Reviews (page 5 of 6)
Like a more-boring American Crowded House complete with 1988 production. This definitely includes some songs that could have been legitimately nice without that dated reverb everywhere, but docking 1 full star due to "Bad Liquor" being unequivocally one of the worst songs I've heard in some time. 5/10 2 stars
If I invested sufficient time into this band, and the lyrics in particular, I expect I'd appreciate them more (judging by the YouTube comments those that like them *really* like them). However, from my two listens today I clocked three or four nice songs, and nothing that stood out as revolutionary or 'must-hear'. 2.5
I have no feelings about this album good or bad.
Terrible to me. Hard to listen. I don't even know did I listen all songs...
Even worse that lame pop or weak synth music is weak country or "americana / alt-country". I can't stand this type of music, at all. The idea of suffering through the whole album is not an option.
Too dreary an album to bring in the new year. They invoke bands like The Smiths and The Go-Betweens. I thought the opener "Firefly" was alright, but after a few more tracks it really started to drag. It's listenable, but not to my liking at this time, I need to be in a certain mood to get into this.
genre: country/folk, i dont love men singing but this was nice background music
I went into this listen feeling snide for whatever reason, so it is begrudgingly that I say that I liked this. It's brisk and breezy and almost painfully sincere. Call me a sucker, but it works for me.
The lack of a streaming option should not be a reason to remove an album from a list. Mediocrity and unoriginality should. California by American Music Club fits both categories. I found it on YT and gave it a listen. Its post-punk tones fit in with something you'd expect from Morissey and while not a terrible album, I don't understand what makes it a must listen? 3/5
California is an album soaked in sadness, but it wears that sadness so consistently that it eventually starts to blur. There is a raw, wounded honesty running through it, and at its best it feels brave in how openly it leans into despair. Mark Eitzel’s voice is fragile and exposed, carrying real emotional weight, yet the album often settles into the same emotional register for so long that individual songs struggle to stand apart. The songwriting is literate and observant, full of self-loathing, regret, and small, cutting details, but the arrangements rarely give those lyrics room to breathe. Everything is drenched in a similar haze of melancholy, mid-tempo pacing, and muted dynamics, which can make the album feel heavier than it needs to be. Instead of building contrast or release, it doubles down on its misery, and over time that intensity becomes numbing rather than cathartic. At its core, California is an album you respect more than you love. There is sincerity here, and a sense that the pain being expressed is real rather than performative, but it is also emotionally exhausting in a way that limits repeat listens. It captures a particular state of mind very effectively, but it does not offer much beyond that single mood. Three out of five feels fair for a record that is compelling in moments, admirable in intent, but ultimately too one-dimensional to fully resonate.
couldn't listen to it
I think there are better, similar 80’s indie records that could’ve taken this spot on the list. Example: The Feelies’ “The Good Earth” “California” isn’t a bad record, but, for me, it moves at a lethargic pace and kind of feels subdued just for the sake of being subdued. Go listen to The Feelies and report back, I guarantee you’ll have more fun with that one.
Both hard to listen to (in that it’s not on Spotify) and hard to listen to (in that it’s awful). Just wholly unnecessary, sincerely maybe the worst thing I’ve listened to for this project thus far. At least the experimental noise music is trying to do something new. This is nothing. Weightless, devoid of worth. A stupidly named band with no identity and nothing to offer. Absolutely should not be on this list.
unavailable on spotify or prime, so unable to rate
This was an unexpectedly enjoyable album. Honestly, this is what REM should sound like. Shame REM got famous while American Music Club faded somewhat into obscurity.
I could only listen to this on my phone's speakers, so let's say that's the reason the album sounded so bland, limited and tuneless.
album wasn't available but the rest of their songs slap
This album is not available on the streaming platforms…?
Kind of a not so good Wilco/Dawes sound. Few decent songs but otherwise, spent the album wondering why it's on the list.
Truly the most bland derivative shite ever put to tape. Ironic how someone with no musical taste wrote a book about albums to hear before death.
2/5
Three weeks passed between listening and writing this review. I remember absolutely nothing about this album. Was about to listen again until I recognized the top review, which reminded me that I have actually already listened to it and found it boring.
Meh.
Not on spotify, solid enough folk rock
Not available on spotify
I'll give this a better rating when I can figure out what the fuck is happening on the cover
Meh I did enjoy more than dislike Rating: 2.5
Couldn’t find California on Apple but was intrigued by a different album. I’ll return to them but I think they’re really good 3.5
Not remembering this one, I predict, it’s not doing it for me. It’s fine-fine but not enough. ‘Blue and Grey Shirt’ has got something, at least, and, okay, ‘Bad Liquor’ came as a surprise. All the good songs on the backend. It’s the ‘Western Sky’ that I like, and ‘Last Harbor,' too. But not much, honest.
Spotify doesn’t bother with it. Tried a few on YouTube. It’s like picking out an American Fatima Manaions. But FM are much better
2.75
Note: This album is not on Spotify, but it is on YouTube. I don't know what qualifies this album to be on this list, it's largely forgettable with songs that are bland and anti-climactic. The only commentary on it from wiki is one reviewer said the album is the band's "definitive statement", and if that's truly the case, are they really worth listening to if this is their most defining album? Absolutely undeserving of being on a list of this nature
This California does not know how to party.
pleh bleh mmmhmm yeh bleh yuck
Classic Americana, songs of death and loss and tears and yearning with nods to Springsteen along the way.
speak up please
Of all the albums on this project that are only findable in YouTube, this is the most tolerable one I've heard so far. That said, it's nice, but nothing new.
This was pleasant. I'd listen again if it ever makes it to Spotify
Okay
This wasn't as bad as my first impression of it, but it's another puzzling inclusion. Never heard of them and going by the Wikipedia blurb alone, it doesn't seem like a lot of people have, other than Arnar. 11 five star reviews in over 11000 votes is pretty bad, given how tame and inoffensive this is. This has to be middest album of all. There are some alright atmospheres and songs here in the vein of Pale and Skinny Girl but the whole album is as if you have a drawer full of spices - Springsteen, Talk Talk, REM and some others in the back, probably expired - and after two years of cooking you clean it for the first time. That stale residue in the drawer's corners is this music. So I'm at loss as to why it's here. Taking a spot that should belong to Low, if we're talking about 𝘚𝘭𝘰𝘸𝘤𝘰𝘳𝘦. Or to Talk Talk's \"Sprit of Eden\". Or to... so. many. others. I'm mad now.
I only listened to a couple of songs because the YouTube ads annoyed me way too much. But what I’ve heard was not mine. But since I only listened to a couple of songs: 2
I thought it was going to be some new wave album and it wasn’t, so that’s cool. Still, it’s good, but not something I’m dying to relisten to anytime soon.
