Considered giving it a 4, because I did find myself jamming out to several songs that had some funky beats, but then the album just dragged on with a lot of the same. I'm not a huge rap/hip-hop guy, so consuming a whole album is probably going to lose my interest along the way anyways, especially if it's 56 minutes long.
Not a huge Blues guy, but you can tell that Muddy Waters (and this album) were a huge hit due to his electric and eccentric take on Blues, something that would lay the foundation for Rock and Roll. For that, I have to give him the highest credit, but at the same time none of the songs from the album truly jump out at me and demand to saved, sung along to, or replayed, save maybe "Got my Mojo Working".
Wasn't familiar with Sade before. Hearing this as a debate album is astonishing, as she/they already have a sophisticated, established sound which I have learned to be instrumental in shaping the jazz/pop that defined a good chunk of the 80s. A great album, but the songs begin to sound repetitive about halfway through, with Smooth Operator being the clear standout.
This album was an interesting trip between "wow this sounds pretty good" to "what am I listening to?". Sometimes this would happen between songs, sometimes in would happen over the course of a singular song. However, that's the spirit of prog rock I suppose, with this album being instrumental to the rise of prog rock, and to my shock, an influence on even Kanye West.
Hard to say it held my attention all the way through, but it's success lies in its melancholy, poetic songwriting, something I may have glossed over. It would also seem that the album hits harder had you already been familiar with the bands previous sound, seeing as this piano-based album was a departure from prior albums. Nevertheless, this was my first introduction to the band and they are now on my radar.
Listenable all the way through, and demonstrates Aretha's vocal prowess, something that I imagine was a big breakthrough in soul/gospel/r&b or whatever you want to call this genre mashup at the time. Might rate it higher if there was more variety in lyrical theme and more original songs.
The tracklist, the guitar, the movie, the legend that is Prince. An incredible album that starts so energetically with Let's Go Crazy and finishes so powerfully with Purple Rain. This album certainly not only defined Prince's legacy but clearly helped shaped the 80s and the music industry altogether. Even in songs that don't matchup up to the album's biggest hits, catchy choruses and fierce guitar play makes every song a joy.
Always a joy discovering someone new from the 60s/70s, and one who had me thinking of both Joni Mitchell and Tracy Chapman. A couple of decent songs, but otherwise the album came across as forgettable.
Man, seeing the reviews, it seems people either LOVED or HATED the album. Hate seems pretty undue, as it is a spectacular album. Although the vocals are essentially just a pop-ish Bob Dylan impression, which isn't everyone's cup of tea, throughout the album the guitar work CRUSHES it. Money for Nothing, lyrically, is terrible, and yet the iconic guitar and drums makes it a smash hit. Then you have songs like Brothers in Arms, where it lyrically shines, musically conquers, and Knopfler's somber, raspy, singing actually ties it altogether. Then of course you just have to give credit where credit is due when it comes to cultural importance, with the rise of CDs, MTV, and Dire Straits's impact on the game. Bravo.
I want to give it higher, out of respect for the musician/singer that Ray Charles is and his impact on Soul music. However, its not really an album worth running it back for a second listen (which of course I still did). The big band performances are impressive, as well as the piano ballads, and as a sing, Ray is one of a kind. Collectively, I give Ray his flowers, but I only truly walked away with "Just for a Thrill".
Yesterday may have been one of the only days I could resonate with the album, as I lay in the darkness, too sick and too sensitive to light to do anything besides that, and insert some headphones and listen to the album. The melancholic tracks stream over me, sometimes evoking senses of early Pink Floyd, and even a softer, Piano-heavy Coldplay...Icelandic versions of course. The songs are peaceful and intriguing, but is it an album you have to hear before you die? That's debatable. However, if I take it for what it is, an Icelandic post-rock album, perhaps it is a groundbreaking album. For that, I give it 3 stars
Oh, to live in early 90s England, where this type of music is all the rave in the Dance clubs...so glad I I didn't. I get what this band is trying to do, and in some ways they're like an early version of Chainsmokers, but it's just a lot of samples, covers, experiments, and slow jams. I'll have to check out some of their newest stuff to see how they've evolved, but even their hit song from the album doesn't do much for me.
