Great way to start things off with the mighty Led Zeppelin! I actually knew more songs on here than I thought, about half of them actually. I remember my dad playing this on cassette tape on road trips and vinyl at home when I was a child. The heavy opening single "Immigrant Song" is much different than the direction most of the album goes after that. My favorite track overall but I enjoyed the more acoustic bluesy swagger of the following tracks.
I'd heard of Cat Stevens before and knew this was going to be a very mellow album. I know there are lots of covers of his songs but I didn't realize he did "Wild World". I enjoyed his vocals on this as they reminded me of old Genesis and Jethro Tull although this wasn't a prog rock album. Very folksy chill music that didn't do too much for me by the end.
Another album that I remember hearing lots of songs from as a child when my parents would play it. Tons of vocal harmonies that get stuck in your head and that's not always a good thing. I could go without listening to "Suite: Judy Blue Eyes" again since that's one track I remember them playing way too often. My favorite track was "Wooden Ships" that organ and bluesy groove worked for me.
I actually recognized more songs on here than expected ("Time to Pretend", "The Youth", "Electric Feel" and "Kids"). Mostly from movie soundtracks although I first heard "Electric Feel" as a remix when I was lifting early in the mornings to electronic/trance music. I can see how this album could make people feel nostalgia for a past they might not have lived through with it's dreamy/synth 80's feel. For me it didn't but instead reminded me of background music from movies I'd seen but couldn't place.
I've heard "Money for Nothing" and "Walk of Life" so many times over the years which are of course standout singles on this album. My favorite track was the sax heavy "Your Latest Trick" which is actually the fifth single released and a song I'd never heard. Hard to believe that almost the entire first half of this album is made up of all the singles! This album has that feeling of being a grower if like me you're only familiar with a couple of tracks, not a bad thing though will have to revisit it again.
One of my favorite Rush albums from start to finish. Everyone knows the hit singles "Tom Sawyer" and "Limelight" which are still great even if classic rock radio has played them too many times over the years. There's so many layers to discover on this one when you focus on any given aspect at a time. From the complexity of the drumming, the warm beauty of the synth work, the rumbling bass it all envelopes you with a musical embrace. These 3 musicians were absolutely born to play together. You'll leave this one wanting to hear it again right after you finish it.
This brings me way back to my high school years when I was really into rap & hip hop. Still have some fond memories of hanging out with friends as we had just started high school and this album was being played everywhere. On this re-listen I was surprised at how much of it I still remembered. It doesn't hit the same as it did back in the late 90's as I haven't been into this type of music since graduating. I can still see the appeal it's just not my thing anymore. Some tight rapping but too much goofiness with lame lyrics and skits that pull me out of the flow. I enjoyed Lauryn Hill's singing more now than the rapping I preferred on this back in the day.
One of my all time favorite bands and this truly has to be their most well known album. The title track and "Run to the Hills" will sound familiar to anyone that has ever heard of Iron Maiden. I re-listened to this on Spotify and "Total Eclipse" was missing. I'm used to listening from my 1998 CD version that I'm most familiar with so that was a little different. I don't consider this their best album even though it contains some of their most iconic songs plus that classic album art. They were really just getting started with Bruce Dickinson as vocalist for the band and would develop their style even further in the future.
I'd never heard of this band before but I recognized the opening track "Alone Again Or" (Must have been from the film "Sleepers" which I watched not too long ago or "Bottle Rocket" which I haven't seen in years) This was an enjoyable late 60's listen mostly acoustic with some electric guitar showing up here and there. Plus the use of horns added to the dynamics of some songs. I liked how some of the lyrics were a little darker preceding Black Sabbath with their songs about the end of the hippie generation. It got a little further into the psychedelia lyrics than I'm used to though. Another album that will most likely get better with repeated listens.
My parents listened to Neil Young all the time while I was growing up yet I've never heard this album. Must have been because of how raw and uninviting the whole thing is. Which makes sense after I read about all the drug overdose deaths and things going on in his life. I can appreciate what went into the making of this one with the group of musicians all getting together and going through their grieving process. Not something I'd listen to casually but I'm sure it can fit a certain mood.
I'm not familiar with Indian music at all and this would be my first exposure to a full length album. I've heard some of it in my life mostly in movies or background noise at restaurants. This really didn't do much for me and by the end the repetition started to become irritating. Apparently the version I listened to on Spotify isn't the original, I still won't be seeking it out anytime soon.
I've heard some PJ Harvey but this would be my first full length. Solid overall but from my understanding not as dark as some of her earlier work which I'd imagine I might prefer. Some nice collaborations with Thom Yorke of Radiohead, a band that I've heard some earlier albums but nothing more recent. All the tracks seem to fit together as a whole and the singles didn't really stand out to me. Interested in hearing more of her work in the future.
My first Bob Marley album and most likely the name I think of when I hear the genre reggae. I knew the songs "Jamming" and "Three Little Birds" while some others sounded familiar. I'm not really well versed on reggae music but this seemed enjoyable enough. I can understand how this must have been important in getting this genre of music introduced to the world.
Keeping this one short like the album. Raw, fast and primitive hardcore punk that must have sounded insane the year it was released. Captured the scene/era of the early days of aggressive music. No stand out tracks as it all flows together and is over before you know what happened.
