One listen all the way through and some individual tracks a few times. Still gathering my thoughts on the album as a whole (I like to listen to projects at least 4 times to digest them) but I definitely enjoy it. Some tracks feel dated, especially vocally, but I think overall there’s a lot that works even today. My least favorite moments on the record where these times that I feel played heavily into trends that aren’t as prevalent today. The overindulgent guitar solos and vocals that randomly go into a higher pitch are some examples of this that come to mind. Still, I thought that the energy was infectious and that the album had quite a few surprisingly strong melodies. This was a good first album to kick off this experience.
Favorites: Hot For Teacher, Top Jimmy, Girl Gone Bad, Jump
I don’t know this one was alright but just didn’t really do it for me. It felt too timid and safe at times, not letting it all out when it needed to. “I Just Want To See His Face” felt especially inoffensive, being so demure and muffled that it felt like nothing. After more listens, I might like this album more, but right now I feel like it was mainly just okay.
Favorites: Sweet Virginia, Shine A Light, All Down The Line
I love the title of this album, Kind Of Blue. To me that shows the tenderness and measured playing throughout the album. It’s not fully Blue, just Kind Of. Blue in Green is my favorite piece, and I love the depth of emotion that’s created through soft and small moments. Honestly, this album has just shown to me that little doesn't have to be the antithesis of big, but can be the precursor to it.
Favorites: Blue in Green, All Blues, Flamenco Sketches, So What
Solid album, I’m a big fan of Elvis’ vocals. They can be really grand and bombast, but I think the nuance of emotion is still there. Just fun to listen to.
Not Bowie at his best but enjoyable. Some parts felt too generic instead of that Bowie style of crazy expression that I like, but nothing bad.
I don’t think this one fully “clicked” with me yet (being my second listen a while after the first), but I’m beginning to appreciate The Beatles more. All across the album, there’s incredibly strong songwriting, and some killer melodies. You can tell that the band is really just having fun on this album, and the playfulness is just refreshing. Even though they don’t take themselves completely seriously, there’s serious strength behind these songs, with “I Want You (She’s So Heavy)” being an especially dense listen. All in all, just a mixture of sweet and powerful tracks.
Faves: I Want You (She’s So Heavy), The End, Sun King, Come Together, Maxwell’s Silver Hammer
Heavily recommend the No Dogs in Space episode on the boys. Really helps me appreciate the edge and roughness of their music. They have such a genuine approach to creation that shows a bit of their wildness. Just a great, palpable energy flowing through the album. Hearing the band enjoying themselves so much, while also tacking some subjects with emotional depth due to Paul Westerberg’s writing creates such a great experience.
Faves: Sixteen Blue, Black Diamond, Unsatisfied, Androgynous, I Will Dare, We’re Comin Out
I LOVE Tina’s voice. It’s the standout quality of the album for me, being a bit rough but also endlessly smooth. “Steel Claw” is the best example of this. She just has this strong energy about her that comes through in her vocal performance. The instrumentation is also upbeat and rhythmic, which emphasizes the strength of Tina’s voice. Great album to dance to.
Faves: Let’s Stay Together, Steel Claw, Help!, Better Be Good To Me
As someone who enjoys Curtis Mayfield but haven’t heard much outside of some of his songs, this was kinda a surprise for me. To be honest I was disappointed that the album wasn’t as dramatic as I expected, but I understood why. This is a pretty intimate record, and I really liked the tenderness on here. There were moments I felt weren’t as moving as they could have been, but when it connects, it really connects.
Faves: So in Love, Billy Jack, Jesus
Really love the first half of this album especially. Never listened to Dire Straits before and this was a great introduction. I wasn’t expecting how spacey and atmospheric some of these songs to be, but I loved that.
Faves: Money For Nothing, Your Latest Trick, Walk of Life
Unfortunately this one just didn’t do it for me gang…I didn’t dislike it but I felt like it was just alright. I was disappointed that it felt pretty textureless despite it being a live album. I’ll revisit it but it was a pretty bland experience for me 5/10
I thought it was a good mix of intensity with great rhythmic melodies. “Wormboy” especially reminded me of a NIN song, which I dug a lot. I was gonna give this four stars at first because of how much I just liked the general sound, but noticed that it became a little repetitive. Bands like Deftones and NIN both accomplished what this album tries to do better during the same time period. As much as I liked some of the songs here, I don’t feel comfortable enough listening to Marilyn Manson for further exploration.
