Rated 4/10
Not a band I’ve ever listened to. Metal never really been my thing.
So, feels almost like prog metal to me. The musicianship is off the charts - but it’s just leaving me cold.
I can see why it has its fans for sure. I’m just not one of them.
2
Rated 4/10
Well I’ve never heard of this before. Complete unknown to me. Which is weird given I was actively buying a lot of CDs around this time.
Its very mid 90s, but then I found out it’s from 99. World had moved on when this came out.
It’s ok, but no idea why it’s on the list.
2
Rated 8/10
Peak 80s Rock!
Jump is an absolute classic. Rest of album never quite lives up to that level, but it’s still good.
Like a lot of the 80s it sounds so of its era now, but my god these songs jumped out of even the most crappy cassette player back in the day.
4
Rated 2/10
Hmm. Not exactly a great singer is she?? But some of the music is surprisingly pretty. Was not expecting a string quartet!
Kind of get why it’s on the list due to all those involved, but if you take that away I doubt it’d be considered at all.
Got as far as track 3 and gave up.
1
Rated 4/10
Oh joy - more Neil Young!
I kind of get why people like this, but his voice is a complete turn off. The nice organic sound is great….until he sings and ruins it.
I know Heart of Gold is on here (and it’s a beautiful song) but I’d rather listen to the Boney M version than this. In fact I’d take the cover version almost every time with a NY song.
Not for me.
2 as it’s his least worst album for me.
Rated 6/10
New one to me again - nice!
And another I like! Vocals are Springteenesqe and Dylanesque…but that’s cool by me. Quite a bit going on here for me to unpack in the recording also. Sounds like the kind of stuff my daughter introduces me to….Sam Fender in particular.
Like it. Going into rotation.
Solid 3
Rated 6/10
Ok - another new one to me….
Right up my street from the start. Kind of a modern day Sparks…vocals are a bit all over the place though!
Definitely going to listen again.
3
Rated 6/10
Ok - this is cool. It’s clearly late 70s and the post punk world. Reminds me of quite a lot of stuff from that period (that I like).
Amazingly never heard this before….going into rotation! Singer does suck though.
3
First listen. Electro-folk music….kind of liking it. Sounds very very 70s in production, but that’s cool by me.
Enjoyed it. Will listen again.
3
Rated 6/10
Growing up, I never “got” early queen and only really started to enjoy their output from Sheer Heart Attack onwards.
It’s enlightening to listen to this again. Am surprised how I’ve grown towards this now. It’s almost prog at times and rocks hard when it gets going.
Putting it into rotation. Heard enough to suggest that repeat listening will bear fruit….
3 for now
Rated 2/10
Musical genius or complete shite? I’m firmly in the latter camp.
Nothing original going on. Sounds more like a demo than a finished album - and I get that’s probably the idea, but that only makes sense if the ‘live’ recording is capturing something spontaneously amazing in some way that can’t be captured in the studio. This is just rough and ready to the point of being a mess.
And it’s considered their finest work!
1
Rated 2/10
Guy is a total tool and I refuse to listen to his music.
It’s of its era now, but is part of Christmas in our family.
Have to just ignore the Phil Spector element to it.
3
Rated 10/10
What a debut. One of my favourite bands so going to be biased on this one.
Arrived fully formed, the opening track is iconic. Album is just perfection.
5
Rated 6/10
Ultimate 80s
The chauffeur showing that there was more to this band than just pop hits.
Definitely Duran Duran’s best album.
3
Rated 6/10
First time the Beatles has come up on the list.
Has been a part of my record collection for a very very long time. I had a completist phase on the Beatles so bought the lot. The earlier albums get less play time tbh, so this was a good prompt to give it a listen again.
It’s actually the covers that are most interesting in a way. The band are clearly running out of stuff to record at times so they just bang out numbers they’ve presumably been playing as part of their live sets for years.
Highlights:
- Till there was you….just a gorgeous little tune
- Roll Over Beethoven. One of the definitive cover versions.
- Money. Rocks pretty hard for 1963. Hints at the darkness to come.
Age has dulled its impact a bit now and it can seem a little simple to modern ears, but it’s still the Beatles and deserves to be on this list.
3
Rated 6/10
Fantastic album.
Beautiful voice, fantastic recording, great production. Girlfriend is an absolute banger. Loads of other great tracks. Nothing original going on musically, but it’s all done well.
Worthy modern addition to the list.
3
Rated 6/10
Amazingly I’m coming to this for the first time….Pixies were not my thing back in the 80s.
I know here comes your man, but that’s it.
First listen, vocals are buried in the mix at times which is frustrating. Nice to hear an 80s record with natural sounding drums. Can hear the genesis of quite of lot of music I do like (Radiohead etc), but weirdly not a massive fan on this.
3 for now. Suspect on repeat listens I’ll fall for it though…
Rated 4/10
Was not expecting to see this on the list! Genuinely alarming that it’s 26 years old!
Quite a few of the tracks on here are know to me as singles, but I’ve never listened to this album before.
Listening to it in 2025 I can't say it's setting the world on fire for me as an album. Maybe it had more impact at the time of release?
1.5 rounded to a 2
Rated 8/10
Age hasn’t dulled the power of this. Still rocks hard.
Can’t argue with it. Just goes for it from the first note and then hits you in the face over and over! Pure Rock…..not even trying for anything else.
4
