1001 Albums Summary

I've had this album on my list for a while, like 10+ years. I've tried several times to engage with it but something kept me from appreciating it like many do. The only difference between now and those previous listens is that I made it through the whole thing. Now, I can't say this is at all a bad or even middling record. I just don't think it's for me. There were some tracks I very much enjoyed though. 1. Neighborhood #1 (Tunnels): Great opener that builds energy and gives a great overview of what's to come. The building drum groove combined with the piano made it an overall enjoyable track. The only downside for me was the lyrics (a complaint I have through most of this record). A lot of the lines feel pretentious in that 2000s hipster way, at times to a point where it feels like a parody from a Portlandia or SNL sketch. 2. Neighborhood #2 (Laika): One of my favorites on the record. For such a theatrical feeling record, it's refreshing going back to this more straight forward rock song, uplifted with their variety of instrumentation and background vocals. No complaints about this one. 3. Une Annee Sans Lumiere: Nice chill track that feel's like Arcade Fire's spin on a Pinback or Built to Spill song. Has that nice slacker-rock groove for most of the track with a fun spike of energy at the end. Another solid track. 4. Neighborhood #3 (Power Out): My favorite track on the record. An electrifying instrumental that leaves me not knowing whether to bang my head or start dancing wildly. The vocal performance sold the lyrics on this one for me. The whole concept comes together really great here. 5. Neighborhood #4 (7 Kettles): Riding the high of the last track, I was thinking this record was finally clicking with me. Unfortunately, things got a little rocky for me from this point on. This one just felt a bit corny to me. The dramatic instrumental puts a lot of focus on these lyrics that I'm just not resonating with. I think the complete 100 to 0 energy level shift from the last track didn't help either. Felt like a caffeine crash. 6. Crown of Love: Yeah it's the lyrics again. "I carved your name across my eyelids. You pray for rain, I pray for blindness." It's not a bad line, I just can't get into it surrounded by the over dramatic instrumentation and the whiny hipster vocals. Reminds me of my least favorite Flaming Lips material, or a lesser band trying to emulate a Roxy Music breakup jam. Much like my experience with Roxy Music, there's always a chance I'll come to appreciate this track. For now, it's probably my least favorite on the record. Also, the speed-up section at the end felt a little stale after a couple songs did this trick previously. 7. Wake Up: Oh no... here comes the woah-ohs. I don't hate this track, it just feels like it heavily influenced a lot of what became very old going into the late 00s to early 10s. Overblown and slow rock instrumentals with woah-ohs and big lyrical commandments. Another speed-up section at the end. I was starting to really fight my brain from tuning out at this point. 8. Haiti: Overall, a decent track that helps get this record back on track for me. The chipper instrumental starts to drift into what I'd expect to hear in a Walmart commercial though. I can see why this album is so influential, I'm just not sure if all of its influence could be regarded as positive. 9. Rebellion (Lies): OK... back on track. I really liked this one. Nice solid groove I could get lost in. Felt to me like the background music to a house party after you've had a little too much to drink. Everything's a bit blurry but enjoyable. 10. In the Backseat: A cool album closer. I enjoyed the lyrics on this one and the big instrumental payoff after the verses. Glad they left this project in the same ambitious place that it started. When an album has been in your ears several times, in several different times of your life, it's hard to imagine getting a much different result on the next listen. I have to say that this record was a much more enjoyable experience this time around, and I'm glad I listened through it finally. Most of the last half was not my cup of tea, but I recognize that there's a lot of great things going on here that had a lot of influence on the musical landscape at the time (for better and for worse). Despite my complaints, there are still a few tracks I will be coming back to often, and subjecting my friends to at future hangouts. With that said, I don't think I'll be going through the whole thing again anytime soon. 3/5

While being somewhat familiar with this band throughout my life, this is my first time sitting down with a full Doors record. I'm not usually a huge fan of blues rock, but the quality of the material here outweighed my preconceived notions of the genre. Aside from a couple of stumbling points, I found this record extremely enjoyable front-to-back. My favorites were the obvious picks of "L.A. Woman" and "Riders on the Storm." With "Hyacinth House" as a new favorite from the group. The weakest moment in my opinion was "The WASP." The mix of Morrison's poetry and the band jamming felt like a mess after a lot of very well-crafted songs. Overall, it was a great listen and I'm looking forward to exploring more of their material. 4/5

Knowing almost nothing about Leonard Cohen and listening to this album was a treat. Excited to listen to more of his work. I really appreciated the melancholic, yet hopeful and appreciative demeanor displayed throughout.

Bit of a mixed bag for me. Some all-timers on this track list for sure though.

Peg is such an absolute stone-cold slammer I'm gonna be listening to that on repeat all week.

Pretty good, but there are better Zeppelin records. I can do without the tracks "You Shook Me" and "I Can't Quit You Baby."

Might try it again sometime. I didn't dislike this record but I couldn't connect with it either.

Fantastic record. Just loses a little steam at the very end for me.