1001 Albums Summary

Listening statistics & highlights

176
Albums Rated
2.79
Average Rating
16%
Complete
913 albums remaining

Rating Distribution

Rating Timeline

Taste Profile

1950
Favorite Decade
Country
Favorite Genre
Other
Top Origin ?
Critic
Rater Style ?
23
5-Star Albums
39
1-Star Albums

Breakdown

By Genre

Top Styles

By Decade

By Origin

Albums

You Love More Than Most

AlbumYouGlobalDiff
Manassas
Stephen Stills
5 3.06 +1.94
Shaka Zulu
Ladysmith Black Mambazo
5 3.08 +1.92
Fisherman's Blues
The Waterboys
5 3.2 +1.8
Arthur (Or the Decline and Fall of the British Empire)
The Kinks
5 3.38 +1.62
Synchronicity
The Police
5 3.4 +1.6
Coat Of Many Colors
Dolly Parton
5 3.41 +1.59
Ellington at Newport
Duke Ellington
5 3.42 +1.58
Reggatta De Blanc
The Police
5 3.44 +1.56
Green
R.E.M.
5 3.47 +1.53
At Newport 1960
Muddy Waters
5 3.53 +1.47

You Love Less Than Most

AlbumYouGlobalDiff
Bad
Michael Jackson
1 3.81 -2.81
The Score
Fugees
1 3.69 -2.69
good kid, m.A.A.d city
Kendrick Lamar
1 3.65 -2.65
To Pimp A Butterfly
Kendrick Lamar
1 3.64 -2.64
Illmatic
Nas
1 3.61 -2.61
Brothers
The Black Keys
1 3.53 -2.53
Blue
Joni Mitchell
1 3.5 -2.5
The Marshall Mathers LP
Eminem
1 3.45 -2.45
Parklife
Blur
1 3.39 -2.39
Get Behind Me Satan
The White Stripes
1 3.38 -2.38

Artists

Favorites

ArtistAlbumsAverage
Led Zeppelin 2 5
R.E.M. 2 5
David Bowie 2 5
The Police 2 5

Least Favorites

ArtistAlbumsAverage
Kendrick Lamar 2 1
Joni Mitchell 2 1
The White Stripes 3 1.67
Belle & Sebastian 2 1.5
CHIC 2 1.5
The Fall 2 1.5

5-Star Albums (23)

View Album Wall

Popular Reviews

Youth And Young Manhood by Kings of Leon

The music was decent, lots of jangly guitars, but the singing is pretty horrendous. Not my cup of tea.

Channel Orange by Frank Ocean

Wikipedia says this is a rhythm and blues album. It has rhythm, in that same way that a washing machine has rhythm when it’s off-balance. It’s a beat that you never want to hear because at best it’s annoying, and it worse it’s going to cost you money. As for blues, it certainly gave me the blues listening to this hot garbage, but I didn’t hear any resemblance at all to any blues music I’ve ever heard. A dog howling at the moon is more in tune with blues music than this. Honestly, this album sounds like rap music, but whiner. Truly awful.

Searching For The Young Soul Rebels by Dexys Midnight Runners

I wondered if maybe they were good at one time, but nope. This album may be why Eileen left and she ain’t coming back.

1-Star Albums (39)

All Ratings (176)

Dire Straits by Dire Straits
Feb 20 2026

An exceptional debut album. Sultans of Swing is a classic, but I'm partial to Water of Love and Down to the Waterline, but every track is great.

Home Is Where The Music Is by Hugh Masekela
Feb 21 2026

Not an artist I was previously familiar with. Nice jazz groove. I'm a novice jazz listener, but I liked this.

Figure 8 by Elliott Smith
Feb 22 2026

Not previously familiar with this artist, but I liked it. It seemed familiar. Dark, brooding lyrics.

The Atomic Mr Basie by Count Basie & His Orchestra
Feb 23 2026

Loved this album. As I get older, I long for nostalgia, and this reminds me of listening to music at my grandparents house on their giant console HiFi set.

Sticky Fingers by The Rolling Stones
Feb 24 2026

Not my favorite Stones album, but close. Brown Sugar, Wild Horses and Bitch are classics, but the rest all bring something to the table as well. A very polished album.

Brothers by The Black Keys
Feb 25 2026

No matter how much Black Keys I listen to, it just doesn't resonate with me.

Boston by Boston
Feb 26 2026

An album from my childhood. Even after all these years, More Than a Feeling and Foreplay/Long Time still make me smile.

Led Zeppelin IV by Led Zeppelin
Feb 27 2026

I've listened to this album so many times, and it's still great. I know everyone else is tired of Stairway to Heaven, but it's such a spectacular song and was a big part of my childhood (it was played at every school dance). But my favorite from the album is their rendition of Memphis Minnie's "When the Levee Breaks." The composition of the song, from the drums to the bass and guitar and Plant's singing make this a true gem. Play it LOUD for best effect.

Back In Black by AC/DC
Feb 28 2026

This album came out when I was in junior high and it's a banger. Back in Black and Hells Bells get all of the credit, but my favorite is Shoot to Thrill. This is about the hardest rock I listen to, and I love it.

Playing With Fire by Spacemen 3
Mar 01 2026

I have never had enough drugs that could make me enjoy this, and that includes general anesthesia.

Imagine you’re working for an international spy organization, and you have captured a terrorist who knows the codes to disarm the nuclear weapons hidden in major cities throughout the globe. The clear answer to this trolley problem is that you’ll ignore the Geneva Convention and do whatever it takes to extract the information from the terrorist to save humanity. Rather than waterboarding, which will ruin this perfectly good carpet, you play Throbbing Gristle on repeat until they crack. I was ready to confess to crimes that I never committed just to make it stop. In short, this album is a human rights violation.

