My 1001 Albums Journey

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3.11

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1045 albums remaining

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2000

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Indie

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Wordsmith

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5-Star Albums

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Albums

You Love More Than Most

Album	You	Global	Diff
A Christmas Gift For You From Phil Spector Various Artists	5	3.3	+1.7
Stories From The City, Stories From The Sea PJ Harvey	5	3.38	+1.62
Coat Of Many Colors Dolly Parton	5	3.42	+1.58
Supa Dupa Fly Missy Elliott	4	2.92	+1.08
A Night At The Opera Queen	5	3.96	+1.04

You Love Less Than Most

Album	You	Global	Diff
War U2	1	3.47	-2.47
(What's The Story) Morning Glory Oasis	2	3.84	-1.84
Superunknown Soundgarden	2	3.66	-1.66
Licensed To Ill Beastie Boys	2	3.55	-1.55
GI Germs	1	2.54	-1.54
Dirt Alice In Chains	2	3.47	-1.47
A Rush Of Blood To The Head Coldplay	2	3.44	-1.44
C'est Chic CHIC	2	3.34	-1.34
Rubber Soul Beatles	3	4.12	-1.12
Kind Of Blue Miles Davis	3	4.06	-1.06

5-Star Albums (5)

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Stories From The City, Stories From The Sea

A Christmas Gift For You From Phil Spector

Popular Reviews

A Hard Day's Night

Beatles · 1 likes

3/5

I'm not sure it's possible to really understand the Beatles out of context. To me this is pleasant, if slightly twee, melodic pop. Back in the day I'd probably have lost my mind.

1-Star Albums (2)

All Ratings

Ill Communication

Beastie Boys

3/5

Obviously some absolute bangers, but also a whole lot of filler. Lyrics often a bit ropey as well.

Bridge Over Troubled Water

Simon & Garfunkel

4/5

Listened to it once, wasn't sure, then listened to it again, and again,and again. What it is is a fantastic *album*, as in all the songs work together to give the whole texture and style. And there are some heartbreakingly beautiful tunes within that as well. Only issue is there are a few places you wish somebody had asked Paul Simon to stop, before getting too self-involved.

Dirt

Alice In Chains

2/5

There's a lot to dislike about this album, the lack of musical invention, the Adrian Mole-esque lyrics, the fact it sounds like it was recorded from the bottom of the deep end of an Olympic swimming pool. However, one should also acknowledge AiC's grim dedication to a uncomplicated miserablism eventually equates to at least a level of charm that's almost endearing. Like a cousin's ugly baby trying to make friends with you.

Coat Of Many Colors

Dolly Parton

5/5

Fuck it, five stars. It really has everything you want in an album, brilliant narrative storytelling, great music, superb production, Dolly's voice is wonderful and, as an added bonus, it's funny.

Want One

Rufus Wainwright

3/5

You get the sense there's a much better album in there, if he can just get over himself. The instinct to just do a bit more, more orchestration, more vocals, more production, just seems as if it overwhelmed Rufus. Plus, what's with the whiney singing voice, it's an annoying affection. Nobody sings like that normally.

Doolittle

Pixies

4/5

Really wanted to give another five, but I can't because there are a couple of duds (relatively) on the album and, occasionally, the quiet-loud-quiet-LOUD schtick gets a little repetitive. However: 1. It's amazing how powerful and intense much of the music feels even after all these years. 2. I can't think of many rock bands where the bass and drums consistently hold everything together so well, allowing the lead guitar and vocals to really soar. 3. Debaser one of the top ten opening tracks of any album, ever. I will fight anyone who disagrees.

War

1/5

Sometimes you have a long-held opinion about a band but then, after hearing them for the first time in a while, your whole view shifts. Which makes it especially nice when that doesn't happen. God, aren't U2 awful? Overwrought, overproduced, pretentious bollocks.

Songs Of Love And Hate

Leonard Cohen

3/5

Not really my sort of music, but I could see the appeal. Probably best listened to while sitting in a big leather chair, by a fire, sipping whisky.

Surfer Rosa

Pixies

4/5

Amazing how similar yet how different it is from Doolittle. Leans more surfer rock (unsurprisingly) than punk. Gigantic and Where is my mind both absolute killer songs. Only four stars, because again a little uneven in quality. Funnily enough, unlike Doolittle, I find Surfer Rosa starts off a little weak but then improves as it goes along.

Logical Progression

LTJ Bukem

2/5

I really have no critical frame of reference for this sort of music. I guess it's fine, inoffensive? The maker obviously had access to a computer and owns a pair of ears.

Stories From The City, Stories From The Sea

PJ Harvey

5/5

Banging indie rock, female vocalist, classic vibes, ultra cool. What's not to like?

A Hard Day's Night

Beatles

3/5

I'm not sure it's possible to really understand the Beatles out of context. To me this is pleasant, if slightly twee, melodic pop. Back in the day I'd probably have lost my mind.

Vespertine

Björk

4/5

It makes me happy to live in a world in which Björk is appreciated and even successful. Touchingly odd music that feels both simple and painstakingly complex.

