1001 Albums Summary

‘Don’t Bother Me’ is a cool song and will make the playlist for sure, but I would really only recommend the rest of the album to Beatles enthusiasts. Nothing about this album seems like an essential listen, especially as it is sandwiched between other more significant albums in their discography.

"This is what I imagine the 90s sounded like!" - it was, I remember. 'Ironic' was on endless radio rotation here in the UK, though the song seems largely forgotten these days. This was a fun listen that made me feel like I was in an angsty 90s teen drama (a welcome escape). I'm not really into singer-songwriter types (preferring bands or instrumentals), but I appreciate how earnest Alanis comes across in her lyrics and performances. Many modern pop artists lean on basic, sterile beats and loops, but here the music is quirky and varied, the fuzzy guitars rock when needed, and the production gives everything a warm, organic feel. It should lose a star for failing to cite anything properly ironic in its big single of the same name, but at least that gave us all Ed Byrne's amusing takedown.

It shouldn't work, but it does. This album rocks. One of the most appropriately titled records, it captures the vibe of a band performing live and ready to explode in the first half, while the second half of the tracks gives the songs an increasingly off-the-cuff demo feel. Iggy gyrating and panting about 'Penetration' might turn some listeners off, but the prowling, menacing musical underscore makes me want to kick off and start a fire. Listening to the 2023 re-release, I feel like Iggy Pop's master is the one best suited for blasting through your speakers, whilst David Bowie's mix offers a more absorbing headphone listening experience. 'Shake Appeal' is quite underbaked and could have been dropped, but tracks like 'Gimme Danger', 'Penetration' and 'Death Trip' will be making the playlist for sure.

Enjoyed revisiting this album and Led Zeppelin for the first time in a long time. I was very much a classic rock kid as a teenager, so I obviously listened to Zep, as they came highly recommended, but as I've got older and more into the metal scene, LZ has faded into the background. Their lofty reputation has made them something of a dusty cultural institution and the remaining members aloof millionaires, far removed from the scene. Listening with fresh ears, 'Heartbreaker' still goes hard, and 'Ramble On' is extraordinary, confidently balancing a range of styles and vibes in one epic track. The term 'driving music' seems derogatory in some circles, but this album could turn any long slog into a groovy journey through the night. John Paul Jones and John Bonham's rhythm section really shines here, and I look forward to pouring over more of their back catalogue.

I'm a rock & metal guy, and I enjoy a bit of Aerosmith, but I've never understood why critics have held this album up so much. A very middle-of-the-road 70s rock album, full of competent but unremarkable rock tunes. 'Sweet Emotion' is a classic, with some of the best production and instrumentation on the album, and the original version of 'Walk This Way' is a fun bop. Outside of these two tracks, the album is quite forgettable, and I've always preferred the follow-up 'Rocks' (1976), which I look forward to coming up later in this project. Music doesn't have to be serious or too challenging to be acclaimed or worth listening to, but even within the wider 70s hard rock scene, many better albums were being produced.

I really enjoyed re-visiting this album, it brought back a lot of good memories of being a student, hanging out with mates, smoking weed, playing video games and just talking shit together. A few banger tracks and some cool instrumentals sprinkled throughout, 5 stars is probably generous, but the slightly superior record 'Check Your Head' is not featured, so sod it.

Atmospheric, often disorientating and pretty cool album this. A cinematic blend of jazz, orchestral, and soundscapes that would suit a tense psychological thriller. The song titles evoke vintage film noir, but distinctive 80s keyboard sounds that slip in occasionally ground it in its time and make me think of lower-budget British films from that era. A lot of users seem put off by the 'fake film' aspect, and I'm not sure why. It's really not much different from other narrative concepts in music. It just needs a bit more imagination from the listener, something that seems to be in short supply these days.

This is the music I imagine inspired Jez and Super Hans.

I've never cared for The Smiths, but I've warmed up to a lot of 'post punk' rock music in recent years, so I went into this with an open mind. "Cemetry Gates" and "The Boy with the Thorn in His Side" were my favourite tracks, and I liked "Some Girls Are Bigger Than Others". That said, I did not enjoy the overall album. The vocals were slightly grating after a while, and while the music is good, no particular chord stuck with me. "There Is a Light That Never Goes Out" is a generally good song, but bloody hell have I heard it plenty over the years. A 2.5 rating would be more accurate, but since people who like this hate everything I enjoy, I'm not going to be generous :p