Journey in Progress
Discovering music one album at a time
449
Albums Rated
3.7
Avg Rating
84
5-Star Albums
41%
Complete
640 albums remaining
Rating Speed
6.9
Per Week
458
Days Active
Reviews
434
Written
97%
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vs Global
0.44
Avg Diff
3.7
Avg Rating
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Taste Profile
1950s
Favorite Decade
Folk
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Generous
Rater Style
10
1-Star Albums
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Rating Style
You Love More Than Most
Albums you rated higher than global average
| Album | You | Global | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gold | 5 | 2.84 | +2.16 |
| The Gilded Palace Of Sin | 5 | 2.93 | +2.07 |
| Heartbreaker | 5 | 3.03 | +1.97 |
| Unhalfbricking | 5 | 3.14 | +1.86 |
| Listen Without Prejudice Vol. 1 | 5 | 3.17 | +1.83 |
| Miriam Makeba | 5 | 3.19 | +1.81 |
| The Boatman's Call | 5 | 3.2 | +1.8 |
| Time Out Of Mind | 5 | 3.21 | +1.79 |
| Little Earthquakes | 5 | 3.22 | +1.78 |
| Every Picture Tells A Story | 5 | 3.24 | +1.76 |
You Love Less Than Most
Albums you rated lower than global average
| Album | You | Global | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Fat Of The Land | 1 | 3.4 | -2.4 |
| The Slim Shady LP | 1 | 3.29 | -2.29 |
| System Of A Down | 1 | 3.26 | -2.26 |
| Music Has The Right To Children | 1 | 2.91 | -1.91 |
| A Grand Don't Come For Free | 1 | 2.67 | -1.67 |
| Enter The Wu-Tang (36 Chambers) | 2 | 3.61 | -1.61 |
| Licensed To Ill | 2 | 3.56 | -1.56 |
| Stankonia | 2 | 3.55 | -1.55 |
| New Forms | 1 | 2.53 | -1.53 |
| Gorillaz | 2 | 3.53 | -1.53 |
Artist Analysis
Favorite Artists
Artists with 2+ albums and high weighted score
| Artist | Albums | Avg | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bob Dylan | 4 | 5 | 4.14 |
| Jimi Hendrix | 3 | 5 | 4 |
| Stevie Wonder | 3 | 4.67 | 3.83 |
| Simon & Garfunkel | 3 | 4.67 | 3.83 |
| Black Sabbath | 3 | 4.67 | 3.83 |
| Michael Jackson | 3 | 4.67 | 3.83 |
| Ryan Adams | 2 | 5 | 3.8 |
| Pink Floyd | 2 | 5 | 3.8 |
| Iron Maiden | 2 | 5 | 3.8 |
| David Bowie | 4 | 4.25 | 3.71 |
| Sonic Youth | 3 | 4.33 | 3.67 |
| Neil Young | 3 | 4.33 | 3.67 |
| Prince | 3 | 4.33 | 3.67 |
| Bruce Springsteen | 3 | 4.33 | 3.67 |
5-Star Albums (84)
View Album Wall
Popular Reviews
Lambchop
3/5
I can't call this bad, but I can call it boring af... In fact it bored the fuck out of me.. I won't be able to have sex for an entire week because of this album
(5.75) 😴😴½
3 likes
Elvis Costello & The Attractions
3/5
I don't know what it is about Elvis Costello, but there is something that keeps me from really getting into him more than an "ok, I guess that's kinda cool" feeling. And what's weird is I feel like I should really like him. I just don't and can't put my finger on why.
This one "just ok"er than the other two I've had so far. I can admire the craft of it, but man I just don't feel it.
(6.8) ★★★
2 likes
Iron Maiden
5/5
A longtime five star album for me, as far back as high school. My only gripe with the album is I always thought sides one and two should flop. There is no reason the title track and "Run to the Hills" should not open the album.... Though, "Hallowed Be Thy Name" is a perfect closer.
2 likes
Frank Sinatra
5/5
The first time I heard it I was in Active Training for the reserves and I had checked out a library CD copy to listen to on down time (along with a hand full of other titles) but it was right before lights out and I just relaxing in my bunk listening to this on headphones and it spoke to me deep. I felt every ache and heartbreak on the tracks. His voice so warm and emotional. It was like listening to a buddy pour his heart out. It was an instant favorite of mine since. This may not be an all purpose banger, but, man, in the right senerio, you can truly understand this album and this album understands you.
(10)★★★★★
1 likes
1-Star Albums (10)
All Ratings
Supergrass
4/5
Love the hell out of it (9.5) ★★★★½
Led Zeppelin
4/5
My 7th favorite Zepp album
(8.95) ★★★★
Carole King
5/5
She has always been one of my favorite songwriters and this set is all you need to hear to see why. Just classic after classic. Warm and inviting... Solid 10 out of 10
★★★★★
Talking Heads
5/5
My absolute favorite Talking Heads album
10 ★★★★★
Radiohead
4/5
Well, after giving two listens, I will have to say this might be the best one I've heard to date. It starts of with everything thing in its right place. I actually love that opening track... BUT THEN, the title track is the same ok that's interesting, but it also feels cold and metallic. Maybe that was the feeling they were going for, if it was kudos, but it's not a feeling I look for in music. After that there are four key tracks that sold me, "The National Anthem", "Optimistic", "Morning Bell", and "Motion Picture Soundtrack"... But there are two tracks that lost in that me completely in that Radiohead experimental haze, "Treefingers" and "Idioteque". The other two main tracks I do like enough, though I can't say they neither added or detracted from my overall opinion of the album.
(8.75) ★★★★
Hüsker Dü
3/5
Big correction... I rated the wrong record... Warehouse is more in a post punk mode or even proto pop punk and was more to my liking than New Day Rising
(7.15) ★★★½
Songhoy Blues
4/5
Loved the mix of rock with native African melodies in top. I can really get into this.
(8.0)★★★★
Ice Cube
3/5
This is really not up my alley, but I get it, and I get why it's looked up to. There are some songs I did like most noatably the opening track "When Will They Shoot" and "Check Yo Self". But for the most part thus taps into thoughts an emotions I'm not exactly comfortable with. I also think that in a way it's supposed to take me there.
I may not like listening to it, but I do respect it's place in musical discourse.
(5.75) ★★½
Meat Puppets
4/5
8.3 ★★★★
Could have been higher if I liked his vocals better, but band wise I freakin loved it.
Pulp
3/5
Not a band I am particularly drawn to. This was no exception (6.5) ★★★
Garbage
4/5
An album I loved in my college years. Holds up pretty well for me today... At least the first ⅔ of it. The opening three songs really kick! Kind get a bit fillery at the end. But it closes nicely with "Milk" which has a nice James Bond theme sound, which would prove advantageous a few years later.
(8.8) ★★★★
TV On The Radio
3/5
Like with most Millennial alt, I find it kind of interesting, yet just out of my total appreciation.
(7.25) ★★★½
The Beach Boys
4/5
Though I do like this album quite a bit, I've never been sold on the GOAT reputation it has. That being said Sloop John B. is a magnificent song!
(7.75) ★★★½
The Killers
4/5
8.4 ★★★★ The first six tracks are off the hook... Then only 1 of the last five. But overall quite an enjoyable listen
Gillian Welch
4/5
Absolutely love this album
(9.5) ★★★★½
Donovan
4/5
I thought I'd like this one more... Strangely I think side 2 was the better side. Especially with both "Season of the Witch" and "Fat Angel" on that side.
(8.1) ★★★★
5/5
Oooh! I listened to this last year for the first time... It was an instant fiver!
(10) ★★★★★
Fatboy Slim
3/5
I actually like the grooves of this album but far too repetitive for it's hour long runtime. Probably could stand it more if I had some X on hand. But I still love "Praise You" like I did way back then, and really dug the surf music samples in "Soul Surfing". I also really enjoyed "Right Here. Right Now", but that was before I realized this repetitive groove thing takes up about 80% to 90% of the album.
[7.6] ★★★½ [7.6] ★★★½ [7.6] ★★★½
[7.6] ★★★½ [7.6] ★★★½ [7.6] ★★★½
[7.6] ★★★½ [7.6] ★★★½ [7.6] ★★★½
[7.6] ★★★½ [7.6] ★★★½ [7.6] ★★★½
[7.6] ★★★½ [7.6] ★★★½ [7.6] ★★★½
[7.6] ★★★½ [7.6] ★★★½ [7.6] ★★★½
[7.6] ★★★½ [7.6] ★★★½ [7.6] ★★★½
[7.6] ★★★½ [7.6] ★★★½ [7.6] ★★★½
Nitin Sawhney
3/5
I really enjoyed the way this album started off, but as the album wore on I don't know if I was feeling disconnected with the changing styles or if it was just going to far in areas that for the most part don't interest me. It is beautifully produced and I can see why some people would get something out of this. But for me after "Broken Skin", "Letting Go", "Homelands" and "Tides" nothing else quite reached me. After the first five tracks, I was aiming for a strong four, but after the Journey of the subsequent seven tracks, I'm landing on a
(2.85) ★★½
The Residents
1/5
Um... yeah.
(3.4) ★½
Muddy Waters
4/5
Fantastic live album!
(9.2) ★★★★½
Shack
4/5
Enjoyed the album, but as far as Beatlesque Brit pop goes, there were ones better and earlier than this. Not sure why this would be deemed essential.
(7.9) ★★★½
Pavement
4/5
I really liked the album, though this kind of low fi slacker rock isn't always my thing, but most of this fit right onto my taste. Especially some of the solos kinda sporadically sprinkled through out the album.
(8.5) ★★★★
Big Brother & The Holding Company
4/5
To me Janis carries the band, which to me the band gave me Jefferson Airplane vibes. In fact, I kinda feel like this album is a lesser Crown of Creation which was recorded and released about the same time. (both being Bay Area bands, there was probably some cross influence going on). The two songs where Sam Andrew takes the lead vocals are easily my least favorite songs of the set. Pretty much through the entire play... until "Ball and Chain" which is the crown jewel of this album. Not only is her vocals just on top of it, the dark distorted guitar work of Andrew absolutely kills. I think that one 9 min epic closing the album definitely lands this in 4 territory
(8.25) ★★★★
The Go-Go's
4/5
Absolute classic from my middle school years! (9.25) ★★★★½
Lupe Fiasco
2/5
Lupe Fiasco's Food and Liquor [2006]
Didn't like it all that much, seemed rather derivative to me. "Just Might Be OK" reminded me of Beyoncé's "Crazy In Love". "The Instrumental" reminded me of Linkin Park. For the most part he sounds like a protege of Jay-Z maybe with a little bit of Emenem's slower flow. I dug some of the music bed and samples, but to me this is pretty much down the line aughts hip hop to me. Again I'm not a rap guy so I ain't the person this album was aimed.
With out counting the 12min of shout outs. I should because it's actually part of the album, but I'm not. There is a reason most people walk out of the movies during the credits.
Im going with a (5.5) ★★½
Frank Black
4/5
I prefer a couple of Pixies abums to this, Doolittle and Basanova for sure. On par maybe a bit better than Surfer Rosa. Still a great album overall
(8.6) ★★★★
The Temptations
4/5
I did like side one a heck of a list getter than side two. Still liked I "Ain't Got Nothing" and the Isaac Hayes cover "Do Your Thing" off side two as well.
(8.1) ★★★★
Destiny's Child
2/5
What I liked about the album...
"Survivor", "Emotion" (sorry, I'm a sucker for a well written Gibb/Gibb song), and "Dangerously In Love".
I kinda dig the a capella harmonies on "Gospel Medley", I just wish there was more emotion behind it. It doesn't breathe.
What I hated... Pretty much everything else.
(5.3) ★★½
Donald Fagen
4/5
Donald Fagen - Nightflyer
The first two songs on each side have the makings of five star album. "I.G.Y.", "Green Flower Street", "New Frontier", and "The Nightflyer" all have the makings of the perfect follow up to "Aja" (better than *Goucho* at least)
The rest... are... I guess fine songs. "Maxine" is the best of the rest, but the Steely Dan-ing of a Drifters/Leiber&Stoller classic is comical at best.
This comes close to matching the magic of the classic six run of Dan, but not quite
(8.7) ★★★★
Roxy Music
4/5
(7.75) ★★★½
OutKast
3/5
(7.6) ★★★½
Elliott Smith
4/5
Elliott Smith - Either/OR (9.7) ⭐⭐⭐⭐½
Ian Dury
3/5
I liked the album, but I can't take it seriously one bit. It reminds me of something Eric Idol would come up with for Dirk McQuickly
(7.5) ★★★½
The Velvet Underground
4/5
Side one I loved a light 4½, but the second half lost me... Except for the closer.. I loved that one.
I'm keeping the volume unit meter at 7.75 ★★★½
King Crimson
4/5
9.5 ★★★★½
Doves
4/5
Very Coldplayish
(7.8) ★★★½
Ryan Adams
5/5
Still a classic in my book
(9.9) ★★★★½
Blur
4/5
Back in 2022, I gave this (7.5) ★★★½ on my 1997 dive.
After giving it a relisten, we'll, it is very front loaded. The first eight tracks I was like what was I thinking... 4½ easy. But from "Chinese Bombs" on it's a flat 3½. To make matters worse I truly disliked "Essex Dogs" (ending on a song I kinda hate is a good way to bomb a score)
But this time I'm going up to a light 4... It's easily the best Britpop album we've heard so far. It's not a carbon copy of other Britpop acts. It's got it's own swagger, and I like that about this album. Even if the back half falls off a bit.
Blur [1997]
(8.1) ★★★★
King Crimson
5/5
(10) ★★★★★
Travis
3/5
Well my favorite song was the hidden track "Flashing Blue Lights" the only track on this that kinds rocked it out a bit... The rest just reminded me of that kind of mopy post-Brit pop kind of in the likes of Keane (which I hope I don't jynx us and summon them up in our randomizer)
It's fine, I kinda like it, but it's a light 3½.
(7.2) ★★★½
Stevie Wonder
5/5
Absolute Stevie banger! (10) ★★★★★
Buena Vista Social Club
3/5
6.8 ★★★
It's fine well recorded, great players, but the music didn't strike me a anything out of the ordinary. Kinda by the book.
Steely Dan
5/5
Straight up fiver
(10) ★★★★★
Roni Size
1/5
Roni Size & Resprazent - New Forms (79 min)
Not as bad as I was expecting
(4.01) ★★
Roni Size & Resprazent - New Forms (full 140 min original release)
Oh God, kill me now!
(3.25) ★½
David Bowie
5/5
Bowie Banger (9.95) ★★★★½
John Mayall & The Bluesbreakers
4/5
I actually really love what EC is doing on this album. And the song more centered around the guitar really burn. But quite often when the guitar was not the main focus, it feels like a lesser British pop band.
John Mayall with Eric Clapton - Blues Breakers (8.8) ★★★★
Eagles
4/5
There are a few key track that keep this from being way up in my 4½ zone. But I also think overexposure and time has not been kind to this album. But it's still a good one
8.7 ★★★★
Pink Floyd
5/5
This is an all timer for me. And even in some of the moments that aren't my favorites the concept is so compelling that I can't help but admire it.
(9.9) ★★★★½
The Byrds
4/5
8.2 ★★★★
ABBA
2/5
I'm sorry but Abba does nothing for me as a whole. Thier music is so comically Eurovision down the line to me... Best song on the album for me was "Knowing Me Knowing You" the only other songs I actually liked were the bonus tracks (in fact I liked both of them better than "KMKY")
(5.7) ★★½
Simon & Garfunkel
5/5
Fiver... Too easy
Joni Mitchell
5/5
Magnificently beautiful album.
(10) ★★★★★
Tears For Fears
4/5
For some reason I've always held this album to a high regard but never really listen to it all that much at least not as much as *The Hurting*. And I think a lot of it has to do with the big singles definitely "Shout", my favorite, and "Head Over Heels"are just magnificent... and" Everybody Wants To Rule The World" is undeniably a perfect little pop song. But not much else draws my attention.... Side 2 itself, other than the aforementioned "Head Over Heels", seem to be more about sonic texture rather than song craft and it kinda lost me there.
High 3.5, but 4 on the app
(7.8) ★★★½
Tom Waits
4/5
If there is one thing I found Magnificent about the Tom Waits album it is the fact that it sounds so natural that it is pretty much unlike anything I associate with 1985. I absolutely adore the sonics he was going for. As for the material I'm a little less sure where I want to go as far as rating it because I enjoy it but it's not something that I would want to pull out and listen regularly. But it is rather charming in its own right. I really kind of dig a lot in the early part of the album the kind of New Orleans feel. In some ways it kind of almost made me feel like I was listening to a musical production by Tim Burton. So I imagine Danny Elfman was very inspired by this album.
I must admit I did not know that he wrote "Downtown Train" which is never been one of my favorite Rod Stewart songs. I do much prefer Tom Waits mainly because Rod Stewart at the point where he recorded it was basically making everything sound like a bland pop song where Tom Waits almost gives like this springsteen-esque delivery that gave it some urgency.
All in all it's a real solid four for me though
(8.67) ★★★★
Fleetwood Mac
5/5
My #3 all timer 10 ★★★★★
Sister Sledge
2/5
I'm going (4.8) ★★
The hit was the highlight and the closer.. The rest did nothing for me, in fact the slower songs were utter snooze-fests. Not my kind of Disco.
I don't find this album exemplary of disco... I'm not sure why its inclusion
Van Morrison
5/5
Easy (10) ★★★★★
The La's
4/5
(7.8) ★★★½
Billy Joel
5/5
(10) ★★★★★
Talking Heads
4/5
Talking Heads '77 [1977]
(9.6) ★★★★½
Elis Regina
4/5
I quite enjoyed this album. But I have no kick against soft jazz... I've been known to dig on some Bob James, Grover Washington Jr., and yes even Chuck Mangione.
(8.1) ★★★★
Amy Winehouse
3/5
(6.6) ★★★
The Smashing Pumpkins
3/5
I wanted to give it a 3 star for being so fucking long, but it's not a threefer... I could probably edit this down to a 75 min strong to high 3½ star... mostly cutting from disc 2. Disc one actually is not that bad as it is even with "Zero" still in play. Definitely woukd keep "1979", "Through The Eyes of Ruby" and the closer.
(7.1) ★★★½
Giant Sand
4/5
I actually really enjoyed this one... Musically really kept me interested. The vocals were really not to my liking, but actually worked with the feel of the music but as the album. The latter half of the album is what really sold me on it as a whole "Dirty as The Rain" stuck me as a left of center Van Zandt tune. The solo on "No Reply" just soars, but my favorite song on the album is "Satellite". It's dirty groove really pulled me in from the start
I'm starting this off at an (8.15) ★★★★ with room to grow on me.
Happy Mondays
3/5
It's fine. I thought from the opening two tracks I was really gonna like it. Not like crazy love, but dig it well enough. I did recognize "Kinky Afro" once it got to the "Yippy Yippy ya ya yay I had to crucify somebody today" I was like, oh that song.
After "God's Cop" it was pleasant enough to listen to maybe in the background but really not much to hang on to.
(6.8) ★★★
Linkin Park
2/5
Yeah, this Linkin Park album is closer to Limp Bizkit than *Meteora*. It's only saving grace is "Crawling" and the closer "Pushing Me Away" which are the closest thing to being three star songs. However, they're not. Most of this album is plain old fucking horrible. By all means, *Hybrid Theory* is worse than *Meteora*
(3.8) ★½
The Crusaders
3/5
I have a slight heart for soft jazz. I don't think any smooth jazz, quiet storm, whatever what you want to call it, ever gets above a four rating, because it never pushed any boundaries, but it's a nice enjoyable sound for me. This is definitely not one my favorites (or my favorites of the genre), but it works for what it is.
(7.3) ★★★½
I don't feel this particular album is essential. If I were to replace this with another soft jazz album it would be Chuck Mangione - Feels So Good.
My Bloody Valentine
2/5
I get it's influence, but nothing about this album was appealing. Usually that would slide me in a 2½★ direction but I really disliked the over all sound I couldn't give it any higher than a two.
(4.3) ★★
Siouxsie And The Banshees
4/5
I heard this for the first time a couple years ago whefn I did a complete album dive on Siouxsie and The Banshees, it was and probably still is my favorite album of theirs. It's dark yet melodic and it set the tone for 80s goth... Love it!
(8.9) ★★★★
Fishbone
2/5
I used to go see a band simmilar to this in Memphis in the early 90s called Freeworld. They were a lot of fun to see live. But their studio albums felt sterile and left much to be desired. I kinda feel Fishbone would be the same for me. But unlike Freeworld were it brings out incredible memories of the old 616... I just feel the sterility.
