1001 Albums Summary

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.

A nice and mellow album. You don’t need much more than an acoustic guitar, a little bit of keyboard, some strings and Cat Stevens’ recognizable and characteristic voice. Favourite songs: Where Do The Children Play? Wild World, Father and Son, Sad Lisa.

«Easy listening-samba»… It kind of feels like I’m on hold, waiting for support to help me with my internet connection. It’s not totally horrible, but it’s quite boring. Actually, the song «You didn’t have to be so nice» a duet with a tonedeaf child is horrible. Favourite songs: none

This is the first time I have struggled to finish my daily album (okay, I never finished Dagmar Crause - Tank Battles, but that was crap and only playable through youtube so it almost dorsn’t count). Not because it’s that bad, but it’s just too long and I’ve had a busy day. The music is a blend of classic rock and musical-style, which sometimes works pretty well, but it also get quite tedious. Especially when it goes on and on for too long. Pinball Wizard is a great classic, but it can’t save the rest of the album.

During the first song I thought that this would be a great album, but it wasn’t really. There are two cool songs, but the rest is just so-so. Best songs: Love Is a Stranger and Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This)

Damn, country is boring.

Yet another band I don’t really know other than a handful of songs. This is classic heavyrock that is easy to like.

Little Richard is a very energetic character. Sometimes it’s good, but after a while it feels like a little too much. Best songs: Long Tall Sally (The Thing) and Tutti Frutti

I said on an earlier album that I’m not a big fan of thrash metal, but after my second thrash metal album om this challenge I might have to change my view: This is a really good album! It’s straight to the point, driven by heavy guitar riffs, tempo changing drums and aggressive vocals. I also like that even if most of the songs are pretty heavy, they also throw a few more melodic songs in the mix. It definetly improves the album. Favourite songs: Walk, This Love, Mouth For War, Fucking Hostile and Hollow.

Surprisingly good. It really swings on the good songs, and I can feel how Louis Prima enjoys performing. But there’s a downside to it: There"s so much enjoyment and playfulness that I want to turn it down a little after a while. I don’t think I can match the level of happiness in this kind of music through a full album. Favourite songs: Bueno Sera and Just a Gigolo/Ain’t Got Nobody

I wasn’t aware of that Simon & Garfunkel had made a concept album. Of course I knew some of the songs already, but I had definetly not heard this full record earlier. I feel like it’s trying a little too much. Recording old people just talking for two minutes on a 29 minute long album is a waste of time. The album is saved a little by a few strong songs, but it feels very uneven. Favourite songs: Bookends Theme (reprise), America, Mrs. Robinson and Hazy Shade of Winter.

Another band I just know a little from a few songs. This is another pleasant experience. A couple of songs I already know and a bunch of new ones that are really good. Another big plus is that it feels like the album follows a theme all the way. Win Butlers voice needs a little warming up into. But the composition of the songs are really cool. The church organ used in some of the songs raises the quality of the songs also. Favourite songs: Intervention, No Cars Go, Black Mirror, Keep The Car Running.

A nice little fusion of a bunch of genres: mellow hiphop, funk, rap, blues and rock. It starts off as kind of cool without really engaging me too much. And that’s the biggest problem with this album: It’s not very bad or a tough listen, but it is not very interesting. They have one hit, and a bunch of medium songs. Best song: Scooby Snacks

Yawn… I hear good musicians playing well. But the songs don’t get to me. I heard someone say that Traffic is a greatest hits-band rather than an album-band. And I think I agree.

Interesting genre. Mostly instrumental hiphop made up by samples. For me it’s a background type of music I can enjoy while working or focusing on something else primarily. The song «Building Steam With A Grain Of Salt» has already been on such a playlist for a long time. That’s also easily the best song on the album.

I was 7 years when this album came out. I never listened to it then, but I heard the most known songs on the radio and kind of liked them. Then many years later I saw the movie Donnie Darko and really fell in love with that soundtrack. Head Over Heels was on that soundtrack as well as Gary Jules’ cover of Mad World (from their first record The Hurting). But anyways I started going more back to Tears for Fears’ songs, though through their most common songs on mp3 and later Spotify - still not listening to their full albums. That’s why I’m really glad this «challenge» gives me the push to go more in the depth of the artists I should know better. So, Songs From The Big Chair. I had to give it a second listen to give the lesser known songs another chance. At first listen I thought they were a little to anonymous compared to the big hits, but now I like it a lot better. A really good listening point is the buildup from Broken to Head Over Heels/Broken. Favourite songs I already knew and was a fan of: Head Over Heels, Shout, Everybody Wants To Rule The World. Favourite «new» songs: Listen, Broken, The Working Hour.

