Next level guitar, arrogant sleazy vocal delivery. Outstanding production. And then for that 'difficult second album' they go and release Van Halen II which is even better!!
Long, samey and rather shouty.
A few good 3 bar tunes, on each occasion repeated over and over 50+ times over 4 minutes and swamped by mysogenistic and racist (yes, I understand the word has apparently been rebranded but I still find it uncomfortable). Times have moved on and this outdated offensive shit should be consigned to landfill along with tunes like this https://open.spotify.com/track/61NcooPUwSPSwSyzF8UfYv?si=f141a54383c54e23 once loved by the similarly misguided.
Happy Birthday Punk. Literally. So what if all the tracks sound the same? It's punk innit. Fack off you prog dinosaur wanker.
Never heard this before even though I have seen the Who live and like their studio work. This is a great album. The individual musicianship is all high but superlatives cannot describe Moon. Surely a man who was born to die young. If not from the drugs, then surely from exhaustion! perhaps the legend wouldn't have been so great had he lived, because the man surely couldn't have continued to drum with this energy into his 40s. Extraordinary
Would agree with previous reviewers that the album was a little too long. Many of the tracks were a bit samey, but it was a quality set. 3.5 but seeing as I'm stuck with integers I'll give it 4.
Never heard this before even though I have seen the Who live and like their studio work. This is a great album. The individual musicianship is all high but superlatives cannot describe Moon. Surely a man who was born to die young. If not from the drugs, then surely from exhaustion! perhaps the legend wouldn't have been so great had he lived, because the man surely couldn't have continued to drum with this energy into his 40s. Extraordinary
Long, samey and rather shouty.
Fairly simplistic school-band standard songs. Not helped by listening on headphones as the mix isn't great so there is a lot of singing in one ear and guitar in the other. My assumption is that this album is on the 1001 list because they were an influencial band. However as a standalone album, although interesting, it's something I won't be listening to again.
I love hard rock and metal. But never been into the superfast thrash metal that this album represents. No real melody, indecipherable lyrics. On many occasions it seemed the band couldn't manage to keep in rhythm with itself!!. I assume it's on the 1001 list because it was "groundbreaking". Possibly in the same way as an album of white noise would be, or 45 minutes of drilling? However! I gave this album 3 listens and it did grow on me a bit. Besst track Jesus Saves
Not what I'd generally listen to on Spotify, but then that's what this is for isn't it - to broaden your horizons. Great BIg Band music. Fantastcally talented musicians. It will stay on my list.
She has a lovely voice, slightly wavering and sometimes even a little off key but beautiful nonetheless. (The auto tuned abomination of today could learn a lot here). Nice gentle songs. I've never heard this version of Parade before but have definitely heard the tune somewhere can't think where. Don't know why this is on the 1001 list but I really liked it.
I tried REALLY hard with this album. 4 listens. The first 3 tracks are a dirge, Album doesn't really start until Heart of Gold which, with Old Man are by far the best tracks. Side two drags the album up to a 3. Pleasant background music, but just too much country lap steel guitar and harmonica for me (yes I know Heart of Gold has it - but it's such a great song)
I hate 60s music. But this album is a corker
The album that launched a million other CDs. I remember this was almost the "test" release for new fangled CDs (a bit like "Journey into Stereophonic Sound" a 1950s record that my dad had). As such pretty much every one I know bought it. Stands the test of time. All good songs. Still a bit sick of it though.
Meh. Not bad. Not great. Roadhouse Blues sucks. Ship of Fools saves. Middling 2.5
The crowd seemed to love it. So something good must have been happening on stage during the long tedious tracks. Good tight solos, though the "wind box' effect sounds like he's cleaning his teeth. Should have been a single album. Jumping Jack Flash is awful.
Good album. Monitor & Head Cut great. Voodoo Dolly poor. Definitely more good than bad. Solid 3.5. Wife hated it so 4.
The haters gonna hate. But I don't give a fuck because this was and remains one of my favourite albums of all time. So I'll have a day's break from objective listening to stuff I've mostly never heard before and fill my boots with this absolute joy. Best track The Cinema Show. No, wait, Firth of Fifth. No... Battle of Epping Forest. Fuckit the whole damn lot. 6/5
I'll say now that I'm not into hip hop. A lot of shouting about guns and "da hood" and "n**gaz this and hoes that. I've obviously heard 'Fight for your Right' before (a banger) but that's about it. So is this album Hip hop? The first 4 tracks are awesome. Then it drops in quality a tad for the next 2 until Fight for your Right and No Sleep pick up the quality until the end. In places it sounds like it's the cast of South Park. So its a novelty record? just with great lyrics and great tunes? After 2 listens I still dont know if this is Hip Hop or Rock What I do know is its a great big piss take and I love it.
