George Starostin's Reviews


 
List Of Albums In Rating Order

NB: a + near the album means that the general critical opinion rates this album higher than me
      a  - near the album means that the general critical opinion rates this album lower than me

NB: Independent of the actual rating, practically every album from 15 and down to 12 is worth its standard price (of course, if it is not inflated). Watch out for the little minuses, though: I may share some particular opinions which come exclusively from my own listening experiences and might not fall in with your (or, hell, even anybody's) expectations.
Also note that ratings might be afflicted by the exceptional quality of some of the songs (a particularly great song on an otherwise dull album might give it a point more, while an unbelievingly filthy piece of 'music' on an otherwise decent album might seriously damage its rating). This means that the general comments on ratings might sometimes not fit in with my general assessment of a particular record. But usually, it does work.

The whole number of currently reviewed albums in the regular review section is: 1068
The whole number of currently reviewed albums in the 'MP-3 review' section is: 224

 

15: Never To Be Topped
[15 albums]

Go and buy this now. These are superalbums by the few really great and timeless masters of rock: the cream of the cream of the cream. These records set the highest standard for all those that follow them and they probably won't be superated by anybody, not in the nearest couple thousand years. And yes, maybe I'm a fool for giving the highest mark to five Beatles' albums in a row, but fifteen years of Beatle-listening haven't cured me of the attitude.

  1. Beatles: Revolver
  2. Beatles: Sergeant Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band
  3. Beatles: Magical Mystery Tour
  4. Beatles: The Beatles
  5. Beatles: Abbey Road
  6. Beatles: Past Masters (vol. 2)
  7. Bob Dylan: Highway 61 Revisited
  8. Bob Dylan: Blonde On Blonde
  9. Rolling Stones: Beggar's Banquet
  10. Rolling Stones: Let It Bleed
  11. Rolling Stones: Get Yer Ya Ya's Out
  12. Rolling Stones: Singles Collection: The London Years
  13. Who: Live At Leeds
  14. Who: Live At The Isle Of Wight -
  15. Who: Quadrophenia

  

14: Immaculately Ideal
[28 albums]

A major album. Nearly every one of these records either introduced a universally new type of sound or helped 'define the era'. All of them are milestones in the band's own history, and deservedly so: the level of songwriting is at an all-time high. If there are one or two slightly less captivating tracks on the album, they are entirely overshadowed by the splendour of the glorious majority. Not as proverbially 'perfect' as the 15-point albums, maybe, but an absolute must for any music lover with even a passing interest in classic rock.

  1. Beatles: Rubber Soul
  2. Beatles: Let It Be
  3. Beatles: Past Masters (vol. 1)
  4. Bob Dylan: The Freewheelin'
  5. Bob Dylan: John Wesley Harding
  6. Brian Eno: Before And After Science
  7. Byrds: Younger Than Yesterday
  8. Cream: Disraeli Gears
  9. Creedence Clearwater Revival: Cosmo's Factory
  10. Doors: Strange Days
  11. Jimi Hendrix: Are You Experienced?
  12. John Lennon: John Lennon/Plastic Ono Band
  13. Kinks: The Village Green Preservation Society
  14. Kinks: Arthur (Or The Decline And Fall Of The British Empire)
  15. Paul McCartney: Ram
  16. Paul McCartney: Band On The Run
  17. Pink Floyd: Animals
  18. Police: Zenyatta Mondatta
  19. Rolling Stones: Aftermath
  20. Rolling Stones: Between The Buttons
  21. Rolling Stones: Flowers
  22. Rolling Stones: Sticky Fingers
  23. Rolling Stones: Tattoo You
  24. Stevie Wonder: Songs In The Key Of Life
  25. Who: The Who Sell Out
  26. Who: Tommy
  27. Who: Who's Next +
  28. Who: The Kids Are Alright

 
 

13: Close To Perfection
[66 albums]

There are a couple weak tracks on here - either a result of the band's lack of experience in the studio (The Who Sings My Generation), or they might be a little longer than necessary, or anything else. Another case is that the record might sound slightly monotonous, with brilliant songs which resemble each other too closely and don't feed your ear properly - not on first listen, at least. But, apart from these minor problems, all of these records are just as enjoyable as any 14-point record. Pay no attention to the five - ten percent of filler and prepare yourself for a rewarding musical journey.

  1. Animals: The Animals On Tour
  2. Beach Boys: Pet Sounds
  3. Beatles: A Hard Day's Night
  4. Beatles: Beatles For Sale
  5. Beatles: Help!
  6. Bob Dylan: Another Side Of Bob Dylan
  7. Bob Dylan: Subterranean Homesick Blues
  8. Bob Dylan: New Morning -
  9. Bob Dylan: Blood On The Tracks +
  10. Bob Dylan: Desire
  11. Bob Dylan: The Bootleg Series
  12. Bob Dylan: Time Out Of Mind
  13. Brian Eno: Here Come The Warm Jets
  14. Brian Eno: Another Green World
  15. Byrds: Fifth Dimension
  16. Can: Soundtracks
  17. Creedence Clearwater Revival: Green River
  18. Crosby, Stills & Nash: Crosby, Stills & Nash
  19. David Bowie: The Rise And Fall Of Ziggy Stardust And The Spiders From Mars
  20. Derek And The Dominos: Live At The Fillmore
  21. Dire Straits: Dire Straits
  22. Doors: Morrison Hotel -
  23. Doors: L. A. Woman
  24. Eric Clapton: From The Cradle -
  25. Fleetwood Mac: Rumours
  26. Frank Zappa: Freak Out!
  27. Frank Zappa: You Are What You Is
  28. Genesis: Selling England By The Pound
  29. George Harrison: All Things Must Pass
  30. Hollies: Butterfly
  31. Jethro Tull: Stand Up
  32. Jethro Tull: Thick As A Brick
  33. John Lennon: Imagine
  34. John Lennon: Double Fantasy
  35. King Crimson: In The Court Of The Crimson King
  36. King Crimson: Absent Lovers
  37. Kinks: Face To Face
  38. Kinks: Muswell Hillbillies
  39. Led Zeppelin: Led Zeppelin
  40. Moody Blues: To Our Children's Children's Children
  41. Paul McCartney: Venus And Mars
  42. Peter Gabriel: Peter Gabriel (III)
  43. Pink Floyd: Dark Side Of The Moon +
  44. Police: Reggatta De Blanc
  45. Procol Harum: A Whiter Shade Of Pale
  46. Renaissance: Ashes Are Burning
  47. Rolling Stones: England's Newest Hitmakers
  48. Rolling Stones: Now!
  49. Rolling Stones: Their Satanic Majesties' Request
  50. Rolling Stones: Exile On Main St.
  51. Rolling Stones: Black And Blue
  52. Rolling Stones: Some Girls
  53. Rolling Stones: No Security
  54. Roxy Music: Stranded
  55. Roy Wood: Boulders
  56. Stevie Wonder: Talking Book
  57. Stevie Wonder: Innervisions
  58. Talking Heads: Fear Of Music
  59. Talking Heads: Remain In Light
  60. Tyrannosaurus Rex: Unicorn
  61. T. Rex: Across The Airwaves
  62. Velvet Underground: The Velvet Underground
  63. Who: The Who Sings My Generation
  64. Who: Odds And Sods -
  65. Who: Who Are You
  66. Zombies: The EP Collection

 

12: Simply Excellent
[140 albums]

This is 'your average great album' - that is, a record that cannot be called neither a 'chef-d'oeuvre' nor a 'routine album'. The songs may lack the inescapable thrill of the better records, but they're nevertheless all melodic and catchy, usually well-produced and guaranteed to give you a good time. There's usually little or no filler, but the 'milestone' factor is not there, if you know what I mean. Usually it's just a fairly notorious band/artist at a solid stage in his/her/their career, with a respectable studio/live effort. Far from being 'lightweight', but not an album one can really pray upon.

