1001 Albums Summary

My first album on the user submitted list is a admittedly a dud. Sure this is super polished modern pop music, and I can say that it is that. But beyond that I can't say much, there is nothing here that catches me the way pop music should. I think Harry is obviously very talented but I have always felt like he plays it safe and holds back when it comes to his songs. This is all pretty forgettable.

I am only familiar with earlier Teenage Fanclub and this had an unexpected different feel to it. Not as noisy and rough around the edges as the earlier stuff, but a much brighter and janglier power pop. Not to say one is better than the other as Teenage Fanclub just crafts excellent songs. Really enjoyed hearing a different side of them, and really enjoyed this record.

Firmly in the guitar driven indie rock of the early 90s. I have always heard Polvo was worth listening to so was intrigued to see this pop up. Sounds exactly out of the time and place it came from. Inventive and interesting, but also a bit more brittle and artful than the heavy hitting guitar driven indie rock bands from the same time. Regardless, I enjoyed this enough, Polvo seems cool.

I had never heard of this band which is not surprising given that they seem like a pretty niche regional 90s funk band. I am not a good judge of what is good and what isn't when it comes to funk, as it's never really spoke to me. I'm sure this is good as far as 90s funk, but it's not for me.

I think in the 2010 post punk genre, this stands out as super solid. A great representation of that time and style for sure. Really enjoyed this.

Probably one of the quintessential dub albums out there. Feels like it's just cooked in to everything that's come since. Excellent record.

Had never heard of this artist at all. More fun and moved a bit more than I was expecting when I saw the "Dream Pop" genre affixed with it. I enjoyed this for sure.

This album is pure dreamy bedroom indie pop, and it's also super long. It's good for sure, but not really my thing, and it drags on a bit too long.

I saw Billy Squier open for Styx and Bad Company when I was in high school probably 25 years ago now. Styx was incredible and at this point I don't remember much else from that show. This album at the same time seems to be entirely familiar and entirely ordinary. I feel like I have heard of all of these songs so many times, but they all sound kind of the same, and just kind of sound like ubiquitous inoffensive rock music from the late 70s/early 80s.

I first heard this band on the original list, and this album did nothing to change my understanding of them, but just further enhanced it. I liked this album even less because of that. I get why people love this stuff, it sounds like an amalgamation of Tom Petty, Bob Dylan, and Bruce Springsteen to me, with some Paul Simon thrown in there. Just straight boring heartland rock tropes. Not for me at all, but it's pleasant and very safe and non-confrontational.

Definitely have been aware of Fontaines D.C. for a bit but hadn't checked them out yet. Decent and fun enough. Kind of some more poppy shoegaze. I enjoyed this quite a bit.

This felt like a pretty middle of the road forgettable catchy indie album from the 2010s. A dime a dozen for sure.

With this shitty art work I assumed this was the debut album from blink-182. Was surprised to learn that wasn't the case. This is definitely a bit different than what I know them for, but different does not equate to better. This was a slog and entirely forgettable.

I used to be very in to Bad Religion when I was teenager, and it's been forever since I've listened to them. That melodic 90s punk hits so right. Really enjoyed this. A classic album for sure.

I always assumed this group was like a bluegrass jam band. I don't know why, maybe just a generalization based on the type of people that I thought were in to them. This is definitely some crunchy fusion jazz though. Not my cup of tea by any means, but they are obviously talented and great at what they do.

I have never listened to Bon Iver before and this is more or less what I expected, but man is it so much worse than I would expected. This type of music just brings up so many negative connotations with that time and scene. Even trying to contextualize it is difficult, I understand he may have been early on with this before it became more ubiquitous, but it just feels so pretentious and empty to me. I just can't.

Everything about this just evokes such a specific time and place that I want nothing to do with. This whole vibe is just so empty and vapid. I can't take this seriously.

I had always assumed I would not like The Avett Brothers, no real reason why. Figured this would come up on this user list, since people seem to like them. I see this was produced with the guiding hand of Rick Rubin which already makes me skeptical. This was fine I guess, felt pretty hallow and empty and forgettable, but pleasant.

This has been in my backlog for a bit, and I had been holding out since it seems very much not for me and I figured it'd be a slog. All of that proved to be true. This was rough, long, and a slog to get through. Not great at all.

This was a hard album to find, but it was truly a gem. Beautiful music and a beautiful voice. Thanks for the introduction.

Very ridiculous and over the top Heavy Metal. Did not know anything about this group. Funny they are connected with Trans-Siberian Orchestra. This was about what I expected, fun and inconsequential.

I was a college kid in the early 2000s, so obviously I have a lot of experience with Blackalicious just being played in the background a lot. It seems fairly ubiquitous in that time and place. That being said, Blackalicious has always been sweet and always been something I enjoyed. It was nice listening to an album separate from that context. Good stuff for sure.

It's obvious immediately that this is a concept album. It's has an ambition and maturity that extends beyond being great pop music. A great listen for listen, if I was going to like a Beyoncé album it would probably be this one.

I had it set in my head that my submission to this list would be Super æ. The day I finished this was among the 5 most recently added albums to the user list, so I abandoned that. I definitely prefer more the spacey trance vibe of Super æ and Vision Creation Newsun, but this album rules so much. Stoked Boredoms are on this list regardless.

Midwest hardcore from the 2000s. This was about what I was expecting it would be. It was fine.

An easy 5 stars. Probably the most universally agreed upon omission from the original list. Egregious to say the least. This album is nearly perfect, it was huge, had a massive effect on a generation of music afterwards. It's kind of impossible to overstate how important this album. And on top of that it's long been one of my favorite albums. There were so many second and third albums from artists that were questionable to be on the list to begin with. This album's omission kind of undermines any legitimacy of the original list to begin with. Anyway, I listened to this on vinyl and listened to it loud, like I have done countless times in the last 30 years.

Emo isn't really my thing. It wears on me a bit. This was fine, definitely not my jam, but it was okay to listen to.

This is certainly a modern dance pop album, which means it certainly did not hit for me.

Scottish indie pop band from the early 2000s I have never heard. This was enjoyable enough, felt like they so many songs were on the verge of being great, but not quite there. Overly long record as well.

Definitely not what I was expecting. Much more eclectic and interesting than I assumed it would be.

A very chill and dreamy shoegaze record from the 90s. Good enough for sure.

