The 1001 Albums Project

Traffic - John Barleycorn Must Die

2012-02-10T13:48:00.000-08:00

Traffic - John Barleycorn Must Die (1970)
Hmm... Jazz-rock. I like the drumming. It has a real hip-hop beat to it. I could see ?uestlove playing a lot of these beats. I was underwhelmed overall, though. I mean, jazz fusion has its place, but not with me.
Three out of Five

Leonard Cohen - I'm Your Man

2012-02-09T13:39:00.000-08:00

Leonard Cohen - I'm Your Man (1988)
This album kicked off with late-80's electronic synth sounds and I immediately groaned. But once the songs started kicking, his voice became the center of the album, which is when I started ignoring that 80's over-the-top sound. This album is almost perfect, and then Jazz Police begins. Jazz Police is embarrassingly dated and pretty painful. The album barely picks back up just to end with Tower of Song. Other than Jazz Police, I would love to hear stripped down versions of every song on this album.
Four out of Five

Kate Bush - Hounds of Love

2012-02-08T09:48:00.001-08:00

Kate Bush - Hounds of Love (1985)
Oh man. I can hear the influence of this in just about every art-pop female singer that I've heard, well, since Kate Bush put this out. This is really fantastic, influential pop-art /art-pop music. I can listen to this 100 more times! Its really uncommonly awesome.
Five out of Five

Iggy Pop - The Idiot

2012-02-07T13:09:00.000-08:00

Iggy Pop - The Idiot (1977)
This album is about as similar to Iggy's work with the Stooges as Early Beatles is to the White Album. This is more Velvet Underground with a dash of Bowie (who produced the album, of course) than Raw Power. Its great stuff. I'm really coming to dig 70's post-punk.
Four out of Five

Guns N' Roses - Appetite For Destruction

2012-02-06T14:35:00.000-08:00

Guns N' Roses - Appetite For Destruction (1987)
I mean, its no wonder why these guys have been an early-teen male staple for 20+ years. This album has shredding guitar riffs aplenty and strong melodies. Perfect for a loud drive down the interstate. The lyrics left a lot to be desired, but for 80's mainstream rock, its pretty good.
Three and a Half out of Five

The Go-Gos - Beauty And The Beat

2012-02-04T14:11:00.001-08:00

The Go-Gos - Beauty And The Beat (1981)
The Go-Go's is a band that we've all heard. Who hasn't heard to We've Got The Beat a million times on 80's radio? The thing is, this album is genuinely great pop. Its a girl-pop gem.
Four out of Five

Fun Lovin' Criminals - Come Find Yourself

2012-02-02T10:18:00.000-08:00

Fun Lovin' Criminals - Come Find Yourself (1996)
This sounds like early Beck and the Beastie Boys had an ugly baby. Its filled with the sort of forced bad-assery that Kid Rock eschews. Skip it. I wanted to.
One and a Half out of Five

Foo Fighters - Foo Fighters

2012-02-01T18:04:00.000-08:00

Foo Fighters - Foo Fighters (1995)
I did not know that Dave Grohl pretty much recorded this entire album by himself. In that regard, this is amazingly good. As an album, I must admit, it sounds a lot like the sound of 90's rock, but it stands out as a good example of that tired sound.
Four out of Five

Steely Dan - Pretzel Logic

2012-01-31T14:36:00.000-08:00

Steely Dan - Pretzel Logic (1974)
As less jazzy troubadors Steely Dan works best. I can actually listen to most of this album more than once.
Three and a Half out of Five

Steely Dan - Aja

2012-01-30T10:18:00.001-08:00

Steely Dan - Aja (1977)
I realize Steely Dan is supposed to be important to jazz rock, but this just sounds like elevator music to me.
Two out of Five

Television - Marquee Moon

2012-01-26T13:48:00.001-08:00

Television - Marquee Moon (1977)
Yeah, so this is definitely my favorite post-punk album that I've ever listened to.
Five out of Five

Randy Newman - Good Old Boys

2012-01-25T08:28:00.000-08:00

Randy Newman - Good Old Boys (1974)
Okay, so you and I both know that Randy Newman is a great songwriter, yeah? Well, if you are expecting what I was expecting going into this album, you will be satisfied.
Four out of Five

New York Dolls - New York Dolls

2012-01-24T10:18:00.000-08:00

New York Dolls - New York Dolls (1973)
Man, these Dolls know how to rock. This is sublime 70's rock.
Four and a Half out of Five

Stevie Wonder - Talking Book

2012-01-23T09:06:00.000-08:00

Stevie Wonder - Talking Book (1972)
I think this is really close to a perfect funk/soul album. I dug it from a musical and a lyrical level. Great stuff.
Five out of Five

Soul II Soul - Club Classics Vol 1

2012-01-20T08:24:00.000-08:00

Soul II Soul - Club Classics Vol 1 (1989)
Sigh... another album done in by dated production styles. This doesn't really scream club music anymore, so maybe if you boogied to this in 89, it will hold dear to you, but for someone more used to current club electronica, this album feels antiquated.
Two out of Five

