Nov 06 2023
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Black Sabbath
Black Sabbath
I was expecting a lot more doom and metal than I got. Basically, nothing lived up to the title track, which is the first track of the album. It’s fantastic, it’s heavy and full of darkness and gloom. The riffs are enthralling, the vocals are cold and feel possessed everything about it lives up to the expectations set by the discourse around the album. NIB is another track that is fun and the riffs are great. Apart from that, it borrows a lot of blues influences into their sound. I liked it a bit here and there but I wasn’t blown away by it. The riffs weren’t as memorable and the vocals were also not as great as they were on the title track. Overall, it’s a decent album and I respect it for what it pioneered but I don’t think I’ll be coming back to most of the tracks on the album.
3
Nov 07 2023
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The Wall
Pink Floyd
I’m still digesting the album as a whole. I was familiar with the bigger tracks already. Idk this whole rock sound is not clicking with me right now. I certainly respect what it’s going for. The melodies are there, the story is great but I think I need a bit more distortion in my rock, the riffs sound too polished to me. I think I need to listen to it a few more times and maybe later on it’ll grow on my but right now it’s not.
3
Nov 08 2023
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Ready To Die
The Notorious B.I.G.
It’s a great album and at the forefront of it is biggie’s vocals. His flow and delivery. The beats tbh leave a bit to be desired as a whole but it’s a ‘94 album, so I guess the production was at par with the landscape at that time. Biggie sounds unapologetic and raw on most of the tracks here. He shows bravado and ambition but also the struggle and stress of a gangsters life. I love everyday struggle and suicidal thoughts. The openers things done changed and gimme the loot are fantastic as well. Who shot ya is another favourite. Juicy is not clicking with me for some reason. Overall, it’s a great album.
4
Nov 09 2023
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3 Feet High and Rising
De La Soul
Eh, I’m still digesting it. I liked me myself and I, buddy, eye know, a little bit of soap. Need more time with it.
3
Nov 10 2023
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Hybrid Theory
Linkin Park
It’s a fun emo angst album. I’m still digesting it but there are some songs that I really like - papercut, one step closer, crawling, be myself, in the end are all great songs. After some time i think it’d probably be a 4/5 but as of now it’s a 3.
3
Nov 11 2023
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Odelay
Beck
This album grew on me and most of the tracks are fun and the blend of genres is very unique and unlike I had heard anywhere else. I was expecting jt to be more or less straightforward well done indie rock but the sounds on here were really a surprise. However, after a few listens I started really appreciating how these come together. The lyrics aren’t that great on some tracks but the production I guess makes up for it. It’s a light 4.
4
Nov 12 2023
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Abattoir Blues / The Lyre of Orpheus
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds
Really like the album on the first couple listens. This is my first nick cave record so I was completely unaware about his sound. Ive read he changes it up with each record, so this album shouldn’t be an indicator of his whole discography. But what it does indicate is his raw, raspy, heavy vocals which elevate some great writing. The songs are weird and abstract and invoke religious imagery. There are gospel influences all over the record with choirs supporting a lot of the songs here. The instrumentation is lush and full. I love the pianos and guitar on this.
Some of my fave tracks as of now - get ready for love, there she goes…, nature boy, the lyre of Orpheus, breathless. I need some more time to digest it as it’s a double album, almost 90 mins long. But I reckon it’ll only grow on me more with repeated listens. It’s a light 4.
4
Nov 13 2023
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Live 1966 (The Royal Albert Hall Concert)
Bob Dylan
The more I listen the more the album unfolds. Dylan’s writing is genuinely dense and each line affords a myriad of interpretations. I like the folkier disc one better than the electric disc 2 as of now. Visions of Johanna, it’s all over now, just like a woman, tambourine man especially are fantastic. One too many mornings from disc two is great. Like a rolling stone is a stunning closer to the album. I need more time with it but it’s a 3 as of now because disc 2 hasn’t resonated me much and it’s a 90 minute album and I’d like to enjoy it more than I do now.
3
Nov 14 2023
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Led Zeppelin II
Led Zeppelin
what can I even say about this album. the whole thing just goes from to back. I’m in love with the drums, how they fill up the space and provide each song with such heft and bounce. the mixing especially is so good. It is not clean, which I wouldn’t have preferred, it is raw and the guitars are distorted. It sound so big yet it keeps that it’s coming straight out of a small garage. I’ll also mention the bass on this album is fantastic. It’s a strong 4 to a 5. The only song I’m not too keen on is living loving maid. Favs are - the lemony song, thank you, heartbreaker
5
Nov 15 2023
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Who's Next
The Who
Got them after led zeppelin and I thank that ruined the experience a bit. The drums don’t hit as hard, the vocals aren’t as raw and the production is a bit cleaner. I didn’t click with it.
