Songs In The Key Of Life

Not for me. Some songs good. Others weird. Strange noise playing in background of some tracks was off putting

Parhaat biisit ehdottmasti hyviä, mutta sitten taas jonkun verran täytebiisejä omaan korvaan. 1cd painos parhailla biiseillä olis ehkä jopa nelonen, mutta tällä setillä arvosana olkoon kolme tähteä. Absoluuttisesti paskoja biisejä ei ensimmäistäkään. Kunniamaininta Pastime Paradise (HV Coolio).

Have listened many times before. Some great songs but also a bit of filler.

Laajemmin ajatellen vaikuttava levy (hitit ja rappiin lainatut biitit), niin pakko arvostaa, mutta ei iskenyt kunnolla kuitenkaan

This honestly didn't have a bad song on it - most of them were outright great - but 1hr 45min is just far too long for an album. If it was 45 or so it would've been a 5/5, but at that length it's a 3. On a cool note, was fun to unexpectedly find out where that Coolio song came from.

Man I don't know... This feels like a bad rating but I just couldn't do it. I can't deny the musicianship and the importance that this record has but just musically it did not click. It felt so long and bloated. Every track just goes on and on. The ballads just feel so corny.. When he gets groovy and funky that's when Stevie shines, he's previous two records I feel are far more innovative and exciting. Idk man... It's just kinda corny through and through im sorry. Isn't she lovely does slap though

Some bangers. Didn't get through it. It was a bit Bruno Mars esque - like sharp and produced in a way that reminds me of musicals. Full respect to be making that in the 70s tho and some of the beat mixes were very retro futurist which I liked.

Ложка меда в бочке дегтя. Самый долгий альбом не по времени а по ощущению. Выделить отдельно что-то поразительное и удивительное трудно - все композиции на отличном техническом и исполнительском уровне, но нет особенных песен. Если взять любую из альбома или даже две и послушать их, то скорей всего я скажу что это замечательно, а кто это ? Если мне поставят альбом, я скорей всего не выдержу такой участи. Оценка отдельно взятой любой песни - 7-8/10, оцека альбома 4/10

I of course have heard of Stevie Wonder but I wouln't have necessarily be able to list (m)any of his songs. The album has Isn't she lovely and Pastime Paradise that are songs that I definitely had heard before. The album was made in 76 but it sounds like this could have easily been 80s or even 90s album. I enjoyed it but a) it is very long and b) it is not really my style. I like some R&B but this this me is "oversinging". For somebody else Stevie's vocals most likely are top tier.

I think everyone loves this album, but it's just not for me. Sorry, Stevie

nothing

Not as epic as everyone makes it out to be in my opinion. It’s good though

I genuinely believe Stevie Wonder is the most overrated artist of this century.

Double albums often suffer from the curse of being overlong with not enough to fill them, and this is no exception. Apart from the two most famous tracks ('Sir Duke' and 'Isn't She Lovely'), a lot of this album felt like overindulgence that wasn't backed up by solid execution. I thought about bumping this up to a 3, but I just don't think that 2 songs in 105 minutes of music justifies a higher rating.

Сара 3,5 Марко 1,5

not for me 2/5

idk if I wasn't in the mood, but this didn't do much for me.

Ok

Jeg bliver nok ikke populær, men jeg synes ikke, det er så fedt. Der er nogle af numrene, jeg synes er så kedelige, at de rigtig gode ikke trækker ordentligt op for dem. Funk er heller ikke lige min kop te, så når vi bevæger os ind på Contusion fx, så står jeg af. Det lyder lidt som et underligt cover af temasangen til PES 6. Ingen mængde af dygtige studiemusikere, silkeblød produktion og smarte solbriller kan ændre på, hvordan jeg har det med den pågældende genre. Der er dog også så utilgiveligt store bangers herpå, at de, isoleret set, berettiger et par stjerner. 2.7

It's acknowledged as a high point in his career. I'm not a fan as it's not a vocal that intrigues me

An hour, and 45 minutes? No thank you. 2/5

Leider überhaupt nicht meins, schwierig für mich durch zuhalten trotzdem erkenn ich den Einfluss und den Erfolg des Albums an. Einziger Song den ich mag ist Pastime Paradise und das auch nur wegen der Verknüpfung zu Gangstas Paradise von Coolio und L.V..

So I was expecting a soulful, jazzy and robust RnB album worthy of the critical acclaim and success that it has generated over the years. What this felt like to me was 70's elevator pop that had more in common with Michael Jackson than Ray Charles. This was probably on me for having the wrong preconceived idea of what Stevie Wonder was all about, but in the end this definitely made me realize this is just not for me.

