I absolutely loved listening to Elvis, especially knowing that this was during his most hopeful times. There's a bittersweetness that will always be a part of the Elvis listening experience. And, that version of blue moon!
I listened to this three times. Always happy to listen to Dolly's voice! I found it funny that 'traveling man' followed 'coat of many colors' and definitely believe Dolly was behind that decision. I particularly loved 'here I am.'
So much to say about this album! I thought I had never heard a cardigans song until I listed to Lovefool. I had no idea that was the cardigans and think it's the worst song on this album! Unsurprisingly, I loved Heartbreak, was completely taken by the Iron Man cover and think the Great Divide is a perfect break-up song. I love the title of the album and, with it's unique percussive sounds, it rings true to the mood they were trying to create here.
This was so fun to listen to, especially in the car on my way to work. I saw my life in the 90's run right by my eyes. I can definitely hear how this album influenced so much 90's music. Not only is my favorite song 'Hey,' but if I wrote a song, I might call it 'Hey.' I needed to find out more about the songs, finding this piece that you all might be interested in: https://consequence.net/2019/04/pixies-doolittle-10-stories-behind-the-album/2/
And, this: https://www.nme.com/features/30-information-pixies-album-doolittle-30th-birthday-party-2476993
Now, my biggest question is if I should change my dating profile to say, "I'm looking for someone who whistles at me like in La La Love You."
I don't have anything technical to say about this album. But I will say that I want to have a party. And I want there to be an impending snowstorm and the only people who show up are the ones who will brave the weather. And then the snow starts and we all go outside and marvel at how the snow twinkles in the moonlight. And then we come back inside, pour mugs of mulled wine and put on this album in the low light of winter.
I don't usually listen to this kind of music, but I'm inspired to say that you shouldn't trust anyone who can't appreciate ethereal vocals over heavy distortion. I wish I was in the mixing booth when this was created. I love the ending of 'What You Want' and the beginning of 'Soon.' That was a perfect song placement decision. I let the radio play and 'she found now' came and absolutely loved that song. The whole album put me in such a dreamy, angst filled mood. Good for a lazy Friday, I suppose.
I listened to enough of this growing up that I feel like my 50% is like other’s 200% in this case. I have such a predisposition against southern rock that makes it hard to get around that.
I listened to this twice and loved it, but don't have much to say about it for some reason. Except that I think it's interesting that he was the front man of the Pixies and I wonder if he thinks that those were his better years or not!
It's always amazing to hear Tina sing. What a legend. It's also always shocking to hear how much 'What's Love Got To Do With It' is an abuse song. 1984 really hits home about how not much has changed for being black in America. Sigh. Not sure if you all listened to the remastered version, but it includes a version of the Beatles 'Help' and a duet with David Bowie that are just beautiful.
Listening to this made me want to listen to more punk. I appreciate the 15 songs coming in at just about 35 minutes. Not sure if it was intentional, but I found so many lines laugh-worthy. In Six Pack, "what do they know about partying or anything else and in TV Party, "tv's broke what are we gonna do, we're gonna miss our favorite show." I want to become a rock star so that I can cover TV Party only so that I can sing real loud, "No TV Party tonight." There's also a line in the dark, very dark Room 13 that I love, "as I'll see to it." Somehow it seems very Victorian for a punk band talking about death. I had no idea that Henry Rollins had just started as lead singer with them in 1981, while making this album.
For some reason, I liked, but didn't love this album. I appreciated the thick musical orchestrations, but they left me wanting something more. I think I'm going to plan a trip to Cape Cod this summer and try to listen to it there.
I quite liked listening to this! It was a total departure from what I'm used to, but I totally got into the groove. I had never heard of 'drums and bass' music before and I liked all of the other sounds (water, women moaning, you know) that came along for the ride. I do have to say that I was a little dispointed when I read 'Goldie' as 'Blondie,' but wouldn't you be?
