I already considered this one to be an absolute classic. Nothing has changed here. 5 out of 5
My second favorite Beatles album. Easily a 5/5. No skips. Highlights are all of side 2. I love the sequencing leading up to the end. This album shows what the Beatles are all about.
Solid record. Was lucky enough to have a copy of this on vinyl from when my Dad gifted me his collection. I find some of his other work to be a bit more compelling than this. 4/5
This is an album that I feel has not aged super well. There are some undeniable great tracks here. Sharp Dressed Man is a great single. But I feel this childish, cheesy nature when hearing some of these lyrics. In the heavy blues rock genre I have heard much better.
First ELO listen outside of Mr. Blue Sky. Fantastic listen. Lush, layered arrangements and performances. Catchy songs. The best compliment I can give is it makes me want to check out more ELO.
Love everything about this one. The rhythm section pairs perfectly with Santana’s leads.
Ok. I do not completely hate this, but I certainly do not like it. There are passages of music here that I find somewhat enjoyable. But the lyrics are so pretentious I can’t give this more than a 2/5 on principle.
This was just ok for me. In reality I’d go closer to a 2.5, but I just found it to be kind of boring. There is much more interesting Psychedelic rock in this era that is ultimately just better.
The album where Dylan went electric did not disappoint. I tend to really enjoy this era of Dylan. Lyrics are meandering in a fun way.
One of the reasons I started this journey was to find cool music that I had never once heard before. This album met the criteria. I was entranced by this from the first minute. It doesn’t quite reach a 5 for me, but it is damn near close.
Quintessential southern rock. Banger after Banger. No disrespect to Free Bird, but Gimme Three Steps might have one of my favorite riffs of all time. Easy 5!
As someone with very little exposure to electronic based music, this was quite an enjoyable listen. Perfect music to put on in the background while building a Lego set or doing chores. While not as exciting as some albums on this list, I still felt it was solid. 3/5.
Had never heard of this band before and was completely blown away by this record. The performances are captivating and nuanced. The lyrics were meaningful and poignant. Loved the Americana/folk rock inspired influences. This makes me want to listen to more The War on Drugs. 5
Another blind listen and was met with som bluesy folk rock. Did not know that he wrote “everybody’s talkin”. Thought it was the other guy. Really enjoyed this one! 4/5
I really had to separate my impressions of this band from when I first heard this album in the late 2000s and approach this with a fresh set of ears. I did not like it then. Now I think I appreciate it what’s going on here a bit more. I don’t love it, but I certainly don’t hate it. I’m feeling a 3 on this one. It’s grown on me a bit with this listen.
This was pretty good to me. This sort of music isn’t really in my wheelhouse, but I enjoyed it well enough. 3
Enjoyable listen. Nothing special though. Biggest criticism would be that many tracks sounded sort of samey to me. Also gives music my parents would listen to vibes. Pruning a few tracks would likely benefit the record. This was fine though. Nothing I downright disliked. 3/5
Very good album. Only Prince can do what Prince does. Always take his competence as a musician and guitarist for granted. Highlight is the final track. Adore the riff on the airline stuff. Not as good as his peak records, but very solid. 4/5
Very solid record. Songs and ideas feel fresh for the 80s. Vocal performance is grounded and meaningful. Can hear what would soon become 90s alternative. 4/5
I guess I’m finally having one of those moments with this journey. I literally picked this up from my local record store and listened to it for the first time earlier this week. Well time for a second listen I suppose. Obviously the record’s reputation precedes itself and man did it not disappoint. Fantastic songwriting/storytelling. Excellent musicianship. Love the science fiction aesthetic. First time I’ve listened to a Bowie record in its entirety. The proof is in the pudding, this album is a masterpiece. 5/5
I was not familiar with Bragg before this, but I must about I’m intrigued to hear more.
Not my kind of music, but not terrible. 2/5 for me
Enjoyed this. Thought the performances from the drummer and bassist were top tier. 4
This one probably represents the number one reason why I decided to do this thing in the first place. To find really cool, awesome stuff that I had not ever heard of or listened to before.