I maintain that this is not real music, and moreover, this is not a real album. It's just a collection of similar sounding songs that are not meant to be listened to front to back. I don't know if it's meant to be "listened to" at all, but rather heard. Instead it's a 70 min headache of listening to loops and samples that just feel like they're background music to some movie montage or a game of Lazer Tag. Don't even see the dance appeal in these songs either. Will have to give it another try while on acid I suppose. At least Saint Etienne had vocals.
Huge Indie Rock fan, and also love Arcade Fire, so I was stoked to see this after 3 straight "sonic experiment" albums. However, I wasn't awestruck by this album. I much prefer the "Everything Now" sound out of them, and on this one nothing truly stood out to me even after listening a couple times. I hate to give it the same rating as the mellow post-rock album I just listened to, but perhaps I need to give it a third, more intensive listen?
I hate to give this a 4, because it's not as a good as Brothers in Arms (one of my other 4s) but it was more enjoyable than some of my most recent 3s. I've never heard of Siouxsie before, but I actually was digging this album, and from what I've read, was instrumental in ushering in post-punk. Sometimes they had groovy rhythms, with a ton of bass and drums, other times it felt like Siouxsie was just screaming like a member of the Runaways...of course, it is "The Scream" after all. I wound up listening to their songs "Cities and Dust" from their 1986 album Tinderbox, and actually enjoyed that sound of there's a lot more. So credit to this as their debut album, I'm curious to hear more of their discography from the 80s. A fun pick-up for me though.
This is the alternative 80s/90s rock that I love! Guitar was absolutely shredding throughout, sometimes to a fault, overshadowing the vocals. But not to point where any song wasn't fun to listen to. Was not familiar with Dinosaur Jr. before, although I have come to realize "Feel the Pain" was on Rock Band 2! Funny this album is not a favorite of theirs, I'm curious to see how their sound changes.
While I felt this was more thorough and comprehensive listening experience than Fatboy Slime's "Better Living...", and seemed closer to EDM as I know it today (despite its '95 timestamp), I still maintain that these are not albums that must be listened to before you die. Do these songs come on in the club and people go "OMG I love Leftfield!" or "OMG I love this album!". I have a hard time believing it, but then again I'm just an EDM hater. Yet I've already gotten 3 EDM albums on this list and it's my goal to take with me at least one song from every album, so perhaps I will be a changed man by the end of it.
4.5 rounded up, because it deserves more credit than my last couple 4 stars, which were low+key 3.5s rounded up. That being said, this album still kicks ass. Changes, Pretty Things, and Life on Mars, all within the first 4 songs?!? David Bowie began to define his legacy on this album, as early as 1971, and he never looked back. Strange giving this 5 stars bc obviously he would go on to SMASH it out of the park, but my man David Bowie would take over the music industry with albums as unassuming as this. Before you know it he has cornered the game singing about space and extraterrestrial life forms and experiences. Bring it back to Earth, however, his humble piano ballads make this album very digestable before he goes on to be larger than life.
Wonderful album, with a range of different styles and stories that felt like there was a ton of heart behind each song. Felt like the second half starts to fall off a bit, with my personal favorites ringing in early on with La Cienega and Rescue Blues. That doesn't take away from the fact that it's an enjoyable listen all the way through and a worthy addition to this list. I like Ryan Adams so I'm glad to have been opened up to more of his discography.
A great album, some would even consider monumental for the genre of hip-hop. Several catchy, fun to listen to songs. It's amazing reading about how the collab between Aerosmith and DMC would elevate hip-hop to a much larger audience. It's a shame, however, what the genre would eventually become today as artists don't make music like this anymore (although the same can be said with most classic rock bands). I was close to giving it a 5, given it's enjoyability and landmark influence, but upon its conclusion I didn't find myself dieing to run it back again or replay any song in particular.
Wow, this was a DEBUT album!?! Van Halen could have been one-and-done with this album and they still would have cemented themselves as one of the greatest rock acts, with one of the most talented guitarists. But we're fortunate enough that they weren't. It's a no-skip album, where Eddie holds nothing back, track after track. What's most surprising to me, is that "I'm the One" is hardly talked about, but it has since become one of my favorites on the album. When they recorded themselves doing a little do-wop skat, followed by an electrifying guitar solo, they had to have looked at each other and went "Yeah, we're about to be the baddest thing in Rock."
