67
Albums Rated
2.66
Average Rating
6%
Complete
1022 albums remaining
Rating Distribution
Rating Timeline
Taste Profile
2000s
Favorite Decade
Pop
Favorite Genre
US
Top Origin
Perfectionist
Rater Style ?
1
5-Star Albums
5
1-Star Albums
Breakdown
By Genre
By Decade
By Origin
Albums
You Love More Than Most
| Album | You | Global | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Illmatic
Nas
|
5 | 3.6 | +1.4 |
You Love Less Than Most
| Album | You | Global | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Blackstar
David Bowie
|
1 | 3.48 | -2.48 |
|
Fear Of Music
Talking Heads
|
1 | 3.47 | -2.47 |
|
Stories From The City, Stories From The Sea
PJ Harvey
|
1 | 3.38 | -2.38 |
|
Kala
M.I.A.
|
1 | 2.91 | -1.91 |
|
In Utero
Nirvana
|
2 | 3.83 | -1.83 |
|
Vol. 4
Black Sabbath
|
2 | 3.75 | -1.75 |
|
Dire Straits
Dire Straits
|
2 | 3.72 | -1.72 |
|
Tea for the Tillerman
Cat Stevens
|
2 | 3.68 | -1.68 |
|
Superunknown
Soundgarden
|
2 | 3.66 | -1.66 |
|
Scott 2
Scott Walker
|
1 | 2.64 | -1.64 |
5-Star Albums (1)
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Popular Reviews
Talking Heads
1/5
Definitely not for me – one of my least favorites I’ve listened to and really lacked any charm. The songs all carried an awful weird energy, and even when I switched to the remastered version and it was mixed way better and less empty-feeling, it still felt like it would be bland regardless of what mood I could be in or drug I could be on. All I could picture was the frontman trying to bring this real kooky energy to a standstill crowd while some geezers play some boring ass music in the back. I’d find it really hard to believe people think they pulled off something interesting or worthwhile; there’s so little in terms of redeeming qualities, besides giving me so many ways to describe how much I didn’t like it and don’t want to hear it again.
0.5/10
2 likes
1-Star Albums (5)
All Ratings
Eagles
2/5
I can see why the Eagles are one of my grandparents' favorite bands. None of the songs really caught my attention, but they weren't unpleasant. Seems like my tastes aren't specialized enough to appreciate their talent. Not sure if eponymous track stands out because there is something different about it, or because it is the most popular.
4.5/10
Van Halen
2/5
Guitars. Not something my ear finds super satisfying. Like Jump and Panama because they are more catchy and I’ve been exposed to them across the years. I appreciated the fast tempo, but not at the point where I can appreciate a sweet riff or intricate drumming. Vocals felt slightly dated, but I think with more listening I'd be able to get into the style.
4/10
Kate Bush
3/5
Fiona Apple precursor. Enjoyed the unique vocals effects and percussion choices. The close attention to the environments created in each song reminded me of Lana. The album could stand beside other art-pop/experimental-pop like FKA twigs, Melane Martinez, Fiona & Lana, etc. Cohesive across most of the tracks but switches it up enough to be worth playing through.
6.5/10
Bill Evans Trio
3/5
Felt like pretty standard jazz as a lay listener. Not deep into the musicology enough to know if it broke any barriers or influenced the jazz to come. Good to study to, but more relaxing and less dynamic compared to the electronic/lo-fi/house instrumentals in my study playlists. Would be a first choice if I were hosting a dinner party, which is probably the point.
5.5/10
Sufjan Stevens
3/5
Cool introduction to Sufjan Stevens and makes me want to listen to newest album that egghead liked. Some moments sounded very pleasant, soothing, and satisfying while others felt bland, repetitive, or drawn out. Overall immersive and would listen to in a lot of contexts. Felt like it could give me nostalgia for things I've never experienced.
7/10
Funkadelic
3/5
Groovy. Thought Side Two was much more interesting than Side One. I dig the lengthy, spontaneous style. I could sense the immense foundation of talent even behind the weirdest moments of improvisation. Couple songs I wouldn’t skip on shuffle and altogether it makes me want to explore the depths of live funk and bluegrass albums from late '70s.
