1001 Albums Summary

This was okay. However, if you want to hear an awesome Johnny Cash live album get Johnny Cash At Folsom Prison. Outstanding!!!

An outstanding album. Very eclectic. Two classic Neil Young songs: Mr. Soul and Broken Arrow. Other good songs are Expecting to Fly, Rock and Roll Woman, Bluebird, Upside Down and A Child’s Claim to Fame. There are a few weak songs but this is an excellent album. Highly recommended.

This is a good album. I would rate it 3 1/2 stars. The lyrics are the strong point of the album. The good songs are A Place called home, One time and Kamikaze. If you are a PJ Harvey you might want to pick this album up.

This is a gem. Probably their best. The genre is alt-countryJeff Tweedy’s songwriting is so good. The best songs are I am trying to break your heart, Jesus etc., heavy metal drummer and I am the man who loves you. Some of the songs challenge the listeners but that is okay. Highly recommended

I forgot how good Santana was. Pleasantly surprised. Great guitar from Carlos. Lots of instruments Jazz/Latin influences . Type of progressive rock. Three hit songs stand out Black Magic Woman written by Peter Green of Fleetwood Mac Oye Como Va Tito Fuentes Hope you’re feeling better

Five star album. Otis in prime form. Great band: Booker T and the MG’s and Memphis Horns. Recorded in 2 days Otis wrote Respect. Anthem of the 60s when Aretha covered it. Other great songs: I’ve been loving you too long to stop now, a change is gonna come, Shake Boldest cover: I can’t get no satisfaction

My dad was a big jazz fan. Me not much. Cool cover. I give it 4 stars. It sounds good. If you are a jazz fan get it.

3 1/2 stars Great voice. Mostly piano accompaniment. Sometimes light snare. Good song: How high is the moon. Album is repetitious. No variety. Album of my parents’ generation.

Not very good. One star Songs sound all the same Ryder’s voice isn’t good. Ska influenced but not as good as original ska. Celebrate safe drugs like heroin. Good influence on young people. Supposed to be dance music. Really! I am bummed by the Happy Mondays

I have never heard of them. American punk rock band. I really like it. Great punk music. It gets four stars Vocals excellent Every song is good. Not repatitious

Great album. Five stars. Bookended by Out of the Blue(into the black) Acoustic and Electric Side Electric side has Crazy Horse. Great band. Every song is good. Outstanding songs: Pocahontas, Powderfinger.

Distinctive voice Great songwriting Stripped down music Folk influenced/country influence Sam Stone: great song about Vietnam vet Great album: four stars

Excellent album. Four stars Thom York: distinctive voice Stripped down style Excellent songs: Planet Telex, High and Dry.

Singer is not good. Repetitious songs Okay album but not great. Hard to handle: best song

Psychedelic music has not aged well at all. Three singers: Grace Slick, Paul Kanter and Marty Balin. Lots of filler on the album. Three fantastic songs: Somebody to Love, White Rabbit, Today

Female singer. Good voice. Dreamy. Uses synthesizers and drum machines. Songs are a bit repetitious. Best song: Heaven or Los Vegas. Good album. Four stars.

Not very good. Two stars. Thrash/speed metal. Head banging. Singer is not good. Loud guitar with a lot of hooks. Repetitious. Get your hands off my woman. That just about sums up their attitudes to women.

Five stars. Great album Stripped down music. Mostly drums and guitar Lots of guitar hooks Classic songs: Hotel Yorba, Now Mary. Cool cover. Jack White’s vocals excellent.

Provocative album and album Common people:good song Not great but not bad. Part of the Britpop scene. Average album: three stars

I don’t know much Laura Nyro. I know at one time she was supposed to be the next big thing. I know she was booed at the Monterey Pop Festival. Piano main instrument. Sounds like 50s Frank Sinatra music. Voice fine. Good songwriter. Stoned Soul Music: good song. It is an average album. Three stars.

Great album. Five stars. Great production by Daniel Lanois and Brian Eno. Excellent songs: Zoo Station, One, waiting til the end of the world, the Fly. Bono hard to take sometimes but singing is great on the album. Cool cover. Good songwriting.

I had never heard of Frank Ocean before.Not familiar with his music He has a good voice especially his high fasotto. Rap Style songs: rapping, synths, drum machines. No song stands out. Not bad. An average album. Three stars.

I have never heard of them. Electronic music. No real instruments. The male vocalist is not good. The female vocalist is good. I guess it is music you can dance to. No song really stands out. Lots of the songs sound the same. Not very good. Two stars.

Led Zeppelin is very derivative. Mostly from the blues. Nothing really new. I really don’t understand why they are so popular Lyrics aren’t very good at all. Softer than most Led Zeppelin albums Immigrant song is catchy. No other songs stand out. Imaginative album name. Not very good. Two stars.

Back to their roots album. Great production from Jimmy Miller Some great songs: sympathy for the devil, jigsaw puzzle, salt of the earth Street Fighting Man: Mick Jagger. Poor boy. You are kidding, right. Some filler on the album. Cool cover. Pretty good album. Four stars

I think the Doors are overrated. Morrison is a bit of a jerk. Actually more than a bit. Lots of songs sound blues based The Spy is a good song. Morrison’s voice sounds shot. None of the other songs stand out. Average album. Three stars.

Pioneering electronic music band Provocative band name: Suicide Vocals: not good Songs sound the same; not interesting at all No like. One star

I have not heard of them. Nice vocals and harmonies. A quiet album. Really stripped down. Genre: indie/alternative No songs really stand out. Not bad. Three stars.

Peter Gabriel is a great artist. Wonderful production from Daniel Lanois and Peter Gabriel. Outstanding songs: Sledgehammer and Don’t give up on us with the amazing Kate Bush. Good songs: In your eyes, Big Time. The rest of the songs don’t really stand out. They are okay. Great album. Four stars.

Hard rock not grunge. Nothing that makes it distinctive. Songs sound the same Vocalist not very good. Would is a good song. Not very good. Two stars.

