The album is decently experimental and it's impressive that it managed to become so acclaimed by the general public while pushing the boundaries of the genre – credit where credit is due. However, its experimentation was not the kind that I wanted to hear at this moment in time, maybe it was just a wrong moment for it and I'll have to revisit it in the future as often can the case with more "out there" and more conceptual art. All in all: around half of it was not an enjoyable listening experience for me, however, still very solid work.
love this album, Bowie's early-to-mid 70s output is my absolute fav and such a big part of my teenage years. bowi(e)ng down to the legend.
This was my first (and right after that, second) time listening to the album in full and it was an interesting experience. Second time I definitely enjoyed it more. It's a good album on paper, although it's difficult to appreciate its novelty and revolutionary impact from this day and age when all of what Sex Pistols do on this album has been done so many times since. However. It's a solid record albeit probably not one that I would listen to regularly and intentionally – at least right now
I was so happy to be given a Leonard Cohen album today. A little over a year ago I had a rather intense Leonard phase and for a couple of months I barely listened to anything else – since then I have a deep deep appreciation for his work. Thank you Lenny <3
That being said, I definitely prefer the debut album (as well as several following ones) to this one. It being so minimal and understated, according to Cohen, is influenced by some of his friends calling the first album "overproduced" (absolute slander, in my opinion) which I'm not sure was the best call, some of the songs feel rather incomplete, some simply sound like stripped-down versions of the first album's songs. However, it still has plenty of beautiful moments and, in combination with the debut, surely put Leonard on the map as an incredible talent and an unstoppable force which he ultimately proved to be.
P.S. I must note than by the third listen I've started to notice and appreciate the quiet, fragile, understated beauty of this album much more. It is cozy, it is intimate, it has some great lines. I'm leaving this listening session much more receptive to this album than I was before and I think that's the true beauty of this listening project.
ehh. definitely not a fan of muse going in. apparently this is muse at their peak – not entirely sure if that makes the album better or worse.
on the first song all I can think is that it sounds like "we have Radiohead at home". the second song – we've all heard it so many times it's literally grating. these two descriptions can be applied to pretty much all the other songs as well. there were maybe one or two songs that I *relatively* liked – incidentally the least popular songs on the album – because at least they didn't sound like a Radiohead cosplay, or at least less so.
however, once this is over, I'm blocking muse on Spotify so that it doesn't get into my recommendations and I will never listen to this album intentionally again.
This is a White Stripes album I wasn't familiar with before listening, but I am really pleasantly surprised and liked it much more than I initially thought I would. It is different enough from the "famous" White Stripes sound (which isn't bad, just majorly overplayed) to be interesting. Loving the marimba – who knew the White Stripes have range.
After listening to it 3+ times, I would even go as far as to call it my current favourite White Stripes output just because of its energy, originality, varied sound. Since this came after White Blood Cells and Elephant, the albums with some of their most well known songs (hello, Seven Nation Army), I really admire the fact that they didn't just go the "copy paste" route that some musicians sometimes go just trying to reproduce their famous sound to infinity. I'm not familiar enough with the complete White Stripes discography to comment on this more in depth, but this was an unexpected and a very welcome discovery.
It was nice to have it on in the background while working and I definitely remember hearing some nice sounds here and there, but overall not particularly memorable for me.
Decent album, more experimental and conceptual stuff is always interesting.
Classic Green Day sound full of bangers. However, it seems like there can be a bit too much of a good thing – while a lot of the songs considered separately are great, on the album they kind of blend into this homogenous wave of sound that can get pretty boring.
I really like this album in theory – I love so many things about the Stooges, and it's a cool, progressive sound. However, I just don't enjoy listening to it so much. Maybe it will change overtime
eh. not a big fan of the Gallaghers as people, not the biggest fan of their music either – it sounds derivative and boring a lot of the time, but you cannot deny they produced a few generation-shaping bangers and had a great influence on the music scene. would give it 3.5 stars but sadly that's not possible so I'm gonna round it down for the crime of producing a strong contender for the most annoying song of the last decades
fitting and kind of funny that I got this one right after an Oasis album. the influence is really clear and, not being a huge fan of Oasis, throughout a lot of that album I just wished I was listening to the Roses instead.
