Honestly a great album with immaculate vibes. I never "got" Radiohead before, but this kinda did the trick for me. I'd love to have this on while I'm chilling doing something else.
Good stuff, but not my thing. 3 stars, has some good moments and real bangers.
Good album. Comprised with samples, but remarkably engaging in spite of the minimal vocals and disconnected themes. Worth a listen, but wouldn't bother to listen again. 3 stars.
When I started listening, I mainly intended to listen to new music and artists I had never heard of. Now I see a new benefit. I finally get to listen to some of the greats that I had previously not bothered to do a deep dive into. Nice blues feel and objectively an incredible first album by any band.
Great album. Good use of synth, and immaculate vibes. Not much of a music expert but everything kinda "clicked" for me.
Two sides of this record, and it shows. The first side is good, a series of singles. I like "Cloudbusting" and "Running up that Hill" a lot, but otherwise would give it a 3. The second side, named after Aivazovsky's The Ninth Wave, is a concept piece that is deeply unsettling. It's a genuine masterpiece and I look forward to listening to it again. Taken as a whole, the first side gets a 4, but The Ninth Wave is Kate Bush showing off what she can do. EDITED: I loved this album so much I bumped the whole thing up to a 5.
I'm open to "experimental" works, but this just wasn't it for me. It failed to engage with it in any meaningful capacity, thus I struggled to maintain focus upon the album. I hope some people will like this more than I.
No. I did not enjoy this. I do not understand how this is on a "best albums" list that is notorious for some glaring omissions of artists/genres. There's nothing special about this album from the year 2000, nor is there anything offensive. If it had been the latter, I might have at least respected the uniqueness.
A previous review noted that one of the vocalists sounded like Miss Piggy and I can't unhear it, especially on "What Else Could It Be?" What a dreadful falsetto.
Briefly considered giving Nixon a single star out of sheer annoyance, but it's honestly not terrible overall. The final two tracks, "The Petrified Florist" and "The Butcher Boy" were both okish.
EDIT: I've been stuck on how much I hated this album over 50 albums later. Even for other albums I gave 2 stars, I had to think "well, at least it wasn't Nixon by Lambchop." For that, I'm bumping it down to 1 star. Fuck you, Nixon, the man and the album.
It's Little Richard. He's a true American icon and one of the progenitors of rock and roll. His image directly shaped how countless superstars portrayed themselves. His sound was groundbreaking and echoes today.
As for this album? With works from 7 decades ago, like this one, it's a bit difficult to judge. How can I fairly compare this with albums from a different century, whose creators can stand on the shoulders of giants like Richard?
I'm just going to rank it using my established methodology. Yes, the album is largely repetitive to a modern ear, and yes, the genre evolved past the 1950s. Regardless, "Tutti Frutti" is an enduring classic, and I particularly enjoyed "Baby," "Can't Believe You Wanna Leave," and "Oh Why?" Richard's vocals are remarkably strong. The brass can really get you moving as well.
Thrash metal classic. I'm not really a thrash metal fan, but I do appreciate the influence of this album. Deserved addition to the list, albeit not my "thing."
Decent album. I've never really liked The Killers, honestly. A bit too "pop rock" for me. Ironically, my favorite song from Hot Fuss is Mr. Brightside, but somehow it catches a perfect feeling. Also, the bonus track "Glamorous Indie Rock and Roll" is better than most of the songs on the standard album. Ultimately the album isn't particularly impressive, but an ok listen. A quintessential "3 star" album.
Classic Christmas album. Understandable addition to a list of influential and important albums. Cool to have it on your first Christmas. Would never bother to listen to it otherwise, unsurprisingly.
Easiest 5 stars of my life. Also my first 5 star rating for the baker's dozen albums I've reviewed thus far.
Full disclosure, I've listened to this album before, as I love David Bowie. Ziggy Stardust is remarkable, yet it barely scratches my top 5 Bowie albums; that's how talented the man was.
If I'm to give any critique, I suppose it's a bit disjointed for a concept album. Also, "Hang On to Yourself" and "Suffragette City" are pretty 'meh' songs by Bowie's standards.
Good lyrics, and nice jazzy feel to it. Largely ambitious album with good instrumentals. A few duds, such as the rap attempt in "A Gospel."
