330
Albums Rated
3.49
Average Rating
30%
Complete
759 albums remaining
Rating Distribution
Rating Timeline
Taste Profile
1970
Favorite Decade
Metal
Favorite Genre
UK
Top Origin
Wordsmith
Rater Style ?
30
5-Star Albums
3
1-Star Albums
Breakdown
By Genre
Top Styles
By Decade
By Origin
Albums
You Love More Than Most
| Album | You | Global | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Metal Box
Public Image Ltd.
|
5 | 2.42 | +2.58 |
|
GI
Germs
|
5 | 2.53 | +2.47 |
|
Isn't Anything
My Bloody Valentine
|
5 | 2.75 | +2.25 |
|
Whatever
Aimee Mann
|
5 | 2.83 | +2.17 |
|
Crossing the Red Sea With the Adverts
The Adverts
|
5 | 2.97 | +2.03 |
|
Future Days
Can
|
5 | 3.01 | +1.99 |
|
The Piper At The Gates Of Dawn
Pink Floyd
|
5 | 3.11 | +1.89 |
|
Le Tigre
Le Tigre
|
5 | 3.14 | +1.86 |
|
Fresh Fruit for Rotting Vegetables
Dead Kennedys
|
5 | 3.26 | +1.74 |
|
Wonderful Rainbow
Lightning Bolt
|
4 | 2.29 | +1.71 |
You Love Less Than Most
| Album | You | Global | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Live Through This
Hole
|
1 | 3.3 | -2.3 |
|
Grace
Jeff Buckley
|
2 | 3.74 | -1.74 |
|
Bright Flight
Silver Jews
|
1 | 2.69 | -1.69 |
|
Bookends
Simon & Garfunkel
|
2 | 3.56 | -1.56 |
|
Ellington at Newport
Duke Ellington
|
2 | 3.43 | -1.43 |
|
Green Onions
Booker T. & The MG's
|
2 | 3.4 | -1.4 |
|
Get Behind Me Satan
The White Stripes
|
2 | 3.39 | -1.39 |
|
Haunted Dancehall
The Sabres Of Paradise
|
1 | 2.37 | -1.37 |
|
Aftermath
The Rolling Stones
|
2 | 3.37 | -1.37 |
|
Urban Hymns
The Verve
|
2 | 3.36 | -1.36 |
Artists
Favorites
| Artist | Albums | Average |
|---|---|---|
| Beatles | 4 | 4.5 |
| Pink Floyd | 3 | 4.67 |
| David Bowie | 3 | 4.67 |
| Radiohead | 2 | 5 |
| Bob Dylan | 4 | 4.25 |
| Johnny Cash | 3 | 4.33 |
Controversial
| Artist | Ratings |
|---|---|
| The Smiths | 2, 5, 5 |
5-Star Albums (30)
View Album Wall
Popular Reviews
Jorge Ben Jor · 1 likes
4/5
Highlight Song/s: Hermes Trismegisto Escreveu and Africa Brasil (Zumbi)
Samba has a nice sound to it, It sounds really hopeful, I also quite like the luscious backing vocals, and it has some cool guitar lines. I'm not too sure what just samba sounds like by itself without the fusion of other genres, as I'm quite new to the sound and was only introduced via the generator, but it's not too shabby. It has a nice jungle vibe to it, it's definitely the bongos that give me that impression!
I believe some people are just way too quick to dismiss non-English music, just for the reason it isn't in English. As if that removes all emotion and tone to the voices.
Miles Davis · 1 likes
4/5
This one has such an amazing vibe to it. A warm, relaxed, subdued vibe. I am grateful for the generator expanding my taste and contributing to my appreciation of jazz, prior to the generator, I thought I didn't like jazz except jazz rap. Getting exposed to other genres - that I don't listen too much of -classics (prefered genre is punk and punk-adjacent, but still like nearly every genre) is wonderful. My favourite part of the album is the manic drums in "Move" it's not that the album peaked at the first song or anything, the album in fact had a good consistent high, no considerable dips in quality throughout.
Highlight Song/s: "Move", "Venus De Milo" and "Godchild"
Tina Turner · 1 likes
3/5
Very 80s album, my gosh. It has this fun feel to it, some songs are absolutely anthems (see Highlight Songs below for examples.) I thought the first half (except for first song) wasn't really good, but starting at the b-side it drastically improved in quality, like SERIOUSLY IMPROVED. Definitely a high 3/5, but not high enough to be rounded up to 4/5.
Highlight Song/s: "I Might’ve Been Queen" (Soul Survivor), "Let's Stay Together" and "Steel Claw"
4-Star Albums (131)
1-Star Albums (3)
All Ratings
Iron Maiden
5/5
Highlight of the album:
Phantom of the Opera
Transylvania
Iron Maiden
Alanis Morissette
3/5
Highlight Song/s:
Hand In My Pocket
Alanis sounds at times a Mishmash of Billy Corgan and Dolores (The Cranberries)
Dusty Springfield
3/5
Highlight Song/s:
Mama Said
Sweet 60s Pop
The xx
3/5
Beatles
5/5
Highlight Song/s.
Taxman
Love You To
Here, There And Everywhere
And Your Bird Can Sing
For No One
Aretha Franklin
3/5
Jeff Buckley
2/5
The Verve
2/5
Jefferson Airplane
3/5
Nas
4/5
Stan Getz
4/5
The Specials
3/5
ZZ Top
3/5
Beastie Boys
4/5
Madonna
3/5
Frank Black
3/5
Pixies
4/5
Gene Clark
3/5
The Birthday Party
2/5
The Smiths
2/5
Gorillaz
4/5
Highlight Song/s:
5/4
New Genius (Brother)
Double Bass
The backing track for all of the songs are so colourful and unique. It's like a forest, you can totally lose yourself in it. The backing track also reminds me of Shoegaze and Dream pop, with so many things to discover on one track.
The Doors
3/5
The Icarus Line
3/5
This album wasn't on Spotify so I listened to it on Youtube, though I only found 11 out of 13. I do believe the rating wouldn't have changed had I listened those two songs.
Other than that I really liked the bass in the first song and their use of noise throughout the album.
Fatboy Slim
4/5
Ella Fitzgerald
3/5
Pretty lovely singing and the backing tracks are quite exciting. I just didn't like that It was 3 hours long, which was pretty grueling. Had it been less than an hour I would've definitely rated it higher.
Christine and the Queens
4/5
George Harrison
4/5
Highlight Song/s:
Wah-Wah, Isn't it a Pity and all of Apple Jam
My first solo Beatles album. it's a very long album which makes it harder to re-listen to and staying engaged with it.
Lots of the songs sound very folky which I kind of like and the backing tracks sound very busy (of course it's produced by Phil Spector.)
George's vocals sound really nice in this (sky is blue, what's new.)
The song Art of Dying sounds very reminiscent of While My Guitar Gently Weeps which I really like.
Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark
2/5
Country Joe & The Fish
3/5
Moby Grape
3/5
Listened to on Youtube, as the album is absolutely butchered besides the bonus tracks.
Bob Marley & The Wailers
4/5
Highlight Song/s: The Heathen, Waiting In Vain and Three Little Birds
This is my first experience with Reggae apart from listening to Jamaican radio stations in Grand Theft Auto IV and San Andreas (which I really liked.)
The backstory of this album is really interesting, where Bob Marley relocated to London after nearly getting assassinated and made the appropriately named album 'Exodus'. The lyrics on the album are amazing (and sweet in the second half.)
Arcade Fire
3/5
My Bloody Valentine
5/5
Highlight Song/s: Soft As Snow (But Warm Inside), Cupid Come and Sueisfine
This is one of my favourite albums of all time - probably Top 10 but not certain.
It is a pretty eclectic album with the Dream pop songs (Lose My Breath and No More Sorry,) the punk-esque (Sueisfine and When You Wake) and the really noisy ones (Cupid Come, Feed Me, Several Girls and All I Need.)
Their combination of noise and pop is nothing short of marvelous. How they use the voice as an instrument is pretty unique. I love how that most of the songs are so blissful yet so grating to the ears. They have such an original sound.
The Allman Brothers Band
4/5
Highlight Song/s: In Memory Of Elizabeth Reed
I'm not into Jam Band stuff, but I thought this was kind of alright.
Pavement
4/5
Ride
4/5
Highlight Song/s: Dreams Burn Down, Decay and Vapour Trail
This album has such a surreal sound. I love the vibe that the album cover gives off.
It's fun listening to Shoegaze and closing your eyes and imagining yourself in some other place (like near an ocean in this instance.) You can totally lose yourself in the wall of noise that's in most of the songs.
The Only Ones
3/5
Iggy Pop
3/5
Ozomatli
4/5
Listened to on YouTube as it's not on Spotify for me. I also could only find 7 out of the 13 songs which sucks a bit. But other than that I like the really unique sound of this album.
Neil Young & Crazy Horse
4/5
I am always a fan when artists do different stuff for different sides/halves of the album. Such as Low (by David Bowie) where the first half is these repetitive rock/pop songs and the second half is ambient, anyways enough David Bowie. Pretty cool how Neil Young does solo acoustic for the first half and then Electric with a backing band in the second half. This is my first impression of Neil Young (apart from listening to Heart of Gold) and I would say it was a good impression.
ABBA
4/5
Highlight Song/s: My Love, My Life and Money, Money, Money
This might possibly be the best Pop album ever.
Silver Jews
1/5
Highlight Song/s: Transylvania Blues
I truly don't like this term; but it fits the most. This hipster rock album (band?) is incredibly bland, I feel like I'm being lulled to sleep on 9 out of the 10 tracks. The only redeeming part of the album is Transylvania Blues (maybe because there is no singing from off brand Bob Dylan.) This 35 minute album felt so long, even longer than that 3 hour Jazz album by Ella Fitzgerald that's on the list.
OutKast
3/5
Highlight Song/s: War, Tomb of the Boom, Last Call, She Lives in My Lap and My Favorite Things
This album is quite long; it being 135 minutes long. It was a bit difficult to get through. I like how the album is structured with the intros of both discs and the interludes with all of it being spread among the rap tracks. My favourite of all probably is the first 3 tracks of disc 2 with the jazzy instrumentation, even if one of them is a interlude.
Now some things I don't like. Disc 1 had too many soul choruses, I was pretty over it by the end of the first disc. The track 'Reset' had what sounds like someone eating a bag of chips which bothered me a lot, which was kind of surprising.
I don't think this is a bad album, I believe it's just that I really don't think the OutKasts are for me.
The Beach Boys
4/5
Highlight Song/s: Don't Go Near The Water and Long Promised Road
I got this album on the day Brian Wilson died; I thought that was kind of funny(not him dying per se,) but the mopey album cover and the album name alongside the sad news of his death. But then I found out shortly after it was scripted (which my opinion on was mixed.)
Anyways this is my second Beach Boys album, last time was Pet Sounds (not a fan of) back in August apart from that I just listened to their hits like Good Vibrations, Surfin' U.S.A and I Get Around. So It's good to listen to them properly again.
I like the melancholy on this album, it sounds like its the end of an era; very bittersweet. The fact that this album is when Brian Wilson was stepping back from a leadership role, makes it a bit heartbreaking. Godspeed Brian.
The Temptations
4/5
Highlight Song/s: Why Did She Have To Leave and I Need Your Lovin'
I am relatively new to Motown music, so it's been a little hard to get into. But It gets better and better every time I listen to a new Motown album.
The second half is definitely a lot better than the first and it really does redeem the album.
So soothing, Amazing vocals, Great basslines, good horn sections and really melodic.
Good Album.
Kanye West
4/5
Highlight Song/s: New Slaves and Bound 2
I haven't listened to Kanye at all, so this is from completely fresh ears.
The production is absolutely amazing, my god. I'm really unsure if I like the rapping style he has, but it's catchy in some parts.
It really is a shame how much talent was lost; way before he started spreading hate.
Portishead
3/5
This album has such a surreal sound to it, I like it. The backing tracks for all the songs are so lovely and unique; on the other hand, the vocals are quite
difficult to get into. Perhaps a re-listen to it or listening through their other albums will help.
Duke Ellington
2/5
Not a fan on how they use the brass instruments, with all the squeaky, wheezing and high pitched sounds that come from it. I know brass instruments are essential to Jazz, but I definitely prefer how they use it in Getz/Gilberto; where it's more low-key.
Grizzly Bear
3/5
Not a fan of this one. All the songs sound like one big song, just split up. The backing tracks are pretty colourful but other than that, lots of the album is just a blur to me.
Pere Ubu
3/5
The lead singer's style of singing is pretty difficult to get into, but I really appreciate the frantic aspect about it. The backing track matches the vocals quite well; just pure frenzy, which fits the garage/punk attitude of the singing.
The Byrds
3/5
This sounds incredibly bland, no song in particular stands out. Lyrics across the album include the themes of Women, Love, Beer and Jesus; which they don't do anything special with. Even some albums by others that have Jesus or Love or Women as a theme, just do It better; though the lyrics about the beer might've inspired the horrid pop-country. It sounds catchy at times, but It didn't make the album a good one.
The White Stripes
4/5
Highlight Song/s: Dead Leaves and the Dirty Ground, Expecting, Aluminum and I Can't Wait
This is some pretty nifty garage music, I was expecting this to be a bit bad; but no, definitely not bad. This album has some cool riffs and I like how they use the noise (like you'd hear on noise rock songs,) on some of the tracks. The drums always have this catchy rhythm going on. All in all, it's a good one.
Patti Smith
4/5
Highlight Song/s: Gloria, Redondo Beach
This album is a nice mix of punk and poetry. The singing by Patti leaves me completely awestruck. That yelp-styled singing definitely helps make the music more unhinged.
Billy Joel
4/5
Highlight Song/s: Movin' Out and The Stranger
I've always dismissed Billy Joel for some reason, not exactly sure why. But this is some really sweet pop rock.
Parliament
3/5
The singing style mixed with spoken word is kinda cool. The backing tracks for this album have an otherworldly sound to it. I didn't like length of the songs on this album, as I feel like I've heard everything the song has to offer in the first 3 or so minutes and so it starts to drag for the rest of the song. So when EVERY song is like that, it made the album really tiring.
Fred Neil
3/5
Highlight Song/s: Cynicrustpetefredjohn Raga
Not for me. I just feel this folk-styled music has been done so many times before, that it just all sounds the same to me. The exception to the monotony of this album is the last track, which is a 8 minute instrumental that sounds really unique.
Lightning Bolt
4/5
Highlight Song/s: Dracula Mountain and 2 Towers
This was an enjoyable experience. Love how the band just consists of 2 members, a bassist and a drummer; keeping it minimalist. Even though are only 2 members, the sound is really huge as if the band was an orchestra. Definitely not a bad one.
Joni Mitchell
4/5
Her singing is so lovely, it really does enhance the album; otherwise it would've been just another generic folk album.
Bob Marley & The Wailers
4/5
Highlight Song/s: Concrete Jungle and Slave Driver
I feel the album just gradually gets worse; It's not bad, but it's not as great as Exodus.
The Smiths
5/5
Highlight Song/s: A Rush and a Push, Girlfriend in a Coma and Death of a Disco Dancer.
This is easily one of the best albums ever made. They decided to change their sound on this album after they determined their music had become formulaic, which they executed really well. Even though The Queen Is Dead a good album, it was definitely a good decision to change. It is a shame this is when The Smiths decided to call it; they would've gotten even more strange, then where they had left off.
Now about the songs that stood out to me: The dreamlike intro of the song A Rush and a Push; Best line on the album is "Maybe in the next world", from Death of a Disco Dancer; Girlfriend in a Coma and Last Night I Dreamt have the most dramatic sound, which I love; I Won't Share You is probably the best final song from a Band that has broken up.
Frank Sinatra
3/5
Not for me.
Johnny Cash
5/5
Highlight Song/s: Folsom Prison Blues, Dark as the Dungeon, The Long Black Veil, Give My Love to Rose and Greystone Chapel
When it comes to live albums it probably doesn't get more infamous than this one; the one where Johnny Cash and his crew showed their humanity to the prisoners. Big fan of the track picks for this album which of course have prison, death and longing as themes. I am also a big fan of the stage banter on this one (especially on Dark as the Dungeon), it gives the album such a lighthearted feel to it.
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds
4/5
Highlight Song/s: Song of Joy, Stagger Lee, Where the Wild Roses Grow and Death Is Not the End
I've only heard Let Love In (separate from 1001) before this one, so this is my second Nick Cave album (third, if you count The Birthday Party.) This album has incredible songwriting. It's quite dark, with murder being the main theme. Even though murder themed lyrics seem a bit juvenile, for some reason the way that he does it, it doesn't.
Black Sabbath
4/5
Highlight Song/s: Wheels Of Confusion, Changes, Supernaut
I listened to this 2 days prior (01/07/25) to getting Vol. 4 here on 1001 (03/07/25), which is a little funny out of all 1000 albums it could've chosen from. But it probably did need a re-listen.
Now, about the songs themselves that stand out: FX is terrible, what were they thinking? my god; Supernaut sounds like the Max Payne 1 combat music called 'Battle For Free'; That guitar solo that ends Snowblind is incredible; St. Vitus Dance kind of sounds at times the House Building Song from Red Dead Redemption 2, that sort of boogie sound.
N.E.R.D
3/5
This sounds SO generic. Bored to tears with this one.
Pink Floyd
4/5
Highlight Song/s: Time, Us and Them, Any Colour You Like and Brain Damage
One of the things that are most interesting about this album to me, is that they put some experimental stuff within the first couple songs on one of the most sold albums ever. Just going off of other top sold albums, you'd think they would put tracks like Time and Money first on the album; songs that have that popular or commercial sound to it. But NO they don't do that.
I love how Eclipse transitions into Speak to Me, so the album only really ends when the listener decides it does.
Amazing lines on this album:
"Hanging on in quiet desperation is the English way" (Time)
"And after all, we're only ordinary men" (Us and Them)
"And if the band you're in starts playing different tunes" (Brain Damage)
"And everything under the Sun is in tune" (Eclipse)
and probably the best line ever "I'll see you on the dark side of the moon" (Brain Damage)
Tangerine Dream
4/5
[A1] The title track is absolutely breathtaking, what a journey that song is.
[B1] In Mysterious Semblance... you can hear what seems to be waves crashing at the end of the song. Near the end of it, one of the synths sound similar to Always Crashing in the Same Car by David Bowie.
[B2] Movements... continues that wave crashing sound from the previous song just for a moment. Around 4 minutes or so in, it sounds a like the Minecraft song called "Cats." This track has such a relieving sound to it.
[B3] 'Sequent 'C'' which is a good ending to all of what you just experienced
This album has such great aquatic feel to it.
I really like the album Low by David Bowie in which you can hear a bit of Phaedra on it, so it's great to hear some of the albums that influenced Low.
Blur
4/5
Highlight Song/s: Beetlebum, Song 2, Country Sad Ballad Man, On Your Own and Death of a Party
Blur's self-titled is when they started to and embrace American indie and slacker rock alongside that lo-fi sound that is present on every song. The change into this sound was very much needed, there's only so much you can do with that positive overly-British sound and I believe the 3 albums of it were enough.
Now about the song Beetlebum, because I love it so much:
Beetlebum is such a dreamy song. The harmonies in that song are just incredible; the calm singing as well. That sliding from the electric guitar in the verses is quite catchy, good bassline, good drums and GOOD EVERYTHING. Beetlebum's lyrics are about heroin, which I learnt from watching a documentary about them (from Trash Theory), the song just hit so much harder once I found that out and I fell in love with it more. The song then accumulates into that magnificent chaotic noisy outro.
Supergrass
4/5
Highlight Song/s: I'd Like to Know, Mansize Rooster
This is some really nifty punk; nice garage backing track mixed with some keyboards alongside melodic vocals.