love this album, was genuinely obsessed with it 8-10 years ago and it still stands today. era-defining sounds. prime example that you don't need to be able to sing to be a good frontman. while Ian's personal politics do make me see some of the lyrics in a different light, the tunes are still fantastic and I'm delighted for this nudge to revisit it.
not a fan of hip hop so this is not my thing, but it's not bad
this is my first time listening to the Smashing Pumpkins – there are some nice songs and the music is definitely pleasant enough to have on in the background but I'm not drawn in enough to deliberately listen to their music after this. the album title might be my favourite thing about it
the Volume 1 is an easy 5-star decision, in the Volume 2 the sounds might start getting a tad repetitive but it does not really diminish the power of this work – it's worth 5 stars for its cultural significance alone
the slower songs are so dreamy and the faster ones make me want to dance swing again
first of all, I'm going to listen to this on youtube because while I've accepted that this project is gonna put my spotify algorithm through a lot, I still have my limits. so we're off to a great start
it barely got better from there. I am not at all into gangsta rap and it's honestly a surprise that I could tolerate this enough to get through the album.
which brings me to my final point: in the beginning I thought it's gonna be an easy 1 star but now I can't bring myself to rate it that low. this album is the epitome of the gangsta rap genre so it clearly did something right within this specific cultural moment and it has some decent beats.
~ there's no business like hoe business ~
as a teenager I had a Lemmy poster without ever having listened to Motörhead that I loved to take edgy pictures with.
seems like now I'm paying my dues.
As quite a few of the other reviews pointed out, the album has two songs that have stood the test of time and are still interesting today.
All the other songs just blend into the general late 60s sound which is not bad per se – I'm a big fan of the period – but this won't be my go-to album for that.
Honorary mention to You Got The Silver – sounds pretty Dylan-inspired (especially the first half of the song) which is a combination that works rather well.
every song sounds pretty much the same but it's quite fun
I cannot stand Dusty's song "Spooky" so I'm really glad it's not on this album. that pretty much sums up what I liked about this album
I would rate it 3.5 just for the range it has. it's different enough from the other music of the late 60s and it takes you on a journey – none of the songs end where they began. the problem is that I'm not the biggest fan of the destination
decent songwriting, some of the lyrics are really poetic, even though they are then performed in the least musical way possible. an interesting album nonetheless
not the worst thing they've ever released
it probably works best if it's seen as a stepping stone for their iconic albums to come – on its own, it's quite repetitive (although fun to listen to), but provides an interesting glimpse into the development of their sound
it's a pleasant album.
the second half of pueblo nuevo probably encompasses what I like the most about it – fun and uplifting, I like how the instruments kind of dance with each other. stuff like dos gardenias on the other hand is way too ballad-y for my liking.
not a fan of elvis. this was listenable, but nothing I would need to hear again
perfect ambient / background music, not something I would listen to regularly but great for lifting up the mood a little while working
hard-hitting lyrics and funky beats. wish I knew of Satanic Reverses back at school before my history exams
maybe because I've been getting a bunch of hip hop albums and I don't like hip hop one bit, this was not that impressive to me. wouldn't call it bad either but I don't think I would've gone crazy for it when it was released and I'm even less likely to be crazy about it now. the concept and its execution is cool though, I'll give it that
some people are calling the first songs "a slow start," but those might be my fav part of the album. the vocals are not exactly great – which does take away a bit from the songs, unlike in some cases where bad vocals fit the music or the vocalist, despite being a bad singer, is an irreplaceable frontman and the soul of the band.
but the instruments slap
it's a very inconsistent album – there are some songs (Pin, Maps, Y Control) that I really like and will continue to listen to but others sound quite repetitive and don't stand out individually at all, blending into a wall of sound. the songwriting quality is also all over the place.
