1001 Albums Summary

Solid, even the tracks I didn't already know.

Surprisingly diverse, some tracks have aged better than others.

Had high expectations given the singles but... it's fine, if a little indulgent in track length.

Some of my favourite Bowie tracks here. Should I be worried that these was created at the height of his drug addiction?

Well that got boring quickly.

I understand the significance but it's really not aged well, especially lyrically. And if you're going to plant a flag with a track over 10 minutes, don't just record a boring jam session. There were points where I was going to give this one star.

Just when you think you've found a track you'll like they mess it up

I'm here for that saxophone

Strong open, one lull, at least three surprises, will listen again

While I can get into this musically I don't have the level of self loathing required to engage with the lyrics

No skips but not quite up with Youth And Young Manhood for me

I remember John Peel talking about Beefheart but never got around to listening, so this was a cool opportunity. A bit too noodly in places here but I'd definitely give some of the other albums a go on the basis of this.

I can totally see why some people will love this but for me it dragged in a lot of places, I'm not into that sound, and maybe only one completely solid track in Jacksonville

Can't believe I've not listened to that before. Belter.

A few nice tracks, I prefer the more upbeat stuff.

Country has never been my thing but I must be mellowing because this was tolerable.

Love this album and not even their best.

Mad as a box of frogs but I think I might get into it if I listened more.

Never listened to Fairport Convention before as folk is not my thing. Surprised how timeless some of the tracks sounded.

Surprisingly bluesy.

How do you rate a hot mess like this? A few absolute classics and influential tracks but a lot of weirdness and very little cohesion. A band pulling itself apart. Exciting! Good?

I'm trying to be more considered with dishing out the stars after some early exuberant ratings but damn it if I didn't enjoy the hell out this and immediately re-listen. Didn't know they were the band behind Making Plans For Nigel. Sounds remarkably fresh given its age. This is was 1001 Albums is all about.

Umm... some of this is really not good at all.

This is a good album, I just don't love it enough to give it the full 5 stars.

I quite like a handful of the tracks but I find most of the tremulous vocals grating.

If I was in the market for some good ole Country this would be high up on my list. But I'm really not. Do check out Loretta's Fist City though!

I'm sure many many people will find this annoyingly shouty and bleepy. And it is! But it's exactly my kind of shouty and bleepy. I love it!

Well Bowie's fingerprints are certainly all over this.

Promising opening then it seemed to be sliding into repetitive punk numbers but went in a few other interesting directions.

So this is that album. I think he was right to go electric. I could definitely listen to this some more.

Was not a fan of the guitar-heavy and shouty direction they took with this album and my favourite tracks are the ones that avoid this. But even then I still quite like it all, I just don't love it.

Don't know why I didn't get into R.E.M. so this was a first time listen. Surprisingly timeless but I read now that was the intent. I imagine a lot of people won't particularly rate it but I get the feeling it's one I'll come to love if I listen more.

Was dreading listening to this when I saw it come up but actually not as bad as I feared. Still not my thing, thanks but no thanks.

I was worried this was going to get very samey but in the end quite a few track I really like.

Thank you 1001 Albums, having listened to one of the greatest Jazz albums of all time I now know what I always suspected: Jazz is Not My Thing. Just because it's hard to play doesn't mean it's good. Making me wait through 4 minutes of sound for every 1 minute of music to create an enhancing contrast is a dick move.

Enjoyed more than I thought I would. Pretty strong overall, runs out of steam a little towards the end.

Not generally into hip hop but this is alright.

I know it's a bit relative but if I was stuck in 1957 this is what I'd be putting on.

Gave this three full listens as it took me a long time to get into OK Computer, which is where I fell off Radiohead previously. I sometimes find Thom Yorke's vocals a bit much for a whole album. Tentative 4 stars as I'm beginning to like it more.

Opens strongly but I'm just not into all the organ, guitar and drum solos. There's a tight 20 minutes of excellent rock hiding in here.

Yep, looks like East coast jazz rap is my flavour.

I don't know... it's not bad but outside the singles (which are alright but not stellar) it just doesn't catch me at all, except for maybe the final track. It doesn't help that the vocals remind me of Oasis.

Don't know why I never got into PJ Harvey, shoulda been a no-brainer really. Don't love everything on here but I think I'll like it more with repeat listens so four stars.

So very nearly one star on the basis of back-to-back conga solo tracks.

Straight up great album, no notes.

Surprised at just how much of this I liked, definitely needs more listens.

Opens well and reminds me why I liked Debut-era Bjork but then... it's not jazz-bad but what even is it? It doesn't feel like music and I'm not enthused to listen again.

Started promisingly and it's at its best in the upbeat numbers. Musically fine if not particularly varied but it's the vocal style that I find grating. Can't listen again.

Tempted to give this four stars but it was just a bit unrelenting and needed one or two slower tracks to let the whole thing breath.

Pretty samey although there was something about El Paso I kinda liked.

I feel I should really give this 4 stars as it just drips quality but I can't say I particularly like it.

Better than I expected. Never an Elvis fan but there's a run of tracks here starting with I'm Moving On that are really good.

As I neared what I hoped was the end of the first track I discovered I was only 8 minutes in with another 12 to go. Complex does not imply good. Almost every element I liked juxtaposed against something I didn't. Thankfully I can now safely avoid EL&P in future.

I got a heavy feeling as the third track started that this was going to be long, samey listen. But then Dark But Just A Game threw something interesting and the closing two tracks where both strong.

I guess I like Neil Young now. Don't Let It Bring You Down unexpectedly brought me to tears and I don't cry at music. I expect I'll wish I'd given this 5 stars after a few more listens.

Never owned this album and yet I know most of the tracks, which tells you some of the people I hung around with in the mid 90s were into it. On reflection it seems machine tooled to be something I would have liked and yet now it doesn't do all that much for me. Dare I say it's a bit samey?

Started strong and definitely worth a few more listens.

Tend to prefer later Orbital but this is still strong and I'll forgive the clever but ultimately silly intro and outro tracks. Never owned and yet I knew so much of it already.

A band that mostly passed me. Listened to their top tracks and it was "oh, them". I don't understand why this particular album is on the list. Not bad or something I don't like (so I can't really give it 2 stars) but it's just... a compilation of b-sides from other bands of the time? Very mid.

Not sure how to rate an album written by a bunch of different people. Papa is the clear standout track (even this feels unnecessarily long) but the rest just doesn't come close. Just not for me I guess.

Yes, this please.

I used to own this album. I think I wanted something chill to put on and I'd got sick of Moby's Play by this point. I don't remember much of it. It was cruising for a samey 2 stars but I've Got To See You Again and Nightingale save it. Plus she does have a great voice.

This is very much not my thing and yet I really didn't mind listening to it all. Quality.

Another artist I was aware of but just passed me by somehow.

A bit too theatrical for my taste but not a bad listen and I particularly enjoyed the break in the middle of Paradise By the Dashboard Light.

Not always a fan of Ozzie's vocals here. Quite liked some of the riffs that were new to me. Not a bad listen.

Aside from the singles this album managed to pass me by at the time and I have no idea why, other than I'd be somewhat disappointed by The Great Escape. I got back into Blur with 13 some time later and I think that's stronger than this. Loses it a bit in the middle.

That was a cool listen and quite unexpected in places. The singles are just huge.

Better than I expected and some interesting covers. Liking the 80s production on this (not usually my thing) and I Can't Stand The Rain is the standout for me.