3.5/5
Dark, distorted, and depressing but a good listen if you’re in the mood for it. Knowing the background of “Rooster” breathes some life into a song heard way to many times on the radio, though it doesn’t exactly fit thematically with the rest of the album. The story of drug addiction and it’s consequences told through the series of tracks from “Junkhead” to “Angry Chair” is powerful. Staley’s vocals, while a bit nasally at times, are strong and fit the album.
Fav Tracks: Them Bones, Down In A Hole, Would?
3/5
I’ve read the word twee used to describe this album and after looking up the definition, I’d have to agree that the lyrics occasionally take it to that level of almost too cloying. Musically the album is interesting with a dissonance happening between fun/bright instrumentals and serious/darker lyrics in songs like “She’s losing it”, “I Could Be Dreaming”, and “Expectations”. A song that I’m really torn between is “You’re Just A Baby”, I really enjoy this song musically but the lyrics weird me out in a way, perhaps that’s the point or maybe this is an example of stepping over the line of being too quaint. Overall the album was enjoyable though not exactly what I’m into.
Fav Songs: Expectations, Electronic Renaissance, My Wandering Days Are Over
Least Fav Song: I Don’t Love Anyone
4/5
Other than the popularity of the name and his voice I’m not very familiar with James Brown. I’ve read that Brown was much more enjoyable live and I agree that there is a lot of life and excitement due to the crowd and his interactions with them, especially on tracks like “I’ll Go Crazy” and “Lost Someone”. For how old the album is the recording quality is very good other than a few minor blips. Musically the band is on point the whole time and length of the album is just right, keeping the high energy going without it getting tiring to listen too.
Fav Songs: I’ll go Crazy, I Don’t Mind, Lost Someone
2.5-3/5
I’ve never listened to Elvis outside of his super hits and even then it’s always just been on the radio or when it’s part of a tv show or movie. I can’t really say anything bad about the album, a bit boring or slow at some points but that could just be because I’ve listened to newer music that was built on the foundation Elvis helped set. He does have a great voice and I enjoyed the album but it just isn’t interesting to me outside of a look at the history of rock and roll.
Fav Songs: Dirty, Dirty Feeling, Such A Night, Reconsider Baby
3.5/5
A nice mix of genres like funk, soul, and jazz with some heavy topics covered in many of the songs. I’ve listened to very little Stevie Wonder and I should go back and give it a more critical listen when I have the time.
Fav Songs: Living For The City, Higher Ground, All In Love Is Fair
3.5/5
A decent soft rock / folk album with hits that are still great today. I enjoyed the other tracks I hadn’t heard but “A Man Needs A Maid” and “There’s A World” definitely stick out with the former track just not being good. I didn’t search much for the historical impact of the album but it definitely seems like an album that’s carried by its hits, which I’m sure I’ll continue to listen to when in the mood for a country playlist.
Fav Songs: Heart Of Gold, Old Man
3.5/5
While parts of the album definitely place it in a specific time frame the beats and samples on most of the songs still sound great. The unpolished feel of the album compliments the delivery and flow of the lyrics. I start to get a bit tired of the constant energy about halfway through. I’m not a huge fan of stoner rap, but this album showed me that the group is definitely more than their hit “Insane in the Brain”.
Fav Songs: How I Could Just Kill A Man, Hand On the Pump, The Phuncky Feel One, Psycobetabuckdown
5/5
While metal wasn’t invented by a single artist or band, Black Sabbath did bring together a blueprint that is referenced to this day. This album is fun to listen to and full of that dark energy you are looking for when listening to metal, without feeling obscene or “evil” just for the sake of sounding that way. The Heavy and distorted riffs and Ozzie’s iconic voice are of course great but listening to the drums and bass specifically show that they help support the band just as much as everything else. Of course the big three hits are amazing but the rest of the tracks are great listens as well. I enjoyed “Planet Caravans” slow paced spacey feeling (the traveling bongos are fun), “Electric Funeral” has intense imagery in the lyrics and really brings forward the bass and drums, and “Rat Salad” is a fun jam session and drum solo. I guess I’d say that “Fairies Wear Boots” is the weak point of the album for me but that’s not saying much as it isn’t a bad listen.
Fav Tracks: No point in choosing
3.5/5
And album about making love, feeling love, and losing love. While the music and Gaye’s singing are great the sameness of the album starts to show after a few tracks. I didn’t dislike any individual track but I wouldn’t see myself sitting down to listen to the whole thing through again. There one goofy song in the album, “You Sure Love To Ball” where the euphemism chosen for sex makes it sound satirical.
Fav Tracks: Let’s Get It On, Keep Gettin’ It On, Come Get To This
Least Fav Tracks: You Sure Love To Ball
3.5/5
Fun album that gets a bit manic at times. I’ve known “Blister In The Sun” for years but never listened to the rest of the album, I’m happy I have now though. Like many others have commented, this sounds ahead of it’s time for an album released in 1983, with many songs that had been written by a kid in high school on top of that. They manage to pull off sounding rough and disorderly without completely losing the tune or going too over the top.
Fav Tracks: Blister In The Sun, Kiss Off, Add It Up, Gone Daddy Gone
Least Fav Track: Please Do Not Go
2.5-3/5
Decent old pop rock. “Money For Nothing” and “Walk Of Life” are fun tracks and it’s interesting how the opening hooks of each are almost more recognizable than the tracks themselves. The band seems to have a pattern of leaving the last 1:30 to 2 minutes for an instrumental section and on some songs such as “Ride Across The River” and “Why Worry?” its just too much for me to want to sit around and listen to. I appreciate that they try to fit in more messages into the album than just songs about love and I do like the song “Brothers In Arms” though I know of a cover I’d rather listen to.
Fav Songs: Money For Nothing, Walk Of Life
3/5
I didn’t give it a very critical listen but I did enjoy it. Sounds like music that indie rock bands still try to make today. Not a huge fan of the vocalists sound but I’ve heard worse and more grating.
3.5/5
As with any album that refuses to stick to a genre and combines aspects of multiple genres on individual tracks it can be a weird first listen. The beats are put together well and I enjoy the vocalists voice but some of the songs really just don’t click with me. The album sounds modern enough that it could have come out in recent years and many of the messages contained in the songs still pertain to life. The political and social commentary on “Crying” and “DLZ” and the story of love tainted by prejudice on “Family Tree” are still understandable.
Fav Songs: Crying, Dancing Choose, Family Tree, Shout Me Out, DLZ
Least Fav: Stork & Owl
4/5
Great album, I don’t see a need to talk about how much Joni Hendrix influenced music as many others that know more than me have better than I can. While I don’t listen to them regularly I do enjoy the hits from this album and I liked the songs that I’ve never heard before.
Fav Songs: Purple Rain, Fire, Foxey Lady
3.5/5
I actually enjoyed this a lot more than I thought I would. Very chill vibes throughout, like something I’d enjoy it while being at an outdoor bar near a beach on a warm night. Not something I’ll probably listen to on a regular rotation but I can’t say much bad about it.
3/5
I enjoyed listening to the album. Did it while working so it wasn’t a very critical listen. The lyrics are full of paranoia and nihilism with a musical atmosphere to back it up.
2/5
I didn’t hate this album just found it rather boring. Some of the songs on the second half of the album pick up but I found myself wondering when most of them were going to end. I’m a bit surprised this album is as acclaimed as it is, I just don’t see what is so unique about it personally. Maybe it needs another listen but I’m not sure if I’ll give it that.
