1001 Albums Summary

Album review 001 Highly Evolved by The Vines (2002) Rating 2/5. I remember being underwhelmed by this album back when it was first released, especially so with all the UK music press hype that was surrounding the band. Still not impressed 20+ years later; a couple of the slower tracks are ok but there’s very little on this album that makes me think I’ll be listening again in the coming 20 years.

Album review 002 Dirt by Alice In Chains (1992) Rating: 1.5/5 This is the first time I’ve listen to this album in its entirety and, knowing some of the tracks already, it didn’t bring anything I didn’t expect - essentially, a very one-dimensional set of songs with pretty much every one being an angst-ridden whinge about the singer/band slowly killing themselves with their drug addictions. What should be a powerful and emotional album ultimately becomes everything it shouldn’t be: boring. I doubt I’ll ever feel the need to listen to Dirt, or Alice In Chains for that matter, again.

Album review 003 Lady Soul by Aretha Franklin (1968) Rating 4/5 I looked forward to re-listening to this album and was not disappointed at all - so much so that one listen turned into four in a row over the space of two very short hours. Not just amazing vocals, with one of the all time greats at the very top of her game, but great musicianship and some fine songwriting too.

Album review 004 Catch a Fire by Bob Marley and the Wailers (1973) Rating: 4.5/5 If you’d asked me to write a list of my favourite albums at any point in the last couple of decades, Catch a Fire would be consistently somewhere in the top 20 or 30. Two versions of this album have been released; the original which some claim is over-produced, and the 2001 stripped-back “Jamaican Version” that doesn’t have the original mixes’ overdubs which some claim is under-produced. I love them both (but find the original a more enjoyable listen). The Wailers are on top form and tight as they’ve ever been, bringing us songs that mean Something.

Album review 005 Three Feet High and Rising by De La Soul (1989) Rating 3.5/5 Everyone remembers the first album I ever bought(?) and Three Feet High and Rising was mine. It’s been years since I last spun this but sat with a big smile on my face when listening to it again. First thoughts were how refreshing it was to hear a rap album from late 80s-90’s that’s fun and isn’t “gansta”. I expect I’ll be listening to De La Soul and other artists from this period (a Tribe Called Quest, Statsasonic, Pete Rock & CL Smooth, Jungle Brothers, etc., etc….) a lot in the next few days.

Album review 006 Signing Off by UB40 (1980) Rating 3/5 It’s the first time I’ve listened to this album and reading the tracklist beforehand, was glad to see that Signing Off was free of any of the cod reggae covers I mostly know UB40 for. The message the album brings is unfortunately becoming relevant again as, in late 2025 when I write this, we’re seeing an increase in everything UB40 are voicing against; discrimination, division in society, and lack of opportunity. Mostly enjoyed Signing Off and feel I owe another listen for me to fully appreciate it, although if I wasn’t making an effort to listen closely I expect it’d be the type of album that would just blend into the background.

Album review 007 The New Tango (recorded live at the Montreux Festival) by Astor Piazzolla & Gary Burton (1987) Rating 3.5/5 So, it’s not often that I can say that I spent an hour listening to a live recording of a virtuoso bandoneonist playing nuevo tango with a renowned vibraphonist. Quite enjoyed it. (Interestingly, a quick read of the review on AllMusic mentions how the pair only had three rehearsals together before playing this set. I didn’t expect that at all, sounds like they’ve been playing together for years and their styles/instruments/playing combine really well).

Album review 007 Fullfillingness’ First Finale by Stevie Wonder (1974) Rating 3/5 Most reviews of this album will talk about how Stevie Wonder’s run of five albums between 1972’s Music of My Mind and 1976’s Songs in the Key of Life is one of the greatest purple patches of any artist, and Fullfillingness’… is the oft overlooked and neglected sibling to the other albums in this run. Listening to this objectively though, I don’t find it to be a truly great album with great songs; it’s more of a ok album with some good songs, and doesn’t stand up to the quality of Stevie Wonder’s other albums of this period.

Album review 008 It Takes a Nation of Millions… by Public Enemy (1988) Rating 3/5 I get why people love this album and can see how relevant it was back when it was first released. Almost 40 years on and Chuck D’s delivery remains as powerful as ever but It takes a Nation… is an album that just doesn’t do it for me.

Album review 010 Rage Against the Machine by Rage Against the Machine (1992) Rating 3.5/5 The 1001 Album Generator dealt me It Takes a Nation of Millions… by Public Enemy for my 9th album and followed it up with RATM for #10, I mention this as found so much similarity between them despite the difference in style. A call to arms for social justice over heavy riffs, Rage Against the Machine does exactly what it promises. (Got this on cassette when I was 13 and leant it to a mate, never got it back)

Album review 011 Face To Face by The Kinks (1966) Rating 2/5 1966 was the year we saw Pet Sounds, Revolver, and Blonde on Blonde released. I can’t help but compare Face To Face with these, which maybe a bit unfair, and feel this isn’t a truly great album. If we were still in the 60’s (or even in the 90’s for that matter) I’d likely rate this much higher but almost 60-years on, Face To Face now sounds very much a product of its time and has little to excite or interest me.

Album review 012 Live at the Star Club, Hamburg by Jerry Lee Lewis (1964) Rating 1/5 When the 1001 Album Generator dealt me this album, my first thoughts were about separating art from the artist. Is it ok to listen to Morrissey since he outed himself as a racist/fascist, or Phil Spector’s work despite the domestic abuse and murder conviction, or Michael Jackson after he morphed from the abused to the abuser??? With his history of domestic abuse, incest, paedophillia, racism, two dead wives and the associated murder “allegations”, etc, etc… it’s pretty clear in my conscience: No matter how good the performance might be, F*ck Jerry Lee Lewis and Live at the Hamburg. 1/5.

Album review 013 I Want To See The Bright Lights Tonight by Richard and Linda Thompson (1974) Rating 2/5 It’s been a long time since I last listened to this album and despite regular appearances on best ever lists, I Want To See The Bright Lights Tonight has never clicked for me. Two songs into this most recent listen I thought “yeah, this actually may be an album that I might really grow to like”. By track 11, I realised I was wrong - folk rock just isn’t a type of music I enjoy (although there are a couple of notable exceptions which we’ll get to over the next 1,000 or so reviews). It’s a perfectly ok record, but not one I think I’ll ever appreciate.