Been a while since I’ve listened to REM, and because my experience with them was prior to listening to so much other music I can now both appreciate this sound, but also hear many of their influences especially that jangly sound I sought out so much as a kid (thanks to J Marr mainly).
Considering how much Bob I’ve listened to over the years, I can always come back to it and hear something that puts a smile on my face. Lots of smiling during this one.
Haven’t listened to this since early 90s driving around Edinburgh in my mate’s old Renault. Can’t do nothing/fight the power brings me right back. Sampling at its height.
So many songs that fill my cup, and such an emotion filled album - Lilac Wine always leaves me with a tear, Wild is the Wind I heard courtesy of Bowie and somehow I hear the same level of passion by both Simone and him. I love this album dearly.
First time listener, probably last too I’m afraid. A difficult one to listen to (for me), though probably made worse by reading a short bio of the band’s history, plus the on/off reading of the lyrics of some of these songs. Em, it’s all dark, no light. Please send me a pallet cleanser tomorrow.
This is what summer sounds like, either hanging in the garden with friends or driving with the roof down.
Came into this one brand new and didn’t think Southern Rock was my thing, have to say, I’m a convert - to most of this.
I’ll file this along with other ‘when I want to get things done’ playlists.
It was ok, but probably not returning to it anytime soon
While still living in Edinburgh, thanks to Al and Andy this is one I couldn’t escape. Hard not to enjoy and relieve the early moments of a band on its way up, with a sound that kicked out the 80’s and started something from scratch.
I’d listen to most of this again.
What a great ‘mood’ record this is, from clearly a man who was deeply in love at the time.
From the fantastic backing singer group to the exceptionally timed horn section moments, and a voice that oozes emotion. What a great and timeless record this is.
Not as instantly grabbing as Common People, but perhaps more longevity. Great album
What do you want to know, just ask and I’ll tell you , but please….please don’t make me listen to more of this.
Incredibly talented guitar work, just have little time for Roth.
Didn’t grow up with this sound either, and 47 years later it’s doing nothing to pull me in. Sorry.
Golly, just so many great tracks on this one. Was given this as a gift on CD so many years ago and I’ve been following Sufjan’s work ever since. Probably one of the most creative musical acts I’ve listened to in a very long time.
This album is such a journey, and one of my favorite headphone albums. 5 stars to you Sir.
From the first track I’m back in a sweaty club in Edinburgh. Reaching for the volume as it progresses, man this is good.
…..
Ok, I realized that about 3/4 of the way in I might be ready for a break.
Solid techno and sets the stage for the period but likely I’ll only return to cherry pick tracks #1 for sure is my standout.
Growing up in the UK, as a teen I landed a job in a small computer store where the owner was an ex employee of an HMV record store. Why is this important? Well said owner turned me onto so much music that I’d definitely never heard, and probably would’ve avoided if it wasn’t for Eric’s goal of broadening my musical tastes. And so entered Steely Dan and ‘the day of the expanding man..’
Unexpected as to how much I enjoyed this album. It was like discovering an unreleased album from a band you love.
In my case The Jayhawks. So much influence this sounds has had though on bands that I’ve listened to countless times.
I’m shocked that I’ve never heard more than just the ‘singles’ from this album. Definitely one I’ll be returning to.
Never heard this album before, probably won’t listen to it again. Scratch that, I’m sure some trainer on Peleton will mix this into the next cycle class. Ho hum.
As a kid this was the heaviest music and I just couldn’t get into it. Someone then played the Doors for me, and I realized these bands hit me the same way.
Even the older me wouldn’t seek this album out, instead I’d pivot to New Order. So with that statement, I couldn’t have the dancey accessible, bouncy NE without Joy Division.
Thanks Ian.
Besides randomly hearing a few random singles, I haven’t spent any time with this bands output so this was an interesting one for me. Have to say, more likes than skips.
Great harmonies, fun lyrics here and there and for sure the platform that would boost a mega star in to the universe as well know her to rule today.
Hard to believe this is a debut album, just so many great songs that I heard many, many times over the years.
Really enjoyed listening to this all over again.
But of a challenging one for me as I found the general “pace” and instrumentation to be slow and similar.
Fascinating though how Robert’s voice really hasn’t changed all that much from this album to hearing him live just a few years ago.
Listening to this on anything but a home stereo turned up loud seems to do the majority of this album a disservice, the separation of drum and guitar alone is just incredible.
I will admit I’m not the biggest fan of Plant’s voice, but there’s no denying that this probably doesn’t work any other way.
Black Dog and Going to California for me are the two I still listen to here and there.
