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Wed Aug 30 2023
Aja
Steely Dan
I LOVE STEELY DAN I CANT BELIEVE THIS WAS MY FIRST ALBUM LOL. Ok so this album is only 7 songs but still manages to clock in at 40 mins? These are pre-listening thoughts so I'm curious to see what song/songs are super long. I think I'm going in completely blind (except maybe Peg).
Ok time for during the album thoughts. I have a soft spot for Steely Dan's harmonies and superrrrr smooth guitar playing. Something about their vocals is so classic and soothing. It's literally like listening to the feeling of putting your toes in the sand.
-Black Cow: super groovy. Love the female backing vocals. It's also very rhythmically interesting, and the key changes/modulation add so much to the funk feeling they cultivate. OK KEYBOARD SOLO! 9/10.
-Aja: the title track. Piano usage in this song is really nice. Realizing with this song and the lyric "dude ranch above the sea" that I really never understand their lyrics lol. This track is super mellow. They LOVE their extensive instrumental breaks - I think that is what lengthens the tracks so much. Modern artists take note - you don't need a bridge if you just write like Steely Dan! This track is like 8 mins oh my god! 7/10
-Deacon Blues: I love Steely Dan, but a lot of their tracks do kinda blend together in my mind. Maybe I just haven't spent enough time with them. I will give this album one thing: it's very cohesive sonically. This track also borders 8 mins. Sax is super smooth. Lyric "sue me if I play too long" is super funny lol. 7/10
-Peg: I think I've heard this one before. Incredibly groovy start. Also a normal song length - I think that's why it's one of the more popular tracks from this album. Realizing now they could be talking about a name shortening for Margaret and not... yeah. The little da da dada riff at about 2:19 behind the verses is ADDICTIVE. Love this track so so much. 10/10
-Home at Last: Piano in the beginning with the dissonant chords is giving MAJOR Billy Joel vibes. Then the brass comes in and you KNOW it's Steely Dan lol. Loving the tempo and tonal shakeup though - effectively breaks up the album. 9/10
-I Got the News: SUPER groovy start oh my god that piano and bassline is heaven. Still Steely Dan but definitely sonically different than the rest of the album (and their work overall). Not for the non-experimental crowd methinks - this is the Warm Blood of the album (but better bc Warm Blood isn't good!). 8/10
-Josie: The album closer! Brass is a super standout in this track. Really high energy closer, you never lose the sparkle of this album to a dull ballad (no shade to ballads, but sometimes they do suck the wind outta your sails). 7/10
Overall, I'd give this album an 8/10. Very classic Steely Dan but also just really great production and instrumentation. Vocals are also delightful to hear but not a highlight on most songs which is ok, I just kinda wanted more from them on that front. Very sonically cohesive, but almost too much so in the front half. The back half really shines once you get to Peg. Great album! Great first album to review.
I'm really excited to start this project in general, I really hope I can keep up with it. I've been looking for ways to broaden my music taste. I love listening to older music, but because these bands and artists have had so much time to exist, I often just don't know where to start in terms of diving into their discography. My music taste has also been leaning incredibly pop-ish recently, so I'm hoping that this project can be a way to diversify that.
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Thu Aug 31 2023
Doolittle
Pixies
Pre-listening thoughts: I have only heard of the Pixies through "Where is my Mind". Which like, is an ok song (sorry to every fanboy out there), but it's not really for me. I'm curious to see if this is starkly different from their other work or not. I'm also not gonna put the effort that I did for Steely Dan - while these reviews are solely for me, I know the pressure to rate every track is gonna get tiring. So instead, I'll list a few I enjoyed along with my thoughts about the album, and if there were any standout horrible ones, those will make the cut too.
Post listening thoughts: Lol this album clocks in at exactly 38:38 which is kinda neat. This is like... a little to heavy for me lol. Like it's not bad but I definitely won't be revisiting this. I'm just not a huge fan of songs where they don't sing (excluding rap/hip hop). Like there was a lot of just breathing and talking and yelling it was lowkey so awkward at times. Props if this is for you but I cannot relate. 3/10.
Top Tracks: Here Comes Your Man, Monkey Gone to Heaven (what a fucking track name lol)
1
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Fri Sep 01 2023
Van Halen
Van Halen
Pre-listening thoughts: I know very little about Van Halen (I know, sue me!). I know Eddie Van Halen is one of the most revered guitar players of all time, and for that alone, I am excited to dive into this record. Of course, I know Jump, but I also know that is an outlier in their sound/discography. I expect this to be pretty heavy rock, which can definitely be a hit or miss for me. We shall see!