British hip hop. Surprised this wasn't on the original list since seemingly getting shortlisted for the Mercury Prize seems to guarantee inclusion. This was fine.

Never cared to try to get in to this band. I enjoyed this more than the album of theirs that is on the list proper, but this type of indie folk rock revival is not for me.

Surprised that this wasn't on the original list. A classic album anyway you slice it. Roky was the best.

This seems like it's maybe a decade too late. Some chamber sounding indie pop for sure. Not really my thing, but interesting enough I guess.

Had never heard of this, and both this artist and album do not have Wikipedia pages, so I wasn't expecting much. But this was excellent. Great flow, sounded like something from early 1990s rather than early 2000s. Really enjoyed this. Great selection!

Thrilled that someone added Arthur Russell to this list. A singular and phenomenal talent. Love this album and everything he did.

I have never checked out Childish Gambino before. This was more interesting than I expected it would be. Very eclectic and genre blending. Really enjoyed it.

This is pop music and is pretty inconsequential. The mix on this feels so buried. Some catchy songs for sure. But this isn't it.

This dude just seems like a poor man's Elvis Costello, which is definitely not a good thing.

Nothing all that interesting here aside from it being in Swedish.

This was a great album, really enjoyed this on a lazy morning with my coffee.

Another Boards of Canada album was on the original list, and I didn't know anything about them previous to hearing that. I enjoyed that record enough as being something that was not offensive and not all that great, and serves as a great thing to put on as background music. I feel about the same with this one. Nothing all that interesting.

Undeniably a great album from a great talent. I think this is probably one of the better additions to the user list.

I am not super familiar with They Might Be Giants, though I did have tickets to see their cancelled show a couple days after 9/11. I was skeptical because it was more recent, but this was awesome in all the right ways. Great record and I enjoyed it a ton.

Super classic outlaw country. A wonderful listen on a lazy weekend morning.

I am not sure if the user list will have anything that’s more of a sure fire 5 stars for me than this album. I had it on my shortlist to submit once I finished, but was beaten to it. One of my all time favorites.

The melodic post hardcore screamo stuff is definitely not for me, but I always appreciate the energy and conviction behind it, and also always appreciate how short it is. No complaints about this.

This was a truly ridiculous inclusion. Progressive metal at its most over the top. Fun for a bit for sure, but so ridiculous.

Had never heard of this, and was not particularly looking forward to it after looking into it and also seeing how long it was. This was honestly great. Spose is obviously super talented and super eclectic, this album just grooved pretty hard and I really enjoyed it. I wouldn't call it essential and it is too long, but with a lot more obscure inclusions on the user generated list, so far this is one the better albums I've listened to.

Post hardcore is not really for me, and I wasn't thrilled with the long runtime on this, but I ended up enjoying this quite a bit. Settled in nicely.

A truly beautiful recording. An excellent and essential jazz record.

I have heard the Vampire Weekend name forever but don't think I had ever (knowingly) heard them or could explain what they sounded like. This was very bad, and I'm a bit disappointed that I couldn't have just maintained not being exposed to this band, but here we are. I guess at the very least, at least this album was short?

Every aspect of this was painful and grating to get through. It sounds like some shitty early 2000s pop punk band trying to be a metal band. At least it was well over an hour long.

I guess kudos for selecting an obscure band from an overlooked time frame within an underrepresented genre of music. Aside from that, there is not much else that is redeeming about this.

An excellent example of early electronic music. It reminds me of Giorgio Moroder. I was unfamiliar with this, but this is an excellent release. An EP worthy of inclusion on a list of albums.

Absolutely loved this, so dreamy, what a vibe.

Very much sounds like a watered down Pink Floyd, lacking the urgency the full band was able to create. I lean more towards the David Gilmour contributions to that band than Roger Waters. This was interesting enough I guess. I guess I've just never cared to explore what any of those guys have done outside of Pink Floyd.

Super solid and enjoyable Argentinian rock from the 80s. Better than I was expecting, and kudos for something outside the box.

I guess this was fine. It was a long live album, and I'm not sure anyone ever needs another one of those in their life. Joe Cocker is sweet enough though.

This had a good groove for sure. Different and interesting enough and not too long. Nice album to listen to on a weekend morning.

Sounds like a generic overproduced commercial R&B music. Which I know that hits the spot for some people. This is not for me.

As far as 60s British music that hasn't had a lasting impact, this is an album that enjoyed more than others. Obscure 60s psych that contains all the best elements of The Kinks and the The Zombies. This album was great.

We do not need so many prog metal albums on this list.

Definitely do not need this.

Nope.

Completely unfamiliar with this artist, but man what an incredible record. This is the type of thing that makes this list and exercise worthwhile. Easy 5 stars.

Just an absolutely beautiful jazz record.

Absolutely no interest in Metalcore.

About as middle of the road as you can get.

Very middle of the road. Sounds like tons of stuff already on this list.

About as good as I could have expected. Blends a lot of genres and the massive wall of sound is so calming. Exceeded my expectations for sure.

I mean an incredible "debut" solo album from one of the all timers, with some of his most iconic songs. Great album all around.

For how much Pink Floyd was on the original list, it's absolutely to ridiculous to consider this to have been missed. 90s era Pink Floyd just isn't it. This is too perfect and calculated and empty and incomplete, and far too long. I guess I'm happy to say I was able to slog through this thing, but this is a hard no.

This is the exact brand of 2010s indie rock that I find uninteresting and boring.

Loved it.

I caught the first 10 minutes of this band at a fest in 2019 without knowing them, and my friend and I decided they'd be a great band to skip to get some food from the food carts. They've blown up a lot since then, and I don't really get it. This is the first time I have listened to one of their records. It's fine for sure, but man it just seems so mellow and boring--nothing wrong with it being mellow and quiet, it's just surprising to me that they've blown up as much as they have. Did not enjoy at this all.

I do not need this melodic hardcore music.

I have a lot of respect for King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard. I saw them play in a small venue in 2013 before they started to explode and the show was incredible. I definitely cannot keep up with their albums, a bit too proggy (and frequent) for me, but love what they do. This was enjoyable enough to listen to.

I can see how this would be a great album for it's genre but it doesn't do anything for me.

I was not expecting to love this album as much as I do. What a debut. Brilliant songwriting with a resonate energy that feels right at home in the long storied history of Irish troubadours. It feels very working class and very tender and articulate at the same time.