Full Album Thoughts: Album Rating: 2.7 (B-) The first "Double Album" meaning I kind of want to get two separate ratings. Its not fair that there is some gold on here that I keep having to drag down because of my own personal hangups. But then again, its my freaking list and rankings. And you made me sit through what would otherwise be like 40 minutes of Mid to Mad, IN ADDITION to another full album of the Best Bops Of All Time, and some real new sounds I wouldnt have experienced. They just HAPPEN to be shuffled together. If you took the back half of the A Side, the B side, and the D side, you'd have a 5 star album. As is, with that STINKER of a C side and the worst album opening run so far? Woof. I feel bad for the rating I am going to give this. Track Thoughts: "Love's in Need of Love Today" D Christian Thrifstore Music, bleh. I am biased by lived experience, and that harshes my enjoyment of an otherwise groovy gospel jam riff. This is just not something I enjoy. "Have a Talk with God" F- See above but with my own personal baggage meaning I cant enjoy the absolutely bonkers scifi sounding alien instruments. Like, I can not stress enough I love everything about this song sonically. And then the lyrics absolutely give me the ick. I never want to listen to it again, which is a shame because I want to hear it in any other form. "Village Ghetto Land" C Hey looks like someone discovered the Mellotron! Except I actually am not sure, cuz the strings sound a bit too synthy in places. Either way, STILL not really a song I ever think I'll go back to, but at least this is a Weird Take On Classical Composition? Its a curiosity but not a compulsion. "Contusion" A+ The soundtrack to the best Released In Europe Only Dropping Shapes Puzzler you never got to play. This is such a refreshing, vibrant, inventive, energetic celebration of every great aspect of the last 3 songs I wished were in better songs! And that better song is here! Its this one! "Sir Duke" S+ I think I need to start marking songs that "Have Escaped Containment" in that I already was familiar with them, but now experiencing them in context I can evaluate them more holistically. The most recognizable horn riff ever? Debatable. The most head-bopping-est, strut-stepping-est, bouncy grove of all time? Without a doubt. It is physically impossible to not move along with this song. Which is crazy because it is PRETTY COMPLEX melodically, but it just fits RIGHT in the pocket with its beat. Its a celebration of its musical influences, of the GOATs at the time, and then instantly becomes a GOAT in its own right. Its one of the happiest songs in existence! This is S tier, plain and simple. (I also need to note, for posterity's sake that this structure pops up in the Title Screen song for Paper Mario and that has lots of gooey nostalgia for me) "I Wish" A Okay, so the album has actually kicked off. We are in feel good grove central. The walking bass, the playful keys, the guitar stings, the horn hits, it all just... drives so damn hard. I have harped in the past about things being repetitive, but this is how you have a simple pattern and then just keep it building and evolving so it never becomes boring. You get hypnotized, lulled into exactly where the song wants to take, and im happy to go along for the ride. "Knocks Me Off My Feet" B- Slow piano ballad. I cant say I am much for ballads, I think I am finding. Easy listening lounge music. Its excellent in its construction, but not really to my taste. I really feel like so much of this album, for how long it is, is just going to come down to personal taste sinking otherwise excellent songs. "Pastime Paradise" C+ Its no Amish Paradise. I actually find its sparser, lighter tone to be... awkward. I want this to go hard. "Summer Soft" B+ The Sims Build Mode Music. Oh wait here comes the beat! Here comes the Steely Dan! The lyrics are very poetic, I love the occasional play on words. The back half is repetitive, but keeps things fresh with key modulation. "Ordinary Pain" A- I do enjoy a good yearning love-sick song, as long as it can keep things upbeat. I think if this was sarcastic or did anything to subvert the expectations (that it itself probably cemented in the first place) I would be all for it. As is, its Prototypical, which it cant help, but it still doesnt have that "it" thing to stand out for my tastes, so far removed from its original context. IS WHAT I WOULD SAY UNTIL WE HIT THE HALFWAY POINT WHERE IT BECOMES A SEPARATE NEW SONG!?! We have the shift in perspective?! No wait, no this is excellent. This is genius. (but its repetitive, so still points off ugh I am so harsh? I have to be harsh, these are theoretically The Best Albums Of All Time, so I can be nitpicky) "Isn't She Lovely" D+ Do NOT start your song with the sound of a baby crying, one of the worst sounds known to man. I feel like this song has escaped containment? Is this a Wedding Jam? Is this a Movie Cliche? I do not give two shits about babies. I'm glad you love your kid, you absolutely should, thats like rule number one. I just dont need to hear about it. DO NOT BRING BACK THE BABY COOING RECORDINGS IN THE BACK HALF. Ugh this is murder on the ears with a fantastic harmonica solo that I love. "Joy Inside My Tears" D- This one did nothing for me. And its only half over. Turns out I dont like slow jams, we are finding out. Not enough expansion on the central premise. I think I hate being bored more than baby cries. "Black Man" C Another very long song. But its at least got a driving grove yet again! The lyrics are a bit Edutainment for my liking, but I can imagine this being historically significant. This feels... Anthemic... but I cant see myself just throwing on this 8 minute track "Just For Fun" you know? "I Am Singing" C What the actual heck is this keyboard-demo track? I really cant take this song seriously. I am sorry. This is another Me Thing again. "If It's Magic" B+ See an actual honest to goodness Harp Lullaby is hard to come by. And this is actually very beautiful! Is this something to throw on at any occasion? No. But its certainly has its time and place. And I do actually click with the lyrics message! "As" B+ Assume I strung the words Smooth, Drive, Groove, Funky, Bop, And Jam together coherently here. I am just enjoying this song simply as it is. "Another Star" B+ Katamari Music (I thought before looking at the actual title, lol and furthermore lmao)

Del 1 al 10, 8

Honestly, I was really surprised by how pedestrian this sounded. Not really impressed at all.

