1001 Albums Summary

Haven't listened to this in a minute, so I'm looking forward to hearing how it sounds now. Yep, "Wesley's Theory" starts it off with a solid bang. Great use of George Clinton in a song that doesn't sound like a Clinton clone. And, Interludes. Still ain't so interested in these, but they're not awful. "King Kunta" still sounds like The Coup in every way. "Institutionalized" still not a suicidal tendencies cover but I love it. Most things on this album are an homage. Bilal and Snoop help realize that feeling here. "u" has some great Kamasi runs "alright" is more than that, featuring some more great Kamasi runs. the band is just great on "to pimp" no doubt "for sale" the second interlude is seemingly a different interlude. it's a complete song. or is it? neither interlude so far sounds like the 90s interludes that kendrick is probably alluding to. by "momma" this album feels like a continuous stream. the songs are different enough but are connected by a vibe and sometimes by an instrument "hood politics"/"how much a dollar cost" engages this connection specifically. these 2 seem to be the album highlights

oh wow, haven't listened to this in decades. this was one of my earliest musial loves and i can't wait to hear how it's aged for me "purple haze" is a classic for a reason. not the origins of heavy, blused-based riffs but one of the most perfect expressions of it in the late 60s. im not feeling or hearing anything new in this listening as the song is part of my dna. i still love it "manic depression" see above. additionally, i really love mitch mitchell's drumming on this track. on the entire Experience run, but just so, well, manic on here "hey joe" again, see above. nigh a perfect song, though we're a few songs away still from that, "hey joe" is a top 20 cover in my ears. "love or confusion" should get more love than it does. "may this be love", the waterfall song. almost the most beautiful song on the album. "i don't live today": still heavyish and the darkest song so far "the wind cries mary" they most perfect pop song by jimi. while i've not heard it in decades, i could listen to it forever "fire" i probably heard this a year or two before the rhcp cover. "third stone from the sun" is the first tune that sounds like its own thing on the album. it's jammier than other songs and includes some studio tricks and experimentation. "foxey lady" became yet another cultural touchstone from the album, covered multiple times. i didn't think i was going to enjoy listening to this again, but it is a really great song. far superior to the covers i've heard (special shout out to the kinnison cover as it came out around the same time i first heard AYE. teenage memories) "are you experienced" the piano, backward masking, and overdubbed guitars are in top form here. i love jimi's playing on this song. it is, without any doubts from me, a perfect album ender.

another one i've not listened to a while, but i know it will rank 4 or 5 stars. just amazing songs start to finish here "eleanor rigby" is still just a perfect pop song. beautiful and melancholy "i'm only sleeping" is a, well, sleepy hit. it's one of those songs that's a clear response to _Pet Sounds_, and that's to this song's benefit "here, there and everywhere" is a great, longing love song. it sounded a little dated at its time, but now it sounds timeless. "yellow submarine" is often written off as a novelty. it really isn't. whimsical, tuneful, enjoyable. give it a listen "she said she said" is a perfectly fine blues-based pop song. not the greatest beatles song but still fine. "good day sunshine" continues the blues-based pop song tradition, but paul's playing and singing really brings this song into greatness. that chorus is rightful beloved by the masses. "and your bird can sing" is a top 5 beatles song for me. there is nothing revolutionary about it, but the interaction of them all is in full swing here. just smart songwriting and playing all around "for no one" paul's interplay between his voice and piano is solid here. also, french/english horn almost always=great pop song in my ears "doctor robert" is a song. i like it because one of my best friends is a literal doctor robert "i want to tell you" is almost dissonant at times, mainly due to that bouncing piano. it's kind of gloriously weird "gotta get you into my life" is pure pop perfection. this version is outstanding, but i still prefer the earth, wind, and fire cover. give it a spin. "tomorrow never knows" is one of the best album-enders of all time. _revolver_ shows why ringo's drumming is often unfairly maligned, this tune in particular.

not Ray's best (but i'm not typically a fan of these big band arrangements unless they're by Duke). However, "Alexander's Ragtime Band" is absolutely sublime. the ballad side is the stronger side ("just for a thrill? "am i blue"? c'mon!) with "come rain or come shine" rightfully heralded as an eternal classic i hope ray's modern country soundz is on this list. that is some great stuff

another pretty perfect record for me. if this is a "weak" 5, then "blonde is an even stronger 5. I hope it's on here as well. i could go song-by-song about how amazing this album is, but "pyramids" is all i need to point to. it is 10 minutes of brilliance, one song broken up into 3 perfect parts. just stunningly good

part of electronica's takeover of numerous musical traditions in the 00s, this is a decent album. having the lineage of one of brazil's most famous musicians probably helped bebel out here, but she is also legit talented. nothing on this album is essential, but nothing is bad either. "bananeira" is the standout track here, a strong mixture of bossa nova, funky bass, and electronic music

there's a reason _american beauty_ continues to be the main dead album people know. it's fantastic. three songs from this show up on the remarkable tribute album _deadicated_. may need to listen to that again after this listen "box of rain" is a beautiful mid-tempo folky-rock song "friend of the devil" is forever perfect "ripple" ditto "truckin'" is a classic rock radio staple for a reason

