1001 Albums Summary

This album gets 5 stars from its consistency alone. Not one song falls flat or is forgettable. The guitar and bass tone are to die for and I feel that's what creates the ominous ambience throughout. And while in some songs like Plateau and Lake of Fire Kurt sounds like he is struggling vocally there are songs like Where Did You Sleep Last Night that prove he's the star of the show. There were some wise arrangement choices throughout like downtuning the guitars on Something in The Way and the use of strings throughout. A landmark album for Nirvana that arguably puts some of their studio work to shame.

Practically flawless from start to finish. A masterclass in how every rock album should be. The production is absolutely crystal clear. This isnt an album that you listen to for profound lyrics but for its massive sound mainly from the drumming and guitar work make it sound colossal. There is too many bangers for it to get anything less than five stars

The album starts off well. The title track is a tranquil opening with both the beautiful guitar parts and Springsteen's poignant lyrics. Atlantic City is an absolute anthem and in both of those songs I thought the harmonica was piercing but it grew on me. Afterwards the album takes a nosedive, plagued with formulaic country and blues songs. The album follows a rigid pattern of a slow song followed by a fast song and tbh feels very disjointed. It picks up slightly with State Trooper's lyricism and Open all Night's jovial groove but for the most part it is an album that drags on for far too long. Luckily Reason to Believe ends the album on a high thanks to an intertwining of Springsteens lyrics and some lovely guitar parts.

Quite disappointing in all honesty as it could have easily been a really spectacular album.The first slow three songs drag and while they do sound nice are quite forgettable. This perhaps is what makes Old Times Good Times all the more explosive. The rumbling bass is energetic and of course the guitar solo is impeccable. Easily the best song. The next song Go Back Home is another excellent display of Stephen's guitar skills and give off real Hendrix vibes. However the vocals are a let down. The same problem is evident in Black Queen and again in Cherokee. The album finishes with an outro that sounds massive sonically but only after several minutes of aimlessness. Had it been a blues instrumental album I'm sure it would have made a much greater impact as that was by far the most memorable elements of a lacklustre album.