Very atmospheric and evocative; makes it easy to picture a place/story as you listen to it. Slightly repetitive/dragged on at times.
Hip-hop is not usually a genre I spend much time listening to, so I can't really compare it to anything. What I do know is that I enjoyed the soundscapes in this record w some powerful ass lyrics. Rebel Without a Pause and Black Steel in the Hour of Chaos were the highlights for me
Love love love this album. Only word I can think of to describe it is otherworldly.
Right up my street. What I imagine as David Bowie, Queen, Yes and Grateful Dead are mashed together.
Proto-punk that sounds a lot like the Doors meets the Clash, except doesn't overplay the keys. Roadrunner and Pablo Picasso are big highlights; this album is right up my street, and it was no surprise when I learned two of the members were also in the Cars and the Talking Heads.
Soul/motown-inspired rock and roll at the Beatles' finest. In My Life is one of my favourites on this one. Also, it's said that the inhales on Girl are Lennon inhaling a joint
This album reaaaaally stuck with me, and is now on a regular repeat in my house.
Has some huge songs on it that are really good, but it sort of felt samey some of the time, and let me down
Not memorable. Wake Up is fantastic, Rebellion is ok, but the whole work together really didn’t captivate me.
What if Frank Sinatra was from Bikini Bottom?
I am in awe of this album. The atmosphere the spoken word creates is not dissimilar to the way how Moby’s Play can make the listener smile or cry. And then, on top we have these layers of swirling guitars, driven by a powerful lead (particularly In the Flesh and In the Flesh?) which shows itself multiple times throughout the album, and is completely cathartic at the end. Goodbye Blue Sky, Hey You, Comfortably Numb and Mother are other big highlights
Don’t know why this is on the 1001 albums list, this is the Smiths’ worst album and there were no highlights for me.
This was a wild ride. It was like listening to the inside of a brilliant mad scientist’s head. The only reason why it’s not rated higher is because having listened to a lot of Miles Davis this experimental jazz is a bit much for me, I prefer his earlier stuff.
I was blown away by this album. It's the perfect concoction of upbeat, chilled out, funky, mellow, and just all out VIBES. It's the ultimate album for a dance party for one at home; lots of syncopation, lots of funky basslines, the group loves to have fun with their vocals and you can really feel how much fun they had recording this album. I'll be replacing my pre-pandemic getting ready to go out playlist with this album. Yearnin' Learnin' and Africano are absolute shin slappers; the only reason this doesn't get four stars is that All About Love slowed the album down a bit too much right in the middle.
Fun, but kinda meh? Idk, maybe I'm just saying this bc we got this album to listen to just after Earth Wind and Fire
Really nice, easy listening. Not something I think I'd go out of my way to listen to again though.
Nice, makes you feel like you're on the beach on a nice summers day ordering cocktails with your pest pals, looking out for groups of people it would be fun to meet and hang out with. That said, I don't think I'd go out of my way to listen to this again, unless e.g. I'm actually on the beach.
Good listen, but probably wouldn't listen again.
Classic opener. Nice smooth jazz, but very samey and got very boring very quickly.
I loved this album: very pre-grunge era rock which sounds kind of like early Nirvana, got great beats to it and the heavily distorted guitars make my lil heart sing. Can't give it five stars because as a whole album, I don't think the songs fit together as well as they could have.
I adore this album. I've never heard anything like it; it was so different and probably the only taste breaker I've listened to that I actually enjoyed. Bjork is able to fuse genres like nobody's business and make something entirely new: something of the Bjork genre. As an album, this record flows beautifully, with a perfect slow song to end this wild trip. Bjork!
I enjoyed this a lot but it didn't really grab me. If I could I'd give it 3.5 stars because it's not wowaweewa to get 4 stars but it's not so average that it deserves only 3.
Pretty cool to hear what was probably the first example of punk music created, but if these guys started the genre they definitely didn’t perfect it.
I seriously hesitated in not giving this album 5 stars. The first song is super fun, reminding me of the upbeat music of scissor sisters. The drum break in Jump Into the Fire is one of the biggest highlights. You can really hear a Beatles-esque influence all throughout the album. Will definitely listen again.
