Robust, wonderful, jazzy. The instrumentals are great on their own and it's all incredibly easy to listen to. Of course I hear the overall anti-drug message. Pusherman and No Thing On Me were easy to add to my likes. A little dare-ish at times but delivered honestly and bluntly.
An interesting blend of styles. Soulful at times, experimental at others. Extremely intriguing music. Feels like they've taken notes from multiple decades and decided to mix it up. Absolutely love the harmonies in Movin' On Up. Unfortunately it loses me after that until Come Together and Loaded. I can see why people like the other tracks but once the synths come in it doesn't really hit me right. Not my kind of sound.
I do feel a little Beach Boys influence in there though, which I absolutely love. The bongos, brass, and gospel choir make the best bits in my opinion. I'm Coming Down is incredible all around.
Overall super solid! Not something I'd listen to a lot but a couple of stand outs for sure
Pretty good! I came into this album knowing a couple songs by Blur, but only Song 2 from this album. With that being what I knew, I was expecting a bit of a different sound. It's still great, just not as upbeat as Song 2. A much more mellow sound throughout that makes me think of Cage the Elephant. Although I could do without the echo track and sudden discordant noises, overall enjoyable
Had a better review but it disappeared.
Overall great, beautiful, and I love the horns. Wouldn't be something I throw on a lot but I could see it fitting certain moods
A great talent gone too soon. I only knew his cover really but I just know that this guy would've been huge if he had the chance to make more music. I know this was popular enough on its own but I'm sure you get me. Eternal Life goes hard. Glad I listened, probably won't seek it out though.
Hadn't heard this one at all. A master of lyrics but not my kind of general listening. love the stranger
it's not bad by any means, but I didn't particularly enjoy it. Kind of meandering. Alright for background noise though
I know but I prefer later pink floyd after he left anyway. just not for me
Went in knowing and liking the band, knew sabotage already of course. Extremely varied. I definitely lean more to the punk rock and jazz aspects of this album. I have great respect for it and how incredibly different it is (was?). There can be a lot going on at times and it's kind of hard to figure out what they're saying. The album is also almost an hour long, which is a little much. I get it though, and they break if up with the instrumentals pretty well. Plenty of sounds here for everyone.
Thanks to the Beastie Boys for inspiring Joey Valence and Brae lmao
Absolutely incredible. Some extremely great stuff here! I already knew a couple songs, even though I didn't know it at the time (San Jose, Born to Run, Relax) but I don't think it's one I'd listen to all of again. Best in small doses for me
Zero skips, all bangers. One of the most influential bands of all time with one of the best albums. The origin of punk right here. A true piece of history. I cannot overstate how important this album is!!! Not only to me but to the way the punk and eventually new wave genres were formed!
Even if you don't know this album, you are all but guaranteed to know a couple of songs. The Sonics permeate our culture. The sound is incredible. Loud hard drums, passionate vocals, banging sax, a distinct feeling of the best music ever to be made in a garage.
Honestly, a little surprised at this one. From such a beloved figure I guess I expected more. I don't think it's bad by any means, of course. Funky and mostly upbeat. Something to bob your head to and groove a bit.
The Cross is a definite standout, and not in a good way. Some people try to say that it isn't just a religious song, but those people are kidding themselves. Extremely heavy handed "God will fix your problems" messaging. "Don't die without knowing the cross" is an abysmal way to go about writing a song about people who are dealing with REAL hardship. Religion is like a crutch for people who are healthy. Ditch it and you'll go much farther, much quicker.
Prince is an icon but after listening to this album I'm not completely sure why. It's very 80's but not in a way that lasts into present day. Dated lyrics all throughout. The drum machine is obvious and repetitive. Wonderful voice, very artistic. He had a vision and I respect that
I liked it well enough. Had me bobbing my head and pretty into the music. Hearing social commentary from the time is also interesting to me.
The slur did, like others have said, caught me off guard. I did immediately look up the context though. This perjorative phrase was used against Irish Catholics, and I believe the point of his use was to call attention to their mistreatment at the time.
All that said, I don't really think it's much to write home about. Important, some may argue, but just okay in my opinion
Simple but heartfelt. A lot of yearning for a better life, wanting to get out of a place you feel stuck. Extremely relatable if you grew up in a small place. I'll always have respect for older country music like this for that reason.
