1001 Albums Summary

Listening statistics & highlights

206
Albums Rated
2.9
Average Rating
19%
Complete
883 albums remaining

Rating Distribution

Rating Timeline

Taste Profile

1960
Favorite Decade
Metal
Favorite Genre
US
Top Origin
Critic
Rater Style ?
14
5-Star Albums
17
1-Star Albums

Breakdown

By Genre

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Top Styles

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By Decade

By Origin

Albums

You Love More Than Most

AlbumYouGlobalDiff
I’ve Got a Tiger By the Tail
Buck Owens
5 2.8 +2.2
John Prine
John Prine
5 3.22 +1.78
The Message
Grandmaster Flash & The Furious Five
5 3.28 +1.72
Bayou Country
Creedence Clearwater Revival
5 3.63 +1.37
The Cars
The Cars
5 3.65 +1.35
Moondance
Van Morrison
5 3.68 +1.32
Bitte Orca
Dirty Projectors
4 2.69 +1.31
...Baby One More Time
Britney Spears
4 2.7 +1.3
Boston
Boston
5 3.7 +1.3
Master Of Puppets
Metallica
5 3.71 +1.29

You Love Less Than Most

AlbumYouGlobalDiff
Illmatic
Nas
1 3.61 -2.61
Straight Outta Compton
N.W.A.
1 3.5 -2.5
You Want It Darker
Leonard Cohen
1 3.31 -2.31
Dry
PJ Harvey
1 3.24 -2.24
Songs Of Love And Hate
Leonard Cohen
1 3.2 -2.2
3 Years, 5 Months And 2 Days In The Life Of...
Arrested Development
1 3.14 -2.14
Cypress Hill
Cypress Hill
1 3.14 -2.14
Hunky Dory
David Bowie
2 3.99 -1.99
Supa Dupa Fly
Missy Elliott
1 2.92 -1.92
Disintegration
The Cure
2 3.87 -1.87

5-Star Albums (14)

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Popular Reviews

I'm not saying they are BAD, but I just don't understand how they are so huge. They don't seem to be special to me, and I can't figure out why other people find them special. The other album was better. This one felt a little whiny. Overall not bad, just not special.

Arular by M.I.A.

I appreciate the artistic expression and the uniqueness. The singing is very unique as well which is cool. Well done album with a lot going on. I definitely agree this should be on the list. But my grades are based on if I like it, not how good I think it is. And this music is nails on a chalkboard for me. It gets a one even though I think it is deserving of the list.

Southern Rock Opera by Drive-By Truckers

I don't know what to make of this album. I REALLY like the guitars. I like the muddy production quality. The bass and drums are ok. Just the singing is atrocious, and almost impossible to get past. I do enjoy the southern nature of the lyrics, many references to the civil war which is unusual.

This was a fascinating listen. I could really picture what the concert probably looked like. It was super fun hearing the response from the crowd to almost every line. I was surprised that most of the songs were slow. I always thought if James Brown as high energy. Fun to think this was before the Beatles and rock as we know it.

1-Star Albums (17)

All Ratings (206)

Pretzel Logic by Steely Dan
Nov 03 2025

Fantastic album. Top notch technical playing. Certainly underrated drumming and time signatures. The first three songs are undoubtedly the highlight then starts to tail off a bit after that. Love his voice. Love the lyrics. Great album. I agree should be in the top 1001.

Nov 04 2025

This is way better than when he went electric. I can actually understand him. Too bad he's a terrible lyricist.

Imagine by John Lennon
Nov 05 2025

Definitely felt like an eclectic collection of random unrelated songs than an album, but each Individual song was decent. Better than I was expecting.

Five Leaves Left by Nick Drake
Nov 06 2025

Nick Drake for me is the CLASSIC example of critics thinking they know music better than everyone else. Everyone who buys music is a critic and the REAL critics obviously say it is not that good since no one was buying his albums. Super boring. His voice lulls me to sleep. I can't understand his lyrics. The music sounds like improv in his basement. This was rough.

Get Behind Me Satan by The White Stripes
Nov 07 2025

I am a huge White Stripes fan, but this is my least favorite of their work. The challenge with the White Stripes is they are uncompromising, which I highly respect, but it makes for a lot of hit or miss music, a lot of experimental stuff, and a lot of genre switches, so you will never love an entire album, but when you make a personal greatest hits of them, it would be GREAT, and very different for every person, which is super cool. I like their heavier, more guitar driven stuff, but I appreciate that they can make stuff that sounds like this. When it comes to what rock music has sounded like from about 2005-2020, for FIFTEEN years I think no band had a bigger influence on the genre than the White Stripes. I could name a dozen bands that made it pretty big that copied the White Stripes sound. I think they are one of the top 10 most influencial bands in defining modern rock.

Surrealistic Pillow by Jefferson Airplane
Nov 10 2025

This is another album that I think was so incredibly crucial to an entire genre of music... Psychedelic Rock! Very few hands sounded like this in 1966, and by 1967 (after this was released) the market and airwaves were saturated with this sound. They were quite ahead of their time. Somebody to Love and White Rabbit are two if the greatest psychedelic songs of all time. Grace Slick's voice is my favorite female rock voice of all time. Jorma Kaukonen's guitar is some of the best the 60s had to offer. So much talent. Jefferson Airplane is a love it or hate it band, and they were too experimental to have a solid album, but I love that about them.

Sticky Fingers by The Rolling Stones
Nov 11 2025

I always forget that just about every Rolling Stones album is an odd conglomeration of rock, country, and blues songs. Only their rock songs tend to make the radio or greatest hits so not very representative of what they actually sound like. It was always hard for me to listen to a complete Stones album since the transitions were so jarring. But this album I actually think they nail it. It works well and I really enjoyed it. I think this album best represents what the Rolling Stones probably wanted to sound like. Moonlight Mile was a nice gem I never heard before.

Vanishing Point by Primal Scream
Nov 12 2025

This isn't my cup of tea and I struggle listening to it. That being said, I do appreciate the talent it takes to make this "manufactured rock" and it is interesting. Just gets old after one or two songs.

The Stooges by The Stooges
Nov 13 2025

I think The Stooges might be the most underappreciated band, behind maybe Uriah Heep, when it comes to the early metal scene. This was 1969. Just incredible. It's not the most talented album, but the energy is amazing. I enjoyed this listen.

Nov 14 2025

The A side was AWESOME. I was really enjoying the 70s funk music. I realize the older I get, this is the one genre I have really been getting into... Parliament, Funkadelic, etc. The B side was tough to get through. Overall decent album.

Murmur by R.E.M.
Nov 17 2025

This was one of the more boring albums I've ever listened to. I tried so hard to pay attention and within 30 seconds of each song I already lost concentration. There seems to be talent in the music, but just so boring and monotonous.

Grace by Jeff Buckley
Nov 18 2025

His voice was incredibly unique and fun to listen to, but the songs were pretty boring. A few went somewhere, like Eternal Life and Dream Brother, but the rest made me fall asleep.

This was some good ole classic early seventies guitar/piano fueled blues rock. Doesn't stand out necessarily and all sounds the same, but still good. It is way more of a fun curiosity listen since it is Rod Stewart before anyone knew who he was, and Ronnie Wood before he joined the Rolling Stones. Stay With Me, That's All You Need, and Debris were highlights. I liked the other lead singer songs better than the Stewart ones!

Nov 20 2025

Im so glad to see this album on the list! I think Marty Robbins might be the greatest male country vocalist of all time. The harmonies vibrato, and smooth voice, just AWESOME. I do also enjoy the nostalgic romanticized western scenes he sings about. As good as old country gets. Sure the music is a bit repetitive and lame, but it's about the voice and stories for this genre. El Paso is a top 5 greatest country song of all time for me. Great album, great voice, great storytelling.

Darklands by The Jesus And Mary Chain
Nov 21 2025

The best part of the 1001 album challenge is listening to stuff I would have never listened to otherwise and broadening my music knowledge. This one definitely broadened my knowledge. I don't listen to this genre ever. This sounded like Billy Idol as a lead singer of Midnight Oil or something. Unfortunately his voice sounds like my white noise machine that helps me fall asleep, and the repetitive drumming makes each song instantly forgettable. I do appreciate that they have a unique sound and it does feel different from the mainstream. I wouldn't be able to listen to it again, although the guitars were enjoyable.

Superfly by Curtis Mayfield
Nov 24 2025

Wow, this is about as black as early 70s music gets hahaha. I really like the music with the horns, bass, etc, it's about as cool as music gets. I just see bell bottoms, black shade sunglasses, and bling when I hear this. I can only handle so much instrumental so I do like when he sings. This was a fun listen. Don't need to listen to again, but glad I did listen to it. I'll take War over this for black / funk 70s music.

