I bought this album a day or so after its release. I was aware of the hype around the band and had been impressed by their performances on the radio. But this, this was on another level. A jagged soundscape along a narrow and foreboding route, punctuated with moments of sheer beauty. Altogether way more than the sum of its parts.
The sound engineer must have misheard the distortion setting. Everything is mixed so oddly - maybe that's the thing. So what would be the better elements are lost. This is probably dynamic in a live setting with a full stack of amps and the band really getting into foot tapping mode. Overall it's cack.
Not much going for this. A live set on a TV show. No great shakes. But an event happens and it gets elevated to some crazy status the performance does not merit. The unplugged moniker is simply for the franchise, it is merely the band pared down. Some songs work most do not.
Wondering how this got onto the list. The band was known but never really suggested anything original. For this album the band doesn't seem to know whether it should be rock, not powerful enough or pop, lacking memorable catchy tunes. So it fails on both.
What a first selection - a double 'live' album. Not really been drawn to TW and previous listening has been cursory, despite my old school mate Rob talking him up big time. Paying a little more attention here there is some neat word play and comedy. You get used to the voice but it was a stretch here.
A few great songs, including my favourite from Bowie, the album's closer. Bought this one rather than it's predecessor on the strength of the two singles.
Familiar with the singles but not previously aware of the album. More immediately accessible than the 'masterpiece'. Preferred the less bouncy second side.
Not heard of ES before. He was clearly a fine songwriter. Couldn't really get into this.
The groove is too deep for me.
Too clever - maybe. But this album is great fun. Playful lyrics, good harmonies and bold chunky guitars.
Too clever - not half pop pickers. It has been many years since I last listened to this album. Feisty when I bought it; it's Elvis!, but just OK now.
Just after half way something akin to a tune emerged. Otherwise it felt like we had wandered into a forge. May well be better live.
Most enjoyable. Was aware of the well known songs but had not listened to the whole album before. It hangs together pretty well, so much so that I let it run through a second time.
When he's on it he's really on it and on it he is on several here.
Of course only familiar with the singles so this was something of surprise. Strong songwriting and production as expected but little that stood out. At times it teetered on musical theatre.
Opening so soon after another of their creations this doesn't pack the punch it once may have.
It's bouncy, OK, but otherwise not to my taste
Wired and wonderful at times with some exquisite cameos. Studious returns for further listening may discover more.
Better than I was expecting.
Odd band, plenty of misses. Preferred to see them live and this album does capture some of this.
Ouch! Too spikey for me.
I listened to all of his albums recently and this is one I have in my collection. Great song writing. Maybe the strings are a little overdone. Given recent events the forecast is promising.
The title says it all. Inoffensive at the outset and then became frankly insidious.
Dated. More than pleasant by pretty samey most of the way, enlivened by the singles.
Tinklelicious!
Probably better live.
Something of a surprise. I was expecting to have to bail but it kept me interested.
Marks for influencing, marks for own compositions but otherwise messy.
Apart from the opener, not familiar with this band. A mixed bag really.
Marvellously varied. Super strong song writing.
I did and it was just middling.
Great songs superbly delivered, expertly produced and enlivened by splendid cameos.
Some good songs here but appears less cohesive as a concept than when I first heard it a multitude of 5 years ago.
Decent enough sandwich. Bright start and end but a little stodgy in the middle.
More than solid side one with side two a little uneven.
Liked this. Better than I expected.
Simply grating. Any subtlety in here passed me by.
The elements are all there but not fully connected.
A curiosity here, trying to work out whether he wants to be the lead singer in a band or a solo artist. The band bits work week. The singles are overblown.
Fine collection of songs overwhelmed by the title track.
Delightful.
This was way better than I expected. I knew the singles but the album was punchy with a very strong groove capped by a fine ,fine singer.
Definitely of its time. The cover song is the best on the album.
Difficult to understand how this made the list. It is too long to be consistent. It works as a record as each side has songs of a similar style. The singles are magnificent and the album shows off his song writing ability and musicianship.
The sound engineer must have misheard the distortion setting. Everything is mixed so oddly - maybe that's the thing. So what would be the better elements are lost. This is probably dynamic in a live setting with a full stack of amps and the band really getting into foot tapping mode. Overall it's cack.
This was a rather hit and miss. The less shouty ones were better.
Some interesting arrangements for the covers which amply showcase the vocal talents. But something just isn't there. Maybe it is that it sounds of the time or that there were plenty of guest producers.
