Reviews by kitch82

This was my first proper listen to Lloyd Cole and the Commotions, and I was genuinely looking forward to giving them a go.

I ended up listening to Rattlesnakes three or four times because I struggled to land on a clear opinion. There are definitely some great songs here, but overall, it feels quite middle-of-the-road. That said, it’s an easy, pleasant listen — the kind of album that works well in the background.

On reflection, I’d give it a solid 3 out of 5. Not groundbreaking, but good to have on rotation when you want something mellow and unobtrusive.

Favourite tracks: “Perfect Skin” and “Rattlesnakes” stood out as real highlights.
Least favourite: Nothing jumped out as terrible — it’s all pretty consistent.
Album artwork: I really like the simplicity of the cover. It suits the tone of the album perfectly.

Before Kings of Leon embraced a more polished, mainstream sound, they delivered Youth and Young Manhood—a raw, energetic debut that still holds up today. I’ve always loved this album; it’s a nostalgic time capsule that takes me right back to my youth. Hard to believe it’s been 22 years! I’m excited to revisit it with fresh ears and a new perspective.

On reflection, I’d rate it a solid 4/5. There are some fantastic tracks around Molly Chambers, like Wasted Time, Happy Alone, and Genius, but there are also a few fillers and not a lot of variation in sound. That said, it still absolutely rocks!

Favorite song: Molly Chambers—the ultimate going-out anthem of my younger years. What a tune!

Least favorite song: Honestly, there isn’t a bad song on the album.

Album artwork: A really cool cover that perfectly captures the album’s gritty vibe.

I had never heard of this band or album before, but with Brian Eno involved, I expected something interesting.

This is easily one of the most bizarre albums I’ve ever listened to. Judging by the reviews, I must be missing something—there are plenty of five-star ratings out there. Unfortunately, it won’t be getting one from me.

Musically, some tracks were undeniably beautiful. I really enjoyed Penguin Cafe Single, Zopf from the Colonies, and The Sound of Someone You Love. However, the songs felt like they dragged on endlessly without much variation or progression. I can appreciate its artistry, but ultimately, I found it tedious.

Favorite song: The Sound of Someone You Love—a lovely piece, but it could have been 10 minutes shorter.
Least favorite song: Tracks 3–8 didn’t offer much at all.
Album artwork: The cover is certainly unique.

This album is hip-hop at its finest. It’s an incredible mix of funk and soul, with lyrics that remain just as relevant today as they were upon release. Every track has something to offer, making for a compelling and timeless listen.

I absolutely loved every song on this album—except Scorpio. Even the two unexpected soul tracks in the middle, which seem to pay tribute to Stevie Wonder, were a pleasant surprise despite their different tone compared to the rest of the album.

Favourite Songs: The Message and It’s a Shame are absolute standouts.
Least Favourite Song: Scorpio felt a bit out of place—like something from a spoof Doctor Who soundtrack.
Album Artwork: I love the cover; it perfectly captures the essence of the era.

Going into this, I had never heard of The Associates or their album Sulk, so I had no idea what to expect.

This album took me on a journey—some parts I loved, some I couldn’t stand, and others just left me confused. There are a few solid tracks, like 18 Carat Love Affair and Club Country, but then there’s also a fair share of chaotic, almost video game-like 80s noise and outright terrible songs. It’s not a 1/5 disaster, but I won’t be revisiting it.

Favorite song: 18 Carat Love Affair and Love Hangover
Least favorite: Most of the album
Album artwork: Really cool cover.

I’ve always loved The Specials, and More Specials, their second album, showcases a bold evolution in their sound. Moving away from the raw energy of their debut, they embrace a more jazzy, easy-listening style with touches of Northern Soul. The result? An eclectic, refreshing, and undeniably cool album that still feels innovative today.

The tracklist is packed with variety, from the big hits like Rat Race, Enjoy Yourself, and Do Nothing to hidden gems like Hey Little Rich Girl, Man at C&A, and Holiday Fortnight. Every song brings something unique, yet they all belong on this album.

Favourite tracks: Enjoy Yourself, Do Nothing, and Rat Race—huge songs from my youth and still absolute classics.