Paul's Boutique by Beastie Boys
Nov 25 2025

This was an unbelievably fun album to listen to! The sampling and music writing was incredible. The "singing" is so incredibly unique, you know who it is right away. The lyrics are awesomely awful but fit the goofiness of everything so well. Probably the only rap album I will ever enjoy.

Searching For The Young Soul Rebels by Dexys Midnight Runners
Nov 26 2025

This was a super fun album to listen to! I never would anec guessed there was music that sounded like this in 1980! This was like Royal Noise Brigade meets Less Than Jake while sounding Irish. I loved the horns. I actually liked that every song sounded a bit similar, when I usually don't like that. His voice was very unique.

Architecture And Morality by Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark
Nov 27 2025

This wasn't bad. The funny thing is the electronic music from that era actually feels more like real music than electronic music nowadays! I feel like Genesis or the Cars would have had an influence here.

The Message by Grandmaster Flash & The Furious Five
Nov 28 2025

WOW!!! Did not know there was music our there like this in 1982!! This was crazy. It was so many genres coming together at once. This was a fun crossroads between me hearing all kinds of influences like the Temptations, Sly and the Family Stone, Steve Wonder, to all the artists that I can tell used this template into the future. I loved how the whole time I just felt like I was either at a party, or just sitting in the living room with those 6 guys. It was such a fun album. Every song was unique. I never got tired of listening to it. Seemed way ahead of its time. It was also interesting that they were sampling popular songs that came out within a year of THIS album!! The sampling was clearly primitive but obviously built the foundation for lots and lots of artists to follow. This was a gem.

Purple Rain by Prince
Dec 01 2025

I was quick shocked by the sound of this album. I never listened to Prince before. This was way more electronic / keyboard driven than I was expecting. I thought he was a little more rock. Not taking anything away from it as I thought it was GREAT. The songs were very well written. They kept my attention throughout. I never got bored. He writes some very catchy music. The vocals were outstanding. My goodness, I would have thought there were 3 different lead singers on this album. And to top it all off, it is kind of cooky, very odd music, and lots of vocals I wasn't expecting, so it kept me entertained. Definitely deserving of this list, and not as sterile or expected as I thought it would be. It was actually quite adventurous.

Dookie by Green Day
Dec 02 2025

This is undoubtedly my favorite punk (although some people u guess don't call it punk) album. So many phenomenal songs on this album. The drums are great. The bass is great. The guitars are great. The singing is great. The lyrics are great. The songwriting is great. Sums up mid-90s angst so well. Right place right time. My first 5 star.

Time Out by The Dave Brubeck Quartet
Dec 03 2025

Reading up on this album, it was the first jazz album to ever sell 1.0M copies, and the song "Take Five" became the most played jazz single at the time. I mean, the album is good, and the first three songs I think are REALLY good, but after that, it begins to all sound the same. I don't know what makes jazz great vs terrible, it all sounds "good" to me. Now one thing that was cool about this album was that it sounds timeless. You could tell me it was from 1959, 1997, or 2018, and I would believe you.

Dec 04 2025

This was a really cool listen! This type of music is one of my guilty pleasures when I'm in the right mood. Just the old school, stripped down, low-fi folk-rock singer/songwriter. But this was even better than that because they layered in all kinds of additional sounds and instruments. The music composition was fantastic, great guitar chords and sounds. Lyrics were good and the songs were catchy. The title track was the highlight. Calvary Cross was pretty good. The version I listened to on YouTube Music had some love bonus tracks that were even better than the originals. Very fun listen.

Songs Of Love And Hate by Leonard Cohen
Dec 05 2025

I've taken dumps that were more audibly pleasing than this.

Dec 08 2025

This was a fascinating listen. I could really picture what the concert probably looked like. It was super fun hearing the response from the crowd to almost every line. I was surprised that most of the songs were slow. I always thought if James Brown as high energy. Fun to think this was before the Beatles and rock as we know it.

Remain In Light by Talking Heads
Dec 09 2025

Wow!! This was way ahead of its time! I would imagine a ton of rappers have samples them over the years. This sounded very different from their radio stuff / greatest hits. The rhythms were so unbelievably catchy. The music was so textured and interesting. I don't know how they would play it live. The first two tracks were 5 star, then Once in a Lifetime is one of my top 40 ALLTIME favorite songs.

Dec 10 2025

The t first two songs started out super strong, then Smoke in a Bottle was probably the worst song I heard yet while doing this. Then the rest was interesting but not very memorable. It was awesome how they blended Irish folk, punk, and 80s sound so effortlessly. And I commend them for not making every song sound the same. Very glad I got to heard something extremely different like this.

Dec 11 2025

The album was pretty much a 'you heard one song, you heard them all". It was cool to listen to though. Not something im familiar with.

L.A. Woman by The Doors
Dec 12 2025

I always generally enjoyed the doors. They are more of a "best of" band for me where their deep cuts usually aren't great. But I gotta say this album was strong. I liked his singing style. I liked the heavy blues influence. I liked that it was psychedelic without being crazy. Riders on the Storm is just one of the best keyboard driven songs of all time.

Yoshimi Battles The Pink Robots by The Flaming Lips
Dec 15 2025

I never would have guessed that out of all the albums we listened to so far, THIS would be the first one that I own. I find this album very interesting and complex. The writing style is so bizarre. My only negative with this album is it starts to feel repetitive towards the second half, and the slow songs all start to sound the same. Their follow up album At War With the Mystics corrects this problem and allows for an absolute fantastic album. I hope that is in the list as well. Fight Test and Do You Realize are the two best songs.

Hunky Dory by David Bowie
Dec 16 2025

This was an odd album, then again it's David Bowie. I never liked his thing production sound in the early years and this one is no different. None of the songs stood out. Each song was either piano or acoustic guitar without much else going on. Pretty boring and bland. I'm sure they r well written songs, just don't catch my attention

Metal Box by Public Image Ltd.
Dec 17 2025

I felt like this is what cats fighting would sound like. It was as annoying as listening to someone with the sniffles. The ONLY reason this doesn't get a one star is because just about every song had a KILLER bass line. Wow. Loved that part.

Done By The Forces Of Nature by Jungle Brothers
Dec 18 2025

When I listen to albums like this, I'm like, really, top 1001? Makes me feel like they really needed to add some filler. This felt pretty run of the mill. Nothing spectacular. It just seems like this list came out at the peak of the "black people complaining about life of black people needs to be recognized" phase. The music was interesting and the beats were awesome, but I heard it all before.

Moondance by Van Morrison
Dec 19 2025

Wow! So far this album was the biggest "exceeds expectations". Van Morrison was always that boring soft rock / jazz guy with a few hits. But this whole album was excellent! Each song so well crafted, the instrumentation was awesome. Each song was unique and kept my attention. The production was phenomenal. The singing was top notch. First five star for an album I never heard before.

This Is Fats Domino by Fats Domino
Dec 22 2025

This was really impressive. I feel like this is the first artist I listened to from the 50s that wasn't mostly slow music. This actually sounds like a precursor to rock and roll. The songs even varied a bit when most sound similar from that era.

Pearl by Janis Joplin
Dec 23 2025

Janis is an UNBELIEVABLY talented singer, and defined a generation. The songwriting is fantastic and the music is great. But it's just not my bag. I can't get into her no matter how hard I try. I just don't like her style. The album should get a 5 but I am basing my rating off of how much I like it, just like the others.

Spiderland by Slint
Dec 24 2025

This was a strange album. The instruments were GREAT. I loved the tone of the guitar. The bass and drums were really good. The singing was atrocious, and the songwriting was lackluster. The second half of the album bored me to death.

Dec 25 2025

What is this, the college football playoffs? All you need to do is be black and sing about black life and you get an automatic bid to the 1001 best albums? This was bad.

Master Of Puppets by Metallica
Dec 29 2025

I'm not the biggest Metallica fan, but they are growing on me. Regardless, when it comes to the music, they are talented beyond compare. And this album is the epitome of that to me. Not a bad song on here. One of the best metal albums of all time, even if I probably will never listen to it in its entirety again. Disposable Heros is my favorite. I'll take sludge metal (like Sabbath) over speed metal (like this), but I have to give credit where credit it due and give it a 5.

Let's Stay Together by Al Green
Dec 30 2025

SUUUUUPER boring. But still real music so not a one.