Psychedelic trance for sure. As far as EDM goes there is plenty worse to listen to than this. So within that genre this was great, but in general, definitely not.

I have never had any interest in listening to this record. It was fine I guess, but certainly feels like the rest of the band sans David Byrne trying to keep something alive that wasn't anymore. These songs feel out of place and out of time, and feel more like a compilation than a fully formed album. Not great at all.

A fun proggy art pop album from a band I have never heard of. Some of this was a lot of fun and I was left with some parts stuck in my head for the rest of the day. Enjoyed it for sure.

Man this was so bad and so tough to get through. Seems like music perfect for shopping while in a Target or some bullshit like that.

This was fine, certainly occupies it's own space. Slightly off kilter from what we usually get on this list which is a plus.

If this wasn't on this list I would have never known how much I don't need this.

Obviously Dolly Parton is incredible. I don't have all the context for different periods of her career or anything, and I'm not super familiar with her records, but this was just so enjoyable and lovely on a weekend morning.

This firmly fits in that boring and uninteresting world where EDM and pop music intersect. Too long as well.

This is very much my alley and very early in to this I was shocked I had never heard of this band before. That hyper literate lyrical approach and delivery remind me so much of Dave Berman. Absolutely loved this, what a treat.

A rare record on this list that at least makes sense. A highly influential band out of the mainstream produced by one of the best to do it. Raw a noisy and sounds great. Albini really capturing the best sound in the early 90s alt/noise rock scene. Thrilled this came up and was stoked to listen to it today.

Certainly an interesting and eclectic sound.

90s pop country is really not for me.

The second Bon Iver album that has come up on this User Album list, which is wild. I certainly liked this way more than this band's debut. It still has such a distinct attachment to a specific time and place and scene that I just don't have the best associations with, but it isn't as anchored to it as that debut. I enjoyed this a bit, but certainly not for me.

This was enjoyable enough, but just really not for me.

I was the demographic of the target audience when this was released in 1994, so I definitely listened to this but quickly shed any interest in this genre of music pretty immediately. That being said, this is a lot better than I was expecting.

This was so much better than I was expecting. Wide ranging super catchy layered pop songs. Super well done and super enjoyable.

I guess this is an acclaimed death metal album. It was fine, not my thing by any means.

One of the truly legendary video games and associated soundtracks. I thought the combined experience was wild when it came out. Crazy to listen to this again years later.

Love seeing a Primus album pop up. I have not listened to a full Primus album for so many years. Back when I got in to Primus almost 30 years ago, this was one of my go-to albums, for obvious reasons. So many great songs. Had a lot of fun listening to this.

This was fine, seems a bit before it's time for sure. When I was listening to it, I assumed that it was from the early 2010s. It being late stage Britpop I'm sure was a thing. Because I'm guessing Britpop people don't like more progressive things like this. Anyway, this was an okay listen, too long for sure, nothing super remarkable.

It is easy to laugh and discount this when it comes up. Certainly a very specific sound of a very specific time, but this was not an unpleasant listen at all. For never listening to CAKE I was surprised with how many of these songs felt wholly familiar to me. They must be more ubiquitous culturally than I give them credit for.

Heavy post metal record. Not for me but obviously a good record.

An interesting record. It feels like it's from someone who lives on the fringes, and it doesn't really fit into anything neatly. I enjoyed this enough.

This is the second Vampire Weekend album on the User list after there were none on the critic list. I think that after listening to two Vampire Weekend albums I am firmly in the same camp as the critics and believe their omission was correct. The music this band makes just feels so empty and uninspired. Generally I can understand why people would like something, but with this band, I just don't get it. Not for me at all.

Pretty straightforward alt rock, which is too say it's nothing special.

I had not listened to this for decades. And it totally rocks which is not surprising at all.

A classic that I haven't listened to for a while now. I forget how much this first album rocks--a sound she's unfortunately (to me) moved away from a bit. I miss this kind of wild abandon from her. Had a blast revisiting this.

One of the more recent pop stars of the moment. Catchy and well produced for sure, but at the end of the day, it is a pop album.

I don't think it's hyperbole to call this a groundbreaking release. Something that hadn't been done before that brought this stylized approach to music to the forefront and kickstarted a sensation. Have not listened to a full Weird Al record since I was a teenager. I forget how this was more front loaded with the parodies and the most of the second side is originals. Weird Al rules, one of the best.

To me this is pretty middle of the road and uninteresting.

A good ambient album which is a great change of pace from what this user list leans hard towards.

I am slightly surprised that this album wasn't on the original list, and totally thought it was, but on another inspection it looks like their first S/T album is on the list, so I'm happy to know they are at least represented. I am not a prog metal or nu metal fan by any means, but something about System of a Down hits the nostalgia just right. This album kicks ass and I had a blast revisiting it.

This comes with all the preconceived trappings of the specific time and place of late 2000s indie rock/folk. Unfortunately it doesn't offer much to rise out of that. Pretty meh for sure.

I don't care for holiday music in the slightest, but there is something timeless about Peanuts and this record that hits all the best nostalgic points, while at the same time being incredible on it's own merits rather than just measuring up to other holiday music. This album is a classic and I love it so.

Submitting this is an all-time top tier goof.

At it's surface this is pretty boiler plate 90s rock, however there is slightly more to it than that, and there were definitely some interesting and very catchy parts in there. This was fine.

A stark and beautifully dreamy work of art pop folk. Loved this album.

Totally unfamiliar with this and it felt a bit gimmicky at first, but this was a great album. Feels very much like he's in his own lane doing his own thing. Really enjoyed this.

Shocked this is not on the original list because this fits squarely into the severely overrepresented British post-punk from the 80s. Which is to say, I don't think this list needs any more of that.

I wasn't thrilled to get this, and am honestly slightly surprised INXS is not on the original list. This was fine, some songs I recognize, but just doesn't do it for me at all.

A long loud droney ambient shoegaze metal album. About sums it up.

A plenty decent British folk revival record. These are always great listens, but I certainly don't need to delve deeper into that movement.

Based on their name, I did not expect this to be so straightforward blues based roots rock. It was fine I guess, but wholly uninteresting.

Just an all around excellent early punk record. It's title is apt.