The Downward Spiral by Nine Inch Nails
Mar 03 2026

I know this band was (is?) really popular, but to be honest listening to this album filled me with the desire to go out and yell at kids to get off my lawn and, a) There were no kids out front and b) I don’t have a lawn. I’m old and listened to punk if I needed angsty music, not this. It's just not my jam.

Power In Numbers by Jurassic 5
Mar 04 2026

I'm not typically a hip hop listener, but I feel like this album was really well done and I can appreciate it. It's not likely to turn me into a giant hip hop fan, but I'm happy to have heard it.

Third/Sister Lovers by Big Star
Mar 05 2026

From the wiki: "After two commercially unsuccessful albums, Third documents the band's deterioration as well as the declining mental state of singer Alex Chilton. It has since gone on to become a cult album, and was placed at number 449 on Rolling Stone's 2012 list of the "500 Greatest Albums of All Time"." My own mental state declined after listening to this album. It made me want to overdose on heroin behind a dumpster. I guess I’m not in this “cult.”

Chore of Enchantment by Giant Sand
Mar 06 2026

Meh. Some of the tracks were terrible, the rest were the type that I wouldn't drop everything to turn off if it came on the radio, but honestly nothing here I ever care if I hear again, and a few that were awful.

Illmatic by Nas
Mar 07 2026

As an old white dude in rural America, this just isn’t for me, and that’s ok.

Pacific Ocean Blue by Dennis Wilson
Mar 08 2026

Pretty decent album. You can definitely hear the Beach Boys sounds in there, but also some funky stuff. Even more interesting was to read the Wiki on Dennis Wilson's tragic life. It's a shame he only ever made one album.

At Budokan by Cheap Trick
Mar 09 2026

Hard to believe I'm in my late 50's and never listened to this one all the way through. For me, Cheap Trick was always one of those bands that had a few great songs, but the rest was just ok. Unfortunately, this album proves rather than disproves that theory for me. The live versions of Surrender and I Want You to Want Me are classics, but the rest just seems repetitive and boring. I wanted to like this album way more than I did. I'm being generous with 3/5, probably more like 2/5 but I'm nostalgic for Surrender.

Siembra by Willie Colón & Rubén Blades
Mar 10 2026

Before today, I had never listened to a salsa album all the way through, but this was pretty great. As I struggle today with the DST time change, I pictured myself sipping a mojito in a cool latin club with music like this being played live. Exposure to new stuff like this is why I started listening to these 1001 albums. Fun.

The Low End Theory by A Tribe Called Quest
Mar 11 2026

The rhyming impresses me, but I'm just not a fan of rap music. I don't hate it, it's just not my jam. Great storytelling, though.

Under Construction by Missy Elliott
Mar 12 2026

Yeah, rap still isn't for me. This one has slang that I don't understand, so the lyrics are often lost on me.

Wild Wood by Paul Weller
Mar 13 2026

While not awful, I found this album just meh. It was fine. A nice break from the rap I've been fed by this 1001 albums list, but nothing I care if I ever hear again.

Document by R.E.M.
Mar 14 2026

Brilliant album. I'll never get tired of listening to REM. Such a pivotal band in my formative years. It's The End of the World As We Know It, and I feel happy to have listened to this today.

1999 by Prince
Mar 15 2026

I really want to like Prince more than I actually do. For pop music, it’s pretty great, but I’m just not that into pop music. I know this is sacrilege to so many, and I appreciate Prince for what he was, but it’s just not my jam. Maybe if I were a dancer I would like it more?

Suede by Suede
Mar 16 2026

If I were to write for a sketch comedy show, and the skit was on a couple on the worst date imaginable, this is the band that would play on a stage in the background to punch home how terrible everything is. In short, I hated it.

Ellington at Newport by Duke Ellington
Mar 17 2026

I need more of this in my life. Fabulous album.

Led Zeppelin by Led Zeppelin
Mar 18 2026

I love this album. One of my favorite bands, and I’ve heard this album a thousand times, but it never gets old.

Songs From The Big Chair by Tears For Fears
Mar 19 2026

This album got such heavy airtime during my senior year of high school, but it never really resonated with me. A bit to pop for my tastes. I like Head Over Heels and think Everybody Wants to Rule The World is ok, but Shout is banal and the rest just seems like filler.

To Pimp A Butterfly by Kendrick Lamar
Mar 20 2026

I've heard that Lamar's stuff is legendary, important, poetic, etc. But as an old white man in rural America, it just doesn't resonate with me. I'd rather read a book about the plight of black Americans than listen to this. I hope it reaches its intended audience, and judging from its popularity, it does.

good kid, m.A.A.d city by Kendrick Lamar
Mar 21 2026

There are 1001 albums in this list and as far as I know they're assigned to me randomly, but what are the odds of getting Kendrick Lamar two days in a row? Still not my jam. Like, at all.

Clube Da Esquina by Milton Nascimento
Mar 22 2026

Decent album. A nice change from all of the rap I’ve been listening to. Not really my jam, but it was fine.

Sincere by Mj Cole
Mar 23 2026

This song takes me back to the countless hours I will never get back sitting in the cuck chair under a hot light at Lane Bryant waiting for my partner to try on clothes, wanting to GTFO. Repetitive beats and lyrics that must appeal to someone, but certainly not me. Ugh.

Mar 24 2026

One thing I've learned from 1001 Albums is that I like hip hop a whole lot more than rap. The beats are good, the rhymes are fun, and although this kind of music just isn't really up my alley, I appreciate the art. Plus, the samples on this album are all of songs that I like.

