Really funky, heard TTC in this
This is exactly what I imagined a white dj from the 90s would make
Really dope use of strings. Lyrics didn't move me very much. Feels like it's just a 30 min jam. Which is cool! But also not ground breaking to me
Very funky album - kinda feels like he was trying out a new sound. I was surprised to find out it came AFTER Purple Rain. Some people say it's better but generally I disagree
Highlights: Ballad of Dorothy Parker, The Cross
Was very cool and had some bangers. Interesting to see how they teetered between country/soul on this album a little more than they did their debut.
Favorite Songs: Parker's Band, Through with a Buzz
Just general feel good music. The harmonies are absolutely crazy
Highlights: Midnite Blue, Lil Darlin
Idc what the people say this was a very fun album with some funky elements. Frampton was having fun with the crowd
Highlights: Money, All I Want To Be (Is By Your Side)
This is my first time of the 1001 where I am very familiar with the album, so it's hard for me to take a step back and think critically about it. I tried to listen through and document how many I'd skip. Realized I'd probably only skip love song. She's too damn good. The first half is banger after banger tho. Kinda slows in second
Highlights: He Won't Go, Someone Like You
Man. What an album. It's damn near perfect. Absolute elite world building and story telling. Takes you on a journey where you end right back at the start. Forces you think about how we should see the god in everyone. And let's talk about the MUSIC. Wow! Elite use of vibraphone or some type of metalophone percussion - gives it this ethereal floating through sky vibe. I loved it all.
This album just makes me want to be better to people.
I don't hate it. It reminds me of a simpler time. The album is definitely painfully millennial (lol). They synths made me feel alot of nostalgia -- feel very true to early 2000s. I just don't think it's necessarily for me.
Highlights: As Above So Below, Forgotten Works
This was pretty good. Psychedelic is always fun when done right. Santana is a master and it's easy to tell. I do wish some of the tracks at the end were pushed to the front, but that's a stylistic choice.
Highlights: Oye Como Va (ofc), Hope You're Feeling Better (!!!)
About three songs in I realized it was a rock opera - that's on me the first song is literally called Overture. The writing is way better than the music imo, but I do really love the world building.
What I can say about this album is that each instrument has a purpose and connection to the albums overall allegory which I thought was really cool:
Highlights: Acid Queen, Sally Simpson, We're Not Gonna Take It
Is this characterized as post punk? I really love the grunge influence and you can hear the influence this had on several bands I fw today.
Highlights: Black Tongue, Maps
I really try to go into these unbiased but this whole album just feels like it was stolen from black rock artists and repackaged for a white 60s audience. The organ playing was sick tho -- probably my favorite part. Paul Revere had some sauce with that
Highlights: Kicks, Shake It Up
This is my first Radiohead album that I've listened front to back. Never thought RH was bad just hadn't gotten around to it. I definitely get it now.
V experimental in all the right ways. Creepy but funny. Introspective. But never goes too far out that you don't know what's going on. Well fucking done.
Highlights: Pyramid Song, I Might Be Wrong, Life In A Glasshouse
I just know that Brian Eno thought he was doing something with this album. Finished it and had a smug look on his face, knowing he had created...something.
I think I'm just not a fan of glam rock. If it's not Bowie it just sounds off. The arrangements were really cool I'll give them that. But I hated pretty much all of the mixes. There were so many times I was like...why is this ONE chime loud. Lyrics were annoying
Highlights: Needles In the Candle's Eye
Thank you 1001Album gods for putting this album right after I listened to Brian Eno, because I was easily able to pinpoint why I did not like this album. The whole thing felt like I was trapped in Buffalo Bill's dungeon idk
Highlights: Beauty Queen, Editions of You
Really love how Coltrane writes lyrics without writing lyrics. Like it's clear he has a word in mind for his notes.