6.5/10
Black Sabbath
2/5
If I was introduced to this earlier in my life I would’ve been into it. Was surprised by the variety of emotion and tempo across the songs, and I can see why the record is so acclaimed. I'd need to expand my tastes a little before I can imagine a context where this type of music would hit the spot. Very listenable, but sometimes the singing and rhyme schemes can be a little off-putting.
4.5/10
M.I.A.
1/5
Not a fan. Actively wanted most songs to end after their first couple minutes. The South Asian/hip-hop fusion felt like it could be cool as a premise, but it was very irritating and repetitive. It felt like effort was put into most elements to create a unique listening experience, so I wish I didn't dislike it so much when it hit my ears. Could feel the 5G coursing through my veins.
1/10
The Modern Lovers
2/5
Pretty entertaining to listen to, but a little more comical than I think they were going for. Felt like they’re reading from a teenager diary and just happen to be playing a little bit of guitar, keyboard, and drums for fun. Some songs had good instrumentals and bad lyrics, some had funny lyrics and bland backing. Think I would like it most of it less and less the more I’d listen.
5/10
The Electric Prunes
2/5
Would fit right in with the rest of '60s rock Sirius XM in the blue F150. Nothing stood out to me based on what I've heard from that era. Felt tame and simple with a twinge of The Doors and The Animals. There were no moments that would bring me back to a certain song, but I wouldn't complain if I was trapped somewhere and the radio had this on.
4/10
David Bowie
1/5
I’m wondering if fans thinks that this isn’t a good first introduction to Bowie. As much as I could appreciate the artistry and knowing how revered he is, I didn’t enjoy a lot of the album; certain songs I actively didn’t like. The production was really cool and the opening track was well done, but many of the compositions were not appealing to me. It felt like the experiment album an iconic artist puts out later in their career, and I struggled to get into it.
3/10
Aerosmith
3/5
Thoroughly enjoyed many songs, and I found something fun in all the songs. Might be because I heard their music growing up, but I found this sort of hard rock much easier to listen to than the heavy metal from that decade. Reminds me of the NFL oddly. It is not my favorite stuff from before I was born but I think it could be a vibe in many situations.
6.5/10
Lou Reed
2/5
I think if this album leaned more into psychedelia then it would have stuck out more. It was pretty slow and heavy on the guitar strumming, which for me couldn't sustain my attention the entire record. The lyrical content was intriguingly dark and it shone through with a soft and laid back voice. 'Sad Song' felt very modern though and I think that if a more recent artist was heavily inspired or sampled this, I would like that more.
3.5/10
The Clash
3/5
A lot of talent shines through in this; it feels like every track has a goal and it’s executed well. Everything comes together cohesively and it sounds much cleaner than some of the other rock I’ve been listening to (purposeful or not). I liked the variety in genre influences – it kept listening fresh (the reggae was very unexpected). Albums like these are the best chance for getting me to listen to more punk and hard rock.
6.5/10
Yes
3/5
Iconic opening to the album; I can see why it became a meme. The synthesizers and flamenco guitar were nice, but my weird aversion of organs affected my enjoyment of some songs. I would listen casually, felt very bright and went by quickly while studying. Overall not many complaints but nothing I could obsess over.
6/10
Public Image Ltd.
2/5
I’ve never heard anything like this, and wonder where it stands in the rock genre; is it doing something that’s been done before? The record is so different that I have a hard time being certain I don’t like it. It's never boring, but sometimes it's annoying and manic but in a spicy way. Fodderstompf might be the worst song I’ve heard yet, but it also feels like it has great potential to cause Stockholm Syndrome.
3/10
Cat Stevens
2/5
I could sense the song-making talent but felt outside the scope of people which would like this the most. Felt very Christian rock to me, but it was very soothing. About half the tracks lacked the rhythm, lyricism, or song structure that I would find interesting. I had just as much fun reading about his life as listening to the album.
4/10
Boards of Canada
2/5
Based on the first couple tracks, I wanted it to be more ambient and natural than it ended up being. It ended up more industrial and percussive, which created a cool experience on a night drive but began feeling too drawn out. I ending up thinking of music I would rather have to listened to (The Avalanches, Polo & Pan). I was wondering though how groundbreaking of an album it was upon release.
3.5/10
1/5
Found myself not really liking this. Objectively it’s fair to say that it’s well put together and well performed but I couldn’t get into most of the songs. The style of singing and pace might have been the culprit. Or I just might have an aversion to alt-rock with melodic punk-ish singing.