The album itself it breathtaking with heartfelt song writing. The musicianship is grounded. This is the type of country that I love, not the dog shit modern pop country that I so despise. I’m sure I’ll run into some of that stuff on the list at some point, but for now I’m treated to one of the best country records I have ever heard. This listen makes me want to hear more from Emmylou Harris and check stuff beyond what is on this list. If that doesn’t deserve a 5, then I’m not sure what else does!
Coldplay huh? I think a younger version of myself might have hated this. Me at 39, however, is a different story. Maybe this is just a good record. I’ll admit I never really gave this a fair shake as a teenager. This was cool. 4/5
Very solid record. 4/5
An absolute classic. Feel like it sets the stage for what’s to come from guitar music in the coming decade. Amazing performances all around. 5/5
This was not what I expected at all, but in a good way. I guess I never really knew or realized that Blondie were responsible for some of the absolute bangers on this record. Was also unaware of the power pop and punk influences on the band. Good stuff! Not quite a 5 for me but a solid 4.
You know younger me definitely fit into the “I hate ABBA” stereotype. An older wiser me appreciates this so much more. I’m not in the 5 range, but I am feeling a very solid 4 for this record. Dancing Queen and Fernando (yes I know this was not on the original release) are undeniable bangers. Several other tracks are catchy disco pop. 4/5
Look this is far and away my favorite Dylan album. No skips. My favorite song in Memphis Blues Again. Pinnacle of folk rock. I could write paragraphs about why I adore this record, but I’ll keep it simple and just give it a 5.
First time truly digging into a Stevie Wonder record and I must say it was a pretty great time. Really enjoyed the variety of these tracks. From heartfelt ballads to songs that make you want to tap your feet and start dancing. I would give this a very strong 4, not quite a 5, but great overall. Thumbs up
I think I liked this a lot more when I was in high school. Can’t say it aged well 25 years later. There is something here, but I’m not sure I like it. Handful of good tracks. Bitch Please 2. Stan. Real Slim Shady. The Way I Am. Weighed down by a lot of shit. Strong 2/5
This falls squarely in the realm of I kind of like it, I appreciate the musicianship and everything going on. But ultimately it’s not for me and I’ll probably never listen to it again. 3/5
Cool record. This type of music is a bit outside my wheelhouse, but I enjoyed it. Love the story behind it as well. 4/5
Thoroughly enjoyed this one. Had always heard good things, but was hesitant to dive in. These songs are hauntingly beautiful. Excited to hear more of their stuff. 5/5
This was really cool. Little bit punk, folk, and slightly proggy. Felt very DIY. 4/5
Great album to put on in the background while playing Slay the Spire. I approve. 4/5
While there are a couple of skips here and there for the most part this album is full of bangers, which offer a variety of different sounds from different genres. Love this double LP. This is Zep at their most adventurous and I am here for it. 5/5
I guess I’m a PJ Harvey fan now. 5/5
A cornerstone of extreme music and all things heavy. An album which asks not if we should play fast, but instead how fast can we go? As a fan of this sort of music, and I can admit it’s not for everyone, I adore this record. 5/5
This was pretty good. I really enjoyed the first half of this record, but the second half was a bit disappointing. Prefer his other records thus far. I give this a light 4, as I think I’d rate it closer to a 3.5. Certainly not bad though. Good album overall.