I have a lot of respect for Karen O and her voice though. would rate it 3.5, am yet to figure out if I'll round up or round down
it's technically well made but it's lacking something. original ideas, passion, driving force. some songs like Time seem to have some sincerity and feeling behind them, but it's not enough to power the whole album
it's a fun album. the confidence and the level of no-fucks-given to just record a cover album for fun is something I truly admire. good for him
Elliott Smith's talent is undeniable and it's a masterful album with a bunch of beautiful songs. that being said, this depressive melancholic sound is not really my thing and I just never find listening to Elliott that enjoyable, even though I was still pleasantly surprised by Figure 8
she obviously has an incredible voice, but it's a very boring album
yeah, this was rather mid – not unpleasant to listen to but nothing memorable either. some songs (hello, housequake) were straight up bad. would give it 2.5 and hope there are better albums by Prince on this list
an interesting exploration of soundscapes
a bit too much daft and not enough punk
in all seriousness, though, I would rate it 3.75 – but I might just round it up. normally I reserve the 4 star rating for albums that I will intentionally listen to again (at least in part) and this might not be one of them. nevertheless, it was a really enjoyable listening experience. the album is full of cool sounds and is a very solid first output. people who complain about the repetitiveness would be the same people demanding "songs with lyrics" at a techno club
my first time listening to The Jam (besides Town Called Malice, of course) and I'm a fan. the sounds are very characteristic of the late 70s/early 80s, but at the same time still interesting and original enough to be worth listening to. will surely listen to their other stuff
it's definitely dated, but not in a bad way – it's like a time capsule to everything that was good about the early 2000s, a nostalgic throwback even to someone who's otherwise not a fan of the period.
the album is excellent for its genre and such a vibe. some people criticise it, citing a team of producers and other professionals carefully crafting the image of Britney, but that doesn't take away from it – it's just a different genre and approach.
I'm not one to listen to pure pop bands or artists regularly either – it was my first time hearing this album in full and unless someone else plays it to me, I might no do it again. nevertheless, I immensely enjoyed it and therefore cannot possibly rate it lower than 4 stars
it's a beautiful album.
I've heard the first two songs plenty of times before but never listened so attentively, so I got to appreciate them in a whole new light – the lyrics are so subtle and fragile in a way. this album also has an impressive list of collaborators – Lou Reed, Bob Dylan, and many others.
her vocals are unconventional, but rating this album 1 star because her voice doesn't sound like all the autotuned singers who sound exactly the same is crazy.
anyway, listening to this just reminds me of the story of her death: she fell off a bike while on her way to buy some weed in Ibiza. both incredibly tragic and iconic
haven't listened to PJ Harvey before this besides a few tracks that spotify algorithm plays me from time to time and definitely enjoyed it. a solid (and seems like a rather accessible) album
it's quite generic and the lyrics at times are rather uninspired, though by far not as unlistenable as the reviews suggest.
however, recently, I got into the work of their fellow Aussie and Nick Cave's old friend and collaborator Rowland S. Howard, and now that I know how good Aussie music released in the 80s and 90s sounded like, I can't be too generous with my rating for this album either
this is a painfully boring album and I see absolutely nothing interesting about it.
from lyrics, to melodies, to the boiling kettle (oops – I mean violin) parts, it's just all so uninspired and uninspiring. nope
it was good, but nothing really stood out to me besides Lorelei. that song alone could be worth 4 stars, but I know Cocteau Twins can do better
groovy – instrumentals are fun and creative but the vocals are just really basic in comparison, leaving the songs sounding very pop-y overall. it's a fun album to have on in the background, but ultimately not interesting enough to listen to regularly
ah more country. hope all your crops wilt away
it's a beautiful album. the melodies, the instruments, the lyrics – it's all so cohesive and coming together beautifully. it's also the perfect length for an album like this. well done, Curtis
not awful but overrated – it's mostly very generic garage rock with some grunge-y influences. there are hundreds of bands that sound exactly the same. Get Free is the standout song
my favourite Bowie album, an absolutely legendary masterpiece. both the opening and closing songs are so perfectly fitting and powerful, five years is also topically so relevant today. what an album.
I've heard some songs from this album before (well, Teenage Riot is on it, so it kinda goes without saying) but had never listened to the entire album before.
I enjoyed it a lot, I'm a huge fan of the harsh experimental angsty guitars. although I must say the album kinda lost me a little in the end
a really cool (debut!) album by some really cool women. loved it
Lovely. I've never paid much attention to the Berlin trilogy before so this was an interesting exploration, which I enjoyed a lot. For now this is definitely my favorite out of those 3 albums.
