1001 Albums Summary

Hey, this is my first of 1001 albums, its Paul Simon, who I do like, so a high average seems about right

Some good ones but overall I am not a big fan. The title track is the standout

Album 4 - the purpose of this is to be exposed to music you might not otherwise listen to right? I listened, liked one, but couldn’t say I want to re listen to the rest. The one leads to the 2 rating.

Nice. If I wasn’t a tough grader I might give it another star

Yes, this is a classic; but somehow Nyro's voice starts to grate after a while.

No; not a fan.

Guess I had moved on long before

Never a big Stones fan, they always seemed petulant

Did not listen

Did not listen

I don't get why so many 5's or what critics found appealing. What I hear are three note melodies and dull, repetitive, angsty lyrics. "We Float" seemed like the only one with some redeeming musical qualities but even those were embedded in dah dah de dah notes repeated over and over and uninspiring lyrics. Sorry, another 1 from this listener.

Given the quality of the recent albums of the day I've gotta give Sly & The Family a 3. I might have given it a 2 but Stand!, I Want to Take You Higher, the drum solo on Sex Machine, Everyday People, ... there is enough goodness on this to rate a 3 even if the album as a whole isn't chock full of it.

The title song is really his anthem, isn't it? The rest, meh. His talent was overwhelmed by Yoko, wasn't it? Hard to imagine (?!) he thought many of these were his best work for the time.

Trash and Subway Train seemed to have marginal redeeming value. They’ll not make it on any favorites list of mine however.

Holy mackerel, something from this century that actually has listenable tunes and lyrics? Something I’d not been aware of before but would eagerly listen to again? This is why I started this 1001 journey.

I was not aware of Jansch but it seems evident that a lot of the folk scene of this era was. I knew I’d heard Angie before, which led me to wonder why Simon & Garfunkel titled it Anji; that then led me to the composer, Davy Graham’s version and some exploration of his work. Another excellent addition to 1001

This review can’t be unbiased since I grew up in the Hudson Valley where McLean was writing this and getting into and out of the folk scene around Pete Seeger, another local. Pie was a youth anthem as well as Vincent, reason enough to make this one of 1001 albums deserving to be heard again 50 years later though.

Perhaps after all this time we have heard the title song a few too many times. Still a great song however. The whole album- its inclusion on this list well deserved - is chock full of good ones.

A great example of its time. Changes has been played to death of course but the rest, not as familiar, exemplify the directions Bowie would take. Good choice for a 1001 albums.

Probably would not have listened had it not shown up; funky

Janice sure could belt it out, couldn’t she? Big Brother tried to hold up the instrumental aspects but, really, the guitar work can’t hold a candle to her vocals and we just want Janice to recover enough to continue. Oddly my previous album of the day was James Brown - at least one of whose songs reminded me of Joplin. But after I checked the dates I wondered if the influence was the other way around and Joplin had done a bit of cultural appropriation

An exceptional album, there is so much here to like

Amusing, quirky. I can take it in small doses snd can see how this might rate being one of 1000 albums one should be aware of

After an out if order listen a daily offering that disappointed Beauty and the Beat provided a refreshing upbeat. I don’t expect the Go-Go’s to become something to return to regularly ut did add at least Our Lips are Sealed to my never ending favorites playlist

After reading some of the reviews I thought “hmm, that seems like something I might like.” But after listening I’ve gotta agree with some of the negatives. Meh. Schmalzy. Mawkish. Bathetic. Nah.

I am sure I have started to play this before and been put off by the opening title track. Feeling obligated to give it at least a but more I listened to the whole album. And while it won’t become a favorite I better appreciate Monk’s contributions now and see why this rates inclusion in 1001

I clearly don’t get the in joke. Repetitious lyrics, references that keep reappearing in other songs, too similar cadences, obnoxious accents. What’s to like?

Some real classics on this but, you know, the music just can’t be separated from the awful person the musician turned out to be. I listened and agree maybe this deserves to be one in a thousand, though any time he comes up in a playlist I move on as quickly as I can

The instrumentals are actually interesting and the boys evidently put some effort into the lyrics this time around. Not enough to make me want to think much about their meaning. 2 because they show improvement and I can see how this might be considered influential

I see my feelings about Neil Young are shared with not a few others. When I saw this was in 1001 My first thought was “uh oh” but decided I should try on general principles. But by the end, along with my wife volunteering “I’ve never cared for his whiney voice” - exactly my thoughts by that point, my mind was made up. Plus variations on ‘My my, hey hey’ keep coming up on playlists, a song whose insipid lyrics strike my as all too Neal Young. 2 because of his influence.

I felt shock and awe when this first came out: classical music (that I was familiar with) played by rock musicians. A bit over the top? Sure, but I wonder how many listeners were turned on to the idea that maybe some of those classical composers had something to offer too. Glad this came up as a something one ought to listen to.

More Neil Young, just a day after Rust? Sorry, the voice just grates. 2 again for his influence

The title and final tracks are the standouts of course. I hadn't realized Lennon played on this, and so the repeated, strident denials that "Nothing's gonna change my world" in his cover of Across the Universe seems poignantly prescient. Don't know though, would we call the rest cultural appropriation today?

They do have orchestra in their name so I guess that should excuse some of the excess. I can’t help but hear Queen in many of these as well. Still, while enjoyable it is a bit long. Was it a little ELO joke that “It’s Over” was only the second track?

Yup, that's bongo music all right. Not really meant for deep listening I guess but surprisingly pleasant, especially on a hot summer day. The In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida cover provided a throwback chuckle.

Tried it. Did not care for any of it. Reminded me of Broadway show tunes from one that I'd never heard of.

Thought I might like this as sometimes Elvis can be enjoyable, but nope. The little heard ones seemed to deserve their obscurity and the familiar seemed hackneyed.

An easy 5 from this still a fan after half a century of listening

Repetitive lyrics, repetitious melodies, repeated chords, reiterative themes. I tried - again - to understand why PJ Harvey gets a nod as worthy of being included in 1001, more than once. I just don’t get it. “Let it Burn” is about right

I liked this in the last century, I like it still.