This album should not be on the list. It has been included for apparent historical significance. Plus it was released more than 30 years after the actual event. As to the content it is solid early Dylan showcasing his songwriting of that period. With it being live there is an opportunity to vary the delivery which is at best funny but more often irritating. The electric side is variable and now sounds a little limited. There are some songs where his vocal style works with a band.
Had not heard this album by the band. The usual hallmarks of the band are there, but maybe not as refined as their later work.
Pleasantly surprised. Consistent throughout.
Had heard one of the tracks before. Sits well within the album which is strong and consistent.
This bounces along in the usual style. No stand out.
Look what happens when unencumbered. A strong set of songs.
Strong stuff here. The two well known epics backed up by some interesting songs which show of the versitility of the band.
This was the first time listening the album which is consistently strong collection of songs. The range is there, the intricacies but it is missing something.
Solid start but didn't really progress.
Jingle jangle stuff. Mildy entertaining. Some nifty riffs.
Pretty good mix of songs. Neat guitar interplay. Similar to other bands around at the time but probably a touch off centre to have become very popular.
Coming to this only having heard single it turned out to be varied, maybe overly so. There are several goods songs, the country fusion stands out, but a few that went over the edge making it disjointed.
Solid but not sensational.
Steering a long way from the beach here into much deeper water. An interesting move that results in a lyrical win though not always a musical one.
Didn't pick up on anything here. It just seemed to get into a groove and become stuck there.
This is very in your face. Some fine guitar work. Maybe the model for shrieky vocals which are probably more suited to a live show than a record.
I bought this album a day or so after its release. I was aware of the hype around the band and had been impressed by their performances on the radio. But this, this was on another level. A jagged soundscape along a narrow and foreboding route, punctuated with moments of sheer beauty. Altogether way more than the sum of its parts.
Middling, it bobbed along merrily. Would listen again.
The familiarity of the singles probably keeps them fresh. The general sound of the album and how different it was at the time soon got passed by. Others took it on developed it much further.
Didn't enjoy this. Some good guitar but otherwise nah.
Solid but just not able to get deep enough into its groove.
Uncomfortably dark. The band did extremely well to hook into the mood.
Punchy, lively and quite addictive. Given the subject of the album there is only so much railing that can be effective, hence the short running time.
Something of a messy mix here. The covers are quirky. The longer tracks verge on the rambling. Probably best suited to having on in the background.
Didn't think the music worked with his presentation style. Lyrically rich with many opportunities for others to cover.
Some good songs, a few quirky arrangements.
You say this to me in an affected accent. You say this to me in front of the tired basketball beat. You say this to me with lots of spikey works You go on and on. But I don't want listen any more.
Good collection of songs unfortunately firmly stuck in their time.
Liked this.
A more than solid album with good songs, great guitars and a decent mix.
Fine stuff. Had not heard a great deal from this band so pleasantly surprised.
There is a groove but with little variation. Samey. Heard it all before. Never really gets going.
Messy as might be expected but very little of interest.
The sound is set out early and they run with it all the way. Hypnotic stuff.
A band far better live. This is a mixed set of songs with some fine bluesy rock in there.
A fine example of how to make the most of the medium, produce two contrasting suites. The flow of side one is a little lost through the familiarity of the singles, one of which is her finest. The second side is altogether different but still captivating.
Well it hits its mark and keeps going.
Some fine compositions, great musicianship. Perfectly digestible.
Liked this. Some strong songs others not so. Not the strongest of singers.
First time listening to this band. An album of its geography and time, but still works today. A good example of how to use the medium with two contrasting 'suites', with the soothing soundscape of the first setting up the more clattering second.
A long time since I last heard this album all the way through. The song writing is strong and there is a degree of experimentation in the music. Overall an impressive piece of work.
Difficult to know whether this part of a greatest hits album with so many singles on it. Had not listened to the full abum before and it suffers from being swamped by the singles. An edgier approach still with very strong production.
This is a fine album more immediately accessible than others of his on the list. Great songs, good playing.
Not as in your face as I expected. Some reasonable stuff but plenty of rather gnawing industrial stuff.
This was an unexpected joy. Plenty of variation across the piece. Rhythm for the dancing.
Expansive and lively with little variation.
Wasn't able to get into this.
A strident set of songs well delivered and probably much improved by the production crew. They still stand up today although the lyrics seem a little tame.
This is the album they became ELO rather than the Electric Light Orchestra. The voyage from pioneers to settlers was complete. The craft is evident with some great songs.
Marvellously intelligent.
Pretty good mix of strong songs.
