Jazz. Nice jazz, but still just jazz.
3.5 / 10
Certified banger. Mount Rushmore candidate for the rave scene. Heavy, lawless and atomic but never chaotic.
Used to grow up with my Dad, a docile bird-watcher, gently head-banging to this in the car. My Mum told me it was "Smack My Picture" and I believed this for some time.
8.5 / 10
Best track/s: Narayan, Smack My Picture, Diesel Power
It's defo got a vibe. There is something missing, and there are better ELO records. But Mr Blue Sky bumps it up a whole star rating. Summer and Lightning and Turn to Stone other highlights for me.
5.5 / 10
Obviously Eminem is good at what he does, but I feel like the Slim Shady character was so acclaimed in his time and I listen back and it's just... an angry man. Like it's not that deep, it's just an angry dude. An angry dude who I feel falls into the same category as Homelander from the Boys and Fight Club of "appeals to men who kinda miss the point". Idk I haven't done a deep dive, I've just listened to it.
3.5 / 10
Solid album. First time listening to a Prince album the whole way through, I dig it.
His fans are a bit unhinged though. Saw one comment on YouTube that described this album as so ahead of time it would be worshipped religiously in 2134 on a track that follows the same formula as a thousand other Soul songs from the '60s. Good, but not "ahead of time" in 1987.
6 / 10
Going to revisit this one, I think.
6 / 10
Best track/s: Raised on Robbery, Court and Spark
So many great tracks on this album; Michelle, Girl, Nowhere Man. I'd say this is the Beatles album that showcases their harmonies more than any other.
7 / 10
LCD Soundsystem have such a unique vibe. I do feel 'This is Happening' is the better one and I hope it is included in this book, but 'Sounds of Silver' is still pretty sick.
My main issue with LCD is that James Murphy's verse barrages can sometimes be at American Pie level. Sometimes it's great, sometimes it really grates (see North American Scum).
7 / 10
All My Friends, Someone Great and Get Innocuous the bigger hitters here, for me.
Was not expecting to like this as much as I did. Really smartly composed music. Doesn't always go where you want it to, but the album has a narrative, operatic feel to it that you are happy to be taken wherever. Think I'm going to get more into the prog-rock entries as this goes on.
7 / 10
Best tracks: School, If Everyone Was Listening, Crime of the Century
Not exactly pushing boundaries, but when you have a voice like that it doesn't matter how simple the music and lyrics are. I had an alright time listening to this. Actually mad that this won the Grammy though, which is an insane call. The Grammy's have always been trash though to be fair.
4.5 / 10
I don't know - I just really didn't like any of this.
1.5 / 10
Not bad but simultaneously quite boring
4 / 10
This is the first album that I have not been able to finish. Like holy shit that production, like what am I meant to be hearing? It sounds like it was recorded in a crisp packet. Sometimes the music can save shit production, but this is not the case. Whiny bar chords and weak vocals.
But then I started to look up the context behind this, and how they basically hated each other at the time of the album and I think one of them never even listened to it. I do find it interesting listening to an album with that kinda history and seeing if you can find the signs of tension or apathy in the music. I've never heard another Husker Du song, so maybe the shitness of the album is because they did not wanna be in the recording studio together.
Still...
1 / 10
This was lovely. Felt like Air/Moby/Gidge and a lot of trip hop vibes.
7.5 / 10
Best tracks: Poor Leno, A Higher Place, Royksopps Night Out
Surprised me. Sneaks up on you as well through the album. Thought it sounded pretty generic at first but surprising poignant. I am on a comedown though, so that could have an impact. Did not expect Neil Young to have that kinda vocal style either. Always knew he was a legend politically, but never bothered to listen to his music. Good shit.
7.5 / 10
Best track/s: Only Love Can Break Your Heart, When You Dance I Can Really Love
Bjork is such a talented song-writer. Every song she writes is unique in it's own right. So many interesting beats and timbres. Each song creates a different world encapsulating a myriad of instruments. "Come to Me" invents trip hop before it was a thing. "Like Someone In Love" is straight out of a 1960s movie score. "Big Time Sensuality" is an 80s hit. "Violently Happy" is 90s trance. Pretty sure there was a sea shanty in there somewhere, too.
Issue is...
I really don't vibe with her voice or vocal melodies. And if that's not right, then I can't fully get into it, as much as I love the instrumental elements of every song.
Still couldn't put it lower than a 3 for how revolutionary her sound is and I bet this album alone has inspired countless future producers.
5.5 / 10
TLDR; really impressed, probably won't listen to much of it again.
The kinda music you stumble upon during sundown at a small UK festival before the night descends into chaos and debauchery. This is obviously just great.
7.5 / 10
Music for the village green. Not my vibe but I am happy for those who get anything out of this.
