I have so much nostalgia for this album that’s it’s impossible to be objective. It’s raw, it’s petty, and it’s quintessentialy 90’s. Yeah, it’s dated and some of the songs are cheesy but my memories of belting out “You Oughta Know” as a hormonal 14 year old are priceless.
This album is a masterpiece. It’s considered to be the beginning of Davis’s shift to jazz fusion and his ‘electric’ era. Jazz is not my favorite genre, but this album is absolutely captivating. It’s ambient, has just the right amount of tension, and sounds so fresh for an album from 1969.
Wow. I had never heard of this artist, but I added it to my library halfway through the third song. I love everything about this- the gorgeous melodies, the lyrics, the rich and layered arrangements and percussion, Michael’s soulful vocals. I love the way he weaves gospel, soul and funk together in a way that gives homage to the past but also feels distinctly modern. The songwriting is deeply personal, and I can’t wait to listen without the distraction of getting kids ready for school in the morning. I can tell this is an album that grows better with every listen, and also one that I will hyperfixate on for months. It’s so lush and cinematic. THIS is why I’m doing this project. What a joy to find a new artist that I connect with so deeply on the first listen.
This is a mesmerizing album that warrants multiple listens. I found the album deeply moving even though it’s sung in Icelandic and I can’t understand anything they are saying. I love the slow build, textured melodies, and the rich instrumentals. I feel like this is the ideal album to listen to when taking a walk in the snow. It’s so moody in all the right ways.
I was 8 when this album came out. We only listened to hippie music in my house, so I missed the whole new wave movement. Of course I’ve heard New Order before, but I’ve never listened to a New Order album all the way through. This album is obviously so dated, but I love the acid house vibes and the layered synth melodies. “Round and Round” is a legit banger. I found myself bopping along and enjoying this way more than I expected.
This album is way too long! The punk/rockabilly fusion is fun at first but grows tiresome as the album progresses and every song starts to sound the same.
I haven’t listened to this album in at least 25 years. I went in fully expecting to give it 4 stars, but this album is even better than I remember it. Nevermind is grungy but perfecy polished. In Utero is raw, unfiltered, and emotionally devastating. I can feel Kurt’s pain, and it’s impossible to listen to this album without wondering how their sound would have evolved. I miss Kurt. 😭 His genius is undeniable. In Utero is going back into the rotation. Favorite songs: Dumb, Pennyroyal Tea.
There is so much talent and artistry in this weird, experimental album but I didn’t connect with the music. Maybe I wasn’t in the right space for it.
I struggled with this one. It’s not meant to be an easy listen, and there were parts that I enjoyed. The bass lines are so good and sometimes hypnotic, so I would be bopping along even though the vocals are challenging. The vocals are performed by John Lyndon- also known as Johnny Rotten. This is his post-punk project after the Sex Pistols, and the music is certainly experimental, gritty and dissonant. Not an enjoyable listen, but I can see how it was influential. I wouldn’t listen to it again though.
It’s trying to be edgy but misses the mark. The songs are cookie-cutter 90’s grunge/indie rock and I couldn’t connect to any of them.
Yet another seminal album I’m hearing for the first time (blasphemy, I know). It’s hard to believe it was made in 1967. Nearly 60 years later, it still feels fresh and completely its own thing (though it clearly spawned generations of artists). There are many great songs, but “Venus in Furs” is a 10/10. It’s not a perfect album by any means, but that is part of its brilliance.
This is a sprawling album with moments of brilliance, but it lacks cohesion. It feels disconnected and jumbled, possibly because the band was falling apart at the time. I easily connected with all of the Stevie Nicks songs, especially “Sisters of the Moon.” The rest of the album was very much hit or miss. I think this is an album that needs multiple listens to truly appreciate.
Carole King’s voice is so warm and soothing, and her songwriting is evocative and emotionally relatable. Somehow this album feels so comforting, emotionally tender, and full of longing all at the same time. The recording is gorgeous and feels like a warm hug. The arrangements and piano are beautiful, so soulful. I didn’t connect with every song but overall I love this album. Also, how can I not love an album with a tabby cat on the cover?