(5.3) ★★½
Hanoi Rocks
4/5
4.33 ★★★★
Cheap Trick
4/5
4.5 ★★★★
Nick Drake
4/5
9.6 ★★★★½
Just an incredible gorgeous album
The Cure
3/5
I wanted to like this so much.. Especially since it really kinda feels like a sibling album to what Siouxsie & The Banshees were doing at the time. Although there are striking elements I can point out as sounding cool (especially the guitar work), there's an overall drone to the album that didn't really doo much for me. Also Roberts perpetually whining singing which has always been a problem for me, I think work with the droning, but is not something I really care to listen to.
(6.7) ★★★
Big Star
4/5
9.33 ★★★★½
Nirvana
5/5
(9.8) ★★★★½
fIREHOSE
4/5
I really dig the college rock groove on most of the track, and over all a great listen. My only real gripe is the lack of cohesiveness amongst some of the tracks that just seem way out of place. But it always seems like right after that song it would pop back into what I really enjoy about the album. I will give it a light but solid four.
(8.3) ★★★★
Sonic Youth
5/5
First thing, I can't believe this was 1988, because it sounds so 90s alt and definitely not trapped in 80s reverb production from hell.
Music like this can really go either way with me, but very rarely does it affect me like this does.
I freaking love it. I feel like the more chaotic parts of the album add to the palate of these well crafted songs. It makes them blister, while still being accessible to my tastes. Not quite a fiver, but pretty damn near.
(9.75) ★★★★½
Madness
2/5
Other than the ubiquitous hit, "Our House", the closing the closing track, "Madness (Is All In The Mind)" , and to a lesser extent "Tiptoes", (all of which are on side 2) this album is a total slog. The fact is that side one was actually a chore to sit through. I'm keeping this in the two star range.
(4.7) ★★
Franz Ferdinand
4/5
Parts of thus album are just f'n great but about half of it is jusr merely good and solid... I'll split the difference and go
(8.2) ★★★★
Frank Sinatra
5/5
The first time I heard it I was in Active Training for the reserves and I had checked out a library CD copy to listen to on down time (along with a hand full of other titles) but it was right before lights out and I just relaxing in my bunk listening to this on headphones and it spoke to me deep. I felt every ache and heartbreak on the tracks. His voice so warm and emotional. It was like listening to a buddy pour his heart out. It was an instant favorite of mine since. This may not be an all purpose banger, but, man, in the right senerio, you can truly understand this album and this album understands you.
(10)★★★★★
The Sonics
4/5
I'm actually going to go high 4 on this the... every time I think about this album I mainly think of the originals which are off the hook good and them alone are a very high 4½. The covers are a mixed bag for me. The two that I've never heard the originals, The Wailers' "Dirty Robbers" and Richard Berry's "Have Love Will Travel", I freakin loved, but I have nothing else to skew my position. I do really dig their cover of Barrett Strong's "Money" and Nappy Brown's "Night Time is The Right Time", but there are more definitive versions of those songs. The rest of the covers I think work really well in context of the album, but on their own I probably would not seek them out. Overall this is still a very fun listen just a bit shy of a 4½...but one I will always love to play and play LOUD!
(8.8) ★★★★
Count Basie & His Orchestra
5/5
(10) ★★★★★
The Streets
1/5
I can't stand his flow, if that's even a flow. It sounds more like talking around a beat than rapping on it. The tracks come off a cheesy, obnoxious and sometime downright annoying. And most of the singing just grated on my nerves.
There are a lot of stuff I don't like that I can see the appeal. I had a hard time with this one. Even the two songs I can almost get, "Fit but You Know It" and "Dry Your Eyes", there still enough that annoys me to truly appreciate them. The rest of the album, I don't get the appeal at all.
(2.8) ★
Bee Gees
3/5
I really love the arrangements on this album. But quite honestly not their strongest batch of songs. "How Can You Mend A Broken Heart", "Isreal" and "Don't Want to Live Inside Myself" are the stand out tracks. The final two cuts "Lion in Winter" and "Walking Back to. Waterloo" I loved the progression of the song much more than I did the songs themselves.
But then there's songs like "Dearest" (definate slog) and quite frankly most of the first side that are kinda slogs. They have much better albums than this... Especially in their 60s run, and *Main Course* of course.
(7.33) ★★★½
Julian Cope
4/5
Ok... Julian Cope... I like this album a hell of a lot better than I thought I was going to. Especially after reading the comments left here yesterday. This album does really have a bad case of doublealbumitis. But unlike most bloated I know exactly what I cut and that would be exactly where the first album ends, "Drive She Said" ends side 2. The first half was looking like a light 4½ star album for me. I love the instrumentions and some of the elongated vamps that would let the guitar take over. I was actually wondering what you all were talking about. The second half is a big old mixed bag. Though I didn't dislike anything on it, and there are a handful of tracks on that I really enjoyed as well. I just didn't feel invested in the second half as much as I did the first, definitely in the 3½ star range. I think overall it feels like a very light four for the whole album. But I really did love that first half of the album.
(8.1) ★★★★
The Cure
3/5
I think I dig *Seventeen Seconds* a bit more than *Pornography* ||I know there's 17 sec watching pornography joke to be told but I won't do it here||. Mainly because I really dig post punk and its angular guitars.
That being said this does have the Cure drone that I'm not a big fan of, but doesn't bother me here as much as it did in "Pornography". Some there are several tracks I seriously enjoyed "A Forest", "At Night", "Play For Today" and the title track would make a killer Ep.
But the more goth atmospheric tracks just left me a bit cold and I didn't care for them.
(7.1) ★★★½
ABBA
2/5
Gawd! This album is awful!
I just got to "Two For The Price of One" and it has to be the absolute worst Abba song I've ever heard!
(4.6) ★★
And that's my final offer
The Beta Band
3/5
A couple songs I really liked... Strangely enough it was the two singles (atw). The first half of the album I kinda liked, second half was ok. Over all. It's an album. It has music. Some actually work... But I think I'd ve better off throwing those single on a playlist and forgoing the rest.
(6.7) ★★★
Sly & The Family Stone
5/5
10 ★★★★★
Jane's Addiction
4/5
The first half of *Ritual Lo Habitual* is good... If the second half followed suit, probably a moderate to sting 3½.
But the second side is Sofa King good! I gonna slide this as an ultra high four
(8.85) ★★★★
Public Enemy
4/5
Honestly a really strong album for a genre that's hard for me to get into. But I do really like the flow of the raps and the all around beat and prodution. That horn/siren/whatever sound that they used though grates on my nerves to the nth degree. Another thing that I dint think affects my score but I didn't like was the live hype bits which to me didn't flow with the studio tracks.. I think if they were craftfully edited in instead of fade in and out it would have felt more like they were part of the album.
But as I said I think the rest of the album was strong enough to ignore them as a whole.
(8.2) ★★★★
Belle & Sebastian
4/5
(8.2) ★★★★
Elvis Costello
4/5
Well... every time I listen to Elvis Costello, his material always feels like something I should really get into, I just don't all that much. That being said this is actually one I enjoyed pretty well. It's just shy of a 4 for me, but it will get a 4 on the app.
Some of my favorites were "Blame It On Cain", "I'm Not Angry", and although it technically doesn't count, "Watching The Detectives"
(7.75) ★★★½
Nine Inch Nails
4/5
I was not expecting to like this one. I'm not usually drawn to industrial sounds, but this melds it with acoustic and distinct melodies. Thematically this album is definitely one for a mood, and considering the day I had at work today, I needed this mood. It's quite cathartic
(8.3) ★★★★
Cocteau Twins
3/5
I'm not sure if dream pop is my thing. Thus album is not bad but the heavy effects coupled with the heavy reverb is just not a sound I really like. It sounds just glassy and gimmery, and to me at least makes me lose any emotion behind it. And it's not that it's not there, it just feels like it's down a cathedral hall. It's not close or immediate.
All in all I didn't hate the album and although there are no tracks that stood out to me, there are aspects of it I truly enjoy.
(7.3) ★★★½
Black Sabbath
4/5
(8.6) ★★★★
Jimi Hendrix
5/5
Welp. I listened to the UK version and I was going to A/B it to the US version I have... But no need... The UK is a five star banger anyway and no real need to campare fivers.
I probably slightly prefer the US, maybe because it has more of the well known material or that I'm just used to that version. But quite frankly, my least favorite track on the set is on both versions "Love or Confusion" and it's not a dog by any means anyway.
Not my topper most, but way up there
(10) ★★★★★
Dolly Parton
4/5
*Trio* is such a beautiful album. At times too beautiful for it's own good. I coukd hear some of this being performed before a quiet respectful audience, clapping respectfully between songs for a DVD that will be sold on PBS on pledge week.
But they are all solid performances and there is a trio of songs right in the middle where it feels more natural "Wallflowers", "Telling Me Lies", and "My Dear Companion".
(8.95) ★★★★
The Undertones
4/5
I kinda wanted to like this better, it's a lot of fun, I'd lands as kind link between Glam and Glam metal... Glam punk if you will. But it still didn't 100 bowl me over.
7.8 ★★★½
John Lennon
5/5
Baaba Maal
4/5
Baaba Maal and Mansour Seck - Djam Leelii
This was the one I was scared of the most when I went on on this, but I absolutely loved this album. Yes it's way out of the way of music I listen to, but it's was an awesome discovery for me.
(8.33) ★★★★
Saint Etienne
3/5
Saint Etienne - Foxbase Alpha.. Music like this can go either way with me.. But in small doses, absolutely love this kind of stuff. Across a full album it wears on me a bit... I did omit the two tracks added for the US version so it was a bit shorter than it's hour run time
I'm going with (7.3) ★★★½
Elliott Smith
5/5
9.8 ★★★★½
Eels
4/5
I almost went with. High 4 mainly because the last half was not as strong as the first.. But I think all I all it deserves a light 4½
9.2 ★★★★½
Dire Straits
4/5
8.4 ★★★★
Sparks
3/5
7.4 ★★★½
Paul Simon
4/5
I'm glad I revisited this album.. Though I've always rated it as a four, I think this list ends I really got into the textures of the albums. Still not quite the all out fiver of it's reputation for me but getting closer
(9.5)
Pere Ubu
2/5
There are aspects of this album I really dug. The post punk vibe of the rhythm section mainly. But between the singer, which I disliked his delivery throughout the album, andthe overwhelming artsy tinkering which quite frankly either didn't move me or in the case of the Musique Conrete "Sentimental Journey" just down right hated. This just isn't anything I'd ever return to and quite frankly felt like a waste of my time.
(3.85) ★½
The Police
5/5
This is one I've loved since early High School. If there was a weak spot in the album it would be the Lp closer "Tea of Sahara" which is kinda a look forward to Stings solo career, which I like, but never near enough as The Police together.
But man other than that even the "weird" tracks (Mother, and Miss Gradenko) I think really work in context.
10 ★★★★★
Depeche Mode
5/5
It was a five for me back when it came out and still a fantastic listen for me today.
(10)
Eminem
1/5
I'm giving a real low score to Slim Shady. Lyrically I can't stand the album, not because they are poor or sloppy, but the tone and the subject matter just fills me with hate. I don't enjoy glorification of domestic abuse. I don't enjoy the way he puts his children in the middle of it (lyrically). I know these acts of violence and atrocities happen every day. I personally don't like it in my entertainment. I don't need to be reminded how absolutely fucked up this world is. I have witnessed it myself..
Honestly... The only good thing I want to say about this album is that I think that the utter hate and anger I feel is what he wants the listener to feel. In that he's done his job. But all in all, I hate feeling this much hate in my system.
I honestly wish I hadn't heard this album.
(3.5) ★½
Pink Floyd
5/5
10 ★★★★★
Echo And The Bunnymen
4/5
I really enjoyed this not upper tier but a sold gothic post punk entry
(8.5) ★★★★
Neil Young
4/5
This is one I didn't think would be in the book, mainly because it's not as talked about as much as say Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere, Harvest, After The Gold Rush or Rust Never Sleeps.
But it's solid album for sure if not in his upper echelon.
(8.9) ★★★★
Afrika Bambaataa
3/5
Other than "Who You Funkin' With?", which I really liked, this album didn't really much for me. I do see the influence this collection of single meant to rap a a genre though, it just wasn't anything I'm interested in. But didn't dislike it so.. Light 3
(6.3) ★★★
Lambchop
3/5
I can't call this bad, but I can call it boring af... In fact it bored the fuck out of me.. I won't be able to have sex for an entire week because of this album
(5.75) 😴😴½
Prince
4/5
The second record is where thus really cooks, though the opening track of the album is also a grand highlight
(8.55) ★★★★
Bon Jovi
2/5
I guess I like Bon Jovi more than I thought.
(5.3) ★★½
Various Artists
4/5
Im staying the same... What keep this set so compelling is Darline Love's four songs which are the best on the album. (this was the reason Love was the Queen of Christmas before Mariah Carey stole her crown). Also the three Ronnettes songs are bangin'. The Crystals were the least compelling of the three girls groups, but really didnt do much to hurt the album as a whole... It would be an easy mid to light 4½ if it wasn't for the two Bob B. Sox songs, which are like his stage name, bland and bad. The spoken word Outro didn't do much to help the album. I'd sooner leave it off, but at least it short and doesn't go on infinitum like other credit tracks I've heard.
Given that Darline, Ronnie, and the Crystal take up over 75% of the album I think it still warrents an (8.75) ★★★★
The War On Drugs
4/5
I really kinda like this album quite a bit. There is a lot of this album that sounds inspired by that transition 70/80s rock i get vibes of Straits, Floyd, Petty, Springsteen influence with a glimmer of Millennial sheen. One thing this album does well which can be a land mind for be is extendeding an ending a few minutes after the song is done. In the right hands if find it enjoyable and I think they hit that sweet spot.
(8.4) ★★★★
Neil Young & Crazy Horse
4/5
9.7 ★★★★½
David Bowie
4/5
9.5 ★★★★½
Kelela
3/5
There is so much I want to like about this album.
First of all I love her voice. There's an aching passion that draws me note for note though out the album. I think that's what keeps me wanting to appreciate this more. It is a bit out of my usual wheelhouse, but done female Neo-soul act hace garnered my attention as of late. Though out this album there are some great production sonics that I really dig. But I think it comes down to the songs themselves don't make any of this feel like something I'd like to revisit over and over again. I'm going to give this a really light 3½, just because there is something there that really attracts me, but not fully fleshed out.
(7.00) ★★★½
Kendrick Lamar
4/5
The first time I hea heard this record it was back when it was up for album of the year. And the first half of it was really hard for me to take but as the story grew along I really became invested in the album a lot more than I am most rap albums.
8.5 ★★★★
LCD Soundsystem
3/5
This is the kind of music that I kind of like but for the most part if I never heard it again it wouldn't phase me.
6.8 ★★★
Common
2/5
I really did not like this album much at all. And there are aspects of it I really dug especially in the tracks. But for the most part, I don't like this kind hip hop/rap. I can't even really put a finger on why, I just don't. I do kinda feel like this is an important album thematically and musically, but even somehow recognizing that did not equate to appreciation. Two songs I did like... "The 6th Sense" and "A Song for Assata" they did struck a chord in me. The most of the rest honestly made me feel in comfortable.
If I was more into this gernre as a whole, I could see myself rating this highly, but I really was soaked in a negative reaction to this.
(4.85) ★★
Terence Trent D'Arby
3/5
It's OK. I remembered the critical hype when this album came out.. Never matched the public disinterest as a whole.. Me too... 6.3, ★★★
Jimi Hendrix
5/5
Easy 10
Peter Tosh
2/5
I don't know what to say except that reggae bores me. This was no exception. To me reggae is ska if you took out the tempo, the horns and the exuberance. It just feels like music made by and for stoners. May be it's just too laid back for me, but everytime I hear that reggae beat and guitar pattern, it just bores me to tears.
I'll take a cocaine driven music instead.
(5.3) ★★½
Radiohead
4/5
8.5 ★★★★
Stevie Wonder
4/5
The strength of this album truly lies if four absolutely phenomenal songs "You Are Sunshine of My Life", "Maybe Your Baby", "Superstition", and "I Believe". Those three keep this in the 4½ star realm. The rest for the most part are great tracks, but don't really jump off the turntable like the four I mentioned.
(9.1)
Sinead O'Connor
4/5
Enjoyed this pretty well. It was actually a good listen for a bitter winter day.. It almost has a winter song feel to it. Bleek and cold while wanting to be warm. Some of the songs the just felt at odds with the rest of the album (the ones with more production to them) but overall this was a good listen.
(8.2) ★★★★
Queen
4/5
The first two albums are really Queen finding their sound. This to me is where Queen truly became Queen. The 100% fun tracks, to dead serious, to quick change genres, all the theatrics that is Queen is in full force on this album. They would perfect it in the next. But to me this is where Queen truly begins.
(9.4) ★★★★½
Sex Pistols
4/5
I think I enjoy the legend of the band more than the band itself. I had a copy of this as a teen in the early 80s. Pretty much a must have album if you were an 80s hard rock/metal fan. They were the band our bands looked up to. And I can see why. Loud, abrasive, yet strangely melodic. As I grew older I grew out of it. (I don't think I played it often anyway)
Still, this is fine album, a lot of fun when your pissed at the world and need to let it out. And in the right mood this could be the album of the moment... Listening today it's a bit cliché and played out, but still a fun listen.
(8.4) ★★★★
Stan Getz
3/5
This is basically what I consider 60s coffeehouse jazz. It's nice, but overwhelmingly safe. I kinda needed this kind of mellow buzz this morning, it's good.
But that 60s jazz somba sound just reminds me of movie and TV tropes to kinda code to the hip beatnik crowd. It's fine, but not something I'm particularly drawn to. I don't know if it's the rhythm or the genre, because I kinda dig it when Santana employs similar rhythms or vibes, but in the context of 60s jazz it just strike me as there.. OK... Good, but not moving.
(7.3) ★★★½
Simon & Garfunkel
5/5
9.95 ★★★★½
The Dictators
2/5
Starting with what I liked, some of the guitar work on this is pretty damn good. I had two big issues with the album one the lead singer seems to be leaning into this bawdy juvenile character and it feels more like a caricature rather than something I can believe. My second is personally I think the songs are shit. I dig good rockin glam based rock, but this felt like third rate Brownsville Station. As far as them being the first punk album. I don't buy it. It contains nothing of the visceral anger of bands like say the Clash or even the Sex Pistols. In fact it feels more like the songs and vocals are playing to the mic.
If I heard this when I was 12, I might find this clever and funny, but as a 55 year old coot, it just seemed silly
(5.3) ★★½
The Kinks
4/5
There is one thing about the Kinks which is both one of the things I find most endearing about them but simultaneously puts me at arm's length and that is they are probably the most British sounding band of the major rock bands of the '60s. Where as the Beatles pretty well blended the cultures and the Stone went out to prove they were the best American band from Britain, the Kinks always seem to double down on their Brittishness. Pretty much always to a very charming results. But as an American, I do feel the cultural differences.
Still this was a very fun and engaging listen.
I actually listened to it three times today what I love really loved, but there was just way to much that just wasn't up to that level. Especially on the second half which probably affected the overall final feel.
The Smiths
3/5
The Smiths - "Strangeways, Here We Come" [1987]
I'm sorry I just don't get the absolute love for this band. Mainly due to Morresey's vocals which to me is not much more than a whiny drone. Musically I can get into them but his vocal delivery almost always kills it for me.
I think this album starts off pretty well with the first three song "Death of a Disco Dancer" being my favorite with the band build up towards the end. After that its just the same old Smiths that I don't think is bad, I just hear nothing compelling in it. "Unhappy Birthday", though I kinda like the lyrics, the delivery made my eyes roll. And "Paint a Vulgar Picture" it just sounds like he starts singing winding and wavering in wind. I went cross-eyed listening to it. "Death at Ones Elbow" is a great late entry, but overall not enough to pull it out of the overall blah that is The Smiths.
(6.7) ★★★
The Doors
5/5
Not quite as epic as their first two to me, but man, "The Changeling", "Love Her Madly", "L.A. Woman", "L'America", "The WASP (Texas Radio and the Big Beat)", and of course "Riders On The Storm"... this album is Sofa King good!
(9.9) ★★★★½
Yes
4/5
This is one I keep wanting to think as one of my fivers... And if I just take the four major pieces "Roundabout", "Southside of the Sky", Long Distance Runaround", and "Heart of the Sunrise" as far as I'm concerned it is. Which leaves the five individual highlights. Squire's "The Fish" is basically an extension of "Runaround" and Howe's acoustic guitar interlude actually fits the flow of the album as a brief light breather between key tracks. Anderson's vocal exercise would have be better single bridge between "Roundabout" and "South Side" but unfortunately Wakeman's "Cans and Brahms" honestly felt out of place, as did Bruford's "Five Percent" (Though "5%" was closer to the feel of the album. "Brahms" felt out of place all over).
