1001 Albums Summary

Phenomenal production and it’s just a great listen from Black Cow onwards.

I was aware of The B-52s before O listened to this. I liked the Peter Gunn Style intro to Planet Claire and I enjoyed Rock Lobster (although it’s far too long at 7 minutes). The rest of the album felt quite samey and a bit boring for me. I do appreciate its quirkiness but I don’t think I’d bother to listen to it ever again.

This, for me, was an album where the band were still finding their sea legs. There is little elements of what was to come and it’s got the Queen trademarks but I just couldn’t buy into it. It’s all 5 to 6 minute epics about Goblins and Fairies and too proggy for my taste. The instrumentation and Vocals are amazing but the songs just aren’t there for me. I’m glad someone must’ve took them aside and told the band to get their act together and write songs with more pop sensibility. Highlight for me was Seven Seas of Rhye and it’s no surprise that it’s the only song from this album that would be entertained for a greatest hits package. 2/5 Better was to come from Freddie, Bryan, Roger and John.

Exceptional musicianship but not my cup of tea at all. The screechy violins and dissonance was too much for my ears. Some nice sabbath style riffs in places but it’s a no from me.

First 3 tracks are probably the highlight. A solid debut album from Dave Grohl.

Probably McCartney’s best solo album and there’s a handful of songs that would have been good enough to feature on a Beatles album if they had been together in 1973

I like Iggy Pop but this bored me. Next to no dynamic in any of the songs. China Girl and Nightclubbing were the highlights.

Some nice tunes from the heart and soul of Stax Records

Learned to play guitar to this album years ago. It’s as visceral and relevant as it has ever been. Amazing to think that a bunch of teenagers could write something this influential. Will forever be in my top 5 albums of all time. Highlights are: Bodies Holiday in the sun EMI God Save The Queen.

I tried but Michael Stipes voice grates me. A couple of pleasant enough tracks and it could grow to a 3/5 but not enough there to make me want to listen to it again.

I appreciate this is a significant album from the genesis of the rap genre but it sounds really basic and dated. The flow of the record feels repetitive and becomes very boring to my ears.

Pleasant enough with some excellent melody and musicianship. More background music than something I can truly immerse in.

Closer to 3.5/5. I love that the rhythm and melody are explained for each track. It’s definitely an album I need to digest in small doses. The influences on George Harrison and Jimmy Page/Robert Plant are almost immediate. A great album for the western world to embrace Indian music.

One of my top 5 albums. Peak Zep. It covers almost every genre they were influenced. There’s no weak track on this album

A great debut album. Levon Helm’s voice and the harmonies are unbelievable. Great story telling lyrics. A real traditional songwriters album during a time when their contemporaries (Hendrix, The Beatles, Cream etc) were at the height of their expertimental phases and trying to create new sounds with the likes of axis: bold as love and The White Album and Disraeli Gears. You can hear how heavily influential The Band were ion Clapton because in this is a blueprint for what was to come with Derek and The Dominoes. Class from start to finish.

Great album with great singles. Brilliant guitar riffs and harmonies. Nonsense lyrics. Typical T-Rex.

I liked KOL 20 years ago but this hasn’t aged well or my palette has changed. I have fond memories of playing “The Bucket” in a band with a dead mate so that gave it an extra star for nostalgia. Noisy indie try hards with a marmite singer. Didn’t care for it.

3.5/5 Some classic glam rock anthems in there.

Shite early noughties British indie. We can only apologise for what was inflicted on the rest of the world

I like psychedelia but this didn’t hit the spot.

British rock tinged with folk and jazz. The opening instrumental is a snooze fest. There’s a couple of pleasant enough songs that possibly influenced steely Dan. Excellent musicianship but not enough to hold my interest 2.5/5 but might creep up to 3 after a few listens.

Angular guitar riffs, changing time signatures and the singer reminded me of Lena Lovich. It’s a bit shouty and dissonant for me my taste. I liked the opening track.

A fine album of Englishness. Great storytelling lyrics, as usual, from Ray Davies. The album must’ve stood out during 1967 when psychedelia was in its pomp and there was so much musical experimentation. This is a songwriter’s album. My only criticism is that it doesn’t feature one or two more raucous tracks, as that was Dave Davies strong point as a guitarist. However, that is a minor critique and goes against the concept of the album. 4/5

Pleasant enough without being a world beater. Some nice grooves and beats here and there.

For me, Radiohead started to disappear up their own arse around OK Computer. I was 14 or 15 when The Bends came out and it was an instant classic. That’s what I want to hear when I think of Radiohead. I appreciate they want to evolve but this is so far removed from what made them great in the early 90s. Johnny Greenwood is such an explosive talent on guitar but he’s absolutely neutered on In Rainbows. The songs are predominantly boring. I genuinely think people give this 5/5 because they want to look cool in front of their peers and don’t have the bollocks to say “actually, I think In Rainbows is a banal dirge of cat spunk.” I liked House of Cards and Jigsaw Falling Into Place but wouldn’t care a jot if they never fell into my crosshairs again. 2 out of 5 but would possibly rise to 3 out of 5 if I could be bothered putting myself through listening to it again.