GREY Area

Little Simz

3/5

Enjoyed this. Perhaps a little bit "American" for me, lacking that quirky, domestic, ironic edge of my favourite British rap. Although at times it did remind me of Krept & Konan, which was fun. And I liked that a couple of tracks pulled in some unexpected musical influences, like Bhangra and Jazz.

The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill

Lauryn Hill

3/5

Lovely singing voice, some interesting jazzy tones, good use of percussion, a certain style. But a lot of it is curiously MOR, music you'd have on in the background at a dinner party.

Kind Of Blue

Miles Davis

3/5

Another album where I'm not entirely sure I have the cultural hinterland to appreciate it fully. Some beautiful moments (for example, most of Blue in Green) but also times where it just felt perfectly pleasant but completely inoffensive. Possibly best appreciated in a dimly-lit jazz bar, drinking an Old Fashioned, surrounded by cigar smoke.

Licensed To Ill

Beastie Boys

2/5

Not one of their best. Couple of good tracks, lot of slop. Terrible lyrics and often pretty uninventive musically.

Moondance

Van Morrison

4/5

Really struck by the depth and beauty of much of this album, which I'd never heard before. Music that bears a lot of re-listening.

The Blueprint

JAY Z

3/5

Never been a huge Jay Z fan. To me his stuff often feels a little repetitive, even dull. That being said, I do understand that there are some great moments on The Blueprint and a relentless insistence to the music throughout the album.

Back to Mystery City

Hanoi Rocks

2/5

Quite Hanoing.

A Night At The Opera

Queen

5/5

An utterly mad album. Goes from sounding like metal to sounding country to sounding like the soundtrack to a musical. Plus random orchestration, plus deranged lyrics, plus bizarre production. You have to love it.

(What's The Story) Morning Glory

Oasis

2/5

Slip inside the eye of your mind Don’t you know you might find A less dull and whiney album?

Face to Face

The Kinks

3/5

Not quite The Kinks yet.

System Of A Down

4/5

I was really, really surprised by how much I enjoyed this. There's something almost sweet about it's earnest straightforwardness.

Twelve Dreams Of Dr. Sardonicus

Spirit

3/5

Never heard of this group before but found this interesting to listen to. A bit mystical, bit Jimi, bit 13th Floor Elevators. Will re-listen in the future definitely.

Buena Vista Social Club

4/5

Not really the album for a cold English winter. But in the sun, rum & coke in hand, unbeatable.

Superunknown

Soundgarden

2/5

I've always found Soundgarden empty and vapid.

Too Rye Ay

Dexys Midnight Runners

3/5

Fun. Slightly odd. Feels a bit Queen-like at points, some obvious trad influences. Just the right side of quirky.

A Christmas Gift For You From Phil Spector

Various Artists

5/5

I mean, all killer no filler right?

Dusty In Memphis

Dusty Springfield

3/5

Lovely music and her voice is obviously gorgeous. Didn't totally captivate me though.

Out Of The Blue

Electric Light Orchestra

3/5

Very uneven album. Some excellent songs (Sweet talkin' woman), some dreadful ones (Stepping Out) and too many that start off strong but then drift away into jazzy, pre-electronica nothingness.

Teenage Head

Flamin' Groovies

2/5

At it's best I guess it's almost sub-sub(-sub) 'Get off my cloud'-era Rolling Stones. The rest feels a bit covers band, bit dad's in their garage.

Guitar Town

Steve Earle

3/5

It grew on me. Little bit Springsteen, little bit Blues. Liked the guitars, liked it lyrically.

Slayed?

Slade

2/5

Really odd album. A couple of absolutely great tracks and a load of dross. No real quality control.

The Stone Roses

4/5

Often brilliant. What Oasis probably thought they were doing, taking the sound of the 60s and giving it an interesting modern sound. Great production. Only problem is that in a few cases things sort of descend into introspective knurdling.

Back At The Chicken Shack

Jimmy Smith

3/5

Why did the jazz chicken cross the road? To get to the B side*. Quite liked this, although jazz remains not my bag, man. Had a bit more funk, a bit more of a forward lean than a lot of other jazz I've heard. *Joke development still in progress.

C'est Chic

CHIC

2/5

Mostly chic.

The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars

David Bowie

4/5

I really wanted to give this five stars, as it has some absolutely brilliant tracks and still sounds new and exciting. But unfortunately there are a couple of real stinkers up front that prevents it. But four out of five ain't bad David.

OK Computer

Radiohead

5/5

I find it amazing the way Radiohead can take odds and ends, strange sounds, twisted noises, the uneven, insistent racket at the edge of life and fashion something so beautiful, insubstantial and yet unforgettable. Like a found poem crafted from the gossamer threads that cover a beach once the tide has withdrawn.

Rubber Soul

Beatles

3/5

I know it's a classic and I know it has some brilliant songs (In my life) but for some reason Rubber Soul always leaves me feeling a little cold.

A Rush Of Blood To The Head

Coldplay

2/5

Tedious with synthesisers.

Nowhere

Ride

2/5

There were a couple of songs I liked but overall it wasn't really for me.

Germs

1/5

There's a place for this kind of "music". And that place is the dustbin.

Supa Dupa Fly

Missy Elliott

4/5

Amazing listening to this for the first time in a while and realising quite how many subsequent albums it influenced. Also amazing how little it seems to have dated.