Some interesting song ideas. Really enjoyed ambulance. Most of the songs felt like they went nowhere. Way too many GarageBand-type loops and high/low double tracked vocals. Interesting at times but not inspiring.
Really loved this album. Had never heard a single Smiths song going in. Instrumentation and production are fantastic and create the vibe. Great vocal performance. Album is experimental but retains melody throughout. Little to no filler. Very fun listening.
This album did not really push the envelope or innovate in any way, particularly when compared to other albums coming out around this time period. But I found my self tapping my foot along to the beat throughout the listen. Pretty generic and derivative rock, but very listenable and palatable. There are certainly worse albums out there.
Incredible live album. The energy on this record is infectious. The band is tight, and James Brown sounds unbelievably good. I can’t fathom that this is from 1962. I wish this record was twice as long.
Good energy, really enjoyed the songs at the start of the record. Take Me Out is a great song. The record really starts to feel repetitive after 3-4 tracks. Not bad, but gets old.
This music is dense, very complex, and occasionally unpleasant. I actually enjoyed this record more than I thought I would. But I can’t pretend to be able to fully appreciate Jazz, even if this is one of the finest albums in the genre. Glad I listened, probably won’t be listening again.
It was fine. They all can somewhat play instruments. The singer has an interesting voice and delivery at times, although it does get tiring. Overall, not the worst album on the list but far from the top. Very meh.
This album sounds incredible. Super fun. Amazing production. Busta Rhymes rips on the last song.
I am not a hip-hop fan, so the songs started to blend together and it got a little long. But this album gets 4/5 for how great it sounds.
I love the Bakersfield sound and country music in general, so I was pretty excited to get this album. It was honestly a little disappointing.
The writing and instrumentation were a little underwhelming. I enjoyed the listen, but I would have expected an album in this genre to move me more. The songs never seemed to go anywhere energy-wise, even when the lyrics tried to point to a climax of a song.
Overall, it’s decent, but there are significantly better examples of this genre and sound out there.
This album isn’t going to blow you away musically, but it is such a cool snapshot into music history. I love Johnny Cash, I love this record. So much energy and charisma. This record belongs in the pantheon of great American records.
A forward thinking album that has that quintessential mid-60s SoCal sound. The record sounds like early CSNY demos more than a cohesive album. Enjoyed hearing once, but probably won’t revisit, given there are much more polished records with this concept and sound.
Way too many “White Castle”, “girlies” and “my names Mike D”. I actually came in to this record with a positive impression of the Beastie Boys and enjoyed the hit songs. But man, this was so brutal to listen to. Some of the sampling and beats were cool, but I couldn’t stand the lyrics and rap-singing. I just don’t get it.
This one really grew on me over the course of listening. The orchestration is pretty cool. It’s not my favorite music or record ever, but it’s weird and creative, and it holds your attention throughout the listen.
This has to be the most frustrating album I’ve ever listened to. There are 10-12 really cool song ideas in this 28 song record. But the amount of absolute garbage in between is awful. The whole thing just comes off as exceptionally lazy. Couldn’t bother to finish a single song. Couldn’t bother to record it with any sort of quality production. First album I’m giving the 1/5.
This record is more a work of art than it is a pure musical album. I was thoroughly entertained and enthralled. The songs and soundscapes are gripping and sometimes uncomfortable. But they almost always evoke a mental image. Really entertaining.
One of my absolute favorites. Love this record. Generational album, every single is a banger. Creative. Great writing. Easy 5/5.
This record is just fun music. The lyrics aren’t the best, the music isn’t overly innovative, but it’s just a fun listen. I had to tell myself not to take this one too seriously, and I enjoyed the listen. 3.75/5.
Brian Wilson was a mad genius. This record really didn’t catch me the first time I heard it many years ago. But with each listen I catch a new melodic hook, or instrument section, or lyric that resonates. Significantly more complex than it appears. Beautiful piece of art. Another easy 5/5.
Maybe not the best classic rock album of the mid-1970s, but I would argue this is the album that best represents the sound of classic rock during the time period. A few extended guitar solos and jams, acoustic ballads, and nice chunky riffs, all with the energy of a live crowd. This album is “classic rock”. Fun listen.
I’ve never been a massive fan of the Stones’s sound, compared to the Beatles, Zeppelin, Pink Floyd, etc. but I appreciated the hell out of this album. Very ambitious, incredibly unique. Lots of Gospel and R&B influence, with many non-guitar driven songs. I can’t quite give it a 5 because it’s not quite for me, but a hell of a record.
