Cool and atmospheric. Definitely 80s. Kind of musical and experimental too. Liked it.
Understand the importance but most renditions are just ok
Enjoyed this one, blues are not the most straightforward genre but there's some bangers. Riders on the storm is awesome. L'America was grating af
The question comes now as to whether I rate based on whether I think the album is good or whether I liked it. I think it's good, I don't love the music.
I enjoyed that a lot more than I was expecting. Definitely one to revisit.
Perfectly pleasant, perfectly forgettable. Perhaps I don't really understand the significance, all I can think of is that Simon and Garfunkel did this better. Songs very samey. Not keeping any for a playlist.
Listened to a couple song on YouTube, definitely not for me. Weird intersection with post war classical music.
I knew BC from only one song, "The Mackenzies" which I loved. This album has delivered a lot more. And I love that it works as a whole, something not so often seen in the selection I've had so far. Doubted between the 4 and 5 stars - 4 because of a couple of weird turns in the music that I didn't love. Other than this, a whole universe in itself - we are all soothed into it by Bill's honey baritone.
Pleasant listen, but nothing really to keep from here!
#11 - Very chill, makes for good vibes background music. No earworms or songs kept for any playlist.
Just chill background music
Absolute classic, but I don't want to let the nostalgia tint my ratings!
From the description I had high hopes. Definitely unique and funky, but even after listening to it on background for the whole afternoon I couldn't make it stick!
Once again, one to see without the rose tinted nostalgia glasses. "sounds like Kanye West" was the first thought on my mind upon first listen. But then again by reading I understand that this was his first album and that it formed a massive building block on top of which this genre has continued building. Even the "BBL DRIZZY" Tiktok latest owes the "chipmunk soul" to this album. Fascinating! One to come back to - cannot give it 5 because it hasn't haunted me, but perhaps it's one of those that I wish I could've voted 5 on...
#16 - I found myself vibing to the funk but even after listening to the album 4 times I could not make any of the tunes stick! Not keeping any for a playlist. Still a good listen.
#17 - I feel that the inclusion of this album in the list and most likely the whole album itself was a response to the events of 2020. And it shows - to me it lacks the depth of music that's made because it comes out, as opposed to a response to events and a political statement. That being said it's not a bad listen I enjoyed the sways from Afrobeats to Reggae. Not denying this must have been important and urgent to a lot of people, but as far as the music in isolation goes it does not shine.
I can't believe I have never given The Doors the attention they deserve. The space they found at the intersection of prog rock and blues needed to be filled, and boy do they excel at it. My first 5⭐ rating 18 albums in!
#19 - An awesome Album which I had never spent time on before (hearing Vs listening anyone?). Grandiose in its ambition and execution, and indeed an achievement (with some bangers to boot!). 4.5/5, rounding down to 4 as I find some of the middle tracks a bit tedious.
#20 - First time I've listened to an Elton John album back to back. And I feel I add this disclaimer to many of my reviews - having grown up relatively sheltered from pop culture, I feel like I can approach this objectively. It's nice to listen to, it has it's own brand that we are now very used to but back in the day it must've been huge. Almost cinematic Disney film qualities. Agree with other reviewers that it's mostly however a version of the same song. I find Elton's plonky piano a bit grating and I'm extremely annoyed by how he pronounces words (Jaysus!). This being said, I was pleasantly surprised by some daring instrumentation and cannot deny some songs are bangers. I've never particularly loved Tiny Dancer but Levon was a straight favourite after hearing it.
#22 - For the first two songs I was not convinced, grating and abrasive sounds almost like if they did not want me to listen to the rest of the album. But I powered through and it was worth it - Kurt's broken voice is unique and they definitely have their own sound. This album deals with a lot of negative emotions that perhaps I'm not familiar with but it brings them out in a very raw and powerful way. My favourite song was "Dumb".
#22 - What an interesting album; what I like about it is that it made me question what music actually is. I have no doubt that it's been fundamental for the development of certain other styles. Reminded me of some of the more contemporary / niche realms of classical music, particularly Musique Concrete. Again, the question here is whether we like the album. It's not made to be liked but to make us question and explore the reaches of expression through sound. Music for the sake of music (is it even music? Perhaps sound for the sake of sound?); in the same way that Malevich's black square painting is painting for the sake of painting. Art for it's own sake, not for critical acclaim and free from aesthetic pleasure goals. Hearing this makes me a better, more educated listener. And isn't this the goal of this exercise?
#25 - Cool music, liked the intro and the violin. Just not my jam.
