My inner dialogue… Upon seeing this as today’s album: oh no A minute into the first song: maybe I will like this, it’s kind of cool 9 hours later and the first song is still going: No.
Not today Prog Rock, not today. The Battle of Epping Forest has me slightly intrigued. But still, no.
A little grindcore goes a long way. I admire the drumming.
Love Heroes, can take or leave the rest.
Rating 1. I’m not a huge fan of The Who, but I like songs like Baba O’Riley, behind blue eyes, etc. You know, the hits. When I looked at the track listing for this album I recognize the song ‘I can see for Miles’. I thought I liked that song and so started listening to the album. I liked the idea of mixing advertisements with the music, but the execution fell flat. The first few songs reminded me a little bit of CSN. I gamely listened until the song that I knew came on and expected that to elevate the experience for me. But instead it made me like the song ‘I can see for Miles’ just a little bit less. I kept listening because that’s what this is about, right? Starting with ‘Glitter Girl’ and ‘Melancholia’ , I could recognize what I do like about The Who, which is more forceful guitar playing. However I don’t think I ever need to listen to this album again.
An unobjectionable album. I listened to it while going to sleep.
Seems like it wanted to be a Doors album but fell far short.
When the first song started I thought that it sounded like Rod Stewart. Then I remembered that it was him. I love Jeff’s playing and Rod’s voice so it all worked out!
Over and Over: is OK. The ledge: also just ok. Jangly. Think About Me: the complete FMac package so good. Save Me a Place: I kept waiting for it to go somewhere. Sara; this is the reward for not turning the album off. Makes me excited for what may be next. What makes you Think You’re the One: keeps the momentum going. Storms: very controlled, measured. That’s All for Everyone: has a tamped-down ethereal sound. Simple lyrics. Not that Funny: the energy is back! Sisters of the Moon: the energy changes, the coven is near. Angel: Sara with a little more power. And more voices. That’s Enough for Me: I love Lindsey. The playing, the voice, the tempo. Brown Eyes: I keep waiting for it to rock out but it remains repressed. I thought it might at the end but it didn’t. Never Make Me Cry: solid I Know I’m Not Wrong: straight-ahead beat. Lindsey Honey Hi: Christine with great harmonies Beautiful Child: poignant, pretty. Seems like a precursor to Landslide Walk a Thin Line: simple, a bit plodding Tusk: JACKPOT! Never Forget: a fine song, but a let down after Tusk I’m listening on Spotify and after the original it goes into the remastered versions. Not commenting on those, but all the power and ‘rock out-ness’ I wished for on the original was there.
1. I like it. A little sonic, still melodic. 2. I really like this one. 3. This one I have always liked. I think of myself as someone who doesn’t like Radiohead but the first three songs have proven me wrong. Let’s see what comes next. 4. Oh damn, I may be a Radiohead fan. I do love the Fake Plastic Trees. 5. Maybe it’s the Kid A-OK Computer Radiohead I don’t like because this has been a delightful experience so far. 6. A bit repetitive but still good. A bit of the experimental feedback-y stuff near the end that I associate with them (rightly or wrongly, who knows because I am certainly not a reliable narrator!). 7. And the rest… This is a great album. I need to go back in time to see them at someplace like the North Star and enjoy them while they were good!
I didn’t know the Doves until now. The album is OK. If it was being played somewhere I wouldn’t turn it off. Not sure I’d go looking for it either but I do think I may listen to it again sometime. … if it’s being played somewhere by somebody else. I read in one of the reviews of this album that the band was up for a Mercury Prize in 2002. According to an article in the Guardian “ the Mercury music prize…is perceived as the "eclectic album of the year award". If by eclectic they mean uneven ^^^then , OK, I agree with that. If they mean interesting then not so much. ^^^The musical interlude(Where We’re Calling From) and the song unlike the rest (Friday’s Dust). I think those are the ones. I listened to this over three days, which says something about how compelling it was(n’t). I found out that Ms Dynamite won the prize that year. I don’t know who that is either. I am tempted to listen to some of her/their/his music but I won’t now, just in case that album comes up later in this 1001 albums journey. *Fun fact: ‘Heathen’ by David Bowie was also up for the same prize that year.
I loved it then. I love it now. That is all.
Nope. I listened to the song Winter in America on Spotify. Couldn’t find the album. Review of the song: Jazz and a lecture. Found the album on YouTube and listened while driving and running errands. Because it was on YouTube I had no idea what song was what, and a few times it skipped to a totally different album. I did my best. This album gets a 5/5 for difficulty of listening! I didn’t like the electric piano/organ or the Pan-flute(?). Didn’t care about the song for Bobby and wasn’t moved by the one about first love or the one about domestic discord. At the end there was a poem about Watergate that was interesting…. Mildly. It name checked Frank Rizzo. I’m sure it was sensational at the time. I would have liked a lot of the songs more if there were no words.
I know Nick Cave a little but this is the first album I’ve listened to. Very distinctive voice and style. Although ‘Let the Bells Ring’ sounds a bit like Looking Glass. The song Spell would be a good mix with ‘Girl, You’ll be a Woman Soon’ either Urge Overkill or Neil Diamond’s version. So maybe not as distinctive as previously stated. Album a bit Halloween-y without being overly maudlin. The refrain (the singing, not the words) in Abbatoir Blues sounds downright cheerful. Hiding All Away is really good. Some songs went a little too long, as did the album.
A bunch of years ago a casual acquaintance was talking about how good this band was. They were so enthusiastic about them that, when asked, I agreed that they were good. I never listened to them until today. It turns out I wasn’t lying. I would play this album on purpose and if the 1001 albums ever end I may even investigate more of their stuff. I got a Beck vibe from some of the songs, starting with Crying. I really like Heroic Dose. And the song with the line about getting so high that their face melts off. I think it’s Lovers Day.
Excellent driving music. The song Love me like a Reptile has a line that goes ‘shock you like an electric eel’. And the band MGMT has a song called Electric Feel. Listen to it. Coincidence? I had planned to write derisive things about this album, like how all the songs sound the same and the lyrics aren’t very inspired. But I just realized that those things are OK because all that matters is the unrelenting beat. Is it the drums, the bass, the guitar? Or all of them? *My brother (limpbizkit…) just informed me it’s the bass. And then talked a lot about Lemmy. I won’t steal that info for my review but he said interesting things so I hope he reviews this album.* It is short. But that doesn’t matter because you can always just play it again. Optimally, while driving fast.
Sounds like the 80s are back on this one. I usually think of Duran Duran, but one of the songs started out a bit like The Smiths. Killers songs brighter and poppier than the influences. Front-loaded with hits, very weak end. The beginning of ‘Jenny was a Friend of Mine’ reminds me of ‘Friends of Mine’ by Duran Duran. I enjoy both songs. “Somebody told me you had a boyfriend who looked like a girlfriend that I had in February of last year” is a lyric I always have to think about a little bit before I figure out what he’s saying. Kind of a musical word problem. I have no idea what “…I’ve got soul but I’m not a soldier” is supposed to mean but it’s fun to sing.
No inclination to organize listening notes into anything more. Deceptacon - fun, summer vibe. Hot Topic - swingy and still fun. Until the name checking at the end. The one about John Cassavetes was where it took a turn for the worse. And the barking didn’t help. Made me want to listen to ‘Pepper’ or ‘People Who Died’. Just to cleanse my palate. Then came ‘The the Empty’ - no. No. NO. It hurt my ears. Phanta - OK. Thinking about Missing Persons… or maybe the Waitresses Eau de…. OK Let’s Run. I like this one My My Metrocard- great for the first few seconds before the vocals started. Friendship Station - this one is good. Melody, beat, no ear-bleeding inducing vocal. Slideshow - ‘Sunscreen’ anyone? Dude - random words. Why? Les and Ray - why save this perfectly nice song until last? If I hadn’t committed to listening to this album for this project I never would have heard it because I would have stoped listening at ‘The the Empty’.