without listening to this again, i'm confident it'll earn the 5-star rating. i love a lot of sly, and this album is just stunningly good. "stand!" was reportedly sly trying to make a poppier sound, something anyone could easily dance to. he accomplishes this, and he also keeps his social commentary in the forefront "don't call me n*****, whitey" keeps that social commentary blazing hotter in the forefront "i want to take you higher" still has one of the filthiest bass lines in rock and soul music "somebody's watching you" has that infections electric piano ringing in my ears while that urgent, scratchy guitar line runs under the piano "everyday people" is a brilliant pop song, full of fun and ideas. and it lead to a great reimagining by arrested development. "sex machine" provides some breathing room, a moment of little to no vocals where the band can just play for a minute. "you can make it if you try" ends with another piece of classic soul. just a great record from beginning to end.

another near perfect album and certainly my favorite EWF album. "shining star" is rightfully the most well-known song, but there are hidden bangers on here, including the title track, "yearnin' learnin'" and "see the light". great stuff from top to bottom. if their cover of "gotta get you into my life" were on here, it'd be an easy 5 stars.

this is not a bad marvin gaye record by any measure. it's just not one of his greats. the album is bookended by two legit great tracks: "let's get in one" and "just to keep you satisfied." remarkable tracks, the both of them. the rest of the album is just a bit of a let down in that it's all pretty samey. not much musical or lyrical stretching going on during all this getting it on.

i listened to the shit out of this in 98-99, right before i moved to michigan for grad school. haven't heard it much since then and didn't think too much of the album since. this is mainly due to the annoying ubiquity of "bittersweet symphony," which is an excellent song that overshadows the rest of this, frankly, set of songs that are almost all superior to BS (ha-ha). still love songs like "the drugs don't work," "space and time," and "lucky man." top notch songs all of them. i really love this album when they stretch out into psych rock territory. "the rolling people" and "velvet morning" are remarkable, and "catching the butterfly" sounds like a track from _kid a_ five years before _kid a_ came out. so, just a wonderful album all around

i was 15 or 16 when this came out and hated country music. i was a rock and hip-hop kid. eventually, i learned to love all kinds of country music, dwight included. his mid-to-late 80s stuff is just so damn good.

this is the only Zappa that i have on vinyl. it’s amazing how frank moves between freak out music with its weird time signatures, odd instruments, and even odder sound effects. at times, this sounds like any other 60s album musically, but lyrically the anti-love songs and parodies of 50s and 60s music set frank apart

15 days into this challenge and i have had the first artist that i've not heard of before (i hope this happens more often). this album is miraculous. i should be working, but i can't stop listening to this. i will seek out more of his stuff after this

with ~990 albums left on the list, i'd be surprised if i've listened to another album more than _synchronicity_, an album i've had in some way since i was 10 years old (so for 43 years now). i doubt i can be too objective here, save for "mother". this album's 4/5 because of that song

another 90s favorite of mine. while _animal rights_ is the moby album that i prefer, there is some marvelous music on here. the re-release including the b-sides is also a good listen

another of the 1001 albums i don’t have to listen to in order to rate. but i listened to it with no complaints. the album not only injected west coast, 90s rap with samples, but is just stunning and perfect on its own

one of the jazzier zappa albums i've heard, and it's really damn good. not as weird as "freak out" or "joe's garage", for example, and a better listen for it.

another album that i loved a lot in the past, but i don't know how this will hold up for me. it's still pretty damn great power pop. and yeah, it's still great. my early ears are still alive in this old head

talk talk's final three albums are good to great, in ascending order of release. this is their final album as a poppier new wave band. they excelled as a poppy singles band, and the songs on "spring" are great songs. you also get a little sense of where they're going with the 8-minute album ender, "time it's time".

another new album for me. i've listened to ibrahim a little bit before, but this will be some new sounds. "tuang guru" sounds like ibrahim at his most coltrane, which makes it fine but not amazing. "water from an ancient well" is a masterpiece. were the album as strong as this piece, it would be an easy 5 stars. the second half is the stronger listen. however, i really don't know how this album makes this list. so many other ibrahim albums to make this and african jazz albums overall could be on here. just puzzling

i don't think i've actually listened to this album in its entirety, and i'm glad to have done so finally. what i've learned is that the s/t song is the weakest on the album, even though it becomes pretty awesome during the last 2ish minutes when the strings and rumbly bass come in. "cecilia" is still fun and "the boxer" is still the best "famous" song from the album. "baby driver" is a pretty good song though easy enough for me to forget it. "the only living boy in new york" is still my favorite s&g song. just remarkable from beginning to end, and "why don't you write me" is a damn good follow-up to it. "bye bye love" is needless. why is it here? "song for the asking" is a solid ender but still a little forgettable. perhaps album-enders are there because many stop listening by that point? i don't really know for sure

