1001 Albums Summary

Strong start—Under the Pressure is a banger, but then the rest of the album kinda blends together for me. Lowkey every song sounds the same :(

Now, Radiohead is a top 10 band for me, maybe even top 5 tbh. And their sophomore album has some gems that will forever be cemented in my mind & heart (“Fake Plastic Trees”, “High and Dry”). Plus, this is the first time I’ve heard the eponymous song. I understand why it lent its name to the album—it’s really good, different from what I expect from them. However, I’m not going to let my love for them sway my opinion of the album. I’m judging fairly! 4 songs in and I genuinely like the diversity. It seems Radiohead was really playing with their sound here. I like that the past 4 songs have all had different vibes; it’s refreshing to hear diversity throughout an album that still somehow feels cohesive. I also didn’t know that High and Dry is followed immediately by FPT. It feels like you’re pleading for a lover to stay and then cut to you reminiscing years down the line and comparing what you once had… what you could have had still. Oooooh then the 5th song (“Bones”) has a nice strong baseline and a deeper, more contained sound. Oh wow then 6th “(Nice Dream)” is that bouncy, airy, feeling that I recognise from radiohead. But then it also has peaks and valleys and transforms and mutates throughout. That screeching guitar in the middle was cool. 8 (“My Iron Lung”) in and this one has a section of screaming from Tom Yorke that I did not expect but thoroughly enjoyed. Okay, and we slow it down for 9 (“Bulletproof… I Wish I Was”). This one feels like I’m floating on waves slowly hitting the shore and then retreating. There is a long note that Tom does here that I really, really enjoy. He teeters the line between full control and fully surrendering to the music. It’s really fascinating. I also feel like this song could easily be covered in a different style, like the chorus has the foundation for a banging pop song, if sped up a little. I replayed it three times, and I could listen to this on repeat for the rest of the day. Also these lyrics are really melancholic and deeply moving. This song has replaced High & Dry as my second most favourite song from this album. Really moving. Oooooooh “Black Star” is also v cool. I like how the two songs fade into each other but are still so different. OMG I’m really on a journey rn. “Sulk” is also really really good. WOW the last song (“Street Spirit (Fade Out)”) is like nothing on this album. Phenomenal. Guitar is F.I.R.E. This was a 5/5 album for me. They really popped off with this one. It took me on a journey. I love when music makes you really feel, and boy did I feel. I fully understand why it’s been included on numerous lists as one of the best albums of all time.

I wasn’t really familiar with Joy Division before getting this album, but they’re okay. Not a big fan of the lead singer’s voice (he kinda sounds like Fred Schneider from the B52s, but not in a good way) but the band is good. However, I like my rock a little more angsty. I didn’t finish this album, stopped halfway through because I’m not getting the hype. A DNF is max a 2 for me, so that’s what they’ll get.

idk bout this one… not a big fan of live recordings tbh