Sheryl Crow - Tuesday Night Music Club

2012-01-19T08:20:00.000-08:00

Sheryl Crow - Tuesday Night Music Club (1993)
Sheryl Crow sounds like a child to me. A child with a bit of gravel in her voice. I think her songs are pretty good for a Top 40 sort of country pop album. Can't Cry Anymore is quite nice. However, for some reason, her big hit, All I Wanna Do feels weaker than the rest.
Three out of Five

Sade - Diamond Life

2012-01-19T08:17:00.000-08:00

Sade - Diamond Life (1985)
I can see now why Sade is so well respected. Her voice is smooth and crisp and soft and memorable. However, this album is a product of its time. Yet again, mid-80's production makes this album lose overall quality, making it hard to listen to and dated.
Three out of Five

The Youngbloods - Elephant Mountain

2012-01-19T08:13:00.000-08:00

The Youngbloods - Elephant Mountain (1969)
Whereas I expected this to be a folk rock pop album (as it started out that way) it became more of a jazz rock thing. Its great! The lead singer Jesse Colin Young has a wonderful voice. I very much enjoyed this album (that I admittedly had never heard of).
Four out of Five

The Young Gods - L'Eau Rouge

2012-01-14T17:54:00.000-08:00

The Young Gods - L'Eau Rouge (1989)
At first I was like "what the hell am I listening to?" Then I was like "I still don't know what I'm listening to." Then I said, "Symphonic french pop songs and metal on one album? I LOVE IT."'
Five out of Five

XTC - Skylarking

2012-01-14T17:52:00.000-08:00

XTC - Skylarking (1986)
XTC attempted to work within the symphonic style pop of the Beatles, and it generally works. I mean, this is a good pop album, but due to 80's production, some tracks suffer.
Three and a Half out of Five

X - Wild Gift

2012-01-14T17:50:00.001-08:00

X - Wild Gift (1981)
This is easily one of my favorite punk rock albums I've ever heard. Just... Just listen to it.
Four and a Half out of Five

William Orbit - Strange Cargo III

2012-01-14T17:48:00.001-08:00

William Orbit - Strange Cargo III (1993)
Great electronic background music (and I mean that in the best way possible)
Three and a Half out of Five

Waylon Jennings - Honky Tonk Heroes

2012-01-08T14:10:00.000-08:00

Waylon Jennings - Honky Tonk Heroes (1973)
I don't really like Waylon's voice. It's probably my thing though. I am used to country (the folkier side) where the voice usually carries some form of frailty or sorrow. Jennings' voice is big, but doesn't work for me.
Two and a Half out of Five

The Verve - A Northern Soul

2012-01-07T16:02:00.000-08:00

The Verve - A Northern Soul (1995)
I listened to this a few days ago, and I don't remember anything about it except for some distorted guitars.
Two and a Half out of Five

Green Day - Dookie

2012-01-02T05:43:00.001-08:00

Green Day - Dookie (1994)
Green Day is a band that I never gave a chance to. I guess I always mistook them for Blink 182. Whereas Green Day's immaturity springs forth a sincerity of confusion about the world, Blink 182 is more like immature bro-humor. So yeah, this was my first time listening to a whole Green Day album. Color me impressed. I knew a whole bunch of these songs already, which surprised me. Overall, I think it is an impressive pop-punk album, which I could see the Gen-X crowd eating up. Good stuff. Great stuff actually.
Four and a Half out of Five

Fairport Convention - Unhalfbricking

2011-12-30T06:08:00.000-08:00

Fairport Convention - Unhalfbricking (1969)
I didn't particularly like Fairport's "classic" Leige And Leif, but I can dig this a bit more. This folk album has some gems, like the French Dylan cover. There seems to be a sense of humor here. Still, while I was listening, somewhere in their 11 minute "Sailor's Life," I forgot that I was listening to music. Not a good thing. Million Dollar Bash snapped me back into it with its rambling brashness, but still...
Three and a Half out of Five

Cocteau Twins - Treasure

2011-12-30T06:02:00.000-08:00

Cocteau Twins - Treasure (1984)
I get it now. I can see why the Cocteau Twins have staying power. Their signature etheriality stands up. This sounds gorgeous even today. Granted, it sounds like it would be ideal in playing in a New Age store, but its still a beautiful listen. It will take you places.
Four out of Five

Dexy's Midnight Runners - Searching For The Young Soul Rebels

2011-12-30T05:50:00.000-08:00

Dexy's Midnight Runners - Searching For The Young Soul Rebels (1980)
Most of the Dexy sound (on the latter 2/3 of their output) is on the poppier, more upbeat side of the musical spectrum, but this is their debut album, so it is, as you might imagine more raw. More "edge" as it were. Its great, just like their other two releases. This band will be remembered for one song, but they put out a lot of great material.
Four out of Five

David Holmes - Let's Get Killed

2011-12-26T06:56:00.000-08:00

David Holmes - Let's Get Killed (1997)
This album is pretty standard 90's electronica. There are elements of Trip Hop, elements of the various other popular techno styles. Should it have worked for me? Yeah. Did it? Nope.
Two and a Half out of Five

