Hip hop isn't my thing at all but I listened to the whole album with an open mind and I liked a couple of songs. But on the whole not my thing and wasn't a fan of the talking.
I didn't think too much of this, in fact I can't even recollect it, despite playing it in full only an hour ago
Heard before âïž
Listened this time â ïž
Revisit âïž
â â â ââ(5/10)
Total reviewed : 426
Already owned : 95
Purchased : 21
To buy : 5
Nope : 305
What a ride. This was both absolutely horrible and also strangely fun and enticing. I felt like I got sucked into the madness of an insane carnival. Iâm truly baffled. This should absolutely be a 1 star out of merit, but iâm going to go with a 2/5.
it's good. didn't take listening notes. some serious songs, some sillier songs. weird choice following coat of many colors with traveling man.
i would put this more in 'collection of songs as album' category than in 'total unit as album' category. which, the songs were good so really i'm just splitting hairs.
EDIT I listened to this on Aug 24, 2026, and Dolly Parton died Aug 25, 2026. To pay my respects, I am changing my rating from a 4/5 to a 5/5. - 8/25/26
I think itâs not up to debate that Dolly is one of the best people to ever be alive. AND sheâs a great musician!
This album is just lovely. She is really good at story telling in song. Songs like the title-track, Traveling Man or She Never Met A Man are such great character pieces that paint detailed pictures of their subjects. All that performed by a sweet and string voice thatâs full of emotion.
Musically, itâs a bit monotonous for me but i guess thatâs also a question of genre preference. All in all, how can you not love Dolly?
The soundtrack that is playing in the robot factory whilst robots are making new robots (whilst humans starve and burn in wildfires outside the factory).
After their week-long shift (without breaks), the robots take their Royksopp CDs home and place them carefully upon their coffee tables next to Moby and the Buena Vista Social Club, dusting and polishing the plastic cases so that when their robot friends come for dinner, they can admire their impeccable taste in music.
A heartwarming view of the future - and possibly the only realistic scenario in which the world hasn't actually been destroyed by rogue AI by 2030.
I was recently watching an episode of Ted Lasso (s3e6 if you need receipts) that ended with the team leaving Amsterdam by bus, tired but in high spirits, all singing 'Three Little Birds'. Or, more accurately, the same two lines of 'Three Little Birds' over and over in terrible faux-Jamaican accents.
You can't pick your fans. Bob Marley had the ambition to take reggae -- a very specific and marginal musical genre -- and become one of the biggest artists in the world. I admire the chutzpah. Marley did great work in presenting reggae to American and European audiences in a way that highlighted the genre's strengths without diluting the music or message _too_ much.
Unfortunately, I just can't shake the feeling that Marley's music is often reduced to a feel-good caricature, as in that regrettable episode of Ted Lasso. Marley's friendly "peace, love, and ganja" aspects were readily adopted by Western audiences who conveniently ignored many of Bob's less comfortable political and cultural messages. I'm sure that Bob would find those audiences ridiculous, but he was happy to sell records to them.
Exodus a pretty schmick production -- a crack band in an expensive studio, using recording techniques common in rock -- and it sounds really great. This is the reggae album that even people who don't like reggae can happily listen to. I just find it hard to get past the cultural baggage that has accumulated around Bob Marley since his death. The weird hagiography seems out of kilter with the man and the artist. I need to do more investigation. But this is a fantastic sounding album.
3.5 stars, rounding up.
When i first listened to this album about 12 years ago (15 year old me decided to start seeking the good music, Nice Try Iggy Azalea!), my mind was blown and genuinely, this was one of my favorite first listens ever to this day.
The main critique is Billy's voice, or just his overbearing fingerprints on this album in general (Band was obviously a mess behind the scenes). And there's no doubt that later on it was just too much to overcome. But Their first 3 albums are 3 of the absolute best.
So as far as this one goes? All these years later, this still holds up for all the right reasons for me. Cherub Rock, Today, Disarm, Mayonnaise, Rocket, Soma are all still unskippables to this day. The depth beyond the big hits still really holds up as well, Geek USA being a prime example of that.
Most will say Mellon Collie was their best, some will even argue Gish. But to me, this was the best of the bunch. Siamese Dream has the best guitar work, the most polished and focused record, an absolute emotional roller coaster and in my opinion, the perfect pace for the average listener to appreciate.
