My 1001 Albums Journey

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1990

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5-Star Albums

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Albums

You Love More Than Most

Album	You	Global	Diff
Atomizer Big Black	5	2.74	+2.26
White Light / White Heat The Velvet Underground	5	2.88	+2.12
I See A Darkness Bonnie "Prince" Billy	5	2.98	+2.02
Permission to Land The Darkness	5	3.14	+1.86
Screamadelica Primal Scream	5	3.16	+1.84
The Predator Ice Cube	5	3.26	+1.74
Kenya Machito	5	3.27	+1.73
The World is a Ghetto War	5	3.35	+1.65
Africa Brasil Jorge Ben Jor	5	3.37	+1.63
Blue Lines Massive Attack	5	3.39	+1.61

You Love Less Than Most

Album	You	Global	Diff
What's Going On Marvin Gaye	1	3.94	-2.94
With The Beatles Beatles	1	3.65	-2.65
Hotel California Eagles	1	3.59	-2.59
Paul Simon Paul Simon	1	3.5	-2.5
Come Away With Me Norah Jones	1	3.38	-2.38
Rock 'N Soul Solomon Burke	1	3.37	-2.37
Meat Is Murder The Smiths	1	3.34	-2.34
Sweet Baby James James Taylor	1	3.24	-2.24
Thriller Michael Jackson	2	4.23	-2.23
The Piper At The Gates Of Dawn Pink Floyd	1	3.11	-2.11

5-Star Albums (31)

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Popular Reviews

Meat Is Murder

The Smiths · 1 likes

1/5

My heart sank when this album came up. At first I wasn't going to listen to it, but I'm a few albums on now and didn't want to spoil my streak. It's such a shame Jonny Marr started a band with Morrissey and not... literally anybody else. His guitar playing is sublime. The bass playing is pretty awesome too. But Morrissey's singing is just horribly bad. Why did he ever think it was okay to just sing the SAME THREE NOTES, all the time. Rotten.

1-Star Albums (16)

All Ratings

Electric Ladyland

Jimi Hendrix

5/5

Extraordinary. Groundbreaking, challenging.

Hail To the Thief

Radiohead

2/5

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!

Talking Book

Stevie Wonder

2/5

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.

Rock 'N Soul

Solomon Burke

1/5

Low

David Bowie

5/5

What's Going On

Marvin Gaye

1/5

I really couldn't enjoy this.

The Low End Theory

A Tribe Called Quest

5/5

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

Remain In Light

Talking Heads

5/5

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.

Come Away With Me

Norah Jones

1/5

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

Deja Vu

Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young

4/5

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.

Thriller

Michael Jackson

2/5

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

Led Zeppelin II

Led Zeppelin

3/5

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

Nevermind

Nirvana

5/5

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.

A Seat at the Table

Solange

2/5

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

Permission to Land

The Darkness

5/5

Glorious.

With The Beatles

Beatles

1/5

At this point they weren't very good.

Sound of Silver

LCD Soundsystem

4/5

The World is a Ghetto

War

5/5

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.

Paul Simon

1/5

Can't see the appeal.

The Piper At The Gates Of Dawn

Pink Floyd

1/5

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.

Dance Mania

Tito Puente

4/5

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

Violator

Depeche Mode

2/5

Synthesiser goth-pop.

Van Halen

3/5

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!

Femi Kuti

4/5

Really enjoyed this.

Let England Shake

PJ Harvey

4/5

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

After The Gold Rush

Neil Young

5/5

I've always loved this album, it's been a friend and comfort for about 40 years. Wise, sad, beautiful, enigmatic.

I See A Darkness

Bonnie "Prince" Billy

5/5

This was completely new to me, and I was intrigued by the high polarisation of the reviews. They seem to be mainly either 5 stars or 1 so I was prepared to either loathe or love Bonnie Prince Billy. I loved it. Yes the songs have sad themes but the lyrics are complex and beautiful. Glorious, top-quality modern folk music.

Double Nickels On The Dime

Minutemen

3/5

Interesting.

Meat Is Murder

The Smiths

1/5

Lust For Life

Iggy Pop

5/5

This album has a special place in my life and I can't review it objectively.

Sweet Baby James

James Taylor

1/5

I was aware of James Taylor but never listened to one of his albums before. Now I agree with all those 1-star reviewers. I especially liked the one who said (to paraphrase) "this is the kind of music you play to old people to keep them quiet". One-word review: Anodyne.

Atomizer

Big Black

5/5

I had no idea this music existed until this morning. When I read the description I thought "oh, a whole album of shouty punk noise and scary lyrics". But I persevered bravely and played it on the Big Hifi while my partner and I enjoyed a chilled Sunday brunch. Oh yeah, it grabbed me from the start and didn't let up until the end. It seemed to fly by in a few minutes. Not only is there a highly agreeable quotient of shouty punk noise and scary lyrics, but it's well put together and really listen-able. Thank you 1001albumsgen for enhancing my Sunday! Will definitely listen again.