This turned out to be better than expected. Knew the singles of course but there are others on the album that are better.
Pioneering stuff. Clean production. More varied than the songs popular on the radio would suugest.
It has to be nearly forty years since I listened to the whole album. I remember the anticipation of its release in that it would be a double and whether it could hold the attention all the way through. Listening after such an interval it is striking how varied the music is given the way the two songwriters collaborate. There are some standout tracks, the opener is one of the finest of any album. The closer is pretty good too.
Very much of its time but nevertheless a pretty good commentary. Enjoyable but unlikely to get many visits.
A mood is set early on and doesn't stray far. Good song writing and fine singing. It follows a popular path of the time but lacks the musical spark that would raise the score. That spark would turn out to be only a few months away.
Big on the beaty. Witty with the wordy. More tolerable than others in this genre but unlikely to revisit.
Very hit and miss.
Is it pacing, a lack of stamina or simply a ride on the underground having to stop every couple of minutes. Urgent, ballsy and maybe re-breaking the ground but it can't be taken seriously. It's rock and roll after all.
Quality factory output but not particularly inspiring.
What an assortment of songs. Some showing great use of the technology available and others very simple.
Woefully disjointed. Either make it a live album or a properly structured studio one. Very much of its time.
A fine collection of songs although many are of their time. The familiarity of the singles provides them with a longevity, plus they are also significantly better than many of the others.
Goodness me this was good. Not heard anything by the band before other than the hype, which on this evidence is more than justified. The energy, the urgency, the songs, the drumming, the riffs, the baselines and lyrics make for a very large sum of the parts.
A pretty patchy collection of songs. Many timeless but a few showing their age.
A rather drawn out prospectus some of which resonates today. Not really a style that lends itself to repeated listening.
Solid
This is a set of songs carefully selected to highlight the singing talent. The production is excellent and it delivers. It warrants a complete listen each time rather than picking out individual tracks.
On the face of it this is just dissonant noise and comes across as messy. I suspect repeated listening would uncover something deeper. Unlikely to go there.
Their influences are clear but there is a lack of identity. For the most part this is just messy but fleetingly there is a glimmer of cohesion.
Seasonal entertainment.
This was something of a surprise. Slightly closer to the folky edge than I imagined. Good voices and some smart instrumentation.
Seriously strong songwriting let down by dull delivery.
Pioneering it may have been but it doesn't really stand up today. Repetition underpins this type of music and it comes down to length and the motifs. In both case this album fails.
Running through a whole range of styles. Plenty of nods to their influences. Some strong songs but others irritating.
The album floats along merrily with a few ripples but it never really p p p p picks-up.
A solid album with a few excellent songs hinting at something more promising.
A compendium of influences. Entertaining.
This is a pretty good consistent album of it genre. There is no outstanding track. In a live setting this would be feel stronger.
Not heard anything by this artist so this album was as surprise. An excellent set of songs from an anguished soul.
Another artist new to me. Enjoyable and clear echoes of others.
Glorious
A lot more varied and interesting that the early tracks would suggest. A healthy lack of seriousness and a focus on having fun.
Less abstract than earlier work but the strong cohesion between voice and drums is still there.
The lyrics are the highlight here.
Strong vocals
Plenty of over complication as is the want of this style from the period. Never took to Genesis in either format, despite having a great singer, drummer and guitar player. Wasn't taken with the album when I heard it about the time it came out. That has not changed. However it is a good piece of work. The three elements I picked out are prominent here and provide the better moments. The guitar fills are wonderful. It is maybe too clever but somewhat dull.
This sounds rather dated. The popular songs stand up due to there familiarity. Live this would be pretty good.
Great voice, good mix of songs although some of the arrangements were odd.
This was pretty inflated and incoherent but it didn't pop. Difficult to see a reason to revisit.
Couldn't get into this. Little stood out.
Not heard the album all the way through. Familiar with the singles. Overall a solid album, maybe.
Quite a mixture of styles here with clear influences of others around at the time.
Starts exceptionally strongly such that the rest simply of the album doesn't maintain. Nevertheless there is much to enjoy, the playing is more than solid, the vocals are variable.
Having only heard the weight previously the rest of the album was something of a surprise. Good songs and fine musicianship.
Simple but engaging storytelling.