Post/during listening thoughts: This is the kind of music that just fills your ears in a good way. Very sonically balanced. I have definitely heard Runnin' with the Devil before (thanks dad rock radio stations). God damn ok NOW I understand why everyone kisses the ground that Eddie Van Halen walks on. This shit is crazy bro. Eruption is literally just him lol. THE TRANSITION INTO YOU REALLY GOT ME!! Oh I know this song too! The screaming is not overpowering (like it's not the whole song) so it's like an accent or a seasoning instead of the main course in their songs. LOVE the baba shoobedowa section in I'm the One. Giving very Tarzan animals at the camp. I think I understand Van Halen's general sound after this record. Love the change of sound for Ice Cream Man!! So cute and effectively breaks up the album. I did not dislike any songs on this album - really impressed overall! 8/10
EDDIE VAN HALEN DIED??!!! how did i miss that. my god rip to a legend.
Top tracks: Eruption, You Really Got Me, I'm the One, Feel Your Love Tonight, Ice Cream Man
4
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Sat Sep 02 2023
Heroes
David Bowie
Pre-listening thoughts: BOWIE!!! Looking forward to this album immensely even though some have told me that David Bowie is better to listen to just jumping from song to song rather than diving into his full projects. I literally only know the title track from this album so I'm very excited to know more of Bowie's work. (also sorry for this but the cover looks like that pic of bat boy from that tabloid article SORRY SORRY)
Post/during listening thoughts: This is pretty much exactly what I expected from knowing some of Bowie's other work - I really enjoy it. Very rock but also sort of campy pop? Synth driven but it's so cohesive and striking (the front half is). Heroes (the song) never gets old. It's cinematic and larger than life. The soundscapes are... interesting. They're sort of odd on an album like this. It's like somebody threw a wrench in the energy that was accumulating. Like I forgot what album I was listening to. They sound like the music my mom would play as a yoga teacher with random brass accents thrown in. God the end of Neukoln is... bad. Like really bad. Redemption definitely strikes with The Secret Life of Arabia. So so weird to have those two instrumental tracks in the middle of this album bc now the energy is back but the album is over?! Overall 6/10. Would def revisit the front half!
Top Tracks: Beauty and the Beast, Heroes (duh sorry but it's so good), The Secret Life of Arabia
Least favs: Moss Garden, Neukoln
3
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Sun Sep 03 2023
The Seldom Seen Kid
Elbow
Pre-listening thoughts: This is the first album/artist combo I've gotten where I have never heard of any of it. Like no concept of what genre this band makes, nothing. I did some research before diving in just so I wouldn't be caught too off guard - it seems like it's indie/alt rock (also British). I'm actually kind of excited! I took this 1001 challenge on to expand my taste, and getting artists I already knew wasn't going to expand it alone.
Post/during listening thoughts: You can soooo tell the lead singer is British lmao. Not a bad thing, just kinda funny. Starlings is a really lush and chill opening track, not low energy, still full sound-wise. The Bones of You is a really great track 2, propelling the listener forward into the rest of the album with its unique syncopation and addictive guitar/percussion combo (and the layered vocals!!). Let it be known that I'm also VERY biased towards female singers but this guy has a really lovely voice. Holy shit the production on Mirrorball. UGH. I already want to listen to this album again and I'm on TRACK THREE. Grounds for Divorce is like if Imagine Dragons were cool. Weather to Fly's high vocals are weird because they don't quite line up with the backing track - not sure if this was on purpose, but it's not my fav artistic choice. The Loneliness of a Tower Crane Driver kinda sounds like something my brother would make (not in a bad way to either party, just the use of the bass (sax?) and the rhythm remind me of his work). The transitions on this album are phenomenal. It's also an incredibly cohesive body of work. ONE DAY LIKE THIS. My god. the strings. This should've been the album closer tbh. There is no better feeling than discovering good new music. 8.5/10.
Favorite tracks: The Bones of You, Mirrorball, One Day Like This, Hotel Istanbul (even tho it's a non album track)
*super unrelated but I realized if I keep this up, in 20 days I'll get an album on my birthday and I'm so worried it's gonna be shit*
4
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Mon Sep 04 2023
Fragile
Yes
Pre-listening thoughts: Ok so I obviously know Yes from Owner of a Lonely Heart, but really crazy thing is I know their song Roundabout from when it was a meme and people would freezeframe it. But I don't think I ever listened to the whole song because it's legitimately nine minutes long. It's one fifth of the whole album on its own haha! But I know what kind of music Yes makes so I think I'll enjoy this well enough.
Post/during listening thoughts: I lied I've heard ALL of Roundabout. I must have had it on like a meme playlist or something but I know the entire song. It's a damn good song tho - that synth in the back and the guitar is entrancing. Cans and Brahms sounds like video game music but like the kind in the back of like a match 3 style game or like one of funkyland's escape rooms (niche reference). Despite its repetitiveness, I really love We Have Heaven. Yes seems to love SUPER long songs or really short ones - South Side of the Sky is like 8 mins. Good song, 8 mins is a wee bit long tho. And America is like over 10 mins.... my GOD but if I'm not mistaken in my hearing it's a cover of Simon and Garfunkel so that's kinda cool. This album kinda all blends together, none of it's necessarily bad, but it's all kind of mid tier. 6/10.