I love this album long before this project. Lou Reed's voice has such swagger and sweetness. And then Nico, sounding so warm yet aloof. Every single song does what it was intended to do, even if I don't know what exactly that was. I really got into Venus In Furs for the first time, digging the strings. I Am Your Mirror is one of my all-time favorite songs, but it hit me differently this time around. It sent me into reflecting about how that's how I can only hope to be that for the people I love.
Sade's voice is absolutely amazing and I loved the 80's groove to this album, especially on Smooth Operator. I did wonder if there was any connection between the album being produced in 1984 and Orwellian predictions for 1984, but probably not.
I really enjoyed listening to this album and will definitely put a few songs on my running playlist. Kinda like a mash of Talking Heads, Green Day and the Cure, if that's possible. I especially liked the first track and now can't get "lalalala redneck" out of my head. And, who doesn't like a song that ends with a horse neigh? I would advise against selling ecstasy to the army, though!
This felt like a guilty pleasure, without any of the guilt. Into the Mystic and Crazy Love are placeless and timeless. I can't imagine anyone would ever listen and not love those songs. I did find myself enjoying Brand New Way (that first note on the piano) in a different spirit, now than I'm older. It's hard to separate this album from memories of my last years in college and first years in Chicago. A transition-time album that reminds me about the hope in heartbreak. An absolute non-guilty pleasure.
What an amazing work. If feels less like music and more like art based critical theory, even though the music is incredible. I don't know if I ever realized how much of a protest album this is. I can almost see the line from "A Change Is Gonna Come" to this. It feels so timely that happened in the US the last few year and is a bit disheartening to think that things haven't changed much.
I was too busy listening to Leonard Cohen in 1996 that I never gave this album a proper listen, but was excited to explore it. I came into the Eels late, being introduced through the song, "I like the way this is going" a few years ago and then digging into some of their older stuff (but not this album). I loved that song for it's tentative and nervous sweetness, a feeling that carries through so much of their work. I'm sure that "Beautiful Freak" was the song that I had always wanted a boy to sing to me in 1996. I love the juxtaposition of the sweet & gloomy moments with the angsty moments on this album. I love the grainy quality of the vocals on "Not Ready Yet." I haven't had such unprepared delight ever in a song as when the harmonicas came on in "Guest List." I think that this band stands out for its unique mix of grunge and emo that gives them a unique sense of vulnerability. Plus, I want a cat named Lolita with a violent past and their use of "mint chocolate chip ice cream" was brilliant. What a great listen.
I was so happy to get a holiday album today! That's what I was hoping for. This one made me really want to explore the artists on the album, particularly the Ronettes. That is the most iconic version of "I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Clause." You can almost hear her wink. I was curious by the last track, with Phil Spector saying that he did something "different" with the songs, but didn't say what. Now I know what the "Wall of Sound" treatment is, thanks to this album!
I listened to this album on headphones during the car ride from Buffalo to Chicago, which was the perfect way to hear the buttery quality of Dusty's voice. I've heard a few of the songs before, but it was special to listen to a whole album of her. I haven't thought of the song "You Don't Own Me" in awhile and think its a beautiful mix of sweet and creepy. I loved the arrangement of "Mockingbird", with the backing vocals being as loud as the lead vocals. "Can I Get a Witness" really showcased her vocal range and I loved the screamy bits at the end!
I liked, but didn't love this album. It was an interesting listen, but somehow seemed derivative of a few other things I love (Jeff Buckley and Talking Heads) and made me just want to listen to them.
I loved how the psychedelic sound to this record is so lo-fi. I also loved the distortion at the end of No Man's Land. It was both fun and dark. Sweet and mad. Reading about the difficulty in producing this album was interesting, knowing how it came out. I really felt the lyrics in Dark Globe, with most of it feeling a little nonsensical, but then with that croon of "won't you miss me?" and "please."