I can’t name any Wu-Tang songs and, before today, couldn’t name any by Method Man. In 1994 I was busy scamming Columbia House for $.01 Nirvana, STP and Green Day CDs. The music seems familiar, though, and I like it. I noticed some similarities between the sounds/techniques used here and those used on Reggae radio stations (like on WKDU’s program Jam City Rock). I don’t have the vocabulary to express exactly what it is, but I think I’ll keep digging into it. I was asking my brother about it today and, after listening to my incoherent explanation of what I meant he threw back a bunch of words. Dubstep was one of them. I read on Wikipedia that dubstep started(or at least the term Dubstep) in the early 2000s in London. and the sound I’m thinking of (but can’t explain) goes back to at least the early 90s. So maybe I’m hearing part of the evolution? Dub/hip-hop/reggae? Sometimes the internet is not as helpful as I want it to be. If any of you have any idea at all what I’m trying to get at, please let me know. If not just ignore my rambling. This album gets a 5 for occupying all my spare thoughts today. But probably less for actual quality.
Less melodic and more atmospheric than The Bends. But still better than I remember. Especially good rainy day music.
Great musicianship. I still love the songs from this album that were released as singles. I think whoever was in charge picked the right ones. Except TV Dinners - I liked the B-side much more (Cheap Sunglasses) The rest of the songs weren’t bad, but didn’t make me feel like I missed anything. Fun fact: Billy Gibbons was on the show ‘Bones’ as one of the main character’s bad-ass guitar-playing dad. The song ‘Thug’ had an Eagles vibe. And brought to mind the theme from Seinfeld. I also am sorry I gave OK Computer 3 stars. It deserves 4. Karma Police has been in my head all weekend.
Her talent is undeniable. The production on this album is not. I’m not sure what it was exactly, but it seemed like the album should have been better. Tighter, more lush…something. Mark Ronson would have known what to do. I enjoyed ‘F*** Me Pumps’.
I think it’s a nearly perfect album. What keeps it from being that for me is the instrumental. And that’s just nitpicking. Everybody Hurts is one of my favorite songs.
Garage/Indie/Alt rock. I like the guitars. And maybe the cello (?). Afghan Whigs sound like somebody else. The name is on the tip of my tongue and I just can’t think of who it is. Although I know of the Afghan Whigs, I couldn’t name any songs or albums before today. I may have heard ‘Debonair’ before. It seems to me that the band was either in a movie playing themselves or was on some soundtrack in the early 90s. Reality Bites or Singles come to mind. I just looked it up and they did play as a band in some movie I didn’t see and they were on the soundtrack of the movie Beautiful Girls. I like the first few songs but the interesting instrumental parts start with Be Sweet. Be Sweet - Guitar reverb/feedback is cool When We Two Parted - guitar sounds. Is it a Wah wah pedal? Is this what it means to make a guitar weep? Or is it a cello? The line about the person who hurts you being the only one that can make them feel better is very psychopath-y. My Curse - is it a different singer? (I just looked it up and yes it is) I Keep Coming Back - the beginning has the same kind of vibe as ‘The Night We Met’ by Lord Huron I just genuinely liked it all. Found out that it is an album about the end of a relationship. According to Pitchfork, it’s ‘A harrowing song cycle chronicling the death throes of a relationship ‘. I will have to listen to it again knowing that - someday.
This is not an album to be analyzed. This is one to turn up loud, sing along, and remember how fun college parties were with warm beer and sweaty people oozing pheromones and freedom.
Even if you don’t think you know the Beach Boys, you know The Beach Boys. This album sounds like teenaged angst wrapped in California sunshine. I am having a hard time talking about this album without thinking about everything else that they have done so I will just say that, except for the part about them talking about hamburgers and French fries, it was very good. I listened to this album today with my 16 year-old niece.* After it was over we listened to quite a few One Direction songs (2 1/2 hr drive from Sleepy Hollow, NY, to Philadelphia) and we were talking about how the video for their song ‘Kiss You’ was influenced by The Beach Boys. * I invited Brave to join our listening group so we may get some GenZ-based reviews soon! Final note: I can’t get the song Brian Wilson by the Barenaked Ladies out of my head right now and I’m not mad about it!
REM has a signature sound and Michael Stipe has a unique voice. There is no song I’ve heard by them that I would mistake for another band. A lot of their songs are similar but not the same. I’m not their biggest fan but I like them well enough. The songs ‘It’s the End of the World..’ and ‘This One Goes…’ are ingrained in my memory because of constant airplay at the time and occasionally even now. Here are some thoughts on other songs on the album: I like the guitars in Exhuming McCarthy Strange - Solid. If you’re going to name a song after Lightnin’ Hopkins it should be better. Much better. King of Birds - My favorite on the album. Odd fellows Local - Love the rhythm of the drums and bass. Second favorite song.
The album was good and the last two songs were better, especially the Joni Mitchell cover. Her voice goes well with understated arrangements, but when the music opens up it gives it an extra dimension. I think she is probably great live. And I’m glad someone finally wrote a song about chemtrails!
I like my socioeconomic/political commentary with a beat. My favorite thing about this listening project so far is getting to hear things I wouldn’t necessarily choose. I was never a big hip hop fan and that hasn’t changed, but I am glad to have heard this album. I didn’t realize DHOH was Michael Franti’s band. If the song H2O-Gate Blues on the Gil Scott Heron album had better music I might have liked it more. And if anyone cares about my rant from the Tical album, some reggae radio stations just mix hip hop with reggae. Question answered.
This album makes me want to be a cooler person.
I could hear The Who becoming more of The Who that they would become. This sounds trite when written out, but I stand by it. The beginning of the album sounded to me like a lot of other British invasion bands of the same era including The Beatles. After I had that thought I listened to Revolver, which came out the same year as this album and it was not the same at all. But I will leave that to talk about for when Revolver is our album of the day. Sneak preview- it is great. So for anyone who is offended, this does not sound anything like anything the Beatles ever did. I listened to this album (the mono version) in the car today with my nephew Max (Brave’s twin brother), who does not like music played loudly. So besides the songs ‘My Generation’ and ‘ The kids are all right’ I don’t remember which song was which and because I couldn’t listen to it very loud (and I had to pay attention to traffic) i wasn’t fully involved. I do remember that there was one very blues-y song and one that reminded me of the Old 97’s.
I wonder what Tommy and Gina are up to these days?
She has a great voice, but I found this album super boring. The ‘Tina Taught Me’ interlude was interesting.
The album was short but the songs were long. I don’t really like the ‘jam band’ genre, but these funky jams were better than Phish.
‘Just My Imagination’ had a harp. And seemed to be ripped off from The Temptations. ‘If You Think You’re Lonely Now’ was good. Nothing great, nothing horrible. I prefer my smooth jazz/R &B to be sung by George Benson. The last few albums make me feel like the mean judge on American Idol (Simon Cowell). I wish I knew what his catchphrase was, if he had one.
Ah, Swamp Rock. I like it. This album makes me think of ‘Nam. Or at least movies about it. There are a few songs on here that have, I think, seeped into the collective consciousness of a few generations, both the John Fogerty-penned songs and the covers.
