1001 Albums Summary

I've always liked Nick Cave, but I've never listened in depth. I love that he seems to subvert simple impressions... his voice is deep and melancholy, and his lyrics are often melancholy and disturbing. But, in contrast, the melodies and arrangements are often catchy and upbeat; I frequently found myself nodding my head along to this album. You have to make the effort to pay attention to all the details to see the full dark beauty of his music, and that resonates with me - as does the gothiness. That said, I did feel like heavy use of the gospel choir on the first half was a bit overkill - it was a bit too on-the-nose. I got a little sick of it after a while. Heard before? Not this album, but I have heard other Nick Cave songs. Will I listen again? Likely, especially the second half. Does it inspire me to listen to more of this artist? Definitely. Notable songs: Breathless. A sweet, surprising forest fairy tale song of love. Check out the video for some additional lighthearted WTFuckery.

I haven't intentionally listened to a lot of funk, but it's a genre that I enjoy when it comes round. And I really loved the first three songs on this album. But then I hit P.E. Squad, and I have to admit that it wasn't for me - too chaotic and disjointed. The rest of the album was good but was a tad jam-band-y for my taste. - Heard before? No. - Will I listen again? I'll probably add the first three songs to a playlist, but I won't listen to it in entirety again. - Does it inspire me to listen to more of this artist? Maybe not Funkadelic/Parliament/George Clinton specifically, but I wouldn't mind exploring the funk genre more.

A blues classic. I loved hearing the crowd cheering in the background. - Heard before? I already knew a few of the songs, but have never heard the entire album. - Will I listen again? Likely. - Does it inspire me to listen to more of this artist? Maybe, but it definitely inspires me to explore other blues artists and sub-genres.

I've really been enjoying reggae this year as I've needed an upbeat, grooveable, but still rebellious and anti-establishment alternative to angry, angsty punk. This album was a little smoother, a little more chill than I was expecting, but it was a great listen that had me nodding and swaying along. - Heard before? No - Will I listen again? Definitely - Does it inspire me to listen to more of this artist? Yes

I've always meant to listen to this album, but never got around to it. Joni Mitchell is so iconic - raw, honest, passionate. Not something for everyday listening, but she hits an emotional chord like very few others artists do. - Heard before? Some individual songs, but not in its entirety. - Will I listen again? Yes. - Does it inspire me to listen to more of this artist? Yes. Notable songs: A Case of You. It will stick with you.

Meh. Very 2000s shout-sing rock with a thumping beat. A couple of good songs but overall just not for me. - Heard before? A song or two. - Will I listen again? No. - Does it inspire me to listen to more of this artist? No. Notable songs: Take Me Out, Dark of the Matinee, 40 Degrees

I don't think I've ever actually listened to any of Brian Eno's solo work before, even though he's influenced and partnered with other artists that I really like. Sadly, I thought this album was just ok - a few good songs, some just fine songs, and a few really grating ones. - Heard before? Nope. - Will I listen again? Definitely not in it's entirety. - Does it inspire me to listen to more of this artist? Given that he's such a legend, I'll probably try one more album (although not at random - I'll do some research first). Notable songs: Needles in the Camel's Eye, On Some Faraway Beach.

Ah, the Prodigy - the techno music of my youth. I have an album or two of theirs, but not this one, although I did recognize a few songs. Overall, this one was kinda meh for me - not as energetic or hooky as I remember some of their other music being. - Heard before? Not in its entirety. - Will I listen again? Not this album. - Does it inspire me to listen to more of this artist? Not really, except to remind me to revisit some music I already have.

Another artist that I've always liked but have never actually intentionally listened to entire album. And for Hounds of Love, that is entirely my loss. Most of the Kate Bush songs I know well are dramatic and theatrical, but the more subtle and subdued tracks on this album surprised and touched me - with out any loss of passion or dark beauty. - Heard before? Not in its entirety. - Will I listen again? Absolutely. I regret not having this in my life earlier. - Does it inspire me to listen to more of this artist? Definitely.

I enjoy soundtracks (and I don't care that there isn't actually a move), but this album just wasn't very interesting on its own. I appreciate that not all movies need - or would benefit from - a John-Williams level, full-sized orchestral epic. But if you're going to put it on a stand-alone album (especially one that doesn't actually have a real movie to add an extra layer of context), then it needs to be more than this was. It just felt plain to me. I fully acknowledge and appreciate that are going to be albums from artists I don't enjoy that deserve to be on this list, but I do not understand the inclusion of this one. - Heard before? No. - Will I listen again? No. - Does it inspire me to listen to more of this artist? Not at all.

I've heard of the Boo Radleys before but never really listened to them intentionally before. This album was just fine - nicely listenable and representative of early 1990s. But it didn't really do anything special for me, at least not listening decades later. - Heard before? No. - Will I listen again? No. - Does it inspire me to listen to more of this artist? Sadly, no.