Marc Bolan was David Bowie’s big rival at one time. I remember all of T-Rex’s sound the same. Metal Guru is a fantastic song. Great guitar hook. Nothing else really stands out. Songs do sound the same. Lyrics not good. Often nonsensical Even with Telegram Sam the album is not good. Two stars.

I don’t know much about Snoop Dog. I haven’t listened to any of his music. I know he was very popular. Provocative title. I like good rap music like Public Enemy. This is not good rap music Snoop Dog’s voice is not good. Lyrics are often sexist. Snoop Dog swears so much it becomes tiresome. A terrible album. One star.

Great album. One of the best ever. An album of protest songs. Great musicians: funk brothers Every song is good. Three great singles: What’s going on, Mercy mercy me, inner city blues. Magnificent Album. Five stars

I saw Kiss on the Destroyer tour. Not a big fan. Cool cover. Lots of guitar hooks on the album. Good songs: Detroit Rock City, Shout it out Loud. Beth: overrated song. A lot of the songs sound the same. Average album: three stars.

Haven’t heard any Prodigy music. Good cover. No real instruments. Minimal vocals. I guess it is music you can dance to. Songs sound the same. Not that good. Two stars

I have heard that this is good. Female vocalist quite good. Male vocalist not so good. Electronic instruments. No song really stands out. Average album. Three stars.

A very successful album. One of the biggest sellers in the 1980s. Money for nothing. A great song. Very funny and ironic. Walk of life/Brothers in Arms: good songs None of the other songs stand out. Dire Straits style kind of boring. An average album. Three stars.

I have never heard of them. Lead vocalist: not good. Some nice guitar hooks. Many songs loud with no melody. No song really stands out. Average album : three stars

Great cover! 20th Century Skizoid Man: fantastic song! Robert Fripp’s guitar playing is out standing! Some of the songs are too long. Typical progressive rock A good album. Four stars.

When you listen to this album you feel that all hope is gone. Most of it is unlistenable. God awful music Seem to be trying to shock their audience. I am shocked that they are so bad. A terrible album. One star. I wish I could give it zero.

I like Loveless a lot. Female vocalist: excellent Good guitar work Only tomorrow: good song Music creates a good atmosphere. Great album: four stars

Good pop album Song 2: famous song. Lots of guitar hooks. Catchy songs Male vocalist:: good Beetle bum: good song A great album: four stars.

I have heard of Lorde. Haven’t heard any of her music. She has a great voice: husky and sexy. Sparse music. Mostly electronic. All the songs are good. A very good album. Four stars.

Debut album American Girl : an outstanding song. One of the best songs ever period. Breakdown: an excellent song. Distinctive Tom Petty vocals. Great rock and roll voice Michael Campbell: fantastic guitar A very good debut album. Four stars

The Eagles are one of the most overrated groups ever. Represented the decadence of the 70s. Hotel California is an okay album Hotel California is a good song. So is New Kid in town. Lots of filler on the album . Big in the 70s. However, not much interest in them now except for aging baby boomers. Average album. Three stars

A bit overrated Arena rock Guitar dominates. Alive is a good song. Songs sound the same An average album. Three stars

Prince’s best album Has a wide range of music. Highlights: Sign of the Times, You got the look, if I was your girl friend, the Cross. Prince plays all kinds of instruments. Writes his songs. The artist of the decade. A classic. Five stars

Electronic music. Vocals sound monotone. No song Stands out. All sound the same. Music to put you to sleep. Not very good. Two stars.

A great group. Rikki don’t lose that number: fantastic song with outstanding guitar solo Other good songs: Any major dude will tell you, Pretzel Logic. Lots of variety in songs. A couple of weak songs. A good album. Four stars.

Electronic music Long songs: kind of boring. Vocalist not very good. Songs sound the same. Not very good. Two stars

I have heard that this is an incredible album. Long songs but not boring. Great sax by Miles. Nice guitar work. A good album. Four stars

Famous album Done with South African musicians. Neat concept Lots of good songs: You can call me Al, Homeless, Diamonds on the Soles of her Shoes. Great songwriting. Some weak songs on the album. A good album. Four stars.

Debut album Vocals are okay. Guitar dominates the music. Lots of good hooks Go with the flow is a good song. A good album. Four stars.

Not their best. Prog rock at its worst. Self indulgent shit. Long, long songs Fripp’s guitar work only bright spot. Not good. Two stars

A Rick Rubin project. A collection of covers by Johnny Cash Cash’s distinctive vote Hurt: a great song. One of the best ever. The Man comes around. Great song. A very good song. Four stars.

Typical Kate Bush album Unique singing voice. Eccentric style. Music mostly electronic. Roll out the pin, Suspended in Gaffa: excellent sons. A good album. Four stars

Distinctive Black Sabbath style. Ozzy’s Ozzy unique vocals. No one song stands out. Vinyl: what the hell was that? Black Sabbath fans will like this. An average album. Three stars

One of those sixties classics that hasn’t aged well. Janis has a good voice Blues based songs. Ball and Chain: outstanding. Long songs with lots of jamming. Average album: three stars.

This is Springsteen’s best album by far, Traditional Springsteen fans didn’t like it but I did. About how the working class is faring in Reagan’s America. Not well. Stripped down Springsteen. Mostly him and his guitar. Great songs: Nebraska, Atlantic City, Johnny 99, Reason to Believe. A good album. Four stars

One of the best albums ever made. Features Brian Wilson’s genius production. Great work by the Wrecking Crew. Beach Boys add vocals and harmonies. Great lyrics by Tony Asher. Almost every song is a classic Excellent songs: wouldn’t it be nice, waiting for the day, Sloop John B, God only knows, Caroline No. The album cover is one of the worst ever. An amazing album. Five big stars

It is quite a diverse record. The theme seems to be the threat of nuclear war. The first two songs, Broken Skin and Letting go, are quite good. The female vocal is quite good. Then we have rap songs and songs of Indian chants. There is a nice blend of real and electronic instruments here. This album has some good moments but still average. Three stars.