Younger Than Yesterday by The Byrds
Jan 01 2026

I really like the Byrds. I love the twelve string guitar, the nontraditional bass lines, and the psychedelic feel they give. The late 60s is my favorite genre. I love "So you want to be a rock and roll star" but it ends WAY too soon. Nothing on this album stands out. Their first three albums are all better than this, plus other artists of this time (Moby Grape, Strawberry Alarm Clock, the Hollies) I think did an even better job.

#1 Record by Big Star
Jan 02 2026

Wow wow wow!! I have had multiple people over the year tell me to listen to this band. I see them in every list if underrated bands. I don't know why I never listened to them. This was great!! Each song was different. Each one kept my attention. They had cool stuff going on like keyboards, harmonicas, horns, synths, you never know what they will throw into a song. Well crafted pop rock songs that would even make Cheap Trick proud. But yet have softer acoustic songs as well. I loved the voices.

The Band by The Band
Jan 05 2026

I have always thoroughly enjoyed the band's greatest hits. And they have some of my ALL TIME favorite songs like Up On Cripple creek and The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down. And I love their salt of the earth sound. Bur after listening to this album, I think I will stick to their greatest hits. Every song i never heard before kinda stank.

Elephant by The White Stripes
Jan 06 2026

The White Stripes are another one of those "greatest hits" bands where u combine their best songs from all their albums and they have one of the best great hits out there! But their album cuts are too unpredictable and inconsistent. I absolutely love how unique, ahead of their time, and creative they are though. No one sounded like them at the time.

L'Eau Rouge by The Young Gods
Jan 07 2026

What the HELL did I just listen to??! That was the weirdest album yet I think. It was like The Hu and Rob Zombie had a baby. It was super interesting. Kept my attention the whole time. Amazing transitions between almost classical to almost metal. Cool voice. Cool production. Cool guitar sound. I will never be able to get into foreign language music unfortunately.

Arular by M.I.A.
Jan 08 2026

I appreciate the artistic expression and the uniqueness. The singing is very unique as well which is cool. Well done album with a lot going on. I definitely agree this should be on the list. But my grades are based on if I like it, not how good I think it is. And this music is nails on a chalkboard for me. It gets a one even though I think it is deserving of the list.

Boy In Da Corner by Dizzee Rascal
Jan 09 2026

I'm sure there's a lot of talent here and it's great for what it is, but this is my least favorite kind of music.

Parsley, Sage, Rosemary And Thyme by Simon & Garfunkel
Jan 12 2026

Wow I was shocked how much I enjoyed this album. A tinge of psychedelic. A tinge of folk. A tinge of pre-Beatles pop. This was a very fun listen.

The Cars by The Cars
Jan 13 2026

Oh man. If I made a Shawn Top 100 albums of all time, this one would be a Top 20. Everything about this album is great. Each song is amazing. And they even ushered in a whole new genre doing it. The guitars, drums, keyboard, his voice, all awesome. Catchy songs, intricate yet simple. Each one can get stuck in your head.

GREY Area by Little Simz
Jan 14 2026

Honestly the music was REALLY good. The bass, drums, occasional flute and what not. But the lyrics and style are an instant turnoff and I can't do it.

Jan 15 2026

Not a bad listen! I enjoyed it. Very straightforward. No frills. A little cheesy with the clearly session musicians backing him up and probably writing the music, but nonetheless an enjoyable listen.

Lazer Guided Melodies by Spiritualized
Jan 16 2026

After listening to something like this, it really makes me wonder if there even is 1,001 albums if this makes the cut. Absolutely NOTHING inspiring about this. Just so boring and mediocre.

Ágætis Byrjun by Sigur Rós
Jan 19 2026

My goodness, just so boring. The only thing saving it from being a 1 is that at least SOME of the songs started to build up and shift a little, and knowing there's worse out there.

Licensed To Ill by Beastie Boys
Jan 20 2026

I don't know... I am entertained for a little, and then it starts to become very repetitive. Fortunately or unfortunately, I have the other Beastie Boys album to donate this to, and that one was so much more dynamic, interesting, and attention keeping. This one was a little boring. However, the three huge hits were all GREAT, however was probably because of the heavy guitars, not the actual songs. Either the Beastie Boys or their producer must be big Led Zeppelin fans!

Illmatic by Nas
Jan 21 2026

This is pretty much unlistenable for me. If I could give it a 0 I probably would. The only redeeming quality is that the guy has an unbelievable gift of rhyming. Very talented there.

Dry by PJ Harvey
Jan 22 2026

Not much I liked about this. I hated the mixing / production. I didn't like her voice. The songs were boring and unmemorable. I guess the guitar was cool and the drums were pretty good. I just don't understand how this makes the top 1001.

LP1 by FKA twigs
Jan 23 2026

I couldn't even make it all the way through. After this many loser albums in a row, if the next album is 40 minutes of listening to cows getting milked, I would probably give it a 5.

Hounds Of Love by Kate Bush
Jan 26 2026

Very 80s. I appreciate that it is a very unique style. It doesn't feel like it sells out, while still being accessible. Very spacious sound. Lyrics are good, songwriting is not traditional.

Aftermath by The Rolling Stones
Jan 27 2026

Ehhh... For the time I'm sure it was good and relatively ahead of its time. It does feel a bit dated and not really timeless. The two singles are BY FAR the best songs on here. I do like how bluesy it is and sounds like Zeppelin I well before Zeppelin I. The Rolling stones never cease to amaze me with their ability to mix rock, country, and blues into just about every album.

Figure 8 by Elliott Smith
Jan 28 2026

Wow!! I REALLY enjoyed this! The songwriting was good. His voice was great! Each song was interesting and had a lot going on. The whole album was varied and kept my attention. It was very Beatles-esque. Good stuff for the 2000's!

Truth And Soul by Fishbone
Jan 29 2026

I absolutely loved this album. My one friend introduced me to the song "Bonin' in the Boneyard" about two years ago and it became my favorite non-Funkadelic funk song. This whole album was great though. Great vocals (multiple lead singers I think?!). Great bass. The production was straight late 80s. This is exactly what Rush sounded like during that era too. Fun listen.

Jan 30 2026

Undoubtedly one of the greatest country albums of all time, maybe the greatest. This one album is better than almost every other country artists' greatest hits. This album influenced the 70s with the singing style like George Jones, Merle Haggard, etc. It influenced the 80s with the guitar picking like Dwight Yoakam, Jerry Reed, etc. It influenced the 90s with the steel guitar like Clint Blank, Mark Chesnutt, etc. Just incredible to think what this album did for country. Not a bad song on this album.

Brothers by The Black Keys
Feb 02 2026

This album is very solid from beginning to end. This is another band that ushered in a whole mini genre for a good ten years. The guitar tone is AWESOME. The drum sound is great. I love two lead singers. Very good.

Let's Get It On by Marvin Gaye
Feb 03 2026

This isn't my cup of tea, but it's no doubt talented. He has a GREAT voice and the songs are so well crafted. I love all the textured voices and harmonies.

Cafe Bleu by The Style Council
Feb 04 2026

What the heck did I just listen to?? This band was all over the place. Sounded like 5 different bands on a mid eighties compilation album. Very talented though.

BEYONCÉ by Beyoncé
Feb 05 2026

The first two songs weren't bad, but then everything else after that was annoying. The lyrics just aren't good. The songs get boring. The singing is PHENOMENAL, but I wish she had writers that could right good songs.

Doolittle by Pixies
Feb 06 2026

What a bizarre band! U didn't know what to do with this. The drums r great. The guitar is unique. The bass is pronounced and different. The singing, if I can call it at, is so off the wall. This band is so different that they deserve to be in the list, this just isn't something I would listen to often. It does give me better perspective on Weird Al's "First World Problems" which parodies the Pixies haha.

Tusk by Fleetwood Mac
Feb 09 2026

I was UNBELIEVABLY excited when I saw this album pop up because this is a top 5 album that I've been wanting to listen to some time that I never did. I knew I would be disappointed, and I was. None of the songs pop. I blame Buckingham since he wanted a simple stripped down sound, compared to his unbelievably talented artistry he did as a producer on Rumors with the layers, textures, etc. It just makes all the songs sound incomplete, uninspired, and half-assed. I like complex pop rock Fleetwood Mac, not this simplistic almost country Fleetwood Mac. Buckingham's songs are the worst, but really McVie's and Nicks' aren't all that much better. The album feels like a collection of solo songs thrown together. But what's ironic is they all released a solo album after this, and the songs on all THREE solo records are better than what they contributed here! Check out Buckingham's "Trouble", Nicks' "Edge of Seventeen" and McVie's "Got a Hold On Me". All 10/10. All in all though, even the worst of Fleetwood Mac is better than most music haha, so still give it a 3 star.

