The guitar and rhythm of this album really carry you along, providing some great blues energy. Many songs have a certain bounce to them that is reminiscent of an Irish jig while still having the weight of a blues rock jam, which I enjoyed.
There’s a reason why “It’s like their White Album” is phrase when referring to an artist’s piece of work that is sprawling and overflowing with artistic expression, but in retrospect could be seen a sign of trouble ahead. Well, welcome to the OG. The energy in this double album is chaotic, avant-garde, and abundant. The White Album doesn't declare itself to be flawless but rather claims its imperfections as integral to its identity and therefore bolsters its gloriousness. Most importantly, this album is bursting full of life and is in alignment with the beautiful and fallible instinct of following inspiration and passion wherever it takes you.
Fave songs:
Back in the USSR
While My Guitar Gently Weeps
Happiness Is A Warm Gun
Blackbird
Rocky Raccoon
Birthday
Yer Blues
Helter Skelter
Revolution 1
Cry Baby Cry
Ok first of all the harmonica fucks. Most of this album is a good and fun time, but I found myself getting fatigued by Bob Dylan’s voice style. At first it’s cool novelty, but it eventually gets a little old hearing the same up and down tone shift every line. Aside from that, I had fun with great guitar, organ, and piano backing Dylan’s classic charm.
Not my usual cup of tea, but a cup I enjoyed nonetheless. Seems like an awesome album to put on while hanging with a small/medium group a friends on a Saturday afternoon.
This album absolutely slaps and has aged so well. I’m nodding my head the whole time, but the energy with which I’m nodding shifts between tracks so effortlessly, with all credit going to Big Boi and Andre 3000. The the hip hop duo put such flow into this album that makes it an absolute top tier for me, and certainly supports the case for OutKast to be considered among the best hip hop acts ever.
Fave songs:
So Fresh So Clean
Ms Jackson
Spaghetti Junction
B.O.B.
Humble Mumble
The idealism in this album is immediately apparent, expressing how the world should be in the artists’ eyes. Musically, the album strips soul music, which at the time was was considered over-the-top and sometimes even performative, down to the basics. It is this simplification that creates an authenticity and ethos for the Family Stones that demands the listener to listen. And although it keeps things straight forward, the music (particular the guitar, horns, and vocals) still has moments where they are clearly jamming out.
Fave Songs:
I Want To Take You Higher
Sing a Simple Song
You Can Make It If You Try
This album has insane range and flow, with Hill at the center of all of it. Her debut solo album still stand up to today’s standards of the hip hop and R&B genres, and the soul and reggae influences soul, reggae, and gospel come out clear. This is one of the easiest listens out there, both due to Hill’s lyricism/vocals and the music backing her throughout. Superb work.
Honestly, I was kind of stunned this is from 1981 because it has such a timeless sound that would do well if it were dropped today. This album is well ahead of its time with its stripped-down punk rock and garage band feel. A great time overall, I feel like I’d absolutely love to see this album performed live.
Faves:
Sex Beat
She’s Like Heroin to Me
For the Love of Ivy
Ghost on the Highway
Black Train
Admittedly not my cup of tea genre-wise, but anyone listening to this album has to concur that the guitar absolutely rips the whole time. Some tracks are deliciously haunting while others refuse to take their foot off the gas, and I liked it a lot. An unexpected big like for me on this one.
Faves;
Them Bones
Rain When I Die
Rooster
This album started slow for me but really picked up steam a few tracks in. The band did a very good job of creating distinct and unique songs that still fed into each other and collectively came together into a cohesive project. And it’s obviously real easy listening. Well done, indeed.
Fave songs:
Empty Room
Half Lift I
Suburban War
Month of May
This album makes me feel so good. The Beatles somehow pack so many good vibes into one album while still making it feel cohesive and uniquely theirs. Some types of good vibes in this album:
- Just jamming’ out
- Harmonize your heart out with the boys
- Numb euphoria, a la zoning out
- Frog and Toad simple pal vibes
- Slow-mo sky diving carelessness
- Gratefully reminiscing about the past
Faves:
Simply all of it
I was beginning to think if we were ever going to have an album that I rated lower than 3. This is it.
-A few times I was listening to a sitcom theme song that got old for me after the first minute
-So many of the songs have a fun jam line underneath but I wish had more evolution
-Some of the tracks sound like Pokémon music the way it seems like it’s just looping after a bit
-In fact, some Pokémon music is better than this
-This album just makes me wish I was listening to Stevie Wonder instead
-I do like Maxine a lot though
It’s so fitting that we’re listening to this right as Cowboy Carter is released, as this album solidified for many, myself included, that Beyoncé can simply do whatever she wants to and it will end up as magnificent work. That is a testament to Beyoncé’s very apparent insistence and obsession with forming each detail of each track to be exactly how she envisions it alongside her co-conspirators.
This album is a fabulous exploration of women’s sexuality, love, insecurity, and confidence. Due credit must be given to Beyoncé for centering and celebrating black female sexuality in particular in mainstream music and hip hop, where the male gaze has historically dominated how we see black women and their bodies.
Musically, the album is beautiful, powerful, sensual, electric, and commanding. Bey’s vocals are, as usual, stunning and magnificent. Despite all of the experimentation this album contains and straying a bit away from her previous music, Beyoncé succeeds once again is creating art that can be described as nothing less than iconic.
Faves:
Pretty Hurts
Drunk in Love
Blow
Partition
Rocket
XO
Flawless (and the remix, of course)
Superpower
Queen is straight up diva for this album. It’s such a ride that I was happy to take. The campiness of it all makes it a wonder to behold, and it’s very easy to see why Queen is such an iconic band in the historic of rock and music.
Another day another diva. This album is so 80’s it’s comical, but you won’t catch me laughing at George Michael. His voice is so stellar. ALSO this album is a great example of how artists should never be boxed into genres, as part of the reason it even sounds the way it does was because WHAM! was (wrongfully) relegated to teeny-bopper status and Michael wanted badly to move away from that space. Then he created this for his solo debut, and it contains inspirations from so many genres. Well done, George Michael.
One big thing for me with house music is if you can keep me bobbing and not bored, you’ve done well. This album had moments where I was ready for the next movement or the next track, but mostly kept me into it. I’d say a solid B grade.
This made me feel like frolicking through the forest like a lil garden nymph. I was into it heavily.
I love me some Ray, though I do prefer his later stuff. This is still so good and such smooth riding.
Yeah I was bumping’ for sure.