Campy, kitschy, quirky, funky, and wildly creative. What did I just listen to, and why did I like it so much? The arrangements, the guitar riffs, the weirdness, and the interplay of vocals just work, and it’s so fun. “Rock Lobster” is straight up genius. B-52’s, you are so much more than just your hits! This was totally bonkers but completely wonderful.
I’m giving this album an extra star for “Free Bird” and “Simple Man.” The rest is extremely straightforward, boring rock & roll which is just not my genre.
This album has wild, manic party energy and I’m sure the drugs made it sound great but it doesn’t hold up now that the party is over. The sound is warbled and chaotic, and it all feels like an incoherent mess.
I was not excited about this album because so far all of the punk on the list has been terrible. This album surprised me though. There’s a high level of musicality combined with catchy riffs and a lot of creativity. They even foray into psychedelia a bit. Overall this was a fun listen! Favorite songs: “Plan Nine Channel 7” and “Smash it Up.”
I’m a sucker for synths, pretty melodies and lush arrangements and this album is flush with them. It’s very dated, but still slaps.
I’m giving this album an extra star because BB King is a legend and there’s a lot of passion and energy in his performance. I just don’t like the blues. Every single song sounds the same as the one before but with different lyrics. It’s repetitive and the only thing that saved it was BB King’s vocals.
I listened to “Rock Lobster” by the B-52’s after I finished this album because I felt a deep need for music that doesn’t take itself too seriously.
I don’t think I fully realized how grating Anthony Kiedes’s vocals are until this album, but I’ve never listened to an RHCP album all the way through until now. Kiedes is an abusive piece of shit and the creep energy radiates through this album. The lyrics are vacuous. The music is bad. Why is this band so popular?
This album is really good and I think it deserves multiple listens to really absorb all of the textures and storytelling. Beautiful vocals, unique arrangements, interesting musical compositions, and poetic lyrics.
Did I really need to listen to 2 Kings of Leon albums before I die? I still can’t stand the lead singer’s vocals, and some of the lyrics are extremely gross. Like “she’s seventeen but I done went an plum forgot it.” I’m so sick of grown ass men singing about teenagers. Can we stop normalizing this please? Enough.
Solid punk album released the year I was born, with influences of rockabilly and blues. I like the songs by the woman vocalist the most, but also appreciate the variety of duel vocalists. This album is creative and catchy. Definitely deserves to be on the list!
They need to remove this album from the list. Boring, bland and uninspired with not a single standout track. Also way too long! Meh.
I like this album more than You Want It Darker, but I’ve decided that Leonard Cohen is not for me. He sort of sings on this one, which I prefer to the spoken word approach. Musically, I love the pared down, folky acoustic vibe, even though every song sounds the same. I recognize that his lyrics are poetry, but something about them feels so distinctly masculine. I can’t connect lyrically, and I feel no emotional impact, even when I read the lyrics along with the album.
Mental illness is not an excuse for antisemitism and fascism. I can’t listen to this album without the weight of the horrible things he’s done ringing in my ears. Just no.
This album is perfectly fine, perfectly pleasant, completely inoffensive, and perfectly forgettable.
Apparently this album was instrumental in the evolution of glam rock, so points for that. My last 14 albums have all been male artists and I need some estrogen up in here. “Cosmic Dancer” is a genuinely great song but I wasn’t in the right space for this album today.
This album is a time machine. I’m wrapped in the nostalgia and joy of hearing it again, transported straight back to my raver days. I love drum & bass, and Logical Progressions is a masterpiece—jazzy, atmospheric, moody, with complex beats and epic bass lines. It’s a classic for a reason. Thank you, random 1001 albums generator, for taking me back to my raver youth. This album is everything.
Guided by Voices intentionally curated a lo-fi sound, but this album feels like a demo tape. There are 28 songs in 41 minutes, and they all feel underdeveloped because they are so short. They’re like micro songs. Which, in the end, turned out to be a blessing because the lead singer’s voice started to grate by song 18.
