I listened to this while working and it was pleasant. Makes for good background music. I don't have strong feelings otherwise, it's not something I really see myself going back to. Favorite track: Bahia
The only things I knew about Aphex Twin going into this:
- the album cover where the guy makes that creepy face
- they have a song where the only lyrics are "I want to steal your soul, I want to eat your soul, come to daddy"
But this was, as title tried to warn me, just ambient music. It's fine. I have no desire to listen to it ever again. I would give it a courtesy 3/5 because it's just not my genre and it's clearly well made, but I need to knock off a point for the disappointment of it not being quirky weirdo music for quirky weirdos.
I'm sure this sounded better in 1972, before generations of rock bands that all sound exactly like this made the same record 500 times. It's not bad, though. Smoke on the Water is obviously a classic for a reason. Highway Star is cheesy fun. Lazy was a standout for me, love its more bluesy sound. Overall a very middle of the road classic rock album. Favorite track: Lazy
This is a great record. It definitely sounds like you'd expect early 90s rap to sound, but that doesn't mean it hasn't aged well -- this sound is still great even though it's very of its era. The biggest strength of this album is some really hard hitting, politically charged lyricism. Its biggest flaw is just that Flavor Flav is obnoxious as hell. I would give this a 5 if not for the track where he whines about being criticized for assaulting his girlfriend. That was extremely jarring, what the fuck dude?
Favorite track: By The Time I Get To Arizona
This is incredible and I need to listen to it like 100 more times. Definitely lives up to its reputation, I don't even know what to say about it, this just fucking rules.
Favorite track: King Kunta
This felt like the longest album I've ever listened to. Goddamn these songs all go on forever. I will never "get" Metallica.
Favorite track: One
This is a perfectly fine album, but I don't think it really deserves a "you NEED to listen to this" designation. It's not really significant. 21 is worthy of that, I think -- this is just the weaker follow-up to a modern classic. Whatever though, it's still a nice listen.
Favorite track: Water Under the Bridge
I liked this a lot more than I expected to. It's pretty standard grunge on the poppier side, but it's well executed. I don't love the vocals but they're not the most grating I've ever heard and the music makes up for it.
Favorite track: Dying Days
I've never really listened to afrobeat before this, but damn this record is good. The songs run long but are all so fun and lively I never got bored listening to it.
Favorite track: Frustrations
This is what I'm doing this for, man! A fantastic album that is extremely My Shit, but I would have never thought to listen to it on my own. This is the kind of big, loud pop rock that I am a sucker for. I'm gonna be listening to this all day.
Favorite track: Enola/Alone
