1001 Albums Summary

I respect Jimi's guitar playing ability and the tightness of his band and I know his playing has influenced so many other guitarists - I just don't find that I would want to actually go back and listen to most of these songs. His singing voice and lyrical content aren't really that interesting to me. I did discover new songs that I like - such as Wait Until Tomorrow Liked songs on Spotify: 3/13 Rating: 2/5

Definitely interesting to hear this. I'm more familiar with rock related genres, so this is kinda new for me. I have listened to the Vince Guaraldi trio on their Charlie Brown Christmas album and I do like that one. And I like jazz adjacent rock such as Steely Dan. I listened to it 3 times in a row, and it grew on me. I ended up clicking like on 2 of the 7 songs and could see myself adding more over time. I recognized "Take Five" as soon as I heard it - according to Wikipedia it's the most popular Jazz recording of all time. I assume I've just heard it by being alive for 60 years but don't know specifically where I've heard it. I also had a few moments where I noticed that some Billy Joel and Ben Folds songs seem to have been clearly inspired by this. Anyway, I'm glad I listened to it - definitely good for expanding horizons. Liked songs on Spotify: 2/7 Rating: 2/5

I like the Rolling Stones a lot. When I look at my Spotify "liked songs" stats, they are in my top 5 with 78 songs liked across all of their albums (as of this date). This album has 2 of their all time best songs which also happen to be 2 of the best rock songs of all time across any artist (Sympathy for the Devil, Street Fighting Man) PLUS 2 great deep cuts (No Expectations, Salt of the Earth). But then it has a bunch of songs which, to me, are kind of forgettable - not bad just not worth listening to again. Liked songs on Spotify: 4/10 Rating: 2/5

I was already somewhat familiar with this album, having already known and loved 3 of these songs (Do It Again, Dirty Work, Reeling in the Years) - which are all great classic rock songs. I also know and like over 30 Steely Dan songs across all their releases. Upon revisiting it after a very long time, and listening to it 3 times in a row, I discovered that there are many additional great deep cuts on this - and so I "liked" 5 more songs while listening to it. If you're familiar with Steely Dan you can see them already embracing their sound right out of the gate with their first album - combined with the sarcastic/cynical/humorous lyrics they are famous for. Glad this site got me to relook at this one. Liked songs on Spotify: 8/10 Rating: 4/5

This album came out when I was in high school, and is one of those albums you couldn't miss because it was played all the time on the radio and then in college it was always played at parties or in dorm rooms etc. So, I am very familiar with this record. It has 5 fun songs on it that I like to hear every now and again - such as Hells Bells, Shot to Thrill, Back in Black, You Shook Me All Night Long, and Rock and Roll Ain't Noise Pollution. But beyond that, I find that sitting down and listening to it front to back gets kind of tedious and repetitive and I keep wondering when it's gonna be over. It's not really something I would willingly listen all the way through on my own. The music is too samey without enough variety. The lyrics also get kind of tiring - like they keep trying to show how "evil" or sexist or what big partiers they are. It's feels kind of like fake rebellion to me, and doesn't really have anything interesting or thought provoking to say. Liked songs on Spotify: 5/10 Rating: 3/5

When this came out I was in 6th grade, and I remember a kid in the neighborhood loved this band. He raved about how great they are, but I couldn't get over the fact that I found the singer's voice incredibly annoying. I have given Rush a listen over the years and do like some of their songs. They are very good musicians, and I especially appreciate Neil Peart's drumming. As I listened to this again for the first time in a long time, I kept thinking - it would be so cool if they just focused on doing instrumentals - for 2 reasons: 1) The aforementioned annoying voice of Geddy Lee. He is much better on the songs (or parts of songs) where he isn't shrieking. I've seen some people make comparisons to Robert Plant's voice but, I don't know what it is, but I think Robert Plant's voice is awesome while Geddy Lee is incredibly grating. I guess we all have different ears. AND 2) I also find the lyrics kind of silly. It seems like they are trying to be deep (especially on the first side track) but it just comes across as corny to me. And after realizing they were inspired by Ayn Rand it makes more sense since her books are like that - purportedly deep but populated with one dimensional caricatures and very flimsy philosophy In 2026, the "priests of the temples of syrinx" sound like the are the tech-bros of all the "magnificent seven" companies - so maybe they were on to something?? I've got 2 songs "liked" on Spotify (Passage to Bangkok and Tears) since they aren't as annoying. Although the "oriental riff" on Passage to Bangkok is kind of dated/stereotypical, so it kinda drops that one by a notch. Liked songs on Spotify: 2/6 Rating: 2/5