Is it innovative or just the voice?

Some great songs on this album but a fair bit of filler too. It's a long album as a consequence and I found myself drifting into other thoughts.

Do I think Stevie is a genius - yes. Would I listen to this album in its entirety again - I don't think I would. Unless Granny was coming round and she didn't like Led Zep. Too much elevator music between the two or three bangers. And it's waaaay toooooo loooonnnngg. A controversial 2*

Egentligt en del kendte numre på. Også som min årgang nok mest kender som covers. Men meget langtdobbeltalbum og mange lange numre. As er bedre i originalen.

Hopplöst överskattat album, hopplöst spretigt. Klart det finns höjdpunkter men det är långt emellan dem och för att vara en dubbel är dom alldeles för få. Det dröjer ända till "I wish" innan jag hittar nåt att gå igång på. All bra musik, och i synnerhet soulmusik, handlar om att få ligga i nån aspekt. Stevie gör låtar med barnjoller! Låtar till barn borde förstås förbjudas. Det är i samma no-go zone som riverdance, barnkörer, trumsolon och låtar för sin Mamma. Det sistnämnda har naturligtvis Stevie också den dåliga smaken att praktisera. Har det någonsin kommit nåt vettigt ur låtar till sina barn eller för sin mamma? Det är en ren styggelse. Det bara fortsätter, stora delar av det här albumet verkar just vara en uppvisning i dålig smak. Jag menar "I am singing", vad är det för totalhaveri? Fusionjazzen i "Contusion" måste ju rimligen va ett skämt eller? "Saturn" är en arenarockballad av värsta sorten, kunde varit Coldplay. Och så det mest öppenbara då: smäktande soul helt befriad ifrån sex. Det är en oförenlig kombo. Könsdrift är smäktande souls enda existensberättigande. Kom igen, jag har hört Teddy Pendergrass. Jag vet precis hur ångande smäktande soul ska, kan och bör vara. Det finns som sagt några höjdpunkter, nämnda “I Wish" gungar, "Another star" är kanske den bästa, den funkar på ett dansgolv alla dar i veckan. I "Ordinary pain" med kvinnlig vokalissa händer fina grejer. "As" är en klassiker av en anledning. Men herregud det är tunnsått för en dubbel. Det här musik för att visa upp för andra musiker hur duktig musiker han är. Det ger jag som simpel lyssnare blanka fan i faktiskt. Stevies musik är som porr i blindskrift; bara upphetsande för Stevie själv. Det blir en tvåa för att duktigheten och hantverket inte går att underkänna, men det är på den där berömda gärdsgårn'

I definitely really like Stevie wonder but his albums are all very homogenous and it just blends together after a while. 2 hours is just entirely too long I must say it. It's just so long and loud like chill out a little man. Did he cover gangsters paradise. What. Just don't gaf tbh. Favourite: Isn't She Lovely Least favourite: Village Ghetto Land

Meh

I just keptttttt ending up so bored. Just a "you had to be there" album I suppose!

I will acknowledge that this is a particularly good example of the genre but even that's not enough for me I'm afraid. Not my cup of tea.

Not my thing but good music

Not awful but far prefer Fulfillingness' First Finale

I was expecting to like this a bit more than I did. As a kid, one of the first albums I got was 'Orginal Musiquarium' and this album has some of the tracks from that one on it so I thought I'd travel back in time and enjoy reminiscing and also listening to tracks I hadn't heard before. But apart from 'Pastime Paradise' (a bit of a surprise and much better than the Gangsta version), nothing really moved me and the album was beginning to grate after getting 15 tracks in. Was there any reason to flood this release with all these songs, none of which are particularly stunning IMHO? I always associated Wonder with positivity and smiles but it began to make me a bit irritable. Oh well.

Not a bad album, just way too long for me.

He's talented and all but I just don't enjoy it

Oh, okay, this album seems like smth i can use for holding concentration (except the fact that it is disco so concentration may be lost somehow). Those songs from 70s all sound like soundtracks for some road movies. I don't know what to say more. It is positive, not rock and giving some hippie vibes. Maybe somewhere in 70s this could be rather popular than now.

Ugh. But now I know where Coolio got Gangster's Paradise from, so I got that going for me. 2.

Again: I’m sorry, I feel so bad for not liking Stevie Wonder. Some of the songs were enjoyable! Just not my thing overall though

rate this later 2

not my cup of jizz ngl

soo incredibly boring for such a long album. 21 songs and i would not go back to listen to any of them. Although they had different sounds they all started merging together into one big song. Though i will say some of the lyrics were good. Some of the longer songs could definitely be cut down. I am sad i wasted almost two hours listening to this.

Not really for me, I like the I want to say J-pop feel to it. Didn’t finish the album, but it was decent

Buen album, m gusta la utilización de ciertos instrumentos en canciones específicas. Me gustaron varias, pero creo q no es para mí. Aún así me encantó All day Sucker. recomendado

this album was okay, i didn’t really like the first few songs and i got very bored. but it was overall an alright album. 6.5/10.

