1001 Albums Summary

Tight, loud snare is the first thing I pick up from this, followed by Billy Joe’s confident voice. Excellent harmonies right off the bat. Guitar really exists in the background and is rather bland; bass carries more personality. Not my style of music per-se, but at least it isn’t ska.

Wow. This was Not Good. I would rather listen to The Everly Brothers, The Beach Boys, or actual Motown, rather than any of these derivatives. There's a song that my wife said was Paul and not John, and that song is OK I guess.

Oh it’s that one song I’ve heard a few times! So that’s who sings it. Otherwise a pretty bland album.

Couple of really fun songs, couple of really stupid songs. I wouldn't say it's a great album at all, but it definitely captures a moment in time from a band with a unique style, warts and all. It's a definite cultural touchstone, but I doubt many would think of it as a great work of art.

I've always found J5 to be a little too old school / hokey for me. I appreciate that they're offering an alternative to the gangsta rap style that was all the rage in the 90's and early 2000's, and I definitely have an appetite for that (see Def Jux, Anticon, Deltron, Sage Francis -- favorites of mine from that era), but the production and beats for many of the J5 songs I've heard just maybe don't match the times. Feels too much like modern rappers (with genuine skill at spitting verses for sure) trying hard to make music for an early 80's hip hop audience. There isn't a lot of variance from the format: steady beat, minimal production, six rappers taking turns rapping fast, on beat. "What's Golden" kicks tho. Just an opinion from someone who mostly listens to indie rock, but is hip hop curious.

Oh boy no thanks

The best thing I can say about this album is that my first impression of “…Til the Cops Come Knocking’” was about romanticizing/normalizing rape. Then I googled it and it seems I’m mistaken. Disaster averted, kinda.

Based on the album cover, I expected something very different. This is Americana, not Art Deco. Just about perfect. I can’t believe I’ve never heard this before.

Gimme that pipe organ

I'd never heard this before. It's very different than what I was expecting, definitely more new wave atmospheric than new wave punk.

its different.

Definitely a masterpiece. I wish I could give it 4.5 stars. It can get a little repetitive after a while, which is the only reason for not going a full 5 stars.

One of my top all-time favorites.