I'll admit, I haven't listened to a lot of hip-hop even though I like it when I hear it - and I really enjoyed this album. Great rhythm, great lyrics, lots of great underlying music and diversity to keep me interested. This is why I'm loving this project - it's exposing me to albums and artists that I wish I'd listened to earlier! - Heard before? No. - Will I listen again? Very likely. - Does it inspire me to listen to more of this artist? Definitely. The autoplay followed this album with a group called Lyrics Born that I'm also enjoying!

If you like the Verve, you'll love this album - it's exactly how you know they'll sound. It was fine, but a bit repetitive and long-winded for me. - Heard before? No. - Will I listen again? No. - Does it inspire me to listen to more of this artist? No.

In a hilarious coincidence, when I first started listening to this album, I was sure Brel was the same performer from the basement club in the old Jimmy Stuart/Kim Novak movie "Bell, Book, and Candle" which is one of my (and my mom's) favorite movies. It actually wasn't Brel, but it was one of his contemporaries, Philippe Clay, who actually opened for Brel at one point. But that association, and the overall mood and Brel's amazing voice, made this a very enjoyable album for me. I also spent a little time reflecting about how to evaluate music sung in a language you can't (or in my care, barely) understand. You can't use the lyrics to inform or augment your connection with the songs, you have to rely just on the singer's voice and the instrumentation (which was pretty sparse here). Fortunately, Brel is a vocal master, and his voice and delivery provides plenty of emotion and interest. - Heard before? No. - Will I listen again? Definitely. - Does it inspire me to listen to more of this artist? Yes. And Philippe Clay.

You couldn't be alive in the late '80s without watching the rise of rap and hearing N.W.A. The first couple of songs were great and engaging - maybe because I already knew them - but the album tapered off for me. I like rap, but I like artists that bring more to their songs than just catchy lyrics. Even the rhythm patterns got a little repetitive. I appreciate the role this group and album played in music history, and I'm glad I heard it, but I won't be listening again. - Heard before? Not in its entirety, but I knew a number of songs well. - Will I listen again? No. - Does it inspire me to listen to more of this artist? No.

It's been a long time since I've listened to the Eagles, and I'd forgotten how good they were - or how serious their lyrics were. I didn't know this was a concept album, and it hits a little differently now as we reflect on the idea of America. - Heard before? Yes, but it's been a long time since I heard the entire album. - Will I listen again? Yes. - Does it inspire me to listen to more of this artist? Yes.

After owning their earlier album, Yerself is Steam, I was not prepared for this version of Mercury Rev. From noisy chaos to serene and symphonic (and an occasional likeness to Neil Young's voice)? Once I got over the shock of my expectation, I liked it. And I guess I need to listen to more to see what else they morphed into. - Heard before? No - Will I listen again? Maybe? - Does it inspire me to listen to more of this artist? Yes.

I have to admit, Bob Dylan is not my favourite. Great songwriter and especially lyricist, but his voice, especially in his later years - like nails on a chalkboard for me. But fortunately his singing style wasn't so affected yet on this album, and I was able to enjoy it. I've also been leaning towards angst-free rebellious music lately, so I've been appreciating folk singers of the 60s a lot. - Heard before? Not in its entirety, but I was familiar with many songs. - Will I listen again? If I'm ever craving Bob Dylan, this would be the album I'd choose. - Does it inspire me to listen to more of this artist? Maybe not Dylan specifically, but his contemporaries.

I'd never heard of the Silver Jews before, and I came with no expectations. While I really liked the underlying low-fi country melodies and instrumentation, I couldn't get past the part spoken word, part half-assed and off-key vocal stylings of David Berman (and even Cassie Berman). It drove me crazy. I'm really torn on my rating because I would totally listen to this again if it had a different singer, but I just... can't. - Heard before? I hadn't even heard of the band. - Will I listen again? No. - Does it inspire me to listen to more of this artist? So much no. Notable songs: Horseleg Swastikas, because as a water scientist, I love the sentiment that "water doesn't give a damn."

This album is... fine. I liked U2 a lot more when they weren't so polished and produced. - Heard before? Only a song or two - Will I listen again? No. - Does it inspire me to listen to more of this artist? No. It make me a bit reminiscent for early U2.

Even though it's been impossible to escape Kanye West's celebrity, I'll admit I've never actually listened to his music. This was surprisingly interesting and varied, although there were some songs and lots of lyrics that I could have done without. - Heard before? No - Will I listen again? Probably not. - Does it inspire me to listen to more of this artist? No, but I did enjoy the auto-play of hip hop and rap that followed this album.

I listened to this album while working, and by the end, I realized I hadn't really paid attention, so I played it again. And I still didn't pay attention; nothing really stood out as awesome or terrible. - Heard before? No - Will I listen again? Given the trouble I had listening the first or second time, probably not. - Does it inspire me to listen to more of this artist? This is tough, because I actually own their first album and liked it, although I haven't listened in years. So, maybe?