To go on a tangent, as a kid I would seek out the radio stations that played country like this or classic rock. Growing up in the southern USA it was either that or listen to the vapid stadium country/pandering country/hick-hop (whatever you wanna call it). Music like this album were a bit of a saving grace.
It's simple, sure. A little hokey at times and with a smidge of casual racism. The emotional depth is easy to notice if you aren't just hating because it's country. The love songs were a little surface level though, I'll admit
very easy listening. incredible for background
it's just not very good is it? In this project I've learned without a doubt that Pink Floyd got better after Syd was gone. Discordant, droning, and with some pretty bad vocals at times. Unfortunate for such a well loved band
Powerhouses of prog rock. I absolutely love Rush and this album is an incredible example of why. The first track is such a journey. I love world it paints. Knowing that Rush was being pressured at this time to make their music more commercial gives it another layer of artistry and importance in my opinion. The integrity they had to push on and be as creative as they wanted is commendable.
I understand that some people don't understand rock opera and can't appreciate it properly. Think about the story it's telling you! Appreciate some tasty licks! Think of it as 7 different songs if that helps, you'll be able to tell where one part ends and another begins pretty easily.
The second side is pretty great as well. Tears probably being the weakest to me, a bit of a more meloncholy break. Still good. Brings it right back up with Something For Nothing though! A strong finish! A wonderful album through and through.
Metallica rocks what more can I really say? Goes hard and I love Orion. Instrumental is a nice change of pace
The music is pretty good! I just don't feel like they're saying anything interesting. It's all either vague or incredibly flowery. Not the biggest fan of hippie music that has nothing to say. Way too much "there is girl and I like girl" in the most generic way. Good enough for background and I wouldn't complain if it was put on
I honestly expected more. A bit of a slow paced album. I expected it to be more fun and upbeat I guess but that's on me. I respect Missy Elliot and I like a lot of her later work but this album makes it seem like she needed a little time to become that talented. Listenable, of course
I love rock opera, so of course I love Tommy! It hits wonderfully in the nostalgia for me as well having grown up hearing it. One of the greatest albums of all time truly!! Music that tells a story is always fun to me. Even when the story is a little strange.
I can't really put my love for this into words too well. Let the stars speak for themselves
Coming into this I only knew Heads Will Roll, which is a pretty fun song! I honestly thought this would be a mediocre pop album, and that would have been fine. Instead I was pleasantly surprised after the slow (to me) start to hear a lot of different musical styles influencing this album.
During the first song I was thinking this girl would be good in a riotgrrl band, then I was super excited to hear the kind of grungy Dull Life! I also really dig Dragon Queen. I can hear the talent here for sure. That said, mostly kind of okay songs.
Was waiting for this guy to pop up! Not aware of any songs I know but I love this folksy stuff. Good easy listening
I was in the boat of not knowing the Bee Gees weren't only disco, and I can kind of see why. I'm having trouble seeing much of a narrative or concept in this concept album.
Started being good for me on Marley Put Drive, then immediately lost me on Edison. Way too repetitive. The Whisper Whisper ending where it basically turns into a different song brought me back in. Seems like they might have actually had a little fun on that one.
Give Your Best was a good one to mix it up a little. Surprised me with the country feel with the fiddle and energetic banjo picking, but in a good way! Seven Seas Symphony is very pretty.
From that point, things return to form. Most of the songs feel like they drag on without saying much. They sound good enough, but it needs more substance. Unfortunately a lot of it is just boring.
Musically pretty good. Head nodding stuff. Lyrically and vocally though? Rough is a small understatement. Dude is trying really hard to sound sexy and it is hard not to cringe. He's way too horny and sounds like he's touching himself half the time. The lyrics are just as bad. Guy needs to talk it out in therapy.
Incredible fun all throughout! Fun stero effects with headphones too. I've definitely heard Groove is in the Heart before and I was happy to hear it again! Put it on for a good time
Not a huge fan of industrial or noise to start out so it was at a bit of a disadvantage already. There is definitely something to it that I like though. It's kinda fun in a goofy lyrics sang deadpan way. It's unique and that isn't bad. Self-indulgent, but that's expected and almost required for experimental. Sounds a tiny bit like it could be in Scott Pilgrim as well.
