1001 Albums Summary

It’s an uneven album for sure but the first side is so very good I will give it full marks. Naysayers need to turn up their radios.

Day 2: The White Stripes - Elephant 3/5 I like songs with one or more of the following: soul; witty or insightful lyrics; catchy hooks; a danceable beat; and an interesting groove. As you might expect, “Elephant” was not my jam. I couldn’t get past the incessant pounding. Favorite tracks: “I Just Don’t Know What to Do with Myself” which at least has a melody and “In the Cold, Cold Evening” in which the pounding subsides a bit.

Jones has a beautiful voice and the jazzy arrangements are tasteful. The songs are not memorable though and the pace is very, very mellow. It would be nice music to chill out to but I need something with a little more oomph. So it gets a 3/5.

I’m a huge Dylan fan and this album contains some of his most iconic songs. And he has the perfect voice for singing them. In fact, I think his sardonic delivery adds a lot to the message. This gets a very strong 4/5 from me. Favorite track is Mr. Tamborine Man - just beautiful imagery and a strong melody to carry it. Gave me chills all over again.

I fear that I don’t have the attention span or focus to properly enjoy this music. I found it intriguing though and worth another listen. But I have more than 1000 albums to get through so it will have to wait. P.S. Something about this kept calling me back and after a couple more spins this earned an easy 4.

Quite OK but not my jam. P.S. Another one that became better with familiarity.

How can music be this angry and this FUN at the same time? Absolutely love it. My own rage at the current system matches it nicely. Favorite Tracks: I’m So Bored with the U.S.A. and Police and Thieves.

This would have been tolerable if not for the lyrics. They are explicitly sexual and the sex is all transactual. It’s supposed to be some kind of feminist statement but it all boils down to women using their bodies to get what the want.

Some of it was almost painful and all of it was not for me.

Pleasant enough but pretty bland.

Enjoyable pop but uninspiring.

Spoken word angst is not for me.

Upbeat danceable pop makes for an enjoyable listen. No duds. I added Fools Gold to the generator playlist.

Day 14: The Afghan Whigs - Gentlemen I really was not in the mood for exploring "the dark psyche of the '90s male". The album title is ironic and the songs seem to be a bit of humble bragging about the self-loathing of the “90’s male” and his bad behavior. I added “What Jail Is Like” to my Generator playlist but eventually skipped it so often I decided to remove it.

I liked this a whole lot, especially the instrumentation. The songs are themed around the natural world and love. A very pleasant surprise. Added “Disillusion” to playlist after considering title track, “The Shining”, “Pissing in the Wind” and “Say It Again”.

I listened to this twice and enjoyed it both times. Hours later I’ve forgotten which songs were which. Thus the 3 rating.

I love the Generator because there’s always a chance for a dopamine rush when you get served up a beloved album. I have been listening to this one periodically since childhood. Love all the tunes but I didn’t have to debate which one was going on the playlist. It was always going to be “In My Life”. Gets more meaningful with age.

I came in knowing zero about this artist and it was a very pleasant surprise. The Wikipedia article calls this “folk punk” which I didn’t know was a thing. To me it is the successor to the protest songs of Woodie Guthrie and Bob Dylan. Of course, there’s more personal stuff too. I liked all the music and, in the end, chose “There Is Power in a Union” to my Generator playlist.

Nope. Absolutely not for me. Rapping I cannot understand plus percussion. Didn’t bother to listen twice. Added “Paper Planes” to the Generator playlist.

Loved it then and love it still. Each and every song a hit. It could have been any but I added “Natural Woman” to the Generator playlist.

At first listen, I was surprised at how much more “country” this was than I had expected. On second listen, it really began to grow on me. Torn between a 3 and a 4. Feeling generous today. I added “Hot Burrito 1” to my Generator Playlist.

I’m in the early days of this and am trying to make an effort to understand the appeal of music I just don’t get. And I can see how this kind of raw distortion would appeal to young men. But I am neither young nor a man and it just makes me feel like I am being yelled at. The band does tone it down during the song “Drive” and that is what I added to my Generator playlist.

Although I am a big fan of Paul Simon, I had not heard this album through. Very relaxing and the two singles show a talent at adapting world music that would only improve throughout his solo career. I’m giving it a 4 but am sure it will grow to be a 5 with further listens.

This album was part of the soundtrack of my life at one point. Each and every song is a jewel. Deciding on just one for the playlist was impossible. I settled on “A Free Man in Paris”.