I was so thrilled to get an album by a woman artist after 17 straight albums written by men. This album is dense, and gets better with every listen. It’s a concept album with poetic lyrics and folk influences, which is right in my wheelhouse. The melodies and arrangements are interesting and cohesive, and the album feels sonically satisfying. But it’s also emotionally impactful, deep, and brutal. I can feel the weight and heaviness of war. I’ve never fully gotten into PJ Harvey with the exception os a few songs, but this makes me want to try again. Favorite songs: “The Glorious Land” and “On Battleship Hill.”
I never got into Foo Fighters despite being a huge Nirvana fan. It’s impressive that Dave Grohl wrote and recorded every song on this album, and I appreciate that it’s less polished than later Foo Fighters albums. But I just can’t connect, even though musically, it’s a perfectly serviceable album.
There’s so much talent here but I found the album to be frustrating. There are elements of greatness, but none of the songs go anywhere. I like the rhythms and many of the individual arrangements, but this album lacks cohesiveness. It’s a pleasant but unremarkable listen.
Heard before? Not all the way through
Would I revisit? Yes
Listen before you die: Yes
Fav Songs: Footprints, Bonita Applebum, Can I Kick It
Oh hell yes to starting my morning off with a cup of coffee and A Tribe Called Quest! I'm amazed at how fresh this album sounds even though it was made in 1990. These guys are so creative and smooth. The album is playful, with excellent storytelling and vibes so thick it's impossible not to smile and bop along. Loved it!
I went through a phase where I listened to this album constantly, but then it fell out of the rotation. I’m thrilled that the random generator put this album back into my consciousness. It’s timeless and classic. This is music that never goes out of style, and fulfills something deep and nourishing within my soul.
John Cale is a founding member of the Velvet Underground and his musical chops are undisputed, but I found this solo album to be largely forgettable. I expected something a little more avant garde and interesting, but the music is fairly bland and the lyrics sound muddy.
I was certain that I would hate this, but I was surprised to find that it’s actually pretty good. There are grooves to be found in the chaos, and the musicians (especially the drummer and bass player) are top notch. I wouldn’t revisit this, but I’m not upset that I listened to it.
I don’t have anything to say about this album. It’s fine and mostly unremarkable.
I get why this album is on the list, but I would be happy to never hear Mr. Brightside again.
I haven’t listened to this album since I was a baby raver and considering how long ago that was, this album absolutely holds up. Lots of genres going on here, but I can’t resist the acid house and dub vibes. It’s a great mix of bangers and more ambient, trip-hop tracks. I was not expecting to rave my face off in the kitchen while making coffee and breakfast but it put me in a great mood and was a lovely surprise for this geriatric raver.
Finally, a Beatles album. And not just any Beatles album, but arguably their very best and one of my favorite albums of all time. The band was falling apart, and yet they still managed to create an absolute masterpiece that feels cohesive even though creatively they were at odds. I could rhapsodize about this album for hours and still leave things unsaid. It’s timeless. I love it so much.
An impressive debut album from a generational talent, even if some of the lyrics didn’t age well (but also it was 2003). She was tortured, and her lyrics on this album reflect her inner turmoil and emotional pain, but also her humor and intelligence. She was 19 when she wrote this album, and the talent is overwhelming. I love the jazz and soul influences, and her voice is astounding and deeply emotive. It almost feels haunting to listen to her now. She left us way to soon.
This album is listed as psychedelic rock, but there’s some early punk, blues, surf rock and folk mixed in. Unfortunately, the lead singer’s vocal style makes every song sound like a joke. It makes the entire album feel satirical and goofy.
Another boring 80’s pop record. I would like to have a word with the people who made this list.
This album is dreamy and ethereal with an interesting mix of electronic and orchestral instrumentation. The songs have a jazzy, circus vibe and sometimes the music feels eerie and spooky. The cabaret/lounge singer meets trip-hop vibe is interesting and provides a cinematic feel to the music. Most of the songs are very slow and sultry, good for background music or when you’re feeling moody.
Vapid, misogynistic, hyper-masculine garbage and of course, there’s a song glorifying r*pe. I hope I live to see the day where we stop canonizing music like this.
What a lovely album! There’s something about Willie Nelson covering classic American standards that soothes the nervous system. The instrumentation is pared down and sparse, allowing Willie’s voice to lead the way. It’s snowing this morning, and listening to this album while baking was a real treat. I enjoyed every minute.