Hotel California

Eagles

1/5

Vapid and uninspiring. This is the music Boomers listened to, that turned them into racist old people. Horrible.

New Gold Dream (81/82/83/84)

Simple Minds

3/5

Okay, but uninspiring, slick 80s pop. My standout track was New Gold Dream which had a bit of a psychedelic vibe going on. The rest was quite forgettable.

Roots

Sepultura

4/5

This was a surprise, and a refreshing change of mood. Very interesting, if incongruous, blend of metal and indigenous music. The singing style is challenging to listen to, but overall a great album.

The Dreaming

Kate Bush

4/5

Odd, in a challenging way.

Songs In The Key Of Life

Stevie Wonder

5/5

People seem to write extremely long reviews about how great this album is, so I feel a little pressured to like it too. It is good, but as a double album it felt like work. I would feel mean giving it less than 5 stars.

Inspiration Information

Shuggie Otis

3/5

Africa Brasil

Jorge Ben Jor

5/5

Amazing.

Disraeli Gears

Cream

5/5

Was prepared to be underwhelmed but actually enjoyed it a lot. 'We're Going Wrong' is an extraordinary song. Listen for the drumming.

Konnichiwa

Skepta

3/5

Way outside my comfort zone, which is a good thing.

Every Picture Tells A Story

Rod Stewart

2/5

I really tried to find some way to appreciate this. It's just a bit shit. Pub rock.

Darklands

The Jesus And Mary Chain

4/5

I've always been aware of The Jesus and Mary Chain through their singles on the radio, and I even saw them live once back in the 80s. But I've never listened to their albums until today. I absolutely loved Darklands. Brooding Scottish Goth-Pop! Perfect. Brothers Jim and William Reid literally invented shoegaze, for which we should be eternally grateful. I enjoyed it so much that I listened to some more of their albums afterwards. 'Honey's Dead' is fantastic. 4 stars for this one, not because it's not great but because I get more out of some of their other albums.

Gorillaz

5/5

I know this album so well, I played it endlessly when it was released. Eclectic, varied, irrepressibly creative, and utterly deranged. Just wonderful.

Roger the Engineer

The Yardbirds

1/5

Terrible.

The Stone Roses

3/5

Very much of its time. The Stone Roses sounded new and fresh, and promised great things to come. Sadly, as with Oasis, it fizzled out.

Kenza

Khaled

1/5

"Great" I thought, "something out of the ordinary, that's what the generator is all about". I was coping with Khaled okay until I got to Imagine. Dreadful cover of a dreadful song.

Tubular Bells

Mike Oldfield

3/5

I loved this album when it was first released, and it's been really interesting to listen again now. Absolutely agree with it's inclusion in the list. Recorded by a 17-year old in his bedroom, released by embryonic Virgin Records, used on the soundtrack of a hit movie, sold millions. The music sounds dated to me now, and some parts are naive and silly (caveman grunting?!) but overall it's unique, inventive and a nice listening experience.

Tracy Chapman

5/5

A classic. Beautiful protest songs. It's just sad to think that things didn't get better after these songs were released in 1988. The poor didn't rise up. Women are not safer in their own homes.

Bayou Country

Creedence Clearwater Revival

5/5

The album where John Doherty really found his way. Completely inauthentic of course, but that doesn't really matter. Great songs delivered with full-on energy.

Blue Lines

Massive Attack

5/5

I love every second of this album. Amazing.

Led Zeppelin IV

Led Zeppelin

4/5

Classic.

Transformer

Lou Reed

5/5

I still listen to this album from time to time, and it always has something to offer.

Kimono My House

Sparks

1/5

My ex-wife liked Sparks. I'm really sorry but this means I can't listen to this with any kind of objectivity. She had bad taste in music. 1 star. Couldn't bear to listen.

G. Love And Special Sauce

G. Love & Special Sauce

2/5

It's a nice enough album, but I'm not sure why it's on this list.

Duck Rock

Malcolm McLaren

1/5

I suppose I can understand why this album was included on the list, it was ground-breaking in the UK at the time. But McLaren's rapping is awful, the mixing is ragged, it's a dumb mess. Worst was the use of African musicians without giving them due credit. That's basically stealing, isn't it?

Grace

Jeff Buckley

5/5

I've always been aware of this album and have listened to it from time to time, knowing how great people seem to think it is. After listening again now with fresh ears... yeah this is a truly great album. Robert Plant, Jimmy Page and the rest of Led Zeppelin might have learned a lot from this album, I heard a LOT of influences back and forth for the first time when hearing this again for the first time now. Yes he's a whiney narcissistic guy. But he has a beautiful voice, and a tight-as-fuck backing band. Radiohead - take it from here!!!

White Blood Cells

The White Stripes

5/5

Please excuse my language.... This album is fucking glorious.

