288. Todd Rundgren | A Wizard, a True Star (1973)

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Wikipedia Entry

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Track

1. International Feel
2. Never Never Land
3. Tic Tic Tic It Wears Off
4. You Need Your Head
5. Rock & Roll Pussy
6. Dogfight Giggle
7. You Don't Have to Camp Around
8. Flamingo
9. Zen Archer
10. Just Another Onionhead/Dada Dali
11. When the Shit Hits the Fan/Sunset Blvd.
12. Le Feel Internacìonále
13. Sometimes I Don't Know What to Feel
14. Does Anybody Love You?
15. Medley: I'm So Proud / Ooh Baby Baby / La La Means I Love You / Cool Jerk
16. Hungry for Love
17. I Don't Want to Tie You Down
18. Is It My Name?
19. Just One Victory

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A Wizard, a True Star is an trippy album. The music is art rock, which here means, some pop rock, some rhythm and blues and some soundboard noodling. The first half of the album is driven by fast-paced, fast-switching melodies, sort of like a medley. The second half keeps the same pace, but stretches out with longer songs.

This album may be considered prog rock because it appears to be a concept album. However, it's not clear what the unifying concept might be, so perhaps it failed to convey the concept clearly, didn't intend to a concept or maybe it's pure subtle genius.

Aside from the concept album trait, this album doesn't have much else in common with prog rock. Actually, it seems to have more in common with psychedelic rock.

I find this album fascinating. There's a lot of wacky nonsense and the album never seems to jell, but Todd Rundgren is a jack-of-all-trades-master-of-none. He comes up with pleasing melodies, he can rock out when he feels like it and he can do Motown. Plus, he comes up with a few witty quips now and then. What I liked most of all is Sometimes I Don't Know What to Feel. There's a depth of compassion and weakness not found in pop music.

I think the album is worth listening to, but I'm not sure why it should be on the 1001 Albums list.

Most of the songs are good. Some are just silly noodling. The stand outs are International Feel, Never, Never Land, Rock & Roll Pussy, Zen Archer, Just Another Onionhead/Dada Dali, When the Shit Hits the Fan/Sunset Blvd., Le Feel Internacìonále, Sometimes I Don't Know What to Feel, Medley: I'm So Proud / Ooh Baby Baby / La La Means I Love You / Cool Jerk, Hungry for Love, I Don't Want to Tie You Down and Is It My Name?

★★★★★★★★★☆

283. Roxy Music | For Your Pleasure (1973)

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Wikipedia Entry

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Tracks

1. Do the Strand
2. Beauty Queen
3. Strictly Confidential
4. Editions of You
5. In Every Dream Home a Heartache
6. The Bogus Man
7. Grey Lagoons
8. For Your Pleasure

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For Your Pleasure is an unruly album. The music is combination of glam rock and art rock. This album immediately charges out of the gate with the opening song. It's a manic ride for the first half of the album. There's pulsating drums, loud and frenzied guitar playing and moody synthesizers. Above it all is Bryan Ferry singing in the most dignified manner. The album takes a disturbed turn with In Every Dream Home a Heartache, which is about a blow-up sex doll. The remainder of the album is more mellow and ethereal.

Musically, Roxy Music reinforces my belief that glam rock bands and artists are the ones who remain the truest to original rock and roll. Lyrically, however, they demonstrate a greater maturity, much like David Bowie, which is not in keeping with the spirit of rock and roll.

Furthermore there seem to elements within the glam rock scene, like Brian Eno and even David Bowie, who are moving toward a more experimental kind of music. Both seem interested in expanding the boundaries of rock music, although Brian Eno doesn't seem so concerned about keeping himself within those boundaries, no matter how expansive they may become.