What an interesting listen. If I hadn't looked at the band title, I might have thought it was a Patti Smith album. The wiki article talks about how the vocals in this album are an instrument and I can definitely see that. It's hard to believe that it was recorded in 1978. I love this tidbit from wikipedia that shows that fandom sometimes does work. "A fan undertook a graffiti campaign in London, spraying the walls of the major record companies with the words "Sign the Banshees: do it now"." Also, this was interesting to learn about the title,"The title of the album was in part inspired by the 1968 film The Swimmer (starring Burt Lancaster), in which main character, Neddy Merrill, intended to swim home, using open-air pools. Climbing over garden fences, from pool to pool, his journey put him into a state of mental and physical exhaustion, and in the end, Goddard said, "all Neddy Merrill could think to do was scream, [...] as a scream of exhausted jubilance after a troubled, arduous journey". All around, a good album. Made me want check out their last album of 2004 to see where the band went.
Very fun to listen to this while getting ready for a New Year's Celebration. It's somehow both upbeat and relaxing. Stir It Up will always be one of my favorite songs of all time.
I first came across this album in college and remember thinking that I'm not cool enough to listen to it. This time around, I didn't feel like it was cool enough for me. Times do change, I suppose! I had to check out the Weird Al video for Wail......
I was a little surprised that I had the thought listening to this, "where are the drums." There's something really weird in the mixing that makes them seem hidden, when weren't they supposed to be the point of the band? Anyway, it did come out in "Dueling Bongos" and I really liked the way that "Satisfaction" Sounded.
I've listened to too much Eagles growing up on the radio to really enjoy them anymore, but gave this a spin anyway. I can't say that these aren't good songs, but Don Henley's voice is a little too syrupy for my taste and the music is too sweet and smooth to be interesting to listed to. I know. I should like the Eagles. I just don't
This album was a little too "jam bandy" for my taste, though I did appreciate the way they used the electronic piano to put in some funkiness and the harmonica to lighten up the guitar riffs. I did like the first half of the last song, but mostly because, after a bunch of songs on the record, it more closely fit my musical sensibilities.
This is a perfect album. I listen to it a few times each year, so it was a pleasure to get it on such a cold day in Chicago. Two of my favorite songs of all time are
"Case Of You" and "River." I feel like everything about this album has been said and will just bask in it's overall perfection.
I can't believe that I've never listened to a JAY Z album before! It was very cool. I loved the grooves and the samples made me want to explore the originals. A great example of using music to honor a legacy. My big critique is how he talks about women (using the b work) and money. But.......there's probably some depth to that history as well.
That was certainly a groovy listen, although I might need some drugs to stick with the longer songs in their entirety. Everyday People is such a classic.
Fiona is going to go down as a national treasure in the US. I felt so strong and powerful after listening to this album that I had to revisit her earlier stuff to see if the same feeling applied. Of course, it did. Her artistic choices are so apparent in this album that her genius really shows. Loved listening to this (over and over). It deserves the Grammy's that it won and she deserved not to have to go to the show!
Sweet, empathetic, funny and socialist men will always win in my book and so it goes with Billy Bragg. I love how he wears his politics on his sleeve and keeps his Irishness at the front and center of his work. This was the album in needed in this political climate to remind me of the good fight.
I listened to this, wondering if there were actually two different bands on this album. The dance-beat centric songs were so incredibly different from the more melodic, atmospheric songs. I loved Skeleons, Hysteric and Little Shadow. Not so much the other songs, but I bet they'd be great live.
Spun through this once and had no interest to do a second listen. I remember thinking, "Oh, I know that song," but it didn't lead to anything that I'd want to know better. I could see this being of use as background music in a bar where nobody wants to listen.
I had only really listened to Park Life before this and it was very fun to listen to. Made me definitely want to check out more. But, it's likely I'd need someone else to encourage it, rather than seek it out myself.
I loved listening to this. It was surprising and sharp. Chaotic, yet organized. It kinda felt like my life, haha. I have a feeling that if I owned a coffee shop, this might be on rotation there. But, softly!
What a nice, smooth listen. I absolutely loved the version of "Just My Imagination". So different to hear that tune not motown'ed out.
Wowowowow. This was so amazing that I've already listened to two more of their albums. What a band! Such a nice mix of hop hop, soul, funk. If anything contains multitudes, this music does. I feel very lucky to know about them now. I wish this had an additional star to give extra special albums.