  1. ABBA: The Album
  2. Allman Brothers Band: At The Fillmore East
  3. Amon Düül II: Tanz Der Lemminge
  4. Andrew Lloyd Webber: Jesus Christ Superstar
  5. Andrew Lloyd Webber: Jesus Christ Superstar (Movie Soundtrack)
  6. Animals: Animal Tracks
  7. Argent: Argent
  8. Badfinger: Wish You Were Here
  9. Beatles: With The Beatles
  10. Bee Gees: 1st
  11. Black Sabbath: Paranoid
  12. Bob Dylan: Live 1966
  13. Bob Dylan: Nashville Skyline
  14. Bob Dylan: Selfportrait -
  15. Bob Dylan: At Budokan
  16. Bob Dylan: Slow Train Coming
  17. Bob Dylan: Good As I Been To You
  18. Brian Eno: Taking Tiger Mountain (By Strategy)
  19. Byrds: Mr Tambourine Man
  20. Can: Tago-Mago
  21. Can: Future Days
  22. Captain Beefheart: Shiny Beast
  23. Cars: The Cars
  24. Cream: Fresh Cream
  25. Cream: Wheels Of Fire
  26. Creedence Clearwater Revival: Creedence Clearwater Revival
  27. David Bowie: Station To Station
  28. David Bowie: Low
  29. David Bowie: Heroes
  30. Deep Purple: Deep Purple In Rock
  31. Deep Purple: Made In Japan
  32. Derek And The Dominos: Layla And Other Assorted Love Songs +
  33. Doors: The Doors
  34. Doors: Absolutely Live -
  35. Doors: Essential Rarities
  36. Elton John: 1-17-70
  37. Elton John: Honky Chateau
  38. Elvis Costello: This Year's Model
  39. Elvis Costello: Armed Forces
  40. Emerson, Lake & Palmer: Tarkus
  41. Eno/Moebius/Roedelius: After The Heat
  42. Eric Burdon Band: Stop -
  43. Eric Clapton: E. C. Was Here
  44. Eric Clapton: Slowhand
  45. Eric Clapton: Unplugged
  46. Family: Music In A Doll's House
  47. Fleetwood Mac: Tusk
  48. Fleetwood Mac: The Dance
  49. Frank Zappa: We're Only In It For The Money
  50. Frank Zappa: Burnt Weeny Sandwich-
  51. Frank Zappa: Roxy & Elsewhere
  52. Frank Zappa: Joe's Garage
  53. Genesis: Foxtrot
  54. Genesis: Genesis Live
  55. Gentle Giant: Gentle Giant
  56. Gentle Giant: The Official Live: Playing The Fool
  57. George Harrison: Living In The Material World
  58. Grateful Dead: American Beauty
  59. Hollies: For Certain Because
  60. Illusion: Out Of The Mist
  61. Janis Joplin: Cheap Thrills
  62. Jeff Beck: Truth
  63. Jefferson Airplane: Surrealistic Pillow
  64. Jethro Tull: Aqualung
  65. Jethro Tull: Living In The Past
  66. Jethro Tull: Heavy Horses
  67. Jethro Tull: Live - Bursting Out
  68. Jimi Hendrix: Axis: Bold As Love
  69. Jimi Hendrix: Live At Woodstock
  70. Jimi Hendrix: South Saturn Delta
  71. Jimi Hendrix: BBC Sessions
  72. John Cale: Fear
  73. John Lennon: Walls And Bridges
  74. John Lennon: Rock And Roll -
  75. John Lennon: Wonsaponatime
  76. King Crimson: In The Wake Of Poseidon
  77. King Crimson: Larks' Tongues In Aspic
  78. King Crimson: Red
  79. Kinks: Everybody's In Show-Biz
  80. Kinks: One For The Road
  81. Kinks: To The Bone
  82. Led Zeppelin: Led Zeppelin IV +
  83. Led Zeppelin: BBC Sessions
  84. Lou Reed: Lou Reed
  85. Lou Reed: Transformer
  86. Mick Jagger: Wandering Spirit
  87. Monkees: Headquarters
  88. Moody Blues: Days Of Future Passed
  89. Moody Blues: A Question Of Balance
  90. Mountain: Flowers Of Evil
  91. Move: Looking On (re-issue)
  92. Move: Message From The Country
  93. Neil Young: Rust Never Sleeps
  94. Nice: The Thoughts Of Emerlist Davjack
  95. Nico: The End
  96. Paul McCartney: Red Rose Speedway
  97. Paul McCartney: London Town
  98. Paul McCartney: Tug Of War
  99. Paul McCartney: Off The Ground
  100. Peter Gabriel: Plays Live
  101. Peter Gabriel: Us
  102. Pink Floyd: The Piper At The Gates Of Dawn
  103. Pink Floyd: Ummagumma
  104. Pink Floyd: Obscured By Clouds -
  105. Pretty Things: S. F. Sorrow
  106. Procol Harum: A Salty Dog
  107. Procol Harum: Broken Barricades
  108. Procol Harum: Grand Hotel
  109. Procol Harum: Exotic Birds And Fruit
  110. Queen: A Night At The Opera
  111. Renaissance: Prologue
  112. Renaissance: Turn Of The Cards
  113. Residents: The Third Reich'n'Roll
  114. Rod Stewart: Gasoline Alley
  115. Ronnie Lane: Kuschty Rye
  116. Ron Wood: Slide On This
  117. Rolling Stones: 12 X 5 -
  118. Rolling Stones: Out Of Our Heads
  119. Rolling Stones: Goat's Head Soup -
  120. Rolling Stones: Love You Live
  121. Rolling Stones: Flashpoint
  122. Rolling Stones: Voodoo Lounge
  123. Roxy Music: For Your Pleasure
  124. Roy Wood & Wizzard: Introducing Eddy And The Falcons
  125. Simon & Garfunkel: Sounds Of Silence
  126. Spirit: Spirit
  127. Steeleye Span: Below The Salt
  128. Stephen Stills: Manassas
  129. Steve Hackett: Spectral Mornings
  130. Ten Years After: Ssssh
  131. Ten Years After: A Space In Time
  132. Ten Years After: Recorded Live
  133. Thin Lizzy: Vagabonds Of The Western World
  134. Tyrannosaurus Rex: A Beard Of Stars
  135. T. Rex: Electric Warrior
  136. T. Rex: Tanx
  137. Van Der Graaf Generator: H To He Who Am The Only One
  138. Velvet Underground: The Velvet Underground & Nico
  139. Who: Join Together -
  140. Yes: Fragile +

 

11: Just Very Good
[227 albums]

The last group of albums which you can enjoy freely, with little or no effort. Not a 'classic' or 'milestone' by any means, all of them are eminently listenable. You might see that this group includes the biggest selection of Dylan albums, and it's understandable: this is the type of 'user-friendly', but not 'ground-breaking' record. There's enough catchy tunes which you can sing along or play air guitar to, the boring stuff is rare and the crap level is either low or, again, you just forget about the crap because it's overshadowed by the good material. A couple of tracks might even be friggin' great. However, all of this never goes far beyond 'cute': if spiritual uplift and catharsys is what you're looking for, go to the higher ratings.