(9.45) ★★★½
Creedence Clearwater Revival
5/5
Near perfect album (9.9) ★★★★½
Simon & Garfunkel
4/5
As much as Bookends has many of their best works: Bookends Theme, America, Fakin' It, Mrs Robinson, Hazy Shade of Winter, there is large section of side one: Overs/Voices of Old People/Old Friends, that really keeps it from being a perfect five. My least favorite of the ones in the book, and hands down better than the two that didn't make it. (9.4) ★★★★½
4/5
I really wanted to like this album mainly because this is the kind of post punk/new wave I really get into. My main hangup is the quirky vocal delivery which worked for me on some track... Not so much on others. My stand out tracks were "Mongoloid", "Gut Feeling", and "Come Back Jonee" (probably the least quirky of the bunch) but also found but parts of "Uncontrollable Urge", "Space Junk", and "Too Much Paranoias" tasty as well.
This may be an album I have to warm up to, but I gave it two listens today mainly because it seems I should like this more than it's hitting me.
(7.75) ★★★½ (four in the app)
Buddy Holly & The Crickets
4/5
Still a magnificent album after almost 70 years. Yes it's very of the time, but also quite forward for 1957. But what really cooks is the set of songs on here, "Oh, Boy!", "Not Fade Away", "Maybe Baby", "Tell Me How", and "That'll Be The Day" still simmer and shine in a 50s rock and roll vibe. Though I've only had this particular album a few years, I've had The Buddy Holly Collection compilation all my life starting with my dad's cassette copy. His music is timeless to me, an something I never get tired of.
As far as this album side one absolutely cooks for me, but after "That'll Be The Day" it does seems to trail off. Holly didn't write any of the final four songs. (though "Empty Cup" was written by Roy Orbison, as well as "You've Got Love" on side one)
9.5 ★★★★½
New York Dolls
4/5
Great bridge album between Glam and punk. This was recorded the same month that Aladin Sane Dropped and seem very much of the same ilk on the first side, while the second side gets more hard and chaotic. Beingba fan of glam I really enjoyed the first half over the second, but was a sold fun listen through out
(8.27) ★★★★
2/5
Somewhere between pop jazz and electronica lie whatever this is... I have no use for it
(4.2) ★★
Robert Wyatt
3/5
If it is possible to be both intrigued and bored by an album Robert Wyatt found a way to do it. Honestly, other than the singing, I liked musical textures of this album quite good. Some maybe a bit to out there for me. I don't know if it's exactly his voice that puts me off or his vocal choices which at times feel at odds with the music, but I do believe that's by design. "Blues in Bob Minor" is the stand out tracks, bumping this up to the 3½ territory, with a bit more rocking vibe and a great "Subterranean" delivery. The opening track, "Heaps of Sheep" also caught my attention, in fact it gave me much false hopes for this album. "The Dutchess" also caught my attention for the exact opposite reason and made me wary of the rest of the album. All in all not a bad listen. In a weird way I want to check out some of his other work as well as his Soft Machine albums, because I feel there is more to him than just this, and this may not be the right album it introduce me to him.
(7.15) ★★★½ (three on the app)
Ramones
5/5
Seriously fun album!
(10) ★★★★★
Beastie Boys
3/5
Ok... I think I like the musical interludes over most of the actual songs on here. In fact all, other than "Sabotage". They speak more to my personal musical senses. "Sambrosa" with its War like funk feel. The pseudo-psych of "Transition", the meditative jam of "Shambala" or just the straight up dirty groove of "Futterman's Rule" they all stood out to me. The rapping did not do much for me especially with the overly distorted or fuzzed out effects to the point I couldn't make out what they were saying. The couple of 80s punk style songs on here of course I didn't care for. My dislike for 80 hardcore is pretty well known here.
There are still some songs I like The opener "Sure Shot" hit me better on second listen, "The Scoop", and of course the monster hit. "Root Down" I loved the jazz influenced tracks, but the rap over just ruined it for me. Honestly there is a lot going on in many of these tracks that if it wasn't for the rap I'd like it. Those may be growers of ever want to invest time getting to know this album.
But then there the handful I coukd go without ever hearing again, "B-Boys Makin With The Freek Freek" and "Get It Together.
Too much I didn't like on this to give it high marks although there is also quite a bit I dig.
(6.75) ★★★
Tori Amos
5/5
Long running fiver for me
10 ★★★★★
Amy Winehouse
4/5
Such an incredible retro sound absolutely loved it. It was a bit top heavy... Everything up to and including the title track are just banger after banger. The bottom half still sizzles tought
(8.65) ★★★★
Miriam Makeba
5/5
This album was so nice I listened to it twice... I actually really loved this! A high enough 4½ to be 5 on the app. 50s/60s world folk is kinda an untapped corner of my musical taste. My parents were very much into some of the more commercial side of 50s/60s folk. Some of the artists they'd listen would incorporate African and world folk styles music. I'm my college years I kinda poked around, but I've never really done a dive in to that rabbit hole, but I know it's there.
(9.77) ★★★★½
Sebadoh
4/5
Slowcore may not be Sharkcore.... But it is at least Sharkadjacent.
(8.35) ★★★★
Lloyd Cole And The Commotions
4/5
Very John Hughes-core... I dug it
(8.0) ★★★★
Gorillaz
2/5
Starts off fine.. But after "Punk" it just one funky jam of nothingness after another. Sounds like they were having fun though.
(5.6) ★★½
Elton John
5/5
10 ★★★★★
A Tribe Called Quest
4/5
Really surprised how much I liked this album. Not a huge rap fan at all. But the kinda laid back hippy groove really got me in my sweet spot
(8.4)
Meat Loaf
4/5
1001 Album of the Day (03Feb2025):
Meat Loaf - Bat Out of Hell [1977]
I am an utter fanboy of Jim Steinman, and this was my introduction into his wild theatrical world. Though he'd use many other artist display his psychotic genius, none ever did it quite the way of the madcap duo of Steinman and Meat Loaf. Rest in peace the both of you
9.35 ★★★★½
PJ Harvey
3/5
I heard this album first in the mid 90s when some one tried to get me into PJ Harvey and I hated it. But over the years I've heard some PJ material o really enjoyed, so I wasn't sure how it would take this. We'll, most of it I still dislike quite a bit. Considering that this was produced by Albani, I see a lot of similarities and another album he produced that year which was In Utero . Both albums have this sort of madness, chaotic sound that just doesn't work for me. It feels more like an orchestrated raw. Like pushing the limits just because you can, not necessarily because it sounds good. I still don't get this album as a whole, but there are tracks that I liked on it... most notably "Me-Jane" and "Ecstasy" towards the end of the album. But most of it was just an orchestrated mess as far as I'm concerned
(5.75) ★★½
Calexico
4/5
I really enjoyed this album. Probably some influence from my maternal Hispanic heritage, but rock music with a Mexi drive to it reall huts my sweet spot
(9.15) ★★★★½
Digital Underground
2/5
Other than the obvious "Humpty" hit and "Doowutchyalike", this is just tongue in cheek mid level rap. Nothing to write home about. I do like some of the incorporations of jazz through out, but it's not enough to recomend this or even really want to revisit the album. Not even sure why this is essential. There are several rap album I don't like but say, yeah, that's important... This, nah.
(5.4) ★★½
Bill Evans Trio
4/5
Though this may not be my preferred jazz, it definitely falls in my chill Jazz category. Honestly some exceptional playing on this album.
(8.5/10) ★★★★
R.E.M.
4/5
Com'on... All timer from college!
(9.5) ★★★★½
Don McLean
4/5
Honestly one still adore, even though a) the title track has been played to death, and b) critical reassessment has not been to kind on. I still kinda dig "American Pie", and "Vincent" is an absolutely beautiful ode to Van Gogh. "Sister Fatima" tugs at me a bit. And legend has it that "Empty Chairs" was his song that softly killed Lori Lieberman (uncredited co-writer of the Roberta Flack/Fugees hit)
His 1970 debut Tapestry is my personal favorite of his and as far as I'm concerned a five star masterpiece. But as for this one it's a real strong
(8.6) ★★★★
Fela Kuti
4/5
8.35 ★★★★
Nina Simone
5/5
First two songs alone make this in the upper echelon of albums. It does meander a bit but, powerful songs like the title track, and of course "Four Women", a statement unto itself just dominate the album.
9.8 ★★★★½
The Divine Comedy
4/5
This really seems like an album I should not like it's very theatrical has a very '60s movie theme feel to it. Almost a Tom Jones or Petula Clark feel. I don't think I really like his voice or don't think that it's outstanding at least. But Man, the songs and the production really bring me in. The second time around probably even more so because I really was able to kind of listen to his lyrics and they were so tongue and cheek I find myself laughing and it really fitting the theatrical music around it. The song "If..." has got to be the strangest set of lyrics for a simple love song I have ever heard in my life and I was just about howling listening to them.
(9.3) ★★★★½
Spiritualized
4/5
9.5 ★★★★½
Spacy goodness that can. E V en transend the album length
Ray Charles
4/5
Honestly when I hear his name, this is the kind of music I associate with him... In fact most of the material I've heard sounds like this... I think the movie Ray highlighted the more daring aspects of his singles, but not the balladeer that he actually was.
I like his style and I love hus phrasing, but it's not as exciting as the single "Hit The Road Jack", "Hallelujah, I Love Her So", "I've Got A Woman" or "What'd I Say?". The opener "Let The Good Roll" is about the only track on here to capture that magic. The more up beat side one is more to my liking than the ballad laden side two. But there are few nice touches on that side especially the closer "Come Rain or Come Shine"
7.9 ★★★½
The Yardbirds
3/5
I will never understand what the big deal about The Yardbirds. Other than they spawned three legendary guitarist and eventually "morphed" into one of the greatest classic rock groups of all time, their material as The Yardbirds is passable at best. None of this I would consider the best work of Jeff Beck. And although I do like the album, I don't think I reach to this over the Kinks, Stones, or Beatles
6.33 ★★★
Justice
3/5
Listening to it fully may be it's downfall for me... I was on board with the first three, and I really dig "Phantom Pt. II".... But everything after that just stopped doing it for me.
(6.8) ★★★
Janis Joplin
4/5
My absolute favorite Janis album.. Her last two albums are bleedin' masterpieces... I have Kozmic Blues at 4½ as well
(9.6) ★★★★½
Pulp
4/5
9.15 ★★★★½
Queen
3/5
Still least favorite 70s Queen album... This one just does not resonate with me... I see pretty much all the elements they would refine an perfect in the next couple albums, but idk, I I'd have to go with the song selection seems even less memorable than the debut which I like a lot better.
6.67 ★★★
The Birthday Party
1/5
I think the cover perfectly illustrates the kind of music contained.... Brash for the sake of of bring brash. I know some find that "Daring", I just find it obnoxious. The audio equivalent of Jackass
I don't care if it's Nick Cave... It's absolutely atrocious
(1.55) ½★
John Coltrane
4/5
This may not be my preferred jazz, but it's hard to deny the intensity. I actually enjoy it quite a bit
9.3 ★★★★½
Willie Nelson
4/5
I want to like this album more because it's beautifully recorded, exquisitely performed and a wonderful batch of songs. At times the way the nylon string guitar sounds makes my hairs stand on end. But I'm the end it's a bit too reverent, too lush and too safe. I still really dig his version of "Blue Skies".
I can't fully give it 4 stars... But close enough to warrent it on the app
7.9 ★★★½
4/5
Love the raw power of this album, some of it definitely pre-punk punk. Others rely a bit on 50s rock and roll riff which with their power gets nice and crunchy
8.66 ★★★★
Nick Drake
4/5
My least favorite of the three but still a miraculous album... There were times, though not often, the added orchestration seemed a bit much as well as the backing vocals on "Poor Boy", but for the most part it's an extremely moving album
9.35 ★★★★½
Slipknot
2/5
Actually... There are parts I actually liked... Two thing that keep this from rising above 2....
One is the growling vocals which I can take in small doses, but as the main focus it becomes a massive hindrance. But when he sings in his normal voice I actually really dig it. The other is the almost comical use of the double kick... Honestly the trash influenced guitar style I really like makes me want to like this more... Two songs I do legitimately like "Dead Memories" and "Snuff" if more of the album was like that I coukd even go as high as 3½.
But most of it is the other shit.
Jimmy Smith
4/5
He reminds me a bit of Booker T. Jones who is a favorite of mine... I'm sure Smith was an influence on him though they are contemporaries. I think early Smith predates Booker T.
This is like my ultimate chill music... It may not be a #1 pick, but man when listening to it, I just get lost in the groove. His '64 Christmas album is also a fave of mine.
(8.47) ★★★★
Mylo
2/5
I don't know how anyone listens to this actively.... The banal nothingness I think I've ever heard. It's like listening to the color taupe.
(4.2) ★★
Frank Ocean
3/5
I actually liked this a bit more than I remembered. Still not my preferred R&B, but there were songs that stuck out for me "Sweet Life", "Pyramids" and "Bad Religion"... I really dug André 3000 guitar on "Pink Matter" and at least smiled at the Elton sample on "Super Rich Kids" (not sure if I was high in the song, but loved the call out)
(6.5) ★★★
Youssou N'Dour
3/5
This album makes me feel like I'm in a Pier 1 Imports in 1988.
That's not a bad thing, but it is a thing.
It reminds me of the world music craze of the late 80s early 90s, which I always appreciated, but never felt eager to delve further then what you could easily find on the surface. I do like it, and I can actually kind of kick back and chill with it, but it is not something I would deliberately seek out to listen. It's fine and it's enjoyable.
(7.3) ★★★½
Stevie Wonder
5/5
One of my long standing five star albums, my absolute favorite Stevie Wonder album, and currently my #2 of this project. Just solid end to end.
T. Rex
5/5
The Byrds
4/5
(8.83) ★★★★
Elvis Costello & The Attractions
4/5
(8.4) ★★★★
Metallica
3/5
(6.33) ★★★
Miles Davis
5/5
Probably my second or third favorite Miles Davis album behind A Kind of Blue an possibly On the Corner (the latter is a recent discovery for me, but I love it)
10 ★★★★★
Black Sabbath
5/5
My #10 GAOAT!
(10) ★★★★★
Emerson, Lake & Palmer
4/5
ELP is my least favorite of the big prog bands... Definitely more into Yes, Genesis, King Crimson and Moody Blues. I'm not sure I even have a fiver for ELP. Of all the albums I've heard, they've topped out at a strong four. They have genuine five star material, but their albums as a whole don't take me to that next level. I'm not really certain why as I think all three are phenomenal musicians on par and possibly even better than their contemporaries. My only guess is their approach is not 100% in my lane.
As for this album it might be one of my favorites definitely. Having Modest Mussorgsky as the main composer really helps a lot. Keith is on absolute fire on some of the solos. However, I feel at arms length with the material as a whole. I can admire it's beauty and technicalities, but it really doesn't give me all the feels.
(8.45) ★★★★
Jurassic 5
4/5
This project may (or may not) make a rap fan out of me yet. This is the fouth rap album I've put at four stars. (I don't have any above.)
As for this album as I mentioned before I love the laid back groove of the music. It really carries me along the album. Some of the latter half didn't, but for the most part I really dug the over all feel
(8.25) ★★★★ (could be a grower)
Big Star
4/5
Ok I did relisten to *Third/Sister Lovers* and reviewing the first 14 tracks (which according to producer Jim Dickerson is the intended order). I don't know if it's the track arrangement, or I've warmed up to the material since yesterday but this hit me much better (This actually has the same 14 tracks included in the original '78 US release, just drastically reordered.)
Opening with "Kizza Me" and "Thank You Friend" really starts off with an overall great feel, then sliding into "Big Black Car" to start a nice weave of emotion through out the album. Side one is perfect... wouldn't change a thing, ending in "Holocaust". The slight dip for me would be the first two tracks of side two "Kanga Roo" and "Stroke It Noel" which i noted as my least favorites from the last listen. But the run from "For You" to "Take Care" was a great way to end the album felt like a closure.
(8.5) ★★★★
Taylor Swift
3/5
There are three songs I really liked on this album, "Style", the self penned "This Love", and the Imogen Heap produced "Clean". There were a couple songs where the chorus would catch my ear while the rest of it just felt like uninspired pop ("Blank Space", "All You Had To Do Was Stay"). The rest is really the kind of Max Martin pop I really stay away from.
Then there's the egregious errors a) the fkg cheerleader beat on "Shake It Off" (I just don't like that particular brand of pop whether it's Taylor, Avril, Gwen, Chappell or even Toni Basil)...
b)"areweoutofthewoodsareweoutofthewoodsareweoutofthewoodsareweoutofthewoods areweintheclearyetareweintheclearyetareweintheclearyetareweintheclearyet" gave me a fkg headache...
and c) "Bad Blood" which everytime Taylor acts like a bad ass, it just comes off like high school drama.
Ultimately I don't like this album, but it's not horrendous. Just the hype around it makes it feel like it is.
(5.85) ★★½
Peter Frampton
4/5
I think what has always kept this at a four stars is side four which is Sofa King good. The other three sides has a nice ebb and flow to it with a few great highlights. When it gets into jam mode I really dug it. Low point to me was the Stones cover.
(8.25) ★★★★
The Prodigy
1/5
Gahgh! This was a fucking chore to sit though.... I wanted to turn it off... I did like the the penultimate track...
So... (3.66) ★½
Steve Winwood
3/5
Two songs really stand out for me. Of course "While You See a Chance", which is a top five Winwood solo track for me, and "Slowdown Sundown" the rest is pretty typical, run of the mill, 80s MOR pop rock, and this for the most part doesn't really stand out from the pack than say, Christopher Cross' debut. I find it odd that this made it over Back In The High Life or Roll With It which were not only more popular, but overall better listens, or even Take Back The Night which has "Valery" probably my top pick of his solo songs. (As a whole, though, I'd lean more towards Roll With It) this is a fine album, but for this list a bit underwhelming
(7.55) ★★★½
Iron Maiden
5/5
A longtime five star album for me, as far back as high school. My only gripe with the album is I always thought sides one and two should flop. There is no reason the title track and "Run to the Hills" should not open the album.... Though, "Hallowed Be Thy Name" is a perfect closer.
Ray Charles
3/5
Three days in a row of albums in my collection. This is a semi recent acquisition, mainly got it for it's reputation alone. Though I really enjoy most of Ray Charles hits, the albums selected for this list tend to fall more in his big band or standards sound, wich is fine, but not the jumpin' R&B I really love from Uncle Ray.
The four Gerald Wilson big band brass arranged selections are my personal favorites, but half of the album is the string and vocal arrangement of Marty Paich, which were a bit too syrupy for me (though worked on (I Can't Stop Loving You")
(6.9) ★★★
Television
5/5
Great freakin album the title track if all kinds of great! Near perfect album.. But this may only be the third time I've heard it since the late aughts. If I had discovered this in the 80s, I probably would have been all over it.
(9.88) ★★★★½
Bob Dylan
5/5
Jefferson Airplane
4/5
This is nearly a perfect album, side one especially which is absolutely flawless. But the real cream of the crop are the album's closers "White Rabbit" and "Plastic Fantastic Lover". Talk about saving the best for last.
It's still a coin toss between this and Volunteers being my favorite Airplane Lp, but both solid albums for me.
(9.70) ★★★★½
5/5
Over all the mix of African and Latin beats with funk and soul just gets my blood pumping. My favorites are the longer jammier tracks such as "City, Country, City" and the title track. Also the hit opener is still just as funky as ever. There are no real weak spots on the album, but I felt "Four Corner Room" kinda stuck out being a bit more sullen. I still a absolutely dig the track, but I noticed it at odds with the rest of the groove this listen around. But it is by no means a weak spot.
(9.8) ★★★★½
The xx
2/5
This album tried my patience for an hour and a half... which is pretty impressive for a 39 minute album.
(4.25) ★★
Joe Ely
3/5
I do like this album, but I've heard some Joe Ely that's closer to my style, like his 1992 Love and Danger Lp, which me and my songwriting friends would play the hell out of around the time I moved to Memphis. But that was more of a rocker folk album, this is more of his Texicana country, which is a fun listen, but not an all timer to me. Though I put a star by "Boxcars". I really liked that one.
(7.7) ★★★½
Fiona Apple
4/5
One of my all time artist... Though I do absolutely love this album, I still feel When The Pawn... would have been a better selection over this. I'm glad Fetch The Bolt Cutters is still to come.
(9.1) ★★★★½
Joni Mitchell
4/5
This is actually my first time hearing this album as a whole and I absolutely adore it. Definitely a great sister album to Court & Spark which I historically have had at 4½. This list seems to have all three of her albums that document her journey from folk artist to her more jazz influenced form on Hirja. I'm looking forward to both of them coming up.
