Album Reviews

JL: 3, Listen A : 3 ,Head Over Heels

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A : 2 ,White Winter Hymnal; If i lived in the woods its a 5 JL : 2 , Heard Them Stirring

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It’s always interesting to hear music from a different country and culture but this does nothing for me. Listening to Desi Arnez playing Babaloo has the same impact.

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It’s got that one good IceCube song a bunch of other songs that are cool but not special

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Its been years since I have heard Arrested Development, and I enjoy it much more than I used to. Tennessee was always a good song, but I didn't love it before. Appreciate it much more now. Good album, may have to pick it up.

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Bret’s voice is like an extra instrument that adds depth and feeling to the jangly pop rock Never understood how suedes brand of new wave goth lite got lumped in with the other britpop bands .

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Impecable sin mas, completamente disfrutable, bailable, cantable, divertido y emocionante por donde lo veas. Message in a bottle, es solo una pieza más en este gran disco en el cual terminé descubriendo nuevas canciones que desde el lado más mainstream de la música pop/rock de los 70/80 no iba a encontrar, pero ahí están, en este gran álbum. Las guitarras toman la batuta y se llevan el álbum, que si, las demás partes de la banda hacen una labor igualmente de increíble pero las guitarras tienen un algo que las hacen destacar por sobre los demás instrumentos, te ambientaliza todo el álbum de pe a pa, me fascinaron. Lo escucharé una y otra vez.

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El album parece un ritual para invocar espíritus, todo muyyy extraño

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eh

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In the era of Brit Pop, if Oasis were the Beatles, Blur were the Kinks. I always dug the Kinks.

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Electric Warrior is a better album, and it's only okay outside of the hits and this one is much like the normal T. Rex songs.

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Fine, simple. a few notable tracks off the top then its perfectly fine 60's after that. 6/10

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noce

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wow this Jimi Hendrix guy is pretty good at playing guitar

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King Crimson - In the Court of the Crimson King ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Wow. This is an album with a reputation that certainly precedes it. It’s really really good. I do not think that I can really be sure on how I would rate it after only one listen, but I’m going with four stars for now. I am going to spend some more time with it for sure. I can easily see why so many people view this as one of the best albums of ever made. When I was younger, my brother was a big fan of this album but I never actually listened to it. My tastes at that time were not nearly refined enough to appreciate this work. I’m not sure that they are even now. But this is clearly a prog rock masterpiece that deserved the accolades that it gets.

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I didn't really like this album when it came out. Decades later, it is an alright listen. Some good stuff mixed with a touch of 90's cringe in spots.

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This is possibly the most 80s sounding album from the list yet, but I actually liked it quite a bit. I frequently find goth music too depressing and full of despair, but this managed to find a great, dark and moody, balance without being too much.

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Mingus is good and I like Jazz.

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I've said it before and I'll say it again men are really obsessed with saying the word "pussy" aren't they

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MF DOOM sample for Dead Bent detected within the first 30 seconds. Hood Took Me Under, 2Pac Me Against the World, and Biggie - Warning sample within the first 60, that's crazy. Song 2 immediately a DJ Quik sample. Public Enemy sample detected It really is hard to listen to this without just grooving to the samples, but some of these sounds are crazy; this album sounds way more 1970;s than 1969. Strings are beautiful, background vocals are incredible, drums are CRISP (I've used these drums before lol). His voice is so endearing it hurts, once you get past him being Chef anyway. Oh and the guitarist is on point, this song is long ass shit though. Leave it to him to make the most romantic, salacious and tempting song about cheating on your woman, only to turn around and give us an 18 minute epic about a man who was jut too kind getting cheated on over and over and the woes associated. Hard to pinpoint a lot of it, but it's a fun time all the way through. 4/5 Fav: By The Time I Get to Phoenix Least: The part of Walk On By when the orchestra gets too loud

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The editors of this book after listening to the blandest 80s British pop album: "Wow everyone really needs to hear this before they die" Favorite Track - These Early Days Least Favorite Track - The Night I Heard Caruso Sing ⭐️

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- Uh it’s aight - Sorry I’m putting like zero effort into listening and writing notes

