Interesting listen.
Not a band I usually listen to, but appreciate the complexity in the African rhythms and dense musical landscape the album paints.
3/5 - probably wouldn't listen to again.
Some really good moments, excellent catchy choruses and great jangly guitar.
No getting away from that classic REM sound I personally don’t really like but it has some thoroughly enjoyable moments.
Laughing and 9-9 particularly caught my attention
4/5 - good album, but not quite my jam.
Can’t believe I’ve only just found this album, it’s fantastic. The walking bass and organ combo is my jam.
Velvet Underground with a bit of the doors thrown in. The lyrics and vocals get a bit repetitive and the songs are perhaps a tad too long, but the sound is so effortlessly cool.
4/5 - Loses momentum in the second half unfortunately, but it’s added to my collection.
To be honest, I was hoping for more. I really like the samples and the interweaving of musical styles, but the overall result just didn’t quite hit the mark for me. The journey was interesting but at times I found it quite lacking.
3/5 - Wanted to like it more. Will definitely check out more DJ shadow, hopefully it gets better than this album.
Some really cool moments when mixing musical styles. It had a strong musical landscape but at times it felt a bit on one level. Had the urge to skip at a few points, but I made it through.
2/5 - Didn't resonate with me.
Strong beats and catchy melodies, but it lost my attention half way through when it started to get a bit flat and boring in parts.
It’s pretty much music to put on at dinner parties whilst everyone sits around doing drugs.
3/5 - liked it, but probably won’t listen again
Wasn’t really in the mood for this when I started listening, but by the end of it I was in full swing! Fantastic Jazz album, impossible not to get the foot tapping along
4/5 - Enjoyable listen, probably going to add this to my list.
Really catchy songs with pretty hooks, wonderful lyrics giving each song an enjoyable listening experience. However the album can get pretty boring in parts.
Really dislike the bass sound though, and the massive amount of reverb on each instrument. But that’s the 80s I guess!
3/5 - A fun ride.
3/5 It was alright, probably won’t listen again
I can only imagine how futuristic this album must have sounded in 1979!
Personally, I just don't dig it. The songs drag on way too long and the vocals are too winey. But I can appreciate how revolutionary it is.
2/5 - Didn't resonate with me
Such a great sound, the drums, the bass, its so cool.
A psychedelic experimentation, but sonically not as polished as others of the time.
4/5 - Already have it on vinyl (mainly due to the cool cover)
2/5 - Fell asleep during the listen. Not really for me
2/5 - Fell asleep during the listen. Not really for me
Reminds me of the heavy metal nights at Jilly's rockworld. Absolute shite.
1 - The worst kind of metal
2/5 - Cant face any more Leonard Cohen. I'm sure the album is great, but its not for me.
Classic dad rock. Straight down the middle, foot tapping, well crafted, classic dad rock.
Album starts off really strong but kinda wains in the middle.
Great harmonies.
3/5 - It was was alright, probably won’t listen again
Better than I thought I would be, in a few parts he's got a pretty cool sound, a 60's Dylan / Donovan / Stones vibe which bands were adopting in the late 90s.
But overall it cant escape the 2000's acoustic country pop drivel.
3 - It was was alright, would enjoy it if it was on the radio but probably wouldn't choose to put it on again.
Such a strong sound it conjures up an era. A bit before my time, the rock/rave scene had vanished from Manchester by the time I got there.
The songs have a tendency to blend together and drag on a bit during the weaker parts. But it has such a strong vibe that kinda distracts from how boring the album actually is.
4/5 - Would give it 3 but my inner Manc is pushing it up to 4.
Good solid country songs. A good band and authentic sound, about as much country and western as I can tolerate.
2/5 - Not a fan of country. I’m not a cowboy.
Old skool rap. Some fantastic beats, but man do the songs drag.
Respect the legacy, but its perhaps a bit too unpolished for me to really get hooked on.
2/5 - RAPetitive.
The first third of the album is swamped in the dirty muddy guitar and falls into the habit of sounding too similar on each track, which ultimately makes all of the songs blend into each other.
