5/5 Amazing grooves with brilliant vocals and lyrics. Just an almost flawless album, which just happens to be fantastically enjoyable. Marcus Garvey 5/5 (FAV) Slavery Days 5/5 The Invasion 5/5 Live Good 5/5 Give Me 5/5 Old Marcus Garvey 5/5 Tradition 5/5 (LEAST FAV) Jordan River 5/5 Red, Gold And Green 5/5 Resting Place 5/5

5/5 This album gets off to a real flyer with the absolutely amazing Black Cow, which is lyrically, vocally and instrumentally brilliant. It's structured beautifully, with such an infectious quality that draws you in straight away, and keeps you there. Then Aja, which is at its core so delicate and smooth, yet is unsettled, continually moving forward dramatically and fantastically. Deacon Blues is so inviting and clever, and goes by so fast, closing the first half with elegance. Then the funk kicks in on Peg, a song with groove and glamour. Home at Last feels like a jazz-reggae fusion sent down directly from heaven. So, so good. It's bright and full of life. It would be a favourite on almost any other album. Then I Got The News is fun and groovy, before the experience finishes with Josie. The guitars cut through the song so well, melding with the great bass work. Once again, just a breathtaking track that deserves so much praise. All in all, this is 40 minutes of brilliant songwriting and musical performances that I can't wait to revisit. Black Cow 5/5 (FAV) Aja 5/5 Deacon Blues 5/5 Peg 5/5 Home At Last 5/5 I Got The News 4.5/5 (LEAST FAV) Josie 5/5

5/5 This album is mostly loud, poppy and hopeful- leading to an iconic very American sound. Yet on its most melancholic and reflective songs Downbound Train, I'm On Fire, Dancing In the Dark, and My Hometown, it is most powerful and emotional. Bruce's striking vocals and thoughtful lyrics throughout make an amazing listening experience. Born in the U.S.A. 5 Cover Me 5 Darlington County 4.5 Working on the Highway 4.5 Downbound Train 5 (FAV) I'm On Fire 5 No Surrender 5 Bobby Jean 4.5 I'm Goin' Down 4 (LEAST FAV) Glory Days 4 Dancing In the Dark 5 My Hometown 5

5/5 This collection of unique and often weird songs is a masterpiece. Thom's voice still feels so raw, fresh and new, to lead each song, and the minimal yet meaningful and poetic lyrics cut through each instrumental with impact. The production itself is carefully layered and beautiful without feeling overdone and losing the essence of each song. The refusal to stick with a section for too long before changing the mood makes this such an enjoyable experience. In fact the weakest songs 15 Step and Videotape which bookend the album are the most repetitive and least interesting musically. But the strength of the middle section makes this an exceptional recording. 15 Step 4/5 (LEAST FAV) Bodysnatchers 4.5/5 Nude 5/5 Weird Fishes/ Arpeggi 5/5 All I Need 5/5 Faust Arp 5/5 (FAV) Reckoner 5/5 House Of Cards 4.5/5 Jigsaw Falling Into Place 4.5/5 Videotape 4/5

4.5/5 This funky unique experience is a delight. Jim Morrison screams and reminisces over groovy tracks oozing with flavour. The lyrics evoke strong sexual desires or inspire beautiful psychedelic images, such as the fantastic Peace Frog, which fades amazingly into the elegant change of pace of Blue Sunday. A slightly weaker stretch following the brilliant Ship of Fools weakens the overall quality of the album but the highpoints are so high this is a must-listen. Maggie M'Gill brings the album back to what it does best right at the end. Roadhouse Blues 4.5/5 Waiting for the Sun 5/5 You Make Me Real 5/5 Peace Frog 5/5 Blue Sunday 5/5 Ship of Fools 5/5 (FAV) Land Ho! 4/5 The Spy 3.5/5 (LEAST FAV) Queen of the Highway 4/5 Indian Summer 4/5 Maggie M'Gill 5/5

5/5 Catchy lyrics, easy-on-the-ears instrumentals and harmonious vocals make this an amazing album. The guitars and bass meld so well to make some real grooves, which with quality production forms a fantastic pop-rock experience. Our Lips Are Sealed 4.5/5 How Much More 5/5 Tonite 4/5 Lust To Love 5/5 This Town 5/5 We Got The Beat 5/5 Fading Fast 5/5 Automatic 5/5 (FAV) You Can't Walk In Your Sleep (If You Can't Sleep) 5/5 Skidmarks On My Heart 4/5 (LEAST FAV) Can't Stop The World 4.5/5

4/5 Silky smooth jazz. The three instruments feel like the ideal combination at times, with the unrelenting, darting, almost abrasive bass, dazzling piano and constant drums making such a heavenly sound. Often it is impossible to listen to without an immediate sense of calm. In fact the more energetic moments such as on Solar are the weak points when the excitement brings the piano and bass to different places, such that they compete for attention, or the bass seems to wander aimlessly. But when the piano and bass fuse it feels great, and it would be an exceptional album if they did so consistently. Gloria's Step 4/5 My Man's Gone Now 5/5 (FAV) Solar 2.5/5 (LEAST FAV) Alice In Wonderland 5/5 All Of You 3.5/5 Jade Visions 4.5/5

5/5 The luscious, endlessly appealing opener sets the bar ridiculously high, but it is immediately followed by a diverse range of beautifully produced tracks. The creepy, otherworldly Sexy Boy, the delicate All I Need, the simple yet fun Kelly Watch the Stars, the larger than life Talisman, the dark and twisting Remember, the full of longing You Make It Easy, the romantic Ce Matin-La, the calming, fantastical New Star in the Sky, and finally the groovy Le voyage de Penelope. All in all this album is just fantastic because of its grand impressive production, shown in a wide variety of ways across the 44 ish minutes. La femme d'argent 5/5 (FAV) Sexy Boy 5/5 All I Need 5/5 Kelly Watch the Stars 4.5/5 Talisman 5/5 Remember 4.5/5 You Make It Easy 4/5 (LEAST FAV) Ce Matin-La 5/5 New Star in the Sky 5/5 La voyage de Penelope 4.5/5

2/5 This album is a mess, and not a very good one. I'm sure there's a great song in the jam, the endless aimless ramble of Dark Star, with a catchy riff and clearer vocal performance, but the randomness of the sometimes pleasant and sometimes annoying arrangement doesn't do it for me. I feel guilty and stupid for not taking anything particularly positive out of 23 minutes. Then the groovy St Stephen kicks in and that is forgotten, and the actual tune is amazing, but it is neglected and left behind for bad vocals and forgettable change-ups. The Eleven returns to the boring inconsistent mess of guitars found on the opener, and with them a feeling of frustration and incompletion, before a bit of repetition comes in, only for a completely banal chord progression with no feel. Turn on Your Love Light reminds us this is a band who play music, and is a fun little rocker played and sung with passion. The song can be strung out and still maintain its charm and groove to an extent, but that extent is unfortunately breached by the 15-minute runtime, even if it finishes strong. Death Don't Have No Mercy is pretty chill until it isn't, and is just ok at its best, and once again confusing and random at its worst. I feel like I am on a completely different wavelength to this band as to what plays and feels good. A strong finish cannot make me enjoy all 10 minutes. Feedback begins intriguingly, and deserves credit for being a unique psychedelic experience which continually introduces new sounds, holding deeper feelings. The album's closer is a fantastically sweet and calming ballad, as if hoping to distract from some of the mind-numbing performances heard previously. Dark Star 1.5/5 St. Stephen 3/5 The Eleven 1/5 (LEAST FAV) Turn on Your Love Light 3.5/5 Death Don't Have No Mercy 2.5/5 Feedback 4/5 And We Bid You Goodbye 5/5 (FAV)

5/5 Solomon's powerful voice penetrates simple love songs for a great set of tracks. The backing vocals are so on point and the instrumentals are full of life and soul on a remarkably consistent tracklist, which manages to continue feeling fresh as it progresses. Cry to Me 4/5 Just Out of Reach (Of My Two Empty Arms) 5/5 Goodbye Baby (Baby Goodbye) 5/5 If You Need Me 4/5 Can't Nobody Love You 4.5/5 Someone to Love Me 4/5 (LEAST FAV) You're Good for Me 5/5 Won't You Give Him (One More Chance) 4.5/5 Hard, Ain't It Hard 4.5/5 You Can't Love 'Em All 4.5/5 Beautiful Brown Eyes 5/5 He'll Have to Go 5/5 (FAV)

4/5 Atmospheric, otherworldly, funky, futuristic. A lot of words can be used to describe this album but none seem to sum it up sufficiently. I know I like it a lot though. The lyrics and vocals dance around saying a lot without saying or doing much, and the change ups and punchiness of the instrumentals are magnificent. An inconsistent tracklist, with plenty of room for ok-ness as the album progresses past the incredible highs, reduces the overall enjoyment for me. Someone Somewhere (In Summertime) 5/5 Colours Fly And Catherine Wheel 4/5 Promised You A Miracle 5/5 (FAV) Big Sleep 5/5 Somebody Up There Likes You 3.5/5 New Gold Dream (81/82/83/84) 3.5/5 (LEAST FAV) Glittering Prize 4/5 Hunter And The Hunted 4/5 King Is White And In The Crowd 4/5

4/5 A pretty chill listen with awesome live acoustic playing of great songs. Really good vibes overall. I prefer the covers, and the parts with more instrumentation than just Kurt and his guitar. Kurt's vocals are great until the very end when they transcend exceptional, with such a powerful and emotional finish. About A Girl 3.5/5 Come As You Are 3.5/5 Jesus Doesn't Want Me For A Sunbeam 4.5/5 The Man Who Sold The World 5/5 Pennyroyal Tea 3/5 (LEAST FAV) Dumb 4.5/5 Polly 4.5/5 On A Plain 3/5 Something In The Way 3/5 Plateau 4/5 Oh Me 5/5 Lake Of Fire 4/5 All Apologies 3.5/5 Where Did You Sleep Last Night 5/5 (FAV)