Blood On The Tracks by Bob Dylan
Feb 10 2026

It's not bad, it just all becomes background music so quickly and it doesn't hold my attention at all.

Goodbye And Hello by Tim Buckley
Feb 11 2026

This was one of the more confusing albums we have listened to haha. I don't know if this was genius or complete garbage. Super unique singing voice. Surprisingly great instruments for a 1967 no name solo artist. The songs were just goofy and the singing was goofy.

Jazz Samba by Stan Getz
Feb 12 2026

It was good for what it is.

Crazysexycool by TLC
Feb 13 2026

Well I didn't hate it. And this is probably the closest I'll get to liking a hip hop album. It kept me interested and never became background music.

Transformer by Lou Reed
Feb 16 2026

Welp, I have avoided Lou Reed my whole life because I always hated "Walk on the Wild Side" and I never liked Velvet Underground. But I listened to it. It was AMAZING. Every song was unique. Every song was a piece of art. So many genres, strange lyrics, strange music. It was very cool.

Blunderbuss by Jack White
Feb 17 2026

Well, this seems to be in the same category as the white stripes where there are a few great songs, a few decent songs, and a few bad songs. Jack White even solo seems like he would make a fantastic greatest hits, but not solid albums. I did love the variety, and I did really like all the piano. But he's at his best when he is cranking out some killer guitar riff with his vocals wailing over top.

The Libertines by The Libertines
Feb 18 2026

This is a PERFECT example of the brit pop stuff that a lot of people really like, that I just can't get into. But looks like I'm not alone, as three of their albums were top 5 albums in British, and NONE even cracked the top 100 in America. The vocals are BORING and I can't stand brit pop locals. The guitar was so repetitive. The drums and bass were ok, nothing special. None of the songs were catchy.

Blur by Blur
Feb 19 2026

This started out slow and I was like, oh no, not another boring washed out 90s album. Then every song was better than the previous, more creative and ahead of its time, and by the end I was like, holy cow, I can name like 4 or 5 bands that would have been influenced by this!! While I don't know if Blur necessarily did it the best, but bands to come that were influenced by them certainly did! So this album is one of the few that in and of itself, I would give like a 2, but because of how influential and ahead of its time it seems to be, I'll give it a four.

Southern Rock Opera by Drive-By Truckers
Feb 20 2026

I don't know what to make of this album. I REALLY like the guitars. I like the muddy production quality. The bass and drums are ok. Just the singing is atrocious, and almost impossible to get past. I do enjoy the southern nature of the lyrics, many references to the civil war which is unusual.

Bayou Country by Creedence Clearwater Revival
Feb 23 2026

Love love love love love this album. Born on the Bayou is my favorite CCR song. Not a bad song on here. Keep on Chooglin is a great deep track. I love their early swamp blues sound before they went straight commercial.

Synchronicity by The Police
Feb 24 2026

I'm a pretty big Police fan. I enjoy their spacey minimalist sound. But this album didn't really have that, and overall it felt aimless and chaotic. The four singles I do enjoy, but the album cuts were weak. Even the singles I don't like as much as some of their other stuff. And I cannot STAND the whole 80s obsession with African sounding music, as if somehow that makes them cultured. Not their best work.

Feb 25 2026

Wow!! I REALLY enjoyed this album. And that is saying something because this 80s synth Brit stuff is probably my least favourite 80s music. This is the best I ever heard from this genre. It wasn't whiny, it wasn't thin, it wasn't all about heartbreaks. The music was layered, interesting and dense. The voice was above average. The lyrics were VERY unconventional and I liked that. It never got boring. Probably after 3+ listens it would get a 5, but there are just so many great albums out there.

Like A Prayer by Madonna
Feb 26 2026

This was a nice listen. Wasn't as bad as I was expecting. Tolerable. Not what I would choose to listen to. A couple songs had some songwriter talent, and her voice is really good.

Suzanne Vega by Suzanne Vega
Feb 27 2026

This was average at best. Mediocre voice and mediocre music. But the songwriting and performance was very unique, not like anything else i ever heard. Not my cup of tea, but I appreciate it.

The Low End Theory by A Tribe Called Quest
Mar 02 2026

Each song sounded like it had the exact same beat, just different lyrics. Very good at rhyming and lyrics, but not much else to write home about.

Parallel Lines by Blondie
Mar 03 2026

I don't know, like, on one hand I really enjoy how unique and cutting edge this album is, but then on the other hand, it feels like it is missing something and doesn't get me to the next level. I love the synthesisers, I like the odd time signatures, the guitars are great, drums are full. Her singing is pretty good. The songwriting I feel like is OK, lyrics aren't that great, songs don't feel much above low budget garage rockers, wonder if they would have been famous with an unattractive lead singer. It's OK, I've just heard much better.

Nick Of Time by Bonnie Raitt
Mar 04 2026

Late 80s country is probably the most boring genre of all for me. The production and songwriting always sounds so uninspired, repetitive, and sterile. It is so clean and thin, that is sounds so manufactured, and has no heart, so it feels inauthentic and just made to sell. This album is no different. Songwriters penning songs in their rooms, sent to session musicians to play in a recording studio, and a talented singer to sing over top of it all. I'll give it a 2 just because her voice is very very good.

Mar 05 2026

This was a crazy album. It was as if The Talking Heads, B-52s, and The Cars all came together to play songs that weren't quite as good as any of those bands haha. The album was a little too inconsistent, but I did enjoy the oddity of it.

The White Room by The KLF
Mar 06 2026

I would never listen to this album on my own, but being forced to listen, it really wasn't that bad. Some of the better 90s sports jam type music. The fact that they sampled Kick out the Jams by MC5 automatically gives this album an extra star. It kept me entertained.

It's Blitz! by Yeah Yeah Yeahs
Mar 09 2026

Wow! This blew me away! This was really good! I liked the vocals. I liked the songwriting. I liked the energy. The electronic noises actually added to the song I stead of took away from it. Not really s low point in the album. Solid.

Fleet Foxes by Fleet Foxes
Mar 10 2026

This was an interesting listen. I REALLY enjoy the reverb and effects on the vocals, felt very Genesis or Yes like. The first half kept my attention, then the second half put me to sleep. Wow was that repetitive. Album art alone gives it an extra half star.

Real Life by Magazine
Mar 11 2026

Wow!! This album was really really good!! The music was a five star for me!! The lyrics were a 4, and the singing was a 2. Throw in a different lead singer and this had the possibility of being a 5 star for me. I loved the complexity of the music, so many layers, but yet it sounded simplistic. I loved the energy and the beats. Just the singing was rough, but it's right for that genre, I just don't love that genre.

Bitte Orca by Dirty Projectors
Mar 12 2026

Wow I REALLY enjoyed this!!! The vocal harmonies were awesome and very unique. Sounded very 60s influenced. I liked the sound of the drums and the simplicity of the drums, bass, and guitar, and the space they left in the music. Each song kept me entertained.

...Baby One More Time by Britney Spears
Mar 13 2026

Boy, this is a tough one. I do believe this album might be one of the best, if not the best, in this, I'll say, early 2000s pop, genre. I know it is great. I just don't like this stuff and I wouldn't listen to it again. The songwriting is talented, the singing is talented, her face is extremely talented haha, so I'm torn. Plus it is catchy as tell and I can't get Oops I did it again out of my head! Btw Jack Black does an AWESOME cover of that song. So I guess I talked myself into a four star.

Live At The Regal by B.B. King
Mar 16 2026

This was a fun listen. It's a genre I dont know that well so that was fun. I love the 60s black crowds and how into the music they would get. Cool to see where else was going on while the Beatles were dominating the charts. I really enjoyed his voice, and I really enjoyed his crowd interaction. But it all sounds the same after a while.

Disraeli Gears by Cream
Mar 17 2026

I think this album is amazing. The songs are well written, incredible amount of talent all around - guitar, bass, drums, vocals - what a band!! This album has one of my favorite guitar sounds of all time. SWLABR is a top 50 all-time favorite song for me. Second favorite guitar sound of shy song behind only Spirit in the Sky. And this album is so ahead of its time. In addition, I love that it mixes psychedelic, hard rock and blues. The biggest pitfall for me on this album is the production is just awful. Everything is so flat and thin, the drums sound like they were recorded in a warehouse, and why are they in stereo on one side???? Otherwise, just GREAT 60s proto metal.

