I don't think I expected this to feel like a Kim Gordon album
I'm a lot more familiar with Janelle Monae's later albums so this was fun to explore. It was a fun album to fully immerse myself in! She has such fun creating concept albums that span a wide array of musical compositions. Gotta love the bass in some of these, and how much she changes her voice from song to song. I really like some of the featured artists as well like Of Montreal on Make the Bus.
Submitted this before listening to the last few—what a mistake! Wrapping the whole thing up with a Shirley Bassey style jam?!? Now demanding Janelle Monae be the next Bond soundtrack.
Title track still bangs but I realized I find the vocalist a bit too shrill for a full album.
Despite growing up the child of Beck fans I can't say I really got into his music until Morning Phase, which I'd still probably list as one of my top 10 albums of all time. It's not surprising then that my first reaction to putting on this ablum was, "wait this sounds just like Morning Phase." I'm sure I had read they were companions at some point but can't say I ever gave this one a listen. All in all this album has all the guitar goodness and interesting range that makes me love Morning Phase (and generally appreciate Beck). However, knocking points b/c they really do have almost too many similarities with Morning Phase still coming out on top for me. Why put on Sea Change when you can put on Morning Phase?
I went into this fully expecting for it to not have aged well. I was wrong. This album still bangs.
I was raised on this album so I came in with immense bias but looked for every reason to dock it a few points. More or less came up empty handed and ruled that Band on the Run, Jet, Let me Roll it, and
Helen Wheels all have stood the test of time.
I hate and love this album with the love really turning up a notch the longer I listened. Big Gang of 4 vibes on "Maybe Partying Will Help." Love the random blues influence (which ever song it was that sounded like it was broadcast from San Quentin) and the walking bass line in "Corona." "Cohesion"?—idk why it's there but I'm here for it. Seems like direct influences on contemporary bands I like: Parquet Courts and Arthhur. Had to do a double take on "One Reporter's Opinion" after hearing "his sex is disease, he's a stop sign" only to find out it was about the bassist.
I dropped everything and listened to this. I'm sorry I just love The Smiths.
The queen season 4 has better prepared me for the Thatcher references.
Clearly #9 was Doja Cat's inspiration for MOOO!
I didn't realize Traffic was a jam band until now... in retrospect of course a band named Traffic jams.
All in all pretty groovy.
This album is honestly so unique and so fun to listen to. Paper Planes is the hit but honestly not even the best track in my opinion. M.I.A. constantly pops up in films and it's no surprise. She some how captures an incredible bad ass momentum on so many of these tracks.
I liked this album a lot more than I expected. Jane's Addiction has always just been a name on the tshirts of grungy (not cool 90's grungy, just grungy grungy) kids in high school and middle school for me. But this album was pretty interesting.
I especially like "Of Course" with the lyrics:
When I was a boy
My big brother held on to my hands
Then he made me slap my own face
Obviously enjoyable tunes but let's be honest, he's just the voice. Most if not all of these aren't original songs. Knocking some stars as a result.
He gets a full star for the album art. This album is generally groovy but also not that wowing for me. And he didn't blow me away with the implications behind Second-Hand Woman.
Costello is one of the artists my parents really dig and I just haven't been able to really get into. Truthfully, I just feel like a lot of his stuff sounds the same. Now listening to this full album challenged that some (we get a blues guitar, we get a reggae beat) but more or less my opinion stands. Listenable yes, but seems to be caught in its time.
I did enjoy Alison and other tunes. Funny the album name is a lyric from Alison but not the name of the song.
Kim Gordon's talk singing still doesn't really do it for me, and some tracks definitely go into a category of noise that I usually don't entertain from other bands, but this album undoubtably rocks and makes me yearn to be in the scene during the '90s.
I apparently had no idea who The Who were my entire life. Like obviously I knew of THE WHO but outside of Pinball Wizard and some other hits in the '70s I guess I couldn't have told you one song. If you had put on My Generation without telling me who it was I would scratched my head confused about why it sounded like the Beatles but wasn't the Beatles.
I had a lot of fun with this one. It was definitely a piece of music history that helps make sense of everything else. For instance—the bridge from Blues to Rock is plain as day. Also, they were Mods?! Still some missing pieces there.