Favs - baba o’Riley ofc it’s a classic, the song is over is fantastic, behind blue eyes has some great harmonies, getting in tune is great as well. The album closes strong with won’t get fooled again. The rest are okay. It’s a light 3.
3
Nov 16 2023
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Deloused in the Comatorium
The Mars Volta
The instrumentation is in your face. The grooves, the riff, the drum fills all sound really good. I’m still warming up to the vocals and I need a bit more time to really digest the album. Also it’s just rock album after rock album and I’m a bit tired of it now. I need a bit of variation. So maybe that affected the listening experience as well. It’s a really good album tho. I’ll go with a strong 3 and I see it growing on my with more listens.
3
Nov 17 2023
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Here Are the Sonics
The Sonics
Yeah, it was fine. It’s nice to see the evolution of punk and what it came from - the proto punk sound. But I need something else at this point. I’m a bit tired of the rock sound.
It was a decent album. My favs were - witch, do you love me, psycho, night time. It’s not bad but it’s not good to me also. The grooves sound the same. It’s the same drum pattern and guitar chords and rhythms. Strong 2 to a light 3.
3
Nov 18 2023
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In Rainbows
Radiohead
I love this album. Every song hits. It’s full of emotion, the lyrics are great, thom’s vocals are pristine and angelic. The drums on this thing are hypnotic, the pattern on weird fishes is so good. Nude is devastating. The distortion and rage of body snatchers is cathartic. Videotape sounds like I’m dying alone in a dungeon. All I need is what took me to that dungeon. Perfect album.
5
Nov 19 2023
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You Want It Darker
Leonard Cohen
Ah, I loved this album. This is a winter album. It sounds old, like fine wine. It sounds like wisdom and jaded. Leonard cohen is a great writer and the instrumentation to support him is flawless. It is relaxed at the right times, it pirks up at the right time. I love the choirs, and the background singers. However, cohen’s voice and his words are the Center stage and deservedly so. It’s a strong 4 for me.
4
Nov 20 2023
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Listen Without Prejudice Vol. 1
George Michael
Really nice album. It’s sorta soft rock, some really nice bass lines on it. I love love waiting for that day. Freedom is great, cowboys and angels is great. Just an easy to listen album. Strong 3 to a light 4.
4
Nov 21 2023
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Cloud Nine
The Temptations
It’s a fun album and a nice shelter from all the rock picks I’ve been getting. Love the soul and funk on this. Some great bass lines on it, especially runaway child. The harmonies on here add to the album as well. Love them on gotta find a way, and why did she have to leave. Cloud nine is a great opener and bursts with energy. Runaway could’ve been a bit shorter, it does drag a bit but it’s still great. The final track is a bit creepy and I don’t like the lyrics at all. Grapevine and love is a hurtin thing aren’t rememberable as well. Overall, it’s a good album. Strong 3 to a light 4.
4
Nov 22 2023
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John Barleycorn Must Die
Traffic
Ah, it’s an okay album. I definitely see why other people would like it but I think it isn’t for me as of now. The sound is a bit too soft - the guitars don’t have any edge, the drums don’t hit like they should. The melodies aren’t sticking as well. I really liked the opener, Glad - the keys on it are fantastic and the a 7 minute journey with some great sections. The ender is good too, I love the slide and the piano on it. Freedom rider is nice too. The rest three didn’t click with me at all. It’s a strong 2 to a light 3.
3
Nov 23 2023
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Heavy Weather
Weather Report
It’s a nice album. I like the synths and the saxophone. Some of the melodies are really great. I don’t normally listen to this type of music so I’m struggling with it a bit. But I do like it. A remark you made is great, teentown with those heavy drums is fun, rumba Mumba with those tribal aspects and crowd is nice too. The juggler is great with its synth melody and keys. It’s a strong 3 to a light 4.
4
Nov 24 2023
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Another Green World
Brian Eno
Ah, what a fantastic album. Love the ambient bits, love how dark and solitary it feels some of the times. Love the lyrics on it and the use of guitars.
The first two songs do feel a bit out of place with their use of bass and drums and guitar. They feel more rock oriented but then the albums moved a bit into the ambient electronic path and progressively gets nostalgic and blue. I love it. It’s a strong 4 to a light 5 for me.
5
Nov 25 2023
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At Fillmore East
The Allman Brothers Band
Such a great album. Love most of the album. Love the bluesy sound, the bass and the drums. The vocals are raw and while the longer tracks do progress with purpose and with some rememerable guitar solos, it could’ve been a bit more tighter by cutting maybe 10-15 mins from the the longer tracks. But it’s still great. It’s a light 4 to a strong 4 for me.
