1001 Albums Summary

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

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.

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

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

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

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 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.

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

Holy shit, that was gorgeous.

Nope. Not for me.

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

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

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

Excellent album. Favorite song: "Thousands are Sailing"

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"

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"

A great road album.

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

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

Nothing offensive, but this did nothing for me.

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

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

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

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.

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

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

Noise music just isn't my bag.

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

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.

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

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)

It's ok.

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.

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

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

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

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

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?

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

Amazing then, amazing now.

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"

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

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"

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,

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.

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.

Madonna's best album. Fight me.

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

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

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

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)

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.

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

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.

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

C'mon. It's Hendrix.

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

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.

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

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

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

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.

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

It's the best Beatles album.

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.

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

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

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.

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

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

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.

"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"

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

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

Tapped out by the second song. Just bland post-grunge garbage.

Phenomenal album. One of my favorites of all time. Favorite song: Eternal Life

This album is at its best when there is no singing. The lyrics are incomprehensible, and everybody just plays as fast as possible with no sign of melody. but when the band settles into a groove, there are a couple bright spots. Favorite song: Scum

An excellent album to drive at night or chill out with.

It's Pet Sounds. One of the greatest albums to ever exist.