1001 Albums Summary

Not really something I enjoyed too much. Not the type of music I usually listen to, so hard for me to say. Production sounds extremely clean. In my only listen through, there wasn't a whole lot that caught my ear or stood out to me. "Look at You Now" was probably my favorite track. Reminded me a little of Talking Heads.

Really enjoyed the music. But upon relistening for the first time in a while, the lyrics are a little rough. It's not so terrible for a single song, but as an album it does get old.

Not First Listen; 4; These are all classic tracks, and Redding sounds so good on them. Really incredible how much emotion comes through in his singing. Favorite Tracks: A Change is Gonna Come, Satisfaction

3.5-4 This is my first time listening to the album and I enjoyed it more than I thought I would. My favorite song is "I know what I know." Has a very clean, punchy sound that I don't think I'm a huge fan of at first, but it really works on this album for me. Also, the lyrics are funnier than I thought they'd be.

First time listening. I enjoyed it well enough. I liked the sound of the album - it was heavy and driving without being overdone. Fun, fast riffs.

First time listening 3 This album was okay? The flute was interesting, and the songs were enjoyable enough. I suppose the variety of the songs was interesting, and I could see it being something I enjoy more on relistening. I can hear the elements of the rock opera/concept album come through.

First listen. I have heard some of these songs before, but never the whole album. Very expansive sounding album, that was more enjoyable than I was expecting. Really enjoy the guitar riffs and the atmosphere of the songs.

Not first time listening. 4.5 I really liked this album. I don't listen to a ton of metal, but have listened to this before. It's a little difficult for me to put this in context since I'm still early in this listening project, but this feels like one of the better (best?) albums on the list. All of the tracks here are great, fast, and tight. I think one of the things that stands out to me is how the songs dont get boring, despite using mostly the same sound.

Not first time listening. 5 This is such a good album and one that I really love. The way that Cash makes the cover songs his own is incredible, and the storytelling in the songs is so powerful. One of the only albums I can think of that gives me chills when I listen to it. The album has a very intimate feel to it, and you can really sense the emotion is Cash's voice.

First full listen, but heard some songs before. 3.5 I actually enjoyed this album. I got this only one or two after getting Master of Puppets, and it's interesting to hear the difference in styles. To me this is a much more fun album, and I can even hear some similarities to later-era Black Flag, especially on the first track.

First listen. 4 This seems like an album I'll have to listen to a few more times to really appreciate, but what's hit me on the first two listens is the emotion and intimacy of the album. Very sparse. Favorite Songs: Blue, California

First listen. 2 It was hard for me to get into this, especially with the first track being Dark Star. I did like St. Stephen and The Eleven, and I guess the "feedback" track was interesting. I also think I'm rating this a little higher after listening to the A History of Rock Music in 500 songs episode about the Greatful Dead, since I think there's some aspects of this release I appreciate more with the context. At first I was leaning around a 1, but it's not really that bad, but it has some interesting parts.

First listen. 1.5 I'm not sure I really get this. It's pretty boring to me, but maybe I'm missing something. It felt like most/all of the songs on the first disc were slow songs, made up of 2 or 3 notes on a synth pad. The second disc was a little more interesting, but even then, just when I thought there was something interesting, it'd lapse into a long lyrical part that I didn't care for.

Not first time listening. 5 One of my favorite albums that I can come back to pretty much any time to listen. This album merges the lo-fi and avant garde with pop elements in the songs. This is what separates from the other garage rock in the 60s. The songwriting is also very evocative - you can almost feel the griminess of the scenes depicted in tracks like "I'm Waiting For The Man," and the frenetic whiplash of "Heroin" is affecting. I can see how this album is said to have spawned and influenced countless other bands. It's limited technical musical demonstration and recording quality gives the impression anyone can do this. At the same time, it's clear that the songwriting and attitude are what helps to set the album apart.

First time listening. 2.5 This was interesting enough and had some fun moments. Bumping this up to 3 stars since this is something I would enjoy while running. While the tracks themselves can be repetitive, at least most of the tracks sound different.

First listen. 3 I enjoyed this more than I thought I would. Fun riffs, fast music. Nothing is super catchy or memorable to me, but it was a good listen.

First Listen. 4.5 Not sure how I never listened to this before. I really enjoyed it and is one I will listen to again. I liked the proto-punk, stripped down sound.

First Listen. 4 I actually listened to this one a couple of times and it grew on me. I liked the organ and guitar with octave effects. It certainly has a heavy metal sound, but is much closer to blues than Black Sabbath. Favorite songs: Highway Star, Lazy, Space Truckin'

First Listen. 3 This was a perfectly fine album. It had some interesting songs in the second half of the album that had a kinda circus sounding instrumentation, and other songs reminded me of John Lennon.

First Listen. 3.5 I really enjoyed this album. I appreciated the motifs that repeated through some of the songs, and liked that there was diversity in the instrumentation and moods of the songs. Favorite songs: La via a 2, Luna y sol

Not first listen. 4 This is one that is really hard to give an objective review. Linkin Park was the first concert I ever went to, and I listened to this album on repeat in elementary and middle school. I do think that the album holds up well enough. Sure, it's not the most inventive or creative album, but I think the songs are catchy enough and it is exciting for what it is.

First listen. 2.5 This was a pretty boring album with shoegaze influences. Most of the songs seemed to follow the pattern of a slow build, swirling guitar chords, then pretty bland lead guitar coming in over the top. Certainly not the worst thing and pleasant enough to listen to, but nothing really stood out.

First Listen. 3 Fun album, sounded like Elton John in parts.

Not first listen. 5 This is the easiest 5 so far out of about 20 albums. I've listened to this record before, but what stood out to me this time is just how deliberate every second on this record feels, especially the bass and drums. And this is in addition to all of the classic guitar riffs. The songs are very powerful and driving, but at the same time very methodical and under control. It's amazing how strong of a record this is without being over the top. And after listening to more music over the years, it's interesting to hear the roots of so many other types and genres of music in this album.

First listen. 3 This album was pleasant enough, but I feel like this probably isn't the most interesting material from Ray Charles. Much of it sounded like other crooners I've heard.