4
Nov 27 2023
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Raw Power
The Stooges
I love the energy and distortion on this album. Iggy pops vocals are great too, I love it when he’s doing more rough and screamo vocals. Apart from the energy, I would say choruses aren’t as sticky as I’d like them to be. I love your pretty face, shake appeal, I need somebody. Search and destroy is good but the drums are so behind, the mixing sounds weird to me. While the rest of the songs sound full and the bass is punchy and heavy, it’s the complete opposite on the opener. The drums and bass are just hidden I feel. Raw power is fine, the riff I feel like gets a bit tiring bec it goes through the song. However the ending of the song is amazing. Bowie’s mix sounds shrill and I much prefer iggy’s mix. It has more distortion and fullness. It’s a strong 3 to a light 4.
4
Nov 28 2023
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Ill Communication
Beastie Boys
It’s a fun album! The production just jumps out here. So much funk and groove. Love the bass lines on this. Sabrosa has a great one. Get it together with qtip is great and the opener sure shot has amazing drums. I love the instrumentals on here and the couple rock oriented tracks as well. The only thing I’m not cool with is the vocals, the tone is a bit weird and not sitting right with me and it also feels like it’s processed with some tool because of which it’s very difficult to understand the lyrics. But the production and energy on this is just undeniable. I’d give it a strong 3 to a light 4.
4
Nov 29 2023
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When I Was Born For The 7th Time
Cornershop
It’s a nice album. I like the fusion elements here. The sort of experimental edge with nice pop sensibilities really makes the album unique in its own right. I really like good to be back, Indian tobacco, chocolat. I love the instrumentals better than the vocals. And the most popular song here - brimful of Asha, I don’t like it. The vocals and accent sounds weird to me and the way they pronounce Asha Bhosle just ruins the song. I guess westerners don’t notice that but being an Indian, it really stands out. Overall it’s a fun batch of fusion indie pop and I’m glad I listened to it. It’s a light to a strong 3.
3
Nov 30 2023
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The Man Who
Travis
I found this to be a tad bit basic indie rock indie pop. Nothing really stood out, the vocals aren’t that engaging and the melodies aren’t that rememberable. However, I loved fear and driftwood is great too (kinda sounds like a the shins knockoff). Slide is decent as well. I don’t think there’s much here. It’s a strong 2 for me. Not sure what’s the importance of this album and why it’s a part of this list. Maybe it’ll grow on me.
2
Dec 01 2023
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Fetch The Bolt Cutters
Fiona Apple
Ah, I’m so conflicted on this album. The highs are so high and then there are just some frustrating songs. I love love want you to love me, Shameika, fetch, cosmonauts and heavy balloon. These are perfect songs. I like on I go as well. And for her is just so raw. But then the rest just don’t hit. The production is great but they sort of wander and feel disjointed at times. I feel like they never reach their potential. Relay just goes nowhere, I like the elements but they never progress to something substantial. I feel the same way for rack of his, newspaper and ladies. I really really like half the album and half of it just sort of leaves me wanting more and keeps me frustrated. It’s a strong 3 and on good days a 4.
3
Dec 02 2023
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Straight Outta Compton
N.W.A.
Eh after the high of the first 3 songs the albums just completely dives for me. Compton’s n the house is so basic - the rhymes, the flow the production everything sounds v rookie. Ain’t ruff, parental discretion, 8 ball, something like that - they all have decent beats but they get repetitive after a while and the flows and lyricism isn’t that good to me to keep things interesting for 4-5 mins. I ain’t tha 1 - eh the lyrics are weird and the rapping again sounds very basic and the flow gets boring after a while, same with the beat. Quiet on the set brings things back up again - it’s fun with the adlibs and beat breaks and the drum changes. The rapping is more engaging. 2 dance - it’s fun but disposable. I expected a lot from the album given the hype but the album just goes down in quality after the first three tracks. It’s a 2 for me.
2
Dec 03 2023
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One World
John Martyn
It took a few listens to warm up to the album, especially his voice. But it’s a great rock album. I like his softer songs more. Small hours, love you more, certain surprise and dancing are great. I love the experimentation on smiling stranger - the strings and tabla(?). Love one world as well. The only song I don’t like is big muff - his voice sounds weird and the hook doesn’t do it for me. Overall it’s a solid album.
4
Dec 04 2023
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Legalize It
Peter Tosh
I like some songs on here. No sympathy, why must I cry are great. Ketchy has a nice groove and till your well runs dry is catchy as well. The issue is I’m just struggling with the sound - it isn’t clicking with me. The Reggae grooves that lay the foundation of all these tracks get monotonous for me and the tracks are neither completely upbeat or completely bluesy with energy and more rawness. It just hangs somewhere in between on nowhere land and I can’t stick to the sound. It’s a 2 for me.
