161
Albums Rated
2.78
Average Rating
15%
Complete
928 albums remaining
Rating Distribution
Rating Timeline
Taste Profile
1960
Favorite Decade
Metal
Favorite Genre
UK
Top Origin
Critic
Rater Style ?
13
5-Star Albums
22
1-Star Albums
Breakdown
By Genre
Top Styles
By Decade
By Origin
Albums
You Love More Than Most
| Album | You | Global | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Made In Japan
Deep Purple
|
5 | 3.29 | +1.71 |
|
The World is a Ghetto
War
|
5 | 3.35 | +1.65 |
|
Iron Maiden
Iron Maiden
|
5 | 3.4 | +1.6 |
|
Cheap Thrills
Big Brother & The Holding Company
|
5 | 3.42 | +1.58 |
|
Bat Out Of Hell
Meat Loaf
|
5 | 3.43 | +1.57 |
|
All Directions
The Temptations
|
5 | 3.45 | +1.55 |
|
Arrival
ABBA
|
5 | 3.52 | +1.48 |
|
Next
The Sensational Alex Harvey Band
|
4 | 2.71 | +1.29 |
|
Grace
Jeff Buckley
|
5 | 3.74 | +1.26 |
|
Picture Book
Simply Red
|
4 | 2.87 | +1.13 |
You Love Less Than Most
| Album | You | Global | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Graceland
Paul Simon
|
1 | 3.73 | -2.73 |
|
The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill
Lauryn Hill
|
1 | 3.66 | -2.66 |
|
Ramones
Ramones
|
1 | 3.57 | -2.57 |
|
Bryter Layter
Nick Drake
|
1 | 3.52 | -2.52 |
|
Paul's Boutique
Beastie Boys
|
1 | 3.46 | -2.46 |
|
You've Come a Long Way Baby
Fatboy Slim
|
1 | 3.34 | -2.34 |
|
Nebraska
Bruce Springsteen
|
1 | 3.31 | -2.31 |
|
Selected Ambient Works 85-92
Aphex Twin
|
1 | 3.21 | -2.21 |
|
Miriam Makeba
Miriam Makeba
|
1 | 3.19 | -2.19 |
|
Heartbreaker
Ryan Adams
|
1 | 3.03 | -2.03 |
Artists
Favorites
| Artist | Albums | Average |
|---|---|---|
| Pink Floyd | 3 | 4.33 |
Least Favorites
| Artist | Albums | Average |
|---|---|---|
| Ryan Adams | 2 | 1.5 |
| Beastie Boys | 2 | 1.5 |
5-Star Albums (13)
View Album Wall
Popular Reviews
The Jam · 1 likes
4/5
The Jam are my dad's favourite band and this is the album he thinks is the best. I will say I really liked this. I think they have such a way of telling a story with their lyrics, a unique look at growing up in Britain (or England). This album is full of great songs like David Watts which seems to be the viewpoint of just an ordinary guy in school, nothing remarkable, envying the kid who seems to have everything. "English Rose" is a lovely acoustic song, reminiscing about home and that nothing will ever change that. I love the energy of "Billy Hunt" and think The Jam do these high energy songs really well. The one song I knew previously from this is "Down in the Tube Station at Midnight" which is an absolute banger. Paul Weller's voice and imagery is brilliant, and I have to shout out to Bruce Foxton on bass and Rick Buckler (RIP) on drums who absolutely carry the backbone of the sound. The drums are frantic, fast, quick changing. The bass is arguably my favourite part of the album/band. Really interesting bass lines and fills. I'm lucky enough to have seen the tribute act From The Jam with my dad a few years ago where both Bruce Foxton and Rick Buckler were members.
Shuggie Otis · 1 likes
3/5
Quite peaceful sounding throughout and the layers on some of the tracks are really nuanced. Difficult to categorise what this is – there’s some funky songs along with some real soothing, relaxing instrumentals. Not everything hits home though and I find myself wanting just a little more. Some of the compositions are stunning in their own way particularly the 4 song instrumental run from Rainy Day through to Not Available.
Strawberry Letter 23 was great and Ice Cold Daydream which has some great slick guitar work and a lovely solo – I just wish it went on a little longer.
Overall a strange listen where some things landed and some didn't. A solid 3/5 due to some great compositions.
1-Star Albums (22)
All Ratings
David Crosby
3/5
Enjoying the chilled nature of the album so far. Wasn't a fan of the opening track but interesting harmonies and compositions. A soothing vibe to a lot of the tracks and I've been drawn in for the most part.
The Go-Go's
3/5
I can hear heavy pop elements mixed with some punk influences. The simplicity of a lot of the guitar work (not in a negative way) reminds me of punk. The bass work is great and that stood out to me. There are a few interesting riffs and even a time signature shift in "This Town". Upbeat pop/punk elements all through. At times I felt the album didn't switch things up too much but was a relatively enjoyable listen.
Arcade Fire
3/5
An interesting band albeit not my usual type of thing. I enjoyed quite a few songs here (Sprawl I and II, Half Light I and II, Suburban War to name some) but some just didn't quite hit the mark for me. They're a talented group (having seen them live I can confirm) but not always up my street.
Franz Ferdinand
4/5
Love the energy on this album. I know very little about this band aside from the obvious songs, but all members seem to stand out. Great guitar work, but the bass and drums are so on point driving each track.
3/5
For me this was an album of 2 parts, some tracks I thought were brilliant and some not so good. The middle section of the album had a great run of songs - Brainwashed, Australia, Shangri-La. Musically these are really interesting and I loved the energy they put forward in almost chaotic fashion. It was a stark stylistic contrast to some other songs like Yes Sir, No Sir and Some Mother's Son. Great performances and musicianship from all members.
B.B. King
4/5
I wouldn't say I'm a huge blues fan but I love it when it's done well, and there aren't many better than BB King. Just through listening to this live album (60 years after it happened) it's like a time capsule. I can picture BB and his band in an intimate venue (sounds intimate to me) just effortlessly hitting everything on point. BB's voice is incredible and when he wants to shout man is it effective, and LOUD. He has a natural charisma and is just a born entertainer. How Blue Can You Get, Worry Worry, You Upset Me Baby are highlights for me.
Coldplay
2/5
Admittedly I've never been much of a Coldplay fan, but went into the album with an open mind. There were a few okay tracks here, Shiver has some interesting parts (Guitar/drums) and I found Spies and Trouble more listenable. Personally I just can't quite get into Chris Martin's vocals, I generally can enjoy higher pitches but the falsetto just doesn't hit home for me and it is used a LOT. I couldn't vibe with the moody feeling that seemed to run through every song. They're obviously good musicians/songwriters, there's just something missing for me.
Einstürzende Neubauten
1/5
I'm pretty open minded when it comes to music, but this was virtually unlistenable. There was no discernable melody throughout the entire album, just...noises. Sounded like a Hitler rally over heavy, repetitive drum banging and random sounds (drills, metal clangs). Not one track actually sounded like a song in any sense. I had Coldplay yesterday (who I'm not a fan of) and I'd take a thousand Coldplay over this. If I could rate 0 stars I would.