The Eagles - Eagles

2011-12-26T06:50:00.000-08:00

The Eagles - Eagles (1972)
Remember when Country Rock was the big thing? Me neither. I wasn't alive in the 70's. However, those who were and followed music, probably heard this album at least once, and for good reason. The songwriting is clever, the tunes are memorable, and it is perfect long-distance driving music.
Four out of Five

Dexy's Midnight Runners - Don't Stand Me Down

2011-12-25T05:24:00.000-08:00

Dexy's Midnight Runners - Don't Stand Me Down (1985)
What I was expecting was another Come On Eileen, but what I heard was a procession of pop gems. This album is so well-defined and moving, I know that I will come back to this again and again.
Five out of Five

808 State - Ninety

2011-12-23T17:00:00.000-08:00

808 State - Ninety (1989)
Um, what? A band that proudly claims to be nothing but one of my least favorite electronic instruments that is actually a pretty good dance album that surprisingly holds up fairly well.
Four out of Five

Scritti Politti - Cupid & Psyche 85

2011-12-21T11:53:00.000-08:00

Scritti Politti - Cupid & Psyche 85 (1985)
I almost picked this up at Goodwill on vinyl for two quarters. I am glad I didn't. Its like all of Michael Jackson songs that you don't know compiled onto one disc, with the 80's production cranked to 11. I couldn't listen to it.
One out of Five

Talk Talk - The Colour of Spring

2011-12-21T11:52:00.000-08:00

Talk Talk - The Colour of Spring (1986)
Theres a lot going on here, and a lot of it reminds me a LOT of Peter Gabriel.
Three out of Five

The Damned - Machine Gun Etiquette

2011-12-21T11:46:00.000-08:00

The Damned - Machine Gun Etiquette (1979)
I don't know what makes punk rock palatable to me. There isn't really any sort of indicator as to whether it will work for me or not, but it does here. Maybe it is because this is on the rock side of the punk rock spectrum. Either way, good stuff.
Three and a Half out of Five

Sebadoh - Bubble And Scrape

2011-12-12T20:43:00.000-08:00

Sebadoh - Bubble And Scrape (1993)
I listened to this album three times today because my iPod was acting up. I liked it more each time. It really grows on you. The vocals are passionately impassionate and the lyrics are interesting. A great indie album indeed.
Four out of Five

The Verve - Urban Hymns

2011-12-12T20:41:00.000-08:00

The Verve - Urban Hymns (1997)
This is the 90's BritPop thing at its 90's-est and BritPoppiest. If you are down with that, this is a great album. Who doesn't like Bittersweet Symphony? If that isn't for you, steer far, far clear.
Four out of Five

Chicago - Chicago Transit Authority

2011-12-11T05:53:00.000-08:00

Chicago - Chicago Transit Authority (1969)
What I was expecting was a lot of Saturday In The Park and not jazz pop rock explorations, which is what I got. It surprised me. I need a few more listens to unpack it, but its a good start, thats for sure
Three and a Half out of Five

The Crusaders - Street Life

2011-12-07T08:39:00.000-08:00

The Crusaders - Street Life (1979)
My issue with this sort of jazz funk is that it doesn't sound relevant at all because in the days since this was popular, it has been reconstituted as elevator music. This really doesn't sound like Street Music anymore, but rather Weather Channel Music.
Two out of Five

Joan Armatrading - Joan Armatrading

2011-12-06T09:34:00.000-08:00

Joan Armatrading - Joan Armatrading (1976)
Singer. Songwriter. Soul. This is a well-written album from a woman with a unique voice. I dug it as walking around music, but I doubt that it is for everyone.
Three and a Half out of Five

Heaven 17 - Penthouse and Pavement

2011-12-05T14:26:00.000-08:00

Heaven 17 - Penthouse and Pavement (1981)
For an electronic album from 1981, this does not sound nearly as dated as you might think it would. It reminds me a lot of a very left-wing LCD Soundsystem. The songs are not truly my cup of tea, but they would easily have torn up the floor in 81. Very forward thinking second half too, very experimental but with strong pop melodies.
Three and a Half out of Five

Holger Czukay - Movies

2011-12-04T08:08:00.000-08:00

Holger Czukay - Movies (1979)
Czukay was the producer and bassist for Can, and when he went solo, he did more art rock, expectedly. This album has the feel of channel-changing, which is, I think, what he was going for. It is art rock with a pop sensibility, which could reflect on the media he is imitating. I wouldn't mind if this album was playing at any time, but I don't know that I would get it out of my collection very often just to listen to it. That said, Persian Love is the standout track here. Give it a listen.
Three and a Half out of Five

Hawkwind - Space Ritual

2011-12-03T10:14:00.000-08:00

Hawkwind - Space Ritual (1973)
Space rock? This is Prog Rock done right. Its all of the exploration and musical experimentation with none of the annoying electric organ sound. It is hard to believe that this is recorded live. What I wouldn't give to have seen this in the 70's.
Four out of Five

