planetneutral's Master Rating Log 2021-

planetneutral · 2020-12-30T14:04:16-05:00

Sometime in the era of 2009ish, my wife gave me a copy of the original edition of 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die. Like so many foolhardy list-obsessed music enthusiasts, I began an endeavor to listen my way through it. You've heard a similar story in this forum many times before I'm sure. It didn't start well. In August of 2009, a mere eight albums into my effort, the library I work in flooded completely, burying my office in liquid sewage and putting an end to my new practice of sitting in my office listening to CDs. In 2010, I started to keep a rating log on RYM, combining my general listening and half-assed effort to work through the book. - https://rateyourmusic.com/list/planetneutral/planetneutrals-master-rating-log (I stopped using this list for a while. I'm working on catching it up.) I also kept a log specifically related to the 1001 Albums book. - https://rateyourmusic.com/list/planetneutral/chronicle-of-the-1001-albums-you-must-hear-before-you-die (This is up-to-date.) And I picked up a copy of 1,000 Recordings to Hear Before You Die, which had enough parallels with the 1001 Albums book that I figured I might as well track my progress through both. https://rateyourmusic.com/list/planetneutral/chronicle-of-1_000-recordings-to-hear-before-you-die (Up-to-date.) The 2010 listening effort only lasted until April, the travails of library flood recovery dominating my attention. And it was totally backburnered until 2016, when I started really focusing on the original Dimery 1001 Albums book, using a spreadsheet list and a random number generator to make selections. By this point, I was also tracking revisions to the Dimery list. My current spreadsheet lists all 1,076 albums that I know that have been included in at least one edition. I had two good runs of listening between Jan. 2016 and Apr. 2018. But I was starting to have real problems with the Dimery book, namely that it was almost comically Anglophile. Could I really justify listening to three Dexys Midnight Runners albums? Did I really need to commit to three Blur albums? Or every single thing Brian Eno ever touched? Was I giving too much of my limited lifespan to this guy's musical worldview? I decided that the answer to the last question was yes and so I just stopped, 380 albums into my effort. The last album I reviewed in 2018 was Tanto Tempo by Bebel Gilberto, which I described as "Deeply unremarkable." And I thought that would be the end of the story. I shifted my hobbyist attention away from album listening and into building out Spotify playlists, like my 770+ song 1980s A-Z playlist. But then something unanticipated happened, when my friend announced he was going to listen to the new 2020 edition of the Rolling Stone 500 album countdown. He started at #1, which I completely bristled at, especially since he didn't seem very inspired by the top ten. ("It's all downhill from here!" I protested fruitlessly.) But I realized it was someone close to me, who was taking on my kind of project. So I decided to join him and, in so doing, continue with the other two book-driven lists that I had been tracking. So I am currently about 2/3 of the way through the Rolling Stone list (which my friend abandoned around #50 :o) and, with the new year, thought I'd try to start chronicling my listening here at BEA. I'm a little intimidated since the people in this space take their chronicling and rating and reviewing seriously and I'm kind of a doofus with really mainstream taste and a limited attention span (courtesy of three tech-enabled children, age 10-15). I generally like things and generally listen to things I expect to like. At the time of this post, my mean rating is 75 over 650+ ratings, with 70 being the mode. But part of the fun is that I'm growing a little impatient with the Rolling Stone list as we head toward the bottom, so this ride could get a little bumpy! The reviews I post as "comments" on BEA tend to be terse (despite the logorrhea of this intro post) and, if consensus of the BEA audience is any guide, unhelpful/unpopular. I will probably use this diary context to offer more informal commentary and notes from my listening experience. We'll see. Just wanted to try keeping track of stuff here and see what happens. I'm not especially thoughtful, attentive, or critical. I'm not looking to be convinced not to like something that I find joy in, but I'd love to have people encourage me to reconsider my negative takes. I mostly want to have motivation to keep going. And the reality for me is that documentation is a double-edged sword as it fuels my hobbyistic tendencies, but keeping up with a diary does increase the overhead of the actual listening. My current overall chart: Top 100 Greatest Music Albums by planetneutral Here's one attempt-in-progress to put words to my ratings, which I switched to BEA's scale relatively early on: 100 - Beyond objective consideration. Either basically flawless or containing so much 100+ material that it overcomes any shortcomings. 95 - Important to me, but just slightly out of the 100 league or flawed in some way I can't overlook. 90 - Generally speaking, the highest rating an album will receive if it has no personal resonance for me. Would have to be a significant first experience for me to rate an album of new-to-me music higher than this. 85 - The flawed version of 90. 80 - Genuinely compelling to me. (I consider anything at this score or above worth your time to listen to at least once.) 75 - I liked it+ 70 - I liked it 65 - OK+ 60 - OK 55 - A hint of something redeeming. 50 - Meh. 45 and below - Increasing levels of dislike. I have yet to rate anything below 15. I claim no consistency and surely go through periods where I am more or less enthusiastic in general. Rating is always about how the material meets the mood. This log only chronicles first listens, but it is rare for me to change rating on a re-listen. Thanks for actually reading this far. I intend to start using this diary on 1/1/2021, although I might tinker with a test post or two before then.

