Reviews by brndnnll

This album is great, it's racing, abrasive and raw. A great output from a very short-lived but excellent band. Had been a really long time since I listened to this. Excellent.

I knew nothing about Tori Amos. Reading about her while listening to this album, it's clear why this album is important given the context and the subject matter. Musically she is without a doubt incredibly gifted. This is just not at all for me.

One of the best albums ever made from a truly talented, soulful and empathetic artist. This album is all Stevie Wonder, every arrangement and every texture. It's simply the pinnacle of his career. A perfect record.

This album is so so good. Forever changed hip-hop. It's a melodic thrill ride, completely bombastic and hard hitting. Love it and an absolute classic.

This is a classic album. I always forget how unexpected and unobvious these compositions are. There is a lot more depth and darkness to them than one might expect. Really short and sweet as a whole, but a great and beautiful album to listen to.

Excellent album and some very welcome World variety. Expertly performed guitar compositions, a beyond enjoyable listening experience.

Shuggie Otis is great. Just kind of always heard his name--being name dropped by Beastie Boys will do that--but never listened to one of his records. This is just a smooth groovin' jam. Great songs, great sound, great record.

This live recording is absolutely breakneck. I can't imagine them being more at the height of their abilities. Just relentlessly pounding. Laying the foundation for thrash. It's honestly an overwhelming thing to listen to and imagine seeing it live in 1980 and 1981. What a band.

Thriller this is not. Definitely an uneven outing to my ears. A few classic songs that are great, but the overall vibe and feel of this album is peaks and valleys. Not for me by any means.

I am not a hip hop expert, but this feels like a classic hip hop masterpiece. Hardcore east coast at it's finest. Flawless combo of rhythm and lyrics. Nas is one of the best.

I love this album. Probably my favorite album from Queen. It starts and ends so strong, it's kind of incredible. Brian May's guitar tone is perfect as always. Almost a perfect record.

Pretty meh on this. Another mediocre and inconsequential entry to this list. It's fine, but one of the top albums to listen to before I die? I think not.

This album is a masterpiece, it's all I ever want in a piece of music. It feels like there is a communing with a higher power on this record. It's universal and sacramental. Just an amazing composition. Mingus was and forever is the master.

I have not ever really listened to The Who more than just a greatest hits comp and hearing their songs as ubiquitous parts of pop culture that last 50 years. This album has some bangers that everyone knows and some songs that I have never heard of, which are just whatever. Not my cup of tea, but fun to hear the hits.

This took me many days to get to. This is not for me at all, but I understand the appeal. I do feel like it's on here because of the overrepresented bias towards mediocre music from the UK from this time period on this list, but that's neither here nor there.

These kind of records are my favorite. Timeless standards performed by an artist, who shows us yet again why these are so timeless to begin with. Willie brings a quietness and space to these songs that let them breathe and also show everyone that Willie is a truly great musician, connecting with these songs deeply and making them his own. I love these kinds of records.

I mean potentially the best record in the world from the best band in the world. What a swan song. The b-side to this record is incredible and it hits all the feels. Just love it so much.

This is a great straightforward hip hop album, nothing but rhymes and incredible production from two of the best in Method Man and RZA. Nothing superfluous and this album is still incredible nearly 30 years later.

Is this album good and worthy of inclusion on this list or does it just contain a massive hit? I think the fact that I do not know and also do not care enough to find out after listening kind of answers that question to me. Another miss on the overrepresented English record from the 80s on this list. It's fine but come on.

Not super familiar with this record in this context, but a lot of these songs are familiar and this sound is certainly familiar. I think the B-52's are just ubiquitous in our culture at this point. Classic new wave vibes, and pretty fun to listen to a couple times through.