1001 Albums Summary

It's a classic, but is it acceptable in this day and age?

Solid album, rewards multiple listens, comfortingly familiar.

Peaks and troughs. When it's good Cisco kid and works is a ghetto really good, otherwise pretty boring at times. Likely won't listen again.

Flows well, innovative at the time, good mix of genres, love it for that. A solid album, but will I revisit it often?

It's affy long. Enjoyed what I had time for, but 2 hrs!?!

This is stand out the best 1001 album I've listened to yet. From the off its innovative, experimental and engaging. Far more interesting than the majority of albums on this list I expect.

This album flows brilliantly. I can live without the skits, but the topics, politics, culture and experience that it represents are so well done. Way ahead of it's peers at the time and no wonder they became so big and influential as they did.

From the off you can hear the influence on other bands. Placebo, Faith No More, Duran Duran (obviously). Interesting listen, well crafted, I like it. I don't think I'll visit it time and again though.

A lot of Lou Reed, a little of the National and a remarkably odd choice for 1001 albums I must listen to before I die. A few good tracks, but largely forgettable.

1965 right in the sweet spot for country being the US of As pop favourite. I like this album, it sounds familiar and it's easy to listen to. Will I listen again, like lots on the list probably not. I like the fizzy old production and the chugging rhythms. Decent

The hits are obviously timeless and the band will forever resonate through history, but sounds like Seaside (who has time vaudeville, it's a bit aggravating for my taste) and a song about loving a car. Pretty decent, but like Alan Partridge I'll stick to the best of.

This one caught me by surprise. Expected to hate it, but I've got more time than I thought for goth pop from the 80s. Cracking album.

This album was outstanding when I first heard it and carried it's magic all the way to my 5 year old getting into fight for your right. Great band, eclectic back catalogue and fun times.

This is a good pop album. I like the odd song with hints of the Kinks. Good variety and song writing. Songs that will stand the test of time. Just not an album that is overly to my tastes for repeat listening.

I kind of wanted to like this a lot more. Iconic and influential band, however it was a bit of a rambling mess. So fantastic moments, some great ability in show, but it didn't hang together. The lyrics are annoying at best, the subs are all over the place and it's themes are weak and rambling. I expect much stronger prog albums to come.

All time classic, possibly the best hip hop album ever made. I've listened to this many times over the years and it flows beautifully. Deserves all the praise it gets, rather than seeing for stardom, it sought credibility through innovation and musicianship. It's so well crafted, it'll take a long time for someone to have quite this level of vision again.

KOL aren't a bad band, but with success comes expectation and pressure to churn out the hits. This album is what happens, middle of the road dirge which loses the edge and energy that made it cut through in the first place.

I've not listened to this in a long time, I thought I was about to settle in for 2hrs plus of noodling. Not so, 5 songs, 45min... This is going to be good. I really slept on Pink Floyd as a teen, when I should have been lost in this most weekends. Great album, lovely production, instrumentation, song writing, ambition and execution. The best album on the list so far by quite a ways.

This album sits in the background neither wowing not offending. Reminds me of the first Chvrches album, but with a lot less impact and charm. It sounds exactly like what you'd hear on top shop or H&M. Lots of 80s influences, but a no point does it surpass those influences, especially not the MJ rips. I don't think I'll bother listening to it again in French, although I expect that would be an easier listen.

Iconic, influenceial and fun. I feel like we could use more consciousness in hip-hop in 2026, and probably for a decade plus before. Really enjoyed revisiting this classic.

Every song on here is a classic, with the exception of changes, which has been tainted behind repair. I was going to give a 4 but I don't think you can when you consider this one album spawned multiple metal subgenres and influenced so many bands over the years. Arguably one of the most influential albums in music? A great listen.

There are songs on this album I love, like disorder and she's lost control. There are a lot of songs that just sit in the background. It's never been one of my go to albums, but the influence on artists I love is huge. It was pretty enjoyable to give it some time.

I thought this was the antagonist from Warriors when the album popped up. Alas, it's not, pretty decent 70s punk from down under. A few stands out tracks, great opener, good all round effort. I enjoyed it.

Well crafted and considered nonsense. I never realised until now the parallels with the vocal style of David Byrne. Devo, the love child of taking heads and Kraftwerk.

The album in which Neil invented grunge? Great album, not my favourite Neil Young however. Still a great album. That second version of my my, hey hey is great. The fuzz, the fuzz.

A band I struggle to fall in love with, but understand the significance of. Another one for the best of approach. Good album, but unspectacular.

Not my favourite Radiohead album, solid but neither as urgent or important as the earlier albums, or in rainbows that soon followed after. Great band though, essential part of anyone's musical journey.

Pleasantly surprised again but am album on this list. Not my cup of tea, but you can hear the influence out maybe had on Regina Spektor or Sharon Van Ettan. At times I was lost in her voice and instrumentation, which oddly kept reminding me of songs from James Bond films. At other times, I was perplexed at the tedium of it.

I thought I liked Dire Straits. But they are actually pretty annoying. We get it Mark, your good at guitar, but give it a rest. The noodling is relentless and way too high in the mix. The classics obviously stand the test of time, but the remaining over written, annoyingly sung and the honky Pink Floyd sound is too much.

What is this abomination? From punchy early Dexy's to bloated 12min songs, talking at random times, strange moments of over worked vocals, inane chatter, moments of great Dexy's hooks and then back to the fucking talking. Never again will I bother with this dross.

This was a delight to listen to. Smooth and flows beautifully. I could listen to this time and again. I was thinking as I listened just how common that sound created by Miles Davis is in pop culture, TV shows (peanuts, Fraser...) and computer games (transport tycoon...) and countless musicians that borrow this easy going style. A cornerstone of music.

