Reviews (page 11 of 12)
medium like. better than yesterdays
I like the artist not this album
Meh. It was alright. Forgettable.
I think I get the band name now. This was a little sappy for me. Good pop-rock for the time.
Not great
My dad would go crazy for this, but it ain't doin it for me
Some musicians and bands debut with a fully-formed sound; not so with Tom Petty. There are some good songs on here, but also a lot of forgettable ones. That’s not great on a half hour long album. With the leather jacket and bullet bandolier on the album sleeve, Petty almost looks like a punk, and while this isn’t punk rock, at its best it shares a tight, stripped-down ethos with punk, without the bloat of so much of classic rock. Though Petty never pushes it like punk did, he doesn’t have that songwriting chops of a Bruce Springsteen, and this all ends up feeling very middle of the road to me. I know a lot of people love Tom Petty, but I’ve never understood the appeal, and this isn’t changing my mind.
oli intoa, mutta sitten Petty
Perusrokkia ja vaivalloista laulua.
forgettable af.. american girl har man hört innan men.. meh
c'est pas fantastique hein . . . sûrement trop jeune pour écouter ces bêtises . . . peut-être sur une harley . . .
Sure!
0/10 bekannt 5/10 Beste Songs: American girl, rockin‘ around, Luna
Not my style.
No hearts were broken.
Not a fan 🪭
Ok fürn hintrgrunf
the most "we're going to start a band just to try to get laid" ass shit i've ever heard
Hat mich nicht berührt aber auch nicht gestört. Kann man hören. Muss man aber auch nicht. Luna fand ich glaube ich cool.
Alte Musik mit Gitarre geht mir eigentlich immer gut nei Stimme ist mir manchmal zu "gepresst", schwer zu beschreiben
It's not bad but feels kind of meh.
Ehhhh?? He's a white guy who loves rock n roll... theres not much that can be said. I think the first song and American Girl are pretty good songs, but the entire middle portion of the record feels like regular shmegular rock n roll gruel. It's very much a one note type of white guy longing that is ultimately pretty boring if you aren't also a old white guy who is longing for rock n roll.
Not a big fan 5.9/10
Boring
he progressively sounds increasingly more garbled and warbley as the album goes on. pretty good and movie song at the end!
i like the spirited vibe but also kinda jerky/not the most memorable
Never heard of them before, and now I can see why. The sound is too stereotypically 70s, vocal is too sugary for my liking..not that there’s something wrong with sugary vocals, not at all, but here it just doesn’t fit. Breakdown is the only song I probably will remember (and I’m not sure even about that)
Generic American rock. Not for me
This was ok. Very middle of the road. Nothing particularly remarkable or interesting enough for me to deem it an album to be heard before you die.
fooled again and luna were the tracks i enjoyed most. first half of the record was not my fave, and many of the songs took turns in directions that made me dislike them at least part of the way through. not an album i hate, but i don’t think i’ll ever listen again.
ja zeker een album dat ie gemaakt heeft
I really expected to like this but my head dropped at the end of the opening track, that wasn't good. It got a bit better but overall, I didn't think it was very good. American Girl was the best track by a long way
So forgettable I forgot that I was listening to it halfway through. Nothing really wrong in its execution but it's just impressively unremarkable 70s rock. Perhaps that's a cultural relic; Tom Petty left nary a footprint in the musical subconscious here down under, and I fear that after listening to this debut album it hasn't on me either. Might have been somewhat interesting back in its heyday but fifty years later it's failed to leave an impression. Fav tracks: American Girl
I'll take the hits, you can keep the rest
I've never really cared for Tom Petty and this isn't making me change my mind. Just more of that stupid tropey "I just wanna listen to that d*mn rock music" shit mixed with A Few Songs About Girls that sucks so bad about late-70s rock. Like brother you wanna talk about rock music? By then punk rock is basically entering its apex, metal is being codified as a genre, and all the real ones are in Berlin playing with synthesizers. Meanwhile you made *this*. I just hate that all this shit is fucking canon man
minus points for the way he's looking at me Would I listen again: No Deserves to be on this list: didn't sound like it 1.5
Interesting...never heard an entire album by Tom Petty...It is pretty decent though has a bit more country twang than it needs.
Good riffs but I'm not a fan of American rock that is not made in New York, of course I have my exceptions but this album is not one of them
This actually was pretty shit. I was never aware of how much Tom Petty sucked
American Girl carries this, and it's not even that good a song, and also it sticks out like a sore thumb at the end of One Battle After Another
american girl slaps but the rest was a bit mid
Very generic
This record is not terrible but the two hits are much the best here. I especially hated the song about black people. I expected more because I know the Heartbreakers are helluva backing band but apparently they didn't have any history prior to this record.
Highlights: Rockin' Around, Breakdown Very American style. Not something I'm used to hearing a lot, but it wasn't anything special. As a record it's not something worth revisiting, but the highlights do hold up on their own. Lyrics are basic (except Strangered in the Night - wtf was that), and the instrumentals son't stand out much either. This is just a (mostly) clean version of better rock from the 70's, so it didn't really click with me. At least I'm pleased with the fact that mr. Petty didn't want to "torture" me too much so he made the record veeeery short.
Yet another white man album with CRAZY instrumentals and riffs but the moment the singer starts singing I'm like oh:((((
Not a fan. This record feels so generic. Instrumentally it’s milquetoast classic rock station/VFW jukebox music and, vocally, Tom can’t seem to figure out whether he is playing an SNL Californian or slurring his way through some forgotten night at the bar. The hits, Breakdown and American Girl, save this otherwise completely forgettable album from itself. Despite being only 30 minutes, it felt like a lifetime of a listen. While it’s not awful, this collection, as a whole, is far from essential listening.
A useful reminder of why punk needed to happen. Competently written songs but it's so dated and self-satisfied that any enjoyment that could be taken from that is killed. Petty yelps tunelessly over boring yachty 12 bar blues about how great (his own) rock 'n' roll is and all the girls he's fucking as if he's taking some sort of self-determined victory lap. Gets an extra star for not overstaying it's welcome too long and American Girl.