This was different than what I usually listen to - so was an interesting change of pace. Some of it reminds me of sounds I've heard on Paul Simon's Graceland - though maybe that's just representative of lots of African styles of music. I looked up to see if Paul Simon was inspired by this artist (Koffi Olomide) and couldn't find any connection. I know this album (1992) came out after Graceland (1986) but I thought there might be some connection between the artists prior to this one - but no. Also, it seems that Vampire Weekend has probably listened to/been inspired by this (or this type of music) - and I did see at least 1 reference to that fact when I did some searching. Both "Papa bonheur" and "Koweit, rive gauche" sounded cool to me and "Porte-monnaie" was fun. I did end up liking these 3 songs on Spotify - meaning I won't mind hearing them again in my rotation of songs on my playlists. It's a bit hard to get into, partly because I often gravitate towards lyrics - but I enjoyed some of it for sure. I did find myself distracted at times with some of the cheesy 80s synths sounds. And, given that I am not familiar with this, I don't really have anything to compare it to so I am not sure how this stacks up against other albums from the Congo or this genre in general. Liked songs on Spotify: 3/9 Rating: 2/5

I'm glad they put this on the list, if only as a warning signal to tell me to never listen to this band again. Unlistenable crap. The only feeling it gives me is the feeling of "turn that shit off". I've seen some people mention similarities to White Stripes and these guys. Maybe there are some slight similarities - but the biggest difference is that the White Stripes actually write good songs with good lyrics that sound fucking awesome. This, not at all. Also - Why does this guy occasionally go into Elvis impersonator mode (voice, not music)? Liked songs on Spotify: 0/16 Rating: 0/5 (this site should allow zero ratings)

I am of course familiar with this album. It came out when I was in high school and it was all over the radio and you couldn't escape it - songs from this were played at stores, parties, school dances etc. and on regular rotation on MTV. I was even watching the Motown 25 TV special live, when Michael first did the famous moonwalk dance move. And I used to watch the Jackson 5 cartoon when I was a kid. I'll admit, at the time I thought it was SO completely overplayed that I never felt the need to actually get the album or go back and spend any time listening to it, even after streaming was a thing and everything in the world was available to me. I was also more of a rock kid - but I did like a bunch of Motown and contemporary artists of his (at the time) like Prince. Twas fun actually listening to this front to back for the first time after so long. 4 Good tracks: Wanna Be Startin' Somthin', Beat It, Billy Jean, PYT (Pretty Young Thing) 1 Ok track: Thriller 4 Forgettable tracks: Baby Be Mine, The Girl is Mine, Human Nature, The Lady in My Life Eddie Van Halen's guitar solo definitely lifted "Beat It" up to a whole other level. I'm a huge Beatles fan but the collaboration with Paul McCartney ("The Girl is Mine") here is really one of the worst tracks on this one. Liked songs on Spotify: 4/9 Rating: 3/5

What if you took a seasoned studio session guitarist who had some success with another band that fell apart, grabbed his friend who was also an experienced session musician on bass (and keys and an arranger), then added a 19 yr old kid as your singer, who started singing at 16 and was in another not very successful band, and then added the drummer from the singer's band? You get a group that in retrospect is, without a doubt, one of the greatest rock bands of all time - where each member is widely regarded as at least top 5 at what they do. This album is a 5 star rating with zero hesitation. It's a perfect album with no skips, that never gets old. All 9 songs are classics. It's amazing that this is this band's first album. They came out with such confidence and expertise. Many of the songs on here would be any other band's peak but this is them just getting started. The opener (Good Times Bad Times) is an original song that announces what Zeppelin is and starts with an unforgettable heavy guitar and drum riff. They add organ (by bassist John Paul Jones) to several songs - with particularly great effect on "You're Time is Gonna Come" - to take these songs in a unique direction. They also add an instrumental song ("Black Mountain Side") which is just an acoustic guitar and tabla. The album has with 5 inspired reworkings of classic blues and folk songs - alongside 4 incredible originals. The whole album showcases their melding of blues, folk, and hard rock with complex arrangements into something all their own, with totally unique singing. Over time, you can see how the future Led Zeppelin albums continue to expand and improve on this starting point AND entire genres of rock and roll were inspired by this, with current bands (in 2026) still mining this sound - 57 years later! Liked songs on Spotify: 9/9 Rating: 5/5

I had missed this one when it first came out. But I got his 2nd album (Gold) and really liked that one. For some reason I thought that was his first album. Years later I realized he had this one before it and I went back and listened to it. I also discovered that he was the leader of the group Whiskeytown and went back and listened to them too. Good stuff. I'm glad I did because I ended up liking over half the songs and still do. And I'm glad this site had me relisten to it all together again because it still holds up as a very good album. I've liked 8 of the 14 actual songs (first song doesn't count because it's just 2 guys talking). The other 6 aren't horrible but I just don't need to hear them regularly on my playlists. His melodies are usually very good and interesting. His lyrics usually have a different twist on things. I love Jason Isbell and in my mind Ryan Adams was the precursor to Isbell. I think I've read somewhere they were actually friends back in the day. If you like Isbell, chances are you'd like Ryan Adams too. Standout tracks: Too Be Young, Oh My Sweet Carolina Liked songs on Spotify: 8/14 Rating: 3/5