(9.6) ★★★★½
Guns N' Roses
5/5
10 ★★★★★
Deerhunter
3/5
Well I though I was going to like this more given my affinity to psych, but I found that's at as a pure psych band, they were a lesser Flaming Lips and as a 60s psych pop revival band, XTC did way better. My favorite song "Desire Lines" pretty much reminded me of an X&Y era Coldplay. Songs like "Saling" "Basement Scene" and put me on the struggle bus for this album, the former being a new form of torture, I've found. But where is is strong, it pull it out of its low spot pretty well.
(7.45) ★★★½
Neil Young & Crazy Horse
4/5
8.88 ★★★★
Radiohead
4/5
I was not expecting to like this all that much, before today they've topped out and a high mid 4★. But after listening to this I almost want to reassess my actual thoughts on Radiohead. This might be the album that finally clicks for me. I was honestly expecting this to be a bloopy mess, but most of it is far more straight forward than *Theif*, and even struck me as more passionate than *Computer*. This may be the album that reels me in.
9.33/10 ★★★★½
Motörhead
4/5
Love the energy, this does exactly what my some of favorite live albums do, catch the spirit of their live shows while highlight the best of their material to that point. It helps my appreciation that I'm at least a passive fan of Motörhead. I really don't own any of their albums, but this is seriously one I should have in my collection.
(9.45) ★★★★½**
Pixies
4/5
9 43
The Who
4/5
This will probably be my lowest Who on this list, I kniw I have *Next* and *Tommy* at five stars, *Live At Leeds* at a high 4½.... It's been a while since I've heard *My Generation* and have always loved the energy of that album but not sure where I place it between 4 & 4½.
After listening to *Sells Out* twice today, once on streaming to and from work, and once on my player. As a whole it leaves me comparatively underwhelmed, even though there are simply incredible moments on the album: "I Can See For Miles", "Sunrise", Armenia City" and "Tattoo". I dig the concept, but probably not fully executed well. (one of the tracks left off "Early Morning Cold Taxi" not was a better fit for the commercialism concept, it's actually better than some of the songs on the album)
Honestly I wanted to initially give this a really high 3½, but deemed it better than most of the stuff I had in my low fours, so I bumped up rating a smidge
Koffi Olomide
2/5
I did not think this was horrid. In fact I think I could be something I could listen to if the production wasn't so chintzy. This did not only sound cheap for 1992, it would have sounded cheap in 1985. The freakin keys and drum sounds give me 80s consumer grade Yamaha feel, you know the kind you bought at Target. Just a step above Casio. If it had a more rich robust sound, I might be fine with it. But it just sounds like NPR royalty free music as is.
(4.5/10) ★★
N.W.A.
3/5
This starts off actually pretty damn good, but after the first five dings it falls off a fucking cliff. "Straight Outta Compton" and "Fuck The Police" are obvious highlights. My next favorite was actually "Parental Discretion Iz Advised" not really because of the rapping, but on the funky Groove and the jazzy piano really caught my attention good.
The rest of the album is pretty much almost text book example of why I don't like rap. Honestly, can Easy-E go four lines with out saying something about his dick? Also, the backing tracks on "I Ain't Tha 1" are so fucking corny, that it eclipses the total misogynistic lyrics of the rap.
Still most of Cube's And Ren's raps across the album are the highlights. I'm gonna go light 3½ just on the strength of the first five songs + "Express Yourself"
7.3 ★★★½
Prince
4/5
Sides 1, 2, and 4 are pretty much all five star material... 3 sags a bit, but Prince filler in the 80s is better Than most artists best albums
(9.6/10) ★★★★½
Carpenters
2/5
I liked this slightly more than I was expecting, especially in the latter part of the second side where they try to be a bit more than the saccharin pop that made them famous. Starting with "Crescent Noon" which is a nice rich robust harmonies, a little bit more performance than pop based. "Mr. Guder" may not be the greatest written song but I was impress by the changes in tone and style, especially the a capella section. Still even in those parts the production is too polite to give it an edge... I kinda wish they had a more rocking band to do that one. My final highlight is "Another Song" which has a Karen letting loose on drums, I could instantly tell it was not the polite studio sound of Hal Blane, but I looked it up just to be sure. She really sounds like she's pounding them skins...
Overall though, I'm really not into the soft easy listening pop which was, quite frankly marketed to people like my mom... at home mom's who grew up on 50s and 60s pop standards. I'm not a fan, but I've always been in love with Karen's voice. I just wish she had better material.
5.5 ★★½
The Afghan Whigs
4/5
If I had heard this in 1993 I would have eaten this the fuck up. I'm not sure how I missed them. They were popular enough that I'm familiar with their name, but for some reason never got familiar with their material. This was a superb listen. Still enjoy this sound, man, I love dirty alt rock. Not quite a fiver for me.
9.7/10 ★★★★½
Prince
5/5
Honestly one of my top 25 albums of all time
Eric Clapton
3/5
Not really going to say much about Clapton other than in my opinion he's simultaneously over rated and over hated. Quite frankly, my favorite songs were his penned "Give Me Strength" and "Get Ready" (w/ Yvonne Elliman) 'Let it Flow" along with George Terry's "Mainline Florida" The rest is fine but nbd, except for the fact I can't stand his cover of "I Shot the Sherrif", whenever I hear it I want to shoot the radio.
Joanna Newsom
3/5
I really like the musical ideas she was going with. And her sounding pretty much like a modern day Melanie helped. Still some of the songs are way too long, especially "New Skin"
I may have to revisit this at sometime and see if it grows with age.
7.65/10 ★★★½
The Black Crowes
4/5
As much as I friggin' love this album, I still say The Southern Harmony and Musical Companion should have been included over this, as well as Amorica. But this is hands down a phenomenal album in its own right.
9.6/10 ★★★★½
The Isley Brothers
4/5
Most of this album I really dig quite a bit, especially the first side. But most of the covers don't do it for me. Their take On James Taylor's "Don't Let Me Be Lonely Tonight" is aces, the rest, I'm not crazy about the arrangements. Though I'm not a big fan of "Sumner Breeze" in general, it actually does have a killer solo on it, one of the best on the album. But the rest of the song ain't my thing. (What cha gonna do?).
All the originals are supurb. "That Lady" has always been a fave of mine.
Given the first four tracks and the side 2 opener, "What it Comes Down To", I can't drop this below the four threshold. All in all it's too good.
8.25/10 ★★★★
Elastica
4/5
I actually gave this two listens because I was kinda borderline on it. I can really see why I was in to this when "Connection" was the big alt hit. In fact this album is at its best when it's hitting that dirty alt Britpop sound . There were other songs that seemed to channel Blondie (pre *Parallel Lines* era, when they still had their punkier edge). I really enjoyed those. But there were tracks here and there that kind of really didn't land in either category. I think overall the album feels a bit disjointed but I really enjoy most of what is represented throughout the album
Jack White
4/5
I did downgrade *Blunderbuss* this listen around. I seemed to notice the album was pretty front loaded, this listen though. The first five still friggin amaze me, but as the album progress it felt a bit more uneven than I remembered, but "I'm Shakin''' and "Take Me With You When You Go" are great highlights afterwards... Also there something almost Granny McCartney leanings I dug about "Poor Boy", but probably wouldn't count it as a highlight.
(9.65) ★★★★½
Thin Lizzy
4/5
Man the Thin Lizzy set is too fun to deny.
There were a couple track thoughout that I thought my rating would chill, but it would go back to high energy again and I'd be right back to a firm 4½.
(9.5) ★★★★½
(9.5) ★★★★½
The Chemical Brothers
4/5
I liked this a hell of a lot better than I was expecting, especially when it got meaty beaty, big... maybe not bouncy. Seriously, I loved the dirty sound.
(8.85) ★★★★
Merle Haggard
3/5
If I had to think of a reason why this one was included over *Mama Tried*, I would have to say is that this was the beginning of Merle Haggard's run of hits starting with the title track. But I don't think this album as a whole really states who Merle Haggard is. I listened to the *Mama Tried* album shortly after listening to this one and that is truly the sound of Merle Haggard country fans know and love. At least it's more of what I think of when he's namedropped. As for the album *I'm a Lonesome Fugitive*, it's good but I think it is comparatively a pretty bland album. Parts of me wants to give it a 3½ because, let's face it it's Merle and it is kind of the beginning of his fame. But I'm going to keep it at a pretty high 3-star album, because ultimately I don't think it feels like a 3½.
(6.95) ★★★
B.B. King
4/5
I do believe the the hype on this one.
B.B. I think gives a fierce stellar performance, and his band really cooks. I absolutely dig the twin horn arrangement. (Coming from Memphis, I'm used to twin or trio brass arrangements with live full band blues). Honestly this pretty killer performance in my book.
9.55/10 ★★★★½
Led Zeppelin
4/5
9.6/10 ★★★★½
Slayer
2/5
I really did not dislike *Reign In Blood* as much as I was expecting. Slayer was the only band I the big four of thrash that I never really got into. Most of it stems from absolutely hating *Hell Awates* when I first heard it back in '85. I really never gave them a chance afterwards. Listening to this I really did enjoy some of the thrash riffs which did remind me a lot of Metallica in the early to mid 80s. But I think what really put me off is Tom Araya's vocal Style. Unlike Hetfield, he's not very melodic. He mostly just screams in a stream of conscious. When he got into a good fast riff in his style I could somewhat get into it but as a whole it's nothing I really like listening to.
5.5/10 ★★½
Doves
4/5
There are several songs I really enjoyed off this album, especially the first three tracks, ("Words", "There Goes the Fear", "M62 Song"), also "Pounding" and "Cought by the River". But they're also are a few tracks of the latter part of that really take me out of the project most notably "Friday's Dust" and "Last Broadcast. Overall enjoyable, but hit me like a cross between contemporaries Coldplay and Snow Patrol.
8.1/10 ★★★★
Iron Maiden
5/5
I am a huge fan of the first five studio albums + *Live After Death*. All of them rank high 4½ to five. I honestly don't think any album after *LAD* even come close.
Of the two DiAnno albums this is my favorite I think mainly because of its raw punky almost DIY attitude it has. And all of that come down to Paul's fierce delivery. I think this album fits DiAnno better than *Killers*. Even though on *Killers* they've progressed musically from the debut, you can tell they really were starting to need more theatrical vocalist than DiAnno. But he pulls it off. The debut, though, he fits in like a glove and the raw power behjnd it is inescapable to my ears.
9.8/10 ★★★★½
Wilco
4/5
I've never been as big of a Wilco fan as some of my colleagues, but I do like them a good bit. So far *Kicking Television* has been my favorite album of theirs I've heard at a (9.5) 4½★ album loved that one. I gave *Mermaid Avenue* a 3½★s on a 1998 music dive, and let's just say *Cruel Country* was more cruel than country to my ears.
This one is fairs much better than the other two studio albums. Historically when ever I heard them on Lightning 100, I'd make note to check them out further, but never got so excited about them to just dive in. This and the live album actually kinda does make me want to do a full dive.
8.5/10 ★★★★
Fleetwood Mac
4/5
Jungle Brothers
3/5
I honestly dug this more than I was expecting. I do like more positive forward rap. When this first started, I thought the hour runtime was going to run me down, but they mixed it up a just enough to keep my interest. Plus some familiar samples make me look like Leonard Dicaprio pointing... Most notably the Blue Suede, and Bee Gees samples.
I'm still quite a ways from calling myself one who appreciates Rap/hip-hop, but this really felt good to me
(7.1) ★★★½
The Cure
5/5
I actually am still floored by this album even though I haven't heard it in about 35 years. I think a lot of it has to do with the keyboard landscapes of the album (not sure if they are Smith's or O'Donnell's or the combo). But they kind of remind me of some of Tony Carey's work on his Planet P Project albums. Almost like a somber backdrop, that helps accentuate the guitar and vocals. I have long considered this the one Cure album I actually like, though I have warmed up to them over the years, especially recently going through the other two albums on the 1001. In some ways after listening to those albums and this one I'm not 100% sure why this one overtly sticks out because there is still the same gothy dark feeling of Pornography and Seventeen Seconds. Though they went through two album where they more poppy, so it might be that on this album he was able to put those worlds together and make a really strong accessible sound of the dark landscapes of their early albums. Either way, I think this is a monumentous album 9.70/10★★★★½ But Honestly, the two tracks that were omitted for the Ip were my least favorite of the album. I have a feeling if they were not part of the album that may even be up to a 9.85/10 (still 4½s) but I will give it ★★★★★ on the app.
Curtis Mayfield
3/5
I like soul/funk, but I thought this was just ok. *Superfly* I get being on this list. This one, unless they taking the social message of the album, truly isn't really all that groundbreaking or exemplary. "Billy Jack", "Hard Times" and "Love to the People" were the standout tracks, but all together, they don't match the the immediacy of *Superfly*. The rest is quite frankly kind of faceless. (6.8) ★★★
Boards of Canada
1/5
This album tries my patience every turn after repetitive turn. I get the building a landscape thing, but it just kinda lumbers there and goes nowhere. Two songs I can be in the same room with were "roygbiv" which finally found a groove I can jive with and "Open The Light" which at least had more of spacey instumental quality to it. Maybe it was the lack of an overly repeatative drum loop. And both of those were late the album. But most of it felt like a loopy, bloopy, and sound sample mess to me. Orange.
2.5/10★
If this *Music Has the Right to Children*, I'm calling Child Protective Service... NOW!
Rage Against The Machine
4/5
8.4/10 ★★★★
Elvis Costello & The Attractions
3/5
I don't know what it is about Elvis Costello, but there is something that keeps me from really getting into him more than an "ok, I guess that's kinda cool" feeling. And what's weird is I feel like I should really like him. I just don't and can't put my finger on why.
This one "just ok"er than the other two I've had so far. I can admire the craft of it, but man I just don't feel it.
(6.8) ★★★
U2
5/5
Honestly, I don't know if it's the nostalgia, or it just hits me better than it did when I was 22. I mean I always kind of had it high cuz I always had it at a 4½ star rating, but this is really getting close to 5 this listen. This album really is a bridge between '80s U2 and 90s U2. Now granted, I was not the biggest on *Zooropa* or *Pop*, but I always admired them for taking major chances as one of the if not the biggest band of the time. Yeah, this was kind of my end of the line with U2 not really because of this album. Yes this album had minor flip-offs to their '80s sound (especially the opening track and the first single). The next two albums basically was the big middle finger to who they once were. This album honestly is a masterpiece at teetering the the line between accessibility and trying something daring and new. *Joshua Tree* is still my only five star album by them, but this is actually pretty close.
(9.85) ★★★★½
Black Sabbath
5/5
Another all-time banger. This is actually my fouth favorite Black Sabbath album after the debut, Heaven & Hell, and Mob Rules. I still say one of the RJD Sabbath albums should have been included. Still, this is one of Ozzy's finest moments... War Pigs, Paranoid, Iron Man, Electric Funeral, Hand of Doom, and Fairies Wear Boots are all killer classic Sabbath to me, it seems to be the third song on each side that slightly dips it for me. Rat Salad is utter filler.
9.8/10 ★★★★½
Blondie
4/5
Staring with the five singles those are out of the gate bangers. There is a reason two of them are still major players on the radio 37 years later. Their cover of The Nerves' "Hangin' on the Telephone" deserves to be up there with "One Way or Another" and "Heart of Glass". (I do miss the French lryic on "Sunday Girl" which adorns their *Best of* Lp.) The other Jack Lee song "Will Anything Happen?" and the Frip enhanced "Fade Away and Rotate" are great stand out tracks. Most of the rest feel a bit like filler comparatively, but they do a great job covering Buddy Holly and "11:59" has great energy.
(8.8) ★★★★
Lenny Kravitz
3/5
I'm not sure why this one and not either *Mama Said* or *Are You Gonna Go My Way*. I don't think this one is bad, actually enjoy his first five or six albums, but this is not as the it factor of the next two.
(7.6/10) ★★★½
System Of A Down
1/5
Thus album is fucking garbage... In fact, I'd rather be fucking garbage.
(2.2) ★
CHIC
2/5
Well, I personally like the disco songs better than the two non-disco songs... at least I liked the two disco hits "Le Freak" and "I Want Your Love", plus "Sometimes You Win" (the other three disco tracks were definitely subpar disco filler.) But if there is one think I never liked about Chic as a whole is the kind of faceless female harmonies they employ. I remember noting that on the Sister Sledge album, as one thing that kept me from really digging that album. But at least with Sister Sledge, there was strong lead vocal to carry it. This it just kinda falls a bit flat, even on the hits. Musically, I can actually dig the disco grooves, but all in all this is bland when it's not bad...
"At Last I'm Free" was quite frankly the most boring song in the set. I almost fell asleep walking my dog.
(4.6) ★★
Robbie Williams
3/5
I find it pleasantly enjoyable despite bring not particular anything great.... Kinda like Katy Perry's *Teenage Dream*... Fluffy like cotton candy and with all the nutrients.
6.85/10 ★★★
Simple Minds
2/5
||Yeah... I don't get this... It's like take what The Cure was doing and do it with out passion or catchy melodies. It just as sounds like faceless early 80s synth new wave. To make things worse some of these songs go of for fucking ever without going any where So many bands at the time were doing this better. Soft Cell, Depeche Mode Siouxsie & The Banshees....
(5.3) ★★½
The Adverts
3/5
I overall like the sound of the album, great energy, but I'm not sure what they bring to the table. They almost feel like a link between Punk and Post Punk but that had already happened by the time this album came out in early 1978. It's a great listen though.
(7.2) ★★★½
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The Stooges
4/5
I listen to both the original Bowie mix and 1997 Iggy mix the App lead me to. Despite the fact that there is a vast difference between the two, I really don't really prefer one over the other. I might give a slight Edge to the Bowie mix just because it's it's brighter and I can hear the the guitar solos a little bit better, where the Iggy mix feels a little bit more muffled but the riffs come out better. Still, the plain fact is they both sound like crap and vastly different ways. I don't know if it's the sonics that keep it from being a five to me or the fact that it's really not a five-star album but it is a really good album. Honestly, I don't think it's the sonics really that hurt this album at all. In fact I think the more raw it feels the better... I mean it is *Raw Power* anyway.
(9.3/10) ★★★★½
Ladysmith Black Mambazo
3/5
I kinda like this as a certain curio with their connection to Paul Simon's Graceland. But honestly it gets rather Sammy and boring as the album goes along even though I enjoy the sound. All in all I can't see myself ever returning to this, unless I listen to it in conjunction with Graceland itself. Even in that I probably wouldn't make it through the album just slightly snoozy for me
6.6/10 ★★★
Dolly Parton
5/5
Absolutely amazing album probably my favorite album of hers, I've only heard like 10 to 15 out of 60 some odd. But this and *Joline* are her high water mark of what I've heard
(9.93) ★★★★½
Jeff Buckley
4/5
An absolute beautiful album. There is so much I can hear of his contemporary, some off his harder grooves give almost a slight AIC feel "Last Goodbye" even gave the feel acoustically. Also "So Real" gave me a bit of Radiohead feel. But also some that would inspire the future. I hear some early *Blue Room* Coldplay in "Grace", and "Lover, You Should Come Over" feels like a blueprint for John Mayer. This is really only the second (and third) time listening to this album and each time it grows a bit on me... Maybe I'll hit that five one day.
But for now... (9.7) ★★★★½
Brian Eno
4/5
It's taking me a while to get Brian Eno because a lot of the first stuff I heard was this ambient music albums, and ambient music and me don't really get along that well. It tends to bore me. I do like his work and Roxy Music and I absolutely love the Byrne & Eno we will have coming up on this list. Of course I know his production work with other bands, which generally been seem to be some of my favorite albums by those artists. This may be the first pop oriented album I've heard by him on his on his own and I honestly wish I had time to listen to this a second time before my review because it is a very good album but I think it's one that I want to really digest its intricacies. First thing almost anytime I hear Fripp and Eno together, it's almost instant magic. "Baby's On Fire" I can listen to on a loop.
Some of the songs feel like they want to be a little off-center from what I like, but as they went along it would hit my warm spot good.
I'm giving this a mid 4½ stars for now but I can see this growing further for me.