Happy Mondays - Bummed

2011-12-02T21:57:00.000-08:00

Happy Mondays - Bummed (1988)
This album is interesting lyrically in a very earthy way, the way I assume Manchester is (from all of the cultural references I've encountered), seeing as how thats where they were from. Especially the bookending tracks, Country Song and the Beatlesy Lazy Itis, this album is genre-bending musically. However, a majority of songs overutiilize this sort of cold guitar sound that was popular in the late eighties (think The Smiths) that I like in very, very few cases (think The Smiths) and it really brings it down for me.
Three and a Half out of Five

Goldie - Timeless

2011-12-02T21:51:00.000-08:00

Goldie - Timeless (1995)
Goldie reminds me very much of Trip-Hop most of the time, but its apparently considered Jungle, or Drum And Bass, which apparently I'm not all that familiar with. It is interesting too that it is called Timeless, because it both is and isn't. It doesn't sound dated in the way that a lot of electronic does, but it certainly represents a sort of era of electronic music that isn't in vogue anymore. I liked this album, but only as sort of background music for like a late night drive. It has that running groove to it.
(Extra Credit if anyone can find the Flight of The Conchords link in the lyrics!)
Four out of Five

Grateful Dead - Live/Dead

2011-11-29T10:02:00.000-08:00

Grateful Dead - Live/Dead (1969)
Rock improvisations that go on way too long for my taste. This is the Grateful Dead that I was familiar with. Where is the bluegrass?
Three out of Five

Ian Dury - New Boots And Panties!!

2011-11-28T06:23:00.000-08:00

Ian Dury - New Boots And Panties!! (1977)
I can see where Ian Dury fell into the punk aesthetic, even if most of this album doesn't sound like what you would normally think of as punk. His music is extremely reminiscent of modern dance music group LCD Soundsystem, in that it uses a popular form of music but lyrically flips it on its head. Good stuff, this.
Four out of Five

Dolly Parton, Linda Ronstadt, Emmylou Harris - Trio

2011-11-28T04:59:00.000-08:00

Dolly Parton, Linda Ronstadt, Emmylou Harris - Trio (1987)
Whoever thought to get these three in a room to put out a country album should be commended. I'm not the biggest country music guy, but this album is killer from start to finish. These three women's voices blend beautifully (although I can always hear Dolly's voice distinctly) and the songs, especially "Telling Me Lies" are heartfelt and genuine.
Four out of Five

Dwight Yoakam - Buenas Noches from a Lonely Room

2011-11-26T13:02:00.000-08:00

Dwight Yoakam - Buenas Noches from a Lonely Room (1988)
Wow, lot of jealousy and cheatin' going on on this country album. Thematically, its right up there with the classics of country music, but this album steers more towards the modern country twang and less the classic country honesty (of Prine and Cash and Williams). Its not bad if thats what you are into, but for me, I'll stick with those three.
Three out of Five

Def Leppard - Hysteria

2011-11-26T12:59:00.000-08:00

Def Leppard - Hysteria (1987)
This album is divided. Half sounds like hair metal Tears for Fears and the other sounds like Aerosmith wannabes. This album, as you might have already guessed, doesn't appeal to me in either way.
Two and a Half out of Five

Creedence Clearwater Revival - Cosmo's Factory

2011-11-22T10:53:00.000-08:00

Creedence Clearwater Revival - Cosmo's Factory (1970)
Alright. Here it is. Creedence put out a fully cohesive album that works as a whole better than the other two I've recently heard, but also each song is a fantastic single too. Quintessential CCR.
Four and a Half out of Five

Creedence Clearwater Revival - Bayou Country

2011-11-21T14:17:00.000-08:00

Creedence Clearwater Revival - Bayou Country (1969)
As I said before, CCR is a great band, and their hits are sublime. The rest is enjoyable listening too but I still prefer the Greatest Hits to this.
Four out of Five

Fishbone - Truth And Soul

2011-11-21T08:29:00.001-08:00

Fishbone - Truth And Soul (1988)
Man, this was a hard listen. Fishbone blends soul with a number of other genres, like ska, funk and metal. (Soul fusion?) The problem is, this was produced in 1988, with late-80's production values, so there is a lot of cheesy synth sounds and it just feels like bad 80's music. They aren't untalented. The singer is actually quite great, and you can hear where they would have benefitted from a more refined sound on the album closer "Change," but as it stands, I can't really see myself ever listening to Fishbone again.
Two out of Five

Creedence Clearwater Revival - Green River

2011-11-21T08:11:00.000-08:00

Creedence Clearwater Revival - Green River (1969)
CCR is a band that I very much love. Their brash style of southern rock is surprisingly controlled and refined, so that their songs are just the right blend of energy and brevity. That said, I've never actually listened to an album besides their Greatest Hits before this. I think I'd rather stick with the hits, as theirs are truly fantastic, and the majority of the rest of the songs are good but not great, if you know what I mean. I mean, you could do much worse. But it is a good album at the same time, just non-essential.
Three and a Half out of Five

