My 1001 Albums Journey

Albums Rated

3.43

Average Rating

Complete

1009 albums remaining

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1970

Favorite Decade

Folk

Favorite Genre

other

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Wordsmith

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5-Star Albums

1-Star Albums

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Albums

You Love More Than Most

Album	You	Global	Diff
Nighthawks At The Diner Tom Waits	5	3	+2
The Köln Concert Keith Jarrett	5	3.39	+1.61
Beauty And The Beat The Go-Go's	5	3.39	+1.61
The ArchAndroid Janelle Monáe	5	3.45	+1.55
Blackstar David Bowie	5	3.48	+1.52
1999 Prince	5	3.6	+1.4
The Cars The Cars	5	3.66	+1.34
Station To Station David Bowie	5	3.69	+1.31
The Score Fugees	5	3.69	+1.31
Take Me Apart Kelela	4	2.76	+1.24

You Love Less Than Most

Album	You	Global	Diff
Graceland Paul Simon	1	3.73	-2.73
The College Dropout Kanye West	1	3.31	-2.31
Microshift Hookworms	1	3.02	-2.02
25 Adele	2	3.38	-1.38
Wonderful Rainbow Lightning Bolt	1	2.29	-1.29
Darklands The Jesus And Mary Chain	2	3.23	-1.23
The La's The La's	2	3.14	-1.14
Led Zeppelin Led Zeppelin	3	4.08	-1.08
Bandwagonesque Teenage Fanclub	2	3.07	-1.07
Hot Shots II The Beta Band	2	3.01	-1.01

Artists

Favorites

Artist	Albums	Average
David Bowie	3	4.67

5-Star Albums (14)

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Popular Reviews

Third/Sister Lovers

Big Star · 1 likes

4/5

This album is stark in comparison to their previous work. It's barely a Big Star album. It's an Alex Chilton album that was labelled as Big Star without his permission or input. Chris Bell and Andy Hummel had already left after the two previous (amazing) Big Star albums had bombed. The remaining members of Big Star (Alex Chilton & Jody Stephens) broke up after recording the record, and it was shelved for 4 years afterwards. I'd never heard of the band until the early mid-90s when Alex Chilton's name was dropped in an article about Counting Crows. This intrigued me enough to go to the music store (Music +? Wherehouse?) to look it up. My mind was blown and I've had copies for the last 30 years. It took decades, but this album finally has gotten the appraisal it deserves. While I never was able to see Big Star when Chilton was still alive, I'd seen performances by groups put together by drummer Jody Stephens, who now tour as "The Big Star Quintet." Favorite songs : Holocaust & Blue Moon Whether it's billed as Big Star or Alex Chilton, this album rules. Favorite songs: Blue Moon & Holocaust. (4/4)

Pink Moon

Nick Drake · 1 likes

4/5

A gorgeous spare album of just a man and his guitar It's tragic that Drake sadly didn't get the proper appreciation before he died.

The College Dropout

Kanye West · 1 likes

1/5

If you separate the art from the artist, this is an amazing hip-hop album, and it isn't even his best work. The problem is that Ye's antics over the past 15 years hang over his actual art.

1-Star Albums (5)

D.O.A. the Third and Final Report of Throbbing Gristle

All Ratings

Foo Fighters

3/5

Favorite song is "I'm Still Around", just like it was 30 years ago. A decent album, but their sophomore album was better.

1999

Prince

5/5

It's a bonafide classic. This album defined sounds that would carry on for the next several decades. Yet, since it's a Prince album, it can still be underrated.

Physical Graffiti

Led Zeppelin

3/5

Led Zeppelin's always been somewhat of a blind spot for me. I know the big hits, and I owned a copy of LZ IV like 30 years ago. It just never sticks with me. Favorite song: Kashmir

The Bends

Radiohead

5/5

Led Zeppelin

3/5

I'm not sure if it's the case that I'm not into the blues, or it's a case that I don't care for Led Zep's attempts at it. Favorite song: Black Mountain Side

The Cars

5/5

An early new wave masterpiece. No skips. Favorite song: All Mixed Up

Microshift

Hookworms

1/5

This album did nothing for me. It felt like "What if MGMT was really big into Bowie's Berlin era?" Bowie and Eno, these guys aren't. Favorite song: Shortcomings

Tago Mago

Can

3/5

Tago Mago is 2 weird but excellent albums in one. The first half is like Syd-era Pink Floyd if he were into funk and African rhythms. The second half is compelling noise rock that Lou Reed wished he had made.

