2 stars. All the songs literally sound the same, which like fair, but I don’t get it. Only giving it 2 stars instead of 1 because they criticized the Queen of England lol.
Hmm. Some really cool guitar riffs, but the songs themselves lean more into the sounding all the same category. That guitar riff in “Iron Man” has elevated my love for School of Rock even more now, though.
3.5/5
Fav Songs: Paranoid, Planet Caravan, Iron Man (simply for that guitar riff)
Least: The second half of the album if I’m being honest
Forget going to therapy, I think listening to this album front to back during one of my depressive episodes could cure me more than any Lexapro or Zoloft could!
Fav Songs: Natural Mystic, The Heathen, Exodus, Three Little Birds, One Love/People Get Ready
Least: honestly, none
If there was a genre of just psychedelic Scottish bands I’d listen to it all day.
Favs: Cherry-Colored Funk, Pitch the Baby, and Frou-Frou Foxes in Midsummer (but really the entire album if I could)
Least Fav: you’d be insane to put any of these songs here
If this entire album was featured in School of Rock and sung by Jack Black, I think I would have enjoyed it immensely more. Not terrible, not life changing (besides “Immigrant Song”, obviously).
Fav Song: Immigrant Song, Bron-Y-Aur Stomp
Least: Hats Off to (Roy) Harper? I guess
“That’s a funeral in the mirror/And it’s stopping at your face.” Is one of the hardest song lyrics I’ve ever heard in my life.
Fav: Avalanche, Dress Rehearsal Rag
Least Fav: none
The instrumental on “The Way Young Lovers Do”??? Absolutely insane in an album where the rest of the songs sound the same/simplistic in comparison. Also, am I crazy or does he venture into Muppets territory with his voice at some points.
Fav: The Way Young Lovers Do/Slim Slow Slider
Least Fav: eh
What the fuck? This had no right to be as good as it is.
Fav Songs: The Bones of You, Grounds for Divorce, The Loneliness of a Tower Crane Driver
Least: Lullaby
Look , I’m not an avid Taylor fan, but let’s not pretend that half of this album isn’t pop perfection. The b-sides aren’t as strong as the singles; however, that back to back “Blank Space” into “Style” makes up for it. I genuinely think “Style” might be the greatest pop song ever created, and if not, it at least makes the top 5.
Fav Songs: Style, Wildest Dreams, New Romantics
Least: All You Had to Do Was Stay, How You Get the Girl
It hurts to say, but “The One I Love” and “It’s the End of the World As We Know It” carries this album on their backs. It’s a shame too because “The One I Love” is one of the most perfect songs to ever exist, and I wanted to fall in love with the rest of the album, but the rest never hits the same high for me as those two songs do. Sometimes the hits are the hits for a reason (and I’ve learned I have to be a bit pickier with rating these albums the further I get in). Will forever love Michael Stipe’s vocals though and I admire how political this album is.
Solid 3.6/5
Fav Songs: The One I Love, It’s the End of the World As We Know It
Least: Oddfellows Local 151
A little bit of jazz, a little bit of rock, a whole lotta bit corny… what could possibly go wrong?
1.5/2
Fav Songs: Glad, Freedom Rider, Every Mother’s Son
Least: John Barleycorn (Must Die), Sittin’ Here Thinkin’ of My Love
This album converted me into a firm believer that every album here deserves at least two listens all the way through. I liked it on the first go, but LOVED it on the second. I don’t know what this magical man put into these songs, but my god, I think he fucked my ears into submission.
Fav Songs: Aladdin Sane, Lady Grinning Soul
Least: The Prettiest Star, The Jean Genie
I fear Thom Yorke (and his ability to take all my 5/5s).
Fav Songs: Planet Telex, The Bends, High and Dry, Fake Plastic Trees, (Nice Dream), Bullet Proof… I Wish I Was, … and I’m now realizing that I’m about to list the entire album, aren’t I?
Least: …see above
It’s like listening to a treasured piece of history… but alas, I am not the pirate meant for this treasure chest. I can, however, appreciate what Muddy Waters did for music.
Fav Songs: I’m Your Hoochie Coochie Man, Baby, Please Don’t Go
Least: hmmm
It’s like listening to a treasured piece of history… but alas, I am not the pirate meant for this treasure chest. I can, however, appreciate what Muddy Waters did for music.
Fav Songs: I’m Your Hoochie Coochie Man, Baby, Please Don’t Go
Least: hmmm
First half is a whole lotta nothing. Second half is trying to be something, but still ends up being a whole lotta nothing.
It’s pretty fun. The beginning and the end of the album are the strongest, middle kinda gets lost a bit. But solid.
