very reminiscent of pavement and early elliott smith. i definitely enjoyed the album, but there was a lack of hooks or distinctive instrumentation or structure to fully enrapture me
A great continuation of Lou's work with the velvet underground. Glam rock was already becoming a thing by the time this album got released, but alongside Hunky Dory, this album gave the genre the subversive edge that makes it so fascinating looking back.
Best songs are the satellite of love, perfect day, but every song is great on here - lots of pop hooks but it never feels like he's sanding down his edges at all
Super long album, but never once feels like it drags. Favourite track is ebony eyes, on the delux edition tracklist, an adorably cute ballad about a horse
Got some classic songs in it (sledgehammer, don't give up), but the songs aren't quite as punchy as other classic 80s albums
Walk This Way is an undeniably good and groundbreaking song, but other than that, there isn't much reason to revisit this album.
A lot of the beats and production sound very dated, and almost comedy-esque, and there are far superior 80s hip hop albums to revisit - the fact that this is a compilation album is very telling
Very warm listening, quite enjoyable to hear the notes of early Americana music. Wouldn't say there's necessarily any standout tracks or moments, aside from a strong opener 'Across the Great Divide'.
Feels like young summer in a very different way to Oasis - it feels like its soundtracking a fun, warm summer around Britain with all your friends, without any weight of expectations other than the fun times and making friends.
A lot of the criticism of this album probably goes on its voyeuristic lyrical content, but I think of that as a plus - it reminds me a lot of late 60s Kinks and Sgt Pepper era Beatles in its catchy ditties about British life. Occasionally the lack of sincerity does grate on you a little after 16 tracks. 'To the End' is a classic that I've never truly enjoyed, but luckily it all feels in spirit of the album.
Would recommend listening on a sunny May/June weekend.
Undeniably very good, really liked the middle section with really snappy and complimentary production (unfortunately from Diddy).
Could do without the skits and sex noises tbh
Fun genre-bending debut for Gorillaz. You can tell they haven't quite figured out their 'sound' yet, but that's what makes it so eclectic. Apparently it was one of the most common records to find in a second hand shop in 2002 as people who were epxecting hip-hop/pop crossovers were confusee of what to make of this almost massive-attack-lite album.
Would advsie listening to mezzanine-13-gorillaz to see how their sound formulated.
Favourite songs:
Re-hash
Clint Eastwood
Tomorrow Comes Today
Haven't given Ms Dynamite any thought before or since hearing on on 'Lights On' in 2011, so wwas quite suprised to find this album on here.
Was pleasantly suprised by the variety in sound - at its best moments its found like Nelly Furtado and Lauryn Hill. The main issue is that the album goes on too long, with too many forgettable songs, and some of the lyricism did make me chuckle
Girl, I have no idea what he is saying, but I am living for it
I really want to givde it five stars, but the album just doesn't draw me back the same way that other 5/5 ones do.
Purple rain is an absolute classic, and should always be listened to as an encore.
Not too much to say on it, but fairy enjoyable album
Pretty good, but he does have better
"Nice" is probably the best word to describe this album, the covers are done pretty well, and the instrumentation evokes a nostalgic feeling that would later be mined to deeper effect by the Mamas and Papas.
There isn't too much of substance outside of the covers though, and quite a bit of the album is forgettable
Unfortunately, this is really really good. I get so many parallels between Kanye and MIA, where they're both awful, brainrotted human beings, but their music during this peiod was so singular, forward-thinking, and undeniable.
Lots of personality in just about every song, hard not to like if you're even the slightest bit into hip-hop - maybe lacks a little but of the inventiveness that I appreciate with some later hiphop records
Good Bob Dylan album, not necessarily top tier for me though
Mainly earns its four star rating through Subterranean Somesick Blues alone. Could argue that song makes him to first mainstream rapper (lol)
Reminds me somewhat of Nine Inch Nails, sometimes in a good way, but not really an album I would choose to listen again
Oh my god, this is so long, no album needs to be over two hours, especially one which sounds the same completely throughout
Girlboss alt-rock, in the best way
Queer-baiting is okay when shirley manson does it
Why is there so m,uch fucking Elvis Costello?
S'okay I suppose
Fun, funky and unextected, though not consistently
Widely considered the end of Joni's classic period (though I will defend Mingus more than most), this really is an album that rewards repeat listening. There's almost no hooks, just sprawling, languid and reflective songs which eventually sink into your brain.
Favourite songs: refuge of the road, strange boy, amelia
Good-quality 2010s-era indie rock. Would listen to while driving
Fairly nice I guess - nothing particularly interesting to say about it.
Very spacey - easy top get lost in as you close your eyes and lay down in bed. Drags on a little towards the end, but the first 75% of the album is absolutely sensational. Well worth exploring
Like the B52s and siouxsie making a halloween album together, pretty damn fun
Nicely sung - I do prefer his funkier songs from the 60s
It feels a little strange to call M.I.A underrated, especially when Paper Planes is one of the biggest songs of the 2000s, but genuinely feel that the sheer eccentricity of her early work gets forgotten when discussing the grander music landscape.
Arular is probably the first album I would call an 'internet' album, as in everything feels like its spliced together from different sources and meant to be discovered on a myspace board. The beats on every song are varied, fun, and genuinly new for the time.
Genuinely giggled out loud at the line "Is your dad a dealer? Cause you're dope to me".
Can't remember the last time I felt so excited listening to an album, cannot fault it at all
I would be among the first to say that Tom Petty's brand of rock has never particularly resonated with me . He always seemed to rely on bravado and 'rock 'n roll' attitude which has not translated well into 2026 musically wise.
