Decent songs, nice and mellow music that I haven’t listened much to before.
Classic album I have listened to many times. You can’t get much better than this.
The problem with rap/hiphop like this for me is that it feels like it’s mostly the same thing repeating. There are a few highlights, but I want to skip ahead several times, while listening.
R.E.M. is a band I’ve listened a lot to, but I only discovered them when they released Automatic For The People, so I actually don’t know their first albums very well. Document has three good singles that I enjoy a lot, and I also like the first few songs, but the latter part is rather bland. It’s close to a 4 star album, but only just…
Weird coincidence, but yesterdays album was Document, their previous album… This album I have in my collection, and I feel like this is a pretty good album with many good songs. My personal favourite is World Leader Pretend, but also Get Up, Orange Crush, Stand and Pop Song 89 are really good. There’s only one song I usually skip and that is The Wrong Child. There’s something about the harmonies and the mandolin that just doesn’t work for me. Hopefully I don’t get another R.E.M. too soon now 😅
Another band I gave up on shortly after hearing about them. I did not like the style and the vocals. I have later learned to like some of The Smiths and Morissey songs, but this album is just not my thing. None of the songs really stands out for me, and it’s a bland experience to go through the full album. I think/hope I will enjoy their other albums more.
There’s no doubt that Curtis Mayfield has a good voice, and the quality of production is also very nice. I don’t connect to many of the songs, though. So in love is the standout song for me.
When listening to this album it strikes me how everything about the sound is very «rhythm-based». The bass is really cool, along with the drums. Even the guitar and organ are mostly about the rhythm. My two favourite songs are Concrete Jungle and Stir it Up, but it’s a good listening experience all the way.
Another album I have listened a lot to. So many classic songs on one album! I remember I prefered the songs on side A over side B when growing up, but I can honestly say that this album has no weak songs for me now. The album has a very clear sound, it makes you think that nothing is accidental but calculated. Still, I like it this way, though I know others think it is too much «pop rock». For me it’s a really strong album which I like a lot.
This is interesting. I know Blur mostly by their singles and hits. Looking at the songs on this album I think I only know a couple of the songs from earlier.
I like the vibe of the first tracks, good vocals and nice drive. After a few songs though the songs are less interesting and a couple of them have prolonged and tiresome endings. All in all it’s a medium record that has too many fillers. Favorite tracks: For Tomorrow and Turn it Up
Another classic album. A bunch of hits and the rest of the album is also quite good. Favourite songs: Back in Black, Hells Bells, You Shook Me All Night Long and Shoot To Thrill.
Christmas music is something I rarely play voluntarily. Most of these songs and versions are well known and they are okay. Nothing more, nothing less.
This is prog rock that I like! Favourite songs: Tom Sawyer, Limelight and The Camera Eye.
8 minutes of the overplayed American Pie-opener is 5 minutes too much and tough to not skip. The next songs are much better and comes as a relief. As long as his songs are calm and down it works best for me. McLean has a really warm and tender voice, but the magic is broken when he pushes up the tempo and tries to «rock», like on the mentioned American Pie and Everybody loves me, baby. He should keep it simple.
Favourite songs: For Tomorrow, Vincent, Empty Chairs
Dusty Springfield really has a nice and soft voice, but at the same time it has character. The orchestral arrangements are also very fitting. It makes listening to this album a really joyful experience. Favourite songs: Son of a Preacher Man (doh!), The Windmills of Your Mind and Just One Smile.
Joyful rock with a bunch of falsetto harmonies. I have never listened to a full ELO-album before, but I should propably do that more. I enjoyed this a lot. The album could maybe be a little bit shorter, though. 17 songs and 1m10mins is a little over the top.
Favourite songs: Turn To Stone, Mr Blue Sky and It’s Over.
One of the most epic albums of all time. A few of the songs feel a little outdated now, like The Girl is Mine.. But this is still an easy 5 star album.
Best songs: Beat It, Billy Jean, Wanna Be Startin’ Somethin’ and of course Thriller.
Ouch! This album really tests you from the beginning by putting noise and chaos into the mix. If you get through the opening though, there are some okay qualities in the main core of the music. This is tough listen though, and I doubt I will put it on voluntarily later.
I read a blogpost about the selection of this album regarding «1001 albums …» that suggested cutting out this record and do «The Police - Outlandos D’ Armour» instead. I think I will enjoy that more. I don’t think they have put a large segment of breaking bottles and other weird noises in their songs…
Favourite songs: None
I have tried to listening to The Band earlier and the conclusion has always been that it is just not my cup of tea. Some people really like this americana, southern, folk rock style but I can’t really get into it. A couple of songs stand a little bit out (you can guess which two) and the rest is just okay.
Favourite songs (yeah, you guessed it): Up on Crickle Creek, The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down.
