1001 Albums Summary

#1 The production and sound quality is amazing for its time, and there is no denying that Ella is one of the best voices of all time. However, the extremely long runtime causes the songs to run together, and it isn't a genre that I am typically drawn to for anything other than background music or film settings. I won't say this isn't a good album, but I also won't likely ever re-visit it.

#2 This album sounded very different than I expected from the Beach Boys, and not in a good way. I was looking forward to their signature vocal harmonizations and catchy melodies, and it just seemed bland and drab instead. I even gave it a second listen to see if I was missing something, and it still just did not speak to me. There are a few nice moments, but overall forgettable.

#3 This was the second time I have given this album a try, giving it two listens this time around. For all of the rave reviews and praise it gets, I still feel like I am missing something here. Yes, the title track is awesome, but I feel like it sets a level and style that the rest of the album fails to reach again, save for maybe Super Stupid. I guess I had hopes that the album would have leaned into the psychedelic guitar a bit more. But, I can see how in its time this was a mind-blowing genre-bender that sounded like nothing else out there. I don't know how likely I am to deliberately seek this one out again.

#4 Janis Joplin's vocals are the most prominent element throughout this album, for better or worse. Piece of my Heart is a classic, and it would not be as iconic had it been sung by anyone else. At the same time, I find her vocals to detract from the otherwise fantastic rendition of Summertime. Just too much squealing... It is a solid example of early psych-rock and has some great instrumental work throughout, but it has its flaws. The production quality is lacking, and the fake crowd noise I especially don't like. Overall, it's a decent album that I'm glad I was exposed to, but not one that will go into my rotation.

#5 It's like The Black Keys collaborating with David Bowie. This album starts hot, immediately grabbing my attention and keeping it through the first four tracks. From there it falls off a bit, but never bottoms out. It was an enjoyable listen all the way through, and I had it saved to my library before I finished my first listen. Fun lyrics, groovy sounds, and great guitar work.

#6 YHF is an old favorite of mine, and I was glad to give it another listen here. It is the perfect mix of Americana and Indie, with plenty of experimental elements laced throughout. It should really be listened to with a good set of headphones to fully take in all of the background layers and sounds. It has a fair amount of lore surrounding its recording and release too, which adds another layer to it. Every track has its place in building the bigger picture of the album, and it's hard to pick just one or two highlights. I Am Trying To Break Your Heart is a perfect opener. Radio Cure is haunting, angsty, and beautiful all at once, with so many sparse layers and sounds quietly carrying it in the background. Jesus, Etc. is the best song on the album, and possibly Wilco's discography. Poor Places leading into Reservations is a great way to close it all out. Overall, a fantastic album that only gets better with more listens. 5 stars.

#7 Sultans of Swing is the obvious highlight, but it really carries the rest of the album; hardly anything else here is memorable. It isn't bad, it just feels way too reserved. I guess I expected more... At least Sultans will always be a banger.

#8 I am admittedly not a huge fan of funk, but I want to give everything a fair chance here. It's a genre where much of it blurs together and sounds the same to me. I was ready to write this album off after my first listen. Nothing caught my attention and it seemed to drag on. I gave it another chance later in the day, and I actually liked it a lot more. This album was a whole different experience with headphones and limited distractions. It still may be a bit too long, but there is a lot of good stuff going on throughout the album. It's quirky, dark, groovy, and has a nice touch of psychedelia. Just Like a Baby is so good. I am really surprised how much I liked this one.

#9 This was an interesting listen. I am not well versed in Prog Rock, so this appears to be a good introduction. This is 70s rock presented like a symphony, with lots of unique instrumentation and plenty of weirdness. It does get lost in its own excess at times. I feel like this album requires several listens to fully process, and I could see myself coming back to this again.

#10 This album shows its age in many ways, but also is undeniably important to its genre. Biggie is such a masterful story teller, and has such a distinct flow and voice. Big Poppa and Juicy stand out as true classics. The skits are a bit much though, and it is thematically and sonically mostly the same all the way through.