Seriously underwhelming dad rock that fails to try something new
What a powerful pair of opening tracks! You can really hear Billy Corgan's influence in this album. All the tracks work together as an album; feel like this could easily be the soundtrack to my life in the 90s.
Was all right. You can hear how it paved the way for the psychedelic movements in the 70s, but even though there were a few good listens here it still failed to capture my full attention.
Legit the most boring album I think I've heard on this list so far. Which is a shame, because the themes Solange sings about are so powerful, but bar Cranes in the Sky, I didn't like the album: there was so much disconnect between words of anger and despair and the slow tempo and repetitiveness of the music.
Was ok. Closer and Hurt are absolute classics, but I'd probably skip the other tracks if I heard them come on.
Enjoyed listening to the album while it was on, but I don't think I'd go out of my way to listen to it again.
buffalo buffalo buffalo buffalo buffalo buffalo buffalo
10/10 would recommend to a friend.... or would I?
Boring Beatles. The Monkees have better music than what was on this album.
Strange mish mash of synthpop and dark sombre songs. However, even though it doesn't work the best as an album, there are some incredible songs on here. Despair, The Other Side of Life, and the cover of All Tomorrow's Parties were excellent. And I still can't get over this is from the 70s; very ahead of it's time.
So very boring. Only reason it's 2 stars is because of Free Bird.
Easily forgettable easy-listening. But it didn't offend me.
Listened to this while walking around the west end, it was so relaxing and chill, perfect walking soundtrack on a recently-wet now-sunny day. Bass was funky AF
dafuq was this??? it tried to be edgy but it was so cringe
Forgettable; didn't hate it but didn't love it I guess
Funky tunes, enjoyed it but not memorable enough
A classic. Every song is pure power, aggression, energy, and anarchy.
Ok, so there's noise rock and punk and black metal and industrial, and then there's this. This album was actively painful to listen to. This is p harsh, but the only reason it will be memorable will be from the scars left from listening to it.
Nice background chill music.
Somewhat repetitive punk that fails to capture both the aggression and politics of classic punk
Love this album; it really is one in a million. Full of soul, full of energy, full of life.
Bouncy and fun yet relaxing at the same time. This was a fantastic reggae album I really enjoyed.
A bit of cacophony; Every Breath You Take is actually a great song tho (minus the creepy undertones)
Warm, soft jazz perfection-- I can actually feel the waves of calm come over me as I listen to this, it's incredible.
Beautiful-- so full of emotion and heart, making a powerful impression on the listener in feeling what Bowie is feeling. Best song is Wild is the Wind, for sure
There's nothing I can say. WOW.
Nice, but not their best IMO
Will definitely be revisiting! Very fresh sound
Same old depressing Moz. But then again I am a “sad girl”.
It's a great album. But it's carried by three absolutely insane epic tracks, and the rest is like I guess... OK metal? Idk, it's why I'm hesitant to give it 5 stars
Super fun. I have a lot of good memories from finding this album in secondary school. Definitely a gateway album for me that led me to more distorted and psychedelic music from emo and punk. Nothing too artistically crazy but has a special place in my heart.
We love a woman-fronted rock band! Some bangers here, there’s a song for every mood & felt like I was in a movie while listening to this! Only reason it’s not getting 5 from me is it drags a bit towards the end (saved by Mystery Achievement) and I don’t think it will leave a lasting impression.
WOW. This album is even better than Yoshimi! A Spoonful Weighs a Ton & The Spark that Bled go so hard
Atmospheric. Really cool instrumental complexity. But ultimately, something I would listen to as background noise.
Chill background noise. Not as good as Wilco imo.
Unlistenable, bland, boring. Also kinda gross.
Boring, repetitive, a bit painful on the ears at times.
cool mellow vibes. wouldn't relisten right away though.
For a three hour album that IMO has only about 3-4 good songs, this was a let down. True, at times there’s witty charisma and at others there’s raw poignant catharses, but it was just way too long for me to enjoy. Maybe I’ll think differently listening to this when going through my next break up.
started out kinda cool psych-y. then found myself skipping every track. wtaf?
ahhhh good ol bobby d. i adore this album. desolation row is one of my favourite songs of all time. this album is everything i need it to be.