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Radio City by Big Star
Year of Release: 1974

planetneutral Master Rating Log ID#: 00674
Rating Date: 2021-01-11

Included in...
Rolling Stone 500 Greatest Albums (2003/2012/2020)? #359
1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die (2005/2013/2017/2018)? N
1,000 Recordings to Hear Before You Die (2008)? Y (Forms the second half of a combined entry with #1 Record.)
planetneutral's music collection? N

Rating: 65

Posted comment: After repeated spins, I find I'm just not that into this collection of songs compared to other Big Star releases.

Notes: This is kind of understating it. I must have rolled this four times and still couldn't tell you much about the particular tracks.

Rating metadata
Rolling Stone 500 Greatest Albums 2020 rating order: #379 of 500 (75.8% of all items rated - avg. 78.2)
Rolling Stone 500 Greatest Albums 2003/2012/2020 Combined List rating order: #404 of 686 (58.9% of all items rated - avg. 77.7)
1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die 2005/2013/2017/2018 Combined List rating order: n/a of 1,076 (50.5% of all items rated - avg. 74.2)
1,000 Recordings to Hear Before You Die rating order: n/a of 1,000 (19.2% of all items rated - avg. 80.0)

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One Nation Under A Groove by Funkadelic
Year of Release: 1978

planetneutral Master Rating Log ID#: 00675
Rating Date: 2021-01-12

Included in...
Rolling Stone 500 Greatest Albums (2003/2012/2020)? #360
1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die (2005/2013/2017/2018)? Y
1,000 Recordings to Hear Before You Die (2008)? N
planetneutral's music collection? N

Rating: 75

Posted comment: The live Maggot Brain that comes on the bonus EP alongside this album really calls attention to the detrimental lack of Eddie Hazel in later Funkadelic.

Notes:

Rating metadata
Rolling Stone 500 Greatest Albums 2020 rating order: #380 of 500 (76.0% of all items rated - avg. 78.2)
Rolling Stone 500 Greatest Albums 2003/2012/2020 Combined List rating order: #405 of 686 (59.0% of all items rated - avg. 77.6)
1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die 2005/2013/2017/2018 Combined List rating order: 544 of 1,076 (50.6% of all items rated - avg. 74.2)
1,000 Recordings to Hear Before You Die rating order: n/a of 1,000 (19.2% of all items rated - avg. 80.0)

Last edited by planetneutral on 01/14/2021 05:05; edited 1 time in total

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The Black Parade by My Chemical Romance
Year of Release: 2006

planetneutral Master Rating Log ID#: 00676
Rating Date: 2021-01-13

Included in...
Rolling Stone 500 Greatest Albums (2003/2012/2020)? #361
1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die (2005/2013/2017/2018)? N
1,000 Recordings to Hear Before You Die (2008)? N
planetneutral's music collection? N

Rating: 65

Posted comment: Not altogether successful, but I appreciated the unanticipated Pink Floyd influence.

Notes: I wonder if younger fans of this album are familiar enough with The Wall to suss out the references.

