1001 Albums Summary

Wonderful songs by George and Ira Gershwin, with an equally wonderful performance by Ella Fitzgerald. At over 3 hours, it certainly is longer than a traditional LP, but its length is warranted by its being a songbook. Standout tracks on each disc, but I'd be lying if I said that there were no forgettable tunes. That being said, the variety here ensures there are no real periods of dullness. I love the artwork on the sleeve too; it reminds me of the eyes of T.J. Eckleburg. Fitzgerald? New York?

Of course, I've listened to this before. This is possibly the tightest, smoothest 35-minute album of all time. Packed with unforgettable tunes and powerful messages, this masterpiece of production is Gaye at his most memorable. Why is he so confused, though? What's going on?

Jimi Hendrix is an absolute beast here, not only on the guitar but also as a producer. Each track offers something unique, and I can only imagine how mindblowing this must've been to listen to in 1968. Favourite tracks - Crosstown Traffic Come On (Let The Good Times Roll) Gypsy Eyes Still Raining, Still Dreaming All Along The Watchtower Voodoo Child (Slight Return)

I imagine people cite the lyrics of this album as one of its main strengths. They're distinctly American and must really resonate with people over there. They don't do much for me though, neither do Springsteen's vocals, and the actual music itself is pretty plain. Not bad, nice enough, but it's not for me. Maybe it will grow on me? Favourite Tracks - Adam Raised a Cain Something in the Night Prove It All Night

An Era-Defining Album. Side A is undoubtedly better than Side B, but there are no duff tracks at all. Favourite Tracks - Jenny Was A Friend Of Mine Smile Like You Mean It Somebody Told Me On Top Change Your Mind

Very Soul. Very Funk. Very Bowie. And with John Lennon appearing on multiple tracks for backing vocals and backing guitar, what more could you ask for? Favourite tracks - Young Americans Win Fascination Right Can You Hear Me Fame

Nick Cave definitely had a very clear vision of how he wanted this album to sound and flow. I think he's executed it well with some great tracks and interesting lyrics. Does go on a bit, though. Favourite tracks - Get Ready for Love There She Goes, My Beautiful World Nature Boy Let The Bells Ring The Lyre Of Opheus Babe, You Turn Me On Easy Money Supernaturally

I'd never heard of The Divine Comedy before but thought this was rather good. Very corny but lots of good tunes with a great sound. I immediately recognised Songs of Love from Father Ted and turns out this guy wrote My Lovely Horse too! If that was on the album I would've immediately given it a 5. Favourite Tracks - Something for the Weekend Songs of Love A Women of the World Through A Long & Sleepless Night Theme From Casanova

I'd never given this album the attention it deserves. Ian Curtis transformed his suffering into something hauntingly beautiful. It's a real shame we only got two albums from him. Favourite Tracks - Isolation Colony A Means to an End Heart and Soul Twenty Four Hours The Eternal Decades

I like ABBA; their hits are great, but I wouldn't think to put on a full-length album of theirs other than Voulez-Vous. Favourite Tracks - Dancing Queen Money, Money, Money That's Me Fernando

I think I've been pretty generous with my reviews up until now. But this was dreadful. I will not be listening to it again in a hurry.

I think the '80s production is doing a lot to carry songs without much of a tune. The vocals aren't impressing me too much either. Perhaps it's a little reductive to say, but if I want music like this but much better, I'm listening to Michael Jackson or Prince. Favourite tracks - Wishing Well I'll Never Turn My Back on You (Father's Words) Dance Little Sister

You can't go wrong with Queen. Great performances, great production, and great tunes. Favourite Tracks - Brighton Rock Flick Of The Wrist Killer Queen Stone Cold Crazy Misfire Bring Back That Leroy Brown

Judging from the title and the cover, I was expecting something very metal. Instead, this was a full-on rock opera with lots of ballads. Not bad by any means but I feel similarly about this as I did with Bruce Springsteen's Darkness On The Edge Of Town - just not really my thing. Favourite Tracks - Bat Out Of Hell Heaven Can Wait All Revved Up and No Place to Go

I have to confess that I had never listened to a full length Prince album until now. But I think this demonstrates his being pop royalty - not only by name, but by nature too. Great tunes, great performances, great production Favourite tracks - Sign O’ The Times Play In The Sunshine The Ballad Of Dorothy Parker Slow Love Hot Thing U Got The Look It’s Gonna Be A Beautiful Night Adore

