Steve Albini died today and the day I was served this album :(

Really enjoyed. One of the few 2000s albums that I haven’t been familiar with.

Don't everybody like the smell of apple pie?

I can imagine myself being into this in 1979, putting this record on at a party. Soft warm lighting, brown/yellowish/reddish couches, shag carpeting, can’t you just feel that? This is an album that has great energy and is shiny enough for mass audiences. You can tell these guys worked at their craft. They are a tight and precise band. Mutt Lange polished things up even further for mass consumption. No wonder they took off. Add on the later connection to Richard Ramirez, the “Night stalker” and this album has now become immortal.

Urgent, aggressive, revolutionary. Surprised at how much Flavor Flav is involved in the full album. Always saw him as just a hype man, but he is on there more than I remembered.

Songs 2-5 are all absolute classics. What a side.

I had never listened the whole way through. The band was incredible on a few of these tracks and really made the difference. Bowie was a creative genius.

I remember buying this album in Adams Morgan in DC on a beautiful sunny day. I remember thinking that Sufjan was actually going to do an album about all 50 states. Amazing album.

The allure of Leonard Cohen for me is that he is an uncompromising artist. He pursued his passion and was unapologetically himself. His journey is absolutely intriguing. That being said, this album for me was very one note. His words are always strong and the core of what he does. That is there, the music is minimal and subdued.

I once drove on a roadtrip at night and put this album on. I was transported to a different world floating through the ethereal plain.

Very eclectic and sounds exactly like an album recorded in 1988-1989. Learned she is half sister of Eagle Eye Cherry. On first listen I felt she was likely from NYC and surprised to find out she is Swedish.

Steve Albini died today and the day I was served this album :(

At a mere 31 years old, John Lennon had been through a ton. Good hits and songs, pre going crazy trying to get Yoko back in his good graces. Imagine is an all timer for sure. Think about writing one song as good as that, he wrote so many.

Nobody sounded like The Police. Nobody will sound like The Police again. Listening back to this, it seems obvious that this is their last album. I love bands that did it at a high level for their entire career span and then just stop.

Dreaded that this day would come and I would have to listen to a Bjork album with an open mind.

Bands come of age during the exact moment they are needed. It is amazing to think about that in regards to R.E.M.'s history. They were perfect for the college radio last 80's to early 90's. This album is a gem. They are expanding their talents as a band by incorporating different sounds and instruments. They are switching instruments. They are writing wide ranging pop songs.

If you want to embrace the sloppiness this is for you. The songs are likely there, but the execution, not so much.

Some good songs on here. Not sure this should be on the list though.

I think you had to be there.

Really enjoyable Saturday AM listen.

Surprised at how many of the songs sound similar to their hits.

Amazing debut. Keith Moon's drumming is out of this world.

Really good. I've never been able to crack the code on getting into the PJ Harvey discography, but this may be the entryway.

Gave it a fresh listen and I think I get it. I think its brilliant. I think, i Think, I tHinK?

Entirely pleasant.

Love the production on this. Sounds so warm and alive. ACDC know their lane and stick to it. Pop gem in You Shook Me All Night Long.

Ain't my cup of tea, but interesting early use of samples and moog. She was innovating and unafraid to try new things. A true artist.

Good samples, love that it feels like putting a record on and hanging out with your friends. One song flows to the next.

Never heard of this group but enjoyed the quick listen. I love the idea of a few kids who wrote a few good songs. I bet they talked about it for the rest of their lives.

Instantly transported to sitting in the dentists office waiting room in the 80s.

Always pushing forward.

Not my thing, but put this on while working and I was pretty damn productive.

Super talented. Everything from that era feels glossy and lacks depth to me. That being said, you can tell the quality of the songs underneath.

Money for Nothing on heavy rotation on MTV in 1985-88. Still on heavy rotation in my head nearly 40 years later.

You know the ZZ Top sound. They deliver consistently.

The tone of this record is amazing. Given the players I’m not surprised this is a classic.

In my rotation of live albums that I listen to frequently. The band sounds great. A classic gig.

The best music transports you to a different world.

When its good, its really good.

Epic song, solid band.

1988 - Philadelphia, PA - Listening to this in my Aunt's living room

Ideal to be listened to on vinyl w/headphones. Immersive experience.

