1001 Albums Summary

I don’t understand why anyone needs to hear this before they die. Listening to this made me want to die, though.

One of the best albums OF ALL TIME? You’ve got to be kidding me.

Better lyricist than singer, and most of the music was cheesy and not that engaging. But at least it was recognizable as music, so there’s that. I guess I didn’t hate it, but I’m not sure I’d actively seek it out. Maybe just stick to writing poetry.

Pleasantly surprised. I didn't expect to be into this, but it was a really enjoyable listen.

I appreciate this more than I actually like it. It’s hard to believe this was recorded in the 60s.

Ugh, do I have to? Can’t stand Beyoncé’s husband, and I can’t say I particularly enjoyed this or want to listen to it again. But weirdly, I’m glad I listened to it once.

Damn!

I liked a few songs, but this is mostly not for me.

Probably not quite five stars on the merits, but you can’t beat the nostalgia.

Meh. Not my favorite Talking Heads album.

Did we need a cover of American Pie by Madonna? No, we did not. Do I hate myself for sort of liking it? Yes I do.

Never heard of them, and had no idea what I was going to be listening to. This older white lady really enjoyed it!

It’s not really my thing, but five stars on the merits.

I’m not convinced I actually needed to hear this before I die, but it was a lot of fun.

Did not enjoy this at all.

Not usually that into jazz, but this was pleasant.

Not sure anyone needs to hear this before they die, but it was OK.

Can't quite put my finger on what I don't like about this. I can't discern a particular genre or any influences--it just sort of rambles along? It's not very--melodic? The songs lack structure? Hovering between 2 stars and 3 stars. Leaning toward two because of the negative je ne sais quoi of the whole thing, but I didn't hate it as much as it just sort of made me uneasy. I guess 2.5, which rounds up to 3.

A couple of tracks are a little cheesy, but cheese is delicious! Probably not my favorite Billy Joel album, but close. 4.5 rounded up to 5.

Didn’t love it; didn’t hate it. More interesting than, say, The Black Keys.

I liked this more than some albums I’ve given three stars to. I don’t know that I would actively seek it out. It doesn’t quite tip into four star territory for me.

Appreciate this more than I actually like it.

Intense listening.

Did not know what to expect, and I quite liked it.

Not 100% aligned with my tastes, but it’s very pleasant to listen to and Dolly Parton is a freaking national treasure. This pushed it over to five stars.

Yeah, I really could have died without ever listening to this.

One extra star for being a little different and semi-interesting, but not really anything I would choose to listen to.

Unfamiliar with them. Enjoyable listen, especially the first side.

I actually sort of liked the music, but lyrics were just too much. Not for me.

My sweet lord. What in the blue blazes did I just listen to? Were any animals tortured in the making of this album? Tuneless caterwauling. Rock bottom, indeed.

The first Beatles album to come up for me. So good. No notes.

Really wasn’t familiar with them, and for some reason I was braced to not like this. I don’t think I would seek it out, but I thought it was fine.

This was deeply weird. Not at all what I expected. I can’t decide if it is just ok, or if I sort of like it.

A few interesting moments, but overall not for me. Could definitely have died without listening to this.

Never heard of them. Grew on me as it went on. Kind of fun and quirky

Groovy

Most definitely not for me.

Just the kind of jangly late sixties stuff I usually love, but it didn’t really hit for me.

Really, really good.

Four stars for the classics.

Just not for me.

Perfectly ok, but not essential pre-death listening.

Not for me.

4 stars just for Stand and Everyday People. Otherwise closer to 3 stars for me

I don’t love every single track but it’s hard not to give this five stars.

Never heard of them. This was fun—like listening to a decent bar band. Which is not a bad thing, but I don’t see the necessity of having listened to it before I die.

I’m not quite sure why this is four stars for me. But it is.

I thought I would hate this. I was surprised that I didn’t.

Nope. Not for me. Two stars for not being a complete musical train wreck, though.

Meh.

Just could not make myself like this. Too screamy.

Not a huge fan of the interminable jams, but the music is pleasant and interesting.

It was interesting and mostly a pleasant listen, but not really my jam. I get why it’s on this list, though.