2
Dec 05 2023
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Bitches Brew
Miles Davis
I know I’m going to love this album even more with each listen. What a fucking album. Everything sounds so crisp, the grooves are dynamic and there are so many rememberable parts in each song. And for it being almost 2 hours my god it progressed so well and the songs never stagnate, so rich with ideas. It’s a 4 as of now as im still getting familiar with it but im so excited to give it repeated listens.
4
Dec 06 2023
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Now I Got Worry
The Jon Spencer Blues Explosion
What a fun album! I am always in for distortion and that garagey sound. And it mixes the angst of the blues with such sweet distortion! A genuine surprise. The ending track is genuinely some experimental noise shit and I loved every second of it. The first 6 tracks are fantastic - great riffs, impeccable energy and love the ad libs thrown in as well. Chicken dog falls a bit flat as the riff isn’t that interesting. Eyeballing and get over here also are decent - the riffs repeat a lot without a lot happening around them and it can get a bit monotonous. Overall the album is really fun and the sound is great. I’d give it a strong 3 to a light 4.
4
Dec 07 2023
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Public Image: First Issue
Public Image Ltd.
It was a nice album. Felt more punk and post rock. The first track is the peak of the album imo. The risks taken and the rawness shown on it is unmatched by the tracks that follow it. I would have liked to have more tracks like it - more screaming, more distortion and experimentation. Nonetheless, it was still a good album. Religion 2, public image, attack, and low are all good to great. I don’t care for annalisa - it’s more of the same, doesn’t carry a memorable riff and for a 6-7 min track it doesn’t progress well and feels monotonous at times. The last track also feels a bit weird and out of place. The vocals just sound annoying to me. When the track started I was really excited to see where it goes because the bass line is great accompanied by these syncopated synths beats , but again I wanted to see more rawness and distortion which was missing. Overall, it was a good album. I’d give it a strong 3.
3
Dec 09 2023
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Off The Wall
Michael Jackson
It’s a fun album. The basslines are fantastic and the melodies are rememberable. Michael brings a lot of energy and character. The harmonies are great too. The softer tracks aren’t exactly up to the dance cuts but they’re still really good. It’s a light 4 for me.
4
Dec 10 2023
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The Rising
Bruce Springsteen
Ah, this sounds like such a commercialised saccharine rock album. The sound feels like a parody of itself. Idk but I can’t find life in most of the songs. The opener is nice, nothing man is good, you’re missing is nice, the missing as well. Empty sky is just the beginning of creep idk how I can’t find any comparisons of it anywhere. The songs sound bit but hollow. There are some rememerable melodies and hooks here but argh the overall song just makes me feel I’m in a commercial or something. It’s such basic rock. Paradise reminds me of the sound of silence for some reason and I can’t not hear it now. It’s a competent album but it’s just a nothing album.
2
Dec 11 2023
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Beautiful Freak
Eels
It’s a nice by the numbers indie rock album. Good lyrics, good instrumentation. Nothing really mind blowing. Just a solid bag of songs. Lyrics specially are great - relatable and sad, about loneliness, depression, not fitting in etc. also has a nice winter feel to it. It’s a strong 3 for me.
3
Dec 12 2023
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Songs From The Big Chair
Tears For Fears
broken to head over heels transition and then that buildup with the keys and drums is amazing. ofc shout and rule the world are fantastic songs. I believe and listen accordingly calm things down and really balance the album out in terms of energy. Listen is a great closer. The use of synths is done very well. One thing I do wish is that the vocals stood out a little bit more, they do feel a little back with all the other instruments. Sometimes, the album doesn't punch as hard as it could be. Everything seems balanced and in doing so it loses a bit of power. However, the instrumentation, melodies and ideas are still outstanding. I haven't clicked much with mother and the working hour though. It's a strong 3 to a light 4.
4
Dec 13 2023
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It's Blitz!
Yeah Yeah Yeahs
It's just a solid batch of indie rock tunes. zero and heads will roll kick things off incredibly well. A lot of energy and punch. Skeletons shares great atmosphere and builds up to a great finish. Runaway i feel is the centerpiece of the album and it is a fantastic song. The keys are great, the vocals stand out as well. hysteria is a great earworm. Great album. It's a light to a strong 4 for me.