Good stuff. Indie pop style Boys Better, Minnesoter, Junkie song: all very good. Nice and catchy songs. Vocals good, excellent guitar. A very good album: four stars

I was looking forward to this album. Unfortunately, I was disappointed. Dr. John has a rough gravelly voice. New Orleans style/sound. The songs don’t seem to be going anywhere. I wish I could give it a four but it is only an average album. Three stars.

I am a big fan of the White Stripes. The album is quieter than other White Stripe albums. Piano in a lot of songs. A lot of break up songs. Problems in the group. Problems in the relationship. Best songs: The nurse, My doorbell and Little ghost. A very good album. Four stars

Julian Cope’s group. I am quite fond of Julian Cope, The music is different but good. Nice use of horns in some songs. The vocals are good. All the songs are good but Treason, Second Hand and Books stand out. A psychedelic influence on some songs. A good album. Four stars

Clapton’s so-called comeback album. Really overrated. A lot of covers on the album. New musical style. Soft rock. Soft blues. Songs like Give me strength and get ready I shot the sheriff. Best song. Not as good as original. Pales in comparison to Layla and other love songs. Not a very good album. Two stars.

Quite a departure a soul and R& B artist playing country. Ray Charles has a great voice. With the Raelettes and an orchestra. Country definitely not my type of music. Up tempo songs are the good ones: Bye Bye Love, Hey good looking. The rest of the songs are too country. Some of the songs are too too slow. An average album. Three star. Country fans would probably like it.

New Order emerged from the ashes of Joy Division Vocals okay. Drum machines. Electronic instruments dominate. Dance music Best two songs are Love Vigilantes and Sunrise. Nice guitar work on both songs. Some good songs but still an average album. Three stars.

I am a big fan of the Cure. It has Robert Smith’s distinctive vocals. Not as dark and gloomy as some of their work. Guitar stands out. Kind of a quiet album. Vocals come in late on some of the songs. Best songs: Play for today, A forest, and 17 seconds. An average album. Three stars

Great name for a band! The vocals are good. Nice combination of acoustic and electric. An uneven album. Some good songs some not so good. Long intros into some songs. It has its good momentum but a little uneven. An average album. Worth a 3.

A very good but not a great album. Iconic cover. The album has a very loose concept. The first side is excellent. Every song is excellent. Gems such as Little Help from my friends, Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds and Getting Better. However, the second side has some weak songs such as When I’m 64, Lovely Rita and Good Morning. I don’t like With and Without you but I guess George has to have his Indian thing. George Martin the producer said his greatest mistake was not insisting that Strawberry Fields Forever and Penny Lane be included on the album. You put them on the second side, get rid of the songs I mentioned, and you have the greatest album ever Of course, Sgt. Pepper ends with one of the greatest songs ever, A day in the Life. Sgt. Pepper is a very good album but Rubber Soul and Revolver are better. Sgt. Pepper gets four stars.

I really don’t like country music. I like country-rock and alt-country so let’s see what Mr. Yoakam’s got. Pretty straight country. Typical country vocals. God awful steel guitars. Some good guitar work here. Uptempo songs are better. Song with Buck Owen’s is okay. Below average album. Two star. Country fans might like it.

Not familiar with this. Not a big jazz fan. Piano dominating instrument. Very nice. Instrumental album. Stand up bass plus snare drum. A good jazz album. Four stars.

Oh boy. Kanye. Album title is interesting. At least it is better than Snoop Dog Rapping is not bad. Too much misogyny. Too much swearing. Introductions to songs sometimes interesting. Some good songs. Power is good with the King Crimson sample. Who will survive American? Good last song. An average album. Three stars.

Don’t know anything about them. Not very good rapping.nothing to distinctive about them. They shouldn’t quit their day job. Music not attractive or soothing on the ears. Not very good at all. Two stars.

Three rap albums in a row. Are you trying to get me to quit the project. Sigh. Another rap album. Typical rap music. No song really stands out. The rap songs sound the same. Not annoying like most rap. No F bombs. No N words. An average album. Three stars. Not bad for rap.

I like Julian Cope but I am not familiar with this album. He has a good voice. Good lyrics too. Good mix of slow and fast songs Pristeen, Promised Land, If you loved me at all and Head all good songs. Songs are a little weird and eccentric. I think Julian takes a lot of drugs. A good album. Four stars.

The extremely talented but problematic Mr. Jackson. Follow up to Thriller. Bad: lead single. Not that good of a song. Ironic. Michael was bad. Just ask the children. Drum machines and lack of real instruments annoying. Album seems to lack energy and zest. Just going through the motions. A lackluster effort. Man in the mirror. Only good song on the album. Not a good album. Disappointing effort. Two stars.

Sweetened funk. Large band. Phillip Bailey: incredible singer. Shining Star: incredible song. Vocals and harmonies outstanding. That’s the way of the world. Outstanding song. Phillip Bailey’s vocals amazing. Best songs are the upbeat ones. Good sax. Phillip Bailey’s vocals carry the album. Some weak songs but overall a good album. Four stars

Well School’s Out is a classic song. Alice Cooper was big in the early to mid-70s. Shock rock. School’s out is by far the best song on the album. None of the other songs stand out. Music is okay. Guitar based. Typical Detroit rock. Lyrics aren’t impressive. Lyrics emphasize Alice’s bad boy persona. Songs about street fights and gang warfare. One good song does not make a good album. Below average. Two stars.

I have heard a little bit of Marley’s music. I don’t mind reggae. Of course, Marley is a music God. Know reggae mostly through its influence on punk and reggae. I love the reggae guitar. Marley’s voice is good. Concrete Jungle and Slave Driver start the album off strong. Stir it up is a classic. Nice song variety, A very good album. Four stars

I have heard Shake some action by the Flamin Groovies. Proto-punk. Basic fun rock and roll. Very guitar oriented. Vocals. Not very good. The recording sounds rough. They do a number of covers. No one song really stands out. An average album. Three stars.