Frank Sinatra has a beautiful and classic voice. I am pretty sure I would enjoy it more with different songs. I understand that this album is an important concept album with songs of heartbreak, but it gets a little boring when all the songs are sad and blue. I am looking forward to hear his other albums on the list, and hope they are better.

Nope. Didn’t need this.

A little bit nice, a little bit uneventful. Best songs: Desire Lines, Revival.

Great band with lots of hits. But I kind of wish they had chosen one or two studio albums of Thin Lizzy, instead of only this one live album.

Started off pretty cool: Nice beats and fresh rapping. But it became a little repetitive after a few songs.

The album starts off with one of the most epic intro somgs, Gimme Shelter. It can’t follow up the opening, but it’s still a good record. It was interesting to hear the country version of Honky Tonk Women: Country Honk. But it’s a reason why the version that’s not on this album is the famous one. I enjoyed listening to the album, but it’s not quite a 5 star for me. Favourite songs: Gimme Shelter, You Can’t Always Get What You Want, Midnight Rambler, Country Honk.

Many of my favourite bands are from the grunge genre. Mudhoney however is band I’ve never listened much to. I have tried a few times, but no… Today I have listened through my first album with them. I guess it’s okay, but I understand why they never really became more than an underground band. It’s an okay listen, but few of the songs really stick out. Favourite song: Good Enough

So I learned something today. The Byrds made fricking country music - and it totally sucks. The few songs I’ve heard from them earlier have been really different from this twangy, redneck, boring shit. To me this feels nothing like rock. The best thing about listening to this album was when I noticed that the original record had only 11 songs, and I could end the listening before the extras Spotify had added. Favourite songs: None.

Stevie Wonder is a real smooth artist. I love his funky soul, especially the uptempo songs. You can tell he is enjoying playing and performing. I sometimes struggle a little with his slow songs, like Visions. I feel like he tries a little too much there. With some more time with the record I might upgrade it to a 5*. For now it’s a strong 4*. Favourite songs: Higher Ground, Living For The City, He’s Misstra Know It All, Don’t You Worry ‘bout a Thing.

This is very bluesy rock. I usually like this genre more than pure blues, and this is not an exception. I think it is a nice album, though it is a bit long (like all other double albums I have encountered on this challenge). Favourite songs: Bell Bottom Blues and Layla.

Crystalised is one of my favourite songs of all time. Still I don’t think I have ever listened through this whole album before. I think it starts off great, but gets somewhat bland in the end. Still, the best songs makes it a good album after all. Favourites: Crystalised, Intro, Islands.

Rufus Wainwright is a type of artist you instantly recognize if you know him. I think sometimes he sounds really wonderful, and sometimes he’s just too much. I have seen him live once, and I have one of his other albums, Release The Stars, that I think is a pretty good album. This album I never really connected to. I enjoyed one song, and the rest was just okay. Favourite song: The One You Love

Janis Joplin might have the most recognizable voice in all of music history. It’s both a gift and a curse, I think. It’s cool but can also be a little too much. Luckily this album is so short I don’t get tired of it after one listen. I am not a fan of the applause and cheering they have put in between the songs, to make it sound like a live album. The songs are pretty good, though I feel like I have heard «Peace Of My Heart» enough before this listen.

Great stuff! One my favourite things listening to this album is recognizing so many cool little samples. Also the songs are catchy, and enjoyable. A good record!

Nice and mellow.

Nice album.

Country-yawn.

So many bangers! Love the energy of the early Offspring. I really enjoyed this even if the last few songs were a little bland. The rest was great! Favourite songs: Genocide, All I Want, Come Out And Play, Gotta Get Away and Bad Habit.

6 days ago I had Beastie Boys - Licence To Ill. I think that album was a little better, more even. This is definetly a good album too, but it has a little more fillers compared to hits. Sabotage is the bands strongest song, and there’s quite a few other good ones. Favourite songs: Sabotage, Sure shot, Flute Loop.

Impressive energy in his singing - you can feel he means every word he sings. But the songs are uninteresting and the sound quality is not very good. The best part is that the album is quite short.

I have always struggled with Neil Young’s voice. It feels very whiny and shaking, so I don’t always enjoy his music. There are a few okay songs here, but it is still a medium album. Best song: Borrowed Time

I like how they set the tone right from the start on the title-track. You get the feeling that will be an enjoyable album. CCR to me has been a compilation of feel good hits, so this is my first time going through a full record by them. After the full listen I think it is a good record, but the singles and b-sides are definetly the best songs here. Some parts of Cross-Tie Walker sounds like a poor copy of Folsom Prison Blues. Favourite songs: Green River, Bad Moon Rising, Lodi, Commotion.

