Overall: This is the 1st I've actually sat with anything from Yeah Yeah Yeahs, and I am glad I finally did. I never thought I had heard any tracks from them other than Maps, when a friend did a drum cover. Then to my surprise when track 2 played and I had the biggest aHa moment. I have heard it somewhere, Guitar Hero.
To sum up, I did find myself wanting to skip at least half the tracks, and interestingly it seemed to almost be every other. I could find myself listening to a slimmed down playlist of this album to include only those mentioned below, for the reasons noted. The rest of the album I could do without.
Track breakdown:
Zero - What a strong intro track, the synths and Karen's voice is amazing to get things going
Heads Will Roll - I've always enjoyed the dance vibes on this track, when hearing it in stores and bars, but I never knew it was them.
Skeletons - Loving the percussion sound, what sounds like drumsticks clicking together?
Shame and Fortune - Getting a bit of industrial vibe and loving this bass
Dragon Queen - I dig the funk on this track
Acoustic tracks:
Soft Shock - I really like this, but I almost skipped the track in its original form. It's quite more enjoyable in the acoustic format.
Hysteric - Another that I didn't prefer the original version, but enjoying this stripped down track
Little Shadow - Love this outro track with the layers of strings and piano
Overall: WAR was a staple in rotation played in my home as a child. I can appreciate the record for the jazz funk vibe and vocals that are reminiscent of sorrow songs. I'll probably add Cisco Kid to a regular playlist to hear it more in the future. As a full album, I probably wouldn't go back to it, but I can see how everyone SHOULD hear this and other WAR albums at least once. There is something incredibly important to the feel of the album that captures not only the struggle at the time it was written, but the struggle that has continued across time.
Track Breakdown:
Cisco Kid - this is a childhood classic, brought me back to being 6years old again.. my parents would play this often in the house through the giant floor console stereo cabinet while did chores Saturday or had a lazy Sunday
City, Country, City - thoroughly enjoyed this jazzy funky jam instrumental, until about the 6 minute mark, I was almost ready to skip it.. then the sax cut out and keyboards took over and won me back
Four Cornered Room - many parts of this song really touched my empathetic heart, the entire tone of the song made me think of a sorrow song that would come from the fields of the 1800s, mixed with some blues and funk.
Overall: Miles is an absolutely brilliant horn player. I really should incorporate more jazz band in my life, so this was a welcomed listen. Only a couple tracks mentioned below really caught my attention or stood out. Having this on low in the background while enjoying my 1st cup of coffee for the day is about the only way I see myself enjoying jazz in general. But in that case, it is quite enjoyable.
Track Breakdown:
Jeru - really enjoyed the consistent flow of this song, it was a very relaxing listen
Rogue - Enjoyed the piano accompaniment on this track
Overall: I hate to be the one to say that the only tracks I really enjoyed on this album are the radio hits that I'm familiar with, but that is my truth. The rest of the tracks were just a bit all over the map and I couldn't find myself into them. I really have always wondered if I would enjoy R.E.M. outside of the radio hits, and never took the time to explore. I was pretty excited that this record popped up and was genuinely ready to give it my full ear. I'm actually bummed my ear did not enjoy it as much as I anticipated. But I'm hopeful with the large discography there will still be other songs out there I enjoy, they're just not from this record.
Track Breakdown:
End of the world - I hate to be the one to say the only album track I enjoyed is the radio hit that I'm familiar with, but this might be my truth.
The one I love - I have always really enjoyed the bass line in this track.
Fireplace - It took alot of effort to not skip this track
Oddfellows Local 151 - I enjoyed everything about this track, minus vocals. Felt that was worth noting.
Overall: I had this on cassette or CD and played it an immeasurable amount of times. But, I couldn't tell you all of the intricacies I have noticed on this listen that I never heard before. In the past I likely gave it too much passive play, or perhaps my ear has matured. When Nevermind released, I only really heard the album's radio hits since I never purchased media for it. However, with In Utero, I owned it and listened to it often. I have a bit of deeper connection to the lyric content, and always held this album in such high caliber for that reason. After giving it a more intended listen, I'm noticing how repetitive and basic the music writing is, but not in a way that robs it of fascination. I'd give 3.5 if fraction of stars were allowed.
Track Breakdown:
Serve the Servants - Always thought the opening lyric to this album as a whole was quite brilliant, whether intended or not, is almost a reference to the success of Nevermind leaving Kurt to feel his angst brough success that left him hiding from fans, "feeling bored and old".
Dumb - I have always loved the string section on this track
Very Ape - I've discovered that the guitar on the chorus of this track may be my favorite of the entire album
Milk It - ADORE the tempo changes on this track, I've never listened to this so intently
Hidden: Gallons of Rubbing Alcohol Flow Through the Strip - If I ever heard this before, I forgot about it, since this sounds new to my ears and I love the rawness of it.
Overall: I'm not sure I've ever heard this entire album, unless my parents owned and played it. Aside from the 2 hits and the below mentioned tracks, I could do without this entire record and struggled to not skip everything that came after Sweet Emotion.
Track Breakdown:
Toys in the Attic - Right out of the gate on this title track, driving solos and love that amazing bass breakdown @ 1:44
Big Ten Inch Record - I surprisingly enjoyed this track and its big band vibe.
Overall: I've only really ever heard the title track on this record. I vaguely recalled one other but hardly knew it. I had zero expectation for actually liking this record enough to get through the entire hour. But as I started paying closer attention to the lyrics, I found it to be quite brilliant that such controversial content was packaged up so well behind the dance beats. I can imagine people in the club dancing the night away without much knowledge of what words were driving into their brains repeatedly. Almost subliminal. I'm not too familiar with the success or response to this record, it'd be interesting to know what influence it may have had with people. I'd consider adding a few tracks to a playlist, or even putting this on while requiring something passive to groove to.
Track Breakdown:
Fade Away - it's super eerie how timely this lyric is in the US 2024 political lens .. "We're birds of a feather, bees of a sting, Listen to the words that the silo bring 'Cause we're livin' in the shadows of yesterday"