Classic soft rock
hmmm never heard a Tom Petty album all the way through... I of course know last dance and american girl. That's all I could name though. I lied I have heard Breakdown. Didn't know that was him though.
Really old dad rock
An interesting album, pretty short, but effective one; I can see why it made to this list of the most influential ones for sure :)
Its just mild, borderline uninteresting.
Probably not for me. Sounds kinda like movie soundtrack music, or commercial music. Like a wrangler jeans commercial or something. It's not bad, but just not someone I'd revisit most likely. Favorite tracks: Breakdown, Fooled Again
Big fan of Damn the Torpedoes, and others i've heard, so was expecting more from this one. On first listen, it's generally a bunch of middling rockers, sounding like a band just formed and yet to gel. American Girl and Breakdown are both good, the rest completely skippable.
Not my favourite TP album by some distance. ‘Breakdown’ and ‘Fooled Again’ are the 2 stand out tracks and hint at the signature sound that will evolve.
I fairly enjoyable listen, rock n roll meets blues. There were only a couple of standout tracks for me then it started to feel a bit samey.
American Girl is obviously a massive highlight and would maybe earn a spot on 1001 songs but this album isn't really very memorable. I listened to it twice through and could only tell you about American Girl. Playlist track: American Girl
Pretty ordinary soft rock that is as innocuous as it is unworthy of a 1001 list of all time great albums
Cool album, I dont think I'll come back to it often
5/10 - typical early 80s rock
For a relatively short album this really drags. All the tracks kind of blur into one and just bored me. American Girl is alright but wasted burying it at the end of the album when any interest i may of had is long gone.
I seem to be on a run of artists where I have previously said I like them, only to learn that it’s the singles (ie: the songs they, and their record labels, know are good) I like. Things I liked generally about this album just extend to the length of songs: Tom Petty got the memo and applied it consistently. Bravo. I liked the blues feel of “Breakdown”, and the balls to close your (I think?) debut album with the classic “American Girl”, making that the last thing you hear on this record, is quite the choice. Unfortunately, knowing it was there, I just kept waiting for it and being less than enthused by anything else I heard (“Breakdown” excluded) until I got to it. Again, if I could give it 2.5* I would but, for me, it’s not a 3* album.
I wasn't sure what to expect listening to this album, as basically my entire Tom Petty knowledge centres around Into The Great Wide Open, but I wasn't expecting this. It sounds like an amalgam of a ton of bands around in the same era, all smushed together. There were Beatlesesque parts and bits that sounded like The Stones and bits that sounded like generic 70s blues rock. I enjoyed American Girl, but mostly because I have a soft spot for the Everclear cover version. It's not that I didn't like it per sae, its that I didn't understand why it would be considered such a big deal? I think this is a prime example of a 2.5 star album for me because it was perfectly fine but nothing particularly stood out or endeared me to it. I am going to be a bit harsh and round down, because I just didn't see the attraction: 2/5
Best song: American Girl Surprise nice song: N/A Worst song: Strangered in the Night, Luna
Meh. I mean I’ve heard of the name but couldn’t hum a single song of his. I was sure he was English judging by looks and accent, but apparently he’s from Florida. The music is generic American rock, like an off brand Springsteen. The last song, American Girl, is pretty good but the rest is boring. Two stars.
The Heartbreakers are one of those great American backing bands - the tcbs, the e street band, the funk brothers. Tom was lucky to find them. Benmont, Mike, Stan. Just perfect. They don’t reach their stride here. So why are we listening to this when full moon fever is probably the one? 3 minus one for inappropriate placement.
Didn't like but talented musician
Inte riktigt min grej. Känns välgjort o så och ett par intressanta grejer som fastnar men annars är detta för nån annan.
very cliché american
A yawnfest.
My entry point into Tom Petty’s work was his late-career masterpiece Wildflowers, ironically the most heartbreak-infused album he made under his own name, without officially billing the Heartbreakers. And honestly, I more or less stopped there (of course I know the hits). To this day, Wildflowers is the only album of his that I regularly spin. Tom Petty came a long way from his early output. On Wildflowers, you can clearly hear how much his songwriting had refined itself and how confidently his own creative voice had settled in - less indebted to his early influences and more comfortable with restraint, space, and emotional ambiguity. The debut, at least to my ignorant ears, sounds like just another Americana- and country-tinged rock’n’roll record, heavily informed by the Byrds, Dylan and the Stones - which is perfectly fine, but ultimately makes it little more than a solid debut. As far as I can tell, there is even a broad consensus that this self-titled album with the Heartbreakers is far from his best, despite containing staples like “American Girl” (I mean come on, the man made Damn the Torpedoes, Full Moon Fever, and Into the Great Wide Open afterwards…). So why include this one here?
pretty generic sounding rock. obviously american girl stands out but the whole album wasn't impressive.
An OK album at times enjoyable but as a debut in, say, 1968 it would have been acceptable but in 1976 it was just lame... Come on, punk was behind the corner, Velvet Underground and Stooges were history, Patti Smith, Ramones, Talking Heads, Television were regularly playing at CBGB (and some had already debuted)
Good record, but nothing that drew me in too much. Breakdown is great.
I only knew the songs “Free Fallin” which is my all time favorite Tom Petty song. I also knew “I Won’t Back Down”. That was my intro to Tom Petty. To be quite honest, I don’t care for this album, but those songs were great.
Passable,amb alguna cançó d'aquelles que havies escoltat molt i no sabies de qui era.Un 5'5.
Svag inledning. De tre första spåren, framförallt nr 1 och 3, låter som något 60-talet glömt kvar. Sedan ändrar skivan lite karaktär till det bättre. The wild one forever med Springsteen-vibb och boggierocken i Anything that’s rock’n’roll och Stangered in the night med lite mer identitet. Det blir en okej stunds lyssning. Men nog inget som jag kommer komma håg i morgon. Konstigt att inte Damn the torpedoes är med istället. Den brukar alltid lyftas fram som Pettys klassiker.