Jamiroquai - Emergency On Planet Earth

2011-11-20T11:09:00.000-08:00

Jamiroquai - Emergency On Planet Earth (1993)
Okay, its not bad funk/R&B heavy dance music, but my issue with it is that they pull out EVERY cliche funk/R&B sound on every song. I mean, if you want to hear heavy funk bass and woodwinds everywhere, be my guest, but I like a little subtlety with my soul, I guess.
Three out of Five

The Flying Burrito Brothers - The Gilded Palace of Sin

2011-11-20T06:00:00.001-08:00

The Flying Burrito Brothers - The Gilded Palace of Sin (1969)
YES YES YES. This is what "country rock" should sound like. Its got heavy roots in both country and rock, but also folk and gospel. Modern bands like the Decemberists and Blitzen Trapper owe a lot to the Burritos. This is a fantastic album. I can't complain about a single song.
Five out of Five

Dinosaur Jr. - Bug

2011-11-18T06:01:00.000-08:00

Dinosaur Jr. - Bug (1988)
For the most part, this album stays in the sweet zone of letting its harder rock influences balance out with more traditional pop/rock melodies and tunes. Thats when this album works extremely well. The last track though, for example, is a heavy metal freak out in the way that I don't dig. For the most part though, its an interesting and really great "alternative rock" album from when that term actually meant something.
Four out of Five

The Flaming Lips - The Soft Bulletin

2011-11-16T08:15:00.000-08:00

The Flaming Lips - The Soft Bulletin (1999)
The Soft Bulletin marks for me the beginning of the period of the Flaming Lips' career that is just perfection. This, and the following two albums, are just freak pop gems, every one of them. This is actually my favorite Lips album. I can't listen to just a part of it, it has to be the entire thing, start to finish. Truly fantastic.
Five out of Five

Dagmar Krause - Tank Battles

2011-11-14T19:17:00.000-08:00

Dagmar Krause - Tank Battles (1988)
Just when I thought I had a feel for what kinds of music would be in this book, I hear an avant-garde jazz cabaret album in German and English. Honestly, this is so far out of my range of music that I don't ever know how to grade it.
Ungradeable out of FIve

Buzzcocks - Another Music In a Different Kitchen

2011-11-14T06:02:00.000-08:00

Buzzcocks - Another Music In a Different Kitchen (1978)
The Buzzcocks were the poppy side of punk, but I don't mind, because they toned down slightly the abrasiveness and put out something I can listen to repeatedly. Most punk I feel doesn't really apply to my life anymore, but this I can incorporate fairly easily.
Four out of Five

De La Soul - 3 Feet High And Rising

2011-11-07T20:52:00.000-08:00

De La Soul - 3 Feet High And Rising (1989)
I, like most people raised in the iPod age, was made aware of De La Soul from their crazy/perfect Gorillaz cameo in Feel Good Inc. I can see why it was a big deal back in the early days of hip-hop's popularizing. I mean, this is hip-hop fun at its best.
Four and a Half out of Five

UB40 - Signing Off

2011-11-06T21:12:00.000-08:00

UB40 - Signing Off (1980)
When done well, reggae is unlike anything else in its groove and funkiness. When done not as well, it sounds like elevator music. Like here. Its not bad, its just not the sort of grooves I associate with enjoyable listening.
Three out of Five

Mercury Rev - Deserter's Songs

2011-11-06T13:04:00.000-08:00

Mercury Rev - Deserter's Songs (1998)
Wow. Wow. Wow. This album is like what The Flaming Lips would sound like if they existed in the 1960's. Fantastic. Fantastic. Fantastic.
Five out of Five

The Cult - Electric

2011-11-01T21:22:00.000-07:00

The Cult - Electric (1987)
Listen to the first song. You will know whether you will want to listen to the rest. If you like shredding guitar riffs, you probably will. Otherwise, you will probably find the album repetitive like I did.
Two out of Five

Garbage - Garbage

2011-10-28T21:10:00.000-07:00

Garbage - Garbage (1995)
Garbage was a band that I thought I knew what they sounded like. Turns out I thought they would sound like No Doubt. Instead they sound like a bit of a more marketable Nine Inch Nails, but with a female singer. Its good stuff indeed.
Four Out of Five

Everything But The Girl - Idlewild

2011-10-27T12:54:00.000-07:00

Everything But The Girl - Idlewild (1988)
Worse than elevator music, this is like Weather Channel music.
Two out of Five

The Cramps - Songs The Lord Taught Us

2011-10-24T12:51:00.000-07:00

The Cramps - Songs The Lord Taught Us (1980)
This album is like hearing a punk rockabilly take on 1950's B-Movies. So naturally I both liked it and didn't like it. I think that where I am in my life, I can't really relate to the aggression in punk music anymore. If I heard this when i was 15 I would have loved it, but not so much anymore.
Three out of Five

Weather Report - Heavy Weather

2011-10-20T10:05:00.000-07:00

Weather Report - Heavy Weather (1977)
Smoooooooth Jazz. (And fusion jazz). Nope. Not for me. Its exactly what you think it will be.
Two out of Five

