465
Albums Rated
3.68
Average Rating
43%
Complete
624 albums remaining
Rating Distribution
Rating Timeline
Taste Profile
1950s
Favorite Decade
Rock-and-roll
Favorite Genre
UK
Top Origin
Cheerleader
Rater Style ?
77
5-Star Albums
0
1-Star Albums
Breakdown
By Genre
By Decade
By Origin
Albums
You Love More Than Most
| Album | You | Global | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Songs The Lord Taught Us
The Cramps
|
5 | 2.84 | +2.16 |
|
Connected
Stereo MC's
|
5 | 2.94 | +2.06 |
|
Heavy Weather
Weather Report
|
5 | 2.99 | +2.01 |
|
Better Living Through Chemistry
Fatboy Slim
|
5 | 2.99 | +2.01 |
|
Ambient 1/Music For Airports
Brian Eno
|
5 | 3.07 | +1.93 |
|
I'm Your Man
Leonard Cohen
|
5 | 3.1 | +1.9 |
|
461 Ocean Boulevard
Eric Clapton
|
5 | 3.12 | +1.88 |
|
Hejira
Joni Mitchell
|
5 | 3.13 | +1.87 |
|
The Pleasure Principle
Gary Numan
|
5 | 3.14 | +1.86 |
|
Live 1966 (The Royal Albert Hall Concert)
Bob Dylan
|
5 | 3.15 | +1.85 |
You Love Less Than Most
| Album | You | Global | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Rock 'N Soul
Solomon Burke
|
2 | 3.37 | -1.37 |
|
New York Dolls
New York Dolls
|
2 | 3.12 | -1.12 |
|
Kimono My House
Sparks
|
2 | 3.06 | -1.06 |
|
Back To Black
Amy Winehouse
|
3 | 4.02 | -1.02 |
|
Larks' Tongues In Aspic
King Crimson
|
2 | 3 | -1 |
Artists
Favorites
| Artist | Albums | Average |
|---|---|---|
| Led Zeppelin | 5 | 4.8 |
| The Doors | 3 | 5 |
| Leonard Cohen | 3 | 4.67 |
| Fleetwood Mac | 2 | 5 |
| The Smashing Pumpkins | 2 | 5 |
| Funkadelic | 2 | 5 |
| The Police | 2 | 5 |
| Beatles | 6 | 4.17 |
| David Bowie | 6 | 4 |
| The Who | 3 | 4.33 |
| The Rolling Stones | 3 | 4.33 |
| Black Sabbath | 3 | 4.33 |
5-Star Albums (77)
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Popular Reviews
Funkadelic
5/5
OK! Rare and unexpected thing here... I LOVE this stuff!!
What? I cried, laughed, and had to stop everything else I was doing simply to listen to this piece of joy. I am not certain, but pretty sure that at one point in my life I might not have given Funkadelic a listen at all, via unseen judgement of genre or whatever. Yeah, the title (and title song) has an underlying sort of yuckiness to it. But that is a trick, a ruse, and it (and the title song) are magnificent!
This is pure joy! The whole album.
2 likes
The xx
5/5
Normally when II do this rating I feel obligated, as a critic, to use that sort of objective theory to justify my ratings. It makes sense for two reasons: One is that just saying "I liked/ disllked this" and just a number has little to no meaning to the reader, and two, there is value in learning about the artists and musicians and understanding their place in history as a part of being part of this human world and it is niice to know, if one diid not, about why and how a particualar musician might have a place (at what I
call) the head table.
With XX I have to admit it matters less the story and more how this band, this genre, these artists just touch my soul. Often this musiic is just pure emotion for me. I can't explain it, but perhaps sometimes that is OK too! Just like that kind of movie that you like for no apparent reason other than it feels just like a pleasure to watch, I love love LOVE this band!
2 likes
Michael Jackson
4/5
Michael Jackson has been called "the King of pop" for a reason. Hiis catalog and depth speak for themselves long after his untimely death. I think if he had been alive today the music industry would be a bit different, that is how influencial he was. Thiis is not my favorite album of his, (probably Thriller), but it is well rounded and has some nice moments.
1 likes
Paul Simon
5/5
This is one of the greatest albums ever produced.
For an explanation just * listen *
1 likes
The Human League
3/5
This album taught me something. There are two ways to look at 80's music. Either as "oh, THAT is very 80's" or "damn, they made some pretty good music in that era" In plainer English, music of any era is either FROM that era or more timeless, some even seems "fresh" for first time contemporary listeners no matter what the era. I felt like The Human League is very representative of that veering towards "dated by proxy" line. Most of their music would be great for an 80's themed party but kind of dated by today's standards. On the other hand they have a couple of classics that stand the test of time and overall are worth a listen to, even without the party!
1 likes
All Ratings
Fleetwood Mac
5/5
It is understandable why this particular Fleetwood Mac album would be so highly rated as it is chock-full of great songs by a great band. I would
not say it is their absolute best but it is "in the running" as it were.
Jefferson Airplane
3/5
I struggled with the inconsistent feel of the songs. Some chill, some dark, some funky... I don't think you need a particular thing that links the music to a particular sound or vibe per-se. It can be a goood thing or it can be kind of jarring in a way. There is nothing wrong with the band, but the disjointed feeling I got was not my vibe.
Beatles
4/5
The Beatles are among the extremely rare "untouchables." All one need do is listen. They are timeless and a joy to listen to.
With that I can only rate this album against others in their canon. If I consider the subjective "how many gems are on this album" I feel safe to rate this one four stars.
Adele
4/5
First of all, this album caught me off guard. More specifically Adele did.
She really is rather magnificent. She makes beautiful music no doubt.
Now for the other side of the coin...
I have an issue sometimes with certain bands and musicians where i like
or even love most of their music... but... listening to an album, song after song can get... repetitive. Adele has a very distinct voice and largely uses piano as an accompanying instrument. This makes her songs kind of start blending a bit, beautiful as they are individually.
Still though, taken in bits, I will give her more attention.
Rush
5/5
Rush is one of my all time favorite bands and as such it is impossible for me to be fully objective. This album contains one of my favorite all time
songs (A passage to Bangkok) as well so...
This album seemed intended to be a progression from a dystopian future to an idealized rebellion. Like Star Wars with guitars.
It is probably not their most accessible album but is a real gem for anyone already familiar with the trio.
Ryan Adams
3/5
Common
3/5
I like trip hop and smooth jazz as a general thing, so this album musically is not far off my usual tastes. That being said I found myself just sort of
listening to most of the songs and only occasionally really connecting emotionally to any. While I will pay more attention to Common and have been woken to a genre I have paid too little attention to, I would like to give other artists, even some who collaborated on this very album, a closer listen.
Steely Dan
3/5
I like Steely Dan. Good band. Some real classics. The band made its mark at a time where music was astonishingly "good" and a tremendous amount of great music was produced. I always considered Steely Dan as "somewhere in that mix," neither at the top nor the bottom of that very talented and prolific pile. So... does this album stand out, above and beyond? It is well made, professional music and I must shout out to a few gems in the mix. Aside from those, it must have to be someones "thing" to really get into past "yeah, it is pretty good."
Metallica
4/5
Metallica is no doubt the epitome of "metal." They "are" what metal is. Honestly it is not my favorite genre. Made slightly worse, I don't love that constant underlying guitar riff, rhythme or whatever, that underlies all their music and makes them distinctly metal, and Metallica. At any rate I am aware of their mastery of craft and they put it all out there for their fans each and every time, which is worth a star simply by appreciation.
All that said -- if you are into metal or a student of genre, this is a "must
hear" album and is worth the time.
Orange Juice
3/5
Anyone who happens to know me understands that my musical tastes span a large range. They always have, thus I found it odd that I had never heard of Orange Juice. But there it is. I enjoy that they cross genre often and are never stuck in one place for long. The reggea beats, blues, jazz, even pop and funk intermix in really quite easy listening ways. With that said, I felt that no one song or style really blew me away. For me there were no hidden gems to be found or new favorites to be gained. Otherwise I enjoyed the album.
The Waterboys
3/5
There are lots of ways to look at music critically. One is to consider whether it is era specific or "dated." Or, if it stands the test of time and is more or less "ageless." The Waterboys sound like a band from the 70's to me, they give off that kind of vibe. It is surprising than, that this album was from the late 80's. Now it must be known that the Waterboys have
among their catalog a couple of real gems. Overall I feel like they are a little too niche for me. I can't decide where to place them. I don't have the nastalgia mind to rave about their cult/ folk status, so they become one of those "yeah, they are Ok." bands.
Beatles
4/5
I can't rate the Beatles against the world because the Beatles are not liike any band before or after. They are THE band. Timeless, amazing, and untouchable. Listening and trying to figure out how they are the greatest band ever is actually an impossible task. They are "too simple" make it too easy... But here we are and there it is.
I will thus rate this movie based on their own catalog, and II feel like they improved over time from this groundbreaking start.
Booker T. & The MG's
4/5
I had heard quite a few of these songs over the years and really liked them. Mainly it was over the radio or out somwhere so I never knew who the artists were. I would easily give this band a 3.5 so I will round up and call it a four.
Todd Rundgren
2/5
I had made myself a sort of scale with this five star system. I figure that any "normal" album should be at least a three. And over that would have to earn a bit more credit. However, under that and the album would have to have fundamental flaws that I couldn't get past. Todd Rundgren is definitely a good music producer. I think musically he might be just a bit to experimental. If I rate this three stars someone might say "OK, than rather normal then?" But it is not... really normal at all. It is, at its core, a little too weird.
The Doors
5/5
Okee Dokee... I am aware of the Doors. I don't live under a rock or somehow missed the memo. (I saw the film). Plus, I am "old enough" to have heard the Doors on the radio back iin the day. For some reason over the last few decades they have not gotten a heck of a lot of airplay, and I am really not into "oldies" stations.
Listening "fresh" to this album is a real mind blower. This album is over 50 years old. And it is, as it was, amazing! This is a "must listen" in my not always humble opinion.
Sinead O'Connor
3/5
I try not to evaluate music, or fllm or any sort of art with too much of a critical eye on the artist. For example, I don't like Tom Cruise, but i respect his acting and commitment to his roles. Thus, I don't judge his movies as any lesser because of his personality outside that realm. I never liked Sinead O'Connor. I feel like she never had any solid agenda or platform of advocacy. Like she just hates on everyone and everything and blamed her life on everyone else. The flip flopping and drama just left me uninterested in her at all, thus I don't typically bother with her music. Now, with that said, she was surrounded by good musicians and has a good strong singing voice. The album is overlong but varied enough to not be boring.
4/5
I was waiting for this. I actually really like Muse, but actually didn't "know" Muse or make the connection to who made that song, etc. So while I like their sound and some of their songs, I had no idea who the band itself was. It was a nice discovery to put a name to music I always liked. I have to be careful in this rating becuase my subjective mood is in an odd space lately... (more negative than positive) and I am veering towards a "meh" attitude to the overall album. But! It IS music I have always favored, and my mood will change. So by way of promoting the band and their style of music...
Michael Jackson
4/5
Michael Jackson has been called "the King of pop" for a reason. Hiis catalog and depth speak for themselves long after his untimely death. I think if he had been alive today the music industry would be a bit different, that is how influencial he was. Thiis is not my favorite album of his, (probably Thriller), but it is well rounded and has some nice moments.
Aphex Twin
5/5
Yes. I will be buying this album next trip to the record store.
The Charlatans
3/5
The Charlatans are an unfortunate band. They are lively and fun, overall quite entertaining and good, but they emerged at a time when lots of similar bands were doing similar things and they end up being one of those "Oh yeah! I have heard of them" bands. There is nothing wrong with them or their musicianship, yet there is nothing musically speaking, that makes them stand out in a list of lots of good musicians and bands that showed up on the scene around the same time.
The Only Ones
2/5
1978. For some reason this time period in music history was amazing. Punk, rock, alternative... it was all changing, molding, becoming everything it is today. Now we have stuff like trip-hop jazz techno fusion and everything and anything musically one can imagine. All thanks to these daring musicians in the 70's willing to push the envelope.
The problem with The Only Ones is that they were not the only ones, and they were not reallly groundbreaking or particular in the massive crowd of musicians breaking new ground at the time. Made worse, the lead singer, maybe a wonderful human being (IDK) sounds like he is on drugs most of the time and often the jazzy fusion bits sound like noise. Unfortunately there are so many bands on the essential listening list from this time period that this album winds up pretty far down the list...
Cat Stevens
3/5
This whole week has been filled with solid, good musicians. However, and as it is for Cat Stevens, there are lots of solid, good musicans out there. As a singer songwriter, Stevens has a MASSIVE dose of competition. They all have room at the table and there are a couple of wonderful songs on this album that are worthy of his place there. However the table is rather long and he is down there among them. As good and professional as he is it still only gets him to a "yeah, he is Ok." place.
Radiohead
3/5
Here we have a curious case. I have been around since the beginning when Radiohead was topping the alternative pop charts with "fake plastic trees" and the like. I followed them throught the "groundbreaking" Kid A album, and now for something completely different here. Now for the difficult part: if you are a Radiohead fan all of this progression is amazing and innovative and ... cool! But, if you do not know Radiohead, this album, (just like Kid A actually) will lose some audience via its unusual quality. For example what genre is it really? Or the fact that Radiohead is very much still Radiohead on this album but only if you "know" the band. I think this album will be very polarizing in ratings.
Baaba Maal
3/5
I personally like Afro-centric beats. I knew of it from before Paul Simon brought it mainstream in "Graceland." There is something raw and emotional in it that makes it timeless and peaceful. I did struggle a bit with the language barrier in some songs, because in some the lyrics seemed so important. But otherwise I don't think it matters as you let the music in.
Ghostface Killah
3/5
Rap is connected to hip hop which is connected to trip hop which connects to house which connects to techno and all of them intermix here and there. I like the beats and if the lyrics are clever I am in. This album gves us little treats with the "skit" sections, of which I love the one with the foul mouthed kid... I laughed out loud quite a bit and rather enjoyed this album.
Sparks
2/5
I try to see the good in all music. I suppose Sparks is a niche band and had a place somewhere wedged iinto that rock opera 70's thing. I struggled with good rock opera as I easily get bored with too much of one singer or style of music and rock operas have a tendancy to be a bit long. Not to say that I don't really like some rock operas. Just not all rock operas and unfortunately, this is not one of them...
The Who
4/5
I never had an "old soul" so I never quite understood the whole "nothin' better than classic rock" attitude. (The one that thinks everything else sucks after X decade). So I use a wary eye when people get nearly offensive in the way they insist on only listening to "classic rock" and wear the faded tee shirts to prove thier allegience. However, just like any tourist spot is such for a reason (like it really is breathtaking), bands like The Who prove to be pretty darn remarkable. So forgetting all the cud chewing and just hearing why The Who is so important to not just aging rockers, but to music and its continued influence today one gets the sense that sure, there are great bands being formed every day, but we might pay attention to those who broke the ground before us.
The Band
3/5
There is no genre that I would ever deny outright. I have notiiced over my lifietime that every time I decide I don't like X genre, that I like something in it. This includes southern rock. In fact, it even includes several songs by The Band itself. However, southern rock is not among my favorite genres and outside a few outlying songs I am not really a fan. This album could metaphorically sum up my interest in the genre. Most of it is "meh" to me and a couple songs prop it up.
The National
3/5
The National remiinded me of Death cab for cutie. Kinda downbeat and EMO. I love DCab. I definitely like The National and this is a find for me. I was not totally on board with a solid album of downbeat, but that is more a product of the timing and liiving in a place with months and months of dark grey "beep" weather. So I will put them in my EMO playlist and yeah...
Iggy Pop
5/5
Ok. I am not gonna lie. With Iggy Pop I really don't care if his music is my thing or not. I do truly LOVE some of his songs and a couple are on this album, but it is actually the person himself I just love Iggy Pop, such an awsome, flawed, storied human being... and for that alone, outside anything about his influence on punk rock and iimportance within the music world and blah blah blah, he is important to me for a lot of philosophical reasons... Thus, like some people and Keanu Reeves (which i also get!!) I see Iggy Pop and I thumbs up!
Ladysmith Black Mambazo
3/5
One of my favorite albums of all time is Paul Simon's Graceland. It uses this band and I have loved this sort of sound ever since. With that saiid, the one thing that that album has that this one does not is instrumentals and drum beats. I had a hard time with just the vocals after a while, it is not something I am keen on, despite the emotional aspects and purity of it. Nevertheless, a remarkable group and a genre that could use a bit more mainstream exposure (if for a bit more instrumental backing).
Leonard Cohen
5/5
This album is in two parts. I suppose Leonard Cohen is in two parts. One, a musician and the second, a poet. He mixes the two so seamlessly that it is easy to forget that he is a poet and a deep thinker and his words have impact, merely listening without focus on his music as such. But then something happens and you start to listen. Really listen... By turning his back on the devil he also has to turn his back on an angel... and then that last song... after one simply listens to melancholy strings and he reflects on his life and that one thing... Yeah, it could be a three star "musical" album or what it really is, a devastating and beautiful poetic story of life.
Foo Fighters
5/5
I mean this is the fountain it all stems from. The holy grail of Foo magic. The Foo Fighters have always been there along with me... So yeah, in fact "Hell Yeah!" of course this is an essential album!
Red Hot Chili Peppers
4/5
I have always liked The Red Hot Chili Peppers and am kind of proud of them for still being around and putting out good stuff. I was, in fact, surprised when this album came out and it was to such a high level, as many of the bands from back in the day kinda settle on "Ok" or stop producing at all. Definititely should be on a "listen to this" list for most people interested in any genre really, as it has elements of lots of different stuff and never gets out of control.
Neil Young
3/5
I have had friends over the years that do not share my musical tastes. I can get past those that choose to ignore whole genres like techno or chant, but have a harder time with those that "hate X band." How can you hate a band? But I came to realize that it was often because they didn't like some political aspect or personal reason. But then there are those that simply don't like a band and it is nearly always because they don't like the singer's voice. I love (for example) Rush and Tom Petty. Both of which friends of mine have sited they don't like because they don't like the singers. I still question "every song?" But than again... I never could quite get into Neil Young. Lyrics are fine, band is fine... I think it is his voice actually. I just don't get anything emotional out of it. So I suppose I need to "get it" with my friends and know I too have this reasoning...
Fela Kuti
4/5
I recently spoke of how I like Afrocentric sound, but struggled without any instrumentals and just the a cappella thing. I can like it but after a while it gets like (IDK) boring or something. Now we have the whole package in Fela Kuti, but even more so, we have Ginger Baker. Some pasty white guy that shows up in Nigeria and just crushes the percussions ... legend! I will look for this amazing album at my local record store because I want to here it on my home stereo now...
Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young
3/5
Again, Neil Young. His voice probably does harmonize well with this group, and the others, for ME, have appealing voices. So it is a step better overall than Young's titled album. However, it still features his voice often enough for me to find it a bit of a grind at times. I know that I am stepping on the toes of those that worship at the throne of Neil Young. I have my bands and their detractors as well. But it doesn't invalidate my feelings, nor theirs by me choosing a line. I really like Crosby, Stills, and Nash. Not so much Young. It is what it is...
Thin Lizzy
3/5
Thin Lizzy is another of those "good" basic bands that cover the entiire "core" of music, particularly within genre. In other words, Thin Lizzy is a hard rock, all in, put it out there 70's rock band. It doesn't take much research to realize that there were a LOT of bands like this, always has been, always will be. They are entertaining, "cool" and will have an overall generic appeal with a few hardcore fans. I suppose they also suffer from being around at a time when lots of amazing bands were around vying for air time. Nevertheless, they are solidly entertaining and good fun.
Bonnie Raitt
3/5
Once again with the "pile" syndrome. A couple of times now I have considered this phenomenon. It is when there is nothing particularly bad about a band or musician, but that for whatever reason they sort of find themselves in a "pile" of somewhat similarly genred and well placed alternatives. Bonniie Raitt has some shining moments and uniqueness that puts her closer to the front of the line, but ultimately... meh.
Dirty Projectors
2/5
Well, I suppose we all have our limits. I honestly wanted to like this band, they had those moments where they almost seemed quite brilliant, but each and every time they went into some experimental off key or weird mixy thing that threw everything off. I was like "you had this!" why did you throw your voice off like that? What did you do with that amazing riff? Why do you feel the need to be so Brooklyn hippy?
Coldcut
2/5
I get the historic value of this album. But my groove is a bit more polished, more "into the future" than this. The issue for me is it is no "longer" 70's funk, and not "yet" true trip hop electronica. It is something in between. It reminds me of those early fusions between rock and hip hop that really endied up not quite committed to either. Some bands crush ther debut album and never quite reach that glory again, some bands grow better and better. I have the feeling that even though Coldcut became other bands and stuff, that collectively they got better than this. (Although it is humorous and does do "something" different.
Pink Floyd
5/5
I would call this a rock opera. It is a story or a jouney of sorts that taken collectively has a greater meaning. Looking at it this way, it is no doubt one of the greatest rock operas of all time. Taken as individual songs, it so happens to also be one of the greatest albums of all time and shows the absolute mastery of the musicians craft throughout.
This is considered an important part of rock history and an important album in that history. And ... It ought to be!
The Who
4/5
The Who is a band I have always liked. The problem with "like" is it is not "love." I am not a fan-girl. Just I like them, I will generally tune in if something of theirs happens to be on the radio or in a store somewhere. The biggest problem here though, is not with liking or loving or a willingness to listen. It is that I am 100% sure if someone were there, in Leeds, this would have been an absolute life memory. But with no visuals but an album cover and crappy speakers... the (likely epic) 2 hour runtime just became a chore... So this amazing and worthy show by an A class band just doesn't translate well in our watered down digital age. At any rate, great band, poured their hearts out for their fans... Yeah!
Public Enemy
3/5
Wow. The energy, the truth in what is said... the sad fact that it is even more important today than even then... The only thing lackiing now-a-days from then is maybe the underlying hope, or the idea that this is it, now we take our rightful place at the table. And in 2024 we are all ass backwards and this album probably couldn't even get made (and not at all be mainstream). Plus a major shout out to the humor it has and the just plain fun it is. I think it illustrates how you can be serious and angry and silly on the same album. Maybe we need a dose of "don't be so f*ing serious all the time" which we seemed to balance better back in the day.
3/5
I forgot about Devo a little. I grew up with them in a sense, but they didn't seem particularly prolific so I would be like "oh, that's a pretty good song" and then a sometimes long pause. So Devo, while I like them, and this album is so fun, are one of those "Oh yeah, those guys are pretty good" bands. I also happen to like the genre and it it is naturally easy for me to enjoy. So while I really kind of like this, and would suggest it. It would have to, just like in the "old days" occur to me to think "Oh yeah, Devo..." and say "they are pretty good, yeah."
Echo And The Bunnymen
4/5
I was hoping this would happen. This album of the day thing. I had three wishes: discovering something new, Re-discovering something from the past, and making me more aware of music and genre, etc. in general.
The last one is an automatic and I enjoy that aspect of this project quite a lot. The first one has, and will continue, to happen as a natural result of listening to random albums every day. The middle one, the re-introduction to something I had (sort of) forgotten is most special.
Echo and the Bunnymen is a great band, I love this style and the gritty feel and always was a big fan. They just happened to slip off my radar even while going on Joy Division binges. (which I feel they share genre with). So this "re-discovery" is super appreciated and wonderful!
Buena Vista Social Club
4/5
I think this is so atmospheric and fun that it wins a lot of votes. Of course that is all music needs to do if it wants to. This is not about angst or edgy or dark, it is hopeful and lively, even with some of the darker themes. I can't think of any reason this should not be on a list of must listen to albums actually.
Air
5/5
I LOVE this. I was raised in USA. The French scene there, especially back in the day, was very niche and not largely present. I heard this music on college radio and loved it, but had no idea who it was, where it came from, nada. So now all these years latter have a name with a face with music I love! Great!
Talvin Singh
3/5
I quite liked this kind of ambient quirky world music album. It is easy to listen to, definitely an artist I will consider listening to more, yes. This album is "good." Not to be mean or undervalue the album in any way, the only thing it "suffers" in a very lightly held sense, is that it doesn't have anything in particular that other albums in world music or ambient music don't have. So, it almost feels like those late 70's rock band albums that get kind of lost in the crowd, but (!) Not quite! And that makes all the difference.
Gillian Welch
3/5
At risk of sounding like a broken record, AND underwhelming a good album, I have to say the singer songwriter genre has a lot of great musicians in it, and I love the genre. But because of both those facts I have had to come up with a different way to rate their music. I have settled on an emotional connection, a feeling of closeness with the artists and how their music makes me feel. While I liked this album I didn't feel much of a connection to it (the last song worked!) but overall I felt like "yeah, they are Ok." and not OMG!
Tom Waits
4/5
Tom Waits. I am perfectly divided with Tom Waits. I LOVE sometimes, and I can't listen at all other times.... I think one must be "in the mood" and not just jump into Tom Waits (at all, let alone an album). Yet Tom Waits is very very special. That is a fact that I will not ever ignore. Nobody else is or ever will be Tom Waits and that is something intangible, priceless... The only negative in this album is it lacks that story telling element that puts Tom Waits into an entirely different class of his own, which I would suggest is a "must do" on a lifes bucket list.
DJ Shadow
4/5
Wow. Should have known about DJ Shadow. Don't know why I didn't, but TBH, better late than never! Another good find by the 1001albumsgenerator. So yeah, shout out there.
This genre skates on "my" tastes and is easy for me to like. Instead of one or two songs that crush it for me, I kinda feel like the whole album has a consistently high vibe and definitely will pay more attention to DJ Shadow's work (from whenever).
The Offspring
4/5
This might be an unfair rating. Music being a kind of "photograph" of life reminds us of times and places when we "first heard it" or the like. This is no nastalgia per se. It is actually a sort of fact of the human brain. So it is not a "wish to return" or a desire for today to be "like then" (although looking at today's world...) Anyhow, it is more like a feeling like "The Offsping were always cool, always there to kick in the adrenalin, when times turned towards the fun... and for that I throw out any "hard scientific objective" critiicism and just go with my gut.
The Kinks
3/5
I have always liked the Kinks and have an album of theirs as it is. This one is from WAY before I tuned in to them, and serves to make me think of how underrated I myself have made them. I have a couple of late 70's early 80's albums, but this is their third and it is from 1966 (no wonder the Beatles feel to it). It makes me kind of feel bad for not paying more attention. Well, better late than never!
Simple Minds
3/5
This is annoying. Why? Because I like Simple Minds more than say... Metallica, but this site gave me the definitive Metallica album to rate. I am trying to be realistic. This album is not Simple Minds best. It is Ok. But a LOT of bands were around putting out good stuff and look at those numbers, they are not random, they are 1981 - 1984. Golden years in 80's music. So I get stuck with my profile saying I prefer "metal" to "indy" but they have me rate one of the greatest metal albums of all time and then have me rate obscure indy titles or so so albums from otherwise great bands... Kind of annoying.
Kacey Musgraves
3/5
I am normally "just Ok" with country music. It does, in all honesty, now a days at least, have to do with the political conservatism and MAGA bullshit that I find frankly offensive. But I see that Kacey Musgraves stirs the pot and is not playing that game. Good. She is also rather good at what she does and the music is never redundant or boring and I actually really enjoyed it. I will pay more attention to her from now on, country (sort of) or not.
The Isley Brothers
4/5
I never quite knew about this band. I have, over many years and snippets of radiio and such, heard several of their songs, but never did I have a name to the music, nor listen to multiple songs (in a row) by this band.
I have now, and I was right blown away by it! These guys are amazing!
R.E.M.
5/5
Early REM is more or less among my all time favorite music. It is not nastalgiic, it doesn't make me "go back" or wish for times of old, it makes me feel present right now; it is hard to explain... I often describe it as raw, like "real" what one would experience in a small club on a Tuesday night at some ski resort. "Wow, this band is actually pretty good... what are they called again? They could get big..."
This music wakes me up in a way, I get the feeling of potential energy, like the band itself, of course REM DID get big, but for us all, individually, we too "could get big" and this music reminds me of that feeling...
Isaac Hayes
3/5
This threw me back to the actual movie and the whole movement to claim space in a racist environment. I think of the energy in the ghetto hero and the real inspiration behind it. The music is perfect and has the same tonal value. It is nice to hear the soundtrack complete as opposed to just during the film. I had not realized it was a soundtrack in itself. It is definitely cool.
Boards of Canada
3/5
This album is super weird.
It moves from outright creep city to sublime. It moves from jarringly experimental to satisfying groove... I went back and forth on my feelings and thoughts about it practically every other song. Is it good? I think it has enough in it to recommend a listen, but one must be wary that it is... not necessarily an easy album to get through directly. On balance I suppose I "almost" kind of like it, and maybe, just maybe if I am in the right sort of mood I might like the creepy bits...
