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.
