1001 Albums Summary

Of course, this album is not new to me. Nonetheless, it is a masterpiece, filled with classic tracks. But the Abbey Road Medley is the icing on top. 5/5

Solid soul album, but bettered by others from the same year

First half is far superior to the second half

Quite literally does what it says on the tin

Gloria and Land are the standouts but others fall flat

Solid, but there’s better Steely Dan albums

I probably shouldn’t like this as much as I did. Oozing with charisma, a tribal chanting hit

Not much to say. Probably a top 10 album of all time. The first 5 songs are nearly flawless.

Solid if not revolutionary

Not for me at all. It was a slog to get through

Cosy, and classy

This surprised me. It’s slap bang in the middle of a 3 and a 4, but alas, there are no half stars here.

Just cool, Prowler is an awesome song

This album didn’t click for me the first time I listened. Today it seemed way better than I remembered. The second half especially is full of good songs. I’m not a rap fan as such, but I thoroughly appreciate the production in particular of this album

Glory box is a perfect song, but the rest don’t really come close bar roads

I think this album gets longer everytime I listen to it. It has some of the best Beatles songs (while my guitar gently weeps) alongside some of the worst (revolution 9)

Not much here beyond the two songs I already know. Quite forgettable

Appreciate that it’s one of many acclaimed albums by The Cure, but there wasn’t much here that blew me away. Probably because I know Disintegration exists

This is actually a brilliant album. Like Blondie crossed with The Cars. It’s a damn shame pop music doesn’t sound like this these days

Sure, it’s not The Beach Boys. But this is a lovely little album, and one I’ll probably give more time to in the future

Another album that doesn’t do much beyond the song everyone knows. But Run Charlie Run is a wild, wild song, that somehow isn’t even marked as explicit on Spotify

Started the week on a double album, and ended it on a double album. I’ve never been a massive smashing pumpkins fan, although 1979 has increasingly been on my rotation recently. There’s some hidden gems in here too, namely Thru The Eyes of Ruby. But again, and as with almost all double albums, there’s a bit too much that’s forgettable

Suppose this is a concept album of sorts. The production is surprisingly clean, not bad at all

An album in an unfamiliar language will always be one I struggle to attach to. Musically, it’s actually pretty solid. But it’s just spoken word French, from a guy who sounds like a creep. Then I found out Melody is supposedly 14 in this, while the narrator is 20 years older. Yeah, not for me.

Sure, people can say it’s overrated. I don’t care, it’s a masterpiece. I’ve listened to it countless times. It shaped my music taste, it evokes memories of listening with my dad as a kid. The Chain brings back watching F1 with him at the weekend. Never Going Back Again is one of the greatest guitar riffs of all time. Gold Dust Woman is an exceptional album closer. Just imagine if Silver Springs had made the cut ahead of Oh Daddy…

Another solid Pumpkins album, probably helped by being picked so close to Mellon Collie. This just edges that as an album

Paul Simon is actually a very good guitar player. This is decent, but knowing Bridge Over Troubled Water had already come out by this point, it’s not his best work

God knows how many times I’ve listened to this album, and now it takes me back to summer 2025. It can only be a 5/5 for me

Yeahhhhhh, boyyyyyeeeeee

Imagine if every artist just did covers of one another, music would be pretty boring

Sure, there are some lovely songs in here. There’s plenty of rubbish songs too. It’s just too long, I will never complain about a double album again

Another album I grew up on. So there’s a lot of sentimental value to this rating but the opening run of American idiot, Jesus of suburbia, holiday and boulevard of broken dreams is a near perfect run of music.

I’m not the clientele for this album, but if I was, I would love this.

Plenty of songs here that are commercially successful makes it an album I’m actually quite familiar with

Listening to Randy Newman feels like it should be accompanied by a montage of Buzz and Woody, which makes it feel very innocent and comforting. Even though at the heart of it this is an album about racism and the Deep South, which isn’t very innocent at all

Funky, but it gets repetitive and isn’t helped by 3x 10 minute tracks back to back.

It’s solid enough, but musically it falls so short of anything Smiths related.

Can’t lie, after hearing the masterpiece that is ‘Underground’ I spent the majority of the album distracted by the animated masterpiece ‘Robots’ and the scene that features that song.