  1. 801: 801 Live
  2. ABBA: Abba
  3. ABBA: Arrival
  4. Adrian Belew: Young Lions
  5. Allman Brothers Band: Idlewild South
  6. Allman Brothers Band: Eat A Peach
  7. Amon Düül II: Yeti
  8. Animals: The Animals
  9. Animals: Animalisms
  10. Argent: All Together Now
  11. Badfinger: No Dice
  12. Beatles: Please Please Me
  13. Beatles: Live At The BBC
  14. Beatles: Anthology-I
  15. Bee Gees: 2 Years On
  16. Bee Gees: Trafalgar
  17. Bill Wyman: Bill Wyman
  18. Black Sabbath: Master Of Reality
  19. Black Sabbath: Sabotage
  20. Black Sabbath: Reunion
  21. Blind Faith: Blind Faith
  22. Bob Dylan: Pat Garrett & Billy The Kid
  23. Bob Dylan: Before The Flood
  24. Bob Dylan: Hard Rain
  25. Bob Dylan: Shot Of Love
  26. Bob Dylan: Real Live
  27. Bob Dylan: Empire Burlesque
  28. Bob Dylan: Dylan & The Dead
  29. Bob Dylan: Oh Mercy
  30. Brian Eno: Apollo Atmospheres & Soundtracks
  31. Bryan Ferry: Let's Stick Together
  32. Byrds: Turn Turn Turn
  33. Byrds: Ballad Of Easy Rider
  34. Byrds: Byrds
  35. Can: Ege Bamyasi
  36. Captain Beefheart: Safe As Milk
  37. Captain Beefheart: The Spotlight Kid
  38. Cars: Shake It Up
  39. Clash: Give 'Em Enough Rope
  40. Cream: Live Cream Volume II
  41. Creedence Clearwater Revival: Bayou Country
  42. Creedence Clearwater Revival: Pendulum
  43. Dave Clark Five: American Tour
  44. David Bowie: Hunky Dory
  45. David Bowie: Aladdin Sane
  46. David Bowie: Diamond Dogs
  47. David Bowie: Scary Monsters
  48. David Bowie: The Buddha Of Suburbia
  49. Deep Purple: Machine Head
  50. Deep Purple: Power House
  51. Dire Straits: Making Movies
  52. Doors: Waiting For The Sun
  53. Doors: The Soft Parade
  54. Eagles: Eagles
  55. Elton John: Elton John
  56. Elton John: Madman Across The Water
  57. Elton John: Goodbye Yellow Brick Road
  58. Elton John: Captain Fantastic And The Brown Dirt Cowboy
  59. Elvis Costello: My Aim Is True
  60. Elvis Costello: Trust
  61. Emerson, Lake & Palmer: Emerson, Lake & Palmer
  62. Emerson, Lake & Palmer: Welcome Back My Friends...
  63. Emerson, Lake & Palmer: Works Volume 2
  64. Eric Clapton: Rainbow Concert
  65. Eric Clapton: 461 Ocean Boulevard
  66. Eric Clapton: Backless
  67. Eric Clapton: Just One Night
  68. Fairport Convention: Unhalfbricking
  69. Family: Family Entertainment
  70. Family: Fearless
  71. Fleetwood Mac: Mystery To Me
  72. Fleetwood Mac: Fleetwood Mac
  73. Frank Zappa: Absolutely Free
  74. Frank Zappa: Hot Rats +
  75. Frank Zappa: Chunga's Revenge
  76. Frank Zappa: Overnite Sensation
  77. Frank Zappa: One Size Fits All
  78. Frank Zappa: Bongo Fury
  79. Frank Zappa: Zoot Allures
  80. Frank Zappa: Sheik Yerbouti
  81. Frank Zappa: Shut Up 'N' Play Yer Guitar
  82. Frank Zappa: Guitar
  83. Frank Zappa: Broadway The Hard Way
  84. Frank Zappa: The Best Band You Never Heard In Your Life
  85. Frank Zappa: The Lost Episodes
  86. Free: Free
  87. Genesis: From Genesis To Revelation -
  88. Genesis: Nursery Cryme
  89. Genesis: The Lamb Lies Down On Broadway
  90. Genesis: A Trick Of The Tail
  91. Genesis: Genesis
  92. Gentle Giant: Acquiring The Taste
  93. Gentle Giant: Three Friends
  94. Gentle Giant: Giant For A Day
  95. George Harrison: The Concert For Bangla Desh
  96. George Harrison: 3 And 1/3
  97. George Harrison: Cloud 9
  98. George Harrison: Live In Japan
  99. Giles, Giles & Fripp: The Cheerful Insanity Of Giles, Giles & Fripp
  100. Grateful Dead: Workingman's Dead
  101. Harold Budd/Brian Eno: Ambient 2: The Plateaux Of Mirror
  102. Hollies: Distant Light
  103. Humble Pie: Rock On
  104. Iron Butterfly: In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida
  105. Iron Butterfly: Sun And Steel
  106. Janis Joplin: Live At Winterland '68
  107. Janis Joplin: Pearl
  108. Jeff Beck: Blow By Blow
  109. Jefferson Airplane: Jefferson Airplane Takes Off
  110. Jethro Tull: This Was
  111. Jethro Tull: Live At Carnegie Hall
  112. Jethro Tull: Stormwatch
  113. Jethro Tull: Broadsword And The Beast
  114. Jethro Tull: 20 Years Of Jethro Tull (selection)
  115. Jimi Hendrix: Electric Ladyland +
  116. John Fogerty: Blue Ridge Rangers
  117. John Lennon: Live In New York City
  118. John Lennon: Mind Games
  119. King Crimson: Epitaph
  120. King Crimson: Discipline
  121. King Crimson: Three Of A Perfect Pair
  122. King Crimson: B'Boom
  123. Kinks: Kinda Kinks (new release)
  124. Kinks: Something Else By The Kinks
  125. Kinks: Lola Versus Powerman And The Moneygoround (Part 1)
  126. Kinks: Schoolboys In Disgrace
  127. Kinks: Sleepwalker
  128. Kinks: Low Budget
  129. Led Zeppelin: Led Zeppelin II
  130. Led Zeppelin: The Song Remains The Same
  131. Lou Reed: Coney Island Baby
  132. Lynyrd Skynyrd: Pronounced 'leh-'nerd 'skin-'nerd
  133. Mamas & Papas: Deliver
  134. McDonald and Giles: McDonald And Giles
  135. Mick Jagger: Primitive Cool
  136. Monkees: The Monkees
  137. Monkees: Pisces, Aquarius, Capricorn & Jones, Ltd.
  138. Moody Blues: On The Threshold Of A Dream
  139. Moody Blues: Caught Live + 5
  140. Moody Blues: Seventh Sojourn
  141. Moody Blues: Prelude
  142. Mott The Hoople: Mott
  143. Mountain: Climbing!
  144. Move: Shazam
  145. Neil Young: After The Gold Rush
  146. Neil Young: Harvest Moon
  147. Nico: Chelsea Girl
  148. Nico: Drama Of Exile
  149. Paul McCartney: McCartney
  150. Paul McCartney: Wild Life
  151. Paul McCartney: Wings At The Speed Of Sound
  152. Paul McCartney: Wings Over America
  153. Paul McCartney: Back To The Egg
  154. Peter Gabriel: Peter Gabriel (II)
  155. Peter Gabriel: Security
  156. Peter Gabriel: Secret World Live
  157. Pete Townshend: Empty Glass
  158. Pink Floyd: More
  159. Pink Floyd: Relics
  160. Pink Floyd: Meddle
  161. Pink Floyd: Wish You Were Here +
  162. Pink Floyd: The Wall
  163. Pink Floyd: P.U.L.S.E
  164. Pretty Things: Get The Picture?
  165. Procol Harum: Shine On Brightly
  166. Procol Harum: Home
  167. Queen: Queen
  168. Queen: A Day At The Races
  169. Queen: Jazz
  170. Queen: The Game
  171. Renaissance: Illusion
  172. Renaissance: Scheherazade And Other Stories
  173. Renaissance: Novella
  174. Residents: Meet The Residents
  175. Residents: Duck Stab/Buster & Glen
  176. Ringo Starr: Ringo
  177. Ringo Starr: Stop And Smell The Roses
  178. Robin Trower: Bridge Of Sighs
  179. Robin Trower: Long Misty Days
  180. Rod Stewart: The Rod Stewart Album
  181. Rod Stewart: Never A Dull Moment
  182. Rolling Stones: December's Children (And Everybody's)
  183. Rolling Stones: It's Only Rock'n'Roll
  184. Rolling Stones: Metamorphosis
  185. Rolling Stones: Still Life
  186. Rolling Stones: Stripped
  187. Rolling Stones: Bridges To Babylon
  188. Roxy Music: Roxy Music
  189. Roxy Music: Country Life
  190. Roxy Music: Siren
  191. Roxy Music: Avalon
  192. Roy Wood: Mustard
  193. Simon & Garfunkel: Parsley, Sage, Rosemary And Thyme
  194. Simon & Garfunkel: Bookends
  195. Simon & Garfunkel: The Concert In Central Park
  196. Soft Machine: Soft Machine
  197. Spirit: Twelve Dreams Of Dr Sardonicus
  198. Steeleye Span: Please To See The King
  199. Steely Dan: Aja
  200. Steve Hackett: Voyage Of The Acolyte
  201. Steve Hackett: Till We Have Faces
  202. Stevie Wonder: In Square Circle
  203. Stooges: Fun House
  204. Syd Barrett: The Madcap Laughs
  205. Talking Heads: More Songs About Buildings And Food
  206. Taste: On The Boards
  207. Ten Years After: Undead
  208. Thin Lizzy: Jailbreak
  209. Thin Lizzy: Live And Dangerous
  210. Thin Lizzy: Chinatown
  211. Todd Rundgren: Something/Anything?
  212. Traffic: Traffic
  213. Traveling Wilburys: Vol. 1
  214. Tyrannosaurus Rex: My People Were Fair...
  215. T. Rex: T. Rex
  216. T. Rex: Electric Warrior Sessions
  217. T. Rex: Left Hand Luke: The Alternate Tanx
  218. T. Rex: Dandy In The Underworld
  219. Van Der Graaf Generator: The Aerosol Grey Machine
  220. Van Der Graaf Generator: World Record
  221. Velvet Underground: Loaded
  222. Who: A Quick One
  223. Who: The Who By Numbers
  224. Who: Face Dances
  225. Yes: The Yes Album
  226. Yes: Close To The Edge
  227. Yes: Yessongs

