At the time of my listening this is my favorite album and is likely top for my 2024 play time on Amazon Music. A literal downward spiral put to music, this album is hauntingly angry. Lyrics are brutal, vulgar, but necessary to paint the picture of an addict that is spiraling out of control. Dark themes and imagery are present throughout the album. The instrumentals hold up to this day and some rather recognizable beats, riffs have been recognizable to me since I was a kid (Closer, Hurt, March of the Pigs). The anger and themes may not appeal to everyone but I consider the Downward Spiral a masterpiece concept album for it’s strong imagery and emotion. “Everyone I know goes away in the end.”

I didn’t love the album. I also didn’t dislike it. Gave it about two listens and I more so enjoyed it as a background noise more than an album I sit and listen to intently. Overall, the feel of the album takes me back to the days of playing a game like NBA Street V3 and those are good memories.

I enjoyed the upbeat feel of the opener and hoped I’d be in for more. The album did deliver. It was a good experience! The low point, in my opinion, was the title track’s freestyle piano solo. It was jarring and it’s inclusion didn’t seem to add much. Basslines do it for me and I felt their presence and sound take center stage for me on a few songs and elevated the experience for me. Groovy beats and riffs found all through the album. Lyrics were different. Maybe it’s just the difference between American and British pop but I found it hard to stay engaged at points due to not really following what point was being made. Maybe don’t look up the lyrics beforehand?

I enjoyed the happy and upbeat album. Lyrics seemed repetitive. But it’s groovy and fun.

I am a fan of aggressive music and clearly this album fits the bill. I liked it enough. To deny its power and influence would be silly but it just doesn’t land the same today. I mean a movie was made about it so it was clearly popular. However, it just doesn’t hit the same as it would have back then. I felt a lot of the lyrics were focused on the same 3 topics and it got pretty stale outside of the main singles that everyone knows this album for. A landmark album that I can appreciate for laying the land for what comes after but one that misses the mark for me personally.

I’ve heard of The Smiths as being influential and was interested in listening to this well regarded and former #1 album. However, this fell flat for me and I didn’t particularly enjoy any song. The guitar work seemed fun at times but I couldn’t really get into it.

Apple Music calls this rock. I wouldn’t call this album rock but it’s pleasant. Upbeat in places. Melancholy in others. Nothing really stood out and gripped me but I didn’t dislike any portion. A good lighthearted listen.

Didn’t understand a word but that didn’t stop me from enjoying the instrumentals.

An all-timer. Never listened to it back to front and I’m glad I did. It tells a story that I would never be able to experience. You can feel the weight of Kendrick’s words in places. In others, I’d say it’s more lighthearted. That or he’s just that passionate about the size of his dong. Either way 5/5.

I enjoyed it but nothing stood out

I enjoyed it but nothing stood out to me.

Guilty pleasure rock opera. Campy but fun. I have vivid memories of throwing bullpen sessions in college with this playing over the loudspeakers of our gym. Weird. But a fun time.

Funky and fun. I enjoyed listening to this instrumental album.

Liked it but didn’t love it. There’s some all time great songs in PIMP and In Da Club.

I made it through 2 songs and couldn’t proceed on. The “singing” took me right out of it. Perhaps if it were an instrumental I would have liked it.

I understand Cohen is a legend but I couldn’t get behind the almost spoken word vocals. Just wasn’t my cup of tea.

I made it through 2 songs before I had to call it. Not for me!

The reviews I read had me prepped for something awful but I didn’t mind this album at all. More of background music to me more than anything but it wasn’t bad at all.

Angry and cathartic. I don’t recall liking it when it came out. I was 4 so, that’s natural. However, over time, the more I listened to it, the more I enjoyed it. In the End became a staple song on my playlists growing up and that, along with One Step Closer, make this an album I won’t skip!

Legendary opening track and everyone knows Iron Man. A good heavy album that created my favorite genre. A great listen and happy to see heavier stuff on this list!

Good album featuring many covers. I will certainly listen to this one again.

Classic

At the time of my listening this is my favorite album and is likely top for my 2024 play time on Amazon Music. A literal downward spiral put to music, this album is hauntingly angry. Lyrics are brutal, vulgar, but necessary to paint the picture of an addict that is spiraling out of control. Dark themes and imagery are present throughout the album. The instrumentals hold up to this day and some rather recognizable beats, riffs have been recognizable to me since I was a kid (Closer, Hurt, March of the Pigs). The anger and themes may not appeal to everyone but I consider the Downward Spiral a masterpiece concept album for it’s strong imagery and emotion. “Everyone I know goes away in the end.”