Black Monk Time

The Monks

3/5

This album is ridiculous fun. Hard to find, too. Excellent garage/proto-punk that prided itself in taking nothing seriously.

The Köln Concert

Keith Jarrett

5/5

Holy shit, that was gorgeous.

Wonderful Rainbow

Lightning Bolt

1/5

Nope. Not for me.

Bridge Over Troubled Water

Simon & Garfunkel

4/5

One of the best Side A's in all of recorded history. Favorite song: Keep the Customer Satisfied.

Adele

4/5

Excellent album. Still not tired of it. Favorite song: Lovesong

Dirt

Alice In Chains

3/5

Sludgy as hell. I always dug how Staley and Cantrell's vocals worked together. Favorite song: Would?!

Apocalypse 91… The Enemy Strikes Black

Public Enemy

4/5

If I Should Fall From Grace With God

The Pogues

4/5

Excellent album. Favorite song: "Thousands are Sailing"

Hot Rats

Frank Zappa

3/5

Outside of his novelty songs like "Valley Girl", Zappa's mostly unknown territory for me. I really dug the instrumentals on this album. Favorite song: "Son of Mr. Green Genes"

Chocolate Starfish And The Hot Dog Flavored Water

Limp Bizkit

2/5

I'm pretty sure I bought this album at the time. Most of it doesn't hold up. It's no wonder it was removed from the list. Favorite song: "Take a Look Around"

Car Wheels On A Gravel Road

Lucinda Williams

4/5

A great road album.

Graceland

Paul Simon

1/5

Paul Simon is an asshole and a plagiarist. Fuck him.

Fun House

The Stooges

4/5

The music of the future. Great proto-punk garage rock. Favorite song: TV Eye

Hot Shots II

The Beta Band

2/5

Nothing offensive, but this did nothing for me.

Take Me Apart

Kelela

4/5

I'd never heasrd of Kelela before today, but I'm digging this album. Favorite song: Turn to Dust

Station To Station

David Bowie

5/5

One of the more slept-on Bowie albums but still one of my favorites. This is the bridge that leads to the Berlin trilogy.

Gentlemen

The Afghan Whigs

3/5

I try to love this album, but always end up just liking a few songs and not listening to it again for years. The instrumentation is excellent, but I get tired of Greg Dulli's vocals. Favorite song: My Curse

The ArchAndroid

Janelle Monáe

5/5

I've been on the Janelle Monáe bandwagon since I first heard this album 15 years ago. Been to 3 of her concerts and her Halloween party. It's a classic.

Highway 61 Revisited

Bob Dylan

4/5

Dylan at his first peak. Favorite song: Ballad of a Thin Man

Atomizer

Big Black

3/5

I'd read about Big Black for years, mostly from "Our Band Could Be Your Life", but had never sat down and listened to a full album of theirs before. It's muddy and harsh. It gives a message, but it makes you work for it. Favorite Track: Passing Complexion

D.O.A. the Third and Final Report of Throbbing Gristle

Throbbing Gristle

1/5

Noise music just isn't my bag.

Palo Congo

Sabu

3/5

I don't know a damn thing about rumba music, but this was enjoyable.

Straight Outta Compton

N.W.A.

3/5

This album literally changed the game. Before NWA, it seemed like all hip-hop seemed to come only from New York. Hearing this from dudes who lived merely a half-hour from me was a revelation. As a kid who listened to pop music and hair metal, it blew my mind. Listening to it again 30+ years later, there's some reappraisement. They really front-loaded the album. The first half is so much better. "I Ain't The 1" trying to be radio-friendly just makes it the cheesiest Cube song I've ever hard.

