1001 Albums Summary

Relisten Wonderfully dark and sensual. Still blows my mind this came out in 1990. Fav track: Halo, World in My eyes, Policy of Truth Least fav: Waiting for the Night

Relisten Kinda hard to not separate my opinions on this album now from the fact that it was basically constantly playing for most of my childhood. I think it occasionally is a little goofy and melodramatic and Mike Shinoda's rapping isn't the best. But then Chester screams his fuckin lungs out over some of the best nu-metal melodies out there and suddenly the flaws don't matter as much. There's an earnestness to even the corniest lines, it's hard not to feel a little bit of something, especially considering Chester's passing. Fav track: Crawling, Points of Authority Least fav: By Myself

Relisten I prefer Nick Drake more stripped back like on Pink Moon where it's mostly just him and a guitar but the instrumentation on these songs is still really good and adds some whimsy that his later stuff doesn't have as much. Feels like walking through the woods in the fall picking up pinecones and shit. Favorite: Three Hours, Saturday Sun Least favourite: The Thoughts of Mary Jane

First time listen Was surprised how much I loved this considering that I don't consider myself a huge Springsteen fan. There's a through-line of Midwestern Melancholy that really tugs at my heart strings. Much more emotionally raw and lyrically interesting than Springsteen's later, more pop rock stuff. Feels like a nostalgic, downtrodden slice of Americana. Would probably rate it 4.5/5 if I could Favorite Tracks: Atlantic City, Highway Patrolman, My Father's House Least Favorite: State Trooper

First time listen but I've listened to disc 1 a few times Surprisingly doesn't feel too bloated for a double album. The classics are mostly front loaded but there's a lot of stuff on the second disc that I really enjoyed Was definitely ready for it to be over by the last couple songs, but the ratio of hits to misses is pretty great for a two hour album Fav tracks: Zero, An Ode to No One, 1979, X.Y.U. Least favourite: Cupid De Locke, Galapogos 4.5, leaning 5/5

Relisten Not a bad song on this album. Quintessential grunge, even the overplayed hits are still fantastic. The album effortlessly jumps between loud and explosive to moody and heavy in way that still sounds fresh today. Favorite tracks: Something in the Way, Lithium, Territorial Pissings, Come As You Are Least favorite: None

First Time Listen I think there are some genres and scenes that are hard to bring into modern, streaming-centric times without feeling like you're losing something. I think a lot of this 2-step house albums from the 2000s suffer from this. I don't think a full length album, listened at home on my computer on a Wednesday afternoon while completely sober, is the ideal way to experience any of this music. There's some catchy tracks here, a few I'd probably put into a house playlist or would enjoy hearing on a club mix. But listened back-to-back, with all the fluff and corny R&B lyrics in my face for an hour, I just kinda feel like I'm trapped in a Planet Fitness without my earbuds. Favorite Tracks: You're Mine, Sincere Re-Cue'd Least Favorites: MJ FM Interlude, I See 2-2.5/5

First Time Listen Pretty good New Wave album, had a very ethereal sort of atmosphere that I really enjoyed. There were a few catchy tracks but I also don't think a lot of it really stuck with me. Definitely something I'd want to revisit at some point. Fav Tracks: Nude Spoons, Club Country Least Fav: Bap De La Bap 3/5

First time listen Pretty uninteresting dad rock for me. I can see that it's well produced but it doesn't do much for me. Fav track: Sister Morphine, Moonlight Mile Least fav: Brown Sugar, I Got The Blues

First time listen Didn't expect raunchy blues rock going off of the album art but I was pleasantly surprised by this one. Pretty short with a decent variety, seems like the vocals might have been an inspiration for Geordie Greep. He probably shouldn't have said all of that on "Next" though. Favorite tracks: Swampsnake, Next Least fav: Gang bang 3.5/5

First time listen Good, hypnotic house music. I think the first two tracks are a little overly long but it kinda comes with the territory I suppose. Wouldn't have expected this album to be from 1996, sounds a few years ahead of its time. Fav Tracks: Juanita / Kiteless / To Dream of Love, Rowla Least Fav: Confusion the Waitress 3.5/5