This album shows just how gosh darn talented James Brown is. It truly is a very moody album, and an incredible live performance. This is ideal for when you sit down at home and want to listen to good music and relax, I don't think it should be listened to in the midst of other work or errands, but I think that's true for all live albums. Gets a bit samey in a few songs, so -1 star :(
Loaded is a great track, but while this album has music festival energy it’s fairly lacklustre other than this and Movin On Up.
Is it weird I want to mosh to this entire album? I also can’t for the life of me remember where I heard Ghost on the Highway before but boy it slaps!!
I adore this album. So mellow, melancholic and poignant. And Tracy's voice is smooth like butter. An all-time classic.
Ohhhh yes. Experimental, psychedelia, old school rock n roll, the guys are just having a blast putting this together. I love this album.
Some bops, some boring stuff. There are better albums out there.
a little painful on the ears at times, but the singer has an incredible voice.
mellow and chill, but forgettable.
I love it. This feels like a warm hug. A little bit dated (you can so tell it’s from the late 60s / early 70s) but one I will definitely be revisiting.
Turns out these boys can do much more than Stayin Alive
Listened to this immediately after Straight Outta Compton, and I’ve gotta say this is more up my street. Last track was the perfect way to end the album!
What a fun album. I’d argue one of the better classic rock pieces of its time, but there’s still better out there.
wam bam its a one man band. not quite on a grohl yet with his new project, our boy dave's freshman effort is edgy and gritty and shows off his many talents. his music only goes up from here.
the fusion of hip hop/electronica w different sounds from more traditional world music is awesome. i can imagine m.i.a. had a lot of fun w this album. however, track-by-track, it is fairly hit and miss for me.
pt 1 is just old school youtube storytelling background music. pt 2 is a fever dream. not feeling this one other than a hint of nostalgia.
unsettling repetitive noise. had physical symptoms of anxiety while listening. pass.
not memorable, too british.
I love this man's voice. A pleasure to listen to, and one I'm likely to revisit, despite not having an individual track stick in my head.
kings of their time. but i personally prefer morrison hotel.
I already listen to and love Sigur Rós, but this was my first time listening to this album in full and wow, what a crown jewel this is. It’s poignant and pulls out this side of me that just makes me think “I’m glad to be human and that I’m on this Earth getting to experience so much beauty in the world”, which let me say is some corny BS I didn’t think my mind was capable of but hey there you go.
Olsen Olsen I already knew and remains one of my favourites. Starálfur is one I hadn’t listened to before and I kept repeating it. It’s something I imagine could be transported on satellites across galaxies and a piece I believe should be among the first any other potential alien civilisations hear. I was listening to Hjartað Hamast on a walk, and after the build up and swell towards the middle, rain started pouring from the sky and I was smiling for the entire rest of my walk in the storm.
These guys are masters of music symbolising inner peace and wondrous beauty.
Fun, but not really any memorable songs bar Sultans of Swing (a classic favourite).
3.5/5, so I've gotta round down :/
uninteresting and unoffensive.
Such a fun live album there’s so much energy!! Also I didn’t know a lot of these songs (which I already love) are Cheap Trick!
Had to skip most of this. I felt like I was wasting time listening to this even though it was while I was doing other things.
I’m bored. God Only Knows is the only redeeming song.
listened to while walking through the Edinburgh meadows at 11pm in the summer. What an incredibly calming yet still groovable album. I adore this.
bar seven nation army, a huge disappointment
not the best old school metal. gimme some slayerrrr!!!
I ACTUALLY MADE IT THROUGH LISTENING TO THIS.
I cannot for the life of me figure out when one is meant to listen to this album. Running errands? In concert at a gig or festival? Doing a bitch of a workout?
But on some level I'm glad there exists some art (some may argue otherwise) that I don't think I will fully understand. Big up Napalm Death for creating just pure rage in sound/music. Props.
chill, a bit boring, inoffensive
i'd give this a 3.5 if i could.
super whiny. if it's not Apollo, I don't want it.