However, there's enough energy and excitement in most of the tracks to forgive its flaws, in particular American Girl, which is probably his best song period, gving him a genuine sense of longing and wistfullness, coupled with his best melody, that I'm not sure we see in much of his other work.
Duh, its a classic.
Would highly recommend yearning to this album lying down in bed with your eyes closed. Plainsong one of the top ten album openers of all time imo
Quite suprised this made it on, over Power Corruption and Lies and Brotherhood, given both of them are stronger albums and have more recognisable singles.
Nevertheless, it's a strong continuation of New Order's 80s hot streak, with the Perfect Kiss being a top ten New Order song.
Title track is great, and it was kinda fun to hear them do different classics under their distinctive sound, but no real reason to listen to this album past track 3 tbh
It's always nice when you're surprised by an album. My only real exposure to the Pretenders before was through their more mid-tempo stuff.
There's a lot more punk and new wave influence on this album that I thought. In particular, Private Life feels like it could be a Fear of Music-era Talking Heads album track, with the slightly more psychedelic guitar riffs. Chrissie Hynde's voice really elevates much of the material, and offers herself as a really captivating narrator, making songs like Brass in Pocket both sexual and wistful
I do love a good yearn, but wish the instrumental/production was a little more varied
Not having been a fan of Graceland, I had low expectations going into this album, but I was actually very shocked at how fun and playful it was! Paul Simon definitely works better with the instrumentation stripped down, he eminates American Belle and Sebastian energy, in a great way.
Me and Julio is a standout for a reason, would be very interested to explore the rest of his 70s catalogue after this.
Really wanted to give this a higher rating, given its pop culture importance, but unfortunately, there are just too many songs on the album that feel dated or I have no interest in listening to again. Alas Madonna, you shall do better on future releases.
Fave songs:
Dear Jessie
Express Yourself
Like a Prayer
Duh its a 5/5.
On a good day its my favourite album of all time, the creativity and claustrophobic energy of the first five tracks is unmatched by almost any other album I've had the pleasure of listening to
Undeniably influential and forward-thinking for its time, but not really for me. I think that Kraftwerk has better songs coming up in their discography, though I really enjoyed the flute on Morgenspaziergang and the start of the title track
Never the most cutting edge to do it, but always one of the most interesting, and do it with a pop sensibility.
Vanishing Point is a bit darker and grungier than Screamadelica, with the dance-optimism of the latter almost completely gone in this one, save 'star', one of the highlights.
Primal Scream really work best when the bend towards the inklings of their collaborators and let go of any pretences of being a rock band, like the instrumental, almost trip-hop grooves of trainspotting and if they move, kill 'em. Whilst I'm not sure it needs to be in the book, I'm very glad it is, and can hear its influence in albums like Blur's '13'
Trip-hop/electronica for people who don't really listen to it. I enjoyed a lot of the songs, particularly in thefirst half of the album, but as it drags on you start to notice a lack of complexity with a lot of the songs - Moby will find one interesting riff of sample and then just play it out for the rest of the song, resulting in the album losing a lot of its dynamicism that songs like Honey and Porcelain gave.
I'll still listen, but probably to individual tracks rather than a full project.
In a way very similar to Play by Moby (the previous album), in that each song just coasts along on its vibe, but every song is so immaculately constructed that I don't care.
Love Kelly Watch the Stars, Ce matin là, and La Femme d'argent
Hard to believe that this album was written before the age of twenty - every song feels like it has such a weight behind it, and Fiona's presence on each song is towering. Despite this, the hooks and instrumentation are amazing, particularly the one two punch of Slow Like Honey and The First Taste.
Wish When the Pawen would be on here too, but this is probably the best Fiona album on the list.
I like the songs that sound like Spiritualized - I like less the songs that sound like Elbow
Very pleasant, absolutely great melodies that are almost sugar sweet
The album sags slightly in the middle, but absolutely knocks it out the park with the last three tracks, though i fear slow burn captures the yearning part of my music taste the most
Liked Animal Nitrate, could take or leave the rest of the album, there's a reason why Suede aren't remembered as much as the other Britpop giants
Some pretty great R&B and lyrics to go along with it - production and mixing do sound noticeably dated at times
Pretty good, Alright is an all-timer, though I'm not sure it's as hooky or adventurous as some of the other Britpop albums of the time.
Same as the last Steely Dan, technically proficient, but boring and lacking in edge and surprise, though I enjoyed some of the additional textures to the music as opposed to their debut.
I admire this album more than I like it - a lot of it does remind me of the experimental tracks on the White Album, and some are genuinely engaging.
Would I listen to this album again? Probably not
I could describe few other albums like this, but it sounds like a warm bath, purely earnest and cozy. Every melody and note sound familiar, yet not derivative, and delivered utterly sincerely
Maybe lacks a bit of texture that I like from the best trip-hop actions, and suffers a little from being the first out the gate, and the sounds become more normal place, but still an incredibly engrossing and atmospheric album
Warm and cozy, probably the highlight of blue-eyed soul in Britain, at least until Amy Winehouse came along
Pretty early enw wave, with some great synth influences, particularly on the first track.
I do struggle with the lack of hooks, and the energy of the album does get quite lethargic, particularly when they aren't doing mcuh interesting with the music
Somewhat gothic, almost campy record, bringing plenty of melodrama with its dark synths. Love the touches of baroque pop when they bring in strings, really feels like a bridge between their frothy earlier work and the pop perfection of Violator
Lyrics aren't the best, but manage to work in the context of the song, as long as you aren't looking for deep introspection or societal analysis
I basically have no notes, this album absolutely rules - some of the catchiest synth-pop in the first half, to lushly-produced experimental music in the second half, which never ceases to grab your attention