Nice, mellow and full of harmonies. It’s quite peaceful to listen to. After a while I’m starting to think that the vocal harmonies through most of the verses can be a little too much. They are nice, but I think it kills the dynamics at times. It’s a nice album, though. Favourites: Hoplessly Hoping, Suite: Judy Blue Eyes

The sound landscape on this album is soo 60’s. It’s pretty good, and there’s even a sitar popping up in Three King Fishers. Donovan’s voice is quite characteristic and suits the music well. This was a nice experience, though the last songs are a little more forgettable. Favourite songs: Seasons of The Witch, Sunshine Superman.

The opening of this album really made my day. I started listening as I usually do while driving to work (15 minutes). And the quirky energy, weird lyrics and fun beats really was the energy burst I needed this day. The second song was also really good. After that the quality detoriated a little, but it was still a nice listen. I am really happy I was introduced to Tom Tom Club. Favourites: Wordy Rappinghood and Genius of Love.

This was a little disappointment to me. One of the first albums I got was Dusty in Memphis, and that album was much better. You should think that an album of cover songs with a classic singer like Dusty Springfield would be great. But this is just a plain middle of the road, kind of boring record. It’s not bad, but never engaging.

Another classic artist I really haven’t listened to much before, apart from the most known hits. Morrison has a very charecteristic voice, but I’m not a big fan of his vocal style. The songs are okay, but few songs stands out.

I usually start listening to the album with the Spotify-link, and then check track listenings on Wikipedia to see what songs were on the original album (many later versions have extra songs, remixes and so on that I don’t necessary want to use my time on) And I have never seen a bigger difference between the original album and what I started listening to: The opening track Close to the edge of 18.42 mins wasn’t even included! So I found another version and restarted my listen-through. This is definetly progrock. It varies from top notch, to a little too much to take in on one listening. I didn’t have time for a round two, though. So I’m giving it a 4* in good belief that it deserves that. Favourite song: And You And I

Definetly better than my previous album of just CSN.

Only know a few songs by Elliot Smith from earlier. He has an easy recognizable voice, almost like there’s a filter put on it. To me it feels like it’s a bit limited in power and range. Still he has quite a few nice songs on this record. Best song: Son of Sam

This is one of the most boring albums I’ve ever listened to on purpose.

I thought I would like this more. I usually alt rock/punk like this, but I think the lead vocals is too screamish and mostly annoying. There ‘s almost no variation in her singing. The songs are pretty decent, but I can’t get by the vocals. I think I may have enjoyed them more if I saw them live. Best song: Dance Song ‘97

My third Neil Young album, and it is definetly the best so far. The songs are good, and they are well performed. They could have skipped the final song, «Hey, Hey, My, My (Into The Black). Favourite Songs: Trasher, My, My, Hey, Hey (Out of The Blue).

A few days ago I had CSNY, and yesterday I had another album of Neil Young, so this is getting a little ridiculous. Songs are good though, so even if I am not a big fan of his voice, I can still enjoy the record. No particular favourites, but many evenly good songs.

Nice little album with soft sung calm melodies.

I’ve always enjoyed trip hop, and this is a prime example of how it should be done. So many great songs on one album! Favourites: Roads, Glory Box, Numb, It’s a Fire, Wandering Star and Sour Times.

Never heard of the artist before. Very repetitive electronic music with some rap here and there. This is not for me, though. The first song was okay, but after that it became quite tedious. Best song: Keeping Pigs Together.

No, this isn’t the best album of all time. It’s a good album, but it’s more that the songs are well written and performed than the quality of Dylan’s voice. Best songs: Visions of Johanna, Just Like a Woman and I Want You.

Pretty solid album with some cool blues rock tunes. Unlike some others I don’t rate the albums on what people do, but on the quality of their music albums. Best song: Motherless Children

The most overhyped and overplayed song in the world is Wonderwall. Still I am impressed by the quality of this album. There are so many great songs, and when Noel Gallagher gets his time to shine on the vocals (on Don’t Look Back in Anger or harmonies like on Cast No Shadow) they get even better. I didn’t remember this album as such a good one, but it really is. Favourite songs: Roll With It, Don’t Look Back In Anger, Champagne Supernova, She’s Electric.

Nope. This was a real struggle from the first minute. Some of the songs are so repetetive and little varied that it feels like eternity. I rarely give out 1* but this doesn’t deserve anything else.