I initially kind of rolled my eyes when I saw this pop up. I love Wilco but I think what was included on the original list was appropriate for them. That being said I obviously love this album, and while listening to it for the thousandth time today, I couldn't bring myself to justify giving it anything less than a 5.

When I was a teenager I was very much into Catch 22 but kind of grew out of it, and never listened to Streetlight Manifesto. From what I understand they re-recorded Keasbey Nights years after the original Catch 22 release which I loved. I would have been pumped if that came up, I haven't listened to it in over 20 years. I guess this is the album that came out after that re-recording. It's fine, sounds just like Catch 22. Third wave ska rules.

A decent number of people somewhat regularly tell me that QOTSA rock and kick ass. When I listen to QOTSA I find myself absolutely loving the guitar tone and riffs, the production, etc. I don't really love much else. Sometimes I wish these guitar riffs would go on forever, I don't care much for the vocals of their supposed "sense of humor" or whatever. That being said this album rocked and I really enjoyed it.

The energy on this album is over the top too much. It combines all the worst elements of metal, electronic, synth pop into something that is pretty unbearable. At least it clocks in with a short runtime.

This is an incredible album. Excellent inclusion on this list.

This was better than I was expecting it to be. Sad boy music, much less pretentious than something like Sufjan Stevens. This was a gem.

Aesop Rock is objectively good. Great production and great lyrics as always. Kind of just used to him being on in the background from my college days. Enjoyed putting this on.

Surprised this was not on the original list. I assumed everything that gets a Mercury Prize gets added to that list. This was forgettable. Nothing that sets is apart from everything else in this genre.

Zappa's most commercially successful album. I bought this as a used CD for $2 back when I was 19 after people had told me I should check out Zappa. I bought it without having any concept of how many albums he had, what his best ones were, etc. it just was in the used CD bins I was browsing. Never really connected with it. I respect Zappa's game for sure, couldn't ever get in to this one specifically.

Certainly always skeptical of 1980s British albums when they pop up on this list--the whole list was just so oversaturated with them. Not only did this seem unique from that bloc of albums that sounds all too similar but it was good on it's own terms and not just because it was unique.

This album is available to listen to on Bandcamp: https://cindylee.bandcamp.com/album/diamond-jubilee One of my favorite albums of the last 10 years. I ordered a copy of it before I was 10 minutes into listening to it on Bandcamp when it was released. Very cool that this is on this list.

I was unfamiliar with Joe Jackson, but was very keen on the album artwork and title of this album. And obviously I instantly recognized "Is She Really Going Out With Him?" This was fun enough for sure, a bit ridiculous, and we have plenty of stuff that aligns squarely with this genre.

Thanks for adding a great underrepresented genre of music. Great survey of excellent Fado.

Not at all what I was expecting based on the abum artwork. This was great, and I think additional listened would reveal even more depth to these songs and this band. Great inclusion in my opinion.

Everything about this is in the right spot.

This brand of modern art lounge pop is a bit too much and is definitely not really for me. I know this band had at least one album on the original list, they probably didn't need another one.

This album was absolutely bonkers. It's ambitious and original and dynamic and feels like it's everything you've ever heard before and completely new all at the same time. I really enjoyed this which I was not expecting.

Something I had never heard of. This was unique and cool enough. Enjoyed it for sure but not really up my alley at all.

Have been aware of Jeff Rosenstock on the ancillary for a bit now, but never really listened to him. This is a great example of something being great for what it is. This whole album is just so solid and catchy and there are moments that when it hits it feels like you are listening to the greatest song in the world in that moment. Absolutely loved it, and I know hold Jeff Rosenstock in higher esteem than I already did.

Everything about this screams a specific time and place in folk/Americana music, and it's one I never need to visit. Had a really hard time getting through this whole album.

Incredible outlaw country record. I've been on a bit of an outlaw country kick lately, so this coming up was very appropriate. Loved it.

This is not really my thing, but this was chill and enjoyable during a sleepy morning.

To me WHY? sounds so much like a Nick Thorburn fronted band. Because of that they sounded both new and familiar at the same time. I enjoyed this enough, and then listened to Islands afterwards.

This band is very much up my alley, but I never really got super in to them. But I love the super catchy, fuzzy lo-fi anthemic rock and roll. My kind of jam all day.

I know there was another Garbage album on the original list, and at the time I was surprised that it was on it and this album was not, as this was the only thing I was familiar with when it came to Garbage. Well turns out neither of them were albums that I needed to listen to. Very much has that strange blend of alt-rock, dance-rock, industrial, power pop that only the mid 90s could produce. Pretty tame and boring background music. This was fine I guess, just really, and squarely not for me.

Boilerplate pop music. This ain't it.

This is a record that many folks have been telling me to listen to for year, given how much Jason Molina and his sound align with what I am interesting in. Despite all of that I have never actually sat down and listened to it until now. What a record. Everything about it. I should have given this a listen years ago.

Incredible top tier flamenco album.

Protomartyr has always been cool enough as far as modern post-punk goes. Good live show for sure. This is easily the best album of theirs. Happy it's here for sure.

I listened to this whole thing thinking it was a great example of late 60s/early 70s Brazilian psych music. And then when it finished and I read about it, I learned this band in German. No matter. A great record, and a good inclusion from something a bit underrepresented on this list.

I had always assumed Billy Strings was the name of a member of Phish or like a character in a song or something. Had no idea he was an actual person. Well this was incredibly tough to listen, and at 75 minutes it really drove that point home. Absolutely belongs no where near an essential list of music.

This was rough. The one bright note was that this was a normal album length at 46 minutes. I would not put it past a group this big during the height of the CD era to push the 70 minutes mark an album. Fortunately they did not. This album has hits for sure, but is not worth the time.

Certainly recognize the name but am not familiar with the music. This was a very strange and dated very 90s intersection of jazz and soft rock. Wild that there is enough people out in the world for whom something like this is for. Certainly not for me.

Very forgettable dime a dozen 1980s British New Wave Synth Pop -- Something that the original list is over stuffed with to a fault.

This was a lot better and more interesting than I thought it would. Very eclectic for sure.

I never got into Bright Eyes, his voice and affectation was always a bit too emo for me. However, this was a great record and I really enjoyed it. At the end of the day these are just really excellent songs.

