Femi Kuti is a groovy, funky, lovely to listen self-titled album. Energetic, a bit on one-note, a bit long, but I didn't feel bored. And you know, some problems really do be stubborn problems. I wouldn't call it a masterpiece, and I'd find it hard to compare about my favourites, but I think it's very, very solid record.
I've listened to this album, and didn't quite understand it. So I did it again. And again. And again. And somewhere along the way, I've realized that I don't quite understand it still, but I've grown to like it. It's the right amount of experimental. Easy to listen to, a bit hazy, a bit sweet, a bit bitter. Maybe one day I'll understand this album better.
Somewhat attractive album, with interesting and somewhat subversive instrumentation. Easily can imagine this album being influential for rock albums afterwards. Album brings fun retro-futuristic at this point beats, but that's part of what makes it appealing. However, vocals are at least an acquired taste which I haven't acquired yet, and as such, I don't even have a feeling of what the album could be about. The further in, and during a relisten I feel like I'm sold on all but vocals. Red Barchetta feels like an interesting song for me - where Bat Out Of Hell I, Bat Out Of Hell II and Bad For Good were all about having freedom, youth related to having a motorcycle/car, here this freedom is taken away, and has to be taken back.
Album provides a positive music experience, hover, I can't help but feel like Neil Young is a bit too self absorbed. One song about loneliness, then he's bedding an actress. Another one, then he has to sort through groupies. And then he gets a wave of applause. It's an easy 4, although I worry that I might end up not liking it on constant repeat, but the first listen was a pleasant experience. Save for that feeling of Neil not really knowing what loneliness is.
I think I can feel the lyrics more than they can write themselves, as The Clash tries to be very basic on them in here. Sure, I can feel what the author has in mind, but he wouldn't spell it out for me. The music itself is enjoyable, even though you won't find anything complex here, and yet, there's a bunch of distinctly different songs. It's not the lyrics, it's not the melody that's selling the vibe, but you get it anyways. Wish the album wasn't so simple. It feels like a hesitant 4.
Feast of Wire feels like it knows what it is and what it isn't, providing a great experience of being *somewhere*. And that somewhere is probably close to Mexico, by the sound of it. Great album to put into background. I've listened to it a few times already, but I'm not sure if there was anything out there. It's not like The Car or Tranquility Base Hotel & Casino - great background music, but they snap out of it, to deliver you an extra hook, to grab the strings of your heart. Feast of Wire usually stays in the background, even if some tracks go for that extra epic feel. Very, very strong 4, and I'm risking willing to give it a 5 for being something else, something solid. It's held back only by the fact that I'm not sure if it has any hooks for me to return to it.
I don't think that it's a bad album at all, but it's not my type. However, it did feel a bit different than the other hip-hop albums that I know of, and there was a bit of two that had my attention. But is it special? Hard to tell for me. Hesitant, unsure, 3/5.
After your greatest commercial success you can do a lot of things. Arctic Monkeys released a retro-futuristic Tranquility Base Hotel & Casino, selling you an experience, feelings, ideas, rather than something real. Fleetwood Mac decided that releasing an underproduced, uninteresting, safe for minor changes in tone album, is the way to go. I'm not sold on it at all. It does have a few bits which sound like Tame Impala. It is experimental. But majority of it fails. Can't believe it's the same band that released Rumours
I'm not feeling very strong about the album yet, I don't feel like it's either bad or good. Definitely I wouldn't call it the best, and then, it's of the length that makes it a bit unfocused, and doesn't encourage a quick relisten. Hesitant 3, but I think it could be a 4.
Enjoyable, good rock, great in the background, but I don't think it's anything special. Maybe at the time it was. Wish I gave it another listen, but then, I don't think my opinion would have changed to a 5. Solid 3-4 though.
Creative, bringing you theatrical energy of Meat Loaf and Jim Steinman, somehow, with Julian Casablancas-like vocals - both sounding emotional, and delivered with almost lack of care, but in the opposite direction. Then, the energy it brings avoid being epic like that of Meat Loaf. But still grand, very much emotional. My worry is that with next listens I'd find the album samey, too-similar, but that remains to be seen. It lands into the type of music I like, and I think it's somewhere between 4 and 5.