Sly & The Family Stone
5/5
Wow. In todays English I will say "This shit is DOPE!"
Even in more normal speak, this is the real deal as far as deep amazing funk is concerned. I love this album... yet another find here that I will seek out in my local record store... Yes!
Ramones
5/5
This album is exactly like Metallica's album I reviewed here some time ago.
The truth iis that this album IS punk. It defines it and is core to it in every way. This is the Ramones. This is ... important on every level in defining and understanding the punk era and genre. In fact, the only real difference between the core metal band's core metal album is that while I am "just OK" with metal as a genre personally, I LOVE punk and all it encompasses, so there is that!
The Stooges
4/5
Like with Keanu Reeves, when I see Iggy Pop, I upvote. This is early stuff, raw and a bit ambiguous in message. Lots of sex, drugs, and rock-n-roll going on here. But it has one element that I always like, whether it is a singer-songwriter, a jazz fusion band, or a hardcore punk drug fueled mosh fest... it is "real." They are right there present with their audience, interactive and special. There is a lot to love here, and less to gloss over than might be usual for (what I listened to) which was a sprawling multii-hour 29 track long show. The fact I never got bored or turned away once is telling...
The Slits
2/5
Okee Dokee... The Slits... ... Yup. Gotta' nope out on this one... For my tastes it is too... weird maybe? It isn't like I wasted my time or was not entertained or it has no value musically in my opinion, it is more to do with finding no place to settle... the singer outright screams sometimes, the music is... kinda jarring often... lyrically it is sometimes funny and sometimes saying something but often kind of garbled and jumbled and I suppose meant to be social critical fun... But yeah, sorry... just too weird.
The Sabres Of Paradise
3/5
I often say, on reviewing an album, about how it is good, fine, well done, BUT: yeah, it iis among the many and doesn't stand out per se and meh...
Now I could technically say something similar about Sabres of Paradise... except that they are not quite "among the many." Not really. They seemed to me, song after song, to be just a step up from the greater crowd, hinting at something in there that gives them a spot at the head table. I will put them on my playlist and go through their catalog to see how I feel after that, but with this single album, things are looking pretty good.
Marvin Gaye
3/5
I once heard a person claim that they didn't like Shakespeare because his work was "cliche.' " Granted we have seen ten thousand renditions of Romeo and Juliet, but considering HE WAS THE FIRST (!) he can't be working with cliche's. Everyone else can (possibly). Marvin Gaye's album has that underlying "OMG! Does that actually work?" feel to it. Even if he cannot be cliche' as an original swooner, the swooniness of it feels like it tries too hard, like it is part of the date night script. Perhaps it is just a tad too "same message" for the contemporary audience. If someone puts this album on in the background of a nice dinner I might think "that is just a little cringe..." But otherwise it is quite smooth and songs taken individually may well be "all that."
The Smashing Pumpkins
5/5
Funny how I don't love Billy Corgan's voice yet still find this to be both one of the best bands ever, and this album just great. It could have to do with how I like "whole" bands, and not just individual singers first. Not that I don't love singer/ songwriters and all that, but I appreciate that the background musicians have a name, and in the Pumpkin's case, they matter by contribution and are part of a whole that is wonderful.
Stevie Wonder
3/5
First of all, II beliieve that Stevie Wonder has a place on any sort of 1001 album before you die list. It is good to know who Stevie Wonder is and the culture and history around his coming to fame. With that said, he has that soft voice and easy style that is shared by many a fine musician. The jazzy insrumentals are also highly professional and seen in many spaces. I personally find a female voice accompanying a jazz background to be more fulfilling than a male, but this is not a criticism of thiis music in any way. The issue may come down to one of two choices: Do you buy into the life story/ hype of Stevie Wonder as a legend, or do you listen to this album and rate it in an open and honest way? I choose the latter.
Don McLean
3/5
Odd how the person responsible for one of the most famous songs of all time "fits" in a way with that song. See, American Pie (clearly so well known that the albun is named after that one song) is telling. It is an overlong song and it doesn't pull any punches as to its goal of being a sad song meant to be so. The entire album feels like this and I can't help feel somewhat manipulated, like I am intentionally trying to search up EMO before EMO was a thing... It is never a problem to seek out sad songs, listen to them, write them, perform them... but should I be compelled to go out and buy an album full of them? I can't fault McLean for being great at the one song at a time thing, but unless you are really in the mood, maybe not listen to an entire album at once?
k.d. lang
3/5
Hmm... I never got into K.D. Lang and now I understand why. I find her perfect as in capital P perfect for the role of lounge, jazz singer. And on occasion, beautifully, she does just that. But... But. For the most part she went with country western and rolled with it. Now. For me there are three styles of vocals in country music. The sultry, sexy, deeply country voice (swooner voice), the lively, also deeply country, twangy, no apologies hardcore "Nashville" style, OR, the "Taylor Swift sometimes does a country song" Pop/ country mixer voice. Great. Where does K.D. Lang fit into all this? Yeah, she doesn't. She is a jazz singer who for some reason went country but ... I just don't feel the vibe. Anyhow, she is "professional" and has a solid voice so sure...
SZA
4/5
I did not come into this album blind. I came into this album expecting a trudge fest. Not my favorite genre, thinking it iis going for the gansta' thing with the explicit content... I did not get what I expected. Yup, it iis explicit, but somehow it makes it WAY more genuine, more real and honest. I felt this music, like a connection to its deeper meaning and all that mumbo jumbo. Instead of looking at how much time was left or how many more songs I had to trudge through, I felt like I would have been fine to hear more, although it ended well, in a heartfelt way that only further made me really really like this...
N.W.A.
5/5
Once again with an ironclad CANON album. This is not only a must hear, but it is also socially very relevant, perhaps even moreso today than it was originally. It was brave then, now I don't even think anyone would dare be brave enough to put the truth out there quite like this... It is a shame really, and they did it with an extreme presence of mind that makes it as humorous as it is honest.
This album was brilliant the day it came out and it still is. Hell yeah!
Nine Inch Nails
3/5
I now see that I have a love/ hate relationship with Nine Inch Nails. The passion and depth of his angst have been a beacon with his music and the gritty rawness is always amazing. But it starts to feel hopeless, bleak, like damn dude, lighten up... But it doesn't. I love industrial music (for reasons I don't understand) but it is not necessarily dark and ominous. This is. Under the right circumstances I can really embrace this, I really do like it a lot, and always have. It is like a great movie that nobody can favorite because it would be way too emotionally taxing. Great does not equate love in these cases. I think we need to take Nine Inch Nails in smaller doses than a full on album all at once..
The Divine Comedy
3/5
Almost the opposite of Trent Resnor's Nine Inch Nails dreadfest, this is much lighter and tongue in cheek funny. It does suffer from beng almost too simple musically, only saved by the "actually decent" voice of the singer and the clever laugh out loud lyrics. I don't think I would go as far as to call this a must hear album, but it IS a lot of fun!
Arcade Fire
3/5
"Today I learned..." Today I learned that even bands I really like are not that interesting "in a row." For a long time I would hear an Arcade Fire song and think "I really like this" but ultimately not follow them too closely for some reason. This has repeated over many years with me and Arcade Fire. Today I learned why. I can, and often do, come across an Arcade Fire song in a random playlist or out and about and think "thiis song is great, I love this band!" But now that I have listened to an entire album... see, individually they are great. But they have a too similar sound across songs, too similar theme across the whole album, and even share lyrics between songs in one case... I believe it was an experiment to make different feelings with the same lyrics but it didn't quite work OR both songs failed to deliver whatever the underlying message was meant to be... I love this band... one song at a time!
Iron Butterfly
3/5
Iron Butterfly has an unfortunate situation. They were big when the biggest bands in recent history were emerging. This makes them "somewhat" down the list of bands in the time period, which, by default, makes them get less air play even today. So... while they are "really quite good" they are only really known by most for "that one song" which, happens to be ... unbelievably amazing, especially with the drum solo part in place and not the radio cut. It is hard for bands today for the same reasons of saturation and markets, so it is nice to give a listen to the roots of metal, so yeah, definitely worth the listen.
Sarah Vaughan
4/5
Sarah Vaughan is a great example of a person finding their niche. She has a wonderful "jazz" voice. Her music is like how jazz should sound. It is too bad I am so poor with knowing the genre. Sometimes I listen to jazz music all day long, but never really connect names and faces and bands. Nevertheless this is really top knotch!
Bob Marley & The Wailers
5/5
II have said now probably in as many reviews as I have done here, that I have a wildly eclectiic music taste, and while I do have my go to favorites, I can listen (and enjoy) most genres. Reggae is no different, although it does that thing that specific genres do to me naturally, and make me visualize a scene where I might be listening live, or simply place me in a kind of narrative I connect with the music. Reggae and especially Bob Marley's style, smooth and mature, make me want to chill out and walk barefoot in a tropical forest, just off the beach and sit around getting high with a few like minded strangers that become forever friends wiithout a thought about it. And that is a really nice thought I think...
Cocteau Twins
3/5
This is a hard review for me because the genre the Cocteau Twins operates in is my main go to. So there are two things to consider. I have a huge pool of artists floating around to consider, and most of them I view as having "this song" or "that song" I really love, and don't dig deep into their playlists. Also, those I have dug deep on are really quite special to me for whatever reason and I have been swimming in their pools for a long time. I have been viewing the Cocteau Twins mainly from the first pool, and LOVE a few of their songs. On the other hand, after a full album listen, I can see that I could get into this band enough to maybe consider putting them into my first pool after all. It may take a bit of a deeper plunge is all.
The Doors
5/5
The Doors, The Beatles, Pink Floyd... certain bands are part of the musical canon of the 20th century and always will be. If one stops and considers time and place AND the natural abilities of these people it becomes truly remarkable and sensible that they remain so beloved. The Doors must have blown peoples minds when this came out. Of course it would be controversiial, it is almost brutal in its openness. But wow, thiis really truly is a corker!
LCD Soundsystem
5/5
Thank You "One album a Day" (1001albumgenerator.com).
Sometimes word of mouth and the youtube algorythm miss something. I almost alway need a second listen to really get sold on an album. Very rarely, I think I can count on just my fingers, has an album shown up and I just crush the like button on. LCD Soundsystem is literally everything I like in music wrapped in a neat, tight package. I am gobsmacked that I never heard them before, not even a single in fact. But that does not matter, as yesterday, I was introduced by this website... I love love love this stuff!
Led Zeppelin
5/5
Honestly, even if old school rock is not my go to genre, the fact of the matter is that this remains, and stands the test of time, taste, trends, and even after having heard each of these songs a billion times, this is one of the greatest rock and roll albums of all time and will remain so forever. It is hard to imagine what it must have been like to hear this for the first time when it came out.
The Rolling Stones
4/5
The Rolling Stones are what I call an "elite" band. They are among a very few that have been around forever and never fail to be steady and put out good to sometimes great music. I also like Mick Jagger's voice and...
and... I have had a lifelong fascination with the way the band lives their lives. They always stuck together and the crazy Club 54 lifestyles and just a life really lived, and they play on! Amaze...
Flamin' Groovies
3/5
Okee Dokee... So yesterday I listened to The Rolling Stones. Today I listened to this. Unfortunate timing? Not my favoriite genre? IDK. For some reason I felt like it is all "OK," but couldn't wrap my head around why it would be one of the 1001 album must hears? This project has been wonderful, eye opening, interesting, and even these questionable choices give a certain pleasure in the discovery. With this album... it isn't good or bad, it just... like "is." For example, it is like as if we were on a road trip and stopped at some restaurant/ club and they were playing in the background and someone would say, "hey, these guys are pretty good. How is your cheesburger?"
Paul Weller
3/5
This album is probably one of those that is relegated to the second table at the wedding. I hear both Eric Clapton and Leonard Cohen in the music which is a great thing! On the other hand I can opt to listen to either of those musicians directly and kind of skip the middleman. It isn't so much that it is "like" something else as much as it doesn't have enough unqueness on its own to be distinct from something else...
Gary Numan
5/5
EDM, electronica, cyber-punk, techno... synthwave and its assorted sub-genres... it is ALL in large part grandfathered by Gary Numan. This album is from 1979 (!) The overall consistency and lyrical timelessness of this album is amazing. (Also) even though I have not dusted off my Gary Numan CD's in a while... I actually HAVE Gary Numan CD's to begin with!
Sigur Rós
4/5
Oh, this is really quite lovely. Honestly one of the first times I was like "oh no, here we go" and was super pleasantly surprised. This is really nice music and I have them now favorited and will listen more to this new age(y) spiritual folk band. The male leads voice reminds me of Smashing Pumpkins in a way. Nice.
Amy Winehouse
3/5
There is no doubt Amy Winehouse had talent. Her lyrics are very specific and laced with "after-sight is 20/20" wisdom of her untimely demise. She had that strong jazzy voice and it fit her song qualities well. I am angry with those around her who were enablers and profited from her state of being. I am angry that those closest to her were not able to say "you've
gotta' step off this crazy train." And, I am angry with her. Just as I am with so many bright shining stars that take their own lives (intentionally or not). And... I am angry with a system that overvalues worth by dedicaton to work, skills, or financial success and undervalues mental health entirely. Oh but she died young (!) PR gold! Somebody "wins" ...
John Prine
3/5
Interestingly enough, after coming off the Amy Winehouse album, I am seeing a certain "why" in how I feel about certain music and musicians. It isn't like this is "bad" (consider Amy Winehouse, not "bad" either). It is just that it is targeting a certain demographic, and not a big sweeping one, but an addict down one your luck one or, in this case, a life long done you down low and you gotta' just accept your lot in life...
But for those who don't buy it, The bottle does not empty itself. You can't leave a place if you don't get up and go. I don't feel the life sucks then you die thing so much. Taking responsibility is not the same thing as resigning to ones fate (which is never set in stone). So while it is Ok, even decent, I can't really cry over any of it personally.
James Taylor
4/5
Whether by coincidence or matrix, this site has given me essentially three singer songwriters in a row. Amy Winehouse being a talented trainwreck, John Prine is all about the downtrodden country "my pickup truck broke down and my wife left and I don't have the money for booze..." sort of feel. Neither are in any way bad musically and they have thier places to be sure, but now we have James Taylor!
This is what singer/ songwriter is all about. Life without total angst or total hardship. Just about normal people living and getting thrown those curveballs that sometimes graze and sometimes hurt bad. But there remains a hope in his work and a depth that is hard to obtain.
Fairport Convention
3/5
I am on the fence here. I was not personally a big fan of the main singer but found, especially at certain moments, the instrumentals to be really good. Maybe in a way I felt like I didn't have the interest to put a lot of attention into it overall, but at the same time couldn't say it was particularly bad or of any sort of poor quality. Whether it ought be on a list of must hear albums is questionable. This, of course, is always qualfied by the idea that it stands alone and has no special historical value attached. In those cases the essential listenng idea changes. In this case I was not really interested enough to see if Fairpoint Convention has any historical significance. A couple of songs I felt were rather strong. Otherwise...
Soundgarden
4/5
This is a very good album by a very good band. I was there when it dropped and was, as everyone else, rather blown away by it. It has aged well, although the late Chris Cornell actually got even better (!) and in a sense Soundgarden was overshadowed by this. Nevertheless, a major player back in the day and still worthy, extremely worthy to own this album.
Stan Getz
4/5
If one where to ask me to define "lounge" music as I see it, it is like jazz but not quite, contemporary without poppiness... Relaxiing but not background, joyful but not new-age. ... ... OR (!) I could just point to this album and say "yeah, lounge is like... just listen to this." Because this IS lounge at it's best and core. This is so nice and relaxing and fundamentally what we listen to music for in the first place. It doesn't matter if many don't understand the lyrics. You just listen and chill. This is very easy to listen to and really deserves to be on this list of must hear albums!
Gorillaz
4/5
I fully believe that the Gorillaz must be polarizing. Some people must not get them at all, and others, like me, are big fans. I think it would be essential to be good with all things electronic and move towards trip hop and move towards electo-pop without finding it all to jarring. For me it works. For others, IDK? This is one of those albums that I find very satisfying and it shows the absolute huge range this band can operate in. The only reason I will not give this album five stars is because I don't know if it is my favorite album of theirs. I will have to spend the time determining which one is, or not... But this is really good stuff people!
Joy Division
5/5
I have a special relationship with Joy Division. I never am able to place it exactly. But of all the bands and music and styles I love and like and listen to, few particular bands or musicians affect me quite the same as Joy Division. I feel the music more than groove with it. There are only a small handful of bands that affect me like this: where I have to kind of stop what I am doing and just feel the vibe. It is like reading a good book or poem or viewing special art, and for a moment the world kind of stops and you just exist with this connection with the artist(s). There are individual songs that do this, but rarely a band, or album that does. But here it is.
Klaxons
3/5
For me the Klaxons fit that group I speak of that gets relegated to the corner table while better and stronger bands headline. It isn't that they are particulary bad or uninteresting. It is more to do with they are not specifically good or directly interesting.
I would put this band in that pool where you question whether the allbum is a "must listen" or kind of a "yeah, I've heard of them..."
Coldplay
4/5
Coldplay is a great band. Not only that but I had an opportunity to listen up close to a concert and they are really good at the live shows. They put themselves out there and it shows. I think this is a very good representation of them if someone were to be introduced. I think I would rate a greatest hits album probably five stars and a "regular" album well...
Curtis Mayfield
3/5
It took me a while to think about this album. It was not bad or anything even close really. It is quite good actually. Of course it is "supposed to be" although in this case that does not hurt my thinking about it. I think maybe what it is is that while a couple of songs were indeed outstanding, I kind of felt like "yeah, this is Ok." I was never bored but I didn't feel the need for any volume raising or double takes. (with a shout out to the opening song).
Led Zeppelin
5/5
I stand corrected. I had assumed (as I am not a huge "classic rock" fan) that Led Zeppelin IV was the cat's meow for this band. Nope. Turns out that (as I said, not a huge fan of the genre) pretty much Led Zeppelin is one of the best bands in existence and their catalog extends WAY past the "oldies" radio station playlist. Wow! Just WOW! This band IS seriously amazing... I think of some "supergroups" that emerge now and then, that perfect collision of great musicians coming together. But as great as most of the supergroups are, they are largely expected to be so and built on purpose for that effect. I think Led Zeppelin just "happened" naturally and that makes all the difference.
Massive Attack
5/5
I can't give this a rating based on any science, historical, or cultural significance or any logical reasoning. Why? Because for whatever reason, I have a pure love for Massive Attack, the genre, the groove, the vibe... This is not their best album (in a way) but it still falls under that "Oh, you didn't really like this? Welp... That's too bad because to me it is awesome and needs no defending."
Most of the time when listening to an album of the day there is a distinct change between "my" playlist and whatever it was I was listening to and I have two common reactions: "Oh, it is over already" or "thank goodness that is finally done." This album is among the few where I didn't even notice when it ended and my playlist began.
The xx
4/5
Jamie XX is one of my favorite DJ's. In fact I have a couple of his songs in my best ever list. This album has some wavering at first between electro-pop and even a K-pop feel until it finds its deeper groove -- and when it does (!). I think the idea of "unleashing" Jamie's production is the key to The XX's strength. The other musicians are good on their own, but really brought out into the more electronica deeper vibe by Jamie. I think they might have suffered from a too "poppy" sound if not for that marriage. But of course there was, and is that blending, and there are a couple of corkers on this album because of it.
5/5
I have occasionally wondered what happened to U2. They were one of the biggest names all through the 80's and had hit after hit. Joshua Tree is a great great album with no misses. Yet today they are just not known much at all. So I read about it and did some research and it turns out that the always somewhat political band I guess kind of took it too far somehow and lost favor. This is not the first case I have first hand knowledge of where a band gets political or too big for ther Egos and the like. It really really is too bad in this case becuase they are, musically a great band. They were the real deal and should be a true legacy band. Nevertheless, regarding albums, anyone recommending or listening to this album can't do wrong by it and will most certainly find themselves wondering "who ARE these guys!?!"
Green Day
4/5
I bought this album when it came out and liked it a great deal. Still do it turns out. Remarkably if one takes it at face value it speaks a bit of gen X angst. If one digs deeper it reflects on how the gen X "whatever" was not so far off as it seems we cannot politically move forward. I hope for a day when the meanings and lyrics of this album will be novel and odd, but truth be told, just like with NWA, unfortunately it is more relevant than ever...
Aerosmith
3/5
Aerosmith is a hard band for me. I know that they are above the fold and are an A-list band. They ARE great. I just... am kind of indifferent towards them. Like "yeah, they are Ok... That song is pretty great, and that one..." But they don't as a whole drive my in any particular way. I don't seek them out or think I will buy this album. And I am not sure why? They have a good range, they are never boring. They have theiir own sound and it is definitely good... I guess sometimes it is just how it goes.
TV On The Radio
3/5
This is a unique review. I believe I would rate this band higher, in fact, I think I am likely to, once I hear them more and get into them. See, with TV on the Radio, I never even heard a single song of theirs by accident somewhere along the way! So, while I am intrigued and interested in both their style and sound, I am painfully unfamiliar with their work. That means that since this is the very first time I ever heard them, I don't know quite what to think yet. I have a feeling someday I would revisit this review and go a bit higher. But for now I will play it safe and call them a strong worthy band.
X-Ray Spex
3/5
This is actually prretty great. I am definitely a punk fan and this fits right in there as it should. I am surprised sometimes by how many bands and musicians I never heard of. This band also has a bonus of having a sound that could have been made yesterday for some reason. Genres like punk don't necessarily age as some others might as it is, and many of the themes are still hanging in the air today. The hard part here is that while it is varied and interesting, the lead singers super strong voice, by default, kind of makes the songs blend together sometimes. I found myself semi-consciously looking at how many songs were left as I began getting antsy towards the end. Nevertheless! Worthy and interestiing, especially if you are into anything punk or want to hear a non auto tuned voice for a while!
Oasis
3/5
I always liked Oasis and was around when they hit it big, then fell off the apple cart by the lead singer becoming an ego-maniac and they kind of got cancelled before it became a thing. Nevertheless I actually do think they are a good band and while not "as big as the Beatles" (which is what the lead singer decided to declare...) They are hit-makers. This album is no different and has a few great and memorable songs. Thus while this album is a very good "must listen" for this project, I am on the fence as to whether I feel bad they are not "known" too much today or whether they should have eaten a bit of humble pie and kept going.
Talking Heads
3/5
Doing reviews has certain traps. i am a long term film critic and have a deep, objectively sensible system in place to reduce bias and increase overall consistency. With music it is more seat of the pants but I still try to be objective as possible. This is why, for instance, while I don't even like Metallica all that much, I gave their album a high rating in knowing it is canon and deserviing (although personally that was the first and last time in a LONG time that I listened to them). Thus someone scanning my ratings might think I really like classic rock or metal but I actually don't favor either really. I personally like the Talking Heads and the alternative genre more. Yet this album suffers a certain fate that many do: It sits among others that while all unique in their own way, is not a particular "must listen" if one is not a superfan. They grew as a band from here and it was fun to listen to, but it feels like a band in development album.
Mudhoney
3/5
Mudhoney gives me an old school small club raw feel that I can't explain outside of a good vibe feeling, mellow, groove with the music sort of apres-ski sort of thing. They also have a strong punk vibe and a good alt-fun without a big ego sort of feeling. Notice that this band is, for me, all about feeling, and not so much about stellar "forever" music. I think some bands are destned for this sort of role. I don't want to sound mean by saying "almost famous" but it is not mean because they have that "cool" everyone is going to like them even if they are not in the spotlight vibe and seem to perfectly fine with that. Truth be told my comment effects the actually famous worse, as they are marketed as so amazing and awesome and the next best thing but burn out quickly, while bands like Mudhoney will always be worth a listen.
Living Colour
4/5
Hmm... Living Colour. I have always thought Living Colour was awesome. They are a great band. Perhaps now and then a song seems to go a bit retro, but for the most part time has not dulled their edges. I do wonder (without bothering to research it right now) what actually happened to them? They were an exciting new thing for a while, and the songs here reflect that, but they are not exactly a household name anymore? Huh. Anyhow, this album, and band overall, is well well worth the time to give a listen to.
King Crimson
2/5
This is one of those reviews where I can't let my personal ttastes override any sense of historic value. I am aware that KC was an innovative and early pioneer of PROG rock, one of my favorite genres, and that they are musically solid. But I can't, and never really could, get "into" KC. Just not my thing. If I gave them a three star "decent/ good" rating it would have to only rely on what I feel history would overall demand, not really what I feel myself, and honestly, I think that those who have not heard them before or for those who don't remember their sound, MEH. I could have skipped it.
Solomon Burke
2/5
When I was a teenager a lot of my eclectic style was being helped by my dad. He listened to rock, country, pop, jazz, and a healthy dose of folk/ singer songwriter stuff. He liked some of the stuff I listened to and I liked quite a bit of the stuff he did. One day an "oldy" came on the radio and the DJ made a deal of it. My dad said "I was around when this song came out. It sucked then, and it still sucks." The song in question was not a good song, I don't even remember what it was. Then my dad added something: "Just because a song is a 'classic' or an oldy or whatever, that does not make it automatically good."
When I listened to this album, as a person who likes jazz and blues and this sort of genre, I had the feeling that it was... Ok. Nothing blew me away, I never paused and said "yeah, there it is." I am sure it is fine or whatever; but that is the problem. I won't remember it specifically and I don't want to need a companion booklet to understand why it is supposed to be great.
Elvis Presley
4/5
Of course I have "heard" Elvis. I know the memes and the cultural phenomena and the whole thing. What I didn't do was grow up in that era, or know his catalog of music. I do like his movies, but I am not sure I paid full attention to the music. So my musical exposure to Elvis is often limited to snippets and soundbites heard "in the wild" or in pieces in movies and the like. Listening to a full album I am astonished by his range, in his voice and style-wise. His lyrics range from playful to tragic and they don't have that all too common pretense to BE sad songs. He makes it easy and when this album ended and my playlist started (automatically as it is) I was somewhat disappointed not to hear a few more "Elvis songs."
Jerry Lee Lewis
5/5
There were three things going through my mind while listening to this. One was "this was WHEN!?!" Two was "this guy really poured himself out for his audience," and three was "this is a rare gem."
I wish they had allowed the recording to cover a bit more of the audience and his interactions to make it all the more personalized, but still just to be able to hear this piece of history is really something special. This happened before I was born and still I feel like it is an essential listen for today's music lovers. It is truly timeless.
The Beach Boys
3/5
The Beach Boy's are a tough band for me to rate. I feel like they are up and down with me. Sometimes I sense the strong visual California surf vibe and sometimes ... I guess I will say it is "less fun?" I love that they sing about the environment, I love that they are original and competent. I think maybe that they are a band that got to the head table by being quite specific and niche. Like if they dared stray too far off their strongest vibe they would be second best. Some bands have massive talent and range, others have massive energy and just blow away the listener by it. The Beach Boys are a bit quieter, like someone's Aunt's favorite band. "Not that she has bad taste, just ..."
The xx
5/5
Normally when II do this rating I feel obligated, as a critic, to use that sort of objective theory to justify my ratings. It makes sense for two reasons: One is that just saying "I liked/ disllked this" and just a number has little to no meaning to the reader, and two, there is value in learning about the artists and musicians and understanding their place in history as a part of being part of this human world and it is niice to know, if one diid not, about why and how a particualar musician might have a place (at what I
call) the head table.
With XX I have to admit it matters less the story and more how this band, this genre, these artists just touch my soul. Often this musiic is just pure emotion for me. I can't explain it, but perhaps sometimes that is OK too! Just like that kind of movie that you like for no apparent reason other than it feels just like a pleasure to watch, I love love LOVE this band!
Run-D.M.C.
4/5
It took me a long time to appreciate the mix between rock and rap that this album highlights. But my musical understanding of genre and the various fusions of it have shown me by now that there is no "mistake" or compromise or selling out, etc. Run-DMC is funny, relevant, no doubt classic and iconic as a band and thier music does well against the test of time. This album is one of those that makes me hesitate when nastalgic and generation specific comments are made about music not being what it used to and all that. Generally I find it cringe, but you know ? ... Who is the contemporary Run DMC? This also goes in reverse, Yes, great music drops every day! But don't get overly smug about just HOW great something is until you take a little trip back in time.
Joni Mitchell
3/5
I finally figured it out So I think Joni Mitchell has both an amazing, real, and pure voice. I also think she is deeply poetic and draws out a lot of feeling in her lyrics. I am always likely to pause or stop whatever I am doing to listen out one of her songs. Nevertheless, at the end of the day I am stuck by the paradox: "Yeah, she is great!" followed by "No, I don't have any of her albums." And this 1001 album site has helped me to understand why! There are no drops, beats, tonal changes, primal screams, ... in short, there is no drama. It is sweet, gentle, sometimes poignant, but she is best if listened to as a blend, on the radio, or in a mix or some other way than a continued line up of songs (although all bets are off if one had the chance to see her live!) In real life, that voice... Yeah.