Dion - Born To Be With You

2011-10-18T05:56:00.000-07:00

Dion - Born To Be With You (1975)
Wait... Phil Spector produced this? Generally I dig Spector's production, as he adds a great sound to what he works on. I would never have heard his influence on this album, but his name is attached to it. I can see why Dion may have received critical acclaim, but after over 30 years, it just sounds like another "classic" sounding 70's album. It is okay, but I would rather listen to the umpteen other pop singers that sound like him.
Three out of Five

Dusty Springfield - Dusty In Memphis

2011-10-18T05:52:00.000-07:00

Dusty Springfield - Dusty In Memphis (1969)
I like Dusty Springfield. I like old diva albums like similar to this one. However, I didn't enjoy this particular album as much as I would have wanted to. I feel like a majority of the songs come from places that I have heard a million times in other songs. The Windmills of Your Mind was an interesting song, and we all know Son of a Preacher Man, but otherwise, take it or leave it.
Three out of Five

The Waterboys - Fisherman's Blues

2011-10-12T07:27:00.000-07:00

The Waterboys - Fisherman's Blues (1988)
Irish folk music. Hell yeah! This is on one end of the spectrum where R.E.M. is on the other side and The Decemberists are in the middle. Great stuff.
Four out of Five

The Go-Betweens - 16 Lovers Lane

2011-10-09T11:47:00.001-07:00

The Go-Betweens - 16 Lovers Lane (1988)
Interesting. Fun yet melancholic late-80's alt-rock. If Starbucks were a major chain in 1988, you would have seen this CD sitting in front of the cash register.
Three and a Half out of Five

The Gun Club - Fire of Love

2011-10-04T05:21:00.000-07:00

The Gun Club - Fire of Love (1981)
Interesting. Southern Rock/Blues through a punk lens that doesn't sound like The Drive-By Truckers. You can tell that The White Stripes were influenced by this album (I read a quote of Jack White's that confirms it). This is a great Rock & Roll album. One of the better ones from the 80's that I've heard.
Four out of Five

War - The World Is A Ghetto

2011-10-01T06:14:00.000-07:00

War - The World Is A Ghetto (1972)
I was excited to listen to War. I love R&B from the 70's. This album didn't disappoint. It is an interesting mix of R&B and jazz with Latin influences. Its almost like Progressive R&B in its interesting explorations. This is a really good album.
Four out of Five

Elvis Costello - My Aim Is True

2011-09-30T14:06:00.000-07:00

Elvis Costello - My Aim Is True (1977)
It always bothers me when I hear a legendary songwriter for the first time and it doesn't really grab me in a significant way. (Tom Petty and Bruce Springsteen, I'm looking at you.) This album fell into that category. Overall, My Aim Is True features high quality songwriting, and some definitely catchy riffs, but overall it just didn't offer something that I feel that I've never heard before. Maybe I've heard imitators, and it is better to go back to the "source," but there is just so much music out there, that if something doesn't just go for the jugular, I usually don't re-listen.
Costello fans, be glad that I have five more of his albums to listen to in this book, so who knows what I will think, eventually.
Three out of Five

Cornershop - When I Was Born for the 7th Time

2011-09-30T13:24:00.001-07:00

Cornershop - When I Was Born for the 7th Time
Wowza! Two albums from 1997, back to back, that are truly fantastic. This is such a cool album. Its like Raga meets pop in a way that everyone from the 60's wanted to achieve but couldn't. Cornershop succeeds in that it incorporates Indian sounds into British pop without using it in a way that makes it sound "exotic." Here, it sounds like a natural pairing, like the guitar and keyboard. There is just a touch too much 90's-ness. Listen to the hit "Brimful of Asha" and you will see what I mean.
Four and a Half out of Five

Blur - Blur

2011-09-30T13:19:00.000-07:00

Blur - Blur (1997)
Damon Albarn is an eccentric guy. After this, he wrote a couple of operas, one in an Asian style, created a hip-hop super group, and has done a good deal of producing music from Mali and the Congo. You can see his eccentricity here. Yes, it is poppy and rocky in the way you would assume a radio-friendly album would be, but there is a lot of experimentation of style throughout this album. I loved it through and through and will continue to enjoy it as much as I love his Gorillaz body of work, I'm sure.
Five out of Five

Tears For Fears - Songs From The Big Chair

2011-09-15T09:02:00.000-07:00

Tears For Fears - Songs From The Big Chair (1985)
This album was better than I thought it would be. I could hear my mother's generation's angsty kids playing Shout while driving home from high school. (By the way, Shout is way longer than I thought it was.) For the most part, it's cheesy 80's pop that feels like it has some sort of substance to it, even when it dips into Enya territory (Listen). If you've heard Shout and Everybody Wants to Rule The World, you're fine, but if you find a copy of this at a garage sale, its not a bad listen.
Three out of Five