#11 This is a prime example of classic Chicago blues. The band is tight and the production quality is great, but all of the songs sound alike. I can appreciate this for what it is, but it is not something I seek out on its own. I know I would enjoy this more in the right setting, that being live in a smoky bar.

#12 CCR always seems like the most appropriate soundtrack for a sweltering hot day, so naturally this one generated for me on the first 90 degree day of the year. Several of their biggest hits are on this album, and the relatively short runtime works in its favor, as there isn't much filler here. Overall a very solid classic rock album, and an important part of a great band's catalog.

#13 Prototypical thrash metal, with edgy lyrics about satan and death. It's just not my thing.

#14 I was excited to give this a listen, knowing how revered Pixies are and having only heard a couple of their big hits before. To be honest though, it fell kind of flat for me. It wasn't bad, but after two listens it just kind of ran together and nothing was memorable. There are a few good songs, but nothing wowed me. I can definitely see the influence this had on the alt rock scene that evolved in the years following, and it does sound ahead of its time for a 1989 release. 3.5/5

#15 I had higher hopes for this. Most of the songs don't seem to go anywhere musically, and his singing comes across as monotone and borderline lazy. Some of the lyrics are cringey, especially in Green Eyes. West Country Girl might be the only song on the whole album worth returning to.

#16 A live album of long blues rock jams. None of these songs did anything for me. I wouldn't say it's bad, it just feels long-winded and aimless.

#17 A solid west-coast rap album that shows its age. The G-Funk beats are smooth as hell, Snoop's flow is great, and there are a few classics on the tracklist. The first half of the album outshines the latter half. The lyrics leave much to be be desired; balls are mentioned a lot...

#18 This album blew me away! It clicked for me so fast, feeling somehow familiar and extremely novel at the same time. I can't believe I've never stumbled across this band before. Fuzzy is a well-executed blend of 90s Alt-Rock and Americana, with a dark and heavy atmosphere. The distorted 12-string adds such a unique and powerful edge to the sound. Lyrics seamlessly flow between being poetic and storytelling. The title track is incredible, and far from the only highlight here. This is one I will absolutely come back to.

#19 An important album that was influential to so much music that came after it. I generally am not a huge funk fan, so this didn't do too much for me, but this is good for what it is. Everyday People is a classic.

#20 What a noisy mess of an album. It feels like they are trying to be as experimental as they can possibly be, while also making it deliberately off-putting.

#21 A few classic Stevie Wonder tracks appear on this album, and the rest of the songs are decent to pretty good. A little sappy/ overly sweet at times, but overall a good listen.

#22 I haven't heard this sad/ melancholy side of Beck before, but it's good. Great production quality, with beautiful use of strings throughout. I really like The Golden Age and Paper Tiger. No bad tracks, but I wish there was just a little more variation in the sound for an album this long.

#23 It isn't anything special, just a decent pop-rock album with a few songs that were inescapable when this album was new. I really don't think it is a "must-hear" album, but at the same time it wasn't a difficult album to sit through.

#24 A prime example of 80s synth-pop, with some really good bass guitar work shining above everything else. The overall sound is pretty one-dimensional, which isn't surprising given the genre and age of it. I did like this more than I expected to. "Big Sleep" and "King Is White" are both highlights for me. Terrible album cover.

#25 Repetetive and drawn out techno album. There are some good parts and sounds, but it is best used as background music.

#26 It's too bad Coldplay just makes corporate-slop music these days, because they really had something special in their early years. This is a strong debut album, even if it falls off a bit towards the end.

#27 Overall a good vibe, but most of it doesn't stick with me. The title track is great, but I wish there were other tracks that stood out as much.