No thanks. Just not for me.
I can see potential, but somehow it misses the mark.
Couldn’t find this album but I did listen to a greatest hits (essentials) album by them. Meh. Nothing special.
not in spotify
Daft name for a band, but a good album
Aivan kelpo klassikko-rock-levy, ei enempää eikä vähempää.
Album 602 of 1001 American Music Club -California (1988) Rating : 3.5 / 5 This is a pretty good album. An introspective and melancholic tone. I appreciated the emotional depth and the band's ability to convey a sense of despair and longing. Nice chill album to relax with.
I didn't have the day or headspace to give this a deep listen. It sounded fine but quickly felt like background music. If I found out this is actually great and I need to revisit, I wouldn't be the most surprised. One of my worst listen days so far
There was a chunk of this that felt like a mediocre Morrissey impersonator singing over new country. Some decent compositions. I probably won't come back.
Compelling, bracy and intermittently lovely. The opening cut is warm and approachable, setting a mood of near-lightness (or at least not pure bleakness as one expects). Hard to overrate the influence of this release – one hears Wilco, Sun Kil Moon, Counting Crows, Buffalo Tom, etc. "Firefly" and "Last Harbor" and "Blue and Grey Shirt" are the peak tracks here. An under-appreciated (if minor) masterpiece that suits this list and needs to get on to streaming services soon.
It not being on Apple Music is a pain. They sound okay but so do a lot of other bands not on this list. Another one of those bands that I question why they are on here.
Good but not quite great. Really feel like the B side was better than the beginning, liked the melancholy bluesy feel to it.
not available on iTunes, or Spotify. finally found 1 track on YouTube & it was pretty meh, so gave up trying to find the rest.
Unfortunately this isn't available to listen to in Spotify. I did find it in youtube though. I like it! (new to me)
Strong album of Americana and folk rock. Some twang, some hard rock (“Bad Liquor” was a banger!) and a gritty style. The lead singer reminded me of a newer artist I like called David Nance.
Interesting Americana guitar parts but with more apathetic vocalist. Not what I was expecting! There's parts that remind me of Bruce Springsteen, like "Somewhere" sounds like "Born to Run" in a good way. I'm also hearing a lot of "Okkervil River" in this band which I'm happy about. This band came out first but "Now You're Defeated" sounds like it could be a song in both band's catalogues. I really enjoy how dynamic the tracks are. The third song, "Laughingstock" is really soft and mild compared to the first two tracks and this is something I really appreciate so early in a rock album. I often dislike when rock bands try other things but then shove those tracks to the ends of records. I really didn't know what to expect song after song but as I was listening I did however start to get an expectation that the next track would also be good. I do feel bad because this album could easily be skimmed over for me; it appeared on a Monday, and a day when I was traveling / returning home from a trip, so it's Tuesday when I'm listening to it and already looking at the generated albums list to make sure that I'm not skipping or forgetting an album. Not only should this album be given proper attention, I think it should be in a rotation for me. It's really really solid and I'm only bummed that it comes in at around 40 minutes in total duration; I want more! It's a clear 4/5 and I'm really happy to discover the band. The distorted guitar parts in the chorus of "Highway 5" confirmed that it's a high 4 for me when I heard them.
Very enjoyable!! reminds me kind of REM and replacements combined maybe. Definitely a great midwest vibe to it... makes me want to find it on cd since its not on spotify.
Overall: 5/10 This isn't a bad album, but it feels lackluster compared to so many other great albums in this list. They're like R.E.M. with a bland vocalist, and if you saw my review from yesterday you would know that I'm not a huge fan of R.E.M. I got some enjoyment from this but it doesn't belong in the list when so many other great albums we're passed over for this. Fav Song: Laughingstock Least Fav Song: Bad Liquor
I enjoyed every song on this fine Americana-Indie album. I am annoyed that Tidal doesn't haveit, something I don't understand, so I had to listen to it on Youtube. Oh well that inconvenience aside. A very nice album...just annoying that I can't stream it in my usual way. 3.5 stars
Lo que más le puedo celebrar a este LP de American Music Club es que se escucha bastante bien para ser un trabajo independiente. Habiendo dicho esto, ninguna de las composiciones de "California" son lo suficientemente interesantes como para destacar, por lo que el disco no tiene ninguna canción con "espíritu de single". Podríamos decir que este trabajo inspiró bastante a Mark Kozelek para definir el sonido de Red House Painters. Asimismo, este podría ser considerado como una de las "primeras obras" slowcore, subgénero estrechamente relacionado con la escena alternativa de los '90s.
was psyched to find something completely new to me (never heard of it!) but it just reminded me of better things (country feedback, evan dando's gram parsons obsession).
Firefly or somewhere
The song starts out strong. “Marcello Semeraro” I seriously thought this track was a Springsteen track between the voice and music. I’m enjoying this album. I’m curious how I have never heard of this band. Ok. This was a great album. It does not sound like the 80s even a little. It could be from almost any time, and I hear Radio Head in here. I wonder if this album had an influence on them.
This feels like a Midwest emo mixed with modest mouse mixed with bedhead. Not bad, a little self serious. High 3.
Another band I've never heard of. Album is fine but nothing stands out to me.
decent
This sounds like a precursor to alt country, but it's missing something that didn't allow me to get fully into it. Good songs.
Meh…singers voice was odd.
After quite a good run of truly great albums I listened to Ameriican Music Club blind. Never heard of them and didn't know any of their songs. I had the initial impression they were a country act, which would explain my main reason for not having heard them, but they veer towards contemporary and folk which made it kind of strange that I had NEVER heard of them... But I suppose while listening I had the impression they were like a popular local band that had a small fanbase where you were asked to go listen and enjoy an evening out in that neighborhood but afterwords kind of forget their name because they were "yeah, OK." But not on your to buy list. This feeling never changed for me and as the album came to a close I felt like "yeah, OK." so now I heard them.
