Reviews (page 7 of 8)
I wouldn’t have categorised this as rock. And would have placed it in the 60s/70s folk scene rather than the very late 80s. But what do I know.
Listening to this album was a weird experience - when fIREHOSE first hit the scene in 1986, I heard the song Brave Captain on one of the local college stations and liked it. The next week I saw their debut album Ragin' Full On in a used bin at the record store and, remembering that I liked the one song, picked it up on a whim. I wore that album out, loving every bit of it. Went to see them live, where it was so loud it nearly deafened me for life - easily the loudest show I've ever been to. When they came out with their second album If'n, I was disappointed. It was okay, but did not have the energy of the first album. I kind of stopped listening to them after that, so when I saw this one pop up in the music generator, I knew this was their last SST release before moving to a major label and thought - "this will be fun - I never listened to this one." Well, I put it on and quickly realized as I recognized the songs as they played that I actually had owned this album 30 years ago but had completely forgotten about it! I sold the CD many years ago. Listening again this many years later, I realized I liked it better than I had back then. I still think their debut Ragin' Full On would have been a better choice for the album generator, but I think I will end up returning to this one again.
jahas kakkosia kertyy aika paljon...neljoset jää.. mutta objektiivissuus pysyy VANKASTI kasassa. 1-2 minuutin pretentious bullshit biisejä. harmittaa koska tämä voisi olla hyväkin, muutama laulunpykälä voitaisiin vaikka viisinkertaistaa... 80s attention span smh... Two drum solo tracks? BRO MOLEMMAT ALLE MINUUTTI!!!!!!!! VITTU AKO VALITAT??? 10+MIN PITÄISI OLLA JOS TOMMOSTA PROJEKTIA LÄHTEE TYÖSTÄMÄÄM.....This "music" makes me physically angry. lol niin minäkin.. ei tämä albumi mutta prkl kun pitää olla objektiivinen...pistää vihaksi... (tuo henkilö btw mieti jos vaimo tulee valittaa tärähtää maan SAATANASTI LEIPÄLÄPEEN...) whisperin while hollerin
American alternative music of the eighties is a hinterland I'm still exploring. This is virtually unclassifiable, but there are some elements of the Feelies, Violent Femmes and hardcore bands. But all melded together in short, sharp songs that prioritise rhythm and impact above melody.
Meh.
Another mediocre album taking the spot of far better album that could be on the list.
An album and an artist I've never heard of. I have no idea what to expect. I'm halfway through the first track and I still don't know what to expect. It is very left-channel. The stereo balance does even out through the rest of the album. "What gets heard" had quite the a-ha vibe, doesn't it? Following on from that appears to be a drum solo. Which is pretty cool. In fact, "pretty cool" is the overriding impression one gets from this album, full stop.
2.5
I really like the first two tracks, but the rest is a bit hit-or-miss. Mike Watt played bass in this act, and likewise, I was never sold on Minutemen's patchy aesthetics. On paper, I should enjoy them (I usually love unpredictable "post-punk" records). But something in their music rubs me the wrong way, I don't know what it is. And even though fIREHOSE offers something different, the same thing happens here for me, sadly. 2/5 for the purposes of this list, translated to a 7/10 grade for more general purposes (5 + 2) Number of albums left to review: 452 Number of albums from the list I find relevant enough to be mandatory listens: 256 Albums from the list I *might* include in mine later on: 131 Albums from the list I will certainly *not* include in mine (many others are more essential to me): 164 (including this one)
Wel leuk, maar niet veel meer dan dat. Een beetje alsof je The Beatles een aantal decennia later laat doorbreken, alleen dan dus jaren te laat terwijl de hele muziekwereld al een heel stuk verder is.
Just seems like a slightly generic indie thing to me
Heard before. Forgot what I was gonna say about it. Sounded softer than what I thought it would be. + Riddle of the Eighties + In My Mind + Vastopol + Time With You + If'n + The Softest Hammer
Enjoyed some. But just not enough good to push higher.
While for the life of me I can't see why this might be a must-hear before dieing, it was a pretty nice album and I enjoyed it, especially the guitars.
Jack of all styles, master of none.
cONFUSING
With the instant access to a huge range of artists and albums, I've no idea why anyone would ever choose to put on this 32 minutes of fairly tuneless half baked ideas. Rating: 1.5/5 Playlist track: Time With You Date listened: 22/08/23
Slightly quirky agit punk pop with sparse production. Few hooks. May need more than one listen but it won't get it. Left me a bit cold.
Es tan aburrido que preferí escuchar el nuevo disco de Karol G.
Really didn't expect this sound from the title, but it was really good! It's sorta like REM, but way better. Cool lyrics sometimes. A fall-y album. BT - In My Mind - What Gets Heard - Understanding - Liberty For Our Friend - If'n - Time With You
Surprisingly enjoyable so a positive 3*
Maybe not a proper listen but I wasn't enamoured with what I heard.
Was listening to this while running some wiring in the house. Made for solid background music. As I understand it this is one of Mike Watt's projects post-Minutemen. Love his bass sound, though I think Minutemen built better songs around it. That said, I really enjoyed this album. Had some jams that stood out (e.g., Time With You). Had a lot of others that were fine, but not so memorable. I'm a soft 4/5
dAMN tHIS iS a gOOD aLBUM. Guitar, bass, and vocals are all great together. Short and sweet. Doesn't have the gravitas that a 5 star album would normally have, but everything else is there. I would give this a 4.5, but I'm rounding down because it's just hard to call this a 5 star. Really enjoyable listen though!
I love going into an album having no idea at all what to expect. Luckily this album came out on the good side of me liking it. Each song sounded so scattered yet so organized at the same time. I love how every instrument is highlighted at some point with their own moment to shine. Time With You is my favorite song on this one Think im going to spell my name jAMES from now on
That guitar was so great at the beginning and then went into a normal song. Let’s be real the 80s probably sucked minus the fentanyl-less blow. What Gets Heard sounds like the Viagra Boys. This album seems super uncohesive. Hard to put my finger on if I like it or not. Time With You is probably my favorite so far. Feel like I’m gonna have to give this one another listen with headphones instead of in the car but it’ll probably still be a 3.