Elvis Costello
3/5
Elvis Costello coming on the wings of a Joni Mitchell review is actually perfect. See, I really like both these musicians BUT neither of them are staples in my archive. I have spent time thinking about that, and other musicians over time that I kind of "let go." Elvis Costello has a few songs that are on my all time favorites list. So why is he not himself on the short list? Well, lyrically he is as poetic as MItchell, and his musical style is unique and interesting. I think maybe it is because when casually listening it is hard to make out his lyrics. There is an old joke about how they made a mixed album with "songs you can hum to." All of them chosen because somewhere along the way the lyrics become hard to follow so instead of singing, you kind of "hum" along. I think one must really HEAR what Elvis Costello is singing to FEEL his true power. Luckily there are plenty of people who don't have this struggle. Too bad for me.
Belle & Sebastian
3/5
Interesting that sometimes I come across a band that I am completely unfamiliar with. Not even that I don't recognize the band's name or the singers, etc. but I have never heard a single song from this album in my life. This makes my review both perfect and flawed at the same time. Perfect because gone is any nostalgia or sentiment to cloud my judgements (which does happen sometimes) But flawed because without having a few listens, allowiing music to "grow on us" we can be a bit too harsh, too quick to judge (literally). So I focused on the feeliings and a bit on the musical qualities found here. The feel I get is a kind of calm, sex positive and open future vibe. (Weiirdly specific but yeah...) and musically they are fair to middling and one can grow either to like them more or pass them by with equal regard.
Frank Sinatra
4/5
Strange how of course everyone "knows" Frank Sinatra, and a few can sing a few bars of his songs. But after listening to this album from start to finish, I have to admit his fame is well deserved AND as astonishing as it may seem, his lyrics still remain relevant today. It is much more about mood and feeling than I had ever considered as I have only been exposed to his music via film or other scenario based cultural artifacts. But just alone, listening... It makes you hard pressed not to wonder, if it is true, who exactly IS making music like this today?
Lou Reed
4/5
Lou Reed is a pioneer. I always felt he has a spoken word punk style. II think he is special, like in a special category that lies outside mainstream but is of critical importance to the entire music world. Artists who are hard to put in a box because they make their own. Many musicans over many years have broken molds and designed theiir own boxes, but few can claim their place at their own table right up next to the bigwigs. The only way to understand this review is to listen to this album. Then it will come clear that where else is he supposed to fit in?
Bill Evans Trio
4/5
Bill Evans is clearly a master at work. This is the kind of music one can listen to all day while focusing on work or whateter activities they might be doing without any jarring, pressing need, or sudden urge to turn things down or up or off. Perfect lounge music 10/10. Now... if there is a problem with lounge music, this kind of lyric free soft jazz, it is that it is so very steady, so clean and functionally neutral, that outside of its calming, mellow affect, it really has no emotional impact or challenges. I will grant this album four stars because after it was done I let the youtube matrix play his next, even longer album because it fit my mood as background. However, if one is seeking a bit more emotion or thrill or variety, you might want to leave this one for a day you have had enough stress and just need to calm things down.
Pixies
3/5
The Pixies are a band that I have alway personally liked. The fuzzy genre fits my personality, they have high energy, they are weird enough in a way to be able to get away with seeming slightly unhinged, as if they dare the audience to keep following. But that IS post-punk, grunge, hard edged new wave, dirty club, absolutely political with denial, whatever you wish to grab from it. I think that for a lot of new or unfamiiliar listeners the very idea that they are so difficult to pin down can be daunting. As far as their place at the table, I don't think they would giive two shits one way or another. For me that makes them all the more appealing, but I can't speak for others even those I may well respect. Thus my final thought is that I am not sure the Pixies are for "everyone" but someone is going to think this is a gem.
Todd Rundgren
3/5
I may have needed an album like this as a base. It sometimes gets hard to rate music because it can change based on way too many factors, genre, consistency, artisic merit, lyrical quality, historic value, number of people already doing the same thing, sometimes even the person themselves may be controversial... and I only named the tip of an iceberg! So I feel stuck sometimes, or feel I could have made a mis-judgement. So an album like this is necessary now and then. This album is a perfect three star album! It is "good." It is "solid and well done." It is worth listening to but not essential, it has a couple of great songs and a couple of less memorable ones, it represents a 70's rock vibe without any strings. It is like a movie you saw many years ago, liked, but only bother to watch it if it comes out on TV now and then. In a word, it is a "three."
Common
3/5
I like hip hop. I think Common has a place in the low fi necessarily honest and artistic lyrical department. I like hip hop that makes me feel energy, a deep call to action, and for moments this album does that. On the other hand it is somewhat low key and kind of "too mellow" to cause me to stand up and be counted. I suppose I consider hip hop the urban version of punk, which in both cases means rebellious, angry and satisfying as we team up against the oppressors. Here, we have the anger, but it is more desperate, a losing battle that no one seems to care about, a reflection of the truth of today unfortunately. There is socio-poliitical value to be found here for sure, but musically. It is "OK."
Fleetwood Mac
5/5
I mean... I tihnk I love the idea that critics panned this album when it came out. Makes one wonder what the heck kind of music was otherwise being produced at the time? Cause as far as I can tell thiis is ... What? Are you kidding me? Those critics must be those idiots who bitch on line all the time about how they don't make music like they used to, forgetting that they bitched about it back then too!
Seriously? This is ... it doesn't get much better than this!
Duran Duran
4/5
Rio is and was a mega-hit album. In fact Duran Duran was one of those bands I loved to hate until my Dad and I started watching a late night show called "Night-Flight" that showed more adult oriented music videos and Duran Duran was a staple. It wasn't that I didn't like their music, which speaks for itself (just listen), but they became super famous and I was rebelling against "the man" and it seemed they had gone corporate. Nevertheless, I "secretly" always liked Duran Duran and this album remains a pretty good example of why. Also, I notice that unlike a pretty good chunk of 80's music, this has aged well and does not automatically conjure up the "nastalgia" dreamers.
Fever Ray
4/5
I live in the same city as Fever Ray started. We have a good music base here and quite a few people find fame. It is special.
Also, I have never heard of Fever Ray even with the youtube recommendation algorythm and internet radio and ... my just being part of that pseudo-genre that they are in. Needless to say I was very excited to make this discovery and once again thank the 1001 album web-site for this experience.
Funny how some of my favorite music will have like 10000 views in 7 years and a local band within my interest has millions of views over dozens of songs and I had never heard (or maybe offhand that one song one time) anything from them... The music world is so weird. I love it.
Neil Young
3/5
Argh.... It had to happen sooner or later. I am ... not going to lie. I am a fairly outspoken person. If I have a belief I can back up with science or some kind of real world proof, I may not let go. Some musicians, regardless of their musical quality can "lose me" by their political or other agenda policies. Neil Young is NOT one of those!! I have no reason not to think I would personally like the guy. So now I am caught. I have no reason to dislike what amounts to a guy who has truly classic hits and a massive head of the table following... But... But.... I . don't . like . Neil Young's voice all that much... Sorry. I really am. I have two friends that come to mind: One that hates on RUSH and the other on Tom Petty because they don't like their voices. The good news is I am going to temper my own feelings with my advice to them: "Surely you don't hate ALL their music because of that one thing?" And I see that Neil Young lyrically, instrumentally, and just overall IS actually a master of his craft. I do not like Neil Young's voice. But for those that might, I think you are going to like this album.
Frank Black
3/5
I was around when Frank Black "hit it big" with headache and a couple other tunes. To me, back then I would listen to the radio, often college alternative stuff, and after listening to a couple good songs from the same artist I would take the plunge and buy the CD. Sometimes it was a win and I loved the band or musician and still do. On the other hand, there were those where, disappointingly, the "hits" on the radio were the only songs that actually were all that interesting... I never bought Frank Black back in the day, but after this listen, I would probably put him into the "oh well, I guess I bought the album for a couple of songs" category. Also, not to bad mouth his style or whatever, but he sounds "like" a lot of bands at the time, and ends up for me not quite at the head table.
Peter Gabriel
4/5
After rating what essentially is a "one hit wonder" revisiting this gem was a real treat. I remember when this came out and some of the songs started getting radio play and I was thinking it might be worth checking out. Eventually I picked it up and realized that it is one of those "good from start to finish" or "no throwaways" albums. I believe I had this on tape and had not heard it for decades, but here it is and yeah, it is truly a great album. Peter Gabriel in general is one of those musicians that the young generations should be exposed to and get to know. This one would be worthy this list, even if it were 101 albums you should hear.
Elton John
3/5
Of course it is no thing to say Elton John is legend. Deservedly so. Even here we have classic wonderful songs that will continue to stand the test of time. We also have songs that I have never or rarely ever heard on an album from 1971. I think this is telling. I have spoken of this before: a voice and a piano can be sublime. The same voice and piano over and over however, can become... I don't know. I don't want to say boring but maybe one would need to be a quite specific super fan to hit repeat and listen over and over. Actually for me this defines his career. A huge personality, beloved, huge hits, beloved, and a lot of "stuff" in-between.
The Specials
3/5
So. SKA. I like reggea and big beat, upbeat, high tempo dance style music. I see it as one of those genres you would here at a summer outdoor park and everyone gets into the dance and fun and there are vintage cars and clever costumes... Of course it would be fun!
I think maybe that is the trouble... See, that IS where this band shines. It is definitely a live, open, high spirit, high energy, go for it boozy blowout band. It is hard to zone out or tone down if you are trying to casually listen on a Tuesday afternoon. It doesn't allow for doing anything else. It is like the difference between a good movie you have to focus on and an OK movie that doesn't challenge you as much. Sometimes you just choose not to watch the better movie because it is requires too much head space.
Joni Mitchell
5/5
Joni Mitchell is a rare human. If you listen to her lyrics you realize that she is putting herself out there, open, vulnerable, and raw. That is (to me) so lacking today. That kind of intimacy is precious. I am probably so very different than her in so many ways that AI would not put us on the same matrix. Yet I feel her lyrics, they are my feelings in many ways. Sometimes paradoxical, like some may hear the words but not understand what she is saying. Some see her as sad or melancholy, I see her strength and humanity. I think there is a lesson here; in vulnerability comes strength. Words can be twisted and poisoned but truth is steadfast. Also this is a GREAT road album.
Tom Tom Club
4/5
Huh. Ok, I have heard a couple of these songs but never did I "hear of" the Tom Tom Club. It could be that I heard them in nightclubs or on the radio on occassion, IDK. The thing is that I like this style. It is hard to pinpoint in a way, but the beats and the energy are just easy for me to groove on. Sometimes people spend years searching for "that song" from back in the day, others, like me in this case, stumble on an older tune that they did not realize they were missing. Even better news in this case is the rest of the album is just as interesting as the stuff I was familiar with. Good find for me!
Daft Punk
5/5
Daft Punk is what I would call a foundational band. Canon is another word I have used to describe similar grandparents of style, those that define genre. It is both ironic and coincidental to say that "Homework" is actually really good homework if you want to understand early spinoffs to techno and electronica. Very few bands can make this claim, and the French have many positive examples surrounding electronic music, so Daft Punk is definitely a step up on a world scale. Yeah, I certainly didn't plan on spending my entire day grooving to any one band, but after this album ended, I just kinda kept the playlist going...
Electric Light Orchestra
3/5
I am a little too young to have been around for ELO's heyday. Of course they were still known and still producing music in the 80's and that is when I discovered them and really liked them. However, by then I heard the "hits" mainly and was a big fan of their greatest hits albums and all of that. I had little to no exposure to their mainstream, full album playlists. So, I was excited when this album came up in my queue. After listening though... I don't know what I expected? Maybe some gems I had not heard or a kind of "Oh yeah! This song!" string of hits? But what I got was largely a relatively obscure album with little heard songs and a few "I might know this ones" Luckily I like the ELO signature sound overall and I am not saying the album was not OK to listen to, It was good. I think it is probably something better reserved for a long term specific fan of the band than a casual listener like myself.
Elvis Presley
4/5
Elvis always surprises me. I know the whole old cult status thing that still crops up now and then and how he was a real icon of the heyday of rock-n-roll and all that, but ... I don't typically listen to Elvis by default or really "know" his catalog. Yet this is the second album I have heard on this site and both times been boggled by his range, depth, and actual legit crooner/ entertainer level. He IS the real deal and I hope newer generations keep him in the loop.
CHIC
4/5
This is great! I had not realized that CHIC was "that band" on several of the songs. It is not deep or political, socially conscious or meaningful, but it is very fun! It is actually amazingly fun! If you just want to be happy this should be added to anyone's playlist.
Nick Drake
4/5
Honestly I had never heard of Nick Drake. If I ever heard his music it would have been in a disconnected on the radio sort of way. I am sold! Damn, I really liked this. A bit short maybe for a full on experience, but maybe it is also because it went by fast. I subscribed to his youtube channel and he will be on my regular playlist. Great discovery for me!
Kind of a singer songwriter vibe with a pop appeal... mellow, nice. Maybe like easy listening but not so easy as to put one to sleep. Yeah, it is definitely worth a listen.
David Gray
4/5
David Gray. Another name to some lovely music. Very happy to re-discover this wonderful music. Interesting that at times I speak about albums with thoughts about finding gems in an otherwise fair to middling mix, or a one hit wonder, OR, in this case, a solid, even quite good base with some absolute corkers spread throughout. I had no idea that this music I have always loved is by some guy named David Gray, but now that I do -- Nice! I think the two things that make this album worth listening to are those forever wonderful hits and the rest of the album which may well hit on indiividual favorites without any doubt.
Ian Dury
3/5
I enjoyed this album. It is not serious in many ways, although it is well done and professional, it seems more like Ian Dury is in this for fun. And if so, well done! It was fun! I laughed out loud several times, sometimes in the same song! I can't imagine outside of good fun that anyone would be a super fan, simply because it is not... different enough from similar sounding work that is just a step up, and it has a rawness that sometimes throws one off a bit. Anyhow, pretty good, and if someone is in the mood for a fun thing to listen to...
Tangerine Dream
3/5
I like new age. Obviously in this case especially, it is a spin-off or part derived from electonic/ techno/ synthwave, or in some ways pioneers those genres. It doesn't matter because this band is most certainly a pioneering band and what came first is mute. Now, with that said I find that while yes, I know they are originals and important, thier music is more of a good effort than timeless. Perhaps it is the specific genre itself and "how" one takes in new age: it is purely emotional, and there is some unbelievably good new age out there that effects the heart strongly. I felt that while this was perfectly enjoyable it is mildly mood setting it never really made me stop and consider my entire human existence.
Black Sabbath
3/5
At first I was lke "ah, come on" because I sometimes struggle with "classic rock" and the world built around it. On the other hand by the second song I was more "well, this is actually quite entertaining and well done." After a while Ozzy gets to you and the whole thing feels pretty fresh because the decades of overplayed songs just are not on this early album. Plus, it is not hard to like Black Sabbath as they are varied and interesting enough across the album and not stuck on one riiff, which so often seem to be the case with certain "classic" rock bands. I suppose I need to be more specific in what I am getting sick of, vs just bad mouthing a whole genre. And from now on, so I will. This was actually pretty good and worth a listen even if you question your loyalty to "classic rock."
Sade
3/5
Sade suffers from a peculular problem with fans like me. I REALLY like her music --- One song at a time. Ok, maybe two or three, but every time I have ever sat down to listen to all of any of her albums all the way through... frankly (?) I get kinda almost (but not quite) bored. Ok. Now. Some bands are kinda boring because they are one hit wonders or generally not interesting. Others are kinda boring because they have great music intermixed with fodder. Sade IS quite great all around and some of her stuff is sublime. It is to do with the similar sound and vibe. Great one song at a time or two, she needs (and ought BE) in a mix where she will be one of the loved.
Q-Tip
3/5
I went into this album feeling judgmental. I was kind of in a specific mood and was "oh, I don't want a rap album right now." But Q-tip goes way beyond that and it was evident from the first song. Lyrically, instrumentally, and just overall Q-tip is smooth, silky smooth at times and their hip-hop groove is undeniably pleasureable. This album was over WAY before I was ready to stop listening. Yes, at first, the silly name threw me... but I, as well as anyone on this planet, ought to know not to judge a book by its cover, and Q-tip is just ... mmmm...
The White Stripes
4/5
The thing is ... About the White Stripes ...
For some reason I have always felt that the White Stripes are way too simple, too basic, too not serious...
Yet they are right up there with my favorires. They make me smile. I kinda love the White Stripes actually. Even their sad songs make me feel good, kinda like Joy Division or certain other EMO bands, but the Stripes are like a mix of old school hard rock and post punk grunge or something. They really are simple, but not formulated, and it works. It really really works!
The Byrds
3/5
I notice that there are bands that define eras and bands that are timeless. Listening to the Byrds you feel the 60's vibe throughout, if one is prone to nastalgia or those sorts of throwback feelings, the Byrds will give you that in droves. They are in good company and many wonderful bands have this affect. However, ALL the truly great bands that stand the test of time are what I call "timeless." These are the bands that you can hear for the first time today and think it could have been recorded yesterday. This does not mean anything bad for the Byrds or any other era specific band, it simply means that if you listen to this album you ARE listening to a 60's band performing 60's music. It is good -- It is simply specific.
The Temptations
3/5
I accidentally came into this one with too high expectations knowing some of The Temptations work. I don't know why, but I found it sort of... like too basic. It wasn't quite energized enough or poignant enough or canon setting. In short, without offically badmouthing a good and talented band, it was sort of MEH overall. I think this is a classic example of a well known band that has fabulous hits that also made lots of other albums for true fans, but not casual listeners. It is like an old joke about people going home after a holiday "Yeah, it's been fun! It's been nice! ... Not much fun or very nice but yeah..." And so to does art imitate art and while this is no doubt someones all time favorite, that someone is a super fan.
Nas
3/5
I like hip hop. It is halfway techno, trip hop, electronic... and in this case surprisingly fun lyrically. At first I was way into it. At first.
Now, maybe I am going through a tough personal phase, or am generally impatient lately or or or... OR, maybe it is the case that once again, listening to one or two songs is super refreshing but a whole album gets kind of redundant. In this case it is NOT the lyrics or the subject matter or anything that way, it is the same voice, same groove, same vibe sort of thing that eventually made me look at how much longer it was going to "take" to finish up.
With all that said, this is astonishingly good for a 19 year old!! Wow!
Funkadelic
5/5
OK! Rare and unexpected thing here... I LOVE this stuff!!
What? I cried, laughed, and had to stop everything else I was doing simply to listen to this piece of joy. I am not certain, but pretty sure that at one point in my life I might not have given Funkadelic a listen at all, via unseen judgement of genre or whatever. Yeah, the title (and title song) has an underlying sort of yuckiness to it. But that is a trick, a ruse, and it (and the title song) are magnificent!
This is pure joy! The whole album.
Paul Simon
4/5
One of my (even potentially in my top three) albums of all time is Paul Simon's Graceland. It is a wonderous work of art. But this was no "one off" album and Hearts and Bones proves that. This is very well written and of course performed. Not sure why it got panned, but than again, so did certain Fleetwood Mac albums and no doubt many many others that the critics had no idea what they had at the time. Paul Simon is a gem. He is one of those people in a specific field that others just fundamentally understand is a GOAT. There is no feasible argument. Just shut up and listen.
Shuggie Otis
3/5
Shuggie Otis suffers a fate more common than I had realized before I began this music critic jouney: At the wedding of life you have the head table, than the closer ones, slowly moving towards the back of the venue. Now! Nobody is an enemy, he is a good musician, entertaining, professional, no problem. He IS at the wedding. The trouble is that he is somewhere in the middle tables and gets a bit lost in the crowd.
It seems a lot of bands, even ones I have always liked, suffer this fate. Yet they do have superfans and respect anyhow, and it gives an appreciation for how hard it really is to rise to the top in the industry.
John Lennon
4/5
I speak often about musicians in a metaphoric sense regarding where they fit into the overall scheme of professional musicians. I use a wedding plan as the schema. The head table is where the bride and groom hold their court with best men and bridesmaids, the front few tables are close famiily and friends, second row good friends, third row is family that politely gets invited and friends and guests of friends and soforth. With musicians, sometimes they are prolific, such as John Lennon. Here we have a quandary. Where to put him? Well, this is kind of a trick question because unlike many musicians who are "known" for a specific band or act, and go out on their own or do side projects with others -- Which make it so they might be seated at different tables depending, John Lennon has ALWAYS been seated at the head table. Life was cruel when they took him from us.
OutKast
3/5
I am beginning to feel a bit of pressure. Pressure to be a bit more harsh and specific with hip hop. Why? Because I generally like it and thus, am more likely to say "yeah, this is good" and just leave a good rating. But by now I think, "ah, but there is a LOT of hip hop out there and there has to be a pecking order." Luckily for OutKast, I think they are pretty smooth, I laughed a lot at the "breaks" and the general feel of the lyrics. So yeah, pretty good. ... ... I told myself I would not speak much of singles. After all, we are looking at whole albums here. But there is a song on this album that I was not ready for. Still ain't. You will know it when you hear it. It is soul crushing and devastating. It is like one of those movies that is just too hard to take a second time around. But (!) it shows the true depth of these fine artists and for that, they deserve a shout out.
Brian Eno
3/5
I realize that Brian Eno is a pioneer in Electronica, and I am a super fan. However, I tried to think of this album from a more "just some person thinking about listening to an original electronica style album." And with that, I think it is probably heard as a little strange. It is very different and I think it helps to understand that nobody was doing this, or even more so, daring to to this. Brian Eno put this out there knowing some of the audience was going to be unsure about it. I would say that if you are not me, you might still have that view. I can't say it is bad, because of what it is and represents, just as well I can't say it is a must hear just because I am a superfan.
The Boo Radleys
3/5
Boo Radley was a particular character. As a character Boo Radley was a misunderstood shut in, sort of an extreme introvert; pre-internet. Yes, he becomes a hero at the end but for the most part remained on the margins. The Boo Radleys, like their namesake, have hero qualities and a couple of good moments in the sun, but generally, as a HUGE college radio fan back in the day can attest -- they more often than not kind of sat in the background as other more well known and popular bands slipped forward. Again. (I almost sigh) they are a very good, even top notch band. It's just that so were a lot of bands, especiially of the same era. Revisiting this album makes me feel exactly the same as I did then: they kind a sort of remind you of OTHER bands that more easily come to mind.
The Jam
3/5
My go to cut and paste comment also goes to The Jam, at least in this album. Yup, they are talented and energetic and yeah... They are OK. And now my : But so were lots of similar bands at the same time so they end up somewhere in the middle of a talented and not uninteresting pack. The hardest thing I do as a critic is realize much of popular music is actually pretty good, regardless of genre, era, or where it comes from. But it also doesn't mean that because of any or even all those things that I have to suddenly elevate them to some special status. (Contrarily, I try not to let politics influence my favoring or not of MOST musicians). Anyway, there is none of that here, The Jam are fine. and yeah, somewhere fair to middling.
Fugees
3/5
An odd thing happened for me with the Fugees. When they came out I was a fan and really liked their groove. But with the boom in hip hop and the sort of vibe this band puts out I think they ... well, it is hard to put my finger on so I am going to go for it like this: I feel like they are in some way over-produced. Like they are "too perfect" and professional and there are no mistakes and everything is neat and clean. What I love about music is when it is "real" more raw and open and everything isn't perfect. Listening to this album it is like, "yeah it is good, but where is the ... like energy underneath it?" It misses the passion of what comes after in a lot of ways. I am blaming the packaging, the commercialization, NOT the band itself.
Count Basie & His Orchestra
4/5
OK, Wow! Not my go to genre. Big band. I do love a nice jazzy background when I study, but often go with a more contemporary style, more smoky cafe. Yet this stuff is "alive" and energetic and frankly, amazing! Wow! One thing I can do to know I like an album is when I need to take a break and I unconsciously pause the music instead of letting it play on in the background. When I came aware I had done this on this album I realized how much I really enjoy it. This is still niche for me, but if I am working on something boring or last minute, I can absoulutely see coming here and just letting the music energize my last bits of effort. To me this is like the "back in the day" version of big beat techno.
The Fall
3/5
OK. I grew up LIVING the post-punk, punk scene. I used to go every weekend to the L&G Club in New London Connecticut and watch all sorts of psedo to genuine punk acts. I LOVE several of the old school hardcore punk artists, even went to see Billy Idol as an old man and it was still so amazing... Anyhow, sure, The Fall has the right sound, the right sort of singer, the right "feel" overall, but somehow... IDK? They are like... "Yeah, listen to this song and it is like punk is." But somehow it is not "Punk." I think it is the heart maybe? The real social and political "fuck the system" punk that makes it so magical. It is just sort of middle of the road, punk by the numbers. No offense. Some of the songs work. But the album is 41 songs long and it just becomes a drag...
Wild Beasts
4/5
I did not look up Wild Beasts as I listened to figure out their origin stories or even what genre they are technically in. I was too busy just listening and enjoyiing the sound. Odd how from song to song you "hear" for example, The Smiths, or various other band vibes, all the while they go on being unique. No idea who they are or where they are now, but this is really quite refreshing and generally a pleasure to listen to.
Kanye West
4/5
Kanye West is very likely struggling with a diagnosable mental illness. He is not OK and really ought not be in the public spotlight. However, he is also a brilliant musician and it is really necessary to compartmentalize his music from his ... whatever the rest of his life may be. Certain musicians put their POLITICS into their music. I am not even going to imagine Kanye can not automatically feed his emotional states into his music, but that is what makes it what it is. An insane sort of beauty. Just in so long as you don't focus on the man, and just focus on the music, everything will be OK!
Iron Maiden
4/5
True confessions. I am a Gen Xer and never listened to Iron Maiden. Just not my scene. Around the time I would have, I was into industrial college alternative radio stuff. And so it went, my whole life and just not a real solid listen.
Yup, not my go to genre, metal, hard rock... But I gotta' say, holy moly this band is frickin' great! I mean it IS very specific. It is not skating between genres or playing any tricks. This is hardcore classic metal mania full stop. Wow... consider myself schooled. And glad for the lesson!
Beatles
4/5
The Beatles, it is not a real argument, are the greatest pop/ rock band that ever was, and likely will be. Now to be sure there are lots of super great bands that came after, but I think it is to do with an especially rare talent: they have a signature sound but they sound "different" throughout each song they perform. Michael Jackson had this talent, Fleetwood Mac... The Rolling Stones... Notice that these are all GOAT worthy bands. Yet The Beatles have something in the lyrics, something so raw and real, each and every song, so different the mood and the "feelings" you get. From fists in the air, to trippin' out on the shag rug, to crying over lost loves... it's all there and it is simple. Unbelievable. Revolver is not my favorite of theirs, but it is ... an album from the greatest band ever so...
New York Dolls
2/5
I knew this would eventually happen. My propensity to give out three stars and have that mean "OK but Meh" to "Yeah, this is actually pretty good!" is finally here to burn me. Because there is nothing "wrong" with the New York Dolls, no technical faults, the musicians are solid, lyrics... But the punk movement has a serious side to it. Even the songs that were purposefully a bit tongue in cheek were laced with anti-establishment, rebellious edges. It was a social movement. I think of post-punk and Rage against the Machine and the "fuck you I won't do what you tell me" lyric that became more and more dead serious and rage inducing. We demand change! But with the Dolls? I never got that sense of seriousness, it is as if they thought "yeah, we can do this" and had fun and all but was any of it real? It is just not there for me.
Isaac Hayes
4/5
I do not know, nor diid I look up any sort of cultural artifacts or side stories about Isaac Hayes so I could listen directly and judge solely by his music. I had an idea he was hugely popular and a household name in the 70's but figured I would let his talents speak to me and not any social stories.
My impession? This guy is legend and a step above most. Sitting right there at the head table. His depth, soul, spoken word, connection with audience... I mean what? Pure. I would just say Isaac Hayes is pure. There may be many reasons he is a household name but the only one I needed was to hear this album. Thank you for that!
The Strokes
4/5
For some reason, and I mean this from an almost harsh point of view, I have always been a big fan of The Strokes. I don't think they are musical geniuses, I do not think they are crushing people emotionally, they are, in a way, not really all that special. But there you go. It is something that is infectious about them that makes it so, like I did yesterday, listen to thiis album, and then a couple of more hours more of them. Sometimes a band comes along, and like a movie you love but you "know" isn't very good on the big scale, I just really like this band.
4/5
Wow. I have always liked PJ Harey but never really paid full attention past radio play. I kinda took her as a militant feminist type for some reason or other. But listening now I don't see or hear that much at all. Now to be sure, I am an academic feminist, but as a transgender person I find things get bristly when the feminist becomes something more radical and hardcore and that is definitely not feminism. Perhaps people also change over time and temper their ways a bit. I have no idea of PJ Harvey's arc. At any rate, I found this extremely listenable and rather a joy to rediscover.