I initially thought that this one was a classic 5*, but as i listened through I realized how tiresome Axl Rose’s voice is. Slash’s excellent guitar riffs carries a lot of the music. There are many great songs, but also a few overplayed ones. Favourites: Sweet Child Of Mine, Mr Brownstone, Rocket Queen, Nighttrain.

Great album! Favourites : Never Let Me Down Again, Strangelove, Behind The Wheel, Little 15, The Things You said.

Pros: Lots of classic songs with strong lyrics. One of the most classic storytellers really shows his class here. Less is more: nice and clean production and just a few elements. Cons: Dylan’s voice have never been his forte. He actually sounds better when he «talk-sings». Too much «hoot&toot-harmonica». Blowin’ in the wind is an all time classic, but these days it feels like a cliché. Favourites: Masters of War, Don’t Think Twice It’s Alright, A Hard Rains Gonna Fall.

Sounds pretty good. Lyrics are pretty lousy, but luckily for me I think the music is more important.

Goldfrapp is one of my favourite bands from this genre. However, I think that they have several better albums than this one (Supernature and Black Cherry at least). Felt Mountain has a few really good songs, but the last ones are a little more anonymous. The strongest features of the album is Alisson Goldfrapps haunting voice and the melancholic and slow paced melodies. Favourite songs: Utopia, Lovely Head and Human.

Okay album that has a nic sound, though not many songs relly sticks out. Favourites: Radio Free Europe, Talk About The Passion

Classic voice performing some classic songs. It’s pretty solid. Favourites: I’ve Got You Under My Skin

Classic album with a bunch of hits. The style is very minimalistic but catchy at the same time. A good example of how you make a good indie rock album. Favourites: Last Nite, Soma, Someday, Hard To Explain.

Fun album! Favourite song: Me, Myself & I

This album has two hits that are pretty good, but the rest is not the same quality. Some songs are okay, and some are very repetitive and just too long. Favourites: Red Alert and Rendez-Vu

As always I listen more to the melody than the lyrics. The genre is a quite smooth soul with some cool grooves. I like this type of soul that feels real and not too exaggerated. There are moments when there’s too much «saxophone-smoothness», but most of the songs are enjoyable. It’s not an album with big hits, though. I struggle to pinpoint any songs that makes the album stand out. And also it’s a little long to listen through in one sitting.

One of the most recognizable voices in music. I have only listened to a handful of her songs before, though. I remember her featuring on Metallicas The Memory Remains, and her own song Guilt popped up in a fitting scene on Mindhunters (great series). This is a short album, but I liked it. Good songs, lyrics and I find her voice works well here. Favourites: Guilt, The Ballad of Lucy Jordan.

I mostly like the studio versions better, but it’s still a good album.

"Grown up-pop". It's not a sign of quality, but an expression of souly, jazzy music performed with very "feely" vocals. To me it's a little bit too much. There are a few decent songs, but this isn't a very good album. Favourites: Holding Back The Years,

Three great songs (though Can You Hear Me Knocking should have been just half as long as it is…) but the rest are just okay. Favourites: Brown Sigar, Wild Horses and Can You Hear Me Knocking

I have listened to a handful of Lana del Rey’s songs before, but never really thought she was a big deal. But I really liked this album. She has like a drowsy slow-paced vocal style, and for these songs it really works. After the first round I had to do another listen, and it really made me like the album even better. Favourites: Tulsa Jesus Freak, White Dress, Let Me Love You Like A Woman, Chemtrails Over The Country Club and Dance Till We Die.

Not what I expected. Very jazzy rock, lots of instrumental segments and one of the mos annoying "songs" ever (Free Form Guitar). There are some parts that are enjoyable, but this listen-through was mostly me waitimg for it to be over...

Pretty good album with a few hits. Favourites: All I Wanma Do, Strong Enough, Run Baby Run.

Cool punk driven by acoustic guitar and snare drum. The best songs has such a cool drive and made me bang my hands to the beat of the music. A few songs are less engaging, but it’s still a great album. Favourites: Blister In The Sun, Add It Up, Cool Feeling and Kiss Off.

A little bit of rockabilly, surf rock and punk. Cool at times, but it is a bit too much with the echo on the vocals.

From the very first second you just know that this is a masterpiece. The composition, the build up, Gilmours voice, the perfect weirdness and of course the production is flawless.

Hyped artist and album, but it is quite good.

One of my favourite songs of all time is «Anesthetize» by Porcupine Tree. That song is 17.46 minutes long, but it is so good because of the theme changes, the buildups (and downs) something is happening all the time… The first song of this album is 22 minutes long, but it feels like an eternity because it’s just the same thing over and over again. After that song I had another 50 minutes or so of aimless jamming to look forward to. I kind of lost my will to live… I think I would enjoy it more if it wasn't live.

