dinner party music than something I’d put on for my listening pleasure.

Enjoyed listening to this one. Games Without Frontiers the standout track.

Not really my thing, but at least it was better than hip hop and jazz.

Some nice songs and obviously Dusty has a great voice. I could have done without the over-the-top string arrangements on some of the numbers. A sign of the times I guess but for me it makes the songs feel dated and very old fashioned.

Loved it when it came out and still love it now. Brilliant.

Interesting listen but not one I’d rush back to

It was OK but after having Tom Tom Club yesterday I was probably a bit over this style of music.

A very good album from one of my favourite bands. Best track Knights of Cydonia. 4.5 stars rounded up for the live versions of some of these songs.

Didn’t appeal to me at all

Enjoyed this a lot. The mix is really clear, not like some of the original Beatles monos I’d previously heard back in the day. Some great songs and lovely harmonies. These boys will go far.

Sure Karen has a great voice but tbh I’d be happy just hearing the hits on this album once or twice a year. Don’t need to hear any of the other songs again, particularly the Help abomination.

Not for me.

This is awful.

Nice voice and a couple of good songs; Marlene was my favourite.

The guy was obviously a musical genius but I always found his persona a little offputting. The singles on this album are great, the rest didn’t do much for me and I wouldn’t be in a hurry to relisten.

My old mate Pedro Crabbto (he of the Mudflaps fame) loved this album back in High School and I’m sorry to say I didn’t pay much attention to it. But old man rocker me loves this! 5 stars, Fast & Loose baby!

Banal city. The type of music Mike and Carol Brady would play to unwind after a long family day trip in the wood panelled station wagon.

Not on Spotify, not on YouTube Tube Music, not on Apple Music and I’m sure as hell not going to look any further than that based on the reviews.

Enjoyed listening to these young fellas.

I’m a fan of The Smiths and generally like solo Morrissey. This one is a bit more laid back and down tempo. I found it ok but not particularly noteworthy other than the First in the Gang song, which is a banger.

Enjoyed this one, the hits are great but I also liked some of the album tracks I hadn’t heard before. Lots of genius on the album in between a couple of WTF moments

I would rather listen to fingernails on a blackboard than one more second of this.

200+ albums into this project and this one was the one that finally broke my resolve to listen all the way through every album. It feels like every second album lately is either jazz or hip hop, neither of which I enjoy, and it’s just not worth punishing myself when it becomes clear I actively dislike the music being reviewed and can’t wait for it to be over.

Where do I start with this ambitious project? Well I listened to all 69 songs. Generally found the sound of the group to my liking. Stylistically it was all over the place. The love song dedication to Washington DC was … interesting. Some of the tunes seemed straight out of an amateur music production. The gay rodeo number was out there. As other reviewers have said, a single album of the best 14 songs would be great, but there’s no way I’m wading back through this to pick out some favourites for future listening. Maybe I’ll have a crack listening to a stand alone album from the band or maybe their top 5 Spotify plays. Hats off for the ambition and for the 69 references. And at least it wasn’t more rap and jazz.

Enjoyed this one and will probably be back for some repeat listening and a rummage through the band’s back catalogue.

Yeah, baby! Heaps better than I was expecting.

Not for me

A couple of OK moments but a lot more WTF is this?

Yeah I liked this one, a welcome change from some of the dross that’s been dished up to me recently. Wouldn’t consider myself a big White Stripes fan historically but maybe I need to reconsider.

I found this a bit of a mixed bag. Definitely got more out of it when I focused 100% on the music vs having it playing while I was doing household chores. It’s definitely a ‘pay attention’ type album as distinct from something I’d have playing in the background for my listening pleasure. 2.5 stars rounded down for the screaming kids.

The nerdiest geek on the lamest 90s B-Grade teen comedy would be cooler than this. Trumpets and jazz? No thanks.

I didn’t mind the studio Motörhead album I got in this project but I found this one very one-dimensional and hard to differentiate songs. The audio quality wasn’t great, maybe it was because I listened mainly in my car. Would rather listen to the studio stuff than revisit this one.

Loved it

Big voice belting out some bold songs. This must really have been something back in the day. Bravo.