Olympia 64 by Jacques Brel
Mar 25 2026

While listening to this album I had a strong desire to don a beret, smoke a cigarette and be condescending to an American. Jokes aside, it was a fun album that I never would have heard if not for this 1001 Albums thing. 1960's French pop. Who knew?

Tusk by Fleetwood Mac
Mar 26 2026

I’ve always really liked this album. It’s not Rumours, but it’s great in its own right.

The Colour Of Spring by Talk Talk
Mar 27 2026

This album is… boring. It’s not offensive, it’s not awful, it’s just boring. It seems very repetitive, and the songs all sound the same to me.

The Stone Roses by The Stone Roses
Mar 28 2026

While I like Waterfall, the rest of the album falls flat for me. A couple of the tracks were downright awful. Maybe I'm missing something.

xx by The xx
Mar 29 2026

I’d never heard of this band before today. I rather enjoyed it. Kind of dark and brooding.

Jack Takes the Floor by Ramblin' Jack Elliott
Mar 30 2026

What a fun album. I’d never heard of him, but I was familiar with Woody Guthrie and this is the same style (in fact, they were friends and played together). Loved it.

Blue by Joni Mitchell
Mar 31 2026

Joni Mitchell is one of those artists that I feel like I'm *supposed* to like, but I just don't. Her voice is like fingernails on the chalkboard to me. I get that she's an important singer/songwriter, that she's beloved by many, but I've always felt like her music is some kind of Candid Camera hoax that the world is playing on me.

Crocodiles by Echo And The Bunnymen
Apr 01 2026

I think I only ever had the compilation album "Songs to Learn and Sing" back in the day, so I probably haven't heard this many tracks from Echo and the Bunnymen before today, but this is a solid album and I enjoyed it, especially on what was an otherwise dreadful day. Rescue and Do It Clean are classics, but the rest is good too.

Tical by Method Man
Apr 02 2026

Still not my kind of music, but the rhyming is pretty good.

Shake Your Money Maker by The Black Crowes
Apr 03 2026

Really good album. Heavy guitar, good bass. And got to learn that some of the lyrics I thought I knew were wrong. Fun!

Melodrama by Lorde
Apr 04 2026

Boring pop music. Not my jam.

Da Capo by Love
Apr 05 2026

A few songs I’ve heard before, but nothing special. 1960’s psychedelic.

Club Classics Vol. One by Soul II Soul
Apr 06 2026

Is this AI? (checks date) Nope, I guess it just sucks. This music sounds like it was created in a lab by people that had only ever read a description of what music is.

Pornography by The Cure
Apr 07 2026

If you were to ask me if I liked The Cure, I would answer yes. I certainly had a few albums bought back in the 80's that I loved. But apparently I missed this one, and after listening to it today, I'm fine with that. It's dark, and just not that listenable for me. Oh well.

You're Living All Over Me by Dinosaur Jr.
Apr 08 2026

Some of this album is merely meh, while other parts are downright terrible. How did this pass for music?

Synchronicity by The Police
Apr 10 2026

This is my least favorite Police album, and it's still 5/5 stars. It's so damn good.

Queen II by Queen
Apr 11 2026

I honestly don't think I've heard anything off of this album before today, which surprises me. A very solid rock album from a great band.

Moving Pictures by Rush
Apr 12 2026

I was in junior high school when this album came out. I was such a huge Rush fan, that in the art class I was taking I made a needle point of the Rush name and star logo. I might even still have it somewhere in a box in my attic. This is a banger of an album, and I still listen to it from time to time today. Some of the lyrics are corny, but the music is spectacular.

Hybrid Theory by Linkin Park
Apr 13 2026

I just don't think I've ever been angsty enough for this to have been my jam. If you like a singer screaming at you, then this may be for you, but it's not for me.

Apr 14 2026

This is a pretty great album. Cash’s dark, soulful voice just adds a different element to these songs. I won’t listen to this album often, but I will listen to it again.

Penance Soiree by The Icarus Line
Apr 15 2026

This album grew on me.... like flesh eating bacteria that needs to be removed so I don't die. It's like a modern version of punk, but I can't understand the lyrics so I don't know what they're angry about, and they had more effects pedals so the music is way more distorted. It's all just a big nope for me.

Out of Step by Minor Threat
Apr 16 2026

Good, angsty hardcore punk. Reminds me of my misspent youth.

Bad by Michael Jackson
Apr 17 2026

Making me listen to this should be a hate crime. I will never understand why this was popular.

Garbage by Garbage
Apr 18 2026

Decent album. I’d heard a few tracks in the past, but never the full album. It sounds like a mix of Pink and Smashing Pumpkins. Pretty good overall.

Dr. Octagonecologyst by Dr. Octagon
Apr 19 2026

JFC this is terrible. Starting to question why I’m on this quest to listen to all of these albums.

Tigermilk by Belle & Sebastian
Apr 20 2026

Doesn’t resonate with me at all. It’s bland, and uninspiring. The lyrics sound like the rantings of someone in an insane asylum, delivered with the enthusiasm of the most meek person in the world. The music is inoffensive so I wasn’t clamoring for it to hurry up and end, I just kept waiting for something to grab me and it never happened.

Miriam Makeba by Miriam Makeba
Apr 22 2026

I rather enjoyed this album. Great rhythms and her voice is lovely. My exposure to African music came mostly from Paul Simon and Peter Gabriel, so this is really nice.

Armed Forces by Elvis Costello & The Attractions
Apr 23 2026

Overall, a good album from Elvis Costello. Several great songs, a few that aren't that great, but nothing irritating. That seems to be the bar lately, and this comes in well above that bar.