Lovely album, great sound, so easy to listen to and have on in the background. Could it be 1 of any number of blues albums over the years, probably yeah, but I guess if it ain't broke and all that...

Good fun, metal for the masses. The longer you listen, the more it all blends into one bland monolith.

Ordinarily I've very little time for double albums. In fact, I can't think of one I like beyond this one. This one is a belter. 2 albums in one articulating both sounds of Big Boi and Andrei 3000. I loved it on teams and it's still a cracking album now.

Decent jazz standards, average live production, far too much talking for the to be any flow. At over two hours this should have been edited into something different and more rewarding to repeat listens.

Overly long and quite incoherent

Some classics on here and an amazing opening track, but a number of songs are fluff at best. Decent.

This is a great soundtrack to a great film. The issue with translating it to an album is that a number of the songs so abruptly and break the flow. I forgot how good Air are, great musicianship.

Classic. Absolute banging introduction to an album and the hits keep on coming. I'm constantly in awe of the early influence and DNA of Rick Rubin in both hip hop and metal. The guy has left an indelible mark on the face of music.

This is one of the albums that expanded my horizons into classics and a world of genres as a snotty little teenager. It's never lost its sheen or brilliance. Lyrical and musically it's such a cool and measured album from start to finish.

Cinematic, considered, theatrical, it's clear why Flaming Lips filled arenas. This is a good album, but with all their music I don't feel an emotional connection to it or the singers voice. There is something I fundamentally don't 'get' about them as a band, despite liking plenty of their songs. It's his voice, it's too weak for the sound they produce.

This is probably one of my favourite albums of all time, let alone hip-hop albums. I'm a big fan of hip-hop collectives, the collage of personalities and styles. The aggression, themes and love of king fu all make for an great blend. The production created a template that endures and the styling is iconic.

All over the place and not in a good way. Some really interesting moments, but too many styles that you could hear delivered much more skilfully by artists from the regions it seeks to replicate. The longer it goes on the worse it gets, by the end I'm both zoning it out and getting annoyed it's still going.

This is a bit of me this. Love the bass and synth driving the songs. Like the Cure esq vocals. Like the vibe of wearing Sergio Tacchini and Fila on the dance floor. A fun and at times anthemic listen. I like it more than Unknown Pleasures I'd go as far to say.

This album is alright, a few hits and catchy songs. Boy did their egos inflate behind their talent. I can't shake the idea that the Verve were the Razorlight of their time and Dick Ashcroft the Jonny Borrell.

More flute, more riffs and less whimsical vocals and lyrics and this would be for me. As it stands, I really struggle with themed, fantasy, proggy meandering fluff like this. It's often bloated, self indulgent and unsatisfying to listen to.

Beautiful. Lovely haunting vocals, smooth piano that lulls you into to the song and holds you in. Nothing is forced, nothing is rushed, a great listen. A confident and brilliantly delivered pieces of music. It's feels very familiar due to the success of the songs.

Some of these lyrics are a bit rich now as Morrissey morphs into everything he was stood against. What a loathsome prick. That aside, this is a adequate album. At times it slaps, at other times it sounds like a parody of better Smiths albums.

This album was decent, but I expected to like it a while lot more. Perhaps a few listens will change my mind, but on first listen... ... Yeah, pretty comforting listen as you get to know the songs, I love this style of country folk and others in the scene old and new. This fits in nicely, some of the songs are belters, the album is solid.

This album has huge production, wonderful rifs, it's heavy in a really accessible way and has some of rocks most enduring tracks. However, it also have songs that drift and drone, especially after mayonnaise. Perhaps with 5 or 6 fewer tracks this would be one of the greats, instead it drifted into mediocrity. I've always been quite conflicted about this album and band, it seems I still am.

Really clean and confident beats. I think this preceded some of the latest jazz influenced beats, which take it up a notch. Still really good through. Conscious and intellectual lyrics, the delivery could do with a bit more range, but still a great example of a golden age in hip hop

Such a good album. Noisy post punk distorted tones that cut into jangly rhythms. It delivers hit after hit. I can hear the influence this album has on lots of the bands I grew up listening to and playing in. It sounds natural and effortless. I feel like this type of music is sorely lacking from a mainstream of soulless carbon copy nepo baby acts. Where have the breakthrough underground acts gone? Love the last two tracks, a left turn.

This is prime Pixies. Controlled noise and chaos. Some all time rock tracks. The switching of vocalists keeps it fresh throughout. Cracker of an album. 13 songs in 33 mins... Muoy Buenos

The art or the artist. This is the turning point where outstanding talent produces something generational (again), shapes the future of a genre but is also where Kanye as we knew him switches to the dark side in his quest to become the world's biggest bellend. Yet, I love this album. It's the end of Kanye also.

Bonus points for influencing the birth of punk and bringing (albeit dated and questionable in execution) humour to their art. But not a great album, I'm glad they walked so others could run, I'm not coming back to this at any point again however.

I love a bit of pop and who doesn't like the Beatles? Having said that, this is one of the most simplistic and least satisfying examples of the Beatles, it's got some stone cold classics, it's got hints at innovation but overall it has more filler than not.

For years I really had a strong dislike of Pink Floyd. I always thought there was too much going on, it was overblown, it lacked quality control. Since I've grown to love Dark Side of the Moon, Wish You Were Here and others. When this album is good, it's phenomenally good, when it's bad it really scrapes the depths of what I can tolerate. I suspect this album is where our relationship got off on the wrong foot. An album full of hits, but equally full of filler. How can it be full of both at the same time? Because it's too fucking long.

I think Elbow have become victims of their own success, becoming the poster child of bland radio rock in the UK. When this came out it was fresh, considered, influential and rightly lauded critically. Overexposure now makes it harder to listen to objectively. That said it starts strongly, articulately and confidently, that sense carries throughout. At times a bit dull and wet.