A rap album accessible enough that someone who doesn’t really click with rap can still click with this. I consider it made by a different person to the Kanye that exists today

Another album that shaped my youth. I know it back to front and it is a solid album, but I’m not sure that even with nostalgia I can give it more than a 4

I just don’t get Björk, and whoever the other bloke is drops this even further. The kind of album that I was happy to have ended.

Maggie May is fantastic and I suspect on listening to this album more I’d like it more, but I can only think of my Nan and her obsession with Rod

A double album that I prefer the second half on. Not an easy artist to listen to though, you have to be giving the songs your full attention to enjoy them.

For some reason I really struggle with New Order, and this is no different

This is quirky, I feel like XTC are a highly underrated band particularly in the streaming age

There’s some absolute belters on here, and the harpsichord goes hard

Starts off strong but quickly becomes the same song on repeat. Not bad, just not much I’d consider listening to again

The title track, which is one of the best songs of the 80’s, is levels above anything else on this album

Second best Beach Boys album. Enjoyed it a lot

The album cover is more iconic than the songs it contains. Although March Of The Black Queen is a wonderful surprise and a highly underrated Queen song

This is a really cool album, very moody. Unfortunately I listened to it in outside in the sun, which is the completely wrong way of listening to it.

Solid enough debut but that Iron Man cover is a horrendous piece of music.

I remember the first time I listened to this album, I wasn’t massively impacted by it. I think because I knew it was held in the same regard as Ziggy Stardust, or Rumours, or Abbey Road, albums I know front to back, I expected to hear it once and immediately know all the songs. But this isn’t an album for the songs individually, it’s an album that should be played front to back, with no interruptions. Listening to it as a singular piece uncovers the masterpiece that it is. Funky, heartfelt, and as terribly relevant today as it was 55 years ago…

It’s a shame that the rest of the album isn’t on the level of sultans of swing, but I suppose that is an impossible request given how elite that song is

Weird, wacky, but doesn’t quite click with me. Possibly the best band name of all time though

Only listened to the original track listing which brought this down to 35 mins. I’m not a fan of live albums, you cannot replicate being there in person. But The Who sound very good in this, and makes me wish I was alive to see that period of live music

When I was 12, I wasn’t dancing. I was watching a T. Rex tribute with my dad. I think it was especially formative in my love of live music. So for that, I can only thank Marc Bolan.

Jailbait is controversial, but overall it’s a solid and bad ass album. Lemmy rocks

The first proper surprise of this list. I didn’t know what to expect with this album but it’s a collection of beautiful songs, I thoroughly enjoyed it

Shame it’s so short, there’s a couple of cheesy songs on here, but plenty of excellent ones too

Seemingly influential, but I couldn’t connect with it

I don’t get Bjork, and I’m not going to pretend I do. I just don’t like this

Cosy, easy listening

This album will forever make me think of my mum doing the cleaning, going on and on about her love of Simon Le Bon. But as such, this album is familiar, it makes me happy, and although I may have tried desperately to convince her that it was rubbish, maybe she was onto something after all.

Music for a museum

The big songs on here are a way above some of the lesser known ones, but there’s plenty of big songs on here, so it’s class

The first three songs are generational, but it really runs out of steam by the end

Absolutely terrible, no redeeming qualities

Actually not as bad as I thought, but not something I’d ever listen to again

The definition of solid

Of course there’s some legendary songs on here, but this album is let down by the track listing. The flow really lets it down

It’s a travesty there’s no 0/5 option. The single worst album I’ve ever heard, with the exception of the 1 second masterpiece ‘You Suffer’ which ironically made me suffer the least out of any song on the album

Didn’t click at first that this is half a Steely Dan album. Enjoyed it a lot, grooooovvyyy

Janis Joplin is one of the most unique vocalists of all time. Taken far too soon, but she gave us ‘Move Over’ before she left, which is a very underrated song

Convinced this is secretly Elvis Costello. Vocals are uncanny

Dragged on for too long

Awesome album that gets better the further you go into it. Not sure there’s a single bad song on here, and a pretty accessible rap album too