It's funny b/c they don't sound threatening at all from a contemporary perspective. However, I get the threat when considering their live performances (they popularized smashing their instruments? Really not the music I thought would have set off that trend). Highly recommend watching the Smothers Brothers My Generation performance if you haven't done so already.
Generally, this album just works on a lot of levels for me.
I don't think I realized how much of a bias I have towards 90s music. I feel like it must have just made some kind of impression on me from a wee age b/c I haven't really listened to Oasis outside of the hits (which includes more than just Wonderwall on this album) but just really found the whole album enjoyable. Would listen again.
My appreciation of Nirvana has definitely increased since the last time I went out of my way to listen to them, largely due to their support of the Riot Girl movement. I wanted to go through the lyrics but didn't end up having time. All in all, really enjoyed this album! They're a well rounded sound.
Spotify's algorithm successfully erased whatever edge I gained from listening to this ablum in full by putting on Weezer's Island in the Sun directly after. Well played, Spotify. Well played.
While the ho-dunk diddles throughout are an enjoyable interlude, they weren't enough for me to feel like there was really anything that made each song standout and more so, anything that made this album stand out from other similar work.
Really thought I submitted this review but apparently I didn't? Either way, would listen again. Pleasantly surprised at how much I dug this album.
I'm waiting for when a Who album comes up from their later years and I don't like them as much but this wasn't it. Really fun album all the way through.
Maybe it caught me on a particularly angsty morning but this was more enjoyable than I assumed. Almost earned a 4 but some of the slower, quieter songs are actually what lost me.
This turned from 4 to 5 stars when the "I'd probably put it on again" criteria I use for a 4 rating turned into "I actually put it on again more than once later in the week." It's jam. It's a vibe. And I'm into it.
There was a phase of quarantine that I listened to this album a couple times (more specifically I think it was brought on by a post election playing of "Clear Blue Morning" on repeat). It didn't strike the same fondness for every track on this latest revisiting but there's still some gems on here for sure.
You get Dolly's full range of story telling in the first two songs: first you have a heartfelt story of a mother scrapping by for her daughter and in the next a mom's running off with her daughter's lover. What a range.
Early Morning Breeze is one I'll certainly return to in the future. And Coat of Many Colors is just a charmer in both lyrics and walking bass line.
It's like listening to Toy Story and since that's my only association with Randy Newman, I don't think I can really see past it as music I would listen to outside of that context. Nothing wrong with it. But a little sappy and all kind of sounds like You've Got a Friend in Me.
The un-ironic title of "Good Old Boys" admittedly didn't really make a good first impression either.
Honestly writing this review before making it through the whole album b/c I don't know if I'll finish it. It's fine. I suppose.
This album just really strikes a mood for me on so many occasions.
I just really feel like this album excels in so many categories: lyrics, composition, big time mood.
Honestly, I think I liked Black Sabbath way more than I expected to, largely due to Ozzy Osbourne's voice. I think the unconventionally slow start on War Pigs caught my attention. Will I listen again? Probably not but generally have more of an appreciation for this band than I did previously.
I mean it's the temptations!
Truthfully should read through the lyrics to really understand whats going on here but this album really rocks for me. It made me immediately miss being at a great rock show. These guys have to be great live. They have some fun pizzaz which seems to tip a hat to the headband rock (is that a real term or something only my friends use?) of yore on the opener and then go into a much more contemporary sound that isn't far off from a lot of the rock I like today. Would listen again, and in fact already started the album from the top.
It feels like I'm in a very hip '60/'70s film and I'm into it. Actually was jamming hard enough that I put the record on from the top after I finished it the first time. And with this 5 stars I am officially my father's daughter.
This was very much one of those albums where I went "oh that's where that came from." Truthfully, didn't do this one justice but generally liked what I heard. Their voices pair great together and seem to lay the foundation for rap dues like Run the Jewels that follow.
I really wanted to like this album more. I like Kate Bush's hits, love her whack sense of well everything, but this just didn't come together for me. It all seemed to drone on the same.
I'll admit, when I listened to this it was on bike and I couldn't hear it all that well. But it was pretty much as I'd expect: classic rock. It has a time and a place but I just can't get excited about anything in particular about it.
Controversial for valid reasons, yes. But this album is solid and remains uniquely wonderful.
