An album I’ve never listened to before. Hit after hit and it would have been interesting to hear them do more songs like this (as in easily reproduced) instead of becoming a studio band.

A great album with a lot of diverse tracks. Very different listen than just listening to the singles. Only thing that detracts from it is the mixing, making you adjust the volume from track to track sometimes.

I grew up loving this band and Pete’s guitar work is super unique with the big open chords. That said, I thought the singles and greatest hits were the highlight of this album.

So many interesting sounds and songs on this album but perhaps a better producer would have made that shorter. Could have used some trims. But very much a precursor of things to come.

Obviously influential to many shoegaze artists that I would later love and even Frou Frou. I’m not sure that I would listen again but I enjoyed a few songs and the shuffle after.

This album has always suffered from a stellar A side and a meh B side. The B side would be a classic record for any other band but it is less timeless than the A side.

I don’t listen to James Brown for the ballads. So what this album does best is capture the energy of James in that moment. But the last legacy of James isn’t necessarily best captured here.

I mean, exactly what you want, done well. First 5 star album!

So many great and diverse songs on here that I didn’t know. Should have been more famous. A modern day ABBA.

It’s really just not my favorite style of music. The vocal arrangements were good but the panning and production really did not let these songs shrine. Album tracks do equal the singles though

Excellent album, surprised me. I almost skipped, instead I found something to pair with pink moon.

An album I’ve never listened to before. Hit after hit and it would have been interesting to hear them do more songs like this (as in easily reproduced) instead of becoming a studio band.

Didn’t love this album. Stripped entirely of the harmonies of Simon and Garfunkel, you’re left with just the songs of Paul Simon. An excellent songwriter but the album felt poorly produced

Excellent album, all bangers, no skips.

A cool album, I liked it. Not sure I will return to it though.

I’m a fan of punk but this album just sounded really bad. The drums sounded programmed and badly mixed. The guitars were off etc.

I thought this album was okay but it didn’t do a lot for me. The intro sound I knew and the entire record reminded me of a silversun pickups album (granted, probably influenced them). Nothing wrong with it, but 3 stars

I thought this album was good and influential but I didn’t make it through it all the way. I think that’s a me thing more than the band.

A surprising and fun album. Something I wasn’t expecting at all and want to read more about it.

It was okay. Clearly this band at their best in their pre synthesizer days. But I’m rating it 3 because I think that a live album can be 2 things: 1) a display of a band in their prime 2) a new sound from a band or artist that is worth capturing in that moment. While there is merit to idea 1 (they sound so good and young here!), it doesn’t really move the needle for me and I prefer their later work.

A more complex grunge album, excellent writing and riffs. One star dropped for preference.

The epitome of Reggae. There is no better album even if you aren’t a reggae fan (which I am not). The influence is undeniable.

Such an interesting pick for 1001 albums before I did but great music. But very niche. Cool to read about how huge he was in Belgium and France though. I’m rating it high because of the fact that I would have never heard it otherwise.

One of my biggest issues with some albums is how they could have used some editing. This album is a great example of that. 24 songs, some of them with no rhymes. I think the actual songs in here are strong and the beats are sick but I don’t need a 2 minute song just saying the og gangster over and over.

Cool album with tons of influences and probably directly influenced bands like the mgmt and other contemporary psych bands. Also similar to contemporaries flaming lips. I probably won’t revisit but a fun exploration.

It’s impossible to listen to this album and not hear the influence of bands that came after. But the one missing spot on this album for me is the miss with most Radiohead albums; what is thom yorke saying? It’s almost as if his voice is an instrument as to needing to write something with urgency and purpose. While this is common in rock, I think it’s why I fail to fully connect with this album.