1001 Albums Summary

Extraordinary. Groundbreaking, challenging.

I had this on CD when it was first released. Tried very hard to like it, but it never grabbed me in the same way as Radiohead's earlier albums. Over the years I've listened again a few times, wondering what I've been missing. It's still never clicked with me and, honestly, I can't stand the thought of playing it again today. It's technically very interesting but I can't find any emotional appeal. Thom's singing and lyrics are unrelentingly gloomy, morbid and (dare I say) self-indulgent. Sorry!

I just couldn't enjoy this. I'm sure it was very ground-breaking and influential at the time, but it's not my thing. Superstition is an amazing song but most of the others are too cloyingly sentimental. Musically, there are lots of weird modulations that feel disjointed to me.

I really couldn't enjoy this.

Loved this album when it was first released. I understand the criticisms, it's basically the same song repeated with minor variations.

It's inventive, and it's nice to listen back with hindsight and spot the Afrobeat influences behind this album and those emanating forward from it. 'Once in a Lifetime' is the one standout track to me, extraordinary and stirring. I'd give it a solid 3 stars but Adrian Belew's spellbinding bat-mess-crazy guitar solos take it up to a 5.

This is music for people who don't like music. Just horrible. I made it through two tracks then had to stop.

Peak hippy music. Beautiful harmonies, inventive guitar playing, idealistic sentiment, perfect! Hearing this again, I was surprised by how 'modern' some of the instrumentation was for 1970. A lovely time capsule from another age.

Three great songs but the rest is dull, sentimental filler. The highlight is Eddie Van Halen's absolutely incredible guitar solo on Beat It.

Lost it's lustre over time. The plagiarism and dubious behaviour don't help.

When this was released it changed everything. I remember the first time I heard Smells Like Teen Spirit on the radio, it sounded like nothing before. Listening again over 30 years later it still sounds fresh, original and energetic. I never noticed at the time, but the drumming is incredible. 10/10 a generational record.

The spoken-word passages are powerful and moving. The songs are horribly dull.

Glorious.

At this point they weren't very good.

After 17 albums this is the first I've never heard, and never even heard of! I was absolutely blown away. Inventive, varied, and funky as fuck. I fell in love with this album straight away and will probably play it on repeat for quite a while.

Can't see the appeal.

If I was at the UFO Club in 1967 I might have enjoyed this. Also if I'd taken enough drugs. Listening now, with sound and sober mind, this album achieved the remarkable feat of being simultaneously pretentious, portentously serious, and cringe-makingly whimsical. By the time I reached the last track, Bike, I was actually angry at how stupid it was.

Fabulous, energetic music and expert musicianship. Every track is an upbeat gem that makes you smile and want to dance.

Synthesiser goth-pop.

Eddie Van Halen's guitar technique is amazing. The songs are okay but didn't grab my attention. The Darkness clearly drew inspiration from this album, and for that we should be grateful!

Really enjoyed this.

Great record. More like a piece of 'important art' than something I'd want to play over and over.