#28 U2 is a band that I have never been able to get into, and while this album was not terrible, it reaffirmed that I still don't understand the hype. One and Wild Horses are good, and the rest are just ok. Overall it feels inoffensive and generic, while also coming across as try-hard and self-important.

#29 I tried so hard to like this, but I just couldn't. The lyrics are what shines here, almost like a collection of poetry, but the musical arrangements and song structures are unremarkable and boring, like it was an after-thought. Lyrics alone can't make an album great. I also can't stand the sound of her voice when she sings in the higher registers, which she is constantly switching in and out of, and it is jarring every time. For all the accolades and praise this album has received, it was a disappointing listen.

#30 A noisy and repetitive punk album, with unintelligible shout-singing throughout. The saxophone is an interesting choice for this style of music, and is the only memorable part of the whole album. It didn't make it any better though. Glad it's over.

#31 This album is a good contrast to the gangster rap of the early 90s, maintaining a nice laid-back and jazzy vibe throughout. It stays cohesive without getting too repetitive (at least as far as Boom-Bap goes), and the sampling is very creative. The lyrics are well-written and flow nicely, and even when they get corny a few times it comes across humorously instead of cringey. Very impressive for a debut album! Footprints, El Segundo, and Mr. Muhammad are all excellent, and of course Can I Kick It? is a classic.

#32 The Beatles shifted towards psychedelia with Revolver, and it delivered several of their best songs. Incredibly influential and truly ahead of its time, this album sounds fantastic for a 1966 release. Lots of unique arrangements and instrumentation are used, showing how much they were able to innovate and expand their sound in comparison to their earlier work. It's a good listen all the way through, but so many tracks are jammed into its relatively short run time. It would benefit from dropping a couple and letting the more experimental tracks run a bit longer.

#33 A dreamy, melancholy, and psychedelic chamber pop album that has the vibe of an old movie soundtrack. The tracks are sequenced perfectly, with a few instrumental interludes helping to keep the dream-like and slightly weird atmosphere flowing throughout. Holes and Opus 40 are in a toss-up for best song. I'm not sure it has any bad tracks. This was a nice surprise find for me, I really enjoyed it.

#34 Funk songs about being funky are like rock songs about rocking hard: kind of lame. A few good riffs here and there, and some good musicianship on display from the bass and horn players especially. It didn't do much for me though, a bit boring and repetitive.

#35 The musical equivalent of plain cheerios with a heap of sugar on top; bland and overly sweet. Karen Carpenter does have a great voice though.

#36 An easy listen, but not something I generally seek out. The first half was all big-band, and stood out more than the latter half of similar sounding string-backed ballads. Alexander's Ragtime Band is my personal highlight.

#37 Led Zeppelin took a different approach to this album, shifting from the straightforward hard rock sound of I & II to a more subdued acoustic style for much of III. This album serves as an important stepping stone to their next few albums, really marking a maturity in their songwriting and sound. It showcases their intrumental versatility and stylistic range. III is probably their most underrated album, but it deserves just as much acclaim as the rest of their first six. Immigrant Song is the best known song here, but Since I've Been Loving You, Gallows Pole, Tangerine, and That's The Way are all top-notch tracks as well. Initially I wasn't sure this album would be deserving of a full 5 stars, but after several listens this time around, I can't see any reason why it should get any less.

#38 A quirky lo-fi folk album with a bit of an Eastern influence on its sound. Parts of it are very good, while others are pretty weird. Excellent guitar playing throughout, with other instrumentation used in moderation. Interesting lyrics and a unique voice. As weird as it may be at times, it's an enjoyable listen and I could see myself re-visiting. Personal highlights are "A Sight To Behold" and "Fall".

#39 You can tell these guys had a lot of fun making this album. Lots and lots of samples used throughout. Maybe a little too long, it starts to sound a bit repetitive after a while. I could see myself re-visiting at some point.

#40 Some good, some meh. The title track is great, and the second half of the album is much better than the first. I can definitely see how this influenced later alt-rock and indie-rock bands.