I am a big fan of the vocals on 'I'd Like to know' especially the backing. The lead singer's voice reminds me of either Gary Numan or Syd Barret, or perhaps a combination of. The novelty of this album started wear off by the last couple of songs, but it still is a good one.
Gotan Project
3/5
Very unique sounding electronic music. After some time it did start getting tiring, with it just repeating the same couple of bars for 6 minutes straight with little change.
The Smashing Pumpkins
4/5
Highlight Song/s: Today, Rocket and Soma
This album is sweet mix of alternative rock, grunge and shoegaze.
Some good riffs (such as Cherub Rock) and some pretty cool sounding melody parts (Today, Rocket.) What I love the most about the album is that constant noise coming from the rhythm guitar.
Some things I like from some of the songs:
That rhythm guitar in 'Today' is just amazing, I love that chugging sound.
I am a fan of the shoegaze elements on 'Hummer'
I thought that false ending in 'Rocket' was pretty cool where the wall of guitars faded out it sounded like a goddamn orchestra, then it actually ends and it ended up sounding like it once again.
I liked that sweet sounding interlude-like track 'Sweet Sweet'.
Simple Minds
3/5
Highlight Song/s: Glittering Prize
Some things that stand out to me about this album:
It's fairly minimalist.
The singer sounds a bit like Robert Smith.
Some of the lyrics seem quite hopeful.
It's an alright album.
Johnny Cash
4/5
Highlight Song/s: The Man Comes Around, Give My Love to Rose, I Hung My Head
The album where Johnny Cash reached the end of the road. Very much bittersweet.
The Hives
3/5
If they played a little more faster and the singing was more slurred this would've been a 5 star.
Fela Kuti
4/5
The title track is absolutely marvelous. I first heard it on Grand Theft Auto IV on the funk radio station (IF99), way before I really got into music. And I remember liking it, and I still do so that's good after not hearing it for quite a while. Anyways it's a 6/5 star song.
'Mr. Follow Follow' has this amazingly good bassline as well as the trumpet in the first half had me completely entranced for a moment. Also the back-and-forth between the lead vocal and backing vocals is done pretty well. 4.75/5 star song in my opinion.
Nirvana
4/5
Highlight Song/s: Come As You Are, The Man Who Sold The World, Dumb, Plateau and Where Did You Sleep Last Night
I am a casual Nirvana fan not too big on most of their stuff, but I like some of their songs here and there. Prior to listening to this I've only In Utero (which was my first album) then just earlier this month Nevermind. Songs that I particular like from them are: Drain You, In Bloom, Serve the Servants and their cover of Molly's Lips. So some songs are completely new to me.
I like to think some of the higher ups thought they would play all their hits - especially from Nevermind - but NO about 40% of the album is covers, which I am a fan of; It's just Nirvana appreciating their idols
Now, about the songs themselves: The cello on 'Something In The Way' is incredible; I thought the Meat Puppets songs were pretty good, I definitely gotta check out their second album.
Grandmaster Flash & The Furious Five
3/5
Highlight Song/s: It's Nasty (Genius of Love) and The Message
I don't feel this album should've been included on 1001 albums, yes I suppose it is influential. But I suspect they only included this one because of the title track, which I feel is a bit lame. Anyways majority of the rating comes from the title track, because its just THAT good
The Prodigy
2/5
Just the same thing going over and over again for 7 minutes straight. I just don't get Electronic music that's intended for dancing; It's insanely repetitive, I'm sure it sounds great live but I just can't get with it on the studio version.
Sister Sledge
3/5
Highlight Song/s: You're a Friend to Me
This is some really sweet soul music, though it is a bit bland.
Television
4/5
Highlight Song/s: Venus, Marquee Moon and Guiding Light
This album has some of most amazing melodies I have ever heard in my life. The guitar solos on this album are phenomenal, especially on 'Marquee Moon' and 'Guiding Light.'
The album is pretty diverse, I kind of like how they don't fully bow down to anything specific. Though I have listened to this album 3 times now, I just can't fully get into it.
I see this album often labeled 'post-punk' which I would disagree with. It probably isn't straight-forward punk rock like the Ramones, but it definitely isn't post-punk; perhaps something like art punk would fit better.
Some things I like about the songs: the punk rock-leaning of 'See No Evil'; the very poppy 'Venus'; 'Marquee Moon' has such a catchy chorus and that extended amazing instrumental part, the song is 6/5 stars all day, every day and finally 'Guiding Light' which is a top-notch ballad.
Stevie Wonder
3/5
I thought I would like this album but no not really. I really did try to get into it, but I just couldn't. Perhaps I was thinking majority of the songs would have a strong groove; which most didn't have. Anyways I do respect the album a lot though.
Travis
4/5
Highlight Song/s: Driftwood
This is better than I was expecting. Especially because I saw the words 'britpop' and I thought it was going to be a bunch of slop; yeah it's not exactly the greatest but it's far from slop. Lots of the songs sound so sweet and the vocals are quite Radiohead-esque (early Radiohead.) I am not fan of the 3 minutes of silence on 'Slide Show', I get hidden tracks were all the rage in the 90s but they just didn't age well.
Songhoy Blues
3/5
The B-52's
4/5
Highlight Song/s: Planet Claire and Dance This Mess Around
What an amazing album by a bunch of quirky individuals. They have a funny sense of humour.
Ricky is such an underrated guitarist, such a shame he died; gone way too soon. Some of my favourite guitar tracks by him include 'Planet Claire', 'Dance This Mess Around' and the fabulous 6 star track 'Private Idaho' (though from the next album, 'Wild Planet.')
At times I don't know If its Kate or Cindy singing, I get confused. But I'm pretty sure it's Kate that I like more (but both of them are amazing singers.) Kate has such good singing voice alongside her mostly unique scat singing with her OO's, OW's, OH's and AH's and her screaming; which actually was inspired by Yoko Ono.
Funnily enough, John Lennon heard 'Rock Lobster' at a club and thought the club was playing 2 records and he reckoned one of them was by Yoko but NO, it was the B-52's. That experience got him back into making music, though not for too long...
Black Sabbath
4/5
Highlight Song/s: Paranoid, Iron Man and Fairies Wear Boots
This is probably one of the very few albums that influenced multiple generations of musicians. Some of the greatest riffs are on this album; I don't feel the need to say which ones specifically, as it's just innate. Although 'Paranoid' is a good album I can't help but think the next album 'Master of Reality' is just a LOT better (which sadly isn't on 1001.)
Fats Domino
3/5
Some nice early rock and roll. This album was slower than I was expecting but it's still a nice one; like I was expecting most of the songs on the album to sound similar to the closer 'Trust In Me.'
The Notorious B.I.G.
4/5
Highlight Song/s: Things Done Changed, Warning, Juicy and Big Poppa
I honestly thought this was going to be a lot better; I guess I'm just not a huge rap fan, if I don't like the top hip-hop albums or think majority of the songs are mediocre. Perhaps I need to lower my expectations. But I would say this one is a good album.
The Coral
4/5
Highlight Song/s: I Remember When, Shadows Fall and Dreaming of You
What a surreal sound this album has, this might be love at first sight (or listen.) It has such a nice combination of the piratey/sea shanty feel and that garage rock revival sound to it. The novelty did start to run out with that last handful of songs. And if I had to pick a track to delete, It would be 'Skeleton Key'.
Nick Drake
4/5
Highlight Song/s: Road
This is what I would imagine would play after climbing a hill and watching the sun rise, after surviving a tough night; whilst you feel very hopeful for whats to come.
Creedence Clearwater Revival
3/5
Highlight Song/s: Proud Mary
This album was pretty bleh. I guess that's what happens when you pump out 5 albums in like 18 or so months. CCR has some other albums on this list, so I will see in due time if they are more like a singles sort of band instead of an album-oriented band - I'm thinking they might be a singles sort of band.
Alice Cooper
3/5
Highlight Song/s: No More Mr. Nice Guy and Mary Ann
Lot of the songs are really poppy which surprised me, as I always thought of Alice Cooper as a hard rock musician; perhaps on other albums, but not this one. Probably more glam rock than hard rock.
I thought this album was overly tame and I felt underwhelmed, perhaps I'm desensitised from other music I've listened to and that maybe this album really did push boundaries in the early 70s, but because I'm not 50 years old I just don't get it and the appeal of early 70s hard rock.
Some things from the songs themselves that stood out:
'Elected' reminds me a lot of the American Dad intro
'Billion Dollar Babies' has a really cool opening riff
The chorus of 'No More Mr. Nice Guy' is amazing
'Mary Ann' is a really sweet interlude track
'I Love the Dead' has a cool cabaret feel to it
Deep Purple
4/5
Highlight Song/s: Bloodsucker, Flight of the Rat and Into the Fire
'Speed King' was a bit of a weird song with that amazing intro and that fairly long downtime at the beginning, and with its references to rock 'n' roll seemed quite an odd choice. Then it got significantly better with 'Bloodsucker'; what a crazy good riff that song has. Just all around a good one.
'Child in Time' was extremely underwhelming, I was expecting something a bit more. No clue why they settled with that weird squealing in the song, especially by the end it got really grating.
'Flight of the Rat' has a great instrumental section, that drum section in the last minute or so was really odd, I KIND of like it, kind of not.
'Into the Fire' has the best vocals of any track. it also has the best main riff of any of the songs. Also superb rhythm section.
'Living Wreck' has this weird Mountain Lion sounding part which was really off-putting. It also has great vocals.
'Hard Lovin' Man' starts with this laser-like sound from the keyboardist which is a bit strange. The keyboard solo in this one is pretty cool and sounds quite warpy at times. The last minute of this album (and song) is incredible.
The Beta Band
2/5
This one is a really odd sounding album. It's quite dreamy at points (which is relaxing and nice), but it's also just bland, LIKE really bland. As well it being insanely repetitive. Let me cut to the chase, what I'm saying is the terribleness outweighs the good parts.
Green Day
4/5
Highlight Song/s: American Idiot, Jesus of Suburbia, Holiday, Boulevard of Broken Dreams and Are We the Waiting
I am not a big Green Day fan, I like some songs here and there, but not all of them. I listened to 'Dookie' and wasn't a fan. I've been planning to listen to 'American Idiot' for a while and then I just FORGOT about it for some reason; but by the grace of god, 1001 reminded me that it existed. And it wasn't half bad.
The song that shines the most is 'Jesus of Suburbia.' Literally perfect, 9 minute, 5 part song and which has a very progressive feel to it; not a second is wasted with this one. The only part that is just a smidge bad is his incorrect use of the phrase 'I could care less' (in Part II), where he uses it the same way you would use 'I couldn't care less.' Though I just dismiss it as an Americanism, so it fits with the rest of the album.
Another song/s that stand out to me is 'Holiday' and 'Boulevard of Broken Dreams' which are often paired together. I especially like the digital version where both of them are combined into one song. My favourite parts of each song is: "The Senator has the floor" and the guitar solo part (with the other instruments, as well) from Boulevard.
Jerry Lee Lewis
4/5
Highlight Song/s Matchbox, Lewis Boogie and Long Tall Sally
Straight rocker, this one is! I love the stage banter, as any other good live album would have. You can hear all the cheers that infest the album by the rebellious people who are fans of loud music; alongside them chanting his name as if he was some divine being, maybe he isn't one but I'm sure the audience felt like he was one for the duration of the concert.
A quirk about the album I find strange (which was probably standard for the time,) was he used the words Nineteen-Hundred and Fifty-Two to say the year '1952', where nowadays people would (hopefully!) raise their eyebrows at you if you said that instead of Nineteen-Fifty-Two.
I'm glad this one had some swing to it as that's what I was expecting when I heard 'This Is Fats Domino!,' no disrespect to him I felt like I was kind of falling asleep with all the ballad songs, nonetheless this album is just a lot better. It was cool to see two Little Richard songs on here, I hope his album is good when I eventually get it.
Aimee Mann
5/5
Highlight Song/s: I Should've Known, Fifty Years After The Fair, Could've Been Anyone and Mr Harris
I previously heard of Aimee Mann from the song 'Voices Carry,' she has SUCH an amazing singing voice. The tracks on this one are some solid poppy alternative rock tunes. The vocal melodies are amazing. However the backing tracks are a bit underwhelming, they're just quite frankly unexciting. which is totally fine as the singing is spectacular.
5/5
Highlight Song/s: Cisco Kid, City, Country, City and The World Is A Ghetto
I believe this is America's version of 'Autobahn' by Kraftwerk. I mean what other album would that be, if it isn't this one? Well for one, the album covers give me similar idea, of people living, breathing and moving about. Other similar elements include: epic-lengthed song/s and repetitive beats. Then I'd said this and that and I finally realised War's album 'The World is a Ghetto' came before 'Autobahn' (1972 vs 1974,) and It shocked me! This would've worked so well as America's answer to 'Autobahn' but It can't be that, as it came before it. It's all ruined now.
Some say instrumentals have no soul in them because they don't have singing in them, I am confused because 'City Country, City' speaks incredibly loud, it has tremendous amounts of emotion in it. But some people are unfortunately snobby and instantly dismiss instrumentals.
This album is stupidly good, just like 'Autobahn.'
Queen
4/5
Highlight Song/s: Father To Son, The Loser In The End, Ogre Battle, The March Of The Black Queen and Funny How Love Is
Most people probably wouldn't have this in mind when thinking of Queen; heavy, proggy, fantasy lyrics and a bit sludgy at points. Definitely not much radio-friendly music is on this one. I never really thought they would be a band worth it enough to listen to any their albums, but this isn't at all bad; such a great album experience. Perhaps their 70s albums are worth listening to at first (if it were to listen through their albums.) 'A Night at the Opera' is also on this list, so I am looking forward to that now.
I know 'Procession' is technically the first track, but the first proper song 'Father To Son' is amazing, which is very proggy sounding. 'The Loser In The End' and 'The Fairy Feller's' both have a sick bassline, also the latter has an amazing beat to it. The stepping stone that was needed to create 'Bohemian Rhapsody' called 'The March Of The Black Queen'; which is a WAY better 'Bohemian Rhapsody.' 'Black Queen' then transitions into 'Funny How Love Is', which is one of the best transitions ever.
JAY Z
3/5
Highlight Song/s: Takeover, Girls, Girls, Girls (Part 1), U Don't Know and Renegade
This is my first good listen to Jay-Z. I had previously listen to a couple of his other songs such as "Dead Presidents II" and "Empire State of Mind"; I am a big fan of Dead Presidents. In other words I am saying that this review comes from a completely new perspective and not a Jay-Z fan perspective.
The production is pretty good, it makes some songs sounds really big and powerful (for better or for worse.) Jay-Z's rap and flow style is a bit difficult for me to get into; I am not too sure why. I don't believe it's something that I could come around to either. Not everyone is for everyone I guess.
The track that stands out the most is "Takeover" which is a diss track about Nas and Prodigy (from Mobb Deep,) one of my favourite hip-hop songs is "Ether" by Nas, so it was a bit of a surprise when Nas took the flow of the chorus "we running this rap shit" as the outro, I was like "Oh!, that's where the thing is from." Nas mocking Jay-Z by using parts of the his songs, reminds of Eazy-E doing the same thing with Dr. Dre and Snoop Dogg; mocking them and their songs "'Nuthin But A 'G' Thang" and "Dre Day" on Eazy's song "It's On." Conclusions for the song, It's not too bad, but it isn't as great as "Ether." Having had listened to both songs now, it has made me appreciate both songs and the entire feud with Nas and all the great songs that have come from it.
John Lennon
4/5
Highlight Song/s: Imagine, Crippled Inside, Gimme Some Truth and How Do You Sleep?
My 100th album from the generator! The album is quite melancholic and is sombre on most of the songs. This is album is great lyrically, nothing too bad is on here.
This one starts with the title track, which has lyrics that aren't asking for anything too much. For example It simply asks you to imagine a world free of religion, which some psycho decided that it was too much to ask for and decided to commit murder because of that song.
A Tribe Called Quest
4/5
Highlight Song/s: I Left My Wallet in El Segundo, Pubic Enemy, Can I Kick It? and Youthful Expression
This is a landmark album in hip-hop music. The production, the flow, intelligent lyrics and interesting wordplay. What I find kind of neat is that lots of the album seems to flow into each other, as it tends to say the name of the next song on a fair bit of the tracks; it gives it a little bit of a concept album feel to it.
This is a notable lack of Phife Dawg on this album, which The Low End Theory corrects that mistake. The jazz and rap combination is pretty unique for its time. It's like as if they are paying tribute to jazz, kind of similar to gangsta rap and funk music and its combination "G-Funk."
The Dandy Warhols
3/5
Leonard Cohen
3/5
Highlight Song/s: On the Level and Traveling Light
I thought this was going to be your run-of-the-mill folk music, but no it isn't. I only have one big issue with this album is that I'm quite put off by his really deep voice. Like really put off by it, which makes the album difficult to get into.
King Crimson
3/5
Highlight Song/s: 21st Century Schizoid Man
This is one of those albums that I've been meaning to listen to, but haven't come around too.
Most of the tracks were fine to great, except for "Moonchild" for some reason that song triggered me with all those strange sounds around a couple minutes in. I can't explain it that well, but it made my blood boil for some reason
Emerson, Lake & Palmer
3/5
Highlight Song/s: Tarkus, The Only Way (Hymn) and Are You Ready Eddy
Side 1: What an experience the title track is; but I reckon that's the case with most 20 minute songs. I don't know where to begin how they would play this live, especially for a power trio. With them being a progressive rock band they probably found a way.
Side 2: "Jeremy Bender" lyrically reminds me of Lola (Kinks,) not sure if that's an correct assumption. But that's the impression that I get with all its confusing lyrics.
"Bitches Crystal" I swear I've heard this tune before or something really similar, perhaps a soul song that I can't put my finger on.
"The Only Way (Hymn)" sounds like a musical from some movie.
"Infinite Space (Conclusion)" that piano was keeping me on my toes on what will happen next with the song.
"A Time and a Place" is quite aggressive, shocked me a little bit.
"Are You Ready Eddy" seems quite stereotypical, I'm unsure if it's supposed to be a parody of rock 'n' roll or not. Whether it is or if is not, it rocks pretty hard.
The Fall
3/5
Highlight Song/s: Ladybird (Green Grass) and Paranoia Man in Cheap Shit Room
I've heard on the internet Mark E. Smith is a bad singer, having only listened to their cover of "Victoria" (originally by the kinks) which I didn't feel like was representative of their work and sound. Anyways back to the topic, his voice is definitely an acquired taste, I quite liked his singing in the opening song. However on most of the other songs it's a bit too much talking. Not that'd he give a damn or anything, I think at this in point time his singing is just a bit better than Bob Dylan (Mark also sounds a bit like him as well.)
Sufjan Stevens
4/5
Highlight Song/s: Come On! Feel the Illinoise, Jackonville, The Man of Metropolis Steals Our Hearts
Very very whimsical album. This album has some sweet vocals, as well as some of the most calming backing tracks ever. I thought this album was quite silly with the extremely long song titles and the abundant interlude tracks but it was totally fine, especially the "One last "Whoo-hoo for the Pullman" which was an interlude right after the end of "Decatur." Which is literally a six second applause track.
Adele
3/5
Highlight Song/s: Send My Love (To Your New Lover), When We Were Young and Water Under The Bridge
I thought this would be special, but it really wasn't. Good singles, but the album tracks aren't noteworthy. This review will probably be similar to my next Adele album; whenever that comes around.
3/5
Highlight Song/s: Show Me, Valentine's Day, Date Stamp and All Of My Heart
I'd reckon this would be a great soundtrack to some hypothetical movie. As probably other new pop albums would be, such as New Gold Dream by Simple Minds. These new pop albums that I have listened to thanks to 1001, are so strange sounding. I am not too sure what about it is strange to me. Perhaps it is the musical-styled singing with the orchestration and the disco beats all combined into one song/album.