Michael Jackson - Bad

2011-09-15T08:55:00.000-07:00

Michael Jackson - Bad (1987)
How do you follow the highest selling album of all time? With a Bad album, I suppose. (Heh.) In all fairness, this album has some terrific singles. Bad, Smooth Criminal and Man In The Mirror are songs that our culture has embraced, and for good reason. The problem is, the rest of the album is produced in full 80's mode. Goofy electronic bass? Check. Tunes that sound like they are from a Sega Genesis game? Check. Over-reliance on synths? Big check. I can't get into most of this for that very reason. I liked a couple of songs that I was unfamiliar with (like Liberian Girl) but hated a lot more (like Speed Demon). Just go buy MJ's greatest hits.
Oh, and I really hate the oft-mocked high pitched squeals that Jackson is so fond of uttering. Just wanted to say that.
Two and a Half out of Five

The Sugarcubes - Life's Too Good

2011-09-08T09:12:00.000-07:00

The Sugarcubes - Life's Too Good (1988)
I was stoked to listen to this, as I have developed a serious love of Bjork's music. Sadly, this is not Bjork's music, it is a band with Bjork in it. It is a better than average post-punk/alt-rock album, with some serious 80's production values on it. There is a lot to love, but its not really my thing, based on one listen.
Three and a Half out of Five

System of a Down - System of a Down

2011-09-08T09:10:00.000-07:00

System of a Down - System of a Down (1998)
This completes my list of albums that I didn't want to listen to that were in the 1001 book. I have been surprised by a couple of them (Korn, Marilyn Manson) but this didn't surprise me at all. It was just as bad as I thought it would be.
One and a Half out of Five

Marilyn Manson - Antichrist Superstar

2011-09-02T17:48:00.000-07:00

Marilyn Manson - Antichrist Superstar (1996)
I've been putting off listening to this for quite some time because I guess some of the hoopla around Marilyn Manson stuck around in my mind since I was a child. You remember. Marilyn Manson and violent video games were thrown under the bus for all of the violence of youth in America. I listened to this assuming it was going to be music with which to summon Satan or would make my ears bleed. What I heard was pretty good metal. I mean, it is Nine Inch Nailsian and really not too far off musically from many other metal bands. In fact, it has popular appeal, which is not common with the harder of rock bands. I guess the whole controversy comes more from Manson's image than his music, but that is an entire conversation for another day.
Three and a Half out of Five

Korn - Follow The Leader

2011-08-29T08:26:00.001-07:00

Korn - Follow The Leader (1998)
Part Two of "Albums I Don't Want To Listen To."
Korn is a band that I couldn't escape while growing up in the era of Nu Metal, although, I actually did manage to never listen to them until today. I came in assuming it was going to be more dark and vulgar with little to offer in terms of musicality. It was dark, much less vulgar than I assumed, and actually showed a competency in terms of melody and production value. (Lyrically, it was pretty dumb and the "woe is me" was kind of forced.) Will I listen to this again? No. However, I can see why Korn was such a pivotal album for all of the guys I grew up with. Its, and I can't believe I'm saying this, a standout Nu Metal album.
Three and a Half out of Five

Janet Jackson - Rhythm Nation 1814

2011-08-25T14:18:00.000-07:00

Janet Jackson - Rhythm Nation 1814 (1989)
And now comes the time when I subject myself to the albums that I have been putting off. The ones that I knew I wouldn't like, but will come at with open ears, just to see if my preconceived notions were false. In this case, they weren't. The 1001 book lists this as a bold thriller, but I think it is the exact opposite. Its a safe, inoffensive, contrived record that sounds like it is trying to be an imitation Marvin Gaye's What's Going On, but through the filter of 80's pop. Just listen to Lonely, a ballad that starts off poorly with rain sound effects, but gets worse as soon a Native-American sounding pan-flute comes on the scene seconds later. Blech.
One and a Half out of Five

Joy Division - Unknown Pleasures

2011-08-19T08:10:00.000-07:00

Joy Division - Unknown Pleasures (1979)
Whee-ow! Depressing still! (Although not surprising). This album is a bit more accessible than their later album that I just listened to, but still makes you want to careen off the road. However, thats the kind of mood I was in while I listened to it, so I rather dug it!
Four out of Five

Joy Division - Closer

2011-08-19T08:08:00.000-07:00

Joy Division - Closer (1980)
I guess I had always thought of Joy Division as a dark electronic band. I was almost right. This is really dark music, but the electronic side only shows up in full force from time to time. I really think I will have to give this another listen or ten before I can really make a judgement on it, but for a first listen, I was impressed by what I was hearing. It is stark, dark and paints a real mood in the room when you turn it on. (Best for night driving, in my opinion.) But do I think it is a classic? I have to listen some more for that.
Three and a Half out of Five

Blood, Sweat & Tears - Blood, Sweat & Tears

2011-08-19T08:00:00.000-07:00

Blood, Sweat & Tears - Blood, Sweat & Tears (1968)
Ok. This was interesting. I was expecting classic rock and I got a mixture of rock, jazz and crooner-style singing. I didn't particularly think that singer David Clayton was fully sober while singing, but damn, this album is great musically. I bit too indulgent at times, but a great listen.
Four and a Half out of Five

