Listened previously.
Expectations: High
-
Verdict: Truly Great
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Fantastic solo debut. Down by the River and Cowgirl in the Sand are stunners, Cinnamon Girl is a very strong opener as well.
Heard some tracks.
Expectations: Mid
-
Verdict: Not for me
-
Maybe not outright bad but definitely not my thing. I think 21 should be on this list but I cannot for the life of me see why this has been.
Listened previously
Expectations: High
-
Verdict: Truly Great
-
Probably not my favourite Tull album but what a brilliant LP nonetheless. Hard to fault and I really debated giving this a 5. Maybe the fact that I know I prefer Thick as a Brick is playing on my mind here.
Listened previously.
Expectations: High
-
Verdict: Masterpiece
-
Dylan's first masterpiece. There will be more.
Never listened.
Expectations: Mid
-
Verdict: Good
-
I've never been able to get into R.E.M. I like some of their songs but I tend to just find them a bit boring. This is a decent album that I can appreciate but I don't think I would ever reach for it.
Never listened.
Expectations: High
-
Verdict: Very Good
-
Dusty is a very nostalgic artist for me, one of mum's favourites. I like this a lot but there are better soul records out there.
Never listened.
Expectations: Low
-
Verdict: Good
-
I expected to really dislike this. I think Sheryl Crow was a name that I had heard without really knowing much about her. Much better than expected with a couple songs I would absolutely listen to.
Listened previously.
Expectations: High
-
Verdict: Truly Great
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I struggle to split Di'Anno and Dickinson and I think this album is really fantastic. Prowler, Phantom of the Opera and Charlotte the Harlot are my highlights.
Listened previously.
Expectations: High
-
Verdict: Very Good
-
Really, really good western music. The thing holding this back for me is the fact that I know what a song like El Paso can become in the hands of the Grateful Dead.
Never listened.
Expectations: None
-
Verdict: Good
-
It's definitely good, and there are some bangers but it doesn't quite hit the same way as some other albums from the era.
Listened previously.
Expectations: High
-
Verdict: Truly Great
-
The bassline straight from the start: wow! Massive Attack craft such great sounding albums and are probably my favourite electronic act ever.
Never listened.
Expectations: None
-
Verdict: Good
-
This is something I would never have come across myself. I really like some of the tracks. There is definitely a psychedelic feel which I will always be a sucker for.
Listened previously.
Expectations: High
-
Verdict: Very Good
-
Maybe I just wasn't in the right mood when I listened but I found it didn't hit. I know it's their most popular album but for me The White Stripes made much better albums. the softer moments here I do quite enjoy though and The Hardest Button to Button slaps. On a good day it's probably a 3 so I'll give it the benefit of the doubt.
Never listened.
Expectations: None
-
Verdict: Very Good
-
The best discovery so far by miles! I could easily see this creeping up to a 4 over time. I only knew of Marianne as Mick Jagger's girlfriend so this was a brilliant surprise.
Listened previously.
Expectations: High
-
Verdict: Truly Great
-
This might be my favourite Kanye album. The sound is so out there and abrasive but formed into something accessible and I love it. Bonus points for one of the greatest samples ever on the New Slaves outro.
Listened previously.
Expectations: High
-
Verdict: Truly Great
-
Just shows a mastery of their craft. I think this album has one or two weaker tracks that hold it back from masterpiece status but this is a wonderful record.
Listened previously.
Expectations: Mid
-
Verdict: Good
-
In the words of Tears For Fears: "Kick out the style, bring back The Jam!". This is a good album but I much prefer Weller writing sharp rockers (and his later groovy rollers) to jazzy pop.
Listened previously.
Expectations: High
-
Verdict: Truly Great
-
Queen showing why they are one of the best heavy metal bands of all time despite people mostly thinking of them as a pop group.
Listened previously.
Expectations: High
-
Verdict: Truly Great
-
So much fun on this one. The Dust Brothers production is awesome and pretty much every song is great with some particularly fantastic tunes sxcattered throughout.
Listened previously.
Expectations: High
-
Verdict: Masterpiece
-
I mean, it's Led Zep 2. Did hard rock peak here? Quite possibly.
Listened previously.
Expectations: Mid
-
Verdict: Good
-
I like atmospheric DnB more than the big festival banger style but this drags on a bit more me to rate it as anything more than good.
Never listened.
Expectations: None
-
Verdict: Not for me.
-
This just felt very bland. I don't dislike it per say, but there just isn't anything here for me.
Listened previously.
Expectations: High
-
Verdict: Masterpiece
-
A masterclass in songwriting. I love everything about this album.