De La Soul
3/5
This is hard for me to review. I am a true fan of hip/hop and I definitely feel the vibe in this. But I have to be careful to say what I mean now... I think that De La Soul is a very solid band, and they should be respected and they are likeable. I get why they have a rabid fanbase. They are fun, interesting, laugh out loud at times, and have great surprising mixes thrown in now and then. However, punk and hip/hop share a common root value in being somewhat anti-establishment, somewhat political, sometimes emotional... I got the sense, after 23 songs (!) that De La Soul intended to keep it light and for me, it is a fine choice but I was hoping for that little extra...
Laura Nyro
3/5
I was really feeling stress to come up with a review of this album. The issue, hitting it straight on, is that it hits me as very directly fair to middlng. Her voice is "good" the lyrics "solid" the instrumentals "professional" but I don't personally connect directly, as if it is something I would have in the background while I do other things or just sort of "yeah, I know who Laura Nyro is, she is 'good.' "
I am nearly the opitome of anti-capitalist bullshit marketing hype. I am all for the "little guy" the people on the margins and their worth. But even so I think there is a reason why I had never heard of her before, and it may have to do with her placement at the banquet, she is certainly "in the room" but maybe she is down there at table number eight over there. There is nothing "wrong" with her music. There are just a lot of musicians in front of her kind of obscuring her view.
Milton Nascimento
4/5
This was niice. Not only a lovely latin beat, but it changed a lot. That iin itself is something I see lackinng in a LOT of albums. I have no idea what he is singing about, but it is beautifully emotional and seems deeply felt. It is sometimes slow and sometmes energized, sometimes in the same song! I was in no particular hurry for this to end. Albums like this remiind me of a humble academic truth: The more you learn the more you realize how little you know. The more music I listen too, the more I realize is out there to be discovered. And both those facts are very very good things!
Venom
3/5
The thing is... I really don't ... Metal is not my go to genre. It doesn't matter good, bad, or indifferent; I just don't enjoy it very much. Venom is very metal, but not "like" head banger metal or growl, more like taking a classic hard rock band and pushing it into the whole stereotypical satan worshipping death metal arena. The lyrics are so over the top I laughed out loud, although the content was like horror movie plot-line, whiich is usually intended to be disturbing, not funny. And they just kept going. Every once and a while I would sense a certain less fun element in the lyrics that makes you hope nobody is taking this too seriously. And ultimately they are what they are: a pretty solid metal, kind of distrubing but probably not completely serious, not un-entertaining "black"(as in dark and morbid) metal (!) band.
Jorge Ben Jor
3/5
This is a super good and interesting album. I find international beats to be refreshing and different. Yet here I have now had the privilage of listening to quite a few, and while this is good, it was not quite near my favorite. Now. Mind you this is being "quite picky" as I want to, less the ability to put half stars on my ratings, to distinguish subtle differences. Something that has plagued my ratings on this site for a while now. See, most bands, even if I am not a fan, are at least average, or three star. Some bands are better and some slightly underperform, but not enough for a 4 or a 2. So I end up in these situations where I would like to give a 3 and a half here, and some 3's I would like to give 2 and a half. But that is how it goes.
Paul Simon
5/5
This is one of the greatest albums ever produced.
For an explanation just * listen *
Gene Clark
4/5
At first I was like "Oh, so he is like a country swooner." Then it was more, kinda country but folk. But the lyrics are not just catchy and he doesn't hold a full on country twang. After a while I thought, "yeah, not my thing exactly but ... pretty good I must say."
And so it went and there were a couple of really exceptional moments in between. It makes me wonder if three stars is actually legit? Yeah, not my go to genre. Yeah, there are several STELLAR folk singers out there that I would pick first... But this is not your average country swooner. I think this has a bit more bite to it. So I am going to go ahead and nudge this one up.
Bad Company
4/5
Confession: I bought my first Bad Company album, this one, in 1983. I thought it was from around then. Yesterday I discovered it is early 70's. Why does that matter? Because it still does not "feel" 70's per se. In fact it has a kind of timeless quality to it that makes it quite easy to still enjoy. I have not really listened since those early years. Now that has some significance as I thought they were quite good but not someone I would
continue to follow forever. So I would give three stars for sure. NOW! The idea that this was a debut album and it was from around ten years earlier than I would have guessed... This must have been amazing when it dropped! So add a star for that alone.
Cheap Trick
4/5
I love Cheap Trick. So, duh, I am a big fan. Now... I don't always love live albums because there are sound issues and ambient noises that distract from the recorded session "pure" sound. However, sometimes that is exactly what I want to get away from, so sometimes I seek out the live performances. In this case I am on the fence, and Cheap Trick videos are a pleasure to watch, so maybe I would not choose this as my go to album to share with people unfamiliar. On the other hand their song "Surrender" was only one week old when this was recorded, which makes it kiind of special. So how to rate this? Ah Screw it. I love these guys!
The Clash
4/5
I went into this thinking that The Clash was "OK." I am an old school punk fan and maybe get a bit snooty about punk bands that reach a more mainstream appeal. But to be honest, I was really way more impressed than I thought I would be. They are still punk, still old school, still edgy, but they have the range to reach a wider audience, they do not sell out to do it. So really, they do something remarkable: they keep it real but still manage to draw in a larger audience. Yes. I came in assuming I knew a few of the mainstream radio songs and would otherwise be disappointed but came out feeling like the radio hits simply suppliment their body of work.
Ray Charles
5/5
This is sublime. I don't love every song but it doesn't detract from the realiity that this is stellar on every level. I don't need to say more.
Yet, I must shout out the the title. "Modern sounds in country and western music."
Wow! to take a sublime jazz album and force it down the panicked throats of a bunch of rednecks, "threatening" to undermine their "genre"... the passive aggressiveness of this is almost as sublime as the music within it.
Simon & Garfunkel
3/5
I did not actually enjoy this album as much as I thought I would. I know these guys are great in the big picture sense and of course several massive best of all time songs are here... but for me it felt sort of overly sentimental like it was kinda being manipulative, like it was purpose built and not just made for love. I don't know? It just didn't hit like I thought it would... I was mildly disappointed although I am sure it is an unpopular opinion, it is real. Maybe someday I will change my mind?
GZA
3/5
This has been a weird music week. It may be "just me" or perhaps it is just coincidental. GZA is OK. I really like the whole Shaw Brothers shout out thing, and they have solid hip hop beats going on. Even the lyrics are raw and well done. Nevertheless maybe what it is is that I like hip hop so I have favorites, not only bands specifically, but beats and vibes. So I find that GZA is somewhere in the room but not really my go to band. It is no fault of theirs, just my own aesthetic.
Rocket From The Crypt
3/5
I was honestly surprised by who Rocket From the Crypt is. I was figuring death metal or thrasher and it turns out they are grung rock. Not only that but a couple of their songs are ones I always liked but never had a name behind. So yeah, I was pleasantly surprised by this pick. Made even more strong was that I really was not in the right mood for death metal yesterday. And I was good with the grung thing. Yeah, obscure maybe but sure, not hard to listen to.
The Kinks
3/5
This is actually a relatively easy review for me. I like The Kinks and even have a couple of their songs in my top list. But I have remained steadfast over the years as "liking" The Kinks. They are neither among my favorite bands nor my throwaway list. That is why they are perfect as an example of a solid band, entertaining and professional, interesting enough to be appealing and equally kind of "yeah, they are OK."
I think to rate this album four or five stars one would have to be a kind of superfan. Realistically it is exactly average (in a positive way). Ironically, that makes this album kind of interesting in a way. It represents a normal solid pop rock entry from that era of music history.
John Coltrane
5/5
I can't really say anything worthy here. John Coltrane is a master. Here, he is a master at work. It really doesn't get any better than this. This is THE master class in jazz perfection. There are a few people in a few life genres that master their craft and reach a level where there are no worthy comparisons. There may be other masters doing equal work, or even the occasional brilliant protoge, but there is nothing about pecking order to argue. This is a gift to everyone who hears it.
Elvis Costello & The Attractions
4/5
I have always been a fan of Elvis Costello and was introduced sometime in the mid 80's to his music. Now this fact made it so my working assumption was always that he was from "around then." Turns out this is a much older album and my mind is blown! This stuff is STILL ahead of its time in a way. Clearly I see this as a huge deal because that means he had to put himself out there and dare to step up; an honestly very difficult thing to do! But there it was. And here we are. I would probably give this a solid three star rating, I don't think it is his best album. However a one star boost is absolutely deserved in consideration of when he put this timeless album out!
Manu Chao
3/5
I really like latino music. The beats and the energy overriide any pressing need to understand the language. It is kinda like techno where the lyrics, if there are any, are often too distorted to quite tell what they are saying. Yet still, the energy -- the love -- remains. Now there is nothing directly wrong or fundamentally missing from Manu Chau but for some reason I never stopped and held my breath or wanted to jump up and dance while listening. Not that I need to have this to enjoy an album, but with latino music I like to envision dancing around in a Carmen like gypsy dress and being sensuous. It is like that feeling of being swept away that latino music gives me often. So with that kind of not as present... Yeah, it was OK.
Rage Against The Machine
5/5
I was there when this album dropped and it meant everything to me. I am not the only one and the angst of the times and the fears that corporate capitalist greed had slowly taken over everything was as real then as it is now. (It DID take everything over; we did not pay attention or were overpowered by the strength of hate). Anyhow, this IS that pot-stirring, and it IS that relevant to this day. It also happens to be what I would simply call the most "badass" album I ever heard. Is it redundant? Maybe. Is it completely insane? Probably. Does it make you want to get up and do stupid stuff like jump out of airplanes and try speed skiing? Yeah. Is it really all that? Yes. Yes it is...
Beastie Boys
4/5
Personally I love these guys. Always have, always will. Luckily I have done enough reviewing by now to not simply knee jerk react and say "amazing" and throw a five star rating. The 20 song playlist does not feel long because of the massive genre diversity this band displays. They keep it playful throughout yet their musicianship still catches me off-guard on occasion. Although I could listen to multiple albums of theirs in a row considering their genre leaping and quality (no to mention how fun they are), I feel this album could have been stronger by a slightly shorter playlist. Otherwise I strongly believe this is an essential must hear band!
Radiohead
4/5
I am at an odd impass. Sometimes an album I have never heard is not immediately some form of GOAT for me. Sometimes I have a vague awareness that it is something special but I need to listen to it a few times and let it sink in. I get that vibe with Hail to the Thief. Underneath is something really special. I just need to process it longer. I listened to this and Kid A in a row and believe I may end up liking this more after a while. This problem makes ratings "regrettable" when I under-rate something that later I find way better than I thought. I did this with Arcade Fire (off the top of my head) and a select few others over the years. I will not make that mistake now and offer an honest four stars.
Marvin Gaye
4/5
Marvin Gaye defines smooth. Doesn't matter what he is talking about, although a lot of it is oddly relatable. I almost don't want to like him because it feels semi-bandwagon for some reason. But here I am thinking holy moly this guy is just silky smooth...
Primal Scream
4/5
Primal Scream is "up my alley" musically speaking. Oddly enough though, I am not often deliberate in my seeking them out. I don't think there is any partcular reason for it, just there are as many good bands I actually remember as there are bands that I either don't know the names of (or connect songs with). Primal Scream is one of those "these guys are great" bands that are obscure enough (in a way) that they just don't come up much on any of my playlists. Nevertheless! I actually could listen to them all day long and not get bored, and I am glad for the re-introduction.
The Kinks
3/5
I had an earlier Kinks album on here a while back and I felt that while it had early signs of what the Kinks would become later, it was just OK. So I was cautious approaching this one as well. In fact I put it off for a while as I was just not sure it would be that "interesting." To my surprise it is more in line with the later Kink stuff I like more and was pretty entertained by it. I probably would have given a two and a half star rating to the former album and a three and a half to this one so that is technically a one star improvement, although on the site itself it will seem they share a rating. (another good reason to just read quickly through what people write!)
Funkadelic
5/5
I don't make it a habit to listen to funk yet here we are once again. I can't really explain the pure awesomeness of this band. Yeah, I typically listen to electronic/ synth/ techno and move out from that base all around, but to get to funk/ rock is a few steps removed. It does not mean I don't like any genre even at the fringes, but they usually don't peak my interests. But here we are with Funkadelic and for some reason that I do not understand, they have a singular ability to make me very emotional every time I listen. When a band puts out instrumental songs that make me cry from their pure beauty... it CAN'T get any better than that!
Beastie Boys
4/5
For some reason that I can't explain, I was not looking forward to listening to this. I think it is because I feared it would not hold up to Il Communication. Even I was prepared to give it a lesser rating... and because of that it took time for me to get into. But then I did. It is a little more explicit and the lyrics are just as fun, the energy is there, the spirit, the sillyness but still high musicianship... What's not to like?
The Killers
4/5
Honestly The Killers are one of those bands I kinda overlook. I think iit could be the lead singers voice gets a bit redundant maybe? I don't know. But I get mixed vibes listening to this album. It is really "quite good" and gets boosted by a few real solid hits. I think it might be that thorn in my side that more often than not does not "enjoy" listening to "just the one band" too many songs in a row. I don't know. Not a huge fan of The Killers but this is a pretty darn solid album...
Siouxsie And The Banshees
4/5
I have always favored Siouxsie and the Banshees. So it is not mystery that I would like this album. However I have growing insight as I review albums nearly every day. I think I not only like her voice, somewhat shouting rather than singing, but I look forward to hearing it in the next song -- quite the oposite of getting tired of someone after a few songs. And then there is in how this is truly genre defining post-punk. A bit cleaner, a bit more rock directed, less noisy. Just listen I sometimes say. And again, if you want to "understand" what post-punk is, than ... just listen!
Neil Young & Crazy Horse
3/5
Well... I tried. I Love Cinnamon Girl, absolute corker. And I thought maybe Crazy Horse could... take the reigns a little and reel in Neil Young's (for me, w a y too whiny) voice. Alas, that was not to be. and with two songs over nine minutes featuring his voice above all else... Ah! Not for me. With that said, IFF you like Neil Young's voice, this is a really good album overall. The band is great, the lyrics are great... It's just, for ME, I just...
I just... can't deal with his voice for more than one song at a time.
David Bowie
5/5
David Bowie is legend. Not much to be argued about. He is simply part of music histories very fabric. Very few artists ever reach, let alone continue to operate at, this level. Yet here we are, and here he is.
Franz Ferdinand
3/5
Franz Ferdinand is one of those bands that I never heard of until I ihear a few songs and realize "oh, this is those guys!"
This is also one of those albums that makes a five star rating system difficult for me. I see one star as horrible and a fail. (there is no zero) or even a half. So two star is bad to pretty bad, three star is average to OK, which fits most albums pretty well, four stars which is a true step above and pretty great, and five stars as one of best, awesome. So this band, while good, entertaining, and fun is not quite great while being above average, so three stars should be three and a half, alas, I must rate on a five point no zero scale...
Mariah Carey
4/5
I am not going to turn this review into a TED talk about the music industry. However, it is remarkable to me that Mariah Carey is obscured by so many other "pop" singers now-a-days who frankly can't reach her range. I don't know sometimes what happens to musicians and bands that are truly outstanding and fade into the distance. The collaborations on this album and the diversity of genre is refreshing. Well, at least it fits as a great example of an album that SHOULD be on a list of must hear albums.
Machito
4/5
This is one of those perfect perfect background groups at the jazz club/ cocktail party/ non-intimate dinner. Not only is it interesting and easy to enjoy solo, but it has that feel that it ought be shared. While it is worth listening to, it doesn't require a lot of effort, you just sort of let it drift in and out of your consciousness. On the other hand it is probably a little too lively for study music. Probably best as background music at a gathering where everyone will find themselves happy and motivated by the music that they are only sub-consciously paying attention to. Also a shout out to the world music vibe well ahead of its time!
Stan Getz
5/5
So, as far as Jazz goes, it doesn't really get "better" than this. Sure, there are individual songs and artists that are kings and queens of their genres, but this is more liike at a level where Getz and company are simply part of a different kingdom, equal to any other jazz royalty. I can't even imagine trying to make ratings and judge these people, all of them masters of their craft. Crazy when you think of it.
Duke Ellington
3/5
Of course this is masterful. Of course it is at the highest level. Nevertheless, there was something in THIS performance that I felt was too mechanical or maybe like "professional" and less personal and impassioned. I don't know why exactly, it may be to do wth chemistry, as iif you put together the worlds greatest sports team by hiring all the best players and sure, they win everything but where is the heart? Not going this far with this album (!) but it does feel like a performance. Perhaps because they ARE masters at their craft they need to put something more into their performances to personalize it more? Interesting...
Buddy Holly & The Crickets
4/5
I was surprised by how fun this album is. The songs are short (and innocently sweet). This is the type of music/ album that makes a random album of the day fun to do. I simply never listen to early rock and roll stuff. It simply is not on my list of genre interests. So some of these songs I never heard in my life. Nevertheless it was way more fun and energetic than I anticipated and I really enjoyed it more than I thought I would. This was a lot of fun.
Steely Dan
4/5
One way to know without really paying attention to whether you like an album or not is to think it was super short. I was "surprised" when this album "suddenly" ended and looked to see if something was off, but no, it just went by smoothly and it was just easy to listen to. I knew a couple of the songs as they are well known and quite good anyhow, and the rest sort of floated by seamlessly. I am not even a big fan of the soft rock classic rock genre I would place this in, but it is, as I said, easy to listen to and easy to like.
Kate Bush
4/5
I have always been a big fan of Kate Bush even if I must admit I often do not really understand the lyrics. But if I look them up and listen along the real power of her music comes in. This comprehension is a game changer and sudddenly she is braver and more open and raw and everythiing else. I am super glad she had a sort of resurgence because of her appearance on Stranger Things. Good for her and good for all the rest of us as well!
American Music Club
3/5
After quite a good run of truly great albums I listened to Ameriican Music Club blind. Never heard of them and didn't know any of their songs. I had the initial impression they were a country act, which would explain my main reason for not having heard them, but they veer towards contemporary and folk which made it kind of strange that I had NEVER heard of them... But I suppose while listening I had the impression they were like a popular local band that had a small fanbase where you were asked to go listen and enjoy an evening out in that neighborhood but afterwords kind of forget their name because they were "yeah, OK." But not on your to buy list. This feeling never changed for me and as the album came to a close I felt like "yeah, OK." so now I heard them.
The Police
5/5
OK. I cannot be unbiased but in some sense I can try to be objective in my write up at least.
For those of you who may not be super fans like I am, you might find the first half of this album a bit gritty, hard, or even somewhat unhinged at times. Nevertheless, even here it is hard to resist the feeling that this band is "pretty darn interesting" and variable. Then the second half... I think every one of these songs was a massive hit and fairly so. Deep, melodic, fantastic. I don't know of many albums that can claim this... (there are a couple but...) I really do feel that The Police was one of the greatest bands of all time...
Thelonious Monk
3/5
I have been into the old school jazz lately but funny thing how this works... the more albums and artists I am introduced to, the less everything is just master class and amazing. Some stuff still is and will be, but I have become more picky in a way. I thought, for instance, that this was pretty good but not so strong as some things from the time. I think what I mean is jazz from the late 50's is ALL good! But there still is and always will be a pecking order of sorts, and for me, in this case, yeah, this album is OK.
Bee Gees
3/5
OKEE DOKEE. Now I am not one who is not compelled by the story of the Bee Gees (outside the fact that I now know they are not from California (!)) and I can hear the immense talent that really sits behind the brother's music. They really deserve the accolades they have received and are actually quite great overall. Now to this particular album. What genre is this? Now I may be one of the most open minded and genre inclusive people I know, but I was like "this sounds almost like choir music" "this sounds like a national anthem" "this sounds like contemporary? Elevator music or?" I suppose ultimately I found it kind of weird I guess?
Pavement
4/5
I am not sure I had ever heard of Pavement but the whole surf rock vibe is among my favorites. Odd how this is imperfect, his vocals waver, things get a bit off track, but somehow it all works. I pretty much knew I was sold on it before the mid-point of the first song. I find it an oddity that I had never been exposed to them before, but so be it, another one for the playlist!
There is a lesson to be learned from Pavement. Especially today (but not due to some flaw in today's artists!!) but auto-tune, sound machines, amazing advances in technology, all contribute to the over-perfection of music often. It is OK for music to be a bit more raw, it makes it that much more real. I think that is very appealing here.
The Human League
3/5
This album taught me something. There are two ways to look at 80's music. Either as "oh, THAT is very 80's" or "damn, they made some pretty good music in that era" In plainer English, music of any era is either FROM that era or more timeless, some even seems "fresh" for first time contemporary listeners no matter what the era. I felt like The Human League is very representative of that veering towards "dated by proxy" line. Most of their music would be great for an 80's themed party but kind of dated by today's standards. On the other hand they have a couple of classics that stand the test of time and overall are worth a listen to, even without the party!
Eminem
3/5
At first I was not into listening to this. Just wasn't vibing with the rap thing. But I did listen. And honestly I liked it. It was way braver and deeper and more honest, even awkward at times, than I had ever envisioned. Now, with that said, it also kept going. Violent, confronting mental health, homophobia, capitalism, suicide, hate... And... it kept going. And going. Like as in "fuck man, this is super depressing" level. It is like one of those movies you watch once and realize you can never watch it again, even if it was pretty great. I often speak of "tonal value" when I review films. The tone here is dark dark dark! The humor is extremely sarcastic, the stories do not have happy endings. I don't think I will revisit this anytime soon, as good as it is.
Cyndi Lauper
4/5
Yet another album that I can't properly be relied on to rate fairly. I always liked Cyndi Lauper, still do. It is fun, sometimes even moving, not so 80's that it is dated, but nevertheless ICONIC as such. Actually she is a good example of the second kind of 80's music I tried explaining on a review here once. It is not "oh that is so 80,s it is 'stuck there'" She is 80's by name and fame but a lot of her music is rather more timeless and some of her songs, even on this very album, remain in my favorites list. This is worth listening too, even if it is just for fun.
AC/DC
5/5
In all honesty I don't have much to say about this album. This band, this album... is one of the greatest in history. This is wall to wall awesomeness without age or end. This is hardcore amazing and I need not say anything more than listen to it. Prepare to turn it up because you are going to want to!
Genesis
3/5
I have a love/ hate relationship with Genesis. Maybe this is a very good band to make that idea clear in fact. I LOVE quite a few Genesis songs and even whole albums. I also can't really get into some others. They are a band that has changed over time. To me, personally, I felt they "somewhat" evolved over time, but I can't quite say that as some early work is sublime as well, but maybe (again for ME) overall they grew in a way. Some super fans completely disagree and take this the opposite way. I am not willing to argue. Preference in this case is not a hill to die on but we can try to see each others perspectives. I think it is mainly an old school/ new school thing but whatever. For me this album is "somewhat weird" and hard to genre. It is still Genesis and you can hear them in there. It isn't bad or anything, just not my go to cup of tea.
3/5
This is one of those bands that I knew but did not know I knew. At first I was like "who the heck is this?" but soon recognized them. They are kind of a blend between 80's music sort of stuck there and more timeless qualities. Now. The likely reason I did not "know" them is because I only ever "liked" their music. It was not bad, and not instant classic either way. This is a band that in my opinion both deserves and is worthy of exactly that three star rating. I seem to "give" some bands three stars because they don't deserve a negative rating, but some I give three stars because they deserve that rating and are not quite good enough for a highly positive rating. So there is a range within my same ratings that is unfortunate with no half star options. I might otherwise opt to give this band three and a half stars.
Amy Winehouse
3/5
I finally figured it out. See, I actually really do like both Amy Winehouse's style and voice .I like her deeply personal and honest lyrics, and love the jazzy, exceptional quality of her voice. BUT... I don't like Amy Winehouse all that much. But why?
I think I can't disconnect between her absolute train-wreck of a real life and her music. See, when she "puts it out there" and literally tells us she is going to be picky, judgemental, and hard on everyone, and even, allow her own addictions and faults to exist (NOT) acknowledge them as problems per se, but as just facts, I can't any longer separate how she drank herself to death, with how it destroyed my ability to take any of her deep and meaningful lyrics to heart precisely because she couldn't herself! Maybe I am just angry. Life, despite hope, optimism, even outright "wins" IS rather hard a lot of the time. For ALL of us. I suppose I am disappointed that she, at 27. drank herself to death on a bender... She never realized she was part of all of us and her lyrics and skills could have made a difference. Every time I hear one of her songs there is that "yeah, but she drank herself to death" attached to it so it sort of sucks for me.
Snoop Dogg
4/5
Nobody can say that Snoop Dogg didn't put it out there. He lives a brand he created. What I love is that most of this is about sex and drugs and rock-n-roll and less to do with social injustice and fucking the police and all that. It is essentially refreshing, regardless of its age. Contrast the particularly harrowing Eminem album I recently reviewed. This is laugh out loud fun, well produced, and a joy to listen to. Funny how I heard there was a feminist fall out over it, but honestly, while it is indeed quite raw, Snoop Dogg gives equal power to women's sexuality and if you really pay attention, is rather more in awe over it than being patriarchal.
Metallica
3/5
In a straight up, completely unbiased way, this is a great album. But that is not reality. Yup, very very professional, interesting, unique...
Well, unique-ish. See, I used to watch Italian slasher films and Dario Argento, one of the more well known directors, used to use a band called Goblin to do his soundtracks. Goblin was doing the symphony/ rock combo in the 70's so my mind said "oh, this reminds me of Goblin."
And then you think "well, it is an interesting combo..." but after a while I got the creeping sense that it would be more interesting if you are a Metallica super fan or "know" their songs otherwise. I am, alas, not really much of a Metallica fan. I get that they are canon in their genre, I get and feel that they are amazing musicians and extremely passionate and professional and it shows in their work, it is just not my go to genre and by proxy, band.
Pere Ubu
4/5
At first I had no idea what this was. Then I began to like the post punk vibe, the way they use sound affects and goof around... It made me think of how I feel about overproduced, too perfect, calculated money maker style albums. Because this is the opposite. It may be well produced and designed and purpose built and all that, but it actually feels quite raw and open and just plain fun. Considering this album could be being made right now in some off main street venue dive, it has aged remarkably well. I think I may just listen a bit more to this band...
Sonic Youth
3/5
For some reason I have always liked Sonic Youth. Technically I probably shouldn't. It is distorted, sometimes screamy, garish, hard to explain... but it is somehow a feeling, an atmosphere surrounds it that works to soothe the soul, almost like by trying to process the crazy sounds coming in we have to calm ourselves down first. But I don't know what it is really. If there is any (not really a) fault to it is that you cannot have Sonic Youth in the background, because it sort of forces you to pay attention to it. you have to really pay attention to the lyrics for full effect, and if you do, it can be quite an interesting experience.
Jimi Hendrix
3/5
I am going to commit a sort of sacrilege here. I am not really a big fan of Jimi Hendrix. Never have been. BUT (!) it IS to do with the classic guitar as absolute focus genre, and not his abilities or talents. I am not a guitar worshiper. The music must touch me in an emotional sort of way, regardless of instrument, etc. ANY band or musician can and often do have songs I like regardless of their overall catalog, and Jimi Hendrix is no different. But in general, and for example, this album. Meh.
Just me, Just sayin'
Coldplay
4/5
I have always liked Coldplay and even grown to appreciate them more when I heard them perform locally and saw the effort they put out to put on a good show. This album is a good example of a slight danger some bands might encounter as they build a bigger library and last a long time. I call it the "greatest hits" syndrome. It is when ANY sort of greatest hit album from a certain band would be a five star album. It makes any "normal" album they put out just not quite as good. VERY few (although there are a small number) of bands have full on five star albums where every song is as good as the next that is not a greatest hit type anthology. So, while Parachutes is a quite good album by a quite good band, it made me want to listen to other songs by them as well, and spend the afternoon on a Coldplay binge.
Minor Threat
4/5
Minor Threat is definitely part of the canon of the punk music scene. They deserve their place at the table and this album checks off all the necessary "what is punk music" points. Well, THIS is punk music. For me, the absolute most important part is how it is "real" and feels like they just put it out there, no pretension, no bullshit. It is not overproduced or carefully calculated to be successful. It is unapologetic. I wish the punk era never ended because we all need to rage against the machine and be more unapologetic to the status quo.
Ravi Shankar
4/5
This album is beautiful and soothing. I am pretty sure it is not for everyone's taste, but I found it quite amazing. In many ways it is not all that far off from low Fi techno or electronica, stuff you can play all day in the background of study or work. I like how the artist was so matter of factly as he explained how the various components of the music structure was set up worked, as if "oh, that is easy" would be our reaction. There are lots of yoga poses that "look" easy as well, but I dare say not too many people can master an instrument like Ravi Shankar!
