A classic which in the 80’s was a total game changer to how hip hop was perceived opening up a whole new audience. Some of the best samples ever utilised and almost made Hall & Oates cool.
With it titled Gunfighters ballads I was expecting a slightly more grand bigger aggressive sound. However what I did get was a very easy listening honky-tonk genre. None of the tracks really jumped out at me, but there is no questioning Marty Robbins talent and his vocal range
I struggle with this & any other types of this genre which I would box as “pop rock” I’m sure that this has been hugely influential for many future prog rock bands but all I get is Jeremy Clarkson dad dancing to west end musical tunes trying to do rock n roll. Sorry.
Love it. Boy! They could blow some brass, not just the sax either. I’d imagine that in the day this must have sounded so new & explosive! Still lasts the test of time & sounds fresh, vibrant and cool in 2024. His Italian/Scilian blood sparks so many American gangster movies in mind. And went on to be the voice of King Louis for the Jungle Book, legend!
There is no questioning this band’s status in the rock music community , the success that they achieved, the inspiration they gave..but it passed me by and even now I revisit it with a more musically open (& educated?) mind (or ears??) but cannot engage wit it, like it or appreciate it, sorry it’s not you it’s me (maybe)
A nostalgic revisit of this album bearing in mind I was 18/19 years old when this was in my “cassette” album collection (sorry didn’t do vinyl then!) - it holds up well these day. Never forget seeing the Sledgehammer animated video for the 1st time when videos were a really big deal for a single release. Love Mercy Street- probably my favorite on the album.
Never heard it before, liked the pace of it, octane fuelled Outdoory pursuit type music to push you through a day in the hills.
Ok, there’s no disputing the capabilities of Mike Oldfield, the fact he was only 19 years old when he produced this album and the fact he played every musical instrument known to man! However to me, it’s too background type music…too soundtrack, for me, it doesn’t lead to anything. No melodies- just a clever guy experimenting the same tune using different instruments. Bah!
This album is of fine quality from 1989, timeless in its sounds and I believe it would never sound dated. Kate Bush sings through each track in an almost effortless beauty. Good stuff.
Fine piece of work, down tempo, moody atmospheric album. The Intro is now an iconic piece of music. Launched a great musical career for both Jamie Xx & Romy. Deservedly winning the Mercury in 2010.
Not my favourite Radiohead album but nether the less a great revisit to it and staggered to be reminded it’s over 20 years old. “There There” the stand out of the singles released from it. Considering it was touted as a bit of a Protest album against the newly elected President Bush I don’t get a great deal of anger in it (certainly not from a Radiohead perspective anyway). Forgot what a great track “punch up at a wedding” was. And probably the 1st album where the band mashed together their old Indy rock sound with their new electronica experiments - early stirrings of what the Smile are now. Solid 4 for this one from me.
The older I get the more I appreciate Radiohead, cannot remember the last time I’ve listen to Kid A in its entirety, but what an experience today it was as I heard history in the making. That fusion and collaboration between their early roots of “Indy rock” and Thom & others encountering what I would describe as an identity crisis as they jump into the electronica world and in the process unearthing a whole new world for us all. Courageous, risky (almost splitting the band up) bold and ballsy - we should all be grateful for this album. But still not my favourite, they were evolving into something bigger & better!
Loved learning about the storyline behind the album, nice to hear pinball wizard, liked the connection between all the songs, I felt this more of an education rather than a listen..& I’m grateful for it. Would I ever listen to it again? Probably not.
Jolly album with some real SD anthems along the way. Enjoyed it, I should have gone double denim for the day and pulled off some dad dancing. You can understand the sucess they have had over the decades.
Great album reminding me that the 90’s is my favourite musical decade. Beck puts together a broad range of tracks which flow really well as an album. He’s gone on & consistently delivered a great collection of music touching many music genres..thank you Beck 🙏
Yeah, this was a tough listen, I struggle to picture the fanbase of this particular album. Was it that the three (very talented trio admittedly) had the same manager and thought it’ll be a good idea to combine them together in a kind of “dream team” kind of collaboration ? What do I know? This made it into the 1001 albums so a lot of people liked it but it’s not for me.