Who the fuck is Shuggie Otis? Never heard of 'im. This album is what I might expect to hear if I was tied up in a hotel lobby for 55 mins and 54 seconds. Background music. Kinda mello jazzy funk fusion. Some tracks too long. Some tracks ironically too short! Some tracks fade out in weird places. Some tracks just a fucking mess. I really needed to be doing something else when this is on because it struggled to hold my attention. Not awful but I can live without it. I know now why I’ve never heard of Shuggie Otis. Not quite bad enough for a 1 though. 1.5
I've rated a few albums 5* in the last week so I've started to think maybe I'm setting my bar too low? This is an album that passed me by back in the day. But such great songs, really good lyrics (and I'm definitely no poet) and no filler. I'm still listening to it the next day. Cocker you're such a perv.
Cool, Daddyo. Virtuoso musicianship. Spoiled a bit by all the chatter. I don't need to hear the long intros, and I'm definitely not interested in some priest talking about the rain, and where every member of the band lives. I can understand that this is a historical record of the complete concert that day, and that's great if you were actually there - but for the casual listener there's too much padding and not enough music. I didn't really like the sung songs either. So, in summary:- Instruments outstanding. Voices no thanks.
Listened to this twice. It's "ok". But there's no wow factor. Nothing toe tapping or singalong. Not that 'relaxing' either for so-called ambient music.I did recognise the theme tune to BBC2's Arena in there which I liked probably more from familiarity. The album seems to have been made primarily for the artist rather than for an audience. And 'experiment' as others have commented. Lucky he didn't need the money TLDR : Ok. But it won't be going on my playlist
Good album. So much better that the Slayer album I had last week - more melodic, rhythm section kept in time together more accomplished playing. But just another (good) thrash metal album, nothing "special" so I wonder why it's on the list. Was it groundbreaking? I'd rather see some of the NWOBHM albums on here (Diamond Head/Lightening to the Nations or Girl/Sheer Greed) that really WERE groundbreaking.
A few good 3 bar tunes, on each occasion repeated over and over 50+ times over 4 minutes and swamped by mysogenistic and racist (yes, I understand the word has apparently been rebranded but I still find it uncomfortable). Times have moved on and this outdated offensive shit should be consigned to landfill along with tunes like this https://open.spotify.com/track/61NcooPUwSPSwSyzF8UfYv?si=f141a54383c54e23 once loved by the similarly misguided.
A pleasant set of tunes. 'Superstition' a classic (which I tire of). 'You Are The Sunshine Of My Life' another classic (though ruined by 'Rhodes abuse'). 'Maybe Your Baby' drags on 3 minutes too long, 'You and I' is sweet and 'Blame It On The Sun' is a gem. The production is horrible. Has the boy Wonder just discovered stereo? He keeps oscilating the Rhodes piano between left and right channels like a kid. It's the equivalent of a strobe on the ear'oles and is unlistenable on headphones. 'You Got It Bad Girl', 'Lookin For A Pure Love' and unfortunately 'You Are The Sunshine' are all ruined by this fiddling. And then he goes and plays the mouth organ on Big Brother. An affront. I used to quite like Stevie Worder. Until he wrote two of the worst songs in the history of popular music, 'Happy Birthday' and 'I Just Called To Say I Love You', banal dross, the latter which could have been written by a 2 year old, and the only song that actually makes me angry when it comes on the radio. Did he suddenly lose his talent in 1980 or did he just become lazy ? But I'm reviewing this album. 4 stars for the toons. But loses a star for pissing around with the channels and use of the mouth organ. And another because I can never forgive him for IJCTSILY.
It grew on me. First listen a 2, second listen a 3
Pleasant chilled funky sounds spoiled by whiney voice
I tried SO hard to like this. The guitar is great. The lyrics are thoughtful and interesting. Why spoil things by singing and playing that fucking mouth organ? As the album went on I got more used to his voice and by the end it was ok. Almost like a pastiche of himself. The mouth organ was a bit more difficult to love. You got lulled into a false sense of security and then... oh shit here it comes again! But a bit like a screeching child a you do kinda get numbed to it in the end. How old was he when he made this? 22? He sounds sounds like an old man. I tried so hard to like this and I think in the end I did.
Entertaining record of historical concert, but I wouldn't listen to it again as a complete package, except for "San Quentin" and "Boy Named Sue". Generally too much chatter and audience noise. Loses a star for bleeping out "rude" words.