Sly & The Family Stone
4/5
I had a feeling this one would be good and it didn't disappoint. Peak musicianship all round with a clear message being sent, which feels very important and relevant for the time, and somehow still feels relevant today. The title track is great, and I loved the guitar and bass throughout. Pleasantly surprised by the extended instrumental of Sex Machine - that was a whole vibe.
Big Brother & The Holding Company
5/5
Well this album has blown me away. For context I'm age 32 and do love a lot of older music. The musicianship is simply outstanding. The dynamics of so many of the tracks here, never quite knowing where it's going to go. And goes without saying Janis Joplin shines here. I'll admit I hadn't heard much of Joplin (or hadn't heard of this group) but everything here is up my street. The drums are thunderous and keep a ridiculous pace, the bass is solid and shines in its own right with freedom and creativity. The guitars speak for themselves, wailing solos mixed with pure emotion. "Summertime" is haunting and stunning at the same time.
Fatboy Slim
1/5
Perhaps it's just not the genre for me, but I found this repetitive to the point of insanity. I can see the appeal from a clubbing standpoint, but otherwise it just grated on me. Rockefeller Skank and Praise You I was familiar with, but felt a lot of the songs were just too long with not enough to keep it interesting.
The Fall
2/5
I found this difficult to really get into. I will say some of the music was cool (like on Ladybird and League of Bald-Headed Men) but something about the vocal delivery just put me off. I can see it's an acquired taste. Lyrically it was interesting at times, with the lyrics being what appeared as half poetry/half ramblings. Though I got the sense there's some meanings somewhere when I was reading some of the words.
Johnny Cash
2/5
I imagine for fans of Cash this album is probably the holy grail. The problem is I'm not a huge fan, it's just not my thing for the most part. To me, a lot of the songs sounded samey and I felt not much to differentiate between them. I will say that Cash has a good way with lyrics and storytelling in his songs - often with a kind of gallows humour. Cocaine Blues, 25 Minutes To Go, Give My Love to Rose are ones I liked more. Also his version of Green Green Grass of Home was a nice surprise.
The Young Rascals
3/5
I'd never heard of this group but was pleasantly surprised by the album here. I expected a generic pop/soft rock sound from the start but was intrigued by some of the interesting melodies and quite stunning vocal harmonies. I Don't Love You Anymore is a standout, and I didn’t expect the upbeat harder sound of You Better Run. A Place in the Sun caps off the back end of the album very nicely. It was a very enjoyable listen and I'll definitely listen through again. If I could give 3.5 I would but will stick with 3 as a first listen not all songs grabbed me, but further listens may change this.
Missy Elliott
1/5
For fans of the genre this is probably a great album and I can see it was well received when released. However it just isn't for me, not much for me to like here, a couple of tracks were okay but that's it really.
Ananda Shankar
1/5
The guy is obviously a proficient sitar player but I found this difficult to get through. There wasn't enough musically keeping me interested here, there's a 13 minute song (which isn't a problem - I've heard longer) that barely changes up at all. To me a lot of it was random twangs of the sitar just constant, and it did grate on me after a while.
Jeff Buckley
5/5
This is my second 5 star album so far - I, like a lot of people, only knew of Jeff Buckley through his cover of Hallelujah and nothing else. So naturally I was completely taken off guard by this album and the style it went in. To be honest it blew me away and I loved basically every track here. Jeff's voice is insanely good with a massive range, and the songwriting is very raw and open. I certainly wasn't expecting a lot of the alt rock sounds and even heavier sounds sometimes. It really embodies some of that 90s alt/even grungey style at times. I read that he is an influence on Matt Bellamy of Muse, and Radiohead, and I can definitely hear that. This was a fantastic album that took me by surprise, in a good way.
Buzzcocks
3/5
This album is just a big ball of energy. Youthful punk rock at it's purest. I'm not a big punk fan by any means but found myself enjoying more of this album than I expected. Most songs didn't deviate very much from the same formula but it had some more interesting moments, including a surprising 7 minute track with "Moving Away From the Pulsebeat". I enjoyed the frantic pace of lots of the tracks here, props to the drummer and the bass player who I found shone through lots.
Nanci Griffith
2/5
The style here isn't really my thing though I always try to look at positives, in that Nanci does have a good voice and seems to be a good songwriter. There were some very nice harmonies and a lot of softer moments. Overall as I said just not quite for me.
Blondie
3/5
Jimi Hendrix
4/5
The first album I've been given that I have heard before! It's a great one, I'd say probably just shy of the debut but still shows everything you need to see from Hendrix. One of my favourite songs is "Castles Made of Sand". There's such a vibe on this song, and a huge reason I like Hendrix is his riffs not just the flashier lead stuff. "If 6 was 9" is full of psychedelic weirdness and I'll give props to the drummer too who really lends into this sound and can have flurries of franticness where needed.
Meat Loaf
5/5
I mean what more can be said, this is the definition of a classic album. Basically every track is a hit, and the album contains most of the biggest hits Meat Loaf ever released. This is really Meat Loaf/Jim Steinman at their absolute best - nothing out of place, in all it's over the top drama and glory. An absolute rock staple, and simply a must listen album. Aside from the title track - my personal favourites are You Took The Words Right Out Of My Mouth and All Revved Up With No Place To Go.
1/5
Iggy Pop
2/5
Stereolab
2/5
Ryan Adams
1/5
I guess it just isn't my style, but I couldn't enjoy this album at all. Firstly I will say, in general country isn't my thing at all, however I like to try and always remain open minded. I felt too many of the songs here just droned on for my liking and I was just waiting for it to end.
Joni Mitchell
2/5
Orbital
2/5
Though I'm not into this sort of thing in general, there were a couple of things that surprised me. Some songs were very long in length which (I presume) isn't that common for this sort of electronic music but maybe I'm wrong. I also liked how some songs blended into one another. However there just wasn't exactly enough to keep me too interested.
Miriam Makeba
1/5
SZA
2/5
Pink Floyd
5/5
As a huge Pink Floyd fan - a 5 star rating here is a no brainer. This album is pretty much flawless, iconic, and the band are masters at expressing emotion musically and lyrically. Designed to make you feel, think, question. I believe everyone should hear this album once (even if they don't end up liking it that's fine we all have different tastes, but it should be listened to). The production is utterly sublime, all the added layers and extra effects; talking, laughing, to be a fly on the wall during the recording sessions. I could go on all day. Simply a masterpiece.
Orange Juice
3/5
The Slits
1/5
Curtis Mayfield
3/5
2Pac
4/5
So I've listened to some rap/hip-hop but not a lot, I'd heard a lot about 2pac so was interested as to what this would be like. One thing I expected was a more thoughtful lyrical approach and this is definitely the case here. Not the generic "pussy, bitches, money, drugs" themes. Though these themes are present and referenced, it's often from a different perspective. You feel a more personal telling of how one gets into this life and the social political issues that go along with it. As someone not from USA (I'm from UK) and a white man, I'm far removed from lots of the topics here from a personal standpoint, other than what I know through other media and just what I've heard. He gives a different outlook than usual talking about senseless killing and preaching more respect. Musically I found it enjoyable too, great beats and hooks throughout that never really felt too repetitive.