Rating metadata
Rolling Stone 500 Greatest Albums 2020 rating order: #381 of 500 (76.2% of all items rated - avg. 78.2)
Rolling Stone 500 Greatest Albums 2003/2012/2020 Combined List rating order: #406 of 686 (59.2% of all items rated - avg. 77.6)
1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die 2005/2013/2017/2018 Combined List rating order: n/a of 1,076 (50.6% of all items rated - avg. 74.2)
1,000 Recordings to Hear Before You Die rating order: n/a of 1,000 (19.2% of all items rated - avg. 80.0)

planetneutral Profile

Funky Kingston/In the Dark
Year of Release: 2003

planetneutral Master Rating Log ID#: 00677
Rating Date: 2021-01-14

Included in...
Rolling Stone 500 Greatest Albums (2003/2012/2020)? N
1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die (2005/2013/2017/2018)? N
1,000 Recordings to Hear Before You Die (2008)? Y
planetneutral's music collection? N

Rating: 85

Comment: Plenty of greatness, but this compilation demonstrates the editorial genius of the person who combined highlights from these first two Toots albums to create a richer original US Funky Kingston release.

Notes: This compilation is not in the BEA database and I had to track a copy of the CD down from the library where I work. But it's in the 1000 Recordings book and I wanted to hear the original track list of Funky Kingston anyway. How does 54-46 not make the cut for the US Funky Kingston release?

Rating metadata
Rolling Stone 500 Greatest Albums 2020 rating order: n/a of 500 (76.2% of all items rated - avg. 78.2)
Rolling Stone 500 Greatest Albums 2003/2012/2020 Combined List rating order: n/a of 686 (59.2% of all items rated - avg. 77.6)
1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die 2005/2013/2017/2018 Combined List rating order: n/a of 1,076 (50.6% of all items rated - avg. 74.2)
1,000 Recordings to Hear Before You Die rating order: #193 of 1,000 (19.3% of all items rated - avg. 80.0)

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Never Too Much by Luther Vandross
Year of Release: 1981

planetneutral Master Rating Log ID#: 00678
Rating Date: 2021-01-14

Included in...
Rolling Stone 500 Greatest Albums (2003/2012/2020)? #362
1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die (2005/2013/2017/2018)? N
1,000 Recordings to Hear Before You Die (2008)? N
planetneutral's music collection? N

Rating: 75

Posted comment: Funky, compact, and, just when you think it's over, the Slow Jamz sample.

Notes:

Rating metadata
Rolling Stone 500 Greatest Albums 2020 rating order: #382 of 500 (76.4% of all items rated - avg. 78.1)
Rolling Stone 500 Greatest Albums 2003/2012/2020 Combined List rating order: #407 of 686 (59.3% of all items rated - avg. 77.6)
1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die 2005/2013/2017/2018 Combined List rating order: n/a of 1,076 (50.6% of all items rated - avg. 74.2)
1,000 Recordings to Hear Before You Die rating order: n/a of 1,000 (19.2% of all items rated - avg. 80.0)

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Mothership Connection by Parliament
Year of Release: 1975

planetneutral Master Rating Log ID#: 00679
Rating Date: 2021-01-15

Included in...
Rolling Stone 500 Greatest Albums (2003/2012/2020)? #363
1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die (2005/2013/2017/2018)? Y
1,000 Recordings to Hear Before You Die (2008)? Y
planetneutral's music collection? Digital

Rating: 90

Posted comment: Three all-time great funk tracks, no let-downs AND a personal favorite in Handcuffs.

Notes: Sure, Parliament is missing the incomparable Eddie Hazel, but unlike the late Funkadelic albums without him, this album has Fred Wesley and Maceo Parker. Decent trade.

Rating metadata
Rolling Stone 500 Greatest Albums 2020 rating order: #383 of 500 (76.6% of all items rated - avg. 78.1)
Rolling Stone 500 Greatest Albums 2003/2012/2020 Combined List rating order: #408 of 686 (59.5% of all items rated - avg. 77.6)
1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die 2005/2013/2017/2018 Combined List rating order: #545 of 1,076 (50.7% of all items rated - avg. 74.2)
1,000 Recordings to Hear Before You Die rating order: #194 of 1,000 (19.4% of all items rated - avg. 80.0)

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Rocks by Aerosmith
Year of Release: 1976

planetneutral Master Rating Log ID#: 00680
Rating Date: 2021-01-15

Included in...
Rolling Stone 500 Greatest Albums (2003/2012/2020)? #366
1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die (2005/2013/2017/2018)? Y
1,000 Recordings to Hear Before You Die (2008)? N
planetneutral's music collection? N

Rating: 70

Posted comment: Opening tracks bring the heat, but they get progressively less compelling from there.