I listened to Cafe Bleu first while drunk and thought "wow, 4 stars!" Listened sober the next morning and thought "meh, there are some duds here.
Pretty innovative album. Honestly, I've got a soft spot for psychadelic rock. Here, the folk influences are obvious and quite enjoyable, as folk is one of my favorite genres. Not crazy about the vocals.
Highlight: "Season of the Witch."
Legendary album. Unbelievable vocals. Iconic music video. Not perfect in every way (see the McCartney collab) but an iconic work regardless.
There's a lot to like here if this mild groove is your thing. But I would have appreciated something a bit less bland.
Far better album than I anticipated. Great listen, and would listen again. Quite ahead of its time, despite being from the 1970s.
Much to my surprise, I absolutely loved American Gothic. I'll typically check the Wikipedia page and reviews before my listen, and I first thought "great, another slog of an album that I'll inevitably rank 2 or 3 stars and forget about within 36 hours.
To my surprise, I instead was greeted with a sentimental album with excellent lyricism. If typical singer-songwriter stuff doesn't appeal to you, this won't be your thing. I adore folk and experiencing imagery when I listen to music, so this hit all the right notes for me.
Considered giving it a rare (for me) 5 stars, but unfortunately Ackles' vocal performance isn't perfect. Will definitely listen to this again in the future.
Not a lot to say here, just a very good album.
Fun proto-punk album. I'd never given Iggy a listen before. So that's cool. The titular track was my favorite.
Unimpressed by this pop album. Going to be generous and give it 3 stars, since I can recognize some effort here.
Iconic American CCR sound. Beautiful blend with the blues. Great album and a legacy piece of Americana.
Not very impressed. I was excited to listen to this based on the Wikipedia description, but unfortunately was a mild example of this garage punk rock. Not really sure why it's notable enough to be on this list, but not an awful listen. Something new by a band I didn't know, at least.
Extremely fun heavily-disco album with a lotta synth. To my surprise, I very much enjoyed The Lexicon of Love. Wasn't perfect, as a few tracks were mid and the lead vocalist Martin Fry can leave a lot to be desired. Still surprised me how much I enjoyed it.
Personal highlight: Many Happy Returns
Excellent punk album and a legacy work. Raw vocals and a unique reggae-influenced sound. No true misses, although The Clash hasn't truly peaked yet. Can't wait to inevitably get London Calling in the future.
It's pretty fun disco. Glad to see it on the list. Didn't do much for me.
Not going to talk too much about this classic itself, as everyone else has covered the dark vocals, the synth, and that bass. But I often take long runs while listening to albums, and hit a new personal best today while listening to Disintegration. The tracks completely absorbed me to the extend that I didn't notice the pain and wanted to keep running to finish the album right away even though I had hit my targeted distance. Hard to put into words, but everything worked for me. This gets my (rare) second 5 star rating, and I will absolutely listen to this again. Also intend to listen to more by The Cure.
Many people comparing Doves to Coldplay (both positively and negatively) which feels fair, I suppose. Not sure how to evaluate this one, as I listened to it once and thought "mid as hell," but listened again later and enjoyed it much more. Going to go with 3 stars for now, but might give this a bump later on upon a re-listen.
I hate myself for not enjoying this, as I adore folk and singer-songwriter stuff. Furthermore, I love Stan Rogers despite not being Canadian. I always meant to give Cohen a shot, but I was left scratching my head after this. It's fine, but not particularly great. Wasn't impressed by the composition or lyricism or vocals, or much of anything really. I know there's later works from Cohen on this list and I certainly hope I find them more appealing than this.
Very influential album, obviously. Definitely worth a listen, and I intend to relisten. The sound didn't particularly impress me, but the era should be acknowledged.
Good album, but only the start of what Radiohead can do.
I liked this album, but it's also rather bland and uninspired. Mixed feelings on it, honestly. Lana Del Rey is very clearly a talented singer-songwriter, but I needed a bit more out of this album. Nonetheless, a solid 3 stars.
Iconic grunge album, and an absolute must-listen. The first side is banger after banger; the second is definitely weaker but still good.
Very poetic and lovely vocals.
