1001 Albums Summary

Whole thing sounds like a jam session - in a good way

Sounds like if Bono made good music

Not a big blues fan. From a production stand point the album sounded way more modern than I was expecting. I actually really enjoyed the first track but after that I felt like every song was basically the same thing at a different tempo. I can appreciate that as far as blues music goes this is probably a great album (I think?) I’ve just never really understood the appeal of straight up blues music.

Finally, my time has come, an Irish band. I honestly think Fairytale of New York might be the only reason this album is on this list. This kind of music is reserved for being played live in pubs in my mind. Not a sit and listen on Spotify type of album. But that doesn't make it any less fun to listen to. 5 Stars for being Irish.

Not only a really cool idea for an album, very impressive to pull it off the way he has. Everything sounded so clear and clean (except maybe the sitar at times) and the album as a whole felt so natural and almost familiar rather than an experiment of sorts. Dance Indra stood out as a favourite to me. Brave sticking his manifesto on the front because if he fucked it, it would've been embarrassing. But I think he's pulled it off perfectly.

I thought this album was okay. Feels very of the time and I feel like there was a lot of stuff going around back then that I would go for before this album. The experimental elements were by far the most interesting part of the whole album for me as rare as they were. I kind of wish they focused more on that aspect of what they were doing.

Used to love these guys a few years ago, never got into much past this album but I've always loved it. Damaged Goods is a timeless song, for what it is I think the album itself is pretty timeless. Has a style that will never go out of fashion and they nailed every aspect.

Loved this album. Have loved a few songs off it for a few years now but never sat down and listened to the full thing until now. I've always considered the 80's to be simultaneously the best and worst decade for music. This albums definitely leans more towards the best part of it. Such a strong and specific sound. Lyrical content in some songs is also great (Dear God obviously) considering a lot of music from that time was words that sound cool. The album had a really strong start but it does kind of fall off in the middle a little for me, less clever song writing, sounds aren't as interesting. But it picks up again for the last few songs. Great cover art too.

Was actually surprised by this album. I liked it more than I expected. Doesn't mean it was amazing just exceeded expectations. Had unexpectedly strange elements of traditional (Irish) music in the instrumentation/melody but still stayed true to that very late 90's/early 2000's English sound - the big, ringy drums, crunchy, almost shoegazey at times, guitars and unforgivable vocals. Reminded me of Oasis at times. Pull together was probably my least favourite track. Theres something weird about the vocal sound I couldn't get past. Too muddy and hard to understand or maybe too much compression? (which Jay Ray will find funny coming from me). Natalie's Party was the stand out track for me which was a little disappointing to have the opening track be the best one on the album; but, it picked up again for me with Streets of Kenny (which actually might be the better track of the 2 - very atmospheric, a lot of tension, the abrupt end. Feels like it would be great live.) Daniella was also a great closer, it was a nice break from how full on the rest of the album was and really made me focus on the lyrics. Overall with albums like this I find it hard to differentiate my modern day subjectivity from my nostalgia. I had never heard of this band before this but growing up in Ireland and around the UK its very much so a sound I have a soft spot for regardless of who it is. Unless it's utter dogshit, which, I don't think this album was.