A lot of people criticize AC/DC for their simplicity, but I would say there it something to that. Malcom Young is criminally underrated as a rhythm guitarist and oft overshadowed by his brother. While not quite as reaching some of the highs of some of the other albums of the Bon Scott era like Let There Be Rock. This album is still quite good. 4/5
Not bad, but I’ll never listen to this again. 2
Made the initial mistake of putting this on in the background while gaming last night, so decided to give it a second shot before receiving my next album early this evening. And boy am I glad I did. This album was wonderful and truly took me on a journey whilst listening. Focusing in on the music and lyrics flipped my initial thoughts on this record. Byrne and Co create such a unique auditory world. So many twists and turns listening to these tracks. Glad I gave it its due! 5/5
Well this is certainly an interesting one. Obviously there is very much a darkness here. The context surrounding the album and its creation gave me a morbid curiosity going in. While I don’t get every certain reference in the lyrics, the ones that I do certainly add to what’s happening. Great musicianship. I do feel like this record does go a bit too deep at times for my taste. I think I’m feeling a strong 4 on this one. Curious about the band and hearing more.
Not my favorite REM this far, but pretty good. Did find some of the tracks a bit boring compared to others. Strong 3
Absolutely fantastic record and show. So much energy on display here. Truly a wonder snapshot of the scene in Harlem both musically and culturally at the time. 5/5
Love this album. Knew this coming in. 5/5
Of Metallica’s incredible 5 album run, this is the one I put just a slight notch below the other 4. It’s great but the prog elements cause it to lack the focus of the others. Also, the bass. I know it’s a meme, but it needs to be mentioned. Still I give it a strong 4
Complicated one this given the artist’s recent opinions and controversy. Do I like Ye as a person? Absolutely not. Is this record good? Yes, it is phenomenal. One of the best in the genre since the turn of the century. It’s the classic debate of the artist vs. the art they create. Given the intention behind this list and musical journey, of exploring these sounds and judging just the music I feel compelled to give this a 5. That being said don’t get it twisted, fuck Kanye the person,at least as of this moment, fuck fascism, and fuck Nazi’s.
Cool stuff. Came in completely unfamiliar, but adored the jazzy tight musicianship here. 4
This record really pulled me in. I don’t quite know what Afro-beat is, but I know it’s jazzy and I like it. Listened to this on my drive to Big Sur from San Luis Obispo today and it really fit the mood. 4/5
This was just kind of fine. A little boring at times, but I did appreciate the song writing. 2/5
Second time listening to this record. I think this is the era of their music that I enjoy the most. The exploration of the the blues, country, and Americana is fantastic. Obviously the opening and closing tracks are fantastic, but there is so much more to dig into here. I’m feeling a 5 on this one.
Didn’t hate, but did kind of find this boring. 2
I am such a sucker for older country like this. Man I really enjoyed this. The vocals, the performances, the simplicity of the songwriting. It really shines. 4/5
Absolutely one of the best records in heavy music of the 90’s. Cantrell and co are doing their best work here creating some crushingly heavy riffs and passages of music. Staley’s vocals bring everything together to create something truly special. I’m not even the biggest Grunge aficionado and I adore this album. 5/5. Many would imitate this sound in the coming decade, but few would reach the bar set by Alice In Chains.
I like this album well enough, but to me this, the Brian Johnson era, is the beginning of where I lose interest in the band. I like maybe 2/3s is this record. But there are some skips for me for sure. Bon Scott was far and away the better frontman. It’s good, not great. 4/5
First things first, Fuck Phil Spector that absolute monster. As for the music, meh. It’s fine. No desire to listen to anything else by Dion based off of what I heard. It’s palatable but mostly boring. 2/5
When I got this I wondered why I never had listened to this guy before. I know why now. 2/5
I thoroughly enjoyed this. Will be checking out more of her stuff. 5/5
I don’t hate it, but it is certainly not for me. 2/5
This shit weird… I can’t understand the words, but… I kind of like it. Prefer this over the 20th generic British Electronica group. 3/5
This was fine. Not exciting. 2/5
Another PJ Harvey record and another great one. Thoroughly enjoyed it. 5/5
Solid early UK punk. Can hear some ska in here as well with the horns. Like it. 4/5
This was fine, but really not for me. I was just bored a lot of the time. Indie rock has always been kind of a mixed bag for me. 2/5
I liked this one. There were some weird moments, but overall I enjoyed the Brit pop influences. 4/5
The importance of this album to punk and everything that came from it cannot be overstated. The gritty raw nature and sound of the music. The sarcastic tone of the lyrics. The DIY aesthetic of the approach. Fantastic record. 5/5
First time listening to the Temptations. Really enjoyed this one. May be picking this up on vinyl soon. If you told be psychedelic progressive soul was I thing I would not have believed you, but here we are. 5/5
One of my favorite bands. Few sound quite like CCR. These songs have aged like a fine wine. 5/5
Good album, but enjoyed Doolittle more. Still solid art punk/alternative. 4/5
Enjoyed this way more than I initially thought I would. This was a bit more rock than folk and I like that. 4/5
I will likely never listen to this again, but it was interesting and a good one off I feel. Can definitely see how this might influence artists in the coming years. 3/5
I’m a sucker for 60’s pop rock. This was a good listen, nothing revolutionary but solid catchy tunes. 4/5
Tried to get into this but ultimately found it boring. Just not my thing. Didn’t hate it though. 2/5
I think I probably like this more than most people. That being said I get the main criticism. It really is way too long. Cool to see/hear some of Lemmy’s origin though.
