4.5 stars
I really like this album. London Calling is one of my favorite records of all-time and I prefer the variety & musicality of that album. But if I'm wanting to listen to a straight line punk album, this would be near/at the top of my list. I think of all the punk bands that I've listened to, the Clash have my favorite vocal harmonies. there's a sensitivity to Strummer, Jones, etc. while still remaining pissed off/punk.
4.0 Stars
Liked this one a lot. Not the biggest fan of Christmas music, it's fine. BUT if I were to put on Christmas music, this album would be one of the first I'd reach for. Great Motown artists on this one.
2.5 stars
it's not bad, just not all that interesting. I think they're are probably other artists/albums from the big band era that I'd enjoy more.
4.5 stars
This is probably a 5 star album based on its historical significance and relevance at the time that it came out. There are just other albums that I prefer more in the Springsteen discography. Not his best work, lyrically, but sonically, it's fantastic.
4.0 stars really like this album. It was nice and chill for the most part had some funky portions of it. You can definitely tell her talent it’s not necessarily I like some R&B I like Neo soul, but it’s way out on my list of favorite genres, but this is a really good album for that genre love this song. Orange Moon added it to a couple playlists.
4.0 stars
I’m slightest to this one as I have this tape as the original version of this album was much certainly like six songs or so went back and listen to that version to give it an accurate ranking and I wish they had chosen different songs. I like the jamming, but if you’re only gonna pick six songs for the original release, I would’ve done more straightforward to highlight just how great the group was.
Favorite song: Substitute
3.5 stars
I wanted to like this album more than I did. I've heard of Iggy Pop certainly, and even liked a few of the songs I've heard of his. Nothing from this album really grabbed me, unfortunately.
Favorite song: Search & Destroy
4.5 stars, not quite a full 5 stars but for the sake of this rating I'm going to round up, because well, it's Elton.
Favorite song: Levon, although I hadn't listened to the title track all that much. It was another favorite.
2.5 stars
sort of an unremarkable album. nothing really stuck out to me as overly interesting.
4.0 stars
Just a fun album. need to listen to more music like this.
Favorite song: How Blue Can You Get?
4.0 stars
this album, in my world, was HUGE, when it was released. probably a byproduct of where I was in my life but I remember this album differently that what I experienced this time around. still enjoyed it nonetheless. but I think I enjoyed the more ambient tunes than the hits.
Favorite song: Natural Blues
3.0 stars
I was expecting more. I've loved the singles I've heard from her over the years. she's got an amazing voice but these songs didn't really hit with me.
Favorite songs: Hello & Sweetest Devotion
4.0 stars
Have mixed feelings about this album...Kendrick's talent is obvious, but having grown up on 90's rap, modern rap just pales in comparison...there's no "classic" tracks; there's no memorable lines; etc. BUT judging the album for what it is...it's very good.
Favorite songs: the Blacker the Berry & Momma
3.5 Stars
Some good music here, just didn't wow me. Enjoyed all 3 of the women's vocal performances, particularly Dolly. Dolly is one of those mythical characters that you hear about & see growing up. Was nice to spend some time with her music...hadn't really done that before. I LOVE her voice, could listen to her sing for hours.
4.0 stars
This one grew on me. Maybe I wasn't in the right mood, or whatever. You wouldn't think such a poppy sounding record (at least on the surface) would be a grower, but here we are. There are certain records you listen to and you just know they were massively influential on the artists that followed them.
Favorite song: This Will Be Our Year
4.0 stars
This is what I can only assume funk was like back in it's heyday. I probably would have given this album a higher score but a few of the singles have been overcommercialized to death, so...shouldn't hold that against the band but it did impact my enjoyment of the album.
Favorite songs: Sex Machine & I Want To Take You Higher
4.0 stars
I LOVED this album back in the day. seemed revolutionary for it's time. it's still a very good/cool album, it just didn't have the impact I thought it would on relisten. maybe because I've heard it so many times. if this was a first listen I probably would've been blown away.