I feel like I know Jimi Hendrix, but there was a lot of songs here I really didn’t know. Cool record though, and quite special that the 2 most known songs are put as the last songs on the album. Favourites: All Along The Watchtower, Voodoo Child (Slight Return), Crosstown Traffic.

I was pleasantly surprised by this. Country is really not my genre, but this album was really nice. I think it is mostly due to Willie Nelsons voice that carries his emotions open wide. Also, I like the tempo and tone that Nelson wants to convey to the listener. The music is best where there’s only a classic guitar and Nelson’s voice. When the tempo is turned up and piano comes in on a later song the music lost it’s magic a little. Favourites: Time of The Preacher, Blue Eyes Crying In The Rain, Red Headed Stranger.

Enjoyable.

I think you can say one thing for sure - it’s impossible not to be moved one way or the other by this album. I’ve listened to a few of the songs before so I am familiar with the extreme falsetto singing. I think it both can be very moving, but also a bit much at times. Even though I don’t like the album all the way through there are some really nice moments. I also definetly think that the album deserves it’s spot on the list. Favourites: Hope There’s Someone, Bird Guhl,

Yet another proof that post-punk is not my thing. It’s like a low effort punk without the energy, but with annoying choises in melody and singing. It could have been so much better with a few different choices. Btw: They have better songs/albums than this one…

First time I’ve listened to this album. I wasn’t aware that it was so diverse with shorter songs of different sound landscapes. Still it’s the riff-based stoner rock that sticks out for me. It’s definetly good, though I don’t know many of the songs, so it takes me a little time to get into some of them. I liked the experience though, and I am looking forward to check out more from them later (both from other albums in the book and others. Favourites: Snowblind, Supernaut, Tomorrow’s Dream and Changes.

It’s an okay album, not bad, not great. The songs are usually pretty decent, but very many of them are quite repetitive in composition and by the end I get tired of them. The lead vocals is pretty much shared by Billy Bragg and Jeff Tweedy. The best song though is the one sung by Natalie Merchant… Favourites: Birds and Ships

Bland pop rock, or as she says herself: «Whatever». Her Magnolia soundtrack is better than this.

Please leave Dizzee in «da corner».

It’s a decent pop-album carried by the 3-4 very good songs. The rest is okay, just not great. Favourites: And I Love Her, Eight Days A aweek, A Hard Day’s night and I Should Have Known Better.

A few good songs with cool grooves. It’s a little bit too long though. Favourites: All I Need and Bring The Pain.

Some parts are really good, but some parts are way too long.

Not my favourite genre, but you can’t really do much better than this! This album is packed with hits all the way through. Very catchy and easy to sing along to after a few listens. Fun fact: Fuel My Fire is a cover originally made by the grunge-band L7. Favourites: Smack My Bitch Up, Climbatize, Breathe, Mindfields and Firestarter.

Couldn’t make it all the way.

Straight forward rock. It’s pretty good. Favourites: Bad Company, Can’t Get Enough and Seagull

Not a big fan of the voice of the lead singer. The songs are pretty good, though. It’s right there between 3 and 4 stars, really.

Another Beatles that I should know from before, but I didn’t. I only knew about half of the songs, all quite classic. I loved the sitar and style on Within You Witout You. Also it makes it clear to me that Lennon has a better voice than McCartney. There are some masterpieces on this album, and it definetly deserves all 5 stars. Favourites: A Day In The Life, Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds, Sgt Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band, With A Little Help From My Friends, Lovely Rita and Within You Without You.

Surprisingly good. It’s well produced and clean. I only knew 2-3songs from before, and discovered some new songs that were quite nice. It’s quite impressive how Eminem featuring on a couple of songs raises the quality instantly as well. I know others are negative to the lyrics, about drugs and guns. It doesn’t improve the quality of the songs, but it doesn’t really bother me too much either. Favourites: In Da Club, P.I.M.P., Patiently Waiting, 21 Questions

Perfectly medium music. Not bad, but doesn’t really leave an impression. Favourite: Can’t remember…

I am a little torn on how to rate this. There’s no doubt bout Adele’s voice quality, but some of the songs are quite boring. The pop/neo-soul combination hasn’t been my thing so far. Still, the best songs are good enough and I am feeling nice today.

Timeless? More like “Endless”.