I love the instrumental tracks in the second half, Warszawa is particularly beautiful. According to Wikipedia, "side two was about his musical observations living in Berlin" which I can definitely imagine living in Berlin myself nowadays
pretty mixed feelings about this one.
– a friend of mine used to be a fan of RHCP when we were in hghschool and we even saw them live. I haven't really listened to them since (~8 years) so this is a bit of a fun throwback
– the instrumentals are really good, and I do like the production of the album
– Kiedis can't sing
– I absolutely cannot stand either of them as people
– I would be perfectly happy to not hear anything from RHCP ever again
loved many instrumental parts upon the first listen, although overall the album sounded a bit unmemorable. on my second listen now though and it's all coming together.
as a big fan of post-punk, it's really cool to see some parallels between this album and other music that came out around the time, but it also stands on its own
it's a really cool and refreshing sound. however after listening two times it didn't hook me enough to ever want to hear again (although I'm sure my Spotify algorithm won't respect this wish), so I guess I can't rate it higher than 3.5 stars.
still, it's a great album
appreciate the cultural and musical significance of the album. however, I'm not a fan of hip hop and this album didn't change that – the beats are nice for background music, but that's about it
I liked the first song but the rest of the album (at least the part I managed to go through) is completely different. the first song at least is catchy and has a cool melody, while the others are just so boring and tame.
safe to say: like many who came before me, I don't really see what about this album is a must listen. I could venture into the first live music bar on the street and the bands playing there are guaranteed to be more interesting
Janis is the best thing that has ever happened to Big Brother. an artist with an incredible voice and immense talent – she is the only thing I hear when listening to this album and it's more than enough
was about to turn off the album after two randomly selected songs because I truly didn't hear a second that was a "must-listen" or just generally in any way creative or interesting.
luckily for boards of canada, I clicked on Roygbiv in an attempt to give this album one last chance and it turned out to be a pretty cool tune that I've actually heard before.
this elevates the album to 1.5 stars – without Roygbiv, it would've certainly been a 1.
it's a good album but not my favourite from the Beatles discography. I like that it's a concept album which is very cool and innovative but the songs within it don't always flow perfectly well and the album feels a little disjointed at times. being a Beatles album, it of course has some great bangers though
I'm not a fan, the music is just too saccharine which is quite off-putting. I could maybe stand it one song at a time, but the whole album is too much
It's a fun album, and it sounds consistently good. it doesn't really stand out though – can't remember how a single song goes in this album right after listening to it
the only memorable thing about this album is the free form guitar. it has some good moments but overall quite dull – makes decent background music I guess?
where do I start. this list certainly serves as an educational tool, but not just regarding the music – until now I never knew the full extent of Clapton's bigotry as I've never been interested in him or his music, but boy, did I learn now.
in an unforeseen twist of events, he seems to be pro-Palestine now though, which is a bit of a redeeming factor, and he is a talented guitar player.
taking this all into account + this being a pretty bland album (there are some nice songs, but all the best ones are covers, so how much of his accomplishment is it really?), I'd rate it 2.5
ah, more britpop. however this is an interesting one - I'm on my third listen because I'm struggling with how to rate it, and it's growing on me.
my struggle comes from the fact that I do appreciate the talent (this album as a debut? most could only dream) and the album's place on this list is well deserved – this is good music. yet it still doesn't grip me as much as I would like it to.
I can definitely hear the influence of Buzzcocks, The Kinks, The Jam, etc on this album and I must say I do prefer the source material. the fact that I'm fully sick of hearing Alright at this point doesn't help. neither does being past the years of "teenage freedom" (or stupidity) and certainly not feeling nostalgic about it, so the theme of the album doesn't fully resonate and just seems rather shallow.
yet the songs are good and I'm sure if I ever could have had a chance to hear this album live, I would've become a fan. would rate it 3.5
some parts of I Talk To The Wind really reminded me of the Beatles.
this album is one of the (recently relatively few) instances where I absolutely agree it's a must-listen. the musicians kick ass, all of them, but I love the drums in particular (especially on The Court of The Crimson King), an incredible blend of jazz and rock drumming.
cool stuff
probably my first time listening to a Queen album in full. definitely not disappointed, it was an enjoyable listen, though it did not in fact blow my mind.
would give it around 3.5 which I will probably round up due to the album's legendary status
Really fun and cohesive, every song made me want to dance. An absolute classic.
the album starts out quite strong but fizzles out at the end.
without ever having intentionally listened to U2 I was still very familiar with the three singles – which coincidentally are also the first three songs – so that was pretty enjoyable. but three songs appears to be exactly how much of the same one can listen to before "enjoyable" turns to "boring" to "god, is this still going on?"
all in all, a fairly overrated album. also, "mythical America" as a theme? come on.
