not normally acquainted with jazz but found this quite relaxing from a beginners perspective. also after relistens felt that it was more impactful than usual as mostly instrumental music goes.
average rating was due to the fact that the genre is not my personal favourite but i recognise why it can be influential
singing is mesmerizing
i fuck with this
on a serious note, the vocals are emotional and passionate and they are matched with powerful and exciting guitar riffs. each song tells an emotional story and the live audience only helps with portraying it was a captivating set. accessible for new to blues like myself.
torn about this in terms of bowie. while some of the songs are exactly what I like from glam rock, a few of the songs are way too kitschy with too much american influence. also too experimental with avant garde and jazz elements on some tracks.
a good example is watch that man as too superficial, and time as one of my favourites.
ziggy stardust will always be more enjoyable to listen to the whole way through for me. less experimentation and more of what I liked about bowie's music.
this is the peak of the "king of the pop". iconic and masterclass vocals and song-writing. while thriller might have slightly better album coherence, bad has stronger songs throughout.
very close to a 5 but that category is very exclusive to me, a high 4
i can see why this album is rated so well, sufjan manages to deliver a wide variety of instruments beautifully brings his alternative folk style to life telling deep stories about the state of illinois.
however, i can't rate it highly from a perspective of enjoyment as its simply not for me
i feel some songs lean quite heavily into classic rock and are decent (like the first two tracks), and some lean much too heavily into experimenting with orchestral or jazz music (like grand finale) for my tastes.
however the songs which are just between two groups are perfect to me such as blue turk (jazzy undertones here are nice) and my stars (made dramatic with theatric-sound rock). these two alone bump the rest of the albums average 3 rating to a 4.
also gutter cat vs the jets was an interesting experience.
very hard to believe this came out in 1969 - pioneers in using this type of distortion and sound in music
pros:
- starting point for early punk can definitely be heard and i like the bands that were inspired by the stooges and velvet underground.
- is not afraid to get gritty and experimental
- that review about shirtless iggy pop
cons:
- while some repetitive tracks are normal on a rock album, there is simply too many
- i am not currently a heroin user
wow
i first discovered björk about a year ago - only listening to her most popular songs (from this album namely "pagan poetry") from the likes of alternative 90s and 00s charts, playlists and compilations. it is only after listening to a full album with this now that i feel the ethereal and magical style has really hit me.
one personal connection i have to her music is that only after falling in love with her musical style on my own, i found out that my mother too used to be a big fan of björk's work in the 90s - around the same age that i am now. fascinating to me as i always had only heard of more popular western music that came to influence post soviet countries to be of their tastes, but my mom at one point used to delve into alternative culture herself in the 80s-90s, (first into punk and later into art-pop/avant garde with this album).
another way i feel my upbringing leads me to connect with this album is björk's connection to pagan and biophilic ideas throughout her work, where like icelandic paganism and its nordic counterparts, latvian paganism also is built around the idea of naturism with forest and mountain deities alike. other than a few titles and lyrics, her work is not explicitly built around this idea but i like to interpret it as such, a "modern-take" on paganism and its ideas. my family is mostly atheist so old sayings about folklore regarding trees and forest creatures is the only spirituality i feel i have had in my life. björk's has let me feel a deeper connection to that.
lastly, björk's other albums are definitely not very accessible but i feel other than the longer song lengths, this one is a great first album and is one of the ones i feel more comfortable listening to (yet - possibly could change as i get acclimatised to the weird world of björk). listening to this the full way through was an experience that I will be repeating.
starting with the first few tracks, and man, what a start. it's like a breath of folky fresh air. but then, the album takes a turn. it's like expecting a peaceful walk in the woods but ending up at a jazz club.
the rest of the tracks are a lot more funky and jazzy which is cool on it's own and from other artists but i prefer when martyn sticks to the folk and don't like this fusion.
a very cool post-pixies exploration by frank black. a buffet of alternative rock with catchy tunes and deeper tracks. i love his cryptic lyricism, making repeat listens more enjoyable. a few really catchy tracks like headache.
not a 5 due to it being a pretty long album of 22 tracks, a few of which could have been cut. but the rest is gold nonetheless.
eminem's slim shady character is definitely not for everyone, and that's perfectly understandable. however i personally see it as him brilliantly highlighting and bringing attention to real-world problems with a dark humour twist - much like an actor portraying a complex character in a film.
the storytelling and rhymes are simultaneously perturbing and catchy with a shock value that remains impactful on repeat listens. it's the overwhelming boldness of the album that makes it a masterpiece for me, and every song contributes to its legacy as undeniable classics of the era.
also, the production by dre is impeccable, matching eminem's style perfectly. this album isn't just good, it's a groundbreaking work that redefined a genre.