3/5
Great album! I’m starting to think Mitchell can do no wrong 5/5
The boss at his best. This might be my Dad’s rock, but man do I love everything about it. 5/5
One of the best grunge records ever recorded. This is Nirvana at their absolute best, except maybe unplugged, but we’ll get there. This record influences heavy music to this day. 5/5
This one is not really in my wheelhouse. I certainly enjoyed parts, but have to admit I didn’t really get it. Decent though. Feeling a 3 here.
Cream is still my favorite iteration of Clapton. Combined with Baker and Bruce this is a true power trio, which will always be cool to me. 5/5
This was pretty decent. Interesting hearing this and comparing it to what else was going on for rock music in the 80s. 3/5
I enjoyed this enough that I want to dig deeper. That lands me at a 4/5
I respect it, but it is honestly just a bit too much for my taste. 2/5
My Dad’s favorite band, but had not heard much before this. I liked it quite a bit as far as folk indie rock goes. A couple of skips for me, but overall very solid. 4/5
Liked the higher tempo stuff, did not like some of the slower more experimental tracks as much, with the exception of “All Tommorow’s Parties”. That track was cool, and a bit more psychedelic in nature. “Despair” was the low point of the record for me. “Halloween” was the highlight. Feeling a 3/5 on this one.
This was pretty good, but ultimately felt like it was missing something. Came off a bit generic. 3/5
What can I say that hasn’t been said yet? One of the best albums of all time in any genre. A true masterpiece by a man who has no equal. 5/5
Loved it! Fantastic variety in the track list. Hip hop soul, rock. 5/5
My personal favorite Rolling Stones album. So much variety throughout the various tracks on this double LP. My favorite song by the band in Shine A Light. So many different genres explored. Amazing performances from the entire band and excellent contributions from the guest performers. Truly the Stones magnum opus. 5/5
This was just fine to me. I can listen to it and appreciate it and don’t really feel too strongly one way or the other. That lands me at a 2.
