I already love the vibe from the moment the first song starts. It’s so chill! The kind of music to just kick back to.
I’ve heard of him, but hadn’t listened much to his music before. I also did not realize he’s no longer here! How sad to read. But as soon as the first song started, I was immediately transported to the good ol’ Millennial days in the late 90s/early 00s. I love his voice! I definitely get a Beatles vibe in it.
Where is there to say? This is Elvis f**king Presley! His voice is so soothing and I could listen to him sing stories to me all day. What a legend and what a fantastic album!!!
Favorite tracks:
I’ll Hold You In My Heart
I’m Moving On
After Loving You
Suspicious Minds
This album just wasn’t for me, but “California Dreamin’” is a classic that I will always love.
The man is a gifted storyteller and musician and every song is like hearing someone sing a tale to you. But I had a hard time relating emotionally to his lyrics, so I can appreciate his artistry and also say that this album is not for me.
Wow, this was a surprise listen for me. I LOVED this! It felt like I was stepping into a movie with Tron/Blade Runner/Stranger Things-vibes and I thought some lyrics (especially the song about the model lol) were so absurdly silly that I literally laughed out loud. But I absolutely loved this and would totally listen to it again as background music when I need to feel like I’m going into another planet or something!
Embarrassingly, as a middle-of-the-road Millennial, I’ve never listened to a Beatles album from start to finish. Have only ever listened to the many different hits that we all know and love.
But this album has got to be one of the greatest creations of music of all time. I was so excited when I got this today! Loved every single song. This is an album I’d reach for when I want something comforting to listen to.
I love Peter Gabriel, but this album just wasn’t for me.
I’m a big Foo Fighters fan, but I was only familiar with songs from their 2nd album and beyond. I was really excited to get this album and start from the beginning!
And it delivered more than I could’ve hoped for. This is a SOLID rock album. Unsurprisingly, it gave me Nirvana vibes but Dave Grohl is such a unique vocalist and has always laid his own path.
So many bangers on here! Independent Woman Pt I, Survivor, Bootylicious, Dangerously in Love, and so on. This reminds me of my younger years and I can’t help but dance when I hear this album. So fun!
Hadn’t heard of them before and had a hard time connecting to the album. Not for me.
I am not a country fan, but I am most certainly a Johnny Cash fan! Absolutely love him. This was so fun and I loved hearing his commentary in here since it’s live. What a guy and musician!!
I’ve heard of Steely Dan, but never listened to them. And I immediately fell in love with their sound by the opening of the first song!! This stuff is soo good!! I’d have this be playing in the background all day.
I only know Wainwright from his cover of Hallelujah, but damn is he a talented vocalist and musician. I love how theatrical he is and how operatic his songs are. That being said, this album isn’t something I’d go searching to listen to in any context aside from wanting to put it into a movie or TV show.
My favorite songs are This Love Affair and Waiting For A Dream. I sort of got Robbie Williams vibes in the latter song!
Joni is an awesome storyteller. Love the chill vibes of the album, but it didn’t pull at me in any strong way.
Felt a bit sad to receive this album, but what a throwback to hearing “Rehab” for the first time. Amy was (RIP) such a talented vocalist and the album was so fun to listen to. She is so rare and I don’t think we’ve had anyone quite like her since.
This project has made it clear I am a synth-pop fan since one of my first 5 stars was given to Kraftwerk, a major influence of Depeche Mode! I am now learning that 5 stars, for me, is given to any album I will happily have playing in the background with no skips. This is one of those albums and was so much fun to listen to! There wasn’t a song I wasn’t bobbing my head to.
Ok, I’m surprised how much I loved this seeing as how I never felt particularly drawn to Bob Dylan’s music. But this was SO GOOD and soothing and it was the perfect background music to read a book to. It felt like I was being sung lullabies in the first half. And the second half was fun and pumped me up. He really is something special.
Woof, I got nervous getting this since the movie just came out and it’s bringing back all the controversy. But if I had to separate the art from the artist, this is a solid album. Not as epic as Thriller, but probably the last album of his chronological discography I would consider solid.
Liked the vibe in their first song, but then the rest all just felt similar and unremarkable to me. I was also in a bad mood, so not sure if that contributed, but they sound similar to other psychedelic-type rock artists from the 60s. If I am going to reach for something with this energy, I'd reach for The Beatles.
As an RHCP fan, you can imagine how excited I was to get this! And this album is just as good now as it was. Pure dopamine and joy and also such emotional depth, which RHCP was always strong at underneath it all. Love love love them for life!
I’m biased going in as a Radiohead fan and it was a joy to be asked to listen to this from start to finish after a very long time!