Never really liked Jarvis Cocker’s style of singing. Also didn’t know this album from before, but I gave it a chance. It’s better than I thought it would be. Not great, but quite good. Favourites: This Is Hardcore, Help The Aged and The Fear

Not a lot of hits, but still a quite good album. Favourites: So It Goes, History

Another pleasant surprise! Cool cowboy-country with short stories and a clear nice voice. Favourites: Big Iron, El Paso

This album varies from quite good to not good. Usually it is somewhere in the middle…

Feel good rap in a refreshing way. Cool beats and great vocals. Favourites: What’s Golden, A Day At The Races, High Fidelity and Sum Of Us

Her voice is good, but the melodies are very similar and little is happening.

A classic album that brings back a lot of memories. I bought and listened a lot to this in the early 2000’s. It varies from cool party hits to relaxing background music. It still is a very strong album. Favourites: Everloving, Natural Blues, Find My Baby, Why Does My Heart Feel So Bad, Porcelain, Bodyrock, Honey.

Too long, and not for me.

Okay album with 2 hits.

A long album with only one hit song. It’s not bad, but it’s not very good. Favourite: Sign o’ The Times

Okay album, but not his best work.

Nice production. Also a nice collection of songs, but not any real hits.

Classic Metallica

Cool rock with a little bit of punk and new wave elements. I’m not super found of Chrissie Hynde’s voice, but this definetly a good album. Favourites: Tattooed Love Boys, The Wait and Kid.

Carries by two of their best songs in the beginning of the album. The full album is more average. Favourites: Beetlebum, Song 2 and Death of a Party

A medium record.

This one is hard to rate. You have the obvious classic hits that are great, but you also have the songs where Eminem uses his alter ego Slim Shady to talk very vividly about violence, killing and very negatively about gay people. I am compromising with saying it’s a little bit of both. It could have been great, but the latter part ruins the album experience for me. Favourites: Stan, The Real Slim Shady, The Way I Am

One of my favourite albums of all time. Almost every song could have been a single, and I love them all. The production is really clean, and the energy is great. Even the album cover is epic. Favourites: Smells Like Teen Spirit, Something In The Way, Lithium, Come As You Are, In Bloom.

It’s an interesting genre. Some of it is cool, some of it is a little bit too much. Favourites: Bucky Done Gun and Pull Up The People

This is the perfect amount of blues in a rock album. It’s groovy but not too much. It’s cool and clean. And best of all, the songs are almost just classic hits. It’s really impressive for a debut album. Favourites: Purple Haze, Hey Joe, The Wind Cries Mary, Foxey Lady, Fire and Manic Depression

Catchy, aggressive and creative metal. I like it. Favourites: Spiders and Sugar

This the type of electronica where I feel like nothing is happening. When I listen to it it feels like it’s never ending, and when I have listened through it I hardly remember what I’ve been listening to. There were some parts that were okay, but never really good.

This album is between okay lo-fi and boring. It’s also a little too long with over an hour.

The sound of early 2000’s. I have never listened to the full album before, but I know the singles very well. Favourites: In the End, Crawling, One Step Closer

It’s a quite nice country pop/rock-album. Easy to listen to, but also no really stand out songs.

I never knew this was a concept album. I don’t care much for the talking points about what is love in between the songs, but the album has a lot of good songs. It’s a little too long, but it’s still a pretty decent album. The mix between hiphop and Neo-Soul makes it better. Favourites: Doo Wop (That Thing), Everything Is Everything, When It Hurts So Bad and Ex-Factor.

Classic britpop. They sound a lot like Oasis, imho. It is rock in a safe way, but it’s quite nice. Favourites: Bitter Sweet Symphony, Lucky Man, The Drugs Don’t Work.

Feel good pop disco, it’s easy to like. There are also a couple of slow balads, they don’t work for me. Favourites: He’s The Greatest Dancer, Lost In Music, We Are Family

At first I was a little surprised that they chose the third album by Skunk Anansie and not Stoosh. After a listen through though, I see that this is also a very strong album with many bangers. I love the vocals and the harmony mixing especially in You’ll Follow Me Down, but also many of the other songs. Favourites: You’ll Follow Me Down, Charlie Big Potato, Lately, Secretly, I’m Not Afraid.

An okay album, songs are just okay. It wouldn’t bother me to listen more to it, but I propably won’t much.

Bluesalbums has usually been a tough challenge to work through for me, particularly when it has been live. This album is something else, though. The songs are more straight to the point and more varied, and the solo/jam-parts doesn’t go on forever. I enjoyed this and it deserves a good score.

Awful vocals! It sounds like he tries to sweet talk his girlfriend with a baby voice. The rest is just boring 80’s beat sounds. Defintely not an album everyone needs to hear, more like a very small segment of all people in the world.

Decent album with several hit songs in the first half.

This s a cool album. I only knew one song from before, but this was surprisingly refreshing. When I get more time I will have another listen. It is actually close to a 5*. Favourites: Victoria, Nothing to Say, Arthur

Fun, short & sweet

Once again I was pleasantly surprised. Good album!