2.5/10
Sonic Youth
2/5
Makes me realize I can tolerate a lot of different types of guitar playing as long as it’s not too slow. By far the most noise pop-sounding record I’ve ever heard and like with Public Image Ltd, it’s so different for me I can lean into it a little and come close to enjoying it. White Cross sounds a lot 1979 by Smashing Pumpkins, which led me down a rabbithole where Reddit Smashing Pumpkins fans claim Billy Corgan admitted he was inspired by Sonic Youth when writing “1979”. Punk fans can be very passionate.
3/10
John Martyn
3/5
The record sounded better on a second listen; I was really glad the gravely voice of the opening track didn’t make an appearance in all of the songs. The melodies of many songs were catchy, especially in the second half. Most of the experimental cuts earned their spot and didn’t get too annoying. At times the vocals reminded me of Stevie Wonder.
5.5/10
The Who
3/5
I scarily had to contemplate whether or not I only like Baba O’Riley because of One Direction. This record honestly didn’t excite me very much, even though there wasn’t much specifically that I found negative. The music and how it made me feel reminds me of The Eagles: none of the lyrics felt very special and the tracks came and went. Very solid and well put together, but not something that stands out to me.
5.5/10
Tim Buckley
3/5
This thoroughly surprised me after seeing it was from 1967. It felt very dynamic and vibrant; the percussion, strings, and vocals complemented one another well and the various additional instruments kept the energy catchy and fun. I could see myself playing the entire album through when in the mood for older folk-rock-psychedelia with a quality sound overall and some pretty high highs. A couple songs sounded like they'd be great samples.
6/10
Bob Marley & The Wailers
3/5
I irresponsibly went into the project expecting it to meander and not be super structured. But every song had a very approachable groove and avoided feeling too repetitive or unbalanced. From the times in my life reggae was playing, listening made me feel very carefree and relaxed. Very solid fun with few drawbacks as a person unfamiliar with reggae besides the mainstream hits.
6/10
Bad Company
2/5
Feels like a middle ground from the other hard rock I've heard here. It's less technical than Van Halen, slower than Aerosmith, less experimental than The Who, etc. Reminds me of the Eagles in the good ways and bad; well-made overall but I don't feel much of anything when listening. Reaffirms that I need more catchiness, uniqueness, or some modern appeal to consider any hard-rock better than adequate.
4.5/10
Alanis Morissette
3/5
It was a little difficult to experience the album without being affected by the magnetism of the big hits. I began thinking the iconic songs I've heard often from my mom while growing up might stand out because exactly that. The remaining songs kept up the vibe but overall I could probably leave them behind. I always thought she was Irish but it was just the post-grunge-pop-alt-rock.
6.5/10
MGMT
4/5
It took 27 albums until I reached one that I've previously listened to before. I can hear how it influenced 2010s indie electronic/psychedelic and some of the other bands I still randomly come across. Hits still are strong and the deeper cuts hold their ground. Still cool that such a solid record came from two dudes making music mainly as a joke and to mock radio music.
7.5/10
Saint Etienne
2/5
Very light and casual with an interesting blend of dance, sampling, and pop vocals. I appreciate the effort; the listening experience was pretty unique. But when I didn’t like a certain refrain because it was too spacey or melodically annoying, often the repetition was unpleasant. The song titles and sound bites made me wonder if there’s a larger concept at play but the music isn’t attention-grabbing enough to want to investigate.
4.5/10
Lorde
3/5
The production is pretty immaculate; its style does feel a little dated somehow, but maybe because of how influential it’s been for artists like Billie Eilish and Olivia Rodrigo, and because of its own Lana influence. Not something I can throw on whenever, but clearly well made and executed. The Lorde songs I like most don’t seem to be on this album. The drama songs felt more natural to me than the major-key uplift songs.
6/10
Calexico
4/5
It's pleasantly folksy and jazzy but with the various strings, horns, and accordion felt very cinematic and worldly. Soothing to listen to while studying and felt very expressive, atmospheric, and dynamic. I have very little to complain about and think repeated listenings will only make me like it more. A strong blend of genre/instrumentation and well-composed ear candy made for a fun trip and my highest rating so far.