And it was even better than I remembered. No skips. So so so good.
I love this rock opera vibe. It’s giving Queen energy. What an epic vocalist! I feel like I had to clap after the last song. What a gem.
I have never listened to Nina Simone besides her hit songs. She is SO GOOD. The first two songs in this album are gems (I Love Your Lovin’ Ways and Four Women) that made me want to straighten my spine and go out into the world and cause trouble. I felt so empowered! I’m so pleasantly surprised at how much I loved this and how comforted I felt by it.
Now this is my kind of music. No skips. Could be happy hearing any of these in the background.
Solid album. I’d be happy if I were to hear this album playing in the background anywhere I was. Of course, some lyrics are a little outdated but it was the 60s and I’ll give him a pass on this one.
Mr. Tambourine is easily one of my favorite songs ever. So good.
I got this just days after getting The Bends, which is kind of unfair to this album. I love “Pyramid Song” and “I Might Be Wrong”, but otherwise didn’t feel especially into this album as much as Radiohead’s other masterpieces.
It has a fun sound that reminds me of many different others like Bob Marley, 311, maybe a little Beach Boys..but it just wasn’t remarkable to me and is not an album I’d reach for in any mood.
I knew as soon as I heard the first song that this is just not for me.
All I have to say is DUH! lol.
Loved some songs and skipped others. I like the general vibe when it doesn’t get super discordant. I liked songs like “Soul And Fire” and “Happily Divided”—these gave me a little Weezer/Modest Mouse energy and that general more chill vibe that I can tell is a father of surfer/punk rock that came after.
There are some badass and fun guitar solos in here, but otherwise not really for me.
My reaction as soon as I saw this was my album for today: f*** yes. That is all.
So happy to be reminded of Stevie Wonder’s joyous energy! This started off as 5 stars for me, but I honestly couldn’t get over how repetitive and long “Maybe Your Baby” felt (I was driving) and how it just felt sort of ruined the vibe from the earlier songs.
“Superstition” will remain one of the greatest songs of all time. Aside from my one issue above, I wouldn’t mind hearing any of these tracks. Stevie Wonder is pure happiness in a human.
Don’t get me wrong, I love AC/DC! But, upon listening to this, every song basically sounded the same except for the two mega hits on it. But I will always get up and dance to Back in Black and You Shook Me All Night Long whenever I hear them!
There’s nothing wrong with the album, but it’s just not my vibe.
Did not expect an instrumental jazz piano album on here, so this was a surprise. While I do love jazz, piano, and jazz piano, I didn’t feel especially connected to these selection of songs.
First time listening to this and it is really, really good.
Now this is pure dopamine. Loved it.
I’m here for Jack White lol, who I am so glad went off to do his own thing. I prefer him solo over him and Meg on this album.
It sounded a bit more country than rock to me, but there were some charming songs. Just not for me.
Loved this album in high school and love it now.
Perfection. 100000/10. No notes. I just wish they were here now making music when we really need them the most! 😭
What in the world am I listening to lol?! After looking this album up…I feel a little uncomfortable with what he is singing about. If I were to separate the story from the actual musical sound, the arrangement of instruments and spoken word/French vocals sound really unique and interesting to hear.
But….yeah, I can’t get into the intention here.
Wonderful artist. The lyrics are incredibly empowering and meaningful.
I don’t need to understand the language to appreciate how TALENTED these guys are. And how good the beats are! I was bopping my head immediately to the first song. I am so glad I discovered them. What a gem. Their story makes me tear up.
This is the one of the best examples of the healing power of music.
I am liking this album so much more than I anticipated. It’s not my favorite Radiohead, and I thought I’d not like the more quirky high electronic route that the band went in after the late 90s/early 2000s, but I really love some of the slower songs like “Nude” and “All I Need”. I’m sold on this album being a good one.
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I was little when this album came out and, like everyone else in the 90s and early 00s, knew about Wonderwall.
But, now, decades later…I am in awe of this album. This has moved to the top of my all-time favorite albums. I had no idea the lyrics were this DEEP and are literally the soothing balm my soul needed to hear in this moment in my late 30s.
Pure medicine. This album is pure medicine. I could cry with how moved and grateful I am to be doing this project and re(discovering) music that will be a forever companion when I need a reminder that I’m not alone in how I’m feeling.
I’m laughing because if someone were to ask, “What is 80s music?” I’d say this album. This is literally the sound of the 80s in a nutshell.
It’s so interesting hearing this after hearing two of their other major albums (White Album & Abbey Road) and how different the sound is. This felt more like cabana/beach music than the others. If I ever need to feel like I’m at a tiki bar on the beach, this is one of the albums I’d want to hear.
