My first album on this project and so good to start with something out of ny normal listening habits. A wonderful slice of Big Band, Swing, Jazz - not really sure on the correct way to label the genre.
So evocative of sitting in a smokey bar drinking bourbon in the 1950s.
#2/1001 and a Beatles album already.
This is great fun, packed with 2 1/2 minute pop songs. Its obviously part of their evolution but I'm (maybe unfairly) comparing it with their later more experimental records, so its getting 3 stars.
Can't buy me Love and And I Love Her are the stand out tracks for me.
#3/1001
Listened to this loads when it came out but its been a long time since i heard it in full.
Its been a blast hearing it again, in particular through headphones out walking in the snow this morning.
I'm giving it a solid 4, but will i come back to it again any time soon? Probably not.
Best songs Idioteque and National Anthem.
#4/1001
Mixed feelings on this having only heard the title track before. The hip-hop / electro tunes are more interesting for me, but i'm not so keen on the 2 more soulful ones on side two.
Its an important document of the evolution of music in the early 80s and deserves its place on this list, but doesnt feel like something i need to come back to again and again.
#5/1001 Bowie's Soul album. A re-invention coming off the back of his Glam rock phase.
The beauty of this album is mostly in the band and singers assembled. I love that a young Luther Vandross is one of the backing singers.
The breathless title track and Fame are brilliant. Track 2 - Win is a standout for me too, but i'm not so keen on the cover of Across the Universe.
It's not my favourite Bowie album by a long stretch but there is a lot to love about it.
#6/1001
Takes me back to my last day of 6th form, buying a very ltd edition copy of Vow. It was a hideous sounding press in a cool metal sleeve. I collected all the other singles too, in equally cool sleeves but got a bit bored of the album and gave it away to a girl that i fancied.
Relistening, the singles sound great still, Shirley's vocals are superb and the production is on point. So, i guess it maybe just seems a bit false and contrived. Is that because i pinned too much on NME or Melody Maker reviews at the time?
Garbage always reminded me of more poppy version of Curve, who i absolutely loved, although i doubt that we'll see them on this list.
I'm going for a very solid 3 stars here. Enjoyed relistening twice today but not likely to rush back.
Best tracks for me are Milk, Only Happy When It Rains and Stupid Girl.
#7/1001
The first artist that was entirely new to me but i did know quite a few of the tracks from later artists like Nick Cave, Jonny Cash and Nirvana.
At the first track, i thought how am i going to get through this one? I found the brother with the higher end vocals a bit grating. I persevered and found it quite enjoyable, i've often found this with bluegrass records - enjoyable to listen to in the moment but not to go back to again and again.
Its essentially a collection of traditional folk songs from the darker end of things, murder ballads and tragic tales and so the brothers didn't write much of it. The version that i listened to had some extra tracks included Satan Lied To Me which i loved but isn't on the original record.
Its worth reading up on the history of the brothers, especially Ira - a real tortured soul.
Best tracks: In the Pines, Mary of the Wild Moor, Alabama.
#8/1001
In 1994 when this album came out i was concerned more with the American "alternative" music scene and drifting towards electro, house, drum & bass etc. I have to say that the hip-hop thing largely passed me by.
Hearing it now now with a greater appreciation for the genre its easy to see why this wins its plaudits. The production is gritty and raw with some nice melodies and jazz breaks behind the vocals. Lyricaly this is really strong stuff and very much paints a picture of growing up in NY at the time.
I loved it and will be back for another listen.
Best tracks: Halftime, NY State of Mind, The World is Yours.
#9/1001
Released in 1965 this would be one of the earliest "psych" records and you can hear it's influence right through the last 60 years.
It has a raw garage flavour - its great to hear the band wigging out and Roky Erikson, the singer screaming his lungs out - reminds me a bit of Robert Plant.
There a few great tracks on here like You're gonna miss me and Splash 1. I was also familiar with Reverberation - it was covered by Jesus and Mary Chain.
The big but for me however is the bloody annoying vocal sound which appears on most tracks(* Edit wikipedia tells me this is an electric jug.. why did i then go down the rabbit hole of electric jug playing). I guess it was fun holed up in a studio on LSD but it just grates by the 3rd time you hear it.
Influential 5/5
Songs 3/5
Jug 1/5
10#1001
Already on to my second Radiohead album of this project. I saw them touring their first album supporting Kingmaker and also reviewed their first album Pablo Honey for our college magazine - i remember giving it 6/10 and saying that whilst it was a bit of a duffer they might go on and be as big as U2 or The Pixies.