4
Jan 04 2024
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I Should Coco
Supergrass
It's a fine indie rock album. Most of it didn't click with me as the melodies, vocals, riffs nothing stood out that much. It all passes for a decent middle ground indie rock and that's it. I'd like to know starts things with a lot of energy but it meanders a bit in the end. Caught by the fuzz is great, I like the distortion, the chorus is catchy. Alright, the big single, is good too but apart from a really catchy melody I didn't really find it to be that amazing as well. I found the mellower cuts in the second half of the album more engaging. She's so loose is great, the strings really add a lot to the track. Not supposed to is great, very catchy, and those scattered vocals in the background that keeping coming in and out are really fun as well. Time is decent as well. It stagnates a bit and doesn't progress after a well. The main guitar riff gets a bit monotonous as well. The harmonica embellishments doesn't really do much as well for me. Sofa is the longest track on the album and is it just me or the main melody is straight up similar to norwegian wood by the beatles? Despite that the song is great, but it does hamper the listening experience a bit because it constantly just reminds me of the beatles song. Time to go is great well. It's a strong 2 to a light 3 for me. The middle section post alright and before loose just does not do much for me.
3
Jan 05 2024
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Maxwell's Urban Hang Suite
Maxwell
This album just straight up hits. Just a straightforward R&B album with melodies and grooves that hook you in on the first listen. It's a light 4 for me. While everything sounds good, the album could be a little tighter. The penultimate track, and cops knockin are fine. Great vibe but I didn't attach to them.
4
Jan 06 2024
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Seventeen Seconds
The Cure
I love the dark atmospheric vibes of the album. I wish the vocals were a bit more in the front, as they are really hard to make out. Maybe I just need to warm up to the mixing choice they made though. I love how the album progressively gets darker. The distortion and haziness of at night is amazing, the bass line and guitar riff on forest sound great too. idk but the album is not entirely clicking with me. I see and appreciate the elements but it's just not clicking also. I'll give it a light to a strong 3.
3
Jan 07 2024
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Young Americans
David Bowie
first of all i was not expecting soul r&b from this album and from bowie and that was a suprise. The title track is catchy but it doesn't really connect, it all sounds very by the numbers - to be honest most of this album sounds like that and it was a let down. some elements here and there do pop up but as a whole it doesn't connect. Fame is the best song ofc tho, the bass line is great and the distorted riff is unexpected but works so well. It really gives the song a lot of character. can you hear me is nice and right as well. the vocal melody of win and the atmosphere is nice. across the universe is meh. i don't really thin I'll be coming back to this album much apart from fame and can you hear me. it's a strong 2 to a light 3.
2
Jan 08 2024
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Felt Mountain
Goldfrapp
While the production is really lush with the use of dark synths and strings and piano sounds really pretty - Very somber and mystical, the melodies aren't that strong for me. Human with that synth line is ofc is very iconic, utopia is good too but most of the times the verses just leave me wanting more. Oompa is fine. On the last cut as well, the lalala vocals with the synth(?), strings and piano do have a catchy melody but when the verses come it gets a bit monotonous, the vibe and atmosphere is there but you can take only a certain amount of that. I guess the more I listen to it the more acclimated i'll get to it however for now its a light to a strong 3. There's an album by julee cruise in a similar vein, very dark dreamy downtempo and the melodies and compositions just hit harder on that. The songs are good but nothing really jumps out.
3
Jan 09 2024
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Bad
Michael Jackson
It's just hits on hits. Starting with Bad and ending with diana, criminal and leave me alone. Damn. I'd give it a 4 as most of them do hit but I'm a bit cold on liberian girl (which for like 6-7 years I've thought was liberarian girl lmao), and another part of me. Apart from that
4
Jan 10 2024
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Berlin
Lou Reed
ah, i'm so split on this album. I did not warm up to the mid-section of the album because the production choices just didn't work for me - with the horns, and dramatic riffs and strings, very operatic and sort of glam and i am just not feeling that sound. and then caroline 2, the kids, the bed came on and god damn it was such a turnaround. Something about the other songs is just not clicking with me. The story however is really good and depressing and I wish the sound was sorta more somber and distorted for the whole album. You can't have grim lyrics and upbeat production and then have vocals that don't sound upbeat as well. Lou sings them without any character and It doesn't work for me. Caroline 1, I think, would really pop with bowie vocals. It's a decent 3 for me.
-----
Nevermind, the album really grew on me after a few more listens. The lyrics and the story really elevate the album and the atmosphere the lou creates with his penmanship just keeps you coming back. Also, I guess, i just took the album for what it is but i still do think how much better it would sound if the vocals for the first half were replaced by someone like bowie. Anyway, it's a decent 4 for me. The only song that doesn't work for me is men of good fortune.