There are really great moments on this album but in all honesty there are also some skippable songs. So while Queen here are as iconic as ever, the album doesn't quite reach the top.
Honorable mention to my *discovery of the album* – The Prophet's Song. Some really cool harmonies
My first time listening to ELO (besides Mr. Blue Sky) and I love it.
However, I am seriously torn about how to rate it. Generally, I'd give it 4.5 stars because while really fun, the album is too long and quite repetitive. There are about four songs I really liked and will definitely listen to again – it would be great for a regular-length album, but this one does have 17 songs. It's better than many of my other 4-star albums, but it's also just not quite a 5-star masterpiece. Damn, I wish half-star ratings were a thing...
Also, definitely would like to get this on vinyl. This energy is just what I need to hype myself up while doing stuff around the house. It also instantly makes me want to play/dance/hum along.
Okay, it's gonna be a 4, but a VERY tentative one because this album is so close to being among the greats – but just falls a tiny bit short
was prepared to absolutely hate this. and I do hate this, though a little less than I thought I would.
still, there's nothing interesting in this album whatsoever – same beats, same lyrics as all the other rappers in this genre. and while it's the only Jay-Z album I've heard so far, I think he's massively overrated. I even enjoyed the 50 Cent album more, and I hated that shit too
it's one of my first/few so far ventures into progressive rock and I am not disappointed – it's some cool shit. definitely makes me look into the genre more
Having never listened to Simon & Garfunkel before, I was highly familiar with at least half of this album which is a great testament to its significance and reach.
I must say though, I absolutely can't stand El Condor Pasa as it reminds me of white people dressed as Native Americans singing this song at various city fairs (in Lithuania, doing covers of popular English songs with Lithuanian lyrics that had nothing to do with the original was an interesting phenomenon of the early 00s).
Otherwise, solid album
At first, I was surprised at all the negative reviews, but as the album went on, I understood.
The main thought I had while listening was "oh god, this will be showing up in my spotify playlists now". Nevertheless, I finished it and cannot categorize it as completely unlistenable. More like: boring and derivative.
Would rate it 2.5
maybe I didn't listen attentively enough, but to me it was quite boring and repetitive – and did not compel me to listen more closely. nothing against instrumental songs in general tho, it's just this album.
I can see it working much better as background music somewhere than something to actually dance to
solid album. as some others pointed out, one can definitely see some similarities to the Beatles – interestingly, I think this album is significantly more beatle-esque than their debut album Begin Here, which makes one wonder to what extent the studio and the equipment might have contributed to shaping the sound.
but of course the Zombies definitely do stand on their own, and this album has a ton of great songs. I find myself repeatedly drawn to the bridge of Beachwood Park, which to me somehow sounds very modern compared to the rest of the song and the album, providing an interesting contrast
I'm convinced the only people who enjoy this album today feel this way because of the 90s/teenage years nostalgia.
in the first song the singer sounds like he's screaming while crying (tbf I'd also cry if I had to sing this) – and this image of an angsty teenager throwing a tantrum remains with me through the rest of the album.
in all fairness, though, there are some cool musical moments in there that remind me of a few "modern-day" noise-rock/punk bands
never knowingly listened to Arcade Fire before, though of course I've heard of the band.
was surprised to learn Keep The Car Running was on this album, I remember liking this song when I was a teenager not knowing who sings it.
good, classic 2000s indie
Billboard Top Black Albums? Hot Black Singles? tf are those categories and how is that a thing.
otherwise, a chill album, nothing special though
oof this one's tricky to rate. it's probably not something I would listen to regularly. but it's a good concept album and actually interesting enough to merit a place on this list. all in all, 3.5, but 4
the album does have a few okay songs, however, all of them but one are covers (and still can't hold a candle to the original).