Not bad, a little grating at times. I guess that’s punk though. Didn’t hate, didn’t really feel the need to relisten either. I’ll probably just listen to Marquee Moon if I’m craving this type of sound.
It’s okay. Pretty good songwriting. I can see how the songs are charismatic. But I wasn’t really intrigued musically or by the production. I like Sunday Bloody Sunday, and the last track was kind of cool. Everything in the middle blended.
Kind of cool, but it feels like there are 10 albums on this list that sound pretty similar. Not bad, but probably won’t revisit. 3.5/5
A 2000s mashup of Elton John and The Bee Gees. It’s kind of fun. Hated the Comfortably Numb cover. Overall, I didn’t hate it, but it’s not for me.
Some of the songs felt too long, and the early part of the album felt very repetitive. By the end though I really found a groove with it. And enjoyed the extended jam in Orion. Will probably give another listen while driving or working out.
Just could not get into this. Was truly not fun to listen to. Innovative for the time I guess, but not something I really enjoyed at all.
Nirvana just has an authentic musical darkness and danger that is gripping. I don’t usually like this genre, but I love Nirvana. I don’t think this album has the same level of hits as Nevermind, but the album as a whole feels more polished.
Some very interesting music and blending of genres. The writing is weak in places and I don’t think it quite connects the lyrics to the theme of the record, but the creativity is not lacking. A very interesting listen, especially since this album was released during a period where music was beginning to become a little boring. I found myself liking it more and more as it went along. You will certainly not get bored.
If I had gone in blind, I would have thought this was a Monty Python’s Holy Grail on Broadway soundtrack. This album should only be listened to in a front row seat at Medieval Times with a Mutton leg in hand.
Okay, it’s actually comical in parts.
God dammit, it’s actually pretty funny to be honest.
Oh shit, is this actually growing on me?
The initial shock and hatred did eventually wear off, and I appreciated(?) this album a bit. Would I actually listen again? Almost certainly not. But it’s weird, and it stands out amongst the monotonous mix of post punk debut albums on this list.
Very good record. The production sound is unique, it almost has a lofi sound with lots of Spector string layers on top. Pretty cool.
I think this album 1000% benefits from being titled and beginning with Imagine. I think the rest of the album after imagine is good but not necessarily great. It’s hard not to compare to McCartney and Harrison solo music of the early 70’s, which I just enjoy more. However still a great listen.
I know of Linkin Park’s hits, but am not super familiar with most of their work. This album definitely had moments that were super cool. I think this album really shines when Chester sings with his actual voice and the band avoids the disc scratching and production effects. The rap sections just seem super dated and detract from the record.
I’m interested in listening to subsequent albums. I think a more mature and refined version of this would fit my preferences better. 3.75/5.
I liked this more than Master of Puppets. Still a little same-y at times, but the production is spot on and the songs kick ass. Great introduction to metal to noobies like myself. This record deserves its place on the list.
Have you ever wondered what it’s like to be locked in a 17th century New Orleans attic with a coven of witches performing a summoning of Lord Beelzebub? Listen to this album to find out.
The music is pretty terrible, but I can’t give something that gives that vivid of a mental image a 1/5.
Really enjoyed the listen. Not a whole bunch of notes. Just a really solid cool album. 4/5.
There are more than a handful of songs on this album that can bring me to tears in the right setting. This has always been a top 3 post-Beatles album for me. George Harrison was an absolute treasure. But…
This album did not need to be this long. Had the first disc been the whole record, I think we may discuss this as one of the greatest records of all time. But a triple LP was unnecessary and unfortunately detracts a bit from the flow of the record. The best 12 songs are an easy 5/5, but unfortunately some parts only get a 2.5/5. Overall, that leaves me at a 4.25/5.
The first 20-30 minutes were groovy. I enjoyed reggae as a change of pace from a lot of other records on the list. But after that, it all just kind of blended together and faded into the background. And after another 15-20 minutes I was starting to hope the record was ending soon. 65 minutes is far too long of a run time for this type of record.
Overall not bad, and pretty good as background music. The production is excellent, and the record sounds very crisp. But, in my opinion, not something I would say you have to hear before you die.
WTF was that? This is terrible, but also…a part of me, deep deep down, was entertained? And I’m ashamed of that.
I had only ever heard My Generation off this album. And I’ve heard the James Brown songs performed by James Brown. This honestly feels like a mix of the Stones and Beatles. That 60s British Invasion sound is so apparent, but also this feels fresh compared to some of the contemporaries. I wish my brain could experience the magic of putting this record on in 1965, having never heard anything like this before.