I had never heard of this. They really brought out the fun in goth. I loved the theatricality of the album. So many unexpected twists and turns in each song.
I loved both the music behind the vocals and the ethereal vocals. I definitely want to check more of her work out. You can definitely tell that she's a visual artist as well (or an all-around artist) because of her unique putting together of the pieces.
I enjoyed listening to this. I especially liked the songs that I hadn't heard before. I don't know that it'll cause me to listen to her more. The biggest obsession about Adele that I have is the fact that Rick Beato is obsessed with her. I LOVE to listen to him talk about her!
It's always nice to listen to this again. Every song is a good song and I feel like I always find something new. This time around, I felt incredibly moved by "Here Comes The Sun." What a simple and profound song. It's hard to believe that John left the Beatles 6 days after they finished recording this. I would love to be in the room where it happened.
The music had a great, positive vibe to it. The lyrics, though!!
Jimi Hendrix is just amazing. The guitar work speaks for itself and seems to speak of a different world. I also think that the quality of his voice is extremely special-gravely, yet smooth at the same time. I've never listened to this entire album and found a few songs stand out.
I loved International Robot! It was interesting to hear such a mix between rock, and punk. I thought that the punk heavy songs were more interesting than the rock heavy songs, but overall a solid listen.
It's hard to know what to say about this album because there is so much to say. Personally, it's one of my all time favorites. At least once a week, the line comes into my mind, "long after the midnight curfew, they sat starry-eyed" and it always makes life feel right again. Duncan was never my favorite song on the album, but this time it rose to the top, with its beautiful coming of age story. Sigh. I love Paul Simon.
This was amazing. Every song was better than the last. What great stories and tunes.
Loved this my first listen In the 90’s and love it still.
From beginning to end, this is a delight.
I hadn’t listened to much Belle & Sebastian before, but loved how the soft pop sounded on a cold and rainy day in Chicago.
Wow. Can someone pack that much into six songs? It's funny that he was struggling with drugs a lot during this period because the music is so on point and solid. He has an incredible way, always and forever, of matching the feel of the music with the feel of the vocals (not just the lyrics but HOW the lyrics are used). I would have loved to see this played in its entirety live.
Listening to this sent me on a spin of listening to Bowie albums, trying to decide if "Five Years" was indeed my favorite song. I got stuck on Hunky Dory, forgetting how perfect it is from beginning to end.
I associate Lambchop with bass vocals, so was surprised that most of this record was in falsetto. It’s definitely not what I was expecting, but it felt both a little underdone and a little overdone, in general. I did think that the first song worked really well in its indie rock vibe, I just wish that the rest of the album followed suit.
So many memories of Vincent and Crossroads.
This feels like avant guard done right. Everything comes together perfectly, even despite it's offset sounds. The use of sparse vocals works in perfectly.
The timing on where they come in is perfect. The atmosphere the bands creates is palpable. It's both light and dark. It's bot cheerful and moody. I have no idea how a piece of music can hold both, but every song on this album seems to. I particularly liked "Bring Me Coffee Or Tea" and "Aumgn." I only wish I had better headphones to enhance the experience.
I don't think that there's anything bad you can say about The Smiths. Unless you are a bad person.
Wow. I listened to a few songs and am not surprised that they inspired a bunch of bands that I do not like. It's called thrasher metal for a reason, I guess.
Even though most of the songs clock in over 7 minutes, it's easy to listen to and get lost in the song. I laughed a few times out loud about the lyrics in "II Know What I Like" and felt like "Cinema Show" could be a song that came out yesterday. The arrangements build in such a way that makes would could be a jam, something more.
I was excited to listen to this, since I had never listened to The Stokes and wanted to check it out. The first three songs were promising, but that was short lived. I found the other songs repetitive and not very original. I’d be curious to listen to a different album to see if I get a different vibe.
There is something timeless about everything Rufus does and this album is no exception. His theatricality matches perfectly with the quality of his voice. The first song is the perfect way to enter this album and sets the stage for an emotional experience.
