1001 Albums Summary

Not typically my type of music (70s German electronic!) but found myself more interested than I thought I'd be. Synthesisers at that time de-tuned themselves quickly as you played, and so they wrote this into the first song (Phaedra). The second was completed by the frontman (Edgar Froese) on his own one night with his wife recording and no other members. FFs: Soundtrack to Bandersnatch (Black Mirror); Froese and Bowie lived together for a spell and influenced each other.

There are catchy riffs, I guess. From a general standpoint I struggle to get behind this genre, and this album did not seem to show me anything different to what I've already heard.

Pleasantly surprised. This was their first album and, whilst still hard rock, there was restraint and control here. Can’t fully get behind the genre still, but stronger than I thought it would be and I’m still thinking of some of the tracks the next day.

Fantastic album. Was trying to choose favourite songs, but they were all brilliant. Southern soul sound. FSs: (All), Suspicious Minds, In The Ghetto, Long Black Limousine, Only The Strong Survive, True Love Travels On a Gravel Road

This was unlistenable. Naff, artless, annoying, repetitive trash

This is the voice behind "The Girl from Ipanema". And there is A LOT of soft samba here. The best part of this record is the band: the flute (especially in the first track) is controlled and animated, and brings a lot of colour to what is, largely, an exceptionally dull listen. The songs themselves deal with nothing of real depth; the "Parade" song is particularly bizarre. I looked for some contrast in some of these songs (e.g. Perhaps this is a sombre idea of everything being a parade, whilst the singer looks on, unfeeling), but it's a reach. This is really just a collection of inoffensive rhythm. Unfortunately, whilst she undeniably has a beautiful voice, listening to (even just) 35 minutes of it is very dull. There was no variation in there, no colour. Just that dreamy, wavey, beautifully accented patter. It works for a song or two, but dries up quickly. "You Didn't Have to be So Nice" is a duet recorded with one of her children. Naff. FSs: Misty Roses

I can’t claim to know much about jazz at all. Especially not avant-garde, experimental jazz like this. But I loved this album so much. It’s an album where you just give yourself over to the way the music feels. It teases you with a reprise that you think you’re familiar with, then beats you round the head with a horn section for getting too comfortable. It has moments of delicacy and beauty, and of utter stormy cacophonous noise. Putting aside the stories about Mingus (aggressive, violent bugger, essentially) it feels like these people are all playing for their lives. Quite a thing to behold

This album is lauded by music critics and is often in ‘Top Albums of All Time’ lists. It sounds a little like prototypical Strokes. It’s essentially early indie rock. And usually I’d enjoy that; I just couldn’t enjoy this. No catchy riffs, meaningless lyrics... just felt very little. FS: Summer Babe

Schlocky crap

Great album. Preferred the back half of more piano-based ballads to the first brass band stuff