Fair play to anyone that takes their underprivileged estate and writes an ode to it if this order. Not at all what I expected, possibly pretty far ahead of it's time on release? There are electronic artists, hip hop starts, trip hop, neo pop artists that have followed in similar veins in production and with skits. I'll never come back to this album, but as a concept IMO it works alright. Some cool ideas and some passable background noise. Unfortunately there is a fair share of self indulgent wank nestled in the album too.

I've got a bone to pick with the people of 1983. How did they let The Police become 'the biggest band in the world'? It's a hellscape of cultural appropriation and ego. The sound of Sting gleefully smelling his own farts. Even the hits don't save it. History shows the linkage between popularity and quality is weak and the sedated masses can't be trusted.

The 13min title track is a banger, outstanding. The hits hold up really well, great era synching slabs of pop goodness. The album trails of badly, had some inconsistent flow and poor covers. A mixed bag, marked up one for the strength and longevity of the big hitters

This music transports you too a different time and place, I can almost smell the food cooking, the crowds, the busy streets and packed roads of cars wrestling for space. Music of many restaurants, cafes and family gatherings. Hypnotic, different and really enjoyable... when in the right headspace. Great vocals and range, non stop party tunes equally good for zoning out into some work task.

One of the rare occasions where familiarity does not breed contempt. I've heard this album so many times, I think everyone knows the hits inside out, yet they endure. Just good solid riffs, songs that just hit the spot, underpinned by some ridiculous, stupid, often offensive and very catchy lyrics. Like hip-hop, AC/DC have skilfully/somehow dodged cancel culture and stand tall as the band it's cool for your kids, yer da and yer maw to all like. The pick of the bunch for the band. Also bonus point for the Kirriemuir connection. However bonus point removed for the non stop misogyny.

I really enjoy 80s synth pop and in this you can hear hints of certain eras of Prince and Depeche Mode, which is no bad thing. Unfortunately there are plenty of bad in this album too. A lot of the music tilts into the annoying, the singers voice is often a bit on the weak side and the hooks are too repetitive without the punch to keep you drawn in. There are some moments of class in here too, a mixed bag that ultimately isn't for me. Doff of the cap to It's a Sin. Certified banger.

It was a mistake going down the rabbit hole of the person, his shit stances on life and his personal tragedies before listening to the album. It made the album a harder listen. It starts off slow, ponderous and somewhat boring. As the pace of the songs sped up, the album grew in quality. It has it's moments, but a slide guitar and the odd solo can only carry your average blues folk rock so far. An alright album that stands below is peers in the genre, with one all time smash hit.

Wow, this is outstanding and right up my street. It's dripping with influence and alignment to lots of my favourites and I've never listened to it before. That's what I love about this challenge. What I don't like is the run of wrong uns I'm on. Between this guy, Clapton, Kanye and MJ. I can't get away from the art and artist debate... This is a tough one as I understand the severity of the accusations, but also love the music and it's influence. Death of the author or moral culpability?

Man I love this group. They opened the door to hip-hop for me, bridged a gap from punk and metal into a new world. This isn't their best album, but it is the only one on the list, so that'll help this score. Ensemble vocalists in hip-hop work so well, the combinations of tone, tambour, flow, lyrics keeps the whole thing engaging and fresh while giving a strong sense of the cyphers battling in the park. Pure energy. This album starts so strong, but dips a little towards the end.

The archetypal drunk growling storyteller. This album is what bars in American films and TV sounds like. You can almost see McNulty propping up the end of the bar.

The Who has always felt like a band in supposed to like. I try and try to get into them, understand them, but it just doesn't click. Some outstanding hits on here, but lots of the album drifted by without really having an impact on me.

The album says Cash, but the experience is as much Rubin. I was working in a record shop when this series and particularly this album came out and not one person, in a building of opinionated critics and cynics didn't have an affection for it. It opened doors to new music and remained in rotation for years. It's a real treat to go back to it and give it some time. Possibly the greatest swan song in music, beautiful, poignant, sad and uplifting. As an end to end listen not every song hits, but it's not far off.

Every time I hear this album I think it's without a doubt my favourite Radiohead album. Then I inevitably listen to the Bends and OK Computer and remember they are also my favourite... Are Radiohead one of my favourite bands? This album ticks so many boxes for me, great musicianship, production, song writing, experimentation, a bit of rock, pop and dance. It's lovely.

This album is a schizophrenic fever dream. I don't mind it, nice to get a bit more global representation. The title music sounds like Sons of Kemet (London Jazz Band, not frog typo) and Naag Davta slaps, I'm sure I've heard it sampled somewhere.

I've a lot of time for this. Much like Vince Guaraldi Trio, Oscar Peterson or Esbjörn Svensson Trio these well played, composed and delivered pieces drift beautifully along with real creativity and passion. I'd never heard of Keith Jarrett, but I'm sold on the idea he is right at the top of his genre. Lovely stuff.

There are two Nick Drake albums that I own and this one. What can I say? He sounds like he invented music for a Sunday morning. Dark, brooding, hauntingly beautiful Sunday mornings. Striped been, raw and meaningful. He really is in another league, yet it took me decades to learn of him.

Who doesn't love a bit of Jimmy and his motley crew. Absolutely peppered with barnstormers and fantastic guitar noodling. Let down slightly by a few below par tracks and odd production choices. But still considerably better than a lot on the list. It's mind boggling the frequency that they turned out music of such a high and influenceial calibre.

What a mug I am. I think I slept on Lennon's solo stuff whilst gaming for stereotypes about Yoko etc. Then for some reason never went back to fix this mistake as I matured. More fool me. This album is musical comfort food. Not without a few flaws, but such an easy and enjoyable listen. It will fall effortlessly into my rotation.