Triangle

The Beau Brummels

2/5

I don't think I disassociated, but I had no memory of any of the songs after I'd heard them.

Third/Sister Lovers

Big Star

4/5

Adele

2/5

It's ok.

Ocean Rain

Echo And The Bunnymen

4/5

Outside of their cover of "People Are Strange" and "The Killing Moon", I've remained ignorant of the band. I wouldn't have gotten it when I was younger, but I dig it now.

Future Days

Can

3/5

I liked this Can album better than the other on the list. More ambient, less noise.

Blackstar

David Bowie

5/5

Bowie recorded this album knowing his time was short, and created a masterpiece to say goodbye to the world.

The Clash

3/5

Not my favorite Clash album, but it's alright.

...Baby One More Time

Britney Spears

2/5

Harmless pop. Some songs are better than ever. The Sonny & Cher cover is absolutely awful.

AmeriKKKa's Most Wanted

Ice Cube

2/5

it's obvious that Cube wrote a number of these songs for Eazy-E. It's not a proper example of Cube's voice as a rapper, unlike his later albums. Best song: Who's the Mack?

Live At The Harlem Square Club

Sam Cooke

3/5

This album is a lot grittier than most of the Sam Cooke I've heard. It's less polished, and that's not a bad thing. Favorite song: Chain Gang

Tracy Chapman

4/5

Amazing then, amazing now.

Songs From The Big Chair

Tears For Fears

4/5

Of course I knew the hit singles. I lived through them the first time. The rest of the album was a revelation. The orchestration was fantastic, and Curt & Roland's vocals are fantastic. Favorite song is still "Head Over Heels"

Ill Communication

Beastie Boys

3/5

I've never really connected with the Beasties. This is probably the first time I've listened to one of their albums all the way through since the early 90s. I liked the jazzier tunes, tho.

Otis Blue/Otis Redding Sings Soul

Otis Redding

5/5

Otis Redding is the King of Soul. This is not hyperbole. His cover of 'Satisfaction' smokes the Stones.

Nighthawks At The Diner

Tom Waits

5/5

You really feel like you're in a smoky jazz club in the mid 70s listening to Tom and his band groove. The music's excellent and the asides between songs are a real treat. For 50 years, part of the joy of a live Tom Waits performance has been his riffs and ramblings between songs. So much so, that his most recent live album devoted an entire CD length worth of "Tom's Tales." Don't skip the intros. They're just as much of a delight as the songs. Especially the intro to "Better Off Without a Wife"

Out Of The Blue

Electric Light Orchestra

4/5

If you enjoy ELO's style of rock and roll, this is one of their classics. If you don't, you'll find this as overdone overly produced wankery. Luckily, I enjoy what ELO does. The Beatles influence is always prominent in Jeff Lynne's work. But this album also seems to take quite a bit of influence from the BeeGees. A lot of Gibb-style harmonies. Jeff Lynne looked at disco and said, "Yeah, I'll have a bit of that too." The album should have ended with side 3's "Concerto for a Rainy Day', but they had to fill side 4 anyways,

Pink Moon

Nick Drake

4/5

A gorgeous spare album of just a man and his guitar It's tragic that Drake sadly didn't get the proper appreciation before he died.

Hybrid Theory

Linkin Park

3/5

While Linkin Park is one of my preferred to come out of the Nu-Metal genre. This album isn't as good as their later work.

Like A Prayer

Madonna

4/5

Madonna's best album. Fight me.

Bryter Layter

Nick Drake

3/5

So far this is my favorite Nick Drake album. Favorite song: Poor Boy

Red Headed Stranger

Willie Nelson

4/5

Just Willie, a guitar, a piano and drums making the best country concept album there's ever been.

Hard Again

Muddy Waters

3/5

I'm not big in the Blues, but I enjoyed it.

Sincere

Mj Cole

3/5

House music isn't really my bag, but this was decent. I especially liked the songs featuring soul singers. Favorite song: Free My Mind (featuring Guy S'Mone)

Madman Across The Water

Elton John

3/5

TIL Elton tried prog. Tiny Dancer carries this album. Levon is also good. But the whole album is obscenely over-produced. Indian Sunset is likely the worst song that Bernie Taupin ever wrote, though.