A strange, meandering album from a man who had just spent 6 months in a mental institution. There are moments of lucidity, and other songs where you can feel his descent into madness. The lyrics are muddy and unclear, but his pain and torment come through. Not a pleasant listen.
IMO this is one of the greatest live albums ever recorded. The interplay between the rowdy crowd and Johnny Cash is electric, and I love the banter and playfulness. Johnny Cash advocated for prison reform and felt strongly that even the incarcerated deserve music. I love how raw this recording is, and of course Johnny Cash plays a set of straight bangers. I’m not a fan of country, but I make an exception for Johnny Cash. Love this one.
This album is so imprinted in my consciousness as a Xennial that I found it impossible not to sing along. Of course it needs to be on this list, but I can’t tolerate the misogyny anymore. Also, Snoop has been flirting with MAGA for a while now, which disqualifies him from ever being cool or relevant.
I’m giving this album an extra star because of Tracey Thorn’s rich, gorgeous vocals, but it’s not a great album. It’s very slow and the instrumentals are heavy on the 80’s cheese factor (sax & synths on easy listening mode). Its a pleasant album, but lacks punch. I think Everything But the Girl found their groove once they discovered electronica.
Ehhh it’s a solid 60’s psychedelic rock album with blues influences. It’s not bad, but none of the songs really stand out. I am completely neutral on Eric Clapton’s guitar playing and overall I found this to be pretty ok.
What’s worse than being up all night with the stomach flu? Finally giving up on sleep at 3 AM, checking my random album pick, and seeing it’s Steely Dan. This album is better than Countdown to Ecstasy, and has some classic tracks like Reelin’ In The Years. Steely Dan are undeniably skilled musicians, but there’s no depth beneath the polished harmonies and cheesy yacht rock vibes. It’s perfectly forgettable.
This is not my favorite genre by far, but the drummer is really good. I survived this album by focusing on the melodies (yes, there are occasional melodies here) and the drums. Otherwise, I pretty much hated this.
No stars for nazis. This was garbage.
This album is so impressive when you consider that DJ Shadow composed each track with nothing but turntables and a sampler. His compositions are textured with samples from multiple genres and art forms, including film and interviews. The result is an album that’s completely unique, organic, and ambient with heavy vibes and artistry. This was a great listen and obviously hugely influential.
What a joy to revisit this classic album this morning. The interplay between Wyclef Jean, Pras Michel, and Lauryn Hill is lightning in a bottle and created one of the landmark albums of the 90s. There isn’t a bad song on the album (though some of the skits, especially the Chinese restaurant, have aged poorly). The lyrics are brilliant, political, self-referential, and deep. The beats and flow are so smooth and satisfying, and Lauryn is, of course, a generational talent. What can I say? I love this album.
Solid boomer rock with a few standout songs.
The problem with Queen is that their greatest hits are so ubiquitous (and, in many cases, played out) that I never felt the drive to listen to their other material. But as it turns out, I liked this album quite a bit more than I expected. I respect a band that doesn’t take themselves too seriously, and I enjoyed the glam rock vibes and fun medleys. This would be a solid 3.5 stars if the rating system allowed, but I’ll round up to 4.
Wow, this was an unexpected surprise. Of course, I’ve heard of Siouxsie and the Banshees, but I’ve never listened to any of their music. This album is a post-punk/goth rock gem. Siouxsie has the perfect voice to match the spooky, haunted aesthetic. The music is almost trance-like, as if they’re casting a spell. The drummer is excellent, and I love the tribal drum fills that pop in unexpectedly. This whole album is a mood. I often get annoyed with this project because there are so many bad albums, but this one reminds me why it’s worthwhile to keep going.
I was expecting this to be douchey shock rock, but the music is more interesting, theatrical, and jazzy than I expected. There’s a lot of variety, from blues, jazz, and rock to elements of Broadway. It’s not my type of music, but I can respect that there is musicality and creativity here, even if some of it is pretty cheesy.
This wasn’t bad, but none of the songs were compelling and I couldn’t connect with the music. Overall pretty boring.
