It sounds super raw and I get why other people wouldn't enjoy it, but this shit rocks hard. Fave song this listen = Very Ape
This album confirmed for me that my favorite place to listen to music is in my car. Shine On You Crazy Diamond threw me into a soundscape as I drove down 288 to the psych clinic. On my way home, Wish You Were Here and the second Shine On track made me wish the traffic was a little bit worse so my drive would take a little bit longer. The first part of the second Shine On track gave me some serious Electric Light Orchestra vibes. Given the timeline of both bands and their status as prog rock legends, I guess that tracks. I do wonder what kind of contact, if any, the bands had with each other.
My one critique of the record is that Welcome to the Machine feels dated. It felt like more of a standard prog rock number than a track on one of the greatest rock albums of all time.
Overall, incredible album and it may get another listen this very week.
I was introduced to Highway Star by the game Rockband. I spent many hours during college in the Weenie Loft grinding on the plastic drum kit and I could never pull this song off on hard. It's a shame too because the song is fucking gas.
Machine Head is an incredible rock album. The fact that these guys were shredding like this in 1972 makes me realize how little I understand the timeline of rock n' roll. My favorite song this listen = Lazy.
Chuck D: "The FBI is tapping my phone because of my anti-establishment views."
Flavor Flav: "YEAHHH BOYYYYYYYY"
My biggest critique of this album is that I don't know what Flav brings to the table. Half of the time he is on a track, the tone feels discordant with the rest of the record. He's got a fucking food verse on Cold Lampin' With Flavor while Chuck D is holding court over the legality of sampling. Flavor Flav's antics aside, I enjoyed the album. Chuck D is really that guy. I'm only giving it 4 stars because stylistically I didn't completely fuck with it.
An aside, in 2016 Chuck D and members of Rage Against the Machine formed a band called Prophets of Rage in response to Trump winning the election. Y'all should check out their version of the song Prophets of Rage, the last track on this album. I prefer it to the original.
Upon hearing the intro, I was worried that this album wouldn't be my style. Those thoughts soon left me as I got into the meat of the first track and I settled in for the listen. This being Monday I have fewer thoughts than with the other albums but I did enjoy it. Fave song: Stay.
I thought it was a nice little record. The title track had me tearing up a bit thinking about my grandma, not gonna lie. My only criticisms are that the album feels a bit too short and the songs The Mystery of the Mystery and She Never Met A Man (She Didn't Like) feel a bit dated.
Beautiful songwriting; each of the tracks feels so earnest.
I could not get the phrase "surry down" out of my head after hearing this album. She has such a powerful, unique voice and her delivery of that line in Stoned Soul Picnic has a way of sticking in your head. You could tell she really put her all into each one of these songs and they all work well.
I could not take this guy's voice seriously. At his worst, he sounds like a Family Guy character. Does he really sound that like in every day life? As for the lyrics, this week we have have some incredible songwriters and that's why I am more attuned to the severe drop in lyrical quality that is this album. Too often the chorus is him repeating the name of the song over and over, the worst culprit being I Want You. It's a shame because I thought that after the intro track Uncomplicated that this would be a fun, if middling, rock album, but ol' Costello felt the need to spread his wings and add in some ballads that fall flatter than than my affect listening to this album.
I am highly biased on this album because I have loved a bunch of it's songs since I was a kid. My mom shared her love of 90s rock music with me and I have many fond memories of listening to Come Out and Play with her in the car.
Bonus fun fact: The Offspring have a song titled You're Gonna Go Far Kid that was adopted by bronies as a theme song of sorts.
Tears for Fears is good 80s music. I sometimes hear songs from the decade and think, "Wtf were these people on?" Sure, Tears for Fears is weird, but they have a unique, engaging sound and bangers to boot.
Bonus: Mark Lettieri has an instrumental cover of Everybody Wants to Rule the World that was a staple during my study days.
I could not handle this man's voice. The disconnect between the tinkling, soft piano of Jersey Girl and Waits' dysarthic, gutteral barking made my head spin. It's a shame too because I thought that the music on the album was top notch. The only song on the album in which I think his voice worked well was Mr. Siegal. The bluesy-jazzy tune was the perfect setting for his unique voice.
A solid little album. I read a bit about her from the Wikipedia entry and I had no idea she was such an influential figure in apartheid South Africa. It wasn't all my cup of tea (especially the House of the Rising Sun cover, bleh) but she has a powerful voice and put her all into each of the tracks. Also I liked the silly little flea song.
This album intrigued me. It had a different sound but I enjoyed it.
I'd give it a 5 but the second half of the album felt like already tread ground for the most part.
I've been home all week with COVID and maybe that's why I'm interested in this album. I'm not a huge electronica guy but the sounds and music of this album are scratching a part of a brain I didn't know had an itch.
I didn't really get the appeal. He has an interesting sound, sure but it's just not doing it for me.
This album is fucking gas. I've had Fire and Foxey Lady on my phone for years but I had no idea the rest of this album was so rockin'.
No joke this is how I was introduced to Bob Dylan's voice and style:
https://youtu.be/31PyIgA6K94
I didn't even remember the reference until I heard this album.
I had not listened to a Bob Dylan album before and I enjoyed what I heard. It can be tough for me to absorb the lyrics of an album my first time around but I appreciate his story telling ability. Great album.
This album shows me that I'm wayyyy too eager to be a 45 year old dad drinking a bud light on my deck listening to Steely Dan.
I had a good time with the album. Didn't blow me away but it was a great soundtrack to my Bloodborne sesh. Incredible guitar of course.
Present day Holger Czukay: https://youtu.be/T7f9xTPI9eo
I didn't like it but think it's at least interesting.
I found the mix of musical styles on the record endearing. It's overtly political and is still nice on the ears. Glad this one was served up for us.
I think TPAB was the first rap album I ever listened to straight through. I'm aware of few other artists who have a voice as clear as Kendrick's. I didn't fully understand what he was trying to convey about being a Black person in America during my first listen back in 2015. Now, I get it a little better, but I'm still learning.
Had all the weight and flavor of an excellent Steely Dan album, was only missing a few really standout tracks.
Pretty strange. Was not expecting an incel ballad in Add It Up. I'll give it two stars for Blister in the Sun and Gone Daddy Gone though.
Another excellent singer-songwriter album. Quite a few bangers on here including I Fell The Earth Move, Home Again, and You've Got A Friend. Had no idea she wrote A Natural Woman, and though her version doesn't hold a candle to Ms. Franklin's, she does a serviceable job.
I'm not super into shoegaze, but I would certainly enjoy this album stoned.
"Why'd ya let her suck your CAWHHKK"
Not my cup of tea but some of the songs had a nice bluesy tone that I can appreciate.
I've got a soft spot for Talking Heads. This wasn't my favorite album by the band, but I still enjoyed their irreverent sound.
I would kill to see this set. My only complaint is that it didn't go longer.
Legend album. RIP Chris Cornell
A classic classic.