I really enjoyed this record. It’s not as deep or written as well as what the Who, Beatles and Stones would go on to do (of course), but still a great album. 4/5.
This album, in isolation, is fine. Nothing too special. But listening to it after Pet Sounds is actually quite cool. You can hear the pull of Brian Wilson towards the experimental, deeply emotional writing. But the majority of the band and the songs remain in the early Beach Boys sound. A very fascinating transition from old to new. 3.5/5.
I listened to this one on a gloomy Monday morning, while slightly hungover and trying to avoid speaking to coworkers. And the first half of the album just really got that vibe.
Moody and slightly atmospheric. I did enjoy my listen, albeit, maybe because I was just in the right, slightly miserable mood. Overall, not super memorable, but there’s certainly a time and place for it.
It’s not bad. Good rhythms and some interesting instrumentation. However, I can’t help but think that it sounds like knockoff Bowie, after having a Bowie album yesterday. Hopefully that’s not offensive to fans of this genre or band. Overall, pretty good, but not memorable.
This is instantly going on at the next dinner party. Perfect for a chill night with a bottle a Cabernet and a few friends. No notes. Very pleasant.
There are so many great records that were left off this list. No Chuck Berry, Tupac, or Jim Croce. No RAM from Paul McCartney or Damn the Torpedoes by Tom Petty. I have no clue how this made it over any of them.
This is bad, and not in a cool or interesting way. Definitely one that has me scratching my head.
Quincy and Michael know how to make pop single. The hits off this record are perfection. Smooth Criminal might be my favorite Michael song. I think top to bottom, the album isn’t quite as good as Thriller, but, damn that’s a high bar.
I’m not a fan of a couple songs, so I have to give 4.5/5.
This one was hard to rate. I think there is some really good songwriting on this record. The singer is wonderful. But I really wanted to hear some of these songs without all the overdone electronic synths. In spots it works, but it gets tiring after a while. Give me some analog instruments!
Overall, I’m going to go 3/5. A couple more dynamic changes and some reworking of the instrumentation would probably get me to a 4.
I appreciated this record more than loved it. I like the creativity and commitment to really try something new. I don’t really know if I would listen consistently or even again, but I liked what she was going for. 3.75/5.
I was dreading listening to this record. To say I was pleasantly surprised is an understatement. This record somehow manages to be really interesting and experimental and also conveys a strong sense of emotion and melody. The production is clean and excellent. This record is by far the biggest gap between expectation and reality that I’ve had so far. 4.6/5
Very odd at times, very cool at times. I really liked parts of this record and there were times I wasn’t a fan of. I think I have a favorable opinion overall. 3.5/5
I have heard this record and multiple other Queens of the Stone Age records before, so I am biased on this one.
Decent record. Parts that are pretty cool. But a lot of it is pretty musically simplistic, the songwriting is a little weak at times and the production is fine, but is missing something. Feels like a demo for what they would become.
It’s weird that this is the album from this band that they chose. It’s very immature, but gives you an idea of where their sound is going to end up. I think they have far better records. 2.75/5.
I really really dislike the Beastie Boys. But I have to admit, the sampling and grooves on this record are cool. And it is incredibly creative and well produced. The rapping and lyrics get quite annoying after 50 minutes, but it’s a cool record. I wish I could just hear the no vocals version of this record.
This is an exceptional sounding record. The production is consistently excellent throughout. The artistry is also consistent, without sounding same-y. The writing and vocals don’t really speak to me. I’m certainly not the target audience. But a very enjoyable, pleasant listen.
This might be a controversial take: I liked this so much more than the Metallica records on the list. I’m not a metal fan, but I loved this record. The best hard rock/metal album I’ve gotten from this list so far. I knew the two hits prior to listening, but wow, I really enjoyed pretty much every song quite a bit.
Loved the energy and the songwriting. Great instrumentation and a bass-forward production. Wish the vocals were a little hotter/less compressed in places.
An album right in my musical wheelhouse. Love the raw sound and the lyrical content is fantastic in most places.
Track by track there are some weak points that bring the album down a few fractions, and as a whole it seems a little filler heavy and almost unfinished as a whole record (37 minutes with two live tracks tacked on).
Old Man, Alabama, and Heart of Gold are absolute classics. I prefer CSNY records, but this one is still very good. 3.75/5 rounding up to 4.
This absolutely blew my mind. So many rich textures, interesting melodic ideas, and to do all that in analog in the early 70s crazy. It’s hard to come up with words for how much I loved it. They blend classical, Baroque ideas with classic/progressive rock vibes effortlessly. Side 1 is a masterpiece. Side 2 loses a bit of steam, just because it’s more instrumental, but still some fantastic composition.