Fast forward and they released this massive album. I listened to it to death at the time, but that has faded over time so it's been great to revisit it - i've gone through it 3 times today.
Its a big fat 4, only because i've made a vow only to give 5s to those albums that blow my minds on a first listen or ones that stand the test of time and continue be my favourites.
Best Tracks: Black Star, Just, High and Dry.
#11/1001
Simply stunning, especially the first and last tracks. I was aware of Shankar before but never listened to him in his own right.
His descriptions prior to each piece seem a little unusual, possibly to be seen as dumbing down or novelty value but i dont mind them.
#12/1001
Doing this project might be the thing that really gets me into the Kinks, but probably not this album. Its well crafted, but the whole concept album thing annoys me a bit and i can never really get into them.
I see this as a snapshot of Britain in the 60s still coming out of the shadow of WWII and the daily personal struggles of normal people living alongside commercial regeneration and pop culture.
Best tracks: Victoria, Mr Churchill Says, Arthur.
1 point deducted for the Kazoo in She's Bought a Hat...
#13/1001
No.13 Baby and i've hit my first 5 star album. This band meant the world to me in my teenage years and whilst Surfer Rosa wasn't the first album that i heard it quickly became my favourite.
It contains perfect pop nuggets in Gigantic and Where is My Mind contrasted the all out assault of the first four tracks. Kim Deal's sacharine vocals are the perfect contrast to the Black Francis' primal scream.
Then there is the production, with Steve Albini overseeing the recording this album has a more raw live sounding feel than any of their other albums. His name crops up so many more times with my favourite artists like PJ Harvey, Nirvana, Low, Wedding Present.
Best tracks: Vamos, Bone Machine, Cactus, Gigantic.
#14/1001
My second 5* rating coming hot off the heels of Surfer Rosa which was of course heavily influenced by the Velvets.
I picked this up as one of those albums you had to own in my teenage years and didn't get it instantly but after a few listens it soon became a big favourite.
I've had a deeper dive into into the VU and Lou Reed back catalogue in recent years but this album will always stand out.
The inclusion of Nico on the record and her ice cold delivery is masterful whilst Lou Reed's lyrics wonderfuly describe the NYC's underbelly.
Best tracks: Waiting For The Man, Heroin, Femme Fatale
#15/1001
Sorry, its just not for me. The experimental psychadelic stuff just grates on me. I've comitted to no skipping and listening to every note of these albums but under normal circumstances i would have ditched it by track 3. In fact i wouldn't even play it due to its silly title.
Best track: Life Has Just Begun.
#16/1001
I have this on CD but nothing to play it on. Went to the stream but as others have commented, its not the correct tracklisting.
I loved it at the time and really enjoyed going back to this period. Saw some great DnB DJs in the mid 90s including Bukem, Peshay, Photek and Goldie.
Best track from memory of the original: Demons Theme.
#17/1001
I bought a vinyl copy of this the day i got the 1001 book.
A brave and bold move for Bowie after the more commercial outings, filling the second side with instrumental tracks which is what i love most about it. Bowies Saxophone and Brian Eno's synths build an amazingly atmospheric suite of songs.
This is right up in my top 5 Bowie albums. I dont have a favoirite. Its impossibke to pick.
Best tracks: Warszawa, Subterraneans, Be My Wife.
#18/1001
When this flashed up this morning, i though "here we go... my first 1 star rating."
We listened to the album a lot at house parties in my teenage years but its over 30 years since i've heard it. I pressed play with some trepidation but have to say the first 2 tracks sounded amazing but by the time i reached "all revved up.." i was starting to lose the will tonlive.
Two Out Of Three Ain't Bad isnt a bad song, just on the right side of schmaltzy. Paradise by the Dashboard light is just too much though - i've always detested even more after seeing a couple sing it (heavily rehearsed) at a pub in Ramsbottom.
This is undoubtedly my lowest point in this project so far. I hope it generates some fast dirty Punk Rock for me next.
Best bit... when i realised i had reached the end.
#19/1001
Love this album. Its been a few years since i last heard it. Not an easy listen, its brutal in its simplicity and honesty. Heartbreaking lyrics, delivered with such fragility.
Best tracks: Blue, River, A Case Of You.
#20/1001
Marvelous stuff. I bought this on reputation as a teenager and loved it. His poetry of love and heartbreak made a big impression on me at the time.
It still sounds magnificent now with its simple instrumental backing.
Best tracks: Suzanne, So Long Marianne, Teachers.
