1001 Albums Summary

Like most fairweather Pink Floyd fans, I know the "hits," but whenever I listen to this as a whole concept album, I appreciate it much differently.

I’m always sucked in by Cherub Rock as an opening track. And I still love their fuzzy guitar sound on lots of the songs like Rocket, Geek U.S.A. and Soma. If I never listened to Today or Disarm again, though, I’d be fine.

I get the appeal, so please get that this does not appeal to me. The songs are so earnest, and her voice sounds like she's straining -- it's occasionally painful to hear.

You have your Monday Monday and California Dreamin', and the other songs blend in and out perfectly, vibe-wise.

I was turned on to The Doors in high school and was obsessed for a handful of years. Today, I still like listening to most songs. This album has its playful side – Twentieth Century Fox, Whiskey Bar – showcases for Ray Manzarek – Light My Fire, of course – and earnestness – The End, The Crystal Ship. And at least this album doesn’t have L.A. Woman.

Fun fact: A former BF and I used to turn on Paradise by the Dashboard Light when leaving a local spot and bet on whether we’d make it home while it was still playing. This album is so operatic – I could totally imagine watching this performed live, not as a concert but as theater. I don’t know how much I like individual songs so much as I find myself bopping around to them.

I’ve loved Cat Stevens since I was a kid and then fell in love with his songs all over again when I first watched Harold and Maude in the ‘90s. A number of those songs are on this album, including my favorite, On the Road to Find Out. I could see some songs being a bit to earnest for some (Father and Son, Where Do the Children Play), but they’re just the right amount of earnest for me.

I’ve never really given this classic rockband much attention, partially because I don’t like Steve Winwood. Still, I didn’t expect it to kick off with a meandering jam tune then segue into pedestrian songs with a lot of flute and sax. The only thing this album has going for it is it’s blessedly short.

I've gotten used to the fact that this band is not metal and is barely hard rock. Their songs just don't match their onstage presence and pyrotechnics.

I feel like this hip-hop group was never talked about as much as A Tribe Called Quest or Wu-Tang Clan, but a lot of their songs have just as good beats.