-I like his voice -good melodies and funky instrumentals - very chill yacht rock vibes -IS PAST-TIME PARADISE WHAT AMISH PARADISE WAS BASED OFF LMAO - i’m sorry why are all his songs so long i really don’t like that in an album some are okay but like why are they all over 5 minutes - definitely liked disc one better songs i like: - loves in need of love today -have a talk with god -village ghetto land -past-time paradise -joy inside my tears songs i actively dislike: -contusion (sounds like whiplash and SNL mixed) - easy going evening

Just as I was beginning to wonder when I'd roll the next big shot album, I happen upon this. This is my second Stevie Wonder album, with it being exactly 120 albums since I first listened to Innervisions. I don't remember much about the previous album, which is probably sacrilege to the music-listening community. I think it was folky or autumnal or something. Anyways, I'm keen to listen to this album as I'm pretty sure it's his most well-received release. The illustration of Stevie on the cover reminds me of that illustration of the Unabomber, which is also promising. There's nothing I love more than a good Ted talk. Fuck. It's a double album. fkyotuv fucky ou fuckh nyiy. I was airpunching my monitor in rage seconds prior to writing this sentence. Many of the songs are long as shit, too. What are you doing, Stevie? It seems that any attempt I make at trying to like an artist is punished, as I can't stand excess in my albums. 48 minutes is the perfect runtime for an album, as scientifically proven by me. You would think that an extra hour couldn't do that much damage when it makes the album equivalent in length to an average movie, but it does, trust me. This is pretty interesting as far as a soul showing is concerned. I'm not used to this level of variety or spread of influences on a soul album. I view soul music as synonymous with a muddy, moderately frustrating sound, so it's good to finally have a bit of clarity. Anyways, the actual music. There's some good stuff in here. It's hard not to feel uplifted by this music. The breezy vocals and Wonder's charasmatic vocals are a consistent highlight. I had a perfectly good time listening to this one, though whether it has any staying power is anyone's guess. It's easygoing and likeable without necessarily hooking me. There is also the obvious issue of the farhkinggg length. I'd already gotten my fill by the time I reached "Joy Inside My Tears", with the remaining songs marking a considerable drop off in quality for the album (it also doesn't help that the remaining songs are LONG AS SHIT). "Village Ghetto Land" is decent. I like the strings, and the songwriting is well-matched to boot. The lyrics are the most memorable aspect because of the contrast, obviously. "Contusion" is also pretty cool. A bit of a jazz fusion sound going on. The cool, confident guitars carry the song, though I also quite like the synthesiser and some of the miscellaneous digital effects. "I Wish" is another good, funky tune. I like all of the bridges, and the aforementioned funk sound has a lot of kick to it. Good vocals, too - they're pretty fun. No fucking way. There's no fucking way that Gangsta's Paradise is a flip of "Pastime Paradise". That's hilarious. I'd say it's shameless, but the music industry gets up to all kinds of nefarious tomfoolery. Anyways, it's alright. The string sections are good. The feel-good energy of "Summer Soft" is also nice. The lyrics and songwriting are likely the best on the album. I've heard "Isn't She Lovely" before. That vocal melody is pretty golden and the song being a tribute to Stevie's daughter is heartwarming, but god damn if it ain't long as shit. Please retcon the latter three minutes from all of reality, I beg you. Book time. Wonder was in a bit of a creative frenzy while making this album. A lot of collaborators. Very well received at release. I mean, I know this one's a big deal, so I don't need to consult Wikipedia for this album. I cosign this inclusion.

After recently spinning Curtis Mayfield’s edgy and captivating 1970 album Curtis for the first time I’ve been excited about dipping into some of the classic soul, funk and disco albums of the 1970s. The stand out hits on Songs in the Key of Life are impossible not to know. ‘Sir Duke’ and ‘I Wish’ have a whole life outside this LP on radio stations and party playlists across the world. ‘Pastime Paradise’ sounds very modern, the use of synthetic strings is ahead of its time and can be heard in plenty of the soul, R&B and rock records that proceed this album. Upsettingly, outside of these hits there is not a lot for me here. I don’t feel like much effort was put into cutting this 2LP + 1EP album to its key, most attractive elements. It’s a very long record to get such little pleasure out of. Most of the tracks on this record are very safe, sedate and glossy. Every track that Stevie Wonder performs lives or dies on whether those vibrant and vital feelings translate to the listener, I personally can’t tap into it. I’m delighted that nearly every other person digs this, but for me I feel like a child being forced to listen to their parent’s boring music. There are very few songs that give me the kind of rash like negative reaction I get from ‘Isn’t She Lovely’. It makes me nauseous - it simply won't end! Stevie Wonder has enough fans without me butting in. I’m gobsmacked at how much more famous Wonder is than Mayfield though… its mad.

Most liked tracks were “Have a talk with god” and “I wish” but the whole album just isn’t my type of music

This is just not my thing. His voice is great and it’s got super slick production, but I’m not that fussed by it. It’s fine but I won’t listen to it again.

This was just….. sooooooo longggggg

Way too long. Knew some songs, vibe was all-right but not cohesive.