I’ll admit, I’d never heard of American Music Club until today. With that name, I might have overlooked them entirely if California hadn’t been included in the 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die. Though missing from most streaming services, the album is available on Bandcamp—so there’s no excuse not to give it a listen. Once I finally pressed play, I was gripped by AMC’s haunting, spacious sound. These tracks feel delicate yet temperamental with an almost cinematic quality. Mark Eitzel’s vocals have an intimate, confessional edge, shifting from a weary whisper to a cathartic wail that perfectly complements the album’s sombre themes. The arrangements mirror his emotional intensity, creating a slow, reflective experience where melancholic melodies dominate, allowing the emotional weight of the lyrics to sink in. Guitarist Vudi’s reverb-soaked riffs and subtle strumming lend texture without stealing focus, letting Eitzel’s voice and introspective lyrics shine. Highlights like “Firefly” and the gorgeous “Western Sky” capture the album’s sense of longing and disillusionment, while “Blue and Grey Shirt” digs into themes of love and regret. The closer, “Last Harbor,” leaves a lingering sense of melancholy. At times, this feels like the sound R.E.M. might have pursued without major-label polish, though Eitzel’s lyrical approach is far darker than Michael Stipes'. Recorded with minimal production, California is intentionally sparse, capturing heartbreak and self-reflection against the ghostly backdrop of a fading California dream. In a parallel universe, this band are probably huge, but conversely, their underdog status makes them more appealing to me. Did/Do I own this release? No Does this release belong on the list? Sure Would this release make my personal list? I'm still processing it, but I've enjoyed listening to it. Will I be listening to it again? For sure
This album started off very well. The first few tracks came and went and I was thinking to myself that this will be an easy four stars at least. Pretty sounding, American soft rock and I was enjoying it. Then the middle of the album was much of the exact same and my excitement started to wane slightly. Come the end of the album I was slightly disappointed. I feel like after listening to this, you would be better listening to a few songs as and when you feel like it. Any of them will do, they're pretty similar. The sum of its parts are better than the album as a whole. Could maybe have shaved off 10 minutes to make it a stronger collection of tracks. If any of the songs here came up on shuffle, I wouldn't skip them. However, listening to the whole thing, it got very samey towards the end and loses a star because of it.
This was decent, probably not something that I would listen to regularly, but it was pleasant enough.
Didn't find the album on Spotify, but I did get to listen to it after some searching. Nothing really stood out to me, but it was an okay listen.
Middle of the road americana. There are some nice moments on this and I feel it could grow on me. Faves: Pale Skinny Girl, Bad Liquor, Last Harbour
Hmmm, a bit bland - didn't really grab me and I gave it a third spin because my attention slid right off it on the second. I think I either want it to be a bit more chill, or even relax into full on slowcore, or to be a bit more intense and rocking. "Bad Liquor" was presumably included as a gag track but I'd have liked a lot more of the album to be like that! Fave track - "Blue and Grey Shirt" for being nearest the dreamy end of things.
Ei tarjonnut ihmeellistä kyytiä. Laimea ja tylsähkö.
Ei jääny mieleen. Taisi olla aika perushuttua
\"Laughingstock\" is a beautiful tune. As is "Blue and Grey Shirt," "Now You're Defeated," "Jenny," (possibly my fave), and "Last Harbor" (or maybe it's this one). All the beautiful tunes are great, there are just some less-than-great ones mixed in. I'm gonna go ahead and round up to 4 stars because this album is getting an unnecessarily bad rap. Also because they are not on Spotify and Spotify can go to hell.
Western Sky and Firefly and the highlights to me. Not on Apple Music or Spotify
I quite enjoyed the album.
Fairly middle of the road stuff but was quite surprised this as an 80’s album as it had the sound of a 90’s band. It was alright, nothing amazing but equally not terrible. Hard to completely judge in hindsight it may have been a revelation at the time. However so many other bands did this type of music but better in the years after this albums release. And I think I’d rather listen to those bands.
Bruce Springsteen meets the Posies! So many good alternative U.S. indie bands emerged before (Husker Du), around 88(Dinosaur Jr, Screaming Trees), or after (Nirvana etc) that is difficult to see where these guys fit in. Inoffensive stuff on this album but in general it is pretty dull. There is the odd occasion when they get it right but it never kicks on. So glad that those that followed took the Husker Du influence rather than the American Music Club one.
Couldnt find this album anywhere so just listened instead to their stuff generally. This was quite up my street. Nice easy Weat Coast vibe. A bit nondescript. Just enough rock, folk, punk, loose mush to keep most happy ish. Admittedly it’s been done a thousand times, and probably quite a bit better by others later on, but decent and I would listen again.
Never heard of them and I rolled my eyes when the first alt/country song started, but it grew on me a lot. It’s has a nice brooding dark vibe. He’s a good vocalist and the guitar parts while simple had some nice builds and subtlety. I think the really interesting part is the fact it’s from 1988, yet sounds so 90s. Classic case of ‘it’s ahead of its time’, this and/or whatever scene was around at that time that I wasn’t aware of clearly had an influence.
Man I had to go to you tube, not spotify and I don't remember much, just competent but not spectacular rock.
Ah. A real "blind spot" in my knowledge of household names in music from the last six decades or so. At last. Of course there have been lots of acts I only had surface familiarity with during the completion of this project (and it's not because I listened to a couple of key LPs from them that my knowledge really significantly deepened). But the acts I have *never* listened to are rare, and this is what I signed for here. I was aware of who Mark Eitzel and his first major band were. But if my memory serves, I had never sat down to give a spin to any song of his. My first impression is of American Music Club's *California* is that it is the sort of record you need to spend time with to fully appreciate its merits, a little bland at first sight, but gaining colors as you dig further. Not the sort of album you fall in love with right away. Not "catchy" enough on first listens. But you can sure feel it has potential as a "slow grower", and this for many reasons... The first reason is "contextual". Striking albums released in 1988 are not so numerous compared to most other years (only found less than 10 absolute keepers in that year). And this record offers something that was lacking in my 1988 list: some gracious, pretty dignified strand of Americana (Cowboy Junkies admittedly released a rougher rendition of that tradition in 1988, but its "messy" nature is leagues away from "California"'s glossy production values). The second reason is the wide array of stylistic touches lurking beyond said Americana surface, giving a scope to this record that pretty impressive. In a way, this album can feel as a very "American" response to the pop-rock of mid-career Talk Talk, with a bit of REM thrown in for good (American) measure. Yet this second take doesn't even dig enough. Which leads us to the third reason I want to spend more time with this album, i.e. its "prophetic" nature: early whiffs of Slint's post-rock and Silver Jews or Wilco's post-country-rock distinctly tickled my nostrils here -- maybe mixed with Arab Strap and Red House Painters's abrasive and "confessional" storytelling put into music. And this peculiar formula gives somewhat "timeless" assets to this LP -- a couple of typically eighties production values notwithstanding. Saying that the band's music foretells "slowcore" is a stretch however. But it's not because contemporary critics are misguided in their retrospective takes of "California" that you should bear a grudge against it. My only real doubt is about Mark Eitzel's vocal performance, which oscillates between somewhat "forced" and stilted inflexions to suddenly quite odd, more "slacker"-like moments, impeding on the necessary cohesion you need to feel for something as important as vocals. But I feel that if the songs stay long enough with me, these are the sorts of passing flaws that can actually become endearing in the long run. Will the songs stay with me, though? When I listen to the gently cinematic "Western Sky", or the ascetic-yet-terrifically evocative "Jenny", I have an inkling that they will. Only time will tell, though. Hence why I want to give a tentative "good grade" to this record, even if I can't give a perfect one. There might be some even better records in the *real* "American music club" that I have never listened to, after all. 3.5/5 grade for the purposes of this list of essential albums, rounded up to 4. 8.5/10 grade for more general purposes (5 + 3.5). Number of albums left to review: 26 Number of albums from the list I find relevant enough to be mandatory listens: 419 Albums from the list I *might* include in mine later on: 248 (including this one) Albums from the list I won't include in mine: 311
First time hearing these guys,decent songwriting,sounded like Indie old timey music but got boring for me after twenty minutes
Pleasant
Wow! Hard to have an opinion on that. Did they invent being middle of the road? Otherwise I’m struggling to see what they add to this project. Unless this dude got to like 996 and just couldn’t be bothered to think of the last few? 2.5
Not on Spotify can’t be too important, sorry nerds
1,001 albums that will make you want to die, entry #512.