I didn't really give this album an attentive listen but having it on in the background it really struck me as well... background music. Nothing really popped here for me to make me want to take a closer look. But that said, it was enjoyable to have on. I'm sure there's a universe in which I could get really into it.
I don't think I realized how much 90s r&b was used in Disney movies credits but this really brought me back to childhood. It's definitely a genre I can't totally get into but none the less this album is a gem. Breakdown is my favorite. But how can we get Fourth of July to be an actual holiday classic?
More my speed than I think I expected but can really only imagine myself appreciating this one again at a bonfire or otherwise low key setting in which I'm not the one controlling the tunes but can nod and say "Oh I like this one" when Tonight's the Night comes on.
I've heard of the Specials before but hadn't ever actually listened in. I really dig this. Before listening I was thinking they were Reggae and was surprised but not surprised to find out that it was Ska! I know of the roots of Ska but had never done my homework enough to actually listen in. Very much helped me place other Reggae inspired bands like the Slits in the London scene. So many jams on this record with a fun spectrum of influences. I look forward to tuning into their first album. All are good but top tracks go to Hey Little Rich Girl, Stereotype, and Sock it to 'em JB. Only last note is that I'd like to do more research on the politics of the lyrics!
I think I like the Foo Fighters?
This was such a charmer I was shocked I hadn't heard them before. Big indie movie vibes at times.
The Boss really just doesn't do much for me. I'd never complain if he was on, but I wouldn't be boppin' along to anything but the hits.
Really nothing grabbed me on this album until the abrupt car motor in Speedway.
I have mixed feelings about live albums being on this list (probably unjustly) but this album really is just really really good. Stripped down, a more approachable kind of angst, solid all the way through.
Mood: both hip generic back drop music for a trendy restaurant and boppy, zone out and dance club hits.
At risk of trying too hard this would be fun to throw on at a party to jam to.
R&B is one of those genres I always have a hard time getting into but this album really takes the cake. Lady and Brown Sugar really are 5 star songs.
Mood: you're home alone on a Friday night and feeling yourself.
Only in the last few years have I realized the genius of Earth Wind and Fire but that's mostly been through their hits. This was a fun listen that really highlights how talented they were across the board. Both more jazzy and more rock and roll than I expected. Top track is far and away Happy Feelin'. Such a groovy intro.
I thought this album was going to be hiphop from the first song. But then again, it is? Pretty interesting listen.
Mood: weird but cool low lit bar and/or strobe lighting
I think it's surprising that I wasn't more into Coldplay in high school. Until Viva La Vida I pretty much only knew "Yellow" thanks to a mix tape my dad was commissioned to put together for a close family friend.
Almost gave this a 5. I've always loved White Rabbit and Want Someone to Love but the whole album truly holds up. I love the production sound, the instrumentals, and Grace Slick's voice is just perfect for the sound of the era. Maybe I should have made this a 5...
This band is from the universe of Mad Max and you can't tell me otherwise.
This one is floating just above a 3 for me but if I'm honest with myself I know I could really get into this album on a road trip.
His has all the right vibes from the period: blues, rock, and whatever we want to consider the beach boys. I feel like if I were a teen during their heyday I could really be a fan girl.
I get why this is such an important record but honestly the live recording makes it a little hard for me to fully get into.
This really captures a particular area of indie pop for me. I've heard it before and will listen again.
I think there's more here that I could be into on a second listen.
This and Jefferson Airplane have really just confirmed that I'm into psychedelic rock. I really should learn more about this era. Like I had no idea that Neil Young and Stephen Stills was in Buffalo Springfield.
I can see the appeal here and it sounds kind of like a lot of other stuff I like but I ultimately didn't get into it too much.
This album really is incredible start to finish. Kanye is at his best but honestly it's the featured artists and production that take this to the next level.
I didn't give this a proper listen but with Ms. Jackson and So Fresh, So Clean alone this album gets a 4.
Holy hell this album is groovy.
I wanna be one of the cool cats in a Joy Division Unknown Pleasures tshirt but I just can't get into this album no matter how hard I try.
When The Good Place took a stab at Red Hot Chili Peppers indicating that fandom of this band was a ticket to "The Bad Place" I had one of those moments where I looked around and mouthed "Me?" while pointing at myself. Honestly on this album I think I understand that jab a bit more than when it comes to Stadium Arcadium (an album I'll defend with my dying breath). Nonetheless, Californication and a few other songs are indisputably good jams. His rock rap just threw me a bit at times.
