So there are some classics here. Some meaningful lyrics and intense production. But writing good lyrics makes you a poet, not a songwriter. Don't get me wrong, there's gold here. But there's a lot of dross. Probably better with a relaxing herbal medicine.
Like a cd you bought at a folk festival where the music was live and the weed was really good. Once it's not live anymore and the good weed is a distant memory, it just sounds like another folk album. Okay if that's what you want. Forgettable.
One of the finest albums ever produced. There is a magic in the harmony and pure artistry in the composition. Scarborough Fair may not be the best song ever written, but is one of the most beautiful ever recorded. Every song has a story worth hearing, even oft maligned A Simple Desultory Philippic is a commentary on the self proclaimed enlightened of the time. This album was released before I was born and still speaks to me.
Johnny Cash never disappoints.
Good enough for the time. This album could be the background music for any vignette of the time without taking away from the scene. It is almost a characature of 60's pop. Three stars because there's no 3.5 option
So it all comes down to this: what do you expect from music? If you just want to dance or have a beat in the background while you do something else, this album should do as well as thousands of others. If you expect a musical expression of fundemental truths, look elsewhere.
10 year old me loved Big Iron, Cool Water, and El Paso. In the 90's El Paso was my go to on karaoke night. I still love the smooth vocals and the white hat cowboy lyrics.
Wanna dance? Too bad. This album doesn't care if you know how to mambo (I don't], you're going to move your feet. And you will like it.
This album might have a place as background to an interesting conversation where you don't want the music to compete. "Did I hear something good in that last song?" No. No you did not. It might also be useful as a party soundtrack for introverts. Sure to get them talking. "This music sucks." "Sure does. Wanna leave?"
This will be the third album of 9 that I've given 1 star. I may have been hasty in those other 2. This is the first I've actually disliked. Maybe "forgettable" should rate 2 stars. That doesn't make sense either. Can we have a "kill it with fire" rating for the truly awful?
I really didn't expect to like this album. I'm not sure why I do. It will never be a favorite, but it really makes me wish for a 3.5 star option. Smooth sounds ideal for chilling or sitting at the hobby table.
There's a place for everything. The Smashing Pumpkins have earned their place in every 90's kegger between better songs by better bands. Going outside for a smoke or a quieter chat? Their music provided the perfect excuse. Some songs, like Bullet with Butterfly Wings, are cultural touchstones. But not in the way that the Mona Lisa or even Die Hard is. The best of this band will be remembered with the same reverence as the devil's air raid siren that announced you were seconds away from your dial up connection to the internet: it may bring to mind fond memories by association, but you're glad there are much better options and relieved that you'll never have to hear it again. Had this been a single album, I may have considered 2 stars for nostalgia. 2 hours? I listened, but it just made me sad... and not in a way that good music can.
Cool tunes to groove by. Nothing magical, but just solid working musician's music
This is what happens when a working band decides to be deep. That's not really something you can choose to do. The album disappoints in very predictable ways.
Musically, what the 70's tried to be. This was music to relax by in a candle-lit room alone or with a few friends. The music became a part of the conversation. This is music to set your phone to "do not disturb" by. Give it a couple of hours some night. It may never be your favorite, but you should give it a fair shake
Heard of this band back in the day from that guy who knew and loved all the obscure music (everybody had one.) I never listened because 90 % of what he reccomended was absolute shit. Sorry, Todd. This was worth the listen.
If you want to be different, be great. This unheard of rockabilly album is worse than awful. With poor covers and Elvis wannabe energy, this album is forgettable.
I really don't like hip hop. This album is making me revisit that stance. Smooth rhythms, cool samples, decent lyrics. I'm not a fan, but I can appreciate the composition.
There's another techno album. It's greatest achievement is that it will be forgotten before I finish listening to the next selection.
Jazz fusion with latin undertones. Works about as well as cold nuclear fusion: despite its promise, nobody's been able to make it work. I feel like a lot of my time was wasten listening and waiting for something different that just never came.
If you can sample a song and add to it to create something transcendent, you are an artist. If you create something dull and mediocre, throw it on the pile with this album.
Musically relevant. Lyrically sound. An important album, to be sure. Her voice just hits me a little wrong. It always has. I still love everything else about the album.