Couldn’t get through this one with much FF’ing to if there was something I could stick with. Guess this one wasn’t for me.
To my ears the most accessible of his releases (from the 1001 assignment)
First time listener, a few standouts but not sure I’d come back.
Oh man what a treat hearing this again, this has two extremely memorable songs from this time period - only love can break your heart and nothing can stop us.
Really enjoyed this trip.
I put Nick Cave in that same class as Tom Waits and Leonard Cohen. Fantastic voices and amazing lyrics.
This album has so many stand out songs, its a no skip masterpiece for me.
I’m a Massive Attack fan, by way of the follow up album, but there’s no denying the genre was built up from their work.
Great hearing this again.
This may be the first time I’ve listened to this album in a complete sitting, and damn I’ve missed out.
Really enjoyed the tracks I’d obviously heard over the years, but there’s so much more.
Another great pick for the list.
Some good build up songs, interspersed with the whiny ones here and there.
Reading some of the lyrics seems like they were placeholders with the intent to come back and write the real ones later.
Still, some good moody music here so will come back for that.
Surprising to me that I’ve never heard this one before, clearly it’s a neglect on my behalf as this one is stunning. Can’t wait to re-listen as there’s so much going on here.
Besides Jimmy and Paper Planes for nostalgia, I didn’t find a lot on here that would keep me coming back for.
Her sound for sure was fresh and new and since then has been picked over and heard elsewhere, but groundbreakers like M.I.A don’t come around often.
Looking for rock a rock opera that doesn’t let up for 40 something minutes, with lyrics that you probably don’t need to sing out loud, but will anyway.
Is it sometimes cheesy, sure, is it over the freaking top so many times, of for sure, like 99% of the time. But then again there’s always Leonard Cohen and Tom Waits in the wings when you’re done.
Played it, remembered a few songs from when they were originally released then went back to what I was doing. Didn’t really do it for me then, nothings changed I’m afraid.
Hard not to think of Sinead without hear Nothing Compares in your head. And it still rules.
Wasn’t as familiar with the other songs on here, but I did have the album she appeared on with the Edge (track was Heroine and hauntingly perfect for her). Love her voice and the way she could turn it from soft and delicate to wild and strong.
Been a while since I played this one, but last night I put it on the turntable and wow, I’d forgotten just how well the writing and general musicianship come together on here. Cali vibes, open top on a beach road, sunsets in the distance, it’s all on here. Great tunes from start to finish.
Probably my second experience with Jimmy’s work, and really enjoyed this one. Nice mix of both his talented keyboard playing with some exceptional brass section.
When this came out it was huge, MTV obviously gave them the springboard into living rooms who’d never heard of or seen this band before. Check.
Post 80s I’d only hear them in a bar or if I flipped on an oldies station.
Giving this a 3 for nostalgia.
I was pretty excited to listen to this one as I’ve never heard sat down and listened to it from beginning to end.
To be honest even though there’s some masterful playing on here, a lot of the funk stuff just wasn’t for me
Favorite tracks were title track, play in the sunshine and I could never take the place of your man.
Besides the opener, came to this new.
I’m not really a metal fan though, still not.
When I was a kid I heard a comedian , I think it was Ben Elton say “there I was sitting at the bar, humming a Leonard Cohen ditty…mmmmmmmmm”. Inferring his stuff is all monotone without ‘life”.
Fast forward to my second dabbling into vinyl, and I bought my first LC album - You want it darker”’. Been buying his back catalog ever since. Guess I had to mature my listening tastes.
This is all the stars for me.
I know they tried capturing their live sound on here, not sure how close they came. All I can say is that Lazy track would have been incredible to have experienced live.
Enjoyable, fun little listen.
Still sounds good, but not as good as I remember when I first heard it.
I can’t not enjoy this in the background, in fact I hadn’t realized that Spotify had moved on to other albums until an Oscar’s Peterson track came on.
So great background stuff for sure, even a few that I sang along to in my head, over all no complaints listening to this.
Definitely a fun album that took me back to a youthful me. GFM still pops up on my running playlist now and again and usually at the point I need a pick me up/boost track. But I’d forgotten how much I liked ‘Oh Yeah’ as well. Great album of its time.
Yeah, this one didn’t do it for me. Maps stood out as the one I’d listen to again.
Got a wee Chrissie Hynde to some of the vocals, esp on that one.
Next!
I tried, but it just didn’t do anything for me.
I played this on CD, bought it on vinyl, and still play it today.
No skips.
Hip hop and funk you say? And it’s a concept album about a futuristic drug?
You must have the wrong listener. Hope it’s someone else’s jam though.
Besides the singles, I didn’t find much more that appealed to me.