8.5/10
David Bowie
2/5
In the first half of the record, the way it sounded felt a decade earlier than 1977, but after the first half some of the tasteful abstraction started to shine through more, creating some freshness. The songs with Bowie's vocals usually ended up being my least favorite; on those particularly I didn't feel the vision and they were mostly forgettable. Some others I could just appreciate for sounding balanced, unique, and immersive. I tried to listen without the influence of name attached and as a result the record as a whole left me lukewarm and not personally enthralled.
4/10
Prince
3/5
Fun set of songs with what felt like carefully crafted pop and funk. Concepts were interesting overall, and the structures of each track prevented the whole album from becoming too repetitive. Certain songs did overstay their welcome I think, and some of the dance/percussive aspects were too droning for a casual listen. Character and content shone through consistently, so there were very few generic moments.
5.5/10
Johnny Cash
3/5
I don't listen to live albums often and in this case I think it added to the experience rather than if it was a normally-recorded tracklist. Cash's charisma really shone through and the interactions with stage crew/band/audience were entertaining. I feel like I can hear the Shel Silverstein behind A Boy Named Sue. Want to be in situations in my life where I can kick back and throw music like this on.
6/10
Dire Straits
2/5
The tempo, instrumentation, and song structure altogether don’t do much for me, even though I think the execution was good. The twang couldn’t sustain my attention or interest for the entire duration, but the last couple tracks were my favorite. I liked the songs that autoplayed afterwards more. The depth I’ve gotten into this type of music is evident by the fact they reminded me of the Grateful Dead.
4/10
Meat Puppets
3/5
The music made me zone out at a couple different points and I would have to relisten in order to figure out how I felt about a given song. Seems like that could have been partly by design and definitely created a unique listening experience, with many songs growing on me. The instrumental tracks broke up the record nicely and I liked them standalone. Could sense the talent in the guitar riffing but I wasn’t enamored by it, but the high tempo helped make it enjoyable.
5.5/10
Steely Dan
3/5
I’m not sure how this compared to Aja, which I listened to a couple years ago but don’t remember much. Along with some other soft rock type bands, the music doesn’t seem to encourage me to notice differences between most of the songs all that much, so it blends into a cohesive vibe that overall is nice but can be forgettable. The record’s biggest hits seem well representative of the rest of the tracks, maybe catchier with better melodies and choruses. The lead singer often has a reverb/layered effect on his vocals that I like now but could get tired of.
6/10
King Crimson
3/5
There were some really cool sounds throughout that felt pretty technical and skillfully done. While obviously not meant to be attentively listened to in a casual context, I still think it wasn’t super engaging as an ambient listening experience. But I can understand how this as a concept can be an object for fans to get really into. Makes me wonder what a more commercially-minded album from them could sound like.
5/10
Gary Numan
3/5
Synths were great. Rude but probably has been said before that his voice was often the worst part of the song. But sometimes it created a character for a song that felt fun and unique. Would want to see some of my favorite artists sample from this.
5.5/10
Rush
2/5
I continue to experience ‘70s hard rock pretty neutrally, with surface-level appreciation unless I give it extra attention and try to delve more into the instrumentation and lyrics. On this listen I didn’t put in much effort, so while I understood a cinematic idea was in the works, I wasn’t enamored enough to focus on it. The lead vocals had a lot of energy and I could feel the variation in emotional tone, but otherwise I realize I won’t find myself gravitating towards thing type of music unless it’s the familiar hits or something special to me. Wonder how I’d feel if I was in an arena listening to it live.
4/10
The Rolling Stones
3/5
Before this I only ever listened to greatest hit cuts from their discography. I already knew going in that the runtime would be too bloated for my typical preferences. The blues element is likely the thing that brings me back to them rather than other rock groups from these decades. Crazy they recently released an album.
6.5/10
Nas
5/5
The second album generated that I have listened to before, although it was years ago and played in the background. It is extremely apparent as to why it is so revered; the technical skill comes out first to me, but beat selection, hooks, and features all come together to form a larger sense of place and time. Nas places himself strongly among the New York rappers and groups I'm familiar with, although I need to listen to more early records from him to start appreciating him alongside Jay-Z. Overall accomplishes all it sets out to be and will be very listenable when looking for skillful smooth spitting.