Nothing here really stands out, other than the bass on some songs, I did not exactly dislike this album, its just... Kind of boring. If background music in an outdated pub had a poster album it would be this, its not even remotely enjoyable. In one ear and out the other. I did not finish the record in its entirety. If the first 11 tracks (bar Vastopol) are mediocre, then I doubt the final 3 will be redeeming. Favourite: Vastopol
This album seems to have the ability to sound pretty decent without ever making me want to listen to more of it. This album has a calmer 90s alt style with some jam intersections but overall it just doesn’t work for me. Maybe it’s that there are significantly better similar sounding bands than them. Not bad but not great. 5.3/10
Moje první setkání s fIREHOSE a teda… obrovské zklamání. Ze začátku jsem si říkala, že to je nějaký docela fajn mix rocku a punku, takový jam-out session, just guys being dudes, ale jak jsem se prokousávala tím albem, tím otravnější to bylo. Největším kamenem úrazu byly vokály, byly podivně patetické a ufňukané a nezapadaly mi do hudby. Přitom zas tak hrozné nebyly, slyšela jsem i mnohem horší, ale z nějakého důvodu mě to hrozně iritovalo. Instrumentace špatná nebyla, nejlepší byly právě ty části, kde vokály nezazněly. Celkově to na mě působilo hrozně povrchně a bezduše, jakoby to byla jen fasáda a fIREHOSE předstírali, jak hraje taková typická indie rocková skupina. Bylo to všechno hrozně vyprázdněné, bezcílné, bez sdělení, bez vášně… prostě zklamání. Žádná určitá písnička mě nezaujala, žádná z nich dle mě nemůže existovat mimo kontext alba, protože jsou tak vyprázdněné, že to je nic, jen generický hluk do pozadí, ale v albu aspoň působí dojmem, že mají nějakou kontinuitu a drží pospolu a dávají nějaký náznak atmosféry a zasazení. No nevím, ač to nebylo to nejhorší, co jsem kdy slyšela, je to tak zapomenutelný počin, že se k tomu už nikdy nevrátím. Možná ještě někdy fIREHOSE dám šanci, ale tomuto albu se rozhodně vyhnu. Nejlepší na tom je albumový art, ten je fakt super. Nejlepší písničky: nic mě nezaujalo, ale nejspíš Vastopol (bez vokálů) Nejhorší písničky: Liberty For Our Friend (podivně corny a patetický, nezapadá do zbytku), The Softest Hammer (hrozný vokály, prázdný) Hodnocení: 3/10
I was NOT expecting to like this album this much. Every song was solid and I love the sound of the whole thing. Even the two songs where it’s just a drum solo are good.
this project was okay, just felt a bit underwhelming. all of the midwest references were neat though.
Going to give it a light 4. Really enjoyed the post rock sound with the classic rock song writing and structure. Enjoyed the second half of the album way more than the first half. Will definitely be listening to it more in the coming days and weeks.
Riddle of the Eighties is "what is this album doing on anybody's list 40 years later".
This was an interesting late 80s listen to hear the influence on the future alt-rock of the 90s
Great alt-rock carrying on the unique Minutemen flavour.
Bleh
The only good thing to say about this album is that it is mercifully short.
Not bad as such, but just incredibly unremarkable. Not sure how it made the list.
There’s a decent four song run on ‘Fromhohio’ taking in ‘Time With You’, ‘If’n’, ‘Some Things’ and ‘Understanding’. I'm underwhelmed by the rest of the album.
Sekava kokonaisuus minusta, ei oikein löydä linjaa. A-puolen alku oli ok, puhelauluihin meinasi mennä usko, Time with you pelasti olemalla oikea biisi. Kiva että rumpali on hyvä.
Treeniksellä on sika kivaa vähän soitella ja juoda bisseä!
It's fine, a bit dated but has enough of interest and it's only around 30 minutes long, so doesn't outstay its welcome.
This felt like a Punk record in a way with the shorter song structure and the overall feel, but the music was a weird pop punk/Paul Simon mix for me at times. It was fine I guess, but I didn't care for it.
Trying to look ahead, a bit stuck in the past, never quite landing.
Ex-minutemen. Enough fun with enough seriousness. I like it. Sot Riddle of the eighties In my mind What gets heard 3/5
Interesting but not as good as Minutemen
From the bassist and drummer of Minutemen with a new vocalist and guitarist, they had two albums before this which were more creative and hardcore, but here they take a softer and more traditional approach, although they do keep that experimental style in many tracks. It's short and diverse, and that bassist is quite distinctive and groovy. I was a bit underwhelmed but thought there were some good tracks here, but several I didn't care for much. Favorites: Riddle of the Eighties, In My Mind, Mas Cojones, Time With You, The Softest Hammer
it´s ok not turning minutemen type-B. But this album sounds better after ´liberty for our friend´, when some minutemen fragments and guitar riffs did make me remember that former band.
Feels very authentic
Not bad. Worth a few more listens. I’m sure I’ve heard some of this before.
laidback, with a 70'es feel.
Didn’t really get on with this, nothing stood out
Solid alternative rock album. The bass lines were pretty nice throughout.
apenitas 3
Some early prog-rock. Nice to put on in the background while cleaning the house.
I had never heard of fIREHOSE before or a single song on the album. I had high hopes to find a hidden gem. It might be one of those, you had to be there, type of things? It was fine.
Good band, Never heard of them but they know what they are doing. Familiar baselines.
This reaaaally impressed me
I expected to hate it but this was shockingly really cool! I love the free flowing nature of all the songs, and the variation of genres throughout. 8/10
very disjointed. i liked certain songs ok, but then they will take a weird left turn. it almost sounds like primus, yes, and gin blossoms mixed together. depending on what song you’re playing, the band it sounds like most can change. certainly an interesting listen, though.
This was okay. Not great. It's hard for me to even have a hard opinion about it.
This is ok. I don’t dislike it. That’s all I can really say about it. It’s just….ok.
Ehh some songs were alright others were eh. I feel like this was a completely mediocre album. Nothing outstanding but nothing offensive. Pretty average.
