Reviews by londonhawkredux

Queen when they were just a bit dull, rather than dull, over-blown and pompous. 2 stars, but "Seven Seas of Rhye" absolutely slaps so they can have a rounded 2.6/5

Adele AND Simply Red in the same week. Wow 1001 albums algorithm, you are *really* spoiling me.

Is it OK to like Supertramp? Are they not-prog enough, too dad rock? Either way - GIVE ME MORE SYNTHS

Horny!

This is why this is a great project. Of course I'm "aware" of My Bloody Valentine, hugely influential cult band that help drive the shoegaze / baggy era of the late80s/early90s. However, I'd never really listened to them before.

Is the experimental rock / post-punk my favourite genre? No. Did I still enjoy this? Yes. Will I be able to nod along more intelligently when my more hipster music friends wax lyrical about MBV? 100%.

No, just a million times no. No, no, no, no, no.

Spiky, angry and punky - can hear the sound of post-punk grunge being born here. All the more poignant with Albini's passing.

I mean, it's just SO good isn't it

Sometimes I feel like I'm not "cool" enough to appreciate some of the albums on this list. In this case, it appears to not only be me. Made it all the way through, but only just.

Groovy indeed. Not sure I absolutely *had* to hear it though.

Of course, it's Ray Charles, so undoutedly a decent set o'pipes. Didn't give me the feelz though.

Much maligned for being the pinnacle of comfy jeans and chunky white sneakers in charge of BBQ, but hard not to love the harmonies and chill vibes. Almost like taking a soak in the hot-tub.

Too kool for skool.

Hmmmm. I like PiL - but think it's probably Lydon's raw snarl that lifts it. This is.............. not good.

Can't lie - my heart sank a little bit with this one. I absolutely loved Ryan Adams when he broke onto the scene. Coming from small-town suburban UK, the alt-country-rock vibes were like they came from a different planet, but a planet where I belonged. Saw him live several times and the show was always immense.

On the other hand, what an absolute helmet.

Janis has a fine set o' pipes. Almost too "counter-culture 60s" generic but nothing that a liberal dungaree wearing blonde chick with a little grass looking for a groovy time couldn't fix.

Clean cut 80s electronic synth kids from Essex discover heroin and S&M.

Initially delighted that this appeared, after all, who doesn't love the Mode in their early 90s Flood inspired pomp. BUT, aside from the big hits, I didn't love this as much as I remembered loving it. Personal Jesus / Enjoy the Silence are an automatic 4 star minimum, but struggled to find reasons to lift it to the 5. So didn't.

"More Than a Feeling" plus 7 other songs. OK, I get it, this is very "white Dad complaining about the latest generation spending too much on avocados" and there are dozens of these AOR bands on the list. And even if you do end up hating yourself for admitting it, these tunes are damn catchy.

LOVE Lauren Mayberry's vocals. Gorgeous blend of 80s synths, modern pop and a sheen of British 90s electronica. Could I definitely say it's in the greatest 1001 albums? Not sure. Do I love it? Yep.

Again, another "don't know the album or artist". Very much of the era, and very much not a genre I was listening to at the time, but fabulous breaks, beats and rhythms - enjoyed!