Re-appreciation for this album as I age. Overlooked by I, II, IV and PG this holds a special place as it got my youngest into Zeppelin (he couldn’t grasp Plants voice in Immigrant Song and wanted more). Gallows Pole to Bron-Y-Aur Stomp would make most careers, it’s just an especially lovely selection of songs here.
Again, will he offer me his hunger?
I thought this album would be a lot and I wasn’t nearly prepared for what I would encounter. The only restraint shown was that it somehow held itself to 9 songs and 61 minutes. The lyricism is silly, orchestration over the top but Meatloaf is the right voice for “this” and make songs like Dashboard fun.
I dismissed Pet Shop Boys as an 80s band with little to say. Listening to an entire album, I was especially taken by the direct and sincere songs about isolation, boredom, money, and loneliness. The beats also exceeded expectations having more in common with New Order than the one hit wonders I had incorrectly lumped them with.
I had never listened to a disco album straight through so this was a fun experience. I was surprised that I knew several of the songs, besides 'We are Family', and the songs I didn't know, I knew samples from.
The production values are flawless, the lyrics and singing constantly upbeat, a nice album for a dreary winter day.
Groundbreaking, influential and catchy as hell.
Intoxicating, invigorating, unknown yet I have heard its influence many places. The call and response lyrics are a surprise, and once you read the background, you understand how truly remarkable they are. My first 5 star review.
I don't particularly care for jazz but since I am not an asshole, this is great music. I also know enough to know that I cannot possibly add anything to the discourse about this album other than to say it is great music.
I only knew his spoken word songs and was excited to learn that he could really sing. This album was smooth! H2Ogate Blues, The Bottle and Your Daddy Loves You were real standouts.
So much energy, so raw, an experiment that only Johnny Cash could pull off. A true classic.
Having heard a lot of bootlegs, I didn’t hear any standout's outside of St Stephen. Solid, not remarkable.
Rock folklore implores this came from the most primitive regions of Michigan. 56 years later, it’s as primal, raw, chaotic and visceral as ever.
TV Eye is one of the all time great, and dangerous, songs put to record.
I really can’t believe this came out in 1970. It’s so far out of left field for the time. No wonder it failed. No wonder it influenced so many.
Only nitpick is that it’s only 36 minutes. I would gladly spend hours here.
I didn't realize this was 1973. I grew up with Legs and thought them a weird 80s band and had to retroactively discover them. I appreciated listening to this album in full. How have I never appreciated "Muddy Water turned to wine..."? 1 star just for that line.
Super tight album which I actually wish they would have let a few songs run a bit longer but love how you can't catch your breath before another song hits you. A couple of misses but "Jesus Just Left Chicago" and the immortal "Waitin for the Bus" and "La Grange" make this easily 4 stars.
I hadn’t heard this in forever and somehow missed/forgot that Gangster Paradise was a direct rip off from here (in addition to myriad other classics).
It was perfectly pleasant if somewhat unremarkable.
She is amazing. Her voice, how she conveys meaning in these songs...it's stunning. The band is great. The song choice varied and interesting (which you get when you cover 59 songs!). The sound quality was superb. Doing one of these a day, I admit to not being able to pay attention to all 59, but as I was able to listen attentively, I was well rewarded.
Put this on and proud that my 7 year old could name the album in the first 3 notes.
40 years on a fairly flawless album, even if my mouth breathing brethren still can’t understand the lyrics to the title track.
I had never heard of this band even though I am of this age. Only being able to get through 3 songs, I understand why.
A rap/Oasis mashup is a song you can record…..1 star for a cool album cover.
Is there a more intense 30 seconds in rock than those 30 seconds in "Born to Run" when he gives us that second countdown? It gets me everytime. I am ready to run with Bruce and Wendy. And how I wish I could hit that "Oh". He doesn't have a great voice, how does he hit that damn "Oh" like that?
Anyway, great breakout album. So much passion, thoughtful sequencing, commercial but true to his art, an American masterpiece.
When I was young, I was lucky enough to see Paige and Plant. We had terrible tickets, and it wasn’t Zeppelin in full, but I wasn’t around to attend Zeppelin concerts. It felt like being amongst gods and the one thing I remember most clearly is one of those gods, Robert Plant, saying Kashmir was the best song they ever made. That song resides on this album so while this isn’t one of the core 4, and its honestly a bit bloated, it still has highs few bands can imagine.
I liked the choice of songs (I didn’t realize ‘House of the Rising Sun’ was a folk standard), her voice is very nice and the sound quality was solid.
I do not understand why every song featured her reaching for notes that made me turn down my volume. It felt like she could only interpret each song one way.
I forgot how varied there sound was/not the typical Britpop of the time (and I was not of the Britpop movement). The short song lengths let you pack a lot in but maybe a few too many in? It could have done with a bit more editing.
I came to The The later so it was interesting to hear this much earlier work. There is a lot going on lyrically and sonically, both feel of the moment and ahead of their time (in good and at times unsuccessful ways).
Somewhat related, I have had limited exposure to British music of the early-mid 80's, outside of the enduring pop standards, and as a time capsule, people were very pissed off!
