1001 Albums Summary

The Score by Fugees

An album of standout moments. The singles sound as good now as they did almost 30 years ago - "we used to be number 10, now we permanent at one" is a great opening line. Kudos for the range of samples and swipes (Falmingos on Zealots, Cymande on The Score and Teena Marie on Fu-Gee-La). They slide into some boom bap tropes at times, and the skits can be laborious/offensive (one notorious one in particular). But the interplay between the three members, with Ms Lauryn Hill's incredible vocal performances the highlight, and general joyous nature of the record bring it to 4 stars

Meat Is Murder by The Smiths

Were the Smiths a singles band? Caught midway between the dense, gothic fog of their debut and the lusher productions of later albums, MiM is a patchy affair. It contains some of Johnny Marr's best guitar work, and his Nile Rodgers/Bernie Edwards double act with Andy Rourke (particularly on Barbarism Begins at Home) is joyous. That Joke Isn't Funny Anymore is possibly their most languidly, achingly beautiful song, but too often pretty melodies and propulsive rhythms are blighted by Morrissey at his most tedious. Strange that one his most effective lyrical efforts is on this album (the dressed up Elvis rush of Rusholme Ruffians).

Tapestry by Carole King

I didn't grow up listening to this album, but I once heard someone describe it as an old friend and that sums it up. You know all the songs, deeply personal yet for everyone. Title track is my favourite with its mediaeval imagery - almost a cousin to After The Gold Rush.

In A Silent Way by Miles Davis

Rattus Norvegicus by The Stranglers

All the elements are here: the propulsive rhythms section and those long ascending/descending lead lines from Hugh Cornwell and Dave Greenfield. The 70s pub rock influences are still there, but you can hear how they were moving towards their Punk Doors era. They released more interesting records afterwards, but an important statement of intent which showcased their musicality and approach to melody

Either Or by Elliott Smith

Heroes by David Bowie

Violent Femmes by Violent Femmes

Every Picture Tells A Story by Rod Stewart

I actually enjoyed this more than I thought. Rootsy, folk-rock songs and a great cover I Know I'm Losing You stood out.

The Slim Shady LP by Eminem

The Village Green Preservation Society by The Kinks

Queen II by Queen

Francis Albert Sinatra & Antonio Carlos Jobim by Frank Sinatra

Exile On Main Street by The Rolling Stones

Tubular Bells by Mike Oldfield

Justified by Justin Timberlake

Legalize It by Peter Tosh

The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan by Bob Dylan

Bookends by Simon & Garfunkel

You've Come a Long Way Baby by Fatboy Slim

This Year's Model by Elvis Costello & The Attractions

Listen Without Prejudice Vol. 1 by George Michael

Liege And Lief by Fairport Convention

In The Wee Small Hours by Frank Sinatra

3 + 3 by The Isley Brothers

Dirty by Sonic Youth

Neon Bible by Arcade Fire

Some great tunes (Keep The Car Running, No Cars Go) but very ponderous and overly earnest without saying anything. Lacks the charm of Funeral and the song craft of Suburbs. And Win Butler, man...

Blue Lines by Massive Attack

Play by Moby

O.G. Original Gangster by Ice T

Penance Soiree by The Icarus Line

Highway 61 Revisited by Bob Dylan

Sulk by The Associates

Scott 4 by Scott Walker

She's So Unusual by Cyndi Lauper

Bert Jansch by Bert Jansch

Don't Stand Me Down by Dexys Midnight Runners

Live At The Harlem Square Club by Sam Cooke

Stories From The City, Stories From The Sea by PJ Harvey

The Rising by Bruce Springsteen

Pearl by Janis Joplin

Parachutes by Coldplay

The Köln Concert by Keith Jarrett

1984 by Van Halen

A Christmas Gift For You From Phil Spector by Various Artists

The Wildest! by Louis Prima

Juju by Siouxsie And The Banshees

Talking Heads 77 by Talking Heads

Arrival by ABBA

Don't Come Home A Drinkin' (With Lovin' On Your Mind) by Loretta Lynn

Jagged Little Pill by Alanis Morissette

(Pronounced 'Leh-'Nérd 'Skin-'Nérd) by Lynyrd Skynyrd

Hard Again by Muddy Waters

Superfuzz Bigmuff by Mudhoney

Dire Straits by Dire Straits

Birth Of The Cool by Miles Davis

G. Love And Special Sauce by G. Love & Special Sauce

Zombie by Fela Kuti

Medúlla by Björk

Document by R.E.M.

Back In Black by AC/DC

The Cars by The Cars

Live And Dangerous by Thin Lizzy

Electric by The Cult

Alien Lanes by Guided By Voices

Beggars Banquet by The Rolling Stones

Ellington at Newport by Duke Ellington

Sunshine Superman by Donovan

Vivid by Living Colour

Parklife by Blur

Stripped by Christina Aguilera

Penthouse And Pavement by Heaven 17

Fuzzy by Grant Lee Buffalo

Purple Rain by Prince

Emperor Tomato Ketchup by Stereolab

The Rise & Fall by Madness

Harvest by Neil Young

Roger the Engineer by The Yardbirds

Musically more interesting than I thought it would be. Beck is an inventive guitarist and the influence on other guitarists of the era (and competition that must have generated) is clear. The issue with lots of proto records from this era is the production is very thin and the songs veer towards being insipid. This is why its an influential but not essential album, for me