5/5 Amazing, timeless, classic rock. Side 1 is banging, but side 2 emerges touching and beautiful. The whole thing is paced fantastically, with a delicate instrumental leading into a heavier side 3, which contains a great change of pace within the brilliant Jumping Jack Flash. Then side 4 has only the relaxed Lines On My Face and the supreme Do You Feel Like We Do to finish this exceptional album with a bang. It's coincidental to review two live albums in a row which have incredible peaks right at the end of their runtime (after Nirvana's MTV Unplugged). Something's Happening 4.5/5 Doobie Wah 5/5 Show Me The Way 4.5/5 It's A Plain Shame 4.5/5 All I Want To Be (Is By Your Side) 5/5 Wind Of Change 4/5 (LEAST FAV) Baby, I Love Your Way 5/5 I Wanna Go To The Sun 5/5 Penny For Your Thoughts 4.5/5 (I'll Give You) Money 4.5/5 Shine On 5/5 Jumpin' Jack Flash 5/5 Lines On My Face 4.5/5 Do You Feel Like We Do 5/5 (FAV)

3.5/5 Bright, poppy rock. This album gets off to a flier before a strange gospel fusion is introduced on All These Things That I've Done that is just ok, and really breaks the pacing, and the album struggles to reach those consistent highs again. Jenny Was A Friend Of Mine 5/5 Mr. Brightside 5/5 Smile Like You Mean It 5/5 (FAV) Somebody Told Me 4.5/5 All These Things That I've Done 3/5 Andy, You're A Star 4/5 On Top 3.5/5 Change Your Mind 4/5 Believe Me Natalie 3/5 (LEAST FAV) Midnight Show 3.5/5 Everything Will Be Alright 3.5/5

5/5 This album is a testament to great songwriting, with the 100+ minutes full of great grooves, lyrics and vocal performances by Stevie (and of course an incredible feature by Shirley Brewer). The diversity of instrumentation, genre, and vibes shows a truly talented artist. Some of my favourite songs appear on the bonus EP to the double album showing the insane depth of quality. Love's In Need Of Love Today 4.5/5 Have A Talk With God 5/5 Village Ghetto Land 5/5 Contusion 3.5/5 (LEAST FAV) Sir Duke 4/5 I Wish 5/5 (FAV) Knocks Me Off My Feet 5/5 Pastime Paradise 5/5 Summer Soft 4/5 Ordinary Pain 4.5/5 Isn't She Lovely 5/5 Joy Inside My Tears 4.5/5 Black Man 4.5/5 Ngiculela-Es Una Historia-I Am Singing 5/5 If It's Magic 4.5/5 As 5/5 Another Star 5/5 Saturn 5/5 Ebony Eyes 5/5 All Day Sucker 4/5 Easy Goin' Evening (My Mama's Call) 3.5/5

4.5/5 Massive, anthemic, cold, weird, but also touching, soft, biting, and beautiful. The lyrics are fantastic. Dominion / Mother Russia 5/5 (FAV) Flood I 4.5/5 Lucretia My Reflection 5/5 1959 4/5 This Corrosion 4.5/5 Flood II 4/5 Driven Like the Snow 3/5 (LEAST FAV) Never Land - A Fragment 3.5/5

5/5 Fantastic album. Brilliant tracklist. Tell Me Why 5/5 After the Gold Rush 5/5 (FAV) Only Love Can Break Your Heart 5/5 Southern Man 4.5/5 Till the Morning Comes 4.5/5 Oh, Lonesome Me 3.5/5 (LEAST FAV) Don't Let It Bring You Down 5/5 Birds 5/5 When You Dance I Can Really Love 4/5 I Believe in You 5/5 Cripple Creek Ferry 4/5

4/5 This album is consistently interesting and enjoyable, but rarely exceptional. The lyrics are great, and the Bowie tribute is touching, but ultimately the album doesn't come together to be more than the sum of its parts. oh baby 4/5 other voices 3/5 (LEAST FAV) i used to 4.5/5 change yr mind 4/5 how do you sleep? 4/5 tonite 4.5/5 call the police 4.5/5 (FAV) american dream 4.5/5 emotional haircut 4/5 black screen 4/5

3/5 You definitely don't need to listen to this album before you die. It's decent though. Listenable for sure when you're drunk. The Shining Hour 4/5 Jupiter and Teardrop 4.5/5 Fuzzy 3.5/5 Wish You Well 3.5/5 The Hook 4.5/5 Soft Wolf Tread 2.5/5 Stars n' Stripes 4/5 Dixie Drug Store 5/5 (FAV) America Snoring 3/5 Grace 2.5/5 (LEAST FAV) You Just Have to Be Crazy 5/5

4/5 Yeezus has great highs, but lacks real consistency, with a particularly weak stretch of tracks on the back end. Send It Up is a painfully irritating listen to say the least. Kanye's writing is pretty poor throughout, and often only just saved by the intense instrumentals. However, the album does have amazing moments. The best points are the most lush, packed with vocals and instrumentation, such as the gorgeous New Slaves outro, or the fantastic Bound 2, but the simplicity and minimalist production can also be effective, shown by the enjoyable I Am A God. On Sight 4/5 Black Skinhead 5/5 I Am A God 5/5 New Slaves 5/5 Hold My Liquor 4.5/5 I'm In It 2/5 (LEAST FAV) Blood On The Leaves 3.5/5 Guilt Trip 2.5/5 Send It Up 1/5 Bound 2 5/5 (FAV)

3/5 This album is very loud and repetitive, and long. Way too long. It's an enjoyable listen at times, but it could be a lot, lot shorter and hence sweeter without losing any of its quality. I would definitely return to a 25-30 minute version of this album. When the instrumental does change up, it's fantastic. The guitar solos are often very middling, neither interesting or annoying, and the vocals and lyrics generally are good. Blackened 3/5 ...And Justice For All 4/5 Eye Of The Beholder 2.5/5 One 2.5/5 The Shortest Straw 1.5/5 (LEAST FAV) Harvester Of Sorrow 4/5 The Frayed Ends Of Sanity 2.5/5 To Live Is To Die 4.5/5 (FAV) Dyers Eve 4/5

3/5 The songs on this album are mostly ok and rarely great. It can be a bit of a boring listen at times. However there are still enjoyable movements, including the Hendrix cover and the inescapable Layla, and you have to give it credit for starting and finishing strongly. I Looked Away 4/5 Bell Bottom Blues 4/5 Keep On Growing 2.5/5 Nobody Knows You When You're Down And Out 2.5/5 I Am Yours 2.5/5 Anyday 3.5/5 Key To The Highway 3/5 Tell The Truth 3/5 Why Does Love Got To Be So Sad? 2/5 (LEAST FAV) Have You Ever Loved A Woman? 3/5 Little Wing 4.5/5 It's Too Late 3/5 Layla 5/5 (FAV) Thorn Tree In The Garden 4.5/5

4.5/5 Some really special songs and performances on this massive collection of country music. Just a really enjoyable and relaxing listen, with so many talented musicians and songwriters featured. There are plenty of ok songs in the first half, but very few stinkers. Then the second half goes from strength to strength with amazingly consistent quality, finishing strongly. Grand Ole Opry Song 3.5/5 Keep On The Sunny Side 5/5 Nashville Blues 3.5/5 You Are My Flower 3/5 The Precious Jewel 2/5 (LEAST FAV) Dark As A Dungeon 5/5 (FAV) Tennessee Stud 4.5/5 Black Mountain Rag 3.5/5 Wreck On The Highway 2.5/5 The End Of The World 3/5 I Saw The Light 3/5 Sunny Side Of The Mountain 2.5/5 Nine Pound Hammer 3/5 Losin' You (Might Be The Best Thing Yet) 4.5/5 Honky Tonkin' 2.5/5 You Don't Know My Mind 4/5 My Walkin' Shoes 3/5 Lonesome Fiddle Blues 4/5 Cannonball Rag 4.5/5 Avalanche 4.5/5 Flint Hill Special 3/5 Togary Mountain 4.5/5 Earl's Breakdown 4.5/5 Orange Blossom Special 3.5/5 Wabash Cannonball 4.5/5 Lost Highway 5/5 Way Downtown 5/5 Down Yonder 4/5 Pins And Needles (In My Heart) 4.5/5 Honky Tonk Blues 4/5 Sailin' On To Hawaii 5/5 I'm Thinking Tonight Of My Blue Eyes 5/5 I Am A Pilgrim 4/5 Wildwood Flower 4/5 Soldier's Joy 3.5/5 Will The Circle Be Unbroken 4.5/5 Both Sides Now 5/5

4.5/5 Really fantastic soulful songs. Cloud Nine 4.5/5 I Heard It Through The Grapevine 3.5/5 (LEAST FAV) Runaway Child, Running Wild 5/5 (FAV) Love Is A Hurtin' Thing 5/5 Hey Girl 5/5 Why Did She Have To Leave Me (Why Did She Have To Go) 5/5 I Need Your Lovin' 4/5 Don't Let Him Take Your Love From Me 4/5 I Gotta Find A Way (To Get You Back) 3.5/5 Gonna Keep On Tryin' Till I Win Your Love 4.5/5

5/5 Cohesive tracklist full of funk and soul, which changes up well and is never boring. I slightly prefer the rockier, poppier second half. Lenny's vocals and lyrics are fantastic. Sitting On Top Of The World 5/5 Let Love Rule 5/5 Freedom Train 3/5 (LEAST FAV) My Precious Love 4.5/5 I Build This Garden For Us 4.5/5 Fear 4.5/5 Does Anybody Out There Even Care 5/5 Mr. Cab Driver 5/5 Rosemary 5/5 (FAV) Be 5/5