 

10: Good, But Flawed
[249 albums]

This is where the filler slowly starts to take over - it was possible not to notice it before, but on here it can't but remind you of its existence. These albums are still 'good' rather than 'bad', but their listenability, at least, the listenability of a large chunk of their material, starts to fall under question. This is usually due either to an unreasonable amount of filler (Yellow Submarine), or to a confused state of affairs at the time (Waiting For The Sun), or, well, to a lack of songwriting skills. Proceed along these records with care, trying not to despise them for all their faults by emphasizing their good sides. There's still very much to laud about them, usually. And, who knows? you might even be able to uncover a hidden gem now and then.

  1. ABBA: Super Trouper
  2. Adrian Belew: Mr Music Head
  3. Adrian Belew: Op Zop Too Wah
  4. Adrian Belew: Belewprints
  5. Allman Brothers Band: The Allman Brothers Band
  6. Allman Brothers Band: Wipe The Windows, Check The Oil, Dollar Gas
  7. Amon Düül II: Vive La Trance
  8. Animals: Love Is
  9. Argent: Ring Of Hands
  10. Argent: Nexus
  11. Badfinger: Badfinger
  12. Beach Boys: Summer Days (And Summer Nights)
  13. Beatles: At The Hollywood Bowl
  14. Beatles: Yellow Submarine
  15. Beatles: Anthology-III +
  16. Bee Gees: Cucumber Castle
  17. Bee Gees: Saturday Night Fever
  18. Bill Wyman: Monkey Grip
  19. Black Sabbath: Black Sabbath
  20. Black Sabbath: Vol. 4
  21. Black Sabbath: Live Evil
  22. Blue Cheer: Vincebus Eruptum
  23. Bob Dylan: Bob Dylan
  24. Bob Dylan: The Basement Tapes
  25. Bob Dylan: Planet Waves
  26. Bob Dylan: Street Legal
  27. Bob Dylan: Infidels
  28. Bob Dylan: Under The Red Sky
  29. Bob Dylan: World Gone Wrong
  30. Brian Eno: Music For Films
  31. Brian Eno: Nerve Net
  32. Brian Eno/David Byrne: My Life In The Bush Of Ghosts
  33. Bryan Ferry: These Foolish Things
  34. Bryan Ferry: Another Time Another Place
  35. Bryan Ferry: In Your Mind
  36. Bryan Ferry: The Bride Stripped Bare
  37. Byrds: Sweetheart Of The Rodeo
  38. Can: Delay 1968
  39. Can: Soon Over Babaluma
  40. Can: Landed
  41. Can: Flow Motion
  42. Captain Beefheart: Trout Mask Replica
  43. Captain Beefheart: Clear Spot
  44. Cars: Candy-O
  45. Clash: The Clash
  46. Cream: Goodbye Cream
  47. Creedence Clearwater Revival: Willy And The Poorboys +
  48. Creedence Clearwater Revival: Live In Europe
  49. Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young: Déjà Vu +
  50. Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young: Looking Forward -
  51. Dave Clark Five: I Like It Like That
  52. David Bowie: David Bowie
  53. David Bowie: Space Oddity -
  54. David Bowie: Lodger
  55. David Bowie: Outside
  56. Deep Purple: Shades Of Deep Purple
  57. Deep Purple: Deep Purple
  58. Deep Purple: Fireball
  59. Deep Purple: Purpendicular
  60. Deep Purple: Abandon
  61. Dire Straits: Communique
  62. Eagles: One Of These Nights
  63. Eagles: Hotel California
  64. Eagles: The Long Run
  65. Elton John: Empty Sky
  66. Elton John: Rock Of The Westies
  67. Emerson, Lake & Palmer: Pictures At An Exhibition
  68. Emerson, Lake & Palmer: Brain Salad Surgery
  69. Emerson, Lake & Palmer: Works Live
  70. Emerson, Lake & Palmer: Then And Now
  71. Eric Burdon Band: Sun Secrets
  72. Eric Clapton: John Mayall's Bluesbreakers With Eric Clapton
  73. Eric Clapton: Eric Clapton
  74. Eric Clapton: There's One In Every Crowd
  75. Eric Clapton: Another Ticket
  76. Eric Clapton: Journeyman
  77. Eric Clapton: Rush
  78. Eric Clapton: 24 Nights
  79. Faces: Long Player
  80. Faces: Ooh La La
  81. Fairport Convention: Angel Delight
  82. Family: Anyway
  83. Family: It's Only A Movie
  84. Fleetwood Mac: The Pious Bird Of Good Omen
  85. Fleetwood Mac: Then Play On
  86. Fleetwood Mac: Kiln House
  87. Fleetwood Mac: Bare Trees
  88. Fleetwood Mac: Mirage
  89. Fleetwood Mac: Behind The Mask
  90. Frank Zappa: Cruising With Ruben & The Jets
  91. Frank Zappa: Ahead Of Their Time
  92. Frank Zappa: Uncle Meat
  93. Frank Zappa: Waka/Jawaka
  94. Frank Zappa: Apostrophe'
  95. Frank Zappa: Studio Tan
  96. Frank Zappa: Ship Arriving Too Late To Save A Drowning Witch
  97. Frank Zappa: Baby Snakes
  98. Frank Zappa: Francesco Zappa
  99. Frank Zappa: Does Humor Belong In Music
  100. Free: Heartbreaker
  101. Fripp & Eno: Evening Star
  102. Gary Brooker: No More Fear Of Flying
  103. Genesis: Trespass
  104. Genesis: Seconds Out
  105. Genesis: Abacab
  106. Genesis: Live: The Way We Walk Volume One - The Shorts
  107. Gentle Giant: Octopus
  108. Gentle Giant: In A Glass House
  109. Gentle Giant: Free Hand
  110. Gentle Giant: Civilian
  111. George Harrison: Dark Horse
  112. George Harrison: Extra Texture (Read All About It)
  113. Grateful Dead: Live/Dead
  114. Grateful Dead: Wake Of The Flood