4 / 10
This sounded exactly as I expected.
1 / 10
Second Fela Kuti album in a week after never listening to him before! This one slaps as well, but I don't think it's musically as strong as Live!
Having said that, the context of this album. I looked it up and it is mental. The Nigerian government literally threw his mum out a window and killed her because he criticised them in music. And then he just kept making critical music! There is a lot of great anti-establishment music in Western art, but we are very privileged that musicians from those parts of the world don't have to worry about severe consequences from free speech, getting banned from a radio station is like the worst outcome . It's like safe mode compared to what artists like Fela Kuti have to endure.
7 / 10
This was gorgeous, and way more inventive than I expected. There are some really nice sounds, and is just consistently a vibe.
7 / 10
Best track/s: That Lady, Summer Breeze
Not sure what to think of it. This is like grunge with ADHD. It's all over the place, both the individual songs and the album as a whole. I get why people like that, but I dunno. Harmony is important guys. The opener was fantastic and the second half of the album is much stronger than the first in general imo.
6 / 10
Best tracks: Cecilia Ann, Dig for Fire, Down to the Well, The Happening
Pulp are one of the best out there. I'll talk a bit more about it when Different Class pops up (which surely it will??). This Is Hardcore doesn't mess with the formula too much, evocative characters, stripped back verses and powerful choruses. I think This Is Hardcore has a better production overall, and some seriously punchy choruses but it also lacks the crowd-pleasing tracks that Different Class has, and some tracks need a bit of time to hit you.
8 / 10
Best tracks: Like a Friend if it counts (one of my top 10 of all time), Sylvia, This is Hardcore, I'm a Man, Help the Aged
Not my vibe tbf but pleasant
3 / 10
A lotta fun but I didn't get much out of it other than that. Maybe needs a relisten as well.
6 / 10
Best track/s: Sex Machine, I Want To Take You Higher
Love the instrumental, dislike the vocals. I feel that that is the case of a lot of post punk and new wave bands for me.
But I get the appeal of this. I think maybe my dad overplayed this kinda music to me as a kid and now I have a negative reaction.
6 / 10
Good tracks: Spellbound, Monitor, Night shift
Not bad, but they have one mode, and it does feel like the same formula over and over.
But still fun. I'd actually be quite into a hypothetical scenario where this is re-recorded with a more indie rock production
5.5 / 10
Good tracks: What do I get, Moving away from the pulsebeat, fiction romance
Just a beautiful album, think this will get even better with more listens. Wish I had more to say, but honestly I just know I loved this.
7.5 / 10
Best tracks: Loaded, Come Together, Higher Than the Sun, Don't Fight it, Feel It.
Trip Hop very hit or miss with me. And when it misses, it really misses. Tricky is a legend but I really struggled with this.
2 / 10
Catchy and tight but not very adventurous. Not much else to say, it's early Beatles
6.5 / 10
Best track/s: Please Mr Postman, Till There Was You
Sad boy indie music but it’s the 70s. Bit of a slog, couple of nice ballads, 12 was a bit much
3 / 10
Best track/s: Lion In Winter
Love a concept album and a cool concept, like the lyrics. Music is ok but pretty chaotic at times, sounds like it was recorded with one mic. Harder to engage with because of this.
6.5 / 10
Best track/s: Last of the Steam-Powered Trains, Village Green
Liked this at points, found it tiring for most of it. Sometimes it felt like true improv funk where people knew what they were doing but didn't know how to develop it into something else. Other times it felt borderline schizophrenic.
I only added two songs from the album, which is rare for funk, so it's 4.5 / 10
Best tune/s: Who Says a Funk Band Can't Play Rock
Don't really rate modern R&B. Don't like how every male singer has the same industry manufactured, boyband voice. & I don't like the elevator music backing track. Find it all pretty dull.
4.5 / 10
This is the closest I've come to liking it though. More of an atmosphere to this than other stuff I've heard. Don't think it's as smart as people think it is though.
Best track/s: Pyramid, Super Rich Kids
This was mental. Crazy bass, crazy horns, crazy double kick pedal, crazy genre flips, crazy '70s musical energy and I am here for all of it. Jampacked with mental content but very tight. Just needs better production, particularly on the drums and guitar.
7.5 / 10
Best track/s: Bonin' In The Boneyard, One Day, Ghetto Soundwave
Weird energy but I’m here for it! Listened twice, better on the 2nd run. Better with headphones too, to catch all those crazy sounds.
7.5 / 10
Best track/s: Backwater, Kings Lead Hat, Here He Comes
Influential? maybe. Good? Nah
Later Offspring is better
3.5 / 10
Best track: Come Out and Play has at least something interesting going on with that riff
Listening to a Hendrix album is like sitting in on your partner's band practice. You're really proud & impressed and it's all very clever but then you realise that it's been going on for quite some time now and you secretly wish they'd play Hey Jude.