Det går helt klart att höra likheter mellan Petty och Springsteen. Framförallt jämfört med Bossens tidiga album. En signifikant skillnad dock. Pettys låtmaterial är betydligt svagare. Det inte tråkigt men griper aldrig tag g ordentligt i en. En lite tuffare variant av soft-rock. Har inget emot att lyssna på det men blir inte heller ledsen om jag blir utan.
Inget minnesvärt album. Inte dåligt heller men gjore absolut inget intryck på mig.
Forgettable
Boring, and I don’t like that stupid smirk on the cover
Didn’t quite do it for me. Felt similar to lots of stuff from the same era that I like but not as good. Did like American Girl
Fine, I guess? The voice starts to grate after a while, nothing I'll play again.
Alright
Fine. I might not skip it if I were in the right mood, but it's not getting a passive play every time.
I ... I ... I am not sure what to do with this. It's fine. Nothing bad. I'm struggling to work out why it's included in a list 1001 of albums you have to listen to. I guess it sounds like AI amalgamation of 1001 generic 70s rock albums to create the supreme generic 70s rock album?
Forgettable other than ‘American Girl’ which is itself only memorable because it was in ‘The Silence Of The Lambs’
Hurrying up to show Rachel how this works, but wow American girl is a great song
Nothing special
Meh
This is probably most Tom Petty I've listened to in a span of one day, don't actively dislike what he and The Heartbreakers have been doing, but it just has never been my taste. However I had never registers that Breakdown is one of their songs. Non-offensive and not very memorable album for me.
Ikke noget specielt. Han har i det mindste formået at holde det kort. Og American Girl er ok.
Like the aimless middle 8 in a mid -80s Springsteen arena gig where the boss has gone backstage for a shit and a new pair of boxers. Minus the redeeming sax solo. The third guitarist has been allowed out front to do some of his Jeff Beck tributes...
Meh...
American girl is a decent song, but the rest was a little beige rock
The pinnacle of 'alright, I suppose'.
Comprised mostly of thin sounding filler. The guitar does not have enough presence to fill the space. The songs with organ backup are better. It shows that this was made in a day, a lit of this could have used some time in the oven to get some layering or finer melodies and rythms.
меня разъебывает с его лица
It's not horrible, I let it turn twice in a loop. Yet I don't get how it can be included in this list. It's post T-Rex/Bowie glam, it tends toward Fm rock... As big his CV seems to be, I had never heard of Tom Petty before. Forgettable.
The album sounds a bit thin and stiff. The guitars and drums lack energy and Petty’s voice is sometimes harsh and flat, without much feeling. It has a couple of good songs, but most of it feels flat and dated, totally unoriginal. Decent debut, forgettable album.
all this for american girl
I won’t listen to this again.
Fairly ass
I’ve always thought of Tom Petty as generic classic rock. Stuff the whole family can enjoy if the whole family has no real interest in music, just want the background noise. It’s not bad but it’s certainly forgettable only seconds after a song or the album is over
Final thoughts: This is Tom Petty's only album on the list? Really? ******************************************************************************* --Rockin' Around (With You)...not bad but it's as generic as the title --Breakdown...always liked the keyboards on this --Hometown Blues...shrug. very local bar band --The Wild One, Forever...not sure Tom has the voice for this --Anything That's Rock 'n' Roll...not escaping the dad rock allegations, guys. It does build nicely --Strangered in the Night...like the intro. doesn't light my hair on fire but it's groovy --Fooled Again (I Don't Like It)...I don't like it --Mystery Man...more bar band music --Luna...here's something a little different. I think I can hear Petty's future more on this one than earlier tracks --American Girl...we've all heard it. it's great
Was alright. Nothing stood out particularly for me.
if i close my eyes this could be Elvis Costello. That is not somewhere i want to be
Pretty basic bar-room american rock. Full Moon Fever would have been a better choice.
It started and then it ended. But no, it was pretty generic, middle of the road 70s rock. Nothing offensive, just very much radio music. I would tell Tom Petty to enunciate, but then again some of my favourite singers also don't do that, so you get away with one "Tom". I wouldn't listen to it again, but I also wouldn't hate if it was on somewhere.
Very much what I think of when I think of dad rock. Only 30 mins but I got pretty bored. American Girl at the end sort of brought it back. Quite catchy and the sort of thing I could (and probably have) enjoy dancing to at Dad Rock at the Hope and Ruin. Over all though, this just entrenched me in my feelings on Tom Petty.
It sounds like debut album of a young American dude who liked Rolling Stones, Bowie, and Bob Dylan. I know Petty was capable of much more so this feels like a very odd inclusion on this list. Every song is short and slightly underdeveloped. Very mediocre and forgettable. Huh. I really expected much more from this.
2/5. I think this album wouldn't be as remembered if Petty didn't continue down his musical career. American Girl would have been a one hit wonder and that would be that. I can respect the young blood energy and he doesn't act gross lyrically like a lot of rock groups around this time, talking about young girls, so bonus points. But the songs are not great overall, and I wouldn't listen to most of these, just skipping to the end. It's an okay album but don't think it deserves the praise it does. Best Song: American Girl, Fooled Again (I Don't Like It), Breakdown
I think Tom Petty put it best when he said, "I don't like it". Favourite Track(s): Breakdown, Fooled Again (I Don't Like It) Least Favourite Track(s): Hometown Blues
Not bad actually. I didn't go in with super high expectations, but I had a fun time. Nothing that wowed me but I did quite enjoy Rockin' Around (with you). 2.5/5 stars.
Vil ekki tala illa um látinn mann, en þetta er ekki tónlist fyrir mig.
Ikkje mitt nye favorittalbum
All American but forgetable other than the two hits on the album.
Meh
Just a bit bland
Wasn’t as blown away by this as I thought I’d be.