When I saw that this was the album for today I thought that either I was going to be really happy or really disappointed. There was a bit of both. When the first song started I was immediately disappointed because it wasn’t as good as I remembered it being. Rockafeller Skank was as fun as ever. In Heaven repeated fucking about a million times too many. Then came Ganster Trippin. From that song on my sensibilities shifted and I was happy. Except for Kalifornia. That was annoying. The thing that made me happiest was remembering that Norman Cook used to have a group called Beats International and my roommates and I listened to the album (cassette) Let Them Eat Bingo a lot in 1990. It still holds up. I was also thinking about how I say I don’t like jam bands but this seems to be an electronic jam record. And jazz has lots of jamming going on. So I guess I just don’t like the Grateful Dead and Phish.
I am OK with the deaf dumb and blind kid playing pinball, but I am not OK with all of the familial abuse suffered by poor Tommy. I’d like to go back to before I listened to this. I will stick with the radio edits that came from this album and attempt to forget the rest. I guess because it was the first rock opera it should be on this list of albums to listen to before I die but I really wish it wasn’t. I hope Jesus Christ Superstar is also on this list.
The music is good. The singer is annoying and some of the lyrics are problematic (For the Love of Ivy).
I didn’t listen to this band in 1985 because they weren’t in the Top 40 or in heavy rotation on MTV. I watched a lot of MTV and don’t remember them being played at all. Later on, when I did hear about them it was from a friend who was super pretentious and so I didn’t listen to them on principle. I like them. Sometimes a bit too much feedback but mostly a good balance of dissonance and melody. Also, I thought they were from Lancaster, PA. When looking them up today to verify that, I learned that they are not. They are Scottish and their genre was called Shoegazing. That’s a new one for me. The beginning of Sowing Seeds sounds like the beginning of Concrete Blonde’s Joey. I really like the band Black Rebel Motorcycle Club and one of the reviews I read said that Jesus and Mary Chain was an influence on them, so thanks JAMC. Lastly, do you think it is possible that they meant to put Jesus Christ Superstar on this list instead of the Jesus and Mary Chain?
When I was really young, my dad sang American Pie around the house. The first time I heard it on the radio I was incredulous about how his song ended up there! Nostalgic 5. Otherwise, earnest man telling stories well.
30 years later and I still don’t understand Flavor Flav’s giant clock necklace. To be fair, I have never really looked into it. And he is a great hype man. I spent quite a bit of time thinking about the word Nigger. About how it is a horrible word and shouldn’t be said. About how it has been taken back by Black people and used as a representation of power. And about how that is all well and good but if you are going to put it in a song that millions of people listen to you shouldn’t be surprised or angry if that word gets said/sung/shouted by non-black people. I don’t know if any of the members of public enemy have expressed anger over this, maybe I am just thinking about Jay Z. It is quite the conundrum. The album was solid. I would’ve thought that It Takes a Nation… (Rebel Without a Pause) or even Fear of a Black Planet (911 is a Joke) would have been the PE album chosen, but as I have not investigated all of the albums that are on this list they very well may be on there, too!
I liked Rumba Mama. Otherwise, no thank you. I looked the band up and they’re really important in jazz circles. And that Rumba Mama was a live version. So while I will never listen to their studio recordings, I would probably have enjoyed them in Montreaux. The album title is the same as a song by Cousteau, a band I like very much. Now I’m listening to them.
This is not for me. I liked bits of some songs but not all of any song. The closest was Monster. Disjointed and distracting. I’ve never heard this album (or group) before and heard nothing that compels me to listen again.
It’s a hard album to listen to at times. I think that’s the point.
From the first sound of the organ/synth to the last note of Purple Rain, it was a wonderful journey!
Is Brian Eno the first artist to fool around with sonic landscapes? I don’t know. Do I enjoy sonic landscapes? Sometimes. I’m glad I got to listen to this album twice. It was OK the first time, but I appreciated it more the second time. I don’t often have the luxury of listening to our daily album more than once, which I think is a shame because, unless something really strikes chord, I am more likely to give it a lower rating. Julie With and Down by the River we’re my favorite songs on this record.
Not perfect, but great. I think the concept that was promised went a bit off track, but it was a fun ride. I always forget how much I like Moonage Daydream. I really want to give it a 5, but my finger tapped the 4th star and that seems right.
This album is very evocative of a specific time and place. Very Laurel Canyon. I wish I lived in the Hollywood Hills in the late 60s. I imagine the Byrds, the Mamas and the Papas, The Beach Boys, Bonnie Raitt, Jackson Browne, Joni Mitchell, etc. hanging out, getting stoned and making music. I would hope to avoid the Manson Family, though.
This is one of the few live albums that works.
From ‘School’s Out’ (the harbinger of freedom throughout my school years) to the jazzy ‘Blue Turk’, this was an enjoyable listen. I didn’t expect the West Side Story interlude. My Stars went on a bit too long. Public Animal #9 is a catchy tune. Hey hey hey. Alma Mater is a bit Led Zeppelinesque. Until the banter. I wonder if school marching bands play The Grande Finale?
Heavy metal is what I would’ve said if you had asked me what genre of music iron maiden was yesterday. I still agree with that today but after listening I now have to include hints of speed metal, punk/Post punk, and (horror of horrors) progressive rock. I say horror of horrors, because I do not consider myself a fan of progressive rock. I also am not really sure what progressive rock is, except that I know it is called Prog rock, and I do not like that term at all. (And no, I am not going to learn anymore about Prog Rock right now for fear I might like more of it.) I only learned that they are considered progressive because I looked at a review to make sure that I wasn’t totally missing the mark when I detected the hints of speed and punk. Putting my hangups aside, I thought it was a fine album. I did not mind the instrumental Transylvania, and became invested in Charlotte the harlot. Remember Tomorrow was my fave. And kudos to them for existing so that Wheatus could talk about them in Teenage Dirtbag and then One Direction could do a fantastic cover of it.
I enjoyed this music very much back in the days of late nights and questionable activities. Solid electronica. Please refer to Andy’s review of ‘Rockafeller Skank’. I feel it’s appropriate here. I saw them in the early 2000s and remember it being a good time.
Trippy dippy 1960s psychedelia. Probably music being played in places other than my imagined barbecue in Laurel Canyon. Reminds me of other bands, but I can’t quite think who off the top of my head. Maybe the Moody Blues (days of future passed). Maybe the Doors, Beatles? Some lyrics that struck me: ‘A house is not a motel’ …and the water’s turned to blood…go turn on your tub and it’s mixed with mud ‘The daily planet’ … plastic Nancy she ‘s so fancy… ‘Live and let live’ …The snot has caked against my pants. Summer in the summer is different than the other songs ‘You Set the Scene’. …There’s a chicken in my nest and she won’t lay until I’ve given her my best. The next song that Spotify chose to play after this album was from the Beatles’ album Revolver. Hmmm? The only song that that I definitely had heard before was the first one, ‘Alone Again Or’ but the rest of the album was both really familiar and foreign at the same time. I wholly enjoyed listening to this. Once.
I was familiar with the song Connection and am happy that the rest of the album is as enjoyable.
Willie’s distinctive voice, combined with the spare, simple arrangements were put to good use in the telling of the tale of the red headed stranger. I’m not sure I liked it, but I appreciate it.
Is that a harmonica on The Wizard? I don’t associate harmonica with heavy metal, but here it is. It was interesting to learn about the modifications Tommy made so that he could play guitar. I guess heavy metal would sound a bit different if he had all his fingers. The fact that this record was done in basically one take is impressive.