Managed to track this down on YouTube and had a slightly cursory listen. Some lovely melodic tracks; I think my favourite was Pale Skinny Girl. Reminded me of what Suzanne Vega was doing (better) on her first two albums. Some tracks drifted a bit too aimlessly for me but overall deserves 3 stars.
This is one of the better - and earlier - grunge-adjacent roots rock LPs I’ve heard, not far from REM, but with flurries of howling guitar that remind me of the pretty great Thin White Rope. This is not music I’d dine with, but I’m content to share a few minutes at the espresso bar.
American Music Club, the discerning NME-reading hipster's choice back when I was only an eager young apprentice. I tried to like them, but could never discern much of a tune. Returning today, it's fine - best bits sound like Miracle Legion which is about as feeble an endorsement as I can be bothered to give
Enjoyable :) I liked this more than I thought I would
Very British sounding folk tinged indie Gonna listen to more of their stuff Not something I expected to like but this list can be full of surprises sometimes.
Not on streaming, spotify atleast, so it required finding it elsewhere. I liked a few songs, the music is good, but I don't know if i'll revisit this one.
This album was good. I liked how it remained consistent while sometimes amping up the energy when needed. Definitely something I would listen to again. My favorite songs were Somewhere, Lonely, Bad Liquor, and Western Sky.
I can't decide if purposely grating noise bands or uninspired guitar pop is worse in this list. Just because you can play a guitar and we're on indie radio doesn't mean it's good. The fact that they are ripping off other better bands doesn't help. Highway 5 is the only song I'd ever want to hear again, and that's only if nothing else was available.
If you mix Springsteen, Hawley, Replacements, a smidge of Morrisey, and a squirt of steel guitar it's a little bland but will fill you up.
Terribly boring!
good
pretty fire big fan
Can’t access
Looked up the tracks on YouTube. Just sounds like generic indie from the 90s but from 88 so must be influential. Not one to dig out if you can’t be arsed.
Q were always crushing over Mark Eitzel and AMC. Also Karl Wallinger and World Party Thing is, without radio play, there was little to no way of figuring out what they were like. Now I know. Judging from this, they weren't really worth the wait. For me, that is. Perfectly competent tv movie soundtrack music.
This was lovely
This feels so ahead of its time, and I enjoyed listening, but I won’t be putting this into my rotation because it’s so melancholy, the last song especially. I also love how most of the songs are about women, as they should be 😌 Standout track: - Firefly 4/5
Meh-ican Music Club, amiright?
Gutes Indie Album. Es lohnte sich die Recherche in YouTube und das Reinhören. Gelungene abwechslungsreiche Kompositionen einer Band der die Musik wichtiger erscheint als das Business. Der Song „Jenny“ ist grandios, gefühlstarrk und authentisch. Ich würde es auf jedenfall Wiederhören.
Generic lyrics Forgettable eighties rock Mostly broad dullness
Liked: Firefly, Lonely, Western Sky, Last Harbour.
It was fine
Decent album that improved as it went on.
Too bad this isn't available to stream because I enjoyed it a decent amount. My favorite was Western Sky. It's a softer indie rock album, a style I like much more than the Dinosaur Jrs. and Lemonheads of this era. Good song writing, the others I liked here were Lonely and Firefly.
This is a band I never heard of. Easy listening and I particularly liked the track "Lonely".
Did not enjoy.
This is a pretty good bluesy-rock album. I'm not infatuated, but if I could put together something like this I'd be chuffed
"Nondescript", the album. This is so generic and low stakes, honestly. It's listenable enough, just, you know, in a boring way. 2.5 rounded up.
Underwhelming Americana.
Went inside a building to check in and it kept playing in the truck. I didn't mind that I missed any of it. Generous 2 stars
Nice
Hadn't heard this before and it's decent, not available on Spotify at time of writing this and not easy to find for a decent price in uk, so I doubt I will be listening to it anytime soon.
Had to listen via youtube as it was not available on Spotify in my region for whatever reason. I can here a bit of The Smiths in their music. Like the vocals.
Listening to one of the most average sounding albums and then suddenly Pale and Skinny Girl happens. The last two songs were also fine
I skipped over this album 50 reviews ago because I couldnt listen to it during my commute (due to region locked content) but now that I have finally remembered and gotten around to listening to it I can confidently say that I didnt miss out on anything
I don't know if it was because of the youtube upload I listened to, but this sounded like there really wasn't all too much happening throughout. 2/5
I was left guessing what the importance of this band and album were. This was pretty bad. The lyrics were crap, the production was crap, and the singing was crap.
A bit of a snoozer but it's something to listen to. Like many albums on this list, I can absolutely see how this was important at the time, but the staying power just isn't there.
We have Bruce Springsteen at home.
Doesn’t seem to be available in Canada.
First listen. Meh.
Really pleasant sounding country/ alternative. More background than 'listening' music for me I think.
I haven't heard of this band and frankly struggle to see why it's included on the list. The Wikipedia page quotes an Icelandic newspaper's review. No offence to Iceland here, but it does feel a bit like they could have found a more well known publication for a review of a band that's within this list. Having said that, I can definitely imagine this album being an early influence on Sigur Ros, albeit within the same level of innovation. The music isn't bad, just not the level I'd expect for this generator. I like 'Blue and Grey Shirt' and 'Highway 5', but much of this was a bit forgettable unfortunately. It's nice enough as calming background music though.