Aretha Franklin
4/5
Aretha Franklin is certainly one of the canon of soul singers. There is nothing to "rate" really. She is legend.
I find that I am not as moved as many merely by the fact I am not particularly big on the genre. It has nothing to do with her pure talent or appeal. I was listening and felt like I would be blown away if I was more specifically interested, or my mood was different. Thus "rating" something like this is difficult. It is brilliant and amazing on one hand, and sort of specific as a genre and won't automatically suit the mood of the room. I suppose that is how music works. If nothing else it is a part of music history worth exploring.
Deep Purple
3/5
I like Deep Purple and even a couple of the bands spin off groups are in my worth listening to pile. I find that they are among the defining groups of a genre and an era. 70's rock, pure and simple. I struggle a bit now, however, with where they fit today. They are exactly like those 80's bands I struggle with because they still remain SO 80's. Like maybe nostalgia or some themed party or? It isn't all bad, if one is in the mood for 70's rock or just likes the genre in general than sure. I just was surprised that I felt like they were kind of dated for some reason...
Kate Bush
5/5
This I often do not do. Generally I hold very tightly to my ratings and find it important overall not to be haphazard and just throw out random ratings. yet at the same time this is NOT a random rating. The more I hear Kate Bush, of which I have always been a fan (being a child of the 80's and all), the more she grows on me as a songwriter and a storyteller. This album is not homogenized and overproduced and predictable. It is still as fresh as it was the day it was released and is brave and open and emotional. Really what else is there for music to be?
Al Green
4/5
I was thinking I was going to get bored with this. I had the base knowledge of Al Green as a swooner, that music for setting the mood trope type deal, and was not really that excited by the pick.
BUT...
Al Green IS legit smooth and it is super easy to get sucked in to the vibe. The album ended and the youtube algorithm picked another one and it took me a couple songs to realize what happened. I was that "OK" with listening.
A question came up in the comments section: "what ever happened to this kind of soul?"
I don't know. But at least we have Al Green to turn to when we need to step away from whatever is going on today!
Linkin Park
4/5
I am not a big metal fan. Not even really much of a hard rock fan really. So at first I was like "asch, a heavy metal album." I was wrong. This is sometimes hard rock, but often a hybrid of numerous genres, hip-hop, electronica, rap... and it works really really well. Extra shout out that this was a debut album!
I was actually kind of blown away by how good this actually is. I had been judging a book by its cover and got caught out. I am glad I did!
Worth a listen? Absolutely!
R.E.M.
3/5
Hmm... OK. So REM is one of my all time favorite bands. B U T !!! REM also has, in my opinion, two "eras." They had somewhere around the 80's era, and then as we got into the 90's... a somewhat different era... the problem is that I LOVE almost their entire catalog from that early period and it remains among my most beloved go to music. It is raw and open and feels like a small night club at some ski area somewhere. Cosy and intimate. And then somewhere in the early 90's, definitely by this album, they started to sound ... "overproduced" and commercially viable somehow. I can still sense them underneath, especially in certain songs, but that wonderful kind of "here for the love" vibe more or less went away. Honestly, in a nut shell, they lost something as they hit it big.
Marty Robbins
3/5
Now country in general is not one of my go to genres. I have a bit of exposure to much early country music as well, having grown up with it to a large degree. It just never entered my soul, as such. But I would not say that Marty Robbins, or this album is quite the same thing. Most of the country I am used to is short, tragic tales of down on ones luck, hard drinking, gambling, I don't know... But this is more like stories being told. Hard luck? Not so much, more about choices and the fate that brings. I found I had to pay attention to the songs as stories and did not pay attention to the music as much. I actually really enjoyed some of these ballads, regardless of how different from my own life they are. PS: being a gunslinger might not be the best choice of career.
Elvis Costello
4/5
Elvis Costello is one of those musicians that is going to be controversial. Not so much for his politics or lyrics or message, but because I have the feeling, based on bands and musicians I love and hate, that his voice is either going to please someone or turn them off. He also has a certain quality within his music that is unique, also likely polarizing, and thus, while I really like and always have liked, his vibe, I am not sure he is "for everyone."
With that said, if you get taken in by this album, you will be an Elvis Costello fan for life. It is probably worth a listen just to find out, although it is likely some of the songs will stick with you even if you are not sure what to think.
Emerson, Lake & Palmer
3/5
For me this was a weird album. It was like synthesized church music with a side of light psychedelia. I know without knowing a single thing about Emerson, Lake, and Palmer that this is, or hella feels, like early techno, electronica. I am not going to mess with that or with the fact this came out in the early 70's. They did put it out there and my hat is off to them for that. Thank you actually ELP. My problem is my own. I never quite settled into the groove or could get on board with the actual album. It was live and the crowd was going nuts and I was like, more power to you as I was still picturing the inside of a church with some bewildered parishioners thinking "wow, this is... unusual..."
Roni Size
3/5
I am a HUGE electronica fan. I would say I am a techno lover that works outwards in all directions from that base. This is definitely electronica, even maybe trance or going in that direction. So why do I ... I don't love this. At first I thought maybe it just doesn't have enough expectation, it is a little too monotonous. But what do I mean by "a little TOO"? Trance is monoTONE by nature but it remains interesting, it still vibes. I don't get that vibe here (in most of the songs but not all!!) But I don't know why. Maybe it has too few drops or doesn't change up enough. It is not progressive, which does not bring you on that journey from one place to another. I suppose it just isn't ever going to make my favorites list...
The Young Gods
3/5
Even though this is not my genre, kind of hard rock verging on metal, the Euro vibe made it refreshing and much of their songs diverted from this formula anyhow. I found this easy to listen to and even my Youtube matrix put on some more songs from them after the album played and I just kept listening. Yeah, this is cool.
Pixies
3/5
The Pixies is always going to be among my favorites. Something about them in general, their energy and willingness to do their own thing. I think the Pixies are one of those bands that would benefit from a greatest hits (if they don't have one, which is unlikely), because many of these songs were first time listens for me which makes it harder for me to objectively rate, as I often need a few plays to feel out a song I never heard. Otherwise it is pretty great, as usual for this band.
Beatles
4/5
The Beatles are considered the best pop/ rock band in history. Probably the main reason for this is because they ARE!
This is likely because they can put out albums like this with 30 songs and not one of them sounds the same as any other. Moods, melodies, emotions, totally different and all... amazing? How they managed to accomplish what they did is rather more surreal than sensible, but here we are. Very much because of their impossible range and just plain perfection in what they do, I can not really think of any band more deserving the best band in history title. I love to be a dragon slayer, but who can replace them at the top?
Various Artists
4/5
Obviously this is an amazing album. Very specific, and really only something that one is likely to play around Christmas, but the idea that Phil Spector actually put it out at all is pretty great. I might call this a must have album (or must play) if you are even just somewhat into Christmas. Nevertheless, it is again, very specific, and it is not even arguably quite seasonal. This doesn't hurt the quality, but it limits its playability for all but the most hardcore Christmas affectionadoes.
The Black Crowes
3/5
Ah, The Black Crowes. A band I always held in the periphery. They have some lovely songs. The Black Crowes also suffer from something I have spoken of before: Their songs, in album form, one after another, kind of start blending and sounding kind of the same. By the time the album was done I was "done" with the Black Crowes for a while. They are a fine band with some great songs! But, like many many other bands that are in the front room but sort of relegated to tables towards the back, they are not particularly deep or challenging to their listeners...
Sam Cooke
3/5
This is quite a good album overall. I wish often, as in basically all live album situations, that I "could have been there" as Sam Cooke and company seem to be great entertainers. Not being there certainly takes away from the experience you sense from the audience and his interactions with it. Nevertheless it is well recorded and pleasant to listen to. I do wonder if maybe listening on your own home system, it might be better to hear studio recordings? I don't know....
The Allman Brothers Band
4/5
Ah... The Allman Brothers... Great band... CLASSIC, ICONIC, canon! Yup. I am not a big fan of "classic rock" though... and this IS absolutely full stop hardcore sweaty faded tee-shirt classic as classic rock gets! Because this is totally iconic and totally a major major canonical band within the world of music and one can point a finger on the definition of classic rock and here they are, I must give this album, which IS great in its own rights, a lot of credit. It is well deserved.
Just too bad I r e a l l y don't listen to "classic rock" much at all.
Willie Nelson
4/5
I, at first was like "Nah, I don't want to listen to a Willie Nelson album... come on!"
Then I did.
What? This album is not some down on the luck hard drinkin' gamblin man album... it is .. I don't even think it is really country per se... more bluesy or contemporary... with a somewhat country vibe... but still. Damn. This album is... To be honest? Great! It blew me away. It took like no time to for it to suddenly be over and I could have been fine listening longer. He does a bunch of covers and they are superb. This was honestly a shocker for me. I had like zero expectations and got a deep, emotional crooner just letting it go. Wow!
Peter Tosh
3/5
Reggae is easy to listen to. Not only that, it is kind of uplifting, even when the song is technically a downer. There is something about the rhythms and the tone that just relaxes the mind. Yet it comes at a cost. For me in general, and including Peter Tosh, very few reggae songs push my emotional buttons too much. There are rare exceptions, but none on this album for example. It remains childlike in my mind, fun and easy, but never really challenging. Anyway, it does not hurt the album or the genre to be as it is. At least it is not pretentious!
Mercury Rev
3/5
I had personally never heard of Mercury Rev. I am in real danger here with this band. I love the raw, sort of "unsophisticated" feel of the sound production. I did not love when it slipped into "self-produced" territory. The reason for my troubles here are that EITHER this is going to become one of my "favorites" after a few listens, or they will fall off the wayside if I don't warm up to their style. I am certainly willing to give them a chance, and maybe someday i will look back and think I should have given this album a higher rating. But for now, after a first listen I will conclude that they are curious and interesting and I never got bored with the album that seemed to fly by as I listened.
Radiohead
4/5
Radiohead is an anomaly. Radiohead, never fixed in any one genre, not easily pinned down, is an evolution that keeps moving forward. I have favored Radiohead since the beginning, and this album is no exception. If Kid A is ... slightly better... I really can't tell... slightly different maybe? And this album is definitely different than The Bends... but they are all three albums in line, all different... and all brilliant! I have lost touch with Radiohead's latest work, but maybe after this kickstart, I will catch up!
Fiona Apple
3/5
For some reason I confused Fiona Apple with some or even several other singers from this era and was thinking maybe I would get bored with this album. I did not. It has that kind of jazzy feel but remains more contemporary in a popish way. It has aged perfectly well and could have been made yesterday so that is a plus. I actually don't know much else about Fiona Apple or where she is now, but than again, the whole music world has been run over by neoliberal ideologies and only a few "known" names are really ever in the press. So be THAT, but it should make me reflect a bit and look up some of these musicians regardless of A list status now a days...
Dolly Parton
4/5
At first I was like ... Dolly Parton? But I have always liked her as a person and after listening to her storytelling ways through her music it is all so wholesome and uplifting I can't help but to feel like she is pretty much a treasure. I am not much of a country fan, but the element of listening erases any weirdness from "genre." Don't try to do much of anything else when listening though! You find yourself stopping so you can hear the punchlines!
Penguin Cafe Orchestra
3/5
At first I thought this was the new greatest thing, but it devolved into a somewhat experimental and indifferent thing after a while. The orchestra parts were fine, the lyrical bits... I don't see the connection so well. They try to bring you on progressive journeys through the music but I am a HUGE prog fan and have ten thousand techno and rock songs that do this better. It is not that they are a bad band or have no good qualities! They are quirky for sure, and interesting in their own right. But outside a couple of songs, I am likely to not go too nuts with buying their albums...
ZZ Top
4/5
I was mind boggled to see this was an early 70's album. I thought it was like a mid 80's thing. That matters because not only was it ahead of its time in a lot of ways, but it never really aged, even in 2025!
This IS a fantastic album no doubt. Really what an epic band this was! I can easily see adding this to a party night playlist and seeing people ask "what song is THAT?" and being blown away that it is a song from 1973!
Yeah, this is absolutely worthy the 1001 album playlist!
David Bowie
3/5
I will not let sentiment sway me on this one. I love David Bowie (who doesn't?) and I understand this was his final album. Yup. Pulls at the heartstrings. Nevertheless, without being a jerk, I just didn't love it musically. I don't have to compare it to any other musician, I can say "in his catalog" and say this is not his best album. It is not a failure or anything bad, it is just sort of in the middle somewhere. It doesn't change the fact we lost a great PERSON when he died just because his last album isn't a knockout. So what?
Creedence Clearwater Revival
4/5
For some reason, my distaste for southern style classic rock, which this band epitomizes, is completely erased by CCR. I actually really like this band. It has to be something underneath that I just can't quite grasp that sets this band, in particular, apart from all the stereotypical "classic rock" bands out there. They technically ARE a classic rock band (even with that southern tinge) But yeah, they remain an anomaly in my musical taste library. I don't think I will BUY the tee-shirt but if someone gave me one I would wear it.
Radiohead
4/5
I have reviewed Radiohead here on the 1001 site before, and the only curious thing of mild interest to add to this review is that the first time I heard this album I didn't like it. It was too different from his earlier work and I was confused by the change. I had expectations. However, as I listened more, I realized its value independently and above expectation, it put itself in a new light. By now I see it as an amazing album. I just wasn't ready for it when it came out. I have listened to this album on my own numerous times so although true the the site's album of the day listening goals, I listened yet again and my opinion has not changed. It is an important part of Radiohead's evolution!
M.I.A.
3/5
I almost feel sorry for this artist. She is very good, interesting, dynamic and worthy. But I think she is Brazilian or otherwise not in the mainstream American scene and she loses out just by that. I found her refreshing and interesting but I had never heard of her before because that is how marketing works. So there is that. I think she should be a household name, and not to put down the skills of others, she deserves a place at the table that she won't get.
Butthole Surfers
3/5
Now here is a band that I was really not sure I wanted to listen to back in the day when a friend recommended them. But they were, and still are, up my ally as far as style goes. A bit on the edge sometimes but generally within my groove zone. Sometimes you have to trust a friend even with a band who's name and song titles can be a bit... suspect!
Just for info: I think they are like a post-punk, veering towards the light and not the darkness metal, or harder alt-rock style. But you decide!
Louis Prima
4/5
At first, which happens with random album generators, I was like "no! I don't want to listen to some oldies stuff just now." But honestly? This album made me happy! It is so easy to slip into that "this stuff is old so it can't be that good" mode. It is what we do as a society, never looking back. Truth is this is pretty great and a lot of fun. I want to buy this album for my in-laws now. I think they will really enjoy it and it makes you want to dance a little. Yeah, this is cool, I am glad I listened to it!
Parliament
3/5
I like funk. I like funk like I like jazz. And jazz is a huge spanning genre with a large number of artists. Funk is shorter, not as often used now, but it also had enough players in the game where I thought this was ... well, maybe I should think of reggae. It had a smaller hay-day and some people shined and others were in the crowd. I see this band as in that crowd, just over there, but not quite at the head table. Maybe they are supposed to be? I don't know from history. But as far as funk goes. Yeah, it is OK.
Peter Gabriel
3/5
I like Peter Gabriel but he fits into a category I consider as having "greatest hits syndrome." It is when a band or musician has a good number of hit songs and a large catalog of "regular songs" to go along with it. Some, but very few musicians and groups with large catalogs and a healthy dose of hit songs can escape this syndrome, that where a person would simply go buy or listen to their greatest hits album and be perfectly happy. Those that do not suffer this fate have lots of songs that "could have" or "should have" been hits or are fan/ cult favorites anyhow. I think you would have to be a Peter Gabriel superfan to not just go buy your favorite single album or a greatest hits album. This album has a few great songs and a few sort of Meh songs as well, as with most other albums by anyone outside a rare few...
Billy Bragg
3/5
I think what happened to me here was I was listening and rather liking this album... but after a while the words began blending and I was feeling as if it were a bit redundant. Yeah, it's OK. But I think Billy Bragg is MUCH more likely to shine in smaller doses, like getting a song played on the radio now and then. That way we get the stories, we get the "unique" voice and melodies... but a whole album? I don't know. For me personally, I got kind of bored after a while. Overall he can go deep lyrically and has some mad piano... I see him as kind of folk... but not quite personal enough maybe?
The Crusaders
3/5
Interesting that this would randomly come up as if in a series of artists that are perfectly good, even interesting, but seem to fall into that middle place, where they are fine and have moments of glory but generally fit into a "yeah, they are OK" position within their genre and time space. I saw The Crusaders as funk/ disco/ instrumental jazz... Kind of an interesting hybrid and done well, but it never felt like "Ah! Now this is really something!" but always was "merely" entertaining. I like entertaining, entertaining is good! But entertaining is not necessarily memorable. Outside a nod to their hit title song, I don't think I will have The Crusaders on my daily playlist.
Beatles
4/5
I am not particularly lazy and usually have a lot to say, but the Beatles are the Beatles and again, there is a reason why they are timeless and live at the top of the pop rock food chain. This album is no exception, although ironically, considered one of the best, I find it not quite my favorite. Nevertheless it is as most of their catalog, worth listening to.
Elliott Smith
3/5
Okee Dokee.... I knew this day would come. I mean it has come already but I suppose ... Anyhow! I honestly felt that this album was kind of boring. Everything about it has been done before and frankly, done better. This is not meant to be offensive or mean-spirited, just basically honest. I think music has always worked this way. There are always tons of bands out there that either swim around in local circles or rise above, with a few -- worthy or not! -- that rise to the top. I had never heard of Elliot Smith prior to today. I am not surprised after listening because he is one of those lost in the crowd bands. Sometimes we call bands "underrated" and for good reason, other times... they just don't rise above enough.
David Crosby
3/5
Unfortunately this falls squarely into my classic rock category. It has moments of absolute timeless brilliance, but is rather more squarely dated and it remains not really my go to genre. I don't think I would be in any opposition of his politics and maybe even like the man, so it is not really anything to do with politics, which is so omnipresent just now in our fragmented culture, I think it is just down to personal taste and how the music stirs (or doesn't) my soul.
Carpenters
3/5
This is very wholesome which made me sad in knowing the story of the siblings. On the other hand looking at it musically, while it is wholesome and has an emotional value to me, it remains simply nice. Sometimes I think the cuteness of them as a story outshines their music musically. Nevertheless there are several really nice songs on this album and it certainly pulls on the heartstrings. Being direct and realistic the album is OK with shining moments. Add this to the whole backstory of The Carpenters and it is definitely worth listening to and reading about, but outside a couple of super-hits, it is ultimately in the "satisfactory" range.
Bob Dylan
3/5
I know that Bob Dylan is like a god in music. He sits, and rightly so, at the head table, he has a Nobel prize! I mean.... who am I to say anything about his poetry and meaning? Well, I am not! But I will concede that his voice is specific and his guitar is specific and his tone and pace and just general way of being a musician are ... special. I listened to this album in two parts because while I honestly won't touch his poetry or lyrical value, as often is the case with singer songwriters, I will say that I really feel his music is best accessed a few songs at a time or less... it just becomes so "this guy and his guitar" but I am not keen for a lecture when I just want to listen to some good music. Now for the unpopular comment of the day: He may well be a master poet, but he doesn't have a ton of diversity in his music.
Led Zeppelin
5/5
Led Zeppelin has a seat at the head table, always have, always will. And there is a reason for that. I am NOT in love with classic rock and yet I love this. This band is, was, and always will be fantastic across the boards. Very rarely do bands like this come along and we are, collectively, as music lovers, better off for them. Even if you, like me, are not a huge fan of their genre.
The Verve
3/5
The Verve, especially the lead singer, is interesting. They, once again in my themed reviews, suffer (somewhat) from too many "songs in a row" that can kind of blend together. However, they are very listenable and even when this album finished it took me well into the second album (that came up automatically in Youtube) before I "noticed." Thus, I was not feeling bored or waiting for it to end. Nevertheless I mostly found that the difference between their really great songs and kind of Meh ones was large enough to be sometimes distracting. All in all though, I would like to give them a solid three and a half, ALMOST a weak four.
Dolly Parton
3/5
I like the honesty and purity of Dolly Parton. Adding additional voices does not taint that. That she collaborated and did stuff with others is nice actually, and it does not distract from her "purity" if that is a word to use. Yet for all it's purity and goodness her collaborative album is simply not quite as personal. Now this is not a bad thing in any way, it simply makes this album an entertaining album with really good professional musicians. But Dolly Parton's charm for me IS her personal presence. So this album, while fine and good, just misses that edge.
Roxy Music
3/5
I have always been a pretty hardcore fan of Roxy Music. Didn't happen to have this album so was looking forward to it. Not sure I missed much to be honest. Maybe I am just in a funk or IDK? But for some reason I just was like "normal" with it, as a fan, sure it is listenable. But as a way to introduce the band to the unknown masses? Probably not. It is good for a fan, OK for an unfamiliar listener, and won't work for someone unsure of the genre or style in the first place. I will stop short of saying I was disappointed, but won't put in on my favorites list either.
Justin Timberlake
3/5
Huh. I like Justin Timberlake as a celebrity and I know a few of his songs but was pretty "meh" about this album. I don't know? It was like kind of boring in a way. Not sure why or what made it that way, but it never grew legs for me. Some musicians that I really like can fall into this occasionally, where they either put out an album or a song now and then that is just... produced. Maybe that is it. I felt like this was a safe and well produced album made for the masses and not really heartfelt. I could be wrong. But it didn't feel that way while I listened.
Aretha Franklin
5/5
Aretha Franklin sits at the head table. She is a goddess in the music world. I did not know when this album ended and the next one began (youtube auto play), and I did not care. If you just want to listen to something that is beautiful, regardless of personal mood or what is going on in your life, you don't have to listen to this particular album, but just listen to Aretha Franklin and you will be transformed. Kinda how her magic works. I felt like I had listened for five minutes and I was listening to another album after this one by the time I looked to see where I was in the playlist. I love all kinds of music. Genre has a small but often unimportant role, decade, country of origin... and I have heard all the arguments about these things being "the best" or how this or that decade was "better"... I think it is more about some music and musicians are timeless and Aretha Franklin is one of them!
The Doors
5/5
So... classic rock -- not my favorite
Songs I have heard enough to memorize -- a lot on here
Stuff not typically on my playlist -- true...
So I must not be big on this album than? Boring? Not my thing?
This album is one of the best albums in rock history, fact is. The songs are deep and meaningful, and still have meaning today. It is full on amazing and astonishes me every time I hear it. Maybe it is not on my playlist because it is so intense and demanding. What a band they were! People should just own this album outright and just play it now and then.
Technically I could not overstate the awesomeness that this album is: it will speak for itself-- have a great day!
The Monks
2/5
I ... did not like this album very much. It may have some kind of pre-punk roots or IDK, something that makes it special somehow, but the issue, for me, is that it doesn't really do anything in particular very special. It wasn't really punk, it was not charming, it wasn't even classic rock or 60's pop... Instead of defining some alt genre (which is great!) it sort of sat at the edges of a lot of stuff. I don't hate on it, but it is not ... I don't know where or when I would recommend it, so I probably wouldn't.
Bee Gees
3/5
I think now, after two Bee Gee's albums have come up here, that they suffer from that not uncommon "greatest hit" syndrome. See, once you hear, and like, the Bee Gees for their most amazing songs, unless you are a superfan, you are likely to not enjoy any of their random albums quite as much. On the other hand, there are a few, rare bands, where a greatest hits album does not distract from their catalog. I want to make that clear here as this album IS better than the first I rated, it has that more familiar Bee Gees sound I love from their top hits. So based on my taste, there are big differences in their albums (contrast those rare bands that make each album hard to choose from). So, bottom line is that this is a pretty good album, not my favorite, but gives a good Bee Gees vibe nevertheless.
The Beau Brummels
3/5
This was actually better than I thought it would be. The Beau Brummels is a band I would put in the "they are in the room" category, not at the head table, but somewhere with an earned spot out there. The issue may be that they are similar in a way to a lot of other bands in this kind of soft rock hybrid genre. I don't know why they never got enough air play for me to even have heard of them, but that is what I mean. They are somewhere lost in the crowd, although it is a worthy crowd. I would even give them a three and a half if that was available. Alas, a strong three for this band.
Beck
3/5
Beck is one of my second tier go to bands. Someone I will listen to no problem and I know well. I don't love THIS album as much as some of his others but it is still Beck and still pretty fitting to my eclectic style. I really like how each song has its own energy and I never get bored. I don't think Beck falls victim to "greatest hits syndrome" yet I will maintain that this was not my favorite of theirs...
James Brown
3/5
Funny thing about music genres. I love jazz and blues, but are just outside soul for some reason. The kind of featured voice of James Brown is certainly interesting to listen to, but for me, it was a little too much about "the voice" and not the rhythm and blues and all the rest. I am sure it is great and all, but for me I like that whole band thing more. I think a voice is either the entire deal or it accompanies the band as a group. I have never loved the unacknowledged band. But this is not to be overstated! James Brown is great and all, it just isn't my direction in jazz per se.
Lana Del Rey
3/5
I have a love/ hate relationship with this album. On one hand it is really special and great. On the other it is simply overproduced. I want so badly to hear these voices just real. Warts and all. One of my close friends is a sound engineer. I am amazed by what he does, and I like when people do some tweaking -- of course! But every song... I felt the auto tune and the just oversampling and the ... no. Nope. It felt commercial and fake. I KNOW it could have been so much more intimate and special that THAT is what bothers me so much here. Even so, I won't bash it completely. I don't blame the musicians themselves or the songwriting (that is for sure!).
a-ha
3/5
A-Ha is a one hit wonder band. Other than their mega-hit they are more or less an "80's" band by sound and feel. I discussed this as a way to differentiate between "timeless" music and dated music. Now. There is nothing wrong with era specific music that is almost canon in the way of showing someone "now THIS is 80's music!" or the like. So it has a place but it is specific. Timeless music, on the other hand, is not "showable" in that sense of "THIS is ... whatever era, music" because it does not work that way. I like and even love some 80's music, but my true passion is for "timeless" music. It just holds a different value for me. Sorry A-Ha but you are stuck in the 80's.
Public Enemy
4/5
I hate that this album NEEDS to be relevant today, after 25 years. It makes me so angry that there was this hope back then, that things could and ought be different, that the idea of rebellion and anger was only necessarily hinted at and that even in the videos you could see they meant to stand up to force change via more peaceful methods. Too bad that seemed to work until we entered the Trump era and whitewashed everything and racism is rampant and much much worse in many ways now-a-days.
This album matters. Luckily it is both enjoyable and significant musically as well as politically. The truth in this album should be long gone, but here we are...
The Cure
5/5
I think that this album is one of the best out of the 80's. While I have played this a thousand times it never gets old. It does, however, get a bit almost depressing taken in all at once. But, this does not distract from the brilliance of whatever this genre is. I still have not really pinpointed that. The Cure IS one of my favorite bands of all time precisely because they are so different than anyone else. The music is timeless. I don't even think it can be dated. Outside its EMO level depression, this could be a regular on my playlist (and I own all their stuff anyhow). So for now, I would caution one to take this in small bites as (February 2025) is rather a depressing time for humanity, we might look for something a bit more cheerful. Otherwise this is a stellar album that is absolutely one of the best of all time.
4/5
I assumed this would be a funk album and a funk band. It is, sort of, but not quite really. The issue is not negative though! What War really is is very eclectic and varying, and super fun! I actually really got into this and when the album ended and my youtube generator just put another War album on, I had not really noticed. Yeah, not just funk or 70's beat or soul or some offshoot of jazz, but all of it, and it doesn't feel overproduced or watered down. Nice. Yeah...
Elvis Costello & The Attractions
3/5
Hmm... OK. So I like Elvis Costello and looked forward to the album. Yet while it was as expected, I felt a kind of creeping thought that "wow, this guy is very distinct and unique." Nothing wrong with that as a rule, but suddenly I had that same old same old "song after song" feeling as he doesn't do a lot of changing up or variance in his singing style. I like when a singer goes from a sort of spoken word to soaring melody or from (say) a country twang to an urban growl... Maybe I felt a little almost "bored" after a while with this album. Still like Elvis Costello, just maybe, as a lot of bands it seems, in smaller doses?
Incredible Bongo Band
3/5
... ... ... OK. ... I did not hate this album musically. However, BONGO rock by the Incredible BONGO band ought be... ... IDK? DRUM music perhaps, or at the very least percussion heavy. I would suggest the vast majority of this album was harsh brass and heavy 70's style guitar riffs, punctuated on occasion by legit and pretty sublime percussion. However (!) most of the instrumental bits that were not featuring drums drowned out the percussion, sometimes completely. But the Incredible Bongo Band is not a bongo band! They are a band that happens to have a pretty good bongo player who shows up towards the end of several songs. "Bongo" rock this is not. It is ... rock(ish) with occasional bongo beats. I came for the percussion and was left with ... a pseudo-70's rock album... I guess?