Generally jazz moves me but I don't have the range to critique it, feels like high art where I just let it wash over me. Feels like a bath. So I can't say why I like it I just do
Not a big fan of Bono's voice but definitely dug some of the riffs and the overall themes. Not bad I just think that Bono sounds like he's whining most of the time
Highlights: Bullet The Blue Sky, With Or Without You (ofc), In God's Country
I actually really enjoyed this album, I just wish there was more of it. Each track felt like the beginning of an idea that wasn't really developed (except for the final few tracks). This is a really different approach, especially in 70s where songs were like 5-8 min long. The Americana influence is so interesting - like it's very much a British guy making American-based rock & roll but he does a great job of blending both worlds. Lyrics were very solid too
Highlights: Man We Was Lonely, Junk, Kreen-Akrore
Was this a good album? No. But did Julian Cope put something cohesive together? Also no. But did he at least keep me interested? Well, no. But did the songs sound like straight Crash Bandicoot loading page music? Yes.
I can appreciate this tbh. I need to do more research on how much he stole some the early rock stuff from black influences. You can definitely tell there are influences there. The lyrics are killer tho. Really love how he plays with pocket -- i guess that's his schtick.
Highlights: Maggie's Farm, It's Alright Ma (I'm Only Bleeding)
Nothing inherently wrong with this one it's just kind of boring. Rock & pop from the 70s/80s gets all this shine but when you really dive in, the whole genre is top heavy. The greats are great, but you have this kinda stuff that is considered middle class and doesn't hold up.
I didn't really have much fun after the first few tracks. It became background music that I'd hear in an old record store.
Highlights: Do It Clean, Rescue
I'm surprised how much I liked this album. Very cool arrangements and Neil's voice aint half bad either! Was impressed - wish he would have named his tracks better. Everything ain't the blues.
Highlights: For The Turnstiles, See The Sky About To Rain
This was a journey! Very Quintessential modulations and beat changes on a dime that I now realize have always been Fiona. Nothing feels sporadic tho. Everything feels carefully timed while and she creates these movements in her song that feel very true to piano. Never felt like I was listening to a 5 min song. Really enjoyed it all around - and to think she put this out at 18???
Highlights: Sleep To Dream, Shadowboxer (ofc), First Taste
A really dope album. Love the vintage distortion of the instruments and Jack's voice. Very bluesy in ways that demonstrate an homage to the greats. Eclectic tastes between the two of them.
Highlights: I'm Finding It Harder To Be A Gentleman, Fell In Love With A Girl, We're Going To Be Friends (ofc)
It didn't suck, it's just exactly what I'd expect from 5 white guys in the 60s. They were so up they had nothing to actually talk about so they just made whatever the fuck this is. I bet if this shit goes hard at a bingo night in a wisconsin retirement community tho
Highlights: Higgle-dy Piggle-dy
The thing about Elvis is that critiques should be largely centered around his voice because literally nothing else about his music is his. His voice is fine -- he uses the same vibrato trick and I guess in that era that would've been cool to hear. But his schtick goes stale for me maybe a quarter into the album. Not really my cup of tea.
Highlights: In The Ghetto (ofc), It Keeps Right On A-Hurtin'
This is a fun album nothing more nothing less. Why does this remind me of Lou Vega
This album is a journey. I really enjoyed her take on folk - felt very James Taylor meets America. Really interesting use of new instruments and were those synths i heard? I'm not even sure.
Also! The opening song is probably my favorite opener of the series so far.
Highlights: In France They Kiss On Main Street, Don't Interrupt The Sorrow, Edith and the Kingpin
Idk man I feel like it's some dad in the midwest that busts it wide open for this album it was just generally a little boring for me. Had it's moments but very hard to follow along. Not a lot of variation or diversity and felt like one long thought but not in a good way.
Highlights: Rococo Zephyr, Faith/Void (but like not the whole 9 min, more like 2:00-5:00
This is genuinely a fun album. There are so many sounds and parts that I really like. My biggest critique is that I'm not exactly sure the Youngbloods themselves knew what they were going for. It's all over the place, sometimes to its detriment. But I really enjoyed the goofiness of it while also maintaining really beautiful chords. Feels like a forefather of yacht rock at times.