I could hear a bunch of different bands in this. For example: The Smits, Nicolas Cavern & the Okay Seeds, and David Mathias Group. The latter half when it became much slower and melancholic was the best part. 6/10
Impossible to find, and thoroughly uninspiring when you get there.
Langweilig.
Two songs in I felt I knew where this was going. Four songs in I think I was right. Seems so featureless that I am trying to work out who listens to this and where it gets played? Maybe US college radio. Nul points from this UK judge, anyway.
Basic, reductive, predictable. I don't feel your pain, dude.
Fine by me
this band has 11 thousand monthly listeners on spotify. this album isn’t even on spotify - had to listen on youtube. and it ended up being REALLY GOOD and it’s a shame i’ll probably never go back to it since it isn’t streaming anywhere. maybe i’ll check out their other stuff
I started off optimistic but that soured by the end of track 3. For some reason I couldn't shake the thought that this album sounds like Uncle Tupelo if they weren't particularly good. Maybe it's just the cold medicine talking.
Sleepy, sometimes in a nice way. Bad Liquor spoils a nice, relaxing time.
Reminds me of groups like American Football or Pinegrove. Really liked it, though wish it was on Spotify, haha.
Not bad. Easy listening.
I couldn't find this album on Apple Music, so I listened to the Essentials playlist. I band I had never heard of before that this suggestion has made me decide to listen to more to them.
The numbers of this release were not available on Spotify
The kind of album you'd blast in your back garden on a sombre but sunny Sunday
áferðarfallegt fólkpopp. háði þessu að ég heyrði þetta á túbunni, er ekki á spottanum. gef þessu 3,5.
4/5
I don't remember much about this album after listening to it. There's nothing particularly bad about it, but nothing overly good or interesting either. Very eh. I'd give it a 2.5 if I had the option to.
3/5. Pretty catchy indie-country album with some ballads throughout. And the vocals are interesting at first but become more likeable on continued listens. Although I did enjoy it, not sure I would listen to it again. It definitely was unfortunate I could only hear 9 of the 12 songs on YouTube. Hard to rate it higher than 2 since I didn't experience the whole thing the best way. Giving it a 3 though for the potential. Best Song: Western Skies, Firefly, Lonely
Had to use YouTube to listen to this album. It was….ok, I guess? 2/5
A style of music that's hyper-American, both in name and in substance. The genre is a laid-back country blues, which can have its merits in the music world, but American Music Club doesn't really cut it here. The playing is (for the most part) low-energy, often to the point of sounding lazy. The vocal enunciation is similar, and I'm not a big fan of the singing. Probably the main highlight is the sparkling acoustic guitar lines in tracks like Lonely, Firefly, and Jenny. The ballads in this album are also worth a shoutout, not necessarily for standing out sonically, but for having some great lyrics. Pale and Skinny Girl, while very forgettable in terms of sound, has some pretty haunting poetry in there. The closing song, Last Harbor, is actually a surprisingly solid and mature finale to an album that didn't deserve such a thing. A lot of reviewers are bringing up the fact that this isn't on Spotify. While that isn't usually a fair "criticism" of music, it is in this case – because even on YouTube, the songs don't have many views. And for good reason. 2/5 Key tracks: Firefly, Lonely, Last Harbor
This album is not great to begin with, and the hurdles of it not being readily available on the streamers doesn't help it's cause. Found this lacking and generally pretty boring. Not sure why it's on this list, though I don't understand why a lot things are on this list.
no thoughts mid i think? 5/10
didn't listen to this earlier bc its not on streaming services. im not sure if me not being able to put this on Spotify is making me want this more or what but I feel like I would totally listen to some of these songs. I liked this
5/10 - It would be a 6 but -1 for not being on spotify. It was an alright album but nothing crazy. I did not pay the most attention because for me to listen to this again has to be fantastic and it just was not. I liked the first song a decent bit but it just went downhill as it went on.
Totally unrelated but should've given deja vu a 5. That album slaps
Shit was pretty boring. Will not revisit. Best track was Jenny, and that just sounded like a Elliot smith b-side from disc two of a deluxe package reissue
This shit corny as hell
🎧You can here this band’s influence on Counting Crows. Favorite track: Somewhere
Not in Apple Music
Pleasant. Inoffensive.
It was worth going out of the way to search it! The first song started a bit worryingly generic, but as the album went on it developed a sense of unique personality
Not a bad album by any means, but felt like it needed to do a bit more to grab me. One for a lazy afternoon perhaps.
A nice indie rock and americana album. Nothing too special. I never really understood the hype about Mark Eitzel. His work is fine, but none of his songs are all that great.
Fuck you for making me go to YouTube to listen to this garbage. Fuck you
Forgotten for a reason.
Folky, but had some rock and punky stuff thrown in
Slowcore? On the 1001 Albums list? Okay, this actually didn't click with me that well. Mostly because I was expecting more Red House Painters and less "slightly slower R.E.M.". Still good though. Might be a grower. And as a warning, DO NOT listen to this on Youtube. Multiple songs are missing and the reuploads have the audio quality of WWII combat footage. Go to Bandcamp instead. The album's free to stream on there. https://americanmusicclub1.bandcamp.com/album/california-digi-only-release
American Music Club’s album California presents a fascinating blend of melancholic rock and introspective lyrics. It took me a few tracks to fully appreciate the band's sound, but songs like “Laughing Stock,” “Pale Skin Girl,” “Blue and Grey Shirt,” “Jenny,” “Western Sky,” and “Highway 5” stood out as particularly engaging. The album shines in its slower tracks, where the guitar work adds a compelling depth that enhances the mood. There's a noticeable resemblance to the early styles of Counting Crows and Bruce Springsteen, though I personally find both of those influences more appealing. Despite these strengths, the album falls short for me due to my mixed feelings about Mark Eitzel’s vocals. While there are moments where his voice complements the music, overall, it often felt out of sync with the instrumental backdrop. Although California is not an album I’d place on my top lists, it certainly has its moments of merit and would appeal to fans of introspective rock.
Never heard of these fellas. It's a pretty chill album with some country vibes. Some of it is haunting. I like Pale and Skinny Girl. Nothing groundbreaking here, but good, mellow music.