3.5/5 While occasionally thought-provoking and instrumentally interesting, this album ultimately falls short of anything exceptional, and contains a string of ok songs. A consistent vibe is easily found, but without any great swells of passion or emotion amongst the melancholy. I Am Trying to Break Your Heart 5/5 (FAV) Kamera 3.5/5 Radio Cure 4.5/5 War On War 4/5 Jesus, Etc. 4.5/5 Ashes of American Flags 4/5 Heavy Metal Drummer 3.5/5 I'm The Man Who Loves You 2.5/5 (LEAST FAV) Pot Kettle Black 3/5 Poor Places 3.5/5 Reservations 4/5

4.5/5 Outstanding metal, which is written, performed and produced fantastically. There are no bad songs, and the album flows really well. Among The Living 3.5/5 Caught In A Mosh 4/5 I Am The Law 4/5 Efilnikufesin (N.F.L.) 5/5 A Skeleton In The Closet 4/5 Indians 4/5 One World 4.5/5 Medley: A.D.I. / Horror Of It All 5/5 (FAV) Imitation Of Life 3.5/5 (LEAST FAV)

5/5 This classic album is often deservedly listed among the greatest ever made. The rich, catchy instrumentals slap over and over again, with brilliant percussion. The production is out-of-this-world good to achieve a unique recognisable sound, over which David Byrne alternately whispers, preaches, screeches and serenades to us with manic energy. The African influence, incorporating complex polyrhythms, just takes these songs to the stratosphere. By the time the dark and intense The Overload kicks in, I feel enriched. I don't know if 40 minutes of music have ever sounded so good before, or if they will again. Born Under Punches (The Heat Goes On) 5/5 (FAV) Crosseyed and Painless 5/5 The Great Curve 5/5 Once in a Lifetime 5/5 Houses in Motion 5/5 (LEAST FAV) Seen and Not Seen 5/5 Listening Wind 5/5 The Overload 5/5

4.5/5 This album gets off to a flyer, and finishes strong. Some real bangers on here. Short and sweet. Waitin' for the Bus 5/5 Jesus Just Left Chicago 5/5 Beer Drinkers & Hell Raisers 5/5 Master of Sparks 4/5 Hot, Blue and Righteous 4/5 Move Me on Down the Line 3.5/5 (LEAST FAV) Precious and Grace 3.5/5 La Grange 5/5 Sheik 5/5 (FAV) Have You Heard? 4/5

5/5 Light, funky tunes make for easy listening, with really great moments throughout. The organ wails over, and the guitar punches through the silky smooth instrumentals beautifully. The second side in particular is just exceptional. All in all, this album sounds incredibly cohesive and timeless. Green Onions 4.5/5 Rinky Dink 4.5/5 I Got a Woman 4/5 (LEAST FAV) Mo' Onions 4/5 Twist and Shout 5/5 Behave Yourself 5/5 Stranger on the Shore 5/5 Lonely Avenue 5/5 One Who Really Loves You 5/5 You Can't Sit Down 5/5 A Woman, a Lover, a Friend 5/5 Comin' Home Baby 5/5 (FAV)

4.5/5 This album is not bad at all. The first side has a consistent quality and vibe but doesn't often reach the highs expected of the King of Pop, and sounds quite dated at times. However, the second side is fantastic, with some real gems, but it still cannot lift the album to another level. Bad 4.5/5 The Way You Make Me Feel 4/5 Speed Demon 4/5 Liberian Girl 4.5/5 Just Good Friends 4/5 (LEAST FAV) Another Part of Me 4.5/5 Man in the Mirror 5/5 I Just Can't Stop Loving You 5/5 Dirty Diana 5/5 (FAV) Smooth Criminal 5/5

5/5 Cooke briskly marches us through a classic soul tracklist, with energy and character. The band is fantastic and Sam's voice is endlessly charismatic. Great, great listen. Feel It (Don't Fight It) 4.5/5 Chain Gang 4.5/5 Cupid 4.5/5 (LEAST FAV) Medley: It's All Right / For Sentimental Reasons 5/5 Twistin' The Night Away 4.5/5 Somebody Have Mercy 5/5 Bring It on Home to Me 5/5 Nothing Can Change This Love 5/5 (FAV) Having a Party 4.5/5

3/5 While often feeling just loud or rushed, the best moments on this album are when the songs are given a moment to breathe from the repetitive heavy guitars and screamed vocals, to appreciate some decent ideas and melodies. And to give it credit, the music is never afraid to get weird, even if laughably so. Suite-Pee 3.5/5 Know 3.5/5 Sugar 4.5/5 (FAV) Suggestions 3.5/5 Spiders 4.5/5 DDevil 2/5 Soil 3/5 War? 3.5/5 Mind 2/5 (LEAST FAV) Peephole 4/5 CUBErt 2/5 Darts 2.5/5 P.L.U.C.K. 2.5/5

2/5 Very inconsistent tracklist which has moments of melodic brilliance, more moments grating to the ears, and even more moments of sheer boredom. Not an enjoyable experience as a whole, with the production not great, sometimes actively bad, and White not acting as a particularly compelling lyricist at all. In fact, it's like listening to the very worst of old man Paul McCartney in the later stages of the album, with an attempted whimsicality which is just annoying for the most part. Missing Pieces 4.5/5 (FAV) Sixteen Saltines 1.5/5 (LEAST FAV) Freedom At 21 3/5 Love Interruption 4.5/5 Blunderbuss 3.5/5 Hypocritical Kiss 3/5 Weep Themselves To Sleep 2/5 I'm Shakin' 2.5/5 Trash Tongue Talker 2/5 Hip (Eponymous) Poor Boy 2/5 I Guess I Should Go To Sleep 1.5/5 On And On And On 4/5 Take Me With You When You Go 3/5

5/5 The album begins patiently with the massive, fantastic Shine On You Crazy Diamond. Part 1 is so atmospheric and beautiful, drawing you in. Then those four notes introduce part 2, and the song is truly underway and grooving. Already two lengthy Gilmour solos in and you want more. Wright shows his feel on Part 3, with the simplest but most elegant of synth solos, before Gilmour decides, guess what, it's time for a guitar solo. And who could blame him? It sounds great. Then the vocals come in so smooth and full of life, complimented beautifully by guitar licks. As Waters does so well, the lyrics say so much with short, simple wordplay. Part 4 is just a couple of minutes but impacts so hard. Then Part 5 runs away with this energy, with the guitar arpeggios and two fantastic sax solos, before Shine On fades away, never to be seen again (until 20 minutes later). Suddenly Welcome To The Machine is playing and slapping hard, with the repetitive synth. So many sounds come together behind Gilmour to create a world of anxiety and disorder. Guitars lead the way but the synths cut through to give the track a disorientating, uncertain tone, which I just love. The vocals and lyrics are fantastic, but with Pink Floyd at this time that is almost a given. The synth solo that closes the track is so evil and sinister it rips right through you. Suddenly it cuts out, and we hear a party, really adding to the world this whole album as an experience creates. Turn over. Oh shit we're really grooving now. But still the synth cuts through beautifully and perhaps troublingly. Harper is just fantastic, and really puts down the humour of the song so well. Another great guitar solo pulls us away. I can't really describe the feeling I get when I hear the little radio sound effect at the start of Wish You Were Here. Just a comforting, exciting, sad feeling. Each element of this song is perfect. I could say why but that would take me a lot longer than the 5 minute runtime. Just legendary. Whistling winds. We're back where we started, and so quickly too. Part 6 makes me feel sad and angry, it's full of emotion, and I never want it to end, with the pulsating bass and attacking guitars supported by the magnificent synth additions. It goes from musically calm to screaming in not much time at all. Then part 7, and Waters' brilliance is once again showcased, for the album to really come full circle. Those addictive guitar arpeggios kick in before a funky section for part 8. It feels like a victory lap at this point, and it sounds amazing. Wright's fingertips are all over it and the majestic part 9, which is just beautiful. Finishing with a final flourish full of colour and life. While a lot of this album feels negative and set in the past, this final section is full of hope for me. In summary, this album feels like it could be twice as long, and that's why it's the perfect length. Each track, each section, leaves you wanting more, wanting to dive back to the start, and yet you must continue on the ride because they are so much more together. Much like the members of Pink Floyd. Waters' lyricism, Gilmour's musicianship and Wright's creativity come together, I think, the most balanced and the best of the band's catalogue on this album. Shoutout to Mason as well for doing exactly what he should throughout, giving it just what it needed for percussion. Shine On You Crazy Diamond, Pts 1-5 5/5 Welcome To The Machine 5/5 Have A Cigar 5/5 (LEAST FAV) Wish You Were Here 5/5 (FAV) Shine On You Crazy Diamond, Pts 6-9 5/5

5/5 Amazing grooves with brilliant vocals and lyrics. Just an almost flawless album, which just happens to be fantastically enjoyable. Marcus Garvey 5/5 (FAV) Slavery Days 5/5 The Invasion 5/5 Live Good 5/5 Give Me 5/5 Old Marcus Garvey 5/5 Tradition 5/5 (LEAST FAV) Jordan River 5/5 Red, Gold And Green 5/5 Resting Place 5/5

4/5 A remarkably consistent hard rock album. Consistently great, that is. Not much on here to blow your mind but an enjoyable listen for sure. Back In the Saddle 4/5 Last Child 5/5 Rats In The Cellar 4/5 Combination 4.5/5 Sick As A Dog 4.5/5 Nobody's Fault 4/5 Get The Lead Out 3.5/5 Lick And A Promise 3/5 (LEAST FAV) Home Tonight 5/5 (FAV)