This is one of those albums that’s been on my list forever, but I’ve never taken the time to sit down and listen to all 1 hour and 45 minutes of it. Now I’m wishing that I had made the time, because this album is a revelation. It’s completely brilliant, not just musically, but there’s a brilliancy and brightness to the way the music makes me feel. I think it’s hard to overstate the influence this album had on hip hop, funk, pop and even house music. It’s so lush, smooth, beautiful, and musically flawless. An absolute masterpiece.
I mean, it’s Neil Young. He’s a legend for a reason. I like him best when his songs are slow and introspective, but there isn’t a bad song on the album. He’s not my favorite, but I can’t deny his talent.
I generally like classic folk/country, but this album is too sappy for my tastes.
Wow, this one is great! It was clearly ahead of its time and paved the way for indie bands of the future. The music is lush, layered, and downright psychedelic at times, with interesting, hypnotic rhythms and beautiful melodies. I listened to it twice and liked it even more the second time. The whole album is a groove!
This is way weirder and more psychedelic than I expected from a Beach Boys album. I’ve only ever listened to their biggest hits, and this album is very different. It has the beautiful harmonies that are distinctive of their sound, but the melodies and instrumentals are much more experimental. A great album!
This album feels tense, ominous, anxious and bleak. I usually love trip-hop, but I didn’t connect with this album at all.
This is a pop rock gem and Debbie Harry is insanely talented. There’s an infectious energy to this album that makes it a really fun listen, and it’s impossible not to bop along. Will definitely revisit.
This is another album that’s not bad, but is also not particularly memorable. The Kinks were certainly creative and experimental for the time period, and I appreciate the goofiness, but this isn’t one I’ll revisit.
Wow, this is a blast from the past. I always love seeing women represented on this list. This is a fun album that feels very 90s and is therefore nostalgic. Yeah, it’s a little commercial, but there are some good songs here and I like the overall vibe. “Connection” is a legit banger, and I had totally forgotten that track existed.
I had never heard of this band, but the lead singer has the perfect voice for goth rock. This album made me want to go to a goth club and dance my little heart out. I love the combination of 80’s new wave with the gloomier goth sensibilities, and found the driving basslines to be hypnotic and irresistible. This album made me feel like I could have been a goth if the rave didn’t find me first
The number of classics on this album is astonishing, but Dreams stands out the most. I love Stevie Nicks, and she is truly what makes this band special to me. There isn’t a bad song on this album, and it’s always a pleasure to hear it.
This album is dripping with overt misogyny. From “Stupid Girl,” which is mean-spirited and exposes an underlying hatred of women, to “Under My Thumb,” which is about coercive control, to “Mother’s Little Helper,” which masquerades as social critique but is really a dig on housewives. These are the most egregious examples, but the whole album is sexist to the core. It comes as no surprise that Mick Jagger is a raging misogynist, but it’s wild listening to albums from the 1960s where this was completely normalized. I find the lyrics abhorrent, but the music is boring, too! I will never understand why this band became so popular.
Britpop is not my favorite genre, but this album is quirky and creative and clearly deserves to be on this list. I don’t love it, but I can appreciate the musicality. Also Boys and Girls is a bisexual anthem.
Wow, this was fabulous! I love the layered/looping vocals and lyrics sung in French and English. The melodies are captivating and pulled me into the music, which is lush, rich and textured. There are grooves to be found here, but also slower moments where the vocals have an almost choral feel - such as Monstre Sacre which sounds almost sacred. The music is weird, psychedelic and beautiful, which means it’s fully in my wheelhouse and was immediately added to my library.
Not my genre, not my vibe. I can appreciate that these guys are good musicians but I just can’t get into the music. It’s too masculine, and the music and lyrics have no depth. Not for me.
Another album that I absolutely did not need to hear before I die. Generic bluesy rock is not my jam.
Hooray for an album that’s not sung in English! I enjoyed the dramatic, cabaret style music and singing. It’s not an album I would necessarily revisit with the exception of “Amsterdam” which is a fantastic song, but I’m glad it’s on the list. Anything out of the US/UK canon is appreciated.
More ultra-masculine generic blues rock. The lyrics are dreadful and the music is unimaginative and dull. I hate this. Please random generator give me an album by a woman artist tomorrow.