Band had changed quite a bit since its heyday. David Ruffin was no longer with them. Dennis Edwards had replaced him. The Temptations were more of a singles band. Of course, I love soul music. Five vocalists. Two lead. Produced by Norman Whitfield Some songs are funky, some more soulful. Eddie Kendricks has a beautiful voice. Two stand out tracks: Run Charlie Run and Papa was a Rolling Stone. Run Charlie Run is a protest song. Pretty funny. Papa was a Rolling Stone is an anthem. A fantastic song. Good lyrics. Love woke me up this morning. A good song featuring the vocals of Eddie Kendricks A very good album. A little on the short side. Four stars

I have heard of Scott Walker but haven’t heard his music. Looking forward to it. It is not really my type of music. It is something my Mom and Dad would like. Walker’s voice is okay. His lyrics are good. Sounds like he is depressed. A lot of the songs are boring. Sparse instrumentation. I liked three songs. The Seventh Seal, Hero of the War and Get behind me. The last two songs were more uptempo. Some people may like it but I think it is an average album. Three stars.

Dave Grohl’s group. I have heard some of their stuff. Most of the songs are grunge like. Nothing exceptional here. Nirvana influence strong. Lots of good guitar work here. Drums are good. They do use different styles but most songs are grunge like. I liked the quieter songs like Big Me. An average album. Three stars.

I have heard that this album is good.I This is the type of music I like. Intelligent pop music. Good vocals and lyrics. Guitar based. A lot of catchy hooks Lots of great songs: North Country Boy, you’re a big girl now, Tellin’ Stories and Too High. Nice variety of songs. A very good album. Four stars. Almost a five.

I haven’t heard of them before. They are not Canadian but I am glad they have Canada in their name. The name of the band is inspired by the National Film Board of Canada. Electronic music. Not a big fan. It is supposed to be dance music. Most of the songs you can’t dance. Vocals buried or nonexistent. Most of the songs are a self-indulgent mess. Pretentious. Some tracks are okay. Actually have a beat to it. At least, they are against censorship. A not very good album at all. Two stars.

A great album! Produced wonderfully by David Bowie and Mick Ronson. Great musicians on this album A great album name and cover. Very androgynous and daring. Lou writes about drug use but he is cool and subtle about it. Every song is great!! A glam era classic. Vicious: ironic and funny. Good beat. Perfect Day: a perfect song. Some people say this is about drugs. Really? Walk on the Wild Side: an anthem. A gritty look at New York City. Hookers, drug use and the down and out. I can’t imagine them playing this song on the radio in 1972. Well, maybe on FM. A long way from the hippie dream of peace and love. Beautiful sax at the end of the song. Make up: we’re coming out. Theme of this album. Satellite of Love: another gem. An amazing album. Five big stars

Wow ! What an album!! Fogerty is a God. He produces and arranges Green River. He writes most of the songs. He plays lead guitar. This album was released in 1969. It was the psychedelic era.Woodstock national. Fogerty ignored that and went back to basic rock a roll. Everyone thought CCR was from the south. Actually, they were from San Francisco. Fogerty was a great vocalist. He is like an Old Testament warning people about the future. Key songs. Green River: great opener. Back to nature feel. Tombstone Shadow: sounds spooky. Sing a song for everyone: everyone loves it. Bad moon rising: Fogerty predicts bad things will come soon. Really? Nixon, Vietnam, Cambodia, Kent Stare, Watergate. The list goes on. Sinister Purpose: doesn’t sound good. Night time is the right time: great closing song. An American masterpiece. Five stars

I have listened to early Radiohead. I liked the Bends and OK Computer very much. I have heard that later Radiohead is quite different. I am about to find out. It is an experimental album. It is not rock and roll at all. York’s vocals are buried. They often sound haunting. A lot of songs lack a melody or a beat. Songs are a mixed bag. Some are interesting; some not so interesting. Quite a departure from their previous work. They don’t quite pull it off. An average album. Three stars.

The Smiths were arguably the best group of the 80s. Morrisey and Marr are musical gods. Morrisey writes sharp ironic while Marr arranges the music. The Queen is Dead is their best album Let’s do a song by song analysis of the album. The Queen is Dead: Morrisey pokes fun at the Royals, the Queen and Prince Charles. Frankly Mr. Shanty: Morrisey writes about his disgust of his record company President. I would feel more fulfilled writing Christmas cards for the mentally ill. I know it’s over: it’s so easy to laugh,so easy to hate, it takes strength to be gentle and kind. Never had no one ever: self explanatory. Cementary Gates: nice arrangement by Marr. Morrisey talks about how interesting and fun it is to walk through a cemetery. Bigmouth strikes again: I’d like to smash every tooth in your face. Great guitar by Marr.. There is a light that never goes out: Smiths’ anthem. Song of existential angst. Will be played at my celebration of life. Some girls are bigger than others: Morrisey writes about his obsession with big girls. All these songs are beautifully arranged by Johnny Marr. An amazing album. Five big stars.

Talking Book is part of Stevie Wonder’s mid-70s peak.Stevie plays most of the music on Talking Book. He produces and arranges the album. He uses synthesizers well combined with real musical instruments. The album has two massive # 1 hits: You are the Sunshine (of my life) and Superstition. There are four outstanding songs on the album. You are the sunshine (of my life): love song but not sappy. Great background vocals. Superstition: great synth hook. Biting lyrics. Big Brother: bitter lyrics. Politicians come to the inner city only at election time. The rest of the time they do nothing for the inner city, I believe (when I fall in love with you it will be forever). The other songs are not as strong. The album is a little inconsistent. This is a very good album. Four stars.

I like Joni Mitchell a lot. She is a great songwriter. She has a distinctive voice. She is Canadian. This album is in the singer-songwriter tradition. She writes about relationships with men from a feminist perspective. She talks about the loss of the 60s’ dream of peace and love. She talks about her new home in California but she still longs for Canada. Some of her songs are piano based, some are guitar based. She has excellent other musicians playing on the album such as James Taylor and Stephen Stills. Let’s look at some of the key songs on the album. California: great lyrics They wouldn’t give peace a chance/ That was a dream that some of us had. River: one of her best songs. Shows although she is in California she still longs for Canada. I wish I had a river// I could skate away on/ but it doesn’t snow here/ it stays pretty green. A case of you: Joni talks about a failed relationship. Beautiful lyrics. Carey: Joni talks about a little fling she had with a guy called Carey. Where did this take place? Maybe on a Greek Island. I am not sure. It is a more upbeat song. This is a great album. All of the songs are good. I give this album five stars.