Not alot much to say when I checked this record out. I’m sure people in 1976 were finally gunning for listening to a softer rock sound while your Zeppelins and Hendrixes of the time started blasting their amplifiers with that hard, psychedelic rock. This record was fine, i only liked American Girl and Luna and Tom Petty sounds like a slightly worse Bob Dylan.
nis spec
Just okay
Not bad just kinda boring
Not my fave
This entire album is 30 minutes long, so I guess within the span of my life, I can find 30 minutes to listen to it. This isn't what I think about when I think of rock music, but I can imagine myself cruising down Route 66 with it on while i'm not really thinking about anything. It feels like default easy listening. Not threatening, not controversial, very safe, the kind of rock music your Christian grandmother probably likes because she saw it on Good Morning America. Nothing groundbreaking here. I think this album was included simply because the author thought people should know who Tom Petty was.
5/10 To me this all but confirmed that Tom Petty is best enjoyed by listening to the singles and not bothering with full albums, although I'll probably give some of his work another chance at some point. I've always absolutely loved 'Breakdown' - it oozes style and sex appeal in a way that few songs can - but beyond that the rest of this album was filled with disappointingly middle-of-the-road soft rock filler. Even American Girl, by the time I reached it, had me questioning whether I'd ever enjoyed the song at all – although I'm pretty sure that was just me being jaded by the rest of the album. Impossible for me to go higher than a 5 here despite the strength of the singles. Best songs: Breakdown, American Girl Listens: 1
OK but forgettable 🤷♀️
Too American for my taste
Kinda disappointed by this one because I always kinda liked most of Tom Petty's 80s/90s singles. At its worst, it sounds like anything else from the 70s. At its best, it sounds like if Elvis Costello was stupid
Moui. Du rock à papa, sympa mais sans plus. Je lui mets la moyenne avec le 1/2 point que je ne peux pas ajouter à l'étoile
Gonna preface this by saying that I was on a road trip with family when listening to this album so it was hard to fully pay attention (which likely affected my score so don’t take this review too seriously)… I don’t have much to say here I never really got too much into it and by the time it started to warm up for me, it was almost over already I don’t want to be too harsh because I found the album listenable but I didn’t really connect with any one song in particular Favorites: None
I was not expecting this genre - I genuinely thought Tom Petty was a crooner - I have no idea why I thought this and I even know some of the songs on this album. Completely forgettable, I will probably forget once again that Tom Petty is not a crooner Fav songs: Breakdown
Not for me, catchy, but I don't think I would listen again
Ja basic
So... when I opened the app yesterday I thought "Oh good, I like Tom Petty, this one will be an easy one." But... I guess I don't? This album just sucks outside of American Girl, which I don't believe is in the top 10 Tom Petty songs. I like a few of Tom Petty's hits well enough.. Free Fallin', You Don't Know How It Feels, Mary Jane's Last Dance, etc... but I really don't like this album.
Fav song: weirdly 'Luna' I don't know I needed to hear this album before death. I've never been a TP fan but I don't despise him. TP feels authentic. Still, I will listen to other Listers who advise there are better TP albums to choose. I feel this is likely correct but will not suggest it shouldn't be on the List either. It's pretty standard rock even for its time.
It kinda reminded me of the generic music you hear in a supermarket. Its not offensive, but not very interesting.
pretty dull
Not my vibe really. Classic rock and roll affair.
Not sure what to say about Tom Petty. I don’t dislike him, but I can’t say I really like him, either. I guess most of what I do like is on other albums.
honestly i was quite a bit bored while listening to this
Boring asf 2
It was fine. Nothing special stood out. I wouldn't complain if it was on but I wouldn't purposely listen to this album.
Wow, J'arrive pas à comprendre que ce gars là soit dans les légendes du rock.
A Tom Petty tribute band played at my bard three times a year for more than a decade. I know all the hits by heart at this point and honestly, they sound better live than this record. Aside from a few major hits, I found the record messy and short.
Biz a Petty das es dezwüsche doch so viel country element dinne het. Und das de Tom freud dran het all die Heart z breake. allgemein klassische biz unterdurchschnittlichs Album dasi nüme lose wird. Darum zwei Heartbreakdance ihlage uf de parkett
4 lieder glost, zum glück hani aber grad no rechtzitig d'fenster chönne schlüsse bevor alli wiisschopfseeadler inegfloge sind und mir mit eme bud light mundgruch d'vorteil vo lockere gun laws hend welle is ohr schreie bliebed dusse, eu wotti da nie meh gseh!
Well that was remarkably unremarkable. The album just finished playing and I literally can’t remember ever listening to it. I gave it two stars because it didn’t have Free Fallin’ on it. If it did, I would have given it one star.
Fun?
Don’t think there was one song on this album that clicked with me.
It's a good debut.
Hmm, not much stands out in the deep cuts. American Girl is great of course.
Kind of blah for me
2/5
5/10 Is this really the only Tom Petty album on the list?? Because I know he has a couple of good songs, but they sure werent on here. Luna and Fooled Again were fine I suppose
exceptionally mid, gave me hints of other bands I'd rather be listening to. american girl is alright but was overplayed and ruined by classic rock radio for me.
5/10 ur breaking my heart
Heartland rock. George Harrison meets Bruce Springsteen in Nashville.
It didn’t grab as much as I thought it would. It’s fine, of a time. Derivative of Dylan playing Springsteen to my ears, though contemporary to Bruce so maybe unfair. I reckon I’ll like his later stuff more - ‘Mary Jane’s Last Dance’ came on after and I really like that. From 1993, produced by Rick Rubin.
Has American Girl and not much else for me
Not really my jam. Reminds me of Van Helen a little bit.
4/10
First half, is the a poor mans Ziggy Stardust meets Bob Dylan? I don’t get where this album is going? Thank god for punk rock and new wave came along just a few years later! Listenable, but not something I’m in a rush to get back to anytime soon
For the picture in the cover alone, this deserves one miserable star. But at the same time, the Flying V across the heart deserves five. So let's judge it based on the music alone. This is 2-star boring old-school rock. I can't see the point of listening to this in 2025. Not innovative, not amazing, just a regular rock album with a couple of real bangers.
It was ok, but I guess not my style. No song standed out for me
I've only ever heard this guy being referred to as an absolute legend. In light of that, this was.. whelming.