Sepultura
4/5
Highlight Song/s: Dead Embryonic Cells, Desperate Cry, Altered State
This is what I've been missing out on... These tremendously good riffs, absolutely amazing beat, Intelligent lyrics; and not just some demonic stuff. I really do need to lay off a bit of Radiohead and the Smiths and use that time to listen to some Metal instead, I really didn't know what I've been missing until now. I appreciate the album sounding really sinister without devil this and devil that. Not that it's necessarily a problem to me, but some people in extreme metal go full brain dead sometimes and can't write a song without mentioning Satan.
"Dead Embryonic Cells" having the words "I didn't ask to be born" I'm like damn, I feel that so much, and so deep. Seriously, I wasn't expecting those lyrics. They sound overly juvenile, couldn't they have chosen any other words?
Paul McCartney and Wings
4/5
Highlight Song/s: Band On The Run, Mrs. Vandebilt, Let Me Roll It and No Words
3/4 solo Beatles listened and 4/11 total Beatles album (band and solo stuff) listened (I have listened to Revolver.) I wish the generator gods would bless me with another Beatles album. I'd do anything, literally anything.
I wish "Band On The Run" (the song) kept that riff ("am I ever gonna get out of here") around for the other parts of the song, they wasted it. It's insanely good and they just practically THROW it away. The song is still S-Tier, no doubt about that, but it could've been just a bit better had they used that riff just in another part of the song.
I like how eclectic this album is, some examples are: The multi-part song of "Band On The Run"; "Bluebird" sounded a fair bit jazzy; The percussion sounds quite tribal in "Mamunia"; "Let Me Roll It"; which has the most powerful chorus ever; nice power ballad that song is. And the beatles-esque song of "No Words."
Most of the tracks were pretty solid, the only song I didn't end up liking was the final track. Pretty solid album when all put together.
Gary Numan
4/5
Highlight Song/s: Complex, Films and M.E.
Very very mechanical sounding album, mainly due to the beat which chugs pretty hard on most of the songs. Some other stuff that makes it sound like that, is that the songs on this one are extremely repetitive. I do wish Gary made the album less repetitive, this is easy 5 star material. There is a certain charm to the repetitiveness, no doubt about that. But I believe for it to be a 5 star to me, it would've had to been far less monotonous.
Something that I noticed on a second listen to this album, is that it seems like the synths sometimes sounds like it responds to the lead vocals; like a call-and-response sort of thing. I for some reason with this album personify the synths as like a computer or a robot, and the sounds that it makes is it talking or a representation of an emotion. It really does help the futuristic sound that this album has going for it. When I think about it that way, it makes me feel like the synths have so much emotion on this album, its a nice contrast between the singing which is devoid of any emotion (on most songs.)
Lorde
3/5
Highlight Song/s: Green Light
I convinced myself that I hadn't heard any of the songs on this album. But no, I've heard "Green Light" before; from the radio that is. Near the start of the album I wasn't too hopeful, but during half way through the album it got a lot better. Surprisingly solid lyrics as well, especially for a pop album.
Johnny Cash
4/5
Highlight Song/s: Wanted Man, San Quentin and A Boy Named Sue
What a nice country album. I love the twang the guitars have and that nice rhythm classic country songs tend to have.
Johnny Cash does some good banter on this album especially in the second half of "Darlin' Companion," which he uses that to transition into the next track "Starkville City Jail" which is some nice comedy country. Another part I like from the album is where he plays "San Quentin" twice, right AFTER each other. That is straight baller, Johnny really sticking it to the prison authorities. It's nice to see that Johnny Cash debuted I think 3? songs. Very solid songs as well.
I find "At San Quentin" a lot more sweet and comedic than "At Folsom Prison" which the latter exemplifies the Outlaw Country sub-genre, with murder, loneliness and anguish themes. I thought I wasn't going to like this album, because of other people's opinion, they made it seem very black and white. Just a reason why you shouldn't let those people corrupt your mind and instead experience it first-hand. Ranting over, this is a seriously solid album.
The Doors
4/5
Highlight Song/s: Love Her Madly, L.A. Woman, Hyacinth House and Riders on the Storm
L.A. Woman 1: Music for Bars, is my second Doors album from this generator. Morrison Hotel being the first one. This album has a nice atmosphere to it. What I imagine is: people sitting at the most crammed bar ever ordering shot after shot, the piano man in the corner jiving along to his own tune, with people dancing and prancing to it, with the clink of the glass because of people doing cheers. You get the point.
First things first, -the bass guitar on this album is stupidly good, the Doors really should've had a full time dedicated bass player, but the session musicians they picked were always beasts so I guess it doesn't really matter; just means their concerts were a bit underwhelming in the bass department.
-Their guitarist Robby Krieger is a pretty sweet player, playing soft and hard when needed. Guitarists don't always need to play 100%, 100% of the time. Sick tone, sick playing.
-The drummer John Densmore is another underrated musician, my particular favourite playing is probably the title track, it seems quite stuttery but It has a strong charm to it. Another good part is the last 30 seconds of "The WASP."
-The keyboardist Ray Manzarek is in my mind similar to to the bass player, where if it wasn't on the album then it wouldn't have the charm and atmosphere. "L'America" wouldn't nearly sound as haunting without the keyboards; nor would their early stuff - i.e. self-titled and Strange Days - sound like that.
And finally -their lead singer Jim Morrison with that bluesy voice of his, stringing all the instruments into place. Doesn't really need anymore said about him (mainly because I can't think of anything else to say equivalent to the other band members.)
Talking Heads
3/5
Highlight Song/s: Memories Can't Wait, Heaven and Electric Guitar
My first Talking Heads album. I have previously listened to their song "Psycho Killer" and I remember not liking it, but I can't even remember how it goes. So it's practically my first time. Anyways, the band has such a unique sound, this dance sort of sound, with the ringing guitars of post-punk and funk basslines.
David Byrne's voice - at least his singing voice - reminds me a lot of Berlin Trilogy-era David Bowie. He also has some quirks that remind me a lot of Bowie.
It was quite difficult to try to get into the album. I will try again when their other albums come along. And maybe, just maybe, It will hit, or maybe it just won't.
Coldcut
2/5
Highlight Song/s: People Hold On
This one sadly isn't on Spotify. Anyways, this is some cool dance music. I have previously heard "People Hold On" from Grand Theft Auto IV, It did sound familiar, but I couldn't put my finger on it until it JUST clicked.
It kind of went all downhill from "People Hold On." Not a fan of the futuristic sound or the production. The first track kind of mislead me, thinking it be straightforward Disco. But no! Completely obnoxious sampling instead is what you get. Complete utter garbage, just the same thing going on and on for 5 minutes straight. The last couple tracks did it in for me.
Prince
3/5
Highlight Song/s: Little Red Corvette
My first Prince album. The Minneapolis Sound is definitely quite peculiar sounding. One big thing I don't like about this album is that everything about it is overly long; the song length, the album length and the same synth going over and over again. Making the long album even more tedious than a 70 minute album would normally be. I truly do hope the other albums aren't as egregious. Especially "Sign 'O' The Times." And did they REALLY have to put a woman moaning in "Lady Cab Driver?" It comes off incredibly trashy. Basically I'm nitpicking every little bit and piece, because just I didn't enjoy it. It isn't bad, but it ain't for me.
Can
5/5
Highlight Song/s: Future Days
I am a big fan of Davie Bowie - especially the Berlin Trilogy-era, where he was inspired by krautrock - and post-punk music. Both of those things were heavily inspired by the aforementioned krautrock and the German experimental scene in the 70s. The incredibly tight and manic drums might be my favourite aspect of all those three things (Bowie, post-punk and krautrock.) When I got "Phaedra" by Tangerine Dream, I noticed the similarities between that and Bowie and post-punk, which include some of my favourite albums, so I was a bit hyped for this album to come along; and it did not disappoint.
Elvis Costello
3/5
Highlight Song/s: Miracle Man, (The Angles Wanna Wear My) Red Shoes and I'm Not Angry
1/6 Elvis Costello albums. Costello's music is quite difficult to understand and to get into. I don't know if his singing on this album is natural of its forced, I feel that's the biggest hurdle for me at the moment. I know he modeled his look after Buddy Holly, so maybe he decided to also add a twang to his voice like Buddy had? I don't even know, but it feels a bit forced. I'm not a hater of him (at least at this point in time,) I am a fan of Radio Radio and Pump It Up, but that's just his singles not the deep album tracks.
Pulp
3/5
Highlight Song/s: Disco 2000
This is an alright album. I find the verses and intros on this quite good, however the choruses tend to kill the momentum that the verses and intros worked hard to do. And then the choruses start to make the song drag by going on for longer than it should. "Disco 2000" is a STRONG exception to what I just said
I had previously listened to this album, and the result was that I didn't like it. So when I got this album today from the generator, I thought it might convert my current opinion. But no, still think it's a miss from me.
Stevie Wonder
3/5
Highlight Song/s: Visions, Golden Lady
This one right here is my second Stevie Wonder album. I found this a lot better than Songs in the Key of Life. I'm honestly not sure what he did here that he didn't do on 'Key of Life. Some of the songs here are some solid melancholy tracks.
Common
4/5
Highlight Song/s The Corner, GO!, Faithful, The Food and They Say
Such a refreshing album, it is not often when a new album gives me that feeling. Solid flow and solid production. It seems like the lyrics aren't too negative and gangster, It gets a bit old when a rapper tells me hes going to spray all his rivals.
Koffi Olomide
3/5
Highlight Song/s: Desespoir
This one has a really cool tropical sound to it. But my god, does this album really seems to last. That may be because this is completely out of my norm.
Nick Drake
4/5
Highlight Song/s: Three Hours, Way To Blue, 'Cello Song, The Thoughts Of Mary Jane
Another Nick Drake album. Unlike Pink Moon (which is the first one I got from him,) this one isn't a solo acoustic album, there IS a backing band; or at least session musicians. For better or for worse. Well for better, the bongos add so much texture. Or for worse, as I do enjoy the emphasis on the acoustic guitar, the orchestration on some songs takes away from it. Which I just don't like. But I believe the orchestration isn't too overbearing most of the time, so its A-OK (for the most part.)
Wasn't too hopeful in the first couple tracks, but it came around and It's a solid album. Nice sombre overtones as well; just like Pink Moon, just less bleak.
Tom Waits
2/5
That rock and roll snarl throughout the entire album is just too much. It also sounds like he is trying hard to achieve the voice, which is just distracting me from enjoying the other parts. The last couple songs were the most brutal to get through, after having gotten completely sick of the voice long before.
Rocket From The Crypt
3/5
Highlight Song/s: Born In '69 and On a Rope
Punk with brass instruments is certainly interesting, especially with Bob Dylan as the lead singer. I felt like the album progressively got worse, nothing TOO bad. But it really did get boring and quite samey.
Run-D.M.C.
4/5
Highlight Song/s: It's Tricky, My Adidas and Raising Hell
What a pioneering album, It sounds a bit crazy but it legitimately sounds like I'm listening to history happening, as if this was an album released last month that changed the game or that I'm walking near a historical monument. Tad bit ludicrous, I know. Run-D.M.C. walked (created this album) so others could run. This is undeniably one of the essential albums in all of hip-hop, and a stepping stone which connects disco rap to gangsta rap.
Pink Floyd
5/5
Highlight Song/s: In the Flesh? (and the reprise as well), Another brick in the Wall, Pt. 2, Mother, Hey You, Comfortably Numb, Waiting for the Worms and The Trial
Side A:
A1/1: What an anthem In The Flesh? is. Like my god, there can't be a better album opener then this one, everything about it is literally perfect.
A2/2: A sombre number is definitely needed after that big intro, there would've been too much momentum, too quickly.
A3/3: Another Brick in the Wall, Pt. 1 starts the 3-part song, it also kick starts the next song's momentum. It is a bit underwhelming when put by itself.
A4/4: It sounds so sick when the momentum starts up again with just the bass and drums, I'm not too sure if I like this song a lot because of the association with Another brick in the Wall, Pt. 2, or if its just a sick song, but I like it a lot, especially the transition into the aforementioned song.
A5/5: That transition is so killer! I'm grateful Pink Floyd took the advice of the producer when he said disco elements would make it a lot better, I can not imagine this one without the elements. One of best songs ever made easily.
A6/6: The vocals changing between Waters and Gilmour, where Waters is Pink and Gilmour is Mother is brilliant. This one probably has my favourite lyrics of all the bunch. It has my favourite guitar solo on the album (the first one.)
Side B:
B1/7: Goodbye Blue Sky is such a sweet sounding song all around. My favourite part is the guitar melody.
B2/8: This one there isn't too much to go off of but the stuff that I can dissect is, that this is connected to the next song musically with that cool transition and the ambience preceding it.
B3/9: Young Lust is considerably groovy alongside it's sick transition, sick riff, sick guitar solo.
B4/10: The last 01m30s of the song is absolutely s-tier, the intro goes on for a bit too long, but It does make sense story-wise and why its there. I believe this is where things start going considerably downhill for Pink.
B5/11: Pink still isn't over that groupie... Anyways great guitar solo, incredibly powerful. Very ominous as well.
B6/12: Just a bit meh without the first two parts. Pink is really starting to slip away.
B7/13: Solid half way point. Where the first half is mostly fine thematically, and the second half where everything is complete lunacy.
Side C:
C1/14: Gilmour begging Pink to hold on. That first guitar solo is just completely crazy. Another song that I like the lyrics a lot. And Just the ENTIRE song in general.
C2/15: Not much to off of once again, just is the case with these interlude tracks. But the acoustic guitar and piano sound really sweet together in the last minute or so.
C3/16: Solid ballad track; very needed after the past few tracks. This is where I believe Pink is trying to keep himself together and trying not to implode.
C4/17: Probably my least favourite song on the entire album. The only thing noteworthy in my opinion is that its connected with the previous song.
C5/18: Bring the Boys Back Home brings back that big sound In the Flesh? introduced to the album. And is another song on the C side that has the orchestral sound to it.
C6/19: Pink just keeps descending into madness; just completely heartbreaking this song is. Very gorgeous sounding guitar solos.
Side D:
D1/20: It's all downhill from here on out (thematically, of course!) Beautiful backing vocals.
D2/21: I tend to think of the In the Flesh reprise as the beginning of the end for this album, it definitely isn't a bad shout I'd say. I like the changes this song does, such as: The choir before the actual singing starts; where Pink tricks us by starting like the original but then starts singing completely different and then him becoming fascist as well, definitely do not play this when others are around! and finally the very loud kick drum before the main part starts.
D3/22: Run Like Hell brings back the disco elements, I truly would've liked this one a lot more if it was like the live version, which is a lot more creepy sounding. If I have to be frank, I just can't help but feel a bit let down. But it still is a good song.
D4/23: Waiting for the Worms is another song you should not play when others are around. The song intro also kind of sounds like where In the Flesh reprise left off. The first quarter is a bit misleading compared to the other 3 quarters, it completely changes directions. Sick marching beat, I'd probably march to my death with this one, if you remove the lyrics of course.
D5/24: The calm before the storm... Thematically Pink is having second thoughts.
D6/25: The Trial... this the climax of the album. Love the cabaret sound this song has. This brings back that very big sound, I love it! Really does help give a lot of imagery in my head, especially the Judge character. The wall finally comes down.
D7/26: The relaxing outro is really needed after everything Pink went through. The clarinet, concertina and the mandolin (yes, I had to look it up,) really help give it a reminiscing feel to it. And he's doomed to repeat it all again. In other words: The comedown after the wall comes down.
Lots of rambling in this review, more than I usually would do or write. There are probably parts where it doesn't fully make sense or parts that have spelling mistakes, I should've corrected most of them, but some may linger. As I thought a track-by-track review is the only way I'd do a review of this album justice.
If i were to rate the sides from best to worse it definitely would be: Side A > Side D > Side B > Side C.
Faust
4/5
Highlight Song/s: Krautrock, Jennifer and Lauft...
I've been drowning in krautrock lately, can't keep myself from going under. Krautrock just sends the right signals to brain, I mean as I've said on other krautrock reviews, my favourite album is Low by David Bowie and I'm a fan of post-punk music. It's a great feeling when I hear what influenced my favourite bands, music genres and albums. For me this album sounds quite industrial but way before it was a genre, just yet another genre It practically created.
The album was pretty much flawless. Mostly. Except I did not enjoy at all the 4th track with that chirping sound, that just completely triggered the wrong signals.
David Holmes
4/5
Highlight Song/s: Let's Get Killed, Rodney Yates and Slashers Revenge
Really cool album, especially the concept. One of those cool things is him recording dialogue and city ambience of New York and incorporating it into his album. Sometimes reading the Wikipedia page really helps me get into the album and understand it a lot more.
Solid album all around. It did get a bit repetitive, especially near the end. Also pretty eclectic album so hats off to him, some electronic musicians just don't care about diversity and have the entire album sound like the same one song; at least the ones I've gotten on this list so far.
Thin Lizzy
4/5
Highlight Song/s: Emerald, Dancing In The Moonlight, Massacre and The Boys Are Back In Town
All of these tunes are really solid - coming from somebody who's only listened to Jailbreak (song), The Boys Are Back In Town and Bad Reputation (song.) I definitely ought to check out Jailbreak (album) at least! I really do see why these guys were worshiped by 80s hard rock and metal bands; this has opened my eyes a LOT.
Some other thoughts: Really sick transition between Dancing In The Moonlight and Massacre as well as, Cowboy Song to The Boys Are Back In Town. The guitar solos are so so good. Okay, I really do gotta check them out.
Pretenders
3/5
I just really don't get this album and a bit confused. I'm definitely quite lost with this one. Lots of this album is just underwhelming, just nothing exciting happening perhaps. I did try to get into it, but some albums I just sense that I won't come around to like it. And I believe this is one of those albums.
Eurythmics
3/5
Highlight Song/s: Wrap It Up, Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This,) Jennifer, This Is The House and Somebody Told me
The backing tracks are a lot more interesting than your run-of-the-mill synth-pop group. Annie's singing voice might be a bit of an acquired taste for me; just a BIT difficult to get into. She at times sounds a tad bit like Katy Perry or rather the opposite. I also believe her singing excels in the last couple songs.
Solid pop album, albeit a bit bland at times. It's surprisingly interesting for a synth-pop album.
Air
4/5
Highlight Song/s: Clouds Up and Dirty Trip
I really do wish some of the tracks were longer. They seem like they are about to take off and in great shape, and you know sky's the limit. Then it just ENDS. I'm like awe man, it was getting so good, I know its a soundtrack album, but it doesn't lessen the blow.
Elvis Presley
3/5
Highlight Song/s: Blue Suede Shoes and Trying to Get to You
Almost done with the rock and roll albums. Was hoping Little Richard was the next one I would get, but no I got the king instead... I'm really going to build up hype for the Little Richard album aren't I?
Anyways back to the main topic. This album wasn't a real rocker compared to some of other ones I've listened to; such as Live At The Star Club by Jerry Lee Lewis. The ballads just don't do it for me on this one. It is a bit funny how bloody bleak some of the songs are, I never would've expected those sort of songs from Elvis.
Germs
5/5
Highlight Song/s: Communist Eyes, Land of Treason, Lexicon Devil and Our Way
Wow, this album is just completely brutal. So so nihilistic. There is just not an ounce of hope to be found here. The other instruments matching the ferociousness of the vocals adds a lot to the album.
Led Zeppelin
4/5
Highlight Song/s: Immigrant Song, Out on the Tiles and That's the Way
I previously heard the first four (separate from 1001) back in June-July of this year for the first time, hearing songs here and there before that. The one that stood out the most to me was definitely III. Most likely as this one lacks the excessive banshee wailing that infected the first two. And perhaps musically it isn't nearly as frantic as the first two. I particularly enjoy the second half of the album (except for Hats Off.)
I also enjoy that the lyrics got a lot more intelligent, instead of just sex this and sex that, love me baby and all that crap; just exceptionally lazy writing. And they seemed to continue to mature with the songwriting after releasing this album, which is great.