First Listen; 3.5; This album was fun, not sure what else to say about it. Kinda hard for me to put it in context. Favorite songs: (I'll be glad when you're dead) You Rascal

First Listen; 2.5 I didn't enjoy the album all that much, although it isn't terrible. Aside from a few good tracks, I found it repetitive and boring. I did enjoy the production and the instrumentation, but again, nothing really jumped out and grabbed me. Favorite Songs: Win Fame

Not first listen; 3.5; I've listened to all these songs before, but I'm not sure I ever listened through the whole album. One of the things that struck me was how sparse/limited most of the songs are. This isn't a bad thing at all, and makes it interesting how the album still holds up well. And I obviously never listened closely enough, but I also never realized how silly the album is. Favorite songs: Fight for your right No sleep til Brooklyn Brass Monkey

Not first listen; 3.5; While I've listened to some of this album before, I never listened to the whole thing closely. I found it very fun, interesting, and accessable. The different effects and instruments kept my attention, and there's plenty of catchy hooks throughout. This is something I would come back to listen to. Favorite song: Chameleon

First Listen; 4; Really enjoyed this album, and it is something I will probably listen to again. The lyrics are very moving and the music matches it perfectly. Favorite Songs: You Want it Darker Treaty

Not first listen; 5; I really love this album. For an instrumental jazz record, there's a lot of memorable riffs, hooks, and sections. Parts are very lush and dreamy, but then other parts are frantic with instruments all over the place. I've listened to this album plenty and will in the future, and I'm glad that it's on this list.

First Listen; 3; At first I didn't really like this album at all, but it grew on me a little. I'm still not really sure what to think of it. The songs are fun and upbeat, but at the same time, nothing really jumped out and grabbed me. Very funky. Favorite Song: Music of the Mind, Didgin' Out

First Listen; 4; I can tell why this album is catchy and well liked. It sounds good, the songs are well produced and diverse, and Beyonce is obviously a talented vocalist. It's still really not my kind of music though and it's not something I would come back to listen to a whole album, but certainly enjoy listening to singles.

Not first listen; 5; Listening to this brings back memories of college, where I listened to this album a lot. I haven't listened to it in full in quite a while, but it still holds up really well. I remember at the time that this record was still much better than most other electro stuff that was out there. The album is very loud, very abrasive, but is still incredibly catchy. The whole thing slinks and oozes along, while still banging the whole time. Very much and attack and release, attack and release format that builds a ton of tension along the way. Favorite Songs: DVNO, Phantom, Phantom Pt. 2, Waters of Nazareth, Genesis.

First Listen; 4; I really enjoyed this album and this is probably the first of the thirty or so in this project that I haven't heard before but will listen to again. The songs have a very lush sound and epitomize a chill, laid-back sound. The vocals are great and fit the music perfectly.

Not first listen; 4; Gimmie Shelter and You Can't always Get What You Want are obviously the standout songs, but I enjoyed the other tracks much more on this listen than I did years ago when I tried to listen to it. Live With Me and Monkey Man I enjoyed in particular. I think I used to be looking for a louder sound or more catchy songs, but I appreciated the blues and country influences much more.

Not first listen; 3.5; I really enjoy this album. It really sets a mood and is very interesting how they're able to create the mood/image with their instrumentation. There's something I really enjoy about how precise and pleasant some of the music is, and some of it is eerie as well.

First Listen; 5; This is the first album so far (#38) that I feel like is a hidden gem for me. The lyrics are clever and biting and the music is catchy. Somehow, to me, the music feels more "modern" than other Kinks records I've listened to. I also feel like this pulls off a concept album really well. Maybe it's that the subject matter lends itself to interesting lyrics, but the album doesn't sound like it's trying to hard to tie everything together. This is definitely an album I will listen to again. Favorite Songs: Vincent; Yes Sir, No Sir; Shangri-La.

First Listen; 2.5; On first listen, I didn't really enjoy this album much at all. It sounded like most other Irish sounding folk music, but pretty sterile and not very interesting. On second listen, it was a little more enjoyable and I liked some of the folky aspects of the music. Still not something I will probably come back to.

Not first listen; 4.5; Discordant, harsh, edgy, but still really melodic and catchy - I really enjoy this album. The album has way more personality that makes it stand out much more than other albums. One I will come back to more often now that I've given it a close listen for this project.

First Listen; 4; I did not have high expectations for this album. I thought that I'd think it pleasant enough but boring and similar sounding. Having said that, this was much catchier, more diverse, and catchier than I was expecting. This is actually something I would come back to listen to on it's own.

First Listen; 3.5; This was a fun listen. Interesting and fun music and socially conscious lyrics.

Not first listen; 5; Incredible how much the music dances around the same melody throughout the record. By working around the same riffs, it's interesting to hear how the different parts evoke different emotion. While being dissonant and chaotic, it manages to keep everything together.

Not first listen; 4; Great album that really epitomizes the punk/new wave sound. Very tight, punchy songs where the band seems to moving in all different directions but still moving forward together at the same time. Songs are filled with catchy riffs.; One to put on must listen list.

First Listen; 3.5; The music really sets a mood. Melonchaly and a little eerie without being boring. I actually thought this was a good example of a production sound associated with the 80s. Favorite Track: Red Rain

Not first listen; 4; Classic album that has a lot of exciting moments. Angry, aggressive, and with decades of hindsight, it sounds like a little bit of a parody of itself with some of the lyrics. Favorite track: Straight outta Compton

First Listen: 1.5; This is possibly the most boring album I've listened to so far. The songs sound flat, and the guitar leads feel very basic and predictable. Drums also sound mostly the same track after track, and the bass never really does anything interesting. Almost like bad, boring Tom Petty b-side demos. I really don't know how this album is on the list. Favorite Track: Molly's Chambers

First Listen; 4.5; This is my favorite completely new artist and album from this project. Never heard of this artist before, but this music was interesting and fun. The songs reminded me of a lot of different bands, and the opening track and a few others reminded me of some Beach Boys songs: short, whimsical, falsetto singing. Others reminded me of the vibe of Kendrick Lamar, and sure enough he was on one of the tracks as well. Other parts sounded influenced by music from Sega or other video games. Favorite Track: Them Changes I really like the off-the-wall lyrics and catchy hooks and beats. To me this is the perfect mix of technical proficiency with fun ideas. I've already listened to the album a couple times through and it's definitely one I'll come back to.