I didn't like this album. Plain and simple. That doesn't mean it's not good. It perfectly fills a niche. You might call it Punkabilly. I feel wiser having heard it and that's not nothing.
After Wuthering Heights, I thought I'd heard all I needed to hear from Kate Bush. Turns out this album has everything I loved about that song but without the almost shrill edge that made me avoid the rest of her catalog. I'm glad this album was on the list. Time to give her a deeper listen
Everything cliché about the 80s and New Jersey. Not great music, but fun and good enough for a Friday night.
I was prepared to hate this album. I didn't. Does Taylor Swift live up to the hype? Nobody does. Does she have talent? Absolutely. She'll never be my favorite, but there are spots for her on several of my playlists.
Classic rock at its finest. Baba O'Reiley will make even the most curmudgeonly geezer break out the air guitar. The whole album is quality.
A little Ozzie goes a long way. I loved Paranoia because it said something. Granted it took forever to decipher what the hell Ozzie was saying. Tipper Gore convinced a ton of mothers that he was recording demonic messages backwards. In her defense, he never made much sense forwards and someone with entirely too much time on her hands might be expected to... I don't know. Point is, unless you're a Black Sabbath fan, skip this one and listen to Paranoia.
I don"t like metal. That said, if you do, this album has everything you need. Strong musicianship. Frenetic drumming. Quintessential metal vocals. Head thumping bass. But wasted on me.
My least favorite album from my favorite band. Aside from the hits there's a lot of a work in progress vibe. Take it Easy may be the best roadtrip song ever. Witchy Woman was an early glimpse of the icon Don Henley would become. If Peaceful Easy Feeling doesn't lower your blood presure, see your doctor. The rest are some the worst Eagles songs ever. But like chocolate ice cream, the worst is still good.
I've often wondered if Bjork was deaf. Apparently not. She just makes me wish I was. It's not all bad. The composition and musicianship are outstanding. Her voice and lyrics though... just no thank you.
Prince was a consummate showman. How can you go wrong?
I can support a participation trophy for this album. An attempt was made.
Synth-pop but with depth. This album is probably not a cabdidate for the best 1001 of all time, but it's different enough that you should hear it
Reading some of the reviews from younger people, I worry for the future. Yes, Virginia, modern music owes a great deal to David Crosby and his contemporaries. NWA would never have said "Fuck the Police" if CSNY hadn't said "Fuck the National Guard" in 1970.
Back to this album. Listening to it for the first time (and ashamed I missed it until now) I find myself hearing a bevy of familliar voices. "Is that...?" Yes. And Crosby blends flawlessly with all of them. The only fault in the album is it's just too short.
One if the most recognized albums in rock history. It is an important lesson in musical history. And it's good. I mean really good. Like top 10 albums ever. Thought provoking lyrics, perfect composition, and incredible musical talent.
Arguably among the founding fathers of Punk. To say that this album isn't very good is kind of like arguing that the Wright brothers didn't make a very good airplane: true in a vacuum, but it misses the significance. You should listen once then move on to better music.
Back in the '80s a lot of things were happening in music. MTV played music videos, CDs were coming on strong. Hip-hop was in its infancy and it seemed like everybody was putting out an album. A lot of it was crap, but producing an album was cheap. The break even point was low enough that a label could gamble on what would have previously been passed over. "Money for nothing" captured the time perfectly. Unfortunately, Dire Straits acted the part of Rock's older (and in hindsight, wiser) brother. Too cool to hang with the youngsters and seemingly out of touch. Some music is good without context. Some music provides context for its time. This album is a bit of both.
After reading the review about the guy from down the hall in college, I felt like that summed it up. Upon reflection I see a commercial outlet for this album. The kid from film school decides to make a combination of Pulp Fiction and Natural Born Killers that will "be this generation's The Omen." The writer/producer/director/star is talking to the assistant he got by falsly promising academic credit for working on a "real film set." "He'll work for a credit and a sandwich? Will he come down on the sandwich? Okay, if Jimmie can't get off from Starbucks, make a PB & J and get him in here."