When you hear a band name like Soundgarden or Smashing Pumpkins, you're intrigued to find out what they sound like. The creative name lends one to assume the music is equally creative. Enter American Music Club, which sounds more like a Sears catalog of music, or a group you can join to get your first 12 CDs for only a penny. And helping to prove my earlier point, the music is as basic and sterile as the band name itself. Upon first hearing the name, I wondered which version of America I'll be getting: Willie Nelson America, Wilco's alt-country from the big city of Chicago America, Lee Greenwood America, Simon and Garfunkle black turtleneck America . . . The America I got was more like the white sweater on the back of a polo shirt, with the sleeves draped forwards over the shoulders of an ivy league frat brother making sure not to forget to bring his tennis racquet onto the sailboat this weekend. Not really what I'd call California. The closest association my mind can make between what I'm hearing and what I assume they're shooting for is perhaps lazily driving past rows and rows of grapes of numerous vineyards on a golden-tinged afternoon through Napa Valley. At best, the album is sublime, working a bit beneath what is presented up front, most notably on "Lonely" and "Jenny." The raucous "Bad Liqour" breaks up the sleep album, thank God. Not that it's incredible, but it finally shows variety. More of this, please! Contributing to the laziness is the instrumentation. Just chords--basic ones at that--with no real contribution to melody. I just need to say "the opening guitar lick to Nirvana's 'All Apologies'" and you know exactly the melody I'm speaking of. You hear it, and you know immediatly the song that is playing. California is missing such notable instrumentation. But this is 1988; perhaps they were going for a U2 "With Or Without You" vibe. But even then, U2 created so much atmosphere in the sound where it wasn't just chords but tension and release and drone and feedback. It's minimal, and it's done right. Maybe this list 1001 should have been 501; there seems to be many examples of filler for the sake of hitting their numerical goal. Meanwhile, In the Aeroplane Over the Sea is not on the list at all. :(
This was just ok. I didn't really see too much that was special about it to where it would need to be on this list. I'd never heard of them before listening to this album. On some songs the singer has a bit of a Morrissey quality to his voice. The band name is a bit generic too.
It's alright, my only complaint has nothing to do with the music, just that I couldn't listen to it on spotify
Album not available on any streaming service I use, so I listened to the top 5 songs on Spotify. I would listen to more of their stuff.
I'd definitely play this more often it it was on spotify
Pain in the ass listening on YouTube. Not a bad album. Voice and lyrics sound amateurish at times but the band has a nice sound.
bins gad hert am gnüsse, lieb slide gitti und so stuff. guete country rock. okay s wird langsam ehner langwiliger. immer wieder cool aber etz au nöd wooow. s isch seht kreativ und divers. gseh scho wies für 1988 ehner früe isch für so indie stuff.
youtube moment firefly kinda cute? sini stimm erinneret mich chli a the smiths aber nüt herusragends speziells bis jz somewhere gfalltmer sehr, au wenn sini stimm mengiisch chli weak isch laughinstock sehr schön aber er flüsteret die wörter mengisch eifach uhh de churzi break hani sehr geil gfunde lonely kinda langwilig BAD LIQUOR danke für de cooli übergang hanan346 hahahah sehr zemmegwüret iwie, bad liquor wo recht abgaht, es paar akustischi schnulzene und denn wieder country last harbour sehr schön als closener hetmer meh gfalle als ich denkt han, recht vill abwechslig und glaub vill lauft au über d lyrics woni jz aber nöd gross ahgluegt han.
The only song that was interesting at all was Bad Liquor. This is the type of Indie music that made me hesitant to listen to Indie music of the aughts.
Listened to everclear instead
Listen to it twice today. It was all right but not memorable enough for me to be able to tell you about any of the songs. Probably not going to leave it on my phone but I'll leave it on the hard drive
I listened to Everclear and Songs of Love Live by Mark Eitzel because this album was not available on Spotify. It's a shame because I really enjoyed those two albums and would love to listen to this one. The songwriting is fantastic and Mark's voice is really interesting, almost like an understandable eddie vedder. Will definitely listen to some more of their stuff.
Okay. Very much faded into the background.
4.5
Ok album, didn't grab me after 1 listen. Folk indie rock, which was ok, just didn't engage me. Unavailable on any streaming platform except tangentially via Youtube Music playlists. 3/5.
okay, didn't blow me away. Probably won't listen again. Probably 2.5
No snap. No joy.
Another in a string of forgettable albums recently. I don't see how this album ended up on the list. It is also strangely the first one I've come across that isn't on Spotify, even though other American Music Club albums are on there? I will say there is an interesting range of styles and genres found on this album. It started out very folksy/country, and then turned to Counting Crows-esque, and ended with indie alternative vibes.
Their best work. A sad, but real album, full of melancholic songs, but the occasional upbeat one. The last song is a real tear-jerker.
Decent country tinted college rock. It kind of feels like The Replacements Lite.
Pretty boring. Some ok stuff but nothing really here.
Yet another that is not on Apple Music in Canada. Then again, I did listen to couple of others from them I condone Apple in saving us from this much tedium and mediocrity in songwriting.
3☆/5
I'd never heard of this band before. It was fine, but nothing amazing.
Indie rock, americana. Rollo. Un 2.
It was fine, I don't know that I was in the mood for this style. I may revisit later.
I don't like country or bluegrass or whatever. I can expound but that's not important. I feel bad because I simply cannot give this album a snowball's chance in hell. Firefly turned me off so much that I'll probably never achieve an erection again. It's like someol garage band played what they think Rush sounds like and read the menu to a barbecue joint over the music. I listened to the second track in the album, Somewhere. I suspect that the person on drums is taking out their aggression instead of keeping rhythm. Objectively, the music is passable. I simply hate it. This is my rating and if you don't like it, you'll have to live with that.
wasn’t on spotify so i found it on youtube. pretty good but probably won’t listen again
Not particularly interesting
Couldn't find this album on Apple Music. Listened to some of their other stuff - not bad, but nothing special.
After some digging around I found the full album. It wasn’t worth it
Pues no está para escucharse en Spotify ni YouTube Music ... al menos en España. Lo he encontrado en YouTube a secas. Empieza bastante bien con "Firefly" me ha gustado más o menos, no entiendo que no esté disponible en streaming. Al final se me ha hecho un poco aburrido.
Couldn't find the album on spotify, but listened to their album San Francisco. It was alright.
No. Besides Jazz, this is the kind of music I dislike the most. Indie with a country twang and whiny vocals. None of the songs grab my attention. They just exist. And shouldn’t be on any list.
Hard album to rate, I really like some of the music, arrangements and vibe of a few tracks but then there was a few that sounded like drunks playing in a dumpster. I don't get the inconsistency of this band.
An almost alt-country record with several good tracks. Moody, wistful.
It was missing something for me.
Totally fine music. Nothing stood out, nothing made me want to turn it off.
Eh.... when the only notable thing about this album is that it is in this book then you know it's going to be unremarkable. And surprise... it was unremarkable! Not terrible but nothing I haven't heard before.