Of all the Tom Petty albums I've been forced to endure this might be the most bearable. He still kinda annoys me here but at least he isn't "Free-Fallin" levels of annoying. Favorite track: Breakdown 2.5/5
I find him creepy
Thought I would enjoy this more than I did, didn't really grab me, perhaps he improved with age...
I think I gave this about 4 tries before I finally managed to get through the whole thing. It isn't bad, but isn't gripping for me either.
Rock på den virkelig kedelige måde
Jeg synes det er fint nok, men det er sådan en form for Heartland rock som der ikke siger mig så meget åbenbart? Ratede også bruce springsteens born to run relativ lavt ift hvad kritikere osv synes. Det er bare ikke rigtig noget som siger mig særlig meget. jeg har lyst til at give den 2,5 umiddelbart. men måske er det fordi det er en dårlig dag. jeg gir den 3 men 2,5
a produção é ok mas é muito dad rock pro meu bico
Average rock, I liked American Girl bc I know it but none of the other songs really spoke to me
I listened, but then immediately forgot anything about this album.
Ikkje mitt nye favorittalbum
LIke the critics say, it does sound fresh. Mostly samey but not in a bad way. "American Girl" in my mind has always been great but I wish it was _more_ of whatever it is. Heavier, maybe. The earlier tracks on the album actually sound better.
i like tom petty but that album that didn’t feel like something special. just basic rock…
Another “matter of time” artist. It wasn’t a matter of “if,” it was always a matter of when, we’d see this gaunt songwriter stampede his way into our eardrums. Please be gentle Tommy (n’ friends). I have my reservations about this whole thing. Ugh. Rockin’ Around (With You) - Am I ever glad he specified that he wasn’t just rockin’ around with any floozy, but it was me. Why don’t I remember this? Problematic already. I don’t care that it was the 70’s! Breakdown - Ooh the fake accent. That’s not ideal. Slow, plodding, brings to mind old people past their prime. Hometown Blues - Primordial Bruce Springsteen that I can smell from the future. Yuck. I feel like I’m an upper middle manager who peaked in my senior year of high school, reminiscing about the glory days. Sharing some soda pops with my varsity football pals Melvin and Doug. I slapped a non consenting waitress on the ass as she walked by. It was all for show. God only knows I only had eyes for that jukebox, as I knew, Tom Petty had just come out with his debut album, and I knew If I hid under the table and timed it just right after closing time, I could sneak up to that music machine, peer through the glass at the fresh vinyl selections of the day and I could indeed, fuck that jukebox. The Wild One, Forever - This is in a movie I think. It also sounds like it was sung intentionally bad. I’ve fallen into the trap before of wanting to be the star of your own creation, but this singing tells me two things: 1. Tom can delegate about as well as he sings 2. Tom can’t sing. Anything that’s Rock ‘N’ Roll - So many apostrophes. I feel like I’m transcribing rap lyrics or a Dusty Rhodes promo. I can’t enjoy teenager rock from 20 years prior to my debut on this toilet earth. It’s substance-free for me. Strangered in the Night - I like the concept of becoming strangered. Best thing to happen to this album so far. But they’re saying strangers? Oh god. Is this mistitled? Oh no. It’s race baiting. Tom Petty, the original Blue Lives Matter poster. I kid the man. This is the best song by far. Another Cringeworthy Album Befalls (us). Whatever. I needed the letters. Fooled Again (I Don’t Like It) - This is me every day during this album review. I’m writing a response track to this called Fooled Again (I Do Like It), and it’s about me going to a magic show. How in the hell does he know what my card is? And don’t even get me started on the rabbit thing. Sensational. This isn’t horrific. Sounds a little Beavis and Butthead-y. Mystery Man - Not too too bad, but not good. Almost reggae at points which started to whir the old suicide machine (brain) towards its self-destructive worst. So let’s calls this a loss and move on. Luna - His vocals are corny to the point where I’m chuckling, but the cooler moments are certainly the better moments on this record. Congratulations Thomas. American Girl - I prefer American Woman. What a horrible country. Anyway. This song is more teeny-bopper goofiness that screams “you had to be there.” Like most people who would review happy music this negatively, not one word of this song provides any focal point of relation to me. And the updated riverboat/Starsky and Hutch breakdown doesn’t leave me thrilled to have been here. Tom Petty and his group of merry misfits came, saw, played some relics, and ultimately went to bed early with no soup. That’s the punishment I bestow upon bands from the past who disappoint me. And the thing is? There is bound to be a night that at least one of them didn’t have soup. Yup. That was me. How can I prove that? How can you prove that this album is one of the 1001 most impactful ever? Exactly. Stay in your lane, and I’ll stay in mine. I’ve still got to figure out how to clean out this damn jukebox. That coach has got to get those kids under control. 2-2.5 HIGHLIGHTS: Strangered in the Night, Luna
Uhhh... qué hago con esto? Ya me olvidé de todo. Un 2?
Never been a big fan of Tom Petty; listening to the whole album kinda confirms it for me. Maybe one or two enjoyable songs.
idk not that good in every way. Thought it would be proto-punk but not favourite songs hometown blues, American girl. Overall around 4/10
Not really my cup of tea, a bit slow and country like.
As fate would have it, I put on Full Moon Fever this past weekend; I'm ready to dive into more Tom Petty! "Rockin' Around (WIth You)" would feel at home on Queen's Hot Space, or any Cars album, introducing an 80's that hasn't happened yet. "Breakdown" is iconic Heartbreakers in its swagger, guitar line, vocal harmonies, and, well, break down. Only in the 7th track do I feel as though I'm starting to hear similar grooves repeated. While maintaining their own consistent thread, we see the Heartbreakers provide a variety of styles and musical directions in their southern-tinged classic strut. "American Girl" is the deserved hit and highlight here. Not a bad debut, but it also doesn't provide a glimpse of the legend to come.
I didn’t like this album as much as I thought I would, it’s very straightforward and not much special about. It’s a decent rock record. 5.7/10
Bored off mate
Elvis Costello but constipated.