First Listen; 3.5; This is a really, energetic album. I can hear the sweat on the record. Very raw sound from the performance that makes clear how fun this show is. Favorite Track: Twistin' the Night Away

First Listen; 2; Album was repetitive and not terribly interesting. The singing is good, but the instrumentation sounded dated and cheesy. The second disc in particular sounded half baked. Favorite Track: Ain't no Other Man

First Listen; 4; While this was first listen to the album, I'd obviously heard these singles before. I expected to think that the album was good enough, but not for me, but I actually really enjoyed it. These songs are just so good and have a timeless quality. Favorite Track: Someone Like You

First Listen; 2; Wanted to like this given the aesthetic it was going for, but just didn't do anything for me. No real memorable hooks, music sounds flat as well. And if you're going for this lo-fi production style, I feel like you need to have clever lyrics, which this really doesn't either. Favorite Track: To the Moon's Contractor

First Listen; 3; This is a very diverse and ambitious album, and also fun. I think the more upbeat songs work better for the band. Favorite Track: Enjoy Yourself

First Listen; 2.5; I thought I was going to listen and find something interesting or enjoyable, but I really didn't connect with it. It was enjoyable enough, but I also found it boring, even though I could tell there's clearly good musicianship. It's possible that part of the reason this album didn't land for me is that I got it in the dead of winter on a 25 degree day. This is the first album (after about 50) where I will probably come back another time because I feel like it could be me missing something. Favorite Track: Concrete Jungle

First Listen; 4.5; This was way more diverse and interesting than I was expecting. Experimental in parts, lots of fun guitar leads, melonchaly mood, and upbeat rocking. Manages to balance between fun camp and serious music, and nearly all the songs I could listen to multiple times. Favorite Track: Funeral For A Friend/Love Lies Bleeding

Not First Listen; 4; "Pummeling" is probably the word that best describes this album. Incredibly tight, aggressive, and energetic music. The use of samples and production is revolutionary - it's an impressive technical feat, to say nothing of how well everything comes together. And the lyrics and delivery is powerful but still maintains a smooth flow. Favorite Tracks: Brothers Gonna Work it Out, Welcome to the Terrordome

First Listen; 4.5; Really enjoy how crunchy and punchy many of these songs are. There is a lot of jamming and noodling throughout, but it comes through with enough emotion and effort that it works well. There's also a lot of dark, driving moments that are counterbalanced by a chorus that opens things up and lets things breathe. Can't believe that I never listened to this album before. I love songs that just jam on open chords, and this nails that sound perfectly. Favorite Tracks: Cinnamon Girl, Down by the River

Heard some songs before; 3.5; Not really sure what it is, but this album doesn't do a whole lot for me. After I few listens, I enjoy the songs more and appreciate that there's a little more nuance and variety in the instruments and styles. Also fun every. At the same time, the songs feel a little repetitive within themselves to me. Favorite Track: Out on the Tiles

Heard some before; 3.5; There's so many different elements and styles tucked into this album. Some parts have me thinking of indie/emo, others sound are a little bit Nu Metal. Lots of more straightforward rock songs, as well as ones that lean more towards ballads. The album manages to blend these together without being too jarring. The alternative tunings and thick guitar give a certain smoothness to the songs while still coming through like a buzzsaw. The singles are also still very catchy. Especially because of the length of the album, I think multiple listens will be good to really appreciate it. With that said, I think that they really pull off this ambitious project Favorite Track: Bullet With Butterfly Wings

Not first listen; 3.5; Feel like this is one I will need to give multiple listens. Very poetic lyrics with jangly, charging, folky, rock music. The music matches perfectly with Dylan's rambling style. Favorite Track: Tombstone Blues

First Listen; 3.5; Perfectly fine album, if not a little formulaic at some points. But still enough interesting moments, with some kinda funky, kinda dark, for me to say this is a worthwhile listen. Favorite Track: Boss of Me

First listen; 3.5; This is an interesting album. Sounds very much like the Beatles in many songs. (Mr. Blue Sky has nearly the same piano riff as the second half of "A Day In The Life," and even has a little panting bit.) Also reminds me of the Beach Boys and even Pink Floyd in parts but with a much shinier sound. There's lots of catchy hooks here, but the songs do drag on. Aside from these catchy parts, some of the songs are just so schmaltzy. Favorite Tracks: Mr. Blue Eyes, The Whale

Completely New; 4; This was a really fun listen. More on the Nu Metal side, but I feel like this is a really good representation of that genre. Favorite Track: Straighthate

Heard some before; 1.5; Not really sure why this album is on here. Madonna has some other albums that are much better than this, and this one really doesn't hold up well at all with the passage of time. Feels like it's trying to blend elements of trip hop with other production tools from around the turn of the century. And the lyrics just aren't very good at all. And the tracks based around the guitar are just very plain and boring. Favorite Track: Don't Tell Me

Heard Some; 3.5; Really fun singles and first half of the album, but the rest of the album is kinda uninteresting. I didn't like this as much as I thought I would have. Favorite Track: Mr. Brightside

First Listen; 3; This might be the first album ever where I remember the lyrics and stories but not the songs. There's some interesting little parts of melodies in some of the songs, but then they're never repeated or built on my. Feels like these songs just go all over the place. Favorite Track: Car on a Hill

First Listen; 2.5; Enjoyable album with some interesting songs. Jangly and bright, with a fun new wave sound. At the same time, some of the other songs are pretty plain and boring. Favorite Track: Perfect Skin

First Listen; 3.5; Very enjoyable album. Folky but still very upbeat, bouncy, and driving at times. Manages to sound punchy and aggressive while alternating with soft and gentle. Favorite Track: Miles From Nowhere

Heard many times: 4.5; Really enjoy this album, and the singles and other strong tracks on here are incredible. Not sure how to explain it, but especially on the guitar solos, feels like not a note is out of place or wasted. Very anthemic and rocking/rhythmic. Favorite Track: Alive

First Listen; 3; This just didn't really grab me. Not sure why, and it's one that I'd hoped to like, but I didn't find it catchy or immersive enough. Favorite Track: Aftermath

First Listen; 3; Album is well done and enjoyable. Upbeat and diverse, smooth as well. Something that I could see coming back to for the right vibe. Favorite Track: Quartier nord

First Listen; 3.5; Enjoyable album. Very lush sounds and easy to listen to, but still fun and doesn't fade into background music. Favorite Track: Le Chic

First Listen; 4; Very experimental while still having catchy hooks mixed in with interesting sounds. Some of this is really off the wall, and other parts sound way ahead of their time. I really liked the distorted guitar/bass sound. Also, all of the samples and different effects are interesting and probably wasn't a small feat at this time. I see this being an album I come back too. Favorite Track: The American Way of Love