Little Room FTW

Silky Smooth. Understated and lovely.

This sub genre never was my thing.

I am both country and western. Act naturally.

So good. Never would have heard this otherwise I think.

Enjoyable jazz.

I will always remember this album during the pandemic transporting me elsewhere.

Soured on Clapton as a human being, but this music rules.

I liked this album way more than I thought I would. Started off rocky, but by the end, they had won me over. What was in the water in the UK in the 80's, they were doing some odd stuff.

Still sounds epic.

Solid. Thinking about what is was like to be Miles Davis. Putting out such forward thinking music in such a time of change.

Really listened to River. What a song, the lyrics are amazing.

The Smiths are great and a few classics on here. But overall one of my least favorite albums they have.

5 Stars, no question.

OGs

Not on streaming. Had to listen on YouTube. That in itself knocked it down a star. The music didn't do much for me either. One of those bands where I feel you had to be there at the time to get it.

Aretha is great and her versions of songs usually beat the original.

It's star time...

Meh.

Impressed by how many things nwa did that are still active in music.

Have you ever noticed how stoned Paul Simon looks on the cover?

Really enjoyed. One of the few 2000s albums that I haven’t been familiar with.

Solid, in the time I think it would have been on repeat. Hard to see artists like this through the time/place when revisiting so long after.

My cousin turned 16 the year this came out and told me she loved this album.

You immediately know it is them

Groundbreakers

Better than the other one from them.

When Flaming Lips are on, they are great.

Hard to choose my favorite song on this one. Lots of great ones.

Sledgehammer slaps for eternity.

Surprised by how “tame” this album is given what we have in 2024. Why was everyone outraged about this? Almost seems campy now - both the outrage and the music.

The soul in his voice is everything.

There are times I really like this album and then there are times I think it sounds really off. I do like them as a live band and prefer the live drugs album vs. the studio stuff.

This album is crazy, never heard anything like this. Then reading the backstory it gets even more interesting.

Enjoyable but not memorable.

Another strange opus. I guess these are the types of albums they want us to all hear before we die.

Everything Tom Waits is gold.

Starts off with a bang. Downhill from there.

Lou always captures the NYC spirit. This one transports me right there.

I found it to lack dynamic range, it all muddled into one tone/song type for me.

Paper Planes is an all time lighting in the bottle hit.

Excels on all levels.

A legend, gone way too soon. Imagine what could have come in his later years. This recording sounds urgent, soulful (of course), and tight. What a talent.

This is a record I would find in a used vinyl store and pick up on a whim based on vibes. It delivers for that. Very 60's.

I am going out on a limb here, but I bet Thurston Moore was really into this record.

Wes Anderson Music

The opening of Janie Jones, always classic.

Very solid album. I bought this at a 2nd hand shop while searching for Nirvana bootlegs.

I miss the old Kanye.

All hail the combination of The Specials and Elvis Costello.

An acceptable level of Noodly Lou and the Turd Herders

Thank you for defining alt. country.

Classic. Timeless.

Portishead has a completely unique sound. I bought Dummy on a whim during the 90's British invasion and was surprised how much I liked it. This one is good as well, just had fallen off my radar by the time they put it out.

Strong album

The highs are high, but overall feels like they could have cut this down to a 12 song album and made it a masterpiece.

Not sure how this sold 10M+ copies. Nothing wrong with it, just meh.

Better than expected.

Highly respected, but not sure I would go back to this on a regular basis. If I was a few years older, I think this would have been a core album.

Still don't get Neil Young.

Very solid. The songs all blend together for me though.

If only Bob had a filter more GBV albums would be like this.

Has any band had a better 3 song opening sequence to an album?

I don’t think I will remember any of these songs. Not that they are bad, just when looking back, there were other bands of similar ilk that I liked better and will go back to.

Excellent debut

Don't everybody like the smell of apple pie?

That falsetto.

Bland.

90s Philly vibing.

The back REM catalog is still so dense for me it is hard to digest.

80s movie training montage ass music

Still finding themselves.

< In Search Of (by far)

It is a different experience looking back on history vs. living it.

Some good songs on here but always thought it was overly produced.