Highlights: On Sir Francis Drake, Quicksand
Nina Simone's voice IS the instrument. No one on the album outshines her. Timeless sound for sure and the way she talks about unrequited love be making ME mad lol.
Highlights: Four Women, Lilac Wine, That's All I Ask
It's not necessarily bad, it's just a painfully british & 90s album. The divorce dads who go up for this stuff probably swear by it, but to me it's just boring. There are barely any dynamics which make the whole thing stagnant. The swells (or lack thereof) are not significant enough to make me stop for a second listen. The lyrics aren't very imaginative either.
It's not a bad album. I swear it. Just not for me.
Highlights: So It Goes
This album fucking rips. Top to bottom. The chords are way more complex than I would have thought would come out of this kind of rock band. It rocks but the musicality holds up. Makes you want to head bang even as a jazz enthusiast
Highlights: Since I've Been Loving You, Tangerine
This is basically an avengers/who's who of all of the best artists in 2010 entering a world that Kanye built to lament on becoming famous. His vision and message is clear and everything is carefully thought out. It's everything I love about music. Hardly have any notes. It's hard to critique objectively but I tried! There are no skips and the album holds up.
He's an awful dude but I understand why his stans refuse to let him go. There's always a chance you might get something like this. He holds the supply.
Highlights: Runaway, Dark Fantasy, Monster
Just general good ass jam band music. Would love to hear this shit live tbh. My only criticism is it feels *too* easy of listening at times. But who can complain?
Highlights: Shoot You Down, Waterfall
It's definitely an interesting one. I don't even know how I would classify it other than not my cup of tea. It's not as bad as I expected it to be but the everything about is kinda forgettable outside of the lyrics. She's got a very unique style that I can appreciate
Highlights: Guilt, Working Class Hero
Judging from the reviews, this album is sorely misunderstood. But to be fair, it's really hard to pin down what Tropicalia is. Either way, you can feel the roots of modern Brasileiro music all over this. It is a very sweet album.
Highlights: Clarice, Onde Andaras
Like very oddly rapey. I did not realize how weird this fucking band is because I've only heard singles
Highlights: Paint It Black
There is so much britpop on this list and literally none of it is good.
Highlights: Startstruck
I'm very glad that I listened to Tommy before this, because while I really enjoyed these songs I think it lacks originality. It leans very Americana, and I sound like a broken record but it's very clear that a lot was taken from Black artists. And while this feels more like appreciation than imitation, idk if they've ever credited their sources (and I tried to check and do my research!)
That being said there are definitely bangers. My Generation still holds up.
Highlights: My Generation, Kids Are Alright, Much Too Much
Beach Boys, I was not familiar with your game! The harmonies are actually insane and I was not expecting them to get as political as they did. A really cool album with very strong themes - feels like a bait & switch when you look at the title, which is my favorite type of album.
Highlights: Disney Girls, Feel Flows, Student Demonstration Song
The music is fire, I just wish he did more world building. With a title & cover like these, I was expecting more outright symbolism. Maybe I missed it! It's definitely one I'll be returning to. The music is very lush and I love the little overtures before each song. Wanted to give it a 5 but I need more story for that.
Highlights: When Seasons Change, Blue Monday People
Very very cool psychedelic album. Not much to say other than I really enjoyed and the lyrics were very fun. Sunshine of your love holds up!
Highlights: Sunshine of Your Love (ofc), Outside Woman Blues
If I'm keeping it a buck? Very uninspiring. Just 4/4 rock sounds that fit perfectly into a grid. Not bad, not good. Just bleh. No need to return to it.
Highlights: Fuckin Up, Mother Earth
It's cool or whatever but it's basically just a collection of loops and while I could imagine this went up at a 90s warehouse party, it's doesn't hold up on a casual listen.
