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

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)★★★★★

Love the hell out of it (9.5) ★★★★½

My 7th favorite Zepp album (9.05) ★★★★½

Fucking Classics 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

My absolute favorite Talking Heads album

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) ★★★★

Man I hated every fucking second of this album. This is definitely the kind of 80s punk my friends woukd try to get me into in high school and I never liked it. It literally makes no sense to me. (3.75) ★½

Loved the mix of rock with native African melodies in top. I can really get into this.

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

8.3 ★★★★ Could have been higher if I liked his vocals better, but band wise I freakin loved it.

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) ★★★★

Like with most Millennial alt, I find it kind of interesting, yet just out of my total appreciation. (7.25) ★★★½

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

8.4 ★★★★ The first six tracks are off the hook... Then only 1 of the last five. But overall quite an enjoyable listen

Absolutely love this album (9.5)

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) ★★★★

Oooh! I listened to this last year for the first time... It was an instant fiver! (10) ★★★★★

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

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

Um... yeah. (3.4) ★½

Fantastic live album! (9.2) ★★★★½

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

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) ★★★★

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) ★★★★

Absolute classic from my middle school years! (9.25) ★★★★½

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

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) ★★★★

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) ★★★★

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 - 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) ★★★★

(3.75) ★★★½

(7.6) ★★★½

Elliott Smith - Either/OR (9.7) ⭐⭐⭐⭐½

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

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 3.75 ★★★½

9.5 ★★★★½

Very Coldplayish (7.8) ★★★½

Still a classic in my book (10) ★★★★★

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) ★★★★

(10) ★★★★★

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

Absolute Stevie banger! (10) ★★★★★

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.

Straight up fiver (10) ★★★★★

Roni Size & Resprazent - New Forms (79) Not as bad as I was expecting (4.01) ★★ Roni Size & Resprazent - New Forms (140) Oh God, kill me now! (3.25) ★½

Bowie Banger (10) ★★★★★

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) ★★★★

10 ★★★★

8.2 ★★★★

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

Fiver... Too easy

Magnificently beautiful album. (10) ★★★★★

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

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) ★★★★

My #3 all timer 10 ★★★★★

I'm going (4.8) ★★ The hit was the highlight and the closer.. Thee rest did nothing fir 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

Easy (10) ★★★★★

(7.8) ★★★½

(10) ★★★★★

Talking Heads '77 [1977] (9.6) ★★★★½

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) ★★★★

(6.6) ★★★

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

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.

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) ★★★

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

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.

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) ★★

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) ★★★★

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

4.33 ★★★★

4.5 ★★★★

9.6 ★★★★½ Just an incredible gorgeous album

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) ★★★

9.33 ★★★★½

(9.8) ★★★★½

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) ★★★★

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

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) ★★

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) ★★★★

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)★★★★★

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) ★★★★

(10) ★★★★★

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) ★

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

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) ★★★★