9/10
Laibach
2/5
My reaction to the record depended a lot on my inability to understand the most of the language used throughout. The wide variety of eerie, industrial, and national anthem-like sounds meshed well with the incomprehensible German such that if this was a more bland rock record I would have been bored for an hour. It will be pretty funny to come across these on shuffle in my playlists, but will be among the albums I'm least likely to go back to. Overall glad to be introduced to it though, was enjoyable in an atypical way.
4/10
Dusty Springfield
2/5
It succeeds as a group of short songs of a specific style of a certain decade, and she has the chops when it comes to performing impressive and pleasing pieces. The song structure and lyrical content are as expected of '60s radio music so it has enough content to entertain and is easy to listen to. Cool to hear how this might have influenced singers of later decades. As someone who grew up separate from music like this and is not particularly a fan, there is only a small range of songs that have a catchy melody or rhythm that suits my tastes.
5/10
Buck Owens
2/5
Unfortunately not something I can really listen to seriously. Maybe more tolerable than modern country, it still can't be separated from the feeling that I am in a Southern-themed restaurant or attraction and this is on the speakers. Reading about honky-tonks and Bakersfield was interesting though. I wonder if this is some precursor in a line of influences in American or country music and at what point it would lead to an artist or group I like, because it seems like there would be at least two degrees of separation.
3.5/10
A Tribe Called Quest
4/5
Happy that listening to this brought A Tribe Called Quest into my top five most listened to artists this year. Learning who Q Tip and Ali Shaheed Muhammad sampled and which artists sampled Tribe songs is always a good time. I actually have listened to 'We Got It from Here... Thank You 4 Your Service' more than this one, but throughout their catalogue they have an untouchable niche with a highly influential and respected formula. I wonder all the amazing rap not included on this list just to be replaced with another dad rock record.
8.5/10
50 Cent
4/5
Can tell there is hunger and dedication behind the music, with the captivating production and cohesive story elements and personality throughout. I listened years ago and continue to enjoy the ones I've become familiar with since, but the rest of the songs don't seem to rise above what I expect from a generic 2000s hip hop album. The record feels sure of itself, and the melodic elements present in every song are very strong and catchy while mixing well with the harder themes. I could easily find myself liking every song if I got more into 50 Cent.
8/10
ABBA
4/5
Dancing Queen will always conjure feelings of my childhood in a subtle, indescribable way, even though my mom was three when it came out. The layering they create feels so powerful and gets addictive, and most songs on the album seem able to stand on their own as a complete thought. Not very versed in European/Swedish pop, so for me their music is super identifiable and altogether unique. It seemed intentional that the record ended on a mellower, euphoric note, but by the end I was wishing for some more emotional energetic moments.
7.5/10
Radiohead
4/5
Besides Creep and Karma Police, I'm not aware of any Radiohead songs I've listened to, so I'm really glad to finally listen to them. I appreciated the attention to detail and immersive, psychedelic soundscape that many songs had; it felt like a balance between abstract/experimental/unstructured art-rock and mainstream alternative that prioritized listenability. I found some moments to be drawn out longer than I would have liked, and some elements (certain percussion, vocal lines) would be a little too repetitive or prominent. I could pick out my favorite parts in each song, which helped keep my attention through the not-too-long runtime.
7.5/10
The Pogues
2/5
I listened to the original release track listing, not the 2004 reissue. Many of the songs I felt like I was in some theme park or watching a movie where the characters are thrown onto a dance floor and must do some crazy group dance. For those songs' high tempo and energy I expected to like it more, but I wanted it to be more catchy and for the main vocalist to sound less subdued. Overall very folksy but with a wide range of stuff that sounds jazzy and influenced by other countries; it's well-made but not something that excites me.
4/10
Elvis Presley
3/5
Aside from dressing as him for the 4th grade state project (Mississippi) and knowing like five of his hits, I haven't really listened to Elvis even though he is one of the best-selling artists of all time. The songwriting and performance is consistently good across the record, even though there wasn't anything that really caught my ear specifically. Given the right mood this could be great music to put on, but after a while my interest tends to dry up. While it was recorded really well and sounded great on headphones, maybe if it was a live album of some sort I would like it more.
