I've heard this many times throughout the years and often pull songs into playlists when my Mother-in-law, Chris, is around as its one of her favorites. I also had a former boss who loved it and had a CD on repeat often during my years of working with him. I remember him explaining some of the history of the album, Paul Simon breaking rules to record with the artists and such. Also getting more and more into New Orleans Jazz these years I appreciate those aspects of the album more and more. And aging helps one appreciate it more and more as fatherhood and other mature themes show up often. "That Was Your Mother" reminds me of a moment in an episode of Bluey in which the dad takes out an old box and tells his kids it included stuff from, "back when I was cool". It's a beautiful album and the oddness of the lyrics, at times, which confused me as a kid is much more appreciated by the older me.

I’ve never heard this before. Typically, electronic music (nearly or all digital) and most rap don’t hold my interest long. But I will give it a listen today and report back. (Also, there is the fact that the artist’s personal life choices are going to impact my take on this record - I cannot simply ignore that fact.) OK I made it to “Jesus Walks” and have not finished the album. I really enjoyed this version of “I’ll Fly Away”, being a huge fan of New Orleans style traditional jazz. I enjoy the hooks and can appreciate the artistry at work in the writing and performing, but I want to say…this album is not meant for me. I’m a 47 year old white guy who grew up in the suburbs of Chicago. I’m glad the album exists and means so much to so many people. I simply could not get into it.

Have not heard this before but I’m looking forward to checking it out. I would say not speaking the language affected my enjoyment. The music was decent but felt repetitive and I kept finding myself wondering what the lyrics were. Overall, I was enthusiastic for this but was underwhelmed.

I knew this album before this project and many songs have been on heavy rotation on many playlists. I'm a big fan of Beck and this album is one of my favorites by him. Love this album

I have known and loved several of these songs but never heard this whole album before. Knew the ones from Stop Making Sense and the greatest hits collection. I was glad to hear the album in its entirety but still am a fan mostly of just the songs i knew before. The album feels a bit dated and while I can appreciate the creativity, I couldn’t get into many of the other songs.

Had not heard this album before or this artist (unless it was mixed into a compilation I am unaware of). I enjoyed it and saved one song to a playlist. And i want to listen to it again, which is always a good sign. I think i’ll need some time to have it seep in, but might, in time, be an even bigger fan. Great to have on while working.

I knew several of these songs from The Best Of album and was a big fan. The album as a whole was fun with some amazingly different tracks. I’ve been a fam of Alison, Red Shoes and Watching the Detectives for a long time. And, especially, Mystery Dance. Love the use of that song over the opening credits of The Zero Effect, a highly underrated movie. Great album.

Oh how I wanted to like this. I’m a fan of several songs off Coming on Strong and keep hearing about how much these guys have grown. I keep trying and its just not for me. The opening track got me excited and I added that to a playlist. Then they lost me and never got me back. Its not bad, but its just not for me. Not sure why. Glad I tried this album (I had a similar reaction the The Warning) but sadly, not my jam(s).

Could not get into this one. Enjoyed a bit but did not finish if.

Its not my favorite genre of music but i’m glad i listened to it. Grabbed two tracks for a playlist and maybe i’ll come back to the album someday.

I can appreciate the creativity here, but this album did nothing for me. I'm ok not visiting it again.

I knew several songs on this album and have tried listening through the whole album previously. My reaction this time was similar. I really, really like the tracks I liked before and found one or two of the others enjoyable. The others I had a hard time getting into. I will say many times I need numerous attempts at an album to fully enjoy it, even having some tracks I dislike at first sometimes becoming my favorites. But I have to have the desire to come back and "do the work" of re-listening. I think this album I'll do the work on and I think it, as a cohesive whole, is really well done.

Dammit. I'm not a Peter Gabriel fan. But I'll keep an open mind, despite my concern that I might become a Peter Gabriel fan. I listened to about half the album. I'm still not a Peter Gabriel fan. Also, the album sounds incredibly dated listening to it in 2024.

I love her voice and love so many aspects of several of these songs. I’ve pulled several for playlists recently. But while I can appreciate the artistry of rapping (or hip hop or however the spoken word aspect is described), it doesn’t connect with me. Recently my wife read Catcher in the Rye, one of my favorite books for many years. She said she appreciated the writing, thought it was well written and that the characters definitely felt “real”. But, ultimately, she just didn’t like it. I feel similarly about many of the tracks here. I appreciate them, but don’t care to listen repeatedly. But the ones I like, I really, really like.