You've Come a Long Way Baby

Fatboy Slim

4/5

Liked this one a lot.

Here's Little Richard

Little Richard

5/5

I tried to imagine what it would have been like to be a teenager in the 1950s and hear this music for the first time. Wow! He's hornier than Robert Plant and I didn't know that could be possible.

Sail Away

Randy Newman

1/5

I tried to be open-minded about this, but really couldn't stand it at all. Not for me. Sorry Randy!

The Renaissance

Q-Tip

3/5

Q-Tip has amazing flow, he's the best. This album is fine, it has some interesting tracks. I can't give it 5 because it doesn't blow my mind. A solid 3 though.

Bummed

Happy Mondays

3/5

It's okay, but not as good as their previous album (Pills, Thrills). Still a great thing to put on LOUD on a Saturday afternoon.

At San Quentin

Johnny Cash

5/5

Incredible.

Stand!

Sly & The Family Stone

5/5

Really one of the best albums ever.

Mermaid Avenue

Billy Bragg

2/5

It seems like an earnest and worthy project. I couldn't get into the combination of American Folk with Billy's very British accent. It didn't work for me, maybe I just wasn't in the mood.

Hearts And Bones

Paul Simon

1/5

Awful, dreadful rubbish. I've had mixed experiences so far but this is the first album I strongly believe shouldn't be on this list. It's so terrible, it shouldn't have been made.

3 Feet High and Rising

De La Soul

5/5

A joy from start to finish.

Live And Dangerous

Thin Lizzy

3/5

Quite good.

Kenya

Machito

5/5

Incredible musicianship and solid tunes. I can imagine being in a nightclub in '50s Havana. The bongo player is a magician!

Natty Dread

Bob Marley & The Wailers

5/5

Beautiful, timeless songs. An all-time classic and a worthy entry in the list.

Gentlemen

The Afghan Whigs

1/5

Unpleasant.

Born To Run

Bruce Springsteen

4/5

Inspiring. Very saxophone-heavy though.

Third

Soft Machine

4/5

After reading some of the reviews I was prepared to really dislike this. So it was a pleasant surprise to find it quite wonderful. It builds. The first track takes a while to get into its stride. By the end I was loving every minute. The musicianship is so skilled, and the composition flows from one idea to the next until it feels like there's a surprise around every corner. Delightful!

Lost In The Dream

The War On Drugs

2/5

Nice to listen to, but rather dull and uninspiring. I can see no reason why this album is on the list.

Screamadelica

Primal Scream

5/5

Groundbreaking, inspirational, and timeless.

Can't Buy A Thrill

Steely Dan

5/5

Another gem I've discovered for the first time. So firstly ... what's not to love about a band who named themselves after a steam-powered dildo in a William S Burroughs novel? Ascerbic and multi-layered songwriting. Terrific musicianship. An unusual collection of chords and key progressions. The most incredible guitar solos I've ever heard. Would highly recommend to the uninitiated!

Colour By Numbers

Culture Club

2/5

Not quite as terrible as I thought it was going to be. Some variety in the songs. Unnecessary saxophone solos on every track. Derivative. Trite lyrics. But Boy George has a lovely voice.

The Good, The Bad & The Queen

2/5

I really like a lot of Blur and Gorillaz output, so was looking forward to listening to this to fill in a gap in my Damon Albarn knowledge. Unfortunately I didn't find much in it to enjoy. In fact about halfway through I was on the verge of ripping my earbuds out to make it stop. The bass playing is very prominent, which gets tedious after a while. All credit to Damon for his prodigious creativity, but this is one record I can do without.

White Light / White Heat

The Velvet Underground

5/5

The inspiration for thousands of bands that came after. Nothing else had ever sounded like this. I played VU endlessly when I was an edgy teenager, and it's great to hear this again now. It's still as exciting, challenging, raw, and frankly batshit crazy. Wonderful.

Let's Get It On

Marvin Gaye

3/5

I'd rather have a nice cup of tea.

Warehouse: Songs And Stories

Hüsker Dü

3/5

Pearl

Janis Joplin

3/5

The wife liked some of it.

The Colour Of Spring

Talk Talk

3/5

Quite nice but not really my cup of tea.

The Predator

Ice Cube

5/5

Amazing. Still sounds fresh and relevant. Total masterpiece.

Low-Life

New Order

3/5

It all sounds very much like Blue Monday.

Led Zeppelin

4/5

Incredible, ground-breaking, energetic. Reduced from 5 to 4 due to Robert Plant singing the word 'baby' so often it's tiresome and corny.

Roxy Music

2/5

Didn't enjoy. Bryan Ferry's heavy vibrato is horrible to listen to. Ahead of it's time? - maybe. A bridge between glam rock and punk? - maybe but yeah whatever.

Microshift

Hookworms

3/5

Quite like Spiritualised in places. Which is nice.