In Utero by Nirvana
Mar 18 2026

I never could quite understand the lure of Nirvana. I think they are just larger than their music, similar to Def Leppard or Grateful Dead, where they are more of a symbol of something than actually something. You listen to this album, if it was under any other band name, I doubt many would listen to it and no critics would applaud it, and because the leader singer commits suicide the following year, it is now in the top 1001 albums. The actually songs are terrible. The singing is terrible. The lyrics is relatively bad. The guitar and bass might have some talent, hard to tell based on the style, and the drums are good. It feels like a Kurt Cobain solo album more than a band effort.

The Specials by The Specials
Mar 19 2026

This wasn't anything like what I was expecting, and is definitely from a genre I am not familiar with. It was super interesting. For what the band lacked in technical and songwriting talent, they more than made up for in uniqueness. They were able to be catchy and exciting without requiring song/ album continuity or convention. I loved the odd instruments and time signatures. Very interesting album.

Listening to this album was pretty much what I expected to happen... I have refused to listen to the Sex Pistols because Anarchy in the UK is my second most despised song of all time behind Killing in the Name of by Rage Against the Machine... But here I am enjoying the rest of the album. I love the production sound, I love the energy, I love the simplicity, and the singing is so unique and recognizable that even though it is atrocious, it works and I don't mind it. I enjoy the lyrics for the most part as well. I probably should have given this album a chance instead of relying on the one song I knew.

I Should Coco by Supergrass
Mar 23 2026

I can't believe I never knew this band existed!! They are the perfect transition piece between 60s brit-rock bands like the Kinks with the subsequent neo-classic-rock phase like JET. They were about 10 years ahead of their time! Catchy songs, fun music videos, and fun music. Thoroughly enjoyed.

Bookends by Simon & Garfunkel
Mar 24 2026

I struggled through this one. Everything that made their previous album so amazing seems to be missing here and all you are left with is what feels like stuff that didn't make their previous album. There's a fine line between experimentation and craftsmanship, and this just feels like experimentation. Nothing really memorable and I found myself zoning out during a lot of the songs.

Vauxhall And I by Morrissey
Mar 25 2026

I don't know what to make of this. I really like the lyrics. I really like the music. But the singing just makes it so unbelievably boring and lulls me to sleep. There is no range whatsoever. Every song ends up sounding the exact same regardless it Metallica or Simon and Garfunkel are the backing band. It sounds so manufactured and uninspired in the end. Theres a song called lifeguarding sleeping, girl drowning. Yeah, it was probably because the lifeguard was listening to this album!!

Black Monk Time by The Monks
Mar 26 2026

Oh my goodness YES! This is what this 1001 albums to listen to before you die is all about! 99% of people including myself would have never heard this album. This album was super cool. I LOVED the uniqueness of his singing style and lyrical composition (if you can even call half of what he says lyrics). His voice was AWESOME. I absolutely loved the organ, and I enjoyed the occasional guitar solo. I loved that the songs stayed upbeat and you could stomp your feet to just about all of them. My only critique is that none of the songs ever felt like complete songs. It's fun for a bit, but then I'm like, is this just a 40 minute long improv / jam session? But you know what, maybe!! Who cares, just GREAT 60s garage rock through and through.

Foxbase Alpha by Saint Etienne
Mar 27 2026

This is unfortunately the influencer of the entire genre that I call "Chipolte Rock", that watered down ethereal bull$hit music they play at Chipolte all the time. Airy, lots of bass with little else, and usually female singers that sound like whispers rather than full vocals. I can't stand this style of music. I will give it two stars only because of the impressiveness of this album sounding timeless and not dated at all. Never would have guessed 1991.

Mar 30 2026

I won't even waste my time reviewing this, other than to say, I recognize it's significance in the history of music.

Physical Graffiti by Led Zeppelin
Mar 31 2026

Led Zeppelin's second best album in my opinion behind Zeppelin IV. I would put this album in the top 50 all time. Custard Pie / The Rover - FANTASTIC one two punch to start the album. Just good ole rockers. My time of dying - ehh, doesn't do it for me, but I recognize it's a great song. Houses of the Holy - good classic Zeppelin but I see why they didn't think it was good enough for the previous album, and probably not good enough for this album either. Trampled Underfoot - my all-time favorite Zeppelin song and probably top 50 all time favorite song by anyone. So much going on, so much talent, just amazing. Kashmir - probably Zeppelin's best song they ever made. Unbelievable songwriting, performance, sound, everything. Maybe top 50 greatest song of all time by anyone. In the light - first three minutes are spectacular, then starts to get monotonous. I will completely ignore the second disc of the double album since it is just a collection of B sides and songs not deemed good enough for previous albums.

Bitches Brew by Miles Davis
Apr 01 2026

This wasn't quite up to par with the other instrumental stuff we have heard. It sounded like mostly meandering improv that didn't really go anywhere. I could do that myself for 40 minutes.

Fun House by The Stooges
Apr 02 2026

Wow. This band was surprisingly consistent. I'm surprised they aren't more famous. Truly ahead of their time when it comes to punk rock, hard rock, and almost glam rock. Great sound. Unique style. Unique voice. Just not great songs.

Blue by Joni Mitchell
Apr 03 2026

This was an odd album. Odd lyrics, odd singing. Nothing like what I have heard before. I'm not a big folk person, but I do appreciate the uniqueness of her voice and singing style.

Definitely Maybe by Oasis
Apr 06 2026

Wow. I was surprised by this. For all the Oasis haters, and me really only knowing Champaign Supernova, I was like they aren't worth my time checking out. But I'll tell you what, u thought this album was pretty decent! Good guitar tracks, nice bass, unique singing, mediocre at best drums. But it was a good listen.

Jagged Little Pill by Alanis Morissette
Apr 07 2026

This was quite an odd and interesting album. I am SHOCKED that is was one of the biggest selling albums of the 90s! Apart from unconventional lyrics and maybe slightly odd singing, it doesn't strike me as THAT different or amazing of an album. It is certainly good, certainly influential.

Brothers In Arms by Dire Straits
Apr 08 2026

This is SUCH an interesting album. Dire Straits undoubtedly in an identity crisis on this album. The first three songs are not their sound whatsoever, and was then completely selling out, but doing it so unbelievably well, one of the greatest back to back to back songs of any album in the history of rock. Then the rest of the album is true Dire Straits. Superbly crafted songs, just very boring.

Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness by The Smashing Pumpkins
Apr 09 2026

The production of the Smashing Pumpkins always baffled me and made it hard for me to figure them out. Their heavy songs never sounded heavy because of the weird boxiness of their guitars and all the weird static. His singing is rough for me to get through. I think they r a hard rock band that just has some slower songs, and I guess that's why metal fans like them. As for this album, my freaking goodness it is WAY TOO LONG. It's not that there is much filler (kudos to them), it just starts to get a bit repetitive. The songs are well crafted.

Rumours by Fleetwood Mac
Apr 10 2026

Top 5 favorite album for me. And I do think this is the best album of all time.

Disintegration by The Cure
Apr 13 2026

This isn't for me. I understand the talent and why people like it, with the atmospheric sounds and textures and meloncholy lullaby sounds, but I can't get into it.

Here's Little Richard by Little Richard
Apr 14 2026

Tutti Fruitti was AWESOME, then the rest kinda sounded the same and nothing super spectacular. It kept me entertained. I was starting to grow a little tired of the sax, wouldn't have minded some other instruments thrown in there. Super good 50s rock.

Graceland by Paul Simon
Apr 15 2026

From a technical standpoint, this album is AMAZING. There is about 4 different genres all put together, usually within the same song! Rock, country, funk, folk, etc. Pretty amazing. Each song is beautifully and articulately crafted. I love the crisp bass. The lyrics are incredible. The challenge for me is the sound is very dated, sounds EXACTLY like 1986. Also, Paul is clearly a one-truck pony on this album. Every single song is just stream of consciousness almost spoken word verses. It gets old after a while. Artistically this is a 5, but I struggle getting into it from an actual listening standpoint.

Call of the Valley by Shivkumar Sharma
Apr 16 2026

I mean, look, this is probably best in class in what it is, but it is what it is. Compared to other styles of music, this just seems borderline unlistenable. It is not offensive and it doesn't make me angry, so I won't give it one star.

Faust IV by Faust
Apr 17 2026

Wow!! This was way better then I was expecting! I have heard and read about krautrock for years because of all my music research I do, but never listened to it. I actually enjoyed it.