I’m surprised I’ve never listened to this before, but I’ve always known it as Simon’s best solo work. Found myself disappointed that it had ended, which is pretty high praise

More a compilation I suppose. Not quite my genre but I can appreciate the songs on here. Funky

4 songs in an album means each song is a few minutes too long

Right on the cusp of a 5 this, the opening track is simply a masterpiece, and there’s some real gems hidden inside too

The cover is trippy, the music inside matches

Actually don’t think Phil is a particularly good singer. No denying its influence though

Did not expect to like this anywhere near as much as I did. But with each passing song I found it more and more enjoyable, and by the end considered it a masterpiece. There’s no single stand out song on here, but something just clicked for me while listening to it

Them bones, some track. Badass album

Just a very happy album, impossible to not put a smile on your face

Decent, can’t say I’d go back to it

Lowkey think this is even better than Thriller. Unreal album

Nothing noteworthy here

It’s giving Supertramp

Supposed to be based on a fictional movie. Not sure what Letterboxd review I’d give that movie but it would probably match.

Very long, but very good

Sad songs, lots of sad songs

A Btec Joy Division

Sure, it’s samey, but the big band songs are a soft spot for me

Pretty pretentious, feels like this album thinks it’s better than it is

A bit front loaded, but a brilliant and influential album

A couple of masterpieces in between a few misses. Not the best Stones album but certainly not the worst

I just listened to this and already I’ve forgotten what it sounds like

Not sure who these guys are, not really my kind of music but not the worst

Fantastic surprise this

The Little Wing riff may be my favourite guitar riff of all time

Solid

Just good music

First half of the album is top class. Second half drops off considerably

Not sure what genre this is meant to be. Wacky

A few songs are a few minutes too long, but I enjoyed this. The sum of its parts makes a very good album

Again, from a purely musical perspective, this is an excellent album

Came out in between two of the greatest albums of all time. Not quite as good, but it’s still well worth a listen, and it’s a travesty it isn’t streamed more

Almost an album or poetry as much as it is music. Compelling to listen to

Plenty of classics on here, and the deeper cuts are also great

Tails off at the end, but a classic album all in all

Enjoyable

Excellent album, a really solid level across the album. Would listen to it again

A bit samey but a cool listen

Title track is excellent but found it to be a bit forgettable other than that. The light my fire cover doesn’t come close to original

Donkey Kong’s Jamboree minigame in album form

A tale of two halves. First half is excellent, the title track especially. But the second half falls into this disjointed collection of instrumentals

The organ had no need to go this hard

Decent but not as good as Wu-Tang

A few hidden gems in here, big fan of Jack White so I hope some Stripes show up later on in this list

Easily the best Elvis album, so long as you include Suspicious Minds in the tracklist

I find myself constantly turning up N.I.B. whenever it comes on. What a debut, game changing

Short and sweet. Certainly not the best of the Beatles but revolutionary in 1964

She’s some lyricist

Surprisingly enjoyable

Deserving of its legacy

Wow, this is a breath of fresh air. Phenomenal album

Swore I saw an eagle fly over me in Romsey while listening to this

So many interludes even if most are a few seconds

Bonus point for being grandads favourite artist

Thoroughly enjoyable

Quite possibly my favourite album of all time. The highs are unbelievable, the lows are non-existent, and then just when you think it’s done, on comes Rock ‘n’ roll suicide…

Lowkey went hard

Pretty stereotypical mid 60s album

Influential but there are plenty of superior albums

Depressing af

As funky as can be

Felt like the kind of songs you’d see a band come up with for their GCSE group compositions

Certainly far from the best Radiohead album

A slightly worse version of 3 Feet High, still enjoyable though

Absolutely hated that cover of Help

Not as good as the Wall, but it came first. And Tommy sure does play a mean pinball

No real standouts on here, very middle of the road

The first time I listened to Pet Sounds I only gave it a 3. Then Brian Wilson died, and I realised that it is truly one of the most important albums of all time. God Only Knows is one of the greatest songs of all time, and listening to this directly after a naff Elvis album really highlights how stupidly ahead of its time it is

People hate on Coldplay too much. So many brilliant songs on here, and the closer Amsterdam is highly underrated

