TAPESTRY - Carole King (1971) - Album 1/1001
This is the first album I've listened to on the quest to try to get all 1001 Albums in - and, admittedly, the first time I've ever listened to it in full. Man, I'm so late to the party.
There are so many hits on this one I didn't realize /were/ Carole King's. I heard these songs covered, yes, but hearing the full-fledged actual versions brings so much more depth and luster to the music. I wasn't familiar with Carole King's work before listening to Tapestry, but it's an easy, calming, beautiful album. A bit too easy in some parts, but overall a genuinely nice album.
BORN IN THE USA - Bruce Springsteen (1984)
"I love America more than any other country in the world and, exactly for this reason, I insist on the right to criticize her perpetually." - James Baldwin
Classic Americana. I don't think you can talk about American rock without bringing up this album, mostly because of its tracklist. The title track, yes, but I'm On Fire, Cover Me, I'm Goin' Down? Just as beautiful. I'm from Jersey, so I'm heavily biased, but I think this is one of the most important albums out there. Is it showing its age? A bit, but you can't rag on it for that.
BE - Common (2005)
I'm biased. Common is one of the most underrated lyricists out there, and I've listened to this album so many times over that it's hard for me to look at this with an open mind. Genuinely a beautiful album.
If I could rate it 6 stars, I could. PhD guy is a dumbass.
IRON MAIDEN - Iron Maiden (1980) - 4/1001
I'll admit it; heavy metal isn't my favourite genre. Rock was always a favourite, but heavy metal was always a pass - I could just never get into the loudness of it. Going into this album with an open mind was shocking - right off the bat with Prowler, you get to experience the power the guitars have and how much effort the lads put into their music (a power that maintains throughout the album)
Does it hold up now? I mean...yes and no? Production's a bit iffy, but its still a classic album that I understand holds near and dear to many hearts. I just couldn't feel the love for this album that so many people have - it's objectively a beautiful time, though.
MY BEAUTIFUL DARK TWISTED FANTASY - Kanye West (2010) - 5/1001
I know many people on this site see Kanye in a bad light, and for good reason. His public actions have soured an already shaky viewpoint, and I'm not surprised by the backlash he brought on himself.
Unfortunately for the public, this (along with the other two Kanye albums in the book) is, without a doubt, one of the greatest hip-hop albums (and dare I say, albums in general) of our generation. You legitimately can't talk about the history of rap music without mentioning MBDTF.
So many people on here are at their prime or nearing it. 2010s Nicki, back when she was the innovator with some of her most iconic work; a still-on-the-throne Jay-Z, fresh off The Blueprint 3 and before WTT; Rick Ross giving one of his best-ever verses on Devil In A New Dress; CyHi the Prince's fifteen minutes feeling like an hour on one of the almost-greatest posse cuts of all time (sorry, RZA, you tried). Hell, he got Fergie and John Legend doing their best work! Chris Rock...yeah, not him, but he was a bit funny!
And that's not even mentioning the man himself. Kanye's at his hungriest on this album, trying his hardest to prove himself as the king - and it shows. His production nears none; his rapping (while not the best as compared to his past or future albums like Yeezus and the College Trilogy) is a breath of fresh air; his lyricism is innovative, unlike anything anyone in 2010 (hell, even after that) had heard.
I don't think hip-hop would be where it is today without the influence of this album. It fully deserves a spot in the 1001. It's a pity that Kanye's name is attached to it, but I also can't imagine anyone else doing this album justice like him. Such a shame he died in 2018 after that horrible accident.
AT SAN QUENTIN - Johnny Cash (1969) - 6/1001
I'm sorry, man, I just couldn't. Cash has so much better work (my mind immediately snaps to American 4 and Folsom Prison).
Boy Named Sue can't save the album from being mid. I love Cash, but I really couldn't get into this one.
CHICAGO TRANSIT AUTHORITY - Chicago (1969) - 7/1001
Are we deadass? This made the list, but Chocolate didn't?
I love Chicago, but c'mon, man - this shouldn't be their entry on the list. It's gotta be 2 or Chocolate. CTA isn't a /bad/ album, but when compared to their later work? This is just vanilla ice cream.
WATER FROM AN ANCIENT WELL - Abdullah Ibrahim (1986) - 8/1001
Classic, smooth jazz. Nothing to rag on, nothing to write home about, simple and clean. The epitome of a regular jazz album.
SEA CHANGE - Beck (2002) - 8/1001
damn does this guy ever be happy
DUSTY IN MEMPHIS - Dusty Springfield (1969) - 10?/1001
Shit was clean. That's all I really had to say. Portishead before Portishead.
TRAGIC SONGS OF LIFE - The Louvin Brothers (1958) - 11/1001
I cant believe Joe Biden made an album. And it's ass.
It's there. That's all it really has going for it.
Leonard Cohen lives forever. That's not just me being funny; he said that he intended to do so a couple of years back. While it's very much ironic-Cohen died weeks later-I think his music has the true reasoning to live on for as long as it should.
Which is why it pains me to say...this one's not his best. Is it heartbreaking? Yes, of course, but I feel like I should want more.
I've been starting to wear off the honeymoon phase of starting up the project, but Dire Straits is a nice oasis in a desert. It's not the greatest album, God no, but it gets the job done. There's a reason why Sultans of Swing is the most popular hit.
I'm very biased for this album--I grew up listening to OutKast, and Speakerboxx/TLB was one of the earliest albums I remember listening to. With that being said, it still holds up today. Both albums live up to the hype and then some. I really think this was a perfect follow-up to an already great album in Stankonia - this truly is OutKast's magnum opus, and a great way to continue the honeymoon phase of this project.
What a beautiful album. All Blondie's best hits are on one single tape--that's the craziest part.
all i wanna do is
*BANG BANG BANG BANG*
*body drops to the floor, dead*