So there are two kinds of punk: bands that can sing and play, and bands that are "authentic" and "not sell outs." I prefer the former. When the punk bug bites, this album will do nicely.
Folky guitar and some good lyrics, but nothing truely great. This album may never change the world, but it might just change your day.
Decent musicianship, but when you take funk instrumentals with punk vocals, you lose me. Not really bad, but not for me
Calling Stevie Wonder a Soul artist is kind of like calling the Beatles a Pop band. Technically correct, but it misses 90% of the story. He's one of those people who deserve a distinct genre. May I suggest "Musical Genius?" This album is usually regarded as his best. Agree or not, listen again every so often to be a better human.
No thanks. A strong beat and a clever lyric repeated ad nauseum is no substitute for talent.
Elliot Smith reminds me of Art Garfunkle; very talented, but not quite enough to be great without an equally talented partner. Still good. Not great.
"Experimental\" is the perfect description. This album reminds me of WD2; closer, but still about 38 tries before you get something worthwhile.
Beautiful. I probably won't listen to this often, but I feel better having heard it and knowing it's there.
Psychedelic music has often been more about what the instruments can do than what the musicians can do. This album has some talented instruments...
So 80s you can taste it. In a good way.
Nothing bad here. Nothing great either.
So I had an LA confidential style Lana Turner moment with the first track: "Dude's trying way too hard to sound like Rod Stewart." Oops. Unfortunately, that was the high point of the album.
I don't like Jazz. I'm not a Blues fan. That said, Nina Simone transcends traditional genres and somehow lands on "legendary." Not my favorite of her albums, but broad enough in range to appeal to anyone.
What the hells did I just listen to? But in a good way? Eclectic, never boring. I was prepared to hate it, but failed successfully. 4.5 stars for the welcome surprise
Not a good or really meaningful album, but more of a symptom of the time. In the early to mid 90s pressing a cd was cheap. The break even point was so low that record labels were willing to gamble. There was just as much quality music in this period as any other period in modern history, but it was awash in a sea of crap. This album is part of the larger sea.
This reminds me of the band you got to play your kegger in exchange for free beer and felt you overpayed.
This album is as old as I am, but I've never heard of Pentangle. When you hear the words "Folk Band" you might expect something else, but you're hoping for this.
Another Talking Heads album. Good in small doses, but it's appeal fades quickly. Individually good songs, but too much all at once
What can you say about Bob Marley? The crown prince of Regae. While I might prefer Exodus or Confrontation, this album has all of the heart, soul, and musicianship you can count on from Bob Marley and the Wailers. Music to dance to or to start a revolution. It works for either
I don't like NIN. There. I said it. Now down to business. This album is exceptionally well crafted. Every note is intentional and contributes to the overall structure. If you enjoy industrial rock or if you're just having that kind of day, you should give it a listen.
A well crafted rap album. Not something I thought I'd ever say. Solid beats, good lyrics, and appropriate use of Kung Fu cinema. Not my usual cup of tea, but a good diversion once in a while.
A few years ago I discovered a cache of poetry I'd written in my early 20s. If it were recorded and put over a heavy synthetic instrumental track, it would have sounded a lot like this. I had the luxury of burning my poetry and keeping my embarrassment private. I'm afraid the members of Muse are not so lucky. As one reviewer noted, it would be better if I couldn't understand English. What might have been decent background music is ruined by a whole body cringe. Two stars for the instrumentals.
Synchronicity was probably a better album, but you really can't go wrong with the Police.
Elvis Costello is one of those artists that I was aware of without being familiar with. My initial thought is "meh." Solid music, but not really great. 3.5, but rounded down for being over-hyped
Probably my least favorite Paul Simon album. It feels experimental, but the experiments all work. So like chocolate, the worst is still pretty good.
Eddie Vedder's grunge vocals over well done hard rocking instrumentals. There's a reason Pearl Jam is still around, and that reason is craftsmanship. Even if you don't care for the style, you have to appreciate the quality
Not bad. Not exactly good, but not bad. The music is calm and relaxing with a dreamlike quality. Like most dreams it is forgotten as soon as it's over
I can almost hear a b-tier video game producer say "that sounds like something I shouldn't have to pay for." Use it for the menu screen.