The Madcap Laughs

Syd Barrett

2/5

I've really never delved into Syd-era Floyd, so this was new to me. It was interesting. Favorite song: Octopus

Happy Trails

Quicksilver Messenger Service

3/5

My taste in 60s music came mostly from my mother's record collection (Beatles/Doors), plus surf music from being born and raised in Surf City, USA. I never managed to get into the San Francisco scene of that era... I saw the Grateful Dead for the experience rather than their music. As a result, very little music of that area during that era has really resonated with me. This was the first time I recall ever listening to this band. It's alright, but nothing I feel I need to pursue anytime in the future.

The Score

Fugees

5/5

A certified classic. Everything about the Fugees has been classic, but fleeting. The band only recorded two albums, and both are can't miss.

Electric Ladyland

Jimi Hendrix

4/5

C'mon. It's Hendrix.

Beauty And The Beat

The Go-Go's

5/5

This album is historic. The only album featuring an all-female group who both wrote and played their own instruments to reach #1 on the charts. It's amazing. Favorite song: Fading Fast

The Low End Theory

A Tribe Called Quest

4/5

RIP Phife Dog. I know that they're in the Hall of Fame, but ATCQ is still massively underrated. The number of MCs and groups inspired by them is mind boggling This album also features my absolute favorite track of theirs. Favorite song will always and forever be Scenario.

Coat Of Many Colors

Dolly Parton

4/5

Dolly Parton is a living saint. This album has not only songs, but stories as well. It's phenomenal Favorite song: Traveling Man

Imperial Bedroom

Elvis Costello & The Attractions

2/5

While I've enjoyed some of Elvis Costello's work, this album does nothing for me.

Low

David Bowie

4/5

It took me a while to properly enjoy this album, now it's one of my favorites of Bowie's.

The College Dropout

Kanye West

1/5

If you separate the art from the artist, this is an amazing hip-hop album, and it isn't even his best work. The problem is that Ye's antics over the past 15 years hang over his actual art.

Bayou Country

Creedence Clearwater Revival

3/5

A bit repetitive for my taste, but a couple real legendary tracks. Favorite song: Proud Mary.

Revolver

Beatles

5/5

It's the best Beatles album.

Fleet Foxes

3/5

A lot of it is a bit too twee for my tastes. Of other bands in this genre, I prefer the Decemberists. "Your Protector" is the peak of the album for me.

Bandwagonesque

Teenage Fanclub

2/5

I like power pop music, and I've tried this album multiple times, but it's never managed to grab me.

Dear Science

TV On The Radio

4/5

I had honestly forgotten how good this album is. It's hard to nail down, but it's really good. Favorite song: Shout Me Out

Sweet Baby James

James Taylor

4/5

James Taylor's parody blues songs on this album are better than any attempts that Led Zeppelin made in the genre. Overall, an enjoyable album.

Brothers

The Black Keys

4/5

A Night At The Opera

Queen

5/5

One of my favorite albums of all time. Queen at its most extravagant. Favorite song: "The Prophet's Song"

Transformer

Lou Reed

4/5

I really enjoyed Reed's glam phase in the early 70s. Mick Ronson & David Bowie put this record together well.

Darklands

The Jesus And Mary Chain

2/5

Ten

Pearl Jam

5/5

I exhausted at least a cassette and a CD playing this album when it came out. Pearl Jam always resonated with me more than the other "grunge" acts. 5 stars. no skips. Favorite song: Black.

The La's

2/5

"There She Goes" is well-known, of course. The rest of the album is merely ok jangle-pop. Best song that isn't "There She Goes": "Looking Glass"

The Predator

Ice Cube

4/5

In my opinion, Cube's best album. Definitely the one with the best singles. Favorite song: The Wicked

Natty Dread

Bob Marley & The Wailers

4/5

It's Marley. Of course it's great. It also features my favorite Marley song, "No Woman No Cry"

The Doors

4/5