9.4 ★★★★½
Sonic Youth
4/5
I really liked thus more than I thought I would. What kinda struck me were like hints oh Siouxsie's *The Scream* which ended up being my second favorite S&tB album. Noise rock has to really walk a fine line for me to enjoy it. Just enough accessibility that I don't lose interest and just enough experimentation to challenge my comfort zone without scaring me off. This album walked that line, got the most part pretty well. In fact for most of this album it looked like it was going to be a moderate to low four-stars... until the the antepenultimate and penultimate songs, "Secret Girl" and "Marilyn Moore" which just went too far to the left field for my taste. But the closer reeled it back just enough to not totally tank the rating (even though the droning at the end went on a bit too long)
7.95 ★★★½
Japan
4/5
I really seem to have an affinity for pre MTV generation new wave. (you'll see more of that from me when we get to Gary Newman, I don't think any Tubeway Army is on here). This really gave me a Duran Duran vibe and to some extent, I dug this more than the double D's. I was actually turned onto Japan four yeas ago when I did a daily 81 dive and *Tin Drum* came up. I really didn't write the album's rating or take notes I was just listening for fun. I do remember really enjoying that album when I got to it. I really ought to do. A quick dive on them, the only have five proper albums and a reunion album under a assumed name. As for this light but solid 4
8.4/10 ★★★★
David Bowie
4/5
I'm sticking with my usual rating for this high 4-star. "Speed of Life", "Sound and Vision", and "Be My Wife" are all f'n aces with me. "Always Crashing" and "Breaking Glass" are not far behind. The only track on side two I really get into is "Warszawa" maybe to a lesser extent "Weeping Wall". The closer however sounds nice, but maybe too trance like for me.
8.8 ★★★★
Run-D.M.C.
4/5
I am probably softer on pre-"old school" rap (I've noticed when anyone refers to old school rap they only refer to 90s rap.) Though when this was released I was in my "rap is crap" phase, something I started shedding in the early to mid 90, it was really looking back at the early 80s rap that first started my turn to find some appreciation for the genre (probably because by that time it was that rap that was being incorporated into rock more so than say Biggie or Tupac.)
As far as this album, first of all the three main singles seem to be the key tracks, especially "Rock Box" which I totally love. "That's the Way It Is" is the only song in here I was very familiar with from way back in the day. I like it now, didn't then.
But my biggest take away from this album is the big drum sound which I'm just gonna go out and say it... No Run-D.M.C., no *Big Bam Boom*, not that Hall & Oates were trying to rap, but they totally copied that drum sound for the "Dance On Your Knees"/"Out of Touch" opener.
I personally a) like what I've heard from *Raisin' Hell* better, "Tricky" and "Walk This Way" are tops. ||I actually like the Aerosmith cover better than the original, but that more has to with the choral effects on Tyler's vocals on the chorus in the original kinda takes the steam coming out of the verses. The raw screech of Tyler in the remake has a f'n great bite||, and b) much prefer the Grandmaster Flash & The Furious Five's style of rapping much more that Run-D.M.C.'s. But in this album is really the template of the future of rap, even though I will probably mark *Raisin' Hell* as their masterpiece once we get there.
8.1 ★★★★
Dexys Midnight Runners
3/5
6.65 ★★★
The Notorious B.I.G.
2/5
It seems to me the biggest grip about this album is the skits, which for the most part fit the theme of the album. Usually when I don't like skits are when there needless (often humorous) bumpers between song. The only two sketches I really could gripa about was the sex moan one and the slurpy smooch one. Most of the rest fit the theme of hyper violence and street life. Which brings me to what I didn't like about this album, and that is the message and overall tone of the album. I get that this album is not for me it's not for my demographics or my personal outlook on life. Taking that in consideration this is actually a better album than probably the rating I'm going to give it just because I do not enjoy the feeling it gives me. And my and mine comfortableness listening to this is probably kind of the point because it's not written for people like me. I am actually glad I gave it a good listen over and ingested what it had to say, but I can't find myself revisiting this as something I would want to rehash over and over. Must hear before I die? Sure... I'll give it that. Is it something I like or enjoy that I do not.
4.7 ★★
The Mothers Of Invention
2/5
Maybe I shouldn't have been so afraid of this album. It's not unlistenable, but it's hard for me to take it seriously. Honestly it's kinda like listening to a comedy album. It's almost too easy to just dismiss it because of that.
"What's the Ugliest Part of Your Body?", "Let's Make the Water Turn Black", and "Take Your Clothes Off When You Dance"
But then there's "Nasal Retentive Calliope Music" and "The Chrome Plated Megaphone of Destiny" which are pretty much musique concrète, which I personally have a hard tine finding a point in them. The rest is kinda mindless silly nonsense to me. It feels a Monty Python album that just isn't all that funny.
5.55 ★★½
OutKast
2/5
I actually disliked this one more so than I did the Biggie album... On the *RTD* it really was the message and the tone made me feel uncomfortable, but overall the production and his style of rapping I really dug. This however for the most part I really just did not like it. When it got more R&B bassed I liked it a lot... I'm guessing that's the 3000 effect, I reall liked it. So Fresh So Clean, Ms. Jackson, B.O.B. A few other. But definitely Snappin' & Trappin', I'll Call B4 I Cum I just plain disliked to no end. This also had so many skits that just felt more like filler than telling the story... Plus thus album felt longer than hell, but I was checking to see how much I had left about half way through... I didn't even do that for Biggie which was only ten min shorter.
4.5 ★★
Suede
4/5
The Rise & Fall of Ziggyphychostardustcandy
9.4 ★★★★½
David Bowie
4/5
The Title track, Fame and Facination are obvious highlights in fact all of side one really kicks. Side 2 is hampered by a rather drab Across The Universe, but other than Fame really doesn't live up to side 1
8.75 ★★★★
JAY Z
3/5
I'm going with a (6.8) ★★★ for *The Blueprint* and thus might have room to grow. There are some rap tropes in here that are reasons why rap is not a preferred genre for me, most notably the endless boasting and posturing. Still, there was enough compelling elements too to kinda perk up my ears. One is the nod to Bowie on "Takeover". I actually am not crazy about the song, but the use of "Fame" gave me a pleasant chuckle.
Surprisingly one of my favorite tracks on the album was "Renegade" with Emenem which suprised me in that that period of Emenem is one that usually grates on my nerves.
But honestly the more self revealing title track really tugged my emotions a bit.
I can't say I'm full in on this album or even 75%, but but there is much to admire
Janet Jackson
3/5
I'm about with everyone else on the 3½ train. I, however didnt mind the slow song in that it breaks up the somewhat samey beats of the New Jack Swing, the sound which Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis were known for. I don't necessarily hate the sound, but it was so ubiquitous of the late '80s early 90s R&B pop to the point it just makes me roll my eyes now. ( I think historically I did not like the sound, but these days when I come across it it just reminds me of a time) Honestly as far as examples of this genre this album kind of excels more than most. The title track is still a banger. "State of the World" actually kind of reminded me of what Michael Jackson would do on *Dangerous* two years later. Except for the slow songs most of the beats are somewhat interchangeable, which kind of made the slow songs a little release. Though they did cram too many of them at the end, though I really liked "Come Back To Me" which kinda had a female BIIM feel to it, two years before their debut. Go figure.
7.6 ★★★½
Jimi Hendrix
5/5
Two things that keep this from being a full 5 stars for me, and that's "Little Miss Strange" and "Long Hot Sumner Night" and the fact they together open up side 2 stick out like a sore thumb. I'm not crazy about "...And The Gods Made Love" but as a psych album prelude it kinda works. Not a track I'd listen to on its own.
The rest of the album is fukkin fire. And if it wasn't for those two outta place filler songs, it would even rival the UK *Experienced?* debut... Probably not the US version, but definitely the UK.
9.85 ★★★★½
Fugazi
4/5
I really liked Piccioto songs the most in fact a lot. Some of Mackay songs were to screamy for me, but there were a few of those I dug pretty well. I actually liked this more than I thought I would. At times it's kinda punk meets grunge, even though the big grunge breakthrough hadn't happened yet. They must have had their ear to the ground
8.4 ★★★★
Bebel Gilberto
3/5
Bebel Gilberto - *Tanto Tempo*
I absolutely love her voice. She has a Norah Jones quality when she's more intimate. Which is why "Samba E Amor" might be my favorite track. Just a nice full body Spanish guitar and her sultry voice send my hairs on snd. Still for the most part Vasa Nova is not a fave of mine. I can chill with it with some wine and good company but it's not a go to. Also when the album ventures off the bossa nova she loses the purr in her voice. I'm going for a light 3½ for basically her voice alone. Could have been higher if I was more into the music. Blame it on the basa nova.
7.2 ★★★½
R.E.M.
5/5
1001 Album of the Day #276
R.E.M. - No. 5 Document [1987]
It's no secret I consider Document, Green, and Out of Time R.E.M.'s trifecta. Also that I hold all of their albums up to Monster in high regard. This album to me, however, is their crown jewel?
(10) ★★★★★
Deep Purple
4/5
DP MkII is such a powerhouse line up. All the way around. Although Richie's guitar is obviously the star, John Lord's keys are just absofuckinglutely amazing. When Ian Gillen gets on that howl it just sends my hairs is on end. And the steadfast Paice & Glover rhythm section is perfection. I think the only thing that keeps this from being an absolute five-star is there are a number of songs on here that I think the actual melody of the songs weren't quite there. The closing track, probably cuz it's fresh on my mind, is a prime example though the dynamics that Gillen has are absolutely amazing, yet I found the actual melody of the song itself just not much. And there was a couple of other tracks on there like that. But the centerpiece of the album "Child In Time", which is probably my absolute favorite Deep Purple song, doesn't suffer from that at all. Great melody throughout the entire song, Just killer dynamics and the production and performance are just spot on. And oh my gosh that Ian Gillen wailing cry, it just about makes me weep every single time.
9.6 ★★★★½
Fela Kuti
4/5
I actually really enjoyed this album. Probably probably from, spending my college Years listening to '90s jam bands which would often employ afrobeats. But I really love not only the Fierce message of the song but also the fierce playing that goes along with it.
8.55 ★★★★
Echo And The Bunnymen
3/5
I feel I may have to come back to this. I've had mixed feelings through out the whole album.
It started out decently fine but by the time I got to "The Yo Yo Man", I wanted this album to be over.
But then came a trio of 80s gothic pop perfection in "The Killing Moon", "Seven Seas" and, "My Kingdom". Honestly, I think of the rest of the album felt like this, I'd be way more on board. I'm giving it a lower mid 3½. I do honestly kinda feel if this album didn't hit me the way it should have today. There are some killer parts to some of the other tracks, especially "Thorn of crowns" but, the overall droning of the album I just could 100 get behind.
(7.35) ★★★½
Nirvana
4/5
Ok... As for me half of this album is fucking brilliant. "Heart-Shaped Box", "Rape Me", "Francis Farmer...", "Dumb", "Pennyroyal Tea", and my personal favorite Nirvana song, "All Apologies" are all absolute bangers. Five more songs like that and yes I would call this a five star, hands down. The rest honestly are just too raw and noisy for the sake of being raw and noisy. That usually doesn't sit well with me. But some of those tracks overcome that. Like the opening tracks "Sereve The Servant" and "Scentless Apperentice", which though I'm not as high on as the six I mentioned earlier, really feel fine in the context of the album. Then there is "Milk It" and "Tourette's" which we'll is just a bunch of screaming nonsense to me.
Over all this is a great album, but as I've always maintained, doesn't hold a candle to "Nevermind" as far as excellence. I don't care how many Nirvana fans have tried to convince me till they're blue in the face that this is a far better album and that I don't have any ears for not recognizing that. I'm not aiming that at anyone here, but it has historically made me kinda despise the album in retrospect. Every time I listen to it I keep on trying to find what it is that everyone talks about, but I don't hear it. I tried not to listen to it in that context this time around. And yes actually is a very good album.
8.75 ★★★★
Green Day
5/5
This was the album that kind of changed my mind on Green day. Not that I dislike them, I actually like them quite a bit in the 90s, but I never took them seriously. They were a fun jokey pop punk band that sang songs about masturbating while bored. Up until this album I just kind of thought that if I had *Dookie* and their greatest hits I'd be fine.
This album though really showed some depth that I never thought I'd actually ever see from Green Day. It's not just the sprawling epic of the concept, but also in the musicality which crosses the line between pop punk and classic rock. In fact I hear in a couple of songs some pretty heavy homages to The Who.
The singles really hit hard even today. "Boulevard of Broken Dreams" and "Wake Me Up When September Ends", which were well needed moments for me 20 years ago. The title track still bangs even if it it truly of the political landscape of the time. I probably would call "Jesus of Suburbia" and "Homecoming", though, the real anchor tracks of this album, the songs that really shift the concept into high gear. Quite honestly the first half of the album is pure perfection "American Idiot" to "St. Jimmy" (basically the first two sides though I do not consider this a double album).
(10) ★★★★★
Taylor Swift
4/5
*Tater-more* -
IDKW, but I do actually legitimately like this album. It's a lot for there's still things that she does that bugs me, but I think overall the more folkier she gets the better she sounds. I've never considered her a great vocalist, but I think she's carries emotion in her vocals pretty well. (Probably why in her more whiny pop songs feel even whinier) With an album like this, which feels a bit more vulnerable then her straightforward pop, her approach actually kind of works for me. Light four stars
8.2
Red Hot Chili Peppers
4/5
I really enjoyed revisiting pretty much all the way through.
I will say that it is very front loaded, though I think the back half supports it really well, even if most of it are lesser versions of what was earlier in the album. "Savior" to me is a great late album track. Probably my favorite of the non hits on here. "Otherside" is still probably my favorite RHCP song. If there is one thing that I found frustrating is after "Savior" the sequencing just sucks. Though "Road Trippin" I think is a great song and a great way to end the album, and the other two songs aren't terrible, they just kind of feel like they were tacked in there without thought of flow or anything. Still overall a really good listen not quite 4½ stars to me but in the upper quarter of 4.
Bob Marley & The Wailers
4/5
Reggae will never be not boring to me. But when this album steps out of the reggae trappings, the classic rock overtones of "Concrete Jungle" opening, the gospel feel of "Stop That Train", the multi cultural feel of War of "No More Trouble", this album really shines. Then there's "Stir It Up", whjch along with "Three Little Birds", might be my absolute favorite strict reggae songs.
The rest of the album I'd fall into good reggae, but still reggae. It only takes me so far.
8.4 ★★★★
Gang Starr
3/5
I'm sorry this album does zero for me. I literally have no feeling for it either way. For the hell if it I'll give it a tenth of a point on the up side. (6.1) ★★★
Neneh Cherry
2/5
This might be the most of its time album in this whole list. If I didn't know a thing about this album ahead of time I would have said this is straight up 1989. It has every pop trope of that year. Listen to any Billboard Top 40 countdown from that year and you will hear at least a dozen songs that sound exactly like this album. Quite frankly, other than the mega-hit "Buffalo Stance" I really don't find this album essential or influential. It jus is what ever 1989 is.
(5.4) ★★½ (two on the app)
Paul McCartney and Wings
5/5
The only fiver I have for Paul... This was his solo masterpiece
10 ★★★★★
Red Hot Chili Peppers
3/5
I'm sure there is at least a solid low 2★ album hidden the this mess. But it's muddled with about an EP's worth of 4+★ material, and a handful of tracks that arent so bad.
Overall feeling... (6.75) ★★★½
Leonard Cohen
4/5
This album is unrelentingly and unnecessarily 80s. It really begs the question, does this work. And somehow the answer for me is yeah. Non an emphatic "yeah", but I will say it's Cohen's delivery that sell the product more than the production around it. Not to mention, sans "Jazz Police", this might be his best written batch of songs he put on one album. "First We Take Manhattan", "Everybody Knows", "I'm Your Man", and "Tower of Songs" are absolute masterstrokes... and maybe to a lesser extent "Ain't No Cure For Love" and "Take This Waltz"
Yes, the production does get in the way a bit, but overall Cohen still pull this off as a flawed gem. (8.5) ★★★★
Brian Wilson
3/5
I think it is the lore behind this album that makes it essential more so than the album itself.
I kind like *Smiley Smile* it it's cutesy artsy fartsy way, but I've always felt they (or he) were trying to be too silly for the good of the album. I think I'd much rather some carved together version of the original *Smile* recordings over this remake, which tbh, are not as good as *Smile* material that the Beach Boys subsequently released.
I'm gonna go with a light 3, I guess out of respect for Wilson as an artist, and the material itself, which is better than its execution. (6.2) ★★★
Booker T. & The MG's
4/5
First thing's first... Memphis music is cool by definition!
One thing this album historically has going for it is that it is the first official Stax lable Lp, a Memphis studio and record label that would help define R&B in the 60s and 70s. Booker T in the MGs were basically the Stax Studio house band, backing the likes of Sam & Dave, Otis Redding, Wilson Pickett, Albert King and more... and even in the '80s Aykroyd and Belushi used Steve Cropper and "Duck" Dunn (though Dunn had not joined by this album) to help nail the sound of 60's R&B.
So is this album essential? I'm actually going to say yes only because of what it represents to R&B from that point on.
Quite honestly, they really had some great originals and some great singles, but I've always found the albums themselves having a fair amount of filler. This one is no exception. Honestly pretty much everything on the first side other than "Twist and Shout" I really enjoyed. The second side is primarily filler, though there are a couple of tracks I noted on that side as well. Two of the originals, the hit title track, and "Behave Yourself", are truly the highlights of this album as well as the two Ray Charles covers "I've Got A Woman", and "Lonely Nights". Both of those really have a Memphis Jam feel to them and I absolutely enjoyed that. The other original, "Mo' Onions", is obviously a quick call back of the big hit. Unfortunately like most music sequels it never compares to the original. I also liked to a lesser extent "Rinky Dink" and "Comin' Home Baby". The rest, though, is filler city.
7.9/10 ★★★½
AC/DC
5/5
I do not remember a time I didn't absolutely love this album end to end... well, maybe before I was 11. I personally have three AC DC albums that I consider five stars, their International debut High Voltage, Highway to Hell, and this masterpiece. I do, for the most part, prefer the Bon Scott era, but it is so hard to deny this album in particular. Every song into end, all killer no filler.
(10) ★★★★★
Jane's Addiction
4/5
I think I do like the follow up a bit more than this. I do like the rawness of this one, but I feel *Habitual* may be a bit more sharper and focused.
There are parts of this album that can see the 90s coming, but sometimes the production screams late 80s. Even though I absolutely love "Moutaun Song" it is the most 1988 rock radio ready song on the album. The gated reverb in the drums of "Ted, Just admit It" is also more akin to the 80s than 90s killing any future vibe it might have.
On the other hand, there's the incredible "Jane Says" which could sit really well with the early years of 90s alternative. Then the bad ass bass line of "Summertime Roll" feels way more 90s than late 80s.
I do like this album quite a bit, but there is something just holding it back from the four spot.
7.8/10 ★★★½
Lou Reed
4/5
4/5
The Stooges
4/5
Bob Dylan
5/5
This is definitely in my top 100 albums of all time and probably in my top 50. I absolutely adore this album. And to me what some people call throwaways on this album are bits and pieces of his character in writing. Whether being serious or whimsical I think they both show off his brilliance quite satisfyingly.
(10) ★★★★★
Bruce Springsteen
4/5
This is actually my seventh favorite Springsteen album.
As much as I love Bruce Springsteen's material my ranking of his is rather unconventional. My absolute favorite is the one previous to this, Nebraska, and also my top five are his debut and sophomore albums which are usually not very highly looked upon but I find them absolutely a joy to listen to. This one is still good as always his songwriting is in good form I think it's a bit weighted down by the '80s production. In fact I think a few of the songs feel a bit more upbeat considering the lyrics that contain it, including the first single "Dancing in the Dark". Honestly where this album really shines are the darker "I'm on Fire" and "My Hometown". But to me the crown jewel of this album is the title track and as much as it is misunderstood, I think his actual message is clear and concise. It is neither jingoistic or anti-america. It is just basically looking around and asking himself is this the America I bought into. All in all there are some really great tunes on this album "Cover Me", and "I'm Goin' Down", but it is often muddled with some overly bombastic songs that sound very 80s and very dated.
The less I talk about "Glory Days" the better. 8.4 ★★★★
The Pharcyde
3/5
Honestly, if there a type of hip hop I can at least lean towards it this type, loose and fun. I do like the way this kinda focuses on street life that's not so focused on the hard side, but good times that gets you through the hard times, without going into hippie dippy side of hip hop.
Though still not on my solid wheelhouse, I feel I can return to this, and maybe, possibly it'll grow on me. (7.6) ★★★½
Fever Ray
4/5
I do like this one better than their 2023 album by slight bit. Still, I seem to have the same overall feeling. I really want to like this better than I do I feel like in the right mind it could be at least a solid four-star album. This album to me works best when it almost has that Depeche Mode dark Moody synth-pop feel coupled with almost a Tegan and Sarah like vocals. It seems to be the songs where they manipulate their voice to a lower register that I feel disconnected to the feeling of the song.
I think all in all I do semi enjoy the album but I'm not head over heels over it.