Janelle Monáe
4/5
I think this was very interesting and classy. I may just have a thing for this French style, IDK. I love how "different" it is and how it tries to integrate more mainstream forms of genre into this ... dramatic undertoned style. I would like to give it a three and a half. I may opt for a four here because I think it is worthy a listen and I had never come close to hearing anything by her before, so the boost might introduce others to this style. Just note that while I like it, I don't personally love all of it or think it perfect or anything. So three point five raised to four for the sake of exposure.
Beck
4/5
This is the Beck I love! Honestly this album is one I would point to and say "yes, Beck is great, listen to this!" Now, lately life has been a little much and Beck's album is a bit EMO so it may not be something to put on repeat if you need a pick me up or are already feeling down. Some people find sad songs great when they are sad; I just feel broken. And because this is so frickin' good, it will or at least can, break you if you are not ready. Be prepared as the lyrics and the way he delivers can sneak up on you. That may well be what makes this so brilliant. It is so deep and meaningful. I don't love every song on the album so it can't quite reach my pinnacle in ratings, but it r e a l l y comes close.
Gil Scott-Heron
3/5
I am pretty sure, without researching it, that I will be a minority voter here. I did not like this that much. It felt contrived and I hate that. I don't want to be preached to through my music and I don't want it to feel like it was produced for the effect of "being something special." I hate when albums seem to try to make something sentimental on purpose and I never shook that feeling here. Aside from that it is not particularly special in jazz or blues or spoken word... A truly great album can't be forced. It happens naturally, often to the surprise of the musicians. This one felt forced, like it was supposed to be a blockbuster. But I didn't buy into it. Again, the three star rating is tough. I won't kill it with a two but it is no more than a two and a half.
Mylo
4/5
This was actually remarkable. Don't know who Mylo is, don't even know what to say the genre is precisely. But it is ... interesting and novel and very easy to get through. Really reflecting on it I actually like this a "whole" lot. I don't know of any other of their work or whatnot, but this album by itself. Yeah, honestly I think it is well worth a listen.
Blondie
4/5
Blonde is special. The iconic post-punk superstar of a generation. I am sure nobody today knows this really, but she was a model and conventionally good looking and instead of being a pop-star, she went more hardcore and edgy and pushed that social convention. She never shaved her head or tattooed her face or "showed" her punk roots, she remained feminine in a conventional way yet proved her fierce, take no shits nature still worked. She did not have to take on some persona to be taken seriously. She changed a standard that women could present as they wanted and not lose power. Thus her band "Blondie" dared people to deny her that hardcore status. This album is not my favorite but still, she remains an iconic character in my music memory box.
Led Zeppelin
5/5
This album is canon. It is, regardless of our ultimate familiarity with each song, even to the point of feeling maybe some have been overplayed (probably a generational thing) it is a thing to behold. Led Zeppelin is one of the best bands in rock history and are at the head table by far and away. The album is essential to understand a bit of rock history and it is, despite its oversaturation on "classic rock" stations and the like, it is pretty amazing and important. It is canon and a must here for anyone who wants a comprehensive understanding of rock music.
Depeche Mode
4/5
Depeche Mode is an important band. They are, as I have called a few bands here and there, "canon" as far as "alternative" 80's music is concerned. They were the go to college radio and nightclub band back in the day and with good reason. They have a signature sound that only by mild argument is "80's" as it is only stuck in that decade by virtue of its known popularity. Many of the songs span the timeframe to still work today. I don't think this is my favorite Depeche Mode album per se, but it is representative of the overall expectation one may get from the band. It is certainly worth listening to, and will give any music fan an accurate taste of what "80's alternative" was really all about.
The Smiths
3/5
All righty then... I tried. I really have, multiple times over multiple years... and made harder, I have felt victimized as well by those that "don't like" my favored bands because "they don't like the lead singers voice." Yet, try as I might, I love the genre, the lyrics are great, the melodies... but ... Argh! I just don't like the lead singers voice and all these years and all these tries and retries and approaches to this band have all but failed. Nope. Just don't like the lead singers voice. And it is all so ... so lyric heavy, so important to The Smiths very style. On the other hand, I know that I have been bothered by bands I like being dismissed for this reason and won't say that lyrically, musically, and in that alternative genre that The Smiths don't have a well deserved place at the table. They do! And in that sense they are pretty great actually. IFF I liked the lead singers voice I would be raving about this album in all fairness. Only if...
Neil Young & Crazy Horse
3/5
I did not hate this. Why the odd start to my review? Because I don't really much like Neil Young's singing voice. However, it was often fitting here and only sometimes did it bug me. It is not like ANY musician who's voice I struggle with NEVER has a good song to me. It just needs to fit with the style. In this album I feel he was more ... accurate? to his vocal style. I know that I will never "love" his voice. And that is OK. I think the key here is to acknowledge that for some it is the voice of a god. I won't disagree with any of those people that some of the songs here are amazing. I will take a pass at "every" song being such. But such is taste and such is life.
Pet Shop Boys
3/5
Funny how I really like the Pet Shop Boys but I can see how it is in some ways dated. They were right there with the alternative high council for a while there, and I still like them overall, it is just that they wind up being a little niche, a little specific. I was excited when this album came up because I really enjoyed it back in the day and it IS still worth a listen and it is OK. Maybe just somewhere along the way it lost a bit of its luster. Sometimes we get reunited with an old album and are delighted and refreshed, sometimes we think "Oh, OK, well, I am glad I heard this or that song again but... " It is kind of OK that they were a thing for me for a while. And sure, if one is trying to fill in the blanks of music history, yeah, give it a listen. After all, there isn't anything wrong or bad with it. OR... it is all because with the world in its current state, I could use something a bit more upbeat overall! And there IS that!
Fleet Foxes
3/5
This is different. It is sort of folk, sort of contemporary soft pop, I think it is actually called progressive folk or the like. It is both interesting and emotional, maybe a bit too experimental in certain instances, maybe it doesn't matter. It is as if I keep defaulting to "it is different." It gives a range from background music to deeply meaningful with bits of "I could do without that little section there." I think because of the complexity of it it does not fall easily into "this is really something special" category and remains as an "I need to listen to more of this, to understand it better" sort of thing. I would like to give it quite a high rating, but I will be a bit more cautious. I do recommend it, but I think it requires a few listens to "find" in a way.
Talking Heads
3/5
I have always had a difficult relationship with the Talking Heads. Right era, right genre, no specific sound or political flaw... But somehow I never really got into them. I figured this album with a fresh listen might change me towards a more (even nostalgic) change of mind. But, alas, not really. I think, as I always have, that they are OK. I think this is OK actually. Nobody loves all music from any time period or genre. I don't even know what it is exactly? But at least my feelings are consistent.
The Beach Boys
4/5
I was aware of the Beach Boys as most people are. But even though I have generally enjoyed their vibe, and even feel a bit compelled to learn their backstory, I never really spent too much time thinking about them. After listening to this album I am a changed mind. This is really nice. Today with the world turning upside down it is nice to reflect and here about the good and bad of ordinary life, and the Beach Boys really deliver that well. It may well be that one of my favorite genres, that kind of alternative surfer rock that bridges between so many other genres, maybe is rooted here. I actually think this was really good for me to hear, perhaps when I did, but certainly that should not mean only because I needed it now!
Killing Joke
4/5
I can not be unbiased here. I love the post-punk genre and Killing Joke, while this being not my favorite album, is in the canon of that genre. In general they have always been a "good" band to me. Here I would love to split my vote to give other of their albums more leeway and say this is a three and a half, but I also want to give this band some extra credit as for my affiliation with this style of music and TBH they do really well within it. They are not my absolute go to within post-punk, but they are brushing up with the head table to be sure.
The Mothers Of Invention
4/5
So Frank Zappa is super weird and I love it. This is less an album of music and more a cultural commentary. I love it. It is so weird and so... nothing normal that whatever is going on musically is kind of second handed by the playful, hippy, anti-establishment, social commentary thing that is going on throughout. I think that the whole "blame it on the boomers" thing is limited to neoliberal conservative types and not really looking at the hippy pot heads that were plentiful. That, in part, is why generational wars are stupid. Hell, there are plenty of golden ager liberals out there. Maybe it would help the newer generations to listen to Frank Zappa to understand this shit has been going on forever! Take a chill and use your voice. We've got this!
Derek & The Dominos
4/5
Derek and the Dominos of course is famously helmed by Eric Clapton. This makes both the band and their music part of legend and canon. Had I any better relationship to classic rock I would five star this instantly. Yet even I, with my relative disdain for "classic rock" can't completely dismiss this album. It is canon and it is ... pretty great actually. The titular Layla is one of quite a few undeniably special songs, and some of them have not gotten oversaturated air-time or at least for a while now. So I suppose if one is in the mood or really does not know this music, the album is a good one to take a listen to.
Beck
4/5
This Beck, to me, is the Beck I most like. Sure, Beck IS Beck in a way, but the energy is IDK. For me this one is my favorite Beck album. If I were to introduce someone to Beck, I think this is the album I would have them play up and I am pretty sure they would become at least interested in Beck after that. In a way this is like "essential" Beck. Although that is an unfair stretch unless you are me!
Pulp
3/5
I think this is sort of surf rock, soft rock pop with a kind of moderately interesting lyrical side. That sounds all good from my perspective but it doesn't reach as high as I had thought it might. It kind of stays OK with a couple of fairly interesting parts here and there. But in the category and the time period and and and... I just don't think it knocks it out of the park. Not really. It is not bad in any way, I suppose it just kind of "is" in a way.
Madness
3/5
Entertaining. Some songs I knew. Kind of too "weird" in a way to be in my must hear list. Also, I am not sure if this is the case because youtube sometimes does this, but I seriously did not need a thirty song marathon of an album. I did, frankly, get a bit sick of it after a while. That should not damage the band or its value, and I won't let it. It is entertaining and decent.
Joni Mitchell
3/5
The thing is that I like Joni Mitchell. I love how she just uses her voice as an instrument, but more importantly, she sings stories. She is ultimately a story-teller and that, to me, is pure gold. Okee Dokee... Now... the thing is that because it is all her all the time, each song, while different stories being told, sound more or less similar. So the sound part, the song part, can get a bit redundant. From what I do hear the songs have super deep and good meaning and are lovely. Yet... asch... sometimes I can't understand what she is saying. With her it happens a lot actually. So sometimes I miss stuff. Important stuff no doubt. So... I really like her, and I love story-tellers and folk style music. Yet I don't always understand her actual words, and sometimes musically it feels a bit sort of backgroundish after a while. Now, with THAT said, I love her road music most and this is ... OK but not my favorite of her work, so ... there it is.
Yes
3/5
Yes is an odd band for me. They have an 80's vibe in my mind but also a classic rock vibe. They seem to span both, but maybe for my taste the classic vibe sort of overrode the next step thing. IDK. AND I absolutely hold to this, I think this was an early album (maybe?) and they did other stuff I might find more appealing? I did not research it, I just listened and felt it was a bit too classic overall and I got slightly impatient with it. Nevertheless, as usual, it is not fundamentally flawed and may, in fact, be quite good for the right listener. Thus I will give it a fair to middling rating and move on...
Carole King
5/5
This album.... Carole King ... Amaze! Total joy. What? The thing is that maybe just maybe it doesn't have EVERY song a wonder, but it sure has a lot of them! Actually this album made me stop what I was doing, turn it up and just listen. It is that good. I have heard these songs, I "know" them... doesn't matter, this album is great, great! This is more than "worth listening to" this is ... have this, buy the vinyl. You will not be disappointed.
Deep Purple
4/5
Deep Purple was introduced to me in the late 80's and I have had a minor obsession ever since. They are not really classic rock, although it would be super difficult not to classify their best known songs as such. It is as if they have a bit "extra" or something that puts them just outside the genre. Like a few other bands at the time that just don't quite fit that mold so well. This album is ... sort of spectacular and special. I think it is a great way for people who have no idea who Deep Purple is to be introduced. To boot, this album does not cover some of my absolute favorites of theirs! Yet here we are!
Ali Farka Touré
3/5
This was really interesting and I really liked it. It is not quite jazz and has some nearly experimental bits. It is certainly refreshing world music and it matters as far as simply hearing it and knowing about it goes. I am all for diversity and a deeper understanding of other cultures and musical taste and variety and thank 1001 album generator for the chance. I think the music is of good quality and never gets boring, I wish in a way I could understand what the lyrics are saying because that would really shine a light on the culture and meaning in the music. Alas, I don't actually know what language they are singing in so ....
Rufus Wainwright
3/5
I take pains not to compare or mention other artists in any of my reviews. But I must in this case say that Rufus Wainwright gives me Radiohead vibes. The reason I bring this up is once I couldn't shake that comparison Then the issues crop up, until I stopped and said "but he is NOT, and this is not the same thing!" Right, he has that vibe but he is is own musician. Yes. Also he is pretty good on his own as it is. His dynamic overall did not entice me too much, although I paid attention here and there. He is one of those musicians that you "almost thought you heard that song" from, but realize it must have been someone else. (That search is always continuing). Maybe that is what it is with Rufus Wainwright? Maybe he is "like" and "almost" but not just quite there among similar artists.
The Smiths
4/5
The problem for me is always the same with the Smiths and Morrisey. I don't like his voice all that much and it is a huge feature of the music. The hard bit is that otherwise, including lyrically, I could really get behind this band and the lead singer solo himself. But it just always overwhelms me. I do try. Every time. Because I love this genre and The Smiths are such an iconic part of it I really almost feel bad that I don't like them. But here we are. Now, this and all my reviews are generally meant to be neutral reflections and that means this album ought get a pretty great rating. In this case I feel the need to override my own bias and say this band IS iconic and a huge part of the new wave/ alternative scene and thus is important. Thus my rating is solid, even if it is not for my particular taste.
Dire Straits
5/5
Dire Straits is one of my favorite bands of all time. Confession: I have not really had them on my radar for a number of years. Just so much to hear and discover that they kind of fell by the wayside. Listening to this album made me realize that they are among an elite of the elite: those few bands that make an "ordinary" album feel like a greatest hits album; every time! On my very short list of bands who pull this off, they are the one with the least likely fit -- dad voice lead singer, quite rock oriented, although it has huge blues roots and you can feel that throughout. There is just something special, even sublime in the Dire Straits "package" that is timeless and wonderful!
Fred Neil
3/5
I am Meh about Fred Neil. I get this kind of vibe that he decided that he wanted to be a singer/ songwriter and he put himself out there and did it. He does not have a distinct voice or style, he doesn't tell stories like some folk musicians out there, his lyrics are fair to middling. He has a song that is not really a one hit wonder per se but it is among my favorite singles songs of all time. Nevertheless for me, he never quite otherwise escapes a kind of mediocre trap. I am kind of glad I put a name to that one song, but otherwise I would not say it is essential listening or anything like that.
Ute Lemper
3/5
I have a story. So I began to listen to this and being familiar with choir music and musical theater, I was like "she sounds like a second alto that decided to make a cover album and sing with others." But I did no research, I wondered if she was German maybe? But as I listened I was more sure she was not a solo musician by typical trade, as it was not a "jazz" voice, nor a "lounge" voice she had, but a more disciplined alto to be sure... So I looked her up. Indeed she is German and indeed she is part of musical theater. Now it all makes sense. She thrives in productions, as part of an ensemble. She is an intricate part (alto) of a team (choir or opera) with a particular musical role and she is trained up for that role. This album made me rethink musicians and singers and their place in that world. I think, in all honesty, that she should stick with musical theater where she can shine as an important member of a team and leave the solo stuff for parts of a production and not an individual career.
Captain Beefheart & His Magic Band
3/5
As we listened to some DJ rave about an "oldie but a goody" and it began to play, my dad said "this song sucked when it came out and it still sucks."
Just because something is old, or "classic" does not immediately give it some free pass on excellence. Now Captain Beefheart is NOT that bad! My example was simply to illustrate that "just because" this album is from a beloved era of music and it is not bad, does not make it especially good or especially interesting is what I mean to say. I think my dad would say "I don't know too many people who got into this band." Which is neither an endorsement nor an outright dismissal. And that is how I feel. For me it feels like sort of a MEH band and there are others who simply "do it better."
Blur
4/5
I think I may have reviewed another Blur album here at one point and this one is... better. It has that more solid 90's alt post-punk, electronic leaning vibe I like. Sometimes I think of music as really straightforward, to like or dislike based on various criteria, blah blah blah, but sometimes there is something a bit less feasible or clear and it is most apparent between the same bands albums where one is a yes and one is a no, same musicians, different world. This album just has "something" that the last one does not, and it is a nice groove. Because of my strong wish not to underrate any music in general and give it the fair to middling three stars automatically, I will slightly overrate this album simply to distinguish it from the rest.
Elliott Smith
3/5
Elliott Smith is stuck in an unfortunate place. It isn't that he is particularly flawed or lacking. It is more to do with a certain saturation of similar music that puts him in the pack and not really at the front. It is not the worst trial to listen to by any means! In fact for some there may be some special quality in there that makes him have a fan club. It is simply that for me, his music is in that pile of "yeah, he is all right." which puts him in that unenviable middle ground.
Bob Dylan
4/5
This is likely an essential Bob Dylan album. My brother is a fan and has deep tracks of all sorts from all kinds of his published works so I can't say THIS album over any other is better or judge the quality really. He is too deep and different and well, a special case in the music world. Bob Dylan is in effect, his own genre. I absolutely believe that any music lover ought to get to know Bob Dylan's music in one way or another. Yeah... thinking deeply on it, I just don't know if there is any comparison to be made with his style... I would be perfectly willing to nominate a genre called "Bob Dylan" and deem it worthy to listen to.
Method Man
3/5
Funny how life works sometimes. While I listened to this I thought it was OK. I didn't know exactly where to place it within the genre and overall for a while -- as I listened. But Youtube as it is prone to do just auto played the next video after the album ended and I had not realized it at first, BUT, I was like "OK, now this is a pretty good one." And it was then, when I realized what had happened that I placed this album as "OK." It is OK. Nothing more, nothing less. I neither gained nor lost from listening to it. Unfortunately that does not make it particularly special either. But such is life.
Lightning Bolt
2/5
OK, paradox. I didn't hate this, sometimes. I even like a song or two. If it worked it worked. If it didn't... it physically hurt my ears. This is... troubling to say the least for any sort of music criticism. One ought to be able to simply listen to it. But the thing is, it really didn't matter what I did to try to equalize it or keep the volume down... it was just ... I think I get what they are doing and could listen from across the street if they were playing a club or something but ... Dude! It actually hurt me to listen to!
Prefab Sprout
3/5
So... OK. Turns out I knew about the Prefab Sprouts from back in the day. I thought they were OK to good, but honestly I never heard a whole album or anything. I looked forward to a full on album listen and was... I was kinda let down TBH. I felt like the album was the musical equivalent to a movie that is visually OK and acted OK but where the story just isn't that interesting. In other words, I found a whole album Prefab Sprout experience to be kinda boring in a way. One other remark would be more neutral but of interest: It does not age badly by any stretch but somehow you feel the age in it. I don't know why. It did nothing to hurt the album, just a weird sort of thing I noticed. They are not the only band by far and away that has this oddity. Nevertheless, at the end of the day I was left in a kind of unwanted MEH state.
Little Richard
5/5
Little Richard defines his own genre in a way. It is rock-n-roll, but with more fanfare and a kind of joy that is unique to him alone. Little Richard is an essential piece of music history. Also it is super fun just to listen to this album and Little Richard in general. You really can't go wrong here.
Arcade Fire
4/5
This time I am not going to mess with Arcade Fire. The first album I reviewed was probably the first time I had heard of them. AFTER that I started to really listen and they are really really a favorite of mine since. Now, to be fair and balanced: I still find that a "whole" album in a row has a tendency to feel a bit redundant. This is the kind of music you need to pay attention to and it gets hard to do for a full album's timeframe. Nevertheless, taken in smaller doses or maybe seeing them live, etc, I think that Arcade Fire is severely underrated and are an awesome band all around.
Lenny Kravitz
4/5
I didn't truly "forget" Lenny Kravitz from his heyday, but I have neglected to listen too much to his music in general. Not for lack of interest or care, but out of the abundant choices and distractions of so much music being out there. But revisiting this album made me really happy. He is really fun and easy to listen to. No "it gets boring" here! I might dare say that Lenny Kravitz kind of "kicks ass" in a way. If you want something fun for a party playlist, it will not hurt to add this to the mix.
Queen Latifah
4/5
Fact is this is great. Never does this get boring, never does it only sit in rap or hip hop or even pseudo-pop, but it spins around all of them and none of them each and every song, sometimes within songs. And Queen Latifah, she has voice! I wish I could use her to be a voice for my activism right now, we need it! Highly recommend as a 1001 album and just to listen to just to listen! You will not get bored.
Weather Report
5/5
This was way better than I had imagined it would be. Jazz fusion is the genre. It was lovely. Yeah, this is absolutely great and I can't really say anything bad about it at all. It never gets boring, sometimes is sublime, and remains way up there as far as generally entertaining music is concerned. There are few lyrics, few bells and whistles, but it is a thing of beauty.
The Rolling Stones
5/5
The Rolling Stones are very close to the Beatles in legend. They define rock-n-roll. They are above and beyond "classic" and enter that "timeless" space. They are quite simply one of the greatest musical groups of all time and there is really little to be argued otherwise. I won't even bother with their real-world (out of performing) antics and stories. Throw a dart at the wall and pick an album but it will be no different. This is canon and this is legend and this is "rock.n-roll."
Patti Smith
4/5
There are very few albums outside of what I classify as "canon" that I would deem "important." This is one of those. Patti Smith is widely known to be a punk icon and deserves her place on that stage as such. OK. But this album, to me is extremely important because it shows that Patti Smith is the girl version or alternate side to Iggy Pop, another massive punk cultural icon. They are both WAY beyond musicians and were always saying something through their music. I don't even know what to call the genre of this album but it has such a deep meaning; it shows us what punk IS at it's heart.
Doves
4/5
I was quite taken by this band. It is an odd thing to "know" music and be a fan for a long time and not know about a band that suits your style but this is not the first time this has happened. It could be to do with the (really surprising and eye opening) fact that American radio is super limited in scope of who they actually give air time to and a lot of Euro bands just are not on that list. While that sucks, at least now I have access and the album generator came through quite nicely here! I love this album actually and will listen to a lot more of their stuff moving forward. (New wave, progressive rock, sort of poppy feel stuff in case one wonders.)
Roxy Music
4/5
So as this IS a debut album it has both moments of future brilliance and experiment. I am a huge fan of Roxy Music and it goes beyond politics or personality or time or space. Don't know why and maybe in some years I will solidify some kind of mental connection with that subject, but for now, I don't know really, I just really "like" Roxy Music. This is not my favorite album of theirs and they, unlike some of my absolute favorites (I am distinguishing an intangible here) do run on a more linear (they got even better) timeline. Nevertheless it is an important intro to this unique and in my opinion, great band.
Alice Cooper
4/5
Alice Cooper is a bit of an anomaly to me. Technically the band falls directly into the "classic" era and in that sense should be relegated to the back shelves where the middle aged guys look for their childhood gems. But for some reason Alice Cooper NEVER felt classic to me. Not from the first listen and not on this one either. Maybe it is just too... not serious? Lyrically it is often parody and musically it changes up enough to not have that "classic" vibe anyhow. I don't know. But I do know it does not get old and remains outside hard labels. It is fun. And maybe that alone is enough?
Otis Redding
5/5
This is one of those kind of albums that I feel underqualifed to rate. I mean really! OTIS REDDING! One of the massive icons of soul and jazz!? What am I supposed to say? This isn't somehow great jazz or soul or both? It is frickin' iconic, it is canon. I don't like Metallica. BUT the album I reviewed on this site is absolutely iconic canon metal. My opinion gets lost in the reality that this is untouchable. Otis Redding is a co-owner OF jazz! There is nothing for me to "rate" here, it is part and parcel to jazz history.
Portishead
5/5
I have NO idea what this is supposed to be. Lounge? Alternative coffee house? (before that was a thing?) I don't know. What I do know is that for some reason that I still to this day cannot fathom, I love love love this! It is so ... weird? Different? Again, I don't know? But it is just as profoundly effective as it was the day I bought the album when it came out. I think, I mean maybe, that it dares be so different, it challenges the listener to defy genre expectations, as if you can have them here. Portishead is like one of those secret fascinations I have. I don't know why I find this so compelling, I don't even honestly STILL know what I am exactly listening to? But there it is and here we are!
The Rolling Stones
4/5
The Rolling Stones are Gods, Icons, and genre setting rock-n-roll royalty. They are legend for a lot of reasons, but one of them, to be sure, is their amazing catalog of music. Beggars Banquet is a big part of music history and the "British Invasion" and at the end of the day it earned its place as the band has at being at the center of the big table at the front of the music room.
Public Image Ltd.
4/5
PIL has always been a band that fascinated me. The politics of the lead singer is straight up punk and demands attention while the music itself is somewhat post punk/ industrial and just has something special in it that rises it above. I think if I remember correctly this is one of those bands that evolved and moved around genre with time. I wouldn't say they ever hit mainstream too hard and for me I think of them as a small club band, like the ones I used to go to in my "youth." The musicians keep it in that kind of small space groove and it never feels overproduced or made up for some other (commercial) purpose. Yeah, this is a good band, good groove. (Maybe for today a bit intense, dark, but PIL is PIL!
Ministry
4/5
This is just... amaze. I think it goes something like post-punk, to industrial, towards metal but with that social rage thing that punk epitomized. I have always had some ... IDK, fascination, taste for, "got into" Ministry and being sort of re-introduced was a real treat. Hell yeah!
The Who
5/5
This is genre defining Rock Opera. And it is more or less probably in the top group of all time at that. The Who is amaze. This album... Amaze. The Who, whom I often simply "forget to mention" are literally right up there with the best of the best and I am not sure why I often forget to bring them into those conversations, I remember the music well enough! maybe because I kind of put them in the "classic rock" genre and honestly, I more often than not do overlook that style. But I am glad I was reminded of this!
Metallica
4/5
Obviously I have already given Metallica the coveted "canon" title for metal. They are either the go to metal band or sit at the head table with a couple of others, and have earned that place in music history. I personally am not a big fan of either metal nor Metallica (it is to do with their specific underlying beat and groove (non-technically speaking).) Their "riff" if you will. So it is hard for me to be objective with bands like this. Yet I am both impressed with this bands dedication to their fans and the musical craft itself, so I will not put my own bias out there and go with what may reflect a more universal truth to Metallica's level of musicianship.
Solange
3/5
Solange has a nice voice. I don't think the rap genre is particularly good for her to highlight it though. It isn't damaging or wasted or anything bad, it is just not so traditional in a way, and they do cover really heavy social justice issues here. I suppose, on balance, this album is OK. Nothing outside her voice really stood out and as I said, the genre under-uses it. I don't often have this feeling, but I have on occasion and will try to point it out when it occurs. Perhaps socially relevant pop is too oversaturated but I think Solange has the voice to thrive in it. Maybe she has? IDK, I only listened to this album, and it is socially important, yet musically mediocre.
The Fall
4/5
For some reason I have always had a thing for three things in music: a certain rawness that makes it more intimate and real. A feeling that the lyrics have some value, or at least the way the groove itself unfolds, and the bands own connection to what they put out.
Maybe that is why I always had a thing for punk. It so often has these three elements, unapologetically. I sense all three of these things in The Fall and along with things like how it changes up and keeps things fresh and has good variety, how it veers outside of punk and back in... This is, despite the lead singers sometimes sounding drunk, makes this band rather special.
Aimee Mann
4/5
I mean I fed myself for years on bands like Till Tuesday and have always had a special place for Aimee Mann in my heart. I had not heard this album and had kind of dropped her off my radar, simply by life and time and all that normal sort of stuff. But I am grateful for the re-introduction as I like her just the same as I used to and am glad to be able to add her back into my playlist. Good on the 1001 generator and even better on me!
Fatboy Slim
4/5
Fatboy Slim is one of those iconic and just plain fun dj mix club, techno, pick a "hop" bands that I don't understand people wouldn't like. This is one of those bands that plays their hearts and minds to their audiences and everyone just grooves. Sometimes silly, sometimes weird, but always fun and always accessible, I have always liked Fatboy Slim. It is so easy to just slip into their groove that I listened as my youtube auto play just kept going with them for hours. Why not? It is just "yeah, it's all good, chill baby."
Lorde
4/5
I had not really had a lot of exposure to Lorde, although as they explore their gender I have become much more fascinated. Yet listening, really listening to them is a nice experience. I don't think this is pop or some form of dance contemporary radio play music. It is more of a hybrid folk. With deep and meaningful lyrics and a more singer songwriter quality than the typical (not bad in any way) more common stuff. That is the vibe I got at least. I would say musically this is a solid three star album, although because it is deeper in so many ways I will boost it a point.