Favorite track: Building Steam With A Grain Of Salt
2.5 stars
I really didn’t do much for me. It was OK recognized a few songs. Didn’t really have a favorite stand out track either.
4.5 stars
another album I LOVE. the best Doors album front to back...I get why a lot of people don't like the band, but I love them. they had such a unique sound. and had such a cultural impact on the 60's.
Favorite song: Soul Kitchen
2.5 stars
I like some jazz music. I like some jazz music a lot. this album didn't do much for me. I didn't find it all that interesting. It was nice to have on in the background, I suppose.
Favorite track: Minawa
2.0 stars
This rating is based on my enjoyment of the album, and whether or not I want to relisten to it or not (I do not). I can see it's appeal...it's not a bad record, per se. Just not for me.
Favorite track: Locomotive Breath
3.5 stars
for some reason I always assign the synth sound of the 1970's & 80's to him. I'm not certain I know exactly which albums are the ones that Brian Eno has produced in the past, but I associate bands like Talking Heads & U2 with him. I enjoyed this album, just wanted a bit more. I know that's not always the point with ambient music but still...
didn't have a favorite track.
5.0 stars
A masterpiece, plain and simple.
What I found so intriguing about this album, which I believe was his first solo record post-Beatles, were the themes. I always felt like John wrote stories about other people when he was in the Beatles. this album was the polar opposite, most of the themes were highly intimate.
Favorite song: God
4.0 stars
I almost appreciate the impact & influence this album had on what would become some of my favorite artists than the music itself. that said, musically it's very good. sort of the birth of surfer rock, so to speak...there is no Pavement without Doolittle, and Nirvana doesn't sound like Nirvana without this record.
Favorite track: Here Comes Your Man
4.0 stars
I liked this one A LOT more on 2nd and even moreso 3rd listen. at first they sounded like a poor man's Stone Roses...but even if that were true (it's not) that's a pretty good thing. that said, they do remind me a good deal about the Stone Roses debut album. definite grower, might even go back and relisten down the road.
Favorite track: Just Like Honey
4.0 stars
I much prefer the latter half of the Beatles albums, as they're far more interesting/exploratory. BUT, without the success of the early albums there is no Abbey Road, Revolver, Sgt. Peppers, etc. Plus, there are some genuinely great songs on this album.
Favorite track: Roll Over Beethoven
4.5 stars
Love the sound and feel of this album. It's quintessential soul. Al's voice sounds heavenly. REALLY wanted to give this a 5 star review, but the only knock I have against it is it doesn't have that 2nd or 3rd really big hit. perhaps unfair, but...
Favorite track: It Ain't No Fun To Me
3.5 stars
This feels ahead of its time for 1967. Cohen’s distinctive phrasing, often more spoken than sung, makes it seem like he’s saying something important, even if it doesn’t immediately click. I respect the literary depth and understand his influence, especially knowing how much artists like Father John Misty admire him. Still, while I appreciate it intellectually, it didn’t fully draw me in emotionally.
Favorite tracks: One of Us Cannot Be Wrong, So Long, Marianne
4.5 Stars
Awesome album...whenever I listen to a Zepplin record I almost always envision just how powerful their live shows must have been. bands certainly wrote "better" songs than them, but I'm not sure many bands, if any, sounded like they had more fun playing & signing than LZ.
Favorite song: Ten Years Gone & In The Light
4.0 stars
Really like this one...more than I thought I would. I've heard about Zappa, the legend and the music, for years. I'm a big Phish fan, and FZ is spoken about as a diety in that scene. I can see why there's so much overlap. This album felt like an artsy, jamband session. It was fun, quirky, but a lot more accessible than what I envisioned Zappa's music being. maybe it's just this album that's like that.
Favorite song: Son of Mr. Green Genes
2.0 stars
New wave music rarely does it for me. and this album is no exception. it's fine, it's not awful by any means, just doesn't interest me. I find myself not paying attention to the lyrics on this album...so I just assume they're mostly about beautiful blonde women.