This was a pleasant surprise. Listening to the jangly guitar transformed a foggy afternoon from gloomy to hopeful. Even the song about famine (I Have No Time) was jaunty. The mood turned dark by Needle of Death. Why was this song not in Trainspotting? The tune belies the words in Do You Hear Me Now? The skies darkened as his songs did the same. My enjoyment persisted. Jangly chords and mournful lyrics. A perfect meeting of the right record at the right time for me. Mission accomplished, book. This WAS an album I needed to hear.
Love the band, love the album.
The song Victoria holds up and the Churchill song stood out. The rest of the album was unremarkable.
Masterful, dynamic and engaging - yes. An album I needed to hear before I die - no. After I listened to it I read about the album and artist. He deserves all the stars for his skills and playing this concert on a sub-par instrument. And for doing it while in pain and wearing a back brace.
I wish the river boat from the Karma Chameleon video was real. The album is more R&B/soul than I realized at the time. Real piano, instead of just synthesizers. Also appreciated the horns and backing vocals.
I like this but I’m not sure how much is genuine and how much is pretension.* Probably about 80/20. Things I thought of while listening to this album: The I Dream of Jeannie theme song, the Bewitched theme song, the show Mad Men, film noir, flamenco music and the movie The Talented Mr. Ripley. * to be clear, it is myself I am trying to impress. I’m trying to be cool enough for this music.
This music was not pleasing to my ears.
Nile Rodgers rules. And the album would get a 5/5 for ‘Good Times’ alone. But the fact that so many great songs came from it, like Rapper’s Delight and Rapture makes me want to give it a 6.
Rockabilly pirate post-punk music. I like it a lot!
I am a huge Wilco fan. This album is not my favorite Wilco album (Summerteeth). Nor does it include my favorite Wilco song (Casino Queen) But it is still a Wilco album. When Jay Bennet was there and they were all kinds of messed up. Good times. Simply put, I love all the Wilco music up to and including Yankee Hotel Foxtrot. Everything after that is enjoyed at various levels. Some being not at all. Being There is a bit too long. And all of the songs on this album sound 100 times better when played live. The Lonely 1 is a plaintive song about a fan. Makes me think of the Carpenters’ Superstar. Also, kind of like a Sesame Street version of Eminem’s Stan. Red Eyed and Blue has a cool whistling part that I can sometimes do. I will happily sit with any of you and discuss Wilco, Uncle Tupelo, Son Volt (and any side projects) ad nauseam. If I remember correctly, Wilco opened for Sheryl Crow at the Mann in support of this album. I do remember that Jeff wore Khaki pants and a light blue Oxford shirt and it made me sad. Uncle Tupelo was truly gone.
Based on other bands I listen to I should love this band. I should know all their songs and their history and have seen them live. But I don’t. And I haven’t. I know the names Black Francis and Kim Deal. I recognize and like a few of their songs but that’s as far as my relationship with the Pixies has gotten. I liked the songs sung by Kim more than the ones by Frank.
I played this album at a dinner party on Christmas Eve and it was a big hit. Classic Christmas songs in truePhil Spector style.
The concept for this album was interesting and the execution was fantastic. I heard that tensions ran high between Billy Bragg and Wilco while making this but they all must be happy with how it turned out. Some songs are somber and mournful, some are raucous and bawdy and then there is the glorious cacophony of Hoodoo Voodoo. These are songs that seem like they would be played at a hootenanny. One that I would be happy to attend. Natalie and Billy singing on Way Over yonder in the Minor Key is beautiful.
Heroin beach funk. Great musicianship all around.
The song structure is similar on many of the tunes in this album with enough differences to keep me interested. Spoonman, Black Days and Black Hole Sun are most familiar to me. I also really like the song Head Down. It has a trippier kind of vibe than the others.
Not today Prog Rock, not today. The Battle of Epping Forest has me slightly intrigued. But still, no.
Tom is a strange man with a voice that hurts. I like his music a lot. And also his acting gigs. ‘Tom Traubert’s Blues’ is my favorite TW song. Not on this album. I was trying to remember where I heard it first and finally remembered it was on the Basquiat soundtrack. Then when I was looking it up to verify, I learned that Tom met Jim Jarmusch at a party for (or held by) Basquiat. I like the bluesy/jazzy style of this album. The songs with the strings/horns feel warmer than those without them. I did not know that he was the composer and original singer of Jersey Girl! ‘Don’t you know there ain’t no devil that’s just God when he’s drunk’ is such a good lyric - Heart attack and vine ‘How do the angels get to sleep when the devil leaves the porch light on?’ - Mr. Siegel is my favorite in this album. Tied with Jersey Girl.
I have no strong feelings about this album except the long weird Murder Mystery. I am not a fan of that song.
Lovefool is a fantastic pop song. The rest of the album was easy to listen to. I enjoyed Iron Man, as it was a bit different than the other songs. Definitely not a ‘must hear’ album.
I have loved the song Kingdom of Rain (not on this album) since I first heard it in the early 90s but never explored the band further. And I think I knew at one point that Sinead O’Connor sang on that song, but today I was pleasantly reminded. I started listening to the album this morning without paying very much attention to it but was drawn in by the big sounds and interesting lyrics. I then did some googling and watched all of the videos for this album and I think that today will not be the last day that I listen to The The. I learned a lot of interesting things about this album and the band today, but that can all be read on Wikipedia. The one thing that stood out was that there were, I think, 61 instruments played. Similar sounds: Big Bad VooDoo Daddy, Wall of Voodoo and Morphine
It was all fine. I like the mix of rock and hip-hop on Rock Box. I was going to say that this is an example of making urban music palatable in the heartland, then I read some review that called this music hard. So what do I know!
I first heard ‘There She Goes’ while watching the movie ‘So I Married an Ax Murderer’ in 1993. Thought it was great. Moved on with my life. Then a few years later my great friend Marianne reintroduced me to the band. I borrowed the CD from her and did not want to give it back. Eventually I did after many requests and gentle threats. All of the songs are my favorites!
This was an easy listen. Bluesy rock tunes with story lyrics. ‘You’re So Rude’ is a bit Hedwig-esque. ‘Stay With Me’ is as familiar as a well-worn pair of shoes.
She was God in ‘Absolutely Fabulous’ and it was a well-deserved role. She is fantastic. I just checked on Wikipedia to make sure she’s still alive and she is.
The only thing I know about East Coast versus West Coast is that Tupac was West Coast, biggie was East Coast and they were both shot. If I delved into the meaning behind the beef I might find the lyrics on this album interesting. But I haven’t done it so far and have no plans to do so in the future. So while I don’t dislike this music, it does not resonate with me and is definitely not something that I needed to hear. And I know the names Tupac and The Notorious B.I.G. but I have never heard of Jeru the Damaja before today and will not care tomorrow. I like the track Mental Stamina.
There’s a lot going on here. Funk, jazz, hip-hop, rap, punk. It’s a bit much. Sabotage is a great song. So is Sure Shot.
Is the title pronounced Closer or Closer? I think it is closer, as in end. The mausoleum on the cover was my clue. And the fact that the lead singer offed himself. This sounds like it should be played at a funeral after party in a loft in a warehouse down by the docks. Maybe it was. Ian’s voice paired well with the sterile post-punk/pre-industrial arrangements.
I don’t like his voice.