I haven’t heard of this group. It is rap music. I don’t really care for rap music. The title of the album is a bit provocative. I hope this album is not a glorification of violence. We will see. This album is typical rap style. It has harsh vocals. The fun Lovin’ Criminals want to convey a bad boys’ image. A parental advisory: this record contains foul language, it glorifies criminal life and drug use. Let’s look at some specific songs. Fun lovin’ criminals: stick em up sums up their philosophy of life. Bombin’ the L: has a cool Smoke on the Water sample. Crime and Punishment: is this a Doestoevsky reference? I don’t think so. Not a very good album at all. Two stars

This is a classic Johnny Cash album. It was recorded in 1968 in Folsom Prison a maximum security prison before about 200 prisoners. These prisoners had done serious crimes. He was accompanied by a five piece band and June Carter Johnny Cash’s wife. Johnny has a lot of empathy for the prisoners. He had had a few brushes with the law when he was young. Cash has such a distinctive voice. The audience is quite rowdy. Let’s look at some of the key songs from the album. Folsom Prison Blues: the title track of the album. A classic. I shot a man down in Reno/just to watch him die. Cocaine Blues: everyone knows what a serious drug cocaine is in. The convict shot his woman while high on cocaine. Long Black Veil: one of Cash’s most famous songs. An innocent man charged with murder didn’t use his alibi. He was with his best friend’s wife. She know wears a long black veil in mourning. Jackson: a classic song. Call and response with June Carter. All the songs on this album are excellent. A five star album.

I like Radiohead especially their early work. Kid A was when they started to get experimental. My son is a big Radiohead so I have to give this album a fair hearing. It is an experimental album.Most of the instruments are electronic. Lots of drum machines . The vocals are buried. It is very different from their previous albums. Key songs: Optimistic: this song actually has a beat. Nice acoustic guitar and. Good lyrics. Why can’t they have more songs like this. None of the rest of the songs stand out. Sorry son. This is a below average album. Two stars.

I haven’t heard this particular album. I know Emmylou Harris. She is a great singer. Same with Lind Ronstadt. I am very familiar with her 70s stuff. I really don’t know Dolly Parton’s. All I have heard is 9 to 5. I am expecting good things from this album. The three women take turns singing lead. There is beautiful three part harmony on the songs. It is musically sparse. They are acoustic guitars, banjos, fiddles and ukuleles. Some songs are country rock some pure country. Most of the songs are about relationships from a female point of view. Many of the songs are about failed relationships. All of the songs are good or excellent. I really enjoyed this album. Five big stars

This album represents Tina Turner’s big comeback in the 1980s. She had finally escaped from her abusive ex-husband Ike Turner. It was a commercial and critical success. It had three top ten songs: What’s love got to do with it, Better be good to me, and Private Dancer. The cover has a very sexy picture of Tina. Tina Turner’s vocals are excellent on the album. There is good guitar work on the album. Unfortunately, the production has a bad 80s feel: cheesy synthesizers and drum machines. The three singles are outstanding. I might have been Queen is a good song. None of the other songs stand out. There are a number of covers, I can’t stand the rain, Let’s stay together, Help and 1984, which are not as good as the originals. This is a very good album. It is four stars.

I love Green Day. My only regret is I haven’t seen them live. Three piece band that makes a lot of noise. A power punk group that has lots of gorgeous guitar hooks and power chords. Billy Joe Armstrong is a great vocalist and songwriter. Music appeals to disillusioned and alienated youth. Maybe some disillusioned and alienated adults too. The album was a critical and commercial success. Has a top ten song in When I come around. Basket Case and Long View were top 40 hits. The songs are short and powerful. Key songs Burnout: A good opening song. Sets the tone. Long View: fantastic song. Great lyrics: I’m so damn bored/ I am going blind!!! And I smell like shit. Welcome to Paradise: A letter to his Mom. Pretty funny and sarcastic. Basket Case: An amazing song. Once again great lyrics. I think I’m cracking up/ or am I just paranoid/ I’m just stoned. When I come around: an attempt at getting a hit. It worked!! Coming Clean: Perhaps talking about Billy Joe’s rehab experiences. How many times has Billy Joe been in rehab? I lost count. A great album. Every track is good. Five stars.

You got to be kidding. What the hell are the Monkees doing on this list? They were a manufactured pop band. They had an awful TV show. Most of the instruments on their albums were played by other musicians. I am dreading this. I guess I will review this album. Who knows? I might be pleasantly surprised. Well, it wasn’t very good. Most of the songs were love songs many of them sappy. The vocals were okay. The production is not good. It sounds tinny like a K-tel record. None of their hits were on the album. Sunny Girl was the only song I sort of liked. None of the other songs stood out. Not a very good album at all. One star.

I know Ginger Baker. He is a fantastic drummer. He was with Cream. I don’t know much about Fela Ransome-Kuti. I have never heard . I know they are from Africa. As a rule, I like World Music. Let’s see what they are like. It is a live album. I like this album very much. They have lots of people on stage. They remind me of P-funk. Lots of different instruments: congos, washboard, keyboards and horns. The vocals are excellent. Some of the songs are long but they are not boring. There is a lot of dancing on stage. They are a very talented group. This is an excellent album. I enjoyed it very much. It gets five big stars.