I had never checked out SDRE and had always just kind of assumed they were 90s indie rock. I did not realize that they are distinctively post hardcore and emo. This album was great, a lot of it kind of reminded my of Treepeople, particularly Scott Schmaljohn Treepeople songs. I bet if I would have listened to this in like 1999 or 2000 I would have loved it and gotten very in to SDRE. Great record.

Had never heard of this band, and for good reason! This is maybe the most Britpop sounding album I have ever heard, which is not a compliment.

Great inclusion. Truly a niche and under represented scene in this list. Mexican ska from the 90s? Yeah I can dig, something different for sure.

A bit of a quirky psych folk band, which is not surprising given the band name and album title. This was enjoyable as it's own thing and also just because it's distinctly different from what is usually on this list. A decent listen.

I had never heard of Ike Reilly at all, and this vibe really hit this morning. Fun anthemic songs with great hooks. Sounds like it's own thing for sure. This was a great listen this morning.

This is an album that I was genuinely expecting to be on the initial list and was surprised it wasn't, especially given how overrepresented the seminal classic British musicians are on the list. A great album, though as always with post-Beatles McCartney albums, a little too much Paul. Nice Sunday morning listen.

I am not overly familiar with Jason Molina, but he's clearly one of the best songwriters of his generation. This album was great, and happy to listen to most of his music.

A fine funk/pop record from the 70s. It has a hit on it that was re-made nearly 25 years later and was also a hit so it's enduring. Not much more to this than that.

Well this is unfortunate, since it has rightly been excluded from the official list. I am not familiar with Sublime outside of their ubiquitous hits that everyone has heard. I have always loved the part in the 'What I Got' song where he says "I can play the guitar like a motherfuckin' riot" and then proceeds to play the most basic and boring guitar riff/solo anyone has ever heard. Hilarious stuff. I think that kind of encapsulates this band in a nutshell. This album was a very tough listen, and I will not ever listen to it again.

Early 2000s alt hip hop is not really my jam. This was a long concept rap opera album. It was good for sure, but not really my thing.

Unfamiliar with this band aside from just recognizing the name. I ended up listening to this 3 times, it just kind of fit the vibe for the work day. Enjoyable enough for sure.

Decent prog/art rock album. More interesting than I was expecting.

A genre blend that I am not interested in at all.

The meteoric rise this band experienced after this came out was wild. I was out of town the first time they came through and played an actual smaller show and then the next time it was nothing but immediately sold out, adding additional dates, at much larger venues. Bummed to miss those early shows. I think this record is great and haven't listened to it for a while, and listening to it for the first time in a bit, I do feel like it's likely going to age well. Stoked to see this come up on this list, though not at all surprised.

It's been a while since I've thought about Neil Cicierega let alone listened to anything of his. This immediately hit all the nostalgia notes hard. This is just as fun as it was when it came out and I had a blast listening to it.

This about as middle of the road and as boring as rock music can get for me.

Not sure about this at all.

I ended up really liking this after it didn't make a great initial impression of me. More moody and atmospheric than I was expecting. Enjoyed it for sure.

Always kind of been aware of The Posies just being PNW based. This is pretty straightforward 90s power pop and it's a lot of fun. The album sounds full and loud, it's great. Really enjoyed this.

Totally unfamiliar with this band, but sounds very much like I'd expect given the genre and time this was released. It was fine.

An excellent collab between a great minimalist electronic group and a legendary jazz saxophonist. This was heavenly. 5 full stars.

I have never heard of this band. It wasn't bad by any means, just pretty straightforward and boring, and overly long. I will not listen to this again.

Nope.

One of the most personally important bands in my lifetime. I have spent way too much time debating--with myself and with other--which Ween album is their best album, and a long time ago I concluded that although it's not necessarily my favorite Ween album, Quebec is probably their best album. I had tickets to see Ween in August 2024 just days before they canceled and went on hiatus and I have not listened to them in earnest since then. I both love and miss Ween immensely. Listening to this today was like hanging out with an old friend.

Not at all what I was expecting. Much better than I was expecting but not really my cup of tea. It’s a good record for sure. A bit too long.

Never super thrilled when I see something labeled as Electonic/Techno, but this was just my speed. Great beats and great tone, a fun album to listen to

This is a great record. Abstract, eclectic. It hits everything I was hoping it'd hit. Great listen.

Unfamiliar with this, but a super solid post punk indie record from the 90s. About what you would hope for something like that.

This was fine. Never really explored either Kimya Dawson or Adam Green outside of Moldy Peaches. This is pretty inconsequential and whatever.

Cool concept for a project, honoring and shining light on the legends of Mississippi Delta blues. I wasn't thrilled about this, but it was good. Much respect to this project.

Pretty middle of the road 90s alternative pop rock. Didn't do much for me at all.

I have not thought about Andrew Jackson Jihad for years. I have however seen the AJJ band name around still playing. I had no idea they were one in the same. Crazy! People loved this album and this band when it came out. Certainly a specific time and a place for sure. Cool to revisit for sure.

Not my lane at all. Totally fine, but inconsequential to me. Appreciated this was short, but this is an EP and definitely not an album.

For something that mixes so many elements that I do not care for, this was decent enough and I enjoyed listening to it.

I love this album so much. I would say it's one of the few flawless albums, everything is in it's right place, the tone and sound on it are incredible. It feels like one of those things that sounds exactly like it's supposed to. Easy 5 stars.

I had never heard of this band, and I was not thrilled when I heard the horns on the first track, btu this ended up being pretty great. Kind of straddles that line between indie, power pop, and post-punk. Pretty enjoyable record all around.

I did not realize Paramore was emo and post-punk pop. I guess I just assumed they were more dance synth pop. Even given that surprise, this still didn't exceed any pretty low expectations. Totally get why people would love this, but it's not for me.

One of the all time top tier soundtracks to one of the all time top tier sci-fi films.

Not my lane at all, but this was very enjoyable.

With almost everything I listen to, I can find a point somewhere where even if it's not for me and I don't like it, I can at least "get" what's appealing about it and why people like it. But every once in awhile there is something that comes across where I can't fathom who this is for or what is appealing about it. This is squarely one of these bands and albums. It's wild to me that this would be someone's favorite band. Like people listen to this and just think it's the best? That's truly bonkers to me.

Stoked to see The Chats on here. These boys are great, love the energy, a lot of fun live for sure. Great short punk album this morning.

There is nothing about this that I find interesting or appealing.