New to me and there's some interesting stuff in here - "Whisperin' While Hollerin'" and "Time With You" are the initial favourites. Biggest problem I have just a few songs in is that the album sounds thin. Where's the beef dammit. But also a bunch of these in the middle aren't great songs. Some very cool ideas and riffs but not a lot glues together. I'm giving this another pass to see if it clicks more.... ....which ... hey, it kinda did. There are still some songs that mostly suck around the mushy middle of the album but they're short enough to not matter as much :) and by the end I've already forgotten them. e.g. "Understanding" is a real nice song. This ended up a pleasant surprise with more melody and complexity than I'd expected - I could nitpick about this and that but I'm glad this ended up a weekend album so I could spend more time with it. Giving it a high 3 and could come back to this one. 7/10 3 stars
Fun album
Started out interesting, slid into unimpressive.
This album is funkier than you'd expect from a 'forefather of grunge' type of album. The mix of funk, folk and punk is really a joy throughout most of the album. It's really only the final track that lets it down, a sort of precursor to the bland dirges of Pearl Jam and their ilk. For the rest of the album it skitters about in lovely ways. It's so close to five starts - I will definitely add this to my collection
At this point, I’ve gotten plenty of bizarre and totally unique albums and this is one of the least notable ones I’ve listened to. I was mostly bored and uninterested the whole time but it wasn’t bad enough to get a 1. On the other hand, at least I still remember listening to kollaps and how I felt toward it. This one is getting forgotten at exactly 1020 tomorrow and just frees up the next 24 hours for whatever music I want.
Not bad
Sounded like a bar band to me. A band good enough to attract a local following through familiarity but nothing remarkable.
I heard this Watts guy was pretty good with "Minutemen." This is not Minutemen. This is mildly groovy rock music. Great bass, usually good melodies and drums. Silly goofy cover art 3.5/5
This is disposable, even by punk standards. There are a host of better punk bands more appropriately suited to this list, including Mike Watt's own Minutemen, who are probably the only reason this band got any attention. The extra star is for Mike.
Maybe it’s because I expected a hardcore/Midwest emo LP from the band/album name combo, but man did this not come across in any kind of memorable way. Listened before lunch and I’m struggling to recall any specifics outside the somewhat Pearl Jam-esque closing tracks, just not distinct or important in any kind of way.
Light 5/10
I thoroughly enjoyed this! I didn’t know that there was a post-Minutemen project and this took all the bits I really like about their sound and condensed it to a much more palatable project than the 80+ Double Nickels on the Dime (which is still a great record, it just loses my attention a bit towards the end). This on the other hand was a really exciting and enjoyable blend of punk stylings with those trademark killer grooves throughout
Odd genre
Interesting alternative rock
A little too folksy for me at times, reminding me a lot of 60s-70s rock (at least "Riddle of the Eighties" and "Liberty for our Friend"). Despite liking a lot of post-punk stuff, I actually do not like this album. It just does not quite connect with me. While "Time With You" isn't too bad overall, I still do not really like it.
Rock alternativo. Ni fu ni fa.
Det var hverken catchy eller noget andet.
At least it was only 30 mins and I could treat it as background music without feeling guilty.
By far the most forgettable album on this list. How do you rate nothingness? Easy - give it a 2. At least it didn’t invoke a violent reaction in my eardrums like when a body rejects the organ transplant. Or when Ian Dury gets played over the speakers.
100th album. Let's hope it doesnt blow. It wasn't awful, but it was astoundingly forgettable, like an unfunny science teacher.
I forgot everything that happened in this album.
This is pretty interesting, from a band I hadn't heard of before. Some songs I liked a lot, others were so-so. Random observation - the guitar playing occasionally reminded me a little bit of Steve Howe from Yes, which is a bit strange since it's a completely different style of music overall. Listening again. 3 stars.
Yeah, pretty good. Not super memorable, but I enjoyed the various aspects of this album. It sounds like this group is full of music-math nerds that really enjoy making fast-paced, technical music. Drumming and that slap bass were the highlights for me. Glad I listened. Fave tracks: In My Mind, Let The Drummer Have Some, Time With You
Never heard of these guys before - but I was intrigued right from the get go with the funky guitar riff intro. The instrumentation is great, a wonderful mix of acoustic and electric guitars, super funky bass and a variety of percussion that all come together into a playful treat for the ears. Having two entire tracks dedicate to just drum solos seems like a bit of a bold choice, but maybe that was the guy's requirement to feature. Fav Tracks: In My Mind, Liberty For Our Friend, Understanding
This was interesting. Lower energy than I expected.
So bland. Can't believe someone heard this and thought "yes, this has to be one of the 1,001 albums to hear before you die".
2/5. A decent collection of short, punchy tracks that I don’t remember at all. It’s nice but I didn’t feel anything really.
Pleasantly surprised how modern this sounds
Very great proggy HC 4.2
A bit slow for my taste
It has its moments, but fell a little flat overall
This is one album I did not need to hear before I died...
A new one for me, this. Never heard of them. Quite enjoyed it.
As always, I was disappointed to receive another post punk 80s Brit-Pop album, but this one was very refreshing compared to others I've gotten. Experimental and original content that expanded the genre instead of just playing in it. In my opinion, the album was a little slow, but had a surprising amount of range I appreciate the effort and risk on some of these tracks. I enjoyed this album a lot more than others of the same genre on this list. 4/5
If you ever needed a definition for ear rape, this is it. This "music" makes me physically angry. If I didn't stop this album halfway I would've gone out to the nearest school and punched a toddler. 1/5.
I'm just going to give this a 5 because I can't think of a reason why I wouldn't. It's a surprise, I've never heard of these guys before but I absolutely loved it. Not usually massive on instrumental heavy music over lyrics but it just sounded brilliant. The guitar and base on each track was just so catchy. The album flowed so well and I loved the little drum and guitar solos to break it up. I'm definitely going to dive into this bands discography
Good album. Definitely not what i expected from an album titled "Fromohio" from 1989. Wasn't a big fan of "Liberty for our friend", only real song on the album that wasnt great. The singer was good, but god damn the guitar and drums really brought it here.
3/12, 25%
stop insisting we listen to below-average post-punk, even if there are folk sensibilities
pretty good
It was an interesting album but didn't particularly enjoy it. It is rock but it is not really indie or alternative but there are those elements. It was relatively short which was good.
that went by quick
Absolutely brilliant, from a band I had not really heard of. If it was out now, I'd say it sounds like Biffy and Razorlight, with hints of Pearl Jam and Incubus. However, this was before all of those bands! Always good to hear a wee drum solo too. Couldn't be less than 5 🌟
ok
Starts out pretty strong, but at the end I just had an overwhelming feeling of "this is fine I guess".