Well, no. Mostly waiting for something to happen - it rarely did. Favourite: None

Good album with some classics, but also a few other great songs. Favourites: Every Breath You Take, Walking In Your Footsteps, Wrapped Around Your Finger, Synchroicity I and II

Nice but very one-dimensional.

It’s not horrible, but definetly not great.

Take Five is a classic. The rest was a little less interesting.

Perfect amount of blues vs rock. Quite a few good songs, but their best song Remedy is on another album. Favourites: Hard To Handle, Twice As Hard and She Talks To Angels.

I think that the record belongs on the list. Some parts are cool, but it doesn’t really hit me at the same time.

Cool soul, well performed.

Nice and mellow. Nick Drake has a beautiful and melancholic voice. Favourites: Cello Song, Day Is Done and River Man

It started off surprisingly nice, but it sounded like the same song over and over again.

I don’t really care wether it’s original songs or not. It’s a good debut album, and I enjoyed the listen. Favourites: I Just Want To Make Love To You, Little By Little

Wow. This is something else. For starters I haven’t listened through all of the box set yet (3h 14 mins), but I really enjoy Ellas singing voice, the big band style and the jazz tunes. I will be listening to the rest of the albums, but I need to take it in portions. Still I defintely think that this deserves a top score. It is just that good! Favourites so far: Let’s Call The Whole Thing Off, Someone To Watch Over Me.

It’s a little bit hard to rate due to the music is so very 80’s generated, and I don’t think it holds up that good today. At the same time Tina Turner’s voice is great and the album is full of classic hits with good song writing. I enjoyed the listening experience, but I don’t blame them who don’t like the generic composition. Favourites: What’s Love Got To With It, I Can’t Stand The Rain, Let’s Stay Together Least favourite: Help

Sometimes in this challenge you just have to put on an album and do other things to focus on to keep the time go forward. I have listened to the album, but it wasn’t interesting enough that I can say much about it. There were no hits, also nothing that was too terrible - but I got really tired of the voice. I don’t thin Cee-Lo Green is really the soul machine.

Patti Smith is a storyteller. I am not very good at listening to the lyrics of a song I hear for the first time, but I can feel that she is trying to tell me something. I think it is a good album, even if her bigger hits came later. Favourites: Gloria: In Excelcis Deo, Land

I wish I had listened more to this when I was younger, but I never got the introduction to it. Of course I know the hits, but this album is more than the hits. The basslines and the drums really stands out to me (I know most of the riffs and the voice of Ozzy). Easy no skipping album classic. Favourites: Paranoid, War Pigs, Electric Funeral, Hand of Doom.

You can say a lot about Taylor Swift but she is definetly a good somgwriter. It’s a nice and mellow record and I enjoyed listwning to it. Favourites: willow, champagne problems and evermore

Sounds like a combination of Oasis and Kasabian. They have some cool guitar riffs - I really like the one on One To Another. A few songs are a little anonymous, but overall a pleasant surprise. Favourites: One To Another, With No Shoes and Area 51

Feels more like alternativ pop rock than grunge. Many of the songs are quite catchy, and it’s a good experience. It gets a little flat in the end, but overall a good album. Favourites: Celebrity Skin, Awful and Malibu

Harmony deluxe! This album is a feelgood classic rock nostalgia trip, and it’s loaded with hits. Favourites: Peace of Mind, More Than a Feeling, Smokin’ and Foreplay/Long Time

Different experience, but I’m glad it wasn’t any longer. I think it would be more interesting to see it performed live.

It’s well performed, it’s just not for me. I don’t understand the lyrics, and the genre is a fusion of pop/jazz/funk that I just don’t enjoy.

I like Jack White, but I prefer his time in White Stripes. This album doesn’t really hook me. After the full listen I can only fully remember one of the songs. Favourite: Love Interruption

Very untypical country. More like musical-singer/songwriting style. Some harmonies feel very off, particularly the horn arrangements.

Cool soul. Favourites: Superfly, Pusherman

Not my genre but it’s a good listen. I can’t process much of the lyrics though. Maybe I would have like it less if I had.

One of the lesser good Beatles albums. It’s still good, but only a few hits. Favourites: All My Loving, Please mr Postman and Roll Over Beethoven.

I felt a Darkness. A little bit nice, a little bit boring.