This is more of a conflict than expected. Its great, but it's it great great? Listening to this objectively, it's as good an indie pop album as when it came out. It's lofty and ambitious, but also pointed and bleak. I really really like it as an album, yet oddly am loath to give it a 5. Strange, why is that? Spoiler it'll get a 5. It really is some beautifully crafted pop music.

I get the Berlin influence, the dance influence, the krautrock influence, yet I'm not entirely sold on the music. Arpeggio's galore, haunting sci fi ambience galore, but all without a central theme to pull you in and consider you as a listener. It's good but sounds like it's made solely for the artist who has interesting emerging (at the time) tech to play with. Will we get this with the first wave of AI artists? The lasting impression was of it sounding like the in between bits of Pink Floyd songs.

Decent. I grew up with lots of American teen angst punk, plenty of which was worse than this.

This is a confusing album, a little Led Zep, Ted Nugent et all, which is ok... Then there is the more 'classic' Queen, who honestly just bug me. Dare I say MCR did the same thing with more heart? Queen albums are consistently all over the place. Queen might be my ultimate 'Greatest Hits' band. These albums on the list are pretty below the standard I was expecting from such a revered band. Poor.

I was surprised this was his only album on the list, his first album is a belter too. Great artists, strong influences from 70s rock and soul. Reminds me of Rodriguez mostly. A really enjoyable listen.

I've tried a few times to get into SZA, intrigued by the Kendrick connection. I like some of her contemporaries, but this just doesn't click with me. Not for a lack of trying and the album grows as it goes, but I don't think I'll be back on a regular basis.

What's not to like about Talking Heads, I've always liked them, loved Stop Making Sense, but never delved into the back catalogue in any meaningful way. I suspect there will be better albums on the list by Talking Heads, but this was a good listen. They never let up. They are confident in their sound and they take influence without leeching into appropriation.

This has been a companion for me for over 20 years. Unique, haunting and timeless.

This is the sort of thing I usually enjoy. But I read I've probably listened to the wrong thing. Who can keep up. What I heard was nice.

For the boring covers of songs you'd be better off finding as originals. I'm growing a deep seeded dislike for Clapton from this list. Can I shake it for musical objectivity? Cultural appropriation from a vocal racist is a bitter pill to swallow, however I've ignored others sins in the 1001 process. Hmmmm introspection needed... All in all, still not a great album. Had it's moments.

This is very much a rock opera rather than an old school hard rock album, which is less to my tastes. I'm struggling a bit with prog in general, it's phenomenally self indulgent, however this did have a darker side to it's rock musical sound which was more enjoyable than most of its ilk.

This album is all over the place and I don't mind it anywhere near as much as I thought I would. Started off sounding like an 80s TV theme, obviously had the obligatory gypsy jazz track, some riffs, harmonies and good ol' blues rock. At least it's quite fun at points. Hats off to the pre dated Nirvana riff at the end of Starship Trooper.

Solid, inoffensive jazz. Very impressed with the fact this guy recorded two albums in a day. I guess you use the session musicians while you've got em.

A bit of variety and something international. Like it when it's a bit more upbeat and the samba and bossanova kick in. Not the best Brazilian album I've heard, but an enjoyable record.

The opening track alone is worth the admission fee. What a beaut. Plenty have tried this, but do they have the soul to pull it off, the evidence would suggest otherwise. Continuing through the album, love it. It's got a bit of everything, but so well put together. Where have you been all my life? This album is nothing short of a masterpiece.

Quintessential jazz. Formative. And 70 years old!

I'm not sure what it is that doesn't click with me and REM. They are lacking something for me and I can't quite put my finger on it. Rock, but without any bite and aggression? Pop, but with a voice that it's a bit tepid? Hooks, but without the soul to make you believe? It's not for a lack of trying over the years, on paper a band I should very much like, in reality a band that leaves me pretty indifferent. One into the sound the album picks up in the middle a bit, but not enough for the plaudits it gets.

This is a pretty standard early thousands indie disco floor filler album. Not bad, but not something you'll go back to time and again. Sits perfectly nicely in the background, without ever challenging or inspiring. Could equally be any number of local bands from around the world that were decent, if unspectacular.

I really like this, it's good some really chill groves and great songwriting. It's a pretty easy going trip into the world of Jimi that is still being replicated today.

Like this a lot. A bit thrash at times, a bit choking victim/leftover crack, MM, Rob Zombie. All served up with a frantic non stop energy. I guess they were pretty influenceial. Not something I'll listen to a lot, but a great addition from the book.

Good silly fun. I've never repeatedly gone back to the rock 'n' roll well and find it a bit boring on repeat listens. This album won't change my views, but find this album at the right age and I could see them being the kind of band that could define your youth. Not all good albums need to be earnest, some just need songs about pizza or anus.

What can you say that hasn't already been said.

Slap base, math rock, lyrics about basketball, production at times that washes out the lyrics all without the key ingredient...soul. I imagine the friends of this band ran out of excuses to not come to their gigs before they 'made it'.

Sampling catnip, with hallmarks of everything that should irk me. A vanity project by a self indulgent exec that was forced into the mainstream by putting themselves on film scores etc. However, it's pretty decent, but as an album too listen to end to end, dare I say it...too much bongos.

I've always loved the kinks, but never bothered to listen to this album. What a doofus, they are such a good band. A slice of England and a slice in time.

I found the first 30 seconds of this intensely annoying. Can it recover... No, her voice is annoying, the compositions are annoying, everything sounds a little weak and fluffy. Perhaps it's a case of wrong album on the wrong day.