Buena Vista Social Club
4/5
Highlight Song/s: Chan Chan, De Camino a la Verda, Orgullecida and Murmullo
This album has an absolutely killer atmosphere, literally second-to-none. Just that killer. I think it's because of it being sombre in parts, a bit bittersweet-sounding and the passionate singing. Now, I'm not sure if that's something that's just specific to this album or if it's just the Latin sound or the specific sub-genre. But I dig it hard. My only gripe is that it goes on for just a bit TOO long, it would've been great if it was a 45m long album. Though I do get that album length is an artistic choice, I just can't help but feel that way.
Robert Wyatt
3/5
Highlight Song/s: Heaps Of Sheeps and Was A Friend
This one has a really nice subdued sound to it, really really calming. The backing tracks are quite layered which in this instance, gives me the feel of floating around up and above the clouds, perhaps the album cover is that reason of that feeling. Love the jazz elements as well, especially September The Ninth, that song reminds me a lot Radiohead's Life in a Glasshouse song, which I love that song.
Fleetwood Mac
4/5
Highlight Song/s: Think About Me, Storms and Beautiful Child
I saw that new album today was a Fleetwood Mac album, my stomach dropped a little. I then found out the length of the album, my stomach dropped further. But honest to god it wasn't that bad, Rumours had tainted my perception a little. Yes, still overly ballad-y and soft. But a lot more digestible - even thought it is a double album - than the aforementioned album. And it most likely has to do with Lindsay Buckingham and his insistence on Tusk not being Rumours 2. Which is quite funny as the songs he was on predominately was the reason I didn't like Rumours; and made it a forgettable album altogether.
Some other thoughts: The album has such a good atmosphere, and solid sombre tone to it (on majority of the songs.) Lindsay's voice is a lot more tolerable than on Rumours. I am a fan of the drums sound on the album.
Hole
1/5
What on earth is this album, like seriously. I'd reckon this would make a great parody album, with the painfully bad lyrics and all. But I suspect that it unfortunately it isn't. The lyrics seriously bring this album down quite a lot, I usually can try to ignore bad lyrics and try to focus on the instruments and the vocal delivery instead. But with this one I'd have to ignore the entire album, as I find the songs instrumentally and vocals a bit obnoxious.
So yeah, I thought maybe Hole wasn't that bad prior to listening to this album. If this is them when they are poppy, I don't think I could stand to listen to their non-poppy stuff for more than a minute; it'd be completely un-listenable. I would like to be proven wrong. But we'll see if I stand them, should I listen to an other album of theirs.
Funkadelic
3/5
Highlight Song/s: Groovallegiance
Really solid, not much to say. But solid grooves, solid bass and amazing guitar lines. I found this a lot more tolerable than Mothership Connection, yes its by Parliament, similar enough to me. Mothership was completely un-listenable after the halfway point due to it being insanely repetitive. This was not. Here's hoping Maggot Brain is good.
The xx
3/5
Incredibly same-y this album is, and just monotonous like the debut album. I do believe if The xx has to be on this list, then it should've just been their debut, I have no clue what this album brings to the table that the debut doesn't.
Blondie
4/5
Highlight Song/s: One Way Or Another and Picture This
I've only heard Blondie songs here and there, but never a full album before. And it was WAY better than I thought it would be. Going in I thought the songs were going to be more akin to Sunday Girl (poppy) rather than another Blondie song I heard previously such as One Way Or Another (more punk adjacent.) Though it seems Sunday Girl-styled songs on the album are the exception rather than the standard. Sunday Girl tricked me into thinking that Blondie made an entire album filled with that song, I'm glad lots of the songs are strrrrrrraight rockers. Even though Sunday Girl is great, I probably couldn't stomach an entire album of that or a 20 minute extended version.
I legitimately can't think of anything bad to say about this, which is surprising.
Talking Heads
3/5
This one right here is the second album by Talking Heads that I've got from the generator; having got the album after this as my first one. ...And I just can't get with it. Which is completely fine, I'm not going to get everything. Talking Heads are definitely talented, no doubt. they are probably one of the best examples of early post-punk and new wave music, they have all the main qualities of the genre/s, they were pretty much the first of their kind. That dance-punk sound was for sure pioneering; it's undeniable.
Some other things that I noticed whilst listening:
-The Girl Wants... sounds a bit like Obstacle 1 (guitar wise) by Interpol, or more like Interpol yoinked the melody. Some other songs on this album have slight hints but this one is the most
-David Byrne's voice on top of sounding like Berlin Trilogy-era David Bowie, Byrne's inflection also sounds a bit like Bruce Dickinson's (Iron Maiden) current live singing style, a bit yelp-styled. Specifically on the live versions of The Trooper and Aces High.
Supergrass
3/5
Highlight Song/s: G-Song and Sun Hits the Sky
I think this is not too shabby. It definitely isn't as good as I Should Coco. I'm not exactly too sure why. The follow-up albums to really good albums is tricky to nail.
Talking Heads
4/5
Highlight Song/s: Born Under Punches, Crosseyed and Painless and Once in a Lifetime
Wow, wow, wow. This is my probably favourite of the bunch by Talking Heads on this list. Having had listened to 3/4 albums now (1. Fear of Music, 2. More Songs, 3. Remain in Light.) It has this really solid dance sound to it, David Byrne's voice is a lot more tolerable to my ears. I also really enjoy the unorthodox approach to the album; the last 3 or so songs really represent the unorthodox side pretty well! They definitely refined their sound by this album.
The Byrds
3/5
Highlight Song/s: I'll Feel a Whole Lot Better and It's No Use
It is a BIT generic, lots of it seems to blend together if you don't give it at least 90-100% attention. It reminds me of Help!-era Beatles, but a bit more off-brand. I enjoyed this a lot more than Sweetheart of the Rodeo, I just couldn't stand that one because of the country overtones and it having every single one the cliches of country. I'm fine (mostly) with beatles-esque pop, so naturally I'd prefer this one.
Jimi Hendrix
3/5
Highlight Song/s: Castles Made of Sand
This is definitely my least favourite of the Jimi Hendrix Experience albums. It completely missed me twice now. While on the other hand, I fell in love with Are You Experienced? (U.S. version specifcally) and Electric Ladyland easily. I mean it has intricate guitar parts and amazing drum fills just like the other two, so why wouldn't I like this one? No clue, but that's how I feel about it.
Bob Dylan
4/5
Highlight Song/s: Subterranean Homesick Blues and Mr. Tambourine Man
My first Bob Dylan album, if you don't count me listening to the first few songs of Highway 61 Revisited and promptly turning it off because of his voice.
I love albums that do different stuff for each side. Such as this album doing electric with a backing band for the A-side and solo folk music for the B-side. Rust Never Sleeps by Neil Young and Low by David Bowie are some other examples.
About the album contents:
-The voice is definitely difficult to get into, but it's MOSTLY fine now, I think, perhaps listening to more albums might make it even more tolerable.
-Obviously the lyrics are superb, you best hope they are, otherwise nothing would be redeemable with this album for me.
-I love the light-heartiness feel to the album, especially in Bob Dylan's 115th Dream, where the producer burst out laughing during the first take, and then they restarted it.
Sonic Youth
4/5
Highlight Song/s: Beauty Lies in the Eye, Pipeline/Kill Time
My second Sonic Youth album (first is Daydream Nation,) I've listened to songs here and there and I have a couple of favourite songs of theirs but haven't listened to too much of them. First impressions tells me that, there's this cool post-punk undertone to the songs, like the ringing guitars and the rhythm section is something you'd hear from any of the post-punk pioneers.
I have been a recent enjoyer of white noise parts in songs and this is literally a gold mine for it. My Bloody Valentine was the band the turned me over to it; and they were heavily inspired by Sonic Youth. MBV's e.p. and first album, You Made Me Realise and Isn't Anything is very adjacent to this album if you turn down the pop-ness halfway
I didn't know where to fit this next sentence, so I will just leave it here: Schizophrenia, to my ears has this yearning sort of sound; which I really like.
Beck
3/5
Highlight Song/s: Girl
Beck is a really weird musician, so many strange sounds and styles on this album but it 9 times out of 10 tends to work well. East Asian styled music, beep boop electronic music, Latin hip-hop. Really eclectic. I think this album might work better for me if I re-visit sometime.
The Rolling Stones
3/5
This is a miss. This album does have quite a cool unique sound to it, but I can't seem to get into it. Perhaps it's the vocals, they are to be frank quite strange. I was going to listen to Sticky Fingers but haven't gotten around to it, perhaps it's just this album I don't like. I think I just don't like albums that have titles that start with "Let It..."
Conclusion: Album has a cool vibe to it, but I just can't get into it.
Public Image Ltd.
5/5
Highlight Song/s: Albatross and Poptones
What a bleak album. I feel dreariness; I imagine heavy fog; I feel like I'm on a conveyor belt in this huge factory and seeing thousands of other conveyor belts whilst being completely stunned and helpless; It is SO repetitive to the point it's hypnotic; Possibly, just maybe, I could dance or march to my death whilst listening to this album.
All of that above is what I would imagine if it was a type of weather, or if it was a place, or ultimately my feelings this album evokes. This album has me in its complete grasp.
Throbbing Gristle
3/5
Really abrasive. I haven't listened to pretty much any industrial of any sort before, except for The Downward Spiral; but that one is really really derivative. And I don't believe I've really listened to tape music apart from a song or two on an album from like the 60s (like Electric Ladyland or the White Album.)
Most of the rating comes from it being novelty to me. It isn't a bad album, but I don't think I would want to listen to it again; maybe after a couple years.
Jorge Ben Jor
4/5
Highlight Song/s: Hermes Trismegisto Escreveu and Africa Brasil (Zumbi)
Samba has a nice sound to it, It sounds really hopeful, I also quite like the luscious backing vocals, and it has some cool guitar lines. I'm not too sure what just samba sounds like by itself without the fusion of other genres, as I'm quite new to the sound and was only introduced via the generator, but it's not too shabby. It has a nice jungle vibe to it, it's definitely the bongos that give me that impression!
I believe some people are just way too quick to dismiss non-English music, just for the reason it isn't in English. As if that removes all emotion and tone to the voices.
The Verve
2/5
This album is the grandest tier of meh, I like the entire story around Bitter Sweet Symphony; the debacle about the songwriting credits. I just can't help but feel they chose to extend the album out to the CD's maximum length, which is lame - It's good value if you like the album - but its lame for me and others who aren't a fan. And of course because it's a 90s album it has to have a hidden track which is also lame.
I feel a bit of a jerk giving it a 2 star, as the band members of The Verve seem like humble guys, from having seen some interviews here and there. But ultimately I'm not a fan of the album.
Van Morrison
4/5
Highlight Song/s: Warm Love and I Believe to My Soul
This album was surprisingly tolerable, and it wasn't half bad! I shuddered when I saw it was 90 minutes long especially as the previous album was 75 minutes I just wasn't wanting another long one, but it was mostly fine. The songs were a nice mix of rock, pop and jazz. I definitely enjoyed the first side more than the second side.
R.E.M.
4/5
Highlight Song/s: Stand In, Orange Crush and Turn You Inside-Out
I've been meaning to listen through R.E.M.'s 80s albums or listen to just Automatic for the People, but that just hasn't happened. But the generator gods blessed this album unto me, telling me I should give them a chance. Well, chance I will give them. Well for starters I'm going in mostly fresh having heard Turn You Inside-Out (from GTA IV) and maybe Orange Crush, as I recognise the name.
So apparently they experimented a bit with this album, with major keys, odd instruments for a rock band and the band members switching instruments.
The overall tone and the atmosphere to the album is fabulous. Their earlier albums probably even better with minor keys; as I'm a fan of minor keys.
Heaven 17
3/5
Some solid dance floor tracks, some cool hooks. This album is a pass from me. I'm not fan of the synthesizer on this album, it just tends to sounds more obnoxious than anything else.
Bob Dylan
4/5
Highlight Song/s: Masters of War, A Hard Rain's A-Gonna Fall, "Don't Think Twice, It's All Right"
Not too long after my previous and first Bob Dylan album (Bringing It All Back Home.) This one was pretty good vocal wise compared to Bringing It All Back Home at the cost of less interesting instrumentation, which is honestly fine to me; It is a fair trade.
I've been wanting to listen to songs in a similar format to The Times They Are A-Changin' and this is album is what I wanted. As in the delivery of the lyrics and instrumentally. None of the songs are as good as that track, the closest is A Hard Rain's A-Gonna Fall.
Some thoughts that didn't quite fit elsewhere:
-Bob Dylan is quite vicious on Masters of War, a shock compared to his other stuff.
-Harmonica on Bob Dylan's Dream sounds like the The Times They Are A-Changin' interludes.
Suede
3/5
Highlight Song/s: Animal Nitrate and The Drowners
Love how the album is jam-packed with most degenerate lyrics, featuring the favourites: Drugs, sex, and rock and roll. The guitar lines are quite good, kind of garage-y at times, and atmospheric on the other times or on some songs, both. The yelp-styled singing is quite unique and suits the album elements of the album.
Now about Animal Nitrate, because it's just that good:
I'm amazed a song about male-to-male sex (Animal Nitrate) has a CRAZY good hook, you'd think maybe with something taboo it'd be less poppy but nope.
I loved when they played this song at the Brit Awards singing a song about jumping on a persons bones whilst high, in front of these guys in suits. The singer giving off a confrontational vibe, the bassist dropping his guitar with no regards after the performance and them walking straight off without waiting for the very forced-sounding applause to end. Punk as fuck!
Frank Ocean
3/5
Highlight Song/s: Crack Rock, Pyramids, Bad Religion and Forrest Gump
My experience with Frank Ocean consists of like one song, I can't recall which one, but it has a chipmunk voice doing backing vocals, I think. Anyway, so this listen is coming from very fresh ears.
The likes:
-The production is amazing.
-I'm a big fan of the interlude tracks, just nice and relaxing.
-I like the laid-back style
Frank's singing voice is quite difficult for me to get into. I think this album is superb, in like every way. I feel like in another life this would be in my top 10 albums, It just sounds like that; gives off that feeling. Re-visiting MIGHT help.
The 13th Floor Elevators
3/5
Highlight Song/s: Roller Coaster and Splash 1
Nothing too exciting nor is it too boring, it's just alright. The lead singer sounds like Robert Plant with all that wailing. It's quite haunting and surf-y, musically.
Wild Beasts
3/5
Highlight Song/s: The Fun Powder Plot
This is a really frosty album, my teeth are shivering. A lot more ambient than I was expecting when I saw on Wikipedia it was labelled dream pop. I was going to say I enjoyed the female vocals on the first track and the next few, but the male vocals not so much. But they don't have a female vocalist or band member... Well hats off to the amazing androgynous singing.
The main theme of This Is Our Lot suspiciously sounds like the main theme of Lullaby by The Cure. No doubt these guys were inspired by The Cure. The droning, the length of each part of the main theme, ITS LITERALLY ALL THERE.
David Bowie
5/5
Highlight Song/s: Beauty and the Beast, Heroes, Sons of the Silent Age
Finally a Bowie album! The second album from The Berlin Trilogy (best trilogy ever,) just like Low (the previous album in the trilogy) it does different things for the different sides. This album is my least favourite of the trilogy, b-but the trilogy albums are all 5 stars. No more, no less... maybe more.
So, on the first side it contains this energetic dance-rock with jazz elements sprinkled throughout, and some of the songs to me gives the feeling of yearning.
And the second side has mostly instrumental and mostly ambient tracks, or both combined. THAT is the final track has singing on it in contrast to the other tracks on the second side.
That final track - The Secret Life of Arabia - gives the impression of like an encore, in the same vein of A Day in the Life or Her Majesty or Life in a Glasshouse, or all of them (first two by the Beatles, last one by Radiohead.)
Radiohead
5/5
Highlight Song/s: You And Whose Army, Knives Out, Morning Bell/Amnesiac, Life in a Glasshouse
I name-dropped Life in a Glasshouse in reference to good closers when I got Heroes by Bowie yesterday. It's as if I summoned this album, I'm not superstitious but that's really weird. Out of all albums!
Amnesiac, Amnesiac. I love how strange these songs are on the album. Beep-boop electronic noises, jazz, and a return of the guitar-based rock music. Most of those are used in conjunction with each other. Has a nice haunting quality as well on most of the songs, though that is the case with most Radiohead songs.
Amnesiac is so much more than Kid B, sometimes people can get so blinded because it did the crime of being recorded roughly at the same time as Kid A but being released less than a year later. So people saw (and still see,) the album as a leftovers/b-sides album. If that happens to be true, Pyramid Song, You And Whose Army and Life in a Glasshouse are some bloody good leftover tracks, you can't deny that IF that is the case.
The Amnesiac Award Show:
Winner track: Life in a Glasshouse
Most beep-boop sounds: Packt Like Sardines
Favourite to win: Pyramid Song
Most underrated song: Pulk/Pull
Best singing: You And Whose Army
Ryan Adams
3/5
Highlight Song/s: Goodnight, Hollywood Blvd.
Not bad at all. Some of my likes: lovely singing, laid-back, witty lyrics. Some of my dislikes for the album are: It started to get quite bland and lost its charm starting at the halfway point of the album, the lyrics are quite repetitive.
The Prodigy
3/5
Highlight Song/s: Breathe
This is a lot more enjoyable than than previous album I'd heard of theirs (Music for the Jilted Generation.) It is very texturally rich, not as monotonous as Jilted Generation. I really like the vicious vocals in Breathe, Serial Thrilla, Firestarter.
De La Soul
3/5
Highlight Song/s: (3 is) The Magic Number, Ghetto Thang, Eye Know
Quite a relaxing album, no yelling or other aggressive forms of rapping are present. Positive and light-heartedness and comedy are some other elements on this album. De La Soul; all three of them have a really clean, steady, punctual flow. De La Soul references like a dozen or so words in most of the songs, which to my ears gives it a more cohesive feel to it; like it's a show or something.
Some thoughts that didn't fit anywhere else:
-Eye Know sounds so hopeful and so so sweet.
-Tread Water's flow kind of sounds like the flow from It's Tricky by Run-DMC.
Michael Jackson
3/5
Highlight Song/s: Rock with You, Girlfriend and It's the Falling in Love
First Michael Jackson album, definitely what I expected to hear. High-pitched vocals, disco beats, lyrics mostly songs about love, heavy 80s vibes
I spaced out a little bit on "Working Day and Night" and Get on the Floor the result was they kind of blended in together, so I didn't even notice that a song had ended. That says a tad bit about the backing tracks, and a tad bit about my interest in the album.
It was alright but I wouldn't seek it out again. That's probably the case with other Michael Jackson albums or songs, if it came on in real life or GTA: Vice City I wouldn't skip it or turn it off. But I wouldn't go searching for a song or album by him.
The Beta Band
3/5
Highlight Song/s: Easy
Didn't like the previous album I got from them (Hot Shots II,) THIS one however improves on the album before it. I really like the emphasises on atmosphere and dance elements on the album.
Liquid Bird had me thinking my headphones were bugging out. Not cool man, not cool...
I'm still not sold on this band even if they did improve. Instead of a 2 it will get a 3 instead.
Bob Dylan
5/5
Highlight Song/s: Visions of Johanna, One of Us Must Know (Sooner or Later), Fourth Time Around
Never thought I'd give Bob Dylan a 5 star, but to be granted I've come around a lot to him recently. Blonde on Blonde is one of the first rock double albums in history (maybe actually THE first?) Blonde on Blonde never dips that hard in quality, it has a consistent high; which is remarkable for a double album (for me.) The Wall is the only other double album that has similar consistency that I can think of.
Blonde on Blonde is also instrumentally diverse compared to prior albums, my personal favourite that showcases the diversity is, Rainy Day Women #12 & 35. Just the brass instruments give it such a sweet sound. The album has Bob Dylan's least grating vocals to date (in my journey.) Quite, quite melodic the vocals are. AND like always Dylan always nails the bitter-sweetness.