Great voice but doesn’t hold my attention

I've fucking tried listening to this multiple times over the years and I just don't get it. So since it's here, I'll try it again. It's been a little while since I've given it a shot. Contusion is just...70s schlep. Sir Duke, did I just get a music history lesson? I Wish slaps pretty hard, but it's followed by Knocks Me Off My Feet which is just boring. He starts off by saying "I don't want to bore you with my troubles" but it's too late. I know they can't all be bangers but the hard driving funk is the best thing he does...felt the same way on Talking Book a few weeks ago. Pastime Paradise, awesome. Isn't She Lovely has always made my ears bleed. I just can't get into it. I'm not saying this is bad music or that Stevie Wonder isn't talented...this is well crafted, well produced music. And they call Stevie a genius because he absolutely is. I can see why people love this album, it's just not what I want to listen to.

It had its moments. But it was generally too long and a bit boring.

too much major for me. a solid 2/10, rounded up.

A classic album, but not one for me. It was a tough sell and a harder listen, but, honestly, just not my jam.

good, but not for me !

OK? -ish? I guess? Just terribly long. 5/10

449/1001 🌕🌕🌗🌑🌑

Stevie has a wonderful voice and I really enjoyed a handful of songs such as Sir Duke, Isn't She Lovely, and As. But this album simply didn't catch my attention for whatever reason. I can tell this is a great album, but it isn't for me.

Sorry Stevie but outside the 2 absolute banger tracks (Sir Duke & I Wish) this did nothing for me. I recognise the talent, but ... I don't know, maybe just not my thing

This was too long

Off the cuff remark: there are moments of this album where it is hard not to be caught up in its sheer joy, but they are brief and being a curmudgeon they don't last long before my attention span wonders at the necessity of being more than 7 minutes long. Standout track: Isn't She Lovely, if only becuase of the nostalgia it creates in my mind of hearing it on the radio as a child. I swear I never heard the slightly creepy child noises on the track before Revisit?: part of me is glad this album exists but a greater part of me would be entirely happy not to hear it again. I am sure there are innovative elements that should be cherished but it gets on my wick a bit.

Not for me. I like Stevie. Great singles. Terrible albums.

I can't deny Stevie Wonder's an extremely talented musician, but I've just never been able to get into him.

Zbyt dużo "drazniacych" fragmentów, niektóre partie są przeciągnięte, czasem brzmi jak muzyka grana w windzie.

Stevie Wonders genius isbon show, but I really didnt enjoy this album.

Ruined by religion and far too long. 2.5

I knew more of this than I thought. 'Sir Duke', 'As', and of course the sickly, insipid 'Isn't She Lovely'. He's obviously hugely talented but most of his stuff does nothing for me. The funky stuff is ok, his ballads are generally horrible! Too many tracks are too long. The reissue on Spotify is way too long. I usually find and listen to the original track listing but I really couldn't be bothered so skipped a bit. Life's too short!

All tunes are really fine, but this is not the music for me, it is too soft and I do not get any energy from it.

To much Jesus

I cannot like this. It's trying too hard, going in all directions. Production feels very dated to me, and I know it is, but it impacts the quality of the songs for me. Of course, the hits are bangers. Even so, doesn't save the record, it takes too long and feels unbalanced.

Not my genre. Just couldn’t get into it. He’s obviously tremendously talented but I didn’t recognize much and didn’t really like it. Plus the album was way too long.

One song an album doesn't make way too long and very similar for all tracks

Really not for me. A couple of classic tracks, yet not an album I'd ever personally play.

Not bad - it felt almost muddy though? Every sound seemed to exist on the same layer or within the same similar range so there wasn't the clarity of sound that I would have liked to hear. I liked Another Star though. 2/5 stars.

Grand, but a bit same-Y after a while.

Mid

Music for people who think mayo is spicy

Some of it wasn't bad, but not my vibe

It is very polished and has a few tracks that I really like, but generally it didn't make much of an impact on me. Highlights include Isn't She Lovely and discovering that this was where the Gangsta's Paradise sample came from, (it's such a nice track on the album too).

1. Love's in Need of Love Today - 8/10 2. Have a Talk with God - 6/10 3. Village Ghetto Land - 5/10 4. Contusion - instru 5. Sir Duke - 6/10 6. I Wish - 7/10 7. Knocks Me Off My Feet - 8/10 8. Pastime Paradise - 3/10 9. Summer Soft - 7.5/10 10. Ordinary Pain - 7.5/10 11. Isn't She Lovely - 9/10 12. Joy Inside My Tears - 7.5/10 13. Black Man - 7.5/10 14. Ngiculela – Es Una Historia – I Am Singing - 6.5/10 15. If It's Magic - 7/10 16. As - 8/10 17. Another Star - 7.4/10 18. Saturn - 8/10 19. Ebony Eyes - 6/10 20. All Day Sucker - 7/10 21. Easy Goin' Evening (My Mama’s Call) - instru 6/10

Umm... This one is a bit bloated for my tastes. Sure, there's some great tracks here, but it's a slog to get through. I'm sorry the boomers had to "suffer" so much to have to believe this was the greatest album. I'll put this on the "well, I've heard it" and move on list.