Before this challenge I never understood the fuzz about Belle & Sebastian, but I enjoyed this. It’s mellow and nice to listen to. Favourites: Expectations, My Wandering Days Are Over

Albums longer than 1h15 mins are usually too long. This is no exeption. There are a few good songs, but I get tired of the interludes and the medium good songs. Favourites: Jesus Walks and Slow Jamz

This album is both good and not at the same time. Sometimes I feel like she tries a little bit too much. But also there is some quality in it. I think Stories From The City, Stories From The Sea is a much better album.

Great alternative rock! The bass really sticks out on most of the songs. Favourites: Here Comes Your Man, Monkey Gone To Heaven, Debaser and Wave of Mutilation

Nice and steady Wonder. Love the use of clavinet and harmonica here and there, and of course the funky bass on Boogie on Regfae Woman. Favourites: Boogie on Reggae Woman and You Haven’t Done Nothin’.

Decent pop album, very typical of the 80’s. Feels like it should have been bang in between 3* and 4 *. Favourites: It’s a Sin and What Have I Done To Deserve This.

Middle of the road

This surprised me a lot! I expected it to be a decent pop album but it really hit me in the gut. I’ve heard a few songs from Lorde before and liked them and moved on. But the combination of her raw voice, the lyrics and the song composition is really good. Almost all of the songs were great (apart from Writer in the Dark that was a little too much). After the first listen, I had to do another round to confirm that it was that good - and it was. It made me feel nostalgic and quite emotional. Not many good pop albums has made me do that and that is definetly a good quality. I need to check out more of her music. Favourites: Perfect Places, Liability, Green Light and Sober

The other of the two Police albums on this list. Synchronicity is more pop and this record sounds a bit more like their trying to figure out what they are doing. There are a few well played hits on the album, but I was more interested in hearing the other stuff. It’s quite good most of it. They show their instrumentship a little more than necessary, though it is enjoyable all through the record. Favourites: Bring On The Night, Walking On The Moon

I bought this album when it came out, and i really love it. First and foremost it is dreamy music, so well produced. It’s like wandering in a soundscape at times where the elements just give you tingles. Sometimes there’s a minimalistic background and like on Triangle Walks there’s a perfect build up of various elements of sound. All through this Karin Drejer’s haunting voice tells stories, often in a «duett» with herself where their voice is played in a slo-mo filter. It’s really cool. When I think back to when I heard the album the first time, I don’t think I loved all the songs from the start, but needed some time to break it down in my head. Now, I love it from start to finish, and it was really nice to listen through it once more. Favourites: Triangle Walks, When I Grow Up, If I Had a Heart, Keep The Streets Empty For Me, **The original album had only 10 songs. The Spotify link sends you to the US-edition that has 2 extra songs. ‘11. Stranger Than Kindness’ is a good edition but ‘12. Here Before’wasn’t really necessary.

Had to turn the volume down because this was an intense listening experience. In the beginning it was mostly noisy and unpleasant, after a while I got more used to it. The most interesting fact about the album is that the frontman is Steve Albini which has produced many famous records/bands. And after recognizing that, I could definetly hear sounds used by Nirvana, Pixies etc. Favourites: Kerosene

Another pleasant surprise! The best thing about this album was listening to it while reading the story behind it. Over an hour with 100% improvisation sounds heavy, but somehow it wasn’t that. I really loved the experience, however I don’t think I will go back to listen to the full album anytime soon.

I’ve tried several times to get into The Flaming Lips, but it’s not really my thing. Some of the music is good, but I don’t like the vocals.

Miriam Makeba has a great, strong voice. The album seems to be a collcetion of different songs and is very varied. There are some beautiful songs, but also a lot of weird ones.

Album varies from cool to weird. There are some gems here, but mostly it’s satire I don’t know the relevance of. Still an interesting album to have listened to and read about. Favourites: Hungry Freaks Daddy, and Trouble Every Day

Hard to rate. There are some good songs, but also some songs with unnecessary profane and violent focus. But the worst is the sex noises that keeps coming up. I will never listen to the full album again.

Very nice voice. I think you can give her just about any ballade and it would be a nice listen. Favourite: Boulder To Birmingham

It’s not noise, but it’s quite boring and way too long. Favourite: Move Any Mountain

A very good record by a classic band! Favourites: Heart of Glass, Picture This, Sunday Girl, One Way or Another and Hanging On The Telephone

Cool punk with a dash of crazy sax and creative lyrics.

My appreciation of jazz like this is pretty low. Sometimes the music makes sense, but most of the time I can’t predict where the musicians are going with the next few notes at all, and that is more stressfull than pleasant. Favourite parts: No

Reggae from Scotland is not really my cup of Irn-Bru.

A good soul album, sung by a classic and recognicable voice. Favourites: Let’s Stay Together and How Can You Mend A Broken Heart