This album is definitely worthy of a re-visit, I'm looking forward to the next listen.
The Divine Comedy
4/5
Highlight Song/s: Someone
This sounds like music from a soundtrack of a movie that features a man staring out at sea at night-time with some light left from a moon that is particularly bright, and which he has very, VERY strong longing feelings that he needs to convey via singing.
The Stooges
3/5
Highlight Song/s: I Wanna Be Your Dog and No Fun
Right here is the holy relic of punk music. If there IS a beginning to punk this would definitely be a fair contender. The album contents feature the most erratic frantic sneering vocals ever, guitars that are fuzzed out the wazoo, the screeching of the feedback loitering around the album.
The album gives me some Beatles-esque vibes. Even though it is really loud, it has this pop charm to it hiding beneath all that distortion.
The hand-claps in No Fun are very reminiscent of the first couple albums.
Not Right sounds like something that could fit in Please Please Me (if you remove the distortion.)
Some tracks that I have something to talk about:
- I Wanna Be Your Dog has such an iconic riff, and a really good intro
-We Will Fall sounds like a Christian hymn gone wrong, and became about the devil instead. It also sounds really dreadful, like awfully dreadful.
-No Fun has one of my favourite riffs ever made. I always find the riff finding a way back into my mind, no matter what's happening.
The vocals are top-notch, and the hand claps is the song's cherry-on-top.
The Sabres Of Paradise
1/5
Not too sure if it's because of the amount of long albums I've been getting recently or if just this albums fault, but does this seriously need 76 minutes worth of songs - when most songs are heavily repetitive - to convey its emotion. It just repeats ad nauseam, like goodness gracious me! I'm not sure what is with some electronic musicians and 80 minutes albums with the same few bars, going over and over. And I don't even reckon you could dance to a lot these songs; as some electronic music gets the point across better in a live setting rather than the studio.
The only track that amounted to anything is Tow Truck. Which has this menacing surf-like riff in it.
Bubble and Slide sounds like they played the song in a toilet bowl and sounds like someone is pissing, like genuinely what were they trying with that song? 0.01/5.00 song, absolutely god awful.
B.B. King
4/5
Highlight Song/s: How Blue Can You Get?
B.B. King seems like a really charming fellow just by the way he talks. It kind of gives me the impression that he's narrating the album alongside singing the songs and playing the parts. Love the comedy in the songs, wasn't expecting for it to be that light-hearted.
Solid guitar lines, no wonder all those 60s British guitar players who were obsessed with the blues and took a bunch of riffs; I probably would steal some as well if I WAS a 60s British guitar player. Anyway, I think that at least the racist ones ought to pay up. Eric Clapton...
I quite liked the album, the charisma of B.B. King is so far unmatched in the limited amount of live albums I've heard.
Burning Spear
3/5
Highlight Song/s: Live Good and Jordan River
This album is nothing too different from the reggae albums that I've heard before, though the main difference for me is 1. the voice of Burning Spear, his singing is quite good and that, 2. this is some very luscious-sounding reggae, the horns are just superb.
The Darkness
2/5
The Darkness's debut album was really weird for me. You have this He-man-styled singing with screaming and power metal vocals on the side. The vocals were just all over the place, it just gives the album no direction. Unlike the vocals, I liked majority of the backing tracks. ESPECIALLY Love on the Rock with No Ice; solid groove metal-like song.
And now about my least favourite song on the album:
Black Shuck is so obnoxious. It's trying to be 3 different things at the same time, going nowhere fast in the process.
The Cure
5/5
Highlight Song/s: Plainsong, Pictures Of You, Closedown, Lovesong and Lullaby
Disintegration, Disintegration. Easily one of the best albums ever made, any one that says otherwise is spreading straight heresy. The album is very busy instrumentally, beautifully layered guitars. It also has very long intros, which is something they did particularly quite a lot early on in with their Gothic trilogy albums. The tone overall on the album is quite frosty, I really like cold-sounding albums; just my favourite!
Honest to god I have no clue what's happening on the album cover but it gives me, good, cold, mystical vibes.
The atmosphere is second-to-none. Robert Smith has said that a lot of the inspiration (especially the atmosphere) for the album is from Treasure by the Cocteau Twins; you can definitely hear the influence.
The album incorporates a lot of repetitiveness and droning, unlike some repetitive albums, it doesn't knock down the rating. The repetitiveness completely entrances the listener. This album really does put a spell on me.
Below this line is the highlight songs of this album and why I think they're a highlight:
-Plainsong and Closedown sound like the time of the year where it's the most wonderful.
* Closedown has great sounding percussion tone and rhythm
-Pictures Of You, one of the best songs ever made! That long build-up is very much worth the wait.
-I've always liked the synthesiser in Lovesong alongside the un-hurried vocals.
-Lullaby has one of favourite motifs ever! (the part where the chorus would've went.) The whisper vocals are a nice change of pace compared to the songs prior. The bass is grooves quite hard.
Easy 5/5 album, Robert Smith really did outdo himself on this one. All while he was in the process of trying to kill The Cure.
Violent Femmes
4/5
Highlight Song/s: Blister In The Sun, Kiss Off, Add It Up and Good Feeling
This one I've been meaning to have a re-listen recently, well I've listened to this album now for a second time. The first time was when I was sick and my ears were heavily blocked, so I can hear the album a bit better on this second listen. Well the generator blesses the album unto me, so thanks generator!
This punk album consists of heavy emphasis on acoustic instruments compared to electric. The guitars on the album are quite chunky sounding. The lyrics and the delivery of the said lyrics are quite bratty, juvenile, immature. I quite love how they don't take anything too seriously on this album. Another aspect that I quite love is the use of this lazily-delivered spoken word, it's used in and around the album but it adds a lot.
Some things that I've thought about but don't fit elsewhere, so I'm gonna leave them here:
-Gordan Gano has a great sense of melody, and this album is the evidence.
-The main riff of Promise sounds like Jumping Someone Else's Train by The Cure
This album is filled with amazing lines, but below are among my favourites:
"Big hands I know you're the one" (from Blister In The Sun)
"I hope you know this will go down on your permanent record" (from Kiss Off)
"Why can't I just get one kiss?" (from Add It Up)
"Ba-ba-bow-da-da-da" (from Promise)
"Good feeling, won't you stay with me just a little longer?" (from Good Feeling)
Kendrick Lamar
4/5
Highlight Song/s: Sherane, The Art Of Peer Pressure, good kid and Swimming Pools
Haven't heard too many songs by Kendrick Lamar before. Having heard Money Trees and Swimming Pools in my Grand Theft Auto V play-through (ended less than a week ago as of review.) and I ended liking both of them, ESPECIALLY Swimming Pools. As well as the hit HUMBLE; so not TOO much of Kendrick.
I also been meaning to listen to this in the past month (just like my previous album, Violent Femmes S/T) or so, but I just haven't found enough time to devote 70 minutes to, especially when the time I listen to an album is taken up by the generator's album a day.
As a result of not listening to too much of Kendrick I haven't been exposed to his lyrics. But he is SUCH an amazing songwriter, so so introspective; the lyrics are just top-notch. I really like the usage of spoken word on this album, the way it is used is to tell a story which as I said, I appreciate it.
Below is one or more things that I liked about the songs on the album.
[Track 1/12] Love the build-up of tension in Sherane
[Track 2/12] The verse flow in Bitch, Don't Kill My Vibe is impeccable, it definitely gives the impression of a message he needs to convey urgently.
[Track 3/12] I really like the Backseat Freestyle of the Jamaican patois-sounding sample, wish it was used more in the song, it sounds epic.
[Track 4/12] The first minute is so serene on the track The Art of Peer Pressure, sounds like something straight off of Be (by Common.)
[Track 5/12] Really like the chorus of Money Trees.
[Track 6/12] I like like like, the soulful female singing, really lovely.
[Track 7/12] The very middle-eastern-sounding melody, the frantic chorus, and the lovely post-chorus section are some of my favourite parts of the entire album so far.
[Track 8/12] I have been quoting (probably wrong words, but similar sounds) the main part of song without ever knowing the song name, it is alas after all this time, m.A.A.d city. So my favourite parts is probably the beat, the menacing melody and the "Man down..." part.
[Track 9/12] Everything about the song Swimming Pools, is PERFECT. Every aspect, every everything.
[Track 10/12] Really like the relaxing beat on Sing About Me, I also enjoyed the second half of the song quite a lot (after the mid-song spoken word section.)
[Track 11/12] The beat and the chorus are my favourite parts on Real.
[Track 12/12] Of course a triumphant sound was bound to be used for closer on the album, and I - for the millionth time in this review - LIKE it.
Calexico
3/5
Highlight Song/s: Sunken Waltz, Not Even Stevie Nicks and Across the Wire
Now this is some music to ride horses to. Trotting in the prairie at nighttime whilst seeing tumbleweeds roll on by. Now to the actual review. This is a solid combination of indie music and western music, this album gives off great vibes; the horns in particular contribute a lot to the vibes. Just kinda wish the album cover was more reflective of the sound, even if having a wild west-like album cover would be cheesy.
The Rolling Stones
2/5
This album is very whimsical-sounding, it's kind of nice but at the same time when the entire album is like this, it gets stale. I am just really under whelmed by this album. It has nice pop melodies and all, but I can't get into it. My second Rolling Stones album (Let It Bleed was first), still not impressed.
Fairport Convention
3/5
Highlight Song/s: Percy's Song
This album has a sweet vibe to it. The album cover is great, I reckon it fits the time period quite well. The singer has a nice voice. It's just a bit lacking for my taste.
Kelela
2/5
This was a difficult listen, R&B is one of few genres that I don't have many hours spent listened to. Soulful singing with hip-hop-styled beats sounds fine to me on paper but when I ACTUALLY listen to it, it just doesn't do it for me.
Fugees
4/5
Highlight Song/s: How Many Mics, Fu-Gee-La and The Mask
This album has SUCH a dark atmosphere to it, it doesn't feel welcoming. The choruses on this album are quite good, to me hip-hop choruses don't tend to be too great. Well this album breaks up the pattern. The lyrics are quite intricate and the flow is considerably good whilst at the same time is quite lazy-sounding.
Paul Revere & The Raiders
3/5
Highlight Song/s; Kicks and I'm Not Your Stepping Stone
A brief and simply nice garage rock album with beatles-esque melodies, it has this wildness to it that I like. The riffs are solid, given the time period. All I Really Need Is You sounds a bit middle-eastern The song, Louie, go home sounds a bit like Day Tripper (Beatles) or Pretty Woman (Roy Orbison) or BOTH. Melody for an Unknown Girl is QUITE a departure from the 10 songs before it.
I quite like the album cover, it gives a nice warm feeling.
I always thought they named the band after the historical American figure Paul Revere who warned the colonialists that the British are coming, But no! (per se) But instead they are named after a founding member and leader of the band whose birth name is literally "Paul Revere Dick." I'm like okay... The dressing up in the American Revolutionary War-era outfits definitely gave the band a a bit of character.
Dolly Parton
3/5
Highlight Song/s: Coat of Many Colors and The Way I See You
One of the most majestic voices EVER! This album is nothing too crazy or radical but every album doesn't have to be that.
Tortoise
3/5
Highlight Song/s: Glass Museum
This is quite a texture-rich album, great vibe to it. Such as The Taut and Tame reminds me of something off of Seventeen Seconds (The Cure.) Other than that It is just quite underwhelming for me; just doesn't strike a chord. I can see why someone might like this album.
David Bowie
4/5
Highlight Song/s: Young Americans and Somebody up There Likes Me
This is a album that I always meant to listen to at least once and I hadn't done that until this point in time. Bowie completely shifting from guitar-based rock music to soul and funk music just cause he can and proving in the process he isn't a one-trick pony!
This album has quite luscious arrangements. I particularly like the backing vocals as my favourite 'THING,' this album gives you. A fair chunk of all the songs are anthemic starting with the explosive intro of the song Young Americans. And it seems once the chorus hits in any of the songs, it tends to be extremely long. Which I'm ambivalent about. I think the cover of the Beatles song Across The Universe is pretty cool, both of the versions are good in their own way; also Lennon plays guitar on that track, which is cool!
This album is pretty good, definitely not as good as Station to Station (the next and similar-styled album.) I believe the opener and closer songs on the album are quite strong, it helps pull the album together and make it feel cohesive.
Siouxsie And The Banshees
5/5
Juju is an album that always entrances me by the time the intro of "Spellbound" hits. If I were to describe the album and how It makes me feel: Well to start off, the drums hypnotise the listener with a mesmerising tribal-like rhythm, the melodies are quite new wave-y that is accompanied with this darkness that forebodes the album, the lyrics are quite good (and disturbing) especially on "Arabian Knights" and "Night Shift and some songs are a bit of a call-back to - my favourite album of theirs - The Scream such as "Halloween" and "Monitor."
Highlight Song/s: Spellbound, Into The Light, Arabian Knight and Night Shift
The Good, The Bad & The Queen
3/5
The Good, the bad & the Queen is a supergroup consisting of members from Blur, The Clash, The Verve and The Africa 70', which is PRETTY eclectic might I say and stacked. The album cover gives off a great feeling and many emotions. One example would be it gives off a very old-timey feel with a familiar voiced man that compliments the feel when people lived life slow. This album isn't too crazy,
It's alright but It's not an album I would seek out again.
Highlight Song/s: History Song
5/5
My second Beatles album - it seems like I got their hippie albums first - my first Beatles album I got generated was Revolver back at album no. 6! This album is crazy good, it fits the definition of the saying 'all killer no filler.' The album is overall quite whimsical which seems to be the case for those first-wave psychedelic albums.
I love how welcoming the title track is ("We hope you enjoy the show") and then it sends off with a great transition to one of the best songs ever made "With A Little Help From My Friends."
"Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds" is probably the epitome of this album and the hippie-era in general, referencing drugs, sounding innocent, playful, etc.
"Getting Better" references issues John Lennon had such as, being violent - especially towards women - even if he was far from perfect, it says a lot to face the issues head on.
"Fixing A Hole" and "She's Leaving Home" sound like movie musicals, just really lovely.
The song "Being For The Benefit Of Mr. Kite!" is extremely radical considering where the four guys were at just 2 years prior. hell, even compared to the songs that they made that came after this.
"Within You Without You" has George continue with Indian-themed songs, I believe it being just about the halfway mark is great song placement, no sooner, no later.
The next one is a song that Paul wrote when he was only 14! ("When I'm Sixty Four") That song is a good contender for my favourite song of all time, it's just THAT good, everything about it.
"Lovely Rita" has one of my favourite piano and singing parts, I believe this song is so underrated I wish people would give this song a chance.
"Good Morning Good Morning" the album could've really done without this song, I would only ever listen to it if I'm listening to Sgt Pepper, never outside of it. The reprise of the title track is a lot my explosive then the non-reprise version wish the first track had more oomph to it more than it already does.
"A Day In The Life" starts with the crowd applause from the reprise of the title track, then it picks up steam with the piano leading the charge, the song has these cinematic-like orchestral section which is just so great. I also think Ringo's drumming is EXCEPTIONAL on this song, then it all accumulates into the final ringing chord. It the song and also the album ends with this hidden track-like section (before it was cool to do so.)
Some music journalists and publications consider this the best rock album ever, which I thought was ludicrous when I listened to it for the first time, but that title the album holds is completely valid; even it isn't my personal favourite rock album.
A Tribe Called Quest
4/5
A Tribe Called Quest's masterpiece, it has the characteristics that the Tribe are know for, such as intelligent lyrics, positiveness, wittiness, jazziness. The Low End Theory is definitely one of most important albums ever made, regardless what ever genre preference you might have - even if you primarily listen to something completely different like metal or electronic - you should still give it a listen, it's just one of those seminal albums every one should listen to.
Below are some lines that really resonated with me, either because of the tone or delivery or the meaning of it:
"Float like gravity, never had a cavity" (from Buggin' Out)
"Progressions can't be made if we're separate forever" and "My people have been oppressed too long, no more will we be down" (from Verses from the Abstract
"Ain't no one your equal, especially on the industry side" (from Show Business)
"We know the job is done, when we hear a lot of cheers" (from Vibes and Stuff)
"Now here's a funky introduction of nice I am, tell your mother, tell your father, send a telegram" and "Industry rule #4080, record company people are shadyyy" (from Check the Rhime)
"Always sweet-scented, if it's business, she meant it" (Everything Is Far)
"I'm all that and then some; short, dark, and handsome,"Don't ever try and test the waters little kid, yo mister Busta Rhymes tell 'em what I did" (from Scenario)
This album is a example in favour of the proverb "less is more." It really is an extremely great example.
Saint Etienne
4/5
I love the positivity that radiates from this album. I can imagine the leaves rustling and the birds chirping, with the sun brighter than ever and hoping every minute lasts. I also like the way they incorporate sampling into the album.
Highlight Song/s: Only Love Can Break You and Wilson
Grateful Dead
3/5
Never really messed with Jam Band music before, my previous experience is The Allman Brothers at Fillmore East and the Jam side of All Things Must Pass. I thought those two were - to be frank - a lot better than this. This on the other hand felt a bit underwhelming. Maybe it's because people over-hype the Grateful Dead or maybe because it's just better when you're there in-person rather than at home listening to it, so it doesn't translate as well. Whatever way it is, this album didn't interest me that much.
Highlight Song/s: The Eleven
Beatles
4/5
My third Beatles album, with the third not coming long after the second, only 4 albums ago instead of it taking another 190 albums like it did with the first to the second. With Rubber Soul the four guys decide to turn the song-writing up a couple notches, alongside new guitar tones and new production techniques and just getting BETTER at being musicians. This is also when I think the experimenting started up, and the experimenting which would continue until the break-up.
I have other thoughts that don't mesh with the paragraph above, so I will leave it here:
-The chord progression in "Drive My Car" is lovely.
-The song that stands out the most to me and is "Norwegian Wood" which never fails to make my head drift side to side, I just adore that so much, everything about it is so sweet.
-The interlude in "In My Life" is really nice.
-"Run For Your Life" has Lennon make a song, that sounds like something off of Please Please Me or With The Beatles.
Emmylou Harris
4/5
This album is hauntingly beautiful. I imagine all these ballads being played at a camp-fire near a considerably dense forest as dusk happens to set in, except the songs being play at the camp-fire isn't whatsoever cheesy. Sorrow is featured heavily on the album, but the sorrow never manages to drown out the resilience the singer has.
Highlight Song/s: The Pearl
Emerson, Lake & Palmer
3/5
This is an album by Emerson, Lake & Palmer that mixes original material with a classical composition called Pictures At An Exhibition. Which is quite cool. Another thing that is cool is they did all these songs in one swoop; no breaks.
When I get sick, for some reason I just lose interest in listen to music, which is the complete opposite when I'm not sick. So when I fell ill was around the time I heard their previous album (Tarkus,) and maybe thought because I was sick that I didn't like it because of that. But I figured it out, I just don't think I can do with the overzealous amounts of artiness, and I understand even more why punk music sought to get rid of it.
Highlight Song/s: The Gnome
R.E.M.
4/5
Another album of many albums that I never got around to listening. But some of them the generator has helped with getting me to listen to it. This one right here is debut album of the iconic rock band R.E.M., Murmur being a seminal album in alternative music.
A fair chunk of the songs are straight boppers and are quite anthemic and upbeat, whilst the mesmerising album cover - that I've definitely spent too much time looking at - gives off opposite vibes. The singing tends to be quite slurred together, making it a challenge to figure out the charming-sounding nonsense lyrics. The guitar parts are jangling out the wazoo. The bass is fairly melodic and doesn't fully stay in the expected range of a bass guitar.