This is alright, but from this time I was listening to a tonne of Anticon artists and people in the orbit of El-P and Company Flow that did it so much better. Not the most obvious or inspiring entry, but had it's moments, usually when there was a guest artist in the track.

I like the Super Furry or Beta Band vibes and listened to this a bit when it came out. It's still decent. Oddly, I can't really remember it that well and on playback only the 'hits' spark any memory, which probably speaks volumes of the albums staying power.

Man, this is a tough one. This album has one of the finest songs ever written (Perfect Day), but for me, has some pretty filler songs too. The Bowie and Robson effect clearly elevate it and stamp it's place in history. But it still feels a bit over rated in general. A good album, that is touched by greatness perhaps?

This album is nice enough. It varies from really interesting to drifting into the background to the point you forget your listening to it. It's just kind of there. Lots of the album sounds like it would be the score to a film, fitting really with Bond or Virgin Suicides a la Air. This is another album that is ok.

This album is one that opened the door to music for me. It's probably a big part of why I learned an instrument and joined bands. Teenage me poured over every aspect of it. It's basically a musical comfort blanket and today has been a massive nostalgia trip. Good times.

I'm enjoying the party vibes and variety of percussion on this album. It transports you to a beach in West Africa, you can almost feel the sun in your face. Pretty consistent with the odd instrumental choice that plungers it into the 80s. By no means a bad thing. A pretty fun album.

Jack White is a phenomenal song writer and will probably rest in the upper tiers in the history of rock once he's run his race. This album has everything, songwriting, production, innovation, pop hits, grunt, grime and melody. All with something that on the surface is really simplistic pop. Remarkable. There is a reason it has endured and outlasted it's peers from the time in credibility and recognition .

This isn't really for me, I was hoping for a pleasant surprise, however... It's all a bit meh, vocal way to high in the mix, sounds like song writing by committee for a rom com TV series that is written by committee and isn't funny. Some splashes of talent and her voice packs punch and range.

I'm blown away here. This album is from 1984, today I learned Nirvana, Green Day, Hold Steady and Gaslight Anthem all grew up listening to them and influenced by them. The album that shaped the albums of my youth. It's a cracking album, amazed I've never heard it before. Progressive, punky, alternative and poached with anthems. It's the blueprint for the sound of my youth, bonus points all round.

This is decent. He uses all his history to eek out another drop. Not really my thing, but good to see people keep going with their passion. The earlier albums obviously sit at the peak of the mountain.

Murder, rape and life coaching... is perhaps what Tupac's business card reads. The beats are great at times, some of the R&B elements are so weak, when he's in conscious rap mode he could be generational, when it comes to the gang stuff, it sounds performative and contrived. He is like a method actor that went too deep. I never buy it, it's just a cultivated drama that the masses bought in droves. This is neither a classic for hip hop or Tupac, I love the genre, but don't get the hype.

This is cool. The sound morphs from Hendrix, Stevie and obviously/perhaps influenced people like Kiwanuka and Thunder at. A very confident album and great to hear a song I know so well from the Jackie Brown soundtrack but hasn't explored further. Further digging shows this guy is a sample treasure trove, if you know, you know, I guess. These are the days the list delivers.

As good as almost any of us contemporary grunge albums at the time. An album I flirted with but never dived into due to a bit of indifference with the genre. But I'm enjoying this. Raw, visceral and legit.

Another blues rock album by a bunch of white guys from the 70s, quelle surprise... ...however this is annoyingly good. Fun, unpretentious and they fucking shred. Listening to this I feel like one of the characters in Dazed and Confused. Loving it.

Alright then... Country chamber pop. Nice to discover another new artist, but it's not really speaking to me. I get what he's going for, I know plenty of 40 something dad's that try to create the same sound 😂

...a band I grew up listening to and hugely influenced by, but I never explored beyond their first album. This is pretty ambitious, I can hear the future sounds of gorillaz in here and get the trip hop influence. It's fun, it's decent, it's not the best album, but there are good cuts on here.

This is the first album I ever bought and released on the week I was born... The talent of Quincy Jones can not be understated. The song writing is impeccable. The song with Paul McCartney is an abomination. I assume the lyrics aren't by MJ or they would be about Choo Choo trains and playing with wee boys and monkeys. This is probably the pinnacle of pop. MJ has a voice that will span many generations to come. He will always come with a caveat. Unfortunately there are two stinking ballads on the album.

Another band I've danced around but never been that fussed by. I see why. The hits are solid, but the whiny, self important drone that permeates the rest of the album is a grind. It's all very wet and noodley, but not in a hot, spicy, invigorating and tasty way like ramen or pho.

Fuck, this is hard work.

Smooth, cool, consistent without ever being spectacular or having a hit banger or two. I like it, but wonder if some of the similar but better albums from the likes of Talib Qwali are on the list?

This is one of the most confident and self assured albums I've listened too. They know exactly the sound they want and hit it perfectly throughout. The mixture of instruments is outstanding and the production it spot on. It stands on its own, even if it skirts close to the rock opera winds at time. A great album, that grows with repeat listens.

... This does not equal the sum of its parts

I never did get round to listening to the fall over the years, I will listen to them again on the strength of this. I gather the sound is in a continuous state of flux, as are the members. But this is more accessible than I expected.

... Another Pumpkins record and my review for the last still stands. Tonight tonight may be one of the best rock songs ever written, but a few hits a good album does not make. I like this band, I don't love them. Their albums are self indulgent and bloated. They are in the same bracket as Queen, good songs, annoying albums.

... I've never heard this Joni album before. I'm delighted I have now. Love the synths, the jazz, the innovation. It sounds quite far ahead of it's peers compared to others of this era. Really interesting.