I've never heard this Slipknot album beyond the singles. I was into heavier music at the time and the previous album was where I left off. They really expanded their sound on this one covering more range with the clean vocals and some softer songs. Still feels like it could be a little shorter while there's no bad songs it runs a bit longer plus the extra bonus tracks I heard at the end.
I'm sure I've heard some Merle Haggard over the years. Seem to remember an ex girlfriend's dad was a big fan of old country music. I've been more interested in this type of music lately maybe it's getting older or just needing a break from heavier music. Didn't recognize any songs on this one but still sounded good. I like his baritone voice and the steel guitar of course.
I'm already a fan of The Cure but had never heard this album in full, only the single "A Forest". Minimalist and brooding as early albums were before they got happier later on. This is the version of the band I prefer for sure. "At Night" was a standout track for me when that bass came through on my car speakers it drew my attention. Always enjoy listening to this band and I can bet there are more albums in this list.
I recognized the name Harry Nilsson and actually know more of his songs than I expected. My earliest memories of his music are from the animated movie "The Point" which my parents always had us watch while growing up. I of course had heard "Coconut" used in Reservoir Dogs and "Without You" and "Jump into the Fire" seemed familiar from other movies (Goodfellas and Casino apparently?) Anyway he's got some serious vocal range and I enjoy some of these songs but mainly when used in movies.
I have heard the singles too many times on classic rock radio but "Sweet Emotion" is still great. Always reminds me of the beginning of Dazed and Confused. The rest of the album didn't do much for me. Not bad by any means you just can't top the hits with the deeper cuts on this one.
R.I.P. Dolly. I got this album randomly the day after she passed away. I've heard a number of her songs over the years and she always seemed like the sweetest woman. This album you could tell really came from her heart. It had it's comedic moments, sadness and all the things life is made up of.
I remember her name coming up in the late 90's music scene but not familiar with her music. She's got some interesting vocals going on which can be very rhythmic in flow and repetition. I enjoyed them the most when she got all husky and bluesy in tone. This album feels very personal and would probably make for a good headphones listen while lying in the dark. Seemed very feminist driven in the lyrics which is not really my thing. I can see how people would be fans but this one didn't do much for me.
This one must have their most popular singles on it. We hear them all the time on classic rock radio and in movies. It's just a feel good fun time album from start to finish. Last album with David Lee Roth which would divide the fans and more keyboard synth heavy than previous albums yet it's still essential in the catalog. It's hard not to enjoy this one in all it's bombast and crystal clear production.
I've seen this band's name around quite a bit over the years but never took the time to really listen to them. I recognized a couple of the singles immediately "Mr. Brightside" and "Somebody Told Me" since they were all over the place when this album came out. I never disliked those tracks but they were definitely overplayed at the time. It was nice to hear them again now as they brought back some distant memories. I know Brett McKay from AOM is a huge fan and always recommending this band so only a matter of time before I checked them out. Would like to hear some more of their albums in the future.
Never heard of this band and now I wish I never had to hear them. Annoying vocals overall with bouncy disco beats and a horrible Pink Floyd cover. There are some vocals that aren't too bad when he sounds more like Elton John but the majority of the album isn't the case. This one definitely wasn't for me and I won't be going back to give it another shot.
I've heard some of Peter Gabriel's more popular songs and of course know him from Genesis. This had elements of his earlier work but feels a lot different than his mainstream work later on. Had a darker almost industrial vibe at times that probably inspired NIN. His vocals were amazing as always and tracks were varied and interesting.
Another rap album that brings me back to my junior/high school days. I remembered most of this one surprisingly but then again we used to listen to it all the time. I still enjoyed some of the beats and flows but the skits and some of the lyrics came off more juvenile now that I'm an adult. Undeniably a classic of the 90's rap era just not something I feel any connection to now besides nostalgia.
I'd heard of this band before but didn't actually recognize any of the songs on this one. Has a dreamy ethereal feel to a number of songs a sort of haziness about the nostalgia of being a kid riding bikes around your neighborhood to the stress of being an adult with responsibilities. Maybe I'm reading too much into it being a new homeowner with all the impending dread about the future knowing we can't go back to a simpler time. This album has a number of layers that will reveal more upon each listen and deepen my appreciation.
I'm not real well versed on jazz music but have heard the name Duke Ellington for sure. This sounds like a bunch of talented musicians jamming out and must have been something back in the day. Wasn't a bad listen just felt more like background music to me and not something I'd normally go out of the way to listen to. Could have used more vocals besides the announcements and crowd noise. Historically relevant just not to my current tastes.
I'm a Nick Cave fan and never got around to checking out his earlier band until now. Noisy, chaotic and unhinged yet still listenable to my ears. Some of the vocals surprised me sounding almost in a black metal style yet this was 1982 and a few years before the world would be introduced to more extreme metal. This will not be for everyone and I'd imagine if you have a background in metal or hardcore punk you might enjoy it more.
This reminded me of the whole crappy radio rock sound of the late 90's early 2000's. Hipster sounding garbage that tries to be eclectic and comes off like quirky ironic elevator music. Dumb lyrics sung by a cringe whiny vocalist that made me feel nothing besides wishing it was over.
70's hard rock style plus falsetto vocals and you can tell they were having a good time. Nothing super memorable here though I do remember the track "I Believe in a Thing Called Love" being everywhere when this came out. Don't feel like anyone had this sound around 2003 so they were obviously doing their own thing. This was a fun listen not super deep lyrically by any means then again sometimes you just need something lighter hearted.
