2/5
Fav tune: The Kids Are Alright
Walmart beatles
A couple radio friendly singles mixed by Scott Litt (REM) + that classic Albini engineered abrasiveness = a timeless classic. No apologies for giving this 5 stars babyyy!
Got a lil' post-diner nap on to this one. Enjoyed Svefng-englar and Starálfur but I likely won't revisit it. Sweet cover art tho! þrír (3) stars!
Seven Nation Army was the biggest rock song of my youth and it still rips! There's no skips, and the pacing is fantastic. Meg killing it on In The Cold, Cold Night is an added bonus. 5 stars!
"Chug" is a decent tune and "Early Bird" is a twangy little stomper with a banjo lick that caught me by surprise. However, their popular songs have been played to death so bury this album in the desert and call it a day. 2 stars.
Groovy jams and tribal drums add some spice but Perry's vocals and Navarro's endless noodling become tiresome.
"Mountain Man's" bass driven intro is my favourite moment on this record and "Jane Says" is easily the stand out track.
Essentially this album serves as a wonky bridge between the alt-funk and hair metal of the 80s and 90s alternative.
⭐⭐
That space rock guitar tone and soulful vocals on "That Lady, Pts. 1&2" make for a swell intergalactic ride. However, as a whole, the album failed to keep my attention. ⭐⭐
I dug "Death of a Clown" and a few other tracks, however I'm unlikely to revisit the album in its entirety. A couple neat mid-album drum fills caught my attention, but the record really dragged at times
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Really wish the vocals had been solely left to Kim. For instance, Thurston doing his best Malkmus vocal impression and singing about slimy men in "100%" is nowhere near as engaging as Kim singing about the same topic one song later in "Swimsuit Issue". The instrumental sections on "Theresa's Sound-World" are a highlight, especially Shelley's drumming--it's a 5 1/2 min song that never tires. "Drunken Butterfly" anchors this to the grunge era but I think it coulda been left off the album. "Sugar Kane" might be a bit divisive but I think it adds a bit of energy to an album that was loosing a bit of steam. "Youth Against..." is a fun little bop as is the Untouchables cover "Nic Fit". What ever happened to slamming a cover song in the middle of an album? I might be doing this album dirty (ba-dum-tiss) but there's NO half-stars in the rate. ⭐⭐⭐
For whatever reason, I thought Mercury Rev was an industrial band..perhaps a Ministry side-project or something. Initially, I was pleasantly surprised to be served a fat slice of psych-pop. "Holes" is a catchy track that reminded me of some early Flaming Lips--a quick wikipedia-hole later and it turns out 3 of their members have been involved with the Flaming Lips (the more you know 🌈). Loving the spooky vibe on "Endlessly" and "I Collect Coins". And then, "Hudson Line" happens where some cheesy sax, guitar, organ (?), etc. solos just demolish the dreamscape vibe. The album blew it in the 2nd half. The Atlanta Falcons of albums. PATRIOTS WIN THE SUPERBOWL. At least the last track was goofy as hell.
⭐⭐
Been dodging the Bowie discography forever so I was looking forward to this album. The first track didn't grab me and "Alladin Sane" might work better as a closing track given the eerie outro jam--good tune nonetheless. "Panic in Detroit" is new to me and I dig that blend of proto-punk and talking-heads-like world percussion. Didn't think Bowie would write a gritty song like Cracked Actor--hanging out with Iggy paid off. A Stones cover seems like a strange choice here. "Jean Genie" is a bop though. Overall, prettay, prettay good. Wish the gritty theme was consistent throughout the album, but perhaps thats alot to ask of a star on Bowie's level.
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Courtney gives us a post-grunge/pop album and the singles are absolute bops."Celebrity Skin" appropriately soundtracked the opening sequence to EA's NHL Rock The Rink on the PS1 (really underrated game btw). "Malibu" and "Aweful" are both pretty damn catchy. The last half was a bit dull though. Given it's Canada Day as I type this and Melissa Auf der Maur is slappin da bass on here...its getting a generous 🌟🌟🌟
This album was alot to digest as is this band's history. I dig the sound: I'd believe you if told me that half these songs were unreleased Against Me! tracks. Some of the unhinged moments remind me of their countrymen Mclusky (who are fuckin great btw) and a couple other moments give off a heavier gothy vibe. I'll be revisiting this one.
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This album sounds entirely of its time. I dig the breaks and the chopped samples, however, it's strictly a rave album and fails to provide enough song structure to build a hit. I'd rave to this in some sketchy warehouse had I been born decades earlier in the UK; but since I'm a 90s kid I'd prefer to rip Need for Speed and drink Mountain Dew Code Red to their greatest hits instead. I enjoy their later work quite a bit more than this album.
