1. Peter Piper - Shout out to the DJ, interesting mixup of word play with nursery rhymes. I liked this.
2. It's Tricky - Goddamn classic, brings back my childhood playing SSX Tricky.
3. My Adidas - I still sing this when I see Adidas... timeless.
4. Walk This Way - Probably one of the biggest hits in hiphop history. I want to note that the flow between the tracks to this point has been amazingly well done. The cohesiveness of the album is spot on. As far as mixing hiphop with rock music goes, does it get better than this? Somehow it works so well.
5. Is It Live - The flow! You gotta love the cymbals here man.
6. Perfection - They slow it down a bit here, not bad, not bad. Sounds like a garage hiphop song. Just a dude with a drumset and a couple MCs.
7. Hit It Run - Intensity is back up here but with a slower beat. Almost Run the Jewels vibes on this, surely they took some influence from this style. Kinda fun and silly too lol.
8. Raising Hell - Rock riffs once again, works well for em. Good song.
9. You Be Illin - Bring in the horns and more 808s. Word play, I'm digging it.
10. Dumb Girl - DAMN that 808 hits.
11. Son of Byford - Small intro
12. Proud to Be Black - I think I recognize the start of this. Maybe its been used as an anthem? Pretty good.
Overall, I really enjoyed. The flow is really nice, the 808s hit, the DJ work is top notch, it sounds modern except for the interplaying MCs... That does date it a bit but man I love it. The energy is high throughout, feels good!
Live stuff isn’t usually my thing but this is classic Cash at his best. He’s got a great sound and you can really feel his performance. It’s a 4.5/5 for me.
It's an all time album for me. Morrisey is in top form. The sound is simply timeless, it will always sound modern imo.
Super cool, really chill album. Probably wouldn't actively listen to this but I like it for having background music while I'm doing other things.
One of my most listened to albums of all time. I wore this CD out in Middle School/High School, had a giant 2D poster on my wall (it was about the size of the entire wall), played the geep driving game, and worshiped the Gorillaz lore like it was gospel. I may be a bit bias on this one is what I'm saying.
I can see how people really like this one but it's not my taste. Norah has an absolutely beautiful voice and the songs are well made. This set the stage for singer-song writers of early 2000's so it unfortunately has been played out and repackaged by every other artist to follow making this feel a bit boring. It's not bad by any means, its a solid easy listen - unoffensive soft jazz for the masses but I doubt I'll explore this album again in it's entirety for a while.
High energy, fun album. Good rock and roll music. A little roackabillty, a little punk, garage rock. Enjoyed this quite a bit.
It's classic rock! I think this is better live than it would be if it wasn't live, which I normally wouldn't say. Some songs are great and others are forgettable. This is better than it should be for any live album of this era. The guitar sounds good, there is some energy and I think the screaming women add to that. It ranges from a 2 at worst to a 4 at best. I don't feel I'm better off for having listened to it but I don't feel disappointed for having done so. For me, its a 2.5 but I'll land it at a 3 in these rankings. On my scale a 3 isn't that it's bad at all, just that I'm likely never going back to listen to it in full again. I have had "Surrender" and "I Want you to Want me" stuck in my head for a few days since listening to this though. Otherwise, this would be a 2.
Such a powerful album, maybe it's his emotion that comes through or that he was near the end of his life but this album has an almost unexplainable weight to it. Cash is at his most vulnerable. You feel his grief, his regrets, and his passion throughout. It's a perfect album when life is it's most difficult and you need someone to share that pain with.
It’s got all the 80’s music tropes in one album! It’s a little too 80’s for me to get into but it’s not a bad listen. I’d give it a 2.5 but since I can’t do half ratings we go to a 2. A 2 is solid just won’t be exploring this again. Heartland and Infected are pretty nice, I enjoyed.
American Pie is such a great song but I actually enjoyed most of the song here. This is a very good album from start to finish. Very hippy but in a good way. Folk music done well.
What is a timeless album? I don’t know but this about as close as you can get.
You’ve heard at least one of the many hits off this album, it’s a classic regardless of how you look at it. I’m not the biggest Skynyrd fan but even I can deny this album is everything you want in classic rock. It’s got energy, sadness, happiness, story telling, and it’s just plain fun.
This is very Bowie-esque. It's not bad at all, easy to listen to with a good mix of raw energy and times where it slows down. I could easily place this album in the early 90;s though and parts of the Bowie sound take away from the experience rather than help here. I enjoyed it for what it was but I don't think I'll be back here much at all.
The instrumentation is fantastic and this album is very influential to Hard Rockers of the next generation. That said, it's not great... Like almost all Rock and Roll artists of the 60's this has the blues elements involved but they aren't all that intriguing. I can see how some classic rock fans would gush about this one but I'm simply not a huge fan. I don't think it's bad but I'm sad I didn't like this more. Save some time listen to the artists this album influenced. Rounding this up to 2 but it's a low low 2. Would be a 1.5. Saved by Beck's Bolero.