My partner didn't like this album very much, but I think it's quite alright. Definitely has an interesting style to it. Nice and short too. I will say, the first twenty seconds of the album are probably the best part of the whole thing. My favourite song was Time With You.
- Great guitar and bass work - Folky but not too folky; blends different genres well - Short and very enjoyable listen - Favorite songs: If'n, In My Mind
- Big fan of the funk elements - Mas Cajones was super funky - Jazz influenced for sure
it was just meh not for me
"fROMOHIO" is the third album by American alternative band fIREHOSE. It was noted as a continuation of the acoustic and folky style of their previous album "IF'n" and a funk, jazz and Minutemen punk fusion. It sounds like a lot but it kind of makes sense after listening to this. I thought of a lot of other bands throughout. fIREHOSE was a band formed by bassist Mike Watt and drummer George Hurley after the death of Minutemen guitarist/vocalist D. Boon, the dissolution of that band and combining with guitarist/ vocalist Ed Crawford. Drum cymbals and funky guitar highlight "Riddle of the Eighties." It's enjoyable. It's low-fi electric rock. I immediately think of the Meat Puppets. That's a good thing. Next, "In My Mind" changes things up with a idiosyncratic guitar, bass and guitar. "What Gets Heard" has a funky bass and drums. Angular guitar. A guy talking as vocals. OK, now I hear Primus. Oh no. Never worry, all of sudden we're going Irish folk in "Liberty for Our Friend." Actually 60's folk. Unbelievably, very nice harmonies. Where'd that come from? For me, this whole album really clicked with "Time with You." More straight-forward rock. Mike Watt really grooving with a funky R&B bass. A happy song. "Some Things" sounds so 80's indie. My favorite song on the album. More punk. Great melody. Hurley on drums killing it. Very heart-on-the sleeve and reminded me of The Replacements' "Buck Hill." Actually much better. The album ends with another good song in "The Softest Hammer." A classic rock guitar and the soft-loud-soft song dynamic. This album took awhile for me to warm up to but when it did. Wow! The second half of this album is fantastic....just classic 80's indie rock and that will get me every time. Well, most times. The rhythm section of Watt and Hurley is worth listening to this album alone.
Workin' out them simple things day by day Words and dreams just cross through my mind I been sympathizing, compromising things to say But everything's been going my way Well should I stay, should I leave How can I be here Words and dreams all pass through my mind, and I still Spend some time with you Never heard of this band or album before. Not bad. Bluesy guitar, good vocals, pretty good. 4/5
This one is pretty sick. It’s got some Primus vibes here and there. I also noticed it may have influences later 90s emo bands. Solid late 80s alternative with some punk flashes.
Meh
Has many of the earmarks of Minutemen album, but it's not a Minutemen album. In My Mind has a melodic sweetness that tells the listener that this is somewhat different. But then Vastopol and Mas Cojones reminds us that this that even without the brilliance of D.Boon, Firehose is still the same surviving members that made Minutemen so damn unique. It does drag a bit and one finds oneself waiting for another song as memorable as In My Mind. A solid effort 3.5 stars
Banda sorgida de les cendres de Minutemen, i que en alguns moments en recorden a la banda mare. Aquí el so està més pulit i temes com 'Riddle of the Eighties', 'Vastopol' o 'Liberty for Our Friend' destaquen entre el millor de la producció històrica dels seus membres. Formen part de tot el moviment que a finals dels '80 va anar preparant el terreny per l'eclosió del rock alternatiu dels '90. Quedaven lluny de les seves millors bandes, però això no treu que el disc sigui força disfrutable
Obviously I got love for Ohio boys but the album was ok. Would love to know why this was on this list
Liked the album as a whole, especially Riddle of the Eighties, Liberty for our Friend and Time With You
My first question, did this alum enter the list before or after the Ohio train disaster? I mean, fromohio and a picture of train? Pretty morbid, if the list came out with this album during the ecological disaster. But Ohio is home the biggest bunch of opioid addicts and dumbass buckeye fans, so I guess it was already a disaster of a state. The summary called this an alternate rock album, but I didn't here much rock. Again, what do you expect from an album titled fromohio? Wasn't a big fan of this guys voice, but overall nothing to offending to the ears. Thought a few songs were OK. A bit cheesy, but liked Liberty for our Friend. A couple others I thought were pretty good were Time with You and Some Things. Nothing I would download and pretty sure I will not revisit this album. Guess I'm giving a big solid shoulder shrug and Meh.... 2
For every moment that I didn’t like, or that I thought was weird, there’s another that I really like. Gets Daley near the end but I’m looking forward to listening again. 3.5
3 Hopefully they’re not in Ohio now 😬 I’ve never heard of this band or album, but I learned they’re basically the punk equivalent of New Order, forming and operating under a name separate from Minutemen after former frontman D. Boon passed away - though in this case with a new singer/guitarist in his place. So, with that, I expected this to have a punk sound to it, and while elements of that are definitely there, it seems like the new guy brought in a degree of folk influence, even going as far as to do a full-on cover of a folk song with Vastopol. The Minutemen roots are by no means absent though, with hints of their sound on some tracks (particularly in the basslines), and other tracks like Mas Cojones and What Gets Heard sounding like they could be full-on outtakes from the prior band. My first impression was that it’s an overall diluted sound of a better band, but it definitely started growing on me by the end. While I’m not sure if there are any specific tracks I would go back and revisit, as a whole it didn’t outstay its welcome, and so I think it’s fair to call it a nice companion piece to Minutemen’s discography.
It's OK. It didn't blow me away though
It’s alright and some edgy songs but all feels a little flat. Middling
It seems to me like nothing much at all is happening in this album. I'm nearly at the end and I'm not sure I've really heard a single fully-fledged riff or some kind of theme. It's just... a bunch of stuff happening. Or maybe it's so boring and nothing that it's washed over me without me even realising it.
Not what I expected at all. You can hear Watt starting to branch out, chop-wise.