Layla is not included in that list, by the way, and is highly overrated – it's the epitome of dad rock, but the uncool one.
Clapton is a decent guitar player, but that isn't enough to redeem this extremely boring and derivative album. ugh
why in the world are there MULTIPLE Dusty albums on this list?
the most remarkable thing about this album is how mediocre it is. it's relatively rare that a song cover is interesting enough to be worth releasing, and that is definitely not the case here.
nothing I would ever want or need to hear again.
I miss the 40-50 minute albums. these long-ass double albums always feel overly self-indulgent, as only very, very few people have enough high-quality and/or interesting output to justify this. needless to say, this band does not.
in this (extremely rare) case, though, I actually preferred Disc 2. it's more interesting, more experimental, more quietly trippy. this understatedness somehow made it more enjoyable for me – but this clearly isn't a positive reflection on Disc 1. If we consider solely the original release – 9 tracks –it's really quite mediocre. pleasant but generic.
2.5
I liked this more than another Prince album I got, it's fun to listen to and the first few songs are cool. however, for me, it gets old fast (around 3 songs in, to be precise) – drug-fueled hedonistic sex music is just not really the genre I find myself drawn to or can connect with, so it just becomes repetitive. maybe it's creative and interesting, but it's difficult to judge from today's perspective.
obligatory note: I'm not a conservative; I absolutely support sex positivity, and I think talking about safe and consensual sex between any and all genders in public spaces is not just okay but necessary – that's not the reason I don't vibe with the album.
the drums and guitars are cool, not a fan of the dramatic scream-o vocals. it's not as bad as I thought a metal album would be and it's somewhat dynamic, I have to give them that. but it's still not dynamic enough and just turns into a wall of sound a few songs in
yay, more metal. the most interesting revelation about this album is that I had no idea they were Brazilian.
I've complained about Iron Maiden screamo vocals before – well, I had no idea what was coming for me. I like the instrumental intros of several songs like Ratamahatta, Breed Away with its tribal-ish drums, also the first minute of Straighthate. otherwise it's mostly just in your face roaring all the time
better than expected, though still nothing really special.
I'm not a fan of police's major hits so it was nice to discover their earlier and punkier stuff like It's Alright For You or On Any Other Day. "one of the post-punk era's defining bands" though? that it is not. also definitely no to the reggae
a really mellow album where nothing really stands out, but it's also quite pleasant.
2.5
my prayers have been answered – FINALLY a 30 min album again.
I don't totally love it, but that might be because I can't fully grasp its cultural significance and feel like I've heard this many times before – it definitely feels a bit dated/boring to me when I inevitably compare it to all the punk/punk rock stuff I've heard to date. otherwise solid work, and I most certainly agree that the vocals and the musicianship are exquisite compared to their peers
it's nice but it doesn't hit the same way 77 does (fair enough though, after a hit debut album the follow up is quite tough). the ending is great, however, good closing choice
one of the best-written breakup albums of all time? have they not heard of Fleetwood Mac or, actually, countless other artists?
I waited for the joke,
It never did arrive
sums up this album perfectly
cool stuff. I admire Ian MacKaye for a lot of things – being vegan, Minor Threat, the straight edge philosophy and mostly just unapologetically doing whatever the fuck he wants to do.
this album is a bit repetitive (it definitely lives up to its name), and though I imagine it all would fall into place in the right context, it doesn't always translate when listening to the record.
I listened to it 2.5 times to try and do it justice and I'd rate it 3.5 – but for some really cool songs like Merchandise and for the legend that Ian is, I may just round it up.
never knew The Weight was The Band's song. otherwise, not really a fan. I wanted to like this, but I could barely get through a single song without switching to the next one. it just sounds so monotonous to me and it has some folk/country music influences which are both genres I often find intolerable
I've been looking forward to this gem and the day is finally here!
it's an insane album honestly – the shade, the sass, the upbeat melodies. the best break-up album ever, it's so fun, just draws you back in again and again.
oh, also, Silver Springs definitely should've been on the original tracklist.
this did not stand out to me at all, and most certainly doesn't deserve a place on the list as it's only (potentially) interesting in relation to the other Rolling Stones work.
funnily enough, the only song I liked on this album is Tell Me – which is the only original song by Jagger/Richards. I didn't actually know this when listening to the album and it somehow makes me warm up to it a bit more, seeing that they already were finding their distinctive sound.
this is the first album so far where I started out wanting to give it a 5, but that conviction decreased as the album went on.