3.5/5 With fairly weak lyricism/vocal performances, this Young album is not amazing, but it's still a pretty enjoyable listen. There are some interesting melodies in the instrumentals but they can feel quite stale, safe and boring at times, going on too long also. There aren't any stinkers in the tracklist on a positive note, but that's probably not enough to bring me back. Cinnamon Girl 3.5/5 Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere 4/5 Round & Round (It Won't be Long) 3.5/5 Down by the River 4/5 (FAV) The Losing End (When You're On) 3.5/5 (LEAST FAV) Running Dry (Requiem for the Rockets) 3.5/5 Cowgirl in the Sand 3.5/5

2.5/5 I find the vocals annoying, and the instrumentals are quite uninteresting. Some sections are great, but they are so surrounded by repetitive mediocrity they cannot be really enjoyed. It's never good when I don't feel like the music is going anywhere, and that's a common feeling while listening. Real struggle getting through this album. In The Flowers 2.5/5 My Girls 2/5 Also Frightened 3/5 Summertime Clothes 2.5/5 Daily Routine 2/5 Bluish 4/5 Guys Eyes 2.5/5 Taste 2/5 Lion in a Coma 1.5/5 (LEAST FAV) No More Runnin 4/5 (FAV) Brother Sport 2/5

4.5/5 Nicely varied, really enjoyable album. The second side is amazingly good. The Cisco Kid 2.5/5 (LEAST FAV) Where Was You At 5/5 City, Country, City 4/5 Four Cornered Room 5/5 (FAV) The World Is A Ghetto 5/5 Beetles In The Bog 4.5/5

3.5/5 Some jams on here but it is longer than it should be. If you make a sick beat, you don't have to play it for more than 5 minutes with little to no variation. Repetitive, with the same drums over and over again. It is 1997 and there are definite Daft Punk Homework vibes in the approach and execution of this album. That is also partially a compliment in the freshness of some of these songs which I will return to. Railing 3.5/5 Brown Paper Bag 2.5/5 New Forms 4/5 Let's Get It On 3.5/5 Digital 4.5/5 Matter Of Fact 2.5/5 Mad Cat 2/5 (LEAST FAV) Heroes 2.5/5 Share The Fall 3/5 Watching Windows 5/5 (FAV) Beatbox 3.5/5 Morse Code 4/5 Destination 3.5/5

5/5 This album gets off to a real flyer with the absolutely amazing Black Cow, which is lyrically, vocally and instrumentally brilliant. It's structured beautifully, with such an infectious quality that draws you in straight away, and keeps you there. Then Aja, which is at its core so delicate and smooth, yet is unsettled, continually moving forward dramatically and fantastically. Deacon Blues is so inviting and clever, and goes by so fast, closing the first half with elegance. Then the funk kicks in on Peg, a song with groove and glamour. Home at Last feels like a jazz-reggae fusion sent down directly from heaven. So, so good. It's bright and full of life. It would be a favourite on almost any other album. Then I Got The News is fun and groovy, before the experience finishes with Josie. The guitars cut through the song so well, melding with the great bass work. Once again, just a breathtaking track that deserves so much praise. All in all, this is 40 minutes of brilliant songwriting and musical performances that I can't wait to revisit. Black Cow 5/5 (FAV) Aja 5/5 Deacon Blues 5/5 Peg 5/5 Home At Last 5/5 I Got The News 4.5/5 (LEAST FAV) Josie 5/5

4.5/5 Makeba's exceptional voice transcends language and culture in a both beautifully sweet and fantastically powerful performance. If only the quality stretched to the very end of the record, then the album would be something special. Charles Colman's bizarre, goofy laughing feature is something I won't be able to get out of my head any time soon though. The Retreat Song 5/5 Suliram 5/5 The Click Song 5/5 (FAV) Umhome 4/5 Holilili 4/5 Lakutshon' Ilanga 5/5 Mbube 4.5/5 The Naughty Little Flea 5/5 Where Does It Lead 5/5 Nomeva 4/5 House of the Rising Sun 4/5 Saduva 3/5 One More Dance 2/5 (LEAST FAV) Iya Guduza 3/5

3.5/5 Some really enjoyable punk rock, easily digestible, and flowing well throughout. There are truly great moments, but most of the album is just good. Janie Jones 4.5/5 Remote Control 3/5 I'm so Bored with the U.S.A. 4.5/5 White Riot 3/5 Hate & War 3.5/5 What's My Name 4.5/5 Deny 3.5/5 London's Burning 3.5/5 Career Opportunities 3/5 Cheat 3.5/5 Protex Blue 3/5 Police & Thieves 5/5 (FAV) 48 Hours 2.5/5 (LEAST FAV) Garageland 3/5

5/5 Kid A begins with the cold, dark, massive Everything In Its Right Place. Such a unique, special kind of song. Then the title track is so comforting and elegant, beautifully built up, with the soft piano and synths akin only to prime C418. The National Anthem starts strong, with that iconic bassline, and a particularly creepy atmosphere. The density of instruments in the middle section sounds great. How to Disappear Completely is simply gentle and beautiful, then the outro is just brilliant. Treefingers has an otherworldly feeling, as it drifts slowly to Optimistic. This one is, as much as I love the simplicity and ambiguity of earlier tracks, lyrically fantastic and has a great groove. In Limbo is less interesting than a lot of other songs but it has a certain charm. Idioteque is something different though. The beat slaps and the song keeps moving and changing for better. Then Morning Bell is melodically and instrumentally one of the strongest moments on the album. I love the chord changes on the keyboard, it just sounds so good. Before you know it, the organ kicks in to mark the end of the journey. Motion Picture Soundtrack is so full and huge, and is a great closer with its massive arrangement. Untitled is a fun little bonus, bringing a more uplifting feeling to the whole thing. All in all, this album is amazingly varied and feels truly unique. Everything In Its Right Place 5/5 (FAV) Kid A 5/5 The National Anthem 5/5 How to Disappear Completely 5/5 Treefingers 3.5/5 (LEAST FAV) Optimistic 5/5 In Limbo 4/5 Idioteque 5/5 Morning Bell 5/5 Motion Picture Soundtrack 5/5 Untitled 4.5/5

5/5 The music seems to be simply a vessel to take on Mitchell's poetry on the opener Coyote, like much of Dylan. But it is great writing. Amelia is more melodic, and so beautifully constructed. Then Furry Sings the Blues is a pleasant and evocative if not groundbreaking tune. A Strange Boy is pretty similarly good too, and after that the title track is really packed full of emotion. Such a good tune. Song for Sharon is an amazing groove, and Mitchell's performance is fantastic. It's actually just one of the best things I've ever heard. Black Crow is such a welcome change of pace, full of life and energy. It's a brilliant track before Blue Motel Room is a relaxing, laid-back love song. The closer is great to wrap up the whole concept of travelling and feeling unsettled. In summary, Mitchell proves that she is one of the greatest lyricists and vocalists of all time. The high points are so good, and these exceptional peaks are scattered across the album, which has a cohesive, consistent feel. Coyote 4/5 Amelia 5/5 Furry Sings the Blues 4/5 A Strange Boy 3.5/5 (LEAST FAV) Hejira 5/5 Song for Sharon 5/5 (FAV) Black Crow 5/5 Blue Motel Room 4.5/5 Refuge of the Roads 4/5

4.5/5 This album is hard-hitting, funky and well-written. A great listen with some incredible standout tracks. Satanic Reverses 3.5/5 Famous And Dandy (Like Amos 'N' Andy) 4.5/5 Television The Drug Of The Nation 4.5/5 Language Of Violence 5/5 The Winter Of The Long Hot Summer 4/5 Hypocrisy Is The Greatest Luxury 4/5 Everyday Life Has Become A Health Risk 3.5/5 (LEAST FAV) Socio-Genetic Experiment 5/5 Music And Politics 4.5/5 Financial Leprosy 4/5 California Uber Alles 5/5 Water Pistol Man 5/5 (FAV)

4.5/5 Loud. Passionate. Melodic. Excellent. This album beats a lot of other hard rock due to its vulnerability and variation. Irresponsible Hate Anthem 4/5 The Beautiful People 5/5 Dried Up, Tied And Dead To The World 5/5 (FAV) Tourniquet 3.5/5 Little Horn 2.5/5 (LEAST FAV) Cryptorchid 4.5/5 Deformography 4.5/5 Wormboy 3.5/5 Mister Superstar 4.5/5 Angel With The Scabbed Wings 5/5 Kinderfeld 4.5/5 Antichrist Superstar 5/5 1996 4/5 Minute Of Decay 5/5 The Reflecting God 4/5 Man That You Fear 5/5

4/5 Great metal album. Some weak choruses and inconsistency in the tracklist stop it going higher. Rapid Fire 2.5/5 (LEAST FAV) Metal Gods 4.5/5 Breaking the Law 5/5 Grinder 5/5 United 2.5/5 You Don't Have to Be Old to Be Wise 4.5/5 Living After Midnight 3.5/5 The Rage 5/5 (FAV) Steeler 3.5/5

3.5/5 Cave's poetic writing and wistful singing create an intriguing listen, but ultimately the quality is lacking on many of these tracks. It's good, but a bit boring. The peaks are truly exceptional though, and we mustn't forget the colour of her hair was black. Into My Arms 5/5 Lime Tree Arbour 3.5/5 People Ain't No Good 3/5 Brompton Oratory 3.5/5 There Is a Kingdom 3/5 (Are You) the One That I've Been Waiting For? 3/5 Where Do We Go Now But Nowhere? 3/5 West Country Girl 4/5 Black Hair 2.5/5 (LEAST FAV) Idiot Prayer 5/5 Far from Me 5/5 (FAV) Green Eyes 2.5/5