Highlights: Right Here, Right Now (ofc)
This is a very sweet but sleepy album. All of the songs could have been like 2 min shorter. Esp the last song like why was that 11 min long. Her voice absolutely carries though. The country/folk sound is undeniable
Highlight: Everything Is Free
I dig the sound and it there are some highlights but I'm glad I listened to the other album first. I really appreciated how punk it was and this feels like a deviation from that. Still a solid album
Highlights: Heads Will Roll, Runaway
This album is very hard to rate from an unbiased perspective or without context. I get what the critics say about the unmixed, bedroom sound. But the sounds derived in a small VA studio drastically affected the sounds of the 2010s &20s.
Even if I were listening to this in a vacuum, it'd be clear to me that this band has something. They mix genres that hadn't been considered before, and serve as a link between modern pop & hip-hop.
I get what the haters tho about it's lack of cohesion, though. It's the only reason I can't give it a 5.
Highlights: Maybe, Drill Sergeant
Very middle of the road album but I will admit the lyrics were fire. I dig their blend too.
Highlights: California Dreamin (ofc), Spanish Harlem
This mf just put anything on this list, huh.
They can never make me hate you, Anita Baker. You have a right to talk your shit.
What they call overproduction, I call musicality & texture. What they call cliche, I call relatable writing. The band behind her was playing behind her. If you are a Japanese city pop snob and you gave this a 1, you are the problem. And the VOICE. Do not ever disrespect the voice. She takes us to church on every track.
To my non-white OAAD fam: This 1001 list and the loudest reviewers in the room try to make this challenge inherently anti-black (anti-other for that matter). Don't let them gaslight you into thinking an album is not generational. This is definitely an example.
Highlights:The first 3 songs are an elite run. Turn this shit on and I feel like I need to pick up a broom and clean somethin.
Honestly way better than expected. The blends were very cool and almost feels like Frampton-esque jam band. My only problem with it is it feels like it kind of molds together. All the songs are feel like the same rhythm. I still enjoyed it tho
Highlights: Moral Kiosk, Catapult
This is literally everything you could want in an album. Words that matter, big band with complex chords, and it just makes you want to dance. You cannot sit still with this album.
Highlights: The Whole Thing -- it's really only 4 songs
Definitely not my favorite Stevie album. Very sleepy. But even when his tracks are at their least memorable, the music still takes over and holds up. He even speaks Portuguese on this one!
Highlights: You Haven't Done Nothin, Bird of Beauty
I can acknowledge that hip hop was not the best in the 80s, and by all accounts this is likely a good showing for the style of the time. I can also acknowledge this group's effective music knowledge in their sample. That being said, it just doesn't resonate for me. The lyrics fall flat. It's def a fun album but if I'm looking for pre-90s rap, this one wouldn't be one I'd come back to. There's talent there though
Highlights: Looking Down The Barrel Of A Gun, Shadrach
A little slow in the beginning but the back half of this album fucking rips. Every time I was caught in a headbang they brought me back with the feels. I woulda ran this into the GROUND back in middle school.
Highlights: Geek USA, Spaceboy, Luna
Not too sure about this one. A bit predictable, as much of the 80s tends to be, but the words are very sweet and if I needed an album that I think my mom would love I would put this on. Matter of fact, I'm sure she does love this album lol this is from her era.
Highlights: Goodbye Sunday
As far as metal goes for me, pretty interesting. My problem with the genre at large is its lack of versatility - all sounds the same to me. But it still slapped during my morning workout
Highlights: CIU
Undeniable album. Elite synergy between the band & Bob. The chords won't quit and it feels like he's at his best on this album. So many hits.
Highlights: The whole thing is smooth, but the back half has all the goodies. One that doesn't get enough attention tho is the title track, Exodus.
Honestly not the worst just like painfully boring. If you're gonna be psychadelic be a little experimental plz
Highlights: How You Love
This was cool. That's about it. Nothing like exceptionally moving about it but could be really good background study music.