I adore this man's music. While the album itself doesn't have any *particularly* memorable songs, this was super pleasant and thoroughly enjoyable. Good job Frankie :))
What a fun live album! Especially just after Frank Sinatra too! Sam Cooke is absolutely COOKIN'
chill, but not quite my thing.
Way too long an album and very repetitive. Too bored to finish it fully, or maybe I just wasn’t at a party in the 80s…
cool music but whiny vocals!
Was moving and grooving then Slipping Through My Fingers had me sobbing on the ground under my desk. Boppin album.
Not nearly as good as her Debut imo, but still wonderful.
Sabotage is an absolute BOP but I was bored for more than half the album.
Had 2 CCR albums back to back, and this one is less impressive to me than Green River. That being said, I’m a sucker for 90% of albums from the late 60s/early 70s with any form of guitar in it.
Classic swamp rock. Almost comforting at times. Lodi is super underrated. 7/10 if I could.
Baby & A Minha Menina are fantastic. This album is super cool and fun and psychedelic AF. And it’s Brazilian! Right up my street :) 🇧🇷
Weird album I have some mixed feelings about. Some early tracks are a bit whiny at times. Then ‘Suspended in Gaffa’ came on and I was like “Ok, now we’re getting somewhere…” and then I got hit with ‘The Dreaming’. Wow. It’s somehow punchy and ethereal, with such strong lyrics.
I really appreciate how bold and gutsy this album is, especially since it’s entirely produced by Bush too! It’s definitely not an album that you listen to at a party, or relaxing at home with your friends— it’s when you want to listen to something eccentric and experience new musical sounds.
I’d give this a 7.5/10, so let’s round it up :).
HEADPHONES, HEADPHONES, HEADPHONES. Wear’em for this one!!!
This is such a moody concept masterpiece. Everything In It’s Right Place, How to Disappear Completely, Idioteque, Motion Picture Soundtrack….. combine to make an exquisitely eclectic experimental effort. Well done guys.
9.5/10
this is an album of just good energy and amazing vibrancy. I think this is the first time so far I’m giving back to back 5s? Deserved IMO
The first few tracks are such fire songs that I was so excited to hear the rest of the album, which I thought I would end up giving 5 stars and calling it my favourite hip hop album so far. But this gets so misogynistic!!!! Raps against black oppression but promoting women’s oppression?? Idk, feels really wrong and icky and definitely has aged poorly 30+ years after release.
2 stars bc the first two tracks were BUSSIN
Early emo hell yeah! But unfortunately not v headbangable
I love blues, I love live albums, and I love men who tell other men not to beat women. A short and sweet one. 5 stars.
I adore how ethereal this album is. A little bit samey sometimes, but delightfully atmospheric.
A few very cool sitar moments, and chill album, but for the most part was bored by this one.
Green Onions is a classic piece, and this is a fun album. However, I don’t think it’s one I’d ever relisten to in its entirety.
Take It Easy is great. Tryin was ok. Everything else was verryyyyy boring and repetitive and same. So disappointed, I hate the fucking eagles man.
Wonderful voice, wholesome vibes album, and beautiful languages. I don’t think I ever would’ve listened to this if not for this gen, and I’m so glad I got the chance to.
Enjoyed this album all the way through. It's such a classic. WAAIIIIIIIIIILDDDD HOARRRRRRSSESSSSS
This album will never fail to make me stop what I’m doing and just *listen*. To the guitars, the lyrics, to the wishes for something better. Tears are usually already flowing by the end of The Bends, and if not then definitely by High and Dry. It was also very cool to hear some OK Computer-style Radiohead in (Nice Dream). Street Spirit is an incredible end to an incredible album.
Good jazz. Awesome album artwork.
This album is incredible. Musically, it's so complex and interesting, you can hear how tightly arranged everything is, and every instrument has a purpose. Lovefool is a classic for a reason, and this is one of the most mellow covers of Iron Man I've ever heard. Blown away.
Hip hop usually leaves an impression on me, but with this album I was just… bored
Praise You is a banger. Everything else kinda made my ears bleed. I’m sorry Slim, this ain’t it for me.
