A great first release from Dave. I feel like lyrically we are still a bit cryptic and we are still afraid to bear our soul, but musically we are hearing a lot of what becomes a staple sound from the FF. standouts with Big Me, This is a Call, I’ll stick around, floaty, and Good Grief.
Message in a bottle: a song about loneliness written in the guise of a clever hook and snappy groove.
Regatta de blanc: I don’t understand the need to include what is essentially an instrumental piece where there isn’t much variation in the music or the lyrics.
It’s alright for you: trying really hard to be punk with some blues lilts. Want to be the ramones. It’s ok. Some good guitar work.
Bring on the night: catchy as hell. Sounds like edge of seventeen. But lyrically it’s more complicated than its predecessors so far.
Deathwish: I’m all for some jam songs but this one becomes massively repetitive and by then end you are grateful for it being over.
Walking on the moon: sets a mood immediately. Fun song. Would be fine on a playlist in the background. Not life changing.
On any other day: weird and quirky song. Kind of funny. It’s definitely a vibe but not for everyone.
The beds too big without you: ok. Another song that sounds like the others.
Contact: I’m noticing that the songs are simple. Same phrases again and again. It’s meh.
Does everyone stare: something a bit different. Piano led song. Kind of goofy. But a little creepy. Which is par for the course when written by Stephen Copeland. It builds pretty well.
No time this time: feeling their “punk” roots. Odd filter on the vocals. Again, kind of becomes monotonous.
Overall: a great effort from a sophomore release where it seems like we are enjoying the moments in the studio where it seems to be clicking. So we indulge a bit rather than be specific in our contributions. But then we kind of rely on the same phrasing again and again in the songs. So variety is rare. Not a bad entrance. But just an ok album.
Hell of an opener for an album. Just an incredible finisher of a duo career. Apart from the hits, I have never heard the rest of this album. There were several moments when I caught myself saying, “that sound like X”. Which just goes to show just how widespread their influence is. I think this album is exceptional. I really want to give it 4.5 stars cause nuance you know. (Which would be that I probably would have a couple of skips on this album upon relistening. But it’s an exceptional album.
I don’t hate this album. It just isn’t for me. I can recognize the artistry of its time and Marty is great at his craft. The time in which this album came out saw country music as a great means of storytelling and this album delivers on that. Some fantastic harmonies and for its time, great production value. I can’t tank the ratings because it doesn’t speak to me but I can’t give it high marks on a personal level because I just don’t feel like it is right to give a high rating on something you aren’t drawn to just for the respect of its artist. I wish I could give a 2.75. Just dropping it below the 3 mark cause I respect it but again, not for me.
I couldn’t stand Gorillaz when they came out. I didn’t get it. Years later I still struggle to get it. Or at least this album. I love Blur and some of Gorillaz later work is really fascinating, but I feel like they are just discovering what they can do and they haven’t figured it out yet. This album is unbelievably repetitive and BORING!!! Give me variety. Clint Eastwood is the most entertaining song on this album and it’s the worst single they have ever had. So that says a lot. Woof. 2.5 stars.
I think anyone who knows me thinks I’m probably going to tank this album. I haven’t had the best relationship with the Beatles and I’m pretty outspoken about it. However, as this is the first of, I am sure, MANY Beatles albums, I have to give some context and history on the first one.
Let it be said that I do not hate the Beatles. As a matter of fact, I think that they are some of the most prolific and talented songwriters in modern history. But spend any time with a diehard Beatles fan, and it becomes almost in sufferable to have a conversation with them about music. I am not denying that the Beatles had a massive impact on music worldwide and that that impact has lasted for an enduring period of time. What I struggle with are people who give them credit for things that existed long before them, or people think the Beatles invented. Things like four-part harmonies or techniques used in the production value of their albums. These things existed before them and existed in tandem with them in their contemporaries. But I do find a lot of their songs quite enjoyable. However, there are quite a few of them that I just can’t stand to sit through.
Abbey Road:
I can see why people love this album so much. There are some incredible songs and there are things being done musically here that are pushing some boundaries in popular music. But towards the end of the album I found myself desperate for it to end. Hoping the next song wasn’t a long one.
Standouts include Come Together, Something, Oh Darling, Here Comes The Sun, Because, & Carry That Weight.
Overall it was a decent album. My assessment is probably a 3.75. Only because on an album that has 17 songs, I only like about 7. And I wanted to skip about 6 of them.
Love The Jam. While this isn’t my favorite Jam album (I really like the next 2), it marks a turning point for them when the songs become less “teenager-y” and start to have more mature themes and real world scenarios. Solid work, but I don’t return to this album much.
I have wanted to like Talking Heads my whole life. I have tried and tried and tried. But I guess I’m not destined to. I think David Byrne is a Genius…just not one I understand. Is this how people who don’t get Radiohead feel? Cause I really don’t get it. Like truly.
This album is a vibe. The music is so stripped back and it has such a delicious sound. Meanwhile the lyrics tell a different story. The struggles of the African American community through the 60s and early 70s are brought to life through the incredible voice of GSH. Fantastic album.
TFL have always married odd sounds into really palatable songs. When you are singing a happy little bop that sounds like you are skipping through a park meadow but the song is actually about someone fighting robots and you are enjoying it, that’s a vibe. I truly enjoyed this album. The little hidden gems within the songs had me listening harder to try to discover all the layers.
Ah youth.
This is the soundtrack to diary of ever Gen Xer.
In its time and place it was great.
Hindsight is a little cringy.
You know, early metal is not really my thing. I found the slower songs to be quite good and I never thought I would enjoy this album but it surprised me.
Not my favorite by him. But good background on a cold day while you clean the house.
This album is incredible. I remember driving around with my mom listening to it when I was a kid. Karen Carpenter was such a talent and what a loss when she died.
Not my favorite PG album. I think he is discovering what ultimately makes him dominate the 80s. But it’s not quite there yet. 2.5
Ahhh. The birth of ambience. Spectacular album.
I’m not sure you can listen to Little Richard and be sad. It’s just the epitome of joy. Great album. Lots of memories of my mom playing these songs when I was a kid.
Fantastic album. That feels the same hearing it now as it did when I was 15.
This is an incredible album. I would say that 50% of it are songs I love and would return to while the rest is kind of boring.
Love this album. It’s just an under appreciated gem.
10 out of 5. This album is legendary.
Woof. I’m sure there is merit to this album. But it isn’t for me.
This is my least favorite of all their albums. I remember feeling disappointed a bit from it. Still some good gems but I don’t return to it much.
Beautiful album. One of my favorites.
So here’s the thing, I can hear the influence of this band in about 100 bands that came after it. I think my only problem with this album, is that it seems very unpolished. Plenty of bands around the same time we’re doing similar things, but had a much more polished sound. While I can hear the influences, this album is not for me.
This is a good album. I think if you had asked me 20 years ago I would have been more enthusiastic. I like Aerosmith but the appeal and longevity of listening to them has sort of waned for me. If I hear them on the radio I might listen. I just don’t seek them out anymore.
Again. Not my favorite band. But I have to give props to George Harrison here. WMGGW is one of the best songs written. A couple of other bangers here too.
Great album but the next one is my favorite.
Beautiful album. Takes me back to childhood.
