1001 Albums Summary

Tracks longer than 3:59: Yes Long tracks interesting or special: Aside from War Pigs, none of the others need to be over 4 minutes. Album shorter than 58 minutes: Yes Will listen to album again: Not likely Overall: This is not a genre I normally listen to, but there was definitely some nostalgia tied into my enjoyment of the album. That said, I can’t imagine throwing the album on, but I will enjoy hearing Wars Pigs, Paranoid and Iron Man in the wild.

✅

Look, it wasn't bad, but it wasn't great. I really hope that it is just chance that I have gotten a mess of 60s rock albums over my first 300 albums and that I am done with them, but I have a feeling that won't be the case.

Tracks longer than 3:59: Too many Long tracks interesting or special: A couple yes, the rest no Album shorter than 58 minutes: Yes Will listen to again: Possibly Overall: This is not a genre I normally listen to, but I actually really liked this album. Probably won’t listen to it very often in the future, but if I am ever in the mood for this type of sound, I’ll probably reach for this album.

Tracks longer than 3:59: Too many Long tracks interesting or special: Not Really Album shorter than 58 minutes: Yes Will listen to again: Not really Overall: Sounds like a standard Steely Dan Album. I’m not a Steely hater, so that is not a problem in and of itself, but aside from the song I already knew, nothing stood out.

-Tracks longer than 3:59: Yes -Long tracks interesting or special: Yes and no. A Sailor’s Life illustrates how songs can be long and good, while Percy’s Song illustrates how making a song longer than necessary can sap how enjoyable it is. -Album shorter than 58 minutes: Yes -Will listen to album again: Possibly -Overall: I liked this way more than I expected. After the first track I was sure I’d be skipping through the album, but I was wrong. I was especially taken with the jazziness of Autopsy, and the variety of sounds from track to track.

-Tracks longer than 3:59: Yes -Long tracks interesting or special: For the most part yes, but not always. -Album shorter than 58 minutes: It’s a bummer that it is not. -Will listen to album again: Not in its entirety. -Overall: I love Stevie Wonder it pains me to say, but this album is in desperate need of editing. For every As and Sir Duke, there is a Saturn and Isn’t She Lovely (I know people love this song, but it is corny AF and always has been). While there are definitely tracks I’ll listen to again, including ones that were not fully on my radar before listening to this, I’ll never sit down and play it through like I do Talking Book and Inversions. Still the good is so good it still gets a 4 despite the issues I have with it overall.

-Tracks longer than 3:59: A couple -Long tracks interesting or special: For the most part yes. I never checked to see how much longer there was until a track was done. -Album shorter than 58 minutes: Indeed it is. -Will listen to album again: Yes -Overall: Brazilian music from the 70s? Sign me up. I really enjoyed this album and its vibe, but it’s important to note that it’s more than “just a vibe”. The music is well crafted and well played, and even if I don’t speak, Portuguese, few languages sound more beautiful when sung. Also, if you liked Tudo Que Voce Podia Ser there is an awesome version out there by Quarteto Em Cy.

-Tracks longer than 3:59: A few -Long tracks interesting or special: It’s a mix. Can’t You Hear Me Knocking is an example of a song worthy of its length with its Santana-esque ending; but, as great of a song as it is, do we really need 5 minutes of Wild Horses? -Album shorter than 58 minutes: Yes (yay!) -Will listen to album again: Yes -Overall: You know how when you hear or read the word “cat” your default image of a cat pops in your head? When I hear or read the words The Rolling Stones the sound of this album is what I hear. This album delivers, even with its less well known songs; there are no skips. I love the judicious use of horns and its overall sound. This is one of those albums that even though I am very familiar with, I haven’t listened to in a long time and I am glad I was reminded how much I like it.

-Tracks longer than 3:59: A few -Long tracks interesting or special: No. I get it Pablo Picasso was an asshole and Hospital was painful. -Album shorter than 58 minutes: Yes -Will listen to album again: Unlikely -Overall: It was fine. I was not particularly impressed, although I can hear the influence it had on future artists. 3 stars, but would not recommend.

