Starts strong. Many skate video memories. Some kind of fusion sound I can't describe. Latin rock? Cuban? Soft rock with a pop edge and hooks.
Dirty work a classic, quite like Kings.
They are really TRYING to NOT be pop at points - noodley off kilter solos feel a bit out of place in what probably felt like a contemporary pop banger. yacht rock!
'I am another gentleman loser'
All the songs sound pretty similar, not that that's such a bad thing, they work well together on a playthrough - but there doesn't seem to be any thing to wake the listener up a bit.
By the time we get to fire in the hole... feels a bit weak, and the jazz piano doesn't work initially. Still bored on 'brooklyn owes'.
Change of the guard feels like a naff attempt at a political statement. Would it be better if the band stuck to simpler and less ambiguous song ideas? This album makes me wish I was listening to hall and oates. Some of the writing/lyrics feel very dated.
Overall, 3/5 seems fair. The great songs are great, but there are too many forgettable duds in here that just can't match do it again or dirty work. The more I hear Reelin in the years, the less I like it, but that might have more to do with my impending 37th year than the song itself.
Blondie lite? Catchy, nice synths and bass. Nice start!
Yeah this is cool. Kinda punk influenced pop (but not pop punk?) Now sounds less like Debbie et al.
Reminds me of like... another girl another planet? Ramones? Joy division a tiny bit?
This town is great. Nice riff and rhythm. Automatic is a bit slow but I like the build and spook. Finishes with something a little standard, but nice overall. Feels like I should have rated steely dan lower and this is a more solid 3 out of 5!
What a lovely load of noise. Warm. Tom Petty? Inherently uplifting, natural, with a sense of the freeflowing about it.
They have a sound which feels like it inspired a lot of other bands. At points feels a little kurt vile... The long songs not feeling long at all is testament to quality.
Suffering is lovely. The solos, the way everyhing blends together. Feels nostalgic, melancholy but sweet.
An album that definitely doesnt sound like it was made in 2014, in a good way. The build on Ocean between is great.
the echoey, fluid crashing... this feels like road trip music. driving to the beach or something - so summery at it's core.
more of a country vibe comes through on eyes to the wind, in a lyrical and musical sense - even vocally. less surfy. I think I want to listen to this album several times. Also feels a bit dylan? Even in the way he sounds on this one.
The haunting idle starts so cool, but dissappointed it doesn't develop beyond a nice instrumental.
Everything is so dense, there's so much going on in each song! I keep skipping back as I feel I wasn't paying enough attention. The synths on burning feel like a springsteen nod.
In reverse's intro gave me goosebumps. I think this is my favourite track.
I have a feeling this album will enter into my regular rotation, there's a lot to absorb here!
so off kilter in a good way. still feels and sounds relevant to me.
Don't worry about the gov't is a fave. hard to listen to this without being a fan - I ain't impartial! I get the feeling this deluxe version is gonna have some weaker tracks on, I won't include em.
This isn't my favourite work of theirs, but there are a few great songs on here. Pulled up is great.
3rd listen, not a huge fan of no compassion.
MY BUILDING HAS EVERY CONVENIENNNNCE. earworm'd.
It's talking heads. it's good. :)
this.. doesn't sound like REM as much. Which means I like it a bit more. Hearing this after talking heads.. makes me realise they were definitely an influence. Stipe's chatty rambly sing style seems like an attempt to copy Byrne, especially on track 1. 'Should we talk about the government' is almost a joke of a lyric, but maybe it's meant to be, it's so blunt.
Yeah, this proto- REM, pre mega mega nightswimming fame (I assume), is a lot more interesting and weird. Were they ever inspired by They might be giants? It feels rockier, simpler overall. Then we hit a bit of a dreary spot on world leader pretend, and you get some hints of what was to come. Then, the wrong child gets pretty limp.
Not a fan of orange crush. whiney. And now everything seems a bit whiney at the back end of the album. It's quite difficult to listen to old albums trying to express earnest or political opinions, it all comes off as a bit naff. Inside out picks up a bit, bit of rock edge back again.
Meh. few songs at the start I like, but as it wears on its not a great album for me. It all seems like a big whinge. Untitled was kind of interesting a way to end. it'll be a 2.5 I think.
It's just really... really infectiously happy. Pure and simple. Not sure I've ever heard natural mystic before? great.
Synths/organ and on the heathen are rad. And the guitar!