No doubt in my mind, 5/5
(P.S, this is album 5/1089 for me, and ive gotten Thriller, 2 Beatles albums and this, does this mean im about to get some absolute bizarre records going forward? oh goodness)
(4/5) I've always had mixed feelings about 'glam'/'hair metal'. I was a child when it was at its peak and was a teenager in the 90s, so its inglorious exit was fine by me. If a guitar didn't have a distortion effect on it I wouldn't give it the time of day. My flannels all had holes in them. That's how '90s' I was.
Time has passed however and so much of that which I dismissed out of hand, like Bon Jovi, has all come back to haunt me. I got really, really tired (with a few exceptions) of pretentious, self-serious music. Some bands stuck with me but a lot was sloughed off like a skin rash. On the other side of that I re-discovered that this big, dumb music from the 80s was really.. *FUN*. I slowly realized not all of my music needed to be some deep, introspection into the mysteries of the human psyche and nature. I wasn't sad all the time, so why did my music have to be? It was OK to chant along with a power chord chorus. I am allowed to smile at a song and bang my head to a catchy tune. This album is a good encapsulation of some of those feelings. Teenage me would be really disappointed in middle-aged me, but I don't give a shit. I want to have fun now and I could do worse than put on this album.
Great rock music (and I am taking a broad definition of ârockâ here) is a balance between smart and dumb. And The Prodigy really understand how that works. Liam Howlett told SPIN that âI have a philosophy that our music works on a really dumb level, which is the level that most people understand.â Well, mission accomplished; he took the most exciting aspects of techno and rave, mashed it with rock guitars, hip hop beats, volume and distortion, and a brace of charismatic front men to create an exciting and powerful hybrid that really gets the blood pumping. Itâs aggressive, sure, but this record sounds bucking great and really gets me hyped up! Itâs got a great beat, and I can bug out to it! Banging tunes! Five stars! Letâs get munted and dance!
But I think Mr Howlett is being disingenuous when he claims his music operates purely on the âdumbâ level. He is a smart and sophisticated musician, and this album didnât come together by accident. There are deliberate ambition and craft here. And this is where is becomes necessary to discuss That Song. I donât even want to type the name out in full because it contains a misogynistic slur that I wonât use, in a violent context that is just inexcusable. The bandâs claims that âoh yeah, it doesnât mean that, it just means weâre really hyped up!â is absolute bullshit, and a prime example of Schrodingerâs Asshole (a person who says racist, sexist or out of pocket shit and acts like itâs a joke or not based off the peopleâs reaction).
I am not sure I would go as far as Jesse Dorrisâ retrospective review in Pitchfork that describes the whole album as the national anthem of the toxic masculinity backlash, but I am certainly giving her arguments a lot of serious consideration. (Letâs not forget that this came out on Madonnaâs Maverick label, yet more evidence that Madonna may be an icon of female agency, but not necessarily a feminist role model). Personally, I find most of their aggression cartoonish and relatively harmless â but I can certainly understand being upset and freaked out by That Song. To paraphrase Jessica Hopper in her massively insightful book 'The First Collection of Criticism by a Living Female Rock Critic'; how are we supposed to feel about the loooooong history of popular music that we think is awesome, but _hates_ women at the same time? That Song is another vivid but sadly commonplace example of a catchy song that misogynistically threatens and condones violence against women. What is that like for female music fans to live through? This makes me â a straight, white, male rock fan â pretty uncomfortable, so I can imagine it would be very unsettling for many women.
So, five stars for the banging tunes, 1 star for obnoxious misogyny that leaves a terrible taste in my mouth, averaging out at an uncomfortable 3 stars, subject to further review.
Getting a Dolly Parton album on the day of her passing is crazy. I honestly really enjoyed it and her voice is so soothing. I think this album is def at least 4 stars but personally I just donât see myself playing it that much. Despite that I think the vocals and instrumentation speaks for itself.
Fav Song: Rosewood Casket
Australians fuckin' love ABBA. ABBA, at their best, are much like Australians; big, dumb, mostly harmless and a lot of fun. It's a recipe for a damn good time.
But this more mature, sophisticated, moody, and refined ABBA is not what anyone really wants. Where's the fun? Where are the good times? The crazy outfits? The big catchy hooks and choruses? The ridiculous lyrics? Even the big single is somewhat melancholic. The _joy_ of ABBA is missing in action.
While clearly a band at the height of its powers in terms of its craft, nobody is enjoying the process, including the band and this Australian listener. The break-up of the band was inevitable.
2.5 stars, rounding down.
First thing I thought was, jee what a coincidence that this album was picked for me the day after she died. But it turned out that the randomizer was a bit less random today and every active user got this or another Dolly today.