Wheey it's Meat Loaf + Jim Steinman. THE rock opera. The album that no one wanted to release, and then it propelled to the top sellers, and made Jim Steinman a writer of a lot of stars, including Bonnie Tyler and Sisters of Mercy. It doesn't sound as refined to me as Bat out of Hell II, and it's not my favourite, but with the lengthy, emotional, over the top songs, the engine-like riffs and the feeling of being young again, it's a 5/5. It's like living the youth you never had. It gives me chills. It makes me so happy to listen to it again.
Femi Kuti is a groovy, funky, lovely to listen self-titled album. Energetic, a bit on one-note, a bit long, but I didn't feel bored. And you know, some problems really do be stubborn problems. I wouldn't call it a masterpiece, and I'd find it hard to compare about my favourites, but I think it's very, very solid record.
I think it's a good album, but apart from R E S P E C T there are no songs that stand out. Very solid performance, but it's not extraordinary, not for me.
Tricky one. I want to believe there's a lot to *A Love Supreme*. I gave it a few listens. On one hand, it doesn't sound groudbreaking, the other tracks of John Coltrane I've heard resonated with me better. But then, I kinda start feeling the magic I'm supposed to. Sadly, only in one place so far. Hesitant 4/5.
Very interesting album, throws an aggressive idea after an aggressive idea. And some... a lot of those ideas still hold up today. Some were there as a sarcasm to show off humanity's fall. Experiments with changing speed, some songs are perfectly understandable, some make you go 'wait, you can speak that fast?' Relatively strong 4. I'm not sure if it's for me, but it has something, and it's better than the previous punk 4 I gave.
Guitar heavy, a bit noisy. Wasn't sold on first listen, got better on the second, but I haven't yet got hooked. Maybe a third listen would be required. 3-4 territory, with potential to go higher.
Paranoid is an interesting album. From one point of view, it doesn't feel complex, I'd even call it a bit basic. But that's maybe because it's a precursor to all the other ones, and then... being a bit basic doesn't mean it's not good. It employs the tools it has effectively. I knew some songs off of it, but the ones I didn't, I was vibing to them. Feels like the delivery of it is perfect for what it wants to achieve. Well, maybe, for an album called *Paranoid* I'd expect to hear something that makes me feel paranoid, but no. This is my biggest problem with the album, it sells you on the vibe, but not so much emotion. I'm a bit hesitant to call it a masterpiece, it'd be a 5/6 for me, but it's pretty good and solid. A bit hesitant 5.
Tricky one. I feel given those are pretty old, and classics, BUT not really popular in my country, it's hard for me to judge. They're pretty okay though. Unsure 3.
It's not a bad album, even I'd say it's a bit appealing, but I haven't felt hooked once, nor do I have any idea what the album is about. This is a 3, could've been a weak 4, but then, similar albums have grown on me massively. It feels emotional, but in a hollow manner to me. And then as I finish this review, the longer it goes on, the more I'm happy the album finally concludes. Too same-ish.
I know The Police and some of their songs, but I've never listened to any of their albums. Synchronicity is an interesting, and with perfect length to experiment a bit without tiring the listener. I've enjoyed it, but almost nothing stood out to me. Plus, Every Breath You Take, at first feels like it doesn't fit - then you notice that, hey, it kinda does, but it's just that with it popularity it overshadows everything around it. 4/5, but I see myself giving it a 5 if I could get hooked on it. But still, there remains the problem of one song overshadowing everything else.
Pretty solid, somewhat similar across the board, but doesn't get boring. Instrumentation is pleasant. Very easy to listen to.
*Astronomy will have to be revised I don't believe in the sun How could it shine down on everyone? And never shine on me* It's an interesting piece. It's 69 songs! Most of them just keep an idea and go with it - price of them being short, and being one among 68 others. Some are interesting. Some are less. But it's really hard to get through all 69 of them in one day. *So there's one thing I crave When my days become ho-hum and blah I want a zebra* And then it went on, and on, and on. And the music got weirder. And at one point I got motion sick. And I'm suspecting half of the experience is so that they can catch you out, unaware. It's not quite perfect, and it's so long I'd be a bit wary of giving it a 5. And I can't even feel like I can fit a relisten for it, like for so many albums. But I think a 4 fits the album well enough. Maybe one day. It's just missing yet Another Love Song.
Pretty good, attractive, even for an album composed of a lot of aggressive riffs and a lot of shouting. Knows what it's trying to do. Nothing really stood out for me as great though. My biggest problem with it is that it feels like it's trying to conclude a few times, and even with it's unorthodox feeling, it's throwing me off too much.