There's nothing new I could really say. It's good stuff. Nothing groundbreaking for nowadays but we've just had it for a while. The Beatles are good. This isn't news to anyone but edgy kids lmao
I could see a lot of this as background music for a video game or movie. It would be cool in maybe a scifi futuristic setting with an alien band who all play weird looking instruments. Here on Earth as an album to just listen too though? It's super boring.
The Rough and the Quick stands out of course. Definitely interesting and attention grabbing. Pretty groovy too.
Overall, I could see songs from this album being applied well for other media but it's just extremely repetitive and largely uninteresting to me
A very good listen! I admittedly didn't know Van Halen as well as I thought. They aren't as hard as the "hard rock" name would suggest but they have their moments. It sounds like they're having fun and that appeals to me. The doo-wop breakdown is top tier. I can see why they're so successful and why this album is on this list. That said, it gets a little same sound at a point. The guitar sound is unique and played well enough to excuse it though.
Honestly pretty iconic in my eyes. Old country has a small place in my heart. It's wild that 4 huge hits were on their debut album! Really came out swinging. It's simple, it sounds great, it's just good fun.
Seeing from other reviews that they're problematic which is disappointing but not unexpected. I don't really think that's what this project is about but I understand. I'm against supporting modern artists who are like them but once it's this far removed with time, I can't really care much.
it's ok.
I will say I expected a lil more from an album so lauded. Probably just my taste. A little too consistently slow and melancholy
Very good! I will say it falls off a little on side b, but that could just be because I knew half of those songs. This is probably the first one from this project that I feel compelled to get a record of! I can see why it's in so many collections
Thoroughly enjoyable. Feels bluesy and folksy at times even if most people seem to just label it 'indie' which really means nothing. Meloncholy but doesn't leave you feeling empty. I love a unique voice so that really gets it most of the points. Real emotion comes through and that's important in my opinion
It was probably big for the time but there's a lot of this out there now. A lot of different sounds all at once that drown out the vague and mediocre lyrics. Some decent guitar though.
Looking up the lyrics helps you see that the dude who wrote these is seriously pent up. Bro bankrupted a label so he could be horny on mic and play the same two riffs for the last minute and a half of songs. It's okay, but it doesn't really deserve this much attention. Just noisy pop with some droning and moaning
Listened to it a couple times to fully appreciate it. Felt like I found new things to love each time. Absolutely wonderful album. Fun and interesting all the way through
Big fan of Simon and Garfunkel but haven't really checked out Paul solo. It's pretty good. Easy to listen to and he stuck to the theme very well. The African sounds are what make it interesting and Paul's vocals are soft on the ears. It does start to blend together in my opinion. Nothing groundbreaking, he was just using another culture for inspiration after all.
I could be wrong but it was also a little funny to hear the tinge of bitterness from a divorced man come through. RIP Carrie you're a queen
Greatly enjoyable in its own right. I definitely recognized lovefool but hadn't heard of this band otherwise. Inoffensive and has a nice softness throughout. I like the overly sweet vocals. Feels lavish. Iron man was unexpected though
What can I say, the man is great. Some iconic tracks on here
One of my favorites. An absolute masterpiece in my opinion. Comes out swinging with Tom Sawyer and keeps it going. Limelight is an all time favorite song of mine as well. Beautiful
Some pretty good alt rock. I did expect more from a name I've heard so often. I already knew Been Caught Stealing, but nothing else really stands out to me. It all sounds like much of the same with disorienting echo thrown in at times. Although they played with style a bit on Of Course. The frontman's voice still manages to make it feel generic. Not a bad album really, but I wouldn't put it on.
Good fun. Not something to listen to a lot though imo. Too repetitive as I'm sure others have said
Incredible. I love it through and through. The guitar has that fuzzy garage rock sound that gets me every time. I also am a sucker for a unique voice, and Janis has one of the most interesting voices out there. If I come across this record it'll be an easy buy
Has fun moments. Great melodies, easy to listen to, but not something I'd turn my full attention to. Some perfect background music here for a tropical restaurant though
I am so surprised I've never heard of these guys. Right up my alley. Feels like a Beach Boys/Ramones fusion and I'm into it. Nothing insanely groundbreaking but good early punkish stuff a couple years behind. The warbling does get a little grating at times though