i prefer gorillaz and blur, where damon albarn's connection with his band members feels more authentic. with 'the good, the bad & the queen', the art rock style doesn't hit the same mark for me. most songs blend together, lacking memorable hooks. a few tracks stand out slightly, nudging my rating up to a 2. it's an album with great potential, but it doesn't quite resonate like his other projects.
simple and beautiful. could have been a bit shorter, but the melodies and lyrics are so heartfelt, they almost make you forget its length. a solid 4 for its timeless charm.
phil spector killed - in both this album and in 2003
these tracks are like one-sided chats that wander without much direction. his songwriting's clever, but it's hard to see its broader influence on music. and honestly, after 'you've got a friend in me', it's tough to take his voice seriously. it's got that New Orleans R&B touch, but overall, it feels more like background music for a film than a gripping album. respect his talent, but it's just not doing it for me.
singer-songwriters need to something special for it to click with me as a genre, and randy certainly does not. only bumped up to a 2 because 'you can leave your hat on' is slightly nostalgic to me due to it's fame.
love the classic hits and vibes that are in dad rock bands such as aerosmith. this album however? feels like it has a good bit of filler, and only a few tracks are what i want to listen to. tracks like 'walk this way' bring it up to an average 3.
nothing spectacular but a nice tune to listen to for a good vibe the whole way through. indian influence seperates it from the sea of brit indie rock to at least make it a unique experience.
i think i got the rhythm
listened not knowing what to expect and wow, what a pleasant surprise for a saturday morning. the album is full of good vibes, blending afrobeat rhythms with catchy melodies. it's upbeat, vibrant, and just radiates positive energy. didn't know music could lift my spirits like this. sure, some parts are a bit repetitive, but the overall feel-good factor of the album is undeniable. great for anyone looking to brighten up their day.
did not finish, style is too experimental for my tastes. an album i'd need to come back to when in the mood for it, i only like a few singles from M.I.A. and they aren't in this album
this album is a smooth ride of classic new wave from start to finish. each track hits the mark, capturing that quintessential 80s essence. it's full of vibrant, catchy tunes that keep the energy up throughout. the only thing which loses it the 5 is that it sticks closely to the new wave formula, which is great but lacks a bit of variety. still, a solid 4 for its upbeat, consistent feel.
a unique mix of IDM with a lot of ambience and a lot of psychedelia. a couple of tracks i quite like with more accessible electronic elements. however I found the rest a little eerie and weird for my liking. not gold the whole way through like all of kraftwerk's discography, my preferred electronic music.
quite bleak, a melancholic mood needed to enjoy this. however i quite enjoyed a few tracks for the combination of lou's singing with the wide use of instruments, quite "hypnotically" good. the vocals are not traditionally amazing, but i don't think that's what lou was trying to express with these songs anyway
i enjoyed the unique singing from the whole album. sounds like the very start of new wave and the genre only gets better after this but cool twist with the surf rock vibes.
i think i prefer his work with the white stripes, but still great. the album starts much stronger than it ends (or maybe i enjoy these alone rather than a whole albums worth in a go). songs like sixteen saltines are very nice, i like his more rhythmic singing in it combined with great riffs.
no thanks. repetitive music and howling vocals, in most songs. this is clearly just for musicians to listen to.
i liked the occasional guitar bits and the lyrics of religion I & II, feels like a more direct version of -hozier's 'take me to church'
very iconic, pioneering sound for the date. all the tracks hit hard with vocals, riffs and drums alike. all the songs are great with no low points.
smooth, relaxing, charming, happy. the only downside is that i would use this as background music, not for intentional listen - but really good for it.
the smiths but with less catchy melody and less interesting vocalist (the two things that make me love the smiths).
decent, but not memorable. prefer a tribe called quest for this playful rapping style. maybe because i don't like house which this is more of reminiscent of, or maybe it's lyrics that are a little less interesting.
i quite enjoyed this, beautiful and gentle singing. 5/5 tracks like the first one and the title track, but just a few that are a bit worse and bring it down to a 4. i will be relistening.
expected a lot less going in, this was definitely an experience. i'm going have to rate it 5 just for just how hypnotised i was to these beats, even though part of me would say this is not 'complete' music without vocals and is just sampling. addictive and well produced.
in terms of musical quality, lyrical genius and as an experimental album, 5/5 album. however half the songs are a bit too experimental and might need a few more listens for me to fully digest the meaning behind the lyrics. has some real bangers too like king kunta and alright
this album has really good storytelling, and paints a vivid experience of a variety of experiences. the singing is not spectacular but just has a really good vibe to it.
some great chilled back music. the melody can seem a little bit samey throughout but al green's voice is nice and soothing. the iconic title track brings it up to a 4.
saw karma chameleon and was excited to listen, ended up being an album that just uses the new-wave formula with nothing unique and had a lot of filler. completely average.