-Tracks longer than 3:59: One -Long tracks interesting or special: That’d be a no. Although Holiday in Cambodia, which I was familiar with and skipped to, is the only track I could kind of listen to once the noise intro was done. -Album shorter than 58 minutes: Yes -Will listen to album again: Nope -Overall: Hope there wasn’t a major change in the later part of this album that I missed because I had to turn it off. While punk isn’t my favorite genre, there is stuff I like, this wasn’t it. 1/5

-Tracks longer than 3:59: Too many -Long tracks interesting or special: Not really. All of the longer songs could have been trimmed to the length of a standard pop or rock track. Do we really need the first 1:30 of Where the Street Have No Name? I think not. Overly long songs without something special just feel bloated and/or self-indulgent. -Album shorter than 58 minutes: Yes -Will listen to album again: Not in its entirety. -Overall: Listening to this was like getting hit with a nostalgia sledgehammer. It is hard to express how ubiquitous the first three tracks were in 1987. It felt like the video for Where the Street Have No Name played every 10 minutes on MTV… for years. It’s not that I don’t like the music, but do I grade on a curve that is influenced by my experience with the music or just on the music. Whatever, 4/5.

-Tracks longer than 3:59: Sadly, yes -Long tracks interesting or special: No -Album shorter than 58 minutes: Yes -Will listen to album again: While I appreciate that the lyrics to these songs makes me feel like 10cc doesn’t take themselves too seriously and made me smile at times, I can’t say I really enjoyed any other aspect of the music.

-Tracks longer than 3:59: Way too many -Long tracks interesting or special: No -Album shorter than 58 minutes: Yes -Will listen to album again: Not a chance Overall: I know people love them some Morrissey, but my god his voice is annoying. I see from other reviews there is more on the way, I hope I won’t see them for a while. 1/5

-Tracks longer than 3:59: A couple -Long tracks interesting or special: They work because the bridges are solid. The musically unrelated intro to Ricki Don’t Loose That Number is an example of adding something to a song that doesn’t add anything to the song. -Album shorter than 58 minutes: Yes -Will listen to album again: Not in its entirety. Overall: Like all Steely Dan albums, save Aja, there are tracks I really, really like and some I don’t ever need to listen to again. (East St. Louis Toodle-Oo? No thanks.) I did enjoyed the variety of sounds between songs. Even with its short comings I’m giving it… 4/5

-Tracks longer than 3:59: One, but I’ll allow it. -Long tracks interesting or special: It has Q-Tip, so yes. -Album shorter than 58 minutes: Just a bit -Will listen to album again: 100% Overall: I. Love. This. Album. It came out when I was in college and it was on repeat. I particularly love Flute Loop. Instrumentals can be blah or add bloat, but the ones on here are great. Much of source material for the beats is also dope. Check out the original Root Down by Jimmy Smith.

Tracks longer than 3:59: Far too many. -Long tracks interesting or special: I kept looking to see how much longer there was to left when listening to the long songs, so not really. I’m not opposed to long tracks in general, but few of these had anything that warranted their length. -Album shorter than 58 minutes: Yes -Will listen to album again: Probably not Overall: I really, really like the music on this album. Unfortunately, I just can’t deal with his voice for more than a song or two. I know I’m “supposed” to like Tom’s gravel, but it just started to grate in my nerves. It was particularly frustrating because I wanted to enjoyed the music.

-Tracks longer than 3:59: Unfortunately, yes. Many of the long tracks are great examples of my issue with excessive length; they sound self-indulgent and just add bloat. -Long tracks interesting or special: Nope -Album shorter than 58 minutes: Thank god yes. -Will listen to album again: Not a chance. Overall: I hated this album, my wife hated this album, my kids hated this album, because this album sucks. Solsbury Hill offers a nice taste of cheesy nostalgia, but aside from that I had trouble finishing the other tracks. I am not anti-Peter Gabriel, I like So; but this album? Oof, painful.

Tracks longer than 3:59: Many, but… -Long tracks interesting or special: Yes! It would have been a problem if the “skit” at the end of living For the City was at the beginning of the song, but fortunately you can just skip it. I never thinking to myself “When’s this song over?” When listening to the, dare I say, masterpiece. -Album shorter than 58 minutes: Yes -Will listen to album again: 100% Overall: This is my favorite Stevie Wonder album (Talking Book is a close second). Unlike Songs in the Key of Life, which is sadly way too long with songs I simply skip, Innervisions the rare album with no skips. It has a fantastic mix of sophisticated musical elements and very singable songs. I hadn’t listen to it for a bit and I am glad it came around. Innervisions will be back in rotation.