Not sure you even need another song besides Mannish Boy to make this a 5 but Muddy threw in 9 more for good measure.
I can’t understand how or why this would be deemed essential. Perhaps for the “Parade” song that is so bonkers and out of place that I will likely play it for people for years to come?
At one point I got this as one of my 10 CDs for a penny from Columbia House. I listened to Paranoid, Iron Man, maybe a little War Pigs.
I also know how important and influential this album is to rock and to metal.
What I didn't realize is that this is a great album from start to finish.
It was fine. Not to be old man yells at cloud but it sounded like Lauryn Hill but not as good? If these are the best 1000 albums….
I know this is supposed to be tailor made for me, everyone is shocked I don’t love him but I just don’t. It’s fine. Maybe at the time but it’s not for me.
I knew of them but had never listened to an album front to back. I rather liked it.
Every Boston song I heard on classic rock radio growing up appears to be on this album, so it has that going for it.
It’s The Who and they are live. If you like The Who, this is them, in live form.
I knew how important they are, and I have heard some of the songs, but I had never heard the album from front to back. That is shame on me and one of the reasons I started this project.
I hear all the bands I love(d) as a kid in here but I also hear a great, better than great, album. Will definitely make this part of my long term rotation.
Rock anthem for the ages, check.
Defining blues/garage rock masterpiece of its decade, check.
Two people playing the shit out of their instruments without computer enhancements, check and check.
This album made them superstars and thank god for that.
I love David Bowie. I dislike aging rockstars. I should have known that David Bowie is not like other aging rockstars.
This was experimental and haunting with interesting soundscapes. A few too many bad words for my liking but overall glad i was brought to this album.
I liked this album a lot when I was a kid. Before this album I thought they were a made up band for a Run-DMC video. They becamse MTV darlings and I watched their videos many, many times.
I am not a kid anymore...
Shame on me for never hearing this album before. A truly remarkable work. So much depth and creativity. Amazing!
I am sure this is important to a movement I wish never existed.
I forgot how long this album was. It would have been better served as 1 disc as opposed to 2. Some great songs but bloated and overdone much like Billy Corrgan.
I thought they had broken up years before this album. Not sure how this is essential. Not sure how XTC is essential. I was around for somewhat of their heyday and they weren't essential then, let alone well beyond it.
I do not understand how this album got 4 and 5 star reviews from other listeners. They must be wrong. It's not me right, right?!?
I can’t believe artists I respect would be a part of this trainwreck.
Song #2 still slaps but this sounds more 90s than I remembered. Good trip down memory lane but not an essential album.
The B sides of the most influential rock album of the 21st century might actually be the more impactful album. While I remember wondering if they would pick up guitars again, answer not really, it did portend a softer landing than the left turn of Kid A.
The music itself is varied and interesting. Knives Out doesn’t fit yet would be an all timer for any other band. Pyramid Song, Packt, Life in a Glass House…it’s Radiohead at their height.
Their 3 hits are on here. They are bangers. There are also a bunch of other songs on here. If this was an EP….
I love his voice, and some gems in here, but a bit all over the place and overly long.
This played like a parody of 60’s psychedelic albums. Surely no one intentionally made or rhymed “I believe in magic, why? Because it is so quick”. With that, I realized I could be tortured no longer.
Shame on me for not knowing Solomon Burke. This was a great album and will be exploring more.
Started strong then started to get a bit redundant. I don’t blame the music as much as my taste.
This was a bit of a revelation. Last song was wild but the first 9 were concise and well ahead of their time.
This album broke up Cream and they still wouldn’t let Clapton in. Perfect album. It’s a shame we can only give it a 5.
The first couple of songs were interesting but then it got weird. He really likes singing about times when men could shoot other men. By the end I was openly hostile towards the album.
This album kept going interesting places. I am appreciative it is on the list.
Its covers, its acoustic versions of their existing songs, it’s somehow one of the most important cultural touchstones of the 90s, of alt rock, of rock in general. I didn’t forget how perfect it was, I just enjoyed listening to it again.
I won’t ding it for the heavy accent but I will for the lack of rhythm, the unimaginative beats and the lame lyrics. This album had one song I didn’t detest.
I probably know the least about this Smiths album and despite Morrisey being Morrisey it’s still a great record.
Lose a point for a Confederate general on the cover even if he was the only decent human in the leadership ranks. Interesting concept, music was well executed. Perhaps a few too many songs for me to get through but I appreciate what they were doing.
This is when The Kinks, at least as I know The Kinks, became The Kinks, and it is an absolutely lovely album. Vivid, varied, lyrically interesting, an album that encapsulates who they are.
I feel the list is trolling with these English rap albums. There is nothing interesting or unique on this album. The only thing that stood out is how many times they could use "fam" in one skit.
I cannot imagine what it was like to hear this album at the time. It doesn't sound that radical but is it like anything we have heard before? I can't think of anything if so. Add that this is a debut album and it is absolutely bonkers how great this is.
Mark Knopfler is a Rock God.