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I can appreciate why this is considered one of the most influential albums in rock history, but after finally listening to it I came away more respecting its legacy than impressed by the music itself. Glam rock just doesn’t connect with anything in me. The concept is ambitious and it's easy to see how Ziggy Stardust became such an iconic character. The album's theatrical approach and blend of glam rock, storytelling and science fiction were clearly ahead of their time and I can understand why so many artists cite it as an inspiration. That said, the songs themselves didn't do much for me. Aside from a handful of memorable moments, most of the tracks felt surprisingly underwhelming and I never found myself emotionally invested in the music. I also struggled with Bowie's vocal style. While I recognize his charisma and unique personality as a performer, his voice simply isn't one that resonates with me, making it difficult to fully connect with the album. Maybe this is one of those records that's more important in the context of music history than it is enjoyable for every modern listener. I don't dislike it, but I also don't hear the revolutionary masterpiece that so many others do. I respect what it accomplished and the doors it opened for future artists, but on a purely personal level, it just didn't click with me. A historically significant album that deserves recognition for its influence, even if the music itself left me wanting more.

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Yesterday I went into the Cantina at the new Star Wars land at Disneyland and the bartender leans over, sneakily gives me this, and whispers, “It’s not often we get a Resistance General in here. Thank you for your service.” I almost cried.

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Oh fuck yeah. Oh hell yeah. As much as I love the Beastie Boys, I don't believe them when they say they were making fun of "frat boys and party bros" when they performed "Fight For Your Right." It's not like they grew up right away on Paul's Boutique...there's still a lot of hilarious shit and braggadocio on that album, too...they just had an ear for immaculate sounds and producing by the Dust Brothers. I don't think they really grew up and out of the immature phase until Check Your Head. But it sounds good for them to distance themselves from Fight For Your Right and Girls as quickly as they possibly could. This album is awesome...always has been, always will be. I keep seeing mentions about how it hasn't aged well, etc...but whatever, fuck that. This past weekend, I read an article on the DMV rap scene that was on Pitchfork...because I'm from the area, I was curious. And then I listened to some of the music from that article. All that shit makes Licensed To Ill look like nursery rhymes. The production here is immaculate. The bass is awesome. Sonically, it's a masterpiece. What a great album. Fun, hilarious, quotable...just great.

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Don't believe these liars.

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Once upon a time, there was a beast named Muhammad Who legalized rape, polygamy, pedophilia, and shamelessness The beast Muhammad wrote the Quran, the Muslims' book of hate A manual of terror, wrath, and pedophilia First-degree murderers, terrorists in a world like no other

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Quintessential slop

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to the guy who said "Me and my girlfriend did interesting things in the back of my car to this" it's MY GIRLFRIEND AND I dumbass

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"California Dreamin'" is the highlight here. That opening acoustic guitar is immaculate. For me it is in the pantheon of songs of the Mythological California of which there are many. California loomed large in the psyche of 20th century America and beyond. I love the song. The remainder of the album is quite pleasant in its own right. Right in the wheel house of that 1960s folk rock sound. These tracks are full of harmonies and the right blend of pop sensibilities. Mama Cass and Mama Michelle outshine the guys for sure, in my opinion. In the end though it does all come together for a light 35 minutes. Just stay here though, stay with the music here on this album. There is tragedy on the horizon for this band. Their run was short but sweet. Don't go reading on how the story ends. The music is pleasant enough. Let's let the music be enough. Just keep dreaming of California. We'll get there one day. Promise. 3/5

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I remember this one being a HUGE album until it wasn't. I remember the song (and that Prince wrote it), and I remember the tearing of the picture and the backlash afterward, but I'd honestly never had an opportunity to hear the rest of the album, and was a little flummoxed when it came up on this list. And when I listened to it, I was a whole other kind of surprised. This is a good album. Maybe not a damn good album or a wonderful album, but much different and more interesting than I'd expected. Way more Tori Amos/Fiona Apple/Bjork adjacent and less Dolores O'Riordan than anticipated (and I am at least a casual fan of all of the above). It may not be a blind 5, but it does round up to a 4/5, and intrigued me enough to search out some of her later work to see where she went creatively after her public ostricism.

