1/1001 (And what a start it is)
The start of a sound that Radiohead would slowly transform and perfect over the next several albums. Despite being an early and less than fully-formed iteration of their sound, this album is still phenomenal, with absolutely no skips. Its coherence is a strength, but also in some ways a weakness, as it doesn't have the same experimental highs as Kid A or big dramatic moments of OK Computer.
★★★★⯪
2/1001
My first Neil Young album! I've always felt a little intimidated when approaching his music as he doesn't seem too easy to fit in a box. My first reaction was that his voice is sort of unusual, but by "Southern Man" I was absolutely gripped through to the end. Like Neil's career, this album just had a bit of an intangible draw to it which is part of what made it so good.
★★★★⯪
3/1001
Who knew a live album could be this good? I didn't want In Memory of Elizabeth Reed or Whipping Post to end, which says a lot for such long tracks. A live album that seems to capture a band at their best. Probably my favourite blues rock or blues rock-adjacent album to date.
★★★★⯪
4/1001
First Led Zeppelin! My experience with them started and ended with listening to Stairway to Heaven when I was younger... and Guitar Hero. And honestly, what an album. It's crazy that 1969 was such a good year for music that you could reasonably argue this doesn't even crack the top 5 or even 10 albums in that year. "Babe I'm Gonna Leave You" and "Dazed and Confused" are timeless and I cannot imagine being a teenager in the late 60s, turning this on, and having your mind completely blown.
★★★★☆
5/1001
Illinois - Sufjan Stevens (2005)
This has to be one of the most, if not the most, beautiful album I've ever heard from an instrumental point of view. Having not been the biggest fan of "Carie and Lowell" I actually went into this with lower expectations than I might with other well regarded albums. The writing is superb, the concept is ambitious the and execution is wonderful, and the album as a whole cohesive experience is perfect.
★★★★★
6/1001
Remain in Light - Talking Heads (1980)
The run from the opener to "Once in a Lifetime" may be one of the greatest four track runs of all time. This album was way ahead of its time, and as a Brian Eno fan it was really nice to hear his influence. David Byrne is an absolute genius with his writing, and the jamming of Jerry, Tina and Chris make this a cohesive electrifying experience. Although if with how heavy and apparent the inspiration is, I'd be happy to consider Fela Kuti the fifth (sixth) member of this group here. All said, the track run from "Once in a Lifetime" to the closer just wasn't as strong for me and ultimately held this album back from perfection.
★★★★½
7/1001
1984 - Van Halen (1984)
Man this album surprised me completely. First off, the songs I was dreading most were Jump, Panama, and Hot for Teacher having heard them so many times in so many different contexts. But no, they absolutely are the best tracks here, and listening to them in the album made me appreciate them a lot more, and unfortunately made nearly every other track seem not quite as great. Eddie's shredding gets a lot of completely fair praise but Alex's Harley Davidson drumming on Hot for Teacher is unbelievable. This sort of hard rock/glam is something I have a natural distaste for which I think will be demonstrated in my subsequent reviews from this genre - but this was such a surprise to me as it holds up pretty well. Can't stop thinking the album cover looks like something from the wall of a bowling alley though.
★★★★
8/1001
Justified - Justin Timberlake (2002)
The definition of a front-loaded album. The singles really carry this from being just below average to just above, and something worth listening to. After "Rock Your Body" I was mostly... bored. That said, the six track run from the opener was something I enjoyed far more than I expected, even if some tracks veer on the side of tacky. Rather than enjoying this as a Justin Timberlake album, I felt like I was mostly just enjoying The Neptunes and Timbaland. Somehow pleasantly surprised overall.
★★★
9/1001
This is Fats Domino - Fats Domino (1956)
An overwhelmingly warm and unflinchingly sincere experience. The foundations of Rock & Roll with sweet, timeless classics like "Blueberry Hill," "Blue Monday" or "So Long." It's one of those albums that captures two genres/scenes in flux (New Orleans Rhythm & Blues and Rock & Roll) and has just the right amount from both. It can sound basic in the retrospect afforded by the 70 years that have passed, but what fun it still is. As Elvis said, "the true King of Rock & Roll."
★★★★
10/1001
Time Out - The Dave Brubeck Quartet (1959)
My first Jazz album from 1001! And quite relevant, given the fact that this was the first Jazz record to go platinum despite introducing non-standard time signatures and polyrhythms. Desmond's sax is airy and smooth as butter, Morello's drumming on Take Five is beautiful, and the piano is consistent but with flashes of some of the most satisfying playing ever heard in cool jazz. It has very stiff competition, given what other jazz giant came out this year, but it very much stands on its own. Absolute beauty.
★★★★½
11/1001
Cee-Lo Green... Is The Soul Machine - Cee Lo Green (2004)
What a frustrating listen. I love Southern Hip-Hop, I like Neptunes & Timbaland, and in general I do enjoy R&B/Neo-Soul - so needless to say I was quite optimistic for this album. Instead, I got an album with several good ideas, which then beat those ideas into the ground and milked them so dry that they became annoying and I wanted the next track to come. Repeat this for at least 10 of these tracks, and I was glad when the album was over, despite the fact that some tracks such as "The Art Of Noise" and "I'll Be Around" showed the type of tracks that could've filled this album in a better timeline. Cee Lo was honestly the weakest part of this album, and as someone who tends to like non-conventional vocals and flow, this just did not do it for me. I'd rather be listening to just about any project from anyone else that came out of The Dungeon than this.
★★½
12/1001
Me Against The World - 2Pac (1995)
I try not to give context too much weight when rating an album, because ultimately all I'm rating is how much I enjoyed it. The context of this album is unavoidable, it's the vulnerable introspective standout of his discography next to the aggressive and defiant characteristics of 7 Day and All Eyez. Luckily, the aforementioned enjoyment factor is not a problem. This is an album without a single skip, with rock solid writing throughout, and with absolutely beautiful soulful production. It may be a West Coast G-Funk classic, but I'd be remiss if I didn't say I saw the fingerprints of Blues on this album; I suppose a near-death experience will do that to you. Absolute classic.
★★★★★
13/1001
Straight Outta Compton - N.W.A. (1988)
An album whose influence is still heard 38 (!) years later. How would it be possible to rate an album with the title track, "Fuck Tha Police", and "Express Yourself" below four stars? That said, I think that's about the highest it can get. There are several iconic tracks that had an enormous impact on Hip-Hop but, just as with other 80s Hip-Hop, it's impossible to not hear its age. The "Remix" tracks really just do not do it for me, and in general the second half is full of very forgettable early Hip-Hop. And, as much as I hate to say it, I think a lot of Eazy-E's writing and rapping just isn't for me, at least on this album. A very enjoyable album but limited but remembered primarily for its standout tracks.
★★★★