Probably a 4.5 rounded up. A superb album and, at risk of overstating the obvious, a tragedy we lost her so soon. I had not realized she died BEFORE she even released her second album. What's more, it puzzles me to acknowledge she was only 27 when she did not look or sound it (I guess heroin will do that to person). Janis Joplin, and her album pearl, seem to be right at the intersection of soul, blues, and rock. And I had not realized how much her backing band actually kinda shreds (most notably on My Baby). Gosh, to hear this record for the first time, knowing Janis had left this world had to have been chilling. RIP.
I'm sorry, but I have to give this a low rating. It just didn't do anything for me, and even for a time when I cleared my mind to be open to soft, slow, singer/songwriter Americana vibes. But the album low-key sucked. It was slow and forgetful and kinda doesn't deserve to be on this list in my humble opinion. Maybe one or two songs were chill and listenable, but as a whole album I hate to say that it sucks.
Nice, easy listening to this jazz album. Not typically cup of tea, and it's mostly just background music, but it was nevertheless a more pleasant experience than some of the electronica albums on here. Ought to give this album another more concentrated listen one day.
Never heard of this band before, but they had a fun, distinct sound that was a mix of garage band and pop band that made the album an enjoyable listening experience.
I love Joni Mitchell's soft but sweet voice and introspective lyrics that have a way about making you feel something. The album itself, however, falls short of powerful, particularly in the face of high expectations that were placed on it going on. Don't know how to explain it, but the songs collectively enjoyable to listen to, but no necessarily individually memorable. A great album, just not a 5
Bob Dylan hit a home run on this album. Elite singer-songwriter folk music. I can get why he's not everyone's cup of tea, seeing how nasally he can sound, perhaps particularly on this album, but if you don't care for Bob Dylan then you probably don't care for true folk music anyways.
This is maybe a 4.5 rounded up, but it was an excellent album full of wonderful folk songs front to back. I thoroughly enjoyed it more than Joni Mitchell's "Blue" which I gave a 4/5, so here we are.
I like the Cars, and several hits on this album that certainly make it noteworthy enough for a 4/5. However, the Cars do get old kinda quick. Couldn't real stand to listen to another playthrough. The album could've benefited from another song that's closer to "Drive" to change it up a bit.
It finally happened, I found something worth 1 Star. Thank GOD this was only 33 minutes, and yet somehow it felt like it lasted forever. I will not entertain the concept of "music is a form of expressive art" to justify this album's existence. This genre only exists because drugs and child abuse do, and it's fanbase needs to seek therapy. I thought this would at least be listenable at the gym, instead I contemplated letting the barbell crush me to death so I wouldn't have to finish the album. There were times where the drums/guitar could've been redeemed with some coherent vocals, but instead we got a dog in a man's body who ruined every track with their inaudible barking. I would've rather listened to a clip of my parents fucking. At no point in your incoherent rambling were you even close to anything that could be considered a decent album. Everyone in this generator is now dumber for having listened to it. I award you 1 Star and may God have mercy on your soul.
It was a solid listen, just didn't really stand out all that much, even after two playthroughs. Maybe a 3.5 rounded down. Certainly was a massive upgrade from listening to Napalm Death.
There are some fun songs/sounds here, but ultimately I don't know what purpose Space Rock serves.
They sound like talented musicians... it's a shame they are wasting those talents on producing whatever this is. This album does not warrant 2 Discs spanning almost 2 hours, that's for sure.
Rolling Stones being Rolling Stones. Although this one is obviously special, because there's so much soul going on in this album, with a certain Blues twang they didn't often replicate. Lots of variety going on here too, with speaker blasting tunes like Rocks Off and more emotion driven tracks like Shine a Light. One of my all time favorite songs that I used to be obsessed with in HS, Tumbling Dice, just never gets old.
Surprisingly amazing. Seamless listened through 2.5 times, and continuously added most of the album to my personal library. Wasn't sure what to expect, but the album was full of great folk songs each with their own kick.
Surprisingly really nice to listen to. Very emotional, powerful performances that resonate across language barriers. Perhaps it would be 5 stars if I spoke French and understood the lyrics.
Possibly a 4, but my love for Everybody Wants to Rule the World pushes it over. An underappreciated aspect of the album is the smooth transitions between the songs. Didn't know TFF rocked like that. I knew the big 3 of Rule the World, Shout, and Head over Heals, but Working Hour is very underrated. People who hate cliche 80s will tune out, but TFF and this album are great in my humble opinion.