This has a good sound. I've only listened to a limited about of Elvis Costello but I enjoyed this one. The Attractions sound great and Costello has a very raw sound to his vocals. This has some lows as well. Some songs are forgettable. Still worth checking out. 3/5.
A pleasant surprise. I have honestly no experience with Joni Mitchell so this was a first experience for me. I thought there was a ton of originality, a good vibe, and a cool sound. I'll be listening to some of the songs off this again for sure. The only reason I knock it down a star is because sometimes I feel like she tried to do a bit too much with the lyrics. This isn't a huge deal but was a bit distracting on what was an otherwise very pleasant listen.
Do all the songs sound similar? Absolutely. Do they all sound great? Absolutely.
Front to back, this album hits in all the right ways. You can see why The White Stripes are held in such high regard.
Papa was a Rolling Stone is a masterpiece that occupies most of this album but the other songs are worth listening to as well. I would call this one of the genre defining albums of Soul.
Never listened to much Steely Dan. Only an occasional song. I mainly associated them with easy listening softer rock music so this album surpised me. From start to finish, the album was great. Every song is ear candy and I really think there is something for everyone in the track list. They have a distinct sound and it's masterfully produced. It's going to sound a bit dated in some places but take that with a grain of salt because most of it still sounds very fresh. I'm wondering now if I've simply gotten older and soft rock sounds better now or this is simply that good. Either way, glad I listened to this cause some these tracks are going into the rotation.
I have never listened to any Crosby, Stills, Nash, and Young. Nothing any of them have ever done. I already kinda had a grudge against them for never knowing if Young was included in the name or what the deal with that was... that said this is pretty good to start. They lose me when they lean more heavily into the country and western sound but I don't begrudge them for it since I'm assuming it's their style. It's a masterfully made album with clearly talented songwriters and musicians, its not a fantastic album for me but again I enjoyed a lot of this.
Not really my thing to be honest but I understand why people like it. It does sound dated, as you might expect with a mid-90s album. Still, its got its high points. The songs are well written and the album is cohesive.
Turn off your mind, relax and float down stream.
You can't say anything about this album that hasn't been said already. It's the gold standard for pop music. The recording, production, genre crossover, mixture of world music, song writing... everything is on point. I do want to say that the hooks are absolutely killer on this album all around. But I think what stands out the most is the amazing amount of experimental music throughout. The use of Harrison's sitar and Indian classical music, Lennon's lean into LSD influence, McCartney's MoTown influences and step away from traditional love songs, even Starr sticks out with his use of heavy bass drum.
Yeah it's a good album.
Easy to listen to and well written songs. Nothing stood out to me... It's not my sort of music but I do feel like it's definition middle of the road.
That guy you know that loves Indie rock music? This is in his top 5 of all time. I spent a better part of the mid-2000's trying to get my friends to talk about anything other than The Flaming Lips, The White Stripes, and The Red Hot Chili Peppers. That said, I'd never gave this album a listen. I still don't like the lead singer's voice in a lot of sections but once you get past the whiney portions... this album is very good. I enjoyed it more than I thought I would. It's a little psychedelic rock, modern alt rock, electronic, and experimental. The lyrics tell the story of someone going through grief, maybe having an existential crisis. Either way, its a little trippy and a neat listen.
It's amazing how the Beastie Boys managed to encapsulate what being a horny young man is all about into a single album.
It was good. I suspect I’ll listen to several tracks again and in time I may appreciate this more. I do think the sound they have on this album is awesome and not what I expected. Already threw Disney Girls on the playlist and Surfs Up might be in the rotation soon.
It's a nice album. I didn't expect to enjoy it since I am a certified Country music avoider. I didn't find the vocals too grating, I didn't think the guitar was too twangy, the song writing was cohesive, the production was top notch, and overall the product comes across as quality. I'm feeling between a 3 and a 4 for now. I suspect I may listen to 1 or 2 songs again but I'm not likely to seek this out again or listen to it in it's entirety again.
I had never listened to Elliott Smith but I can say this is really great. The album has a unique sound, feel, and quality... and that is surprising in a genre that has been explored as much as indie/alt. I really love the idea of the figure 8 representing the artistry here. It's an endless loop, a journey towards perfection without ever reaching it or knowing when to stop. In the same sense, you end up in the same place you started but your better for having traveled that road. I was between a 4 and 5 but I listened to the album again and it's gotta be a 5. I've already added a few tracks to my playlist and I'll listen to this in it's entirety again.
This is pretty cool, I really dig the sound. Kinda scary to hear the political messages since nothing has changed in 50 years... Still lots of beauty in this album, doubt I visit it again fully but some songs I'll give more of a listen and the message will stick.
I didn't care for most of it but the last song alone bumps this up. It wasn't bad from start to finish either, not my style though.
Groovy messages of equality and togetherness. I love this album.
Suppose I don't like Neil Young very much? Maybe this will grow on me but this really isn't my jam... I simply thought everything was fine or worse. The production is fine, the song writing is fine, the instrumentation sounds fine, the vocals aren't as bad as some people think they are... Nothing stuck out, nothing inspired me to listen again.