And I really like this gesture. I never listened to her really but are aware of the big hits like Jolene etc. Also I am not a huge fan of traditional country music, but I like a lot country influenced music like what we label these days as Americana, roots or alt.country. But this album is really pretty. She is a great storyteller, if I am correct this is her first album full with her own compositions. I listened to it a few times and especially liked the title song, Travelin Man and Early morning breeze . 4/5
I am only a few weeks from finishing this project. The end is in sight, and it can't come fast enough. I found this album absolutely exhausting. It's like a cross between Daft Punk and the Chemical Brothers (both of whom I really dig), so I can't explain why I find this so wearying. It's shiny and loud and funky and a bit noisy and energetic, but I just want to put my fingers in my ears and gently beat my forehead against the tabletop. Please make it stop.
Now THIS is how your rebound from a bad record! Bringing the funk, the soul, and a marvelously extended version of Papa Was A Rolling Stone (over a third of its overall run time), this one was a breathe of fresh air that didn't overstay its welcome and left plenty of time for a repeat performance. I'm going out on a strong limb saying that the mentioned track alone earns this one three stars, but the remainder (while groovy and eminently listenable) doesn't quite garner it two more. Still manages a very respectable 4.5/5 that I'm hesitant to round up without a good deal of revisiting and an improved estimation of its other tracks.
(sigh) This is a very intimate and personal album, and I am sure that, if it connects with the listener on that personal level, it is profound and meaningful and delicately beautiful and emotionally resonant and blah blah blah. But this does not speak to me.
It's not bad -- it's smartly written, tastefully arranged and played -- but Mr Callahan's laconic, deadpan vocal stylings annoyed me more and more as the album progressed. I find his disaffected, enervated drawl emotionally alienating.
I can't help but imagine what it would be like if we just replaced all the vocal tracks with a good singer; Phoebe Bridgers is the name that immediately springs to mind because her material is not a million miles from this, but if we're playing fantasy-casting here, what about Emmylou Harris? Shit yeah, now we're talking! That could potentially be a 4-star album.
But that final song, 'Faith/Void' has no business being nearly 10 minutes long. That is just taking the piss.
Dimery is pushing up against his own 'no compilations' rule. He obviously and desperately wants to include 'Legend' on the list, but can't, so has included three of Bob Marley's strongest 70s albums to cover the spread. I would argue that one is sufficient ('Exodus' would be my pick), but this is an admittedly pretty strong album, and it has a few classic tracks, 'Concrete Jungle' and 'Stir It up' immediately spring to mind. The inclusion of two Peter Tosh songs helps add some variety to the album and reduce the filler quotient ('Kinky Reggae' is the most egregious filler track). And the band is certainly _tight_. The groove is always in the pocket, and the band sounds great. Even Chris Blackwell's overdubbing interventions don't ruin the core performances.
This album gets a lot of props for being 'politically aware'. I will concede that it is relatively socially conscious by mainstream pop standards, but Ms Jackson's "violence, drugs and bigotry are bad, education and getting along are good" is hardly a controversial or nuanced platform. And, when married to the fascism-lite imagery of the title track (check out the video!), it becomes a bit... confusing. Maybe "fascism-lite" is a bit harsh; maybe this is more "sparkling authoritarianism". There is a youthful optimism here that borders on naivety and strays into unsettling conclusions if you really think it through ("we can be our own nation and we will all agree and the world will be a better place if we all listen to Janet! We are all individuals!"). But you can't deny that Janet -- young and naive as she was -- was speaking with her own voice and presenting a powerful and multi-dimensional image; strong, sexy, smart, informed, aware, sensitive. Janet had found her own voice on the 'Control' album (which probably also deserves a spot on this list) and follows the approach through to an ultimate conclusion here. And you can dance to it.
Jam & Lewis' mechanical funk is very of its time but still sounds awesome. I could live without the interludes (which come across as a bit pretentious and preachy) but they are mercifully brief, and the songs proper are nearly all bangers. Seven top five singles! I do get pissed off when people describe any pop music with a hard edge and strict beats as 'industrial' -- it's really not, people -- but this is an uncompromising sound. There are plenty of references to the history of funk here - notably the Sly sample in the title track or Lyn Collins sampled on Alright - but this is reconstituted into a new and powerful form.
This album really established Janet Jackson as an iconic artist. But, as Michael also discovered, it can be difficult to follow up this kind of iconographic success (let's not speak of the 32 foot tall HIStory statues he floated down the Thames). Janet's 90s albums are, I would argue, a return to more human-scale concerns (and better for it, even if less singular than this album) But this is a manifesto for a world view, for Janet as an iconic artist. for socially aware pop. And you can dance to it.