I remain ambivalent about the Talking Heads. I know their hits and don’t dislike them. I have never owned any of their albums and haven’t felt like I missed anything. The music grew on me. By the time ‘Artists Only’ played I think I had Stockholm Syndrome. But a little David Byrne goes a long way.
Before today I only knew one of their songs, ‘Daft Punk is playing at my house’. I really like that song and I always think of it as being very meta-. I’m not actually sure what Meta is so I may be wrong and now I’m thinking of poor Alanis and all of the unironic things she thought were ironic! And that song isn’t on this record anyway so pardon my tangent. This album is delightful. I heard influences of The Strokes, The Killers and even New Order. The music was good, some lyrics were clever and I will definitely listen to this again.
I don’t like his voice. I get that he’s a great musician and songwriter, but my hands are tied when i can’t get past the voice. And there was a LOT of harmonica, which just made my headache worse. I did persevere and noticed that the timbre of his voice changed a bit on the plugged in tunes. A bit more palatable but not much.
Some songs come very close to being too annoying, but mostly succeeds as Fun party music. I love Kate Pierson’s voice. Didn’t like the Petula Clark cover very much.
This album contains the garage band, indie sound I so loved in the 90s. It’s a record that, if I had heard it then, would probably be an old favorite. Having heard it only once, i would probably rate the experience at a 2 with hopes of it becoming a 4 after repeated listens. But I don’t have time for all that now so a 3 it is.
I love the vibe of this album. Great for a road-trip in the barren landscape of the American Southwest. I would shuffle this album with some Eagles, Santana and Fleetwood Mac. Neil Young does not have the best voice and if his singing was water in a bucket there would be quite a bit of spillage., but he is pleasant to listen to nonetheless.
The spare arrangements complement her powerful voice on this bunch of torch songs. Fantastic.
There are one or two songs on this record that I don’t care for, but that is more than made up for by how much I love all of the other songs! One of my favorite lyrics ‘Like a liar at a witch trial, you look good for your age’ - Plump
Perfectly nice.
She’s a great lyricist. I was interested in almost all of the stories told in these songs. Standouts include ‘Willow’, ‘No body no crime’ (ah, HAIM), ‘Cowboy Like Me’ (with Marcus Mumford), and ‘Coney Island’ with The National. I’m not fond of the song with BonIver on this album, although I love the song ‘Exile’ that he sings on in her Folklore album. I thought the mixture of musical styles in Closure didn’t work. And the songs with girls’ names were not my favorites.
I did not need to hear this album.
The first song sounds like an infomercial. Till Your Well Runs Dry is my favorite song on the album.
The music is benign but the lyrics ruined it for me.
there are most definitely better singers and better arrangements of all of these songs, but that doesn’t lessen my enjoyment of listening to Ol’ Blue Eyes
I really love the beginning of Foolin’. Also, Photograph, Too Late for Love and Rock of Ages are seared into my memory because of MTV.
The singer’s voice gets on my nerves - is it an accent, an affectation? The music, the speed, the volume, is fantastic. I really like the genre and if I had time, I would probably investigate this band more.
There was nothing on this album that stood out. It isn’t bad, it’s just not memorable. I’m going to listen to Bittersweet Symphony now. That gets 5 stars!
This was a favorite when it came out. Still is.
Intro sounded really familiar, but if I heard it before I didn’t know who it was. The more I listen, the more I like it. Very chill beach music.
I listened to the first song and thought that this was not going to be a good album. Then the second song gave me hope. And that’s how the rest of the album continued, they were highs and there were lows. The highs were never fives and lows were never ones. Some of the lyrics were just plain bad, but it’s still David Bowie.
Her songs evoke memories of windswept English moors I’ve never seen and Victorian carnivals I’ve never been to. There are a few of her songs that I would give a five, but none of them are on this album.
I was ready to turn this album off during the first song. I didn’t. The rest of the album was slightly better and I liked the last song, but I definitely didn’t need to hear it.
Tiger Mountain peasant song starts out like Led Zeppelin. Meadowlarks was a little bit like Simon and Garfunkel looking for America The song before meadowlarks was a bit Fleetwood Mac esque Blue Ridge Mountains was a bit Crosby stills, Nash and Young ish
The only criticism I have is that most of the songs go on a little too long.
This is a gem of a record. Quiet and subtle, it begs to be listened to with full attention.
I probably would have enjoyed this when I was in my 20s and high and drunk at a club, but I also think that most of the credit would go to the drugs and the drink, not LRD. I don’t even want to read any reviews on why this deserves to be in the1001 albums list. I just want it to go away. Until I got to Mdc Vendredi. Either the songs have gotten better or I have become a slave to the rhythm and succumbed to Stockholm syndrome. That still doesn’t get it more than two stars.
America is one of my favorite songs ever and Mrs. Robinson is a classic. The album as a whole was disappointing. It didn’t really seem to flow and the peace with the old people talking was creepy.
Terrific!
When Little Red Corvette was popular I knew it had something to do with sex but didn’t know exactly what. I was pretty naive at 14. I thought I’d have a hard time deciding whether to rate this album a 4 or a 5 but it turns out that, as much as I like a bunch of the songs, the album falls a bit short.
Meh. Besides Psycho Killer, there was nothing memorable for me.
I first heard this band in college. I didn’t really like them and couldn’t understand their lyrics at first, but after a while I grew to appreciate them. I love the fast guitars.
Come for the rock, stay for the blues.
I was always ambivalent about Bruce until I saw him in concert. Someone gave me tix to see him when he toured for his 50th birthday. I wasn’t excited to go but they were really good tickets, and a gift, so I went. The show was fantastic and I gained a new appreciation for him. It was very confusing to hear all of his ‘fans’ booing him during the concert…until I realized that they were just chanting ‘Bruce’. I’ll never be a super fan, but I will always attend a show of his if given free tickets!
I can’t figure out why I don’t like The Black Keys but I don’t. Even as I listened to this album and enjoyed it I still don’t like them. I think Jack White may have something to do with my opinion of them but I’m not sure what. These are two things I was thinking of while listening to this album: 1: There was an episode of the show Friends where Phoebe was mad at Ross. She couldn’t say why and after a while figured out it was because of something he did in a dream. 2: I dated a guy once who was perfect on paper but there was just no chemistry.
I haven’t done any investigation into this, but it sounded like someone besides, Steven. Tyler was singing lead on some of the songs. Besides the two hits from this record, I liked the song Uncle Salty. The rest sounded like a band finding its sound. The song big 10 inch record was a little too tongue-in-cheek.
Definitely did not need to hear.
I love this album. In spite of the instrumentals that were thrown in to fill time(?). And, while I like Moonlight Sonata (and played it for my first piano recital), I’m not sure why it’s on here. Is it Music for the Masses as in all of the people or is it Music for the Masses as in church? Some of the music on this album seems like it could play played in a church that turns into a nightclub after services are over.
They were hints of the doors, Jim Croce, Harry Chapin. And for some reason during the first few songs, I kept thinking of Kris Kristofferson’s song. Sunday morning coming down. I do not hate this album. I actually kinda like it. All the songs go on way too long, but other than that I must say what a long, strange trip it’s been Sing a song for you was a bit Elvis-y
A little grindcore goes a long way. I admire the drumming.
I love this album in all its messy glory. I would have watched the film tonight except I didn’t have any pot and it really should be watched while high.
I am not fond of this album. I do like Mansion on the Hill, though. During the song Farmer Hohn I kept thinking about champagne eyes, wondering if they would look really cool or really creepy.