#26 - impressive command on the guitar but not my jam, they have their own sound and its not one for me!
One of the albums I listen to often. I discovered it because "sorrow" was used in a Ragnar Kjartansson art film, where he asked the band to play the same song for 6 hours straight. It was amazing; and the album is too. To this day the only The National album I've listened too but I should explore more!
#28 - I expected little when I saw the tag krautrock but the first half of the album positively impressed me. The second half I didn't love as much, due to the annoying vocals that do not add much to anything.
#30 - Decent early Brit rock with quite original layers
I've actually quite enjoyed this. Very easy listening, danceable but not grating. It's a vibe! And the songs have great vocals
I really wanted to like it - clearly quite musical, but it's too "hard" for me. I much rather prefer softer things like Focus.
#33 - I can hear where The Doors (a revelation from this project) we're coming from! Nice album
#34 - God this is pretty grating. Not my jam at all, and the music is invaded by an overwhelming negativity.
#35 - if there's one thing I'm learning from this list is I really hate 60s country male duos
#36 - some bangers in here and a unique sound! Quite advanced for '71, I like it
#37 - incredible how many songs in this album have become classics. Radiohead's angst defined a generation!
I thought I'd like this more, it's good music but a bit tedious
This band has never hit the spot for me, but it's not bad music!
#41 - not really my jam but not bad music either, quite noisy and negative but in a musical way
#42 - quite strange and not my thing at all.
#43 - Huge for its time I'm sure, still some of the songs in here are bangers. Wouldn't call it a favourite but definitely a good listen.
#44 - Was fully expecting to hate it, and I feel like I've been put through a washing machine, but I kind of enjoyed it. I see how thrash is the next step to hardcore Punk. Lyrics are disgusting but at least not satanic. Top musicianship tho - both performance and composition.
#45 - I am sure that this album has made a lot of waves in its particular genres, but I feel I am too far from the whole genre to appreciate. This does nothing for me.
#46 - Mellow and pleasant, but didn't particularly speak to me
#47 - many of these are classics now, and it is objectively good music. Not my favourite tho.
#48 - I definitely want to return to this. Feedback was a slog but the rest is quite special, unhurried, in the moment. Musicians playing for themselves. I liked it.
#49 - I enjoyed some of the songs in the album, and the positive vibes. Might want to revisit.
#50 - I quite enjoyed this, I think the album is extremely well produced. I'd like to come back to it and pay more attention to the lyrics. Reminded me a bit of Hot Chip.
#51 - Legendary voice and decent songs!
#52 - wasn't expecting to live this as much as I did. Perfect vibes, incredible voice, amazing band (those keys!!). Did not know much about her so could come into this without context. Perfect capture of its time. Amazing album.
#53 - nice easy listening 90s
#54 - Vivey but I don't think the music really stands up on its own without the context. Not a big fan of her voice either.
#55 - Amazing Miles as usual marking a before and after in the evolution of jazz. Very good but it doesn't tickle me as much as Kind of Blue.
#56 - Dad rock supreme
#57 - no real takeaways from this
#58 - Nice background atmospheric music but I didn't find it very exciting when I paid close attention to it.
#59 - Very good vibes! Chill disco, quite enjoyed it. And of course the couple bangers we all know.
#60 - A good one, very vibey. Also perhaps the origin of some famous modelling. Love the different moods it cycles through. Also some kickass bass solos and love that they added a vibraphone / glockenspiel!
#61 - Not trying to rate the impact that this had or the influence. Just on my enjoyment of the music alone. It captures its era.
#62 - Wow, one of the few I've heard so far where I couldn't wait for it to be done. It has it's niche but it's definitely not mine.
#63 - Some good songs in here but the overall vibe is quite experimental and unfortunately grating.
#64 - Pleasant but nothing stuck with me here.
#65 - This was quite unmusical, boring repetitive riffs and the singer has a range of three notes. I am sure they think they're the coolest thing ever but really not worth the listen.
#66 - pleasant enough 70s vibes but I struggled to connect with it.
#67 - Again, nice listen but nothing really calls out to me
#68 - I quite enjoyed this, creatively produced original music!
#69 - Every song is very similar, and the sound is not original.
#70 - Liked it! Very classic while breaking in a way. I should come back to it.
#71 - some catchy tunes here! Not a lot of depth or anything interesting really, a good album to play if you're driving down the coast or something
#72 - Total classic.
#73 - grew up with this! Also didn't know she was the daughter of Ravi Shankar!
#74 - some bangers and some ridiculous fillers.
#75 - It didn't speak to me but I feel it has the potential to do so after a few more listens.