First Listen; 4; Tons of energy and talent. Incredible how it moves between mellow and nuanced to 10/10 energy. Favorite Track: Festival Junction

Heard Many Times; 4; It's been a bit since I listened through this whole album, and like a few others I've only relistened to after a few years, I feel like I appreciated this album more. I enjoyed the diversity of the album; really like the stripped down, straightforward rock songs, the folkier songs, and the ones that are just strange and off-the-wall. Favorite Tracks: While My Guitar Gently Weeps; Helter Skelter

Heard Many Times; 5; This album combines so many elements I really enjoy: lo-fi sounding production, deadpan delivery, driving, straight-forward rhythm, scraggly guitar, etc. This is all mixed together with memorable, catchy hooks and sweet sounding harmonies and production. Somehow both base and transcendent at the same time. And there is (almost) no filler - every track feels memorable and distinct. Favorite Track: Perfect Day

First Listen; 3.5; Easy and enjoyable listening. Interesting enough that it doesn't blend completely into the background.

First Listen; 2.5; Funny at first, but sort of wears a bit after a while and some of the songs sound the same. Favorite Track: Rednecks

Heard some songs many times; 4; Huge singles with tremendous, heavy riffs. Favorite Track: Sad But True

First Listen; 2.5; About 90 albums in, I would say this is the most boring one so far. Nothing really stood out too much or felt like it had any weight behind it. Obviously music can be quiet, delicate, and emotional, but this just felt kinda mushy, for lack of a better term. I actually enjoyed the bonus tracks with the acoustic guitar demos of the songs. It was really interesting how much more they stood out to me. Favorite Track: Train in the Distance

First Listen; 4; This took a couple of listens to get into, but after I did, I really enjoyed it. The premise of the record is really interesting, and after reading about it, I definitely enjoyed the record more. Has a very primal, strange feeling. Very uneasy feeling listening to at times, but still is catchy in parts. Favorite Track: Hold Hands and It Will Happen

First Listen; 2.5; The first track had me interested - it sounded very lush but still quirky. From there though, too much of the album was too sweet and formulaic sounding. I did enjoy the vocals on some of the tracks, reminded me of Thom Yorke. Overall though, I found it a little boring. Favorite Track: Oh What A World

First Listen; 3.5; The strong and clear singing is what really draws me into this album. Not quite soaring, but very much front and center and very strong. The music is also very snappy and fun, and put together with the lyrics, feels like a great western record. Has a very calm and cool feel while maintaining and outlaw feel. Favorite Track: Big Iron

First Listen; 2.5; For whatever reason, this really didn't grab me. Interesting enough and enjoyable in places, but at the same time felt like the fun hooks and moments were far apart. Favorite Track: Gettaway

First Listen; 2; This really didn't do it for me. I was hoping it would be a little more fun or interesting, but nothing really caught my ear or stuck with me. Also, didn't like the weird falsetto singing. Favorite Track: The Butcher Boy

First Listen; 3.5; Really enjoyed this album. Lots of fun, plucky, dry guitar. Also enjoyed the psychedelic songs and the harmonies. I liked that the songs have a sort of "wandering" melodies - they don't follow what I would think is a typical progression which keeps it interesting. Favorite Track: Have you Seen Her Face

First Listen; 3.5; Well there's a lot of sitar in this. I thought it would get boring after a while, but I actually enjoyed it. It's not like I get a whole lot of sitar in other music I listen to. Fun when mixed with the psychedelic elements. Favorite Track: Metamorphosis

First Listen; 3.5; Very distinct vibe and emotion. Is very delicate yet lush and layered. Brings out a thoughtful and pensive feeling. More than most other albums I've listened too, this very much sets a mood. For the most part this really works. At the same time, I was really underwhelmed by the guitars. It was very basic sounding, and kinda contributed to the sense that this was just a lot of basic music layered on top of each other. Favorite Track: Chicago

First Listen; 3.5; Very fun album. I thought that the novelty of this (for me) might wear off, or that it might become repetitive, but it was fun throughout. One thing that stood out to me was how punchy and dynamic the production was. I suppose that's in part because of the instruments used. Favorite Track: El Cayuco

First Listen; 3.5; Really enjoyable album. Has such an easygoing feeling while still being complex and very tight rhythmically. Very distinct rhythm and drums. Don't know exactly how to describe it, but almost a feeling of someone sashaying across the room. Favorite Track: Desafinado

Heard Many Times; 4; Very emotional and somber album. I really enjoy the open tunings and droning guitar. Decently varied mix between songs in the way that the strings and other instrumentation are used. I enjoy the way there's parts of the song that briefly slip into a major or more upbeat melody or chord, only to slide back to the melancholy. Drake's vocals are very peaceful yet haunting at the same time. Favorite Song: Time Has Told Me

First Listen; 3.5; Really loved the sound of this album in addition to the melodies and music itself. Very dynamic range with the instruments that draws you in. The guitars have a glassy sound without sounding cheesy or overdone. Really enjoyed the grungy, more chaotic sounding parts, and it was a little slow for me in parts. Still enjoyable on the slower tracks but not something that sets it apart. Favorite Track: Mojo Pin

First Listen; 3.5; At first I thought that this was going to be one of those really odd, deadpan, plunky, lo-fi records. But it really picked up and was more catchy than I thought it would be. Really crass lyrics at points, but fits perfectly with the delivery and music. Mixes funk, glam, with stripped down rock and roll. It reminds me of a funkier Velvet Underground, as well as a precursor to Viagra Boys. Not a great album, but one that I would come back to because it is different but still fun. Favorite Track: Blockheads

Heard some before; 3; I actually enjoyed the over-produced, squeaky clean sound. To me it makes it fun to listen to, but at the same time doesn't make it really great. A few standout tracks, but about half of the album doesn't really really stand out to me. Favorite Track: Smooth Criminal

First Listen; 2.5; This just sounded like really basic alternative rock. I enjoyed this enough, but not really anything great. If anything, the rhythm sounded similar between songs - a very basic kick- snare plodding. Favorite Track: The Shining Hour

Heard Before; 4; There's a lot to take in with this album. I really enjoy the harmonies, and even though it kinda has that corny, too-sweet harmonized sound of 70s rock, I feel like I'm able to listen to this album with fresh ears. Possibly because these musicians and this album laid the blueprint for others that did it afterward. Favorite Track: Almost Cut My Hair