Faves: Irresponsible Hate Anthem, The Beautiful People, 1996, The Reflecting God
This is just a ridiculously fun album. I like that it doesn’t take itself seriously. Still can’t believe there’s a song that’s just Yo Momma jokes. It’s a bit of a product of its time, especially with the instrumentation, but there’s a good amount of qualities that still hold up today. It is, in fact, a pretty bizarre ride!
Faves: Soul Flower, Passin’ Me By, Otha Fish
GREAT punk album!!! Everything I love about punk condensed into about half an hour. Pure charm, high energy, and hypnotic melodies, I just love it all.
Faves: Love Song, Machine Gun Etiquette, I Just Can’t Be Happy Today, Plan 9 Channel 7, Noise, Noise, Noise
WE GOTTA TAKE THE POWER BACK!!!!! This album is a real rage against the machine. The energy here is just so infectious. There’s such a passion fire burning across each song. It’s hard not to be motivated, or at least pumped up when listening to this album. For such an angry piece of music it’s surprisingly uplifting, it makes you feel like change is possible.
“Anger is a gift.”
Faves: Settle for Nothing, Bullet In the Head, Take the Power Back, Killing In the Name, Fistful of Steel, Know Your Enemy, Wake Up
Good album with a lot of melodic guitar riffs (I can feel Good Fortune in my soul). There’s just a nice sound here, which makes for a pleasant listen. The only thing that I didn’t really care for on a first listen was how it kinda felt repetitive/dull at moments. Thom Yorker’s collabs with PJ Harvey were a high point for me, they gave the album a level of depth that I think doesn’t really exist without it.
Faves: This Mess We’re In, You Said Something, A Place Called Home, The Whores Hustle And The Hustlers Whore, Beautiful Feeling, Good Fortune
Wasn’t a big fan of this one, it felt drawn out and wasn’t captivating. I zoned out several times and just wasn’t interested in the sounds that I heard.
Faves: Blueski
Just some beautiful songs. There’s this feeling of tenderness throughout the album that I really love, it just draws you in so much. Had a great first listen, will take a lot of time to fully process all of it.
Faves: O Trem Azul, Nuvem Cigana, Clube Da Esquina N° 2, Trem De Doido
Definitely not bad but felt like a large majority of the album was just standard
Faves: More Than A Feeling, Rock & Roll Band, Hitch a Ride, Let Me Take You Home Tonight
Surprisingly strong. A lot of classics and they still hold up today. Some of the best 80s synth work I’ve ever heard, even if it can be overpowering at times. The execution is just 🤌. Great synthpop album.
Faves: Time After Time, Witness, Girls Just Want to Have Fun, She Bop, When You Were Mine, I’ll Kiss You
Mix of some songs I absolutely love and some I feel are just okay. Nico’s vocals are my favorite part of the album, and when they’re matched with the strings on here they’re elevated to another level. Very soft and delicate, but still vivid emotionally. A little too slow and thin for my taste at times, but overall 👍👍
Faves: These Days, The Fairest Of The Seasons, Chelsea Girls, Somewhere There’s A Feather, I’ll Keep It With Mine
“Elliott Smith could make Abbey Road but The Beatles could never make Figure 8”
Perfectly packaged emotion and tight songwriting. Powerful stuff, very moving!
Faves: Better Be Quiet Now, Can’t Make A Sound, Stupidity Tries, Bye, Son Of Sam, Somebody That I Used To Know, Easy Way Out
Utterly smooth and filled with a level of soul that really speaks to you. The pure force of this album really surprised me, and I found myself being enthralled by nearly every track. Solid stuff and is just the right length to perfectly hold your attention and then move on.
Faves: The Whole Point Of No Return, My Ever Changing Moods, Here’s One That Got Away, Me Ship Came In!, Headstart For Happiness, The Paris Match, You’re The Best Thing, Mick’s Blessings
At first I thought it was just a nice selection of songs for some easy listening. And then I heard The Ocean. The amount of pure and genuine emotion infused into that song almost brought me to tears. There are a couple other hits here that really pack a punch in a similarly expansive and beautiful way.
Faves: The Ocean, Coles Corner, Born Under A Bad Sign, Darlin’ Wait For Me, I Sleep Alone