I might need more time with this one. I have not heard a lot of Nick Drake and there is something about his voice that I actually dislike. That being said, I enjoyed the music of this album and didn’t really soak in the lyrics very much. I wasn’t an instant fan, but I wasn’t turned away. Will probably relisten sometime to this or another of bis albums.

I’ve heard a couple of these songs but never the entire album. I really enjoyed it. And maybe “enjoy” seems an odd choice of words but i found myself agreeing with the lyrics, liking the messages and getting angry. For all the right reasons. I love how there are samples and when the actual lyrics started it sounded like another sample at times. Really well done. I won’t be listening to it on repeat, but i will listen to this again.

Not much of a fan of this album. Was never a fan of the artist and listening to this did not change that.

I've heard several songs off of this album before. I've liked them and other songs by Jane's Addiction in the past. Listening this time, I'll admit I was not in an ideal atmosphere with kids running around (on headphones - not sharing these guys sailor mouths with my 6 year old) and I was also trying to work. But, I have to say, their sound did not do it for me this time. Maybe I'm just too old now (47 now, but was an angry teen when the album came out), but it didn't resonate with me. My favorite song by them is still Been Caught Stealing. I made a music video of this song in high school with lots of criminal movies so I know the song the way you end up knowing it when you edit along to the music. I liked Jane Says and Ocean Size previously, but this time the whole thing felt like an assault and I didn't dig it.

Coming into this I know Rooster and Would? This hit when I was a teen, but I was not into these guys. Heard other songs off the album at that time also. Going to try and keep an open mind, but, again, I might be too old for this shit. Okay, listened all the way through. Unencumbered and keeping an open mind, I was left thinking, yet again, this album is just not for me. I'm not a fan of the singer's voice of their sound. I know people love this, but its just not for me. It was fine revisiting it, but didn't do much for me.

I’ve heard many of her other songs and albums before, but not this one. I found a couple of songs I really enjoyed and the album, overall, was decent. Then I re-listened to “Stories From the City, Stories From the Sea” and thought that album was much better. I like how different her sound is across multiple albums and appreciate all of her music. Overall, glad I heard this, but not my favorite from her.

Had not heard this before. I vaguely knew of the artist, but hadn’t really heard any of his music before. I really enjoyed this. And, I think I will be listening to it quite a bit. I love the note he had where he said, he wanted to make an album where you put it on, and you’re good. You’re good. He’s right.

I’ve heard many of her other songs and albums before, but not this one. I found a couple of songs I really enjoyed and the album, overall, was decent. Then I re-listened to “Stories From the City, Stories From the Sea” and thought that album was much better. I like how different her sound is across multiple albums and appreciate all of her music. Overall, glad I heard this, but not my favorite from her.

Wow, I jumped from Butthole Surfers to Buddy Holly. And what an amazing difference. These are songs. This is Music. I know others may disagree, but hearing melodies, verse chorus verse and just things that are pleasing to the ear was fantastic. I had heard many songs on this album, but never heard this album all the way through. I loved it. Wonderful music and I added the whole album to my library.

Its interesting the way someone with a “new sound” can have an album where their songs sound similar on first listen, but as you listen again and again, you slowly notice the nuances of each one. I’ve noticed this on band’s I like and even some of their nee albums that tend to blur togther, only to later appreciate the differences. That was the case for me here. I overall thought it was not bad, but, again, not really for me. And, again, I don’t think it was made for me. And that’s ok. I think sometimes music is made for people of certain ages or certain stages of their lives. And sometime the point is to piss off the parents. That’s what helps us define ourselves, not being who “they” wanted us to be. Anyhow, I liked a couple somgs specifically and will give them a few more listens. Might grow on me.

Wow. I knew some songs and believe my brother had this album back in the day, but I never took the time to listen all the way through. Liked some U2 songs but never considered myself a fan. But really, really enjoyed this album. The first three songs might be one of the best openings to an album I’ve heard. Starting with the distant, slow build of Where the Streets Have No Name and then not letting up from there, this album is amazing. Enthusiastic to listen to it more in the near future.

Only listened to a bit of this. Just didnt have time this day. I thought it was not bad but was not an instant fan. Will try it again at a later date.

Not my jam. Could not get through it.

This album is fantastic. I loved feeling like I was there with the band and the crowd. The set is quick and varied and the energy comes through the recording. Looking forward to listening to this again soon.

Am not a fan.

I have heard many songs on this and owned this album in the past. I remember liking a previous album of his and listened to it repeatedly (Seven Swans), but this one never stuck. Musically, it’s well done and yes the lyrics are “smart” but listening to it this time i just found it disturbing (the Gacy song) and…I just could not get through the whole album. Another one I can appreciate but don’t really like.