Det här var faktiskt ganska så dåligt.
meh
Funky, reminds me of chili peps. Thumbs up
En svag tvåa. Dom flesta korta låtar är helt värdelösa men dom spåren som klockar upp mot 3 minuter är väl något bättre.
cool
It was ok. Nothing really great about it. Sounds like they might be a good live band. Sometimes that energy doesn't come through on a recording.
Top 3 Songs: 1 - Time With You (9) 2 - The Softest Hammer (14) 3 - Some Things (11)
Favourite song: This Time
It’s good. I enjoyed it.
Alt-rock from before that was a thing
I didn't dislike listening to this but couldn't really see what was so special about it. Guess it didn't click for me.
Hard for me to get why this is on the list, but it wasn’t bad. 6/10
6/10. Kinda interesting. Why was every song marked explicit? Were they swearing quietly and I just didn't notice?
Pretty odd and not always in an endearing way. 5/10
not what I expected, and much worse than I could have guessed. just dreadful, who likes this shit?
Wtf
Never heard this before, liked it
Coincidence that the band banner is an anagram of ire of use? Yes? I'm too tired for this. Maybe as it makes no sense; no? No coincidence, just nonsense? Gah!
I didn't dislike it, but throughout I kept thinking I wondering is this what The Saw Doctors would sound like if they came from Ohio? 🤔
Another album I had never heard. This is a fun, genre-bending, late 80s album that I probably would have really dug back then if I had been aware of it. I had no idea that members of the MINUTEMEN went on to do other things, including fIREHOSE, but that explains the cleverness and amazing musicanship on this album. An interesting and hard to pin down piece of work.
I don't get it. Strong bass lines and decent hooks - good. But punctuated by inexplicable breaks for stoned muttering bad drunken brother-in-law musings posing as deep thoughts - bad.
This album had a lot of interesting musical choices that didn't really land with me. I can appreciate the effort though--it definitely wasn't being weird for weirdness' sake. Favorite track: Understanding
I’d never heard of this band but I don’t think I’ve been missing all that much, really. They’ve got a couple of agreeable ditties and a playful streak, but nothing special or groundbreaking.
first impressions : from ohio ?!???, 14 songs but only 32 mins so i guess the songs must be quite short which could be a good thing as some of the best ones are imo, band name looks cool and the cover is epic but i have absolutely no clue what im looking at in the first photo LMAO, the face looks very menacing tho >:) after listening : instant head bopping, very upbeat and head-boppy, cool drums and guitars, i liked that they gave each part of the band their moment with vastopol and let the drummer have some :DD favourite song(s) : riddle of the eighties, whisperin' while hollerin', vastopol (very nice guitar) !! BONUS !! : what gets heard (i like the ending part and the speak singing) rating : i liked it more than the last one style and sound-wise and think id be more likely to listen again so 4/5 i think :))
Solid proto-90’s alt. Suffers from the usual problems with experimental albums of this era, e.g. ideas not fleshed out enough, faults in production, etc. still some solid ideas on here and definitely an unexpected listen.
3.4/5 decent punk/rock
Not what I was expecting. Has vibe, good riffing (both guitar and bass) - each track is a little punch of energy.
I started enjoying this more once I stopped comparing fIREHOSE with the Minutemen. In fact it feels like this album owes more to Creedance than punk rock. Well Creedance were an influence the Mike Watt was never shy in revealing. Fromohio is a really good album but just misses the mark on being an essential one for me
Uninspired
nice but for me not so special
Love the guitar sound. Never even heard of this band. Intrigued.
Stopped during the first song when the singer couldn't hit the notes. If that's on purpose I'm not in the mood. Maybe I'll try it again sometime.
Fromohio. Boring. 2.
Bit of a comedown after the Sex Pistols - this is much more charming but lacking a bit of energy. Not sure that it merits being on this list to be honest, there's nothing about it that particularly grabs me, it was never particularly popular, and it just doesn't stand out at all. 2/5, not unpleasant but no reason for it being on this list.
Did not make it through the whole album. Mediocre, occasionally grating, decent drumming.
Really good
Some fun tracks. I didn't enjoy the ones that were all instrumental or the weird spoken word one.
Perhaps there most even album by them.. What I do like is the great bass playing by Watt esp on songs like Mas Cojones and What Get's Heard. Some catchy tunes as well like In My Mind and Time with you. Good album and has a lot to offer.
Honestly had never really listed to fIREHOSE before. I liked it, but not so much as to listen to more than the once. If I’m leaning in this direction I’d rather listen to Outbox by Soulhat. (I know, not exactly the same thing.)
Seems like an album i should have already listened to. With a band coming from the ashes of another, it's hard not to compare. Definitely more experimental then the Minutemen. Not sure if I'd listen to this over Double Nickels but a good listen regardless.
Not a band or album I was familiar with, at all. But this was really interesting and I think I liked it a lot!
A gentle and slight album, ideal for a lazy Sunday afternoon. Notable for having two tracks entirely dedicated to drum solos.
Sometimes there’s a good reason why you haven’t heard of a band before. Nothing special here. Next…
I liked the sound. It felt like a jamsession instead of a proper studio record. Would have been 4 stars if the singer wouldn't sing this much out of tune
Meh. I think I like the idea of the Minutemen/Minutemen adjacent bands more than I actually like their music.
10/10 awesome indie, good vibes
How DIY should be – hooky and tuneful, with some likably raffish edges. "Riddle of the Eighties" and "Liberty for Our Friends" and "Time with You" and "Understanding" are standouts within a very coherent and consistenly strong set of songs. The melodic folkie bits passages are the perfect leavening to the grittier and punkier bits.
This brings a whole new meaning to the word underwhelmed. I've been reading really shithouse student writing while listening to this and the palookas masquerading as students won out in the interesting stakes. I had to rewind the YouTube tape about three times as I was lost in a lost world of musical heads slowly disappearing up backsides. At least the students were creative in their mediocrity. Wow, a little bit of diddley dee twiddly dee guitar riffing, a bit of B grade Pixies bass mixed up front, some slightly off key warbling and hey presto here's a record that is...well I don't really know what it is. In My Mind is ok...sort of. Is this the late 80's version of prog rock, is this twee fiddling about what brought on grunge? These guys should have gonged it after The Minutemen and opened a nice bar where they could twiddly dee to their hearts content.