I almost don’t think of this as a Christmas album. I listen to it all-year-round, it’s that good. Favourite tracks - White Christmas Frosty The Snowman Santa Claus Is Coming To Town Sleigh Ride A Marshmallow World Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer Winter Wonderland Parade Of The Wooden Soldiers Christmas (Baby Please Come Home) Here Comes Santa Claus

The White Stripes is one of those bands I hear talked about overwhelmingly positively, but I’m not really familiar with anything by them other than Seven Nation Army. I liked this album though - a great sound with some standout tracks. But overall, the songwriting didn’t impress me enough to be as positive about this band as everyone else seems to be. Favourite Tracks - Fell In Love With A Girl The Union Forever The Same Boy You’ve Always Known We’re Going To Be Friends Offend In Every Way I Think I Smell A Rat Aluminum

What's a saxophone, and who's Johnny Hodges? Favourite Tracks - Black and Tan Fantasy Tea for Two Take the "A" Train Pt. I-Festival Junction Pt. II-Blues to Be There Pt. III-Newport Up Day In, Day Out Diminuendo In Blue

One of my absolute favourites. This just fills you with every emotion you’re capable of feeling—such beautiful music. Favourite tracks - Literally all of them

I had real fun listening to this. You can really feel the synergy between the MCs, who work amazingly well together to deliver some really comedic stuff. And with great backing tracks, coupled with what I imagine was really innovative sampling for the time, it's safe to say that my rump was shook. Favourite Tracks - Shake Your Rump Egg Man 3-Minute Rule Hey Ladies Car Thief B-Boy Bouillabaisse

I had never heard of this band before. Perhaps they aren't discussed so much simply because they aren't very good. I was unimpressed by the songwriting, the vocals, and I honestly thought the production sounded muddy and unbalanced throughout most of the album. That being said, it wasn't entirely detestable, and a couple of tracks were done fairly well. Favourite tracks - It Goes On All of This and Nothing She Is Mine

I'm not an Eagles fan by any measure. In fact, I suppose I've been conditioned to dislike them through conversations I've had with friends and family. That being said, I tried to go into this with as open a mind as I possibly could have. I didn't like it. The Eagles just ooze easy listening without much actual substance. And although this album undoubtedly deserves a spot on this list simply because of its astonishing commercial success, it's not something I will ever put on the stereo myself. Favourite Tracks - New Kid In Town Life In The Fast Lane

This was my first experience listening to Leonard Cohen, and I must say, I've never encountered anything like it before. It feels more like poetry set to music. However, the prominent religious themes don't do too much for me, and while the music itself isn't bad, it's something I'd need to be in a very particular mood for to enjoy Favourite Tracks - On the Level Leaving the Table Traveling Light

My first experience with Pixies was in 2022, thanks to an unexpected phone call. A mate of mine was standing outside a concert venue when someone ahead of him in the queue handed him a free ticket, saying they had to leave. He called me to see if I wanted to join him. It was a Pixies gig, and although I didn’t know much of their music, I’m never one to turn down the opportunity to go to a free show. I listened to Doolittle on the way there, thought it was great, and the gig itself was incredible. I’ll always have a soft spot for this album because of that night, but even setting sentiment aside, this is essential alt-rock listening. It's full of great tunes, and you can really hear its impact on bands like Nirvana, who went on to shape the sound of the '90s. Favourite Tracks - Debaser Wave Of Mutilation I Bleed Here Comes Your Man Monkey Gone To Heaven La La Love You Hey Gouge Away

I've always preferred East Coast rap over West Coast, and this is an absolute classic demonstrating why East Coast rap is often so good. With great rhymes carrying heavy themes, excellent production, and some outstanding backing beats, this is truly essential hip-hop listening. Favourite Tracks - N.Y. State of Mind The World Is Yours One Love (feat. Q-Tip) Represent It Ain't Hard To Tell

Biggie is a rap legend and many tracks on this album such as Juicy and Big Poppa demonstrate that fact. But like Biggie, this album struggles under its own weight. I thought it was too long and some of the skits were unpleasant. I will definitely return to many of the tracks from this album but it's unlikely I will listen to the whole thing in one sitting again anytime soon. Favourite Tracks - Gimme the Loot Machine Gun Funk One More Chance Juicy Everyday Struggle Big Poppa Suicidal Thoughts

This is the second Bruce Springsteen album I’ve listened to, the first being Darkness On The Edge Of Town. This was much more stripped down than that - just Bruce, his guitar, and the occasional harmonica. I didn’t like Darkness very much, and I thought this was even worse. All the songs here just blended together into one big snooze fest. The lyrics were dreadful too, with the same lines being recycled across multiple songs, making them even more unbearable. This just made me wish I was listening to something by Hank Williams, Johnny Cash, or Bob Dylan. And one thing’s for sure - I’m never going to Nebraska.