4
Jan 11 2024
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Songs From A Room
Leonard Cohen
While it takes a little bit to open up, after a few listens you really listen to all the little details that are scattered throughout this record and the melodies that were hiding on the initial listens sneak up on you and get stuck in your head. I had a great experience with you want it darker and this was the same. It's just solid poetry, with good melodies and instrumentation. It's a light 4 for me. Personal favs are - Bird on a wire, lonesome heroes, the partisan, you know who i am, tonight will be fine.
4
Jan 12 2024
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Opus Dei
Laibach
I was not ready for this album lmao. What was this? First things first, the best thing about this recommendation is that it led me to their cover of across the universe and it's better than anything on this album. So, go give that a listen rn.
Now, coming back to this album. I wish it was darker and more tribal. The drums could've been deeper and harder. I don't care for the queen cover. Leben Tod feels like a straightforward hard rock experimental song and it's good. I wish the vocals went harder as well. More aggression and energy in the vocals could have elevated the album.
There are a few vibes that the album goes for and I wish it picked a lane or two and stayed there. It has this rock opera feel, then it covers queen as well, and then it this dramatic strings and horns and then it tries to mix all that with that German military hardcore chanting and war vibes and it just leaves the album hanging somewhere in the middle. I wish it had gone harder with just the military war rock chanting sound.
Okay, so now for what the album is I did warm up to it after a few listens. Opus die is fine but i don't like the strings and the repeated chorus vocals. Same with FIAT. I like the darker experimental songs more. Trans National is great with those drum hits, and staccato strings, and panned synths. And then this great bass line also comes up. It's really good. It's almost an industrial dance song. How the west was won is good too, the main guitar riff with the drum pattern is great. It's a heavy, lumbering, and sharp track. The great seal is meh, sounds very cliche with those overdramatic strings. Herz-felde is great with those marching drums and group chants and repeated strings. Love the vibe of this one and the next track, Jagerspeil. koza skin is just hypnotic with that synth line and whispered vocals and background military vocal snippets. Great atmospheric track. The last track builds on that dark hypnotic atmosphere as well with repeated drum hits, synth or violin line?, some spoken word. It sounds good and then it ruins it all by integrating this dramatic strings during the ending and it kills the entire atmosphere. It's so annoying.
It's a decent 3 for me. I like the second half much much better than the first.
3
Jan 13 2024
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Morrison Hotel
The Doors
Just a solid record of rock, blues and singer-songerwriter tunes. Jim morrison does have a commanding voice and the writing is quite captivating as well, with love songs, and a sea shanty sort of a thing as well?, there's blues cuts like roadhouse blues, and maggie. There's this creepy and dark song the spy. It's a fun, energetic heartful album. Ship of fools, and queen of highway are fine. It's a decent 4 for me.
4
Jan 14 2024
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xx
The xx
jamie xx carries this whole album tbh. The production is the most interesting part of this record. While i liked a good chunk of tracks here, on most of them i felt the vocals had no energy, life or personality. However, it's salvaged by, again, great production, good melodies, and decent lyrics.
intro is really good but I don't get the hype around it, it's still really good tho. VCR is a lovely earworm. Shelter has good atmosphere, but romy's vocals don't do anything for me, the melody isn't strong and the build-up doesn't lead anywhere satisfying in the end and just fades out without giving any resolution. Basic space is decent, again production is the most engaging part of the song. The reverbed drums and the bass line sounds great. The hook is decent as well. But overall it's just fine. The last 3 tracks are really strong imo. Infinity, the longest track on the album, has a nice groove and atmosphere. That synth line and perc hits post chorus sound great. Night time has a strong nocturnal feel, and the drop is undeniable with the synth line(?). Stars is fine, the song doesn't really progress anywhere strong, and again the build-up doesn't lead to any strong payoff. It does have a good vibe/atmosphere but it is not enough to carry a 4 min+ track. It's a light 3 for me.
3
Jan 15 2024
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Copper Blue
Sugar
i did not like the vocals being mixed so in the back. and the tone/inflection got kind of annoying after the second song because it felt like the voice was just hanging around in the corner and bzz-ing at me and never coming in the front.
apart from that the instrumentation is decent, the guitars get kinda samey after a while. the end of the album got more poppy and singy and i liked that a bit more. slick and man on the moon being the highlights for me. apart from that i liked a good idea as well. overall though it's not a standout album and i couldn't get through most of it without getting frustrated. it's a decent to strong 4.
2
Jan 16 2024
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The Black Saint And The Sinner Lady
Charles Mingus
the more you listen to the album the more it agrees with you. So many memorable motifs. The drumming, piano, the cymbal hits, the trumpet, and all the instruments are just working in harmony. It's a strong 4.
4
Jan 17 2024
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The Visitors
ABBA
It's such an easy listen. Most of the songs just hit on first listen. The harmonies, and the instrumentation have so much fun variety, the vocals are great and the melodies are just solid and sticky. It's a light 4.