I'm going to be a little biased here as R.E.M. is one of my all-time favorite bands and I bought this when it first came out. After Out of Time, this album turned a little more somber, a little more introspective while still keeping the core R.E.M. sound - and I love that. A great album among a big catalog of great albums, at least in my book. (Just skip past "Everybody Hurts".) - Heard before? So many times. - Will I listen again? You couldn't stop me. - Does it inspire me to listen to more of this artist? Yep, I've got another R.E.M. album playing right now. Notable songs: Nightswimming, Try Not To Breathe, Sweetness Follows, and The Sidewinder Sleeps Tonight (I smile every time I hear Michael Stipe's little laugh after the Dr. Seuss line).

CCR - such a classic, and there are so many iconic songs on this album. It takes me back to my Kansas roots. - Heard before? Not in its entirety, but I'm familiar with at least half of the songs. - Will I listen again? Whenever I get the hankering for CCR. - Does it inspire me to listen to more of this artist? Maybe, although it'd be hard to get better than this album.

I know this album was super-popular, but it's just not for me. It's very early-2000s R&B diva-y, and while that's fun for a while (I'll admit - I like the "Survivor" anthem), the lack of depth and variety get a little old. I'm mean, you've got three great singers - why not let them mix it up a bit? It feels very produced, like the focus was popularity and sales and not making good and interesting music. - Heard before? A few songs. - Will I listen again? No. - Does it inspire me to listen to more of this artist? No.

A lovely album. A wide variety of samples and moods, but still works together as a whole. - Heard before? No. - Will I listen again? Yes. - Does it inspire me to listen to more of this artist? Yes!

An enjoyable album with a few notable songs, although not as remarkable as I was expecting. - Heard before? A few songs, but not in its entirety. - Will I listen again? Probably not. - Does it inspire me to listen to more of this artist? Probably not.

A really enjoyable R&B album. Hill can SING, but the backing vocals, accompaniment, and samples added a lot. The mix of songs was diverse and interesting yet still felt like a cohesive album. It definitely felt like a passion project and not a commercial grab. - Heard before? A few songs, but not in its entirety. - Will I listen again? Maybe. I don't normally crave R&B, but if I did, this would be one I'd reach for. - Does it inspire me to listen to more of this artist? Potentially.

The 80s called and Michael Bolton wants his saxophone back. Seriously, though... this album has not held up well over time. It's everything that you remember the 80s to be, without the charming nostalgia. - Heard before? Only "Apron Strings" - Will I listen again? Not a chance. - Does it inspire me to listen to more of this artist? I hear they turned into something very different as their career progressed, so I guess that's positive, but it's still going to take a lot to scrub this album from my memory.

I hadn't heard their debut album in full before, but I thoroughly enjoyed it. I've always liked Dire Straits: engaging tunes and lyrics, low-key yet charismatic, meandering without being too jammy, and a seamless mix of rock/blues/country. - Heard before? A few songs, but not the whole thing. - Will I listen again? Definitely. - Does it inspire me to listen to more of this artist? Absolutely. Notable songs: Down to the waterline and, of course, Sultans of Swing.

This album is... fine. It's exactly what you'd expect from a Coldplay album. I remember moderately liking this album when it first came out, and I'd forgotten I cut a snippet of "Clocks" to be my cell phone alarm clock sound (because it does really sound like a clock chiming!). However, many years later, it's just not that interesting to me. But at least it isn't the album with the inescapable "Yellow" on it. - Heard before? Yes, but I didn't really remember it. - Will I listen again? Nope. - Does it inspire me to listen to more of this artist? No - because I feel like once you've heard one Coldplay album, you've heard them all.

- Heard before? Yes, but it's been a while. - Will I listen again? I'd probably seek out Hotel California first if I was craving the Eagles, but I would enjoy coming across this album again. - Does it inspire me to listen to more of this artist? Yes.

Walker is a contemporary of Brel (and actually covered some of his songs on this album) and similar in style, although a little less dramatic and way less... French. I liked some songs, but it wasn't as transportive as Brel's album. Maybe it's actually being able to understand the lyrics, maybe Walker's voice isn't quite as expressive and dynamic, or maybe it's just not as interesting. - Heard before? No. I'd actually never heard of Scott Walker the musician - Will I listen again? No. - Does it inspire me to listen to more of this artist? No. Notable songs: Black Sheep Boy, only because it made me realize that this wasn't an Okkervil River song. (It's not Walker's either.)

Another album that, listening today, is just... fine. I remember when it came out and appreciate that it was a seminal step in bringing electronic music into the mainstream. And I spent a decent amount of time in dance clubs in the late 90s enjoying Moby's techno and still love to trance out on occasion. But listening now, this album is repetitive and overlong, and not in a great way. It just hasn't aged well.

I know this album so well, I don't need to listen to it again because I already know how to rate it. But I did, because why would you turn down an opportunity to hear it again? Not only is this a great album, but it's a core part of our cultural zeitgeist. It's accompanied me on long road trips, I've seen laser light shows set to it, I had a Dark Side t-shirt in high school, and I've even done the vinyl sync with the Wizard of Oz. And it never gets old or sounds outdated. - Heard before? Too many times to count. - Will I listen again? You better believe it. - Does it inspire me to listen to more of this artist? It always reminds me that I don't listen to Pink Floyd often enough.