1001 Albums Summary

We played a bunch of these songs in the Michigan Marching Band, and I dated a drummer for a while who was obsessed with the Beatles, so it really brought me back to the mid 90s, despite being an album from 12 years before I was born. The songs are catchy, but not stand-out.

“Michigan seems like a dream to me now…” I adore this song. I once drove a friend from Ann Arbor, Michigan to Amherst, Massachusetts via Canada to visit her girlfriend. She was obsessed with Paul Simon, so we listened to all his albums on CDs on the way. America came on late that evening as we rounded a corner to reveal the view from the escarpment over Hamilton, Ontario. The city looked like it was on fire from the coal plant stacks. I didn’t know it then, but I would move to that city two years later for my PhD. I don’t really remember the non-famous songs from this album, but I enjoyed them a lot. I love the storytelling aspect of folk music, and S&G are masters of it. It’s probably sacrilege to say, but I prefer the Bangles’ version of Hazy Shade of Winter.

Meh

I like soul, and it’s fun to listen to Chef say “uhh” a lot, but ultimately not my favourite album. Bonus points for fitting “medulla oblongata” into lyrics, though!

I was a kid in the 80s in midwestern USA, so ZZ Top has a lot of associations for me, some good some bad. The album is ok, but I wouldn’t add it to the rotation.

There are so many classic Springsteen songs on this album. The title track is always a joy at karaoke nights, to watch clueless Americans queue it up expecting a patriotic anthem, never having actually listened to the words outside the chorus, and watch their faces fall as they read the lyrics.

I didn’t know many of these songs apart from what was on the mainstream radio at the time. They’re all right.

I liked this, but didn’t find it as special as I’d remembered thinking it was at the time.

I want to love Bowie, but I’m kind of neutral about this album.

Who doesn’t love Son of a Preacher Man? But I’m not sure this makes it into my top 30%

I kind of get the hype now

I don’t think I’ve ever knowingly listened to Primal Scream before. It’s a lot less, uhh, screamy than I expected. Honestly, I expected something like Prodigy, my bad. This is pretty good.

This makes me want to wear flannel. I had totally forgotten about Spoonman!! 🥄 Black hole sun has been stuck in my head all weekend.

I enjoyed this so much more than I thought I would!

This sounds like it was fun to make, and might be fun to listen to on drugs.

I remember loving Simply Red in the 80s, but it didn’t hold up for me.

I was alternately mad this seemed so derivative and mad I was kinda into it. Then learned Will Oldham used to be in the group (but not on this album), which probably explains my rating.

This album has such good energy :) it was such a joy to listen to

Ugh, fuck Morrissey, but this is a pretty good album.

I do love a live album, but no idea how this could be top 1001. Too much influence of white Guys from English-speaking countries.

Some of this doesn’t hold up lyrically, but the album has good energy and Janie’s Got a Gun is even better than I remembered.

This was a hole in my punk knowledge that I’m glad to have finally filled

What an iconic album

I’ve never listed to AM outside of what’s been on the radio. They’re very catchy!

Meh

I loved this.

I liked how varied it was.

I had no idea the same guy wrote all these! I had “you put the lime in the coconut” stuck in my head all weekend.

Yeah yeah it’s a groundbreaking album…

Wow

Good start, kind of meh by the end