4
Jan 18 2024
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Vivid
Living Colour
vivid is a great descriptor for the album, the grooves and riffs are brimming with energy, the vocals are fun and the drums sound great too. The first two tracks pack a very nice punch. Middle man is decent, It has some nice riffs but nothing really holds my attention which makes me want to return to the track. Desperate is another great track - the group really does a great job balancing the thrash hard rock elements with the softer melody-laden parts. The bridge of desperate people is fantastic. landlord is fine. neither the riffs nor the melody really stuck to me. funny vibe though instantly throws a catchy riff at you and then 1 min in turns into pure funk with a nice groove and it's a great track. i love talking heads and i just couldn't vibe with their rendition. broken hearts is a great hard rock ballad and it has some great writing as well which i really liked. it's a strong 3 from me.
3
Jan 19 2024
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The Real Thing
Faith No More
I really liked the first four tracks. There's great energy and for the time i feel like it really was an indicator for the sounds that will become popular in the late-nighties. After the first four tracks tho, the mixing just falls off for some reason, everything just is off to the back and I can't make out any instruments and I played multiple tracks back to back and really felt this difference. listen to the mixing of falling to pieces or epic or out of nowhere and compare it to real thing, underwater love, the morning. None of the instruments pack a punch. listen to the guitars on the latter tracks and compare them with the first four there's such a difference. woodpecker from mars sounds good though, i love this instrumental. the war pigs cover is fine, i'd just rather listen to the original they didn't do anything different with it. The album ends on a great closer with edge of the world, with a more laid back track with the piano as the lead. it gave me a bit of Fiona apple vibes. It's a decent to a strong 3.
3
Jan 20 2024
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Otis Blue/Otis Redding Sings Soul
Otis Redding
Ah, I wish there were more originals rather than covers here. I did like a few songs tho. Ole man trouble is great, Otis’s vocals and soul is undeniable. Change is really gripping as well. The vocals on down in the valley are so good. He really puts his all into the songs. I’ve been loving… is my fav on the album. Such a good tune. The last song I like is the album closer. Apart from that, respect is done better by aretha, my girl by temptations, satisfaction by the stones, I didn’t vibe with shake - I don’t like dancey upbeat Otis. Rock me baby is good too tho but it wish it had more edge. The riff is so good and it could’ve gone harder. Overall it’s a decent 3 from me.
3
Jan 21 2024
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Bad Company
Bad Company
it's easy rock with some good tunes here and there. There's nothing much apart from that. the songs start and end at the same energy level.
actaully the more i listen to the album it sounds soulless to me. Like, it's just going through the motions, it's certainly competent and there are a few decent melodies as well scattered throughout the record but the more I listen to it I feel why am I listening to this? It's such an easy listen that at first it duped me into thinking it is good. On repeated listens the surface level is all there is. it just gets on your nerves the more you listen to it. one song that agreed with me a bit is the piano ballad don't let me down with it's group vocals which sound good. The album though did let me down, it's a 1 for me.
1
Jan 22 2024
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Veckatimest
Grizzly Bear
till ready, able the album is flawless to be honest. I love the melodies, the atmosphere this album creates is so cozy and the harmonies on this thing are so beautiful. It has such warmth, but it's also dark - there's distortion used in a lot of these tracks too. The sound is just so good on this thing. About face, does feel a little rushed and it could've progressed a bit more however i still like it. I like/love all the songs on here. I have similar qualms with the next song hold still. After that though, the album picks up again while you wait is great, i live with you is haunted and macabre and even though the lyrics don't paint a vivid image, the musical landscape and the atmosphere completely transports you. The closer is a great piano ballad again. It's one of the best indie rock albums of the 2000s. It's a strong strong 4. I wish the lyrics were a bit more personal and not so vague. It's a near-perfect album.
4
Jan 23 2024
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Led Zeppelin
Led Zeppelin
it's a great album, I mean it's Zeppelin. Plant's vocals are insane and unmatched. The drumming is so crisp and hard-hitting. The riffs are thunderous and pack a punch. Until your time is gonna come the album is near flawless. Black Mountain Side is a short interlude which is fine but I wouldn't mind skipping it also. Communication breakdown is great as well, a bit more hard-rock/thrashy/punky and I do like it but I prefer the bluesy sound more. The last two cuts, while still being good don't offer anything new you've heard them done on this album before and done better as well. The last cut especially does drag a bit, It did not need to be 8+ min long. I would've preferred maybe dazed and confused to be that long, because that riff is other worldly and I'd welcome 2 more mins of it with open arms. I don't mind listening to the last cut, ofc the drumming is great and the main riff is good too but the progression isn't that engaging and it doesn't flow that smoothly as well. It doesn't match the standard that Zeppelin set for themselves in the first leg of the album. Overall, it's a great album with a unique sound that only Zeppelin can provide. It's a light 4 for me.