Hysteria by Def Leppard
Apr 24 2026

Wow. Despite never having owned this album, I knew most of the songs. They all sound quite similar, with lyrics designed to appeal to teenaged boys. There are enough “OH YEAHs” that even the Kool-Aid man would say, “Damn, that’s a lot of OH YEAHs.” While I would never listen to this album by choice today, I give it three stars because I, too, was once a teenage boy, thinking about girls and watching MTV (back when they played music videos), sneaking beer, and singing off key. It was a different time.

It's Blitz! by Yeah Yeah Yeahs
Apr 25 2026

This seems like the kind of music I would expect to hear while dancing at a nightclub. Except I don’t go to nightclubs, and I don’t dance. It’s fine, up-tempo, nothing offensive. Good danceable beat. Nothing I will be adding to my collection.

C'est Chic by CHIC
Apr 26 2026

I'm going to assume this sounds better if you have a head full of cocaine and you're dancing your ass off, but for me, sitting on the couch sipping a cup of coffee, it's pretty terrible. Incredibly repetitive instrumentals, trite lyrics... it sucks. I gave it two points for some of the funky bass lines, otherwise it would have been a one.

Teen Dream by Beach House
Apr 27 2026

This might be the first album on the list from a band I'd never heard of that I actually enjoyed. I've always had a soft spot for shoegaze, especially on a rainy day, and this was a nice way to spend my early morning.

Tapestry by Carole King
Apr 28 2026

I've heard most of these songs, back in the 1970's, in the car with mom while running errands. Carole King was quite the prolific songwriter, and these songs are nostalgic for me. Just good quality singer/songwriter stuff, and she's got a great voice. Plus, the album cover has a kitty on it. 🐈‍⬛

The White Room by The KLF
Apr 29 2026

The music sounds like the music-on-hold at those 1990's internet service providers that were trying to be "edgy" or perhaps the shitty soundtrack in a women's clothing store in the same time period. And oh those lyrics! "Go to sleep" loops while the music is jackhammering its way into your skull. More like "go fetch me my sledgehammer so I can dispatch this album into 1000 pieces" am I right? I'm a bit too old to have ever gone to a rave, so maybe I just don't get it. And I'm ok with that.

Manassas by Stephen Stills
Apr 30 2026

Considering how much CS&N and CSN&Y I've listened to over the years, I'm surprised I've never listened to this album. It's got strong bluegrass and blues roots, and I really REALLY like it. So sometimes this 1001 albums list does find me a gem.

Mama's Gun by Erykah Badu
May 01 2026

I found this album....confusing. Some decent soul music, with what appear to be rap lyrics. I suspect I'm not exactly the target demographic for this album, and while I wouldn't run out of the room if it were playing there, it probably wouldn't be playing in the kinds of rooms I want to hang out in.

Get Behind Me Satan by The White Stripes
May 02 2026

This is another one of those bands that I guess I just don't understand. Just not my jam, and I'm bewildered by the popularity. Oh well. Hollow, tinny and screechy. It just makes no sense.

Fun House by The Stooges
May 03 2026

Other than the last track, some good angsty American punk rock. I mostly listened to British punk as a kid, and missed out on the Stooges. Shame, as it’s pretty good. But that last track sounds like everyone took too much drugs and was just messing around with their instruments making noise, and some miscommunication resulted in it ending up on the album.

Lost In The Dream by The War On Drugs
May 05 2026

I really enjoyed this album. I think I've heard one or two of their songs in the past, but the whole album was pretty good. Nice change from what this list usually feeds me.

Architecture And Morality by Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark
May 06 2026

OMD has a few bangers, but they're one of those bands that I wouldn't mind having a "greatest hits" album of rather than the individual albums, as many of the tracks just don't land with me. It's typical of synth pop in that it's very repetitive, and can be boring at times.

Youth And Young Manhood by Kings of Leon
May 07 2026

The music was decent, lots of jangly guitars, but the singing is pretty horrendous. Not my cup of tea.

Bad Company by Bad Company
May 08 2026

Not a bad song on this album. It should really be part of the collection for any fan of classic rock. Didn't realize it was on Swan Song, which is cool.

Kid A by Radiohead
May 09 2026

Once again proving I don't go with the mainstream (especially the critics), I didn't like this album. The music seems mostly ok, but the incessant whiny singing of random words and phrases drove me crazy. No thanks.

Neon Bible by Arcade Fire
May 10 2026

Arcade Fire is one of those bands that I can't ever decide whether I like them or not. The lead singer seems a bit over the top, but I really appreciate the richness of the music.

Raw Like Sushi by Neneh Cherry
May 11 2026

Look, I believe that art is subjective, and thus not everything appeals to everyone (don't yuck someone else's yum). But this album is so bad, that if you like it, I don't want to be your friend because you have no taste and should be ashamed of yourself. Also, that any critic gave this anything other than the lowest possible ranking explains why I have trust issues.

Lady Soul by Aretha Franklin
May 12 2026

This album came up in rotation on a Monday morning. For me, Monday mornings are the worst. Back to work, all the problems that occurred over the weekend are waiting for me, and I probably didn't sleep well. But let me just say that starting your day with this album can make even the worst days better. I'd give this six stars if I could. There's a reason they call her the Queen of Soul. Amazing.

Lazer Guided Melodies by Spiritualized
May 13 2026

What a weird album. Half of the time I felt like I was being lulled to sleep, the other half I felt like I was being tortured by the enemy to give up state secrets. And both of those things could occur within the same song. Not my jam.