Highlights: Alice in Wonderland
Honestly just weird? It just skates past a 1 rating because it isn't unlistenable, but just not my cup of tea. I also take pause about someone who can find so many ways to sing about killing women but ok
Not much to say about this one. Very cool blues and distinct voice but also very run of the mill for the time period.
Highlights: Feel So Good, Soon Forgotten
This album is a perfect example of the early 2000s movement. Like extreme millennial optimism. It’s fun and taps back into a progressions of the 50s & ups which I really mess with, but doesn’t have much replay value.
Highlights: Confusion, Not A Lot To Do
Very hard to rate this because this is unlike anything I've ever listened to. It's this interesting oscillation between the pop music (60s jazz/soul) of the time and her native music in what I'm assuming is Afrikaans? It's interesting though I will give it that. She's a powerhouse singer and what she is able to do with her voice, especially with the percussion of her native language is a real gem that I'm happy to have heard.
This was a strong 4 for me until the penultimate track. That shit pissed me off I'm ngl.
Highlights: Lakutshn, Ilanga & Suliram
The samples on this album are crazy. This is an album that stands out ahead of all the lame 80s rap that was coming out...I'm looking at you beastie boys
Highlights: Black Steel In The Hour Of Chaos, Don't Believe The Hype
I don't know why I was expecting a heavier sound. It didn't disappoint, but I've been hearing about Megadeth being super hardcore and a lot of their songs felt melodic. Maybe this is my ignorance with metal showing, but I enjoyed the album nonetheless.
Highlight: Devils Island
Pretty boring. Not much to say about this one. 80s pop is very hit or miss
Highlights: Happiness is Easy
Really into the timbre of the guitar on this album. Very cool chord progressions. Feels like an inspiration for Turnstile, especially the lead singer.
Highlights: Then She Did..., Classic Girl
Very cool and of the times but feels like they were playing with new music tech like drum machines and updated DAWs and they relied on the novelty of that instead of the creativity they're known for. Radiohead is a head above the rest but def not their best work.
Highlights: There, There
Once again adding the disclaimer that I am not a metalhead but this album lacks a lot of imagination. The lyrics feel like they were written by the problem student in your 7th grade class who you try to make friends with just on the off chance that he snaps. Band behind the lead singer is just so repetitive it's hard to get into. There is better metal than this.
Beach Boys are always pretty good but about half of these songs feel unfinished. Great ideas that needed to be developed. The album is really held up by the songs we all know. That being said, those songs are too good to be denied. Would love to give this album a 3.6 or 3.7, so I'm just gonna round up.
Highlights: Wouldn't It Be Nice, God Only Knows
Rush is one of those bands that you never know the name of but has a CLEAR sound. They really take you on an experience.
Highlights: Tom Sawyer, YYZ
Very smooth, very simple country songs but I loved it. The steel guitar and the banjo were the stars of the show, but I really dug the storytelling throughout
Highlights: Banks of the Ponchartrain, One of These Days
As a Joni fan this is def not my favorite album but it has all the makings of a "good" album. I love how she interpolates snippets of well known works into her folk songs (see: River for the most obvious) and you can't talk about Joni without mentioning CONTROL. That being said the space between a 3 and 4 for me are how captivating the songs were and none of these are captivating so there you go.
Highlight: This Flight Tonight
One of the most interesting parts of this 1001 album challenge is being exposed to more music from the 60s, and understanding how much of the pop culture of the times was stolen from black artists. It's not even imitation being flattery, it's downright minstrelsy lol. There is no part of this album that couldn't have been done by Little Richard, or another Motown artist. One might say, listen to this music without bias! Without context! They didn't even make it without black context - half of these songs were literally written by black artists.
It's actually very important for these types of albums to be on this list; so music fans hear how toothless and bland music can be when in the wrong hands. Just hootin and hollerin and performing for no real reason.
