1001 Albums Summary

Pre listen: I didn't know the Ramones were a 70's band, I always thought they were 90's. Knowing they are 70's now is very interesting, their punk-sound was very ahead of their time. I always thought The Clash inspired The Ramones, but now I think it may be the other way around. Notable tracks: Blitzkrieg Bop - Absolute classic, used at least once in every sporting event in a stadium ever. Chain Saw - The loud chainsaw sound at the start hurt my ears :( I had my volume too high. Also points off for pronouncing Massacre "Mass-ah-cree" Now I wanna Sniff Some Glue - Me too kid. 53rd & 3rd - Probably my favorite track on the album. Good lyricism, varying tempo, vocal distortions, and good vocal harmonies make me like it. Post Listen: Overall I'd give it a 2/5. I think too many of the songs sound similar, to the point there was a few instances I didn't realize one track went on to the next. The tempo they play at is the same for like 80% of the songs on here, and the backing guitars/drum rhythms sound way too similar between songs as well. The lyrics are really good in many of the songs, but there were a few I couldn't understand what they were saying due to their THICK Impoverished Islander Accent. I would describe the album as Punk-Rock boiled down to it's most essential components, but just like boiled water, it needs some flavor. Remarkable album for being foundational for Punk music though, and again, very impressed it came out as early as it did.

Pre Listen: I have no idea who this band is. The only Franz Ferdinand I know was assassinated in 1914, so I have no expectations for this album going in. Notable Tracks: Take Me Out - Hey I know this one. This is the one that made them popular I think. Classic. The Dark of the Matinée - Rather catchy, I like the melody a lot. My favorite track on the album. Cheating on You - Kind of repetitive, my least favorite song on the album. It has a fairly ugly melody as well, but I guess the ugliness fits the message? This Fire - I know this one too, another hit. It's pretty good. Post Listen: I did know more of their songs than I realized, and even the songs I didn't recognize were catchy and overall well made. I enjoyed the swings in tempo that a lot of the songs have and how quickly their lyrics and melodies will change along with it to fit the mood. I give the album a 4/5, I don't think I'll add any songs to my playlist as I'm not much a punk enjoyer, but I appreciate the music for the quality it has.

Pre Listen: Despite knowing how influential Bob Dylan is, and despite my affinity for music out of the 60's and 70's, I've never really given any of Bob's album work a good thorough listen. I'm looking forward to giving it a try, resultingly my expectations are higher than usual. Notable Tracks: Stuck Inside of Mobile with the Memphis Blues Again - Just like the title, this song goes on for wayyyyy too long. Easily my least favorite on song on the album. It's repetitive in a bad way. Fourth Time Around - Reminded me of the Beatles' Norwegian Wood. Would be a great track and playlist worthy if it didn't go on for too long. Sad-Eyed Lady of the Lowlands - My favorite track on the album, good enough that I'm adding it to my playlist. The piano is a nice touch. It's repetitive in a good way. Post Listen: What an interesting album. I had a lot of comments for a lot of tracks I felt were notable, but they all essentially boiled down to a few key feelings I had about the album; Bob Dylan's lengthy drawn-our pronunciation of words, intentionally slurred lyrics, random harmonica breaks, and jumbled verses works in small doses, but becomes grating after back-to-back tracks. The actual content of the lyrics, especially in his songs relating to women or relationships, make him come off as a creep. Whether that's intentional or not I'm uncertain, but it's unpleasant regardless. That being said I did enjoy a few of the songs, but I won't be listening to this album in it's entirety again. It's too long and Bob got on my nerves after the 4th or so song. I give it a 2/5.

Pre Listen: Talking Heads my beloved :D Notable Tracks: I Zimbra - What a jubilant way to start an album. Absolutely love it. Life During Wartime - My favorite track, already on my playlist before this listen. Heaven - The 'Nothing Ever Happens' theme song. Huge for those who subscribe to the nothing ever happens line of modern philosophy. Animals - My least favorite track. Even though it's my least favorite I still enjoy it. Drugs - Adding to my playlist. The lyrics are not my favorite, but the actual music behind it is so ethereal and smooth. I've overlooked this song too many times. Post Listen: I've already listened to this album on multiple occasions, and have been a Talking Heads fan for maybe a decade at this point, so I'm absolutely biased. I love David Byrne's goofy nonsensical lyrics that occasionally have something poetic hidden in the noise. The band has such a unique sound, with lopsided guitar and bass melodies pulled along by grooving synth, and kept in check by sleek drum-play. I love this band. All that said, I'm giving the album a 4/5. The Talking Heads have stronger albums in my opinion, and while this one is great, they've demonstrated better. I think my bias also plays a roll in how much I enjoy this album, if you're brand new to the Talking Heads, 80% of the songs on here probably sound like doo-doo to you.

Pre Listen: Who? I like green onions in my food, and I like the album cover, and I like the release year, all telling me I'll likely enjoy this album. Notable Tracks: Green Onions - Ohhhh shit it's these guys. I couldn't tell you how many pieces of media I've heard this bit in. Very cool, also my favorite track. Mo' Onions - A reprisal to the song they clearly recognized is a banger? Brave. I applaud it. Twist and Shout - Love me Beatles. Love a good Beatles cover. Simple 'as. Post Listen: Call me Shrek but I'm digging these Onions man. Classic 60's rock, it's smooth, it's inoffensive, it's foundational. Got me tapping my foot and and humming along. The songs have a decent variety in sound too, I'll be adding a few to my playlist perhaps. A unique thing about this album is that there really wasn't a 'Least Favorite' track I encountered, it's all quite good. Giving the album a 4/5. Took my expectations and ran with it to higher places. While the whole album is solid, I wouldn't say there's anything exceptionally special however, which is why it isn't a 5/5.