Highlight Song/s: Radio Free Europe and Laughing
Mudhoney
3/5
This album showcases more the punk side of the grunge pendulum rather than the metal side. It has great energy and emotion - especially on the guitar solo in "Broken Hands" - and the guitars are all fuzzed out. One more thing to note is that this album cover really frazzles my brain, I'm straight tripping when I happen to take a gander at it.
Highlight Song/s: Something So Clear and Broken Hands
Richard Thompson
4/5
This album has such a charm to it, the vocals are so sweet and the tone of the few instruments this album has makes it so texturally-rich. I find a lot of the songs are quite sing-along-y, but that's honestly fine with me. The harmonies are great. I definitely see myself returning to this album.
Highlight Song/s: When I Get To The Border and I Want To See The Bright Lights Tonight
The Teardrop Explodes
2/5
This a pass from me. It just gives off inspiring you-can-do-it crap vibes. The album sounds very BIG which adds to the you-can-do-it feel. And also this album feels like I have heard it before. Probably because they sound a combination of bands that I like or have heard in the past.
The Beach Boys
4/5
Pet Sounds by the Beach Boys is a landmark album in the history of music. I once heard somewhere, I can't recall WHERE but someone said somewhere that the Beach Boys managed to create the sound of sunlight via intricate instrumentation (provided by the Wrecking Crew,) and that just hits it on the top of the head. Like I just said before, its instrumentation helps give the album its own character, triumphant, big, bright, which is quite juxtaposed by melancholy lyrics, but it manages to work. A few of the pieces of music on this album sound like straight movie incidental music, which is quite quirky for a rock album. It's tragic Brian Wilson lost his mind in the process of trying to out-do this album, which would've been a nigh-impossible task.
Highlight Song/s: Wouldn't It Be Nice, I'm Waiting For The Day and I Know There's An Answer
Fugazi
3/5
Still not impressed... This is a band I was keen to listen through their albums a little while ago, I got up to Steady Diet Of Nothing and just couldn't push on. Which is a bit odd as I really liked 13 Songs, but it seems they're other albums just don't do it for me. Maybe it's Guy's vocals that I don't like, or maybe it's something else. Oh well.
Highlight Song/s: Merchandise
Boston
3/5
Every now and then I gotta indulge in some the most FILTHIEST classic rock and this manages to fill that urge. It's nothing crazy, but all I have to say is that junk food is good sometimes.
Highlight Song/s: More Than a Feeling and Rock & Roll Band
The Killers
3/5
Love an album that screams what decade it is from, that is in this case from the 2000s, which similar sounding music to this album called garage rock/post punk revival is from. When people decided to give a back-to-basics approach another chance. It's pretty alright, but It gives me an urge to just listen to Is This It? instead. A re-listen to this one probably maybe will help.
Highlight Song/s: Mr. Brightside and All These Things That I've Done
Weather Report
4/5
Hadn't had a jazz album in quite some time until this one popped up. It sounds very optimistic (especially Birdland) and bright and luscious. Like a lot jazz music, it makes me feel like I'm in a mafia-filled bar with the sound of glasses clanking together.
Highlight Song/s: Birdland
Emmylou Harris
3/5
I was honestly expecting a lot more from this album, not sure why. I mean it's nothing too special. But I always manage to enjoy the country harmonies and the bright guitars, so it isn't BAD. Emmylou's interpretation of the Beatles song "For No One" is great.
Highlight Song/s: Bluebird Wine and Queen of the Silver Dollar
Depeche Mode
3/5
I just can't over how that all this sounds nearly same, it's the synths man. I don't think synths are bad, but when its put together with stereotypical 80s production and especially that monotonous drum sound, it really does sap my energy! "Pimpf" is pretty cool and unique, nice album closer with its orchestral-like elements.
Highlight Song/s: Sacred and Little 15
Crosby, Stills & Nash
3/5
The first album by one of the first super-groups. The first thing that manages to stand out to me is the lovely vocal harmonies, it sounds quite Beatles-esque. I've gotten a lot of folk albums recently so my lack of enthusiasm might stem from that.
Highlight Song/s: Guinnevere
2Pac
4/5
I've heard some 2Pac songs from All Eyez On Me and they tend to be so bloody aggressive and filled with just HATE especially after he went full throttle at Bad Boy Records and associates, it honestly makes my guts churn a bit. I am glad this album is more thoughtful and seems more introspective than some of the other songs I've heard from him, and I definitely prefer this side of him.
Highlight Song/s: Me Against The World, Heavy In The Game, Dear Mama and Can U Get Away
Einstürzende Neubauten
3/5
I thought this wasn't that baaaad and I think I like noise music, because I enjoy My Bloody Valentine and yadda yadda, yadda, but that feeling was only for the first song... THEN the second song of the album came on and holy hell, that was so bloody loud!
I mean I had done a little research on these guys and knew they are infamous for the atrocious amounts of noise they've made via home-made instruments - which sounds like a combination of a screwdriver and a vacuum cleaner, so I'm honestly not sure what I was expecting to be different.
And they manage never let up the noise after the second song, so I nervously kept my volume at a low-to-moderate range so I don't get hearing damage.
Beck
3/5
Since I learnt about him and listening to one of his other albums from the generator, Beck is really an eclectic individual. While the other album I heard - Guero - was more eclectic, this one is kinda more like eclectic undertones with slacker rock overtones rather than new genre every song on Guero.
Highlight Song/s: The New Pollution
Traffic
3/5
This album has some quite lovely arrangements accompanied by some (blue-eyed) soulful singing. It doesn't really excite me, nothing jumps right up at me like some other new albums I've discovered.
Highlight Song/s: Who Knows What Tomorrow May Bring
The Band
4/5
From my understanding without looking anything up, The Band was originally Bob Dylan's backing band and they'd record and - maybe tour as well?? - with him. BUT after Dylan's motorcycle accident I suppose they got more free time to do other stuff.
Well stuff that isn't speculation, is that this album is a nice combination of folk and country and rock, it gives me strong CCR vibes.
"Up On Cripple Creek" verse melody sounds like the verse melody from a song from their previous album, "The Weight." Speaking of "The Weight" the first song on THIS album says something about a woman named Molly which "The Weight" mentions as well, I wonder if its inspired or just a name the songwriter really likes.
This is a good album in a after having recently gone through mostly mediocre albums.
Highlight Song/s: Rag Mama Rag, When You Awake, Up On Cripple Creek and Jawbone
Underworld
3/5
This has a really nice tone to it. I'm honestly surprised at myself that I haven't ripped my hair out due to 10 minute long techno songs. The lyrics and the song titles are very cryptic, I could theoretically spent a long time trying to understand what they mean, but I guess sometimes lyrics aren't meant to symbolise anything. The singer kind of sounds like British version of R.E.M.'s singer Michael Stipe.
Like I said the tone and ambience is great, just not completely sure if I would want to return to this, perhaps if electronic music is on my mind I would.
Highlight Song/s: Confusion The Waitress
Radiohead
5/5
This was my first Radiohead album that I had listened to, I felt very Intimidated by the band and the album, my opinion on the album on a first listen was mixed, It took a couple different listens but now I consider it a great album. This album is when Radiohead decided to not become another grunge-like band and started a bit of experimenting with unconventional sounds.
The album features a couple different styles: There's the noisy anthemic songs such as the title track "Bones" and "Just." The acoustic rock songs like, "High and Dry," "Fake Plastic Trees," "(Nice Dream)." The more experimental-leaning songs featuring new sounds by the band like "Planet Telex" and "Street Spirit (Fade Out)."
Some lines that are on the album seem to resonate with me:
"you've got to feel it in your bones" (Bones)
"you do it to yourself, yeah you just do" (Just)
"and we are grateful for our iron lung" (My Iron Lung)
Some closing remarks from is that "Fake Plastic Trees" and "Street Spirit (Fade Out)" are overrated, they're good songs but they are liked by some really loud fanatics. And "Sulk" is just awful. My conclusion is that this is definitely an album you must hear before you die.
Highlight Song/s: Planet Telex, High and Dry, Bones, Just and My Iron Lung
The Go-Betweens
4/5
This one is one I've been meaning to take a listen to, It was alright. The first three songs had me having high expectations, so not every song managed to match in quality. But I reckon its a solid indie album, it sounds quite Smiths-y at times, especially on "The Devil's Eye."
Highlight Song/s: Loves Goes On!
Randy Newman
3/5
It is a bit disheartening to hear the guy who did that song from Toy Story say the Hard R. I do however know that he is using the Hard R in a way that is a critique of actual people who think that backwards way and can't help but say nasty words, so I do quite like the message of the song "Rednecks." Most of the other songs aren't as interesting I'm afraid, with all that disney-like orchestration, with an exception for "Every Man a King" which sounds like a military song.
Highlight Song/s: Rednecks, Mr President and Every Man a King
Sarah Vaughan
4/5
I just love the human feel live albums tend to have, even though I've never heard of Sarah Vaughn before but she's managed to make me adore these tunes - that I've been heard before - she (and maybe her backing band) picked. I liked the mistake near the end in "Willow Weep for Me," especially her playing off the mistake, as well as the Ella Fitzgerald shout out in "How High The Moon," where she does some (improvised??) scat singing.
All in all I really enjoyed this one.
Highlight Song/s: September In The Rain
The Gun Club
3/5
I have previously heard songs from their Miami album, such as "Fire Of Love" (not the album!) and "Mother of Earth" those songs have a very country-oriented sound to it unlike on this album which focuses more on punk rock and blues. It gets quite rockabilly (or psychobilly I suppose) at certain moments.
The first half of the album massively threw me off, I was thinking for sure 'it's at least a 2/5.' But near the end it go a bit better, so 3/5 it shall be.
Highlight Song/s: Fire Spirit
Neu!
4/5
Another krautrock album for me, this might possibly be my last one. But I have really enjoyed krautrock probably because lots of my favourite musicians have borrowed from bands like Neu!. It's kinda like proto-Post-punk in a way. All of the songs on the album have a great vibe/mood to it
On "ISI" it sounds really blissful and I feel complete tranquillity with myself and others.
"Seeland" brings on a similar feeling like the previous track does except it's just a less spacey.
Nice moody atmosphere on "Leb'woah," that is definitely enhanced by the thunderstorm effects.
The vocals on "Hero" sounds quite vicious, reminds a bit of the vocals on album The Fat of the Land by Keith Flint. It's quite punk sounding.
"E-Musik" doesn't have too much to go off of but what stands out to ME, is that it has a really good drum beat accompanied by this spacey sound.
And finally "After Eight" continues the punk-like sound, which I believe was better done than on "Hero."
All of the songs on the album have such a great vibe/mood to it. I really enjoyed the album.
Highlight Song/s: ISI and Leb'woh
Prince
3/5
My second Prince album. The first one was 1999 which was horrid I was completely sick of of it by the end of it, as I for some reason I set myself this challenge for this generator where I have to listen to all the songs (because I'm just like that,) which I sometimes regret, sometimes not. I definitely regretted it for 1999. Back on topic, I thought it wasn't half bad.
Just like 1999, Sign O' the Times it's quite dense instrumentally, even if this sort of music isn't my jam, he still manages to make all the songs have their own character. I quite like how he approaches vocals, just having something new to try out. I felt like the album would've been better if it was just the first side, as 80 minute long albums are hard to digest and process.
Highlight Song/s: Play In The Sunshine, Starfish And Coffee and I Could Never...
Sonic Youth
4/5
Sonic Youth's magnum opus which is filled with anthemic songs, especially with that explosive opener that is "Teenage Riot;" A song which calls out to all the outsiders, far and wide. This would be their final independent release (if you don't count the Ciccone Youth side-project album,) after this album they would depart to a major label. Coming around in the point in time of music when alternative rock became mainstream for a while. They manage to balance the harshness of their early days whilst bring in more melody.
I believe the album cover says it all, in my opinion. Bleakness. There's this moodiness/nocturnal sound that's present on the album, which I always happen to love.
Highlight Song/s: "Teenage Riot" and "Silver Rocket"
Rod Stewart
3/5
I had previously knew the title track from Grand Theft Auto IV's main rock station, and I always can't help but sway my head along to it when it comes on. So I was pointing at my screen thinking 'that's the song that I like.' Not really, but I was excited to get another excuse to listen to that song. Boy, did the album fell of a cliff after the first two songs and it turned into classic slop rock.
Stewart's raspy voice makes him sound quite old, like he is singing about the good ol' days or something but in reality he was 25/26 at the time of the making of this album. I do admit that the title track is carrying a lot of the rating if the title track wasn't on this one, this would be easy 2/5. But alas it is on here, so 3/5.
Highlight Song/s: Every Picture Tells A Story
Simon & Garfunkel
3/5
My only other experience other than this album was their album Bookends which I thought was incredibly underwhelming other than like "Mrs. Robinson" and "America." Rest of the songs on Bookends felt like demoes. This album is similar in sound, but I believe this one was executed better than Bookends such as, it has a nice subdued sound with wonderful melodies with Mike Love making a surprise appearance appearing as a guest vocalist on "Baby Driver."
Highlight Song/s: Cecilla and Baby Driver
Earth, Wind & Fire
3/5
Some of the songs sounds like they belong to a musical, the endings in particular. Not a fan of the horns on this album they pierce my ears. I really like the positive attitude these guys have. This is definitely an album where I wouldn't turn it off if it was on, but I wouldn't go seeking this.
Soft Machine
4/5
I had previously heard about this album, with the mind-boggling song lengths and all its glory. The album is quite warm and cozy and colourful. The songs have a LOT of parts to them. I think this might work better as a re-lsiten.
Highlight Song/s: Slightly All The Time
The Cramps
3/5
This is an album by a band that decided to fuse punk and rockabilly together and it happens to work. With the cynicism of punk, the macabre lyrics work really well. The songs genuinely sounds like a parody of actual rockabilly. It has these cool guitar parts, with a Joey Ramone-like inflection alongside guitars buzzing like flies around a corpse.
Highlight Song/s: "I Was A Teenage Werewolf," "Sunglasses After Dark" and "I'm Cramped"
Charles Mingus
4/5
I was thinking to myself yesterday that I ought to listen to the 'jazz classics.' AND a classic showed its face. It's a really nice album, especially "Track B," I am a straight sucker for moody-sounding brass in songs. I've heard many great things about Charles Mingus, so it's good to finally hear him and his band play.
Highlight Song/s: "Track B"
Frank Sinatra
4/5
There's just something about it with these old-timey standards, they're just so charming. Perhaps it's the Big Band instrumentation or it's something else but It gives a good 50s vibe. you know, when people were lived life slow, and fear of being nuked back to the stone age, and being explicitly racist (more than today at least.)
Highlight Song/s: "It Happened In Monterey"
The Black Keys
3/5
I was quite apprehensive with this album, it just reeked of indie-ness. And it kinda does, mainly the vocals are where I'm getting indie from. You know I would describe what makes them indie, but my brain won't give me a reasonable definition to put into my own words. Some of the riffs are quite cool I suppose. This is just a 'meh' album to me, probably won't be returning.
Highlight Song/s: "Next Girl" and "She's Long Gone",
Primal Scream
3/5
I haven't heard anything from Primal Scream other than the classic "Movin' on Up." This album is QUITE eclectic, featuring a cool mix of, rock, dance and ambient elements. Though one thing the album always brings back is the annoying electronic laser sound; it being the most annoying on "Kowalski." The instrumentals are really busy, to the point of it feeling overwhelming. Whilst on the other hand the vocals are not, and are more subdued.
The songs on this album sound songs elsewhere I've heard, such as but not limited to, "Get Duffy" sounding similar to a Soundgarden deep cut called "Mind Riot" or how "If They Move Kill 'Em" goes full "Rebel Without a Pause" at the start with that high-pitched noise or, "Trainspotting"'s beat sounding like "Shook Ones Pt. 2"
Highlight Song/s: "Get Duffy" and "Out of the Void"
Michael Jackson
4/5
First things first, this album is STACKED. Like, my god. It's literally like a greatest hits album. Other than the objective fact that the album is indeed, stacked. It is the most sold album ever, because of that fact I thought it would be ever meh or a bad one, but it isn't half bad.
The title track holds a memory for me where me and my brother were scared shit-less of the music video, It definitely was the zombies that were the reason. It's also crazy how much I remember of the song even though I haven't heard it in a long time, especially the spoken word part with the church-like organs, and that laugh the closes the track.
This honestly exceeded my expectations, even if it sounds a bit weird with it being the most sold album.
Highlight Song/s: "The Girl Is Mine", "Thriller", "Beat It" and "Billie Jean"
Thundercat
3/5
Quite a wide range of music is presented here, though it mainly focuses on soul and R&B. 1/4 of the album is these song that seem like fragments of a song that just didn't get properly finished. Some of the ideas are really promising, and I wished he fleshed out the fragments a bit more; especially "Jethro" and the first track "Rabbot Ho." The album managed to pick up in quality by track 10 and it stayed pretty consistent.
Highlight Song/s: "Lava Lamp", "Jethro", "Walk On By" and "Them Changes
Pet Shop Boys
4/5
I've only known these guys from their songs "West End Girls" and "Always on my Mind." Synth-pop is quite bland, but these guys manage to make it interesting more than your average synth-pop album. The vocals are really nice. The tunes on this one are certified for the dance floor.
Highlight Song/s: "To Face the Truth" and "How Can You Expect to Be Taken Seriously"
Various Artists
4/5
I thought this wouldn't be too great of a album. Because Christmas songs... but Christmas songs aren't bad when not exposed to the overplayed ones and especially these soulful, Wall of Sound production technique renditions of the classics. The Ronettes songs defintely stole the show, when it comes to the band selection
Highlight Song/s: "Frosty the Snowman", "Sleigh Ride" and "I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus"
Derek & The Dominos
3/5
Eric Clapton's fifteenth new group, where just like the previous 10 groups, they only recorded a single album. So I went into this album never having had listened to the title track and expecting a guitar solo fest. And I managed to correct my mistake and listen to "Layla", and my god yes it was a guitar solo fest.
This being a double album I find is just overkill. I believe this being a tight 35-40 minutes, this would've been more concise. I think some of the tracks on my imaginary shortened album would be: "I Looked Away", "Bell Bottom Blues", "Anyday", "Key To The Highway", "Have You Ever Loved A Woman?", "Little Wing" and finally "Layla." It's just way more to the point and it gives it a more concept album which was all rage in the 60s and 70s.
My final words are Duane Allman is just insane on the guitar, what a loss to the world his death was, and I liked this album more than I thought I did. Which is always good.
Highlight Song/s: "I Looked Away", "Key To The Highway" "Little Wing" and "Layla"
Fela Kuti
5/5
Loved when I got the Zombie album, and this is sadly Fela Kuti's and the Africa '70's last album on this generator. This has crazy good energy even more than the albums, and Kuti's vocals sound so wild and ferocious ; I love it! I don't think any thing sounds AS rich as the arrangements by the Africa '70, those guys are just on another planet, they never fail the song.
This one has a catch, that is it features Ginger Baker (the drummer guy from Cream,) specifically tracks 3-4; 5 if you have the bonus track version. I got Baker's former bandmate Eric Clapton as my previous album, it being the Layla album. So maybe we can complete the trifecta if Bruce Whatshislastnameicantremember is apart of the next album I get.
Highlight Song/s: "Ye Ye De Smell" and "Egbe Mi O (Carry Me I Want To Die)"
Aerosmith
3/5
It's a classic rock, classic. Which means you know, it's predictable, isn't difficult to understand, fair portion of the album is filler because they need to pump out albums year in and year out, is anthemic, sex drugs and rock and roll. About the two iconic songs on this record, "Walk This Way" (the original one) I believe is inferior to Run-DMC's version, the original just sounds bland. "Sweet Emotion" on the other hand is by far my favourite on this bleh and meh album, favourite part being the verse.