50 seconds into the first track I started laughing. Which isn't a good sign. The vocal performance takes a bit of getting used to - a cross between the Buzzcocks and They Might Be Giants. But then the second track. hey I know that!? 'Another Girl, Another Planet`. Great song. Never knew it was them. Album grows on you. Excellent for a first album. Shame they never pushed on.
Hated it after the opener. But it improves. Then it doesn't. Paul Simon writes some good songs. And then he writes some shite. A lot of the lyrics sound like he got them from a Christmas cracker. No Bob Dylan there. Better tunes though. Overall a "nice" album.
Rocky, hard,, tuneful, good
I was 18 in 1980 and bought 'Sounds' (a music paper) every week, yet I've not heard of them or this album. Maybe it's the naff name? (certainly not up there with Joy Division or Echo and the Bunnymen) or the unmemorable tunes ( after 3 listens yesterday, I can't remember one track this morning). Still at least I gave it 3 listens so it can't have been that bad.
I used to like Madonna back in the old days but went off her when she started her psychodivabitchslag period and I haven’t listened to a Madonna album since about 1990. I think it helped that this album popped up on a chilled Sunday evening. It’s full of great tracks ; exquisite, atmospheric, ambient, trippy, rave electronica . The production is brilliant and her voice sounds great. I’m listening again on a Monday morning and it’s still awesome (Shanti is a dud, but everyone's entitled to one). I need to re-evaluate Madonna perhaps. Nah perhaps not she’s still a batty old fruitcake. 5*
Happy Birthday Punk. Literally. So what if all the tracks sound the same? It's punk innit. Fack off you prog dinosaur wanker.
I forgot how good this album was/is. Some bangers from NWOBHM. But I think both the debut Iron Maiden album or Killers (with Paul Di'Anno) were better and either should have been on this list instead of TNOTB. Di'Anno was a 'character' and so got the boot. LIke Van Halen and AC/DC who changed frontmen (of course AC/CD had no choice) I think Iron Maiden were poorer for it.
Influential Punk album my arse! Released practically in 1982. So only 3 years late to the party then. Punk had burned out by 1979 you twats. Listen to Ramones, UK Subs, Sham 69, Sex Pistols, Damned if you want to be influenced. This album isn't at all bad, but influential? or something I need to hear before I die? Do me a favour, mate!
An album of 2 halves. or more accurately alternating killer/filler. Lovely melodic songs intertwined with more repetitive long formulaic "woke up this morning..." blues songs. I liked this album a lot more through headphones than listening in the car. Also very glad there was only one song with 'harmonica' (why is it called that? harmonic it definitely isn't). 'Lovesick' 'Tryin to get to Heaven' (yes even with mouth organ), 'Not dark yet', 'Make you feel my love', 'Highlands' great. Other stuff less so but still a solid 3.
So similar to the other Johnny Cash "prison" album which came a year later. Very much a "warts and all" live set, voice was creaking in places and the guitar hopelessly out of tune in others. But that adds to the appeal. Better than the San Quentin set. But not quite a 4
I don’t know why a seemingly intelligent female UK rapper needs to use racist and misogynistic language from 1970s pornos. This album has well structured tunes and she has a good voice. Maybe she feels she needs to conform with the gun toting gangster US neanderthal rappers. I think she should grow up and do her own thing.
The problem with the CD era is that some bands feel that they need to fill as much of the available space as they can. The Verve have done this by dragging perfectly decent songs to well past their ‘bored-by’ date. There's a lot dreamy guitar on this album. Except it’s so dreamy that the best time/place to listen is on earbuds at bedtime if you suffer from insomnia. And that’s not a bad thing. I think I could really like this album if I managed to listen another 4 or 5 times. But I can’t be arsed.
Never heard of him. Very listenable. Nice chilled mood music. And he's a great guitarist. I didn’t really listen to the words in any great depth so I can't comment on how depressing it was. And anyway listening to someone else whinging doesn’t really depress me. Though his IS a sad story. A druggy who committed suicide by stabbing himself in the chest?… twice!?? Whilst his girlfriend was in the bathroom? She heard him scream so emerged and pulled the knife out???? Yeah right. Unlucky mate.
Next level guitar, arrogant sleazy vocal delivery. Outstanding production. And then for that 'difficult second album' they go and release Van Halen II which is even better!!
I can't objectively rate this album as it's part of my youth. I bought it on cassette. Loved it. My sister then borrowed it and left it on a school trip coach. I've never let her forget. Great to listen to it again from end to end.
Inoffensive. Formulaic. Pleasant but ultimately unmemorable. Maybe they should have become more well known? But at the end of the day the masses decide and we all probably got it right.