Thus, the real sleeper here For Your Pleasure. There's nothing awry at first. It's like any other slow rock song, but then it begins to morph a third of the way in to a repetitive, moody piece of piano and drums with mantric vocals. While this is not anything out of the ordinary—the Beatles were doing Tomorrow Never Knows nearly a decade ago, for instance—it's a herald to what's just beyond the horizon. In hindsight, it's easy to see how influential Brian Eno will become. The question then is: was it easy to see it then? I think so. He was no different from Peter Gabriel, in that his talent is undeniable and that by leaving Roxy Music he would be better able to actualize his potential.

This album is so good. There are quite a few things to like a lot about it: it's outrageous, it's moody and it's melodic. This is worth listening to and it belongs in every serious album collection. It deserves to be on 1001 Albums list because this album is a herald of big changes to come.

All the songs are amazing. The stand outs are Do the Strand, Beauty Queen, Strictly Confidential, Editions of You, In Every Dream Home a Heartache, Grey Lagoons and For Your Pleasure.

★★★★★★★★★★

279. Lou Reed | Berlin (1973)

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Wikipedia Entry

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Tracks

1. Berlin
2. Lady Day
3. Men of Good Fortune
4. Caroline Says I
5. How Do You Think It Feels
6. Oh Jim
7. Caroline Says II
8. The Kids
9. The Bed
10. Sad Song

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Berlin is an unsettling album. The music is rock, but it's got elements of chanson and cabaret. Many of the songs have orchestral support. It's a concept album and music establishes the mood of each song. The music is quite depressing, but there is a lot of melody.

The story is about two Americans lovers living in Berlin, Germany at the time of the Cold War. They are into sex and drugs. The man seems misogynistic and abusive toward the woman. The woman at some point tries to commit suicide. By the end of the album she ends up losing custody of her children because of her sexual promiscuity. I'm sure I've left out essential story elements. Like most concept albums, the songs work better telling discrete stories than with combining to create a coherent whole.

This album was hard to like at first, but the songs are catchy. The story isn't so disturbing until it's clear the woman has children. It's sad to think about kids growing up surround by parents who are so troubled. And despite all the bad things that come with living in that environment, I'm sure it's damn awful from a child's point of view to be taken away from his parents.

The album is worth listening to. I'm not sure if Lou Reed intended to make an album that realistically portrays such an awful side of life, but I think it's a rare gem that tries to be mature and honest about the world. For that reason I think it deserves to be on the 1001 Albums list.

All the songs are good. The stand outs are Berlin, Lady Day, Men of Good Fortune, How Do You Think It Feels, Oh Jim, Caroline Says II, The Kids, The Bed and Sad Song.

★★★★★★★★★★

277. John Cale | Paris 1919 (1973)

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Wikipedia Entry

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Tracks

1. Child's Christmas in Wales
2. Hanky Panky Nohow
3. The Endless Plain of Fortune
4. Andalucia
5. Macbeth
6. Paris 1919
7. Graham Greene
8. Half Past France
9. Antarctica Starts Here

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Paris 1919 is a cheerless album. The music is baroque pop, or pop with strings and horns. Despite the orchestration on many of the songs, this is a very straightforward and simple album musically.

I don't think it's possible for John Cale to sound more devoid of emotion or despondent than on this album. Even the opening song which seems to be upbeat gets the life sucked out of it when he starts singing. And by the time he gets to the final song he's got nothing left to give as is made abundantly clear by his whispering and it's abrupt end. It's true that Macbeth is lively and upbeat, but the life quickly dissipates. The music is great though. It's full of beautiful melodies which are good at concealing their sadness.

This album really grew on me. I certainly dreaded listening to it after hearing it for the first time, but now I find it to be beautifully sad. It's certainly worth listening to, but I'm not sure why it needs to be on the 1001 Albums list.

All the long songs are very good. The stand outs are Child's Christmas in Wales, Hanky Panky Nohow, The Endless Plain of Fortune, Andalucia, Paris 1919, Graham Greene and Half Past France.