Highlight Song/s: "Sweet Emotion"
4/5
The first songs utterly shocked me with how beatles-esque it sounds, I legit thought it was John Lennon singing lead on "Hello" for a slight moment. I've always heard about how Oasis incorporates Beatles elements, and I always like 'ehhh, sure.' But listening to this album shows it straight to me with how much they were influenced by that band. All of the songs on the album sound like they could all be singles (except the swamp song songs,) which is crazy I'm not sure if I've heard an album like that before, but now I have if I haven't. The production is quite busy and cloudy which seems a popular characteristic of britpop albums.
Highlight Song/s: "Hello", "Wonderwall" and "Don't Look Back In Anger"
The Smiths
5/5
I'll never forget that magical feeling of hearing the title track for the first time - which happened to be my first song of theirs I'd heard of theirs - just the dreariness, and the savage lyrics, I was completely intimidated by their music but at the same time I was hooked and I wanted more; especially with the first song. When I came around and listened to the album a couple months later, it was a life-changing experience. The spark of the first listen of the title track has never been recreated for me, the first time can never happen again sadly.
The Smiths really outdid themselves on this release, every release prior to this was (I think) building up for The Queen Is Dead. And I think The Smiths agree with that, with them changing their sound on their final release, Strangeways. The Queen Is Dead feels like a greatest hits album with the anthems that are present. I do think "Never Had No One Ever" the snail-paced song kills the momentum, and is my least favourite track here. I'm starting to accept it more, but only just a bit.
I don't think there's another album that has so much quotable lyrics. I just always catch myself quoting lyrics from this album such as but not limited to:
"We can go for a walk where it's quiet and dry"
"I've got the 21st century breathing down my neck"
"A dreaded sunny day, so I'll meet you at the cemetery gates"
I would love to put down all my favourite lyrics on this album, but I'd possibly be quoting every lyric that is present on this masterpiece. Morissey, love or hate him, he is in a tier of his own when it comes to song-writing. The wittiness, the lonesome and melancholy feelings, the charm.
Some closing thoughts, "Vicar in a Tutu" is the most underrated song on the album and majority of the Smiths discography. I feel that "There Is A Light That Never Goes Out" should've been the closer, it just works so much better than another really underrated song "Some Girls..." This masterpiece of an album is one I think everyone should listen to at least give a good chance once.
Highlight Song/s: "The Queen Is Dead", "Frankly Mr Shankly" and Cemetry Gates"
R.E.M.
3/5
This album is a bit of a let down to be honest especially compared to the others I've gotten by them, like Green and Murmur. They just sound so underwhelming on this release. One thing that hasn't let me down is that R.E.M. has some of the most intriguing song titles ever, like a good one would be one present here,"New Orleans Instrumental No. 1." I also quite like the chamber music elements they added to this one. But alas this is a miss for me.
Highlight Song/s: "Drive" and "Man on the Moon"
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds
4/5
The Boatman's Call is quite a departure from The Bad Seeds' previous album Murder Ballads, where the former is soothing, piano-led songs, introspective songs, has Christian themes (such as "Into My Arms",) the latter has a lot nihilism, death and noise innate (like "Stagger Lee".) Quite a change of pace. Ultimately I prefer Murder Ballads over Boatman's Call, but comparing them is like comparing oranges to apples, they're both different in a valid way.
As partly mentioned above, lots of the songs are minimalist-leaning, piano-oriented songs that have some Christian themes. They have this charm brought on by the simplicity. The album has some powerful lyrics by themselves, my favourite being; the opening line, "I don't believe in an interventionist god"
I needed to say this somewhere but I don't know where to put it but, "Green Eyes" is just not good, I know everything Nick Cave tries doesn't always stick, but the album could've done without it.
I just really love the sombreness that is present here, Nick Cave really did nail the mood.
Highlight Song/s: "There Is a Kingdom"
Lynyrd Skynyrd
4/5
I already knew the big four of the songs on here, but all eight songs are straight rockers (or just about.) They have/had crazy good energy especially in the album opener "I Ain't The One." Southern rock is an interesting sound for sure, and never fails to transport you 'way down south in Dixie. Lynyrd Skynyrd definitely knows how to make anthems.
Highlight Song/s: "Tuesday's Gone" and "Gimme Three Steps"
Eric Clapton
3/5
First thing that stands out to me is that this has a really subdued sound to it.
I thought "Motherless Children" is quite out of place comparatively to the other songs. It has psychobilly-like lyrics, erratically-delivered vocals, leaves you scratching your head afterwards on what the hell just happened. The rest of the album is just 'meh' after that, until "Let It Grow", which was a pretty sweet song, but it dipped back into meh territory.
Highlight Song/s: "Motherless Children" and "Let It Grow"
Echo And The Bunnymen
4/5
I only really know these guys from their song "Sugar Kisses." Echo & The Bunnymen was always one of those bands that I thought I should check out more, but never did, well here I am now. They seem to have really powerful songs a la "Sugar Kisses," playing every song like it's their last one. The tone is just excellent, and the instrumentation is insanely colourful.
Highlight Song/s: "Clay" and "Heads Will Roll"
Miles Davis
4/5
This one has such an amazing vibe to it. A warm, relaxed, subdued vibe. I am grateful for the generator expanding my taste and contributing to my appreciation of jazz, prior to the generator, I thought I didn't like jazz except jazz rap. Getting exposed to other genres - that I don't listen too much of -classics (prefered genre is punk and punk-adjacent, but still like nearly every genre) is wonderful. My favourite part of the album is the manic drums in "Move" it's not that the album peaked at the first song or anything, the album in fact had a good consistent high, no considerable dips in quality throughout.
Highlight Song/s: "Move", "Venus De Milo" and "Godchild"
Stevie Wonder
3/5
This is the third Stevie Wonder album I've rated 3/5. :/ It's not intentional, I like the luscious arrangements and the lovely backing vocals, but it seems to never be enough for me to pull of a 4/5. I really adore the song "Heaven Is..." a lot, it sounds like a song I have already heard before, but I can't quite put my finger on it.
Highlight Song/s: "Heaven Is 10 Zillon Light Years Away"
Elvis Presley
4/5
This one exceeded my expectations. The Elvis Presley album I had before - which was his debut - was a miss, this one on the other hand has a better tone and atmosphere; having this amazing gothic vibe present. This one focuses more on country rather than rock, which his earlier releases focus on more I assume.
Highlight Song/s: "Only the Strong Survive" and "Long Black Limousine"
The Electric Prunes
3/5
It starts off with the energetic, fuzzed-out, feral-sung song that is "I Had Too Much to Dream (Last Night)." What a tune. There is not another song here that is one that level. There are some annoying stuff on here because it's a psychedelic album, such as the dropping sound near the end of "Get Me to the World on Time" or the intro to "Sold to the Highest Bidder." Then the other songs are the beatles-esque which are lovely, but not something I would return to.
Highlight Song/s: "I Had Too Much to Dream (Last Night)"
Michael Kiwanuka
3/5
The album cover freaked me out a bit, but all of that was put aside once I started listening to the album. Like a lot of soul albums, it is very rich in instrumentation. The album as a whole feels quite cohesive which is quite the surprise of an album from 2019, but wouldn't be that much of a surprise if the album was from the 70s. I quite how it's structured, especially with the intros to the next respective song.
Highlight Song/s: "You Ain't The Problem" and "Living In Denial"
The Adverts
5/5
Crossing The Red Sea definitely a seminal album in the British first-wave punk scene. I have wanting to listen to this album for a long while, as I'm a bit of aficionado for first-wave punk, even though the runtime is a little over 30 minutes I just for some reason never bothered. This was definitely worth the listen,. I prefer the album cover with T.V. Smith (?) against a dark background then the one here. I also wish "Gary Gilmore's Eyes" was on here it would only add to the already amazing release, the other singles are here but not "Gary Gilmore's Eyes."
Highlight Song/s: "Bored Teenagers" and "No Time to Be 21"
Drive-By Truckers
3/5
This album seems a like cool unique idea, I love the album cover which helps set the mood; gives off great vibes. The lyrics seem quite thought-out. I'm not sure how much sarcasm is supposed to be on here, it seems at times it's mocking southern culture whilst other times it seems to be supportive of being from a southern background. Maybe it just hates the bad of the south, and wants only good whilst acknowledging some bad things definitely have happened.
I saw it was 90 minutes long, It feel quicker than that - Act I at least - it did start to drag during Act II, especially the second half.
Highlight Song/s: "72 (This Highway's Mean)", "Guitar Man Upstairs", "Three Great Alabama Icons" and "Life in the Factory"
5/5
Ziggy Stardust and The Spiders from Mars is about (from my knowledge) how the world is going to end in 5 years and there is only one person who can stop all this and his name is the titular Ziggy Stardust where he promises he will save the world if they (Earthlings) believe in him and his power to deliver on his promise. Very Christ-like.
The album is filled with Bowie's characteristic eccentricity, left-field lyrics. One of my favourite examples is in the title track where they introduce him (Ziggy) and his band (The Spiders from Mars) then the song goes onto make a quip on how he plays guitar left-handed, which is not where you'd think it'd go on next after the introduction. If I was kid in the 70s I would definitely be all about the glam revolution.
The album starts off with "Five Years" which is one of my favourite songs ever made, everything about it is my favourite. The drum beat, the memorable/quotable lyrics, the mood, the urgency, the screaming (especially the screaming.)
I'm honestly not sure what Ziggy is doing during the middle part of the album, but the title track is apparently where Ziggy dies metaphorically or literally, I can't tell honestly. Then that amazing build-up in "Suffragette City" passes ("Wham bam, thank you ma'am.") Then the final song is "Rock 'n' Roll Suicide" where it closes the album, the ending with the strings and all is just amazing. Literally the perfect ending.
Highlight Song/s: "Five Years", "Starman", "Hang on to Yourself" and "Rock 'n' Roll Suicide"
Le Tigre
5/5
This album has this unique electronic sound - that I never knew I liked - that I've never heard before, but I REALLY happen to like. The album contents is quite diverse, with the next song always done in a different style than the last ranging from like indie pop to this obnoxious (in a good way,) snot rock - though all of that is still done with a bit of an electronic tinge to it. I genuinely want more albums like this.
Highlight Song/s: "Deceptacon" and "Hot Topic"
The White Stripes
2/5
This my second album of theirs - White Blood Cells was first - which I quite liked, it was a strong 3, so I rated it a 4; I just rounded up. I'm not sure what they did since that album to this one but this one fell off a giant cliff after "Blue Orchid." I feel like Jack White's voice got more squeaky and fragil-sounding, which I feel impacted my listening experience. The instrumentation was quite lacking except for "Blue Orchid" and "Red Rain" which also contributed.
Highlight Song/s: "Blue Orchid"
Peter Gabriel
4/5
Never heard any of Gabriel's albums before, I did watch a documentary of an overview of his career and thought I should give the first couple records a listen, but I just never did. Melt (the unofficial name of this album) has this spectacular solemn vibe to it. It's one of those releases where the music totally reflects the album cover. This one is apparently where the former lead singer of Genesis started incorporating post-punk into his albums, and even having world elements on some. I've always really liked Peter Gabriels's experimental mentality, I am definitely should give his other stuff a good listen .
Highlight Song/s: "Intruders" and "Games Without Borders"
Elliott Smith
5/5
Definitely not my first time listening to an Elliott Smith song or album, but first album of his on this list for me is Figure 8. Which has been an album I've been wanting to listen to because of my love of the song "L.A.", and because hearing that some other songs on there are similar to that. Funnily enough it was one of my choices for an album listening couple hours before the generator GENERATED this one. The only other Elliott Smith album I'd heard before this, was Either/Or - which I thought was pretty alright, but this one appealed to me more than Either/Or. Not sure why this one appealed to me over Either/Or, but it's all good; perhaps because there are more songs that sound like "L.A.."
Highlight Song/s: "Son of Sam", "Junk Bond Trader" and "L.A."
Laibach
4/5
This album has this nice big, theatrical, rich sound to it, It feels like a 100-person orchestra or something. It's just so powerful-sounding, one example would be the military march-like of "Leben heisst leben." Other aspects include this eerie group chanting like I've just came across some cult - that I really regret coming across - deep, deep in the forest somewhere in Eastern Europe. This music just has the perfect vibe to it, like my teeth are shivering and shattering with how frosty the instrumentals and atmosphere are.
Highlight Song/s: "Leben heisst leben" and "F.I.A.T"
Queen
4/5
This is unironically better than most Black Sabbath albums (except Master of Reality.) I find Sabbath albums are a bit bland apart from a couple songs sadly, can't get too much into the hype of Sabbath. Early Queen albums on the other hand, where I thought they'd be bland apart from the singles. But 1001 albums has taught me they aren't! They have an amazing cohesive feel, Queen II more so (which was my first album in general and on this list.) The album songs have this mix of glam, heavy metal/hard rock, and prog rock, and piano-led rock mostly on the interludes. This one along with Queen II is a strong 4.
Highlight Song/s: "Killer Queen", "Flick of the Wrist" and "Stone Cold Crazy"
Yeah Yeah Yeahs
3/5
The first two songs were leading me to believe this was going to be an album for the dance-floor, then it went in a direction I wasn't expecting, like some soft rock/stuff. The dance-floor songs did eventually return. It has a nice mix of songs be fair, but I think it would've been a bit better if some dance elements remained for non-EDM songs just so it's a bit more focused.
I've heard "Heads Will Roll" a lot of times but never knew the song was by the Yeah Yeah Yeahs. I knew both of the two separately (albeit the band by name only, not any of their songs.) Well now I do.
Highlight Song/s: "Zero"
Pentangle
4/5
This one has such a mystical, enchanted vibe to it, that feels not matched up to this point, being 266/1089 deep at this point in time (maybe a couple to be fair might match up.) That enchanted vibe takes me back in time hundreds and hundreds of years. I'm sure all the bandits and highwaymen from European are to sure to bop to this release. These guys definitely did too much drugs as evident by the sitar (because it's the 60s!)
Highlight Song/s: "Light Flight" and "Hunting Song"
Cocteau Twins
5/5
This is among one of my favourite albums of all time (within the top 15.) It just has such a perfect sound to it. The wordless vocals being one of my favourite aspects of this album, which is fairly unique, especially for the entire duration of the album. It proves to myself once again that you don't need to understand the words to understand the song, the tone of the words and how it's delivered is more than enough. This is definitely one of the best albums when it comes to atmosphere, like if I 'imagine the album,' I imagine a tundra with furious amounts of snow pouring down.
Highlight Song/s: "Cherry-coloured Funk", "Heaven or Las Vegas", "Wolf in the Breast" and "Frou-frou Foxes in Midsummer Fires"
Goldfrapp
4/5
I love the hazy morning feel to this one. This album has a lot of folk and electronic elements, which is not a sound I'm not familiar with (when combined) what so ever, but it sounds great. The singing in combination with the acoustic instruments sound like something from the 60s.
Highlight Song/s: "Happiness", "Some People" and "Cologne Cerrane Houdini"
Hugh Masekela
3/5
It was quite sparse in the beginning, so a bit difficult to give an actual thought about. It has this sombre feel to it, which is a nice sound when mixed with jazz. Some of the main horn parts in the first quarter of the album kind of sounds like the main horn part to "Zombie" by Fela Kuti.
Highlight Song/s: "Part of a Whole", "Maseru" and "Nomali"
Ravi Shankar
3/5
This album made me feel like I was in opium den in Bombay, with a slack jaw... and not much too say, especially with the (what I believe) western equivalent of all the rapid picking and tapping on a guitar on the song "Dadra." It sounds absolutely sick. The only Indian music experience I have is from the Beatles few Indian songs, and maybe a couple other 60s songs, like "Paint it, Black" and maybe song or two from other drug-oriented groups in the 60s who had that one hit song that features a sitar, because it was the 60s that's just what they did as Paul McCartney would say.
Highlight Song/s: "Dadra"
The Jon Spencer Blues Explosion
3/5
This one has some inventive guitar riffs. The lyrics are quite quirky, just like in early rock music, one example would be "Chicken Dog," sounds like something straight outta the 50s. The vocals are exceptionally goofy. Very very lo-fi and rambunctious album.
Highlight Song/s: "Love All of Me", "Chicken Dog" and "Rocketship"
Beatles
4/5
This one is The Beatles second album, it's relatively solid throughout. There's this nocturnal mood that is present that I like quite a lot, the album cover definitely helps reinforcing the mood. Because it's an early Beatles album, songs don't tend to be too unique or distinctive; like their 1966-1969 albums. Which is honestly fine sometimes, and is comparable to junk food to me, good every now and then.
Highlight Song/s: "All My Loving" and "Please Mr. Postman"
Frank Sinatra
3/5
My second Sinatra album (first was Songs for Swinging Lovers.) This one seems really melancholic, which I like the idea of, and concept, and all that side of stuff, though the actual songs themselves sadly weren't great. So not great and me being so not interested, resulted in one the relatively rare times where I couldn't tell you what the previous track melody or lyrics consisted of even though I'm listening to just the very next track, though that was only for like 60-70% of the album.
Highlight Song/s: "Mood Indigo", "Ill Wind" and "Dancing on the Ceiling"
The Clash
5/5
The debut album of one of my favourite bands ever aka The Only Band That Matters, aka the Clash, this one is their 2nd best album (1st being London Calling.) It's what MOST other first-wave punk debuts are like; melodic, no dilly-dallying, snottiness, incredibly catchy, with all that being combined! It's quite tight, with only the last couple songs (except Police & Thieves) being not that great, though I guess that's the price when the first handful of songs are crazy good. Solid lead playing by Mick Jones, and solid album!
Highlight Song/s: "Janie Jones", "Remote Control", "I'm So Bored..." and "Career Opportunities"
Stephen Stills
3/5
No clue why we need a 70 minute folk album, and it's yet another album by Crosby, Stills & Nash or rather solo album by one of them. Honestly not sure how many of those guys' albums are left for me, I swear it feels like I've listened to them a bunch here. I thought even if we needed yet another folk album can it not be 70 minutes? Like Crosby, Stills & Nash debut album was honestly fine being 30-39min range. Some of the songs seemed like complete throwaways such as "Johnny's Garden" which seems to make no sense only if you are high I suppose it makes sense. Not worthy of a re-listen, if I do want a re-listen of Stephen Stills I'd just listen to the his supergroup's debut album as that seems more promising.
Highlight Song/s: "Song of Love", "Colorado" and "How Far"
Hole
3/5
This Hole album was definitely more well received by me. My previous album by them was "Living Through This" and I thought it was absolutely abhorrent music, with it earning the one of the few 1 stars I've given out up until this point, being 276 albums deep and all it's quite impressive and was exceptional in being horrendous. But this one is a ways better than the previous one. Even though this one is poppy, it's honestly not half bad. I'd previously liked and known "Malibu" so I suspected hat the Celebrity Skin album would sound a bit like "Malibu." And the suspicion was true (to an extent.)
Highlight Song/s: "Celebrity Skin", "Awful" and "Malibu"
Judas Priest
4/5
This was a bit disappointing, to be frankly. I already knew "Breaking the Law" and "Living After Midnight" but no new discoveries that I would listen to again. The riffs are sick and like the mid-song change ups, I believe it's the singing that puts me a bit off, which is a bit of a shame as I quite like Rob Halford's singing in the aforementioned two songs. Though I'm not fully put off of Judas Priest. So it's probably a 3.80/5.0 but I will round up to 4.0/5.0.
Highlight Song/s: "Breaking the Law" and "Living After Midnight"
PJ Harvey
4/5
This is one of those albums that I liked more and more as the album went on; I started with not liking it THAT much then moderately liked by the end. It's not crazy good nor is it a favourite of my mine, but it's different, which I like. The album seemed quite varied which I enjoyed, especially the first track, it seemed quite Radiohead-y with the beep-boop electronic sounds. It wasn't until the ninth track "Bitter Branches" when I realised this album had quite a war theme to it. I quite like the last quarter of the album, hopefully I will like the other quarters if I give it another shot.