It's not bad per se, and I can hear things that could possibly influence grunge and garage rock on this album. However, for some reason it felt uninspired to me. Was it because in retrospection, after hearing all of those albums already it's kinda average? And it's just second album of him I'm listening to, and I'm hearing clapping again. Do we really need that? I don't know, I'm not feeling it.
I've listened to this album, and didn't quite understand it. So I did it again. And again. And again. And somewhere along the way, I've realized that I don't quite understand it still, but I've grown to like it. It's the right amount of experimental. Easy to listen to, a bit hazy, a bit sweet, a bit bitter. Maybe one day I'll understand this album better.
The album's alright, it's a non-aggressive indie rock, but I just couldn't held my attention to it. It doesn't feel too interesting.
Pretty okay album, but very much one-note and repetitive. Instruments and vocals are pretty good.
An attractive, interesting album with a great start and good finish. Throughout it, there's plenty of attractive riffs, and it's easy to listen. However, given the length of the beginning and the end, the album feels ultimately short, and it feels like it's just a tiny bit from sticking the landing. As you consider whether you like the middle part, it's over, and as an effect it is not half as memorable as the start of the album. Very solid 4/5, and maybe a pretty hesitant 5.
Mix The Clash, The Police, The Doors with a hint of maybe of Duran Duran, and I have a feeling like you'd get this album without the low points. It's not without it merit, and it's pretty okay to listen, but all the high points feel like I've already heard them elsewhere.
Such a lovely place, such a lovely face Why are all entries with 'California' in it sad? Hotel California delivers a lot of solid songs, not all of them on the same level, but I was quite aware of some singles from here. The lows aren't as low as I've expected of Eagles, The highs are pretty high, as this one includes their most popular work. The instrumentation is nice, although I wish it was just a tiny bit more cohesive song-to-song. Overall, I'd hesitate to give it a 5/5, but it definitely deserves at least a 4/5 out of me.
It's a tricky one, innit? I've put it on one more time and it just has gone by just like that. And I would've given it a 3/5 again, but the more I think of it... it's kinda good that it has gone by just like that. I suspect that it might've influenced music I like, that's why it was so natural. But I can't see the genius of it yet. Maybe there's none.
I find it a pretty solid album, easy to listen to, with some enjoyable moments, but it's very much forgettable.
An attractive album, a bit glam, a bit experimentative. I really enjoyed it, both the style, instrumentals, however the big problem of it is it's totally unmemorable. It's a good experience, but I worry that it's missing that something. A strong 4/5 or a rather weak 5/5. I'd struggle to call it a masterpiece, but I can imagine myself revisiting it
Attractive, pleasant to listen record, but a bit too mellow. I knew this album and I couldn't get into its vibe again until second listen. I wish the first part didn't feel like the album was ending already for ten minutes. It feels a bit like disjointed sad songs, but, I've gotta give it to Coldplay, they've sold the vibe with all its problems. Wish it was a bit different, it's not my favourite, but I feel like I cannot deny it a 5/5.
No Other puts you into a lovely, gently explorative mood, with some tight enjoyable hooks. Every song in here feels like I've already heard it in a good way, and I've enjoyed almost every repeat. Experimental enough, lovely enough, for me to risk a 5/5. Somewhere closer to 8-9/10, really, than a true solid 10/10, but it's very very enjoyable. Feels a bit like combining the best part of country, eagles, soft rock, soulful music, and a bit of psychedelic experimentation.
Majority of the songs don't land, and they feel like they're ultimately missing something. As if they hired half an orchestra, or forget to put soul into their epic single. It's not entirely without merit, but I'd rather much listen to something else.
Feels like The Cars is going into the party, and everything that happens in with confidence, and the way its meant to be. Funnily enough, I find majority of hooks to be predictable, but it just makes me want to sing along with it more. It doesn't feel like it's trying to be grand, or great, but it executes its confidence perfectly. Granted, probably won't be my favourite for a long time, but it's so fun now, and it's so listenable, and you can sing along with it, and I just feel like it's very well executed.