I listened to this album a few times last year before I was going to see the band live at a festival. Of course they didn’t have their full original band, but it was still a good performance. The album is a obviously a classic, and I think it still holds up pretty well. Even the least known songs are alright.
Favourite songs: Pretty Vacant, Holiday In The Sun, Anarchy in The UK and God Save The Queen.
2 songs, 38 minutes. It starts off okay, but after a while I start to lose my interest in the music. I think I would appreciate it more if I had seen it as a live performance and could watch the musicians jam away. This is just not my type of music, I guess.
My first Bowie-album on this challenge. I wish I would have started with an earlier one (I know he has 9(!) of them here), but anyways. I have never been a big fan of Bowie, and I think it’s partly his voice but also his style - it works sometimes, but it can also be too much. Blackstar can be both also; I enjoy it a lot on some parts, but it can be too much at times.
It should really get more than 3 stars, but it is not a 4 star album (3,5/5).
Favourite songs: Lazarus and Black Star.
Initial thought before listening to this record:
- I hope this is better than I think it is
Some thoughts I had while listening to this album:
- I wish the vocalist had a more interesting voice
- Brandon Flowers is a funny name
- Wow, this drummer must he bored (during Somebody Told Me)
- Why this album has several billion plays is beyond me
- This is perhaps the most medium record I’ve had so far in this challenge
After:
- Yup, it was pretty much as I thought it would be
Favourites: All The Things That I’ve Done and Believe Me Natalie
I like many metal genres, but I am not very much into thrash metal. Still this is a good record with many good songs. It’s mostly the same tempo and feel on most of the songs, so after a while a full album I am definetly ready for something else. I rate it a 4, but only barely.
Favourite songs: Caught In a Mosh, Indians
This is almost like hearing Mariah Carey sing: Highly technical and well performed, but it can definetly be too much. Listening to this jam session gets very tedious in the long run, and I had to do stuff on the side to get through it.
My favourite experience of todays challenge was reading reviews of the album. Some of them are hilarious!
Sitar cover of Light My Fire and Jumpin' Jack Flash... Didn't really need to hear this.
It’s just okay music. Nothing really stood out to me.
I only knew the somg Fuzzy from earlier. That song is really good - the rest of the album is also pretty decent.Almost a 4, but not quite.
Solange is a new artist for me. I know she has a famous sister, and that some critics liked at least one of her albums.
No, this is not for me. I get that others see the value in her voice, the production and the samples, but for me it gets soo boring.
I don’t actually remember listening to this album from start to finish ever. However I know all the singles very well, and there are quite a few. Sadly the filler songs aren’t too good, so I can’t say it’s a perfect record, but I really enjoy listening to most of it.
Favourite songs: Bad, Smooth Criminal, Man In The Mirror, Dirty Diana, The Way You Make Me Feel and I Just Can’t Stop Loving You.
This is a personal favourite! Perfect for listening to something in the background, while working or just relaxing. Sexy Boy is from another dimension. It was the song that made me get into them in the first place.
Favourite songs: Sexy Boy, Kelly Watch The Stars, All I Need, La Femme D’argent and Talisman.
How much soul is too much? This album is a good example of a talented singer that makes below average interesting songs (so far). The genre is defintely not my thing, but better melodies would definetly help. I know Back to Black is way better than this.
Only song that didn’t bore me: Amy, Amy, Amy.
Nope, this was not something I needed in my life. Listened a little over half the album on youtube, but it was just too inconvenient and «too much» to complete.
Good album with a few really classic songs.
Favourites: Riders on the Storm, Love Her Madly and L.A. Woman.
Never heard about this band or album before. It gives a “different” vibe, quite calm and easy but with many creative twists and turns. I quite like it as an easy listening/background experience. But I doubt I will go back to listen to it later.
The opening song was great, but it quickly went downhill from there. Most of the songs uses distortion and alternative “harmonies”. The songs varies from just annoying to “ok, this is kinda cool”. Sometimes it is all over the place, and in the next moment it is nice.
Conclusion: A few songs are definetly better than the rest of the album. I might check out some of their other singles.
Favourite songs: Soul and Fire, Think (Let Tomorrow Be).
Never been a fan of Neil Youngs voice. The songs on this record are not bad, but not very good or memorable either.
PJ Harvey has always been a known name, but I have never really gotten into her music; Just a song here or there. This has been an eye opener (or ear opener perhaps).
It started a little slow, while listening in the car on my way to work, but after a while something happened. I slowly got dragged into it. It started around Beautiful Feeling, the first of two songs with Thom Yorke. I think his voice and presence pairs really well with Harveys voice. From here and out I really enjoyed the rest of the songs. I had a feeling that I missed out on the first half, so I had to do a second round. And I was right, now I really enjoyed the whole album. I am defintely not done with this record and I am looking forward to check out more of her stuff.