I knew their hits but had never listened to a whole album. I was prepared to rate this a two because of the two songs I recognized and liked. I had dinner with a friend, who was extolling supertramp’s virtues and we listened to the album together. She is a little older than me and remembers loving them (and smoking lots of weed) so, while listening with her I leaned in and could see this being something I might have rated a 4 if given time. However, as we all discuss with this project, time is something we don’t have so I will split it down the middle and call it a 3.
This album provoked no strong feelings. I am indifferent. Perfectly acceptable background music.
Hard rock or glam rock? I thought the band was heavy metal or hard rock, but it turns out that they’re actually glam rock. Although I’m not sure what image they are trying to convey on their album cover. Makes me think a little bit of Måneskin. And Queen. I went into the listen thinking I would rate this album a 2. But I didn’t know I’d like it so much and now here we are. Or, here I am
Everything was fine until Spaced Cowboy.
This album sounds like a fuzzier, lo-fi version of the Black Keys album Brothers. The songs on this album also reminded me at times of lord Huron
I liked the rich, warm sound of the horns and strings, with the more staccato guitar/bass/drums. The whole album made sense in the context of the cover.
I had never heard of John before today and so I did a quick Wikipedia search, and this album was billed as folk. The first song on the album had an ethereal quality to it, and I could buy it as some sort of folk music. I didn’t really love it and wasn’t looking forward to listening to the rest of the record. But from the second song until the end of the album, I was questioning the definition of folk music. Because to me, it did not seem like what I consider folk. If anything, it seemed bluesy. Even though I hadn’t heard any of the songs before, they all seemed familiar and made me happy. I also read that the songs had something to do with Nick Drake. A tribute? A theme? I didn’t get to delve into this aspect of the album, but I liked it a lot and would play it again.
I have only ever been a casual listener to Sonic Youth. After hearing this album I may put a little more effort in. I enjoy the parts where there are actual melodies and singing to the more prolonged periods of sonic dissonance but I was never tempted to turn the album off. I thought about Hole and Pavement and Dinosaur Jr. while listening.
Ryan is a pretentious dick. This was true before the allegations of sexual misconduct. I went to see him once in the early’00s and it was just him, a piano and a bottle of wine. The music was great and he was A. Pretentious. DICK. And a big baby. His name sounds like Bryan Adams and inevitably someone would request Summer of 69. One would think he would have a strategy to deal with that other than acting like someone stole his toys. But his strategy was to have security escort the offender out of the show. (This is, or was, a regular thing). Anyway, sorry to bury the lede, I love his music. In spite of the fact that he’s _____. Besides Gold, I have no clear idea of what songs were on what album, which were him solo or with one of his bands. When I became a Ryan fan I just went to my beloved Napster and downloaded all the songs I could find. Fun fact: I discovered Tift Merritt (who I believe I put on my extracurricular list) because one of the RA songs I downloaded included him talking about her (she was his opening act). Come Pick Me Up has all the things. Ticks all the boxes. The album could have ended after Shakedown. The last three songs were unnecessary.
I do not enjoy Devo. Makes me think a little bit of the Talking Heads and B-52’s. I did like the Stones cover and Johnny B Goode.
Really good, but the slick production removes any rawness, which takes something away from my enjoyment of it.
This was great fun to listen to.
A medium bodied selection. I detected notes of Michael McDonald, Nick Drake and a hint of Eric Clapton with a mellow finish. Pairs nicely with running errands on a grey day.
I never knew the Beatles did a cover of a song from the music man!
My first reaction to this album was that it was very cool of JC to be playing for the prisoners. I went down a whole rabbit hole of thoughts about the prison system and morality, etc. that ended up with me wondering what would happen if Taylor Swift performed at a prison. I bet the fans who paid lots of money to see her concerts would be angry. The song choices, and especially playing ‘San Quentin’ twice, were on point. ‘A Boy Named Sue’ has always intrigued me.
I feel like this should be a 5 but it doesn’t quite get there for me. The combination of the sweeping arrangements with the audience yelling/singing along felt like a bit much at times. And the whole thing went on too long. It may have gotten really great at the end but I fell asleep.
Take Me Out is a fantastic song. The rest of the album isn’t as strong, but it was an enjoyable listen. I liked the Matinee song. Franz Ferdinand always gets mixed up in my mind with other bands that came out around the same time, like the Postal Service, death cab, Travis, Keane, Snow Patrol, etc.
This is an album I didn’t know I needed to hear. But I did. So fun. It is an album that would be great to listen to while making homemade pasta and gravy for my (nonexistent) large Italian family with my (also nonexistent) Italian sisters. Also, I am not Italian.
I love the texture of this album.
I never thought of Suzanne and Taylor Swift as being similar, but the song ‘The Queen and the Soldier’ sounded like a song TS would do.
I didn’t know any of their songs by name except ‘I Wanna be Your Dog’ and I forgot that Iggy Pop was in the band. The album was fun.
I thought this would be a favorite and an automatic 5. I’ve said this before about another album and it’s true here as well. The A&R people chose the right singles. I love the hits but don’t much care for the rest of the songs.
I don’t think I ever knew Pulp, but they sound so familiar and I enjoyed this album thoroughly.
My inner dialogue… Upon seeing this as today’s album: oh no A minute into the first song: maybe I will like this, it’s kind of cool 9 hours later and the first song is still going: No.
My first thought about this album is that it was not very dynamic. They have a similar tones as the clash and the strokes. I think they would be very good live.
Layered arrangements that sound lush and cool at the same time with very little blank space.
Much to my surprise I like this album. I would still rather hear other people sing these songs but I am grateful to Bob for writing them.
No thank you. The synthesizers were too much.
I was on board in the beginning but lost interest after the song about the porpoise.
The intro is classic. I love the strings in Of Course. At times, I was wishing that Perry Farrell had a richer voice with more rounded tones, and then I realized two things. The first thing was that I have been watching too much of the show The Voice, and the second thing was that if his voice was any different, it just wouldn’t be Jane’s Addiction.
I liked it, but I don’t think I needed to hear it. I had never heard of the band before but I saw that a bunch of people cover their song Kerosene so …
Many of the songs sound the same but I like that one song so it was ok.
I respect her talent.
The Boys are Back in Town is an all-time favorite. The album was enjoyable, even with the shenanigans that come with a live album.
I usually just listen to the album of the day without doing any research but today I had some extra time and did not know who the artist was so I looked at the Wikipedia entry on her. I immediately thought back to an album that we listened to in November by SAULT, which I did not enjoy. The Wikipedia description sounded similar, and so I was predisposed to dislike this album. But I was wrong and I liked this album. I especially liked the tracks with Anderson Paak and H.E.R.
Simple, Lofi, fantastic. I love everything about this album.
Chan Chan is my favorite song on this album. I bought the album when it first came out but don’t think I ever listened to the whole thing. When I saw that this was today’s album, I was excited and was predisposed to give it five stars, but, while I enjoyed it a lot, the fact that I had never listened to the whole album in the many years, since it came out, signaled to me that this might not be an actual five star album. It’s probably more like a 3.5 but I’m gonna give it a four. A few years ago, when Cuba was open to Americans, I planned a trip there and booked an evening at the BVSC. Also planned a tour in a vintage car. And then before the trip commenced, entry was again denied to Americans (thanks Donald). I ended up on a cattle class cruise that went to the Bahamas and Key West. Poor me.
I have a very vivid memory of being a preteen at the New Jersey shore with a boombox on our blanket in the sand. When the song Imagine came on it was everything to me. And the rest of the album is good, too. Still not sure how I never heard the song Imagine until 1980.