I like Simon and Garfunkel very much. Paul Simon is a great songwriter. This was the last album before their first . They weren’t getting along when this album was made. I saw them in 1983 when they had one of their brief reunions. The concert was pretty good. The album had three top ten hits: Bridge over Troubled Water #1, Cecilia and the Boxer. It was a critical and commercial success. The album has excellent production. It sounds very good. The vocals are awesome especially on A Bridge over Troubled Water. Nice two part harmony throughout the album. The album offers hope. The hippie dream of peace and love had dissipated. The songs offer hope especially a Bridge over Troubled Water. Key songs A bridge over Troubled Water: an outstanding song . Garfunkel’s puts chills up and down your spine. Great lyrics: when the darkness comes/ And pain is all around/ like a bridge over troubled water/ I will lay me down. It is a song of hope. The Boxer: another outstanding song. Sung by Paul Simon. Once again great lyrics by Simon. The song tells a story. Might be autobiographical. Cecilia: a fun and upbeat song. Not to be taken seriously. El Condor Pasa ( if I could): Simon made up English lyrics for this traditional Spanish song. It is a good song. Unfortunately, the rest of the album is not as good. None of the songs stand out. Many of them sound like filler. This is a very good album. Four stars

I know a little bit about Lenny Kravitz. I have heard some of his songs like his version of American Pie. He plays guitar and mostly plays rock. I was pleasantly surprised by Kravitz’s album. It is really good. The messages in the songs are very positive: peace and love, non-violence and being anti-drugs. Kravitz is a good songwriter. Guitar dominates the album. Acoustic and electric guitar. His vocals are very good. He has a quiet and loud voice. His singing reminds me of Princess. There were a lot of good songs on this album: Sitting on top of the World, Let love rule and Rosemary. He does an excellent cover of John Lennon’s Cold Turkey. However, the songs aren’t consistently good. This is a very good album. Four stars.

Minor Threat is a hardcore punk band.As a rule, I don’t like hardcore. Too loud and abrasive. Also, I didn’t like the violence attached to the scene. I don’t want to be in the mosh pit. However, I do like the Dead Kennedys. Jello Biafra had something to say and had a very dark sense of humour. Let’s see what they are like. The cover of the album is pretty neat. The album consists of short fast songs. The vocalist is not very good. The songs are guitar based. The guitar is like a buzz saw. The band seems to take itself pretty seriously. The lyrics, if you can decipher them, are not ironic or funny at all. Listening to this album gave me a bit of a headache. The songs do have a good fast beat. Good for the mosh pit!! Finally, all the songs sound all the same. This is not a very good album. Two stars.

I have heard that the Yeah Yeah Yeahsare pretty good. Karen O is the lead singer. This is their debut album. I look forward to listening to it. First, the cover is pretty cool. Karen O’s vocals are unique. She screams a lot. Sometimes her vocals grate on you. Karen O is the principal songwriter. She is a very talented woman. There is a nice combination of electronic and real instruments on the album. The guitar is prominent. Most of the songs are short. There are quite a few good songs on this album: Rich, Date with the night, Cold Light and Maps. This is a good album. Four stars

I love George Clinton. I like his two bands, Funkadelic and Parliament. I saw P-funk in London Ontario in 2005. The show was great! There were so many people on stage, including members of the audience. My only disappointment was they didn’t have the mothership there. There are lots of amazing musicians on this album such as Eddie Hazel, Bernie Worrell and others. The songs were written by George Clinton and various members of the group. The music is a combination of rock and funk. It illustrates why funk music is so much better than disco. There is a big psychedelic influence. A lot of the songs deal with black consciousness and pride. Finally, the cover is really cool. All of the songs are good on this album. Maggot Brain has an unbelievable guitar solo. Can you get to that, Hit it and Quit are quite catchy. Lots of good melodies. The last song, Wars of Armageddon I think is about black soldiers’ experience in Vietnam. This album is a masterpiece. Five big stars.

I have never listened to Justin Timberlake’s music. I know he was in a boys’ band. I am not expecting much from Justin Timberlake. I expect a lot of insipid pop music. Let’s see if I am right. Oh my God!! This is a terrible album. It is full of insipid love songs. Justin is trying hard to be cool. It doesn’t works. His vocals are okay. Nothing great. The album mostly uses electronic instruments. None of the songs stand out. All awful. This is a terrible album. One star.

I haven’t heard the Auteurs’ music at all. They are an indie band so looking forward to it. The album cover is pretty neat. The vocals are excellent. The music is guitar oriented, acoustic and electric. There is a lot of melody in their music which is much appreciated. The songwriting is very good. Most of the songs aren’t that long. There are a number of very good songs on this album: Don’t trust the stars, Starstruck, Housebreaker and Home again. This album was a pleasure to listen to. This is a very good album. Four stars.

I have not heard any of Joan Armatrading music. I grew up in the 70s. I was crazy about music then. I don’t know how I missed her. Then again, I hadn’t heard of Nick Drake either. Well here goes. This is a good album. She is a singer-songwriter who writes her own songs. Her vocals are pretty good. She writes about relationships from a feminist perspective. She plays acoustic guitar mostly. Her musical accompaniment is sparse: piano and drums and some electric guitar. She has lots of good songs: Help yourself, water with wine, Save me and Love and affection. My only complaint is that there is not much variety in her songs. This is a very good album. Four stars.

I have heard of the band Korn but I haven’t heard any of their music. I don’t know what to expect. I read that their music is nu metal. I don’t even know what that is. Well, let’s see. I didn’t like this album at all. At least, the cover is interesting. The vocals are not very good, Sometimes, the vocals have a rap style. The lyrics are hard to understand. The music has drum machines, synthesizers and guitars. The guitars aren’t too bad. Some of the songs are just horrible: Dead bodies everywhere and Children of the Korn. Earache my eye: is this a Cheech and Chong reference? I guess I don’t like nu metal. A terrible album. One star.

I have heard the Message. It is a good song. I like some early rap.I didn’t like rap when it got into that gangster stuff and the glorification of violence. Misogyny was also an issue. Nihilism too. Well, here goes. This is a good rap album. The vocals are great especially the five part harmony. The rapping is good. They actually use horns on the album! They have a combination of real and electronic instruments. They dedicate a song to Stevie Wonder. They love his music. So do I. There is a big soul influence on the album. All the songs are good. She’s fresh is a real fun song. The best song on the album is The Message. It describes what is going on in the inner cities of America. It is like an update of Stevie Wonder’s Living in the City. Great Lyrics: Don’t touch me I’m close to the edge/ I’m trying not to lose my head. This is a good rap album. A lot of early rap albums were good until rap lost its way. Five stars.