Definitely a great listen. Might edit this review after another liaten and some reading. Country-rock from the 60s, kinda fun.
Not bad. Don't really enjoy live albums, but nice to have something different in that regard I suppose.
Not a huge fan of The Band. Still, solid album and worth the listen.
Aware that this is going to be a polarizing album. Many just don't enjoy metal, while others won't be able to appreciate the influence from Venom and this album in particular. Still others will be repelled by the theming or the sound quality that becomes mainstream for many metal subgenres. As a metal fan, I absolutely loved this and appreciated its inclusion.
Good album, glad I listened. I do have a soft spot for psychadelic rock.
I like reggae, and I appreciate UB40's politics. Largely uninterested in this album but still not a terrible listen.
Never really explored War too much, even though I liked the few songs I had heard. This hit all the right notes for me, and had an extremely groovy feel.
If anyone gives this less than 4 stars, I don't trust them and their opinion can be discarded forthwith. I'm not a huge Pink Floyd fan but this album is incredible in every way. Immaculate.
Well, uh, it's jazz. Felt like I was standing in an elevator. And just waiting for a change in my life. I'm sure there's some technically impressive things about this and I can appreciate its addition, but jazz ain't for me.
I enjoyed this album more than I thought I would, as this isn't my type of music. But many of these songs are quite fun and devilishly clever. I can't bring myself to give it 5 stars as I reserve that rating for masterpieces, but I have to admit that this album perfectly accomplishes what it set out to do.
Iconic album and a great listen. Would enjoy a relisten.
I'm sure my dad loves this album.
It's good. I guess. Struggle to say much unique about this one.
One hell of an album. Influential yet underrated. Will listen to more of Bad Brains.
I feel as though the concept of an album is inherently strange. Is it a random assortment of songs or an interconnected story sometimes only loosely linked by a central theme.
In the Court of the Crimson King has to be listened to all at once. I can't describe why. I, of course, have heard of this album before but never gave it a listen. Wow. One of the best listens I've ever experienced. Will be purchasing this ASAP. And it's from 1969? That I couldn't believe. In absolute awe.
Hard for me to rank this album. I have a lot of respect for The White Stripes and their influence. In particular, their minimalist style returning to an earlier form of rock is quite cool and refreshing. However, I think the two-man-band format is just inherently limiting to a band's sound. Ultimately I'll bump them up to a 4 star rating with respect for their definitive style. Also, the famous track here is used everywhere for good reason; it goes fucking hard.
The Beach Boys at home. But in Ireland. And in 2003.
Meh. "Big Sur" was an enjoyable listen, but I don't care to listen to a California-themed album in the 2020's, particularly when I'm older than said album.
I'm inherently against live albums, and this one fails to impress me in any lasting way. Frampton is certainly talented and his singles are still known for good reason, but this album is better off remaining in the 70s and in Wayne's World. Call Out Your Name has some pretty good instrumentation. Not an unpleasant listen, generally. 3 stars.
I want to give credit where credit's due. The psychadelic bluesy influence is definitely good, and really shows itself on side B with the song "Tales of Brave Ulysses." However, this album is largely uninspired songwriting with a mediocre to often outright bad vocal performance. I was unsurprised by the Wikipedia page remarking on the brief recording sessions. I respect Cream and Eric Clapton for their work, but I can't pretend to have enjoyed this.
Great album. Deceptively simple at first, but with killer songwriting. There's more here than meets the eye. Strong 4 stars.
Stevie Wonder. Great vocals, lovely flow, and simply a smooth listen. The man's got range and talent. Honestly probably won't stick for me very long, but I respect his work with soul music.
Was jokingly going to say "hip-hop for middle class white kids" but that would be a disservice to the Beastie Boys here. This is an excellent album with immaculate sampling. I know a lot of people dislike their shouty-NY style, but it works for me for some reason.
Honestly, I was excited to give The Verve a proper listen. Naturally, I knew their most famous track so I was hoping for an underrated album of absolute bangers.
Unfortunately, the only song I liked was the famous Bittersweet Symphony. Side A has a few tolerable songs alongside the great opening, but nothing else really stands out. Side B was a blur of droning Britpop nonsense. One-note. Although the lyrics are ok, I largely detest Ashcroft's vocal performance. It feels garage rock in quality, but with the polish of high-end production backing.