Really enjoyed this Latin Jazz album, and will revisit for sure.
“You’re latest trick” and the title track still sound awesome to me. Guitar work is perfect without being too wanky, even if it still makes me think of Miami Vice. Solid 4 * for me
Insert somewhere between Pogues and Tom Waits (the shouty growly stuff) for me.
Guess you have to be in the mood.
Watching ‘a complete unknown’ had me revisiting Dylan’s catalog, so I was glad when this popped up as an album to listen to.
I don’t think I’d appreciated this one as much as the couple that followed it, but listening with fresh ears I really enjoyed it and there’s no denying how much talent he had in the early years of his career.
Wow! I’d left this album back in the 90s and I’m so happy that it came up on here.
What great songs and memories this one brought back. Love it!
I didn’t mind this on in the background, but nothing really jumped out at me.
This might be the most played album of mine that’s come up on this, although it’s probably been at least 5years since I last played it end to end.
So 5 * for nostalgia.
Very upbeat and perfect music to listen to when I want to get things done.
Solid beats and percussion.
Nope. And I really thought I was going to enjoy this one too.
Oh well. Next!
What an epic opener, at least mins in before the vocals even start.
I actually skipped passed the well known singles, but can only imagine hearing those for the first time when this came out and being blown away by most of them.
This album for sure stands up to the tests of time, and I’m going to add it to my vinyl collection soon.
I thought I’d like this one more than I did. It’s not that it’s bad, I’d just heard so much about it.
Wish I’d heard it when it first came out as it would’ve been fresher. Like listening to KLF or Underworld, EDM can be dated pretty quickly. Although I still have a nostalgic soft spot for UW. I’ll give it 3 and make an effort to spend more time with this in case it improves with when/where I listen to it next.
I’ve heard many of these songs (and the samples) but this was the first time I sat and listened with the lyrics on (thanks Spotify).
Who says humor and politics don’t go together, cue up Chuck D and Flava Flav.
It’s a classic album, likely in most people’s vinyl collection and a great introduction to several legends - Bill Evan’s and John Coltrane likely the most well known after Miles.
Can’t fault it.
Flamenco Sketches is my personal favorite.
I should spend more time with this, today was not that day though.
Another surprise for me, never heard of the band before, but loved it and will have this in my rotation for a while.
I’m a fan of her music and this album is now on my random “listen to this” playlist.
This was a terrific surprise to me. I was only two tracks in and I was already to listen this again.
Not really a rap fan, beats were cool tho
I’ve always liked this album, his sound, and everything he puts into the production.
I’m a sucker for The Ocean’s overall delivery.
It’s been years since I’ve listened to any Doors. Had a friend who was pretty infatuated with them a long time ago, and during our travels from Spain to Morocco one their albums was one of the half dozen tapes we had with us.
So ye I have a soft spot for their music cos of the stories it conjures in my mind when I hear those keyboards, the bluesy riffs and of course the hoots and hollers of Jim Morrison.
One of the best kick off tracks in rock n roll.
This album never gets old and I revisit it often especially when I went jump around like a kid again hearing it for the first time.
Damn this is good.
I like some of Joe Ely’s later stuff, but this is a bit too twangy for me.
I didn’t think I was a Grateful Dead fan, but after listening to American Beauty, I either knew songs (Froend of the Devil, Magnolia, Truckin) or heard where the sound of other acts I do like were influenced by their sound.
I’ll probably never be a Dead Head, but I respect their place in music that much more now.
There’s so much joy on this album. What a gem of a legacy for Brian to leave behind, and to be assigned this album so soon after his passing made it so much more moving.
This is just what I needed to hear today, and sounds terrific.
Man these are short songs, 12 songs in 25 minutes.
A few stood out at the beginning of the album, but overall not really a repeat listen for me.
C’mon, it’s the bloody White Album.
After several decades of “ignoring” Leonard Cohen’s music, i heard the title track to this album on an NPR podcast and couldn’t escape the majesty in his voice, the music that his words sat upon, and the message within.
I bought the album the next day and played it many, many times - then and now.
I’ve added half a dozen more albums of his and am very grateful that I came across that NPR podcast that day (thanks Bob).
Enjoyable, but def got some clinky-clanky sounds that through me off a bit.
Worth a revisit though as there’s more here than just Games Without Frontiers
Played it, nothing stood out unfortunately for me.
I never get tired of Nick Drake, from the moment I heard him on a VW commercial way back when to today when I listened to Pink Moon from start to finish for this project.
There’s something effortless about his delivery which combined with his talented guitar playing comes together in a way few artists have for me.
Such a classic album.