Sound and Vision was great. Most of the rest of the sonic landscape was pretty good. The last two songs were not appealing. I really enjoyed Warszawa.
I enjoy this style of music and there was nothing technically bad about the album but I didn’t connect with his voice and so my rating reflects my indifference.
A total pleasure.
I listened to this Friday and remember very little about it today. I think that I liked Testify and the one with the kids I like Common as an actor.
I really like their sound. Most of the songs were very similar. I’m not sure if that is strictly true, or if I am just missing the subtle differences upon first listen. I really liked the last song on the album. It sounded funkier than the previous songs.
I hear the same influences in this music as I do in Duran Duran’s. Definitely Bowie. And The Velvet Underground…as evidenced in the cover ‘All Tomorrow’s Parties’. I love it.
No thank you.
Music sounds like something from Ocean’s 11 or The Pink Panther. Some caper movie from the 60s. Grand swells of music that make me feel like I am in some sort of magical land of long ago where dragons and unicorns exist.
I have a note in my phone from at least 10 years ago that just says ‘Beach House musical group’. Either I heard them and wanted to explore more or I read about them. I can’t remember now and I never followed up. So it seems like this is an album (or at least band) that I needed to hear, The first song had me wondering what my past self liked about this band besides the name. As it went on I liked it more and more. My favorites after one listen are ‘10 mile Stereo’ and ‘Lover of Mine’. It certainly is music I would like to listen to in a beach house while sunlight streams through filmy white curtains and waves crash in the background. And I think I’ll keep the note in my phone so I listen to more of their stuff someday.
Sonic youth has a really cool cover of the song Superstar by The Carpenters. This album has a creepy song about Karen Carpenter. I find that intriguing. The rest of the album is kind of hit or miss for me.
I can’t remember a time when I didn’t know ‘The Girl from Ipanema’. It’s a classic and this is a wonderful album.
I like the mix of rock and orchestra most of the time.
He writes some great songs. It’s All Over… is an all-time favorite. The version by Them and Van Morrison. His voice and harmonica playing are things I dislike.
It’s a cool vibe and they were fun to see live.
Love Heroes, can take or leave the rest.
A true classic. I love it.
Not my favorite PE album but still good.
Pleasant enough but fairly boring after a while.
When I started listening to this album, I was thinking I was gonna give it at four. But the sheer length of the album diluted my enjoyment. I really like the soliloquy and subsequent song about George Wallace. They are pretty fun band to see live.
I didn’t really appreciate Bruce Springsteen’s music until years later, but my high-school self knew all the lyrics to all the hits from this album, envied Courtney Cox in the ‘Dancing in the Dark’ video and could probably pick Bruce’s ass out of a lineup.
This album is more consistent than Heroes. While it includes the classics ‘Changes’ and ‘Life on Mars’, they don’t overshadow the rest of the album. I enjoyed his song about Bob Dylan.
Solid.
This is the last album of theirs I really like. It builds on the raw sounds of their early music without going over the top, like their later stuff.
First thoughts: Bolero. Pirate music. I listened to this album while reading a story about an LSD-fueled murder that happened in London in the 60s. And it was a perfect soundtrack.
Hells Bells, Back in Black and You Shook Me are tolerable. The rest was tedious and made my head hurt. Still an album that should be heard.
I thought I was going to love this but it got boring pretty fast. All the songs are fine on their own, but not one after another. ‘In the wee small hours’ was on the Sleepless in Seattle soundtrack. It’s a great record.
This was my review of the last Pulp album we heard and it remains true. “ I don’t think I ever knew Pulp, but they sound so familiar and I enjoyed this album thoroughly.’ Reminiscent of Morphine and Cousteau. I kind of want to give it a 5, but I’m going to go with a robust 4.
Their sound was different than anything else when this album came out. I loved it then and still do.
I was going to give this a neutral 2 but I think I will give it a hopeful 3. As I listened to the album for the first and only time, nothing turned me off, but nothing grabbed my attention, either. Until I got to the song Elevation, which I really liked. And it was the same with all of the songs after that. I haven’t had time to go and re-listen to the album to see if everything before elevation was crap and everything after it was wonderful, or, if my feelings about the album simply had to do with time exposed to the material . That’s where my hopeful three comes in.
Thanks to Brian for making this and thanks to this project and Wikipedia for teaching me about the origin of Ambient Music.
This gets a 4 for the version without How Soon Is Now and a 5 for the version with it.
Great
A little funk goes a long way. Give Up the Funk is a classic.
I vacillate between thinking this album is cool and thinking it’s ridiculous. Today I landed on cool.
I would like to forget I ever listened to Wordy Rappinghood. The song, genius of love gets all the points. I’m not sure why I was surprised that this album came out in 1981, but I was. L’Elephant was fun.
Upon first listen I was underwhelmed until the song Madeleine Mary, which I initially liked because it had more going on than the other songs. I read the Wikipedia entry on the artist, which led me to Johnny Cash’s cover of I See A Darkness. This morning I gave the album a second listen and liked it very much. What I initially dismissed as simple became a bit more….I don’t know ….just more.
LC is a great lyricist with a distinct singing style. I love ‘Everybody Knows’. The Concrete Blonde cover is fantastic.
Slick pop arrangements accompanying dark lyrics.
All the songs just went on too long. Layla and Bell Bottom Blues are classics.
I did a double take when I saw the release date for this album. I didn’t realize the Yeah Yeah Yeahs were around since the early 2000s. I was familiar with the song Maps from this album and with a handful of their more recent songs. Karen O has a cool voice and style, but a whole album is a lot. If you enjoyed this band and didn’t already know, check out their song with Perfume Genius. It’s called ‘spitting off the edge of the world’ and it’s really good.
Man, I forgot how good this album is!
I didn’t know this band before it came up as our album today. I read the blurb about them and thought that maybe I would like it because it was tropicalia, and also thought that perhaps the psychedelic part would be fun mixed in. .I was wrong. It is fine as background music. There was one song that seeemed like it could be a soundtrack for a Tom and Jerry cartoon. And there was a part during the Mamas and Papas cover where I thought my phone alarm was going off. (My alarm is bell tower).
I love this record, with its mysterious lyrics and experimental (for them) sounds. I was (and still am) sad that they didn’t continue in the vein of Summerteeth but the ‘sonic landscape-mess’ of YHF grew on me. This is the last album of Wilco’s that I really cared about.
I was thinking that I would mention in my review that you can always tell a Van Halen song, because they have a very distinct sound. But when I got to the song ‘Jamie‘s Crying’ I had to pause and wonder why an Aerosmith song was on this album. And then I realized that I was mixing it up with ‘Janie‘s got a Gun’. This is a very solid album
Please refer to Andy’s review of Fatboy Slim. It applies here. I have very fond memories of listening to the song ‘Around the World’. I had it on a lot of my mixed CDs. I really like the song ‘Daft Punk is playing at my House’ by LCD Soundsystem. Much better than I actually liked listening to a whole album of Daft Punk in my actual house.
She’s always fun to listen to. I think she’s pretty political, but I didn’t listen very closely to the lyrics, so I’m sure I am missing some deeper meanings. And that’s OK with me. I love the ‘Sanford and Son’ samples in URAQT. M.I.A. and Dizee Rascal remind me of one another.
I like Steve Winwood. This album was pleasant to listen to while waking up.
This is the band and the songs I think of when someone says ‘Southern Rock’.
I was going to give it three stars, but the use of she instead of her in “English Rose” knocked it down to a two. I liked Fly
Good music for wandering around and relaxing.
