I was looking forward to listening to this but after doing so, like many other reviewers, I found the album to be quite pedestrian. I do understand how important this album is historically and for how it moved the hiphop genre past its disco inception. But still. Given what hip hop has become, the simplistic rapping, lyrics and beats just seem so hum drum to my modern ears. It kinda reminds me of pictures of people in the 50s gazing with wonder at the sight of a plane flying overhead. I totally get why they found it so impressive at the time, but of course, we are now so used to see planes overhead that we don't even notice them. I was considering four stars here given the importance of this album, but I think 4/5 stars should be reserved for music that stands the test of time - most of this album does not do so imo.

Love Time to Pretend the rest is ok

the peak of jazz

seminal album in the indie world and in my own personal world. I've listened to this album hundreds (maybe thousands) of times and really enjoyed listening to it again after so long. It holds up!

I went into this one thinking I'd give it a 3 stars at most. Of course I've heard most of these songs so many times on the radio and I never really thought much of FM in general based on the many times I've heard the songs. But when I really gave the album a listen I found that I could not dismiss it as easily as I expected to. There is good shit on this album which should not be surprising given its status as a "classic rock album". I couldn't in good conscience give this album less than 4 stars after really listening to it. The diversity of the tracks, the different voices (actual and auteur) throughout the album, the musicianship, all made more vibrant given the crazy and dysfunctional personal relationship amongst the band members all make this a great album. Even if I've heard most of the songs hundreds of times already.

song # 2 needs to die.

coltrane is great but the sax is not my fave instrument. It's hard for me to sit through sax solos which is basically this entire album.

That voice...so ethereal....like it's floating above the room. This album was very cool and one that I'd never heard all the way through before. Loved it and will listen again and again. right now actually.

This is just not my bag

better than i expected. a few tracks had very nice grooves.

too slow for me.

I like how they played "San Quentin" twice

What a voice. The sound of a raw nerve exposed to the driving wind. The blues is number one, I said the blues! is number one!

This was really great. Never even heard of it before

pretentious drivel.

far more melodic than I thought going into it. I've never listened to this one all the way through before.

I do like this album and her voice. Her voice is definitely a feature. But her voice can also grind a bit. Apart from her best songs I wouldn't put this album on regular rotation.

Interesting album. Very broadway.

this is ok but definitely nothing stood out.

great album.

ok

obviously great musicians and there were some bright spots but the sax. I just can't listen to music dominated by a saxophone for very long.

one of the best

the hits are undeniable hits but the rest didn't float my boat as much as it did back in the 80s/90s

I know that I'd like this album better if I gave it a few more listens but many of the songs sounded very similar to me. I maybe should not have listened to the remastered version which included multiple versions of the same track.

Sometimes you are just not in the mood for certain types of music. I'm afraid this was the case for me when I listened to this one. Although I appreciate the artistry of this album, it was too morose for me to really enjoy it and I found myself looking forward to it ending. Given that feeling I can't give this one a good rating. The vagaries of rating by committee.

First time I listened to this one. There was nothing so bad about it per se but it just didn't make me excited or interested. It was straight-forward. Yes her voice is powerful but I guess the melodies weren't there for me.

good stuff. weird. is captain beefheart = dr. john?

Big picture clean soloist

makes sense that i've never heard any other song from this album....one hit wonder. 2 stars instead of 1 because of Take On Me

timeless

This was ok but doesn't really stand out compared to other similar band. Reminded me of a second-class Stereolab.

I was looking forward to listening to this but after doing so, like many other reviewers, I found the album to be quite pedestrian. I do understand how important this album is historically and for how it moved the hiphop genre past its disco inception. But still. Given what hip hop has become, the simplistic rapping, lyrics and beats just seem so hum drum to my modern ears. It kinda reminds me of pictures of people in the 50s gazing with wonder at the sight of a plane flying overhead. I totally get why they found it so impressive at the time, but of course, we are now so used to see planes overhead that we don't even notice them. I was considering four stars here given the importance of this album, but I think 4/5 stars should be reserved for music that stands the test of time - most of this album does not do so imo.

Heavy thrasher music isn't really my thing....but I didn't hate this album. I might even put it on again if I feel the need to let out some steam.

This is in the top five of all time imo.