861. Bob Dylan - The Bootleg Series Vol. 4: Bob Dylan Live 1966, The "Royal Albert Hall" Concert

Release Date: 1998
Label: Columbia

I have this album.

10/10

855. Bob Dylan - Time Out Of Mind

Release Date: 1997
Label: Columbia

I have this one too

Rating: 8/10

853. Mariah Carey - Butterfly

Release Date: 1997
Label: Columbia

In an earlier edition of this book, albums by Britney Spears and Christina Aguelira are included. In a later edition, we have albums by Beyonce and Taylor Swift. The trouble is, pop music (of this sort) is disposable by its very nature, and this is another example that doesn't sound that good 21+ years later.

Rating: 4/10

824. Maxwell - Maxwell's Urban Suite

Release Date: 1996
Label: Columbia

I used to notice this album in HMV a few years ago, and for some reason always assumed it was a new album - not realising it was nearly twenty years old at the time. It is another example of neo-soul, but a much better one than D'Angelo provided.

Rating: 8/10

819. Fiona Apple - Tidal

Release Date: 1996
Label: Columbia

My previous knowledge of Fiona Apple was knowing that she was responsible for having the album with the longest title. On this album she reminds me of Regina Spektor, and that is a good thing.

Rating: 8/10

803. Leftfield - Leftism

Release Date: 1995
Label: Columbia

Leftism was released to critical acclaim in 1995, narrowly losing the Mercury Music Prize to Portishead later in the year. It is an album very much of its time, which hasn't dated particularly well.

Rating: 5/10

780. Jeff Buckley - Grace

Release Date: 1994
Label: Columbia

I own this too, though I've never loved it as much as others. Mind you, he's better than his father.

Rating: 7/10

763. Nas - Illmatic

Release Date: 1994
Label: Columbia

I have this already.

Rating: 9/10

730. Alice In Chains - Dirt

Release Date: 1992
Label: Columbia


No thank you.

4/10

688. Cypress Hill - Cypress Hill

Release Date: 1991
Label: Columbia

Yet another hip-hop album.

6/10

675. George Michael - Listen Without Prejudice Vol 1

Release Date: 1990
Label: Columbia

I'm reviewing this album about six months after I heard it, so I should probably listen to it again to refresh my memory. I vaguely remember not enjoying it though so I don't really want to. Sorry George.

Rating: 6/10

614. Fishbone - Truth and Soul

Release Date: 1988
Label: Columbia


Rating: 4/10

612. Leonard Cohen - I'm Your Man

Release Date: 1988
Label: Columbia

'If you wanna do it, do it right, right, do it with me.' sang Lenny Cohen and George Michael on the smash hit 'I'm Your Man' - the title track of this album.

Rating: 7/10

610. Terence Trent D'arby - The Hardline According to Terence Trent D'arby

Release Date: 1987
Label: Columbia

Rating: 4/10

595. George Michael - Faith

Release Date: 1987
Label: Columbia

By 1987, George Michael was tired of Wham!. Faith is the first release under his own name and is largely disappointing.

Rating: 6/10

546. Bruce Springsteen - Born in the USA

Release Date: 1984
Label: Columbia

I have no difficulty in admitting I prefer 80s Springsteen to 70s Sprinsteen. This album is just as good, if not better, than 'Nebraska'. It certaintly has the catchiest songs.

Rating: 9/10

511. Bruce Springsteen - Nebraska

Release Date: 1982
Label: Columbia

After the last two albums it was nice to listen to something enjoyable again. This book has made me realise I'm not really a fan of 'The Boss', but this was probably the one I liked the most. In fact, I really liked it.

Rating: 9/10

422. Willie Nelson - Stardust

Release Date: 1978
Label: Columbia

Moving away from the country to Tin Pan Alley, Willie Nelson gives us a set of pop standards. To be honest, not many of them are known to me, which is entirely my own fault. Of the ones I am familiar with, 'Unchained Melody' has been bettered and Ray Charles arguably recorded the definitive version of 'Georgia On My Mind'.

Rating: 4/10

409. Bruce Springsteen - Darkness on the Edge of Town

Release Date: 1978
Label: Columbia

After listening to the first Springsteen album. I concluded the Boss's albums were musically excellent, but vocally poor. I get the same feeling from this album too. Perhaps you have to be American to truly appreciate where the he's coming from, but the songs don't speak to me. To be fair though, I enjoyed this album more than his previous one.

Rating: 7/10

400. The Only Ones - The Only Ones

Release Date: 1978
Label: Columbia

We've reached 400. We are 40% of the way through the book. We celebrate this milestone with the eponymous debut album by the Only Ones. It is the only one of their's on the list, and contains their biggest hit - 'Another Girl, Another Planet'. I actually find the album a bit hit-and-miss, but that could be because AGAP is so obviously a hit.

Rating: 7/10