Pretty good

Very front loaded. Found myself losing interest come the end

A bit too long

Just phenomenal from start to finish

Rather enjoyable for a metal album

Very cool and groovy, but let down by Mother’s Lament

Some of these songs are stupidly too long. Lost my interest long before the end of the album

A really fresh pop album, big surprise

He really is a cool guy

Another pretty solid metal album to back up Ministry last week

This and Birth of the Cool are basically the same album. But it’s a good album

Falls short in the middle just a little bit too much to be a 5

Quirky but not brilliant

First time I heard this I immediately added it to my vinyl collection. It oozes cool, and literally ends on one of the best songs of all time

Didn’t realise quite how many 10’s are on this. Better than Abbey Road

Far inferior to moon safari

Remains a bizarre album in my eyes, so many genres it doesn’t know what to be, which means it somehow works and doesn’t work at the same time

Was not expecting a cover of One Vision. Probably wouldn’t recommend their cover of One Vision

Gets better with every listen

Wild how vastly different this is to Raw Power. Both excellent surprises

Back when U2 were good

Doesn’t quite click with me, but still some highlights

Given it came out the same year as revolver, it’s no revolver

Side A is a near perfect collection of songs. Side B is certainly weaker, but this is a damn good album

The best 3 chords, played for 40 minutes. Simple, but it’s so effective

Reminiscent of a GCSE composition. Appreciate the ingenuity of it at the time but both songs had me repeatedly checking to see how long was left

The opening 10 seconds of the opening track is just perfection. The rest that follows isn’t bad either

Easily the most accessible jazz album of all time. One of the best too. You don’t have to be a music nerd to enjoy this. And even after three instrumental albums on the bounce, I thoroughly enjoyed this.

Glam rock in its finest form, but if this is as good as glam rock gets, then it’s hardly an elite genre.

The kind of album that I know is influential, but just feels like a slog to get through

I love this album, but I hate that my vinyl skips during Ole Man Trouble

Feel like I would have enjoyed a Muddy Waters show. Surprisingly excellent sound quality.

A very apt album for 4th July. Some real hidden gems on here, and as a pretty big Foos fan I don’t give it nearly enough attention

The Mother We Share takes me straight back to Forza Horizon 2, and I’m sure there’s a FIFA song on here too. But beyond those, the tracks offer little variation

Too many incredible songs on here to even list. But shout out to Fire, it’s a little forgotten next to some of the other big hitters on here, but it’s just as good

Another live album. Captures the band. Likely won’t listen to it again.

A strange band, that are highly regarded from the sounds of it. But not for me

I went to Memphis a few years ago and B.B. King had made his mark on every street around. After listening to this, I can understand why.

Never heard of this album or this band, but enjoyed what I heard

Wonderfully chill, but I was far too busy at work to properly enjoy it

God bless America

Wild to see this is a Nick Cave band. Not the worst album of the list, but not far from the bottom

The opening track is pure bliss. Excellent discovery

Legendary title track, but I can think of a couple of better solo Beatles albums

Short and sweet, but their debut is better

Forgetful

Cult of Personality is just so good, long live guitar hero

This album is growing on me. It’s no Back to Black but I’m enjoying it more with every listen

Starts strong but lost me by the second half

Yeah, this is cool

How do you make a song as good as Paint It Black, and then lump it with a collection of completely forgettable songs?

A wonderful voice, and a wonderful album. Great end to the day

The hits are a level above, but overall a very solid album

Didn’t dislike this, just didn’t really like it either

I feel like this somehow sounds even better now that she is

Much preferred to Vulcinara, but still a long way from loving Bjork

Surprisingly groovy, but little development throughout the album

This blew me away, the first part alone is one of the most beautiful pieces of music I’ve ever heard. And somehow despite being 26 minutes, I wanted it to continue for longer. Then I read into the lore behind this album, how it’s played on the wrong piano, on no sleep, and very nearly wasn’t made at all. Improvised from start to finish, and as such feels impossible to ever recreate. Sensational.

Thin Lizzy are just class man

Given this is pre Beatles, it’s a pretty good album

A truly unique album. Can’t say I can name anything that reminds me of it. But it scratches an itch somewhere in my brain