I have never heard Travis’s music. I know a little bit about the band. They are a Scottish indie band. Sounds like I might like them. This is a good album. The vocals are quite good. A lot of the songs are quite catchy. They write their own songs. The songs are guitar based, mostly electric with some acoustic. They actually use real instruments on the album. The lyrics sound depressing and sad. The songwriter must have been going through some personal difficulties when he was making the album. All of the songs are about 4 minutes long except for the last one except for the last one which is over 10 minutes long.There are a lot of good songs on this album: Writing to reach you, As you are, The last of the laughter and Why does it always rain on me. This is a very good album. Most enjoyable. Four stars.

I don’t really care for Led Zeppelin. I think they are pretty overrated. Their music is very derivative, comes from the blues.This is their first album. It has a cool cover. Historically significant. There are a lot of guitar solos on the album and pounding drums. Robert Plants vocals are not that great but okay. A lot of the music sounds like Muddy Waters or Howlin Wolf. I would rather listen to them. Lots of the songs have negative stereotypes of women. Regarding the songs the only one I really liked was Communication Breakdown. It had some zest to it. The rest of the songs sound like tired blues retreads. Not a very good album at all. Two stars. I don’t understand why a lot of people view Led Zeppelin as God’s gift to rock and roll.

I have heard the name of this group. However, I have not heard any of their music. Well, here goes. This is not bad for a rap album. There is a lot of rapping backed by drum machines. There is little or no funk and soul influence in their songs. I don’t hear much of a jazz influence either.There doesn’t appear to be any misogyny or glorification of violence in their music. My biggest complaint is the music is monotonous. It all sounds the same. Show business wasn’t a bad song and the infamous date rape was interesting. Overall, this is an average album. Three stars.

Of course, I know this album. I was alive in the 80s and Thriller was everywhere. Forty years later it is time to put this album in perspective. Is it the greatest album ever? I don’t think so. It is a good album but not a great one. Also, there is the problem of Michael Jackson the man. He was a good musical artist but a very flawed human being. Let’s look at the album. Of course, the cover is iconic. The production by Quincy Jones is fine. Jackson’s vocals are pretty good. There are three outstanding songs on this album: I wanna be startin something, Beat it and Billie Jean. I wanna be startin something has a good beat and some really funky guitars. Beat it is a classic. It appeals to the rock audience. It has an amazing guitar solo by Eddie Van Halen. Billy Jean has a good beat and a good story. On the Motown 25 special Jackson did his famous moonwalk. Thriller is an okay song. Of course, it had an outrageous over the top video. None of the other songs stand out. However, I must make special mention to This girl is mine. Jackson and McCartney are two of the greatest pop stars ever. How could they together produce one of the banal pop songs ever. It is so awful!! This is a good album but not a great one. Four stars.

Elvis’s best music was the music he made with Sam Phillips at Sun Records. His early RCA stuff is good. For Elvis to be good he needed good songs, either with good covers or songs written by songwriters specifically for him, and good musicians to work. Elvis never wrote a song in his life. He was at best an adequate rhythm guitar player. The cover of this album. A young sexy Elvis. Elvis’s vocals are fine. I preferred his uptempo songs. Scotty Moore plays excellent guitar on the album. Scotty Moore was one of the best guitarists of that era. All the songs are short, about 2 or 3 minutes long. Elvis has a rockabilly style on his fast songs. In terms of songs Blue Suede Shoes is a good cover but the original by Carl Perkins is better.The other covers were not as good as the originals: I’ve got a woman, Tutti Frutti and Money Honey. The song I liked the most was I love you because. It is a beautiful ballad. The song that disappointed me the most was Blue Moon. He had done an outstanding version of Blue Moon with Sam Phillips at Sun Records. This version pales by comparison. This is a good album compared to some of the schlock Elvis put out during his career. Four stars.

Yes, I know a little bit about the Notorious B.I.G. none of it good. The title of the album says it all, Ready to Die. Very nihilistic. Listening to this album was an awful experience. The album had no redeeming value whatsoever. The vocals are harsh. Lots of swearing, misogyny and glorification of violence. It is one of the worst examples of gangster rap. Pure nihilism. The songs all sound the same. Gimme the loot sounds like a philosophy of life. Ready to die is prophetic. What do you expect when you live a life that is. This is a terrible album. One star. I would give it a zero if I could.

Steve Winwood is a rock legend .He is a keyboard/vocalist. He was in the Spencer Davis Group, Blind Faith and Traffic. Then, he went solo. This is his second solo album.. I used to have this album. I remember While you see a chance. Not much else. Steve Winwood’s vocals are excellent. He wrote all the songs. Keyboards are the principal instrument. While you see a chance is the best song on the album. It has hit written all over it. Lots of hooks in it. The song Night Train has some nice funky guitar on it. None of the rest of the songs stand out. There are not terrible but they are kind of dull. Disappointing from such a great artist. This is an average album. Three stars.

Neil Young is an icon of rock. In the 80s he sort of lost his way. However, in the 90s Neil started making great music. This album is with his great band Crazy Horse. This album is really good. Neil doesn’t have a great voice but he has a perfect rock and roll voice. He is a great songwriter. In the music, there is an emphasis on guitars with lots of guitar solos. This is garage rock: guitars, bass and drums. Neil and Crazy Horse make a hell of a racket. Young still believes in the hippie dream of peace and love. There are long songs here but not boring songs. There are many very good songs on this album: fucking up, over and over, love to burn and mansion on the hill. This is a good album. It shows Neil Young in fine form. Four stars

I have heard some Siouxsie and the Banshees music. I liked what I heard. I haven’t heard this particular album. This is a good album. Siouxsie and the Banshees sound a bit like the Cure, especially with the guitar. The group has an alternative/goth sounding style. Siouxsie’s vocals are unique. Her singing is different but likeable. The guitar really stands out. It is a different sort of style. That is what I would say about the band, different but good. There are two outstanding songs: Spellbound and Arabian Nights. The lyrics in both songs are good. The rest of the songs are okay. This is a good album. Four stars.