Least favourite track: Honestly, there isn’t a bad one. Every song is worth a listen.

Album artwork: A legendary 2 Tone cover that perfectly matches the band's iconic style.

More Specials is a fantastic listen from start to finish—an album that proves The Specials weren’t just a ska band, but true musical innovators.

I'm a fan of The Psychedelic Furs, and Talk Talk Talk has always been my favorite album of theirs. It’s a solid blend of pop with a touch of post-punk and new wave — a combination that really works.

Favorite Songs: Pretty in Pink is a standout, and So Run Down and Into You Like a Train are also fantastic.

Least Favorite: Honestly, there isn’t a weak track here. It’s a consistently strong album that absolutely deserves its place on this list.

Album Artwork: The cover is cool, though it feels very much of its time — a lot of 80s bands seemed to have similar aesthetic choices and a surprising number of album titles with talk in them!

I've always loved Stereo MCs, and Connected stands out as their finest work.

I'm thrilled to give it another listen and glad to see it recognized on the top 1001 album list. This album is proof that electronic music can be not just good—but great.

Favorite songs: Connected, Step It Up, and Ground Level are the big hits, but there are also some excellent hidden gems like Everything, Pressure, and Playing with Fire.

Least favorite: Honestly, there isn’t a bad song on the album.

Album artwork: The cover is very cool and perfectly reflects the vibe of the music

When this popped up, I’ll admit I had never heard of John Martyn or Solid Air. I had no idea what to expect — but let’s see.

I liked it. Enough to listen again and explore more of his back catalogue. The album has a serious, dark tone, but it’s still an easy and enjoyable listen. I especially love the rich, dark vocals. The production is excellent — it’s hard to believe this was made in 1973; it feels surprisingly modern.

Favorite song: Every track was enjoyable, but I particularly liked the opening two — Solid Air and Over the Hill.
Least favorite: There isn’t a bad track on the album.
Album artwork: Cool cover.

This was my first time listening to The Beta Band, and after just one playthrough, I knew I had to download it and give it another spin.

I was already familiar with Squares, which is a fantastic track, and I’m happy to say the rest of the album holds up well. It’s an easy, enjoyable listen with a laid-back vibe reminiscent of Gorillaz and MGMT — perfect for background listening. While it lacks a few standout moments, it’s consistently solid throughout.

Favorite song: Squares — a great track.
Least favorite: Honestly, every track earned its place on the album, but I wouldn’t have minded a couple more big hitters like Squares.
Album artwork: Cool cover — though I’m still not sure what’s going on in the middle!

I like Joan Baez’s voice, but the folk style feels a bit too whimsical for me—not really my thing. It’s like listening to a collection of songs from Robin Hood’s era.

Favorite songs: Silver Dagger and House of the Rising Sun were definite highlights.
Least favorite: Henry Martin felt pretty dull.
Album artwork: Cool cover—it suits the vibe of the album well.

I had never listened to Electric Ladyland in full before, and I was really looking forward to it.

Wow—what an album. I absolutely love it. It feels like a massive jam session layered with some truly fantastic songs. Hendrix’s guitar work is incredible, and his voice really stands out—underrated, in my opinion.

Favorite songs: All Along the Watchtower and Have You Ever Been (To Electric Ladyland) are just perfect.
Least favorite: None. Every track on this album feels purposeful and adds something valuable to the experience.
Album artwork: Very cool cover—it perfectly sets the tone for the music inside.

Anita Baker undeniably has a great voice, and Rapture features some solid tracks, with highlights like "Sweet Love" and "Caught Up in the Rapture" standing out as particularly strong. However, while the album is pleasant and well-produced, it doesn’t feel groundbreaking or particularly memorable for its time.

It’s a good pop record with smooth production and some nice moments, but it lacks that spark that would make me want to revisit it. It’s easy listening, but nothing more.

Favourite Songs: Caught Up in the Rapture, Sweet Love
Least Favourite: Nothing was outright bad—it’s just middle-of-the-road overall.
Album Artwork: A nice, classy cover.