Ultimately, I feel terrible rating this album so low, but I can't justify rating an album of this length any higher because I enjoyed a single song that I've previously heard.
I don't enjoy a lot of music from this era, generally. Good for its time, probably. I also don't enjoy anything Eric Clapton has touched. I get the feeling from reading other reviews that he's controversial, and idk why but I just haven't liked any of his work. Didn't enjoy anything by Cream either.
I want to give this album more credit than it deserves. I like Simon, but I feel as though this is some of his weaker work. Nothing too bad here (outside of Cars Are Cars) but also nothing incredible.
First of all, the audiophiles are correct. Horribly mastered album. But honestly, I can't bring myself to love the RHCP. Don't misunderstand me here, I don't think they're a terrible band, nor is this a terrible album. But I often anticipate giving popular albums higher reviews as albums are typically popular for good reason. Californication really isn't perfect. The singles are catchy in typical RHCP fashion, but that's about it.
Typically I don't enjoy country or country-rock. However, I do love folk music and I have a soft spot for outlaw country. A good amount of early country was quite good and retained the essence of its roots. There's still a few artists in this category today; they just don't get played on the radio.
Steve Earle is one of the greats from his time. I understand that many will roll their eyes and groan when they hear that country sound, but comparing Steve Earle to these 21st century hacks is a complete disservice. Hilariously, one way you can determine the legitimacy of a country artist is by investigating their politics.
Anyways, despite all this defense of Steve Earle, I wasn't exactly blown away by Guitar Town. "Someday" was probably my favorite track, as it felt rather personal and reflects my life as well. Some hits here, some decent writing at points, and the singles are pretty good, but largely an album that won't stick with me in the long run. A worthy addition to this list, and a respectable 3 stars.
Extremely interesting album. Mitchell shows off a lot more jazz influence here, with the songs feeling somewhat free-form despite folkish roots. I definitely want to listen to this again, but I fear I may rate it lower upon a relisten.
Full disclaimer. I love metal, at least a lot of modern prog and speed work. Naturally, I'm going to be biased in favor of metal albums on this list as I find that there are some inexcusable omissions in favor of every britpop album ever.
However, to my shame, I've never listened to a Deep Purple album. I was vaguely aware that they were one of the progenitors of the genre, alongside a few others like Black Sabbath of course. But when I got this album, I was very excited.
Having listened, I was not disappointed whatsoever. Incredible early metal work that's going on 60 years old at this point. Not without flaws, as unsurprisingly many artists improve upon the sound and so forth. Not particularly impressed by Gillan's vocals, for instance. Regardless, an exciting listen. I'm sure I'll get the most bland 2/3 star 2000's pop album tomorrow to balance this out.
Highlight: Hard Lovin' Man. Great riffs.
Music truly is powerful, evoking countless emotions within the listener. Awe, rage, joy, or maybe even anxiety. Or, in the case of "Qui sème le vent récolte le tempo," sheer misery for over a damn hour.
I've seen people on the subreddit complain about the Anglo-centrism of this list (as if Anglo culture doesn't dominate global culture) and thus they desire more international representation. I speak 4 languages myself, so I sympathize to some degree. I'd love to see ДДТ get some respect, for instance. But there has to be some minimum standard to add international representation and not merely adding terrible albums for the sake of diversity.
Why this random French album was added, I have no idea. It's absolutely dreadful, and I wasted an entire hour of my life listening to this garbage. Of all the albums by a French artist/group to add, why hip hop, a genre of music that requires understanding to fully engage with the lyrics? Maybe this is the best French rap album ever, but it's impossible for me to say. I've listened to some of Arvo Part's "holy minimalist" works and was able to express the artistry behind it. What do I say about this?
If you can't engage with the language itself, then the album should be groundbreaking in some way. The only thing "Qui sème le vent récolte le tempo" broke was my desire to ever listen to music again, especially after the crime against the ear that was "Ragga Jam." I'd rather have MC Solaar jam a screwdriver through my ear canal than listen to that song once more.