Not sure why it's on the list but fine enough
indie thing
A decent late 90's-early 00's alternative kind of sound. Not all that imaginative though
Boring inessential soft rock.
I didn’t mind this at all. It’s got some truly lovely arrangements on it along with a liberal dose of country twang throughout. The songs are mostly of a slower tempo and generally pensive, but there are a couple of rockers thrown in for good measure. Finding this is perfect for a cold Winter’s afternoon in front of the heater.
California is bang average, listenable without doing anything especially skilled or memorable, the sort of stuff you could hear on generic radio or in random TV shows that accompanies a much more interesting story or journey. 2.
Another pretty nothing album. Country pop rock, nothing notable about it - maybe you could claim that it was ahead of its time, as it sounds a bit like some stuff that comes to the fore in the 2000s, but really it's more like early 70s country/folk rock. And it's less good than most of that (and we've had a lot). 2/5.
Had never heard of them before but I really enjoyed this album. Great vibe. Great for a long drive. Firefly was my favorite
nit auf spotify
Started out as boring soft rock but warmed up a bit at Bad Liquor.
The album was hard to find but ultimately just average.
I almost hate to slate this as it's so obscure it's beyond belief. Maybe it's quite ahead of it's time but it really it's that special and certainly shouldn't be in the 1001.
A good album, nice for background music.
Not on Spotify.
What a disappointment. Maybe. It's hard to do this thing justice - listening to a youtube video playlist with random minute-long silence and different audio quality on each track doesn't reflect well on any work. What I did get really lacked any kind of substance. Clumsy metaphors, lacklustre singing, boring musical choices - it's an amateur effort at indie music. And I will judge it harshly for this. You can't just throw a random pub rock indie band on the list and call it a day. There was literally an entire scene of indie music in Dunedin at this time that was inventing the grunge genre and this list completely ignores them. Another annoying entry in a generally pretty terrible list.
I didn’t really like it. It was kinda weird. Meh
Wow, this is such mediocre country influenced pop/rock. I wouldn't be so critical, but it is on the 1001 list. I'd really like to know why. I've heard acts in my home town that are much better than this. Mediocre.
Can’t listen on Spotify
i need to buy this album on cd. this is beautiful i haven't heard music so good in a while. such mellow and cool tracks. the guitar is beautiful.
This list makes me feel like I'm taking crazy pills. There's nothing particularly BAD about this, but it is wholly unremarkable. There is nothing interesting about it at all. It's just vanilla Americana performed by regular people. Why is this an album I "must hear before I die?" There are thousands of albums that are essentially identical to this, and not one of them will leave a mark on anyone except the moms and friends of the bands themselves. How can anyone hear this and think "wow, this is unique and special and notable!"?
Listened a bit on you tube, yeah I'd listen again, just annoying not on Spotify
Can’t listen
This album was fine
pretty unremarkable, can't see why it's on this list. third california-centric rock album we have gotten in a row. this isn't even factoring in the pain it was to find these songs using youtube since it wasn't on spotify.
Day138 - why is a must hear album so hers to find? it does sound pretty good, kinda like bruce springsteen and richard thompson
I haven't heard about this band before - it was a pretty nice indie, slowcore album from the late 1980s that sounds more like early/mid 1990s, it was ahead of time by a few years. A pleasant album overall.
this was just ok. i have heard way better alt-country.
Couldn’t get this one on my streaming platform so I listened to a different one they did. Never heard of this and after listening, I know why. Just drab.
Quite chill, but then a bit boring
I like the lyrical themes, and kind of like the overall sound as well, but I just find the playing and singing style a bit boring and repetitive for my taste. I like more variation within the form of a song. A few songs, like Highway 5, do have a bit more going on instrumentally, if not in form. I was going to give this a 3, but I liked the last few songs, and I have a feeling it might grow on me and work well if I'm in a bit more of a laidback, meditative mood, so I'll bump it up to a 4.
this is almost really good. the music is almost interesting enough and i almost really like his voice but everything sounds slightly off. i will definitely return to this (would be a lot more interested in doing so if i didnt have to listen to this on bandcamp) as it feels a lot like something id enjoy but with it being a bit too slow for my liking it only gets a strong 6/10.
Jangle pop with Springsteen vibes, especially in the passionate vocals (though there is some gothiness in the vocals too). Definitely sets a somber mood. Highlights: "Firefly" (nice steel guitar), "Laughingstock" and "Last Harbor" (slower, nice arpeggiated guitar), "Western Sky" (nice midtempo jangle) Notable: "Bad Liquor" (big difference in tone compared to the songs up to this point), "Jenny" (tone is like Elliott Smith)
It’s fine but kind of a snoozer (2.5/5)
Good
Ahead of its time for sure but definitely not timeless. Won’t listen to this one again. Also Spotify link didn’t work so had to go through YouTube. There goes my under 4 hour goal of phone time
Interesting album
It's exciting when something I've never heard of before pops up on the list, then usually disappointing when I quickly understand why. This actually was pretty interesting. Probably doesn't belong here but it's listenable.
I like the line "if I have to be this lonely I might as well be alone". But overall, I didn't like the album. It was one click too country, or else several clicks short, to work for me. It landed in an uncanny valley I don't enjoy. I liked the last three songs best.
American Music Club was a San Francisco based country/folk/rock band. California is the band's third album, and is the product of a solid, consistent band. These are good, but not-particularly noteworthy songs.
Listened on YouTube and had one advert so I count that as a win. This album was like a dream I was trying to remember but every time I tried to grasp onto memory it dissipated in my hands. Who did it remind me of? Everyone and no one. Will intend to listen to other albums but I’m not making any promises.
Quite like this.
01) Firefly - 6,0 02) Somewhere - 5,5 03) Laughingstock - 60 04) Lonely - 6,0 05) Pale Skinny Girl - 6,0 06) Blue And Grey Shirt - 5,5 07) Bad Liquor - 5,0 08) Now You're Defeated - 5,0 09) Jenny - 5,0 10) Western Sky - 6,0 11) Highway 5 - 6,0 12) Last Harbor - 6,0 TOTAL: 5,67 (57/100) Current ranking: 156/177 An album that is so important by a band that no one has ever heard of. The album did not appear on any charts, nor did the singles from it. The album is so important that you can only hear it on YouTube. The album is still not totally unlistenable, so it generously gets a two stars from me.
Comparing this to the early R.E.M. is apt. Elements of Rock, Country and Folk are there, the songs are nice as well. But that's about it. 3/5
I'm sure the lead singer got shoved in countless high school lockers. Picturing that was the only enjoyable part of my listen.
Enjoyed this one a lot, I'm a sucker for folky Americana and pedal steel guitars.