5/5 This is fun and funky, with such an iconic, unbeatable sound. The beats are so clean and banging, and the change-ups incorporating samples are so good. The lyrics are great, and every line flows through the beat. Dre carries himself so well on the mic, and Snoop is absolutely on another level. Daz dips in to support and RBX has an outstanding feature. Then Nate Dogg comes in and it becomes really hard to stress just how good the features are on this. The Lady of Rage, Kurupt, Bushwick Bill, to name just a few who have some time to shine. Even the skits fit perfectly. Banger after banger until it's impossible to deny this is one of the best albums ever. Fuck Wit Dre Day (And Everybody's Celebrating) 4.5/5 Let Me Ride 5/5 The Day The Niggaz Took Over 5/5 (FAV) Nuthin' But A "G" Thang 5/5 Deeez Nuuuts 5/5 Lil' Ghetto Boy 5/5 A Nigga Witta Gun 5/5 Rat-Tat-Tat-Tat 5/5 Lyrical Gangbang 5/5 High Powered 4/5 (LEAST FAV) Stranded On Death Row 5/5 Bitches Ain't Shit 4.5/5

4.5/5 Just great song after great song. It makes for an amazing album. Message In A Bottle 4.5/5 Reggatta De Blanc 4.5/5 It's Alright For You 4/5 (LEAST FAV) Bring On The Night 4.5/5 Deathwish 4/5 Walking On The Moon 4.5/5 On Any Other Day 4.5/5 The Bed's Too Big Without You 5/5 (FAV) Contact 5/5 Does Everyone Stare 4.5/5 No Time This Time 4.5/5

4/5 Weird, old, psychedelic, foreign music. It slaps. The back stretch is so strong. Even the weaker moments are just striking and confusing and definitely not boring. And the stronger moments are so intriguing and full of life. Panis Et Circenses 3.5/5 A Minha Menina 4/5 O Relógio 3.5/5 Adeus Maria Fulô 2.5/5 Baby 3.5/5 Senhor F 3.5/5 Bat Macumba 2/5 (LEAST FAV) Le Premier Bonheur Du Jour 5/5 Trem Fantasma 5/5 (FAV) Tempo No Tempo 4.5/5 Ave Gengis Khan 4.5/5

4.5/5 Planet Claire opens this album with a funky, mysterious feel. Then 52 Girls is a fun, slightly goofy groove, before Dance This Mess Around is just a brilliantly crafted track. The vocals from Cindy are exceptional, and the playful back and forth is so cool. The bassline for Rock Lobster is fantastic, and Fred's vocals and lyrics fit perfectly. I love the weirdness of the whole experience so far. Lava is a more straightforward banger with not much else to say. There's A Moon In The Sky is a bit funkier and more interesting, with a great outro. Then Hero Worship is again a rocker which hits the spot. 6060-842 is a fun little song and finally Downtown feels like a bit of filler to be honest. Not unpleasant at all but just goes on too long. Planet Claire 5/5 52 Girls 4.5/5 Dance This Mess Around 5/5 (FAV) Rock Lobster 4.5/5 Lava 3.5/5 There's A Moon In The Sky (Called The Moon) 5/5 Hero Worship 4.5/5 6060-842 (6060 842) 4.5/5 Downtown 3/5 (LEAST FAV)

4.5/5 Fantastically enjoyable album with instrumentals made for dancing, and smooth vocals on top. The brass sections in particular are great, and the closer Siembra ends the experience brilliantly. Perhaps the enjoyability of the album is not much more than the sum of its tracks however, with not a lot of variation. Plástico 4/5 (LEAST FAV) Buscando Guayaba 4.5/5 Pedro Navaja 5/5 María Lionza 5/5 Ojos 4.5/5 Dime 4.5/5 Siembra 5/5 (FAV)

3.5/5 Some jams on this album. It might be one dimensional but it does one thing well. Lewis has great energy. Mean Woman Blues 3.5/5 High School Confidential 3/5 Money 4/5 (FAV) Matchbox 3.5/5 What'd I Say, Part 1 4/5 What'd I Say, Part 2 3.5/5 Great Balls Of Fire 4/5 Good Golly, Miss Molly 4/5 Lewis' Boogie 3.5/5 Your Cheating Heart 2.5/5 (LEAST FAV) Hound Dog 4/5 Long, Tall Sally 3.5/5 Whole Lotta Shakin' Goin' On 3/5

2.5/5 At first glance it seems like a collection of unexciting songs, slow and monotone. It's often difficult to know when one song has ended and another begun. What a repetitive, boring, snoozefest. However, it isn't all stinkers, and the experience improves immeasurably on the second side. In summary, meh. Night Life 2.5/5 Lonely Street 2/5 The Wild Side of Life 2.5/5 Sittin' and Thinkin' 2/5 The Twenty-Fourth Hour 2/5 (LEAST FAV) A Girl in the Night 2/5 Pride 2.5/5 There's No Fool Like a Young Fool 3.5/5 If She Could See Me Now 3/5 Bright Lights and Blonde Haired Women 5/5 (FAV) Are You Sure 4.5/5 Let Me Talk to You 3.5/5

5/5 Bad Company begins solidly with the simple yet effective rocker Can't Get Enough, before the funkier Rock Steady comes in. Then Ready for Love is such a beautiful rock ballad, with the instrumental moving brilliantly from lush in the fantastic verses, to sparse in the bare bones chorus. I love the piano in the instrumental break. The timeless Don't Let Me Down finishes an exceptional first side, with some breathtaking solos. It brings a welcome freshness to the centre of the recording. Next, it's Bad Company, the song so nice they named it thrice. A great storytelling tune, with an amazing chorus. The Way I Choose is a slower track with great guitar work, and the brass parts support capably. We're moving on to Movin' On, a bright, energetic number, with fantastic vocals, before Seagull finishes us off. The verses are a bit stilted, but the chorus is solid. Overall, this album is a great example of getting the most out of the ideas you have. It's short and sweet with eight great songs and no filler. Many elements can be described as basic or simple, but they work so well. Can't Get Enough 5/5 Rock Steady 4.5/5 Ready for Love 5/5 Don't Let Me Down 5/5 (FAV) Bad Company 5/5 The Way I Choose 4.5/5 Movin' On 5/5 Seagull 3.5/5 (LEAST FAV)

4.5/5 I love the beautiful, atmospheric synth intro before Jump begins. Then the synths themselves slap hard and the pre-chorus is a thing of beauty. The instrumental break is fantastic and it has a such a fun, optimistic vibe. Panama's intro is so great, and the song holds together well, helped mainly by the breakdown, though the pre-chorus is weak. Top Jimmy has an infectious repeated motif, which has such an engaging quality, even if the rest of the song is fairly basic. Drop Dead Legs is a straight banger, simple as. Then Hot for Teacher, with its iconic messy intro leading into a La Grange-eque tune, doesn't really slap that hard for me. The synths come back for I'll Wait, and with a bang. The unrelenting synth pulse is awesome. It sounds like Jump's cooler, edgier, older cousin. Girl Gone Bad has such a massive opening, but the vocals aren't great, and the song doesn't develop very well at all until the spoken word section amongst the heavy guitar, when it sounds nice. House of Pain has an amazing hard rock riff, and is a great finish to the album, and of course a complete departure from the light synth start of 1984/Jump. Overall, I love this album, despite a few inconsistencies. Jump 5/5 Panama 4.5/5 Top Jimmy 5/5 Drop Dead Legs 5/5 Hot for Teacher 3/5 I'll Wait 5/5 (FAV) Girl Gone Bad 3/5 (LEAST FAV) House of Pain 5/5

5/5 Low-key, chill, funky tunes, with surreal, simple vocals. I love it. The whole experience is fantastic, creating a unique sound of pop whilst retaining a sense of weirdness about it almost like a slower, more laid-back SMiLE. Angryman in particular is a special kind of song that is full of soul, and Sweet Like a Champion is such a sinisterly beautiful track. The A Minha Menina cover deserves a shoutout too for its great take on a classic, and a timeless feel. Punchbag 4.5/5 (LEAST FAV) Angryman 5/5 (FAV) No Trophy 5/5 Binnel Bay 5/5 Sunshine 5/5 A Minha Menina 5/5 This Town 5/5 Sweet Like a Champion 5/5 Lying in the Snow 5/5 Zia 5/5 Sky Holds the Sun 5/5

4.5/5 Fantastic songwriting and clean, polished performances make up this classic album. The high points are amazing, but perhaps too few and far between to make this a truly exceptional record. Second Hand News 4.5/5 Dreams 3.5/5 Never Going Back Again 3.5/5 (LEAST FAV) Don't Stop 5/5 Go Your Own Way 5/5 Songbird 4/5 The Chain 5/5 You Make Loving Fun 5/5 (FAV) I Don't Want to Know 4.5/5 Oh Daddy 3.5/5 Gold Dust Woman 4/5

4/5 Joan is a very talented lyricist, and her songwriting is what shines through on this album. There are some great tracks and some ok tracks. Down To Zero 3.5/5 Help Yourself 5/5 Water With The Wine 4.5/5 Love And Affection 4.5/5 Save Me 4/5 Join The Boys 2.5/5 (LEAST FAV) People 3.5/5 Somebody Who Loves You 5/5 (FAV) Like Fire 3/5 Tall In The Saddle 4.5/5

4/5 Although obviously the hits slap, as well as some other great moments, there are some passengers in the tracklist that are just ok, and too long. Overall, however, there are enough standout tracks to make this a great album. Right Here Right Now 5/5 (FAV) Rockafeller Skank 3.5/5 Fucking in Heaven 4.5/5 Gangster Trippin 3/5 Build It Up, Tear It Down 2/5 (LEAST FAV) Kalifornia 4/5 Soul Surfing 4.5/5 You're Not from Brighton 5/5 Praise You 5/5 Love Island 3.5/5 Acid 8000 3.5/5