I hadn’t heard of these guys. Some interesting stuff, but nothing that really grabbed me.
I was totally unfamiliar with Firehose’s material. I think I was expecting grunge but this is nothing like that. Very listenable, at times poppy, sometimes a bit ordinary. The rhythm section is awesome. They actually let the drummer have some (one whole track). The bass is prominent. Vastopol is a beautiful, if brief, instrumental. A pleasant surprise
I always though that firehose were, at least on paper, the sort of band that I should like. But I've listened to this three times through, and it doesn't do much for me. Well played, but the songwriting just doesn't grab me. Interestingly, after this album finishes, spotify plays wire, the wipers, and gang of four. They are all aesthetically similar to firehose, but all get my blood pumping in a way that this doesn't. I don't hate this, but I don't think I'll ever listen to it again.
Picture this: I start the album, and am greeted with a sick drum and guitar combo, I'm thinking this will be another Minutemen situation where I get a funky punk album I enjoy a lot. Now picture that all being ripped away ten seconds later, when the song completely changes to some folk punk that pales in comparison to bands like R.E.M. and Violent Femmes. The album isn't awful, but it never feels like it commits to the style, which I get would be a highlight, the variety, but despite this all the songs still blend together and only when that funky sound starts to bleed out does it get a little better, but nothing ever hits that high that those first ten seconds explore.
My, my, my Mike Watt listening runs more Minutemen than fIREHOSE though I did Fly the Flannel back in the day. Still you can see how this particular record fROMOHIO is a wonderful bridge between eras for Watt but also for maybe some college radio heads in the late 80s and early 90s. You can just hear a kid from Arkansas or anywhere shift effortlessly from praising R.E.M's Green to this album.
I saw them in concert back in the early 90s in a small club. They were awesome. I like Flyin' The Flannel better, but this is a solid album.
Some cool bits but also a bit messy at times, not terrible but not really memorable either
This was close to being 4 stars, loved some of the instruments but had some boring parts.
Not sure about this one. Had some high hopes after the first song but the album went into way too many directions for my taste.
I liked this. I loved the very upfront mixing style. It gave it a live feel. I never listened to this band before. No reason, I just didn't. That was an oversight. I'll definitely listen to more.
I don't know how to classify this one, alt-jazz-rock? Either way, surprised, unheard of for me, and liked it. Riddle of the 80s and Vastopol, What Gets Heard...just a fairly fun listen throughout. Just feels like someone you might have been lucky enough to hear live had you walked into the right bar at the right time in the early 90s.
Dull dull dull, left not a trace. Hum drum guitar music from America
Folk punk with hints of groove
Can't tell if it just bored me, or i liked it. probably somewhere in between really
Love the cover art, got somewhat board through the record though.
Disliked the singer’s voice, but reading about this band I hadn’t heard of, I respect its roots. And it got me to listen to Minutemen!
In the interest of being fair, I’ll be up front and say I listened to this with a possible migraine so I was not in the best frame of mind. Songs I already knew: none Favourites after listening: Liberty For Our Friend I’m finding that post-punk rarely tends to click for me. I don’t really understand what that genre means, but that’s what Wikipedia says fIREHOSE are. To me, it sounded like a similar vibe as The Jam, just with weaker vocals and all around songwriting. The bass lines were often interesting, but beyond that there wasn’t much memorable going on here for me. The only time my ears pricked up was for Liberty For Our Friend which I did enjoy, but the rest of the album just seemed boring. Oh, and two of the tracks are just drum solos. Two whole tracks of just drums. Unfortunately, it’s just not for me.
3.5/5 It’s nice to have some variation in genre and music in this list. This was an album where I didn’t know what to expect, but I liked it. Could have gone both ways. The songs are short and that makes them actually good. Sounds like they just make what they want and don’t bother to fit in. Favourite songs: - In my mind - Liberty for our friend - Some things
This really didn't interest me at all, other than the occasional riff reminiscent of the Faces. A bit drab
Some interesting parts Especially drums and guitar have some existing parts
I really struggled to decide what to make of this album. Clearly some talented musicians making something that sounded very much of its time and had some flashes of virtuosity in more than a few places. I found it a bit too uneven though, lurching between disparate genres and styles. I didn't care too much for the vocals either. But I didn't hate it and I've saved If'n as a stand out track. I definitely won't listen to the whole thing ever again though.
Not exactly my slow of sound
I like the sound of this, bright, upbeat, funky.
Kinda weird, not offensive
This album was new to me and required some repeated listening. Really liked it (it might not compare to the Minutemen's Double Nickels on the Dime, but that album is perfect and would be hard to match anyway).
A fun little record. Loving that rhythm section.
not bad but not very memorable
65/100: Pretty bland album. No songs really stuck out except for the aptly named “Let The Drummer Have Some,” which was a pretty decent drum solo track. Probably won’t revisit this album, mainly because I’ll likely forget about it.
The intro is a little jarring. The drums and guitar start with a very different sound than the band delivers. This is seems like a folk singer who was given a rock band. This is a good band. The music is enjoyable. However, I also understand why I have never heard them on the radio. There isn't a standout single in here. It also seems to fall apart as you get into it. Not uncommon for an album, but rough considering they don't start amazing.
I was sad to here that they were from Ohio but I researched it and thankfully only the guitarist is. My deepest condolences go out to Ed Crawford for the place he was born 🙏
Super short songs. Interesting mix of sounds though with some songs having funky bass lines that sound kind of like RHCP or Primus. A bit rough and simple for a few of the songs, but overall I didn’t hate it.
meh
Never heard of this before. It's stupid "college rock" type stuff. I'm guessing fugazi fans like it. 2/5.
Tosi solidia punkahtavaa menoa. Kumma et on menny tää bändi ohi
This one really surprised me. Never heard of this band, but the mix of 80s new wave, punk, and folk sometimes sounded like a sonic bridge to 90s grunge. No song sounded that same but it was a very cohesive album.
This is cool. Good indie jam post punk folky sound. Bass on What Gets Heard is insane. Sounds a bit like the Heads and Grateful Dead mixed. David Byrne like vocal delivery and lyrics. Time with You is my favorite track on here.