Dolly Partonâs Coat of Many Colors has such a warm, nostalgic feeling that it feels less like simply listening to an album and more like stepping into a collection of memories. I really loved how heartfelt and comforting the songs felt, with stories about family, childhood, love, hardship, and finding beauty in simple things.
This was actually my first time listening to a full Dolly Parton album, and I honestly regret discovering her music so late. Thereâs something incredibly genuine about her voice and storytelling that makes even the simplest songs feel deeply personal. The album has a wonderful balance of tenderness, humor, sadness, and hope, and you can really feel the importance of her Appalachian roots and upbringing throughout it.
The title track, âCoat of Many Colors,â especially stood out to me. Its story is simple but incredibly moving, turning something born out of poverty into a symbol of love, pride, and family. That ability to find warmth and meaning in ordinary experiences is probably what I appreciated most about the album.
Iâm really glad I finally gave Dolly Parton a chance. Coat of Many Colors feels timeless, sincere, and deeply humanâand now Iâm definitely curious to explore more of her music.
I am going to take a minute to talk about Dolly Parton. I am assuming I got this album today due to the news that shocked the world yesterday, that Dolly Parton passed away at 80. There are so many things about Dolly that make her a legend and icon, a warrior and champion of charity. She tried her darndest to do good in the world, and it showed. This album was pretty good. Easy listening, nice harmonies between the three icons. Nice to get a county album instead of the usual british punk album.
Oh, 1001 Albums Generator Dot Com. While the passing of a legend is certainly a good time to listen to their music, it is perhaps the worst time to actually review it. How can you expect me to dry my eyes, put on my scholarly glasses, and look at this through a critical lens? Does anyone dare have a stony enough heart to rate this four stars or less?
Lucky for me, then, that it's undeniably great. Material that could have been saccharine or morose in someone else's hands is given a heartfelt, joyous presentation. Dolly sings everything earnestly and with her whole (renowned) chest.
I'm not one for lyrics 99% of the time, but Dolly's here are beautiful and uncomplicated, not needing a Genius translation. "Coat of Many Colors" and "A Better Place to Live" are the world in the exemplary way that Dolly saw it. "Early Morning Breeze" is the joy of being alive (and accompanied by a very slinky bassline). "Traveling Man" is a cautionary tale with a hilarious twist ending. "My Blue Tears" is a lovely bit of poetry. "The Mystery of the Mystery" is about Dolly's faith and her willingness to accept that which she can't understand. "Here I Am" is my favorite song on here, an ode to self-fulfillment sung with fervor of a gospel preacher. If the rest of album has more well-worn material of the cheating heart variety, the delivery is still as good as it gets and the accompanying music and production serve their roles nicely.
Whether you're listening with a critical ear or not, it's a great album from a great lady. So long, Dolly. See you on the other side.
Surprised to see this on here. I say this as someone who bought this as soon as it came out and probably listened to it 1500 times. But Nonsuch is the late period XTC album that should be on this list. Go listen to that. A lot. That record deserves A LOT more attention. The world would be a better place if everyone spent more time with it. Go. Now!
The musical craftsmanship here is stunning. Truly. Rewards a close listen. Listening to it again today on headphones, my mouth is agape. And Colin Moulding's musicianship particularly should be claimed by UNESCO as a world cultural heritage site.
But the content here was not worth breaking up the band to bring it to life, as was the case here, with much budget induced stress. Fuck capitalism and the horrible forces of reality! But real they are, and if your art requires a big budget, you are making a choice to prioritize that and I'm not sure I agree with the decision here. This gets four stars from me because it is in the top 40% of albums, but it isn't in the top 60% of XTC.
My friends and I used to jokingly, and lovingly, spread a rumor that Dave Gregory is living above a laundromat in our hometown. I will still get the occasional text. "I think I just saw Dave G at the Big Y deli counter." I pray those messages outlive me, and I pray XTC's music outlives its makers.
I canât 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".
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.
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.
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
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??!!?
The beauty of music is that it is subjective. Itâs typically great for a certain group of people, though itâs never right for everyone. Some for the masses, some more niche, but it all has its place.
Meanwhile, with lists like this, thereâs always artists or records that anyone would have put on in place of what actually made it. Personally, I would have included Queensrycheâs Operation Mindcrime, Liveâs Throwing Copper, Joe Satrianiâs The Extremist, Sara Bareillesâ Little Voice, or John Mellencampâs 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, âthey should have stopped at 1,000.â
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.