I was big into metal at school in the very early 80s. But with plenty of New Wave stuff around and regarding Black Sabbath (without the fired Ozzy) as has-beens I never sought out any of their old stuff. I wasn't expecting an album like this. The standard Sabbath sound, but with melodic, thoughtful quiet bits too. Changes is a good song but let down by the horrible melotron behind it. It's really the only track that lets the album down. Could this be the third 5* album I've had this week?... I think so.
Really enjoyed this. But maybe not for the right reasons? Had me smiling throughout. Great production. Not sure how seriously I was supposed to be taking it (I hope it's as tongue in cheek as I think). Militaryesque martial music. Industrial with a strong heavy dark beat. Dictator music. The sort of music I'd expect to hear at a Trump rally. Only it's primarily in "foreign" so the insular fuckwit wouldn't have given it time of day. The Queen cover is awesome. 'Get me a Litebeer' (yes... I know!). On second listen some of the tracks on side 2 drag on a little. 3.5
Slower, more moody and melodic than the typical aggressive shouty hip-hop. Fewer racial slurs (I counted just 2 and that was in a cover). Overall not bad at all. Maybe the female vocalist should be bigged up a bit more. This was her album more than Tricky's.
This album was ok. But it didn't excite me. Nothing horrid. Nothing great. Boring voice though. I imagine he's really dull live? (apparently he's not!!). Second listen. Better. I was going to give it a 3. Then a saw I gave Odelay a 4. And after the second listen I guess this has grown on me in the same way. If I had more time then I would listen a bit more but this 1001 Album thing is relentless. It will stay in my Spotify library though.
Classic. Brilliant. Better than 'Back In Black'? About the same. Bon Scott definitely was a better frontman though. Easy 5.
When I read about the background to this album I thought George was just trying to get a bit more of the Beatles pie, writing some naff ditties that Paul and John had dissed, patted the young lad on the head and sending him on his way. But these songs are really good. Even (maybe especially) the ones that Lennon and McCartney rejected. Easily enough for a quality double album I'm not sure it needed the third record 'Apple Jam'. I skipped a lot of that first time around as overlong and tedious. But after a second listen to the 'main' 2 records I think having the third set was a great chill out. Maybe I wouldn't listen to it very often but it's like the additional film director's narratives they used to add to DVDs. Interesting. A bit of self indulgent jamming - like a warm up before the main recording session with your mates. I'm glad it's there. Most of my 5* ratings are previous loves rediscovered. This is a new love and a nailed on 5. How was there so much talent in the Beatles.
Nothing to see hear (geddit?)
What I've learned from the first 50 albums on this list is that, given a few listens, I pretty much like anything and everything, so long as it's not racist I'm-so-hard-done-by shouting, or the drivel written by Stevie Wonder post 1980. It's taken 3 goes (one being a 'proper' listen sat on a plane) to enjoy Funeral but I got there. Maybe if I had more time then everything would be 4+
Excellent debut. So what happened? Would have been a 5 but lose 1 star for 15 seconds of pointless harmonica in Guest List.
This is what happens when you make music drunk/stoned. Someone pleeeze tell him to tune that guitar. It was ok, but can't really tell the difference between these guys and every other indie grunge band from the mid 90s. 2.5
The 4 'hits' are all great. The Bed's... being a forgotten gem. In fact all the Sting songs are quality (maybe that's why his head exploded a few years down the road). Though could the same man who wrote 'Walked out this morning, don't believe what I saw 100 billion bottles washed up on the shore' have also really written 'Giant steps are what you take, I hope my leg don't break'?? Couple of duds, Deathwish and Any Other Day bring it back down to earth. Brilliant drumming, Stewart Copeland has always been one of my favourites. Hmmm 3 or 4?
Junk Yard? Yep. (and yes I listened to it all. and no, it didn't get a second chance)
I've always like Jonathan Richmans voice and he's obviously a talented storyteller and songwriter. I mean I can just picture Picasso cruising around in his El Dorado and all the girls swooning over his hard stare and never callling him an asshole. The guy must have been on something really strong! Or maybe he just wanted someone who rhymed with asshole. Fidel Castro got lucky. 3.5 for me. Though some of the songs failed to hit the mark for me so 3.
I've never listened to this over-60-year-old album and yet of 13 tracks, only 4 had I never heard before. That shows the legacy of the Beatles (maybe overated?) and this isn't even one of their most 'popular' albums. I'm trying not to fawn all over this just because it's them, but of the tracks I didn't know, Any Time At All is a 5, I'll Cry Instead is very 'Beatles' and only When I Get Home and Tell Me Why fail to hit the mark with me. The rest of the tracks I knew before are all bangers however many time I have heard them throughout my life. Considering this is such an early album (3rd?) that's quite good going.
