It’s okay. I get why it would be crazy popular and wild when it came out, but to me all the songs sound nearly the same. Very sick, vicious guitars and the lyrics are definitely compelling especially Anarchy in the UK and God Save the Queen, but it all sounds so repetitive musically. I guess I like the spirit and ideology but wish there was more differentiation between tracks. 3/5
The Rockafeller Skank, Right Here, Right Now and Praise You… some of the best 90s tracks all on one album. And the ones I’m less familiar with are really fun too. Go watch Spike Jonze’s Praise You music video if you haven’t, absolute treat.
Listen, I like repetition. I think a lot of electronic albums on the list get a bad rap because of their use of repetition, like Flatboy Slim or Daft Punk. What makes them good is the underlying understanding of how to keep a catchy, exciting hook fresh and their use of complex layers of instruments and sounds. Just take Around the World or Praise You as master classes of this; they’re “basically” the same song the whole time but there’s so much going on that keeps them progressing musically and keeps your attention.
This album, however, totally makes me understand why people hate repetitive techno. Just generic, so many of the songs sound the same, and most importantly, most of the hooks are dull. My favorite was the Introduction, the piano melody is very cool. But yeah even as a lover of deadmau5 and Daft Punk and other house music along these lines, this really is a poor representation in my opinion. Not offensively bad by any means but cmon what’s it doing here? I wouldn’t be annoyed if one of these tracks came on during a house mix but back to back the lack of creativity and versatility is apparent.
I think the first half of this album is much better than the second. Pretty good tho but nothing really exceptional.
Would be a great soundtrack to a 90’s movie or video game. Not transformative or super impressive but definitely leagues above other electronica on this list.
Wow I knew the big hits but didn’t think I would fall in love with this so hard.
First pass: I appreciate experimental, but I truly cannot find anything redeeming or interesting here. Every song is a cacophonous, confrontational din. I like confrontation in music, but this seems utterly pointless.
Second pass: okay there some interesting stuff here. The latter half for sure, the wall of sound is certainly something. I appreciate that it’s different and inspired even if it’s very much not for me
The music isn’t super inspired, but I really loved some of the lyrics in this album, a lot of really earnest songs and feelings. Just want to be a bit part in someone’s life… drug buddy, it’s fun stuff. I especially loved Frank Mills because I just love the idea of the hope to run into a long-unseen acquaintance that made such an impression of you. I think we all have a lot of Frank Mills in our life. The extra b-side song Shakes Ground is also a really nice nuanced song about the love between friends vs SOs.
So yeah, really enjoyable lyrics here even if the music is a bit meh and sounds the same.
>Looks at track listing
>Four songs
>Looks at total album time
>1hr15min
Hahha okay man. Sure. Why not.
Sorta meh but actually pretty fantastic as background music to a Cyberpunk Red (TTRPG) game I’m running. So it’s got that going for it at least.
I wasn’t expecting to love this so much. I loved Perfect Day but wow what a fun, wonderful album. Just great lyrics, such a pleasant listen, and so much variety between the songs. Excellent. Exactly why I started this whole list.
This is what I’m doing this project for. Absolutely completely different, utterly unique, rich, dirty, a whole visual world you can picture created through music and sound. Reminds me of Nick Cave. Absolutely fantastic.
Every single song sounds the exact same. Sorry to the fans of this if I’m missing some secret nuance here but wow what a boring record. Absolutely perfunctory rock.
This is wildly better than the other Common album on this record. Maybe I was just in the right mood for it, but this is just awesome.
Music for a movie that doesn’t exist is such a sick concept for an album. No clue how this is getting 1s at all except from the close minded. It’s clearly so well produced and performed, and creates an absolutely unique, spooky, fascinating vibe.
Perfect background/ambient music to a game of Delta Green or Call of Cthulhu. The shifts of style and emotion come subtly or sometimes abruptly as the unnamed protagonist of the movie finds the dead body, uncovers the clue, or gets knocked out by the mystery assailant. Great stuff. Reminds me partially of some of Tom Waits stuff.
I was going to give this a 4 at first. Then I kept listening and it was definite 3. But my god by the end it has to be a 2. I don’t know why this style of indie folk feels so phony, grating and saccharine to me but damn. By the end I couldn’t wait for it to be done. I geese it’s because all the songs sound the same?
Anyway, not at all BAD by any means but as one of the top comments said, feels like plastic.
Surprised how much I enjoyed this. Thought it was going to be another mostly skippable bit of 60s rock but there’s some great song writing, fun energy, and nice range in genres in here. Fun time!
Was going to give this a 4, for the obvious unreal guitar skills, fun vocals and lyrics. It’s cool to have a rock band with amazing guitarists and a vocalist who can TRULY sing.
But then the “doo-woo shoo be do wop” part came on in I’m the One and I was like holy shit these guys would have been stars even in the 40s/50s. Unreal.
My girlfriend works next to where Patti Smith lives and she’s rude as hell so two stars sorry.
What a wonderful album. She’s just that good. When country is good it’s fucking amazing.