(7.8) ★★★½
Michael Jackson
5/5
808 State
3/5
Honestly I think this album starts off pretty well between "Magical Dream" and "Cobra Bora" (which I noted "The Hustle" sample) overall, I find this being called 90 when it still feel definitely in the feel of late 80s house. Unfortunately, towards the some of the beats get a bit tiresome, most notably in "808080808" and "Sunrise", and "The Fat Shadow" straight up sucked (thank God it's only 59 seconds long)
7.65 ★★★½
Culture Club
4/5
I don't remember the last time I heard this out my kind of always put in the back of my mind it's a decent 3½★ album. But honestly listening to it this time, I personally think side one is downright excellent and going into" Church of the Poison Mind" this is looking like a solid 4★. Pretty much after that it just kind of lies there. "Miss Me Blind" is my least favorite of the singles though it's not bad. "Mister Man" I thought was just an awful song. "Victims" is a good closer but it didn't really bring anything more to the table better than what it did on the first side. Truly along with the singles, I really enjoyed "Black Money" and "That's the Way (I'm Only Trying to Help You)". I think they were magnificent songs. The latter actually has the most impassionate performance by Boy George on this album.
I'm going to give it a high 3½ only because the second side really didn't live up to the first
(7.9) ★★★½
Sufjan Stevens
5/5
***Sufjan Stevens** invites you to Come on feel the Illinoise* [2005]
I am so tempted to give this five stars but I'm going to keep it at a rather heavy four and a half just to let it sink in... but I fucking love this album. And it is this specific sound which is why his *Songs for Christmas* box set is one of my absolute favorite annual plays. I love his arrangements and I love the way his production of his albums around this time. It sounds Lo-Fi without sounding like dirty garage. Very clean recordings but so little effects on them that the performances speak for themselves. All the way right down to the very last note of the album which is sound of the pedal lifting from the piano. It's in your face and it's real. (9.85) ★★★★½
Kate Bush
3/5
Idk... Some about her artsy fartsy way she just doesn't to it for me. I mean it's not bad, and I have a low level appreciate her work., but ultimately I end up cold.
(6.8) ★★★
Drive Like Jehu
4/5
Drive Like Jehu - Yank Crime [1994]
On the very first song I really wanted to hate it, not necessarily by preconception but when it started I just figured this was going to be one of those albums that was a bit too abrasive for me. But I didn't necessarily hate the song. By the second song I actually really decided I like this band and enjoyed the rest of the album even though it's not a straight up go through it was thoroughly entertaining. I hear a lot of people talking about his screaming voice but honestly to me his voice though it doesn't sound like Cobain reminds me of Cobain's more screamy deliveries. And even though this music does not remind me of Nirvana's music necessarily it does remind me of at least in Nirvana spirit of *Bleach* a little bit more loud in your face but still a locked and groove. In fact I really loved some of bass grooves that would pop up every once in awhile. I'm going to start this off at a light 4★s, but I can actually see it kind of grow on me a bit. (*Bleach* did and my initial rating of that was lower than this)
8.25 ★★★★
The Byrds
4/5
I like the way that it really kind of straddles the jangle, psych, and upcoming Americana sound.
(8.6) ★★★★
Thelonious Monk
4/5
I'm actually going to raise my review just a smidge to give it a full four. I'm warming up to it a little bit. Still the stand out track to me is still "Bemsha Swing", but I was really diggin' "Ba-Leu Bolivar Ba-Lues-Are" this time around. Still the title track and "Pannonica" were still a bit difficult for me to totally get, but just like last time, I at least respect them quite a bit
(8.1) ★★★★
Tangerine Dream
3/5
This is kind of cool and kind of boring. It kind of reminds me of the stuff that Pink Floyd would do as interludes but for the most part they wouldn't go on for 17 minutes like that without going into either a song or a blues jam at some point. All in all given the right mood I could probably really get into this but it is definitely one of those where I'd have to be in the mood for this kind of like trippy hazy feel. Even at that I would probably more likely pull out something like "Echoes" over this. 7.25 ★★★½
Napalm Death
1/5
New bottom of the heap. (1.00/10) ½★😒
Quite honestly, at times I wanted to give them a slightly higher rating, especially when they were throwing out some Metallica like riffs. But ultimately between the growling singing, if you want to call it that, and that every time he sang, all they did was bashing drum rolls and fast nonsense guitar. It was not only gawd awful, it was undeniably unlistenable. The fact that that makes up a majority of the album, especially on the latter half, I ended up just pissed off and ready to f'king shoot my speakers
The United States Of America
3/5
I actually really liked this a good bit, but not bowled over by it. I think it's influential, in as much as it's still kind of the ground level of electronic music as a means . There's actually no guitars on this album except for the electronic fretless base, which I guess doing the only guitar like sounds in there. I find the canopy rather interesting, even though the songs aren't necessarily there. I hear a good bit Airplane, Floyd, and VU influence, with a touch of the Beatles. But as I said, other than "Hard Come Loving", and to me the very Beatlesque track on here "Stranded In Time", I find the music pretty much lesser versions of pop songs of 66 & 67, yet still quite palatable. I do despise, however, the fact that they ended the album with a musique concrète piece "Love Is All", but at least that predates "Revolution #9" by a good six months or more, and much shorter. All in all, I think Silver Apples would probably be a better example of late 60s electronic music in the late than this.
(7.6) ★★★½
Radiohead
4/5
Radiohead - *The Bends* however I did like pretty well. I may or may not have an affinity to their more traditional 90's alt sound than most Radiohead fans, but I can tell this the the transitional album to the next few. I liked this slightly better than *Kid A*, but definitely not as much as *In Rainbows*
8.75 ★★★★
Kanye West
4/5
I was actually pleasantly surprised by this album . In fact I was actually expecting a far more mid reaction to it which is my usual Kanye ratings. I do like some of the stuff but as a whole I'm not a fan, even when he wasn't controversial. First thing I think this album starts off and ends absolutely spectacularly "Dark Fantasy" and "Lost in the World"/"Who Will Survive in America", are above and beyond what I expected. I also really enjoyed the first four tracks on the album up to "All the Lights". This album to me works really well when it's pretty much crossing over the hip hop and pop landscapes. Starting with "Monster" through "Devil In A New Dress", along with "Hell of A Life" however it kind of gets into the typical rap that I'm not really drawn to, though I did like the guitar work on "Devil". "Runaway" I also enjoyed quite a bit, especially the last four minutes goes into musical textures I honestly think is brilliant.
If it wasn't for the stretch of songs, which if I were more into rap in general I'd probably dig it, I could see myself going much higher.
(8.4) ★★★★
Quicksilver Messenger Service
4/5
I like this, but is it essential? Not really. Grateful Dead have better psych jams than this... as does Iron Butterfly, and their exquisite 16 min psych jam also on this list. Still though, I do quite enjoy this album. 8.6 ★★★★
Fleet Foxes
4/5
I've always been told to give this album a listen, but for some reason I never have. I absolutely really love this album. And even though it does somewhat suffer from the millennial vocal wispiness that i'm not the biggest fan of, I really found the folk instrumentation just absolutely gorgeous and the harmonies on here are absolutely heaven. I'm going to give it a 4½ for now with room to grow.
(9.5) ★★★★½
Cyndi Lauper
4/5
First thing "ALL Through The Night" is my absolute favorite Cyndi Lauper songs and possibly even one of my top 25 to 50 songs of the '80s I just love that track. I love the emotion in her delivery and I love the keyboard stabs in the place of the solo where I would usually want a guitar solo but those stabs just increase the agony of the lyrics. I have no problem with this album pretty much all the way through even after the hits run out on the album I think it's still stands as solid album tracks even though they are not obvious single tracks. "Witness" has a very early Police influence to it, and i got to admit Lauper covering Betty Boop is kind of the cherry on top.
9.6 ★★★★½
Rod Stewart
5/5
9.8.★★★★½
The Police
4/5
Yeah, this is still my least favorite Police album. I'm not sure why thus is on the list over *Outlandos de Amour*. With the exception of "Message In a Bottle" even the singles are better. (possibly also "Bring On The Night" but I much prefer Sting's 1995 live version over the original). The Copeland songs are the weakest link on the album, and this has more Copeland songs than any other Police album. I do, however, like the Sting/Copeland co-written "It's Alright For You" even though it totally rips the Rhythm from "Too Much Monkey Business" by Chuck Berry
Also, unlike any other police album, less than half, only lives only five songs, were written solely by Sting (with three by Copeland, also two credited to the whole band.)
All in all I've always felt this felt like a hasty follow up to *Outlandos*, even though it did chart higher and is actually more critically acclaimed than their debut.
(8.33) ★★★★
Coldplay
5/5
Sisters Of Mercy
3/5
I think I liked this a bit more than most here. It really takes me back to a certain time in my life... Senior year of high school. Even though I wasn't a goth, by any means, I had a few goth friends or as well as a few non goth friends who liked the musical aesthetics. I wasn't much drawn to it back then, but now, probably my first time listening to it in over 35 years, it's like a time tunnel.
I will say this album is very dated, and could have only come out in the mid to late 80s.
I've never inherently dislike this album. But I've never inherently loved it either. But it does bring back good times. So it may shine a little brighter on me today. 7.45 ★★★½
Britney Spears
2/5
Let's face it Britney Spears was the female version of The Backstreet Boys. At least that's what I kept hearing throughout this album. I guess what really gets me as far as my appreciation is that I am really just not that into the General sound of the '90s boy band. Maybe with the exception of Hanson but that's another story. Honestly other than the two really big singles, the title track and "(You Drive Me) Crazy", there wasn't really much that I could sink my teeth in to or even really appreciate. "Sometimes" wasn't so bad but nothing I put on by my own free will. And as far as bottom of my own "From The Bottom of My Broken Heart" isn't really my kind of ballad. I think the B side "I'll Never Stop Loving You" was a slightly better ballad. The rest of the album to me was basic '90s pop that I can either take or leave, but mainly leave. I did not, however, like the cover of "The Beat Goes On". They tried to update it, but it just didn't really work for me. 5.4 ★★½
4/5
I really love this album, my favorite of theirs
9.7 ★★★★½
Michael Jackson
5/5
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds
4/5
I really enjoyed this album, not quite 4½, but I can see it moving up that way. I can also see this becoming one of my halloween time Staples. Not that it's typical Halloween fodder, but it does have a very dark sinister feel to it. I'm wondering if this came up in October I would have easily given it a 4½, but I'm going to give it a high 4
(8.8) ★★★★
My Bloody Valentine
2/5
*M B V*... I'm sorry, but this is most fuzzy nothingness to me. During it's 45 minute run time I just kept waiting for it to be over. I liked this better than *Isn't Anything* but not by much
(4.6) ★★
Adele
5/5
One of top ten albums of the 2010s. This is one of the albums that I feel should they should have never replaced on the main 1001, especially at the hand of the follow up 25. I personally feel her first two albums tower over the two that followed. But, man, her voice evokes heartache, track after track. On this listen I really was getting into the four or five songs that Lightning 100 didn't play the shit out of... "Don't You Remember" and "I'll Be Waiting" particularly stood out
(10) ★★★★★
Arcade Fire
3/5
As always for some reason i never can fully get into this band. I don't think they're bad they are quite good, but I don't think they sound any much different than most of the other Millennial Indie bands. They do kind of sound like a band I should get into more than I do I just don't. I did raise this one up just a tad from when I first heard it first a few years ago, but i think this listen I can boost it to a low 3½
The Black Keys
4/5
I was actually surprised because I mentally had this rated higher from back in the 2010s though I have not listened to this album or the follow-up since the early 2010s. I do rather prefer *Rubber Factory*, the only album I own by them. I got into them from their single "10 a.m. Automatic".
(7.8) ★★★½
Frank Zappa
4/5
This, *Apostrophe (')*, and *Over-Night Sensation* have historically been the only Frank Zappa studio albums I've really enjoyed thoroughly. All at solid 4½ star ratings. This one is probably my favorite and I think it is probably because it is mostly instrumental. His lyrics get really silly. I appreciate them but I'm at a slight arm's length at them, but I don't think that they're bad at all. In fact there are songs on both *Apostrophe (')*and *Overnight Sensation* that I can see where *Weird Al* gets his influence. But still it's lo e reading a comic book for insight.
I do need to get this on LP because it is honestly just a great jam all the way through. Whether it is bizarro psychedelic to its Jazz/Rock fueled moments, I find myself eating this up.(9.55) ★★★★½
Marty Robbins
5/5
This is an album that has been with me all of my life. In fact my father's mono copy now adorns my collection. I can remember loving this album as far back as four years old.
(10) ★★★★★ for me. Honestly one of might even be in my top ten country albums of all time for me... top 25 for sure.
Nico
4/5
Though I really enjoyed most of this album there is a bit of saminess that kind of keeps it from being really high in my book. But at its best it's like an album version of "Ruby Tuesday" I think the strings were a bit high in the mix too for me but I caught glimpse of a mono mix that may have had it a little bit more in sync so I may have to try that version. Her voice isn't really what I like but what I but I think it's effective.
8.33 ★★★★
Hugh Masekela
4/5
I liked this more than I thought I would, parts sound like proto soft jazz, but when the solos liked in the player really cook. "Inner Crisis" however was my favorite track which has a nice dirty funk jazz feel to it. It does go on a bit long for me and especially "Blues For Heuy" i started feeling some disconnection to the album . But for the most part I really enjoyed it and probably some room to grow .
(8.1) ★★★★
Solomon Burke
4/5
Great collection of songs, strangely cohesive despite being recorded over three years. (At least in early 60s terms.) I absolutely love his style does remind me a bit of early James Brown before he was the Godfather of Funk. But Brurke really does have his own stamp as well... Solid 60s soul album
9.1 ★★★★½
The Rolling Stones
5/5
The Electric Prunes
3/5
I was really expecting to like this one a lot more being the huge psych fan that I am. Quite frankly, this album is bolstered by three really well done psych pieces, "Too Much To Dream", "Sold To The Higest Bidder", and "Get Me To The World On Time", none of which were written by the band, and one great '60s folk pop piece, "Train For Tomorrow" which was written by the band. Most of the rest was basically bland 60s pseudo-psych pop, and two absolutely horrendous songs "Oney" and the closing track, "Toonsville Trolly".
Overall not a bad lesson but not a great album as a whole. If it wasn't for the few psych songs that came out just as psych was becoming into its own I really couldn't see this being that important of an album
7.1 ★★★½
Radiohead
4/5
Really freakin liked this one, even slightly better than *In Rainbows*, definitely my favorite Rh album I've heard. Unless I ever listen to *King of Limbs* and it bowls me over, it should stay that way.
9.4 ★★★★½
Duke Ellington
5/5
Absolutely incredible performances, even though most of it was a studio performance with crowd noises dubbed in. But I truly dig this kind of swing.
9.8 ★★★★½
David Gray
3/5
David Gray, not as good as I remembered (I seem to think I had as a four and enjoying it as quite a bit) it starts and ends really well but there is like a three song stretch, really felt dreary... But Babylon and Sail Away are tops for me still
7.65 ★★★½
Ramblin' Jack Elliott
4/5
Well my thoughts about this Ramblin' Jack Elliott are so complex.... First of all i have a huge problem on calling this an album rather than a collection of recordings he did over a period of time and some of them don't even sound like they are traditional Studio recordings . It doesn't sound like this is an album as in a statement of time and place. This begs the question why is there no robert Johnson or Elmore James albums which have such similar recording styles as this and have just as much, and some might say even more, influence in this head on music forward. (I put them on equivalent levels).
That being said I also really do love albums like this historically. And it's something I actually enjoy listening to a bit because it reminds me of where music started. Just a man and an instrument and a feeling in his heart.
When I was living in Memphis I was around a lot of singer-songwriters and though I did not hear a lot of ramblin' Jack Elliott , he was very well respected amongst my friends. And listen to this I can see why it is very similar in the vein of some of the acts that I really loved watching live including Todd Snider who was up and coming at the time I was watching him in Memphis.
Even though I really like listening to this a lot ,I don't see it as a 4½,star album mainly because it lacks any cohesiveness. But, I think it does reach me enough as a collection of songs to give it a decent 4
8.6 ★★★★
Patti Smith
4/5
"Jesus died for somebody's sins but not mine"
Not only is that a hell of a line to open up an album but to also open up an entire career, WOW!
Is there such thing as proto-postpunk? I must say, wish I had heard this album earlier in my life. I really only knew Patti Smith from "Gloria" and "Because The Night". Though a lot of the things I was reading about her as precursor to the American Punk scene, I see most of her influence more on the backside of punk as it morphed into post Punk, specifically some of the more punkier sides of Blondie. But I can also see her influence on the likes of PJ Harvey and later on Liz Phair. I've always thought that her voice was not something I would really get into , but as I went through this album the Darkness the haunting this really grabbed me and appreciate her approach. Honestly the only song I really had noted is not really liking that much was the closer but it works really well as a closer so I'm starting this off with a strong 4¼★ but I think it could go higher up on further lessons
9.53 ★★★★½
Elvis Costello & The Attractions
3/5
Still not sold on Elvis Costello, but I did like this one
Quite frankly my favorite song on the album was the track added to the US version, and it wasn't even written by him
(7.63) ★★★½
Megadeth
3/5
I've never been sold on Megadeth, and listening to this, I casn see why Metallica leads the pack of the big four of trash in popularity and that they are the only one that really has a melodic approach to their vocals. I know some would say that's what makes Metallica thrash light, I'm just saying it's what makes them more approachable.
My probrme with Mustane's vocals is that spoken cackle delivery he uses on the opening few tracks, I hate them. But he drop that after a few songs. And I do find the later half tolerable, but I but nothing aces over the Metallica at the time. I will note really liking "Devil's Island" and "Bad Omen" but really not much else.
6.25 ★★★
Alanis Morissette
5/5
Finley Quaye
2/5
Back in high school my friends and I used to kind of romanticize British popular music as better than the US. The more I delve into Robert Dimery's book, the more I'm finding that's a load of bollocks. And this is a prime example. I can see why this was not double platinum in the US, I cannot see why it went that far in the UK. Nothing groundbreaking and safe as milk. This album at its best is cliche 90s pop reggae. At its worst it is no better than run of the mill adult contemporary of the time. The only song on this album that I even remotely liked was "Your Love Gets Sweeter, which in itself sounds like it could be used in an ad for a Caribbean vacation, but at least it was catching enjoyable. Honestly, the rest of this album I can completely do without. I definitely don't consider this a must listen.
(4.6) ★★
Spiritualized
4/5
I'm having a hard time nailing this one down. On one hand the melodies tend to bore me a good bit, but when it gets spacey and crunchy, I fucking love it.. I'm gonna slide to a light 4 for now only because the crunchy side is winning my affection
(8.15) ★★★★
Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers
4/5
This is a classic case of great artist good album, but, with only one entry, it's the wrong album. Damn The Torpedos not only showed the band coming into its own, but it was the album that cemented Tom Petty as a major figure in rock history. The self-titled is a stellar debut, but I think only hints at the greatness to come. This could have been sequence better. I think "Strangered in the Night" would have been a better opener for the album, and kept the rest of side one the same. Then open the second side with "Fooled Again (I Don't Like It)" followed by "American Girl" and bury the other three at the end of side 2.
(8.6)★★★★
Tom's solo Wildflowers should have been on the list but it also got snubbed
Johnny Cash
4/5
This is one album that's really gone down in my ratings over the years. This album copy is my dad's so I've actually been listening to this as long as I can remember. I would have given it a full five stars back then. But when I finally first heard the Folsom Prison album I realized that that was a good head over this one and though I still absolutely loved this album it just was no longer a fiver for me after listening to Folsom Prison.
Then when Columbia released the full San Quentin concert in 2006, that became my main version to listen, and has pretty much been the (9.6) 4½★ rating I've held for many years.
This is probably the first time I've listened to the Lp version probably in 20 years and even though I still love it quite a bit some of the janky fade editing does kind of get in the way. But I guess what really stands out is that quite frankly there's really only five songs that kind of stand out as far as the performance, "Wanted Man", "Wreck of the Old '97", "Starksville City Jail", "San Quentin", and "A Boy Named Sue". The other four aren't really my favorite live renditions... And the ultra cut down version of Folsom Prison is downright heresy. Though it still brings back fond memories and for that it's always going to get a pretty high rating I just can't even give it the four and a half that I used to
(8.85) ★★★★
Circle Jerks
3/5
7.7 ★★★½
The Psychedelic Furs
3/5
Honestly, The Psychedelic Firs have never been a band I've really could sink my teeth into. Something about Richard Butler's delivery I've always found kind of droney and boring. Something that struck me while I was listening to this album is tHat a lot of their verses to me kind of sounded the same. I don't know if it's just is cadence or that it really is kind of just lack of variety in the verses but half the songs I could tell they were different only by the chorus.
This may be heresy, but I do prefer the '86 we recorded version of "Pretty in Pink" used in the movie, sounds fuller to me. But to me the best song on the album was "It Goes On" which didn't suffer from sounding the same. I actually quite enjoyed that one.