This is less an "album" and more a library. I managed to get through a lot (23 tunes) before I needed a break. Although great songs and an incredible voice the thing that broke me in the end was the repetitiveness of the band. The same taddah wham pow Nelson Riddle arrangement got tiresome. But did anybody ever expect to listen to this end to end? If you treat it as a library and pick a song or a side then it's a classic
I shouldn't read other peoples reviews before I jot my own. But I saw a lot of the word 'dated'. Of course it's dated!! If you listen to Sex Pistols it's clearly late 70's. Beatles sounds very 1960's, New Romantic synth stuff take you straight back to the 80's. And this is clearly early 90's so of course it's 'dated', knobheads. This album is what it says on the tin, a collection of club tunes. Great party tracks for chilled dancing to all night without being crippled next day. And for the record (and the reviews that had a pop at the rapping), I liked it. Understandable, clear, non-offensive. You can keep your illegible, chip-on-shoulder Outkast shit I'll take this any day.
I never bothered with this when it came out (because I wasn't a 13 year old girl) but it's surprisingly rather good. A lot of humour (to be expected, but it's clear from some reviews that non-UK reviewers dont get it). Angels and Let Me Entertain You are great songs and well known (in UK at least). Ok so maybe there isn't the same familiarity and knowledge ouside the UK. I suppose I feel the same way about Elliot Smith (who?), but at least I gave that miserable twat a chance. I particularly liked the 'fuck you' poem to his teacher at the end. Well done, thingy!
I saw Green Day at Reading Festival about 10 years ago (it was 2013 - ed!) and they played a lot of this album. I knew the 'hits' of course but the whole set was damn good. I thought then I'd seek out some more of their stuff. Of course I didn't, but I wish I had.
Not a huge amount to say. Top class debut for the last of the US Hair-metal bands. What is it about US rock bands that most of the debuts are already the complete article? Was there never anything to improve or are they all manufactured? Anyway this isn't meant to be critical, it's a great album. 4.5
I used to read Sounds every week as a spotty youth and always remember an advert for Holiday in Cambodia by the Dead Kennedys, which I thought was a great name for a band and a great song title. Being a metal head at the time i never sought out neither song nor band. So here I am 45 years later finally hearing the Dead Kennedys. Did they record it at the wrong speed? The Elvis cover of Viva Las Vegas is a massive improvement on the original.
Pleasant voice, but seemingly recorded this borefest standing in a railway tunnel? Clearly of its time. Added a point for writing all his own songs. Took one away for sounding like an American Cliff Richard. 2
I really didn't want to like this. I can't stand the numbingly boring overrated song 'Imagine'. And John Lennon is possibly the least talented Beatle (if you include Ringo's 'Thomas the Tank Engine' work). But it's ok. I guess the dude can write songs.
There was a film that came out a few years ago about a songwriter bloke who had a road accident. When he woke up nobody knew who the Beatles were, and so he ripped off all their songs. A pretty lame chick flick notable only because Lily James was in it playing a rather hot girl-next-door type. Anyway in another universe substitute The Beatles for The Pretty Things. Nobody knows who the Pretty Things are, and after the accident they are as big as the Fab Four or the Stones. That is the universe we re living in. Why weren't they huge? Their paths even crossed with Mick and Keef at Art College, but they seemed to go unnoticed and unpromoted by their record company. They were 'difficult' and did their own thing. So of course I didn’t know anything about them and don’t recall ever hearing any of their stuff. But this is an amazing album. I’m currently on my third listen and it will stay on my playlist (and I thought I hated the 60s - I’ve rated both this and the zombies as 5*). Oh what might have been.
I will come back to this review as I'm only three quarters through (why? because it's a fucking slog). Sounds like it's been written for a Broadway show that he (I assume it's a he) never got the funding for (why? I hear you ask). Because it's mostly dull pap (ideal for Disney then??). There were a couple of songs I liked - so it's not a 1. But mostly it was dull, dull, dull, dull... so incredibly dull. I've had another listen and a rethink. Its got humour and good tunes. It's still too long though. Quit while you're ahead mate. Better than I originally thought so upgraded to 3.
Looks like the album cover to a 1970 Top Of The Pops album. Disappointed with the production, it sounded mono (it possibly was) and the fadeouts were a little severe. But at the end of the day it's Otis. Smooth bastard. My new go-to blues album if I'm ever on the pull again.