Avant Garde end of the century attempt to bend the senses. Harmonies, heavy gain bass, record scratches, samples, harmonicas, organs, 808s, drum machines and reversed sitars. All stuff I love but not mixed together. But I see the stuff Beck likes. Loved folk, rap, rock,The Beatles. One song I like so far is Novacane but maybe because it reminds me a bit of a MF doom song. Apart from this middle song there’s not a lot I love. Just wished I wasn’t half way through. Non linear song writing/structure doesn’t do anything for me. If I think of why he made this album I’d have to guess: An ode to everything he loved and presenting the amalgamation of those influences in one person. Him. But like I say doesn’t do anything for me. You can find loads of cool sounds like the organ in Where it at or the 808s in Novacane. You’d find plenty to sample and reuse. So cool sounds but loads of annoying sounds done to be abrasive or attention grabbing.

First listening - really enjoyed this album and know it will grow on me as time goes on. Joni’s vocals have their own pacing lending her an identity that is fun but feeling. High falsetto with operatic performance. Songs like little green and blue convey her emotional intelligence when dealing with topics like familial love or romance. But then California and A case of you express her admiration for beauty even in its excess. It’s just classic folk so I can’t say no. Four listens in one day. After reading wiki and finding out it’s the ultimate break up album I still find it reductive. It’s definitely filled with emotions, regrets, desperation for solitude and isolation while admiring all the crazy intoxicating feelings that flow through someone. Maybe Joni wrote all this just to get all the shit of her chest and say this is how I feel so take part. Removed though, it will be done amazingly with all my best intentions.

Not a fan. Experimental album bedded in rock. Gave up on this about a quarter in. Once again I find great sounds and good performances but the overall album doesn’t knock me for 6. Maps is the most popular song off the album. But not much in it for me. Electronic mixed with punk. Radiohead with some balls. You get a feel for the grimey urban vibe intended to be felt. But I'm not a fan. To look at the album from the artists POV I woul say they intended the album to sonically different from their contemporaries which it is. Going back to 2003, you would have The Strokes dominating NYC in Rock with bands like Linkin Park and other nu metal artists dominating. Queens of the Stone age drumming out classic rock with unqiue concepts. White Strips delivering bluesy anthem rock and The Killers launching their new wave Britpop hits. But none of those bands tread into the terroritory of the Yeah's. They made this album with punk at the forefront and then used all the tools at their disposal to beef it up. So totally get why people enjoy this album. Completely different from the landscape at the team