This album should be called Kinky and Confused.
Musically it had a lot of fun moments, and I did quite like the remastered mix. But that gets overshadowed by a landfill of lyrics and themes that seem starving and malnourished. Starving for what? Like how the narrator here REALLY wants sex like really bad. So much so he puts it as his last request of the album.
At least Hand to Mouth was somewhat compelling in its message, only to be followed up by 2 of the worst tracks. Look at Your Hands sounds like a comeback written by a pre-teen. Where Monkey just leaves you scratching your head and asking why.
I guess the lesson here is never write an album on an empty stomach.
This album is a nearly perfect listen through. It’s got such a tight confident style, Knowing who it is every strum along the way.
As a humble millennial the thing I love about Bob Dylan is I have no clue about the context around his lyrics. I get to just feel the songs. Taking them in without having to analyze too much. I know it’s meaningful.
After not having listened to this one in many years, this listen solidified Don’t Think Twice and Oxford Town a spot in my Best Songs Ever playlist.
The listening experience does tire a bit by the end. What would bring this experience from great to amazing would be if the album ended with Talking World War III blues. Even though I Shall Be Free is among one of the best songs in the album.
This was a nice experience.
Confidently relaxed, knowing what it is all the way through. I appreciate that.
Favorite track: remember.
In Reverse is among the greatest songs ever made. Okay we got that out of the way up front.
I’m no stranger to The war on drugs. I’ve been a fan for a half a decade now. This album in particular is very deserving to be on this list. Not only does it put The War on Drugs on the map, but it seems to be the one where they found themselves, and have been confidently creating from this vein since.
This is one that will spark the same feelings from the time you first listened to it. For me it was in a time where I was making a lot of new friends and making music videos for my friend new album and we talked a lot about this band. When I listen to this I get all those feelings of excitement, creativity, and remembering what’s important.
It’s not a perfect album, I still get just a touch bored in the middle. But the first half and back half are filled with some of their best jams and will keep you coming back.
Musically it sounds like they had a lot of fun here. The sound feels experimental at times, dipping slightly into a punk feel at times in the rhythm guitar, and even bringing in some metal sounding tones in the guitar solos. Yet it does stays true to being a rock album. It at least knows what its going for, and they did a pretty good job in sticking with that throughout, besides one, off the rails moment half way through I will address later.
Lyrically it was trying too hard for me. It’s hard to take some of these rock albums seriously in hindsight. I’m sure at the time it was exciting to feel edgy and rebellious, but these days it feels immature, and not from an older-and-wiser point of view, but rather realizing how delusional this attitude was. We don’t have to prove anything. Just be yourself.
Some highlights for me: The song Three Days, from its catchy, dark bass line through the ups and downs of its composition it worked the most for me. If they were trying to convince me with this album that they are in fact edgy and rebellious, this was probably the only track that would have me believing. In the end this is probably the only song I will come back for.
Been Caught Stealing was the least interesting song on the album. Not what I was expecting going into it knowing it was the hit off the record. In my opinion it goes too far off track from the rest of the album as a whole. It’s just too poppy and flat compared to how dynamic and complex some of the other tracks are. Plus if you enjoy stealing you know… well… you are just a piece of shit.
Despite its lows, this album did have more character than I anticipated going off of its dumb-ass album cover. It’s a decent rock album with a weak start, some bumps along the way, and yet manages to finish strong.
I genuinely enjoyed this one. From the get go it had me intrigued and caught in this subtle trance. It held my interest throughout, holding this haunting aesthetic both in music and vocals, but never felt gimmicky.
Added to my music library. A very welcome surprise indeed.
Another one I thoroughly enjoyed. The fact that these are all spot on live performances is impressive. It really shows off the raw talent of Niel Young.
No complaints, though Niel young in general is one I need to be in the mood for. Bravo!
This album chewed at my hope in humanity for the first time in a long while. When it’s serious it’s undeniably GOOD, big, and explosive. When it’s trying to entertain it holds a twisted perspective a from that last generation where toxic masculinity went unchecked.
Not much to say about this one. I appreciated how the tracks were a bit lengthier and dynamic. Had some nice funk to it and the lyrics were mesmerizing.
I’m not a huge Queen fan per-say, but whenever I catch a song in passing I find myself getting drawn in by the theatrics. They are full force and shining throughout this album, making for an entertaining listen.