This sounds like country music cosplay. Nothing wrong with it as such, it just sounds like a tribute to decades of preceding music that sounds the same. At this point I don't know if that's the dudes voice or an affectation. A moments the music is good, but that voice, the god awful title track and the fact 4 tracks in I feel like it's been on for 10 hours have sealed it's fate...

What chance when NWA wrote Fuck the Police they had just listened to this abomination or the other one on the list? I vow to never listen to anything Sting has his name to ever again.

Finally, finalmente, a prog album that I can get behind. This isn't full of orks and wizards, it's not got a grating voice, there are no lute and mandolin solos. Just well crafted epic songs. Hats off and a great new addition to my rotation. An album cover I recognise and could name but have never one felt the urge to explore, until now.

From the first notes I can tell this is going to be an interesting listen. I like the switches in style, genre and tone. Appreciate the vocals and the scale of the album too. This'll never be in heavy rotation for me, but the ambition of the album is great.

I've not listened to this in a while. I kind of expected more from the sugar coated version in my mind. A decent debut, a huge influence on the music of my youth, as an album is alright.

Steely Dan, I always assumed they were a fool band. This is just a bunch of cool old rock songs. Great.

I really liked this album when it came out. It was a breath of fresh air. You need to scratch the surface a bit. But it pays you back for repeat listens. I personally love the mix of casual rap and arpeggio vocals. You can hear the Prince and Andre 3000 influences through the music. Cool, confident and a new voice for a changing generation. Pyramids of one of the great songs...of all time, in my humble opinion.

Budget Michael Jackson meets a 'fun' church. The deeper I go the more (irrationality?) annoyed I become. I hate it, I thought I'd like it. Perhaps if it had been a part of my youth I'd be more forgiving.

This is nice, Ray is a legend, brass is a bit splashy after a while, which took the shine off it for me.

It takes me straight back to working in Virgin Megastore and people seeking out certain albums for collections that contain Moby, Dido, Enya and other BBC Radio 2 background music classics for people that like to be distracted rather than entertained. This is one of the most Vanilla albums ever made.

Bob Dylan innit. Not one I know but older, raspy, bluesy Dylan is not bad at all.

This album is mental, in a good way. The synth noises are like funk satire at times, some of the vocals make me feel like I'm listening to Flight of the Concords (who were obviously big fans), the horns the chants. I can't tell if it's too much or not enough.

I was really enjoying this, oddly the more he spoke the more I felt I was listening to Chris Rock. They sound identical. That said, still a cracking album, great pace and a singing voice that it's among the best ever.

Oooooooo la la. This starts with a team that the likes of Django Django, the rice cake eating band and their ilk must love, then something that half the bands of the 2000s must have poured over. Great album, a sound and style that has come round time and again. Really cracking find.

This is pretty biting and deliberately challenging political satire. It's brave, in your face and unapologetic. However, for anyone that grew up in the age of Toy Story it's really hard to decouple that soundtrack and his doing writing as they all sound so similar. Hats off to the political bravery,I wish we had more of it today when it's desperately needed, but we are fed homogeneous fluff to keep the masses sedated.

Interesting, this album for sure has it's moments and one outstanding single, but overall it's the musical equivalent of using 100 words when you could manage with 10. Perhaps it's the production (vocal really high in the mix) but really not feeling it, it makes 37mins feel like 2 hours.

This album is great. Janelle's voice, the effortless blending of styles, the guests, production, ambition. I knew Tightrope was a banger, but this album is wall to wall with them. It reminds me of Little Sims, Sometimes I might be introvert in cinematic production. It could be a few tracks shorter.

I love that the Beastie Boys wear the musical evolution on their sleeve. I loved this album when I first heard it, it gets better with age. Banger after banger and a wild eclectic ride. Great band, great album, great times.

This album is so bland I forgot that I was listening to it a few times. Popped it on to cook dinner, and whist never offended or put off by anything on the album, I was equally neither inspired or intrigued. It was just... there, 16 years after listening to them for the first time and feeling equally underwhelmed.

I love this when it's foot stomping high tempo rollicking good times. I like the lore behind it. This is far from the perfect album though, some of the mid song patter is a bit forced and the ballads drag.

This is a decent live album. It's a good selection of tracks, played well. It does lack the energy and verve you might expect from a live album. But it's alright

I fear there might be too few rock, prog and psych albums from the 60 and 70s on this list! Only perhaps 200/300 of the 1001. Geographical imperfections side, this was a rollicking romp. I was liking it a lot. Pop, psych and style. And then, side 2... What in the fresh hell is this? It's exactly what I dislike about early prog, the rambling nonsense, crap story telling and whimsical warbling.

This really is the sum of its ingredients. Phil Spector, Velvet Underground, Industrial Noise and pop. This would be in the top 5 albums I'd whack on if getting into heroin.

Bold, a Hammond organ cover album. The organ gets pretty/very annoying on some tracks, but over all this is a fun album for a rushed bunch of covers, knocked out to support the banging lead single. I guess it's just a massive extended B side.

I really liked boxer and alligator, saw the National live and then was oddly put off by that dull, naval gazing experience. I've still got a nostalgic like for the earlier albums, but find there schtick pleasant but at times a bit boring and repetitive.

So, more blues rock psych. From the 60s no less. I think the levels of cynicism this gave me had led to a pleasant surprise. There are lots of bands in 2026 still trying to perfect this sound and it's safe to say these guys nail it in 1967! Great, strange instrumental and production choices, flows brilliantly. Take me there man.

I think Plastic Ono Band is a more authentic and enjoyable version of Lennon solo. This album, a few standout tracks aside, leans into more musical clichés of the time and feels less timeless as a result.

This is the second time in a week I've got an album full of covers. Cool sounds, lovely raw production and playing styles, love the proto punk vibe, but not overly fussed to hear the same old staples in yet another genre. 1,000,000 songs in under 30mins is the story of efficiency I can get behind though.