First time listen First Beck album, was ok, most of it didn't really grab me to be honest. I like some of the singles I've heard by him but this album felt all over the place stylistically. For some reason develops a hip hop sound toward the end of the album I wasn't a fan of. Will have to try another album by him. Fav tracks: Where It's At, Novacane Least Fav: High 5 2.5/5

First time listen Yeah okay whatever the production is good I guess. But it's really fuckin hard to remove this album from the pedophilic context of its subject matter and Serge's weird (putting it lightly) relationship with his daughter. I say this as someone who generally doesn't have any issue separating art from the artist, or enjoying art that tackles difficult subject matter - Serge Gainsbourg was a perverted freak who dabbled in pedophilia and incestuous overtones in his music, and I don't think his history of being a provocateur really makes this album easier to stomach. No lush production or orchestral crescendos can make my skin uncrawl from listening to the giggling of this fictitious 15 year old girl in the context of a sensual spoken word ballad. I don't deny its influence or even its artistic merit, but I find the subject and artist detestable in a way that refuses much appreciation for its positive aspects. Fav track: I don't know I don't care Least favorite: All of it 1/5

Relisten Pink Floyd's most emotionally poignant work in spite of its slightly bloated length. Roger Water's life experience bleeds through every song on this album, and I'm always surprised by the amount of people who view this album as pretentious - a little on the nose maybe, but given Water's specific attachment to this project so many years after its release makes it clear that this was a personal piece first and foremost. It's not my favorite Pink Floyd album, but it offers some of the group's strongest emotional highs. Fav tracks: Another Brick in The Wall Pt. 1 thru Pt. 2, Comfortably Numb, Run Like Hell, The Trial Least fav: Young Lust 4.5/5

First time listen Pretty mixed on Bob Dylan overall, some of his albums are great and some of the stuff that people really love are kinda grating to me. This was mostly a collection of the stuff I like from him with a bit of a lull in the middle with some songs I didn't care for as much. The big long versions of Ballad of a Thin Man and Like a Rolling Stone at the end really elevated this album for me, really transformative versions of those songs - especially Like a Rolling Stone, it's nice to hear a different version of a song I've grown completely and utterly tired of hearing. Fav tracks: Ballad of a Thin Man, Like a Rolling Stone, Mr Tambourine Man Least fav: Just Like a Woman 3.5-4/5

First time listen Suprisingly haven't listened to this album yet. I'm more of a mid to late 70s era Bowie fan, but this era is great too. There's some tracks that feel a bit like B-sides for Ziggy Stardust, but overall I think this is an enjoyable, catchy album. Fav tracks: Aladdin Sane, Time Least Fav: The Jean Genie 3.5/5

Relisten Despite the insane nazi shit that he fell into in recent years, his older discography is, for better and worse, very far removed from the person he is today. Haven't listened to this album since I was still in college so hearing it now made it hit a lot harder, the whole thing feels like an anthem for twenty somethings who don't know what to do with their lives. I like almost every song on this record and it's as crisply produced as it was 20+ years ago (except that Jay-z sounds like he did his feature in a phone booth on Never Let Me Down). Re-listening to it definitely gave me a newfound appreciation for it, it's a hell of a first album. It also just makes me sad knowing all the insane shit that would happen afterwards. Hope he gets the help he needs, but this version of Kanye feels like a distant memory. Favorite Tracks: We Don't Care, Spaceship, Never Let Me Down, Family Business Least fav: Get Em High 5/5

First time listen Completely underwhelming psych rock. I don't already have much interest in this era of rock unless it's The Doors, but this album feels especially boring, has all of the worn out tropes you could ask for; the grating harpsichord song, the goofy vaudeville track, a few boring love songs. Listen to the first track and save yourself some time by skipping the rest. At least it was short. Fav Tracks: I Had Too Much To Dream Least Fav: The Toonerville Trolley. The King Is in the Counting House 2/5