Favourite songs: This Mess We’re In, You Said Something, This Is Love and Kamikaze.
Radiohead is one of my favourite bands of all time. This, however isn’t an album I know very well. I don’t think I have listened to the album from start to finish more than one time before(?) It’s from their experimental phase with a lot of different expressions. I think some of the songs are great, and a a few are more forgettable. All together a good album, but far from their best one. Why they made a new and soulless version of Morning Bell has always baffled me.
Favourite songs: I Might Be Wrong, Pyramid Song, You And Whose Army, Knives Out, Packt Like Sardines In a Crushd Tin Box.
A bit skeptical at first, but this is actually cool. Uptempo, catchy and a little bit weird - but not too much.
Ah, I’ve been looking forward to this. I grew up listening a lot to The Beatles, but almost only compilations - never really the full albums. So there’s quite a few songs on this album I don’t really know. I love the classics: Eleanor Rigby, Here There and Everywhere and Taxman. But some of the «new» songs are equally good, especially the "sitar-songs": Love You To and Tomorrow Never Knows.
Another nice surprice! Never heard of them before, but I liked their style from the first moment. Nice and easy pace, some cool harmonies and nice overall production. The first songs are the best (I only listened to the original albums 10 songs), the later half is still okay.
Favourite songs: I Wanna Destroy You, Kingdom Of Love and I Got The Hots.
The music is good, nice rhythms and cool vibe. But I’m losing some of the connection over time.
So, this is hardcore blues. The first song is just one repeated riff - that's too repetitive for my taste. There's no doubt about the quality of the musicians, the energy and the artist. But I get tired of it way too soon.
One of very few Norwegian albums from the book. I know about half of the songs well from earlier. It is a type of electronica that I like, most of it quite peaceful and nice to have in the background. Also there are some really good hits. Personally I like their record Junior better, but that is also a more of a «pop-electronica»-vibe.
Favourite songs: Poor Leno, So Easy, Remind Me and Sparks.
Always been a fan of The Beatles but haven’t listened much to McCartney after The Beatles-era. The few songs I have heard didn’t make me want to look much further.
This album was better than i anticipated, though. It’s an even and pleasant experience, and I found a few songs I really liked. Big plus is that none of the songs are skipable.
Favourite songs: Mrs Vanderbilt, Let Me Roll it, Band on The Run,.
Surprisingly good, as it is not my really my genre.
Favourites: Work It, Gossip Folks.
The album is good, but way too long with mediocre songs in the end.
Favourits: Kashmir, In The Light, The Rover
Like someone else said: Why is this album on this list? Bruce Springsteen has so many other classic albums. This is just a middle of the road album that also is too long. There are so many other artists not on the list that could get their chance.
Best songs: Waiting On A Sunny Day,
Once again: Why is this album on the list?! This guy has 6 albums on it altogether! And this one is not a classic I had never heard of any of the songs earlier, and I won"t go back to it anytime soon.
I like the fact that they are “different” in their style, outgoing and a little crazy. Some of the songs are refreshing and cool, but even if the album is quite short I get tired of the vocals. It’s a little too much at times…
Favourites: Rock Lobster, Planet Claire
This was different. I have listened a lot to «early» Björk. But never this.
Positive sides: Really cool production and many different elements in the songs - it’s a bit like ASMR at times. I like several of the sceneries in many of the songs. The A’capella works well in many of the songs.
Negative: Sometimes it can be just too much. And sometimes it would be nice with an instrument or two.
Never heard about the artist before, read a little about him and noticed that the only known artist that was similar to him was Lambchop. They have always been boring to me, so I had low expectations.
But I must say it was a pleasant surprise! I liked the mellow style and his vocals. Like a cross between Leonard Cohen and Colter Wall. I think I liked the album as an overall experience, but I didn’t really pay attention to what songs stood out. He could have left out the second last song though - that was just weird noises.
A friend of mine recommended me this album a while back. That time I listened through the first song or so, but stopped soon. Today it was another experience. I really enjoyed it. Nice strings arrangements, pleasant songs. I’m glad the challenge made me give it another chance.
One of my all time favourite bands, their best record and the best rock vocalist of all time. So many great songs on one album.
It’s just a shame that this genre is so underrepresented compared to many other artists. 1 album each for Soundgarden (no other Chris Cornell-band: Audioslave, Temple of The Dog, solo), Pearl Jam and Alice in Chains is disapointing when Elvis Costello has 6, Tom Waits has 5 and The Smiths/Morrisey has 7…
Favourite songs on Superunknown: Black Hole Sun, Spoonman, The Day I Tried To Live, Like Suicide, Fell On Black Days, My Wave, Drown Me In You and Half.