I knew California, River and A Case of You beforehand (and had heard a couple of others in passing) – all are great legendary works, so I was prepared to love the album. however, today for the first time I realized California's lyrics are ridiculous, and River sounds like Jingle Bells (still a decent song though). a lot of the other songs were okay, but the closer was definitely a bad choice as even though A Case of You manages to elevate the already dragging album, that last song just plunges it into the previously-unreached depths.
rough – but will still give it 4, even if just because A Case of You still remains unparalleled.
really enjoyed the first 3 songs of the album but it becomes quite repetitive after that and starts dragging without ever picking back up. it's pretty decent background music for work though
what's so special or interesting about Beck? this is the first album of his that I'm listening to and it's b-o-r-i-n-g.
sounds like some mediocre middle-aged white dude who's convinced he's cool and has something profound to say but it's just not the case. couldn't fully finish a single song on this album besides the first one and broken drum. waste of space on the list
groovy and pleasant, though overall it falls a bit flat. some songs get off to a promising start, but cannot maintain the momentum. others are dull from start to finish. still, there are some cool instrumental moments (e.g. the beginning of Sweet Thang) that keep this album from being a flop
for someone who is not a fan of hip hop and wasn't even born when this album came out, understanding its cultural significance is hard, if not impossible. hip hop has come far in the last few decades and from the modern perspective, this album is kind of... simple.
that being said, I did find it tolerable, which is more than I can say about the likes of Jay-Z and 50 Cent. also, Rock Box is kind of a bop
sounds folky, but not necessarily in a good way. it's quite boring and it feels like the album never gets anywhere, it's a whole lot of the same. I wonder if even Fred Neil himself enjoyed it
I was looking forward to today's album, hoping it would be a turnaround in my already annoying day. then I got this album. one thing I can say for sure: no one can claim the universe doesn't have a sense of humor.
as for the album itself: I still am not fully convinced (or rather don't want to believe) it's not satire. it sounds as if someone wanted to create a Morrissey parody album and did an exceptional job at it. the "social commentary" is so obvious and cringe, and the music is derivative. this is an album equivalent of that one dude at a party that goes on a long-ass rant about politics acting like his unparalleled insights and superior intellect are a gift to the world but it's clear to everyone else that he has no idea what he's talking about. what a joke
I understand their intention with this record – music that could lift them out of their mundane reality. however, I can't say it fully comes through in the album, as a lot of the songs just are whiny, filled with banal lyrics and superficial nostalgia. so all in all, it actually ends up being a bit of a downer
interesting that the first two songs on the album are astronomically more well-known than the rest – it all sounds very comparable to me.
the music is upbeat and funky, pleasant to have in the background, but not something I'd listen to intentionally (again). as is the case with quite a few albums, it's really difficult to appreciate its significance and see anything groundbreaking in this sound when listening to it for the first time in 2025, because it all has been done (and done better) many times since then
first thought: what did I do to deserve a ska album
however, it's not at all bad – it was an interesting journey. each song brings something new, I particularly liked the sudden switch up into the punk-y sound with Deep Inside (nice song).
generic garage rock/punk.
it's very straightforward, in-your-face music without much originality, creativity or depth. rather, it sounds like a punk-y mash-up of other major punk/rock bands without contributing anything unique. as many others have noted, it's also a compilation album, so it's not even really possible to evaluate the songs in relation to each other.
despite that, it's not an unpleasant listen (and it's short!). just very forgettable.
this kicks ass!
I love the rock-y/grung-y sound and the power in her voice. the instrumentals and production might be dated, but her voice and energy are timeless.
the jaggedness of the sound does get a tad repetitive and overwhelming towards the end though, but the album still has some iconic tracks.
my first steely dan album. not sure how I feel about it yet.
is it bland and boring? without a doubt. but not offensively so. I'm perfectly happy to leave it on in the background and float away in its fuzzy sound.
not a single song is even slightly memorable, but it's not awful.
slightly toasted white bread of music.
this genre as a whole isn't my thing, but within that, this is okay. decent achievement.
