This is Stewart's golden era. Given the personnel and the sound it is basically a Faces record. And that is a good thing.
I am sure it was cutting edge in 1981 but it sounds very dated in 2021. It is a tremendous effort considering the group's youth and limited production available. However, it is not my cup of tea.
Stripped of any lingering psychedelic pretense or lounge act crooner aspirations, L.A. Woman captures a rock band embracing their roots and delivers. This is a blues album, no way around it. The band is hitting on all cylinders and Jim's voice has matured, either through whiskey and cigarettes, or age, into a convincingly legitimate bluesman. The song writing is tip top. The performances are inspired. The production is warm and accessible. L.A. Woman hints at the band's evolutionary direction that could have been. I fucking love this album.
Most bands don't put out greatest hits albums with this many bangers on it. Rarely does a sophomore effort rival the first album. In this case, it is neck and neck. Zep II is required for any teenager who ever picked up a guitar and a necessary inclusion for all road trip playlists. This is Rock N' Roll culture boiled down into its most potent form. If you don't love it, you don't get it.
This guy beat Gotye across the Peter Gabriel knock off finish line. Grounds for Divorce is solid but I may be biased given the subject matter. Overall, I didn't hate it but I didn't love it.
I still don't like Deep Purple.
I never saw the appeal to Jay-Z. I find this record, and the rest of his catalog, trite and mediocre.
The record was quirky and took some risks. While it was not my cup of tea I know some folks who probably love it or would so.
I remember first listening to this album in high school when it came out. They were the underground darlings when Nirvana, Pearl Jam, and Soundgarden were blowing up. I haven't listened to it since until now. The album personifies garage indie rock.
I kept waiting for this album to break open and it never did. I wanted to like it more than I did. I suppose if I was laying on my childhood bedroom floor listening to the album through headphones while dosing I would have connected with it. Soberly listening to it in my office, it was a bit repetitive and monotonous. Frankie is annoying. Good riddance.
Classic record. It is good to be reminded of these landmark records in order to go back and refresh my memory.
Another classic record on this list. I take a lot of these records for granted because they have been in the catalog for so long. Dusting this one off and giving it a recent spin reminded me of what a great soulful album this was.
This album is landmark and stands up after 30 years. It came out the month I started high school and it still brings me back to 9th grade. There is a reason why it is legendary as the tunes are well crafted and the impact on music is still felt today.