First Listen; 3; The guitar picking is what stood out to me most on this album. The different plucks and scrapes give the music a funky but hard driving feel. The other thing that stands out to me is how inextricably this music is linked with the image of a sunburnt, smoke-filled bar. I've always wondered, which came first, and how did it end up that way? Regardless, really enjoyed the album. Enough diversity within the somewhat limited confines of hard/blues-rock with similar guitar sounds throughout the record. Favorite Track: Waitin' For The Bus

First Listen; 3.5; The second half of the album sounded like it had influences from Brian Eno, and sure enough he is on the record. I also enjoyed the drumming and the instrumental tracks especially. I was worried this was going to be a drawn out album that got boring. It definitely felt that way in parts, but was at more interesting and varies in enough parts that I wanted to keep listening. Favorite Track: In the Cage

First Listen; 2.5; I feel like I always want to like New Order more than I actually do. I certainly enjoy the music enough, and the sound/production is fun for an album listen every once in a while, but for whatever reason there's nothing too much that hooks me. Favorite Track: Guilty Partner

Heard Before; 3; I've always kinda sorta enjoyed the White Stripes. This album is fun to listen to. Barebones, stomping, guitar and drum songs. Heavy on the palm muting and power chords. The stripped down sounds conveys a lot of energy, but at the same time, the songs sound a little formulaic after a while. Favorite Track: Fell In Love With A Girl

First Listen; 3.5; Enjoyed this more after listening than I thought I would. Certainly feels a little cheesy, but the music is interesting enough and not just straight-forward rock and roll throughout the album. There's also more diversity in the instruments and rhythm than I was expecting. Feels like glam rock influences along with some prog/synth stuff. Favorite Track: Public Animal #9

First Listen; 3.5; This sounds to me like the most stereotypical 70s heavy metal, with the falsetto vocals, organs, screams, silly lyrics in parts, and so on. And that's not a bad thing, for me anyway. I like the pace and speed of the songs, especially compared to Led Zeppelin. An album I would certainly enjoy listening to again. Favorite Track: Speed King

First Listen; 1.5; Eeek. This is some milquetoast stuff. Singing isn't especially good, music is slow. I noticed the wall of sound effect while listening, and sure enough, most of the album was produced by Spector. And the production and sound is pretty rough in some parts. Favorite Track: Make the Woman Love Me

First Listen; 3.5; Really enjoyed the vibe and ambience of the album, but at the same time, it felt like there weren’t a ton of standout tracks. But when listened to together, I think the sum is more than its parts. Favorite Track: There, There

Fist Listen; 4; There is a lot going on with this album, and I'm really enjoying it. I've listened through it a few times, and there's just a lot to unpack. A big blend of avant garde, jazz, prog rock, ambient music, and others, mixed in with weird sounds and blasts of noise. Although I've given it a few listens, I still don't have a full handle on it. At the same time, I want to keep listening to it to see what else there is, and for that reason, it gets a high score for me. Favorite Track: Out-Bloody-Rageous

Heard some before; 3; Technically good and a little interesting, but doesn't excite me a whole lot. Guitar playing has lots of fun licks, but for whatever reason, didn't impress on me anything memorable. Maybe I need to give this a few more listens, but it's certainly not bad. Favorite Track: Setting Me Up

First Listen; 4; I really, really enjoyed this album. There's an effortlessness here while still sounding incredibly powerful. The instrumentation is also diverse enough to not sound like twangy country music over and over. To my ears, this also sounds very modern and timeless. Favorite Track: Queen of the Silver Dollar

Heard some before; 3.5; Classic sound that I really enjoy. The songs feel punchy and interesting, and while the album establishes The Byrd's distinct sound, it feels a little bit too repetitive to consider it a great album as such. With that said, I really like the songs and certainly something I come back to listen to. To me, this fits the description of an album that is important and important to listen to, while maybe not being the greatest album ever. Favorite Track: I'll Feel a Whole Lot Better

First Listen; 4; There is a lot going on here, and it's a lot of fun. In general, the vocals, lyrics, and eccentric instrumentation reminds me of Brian Wilson. I like the synth leads and warbly effects used throughout. There's tracks that are good and stand on their own, but I enjoyed this as a whole ven more. It moves between discrnible, catchy melodies and weird freak-outs. Feels plenty kitchy and too-sweet in some places, but the quirkiness keeps it in balance and prevents it from sounding boring. Favorite Track: Just Another Onionhead/ Da Da Dali

First Listen; 3.5; Perfectly acceptable to some strong tracks. Sort of folky, easy listening rock. Some tracks stand out, others kind of blend together. Favorite Track: Up On Cripple Creek

Heard many times; 5; One of the classic albums establishing the punk/hardcore sound. Yes, it is simplistic, rough, and immature, but that's what makes it great. And while I haven't factored this into my reviews on other albums, I think it's important to consider the context of this album as part of the DIY scene and how it plays live. Favorite Track: Back Against the Wall

First Listen; 3; One of those albums that I thought was interesting and was worth listening to, but not sure how to rate it on the typical scale. Minimalist noise, avant garde, absurd in may places. But was relatively tuneful on the second half of the album. Reminded me of Butthole Surfers. Favorite Track: Bach is Dead

Heard Before; 4; Gravitas. Remarkable how so many songs with just one, two, maybe three chords can still fun and interesting. A lot of that has to do with the effects and rhythm throughout, and the songs are just a lot of fun in that many of them chug and gallop along, while the ballad-type songs feel emotional with the vocals. Favorite Song: Some Weird Sin

Heard Before; 3; This album hits me as perfectly fine. Not sure if it's one of those cases where the novelty and innovation is lost because this sounds like/influenced what came after it. Favorite Track: And it Stoned Me

First Listen; 3.5; So I got two Van Morrison albums back to back - Moondance and then this. If anything, I enjoy the live songs more, they have more emotion, strain, and punch behind them. Still, not something I ever see myself really coming back to, or necessary in this list. Favorite Track: Into the Mystic

Heard Many Times; 5; No way to objectively review this since it is one of my favorite albums from teenage years. Yes, this is punk, but also mixes in metal and non-standard guitar rhythms. Snarling guitars, fun lyrics, and all around just a very fun, fast album. Trying to describe what makes this album different from other similar records, there's still more of an open sound from the guitar where they're let to ring, and the rhythm feels slightly out of control and unpredictable. Favorite Track: Genocide