A little depressing but uplifting at the same time? This is a soft spoken album that's a bit of a mood. It's solid, doubt I'm seeking this out again but I get why people enjoy.
I expected to not enjoy this one much at all since its all covers. I however, was pleasantly surprised. Dusty adds her own dimension to the music and the songs flow well together. Not groundbreaking but solid.
My first 1 rating, I couldn't get into this at all. Couldn't wait for it to end. Song writing is inconsistent, boring, and frankly it's not my taste. I'm sure Crosby has better albums out there than this.
Love the sound, love the vibe. It should be no surprise that I love this era of Bowie and since he was heavily involved in this album...
Soul music at it's finest. It won't be great for everyone but it's what I like in music when I'm in the mood. I'll be exploring this one for awhile.
This is much better than expected. A very solid 3 and maybe in time it'll be a 4. I went in expecting to hear something similar to Dancing Queen throughout, however this was not that at all. Very good use of synth and vocals throughout. I'll likely listen to a few songs again. Pop usually isn't my kind of music though.
Soulful, aggressive, and smooth. I'll never be half as cool as this album.
Very chill, smooth vibes. Kinda spacy. The kind of thing you can turn on and do your shit.
Honestly, its better than I expected but I don't think this reaches the heights of Elliot Smith or projects higher than many other indie artists of the day. Enjoyable for what it is though.
Don't think I'd ever listened all the way through. I get tired of hearing the Beatles or seeing the same bands on this list... but then I start the album and that melts away. This is a classic.
It's pretty dang groovy. As much as I push back against horrible bluesy acts of the 60s-70s that can't seem to figure out how to do the blues right... I think this is very good.
I used to adore this album when Fix Up Look Sharp dropped. This digs at my deepest desire to explore the world of UK Hip Hop and Grime.
Dizzee hits on all the right themes of despair, anger, and cynicism yet the message comes out in the end as something positive. The beats are complex and experimental touching on sonics that most artists wish they could achieve. In a time when 50 Cent, Eminem, Jay-Z, DMX, etc ruled the hip hop scene this was something complete different to the mainstream and it still holds up today.
I've listened to this many times before but it never gets old for me. The sampling and mixing here are absolutely brilliant, proving beyond a (DJ) shadow of a doubt that DJ'ing is an art. Endtroducing... is a masterwork in a craft that goes consistently underrated and stays understated.
I enjoyed this a lot more than I expected. We're all familiar with MJ's tunes but this one has some hidden gems for sure.
I'm not sure what to think... It's interesting though and that has some value. It's needlessly provocative and creepy/cringe in some parts but other parts have a great tune. Doubt I'll listen again simply due to the subject matter but I don't regret having listened.
I had to listen to this one twice to gather my thoughts. They still didn't get gathered.
Thomas Jefferson, James Madison, and Herbie Hancock were all framers of the constitution.
All around, solid with some standouts. Not my usual type of music but I can appreciate it none the less.
I can feel the melancholy. I usually don't like singer songwriter styles... this is too good though.
It's probably my favorite offering from the Beastie Boys up to this point. It's got a groove and I can't get that out of my head, that's a good thing.
Wow, very good album that I would have never listened to. It's not going to be for everyone but the sound is aggressive without being too harsh. It's a vibe.
I used to work in a machine shop where my boss would BLAST norteño 8 hours a day everyday. Think constant accordions and twangy guitars absolutely blaring in your ears. It's polka from latin america. 15 years of therapy and I'm still on edge when I hear even the slightest honk in the background. I had shivers even thinking about pressing play on this album. Pleased to report, I made it through. It's a chill album with a good flow and no accordions.
I really enjoyed this. The sound is extremely modern. The lyrical content and vocal style make this sound like it was made yesterday. I resonate with Nick's feelings here. It's probably a 4.5 for me with the caveat that I definitely never seek this genre out.
Soulful, smooth, and classic but different Marvin Gaye. I can really feel the breakup through the music... Anna's song was my top track.
It's heavy, loud, and never lets up. The sound AC/DC pioneered, among others, has really become a staple of rock to this day. It's wild that we still get bands recycling the same style. Really only found a couple tracks I didn't enjoy fully here due to the lyrics coming off a little too "I'm horny" but I'm nitpicking and this is great.
Bjork is amazing and without a doubt the clear standout on this album. What doesn't age well is the background spoken word vocals that accompany Bjork's amazing voice.... Yes, it really does make this sound like a B-52's album from Iceland. The instrumentals also have the iconic new wave sound. If that's your jam, this is a perfect album for you. I'm not a big fan of that sound, it's really all about Bjork's unique voice for me. I'm feeling a 2.5 here.
Really nice big band sound you expect from Basie. One of the last of it's kind in an era that didn't appreciate it.
Tina has the pipes to carry this album to a 3. It's so dated to the 80's but that isn't always a bad thing. I enjoyed it for a solid pop record it is but nothing more than that. 2.5 Stars.