Power In Numbers by Jurassic 5
Apr 20 2026

The more I listen to this 90s and early 2000s hip hop the more it starts to sound the same. But I'm sure people who mostly listen to that stuff thinks 70s rock all sounds the same. Nothing special here, but it did have fun beats and good rhyming.

My Generation by The Who
Apr 21 2026

I really enjoy the Who, particularly their 60s stuff. This album however, I didn't feel like they quite clicked yet, not quite their own. The Ox seemed to point to things to come, and My Generation is one of the greatest early hard rock songs ever made, but the rest seemed unorganized and blah. They aren't great songwriters, but they compensate with intensity and energy, and it wasn't on this album.

Floodland by Sisters Of Mercy
Apr 22 2026

Wow this was super interesting!! Not my favorite, but boy did this entertain me. Super odd singing over super mainstream 80s music, with crazy lyrics, and fantastic theatrics. It's the most non-mainstream mainstream music I ever heard!! And holy cow that lead singer looks like th coolest guy EVER! The only reason it doesn't get a four is because it did start to get repetitive.

Apr 23 2026

Shocking shocking shocking. Maybe I was just in the right mood for this at the time, but I LOVED this. This was like Pink Floyd and Jet got together and recorded instrumental music. I don't like instrumental stuff too much, but I was entertained for the first 75%. Only reason not four stars is the last 25% really started to drag.

Sheet Music by 10cc
Apr 24 2026

This was super cool!! Wow. I was entertained the ENTIRE album. What great art rock. It was mainstream and easy to listen to, while still having so many layers of interesting stuff going on. This was experimental Queen before Queen started experimenting! I have a lot of respect for this band after listening to this. Great songwriting, great instruments, commendable singing, great studio work, and great production.

The Atomic Mr Basie by Count Basie & His Orchestra
Apr 27 2026

I've heard enough instrumental albums now, and plus my one friend has played quite a bit of jazz for me, to know that there is better stuff out there than this. It's not bad, just comparative there's stuff I enjoy a lot more.

Pink Moon by Nick Drake
Apr 28 2026

I can't do it. I can't understand him. His voice isn't great. The music gets boring super quick. But it's not repulsive.

Woodface by Crowded House
Apr 29 2026

This should be the album that all other albums are compared to. It's the least offensive album possible, while being the least exciting album possible. This is the most generic, almost algorithmic music possible. This is a 3.0000000.

Apr 30 2026

This was SUPER fun. I loved so much about this. I loved the live feel. I loved that you felt like u were in a dark dingy smokes filled basement bar. I loved his voice. I loved his lyrics. I loved the humor. I loved the easy listening piece of it.

California by American Music Club
May 01 2026

The most sterile 90s wannabe Tom Petty music possible.

Hot Rats by Frank Zappa
May 04 2026

This is an absolute INCREDIBLE collection of talent. Incredible songwriting, incredible musicianship, incredible production. This is so ahead of its time. And each song is unique, and uses unique instruments. Probably going to be my favorite instrumental album.

Raw Power by The Stooges
May 05 2026

I think this is the best pre punk album ever made. Just so good on so many levels. Search and Destroy is INCREDIBLE. My biggest challenge is the production. I think David Bowie is HANDS DOWN the worst producer of all time, and it's not even close. Just terrible. It's a shame he produced albums for The Stooges, Mott the Hoople, MC5, makes powerful bands sound like they recorded in their mom's basements.

Abbey Road by Beatles
May 06 2026

Alright, well, I don't like the beatles, but I must say, I was very very impressed by the album. I thought this was pretty good. Other than Maxwell's Silver Hammer, I can honestly say there isn't really another bad song in this. The medley at the end is kinda cool. Can't believe I'm about to give a beatles album a 4.

May 07 2026

What the freak did I just listen to??? Maybe the weirdest album yet. I don't know if that was music or just a much of repeating sounds.

The Number Of The Beast by Iron Maiden
May 11 2026

This one is tough for me to grade. Knowing Iron Maiden's full discography, and then trying to compare this to all other music (how do you compare to Simon & Garfunkel???), is tough. I'm not a huge fan of this album compared to others by Iron Maiden. I feel like this was their jump off point with a new vocalist and principle lyricist, however it wasn't all there yet like their following albums. That said, it's better than 90% of other music out there, and Run to the Hills is one of the greatest metal songs of all time.

Lady Soul by Aretha Franklin
May 12 2026

Wow! What an INCREDIBLE voice! I've heard her name a million times but never listened to her music. I liked the energy, I liked the style, I liked her voice. It did start to get a little repetitive after a while, and a lack of guitars started to wear on me.

Dirt by Alice In Chains
May 13 2026

I was never much of an AIC fan. Their music never did it for me. I think it was because the singing and the music never yelled to me. It always sounded like two songs being overlapped. However, some stuff on this album wasn't too bad. Dam that River worked, sounded cohesive. The music is GREAT, probably top 5 favorite pre-2000s guitar sound. Drumming repetitive but serviceable. I realize now just how influential this band was! Gave Creed, Nickelback, and then everyone who copied them a blueprint.

Meat Puppets II by Meat Puppets
May 14 2026

This was an odd listen. I appreciate that this app is trying to introduce you to unique, different stuff you wouldn't normally listen to, and it IS called 1001 albums to listen to before you die and not best 1001 albums ever, so I need to keep reminding myself that. This was unique, not good. I like the (I assume) two different lead singers and I do like that they sound like different bands at times. But overall it was just lackluster, not bad. Nothing noteworthy, other than some interesting lyrics.

Group Sex by Circle Jerks
May 15 2026

I really need to make sure I get into heaven, because I heard rumors that this and Leonard Cohen are on repeat on the loudspeakers in hell.

Hail To the Thief by Radiohead
May 18 2026

I never understood the love affair with Radiohead. It's borderline unlistenable. There are some glimpses of genius, but it's mostly just boring head music. I guess if I did drugs I would feel differently.

At San Quentin by Johnny Cash
May 19 2026

Johnny Cash always have crazy set lists, and his greatest hits are all over the place, so in a way it's kinda cool because the more you listen to him, the more songs you hear, and it's very few that repeat across greatest hits or live sets. I'm listened to a lot of Johnny Cash and STILL half these songs I never heard before! I'm glad they didn't cut between songs and you can hear all the back and forth with the crowd. Makes you feel like you are there.

Supa Dupa Fly by Missy Elliott
May 20 2026

You bet your dupa this was supa BAD...

Kollaps by Einstürzende Neubauten
May 21 2026

Just because it is different or unusual, doesn't mean it needs to be listened to before you die. I am starting to wish this list was comprised of generally agreed upon "good" music rather than the most eclectic 1001 albums they could find. I mean, I can make an album of dogs barking and babies farting, but that shouldn't automatically qualify it for this list just because no one has done that before.

Steve McQueen by Prefab Sprout
May 22 2026

This was pretty run of the mill 80s post-punk-pop. Nothing special. Couldn't really hold my attention. Guitars were boring, drums repetitive, and voice generic.

Either Or by Elliott Smith
May 25 2026

This wasn't near as good as his figure 8 album. This just sounded like incoherent whispers over a repetitive acoustic guitar. Each song sounded the same. It was as if Paul McCartney lost his voice and only wanted to do slow songs.

May 26 2026

Hey Ya is probably my favorite hip hop song of all time. Roses was a spectacular surprise! The rest of it stank. 2 hours to hear two good songs.

Morrison Hotel by The Doors
May 27 2026

Wow!! This was really good! Never heard most of the songs on here which surprised me. This was a really good mix of songs, each one unique. So fast, slow, guitar, keyboard, rock, psych, really enjoyed it.

Rapture by Anita Baker
May 28 2026

This is the PERFECT representation of everything that I can't stand about 80s pop. It is all the same... Sterile inorganic composer created fake instrumentals, with a talented singer who can't write their own music or lyrics. Boring boring boring.

69 Love Songs by The Magnetic Fields
May 29 2026

This was odd. I think there was maybe 3 different lead singers? The lyrics were terrible but enjoyable because of being so bad. The singing was super bad too, but also, almost gave it an authenticity that saves the rest of what feels like unauthentic, synthesized music. Overall forgettable, but commendable if for no other reason than sounding different without being bad.

Arrival by ABBA
Jun 01 2026

This one is tough to grade. The songs seem so unauthentic, so produced and manufactured. It feels like... Ok, lay down the vocals. Ok, now lay down the acoustic guitars. Ok, now lay down the drums. Ok, now lay down the bass. Ok, now add some effects. The vocals are great, despite heavily overproduced. It just doesn't all come together for me. They are great songs though so whoever r the songwriters are super talented.