⭐⭐
First off, 12 songs in 27 mins? Love me a short album. Won't revisit it but the reverberations of this sound can be heard in countless other bands so that's gotta be worth something.
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Often imitated, never duplicated; no one does sprechgesang as well as Mark E. Smith. He was a cantankerous lad and his attitude sure bled into his work--and to its benefit. Fundamental piece of post-punk right here.
Standouts include: "Spoilt Victorian Child", "I Am Damo Suzuki", and "Gut Of The Quantifier".
Brix's vocals adds a pop element that's missing from some of their more inaccessible tunes. Loving her voice and the harmonica on "Couldn't Get Ahead" and that pop groove on "paintwork" is hella infectious.
That said, it's a long album and it takes a couple songs to ramp up speed at the beginning.
🌟🌟🌟🌟 (4.5 if I could)
CCR rips! This album begins as a soundtrack for getting tossed through saloon doors by overzealous bouncers. "Commotion" boarders on psychobilly territory and would be awesome to witness live. Swamp rock for the win! But then the album loses that fiery tempo and the sleepy tunes do nothing for me. Lastly, "Green River" & "Bad Man Rising" should be get some recognition here for being absolute bops.
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Pros: love their mix of country (pedal steel and chugging drums) and Africa-indebted vibes
Cons: tad long
Not so hot take: Vampire Weekend (especially their latest output and their jammy live shows) owe their career to this album
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Sounds like Bruce Springsteen emerging from a vat of chemicals. I dig X-rated Bruce. Best enjoyed while walking through the wrong part of town with your red wings on.
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I dig the goofiness of the cover art and "Lazy Sunday". The first instrumental track was pretty dope as well. Overall it's just not quite my cup of tea.
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Not a huge fan of Neo Soul or R&B and I can't say Maxwell won me over here. That said, the bass on this record absolutely slaps and the album title is prettay funny. This here is some baby-making music indeed.
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"Chem World" is catchy and the little wonky piano ditty seems like a window into Albarn's Gorillaz output. However, there are alot of mediocre tunes on here which leads to a tiring listen on this overly length album.
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Likely my most listened to album; a younger me spent countless hours spinning this little aqua gem around the Panasonic Shockwave discman. This is grungey punk with pop hooks perfected. Every song on the albums serves a purpose; no skippers--all rippers!
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If peeing your pants is cool, consider me Abdullah Ibrahim. Don't know much about jazz so I can't really review it. Would I re-listen? Nope.
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Marvin's vocal chops are undeniable and the other artists pull their weight as well. I especially enjoy the percussion throughout this album. However, there's too much filler on this and it sludges along at points. Funky break-up albums should mirror breakups in general; keep it short and sweet babyyy
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-New band to me
-First track rips! Love how the punchy post-punk guitar-work mixes with the twangy banjo(?) and country drummin'. Some more weird effects + harmonica are added and turn this thing into an acid drenched western tune..I'm about it
-The album then sadly "breaks down" into some standard 80s pop fare and fails to rebound
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-Miriam has some pipes!
-I like this version of "Lion Sleeps Tonight / Mbube"
- Mbube actually dates back to the 1920s and is in the public domain🌈, but most of all it reminds me of Ace Ventura👌
-"The Click Song", The Naughty Flea", and "Where Does it Lead" are some of the standout tracks on here
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Like many, I was pretty familiar with this band's history, their influence, and their big tunes. However, reading-up on this album--and spending more time with the less-heralded tracks--gave me an even greater appreciation for Johnny Rotten's trolling. Punk needs more diss tracks; and now I wonder if the New York Dolls responded to their criticism in "New York". I think Johnny's snotty voice elevates their overall sound, and the backing vocals on tracks like "EMI" are a nice touch (even if it does sound a bit too similar to The Modern Lovers' "Roadrunner"). I understand its punk, but I would have welcomed a little more deviation in sound from the rest of the band.
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Well, my actual review got deleted when the page refreshed. So anywayyys...5 stars for this album of all killers 'n no fillers. Great job by a talented bunch of Mass-holes! They're probably Patriots fans too
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What an album! Ozzy and the boys kill it here with 3 of their--and perhaps the genre's--most recognized songs occupying the A-side. Still undecided on "Planet Caravan", it works as an intermission of sorts between 3 face melting classics, but it also feels like a flat tire on an otherwise peerless record. Also, while I reserve the right to change my opinion, I currently love the camp album cover as there's nothing wrong with bringing some humour to a really self-serious genre.
⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4.5)
*Covering Alien Ant Farm's "Smooth Criminal" is a hell of a good choice; even if he doesn't quite make it his own
*Flops: Liberian Girls, I Just Can't Stop Loving You
*Bops: Every other song
*It's a pretty dang good pop album. *Even though it sounds of it's time thanks to the drum machines, I'd still revisit when in the mood for some 80s dance party bangers
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