First time listen If not for his more weary vocals on this album you could've convinced me this came out right alongside Heroes, and I don't just say that because it's got the Heroes album art in the background. This album especially seems like an acknowledgement of the passing of time - heroes just for one day, and then "The Next Day" comes and we're left with something different, but still having the DNA of classic Bowie. Kinda crazy that Bowie dipped for a decade just to come back, drop two great albums, and then die. Most older artists either fizzle out or just stop making new music years before their deaths. David Bowie went out with a bang between this and Blackstar. Favorite tracks: The Next Day, The Stars (Are Out Tonight), How Does The Grass Grow, (You Will) Set The World on Fire Least fav: Valentine's day 4-4.5/5

First time listen Country-ass country duets. Not really my thing, but not really offensively bad either. My love for this type of country doesn't stretch much further than something like Marty Robbins. Don't really have any favorites or least favorites, this era of country is pretty repetitive and the songs tend to blend together. 2/5

First time listen Decent rock album. Better than some of the 60s rock outfits on this list that have absolutely no place being there. Didn't have a lot of the corny tropes of the era. Not something I'd be eager to listen to again, but I'll probably check out more of this band at some point. Don't really see this as anything essential by any stretch. Favorite tracks: Feelin Alright?, Means to An End Least favorite: Pearly Queen 3/5

First time listen I liked this quite a bit, expected some kind of folksy type music going off of the rugged handsome man on the cover but this had a bit more of a pop sound than I expected. Didn't clock this was the guy in the Beach Boys initially, definitely wouldn't have picked up on it based on his sound alone. Wild Wikipedia read too Favorite Tracks: Time, River Song Least Fav: Rainbows 4/5

First time listen From the first seconds of this album there is zero doubt of the era that it was made in. It's got the silly goofy guitars, the cheesy lyrics, the whole nine yards, but it also has an earnestness to it that I found charming. Made me want to wear a bedazzled pair of flaired jeans and a crop top with a flower on it Favorite tracks: You Oughta Know, One Hand in my Pocket, Ironic Least favorite: Head over feet 3.5/5

First time listen Cookie cutter, radio safe idea of what "funk" ought to sound like. Really sterile and uninteresting for the most part. It's got a couple of their big tracks on here but I've never been a huge Red Hot Chili Peppers fan anyway, so the added fluff in this album make it pretty dull for me. Favorite Tracks: Californication, Scar Tissue Least favorite: Porcelain, Get on Top 2/5

Relisten This shit needs to be taught in schools man. Quintessential example of the transformative power of sampling. Sounds just as fresh and interesting to me as my first listen. You could listen to it a hundred times and pick up on some new sound, some sample in the background that you never noticed before. Favorite Tracks: Since I Left You, Frontier Psychiatrist, Live At Dominoes Least fav: Genuinely don't think I have one 5/5

First time listen There's a breathiness to everything Bono sings that makes him really exhausting to listen to for a full length album. The first few tracks are good and then by the end I'm just tired of hearing the guy. It's better than their later stuff at least. Favorite Tracks: Sunday Bloody Sunday, New Year's Day Least Favorite: Red Light, "40" 2.5/5

First time listen Pretty boring downtempo album. Not really much to grab onto here, but it was serviceable enough as background music Favorite track: Water from a Vine Leaf, Monkey King Least favorite: The Story of Light 2.5/5

Relisten Love Dinosaur Jr. a lot, especially their earlier, noiser stuff like this. It's not quite on the level of You're Living All Over Me, but I do really like this album and found myself enjoying it a lot more on this relisten. The rough around the edges production is a big appeal, and I love the vocals and lyrics - they sound very intentionally immature, like a child throwing a tantrum at times (especially Don't, with its wailing "Why don't you like me" almost sounding creepy coming from a grown man's voice.) Glad to get a really good album after a couple consecutive duds Favorite tracks: Freak Scene, Yeah We Know, Don't Least favorite: didn't really have one 4.5/5