I adore the Weight. My rating is probably biased as I love the 60s and 70s psychedelic rock scene.
I wanna be adored.
She bangs the drums.
Waterfall.
Made of Stone.
This is the one.
All are iconic and for good reason. However, there are too many intermission sort of tracks that drag on this album imo to be able to give this one a 5.
“Groove is in the heAAAAAAAAART” -Nick Miller
This doesn’t need to be 2h long.
Candle in the Wind slaps. I’m sure this album was huge and special at the time, but it didn’t do too much for me tbh.
Partially filled by nostalgia, partially by incredible, iconic banger after banger, with just the right number of wonderful slower songs mixed in. MJ knew how to craft the perfect album. He definitely deserved his King of Pop crown.
YEE-fucking-HAW I have a long bus today and so it’s the perfect time to feel like a cowboy for ~45mins. 🤠
I’m so surprised about how I feel about this album. I feel like I’m floating on air listening to it. When the first song came on I thought “this sounds like it was on Breaking Bad”, quick google showed El Paso was featured in the series finale!
A voice of silk, the most playful guitars, and cunning lyrics that tell a moving story. This one’s an easy 5 for me.
This is what it feels like to be young and growing up. What an incredible album. First two tracks in particular blew me away.
-1 star though because all songs are quite similar so as an album after track 4 it fails to deliver something new.
This was a banger, start to finish. I loved this one, vibes off the charts.
Nice, relaxing-- I loved this
Strong start to the album, and ending, but the middle dragged on for me. Hella amazing punk rock / riot grrrrl energy, beautifully dark closing track, but I really have some problems with how the album was mixed, maybe that's just me. 3.5/5
I mean, it's a debut right? Nothing too crazy tbh but not so boring it's forgettable.
There are some great songs: of course, Hallelujah, Lover, you should've come over, then the jump to Eternal Life.... also the opening track was great. But it just dragged on too much.
Title track is this album's savior. Not memorable, but not offensive-- one of the more boring albums from this generation.
Great opening track. The rest of the album felt a bit same-y, but was brought back by the closing track. Nothing stood out to me in particular, but I did enjoy listening to this album on the whole!
7/10
Yawn. Actively painful. I mean yeah, you can really produce an album which is a _vibe_, it's just that that vibe is like nails on a chalkboard 85% of the time
American Idiot: Stellar opening track. No notes.
Jesus of Suburbia: the 'Dearly Beloved' section has always sent chills down my spine. Simple beat, haunting 'oohs', heart-wrenching lyrics, to then explode in rage in 'Tales from another broken home' is pretty epic. Is 9 minutes too long for a song? Absolutely not this one.
Holiday: not much hits like that rhythm section breakdown in the middle, it just hooks you in and does not let go and you cling to every word BJA says like it's gospel.
Boulevard of Broken Dreams: encapsulates the neuroticism, numbness and nihilism of adolescence during 9/11 / Iraq war / Bush America so well. An anthem and tribute for those who feel alone in a world gone mad.
Are We the Waiting: These are the chants of the lonely in the previous track. The feelings of those in that song are not experienced in isolation, they are the collective experience of all those Americans. Lost hope, they just wait for life to pass them by.
St. Jimmy: pure punk energy. The fast pace sandwiched between two slow songs is meant to throw you off-- the anger and rage culminates, and our 'Jesus of Suburbia' becomes 'St Jimmy': drugs, vandalism, anything at all to help him feel something.
Give Me Novocaine: Musically and lyrically, this is easily my favourite track on the album, it's extremely vulnerable and heartbreaking, both embracing the pain but self-convincing 'everything'll be alright'. This song has always gotten me through my lowest moments.
She's a Rebel: Oh we're picking up the pace now... I think he's met someone! I love the transition to this track: same guitar and similar drum pattern but sped up slightly, it's so subtle but even if you don't listen to the lyrics you can tell there's some hope coming back into our Jesus of Suburbia's life after meeting Whatsername.
Extraordinary Girl: an unhealthy drug-fuelled romance... man I love the psychedelic elements Green Day has borrowed here they're super impactful.