A Girl Called Dusty by Dusty Springfield
Jun 02 2026

Super great singing and voice. The music is very lost to that time and era though. Very outdated. But I liked the simple, cute songs.

High Violet by The National
Jun 03 2026

This pretty much sounded like a guy singing over a white noise machine. It's wasn't terrible, just not very dynamic or memorable. I'll forget what this sounded like a month from now.

Here, My Dear by Marvin Gaye
Jun 04 2026

This was weird but I LOVED it. The music was incredible and the lyrics were just a guy complaining about his divorce for an hour and a half. This was either the most non-commercial mainstream R&B album, or the most commercial non-mainstream R&B album ever created. Thoroughly enjoyed.

Jun 05 2026

This was a very eerie album. Very impressive that they could keep that vibe throughout the whole album. I really liked his voice, despite it being that usually annoying British pop-punk voice, but his actually sounded like it had conviction in it. There was barely any guitar yet it kept my attention. Tainted Love might be one of the greatest covers of all time. Truly truly made it their own and made it sound so good.

Talking Book by Stevie Wonder
Jun 08 2026

This was a little disappointing compared to other stuff I have listened to by him. This felt like a one track album with Superstition. The rest felt mediocre. One of the most talented musicians in the history of music, but this didn't feel like his best stuff.

Boston by Boston
Jun 09 2026

This album is about as good as it gets. Top 5 all-time favorite album for me. Not ONE bad song on here. Even the least good song in here is better than 90% of music that came out in the 70s! Just incredible. The custom made guitar sound is astonishing for that time, the drum sound is amazing, and the singing is great. In addition, GREAT songwriting. I would give it 6 stars if I could.

Since I Left You by The Avalanches
Jun 10 2026

I honestly don't know how people could WANT to listen to this. Not sure how it makes its way into a 1001 album list. There is just nothing worth listening to here.

John Prine by John Prine
Jun 11 2026

This is the touchstone that all other singer songwriter story telling albums should be compared to. I think this has it all... Great lyrics, great stories, great convictions, great choruses, and great music.

Wonderful Rainbow by Lightning Bolt
Jun 12 2026

My friend and I made an album that sounded like this... in sixth grade. I didn't know we were trendsetters.

Jun 15 2026

This isn't my thing. It's kinda boring and repetitive, but I know people love this stuff. For me, I think it would be more fun to write and record this type of music then to actually listen to it.

Jun 16 2026

This album is an unbelievable example of how one person with one guitar can make you feel so many emotions. This is as good as Johnny Cash gets in my opinion, and he is doing it at the end of his days well, well after his glory days. Hurt might be the greatest cover ever, and maybe best music video ever. When the Man Comes Around easily a top ten greatest Christian rock song. Great album.

The Stone Roses by The Stone Roses
Jun 17 2026

Yikes this was boring and monotonous. The first track was a real struggle to get through and I think that was the single! The music was commonplace and the singing was lackluster.

Jun 18 2026

I'm not saying they are BAD, but I just don't understand how they are so huge. They don't seem to be special to me, and I can't figure out why other people find them special. The other album was better. This one felt a little whiny. Overall not bad, just not special.

Heroes to Zeros by The Beta Band
Jun 19 2026

This was a fun listen! Every song was unique and interesting. His voice wasn't great and got monotonous after a while, but kept me entertained.

In Rainbows by Radiohead
Jun 22 2026

Well, this wasn't offensive, and it did keep my attention for most of it. I appreciate the changes and shifts throughout. It's definitely not something I would find myself listening to again though.

Birth Of The Cool by Miles Davis
Jun 23 2026

I think I just accidentally listened to the same song 10 times in a row.

Bummed by Happy Mondays
Jun 24 2026

At first I was like... ANOTHER 80s post-punk-pop album???? But then the more I listened the more I realized this one was actually a little unique. It was using the old 70s Funkadelic style of one consistent groove for 4-5 minutes, then singing over top of it. I liked the grooves. Nothing special. Singing was unbelievably generic for the 80s. But was glad it was slightly unique, when the 80s had such little variation in their mainstream music.

Siembra by Willie Colón & Rubén Blades
Jun 25 2026

This was super interesting. I didn't know what to expect for the highest selling salsa album of all time. And for it to be from the 70s was shocking. Fun listen. Well crafted. Not sure what more to say though haha.

Olympia 64 by Jacques Brel
Jun 26 2026

He had a super amazing voice and it was very enjoyable to listen to. But it was hard to compare it to anything else I ever listened to!

Jun 29 2026

Sheer Heart Attack is a tough transition album for me. Queen's first two albums really focused on hard rock and there are some REALLY rocking songs on there. Then Night at the Opera is art rock at its finest. This album finds itself somewhere in the middle and it doesn't work for me. Plus half the songs sound half finished or rushed. Still better than a lot of other music, just some of queens weaker music in my opinion.

Nebraska by Bruce Springsteen
Jun 30 2026

Oh my goodness. Wow! I found a new album to listen to when I am having trouble following asleep! This is a new level of boring. Bruce Springsteen is challenging enough to listen to, then add insult to injury by stripping out any possible interesting music by relegating his voice to drifting over top of just a soft acoustic guitar!! I can't imagine a time I would EVER want to listen to this again.

Locust Abortion Technician by Butthole Surfers
Jul 01 2026

Boy, it's hard for me to tell the difference between music and artistically directed sounds. And it's hard for me to tell if the art is genius and I don't get it, or it's just garbage and someone is testing me. I think I made more coherent music when I was ten. I'm pretty sure this is complete garbage.

Blood Sugar Sex Magik by Red Hot Chili Peppers
Jul 02 2026

I've tried a few times now to get into the RHCP and I just can't do it. The drums are fantastic, the bass is one of the best, the guitar is serviceable, the songs are for the most part catchy, so I think it's just his voice and singing style. It doesn't work for me. Lots of talent, but I just can't get into it. Give It Away is a top 50 all time favorite song for me though.

Jul 03 2026

NOT ANOTHER 80S POST PUNK ALBUM!!!! My ears are going to start bleeding soon. They might as well call this 801 eighties post punk, and 200 other, albums to listen to. I mean, it's not bad, but nothing special, sounded like the 30 other ones we already listened to, just maybe a little darker.

Jul 06 2026

This grooves!! Classic Funkadelic finding their groove and keeping it going for 5-10 minutes while random singing and guitars play over top of it. The guitar solos were FANTASTIC. I loved how almost every song the RHYTHM was practically the/a guitar solo. I loved the grooves. However it just didnt have the staying power for me. It felt a little too cleaned up / mainstream, almost Marvin Gaye for me at times. I liked their rougher more rockin stuff. None of the songs wowed me or got stuck in my head.

The Suburbs by Arcade Fire
Jul 07 2026

I always really appreciate when there is a male and female singer in a band, so that was a plus. Otherwise, this isn't my cup of tea. I recognize the talent and there are good songs for sure. The musicianship is serviceable and they are good for their genre.

All Directions by The Temptations
Jul 08 2026

Wasn't sure what to expect, but I got about what I should have expected... One or two great songs and then a bunch of slow, boring soul. The opener, and "Poppa" were fantastic, the rest couldn't keep my attention. It feels too manufactured other than those two and Charlie.

Shaft by Isaac Hayes
Jul 09 2026

This was an interesting listen as it was pretty much one song, then background music after that. But I guess super well crafted and top quality background music. Very well written and performed instrumentals, very 70s.

Time (The Revelator) by Gillian Welch
Jul 10 2026

Singer/Songwriter folk is tricky because you need to be REALLY good to hit sound like everyone else. In the end, this sounds like everyone else. This is the easiest music to make, just a guitar and singing. This is a poet trying to make music, and I feel that is one third the talent of all other music. Yeah they wrote great lyrics. But the singing isn't great, and the instruments aren't there and the guitar is run of the mill.

This Year's Model by Elvis Costello & The Attractions
Jul 13 2026

Wow this was fun!! I loved the organ! The energy was great, the uniqueness was fun, the drums had a very crazy sound to them. I never knew Pump it Up by Lenny Kravitz was a cover!! I only knew Elvis Costello from Stephen Colbert's Christmas special where Elvis was HYSTERICAL. This makes me appreciate him even more.

Bryter Layter by Nick Drake
Jul 14 2026

Well, it was undoubtedly the best of his three albums, but it was STILL boring as hell. He singing instantly puts me to sleep. I'd have to be stuck on an island, this be the only music I have, and desperate to fall asleep, to ever listen to Nick Drake again. This album though was a nice step up with the inclusion of so many accompanying instruments, it make it fuller, happier, and more lively.