Pre Listen: I listened to this album once a long time ago. I remember Money for Nothing, and I remember somewhat disliking the album. I haven't listened to much Dire Straits since, so I'm going in to this with minimal expectations. Notable Tracks: Money for Nothing - Yup, certified classic, banger. Adding it to my playli- wait hang on. He can't say that word. MFW Dire "Straights" or something. Walk of Life - Completely forgot this was one of their songs. Another certified classic, a real foot tapper. Why Worry - Snoozefest, least favorite song on the album. One World - Honestly sort of a hidden gem. Very funky, my favorite on the album. Post Listen: I enjoyed this album a lot more than I remembered, a lot of the lead guitar and keyboard work remind me of Pink Floyd. While it was better than I remembered, the album frustrates me somewhat. I think this band is at it's strongest with faster paced groove and vibe sort of songs, songs you can bop to. The fact this album then is mostly slower songs hurts. It feels like the musical equivalent of going up to a dog, hyping it up by jumping around and acting manic, then immediately leaving it alone in a room. I'm the dog, and I'm left confused and wanting more of that hype. I give it a 3/5.

Pre Listen: I get this band confused with Journey sometimes. I've heard this album before on many occasions, Boston's songs have unfortunately been included in every single classic-rock radio station or default rock playlist since their debut. Due this this, I feel their songs have been overplayed to the point where any merit they held individually has sort of worn out their welcome. Despite that I'll do my best to scrub my brain of every time I've heard their songs in a public space or on a long car ride, and keep an open mind. Notable Tracks: More Than a Feeling - Yup, that's More Than a Feeling alright. Despite my best efforts it's just a song I've heard 100s of times. It has merit as a real classic, but man I wish it wasn't included on everything. Peace of Mind - Yup, that's Peace of Mind alright. Yup. Foreplay/Long Time - Would be my favorite track, if it cut off right around the 2:30 minute mark. Certainly the most unique sounding track on the album in my opinion, until the aforementioned point, where it loses it's identity, and picks up the same sound as most other songs on this album. The acoustic bits in this track are great as well, I wish they let them shine more. Post Listen: In the time between listening to this album and uploading this review, a time period of ~18 hours, I went and got some groceries and got a haircut. While getting a haircut, "More Than a Feeling" came on over the ceiling speakers. I can't make this shit up. This album is solid. The instrument work is solid, the vocals are solid, the mixing is solid, it's a very clean album. The problem may be that it's too solid..? There's nothing in it that really sticks out to me, neither inherently amazing, nor abhorrent. It's the musical equivalent to that one B+ kid you knew in high school, who was really nice, decently smart, but painfully average. You wish them all the best, but ultimately don't keep up with them after you graduate. 3/5

Pre Listen: YES Notable Tracks: Yours Is No Disgrace - Putting your anti-war song front and center, right at the height of the Vietnam War, is incredibly respectable. I'm happy this band was part of that movement. Song is a banger too. Starship Trooper - Tied with the song mentioned below as my favorite track. The lyric "Loneliness is a power that we possess to give or take away forever" lives in my head rent free, and I try to keep it in mind on a daily basis. The ending "Würm" of this song is such an amazing piece of psyche-rock. I've Seen All Good People - Tied with the song mentioned above as my favorite track. A song about Chess making me feel things about the greater world and myself as a whole? The lyric "Don't surround yourself with yourself" is another one I try to keep in mind as much as I can. Amazing. Catchy too. A Venture & Perpetual Change - Listening to this album again reminded me these songs aren't on my playlist. I will be downloading them post-haste. Post Listen: This is one of my top albums of all time. It's the sort of album you can listen to over and over again, and it stays fresh. It has the sort of lyricism that leaves varying interpretations upon each person, have generally positive messages behind it, and just overall leave me feeling good. The changes in tempo, mood, instrumentation, and overall direction throughout the album makes it feel almost cinematic to me. The only critic I have is that the band struggles to stick the landing on a few songs, resulting in some awkward endings to a few tracks. I relate completely. Yes' sound is unbelievably unique, I can't say I've found another band that even comes close really. I would kill to have Steve Howe's skill on a guitar, electric or otherwise. I want to gush more about this album, but I'm trying to keep all my reviews around a similar length. 5/5. Perfect Album.

Pre Listen: I've not listened to Rush at all really. If I've heard one of their songs at some point, it's been entirely incidental. I'm excited to listen to their work, the last album reviewed on here was by Yes, and quite a few reviews with a negative opinion of them said how they favored Rush as a Prog Rock band active around similar times. So we shall see. Notable Tracks: YYZ - My favorite track on the album. Has some weaker points, especially the intro, but overall is some good ol' rockin. The Camera Eye - My least favorite track. Sort of a nothing-burger song. Goes on for much too long and is much too repetitive. Post Listen: It's an album, it's prog-rock. I don't know man, it's just sort of...music? I'm rather ambivalent to this album, more so than others I've listened to up to this point. There wasn't really anything unique I noticed about the sound. Some songs bordered on boring even. I bet it would be awesome to hear this album live at the very least? I think this is the most "Dad Rock" album I've heard in a long time. The bass player has more talent than anyone else on the band methinks. This is the first album covered on here where I didn't recognize a single song from. Understandably so. I don't really have much else to say outside of that. 2/5.