Pink Moon is one of my favorite albums, but Nick Drake’s pain is so raw and devastating that I have to be in the right mood to listen to it. In contrast, this album has more instrumentation, and the arrangements have more spaciousness, so it doesn’t strike quite the same emotional chord. Still, his lyrics always revolve around melancholy, loneliness, and a deep, enduring sadness. His music has a haunting quality that always draws me in, and his lyrics are poetic and affecting. The fact that this album is somehow less heart wrenching than Pink Moon, but still devastating, shows the depth of Nick Drake’s talent. Truly one of the greats.
I did not expect to wake up and rave my face off while making waffles for my family, but at this point in middle age I just accept the rave when it finds me . This album is obviously a classic. I love the upbeat vibes in the first half, but the downtempo tracks are even better and had me missing a proper chill room. The acid synths, big beats, and wobbly base lines are infectious and fun. This is always a great album to revisit.
Wow, there’s so much to love about this timeless album. Curtis Mayfield’s singing is smooth and gorgeous, and the instrumentation is lush, funky and rich. This was the soundtrack to the Blaxploitation film Super Fly, but it holds together beautifully both as a studio album and social commentary. The arrangements are layered in a way that makes the music feel so rich and deep. Just really satisfying, moving and soulful.
I know this album is considered one of the greatest of all time, but it’s never fully clicked for me. I think part of it is my struggle with Thom Yorke’s vocals. There’s emotion there, but it doesn’t always reach me. The music pulls me in, but the vocals keep me at a distance and emotionally disconnected. It’s one of those albums I respect more than I actually connect with.
There are only two Grateful Dead albums on the list: American Beauty, and Live/Dead, which was recorded at the Fillmore West in 1969. The fact that this album starts with a 24 minute version of Dark Star seems to have alienated many listeners, as the album has a cumulative score of 2.82 stars. As Dark Stars go, it’s appropriately spacious and exploratory, but certainly not directionless. St. Stephen-> The Eleven->Lovelight is prime Dead. I love the pre-1970 version of St. Stephen because they do the “high green chilly winds” coda, which is so epic every time. And of course they jam right into The Eleven, which is played in 11/8 time. It’s high energy, psychedelic bliss and one of my favorite Dead jams. And then, after they’ve journeyed into peak psychedelia, they come back down to earth with an absolutely rocking Lovelight, with Pigpen at his most soulful. How can you not be rocking out at this point? The energy is so high, followed up with a slow, bluesy Death Don’t Have No Mercy so everyone can catch their breath.
The only dud on this album is Feedback, which is spacey weirdness. It’s all part of the experience of seeing the Dead, but doesn’t translate as well to an album vs seeing it live. They end with a gorgeous version of I Bid You Goodnight.
I was essentially raised by the Grateful Dead, so my experience of this album is different than someone who hasn’t seen them 111 times. I feel like there are more accessible live Dead albums that they could have chosen, but the list would have been incomplete without one.
Musically, I didn’t connect with this album, but I’m giving it an extra star because the band members were actively anti-fascist and anti-racist.
This is a classic and iconic album that transports me back being a teen in the 90’s. I was heavy into grunge at the time, but the Beastie Boys were such an integral part of popular culture that’s it’s impossible not to have been influenced by them. There’s so much creativity and depth to this album, and I love the jazz influences. The vibes are fun and funky and I couldn’t help but smile and bop along. Great album!
I appreciate Beck’s creativity and genre bending style, but most of his music doesn’t really hold my attention. There are interesting sonic details in every track, but only a few songs stand out.
I wrote this album off as Temu Bruce Springsteen after the first two songs, but the third song “Laughingstock” has some interesting sonic elements. It’s dated and some of the songs have that 80’s chesse factor that make it really hard to take seriously, but there’s some decent songwriting here. It’s overall pretty ok.
It’s disheartening to see how many negative reviews this album has. One of my biggest criticisms of this project is that the list is extremely Western-centric. I really appreciate hearing music from non-Western countries, and Ravi Shankar is one of the best. The sitar is such a beautiful instrument, and I loved every raga. I especially love that he gives introductions to each raga and educates listeners about Indian musical structure. I listened to this album while making pie this morning, and it was delightful.