#76 - kinda fun and of it's time.
#77 - I can tell that it's good music, I'm not a fan of the style tho.
#78 - just like his previous, the music is pleasant enough but does not stick ...
#79 - God I couldn't finish this
#80 - Stalwart of it's time, some bangers in here!
#81 - Very well rounded, Classic MJ
#82 - Another fantastic album, full of bangers from start to bottom. MJ is solidly one of the best pop musicians and writers ever. At the same time I'm not sure there was a cohesion to the album (other than a playlist of MJ bangers).
#83 - Good music of a very particular niche. Not necessarily my 🍵
#84 - listened to it the whole day as background music. Love the mix of ambient and 70s upbeat. Great instrumentation. I was just unable to find the cohesive link of the album.
#85 - easy listening, groovy, but nothing that particularly stands out.
#86 - Great album, love the intro particularly. Amazing for a vibey session. Not five star because I cannot find a foothold in it.
#87 - Good album. Bad memories.
#88 - Nice easy listening but nothing remained
#89 - Pleasant enough but can't find much revolutionary about it?
#90 - I thought it was listenable. But way too long.
#91 - Again one where maybe I have the privilege (or curse) of not being tinged by nostalgia. This is very listenable and its own sound but utterly unmemorable for me. Might have been breaking when it came out but if it came out today it would be ignored.
#92 - Enjoyable but for white people blues they don't beat The Doors.
#93 - not the energy I was expecting from post punk. This is just kinda... Boring? Muted? Not for me
#94 - Perfectly pleasant, of its time
#95 - I wanted to like it and there's some good stuff here but the experimental bits are painful
#96 - this was painful, and unmusical.
#97 - This was cool!
#98 - Total classic and stood the test of time
#99 - One of my all time faves
#100 - really enjoyed this, quite unique energy!
#101 - Total classic
#102 - Has some decent songs, she's a sort of proto-Dido. Enjoyable. But some others are filler.
#103 - It feels like the whole album is off key. I get what they were trying to do but no need to listen to this again.
#104 - London Calling is a complete classic, but the rest of the album didn't sound to le like anything coherent or worthwhile
#105 - Good album, not my style really
#106 - Huge in its time, and of its time. It's a decent album.
#107 - the first half of the album feels like the same song. Very distinctive style but I find it s bit boring.
#108 - total classic but not 100% my vibe
#109 - Wow I'd never heard of this guy but these are all bangers
#110 - This is absolutely great, I'm so glad someone recorded it and I wish I could've been there!
#111 - This was one of my coming of age albums, it's held up great!
#112 - it's ok, like a sort of edgier Beatles
#113 - Not my style (I don't like whispers in my ear from an old man) but I appreciate it for what it is.
#114 - Solid Brazilian album, well produced. Didn't know the fire story!
#115 - some bangers but overall standard.
#116 - I'm sure it's great for what it is, nice easy listen.
#117 - Not very memorable but of it's time I guess
#118 - Finally something worthwhile! Pretty unique sound, it was a bit weird at first but I definitely enjoyed it. Worth a relisten to pay attention to the layers.
#119 - Quite enjoyed this, very listenable and nice sonic universe. Great album.
#120 - Awesome to hear it live. Wish I could've been there!
#121 - I didn't get this one
#122 - Knew of Brel from a Sabina song ("cuando en un si bemol de Jacques Brel, conocí a Mademoiselle Amsterdam") but never listened to him. Clearly unique. Bit too dramatic for my taste.
#123 - This is very funny because it's very of it's time. Good, easy listening. Not a lot of substance to it I feel.
#124 - Loved it!
#125 - Just OK. Not the biggest fan of U2
#126 - Lot of musicality here clearly. Just couldn't really get into it.
#127 - it's ok but not remarkable
Good and of its time. Easy listen. Nothing here particularly memorable for me.
So perhaps I got this album in the wrong place, wrong time, because I know that it is an absolute classic and it has inspired, for example, Frank Turner, who I really like, and a lot of other singers. To me, it just felt like all these slow, melancholy songs about working-class heroes. They're just all the same song, and it's pretty depressing. It's a pretty depressing album, very slow, with nothing to lift the spirit.
I didn't stop to listen to the lyrics so much, also because I don't fully understand them. I wish I had liked it more. I wish this had been a massive discovery, and I love Bruce, but it just didn't cut it. Maybe I'll return to this one day and realise what I missed, but today this is not for me.
Alas. Did not manage to like it. Too dark and introspective. I know it's the point.
Solid album.
