Classic jazz! Cannot go wrong with Brubeck. The mixing is phenomenal - close your eyes and you feel like you are in the room with the musicians. "Take Five" is, of course, the standout song and forever fabulous. "Strange Meadow Lark" is also a favorite.
Oasis is not quite my style, but all in all not a bad album. Sonically, every track is pretty similar, though. Liam Gallagher has a weird voice, but interestingly has quite the vocal control. In production, the use of panning is solid and helps break up the monotony. "Digsy's Dinner" is a fun song, and "Columbia" shines spotlight on the vocals.
An almost perfect album! The rating is brought down only by Andy Summers' unbearable manic screaming ⅞ timing track "Mother." Anything with Sting's name on it is golden. This album famously showcases Sting's biblical and poetic writing, and the production quality is stellar as always. While "Every Breath You Take" is THE song, for me, "King of Pain" is tops, with "Wrapped Around Your Finger," and "Synchronicity II" close behind.
What a fantastic album. There is not a single bad track! The production is solid - great panning so the listener feels like they are in the room with the performers. My favorite Ray Charles song will always be "You Don't Know Me," but his energetic rendition of "Bye Bye Love" that kicks off the album may take the cake here! This whole classic collection of songs never gets old.
I'm not a Willie Nelson fan, but this was an enjoyable listen. Chill and soothing. It is interesting how the album tells a story throughout, even coming back to the same musical theme repeatedly. Because Willie's voice is not my thing, I thought the moments of instrumental break were lovely, with my favorite tracks being the classic hymn "Just As I Am" and the energetic, fun jam "Down Yonder."
But you can with this album! Steely Dan is phenomenal in every way. Highly acclaimed production, witty writing, bold and deep musicianship, captivating vocals - they've got it all. "Reelin' in the Years" is probably my favorite track on the album, with "Dirty Work" (in spite of it's topic) right behind.
This album is fascinating! The way that the tracks flow into each other via the interludes is masterful, and keeps your attention captured, wondering where the story goes next. I'm not big on social justice music, but I think Janet handles it very well here. She makes solid points in a captivating way, while still giving you a great beat to dance along to. And the production is fabulous! This is definitely an album to listen to with both headphones on and the volume up loud. "Hey Baby" into "Escapade" has always been my favorite from this album.
Not bad for a live recording from 1962! James Brown is always energetic, fun, and gets your feet groovin'! It's a quick listen and a good pick me up, no complaints on this album.
Bob Dylan is fascinating. He can make you laugh, cry, nostalgic, curious, thoughtful, and riled up all with one strange voice, a guitar, and a harmonica. For being so simple, this album is profound. And did I mention the audio panning? Cool stuff. "Don't Think Twice, It's All Right" was the gem of this album for me.
Honestly, you can't argue with Mingus. The composition, playing, and recording are all fabulous. This style of jazz is just a bit too chaotic for my taste, so it's a fine line of admiring Mingus, and having a headache when I'm done. With its classical touch and ability to provide some solace in the midst of the madness, "Track C-Group Dancers" is my favorite selection from the album.
Court and Spark is a solid album. Joni Mitchell is an odd duck, but very talented. Her imagery is a bit jarring sometimes, much like her voice. The songs flow together very well, and then once in a while a song completely surprises you, and those might just be the best moments of the album. "Down to You" and "Twisted" stand out as two of these special tracks.
The production quality is top notch! And that is perhaps what holds this album together. Madonna has an incredible voice, of course, but every track is curiously similar in sonic quality, so that the whole album almost sounds like one long song...which maybe is the point? It comes out of the gate seriously impressing you, but by the time you get to the end, you've definitely had enough of the ethereal electronica dance beat. "Swim," "Ray of Light," and "Sky Fits Heaven" are stand out tracks.
An artist I had never heard of, and wow, am I hooked! What a phenomenal album. Is it blues, jazz, folk, R&B...? Joan's voice is so versatile, the instrumentation never ceases to amaze, and the production quality and panning are top notch. My interest was piqued at every moment! "Love and Affection" and "Tall in the Saddle" may be my favorite tracks.
The musicianship is solid, creative, groundbreaking at times. But Robert Plant's vocals hurt! Don't get me wrong, he is very skilled, I just can't listen to him long term. It's a great album, and there is a lot to extract from it musically, it's just not my style. "Your Time Is Gonna Come" sticks out as my favorite track.
Not for me! This alternative rock, dream pop style is just odd and doesn't settle right. It's similar to listen to atonal classical music. And the nonsense vocalizations? It's the kind of vibe you hear at Starbucks or a club but don't listen to willingly for enjoyment.
I have three words for this album, and this band. No. Thank. You.
A solid album. It does not strike me as Queen's finest work, and not just because it doesn't have the "hits" on it. It very much displays Queen's theatrical nature, and the second half of the album really shines as tracks flow into each other to tell a story. My favorite song, though, is "Some Day One Day" which was the first Queen song to feature Brian May on vocals for the entire track. The panning on this album is superb and keeps the ears continually engaged.