Bat Out Of Hell by Meat Loaf
May 14 2026

Wow. This is a rock album for people that really would prefer a musical, but think this will help them fit in with their rock-loving friends. I guess they did make a musical of this, but I've not seen it and don't feel the need to. Just not a fan, but two stars because I know half the lyrics just from repeated exposure as a kid.

Rust Never Sleeps by Neil Young & Crazy Horse
May 15 2026

Great album. Nice to hear a good range of acoustic and electric Neil Young. Minus one star just because I don't like the last song. I had a painful procedure at the doctor's office today, so I'm in harsh critic mode.

The Score by Fugees
May 16 2026

The best part of this album is when it ended. The second best part was looking it up in the database and finding that there's only one album from this band on the list. Look, hip hop isn't my jam, but at least put in the effort and come up with some good lyrics if you're just going to rap over some repetitive drum machine and world's simplest "melody." Not recording your Chinese food order. I also didn't think it was possible to make me hate Bob Marley, but this did it for a few minutes. Feel like I need to listen to some to clean my soul after this. One star because it's impossible to give less.

May 17 2026

Sigh. What are we even doing here? It's like the rantings of a crazy person set to a drum machine and samples of a shitty ringtone on repeat. This guy needed therapy way worse than he needed a record deal. But he’s rich and I’m not, so I guess I’m the idiot here.

Step In The Arena by Gang Starr
May 18 2026

I'm beginning to think this entire 1001 albums thing is a psy-op designed to make me crazy. There is so much goddamn rap and hip-hop it's starting to make me angry. No wonder there are so many copies of this book available on eBay for cheap. I really thought this was going to open me up to all kinds of music that I hadn't discovered, but mostly it's just something to get through, like a colonoscopy. One star, no apologies. For the love of god, serve up something good.

Brilliant Corners by Thelonious Monk
May 19 2026

I'm not a big jazz fan, so I'm probably missing something. I know what a big deal Thelonious Monk is to American jazz, but I'd much rather listen to Dave Bruebeck or Art Pepper than this. It's a bit too freeform for my taste.

Signing Off by UB40
May 20 2026

A nice reggae album from UB40. I had only previously listened to a couple of UB40 albums, so this was a nice addition. Lots of purely instrumental stuff, making for good background music while working on projects.

Darklands by The Jesus And Mary Chain
May 21 2026

Really great shoe gaze album. I have Psychocandy, but had never heard this one all the way through. It was nice.

Kind Of Blue by Miles Davis
May 22 2026

I’m not a real jazz aficionado, but this was a pretty good album.

Mothership Connection by Parliament
May 23 2026

It's impossible not to smile when listening to this. Parliament/Funkadelic represents probably the best of this genre. A great way to start my Friday. I do love me some Bootsy Collins bass.

Shalimar by Rahul Dev Burman
May 24 2026

I had been thinking that I was too old to like anything unfamiliar and new to me, but this album disproved that. It was a fun listen, like listening to a Sergio Leone movie soundtrack.

Back To Black by Amy Winehouse
May 25 2026

This album was better than I expected it to be. She had a great voice and style, but the songs did sound repetitive to me. Decent background music, but nothing to get excited about.

Green by R.E.M.
May 26 2026

Love love LOVE this album. Stipe's vocals are great, and the way the guitar, bass and drums work together in their elegant simplicity is fabulous.

Let's Get Killed by David Holmes
May 27 2026

You know how toddlers will beat on things, like a Fisher Price keyboard or pots and pans with a wooden spoon, and think it's music? They smile and giggle, and we laugh which encourages them, and it goes on and on until your head is pounding and you take the wooden spoon away? I feel like David Holmes's parents encouraged him, told him he was a genius, and then got him a record contract. Perhaps they were deaf? I've heard some shitty music on this list, but this may be the worst. Overindulgent complete garbage. Does he have dirt on the record producers? I don't care enough to dig deeper. Even the album cover sucks, an out of focus cityscape with a giant blue splooge on it. How does stuff like this get made?

Venus Luxure No. 1 Baby by Girls Against Boys
May 28 2026

The underlying music isn't awful, it's just not great. Pretty repetitive, but hard driving 90's alternative rock. But the singing... are they trying to scare me? This isn't a monster movie, if you can't sing, hire a singer. I can't sing either but I'm not making albums. Ugh.

Beautiful Freak by Eels
May 29 2026

I bought this album and still like it. It's pretty dark, and a couple of the songs feel more like spoken word with some background music, but on a particularly bad day (which today happened to be), I really *really* appreciate Novocaine for the Soul. I ended up listening to that song 4 times today just for good measure, before I sputtered out.

Moondance by Van Morrison
May 30 2026

This is a really solid album, not a bad track in the bunch. Probably his best work. Morrison's voice is spectacular, and the music is great too.

The Infotainment Scan by The Fall
May 31 2026

I don't really understand this album. The music sounded like garden variety late 80's/early 90's British alt-rock, but the singing sounded like the drunk Frenchman in a Monty Python movie yelling insults at me. My mother may have indeed smelled of elderberries, but I don't want to hear about it in a song.

Hejira by Joni Mitchell
Jun 01 2026

Not even Jaco Pastorius's bass playing can save this for me. I just think her singing is awful.

Jun 03 2026

If you like loud, distorted guitars and screaming, then MC5 might be for you. It’s not really for me. The first song sounded like the singer got hit in the groin as it was very screechy. The rest sounded like a bad Jimi Hendrix cover band, with much worse lyrics. I know the 60s were a tumultuous time, so I’ll cut them some slack and not give them one star. But I could be pretty happy to never hear this again.