  115. Grateful Dead: Blues For Allah
  116. Hollies: In The Hollies' Style
  117. Hollies: Confessions Of The Mind
  118. Iron Butterfly: Heavy
  119. Iron Butterfly: Live
  120. Iron Butterfly: Scorching Beauty
  121. Jack Bruce: Songs For A Tailor
  122. Jack Bruce: How's Tricks
  123. Janis Joplin: Big Brother & The Holding Company
  124. Janis Joplin: Farewell Song
  125. Jeff Beck: Beck-Ola
  126. Jeff Beck: Wired
  127. Jeff Beck: Jeff Beck's Guitar Shop
  128. Jefferson Airplane: Crown Of Creation
  129. Jethro Tull: Benefit
  130. Jethro Tull: Warchild
  131. Jethro Tull: Too Old To Rock'n'Roll Too Young To Die
  132. Jethro Tull: Songs From The Wood
  133. Jethro Tull: A Classic Case
  134. Jethro Tull: A Little Light Music
  135. Jethro Tull: Nightcap
  136. Jimi Hendrix: Live At Monterey Pop Festival
  137. Jimi Hendrix: First Rays Of The New Rising Sun
  138. Jimi Hendrix: Blues
  139. John Cale: Helen Of Troy
  140. John Fogerty: Centerfield
  141. John Lennon: Sometime In New York City
  142. Justin Hayward & John Lodge: Blue Jays
  143. Justin Hayward: The View From The Hill
  144. Keith Richards: Talk Is Cheap
  145. King Crimson: USA
  146. King Crimson: Beat
  147. Kinks: The Kink Kontroversy
  148. Kinks: Live At Kelvin Hall
  149. Kinks: Percy
  150. Kinks: Preservation Act II
  151. Kinks: Soap Opera
  152. Kinks: Misfits
  153. Led Zeppelin: Led Zeppelin III
  154. Led Zeppelin: Houses Of The Holy
  155. Led Zeppelin: Physical Graffiti
  156. Leslie West: Mountain
  157. Lou Reed: Berlin
  158. Lou Reed: Rock'n'Roll Animal
  159. Lou Reed: The Bells
  160. Lou Reed & John Cale: Songs For Drella
  161. Lynyrd Skynyrd: Skynyrd's First: The Complete Muscle Shoals Album
  162. Lynyrd Skynyrd: Nuthin' Fancy
  163. Lynyrd Skynyrd: Freebird: The Movie
  164. Lynyrd Skynyrd: Street Survivors
  165. Mamas & Papas: The Papas & The Mamas
  166. Marc Bolan: The Beginning Of Doves
  167. Mick Taylor: Mick Taylor
  168. Monkees: More Of The Monkees
  169. Monkees: The Birds, The Bees & The Monkees
  170. Moody Blues: Magnificent Moodies
  171. Moody Blues: In Search Of The Lost Chord
  172. Moody Blues: Every Good Boy Deserves Favour
  173. Moody Blues: The Present -
  174. Moody Blues: Strange Times
  175. Mott The Hoople: Brain Capers
  176. Mott The Hoople: All The Young Dudes
  177. Nazz: Nazz
  178. Neil Young: Neil Young
  179. Neil Young: Zuma
  180. Nico: Desertshore
  181. Paul McCartney: McCartney II
  182. Paul McCartney: Flowers In The Dirt
  183. Paul McCartney: Unplugged
  184. Peter Gabriel: Peter Gabriel
  185. Peter Gabriel: Birdy
  186. Peter Gabriel: Passion
  187. Pete Townshend: White City
  188. Phil Manzanera: Diamond Head
  189. Pink Floyd: A Saucerful Of Secrets
  190. Pink Floyd: Atom Heart Mother
  191. Pink Floyd: Delicate Sound Of Thunder
  192. Pretty Things: The Pretty Things
  193. Procol Harum: Procol's Ninth
  194. Procol Harum: Live In Concert With The Edmonton Symphony Orchestra
  195. Queen: Queen II
  196. Queen: Sheer Heart Attack
  197. Queen: Live Killers
  198. Quicksilver Messenger Service: Quicksilver Messenger Service
  199. Renaissance: Renaissance
  200. Residents: The Commercial Album
  201. Ringo Starr: Goodnight Vienna
  202. Ringo Starr: Ringo's Rotogravure
  203. Ringo Starr: Vertical Man
  204. Robin Trower: Twice Removed From Yesterday
  205. Robin Trower: Live
  206. Robin Trower: In City Dreams
  207. Rod Stewart: Every Picture Tells A Story
  208. Rod Stewart: Blondes Have More Fun
  209. Roger Waters: Amused To Death
  210. Rolling Stones: Got Live If You Want It -
  211. Rolling Stones: Steel Wheels
  212. Ron Wood: Slide On Live
  213. Roy Wood & Wizzard: Main Street
  214. Soft Machine: Volume Two
  215. Soft Machine: Third
  216. Soft Machine: Bundles
  217. Spirit: The Family That Plays Together
  218. Steely Dan: Katy Lied
  219. Steely Dan: Gaucho
  220. Stephen Stills: Stephen Stills
  221. Steve Hackett: Please Don't Touch
  222. Steve Hackett: Defector
  223. Steve Hackett: Bay Of Kings
  224. Stevie Wonder: Journey Through The Secret Life Of Plants
  225. Taste: Taste
  226. Ten Years After: Ten Years After
  227. Ten Years After: Cricklewood Green
  228. Thin Lizzy: Thin Lizzy
  229. Thin Lizzy: Johnny The Fox
  230. Thin Lizzy: Black Rose
  231. Tin Machine: Tin Machine
  232. Traffic: John Barleycorn Must Die +
  233. Traffic: Welcome To The Canteen
  234. T. Rex: The Slider
  235. T. Rex: Futuristic Dragon
  236. Van Der Graaf Generator: Godbluff
  237. Van Der Graaf Generator: Still Life
  238. Velvet Underground: White Light/White Heat
  239. Velvet Underground: VU
  240. Who: Who's Last
  241. Wizzard: Wizzard Brew
  242. Yes: Yes
  243. Yes: Time And A Word
  244. Yes: Relayer
  245. Yes: Going For The One
  246. Yes: Drama
  247. Yes: Yesshows
  248. Yes: Keys To Ascension
  249. Yes: The Ladder