Hawkwind
3/5
This album is what I expected. It is psychedelic 70's full on. I did not expect it to be so varied and interesting, of of the actual quality level it is, which is quite high actually. (maybe pun intended?) I think maybe if one were to point at or show this genre (psychedelic 70's) this would work pretty well. I don't know if it is canon or just a part of all that, but it is pretty solid to be honest. Yeah, this is pretty good. Easy to listen to without getting bored or tuning out. Kinda felt like "old school" what would become techno, electronic, groove. But before all that.
Bert Jansch
3/5
At first I was not particularly impressed because singer/ songwriters are often super good to me and there are many that really fill that head table, and maybe I just didn't see that at first. I think, however, it is not so much the lyrics or the singing that makes Bert Jansch shine, I think it is his guitar work. His instrumental work IS a step above and makes one wonder how much it would have vaulted his career if it had been coupled with (just maybe) a little more extraordinary personality in his spoken word/ vocals/ lyrics? Nevertheless, in the search for the ultimate singer/ songwriter, the quest continues.
4/5
I actually really liked this when it came out and now it is fairly good, although the non-hits have lost a tiny bit of luster. Nevertheless, it is and was a really great album and I know that the lead singer was kind of a controversial character and it created issues with them moving forward. That is too bad but at least they put out this solid entry.
Creedence Clearwater Revival
4/5
Funny thing this. I am NOT a big fan of "classic rock" nor "southern rock."
I don't reject it outright, just find it ... less interesting than other stuff, other genres, and this other stuff is not vastly overplayed like so much "classic rock" is. However, that is overstated and it should not be that it is torture or that I hate any of it. You could say I just got kind of bored with it. Now. CCR is and always has been just an outlier for me. Maybe when southern rock goes so deep south as to become kind of bayou folk or in how they have that nice raw, real feel. Whatever it is, this album is actually pretty great. Sure, heard it all a thousand times before, but it really doesn't alter the reality that CCR will always remain a beloved band in music history.
Taylor Swift
4/5
True confessions. I simply do not listen much to radio play pop music. Haven't for years. It is not a judgement or a rule. I just don't pay attention because I have so much to explore in my techno/ synthwave/ electronica/ trip hop... And while for many years I was apologetic about that, I am less likely to care any more. The trouble with it, of course, is that now and then a band will come along that is pretty great and popular and "everybody knows" and I will "discover it" years later. This IS the case with Taylor Swift for me. Her music has never popped up in any recommended music for me. Yet it is singer/ songwriter like, her lyrics are remarkably deep, her voice emotional. She clicks on all the right boxes and to a certain degree I can easily understand her popularity. I love how she has that folk/ country pop blend thing going on (country with swear words) and she dares put herself in her work. If I listened to the genre more I would be into this for sure!
Elvis Costello & The Attractions
3/5
I like Elvis Costello. This is not really an issue. I think in some cases, some days, some time periods we ebb and flow, and I don't want to undersell the idea that I am an Elvis Costello fan, yet here I am thinking that this album was OK but I was not particularly moved by it. It could be a mood thing, it could be a timing thing, or maybe it could be that this was not among my favorite albums of his. It is still Elvis Costello and still has that signature sound and all that, I just didn't get super into it for some reason.
Maybe someday I will be annoyed with what I missed?
The Thrills
2/5
Hmm... To tell the truth ... well, let me explain.
OK, so I was a "roadie" for a small town band for a couple of years as they did local and some moderate distant gigs. I met lots of other people in lots of other gig bands. Some were actually really good, some "self-published" and I bought a few CDs that way. But truth be told, outside of a few rare exceptions, it was unlikely any of them, including my own chosen band, were going to get signed. Now. I listened to this and it brought me back to those days. To me I don't know if this band is "that" good to be major label material. They are more like a solid local band or niche market band to me. My overall impressions were MEH.
The Temptations
3/5
I actually learned something from this album. For me, The Temptations actually got better over time for MY tastes. I was OK with this album but it was not quite what I expected; which was to be moved, blown away, listening to a genre icon. But it was... all right. I liked how it was a fusion of jazz, soul, nearing funk at times... but never really stuck anywhere. Right after this played my youtube randomizer sent me a more recent album of theirs and TBH I liked it a lot more. It may be just me, a lot of old school music types love to lament at this very evolution I am exalting. But this IS my reflection and I will not be swayed.
Ella Fitzgerald
5/5
I ... this... I don't know. For me this is absolutely sublime. I want people to hear this. This is kind of a match made in heaven and it is seriously amazing.
Billie Holiday
5/5
I had just given five stars to a Ella Fitzgerald album. Because... DUH!
So when I heard this I was like "is it really as good as that?" "Is there something more special in that other album that is not here?" But as I thought about it... What the heck am I even thinking? This is sofa king amazing! Holy moly! Billie Holiday is a frickin' jazz ICON. She is a GOAT among jazz singers. I could listen to this stuff all day long and probably have a better life for it! I think that some musicians, bands, singers... they go to a form of Tour De France categories. In that famous bike race all of the mountain stages are categorized from 1 to 4 by difficulty. It makes it easier for people to know when to watch and give the cyclists an idea of how hard their day will be. But, they have something called above category. When it is so steep and hard that they don't even classify it. I think people like Billie Holiday are above category. There is no point in arguing.
Dr. John
2/5
I ... did not love this. There is something about it that makes it a bit like, I can't describe it really, like the vibe is just kind of off for me, as if it were all a bit too experimental, which sometimes can be a good thing, but sometimes just doesn't quite work. For me, I think there is something to be said for the other million artists and bands of that decade that puts this into a kind of more obscure place than many others that edge it out, sometimes by a lot.
Brian Wilson
4/5
Brian Wilson and The Beach Boys for me have a unique style that always sits close to my heart. They are the canon of surfer pop, that started many niche genres within all sorts of categories, pop, rock, punk, etc. But surf, in itself has a kind of California innocence, a kind of promise of adventure (and often love) that is not yet realized. Maybe I am overstating it, or nostalgic, IDK. But ever since I was a little kid I liked the groove. Still do.
Led Zeppelin
4/5
Led Zeppelin is already an iconic, canonized band. Listening to this album is not any different. Some bands there is little to say about. They set the stage, we mere mortals just watch the spectacle. I would say the only way to really rate a band like this is to pit them against themselves. I would not say this is their best album, but it is still laughably good. And that is the thing about great legendary bands: If someone hears this one first and thinks "this is NOT their best album? What the heck IS then?!"
And so it goes with Led Zeppelin: legend for a reason.
Adam & The Ants
3/5
I like and always have liked Adam & the Ants. I think they are an energetic and fun band to listen to. I don't get any sense of date from their style or music and had no thoughts on it. Yet, if they are "timeless" that could also be their Achilles heel... See, often when I think of timeless bands I think I place them in a higher standard bracket. They are most often at the head table or close to it. Adam & The Ants are a fun band, standing the test of time because they are easy to listen to and maybe a bit predictable even. I think this band would get like a three and a half if that were a rating here, so they ARE quite good and like I said, fun. I think they have a bit of competition which tightens the ratings a bit.
Elis Regina
3/5
I am a fan of world music, and latin beats are always a favorite. I am not sure that will fully compliment my feelings here. OK. I don't have a problem with her voice, rhythms, music in general.. I think she seems to be like an OK singer. I mean sure, she is professional and seems passionate, but also kind of stuck in that space where much of the songs blended together (Nevertheless being quite good in quality overall!) It could be, and may well be (!) that this album suffers the fate of many many others, in how the music begins to "sound the same" after a while and Elis Regina man well do much better taken a few songs at a time, where her passion and fun will not have a chance to become the same thing again. I feel this is too harsh and I do like this album... But I knew it would be a hard one to explain...
4/5
Sometimes I get off kilter, or think I do, by rating something, like in this case, a latin beat album, in isolation of others in similar or same genres that I have not heard for a while, like, and maybe over-rate? Or maybe underrate if I don't give it enough credit. It happens sometimes. But recently I gave a fair rating to an album I liked but identified a few things that just didn't make it shine. Not so with this album! This IS amazing. Wow... this is ... what latin music ought be and is. I like other latin style bands for sure, but this stands up with the most of them! Definitely fun, definitely worth the listen!
Harry Nilsson
5/5
This album was ... not even remotely what I expected. I read the title and completely thought it would be a kind of spoof joke album with humorous undertones. I was wrong. Then, maybe I thought it would be a throwaway. But this album falls into a very small category of albums where the title does not match in any way with the content.
This is a gift. To all of us really. It is maybe contemporary peaceful or a mix of light rock and singer/ songwriter pop. IDK. I don't care really! This is just sublime and so absolutely worth listening to that I couldn't recommend it enough!
MGMT
4/5
OK. I really liked this, a lot! I thought it would be something I simply or merely enjoyed just because of its alternative roots and base energy, but it is more clever than that, always changing up and not ever getting stale. I remember liking a few of the songs on this album that got some marginal air play back in the day, but I am very glad now to be reintroduced and able to listen whenever I want. Cool Beans!
2/5
Nah. Didn't love this. Sure, it IS edgy, sure it is punk, rock-n-roll, angry, loud, spirited, all that good stuff... but it is all that all at once all the time, and that is a problem! There wasn't anything in particular to latch on to, to give it a style of its own. It isn't really punk per se, or even 70's style thrasher rock, more of ... both (ish)?
It could be a trend or a thing with me personally, but I don't like when my alarms go off thinking a band is "being too loud" on purpose. Be loud! Be rude, even obnoxious, but make it natural, own it. Own something! This, for me, was just too much of a mishmash and I almost... but not quite found my way into it.
David Bowie
4/5
This is "the" David Bowie that I know the most, and more or less like the most. His catalog is deep so it is hard to say which era or album I like the most, but I groove to this as like "classic" David Bowie in a way. I very much have favorite songs that are not on this album, but it would be nearly impossible to make a greatest hits album with him because too many obscure and less known songs are favorites of mine, and everyone else who has heard a bit more of his catalog. So... This album is one that I would not be afraid to point to and say "This" is David Bowie, and if you find it even mildly interesting, you will likely find the rest of him good too!
Nick Drake
4/5
Musically, compositionally, I think this album is absolutely sublime! The instrumentals are pure emotion, I was, and am, astonished by it.
Now. this is nothing new to my thinking and my reviewing, so I just need to be straight up about it: I don't love Nick Drake's voice. I actually think if all else, including his guitar work, etc. were exactly the same, but he had a hired singer that wasn't him, it would be an absolute corker! It is so beautiful, lyrically and instrumentally that it kills me to do it, but I have to go from absolute 5 star all in all the way to four stars because I am just too on the fence with his singing.
Alanis Morissette
4/5
I forgot how great this album actually is because I have not listened to it in a decade. But here we go again. It is fantastic now, it was then, and I figure it will always remain a favorite. There is a reason why certain albums get lots of air play, and this one is clearly because it was a hit machine. I don't think the music has aged much at all, if at all, and it is still relevant and interesting today as it was in the 90's. Yeah, this is definitely a good one.
Roxy Music
4/5
Roxy Music is an interesting band. They have been a part of music culture for a long time, among my favorite songs of all time belong to them. I think this album is a great example of their success story. The idea that this album was at least on the edge of what was going on, or maybe just ... a bit ahead of its time is not wrong. Also, it is timeless. It is unique enough not to be pigeonholed into an era or a niche genre. Is it rock, pop, contemporary? It is all those things and its own thing as well. It is a pleasure to listen to and oddly the title is very fitting. Thank you Roxy Music.
Queen
5/5
Queen never fails to amaze me. I actually avoided them in the 80's because they were, and I am being fair here, "overplayed." It led to this kind of saturation state, especially with just a few specific songs, that turned me off to the band. Fact is that is what turned me off to commercial radio at all, and I went college and alternative, which, by irony, went mainstream after a while as it caught on. Anyhow, so for a long time I just never paid attention to Queen. Until I did, recognizing the actual brilliance of this band and it's lead singer. Of course they are solidly placed in classic rock, but when you dig deeper, listen harder, they are so much more than that! They wrap really serious stuff into fun riffy rock-n-roll, with of course an amazing Freddy Murcury. Hard to go wrong actually...
Bruce Springsteen
5/5
True confessions: For a long time, maybe my teenage years, even into my 20's I didn't like Bruce Springsteen. It was not because of the music. It was because I felt he was too pessimistic about life, especially American working class life. Yet as I got older I came to see what he meant more and more, to relate more and more and now... Now with the working class, immigrants, LGBTQ, anyone who "dares" not be a white, conservative, christian, straight, and RICH person living in USA is a huge target, all our worlds on fire and nobody is putting it out... Bruce Springsteen, contrary to my youthful ignorance, stands out as a pillar of truth, of what matters, how to push forward through the hate and rage and misery. Find someone to love, do the best you can. Care for your neighbors and your neighborhood... Damn if this is not more important and relevant today then when it came out!
4/5
I think I finally figured out my odd relationship to David Bowie. It lies in the idea that I am still like a kid listening to an adult who is trying to get me to understand a concept I am not quite grasping. He was, and still is ahead of his time. Often music is dated or placed in time and space or "timeless" but I feel like David Bowie's collective works have not even quite landed yet. It is like my mind has not yet expanded enough to fully comprehend his life lessons, but that I catch glimpses of meaning now and then and he is most definitely deep and profound on a next level basis.
Guess I have to keep listening...
5/5
It isn't like I didn't know who Bob Dylan was before I heard this album. But I never heard this album. In fact many years ago my brother took a deep dive into his archive and was blown away. I did not get involved in the project and here I am today blown away!
There is radio play Bob Dylan, which is great. But then there is this! The first song I was thinking OK, I know the voice, I know the style... but what I did not know was the emotional draw-in that had me by the middle of the second song. The poetry, the near spoken word stories he tells, the depth of it all! One forgets the "Bob Dylan" voice, the musical style as you get sucked into the feeling, the meaning which still feels immediate, in the now.
This is a really good Frickin' album!
Everything But The Girl
3/5
Um... I thought for a second there that maybe I had heard this back in the day, but I don't think so actually. It isn't bad or really even all that dated. it is maybe just obscure. I suppose as far as the front table and the seats in the back are concerned this band would be somewhere in the middle section. I think that this might have held true even back in the day when they were a "thing." That would explain why a college radio alternative nut would not know them.
With that said, there is nothing unpleasant or unworthy in listening. The lead singer eventually gets in and I like her voice. Maybe it is just as a package there is nothing super memorable to point out? IDK. It is OK.
Public Image Ltd.
4/5
OK. I am a way huge fan of * actual * punk. This is it. This is the real deal, even I was blown away as my exposure, which is hugely positive, towards PIL has always been "later" material. This album is kind of insane in a way considering simply how "hard" it is and how even then, political and social it is. I don't know enough to fully say, but I would suggest at least that PIL is very likely a band that is "highly" or "sorely" underrated. When people are asked about what they know of the punk era, PIL is probably an afterthought and it ought not be that way at all!
If you want punk served unapologetically on a plate, here it is.
David Bowie
4/5
I am not sure if it is because this was the first real exposure I had to David Bowie or it really is for me just what makes me like David Bowie regardless of when and where I heard it, but this, for me IS David Bowie in a form I would recommend to people. Some of may all time favorite songs are on here.
Now, with that said, I must say that in some ways I get that this is also the most commercial and POP that he gets. And I will not discount his "weirder" stuff so readily. This album by itself does not make him an ICON. Yet it is a good starting point, no doubt.
Prince
3/5
Live albums are problematic. If you are not there, the crowd participation, the weird sound issues, the odd riffs and mishmashes can be a bit jarring. There are nearly always flashes of brilliance, and it helps massively if you are watching it happen on video. If you are not, or only intermittently...
Some live albums are amazing instant classics. Some struggle with any and all the things I spoke of. If I had been at this concert I would have been amazed, mesmerized, stellar! But I was not. Frankly I would have preferred a studio album in this case.
The Stooges
4/5
Mind. Blown. Thought this was "yet another" 60's rock band. Was wrong. They blend a psychedelic rock mix that is unique and wholly interesting. I ended up listening way past the original album and didn't even notice for a while. I favorited a few songs just to get them on my playlist. The Stooges are well worth listening to! Great gem of a find from the album generator!
Madonna
4/5
Anyone who grew up in the 80/ 90's knows Madonna. She was a household name, prolific and maybe even somewhat controversial, yet still "the queen of pop" to be sure. This album has been said to be her best. I would be merely mildly pressed to deny that but I know her whole catalog. Maybe? As a specifically representative single album... I am not sure. But what I am sure of is that this IS a great album She may not be the greatest actor... but when it comes to music she sure knows what she is doing!
The Velvet Underground
4/5
My early music memories were country folk and The Beatles from my Dad. Later though, on my own, I discovered punk and early techno. This would be the musical food i would eat forever forward.
The Velvet Underground is part of my inner music vibe. It is almost hard to explain but it goes beyond the sound, the music, and into a kind of spiritual zone. It is like a movie you like but know, in a way, that it is not well received or perfect, maybe even highly flawed but you don't care to even defend your choice. Although The Velvet Underground & Nico are not needing defending as the album IS pretty great on its own. But added with all my history and formative years, it makes me an unapologetic fangirl.
Elastica
4/5
I did not really ever pick up the name of this group back in the day but I am glad I know it now. Fun is the way I would most describe this electronic pop style. It has good energy and a few memorable songs. They have enough uniqueness not to throw them into the "crowd" of alternative college rock of the time, but I think they may have fell victim to the crowding as a few of their songs "almost" made it and ended up edged out by a lot of competition. It is odd that we go into musical "lull" periods where not too much is really great and we have periods where "too much" is really great that decent to good bands get rather more overlooked. At least now I have a name with the tunes I remember!
Black Sabbath
5/5
This album is fantastic. I mean that in a real overall sense. Yes, Ozzy died yesterday and that sucks. But that is NOT why this album is great. It is great because they set the stage for everything and everyone who would parallel the punk movement with a darkside twist on the establishment. They were no more satanists than pet rocks, but they dared play with the roles, Also the band is fantastic and Ozzy.. .well, yeah, he has the voice so it is one of those matches made in ... Heaven?
No. It is not r e a l l y classic rock, it steps too far out there and dares too much that what we call classic rock. Again, it is like punk done metal. And it really is brilliant!
Pearl Jam
3/5
Pearl Jam for me is an odd band. I have a love hate relationship with them. I do not know why exactly. I suppose it is part of my favorite genre/ era but always was just not quite in my top favorites. Yet it is pretty great, I don't know exactly what the issue for me is... I will give it a good rating because it is just what it is, I know the issue is ME and not the actual quality of the band. Still though, just not ... precisely my vibe I guess?
The Band
3/5
I tried to get into this but found it crept into that obscure category of classic rock for me. I don't know why. It isn't bad, as most classic rock, but it ... there is something about it that kind of pushes me away. I suppose, in an overly simplified way, I am just not "into" the genre even if a single or a whole album is pleasant enough.
It is probably great and all, just not my scene. (and I don't know why I guess)
CHVRCHES
5/5
One of the main reasons for me doing this whole album of the day thing is for what happened this time. Some Scottish synth pop band that escaped my notice. I love synth pop as one of my "big" genres. My world veers techno, synth, trip hop... so this is "in the bubble" of my musical taste, and it does it in a big way! I loved this! Not for everyone? Honestly, I don't care! This review is not for the masses, it is for me! Their vibe is "all around" what I like and unique enough to be now "on my list" of worthy and great bands in indie synth. Yeah. I get it if people disagree, it IS very much a genre thing. But for those who love this vibe, you are likely to love this band!
Nina Simone
3/5
I like jazz. I like lounge music, blues, women who sing low key... I like it all. So this album should be a shoe in for a high rating. But it is... I guess not really? I love the instrumentals. LOVE. But maybe it is ... I guess the lead singer is somehow either working it as a professional ought and not really there behind it or maybe her voice is just not ranging enough to fit the instrumental bits.. .This could be. I have reviewed singer/ songwriter albums and have felt that if "someone else" did the singing it would have been more powerful. I am not saying her voice or this album is bad or even "not good." It is good! It IDK? just feels like there are others in the same genre that do it better maybe? (Minus the instrumentals!)
Manic Street Preachers
4/5
This is good. It is post punk punk. It is sometimes rocky, sometimes lyrical, sometimes even a bit electronica. I try not to be influenced too much by what others think, both good and bad, although sometimes people have really good perspectives and it doesn't mean avoid everyone or their opinions. I must admit though, that MANY people wrote of the depth of the lyrics... which... ... I honestly found to be largely unclear most of the time. It IS punk and is presented that way most of the time so... sure. And those thinking it is "deeper" than punk have NO idea of * actual * punk. This does NOT affect my view that this is a solid post punk band and it is worth a listen.
William Orbit
4/5
I like the new age genre. This was a really good find for me, the second this week! But... again, it is a genre I personally like. It may not work for a large swath of people, too boring or slow or IDK? But for me it is about the mood and the peace and the whole emotional way it plays out. I am not sure this album is the best or the worst of William Orbit, but I intend to find out!
5/5
Why are The Beatles timeless? This is a real question? They are. There is no doubt about it. But how? Why them? How was this early rock-n-roll band to become what they did? Why them (again)? I don't know. Maybe I don't care even, because ... damn!
What a band they were. I, for one, am super glad they do exist and that we can still marvel at their work today.
I think my youtube algorithm might have made a mix instead of the actual album, but it is the same songs in different orders at any rate... and it really doesn't matter anyhow because The Beatles are simply one of the best bands that ever existed and anything they did was worthy.
Billy Joel
5/5
Mmm... Definitely part nostalgia but mostly in it's timeless beauty, I love this. Billy Joel is a story teller. Some of his stories are just that, about people going through life, wins and loses. But I can't sing along without tearing up. It could be nostalgia, but it is less petty than that. I don't recall better days or whatever. I live for now, and my life is today. No. It is more about how Billy Joel music touches ones soul. It is not trivial or commercialized. It is about life and trying to make sense of it. And it is very powerful indeed.
Talk Talk
3/5
OK. This is a kind of difficult rating for me. it is quite good. Spot on actually. I do love 80's music in general and it vibes right. now for the tricky part...
It is "so" 80's. I do not know why one band can be timeless and another dated. But this is not (by far) the only band that winds up pigeon holed into a specific era through their sound. But it poses two questions: The first I asked, why some bands end up era'd and others not. The second question is what is it specifically that does not allow the music to have that timeless quality, even if it is clear it was made in a certain era? I do not have the answers but am truly curious. In the meantime this is a very good example of a good 80's band that is likely worth a listen when the mood suits.
Fatboy Slim
5/5
Fatboy Slim falls squarely into the epicenter of my musical world. There is no "this is great" or this is OK... it is canon for my music taste universe. Several bands fall within this bandwidth and form the foundation of my inner circle that expands and takes in every other band and style thereafter. It all starts here and everything evolves from it. Thus, there is really no point in candy coating it. For me this is the cats meow.
Supergrass
3/5
I remember Supergrass from back in the day. I couldn't recall precisely their musical style but vaguely thought I was good with them. Relistening I see why. Yeah, they are OK. Pretty good groove, pretty good lyrics... They are pretty good. I am sure they have a fan base that is solid, Probably a few hits from other albums that I have heard...
I have spoken of this numerous times. There are bands at the head table and bands that sit in concentric circles moving outwards. Supergrass is not at the head table and likely not so much in the first couple of rows. It is not a problem with them, it is maybe a saturation issue with so many bands that edged them out at the time and still do. And that is the reason I struggle to remember them. They wind up a band I have heard of that is pretty good. But this is probably the first and last time I will ever write (home) about them!
Van Morrison
3/5
Hmm... It has been a while since I had this criticism. I think Van Morrison is actually quite unique and wonderful. Not quite jazz, not quite pop, not rock... not quite a singer/ songwriter... Van Morrison is unique. That makes him all the more interesting and since he is quite good and calming and enjoyable to listen to, it can even be delightful. But...
Van Morrison IS unique! His voice is very specific and distinct. He has a style which is consistent... so ...
A whole album in a row starts to get a bit redundant. Yeah, it sucks to say, but I started wishing it would "end soon" and it was not a long album. Taken individually or a couple songs at a time, GREAT! But he runs into the not uncommon problem of many a fine band: Things start to run together after a while even as individual songs (any of them really) are quite nice. SO. On his own merit, four to five stars! In an album played in a row...
The Undertones
4/5
This is classic post-punk. At first I was like "it is OK." I grew up clubbing in New London Connecticut at the L&G Club watching post-punk bands. Lots of them are pretty good, some memorable, some Meh... But about half way through this album I realized that the Undertones are actually a cut above and are actually a REALLY GREAT post-punk band!
Yesterday I lamented about how great musicians can fail by being redundant and eventually (sadly) become boring. Here I was "meh" at first, then "this is pretty good" and suddenly the album started coming together and I realized these guys are in the front room regarding post-punk old school goes. Damn, I wish they had played the L&G!
The Smashing Pumpkins
5/5
28 songs on this double album. Two things that have held true (until now) involve my distaste for the same band to drone on for several hours straight (in a non-live sort of way). And my distaste for distinct styles to go song after song with little variety. This makes the idea of a double album daunting for any sort of casual and enjoyable listen.
But the Smashing Pumpkins has been a second tier go to band of mine for over 30 years and after I finally saw them live, and was overwhelmed and blown away, they stepped up to my head table.
Then, I was faced with a non-live double album... 28 songs... and I could have played it over again! That is when I realized why The Smashing Pumpkins has always been among my go to favorites, they are varied and never boring even with the strong distinct lead singers voice. (normally a distraction for me after a while). They have a sort of art gallery way of ordering everything to flow from soft and mellow to metal level hard and back again... and lyrically! Yeah. this is honestly great. What a great band!
Motörhead
3/5
Motörhead is very specific. They have that 70's metal driven hardcore vibe. They are not mellow enough to be "classic rock" but otherwise fit the stereotype. They have a distinct sound, perhaps too distinct in a way, there is not a lot of range there. I get the sense, since this is a live album, that they know that and were not bothering to become something more or above that. They had their groove and that is what they gave the fans. While this groove is not my groove, I do understand their energy and fan base.
Their style appeals to some primitive need for loud driven excitement without too much thinking. This can be a great thing, a great escape, and in THAT space they are really good.
John Martyn
3/5
True confession. Yesterday I pressed "did not listen" to an album I did, in fact, listen to. I just didn't want to rate it. I felt like it was just OK but that maybe it deserved more? Maybe my mood was off? IDK. So I will revisit it. Today I listened to John Martyn. ... ... Same thing! But I won't say "did not listen" because I did and want to be honest. I felt like it is OK. Just kind of part of the fabric of bands and musicians doing their rounds and trying to make it in the world. Some people will be fans, others will just ... not much think of it. I will stop short of saying it was boring, the musicianship is quality. It is just that... My head table theory puts him somewhere in the midsection, and it is crowded there.
Johnny Cash
5/5
This is one of those must hear albums that boggles the mind. I don't really care too much for Johnny Cash regarding genre or listen too often. I love some aspects of his music and his life. He IS a cultural icon. I love LOVE how he interpreted some more contemporary hard rock/ alt songs before he died. It literally changed the way I view music, how I interpret it. Anyhow, this album... a performance in a prison with little hope and diminished spirits... Some of these songs must have meant so much to some of these hapless souls... Incredible!
Nirvana
5/5
I saw this "live" on MTV when it happened. I was not a HUGE fan of Nirvana, I liked them OK but was also into a dozen other bands at the time so... Anyhow, when I saw this show I was blown away. It still remains one of the best live performances I ever saw (even though I was watching it on TV). In fact I can't imagine if I was a part of that audience how I would feel? I suppose I would be a super fan girl of Nirvana. As it is I gained a sort of mad respect and still think this performance is unbelievable. It is intimate and personal and just so "real." It is flawed and fractured and sometimes feels chaotic and thrown together... it is everything an "unplugged" performance ought to be. It is one of the best things ever to come out of the MTV universe.
Leonard Cohen
4/5
I love Leonard Cohen. Not sure how to rate this. It is wonderful, yet it is nearly spoken word, it is not as much a musical album as a poetry reading. A beautiful one, no doubt. And I would listen to Leonard Cohen speak all day. Among my absolute favorite "songs" are some of his. But he IS unique, as few others are, and while wonderful and meaningful as this all is... I can't say it is a particularly musical album. Not really.
Elvis Costello & The Attractions
3/5
On the one hand I like Elvis Costello. On the other he can feel kind of repetitive. I am on the fence. Some of the stuff is really good and some of it is signature Elvis Costello. Maybe it is that to like his music you have to embrace his voice full stop, and sometimes I like an instrumental break or even an alternate singer. Actually this opens up a thought inside me... I often do like bands that switch up or duet or go instrumental now and then... It isn't that I don't like or appreciate Elvis Costello, because I do. It may be that this album is simply too "Elvis Costello himself" heavy?