Maybe I don’t get it, but this feels like country music for indie rock snobs. And very little of it is all that interesting. It not only doesn’t sell me on country music, but it also gets under my skin and reminds me why I hated indie rock snobs for most of my life. If there were more songs like "Bad Liquor," I'd hate it more, but most of it is just bland and forgettable.
Country merged with indie. Innovative sound for the time, almost prescient. The angstier, slowcore tracks are their best.
I liked this album. Good early-mid 90's softer type rock. The guitar strum is so recognizable to the era along with the intentional lyrics that speak of times and people gone by. Best song is Western Sky. Honorable Mention: Jenny
It's pretty good, Americana-infused alt rock. Both atmospheric and melodic and well executed, but it doesn't really go anywhere or do anything memorable.
Nice enough for a 3, not interesting enough for a four
Note: Had to go to YouTube for this one -- not available on Spotify or Amazon. Not quite sure what differentiates this from a lot of other Americana-ish rock bands. Now they're certainly a *solid* band, and they've got some pretty good tunes, but there's a band like this in almost every major city that swears they could have been the next Gin Blossoms. Middle-aged sounding white guys with a musical ear, some decent songwriting, and a couple of good hooks. But ultimately background music. This is one of the few where I can't say, "I see why you included this, for better or worse." Unexpected bangers: Pale and Skinny Girl, Western Sky
Not on Spotify
5.5/10
Gear: Focal Clear (ZMFed) Artwork: könnte das angewitterte Logo des ur-amerikanischen Gasthofes "Zum Güldenen M" sein Mix: stets bemüht Musik: Musik-gewordener Durchlauferhitzer zwischen den Ohren Wertung: Ⓜ️(Ⓜ️)/5
This album goes downhill fast! After the song Lonely, the singers voice changes, and the songs get shittier. Gone are the country folk sensibilities, and they are replaced by terrible indie rock horseshit. Everyone claims Mark is a fantastic song writer, but I couldn't tell ya because I couldn't get past how awful his voice got. Favourite songs: Firefly, Somewhere, Lonely Least favourite songs: Pale and Skinny Girl, Jenny, Highway 5 2/5
Has americana vibes and it's not my first choice but still was enjoyable. Quite good.
Pretty clean, straightforward soft / gentle rock. They really let loose on the song Bad Liquor, which is easily my favorite. It was overall pleasant but Bad Liquor is probably the only song I'll listen to again.
хрень
Joel, this album really isn't very good, is it?
Ah, num achei nem no spotify, nem no deezer. É mais um indie?
sad (and sometimes corny) rock I would expect to hear on the radio, but still very much listenable
Not bad/Not amazing Standout songs: Firefly Blue and Grey shirt Bad Liquor
Not on Spotify L, got hit with a ton of YouTube ads
Didn’t like this music
I had no idea what to expect, but I thoroughly enjoyed it.
It's just a bit dull (though highly proficient) It didn't turn my head.
I can't believe this needs to be said, but "this isn't on Spotify" isn't remotely a legitimate criticism of an album. Spotify is a cancer on music (even more so than the rest of the industry) and is for soccer moms and other "I like to have something on in the background" casuals. If you have such limited resources that your only place to listen to music is Spotify and YouTube ("o noes, there are ads, whatever will I do!??"), that's your problem. In fact, reviews that mention Spotify should be discarded outright. If that includes this review, then fine. OK now that we've gotten that out of the way, this is not a bad album. I'd never heard of it before; while it didn't really grab me, the songwriting is solid and it does anticipate, by a few years, one of the dominating radio sounds of the early 90s.
Rating: 7/10 Best songs: Lonely, Jenny
solid listening, liked the first half better. A little slow and repetitive, keeping it as a 3 for me. 3.5
Hell no
Very okay. Maybe even "pleasant" or "reasonable". I've no idea why it's on this list though. It sounds like your mate's band, or perhaps a band that had one hit and an album of filler to go with it, or maybe the band of a character from a late 80s / early 90s film where young GenXers hang out and have relationship drama and floppy hair. You know? Musically I like it. I think the singer sounds very average. It's fine. But nothing that really stands out. A bit boring. 2.5 stars
It is easy for me to see that this album would be influence for later alternative rock bands, even today. It has a melodic moody sound that I enjoyed, but an entire album length was too much to keep my interest.
It was pretty good I suppose. I listened to it yesterday and nothing really stood out to me besides all the jesus stuff, but the music was not bad, didn't hate it.
Not on spotify obvs, which I get, but it is still a shame, might have to buy a CD... I do enjoy it, and I think I could like it more if i could listen to it more.
some pretty nice alt country, alt rock, whatever you want to call it. the singer reminds me a lot of the ex singer of Black Country New Road, so it helped pull me in. i really liked this project, but sadly i don't see myself listening to a lot if it due to the lack of spotify presence.
Na. 2
Hidden gem
Pretty good
Indie slowcore.
Tinny recording quality on the first track (maybe others, or I got used to it). Wonder if this was by design in this era. Not as tinny as AM radio…but sounds like something between AM and FM radio. His renditon of Respect had a nice groove. Didn’t realize Aretha recorded it after Otis. Need to see if Aritha’s had the 4-on-the-floor groove as prevalent as in this recording. A Change Is Gonna Come was beautifully soulful and passionate. Down In The Valley was a great track. My Girl recording of the Temptations classic. Rock Me Baby - straight up blues Respect Per wikipedia: Shortly before his death in a plane crash, Redding wrote and recorded his iconic "(Sittin' On) The Dock of the Bay" with Steve Cropper. The song became the first posthumous number-one record on both the Billboard Hot 100 and R&B charts.
Weak
This sounds like it represents an inflection in the transition from indie rock to Americana. It's interesting, but it's not great. I admit that I always wanted to be a rock singer, and I can also admit that I'm bad as a lead singer. Not "good-bad", just bad. This guy's friends really needed to have a sit-down with him and tell him some hard truths. If this were the "obscure albums you must listen to before you die" I would understand its inclusion, but there are better acts out there that represent this transition point. Not bad, not great. I like the music – the skill of the musicians. The incongruent vocals are distracting to a greater degree than I would expect.
Suena sorprendentemente morderno. Tuve que recurrir a YouTube porque no está en Apple Music.
Nah, we can do without this one. One unexceptional guitar strum out of five
Ah another melancholy and frankly boring 80s indie rock band. Nothing to distinguish them from their contemporaries.
Started off thinking I was going to hate this but it grew on me as we went through it, always hard to rate the albums only on YouTube as I don’t get the full experience and not one I’ll comeback to as it’s not on Spotify. But gets the benefit of the doubt and 3 stars