6/10
Steely Dan
3/5
Second Steely Dan album to show up on the list; this one I've listened to sometime in winter 2021 prompted by a reason I can't remember. As with their debut, everything kinda blends together for me to a point where I don't dislike the music, but there aren't a lot of moments where I notice myself enjoying what is happening. Two years ago I liked Black Cow, Peg, and Home At Last the most, and the same songs remain my favorites with Josie joining them. This would be a boring record to listen to in most contexts in my life, but maybe around a cozy campfire at the end of a night it could be nice.
5.5/10
Scott Walker
1/5
This feels like an album that I'm far from the right demographic and time period necessary to come close to enjoy it. For the most part, I can't get past the voice even when the lyrics or instrumental are engaging. My favorite songs were his covers, making me wonder if I would like the originals more. My grandpa would probably skip this if it came on too.
2.5/10
Soundgarden
2/5
Finding that I can't really help but listen mostly mindlessly when it's heavy metal. Black Hole Sun stood out because of its familiarity but also its vocal-driven melody that made it more enjoyable according to my preferences. This album helped reinforce just how individualized people's tastes are, because I could listen to this 100 times and still appreciate it a fraction of how much others do on their first go. Yet again, a lot of talent exudes from the performance but I don't value it as much, especially with what it demands from me with its long runtime packed with longish songs.
4.5/10
Nirvana
2/5
After already listening to an hour and ten minutes of grunge for the previous listing, it was interesting to compare the two. The droning melodic choruses on many of the songs actually helped me feel grounded and focused, something I didn't notice in Superunknown. The more busy, screaming tracks were more hit or miss for me, with none as enjoyable as the hits from the album. This is the most I've listened to Nirvana at once, and I look forward to when I reach Nevermind.
5/10
Billie Holiday
4/5
This feels among music that will be timeless as long as pop culture continues to expose us to sweet, jazzy orchestra and elegant singing. I don't even think it's the Christmas spirit in me; the music is well done. The singing is emotional, crisp, and has engaging lyrics while the composition is super easy to enjoy. Reading that this wasn't her best regarded record at the time of release, I want to listen to what people thought was her best.
8/10
Happy Mondays
3/5
Production sounded exceptionally well on the Sennheisers (remastered version). A consistent theme was finding the beats very fun but carrying the uninspiring vocals that didn’t quite fit the psychedelia. A boldish take is that The Strokes on these instrumentals would be great. But once again I am wondering how disproportionately the island of Great Britain appears on the list.
6/10
Boston
3/5
Encountered a familiar situation where I wonder if I only like the hit songs I've grown up listening to, and it's the familiarity that primarily drives my enjoyment, giving an unfair advantage to equally-good rock music new to me. I was also battling the bias of being from Mass, but it sounding very arena rock brought it to a similar level as Aerosmith for me. Still overall it sounded fresh, switched it up across the tracks, and didn't overstay its welcome. Surprised growing up that some adult didn't play the whole album in my presence and cause me to be forced to regard it highly coming back to it now.
6.5/10
3/5
Third time encountering Bowie here, and this time around I had a much more pleasant time listening to him than with Blackstar and Low. This can definitely be attributed to this record attempting something different or being at a different time in his career; but now I know I can enjoy his rocking when it has pop elements and his personality shining through in a less esoteric way. While there are certain melodies I got hooked on and instrumentation that suits my tastes more, I ended up indifferent to some parts even when understanding what it was trying to do (such as Suffragette City). For the first time I didn’t actively dislike any of the songs, yet I wished there would be at least one that could reach an even higher level where I’d want to back to it over and over again.
5.5/10
Talking Heads
1/5
Definitely not for me – one of my least favorites I’ve listened to and really lacked any charm. The songs all carried an awful weird energy, and even when I switched to the remastered version and it was mixed way better and less empty-feeling, it still felt like it would be bland regardless of what mood I could be in or drug I could be on. All I could picture was the frontman trying to bring this real kooky energy to a standstill crowd while some geezers play some boring ass music in the back. I’d find it really hard to believe people think they pulled off something interesting or worthwhile; there’s so little in terms of redeeming qualities, besides giving me so many ways to describe how much I didn’t like it and don’t want to hear it again.