As someone who is spiritual and into New Age-style music and folk, I thought I’d be way more into this than I was. But the lyrics made very little sense to me and it was not as profound an experience as I was hoping. Not for me.
This is the kind of album you need to be getting high to lol. But while sober, it felt unremarkable to me and was just sort of something I’d enjoy if it was already playing as random background music.
Don’t even need to listen to this because it is one of my favorite albums of ALL TIME and is a 10000000/10 with absolutely no notes. But okay, fine, I’ll listen to it again for the 10000th time and revert back to being a teenager and slamming the door with this blasting from my CD player.
I like the slower beats and the chill vibe, but it didn’t stand out to me.
Nice voice. Just wasn’t my vibe.
Omg this is such a badass album. But also heartbreaking to think that Kurt passed days before this was released and never got to see Courtney kick major ass in this.
I’m digging the beats. Cool sound.
Great vocalist and love the cinematic vibe. Sounds like I was listening to a Broadway musical. Not something I’d reach for though.
Ummm, I love Gary Numan and am not sure how I’ve not discovered him until now.
This is fun! It was so British that I didn’t think it’d be my vibe but…..I LOVED this and kept wanting to hear the next song. A big surprise for me this month.
Holy s***, I feel like I was put under a spell the moment she sang the first note. One of the biggest surprises of this journey for me as I literally never heard of her before. And no, I didn’t know about her and Dylan’s romance or watched the recent movie, so I really went into this blind.
Joan is incredible and I swear she is casting spells through her voice. I am in awe and in a trance as I listen to each song.
Cool beats. Definitely sounds like classic 90s R&B music.
One of the things I love about this website is how it exposes you to music from all over the world that you’d likely not be exposed to.
Wow, insane vocals. I can see how they influenced many acts that followed in their rock opera steps.
That being said, the album is way too long to hold my interest. Everything started to sound the same towards the end of Disc 1.
Damnnnnn…..these guys got major SOUL!!
This would’ve been an easy 5 for me if the songs weren’t so long. I’m sorry, but 20 minutes is too long.
But their musicianship? Perfect. I’m jealous of everyone who got to see them perform live in the 70s. This stuff is gold.
I like Fleet Foxes and already knew a few songs from this album, but the whole thing didn’t feel like extra special or remarkable to me. Just something you’d have in the background while doing something else.
Such a strong vocalist and musician. But the vibe was just not for me.
Love her voice. And love the lyrics on a few songs. I’ve never really listened to her much before, but I can see why she is treasured in the music world. That being said, this album is not something I’d intentionally reach for but I would definitely not be upset if I heard it playing overhead wherever I was.
What is this?! The lyrics are TERRIBLE and misogynistic. Could barely even get through the first song without cringing.
Very unique sound. I can see how T. Rex could’ve been an influence to music artists like Elliott Smith, The White Stripes/Jack White, The Black Keys, etc.
I loved Buick Mackane, but otherwise I wasn’t too in love with anything else as much—maybe the gritty sound of Chariot Choogle.
I noticed that I had other songs saved from different albums already (not sure where I heard them), but I am curious if there is a possibility I will fall in love with T. Rex with another album.
What a unique album. I feel like it has different genres within it. Rock. Punk. New Wave.
I was almost convinced this was going to be a 5 (or at least a 4) for me after hearing the first few songs, which were fun. And then it got a little too punk and chaotic for me. And then it redeemed itself with some of the cool synth in the latter songs.
I kept thinking how some songs sound very much like Oasis. Same kind of drawn out notes and vibe. But different enough.
By the end, I feel like the album is solid. It’s actually quite fun and very British (in a good way), but that one listen was enough for me to soak it in and appreciate it for what it is. I don’t feel the desire to listen it again.
I realllly wanted to give this a 5 because I LOVE Beck over the years and especially when I was younger.
But there were enough cacophony with the sometimes jarring interference of harsh, unexpected sounds that made some of the songs just plain unpleasant for me to listen to. And sometimes this would happen in the middle of what felt like a perfect song (like Where It’s At).
But Beck is a musical genius and the songs that were pleasant to listen to were perfect. I especially love The New Pollution (and the music video is fun to watch).
Wow, the first song immediately caught my attention. So different from the other Leonard Cohen album I got and wasn’t really into.
And, omg, after looking it up I had no idea this was released 27 days before Cohen passed. Wow. That gave me shivers.
I started unexpectedly tearing up when Treaty started. I feel like his soul was channeling something before leaving his body through this album.
And I have literally been made to cry every. single. song. I don’t think I have had that happen on this album journey so far.
This is a masterpiece. One of my absolute favorites so far. Some of the best lyrics ever I’ve ever come across. This is a spiritual, transcendent experience (and I’m saying that completely sober).
