Probably the most equal-opportunity album ever recorded - because no matter what device you listen to it on, it will always sound like it's being played through a McDonald's Drive-Thru speaker. The 'unmastered' version floating around the web makes no difference. The master tracks have all been brickwalled. Other than that, it's a post-Navarro Chili Peppers album, and probably the best of them. Pop-rock with a tight, funky rhythm section, well played but uninteresting Hendrixesque guitar work, and some sleazy guy who raps sometimes and strains to sing in tune while you wish the backing guy led. The more laid back tracks like Scar Tissue, Porcelain and Road Trippin' show that they've learned how to reflect on themselves a bit, but on the whole the lyrics are still shallow. If it sounds like I'm being reductive... I am. But sometimes it needs to be said. RHCP's legendary status far outshines their material. They had a classic album in '91 and an interesting album either side of it, and that's OK.

This album is longer than 17 seconds! This is the most blatant case of fraudulent advertising since my suit against the film, The Never-Ending Story. The first example of the moody goth-rock that they became renowned for, and they nailed it. The fact they could pivot from this to the Lovecats in 3 years, then go back to this sound as one of the biggest bands in the world is astounding.

It's Willie Nelson singing standards. That's it. Maybe you had to be there at the time.

Hits right in that sweet spot between blues rock and psychedelic. Are you experienced? You will be after this. I recommend going for the UK track listing rather than the US, feels more cohesive to me but YMMV. Both digital versions contain the same tracks regardless.

Much better when Prince focused on being funky, rather than trying to use every preset on the Revolution's fancy new synthesisers. Listen to the 2019 remasters - improvement on the original CD masters in every respect.

The stripped down songs show that 60s/70s country was much closer to the Greenwich folk scene than they ever would have admitted. Dolly's a true storyteller. However, early stereo recording techniques strike again! 'Here I am' has the kick on the right, rest of the kit on the left?!

Feels more like a meme than an album at this point. No matter whether you love or hate it (or both, if your name is Kurt Cobain), nothing sounded like it before, and hundreds of bands tried and failed to sound like if after. It has the fingerprints of all of the US Indie/College rock and hardcore punk of the late 80s, but the pop hooks from each each member's contribution and the sheen from Butch Vig's production turn it into its own beast.

It's Willie Nelson singing standards. That's it. Maybe you had to be there at the time.

Hits right in that sweet spot between blues rock and psychedelic. Are you experienced? You will be after this. I recommend going for the UK track listing rather than the US, feels more cohesive to me but YMMV. Both digital versions contain the same tracks regardless.

Much better when Prince focused on being funky, rather than trying to use every preset on the Revolution's fancy new synthesisers. Listen to the 2019 remasters - improvement on the original CD masters in every respect.

Probably the most equal-opportunity album ever recorded - because no matter what device you listen to it on, it will always sound like it's being played through a McDonald's Drive-Thru speaker. The 'unmastered' version floating around the web makes no difference. The master tracks have all been brickwalled. Other than that, it's a post-Navarro Chili Peppers album, and probably the best of them. Pop-rock with a tight, funky rhythm section, well played but uninteresting Hendrixesque guitar work, and some sleazy guy who raps sometimes and strains to sing in tune while you wish the backing guy led. The more laid back tracks like Scar Tissue, Porcelain and Road Trippin' show that they've learned how to reflect on themselves a bit, but on the whole the lyrics are still shallow. If it sounds like I'm being reductive... I am. But sometimes it needs to be said. RHCP's legendary status far outshines their material. They had a classic album in '91 and an interesting album either side of it, and that's OK.

Was it the law that every rock album had to have psychedelic tracks in 1967?

This album is longer than 17 seconds! This is the most blatant case of fraudulent advertising since my suit against the film, The Never-Ending Story. The first example of the moody goth-rock that they became renowned for, and they nailed it. The fact they could pivot from this to the Lovecats in 3 years, then go back to this sound as one of the biggest bands in the world is astounding.

Rock solid punk.

The album that launched the careers of Travis, Keane, and Coldplay. But let's not hold that against them... Angst meets pop. This album has tension in spades, bitter lyrics beautifully sung, punctuated by Johnny Greenwood threatening to break his guitar at any opportunity.