I've seen a couple of reviews here mentioning what type of person 2pac appears to be through various incidents. I'll do my research into this and generally do my best to separate the art from the artist. I'll judge the albums musically and lyrically on their own merit - not based on who wrote it.
Simply Red
4/5
I'm surprised to see so many low reviews. I went into this album only knowing Money's Too Tight To Mention, and Holding Back the Years (which is an incredible track). Mick Hucknall's voice is absolutely phenomenal, he has a lot of grit that he leans into on a lot of tracks here, but it's those famous high wails that really hit the mark and showcase his talent. The accompanying music is filled with great moments too perfectly fitting the vibe of each song.
The Magnetic Fields
3/5
This is quite a task to get through - almost 3 hours is a bit much. A very bloated album (or 3 albums really). I'll applaud that it's a hell of a bold move releasing all of these songs on one record. There were some songs throughout that I liked but the songs seemed to just merge into one after a while. Not enough variety for me to fully enjoy the whole thing. It was refreshing when they changed the vocalist now and again, I just wish it was more often as I found the main singer's voice starting to wear thin at times.
Bob Dylan
2/5
Count Basie & His Orchestra
4/5
A great thing about this challenge is being given things I never would have listened to before. I was skeptical about this but I have to say I thoroughly enjoyed it. Great musicianship on display and something I'll definitely listen to again.
LCD Soundsystem
3/5
It took me a while to get into this album but the style did grow on me throughout. I'm not usually a fan of the repetition that can come with electronic groups - but I'll admit there were a few tracks at the end that grabbed me like Us V Them, Watch the Tapes, and a great final track in New York, I Love You.
AC/DC
4/5
It's easy to see why this is considered a classic AC/DC album, it's pretty much all killer no filler. I know a good amount of songs from these, having been into rock music for over half my life, but never listened to a full album by them. There's a few surprises I've really enjoyed like Walk All Over You, and the high energy Beat Around the Bush which has some killer riffs. They've been called "one trick pony" in terms of their formula but it works.
Pearl Jam
4/5
Pearl Jam are a band of legendary status that I admit I haven't heard too much of. I love how raw Eddie Vedder's vocals are here, the screaming just hits home. His voice is filled with anguish and real emotion. The guitar work is very good here, there's some intricate riffs phenomenal lead work - the outro to "Alive" is really something else. The energy this band puts out is palpable, really heavy hard hitting stuff. This is a great well structured record and stands the test of.time.
Bruce Springsteen
1/5
Supergrass
4/5
Otis Redding
3/5
3/5
TLC
2/5
Bob Marley & The Wailers
3/5
Michael Jackson
3/5
Skepta
2/5
The Streets
2/5
Pixies
2/5
Hanoi Rocks
2/5
Beastie Boys
2/5
Cat Stevens
3/5
Iron Maiden
5/5
Jefferson Airplane
3/5
Various Artists
4/5
Lou Reed
2/5
Brian Eno
3/5
Billy Bragg
3/5
Wu-Tang Clan
4/5
The Charlatans
3/5
Beatles
5/5
Easiest 5 star so far (not including albums on here that I already knew and loved). Obviously I've heard a whole lot of The Beatles in my life, I've never listened to this album in its entirety. I was working my way through The Beatles back catalogue not long before starting this challenge.
I already knew several songs on the album, my previous favourite and may still be is "I Want You (She's So Heavy)". As a big metal fan, it's like I'm hearing some of those elements from The Beatles which is just fantastic. The whole album was just a big trip and the huge medley of connecting songs at the back end is one of the best things I've heard on record.
I instantly want to buy this on vinyl and probably will very soon.
I now have a new favourite album. Thank you Beatles !
Jorge Ben Jor
3/5
5/5
I had no expectations having never heard of this band before. I thoroughly enjoyed this, just a super funky/soul filled/almost psychedelic ride. Amazing musicianship (the bass grabbed my attention constantly). I liked the first 2 songs, but after hearing City, Country, City the rest of the album fired on all cylinders and delivered such a mix of energy and passion that it's basically impossible not to like it.
It's a yes from me
Madness
2/5
The Divine Comedy
3/5
Nirvana
5/5
For a long time I sort of dismissed Nirvana, never really "got" them and was fed up of hearing Smells Like Teen Spirit. So it goes without saying I'd never listened to this album in full, even though it is one of the most famous rock albums with the iconic, instantly recognisable cover. I have to say this album thoroughly surprised and impressed me. The first 5 songs contain 4 of their biggest hits which are still very good regardless of being heard a lot. The rest of the record really kicked things into gear and was a lot heavier than I expected, both musically and lyrically. "Breed" and "Territorial Pissings" are straight up bangers and brought an energy I didn't quite expect. The same goes for "Lounge Act" and "Stay Away" another two favourites of mine. Couple that with the slower "Polly" and haunting "Something In The Way", this is a complete record start to finish.
Slade
3/5
David Bowie
3/5
I am a big fan of Bowie and have listened through all his albums in the past. I personally wouldn't say that this is his best by any means. There are some songs I like. The title track isn't bad, I quite like "Win" "Somebody Up There Likes Me" and "Fascination" and can applaud Bowie for trying different things. I'll stand by that no two albums by this man sound the same which is a feat in itself over such a long career.
Negatives for me are "Fame" which I think is generally an awful track and wildly repetitive. There's something missing on his cover of "Across the Universe" too which I can't put my finger on, perhaps just the style he chose to do it in. Though I will say that's not an easy task to cover that song. Some songs don't quite land and feel like he didn't know where he was going with them.
3 stars as I still enjoy a few tracks here.
Stevie Wonder
3/5
Dusty Springfield
4/5
Ramones
1/5
This will sound similar to other reviews on here - but this basically sounded like the same song 14 times. The vocals I thought were terrible, sometimes incomprehensible. I admit I've never "got" punk and most punk I've heard I just don't rate at all - from the singing to the music. I appreciate some simplicity and the whole idea of the punk movement - but musically for me it's a barren wasteland.
The Yardbirds
3/5
Fela Kuti
2/5
This was a strange one to listen to. The songs felt a little dragged out and too long. I've got nothing wrong with longer songs as a lot of the music I've heard does this, but it has to be done right. This felt way too repetitive in parts and I couldn't really vibe with a lot of it. Ginger Baker is obviously an amazing drummer but a 16 minute drum solo to end is another example of dragging something out. I'll give 2 stars because there were a couple of interesting parts throughout.