This is actually an album that deserves to be on the real list. Pink Floyd is overrepresented on that list for sure, but this is potentially their best album, and if not it's easily top 3. Listened to this a couple times today and loved it.

Nothing remarkable about this album at all.

This band seems very silly and very ridiculous. Definitely having a good time, very much fit a mid 90s vibe. I remember a couple of these songs. Enjoyable enough to listen to today.

Had never heard of this artist. Very lush and layered pop folk music. Pretty arrangements and good vibe for the morning for sure.

Not my lane at all. Tough to judge whether or not something like this is good or not. This was fine, I would not listen to it again.

Ouff. Totally unfamilar with the music of Bon Iver before this. There were zero Bon Iver records on the original, and now this is the third I have gotten on the user list through 209 entries. After listening to these three records it's truly bonkers to me that people hold this in such esteem. I was not expecting to like this much based on the other two records, but was utterly shocked at how heavy handed the auto-tune was immediately. I had to go back and re-read the notes I made on the previous albums because I don't remember it being so bad. This was a huge struggle to get through, such an artifact from a specific time that has not aged well. It was extremely grating. I really really hope more of this dude's albums are not on this list.

This was fine, seems like pretty straight modern honky-tonk which means a little too polished and a little too radio friendly for me.

Indie folk dramatic theater kid vibes.

This era of Ryan Adams is admittedly maybe the most interesting. He was extremely prolific and experimenting with and shifting between genres very quickly. That didn't always translate into excellent results, and this album is a testament to that. This is probably his most unique and unlike anything else in his songbook album he'd made to that point. It was interesting to revisit it after all these years. It hasn't aged well which isn't all that surprising.

Wholly unremarkable and not for me.

This is probably borderline should be on the actual list. Kind of surprised it isn't, but the actual list also is super problematic. Fun record, exactly what I was expecting. Warren Zevon is a very Excitable Boy.

Oingo Boingo is a pretty singular band and in small doses is a lot of fun for sure. Was stoked that this came up, easily their best record.

One of those bands that I have always been meaning to check out more. Very pleasant post-rock. Not quite as intense and epic as I prefer. More melodic and pretty approachable. A very pleasant listen on a Sunday morning.

I had never heard of Alex Harvey until an album showed up on the original list. Based on that I was not expecting another one to show up at any point. Very much like the album on the original list: fun, it kind of straddles the all too familiar line between glam and punk which makes sense for the context of this album at the time. A quick hitter and very enjoyable.

This was a really tough listen over 47 minutes. Late 90s / Early 2000s pop punk is super rough.

Been aware of Pedro the Lion forever but never really checked it out. I did not realize he and this project were Christian? I kind of always assumed it was kind of twee and cute indie rock, which is kind of is, but it's also a lot heavier than I was expecting. Cool guitar tone. This was fine for sure.

Is this a goof? This is objectively horrible.

Wild to me that the whole Mac DeMarco thing was back in 2012. Had no idea it was that long ago, but yeah just starting this record and hearing that guitar tone--super dated, and it feels like 2012. This was kind of a trip to listen to after all these years. Fine for sure.

Blues based rock and roll of the stoner variety. Pretty meh.

Had never heard of this band. Seems like they are super into Bowie.

This feels like late 2000s / early 2010s so badly. I had no idea that this is what Girl Talk did. This was enjoyable in the sense that it reminded me of being into this kind of mashup trick as a novelty 15+years ago and the whole "I know that song" feeling that happened every 20 seconds. I get why this appeals to people for sure.

This was a cool art rock folk album from 1970s Argentina. Really enjoyed something like this getting added to the list, more esoteric international records please.

This seems like a classic reggae album. Reading about it now, I didn't realize there were two such drastically different version of this album. Unsurprisingly the streamers have the second US version of this to listen to which is what I listened to. It does seem like this is the more widely reviewed and included on best lists version of the album, but I always would prefer to listen to the original. Definitely having a tough time finding it anywhere, so I guess the second US version will have to do.

This made zero impression on me. Seems like it's probably fine, but not for me.

A truly excellent jazz recording and record.

An underrated Queen album for sure. It plays second fiddle to A Night at the Opera, which is probably a better cohesive album. But is also one that I think is poorly mixed and bothers me when I listen to it. This album's high points are incredible, and the I think the ballads are pretty great as well. Teo Torriatte is one my favorite songs of all time. An excellent album closer. I hadn't listened to this for a while, and listened to it on repeat all day today and absolutely loved it.

This album is just around an hour long, but it truly felt twice that time listening to it and hoping for it to end.

I am no Tom Petty fan. That being said, this is a lot better than I was expecting, and better than anything I know of that he did with his Heartbreakers. Recognized more songs on this than I was expecting. Definitely way too long.

Unfinished demos of home studio pop songs. Don't really get why this is here. It was interesting I guess insofar as very polished pop music can be.

I was very much into the first two albums from The Shins when they came out. In retrospect they feel very much albums that occupy a specific time and a place for me, but albums I still enjoy hearing on the rare occasion. This third album from The Shins never connected with me the way the first two did and I never gave it much of a chance. Listening to it now all these years later, and I don't feel like I missed much.

Late 80s jazz fusion is a lot. This was fine for sure, but it was a lot.

I am not super familiar with The Fall by any means, but this was much better than I was expecting for a later career record. It feels vibrant and urgent. Rocks for sure.

A decent pop record that is more than surface level deep. Really enjoyed this.

I never got into Living Colour. Truly a unique and eclectic band. Listening to this it sounds like it's all over the place, but you can also hear it's deep impact on a lot of music that came after it. I appreciate Living Colour for sure even though it's not really my jam. Was happy to give it a serious listen though.

This is objectively horrible. Enduring this for a couple minutes was rough in and of itself, but enduring it for the full 60 minutes was excruciating.

Have always been on my radar but never really checked them out. This was great.

This is appeal to the masses pop music. Not for me.

I grew up in Boise and Built to Spill was very much was a huge influence and a gateway to the very early foundation of establishing my music tastes. This is not my favorite nor most personal album of theirs, but it's undeniably great and likely the height of what Doug made in the 90s. I love this album and know it inside and out. Stoked to see it come up today.

I generally don't love more contemporary and recent jazz fusion, but this was a lot better and more interesting than I was expecting. Great morning listen.

A pretty incredible and unique avant-pop album. Interesting and ambitious. Not really for me, but I really appreciate the artistry here.