First time listen Pretty great, eclectic album. Velvet Underground are obviously super influential and were always trying new stuff with their music. I think for the most part this album is a great example of that, Lou Reed jumpscaring you in "Lady Godiva's Operation" and incorporating the breathing and heartbeat into the beat of the song is especially memorable. I found "The Gift" to be a little overly meandering though, but when you're swinging for the fences all the time it's not surprise you don't always knock it out of the park Favorite tracks: Lady Godiva's Operation, Here She Comes Now Least favorite: The Gift 4/5

First time listen Good Miles Davis album. Not his best work, definitely a little more low-key than some of his most famous stuff. I still found it to be nice background music. Feels like walking through a bustling city taking in the scenery. Didn't really have a favorite or least favorite portion for this album, it all blended together well and made for a pleasant experience 3.5/5

First time listen A great live album with some fun banter interspersed and an overall fun, funky vibe. I've only listened to Zombie by Fela previously but his energy transfers well to this live performance. Loved the incorporation of the audience singing on the last track. Favorite Tracks: Egbe Mi O, Ye Ye De Smell 4/5

First time listen Lovely bossa nova. Having the female vocals on a single channel creates this really interesting sound that I liked a lot, even if I initially thought my headphones were bugging out. 5/5

First time listen Never heard their first album before somehow. While I think it's a good listen in its own right, I think the most interesting aspect is hearing the beginnings of their style and consequently one of the driving forces behind metal as a whole. You'll hear some shit that sounds 20 years ahead of its time in one second and then a blues rock lick will remind you this is somehow an album from the 70s. You can still hear those influences on later albums but the blues influence is especially prominent here. Really enjoyed it Favorite tracks: The Wizard, NIB Least favorite: Evil Woman 4/5

Relisten Hard to listen to this without ruminating on the fact that this was Cash's last album before he died. There's a frailty to his voice and persistent themes of love, death and regret, all of which are well traveled territories for him, but take on a different meaning when released so close to his death. There's some covers in here that take on a solemn, depressive tone. In My Life is a very beautiful, albeit a bit melancholic song when played by the Beatles, but when played by Cash it leans far more into the melancholy. Same goes for Personal Jesus and a lot of people's personal favorite; his cover of Nine Inch Nails "Hurt". I don't count myself among the people who think his cover eclipses the original song, but Johnny takes it and makes it his own, making small changes to the lyrics that make it fit with his style a lot more. It's a testament to his skill as an artist that he can transform so many famous, well known songs into something that fits perfectly in his own discography. I do think the production leans on a little corny sometimes though, as though the audio engineers really wanted you to remember how old and grey Johnny has gotten - some echoing effects and a vocal effect on the first song seem a little tacky, but when it's just Johnny and his guitar, it's fantastic. Favorite Tracks: Give My Love to Rose, In My Life, Danny Boy, We'll Meet a Again Least favorite: First Time I Saw Your Face 4/5

First time listen Starts on a pretty bad note for me with the title track which just strikes me as overly long and indulgent. I don't mind long or even repetitive songs but I felt like in tandem with the repetitive lyrics it just ended up aggravating me. After that it fell into a more listenable experience. I could do without a couple of the covers but overall this is a fine synthpop album. Fav tracks: Two Tribes, Power of Love Least Fav: Born to Run, Welcome to the Pleasuredome 3/5

First time listen Morrissey's stuck-up-his-own-assedness is on full display here. Songs like "America Is Note The World" and "I Have Forgiven Jesus" are so pretentiously written that they wrap around to being comical. They have the subtlety of a baseball bat to the face. I can usually handle his smarmy sarcastic lyricism except for the fact that instrumentally a lot of this album is totally boring and lacking the catchy jangle pop sound that complimented his lyricism with The Smiths. I think it picks up more in the back half, but even most of that stuff isn't particularly evocative. Favorite Tracks: The First Of The Gang To Die, All The Lazy Dykes, How Can Anybody Possibly Know How I Feel? Least favorite: America Is Not The World, I Have Forgiven Jesus 2.5/5