Meer is vaak niet beter. Zeker niet als het het aantal nummers op albums betreft. Toch krijgen wie hier 105 minuten Stevie Wonder voorgeschoteld. Veels te veel natuurlijk. En ondanks dat op Songs in the Key of Life veel hits van Wonder staan (Sir Dike, Isn't She Lovely) is het daarnaast ook gewoon een hele zoute soul-popplaat. Nummers als Love's In Need of Love Today en Joy Inside My Tears zijn echt mierzout en storen mij dan ook mateloos. Vervolgens staan er op deze plaat ook wat experimentelere tracks (zoals de paar nummers voor Sir Duke) en gewoon wat ijzersterke soul-tracks (zoals Black Man). Ik ben dat ook wat ambigu in de beoordeling maar kan helaas niet super enthousiast zijn. 5/10 Highlights Sir Duke Black Man

Not really for me but fairly enjoyable, recognised more songs than expected. Favourite tracks: Sir Duke, Pastime Paradise & As. Probably won't revisit. 2/5

теряю интерес к альбомам, что идут дольше часа. послушала пару песен

тяжело идет, много треков хочется переключить. очень старперский вайб, хоть и интересная аранжировка. слышно что работали классные музыканты. врядли смогу дослушать. на реддите чувак написал о том, что слушал его когда ему было 11 в детстве и врядли сможет послушать его еще раз, с чем я почти солидарен. пока 2 из 5 за очень хороший продакшн.

mid 70s upbeat r&b - just not my thing

Today I learned that Gangsta's Paradise came from this. Masterpiece. Maybe if the album was shorter Pastime Paradise would've solo carried, but it is what it is. Apart from THE song I only liked instrumentals in a couple of others

Hold nu op det er langt Der er nogle sjove og tankevækkende sange, der er også et par rigtig gode, og så er der alle dem der er blevet genbrugt af andre senere. Det er og bliver ikke min musik stil. Det er sikkert banebrydende og vildt godt for sin genre. Men jeg keder mig. Også igennem flere af de numre jeg ved har været hits.

Second album de SW généré après 'Talking Book' que j'avais peu apprécié. Le premier morceaux de ce nouvel album ne m'a pas rassuré, morceau très long et très peu varié. Les 2 morceaux suivants ne sont guère mieux. L'instrumental "Contusion" est bien plus intéressant, jazz rock qui groove avec un bon chorus de guitare électrique, un vrai plaisir. Quelques autres bonnes surprise (tubes connu et/ou morceaux appréciés) : I Wish, Sir Duke, Summer Soft, Isn't she lovely Donc globalement constat similaire au premier album écouté : certains morceaux funk/groove sont très réussis, mais je trouve les autres (la majorité malheureusement) très ennuyeux ou trop longs. =>2/5

Ikkje nåke for meg

Ikkje så glad i sånn musikk

..

There is so much amazing stuff on this album, but the stuff that is bad is so, so, so incredibly bad.

Love's in Need of Love is too long; it's not a bad song just not a song that deserves 7 minutes Have A Talk with God is really good I Wish is good Pasttime Paradise is what Gangsta's Paradise sampled from so that's neat mostly just not my genre of music

I couldn't finish. I appreciate the artistry but repetitive lyrics, particularly towards the end of a song, irritates me.

Quelques bons trucs, mais je n'ai pas embarqué. À plusieurs moments, j'ai trouvé ça trop long. Ai sauté la fin de chansons (en particulier Ordinary Pain, qui m'est vraiment tombé sur les nerfs).

I like a few songs, but overall not a big fan

You obviously can't deny the talent. The fact that this is his 18th album is pretty unbelievable. Having said that, while I enjoyed some of it, most of it just wasn't for me. Favorite tracks, Sir Duke and Isn't She Lovely.

This was difficult to listen to because it could have been a great album. Unfortunately there were too many tracks that lasted far too long, going on and on and on becoming extremely irritating. I have no problem with long tracks, "Autobahn" by Kraftwerk is 22 minutes long and when I am listening to that not once during that 22 minutes do I think "Why is this not finished yet?" For every track on this album that went over five minutes I found myself thinking just that, usually even before the five minute mark. And that irritated me greatly particularly because most of these tracks would have been great at 3 to 4 minutes long.

Classic that on its face seems like something I'd enjoy, but just not vibing with it. Better starting with "Contusion," but still not an album I'd choose to listen to.

Not bad but couldn’t find a case id put it back on. Strong 2

fun 2.5

Standard and classic Stevie wonder. New find for me in pastime paradise, a clear predecessor to gangster paradise.

Funky soul

Dull. SO dull. Meandering, burbly melodies, with that irritating electronic piano burping in the background and throwback 70s guitar licks trying to create any sense of momentum. I once liked Stevie Wonder. Now I resent him when I see one of his albums on this list. 2 stars but only because I have a daughter, and she is indeed lovely.

Okay.