What a great reminder of all the fantastic music that came out of the 80's. What was particularly interesting was the way that the album seemed to defy genre. It seemed at times new wave, at times experimental rock, at times early indie and at times soundscape. Loved exploring the couple of songs that I didn't know on this album!
Dylan is such an important part of music history that it feels impossible to look at a song or an album without that layering over it. This is a beautiful album. Every single line on "It's Allright Ma'" has multiple meanings both within and without the context of the song. And then you add in the the repetitive music behind the lyrics. This is both an album to sing to and be inspired by.
"Once I Was" always hits me hard. The cadence of it only is matched by the beginning, where it starts off with a few guitar strums and then off beat drums. I love how digs into the beauty in sorrow. As much of Tim Buckley's work does. I can think of a bunch of bands/musicians that might not exist without him taking the chance to do folk music differently-mixing folk, psychedelia, fantasy and rock in a new way.
Wow. I've never listened to this, but have always wanted to. What a masterpiece. It is such a beautiful expression of humanity. Always surprising, but in a way that keeps you in the piece. This could be listened to both in the background of a coffee shop and on head phones in the dark. Gorgeous.
You can tell by the company Emmylou keeps how special of an artist she is. Duets with The Boss and Patty Griffin and Kate McGarrigle on the accordion. The Pearl is such an epic way to start this album that I was thinking it could end the album as well. She can do rock and folk equally well. Loved listening to this.
This is a great example of when the hit songs are actually the best songs on the radio. I'm convinced that this album made the 1001 list because of the songs "How Can I Be Sure" and "Groovin.'" The rest of the album is a bit lackluster in that it's trying to do what other bands at the time were doing, but the other bands were doing it better. That said, the other standout song was "A Place in the Sun." The organ on that song lent itself to the gospel-influenced vocals. It's a beautiful song.
The Spanish and Italian version of "Groovin'" are super fun to listen to! I think I prefer the Italian, though, haha.
I listened to a few songs and scanned through the rest. I decided that I prefer my doors on oldies radio in my mom's baby blue honda civic.
I'd have to be 18 again to think this 'Lizard King' thing is sexy again.
This is an album with attitude! “Do you feel it when you pop?” I found the lyrics to be surprisingly avant guard poetic. I usually am not one for drum solos, but this is an exception. They had a touch of playfulness and surprise. The trumpet in 1970 added a jazz-like intro to the punk-pop sound. Plus, I love the little trumpet noise at the beginning of Fun House. Such a great listen. Iggy Pop deserves never to have to wear a shirt again.
I could not help but dance to every song on this album. It's upbeat and fun grooves, mixed with Bjork's sensational vocals, creates such an optimistic listening experience. I can't imagine listening to this and not feeling lighthearted and happy. Though "Cowboy" made me laugh and "Dragon" was a little scary, I enjoyed every moment of this album.
I'd never heard of this group before and really enjoyed the vibe.
This really brought back the beginning of the lights for me. But I would like to leave it there, if only for what I know about Moby today. My guess is that it sounded new when it came out, but how seems like tidied up elevator music.
I absolutely loved the moody romanticism of this album. Especially in that it also held an underlying positivity. I did start to wonder if it’s actually the music or if the music just fits my personality, but at the end of the day, I don’t care.
I have almost the same review for The Cure as for New Order.
I enjoyed listening to this, but found myself lingering on the album’s potential rather than the album itself . It’s not surprising that it’s Amy Mann’s first album because it seems like one of someone who hasn’t yet come into their own, which we all know Amy Mann does just a few years later. Instead of having an original take, this album takes the best of 90’s music and puts it all together. Which makes it good, but not great.
I enjoyed listening to this and I wasn't even in an Airport. The description of it being an alternative to musak holds up in that it is beautiful, rather than reductive.
This Dylan album gives everyone something to love. Rock, folk, politics, swagger. All encompassed in incredible music sensibilities and outstanding lyrics. Just wow.
I thought this album was fantastic. I found myself thinking about how much I'd love to hang out these guys. They seem like a perfect mix of smart and cool. The intonations that they make with their voices are subtle for punk, but really lend themselves to the beat. I particularly liked "Fragile" and "It's So Obvious." I will definitely save some of these songs for future listens.