0.5/10
The Rolling Stones
3/5
This albums helps solidify that their bluesy rock is one of the easiest rocks for me to get into, creating an atmosphere that I find more appealing than other rock. Sometimes I get into the habit of treating the tracks as background music, but I think it’s because the atmosphere it creates is easy to tune into. Even so, when I pay attention there is enough going on that is interesting and although nothing can top Sympathy for the Devil for me, the songs that are new and the ones that are familiar all are fun and well-constructed. I can’t tell if I like Exile on Main St. more, but the quality has yet to dip.
6.5/10
John Lennon
3/5
So glad Gal Gadot gave this the popularity it clearly lacked. It'd be hard to say all the songs aren't well-made and executed, especially considered the bias most people would have going into it. But overall it is not music that excites or engages me very much; sometimes it felt like the songwriting was drawn out too long and I wasn't too crazy about the jamming that came with it in like half the songs. I did end up wondering if I'd like Paul's solo stuff more, but I did appreciate a wide-ish range of tones and styles in this record.
6/10
The Undertones
3/5
There was a tempo-driven energy that lessened the barrier of entry made it easy for me to casually enjoy the experience and disregard the lyrical content or any feeling of repetitiveness. I found the accent on the vocals refreshing compared to the overabundance of British-based banks. This and The Clash have helped me realize I can like punk rock and tend to be drawn to it over more heavy/hard/grungy rock. It felt long for 35 minutes but was nice to have on while not having to give it my full attention.
6/10
Love
3/5
The flute/woodwind sounds in the instrumentals are a nice touch, and it feels like this group’s style was revived in some indie alternative music in the decades since; overall it feels very ‘60 but maintains some elements that keep it refreshing and modern. The mixing, composition, and vocal singer fit right into the psychedelia and makes it feel like a more wholesome version of The Doors. Then the last song had some Grateful Dead-sounding jamming, which was very unexpected and grew into more jammy things like the harmonica solo and James Brown “I feel good”ing. The variety of styles I noticed made it way more fun to listen to compared to a more generic but beloved decade piece that sometimes shows up here.
6/10
Beck
3/5
The more interesting sample-driven faster songs were a highlight and I grew tired of some of the slower, softer songs, except Broken Drum and Go It Alone.The majority of songs felt distinct and unique, but other than energy/tempo differences I couldn’t explain why I liked some but not others. The rhythms were very often fun and catchy but what was built on top of it didn’t always resonate with me fully, but was usually catchy nonetheless. Reminded me of fellow LA artist Calexico from a couple months ago, and both of them grew on me stronger as I progressed through the albums.
6.5/10
Van Halen
3/5
I’ve listened to 61 albums since I was given 1984, with 38 albums labeled rock and 7 labeled hard rock. As a result I am wondering how much my opinion was shaped by the circumstances I was in then versus now and by how much more rock I’ve experienced; overall this album sounds more serious but more partyable. Per usual I was drawn more to the rhythm created by the drumming rather than the riffing of the guitar, yet they complemented one another well and created a cool vibe. I liked side A more than side B, maybe because my ear isn’t refined enough to pick out the fine differences and the songs started feeling repetitive in certain ways.
6/10
Barry Adamson
2/5
This album made me reflect on how I approach these albums: I always try to listen while doing something else that doesn’t demand too much focus, but still feels productive to multitask with. I can’t truly experience this record with that strategy, and I decided upon reading what the concept was beforehand to acknowledge I wouldn’t give it a fair shot; I had to come back to it over a couple days due to inability to engage with it appropriately. Still, it felt like it had a good balance of harmony and discord, which to my ears was purposefully and skillfully crafted and if combined with a visual narrative as styled (a short film or animation), I would be pretty entertained with what sounded like suspense, romance, and plot twists. (Also, I noticed a two-note sequence that comes up at 2:40 in Chocolate Milkshake sounds like the beginning of the beat on THANK GOD by Travis Scott.)
5*/10
Dexys Midnight Runners
3/5
Listening to the original release’s tracklist, I wondered if it would just be a big buildup until Come On Eileen finally was the curtain closer. The instrumental and vocal performances certainly were cohesive and consistent, so if I was hooked on the group’s style, I would like all the songs and the strong poppy, folkish vibes of the album. But Come On Eileen being the breakout song and by far the one I’ve been exposed to most, it still outshines the rest in catchiness and melody (the melody in the second half of Old is really nice though). They sort of reminded me of ABBA and Bee Gees, and these songs could seamlessly fit in a playlist of pop from that generation and be a good time.
5.5/10