-Tracks longer than 3:59: Yes -Long tracks interesting or special: it really, although bringing catchy chorus around to end some of the songs worked. -Album shorter than 58 minutes: Yes. -Will listen to album again: Unlikely Overall: Meh. Didn’t hate it, didn’t love it. Some of the songs were catchy, but nothing stood out to me.

-Tracks longer than 3:59: You better believe it. -Long tracks interesting or special: Yes and no. Larks’ Tongues in Aspic (Part 1) is an example of the type of track that can work at an incredibly long 13 minutes. It’s varied, it’s interesting, and it moves. Unfortunately, I just don’t like the way it sounds. -Album shorter than 58 minutes: Nope. -Will listen to album again: Nope. Overall: I groaned when I saw that the day’s project was another King Crimson album. I tried to approach it with as open mind as possible, but it just wasn’t for me. Despite my harping on track length, I actually routinely listen to artists that play long ass songs (think jam bands and late 60s Miles Davis), so my issue isn’t with the length and size of the music, it’s the sound. I don’t hate it, but I’m glad I’m done with my servings of King Crimson.

-Tracks longer than 3:59: Yes -Long tracks interesting or special: 100% -Album shorter than 58 minutes: Yes. -Will listen to album again: Absolutely Overall: Now THIS is an album that belongs on this list. When it came out we knew that there was great potential. Nas’ intro to the world, his verse on Main Source’s Live at the Barbeque, which has arguably the hardest line in hip hop (When I was 12, I went to hell for snuffing Jesus), was explosive. The collection of producers is second to none, containing the some of the greatest of all time. But I don’t think anyone could have expected it to be as jaw droppingly good as it is. From the grimy and menacing N.Y. state of Mind, to the jazzy and reflective The World is Yours, this is a masterpiece. I usually hate when people gate keep, but I’m sorry, if you don’t like this album you don’t like hip hop, and that’s okay.

- Tracks longer than 3:59: Yes -Long tracks interesting or special: Frustratingly no. -Album shorter than 58 minutes: Yes. -Will listen to album again: Possibly -Overall: This was a real roller coaster. I swung from liking to hating this album song by song. I really enjoyed the use of horns and the choir style backing up singing. However, I was constantly looking to see if the songs were almost done, because for the most part they were too long and not for good reasons. Long almost looping portions in the middle of song just didn’t work for me. At least Cop Shoot Cop… varies as it moves through its 17 minutes. Serious question, for people who like tracks like No God Only Religion what is it that you find enjoyable? I’m really not trying to yuck anyone’s yum, but I really am interested in what appeals to you. I know full well that listen to things that other people find tortuous, so I’m not being judgy, just curious.

-Tracks longer than 3:59: Yes -Long tracks interesting or special: Kind of. I didn’t find my myself looking to see how much longer I need to listen to a song for very often. -Album shorter than 58 minutes: Yes. -Will listen to album again: Possibly -Overall: I liked this album more than I was expecting to. I’m not 100% sure why I thought this was going to be an album where I’d be skipping through tracks after the first minute or two, but I was pleasantly surprised when it came to an end and I had listened to the whole thing without having to take a break which happens sometimes (I’m looking at you Patty Smith). Not sure when I’ll have the hankering for Supertramp again, but it’s not out of the question that I will. 4/5

-Tracks longer than 3:59: Yes -Long tracks interesting or special:I honestly don’t know. -Album shorter than 58 minutes: Yes. -Will listen to album again: Nope -Overall: It’s kind of unfair for me to rate this album. This is a genre I really do not like. Maybe it is a great album for this type of music; I genuinely don’t know and can’t tell. I can’t take the lists word for it due to the trash I have heard in genres I do like, I’m just going to give it… 3/5

- Tracks longer than 3:59: Yes -Long tracks interesting or special: Nit as far as I’m concern. -Album shorter than 58 minutes: Yes. -Will listen to album again: Not a chance -Overall: I always thought I didn’t like Patty Smith. I’m not 100% sure why, so I figured maybe this was going to be one of those albums that set me straight. It did not; I was right. I usually really try to listen to every song on an album even if I don’t enjoy the first few. With this one I simply couldn’t. Her voice was so grating to my ears I had to stop after track three. Looking at the review stats it looks like I’m in the minority. So be it.