Saw some of the reviews and the global rating and assumed the worst. People are being way too harsh here. It's experimental sure but it's not as bad as some of the generic crap that made the list.
It would be a very boring list if experimental and innovative albums like this were excluded.
2.5/5. Raising to a 3.
Rated 6/10
I view Cohen as more of a poet than singer. A bunch of his stuff is practically spoken word. No doubt he's a great songwriter/poet but I don't think you can rate this album highly since it's lacking on the instrumental side. I also really dislike the mouth harp. 2.5/5. Raising to 3.
Rated 6/10
I like this kind of Jazz. "Soul-Jazz". Some of the avant-grade stuff can be unapproachable and hard to enjoy in you aren't a Jazz player/musician. 3/5.
Rated 6/10
Haha what an awful way to open an album.
This weirdly grew on me but I tend to like experimental music.
I was watching Becketts plays on film the weekend so I'm probably in the right head space for this kinda stuff.
I can see how this would have influenced bands like Pixies and Joy Division.
Is this music easy to listen to and super accessible? No.
Does this deserve a place on the list? Yes.
I'll take this any day over Donald Fagens solo work. 3/5.
Got irritating after awhile. 2.5/5. Raising to a 3.
Rated 8/10
Shocked at the amount of 5's being handed out for this album. Had the same issue with George Harrisons solo release. People have a strange Beatles bias.
Its a solid album, it's not perfect and it's not groundbreaking. 3.5/5. Raising to 4.
Rated 6/10
Should you hear Rod Stewart before you die? Yes. Should you hear Gasoline Alley? I don't think so.
I don't know enough about the Rod Stewart and Faces back catalogue but I'd like to believe there is an album from each that is better than this.
It's not a bad album I just don't think it's a mandatory one. 2.5/5. Raising to 3.
Rated 6/10
I Had Too Much To Dream (Last Night) is the highlight. There some really interesting stuff here, felt unsettling at times but then you would have a song that felt so out of place.
Seems they didnt write the majority of the album either. 2.5/5. Raising to 3.
Rated 8/10
It sucks when the wiki doesn't have critical reception or any historical relevance. Asked my friendly neighbourhood bot instead and it told me what I need to know in terms of the music shift at the time and the artists he influenced.
Great example of an album that would never have crossed my path and deserves to be on the list.
It's nice. Moody, laid back and stripped down. The album grew on me. That 8 min track at the end came outta nowhere. 3.5/5. Raising to 4.
Rated 8/10
I dont see how people are rating this 5. A perfect album? Hardly.
Has multiple songs that just don't land and the production is messy at times.
That said it's still a good album and I actually liked the instrumental songs on the last LP.
Side note: When listening to Art of Dying all I could think was that sounds like Eric Clapton on guitar and sure enough it was.
Feeling generous so I'll go 4/5.
Rated 6/10
This is the 2nd Massive Attack album. I don't see how this album warrants inclusion on this list after the 1st?
It's fine musically but I don't see massive steps forward from the 1st album to make this mandatory listening. 2.5/5. Raising to 3.
Rated 4/10
2nd JA album and once again I'm just not feeling this album. Really dislike the vocal.
Based on other reviews on here this seems to have stood out in 1988 but in 2025 it's certainly not a timeless listen. Wouldn't re-listen, wouldn't recommend. 2/5.
Rated 6/10
Blues, folk and country mixed with Bob Dylan vocals. Guitar is pretty sick.
I was only familiar with Sultans of Swings before this.
Stylistically not for me but it's a solid debut album. 3/5.
Rated 4/10
Pearly Queen is a pretty sick song. Jimi Hendrix came to mind when listening.
That was the only song I liked. The album is all over the place. It's not terrible but should this be on a list of albums to listen to before you die? No. 2/5.
Rated 6/10
I like old Kings of Leon. They have better albums though. The two following this were better. The Bucket is the stand out song. 3/5.
Rated 2/10
I've heard the band name a million times but couldn't tell you a song of theirs.
Why in Gods name should anyone listen to this before they die? You know you're in trouble when the most listened to song on the album is shite. Tool - Ænima and Weezer - Pinkerton were also released in 1996 and both deserve to be on this list ahead of this nonsense. Poor vocal, poor lyrics, poor production. There is a serious amount of Britpop/Britrock shite on this list that needs to be trimmed. 1/5.
Rated 8/10
Never heard of Fairport Convention. I like the vocal. Sad how life turned out for the lead singer. Bands and albums like this, that I've not heard before, this make me appreciate the generator/list again. 4/5.
Theres too many Talking Heads albums on this list but I vibed with album. 3.5/5. Raising to a 4.
The majority of the tracks on Otis Blue are cover versions so this album will never be a 5 for me. It seems to be his strongest album, I haven't listened to the others fully but the track lists seem to have 1-2 standout songs. This album is a solid 30 mins of soul. 3.5/5. Raising to 4.
Rated 6/10
Liked the songs I knew already but thought the rest of the album was average and nothing special. 3/5.