I liked I Luv U
Rio is a cool song
my first time listening to Duran Duran, as I've always had a light aversion to them for some reason (and I do like the 80s sound!). it's not bad, though it is far from timeless
the actual music is interesting but the person taking credit for it has no right to be doing so. you realize it's truly dire once you check out the "influences" (here: the creators of the music that was blatantly stolen) like Mahlathini and the Mahotella Queens or the Boyoyo Boys (who at least received some settlement money but still no credit).
"the great rock & roll swindler" is a title well earned
another "time and place" record – for the most part, it has this distinctly 80s synth sound, which is fun but not timeless.
songs that stand out (sound-wise, but also other reasons):
love is a stranger (strong opening)
sweet dreams (I've heard it way too many times before)
jennifer (nice song).
bonus: the cover of satellite of love (great song as well)
the middle of the album for me kind of lumps together into the wave of sound where I can't really distinguish between the different songs. but it's a well-made album nonetheless
3.5
yet another costello album?
to be fair, it might as well be the first (or the only) one as I have absolutely no recollection of how a single song on the other album I've listened to goes. and I just learned there are 6 of his albums on this list in total. 6!!!
the first song: what in the musical for adults that think they're too cool to listen to musicals is going on here?
the rest of the songs: WHY is this here? this album doesn't even have a single hit in comparison to his other albums. it's just so unremarkable and boring.
ironically, this is hell is about the only song I liked.
I actually enjoyed the cover of Who Do You Love and the solos quite a bit. it's a fun take on a cover and well-performed, especially as I do really enjoy extended, jam-y (re-)interpretations of songs.
seems like most of this album is covers though. overall, it's pleasant to listen to, but not exactly a standout already for that reason alone.
I don't see what's supposed to be so valuable about this. from the intro, I though it might be an interesting concept album but it really isn't. it's just like every other gangsta rap album out there, bragging about the loot, fucking bitches, and dropping motherfuckers. the beats are boring too. the flow is ok, but overall, nah
here we go. I like Iggy better with Bowie and without the Stooges.
a legendary album – maybe I'm biased because I'm a fan of Bowie's sound, but it has several iconic songs and I like the more experimental, stream-of-consciousness Turn Blue as well. and it only gets more enjoyable after a few listens
my first Dylan album on this list and probably the first album of his that I've listened to in full. the writing is beautiful and this album indeed works best if you give it your full attention. the lyrics matter here.
I liked it probably a little more than Raw Power, but I just can't get into the Stooges. the energy is there and the music has the potential to go all the way, but it's just missing something and flops in the end. none of the songs stand out to me at all.
I like Iggy's collaborations with Bowie so much more – he takes Iggy's energy and style and adds his secret-sauce twist to it which in the end makes all the difference between a hit and a dud.
it's pleasant, and I enjoyed Smiling Phases and Spinning Wheel. the jazz-rock fusion is cool
I'm a fan of The White Stripes since I got their album Get Behind Me Satan, which was the first album of theirs that I've ever fully listened to and which completely changed how I saw them.
Even already knowing what they're capable of, I was pleasantly surprised by this record, not expecting much from it besides being "The Seven Nation Army" album. But it is so much more than that. The contrast of screeching guitars and softer, bluesy, yet still super catchy melodies is beautiful. Meg's vocals in In The Cold Cold Night are lovely and fit the song so well.
My main problem with this album is learning that I Just Don't Know What To Do With Myself is Dusty's cover (I am NOT a fan of Dusty).
Overall, 4,5 because I'm not sure this album is as timeless to me as my other 5 star albums, but that's it.
today's the day I learned The Beach Boys had 17+ albums.
lyrically it feels quite experimental and whimsical. I was not expecting some kind of an environmentalist rock record. it's strange. I can't really get into it but at the same time there is something intriguing about it that keeps pulling me back in.
3.5
starting out strong – as a big Pixies fan, I guess I easily fall for what Black Francis has to offer.
the middle however is drawn out – the album is too long and could have used some tougher editing. it also does sound a bit derivative and like it could be Pixies' b-sides at times. nevertheless, I do like it and there are some very enjoyable songs on this record, mostly at the beginning and the end.
3.5
