I didn’t realize this was San Quentin prison but I loved the crowd interaction and liveliness of this album. LOVED Boy Named Sue that was a silly story but it was wonderful.
Um yeah so do you all know this band, The Smashing Pumpkins? They are really underground... yeah... I'm sure you've never heard of them. If I lived in the 90's, absorbed in the thralls of Grunge this would make me go absolute feral. I think I prefer Siamese Dream but they're just about at the same level - middle of the road and not something I would necessarily listen to on a day off. Fortunately for Virgin Record Sales, the grind never stops.
This album is so long, a lot of the songs start to meld together when listening. A few standouts other than the obvious are Here Is No Why, Cupid De Locke, In The Arms Of Sleep, Lily (My One And Only) - I am a sucker for love songs, and Farewell and Goodnight. The last one has female vocals on it and I love to hear more than Corgan being sad.
I enjoy Billy Corgan's voice, I think he writes emo ass lyrics (seen in every song... my dreams are dead yada yada ok chat gpt... I am kidding some lyrics are good). I was tired of the music by the second disc. It's super long and obviously Corgan is working through stuff.
Fun facts:
- The Smashing Pumpkins headlined LalaPalooza in 1994.
- Prior to Madison Square Garden Shows, keyboardist Melvoin died from a heroin OD and the drummer Chamberlin survived his OD but was FIRED.
- Female bassists :) D'Arcy Wretsky played for majority of bands big career and was replaced by Hole Bassist Auf der Maur
Meh this just isn't really my vibe. Just kind of slow and dreary. I think a live show would have been pretty cool. The live b disk of the deluxe album isn't bad but not something I would typically go for. Pale Blue Eyes their number one isn't really a thing for me either.
thots: SOOOO BRITISH. I could smell the must of missing teeth and poor gum health from across the Atlantic with this one. It's interesting because the Kinks were banned from touring in the US due to unions or some shit (I don't know I believe in Capitalism?). Nothing felt particularly awesome about this album, probably because we hear it all the time. Lyrics were mid and lacking. Just talked about England or Australia (?) or the queen or war. But the war in a silly way that I can't comprehend because the WW's definitely left some people traumatized...amirite???
Weiners:
Brainwashed - so real. so real. omg we are so totally brainwashed omg
Young and Innocent Days - this is kinda just sweet and fun and whimsy
Nothing to Say - Fun trumpets in this one. Doesn't STANK of straight Brit so I liked it
Shangri-La was also Ok but kind of long.
Losers:
Australia- fucking bore of a song
She's Bought a Hat Like Princess Marina - again so effing boring.
Ok so this album was actually one of the first I didn't struggle to get through. Drake's soft voice and acoustic accompany made this a very easy listen. There was some sexy flutes and trumpets in this album that I thought were wonderful. Very sad that Drake's life ended so soon and how averse he was to performing life. After his first two albums flopped he kind of vowed to never record again which was sad. He was pretty crushed by all that.
Weiners: Hazy Jane I and II
Losers: None! All of these songs were decent and enjoyable.
SZA??? I remember when this came out and I was like ok I need to listen to this album to be popular? Where was my head lmao. SZA has a lovely voice, too bad SZA wack! Erm listen with caution if you are ovulating, some of these songs are hot and heavy. Poetry is easy enough to understand that on a single listen through I can comprehend the emotionally appeal which I enjoy. It's cool that the album starts and ends with a recording of her mother over the phone. Overall, it makes sense she's 15th in the world.
Thinking about this album through a lens of RnB helped me appreciate it more than a purely pop lens. I liked her very straightforward, honest, emotional lyricism.
Wieners: Drew Barrymore - the lyrics age it so specifically to that 2015-2020 era with the narcos and mom jeans reference? Kind of silly. But the tag is it warm enough for ya is such a ear worm.
Pretty Little Birds - the bird hitting the window is pretty wonderful poetry.
Losers: Anything sounds like a meme song. I still enjoyed it and I thought the poetry was wonderful but the DOO DOO sparked Naudwaur imagery.
You know me... I love my country...music. Willy Nelson is no exception. The harmonica, the acoustic guitar, and Nelson's sultry voice weaves a wonderful web of phonics that support the sometimes silly song stories on this album. The length of this album was short and sweet and perfect
Wieners: Red Headed Stranger, Down Yonder, Can I Sleep in Your Arms - I am such a sick love fool idiot but I love love songs and the like. Bandera has really cool finger picking and harmonica.
Losers: N/A
Nelson can do no wrong in my eyes.
I LOVED THIS ALBUM. NO BAD SONGS. Eddie Vedder has one of the best rock voices ever. His sometimes dark and emotive lyrics tie in so well with the guitar-strong anthems. Overall this album is such a gorgeous amalgamation of honest raw talent and emotional poetry. Not to be cheesy but I did really love this album and can't believe I hadn't listened to it earlier.
Wieners: Other than the obvious Even Flow, Alive, and Black I really enjoyed the lyricism in Garden.
Losers NONEEEEEE
Ok so this album sounds about what I would expect Michael Jackson at peak fame would sound like. There are good grooves and head bops in here but it was kind of boring to get through. Like we get it you have a great voice HEE HEE.
Wieners: Dirty Diana will always be a 10/10 for me. It's such a great song.
Losers: Most were just...? Kind of boring. Liberian Girl was such a drag.
Ok so this album kind of just sounded like an off brand Daft Punk - I didn't mind it. I listened to it while grinding out Excel and it fit the vibe pretty well. Nothing spectacular. I don't really understand why it's on this list, it feels kind of insignificant. Apparently they remixed MGMT Electric Feel and it won a ton of awards. Overall, it's hard to compare garbo like this to Daft Punk.
Weiners: Valentine sounded like a more pop, upbeat Mort Garson Moog synth sound.
Losers: The Party.... why are they using the worst female singer of all time? Hopefully it's satire surrounding that culture and making fun of themselves but I can't tell because they're french. Awful lyricism on top of the worst accent (what is it??) and inflection I have ever heard? Literally grimacing. I like the synth.
Ok so I don't know how this album has made this list. Frequently bored out of my mind listening to it. GREAT background music but feels like I'm in a white washed movie about colonialism ? Like it's a attempt at fusing electronica-east asian just settles itself in the pit between where it sucks all around//
The concept behind this album is supposed to be a time-line running from the India-Pakistan nuclear situation to Oppie quoting "I am become death... yada yada" Cool fucking idea. So so poorly executed. Yeah samples are taken but again just make this sound lazy and as many have said...BORING.
Wieners: Homeland...I guess? It is the most popular and the only song I could get through without grimacing
Losers: All.
I did not mind this album. I thought I would have gotten tired of the whiney voice but I didn't. The lyrics were dark in a silly way... like sex is violent is obviously so straight forward dark but then they talked about being a toothpick in a meatball. Some of the songs could drone in an unpleasant way but nothing unbearable at all.
Wieners: Standing in the Shower...Thinking. Title and lyrics are silly but relatable.