I genuinely enjoyed this album! From the composition, to the instrumentation, to the production - it is excellent. It hinges between classical, video game music, and ethereal rock. It's very interesting, captivating, and each track feels unique. I obviously cannot understand the Icelandic lyrics, but the music speaks in a way that does not make me feel I need a translator to understand. And that, is something special.
What a beautiful album. While being categorized as folk, it's mixed in the style of a jazz album, and honestly, sounds like an early precursor to video game music, which is fascinating. It's chill and sweet and thoughtful. The instrumentation is charming, especially the gorgeous strings throughout. The biggest drawbacks are the repetitiveness within the songs, and honestly, Nick Drake's voice. I would give it five stars if the songs were instrumental! "The Thoughts of Mary Jane" wins for prettiest, the "'Cello Song" for most fun, and the mixing on "Man in a Shed" really stood out to me.
Gosh. I absolutely love The Doors. They are so delightfully weird! It's classic gibberish blues, but I would listen to Jim Morrison sing anything. The musicianship is brilliant, with Ray Manzarek's keyboard skills being amongst my favorites. "Roadhouse Blues" is timeless, and "You Make Me Real" also steals the show on this album.
Sinead O'Connor has a lovely voice, and the lyrics are rather deep. Each song is unique, and mixed very well. Apologies to my Irish friends, but the album just doesn't really do anything for me. In terms of best songs, "The Emperor's New Clothes," has a great groove, ""I Do Not Want What I Haven't Got" beautifully breaks everything away to just showcase Sinead's voice, and "Nothing Compares 2 U" (the famously controversial Prince cover) shines as one of the best tracks overall.
Experimental. Thought provoking. Groundbreaking. It's not bad; it's just weird. It feels more like a spoken word album with a vibe of music laid out underneath. The feeling of that repetitive, looping synth style is perhaps captivating, or maybe unnerving. And David Bryne's voice - yeah... As strange as it is, "Once in a Lifetime" is probably the best track on the album.
This album totally rocks. The lyrical content is not my favorite, but all in all, the musicianship, style, and production are top notch. The guitars noticably steal the show as they are supposed to, but in my book, the drums are what really shine! Being a classic, "Sharp Dressed Man" is probably still my number choice on this album.
There's nothing quite wrong with this album, I just don't particularly like it. The writing is solid, and the production is quality. It's qualified as rock, but hinges on grunge, especially considering it came out in 1993. Songs like "The Hook" and "Dixie Drug Store" are actually rather good and made me want to believe this album could score higher for me, but alas.
Pretzel Logic is my kinda logic! Steely Dan produces nothing but five star work. The album is brilliant, and fabulous, and never ceases to be engaging! The title song is a clever take on the follies of history and nostalgia...daydreaming about Napoleon gave me quite a smile. "Rikki Don't Lose that Number" and "Any Major Dude Will Tell You" are obviously classic songs, but "East St. Louis Toodle-Oo," their cover of a Duke Ellington tune, takes the cake! New favorite Steely Dan song!!!
There was nothing inherently wrong with this album, but equally nothing stood out to me to capture my attention. A little bit the vibe of U2 if they coincided with The Pretenders, but it just didn't work for me.
Snoop's voice is smooth, and the production quality of the album with all the samples and such is top notch. If only the lyric content weren't so awful.
It's a good album with solid musicianship from the supergroup that Stephen Stills compiled. The album is long, and the tracks are sometimes a bit overwhelming with sound because there is so much going on in them. The panning saves the day by at least letting you hear each instrument in a different spot, but it's still a lot. Not a big fan of the vocals, and might like the tracks better if they were purely instrumental. "Johnny's Garden" and "Right Now" may be my favorite selections.
I wanted to hate this album, but somehow I can't? The Replacements were clearly ahead of their time musically and fundamentally. This album does not feel like your average 1984 album. The lyrics and vocals are a bit too punk for my taste, but the music is actually really solid, in an odd way. It's some mix of punk, classic rock, alternate rock, and new wave with suprises strewn throughout - kinda fascinating...
Musically, this album is fantastic. If all metal sounded like Iron Maiden's performance, it might be tolerable! Thematically, this album is a bit much. While it's not supposed to be inherently satanic since it's based on a dream from a horror film, the fence line is thin. If I could remove the lyrics, I may rate this album higher, but alas, it is what it is!
Elvis is back from the Army and better than ever! This is the finest era for Elvis's voice, and with this being his first album recorded in stereo, we get to hear him enhanced like never before. The production work is fabulous and the songs are fun and charming. "The Girl Next Door Went A-Walking," "Such a Night," and "The Girl of My Best Friend" are a few favorites. Classic perfection.