There's nothing I inherently hate about this album, and it's in a general genre and sound that I do appreciate. I just don't find it all that gripping for whatever reason.
(7.2) ★★★½
Dr. Dre
2/5
*The Chronic*
Belive it or not I decided to listen to the album again just to be more percice in my criticism. First of all I like the way this album starts off. Honestly there is a certain playfulness to the delivery... Especially Snoop. I could done without the Deez Nuts skit with a joke I commonly attribute to Andrew Dice Clay and I can't stand his comedy.
Starting with "Lil Ghetto Boy" it gets more closer to the gangster rap I really have a hard time with. Hyper violent hyper hateful...with out dissing the art it fills me with hate and I don't like feeling that. Maybe it's supposed to end I can respect it for that but as a form of entertainment it is nothing I enjoy experiencing.
"$20 sack Pyramid" and "The Doctors office" I'm sorry but those skits just sucks!
The only highlight I have for the latter ⅔ of the albums is "The Roach" which brings back the laid back grove of the first third that I did like.
I can't stand the closing ultra misogynistic track, and as popular that one seems to be with the Gen Xers... I don't get it... It's just downright disparaging in my ears.
I'm again very conflicted on where to rate this. Mainly because I can do without listening to this album again. A few songs from five tracks and "The Roach" I do like, but that's about it.
I do recognize its place on this list, but if I'm going to be real about my feelings.
(5.25) ★★½
Christina Aguilera
3/5
I want to start out this review with what I disliked most about the album which quite honestly is the promotion. For being promoted as her throwback to 40s and 50s Jazz and Blues it seems to only apply to the first five songs on the second disc. The entire first disc sounds like the logical follow-up the *Stripped*, although as far as I'm concerned a few years too late as I think it reminds me more of late 90s early 2000s pop R&B. The only hints at it trying to be a throwback album is some of the backing tracks or maybe samples hinted at it even though the beats were obviously modern. The song where all she does is name drop old R&B artist, "Back in the Day" kind of made me roll my eyes only because the song sounded nothing like the artist she was mentioned. I even burst out laughing at the Jimmy Castor sample that opens the track. I'm like 90% sure that most of Christina's fans had never heard "Troglodyte (Caveman)". All in all not a bad set of songs the worst part about it was the 5-minute Thank You song to all her fans which I guess is nice for what it was but went on way too long and board the crap out of me. ||I had to change my underwear||.
Then you get to the second disc, which the first five songs actually sound like the project she was promoting . Unfortunately it comes off very much more like aural cosplay than it does anything authentic. I think having Linda Perry on that particular portion at least helped it to get close to the sound they were wanting because it seems like Linda understood the intent more than the pop/hip hop producers that were producing the first disc. But then you get to the second half of the second disc and it turns into the typical Linda Perry writes songs for American Idol singers. Which is fine. I'm not as burnt in them as most. But it's not anything I gravitate to... and I do like "Hurt", fwiw.
Honestly I did not dislike this album at all I can't say I loved it appreciate it is probably more where I'm at but i neither find it essential in any sense of the matter. I would honestly say if they were going to have a Aguilera album on there it probably would be *Stripped* or the debut, but quite honestly there's really not much on this album that really makes it stand out except for what it was promoted for which takes up less than a quarter of the album
(6.7) ★★★
Beastie Boys
2/5
This album is mostly screamy and infantile. Other than "FFYRTP" & "NSTB" which I think I more retroactively like than I did at the time, this album just gave me a headache
4.6 ★★
The Icarus Line
2/5
*Penance Soiree*
Starting from the opening track I thought I was actually going to like this album. Starting from the second track I realized I am going to hate this album. Honestly this was really a mixed bag of songs that I liked "Up Against the Wall Motherfucker", "Spike Island", and "Getting Bright At Night" a bunch of generic 2K aughts rock "On the Lash", "Virgin Velcro", "Party the Bsby Off", and utter crapfest... Pretty much the rest of the album.
The Crapfest won the overall rating for me. (4.4) ★★
Coldplay
4/5
My third favorite Coldplay album after Rush of Blood and Viva La Vida both of which I have at five stars. So there are quite a few songs on here that keep this at a 4.5, there are a few tracks that keep it from a fiver for me.
9.67 ★★★★½
Bruce Springsteen
4/5
I actually raised this up by a good half star from my traditional ratings. My usual problem with Bruce Springsteen's normally high ranked albums tend to be his ode to Spector production. Quite frankly there's really only two songs that really lean heavily into that sound on this album and they happen to be the opening tracks on each side. I do find this one a lot more engaging and grittier than its immediate predecessor and subsequent album. In fact "Adam raised A Cane" sounds almost down right mean . "Streets of Fire" another one that really caught my ear this time. Though *Born in the USA* landed about where my traditional rating for that album, I'll be interested to see where *Born to Run* lands this time around. *Nebraska* has been my traditional favorite album of his, and *The Rising* being my #2. Though I don't see this rising above *Nebraska* in my ears, it might rival *The Rising* which I also have at a mid four and a half
9.6 ★★★★½
The Fall
2/5
There is some ethos of punk I that I feel deliberately shoots itself in the foot. And that is the DIY no-fi sound. And it makes it even hard if it sounds like they're doing it on purpose, because this is recored and mixed like somebody's first day on the job. That snare sound is so unnecessarily boxy and way up in the mix, that it sounds like they found some random guy walking down the hall to come in and record the damn thing.
Granted I don't think musically I would actually care for this that much either. I don't like his singing, but that does have a punky snarl that I can kind of see what they were trying to do and why some people would like it. But the sound of this album was just fucking atrocious... even for punk standards.
4.4 ★★
Snoop Dogg
2/5
Snoop Dogg – Doggystyle [1993]
This is going to sound like a review from an old coot but here it goes. If I had heard this album when I was still in high school I probably would giggled and laughed and loved it. By the time this came out lyrics like this kind of made my eyes roll. And now hearing the album for the first time in hole at age 56 it almost makes me wonder how this album stand stood the test of time considering how misogynistic it is how Pro violent it is (busting cap in someone for saying whatsup too much). Literally this album has very little remorse whatsoever.
That being said i do like his laid-back style of rapping. I think with it not being so forceful and hateful i can at least enjoy the groove.
And this is where i get the conflict on the message alone I really want to throw it in the sub 2star dumpster. But the music in the groove is pleasant enough to say it's not that bad, some 3½ material, but overall high 3.
All in all i think the message kind of wins out but I'm not going to throw it in the dumpster.
(5.45) ★★½
The Chemical Brothers
4/5
Second album by them that I was surprised how much I really enjoyed this album. I have *Exit Planet Dust* just slightly ahead of this one, i think mainly because it's a lot fuzzier and dirtier. But this one definitely has its merits and in some cases even better than their debut. This album starts off really strong first couple of songs are just fantastic, it does sag a little in the middle for me but it ends quite frankly on two of my favorite songs of the whole project. "Where Do I Begin" with Beth Orton, is my favorite track on the whole album and quite frankly Beth's best bit outside of "Best Bits". And the closer OMG! "The Private Psychedelic Reel" it's such a tour de force of what The Chemical Brothers do best. Still slightly favor "Where Do I Begin", but this track is right up there with it.
(8.77) ★★★★
Norah Jones
5/5
My favorite album of the 21st Century. I absolutely adore this album!
10 ★★★★★
Billy Bragg
4/5
Honestly I can see myself going higher on this one. I really like this album especially when it gets overtly political which it does quite a bit, in fact most of it. I don't know if anyone else heard it but when I listened to "Ideology" it almost sounds like a clear homage to "Chimes of Freedom" musically, but I'm pretty sure given the subject matter Dylan wouldn't mind. Definitely need to come around to this at some point but I'm going to give this one a high mid four... But given my affinity for a well-written protest song this might actually grow on me in time.
(8.7) ★★★★
Neil Young
5/5
My second favorite Neil album. Sometimes my favorite because Harvest is right up there neck & Neck
10 ★★★★★
Jah Wobble's Invaders Of The Heart
3/5
I definitely did not dislike this like most the people in the group. My biggest gripe, if you will, is that it has that very early 90s digital sterile cleanness to it. But quite honestly musically I don't think there's anything on here I disliked. But there was also nothing on here that I absolutely loved. My favorite track was the opener, "Visions of You", with Sinead O'Connor which kind of gives me a vibe of what Enigma would do with "Return to Innocence", without the native American chanting of course. But most of this is fine. I kind of liked it kind of exotic coffee shop way, but it is also nothing I I'm compelled to revisit. Though if it was playing for me, I'd probably enjoy it as background music. No this is not terribly exciting, but I honestly don't think it's that bad.
6.7 ★★★
The Style Council
3/5
Definitely the tale of two sides. I actually really liked the soft sophistopop jazz leanings of the first side. I especially liked the US hit, and the title track of the US version of this album, "My Ever Changing Moods".
The second side however was more of a mixed bag. It starts off totally on the wrong foot with the absolute worst songs of the album. There's a better pop Fair as the rest of the side moves along. And ends pretty well with "Headstart for Happiness", and the jaunty instrumental "Council Meeting" i do kind of wish the additional US track was on there "A Solid Bond in Your Heart" (a UK non album single) which would not only be a side to highlight if it were there, but probably be the second best track on the album after "Moods"
If the album had stayed in the vein of side one I probably would have gone with a solid four, but I think the second side really doesn't do as much for me to keep it at that high of a rating
7.6 ★★★½
Michael Jackson
4/5
I wanted to say something pithy like, *Bad* was Michael Jackson's last good album... Truth is I probably have *Dangerous* at a low 4, *Blood on the Dance Floor* (which is half remix half new material) at a mid 3½, and even *Invincible* at a slight 3½ or high 3... The only real falter I have during his Epic run is the CD of new stuff that it's included with HIStory part 1 (which even about a third of that I do kind of like)
But as for this album I still find that most of 9 singles (including "Leave Me Alone") I still really enjoy listening to, even like the title track. Is Michael Jackson acting like a badass is a little bit too much to take? Yes, I made fun of it back then too. But I always liked the song. The only single I didn't like was "Liberian Girl", and that one was not released in the US. "Man in the Mirror", although I would not put that my upper echelon of Michael Jackson tunes, it's still a far cry better than some of the schmaltzy crappy stuff he would put out later such as "Childhood" and "Earth Song" or even "We Are The World" a few years earlier.
I think one thing that does make this album suffer is that unlike *Off the Wall or *Thriller* which each had a song or two that were kind of buried which didn't live up to the rest, this one puts them all right in the row right at the end of side one. "Speed Demon", "Liberian Girl", and "Just Good Friends". The good thing about this album is that it ends with two of best songs of the album, including "Dirty Diana" which features a guitar work of Billy Idol's guitarist Steve Stevens, the best song on the album.
Overall this is still a pretty great listen even though it doesn't anywhere come near the highs of the previous two
(8.67) ★★★★
The Who
5/5
I gave a listen to the original LP version on YouTube this morning as not only a refresher but just to hear it and it's original intent.
I do prefer the longer version only because it feels more like a full show even though it's still missing the Tommy segment of the lead show. (That also was subsequently released on the Leeds box set). But it's still hard to deny the energy of the set I'm actually still not going to give it a full but I will up at to a 9.8 this listen. I quite honestly needed the energy burst this morning
9.8 ★★★★½ (five on the app)
Radiohead
3/5
When I first started *Amnesiac*, I thought it was pretty much one of those albums that separates the real fans from the bandwagon fans. This is truly an album only an uber-Radiohead fan can love.
But after reading the history of it I honestly believe that this is more of an album of what was left of the *Kid A* sessions. It feels like they released the more accessible material on that album, and left the more experimental tracks on this one.
There are a few nuggets so the accessible line, like my favorite track "Dollars and Cents", as well as "I Might be Wrong" and "Knives Out" which I also liked. Most of this album, though, reminds me of what people say when they call them too bloopy. I did not dislike all of the experimental tracks on the album. One that really stood out to me was "Hunting Bears" with the guitar playing around the white noise swish.
Still, all in all I think I found more material that I either didn't appreciate or didn't like.... but it has its moments
(6.8) ★★★
Ali Farka Touré
3/5
Most of the first half of the album I really got into when it was truly a cross between blues and African music. It reminded me of what I really liked about the Songhoy Blues album. But as the album went on I found it sounding more like generic World music fare. Though it was still it was still pretty good, it didn't strike me as outstanding. I did like this album but I think I like the Songhoy Blues album a lot more.
7.33 ★★★½
Muddy Waters
4/5
This is definitely one of those albums where if I was exposed to it earlier in life I probably would have loved it a lot more.
But my many years in Memphis and seeing a lot of bar bands do this kind of Blues ad nauseam, has really softened my appreciation for electric blues.
That being said this is a fine example of it and much early on then the kind of rote blues I was exposed to in the 90s. Still I don't think he was Reinventing the wheel as much as carving another notch in his legacy on this album. It's a good album, actually a really good album, but I think his Chess material over shadows this album by a good margin.
(8.4) ★★★★
Deee-Lite
3/5
I still really like this album, it makes me happy, for some unknown reason. But there is something about this early 90s house pop that I always found a bit appealing. C+C Music Factory would be another contemporary example. But there are a number of tracks I still really dig a good bit, "Groove" of course, "Who Was That?", and "Good Beat". I even liked the opener which I never heard until today since it was omitted from the vinyl Lp. Not so much great song but great intro to the album.
There are a few slogs that keep this from a four, mainly at the end of side one. But overall this is Deee-Lite-ful enough
(7.55) ★★★½
Sonic Youth
4/5
*Sisters*
Listen to it a second time as a whole this time around it actually confirmed what I thought the first four songs I'm really kind of fine with and was looking like I would probably put it in between *Evol* and *Nation*
But quite frankly after the 4th song it just seems to run into the kind of noise Rock category that I find kind of interesting but also not anything I would pull out to just enjoy. Overall still a pretty high 3½ which will give it a 4 on the app.
7.8 ★★★½
Wu-Tang Clan
2/5
I honestly did not like this album one bit. I guess one of my problems with gangster rap in the first place is I can't get behind the message of gang and Thug Life it's something i neither experience for myself so can relate nor something that I aspire for my personal choices. I guess what gets me the most is the anger and rage at herent in the material kind of manifest itself inside my listening experience and I don't like that feeling at all. I definitely can't call this a bad album which means that it's not going to be something I write lower than two stars. But my inherent dislike for this style of rap will put it at the lower ens of two stars
4.1 ★★
Marvin Gaye
5/5
First side of this album is five star magic, and the second side starts off well, the last two songs don't really do the same for me (especially the second) but still perfectly fine. But there is so much good will in the first three quarters of the album that I only shave a bit off the perfect 10.
(9.85) ★★★★½ (but still a 5 here)
Mott The Hoople
4/5
9.45 ★★★★½
Ryan Adams
5/5
Ngl... His first three albums are favorites of mine... Along with *Cold Roses*, *Easy Tiger*, and the 2014 eponymous. Another one where I have to separate there art from the artist.
9.8 ★★★★½
Yes
5/5
This is a long-standing five-star album for me. It's a coin toss between this and *Fragile* being my favorite Yes album. (No slight to *CTE*, that's way up there too)
(10) ★★★★★
Orbital
2/5
God says "This album sucks"
(4.3) ★★
The Dave Brubeck Quartet
5/5
Quite Frankly my long standing favorite Jazz album 10 ★★★★★
Fats Domino
4/5
9.5 ★★★★½
Wild Beasts
2/5
Honestly i really did not enjoy listening to this album all that much the biggest problem being the vocals. Hayden Thorpe is another one of those vocals from the 2000s who tried to be the next Freddie Mercury but can't. Something I've often noted about Matt Bellamy, but I at least find the music of Muse far more interesting than this. Not to mention Thorpe is far more screechy. I didn't think this was necessarily all that bad, some of the music reminded me City and Colour, but for the most part it didn't really stand out to me than typical millennial indie pop
(5.5) ★★½
Holger Czukay
2/5
All this reminded me of is movie music for the kind of films that would go DTV. I did not hate it, but held no interest in it at all. 5.33 ★★½
The Verve
4/5
*Urban Hymns*
Honestly really solid album. I do think the length of the album does take away a bit, mainly in that the music pretty much stays in that same vain of pop deamy state, not much variation. But it is still so good ill keep it at a 4½
(9.3) ★★★★½
Dusty Springfield
4/5
8.85 ★★★★½
Captain Beefheart & His Magic Band
2/5
This is like the more non sequetor bits of Firesign Theater and/or Monty Python filtered through a Frank Zappa *Freak Out* experimental vibe. In done ways I get it.. But just because I get it doesn't mean I have to like it
I must say the chordal choices of this album are both intriging and disjointed. Definitely this is in "three make jazz" theory of music. Again I think I get it, even if I don't like it. A constant theme of this listening experience. (Experience is a good word for this) I have a sneaky feeling this may be one of those albums that will hit me one day. This is not the day.
"Hair Pie (Bake 1)", "China Pig", and "Ant Man Bee" I noted as tracks I actually enjoyed.
Still... 78 min orchestrated chaos it a bit much for me to ingest. And side 4 feels a bit less orginized than the first three. I'm keeping it at two stars... But much higher two stars than last time.
(4.8) ★★
Little Simz
4/5
First of all, rapid fire flows like Little Simz realty make me take notice. But I think what really pull me in this album is the music behind it. The opening two tracks have such dirty fuzzy groove that I had to smile on the tracks themselves, but the comes my two favorite songs on the album "Selfish" and "Wounds" where the singing vocal lines intertwined really struck me along with the rapping. The rest of the album was a bit hot or miss for me but special note to both "Therapy" and "Sherbert Sunset" as ones that really cought my ear.
(8.4) ★★★★
The Band
4/5
Long time favorite of mine. It seems like a different song jumps out at me each time I listen, and this time is was "Chest Fever". As of January of this year RIP to the entire band, Garth, Robbie, Levon, Rick & Richard. Thanks for the music.
(9.6) ★★★★½
Bonnie "Prince" Billy
4/5
You ever come across an album. You know would be a five star album if you've were in the right headspace for it?
Today's not the day, but I can feel it
(9.35) ★★★★½
The Jesus And Mary Chain
4/5
*Darklands* [1987]
One thing that kind of struck me listening to it this time isn't as much as that it sounds of his time, but it almost sounds like it was 2 years earlier. I kept hearing 1985 . I don't know if I caught that last time around. I don't know if I was thinking about what year it came out. I also kind of thought they resembled a little bit of the Psychedelic Furs, which is not really a knock, but just a notation.
Still this was the kind of stuff I really ate up a lot back in the 80s . This sound actually really takes me back to what I really love to listen to with my friends back in high school so i might have some Gen X colored glasses on my rating.
(8.85) ★★★★
Kraftwerk
4/5
I really wanted to like this album more especially because of it's obvious ties to New Wave. But I was also noting early ideas that we're influences on house, techno, and trans which I thought was a very cool springboard even though those three particular genres are not very high on my list. I did find it a bit slow and repetitive especially when you get to the "TEE/Auzbug" suite which felt like it went on forever. All in all I actually enjoyed it as a whole but not something I probably return to often. But it is interesting enough to keep it in a solid four-star range
8.4★★★★
Steely Dan
4/5
I will always stand by the first six Steely Dan albums to the ends of the earth. Unlike most people, however, to me *Can't Buy a Thrill* is the least of the six. I still really enjoy the album, I've just never found that this one fully had the signature Steely Dan quirk that's in full bloom on *Countdown to Ecstasy*. Still, this one has two of the greatest all-time singles!
8.9 ★★★★
Public Image Ltd.
1/5
This album was an absolute chore to listen!
(3.66) ★½
Sepultura
2/5
Honestly... If ya wasn't for the vocals I really kind of like this album. But the screaming Cookie Monster sound, especially since it's the primary delivery, I absolutely abhor. Part of me wants to at at least 2½ because I do like most of the groove behind the vocals. But damn, I never want to hear this fucker sing again. (4.45) ★★
Pixies
4/5
8.8 ★★★★
Buzzcocks
4/5
This album is somewhat the missing link between postpunk and pop punk . And I think that's what I like about this album. I don't think all of it works 100% but overall I really love the general feeling of the album and can see myself returning to it from time to time.
(8.1) ★★★★
The Go-Betweens
3/5
It was nice, not a go to sound for me. I really didn't find it interesting at all, but pleasant enough to probably have on in the background.
7.3 ★★★½
Sheryl Crow
4/5
One of my favorite artists of the '90s. She's I've seen her live more than any other major artist, mainly because she keeps showing up at the festivals I go to. Her first three albums are Rock Solid.
9.7 ★★★★½
Bob Dylan
5/5
Don't know if I can add to anything that's already been said about this album.