Really enjoyed this. Thought I’d had my fill of Smiths / Morrissey throughout this project but obviously I was wrong.

Enjoyed this one a lot. Knew the hits but the whole package was even better. Really enjoyed the vibe and unlike other reviewers I quite enjoyed the 80s production sound.

It was ok for one listen but not really the sort of music I’d put on for my personal listening pleasure. More for a background music at an Algerian restaurant or as a killer soundtrack to an appropriately exotic movie.

Didn’t mind the sound and vibe generally but the singing was just awful.

Great album. Not my favourite XX album (the self-titled one gets that nod) but it’s right up there for me and happy to have this on in the background while making dinner or hosting a dinner party.

There was a weird kid at my High School in the late 70s who was into Jethro Tull. I thought they were pretentious and crap. Now after giving this album a decent listen, I still think they are pretentious and crap and that kid was definitely a weirdo. Moral of the story, trust your instincts.

A bit too shouty for me. I’ll try and have a couple more listens. It might grow on me

I could listen to Chrissie all day

I like Radiohead and I like this album. But you have to be in the right mood. It makes a great backing track to a focused work or study session.

If one of my friends told me this was an album I needed to hear before I died and I rushed out and bought it, I would be very disappointed and need to have a long talk with said friend. Pretty standard hotel elevator/lobby/bar fare. Bland and inoffensive.

Pretty standard sort of stuff. Nothing I particularly liked.

I bought this CD when it first came out. Loved it then, particularly The Drugs Don’t Work, then drifted away from it. Another listen as part of this project reminded me how good it was.

Solid album. Enjoyed the voice and enjoyed the songs. Never heard of Solomon before which is quite a surprise given his obvious talent

Really enjoyed this blast from the past. Love Annie Lenox’s voice. The songs are definitely of their time and there are a couple of filler tracks, but in all an excellent listen.

I found this an interesting listen. Would have made an excellent deep study/focus soundtrack. Will revisit when the time is right.

I’m a fan of the band. It’s not my absolute favourite of their albums but it’s still pretty good.

Not really sure what that was all about. One of the reviews suggested it was some kind of Pulp-esque fusion which caught my attention but unfortunately it had all of the bad bits of Pulp and none of the things I like.

Not really my type of thing but it has its moments. Better than I expected based on the other reviews.

Pretty good.

One of my favourite bands and I’ve always enjoyed the album. A couple of so-so songs that would drag my mark to 4.5 but happy to round up to 5 for the memories I have from listening to this on a road trip when it first came out

Definitely not one for me. Too middle-of-the-road, too yacht rock, too bland, too beige. My mate Hoppy and I would argue the merits of this kind of music over several beers in the wee hours of the morning. He loved it, I hated it and 30 years later I’m still in the same camp

Enjoyed it a lot more than I expected after reading some of the 1 star reviews. Sure there are some pretty ordinary tracks but some of it rocked. I’ll definitely give it another play when the most is right.

What’s not to like about one of the great singer-songwriters? Some nice tunes and arrangements. Down by the Schoolyard the pick of the bunch. Interesting to hear the demo version on the deluxe edition too.

It was OK. I liked Old Man Going and Loneliest Person the best. Would probably enjoy more with multiple listens and paying a bit more attention.

One that I used to own. Includes my favourite song Disarm. Really enjoyed this trip down memory lane.

Found it a bit inconsistent stylistically. The two hit songs are great, the rest I found a bit ‘meh’. I’ll try and give it another listen; maybe it’ll grow on me.

Enjoyable enough listen. Probably would have preferred a bit more variety in the songs, nothing particularly stood out to me.

Yes I liked this one a lot.

I’m a big fan of Graceland and obviously plenty of similar vibes with this one. Enjoyable enough listen but probably wouldn’t get on my regular listening rotation.

Not for me. Don’t enjoy the style, particularly the twangy vocal delivery. I heard a few Band songs back in the day. Didn’t like them them, nothing has changed.

Some nice tunes and I enjoyed Fiona’s voice. Would revisit in the right mood.

Liked this one a lot and will return for more listens.

She has a lovely voice but the style and arrangements really aren’t my thing

I didn’t think I was a fan of The White Stripes - but I definitely am now.