Normal 80s shit
J’aime ça quand ça tire vers Talking heads. J’aime moins quand ça tire vers le pop générique.
Jamais entendu parler de ce band. Très agréablement surpris à partir de Whisperin' While Hollerin'. J'ai regardé souvent mon téléphone pour voir la pièce qui jouait et constater que j'étais toujours dans le même disque, un très bon signe. Belle découverte, le reste de la discographie m'intrigue. Les pièces les plus intéressantes: Whisperin' While Hollerin', What Gets Heard, Time With You, If'n (un petit quelque chose de Primus ici par moment), Some Things
it was good for the time but not really impressive today.
I found this album pretty damn boring. Nothing offensive to my ears, but I wouldn't ever play any of it.
100 in a dozen kind of music 2/5
Everything besides “The Softest Hammer” is really dull.
Punk, 1989. On this album the songs are good and the energy is amazing, but the project is not so powerful even though it is really enjoyable. After all this is a solid record but nothing more.
Quick album, short songs, decent music, not something I would have sought out by myself
Very fun album. Unique mix of prog, post-punk, indie rock. Always a big fan of a drum track
'nuf That Shit
Good old quickly.
Meh indie type music. Nothing special
Doesn’t hold water 👍🏾
Not for me
This list the deeper and deeper I get into it just feels like the dude in high school who thought his music taste was better than everyone and tired to convince that this shitty album he loved was the greatest album you’ll ever hear.
It’s folk punk, like violet femmes but cleaner sounding. I was actually quite surprised by this thing, fine there were no real stand out tracks but all throughout its half hour length I was kept interested! The only moment I would call weak is this really random track ( well there’s 2 of them actually) of just drumming for a minute, but eh wasn’t horrible. Overall it’s a 4/5 solid album very good in fact but no moments of much notoriety.
Not bad, feels a bit repetitive. Inoffensive. Standouts: Some Things
Wen't from loving this ... to thinking it was rubbish ... back to loving it. A real yo-yo of a record.
Loved that - a cracking rock album with lots of fun diversions, all tied up in 30 mins.
3rd August 2022 Started on the train in to work from Saville’s but finished the morning after having driven back from London. Not quite what I expected but not bad either. Quite unique, indie / punk vibes.
PRETTY GOOD
Extraña mezcla de sonidos y estilo. Mezcla entre pop y rock, por resumir mucho. Lo cierto es que no me ha gustado nada
Ehhhhhh, not bad but nothing special. Who are these guys anyway?
Never heard of this band before now, not bad
I was not familiar with this band going into yesterday's listening session, but let me tell you this album was pretty good. I am giving it 3 stars but I will definitely have to go back and give it a more focused listen.
Thank you 1,001 for this nice new find. The lead guitarist is featured prominently and he’s pretty darned good. Interesting mix of indie, garage blues and prog.
Surprenant comme album, sa s'écoute super bien et j'aime le style. Je ne m'attendais pas vraiment à ca compte tenu que je ne connaissais pas du tout le band. 3.5
Didn't love it, but there is some great musicianship in there. 3
I thoroughly enjoyed Minutemen, so was looking forward to this post D Boon incarnation. Nice short songs, nimble bass playing and some funky guitar work in places. This is much more Americana than Minutemen's funky jazzy punk.
3.5
So I listened to the first few songs and had to pause it to do something. As I was about to resume, I didn't remember what the first couple of songs I listened to sounded like and I think that's pretty telling for how the album finishes - totally forgettable. I guess I could give bonus points for it being a short and quick album. 4/10.
I'm sure my devotion to Minutemen is biasing my rating a bit, but this is a pretty fun listen.
+0.5 for Spotify subsequently suggesting the “Crate Diggin’ Sub Pop Records” playlist.
Was on
another headscratcher. Super short songs, actually not bad, but not sure why it's on this list. Enjoyable in the background but nothing more.
Not a whole lot going on here for me. Never heard of this group, but thought they were UK or maybe even Irish based on some of the styles at play here. It's a little punky, but pretty upbeat. Not much stood out to me, but I don't hate it, it's pretty consistent. Just not something I want to return to. Favorite tracks: Riddle of the Eighties. Album art: Quite a few things going on here, the blocking is a bit strange. I really like the graffiti face though. 2.5/5
I knew nothing about fIREHOSE other than this was what messrs Watt and Hurley did after the Minutemen ended, so I had no real idea what to expect from this... but I still don't think I would've expected what I got, which is... roots punk, if that's a thing? Minutemen with a bit of early REM overlaid on them? Whatever it is, it seemed good.
It was OK, but I wasn't really feeling it
Had never heard of this band or record before. Didn't mind it at all, but not sure I'd bother to go back. Slightly rough, ragged texture appealed to me, In My mind was pretty good
Yeah fine
How was I not listening to this in '89? These songs are crisp, short and sweet, and just an all around fun listen. A little jangle, a little burn, a little funk, a little twang. Somehow fIREHOSE figured out how to make an album that feels improvisational and jammy in the best way, without actually being jammy at all. I enjoyed it. Fave Songs: What Gets Heard, Más Cojones, Some Things, The Softest Hammer, Time With You, In My Mind
The intros to the first three tracks tease talking heads level post punk then descend into something very weird. It then kind of blooms in the last third
The instruments all sounded phenomenal, but the singing was more hit and miss.
Good sound at times but nothing stood out
I liked the running joke with the drummer’s songs, but otherwise it’s pretty forgettable.
Not sure how I feel; some of it I like (Vastopol), but I think overall it just misses for me.
Fairly unremarkable although not unpleasant.
Praticamente sem lembranças.