★★★★★★★★★☆

264. Roxy Music | Roxy Music (1972)

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Wikipedia Entry

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Tracks

1. Re-Make/Re-Model
2. Ladytron
3. If There Is Something
4. 2 H. B.
5. The Bob (Medley)
6. Chance Meeting
7. Would You Believe?
8. Sea Breezes
9. Bitters End

N.B. This is the track listing for the original UK release. The original US release and all subsequent releases contain the song "Virginia Plain" which is located between the third and fourth songs. 

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Roxy Music is an energetic album. The music is glam rock or art rock. What that means for Roxy Music is that they are a more accessible kind of progressive rock. The style is just as adventurous, but the songs are more manageable and it's more melodic. The topics are also more down-to-earth, like skirt chasing.

This album really just explodes out of the gate and maintains a hectic pace until it loses some steam and focus on the second half. It's been a while since music has been this animated.  They share the energy of The Stooges, MC5 and The Flamin' Groovies, but are more intellectually challenging.

I think this is a fantastic album. It seems to breathe life into the music world which is otherwise suffering from too many vapid pop artists, and too much dominance from bloated and introverted prog rock and hard rock bands. It's also another indication that music is finally getting away from the psychedelic, Beatles-dominated '60s. I don't what Roxy Music's relevance is to the future bands to come, but it is clear that, at that point in time, they belonged to the future rather than the past. (Certainly some of Brian Eno's electronic sounds appear in music two or three decades from this point as if it were something new and innovative.) This album is certainly worth listening to and most definitely belong on the 1001 Albums list.

All the songs are excellent. The stand-outs are: Re-Make/Re-Model, Ladytron, If There Is Something, 2 H. B., Sea Breezes and Bitters End. If the US release is included, then Virginia Plain is also among the stand-outs.

★★★★★★★★★☆

251. Lou Reed | Transformer (1972)

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Wikipedia Entry

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Tracks

1. Vicious
2. Andy's Chest
3. Perfect Day
4. Hangin' 'Round
5. Walk on the Wild Side
6. Make Up
7. Satellite of Love
8. Wagon Wheel
9. New York Telephone Conversation
10. I'm So Free
11. Goodnight Ladies

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Transformer is a rebellious album. The music is art rock. Song topics aside, this is a rock album. It's the countercultural themes that make this art rock or glam rock. There's a hint of David Bowie in the music which is because Mick Ronson, Bowie's guitarist, was heavily involved, producing the album and playing lead guitar.

When it was released, this album probably freaked a lot of people with the homosexual and drag references. Today, listeners might wonder why Lou Reed dwells on things which are commonplace.

It takes patience to "discover" this album. Vicious, Perfect Day, and Walk on the Wild Side are excellent from the start. Then after listening a couple more times, Hangin' Round, Satellite of Love and Wagon Wheel become enjoyable. Next to grow on me after a few more listenings were Andy's Chest, Make Up and I'm So Free. New York Telephone Conversation and Goodnight Ladies are just weeds in the way.

This is a decent album, but that's not immediately apparent. Lou Reed might just be a subtle genius. If that's true then this album certainly deserves to be on the 1001 Albums list because it contains the spirit of rock and roll: rebelliousness. Otherwise, it's just a waste of time.

Most songs are quite good. Vicious, Perfect Day, Walk on the Wild Side, Hangin' Round, Satellite of Love and Wagon Wheel are the stand outs.

★★★★★★★★☆☆

240. David Bowie | Hunky Dory (1971)

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Wikipedia Entry

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Tracks

1. Changes
2. Oh! You Pretty Things
3. Eight Line Poem
4. Life on Mars?
5. Kooks
6. Quicksand
7. Fill Your Heart
8. Andy Warhol
9. Song for Bob Dylan
10. Queen Bitch
11. The Bewlay Brothers

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Hunky Dory is a charming album. The music is glam rock. The songs have a hard edge to them, but they aren't bluesy enough to be called hard rock. The lyrics are impenetrable, but there are sensible fragments that evoke interesting imagery and humor. The album is also replete with melody which is its strength.