Meat Puppets - Meat Puppets II

2011-08-19T07:55:00.000-07:00

Meat Puppets - Meat Puppets II (1984)
Because of the well-know Nirvana connection, I was expecting something much different from the Meat Puppets. Instead of grunge-y rock, I found a diverse mix of rock and pop styles that I really liked. The problem is, I doubt I will listen to this again because the singer's voice? Not to my liking. Good thing there are a bunch of instrumental tracks and moments.
Three and a Half out of Five

John Martyn - One World

2011-08-11T04:23:00.000-07:00

John Martyn - One World (1977)
On this album, Martyn sounds kind of like a slightly drunk crooner, but his music is interesting. The first four tracks of this album I really dig, up to Small Hours, the pinnacle of this album. Small Hours is like an ambient experiment gone right (and sounds like an influence of Bon Iver). The rest of the album sounds dated.
Three and a Half out of Five

Nick Drake - Five Leaves Left

2011-08-11T04:21:00.000-07:00

Nick Drake - Five Leaves Left (1969)
I liked this folk album, but only just so. It didn't really go as many places as I would have hoped. That said, lyrically, it sounds like there is a lot to dig into here on repeated listens.
Three and a Half out of Five

John Lee Hooker - The Healer

2011-08-11T04:19:00.000-07:00

John Lee Hooker - The Healer (1989)
I dig the blues, but blues rock, less so. At best, the songs on here sound like elevator music, at worst, they sound like someone playing on their stoop.
Two out of Five

Richard & Linda Thompson - I Want to See the Bright Lights Tonight

2011-08-05T10:30:00.001-07:00

Richard & Linda Thompson - I Want to See the Bright Lights Tonight (1974)
Whoo, talk about bleak. This album is as dark as folk gets, lyrically. (Listen to The End of the Rainbow. It's soul crushingly dark.)
But it is great. Really great. Listen to it.
Four and a Half out of Five

The Chemical Brothers - Dig Your Own Hole

2011-08-05T10:15:00.000-07:00

The Chemical Brothers - Dig Your Own Hole (1997)
I, like many others out there, am not an electronica fan. However, when you hear something that is this good, no matter what genre, its something you "take part in" if even for only the length of an album. The Chemical Brothers is an electronica outfit I have heard of an innumerable number of times, but never really listened to, but I really should have. This album is great! It is reminiscent of a "sound" of the 90's (which is when it came out) but doesn't feel dated, which is rare.
Four and a Half out of Five

Grateful Dead - American Beauty

2011-07-29T07:42:00.000-07:00

Grateful Dead - American Beauty (1970)
Is this what the Grateful Dead is like? After all this time, I had been under the assumption that they were some kind of trippy psychedelic band, but I never actually listened to them until now. I LOVE it. Its like the perfect blend of country, rock, and 60's pop. I am never going to be a "DeadHead" but I can say that I am a fan.
Five out of Five

Gary Numan - The Pleasure Principle

2011-07-28T06:42:00.001-07:00

Gary Numan - The Pleasure Principle (1979)
Ugh. Synths.
Two and a Half out of Five

Baaba Mal And Mansour Seck - Djam Leelii

2011-07-26T16:55:00.000-07:00

Baaba Mal And Mansour Seck - Djam Leelii (1989)
Man, is this one chill African record. Its the sort of thing you can put on and just let it take you with it.
Four out of Five

Crosby, Stills And Nash - Crosby, Stills And Nash

2011-07-22T05:44:00.000-07:00

Crosby, Stills And Nash - Crosby, Stills And Nash (1969)
Crosby, Stills And Nash is one of those albums that I was expecting to like, but just didn't. There were some amazing vocals, but the music felt, well, cheesy more often than it should have. I really loved the track "Anything At All" but thats about it. I will also say, lyrically, its a great album. Really sharp.
Three and a Half out of Five

Arrested Development - 3 Years, 5 Months & 2 Days in the Life Of...

2011-07-19T19:15:00.000-07:00

Arrested Development - 3 Years, 5 Months & 2 Days in the Life Of... (1992)
I went through a phase a few years ago where I listened to this hip hop classic over and over and over again. Then I promptly forgot about it. Moved on. As I understand it, so did most of America soon after this released. That said, this is a triumph of thought-provoking, intelligent rap (and music in general). Its good for a number of listens. Then drop it. And listen to it again a few years later and hear it like it is new.
Four and a Half out of Five

Bee Gees - Odessa

2011-07-19T19:13:00.001-07:00

Bee Gees - Odessa (1969)
Ok so a Bee Gees album I can actually really get into? Surprising. I mean, it sounds like a lot of the sort of psychedelic pop concept album stuff from the time, but it is definitely a good example of it. Catchy tunes, odd directions, interesting lyrics. There's a lot to like here.
Four out of Five

Bruce Springsteen - Born In The USA

2011-07-13T09:44:00.000-07:00

Bruce Springsteen - Born In The USA (1984)
I wanted to like this album. I think Springsteen is a good storyteller when he is "on." This album contains a lot of hits, but man do they sound dated. I can't listen to this without laughing.
Two and a Half out of Five