An interesting project, fun to listen to, that I'd like to listen a few more times on to form an opinion on. I suspect it's a 4/5... ...but I just can't get over the fact that the highs are too high and the lows are too low, and I'm not willing to go risk going deaf. I love the uneasiness the album's throwing at me, the weirdness of it. It's weird, I feel being a bit disgusted by it, I feel my skin feeling weird. But the mixing... there's too much things you just can't hear on the standard volume. And there are other ways you could achieve that effect.
Colour By Numbers is... not a bad album, but it doesn't feel like majority of it is too strong. Some songs were catchy, but I couldn't remember them next day. Strong 2, weak 3. I've enjoyed it a fair bit, but would rather to listen to something else
I don't quite understand OK Computer yet, and I might forget about its existence again sadly. But I think it's a nice piece of art, pulling you in with interesting hooks mixed with futuristic sounding noisier bits. It sounds like a well-executed experiment, it's very cohesive and doesn't feel like it has weak points overall. Plus it kinda was right on the future, right? Just a bit. 5/5, but not my personal favourite. But I respect the craftsmanship definitely.
Not quite sure how to rate it. It sounds okay, but no part apart from Hallelujah hooked me in. And Jeff Buckley will always be for me Hallelujah guy. But it's a nice version, the songs are rich, a bit dynamic, but the entire album kinda suffers in my eyes from living on the same CD as Hallelujah does. Obviously it's all sang beautifully. I think it's a strong 3, weak 4.
Pretty much a classic, I've heard this one so many times, and it's so tight, so creative, clean production, and it touches on important - even if, at this point, a bit overdone - themes. It might've been my introduction to concept albums, and I hope to hear multiple many more concept albums still. Great, emotional, interesting musically.
Had some enjoyable and interesting moments, but I feel like the format hurts this album a bit. Never could really get into it, maybe I'd need a bit more time. It sounds good in the moment, but I literally don't remember anything from it.
It's good, it's interesting, but I feel like I'm forcing myself to listen to it, and the format makes it inherently hard to review. I'm not sure if it's me, but I feel like listening to jazz is harder than expected, even though I've thought I kinda like the genre - or maybe it's just this format.
Pretty listenable, with some interesting songs, but nothing special. Feels like there's a hint of sadness in this album, and I kinda believe in it.
Simple, achieves what it aims to. I'm impressed that you can make a song that circles back to the same theme for 10 minutes and it's listenable. Didn't feel like it's special though. But it's very good craftsmanship.
Eh, it's not a bad album, it has some moments. But feels like it's a bit too self-indulgent. You can just randomly start skipping the sections in the song, and everything you'll land on will feel the same-ish, part of the same song, with the same performance.
Solid, technically impressive, memorable, achieves what it wants to achieve. I feel like there are bits and pieces that are less memorable than they'd like to be, and the album itself is not my personal favourite, but it's a 5 on excellence.
Not bad, employs a lot of empty moments, but ultimately a bit uninspired, maybe? It should've been something else. At this point, if I were to listen to it more, I'd be afraid I'm sinking more time to look for its genius, than actually enjoying the album
A bit forgettable as an album. Some songs don't feel much different from the others. It's not bad, but I suppose you had to be there to like it and appreciate it for what it was. 2.5/5, but maybe because I don't get it
Alex Turner just wanted to be one of The Strokes, but The Strokes just wanted to be part of the Television. Now that we have an obvious The Strokes reference out of the way, I really like the album. It's solid, engaging, a bit slow on the parts, but damn is it emotional, and Torn Curtain just goes into a perfect sad spiral. The only issue is that when you loop the album it goes into See No Evil a bit too eagerly. But the sad chords, riffs on Torn Curtain are perfect, and the style engages throughout the record.
Pretty interesting as an album, reviewing it is also tricky for me, had it in the backlog for almost 2 weeks now. A bit elusive, a bit hazy, with just enough mix of a 'I'm interested' and 'meh'. Ultimately? Interesting project. Interesting project. Interesting hooks. Somewhere between 3 and 4 for me, and it might've been a 4, but I don't feel like it has enough hooks for me.
As my first Brian Eno experience I almost instantly understood just WHY does Bowie's Low and "Heroes" sound like that. I like it. It's a fun project. The negative part of it, is that I just can't imagine a particular reason to go back to it. Maybe to listen to in a background. Plus, I'm not sure if the album has *any* theme. It's nice, it's the perfect amount of experimental. But what about it? It's probably somewhere between 4 and 5.