The Temptations
5/5
There's really not much to dislike about this album. Just incredible vocal talent and themes in the music. The one song I previously knew from the record is "Papa Was A Rolling Stone" so was glad to see that come up as it's such a great, funky track. The rendition of "The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face" is simply stunning, a beautiful piece of music. "Run Charlie Run" is a great funky track with a good message about racism and prejudice which is significant for its time but also sadly still relevant, especially the line about "passing the sickness onto your son".
"I Ain't Got Nothin" and "Mother Nature" are very soulful and heartfelt that I think lots of people can relate to. Overall I really liked this, and the fact I wanted to listen to it a second time the next day tells me it's worthy of a 5 star.
Neil Young & Crazy Horse
3/5
I've not considered myself much of a Neil Young fan from what I've heard. The album started the way I expected and I anticipated I wouldn't enjoy anything, but I will admit the longer tracks took me by surprise and from "Down by the River" to the end I thought they were all solid tracks. I found myself really enjoying the vibe and some of the guitar work. I take everything as it comes and as I enjoyed about half the album, a 3 star rating is about fair. Not my regulsr style but you can still be surprised.
Tom Waits
2/5
We all have different tastes and what we think is good - this simply isn't for me. 75 minutes feels like an incredibly long time for an album of this nature, and it really dragged. I've heard OF Tom Waits but don't recall hearing any of his music before. This was a struggle to keep listening to, and with all respect his voice absolutely grated on me. Just seemed like drunk rambling with background music. A lot of the music itself is actually good and I could enjoy it if it wasn't for the endless rambling. Just completely not my thing. I've seen people saying there are other Tom Waits albums on this list, I just hope they're better/different to this. 2 stars because the music was actually ok a lot of the time.
Pink Floyd
5/5
A very easy 5 stars for me. Not only am I a huge fan of Pink Floyd, but this album contains one of my absolute favourite songs of all time "Shine On You Crazy Diamond Pts 1-5" - the song is completely flawless and the progression is perfect. I could listen to it all day and wish the song lasted forever - the band is at their peak with Gilmour shining with his guitar work. His phrasing, sense of melody and knowing when not to play are what makes him so fantastic.
"Welcome to the Machine" is a haunting, trippy ride and I'm here for it. There's such a sense of dread that you're not in control and never have been - everything has been decided for you in one or way another - is very eerie. No band can write stuff quite like this.
"Have A Cigar" is a great commentary on the music industry and is so damn groovy and funky, and has one of Gilmour's most underrated solos at the end.
"Wish You Were Here" is the 'hit' off this album that even non Floyd fans will know. Though arguably overplayed it still lands whenever I hear it - and is just a really nice song with a beautiful message.
The closing "Shine On" parts perfectly wrap up with callbacks to the opening track - it really doesn't get better.
The Jam
4/5
The Jam are my dad's favourite band and this is the album he thinks is the best. I will say I really liked this. I think they have such a way of telling a story with their lyrics, a unique look at growing up in Britain (or England). This album is full of great songs like David Watts which seems to be the viewpoint of just an ordinary guy in school, nothing remarkable, envying the kid who seems to have everything. "English Rose" is a lovely acoustic song, reminiscing about home and that nothing will ever change that. I love the energy of "Billy Hunt" and think The Jam do these high energy songs really well. The one song I knew previously from this is "Down in the Tube Station at Midnight" which is an absolute banger. Paul Weller's voice and imagery is brilliant, and I have to shout out to Bruce Foxton on bass and Rick Buckler (RIP) on drums who absolutely carry the backbone of the sound. The drums are frantic, fast, quick changing. The bass is arguably my favourite part of the album/band. Really interesting bass lines and fills. I'm lucky enough to have seen the tribute act From The Jam with my dad a few years ago where both Bruce Foxton and Rick Buckler were members.
Pet Shop Boys
3/5
Thelonious Monk
2/5
This one really wasn't my thing. I'm not that familiar with this sort of genre so perhaps there are other artists or albums I'd prefer, but to me this just sounded like a band improvising and jamming with not much context or progression. I've no doubt the players are all wildly proficient at their instruments but it's not the sort of thing I particularly enjoy listening to. I feel it would work in the right setting (I'm imagining an old style jazz club with a house band just keeping the mood going in the background). Unfortunately doesn't hit home for me in this context.
Michael Jackson
2/5
As absolutely huge MJ is - I've never really been a massive fan of the music much. Even the big hits I feel like I've heard a million times but when I actually listen to them I'm like, I don't think this is that good. That being said, it's not all bad. I've already had Thriller in this list and it didn't get much of a rating from me despite having a few of his monster hits on there. There's a couple on this one so far that I don't mind like "Workin Day and Night" and "Get on the Floor" which does have some great energy, and amazing basslines. Overall I wouldn't say this album has done much in the way of changing my opinion; yes he was a great all round entertainer and is loved by many, but his songs rarely do too much for me.
Bebel Gilberto
2/5
There's part of me that's glad that other genres and even different languages are being recommended because it shows this list is nothing if not diverse. This is something I never would have listened to before. Unfortunately it's something I'll probably never listen to again. Perfectly inoffensive music, nothing that much to write home about apart from a couple of ok tracks. I have to imagine that there's better recommendations than this in terms of foreign language or world music, there just isn't much to say here.
Billie Holiday
2/5
Rush
4/5
Rush are one of those bands that are legendary, often only to those who "get" it. I wouldn't have put myself in that crowd but I have a healthy respect for what they do and the musicianship they exhibit. Two songs I was already familiar with here: Tom Sawyer - I love this track, the drums particularly and the fills are just so satisfying. The other is YYZ which as a wild instrumental full of crazy stops and odd time changes, all members are highlighted here but Alex Lifeson's solo is a standout.
The rest of the album was new to me. I loved the energy of Red Barchetta. There's something sort of futuristic or other worldly about their sound if that makes sense, that I can't put my finger on. The sort of weird synthy sounding guitar lines sound like soaring through space. I feel this on The Camera Eye which may be my favourite track on the album particularly now on my second listen.
Witch Hunt is a very interesting song now I'm seeing the lyrics too. The idea of witch hunt and mob mentality is still ever present today and is something that seems to have always been there.
Geddy Lee's vocals are certainly an acquired taste. They can be hit or miss for me but I can't really imagine the sound without it. 4 stars for a very good album.
The Prodigy
4/5
This was a good listen for the most part. Started out strong, some middle bits I wasn't sure of and can be a little repetitive at times (though that is common for the genre). The songs I liked are generally the faster tempo ones as I felt a lot more happened musically in those. Some of my favourites are Break and Enter, Their Law (which provided a great heavy guitar riff which I didn't expect), Full Throttle, and Voodoo People. I'm fortunate enough to say I've seen The Prodigy live twice (both times with the late Keith Flint) and they really were an experience. Great gigs. The only real downside to this album is it's length (which on it's own isn't a problem but due to the repetitive nature I think it's too long).