Never listened.
Expectations: Mid
-
Verdict: Good
-
I like some of the tracks and instrumentally it is interesting but didn't do a whole lot for me. Just good.
Never listened.
Expectations: Mid
-
Verdict: Good
-
One of the highlights here is the minute long intro. It's just some power chords but it brought my expectations up a bit. After listening to the rest of the album it's what I expected. Good, energetic punk album but there are far better out there.
Listened previously.
Expectations: Mid
-
Verdict: Very Good
-
It's been a while since I heard this. The big hits are clearly the best tracks here but they are really good and elevate the album enough the make me think I might have to revisit some more 80s rock that I haven't been into since I was a kid.
Listened previously.
Expectations: High
-
Verdict: Masterpiece
-
I'm assuming Bowie will have a few albums on the list and this is a great one to start on. Heavy, riffy glam rock but with some jazz and avant-garde elements thrown in. Irresistible album.
Listened previously.
Expectations: High
-
Verdict: Masterpiece
-
Maybe the greatest garage album ever. Everything about this is dirty, ugly and fun. 30 minutes of pure energy and I love it.
Listened previously.
Expectations: High
-
Verdict: Masterpiece
-
The title track is one of the best things I have ever heard. Music from another galaxy but still somehow perfectly intelligible and relatable. Utterly unique. The rest is also extremely good, especially Lazarus and I Can't Give Everything Away. My second Bowie album and yeah it's just amazing. What a send off from the great man.
Listened previously.
Expectations: High
-
Verdict: Truly Great
-
This album is so replayable. Great riffs and the groove from start to finish just puts me in a good mood. I want a beer now.
Never listened.
Expectations: None
-
Verdict: Very Good
-
Feel like I've heard of these guys but might be confused with Fine Young Cannibals. Opening couple tracks are great then it calms down a bit. Definitely fun loving! Really good album.
Never listened.
Expectations: Low
-
Verdict: Very Good
-
Didn't expect it to be my thing but this is pretty fun. Gets a bit samey but each track is definitely enjoyable in its own right.
Listened previously.
Expectations: High
-
Verdict: Truly Great
-
Utterly joyous album. Boogies for days, huge riffs, glittering, spaced out lyrics. I love it and it's one that surely everyone can enjoy at least a bit.
Listened previously.
Expectations: High
-
Verdict: Truly Great
-
The energy is off the charts on some parts of this. Even without being there to see the performance you can feel it through the music. Iconic voice. Not as mind blowing as I remember but very, very good nonetheless. Torn between a 3 and 4 but will give the benefit of the doubt as I have definitely enjoyed it more on previous listens.
Never listened.
Expectations: None
-
Verdict: Very Good
-
Ok, so I have heard of these guys and now realise it's Blixa from The Bad Seeds. This is an interesting one as it's noisy but not the kind of noise I'm usually into. Walls of feedback and distortion are replaced by harsh percussion and punky rants. The title track wouldn't be out of place on a Swans album, great stuff.
Listened previously.
Expectations: High
-
Verdict: Truly Great
-
This is basically classic rock distilled into one album. Riffs, horny lyrics, solos, it has it all. A very nostalgic album for me. The title track is an absolute masterpiece.
Listened previously.
Expectations: High
-
Verdict: Truly Great
-
I love this album. Cisco Kid and the title track are especially funky but the whole thing grooves like hell. Really, really good.
Never listened.
Expectations: None
-
Verdict: Very Good
-
Starts slowly but quickly gets into a groove. Hamady Boira is very funky and Daniibe is also very cool. The album gets a bit lost for me and almost becomes too comfortable. Overall I really enjoyed this and will definitely check out some more in this vein.
Listened previously.
Expectations: Low
-
Verdict: Very Good
-
A couple tracks in and I'm enjoying this far more than I remembered. The grooves on Telephasic Workshop, Sixtyten and Roygbiv are huge. The back end of the record is still good but doesn't hold my interest in quite the same way. Very enjoyable listen nonetheless.
Never listened.
Expectations: None
-
Verdict: Very Good
-
I really like his voice. The simplicity and directness of the songs combines with a sort of cinematic feel that is really interesting. All Thoughts Are Prey To Some Beast is a highlight. Really cool record that I had never come across before.
Listened previously.
Expectations: High
-
Verdict: Masterpiece
-
Just legendary. Deserves every bit of the massive reputation it has. This album is effortlessly cool, raucous, sombre and hilarious all in 45 minutes. Brilliant.
Never listened.