My personal favorite of their early records. It’s just really good bluesy rock and roll. Just a thoroughly enjoyable from front to back, even if the last track in side 1 overstays its welcome a bit. 5/5
There are some decent tracks on this record, but for the most part this didn’t come together all that well for me. Definitely prefer her earlier stuff to this. 2/5
I always held Jefferson Airplane in a slightly higher regard than many similar bands of that era. It always felt like they were trying to do something unique for the sake of it sounding cool. This record shows that. 4/5
First time listener here to both this album and this band. A lot to like here. I was surprised how many songs I recognized. The actual music gets high marks from me, but there are some times where his higher vocals take me out of it. And that is typically something I don’t mind, it’s just his style I suppose. Still a solid hard rock record. 4/5
Didn’t know what to expect with this one and I liked it a lot more than I thought I would. Interesting choices all around. Loved the accordion, I think on track 2. A lot more creative than I thought it would be. 3/5
I kind of like it. It did sound way too similar though. 3/5
Loved this one. Much better than Five Leaves. This one feels so much more personal and intimate. The guitar is haunting and entrancing. 5/5
First Swift LP. Had to set my bias aside for this one as this is not something I am predisposed to like. That being said I did enjoy this quite a bit at times. I generally preferred the later tracks, but perhaps that was me getting more accustomed to what I was listening to. Ivy was a highlight. I’m going to land on a 3/5. Pretty good
Look I respect it, but I definitely don’t like it or this era of pop music. I like Timberlake as a person. He’s funny on SNL when he hosts. Not for me. Couple tracks. 2/5
Love this record. Might be his best. Though I suppose that is a worthy debate to have. 5/5
For the longest time I never really gave U2 a chance. Maybe it was their more modern stuff, but I really enjoyed this. 4/5
This just tells me I need to listen to more Bowie. This album is haunting and hopeful all at the same time, yet not afraid to rock. Given the context I suppose all of that makes sense. 4/5
Good chill music. Didn’t blow me away, but I did enjoy it. 3/5
Love everything happening here. Hendrix’s legacy is heavily felt hear on Hazel’s guitar work. Fantastic combination of psychedelic elements fused with early funk rock. A lot of genuinely catchy tunes as well. Great record! 5/5
First time hearing this one by them. And I feel like I slept on it. Did not realize it’s basically a Grohl solo album. This rocked. Not as good as Color and Shape though. 4/5
Just a great rock album. 4/5
I like the Black Album, but I do feel it is a step or two down from their first four records. Metallica had a great 5 album run, but to me this is an unfortunately the first sign of where they end up going. 4/5
Really enjoyed this. Jazz vibes with some cool Afro percussion performances. This was a vibe. 4/5
This is definitely not for me and I think I actively do not like it. You can do so much better when it comes to pop music.Lana Del Dey, Madonna, Lady Gaga, the list goes on. 1/5
In my last review for this list I stated that pop music could be so much better. Then I got Thriller and my point was immediately proven correct. This is a masterpiece. Say what you will about Jackson as a person. This album is banger after banger. 5/5
This was great. Great blues rock. 4/5
An amazing hidden gem of an album. Would have never heard this if not for this list. Dreamlike, varied, unique, beautiful. Loved this one. 5/5
This is RHCP at the top of their game. Funk, Punk, groove. The singles are undeniably great. This whole album oozes personality. 5/5
This was good. Not amazing though. Some bangers and some misses. 3/5
Yet further proof that the Beatles would go on to create good music even after they disbanded. This record is solid inventive pop rock. The title track is a one of my favorite songs on the record. 4/5
I do have a soft spot for these sorts of honky tonk tunes. This was fine. The lack of original songwriting hurts it though. 3/5
One of the greatest prog rock records ever recorded. Flute and all. The story telling. The riffs. The music. Love this one. 5/5
Not to familiar with music from this part of the world. I thought it was pretty good. Between the percussion and the obviously virtuoso guitar playing, this was a fun listen. 3/5
This belongs on this list, but it is not for me. Never could get into music like this.
2/5
The misogynistic critiques are valid, but at the end of the day this album came from a certain point in time and culture. This album is kind of just fun if you don’t take it too seriously. 3/5
Surprised to find myself enjoying this one quite a bit. 4/5
Really enjoyed this one. This is the sort of country that I’m into. Thoughtful writing. 4/5
Absolutely was surprised by and adored this record. The previous earlier Dusty record left a lot to be desired, but this impressed. The orchestration, soul, and hooks. Dusty’s voice is immaculate. Loved this one. 5/5
Wow did not realize this was on this list. This is one of the defining bands of my high school experience. I first saw them opening for System of a Down and they have been one of my favorite bands ever since. This band opened up so much for me music wise that this is an easy 5/5.
This one I really did not like. None of these songs felt compelling to me. I was mostly just bored. Every song felt like it had the same dull pace. 1/5