Favrorite track: Lonely In Your Nightmare
4.5 stars
nearly a 5 star album for me. there are just a couple of songs that feel a bit filler-ish. they're still good songs but it's my only critique of the album. there are 3-4 songs from this album that are among my favorite tracks from this century, from any artist.
Favorite tracks: Intervention, Keep the Car Running, & Antichrist Television Blues
4.5 stars.
This album might be the happiest-sounding heartbreak record I’ve heard. sunny harmonies, aching lyrics, and it somehow feels uplifting and sad at once. Listening through, I kept thinking: this is the pre-Beatles blueprint...you can hear the DNA of what came next, but it’s already fully formed here. For 1960, this had to be absolutely transformative.
Favorite tracks: Love Hurts & So How Come No One Loves Me
2.5 stars.
This album was fine, but it never fully grabbed me. I like jazz - and some of it I really love, but this one stayed more in the “respect it” category than the “engaged by it” category. As I move through albums that aren’t already in my wheelhouse, I’m realizing how much my ratings hinge on whether the music holds my interest, and this mostly didn’t. It’s not bad music at all, it just felt a bit flat for me as a full listen. I might connect more with a different Piazzolla album.
Favorite track: Laura’s Dream
3.5 stars.
I enjoyed this album, but I wanted to like it more. My main criticism is that unless you’re really sitting down and intentionally listening, his vocals tend to get lost. they’re beautiful and airy, but they often feel more like a supporting layer than the focal point. Because of that, I honestly couldn’t tell you what most of the songs were about, lyrically speaking. That said, I was pleasantly surprised by how many tracks were more upbeat and even feel-good from a sonic standpoint; I expected something far more consistently bleak. Overall, it’s a pretty record and a solid listen, just one that didn’t fully click for me.
Favorite track: L.A.
4.0 stars.
I was genuinely impressed by this album. Going in, I mostly knew Sinéad more for her public persona than her music, so it was refreshing to actually sit with a full record of hers. “Nothing Compares 2 U” is obviously a monster of a song - her voice, the production, and the emotional weight are all incredible — but I made a point to focus on the rest of the album beyond that. Even without fully locking into the lyrics (one downside of the pace of this project), the record really works for me on a sonic level. It’s powerful, confident, and emotionally present without feeling overwrought.
Favorite track: The Emperor’s New Clothes
4.0 stars
This was a really interesting album. Even with the music on in the background while I worked, his voice and lyrics consistently cut through...which says a lot. I’d need a few more focused listens to fully unpack what he’s saying, but what I caught felt thoughtful, artistic, and intentional. Sonically, this sits firmly in the singer-songwriter lane, but in a more elevated, almost orchestral way — music that feels designed for headphones and isolation rather than a casual listen. It comes across as reflective and human, like a quiet study of the human condition, and it’s absolutely going on my revisit list. This album also made me want to explore more of his catalog, which is always a good sign.
Favorite tracks: Gay Messiah, Waiting for a Dream
3.5 stars.
I liked this one, didn’t quite love it, but it was a strong listen. I’d heard of Sleater-Kinney before — mostly through mentions from Pearl Jam and Eddie Vedder back in the day — but had never really sat down with one of their albums. Knowing they came out of the Pacific Northwest scene in the mid-to-late ’90s makes a lot of sense once you hear it. This is just good, solid punk rock, and what really stood out to me was the lead singer’s voice — captivating and sharp in a way that cuts through immediately. I also liked how the two vocalists played off each other. I didn’t dive too deeply into the lyrical themes, but sonically this one worked for me.
Favorite Track: One More Hour
3.5 stars.