3.5/5 Inoffensive, chill rock. It's mostly good, but it can feel quite repetitive and safe. Oh, and it's way too long. Neil is of course still a great lyricist, and his voice holds up well. Country Home 3/5 White Line 4/5 F*!#in' Up 3.5/5 Over and Over 3.5/5 Love to Burn 2.5/5 Farmer John 2/5 (LEAST FAV) Mansion on the Hill 3/5 Days That Used to Be 4.5/5 (FAV) Love and Only Love 4/5 Mother Earth (Natural Anthem) 3.5/5

4.5/5 There are some amazing tracks here. Just imagine Imagine, Jealous Guy, Oh My Love, How Do You Sleep? and How? all on the same album. But there are definitely filler songs that just are not interesting melodically. Overall the inconsistency doesn't hurt the experience too much however. Imagine 5/5 Crippled Inside 3/5 Jealous Guy 5/5 It's So Hard 4/5 I Don't Wanna Be A Soldier Mama 2/5 (LEAST FAV) Gimme Some Truth 2.5/5 Oh My Love 5/5 How Do You Sleep? 5/5 How? 5/5 (FAV) Oh Yoko! 4.5/5

4/5 Yeah, go on little crab buddy, get those claws up. Because this shit slaps. It's not very interesting or special but it's pretty great. Smack My Bitch Up 3.5/5 Breathe 5/5 (FAV) Diesel Power 4/5 Funky Shit 3.5/5 Serial Thrilla 3/5 (LEAST FAV) Mindfields 4.5/5 Narayan 4.5/5 Firestarter 3.5/5 Climbatize 4.5/5 Fuel My Fire 4/5

3/5 It's ok. Not groundbreaking, but far from terrible. Spanish Main 2/5 I Remember When 3/5 Shadows Fall 4/5 Dreaming of You 3/5 Simon Diamond 3.5/5 Goodbye 3.5/5 Waiting for the Heartaches 3/5 Skeleton Key 2.5/5 Wildfire 4.5/5 (FAV) Bad Man 2.5/5 Calendars and Clocks 2/5 (LEAST FAV)

5/5 This album feels really creative, yet also very comforting. The vocals are fantastically engaging, and the production is super tight. I love the orchestration and introduction of classical and retro elements while embracing new sounds. The parts where songs flow into each other work brilliantly as well, with the consistent themes creating a better experience. Overall, this is just an exceptional piece of music. Summer's Cauldron 4.5/5 Grass 4.5/5 The Meeting Place 5/5 That's Really Super, Supergirl 5/5 Ballet For A Rainy Day 5/5 1000 Umbrellas 4.5/5 Season Cycle 5/5 Earn Enough For Us 4/5 (LEAST FAV) Big Day 5/5 Another Satellite 5/5 (FAV) Mermaid Smiled 5/5 The Man Who Sailed Around His Soul 4.5/5 Dying 5/5 Sacrificial Bonfire 4/5

3.5/5 Screamadelica begins with the fantastic, timeless Movin' On Up and the trippy, groovy Slip Inside This House. There is another great change up quickly with the funky Don't Fight It, Feel It. Higher Than the Sun is a great three minute journey, just a really unreal feeling and then Inner Flight floats slowly and beautifully. Come Together is a slow burner, but somehow works alright as a 10 minute interlude and Loaded continues the chill, lengthy vibe, but maybe too chill. Damaged is a delicately written and performed folky number, and I'm Comin' Down succeeds as being trippy and weird, but perhaps not as being very good. I don't have many positive things to say about the first part of Higher Than the Sun (A Dub Symphony in Two Parts), if at all. Somehow both boring and annoying. Then the second part is alright, but just a bit empty, maybe needing vocals. Finally Shine Like Stars finishes us off with a decent ballad. This album is varied, with some fantastic songs, but ultimately front-loaded (no pun intended) and a bit long. Movin' on Up 5/5 (FAV) Slip Inside This House 5/5 Don't Fight It, Feel It 4.5/5 Higher Than the Sun 5/5 Inner Flight 4.5/5 Come Together 3.5/5 Loaded 3.5/5 Damaged 3.5/5 I'm Comin' Down 2.5/5 Higher Than the Sun (A Dub Symphony in Two Parts) 2/5 (LEAST FAV) Shine Like Stars 4.5/5

4/5 MJ Cole is clearly a talented producer, and beats like Tired Games, Crazy Love, Sanctuary and Slum King show his skill, but the songwriting and performances can be limited, and there is a shortage of memorable tracks. A lot of this album is, yeah it's great for sure, but definitely not exceptional. Elisabeth Troy and Danny Vicious are neither particularly good or bad additions to the ensemble, but Guy S'Mone makes You're Mine a fantastic track, and Free My Mind a great closer, and Concept Noir are brilliant on Rough Out Here. Shout out to Strung Out as well, an amazingly chill instrumental. Introduction 4/5 Tired Games 4.5/5 Attitude 3/5 (LEAST FAV) Bandelero Desperado 3/5 MJ FM Interlude 4/5 Crazy Love 4.5/5 You're Mine 5/5 Sanctuary 4.5/5 I See 3.5/5 Sincere (Re-Cue'd) 3/5 Strung Out 5/5 Rough Out Here 5/5 (FAV) Slum King 4.5/5 Hold On To Me 3.5/5 Free My Mind 4.5/5

4/5 Queen II flows effortlessly between bangers and ballads, with great vocals, songwriting and instrumental performances. There's some misses, but overall it's pretty cohesive and enjoyable. Procession 4/5 Father To Son 5/5 White Queen (As It Began) 5/5 (FAV) Some Day One Day 4.5/5 The Loser In The End 3/5 Ogre Battle 2.5/5 (LEAST FAV) The Fairy Feller's Master-Stroke 4/5 Nevermore 4/5 The March Of The Black Queen 5/5 Funny How Love Is 4.5/5 Seven Seas Of Rhye 5/5

5/5 Consistently memorable riffs, great change ups and a solid sound produce an amazing album. The rawness and realness is refreshing, as well as the shortness and simplicity. Betray 4.5/5 It Follows 4.5/5 Think Again 4.5/5 Look Back & Laugh 4.5/5 Sob Story 5/5 (FAV) No Reason 5/5 Little Friend 5/5 Out Of Step 4.5/5 (LEAST FAV) Cashing In 5/5

3.5/5 I don't think there's enough exciting riffs or moments on most of this album to make it great, but merely decent. Unfortunately it's a bit of a muddle, with the exception of a couple of outstanding tracks, which bumps up the overall experience. Love Song 3.5/5 Machine Gun Etiquette 3/5 I Just Can't Be Happy Today 5/5 Melody Lee 3/5 Anti-Pope 3/5 These Hands 2/5 (LEAST FAV) Plan 9 Channel 7 5/5 (FAV) Noise, Noise, Noise 3.5/5 Looking at You 3.5/5 Liar 2/5 Smash It Up - Pts. 1 & 2 4/5

5/5 Dusty's graceful vocals float above fantastic, lush production. Such a relaxing, enjoyable experience. The ballads are touching and emotional, but the odd moment like on Don't Forget About Me can go hard as well. Overall, one of the tightest, best albums of the 60s. Just A Little Lovin' 4.5/5 (LEAST FAV) So Much Love 5/5 Son Of A Preacher Man 5/5 I Don't Want To Hear It Anymore 5/5 (FAV) Don't Forget About Me 5/5 Breakfast In Bed 5/5 Just One More Smile 5/5 The Windmills Of Your Mind 5/5 In The Land Of Make Believe 5/5 No Easy Way Down 5/5 I Can't Make It Alone 5/5

3/5 Only By The Night sounds great from the beginning, with fantastic guitar playing. However, maybe the lyrics and vocals are lacking a bit, and as the album progresses, there are not really any new sounds or exciting ideas and it becomes stale. I Want You in particular is exceptionally boring. Cold Desert as a finish pulls it back well though. Closer 4.5/5 Crawl 3.5/5 Sex on Fire 3.5/5 Use Somebody 3.5/5 Manhattan 2.5/5 Revelry 4.5/5 17 2.5/5 Notion 3/5 I Want You 2/5 (LEAST FAV) Be Somebody 3/5 Cold Desert 4.5/5 (FAV)

5/5 Kind Of Blue begins brilliantly with the beautiful, low-key, melodic So What, but of course these adjectives apply to the rest of the album as well. The solos are pretty strong on the track, particularly John Coltrane's, but the main theme stands above. Freddie Freeloader is a bit more upbeat, and the way the piano, bass and drums fuse and intertwine gives such a pleasurable sound. Miles Davis's solo shines strongest here. The first side concludes with Blue in Green, perhaps the most melancholic song. The trumpet cries out so sadly and powerfully, and the piano is played with such skill and emotion by Bill Evans. The beginning of the second side has a bit of energy injected with All Blues. A simple, danceable tune which once again is dominated by the incomparable Davis, and then the saxophones work their own magic. Flamenco Sketches firmly brings us back to the blue world. Coltrane and Cannonball Adderley lead the way here with amazing working around the scales, which move so satisfyingly. It is perhaps fitting that Davis himself closes the album with an understated, wistful solo. I would say this is the best jazz I have heard up t this point. The modal improvisational format works wonders. Love this album. So What 4.5/5 (LEAST FAV) Freddie Freeloader 5/5 Blue in Green 5/5 (FAV) All Blues 5/5 Flamenco Sketches 5/5