I haven't heard Nine Inch Nails in a while and was struck with how 90s they sound. I didn't hate it but I feel like there's a frequency that some people really tap into with this band that just doesn't resonate with me.
I picked up this album years ago from my dad thinking that I was into some cool weird "ladies and gentleman we are floating in space"shit. Album still holds up but is honestly not anywhere as bizarre as I remembered it.
This album had its charms but was a little too something (maybe kitschy?) for me.
I really only knew Cohen for Hallelujah which is a bit genre-less in it's ubiquity but really enjoyed this album! I like his story telling melodies and voice. Would like to learn and listen more.
Big time old school club feelz
I could listen to this ish all day.
I weirdly liked biking around Chicago to this punk blues. Albums too long but it wouldn't be a blues album if it wasn't.
A friend turned me onto "Range Life" a few years ago and I was immediately in love. Hadn't really explored more of their work until now but that same feeling rings true for the album.
Would listen to again. Never really new anything about this band despite the hype but really dug this album.
This guy screams "I have a loyal and dedicated fan base." Somehow reminded me of both David Byrne and Dave Matthews. Pretty fun album over all.
Idk what they're saying but I can keep grooving to this. It has that "oh this has definitely been in a lot of movie soundtracks" quality to it. Timeless and boppin'
I kind of feel bad about giving this a 3 but it just didn't git right for me today. Was curious about his political messages so I looked up the wiki. Had no idea No Woman No Cry was about childhood friendship...? Quoting the wiki here but probably a reflection on how little of a close listen this was.
I think I'm definitely missing something here and feel bad for giving it a 2 for a half assed listen on my part, but that's just the way it is.
This is way more the catchy Morrissey that makes it hard for me to denounce his notoriously eye rollable personality. Not quite the same level as The Smiths as a whole but definitely some gems on here and an overall decent album.
Would go to a Waylon Jennings themed party.
Pretty ok, again I'm understanding more how people like Neil Young but seems like more the bridge to modern country here.
This was rad, I would like to put this on again.
For me, this album just encapsulates all the goodness of 90s R&B
I think I'm realizing that I really just don't like Elvis as much as I thought. Like he's good yeah, but...
Groovy tunes. Very fun to bop to.
Really glad I read the wiki on this one b/c I realized I didn't know a lot about Harris. A lot of artists I like have been influenced by her but this was the first time I listened to her. Very much one of those artist you expect to be a singer song writer but interesting that this was her first time actually writing her own songs.
I liked this better than the last Tim Buckley album. Made for good slow jams on a morning bike commute.
I didn't finish this one admittedly but holy hell is his voice the lowest of gravelly tones as possible. Here for it. And here for the religious content—at first seemed almost satanic? Felt like the devil was whispering in my ear. Made me want to watch True Detective all day.
I feel like the Flaming Lips put a lot of things that apart would sound awful but together make for a really unique, enjoyable sound.
Honestly might give it a second listen just to decide on 4 or 5 stars. UPDATE: didn't listen again, staying safe with a 4.
This list is just making me biased towards any R&B group with a good balance of voices and talent. Thoroughly enjoyed this.
Yet again, I am my parents child. I really enjoyed this album and have been singing My Perfect Cousin ever since. Very much seems like an influence of T-Rextasy who I would kill to watch at the Empty Bottle again.
Listening to Jimi Hendrix always makes me feel inferior because honestly I just don't get what all the buzz is about.
I think it's safe to say that if this album was actually as long as the remastered edition on Spotify I would have definitely been less in favor of this one. But in moderation, it wasn't too bad.
This is definitely something I could have gotten into when it was big.
I have previously talked poorly of Elvis on this project but he pulls through on this OG record.
Blasting that while biking was a reputational hazard.
Pretty groovy. His vocals remind me of Of Montreal. I think I could bob to this again.
This is groovy and has gotta have one of the best intro songs of all time (more than twice the number of plays on Spotify than any of their other songs!). Some other jams and generally good vibes but do feel like some of the later songs are only ok.
I don't think I knew that when I think rock I think 90s alternative but putting this album on was kind of like putting on a t-shirt you've had for years. Honestly nothing really reached out and grabbed me but it was a solid listen through and through.