 

9: Somewhat Mediocre
[145 albums]

This is where you should feel free to stop forking out your money if you're not a hardcore fan. It's the first group of records that find their way onto my CD player maybe once in a couple of months. The amount of filler is at a very dangerous level, so that the good sections do not always compensate. This group even includes low points for the 5-star bands (the Stones, the Who); what can be said about bands of lesser stature? Lengthy uninspired jams, disco perversions, failed experiments with song structure, straightforward dumb lyrics and modern production 'values' all infest these records, which are often only saved by the bell with some decent songwriting and good performances. Or it can be vice versa - with none of the evils listed above, but with utterly derivative and routine songwriting. Still, repeated listenings may help you digest this, and, after all, this is only the beginning of the 'bad' section.

  1. ABBA: The Visitors
  2. Adrian Belew: The Acoustic Adrian Belew
  3. Allman Brothers Band: Shades Of Two Worlds
  4. Amon Düül II: Phallus Dei
  5. Amon Düül II: Carnival In Babylon
  6. Argent: In Deep
  7. Badfinger: Ass
  8. Badfinger: Airwaves
  9. Beach Boys: Surfin' Safari
  10. Beach Boys: Little Deuce Coupe
  11. Beach Boys: M.I.U. Album
  12. Beach Boys: L.A. (Light Album)
  13. Beatles: Anthology-II +
  14. Bee Gees: To Whom It May Concern
  15. Black Sabbath: Sabbath Bloody Sabbath
  16. Black Sabbath: Technical Ecstasy
  17. Bloomfield-Kooper-Stills: Super Session
  18. Blue Cheer: New! Improved!
  19. Bob Dylan: The Times They Are A-Changin'
  20. Bob Dylan: Down In The Groove
  21. Brian Eno: Ambient 1: Music For Airports
  22. Byrds: Dr Byrds And Mr Hyde
  23. Can: Monster Movie
  24. Can: Unlimited Edition
  25. Can: Out Of Reach
  26. Can: Can
  27. Captain Beefheart: Unconditionally Guaranteed
  28. Cream: Live Cream
  29. Dave Clark Five: Coast To Coast
  30. David Bowie: Early On
  31. David Bowie: The Man Who Sold The World
  32. David Bowie: Pin Ups
  33. David Bowie: Young Americans
  34. David Bowie: Let's Dance
  35. David Bowie: Hours
  36. Deep Purple: The Book Of Taliesyn
  37. Deep Purple: Gemini Suite
  38. Deep Purple: Made In Europe
  39. Deep Purple: The House Of Blue Light
  40. Dirty Strangers: Dirty Strangers
  41. Doors: Other Voices -
  42. Doors: Full Circle -
  43. Eagles: Desperado
  44. Elton John: Don't Shoot Me I'm Only The Piano Player
  45. Elton John: A Single Man
  46. Elton John: The Fox
  47. Emerson, Lake & Palmer: Trilogy
  48. Emerson, Lake & Palmer: Works Vol. 1
  49. Emerson, Lake & Palmer: Love Beach -
  50. Emerson, Lake & Powell: Emerson, Lake & Powell
  51. Emerson, Lake & Palmer: In The Hot Seat
  52. Eno/Moebius/Roedelius: Cluster & Eno
  53. Eric Burdon & War: Eric Burdon Declares "WAR"
  54. Eric Clapton: No Reason To Cry
  55. Fleetwood Mac: Shrine '69
  56. Fleetwood Mac: The Original Fleetwood Mac
  57. Fleetwood Mac: Penguin
  58. Fleetwood Mac: Tango In The Night
  59. Frank Zappa: Weasels Ripped My Flesh
  60. Frank Zappa: The Man From Utopia
  61. Frank Zappa: Make A Jazz Noise Here
  62. Genesis: And Then There Were Three
  63. Genesis: Duke
  64. Gentle Giant: Live Rome 1974
  65. Gentle Giant: The Missing Piece
  66. George Harrison: George Harrison
  67. Grateful Dead: Grateful Dead
  68. Grateful Dead: From The Mars Hotel
  69. Grateful Dead: Terrapin Station
  70. Illusion: Illusion
  71. Iron Butterfly: Ball
  72. Iron Butterfly: Metamorphosis
  73. Janis Joplin: I Got Dem Ol' Kozmic Blues Again Mama
  74. Jeff Beck: There And Back
  75. Jefferson Airplane: Bark
  76. Jefferson Airplane: Long John Silver
  77. Jethro Tull: A Passion Play
  78. Jethro Tull: J-Tull Dot Com
  79. Jimi Hendrix: Band Of Gypsys
  80. John Fogerty: John Fogerty
  81. John Fogerty: Blue Moon Swamp
  82. John Lennon: Milk And Honey
  83. Justin Hayward: Songwriter
  84. Keith Moon: Two Sides Of The Moon
  85. Keith Richards: Main Offender
  86. King Crimson: Islands
  87. King Crimson: THRAK
  88. Led Zeppelin: In Through The Out Door
  89. Lou Reed: Perfect Night Live In London
  90. Lynyrd Skynyrd: Second Helping
  91. Lynyrd Skynyrd: Gimme Back My Bullets
  92. Lynyrd Skynyrd: Endangered Species
  93. Moody Blues: Octave
  94. Moody Blues: Long Distance Voyager
  95. Mott The Hoople: Mott The Hoople
  96. Nazz: Nazz Nazz
  97. Neil Young: Comes A Time
  98. Neil Young: This Note's For You
  99. Neil Young: Broken Arrow
  100. Nice: Five Bridges
  101. Paramounts: Whiter Shades Of R'n'B
  102. Paul McCartney: Back In USSR
  103. Paul McCartney: Tripping The Live Fantastic
  104. Paul McCartney: Working Classical
  105. Peter Gabriel: So
  106. Pink Floyd: Is There Anybody Out There? The Wall Live
  107. Pink Floyd: The Final Cut
  108. Pink Floyd: A Momentary Lapse Of Reason
  109. Pink Floyd: The Division Bell
  110. Procol Harum: Something Magic
  111. Queen: At The BBC
  112. Queen: News Of The World
  113. Renaissance: A Song For All Seasons
  114. Renaissance: Camera Camera
  115. Ringo Starr: Old Wave
  116. Ringo Starr: VH1 Storytellers
  117. Robin Trower: For Earth Below
  118. Robin Trower: Caravan To Midnight
  119. Robin Trower: Victims Of The Fury
  120. Rod Stewart: Atlantic Crossing
  121. Rod Stewart: Foot Loose & Fancy Free
  122. Rod Stewart: A Spanner In The Works
  123. Roger Waters: The Pros And Cons Of Hitch-Hiking
  124. Rolling Stones: Emotional Rescue
  125. Rolling Stones: Undercover
  126. Roxy Music: Viva!
  127. Roxy Music: Flesh + Blood
  128. Soft Machine: Six
  129. Soft Machine: Seven
  130. Soft Machine: Softs
  131. Steve Hackett: Cured
  132. Steve Hackett: Highly Strung
  133. Syd Barrett: Barrett
  134. Taste: Live Taste
  135. Ten Years After: Watt
  136. Thin Lizzy: Fighting
  137. Traffic: Last Exit
  138. Traffic: The Low Spark Of High Heeled Boys
  139. Traveling Wilburys: Vol. 3
  140. Tyrannosaurus Rex: Prophets, Seers & Sages - The Angels Of The Ages
  141. T. Rex: Zinc Alloy And The Hidden Riders Of Tomorrow
  142. Van Der Graaf Generator: The Least We Can Do Is Wave To Each Other
  143. Who: It's Hard
  144. Yes: 80125
  145. Yes: Keys To Ascension 2