Echo And The Bunnymen
2/5
Talking Heads
2/5
I have to be honest - I found this album incredibly annoying. The vocals are just so all over the place. Unique voice, yes, but this isn't always a good thing. Some people may like it and that's fine, but it just goes through me. Incessant yelling, sounds like someone's jabbing him with a hot poker half the time. Random high pitched yelps, even the "normal" parts of his singing voice grate on me. Musically, it isn't awful. I was trying to separate his voice out and just focus on the music in parts and some of it was okay. Nothing remarkable but probably saved this album from a 1 star rating for me, I'll give it a 2.
Prefab Sprout
2/5
If I could describe this album in a word it would be "safe". Not much to say, the music is pleasing enough but without really kicking up a gear much at all. I wanted more from a lot of the songs here but it seemed a little phoned in, with nothing too interesting happening. A couple of decent tracks in "Goodbye Lucille #1" and "Hallelujah" but not much else unfortunately.
Depeche Mode
3/5
Hookworms
3/5
This started off quite well but sort of lost me the more it went on. Quite interesting sounds going on, and I like how the beat built and built during Negative Space. I was vibing a lot but as I said it did wear on me and I feel the rest of the album didn't quite hit the mark. Also, not that there's anything wrong with listening to artists that are very unknown, but I question the inclusion of this album on the list. 4,000 monthly listeners on Spotify, I don't think you could really call this one of 1001 albums to hear before you die.
ABBA
5/5
This album was just fantastic. I’ve always enjoyed ABBA and think they’ve got so many big hits. The vocals are outstanding, particularly from Agnetha – the notes they hit and the power behind it. The songwriting is very good in terms of structuring – a lot of the songs don’t necessarily follow what you think – verses or choruses being extended in ways you don’t expect. Obviously there are some smash hits on this album such as Dancing Queen – possibly their most famous song (that would be saying a lot). Other big hits being and Knowing Me, Knowing You and Money, Money, Money - one of my top picks from the album and from ABBA’s main hits in general. Very theatrical sounding and another great progression. I’ve noticed something they do especially in this song – you’ll get the first bit of the chorus, then it sort of tails off and you think it’s ended – then it comes right back to the chorus again. It’s very clever and almost feels like being tricked. And let’s face it – a very relatable track – who doesn’t want more money right?
My Love, My Life is a beautiful little ballad. Nothing more can be said about how good the vocal delivery is. Full of emotion and soaring highs.
Why Did It Have To Be Me is a great song musically – everything including brass sections work so well together, and is a great example of dueling lead vocals with Agnetha and Anni-Frid.
I don’t associate ABBA with instrumentals but the title track is amazing here – it sounds sort of angelic as if you’re ascending to heaven or something. And I know there are vocals but there’s no words – so I would call it an instrumental.
To sum up – fantastic album. Amazing vocal performances and melodies, songwriting. The vocals from Agnetha and Anna-Frid are so smooth sounding and I feel like I wouldn’t ever get tired of them. 5/5
Jazmine Sullivan
1/5
Everything about this style of music just isn't for me at all. The vocal style, generic R&B beats, lyrics about money, dick and pussy. Just the kind of bratty, materialistic attitudes: man must have money, man must have good dick, treat me like a queen. I mean, literally some of the lyrics say that money makes her wetter lol. Nothing original just to me sounds the same as any other similar artist I might have heard. I am glad with this challenge that we're given a wide range of genres and different eras and things I'd never have listened to. That being said, this is the second album I've had in the last few days where I have no idea how it made the list, because you really don't need to hear this album before you die, you just don't.
New Order
2/5
Found this to be rather repetitive – and what I’m hearing isn’t always that overly interesting even without being repeated. I’m really unsure about the singing here, sounds strained a lot and just not pleasing. Some of the sounds aren’t bad but not my cup of tea. There are better songs for me such as Sunrise – feels there’s a lot more energy here and some cool lead guitar which adds a nice touch to the sound. The drums are going off doing their own thing whilst maintaining that driving beat throughout.
It’s really difficult to move past the vocals for most of this record – it sounds so off key and the actual singing is just not good. It’s just annoying mostly especially the last track.
This has its odd moments but overall just not my thing. 2/5.
Oasis
2/5
I've been very open about my dislike for Oasis for a long time. I knew they'd eventually crop up for me on this challenge. This album was a strange one for me. A couple of tracks surprised me "Up In The Sky" and "Bring It On Down" as they had a lot more energy than basically anything else on the album. However, one constant is how much I can't stand Liam Gallagher's vocals, I just can't. No matter how I try, the voice just goes through me. The weird sort of groan as he holds out every vowel at the end of every line, I struggle to move past it. Admittedly I've never been a fan of any of the 90s Britpop style, it's never been my bag. In the case of Oasis, it's all a bit too middle of the road for me.
Bert Jansch
3/5
The standard folky songs that are heard here generally don't do a lot for me. I have to say there were some nice surprises on this album. As a guitar player, I loved a lot of the guitar work here, with all the instrumental tracks arguably being my favourite. "Angie" features some stunning guitar lines. Overall it's not necessarily my thing but the instrumentals and guitar work make this a 3 for me.
Fiona Apple
3/5
This was a much different album to what I expected. Not that I know much about the artist, but I don’t think I’ve quite heard something like this so far in the challenge. I heard a lot of interesting themes from what lyrics I made out, and I figure she’s not afraid to say what she wants. Most tracks here were oddly structured which I’ll say made for a more intriguing listen; it’s just a lot didn’t land for me musically. From just the one listen it feels the lyrics and commentary took precedence – not that there’s really anything wrong with that – I guess I like to hear more song progression personally. “Shameika” had some timing changes and an interesting piano run that felt almost a bit trippy, repetitive for effect. I enjoyed “Newspaper” and particularly liked her vocals towards the end. She has quite a jarring way of delivering her vocals – the whole record feels like it’s someone writing whatever they want – a uniqueness that I can respect. I’m interested in reading into this album and the themes a bit more on a second listen. For a first listen I’ll say 3 stars.
Alexander 'Skip' Spence
1/5
Keith Jarrett
4/5
This has been a lot better than what I expected. I mean, the guy can play, jesus. The fact that this is all improvised is extremely impressive, and even more so now I've read the story about how he ended up having to use a very poor piano that wasn't really fit for performance purposes. I saw the term "jazz" and expected just a bunch of noodling around being technical but not musical (apologies jazz fans if I'm wrong - I'm not well versed with jazz but this is the impression I can get). However this couldn't have been further from that. It was technically amazing but the way he blends so much emotion into it is very well done. The way he progresses each piece and often sort of dances around before continuing on. In truth this is just a lovely listen.
Neil Young
3/5
I’ve not generally been a fan of Neil Young but one album on here with Crazy Horse did surprise me so I’m more open minded to him now. “See the Sky About to Rain” is a stunning song and I can really dig the feeling. The next couple of tracks didn’t do much for me, but the title track is great lyrically and again I really like the slow vibe. There’s some nice guitar work here. Not consistent enough for me but 3 stars is a fair rating as I did like a few songs and the general feel.