Not for me. Very odd. There are a few tracks that have potential, but nothing really sticks. Interesting use of electronic sounds, but too much of a "vibe" for me.
If I'm listening to this for fun, no thank you. If I'm listening to this for production educational purposes, sure. It's very repetitive, the tracks are much too long, and they can easily get under the skin, but at least it's quality work. It definitely fits in a club or in a movie scene though, not as day to day listening.
Suprised to see a 2026 album included, that's saying a lot! This is quite a soundtrack album. It has good storytelling, decent production, Charli has quite a voice. It's dark and angsty. Not bad, just not my type.
This album is so perfectly 80s! Weird and wonderful. It's sarcastic and calls out the culture, while being fun and musically creative. It's surprising to me that Heaven 17 does not hold a place in mainstream 80s music - they are so much better than much of what gets played on repeat!
Emmylou Harris has a lovely vocal style, sometimes raspy country, and sometimes soft and gentle. This album has solid lyrical writing, but the music just doesn't capture my attention the way I hoped it would.
Fats Domino is a legend. While his songs are repetitive and the beat gets tiresome, I believe this deserves a solid rating because of the effect Fats had on future rock 'n' rollers, jazz pianists, and more. And the NOLA blood that runs through his piano touch is something else. "Mardi Gras in New Orleans" is always a favorite!
Neil Young is a good lyric writer, but there's just nothing catchy about the music. His voice is too whiny and the songs are mostly just drab. It's not necessarily a bad album, it just doesn't strike me for intentional listening. "Only Love Can Break Your Heart" and "Don't Let it Bring You Down" were probably my favorite tracks.
Not necessarily my choice for average listening, but honestly, it's a good album. I was especially drawn by the word painting that is being done with the music! It's rather captivating, and adds nice nuances throughout to keep the music engaging.
I never used to like Bob Dylan. But the older I get, the more I understand him and his music. Despite his odd voice, I thought this album was charming. It's the perfect combination of sarcasm and care, a little comedy and a lot of love. It's quality storytelling that you can't help but get mesmerized by. "Shelter from the Storm" and "Buckets of Rain" are a couple favorite tracks.
Pleasantly surprised - this was a really solid album! If it weren't for the language I would rate this even higher. Kanye has an odd view of religion, and obviously went crazy later on (or maybe he always was a little crazy?), but I cannot deny he is quite talented. The production alone is worth the listen - some high quality stuff.
The SOUL. Solomon Burke has a level of soul in his voice that is unbeatable. Loved this album. "Cry to Me" is the obvious classic favorite, but there was not a track on here I did not thoroughly enjoy. "Can't Nobody Love Me" is another winner, and I got a good chuckle from how he brought other singers' names in quoting them to say they don't measure up to his love!
It's a fun album! Some of the lyrical topics are a little odd, but all in all, I really enjoyed. Knowing that it was produced by Elvis Costello makes sense - it honestly has his feel throughout it. A little ska, little regae, little new wave punk...
Is it punk? Is it rockabilly? Is it surf rock? What a weird album! I think I would enjoy it more without the unhinged lyrics. If it were just instrumental, not so bad.
This album sounded like my sampling class projects at Berklee. I enjoyed it as a production tuned listen. It is repetitive and the length of some of the songs is a bit much, but it's quality, not annoying like some other electronic music, and there is much to learn from the production.
Solid. The Band is not my favorite, but I do enjoy their music. They have quality musicianship and delve into lots of varying styles throughout. Also, the panning production on the album is fantastic! That alone gets my vote.
In comparison to Remain in Light which I previously rated, this album is very melodic! Has more of the early 80s feel - light, fun, and wacky. David Bryne is so odd, and his voice and lyrics are really the weak point for me. But nonetheless, this was actually a decently enjoyable listen.
I expected to hate this, but I actually did not! The musicianship is really good. Some of the lyrical content does not interest me, but overall, I really cannot complain much. The closer, "Road Trippin'," may have been my favorite track.
I think I have a push-pull relationship with this album. It's right in my wheelhouse with the soulful, and almost classical jazz. The music is gorgeous - every ounce of it. And Nina has an incredible voice. But it's in a similar vein to Billy Holiday where I can be in complete awe of her voice, yet not like it. Some of the songs blew me away they were so hauntingly beautiful, but others were just hauntingly odd. "What More Can I Say" was hands down my favorite track.
I never liked Rod Stewart when I was younger because I was opposed to his voice. But now, I've begun to see his charm and fall in love with his style. This album honestly had me smiling the whole time. It's homey, comforting, and really enjoyable. "Country Comfort" is probably my favorite song on the album.
Only Randy Newman can get away with saying the things he does! His satire is fascinating and often humorous, and I honestly love that he just says what is on his mind, calling out folks on all sides of the spectrum, crass as it sometimes might be. It's a solid album. "Marie" is a charming tune and may be my favorite track.