 

8: Almost Below Average
[97 albums]

This is the 'really close to bad' album. The songs are for the most part totally insipid, sometimes even atrocious. Only a real diehard could enjoy such a record in its entirety. However, even fans often have to admit that these records do not make them proud of their idols. What usually saves them from being a total disaster is a) a decent level of performance, musicianship and production and b) a couple of gems that seem to have gotten on here almost by accident. But there they are, and help to save the record from facing the depths of humiliation.

  1. ABBA: Voulez-Vous
  2. ABWH: Anderson, Bruford, Wakeman & Howe
  3. Allman Brothers Band: Seven Turns
  4. Allman Brothers Band: Where It All Begins
  5. Badfinger: Magic Christian Music
  6. Beach Boys: Surfin' USA
  7. Beach Boys: Surfer Girl
  8. Bill Wyman: Struttin' Our Stuff
  9. Black Sabbath: Heaven And Hell
  10. Black Sabbath: Mob Rules
  11. Can: Saw Delight
  12. Dave Clark Five: Try Too Hard
  13. David Bowie: Tonight
  14. David Bowie: Never Let Me Down
  15. David Bowie: Earthling
  16. Deep Purple: Concerto For Group And Orchestra -
  17. Deep Purple: Burn
  18. Deep Purple: Stormbringer
  19. Deep Purple: California Jamming
  20. Elton John: Blue Moves
  21. Eric Clapton: Money And Cigarettes
  22. Frank Zappa: The Grand Wazoo
  23. Frank Zappa: Sleep Dirt
  24. Frank Zappa: Orchestral Favorites
  25. Frank Zappa: Tinseltown Rebellion
  26. Frank Zappa: The Perfect Stranger
  27. Frank Zappa: Thing-Fish
  28. Free: Fire And Water
  29. Genesis: Invisible Touch
  30. George Harrison: Wonderwall Music
  31. George Harrison: Somewhere In England
  32. Grateful Dead: Anthem Of The Sun
  33. Grateful Dead: Aoxomoxoa
  34. Grateful Dead: Go To Heaven
  35. Jack Bruce: Somethin Els
  36. Jeff Beck: With The Jan Hammer Group Live
  37. Jeff Beck: Crazy Legs
  38. Jeff Beck: Who Else!
  39. Jefferson Airplane: After Bathing At Baxter's
  40. Jethro Tull: Minstrel In The Gallery
  41. Jethro Tull: A
  42. John Fogerty: Premonition
  43. John Lennon: Live Peace In Toronto 1969
  44. John Lennon: Menlove Ave.
  45. Justin Hayward: Night Flight
  46. King Crimson: The Night Watch
  47. King Crimson: Starless And Bible Black
  48. King Crimson: VROOOM
  49. Kinks: Kinks
  50. Kinks: Preservation Act I
  51. Kinks: Give The People What They Want
  52. Led Zeppelin: Presence
  53. Lou Reed: Growing Up In Public
  54. Lynyrd Skynyrd: Twenty
  55. Mamas & Papas: People Like Us
  56. Monkees: The Monkees Present
  57. Moody Blues: Keys Of The Kingdom
  58. Mott The Hoople: Wildlife
  59. Mountain: Twin Peaks
  60. Mountain: Man's World
  61. Neil Young: Harvest
  62. Neil Young: Landing On Water
  63. Nice: Nice
  64. Nice: Elegy
  65. Paul McCartney: Give My Regards To Broad Street
  66. Paul McCartney: Paul Is Live
  67. Paul McCartney: Flaming Pie
  68. Phil Collins: Face Value
  69. Phil Collins: Hello I Must Be Going
  70. Procol Harum: The Long Goodbye
  71. Renaissance: Azure D'Or
  72. Renaissance: Time-Line
  73. Ringo Starr: Beaucoups Of Blues
  74. Ringo Starr: Ringo The 4th
  75. Ringo Starr: Time Takes Time
  76. Rod Stewart: Smiler
  77. Rod Stewart: A Night On The Town
  78. Rod Stewart: Vagabond Heart
  79. Rod Stewart: When We Were The New Boys
  80. Roger Waters: Radio K.A.O.S
  81. Rolling Stones: Dirty Work
  82. Soft Machine: Fifth
  83. Soft Machine: Alive And Well - Recorded In Paris
  84. Soft Machine: Land Of Cockayne
  85. Steely Dan: The Royal Scam
  86. T. Rex: Bolan's Zip Gun
  87. Ten Years After: Alvin Lee & Company
  88. Ten Years After: Rock & Roll Music To The World
  89. Thin Lizzy: Shades Of A Blue Orphanage
  90. Thin Lizzy: Nightlife
  91. Traffic: Mr Fantasy
  92. Traffic: When The Eagle Flies
  93. Van Der Graaf Generator: Pawn Hearts
  94. Van Der Graaf: The Quiet Zone/The Pleasure Dome
  95. Yes: Tales From Topographic Oceans
  96. Yes: Tormato
  97. Yes: Talk

 

7: Plain Bad
[46 albums]

The only thing that redeems this kind of records is one or two really catchy numbers that manage to get it to your head so that if you're in a good mood you can even associate the whole album with these ditties. For the most part, these albums are 'failed experiments', with a band trying out an idea or a style that isn't too familiar to them and relinquishing it soon afterwards (A, Stonedhenge). Or it's a band in its final stage of falling apart (The Visitors). Or something like that. Buyer beware.