Went in wanting to like this more than I did. First off, I thought Jimmy Smith was a reggae artist...must have gotten him mixed up with someone else. The album was solid, but it didn’t leave a huge impression on me after the first listen. It worked well as background music while I was getting things done, and I genuinely liked the groove and overall feel. After looking into it a bit, I learned Jimmy Smith is primarily an organ player, which surprised me because the record felt more saxophone-driven to my ear. Nothing immediately jumped out as especially memorable, but this feels like an album that probably rewards more focused listening. It’s going on my re-listen list, because I suspect there’s more happening here than I caught on the first pass.
Favorite track: *didn't have one
2.0 stars.
This might be the first album in this project that I genuinely didn’t connect with. I understand why ABBA is beloved - the hooks are undeniable and the production is built for movement, but the overall sound feels very locked into its era, and not in a way that resonates with me. It comes from a specific time and cultural feeling that just feels distant. I can absolutely see how this would light up a dance floor, and “Dancing Queen” is legendary for a reason, but much of the album left me cold. There are flashes of catchy songwriting, but as a full listen it just wasn’t for me.
Favorite track: Fernando
4.5 stars.
It’s impossible to separate this album from its cultural impact...few bands have ever had a rocket-ship ascent like Nirvana did in the early ’90s, and Nevermind helped shift the entire trajectory of mainstream rock. That said, I’ve always respected this band more than I’ve emotionally connected with them. Going track by track, though, it’s hard to deny the songwriting: “Smells Like Teen Spirit,” “In Bloom,” “Come As You Are,” “Lithium,” and “Drain You” are all incredibly strong, and even the quieter moments like “Something in the Way” hold up beautifully. The loud/quiet dynamics and Butch Vig’s production are more intentional than I probably gave them credit for on first listen. I may not feel the same emotional pull here that I do with some other bands, but musically this album earns its legendary status.
Favorite tracks: Something in the Way, Drain You, Breed, Lithium
5.0 stars
Haunting is the word that keeps coming to mind. My early exposure to Springsteen was the MTV era, Born in the U.S.A. and the larger-than-life arena presence. But when I did a deeper dive into his catalog a few years ago, this album completely changed my perception of him. Along with Darkness on the Edge of Town, this was the record that showed me the depth of his songwriting. Stripped down to its barest elements, the stories feel stark, intimate, and unsettling in a way that lingers long after the songs end. I didn’t know he had this kind of restraint and narrative weight in him. Hearing his originals after knowing covers -like “Atlantic City” by the Band and “Mansion on the Hill” by the National, only deepened my appreciation. “State Trooper” remains one of the most haunting tracks in his entire catalog. One of my favorite singer-songwriter records, full stop.
Favorite tracks: State Trooper, Atlantic City, Mansion on the Hill
4.0 stars
I really enjoyed this one. On first listen, I almost thought you could swap Chrissie Hynde with Joe Strummer and land somewhere in the sonic neighborhood of The Clash. What stood out most was Hynde’s presence: confident, sharp, and effortlessly cool. The album blends punk energy with flashes of reggae and new wave in a way that feels natural rather than calculated. It’s gritty but melodic, tough but still hook-driven. This is an easy re-listen for me.
Favorite tracks: Up the Neck, Tattooed Love Boys, Brass in Pocket
3.5 stars
This is a lovely record. It’s warm, relaxed, and effortlessly transportive...you can instantly picture a tropical vacation, a beach wedding, or a sunset on a boat somewhere warm. There’s nothing here to dislike; it’s beautifully produced and easy to sink into. That said, while I enjoyed it, I didn’t find myself especially captivated by it. It works perfectly as atmosphere, but it didn’t quite rise above that for me. Maybe that’s the point, sometimes an album doesn’t need to be intellectually gripping to be effective.
Favorite tracks: August Day Song, So Nice (Summer Samba)
2.0 stars
This one just didn’t land for me. I can absolutely respect the boldness...releasing something this campy as a debut album takes nerve. But it felt intentionally unserious in a way that I struggled to connect with. It’s not incompetent, and I understand why there’s an audience for it, I just rarely connect with the art-school theatricality of the absurd.