Notes: I would have posted this last night, but someone drove into a power pole and a large swath of my town was without electricity for a few hours. Spent it playing rapid-fire Name That Tune with my three kids, who demonstrated a reassuring amount of knowledge of songs from before they were born.

Rating metadata
Rolling Stone 500 Greatest Albums 2020 rating order: #384 of 500 (76.8% of all items rated - avg. 78.1)
Rolling Stone 500 Greatest Albums 2003/2012/2020 Combined List rating order: #409 of 686 (59.6% of all items rated - avg. 77.6)
1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die 2005/2013/2017/2018 Combined List rating order: #546 of 1,076 (50.7% of all items rated - avg. 74.2)
1,000 Recordings to Hear Before You Die rating order: n/a of 1,000 (19.4% of all items rated - avg. 80.0)

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If You're Reading This It's Too Late by Drake
Year of Release: 2015

planetneutral Master Rating Log ID#: 00681
Rating Date: 2021-01-16

Included in...
Rolling Stone 500 Greatest Albums (2003/2012/2020)? #367
1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die (2005/2013/2017/2018)? N
1,000 Recordings to Hear Before You Die (2008)? N
planetneutral's music collection? N

Rating: 60

Posted comment: I'm capable of liking Drake and a few of these tracks are decent, but not nearly enough of them to warrant 68 minutes of attention.

Notes:

Rating metadata
Rolling Stone 500 Greatest Albums 2020 rating order: #385 of 500 (77.0% of all items rated - avg. 78.1)
Rolling Stone 500 Greatest Albums 2003/2012/2020 Combined List rating order: #410 of 686 (59.8% of all items rated - avg. 77.6)
1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die 2005/2013/2017/2018 Combined List rating order: n/a of 1,076 (50.7% of all items rated - avg. 74.2)
1,000 Recordings to Hear Before You Die rating order: n/a of 1,000 (19.4% of all items rated - avg. 80.0)

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All Things Must Pass by George Harrison
Year of Release: 1970

planetneutral Master Rating Log ID#: 00682
Rating Date: 2021-01-17

Included in...
Rolling Stone 500 Greatest Albums (2003/2012/2020)? #368
1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die (2005/2013/2017/2018)? Y
1,000 Recordings to Hear Before You Die (2008)? Y
planetneutral's music collection? CD

Rating: 90

Posted comment: This has been in my collection for years, but my appreciation for it seems to keep growing as I age.

Notes: What's most striking is that no one seemed to think he had it in him. Guy writes top-shelf material on the order of While My Guitar Gently Weeps and Here Comes the Sun...and gets no respect.

Rating metadata
Rolling Stone 500 Greatest Albums 2020 rating order: #386 of 500 (77.2% of all items rated - avg. 78.1)
Rolling Stone 500 Greatest Albums 2003/2012/2020 Combined List rating order: #411 of 686 (59.9% of all items rated - avg. 77.6)
1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die 2005/2013/2017/2018 Combined List rating order: #547 of 1,076 (50.8% of all items rated - avg. 74.2)
1,000 Recordings to Hear Before You Die rating order: #195 of 1,000 (19.5% of all items rated - avg. 80.0)

Last edited by planetneutral on 01/17/2021 19:46; edited 1 time in total

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The Infamous... by Mobb Deep
Year of Release: 1995

planetneutral Master Rating Log ID#: 00683
Rating Date: 2021-01-17

Included in...
Rolling Stone 500 Greatest Albums (2003/2012/2020)? #369
1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die (2005/2013/2017/2018)? N
1,000 Recordings to Hear Before You Die (2008)? N
planetneutral's music collection? N

Rating: 65

Posted comment: Wasn't expecting the Q-Tip influence or welcome Wu features, but this album is long and stays bleak for the duration.

Notes:

Rating metadata
Rolling Stone 500 Greatest Albums 2020 rating order: #387 of 500 (77.4% of all items rated - avg. 78.0)
Rolling Stone 500 Greatest Albums 2003/2012/2020 Combined List rating order: #412 of 686 (60.0% of all items rated - avg. 77.6)
1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die 2005/2013/2017/2018 Combined List rating order: n/a of 1,076 (50.8% of all items rated - avg. 74.2)
1,000 Recordings to Hear Before You Die rating order: n/a of 1,000 (19.5% of all items rated - avg. 80.0)

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