  1. Adrian Belew: Desire Caught By The Tail
  2. Andrew Lloyd Webber: Cats +
  3. Bill Wyman: Stone Alone
  4. Bill Wyman: Anyway The Wind Blows
  5. David Bowie: David Live
  6. David Bowie: Black Tie White Noise
  7. Deep Purple: Who Do We Think We Are
  8. Deep Purple: Come Taste The Band
  9. Deep Purple: Last Concert In Japan
  10. Deep Purple: Perfect Strangers
  11. Deep Purple: The Battle Rages On
  12. Doors: An American Prayer
  13. Eric Clapton: Behind The Sun
  14. Fleetwood Mac: (Peter Green's) Fleetwood Mac
  15. Fleetwood Mac: Future Games
  16. Fleetwood Mac: Heroes Are Hard To Find
  17. Frank Zappa: Frank Zappa Meets The Mothers Of Prevention
  18. Frank Zappa: The Yellow Shark
  19. Genesis: Wind And Wuthering
  20. Genesis: We Can't Dance
  21. George Harrison: Gone Troppo
  22. Grateful Dead: Built To Last
  23. Humble Pie: As Safe As Yesterday Is
  24. Jagger/Wyman/Watts/Cooder/Hopkins: Jamming With Edward
  25. Jeff Beck: Rough And Ready
  26. Jethro Tull: Catfish Rising
  27. King Crimson: Lizard
  28. Monkees: Instant Replay
  29. Paul McCartney: Pipes Of Peace
  30. Paul McCartney: Run Devil Run
  31. Pete Townshend: The Iron Man
  32. Phil Collins: No Jacket Required
  33. Procol Harum: The Prodigal Stranger
  34. Queen: Flash Gordon
  35. Quicksilver Messenger Service: Happy Trails
  36. Ringo Starr: Bad Boy
  37. Rod Stewart: Out Of Order
  38. Roger Daltrey: Daltrey
  39. Rolling Stones: Rock And Roll Circus
  40. Roxy Music: Manifesto
  41. Ten Years After: Stonedhenge
  42. Ten Years After: Positive Vibrations
  43. Traffic: Shoot Out At The Fantasy Factory -
  44. Van Der Graaf: Vital
  45. Yes: Big Generator
  46. Yes: Open Your Eyes
6-5: Truly Offensive
[39 albums]

This ain't bad, it's 'urrible, plain and simple. Usually more 'failed experiments', but with even worse results: electronic monsters (Under Wraps, Press To Play), gospel hogwash (Saved), lame country-western (Mardi Gras) and heavy metal (Rock Island) imitations. Or, as usual, a band just coming in (Waterloo, Mr Wonderful) or going out (Positive Vibrations, Roots To Branches). Anyway, only a scholar or a systematic completist needs any of these records. I'm surprised they're still around and available on CD. Any artist should be ashamed of this tripe.

  1. ABBA: Waterloo
  2. Beach Boys: Keepin' The Summer Alive
  3. Bee Gees: Life In A Tin Can
  4. Bee Gees: Spirits Having Flown
  5. Black Sabbath: Never Say Die
  6. Black Sabbath: Born Again
  7. Black Sabbath: Dehumanizer
  8. Bob Dylan: Saved
  9. Creedence Clearwater Revival: Mardi Gras
  10. Emerson, Lake & Palmer: Black Moon
  11. Eric Clapton: August
  12. Fleetwood Mac: Mr Wonderful
  13. Fleetwood Mac: Time
  14. Free: Highway
  15. Free: Free At Last
  16. Gentle Giant: Interview
  17. Jeff Beck: Flash
  18. Jefferson Airplane: Volunteers
  19. Jethro Tull: Under Wraps
  20. Jethro Tull: Crest Of A Knave +
  21. Jethro Tull: Rock Island
  22. Jethro Tull: Roots To Branches
  23. John Fogerty: Eye Of The Zombie
  24. King Crimson: Earthbound
  25. Kinks: Phobia
  26. Led Zeppelin: Coda
  27. Moody Blues: Sur La Mer
  28. Paul McCartney: Press To Play
  29. Pete Townshend: Psychoderelict
  30. Renaissance: Songs From Renaissance Days
  31. Ringo Starr: Sentimental Journey
  32. Rod Stewart: Foolish Behaviour
  33. Rod Stewart: Tonight I'm Yours
  34. Rod Stewart: Every Beat Of My Heart
  35. Soft Machine: Fourth
  36. Steve Hackett: Genesis Revisited
  37. Syd Barrett: Opel
  38. Traffic: Far From Home
  39. Yes: Union

 

4-3: Atrocious Beyond All Imagination
[9 albums]

It's hard to imagine anything worse than the previous group of records, but I've reserved this section for the 'etalonic monstruous records'. If you can afford a little joke now and then, buy these (there's but nine currently) just to find out what a truly hideous record really is (of course, there's a lot of lesser bands with even worse records, but I'm speaking here of hideous records made by notorious bands/artists, which makes it all the more exciting). I won't diss these records here; you might find out the true reasons of their disgrace in the actual review pages, just by clicking on the album title. See ya.

  1. ABBA: Ring Ring
  2. Black Sabbath: Seventh Star
  3. Eric Burdon & The Animals: Winds Of Change
  4. Eric Clapton: Pilgrim
  5. Genesis: Calling All Stations
  6. King Crimson: THRaKaTTaK
  7. Rod Stewart: Body Wishes
  8. Rod Stewart: Camouflage (the only current album with a rating of three! Check it out, it's amazing!!!)
  9. Roy Wood: Starting Up

 

Unrated: This Is Not Music!
[6 albums]

A few records that I have reviewed, which are not necessarily 'horrendous': I just don't regard them as music, (at least, not as 'music' in the common sense of the word), they're something different. Noises, avantgarde art, anything like that. Proceed at your own risk.

  1. Brian Eno: Thursday Afternoon
  2. Frank Zappa: Lumpy Gravy
  3. Fripp/Eno: No Pussyfooting
  4. George Harrison: Electronic Sound
  5. John Lennon: Wedding Album
  6. Neil Young: Dead Man

 


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