1001 Albums Summary

Not my favorite album (of Simon & Garfunkel themselves, or as a 'concept' album). The lyrical poetry is hit-or-miss, though I tend lean to the 'hit' side of the equation. The problem I have is the lyrics/spoken word doesn't always vibe- which is the easiest way to phrase it- with the musical arrangements. I've always enjoyed "America," and "Save the Life of My Child" is a great first track (ignoring the Bookends theme). I do actually enjoy "Voices of Old People" for what it adds to the 'concept' they were going for, though it's easy to see why many would react negatively. "Fakin' It" has nostalgia attached to it, as my dad would sing it when I was a kid. Aside from those, the rest of Bookends is completely skip-able for me. I don't care how much "Mrs. Robinson" is considered a classic, I've never been a fan. By no means is this album Simon & Garfunkel's best work. I'm not sure I'd ever recommend it as an introductory album, and if you are recommending it to someone, do them a favor and provide a disclaimer so they know what they're in for.

Phil Lynott is one of rock's most under-rated vocalists. And the band, in any incarnation, is pure energy and a wonderful time. This album is 10/10, no other notes needed.

It's not for me. As I'm giving the album a second listen, trying to be fair-minded, it just does not do anything for me. I can appreciate the instrumentation (guitar and drums are on point), and when I look up the lyrics to follow along, it's well written poetry. Its a prime example of the 80s Brit-rock sound. But for the life of me, Morrissey's vocals just throw it all away. His singing lingers in a way that makes it unwelcome to my ears, and there's an almost whine to his voice that I could do without. The lyrics just get stretched to fit the music, and I'm done with the songs before they've even reached the halfway mark.

90's alt-rock in a single album. Perfectly serviceable for people who like it. The title track is THE song I think of when I think of Hole, though I can never remember the name. If alt-rock's your jam, this is a great album. If its not, it's still not bad at all.

10/10 album, proving that Brian Johnson would be able to carry the torch after Bon Scott's death. Every song on the album is a banger. There's a reason Back In Black is on every "Great Albums of Rock" list.

"Roundabout" is one of the best opening songs to any album, ever. This is one of, if not THE, quintessential prog-rock albums. The way the band plays with sound and song structure is akin to jazz, and the listener is just along for the ride. Love it.

It's Elvis. Do I think this album belongs on this list? Not really. Do I think ANY of his albums belong on this list? Probably, yeah. I don't believe this album is bad, and I recognize its place in the grand tapestry of musical history, especially in the United States. However, many of the songs presented are done better by other artists. Elvis does have his particular charm and energy, and "Blue Suede Shoes" is a solid opener.

The introduction to an amazing quartet of power and energy. As a kid who grew up playing bass, I was in awe of The Ox when my dad introduced me to The Who. I wish I liked this album, and its place on this list, more than I do. Unfortunately, its just nowhere near my top albums from The Who. But what it does well is show the foundation of the rough garage-rock sound that the band would eventually ramp up to stadium exploding performances. "The Kids Are Alright" sounds like it came right out of the Beatles' catalog, and "I'm A Man" is the type of song cover expected of the Rolling Stones at the time. And then there are songs like "My Generation" and the instrumental "The Ox" that show a unique sound being developed. Definitely worth a listen, but falls short of their later music.

A group I'd never heard of, and an album I was pleasantly surprised by. Jazz and funk samples meet industrial noise and synth-work to back lyrics charged by the social and political state of the 90s. I enjoy hip-hop where the songwriting has a message, and that is something that this album excels at. And I noticed a lot of the industrial elements serve to unsettle the listener, set them off-balance as they're listening to the lyrics. The only real weakness to me was the hook just being the song title. That got old real quick. I can see myself getting a physical copy of this album.

My brain keeps expecting the B-52s, and keeps getting caught off guard by their weird, slightly off doppelgangers. The music is....fine. Not my favorite, but it works. But Bjork's vocals give me whiplash on whether I find them enjoyable, or they set my teeth on edge. "Motorcrash," for instance I find to be darkly entertaining and her vocals are perfectly fine. This is immediately followed by "Birthday," where her vocals give me the same reaction as nails on a chalk-board. Overall, the album sounds like an experiment of new wave and rock. Unfortunately, at least for me, it doesn't stick the landing and doesn't warrant another listen.