A couple of bangers that brought back some long suppressed memories and the rest made a great backdrop to my long indoor rowing session this morning.

Pleasantly surprised to find this an enjoyable and relaxing listen. Liked it a lot more than I thought I would. Really enjoyed the understated nature of the production, and Willie’s voice is magnificent

If I was in Guantanamo Bay and they started playing this I would spill my guts before the end of track 1. Make it stop.

It was OK. I like the storytelling but it’s a bit twee for my tastes.

I liked it. Enjoyed the vocals and the arrangements. 3.5 rounded up

One of my all time favourites. What a talent.

Certified banger. John Fogarty - what a voice.

Not my favourite. Side One was OK. Side Two finished with a whimper. Unlikely to revisit.

It’s not Nevermind but it’s still pretty bloody good. All Apologies is an all-time banger.

This one didn’t do a lot for me. I’ve decided I really don’t enjoy string section arrangements in my popular music.

An interesting listen from end to end, there’s never a dull moment as Beck bounces from genre to genre with enthusiasm and verve. Not everything was my cup of tea but I’d happily listen a few more times.

Thought this was pretty good and will definitely give it another listen.

I’ve never been much of a Hendrix fan. I think the vocal delivery probably rubbed me the wrong way. Was pleasantly surprised with the whole album. Some of the playing is great. I really like the bass lines even though the lead guitar thrashing gets all of the press.

Hard to work out why this is on the list. Pretty forgettable electronica. Would feel right at home in the club scene in Trainspotting where everyone is off their chops. I guess it would be ok as background focus music at work or when studying - but definitely not for my general listening pleasure.

Not too bad. Has its ups and downs. Would like a longer listen.

Really not my thing.

Quite enjoyed this. The singles are outstanding.

Haven’t really listened to much Cohen but I was impressed by the lyrics and song structures. Would definitely give another listen.

Sure her voice is nice but those orchestral and jazz arrangements did my head in. Not my type of music, happy that others get joy from it.

We’ve all been there. Enjoying a quiet drink at the bar when the resident bar fly sidles up next to you uninvited and proceeds to gush unintelligible ravings in an unending stream of spittle filled monologue. You wait for him to stop to take a breath but he never does.

Yep it’s a great album by the greatest band of all time. Such amazing talent and such prodigious output over a relatively short career. Some all time classics on this album, also a couple of cringes like Maxwell and Octopus. Still it’s 5 stars all the way for me.

I enjoyed listening to this one. It’s an interesting back story too.

If I wanted to listen to blues I would definitely give this another spin.

Had its moments but nothing that really stood out or would make me want to listen again. 2.5 rounded down.

A welcome blast from the past, starts off with a bang, tails off slightly but it’s still a great album end-to-end.

It’s a yes from me.

Nope.

None of the hip hop and rap albums this challenge has thrown at me has made me rethink my previous ambivalence in the slightest. The Lovesick song is ok, I was familiar with a more uptempo version than the one on the album, which I much preferred.

Didn’t do much for me I’m afraid

Great album. Really enjoyed it. Marvin’s voice is smooth as silk. Song arrangements were great and each felt different while still contributing to the overall vibe of the album.

Didn’t love it; didn’t hate it. (See what I did there?) I’m sure the lyrics are deep and evocative, but I found the whole poetry-set-to-simple-rhymes thing a bit tiresome after a while, particularly when combined with Leonard’s grating vocalising.

A pleasant enough listen. Probably a killer track short of being a 5 star for me.

Actually thought this was pretty good despite the initial dread about drawing an album from one of this project’s favourite whipping boys.

This is fantastic! Knew a few of the songs but the whole thing is a banger.

I’m like Charlie Brown going in to kick the football off the tee, thinking maybe this time it’ll be different, maybe this hip hop or rap album will be the one that makes me see the light. Nope, Lucy swiped the ball as usual, I fell flat on my face, and once again I’m wondering how the hell people actively enjoy this stuff.

Was good to have a listen to this again. I bought it with a voucher I got for my 21st, probably enjoyed the songs more now than then.

Over-indulgent twaddle. Maybe one decent song. Very disappointing for my first Who album.