A wild record. The music video for "Oh Yeah" is one of the more bonkers videos to a bonkers song I have ever seen. This album was a lot more interesting than I was expecting just based on that hit song alone. Good inclusion I'd say.

This feels like a very specific sounds in a niche genre. Cinematic for sure. I have always given Chromatics the benefit of the doubt just because they are a hometown band for me. Don't think I have ever listened to one of their albums in full though. This was enjoyable enough for sure.

Loved this vibe on a lazy rainy morning. Very Lynchian. Kind of perfect for today.

Not super familiar with Supertramp. Obviously a band who are well known and have hits, and listening to this record, there were songs I instantly recognized as being ubiquitous in culture. Kind of surprised this wasn't on the initial list to be honest as it just seems like such a foundational record to pop culture. Enjoyable enough. Killer album artwork.

I have never listened to a Decemberists album. Being a Portland residence for the past 25 years, this band has always been seen locally as pretty insufferable--and I would contend very rightly so. This was better than I was expecting. Some good arrangements and pretty songs. The vocals and air of pretention are grating which is what I was expecting. Looking more into this band, I guess this is their fifth album. I am assuming most people were pretty over them at this point. Strange choice for sure.

One of the most uninteresting and unappealing albums I have ever heard.

I don't have much of a frame of reference on what to think of this. Enjoyed listening to this, it was chill for sure.

On the shortlist of albums that was and is absolutely foundational and a constant in my life.

I bet Daft Punk shows were sweet. Energy is high, you can feel it from the recording. Playing the hits, probably a good time. We don't need 84 minute long live albums on this list.

This high concept melodic rock stuff is ridiculous. A bit too much wankery for me. This is obviously a fun album and a cool collab that has energy for sure. This was fine to listen to once but I'll never to it again.

Reading that this was indie folk rock, I was really hoping it wouldn't sound a specific way, and unfortunately it sounded exactly that way. There are a couple songs that when I separate it from everything else were pretty decent, but I really can't stand this sound.

This was completely forgettable and uninteresting.

Seems like a good modern hip hop record.

Jaco is undeniably one of the most significant bass players of the 20th century. Incredible chops but the jazz fusion is just not really for me. This album is obviously great though.

Sparks are a singular artistic entity. Entirely ahead of their time. This album is one of their best.

I had never heard of this band, this was a pretty decent mid 2000s alt rock record. Had some nice shoegaze vibes. I was into it as a pleasant album, but it didn't leave much of an impression on me.

A very cutesy and endearing bedroom pop electronic sounding record. Enjoyed this enough.

Two things that the original included way too many of are Bruce Springsteen albums and way too long live albums. Despite that, some one thought adding a way too long live Bruce Springsteen album as their selection as the ticket. This only works as a troll and goof album. But why? This was such a slog, I can't stand this guy. His music feels like what I imagine being the verge of a heart attack feels like. Just horrible.

I have always just kind of been aware of Low (RIP Mimi Parker) as a great slowcore group, but really had only ever listened to their Jeff Tweedy produced "The Invisible Way." This album was immediately quite different than I was expecting. Noisy and harsh yet still haunting and beautiful. I really enjoyed this, and it further reinforced the long held belief that I need to explore their catalog more deeply.

Seems like a solid golden age of hip-hop record.

A great early anarcho-punk album.

Truly incredible how bad and unlistenable this is. One of the easiest 1 stars there is.

The nostalgia hits pretty hard whenever I hear Less Than Jake. Was very stoked to see this pop up, though I would have preferred Losing Streak over this. To me LTJ kind of perfectly encapsulates that late 90s US third wave ska period. These songs all kick ass, the vibes are great. Always thought this band was a lot of fun. Had a blast revisiting this and soaking in the nostalgia.

This seems like boring campy music designed to have a wide appeal to the lowest common denominator. There is nothing interesting or bold about this at all. I didn't know what to expect from this band, I had never heard them and just know the name as a band that is somewhat big. I wish I still had never heard their music.

I don't know anything baout Robyn or about this kind of hyperized electro pop music. Seems like it's probably good for what it is. I don't know, not really my thing.

I had never heard of Espers, but seeing this was a Drag City release raised my optimism significantly. This was an awesome record. Dark psychedelic folk music. It has a balladry and psych slow drip feel to it that just puts you in a great groove. Loved this.

This album really lived in the moment when it came out, everyone loved it. At the time I really remember thinking this atmospheric shoegaze metal sounded so unique and interesting. I don't really think that anymore when I listen to this album, maybe it and the band's live performances have worn on me a bit. Regardless this is a great album, and I think its a worthy inclusion on this list.

This sure smacks of some Saddle Creek coded music.

Stoked to see a band from Euskadi pop up here! Itoiz seems to really occupy a place straddling both 70s prog and 80s pop dance music. Interesting for sure and very cool to include on this list.

Melodic heavy metal, pretty dime a dozen stuff.

After two Massive Attack albums on the original list, we get another one here. Still don't get it. Seems like Massive Attack was big at the time, but this is just background electronic music to me.

This was better than decent late 90s alt rock and I enjoyed it for what it is.

Incredible Swans album. Listen to it loud always.

I had never listened to The 1975 (because why would I) until another one of their albums popped up on this list for me a couple weeks ago. That was horrible. This started out the same, but the second half of this record was a lot more interesting to me than I was expecting. I understand a bit more, in theory, why people would like this band. So there is that I guess.

I am torn with this because I don't think EPs should be allowed on this list. However listening to a full length album's worth of this would have been incredibly grating and rough, so I'm happy and thankful it was so short.

One of the all time classic succinct punk albums. Always a joy.

Totally unfamiliar with Hum and after listening to them I can't really understand how they slipped underneath my radar this whole time. They kind of live at that excellent mid 90s intersection between post hardcore, space rock, grunge, and shoegaze. I thought this record was super solid and that thought this band has a great sound. To fresh ears it sounds unique to it's time.

Never really got into The Hold Steady, though I recently saw Craig Finn play solo opening for Bob Mould and thought he was fantastic. This sounds about like what I would expect after having that exposure to Craig Finn. Just kind of indie post punk heartland rock vibes. Good stuff for sure.

This was pretty chill and pretty melodic trip hop. It felt like fine background music, but not much beyond that for preferences.

Certainly a fine album. Understated. Not really for me but very pleasant.

