The music is pleasant enough, but I do not have enough of a world music vocabulary to really evaluate it. It is in cases like this that I rely on the inclusion on the list and the reviews on wikipedia to shape my view.
This could have been pulled out of a time capsule from 1989. I enjoyed it, but I would love to hear them play songs from this on their upcoming MTV Unplugged set. I think this band would benefit from less polish and more heart.
I really enjoyed this album. Of course, I am familiar the hits/singles, but they bring much of the same character throughout the whole record along with a vibe that is distinctly theirs. I still don't quite know what to make of them. Clearly, they are all very talented, and Sting's vocal range and playfulness kept me interested throughout.
Like most Nick Drake albums, Five Leaves Left is an enjoyable and interesting album. I have heard multiple albums by Nick Drake, and this doesn't disappoint. On the other hand, it isn't very different from his other work. Artists like this seem to always deliver in their lane, and while that lane is very particular, it is reliable. And it evokes a natural and unforced introspection. I may never be able to differentiate his work within his catalog, but I am always willing to listen.
I feel like from the very beginning, you get the DNA of The Rolling Stones. They have a sort of 'bad boy' reputation, and you can see it even in the early songs they are covering on their debut album. This is really tight garage band work, and you can tell they are having fun doing. Like the early Beatles, I don't know if anyone could have predicted their success or influence from this work, but looking back, you see all the signs that they would become something special.
On paper, Derek and the Dominos should have been excellent. And in many ways, excellent music was produced. Though the band is tight and talented, you get the sense that they knew, even in the midst of everything, that they lacked cohesion. In many ways, I think this describes Clapton... a brilliant guitarist that needs help all around him to be truly great. Despite a few really nice cuts, this album underperforms.
What a surprise! This is like a rock and roll version of Vampire Weekend. The band just seems to be having fun and what they are creating. I am not sure about their greatness level longterm, but they intrigue me enough to make me smile... which means, I will probably listen again. Always a plus.
I have a lot of respect for Prince, and this album is a very good album. Both the stylistic diversity and the musical strength are immediately impressive and sustained throughout. In many ways, it is like Prince received his 80's toolkit in 1982 and basically used everything on this album and he used it well. Later efforts don't expand on it musically, but are lyrically and narratively stronger, if perhaps even a little more self-indulgent.
The Temptations are a great listen. There is something really fun about how masterfully they vocalize and harmonize with such heart and energy. Another great album from 1972. Love the funk grove right out of the gate, but I love the soulful groove on the closing, "Do your thing!"
What a surprise. I had not heard of The Coral until the list, but it is a delightful surprise. The album moves between fresh and new to older and familiar. Some tracks sound like they could have been produced in the late 60s and other feel right out of the 90s, and yet they keep it together throughout.
I am not a fan of Incubus. The first track had me curious, but before the song was over, I had a feeling that this was going to be a disappointment. All of the signature 90s alt/grunge/rock are there, but they feel generic and unconvincing.