6 / 10
Best track/s: All Along The Watchtower obvs, 1983
I liked this. PJ Harvey has got a great voice. But the music is a bit uninspiring - just find guitar a bit boring these days, especially guitars that are bereft of melody. At least throw some trumpets in there, PJ.
The 2nd half was much stronger than the first. "We Float" offering something different and is I swear the only major key on the album?? "Kamikaze" also turning up the heat to spice things up.
6.5 / 10
Best track/s: The Mess We're In, Kamikaze
Enjoyed this more than I thought I would. Listen, it's rock. It's pretty uninspiring but it's fun at times. It's basically AC/DC without the really annoying vocals, and that's alright by me. & I do dig that chugging bass sound.
6 / 10
Best track/s: Peace Dog, Bad Fun
Got to be one of the best album openers of all time. And the closing track, a glimpse of that jammy energy that the Stones do best.
Rest of the album is.. good. It's alright. The Stones do offer much more than your neighbourhood Blues rock band, such a wild mix of timbres, but not *that* much more at this point in their career. Still a very solid album.
6.5 / 10
Best track/s: Paint it Black, Goin' Home, Lady Jane
Ffs I think I like country. I don't really wanna talk about it.
7 / 10
Best track/s: Those Memories Of You, To Know Him Is To Love Him, Wildflower
Yeah, pretty fun, some real nice grooves in here.
Unpopular opinion tho - the iconic titular track is not *that* great. Doesn't fit with the rest of the album, no beat and if I wanted to listen to a 10 minute long fuzzy guitar solo without breaks ... well I just wouldn't ever want to listen to that.
Maybe one to relisten to.
6.5 / 10
Best track/s: Super Stupid, Can You Get To That
You know what, so much of this is not the kindof music I like anymore. 3 piece rock band, guitar centric, not very genre fluid (made that up).
But simultaneously... I never feel safer and happier than when I'm listening to old Green Day, as if I'm kicking back in my bedroom playing PS2 or I'm walking through the school gates dreading my biology class.
They were the soundtrack for teenagers across 3 generations. Everyone can find lyrics to connect to, and the music is not too shabby either! It's scrappy, vocals a bit too quiet, but they do a lot with a little in this album. The breakdowns are fun as fuck, the drums are mental, the bass is mental and even though Billie Joe isn't exactly the best singer in the world, especially in the 90s where he sounds a bit drunk, it really fits the vibe, it's nostalgic and it never grows tiresome like a lot of other pop punk singers do.
I'm think I'm gonna stick on Insomniac next.
8.5 / 10
Best track/s: Welcome to Paradise, Basket Case, She, When I Come Around
Is this the dude from Silo?
Hip Hop not my thing, find constant rapping a bit claustrophobic, but this was well nice. Really cool backing grooves, feels proper New York, vocals decent all around & very very soulful. Did not like the live version - weird choice.
Would really like to know if that child achieved his goal of being a duck
7 / 10
Best track/s: Faithful, It's Your World Part 1 & 2, They Say
There's an important place for this kinda music in society. Not personally in my life, though.
3.5 / 10
Alright track: Super Unison
Loved this. What an incredible voice. But also don't take anything away from the composition behind the track. Such a cool, eclectic, Parisian mix of timbres. Any day you hear an accordion is a good day.
This album kinda reminds me of another album from the '90s from a guy whose name rhymes with Chef Muckley. The same forlorn, lovestruck music, solo singer-songwriter with a haunting voice and strong ties with folk music. And if Grace is like Spring, then Ingenue is very Autumnal. On the second listen I'm kinda 80% sure this album is sung from the perspective of a vampire in Paris. I really want that to be true.
I think this is going to be my first 5* to a completely new album.
8.5 / 10
Best track/s: Season of Hollow Soul, Miss Chatelaine, Still Thrives This Love, So It Shall Be
I don't think it's Radiohead's fault that they have become synonymous with pretentiousness - but surely there is no better example in popular music than Kid A.
This is mid music. It's not terrible, but it's certainly not great and it doesn't have much to say. Fuck all the critics and fans who are so obsessed with being the ones who "get it" that they forget to be authentic to themselves. There's nothing *to* get. It's experimental electronic. it's alright but it's also fucking weird and mopey
I like Radiohead, love them at times, but Kid A is mid
5.5 / 10
Best track/s: How to Disappear Completely, The National Anthem
Obviously this is just awesome. Also - how did I not realise that Dusty in British?! It's such an American sound. Loved all of this.
8.5 / 10
Best track/s: Don't Forget About Me, Son of a Preacher Man, The Windmills of your Mind
The drums are cool. Everything else I did not like. Not into post punk
4 / 10