I haven't listened to much of his stuff before, but the optimism and positivity conveyed through this music was contagious. Planning to check out more of his stuff!
This felt like a mix of different genres, without committing to any. It’s possible that it felt more interesting during the time it was released, but I found it mostly flat.
The Dire Straits are the right amount of smooth and cool. Not too smooth, not too cool. They are situated in the 80's, for sure, but their music has a timeless quality to it that makes it feel fresh. I also love how they don't play on any southern rock or 80's pop "troupes," but rather have a sound in and of themselves.
I remember thinking that Kate Bush wasn't angry enough when I was in high school and now I feel like she is jus the right amount of angry. Her intensity is captivating.
This was a fun listen, especially in that every song sounded like it could be on a different album. Hard to trace both it's influence and who influenced it!
I used to think that Michael Stipe was the best thing about R.E.M., but now I think R.E.M. is the best thing about R.E.M. The band works so seamlessly and enthusiastically together. It feels like their friendship and deep collaboration lends itself to an optimism in the music. Long live R.E.M.
You can totally tell how this is the beginning of something special. It's interesting to think that this was made in 1971. The arrangements are interesting and mix really well with the vocals. Dreamy and real at the same time.
Fun and refreshing. Lots of cool instruments making cool sounds. Reminds me how much fun this kind of music. Definitely will check this out again.
I never felt more like I had a hangover when I didn't have a hangover when I listened to this.
This is a perfect album. Even the long musical jams are unique and interesting. Listening to this again makes me wonder why I don't listen to it more.
I enjoyed the gospel leanings of this album!
This was a great album. It was a nice mix of funk and R&B. That said, there were times when I wanted more funk or more R&B rather than the two interchanged with each other.
In most of her work, Bjork's voice takes center stage. Which makes sense, considering that her voice is the Icelandic version of a cowboy swagger. On this album, the mixing takes center stage, with perfectly placed notes of piano doing enough to offset the darker beats. I'd love to be in that mixing room. I'd also love to hear all of the parts separately. My guess is that each would be interesting on its own, but together create something greater than the sum.
I just knew I was going to like a guy when it he played this album on vinyl the first time I went over to his house. Sigh, Ray Charles makes everything good, better.
Wow. To call this music doesn't do it justice. To call it a work of art doesn't do it justice. The way that the album digs into the depths of grief is so powerful. It's heartbreaking, but in a way that elevates the experience to connect to a deeper humanity.
Compared to some of his other work, this takes what's best and leaves what is "Nick Cave."
It's amazing how this seems to sit perfectly on the precipice of the 70's and 80's, using the best out of both worlds. And yet, it also seems like it is current and relevant today.
I wish I could give this 10 stars. Sam Cooke is a legend. Listening to this live show is incredible. It's more than a concert. It's like a variety show. The call and response is so uplifting that you leave listening, feeling optimistic about the world and how it might be better. Even though you know what's coming next, he is able to infuse an air of suspense that is palpable. I also love the conversational tone of his banter with the crowd. It pulls you in as if you were an old, close friend. The standout tracks for me were "Twistin' The Night Away," "Tennessee Waltz" and "If I Had A Hammer." However, there is no song I would take off and so many gave me goosebumps, like when he croons "give" on "When I Fall In Love" and when he says "away" in "Blowing In The Wind." Such a special album.
I didn’t love this album, but didn’t hate it. Seemed like easy listening for aging indie rockers. Somehow, I felt like I was listening to Don Henley’s greatest hits. Which isn’t a terrible thing, but….
Pure optimism. What a joy to listen to something that is musically amazing but resonates so powerfully.
Interesting and diverse listening.
I remember feeling empowered by this album in high school and that feeling remains. The low-fi guitar, mixed with funny yet true lyrics does what feminism does best…make sure that everyone knows that anything a guy can do, a girl can do as good, if not better. Though this album is situated in the 90’s, it is timeless and forward thinking.
Leonard Cohen is perfect. This album might be his best.
Fun listen. Light and easy, but with a great beat.