Deep Purple
5/5
Wow this starts out full throttle. I love Highway Star and my god do they blast through it here. Everything on point, but Jon Lord and Blackmore's solos respectively are peak here. Child in Time - well I knew this would be good. Ian Gillan's shrieking is just haunting, piercing. All band members shine in their own right. Ian Paice's drum solo on The Mule holy smokes, the drumkit needs a cigarette after that. Roger Glover is putting a shift in on the bass too - this is credit to the mix of this album as everything is clearly audible. This is classic heavy music in all its glory. I certainly wasn't expecting a Little Richard cover either - incredible!
Blur
3/5
There's something about Britpop that never quite does it for me. A lot of the time it's the vocals, and I've never been a Blur fan anyway. Few songs in and that hasn't really changed...Country Sad Ballad Man, I don't know what some of the vocals were here, not good to me. M.O.R. wasn't too bad and had some good moments.
"Death of a Party" I enjoyed more, this moody feel then got flipped on its head by "Chinese Bombs" which sounded like an old frantic heavy punk song. "Strange News From Another Star" is another surprising track with an almost trippy feel to it. I'll give it a 3 - though mostly not my thing it had some moments.
Magazine
4/5
I'm really enjoying the music here so far - upbeat, catchy, some great little guitar riffs and cool bass lines. "Shot By Both Sides" is my best track so far, and though at first listen I didn't like the vocals I don't mind them on this track. I liked hearing the switch up in styles with "Burst" and "Motorcade". I expected it to just be the upbeat catchy/heavy feel all the way through (nothing wrong with that mind) but always interesting to hear something different. They're both really good songs. Couple of tracks towards the end didn't hit the mark, and sometimes I can't quite take to the singer's voice - but it does work on most songs I feel. I'll give this a confident 4 stars as I really loved it musically. Another mention for the bass because that stood out for me here.
Syd Barrett
1/5
I'm a big Pink Floyd fan, though not as familiar with Barrett's era (I have heard the early albums just not as much). I like Floyd's psychedelic stuff, but this album was a disappointment. I guess I don't really know what I expected as I've never heard Syd's solo work before, but I just found this hard to listen to. Felt like rambling and almost not trying in a way. I understand he had serious mental issues, so who knows what the intention was or what he was thinking. Perhaps you either get it or you don't - and sadly I don't.
Soft Cell
2/5
I wasn't that into this album, most songs just didn't do a lot for me. "Seedy Films" "Sex Dwarf" and "Chips On My Shoulder" aren't too bad but overall not much to say.
Stan Getz
3/5
Listening to this feels like being in South America. Always great to get some more culture into this challenge and there some good songs here. Highlights for me are the female vocals, and the great saxophone work from Stan Getz. All in all this was just a nice album to listen to.
Beastie Boys
1/5
Maybe there's something I'm missing having seen all the 5 star reviews. I found this incredibly grating and annoying. This is the second Beastie Boys album I've had on here and I felt the same with their debut. The voices are just annoying, over the top. Sounds like what I'd imagine a teenager thinking he was a gangster would write. This was a struggle to get through.
Paul McCartney
2/5
Not a lot stood out to me here at all. Just felt rather bland. It had the odd moment where there might have been a good riff here or there but that's about it really. I would have thought an early McCartney album would be better as it's just after The Beatles split by the looks of things.
Miles Davis
3/5
The Sabres Of Paradise
1/5
Feels like if I was tripping hard the music here would no doubt take me on some crazy journey.
However at the time of listening to this I'm not tripping (sadly) therefore it's a 1.
Lifeless repetition which when listened to in the context of "listening to music" not just background noise, just doesn't tick any boxes for songwriting, song progression, or hooks.
Def Leppard
3/5
I enjoyed the first few songs here particularly Stagefright - this had some energy to it that for me was lacking in the rest of the album. I can take or leave a lot of glam metal but it can be done well. I'll certainly give this album a 3 as it's a very good glam album, just got a bit samey after a while. I will say Die Hard The Hunter was more enjoyable.
The Bees
3/5
So another band I’ve never previously known about, but there’s nothing wrong with that. There’s a kind of hypnotic vibe over the first couple of songs, namely Angryman. I hear some indie vibes in the guitar parts but some trippy/psychedelic elements almost.
“A Minha Menina” is such a weird song but I kinda love it. That chromatic sounding guitar riff is so contrasting to how the rest of the song sounds, but man it’s catchy I’ll give them that. So I’ve just seen this is a cover but still, I enjoyed it though I don’t know the original.
There’s some nice songwriting here, I will say at times it’s maybe not engaging enough. Some songs I do find a bit boring and feel left wanting a bit more. But they know how to create an atmosphere when they want to and the back end of the album shows this.
Overall I’m mixed – it’s sort of unique enough in it’s own way, I just feel they could maybe deviate more and offer a bit more.
The Dave Brubeck Quartet
4/5
Shuggie Otis
3/5
Quite peaceful sounding throughout and the layers on some of the tracks are really nuanced. Difficult to categorise what this is – there’s some funky songs along with some real soothing, relaxing instrumentals. Not everything hits home though and I find myself wanting just a little more. Some of the compositions are stunning in their own way particularly the 4 song instrumental run from Rainy Day through to Not Available.
Strawberry Letter 23 was great and Ice Cold Daydream which has some great slick guitar work and a lovely solo – I just wish it went on a little longer.
Overall a strange listen where some things landed and some didn't. A solid 3/5 due to some great compositions.
Antony and the Johnsons
3/5
This is quite a dramatic sounding record, almost jarringly so. Very mournful sounding. Something about the voice and feeling I get is haunting. I’m torn on my feelings towards the vocals – there’s something in the tone that works well but the shaky sort of vibrato feels a bit overused for me. Interesting reading up that Antony is now ANOHNI as they are transgender – it makes the lyrics for Today I Am A Boy very telling and sad too, you can feel some pain from what can’t have been an easy thing to deal with. The album appears to be a sort of documentation of this journey?
There are some nice melodies such as “Spiralling” being a standout. Each song sort of does the same thing though and I find it hard to keep engaged. It’s kind of beautiful in it’s own way I will say – super melancholy, almost gospel sounding at times.
Overall, it’s not completely to my taste but there’s nothing wrong with that – for better or worse this challenge is bringing up things I’d never have listened to before and I never know what to expect. The voice is hard to stick with for the whole thing. However there are some beautifully written pieces also, and it feels personal and real.
Van Halen
4/5
The album kicks off with arguably the most recognisable synth intro ever recorded – Jump, along with this being one of if not their most popular track. It’s an absolute classic and it would be hard not to enjoy it even if it has been overplayed. It makes you wanna dance, while still being rocky enough with some cool guitar riffs in the pre chorus. The middle section of the song is where it shines though, a shorter yet still great guitar solo from EVH, followed by my favourite part which is the synth solo section. The entire song shifts for this bridge before returning to that synth riff again.
Straight into Panama which again is one of their biggest and most known songs. A much punchier, driving track than the previous. Another one that’s hard not to enjoy, slick riffs and a wild virtuoso solo.