Using the contrast of quiet and loud for verses and chorus quite a lot, it can sound quite sparse and thin in places. But the choice of chords and solid back beat keeps it interesting.
Really like how raw it is, but fuck me the riffs drag on. The songs are quite linear, built around one riff or idea and expanded upon and dragged out for 3 minutes.
Wasn’t sure of the album at first, but by the end of it I was a fan.
4/5 - quite liked it, might listen to more PJ
Never really listened to Lynyrd Skynyrd before, but that tight knit driving rock beat is right up my street. Some seriously funky riffs in here! Shame about the 7 minute track lengths.
Really like the vibe but it’s possibly too heavy on the classic 70s American rock sound for me to really get into.
3/5 - Cool songs, but probably won’t listen again
A mess. Just about every instrument is drenched in reverb whilst being sloppy, too busy and perhaps overproduced.
One thing I will say is that it’s consistent. The album has momentum and flows well throughout. But its all a mess.
2/5 - Won’t be listening again.
Excellent production.
Pleasant enough songs, superbly melodic with a plethora of ear worms, but can tend to lack some tangible substance.
Its sheer length meant I couldn’t enjoyably listen to the album in one sitting, it took me a few days to get through which kind of broke up the flow. But honestly by that point my interest had wavered.
3/5 - Some bangers on here worth cherry picking, but probably won’t be listening to the album again any time soon.
The musical craftsmanship is superb, it’s an eccentric dreamscape with quirky melodies and driving groove keeping the album moving forward cohesively.
It’s a confusing first listen though, it’s a fun sound but it perhaps gets a little samey throughout as the gimmick gets tiresome. The frantic baselines and odd vocal harmonies make the album hard to fully enjoy.
It’s a lot to take in, and at some points I actually don’t want to take it in. It’s beating me over the head with its quirkiness and it gets irritating. Musically though it’s excellent and the production is fantastic.
3/5 - I can’t help but think of it as meme music. Sounds too much like Bill Wurtz.
First impressions is that they’re just a budget Rolling Stones. But then going through the album its quite interesting to hear all of their influences mixed in, from the blues to Elvis, showcasing their musicality. Then even touching on a bit of an early punk sound. Then ending with a complete show stopper in Whiskey Woman - Great song.
Overall though, I cant get away from that generic pub rock vibe that does little to interest me.
2/5 - Pub cover band vibe with one good song
I had high expectations going in and was a little apprehensive that the album might not deliver. But my concern was redundant, the album is fantastic.
It’s such a full sounding album, with so many surprises and melodic ear worms. Its pretty experimental in parts but it really showcases Bowie as an artist first and foremost.
The second half of the album isn’t as punchy as the first; the pace slows down a bit during the instrumental sound scapes. But they’re gorgeous to listen to, it doesn’t matter that the album isn’t packed with pop hits, it doesn’t need to be, the beautiful art rock is such a pleasant listen.
5/5 - Loved it.
Due to the controversy surrounding Courtney Love I never really gave Hole a chance. So I’m really glad they came up in this - it’s about time I had a listen.
I enjoyed the album way more than I was expecting to. Amazingly crafted songs and hooks, so much attitude and raw power. The subject matter along with their wall of sound absolutely blows you off your feet.
A high 4/5 - Really enjoyed the album, probably going to dive back in.
Quintessential classic rock. Easy to listen to and a pretty fun ride.
3/5 It was alright, probably won’t listen again though.
I don’t think I can put into words how much I like Jimi Hendrix.
5/5 - Absolutely phenomenal album
Really cool well crafted almost pop rock in parts, in other parts however its really erratic and jarring. It doesn’t linger on one musical style for long. There’s a huge contrast between light and dark, it shouldn’t work but it does.
Intricate and interesting guitar work, gritty but jangly at the same time. And the combination of male/female vocal styles is also really well done.
I cant quite put my finger on it but I like it. And I also don’t like it. But I also love it, It’s weird.
5/5 - A really interesting listen, way better than I thought it would be. Listened repeatedly for a few days
A unit of an album. It really takes you on a journey and paints pictures on the way.