A classic album with some amazing songs and an equally amazing vocal performance by Al Green. I just wish the sound was a little more crisp. Favourite Tracks - Let's Stay Together So You're Leaving What Is This Feeling Old Time Lovin' I've Never Found a Girl How Can You Mend a Broken Heart

I’m a big ’90s electronica fan, but Fatboy Slim is one artist who's largely escaped me until now. Most of the tracks here were fine, but I wasn’t massively impressed. A fair few of the songs dragged on and didn’t strike me as the kind of big dancefloor hits this album seems to be aiming for. Overall - not bad by any stretch, but I’d rather listen to Slim’s contemporaries like The Prodigy, Aphex Twin, or Daft Punk Favourite Tracks - Song for Lindy Everybody Needs a 303 First Down The Sound of Milwaukee

Being such a massive Beatles fan, I often (unintentionally) dismiss other British groups of the ‘60s. The Who, however, is one such band that is impossible to ignore. This is a classic album with some fantastic tracks, and although some people complain about the rough sound quality, I think it adds to the proto-punk aesthetic. Favourite Tracks - Out In The Street I Don't Mind My Generation The Kids Are Alright The Ox

New Order strikes a remarkable balance between danceability and darkness with this album. All tracks here are quality, but I think Elegia steals the show as a beautiful tribute to Ian Curtis. With Curtis on my mind, I can't help but think that although New Order is great, Joy Division edges them out by a significant margin. Favourite Tracks - The Perfect Kiss Sunrise Elegia Sooner Than You Think Sub-Culture

This was the first album generated for me on this site, and I had mixed emotions getting it again. On one hand, it’s a fabulous collection, with timeless songs by George and Ira Gershwin, beautifully sung by Ella Fitzgerald. On the other hand, I wasn’t overly enthusiastic about returning to a three-hour-long album, especially after hearing it in full just over a month ago. In the end, I only revisited the tracks I’d saved from my first listen, and even that amounted to over an hour of music! That alone speaks volumes about this album’s quality, even if I wasn’t quite ready for the full marathon this time around.

Rush is a remarkably uncool act, a fact even the band admitted in their documentary Rush: Beyond the Lighted Stage. Their lyrics, heavily inspired by author Ayn Rand, are nerdy, cheesy, and often cringe-inducing. But the sheer musicianship here is staggering, and somehow it all comes together into something great. It definitely isn't for everyone, but there’s no denying that Rush achieved their goal of creating a prog-rock masterpiece with this, albeit one that I can't take too seriously. Favourite Tracks - 2112 A Passage To Bangkok The Twilight Zone Lessons Something For Nothing

The opening track, “A Message To You Rudy”, is fantastic, but I don’t think the rest of the tracks here manage to live up to that level of quality. Still, I like The Specials. They've got great style, great intent, but sadly only a few truly great songs to go along with all that. Favourite Tracks - A Message To You Rudy Nite Klub Doesn’t Make It Alright Monkey Man Too Much Too Young

I tend to find these kinds of songs musically uninteresting, and while Neil’s lyrics are strong, his vocal delivery felt whiny and timid—like he’s singing just outside his range. Some great tracks though. It’s not really my thing, but I totally understand the appeal. Favourite Tracks - Tell Me Why Only Love Can Break Your Heart Southern Man Oh Lonesome Me

This was my first time listening to Wu-Tang Clan, and I'm annoyed that I hadn't discovered them sooner. This was absolutely amazing, another fantastic example of East Coast Rap. Favourite Tracks - Bring Da Ruckus Shame On a Nigga Wu-Tang: 7th Chamber Da Mystery of Chessboxin' Wu-Tang Clan Ain't Nuthing ta F' Wit C.R.E.A.M. Method Man Protect Ya Neck Tearz

Undoubtedly, Pink Floyd's best work post-Syd Barrett. An album that begs to be listened to in its entirety. Favourite Tracks - All of them

I’m not a massive Elvis fan, but this is 29 minutes of excellent rock ’n’ roll, and its impact is undeniable. The only thing I could really criticise is that Elvis didn't write any of these songs. Favourite tracks - Blue Suede Shoes I’m Counting On You I Love You Because Just Because I’m Gonna Sit Right Down and Cry (Over You) Blue Moon

A classic collection of dance beats from the masters of the French touch. Objectively, this album is pretty loose and far from the perfection of 2001’s Discovery. But since Discovery is inexplicably absent from this list, Homework gets a tentative 5 stars in its stead. Favourite Tracks - Daftendirekt Da Funk Fresh Around The World Rollin' & Scratchin' Oh Yeah Indo Silver Club Alive