I'm not a big heavy metal fan, but to me, Paranoid is the pinnacle of the genre. It's the best heavy metal album I've ever heard, and I’d bet it's one of the most influential too.

The guitar riffs and instrumentals are phenomenal, and the vocals are both unique and powerful. This is the kind of album you’ll want to play on repeat.

Favorite songs: Paranoid and War Pigs
Least favorite: There isn’t a bad track on the album.
Album artwork: A cool and memorable cover that fits the vibe perfectly.

One of the Wailers!! I was excited to dive into this since I haven’t explored any of the other Wailers' solo work before — so Legalize It felt like a good place to start.

Peter Tosh delivers a solid reggae sound — exactly what you’d expect. After the opening track, I wondered, Is this going to be an entire album about the legalization of weed? I get it, and he was probably right — but there’s more to this album than that.

Tracks like Burial, Why Must I Cry, and No Sympathy offer heartfelt lyrics about love and heartache, adding real depth beyond the central theme.

It’s a solid album — I’ll definitely play this again.

Favourite song: No Sympathy — such a great tune.
Least favourite: I couldn’t get into the title track at all. It is the weakest track on the album for sure.
Album artwork: Alright, we get it — you like weed!

I didn’t expect to love this album as much as I did — but wow, Soft Cell is so much more than Tainted Love.

This album oozes that unmistakable '80s vibe. It’s sleazy, packed with synths, and dripping with pop and sexual undertones — exactly what you’d hope for from Soft Cell.

Favourite songs: It’s hard to choose, especially with the deluxe edition offering so many gems. Disco 2 feels like the soundtrack to a wild night out, and I couldn’t get enough of Sex Dwarf, Chips on My Shoulder, and, of course, Tainted Love.
Least favourite: Honestly, there’s not a single bad track here.
Album artwork: Super cool cover — it perfectly captures the vibe of the music

I am genuinely surprised this album made the list. It feels like it is scraping the lower end of the 1001 for me.

I understand that Animal Collective are deliberately aiming for something different and boundary pushing. There is clearly ambition here. But as a listening experience it just does not land. The songs feel repetitive and cluttered, with layers of sound competing rather than complementing each other. Instead of creating atmosphere, it becomes an indistinct blur.

At times there are glimpses of something interesting underneath the noise, but the production feels so overloaded that it buries any real hook or emotional connection. It simply did not click with me.

Favourite song: No More Runnin was decent enough and the most listenable for me.
Least favourite: Daily Routine was particularly hard work. Guys Eyes had potential, but the clashing layers turned it into a chaotic mess.
Album artwork: Very cool. The optical illusion cover is easily one of the most memorable aspects of the whole package

I had never listened to a Bonnie "Prince" Billy track before, so I went into I See a Darkness with an open mind.

In short, this album is dark and moody — but ultimately quite boring. I struggled to find much I enjoyed and wouldn’t revisit it. It felt like Nirvana without the bite and anger, leaving it flat and unmemorable.

Favorite song: I thought Death to Everyone was a nice track.
Least favorite: Honestly, the whole album felt dull.
Album artwork: The cover is pretty cool, though.

Adele has an incredible voice and a charming personality when she speaks, but her music often feels a bit dull.

25 has some standout moments, though. I really enjoyed Hello—surprisingly, I hadn’t listened to it all the way through until this challenge. Send My Love was also nice, but most of the album felt pretty uninspired, similar and flat.

Favorite song: Hello is a great track, though it feels about a minute or two longer than it needs to be.
Least favorite: Remedy was painfully boring—it felt like it was never going to start or end!
Album artwork: Cool cover, but Adele looks way older than 25 in it.

I can’t believe this album is already 24 years old—I loved it growing up! The Hives always bring the punk energy, and Your New Favourite Band delivers 30 minutes of pure punk gold. That said, I’m not sure a greatest hits album really belongs on the list!

Favourite song: You can’t beat the opening two tracks, Hate to Say I Told You So and Main Offender—they’re signature Hives hits.
Least favourite: The Hives Are Law, You Are Crime didn’t really add much to the album.
Album artwork: Cool cover—brings back great memories of having this on CD and vinyl.