I remember listening to Telegram Sam in a booth at the local record store. Odd really as I was always going to buy the record. So there was much anticipation of this album a few months later. Bought on the day of release and listened to over and over. It was great, couldn't be anything else. Now decades later listening to the whole album in one session it doesn't have the same resonance. The singles and a few other tracks, title song included are still great. What I did pick up are traces of the pre Electric Warrior band in some of the songs, Chariot Choogle, Spaceball Ricochet. The production certainly added polish. While it may no longer be a regular listen it is good to reminisce and the lyrics are still playful and silly plus there is some chunky guitar work.
Brash and uninspiring. Live this may well be entertaining.
Plenty of songs, loads of variety. Some real oddities but enough very good songs. Overall rather sprawling but it is a double album so offers room for experimentation.
A solid offering, again highlighting their folky style of rock. Good guitars and harmonies against some strong songwriting.
Oh dear. The singles suggest more than the album delivers. Formulaic nonsense.
Had not heard anything by this band before and what a surprise this album is. A fair few changes across the tracks all for the good.
Some pretty inventive stuff here. The musicianship is very strong. The quirky voice works most of the time but can be way off. More than this I can't say.
Not overly taken with this. It maybe a couple of tracks too long. There is some promise of change with repeated plays.
Could only accommodate Dumb on this album and I would be so very if I were to revisit.
There is enough here to warrant further listening. It is certainly an album for a mood.
Jiggly but it's all on cruise control. Choose one for a short journey or both for the longer trips.
Solid
Neither here nor there. Rather varied although there are some strong elements. The singer is not particularly strong but it does sometimes work. more often being almost mixed out.
Familiar with a couple of tracks so expecting more of the same. Unfortunately this wasn't delivered. Somewhat ranting in places which diminished the lyrics.
Some nice guitars but overall sprawling and messy.
Not overly adventurous but engaging if maybe a tad too long. It is easy to get hooked on the rhythms.
This was odd. As the tracks were playing through more and more sounded familiar so maybe the album is in the collection. Definitely possible as a lot of early Elvis was bought. A quick check and it cannot be found - seemingly has been removed from the building. There are plenty of his trademarks, the barbed lyrics, the sometimes snarly vocals. There does appear to be a shift away from the more poppy stuff. The quality is there but maybe not as accessible as earlier work.
Not much to take away from this one. A lot of pounding and scratching.
This album, although uneven, was something of a surprise. More melodic than expected making it accessible.
A good collection of songs, fine harmonies, nice and easy does it.
Starts and end well but not so good in the middle.
This was good but couldn't get into it. Rhythmically strong and some neat structures but it seemed rather dated.
Plenty of good songs but just wasn't taken with the delivery. Maybe better covered by others. As a collection is was a little unrelenting.
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Float, float on. Pretty impressive construction here and some neat transitions.
It is only through this generator that I get to listen to an ABBA album in full. So to hear the massive singles surrounding by songs not previously heard was odd. It will take a few listens for those other songs to not be swamped by the familiar ones. Quality song structure, harmonies and production as expected.
A goto sunday morning album. The way the songs hold together is spectacular. There are places where it feels that it could unravel but beautifully manages keeps it together.
I've been funked senseless after listening to this. What do you want to know?
A splendid album with quality songs and excellent arrangements. The singing works but is a grating on the odd occasion. And really it's just fun and who would not jump in and sing along with their mates.
Played over and over on its release. An amusing and varied album with some fine harmonies and solid writing. Listening again after many years it still sounds fine but is not quite there for a full house.
Simply a great pop album. Clever, sometimes too much, cheesey, fun, tongue in cheek, sumptuous arrangements, superb production and guaranteed to get you out of your chair.
Pompous, overblown and very much of the time. Nevertheless it is a good set of songs and the musicianship is strong.
Still as good as it ever was.
Starts off suggesting a variation then seems to revert to the norm. Solid with some punchy lyrics.
Almost arresting to begin with but then falls into a slumber that is not released. Good to have in the background with occasional diversion when a quirky lyric pops out.
Quite a mix here which makes things interesting.
It could have been a 1977 album but the production is better and there are plenty of twiddly bits thrown in.
A soundtrack to a film that you know but can't remember. A splendid mix.
After a slow start this just bounded along and was quietly infectious.
Tolerable. Such a wild collection of styles. Some neat guitar and bouncy bass lines.
Good songs but the delivery doesn't make the most of them.
A live album but let's cherry pick the tracks. Then after reviewer acclaim bung on a few more tracks to give punters better value for money. The album highlights the poor sound systems in operation at the time. Why pick out a student venue to showcase the band? Overall one wholly messy album which does not put the band in a good light, compared to their studio output which was much more creative. It probably sounded good at the concert itself.