An amazing album in every aspect - great recording, incredible performances, and innovative songwriting, to name a few. Truly post-punk perfection. And, possibly the most Urban Outfitters T-Shirt of all time. Favourite Tracks - Disorder Candidate New Dawn Fades She's Lost Control Interzone

I thought this album was good, but I didn’t really connect with the material in any meaningful way. I’ll definitely revisit it in the future and maybe come to appreciate it more then, but for now, I think this sits closer to the mediocre end of good than the great end. Favourite Tracks - A Place Called Home This Mess We're In Kamikaze This Is Love

I know this is considered groundbreaking and revolutionary, particularly for its confrontational social commentary directed at the white establishment, and I wanted to love it. Unfortunately, I didn’t—at least not musically. Too many tracks are dominated by an abrasive, high-pitched sound that, to me, resembles a boiling kettle and makes for an unpleasant listen. More broadly, I often struggle with late ’80s rap, which can feel like an awkward transitional phase; the shift from old-school to the more refined ’90s sound is underway, but the growing pains are hard to ignore. Overall, the messages here weren’t lost on me, but musically, it didn’t land. I’ll definitely return to this at a later date in the hope of enjoying it more, though Favourite Tracks - Louder Than a Bomb She Watch Channel Zero?! Party for Your Right to Fight

Personally, I really enjoyed this. It’s a great recording, and Muddy’s voice is fantastic. Creatively, though, I wasn't really impressed. It’s just a collection of variations on a 12 bar blues progression, good ones at that, but I can’t bring myself to give that 4 stars. Historically, though, i'm sure it’s very important. Favourite Tracks - I've Got My Brand On You Baby, Please Don't Go I Feel So Good I've Got My Mojo Working

I’ll admit I’m quite fond of Knights of Cydonia, mostly because it’s in Guitar Hero 3: Legends of Rock. But Muse, legends of rock? I don’t think so. The album isn’t dreadful, but the songwriting is repetitive, recycling musical motifs far too often. The vocals are distinctive, but that doesn’t equate to good. The lyrics are weak, saying a lot without really saying anything. Overall, it’s middle-of-the-road anthemic rock for wannabe-cool 16-year-old boys and men like Marcus, the divorced letting agent from Stath Lets Flats Favourite Tracks - Knights of Cydonia

I love a good Motown record, and this is exactly that. Apart from the opening track, which is strong musically but let down by its live recording quality, every song is great. I’ll definitely be coming back to this. Favourite Tracks - Papa Was A Rolling Stone Love Woke Me Up This Morning The First Time I Saw Your Face Mother Nature

This is the second PJ Harvey album I’ve listened to on this site, and I can now confidently say I’m not a fan. Critics love her; listeners don’t — a fact reflected by her mountain of accolades and awards, in contrast to relatively lacklustre commercial success. Here, she sings about war and patriotism with all the subtlety of a flying mallet, tackling subjects I can’t imagine she’s particularly qualified to comment on. And musically, it’s extremely forgettable, often feeling derivative of artists like Kate Bush, Björk, and Dolores O’Riordan of The Cranberries. Overall, this comes across as something akin to African Child by Aldous Snow: an artist naively choosing a heavy subject because they saw it on the telly and thought, “this is bad.”

This is my second PJ Harvey album in a row, and my third overall. I thought yesterday’s Let England Shake was absolutely dreadful, but I went into this one with an open mind. This is undoubtedly the best so far, and I now appreciate that being versatile and reinventing your sound with each album is bound to bring some misses. This, however, is a definite hit, with some great tracks, a strong vocal performance, and Steve Albini’s production is always a treat to hear. Favourite Tracks - Missed Rub 'Til It Bleeds 50ft Queenie Man-Size Me-Jane

This didn’t do much for me. Middling, uninspired, radio-friendly rock with poor synth inflexions. There are some relatively catchy tunes, but it also feels like the prototype for the worst of ’80s MTV synth-rock, so it definitely loses a point for that

I’m a huge Hank Williams fan, so hearing Honky Tonk Masquerade for the first time was an absolute delight. The development of Country & Western after Williams’ death has always disappointed me—his successors either settled for poor imitation or pushed the music so far off course that they lost what made it great. Joe Ely, however, gets it right, capturing the essence of Williams without lapsing into pastiche; injecting new life into the genre, lyrically, musically, and instrumentally. This feels like the progression country music should’ve largely taken, and it’s a shame this isn’t more widely celebrated.