Sir Duke, Isn’t she lovely,

Always put off of Stevie Wonder by the cheesiest of pop songs he released like ‘I Just To Say I Love You’ and ‘Isn’t She Lovely’. Whilst I’d never listened to one of his albums I knew that this one is highly regarded by many. I found it really laboured to start with. The first 3 tracks were a drag. Then it came to life with ‘Contusion’, ‘Sir Duke’ and ‘I Wish’ and became listenable. The rest of the (long) album was much the same. I definitely preferred the more funky tracks ‘Ordinary Pain’, and enjoyed the gospel parts. I skipped the large dollops of cheese.

This is a solid album but it's just too damn long. I had to break it up over two days. There's some really good classics on here and also some skips. This would have been way better if cut down to one disc. I hated the harmonica song at the end and the sound effects in the background of people talking and moving shit around really bugged me. It did not add any charm and the album art is some of the worst I have ever seen. I thought I sorta liked this but after reading my review, downgrading.

No denying Wonder's got a voice but I didn't want to hear it for an hour 45. Could have cut a lot out of the album and it would have been better. Was surprised about the Pastime (Gangsters) Paradise sample. Ended with the worst harmonica song I've ever heard.

Not really a fan of Stevie Wonder's music.

I wasn't really into that album a whole lot.

Pastime Paradise sounds like the inspiration for Gangster’s Paradise.

Not for me

Nu... Nav mans vibe. :D

Signed, sealed, delivered, I'm lost

Incredibly talented guy. I love that he came to Dayton after the mass shooting downtown. This isn’t an album I would keep listening to.

Album is not engaging enough for its nearly 2 hour length. Has some absolutely amazing songs but also has lots of boring songs that dont hold your attention. A 2 hour album is fine but you need to keep the listener engaged throughout. If the album were split into 2 albums, they each would've been a 3-4 for me

Some jams, but very repetitious. Would have been killer as a single album rather than a double.

The good songs are really good. Some went on longer than I felt they needed to.

Some good songs but that electric piano just sounds like a toy - can't stand it. I guess im just not into stevie wonder.

Not my jam

Some bangers, but some songs way too long, including Isn't She Lovely

Steffan's 18e studioalbum; een dubbelalbum van grof afgerond twee uur. Dat is gewoon megalomaan. Iemand had hier rücksichtslos het mes in moeten zetten. De nummers van 6-8 minuten zijn hun lengte niet helemaal waard en ook het aantal tracks had beperkt moeten worden. Neem nou "Isn't She Lovely": Duurt 6,5 minuut omdat het moet beginnen met een krijsend kind en moet eindigen met een badderend kind. Stevie heeft een gebrek aan visie. Schoolvoorbeeld van een album dat bezwijkt onder z'n eigen gewicht. En dan "I don't wanna bore you with it" zingen. Wat een lul. 1 ster zou te streng zijn, dus toch nog 2 sterren.

Was not a fan

TIL that there’s a song called “Pastime Paradise”…. Nothing really jumped out aside from the popular tracks

A bunch of these songs would be pretty good if they were 3 - 4 minutes long. Instead, oh so many of them stretch out to an interminable 6 - 8 minutes for seemingly no reason. Didn't know that Coolio ripped one of these though, that was interesting at least.

I honestly don't know what to make of this. There's so much talking about how amazing an album this is. Wonder is clearly an amazing writer and performer and this album is very consistent for a double album. I guess I end up back at that difficult and possibly unwanted phrase for reviewing an album: "it's just not my kind of thing." The synths are cringy. And it's just so long. I'm bored.

Chill to listen to. A nice style and pretty good tracks on here

Just don't really dig Stevie Wonder.

boring and long… maybe only when doing home work. 3/10

I can't believe Stevie Wonder shamelessly ripped off two classic songs from Will Smith and Coolio smh my head. Did this really need to be nearly two fucking hours long?

Pass time Paradise is the most confusing song to hear when you forgot that Coolio samled it. Album 8s fun but m9stly not my speed. It's also REALLY l9ng for what it is... too damn long.

Bit meh

Weer een stevie plaat en weer niet anders dan de vorige...

Ughh niet weer Stevie. En dit is ook nog eens de totaal van alle spannende elementen gestripte Stevie. Zoetsappige meuk

Stevie Wonder is very talented but I found this album super boring.

Not my type of music

Was hoping to enjoy this more. Instrumentals are great, but couldn’t get into the style.

I didn't like this album very much. It was music, that's alright. But I just didn't feel anything while I was listening to it. Maybe perhaps with I Wish, but the other songs really just sound flat. To me, that is.

Never knew how much of his music was sampled.

Stevie wonder meh

Its got some classics on there but not the biggest Stevie fan

eh ganz nett, aber halt fahrstuhlig und non-threatening. GANSTAS PARADISE - who knew!! irgendwie ned meins

Förlåt men det är så tråkigt? Jag vill ju vara en kille som gillar Stevie, och Ingen ifrågasätter att grabben är ett musikaliskt hypergeni, men känns alldeles för ofta som att han mest använder sin talang för att hitta det mest avancerade sättet att göra en tråkig låt. Och varför är alla låtarna 8 minuter långa?? Inget händer? Tycker det blir som bäst när han lutar sig in i funk eller i fusion, men det äääär för många trista poplåtar

Extraordinary musical craftsmanship mixed with equal parts glurge and cheese. Too much of the latter, in fact. Won't end up in my rotation.