Rockin' Around (With You) Decent audio quality. Don'r really like the vocals. Unispiring track, though I think it's really well produced. Doesn't really go anywhere. Average. 2.5/5 Breakdown Lovely instrumental, sounds great. Decent chorus. For a pretty standard classic rock song the musicianship is pretty impressive. Has a nice chilled out vibe. Decent. 3.5/5 Hometown Blues Not sure about this one, generally falls into a style I don't particularly care for. It's executed decently, and doesn't overstay its welcome. Goes by without being unpleasant or boring which says a lot considering I'm not all that into it. Fine. 3/5 The Wild One, Forever This doesn't make me feel anything, honestly the very repetive instrumental is the only thing that makes any impression on me, and that because it's getting annoying. The vocal performance is unique. Did not like. 2/5 Anything That's Rock 'N' Roll I'm too young for this... Comes of as really corny. Music for classic rock purists and the "back in my day they made real music" type of oldheads. Pass. 2/5 Strangered In The Night There's some interesting guitar playing and effects here at least. Formulaic. Did not like. 2/5 Fooled Again (I Don't Like It) The strange vocal inflections are close to sounding like parody. That high pitched keyboard note in the background is awful. There are some decent ideas in the instrumental. The bass stands out. Average. 2.5/5 Mystery Man I can't pretend I'm finding much enjoyment in tgis track. Honestly bores me to sleep. The country influence at least makes it sound different from the previous few tracks, but it still remains fairly generic. Bored. 2/5 Luna I don't get it. Feels specifically designed to bore me to tears. Forgettable. 2/5 American Girl Impressive buildup. Decent bassline. Has some guitar parts that are pretty cool. If it was just the instrumental I'd like it more. Obnoxious lyrics and unintersting vocals. Fine. 3/5 Forgettable classic rock album from an artist I don't see the appeal of. Feels like a had to be there kind of situation. Genuinely didn't find anything here I'd want to return to. It's competent enough, has decent production and I'm sure it's well performed, but I can't find it in me to care about this. A rare case where nothing clicks and I'm left feeling like I've wasted my time. Maybe I'm not American enough to find this relateable. Decisive 2/5 Fave track. Breakdown Least fave track. Anything That's Rock 'N' Roll
general: similar to what i usually listen to but i’ve heard better rock music kind mean but i don’t like this guy’s voice 😭 top 3: american girl mystery man hometown blues
So, I have a confession to make: I don’t really like Tom Petty. Not as a person, he was probably a good human being. I mean musically. There’s something with his voice that I can’t stand. He’s got a certain “twang” to his voice that makes him insufferable to me. But I knew one day he’ll show up here (with his heartbreakers) so I have no choice but to grin and bear it. And I have to say… I still hate it. But, because I try to be objective with every album I get, I gave it a fair chance. And I’ll state a few positives for this album. First, I think the “twang” wasn’t fully developed yet, so Tom’s voice is a bit more bearable. And second, the album’s only a half hour long, so it’s not that much of a commitment. Seriously, if I saw the words “double album” attached to this, I’d probably would have quit this project out of spite. Other than that, this album is… eh. There’s only two memorable songs here, and I only like Breakdown honestly. Yes, I don’t like American Girl. I also don’t like Free Fallin’, The Waiting Is The Hardest Part, I Won’t Back Down, and any other Tom Petty hits, so… yeah. Everything else here is forgettable. So honestly, it just does enough to avoid getting one star. It gets two. It’s a miracle. Favorite track: Breakdown Other hits: I named one favorite. That’s enough.
at first I thought, wow maybe the 70s was that era I should have been born in, but then it just kept getting progressively worse & worse. the voice was really too whiney for me.
overall sound of the album is petty.
Didn’t think it was that great of an album only really liked American girl (obviously)
Extremely mediocre pick
Sorry Tom I've been too lenient recently and rounding up too many 2.5s to 3s and then making 3s into 4s. You're inoffensive and slightly bland offering has to be rounded down.
2.5
It’s alright.
Was ok, but nothin special
[Music]
I was disappointed by this album. Lackluster country rock. No life in this record whatsoever. There are much better Tom Petty albums out there
I have never heard this before. It doesn't suck completely. It just failed to grab any of my attention. The whole album just flew by and I was waiting for it to either catch on in any way with me or to just end. Boring and uninspiring.
One good song. Maybe two?
Ich bin mit mir selber uneins. Es sind klasse Titel vorhanden wie Brakedown, American Girl. Aber ich wünsche mir Tom Petty and the Hardrockers. Die Heartbreakers sind eine so lahme Begleitband... Dazwischen dann so Lückenfüller-Rockn'Roll Songs *augenroll
Look at that smug face lol Not a fan, it has a couple of pretty good songs tho
Artiste / groupe inconnu. Rock très standard, rien de remarquable. Je n'y reviendrais pas. =>2/5
Run of the mill, dated rock.
Middle-of-the-road white rock'n'roll for middle-class white people.
5/10
I don't know if this is one of those things where I find it boring because it sounds like just standard music, but it really doesn't do anything for me. I don't really like Tom Petty's voice, I kinda hate this sound. It sounds like it smells bad or something. It just kinda feels like classic rock filler.
weird stuff. didnt even get me especially didnt like the whining in the songs
Ensin olin että onpas kiva meininki, sitten heti unohdinkin kunnolla kuunnella. Ei siis vetänytkään mukaansa niin kuin olisi voinut. Harmi. Kunnon rockia. Melkein kuin kuulisin jo kasarin (onneksi ei paljoa, kasarityyli tappais tän vilpittömyyden). Kaks puol.
Awww hell naw only good song was "american girl"
petty /pĕt′ē/ adjective, of small importance; trivial. 3/10
I’m a big fan of Tom Petty, but this album isn’t one of my favorites. His other work is so iconic and unforgettable. Luckily, this one wraps up with American Girl, which is captivating...you can't help but sing along. His voice is truly one of a kind.
Der er et par virkelig fede sange på, men det meste er altså lidt benløst. I sådan en tidlig punk-tid er det her måske den mindst punk lyd jeg kan forestille mig
Strong end to a pretty short album.