Fun, but I'm not sure if I'll remember the album. It has random fun bits of aggression, with the "nothing to do? Clearly time to self-immolate". Like the simplicity of the artwork too. It's somewhere in the 3-4/5 range.
My initial impression was that Reggatta De Blanc kinda sucks... but then, on the second listen I was under an impression it's better than I thought. But then, it's still not something I can imagine myself listening to daily. Could it be a 4? Maybe. Maybe it'd need more time. Obviously, Message In A Bottle carries this album hard. Kinda funny how from what I've heard from The Police I was mostly impressed, but then their albums fall short of the overall impression. Not too hard.
Fun, experimental album, combining noise into pretty attractive. Maybe I wish it was just a tiny bit more than experimental. Can imagine myself giving it a higher score, and can imagine enjoying this album much more one day. Or in an alternative universe.
It's nice, I enjoyed the mix of jazz and rock, but every time I put it on, it felt just a bit less special, and a bit less special and then a bit less special. It's pretty good as a background listen.
Now, I'm not saying the album is terrible, but it's the second album I just couldn't go through. After 50 albums with which I was engaged, no matter what. And the previous one received a 1/5 from me. After all, what is an English poem-songwriter to a foreigner?
One of these days, I'll have to get myself a hat, go on a long, sad walk and put on this album. It's pleasant, but I'd agree with the fact that it's mostly one-tone. Very strong 3. Maybe a 4. Maaaybe a 5.
It does feel a bit soulless, it does feel a bit like if it was created in a lab, but it's pretty good at what it does. But can it be anything but background music?
Friendly, warm, accessible.
I quite like the album, but I feel like apart from some songs that really hit with me, it's samey and not much special.
I'm probably never gonna listen to this one again, but hey, this was fun. Every track a bit different, love the titles not taking themselves seriously.
For some reason, I've found it hard initially to see through the facade of it being "The Smoke On The Water Album". But it's more to offer, including some attractive groovy tracks, and some sadder ones, finishing with a When A Blind Man Cries which feels really deep. Hesitant 4. Maybe I wish it was something more?
A fun entry! Doesn't feel extraordinary, but it knows what it wants to achieve, comes in, achieves that, comes out. Dark, mysterious, dancey. I feel a hint of Sisters of Mercy in there. It's either a 4 or a 5 for me. No weak points, although some song are not memorable. It's SOLID, but I can't really feel exact brilliance in it. Risky 4.
Always gonna give it to The Hives, they're confident. My New Favourite Band? Maybe not, but damn, look at them. Tight, right amount of angry, but not entirely special, if you ask me.
Not bad, a little entertaining, but I literally forgot I'm listening to it several minutes in. Another album which likely works on its own, but its length makes it hard to review as I'm not willing to give this one multiple listens.
It's not bad, I'm even a bit impressed how modern it sounds given its age. But I feel like it hasn't hooked me in, I don't really want to revisit it either, and it was soooo incredibly hard to listen to it for the first time.
Friendly, warm, accessible, welcoming, forgettable
An interesting one! I can definitely tell it's not the best thing since sliced bread, but does it deserve an entry on this list? Probably, yeah. It's just rock, but it feels both accessible and different. It goes on too long for my taste. Somewhere in the middle of those 22 tracks is something that I really like, but it's hidden, and I'm unsure if I want to search for it too long. And I think I'd like to find it, but over an hour of songs? Really? Somewhere between 3 and 4 for me.
Now, not my favourite record from Jack White, but as the only one on this list from him I'll allow myself to inflate the rating a bit. At the end of the year I always find myself surprised that I've listened to more Jack White than I thought, and majority of his project sound like a perfectly controlled noise. Multiple instruments, uncommon structures, working out great in the end. Even if I question if the guy doesn't have a bit of an ego, he's pretty good at what he does, he does unconventional things and they all work out. Even this album feels like it has great pacing, even if all the songs are pretty different.
Attractive songs with a very attractive singing style, nice instrumentals, with a playful moment on in. Unsure if I want to put it on repeat, tho. But I think 4/5 is very fair for this one.
I didn't know what to expect, going into Beatles - and surprisingly, it's not bad at all. Hell, I think I quite enjoyed the show. Dreamy, weird, intimate, suspicious. And hey, every time I hear "A Day In The Life" I hear "Young Americans".
This album feels sick. As in, are you alright man? Feeling all good? Pretty fun, but I have no strong feelings about it apart from that. Strong 3, weak 4.