There's not a whole lot to say about this album. It's not a profound album, but neither is it pretentious or smug. It's just a set of incredibly catchy songs with song weird, funny and evocative lyrics. It won't change your life, but it'll brighten your day.

The album is wonderful. It's worth listening to and would make a fine addition to a collection. I'm not sure it deserves to be on the 1001 Albums list, though.

All the songs on this album are excellent. The stand outs are Changes, Oh! You Pretty Things, Eight Line Poem, Life on Mars?, Kooks, Quicksand, Fill Your Heart, Andy Warhol, Song for Bob Dylan, Queen Bitch and The Bewlay Brothers.

★★★★★★★★★★

153. The Velvet Underground | The Velvet Underground (1969)

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Wikipedia Entry

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Tracks

1. Candy Says
2. What Goes On
3. Some Kinda Love
4. Pale Blue Eyes
5. Jesus
6. Beginning to See the Light
7. I'm Set Free
8. That's the Story of My Life
9. The Murder Mystery
10. After Hours

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The Velvet Underground is a focused album. Well, it's certainly focused when compared to White Light/White Heat. The songs are also a lot more mellow, relaxed and melodic. Or at least the melody is more apparent.

This album starts out really strong, keeps improving and then falls short on the last two songs. I wouldn't be surprised if there are people who enjoy those two songs, but the Murder Mystery sounds like Frank Zappa doing a rendition of the Monkees' annoying Zilch. After Hours just seems out of place with the rest of the album.

Despite the last two songs, this is the best Velvet Underground album, but that may only be because Nico was on the first album. I'm somewhat unsure why this album is on the 1001 Albums list, but I have a nagging suspicion that this album actually is ahead of its time—that it doesn't sound much like a late '60s recording and that that's not just a fluke. So either Lou Reed is helping to set the tone for the '70s or is simply ahead of his time. No matter, this album worth listening to.

Actually, if The Crickets played no frills, straightforward rock and roll in the '50s, then this album is a modern updated version for the '70s of no frills, straightforward rock and roll.

The stand out songs are Candy Says, What Goes On, Some Kinda Love, Pale Blue Eyes, Jesus, Beginning to See the Light, I'm Set Free and That's the Story of My Life.

★★★★★★★★★☆

121. The United States of America | The United States of America (1968)

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Wikipedia Entry

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Tracks

1. The American Metaphysical Circus
2. Hard Coming Love
3. Cloud Song
4. The Garden of Earthly Delights
5. I Won't Leave My Wooden Wife for You, Sugar
6. Where Is Yesterday
7. Coming Down
8. Love Song for the Dead Ché
9. Stranded in Time
10. The American Way of Love
• Part I - Metaphor for an Older Man
• Part II - California Good-time Music
• Part III - Love Is All

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Wikipedia suggests there were two covers for this album. However, I think the cover on the left is a paper outer wrapper that the album was contained in and the cover on the right is the actual album cover.

The United States of America is a colorful album. The songs are rock and roll. This music is experimental and heavy like the music of the Mothers of Invention and the Velvet Underground and has a similarly mischievous like the Mothers of Invention. However, their music does push the boundaries like the music of the other two. It's certainly more listener-friendly.

I liked this album—I really liked Dorothy Moskovitz's singing—and I think it's worth listening to, but I'm not yet convinced this album should be on the list. The album is certainly a more refined type of psychedelic music and seems to be suggesting a new direction for that style. It's certainly a lot more interesting than a lot of the rock and roll from 1967 and 1968 that has been on the list, but I'm not sure it's noticeably different either.

The stand out songs are The American Metaphysical Circus, Hard Coming Love, Cloud Song, The Garden of Earthly Delights, Where Is Yesterday, Coming Down, Love Song for the Dead Ché and The American Way of Love.