Rhythm Nation 1814 by Janet Jackson

Here, My Dear by Marvin Gaye

Music for the Masses by Depeche Mode

Beautiful Freak by Eels

Suzanne Vega by Suzanne Vega

Pornography by The Cure

Moby Grape by Moby Grape

The Velvet Underground & Nico by The Velvet Underground

Destroyer by KISS

Ramones by Ramones

Dirt by Alice In Chains

No Sleep 'Til Hammersmith (Live) by Motörhead

Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere by Neil Young & Crazy Horse

Boy In Da Corner by Dizzee Rascal

Reign In Blood by Slayer

The Blueprint by JAY Z

Fear Of Music by Talking Heads

Disraeli Gears by Cream

Blood And Chocolate by Elvis Costello & The Attractions

Crime Of The Century by Supertramp

Bossanova by Pixies

It's Too Late to Stop Now by Van Morrison

Parsley, Sage, Rosemary And Thyme by Simon & Garfunkel

The Queen Is Dead by The Smiths

Hunky Dory by David Bowie

Our Aim Is To Satisfy by Red Snapper

Blood Sugar Sex Magik by Red Hot Chili Peppers

Nebraska by Bruce Springsteen

Raw Power by The Stooges

Let's Stay Together by Al Green

Fear Of A Black Planet by Public Enemy

The Suburbs by Arcade Fire

Peace Sells...But Who's Buying by Megadeth

Different Class by Pulp

Venus Luxure No. 1 Baby by Girls Against Boys

Dear Science by TV On The Radio

Exile In Guyville by Liz Phair

Time Out by The Dave Brubeck Quartet

Trans Europe Express by Kraftwerk

Tellin’ Stories by The Charlatans

Hounds Of Love by Kate Bush

The Pleasure Principle by Gary Numan

The White Album by Beatles

Teenager Of The Year by Frank Black

Led Zeppelin by Led Zeppelin

Music Has The Right To Children by Boards of Canada

Future Days by Can

Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers by Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers

Sign 'O' The Times by Prince

Tigermilk by Belle & Sebastian

Now I Got Worry by The Jon Spencer Blues Explosion

The College Dropout by Kanye West

Siembra by Willie Colón & Rubén Blades

Abraxas by Santana

...And Justice For All by Metallica

NEU! 75 by Neu!

The World is a Ghetto by War

Colour By Numbers by Culture Club

Rumours by Fleetwood Mac

Os Mutantes by Os Mutantes

The Bones Of What You Believe by CHVRCHES

Iron Maiden by Iron Maiden

Headquarters by The Monkees

Giant Steps by The Boo Radleys

A Rush Of Blood To The Head by Coldplay

Be by Common

Meat Puppets II by Meat Puppets

Third by Soft Machine

Hotel California by Eagles

Liquid Swords by GZA

Mr. Tambourine Man by The Byrds

Surfer Rosa by Pixies

We Are Family by Sister Sledge

They Were Wrong, So We Drowned by Liars

Chore of Enchantment by Giant Sand

Songs For Swingin' Lovers! by Frank Sinatra

Ready To Die by The Notorious B.I.G.

In It For The Money by Supergrass

Electric Warrior by T. Rex

Brothers In Arms by Dire Straits

Pelican West by Haircut 100

Bone Machine by Tom Waits

Bat Out Of Hell by Meat Loaf

Ladies And Gentlemen We Are Floating In Space by Spiritualized

LP1 by FKA twigs

Me Against The World by 2Pac

Green River by Creedence Clearwater Revival

Behaviour by Pet Shop Boys

Germfree Adolescents by X-Ray Spex

Coat Of Many Colors by Dolly Parton

Stankonia by OutKast

All Directions by The Temptations

Oracular Spectacular by MGMT

Songs Of Leonard Cohen by Leonard Cohen

In Utero by Nirvana

Talking Timbuktu by Ali Farka Touré

3 Feet High and Rising by De La Soul

Punishing Kiss by Ute Lemper

The Band by The Band

Elephant by The White Stripes

A Girl Called Dusty by Dusty Springfield

Grievous Angel by Gram Parsons

Haut de gamme / Koweït, rive gauche by Koffi Olomide

Fulfillingness' First Finale by Stevie Wonder

Elvis Presley by Elvis Presley

The Specials by The Specials

Country Life by Roxy Music

Dookie by Green Day

E.V.O.L. by Sonic Youth

Rain Dogs by Tom Waits

Reggatta De Blanc by The Police

2112 by Rush

Savane by Ali Farka Touré

Surf's Up by The Beach Boys

Blunderbuss by Jack White

On The Beach by Neil Young

Locust Abortion Technician by Butthole Surfers

Doggystyle by Snoop Dogg

Never Mind The Bollocks, Here’s The Sex Pistols by Sex Pistols

People's Instinctive Travels and the Paths of Rhythm by A Tribe Called Quest

Deep Purple In Rock by Deep Purple

Paul's Boutique by Beastie Boys

Since I Left You by The Avalanches

Hms Fable by Shack

In The Court Of The Crimson King by King Crimson

Blue by Joni Mitchell

Cross by Justice

Fisherman's Blues by The Waterboys

Bringing It All Back Home by Bob Dylan

Are You Experienced by Jimi Hendrix

Court And Spark by Joni Mitchell

The Black Saint And The Sinner Lady by Charles Mingus

OK Computer by Radiohead

Idlewild by Everything But The Girl

Layla And Other Assorted Love Songs by Derek & The Dominos

Appetite For Destruction by Guns N' Roses

Rising Above Bedlam by Jah Wobble's Invaders Of The Heart

Fishscale by Ghostface Killah

Let It Bleed by The Rolling Stones

Live At The Witch Trials by The Fall

Hysteria by Def Leppard

Nevermind by Nirvana