Well, finally some Bowie. In the 70s there was no better artist than David Bowie. Heroes was his collaboration with Brian Eno. Robert Fripp added guitar. It was recorded in Berlin. This is an experimental album. Not one of my favourites by Bowie. There are a lot of artsy songs on the second half of the record. It is a combination of real and electronic instruments. Bowie’s vocals are splendid. The gem of the record is the title track Heroes. It has great guitar by Robert Fripp. It has outstanding lyrics. We can be heroes/just for one day. One of the best songs of the 70s. V2 Schneider is a splendid instrumental. Sons of the silent age has a fantastic sax solo. The rest of the songs on the first side none of them really stand out. On the second side there are spacey artsy instruments. Some people find them to be outstanding but not me. They seem very pretentious and somewhat boring. Heroes is such a good song. However, you can’t give an album four stars based on one song. An average Bowie album. Three stars.

Faust is kraut rock. I have not heard them before. However I have heard Kraftwerk which I didn’t mind. The vocals are not good. They sound monotone which is probably the point. The instruments used are drum machines, synthesizers and the occasional guitars. This is good music for insomniacs. None of them really stand songs stood out. Occasionally there was a nice synth riff even a guitar but overall listening to this was an exercise in monotony. Listening to this album was a very boring experience. The album is below average. Two stars.

Of course, I know the Mama’s and Papa’s. Doesn’t everybody? I am familiar with their hits and famous songs. I have not listened to this particular album. Most of the songs have Dennis Doherty on lead and Mama Cass and Michelle Phillips on harmonies. They are covers on the album plus John Phillips’ originals. The guitar is the main instrument. The cover is ridiculous. Couldn’t they have done a lot better than this? There are a lot of good songs on this album: Monday Monday, I call your name and Go where you want to go. Some of the songs date the album such as Somebody Groovy and The in crowd. California Dreaming is a pop classic. Great guitar intro and flute interlude. Outstanding lyrics: All the leaves are brown/ and the sky is grey…California dreaming/ on a winter’s day. This is a very good album. Four stars.

This is a perfect album beginning with its iconic cover. This is a band that is working on full cylinders. All of the members of Pink Floyd contribute to this outstanding album.All the songs are good. You have great contributions from Dick Parry on sax and Clare Torre wailing on the Great Gig in the Sky. It has an outstanding concept developed by Waters. It is the things in life that prevent us from having a fulfilling life: deadlines, overwork, the fear of death, the love of money, war and death. The engineering and production are first-rate. For example the clocks at the start of Time. Waters’ lyrics are straight forward and easy to understand. Gilmore’s guitar playing is excellent. The beginning of the album is great. The heartbeat the start of life. Then Time the ruminations of time passing. Wright’s incredible arrangement of the Great Gig in the Sky. Money is a classic. Great guitar work by Gilmore. Us and Them about the futility and madness of war. Brain Damage about madness and the band’s former leader Syd Barrett. A perfect score for a perfect album. Five stars.

I have not heard of the Louvin Brothers let alone heard their music. The title of the album sounds intriguing. The music is mostly acoustic guitars which is not bad. The vocals are the twanging sanging country style which I am not that fond of. There are some nice harmonies. Mostly the songs are sad songs.Sometimes murder is involved. I prefer the songs that are a little more upbeat. This is an okay album. You would probably like it better if you were a true country fan. An average album. Three stars.

Of course, I have heard the title track. Who hasn’t? It started the unfortunate trend of long, monotonous heavy metal songs. The cover is kind of neat. The vocals are not very good. The organis the main instrument. Lots of good hooks from the organ. The lyrics are very bad, abysmal. There is a peace and love vibe throughout the album. The title track is the central piece of the album. It has a good intro and some good hooks. The first five minutes were good but enough is enough. There are long tedious solos. This album started a lot of annoying trends in pop music. For that alone, it is a below average album. Two stars.

Finally, a Dylan album. Of course, I have heard it. This was released when Dylan was at his peak influencing pop culture. After this, Dylan went into seclusion after his so-called motorcycle accident. First when talking about Dylan you have to do with his singing. He is not a good singer. In fact, he is a terrible singer. You just have to get used to it. On the other hand, he is an excellent songwriter. During his 1965-6 period he was writing a lot of surreal poetry that was hard for the average listener to understand. It is brilliant but only some people can see its brilliance. This is the difference between him and the Beatles. Lennon and McCartney wrote songs that almost everyone could understand. They were true pop artists. He recorded this in of all places Nashville with a very good band. Let’s look at some of the individual songs. Rainy Day Women #12 & 35: a lively beginning. One of those Dylan songs that nobody is sure what the title or the song is about. Visions of Johanna: one of Dylan’s most beautiful lyrics. Ain’t it just like the night/ to play tricks on you/when it is so quiet. I want you: a straight forward love song. Stuck inside of Mobile with the Memphis blues again: another surreal song that most listeners can’t figure out. For example, what does the title means. Just like a women: A put down song. I don’t think feminists would like it. The third side of the album has a lot of filler. No songs stand out. Sad eyed Lady of the lowlands: a beautiful song about his new love Sara his first wife. This is a good album but not a great one: four stars.

Well, Eminem. I have heard a lot about Eminem, not much of it good. I have never heard his music. Enimen has an alter-ego Slim Shady who writes and performs the songs. It is typical rap music: lots of rapping with drum machines in the background. It became tiresome after a while. The only thing I liked about the album was that the first couple of tracks were amusing. First there was the Public Service Announcement. Then, there was the hit My name is Enimen. It has a great line which one of the Spice Girls/ I want to impregnate. Maybe, Enimen has a future as a stand up comedian. Unfortunately, this levity petered out after the first two albums. This is not a very good album. Two stars but I guess rap fans will love it.

I have not heard of Django Django the band. I have not heard any of their music. Synthesizer is the dominant instrument along with drum machines. The vocals are okay. The music sounds a bit like prog rock of the 70s. The music is sparse in the songs. It sounds a bit like elevator music, inoffensive. I liked the more upbeat songs like Wor and Default. This is an average album. Three stars.