With plenty of nods to their influences this is a punchy collection. The ideas are sound but the lyrics should have had a touch more crafting.
Well this was a splendid surprise. Had not heard of the band before. The album contains plenty of thrills. The harmonies complement the lead so well. Plus the album manages to extend time. It appeared much longer than reported timing. Maybe those odd time signatures did the trick.
It had its moments which were swamped by plenty of turgid grunking.
Pleasantly surprised.
This rolls along merrily like a peleton on the long straight roads of a flat stage in the TDF.
Pleasant collaboration.
Like a good collection of songs should be.
Some the album still sounds jolly.
A varied manifesto that delivers almost all expectations.
Not much going for this. A live set on a TV show. No great shakes. But an event happens and it gets elevated to some crazy status the performance does not merit. The unplugged moniker is simply for the franchise, it is merely the band pared down. Some songs work most do not.
Satisfyingly steady. Not the experience it once was, much like driving along a motorway.
Not heard of this band before so could be interesting. Unfortunately it wasn't. Rather messy, not distinct and repetitive.
Sparse but clear arrangements of traditional songs. Stands up well today. Sometimes her voice gets a little shrill but otherwise good to have in the background.
This is a pretty good collection of songs let down by poor production. Lacking oomph in places.
Seriously good song writing. Not something for constant play but ideal for an occasion.
Had not heard this all the way through before. Seriously good. The first album is stronger than the second. This is an excellent collection of varied songs by a band forging a path to set themselves far apart from others at the time.
One of those albums that when it is on it's fantastic and when it is not it's cacophonous nonsense.
Rasping, discordant and brutal so a very limited outlet.
Bouncy and fun. Great to get things swinging.
Sparse, personal and dextrous.
Really.
Quite a mix of songs with interesting arrangements. Sometimes the harmonies are too cloying. Above all it's the voice that elevates.
With this album they decided to move themselves along. The singles are strong the other a mixture, many solid a couple naff.
Had heard the chatter about this band but not heard anything of their output. Rather different to the chatter but a solid uplift on progressive rock.
Endless loopy pap.
Wild and inventive with some splendid passages.
Have heard smattering of her work but not listened to an album all the way through. This is not an immediate pick-up and suspect that further plays would be needed to appreciate the talent.
The mood is set and underpinned by the vocals but it doesn't stray from safety.
This is a fine album that sets it stall out from the start and just continues unwaveringly without much deviation. It suits a mood but doesn't achieve lift off.
An apt title. If you know the PSB you know what you'll get and this album simply reinforces. Their expansive and sweeping soundscape is augmented with many more twiddly bits. It is strong fare but nothing really stands out. Still guaranteed to get you onto the dance floor.
It sounded so good in black and white. No longer as on the mark as it was when purchased on the day of release.
A very long time since I last heard this. Of the time but remains a fine collection.
Couldn't get into this. Swirling around with different styles but nothing arresting.
This motored along nicely but didn't take any off road turns.
This is an unrelenting and angry collection where this listener can seriously empathize with the title.
This is a strong selection of songs. The concept nature may have seemed a good idea, and there was plenty of innovation at that time, but the commercials become distracting on repeated plays. If only they weren't built into the track, modern technology would have enabled a playlist without them for the better.
It's Springsteen. It's bombastic. It suits a calling but isn't as strong as his earlier work.
See it, sing it, all sorted in under half and hour. Quality.
Having been taken by the band Argent and being aware of the hits of the Zombies I came by this album as it was bundled as a double with their greatest hits. What a bargain! The album soon became a mainstay on the turntable. It is simple a superb collection of varied songs. Yes its genesis of its time but it does appear to span the generations. Exemplified by their short, but stunning, tour of the album 40 years after its release.
This is a package to be commended. A more than fine example of where the music delivers to album cover. It is an interesting mix of songs that are well produced. The vocals vary but are punchy, gritty and strident throughout.
So varied. There's humour. Many good, a few so so and a couple naff. Have never taken to the singer so their work only warrants infrequent visits.
A melding of styles that didn't work for me. Even as a background it didn't disturb.
Didn't know what to expect knowing nothing about the group. The album turned out to be disappointing, repetitive and ultimately irritating.
Had heard the name but not any of their contributions. It may take repeated listens to unpick the layers but on the first run through it set sail and steered a pleasing course. The vocals were infectious supported by strong production. The songs has enough variation with some decent lyrics.
This was variable but just about passable.
Crikey this was weird. Deeply dark with jingly jangly bouzouki sounding backing.