Relisten Not going to turn any heads when I say this album is fantastic. I used to be the type of music listener who thought I was special for not singing their praises, but that mostly came from not giving them the time of day besides their big hits. They really shine in an album format, and this is the quintessential example of that. The disparate tones and sounds come together into a nice cohesive whole in the first half - you go from love ballads like Something to the darkly upbeat Maxwell's Silver Hammer, into perhaps their most soulful vocal performances in Oh! Darling, and then sure why not, a goofy song about living in the ocean, and then the hard loud I Want You. It somehow juggles those tones and genres really well, it has a nice flow. The second half is equally great Here Comes The Sun is overplayed but still a great, almost blindingly pleasant song. Then it ends with the Medley, combining a bunch of unfinished songs into a grand finish for the record. It flows beautifully from one track to another and features some of my favorite bits of songwriting and lyricism from the band, especially You Never Give Me Your Money, Sun King, You're Gonna Carry That Weight, and The End. Really hard to find a fault with this record for me, I think some of their more famous records are a bit overrated, but in this case I absolutely understand why it's so adored. Favorite Tracks: Oh! Darling, Octopus's Garden, Here Comes The Sun, the whole Medley Least favorite: None 5/5

First time listen Interesting choice to have a double LP with an English and French version. I think I preferred the French versions just a bit more, but as a back to back experience it was obviously a bit of a drag, and likely wasn't even meant to be listened to front to back anyway Regardless, it's good, catchy synth pop that sounds a bit samey. Favorite tracks: Damn (What must a woman do), Doesn't Matter, Goya Soda Least favorite: The Walker 3/5

Relisten Don't like this type of Springsteen that much. There might be something to be said artistically about the dichotomy between the on-brand, downtrodden Americana lyrics in comparison to the more up beat and poppy sound of the album, but I just don't think it works, I think he does better when the instrumentation matches the tone of his lyrics. Fav Tracks: Bobby Jean, Dancing in the Dark Least Favorite: Working on the Highway, Glory Days 2.5/5

First time listen Seems like an album about school written by a group of guys who were born onto this earth already old and have no actual knowledge of what school is. Lame lyrically. Sonically sometimes good. Favorite tracks: Blue Turk, Grande Finale Least favorite: Luney Tune, Alma Mater 3/5

Relisten Pretty tight album, not much fluff to it. Sunshine of your Love is the obvious big song here but I liked the rest of it quite a bit too. Favorite Tracks: Sunshine of your Love, Dance The Night Away Least favorite: Mother's Lament 3.5/5

First time listen Love Steely Dan. This is a great album but it definitely isn't as great as some of their other stuff like Gaucho and Aja. Production is top notch as always. Favorite Tracks: Night By Night, Parker's Band, Charlie Freak Least favorite: East St. Louis Toodle-ooo 4/5

First time listen I like REM quite a bit but I don't think I vibe much with the vocals even on the albums by them I like a lot. The songwriting itself is hard to fault, it just seems to come to a coin toss whether or not the vocals tick me off on a given day. Favorite Tracks: Pop Song 89, Orange Crush, World Leader Pretend Least favorite: Get Up, You Are The Everything 3.5/5

Relisten I always forget that Superstition is on this album for some reason. It strikes me as an Innervisions song for some reason. Anyway it's fantastic like Stevie Wonder always is. Not quite Songs in the Key of Life or Innervisions but damn close. Favorite Tracks: Superstition, Maybe Your Baby, I Believe Least favorite: You've Got It Bad Girl 4/5

Relisten This one took a few tries but it grew on me. I love it's devolving into Ambient music in the second half similarly to Low. Has one of my favorite Bowie album openers and "Heroes" is a classic as well. I still think Low has it beat but just the tiniest bit bit this is excellent all around Favorite Tracks: Beauty and The Beast, Heroes, Neukoln Least favorite: None 5/5