enjoyed the listen, but aside from the few standouts, it didn't leave a lasting impression/relisten value for me. maybe i just prefer the other albums with those iconic billy joel tracks that really stick for me, the ones that are more poppy like 'an innocent man' and 'storm front'.
really early rock'n'roll is not my thing, so this wasn't the most enjoyable, i normally seperate the person from their music by my distaste in this album seems to match his awful character. only a few parts were a little catchy and the piano was still played well so not absolutely bad, although the live performance leads to a good few voice cracks which kinda took me out of it.
while the vocals reminds me of a lot of every other heavy metal band of the time, and some of them can be a little bit goofy, the instruments being played are pure bliss. super good guitar riffs and every other instrument adds perfectly to it. the best parts are definitely the ones without lyrics for me. drumming keeps a the tempo very well with its own solos without being too overpowering.
trying to be so sonically impressive but ends up being nothing at all in the end. like it's so ethereal it's not music any more. didn't enjoy
a landmark in metal, filled with tracks that have become genre anthems. it's a timeless classic that still resonates powerfully, capturing a sense of familiarity and awe. songs like "enter sandman" and "nothing else matters" are more than just hits; they're the essence of what makes metal so impactful. listening to this album is an exhilarating experience, and this was not the first and certainly not the last time.
two or three tracks I've heard on the radio before and are decent enough when listened to standalone. but listening to this album i realise most of it is garbage and i even start disliking the few songs i thought were okay before. voice is quite tiring, and music is only enjoyable if it not focused on at all. also don't like the harmonica.
lots of absolute bangers, 2000s indie rock which is a genre i have had a long appreciation for. also recently watched cyberpunk edgerunners which uses 'this fire' as a great intro track.
definitely did not enjoy this. good musical sense potentially but does nothing for me personally. i see it was removed from the current version of the book so i don't feel bad giving it a worse review. go and go ahead slightly reminded me of some radiohead songs but is missing thom yorke's mastery of falsetto.
a typical uk new wave album. not spectacular. not bad.
good instrument playing on the surface with no substance behind it. might trick you into thinking it's prog rock until you listen for a second time.
i don't normally rate jazz 5 but this one was super enjoyable for me. when im not focusing on its quite calming/relaxing, and when i focused in it suddenly became really interesting and technical. definitely will relisten for the latter reason.
wanted to listen to rush for a while now after enjoying other prog rock classics (still a beginner to the genre) but i really like this. i feel it sticks to a formula and is therefore great all the way through. still doesn't feel repetitive though due to the varying tempo making it have no downsides to me really.
a bop to be sure. love the energy, my favourites are definitely 'we got the beat' and 'our lips are sealed'.
worst era of a 5/5 discography. i don't find these as catchy as the albums before or as close to a masterpiece as the later albums.
that said, i still love some of the songs on this album, 'a day in the life', 'being for the benefit of mr.kite!' and 'lucy in the sky with diamonds'.
alternative rock and grunge of this genre is quite competitive for me and this is not the best. maybe i just personally don't like the grungy sound mixed with the soul influence this clearly has, i feel it removes a little bit of the angsty sound while keep the angsty lyrics. also the vocalist was not my favourite. still a decent listen though.
good take on a bad genre. great band name. some of the songs break the mould slightly for a bit of variety
i was absolutely grooving listening to this
unique and interesting. was an experience to listen to the first time, but i will not be repeating. i could not jam with the weird combination of new-wave with heavier elements and goth.
i love this. i've always liked bob dylan's singing and songwriting but his harmonica never fully clicked. after fully listening to this album I think if has.
also, bob dylan core 🧥
can definitely hear the transition into the style and experimental nature of later albums (abbey road and the white album being 5/5s for me). a great all out album offering good lyricism, some unique instruments like the sitar in 'norwegian wood'. has a nice warmth/good feeling to it.
i actually prefer this to sgt peppers it feels a bit more cohesive throughout instead of having a big disparity in how much i like the songs.
sounds to me like bob dylan's story-like writing, just with a more booming and orchestral feel to it. makes it less conversational and i find a few tracks a bit too experimental. ones i really liked are 'pleasant street' and 'no man can find the war'
'knight-errant' and especially 'phantasmagoria in two' gave me medieval tavern vibes which i found unique but a little out of place
as with a lot of the hip-hop groups' albums on this list, the pristine production quality is matched by energetic and varied rapping that just results in some great feel-good music. definitely will be adding this to other similar albums i've discovered from the 90s and 00s for relistening.
also, was not expecting nelly furtado, a familiar voice, making 'thin line' one of my favourites.
however this album unfortunately has 17 tracks and i am yet to witness an album of this scope be flawless throughout, with a few okay tracks my rating is brought down to a 4.
at first from initial impressions i was going to give this album a much lower rating, like a 2 because it's not my usual type of music. but as i left it on i found it to be more enjoyable, just some nice background tunes with a good vibe. nothing spectacular though.