Pretty fun
There's nothing particularly bad about this I can point towards, but all of it is just so safe and mild, that it ends up feeling a bit spineless.
The album cover of Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers presents a striking image of Petty with a magazine of bullets slung across his chest, aiming for a bold and edgy aesthetic. However, while the concept is intriguing, the execution feels somewhat dated and lacks visual depth. The overall design is simplistic and fails to engage the viewer beyond its initial shock value. Ultimately, it serves more as a nostalgic artifact than a compelling piece of art, warranting only a two-star rating. Album artworks rated: 9/1001 Music's kinda whatever.
overrated, uninspired. not inventive.
meh
Ideal para una escena de transición en una película setentera. Nada mal, nada extraordinario 2
american girl is a classic song that feels comfy and nostalgic. the rest of the album is boomer heart land rock
Not my thing, at least, not right now.
Aika basicsettiä mulle, gagonen ilman sen kummempia analyyseja
Eh, I don’t get the appeal. I find his vocal style rather obnoxious. “Luna” is better than the others.
2.5
Generic rock, nothing special. 2.5 rounding down to 2
A bit hit and miss, and a bit too Springsteen-y in places. Not terrible but probably not worth a re-visit.
Ok, mid-70s rock and roll. Doesn’t feel like it breaks new ground or improves on anything before. It doesn’t really have any edge, it’s a bit dull and vanilla. It’s just decent songs from a decent band. Something you can put on anywhere, except my own headphones. Listenable but mostly forgettable, with a song or 2 that have a particularly catchy hook. I also hate this album cover and his stupid face.
The known songs are ok, the rest I forgot about before they finished. Middling 2.
dad music
mid kinda idk
Unremarkable
2,5
Not my sort of thing
Disappointed. Thought I would enjoy this offering. Have listened to bits and pieces here and there and know he is a revered artist but this didn't do it for me
GO GATORS, GO GATORS, GO GATORS, COME ON GATORS GET UP AND GO!🐊🐊🐊🐊🐊🐊
Hackneyed and corny
not special
Well, before I listened to this album I would've considered myself a Tom Petty (RIP) fan, though I mainly know the singles from the radio. I still am a fan, but woooow, this album is not good. Other than the two big songs (Breakdown and American Girl), there's not much worth listening to here. Lyrically, most of the songs are a variation of the same thing — boy wants girl, boy won't give up until he gets her. Musically it's fine. It's very safe, vaguely Southern rock that gets kind of boring after a while. And if you think Tom Petty's voice is annoying, dear God, you're going to hate this album. He experiments with his higher register (nails on chalkboard) as well as his lower register (still not great) and even seems to be trying on different voices at times. Of the two noteworthy tracks, Breakdown has aged like milk. I guess I never really paid attention to the lyrics before, but it's a song about a sex pest trying to badger his girlfriend into sleeping with him. Yikes. Just when you're ready to rip your eyeballs out after listening to Tom wail and whine for 25 minutes, the album's sole redeeming track comes on to close out the album. American Girl is where Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers finally come together and gel as a band. The music works, the lyrics work, and Tom's voice manages to find that balance between annoying and interesting. It's a classic song that's a classic for a reason. 2/5 — Sorry Tom, but I'm never going to play this album again.
so fucking boring holy shit okay tom petty we get it you are tom petty and youre HOT THAT IS ALL YOU HAVE GOING FOR YOU
Just pure meh, innit?
Ih nada demais
hated it loved it who am i
amusant, mais personnellement, le type de musique qui me fait fixer le vide dans une voiture ou dans un bar
Boing
The album is saved by the final track, American girl, which is iconic. The rest is forgettable and, frankly, mediocre rock and roll (aka a piss-poor imitation of e.g. the Stones)
Pretty Colourless
Generic rock to me
So many otherwise good songs ruined by Tom petty singing he was so annoying on his early work lol
In the words of Tom Petty himself: I don't like it, I don't like it. I reached a point listening where i realized it really is just the vocals that i find off putting, which is to say: I have nothing against the heartbreakers. 1.5 for them. (also American Girl is overrated k thx bye)
American Girl is bumping this up like, half a star at least. I don't hate later tom petty but there wasn't quite enough going on here for me
I kinda wish I never listened to this, haha. Hearing American Girl for the first time in Silence of the Lambs was such a perfect moment. Left a really great taste in my mouth, but apparently Tom Petty is in a #smalldose category for me. That nasaly head-cold thing he does gets pretty insufferable. He's basically another Elvis Costello. They're like Ed Debevics characters.
Meh wasn't anything all that special imo
I don't know, this is fine, but I feel like there are probably better Tom Petty albums out there. A lot of this songs don't feel finished, they kind of just fade out as they are getting started. A lot of them sound the same too. I feel like this album was only picked because it had two hits songs, not because it is a good album. 2.5
It's pretty unremarkable, honestly. I tended to zone out a few seconds into each song, there's never really anything that interesting happening. It's one of the albums on this list that I feel like is only on there for one or two songs, in this case, it's "Breakdown" and "American Girl" - so it doesn't help that I didn't think much of the former. At least it's short, with a 31 minute runtime, but that didn't stop me from checking how long was left at some point during each song. 4.5/10
Dad rock. Not super interesting and I don't hear the few songs of his I know. Meh. 2*.
I didn't care for this. I wouldn't listen to it again. I must just like their newer stuff.
Está fixe, mas não tenho paciência para ouvir este álbum do início ao fim. Mais do mesmo, é só música normal sem nada de especial. Do que eu ouvi, acho que é aquele tipo de música que fica bem na banda sonora de filmes tipo Arma Mortífera 2 ou assim, música de domingo à tarde.. ou de quando eu tinha 6 anos e ia para a quinta do meu avô ou para o escritório do meu avô ou os meus tios me levavam a andar de carro.. aquelas situações em que eu era um puto sem nada para fazer, e na cozinha ou algures havia um rádio, às vezes saía música assim... Mas mesmo dentro deste estilo de música de rádio que me faz lembrar a minha infância prefiro Seal ou Simply Red... Se for para falar de bandas "fun" que têm um nome "X and the X", prefiro o Huey Lewis and The News. Isto é só um álbum sem nada de especial.. se um português fizesse esta música ninguém ia querer saber. Propaganda da CIA.
