Notable: Fast Car, Behind The Wall, Baby Can I Hold You, If Not Now...
Highlights: Bittersweet Symphony, Sonnet, The Drugs Don't Work, Catching the Butterfly, Neon Wilderness, Rolling People, Come On if it wasn't packaged with the extended silence/hidden track. JUST SPLIT IT FFS!
Highlights: All Cried Out, Summer Is Over, Don't Say It Baby, Guess Who?, I Just Don't Know What To Do With Myself
Unfortunately, this album didn't have as much impact as the whiplash I felt when I found out she's ENGLISH?!?! B-But her name is Dusty, how is she NOT from the American South (or Midwest at least), and such a hypnotizing voice too? Not only that, but I can only listen to the US version just titled "Dusty", so pardon me if this rating doesn't count.
(Previously heard) Highlights: Jenny Was A Friend Of Mine, Mr. Brightside, Smile Like You Mean It, All These Things That I've Done, Andy You're A Star, Change Your Mind
The fact that Mr. Brightside isn't even a top 5 song here is a testament to how great this album is. As nice as their next two releases were, they don't come close to what they accomplished here. Maybe not the best album of the 2000s indie rock scene, but certainly one of the best.
(Previously Heard) Highlights: Young Americans, Win, Fascination, Somebody Up There Likes Me, Fame
Really wish he had spent more time exploring the "plastic soul" sound he was going for here (perhaps earlier instead of the underwhelming "Diamond Dogs"?), as it has some of my favorite Bowie songs ever. As it stands, the pretty bad "Across The Universe" cover and just okay "Can You Hear Me" drags it a bit down. Still one of Bowie's best records tho.
Highlights: Wheels of Confusion, Tomorrow's Dream, Changes, Supernaut, Laguna Sunrise, Under The Sun/Every Day Comes And Goes
Surprisingly varied songs for a first dive into their discography (aside from rock radio singles). I expected and got the typical heavy sludge riffs and jamming, but I never would've thought they were capable of "Changes" (no pun intended). The switchups in style are not unwelcome, but the sequencing makes for some whiplash; a different order would have made the album flow much better with less jarring tone changes.
Highlights: Death On Two Legs, You're My Best Friend, '39, Love Of My Life, Bohemian Rhapsody
Pretty ballsy move to force your way out of a terrible contract to end up dead broke, record the most expensive album made at the time, AND encourage your former manager to end their own life in the opening song.
40,000 pounds well spent tho, those harmonies are truly delicious.
Highlights: Good Times, A Warm Summer Night, My Feet Keep Dancing, My Forbidden Lover, What About Me
Chic saw the disco they pioneered be debased into parody and had to show the world once again how to do it right. A great, yet unfortunately timed swan song to the disco era, as the infamous demolition night occurred literally 2 weeks prior to the album's release.
Admittedly not too experienced with the genre (and funk/soul), but I can't really find any major flaws here so I'm feeling the good times.
(Previously heard) Highlights: Brown Sugar, Can't You Hear Me Knocking, Bitch, Sister Morphine, Moonlight Mile
The sax solos in "Brown Sugar" & "Knocking" bring this to 4 stars on its own. Peak Stones at it's most refined, and it certainly earned them the title of "The Greatest Rock And Roll Band In The World" if they weren't so by this point
Speakerboxxx
Highlights: Unhappy, Bowtie, The Way You Move, The Rooster, Church, Flip Flop Rock, Reset
Catchier and more consistent tracklist.
The Love Below
Highlights: Spread, Hey Ya, Roses, She's Alive, Dracula's Wedding, My Favorite Things, Vibrate
More ambitious and has some of the best songs, but can meander a bit.
Production and instrumentation on both sides are some of my favorite in their discography.
Highlights: Somebody To Love, Today, White Rabbit
Makes me wish I could travel to 60's San Francisco to fully understand the context, as nowadays this comes across as pretty bare-bones psychedelic rock. The best parts come when Grace Slick lends her vocals, as the other tracks range from decent to downright schlocky.