Britney Spears
3/5
I know that when this came out it was a huge success, but maybe I feel like it ends up, not in a bad or negative way, but just a sort of point and say, yeah, that is an OK album sort of way, that it is radio POP. There are lots of snappy, memorable tunes born of radio pop. OK. Great. The issue is not that this is bad or flawed or there is something wrong with it. Maybe, just maybe it feels produced to be simple, catchy, hit making through repetition, there is nothing unexpected, exciting, different, deep... it is what it is supposed to be, nothing more, nothing left. It pulls no punches. And I suppose that is kind of a problem in a way.
Tears For Fears
5/5
Ha. So much for my BS. Nah, can't fight it. I was way into Tears for Fears back in the day but as with most things, I kind of only occasionally would be "Oh, that is a really good song" and kinda sorta remember the band name. I am truly sorry for that because... Damn. honestly it was like a first time listen for me. I don't really know if they ever got the credit or ratings they deserved because like I said, I kinda veered off into a techno direction and not so often look back. I should look back more often! This is a REALLY good album and for whatever cheesy eighties looking cover it might be, do not be deceived into thinking this album, musically or lyrically is a joke.
Pentangle
3/5
This could be touchy. But I must diffuse it immediately. I actually really LOVE some folk music. This is not being a genre snob. I did not love this. It is "OK." but there was nothing in particular that caught me. I don't think it is a case of oversaturation, as it is unique enough. Maybe, for me, nothing particularly stood out. Even that it sometimes felt pseudo-religious did not bother me. Maybe, just maybe, it simply just isn't my vibe. And sometimes we have to be OK with that.
Ride
4/5
At first I was on the fence with this band. It was OK for surf rock/ alt. But I REALLY like the genre and fangirl out on several other bands. I thought maybe it was that they are British and just don't quite vibe the same... Yet after a while I started listening a bit harder to some of the songs, and began to warm up to their unique sound. I think they have a bit more of a "wall" of sound than the "cleaner" surf rock I am used to, but being used to does not mean I can't learn and adapt. By the end of the album I knew that the drummer alone is worth a whole star. Amaze! The rest of the band... Yeah, after all I DO dig the genre so...
Teenage Fanclub
3/5
Hmm... So. I like this genre in general. I think that is not always helpful. The reason for that is because I am naturally inclined to like this style of music so I pay attention to who and what is out there. The fact that I may or may not have "heard these guys" is kind of telling. I think they are OK. Even worthy of the genre. But are they... a must hear? From what I gather from their fan base it is pretty niche, but for me, maybe, they are "yeah, pretty good, if they were in a local pub I might stick around and enjoy the show. It isn't even a negative thing to say, but there are other bands too similar, and somewhat more ... IDK, extra? that I would pay more attention to.
The White Stripes
4/5
The White Stripes are a kind of breed of their own. For me they are a rare, but sometimes true part of my own music life. I know they are simple, even kind of basic, but they are ... I love this band. Brother and sister just rocking out. Amaze. They have like a rebellious edge that never gets boring, even as the music is so simple. I think I am a member of a cult with them. Yeah, that's it. I am one of their minions!
Rock on!
Le Tigre
4/5
I don't often mention more bands in a single bands review. It is distasteful as it "compares" and that is a bad thing. In my view a band must stand on its own merits and be "rated" as such. However it is safe here to say that this band, like several of my favorites through time, earns my endearment because they are "fun!" Simple, yes, but so much joy to listen to! The other band? The White Stripes. A lot of similarities here, although Le Tigre is probably a tad more complex, they are also a tad more silly. Both groups are in my nest of little joy eggs that I can pop in and raise my spirits with. I think also in this case "you will get to know what I mean by listening." It will be a fun ride at the very least!
3/5
OK. Admittance: I am a gen X'er and am not sure if I remember who XTC is? Sounds like Paul McCartney had a spin off band but went way pop. It isn't bad or anything. Maybe because it is so pop oriented, so radio play (with exceptions!) and I was always so "fringe" and into alt/ techno/ post punk that I just never paid attention. But I also somehow felt I knew the name and had "heard of them" before. So... I looked them up. They are not affiliated with McCartney, just share a similar voice in a way. Also, they were a post punk band so they probably have much more interesting (for me) earlier stuff. This album, coming late, was not ... FOR ME, much to write home about. I suppose to be fair I ought go into their archive. I imagine I might even like them if I do.
Dion
3/5
Uh... It is not like this was a bad album or done badly or over commercialized or anything particular. I suppose I can say in the good old fashioned way "I just didn't get into it."
And I don't think really that it is just me being harsh or not open minded or whatever. I think it is more to do with my common focus forgetting something: Music as I try to rate it is often on a scale I make that is BAD to GOOD. (ending in great). But this to me is like "elevator music" or the concept of it. It is background that I am entirely indifferent about. I don't automatically go "OMG listen to what is playing!" at a grocery store, only when it IS something I groove to will I do that. And there it is. Not a negative judgement, it played I listened. Meh.
Super Furry Animals
3/5
I didn't really like this. Whether it be post-punk or neuvo-punk or some facsimile. Why? I often really like the genre, even rather enjoy it, but here... I suppose it is simple math in the end. I felt it was too "wall of noise" and kind of jarring. I never quite "settled" on a groove or a riff as it kept being too busy. Punk does not mean loud and throw it all in. Maybe that is part of it. I feel that punk (and post-punk) as with metal and such, suffers this kind of "it is a lot of loud noise" but it shouldn't be that. It is often more subtle and nuanced. This was tolerable to listen to but it does not, for me, represent the true form of the genre.
Christina Aguilera
3/5
This was not what I thought it would be. Yes, she has shining moments and a special voice. No doubt! But 22 songs is.. ... a lot of songs and she has a great voice, distinct and specific, and the beats behind her mainly rap style that is not quite driven enough to be hip hop or club music... (You listen more than groove to... ) I think in small doses she is quite nice to listen to. In a large album... Even if she was my favorite, 22 songs gets... too much maybe... I should have listened in two parts or over the day but I got kind of punch drunk and even her last song which is otherwise quite lovely, sort of fell on impatient ears. I may wish to alter my judgement later, but for now...It was "OK."
Spacemen 3
4/5
I stand corrected. I made it clear that I don't like long, double album style works, such as a 22 song two hour album by any band. Just too much after a while. And then this. It is 22 songs and some are 11 minutes long! But...
I really liked it! Why?...
Ah! Because if one asked "what is the genre?" I would say ... well, post-punk, alt. Rock, Techno, new age, club... and I would not be wrong. Spaceman 3 IS all this, and more really. It doesn't get old because everything they do is so different. And, truth be told, ALL the genres they encompass I happen to like! I actually totally liked this whole album and never got bored!
Prince
4/5
1999. Prince. Iconic. Rare is this. Some artists for whatever reason just emerge as a cut above and Prince is one of them. This is not my favorite album by Prince and that is why I will (give away) my four star rating now. Nevertheless it is a MASSIVE iconic, completely unique and takes up space in music culture history. I often speak about those at the head table, but this is always coupled with masters of the genre, those that define them. Prince made his own genre and defined it himself. Pepsi challenge: who comes next? Who is "like" Prince, especially in a historical context? This album defined a chapter in music and it is still as important as it ever was.
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds
3/5
I am sorry. I live in a place where "dance bands" and outdoor festival middle age folk/ rock bands are very commonplace. For the most part it simply is "not my thing." I got exactly that same vibe here. I don't know if Nick Cave evolved From or Into this type of vibe, but it is what I got from it.
None of these bands or this genre of folk/ rock is bad and most is well made and clever. It just sails by me vibe wise and I sort of leave it for those with "older" brains than my own. (I am, on the other hand, quite OK with "Dad bands" which this is NOT!) Maybe the difference is that this feels like a throwback to an even earlier time or genre space. Stuff you might listen to at a county fair or a beer fest. IDK? At any rate it was a MEH for me...
Eric Clapton
5/5
Eric Clapton sits at the head table, one of the absolute canonized kings of a number of genres ranging from guitar folk, classic rock, contemporary and even jazz. He is, and was when this album came out, both a great storyteller and one of the best guitarists of all time. That combination places him in "music god" territory and it is very likely I would get much resistance in saying that. Just listen to the album.
Rahul Dev Burman
3/5
Sure. I think this is a movie soundtrack. It is different to be sure and not just because it is Indian style music. I like the style and the chaos of the album never makes it boring. However, it is pretty darn niche and I would not expect too many people to think any differently about it.
I suppose a fan of the movie would love this. I have not seen it so I don't know. In the meantime (before I actually see this movie) I think as a stand alone album it all fits together and is never boring. Just bear in mind it is pretty niche! It IS the soundtrack to some Bollywood movie after all! I suppose it is fun enough to sneak on at a house party! Bruha ha...
Dr. Octagon
4/5
Unexpected this. It is quite nice to find these hidden gems that the one album a day program reveals. I am a big fan of genres that swing off of techno and big beat, such as trip and hip hop. This is a near perfect blend of rap and hip hop that just grooves so well AND is super funny and just naughty enough to be a little "extra." I get why I had never heard of it, too... off the mainstream. But here it is and here I am to enjoy it!
Yeah, this ... Just plain great fun. Mmm those drum beats just ... kick.
The Chemical Brothers
5/5
So ... Techno, specifically big bang, is the center of my musical universe. Everything else trickles out from there. I don't even feel I need to mention that The Chemical Brothers are the epitome of big bang techno and more or less gods among the techno set. Not every single song on every single album is amaze, but there are amazing songs on every album. Exit Planet Dust is no exception. If you are into techno or techno curious, this is the meat of it right here. Nuff said!
The Zombies
4/5
Huh! I, of course, have heard a few of these songs never knowing the band The Zombies, however I now see that they are not a one hit wonder band at all, and worthy of a listen. In fact the only real thing I will say here is they fall under a sort of 60's pop psychedelic genre with clear, somewhat meaningful lyrics and are truly WORTH A LISTEN!
Made me happy!
Jack White
4/5
I have always been a fan of such simple music. When Jack White was with his sister and just banged out tunes that you felt more than anything else. The good news is this is still the same underneath as it was with the White Stripes so good on him!
Yeah, it is simple. Nevertheless there is something there...
The Cult
4/5
Not much to say here really. Drummer, bassist, guitarist, singer. GO! And they do, and it is great, and The Cult remains one of my all time favorite "rock-n-roll" bands of all time.
Clearly they are highly professional, the lyrics are often deep, they have the distinction of "one of my all time favorite songs" and yeah... Like I said, kinda not much to say in how more or less simple they really are. But I mean ... damn!
Madonna
4/5
Madonna is a very good musical artist. I love how she always reinvents herself but never loses her own ... autograph. Yup. It's Madonna, and yeah, it is good actually. But she is a queen for a reason. She made her own table and deserves it. Worth listening to? Well yeah, of course!
Animal Collective
4/5
OMG I loved this! What it is? At first I was thinking kind of alt/ rock or surf rock but it veers sometimes techno, has no singular voice, sometimes clear and concise, sometimes hard to follow exactly. But it works emotionally. I think that is the key. You more FEEL this band than what might be a typical alt/ almost experimental college radio band. Sometimes it takes half a song, just kind of grooving along before a switch up will hit you in the feels. I am super glad for the 1001 Album generator for sharing this one!
Happy days!
The Modern Lovers
3/5
This post-punk band I have heard before but fall into that "oh, that was them?" blanket. I like them and that feels careless, but I am into post-punk music in general so I listen to a lot of it. Nevertheless I am glad to put a name to the music and I was happy with the album overall. I try not to look up the band before I write a review for bias purposes, but I wanted to know why I had not really known them, being a fan of the genre. Turns out they only lasted a couple of years and were released even after they broke up, so it is to do with the lack of exposure overall I would think. Anyhow, they are fun enough to listen to and if you like the genre, they will not disappoint.
Brian Eno
5/5
Okee Dokee... I am and always have been a fan of Brian Eno. I love electronica and yeah, godfather status goes here. But (!) considering the vast amount of music out there, dwelling on one musician or even a few has never been my style. So I have a couple of his albums but am not in the know of his whole catalog. I never knew he made ambient music. Turns out he does, and it is frickin' stellar!!! O. M. G. Music for airports? IDK, maybe? But this is s o much more than that... I am not used to those long pauses between songs but that is to do with my DJ weaving obsession... Nevertheless, damn... Wow. Just wow!
Curtis Mayfield
4/5
I don't often listen to soul. I think it is to do with the natural movement of music in random other directions. It is pretty specific and era fixed. One won't casually run into Curtis Mayfield soul on the radio or even in a soundtrack (that is not from the actual movie in the 70's!) However, this does not diminish or weaken the cool, groovy, pleasure from listening to it. I mean Mmm... this is just like having a rare dessert or an exceptional wine. Throw this on in the middle of a party and see what happens...
The Shamen
3/5
I believe this is the most 80's vibing 1990 album ever. Or it was signaling the era change... hard to choose. Some albums, like this one, are "grounded" in their era. I can't imagine this being made today simply because it IS so 80's vibe. I suppose if one were having a themed party or looking for nostalgia this might work. For me it was maybe a bit too much, although it was not "bad" in any direct (say annoying or glaring) way, it was just "oh man is THAT 80's sounding."
Malcolm McLaren
4/5
This is pure fun. Not even remotely close to what I ... didn't even know to expect. I mean if this doesn't work on a person's mood, not much will! The African beat definitely has a Paul Simon vibe (as if in any possible world that could be a bad thing!) but Malcolm McLaren stands on his own to be sure as a musician. The best way to describe this is joyous fun! So happy to listen to this! Ha!
Hookworms
3/5
I was excited by this retro-electronica album. I don't know what to say exactly as I was somewhat distracted while listening. I think for caution i will give it a neutral rating but personally will listen a bit more to their catalog, as it may well be up my alley!
Tom Waits
4/5
Tom Waits is wholly unique. I can imagine some people must practically seeth with rage at his voice. On the other hand it is hard for some to not be weirdly mesmerized by it. He is truly a storyteller and can be deep and funny at different times. You could say it is bluesy or jazzy or kind of lounge... but it is wholly unique and is not really a genre outside itself. That is why I feel some people probably will hate his music, while others, like me, are not sure what it is that draws us in, it is so... (I find it weird!) but I like it. I think it is about the experience and nothing I say can emulate that. It is something one must listen to and judge for themselves.
Tina Turner
4/5
Tina Turner is somehow special. What I mean is that while her genre is soft rock/ pop, a massively populated genre with tons of talented acts already in it, she still manages to be her own thing. Her strong voice and meaningful lyrics help her catchy memorably riffs. It could be commercial if taken the wrong way but it is doubtful that anyone would interpret her that way. It feels real and she has a real passion. Also I might note that while this is smack dab in the mid-80's it is truly and fully timeless. That in-itself is pretty darn rare for a pop album!
The Associates
3/5
Generally speaking I am a fan of alternative/ college radio/ 80's style music. It often has techno/ electronic edges and has a homegrown feel that is often missed in mainstream commercial pop. It is probably more likely hard for me NOT to like something in this genre than like it. I had never heard of The Associates before this, which for all intents and purposes fits the genre I just described. I waited anxiously for some song I might be familiar with to no avail. Otherwise, to tell the truth the band nor any particular songs grew on me. At worst some of the songs stuck like melted cheese to the 80's era. At best it was tolerable to mildly entertaining, but overall it never stirred anything in me to feel compelled to put them on my playlist.
Country Joe & The Fish
3/5
Country Joe & The Fish, spoiler alert, are not necessarily a country band! They are definitely a 60's - 70's era rock... alt band that just pushes them out of the "danger zone" of being "classic rock" and especially, although they have some vibe of it, escape the "southern rock" genre label. Not that for anyone ELSE that that would be a problem, but for me... Not a big classic/ southern rock fan. Why? It is like a cult. Fans ONLY listen to "classic rock" and wear the 40 year old tee-shirts and hate on everything else and it is annoying! Plus, taken a song or two at a time is fine, good even, but after a lifetime of massive saturation on many of these "classics" it is just .... I heard that one.... after a while. Southern rock? W A Y too good old boy political for me, maybe especially now. Needs to rest... Anyhow, THIS band is none of that and it was, while interesting, slightly psychedelic, rocky... never made me stop in my tracks but are ...yeah, OK.
Steve Earle
3/5
I don't hate this. It is kinda more southern rock overall than I remember, but I kinda knew it was that from back in the day... I suppose it is poppy enough to be mildly interesting and has a couple of straight up good songs to be sure. I suppose the genre for me kind of holds it back more than it deserves? But it is me and I am sure I "over rate" albums that are more suitable to my style so it is a wash. Anyhow, glad for the recommend as it is worthy and interesting.
The Jesus And Mary Chain
4/5
I honestly thought the Jesus and Mary Chain was a 70's hippy psychedelic band! But they are not. They are an 80's alternative "college radio" band. And they are a very good one! I actually sort of loved this considering my allegiance to the genre. This is one of those "thank you 1001albumgenerator" moments for bringing them (probably BACK) into my sight. I don't remember any specific songs from this album from back in the day but it is highly likely I have heard, and liked some of their music. Good thing I listen on youtube so I could become a member of their content site. Got some listening to do!
Slade
3/5
Umm... OK. This is VERY era dated and genre specific. Nothing wrong with that! It IS 70's rock. All in and if it were not for the number of similar bands from the time, it would be iconic or at least canon for what the genre is. Maybe in a sense Slade IS iconic, but for some reason other bands seem to pop up in my mind first, let alone some "new" retro stuff that is mind boggling. So what to do? Fun, check. Energetic, check. professional (good quality, etc.), check. Iconic, .... ? Maybe... They are 70's high school... I suppose if one is hardcore in the mood for this genre (70's glam rock) than sure. Maybe it was just too "the same" for me? IDK...
Abdullah Ibrahim
4/5
Wow. This was... I was at first like, Meh, another jazzy instrumental sort of thing... but this is sublime! I think the title, in a spiritual sense, is exactly spot on. This is ... Just wonderful! It is almost like new age jazz but kind of big band? I don't know exactly, but I loved it!
Geez, this was a great find!
The Prodigy
4/5
This is one of those bands I always really liked. Probably helps that they are an electronica punk band. WTF! Amazing. I am unsure of which album is best or what order they should be in or anything like that because what happens is I end up with favorite songs all over the place and a few that are less interesting kind of fill in the gaps. Nevertheless The Prodigy, for me, has always been a favorite and this album is no less worthy than any other and damn...
Stereo MC's
5/5
I loved this. This is up my alley all the way. I seem to have fallen behind on the album generator site so I will keep this one simple. This is part of my "core genre" and it is a core group (whether I was reintroduced by the site or not (which I was!)). I can just groove to this without any need for mood or timing or excuses. For me, this band. All in!
Björk
4/5
Björk is special. She is wholly unique, completely interesting and "weird" and mildly spellbinding. She is a woods nymph but for her sexuality, which she lets out there with no holds barred. Part innocence and part luring siren is her signature. If I was not so fascinated I would be terrified. But fascinated I am and I cannot reduce her music to this song or that album... There are very few people like her on this earth and I am glad to know of her...
Stephen Stills
3/5
I generally favor singer/ songwriters. One of Stephen Stills contemporaries is one of my favorite musicians of all time, and they have collaborated many times. In fact, as a collaborator, Stephen Stills is amazing. I do not feel quite the same listening to him as a solo artist. I do not know why, but I find his music "OK." Maybe it ages itself? maybe it feels ... less interesting? I don't know. So for me this album was, while not "bad" in any way, simply just not all that interesting either.
The Police
5/5
The Police are one of my all time favorite bands. I would not like to have the task of picking a favorite song or favorite album and simply find most of their catalog to be ... fantastic and interesting. I have not considered them in a while, being so stuck on other genres and busy with life. Super glad to get the recommendation!
Nanci Griffith
3/5
I suppose she does have a good voice and all, I think even her lyrics are nice and deep. I just... I guess it is a bit "too" country for me overall. The whole twangy guitar thing and "necessity" to separate the city from the "much better" country.... I guess what I mean is there is country that spans pop and rock genres, country that is folk and universal, and then there is country that is for country lovers. I believe this is that! I don't hate on any of it. I just think it is ... not really my thing.
Waylon Jennings
3/5
I think once upon a time I might have been into Waylon Jennings. I still "like" his style and his way. It is unlike country for country lovers, even if it IS that, by spanning a more rock/ folk gap that makes it more accessible. Nevertheless I am not a big country fan, nor a down on your luck hard drinkin' type. Which w o u l d help to identify with this sort of groove. Now, it IS kind of easy to listen too and has a pleasant overall feel enough to fit a themed party or something, or if you happen to be driving across Texas (hopefully to gtfo).
The Vines
3/5
At first I thought this post-punk, kind of 90's style dad band stuff would be right up my alley. It was... sort of. But there is something kind of holding it back somehow from really being the cat's meow. It IS my scene and it is done well and they are entertaining. Maybe it is I felt that British beat in it that is pretty saturated or that while it is good it never quite hits great? I don't know. I don't want to undervalue it and it is definitely worth listening to, it could be just this particular album is not for me, hit producing? I don't know...
Super Furry Animals
3/5
Super Furry Animals is just maybe a bit out of reach for me. Yup, they have all the right vibes, electronica, sort of college radio, mellow almost new age vibes... but they do it all so... over the top. Songs will be going along and sure... then they sort of "volve" not devolve or evolve, just ... do something different that is just ... for me a tad too weird maybe. I would like to say "oh, I like this song or that," but they are too ... and J U S T not by a wide margin, weird. So i can't ... quite put them into that rare air of rave and keep them in the pretty good to OK sort of level.
The Cramps
5/5
The Cramps are a canon punk band. Any band that has earned canon status is "untouchable" in a sense. Canon, again, is when something or someone, in this case a band, helps or uniquely defines a genre. Punk IS punk in part by what The Cramps did to define it. I am "into" punk and thus The Cramps are part of my core library of punk bands. Thus, ultimately this band sits at the head table of punk with a few other key bands and everyone else lines up after them.
Gene Clark
4/5
This was an unexpected charm for me. I was assuming a hardcore county folk type of album, and in a way it is, but it is more folk and more contemporary than hardcore country, and it has a very good drum-line often absent in country. I liked the lyrical qualities and was quite happy listening to this album. A few songs are not in my favorites pile and yes, ultimately I was pleasantly surprised and happy with this recommendation. Cool!
KISS
4/5
KISS is a band I kinda grew up with, maybe missed the beginning part of their career but picked it up soon enough that a lot of my friends were super into them. I never got too involved as an alt/ weirdo, but listening now to this.... I mean it is pretty darn entertaining. I actually kind of like it. So yeah, this is actually a pretty darn good album. Also of note is that Gene Simmons is kind of a cool psycho- actor type and definitely storied for a while back in the day.
My Bloody Valentine
3/5
The style of music is apparently called shoegaze. OK. I get it, it is full of distorted lyrics and guitar and called a sort of "wall of sound." I suppose it kind of is, although it is not THAT bad at all. That sounds bad and it IS as I have heard wall of sound bands and just ... NO! But the shoegaze thing, OK. They speak of other bands in the genre and I like nearly all of the ones I have heard of! It comes to a linear place on my alternative, new wave, new age, pop elevator, electronica, EMO... It skirts around all these favored genre and I rather thought of it as "advanced" elevator music that you actually kind of like. I suppose it is not my favorite shoegaze band if i am counting any of these bands as such, but it is OK.
4/5
Blur is a mixture of post new wave, surf rock lite, and classic Brit pop. It does not sound great reading it back but it actually works really well. They are often compared to a few very successful bands, although I would strongly suggest they have their own unique sound. This again is an odd combination, a band that at times can be a sort of common sounding, yet really is quite unique. This may not even be my favorite album of theirs but it is worth a listen to be sure.
Emmylou Harris
3/5
OK. So... country. Again not my go to genre, but I am open minded and pretty eclectic with my musical tastes. so sure. Even I kind of looked forward to it considering her contemporaries and associations with amazing musicians. And she IS good, even maybe great... ... ... it's just that... OMG this is Soooo country! Like I have said before, this is country for hardcore country lovers. It is not folk It is definitely not pop... Yup. Darn tootin' this here ya'lls super country! Yee Haa....
Leonard Cohen
5/5
Leonard Cohen is a treasure. Unique and special and just ... yeah. I don't even think this is his best album but it is still untouchable. He is kind of a folk, blues, spoken word poet but he is sublime and extraordinary You would never put this on a party playlist or background for a dinner party. It is reserved for times when you just sit by yourself and listen. But it is worth it. Spending time with this man is worth it as it GIVES to your soul. It is not all deep and emotional, some of it is funny and observational but it is life. But it is a good life!
Os Mutantes
3/5
I like this album for two main reasons. I like 60's rock/ pop, and I like Latino beats. Both are fully present in this album and easy to enjoy. The only thing that kind of might be negative in the right circumstances is that it IS very 60's vibe. I find "timeless" music to be the most refreshing and interesting, with era music taking up a less esteemed position. That is me. If one were to be throwing a 60's themed party or whatever... Different story!
Alice Cooper
4/5
This has always been a background favorite of mine, and by that I mean Alice Cooper, whichever album. There is something special in his storytelling method of "70's rock" that is just unique and his own. I have been fascinated with him for more or less my whole life for this kind of jazzy, rocky, story that is dark and funny and just likes being a bit weird... Yeah, Alice Cooper is simply at the head table of his own thing and it is pure fun!
The The
4/5
It has been a while since I was split. I do think The The is a bit "above" the fold and quite unique. I also realize, maybe from my age or era or whatever, that there are a lot of bands from this era and genre (kind of 80's pop, electronica, in this case almost big beat,) that were quite "good." I would like to give them like a 3,5 to indicate a nudge above, Unfortunately I have created a sort of 4 star as quite superior and three star as average position in my ratings, and the problem with "average" is it ranges from "meh" to "pretty good actually" and there is little room for nuance. So to be kind I will nudge them "just" into the four star category as I find them fun enough and unique enough (and surprisingly) varied enough to get there.
Paul McCartney and Wings
5/5
I just ... What is to be said really, This is one of music royalty owning it. So sure, I could say it isn't super my thing or that it is kind of too pop rock or ... but as far as it goes, this is actually fantastic.
The Specials
3/5
I think this reggae pop big band with lyrics stuff is very fun and very interesting. It is not "always" likely to be my thing as I think it requires a kind of mood or kind of party to put it out there. There is nothing actually wrong with it and it is clever and fun... but it ... like it IS sort of party only music. I suppose a song on the radio now and then or.. yeah it would be uplifting. Again, and important! It IS fun and it is pretty well done. Maybe the genre is a bit too ... Much, actually...
Digital Underground
4/5
A funny, rap group that answered to the "too serious" gangster stuff that saturated the era, the Digital Underground is quite solid actually. Of course they are a bit over the top, but that is part of their appeal. It is easy to like bands that are a little "less serious" especially if they are otherwise very technically good, if not great. If you are at all interested in this sort of hip hop, rap, electronic crossover style than you will probably really like this!
At any rate, any recommendation to take a listen would not be out of sorts.
David Bowie
4/5
I have a weird relationship with David Bowie, not exactly love/ hate but more really like/ not really like. Yup, he was massively experimental, and yes, that would mean I could not love everything he did. On the other hand, not only does this album have some of his all time biggest hits, it also ends with some jazzy gems I had never heard and are amaze!
Yet, as my whole relationship with his music is, some of the other stuff was.. kind of "I wish this would end for the next song." So it is really hard for me to rate him. This album IS worth listening to, as is ALL of David Bowie's catalog. I think I will slightly overrate my own feelings here just for that reason alone.
Black Sabbath
5/5
This album, kind of classic rock, kind of metal, kind of... not what I would commonly listen to, not typically my thing, etc. is the bomb! What? From start to finish. Lots of it I have heard, some of it a lot, but some of it I had never heard, and ALL of it is amazing. Truly. Wow! What an absolute must hear corker of an album! It doesn't get much better than this in ANY genre as this is a masterwork. Black Sabbath sits at the head of a rock/ metal, high talent band table. Wow! Just wow...
Jacques Brel
4/5
This is really fine and peaceful "crooner." Yup, it is, he is, French. Not understanding a word really, but that is part of the charm here. It is not quite jazzy and not not jazzy, it is just simple and nice. It is the kind of music one might put on to reduce stress and relax. And who doesn't want that?!
Justice
3/5
This is an interesting experiment. Maybe it works sometimes, maybe it is ... kind of different. I don't know. I did not hate it. You sense the vibes of Queen sometimes, but so totally different, so much more electronic (which I like). I guess I don't know what to think in a way. Interesting to be sure...
Prince
5/5
One of the best albums of all time. I can argue why and I can pit myself against the naysayers but the truth is it IS one of the best albums of all time and I don't have the status to touch that as a fact. Just listen to it and realize how ahead of it's time it was and even still is. Dazzling is what it is to listen to.