Start Your Own Journey Here

Earlier this year someone in the office #music slack channel called out the "1001 Albums to hear Before You Die" album a day generator. I was hesitant at first because I don't know that I can keep up with that pace. I've since learned there's a pause option so...hell why not!

How it works: there have been a series of books titled "1001 Albums To Hear Before You Die" - curiated by a bunch of music critics. The 1001 Albums Generator has all albums across all editions of this book and it will assign you one at random each day. You just need an email address and project name. No sign up or anything. Visit in the morning to be assigned an album. Listen to it. Come back the next day to fill out your review. Submit and be assigned your next album. The listing will give you links to various streaming services to make the albums easy to find. You can set your prefered platform.

Something to consider: we're reviewing the ALBUM, not putting the artist on trial. I see too many comments on the website about what a p.o.s. the artist is and therefore the album is bad. Nah, relax about i. If we tossed every piece of art made by an artist who was an asshole at some point in their life we'd have no art. People are complicated and messy - you can't even live up to your own morals every minute of every day. So judge the art. And maybe try to consider it's place in cultural history. This is "1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die" not 1001 albums you must love before you die. You're allowed to not like something because you don't like it. You're also allowed to like something an asshole created.

Or you can get uppity about everything and scream your head off in typical internet style. Whatever floats your boat.

My Summary Page. Feel free to disagree.

Additionally, I have found a "greatest" list from Rolling Stone Japan

100 Greatest Japanese Rock Albums of All Time, published in 2007. So, when it says "all time" it means up to 2007. Which means they missed DIR EN GREY'S "UROBOROS" by one year...bummer. Also, when it says "rock"... it doesn't necessarily mean that. Hikaru Utada's "First Love" is the popest pop to ever pop.