It's understandable as to why many people include this in their Top 100. The production is top-notch and way ahead of its time. The songs are captivating and draw you in from start to finish. The features are perfectly chosen and delivered. Instrumentals add to the already lively lyrical performances.
Favorite Song: N.Y. State of Mind
Score: 91/100
Funeral is a fundamental piece of modern music and paved the way for many with art and folk rock to come. What sets it apart for me is the Canadian influence with the accordion and violin usage, both staple instruments in Quebec culture. The Neighborhood suite also nods to a historic weather event in Canadian history months before my birth. Great art rock record with awesome baroque elements, a definite classic.
Favorite Song: Neighborhood #2 (Laika)
Score 89/100
This was a fresh listen, and I can see why it is considered one of the greats, especially in the jazz-rock fusion space. The production is extremely well put together, and Zappa's guitar playing has so much flair and technical style, and has certainly opened my eyes to jazz-rock fusion and blues rock.
Favorite Song: Son of Mr. Green Genes
Score: 86/100
Definitely a weaker point in my typical listening rotation, but it was an enjoyable listen despite this. Modern streaming platforms also don't see to have this album in their discography, just variations of it or similarly named ones, luckily their was a playlist on Spotify that worked.
Fats is often considered to be one of the pioneers of rock and roll, and I can see why that is the case. Beautiful instrumentals, with typical lyricism and messaging for the time.
Favorite Song: Blueberry Hill
Score: 82/100
Another genre less explored, but boy does Isaac Hayes make it fun! Hot Buttered Soul fuses soul with funk and psychedelic sound that can appeal to the masses. While the track listing is small, the instrumentals and soul-filled lyricism work together to forge a solid soul record. Not my favorite, but certainly worth the listen, if not for simply expanding music horizons.
Favorite Song: Hyperbolicsyllabicsesquedalymistic
Score: 79/100
A big thank you is needed to Kraftwerk, as they were one of the pioneering forces of the over-arching genre of electronic music. Depeche Mode, Joy Division, David Bowie, and Daft Punk all have admitted to taking inspiration from their work. Hypnotic drumbeats and synths make this an extremely easy album to listen to and appreciate. The only thing that could possibly be said to go against this record, is simply that their previous one (Trans-Europe Express) is often considered to be better.
Favorite Song: Neon Lights
Score: 88/100
Arguably the single-most recognizable album of all-time. While it's not Pink Floyd's greatest work, it is still one of their better works, and has some phenomenal stand-out tracks such as Time, The Great Gig in the Sky, and Money. TDSOTM has been a classic prog and psychedelic rock since its release, and holds up to this day.
Favorite Song: Money
Score: 88/100
There's groove. There's thrash. There's emotion. There's rock(s). It's a great hard rock album from one of the most recognizable rock bands of all time. They're not my favorite sound, but this album is an exception.
Favorite Song: Last Child
Score: 76/100
A great debut album by beloved hip-hop group, A Tribe Called Quest. While it doesn't stand the test of time against some other ATCQ albums such as Midnight Marauders and The Low End Theory in my eyes, is it still a great album with notable hits, and set the stage for jazz influenced, east-coast hip-hop.
Favorite Song: Can I Kick It?
Score: 80/100
A fresh listen, one that I quite enjoyed. It's an entire listening experience, as each song mashes various genres and instrumentations together with powerful vocals. It's also hard to pick a favorite, because they all could be depending on your mood and listening intent.
Favorite Song: The Bones of You
Score: 84
A transcendental listen front to back. It's hard to believe I went this long in my life without listening to Illinois. Time wasted. Zero skips.
Favorite Song: The Man of Metropolis Steals Our Hearts
Score: 92/100
Groovy. Soothing. Beautiful instrumentals. Introduction to downtempo, and a great debut album by wonder Frenchmen duo, Air. Good stuff to listen to on a beautiful windy day.
Favorite Song: Ce matin-là
Score: 81/100
Truthfully, it is isn't my style in the slightest, thought it isn't an unpleasant listen. Sonically it does fine for background music. Apparently this album was important for the "Outlaw" subgenre of country music, and I can see it in some of the songs, namely my favorite track.
Favorite Song: Ain't No God In Mexico
Score: 74/100
I know many people love this album already, but I STILL don't believe it gets the roses it deserves. This album is a BOP front to back. There is no reason to look at your device while listening to this record, you put it on and let it play until it stops and you get sad. It has provided so much influence in later sound profiles. VERY hard to pick a favorite song.
Favorite Song: Waters of Nazareth (Phantom Pt I is so close though)
Score: 94/100
Definitely a cultural/language barrier here that restricts me from appreciating it as much as I likely should. Still, this album by Jorge Ben has entertaining instrumentals, rock influence, and vocal performances. Samba Funk and Samba Rock are definitely interesting genres to listen for in the future.
Favorite Song: Meus Filhos, Meu Tesouro
Score: 83/100
The third album by Canadian indie rock band Arcade Fire. Personally it doesn't hit the same way that Funeral does, and I think a lot of that has to do with the loss of some of the Canadian influence for a more mainstream sound. However, little artistry is lost in translation, and Arcade Fire still showcases their prowess in the indie rock space. Well-deserving of the awards and accolades it has achieved.
Favorite Song: Sprawl II (Mountains Beyond Mountains)
Score: 86/100
"Ya like jazz?" Unfortunately Barry, not overly.
While I can undoubtably hear the musicianship and prowess of John Coltrane in this album, which is pretty ubiquitous when it comes to saxophone and jazz music, it is not something I would often come back to, simply because of preference of genres. Still, I try to score relative to my understanding of his influence, his musicianship, and his profound ability to tell a story with very few words.
Favorite Song: A Love Supreme, Pt. III - Pursuance
Score: 93/100
Great diversity of instrumentation, an amazing fusion of soul and jazz, with touches of psychedelia, funk, and blues. All in all a great listen, and easily one of the best album covers of all time.
Favorite Song: City, Country, City
Score: 87/100
A really great debut effort by Chicago, back when this was a self-titled album. There is a good level of consistency throughout the album, ties of the original rock and roll sound mixed in with jazz and progressive elements. All-together it makes for a great listen, though some songs don't appeal as much as others. The highs are pretty high, but the lows are also pretty low.
Favorite Song: Questions 67 and 68
Score: 79/100