4.5 stars
Thoroughly impressed. Beyond the songwriting and vocals, which are tremendous - what stood out most was the architecture of the album. The arrangements, the bold production choices, the early synth work (that Moog is the MVP for me), and the sheer confidence of a 23-year-old essentially building this world himself. It sounds live and dimensional, yet experimental and forward-thinking. The darker, groove-driven material resonated most with me, but even the lighter love songs are crafted with care and discipline. Ballsy decisions, sophisticated execution, and a record that absolutely earns its reputation.
Favorite tracks: Superstition, Big Brother, I Believe (When I Fall in Love It Will Be Forever)
2.0 stars
I can respect the craft, the musicianship, and the cultural impact of this record, but it ultimately left me pretty bored. “Hotel California” is undeniably a great song...the bass line, the structure, and the narrative atmosphere absolutely hold up, but the rest of the album feels overly polished and emotionally boxed in. Everything is precise, clean, and radio-ready, but rarely exploratory or surprising. It was a rather bland listening experience.
Favorite tracks: Hotel California, Pretty Maids All in a Row
2.0 stars
I can appreciate the pivot into funk and groove on this record, and there are flashes of solid songwriting throughout, but it ultimately didn’t land for me. The musical elements were competent and occasionally interesting, yet the overall persona felt forced. The overt sexuality came across more try-hard than embodied, which made it difficult to connect with the record on any deeper level. Sometimes albums hit differently depending on where you’re at when you hear them...this one just didn’t resonate with me right now. There’s talent here, but the vibe wasn’t for me.
Favorite track: Nighthawk
4.0 stars
I really enjoyed this record...more than I expected to. It doesn’t reinvent the wheel, but it captures that loose, country-leaning band chemistry that I’m drawn to. It feels like the precursor to the mid-2000s Ryan Adams & the Cardinals era - familiar sounds played with tightness and real simpatico rather than flash. Nothing feels forced or overly polished...it’s just a band locked into a sound and doing it well.
Favorite track: Dark End of the Street
4.0 stars
Really well-written pop songs with beautiful harmonies and smart arrangements. The more I listened, the more I noticed the subtle emotional tension beneath the bright sound. It definitely feels rooted in the ’60s, but the themes still hold up. I may not revisit the full album often, but a few of these songs are staying in rotation.
Favorite tracks: I’m Waiting for the Day, Sloop John B, God Only Knows
4.0 stars
This album really shines musically, with the jazz band and swirling saxophone giving it a unique, restless energy that I found more compelling than Bowie’s often detached vocals. At times it feels more like Bowie inhabiting a character than speaking directly from the heart. Still, the results are powerful.
Favorite tracks: Lazarus, I Can’t Give Everything Away
3.5 Starts
An album that moves back and forth between two themes - what seems to be akin to a cocaine frenzy and a cool, laid-back funk. I prefer the funk but the frenetic portions are intriguing.
Favorite track: Watermelon Man
2.5 Stars
As a kid of the 90's, it's impossible for me to divide this album from the persona that was Courtney Love. Unfairly (probably) I loathed her back then...and thus never thought very much of her songwriting abilities or her band. There's some quality melodies on this record, but still can't get fully on board with her.
Favorite track: Doll Parts
2.5 Stars
I'm not sure why this was considered an album you should listen to before you die. there are several albums (thus far in this project) that I've enjoyed less than this one. But I'm struggling to think of one that I found more average than this one. There are some nice moments, particularly the ambient tracks but nothing all that interesting.
Favorite track: Firesuite
4.0 stars
I think this is an all-time classic if it’s about a third shorter and more condensed. At its peak, this is close to songwriting perfection for 21st-century indie folk or chamber pop, and songs like “Chicago” and “Casimir Pulaski Day” absolutely earn that reputation. The issue for me is that the album feels bloated, and with this particular style, the repetition can start to wear on the listener. There’s so much brilliance here, but I think it would hit even harder as a leaner, tighter record.
Favorite tracks: Chicago, Casimir Pulaski Day