Considering the whole band were at war with one another, fighting & divorcing it’s remarkable that this album ever got to launch, but it did & is often considered the greatest album of all time. It’s not in my top 10 buts it’s a great listen, The Chain & Dreams are the stand out tracks for me & make up many of my playlist,even though extensive commercial air play over the decades! Would I listen to this album again in its entirety? Probably not but it’s a solid 3 for me.
Err, no not for me I’m afraid. Wouldn’t dispute their global success over the years…a band that can sell out a Vegas venue in 2024 on successive nights after over 50 years in the business suggests that they’ve done something right. I must admit I have got and do like the MTV live version of Hotel California though- just for the crowd reaction to it alone does make it a great listen. But a listen of this album in its entirety is a little bit much for me.
Good album - talent of PS coming through in every track. Enjoyed the listen, some great easy listening.
Nope, just a bit too punky, art punk? Pop punks? whatever you call it for me. I find the voices a little too sulky teenage for me, probably just my age and maybe that’s the reaction they are looking for! Can see they’ll have a great cult following though & they’ve built on that style and genre.
Awesome voice
A pretty dark set of tracks but then I guess the title of the album gives that away. Some good collaborations on here and some strong tracks- 1st listen today went over my head a bit but I became very intrigued on a revisit and enjoyed it - definitely a keeper in my streaming collection. I do find that Nick Cave has aged well when it comes to his music. Big fan of his last album.
The album jogs along nicely in an indie rock kind of way. Frequent airplay of the singles from this album haven’t helped me, I find a little all a little predictable these days. Nice to hear this album in its entirety which is a first for me, but not one I’d instantly gravitate towards. If there were half marks it’ll 2.5!
The 2nd album is always the hardest right? Well, if that’s the case they worked their socks off to make this one of the finest pieces of music ever..proper day stopper for me listening to this album, obviously the singles released speak for themselves but after not hearing some of the album tracks for a while they are all combine to make a sublime collection of music that will always hold up well. It’s a FIVE from me.
I’d say this is a reigned in album from the bothers when compared to other albums from the duo which could be perceived as a little too frantic for some. Because of this it would be a great introduction into the techno world of Orbital. 30 years old, and these days dare I say it sounds quite iconic of those raving years…orbital highly influenced the genre of electronica. Nice to hear this album in full again, think I may have bought this on cd in a charity shop for a quid in the early noughties ! A quid well spent.
A 2 hour plus work drive back home from Surrey today so I thought I’d give the album a go, made it through to track 4 and thought this isn’t going to change, I’m not going to change and we should part company. Switched to 6 music and managed to catch that Underworld had just released (or dropped as the kids would say) a new album. Swamp rock just ain’t my bag. Nuff said.
Forget the Oasis hype…Supergrass were pushing out much better “Britpop” in the 90’s and this album is the perfect example of this. First class.
Nina had that skill where she could sing to accurately reflect the lyrics and arrangement to fit the mood and emotions be that pain, anger, sorrow, joy or love she nails it every time. I have never heard the track Four Women before : a very powerful, shocking, sad but incredible piece of music.
I'm not one for live albums however this was recorded at Abbey Road and only in front of a few hundred people so is allowed to be an exception to my rulings! Imagine being there!? Frantic, vibrant, explosive, jazzy, groovy that smashes along at an incredible pace. Bass line constantly hammering along like an engine room driving an incredible assembly of such talented musicians. One of the finest pieces of drumming if not the finest by the legendary Tony Allen,? I trying to work that one out. Some of the rifts felt a little like the JB's too, only a lot more raw (but in a good way) I'm sorry, but if you were not moving along to this then you have no soul. FIVE!
Can't say I was/am a big fan of the band, and after a listen to this album (was it their 1st?) my opinion has not changed. Take Me Out has had so much air play over the years it's almost become a white noise to me.
Not my favourite SW album but still proving that he was such a genius in the musical world inspiring many artists for years to come. Sunshine of my life despite after all these years and all the airplays has never taking the edge off a beautiful song. Superstition always a dance floor filler.