Unfortunately, I have to give this album a rare and dubious "honor." Out of the 70 albums I've rated so far, it is the second to receive a single star, joining "Nixon" by Lamb Chop. On to the next one, if I have to.
I know I listened to this album. I have the records to prove it. I did, in fact, listen to Beth Orton's Central Reservation coming in at just under an hour. But honestly? I can't tell you a darn thing about it.
Orton has a remarkabke voice with genuine range, I do remember that. A shame that she didn't really have anything to say here. I would absolutely give her another chance, though, as I should have liked this. Really disapppointed that it was so mid.
Excellent album and a total surprise to me (which is always appreciated). I've always enjoyed folk rock and folk/folk-inspired music generally, but I'd never heard of Fairport Convention.
Denny's voice is rich, certainly an aspect of the album that substantially improves the listening experience. I'm now interested in checking out her other albums when she was a part of Fairport.
The adapted songs and original works blend quite well together. Notable Highlights: Matty Groves, Crazy Man Michael
Legendary album for metalheads. Prior to Maiden, there were other bands classified as early metal, of course. Black Sabbath and Deep Purple are prime examples. But Iron Maiden solidified the feel and aura of modern metal bands.
But that's all immaterial. Is the album itself good? Shortly, yes. It's a worthy addition to this list. However, it's not perfect. Even though this is quintessential Maiden and features an array of must-listen songs (see: Hallowed Be Thy Name, Run to the Hills, and The Number of the Beast) I find myself realizing that my favorite Maiden songs are all from later albums. Additionally, the band itself has admitted that Total Eclipse should have been on the album instead of Gangland, and Invaders is a pretty weak opening.
Nonetheless, an easy 5 stars by a self-confessed metalhead. We're knocking on the 50th anniversary of The Number of the Beast, which is wild to think about.
Bonus points were given because American conservatives hate(d) this album.
Great album. I appreciate how much influence it had on the Beastie Boys. On the flipside, I have a strange relationship with rap rock (see: ICP). Also Walk this Way is far better here, fuck Aerosmith.
Incredible album by an incredible group. Of course, "Mr. Blue Sky" has been etched into the collective conscious thanks to Guardians of the Gakaxy, but this entire ELO album is magical and endearing pop music. I can't help but love its genuine enthusiasm.
If I am to criticize, I will admit this album drags on too long. Cut at least 10 minutes for brevity, and it would be better.
Solid album, and definitely a hidden gem. Not quite my thing, but I definitely appreciate having listened to it. Remarkably fun Latin rock with some sweet jazz thrown in. Doesn't overstay its welcome, each song has a unique vibe and some great guitar riffs. Would happily listen again.
I hate how much I enjoy this album. On the one hand, it's pretty dated and one note. On the other hand, I can't help but start moving my head when metal starts playing.
Decent riffs and the lyrics are largely fun (not touching "Jailbait" with a ten foot pole...) but very AC/DC in that all the songs just sound the same and the vocals aren't that impressive.
One thing I've recognized along this journey - I apparently really enjoy goth rock. The Cure's Disintegration is one of my few 5 star albums. Floodland captivated me.
It really helps that Sisters of Mercy try a series of different things for each of the songs in the album. It's engaging and prevents Floodland from being one-note while retaining the overall themes.
For me, this is one of the harder albums to rate via a 5 star system. I'd give it a 9/10 if I could. But ultimately it's my list, and I intend to be grateful to the pleasant surprises I come across.
I really wanted to like this album. I've had an incredible streak of 4 and 5 star albums for over a week, and hoped to keep it going. Furthermore, a folk album by an underappreciated legend like Baez? Right up my alley, finally I have the chance to listen.
I hated side A of this album. Loathe am I to use the word "shrill" lightly with its sexist connotations, but Baez repeatedly flutters her voice while screeching into the mic, forcing me to turn down the volume to preserve what's left of my hearing, only to have to turn it back up as she shifts into an inaudible whisper. Side B has some decent music, and Baez finally dials down the screaming, but there's nothing particularly impressive there to redeem the album from the pain of Side A.
I think there is an audience for Joan Baez, but unfortunately I'm not it.
Good album. But unfortunately, I've already listened to Disintegration which blows this out of the water. Still, excellent addition.