This really fits with it's American indie brethren of the era, but with a mariachi twist. It makes for nice enough background music, but lacks enough soul and conviction to be an album I could fall in love with.

I know a number of people who fawn over this album and see it as one of the best albums of all time, I've never quite seen it that way. Looking forward to an objective listen... Objectively it's fine/good, but perhaps if you didn't live it at the time, it's just a dude with a strong voice crooning over some decent rock songs?

With a voice as sweet as a mars bar topped with candy floss and maple syrup it's hard to not be drawn into this album. But there becomes a point where the sweetness is too much and you want to digest it in smaller chunks over multiple sittings. It's a really nice album though.

The best cast member from the Wire on the list. Love the dirty, ominous, gritty production style. It's pretty solid throughout, with a tonne of Wu Tang swagger.

From the off I thought the New Jack Swing style of production was pretty cool... However, by the end of the first track the album lost me and it was in fact pretty damn boring and vapid throughout. A bad album, full of faux humanity, awful lyrical content, terrible production and not my jam at all.

This is unexpected. Yeah, I know of Beck, but not like this. The production, themes and style are consistent and strong throughout. As an album I imagine it rewards repeat listens. It is Beck does Nick Drake.

Einstürzende Neubauten walked so that Stomp could run. Music and mood are intrinsically linked. As much as I admire the vision and desire to do something different. This will never be my mood and there is plenty of industrial that followed that was decent.

I like this a lot, I've never done a deep dive on Neil Young's back catalogue but love the simplicity, piano overlays, classic Neil voice and delivery. Let's see what repeat listens bring.

A lot of the albums on the list seem to come down to whether you had a relationship with the artist or an album of theirs at some point in the past. I like Nick Cave, his schtick, the whole package. I like this, not my go to NC album however. Black Hair sounds like a fast show scetch

Christ on a bike, how many albums on this list are just a bunch of covers and often the same songs over and over at that. This is fine, nice covers, well recorded and played but I don't need to hear another version of Georgia on my mind.

Odd that this is the only Damned album on the list. They are an integral part of punks story and this album keeps up their ability to write poppy, punky bangers with a message.

It's madness. It's not too bad, they can write a good tune. They are more than a bit annoying across the course of a whole album.

Another artist I know, have listened to, have seen the 'must see' live dvd of and still didn't connect with or go back to. Why, nobody asked. Because it has sold hooks, lots to get your teeth onto however it outstays it's welcome on every single song. I expect that's because it was written for people who are having the best time on the disco biscuits and marching powder. They should do a half length sober cut. The same should be done with the chemical brothers albums while we're at it.

This is a great album. It's got an effortless flow and spacey ambiance. It's aged really well.

Really a great listen, fun thought.

Yes, loving a bit of of grime on the list. Not the strongest of the genre by a long shot, but bonus points for representation. A few cracking tracks on here, but I'd urge people to take a deeper dive.

Enjoyable synthy goodness. Lots of big 80s bangers on here. Good fun. I gather this was once serious music.

I get that this is a classic, but there is something about these big hitters of the 80s that sound so forced, to the point of being hard graft. Is it the production, is it the coke? Everything pushing hard to be the biggest gets pretty exhausting. I guess that's also the world's challenge with American culture in general.

Not the strongest Streets album, but one I loved growing up. It has a few of his strongest tracks hidden in there.

This album is so good, it's hard to grasp that it's a score/soundtrack to a film. The title track is peerless.

The way her voice was produced in the knife was annoying, this is no better. This is music without urgency or meaning.

This is a cool album. It's obviously influenced some of my favourite artists. Great music to wander aimlessly to.

This guy brought it all together in this album. It's phenomenal.

What's not to like. Such an easy to listen to album.

This is fun, got some good funk chops, but wears after a while. I'm too cynical for this much funk.

I like it. I don't like it. I love it. I hate it. A confusing album with amazing moments and some utter dross.

The album that influences half the albums on the list. Classic

Solid album, iconic band. Let's be honest, a bit repetitive.

There was a period in the 90s or early thousands where this boring, meek pish was everywhere. I'd rate this along side Dido and M People.

I will not succumb to the Adelle agenda. Music for people that like the radio being on in the background. There are a few certified bangers on here, but jesus Adele, can you dial it down a notch? This album has all the over the top drama people long for on their pathetic lives.

This, for me, is the best of Nick Cave. Great story telling, dark, moody, seedy and his voice works perfectly as this late night, bar side story teller. Outstanding.

An album that popularised concept albums and the LP. Pretty impressive. I remember buying it for my nana alongside her first ever cd player. It's lovely, it would work a treat in certain places at certain times, but there is no way I'm turning to Frank in my hour of need. A good reminder to be cigarette safe around soft furnishings.

This album is incredibly stupid, the lyrics are dated, it's a real snap shot of 80s American culture. It is also however fun, so well executed and frankly life's too short to get het up over. Lean in and don't fight it.

This is pretty monotonous throughout. It's various versions of the same song over and over with little variation.

It's odd that so many reviews are scornful of Dylan and his songwriting. For me this is peak Dylan. Every song has such purpose, depth and intent. It's music from the soul with passion and this is always the best music. It sounds like it'll hurt him if he doesn't get it all out.

Nice voice, nice enough album. Nothing original or groud breaking and I'm pretty bored of the cover albums on the list.

Second cover album in a row. This is much better. Lovely voice, soulful playing, human performance. Great album.

This has got an insanely low average score. Bold, aggressive, angry, unintelligible... what's not to like? Delighted to get a bit of metal on the list.

I liked this more than expected. Obviously it would pair best with disco biscuits and being swedged off your nut, but the big hits hit big and the album flows brilliantly. Way ahead of some of it's peers on the list.