5/5 Aggressive, fantastically layered synths begin the album with a bang on Zero, before the choppy dancefloor hit Heads Will Roll goes hard. The guitar parts compliment the lighter synth brilliantly. Soft Shock has a quite delicate, elegant quality and Karen O's vocals slip between the punchy synth so well. The simple slightly cryptical lyrics are so alluring. The atmospheric, slower Skeletons is a welcome change up, followed by the alternative rock banger Dull Life. The verses are exceptional to the ear, and the change ups are great, as the song progresses in such a satisfying manner. Shame And Fortune has a great attitude and way, like a prime Radiohead song. Night and day with the beginning of the following Runaway, but it builds that same dense synth-guitar sound in, which is just amazing, especially coupled with the orchestration. How can you follow it? Well it was an inspired choice with the funky, quirky Dragon Queen. Love it to death. Hysteric might be a more straightforward alternative rock song but it has such a simple beauty, and then to finish Little Shadow's melancholic, bold tone is a welcome reward for 40 minutes of your time. All in all, it's hard to tell on first listen, but this might settle in as one of my favourite albums of the 2000s. Just banger after banger after banger. Very hard to pick a best track. Zero 5/5 Heads Will Roll 5/5 Soft Shock 5/5 Skeletons 4.5/5 (LEAST FAV) Dull Life 5/5 Shame And Fortune 5/5 Runaway 5/5 (FAV) Dragon Queen 5/5 Hysteric 5/5 Little Shadow 5/5

4/5 Gasoline Dreams has quite an annoying quality to it, but thankfully it is immediately followed by the big singles So Fresh, So Clean and Ms. Jackson, the first of which is so smooth, well-produced and well structured. Then of course Ms. Jackson with its weird reverse sounds and amazing hook bangs. It becomes clear Big Boi and Andre are two exceptional rappers who are at the peak of their powers. Then somehow we're plunged back into shit with Snappin' & Trappin'. It's like a joke song, so goofy and awkward. Then 180, another class banger in Spaghetti Junction, followed by the funky, enjoyable I'll Call B4 I Cum. What is going on? The beginning of this album is less consistent than my sleep schedule. The incomparable Bombs Over Baghdad is next, and the urgency, the chaotic energy is so enticing. Just a brilliantly structured track. Xplosion is great, We Luv Deez Hoez is good, and Humble Mumble is fantastic, boring, and annoying at different moments in its 5 minutes. ? is mostly just annoying though for its whole minute. Red Velvet is intriguing, but doesn't really deliver, and Gangsta Sh*t is not very good. I wanted more Cruisin' In The ATL tbh. Toilet Tisha is an exceptional song, and I love the storytelling and the production in equal amounts. Absolute gem hidden in the back end. Slum Beautiful is alright, if not very memorable and then Stankonia (Stanklove) to finish is a slow, massive number which works well as a closer. In conclusion, this album has incredible highs and a few low lows. The interludes are fine, and the rapping and production are uniquely brilliant at times. I do think a scalpel is needed to remove the garbage, and create something exceptional. Gasoline Dreams 2/5 So Fresh, So Clean 5/5 Ms. Jackson 5/5 (FAV) Snappin' & Trappin' 1.5/5 (LEAST FAV) Spaghetti Junction 5/5 I'll Call B4 I Cum 4.5/5 B.O.B. - Bombs Over Baghdad 5/5 Xplosion 4/5 We Luv Deez Hoez 3.5/5 Humble Mumble 3/5 ? 2/5 Red Velvet 4/5 Gangsta Sh*t 2.5/5 Toilet Tisha 5/5 Slum Beautiful 3/5 Stankonia (Stanklove) 4.5/5

4/5 Beck's genre-bending, ever-changing sounds and styles over the course of this cohesive if inconsistent album are definitely enjoyable to experience on first listen. It's not too awe-inspiring though, and there are some meh moments. E-Pro 4.5/5 Que' Onda Guero 4.5/5 Girl 5/5 Missing 2.5/5 Black Tambourine 3/5 Earthquake Weather 4/5 Hell Yes 3.5/5 Broken Drum 3.5/5 Scarecrow 5/5 (FAV) Go It Alone 5/5 Farewell Ride 2.5/5 (LEAST FAV) Rental Car 3.5/5 Emergency Exit 3.5/5

3/5 There's some amazing alternative rock tracks with a timeless quality on this album. The way the vocals wildly ramble over the great instrumentals is so enjoyable. Hersh is clearly incredibly talented. Vicky's Box stands out with its vicious, unrelenting intensity, but unfortunately acts in stark contrast to the whimsical, half-arsed period which begins halfway through Rabbits Dying and stretches into the second side. Not a big fan of how much the quality drops, in the instrumentals mainly. Call Me 5/5 Green 4.5/5 Hate My Way 5/5 (FAV) Vicky's Box 5/5 Rabbits Dying 3/5 America (She Can't Say No) 2.5/5 Fear 1.5/5 (LEAST FAV) Stand Up 3/5 Soul Soldier 3.5/5 Delicate Cutters 2.5/5

4/5 Paul gives us some great songs here, full of life and character. Diamonds on the Soles of Her Shoes stands out with an amazing, groovy instrumental, fantastic vocals, and pointed lyricism, but the whole album is cohesive and easy on the ears. The Boy In the Bubble 3.5/5 Graceland 4/5 I Know What I Know 4.5/5 Gumboots 4/5 Diamonds on the Soles of Her Shoes 5/5 (FAV) You Can Call Me Al 4.5/5 Under African Skies 3.5/5 Homeless 4/5 Crazy Love, Vol.II 3.5/5 That Was Your Mother 2.5/5 (LEAST FAV) All Around the World or the Myth of Fingerprints 5/5

5/5 Classic but timeless hip hop, which can be smooth and grooving as well as dark and atmospheric. GZA shows why he is one of the greatest rappers of all time by spitting an unreal number of exceptional verses over cold, simple beats courtesy of the RZA. Oh yeah, and the incredible likes of Masta Killa, Inspectah Deck, Ol' Dirty Bastard, Method Man, Ghostface Killah, Killah Priest, U-God and Raekwon show up and smash it too. The Wu-Tang Clan is undoubtedly the greatest hip-hop group of all time. The clips and the skit add so much character, and even the cover art is an all-timer. 4th Chamber / Shadowboxin' is probably the greatest one-two punch in the tracklist of any album ever made. The B.I.B.L.E. bonus track acts as a cool epilogue, as if to say, yeah the experience is over, but there is so much more great music to come from these guys. Oh man, oh man I love this thing. Liquid Swords 5/5 Duel Of The Iron Mic 5/5 Living In The World Today 5/5 Gold 5/5 Cold World 5/5 (LEAST FAV) Labels 5/5 4th Chamber 5/5 Shadowboxin' 5/5 (FAV) Killah Hills 10304 5/5 Investigative Reports 5/5 Swordsman 5/5 I Gotcha Back 5/5 B.I.B.L.E. (Basic Instructions Before Leaving Earth) 5/5

5/5 I was prepared to enjoy this album. I was not prepared to call it a 10/10. London Calling begins with the iconic title track, a hard hitting rocker which bangs. Then Brand New Cadillac is a new take on a classic rock and roll song, which just sounds so good. Jimmy Jazz is such a surreal change-up, but a great track nonetheless. Three very different exceptionally good songs let us know that this album is not going to be one dimensional. Hateful is amazing, then another massive left turn pays off on the reggae-infused Rudie Can't Fail. Spanish Bombs is such an enjoyable listen, and the organ work supports the guitar beautifully. Then The Right Profile is a banger, and it becomes clear that track after track is just brilliant. Lost in the Supermarket is a masterpiece. Lyrically great, sonically timeless and just structured and wrapped perfectly. Suprise, suprise, Clampdown is class as well. The instrumentation is so perfectly chosen, from the muddy opening, to the organ infused second verse. The catchy hook is endlessly appealing. Concluding the incomparable first half (until you hear the second), The Guns of Brixton is as hard-hitting as it is theatrical. I love the bass work. Wrong 'Em Boyo is a ska-like, light-hearted banger, with heavy saxophone playing. Why? I don't know, but I love it. Death or Glory is a classic rock track, but great guitar work and change-ups stop it being boring or repetitive. Koka Kola is a simple, beautiful song about cocaine, before The Card Cheat is just another level, sounding magnificent, with some of the best lyrics on the album. Lover's Rock is a simple, beautiful song about sex, still introducing new, great sounds at this point in the experience, with the layered vocals. Four Horsemen is harder, with a great vocal performance from Joe Strummer on top of exceptional instrumentation. A real statement from the band. So is I'm Not Down, when Mick Jones has his own amazing performance, and the sense of optimism conveyed is quite beautiful really. At this point, it's been nearly an hour, and still not a song that is not exceptional in its own right. Revolution Rock refuses to be that track, with a simple reggae backing all that's needed for Strummer to produce something amazing as he so often does. A laid-back, passionate song. Then we reach the last stop with Train in Vain. A catchy, poppy track which flows brilliantly. In conclusion, this album is just so, so, so amazing. One of the greatest ever. London Calling 5/5 Brand New Cadillac 5/5 Jimmy Jazz 5/5 Hateful 5/5 Rudie Can't Fail 5/5 (LEAST FAV) Spanish Bombs 5/5 The Right Profile 5/5 Lost in the Supermarket 5/5 (FAV) Clampdown 5/5 The Guns of Brixton 5/5 Wrong 'Em Boyo 5/5 Death or Glory 5/5 Koka Kola 5/5 The Card Cheat 5/5 Lover's Rock 5/5 Four Horsemen 5/5 I'm Not Down 5/5 Revolution Rock 5/5 Train in Vain (Stand by Me) 5/5