I just have zero interest in this Nu Metal stuff.

Eclectic and genre bending for sure. Decent enough, but not really for me.

I am honestly shocked this never crossed my path. This is spangly, sprawling and beautiful. That indie post rock shoegaze sound and it reminds me a bit of MBV meets Spirtualized. I loved this album.

This did not make much of an impression on me. Short and melodic, just kind of feels like a standard and safe mashup of modern hip hop and R&B to me. Meh.

Ambitious prog metal. Elements of country and classic rock. This is what Mastodon does.

This was great. Definitely the best type of prog. Reminded me of Jesus Christ Superstar. Rocks for sure.

I know this is a fan favorite, and this seems like one of the quintessential lo-fi records out there. I have never gotten into John Darnielle--it just feels like a daunting endeavor--but have always had a lot of respect for him. This record is obviously great, and I really enjoyed it.

Deeply personal. It feels like this is something that artist made for just themself. Unique and essential. Great listen.

LOL!!!

This took me a few weeks to get to. Just absolutely been dreading the 2.5 slog of listening to this. I have never had any interest in anything related to Hamilton. I don't want to see it, I don't want to hear any songs from it, and I'd love for it to just disappear from the cultural zeitgeist. This was so incredibly, just about as boring and one-note faux-rap as it gets. Totally pedestrian and too on the nose obnoxious, BUT it also goes on for 2.5 hours. This shouldn't be allowed on here, no one should be subjected to this, and no one should listen to music from a musical without seeing it performed with the full musical. This is the easiest 1 star rating I've ever given.

A truly eclectic mix of different genre's here. I had never heard of Alabama 3, but I thought this album was excellent, a truly singular sound. Really enjoyed it.

You know it's wild that there isn't a Chuck Berry album on the original list. I am not super familiar with his albums at all, I really only know him in the vaguest sense of one of the pioneers of popularizing using rhythm and blues to create the early rock n roll sound. Given all of that I was interested in listening to this album. "Promised Land" is a song I know from the very excellent album of Harry Dean Stanton covering old musical numbers. And I honestly had no idea that "You Never Can Tell" was a Chuck Berry song. That song is pretty culturally ubiquitous because of Pulp Fiction. I thought this was great and a very worthy inclusion for one of rock n roll's earliest innovators.

Mariah Carey can certainly hit that upper register. That's about the only positive thing I can say about this. I cannot even begin to try to understand what about this is appealing to people.

This isn't for me. Basic alt rock with big guitar riffs. Some post hard rock stuff for sure. Not bad, just kind of boring to me.

This album is long enough for you to definitely get the vibe. The vibe is not really for me and it's long length really draws that out.

What a pivot from the excellent and highly sampled "Paul's Boutique" to a more flowing instrumental marriage between hip-hop and alt rock. This record is excellent as all Beastie Boys records are. The bass line on "Gratitude" is one of the best ever.

This is some really unapologetically 1980s pop. Fun enough.

This is very Australian. Not at all what I expected. Short and fun with a great sense of humor. Enjoyed this for sure.

Timeless and instantly recognizable. This should absolutely be on the original list. A perfect record for what it is.

Unfamiliar with Crash Test Dummies aside from their hit that was parodied by the great "Weird Al" Yankovic. This sounded the way I expected but had more to it than I expected. Cool to hear a more balanced and representative output from a band I just knew as a one-hit wonder.

Seems like a pretty quintessential 70s soft prog rock album. Produced by Alan Parsons to boot. It has a very swaying vibe to it. I knew the title track for sure.

Pretty straight and unremarkable 90s alt rock. The only think it had going for it was that it was not from the US/UK, though otherwise it sounded pretty boring.

This is super cheesy and was a lot. It was fine, but too long and too much.

I am not sure I had a good idea of what The Moody Blues sounded like, even though I definitely recognized a couple of these songs, but I guess they are just culturally ubiquitous songs that I had never associated with an artist. All of that being said, this was much better than I was expecting. A bit more subdued and artful than your typical prog rock.

This album was awesome. An interesting collab between two interesting artists occupying different genre spaces. These are the types of albums that I really value discovering from participating in this exercise. Loved it.

Funny enough I was just at a festival last week where Richard Dawson played but I did not check him out. My impression was that he seemed interesting enough and was worth checking out, but things didn't align. Serendipitous to get this so soon afterwards. Very raw folk album. Has a weird renaissance vibe to it. Enjoyed it a lot more than I initially thought I would. Cool stuff.

This album is so over the top and ridiculous. Everything about it. Obviously had a lot of fun listening to it.

Another Ween album on the user list, and one of their best. What a joy to see something so familiar and so excellent pop up today. I listened to it multiple times throughout the day and enjoyed every second of it. As far as I'm concerned every Ween album could be on this list. Easy 5 stars.

One of the all time greats. Love this album. Pleasant surprise to pull this today.

Never heard of this and based on the album art work I was expecting something somewhat challenging and raw. This was anything but, relatively safe indie pop. This was fine, but pretty meh for me.

Raw, propulsive, ethereal, and moving. Incredible record front to back.

It's very rare when something meets your expectations exactly. 0 stars if I could.

I don't normally like live albums, but Thee Oh Sees (Osees, etc.) have always been a band that I have much preferred live and rarely, if ever, actually listen to their records. This live album was recorded during what I consider their best years and certainly when I was most interested in going to their shows, and their live show energy can be felt in the recordings. Just a great mix of songs, and it took me back. Great selection as far as I'm concerned.

This seems like an album that is very much from a specific time and place. A time and place that I have little context to. I'm sure this was a banger in that time and place. Now with fresh ears 35 years later, it feels like a novelty relic of that time and place.

This album was released less than 6 months ago and is on this list already. As always, Euro Metal Dudes need to chill. This was fine.

About what I expected from a Finnish progressive folk band. This just kind of blended into background music.

Green Day was huge for me in my formative teen years in the 90s. This was not my top Green Day album, but was pleasantly surprised how immediately all the lyrics to all the songs came to me after not listening to this for easily 25 years. What else can I say, great album for sure.

A very eclectic mix of latin and jazz music containing some electronic elements. Honestly just a very enjoyable album from front to back. A good selection for this list.

This made me dissociate so much. Just horrible. Nothing here.

This just sounds like Radiohead to me, whom I am not super into. Fine I guess, but what's the point?