First Listen; Really enjoy the funky and laidback mood of the album. I enjoy it more on the funkier/upbeat side, but the slower tracks have their place. Favorite Track: Papa Was a Rollin' Stone

First Listen; 3.5; I'm far from a jazz expert, but to me this album straddles the line between upbeat big band and more mellow, laid back jazz. Incredible musicianship which leaves a lot to unpack. I enjoyed this album, but feel like this is really something where you need to come back for multiple listens and have a little more context in order to fully appreciate it. Favorite Track: Moon Dreams

First Listen; 3.5; This is a band and album I'm surprised that I've never heard before. Right up my alley - lo-fi, driving, punk/new wave/indie sound. I really like the sound of the guitar, distorted, jangly open chords, off-kilter leads; straight-forward drums; and yelping vocals. As to whether or not this is one of the albums you have to hear before you die, I'm not sure, but it's one I really like. Reminds me a lot of Angry Samoans and Parquet Courts. Favorite Track: Preaching the Blues

First Listen; 3.5; Herky jerky and nervous, the first half of this album has an angular new wave sound that is fun. The second half is ambient, instrumental tracks. These are interesting, and while I enjoyed them well enough, there's just something about them that doesn't put it into the "great" category for me. I really enjoyed the first half of this album, and thought the second half was interesting. Favorite Track: Breaking Glass

First Listen; 3.5; I enjoyed this much more than I expected I would. I've never really listened to prog rock, but this (for this most part) did not feel as drawn out or over-indulgent as I thought it might. I feel like it incorporated elements of jam band music I liked while still keeping things in relative control. This was also more aggressive and rocking than I was expecting. In particular, I really liked the bass riffs and playing. An album that I will actually probably listen to again on my own. Favorite Track: South Side of the Sky

First Listen; 2.5; Not necessarily the worst thing I've heard, but just feels very basic and predictable. Feels like a lot of this is noodling around on the pentatonic scale, using brit-pop cliche sounds, etc. It's fun in places and some okay songs, but not something that's one of the 1001 albums you must hear before you die. Favorite Track God! Show Me Magic

First Listen; 3.5; I got two Yes albums (almost) back to back, and I feel like this one is a little more meandering and less punchy thoughout, but I still enjoyed it. Again, was not expecting to enjoy prog rock as much as I did, not sure what that says about me. Similar to Fragile, I enjoyed the bass, the energetic moments, and quirky detours. I don't love the organs and keys, at least not in the doses offered here. Favorite Track: Yours is No Disgrace

First Listen; 3.5; Alternates between songs based on strange loops, noodles, and instruments, and songs that are more symphonic and emotional. Some of the songs feel uplifting and take you to another place, while others are odd enough or include strange/dissonant sounds that leave you a little unsettled. Overall, I really enjoyed this album and found it both interesting and enjoyable. Not surprised to learn that this was produced by Brian Eno. This is the type of album that I think should be included on this list and one that I will come back to. Favorite Track: Chartered Flight

First Listen; 3.5; I'll start this by saying that this is pretty far outside of what I normally listen to. With that said, I actually really like the production and instrumentation, and as a whole, I found the album to be an enjoyable listen. Sets a laidback mood and is extremely smooth. It does feel like there's more here than is apparent on the first or second listen, and something that I would listen to again depending on what I am in the mood for. Favorite Track: Sally

First Listen; 3.5; I enjoyed this album. Felt like there was a lot of blues-influenced tracks and reminded me of the Rolling Stones. I also liked some of the experimental sounds and piano parts. Seemed to start slow but picks up after the first 2-3 songs. I also enjoyed it a lot more on the second listen. Like other Bowie, very glam and funky in parts. Favorite Track: Panic in Detroit

Mostly First Listen; 3.5; Wasn't exactly sure what to expect, but enjoyed it more than I thought I would. It was more fun, quirky, new wavy than I thought it would be. Favorite Track: It's Alright for You

Heard Many Times; 5; I never really liked this album at first. Like a lot of other albums on this list, I didn't really enjoy it or get it. I liked the singles well enough, but thought a lot of the album was boring. Now I really appreciate the harmonies and experimental nature of the songs. It's also incredible how the lush and complex the instrumentals are, and how it feels like every single moment on the album is meticulously planned. Favorite Track: God Only Knows

First Listen; 3.5; Interesting and enjoyable album. Minimalist electronic instruments combined with meandering guitar. Repetitive. Experimental in parts, but at the same time enough interesting hooks interspersed to keep me interested in listening to see where it goes next. This is an album and band I would like to listen to more. Favorite Track: Giggly Smile

Heard Before; 3.5; This is another one of those "classic" albums that I appreciate more now than I did when I tried with previous listens. Favorite Track: Blowin' in the Wind

First Listen; 3.5; This album sounded ahead of it's time. It has a mix of what I would call easy listening, jazz, and folk with interesting guitar interspersed throughout. Also has great singing/vocals. In a non-derogatory way, this sounds like later coffee shop, 90s pop. Favorite Track: Like Fire

Heard Many Times Before; 4; There's so much to listen to and unpack here, and I don't think I've given this album the attention it deserves. There's so many interesting sounds tucked away in every corner of these songs, and I really enjoy the reverb and ambiance of the guitars throughout the album. At the same time, there's still plenty of catchy hooks. Difficult to pick a favorite track, as this really does feel like an album that's best enjoyed as a whole. Favorite Track: Electioneering

First Listen; 3.5; Fun electronic album. Songs are varied, but flow together well. For me, a good album for running. Favorite Track: Block Rockin' Beats

First Listen; 2; I tried to come in to this with an open mind, and was actually hopeful that I would find something that I liked. Unfortunately, I found this album really bland. It seemed like most of the songs went through a four chord progression with arpeggiated notes over top. While I can certainly appreciate the simplicity of instrumentation in general, when it seems to run through similar song structures over and over, it ends up sounding boring. At the same time, certainly not terrible and is pleasant, but there wasn't anything that grabbed me or stuck with me, or anything that I really found interesting. Favorite Track: Long Story Short

First Listen; 3.5; While this is a little slow and not terribly diverse, what is here and what is done is done really well. I really enjoy the lyrics/storytelling. I don't know exactly how, but it is a very affecting album. Very intimate. An album that I am glad is on this like and one I will probably listen to again. Favorite Track: Suzanne