The song pickers for this album certainly wanted to share the royalties around. A different writer for each one. Does this make for a strong coherent album. Probably not a consideration at the time. What we get is a fine showcase of Elvis' range supported by quality musicians. Enjoyable but not essential.
A soundtrack to an evening out sliding from pub to pub. The musical variety and tone is disturbingly funny in parts.
You need to be in a particular mindset to get into this immediately. Some passages are just too jagged. Of all the tracks, it was D and its extension to E and F that stood out.
This was the least accessible of this style. The higher points are where it picks up and stays with a constant rhythm. Those with many changes were off putting.
Finally a reason to include a live album in this series. While all live albums capture a short period in time this one stands out. The pieces didn't exist prior to the concert and, for this, has merit alone. But the compositions, the flow, the interactions are bold and tantalisingly engaging. The early thought that this might be suited as a background accompaniment so dissolved and it became engrossing. For a first listen for a hitherto unknown (to me ) artist this is something.
The first Dylan album I bought, after hearing Lily Rosemary and the Jack Of hearts on the radio. Prior to this I knew of the singles and generally preferred covers of his songs. Listening to a complete album, this album, changed my view of him. The song that got me to buy the album is not the best one but it sits nicely in this stellar collection. It is a masterful display of storytelling through song with an elevated vocal performance reflecting the theme running through the album.
Struggled with this. Some good passages but a few that were hard to get into on a first listen.
After the promise of the first album they went full Supermarionation with this one. The overblown videos were an unedifying distraction. In the context of the album the singles work well but the whole is not fulfilling due in part to the limitations of the singer.
Strong mid 60's fayre. There is no distinctive sound to define the band. Much a case of sounds like this band, no its that band. I suppose get this and save yourself buying others thinking you have an album by those other bands.
This seems too focused as a one man obsession and while the band motifs can be heard it just doesn't come across as coherent. There are interesting ideas but the very good bits are well scattered.
All for recycling but maybe they should have picked a better base layer. One going forward the other in reverse. Nevertheless there is plenty going on.
The sax added an interesting twist to a solid album. The vocalist is the star here.
More range and variety than their other works. That is not necessarily a good thing. TT's vocals still shine and this elevates it a notch. The earnest themes still permeate. Pleasant enough but not Eden.
All the motifs are there but despite the biguns it just doesn't hit the mark consistently.
It must be over 30 years since I last heard the album. It was purchased shortly after seeing the band live. Played often just to marvel as the guitar playing. While that is still plainly evident the album as a whole now feels somewhat underpowered.
A right royal scam.
An inventive mix of songs, mostly ok with a couple excellent.
Maybe not their best but my favourite. Almost never off the turntable until Pretzel Logic came along. The hallmarks of the 'band' are all in this collection. I never got a t-shirt.
Bold, imaginative and provocative but ultimately is too repetitive and defeats its own message.
Have found BS to be very miss and sometimes hit. This is a very heavy collection which kept me interested featuring strong guitar work and an almost tolerable Ozzie.
Nothing earth shattering here but a crazy and oblique view. Solidly entertaining and just the right preparation for a night out.
Something of a change and at times not clear that it was Springsteen. Then his trademark style pops up for reassurance. A themed collection that is ok but lacks the impact of earlier work.
The jingle got well and truly jangled here. Have heard a couple of the tracks before on their best of where they slotted in nicely. A few steps on the trajectory got missed to reach this point and it doesn't work.
Raw and maybe angry. May have worked with less brash instrumentation letting the words work. The tolerable parts are fleeting.
Strong album with call outs to bass and guitar. Punchy and flowing only to be deflated by the final track.
This album is a significant upgrade in all aspects and the view from the plateau must have been a fine one. Still prefer their first album, not as good but sprinkled with freshness.
The tracks that moved away from the closet of the genre pushed this up a notch.
A more interesting collection than expected. More variation compared to the genre which was refreshing.
And why not go against type. An imaginative set of covers with some fine arrangements. As a collection it doesn't do it for me but there are a couple that are very good.
Had no idea what to expect knowing nothing about the artist, so pleasantly surprised by this collection. Certainly worth seeking out further works.
Something of a rag bag collection. Not sure why this would make the list as it is way short of his later work. Not overly keen on his vocal style but it is more tolerable as a sol artist than when part of Genesis.
This improved on second listening. The standout tracks are those written by the heavyweight members. Others are passable but not of the same standard.
The curing was in its early stages on this album. Much better was to come. Apart from the singles which work as stand alone tracks this really is just a soundtrack to a film that didn't get commissioned.
