Come on - this is one of the best albums of all time. Have it on vinyl. A must-listen. 5/5
Grace is one of those albums people talk about like it’s untouchable, and I get why—it’s got a super moody, atmospheric vibe, and Jeff Buckley’s voice is nuts. Dude can go from whispering to wailing in a second. But did it totally hook me all the way through? Eh, not really.
I’ll give it credit—there’s some cool stuff going on with the way he plays with tension. A lot of the chords just kinda hang there before resolving, which makes everything feel dreamy but also a little unsettling. Works really well in Hallelujah, which, yeah, is definitely a solid cover. But at times, the album almost drifts too much for me. Like, it’s beautiful, but I wasn’t always locked in.
That said, the highlights are great. Mojo Pin, Grace, So Real, Lover, You Should’ve Come Over—those tracks really stand out. The whole thing has a unique feel, and I get why it’s a big deal, but I don’t know if I’d come back to it often. Still, solid album. 4/5.
Steve McQueen by Prefab Sprout took me by surprise with its layers of distortion on the first track. "Appetite" is a standout track for me - I really like the sound of that one. "Horsin’ Around" is another standout that has a unique and playful vibe. The album’s jazz influences add an interesting dimension, especially in contrast with its more synth-driven moments, like the atmospheric background elements on When the Angels.
Lyrically, the album leans into a quirky, almost erratic style that feels both charming and unpredictable. Not every track hits—"Desire As" feels like a repetitive and weak song in overall. But I think that mostly, the album delivers a quality listen that I probably would've enjoyed for a bit if I had been around during the time this came out. Solid 4/5.
Look—I’ll be real. It’s a short album, so it’s gotta hook me the whole time, and this just didn’t. I like soul and jazzy chord progressions, but this was just kinda… dull? It’s super laid-back, which isn’t a bad thing, but for me, it just never really went anywhere. His voice is nice—kinda nasally but in a good way—but the songs all blended together. Samey chord progressions, nothing that really grabbed me. It’s funky, but I’ve heard other soul artists bring more energy or just more something to the table. Probably won’t revisit. 2/5.
Otis Redding's voice is so iconic. It's so powerful, and it really makes me smile. This honestly feels like one of those albums you could play all the way through at a wedding. It isn't the most innovative or experimental record, but it really does make me feel really good. It might be because it feels like he brings so much passion to the vocal performance that it is such an evocative album. The instrumentals on this album are also incredibly passionate and classic-sounding. Everything about this album puts a smile on my face- not much more to say than that. The only thing is that the sound feels a little dated to revisit often, but that might just be because I'm young and really prefer hifi sound. Really liked it 4/5
I like the end of the album - it's cute. Really though, the album just sounds like music in a traditional rock bar that opened in the late 90s early 2000s. It's just kinda derivative of the time period and not all that interesting all the way through. Also, not a fan of the main vocalist. His accent is a bit annoying. Can see why this is a must-listen album if this sound was revolutionary for its time, but honestly, there are so many similar bands/songs since this album came out that it feels pointless and dull. 2/5
This album kicks ass. I love his voice - even though it's rough around the edges. One thing about Springsteen is that his lyrics are so honest and illustrative of the working class experience. There are some really hard-hitting tracks, and powerful moments in his vocal delivery and the instrumental/production. I especially love the softer moments on this album, particularly on "Racing In The Street". I am also just a sucker for a good piano-rock ballad. Genuinely, I think this would be one of my favorite albums if I had been born in this era. It's just so iconic-sounding. 5/5
This album really has an excellent sound and groove all the way through. Honestly, Marvin was really in his bag with the overall sound, the vocal deliveries, the instrumentation, especially on the soloist end for the guitars and the sax. I really liked listening to it - but man.... the message on this album just really REALLY bogs down the vibes. I could feel it if it was more of a heartbreak album, but this is really just an hour (plus) long call-out to his ex. Feels a little uncalled for. I can see how the sonical vibe of the album contrasts well with what he's saying, and maybe there's some deeper messaging there. But on the surface level, the message is hard to ignore and it kind of ruins it for me. 3/5
Look - this album intro is KILLER. Roundabout is a classic, no doubt about that. The intro, the iconic bassline, the harmonies on the vocals... does that mean the whole album is classic though? Not really. It's fun at times, but nowhere does it ever match the levels of the first track. It's rather weird at times and honestly, it is a pretty mid album to the end. But I love Roundabout so much. 3/5
Harry Rag. Harry Rag. I'll do anything just to get a harry rag.
OK. I've heard this album many times before. It's a bit hard to get past the fact that it's just a shithead kid rambling about vulgarities. But when you think of the artistry in the lyrics, the rhyming, the storytelling, it's really an incredible listen. Sure, some lines and aspects haven't aged well. But I feel like most of it was just as offensive now as it was then. As far as how it lines up in Em's discography, I don't think it's better than the MMLP... but it's a pretty solid starting point for one of the most decorated rappers in history.
This guy's voice was weird, and he said some iffy stuff. But musically, there were some fun moments and charming instrumentals. 2/5
This was a pretty sweet sounding album. I usually have a hard time connecting with music that isn't in my native language. But the sound is so beautiful. I can especially see its influence in jazz fusion of this same time period. It's cool hearing the instruments and flutes and everything come together as well as with the vocalists. Not something revolutionary in terms of music theory, but the sound is very classic-sounding. 3/5
This was kind of boring, but kind of beautiful. It felt almost country in a way, but then had the beautiful orchestra. The guitar was on point, and I love a lot of the chord structures. But, I don't know if I'm ageist, the guy's voice felt not as strong or poignant as I would've cared for. I felt like I could fall asleep at any time. 2/5
Wow - this album is awesome. The instrumentation, the vocal performance and layering, the unique identity and sound, chord progressions... This is something I am really wanting to revisit. It gives off such a feel good vibe. I really had a hard time picking a favorite track - the opener is so killer and really sets the tone for the whole album. If I had to pick a favorite though it would be "Any Major Dude Will Tell You". The guitar riffs on that one feel almost nostalgic in a way. This is a classic - it has to be. I loved it all the way through. 5/5
It was fine. I'm not a huge fan of this style of music. Rock mostly feels bland to me. It didn't draw me in. However, I can see how this was elevated and a higher quality version of this type of music. 4/5
Pretty laid-back album. Had a good vibe, just not crazy about his voice all the way through. I fell asleep at the end too. 2/5
This is THE Jay Z album. The reason why he's in every old head's top 5. I also love how the production is so similar to The College Dropout (one of my favorite albums of all time, unfortunately produced and written by one of the worst humans alive). Barely any features, but that Em feature is so iconic. This album is such a vibe, and the lyricism is so fun. 5/5
It was fun - I liked the lead vocalist and there was a lot of energy. Also felt super Millenial/Gen X. Very classic hard rock sound. It was fine, it just wasn't super stand-out IMO
I liked the minecraft music at the end. 4/5
Pretty solid album - never really liked Bob Dylan's voice for some reason. He's very nasally. But over time, it's become more charming. And the production is very solid.
