This might be one of the best-sounding albums I’ve ever heard. Everything about the album is crystal-clear. Great instrumental performances and vocals. Standout tracks are “Peg” and “Deacon Blues”.
This album is filled with the nostalgic and the whimsical poetry of Dylan. Simple but beautifully constructed songs are the hallmark of this collection. A perfectly crafted piece of Americana that feels like coming home after a long journey. Standout tracks: Outlaw Blues and Mr. Tambourine Man
I have never been a huge Elvis fan, mostly due to lack of exposure, but this album has changed that. It is truly captivating. The passionate emotion present in the songs, the theatricality, and the crooning tone make the performances and performer both larger than life and almost painfully intimate. Standout songs are Long Black Limousine and Suspicious Minds.
Not the biggest Aerosmith fan, but there are some good moments. Standout songs are Going Down/Love in an Elevator and Young Lust.
This album is a classic from start to finish. Misery, melancholy, and moodiness suffuse most of the tracks undercut by the deliberate and dry wit of Morrissey. While the whole album is brilliant, standout songs are Cemetery Gates and There is a Light That Never Goes Out.
For an album released in 1979, the music in this album is incredibly relatable to a modern audience. 90s pink, surf rock, and ska see their origins here. Strong bass lines and rhythmic distorted guitars are the hallmark of this album. It’s easy to see how exactly it has influenced modern music. Standout songs are Damaged Goods and I Found That Essence Rare.
This is Kendrick at his finest. The production and features pay homage to 90s classics as well as his peers. The storytelling side of Kendrick pushes itself to the forefront track after track. While the whole album is almost perfect, the standout song is Sing About Me, I’m Dying of Thirst. Empathetic, brutal, and honest, it might be the Compton rapper’s magnum opus; a story of heartbreak told truthfully from many perspectives, perhaps even more poignant because of its ubiquity.
This album is weird in the best way and doesn’t sound like anything else coming out in 1979. The synths in this song are relatively simple but amazing to listen to because they provide space for everything else to fit in. Each song feels like every element is placed perfectly into a jigsaw puzzle. Standout songs are Cars and Metal.
It was a solid album. An interesting sound that reminds the listener of the Ramones. Standout song are I Got You Babe and Weekend.
It is possible that I’m missing something, but this album just doesn’t elicit anything in me. I can see why people might like it, but the vocal performance just feels off, like it doesn’t fit into the kind of songs being played. That unnerving dissonance is almost certainly intentional and might work for some people, but it is not for me. In addition, the storytelling lacks punch and feeling despite the subject matter chosen and the manner in which it is told. It is not the intimate yet relatable storytelling of someone like Leonard Cohen or Bob Dylan; the majority of the songs are fictional tales of romance, bravado, and violence that would feel more appropriate in a hip-hop or country context. The standout songs for this album are the two songs with features, Henry Lee and Where the Wild Roses Grow, and The Kindness of Strangers. The songs with features mellow out the tone and harsh vocal performances of Nick Cave with female vocals and compliment the mood of the album quite well. The Kindness of Strangers has a much more subdued performance by Nick Cave which might remind the listener of Johnny Cash at his best.
This will be a very strange review because I don’t think that there is anything wrong with the album. It’s remarkably solid for a concept album. Unlike most, it flows well and the repeated musical motifs make it feel like a cohesive unit. As someone that loves progressive music and high-concept albums, I thought I’d love it. However, it is not what I want from the Who. I associate them with hard-nosed British rock, jump up and jam songs, anthemic pieces like Baba O’Riley. This, for all of its polish, isn’t that. Still, despite not being what I want, it’s quite good. Standout songs are Pinball Wizard and Christmas.
The Man Machine is an amazingly contradictory album, serious and silly in turns while maintaining an air of sophistication. The synthesizers create an atmosphere that can be either oppressive or fun. A wonderful listen. Standout songs are The Model and Metropolis.
This album is full of musical texture and political themes. While easily discounted as the musical musings of an angry, young man, the album’s songs are actually quite prescient, sharp, funny, and compelling. Standout songs are Accidents Will Happen and Busy Bodies.
This album is too melodramatic for my tastes. While that might be appealing to some people, it is not appealing to me. Despite that, the vocal performance is incredible and the production is solid as well. Standout song is Two Out of Three Ain’t Bad.
Quirky and cool, this album is a joy to listen to. The compositions are unique yet absorbable and catchy. The songs are little parcels of danceability wrapped up in an artsy pop package. Standout songs are Crying and Human Behaviour.
This album has some interesting moments, but it feels very generic. It is possible that this is because Slipknot defined a sound that became popular, but I think there are previous bands who make music like this that sounds more musically compelling. Standout songs are Psychosocial and Dead Memories.
Even though I’m not normally an R&B fan, this album is incredible. The vocal harmonies are perfect, the emotions are a vibe, and the soul can be felt in every note. Just listen to it and tell me I’m wrong. Standout songs are I Heard it Through the Grapevine and Why Did She Have To Leave Me.
This album is the epitome of punk rock. Loud, aggressive, and politically relevant, it blasts through your speakers with as much relevance today as it had when it was made. While the instruments are basic, the total package of the album is superb. Standout songs are Anarchy in the UK and No Feelings.
This album shows how versatile the guitar can be. It’s not always in the forefront, but when it is, it soars. It plays off the bass so well to create just enough dissonance to notice that they’re playing two separate, beautifully melded lines. It’s always easy to hear the contributions of each, individual instrument, something that can be quite difficult when instruments are electrified. While I found some of the vocal performances lacking, overall, it’s a beautiful album. Standout songs are SWLABR and The Tales of Brave Ulysses. Also a shoutout to Sunshine of Your Love for being incredible, but I prefer the other two.
Combining the intensity of The Bends with the style of Kid A, this album truly breaks new ground for both Radiohead and music in general. Synthetic soundwaves create melody as Thom Yorke’s familiar voice croons brokenly in the background. This collection does have a few songs that probably can be skipped, but the standout tracks are Radiohead at their best. Standout songs are Pyramid Song and I Might Be Wrong.
This album is bold and sexy but has a vulnerability to it that is surprising. While not something I would listen to regularly and definitely not music aimed at me, SZA creates music that is difficult to ignore. The features are pretty reliable as well. Standout songs are 20 Something and Pretty Little Birds.
A French rap album that I can barely understand as someone who studied French for ten years should not be something I like. This album is amazing though. The production and beats are on point. The vocal performances are also very good despite not understanding them. Solid album overall. Standout songs are Caroline and Victime de la mode.