Jun 04 2026

Is it possible that this is worse than the last album from The Fall that this list presented to me? I think it is. While this album might be great for playing on repeat to a person with the codes to disarm the nuclear device so they'll break and give you those codes, I don't think it's good for much else. It's repetitive, and just plain shitty. 0/5 stars.

Close To You by Carpenters
Jun 05 2026

Led Zeppelin III, The Doors - Morrison Hotel, The Who - Live at Leeds, Crosby Stills & Nash - Deja Vu, The Beatles - Let It Be, Black Sabbath - Paranoid. These are just a few of the great albums that came out in 1970. But this fucking Carpenters album came out the same year, proving that throughout history, there have been people with zero taste in music making, producing and listening to it when good alternatives exist. Where was that "disco sucks" DJ when we needed him? He should have rallied against this bubblegum crap instead of disco, which is at least danceable. If your dentist's office plays a Muzak version of this, find a different dentist.

Surf's Up by The Beach Boys
Jun 06 2026

I don't think I'd heard most of these songs until today. It's a solid album, with socially aware lyrics unlike the Beach Boys that we're all used to (about surfing, girls, cars, etc). I rather enjoyed it.

Innervisions by Stevie Wonder
Jun 07 2026

This album has a few standouts, but some of the songs fell flat for me. I’m a Stevie Wonder fan, but sometimes he sings outside of his vocal range and it’s grating.

Honky Tonk Heroes by Waylon Jennings
Jun 08 2026

Huh. This wasn’t terrible. I don’t generally like country music (understatement), but I made it through this without complaining. I should probably go to the hospital and get scanned.

Lust For Life by Iggy Pop
Jun 09 2026

My god, what a boring album. I'd write a longer review, but now I need a nap.

A Walk Across The Rooftops by The Blue Nile
Jun 10 2026

The town is abuzz with excitement over the new installation down at the art gallery. You go in, and see a crowd of people around the new exhibit. When you make your way to the front, you see a blank canvas, and upon it is a broken bicycle pedal, a popped latex balloon, half of a soda can, and a banana. You take a deep breath, blink hard a couple of times, and take it in. No matter how many artsy folks in berets talk about how amazing it is, you just don't get it. It's just a bunch of shit on the wall. That's the visual equivalent of this album. The singing is so wistful, I hope that guy eventually found happiness, but I doubt it. I certainly didn't listening to this album.

Risque by CHIC
Jun 11 2026

God this is awful. Repetitive as hell. I don't understand why there are two Chic albums (I hope there's only two) on this list. One was more than enough.

Aja by Steely Dan
Jun 12 2026

Very solid album. Steely Dan is a really unique band, blending rock and jazz, and it just works.

Surfer Rosa by Pixies
Jun 13 2026

I don't know if the members of this band are as weird as they come off on this album, but I'm here for it. When everything is falling apart and I'm totally stressed out, "Where Is My Mind?" is one of my go-to songs. It's also the first song I learned to play all the way through on bass. I really like this album. It's angsty, weird and hits the spot when I'm in one of those moods.

Amnesiac by Radiohead
Jun 14 2026

Mournful lyrics, rich music. I think I like this, but sometimes I'm not sure. The most wishy-washy review I've written. It doesn't immediately grab me, but it doesn't repulse me either. I feel like I need to listen to more Radiohead as it is making me curious, and that isn't a bad thing.

Parklife by Blur
Jun 15 2026

More Britpop noise. The best part of this album is that it ended.

Jun 16 2026

This album sounds like 4-5 guys were each in separate studios and told to play along to the music in their headphones, and none of the music in the headphones was the same. There's jazz I like and then there's this freeform stuff, which is what music would sound like if you taught housecats to play instruments.

evermore by Taylor Swift
Jun 17 2026

I love Taylor Swift. She’s built an amazing career and brought her fans together with a message of hope and positivity. She’s charitable, and comes off as personable and funny in interviews. Oh, the album? Meh. I don’t like pop music, and this is no exception.

Fever To Tell by Yeah Yeah Yeahs
Jun 18 2026

No no no's. Why you want to yell at me, angsty girl? If I had a teenage daughter, this seems like the kind of music I would angrily yell "Turn that shit down!" about through her bedroom door. Uninspired lyrics, music isn't great, but it does bring the angry teen girl vibe.

Channel Orange by Frank Ocean
Jun 19 2026

Wikipedia says this is a rhythm and blues album. It has rhythm, in that same way that a washing machine has rhythm when it’s off-balance. It’s a beat that you never want to hear because at best it’s annoying, and it worse it’s going to cost you money. As for blues, it certainly gave me the blues listening to this hot garbage, but I didn’t hear any resemblance at all to any blues music I’ve ever heard. A dog howling at the moon is more in tune with blues music than this. Honestly, this album sounds like rap music, but whiner. Truly awful.

The Genius Of Ray Charles by Ray Charles
Jun 20 2026

What a great album. My grandfather listened to a lot of big band music, but I don't think I ever heard him listen to Ray Charles. Wish I could go back in time and share this with him. It's fabulous and I think he would have liked it. I will listen to this again, and often.

Shaka Zulu by Ladysmith Black Mambazo
Jun 21 2026

What a great album. I saw LBM decades ago when they played with usPaul Simon. This music is timeless and wonderful.

Ramones by Ramones
Jun 22 2026

For me, The Ramones are that perfect hard rocking, angsty band. There's nothing particularly complicated about the music, just fast tempo, loud guitars, and of course their signature vocals. And important part of my teen years. Bonus, if you're drunk and screw up the lyrics when singing along, nobody knows the difference.