This may not be for everyone, but if you’re a music geek and enjoy complex music, give this a listen in quality headphones. So much to digest. 5/5.
Freddy Mercury is undeniably an all time talent. So many different voices and even characters in his performance. The record shines when he is the focus and has space to perform.
The record as whole though, honestly, isn’t quite as cohesive as I remember. There are multiple points where it feels like they are just doing things because they wanted to mess around with the studio space instead of it actually serving the record or songs. Brian May’s multi-tracked harmony guitar becomes tiresome after a whole record.
Love of my Life is a treasure. I weirdly loved ‘39. Bohemian Rhapsody is always a treat. Still an all-time classic record, but I do think it sounds dated in spots. 4/5.
Very well produced background music. But I don’t really even know how to fairly compare this to other actual records on this list. No real lyrics or songs, just a lot of well produced interesting beats. Didn’t hate, but didn’t really think it was worthy of this list.
I had to listen to this record on the same day as an instrumental Brian Eno record, so my patience for soundscape style music is wearing thin.
This record is experimental background music. It’s fine. It’s cool at times, but very boring for an entire record. I don’t think it belongs on this list. Way more deserving records out there.
I’m not a high school girl in the mid-90s so I’m certainly not qualified to speak on the cultural appeal of this record.
Musically, my initial takeaway, I really dislike her voice for large stretches of the record. She has a great voice, but the vibrato and “pouty” effect were grating.
I think the record feels very 90’s and dated. However, I think the actual songs are well written and would still be hits today if redone in a modern way. Not for me, but the hits are good. 3/5
I thought the music was pretty good. Nothing that blew me away. However, it did feel very forward looking. I would have thought this was a mid to late 90s record.
This feels like it was probably a major influence on what alt rock would become in the 90s. Undeniably influential to Cobain. I’ll give an extra half star for that. 3.25/5
Note: I only listened to the 10 original tracks on the 2025 remaster.
This is album is awesome. Very unique. Like a 60s pop sound with Byrds/Beatles-esque harmonies at points mashed with a post-punk style and incorporating a lot of psychedelic and experimental instrumentation and progressions. Great production.
Very very cool music. This is the kind of hidden gem I started this experience to find. A couple low light songs keep it from a 5/5, but I really liked this listen.
So much music from the 2000s just feels so sterile. Use Somebody is quintessential “Target Rock”. It’s not bad, very un-offensive and safe, and it accompanies a walk through Target to find some nice throw pillows.
Sex on Fire is a very overrated song. Very boring.
A couple of the deeper cuts were kind of cool. I liked the opening track and the singers vocals. Manhattan was a cool vocal performance as well. But the whole record just kind of lacked an edge or something to make it stand out.
Bumping down an extra star for how creepy a couple of the songs were. 2/5
I know the bands’ hits, but have never listened to a full album.
Within a few minutes, my first thought was “this sounds like tamer Black Sabbath” (complementary). Finding out they’re from Birmingham and produced by the same sound engineer as Sabbath certainly comes through.
I think I like early 80s thrash metal. Really enjoyed this record. Not too complicated, but a good listen. Similar vibes to Iron Maiden, which I also enjoyed.
Overall, pretty standard 60s California rock. I liked it. Probably won’t be revisiting, but not bad.
I’ve always heard of 2Pac as a rap legend but never actually listened to pretty much any of his music.
Excellent production, super smooth and rhythmic. Can’t relate to lyrics or themes at all. Feels pretty same-y after a few tracks. Very 90’s. Feels a little dated.
I appreciate the artistry and the talent, but not really for me.
This might be one of the hardest rankings I’ve had to do.
This record is weird as hell. But it’s also quite beautiful in many many spots. I feel like I want to be frolicking through a meadow high on mushrooms with a cadre of elves.
I didn’t love it, but also as the record went on, I started to really love it. And I’m just really confused. I think I have to rank anything that creates such vivid feelings as a 4. A weird, confusing, guilty pleasure 4.
Would much rather listen to interesting music like this, than a lot of other albums on here.
Finding time to listen to a new album a day is difficult, finding time to listen critically to a 3+ hour album is impossible. So I’m reviewing based on disc 1. Sorry.
Overall, I enjoyed this a lot. Will be played as background music while cooking or hosting a dinner party. Beautiful voice. Songwriting is hit or miss. Instrumentation is dated, but that was expected.
Can’t give more than 3 stars because of length and the artist do not write any of it.