Fine.

Didn’t love it, but I didn’t hate it as much as Siamese Dream, which was two stars for me. Does it rate three? Hmm. I’m not sure it quite gets there. Two hours was a bit much.

Well, that was weird.

Undeniably a great album. It deserves five stars on the merits, but I don’t think I’d choose to listen to the whole thing on the regular. I do love Comfortably Numb.

Meh. Not really my thing.

I get it, but I would not seek this out as a listening experience.

Mostly not my jam but it does have its charms. Two and a half, so rounded up to three.

Jazz is not really my genre, yet somehow it is my second-highest ranking so far. Go figure. It’s hard not to give this five stars for the incredible musicianship.

Did not enjoy this as much as I expected to.

I was willing to sort of like this, but he lost me halfway through Tubular Bells pt. II with the weird growling noises.

I’m not sure why I thought I was going to hate this, but I didn’t. Still it was just ok

Nope.

I liked it, but not sure that I needed to hear it before I die.

Didn’t love it, didn’t hate it. Some of it was just weird.

Never heard of them, and the vocals on the opening track had me very worried that this was going to be impossible to listen to. It got better, if still a bit warbly and out of tune in spots. Nice new wave vibe.

Theoretically I should love Leonard Cohen. But his voice bugs me, and I don’t find most of the music interesting. I think if he had confined himself to writing lyrics and left the music and singing to other people I would probably be a fan. I can’t really see myself choosing to listen this again.

Another one that I should theoretically like but it was just weird.

OK. There are other Rush albums I like more.

This is the first album I knew in advance was going to be five stars for me.

Can’t say I enjoyed this

One I like on my birthday! I don’t think this is Dire Straits’ best album, but it has Sultans of Swing, which is hard to top. Plus I gave a-ha five stars, and this is objectively better than that.

Did not expect this to be higher than three stars, but it was a very enjoyable listen.

This is five stars not because I’m going to put it in my rotation, but just because it’s really good music.

This must be what listening to the Beach Boys on acid is like. An extra star because Brian Wilson was a genius, but mostly I felt like I didn’t really understand what was happening here.

Firmly in the nostalgic ear candy category

Cool and groovy.

Thought I would like this more than I did.

Eh. It was recognizable as music.

I keep saying jazz is not really my thing and this keeps throwing five-star jazz albums at me. What a voice.

Boring

Did not enjoy

I thought this was going to be four stars. I like his mellow songs better than his other work. It wasn’t awful; just not as enjoyable as I was expecting it to be.

I liked it more than I disliked it. It didn’t quite rise to the level of four stars.

It wasn’t actively terrible, but sort of boring. Not bad enough for two stars, but I didn’t particularly like it.

Another one that is just meh. Not awful, not especially enjoyable

The nostalgia is strong with this one. Definite five stars based on how much I enjoyed listening to it. Not sure if it gets five stars on the merits. How was I unfamiliar with No Surrender? That might be the best song on this album. Ah, screw it: five stars.

Kind of uneven, like I was listening to two different albums. Some tracks were kind of fun and groovy; others were sort of boring.

Kind of intriguing? Not sure I’d choose to listen again but it was OK

Fine. Needed to hear it before I die? Nah.

I did not particularly enjoy this.

I enjoyed this, but I don’t think it necessarily belongs on this list.

What a vapid assault on my ears.

Close to one star, but I try to reserve those for WTAF nonsense. This was just not something I enjoyed listening to.

I’m a fool for those harmonies.

I would have appreciated just the tiniest little bit of auto tune here. Does he sing like that on purpose?

Flirting dangerously with one star. Just not for me.

Started out basically ok, not great or terrible. Then it got deeply weird.

Had no idea what to expect. It wasn’t bad!

Not bad.

I expected this to be sort of brilliant; interesting interpretations of standards. Instead, it mostly sounded like basic, countrified covers to my ear. It was more enjoyable than a lot of forgettable albums I’ve given three stars, but not as good as I was hoping for. I guess that makes it 3.5, rounded up to four, but I’m a little disappointed it didn’t quite make four stars on the merits.