Cypress Hill by Cypress Hill
Jul 15 2026

This isn't even music. This is just some guy angry about his life talking about it.

The Soft Bulletin by The Flaming Lips
Jul 16 2026

This was an interesting listen. Flaming Lips are a huge hit or miss for me, but this was mostly hit. I liked the songs. They weren't too crazy while still being 100% Flaming Lips. I really enjoy their sound and production quality. I love the uniqueness. These songs had some pretty interesting topics haha.

Rock 'N Soul by Solomon Burke
Jul 17 2026

They have been doing a great job of finding good representative early rock albums that don't sound repetitive like a lot of the 80s albums they chose, and this is no different. Very unique. I liked the female background vocals throughout. I liked his occasional wailing. It was a solid album. Only critique is that it falls into the early 60s mantra of minimalist instruments.

Sea Change by Beck
Jul 20 2026

This was very very good background music. Didn't really hold my attention but was peaceful and kept moving.

Brilliant Corners by Thelonious Monk
Jul 21 2026

This was the best jazz I have heard yet. It had energy, it had variety, it had multiple instruments, and it kept my attention.

Sincere by Mj Cole
Jul 22 2026

I don't enjoy listening to it, but I have a deep appreciation for the talent it takes to make electronic music. That being said, this wasn't some of the strongest I ever heard. Very repetitive, nothing unique or crazy going on. Songs with lyrics were very simple. But it wasn't offensive.

Jul 23 2026

I can tell there is a lot of talent here even though this isn't a genre I listen to, and it is in a foreign language. The music was repetitive but at least interesting. He had a really good voice.

Jul 24 2026

This album was a mixed bag of highs and lows critically for me. Highs... Loves the guitar and drum sound! Very crisp but yet thick. Kept my attention. Lows... His voice, the lyrics, and song structures. The songs were like 90 seconds a piece, so after a while I was like, ok... It got exhausting.

After The Gold Rush by Neil Young
Jul 27 2026

It's so hard for me to grade Neil Young. It is so unique, so I don't know what to compare it to. His cat-stuck-in-a-vice-grip voice either sounds terrible or fascinating depending on the mood I am in. His loose, minimal studio takes style either sounds amateur or authentic depending on what I'm in the mood for. His songs go from piano to ripping guitar, to soft whispers with acoustic guitar, sometimes effortlessly, sometimes jarring. He's either a lyrical genius or Bob Dylan like depending on the song. He's a conundrum. I can take him in small doses. This was an interesting album. Southern Man is a major highlight for me, always loved the sound. The rest of the album borders on intriguing country or loose sort rock.

3 Feet High and Rising by De La Soul
Jul 28 2026

Was that The Crunge by Led Zeppelin to start the album?!!! That alone gives it an extra star!! Also sampled Steely Dan! I loved the concept of the game show, really tied the album together. They did a really good job with this album! Each song had a unique sound while still staying cohesive. It was a nice strong production sound. Shockingly I really liked this.

Public Image: First Issue by Public Image Ltd.
Jul 29 2026

This is about as bad as music gets, however with one exception. The bass is FANTASTIC. I love the sound, the production, and the style. The rest of the music is pure trash, one of the worst albums I have listened to ever.

Beggars Banquet by The Rolling Stones
Jul 30 2026

The Rolling Stones are so impressive to me with how every album is an amazing mix of rock, blues, and country. And the kicker... They make GREAT country songs, GREAT blues songs, and GREAT rock songs. This album is no exception. And that's why in my opinion, pound for pound, the stones are better than the Beatles. The Beatles pretty much had one style of music, pop, and only once they became effectively solo artists under the name "Beatles" did the music vary. But the stones did everything as a band, impressive. Sympathy for the Devil and Street Fighting Man are definitely highlights, but their country stuff on here is solid.

Justified by Justin Timberlake
Jul 31 2026

This kind of music is like water to me... It just runs through my hands. It has no substance. I don't know if it is good or bad, it is just like vanilla ice cream. It's hard for me to focus on it while it is playing, and it's hard to remember much of it.

Catch A Fire by Bob Marley & The Wailers
Aug 03 2026

I'm glad I finally listened to Bob Marley after all these years of such a big name artist that I never listened to. But I don't think I was missing out. The whole time I felt like I was trudging through deep snow, or walking in thick mud. However it did make me feel like I was on a beach sipping a mojito watching the waves roll by.

To Pimp A Butterfly by Kendrick Lamar
Aug 04 2026

Usually this style of music would be unlistenable for me. But there was something unique about this. He had a unique singing style, unique sound, and the music had a lot of interesting instruments / electronics in it. I liked what he did with the vocals, I liked the George Clinton type influence. It wasn't the typical boring repetitive tapeloop backbeat with someone complaining over top of it. Really good for a usually intolerable genre.

Aug 05 2026

This just seems like some bad experimental album from 1968 that everyone (for good reason) forgot about. But no!! It was from 1996!!! Come on people... Music has evolved WELL beyond this. No reason to listen to. No reason to have on this list.

The Undertones by The Undertones
Aug 06 2026

This was a really fun listen!! The first two songs were like, here we go, Ramones wannabes, but after a while I was like, you what, I kinda dig it. They certainly didn't seem pretentious in (in my opinion) one of the most pretentious genres out there (despite punk trying to be the anti-pretentious class!!!) and they were there to make fun music, not have an agenda. It was fun, it felt genuine, good listen.

1977 by Ash
Aug 07 2026

This falls into that typical 1990's "let's strum some chords with ten times as much reverb as necessary and turn the amps to eleven so that everything sounds like static and we'll whine and complain over top of it" genre. I don't love it. If there is any talent here, it is lost in the reverb. One or two songs kept my attention, the rest didn't.

If You Can Believe Your Eyes & Ears by The Mamas & The Papas
Aug 10 2026

This was awesome!!! I never listened to them before! Sure, I knew California Dreaming and Monday, Monday, but the rest was just as good!! This was probably the best vocal harmonies I ever heard from the 60s! Call it blasphemy, but I think they have ABBA beat in almost every way, and they came first!! Better harmonies, better songwriting, better instruments, more authentic, and more cohesive. Just maybe not as catchy. This was great, so glad I got introduced.

Back In Black by AC/DC
Aug 11 2026

I will start by saying I'm not an AC DC fan. But I'll tell you what, this album is INCREDIBLE. The songs are power rock genius. Arena rock at its finest. The way they r written. They way they r performed. The production. Everything is spot on. The drums are so interesting to me. So basic, but so powerful, and the drum production is some of the best from 1980 or earlier. 46 years old and is as fresh now as it was then. Amazing album. I wish the rest of their discography wasn't a carbon copy of it.

Abraxas by Santana
Aug 12 2026

This was a super interesting listen. I did really enjoy it, it felt like it had a lot of potential, but in the end, didn't really wow me. I enjoyed the feel, I enjoyed the guitar. But it just didn't get to the next level. I'd imagine they are a band that is better live than in the studio.

Ramones by Ramones
Aug 14 2026

Let me start by just saying I am WELL aware about the incredible importance of this album and the immense influence on the emergence of punk and various other subgenres because of this album's existence. I also understand how the Ramones purposely went for the anti-prog-rock sound. That being said, the repetitious-power-chord-only-with-no-solos and the same-song-just-different-simple-to-the-point-lyrics for a whole album... Like I get it, that's your schtick, but when that's the only thing you seem capable of doing, it loses its charm a bit. It started out strong, but as each song became the same thing over and over again, each song became less enjoyable, and towards the end, irritating. It had energy, excitement, uniqueness, it was a fun listen, for about 20 minutes.

Iron Maiden by Iron Maiden
Aug 18 2026

I will always love the sound of Black Sabbath over the sound of Metallica or Judas Priest. I love the power chord driven metal over the talented speed picking. Therefore I like this more than Number of the Beast. It sounds thicker, more raw, more powerful. However no one can compete with Bruce Dickinson. Nothing against Paul, he would make a GREAT punk singer, be the lead singer of the Sex Pistols or something and you would have an AMAZING band. But not Iron Maiden. It's not the right sound.

Aug 19 2026

I guess this falls into the category of modern singer-songwriter / folk. Thought provoking and clever lyrics with minimalist instruments. It entertains me enough that I stay focused but not enough to want to listen to again. Train and Honey I'm a Big Boy Now were my two favorites.

Critic

Average rating: 2.90 (0.40 below global average).

Other

Album origins are grouped into three buckets: US, UK, and everything else. “Other” means the artists you rate highest are from outside the US and UK.