Expectations: None
-
Verdict: Good
-
This is a fun listen but for me it lacks a bit of substance. My favourite parts are the singalong choruses and maybe the flow on some verses. The beats are fine but no more than that. People Everyday is a clear highlight, banger track. Definitely a pretty good album but it's not doing a lot for me.
Listened previously.
Expectations: High
-
Verdict: Truly Great
-
Although I probably prefer In Rock overall, this is a great album. Highway Star, Smoke On The Water and Space Truckin' are absolute classics. The highs are incredibly high and at their peak, Purple were some of the best to ever do it. A few less interesting moments hold this back from absolute perfection but I was pretty torn between 4 and 5 here.
Never listened.
Expectations: Low
-
Verdict: Not For Me
-
Obviously I know Girls Just Wanna Have Fun but otherwise I know basically nothing about Cyndi Lauper. The opener is more new wave and rock sounding than I expected. Not bad. Girls is not good, maybe I've just heard it too much. A Prince cover caught me off guard, not sure on it. This album started off OK at best and is going downhill for me. He's So Unusual is clearly a bit of a throwaway track but is probably the most interesting thing in a while. Yeah Yeah is an ok ending.
Listened previously.
Expectations: High
-
Verdict: Truly Great
-
They might be the most criminally overlooked band ever. I fucking love The Stooges man. Nothing but great tunes here, I even love the 10 minutes of meditative chanting on We Will Fall. I hope Funhouse is also on the list as I think it's even better. This is fantastic though.
Never listened.
Expectations: Low
-
Verdict: Very Good
-
Okayyy, straight out of the gate this reminds me of Prince which is about the highest praise I can give. A few tracks in, it's clearly not that level but this is really good. After a while I think things fall into a slightly more dull pattern and despite some more good tracks, it does fall short of my initial excited expectations.
Listened previously.
Expectations: High
-
Verdict: Truly Great
-
Stevie's golden run is pretty incredible. This has some absolutely wonderful songs on it. Heaven Is 10 Zillion Lightyears Away is brilliant, Boogie On Reggae Woman is excellent, and there are other great moments scattered throughout. Not the best of that run but a monumental album in its own right.
Listened previously.
Expectations: High
-
Verdict: Masterpiece
-
Perfect throughout.
Never listened.
Expectations: Low
-
Verdict: Not for me.
-
Familiar from featuring on some Kendrick but I'm expecting pretty generic pop. First few tracks are ok but I just find it a bit bland. The rest of the album doesn't have any standout moments either. I don't dislike this, it's absolutely fine but nothing more than that.
Listened previously.
Expectations: High
-
Verdict: Truly Great
-
I love the opener, it's energetic and grabs you. Then we get some beautiful songs. Four Women and particularly Lilac Wine are stunning. Things lose me in the middle just a tiny bit, I'm not keen on Why Keep On Breaking My Heart, but Wild Is The Wind gets things back on track. Either Way I Lose is a good closer.
Listened previously.
Expectations: Mid
-
Verdict: Very Good
-
I like the set up of the band on this album. Some really good tracks, Arabian Knights and Night Shift are great. I really like Sin In My Heart as well. Overall a really good album.
Listened previously.
Expectations: Mid
-
Verdict: Very Good
-
Strong opener. The opening trio is very good actually. I don't think the rest of the album holds up quite as well as that but I still enjoy all of it. Some fun guitar work and just enough variation to remain interesting. Good album.
Never listened.
Expectations: Low
-
Verdict: Not For Me
-
I know some of the big hits and I'm not keen but lets see. White Dress is pretty good. The title track isn't for me. I just find the sound boring I think. These songs all sound the same. Dark But Just A Game is at least slightly different. Dance Til We Die perks up a bit towards the end but these are rare points of difference in an otherwise dull landscape.
Never listened.
Expectations: None
-
Verdict: Not For Me
-
This isn't exactly blowing me away but I guess it's vaguely nice. A few tracks in and I'm a bit bored. So It Shall Be is OK I suppose. Outside Myself is decent but goes on slightly too long.
Listened previously.
Expectations: High
-
Verdict: Very Good
-
This album is a bit strange in the sense that I really like it and there are moments that stick in my head, but not many of the tracks are super memorable in their own right. It’s almost that I like the album but not the individual songs. Still this is on the higher end of 3 as I do really enjoy the overall feel of the album.
Never listened.
Expectations: High
-
Verdict: Very Good
-
Yep, I was hoping to like it and I do. Took a few tracks to get going though. She Is Suffering and Mausoleum are highlights.