This is an odd choice, the only album on the list by this band is a live recording, or rather a series of recorded concerts. If the original songs are not good enough to make the list how do live versions make them better. Thin Lizzy were a very good band, they found their sweet spot with the twin leads but it was all down to the charisma of Phil Lynott. This collection showcases how good they could be live. It would have been better to just record one concert and tinker with that rather than tinker with several - or better still leave it raw as concert goers experienced it.
A film score and it shows. It is pretty laid back which is weird given the film it is supporting. The title track is the standout providing the memorable hook - Stick any single syllable to the end of the Who is the .....
Woefully irresponsible. Passing between 90 second wham bam totally unprotected. The album came 25 years early being ideal for social media where a collection of partially formed ideas are pushed out for a vote. The popular ones developed into complete songs and the rest simply shredded.
Solid funk. The musicianship can't be faulted. A few stand out tracks - the singles. Some songs stretched out so far they fell flat.
Entertaining solid pop band fronted by a good singer. The songs are mixed, some bouncy, many fun and few with a distorted view.
No bubbles here. The staple for this band was in abundance but there are signs of being conflicted with the closers on each side. Very much out of step with the rest.
This moves on at a pace with a decent rhythm section. It is standard stuff with no real invention but it is well done. The singer is not strong and someone better might elevate the experience.
Not heard anything by this band previously. Entertaining with a gentle flow although parts sounded like something from a decade earlier.
A model of sonic steadiness.
I struggle with this genre of music finding it repetitive and with a limited horizon. This album follows the pattern but the artist has something about her that sets it apart. It was palatable and entertaining.
This turned out to be quiet varied, passable for the most part. Some of the vocals were poor.
Every so often the generator throws up an offering that is blindsiding. This is one of those. No previous knowledge of the artist. The output was totally unexpected and magnificently entertaining. Gloriously time shifting, could be a 60's album, then again it might be 70's and then with a swing upliftingly contemporary. A joy!
After the lure of the band name and album title the disappointment of the actual music. Raucous, a mis-melding of styles and lacking grace.
Once all the live and remix extras were ignored and down to the original nine tracks this was ok. The quieter stretchy tracks worked best.
A pretty mixed bag of tracks. Some very good songs others just background. Nevertheless the talent is there and there are some great riffs. Probably stunning live.
Able to tolerate this more than others of the genre. The scats are naff.
This may improve through familiarity but I' don't think I can be bothered. There are some good songs, and some raucous nonsense.
A solid road trip album, offering a jumbled alternative to the radio. A two for the price of one, the imagination of the musician combining with the sparkle of the vocalist.
Wondering how this got onto the list. The band was known but never really suggested anything original. For this album the band doesn't seem to know whether it should be rock, not powerful enough or pop, lacking memorable catchy tunes. So it fails on both.
This is the album where Steely Dan reached the peak of musical evolution. From this point on the quality would ebb a little but nothing would standout or be new. This is a masterclass in musicianship, song structure and technical achievement.
Having been lured in to purchase the Faust Tapes which turned out to be so weird it put me off checking out their other albums. Quite the opposite of what virgin had intended with their offer. As with a number of bands Faust popped up on John Peel a few times with the offering there much more palatable. This album still has the weird multilingual stuff on it and encouragingly many of the songs have structure. Each side is well balanced giving the album a positive feel throughout.
A jolly romp. Aside from the fun and often clever lyrics there are some fine songs. These overcome some of the failings of the vocals. It takes the writer to realise their imagination. If you saw the band live you would understand.
This album just flowed along not sparking anything arresting along the way.
A mark of a band becoming more assured. They sound much tighter on this album and the rhythm section is on point. Plus there is some spikey guitar playing. The songs are strong but again there is the feeling that Weller should have spent a little more time on refining the lyrics . That's entertainment is a couple of lines away from being superb.
Unrelenting, strident and rough but not enough to make it standout.
If he is the soul machine, why the need for so many collaborations? It is the solo stuff that works best where there are some fine songs. The whole album lacks coherence and consistency which may be due to having no single producer.
Snarling and biting lyrics against a backdrop of sometimes sprawling noise. Not an enjoyable listen.
Entertaining if a little dated. Doubt that side two would hold up on repeated plays.
This sounded fresh on its release. The range of AL a joy and the twiddly parts from DS uplifting. Other than the singles which are baked in, this simply does not stand up today.
A little too much fiddling here, such was the thing in the early electro pop. The singer providing moments of joy but more often annoying. It does sound dated but when it hits the mark it is fun and stands up today.