At Newport 1960 by Muddy Waters
Jun 23 2026

Without a doubt the best live blues album I've ever heard. This is really fantastic stuff.

Time Out by The Dave Brubeck Quartet
Jun 24 2026

One of the best jazz albums of all time. Really tight groove, baby. Love it.

Jun 25 2026

Ok, The Prophet's Song drove me a little batty, but otherwise this is a solid album. You're My Best Friend is a favorite, and Bohemian Rhapsody is of course legendary.

Technique by New Order
Jun 26 2026

I listened to a couple of New Order albums back in the 80s but apparently not this one. Honestly, it’s just a little too synth heavy for my tastes. I preferred American new wave, with bands like Devo, R.E.M., and the B-52‘s.

Pretzel Logic by Steely Dan
Jun 27 2026

Nothing says 70's slow rock like Steely Dan. This was such a staple of the era. This is one of those bands that I'm good with just owning a greatest hits CD. But it sure evokes lounge act at the airport Holiday Inn vibes, and not even in a bad way.

The Boatman's Call by Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds
Jun 28 2026

Yawn. Nothing offensive, just some brooding boring music.

Fisherman's Blues by The Waterboys
Jun 29 2026

I think I heard a couple of tracks off of this album back in the 80’s, and what a shame I didn’t hear more. Really great alternative rock with a Scottish twist. I’ll be adding this to my rotation.

Darkness on the Edge of Town by Bruce Springsteen
Jun 30 2026

Growing up on the West coast, Bruce Springsteen just wasn't the cultural phenomenon that it is on the East coast. I've never really been a fan, but over the last few years, I've grown to appreciate him and his music. This was as good as any Springsteen album I've heard.

The Nightfly by Donald Fagen
Jul 01 2026

I had heard several of these songs before and assumed they were Steely Dan. Decent soft rock album. If you like Steely Dan, you’ll like this. If you don’t, well…

More Specials by The Specials
Jul 02 2026

Pretty classic ska album. I had no idea the Go Go's sang background on this record. Cool.

Jul 03 2026

Just a good British punk rock album. If you like the Sex Pistols, you'll like this. If it's just loud angsty noise to you, then you won't. I thought it was pretty great.

Live At The Regal by B.B. King
Jul 04 2026

Nice live blues album from one of the greats.

Viva Hate by Morrissey
Jul 05 2026

I'm just going to say it: Morrissey without Johnny Marr is just whiney. I'm a big fan of The Smiths, but Morrissey's solo work is cringe.

Timeless by Goldie
Jul 06 2026

Look, just because an artist titles an album “Timeless“ it doesn’t mean that it is timeless. If I recorded my cat throwing up and called it “Double Platinum Perfection“ would it too make the list? Probably. I don’t know what the point of this is. People listen to it on purpose? Crazy.

Hunky Dory by David Bowie
Jul 07 2026

Terrific album.

Rio by Duran Duran
Jul 08 2026

They were big in the 80's, but let's face it, they were primarily a band listened to by girls. Sure, we dudes might have secretly thought Hungry Like The Wolf had a cool sound, and the synth in Save a Prayer with the note bending sounds really neat, but we would never have been caught dead owning a Duran Duran album. Fast forward a few decades and I've begun playing the bass and you know what? John Taylor absolutely shreds on bass. Just listen to the bass lines on these songs. Raw talent. Amazing. But I'll still never understand what "I smell like I sound" means.

Mask by Bauhaus
Jul 09 2026

I don't know that this is their best album, but it's pretty good. I was big into Bauhaus (and all of their splinter bands) back in the 80's, drawn in by the haunting singing and lyrics, driving guitar and AMAZING bass. Hollow Hills is my favorite on this record, and it sounds as good to me today as it did back in the day.

Elephant by The White Stripes
Jul 12 2026

The music is pretty good, and while I appreciate Jack White as a person (he's funny, personable, loves his hometown of Detroit) and as a musician (check out the documentary "It Might Get Loud"), his singing has always sounded like fingernails on a chalkboard to me. Just not a fan.

We're Only In It For The Money by The Mothers Of Invention
Jul 13 2026

It’s like Weird Al if Weird Al were political and vulgar. Fun songs to listen to every now and again, but it would never make heavy rotation for me.

Coat Of Many Colors by Dolly Parton
Jul 15 2026

As a rule, I would say that I don't like country music. But I guess I should say I don't like modern country music, as this album was pretty great. Plus, Dolly Parton is the best of what America is. Give this one a listen.

I Am a Bird Now by Antony and the Johnsons
Jul 16 2026

This band/singer was totally new to me. It's hauntingly beautiful. I'm not sure what mood it suits, but she's really got a great voice, although a bit trill at times. The music was nice. (Exception: Free At Last could have been left off the album. Ugh)

Ocean Rain by Echo And The Bunnymen
Jul 17 2026

This takes me back to high school. Nice album.

Pretenders by Pretenders
Jul 18 2026

Really solid hard-rocking album.

Highway 61 Revisited by Bob Dylan
Jul 19 2026

I’m not a huge Dylan fan as I find his singing screechy just like everyone else does, but I’m happy that I’ve had the opportunity to see him live and have mad respect for him as a songwriter. That said, I do really like the songs “Highway 61 Revisited” and “Like a Rolling Stone.” The rest were pretty good too. Maybe he’s growing on me as I become an old man.

Alien Lanes by Guided By Voices
Jul 20 2026

I think I’m too old for this. This is what I imagine the cool kids were listening to in 1995 when I was in my late 20’s. Not my jam. After finishing this album I would like to revise to say that this is objectively bad and if you like it something is wrong with you.