This is like if someone without any talent made a cover album of the Rolling Stones from memory. Generic rock blues, every second word is baby, all songs ending in fade outs. And what about the lyrics of American girl? Is he saying she makes him come too soon or that she drinks too much? Either way the guy has some shit he needs to solve with this baby he keeps going on about for the whole album.
Generic classic rock that gets played at boomer radio stations. Not sure what is special apart from nostalgia factor.
One thing about this project is I’m always wondering if I’ve pegged some well-known artist completely wrong. Of course I’ve heard Petty’s singles a million times and grown sick of them long ago, but what if the albums were actually really good and I never knew? Well, guess what, this album is absolutely spirit-crushingly boring middle-brow rock just like you thought it would be!
I dunno... first this was not on Apple Music so I had to play around and make my own playlist of the album from YouTube and what was there. But I wish I hadn't bothered because it wasn't very good.
Standard 70's rock with nothing special.
I had to listen to a Frankenstein of a version of this album via YouTube because apparently at some point recently this album got stripped from streaming, and it doesn't feel worth going out and tracking down a vinyl for an album I already know is going to be anywhere from mediocre-to-not my thing. Tom Petty's voice isn't bad on a surface level, but it always sounds like he is a nerdy kid trying to hold in a sniffle because he has a cold, and it can be noticeably bad the longer you sit and listen. Not helping things is that this album just doesn't have the star power throughout. Yes, American Girl is a classic, and that guitar solo at the end is great, but do the rest of the songs hold up? No, not really... it just leaves this album feeling like it is the epitome of 70s dad rock, which is ironic, because my dad can't stand this guy. Either way, the album isn't bad, it is actually mostly inoffensive, but I have no thoughts after listening that I didn't already have from his hits. His deep cuts aren't spectacular, and the singles are baseline good, but don't reach the upper echelons of classic rock, so this album just feels like it exists. Really easy pill to swallow, at least; that run time is fantastic for this kind of music.
2.5/5
Not for me, I don’t find this album catchy or interesting, and the vocal delivery doesn’t make sense to me unfortunately
Not great. Voice did grate, however. Only good track is the last one. Nothing more to say really.
Track 1 - better than Rockin' Around The Christmas Tree, but only just, and not in December Track 2 - silly voice Track 3 - swing your pants Track 4 - sounds like an early Bon Jovi demo Track 5 - decent guitar break, tired Stones influenced rocker Track 6 - I prefer Frank Sinatra singing Strangers... Track 7 - I don't like It Track 8 - silly voice, ok guitar Track 9 - silly voice, dull song Track 10 - The title and chorus are a master stroke - in terms of marketing. Good tune & guitars but the Strokes stole it, energised it, and made something much cooler. Final comment - is this the worst album cover ever produced? Absolute final comment - a top 1001 album, really?
Honestly not too crazy about this album. Good rock sound but it felt repetitive song to song. Good windows down summer album, but nothing really stands out to me. Favorite song: American Girl 2.4/5
Not a huge fan of these guys
..(.
kinda fun?
I never really got the appeal of Tom P, obviously reasonably popular and moved in some well respected circles. I thought if I got the chance to listen to an album or two I might understand a bit better… but no, this just seems like very average and unadventurous dad rock. I still don’t get the fuss.
This album has a couple of hit songs that I have heard but not the other songs. It's not bad and I imagine if I had been 18 in 1976 I probably would have listened to this a lot. It's pretty good American rock and roll.
kind of sukc
didnt grip me!!!!!!!! it had some cool tracks though one of the worst albums
It was okay
classic sorta rock style but not hardcore? a bit cheesy rock vibe. Not really my thing i don't think. He looks like a bit of an egotistical chancer lmao. -
On one hand, it’s refreshing to hear a bit of stripped-down 80s bar rock in the heart of the overwrought 70s. On the other hand, well, aside from a few exceptions, the tunes aren’t particularly memorable. Not much interesting storytelling or passion, and, on the whole, it’s all a bit facile.
Pretty forgettable.
I know this guy is a legend but I’m really not getting what the deal is!? Definitely being more and more affirmed that this is not my genre of music. Maybe listening to it after Steely Dan didn’t help? Luna is a nice track though. Half stars would once again be welcome here
Best thing: it’s only 30 mins Worst thing: VERY boring
For me Tom Petty is an artist where you can basically get by with the greatest hits record. And even on his greatest hits I think there is some pretty skippable stuff. Breakdown, for instance. This record definitely doesn't change that feel.
It was fine.
BL: Aware of this album only through "American Girl" which is a cultural classic at this point. Needed to get into Tom Petty for a while so this is a good excuse to. AL: this personally to me, didn’t resonate at all that much. It just felt very cookie cutter 70s rock. Maybe this album is on here because it kickstarted the career of one of rocks all time greats, but it generally doesn’t feel like it has any outstanding features to me besides the aforementioned track FT: “American girl” 2/5
A bit too breezy. Tend to agree with the rest - American Girl is the best. Just not enough for me.
I love it when the albums are only 30 minutes, even when they’re good (which this one isn’t).
Some enjoyable tracks with Breakdown and The Wild One, Forever. But overall a bit eh
Quite catchy at points. Bit of Dylan mixed with Zeppelin even the cure. The last song “American Girl” has an indie rock feel to it. Definitely the stand out track for me
Just couldn't get into this. Whether I came in with the wrong expectations I dunno, but this was very forgettable.
Found these tracks pretty plain and underdeveloped. Was bored and tuned out! Fave track: Luna
Was worth it for "American Girl".
2 stars — one for Breakdown and one for American Girl
Really saved the best for last
There’s so much better Tom Petty out there that Breakdown and American Girl aren’t enough to make up for an otherwise lackluster collection.
Bet Lemmy wasn't a fan
Looks like I'm the fool again, I don't like it, no.