It has its moments. 2.5/5
It might not be an all-time classic, but THIS, ladies and gents, is why I signed up for the 1001 Albums journey! "Fromohio" was an album I'd never heard of by a band I didn't know, with no clue what to expect. The cover made me brace myself for some alternative metal, but then the first two songs had me absolutely reeling. "Riddle of the Eighties" kicks in with a breathtaking drum intro (one of many on the album, a flurry of cymbals and hi-hats) before a bright, jangly verse and vocal recalling early R.E.M. "In My Mind" follows up with an irresistible calypso-tinged rhythm, evoking Paul Simon's "Graceland" in the "white guys doing world music" vain. There's an amazing momentum and energy to it and I couldn't not bop along... Admittedly, the quality slowly thins out after these stellar first two tracks. There are snatches of great music across the rest of the record, particularly in the stomping "Time With You" (check out the squawking funk-style guitar), the restless punky energy of "Some Things", and the left-field barroom singalong "Liberty For Our Friend." There's also a lovely pastoral acoustic guitar solo and TWO short drum solos, as though we've moved into an early 70s prog album. On the other hand, there are some tracks that never quite seem to get going, or never land on a strong enough foot of inspiration. "Whisperin' While Hollerin'" and "What Gets Heard" are both led by meaty basslines but suffer from mumbled vocals and stop-start rhythms which break a lot of the momentum. "If'n" begins excellently but then drifts around all over the place, diluting each section's impact every time it takes off again. "The Softest Hammer" is a damp squib of an ending. I realised the drummer and bassist originally played in Minutemen- I've heard some of their tracks and looking forward to revisiting because they put in stellar performances here. As it is, very glad I got the chance to hear this one today. I don't know whether I'll stick with "Fromohio", but it's been such a fun discovery that I don't want to put it anywhere below a 4.
This is an album that exists
I guess one of the drawbacks of going through these albums using this website is that you cannot read the author's justification for including an album on the list. Because wtf is this generic ass boring ass shit? Like I'd much rather listen to a terrible album than this, because at least a terrible album would be making a choice. At least it would be interesting. At least it would make me feel SOMETHING. That being said, the album name "Fromohio" is very fitting. Because this is the Ohio of albums. Completely middle of the road, largely inoffensive, 100% forgettable thing that has no real purpose and that no one ever needs to visit.
GREAT drums And some great riffs sprinkled throughout Worthwhile listen Spotify inexplicably flagged every song here as explicit..? Even the drum solo?
It wasn't bad, but it also didn't really make an impression on me. I'm not surprised that I've never heard of them. I imagine that most people forget about them as soon as they're done listening. Best track: The Softest Hammer
Bom.
Good band, woeful singer. Jane was excessively negative. Shannah thought it was lackluster. Bill liked what she heard but left partway through. (2/5)
Unremarkable
4.0 - This is a surprisingly tidy record with some excellent guitar work. There aren't any standout tracks but it all flows together surprisingly well. I hear elements of reggae via Clash, Talking Heads, REM, and a solid dose of the Minutemen. And Mike Watt sounds incredible on bass! Plus, it's obscure and midwest-American, so citing it as a favorite record will give you instant credibility amongst hipsters.
Assez banal, il faudrait qu'on m'explique pourquoi il fallait que j'écoute ça avant de mourir.
I'm not sure how to characterize this album but it was an interesting listen. I enjoyed a few songs quite a lot, mostly those more on the indie rock side. If you like progressive rock, alternative and punk this is it.
Interesting.
Surprised. 3.49 but rounding down.
This didn't stand out to me at all, really. I couldn't work out how it had earned its place on this list.
A mix of folk and punk, with really good songs. (6/10) FT: Riddle of the Eighties, In My Mind
Cool alt rock. Most of the songs are awesome, some are a bit harsh but overall enjoyed it!
Best Song: In My Mind. Nice rolling guitar and drums. Worst Song: Time With You. Sounds like a high school band. Overall: Likeable high tempo music made uninteresting with boring vocals. Would have preferred an instrumental version.
Inventive Indie rock. short, quickfire with some crazy guitar riffs. Liked it alot. 4/5
It's no Minutemen, but these guys still deserve some love.
3/5 nothing stuck
Alright. Wouldn't listen again.
Solid album.
From the opening cadence of just cymbals, it begs the question if that is going to be a major theme on the album. It is, not that there is anything wrong with that, only that it sticks out. "Mas Cojones" is pretty groovy, maybe the best of the bunch, but the rest seem to fall short of matching it. More cymbal solos for "Let The Drummer Have Some", which changes in tempo seem deliberate and well done. "Liberty For Our Friend" is a bar song. That is all. "The Softest Hammer" maybe could have been this album's overall style since this band is good at being intentional and subdued. While their proclivities for being groovy are evident, they seem to rely on that too much here and so its broad appeal, is not.
Was hopeful with this - backstory read like a 'alt-folk-rock band' i'd like. But it's just so utterly forgettable. I should have guessed when that much effort goes into the band name.
I love listening to these slightly more indie bands, it feels like "your favourite band's favourite band." This was a delight to listen to, with its postpunk/early alt sound.
Los chicos enrollados de la clase se han comprado unos instrumentos y han hecho un disco. Tienen talento y se les ve inquietos pero, por alguna razón, no acaban de dotar de entidad a este álbum a pesar de las filigranas y la experimentación. Aun así, la escucha no se hace pesada debido a la corta duración del disco y a su frescura. Pero la menta también es fresca y no me voy llevando a la boca hojas de menta porque sí. Parece que le falta algo. ¿Elaboración? ¿Madurez? Nunca lo sabremos.
okay the first couple of seconds of the first track had me SO hyped for what was about to come, but then the…like how does…hard 180 gotta say. ohgeez
It’s ok alt rock
ein paar sehr coole arrangements drin. in summe aber für mich nicht wie ein zusammenhängendes album, so unterschiedliche stile und kraut und rüben
Cooler Sound. Da haben sich Kings 8f Leon wohl a bissl was abgschaut
Witziger außergewöhnlicher Mix von Classic/Blues Rock, Jazz und Funk. auf jeden Fall mal was anderes
Lots of ambition on this album, but the shorter song lengths prevent many of the tracks from developing. Feels like something a band would make a couple years before their big break
New band to me, really enjoyed this one, will listen to again.
solid punk album
Angular post-punk, probably very influential but it felt a little slight to me. One track sounds like Seinfeld slap-bass made into a song.
I thought this was an interesting album, though I feel like I'm going to have to listen to it a few more times before I give an informed opinion. It kept my interest, though (which is good because it's a short album). The sound quality could be better, but apart from that it's an album that feels ahead of its time based on when it was released
Interesting, some proper melt solos and stuff, but really quite odd
Meh. Did not enjoy. Didn't hate it, its not offensively bad or anything. More of an elevator music vibe. What a terrible album cover, though. Not sure if I have seen one worse.
It’s a fun rock album…