If I wanted to hear a lady whisper witty things to a stripped back sound I'd have transitioned long ago.
For an utter turd (ain't I right?) he sure can play a tune or two.
If you need someone to explain why this is a 5 star classic to you, you may be too far gone.
Kinda drops by the end but for a few years this was the background radiation of my life. Good stuff.
Lyrically and instrumentally fantastic, but I spent the entire album wishing a more soulful singer was performing, which wouldn't be damning if it wasn't a thought 8 couldn't shake at all.
More interesting to read about than listen to, as that's where most meaning is found. Not bad, just kind if boring.
A bunch of covers and a disparate selection of songs does not an album make. Terrible (but sincere!) Chuck Berry cover is a low, All I've Got to Do is a high.
Absolute bangers with important messaging (that people naturally miss because bangers often cause brainrot). Kept thinking that the drums seemed a bit basic but also I can clap all these songs so that's just genius crowd preparation.
Longer than it needs to be, but you can't doubt the craft for a second.
The sort of album where you go in expecting very little, progressively realise you know half the songs and they RULE, and end with a sense of serenity. Good stuff.
The most divorced album of all time (complimentary)
The highs of the instrumentation on the first two tracks fades quickly as it becomes all-too familiar a psychedelic indie experience, but it's also never less than good
It's easy to criticise later U2, rightly or wrongly, but War is the high point of a much more acerbic and powerful group, punk with fancy instrumentation. A career highlight.
Pile of s**t, honestly
A bit like a less thrilling Dexys, but by no means bad. The flat vocals keep this from being a casual listen, but the potent lyricism balances that out a bit.
It might be the socially aware nature of it, the all-star production, or Lupe's phenomenal bars, but this feels like a true all-time alternative rap record, up there with Tribe and De La (though not quite to the same heights that those acts reached with their best records). No skips, no misses, nothing that sounds anything less than great. A true 5 star record. Also a 10+ minute track crediting and thanking everyone he possibly can is a based move, actually.
I quite like this, though I can't hell but feel that what was seen as innovative, definitive rock music is really just a mainstream, more socially acceptable (i.e. white) presentation for the sorts of sounds coming out of black music culture at the time. Which isn't really a mark against it, but makes me feel like its legacy status would be better placed elsewhere. Or that listeners need to reach further back to see what inspired them. Also as a critique of it it is some 18 songs long and (despite their quality) I would struggle to think of a single standout.
I feel like a lot of music is the battle between technical proficiency and emotional clarity. Are You Experienced is the rare album that achieves near-perfection in both.
V. Sad V. Wistful V. Triumphant V. Loving
Feels good, just kinda washes over you.
An album that both feels like something to sit lazily in a chair watching the sun rise with a brew listening to, and as something to get up and MOVE to. A near-perfect sonic experience that reminds me of the hip-hop of the time (mostly the Native Tongues collective, but insert your fave alternative here) while still defining something different in being the foundational record of trip-hop. Powerful, meaningful, and with an impact I don't think we'll ever truly see the end of. Timeless.
Excellent storytelling abilities, massively limited musicians