2.8/5. I thought there were couple good ones in there with the rest sounding pretty much the same. Very distinct vocals and harmonizing. Big fan of King of Birds with its marching drums and Scottish esque vibe. Also big fan of the opening drums in the opening song. Good way to start an album.
Overall: not bad R.E.M., you’ve got potential
3.4/5: this album loves its odd time signatures, and so do I. I imagine these songs being played as a backing track to any of the O.C. Episodes. Sad boi California vibes. easy, chill listening
Overall: 3.9/5
Favorite song: delirious
Notes: at 6.5 minutes per song, this one will be sure to keep you moving and grooving long after your dancing feet fail you. With the funky bass lines, poppy drums, and iconic synths, this one makes me want to do <i>all</i> the drugs and party like it's 1999.
Automatic was about 5 minutes too long
Overall: 2.2/5
Favorite Song: walk on by
Notes:
The intro to the album makes me want to put on my leather jacket, pull up to a pool hall in my 61 corvette and smoke a cigarette while slicking back my hair. A soulful, sexy album for the ages, ready to play at your next Casino Royale theme party. Unfortunately for me, I’m neither soulful nor sexy. Not my cup a tea
Overall: 2.7/5
Favorite song: California
Overall: 3.7/5
Favorite Song: Big Ten Inch Record
Notes: The more blues, the better. I love their take on rock blues and this album is chalk full of songs that scratch that itch. The chart topper on this album, ... Walk This Way, was far from my chart's top. I found the guitar riff in Walk this way, however iconic it may be, tiring and repetitive. Round and Round threw in a major vibe switch which made me think they accidentally placed the song in this album, and I was not a fan. A lot of hits, but the songs that missed, missed big for me.
Overall: 1.9/5
Favorite Song: Just Like The Rain
Notes: A talented guy with a beautiful voice. While this album was not at all for me, I can appreciate the beauty in his music. Neither pop nor punk, this album had me feeling like I was at a 90s homecoming dance awkwardly slow dancing with my crush around parent chaperones. After reading the wikipedia, this makes much more sense considering Coles Corner is at the lovers' stomping grounds.
I was shocked to see the album was released just 20 years ago
Overall: 1.3/5
Favorite Song: Security of the first world
Notes: yeeaa boiii yeeaaaaa booiiiii it’s flava fllaaaavvvv! a revolution in its time, a big flop for me now. This album was chaotic from the jump with receptive loops and lots of talking. The music distracted me from the writing and the writing distracted me from the music. And not in a good way. As my late Grandma Shaky would say - turn this shit off
Overall: 3.4/5
Favorite song: This Town Ain’t Big Enough For The Both of Us
Notes: individually, I like most of the songs. As an album, there’s not nearly enough variety to keep me interested for the entirety of it. Reminded me a lot of some of queens work