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To quote Willie Nelson "There are two kinds of men; those who are in love with Emmylou Harris, and those who haven't met her." I only know Emmylou Harris through her records, but that's enough to be madly infatuated. Emmylou Harris has built an incredible body of work as a harmony singer, collaborator and interpreter of songs. But this is one of her rare albums of original songs. Spaciously recorded by Malcolm Burn using a crack band and a host of A-list guests with that atmospheric Lanois-style production, it is spooky and spacious and hard to pigeonhole exactly. It's not the classic country-folk sound of most of her output, but it's classy and sophisticated. But there is no mistaking that Emmylou is the star of the show here. I would listen to her sing the phone book, but this is even better.

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Nina Persson’s cool, almost innocent delivery, the bright melodies, the elegant arrangements, the polished pop shape. Underneath that, a lot of these songs are sour, passive-aggressive, wounded, or emotionally evasive. That contrast is the whole trick. The album sounds sweet without actually being naive.

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It’s telling that this album appealed to a younger self. But as an adult, the "edgelord" posturing is hard to look past and made this a real struggle. The album leans heavily into an "only joking (or am I?!)" defence to mask its more offensive instincts, obviously exaggerated for shock value. But this isn't the problem - it's the emotional void. The record constantly pivots between a whining, "poor me" narrative about a difficult childhood and the pressures of fame, while simultaneously offering zero empathy to anyone else. It's the emotional depth of an angsty teenager acting out. In hindsight, he seems to lack any self-awareness when he complains about parents worrying he’s a bad influence. Does he ever stop to ask why his material appeals so heavily to children in the first place? (Note: On a relisten, he does actually state that it's for middle schoolers multiple times. But whether he's joking or serious, it's still true.) It feels too "try-hard" and self-absorbed, and it honestly left me with second-hand embarrassment. I'm sure at the time it was outrageous and fun, but by today's standards, it sounds like stuff an incel would say for attention. It's all just too juvenile. The track "Stan" deserves a call-out for its innovative concept and exploration of parasocial relationships, but the nuance and insight there seem almost accidental compared to the rest of the record. That is the real shame. I think there are interesting ideas that could have been explored well if there were less cringey acting out and a bit more maturity. "Stan" proves he is capable of more, which makes the rest of the album feel even more disappointing and performative. Beyond that, while the production is solid and he possesses a distinct style which he's perfected, it’s telling that the standout track was one he wasn't really on. A lot of the featured artists offered a well needed break. In the end I'd rather just listen to Del Tha Funkee Homosapien and enjoy life. 2/5

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(2/5) Thanks. I don't get it, but it was fine as a cultural artifact. The album was an interesting listen. It wasn't aurally offensive, but it didn't ignite anything either. It all kinda felt the same from track to track, but that could be my lack of understanding and I'm not afraid to admit that. I wouldn't mind some more (not a *lot* more) of this in the list. World music is a blind spot for me and I actually expected more of it. Instead, it's endless amounts of electronic/Britpop bullshit. This is -- by my count -- the second truly "World" music album and is likely just a 'check box' (i.e. quota) addition. We're only a hundred or so albums in.. that's 2%.

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Boy, there's a struggle in my head on this one.. Clapton and Baker absolutely slay the guitar and drums, respectively, but damned if I can't stand Bruce as the singer. "Strange Brew" and "Sunshine.." of course are great, but all the other songs aren't great mainly because of Bruce. I'm taking a knee on this one out of respect with to Clapton and Baker and just give it the average treatment. (3/5)

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I can’t believe the top review for this record (as of Dec 2023) is from someone trying to use their PhD in Mathematics as justification for not liking hip-hop. Weak.

Oh fuck yeah, now we're talking. Wait no, I swear I'm not being pretentious. This is the lowest rated album on this site because I guess mostly people aren't very fond of German people smashing metal plates together - who would have guessed. But halle-fucking-lujah, this is something this list needs more of. Albums that make you go "well, that was an experience and now I'm a changed man". Nobody is lying on their deathbed wishing they heard more crappy 80s post-punk or late 60s psychedelic rock. THIS is what we all deserve to be listening to as we embrace eternal oblivion. I'm giving this a high rating not only because I genuinely really love it, but also to help Kid Rock move to his rightful place as the actual worst album on this list. Together we can make a difference. Save the turtles.