Fav tracks: Roundabout, We Have Heaven
3
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Tue Sep 05 2023
Appetite For Destruction
Guns N' Roses
Pre-listening notes: Ok I got eager and looked at my new album at midnight and boy oh boy I let myself down hard. This album fucking OPENS with welcome to the jungle, one of my least fav songs of all time. However, I will give it the benefit of having Sweet child o mine, which is a really great song. I do not think I will enjoy this album tho. Guns N’ Roses is not for me lol. I have now made the vow to only look at my new album in the morning because I don't want to wake up dreading what I have to listen to lol.
Post/during listening thoughts: I skipped Welcome to the jungle bc I just... cannot. That song will knock this album down a point alone. It's So Easy and Nightrain are like... good but yeah very Guns n' roses. I think that's how I'll feel about most of this album. Like is it objectively good? Yeah! Is it for me? No! Also let me say I HATE this album cover. Sorry, it's ugly. Mr Brownstone was pretty good, nice melody line. Ohhhh yup I know Paradise City lmao. It has a really nice start to it. I hate My Michelle. Jesus. Sweet Child O' Mine is a classic BUT only bc I think of Stepbrothers. Listen it may sound like I'm actively trying to dislike this album and that's not true. I'm trying so hard to LIKE it. I just cannot stand Axl Rose's voice. Tf is the moaning in Rocket Queen?! Yeah it's exactly what I expected. Gotta listen to some music I enjoy more to cleanse my palette. 3/10.
Top Tracks: Mr Brownstone, Paradise City, Sweet Child O' Mine
2
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Wed Sep 06 2023
All That You Can't Leave Behind
U2
Pre-listening thoughts: I know some U2 songs, I think they started as a Christian rock band? But that sound is certainly prevalent in their music. Kind of a turn off for me. They're certainly not bad tho - album of the day could have been MUCH worse.
Post/during listening thoughts: I have definitely heard Beautiful Day but I don't think I've heard any other songs on this album. Beautiful Day is a good opener - a large track that sets a positive tone for the album, and Bono sounds good on this song. Stuck In a Moment You Can't Get Out Of is a really great track - love the message but also the melody is really catchy. Elevation has a really nice guitar line in the back of the chorus, and the shift to electric guitar really makes the song pop. Really love Walk On also. The upside of starting as a Christian rock band is that their songs are really positive and uplifting - puts energy back into the listener instead of sucking it out. Some of the more mellow tracks blend together on this album (Kite, Peace on Earth) - but it's also my first listen so idk maybe it's just that. In A Little While has a really cool beat behind it. Also Bono has a falsetto that's actually really nice to listen to - unlike mf axl rose SORRY I HATE his voice. New York is kinda boring imo. I was typing "for this close to the end of the album it needs a little more umph" and literally as I was typing umph the guitars and drums KICKED in. Sorry New York my apologies. Grace was a little boring but sweet. Overall, better than I was expecting! Nice job U2 - will probably revisit a lot of this. 7/10.
Favorite Tracks: Stuck In a Moment, Walk On, Wild Honey
4
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Thu Sep 07 2023
Odessey And Oracle
The Zombies
Pre-listening thoughts: Speedrunning this album before class because today is a really busy day!! But I've heard of the Zombies thru my friend who I studied abroad with, and I've heard She's Not There (not on this album). I feel like I'll enjoy this!
Post/during listening thoughts: Ok so the Zombies are pretty similar sonically to the Beach Boys. Not shocking since my friend who recommended them is a HUGE Beach Boys stan. Care of Cell 44 sounds soooo much like a Beach Boys track with the layered harmonies and the little 60s beat. A Rose For Emily is a very toned down track with just a piano as the backing, but it's cute! Something about the verses of Maybe After He's Gone reminds me of While My Guitar Gently Weeps. Beechwood Park is definitely 60s man like it SOUNDS like how the album cover looks. Brief Candles has something odd going on with the rhythm, would def be a grower. Hung Up On a Dream has that Beatles shit going on where vocals are only in one earbud. BOOO. I don't love the echo on Changes, but the simple instrumentation is charming. I Want Her She Wants Me is a great song title lollll. That song reminds me a little of God Only Knows rhythm wise and with the bababas. Butcher's Tale sounds like a They Might Be Giants song lol. Love the overlapping vocal lines on Friends of Mine but the drums are a little intense, but the piano is lovely. I do see why Time of the Season is one of their most popular songs bc it's a great album closer with a unique beat creation and it's just really rich sonically. This was a great album! When I'm in the mood for this kind of music I will definitely turn to this again. 7.5/10.
Fav Tracks: Care of Cell 44, Maybe After He's Gone, This Will Be Our Year, Time of the Season
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