I thought this was decent. I liked the message behind it and some of the songs. But there seemed a lot of repetition and some songs seemed not fully formed.

This seems like him noodling around for a bit, not like something fully formed. Its not bad but nothing that i feel i need to hear again (aside from Maybe I’m Amazed, which is the one song I’ve heard before).

Owned this album and always liked several songs on it. After The Virgin Suicides, liked this band even more. Enjoyed listening to it again today. A relaxing, calming vibe drifts out from it and its damn near impossible not to relax while enjoying this.

Not the biggest fan of this album. I thought it was decent but could not get into it.

I had not heard this album before. I’ve heard fhe band on other compilations but enjoyed listening to this straight through. Very mellow and sets a definite mood. Some songs got a touch too weird for my tastes. But overall enjoyed it.

Could not get into this. Maybe it would grow on me with more listens, but I don’t feel motivated to listen again.

Sonuvabitch. Ok, well, I’m a fan of ELO I had no idea. But goddamn this is some good shit.

Fantastic. One of the best albums I’ve seen on this list (along with Beck’s Guero). This might have been the peak for them, as far as I’m concerned. One of my favorite albums, period.

Really enjoyed this album. Like the vibe and tone it sets. I could (and will) listen to this over and over.

Not bad. I like There is a Light That Never Goes Out but not a huge fan of the rest.

Not sure what to make of it. Not bad but seemed to blend together for me, very much all sounding the same.

Not a fan.

Some truly amazing songs. Some not so great songs. Amazing voice.

Enjoyed this more than I thought i would. Was a fan of the music and found many of the lyrics fantastic.

Fun stuff. A bit too out there at times but i enjoyed it overall

Now this is music. Amazing album with high quality songwriting, arrangements and performance by one of the best. Loved it.

Decent. Some I really liked and other tracks I could not get into. Overall, ok.

Decent. Some I really liked and other tracks I could not get into. Overall, ok.

Great set. Amazing energy. Can’t believe the time between songs is so brief. He was the hardest working man in show business.

I owned this, buying it when it came out. I had always listened to the songs that were the singles, but I never really listened to the whole album. Listening to it again today, I appreciate it a lot more than I did back then. But, to my credit, I was a teenage boy and this album was not for me. Not that it is for me now, as a middle-aged man. But I definitely very much liked it. Great to revisit and excited to listen to it more.

Not a fan.

Not a fan

Didnt listen to to the entire album. What i heard was ok, but nothing i could get very excited about.

Definitely dated but some undeniably good songs here. Being Boring and So Hard stuck out to me as lasting in my head long after the alb ended.

The songs I knew before hold up really well. The rest I’m not as crazy about. .

Amazing. So full of great songs, many absolute classics. Still as strong as the day it came out.

Had little time to absorb the album but what i heard i enjoyed.

Fantastic soundtrack to a great film. Loved this when it came put and enjoyed hearing it again

Had no idea the guitarist from Pulp was a solo artist. I enjoyed this album, took many songs for playlists and plan to listen to this again. Very much enjoyed it.

I liked the singles i knew. The rest, not so much.

Didnt have time to listen to the whole album. Liked what i heard and really like the singles.

Fantastic album

I had not heard this before. Definitely a very very specific genre, but I believe it was done very well.

I can appreciate what these guys are doing, but it is not for me

I loved this album. Definitely one of my favorite albums on the list.

I can appreciate his music, but never really get into it.

I really like the first track. After that, I could not get into the rest. Not sure what the hell he’s talking about much of the time.

One of my favorite albums. I love every song and some are some of favorite songs. His album has so much energy, so much life and such a cry of anger and youth and rock and roll but in a new way (for the time). Love this album.

I have listened to this several times and still don’t get it. I like a handful of their somgs but cannot enjoy a full album.

Not bad. Made for people younger than me. I probably would have enjoyed it more back then.

Not my jam.

Could not get into this album.

I enjoyed the album overall.

Some great songs. Some not so great. But was very surprised that the album ends so anti-climatically with a slow, dull fade. Some great guitar work and David Lee Roth will always be Van Halen’s singer in my mind though.

A great album with lots of memorable, fantastic songs. I love the momentum of this album. It comes out of the gate strong from the first notes of the first song and keeps it going through its entirety.

One of my favorite all time albums. Amazing.

The songs I knew are classics. The others are not.

One of my favorite albums.

One of my favorite albums.