5 stars for Ian Gillian’s voice minus 4 stars for it being Deep Purple.
The first song is familiar and a classic and the second song reminded me of Led Zeppelin but all the songs after that were not good at all. I just read the Wikipedia review that said that this was the precursor of heavy metal so I guess that makes it something that should be listened to. Unless you are one of the people who doesn’t like heavy metal at all, in which case this would have been the album that a time traveler from the future would’ve gone back and destroyed so that heavy-metal never existed. So, while I am glad that this album existed for the future of heavy-metal, I still didn’t like it so much
I have never been a fan of Mudhoney. To scream-y. The cover of The Rose was disappointing.
This got 1 star because there is no option for 0.
The album was fine. Perfectly pleasant. There was a time when there was quite a hike around this group and I just never got it.
When this came out I would have given it a 5. Now it gets a 3, more for my disappointment in the fact that I don’t still love it than a change in quality. It’s still NO doing what they do.
‘That’s Entertainment’ was the only song that was familiar. It sounded like they were having fun on this album. There was a lot going on. Happy cacophony is the phrase that sprang to mind during my listening session.
I loathed this. I like most of the original songs. I’m not a huge fan of Ray Charles. The music and arrangements made me feel like I was in some sort of 1960s suburban hellscape. This album would have fit in on the soundtrack of movies like ‘The Stepford Wives’, ‘Don’t Worry, Darling’ or ‘Get Out’.
I love Leonard Cohen and this album doesn’t change that. The stories he tells have changed a little but he’s always been fairly dark. It’s not the record of his I would choose to listen to, but I wouldn’t turn it off.
Easy like Sunday morning.
I love the songs, but am not a fan of this live performance.
I’m not sure if this album is better than the other two arcade fire albums we’ve had, or I am just being worn down by the cumulative exposure.
I didn’t pay any attention to PJ back in the day because I was busy listening to other stuff. I’m glad I got to really listen now.
I don’t like Kraftwerk.
It’s long. The songs are similar. Sometimes there’s a bit too much guitar noodling. That being said, I think it’s great. Metallica’s sound is unmistakable.
I like Elvis Costello and love some of his songs. I had never heard this album before, nor had I heard any of the songs. The standout songs were I Want You and Battered Old Bird. I can see I Want You as a song one would send to the person who did the breaking up. Probably preceded by REM’s Everybody Hurts.
I didn’t like the skits. When he referred to himself as Iron Man/Tony Stark it confused me. Vulgarity bothers me more than it used to in music, but this was still mostly fun to listen to. Kilo, Jellyfish and Back Like That were standouts.
I love the song North American Scum. I wanted to gouge out my ear drums on All My Friends.
It’s a great rainy day listen.
I start it off thinking I might give this 4 stars, but by the time the song ‘Whisper’ came on, I was annoyed down to two.
Their glam rock style is fun. Reminiscent of Elton John, Bowie and Queen. I’m not sure how I feel about the Pink Floyd cover.
I admire many things about Dolly Parton, like her guitar playing and songwriting. Her voice is not one of them. At least not on this album. Warbly? Vibrato?
This album is full of songs that I have grown to love, seemingly through osmosis. I would not categorize myself as a Boston fan, nor have I ever owned any of their albums, but every song on this record was familiar.
I couldn’t listen to this on Spotify, so I listened to it on YouTube and there was no track listing so I’m not sure what song was what, but I really liked the very long guitar solo in one of the songs near the end.
Wonderfully weird. I would have liked to be at one of those recording sessions. During one of his monologues he talked about saving coupons from packs of cigarettes to redeem for lawn furniture and I had a flashback of my mother doing that exact thing.
I like the music. I don’t like the talking between songs. The album was very long.
Very bleak.
I lost interest in all the songs before they were halfway through, including We Are Family. It’s good music for the roller skating rink.
This is a gorgeous album! Living for the City is an all-time favorite.
Some of their best songs on an uneven album.
It’s good for a cardio workout. I didn’t listen to the words much and every song sounded the same.
I know most of the songs like the back of my hand, but today is the first time I ever listened to the entire album. If we could give half stars, I would probably give it a 4.5, but here we are. The song within you or without you was what would’ve knocked .5 star off.
On the whole, I liked the vibe of this album. Some of the songs went on a bit long and were kind of navel-gazey.
Except for the songs Once in a Lifetime and Overload, this album left me cold
‘The Gift’ was insidious and perfect. Reminded me of Tom Waits’ ‘What’s He Building?’
The line ‘Three letters took him to his final resting place’ gives me chills every time. The prince cover was fun.
Slight variations on a proven formula. A very fun album that makes me nostalgic for a time I never lived in.
Meh… I feel I should love her. And I did like ‘A Coal Miner’s Daughter’.
This was delightful!
Janis’ voice is iconic. Summertime was interesting. Every song went on way too long.
I have always said that I don’t like the Grateful Dead and I will continue to say it. But this is a pretty great album so I may not say it as loudly in the future. I will continue to hate all the live jammy stuff, though. And it really bothers me that the song ripple sounded like it was being sung by Jeff Tweedy.
I started the listening session, mildly interested, and by the end of the album I was all in. How Can I Be Sure is a song that I will always stop and listen to when it comes on the radio. The first notes are haunting. I didn’t know that You Better Run was a cover for Pat Benetar. I like both versions. The song Sueno was a bit of a cipher. Other than a few guitar notes and saying guitar in Spanish, it was all English. Even the word dreams was, well, dreams. Why name it Sueno? Artistic license I guess.
This music has a time and a place. But the time is not now and the place is not here. I did not listen to this album in its entirety. I listened to the beginning of each song and fast forwarded to the middle of it. Across both the album and within each song there was little variety. The BPM and the angry growling is good for a cardio workout but, musically, it did nothing for me.
This album has some of their most iconic songs.
When I was a little kid, the song Stairway to Heaven sparked my imagination. I didn’t know what bustles and hedgerows were but I was transported to an Alice in Wonderland/Robin Hood dreamscape while listening to that song.
Her voice/singing style is reminiscent of Bjork at times. This album was fun to listen to. I liked it a lot more than SZA but I’ll rank it the same because, while SZA got the 3 for being a little better than a 2, Lorde will get it for being not quite a 4.
The Thrills were one of a bunch of Irish/English bands that were popular in the early 2000s. Snow Patrol, Death Cab, Travis, the Postal Service, etc. were all the same band to me. One that I liked, and still like, very much. This album doesn’t break any new ground, but is very well done. The songs have enough differences to make the record interesting.
I used to like them a little, and now I like them a lot. The band grew on me. I am really sad that I didn’t get to see the stage production of American idiot.
My (our) friend Jason refers to this band as Siouxie and the Cream Cheese. He also thinks this is their best album and would rate it a 4.5. It’s moody and ethereal and I agree with Jason.
I didn’t find the tutorial bits very helpful, but I enjoyed the music.
I first became aware of the beta band when Jack Black’s character in the movie High, Fidelity played one of their records i(Dry the Rain) n the fictional record store. I really liked this album, it had a very peaceful energy. If you’ve ever seen the movie High Fidelity, or read the book, or watched the recent Hulu series I recommend them all.
Shirley is my favorite Manson.
I love Steely Dan.
J’s (not quite) lackadaisical singing style softens the (not quite) cacophonous music. I think this is probably a 3.5 star album. I was going to round up to four, except I don’t really like the song Poledo so it’s getting a three. I liked the Cure cover.