For some reason I had never heard this band. I was actually excited when it got assigned to me. I was really looking forward to listening to it. I thought "oh, maybe this is a cool band that I can discover". Nope. There's nothing there that grabs me. No beat. No melody. No interesting lyrics. No emotion. No highs, no lows. No twists, no turns. Just endless monotony. It's not even offensive, it's just boring nothingness. I listened to it twice and, somewhere along the way, forgot I even had it on. It just drones on and on and on. Even when it continued playing back at the first song after going through the whole album the first time, I didn't realize I had already heard it before. There are no memorable songs on this one - at all. Apparently this took 22 years from their last album to make. Seems like something someone could have knocked out in an afternoon just fucking around with some effects pedals. I'm guessing they are going to give me other albums by this band - so I'm bracing for a similar experience - but hoping/wishing it's somehow better. I read that the "shoegaze" genre was inspired by songs like Tomorrow Never Knows (Beatles), All I Want to Do (Beach Boys), and Heroes (David Bowie). Maybe that is so, but the big difference is that those are good songs that are enjoyable to listen to and this not at all. Liked songs on Spotify: 0/9 Rating: 1/5 (should be 0)

This was definitely a pleasant surprise! Never heard of this band from Mali, nor any other musicians from Mali. From the first song I was digging this sound, they are fun and have a great vibe. I bet I'd like it even more if I could understand what they are saying. The layered, circular guitars with African rhythms is pretty cool. After listening to it through 2 times, I have already liked 7 out of 11 songs on Spotify - and I can't wait for them to show up in my automated playlists. I could see myself possibly liking more upon further listens. And now I want to check out some of their other albums Liked songs on Spotify: 7/11 Rating: 4/5

I was slightly familiar with these guys - having really liked Love Will Tear Us Apart and 3 of the songs on their first album Unknown Pleasures - but for some reason I never listened to this particular album. I can definitely hear their influence on bands I like - such as The Cure, Interpol, and She Wants Revenge and somewhat U2 and Radiohead. I really like the music on all of these - it does a great job of setting a mood. For example, the drums on the first song (Atrocity Exhibition) and many other songs are really cool. Also love the way they combine the guitars and synthesizers on many of the songs, and their use of the swirling and chiming guitars for ambient mood setting. Also they use the bass to drive melodies and mood in a cool way. I ended up liking all of the songs - just because the music is so good. Biggest issue for me is the singing - on some songs I find his voice very annoying but on others it's less so. I do think it sorta grows on you though, but I can't help but thinking how much better these guys would be with a better singer or if they did some as instrumentals. Maybe I need to take a closer look at New Order. Liked songs on Spotify: 9/9 Rating: 5/5 I have to give it 5 because I ended up liking all of the songs - but the voice still turns me off somewhat - so I'll have to listen to this when in the right mood.

How have I never even heard of Fred Neil? I know the "Everybody's Talkin" song from the Harry Nilsson cover which was all over the radio when I was a little kid - but had no idea it was written by someone else. I've had Nilsson's version of this song "liked" on Spotify for years. I also found that I had already liked Linda Ronstadt's version of "The Dolphins" and never knew it was written and originally recorded by this guy. It was fascinating listening to this and noticing similarities to Johnny Cash, Beatles, Jimmy Buffett, Glen Campbell, etc. - and learning about his influence on Stephen Stills, David Crosby, Grateful Dead and so many others. Plus Bob Dylan played harmonica with Fred when Dylan was just getting started in NYC. Plus he wrote songs for other artists like Buddy Holly and Roy Orbison. This guy was connected to so many great artists back in the day. One article I read about him said that the Beatles were in NYC and really wanted to meet him and he was like "ok, I guess I'll make some time" or something like that - haha. And then the fact that he just didn't care about the business and promotion side of music and chucked it all to focus on starting an organization for the protection of dolphins - makes him even more of an interesting character. I listened to this album 3 times in a row and ended up "liking" 6 songs out of 10 just from that. One thing great about this 1001 Albums is discovering "new" (to me) artists and albums like this. Liked songs on Spotify: 6/10 Rating: 3/5