First Listen; 3.5; This was a really fun album. Upbeat the entire time, with really good musicianship. Funky and quirky in places. The album also has a good degree of diversity, which I think is saying something since (for me) this album is in a foreign language. Rather than sounding all the same, the songs mostly have a different feel. Another album that I am glad was included on this list. Favorite Track: Cavalerio Do Cavalo Imaculado

Heard many times; 3.5; This is a fun album, and also an important one that I think makes complete sense to have on this list. It feels pretty corny in parts, but that also is what makes it enjoyable to me. It manages to his really hard while being sparse, which I think is because of the vocals and punchy drum machine. My one complaint is that the album can sound repetitive. Favorite Track: It's Tricky

Heard Many Times; 3.5; I really enjoy this album, and after listening to an earlier White Stripes album earlier in this project, I can certainly see that this is their better effort. The songs just sound more filled out, have catchier hooks throughout. The fat, crunchy guitar sound is distinctive, and I feel like it's mixed much better with other instrumentation on this album. Hard to not stomp when you hear a lot of these riffs. Favorite Track: The Hardest Button to Button

First Listen; 3; This felt like an uneven album. Some parts were catchy and fun, while others were boring and trite. I didn't care for the slower songs or the more country influenced tracks, but thought that it was at it's best in the more straightforward rocking, 1-2-3-4 songs. Favorite Track: Casanova

First Listen; 3; This was an enjoyable listen that was fun/interesting in parts, but also starts to all blur together. Certainly drags on for a bit in parts, but there are enough interesting hooks and parts that make it worth listening to. It does seem a little more concise in some parts than other jam band records I've listened to, but the next to last track definitely wanders. Favorite Track: Who Do You Love (Pt. 2)

First Listen; 4; Really incredible vocal performance. Hard to talk about much else besides that. The backing music, aside from Respect, feels pretty subdued but still good. Favorite Track: Respect

First Listen; 2; Not really sure what to say about this album. It wasn't really my favorite and I felt like a lot of the tracks just ran together. Lack of hooks or sounds that grabbed my attention. With that said, seems not the worst I've ever heard and at least has a smooth sound. Favorite Track: Drew Barrymore

First Listen; 3; Very chill soul/R&B album. I really enjoyed some of the instrumentation. Fun riffs on a variety of instruments. Has a very light and airy presentation, between the vocals and instruments. Favorite Track: Orange Moon

Heard some before; 3.5; This is a very fun album that I feel like is a great example of 80s pop/new wave. I thought I would find this too cheesy or overdone, but it actually wasn't that bad. I actually found it to be a very tight and punchy. Lots of fun riffs and interesting sounds and the album doesn't overstay its welcome. Favorite Track: Money Changes Everything

First Listen; 3.5; Interesting, discordant album. Somehow blends together a bunch of wierd sounds, including the vocals, into something interesting and catchy. Also a good diversity of musical styles and instrumentation, from club/eurobeat to pianos. Favorite Track: Come to Me

First listen; 3.5; Difficult album to listen to, both because of the lyrics and at times what feels line songs that drag on too long. Having said that, after giving it a couple listens, the lyrics make for interesting storytelling. It's a very dark album, but doesn't stray into complete parody, which makes it even more powerful. This isn't an album I would come back to for a good time to listen to, but I think is certainly worth listening to and appropriate to have on this list. Favorite Track: Men of Good Fortune

Heard before; 2.5; I have to be honest on relistening to this album - I enjoy it and can hear how it is an interesting album in some ways. But at the same time, it is a difficult listen and after listening through, I realize that there's not a lot that really jumped out or stuck with me. I think that has something to do with the production - obviously the swirling sounding and buried vocals is part of the style, but it feels like this album is halfway between a more standard sound and a shoegaze style. Favorite Track: Nothing Much to Lose

First Listen; 4; This is just a solid album from start to finish. Incredible singing, varied sounding songs while still maintaining a strong R&B/soul sound throughout. Like with a lot of other music I've found that I like, the songs are very dynamic. It feels like there's a push and pull, an attack and release, throughout each song and the album. Favorite Track: Chain of Fools

First Listen; 3.5; I really enjoyed this album. Unsurprisingly, reminded me of ATCQ. Very smooth, funky, quirky beats and riffs, with interesting lyrics. Something that I could see myself coming back to to listen to for fun, or listening to more of his discography. My one complaint is that it does sound a little repetitive as a whole. Favorite Track: Move

Heard Some Before; 3; I went back and forth on this album. On the one hand, it is technically impressive, certainly aggressive and can be fun at times, and having listened to a lot of different music since first hearing this years ago, I can appreciate that this sounds close to hardcore/punk in a lot of ways. At the same time, the album doesn't really give a chance to breathe or find a groove. While I get this is the point to some degree, it gets a little old after a while. As a counterpoint, Raining Blood gives a little more room for the riffs and grooves to work, has a little more variation, and makes it a much more memorable track. Overall something I enjoyed and something I would come back to when I'm looking for something, loud, fast, and aggressive, but not an "all the time" listen. Favorite Track: Raining Blood

Heard Many Times Before; 4; In some ways, this album reminds me of The Cars self-titled debut that I just got as part of this project. This album is full of songs that you'd think came from a greatest hits album, but they are all from the band's debut. At the same time, this music feels like the "opposite" of the Cars, in that these are full sounding songs with the same basic instruments on every song. But it's all done really well and in a catchy way. The harmonies are great, and the guitars are powerful and solos not-overdone. It's a little challenging to separate this album from how many times it's been played and how that can make it sound cliche, but taking it on its own merits, it's a really well done album and incredibly fun/easy to listen to. Favorite Track: More Than A Feeling

Heard some before; 2.5; Some words I would use to describe this: whack, corny, half-baked. It also sounds like the saxophone player from the Lonely Island song "Sax Man" is on some of these tracks. While not the worst thing I've ever heard, and there are some good tracks, most of the album sounds lifeless and rudimentary. I also appreciated the eerie mood on some of the tracks. Favorite Track: Tainted Love

First Listen; 3; I actually really enjoyed this album. Nothing earth-shattering or groundbreaking, but at the same time filled with catchy songs with good harmonies. Yes, it sounds a lot like the Beatles and the Byrds in some parts, but that doesn't make it a bad thing. Favorite Track: Sunny Girlfriend