#41 It's not my thing, but not a bad listen either. Pretty standard 80s pop-rock, fun and bouncy but also pretty one-dimensional. A few recognizable radio hits, but nothing that really grabbed my attention. 2.5/5

#42 A genuine masterpiece, perfect from start to finish. I've listened to this album countless times, and it never gets old. Iconic songs, monumental sound, and poignant lyrics. Truly one of the best albums of all time. 10/5 stars.

#43 A solid 80s album, pretty chill and mellow sound. I like that it isn't too heavy on the synths. Not the most memorable listen, but a good vibe.

#44 No doubt that most of these songs have been overplayed and beaten into the ground over the years. Nonetheless, this album is a good listen and is very exemplary of Billy Joel's body of work. The title track is the best song here, but I might feel that way just because I haven't heard it a thousand times. Surprised to see this is his only album on the list, I feel that Piano Man deserves a spot as well.

#47 Very polished for a debut album, and sounds timeless; I couldn't believe this was released in 1983! Definitely a foundational album for alternative and indie rock that followed it, and a stark contrast to everything else on rock radio in its time. Pilgrimage, Shaking Through, and We Walk are my highlights.

#48 World music, but it's ambient and interspersed with radio show cutouts. The idea is interesting, but the execution is not good. It's trying to do too much, cramming too many musical styles into a single album while also having no clear direction. None of the tracks even stand out as prime examples of their genre. The cherry on top is that he didn't credit the actual musicians behind everything he compiled here.

#49 I am not sure why up to this point I have never given a Wu-Tang Clan album a full listen. I guess I wasn't sure where to start, as their cult following and aura have always piqued my interest. Well, they absolutely have my attention now, what a banger of an album! It starts off sounding similar to other early 90s hip-hop, but quickly evolves into something deeper and uniquely their own. My first listen turned into three, and Chessboxin' has been on repeat for me for days now. Great sampling, and the skits are not too disruptive. Sounds ahead of its time. Can It Be All So Simple, Chessboxin', C.R.E.A.M., and Protect Ya Neck are my hightlights.

#50 Standard 90s Brit-Pop, nothing too exciting or innovative. A pretty easy listen, but it also drags on a bit too long. Very top heavy; the 3 best songs are Bittersweet Symphony, Sonnet, and The Drugs Don't Work, and they are all excellent songs. After that much of it runs together and isn't memorable. 3.5/5

#51 We have The Beatles at home. The Beatles at home: Easy enough to listen to, but mostly forgettable. Time of the Season is the only true standout track, and it is fantastic.

#52 I never realized so many of their well-known hits came from their debut album. Do It Again, Dirty Work, and Reelin' In The Years are all classic rock staples, and Brooklyn is a sneaky good track with some great steel guitar work. Good album, jazzy and soft with plenty of hooks.

#53 Songs of Love and Hate has been a long-time favorite of mine, and slightly edges out Cohen's first two albums for my favorite in his catalog. It is my go-to album for dark and rainy days, or full-blown depressive episodes. It's a masterpiece of dirge music. I love the dark, angsty, and brooding atmosphere that is delivered through both the lyrics and also the guitar playing itself. Cohen's lyrics are pure poetry, and clearly convey the stories and ideas his songs explore, while leaving plenty of room for the listener's own interpretations. His raw and imperfect singing adds so much more emotion and impact to the overall sound of the music than a polished voice would. Cohen is an artist who could do more with less in his arrangements, and proves that stripped down instrumental arrangements can still be intricate and unique (I am directly shading Joni Mitchell's "Blue" and Nick Cave's "The Boatman's Call" here, both of which earned only 2 stars from me for this exact reason, despite having high hopes for both). Avalanche, Dress Rehearsal Rag, Diamonds in the Mine, Famous Blue Raincoat, and Sing Another Song Boys are all personal highlights, which is most of the album, but I can't pick just one or two.