Excellent! From a time before they became their own tribute act, they were still pushing boundaries, sounding a bit weird and sinister and fresh while still nodding to the rush blues history that shaped them. “Sympathy for the Devil” and “No Expectations” provide possibly the greatest opening one/two album opening of all time. “Street Fighting Man”, always a little disappointing on compilation albums, sounds glorious in the context of the album. The overall sound is wonderful, organic, like you’re in the room with them. The boxy echoey sound of the drums, the ringing acoustic guitars and some of best bass lines they ever wrote. “Jigsaw Puzzle” is probably the highlight and unlike anything else in their catalog and “Salt of the Earth” is a wonderful closer. I thought I preferred “Exile…” and “Sticky Fingers” but after revisiting “Beggars Banquet” I think it might be my favourite.
I quite enjoyed this. I’ve always thought of Steely Dan as very serious musicians so I like that this is more playful and fun than I’d expected. “With a Gun” is my stand out track. I did enjoy “Aja” more and felt was the more immersive and consistent album. Although clearly incredibly accomplished musicians with a deep understanding of structure and form I still find that their songs are often missing a really strong melodic hook.
Love this album. It always makes me think of Winona Ryder and Ethan Hawke in “Reality Bites”. It sounds deceptively simple, loose, lo fi and rudimentary yet listening to it now the musicianship and arrangements are pretty sophisticated. It feels like it belongs to a tradition of American outsider Music that I love, like the missing link between Jonathan Richman & The Modern Lovers and Pavement. Great stuff.
Really enjoyed this. I love the raw/live sound. The guitar at times sounding dissonant and haphazard and the sheer power of Janis Joplin’s vocals really drew me in.
Awful. It doesn’t even sound that heavy to me. It sounds thin and trebly with hardly any bass. The production is so smooth and polished that it lacks any edge. They should try listening to SWANS or My Bloody Valentine. I hate the guitar sound, hate the drum sound and hate the vocals. One point for the guitar solos that I do actually quite like.
Love the raw sound of this album. “Mannish Boy” is fantastic. I haven’t really listened to it as closely before. I particularly loved the “yeahs” screamed off mic by someone in the band. Overall love the sound and the feel of this album, although it feels a bit samey after awhile.
My heart sank a little at the prospect of listening to a Willie Nelson album of covers. But actually… I really enjoyed it. His voice is great, such control of vibrato. The band sound great too, lovely guitar sound. Ultimately it’s a little bit slight, but I did enjoy it.
Lovely. Gorgeous vocals. A stunning album that really transported me on my usually dull commute.
I’d never listened to this before and really enjoyed it. Blending folk and soul like this is an original idea that still sounds fresh. The songwriting is really strong with great melodic moments on every song. I almost gave it the full 5 points… but not quite. 4.5
I love AIR. ’Moon Safari’ is an amazing album, but this feels like one really good song and a bunch of half finished studio sketches. It probably works really well as the film soundtrack but as a stand alone album it’s underwhelming. Disappointing.
Love this. I thought I was a bit bored of it but really enjoyed listening to it. Still sounds fantastic.
I wasn’t keen on the puerile school boy humour and casual misogyny when this first came out and listening now it’s worse than I remember. If you’re being kind you could argue “Slim Shady” is a character like Ziggy Stardust and maybe he’s using this character to comment on such attitudes, however this doesn’t ring true to me. It feels like he wants to shock and thinks it’s funny to make jokes about rape and general violence towards Women. This has dated pretty badly. Grim stuff. (I wanted to give it zero points but it appears you have to award an album at least one point)
It’s more psychedelic than I thought it would be. It’s also got an English pastoral, folklore feel to it that I like. It’s amazing to think this came out in 1970. I probably won’t listen to it again but it’s clear they took rock music in a new direction that led to everything from Iron Maiden to Faith No More to Nirvana to Mogwai and beyond… even… dare I say… Pantera. Innovators.
I was about 14 when I received a vinyl copy of this for Christmas. I found it so mysterious and exciting. As my tastes have changed I tend to find Led Zeppelin a little annoying these days. Nevertheless I enjoyed listening to this again and it has some great moments, “What is and what should never be”, “Thank You” and “Ramble On” among their best. I don’t like the cliched bluesy rockers as much.
Very enjoyable. A couple of classics on here. “Time After Time” is such a great song. The whole album has a very 80s MOR rock sound, that although dated I feel is kind of creeping back in fashion and I actually quite like. The second half flags a bit but an enjoyable listen.
When I was 14 this was my favourite album. I had it on vinyl and for years I thought Back in Black was the opening track. It was only with the advent of steaming that I discovered that what I thought was side one was actually side two. Side two is better and listening now there’s a couple of weaker tracks on side one. 4.5 rounded up to 5.
The first two tracks are fantastic. Then the version of “Papa Was A Rollin’ Stone” starts great but goes on a bit, though I love the wah-wah guitar. “I ain’t got nothing’” is such a great song. Overall a great sounding record, with fantastic performances.
Rock supergroup. It’s well put together and some decent songs, but it all sounds too middle of the road for my tastes. Straight forward meat and potatoes blues based rock without anything particularly inventive to make it stand out.
Never liked this at the time, like it slightly more now. Great snare drum sound.
Quite liked the organ but tired of everything else quite quickly.
I’ve never actually listened to this before. It strikes me as a self-conscious, though lovingly put together pastiche, with some good songs that showcase her talent. Some of the modern turns of phrase in the lyrics act as a nice counterpoint to the retro sounding music (“what kind of fuckery is this?”), although I do find her voice a little affected at times.
I feel like I want to like this more than I do. I found it a little irritating at the time and listening now still find it a bit irritating, especially the “Strange Ones” song. Having said that I’ve always liked “Caught by the Fuzz” and appreciate that it’s a good album even if I don’t like it much myself.
My favourite album so far. I think this is probably my favourite hip-hop album of all time. It oozes a sense of loose, unconventional, laidback cool. Q-Tip’s conversational flow pairing perfectly with playful yet thoughtful lyrics. Great drum sound, crisp and organic.
Very enjoyable. Especially the first half. I definitely want to spend more time with this album as I don’t really know it. I loved his delivery and the overall sound of it, evoking a strong sense of place. You feel as though you are in New York.
Really enjoyed this. I could really hear the influence on contemporary bands like Fat White Family. Experimental and odd but also playful and catchy.
I really like this, an experimental jazz album that remains accessible.
Love this. Strange fact… I own a copy of this on vinyl that used to belong to Richard Donner of Lethal Weapon fame
I remember quite enjoying this at the time but it sounds very middle of the road listening now. Good songwriter though.
Fantastic! Classic!
I like some of her more recent stuff but didn’t know this album. After one listen I liked some of the tracks but thought that it sounded more middle of the road than I expected.
Love it