4.5/5 S&M begins with the beautiful, serene intro of The Ecstasy Of Gold, followed by the The Call Of Ktulu. The build up with orchestration is fantastic, and when the guitar and drums come an amazing sound is produced. I love how the track develops and changes. Master Of Puppets is a more straightforward rocker, but I like how the audience energy is felt in the track. Also, the change up in the middle is brilliant. Of Wold And Man is an exceptional song, and the orchestration really does lift it. The theatrical, dark The Thing That Should Not Be was made for this concept, and it transitions beautifully into the straight banger Fuel. The Memory Remains is amazing, and then No Lead Clover is just a masterpiece. Just so satisfying, and such an achievement to stand up to the surrounding classic tracks. Two exceptional untypical Metallica tracks in a row, after Hero Of The Day, which is an elegant ballad lifted by the strings. Devil's Dance recognises the number of bangers we've just received, so starts slower, but is itself an amazing track. Then we reach the end of the first half with Bleeding Me, which is just an epic number, and the big horns are magnificent. Nothing Else Matters confirms that the show is still going strong, a beautiful melodic song. Until It Sleeps is exceptionally good, For Whom The Bell Tolls sounds massive, while - Human's quirky intro and strange organ are just small parts of an great song. Wherever I May Roam is orchestrated especially well, Outlaw Torn is an emotional journey, and Sad But True is a catchy banger. I enjoyed One much more within this album, before the incomparable Enter Sandman begins. The energy it has is so brilliant. Finally, Battery returns us to more straightforward, but still banging metal. Overall, this is a truly amazing live album, with an awesome concept which is fully fleshed out and pays off throughout. I love how meticulously it is planned and how delicately it flows between some songs. James Hetfield sounds fantastic. The Ecstasy Of Gold 3.5/5 (LEAST FAV) The Call Of Ktulu 4.5/5 Master Of Puppets 4.5/5 Of Wolf And Man 5/5 The Thing That Should Not Be 5/5 Fuel 5/5 The Memory Remains 5/5 No Leaf Clover 5/5 Hero Of The Day 5/5 (FAV) Devil's Dance 4.5/5 Bleeding Me 5/5 Nothing Else Matters 5/5 Until It Sleeps 5/5 For Whom The Bell Tolls 4.5/5 - Human 4.5/5 Wherever I May Roam 4.5/5 Outlaw Torn 4.5/5 Sad But True 5/5 One 3.5/5 Enter Sandman 5/5 Battery 4.5/5

4.5/5 Passionate, catchy bangers. Love the politics and the music. Bombtrack 4.5/5 Killing In the Name 4.5/5 Take the Power Back 5/5 (FAV) Settle for Nothing 3.5/5 (LEAST FAV) Bullet In the Head 4.5/5 Know Your Enemy 5/5 Wake Up 4.5/5 Fistful of Steel 5/5 Township Rebellion 3.5/5 Freedom 4.5/5

5/5 Simz's straight, passionate, killer flows permeate the fantastic varied instrumentals brilliantly. There are catchy hooks and elements of lush production foreshadowing SIMBI, but GREY Area has its own energy. From the dark Venom to the bass-driven Boss to the east Asian-video game infused 101 FM, it's simply a tight, consistent album of well-written bangers. Inflo and Simz deserve their place as one of the best rapper-producer duos of the modern era. Offence 4.5/5 Boss 5/5 (FAV) Selfish 5/5 Wounds 5/5 Venom 4.5/5 101 FM 4/5 (LEAST FAV) Pressure 4.5/5 Therapy 5/5 Sherbet Sunset 5/5 Flowers 4.5/5

5/5 To begin an album with a masterpiece of a song like I Feel the Earth Move is a luxury not many artists can enjoy. But Carol King's exceptional writing and performance on this feel-good track are not commonplace. The following track So Far Away is a tender ballad full of feeling, before It's Too Late's danceable groove slaps, the chord progressions working perfectly. Home Again shows off King's vocal chops, and is another song with amazing piano parts, whereas Beautiful is just a well written and structured song which builds and winds around brilliantly. I love the deliberate slowness of Way Over Yonder, and the vocals are just other-worldly. Amazing song. On the second side, You've Got a Friend is so beautiful and instrumentally layered so well, and the catchy, poppy Where You Lead feels fantastic. I love Will You Love Me Tomorrow? so much. The bridge is definitely a highpoint for the album. Smackwater Jack has such a great feel it honestly challenges the opener for my favourite track, and the feel of the title track's trippy electric piano is exceptional also. King's lyricism is possibly at its peak here. Finally, unfortunately, we reach the finish line with A Natural Woman, an iconic soulful tune which works brilliantly as a closer. I Feel the Earth Move 5/5 (FAV) So Far Away 4.5/5 (LEAST FAV) It's Too Late 5/5 Home Again 5/5 Beautiful 5/5 Way Over Yonder 5/5 You've Got a Friend 5/5 Where You Lead 5/5 Will You Love Me Tomorrow? 5/5 Smackwater Jack 5/5 Tapestry 5/5 (You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman 5/5

3/5 There are some top moments on this album, like the beautiful, melodic No Expectations, the disgusting banger Stray Cat Blues and the fantastic Salt Of The Earth, but overall it's fairly average, frustratingly so at times. Street Fighting Man has an amazing intro and great progression, but then the verse is a boring monotonous meh and the chorus isn't great either. Sympathy For The Devil 3/5 No Expectations 5/5 (FAV) Dear Doctor 3.5/5 Parachute Woman 4/5 Jigsaw Puzzle 3/5 Street Fighting Man 3/5 Prodigal Son 2.5/5 (LEAST FAV) Stray Cat Blues 4.5/5 Factory Girl 2.5/5 Salt Of The Earth 4.5/5

4.5/5 Whimsicality is this album's speciality. It's charming, unpretentious, and well-written. It's alright. I'd Like to Know 3.5/5 Caught by the Fuzz 4/5 Mansize Rooster 4.5/5 Alright 5/5 (FAV) Lose It 4.5/5 Lenny 4/5 Strange Ones 3.5/5 (LEAST FAV) Sitting Up Straight 5/5 She's so Loose 4.5/5 We're Not Supposed To 5/5 Time 4.5/5 Sofa (Of My Lethargy) 4/5 Time to Go 4/5

4.5/5 Just because the rhymes and flows are simple and up-front doesn't mean they don't go hard as hell. The beats have such a classic, head-banging way about them, and the little bursts of samples are amazing. This is a special album in the history of rap. The rock infusion lifts the whole thing. Peter Piper 4.5/5 It's Tricky 5/5 My Adidas 5/5 Walk This Way 5/5 Is It Live 5/5 Perfection 3/5 (LEAST FAV) Hit It Run 3.5/5 Raising Hell 4.5/5 You Be Illin' 5/5 (FAV) Dumb Girl 4/5 Proud to Be Black 5/5

3.5/5 This is a chill enjoyable listen, if not groundbreaking. I don't think I'm going to return to Don't, even if I can respect it. Freak Scene 4.5/5 No Bones 3.5/5 They Always Come 5/5 (FAV) Yeah We Know 3/5 Let It Ride 4/5 Pond Song 4/5 Budge 3.5/5 The Post 3/5 (LEAST FAV) Don't 3.5/5

5/5 Shining Star's infectious optimism and groove begins the album with a short, sweet bang, before the title track is majestically chill. Happy Feelin' is just what is says on the tin, full of positivity, with great bass work, and All About Love is a touching ballad, with a real introspective talk which I love, and a fantastic synth-filled outro. The second side starts well with Yearnin' Learnin', before the falsetto dominated Reasons slaps. The movements of Africano are really great, and then See the Light finishes us off with a heavenly number. Overall this is an amazing, consistent but varied album. Shining Star 5/5 (FAV) That's the Way of the World 5/5 Happy Feelin' 5/5 All About Love (First Impression) 4.5/5 (LEAST FAV) Yearnin' Learnin' 4.5/5 Reasons 5/5 Africano 4.5/5 See the Light 5/5

5/5 Tracy Chapman's low-key but precise vocals over delicate guitar suit her songwriting perfectly, whether telling a beautiful story or delivering a passionate message. The second side beginning with more traditional pop production actually takes a bit of her fire. However, each song is tightly structured and has its own melodic credit and vibe. It is an exceptionally good album. Talkin' Bout a Revolution 5/5 Fast Car 5/5 Across the Lines 5/5 (FAV) Behind the Wall 5/5 Baby Can I Hold You 5/5 Mountains O' Things 4.5/5 (LEAST FAV) She's Got Her Ticket 4.5/5 Why? 5/5 For My Lover 5/5 If Not Now... 5/5 For You 5/5

4.5/5 Beautiful guitar work, a clear cohesive sound which is fantastical and dreamlike, and charming, delicate vocals. This album is pretty amazing. It starts crazy strong, but the second side is definitely if not weaker then more inconsistent. I Had Too Much to Dream (Last Night) 5/5 (FAV) Bangles 5/5 Onie 5/5 Are You Lovin' Me More (But Enjoying It Less) 5/5 Train For Tomorrow 4.5/5 Sold to the Highest Bidder 3.5/5 Get Me to the World on Time 5/5 About a Quarter to Nine 4/5 The King Is in the Counting House 3.5/5 Luvin' 5/5 Try Me on for Size 5/5 The Toonerville Trolley 3/5 (LEAST FAV)

4.5/5 Joni Mitchell's raw, brilliant vocals convey her exceptional songwriting amazingly in this short, emotional journey. The light instrumentation supporting her is fantastic and the consistent quality makes this album great. All I Want 5/5 My Old Man 5/5 Little Green 5/5 (FAV) Carey 4.5/5 (LEAST FAV) Blue 4.5/5 California 5/5 This Flight 4.5/5 River 4.5/5 A Case of You 4.5/5 The Last Time I Saw Richard 4.5/5