Outside of Let's Stay Together and Mend a Broken Heart, the album was a bit flat, I'm afraid to stay. Maybe it hits harder if you're easy on Soul, but for me it either needs to be emotionally strong, like the two aforementioned tracks, or a bit more vocally and lyrically powerful.
Considered giving it a 4, because I did find myself jamming out to several songs that had some funky beats, but then the album just dragged on with a lot of the same. I'm not a huge rap/hip-hop guy, so consuming a whole album is probably going to lose my interest along the way anyways, especially if it's 56 minutes long.
Man, I just couldn't really find anything redeemable about this album to warrant a 2. I barely finished it, but fervently wanted it to end the entire time. No situation really calls for this type of music, unless you're like some magical swamp creature.
Elton's voice, lyrics, and piano playing is truly something to marvel at.
I am compelled to give this a 4, mainly because it's better than Boatman's Call, which I gave a 3. There were several good tracks, and a lot more soul and energy in this album comparatively, however, shit doesn't need to be so long. It's hard to intimately connect with the songs in my opinion if there are just so many. But also of note, Nick Cave being my first repeat artists on this list, when I had not even heard of him previously, was quite surprising.
I mean, not the worst thing ever I guess, but like...I don't want to listen to it again is all.
Kind've a forgettable 80s hair metal album. Don't get me wrong, great band and great songs, good enough for 4 stars in my opinion. Just not quite on par with 5 stars given that it didn't leave a lasting impression.
A better album, I felt, than the ones I've gotten so far on this list. Namely from song catchy beats and strong lyrics, bust importantly it didn't overstay its welcome.
Not a terrible listen...just pretty boring.
Ehh, a 2.5 rounded up. Not the album experience I'm typically interested, but they were original, experimental, and, at times, funky and vibey. Not really worth a re-listen though.
At times, boring, at other times, a sensible country-folk album with some heart.
Wasn't feeling generous today I'm afraid. Just didn't do it for me. Not totally unlistenable, just a bit boring.
A rare album to get 3 listens out of me. Once as my obligatory listen, twice so I could listen a bit more intently, and thrice because I realized during the second listen it actually slaps. At first I thought this was gonna be some Kinks/Ramones kock-offs, but then they began to sound like a 90s version of Twin Peaks, one of my favorite bands of today. The album was quirky, fast, loud, melodic, diverse, and all round pretty fun despite having never heard of them before.
Just didn't quite hold my attention, namely bc the genre isn't for me, but there were some interesting beats and lyrics for sure. I did like 6th Sense.
It's a shame this album had to compete with the release of Sam Fender's new album People Watching (5/5), otherwise I may have given this album some more attention. It was still an enjoyable playthrough that surprised me a bit, as someone who likes Steely Dan, but historically only a few songs.
I can not overstate the magnificence of this album. This duo reinvented folk music, where songs like the title track, Cecilia, the Boxer, and others explore the realms of other genres, and it's beautifully reflected with a cover of "Bye Bye Love" that shows the sharp contrast of another (still respectable) duo's hit with simple lyrics and melodies, to the grand exploration of music that is S&G. Although Bob Dylan turned folk into a poetic craftsmanship, Paul Simon's songwriting matches, and sometimes exceeds, but with a more phenomenal exploration of sound that becomes more accomplished in his solo career. I actually got emotional listening to this album, as it took me back to a nostalgic era of high school where I learned old school music was more than just hard rock and hair metal, and groups like S&G were just as definitive for their eras and the history of music. Moreover, the songs, namely Bridge Over Troubled Water and The Boxer, the latter being one of my favorite songs of all time, are so emotional and powerful, it's hard not to be overcome. And then hearing a whole crowd of people cheerfully clap along to a song with lyrics that say "Bye Bye Happiness", I feel puts a bow on top of this album that makes the listener acknowledge that "Yep. These guys are legends."
Came close to giving this a 2, but then after giving it a second listen with headphones instead of speakers, I connected a lot more to the music. It's just a bit too long for my liking, but there are a several songs that are a vibe. And other songs that I could still appreciate for OutKast's experimental approach to the genre.
I'll call this a 4.5 rounded up. It's a bit long and I imagine several songs come across as repetitive, seeing as, dynamic as they are, ELO has a bit of a signature, consistent sound. However, the album is still jam packed with hits.