American Idiot by Green Day
Jul 21 2026

This is really a great album. Green Day was a little after my era, but proof that the kids are alright. It rocks hard and the lyrics are terrific.

Searching For The Young Soul Rebels by Dexys Midnight Runners
Jul 22 2026

I wondered if maybe they were good at one time, but nope. This album may be why Eileen left and she ain’t coming back.

Bert Jansch by Bert Jansch
Jul 23 2026

Really nothing special. There are much better folk albums out there.

Pink Flag by Wire
Jul 24 2026

If I wanted to get yelled at, I’d work retail.

Licensed To Ill by Beastie Boys
Jul 25 2026

I’m not a big fan of hip hop, but the Beastie Boys are legendary. Mad respect. Great album.

Picture Book by Simply Red
Jul 27 2026

Bland pop album from the 80’s. I remember seeing them on MTV back in the day, but their music was so unremarkable I never heard a song that I was familiar with today other than Heaven, but that’s just because I’m a big Talking Heads fan and it made me sad that someone ruined a perfectly good song. Nothing horrible or offensive here, just banal pop music for the masses.

Destroyer by KISS
Jul 29 2026

Confessions of a former KISS fan. Look, I was in 4th grade, it was what my friends were listening to, and the lyrics are so simple and easy to memorize, perfect for a little brain not yet fully developed. I think I outgrew them in about grade 5 or 6. I look at KISS with nostalgia now. They were part of my childhood, but they're like if Spinal Tap took themselves seriously. And yeah, they really did dress like that.

Jul 30 2026

You know how sometimes you’re in an art museum and you see a painting of a bridge and you’re like “cool” and then you see a painting of a sad clown smoking a cigarette and you go “ok, not my thing, but ok” and then you see a banana duct taped to a piece of drywall and you go “ok, this makes no fucking sense?” This album is that banana art, but for your ears.

Sex Packets by Digital Underground
Jul 31 2026

Nothing makes me feel more like Hank Hill than listening to hip hop. I think I prefer the sound of power tools to this.

The Gershwin Songbook by Ella Fitzgerald
Aug 01 2026

Strap in as this is a four CD set and over 4 hours of music. The good news is, Ella's voice is so good and soothing, it's not a bad way to pass the time. It really is great.

Gorillaz by Gorillaz
Aug 02 2026

I'm not sure I understand why a virtual band is a thing, but I am an old. That said, there were some good grooves on this album, but nothing I would go out of my way to seek out. A lot of it is repetitive and annoying, some good... real mixed bag for me.

Our Aim Is To Satisfy by Red Snapper
Aug 03 2026

I guess this is ok background music? I’m comfortable with silence, but if you’re not, this can fill the void. Otherwise, pretty banal.

The Bends by Radiohead
Aug 04 2026

I rather liked this. I've heard some Radiohead on the radio, but never really got into them. Listening to this album has made me want to explore their music a bit more.

If You're Feeling Sinister by Belle & Sebastian
Aug 05 2026

One of my closest friends loves this band but I still love her. That's more than I can say for this band. It's just SOOOO damned twee, and the lyrics so dark, it makes my head spin.

m b v by My Bloody Valentine
Aug 06 2026

Several years ago I bought a synthesizer. I don't know how to play keyboards, but had it in my mind that I would learn. I was fascinated by all of the buttons and knobs, and spent about an hour just making random noises. Eventually my wife reached her breaking point and told me I either needed to use headphones or she was going to divorce me. If only she would have recorded the noise I was making, it could have been a follow up album to this. First song was static and strumming. Second song is distortion and some kind of unintelligible singing. And it just didn't get better. I'm all for distortion in rock music, but there has to be something more than this. It's like if you took a Smashing Pumpkins album, made the singing shitty, and put the speakers under water. Why does this album exist, and why in the world is it on a list of must listen to music?

Rock 'N Soul by Solomon Burke
Aug 07 2026

I had not heard of this artist before today, but this was a lovely 1960s vintage soul album. Beautiful singing.

Doggystyle by Snoop Dogg
Aug 08 2026

I'm a white dude in my late 50's in the suburbs. I am not the intended audience for this music. I'm stunned that I made it through the whole album.

Gasoline Alley by Rod Stewart
Aug 09 2026

It's a decent album, but not his best. Mostly covers. I've always liked the musical arrangement on old Rod Stewart music, and this one doesn't disappoint in that area.

New York Dolls by New York Dolls
Aug 10 2026

I'd never heard the New York Dolls before. I certainly knew of them, as they're said to have influenced many of the bands I grew up listening to. I wasn't sure what to expect, but they were decent. Sort of a lighter version of The Ramones. Not really my jam, but much better than a lot of what this list feeds me.

Reggatta De Blanc by The Police
Aug 11 2026

I love this album. Brilliant musicians.

Fifth Dimension by The Byrds
Aug 12 2026

A very 1960's folk rock album. Neat to hear David Crosby prior to him teaming up with Stills and Nash. Pretty good stuff, very mellow. I'm not sure what that 2-4-2 Fox Trot song is for, it should have been left off.

White Blood Cells by The White Stripes
Aug 13 2026

Music is decent, lyrics are fine, but his singing still sounds to me like a bunch of howler monkeys in a bad mood. Sorry Jack. You seem really cool but your singing just isn’t my jam.

1977 by Ash
Aug 14 2026

Another band I'd never heard of. It was decent, but unmemorable. Lots of repetition, but a nice hard rocking sound.

Critic

Average rating: 2.79 (0.50 below global average).

Other

Album origins are grouped into three buckets: US, UK, and everything else. “Other” means the artists you rate highest are from outside the US and UK.