Heard many times before; 4; Every track on here is a lot of fun and feels like a classic song. I really enjoy the punchy and relatively sparse sound as well as the fun guitar solos and licks interspersed throughout. Also really enjoy how they make judicious use of synthesizers. They sound sleek and buzzy without sounding corny or overdone. I think it has something to do with how their use compliments the rest of the instruments - they come and go in short interesting bursts. Favorite Track: Just What I Needed

First Listen; 3.5; I enjoyed this a lot more than the first Bob Marley album I got as part of this project. Much more upbeat and groovy songs. The tracks also sound much fuller and have rich sounding instruments. Has a very smooth and laidback sound without blending into the background and getting boring. Favorite Track: Exodus

First Listen; 2.5; Just feels very clean and predictable. It's certainly very technically proficient and sounds nice, but at the same time doesn't really do anything interesting. I can appreciate the instrumentation some, and there are some fun parts, but they lyrics just feel boring. Favorite Track: Floyd County

Heard some before; 3.5; This is another really impressive debut album. Along with the Boston and Cars album I just got, this is another album where I didn't realize all the songs I knew were on a single album, let alone a debut. Extremely impressive guitar playing with simple and fun song structures. With that said, not quite as strong as those other albums I mentioned, with some of the songs being not quite as memorable and sounding a little similar. Favorite Track: Runnin' with the Devil

Heard some before; 3.5; Very enjoyable album, fun hit songs and solid blues vibes. It all sounds very good, with a thick and syrupy instrumentation and production, especially with some of the synths. At the same time, it sounds a little reductive and repetitive. Favorite Track: Waiting for the Sun

First Listen; 5; I'm not sure there's enough good things I could say about this album. But to start, I'm not sure how I never heard this band or album before. To me, this sounds years ahead of its time. I'm a sucker for thumping tom toms with arpeggiated guitars with a warbly, thin sound. Also makes good use of synthesizers and effects - really helps to set an ominous feeling without sounding overbearing or gimmicky. Very interesting guitar riffs as well as vocals that really play around the guitar melodies well. Also really impressive how solid this album is from start to finish. Mostly high energy, pulsing, uptempo, but slows down in place and has some more experimental tracks/moments. Reminds me a lot of Joy Division. After just 150 albums, this is my favorite album that I had never heard or heard of at all. Favorite Track: Halloween

Heard some before; 4; I'm not the biggest Rolling Stones fan, but I've been trying to give them more of a fair listen recently, and this is probably the album I've enjoyed most. Very much straight-forward blues, and done with a very dirty, grimy sound in parts, but also enough variety to change it up and make for enjoyable pacing throughout. Everything sounds very tight, and I also really enjoy the drumming. Not really sure what else to say, except that I can see why this is such a highly regarded album. Favorite Track: Can't You Hear Me Knocking

First Listen; 3.5; At a minimum, it is refreshing to hear a more recent album on this list that is outside the typical genres. I thought this was a fun and catchy album. Synths and music were punchy and smooth, and lyrics were interesting and different (at least to me). Favorite Track: That's Not Me

Heard some before; 3.5; I really enjoyed the diversity of this album, and especially liked the instrumental tracks as well as the hardcore tracks mixed in. A very easy-listening album in parts with the funk, but also still interesting enough to want to listen to it again. Favorite Track: Sabotage

First Listen; 1.5; This is a perfectly pleasant sounding album, but it doesn't do anything for me, and I can't pull out anything interesting from it. Very overproduced, with that 80s gated snare. On top of that, it's pretty long. Favorite Track: Bad News Always Reminds Me of You

First Listen; 3.5; Very ominous music. Has a very sparse feel yet very diverse instrumentation. Really quirky melodies, very tense feeling. It's almost hard to understand how this all comes together to make songs and an album. It feels like every track is doing something a little bit different, and even within songs there's sometimes just barely enough to keep the song going. But I guess when that's all pulled together, that's what helps to give the album it's overall form. A record that I will definitely give another listen in the future. Favorite Track: Games Without Frontier

First Listen; 3; I go back and forth about how much I enjoy this. At times, I really enjoy the vibe and find it very chill and engrossing, other times it feels just a little underdeveloped or lacking rhythm a little bit, or maybe it's that it feels like it hasn't aged as well with the instrumentation? Favorite Track: Unfinished Symphony

First Listen; 2.5; Proto-butt rock. There's some fun guitar riffs in here, has very okay production and sound, and nothing really off-putting (except the last track). At the same time, it all sounds pretty similar and there's nothing that interesting or ground-breaking, and the production sounds kinda dull. Favorite Track: Nobody's Fault

Heard before; 4; Not sure what else there is I could say about this album that hasn't been said before. At a minimum, between Sympathy for the Devil and Street Fighting Man, this album has two incredible sounding songs. And the rest of the album is filled out with great driving blues/country twang. Favorite Track: Sympathy For The Devil

First Listen; 2.5; If I need some sort of unobtrusive background music, this would be a go-to. But in that same vein, there's not really anything in here that stuck with me after listening to it. It's all pleasant enough, but hard to find anything all that interesting. Seems like there is an effort to do something artistic with instruments and sounds that aren't used much (or at all). For example, A Noite Sem Fim has some weird squishy/crunchy synth thing, but it just sounds corny and takes you out of whatever vibe this is establishing. Favorite Track: Tanto Desejos

Heard some before; 4.5; Really incredible lyrics and storytelling set against relatively sparse folk backing music. Feels like everything just fits together perfectly, and there's little folksy/blusey riffs or bits interspersed throughout. And as an album, every song is great. While the songs sound similar, with regard to the instrumentation especially, they all manage to be distinctive. Favorite Track: Visions of Johanna

First Listen; 3.5; This album was really all over the place. After the first track, I had higher hopes that this would be a strong album, but then too many of the tracks sounded like basic Oasis songs or other generic 90s rock pop. Quiet verse, then big anthemic chorus with four chords. I enjoyed the couple of songs that broke out of this, were more aggressive, and a more driving backbeat. I would say I probably enjoyed this album more than it's actually good, but that's a reflection of my taste. Favorite Track: Lose Control

First Listen; 2.5; Perfectly fun, easy to listen to, 90s club music. Some catchy hooks and lyrics, but those are pretty few and far between. The songs set a vibe and some are worth listening to for that reason, but as a whole I don't think the album ranks all that highly. Favorite Track: Back to Life (However Do You Want Me)