Rated 6/10
A challenging listen, but one I actually enjoyed. The sheer heaviness and atmosphere made it worthwhile, although it definitely started to drag towards the end. I can’t see myself coming back to it, but I’m glad I gave it a listen.
Rated 6/10
Really enjoyed this. Tight, loud and to the point, with plenty of energy and some great hooks. It does exactly what it sets out to do without wasting a second, but I’m not sure there’s quite enough here to make me want to come back to it.
Rated 8/10
I knew Send Me on My Way, but absolutely wasn’t prepared for the rest of this album. I expected fairly pleasant acoustic folk-rock and instead got loads of percussion, world-music influences and funky rhythms that reminded me of Talking Heads and Graceland. Really interesting album with far more going on than the famous single suggests. A genuinely nice surprise and one I can see myself coming back to.
Rated 4/10
Just didn’t click for me. It feels like pretty middle-of-the-road alt rock, with a few decent moments but nothing that really grabbed me.
Rated 4/10
Really not my cup of tea. It’s massively over-the-top, cheesy pop-rock that feels more like a modern-day boy band with guitars — huge vocals, harmonies, orchestration and key changes all dialled up to 11. The production is undeniably good, but it all feels so calculated that I struggled to connect with it. I can appreciate the production, but after an hour I was more than ready for it to end.
Rated 6/10
I’m not a fan of live albums, but this was enjoyable good female rock.
Rated 6/10
A really interesting and unusual album that took a few listens to get my head around. I liked the strange production, atmosphere and unpredictability. I didn’t love it, but it definitely kept me curious and I’m glad I spent a few days with it. Given I’m not a massive modern hip-hop fan, I doubt I’ll come back to it, but I’m glad I gave it a proper chance.
Rated 6/10
A decent album with a few genuinely great songs, but the piano-led sound started to grate after a while. There’s plenty of energy and personality here, and the standout songs are really strong, but I found the overall sound a bit repetitive across the full album.
Rated 4/10
OK, this album is far too over the top and a bit silly at times. Not really to my taste, but I strangely feel glad I listened to it once, while also never wanting to listen to it again at the same time.
Rated 4/10
This one unfortunately passed me by. I think not understanding the Portuguese lyrics probably didn’t help, as I imagine they’re a big part of the album’s appeal, but even musically I found it a little too middle-of-the-road to really draw me in. It quickly became background music and, by the end, I wasn’t left with much desire to go back to it.
Rated 6/10
A good Red Hot Chili Peppers album in its own right, with plenty of great songs, but the double-album format makes it feel far too long. There’s enough here that I enjoy, but I rarely find myself wanting to come back to it, especially when I already have Californication, Blood Sugar Sex Magik and By the Way ahead of it. Definitely not a bad album, but I don’t think I need a fourth RHCP album on the list.
Rated 4/10
Beautifully chilled and atmospheric, but ultimately just a bit too chilled for me. I gave it a second listen with headphones and appreciated the hazy, dreamlike sound more, but I still found myself drifting off rather than getting drawn in. I can see why people love it, but it’s probably better suited to putting me to sleep than keeping me awake.
Rated 6/10
A really interesting and different listen, with some big Fiona Apple vibes, which is definitely a good thing. I enjoyed the eccentricity and the way it doesn’t sound like much else I’ve listened to recently. I’m not sure how often I’ll come back to it, but there are enough songs and ideas here that I could see myself returning to it at some point.
Rated 8/10
Really enjoyed this. Illmatic is still my favourite rap album, but this is one of the closest I’ve come across in recent times to capturing that same gritty East Coast sound and aesthetic that I love. The production, atmosphere and storytelling are consistently excellent, and Nas’ appearance is an added bonus. Not quite at the level of Illmatic, Ready to Die or Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers) which I class as the 90’s east coast masterpieces, but definitely an album I’ll be adding to my rotation.
Rated 4/10
All over the place. There are definitely some enjoyable moments buried in here, but the constant changes in style and direction made the whole thing feel pretentious and like it had outstayed its welcome. By the end, I felt like listening to the album was more effort than it was worth.
Rated 4/10
Would have loved this if it came out in 2005, sadly 10 years too late for my taste.
Rated 10/10
Absolutely loved this. The vocals and blues-rock groove really hit the spot for me. I thought the sound was familiar, so I checked out their top songs and recognised Mother. Somehow I’d never really explored them beyond that.
This is going straight into my frequent rotation. Another user list pick that I probably wouldn’t have discovered otherwise.
Rated 4/10
Didn’t hate it, but didn’t really stand out either.
Rated 10/10
Of course I’ve heard this before, everyone has. But it really is one of those albums that defined its era. Such a simple pick compared with some of the more obscure ones on this list, but I like that!
Rated 4/10
Pretty forgettable for me. Some interesting guitar work, but nothing really grabbed me and I can’t see myself coming back to