It’s a really tight album. Not usually a fan of ska, but the it really takes you on a journey and was thoroughly enjoyable.
It was cool to hear about the social commentary on race relations of the time, the club scene and even getting married and having kids too young. Its all poignant throughout but not too heavy handed.
4/5 - I like it, but I don’t love it
Overall, the songs are way too long.
4 of the songs are absolutely phenomenal, perhaps some of my favourite songs ever. Utterly beautiful.
There’s a stark difference between the 4 hits and the other songs however, the disparities between them make much of the album feel like filler. It felt drawn out, bloated, and dull in places. Each song is about twice as long as they really ought to be.
4/5 - Most of the album is a 3 at best, but Bitter Sweet Symphony gives it a push.
Probably a bit unfairly I listened to this right after Doolittle, and unfortunately it doesn’t quite have the same impact.
It’s a solid sounding album, but the songs struggle to jump out and make an impression. If anything its slightly more consistent of an album than Doolittle, it feels like it has a slightly darker tone, more spacey alt-rock but a bit more gothy. Unfortunately tends to get a bit irritating at times.
3/5 - It was was alright, probably won’t listen again
It’s a sweet sounding album, very nostalgic crooner ballads but with a captivating modern beauty.
4/5 - Perfect background music on a Sunday morning
Having heard American Idiot on the radio and in rock clubs for 18 years, I cant believe how different it sounds through headphones!
Really impressive production and like how it doesn’t stay in one place for too long, but it can feel overwhelmingly “Theatre” at times.
4/5 - Phenomenal album, but I know I’m never going to listen to it again.
No idea what he’s whispering, but it sounds great.
Really cool vibe, but I think it would benefit from having the band and music closer to the mic, it feels so far away!
4/5 - Who IS Melody Nelson?
Such a cool sound, probably the most catchy and easy going psychedelic sound I’ve heard from all of the 60s bands. It knows just how far to push it and it works.
The album has a bit too much country in it for me to really get into it.
A generous 4/5 - Pretty good, added to my list
2/5 - Err not really my thing, didn’t resonate with me
I thought I’d be indifferent with this album going in, but I actually enjoyed it way more than I thought I would. Not a rap fan at all, but the samples kept it interesting and it was really catchy in parts.
3/5 - The second half of the album dragged a little bit, I think it might have benefitted from being a bit shorter.
Went in with an open mind. Didn't love it, but I can appreciate some of it. The production is pretty terrible.
2/5 - Nah son.
3/5 Beats were really cool, and quite liked the rapping in places. But overall it just didn’t do it for me.
Ergh, not another shitty country album! 30 seconds in and I’m giving it a generous 2/5. I’m willing to bet it doesn’t improve.
Ok… I hold my hands up, it was actually pretty good. Had it on in the background and found myself really enjoying it in places.
2/5 - Still too much country on it.
It’s tight, reasonably well played and probably the shortest album I’ve ever listened to. Its unapologetically punk, and I kinda enjoyed it because of that.
2/5 - I mean, it’s not great though.
As a guitarist the album is brilliant for painting dreamy fuzzy guitar filled landscapes, but as a listener the songs don’t really DO anything. They feel a bit lacklustre and drag on way too long.
It’s a weird one, one half of me really enjoyed the loose and spacious atmosphere created by his guitar pedals, but the other half of me was bored out of my mind.
3/5 - Great music to fall asleep to.
Amazing beats, but the rapping wasn’t really my cup of tea. The sampling was outstanding and the beats super enjoyable
4/5 - Maybe a bit too much shouting, but man the production is pretty incredible
Got some really vibin riffs and grooves, but to be honest if you've heard one track you've heard them all.
2/5 - Too much wailing
Some thunderous riffs and ultimate rock moments in this album, and it goes without saying that hand full of tracks are obviously classics.
But there's no escaping how naff it can all get at times, is it the music? The lyrics? the delivery? I'm not sure. I won't be listening again to find out.
2/5 - Cheesy as fuck.