I'm a big Beatles fan in general. I have over 100 songs of their liked on Spotify which puts them as my #2 artist overall in terms of song count. I also went and saw Paul in concert in 2025 - mostly because I figured it might be the last time I could see a Beatle live. So, of course, I am very familiar with Paul McCartney. But I never really got into his solo or Wings stuff that much. Yes I was aware of his radio hits and like some of them - and strongly dislike some of them too - so I never felt compelled to do a deep dive into his solo work. It usually felt like his solo stuff was missing the other band members to say "hey, that's crap, lets do this or let's add something to that". I feel the same way about most of the output of any of the solo Beatles. I'd say the sum of the Beatles was usually greater than the individual parts. So, this is the first time I've ever sat down and listened to this one front to back. I think it's kinda cool that instead of trying to compete with the complex production style of the Beatles he just went in the opposite direction and did a DIY type album. The standout track is "Maybe I'm Amazed" - which is a great song, and the one on this album that seems like he put the most time and effort into. "Every Night" is cool too. I like the anti-consumerism sentiment and simple mellowness of "Junk". I enjoy the instrumentals "Valentine Day" and "Momma Miss America" and "Singalong Junk" - and have added all of them to my Instrumentals playlist. The rest didn't grab me and I really didn't like "That Would Be Something" where he sounds like he's trying to be Elvis. I kinda liked the drumming on Kreen-Akrore - but after repeated listens there were parts of it that made me realize I wouldn't really want to hear it again. Liked songs on Spotify: 6/13 Rating: 3/5

The Joshua Tree is an instant 5 for me. I had already "liked" every song on this on Spotify before being assigned this to listen on here. It's a perfect album with no skips. I also saw U2 for the first time on this tour and I think I've seen them in concert 6 times, including at the Sphere in Vegas. I've got 3 U2 albums that I consider Perfect Albums - where I like every song. War (1983), this one (1987), and Achtung Baby (1991). There is not one bad song on this and all of them are actually great songs - that I never get tired of hearing. Even though some of the hit songs were overplayed at the time, I still really like them. Some of the best songs on this are deep cuts that never got radio play. Any song off this album would be a peak song for most other bands. By the time this one came out I was already a big U2 fan from the War and The Unforgettable Fire albums. But this one took them to a whole other level of popularity. Before this they were more of a niche thing, after this literally everyone knew who they were. I remember being kind of annoyed at all the new fans but had to admit it really was a great album and they deserved as much praise and attention as they were getting. The album starts with the 3 songs that were the big radio and video hits - which are great songs - but all of the songs after the first 3, from Bullet the Blue Sky to the last song (Mother's of the Disappeared), are all 10/10 - great lyrics, great vibe by the band, great vocals by Bono. Very intense, sad, angry, joyous, quiet, loud - all the things. If the sequence of the last 3 songs from One Tree Hill to Exit to Mother's of the Disappeared doesn't grab you then there's something wrong with you :) Liked songs on Spotify: 11/11 Rating: 5/5

I do like some old school country like Johnny Cash, Willie Nelson, Hank Williams, and even all the way back to The Carter Family. But, I have never even heard of the name Marty Robbins. Or if I did, it did not stick in my brain. First impression - this is some corny, old timey music that reminds me of Burl Ives singing Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer - or something like that. After a few listens of the whole album, it started slightly growing on me. As soon as El Paso came on, I realized that I have heard that one somewhere before but couldn't place where or when. Perhaps from Breaking Bad? Could be. I also noticed some similarities between Marty's singing style and Roy Orbison. Not sure if they influenced each other or not - couldn't find evidence of that online. Some of the characters in these songs also reminded me of the types of characters found in the songs on Bruce Springsteen's Nebraska album - which is one of my all time favorite albums. Though I like the sound of Bruce's record so much more. Makes me wonder if Bruce is familiar with Marty Robbins. Another thought - I wonder if hip hop fans would like this since it's a lot about killing people that crossed your path or took your girl - so has some similarities thematically. Bottom line - it's ok, and I ended up clicking like on 5 songs (Big Iron, 160 Acres, They're Hanging Me Tonight, Cool Water, El Paso). They say he was influential on the "outlaw" country genre - but I'm not sure I see the connection. I'll probably never listen to the whole album again, but wouldn't mind these handful of songs popping up on my playlists. Liked songs on Spotify: 5/15 Rating: 2/5

I had never actually listened to this whole album. When I went to it on Spotify, I found I had already liked one song (Fuck and Run) but don't remember when or why I had heard that one before. I listened to this 3 times in a row. I definitely hear other artists that have some similarities - like The Waitresses (singing style mostly, prior to this), and PJ Harvey (contemporary to this, I think), and Poe (after this). This album is way too long - 18 songs. She could have dropped about 8 of these songs and had a much better album. I found myself actually liking a bunch of songs in the middle - they were much more interesting - Explain it to Me, Canary, Mesmerizing, Shatter, and Flower. These ones have a cool vibe that makes them stand out. So I ended up liking 6 songs total out of 18. Six songs on a shorter album would be a very good showing but since there are so many other less good songs it makes it a lot of work to find the good nuggets. Liked songs on Spotify: 6/18 Rating: 2/5