Exodus really drives, so strong. love the bassline.
What can you say about Jammin, really? There's a reason this version alone has over 500million streams in total.
Kind of wish I'd heard this album a long time ago, instead of the best tracks peppered all over best ofs and rinse/repeated ad infitum.
I think this is a 3.5 - I'm not a massive marley fan, but you just can't deny how catchy, easy going and optimistic it is. I guess it's brought down a little by the religious context for me.
That was really good! gonna make less notes, kinda ruins the experience.
Would listen again. What a voice. Everything's so warm. 4
I mean, it's queen. couple of tracks I liked, nothing that blew my mind. 2.5
I really don't like the lead vocals, singing style.. or lyrical content. Too folky for me. I'm trying!
...Nah. I'm tapping out. not fair to rate it though as I didn't listen properly. or is that a 0? Not sure I can really give anything a 0
this feels like a worse version of other stuff I've heard a lot.. and again, like really blunt attempts at political/social messaging? "PEACE"/"WAR"
not unlistenable though. 2
I've had a lot of yacht rock already (or it feels like that), and I got pretty bored.
this "Willie sings the classics" kinda works... because it's simple and I like his voice. 3.8!
3.5 - it started to drag a bit at the end, but I liked its drive and eclecticism.
2.5.
I'm glad I held on as there were parts of the second track I really enjoyed.. but it felt like hard work. Is Jazz meant to feel like that? Probably. I tried!
It's not... BAD, it just kind of washes over me a bit. I think the vocal style has aged quite badly. 2.5
Yeah. Yeah! I liked it
I thought I wasn't enjoying this as much as the other album 'loveless'.
But i've listened 4 times in a row while I work. Not as immediately infectious on the surface perhaps, but there's a lot going on.
what a fuckin' intro. Atmospheric.
too many skits. Feels solid but samey. Few bangers but could be a bit more varied. D double E! Not sure about transatlantic blend.
Pharell can do one. 'Man' is still good. Shut Up is still good.
3.8 (?)
I dunno. Shock music? Not my favourite era of slim. he's trying to be dark, and it kinda works, and I'm not into it.
His controversy works best when it's got a bit of a comic edge, a bit like in the melody on real slim shady.
All the like.. rape stuff and language about women.. nah.
How many times and in how many different ways can someone say they don't give a f**k before it becomes apparent that they really do?
Also.. he can't sing. so why? He annoys me more than he really should, and I know that's kinda the whole point.
Maybe it's just aged really badly?
this is a 2.
3.5!
why.. am I kind of enjoying this? I'm confused.
Ok I legit enjoyed it. Don't like cowboys, don't understand why it was great, but 4. No notes. Nice catchy songs, great voice. Dated material but... I couldn't hate on it.
Yeah, I like it. Fast, catchy. Bit samey, but enjoyable. 3?
Yeah, I'm enjoying this a lot more than I thought I would. Infectious, energetic, feels unique, hazy boozy. 3.3? It won't be on regular rotation, but it's a long way from bad.
I've realised most of my preferred albums are shorter affairs. 45 mins ish. bishboshbash, done a music, thanks and carry on.
not terrible? good voice? dunno. samey. fine. 2.5
Hard to listen to this impartially knowing that Johnny rotten's a right wing expletive, and that they were a manufactured (?) band.
Energy is undeniable, but the style starts to grate on me after a few songs.
I got bored and stopped. 1.5?
I can't honestly review it.. as 3hr30 is too much. there were parts I like, but the concept didn't sell for me as a whole.
Makes me wanna move. Voice occasionally whiney? But a great sound overall. Energetic sadboiz? I like it. Opener is a banger.
Wow, I love elegia. He really can't sing sometimes, but it works so well as a whole. yeah, this is a 3.7
I really wasn't expecting to like this. Big riff.
Some weird lyrics that just come off kinda creepy though. 2.7
Pre me having knowledge that bono was an insufferable moron? Dad used to listen to this a lot.. nostalgia might be having an effect but I kinda like this.
Starts to trail off quite a bit. tbh the tracks that aren't memorable singles are pretty bad. 2.3
AHHH YEAH. I really, really regret selling this record.
I don't care what you say, this shit is BADASS.
Pleasantly surprised by tracks between the hits. Interesting songwriting, good production. I don't know if it's actually middle of the road or just feels that way because of the band's reputation? Not sure I'd come back to it in a hurry, so it's a 3.