War Pigs nee Paranoid. Pretty amazing album and a very easy 5/5. The band/sound that spawned a million bands. A classic in every sense of the word.

When this chugs along in is pomp you can hear the Nirvana influence in the likes of Nobody's Fault. You can absolutely here the G'N'R influence throughout and I love that it has a huge legacy. It's nowhere near as complete as Toys in the Attic however and has a fair amount of filler. Decent overall, but it's not something I'm rushing out to own.

This caught me off guard. A 70s prog influenced band that sounded like they are having fun. The squelch of the synth on the opening track was a delight. The flip to mariachi on across the border was bonkers. You've got to be especially pompous and po faced to listen to this and not enjoy yourself.

From grunge to power pop. Hole are my guilty pleasure from this list.

Joni really is one of the best artists of all time. I've really enjoyed the dive into her back catalogue and this is right at the top of pile. A poet with a deep understanding of the human condition and a wonderful voice.

Recorded in the same studio, at the same time, with the same producers, instrumental palette and chamber musicians as Soft Bulletin by the Flaming Lips. Once you know that, it makes sense. They sound like two sides of the same coin. This album is whatever side won the toss as Soft Bulletin is barely sufferable. This is however, moderately sufferable. I struggle with these American indie darlings, they have lots of ideas but very little soul or depth. Affectation is the word that springs to mind.

Not as all consumingly bad as the reviews on here, but an album for acquired tastes. I get and applaud the idea and ambition. It's not for me as a listen. Soundtrack/musical score theatrics with a heavy vocal focus on the production. Don't get me wrong, it's still getting a one and can get firmly in the bin.

Recorded at a time where there is a divergence in hip hop. Tribe, Arrested Development and countless others were bringing contiousness and humanity to hip-hop, Snoop and co were stoking the flames of stupidity knowing drama, violence and mysogany sells. It also lacks the intelligence of Wu-Tang's anger and violence. The production is outstanding. Never my favourite hip hop album, but still a classic. I still wish the good guys had won though as this was the doors opening to the sess pit that mainstream hip-hop became and the start of a decent into parody.

Peak Led Zeppelin. Everything else has been written in all the other reviews.

Late night tales. Lovely

Hats off to Barry. Released a few albums, met his hero's, snagged his dream job. Barry is doing better than you, probably.

I HAVE NEVER LISTENED TO THIS RADIOHEAD ALBUM. Which is very odd, as I rate all their albums. This is no exception, lovely, flowing considered music. I'll never get the luddites that get their pants in a knot about the more creative latter albums by Radiohead. It's also clearly not the Kid A offcuts, which is equally lazy as a critique. This sounds like silk flowing through my ears.

The Who flatter to deceive and are hugely overrated. That said, there's a few all time classic songs on this album. As a whole it's a real mishmash. Sounds like 5 different bands.

Oh Christ. As much as I love the Beatles I really struggle with McCartney. It had to happen eventfully, let's dive in... He's hard work and hard to like. Where did the character and charm go?

Credence are good 'ole boys aren't they. If they are good enough for the dude, they are good enough for me. A solid album.

Some of this is perfectly adequate, some of this is utter drivel. I didn't know what to expect, and I'm thoroughly confident I didn't need to hear it, nor will I listen again. I'm glad it's not their disco stuff at least. All in all a bit pish. It's one of those where 47mins feels a very long time.

This is amazing. I've never listened to it before and now fool me. Recorded on 8-track and designed to capture raw garage/grunge noise. I love it. Straight into heavy rotation, head and shoulders above some of the peers of it's time.

The exact moment five derivative English blues obsessives realized that mimicking Chess Records catalog tracks would no longer sustain their careers. Paint it Black remains an all time classic (why is it only on the US version), there are the slices of deep misogyny on here that are pretty bleak. All in all not their best album, in fact a pretty boring and monotonous one, but a stepping stone to world dominance that would continue 50 years later.

The first time I heard River Man I went out and got this album the same day. It's so good, in a haunting melancholic way.

Pure, blown-out noise rock, interrupted by story telling that punishes the repeat listener.

The thought of listening to this gives me the boak. The soundtrack to mtv2 and every crap gathering for about 5 years, this is one of the go to albums for people that don't like music. The safe option with some catchy sing along hits. Kind of like the grandfather of Kings of Leon or the Killers. As much as they annoy me, at least the early albums had some grit.

A good slice of power pop. Enjoyable if unspectacular.

This is good however very samey

'Produced with maximalist terror by The Bomb Squad, an album that transformed rap from a party-starter genre into an uncompromising, journalistic, and sonically dense political weapon.' What's not to love about that. Bring back political rage into the mainstream. We live in such sated times. The production on this album is not only outstanding, but just have been revolutionary at the time. The cut, paste and sample style here is what became the norm for years to come.

A very considered and creative slice of pop. The production saves it from being too syrupy sweet. ... does get a bit boring at times though.

What a great album. So much more energy and punch than it's peers at the time. A lot of noise for a 3 piece, love it.

The album that gave the world heavy metal.

This is a spoken word album, not a hip hop album. But hats off to the anger and rage at this fucking shit state of a planet. 30 years old and we are no better, most likely worse than the world inhabited and raged against when this album was released. Sigh.

On paper a nailed on 5 star album for me. Thrash metal on the list and some great song writing... ...that also has a drummer that is nowhere near good enough to pull off the vision. Bass that is moronically produced out the mix. And political sentiment the band abandoned for financial gain. Defeat from the jaws of victory.

A musical act of rebellion and fuck you to the New York musical establishment, sponsored by a wealthy heiress and born of 1950s drug fuelled parties. Man I wish I was there.