1001 Albums Summary

I was pleasantly surprised at how bluesy and ragged this album is. My knowledge of The Doors history is scant compared to other rock groups, but I being able to hear Morrison's downward trajectory in such a sleazy, drug-addled, raucous way is equal parts chilling and fascinating. My favorite moments were the wild ones, like "Changeling" (that's basically a funk song!), "Love Her Madly," and "L.A. Woman." I got a little bored during the last third, specifically on "Crawling King Snake" and "The WASP." "Riders on the Storm" is a stone-cold classic, one of the coolest songs ever made. Who knows, this might be my indoctrination into The Doors hype… Favs: The Changeling, Love Her Madly, L.A. Woman, Riders on the Storm Least Fav: The WASP Score: 8

This is a classic I'm glad to finally be checking off my list! Aside from "Smoke On the Water," I was very unfamiliar with Deep Purple going into this album, and this definitely exceeded my expectations. There's a lot of complexity here, in tandem with the proto-metal badassness. It's crazy to hear how directly this influenced so much of the hard rock and heavy metal that followed. "Highway Star" is a clear favorite for me—such a classic, rock 'n' roll premise but with a proggy, cyclical structure that gives it so much weight. Really enjoyed overall, I'm excited to listen to more Deep Purple and see how this record compares to their catalog overall. Favs: Highway Star, Pictures of Home, Smoke on the Water, Lazy Least Fav: Never Before Score: 7.5

Another long overdue first listen, and it did not disappoint. I listened to this while lying in bed, scrolling my phone, after midnight, and ended on my back staring up at the ceiling, fully engrossed. I can’t wait to come back to this again and again—the sheer presence of these songs is incredible. From the light research I did while listening, the narrative seems fascinating, but isn't overwritten enough to interfere with the experience. True to the title, this album is just a rabbit hole of ingenious production and sheer emotional blood-letting. Favs: Mr. Self-Destruct, Piggy, March of the Pigs, Closer, A Warm Place, Reptile, The Downward Spiral, Hurt Least Fav: I Do Not Want This Score: 9

The first time an album in this series is one I've heard before. While the Bowie purist in me would probably sneer at someone who said it, I really couldn't judge someone who thinks this is Bowie's best album. What a spectacular send-off from an artist running against the clock. Bowie tackles the encroaching void with such dynamic poetry, interpreting John Ford (the playwright, not the director), fictional languages, and Satanism in tandem with the tightest of jazz backing-bands. Favs: Blackstar, Tis a Pity She Was a Whore, Lazarus, Girl Loves Me, I Can’t Give Everything Away Least Fav: Sue (Or In a Season of Crime) Score: 9.5