This album is apparently critically and commercially successful, but I'm not sure exactly why. I think it's kind've fun, but it comes across as a bunch of quirky college kids making an experimental hip-hop album. Upon doing some research, I see that it's sampling techniques were very innovative for the genre, which is now a commonplace practice in rap/hip-hop. The whimsical nature backs off of the commonly aggressive approach by other artists, paving the way for alternative hip-hop. I can appreciate these sentiments, and for that I'll bump my rating up a star. But as a listener in 2025, it's not something I'll likely play again.
Maybe like a 3.75 rounded up. It's easy to listen to, blues-rock. No song comes on as overbearing, and the album isn't that long, but it's just a Copperhead Road or two short of having enough hits to be a memorable album.
Yeah, just didn't do it for me. The album couldn't settle on a sound, and the songs that are meant to stand out just come off as experimental noise.
The Police being The Police
I'm sure there is some musical genius going on here that I can't understand...but I can't understand it. I love Pinball Wizard, but the whole Opera Rock Tommy story going on here is hard to follow and at times not that fun to listen along to. Would give it a 2 were it not for the enjoyable aspects of Keith, Pete, and Roger that demonstrate their musical showmanship. Perhaps the live performance is better, perhaps you need to actually be locked in and paying attention to the lyrics, but overall not an album I'd request to be spun.
Honestly, a 1 wouldn't be an inappropriate rating either. It's just ambient music, which I think should exist, for times when you're floating through the cosmos (although personally I would still prefer Bowie or something). However, it shouldn't exist within a list of "must listen albums". However, I'm refraining from the 1 bc that is a rating reserved for the albums that are literally suffering to finish. This one finished and restarted without me realizing any songs had actually switched.
Admittedly, closer to 3.5 but Hungry Like the Wolf pushes it over. The album is super 80s, perhaps even more so than Tears for Fears, and most of the songs can feel like they're just different verses of the same song. A lot of it can feel predictable and repetitive. However, Duran Duran is still legendary and Hungry Like the Wolf is so good.
Honestly, a really great live album. Sam Cooke is such a great singer/performer and you can just tell from listening to these recordings that his show would be such a blast.
How many times can I get a truly awful album on a list of "must hear" albums? This is just atmospheric sounds, noises of people and children, and other ambient and electronic noises, which, in my mind, serve no purpose. You can't dance to it, you can't sing to it, can't play along to it, you can't workout to it, you can't relax to it...all you can do is "feel" something about it, and I felt irritated. It amazes me these artists think of these, record em, put it in an album, and then expect people to buy said album.
Garbage alternate country. Couldn't imagine a scenario where I'd want to listen to this. Not backpacking, not riding a horse, not driving down a dirt road in a pickup truck, and certainly not doing anything else where I wouldn't want my day ruined. Only thing keeping it from a 1 Star is how truly awful some other albums are.
I'm glad Patti Smith didn't give up and went on to record "Because the Night". Sorry, the album was okay, and I expected much more from a big name like Patti Smith, but it seemed she hadn't quite figured it out in '75 yet. It was a bit more tolerable after a second listen, yet I only somewhat enjoyed "Break It Up".
A decent album for jazz music I suppose
5/5 no notes
I think this is 5 Star territory. Or 4.5 rounded up. An incredible debut album, cementing themselves as rock legends. The Southern Rock genre would grow stale on me later in life, but having hits like Tuesday's Gone and Simple Man I think help diversify themselves as more than just hillbillies with guitars, they can also create emotional, timeless ballads. Bonus points for Free Bird.
This was a 1 Star up until Crazy Love came on...makes you wonder why didn't they just make an album of similar tracks rather than record Crazy Love and then litter s bunch of nonsense EDM music around it.
Difficult to get through
Very close to 5 territory, just some of the non-hits of the album, and the long run time dragged it down a star. Still a superb album.
I love DB, without reservation, and this album is his final swan song right before he died, so it'd particularly sentimental. However, it's still a departure of that which I love about David Bowie, the typical glam rock he mastered early on. Of course, he's done it enough to branch out into this genre of art rock/Alt rock. But that isn't enough for me to push it past 3 stars.
