Clean production/recording/mix (not my preference for reggae) but sounds very good regardless. Al Anderson, Aston Barrett & Carlton Barrett give great performances. Studio version of "No Woman No Cry" is underrated. "Bend Down Low"...I can't put my finger on what I dislike about this song. Strong cover art, very striking.
Favorites: "Rebel Music (3 O'Clock Roadblock)", "So Jah S'eh"
Least Favorites: "Bend Down Low"
Not my personal favorite Bob Marley release, but overall good album.
(x2)
4 Stars, B
I'm familiar with most of the "big" songs, this is the first time listening to this full album. Nothing grabbing me positive or negative.
Interesting things learned while listening/reading about: Clover was the backing band here. John McFee (late stage Doobies) was a member of Clover & plays lead guitar.
Neat cover, iconic image of Elvis here.
Favorites: "Welcome to the Working Week"
Least Favorites: "Mystery Dance"
(2x)
3 Stars
Very familiar with about 1/2 of this album.
Interesting discoveries: Basic tracks recorded in Tina & Chris' apartment w/ cables through the windows. Robert Fripp plays guitar on a couple tracks.
Favorites: "I Zimbra", "Cities", "Life During Wartime"
Least Favorites: "Animals"
(x2, many times previously)
4 Stars, B+/A-
I'm familiar with the hits, will be the first time listening to full album. The climax in "Bridge Over Troubled Water" is chill inducing.
Favorites: "El Condor Pasa (If I Could)", "So Long, Frank Lloyd Wright", "The Only Living Boy in New York"
Least Favorites: "Baby Driver"
(x1)
3 Stars, B
Never heard any of Janis' solo material & only I'm only familiar with a few Big Brother & the Holding Co songs. I may have heard "Me and Bobby McGee" but wasn't intentionally listening. I'm really enjoying this! Her voice is incredible, lives up to the hype in every way.
Favorites: "Half Moon", "Move Over"
(3x)
5 stars, A+
CHEESY BEYOND ALL CHEESE! Still though, the blues-rock/new wave hybrid has its' charms. I'm already very familiar with all the hits. There aren't any other songs that stand out as different or an improvement on the hit songs. They found a new formula and went all in on 11 tracks of it. By the time track 10 started I was praying for this to be done.
Learned while Listening: This is the manufactured "image" era of the band. Manager was hiding the fact they were using tape-recorded backing tracks on stage, Billy Gibbons & Linden Hudson created a majority of the album w/o Beard/Hill input...etc. Gotta have 120 BPMs for hits! (And it WORKED! LOL)
Favs: N/A
Least: "I Got the Six"
(1x)
2 Stars, C-
Finally! Something both that I haven't heard at all before & was released in the 2000s (still 24 years ago as of this writing but I'll take whatever "current" music I can get with this).
Favs: "Lovely Head", "Utopia"
Least:
(1x)
A, 4 stars
Enjoying this one. Have not heard any songs from this album or band before.
(1x)
3 Stars, B
Excited to hear my first full length Björk album. Very atmospheric & beautiful sounding. Musical score like string arrangements. I can appreciate the artistry, but for some reason don't feel like I would come back to this album again. Sorry to give this one a 3 would be a 3 1/2 if possible.
(1x)
3 1/2 stars, B+
Enjoyable retro style. Smooth voice, some interesting layers.
Favorites: "I've Been Dazed"
Least:
(1x)
3 1/2 stars, B+
I would give this 1 star but I know Kid Rock Devil Without a Cause is on this list and this Pogues album isn't as bad as that. So a begrudging 2 stars here. I do not like irish folk/sea shanty style. Sounds like bad SpongeBob music.
Revisiting this after many listens as child/teen. John Paul Jones & John Bonham (Squeak King pedal appearance!) are the only reasons I'd ever enjoy Led Zeppelin these days. They both sound good here as usual. They are moving towards the Led Zep "Folk" style on 1/2 the tracks which is not my preference for them.