★★★★★★★★★☆

104. The Velvet Underground | White Light/White Heat (1967)

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Wikipedia Entry

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Tracks

1. White Light/White Heat
2. The Gift
3. Lady Godiva's Operation
4. Here She Comes Now
5. I Heard Her Call My Name
6. Sister Ray

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White Light/White Heat is a noisy album. There's a certain amount of normalcy in most of the songs, but at some point the songs veer off in a surreal direction. Either the music turns into fuzzy, screeching feedback or the lyrics become nightmarish.

This makes even the most psychedelic album seem like a collection of children's songs. This is like being trapped forever in a trip gone wrong. It's understandable that this album wasn't successful. I don't think it ever could. It's only possible for this album to be accepted after incremental imitations of are made of it.

I like this album a lot. Would I have liked this album in 1967? I can't imagine I would have. The first half of the album would have been tolerable, but the second half would had been unlistenable. It seems to have taken nearly ten years for this kind of music to be accepted and even then punk is a watered down form.

All the songs except for The Gift are worth listening to. The Gift was good the first time, but once I knew how it ends it became tiresome to listen to. Sister Ray is a masterpiece, but it's not "user-friendly".

★★★★★★★★★☆

91. The Velvet Underground | The Velvet Underground and Nico (1967)

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Wikipedia Entry

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1. Sunday Morning
2. I'm Waiting for the Man
3. Femme Fatale
4. Venus in Furs
5. Run Run Run
6. All Tomorrow's Parties
7. Heroin
8. There She Goes Again
9. I'll Be Your Mirror
10. The Black Angel's Death Song
11. European Son

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The Velvet Underground and Nico is a stark album. The songs evoke a dark exoticism. The music is either rumbling and manic or slow and droning. The guitar sound is reminiscent of an exposed nerve—raw, metallic, bright and painful.

The world that this album inhabits is not a nice, beautiful kind world. It's ugly, dark, twisted, lonely and painful. But, for all its brutality, it's honest.

It's a brilliant album, but it's so bleak that it'll bum you out if it's all you listen to. I don't think there have been any albums that have had such authentic songs and lyrics.  Most songs on other albums are sappy love songs, idealistic or fantastical so that they really don't infer the real world. The Who and Jack Elliott come close, but even Bob Dylan isn't able to capture reality so vividly.

The songs  establish a coherent mood that lasts the whole album. The real stand out songs are Sunday Morning, Venus in Furs, Run Run Run, All Tomorrow's Parties, Heroin, There She Goes Again and European Son.

★★★★★★★★★☆

90. The Who | The Who Sell Out (1967)

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Wikipedia Entry

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1. Armenia City in the Sky
2. Heinz Baked Beans
3. Mary Anne with the Shaky Hand
4. Odorono
5. Tattoo
6. Our Love Was
7. I Can See for Miles
8. Can't Reach You
9. Medac
10. Relax
11. Silas Stingy
12. Sunrise
13. Rael (1 and 2)

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The Who Sell Out is a clever album. Thirteen songs are wrapped around faux advertisements and radio programming to simulate a pirate radio station. The advertisements are amusing and some of the products worked their way into songs—Heinz Baked Beans, Odorono and Medac. The radio station jingles are cute and well-down. It's certainly a convincing concept.

The songs themselves are quite varied. There are heavy rock and roll songs, folk songs and theatrical stuff. They are all catchy. Lyrics seem to be a strong focus of the band. It's too bad then that their songs can be hit or miss. The subject of most songs on the album is a person and there are some interesting ideas, but sometimes it's just bad rhyming.

I enjoy this album, but the pirate radio advertisements and jingles wear thin after listening several times. Fortunately, the songs are really strong and are worth the minor annoyances. I didn't expect too much from this album. I was confused by the album cover and the pirate radio concept. I think it's a good album that's worth listening to, especially to hear the pirate radio parts. The Who is certainly a richer band than the offerings on classic radio stations would suggest.

All the songs are really good, but the real stand outs are Armenia City in the Sky, Odorono, Tattoo, Our Love Was, I Can See for Miles, Can't Reach You, Relax and Silas Stingy.

★★★★★★★★★☆