4
Jan 24 2024
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Bone Machine
Tom Waits
i love it. the production is weird and deranged and squeaky and sets such an atmosphere. I can feel dust, rain, darkness, this sort of silence and the moonlight. It's haunted and beautiful. Tom Wait's voice is gravelly and rough and perfectly complimented by the writing and the production. There are songs here about depression, earth's demise, life and growing up, murder and so much more. It's so good. My personal favs are earth died screaming, dirt in the ground, i don't want to grow up, that feel, the ocean doesn't want me, a little rain. It's great and i reckon it'll just grow on me with more listens. It's a strong 4 to a 5.
5
Jan 25 2024
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In A Silent Way
Miles Davis
it's just a great jazz album. both tracks, despite being long, progress really well and go to some really interesting places. The atmosphere is also great, it's a great night time album. I really like it. It's a decent 4.
4
Jan 26 2024
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Tonight's The Night
Neil Young
4
Jan 27 2024
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Five Leaves Left
Nick Drake
just a really solid singer songwriter folksey album by nick drake. Really like his lyrics as well. Early favs - Shed, way to blue, day is done, time has told me, fruit tree. All the songs tbh are really good. Three hours is the only one which didn't click with me. It's a light 4 from me.
4
Jan 28 2024
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Vulnicura
Björk
the first 4 tracks are great with stonemilker being my absolute favorite. after that, something just didn't click with me. i liked bits and parts of the rest of the songs but none of them worked for me as a whole. it's a strong 5 to a light 6.
2
Jan 29 2024
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I’ve Got a Tiger By the Tail
Buck Owens
this is just very basic country and unless the melody or lyrics are really strong it just doesn't work for me. but none of this matters because this man wrote "cryin' time" and it's one of my favorite songs ever. holyshit.
anyway, back to the review, most of it is nice but that's about it. favs include - tiger by the tail, fallin for you, cryin' time, streets of laredo. it's a very easy listen and overall enjoyable as well. the songs are short and to the point. almost all of them under 3 minutes. i like trouble and me and sad times as well.
it's a decent to strong 6 to a light 7 for me.
3
Jan 30 2024
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Beggars Banquet
The Rolling Stones
the album really peaks with the first track. sympathy for the devil is so much better than the rest. the melody and the mixing especially. the mixing is kinda rough on this album and not the good kind of rough.
i did enjoy most of the songs though. favs include: no expectations, factory girl, jigsaw puzzle, and dear doctor. the rest are fine too.
also, what the hell is - stray cat blues??? 15 year old? it's disgusting. the mixing on parachute women is really grating where the kickdrum is panned to the left and it just pecks your brain really annoyingly. i don't know why the mixing is so rough on this album. i was really expecting more from a Stones album. aren't they supposed to be the Beatles contemporaries? the production, the writing, the melodies really aren't up to any of those classic Beatles albums tbh.
anyway, it's a strong 6 light 7 for me.
3
Jan 31 2024
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Sheer Heart Attack
Queen
such a fun album. loved the harmonies, the riffs, the vocals, the melodies. it's soft when it needs to be and can be hard and rough when it needs to be. just a solid rock album.
"she makes me" feels like a proto-dream pop shoegaze song that i'd later on come to hear from bands like Spiritualized. it's fantastic.
overall, i really enjoyed this album. it's a decent 8 for me.
4
Feb 01 2024
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Follow The Leader
Korn
while i appreciate the instrumentation on the album. the riffs and melodies are certainly rememberable and energetic. the vocals and the vibe of it is just not for me. also, i want my music to really sound harsh when it wants to be and this album sort of never gets there. the vocals are meh and the production gets samey after a while. the rapping is not to its credit as well. while i can appreciate some songs like freak on a leash, got the life, it's on!, bbk i just don't see myself listening to it. it sort of just hangs in the middle where i can't understand what it's for. the riffs and overall sound is not dark, rough enough for my liking. the vocals are kinda whiney. and i don't know when i'd like to listen to this.
it's a strong 4 to a light 5.
2
Oct 26 2024
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90
808 State
man, i love the trombone/horn(?) on Pacific 202! plus the synths and drums on it are groovy as hell. this whole album is a very warm and groovy but vibey record. Ancodia has that hypnotic synth line that i can't get out of my mind. Magical dream is this sparkly funky dreamy song and donky doctor reminds me of a more chilled out prodigy. this whole album is great and keeps getting better with more listens.
it's a decent to strong 8 for me right now!
4