“Top Jimmy” I hadn’t heard before – man EVH is just on top form again. Fast changing riffs again and some good use of harmonics on the quieter section. He doesn’t waste a single second as he crams as much into the riffs as possible.
Hot For Teacher – an absolutely phenomenal track. From the killer drum intro (not to mention the drums throughout the entire song actually) to that lush opening solo – a masterclass in tapping and legato. The pace absolutely doesn’t let up for the majority here. EVH on fire as always with a great main riff driving along. It also has some of my favourite David Lee Roth vocals – great falsetto use and I don’t think anyone could deliver the lines like he does.
Girl Gone Bad and House of Pain keep that energy going – both great tracks.
Overall a 4/5 for me – I don’t give 5/5 too easily but this wasn’t far off.
Pink Floyd
3/5
Primarily I’m more a fan of Floyd’s “popular” era from Dark Side onwards, and I haven’t listened to the earlier albums in quite a while. The opening track Astronomy Divine is a great intro into the psychedelic minds of early Floyd and Syd Barrett. There’s a real atmosphere they can create (which is usually the case), lots of crashes and eerie melodies.
Pow R. Toc H has a slow build throughout with the textbook mad laughter – makes you feel like you’re in the mind of a madman (which isn’t too far off the mark when you consider Syd Barrett’s history). A lot of tracks aren’t “traditional” and can make for some strange listening.
After listening again for the first time in years – I’ve deduced that I’m not overly keen on Barrett’s vocals. By the end of the album I was getting a bit weary of them. I know he’s an integral part of Floyd’s history, but having also heard his solo album recently on this challenge – I’m not a huge fan. And as much of a Floyd fan I am, some of their earlier albums are harder to listen to – though if tripping hard they’re probably great, next trip I may try it lol.
Lots of Floyd albums I’d give 5/5 (and have done on this challenge) however this for me is 3/5.
The Monkees
3/5
I only really know the big hits by the Monkees so wasn’t fully sure what to expect. Starting off with You Told Me, I’m getting early Beatles vibes a lot here, I guess they’re around the same era. There’s some really nice melodies and vocal harmonies shown here such as “I’ll Spend My Life With You”. Thematically it doesn’t deviate too much from the love song/broken heart topics which often is the only thing bands used to sing about (I mentioned early Beatles who are an example of this, until they really progressed later on).
It’s nice to hear the slightly slower paced “Shades of Gray” which is a little more ballad-like. Nice piano lines featured here, and lyrics I think everyone can relate to.
Though there are quite a few nice songs here – it’s not quite doing enough different for me. Notable tracks for me: Shades of Gray, You Just May Be The One, No Time.
Gang Of Four
2/5
This is difficult to place or categorise. Natural’s Not In It had some cool guitar riffs. Vocals are a bit odd for me but I guess it kinda suits the style.
I like the bass work here – it’s keeping the beat driving but with a lot of nice fills thrown in, especially on Damaged Goods.
Some great riffs in Return the Gift but a little too repetitive for me.
There’s a lot that’s jarring about some of the sections and guitar riffs (a lot of it is loud scratches cutting through) which isn’t exactly pleasant (I know this may just be the genre and I can see the use of this for effect) but doesn’t land for me most of the time.
Arcade Fire
2/5
The Crusaders
4/5
Ryan Adams
2/5
Arctic Monkeys
4/5
This has that raw, first album sound. Musically it’s great all round, great riffs, bass, drums, and all round energy. Alex Turner’s vocals probably aren’t for everyone but I think it’s perfectly suited. The strong unmistakable north England accent is perfect for the stories he’s telling. There’s an honest realism in how he describes the sleazy, dirty British nightlife experience that is relatable to anyone growing up here. He’s startlingly accurate in descriptions of men trying to pull and calling out exactly what he sees.
I haven’t listened to this album for quite a long time and it’s as good as I remember. The songwriting is a mix of slow intricate sections, and lightning fast tempos and heavy riffs, switching almost constantly.
One of my top Arctic Monkey tracks has always been When The Sun Goes Down which has a real dark music video featuring Stephen Graham at his best (or worst) playing a horrible character.
4/5
Lupe Fiasco
2/5
The Jon Spencer Blues Explosion
2/5
LL Cool J
2/5
The White Stripes
4/5
Ice Cube
3/5
Ramblin' Jack Elliott
1/5
David Bowie
2/5
I am a fan of Bowie, but I will admit I find him to be hit and miss. This album for me is certainly not his best work. Yes it has the smash hit title track but there's little else of note for me sadly.
Lauryn Hill
1/5
Arcade Fire
2/5
This is my third Arcade Fire album on here, and my opinion hasn't changed that much. They're not bad - but there’s just something missing for me and I can't really place it. Not a huge fan of the guys voice, and a lot of the tracks I don't find that interesting. The Suburbs is my favourite AF album out of the 3. This has a couple of songs I didn't mind like Ocean of Noise, and The Well and the Lighthouse.
2/5
Elvis Costello & The Attractions
3/5
Joy Division
4/5
I’ve heard this album before but a long time ago so it definitely needed a refresh in my mind. I hear so many different styles here, Ian Curtis’ low voice and some of the slow pace reminds me of Jim Morrison/The Doors, but “Day of the Lords” has a doomy heavy feel, which continues on “Candidate” which has a super trippy vibe and I’m here for it. I love music like this – you feel that the person in the song is losing their mind and you are too, questioning everything. I have to say I love the imperfections in his voice you can often hear when he starts shou9ng and putting more power in. There’s a strange sort of cadence that just feels raw and real.
Though I’m much too young to have been around to see these in concert (I wasn’t born until 1993) I’ve been to see Peter Hook and the Light with my dad where they played this album in full plus New Order stuff. It was absolutely fantastic and I’d highly recommend.
Malcolm McLaren
1/5
This album felt very disjointed to me...hard to really explain it was just...not good.
Buena Vista Social Club
3/5
A few songs sound like they’re straight out of Breaking Bad/Better Call Saul and I mean that complimentary. The music in those shows is fantastic and this really does remind me of it – not every song but a few towards the start of the album. This may be the best non-English speaking album I’ve had so far.
Funkadelic
4/5
Didn’t know what to expect going into this (other than, y’know, funk). That first track is a bit of a ride, the guitar solo and the tone is insane and I think the first half works better but slightly drops off the more it goes on, may just be a tad too long. The solo is utterly excellent though, raw emotion on display.
Super Stupid is a damn hell of a song, fantastic guitar work, love the drums and energy in the rhythm.
I definitely wanna check out more by this band.
Aphex Twin
1/5
This is basically what I expected. In my opinion: lifeless and uninteresting. Same beats and sounds repeated for what feels like FOREVER and nothing really stands out at all. If I was tripping I think I'd enjoy it.
Maybe it's just that this style isn't for me, but I just don't get it.
