The Genius Of Ray Charles
Ray CharlesHeartbreaking yet joyous.
Heartbreaking yet joyous.
Beautiful and mesmerizing storytelling. The use of jazz as a dream-like transitional tool was such a great touch.
I can hear how this album would greatly influence future psychedelic rock bands. A nice listen.
The energy from the live audience is electrifying. It feels honest and spiritual and a true reflection of the times.
Absolute classic. Such a delightful listen.
Timeless work. You can clearly hear how this has influenced so much music.
It’s amazing how an unapologetic pop album can also find a way to make real comments about social justice issues and question the state of the world.
It really felt like a glimpse into a world I have no experience with. The interludes help to narrate the story very well which I think hip hop and rap does so well. To me, this felt like a transitional album in between old school and new school rap for the time.
There’s a child-like simplicity to this album. It sounds like a band that is willing to explore and play around which makes it an interesting listen. Take Me to the River is a stand out.
Although I can’t understand what is being said, the music gave me anxiety at certain points.
What a fun album to listen to. The pacing of the entire thing was perfect. You can hear how the mix of punk, reggae, and disco that this album explores would influence ska music that would rise in popularity a decade later.
What a great party! It felt like an underground sound that was ready for a mainstream audience. While a couple of songs sounded too similar, overall, I could press play and just enjoy the ride. “Groove is in the Heart” is one of the greatest dance song ever created.
A classic.
It sounds like a band trying to be taken more serious. Obviously, “Been Caught Stealing” is a standout track but I prefer the ten minute track “Three Days”. It really kept my attention. The rest of the tracks seem to lack direction and the lyrics are uninspired.
An album that feels like I’ve been given a peek into someone’s train of thought. It sounds like a distorted dream. Because the lyrics are behind the music, it gives me the feeling that someone is trying to communicate with me with a room filled with hundreds of people. “is this and yes” gives a nice break to reset and finish the rest of the album.
Pure and energetic. I could hear the mix of old school rock evolve into a sound that is more in your face.
While some of the tracks don’t feel like complete thoughts, you can hear that this is a band that has imagination and is ready to explore. The potential of this band can be heard very early on.
You really began to hear the formation of the signature sound The Cure came best known for. The first six tracks seem to build up to the climax and standout track “A Forest”.
Very theatrical with a lot of big sounds. Unrelenting power which felt overwhelming at times.
It’s easy to hear why this album would define a whole generation. King blends genres like folk, pop and soul so well she makes it seem effortless.
It started incredibly sad and then picked up the pace in the middle. I enjoyed the lyrics and themes throughout the record.
The combination of folk music and rock and roll seems to be perfected on this record. The lyrics are strong and clear. Nothing is overly produced but nothing is simple. What an achievement.