i hope bjork's first four solo albums show up here, but i doubt they will be. _debut_ is a great, great album. by _verspertine_, her fourth solo album, she had solidified herself as an avant-pop genius. the standout track for me is still "one day," a marvelous bass-heavy dance pop gem of a tune. then there's the weird, dissonant sax to open the almost equally great "areoplane," in which she performs some truly odd delivery. "the anchor song" is a lovely, lovely piece of pop jazz. just wonderful delivery and strong ending to this amazing first record

this is my favorite calexico album. no contest. still one of the best live bands i've seen and look forward to another show in the future, but they are just not much of an album band. _feast of wire_ transcends their studio weaknesses and provides an almost perfect experience, beginning to end. "black heart" is a special kind of amazing on this album. it's kind of what they tried to on earlier albums but just didn't get the feel right. they nail the strings and stripped down acoustic jam band feel here. it almost feels like portishead meets uncle tupelo's acoustic stuff and is just brilliant. p.s. their covers of the minutemen and of love are also outstanding recorded tunes

another 90s one i've not listened to in a while. buckley is a very talented singer and guitarist. i wish we had the chance to hear him once he had developed his own voice and sound. so much of _Grace_ sounds like led zeppelin. he would have found his voice, eventually.

_sweetheart of the rodeo_ is my favorite byrds album, but they didn't make any bad ones. and they made a few great ones, including this one here.

this is not the RM album that I tend to return to, and i'm asking myself why is that the case? this album is full of such weird goodness.

i've only ever known hanoi rocks by who they influenced. _back to mystery city_ is a marvelously strange concoction of punky, pub rock, even a hint of goth with its keyboards, all slathered in glam rock. i don't know if i'll ever listen to this again, but i won't rule it out and will listen to other stuff by them. i was skeptical when i saw this as today's album, but i left as an interested listener

a perfect album? yep, at least as close as one can possibly get to one. "respect" gets all the, uh, respect, and rightfully so. the standout track here is the title track. "do right", "save me", "a change is gonna come" provides one of the best 1-2-3 punches in pop music

i loved this as a youngin. now it bores me. this is too much of a prince rip-off, and i was probably less bothered by that decades ago. "perfect way" is still pretty good, though. "flesh and blood" is some pretty good brit ska

oh, like i need to listen to this to rate it. hands down their best, and those final 3 songs are the perfect album-enders. i was happy to listen to this yet again

i wanted to try to find enough holes to state that this album is not as good as all the hype, but it's impossible. with the exception of "birthday" it's almost all bangers. even though i find "revolution 9" unnecessary, it is not uninteresting. i appreciate the weirdness of it. i did love being reminded that "helter skelter" and "revolution 9" are essentially punk songs

ugh. i've never liked her voice. this is painful. songs and music are fine. but, that voice

one of my absolute favorite 90s albums. let's hear how it held up for me. six songs into this twenty-two song epic and, yep, still love it. "speedy marie" is still my favorite track. there are sixteen songs remaining to change my mind "sir rockaby" is also still a fav. man and then "freedom rock". it's just bangers one after the other "ole mulholland" starting out like a new order song. love it.

another favorite 90s listen. i will probably always love this album, and it is good to hear it again in the context of this project. catchy tunes, goofy weirdness, and a great ballad-y song in "here". just great from beginning to end. "summer babe" is a top 5 single of all time for me.

A story. In the mid-90s, I was at Washington State University. I walked along the Glen Terrel Mall through campus many times a day over those years. Holland Library is on one end of the mall. A small family of evangelicals appeared frequently near Holland, preaching things that one would likely think of as evangelical: premarital sex, substance abuse, and abortion all as sinful, devilish behavior. One of their shticks involved the preacher’s wife, Sister Cindy Smock (why can I remember their names 30 years later when I can’t remember why I walked into the kitchen?), pushing her fingers hard through a condom to show how easily they break. Persuasive. I stopped occasionally to listen to the Smock family but usually just brushed them off. One day, Brother Jeb and Sister Cindy were out railing against the influences of popular culture, music especially. This is when I won myself a personalized copy of Brother Jeb’s jeremiad, _Who Will Rise Up?_, when I correctly answered the name of Big Brother & the Holding Company’s first album. _Cheap Thrills_ is the answer. He gave me the book and went on to preach against the influence of an album that was almost 30-years old at that point. It's probable that Brother Jeb thought I was a soul lost to the hippie drug culture that his mind still fixated on. The reality was that I had worked at music stores for the previous seven years and had sold and stocked thousands and thousands of albums, including albums by Big Brother & the Holding Company/Janis Joplin. I had never heard the album, only knowing “Piece of My Heart,” the classic rock radio staple from the album, until today. _Cheap Thrills_ is today’s 1001 albums to listen to. It’s . . . a snooze. Joplin’s vocals and the music are old hat by now, white people making money from black music’s past.

i had never heard this one before. it does not disappoint. psych goodness from beginning to end. "elevation" is an 11-minute epic of noise and debauchery

not my favorite album by fiona, but it is still amazingly good.

christ, another one(two) that I do not need to listen to but gladly will. wall-to-wall absolute bangers across these two discs