Not really my type of music. Boy did that just go on and on though.

2/5.

not my style

Kužim zašt je popularno, not my thing tho.

Not interested

🎺🥁👓

Good album if you like this sort of thing...however I found the sameness of the singing a bit tedious and some of the songs inordinately long. At 21 tracks its just too much boredom for one sitting.

Not really my style but some great songs (eg. As, Pastime Paradise)

Fuckin Stevie wonder man.

Ok not my favorite. Pop and symphonic

A really great single record...spread out over a double album.

Jedinica iz principa. // Jesam ovo konačno završila njega? Nisam imala POJMA da Gangsta's Paradise i As nisu originali u verzijama koje znam. Inače, ovo stvarno jest njegov najbolji album iako je dupli. Progurao bi se u trice. Malo mi je ovo sve cmizdravo.

Annoying

Niet echt mijn smaak

No llegue:((((

This is one of the highest rated albums of all time and to be honest I have no idea why. This wouldn't be to my usual taste so I went into this completely objective and even then I still couldn't figure out why people love it so much. His voice goes straight through me, the instrumentation is alright but nothing special and it's way too long. I love long songs and albums but only when they're actually enjoyable to listen to and this was almost painful. There were a few instrumental parts that were decent but they were followed by horrible vocals or some really boring jazz. If I was to rate this based on it's influence and popularity, I'd give it 3 stars but being completely objective and rating it based on my own enjoyment, I have to give it 1 star

There was no Stevie Wonder from the link. I got another artist who covered a variety of songs without lyrics

Lowkey just not the type of music I listen to and so I wasn’t as invested or exited about this album. For people who like this genre I’m sure it was great and I’m not denying its significance but just not for me (Isn’t she lovely is a banger tho frfr)

Not my type for Music 1,5

Elevator music.

boring, is not for me

I didn’t like it at all.

Not a fan

no

1’5

it's ok

HI8-0F49-JI3N4PMGIPVNJ

This is the 84th album I’m rating. Everybody talks about this album like it’s the greatest thing ever but I doubt it honestly because I’ve listened to Talking Book before. Adding to my Playlist - Sir Duke, Summer Soft, Ordinary Pain, Isn’t She Lovely, and Ngiculela - Es Una Historia - I am Singing. Not Adding to my Playlist - Love’s in Need of Love Today, Have a Talk with God, Village Ghetto Land, Contusion, I Wish, Knocks me Off my Feet, Pastime Paradise, Joy Inside my Tears, Black Man, If It’s Magic, As, and Another Star. All in all I liked 5/17 songs. I swear if Stevie Wonder wasn’t blind nobody would give a shit about his music. So many of the songs felt like they should’ve ended halfway through and it all sounded the same.

👎🏻

Would quite like an album not soul related

Lots of songs, hooks and beats I recognize. It obviously has had an impact on music going forward but even though I enjoy the ones that took from this I don’t see revisiting it. I was interested to hear the variations in song style while still all remaining a cohesive album.

Not for me. 1/5

A 1 star, I'm afraid. I'm simply not a fan of his music and didn't like a single track (as per others I reviewed)

70’s don’t care

I have never cared for Stevie Wonder and this album did not change my mind.

1. lovez in need - 1 2. have a talk uuith god - 0 3. village ghetto - 0 4. contuzion - 1 5. zir duke - 1 6. i uuizh - 1 7. my feet - 0 8. paztime paradize - 1 9. zummer zoft - 1 10. ordinary pain - 1 11. iznt zhe lovely - 1 12. my tearz - 1 13. black man - 0 14. ngicuela - 0 15. if itz magic - 0 16. az - 1 17. another ztar - 1 18. zaturn - 0 19. ebony eyez - 0 20. all day zucker - 0 21. eazy going -

*didn’t have time to listen*

Kann nicht singen

Wasn’t for me, kinda boring tbh

A lot of fluff here, and at 21 tracks totaling 1hr45min it's just too much.

There's a lot more Stevie wonder on the album than Stevie wonder you would like

Surprisingly pedestrian

Nah! Just that; nothing more to say.

To many songs about “god”

I have listened to this album before and I still don't like it. It's just not my thing, at all.

I actually had high hopes for this album but was a little disappointed. From all the Stevie Wonder songs I know, I figured it would be a cheerful, upbeat album. What I found was a slower paced album, mostly love songs but I didn’t listen to all the lyrics. Seemed very melancholy to me though. I did discover that Pastime Paradise was totally used for Gangsters Paradise though, which I did not know! Listen again: probably not Purchase for my collection: no Favourite Song: Worst Song:

I found this album very bad. Or, to be more correct, this is as far aeay from my music taste that you can come. I hate how cheesy every song sounds. Why is everything so happy? Why a chores? Ugh, did not enjoy this. I don't like Stevie Wonders voice either. I'd give this album like a 3/10.

Düdeldüü 🎷😎

Not a big fan

Absolutely fucking loved it mate!

Saw him perform this album in concert. Perfect album to start this journey. Stevie is in my top 5 favorite musicians of all time.