10 ★★★★★
Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan
4/5
*Devotional Songs*
I am not familiar with the Qawwali genre at all. I know I've heard a few things in passing throughout the years mainly in either the context of world music or my days of hanging out at Pier 1 Imports, but I've never really listened to an entire album or delved into the genre. I actually found it very energetic and freeing . Reminds me of kind of what I like about jam bands in that it feels off the cuff and that the group is playing off of each other.
I'm not sure if I could really get into a specifics over what it is that really endeared me to this, but I kind of want to look into this artist and this genre a little bit more just to see where it takes me.
(8.2) ★★★★
Neil Young
4/5
Not my least favorite Neil Young album of the '70s, but considering the strength of the albums he was putting out throughout that decade that's not a put down
(8.6)★★★★
The Temptations
4/5
"Cloud Nine" and "Runaway Child, Running Wild" are the clear front runners of this album. Their version of "Grapevine" the fourth time Whitfield produced that song for Motown is good, but lack the smooth of Gaye's and the energy of Gladys.
Although side two does not shine a bright as side one, I think this does a better job at sounding cohesive than most deep cuts Motown and shys away from genre hopping to show depth, which made this one even out a bit more than most Motown albums as a whole.
I'm gonna give it a light 4, because og the strength of the two mentioned, but it's mostly 3½ material.
(4.01) ★★★½
Earth, Wind & Fire
4/5
EWF starts off with two of their all timers "Shining Star" and the title track. The rest of the album even though it doesn't live up to the first two tracks are for the most part pretty good.
(8.25) ★★★★
The Smiths
3/5
I'm sorry but Morrissey's vocal delivery absolutely bores the pants off of me.... So at this time I am sitting here in my underwear and a t-shirt giving *Meat Is Murder* a (6.5) ★★★
The Clash
5/5
*London Calling*
I honestly have not heard this album since I was in high school. One of my friends had the album and we played it a couple of times I don't remember it being an album we used to play all the time. To be honest I'm not much of a clash fan but I do love this era of the Clash, *London Calling* and *Combat Rock*, when they were more postponed than they were Punk. They were definitely ahead of the curve at this point. This was actually a really nice revisit and I really ought to get a copy of this album
(9.8) ★★★★½
Fairport Convention
5/5
*Unhalfbricking*
This was one of my favorite discoveries when I did my 1969 dive. Landed about the same place where I had it which is just slightly off damn near it such a great album. The stretch of songs from "Sailors Life" to "Who Knows where the Time Goes" is absolute freaking Magic! Love this album
(9.9) ★★★★½
Malcolm McLaren
3/5
*Duck Rock*
Quite honestly I didn't find this album all that bad as the chat seem to be making it out for. Given the music itself I probably would go for honestly a light 3½... I think the only really Innovative part of this is basically it's one of the early uses of the fairlight as a sampler. But I can also hear songs that remind me of things that would become hits later. "Buffalo Gals", with the inclusion of the work of The World's Most Famous Supreme Team, reminded me of what Herbie Hancock would do on "Rock It" and I think some of the production ideas kind of reminded me of a low-key version of what Seige Seige Sputnik would take a hyper dance spin on in 1986.
If there's one thing that kind of keeps it from really yelling for me as an album it is the DJ tracks bumpers. And it's not as if they were bad or boring, it didn't seem to lend itself too much of the music at hand. They just seemed like they were there, getting in the way. The album itself didn't feel like it was a radio themed album so it didn't really make any sence and often slowed the roll... just like listening to the DJs on the radio. Mid to High 3
(6.7) ★★★
The xx
4/5
This one is much much better than I See You
8.8 ★★★★
Arrested Development
3/5
This is actually closer to kind of the hip hop that I kind of like soulful and peaceful with an almost jam band in like quality. And for the most part I thought this album was fine and pretty much just that it really didn't move me as much as A Tribe Called Quest did.
I think also a lot of the rappers flow on this isn't much different than a lot of the pop rap that was coming around at the time which I didn't hate, i just really didn't pay much attention to it. Some of the backing tracks on this I really kind of got into, but even that I thought was fine. Something I could groove to but without fully immersing myself. All in all I find this a very listenable album something I could return, but nothing that I'm ever going to go ga-ga over. "Give A Man A Fish" is the standout track for me.
(7.2) ★★★½
Funkadelic
5/5
The final and best of their trifecta. Period.
10/10 ★★★★★
Kacey Musgraves
4/5
This is actually fourth out of her five albums for me, with *star-crossed* being my least.
My favorites are truly her first two albums which really have an earnest charm to them. Her writing even somewhat reminded me of John Prine in its matter of fact style lyrics and aiming straight to the point with a humorous wink. (*Same Trailer, Different Park*, *Pagent Material* and *Deeper Well* I have all at 4½★s)
I guess what gets me about this album is I think she traded some of earnestness in for a glossier more modern production. In fact the production of this album really reminds me of Jenny Lewis's *Voyager* album from four years earlier, for some reason. That's not to say this album doesn't work it actually works pretty well and it is a gorgeous listen. Both the opening "Slow Burn" and closing "Rainbow" are as good as anything she's done. And I still love her turn of phrase (I really dig the coy comma in "Space Cowboy") But then there's the disco fuled "High Horse" and the not even fun goofiness of "Velvet Elvis". The rest of the album is fine, I just wish the sonics focused on her and her writing rather than the shine around it.
(8.65) ★★★★
Soft Machine
4/5
This is by no means an album for everyone. But I actually loved it. It's heavily steeped in Psych Rock, jazz rock, and Prog with a bit of freeform experimentation thrown in.
"Facelift" reminded me of the psych jams of Floyd's *A Saucerfull of Secrets* album. And Robert Wyatt's "Moon In June" kinda gives me a fee lif the prog feeling that Genesis would have thought out the 70s. The other two just burn with some as rock jams with a heavy hand of jazz thrown in.
It's generally the parts like the ladder, like the opening segment of "Facelift" and the opening and closing segment of "Out-Bloody-Rageous" that keep it from a five-star all timer for me, but the bulk of all four pieces on the album are just freaking incredible.
(8.95) ★★★★
Elbow
4/5
This is another one I question it's inclusion even though I did enjoy it a good bit. For the most part this is typical post britpop Fair and there are far better examples in the book. But it's a nice album
Neu!
4/5
*NEU! '75*
As influential as this album is leading into Post Punk and new Wave, I'm not sure if I'll ever find it more than a curio, even though I do enjoy it quite a bit.
A 3½ in my book, but strong enough for a four on the app
7.75 ★★★½
Caetano Veloso
3/5
*Caetano Veloso*
Just listen to this if I had to say when it was recorded I would have said 1967 no doubt about it. It's kind of gets me at least a good reference as to my rating because I didn't think it was bad but I didn't think it excelled passes the Troicália beats and the pop psych vibes of 66/67. I could see it being more revered in and of its time and of its place more so than an American listening to it some 58 years later. It was enjoyable though and maybe Upon returning I can grow a little bit more into it but for now I'll have to say it's a fine record.
(7.1) ★★★½
CHVRCHES
3/5
Honestly I kind of like the synth pop nature of this album . I don't think they really push a lot of boundaries in the genre either but it is a nice energetic listen.
(7.3) ★★★½
I also think I like their 2018 album *Love Is Dead* slightly better... That's a higher 3½
Pixies
4/5
The Charlatans
4/5
I think I like this better than most of y'all even though I agree the almost all the arguments against it. I don't think they are the Temu Oasis. They are a blatant copy paste version of Oasis.
But as I said with Shack the more they sound like The Beatles the more I will naturally like it. And these guys are quite Oasis level, but better than the other no name outside the UK Britpop. But considering Oasis is already on here, yeah this is not essential. It's got a fuzzy Beatlesque charm I dig... I also liked the blatant production homage to "Like a Rolling Stone" on "Get It On"
8.2 ★★★★
Bonnie Raitt
3/5
This was the first time listening to this album in a very good while. Usually the albums I like to listen to by her are *Give It up*, *Takin' My Time* and *Sweet Forgiveness*. But even from this period i think the follow up, *Luck of the Draw*, is a good bit better than this outing. Honestly there's only two tracks on *Nick* that really showcase what she does best, "Thing Called Love" and her self penned "The Road Is My Middle Name". The two Jerry Lynn Williams sing kinda still semi showcases with much of her grit pulled back. The rest of the album is pretty much your standard late '80s AC fare, glassy keyboards and all. It is a better examples of the sound but still nothing terribly exciting. I do like the intimacy of "Nobody's Girl" which kind of reminds me of some of her folkier stuff on her early albums (her cover of "Louise" for example). But even her only other self penned track has the late 80s gloss which hampers most of the album. And don't get me started on the wheggae "Have a Heart" number.
All in all a good album, but not great... *Luck* would have been a better selection in my book. But quite honestly any one of her first five albums would be better suited to show her off.
7.7 ★★★½
Scritti Politti
2/5
*Cupid Psych 85*
To the gripes I had about the Bonnie Raitt album yesterday also apply for today. One of them is the glassy keyboards, which ruled the late 80s, and I can't stand that sound. The other is wheggea... "The Word Girl" gave me nightmares (daymares?) of UB40.
Quite honestly most the songs were a bit too light breezy poppy for me (I prefer my synthpop darker like DM) and the glassy keyboards didn't help. There were a couple of songs that I liked most notably "Absolute" and "Perfect Way" and I love opening bass of "A Little Knowledge", I just wish the rest of the song back that up. I'm not absolutely crazy about his voice but if I was more in tune with the music I probably would give it a slide.. I do have to remark about how 86/87 this sounds for 85 which I'll give them props for being slightly ahead of the curve.
Overall I have to give it a slight thumbs down, but definitely not the garbage liner some people have claimed this was today.
(5.3) ★★½
Talvin Singh
2/5
*OK*
Honestly music like this doesn't bother me. Except I can onkt listen to it for about 20 min before I get restless. The runtime is three times that and feels twice the runtime.
(4.66) ★★
Tom Waits
4/5
At first I did not think i was going to get into this album. I was going to get into this album. On first listen the first four songs "Such A Scream" was the only one I liked. But somewhere in the trio of songs "Who Are You", "The Ocean Doesn't Want Me", and "Jesus Gonna Be Here", in started getting into the mood and motion of the album. By the beatastic "In The Colosseum", I was hooked. I found myself really enjoying the rest of the album, that I decided to revisit the first three songs again and enjoying all but "All Stripped Down"
Honestly with its overall macabre feel and they almost fall like weather we had today it really put me in the Halloween mood.
I'm giving this a good four stars, with room to grow
8.5 ★★★★
Les Rythmes Digitales
2/5
This is one of those albums that starts off ok, and just keeps getting worse and worse track by track. And despite the fact I'm not a fan of the repetitivness electronica, I found the actual songs even worse than the dance floor fodder. But the most annoying part was the freakin' duck keyboard sound on Disco II Disco. It sounded like daddy getting strangled. Itvs enough to make Rick Dees jealous.
I did kinda like the closer "Damaged People" I think it was the darker tone and words. (there really wasn't enough words to call them lyrics). But over all this album was more of a chore to listen to than a must hear.
(3.75) ★½
The Pogues
4/5
*If I Should Fall From Face With God*
Bloody good Irish fun... With a wee bit of social commentary. I'm not the biggest fan of "Fairytale", but in context of the album it's great... Could have done w/o "Worms". (I prefer Poe's version)
(8.75) ★★★★
Slade
4/5
Rush
4/5
*2112*
Absolutely classic despite being bit of a one sided album. Nothing on side two comes close to topping the "2112" suite, but the songs do quite well hold their own...
(9.6) ★★★★½
Bob Dylan
5/5
I did listen to this album twice once with the original mix and once with the new mix and I actually prefer the new mix in that I think it feels more truer to the Dylan sound than the original 97 mix. And with that it brings it up to five stars. The original mix for some reason always I felt a little arms length away from the feel of the album but I always recognize that it's some of Dylan's best material.If I used the original mix it would have been a high 4½ enough for it to be a five on the app anyways so I'm going to post it with the rating of the new mix
10 ★★★★★
Beatles
4/5
This being the first Beatles album that is 100% originals is definitely what makes this album stand out over the other four albums in the 63-64 release cycles. The writing is really sharp pop songs and this is to me the first album that really showed a little bit more depth into their writing but still fully maintaining their beat music that made them famous. I do like pretty much all the albums that follow better than this album, but to me this was the highlight of what I call the early Beatles
9.66 ★★★★½
Bruce Springsteen
5/5
Three days in a row of albums Iin my collection, and thus is an all time favorite of mine. This dark largely acoustic album recorded on his own really pull what to me makes Springsteen great. A bitter look at the human condition with sparce arrangement and emotional resonance. This was the album that truly got me into Springsteen. And is still my favorite.
(10) ★★★★★
George Michael
5/5
I absolutely adore this album. No it's not the dance pop Mecca of Wham! or *Faith*. This is a bit of a passion work for him.
The first three songs out the gate are the best on the album, culminating in a breath taking cover of Stevie Wonder's "They Won't Go When I Go" (not better than the original, but he captured the feeling immaculately). Still everything that follows still commands my attention from the folk rock infused "Something To Save", "Waiting For That Day" and "Heal the Pain", to the soft Jazz infection of "Cowboys and Angels", to the mournful "Mother's Pride". Even the dance pop "Soul Free", which would be my least favorite on the Lp still us a great groovy listen.
This album has always been my favorite of his album. It was a constant play for me my sophomore year of college, and one I still enjoy today
(10) ★★★★★
Alexander 'Skip' Spence
3/5
This album kind of reminds me of the Sid Barrett albums where the story behind the album is far more interesting than the album itself. If I had to say that with the biggest drawback of this album it would have to be his asthmatic Grandpa vocal delivery. But some of the instrumentation just feels like too strung out to play his instrument. The songs themselves weren't all that bad but I just felt the delivery left me wanting more quite frankly a lot more. 5.8 ★★½ (three on the app)
White Denim
4/5
B
8.2 ★★★★
Living Colour
4/5
I still really dig this album, but the follow up *Times Up* is so ghood this fail in comparison
(8.4) ★★★★
David Ackles
2/5
It's like Neil Diamond, Andrew Lloyd Webber, and Richard Carpenter all got together to make the most overwrought emotional Musical ever. I unfortunately ran out of Pepto listening to this.
4.2 ★★
American Music Club
3/5
I'm actually finding *California* kinda dull... Not bad, just dull.
(6.8) ★★★
The Good, The Bad & The Queen
3/5
I liked it pretty good, but though I think Gorillaz albums tend to be more versatile than this one. Most of the songs in this sound about the same. I liked the sound but it did make the 45 min stretch as bit.
7.2 ★★★½
Johnny Cash
4/5
The strength of this album is the first half. In fact if it were just like the first eight songs I might actually go ahead and give it five stars. Man Comes Around, Hurt, Give My Love to Rose (which sounds more harrowing with his aged voice), I Hung My Head and Personal Jesus al give me all the feels. The rest of the album is good, buif I just based it on thar it'd be a solid 3½.... I'm going to say strong 4 overall.
8.8 ★★★★
Deep Purple
5/5
The stretch of albums of Deep Purple mark II is just simply incredible... This is my personal highlight and my personal favorite Purple album, but I won't argue the others
9.8 ★★★★½
Gil Scott-Heron
4/5
*Winter In America*
I'm actually really surprised this one was picked for the 1001 over *Pieces of A Man* not only do I think that is a better album than this one by a pretty decent margin, but if it wasn't for "The Revolution Will Not Be Televised" i probably would have never heard of Gil Scott-Heron. This album though is really good and I do like it's soul groovy Jazz feel. But I think the two tracks that really stand out the most are the ones that really have a bite to them which is "The Bottle" and "H₂Ogate Blues".
8.4 ★★★★
Public Enemy
4/5
*Fear of a Black Planet*
Actually like this one a good bit more than I did *Nation of Millions*. I think one thing I really like is Chuck D's flow something I really kind of got into last time. I think one of the reasons has to do with this manner of delivery which seem a little bit less in your face or arrogant. He just straight up sounds like a man wanting to tell you his side and how important it is. I think another thing I like about this album is that it's more of a national political statement rather than just a neighborhood they're from. Sonically I really got into the collage of samples on this album. Not so much because I knew where they were from but it really gave a nice thick texture that kept the groove going which is what really sold me on this album.
I'm not as big on Flavor Flav which has flash and arrogance that usually detracts me on most rap but I honestly did not dislike what he was doing on this album. Right now this is sitting at my second favorite rap album in this project
8.5 ★★★★
Sarah Vaughan
4/5
*Sarah Vaughn At Mr. Kelly's*
I think one thing I really enjoy about this album is that it really gives you the feeling like you are there front row Center listening to her beautiful voice. Despite the fact that the material isn't to me all that interesting i know she really has a fantastic voice it doesn't have the singular uniqueness of a Billie Holiday or Ella Fitzgerald. But still this Sarah can sing the alphabet and it would sound pretty and soulful.
But to me the selling point in this album is not on the intimacy but just the realness of it the sounds of the stand falling, or her forgetting the words and then ad libbing adds to the charm of the album. I did only listen to the original 35 minute version, but I think at one point I do want to hear the full 75 minute version that came out on CD.
(8.55) ★★★★
The Auteurs
3/5
*New Wave*
I really don't think they sound much like britpop as they do like 90s Indie pop. Even though I liked it pretty well enough, I didn't find it really interesting or groundbreaking personally. Some of the songs sounded like lesser Bowie songs and other songs sounded like something that would be on the *Friends* soundtrack. I probably would have liked it better in 1993 than I do here in 2025
(7.35) ★★★½
Pantera
3/5
I must admit that metal after the '90s is really not my bag though there are some acts that I like. My biggest problem with a lot of the metal past the 90s is the growling vocals as a mainstay as opposed to an accentuation in their vocal arsenal. I think Phil Manselmo actually has a decent rock voice as shown in "This Love" and "Hallow" both of which also accentuate his growl. But most of the rest of the song it's just the heavy growl all the way through which kind of wears on me as the album goes along. Musically I really like the the overall music bed and because I never really listened to Pantera in the past I never really knew how great of guitar Dimebag Darrell was. But overall i think the vocals make it to where I can't give this much more than a three
(6.33) ★★★
Laura Nyro
3/5
Yeah Yeah Yeahs
5/5
Really loved this album, I've only recently got into Karen O. and Yeah Yeah Yeahs. This is the first time I heard this album and it's great indo garage fun.
(9.75) ★★★★½
Beatles
5/5
My second favorite album of all time obviously a perfect 10 five star album
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds
5/5
This was my #1 at my very incomplete 1997 dive . And was absolutely my favorite Discovery from that dive. I do like the dark emotional delivery on this album It's just absolutely amazing it almost fits hand in hand with the Leonard Cohen *Songs of Love and Hate* album I also listen to yesterday. I think I slightly prefer the Simplicity of the production of the Leonard Cohen but both of them are just absolutely amazing albums 9.85
John Martyn
3/5
Although I liked most of the musical bed on this album I found his vocals in entirely boring and cumbersome. I was listening to it on my way home from Clarksville last night and probably was not the best choice to be driving on the road at 11:00 p.m.. But it's not a bad album at all and I think that if it had more interesting vocals I would have liked it better 6.6
Billie Holiday
4/5
I will have to say I much prefer *Lady Sings The Blues* to this one. One thing about this album that's a bit heartbreaking is her vocals which are already showing wear and tear from the drugs and the abuse. Though she does still have the capability of letting the emotion run through. I sometimes think the strings are a bit much I know she was trying to go for a more Frank Sinatra feel , but I think her vocal style really fits a more intimate jazz instrumentation setting . But she still pulls off a really beautiful set of songs.
8.4 ★★★★
Baaba Maal
3/5
As a whole I'm much prefer *Djam Leelii* to this entry in the book. This one has a problem every once in awhile in that it will go to this almost 80 style cheap keyboard, sound, which sounds out of place in 92. As for most of the other songs they actually are really good and probably would be on the same level as the previous album in the book, but some of those keyboard heavy tracks just really kind of took me out of it from time to time.
(7.65) ★★★½
The Flying Burrito Brothers
5/5
Just about the same place where I had it when I did my 69 dive at a 9.9.... I really love the overall feel of this album somewhere between Country and psychedelia it's kind of a neat little Oddity that really not many acts mixed it as well as well as they did
9.9 ★★★★½
Scissor Sisters
3/5
Honestly I find the very the first four songs on the album actually very good Comfortably Numb I kind of like though I remember liking their live version on SNL better than the actual studio version but for sure "Laura", "Take Your Mama" and "Mary", and also the closer "Return to Oz" are the standout tracks the rest are kind of in a pop disco that I like but it's not necessarily all that for me. But the four that I highlighted definitely have that prime *Caribou*-esque Elton John feel.
7.4/10 overall.... Still a fun lesson though not an overtly great album. ★★★½