Most unexpected. It started with an infectious rhythm and kept is going continuously seamlessly drifting between instrumental and vocals.
An album of twists, for a time it could have you running off the edge and every now and them jumping off and gliding on a breeze. A lot of effort went in to produce it and small things are found on every listen but you wish that when they let rip they go for it big time. I didn't really feel that.
Well produced, good songs and band but its the vocals. After the Jam Weller's voice didn't really fit the genres he moved into. But it is his project and he needed to be the frontman. Covers by other artists may well elevate some of the songs.
A whirlwind in the right light and temperature. A nightmare with the wrong elements.
Well the album cover suggested one genre and the music delivered an interesting mix of several. Perfectly cemented in time and place. It flowed along pleasantly with nothing outstanding.
This was jolly. A pretty good collaboration that throws up some fine songs.
Not the experience is was when the album was released. The band had settled on a sound that would drive towards their single known song (not on this album). The singles are good, some of the extended songs work within the context of the album. But it does sound dated. All that glitters is not gold.
Couldn't get into this. Rushed and raucous. Towards the close a hint of something calmer but it didn't last.
Lapped up on release due to absence of new Steely Dan material. Thought it was good at the time but listening again nigh on 40 years later there aren't enough strong tracks. Strong musicianship and well produced as to be expected but lacking an additional critical ear to make it great.
This was a treat. Much more variety than expected. Some fine arrangements, great vocals and interesting guitar.
Solid fayre that seemed interesting at first but seemed to stretch the theme a little too much.
An album that is built around the fulcrum of the title track. There is no getting away that is stands head and shoulders above all the others. But most of them are startlingly strong as well. While the vocals may become a little whiney over time the guitar playing and rhythm section more than overcome this. There are scintillating recurring guitar motifs sprinkled across the tracks. An extraordinary rock album that teased us lyrically and musically.
The poster that came with the album was on the wall for some time. A super fine collections of songs many of which stand up today, some down to familiarity. Plenty of positive and bouncy tunes elevated by the clever well crafted production.
It's Van. It's has all his hallmarks. It;s pretty solid. It's live so a little out of place on this list.
Didn't do a lot for me. Pretty variable fayre. Sounds of its time.
Other than the vocalist who would have thought that this was SD. Very little of what came before or after is imprinted on this album. Save of course the striking songwriting. It took a while to get into the album on release following on from Countdown which remains my favourite of theirs. This is a better album.
A laconic stroll in search of some action that didn't materialise.
A post punk vision in the singles so much better than the almost routine rest. Sarky, amusing but weird from the 40 years on perspective.
A lot more varied than expected. Good songs nicely produced with some deft contributions from various glitterati.
The polish and vision had yet to become ingrained so an album of experimentation, wit and some decent songs.
This is the sort of album that is likely to improve on repeated plays. On the first pass, however, it felt like a steady walk along even ground with few discernible landmark until late on elevation added some interest.
There are short passages that are pretty cool but for the most part it was not interesting. And the vocals well .....
Little to ignite interest here. Standard rock album of the period. Awful vocals. There are rare guitar thrills though.
A pleasant listen. Can't say there was anything outstanding but a good collections of songs providing more exposure to the genre.
There is a soulful voice. There are expansive arrangements. It just feels flat. An individual song might feel arresting on the radio but as a collection each just melds into the next.
This is a hard listen. Finely structured songs. But as with most of his output it is difficult to warm to his delivery.
Aptly named. An interesting collection of songs likely to grow on replay.
Crikey another on the list from this band coming only a few days since the last one. This work is later in their career and there had been a change, for the better. A stronger collection of songs that seemed focused on a wider appeal. Maybe this made it more accessible.
The songs fit the voice which channels the person. Somewhat depressing on the face of it but pretty powerful nevertheless. Whether the style was planned or arose during the sessions it clearly works. The production warrants a strong assist here. Overall a fine album.
And then the doorbell rang and the trance was broken. Got just about half way. Quite a scatterbrain collection. This is car journey stuff at best where one needs something light heading up the motorway. As it is so long one might even create a playlist from it picking a select bunch of tunes. That seems the best option for repeated plays.
Never been able to listened to a Yes album repeatedly. This one follows the pattern of the other I've heard. I even owned one at some point but it is not easy to skip tracks on vinyl. Anyway this is OK, yes the musicianship is excellent, yes there are some enlightening guitar passages and glorious harmonies but it feels disjointed.
It is recognisable as The Fall through the vocals and drumming but the thrill of their raw early work is not there.