Flamin' Groovies
3/5
Paul Simon
1/5
Sigur Rós
3/5
I’ve heard of Sigur Ros for a long time now but admittedly have never listened to them. I had a rough idea of the type of music they’re known for but I’m two tracks in and can see why they’re renowned. The music is soft but also HUGE at the same time, there’s these lush background layers filling every space. Ethereal. There’s a couple of parts in Starálfur that sound...angelic. Like I’m on my way to the Pearly Gates themselves (I’m not religious btw but that’s what it made me feel lol). My only gripe so far is some of the singing – it’s a great voice don’t get me wrong just some of the way he sings I’m not sure of. Some songs I prefer it to others.
I’m torn on my feelings about this – musically it is incredible in its own way there’s no doubt. I have to say I did find my interest waning as it went on. The ambient nature can be an acquired taste, and there’s some ambient music I’ve listened to before that I really like. I guess sometimes it hits you right and sometimes it doesn’t. I could probably listen to this album on another day and feel much different.
The Sensational Alex Harvey Band
4/5
This was wild to say the least. I'll be honest I wasn't sure what the next song was gonna sound like as they're all quite different from each other. "Swampsnake" is straight up rock, Gang Bang is super repetitive and shows off the weird and wild vocals this guy has got. "The Faith Healer" was a big surprise, that's a hell of a track and I absolutely loved the sort of proggy-ish trippiness of it.
The title track is the strangest song I've heard in a long time, the weird vocals are off the chart - super dark and uncomfortable subject matter too, wasn't expecting this.
I have to say I did really enjoy this for the most part, there's some great stuff musically and high energy songs. 4/5
Marvin Gaye
3/5
Jean-Michel Jarre
2/5
I'm sure this guy is very talented, however I did expect something more. The album just felt like a whole load of nothing - like a huge buildup for something that never comes.
Queen
5/5
Finally my first Queen album of this challenge! (I assume there’ll be more). A fantastic album to be given – Queen doing what they do best; mixing heavy, catchy, theatrics, emotion, all in one. Not enough can be said about this iconic pairing of 4 top class musicians. Opening with the heavy thump of Death On Two Legs, with some great guitar work from Brian May, followed by the wildly unique Lazing On A Sunday Afternoon which only Freddie Mercury could pull off, let’s be honest.
The songwriting is just so good here, every song feels different from the last but quintessentially Queen. It feels they can simply do whatever the hell they want and it works. The vocal layering and harmonies are majestic – particularly that mid section of The Prophet’s Song – my god. Absolute peak.
Arguably my favourite track is Love of my Life – I firmly believe this is one of the most beautiful songs ever written.
And yes we have Bohemian Rhapsody. Some would say it’s maybe overplayed/overheard, however it really is an outstanding song and fully deserves its recognition.
5/5. Can’t wait for my next Queen
Pretenders
4/5
Quite enjoying the energy shown here – there’s some great tracks. The Wait has some good riffs and guitar work, and Space Invader gives us a cool instrumental which I didn’t expect. Chrissie Hynde’s voice can be an acquired taste but it does seem to perfectly fit their style. They really mix the vibe up quite a lot which definitely keeps things interesting. “Lovers of Today” is a sort of dark, slow, moody piece and I really dig what they’re going for here. Prior to listening to this record I only really knew the hits, so it’s cool to hear the great musicianship they have and all the different styles they have to offer. Yes we have the main hit “Brass in Pocket” which I’ve heard a million times before, and now hearing the whole album I’d say it’s one of the weakest overall songs on here.
Overall I’m quite impressed with this album and it’s pleasantly surprised me.
Top picks:
Lovers of Today, Tattooed Love Boys, Private Life
King Crimson
4/5
King Crimson are a band I’ve heard of but never really heard. I have heard “21st Century Schizoid Man” but a long time ago, I never remembered it sounding quite like this, this was a bit of a ride.
“I Talk to the Wind” I really like. It’s a real trippy, calm but sorrowful tune. I dig this feeling a lot and the softer vocals really fit.
Up until “Moonchild” I was likely giving this a 5, unfortunately I just couldn’t enjoy whatever they decided to noodle around with for like 10 minutes. It’s far too long a time in my opinion to just improvise a bunch of noises which is what it sounded like to me. The final track brought back the sound I’d heard and enjoyed for the others songs and is a great finale.
I love hearing different things, I am familiar with some prog rock but certainly not an aficionado. I liken some of the sound here to Pink Floyd’s stranger material – both are British prog rockers from the same era so no surprise. I dig the majority of the album, the musicianship, haunting moods and powerful lyrics that are perfectly complimented by the music. A solid 4/5 and I’d definitely listen to this again.
Beatles
3/5
The Beatles always seem to deliver on catchy songwriting and lovely harmonies. I’m personally more of a fan of their later work where they really experiment with different styles and themes. That’s not to say the songs aren’t enjoyable here, but there’s a similar formula and subject matter followed with most songs.
Their version of Please Mr Postman is great but there’s always a soft spot for The Carpenters version for me.
Not their best album overall but a solid 3/5 for me.
Tricky
2/5
Boring. Lifeless. These are the best 2 words I can use to describe this. There's almost nothing of note here. Boring beats, quiet barely audible words, sort of mumbly, just nothing. Barely a melody can be heard. The only reason this isn't a 1 is because there's one song I didn't mind - Black Steel. 2/5
Steely Dan
3/5
There’s one word I can use – smooth. This opening track is just so pleasing to listen to, great little synth solo too.
The title track is just an explosion of musicianship. Everyone gets a chance to shine here and there’s great use of dynamics.
Though there is great musicianship (I have read that they employed the talents of a bunch of session musicians) I feel a bit let down with some of the songs. Sure they’re polished and sound aesthetically pleasing, but I don’t FEEL much at all from them. It’s kind of hard to explain, I’m torn. I began to feel this as one song bled into the next with not much really grabbing me. It’s a shame as I’d heard about this album from an old band mate a while back so expected something else. There are some more popular SD tracks that I really like, particularly Reelin in the Years which I think is fantastic. Perhaps I’d have liked more in that vein.
Big Star
1/5
My god this might be one of the most droning, boring albums I’ve had to listen to. Whoever the vocalist is, let’s just say it’s in Liam Gallagher territory in terms of how annoying it is.
Struggled to find anything redeemable here.
Nick Drake
1/5
I have to be honest I found this incredibly boring. Nothing stood out to me at all.
The Jesus And Mary Chain
2/5
Hugh Masekela
3/5
I've had quite a few instrumental albums now often in this sort of genre. This was another good one I found myself enjoying more than I expected. It does have a long runtime but it holds its own for the most part. Top picks: Minawa, Maseru, Nomali.
Air
3/5
Jeru The Damaja
2/5
The Doors
3/5
I don't know if they were running out of steam by this point, but this was their 6th album in the space of 4 years. I really like The Doors and certainly feel that I prefer the earlier albums. This is my first time hearing this one and apart from the title track and Riders on the Storm, nothing else stands out too much, The Changeling was decent though. I appreciate what they were trying to do on some of the tracks but something didn't land for me. 3/5
Koffi Olomide
2/5