Gotta give this a 4 to remain consistent with the previous Undertones album, Hypnotized. Truthfully, both albums may be closer to 3.5s. I like the Undertones's sound, but I don't think I can tolerate too much of them. Fortunately it was only 35 minutes long. However, I will need to give it a second, fair listen through as this was a Sunday hungover rush listen.
Solid album of Blues Rock covers
A 4, bordering on 4.5. Maybe a 7 Nation Army away from being a 5. A number of fun, 2000s Alt rock hits, including some I wasn't really familiar with, but definitely the kind of album you want to see from this list.
5 stars seems too high, but this was actually phenomenal to listen to from start to finish. Each track kinda slaps, even though I don't know any of these songs as being Rush hits. Even the first track, which is half of the album, was pretty good. They're noticably good at what they do.
Was not a TERRIBLE to listen to, but certainly drags on. Outside of it having a certain 1960s Joni Mitchell-like, folk charm, I've quickly come to have a low opinion of Nico. She's in Andy Warhol's film which leads him to insist that she sing on The Velvet Underground's record, and then she releases a solo album full of songs she didn't write or compose, AND hardly actually sings on. She's mostly just talking. I'm not seeing the talent.
I'd give this some credit as at least a 3.5 rounded down. It's good, old fashioned rock music. It's just, unfortunately, also headache music, and frankly not Deep Purple at their best.
Sounded like David Bowie meets the Cure.
Better than the other electronic albums I've received so far on this list. Not by a whole lot though, as the genre still sucks.
Love the Clash, but this album was pretty ho-hum Punk Rock.
If "Boring Rock" was a genre, these guys would be pioneers.
You're probably wondering why I gave this album a 4, and so am I
This isn't an album full of Billboard Chart Topping hits, but it is an album full of powerful, passionate songs that showcase Nina Simone as an incredible, generational singer
Was between a 4 and 5, but options for the 5 for the culture. Jim Morrison is just such a great singer.
I have zero clue what genre this is, or what the point of the album is, but it I give it credit for being incredibly unique with some impressive instrumentals.
Started out as a 3, but as the album went on I was like "Huh, these songs kinda slap." and continuously added more and more songs to my library from a band I had not even heard of previously. Underrated band for sure.
Very good Steely Dan
Did not hate it the way I was expecting to
A pretty fun and impressive Jazz album that exemplifies the best of the 50s and the talent of Louis Prima.
The greatest rock band to ever grace the face of the Earth, absolutely crushing it with just their 2nd Studio Album. The talent of Page, Plant, Bonham, and Jones is on full display throughout this album. A masterful blend of rock and blues.
Fleetwood Mac is like sex for the ears.
A combination of "not my cup of tea" and "I'd love to get rowdy to this". Perhaps the album format doesn't suit the Beastie Boys, as the occasional headbanger and teenage angst anthem seems great when not overdone for an hour plus.
At times, boring, at other times weird and boring, and at other times, somewhat interesting. The monotone speech patterns of lead singer Mark E. Smith fails to turn the song into hits. He has his style and sticks to it, effective for what he's trying to do and who he's trying to reach, but it's not really reaching me.
Kept checking to see how much of the album(s) I had left to go...not because it wasn't any good, but because why do I need to listen to this for 2 hours??? If you just combined the best songs from the two, you'd probably have a 4 Star Album on your hands, but this dragged on too long.
The best thing that ever happened to Pink Floyd was Syd Barrett's departure.
Surprisingly good 80s music you never knew existed
It's definitely The Byrds, just not definitely that good. But it still feels important somehow.
Aretha is a certified bad bitch
This album just really didn't hit. Mostly boring, with hints of listen-ability, back to boring. Couldn't latch on to any one song in particular.
Might need a few more listens to appreciate it, but I'd have to remind myself "This is The Velvet Underground, it's supposed to be legendary". There is something charming about Pale Blue Eyes, Candy Says, and some others on the album, but kind've only because I know it's The Velvet Underground.
Down By the River was good, but that's about it I'm afraid
Much better after a second listen. I find that there's this fascination to The Smiths/Morrissey that gives their music a cultish vibe to it, which you need to separate yourself from to objectively listen to an album like this (and knowing this is the first of many in this list), but that 80s Post-Punk/New Wave music is rather charming (pun not intended), especially when done with careful effort as Morrissey does. I know he's trying to do Rockabilly/Glam Rock here, but his voice is forever intertwined with that New Wave sound.