Brings back vivid memories of when me and my mate Ray went on a trip to Dresden. We met this rotund goth in a bar, head to toe with tattoos and piercings, real filth and after a while took her into the disabled bogs for a spit roast. We were both pumping away in her with Napalm Death on in the background and her wailing "MEIN GOTT" at the top of her lungs. I remember spaffing all over her back just as Siege of Power kicked in. As i shoot over her, she takes Ray's cock out of her gob and says "do you want fries with that?" in a faux American accent. Anyway, we go outside and there's this gammy little geezer in a wheelchair sitting there furious, giving me daggers, because he's had to wait so long, so I lean into him and I go "I hope you have as much fun in there as we just did you little cunt".

Back when I was in college, there was this dude who would come into the bar I worked at on a Friday night and play fucking 10 Neil Young songs in a row. He would also hit on girls by doing magic tricks. I remember how angry I got every time he made me listen to an hour of Neil Young because I was just trying to have a good time, and he fucking made me listen to this sad, soppy fuck who writes nothing but songs that sound indistinguishable from each other and never seemed to enjoy a happy moment in his entire like. Fuck that guy, and fuck Neil Young. 2/5

Back when I was in college I used to go to a bar and listen to Neil tunes and do magic tricks for women. There was a bartender there, he was the best. I loved that guy. Some of the best years of my life.

Shit like this on the list is both refreshing and infuriating. Refreshing because it is good, fun, interesting, and also not something I would regularly be exposed to! It's why I started this project and keeps me coming back. It's infuriating because the fact that it is included here means that Robert Dimery, the original author of the 1001 albums list is aware that music like this exists. He's clearly aware that there is an entire world of music out there. SO WHY HAVE I LISTENED TO 200 80s BRITISH NEW WAVE ALBUMS AND 200 SCOTTISH ROCK ALBUMS FROM THE 90S??!!?

I really don't get rap, and I am completely aware of why. I'm a STEM guy, specifically a Ph.D. student in mathematics. Although my verbal intelligence is quite high, it's still about a standard deviation below my quantitative intelligence. Therefore, it should not be too surprising that I prefer melodies to lyricism, and that a genre based on the latter doesn't wow me. I know I'm pretty far out of step with public opinion on this one, but that can easily be attributed to the fact that hipsters with humanities degrees (i.e. extremely verbal-dominant people) are considered the ultimate arbiters of taste for some reason. (Side note: this also explains why prog rock is seen as being for losers.) Best song: Be (Intro), which had a decent instrumental part at the beginning. Everything else just sort of ran together.

Rap isn't my preferred genre of music. But I'm a shitty mathematician so I enjoyed this.

Rage In Favor Of The Machine.

Music for incels to wank furiously by

Sorry Boomers/Gen X, I was like 20 when this came out so it's one of the best things to ever happen to me. Sorry it's not King Crimson or whatever.

i ain’t listening to all that i’m happy for u tho or sorry that happened

The only enjoyment I got from this was reading the review about the brothers in Dresden and their lovely and talented tattooed friend.

The beauty of music is that it is subjective. It’s typically great for a certain group of people, though it’s never right for everyone. Some for the masses, some more niche, but it all has its place. Meanwhile, with lists like this, there’s always artists or records that anyone would have put on in place of what actually made it. Personally, I would have included Queensryche’s Operation Mindcrime, Live’s Throwing Copper, Joe Satriani’s The Extremist, Sara Bareilles’ Little Voice, or John Mellencamp’s Scarecrow album on a list of must hear records. Others would put totally different albums on and that's awesome. What someone likes vs. dislikes is truly subjective. Again, that's the beauty. With that said, this album objectively sucks. I mean truly horrible. Something had to be the lowest rated album on the list, and this was a place well earned. There is nothing redeemable about this record. To quote my wife, “they should have stopped at 1,000.”

I am definitely not the target demographic for this album, but I still thought it was very good. There's a lot of skill and artistry put into these tracks, so much so that it is almost invisible. 4 stars for me, plus an extra star just to spite the mathematics PHD guy.