Like being stuck in a lift in the 1960s
The title track is a classic, but the rest is just guitar riffs and hammond organ solos, like green onions themselves, probably okay in a mixed salad, but it isn't a meal
For years I have been absorbing this album through the walls of my daughters bedrooms, and when it popped up I have to admit I wasn't entirely thrilled (I didn't think an album about teenage angst was an album for a 54 year old)... I'll admit I was partially wrong. There are some absolute gems on this album. And the Trip-pop musical style at times reminded me of some great tracks from the 90s.
Melodrama is a genius title for this album BTW; the title is a droll wink that acknowledges she knows she's a bit OTT throughout the album.
Four outstanding tracks:
Green Light - pure anthemic bliss
Liability - I have had this conversation with my daughter (also called Ella) and it was as heartbreaking as this song
Supercut - a break up song that lyrically says "I have a few regrets" but musically says "it happened, but I have survived to dance another day"
Perfect Places - a song about escaping that reminded me, that teenage life hasn't changed much since I was young and trying to figure life outs.
Dusty Springfield is one of the greatest vocalists ever, but for me, despite her technical excellence, she never really "sold" most of her songs to me... Perhaps, because she didn't write them.
The two most famous tracks on this album I already know from my love of films; Windmills of Your Mind, from the original Thomas Crown Affair, and the best track on the album, Son of a Preacher Man from Pulp Fiction.n
Dusty in Memphis (although the vocals were recorded in New York) is considered one of the greatest flops of all time... And I can see why, there isn't anything on it that would have me rushing of to the record store to buy it.
Scarborough Fair sounds like something they stole from a minstrel in King Henry the VIII's court
Homeward Bound is one of my favourite Simon and Garfunkel tracks... It was written for a different album
59th Street Bridge is a fun little piece of songwriting, but the phrase "groovy" always sounds as dated as it is.
The album sounds very rushed like it was written on the back of a cigarette pack and just recorded without any work put into the songs
Ends with a strange take on a Christmas carol
Definitely not my favourite Simon and Garfunkel album
I have never "got" The Cocteau Twins and after listening to what is supposedly their most accessible album, I still don't get this Dream-pop sound.
The entire album is just 37 minutes of distorted guitars, drum machines, echo boxes and tape loops with Elizabeth Fraser's operatic vocals that are barely recognisable as language.
Eric Clapton + Duane Allman, what can go wrong?... Absolutely nothing! There's never a dull moment or a wasted note.
This entire album is a flawless 1:16 journey through the vast landscapes of love and relationships.
💯 Timeless classic
Jazz isn't really my cup of tea... But, the 11:16 version of Street Life is quite good.
It was perfect that this album popped up for me when it's raining outside. Joni, for me is always best listened to when you're trying to enjoy the quieter times in life, maybe with a cup of tea or your favourite adult beverage (I had ☕).
- I find it difficult to listen to Joni Mitchell for long periods of time... Something about her voice makes me 🥱😴💤
- This album contains three of my favourite Joni Mitchell tracks;
Help Me
Free Man in Paris
Raised on Robbery
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The White Stripes were a band that got the most from their self-imposed limitations; guitar and drums and that's it but, on this album they broke their own rules and added some bass, piano and a few other select instruments that Jack felt like fiddling with.
-Jack White is a superb guitarist and vocalist, Meg White is an average drummer, but gets the most from her minimalist style
-starts with Blue Orchid one of my favourite songs by the White Stripes and ends with I'm Lonely (But, I Ain't That Lonely Yet) another of my favourites. In-between there's the fantastic My Doorbell and the Denial Twist, but the majority of the album sounds very rushed... Which it was; recorded in only two weeks.
- The Nurse sounds like the theme from the Rugrats 😆
-There is enough here to keep me listening, but certainly not my favourite WS album
Amy Winehouse looks and sounds like Marty McFly brought Amy back to the future from the 1950s and asked her to write an album about how she's getting on. Expertly produced by Mark Ronson this album just leaves listeners wondering how much better she could have gotten.
- Not a lot else you can say, this is an album that everyone should definitely listen to at some point in their lives.
- ⚠️ avoid the film though; it's terrible!
Absolutely fantastic!
It wa the album that got me into the genius that is Bob Dylan
It's like the soundtrack to every Nandos meal I have ever eaten...
I can't hear Randy Newman's voice without wondering what Woody and Buzz are up to.
Exploring the early part of Randy Newman's career is a delightful way to spend a rainy afternoon or evening with a few adult beverages, just don't take his lyrics too seriously, his dry wit sometimes is taken a bit too seriously.
One of the first albums I bought.
High energy, new wave... The band faded away quickly, and their history is probably better than the music left behind, but there are a couple absolute gems on this album.
Nothing special to write home about here... Honestly, don't understand how this album made it on the list
Lots of hits, but not really my favourite artist
High energy, gritty EDM that you can smash stuff too. No doubt that this is a 90s classic, but in hindsight, it probably would have benefitted from some slower beats, but what this album lacks in diversity it makes up for in consistency.
My mom would have loved it...
Some good grooves, but overall not my favourite Smiths album
It's hard to believe this is the same band that would later record We Built This City 😆
The album is essentially the entire 60s music scene in one handy package
Quite long for an album recorded for vinyl.
3:27 mins of science fiction electronic jazz?
Thanks but not for me
Not the best Steely Dan album, but it does have a couple of their best loved songs and there is enough from the deep cuts to keep me listening without reaching for the skip button
Arguably the best album by The Jam
One of the only things me and my older brother agree on is that early Alice Cooper is genius
And this is one of his best albums
I grew up with James Taylor playing in the background... 55 years later he's still one of my "go to" artists when I need to chill
Lots of great songs, but also lots of ok songs
Dark... Scary... But, fantastic
90s EDM was amongst the most creative genre of music
Everything else now is just a pale imitation
A funky toe tapping start but runs out of steam
The whole album has a single vibe. Decent enough mixed into a playlist, but gets boring over a whole album
I prefer PJ in small doses... I find it difficult to get through a whole album in one sitting
This album is what mosh pits were invented for...
One of the most overrated albums of all time
Never really seen the genius that so many talk about... Still the Jam were a better band than the Style Council
Perhaps in '98 this sounded much more original than it does now... I got bored after three songs
Sounds dated... Also, doesn't sound very good
One of the greatest debut albums ever
My most listened to album next year. One of the greatest albums ever recorded
One of the strangest albums by The Who