Fun energy. I expected nothing less.
I like musical theatre. I like rock opera. I like theatrics.
But his voice was quite off-putting for my ears and, honestly, made me quite uncomfortable for some reason. Just not for me.
Cool sound. Loved some of the slower songs and really admire how experimental they are with genres.
I rage-cleaned my home to this album and it was the adrenaline boost I needed! One is such a good song. This is the first Metallica album I have received (it’s about damn time!) and I’m excited to get the others.
Songs were a little long for me, but they have a cool sound. I couldn’t help but hear an ancestor of jam bands from them—I’m not sure if this is the case, but I def got a “jam” vibe from them.
My first KISS album from start to finish and it was fun! I can definitely see how they are a cultural phenomenon and a major influence in the rock genre.
Too discordant for my ears.
I was SO happy to get this since I am a big Cat Stevens fan, although I admit I’ll never listened to a full album from start to finish.
This is SO. DAMN. GOOD. The man channels music and lyrics through his soul. I was extremely stressed before I put on his album and it brought me such soothing comfort.
This album is medicine for the aching soul.
Oh my gosh, I was initially thinking I’d give this a 3 because it completely brought “Music” (the song) back into my orbit, which I totally forgot about.
But then “Don’t Tell Me” and “What It Feels Like for a Girl” and I FORGOT HOW GOOD THESE SONGS ARE!! Especially how moving the latter is.
This is why I am so grateful to be doing this—because it brings music back into my life I forgot about and that hit so much differently now than when I was younger!
Fun, eclectic sound.
Ooooh, this is FUN! I feel like I need a time travel machine to take me back to a beach in 1982 and with a pina colada in hand. That saxophone. THIS IS THE 80S BABY!!
Favorites: Breakdown, The Wild One, Forever, Mystery Man, Luna, and the obvious American Girl.
This is a really fun album. And so good! There is almost a sensual quality to Tom’s voice (RIP 😭) that makes some of the songs so so so enjoyable to listen to. Loved it so much.
I’m on the border of giving it a 4 or a 5. I may come back, listen to it again, and might decide to give it a 5. But for now it is a very strong 4.5.
I’m going to make this review based on a blind listen of the album, as it was released in 1989. Not on the woman she is today, but who this album’s artist was.
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This was such a surprise for me. Before listening, I figured I’d like it since I already have loved Janet’s hits. I have always looooved the song “Rhythm Nation” and I remember buying her All For You album when I was a teen.
But THIS. ALBUM. IS. AN. EXPERIENCE!! When I saw the length, I was groaning and thinking it’d be too long. But I love the social justice messages, the fun beats, and, after watching her music videos, her incredible dancing just adds to the whole vibe. She got me to get up and dance when I was convinced nothing would lift my mood today. This is a wonderful album.
I’ve already gotten another The Who album and didn’t love it, so I went into this unsure of how I’d feel. But this is pretty fun to listen to. It feels like a blend of musical theatre, rock opera, and that good ol’ classic 60s rock sound. I liked it way more than I anticipated and am glad I didn’t skim it over!
Ugh. I already know this is one of the greatest albums of all time before even clicking on it. Thriller, the song, is a MASTERPIECE. I have already listened to this album numerous times from start to finish in prior years. I am also feeling quite conflicted about how to rate it for obvious reasons. Sigh.
That being said…
If I am rating it purely on the music, plus the music videos, it is the easiest 5. This is one of those albums you don’t just listen to, but get lost in. I can’t help but dance whenever I hear this album.
As much as I wish I didn’t have to rate this at all on here, I can’t give it less than a 5 because it truly is a iconic masterpiece of an album. And the Thriller song and choreography is a cultural phenomenon that forever changed the face of music and dance going forward.
Awesome and chill background music!!
10/10. No notes. No skips.
How did I forgot about U2’s GREATNESS?!?! So glad this brought their music back into my life!!!
A little too discordant with the instruments for me. I like the singer’s voice. I sometimes was reminded of Jimmy Eat World with the smoothness of his vocals. But otherwise, not really for me.
Wow, had no idea that I already knew them without consciously knowing them via the Green Onions song. Love this!!
On the second song and can already tell I don’t love this as much as The Man-Machine, which was my very first 5 star selection here. This has a different vibe and it’s fine, but I don’t feel as compelled to listen to every full song.
If this isn’t the definition of Dad Rock, then I don’t know what is.
Ok…I am surprised how much I LOVE this!!! How can you not bop your head and want to dance and sway your hips to this music? What a gem!! It sounds like a human genuinely enjoying what he is doing. Love love love!!!