Letterbomb: that scream is perfection!!! This was my favourite track on the album when I was a teenager, listening to it again now I understand why, it's a powerful af and a breakup anthem. It's definitely musically powerful enough to have been an alternative opening track, but thematically, it had to be here. The last minute is sheer perfection. Maybe it's still my favourite...
Wake Me Up When September Ends: another heartbreaker. No notes. <3
Homecoming: 'NOOOOOBODY LIKES YOUU EVERYONEEE LEFT YOUUU THEY'RE ALL OUTTT WITHOUT YOUUUU HAVING FUNNNNN'. Damn these words from 'Letterbomb' really haunted our protagonist. Also, the 'We're Coming Home' part of the song is phenomenal. The drums are the same as in 'Give Me Novocaine', which along with the lyrics from 'Letterbomb' is a nice callback to the mixed feelings our protagonist must be feeling right now.
Whatsername: 'I made a point to burn all of the photographs'.... Best closing track I could ask for. No notes.
Final thoughts:
Damn I'm so happy their masters were stolen-- shoutout to the thieves, otherwise we may never have gotten this masterpiece. Musically, lyrically, conceptually.... they truly brought punk into the 21st century with this album, but with an emo edge which I can't get enough of.
Top songs: Letterbomb, Give Me Novocaine, Whatsername (s/o to Jesus of Suburbia)
Easy 10/10.
People Get Ready, A Natural Woman, Ain’t No Way are my favourites here. I did get a bit bored while listening, but these tracks lifted me out. Also, personal preference but as iconic as Aretha is I’ve always preferred Otis Redding.
7/10
Slightly repetitive but not bad. Maybe I’m just not in the headspace to listen to this right now.
Very average, other than Song 2 which is a classic. Knocked off one star because of how they treated my boy Nardwuar :(
What an absolutely banging album. The middle of Narayan sent me on a wild trippy ride.
8/10
I knew these guys would be a bit more of a psychedelic experience, I only knew 'This is the Day', so I would have to be a little patient. I think this album calls for more than one listen-- at the start I was getting a little bored, but the piano solo in Uncertain Smile caught my attention, so I listened in more to the rest of the album and by the time Giant rolled around I was really grooving along with it.
But dear lord, these songs do not need to be so long.
8/10
Update: yep, definitely needed another listen. damn, that piano hits harder the second time around!!
pure groove. great listen.
8.5/10
Some super cool songs, but I'm sorry I couldn't wait for this to be over. Nearly 3 hours?? Far too long for an album (yes I know this is a double album, even so it should be <2).
Really can't stand how this album is mixed, I didn't like it at all to the point it affected my listening experience. Some lyrics are a lil too much.
Enjoyed 'Generation Landslide' especially that lil harmonica break in the middle, was super fun.
Wouldn't go out of my way to listen to this album again.
3/5 because of Gen Landslide, otherwise 2.
melted my brain. hope my carbon atoms end up in new metallica guitar picks.
Peak music, I can't get enough of this genre, and I don't think I'll ever get sick of it. Working, cooking, chilling, dancing, swingin' jazz does it all!
9/10
one of the horniest albums ever. smash.
Still not a fan, even after a relisten.
This album feels so warm and cozy, like someone’s wrapping a warm blanket around me, handing me a hot drink, it’s an amazing feeling
I rate this one, especially the first half. Second half towards the end got quite whiny, I don't have patience for that frankly.
Ehhhh..... leaves a LOT to be desired. Very samey, not memorable.
Grungey af so it’s right up my street, but the end of the album dragged a LOT.
Instant classic, very enjoyable, extremely versatile.
Bowie, this was alright, but I know you can do better. Sound and Vision will always have a soft spot in my heart after HIMYM, Warszawa is kinda cool and trippy, but nothing else stuck out.
Wonderfully relaxing and calming, I feel like I'm in Mad Men
Let’s get it on? Let’s turn it off
Lenny idk where you got your critical acclaim from but it definitely wasn’t from this album
Really enjoyed how this tickled my brain
Wonderful piano, cool story, I'd be pissed too