Highlight Song/s: "The Glorious Land", "In The Dark Place" and "The Colour of the Earth"
The Stooges
4/5
My second Stooges album, I definitely liked this a lot more than their self-titled one. And it's this album where I hear a lot more clearly of their heavy influence on punk. Like the title track sounds like something the Clash would probably do. It seems to me that the Stooges first three records are like the equivalent of Black Sabbath's first three, in which they are insanely ahead of the curve and are blueprints to the entire respective genre. Iggy's vocals on this one are way less erratic compared to their debut, and are more melodic than I'd think they'd ever be. The trademarked sloppy guitar work returns, and is even better than their debut. Have I said this is better than their debut album yet? Honestly solid album, and can see why punks worshipped and will worship the Stooges.
Highlight Song/s: "Search and Destroy" and "Raw Power"
Fun Lovin' Criminals
3/5
I was a bit dismissive of them at first, because I saw three guys, black and white picture, urban background, and thought Beastie Boys rip off, but no no no, it's not that at all. It has this nice unhurried-focused rapping. There are some weird moments on this album, such as the song "Smoke 'Em" where the guy threatens to break into my house and SMELL my bed, which feels really violating. Another would be "Bombing the L" which has a riff in it that sounds like the "Smoke on the Water" guitar riff with vocals that sound like Ronnie Van Zant (Lynyrd Skynyrd) but pitched-up. In conclusion it wasn't as bad as I thought it would be, though the last quarter of the album did start to drag.
Highlight Song/s: "The Fun Lovin' Criminal", "Scooby Snacks" and "I Can't Get With That"
Booker T. & The MG's
2/5
This is just such a underwhelming album. Apparently this album most likely was made because the title track was a huge hit, and that adds up to me. There is literally no reason why this album should be on here, the 1001 list tends to include some albums just because of the one hit wonder is apart of an album. So no this is not a album you must hear before you die.
Highlight Song/s: "Rinky-Dink", "Behave Yourself" and "I Can't Sit Down"
Elvis Costello
2/5
Not a fan of this one whatsoever. Costello's My Aim Is True was a LOT more tolerable than this. I believe my main issue with My Aim Is True is the same with Brutal Youth, it's the voice! I can't stand it, it's way worse than My Aim is True. The lyrics seem completely meaningless to me, I just don't understand what points he's trying to get across. Definitely felt way too long and I'm definitely not happy with this one.
Highlight Song/s: "Kinder Murder" and "You Tripped at Every Step"
Eagles
3/5
This was actually not too bad of an album. I don't believe I've ever heard the title track in full before, only really the chorus part, yet it all of it sounds so familiar; like I heard it in a previous life. But I suppose that's what happens when the radio is given free will to poison children's ears with Dad rock. "Life in the Fast Lane" is another song that is familiar to me, but I never knew they - The Eagles - sung it. Though I'm not too sure who I would've thought it was by, maybe Aerosmith or something like that.
6/5 for the opening melancholic section of Hotel California, and 3/5 for the entire album.
Highlight Song/s: "Hotel California" and "Try and Love Again"
Bee Gees
2/5
This is one of the many albums where it was only included because of one song (or I think, not that I definitely know or anything.) Just a bunch of classic filler, just a bunch of nothing. Though one song stood out among the mopey ballads with it's uniqueness. The song "When I Do" has this surreal sound to it, it sounds like a bard singing, it was a nice track to break the monotony started after "Israel" ended. I saw it was by the Bee Gees and thought disco, so I though it would be average at least because disco never hurt no one. But no I got mopey pop instead.
Highlight Song/s: "Israel"
Kate Bush
4/5
Really sweet experimental-ish pop, kind of like Bjork where it's still quite accessible yet challenges the status quo in music. The orchestral elements are superb, the vocal melodies are quite lovely. I like the suite on the second side of the album, did not disappoint (except "Waking the Witch) me at all. Even though I thought I was over-hyping it, as I knew about the idea of it prior to listening. I've been wanting to have a listen to this album for a little while, so I'm glad that I did like it.
Highlight Song/s: "Running Up That Hill", "Hounds of Love", "The Big Sky" and "Under Ice"
Coldplay
4/5
First initial thoughts were that this has a crazy good texture, very luscious. I can definitely see why sometimes people compare this to OK Computer, it's not exactly but I can see why now. As I though why a pop band like Coldplay would be compared to that, but Coldplay at least around this time were a bit more deep than just 'pop.'
My favourite song on this one was"Politk" which has a main part sounds like a orchestral rendition of the distorted, thumping guitars of My Bloody Valentine's song "You Made Me Realise."
Highlight Song/s: "Politik"
Morrissey
3/5
My first Morrisey solo albums, I've heard a couple solo Morissey songs mainly "The National Front Disco" and "First of the Gang to Die," and I adore those songs. So I thought maybe this album would be filled "First of the Gang to Die"-like songs because that song is just that good, boy was I wrong. You Are The Quarry is mostly filled me more with disappointment than enjoyment but there was some other tunes weren't half bad like, "Come Back to Camden" and "I Like You." I consider myself a big Smiths fan, so I thought I'd be similar but slightly worse, because it's just Morissey without the other Smiths guys. No, that's not the case, though Morissey has a bajillion more albums on the list so they COULD be better.
Highlight Song/s: "Come Back to Camden", "The First of the Gang to Die" and "I Like You"
Dizzee Rascal
4/5
My first experience with grime. It's definitely something, when the first song was going I thought it wasn't too aggressive, then the next song turned the aggressiveness up like 20 notches. I wasn't too receptive to it within the first couple tracks, but gradually the aggressive production started to grow on me. The rapping was quite well done. This was one of those albums that is between a 3 and 4, if there were half stars, this would be easy 3.5/5.0. But alas there isn't so I'll round up to 4.0 as I feel it's more accurate than a 3.
Highlight Song/s: "Sittin Here" and "2 Far"
Prefab Sprout
4/5
Most of my liking of this album is mostly from the tone, and the fantastic album cover. The tone has a nice breeze to it. The songs at most are fine, nothing too special. The album cover gives such a great vibe. If this didn't have a nice tone this would've been an easy 3 but because it DOES have a nice tone, it's a 4.
Highlight Song/s: "Bonny"
Eagles
3/5
I got Hotel California like a week ago, and now I've got their debut. The debut album was definitely a lot better in my opinion. "Hotel California" (the song) was a strong highlight of the same name album, but rest of was meh. Whilst the debut album seems a more steady overall in quality. I found the vocals and production a big step up in quality in the debut than the Hotel California album. Just a bit about some of the songs themselves, I thought the bird noises were in "Earlybird" was kind of annoying, and I thought the closing section in "Take the Devil" was quite sweet.
Highlight Song/s: "Take It Easy" and "Take the Devil"
The Dave Brubeck Quartet
4/5
The vibe is quite relaxing with this album which is similar to other jazz albums I've gotten and listened so far, like such as the Birth of the Cool, to name a few. My favourite 'part' is probably the piano, I believe that is the album's strongest instrument, I believe it's strongest in "Strange Meadow Lark" and especially "Everybody's Jumpin." I thought the drum break in the middle section of "Take Five" was quite good. I liked that the album - for me - progressively got better, usually with other jazz albums in my experience it starts to slightly go down in quality as the album goes on, this album however just gets better the longer you listen to it for.
Highlight Song/s: "Strange Meadow Lark" and "Kathy's Waltz"
Bill Evans Trio
3/5
Back-to-back jazz albums except this one is live and not a studio one. The thing that stood out to me the most is the bass playing, which is nothing short of phenomenal, my favourite bass playing is on "My Man's Gone Now." The live album seems a bit rigid without any banter or talking, all there is just clapping, which with a live album I want a bit more than that, frankly. Solid album though.
Highlight Song/s: "My Man's Gone Now" and "Alice In Wonderland"
U2
3/5
I absolutely let out a huge sign when I saw it was an album by U2. But it's not too bad of an album. Just thought it was a bit longer than it needed to be. The music kind of reminds me of Echo & The Bunnymen, with songs that could qualify as the last song ever played, because of how powerful and emotional they are.
Highlight Song/s: "Until The End of the World"
Minutemen
4/5
This is the second album ever that I've heard in my life that's hardcore punk and that is at least 80 minutes long, both of which I liked. This album has quite a punch to it, funky as well. The basslines are really colourful it literally sounds like it's singing backing vocals at times. Top quality song titles. For an album that is 80 minutes long, the songs do a good job and manage to not sound like one another, and there's over 40 songs! Hat tips and handclaps for this album!
Highlight Song/s: "Viet Nam, "Do You Want New Wave or...", "My Heart and the Real World", "History Lesson Part 2", "Spillage" and "Jesus and Tequila"
The Boo Radleys
3/5
Very interesting sound this album has, the album cover is literally straight outta Summer Of Love, whilst has a very 90s sound with the shoegaze and noise pop elements. Sending mixed signals as the album cover doesn't give a clue or hint on the actual contents; unlike some other albums like Kid A (Radiohead.) Some songs literally take some shoegaze elements to the extreme, like the subdued vocals in "Leaves and Sand." The last 4 tracks were a huge dip in quality, which is unfortunate.
Highlight Song/s: "Wish I Was Skinny", "Barney (...and me)" and "Take the Time Around"
Miles Davis
5/5
My second Miles Davis album was amazing, Birth Of The Cool and all was nice but this was a lot better. This one is a lot more focused on slower paced songs and more atmospheric than Birth Of The Cool.
I love the first minute or two of the two songs, especially the title track, the first minute or two is totally feels comforting, and I feel completely at peace; all worry gone, just for the moment. The ambience a bit afterwards continues the peacefulness.
Whilst the first track is kind of similar with it feeling a tad bit less comforting, though it has Miles and the band a bit more rowdy to make up for it.
Really enjoyed this one, definitely an album I needed to hear before I died.
Highlight Song/s: "In A Silent Way"
Cyndi Lauper
4/5
The first side + She Bop (amazing dance-punk song by the way!) is quite amazing, it starts to get into quite weird territory stuff after the singles, which seems to be a theme for a lot of 80s pop-oriented albums. Definitely a solid pop album even though it starts to suffer a bit in quality in the last couple songs. Cyndi Lauper has such a wide range on her voice, it's quite incredible.
Highlight Song/s: "Money Changes Everything", "Girls Just Want To Have Fun" and "She Bop"
Neneh Cherry
3/5
This album is a sterotypically-80s-produced album, that tends to have rapping in the verses and then melodic singing in the chorus. The choruses tend to be quite long and are repeated often - usually in the outro - just like the Like A Prayer album by Madonna (another album released in 1989.) It's an alright album but probably won't revisit.
Highlight Song/s: "Buffalo Stance" and "Manchild"
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds
4/5
I've listened to this one before, but is my second listen overall. I've decided on listening to this album in a way where I'll listen to Abattoir Blues the night before I listen to The Lyre of Orpheus which would be in the morning after. As to properly enjoy the two sections of the album unlike the previous time where I was drained by the first tracks of The Lyre of Orpheus.
Abattoir Blues:
It starts off with an extremely explosive song ("Get Ready For Love") The inflection in Cave's voice in "Cannibals Hymn" is insanely good. Then the swaying beat into the blistering noise of "Hiding All Away" is amazing. "There She Goes, My Beautiful World" has a powerful chorus, the vocals (backing and lead) are really well down. "Nature Boy" has a really catchy chorus, I also quite like the upbeat piano playing. "Abattoir Blues" is a nice subdued refresher track. Another powerful chorus in "Let the Bells Ring," the album does a good job on anthemic-like choruses. "Fable of the Brown Ape" is definitely a good closer for the first half of the album.
The Lyre of Orpheus:
The lyrics in "The Lyre of Orpheus" are top-notch. "Babe You Turn Me On" is a really sweet song especially with it's whimsical melody. "Easy Money" nice slow number a la "Abattoir Blues" song from the previous section. The instrumentation in "Supernaturally" is wonderful. The backing vocals are quite lovely and the melody that plays after that (played by a violin?) is good. I really like the arrangement on "Carry Me" and I believe it's a really penultimate song. "O Children" is definitely the most suitable song to close this big album.
Conclusion:
I definitely like Abattoir Blues a lot more than The Lyre Of Orpheus, evident by me writing (or typing I suppose) a lot less for that section! The Abattoir Blues section had a lot more variety, rather than The Lyre Of Orpheus which tended to be more laid-back - which was fine by the way, it's not that I hate it - though most of the album has a similar vibe, it's just more apparent on the second half. Lots of feelings of tranquillity is felt on this album, which is a welcomed feeling. It's a solid album for sure, just how everything is layered, how all the parts compliment each other, all of it has a place and it's undeniably well thought-out.
Highlight Song/s: "Cannibal's Hymn", "There She Goes, My Beautiful World", "Nature Boy" and "Breathless"
Tina Turner
3/5
Very 80s album, my gosh. It has this fun feel to it, some songs are absolutely anthems (see Highlight Songs below for examples.) I thought the first half (except for first song) wasn't really good, but starting at the b-side it drastically improved in quality, like SERIOUSLY IMPROVED. Definitely a high 3/5, but not high enough to be rounded up to 4/5.
Highlight Song/s: "I Might’ve Been Queen" (Soul Survivor), "Let's Stay Together" and "Steel Claw"
Ray Price
4/5
What a nice mood this album has. It's a live album with a solid introduction track (and separate from a song track; bonus points!) The albums contents are pretty much melodic, moody, country and/or country-adjacent music. Ballads galore, and lonesome feelings that are shared to the listener via singing and instrumentation. I didn't think I'd ever enjoy cheesy country ballads, but I suppose If it's done well - like this one - why not?
Highlight Song/s: "Lonely Street", "The Wild Side of Life" and "Sittin' and Thinkin'"
Kanye West
5/5
Kanye's debut album has a nice backstory, such as Kanye slowly climbing up the music industry ladder, the non-gangsta rap approach to hip-hop which the suits are not and the fateful near-fatal car crash he was involved in two years prior to release, whi h both he understandly references a lot. The album contains a lot of pop-styled hooks (examples: "We Don't Care", "Spaceship", "Through the Wire.") Usually the hook is done by yearning, pitched-up, soulful vocals referred to as chipmunk soul.
The album's first 4 proper tracks (non-skits) kick the album off with a strong start, lots of good hooks, such as "We Don't Care", "Spaceship" and "All Falls Down". The second part (tracks: 8-11) of the proper tracks do dip a bit in quality, mainly Jay-Z's part on "Never Let Me Down" and the worst track on the album "The New Workout Plan", only track that I just flat out do not like, everything about it. Though I do quite like "Get Em High" the verse by Talib is excellent! The third part (tracks: 12-17) is a good section of the album that has songs that are probably the epitome of chipmunk soul, whilst its also quite fatigued by the worst obnoxious skits on the album, "School Spirit" being the highlight of the section. The final section (tracks: 18-21) is pretty good, it has the classic "Through the Wire" and the finale "Last Call" is for sure a bit daunting, but Kanye's in-depth story makes it go by fast if it manages to entrances you.
Now a section just dedicated to Jay Z: Hats off to Jay-Z always managing to ruin an otherwise good song (Never Let Me Down) He always has to reference the same 10 nicknames that he HIMSELF started, just a huge bloody eye-roll. It's so bad and predictable it makes it so good (in a funny way.)
This is my second time listening through this album, if this was my first time listen this would've been a solid 4, but some songs hitted harder on the second listen so I feel this has to be a 5 at minimum. It's production and thought it was given is done very well.
Highlight Song/s: "We Don't Care", "All Falls Down", "Spaceship", "School Spirit" and "Through the Wire"
Van Morrison
3/5
Van Morrison is a person whose music the more I listen to, the more I'm starting to like. Though he is not without faults, like one of his cliches I've quickly discovered is he just loves to scat sing, it got quite obnoxious by time of "Brand New Day" in the albums runtime. Anyways enough about scat singing. I quite like his unique voice, I found it quite funny in "And It Stoned Me" early on in the song it seemed like his Northern Irish accent was seeping through at parts. Other than that, lots of the songs seemed to be in the style of his song "Brown-eyed Girl" which I love the vibe of, so I was fine with.
This originally was going to get a 4.0, but resorting to scat singing so much really did a number on me, so the albums rating is like a 3.40. Just not quite enough to get rounded up to 4.0.
Highlight Song/s: "And It Stoned Me" and "Into the Mystic"
Meat Loaf
3/5
I always subconsciously loathed any time I heard someone or mention to Meat Loaf. I have no good reason why, perhaps the name sounded pretentious? I don't really feel that way now after listening to Bat Out Of Hell. I hadn't heard any Meat Loaf song or him talking or anything in general except for "Paradise by the Dashboard Light" but I remember not liking it, too weird I suppose. I only remembered the song now when I got this album because of three things I remember from it, Meat Loaf song, duet with female vocalist and long song. The song on a re-listen was much better received by myself, for sure. Though I do wish the song was more like the first 3 minutes of the said song which is S-tier, but rest of the song is maybe a strong B.
This album seemed to me very meticulously done. Just everything about it, every minute detail is exactly in the right place at the right time, just so WELL done. The album really gives off the impression that this is an album created by a perfectionist where every possible perfection was perfected. Hope I got the point across enough, but I really do feel that impression.
(I don't mean well done as in I extremely like it, more like it was well thought-out.)
The backstory of the album that I read on Wikipedia was a real trip and a half, just like the multi-part 8 minute songs featured here.
Highlight Song/s: "You Took The Words Right From My Mouth (Hot Summer Night)" and "Paradise by the Dashboard Light"
Ute Lemper
3/5
This is like a classical and pop crossover and I believe its filled with covers, going off of what Wikipedia says with the songwriting credits. It's a meh album, to be completely frank, there's just not a lot to go off of. There are of course some cool orchestral parts, but that's a more here and there thing rather than an album packed with it. Definitely one of those albums where one listen is enough listens.
Highlight Song/s: "Tango Ballad" and "Passionate Fight"
Killing Joke
4/5
This is a post-punk album with industrial elements, interesting combination. The sizzling/melting guitar riffs are mean and pack quite a punch, classic post-punk throbbing bassline, as well as the mechanical, rigid drums. The choruses don't tend to be too good, but the other parts well make up for it.
Highlight Song/s: "Wardance" and "Complications"
Bob Dylan
4/5
Didn't have high hopes for this to be frank, the start was a bit rough to be frank, but halfway through I found the correct mindset to be in. I'm only used to his mid-60s stuff, this is definitely a more developed sound for sure. Still has the jingle-jangle guitars and god awful singing with solid lyrics. The atmosphere is really sweet, I like how much space there is in the mix, very breathable and refreshing.
Highlight Song/s: "You're A Big Girl Now" and "Lily, Rosemary and the Jack of Hearts"
Mike Oldfield
4/5
This album was really peaceful, the album consists of one track split into two parts. Very, very progressive rock of Mike Oldfield to do. I thought this album was entirely instrumental until near the end of Pt. 1, in which the spoken word at the started near the end of Pt. I thought was cheesy, but then I got mad chills brah when he said the album name at the end, where he was announcing what instruments going to play next.
Part 2 was my favourite just because of the feelings of tranquility it brang me (even more than the first part,) and I just thought it in general was better. But to be frank, this album has pretty good consistency throughout so there is no real 'drop' in quality.
Highlight Song/s: Tubular Bells Pt. 2
Richard Hawley
3/5
The album has a nice consistent high, not TOO high, but fairly high. It's good especially for a country album. This has that nice closeness feel that country and folk songs/albums tend to have; where it's mostly just the vocalist and a guitar. I really wasn't peeped by this album until the guitar solo happens in "Hotel Room." Made me completely raise my eyebrows in interest, a guitar solo a la Pink Floyd. That song is definitely by far my favourite.
Highlight Song/s: "Hotel Room" and "Darlin' Wait for Me"
David Gray
2/5
A nope from me! The vocals are just too whiny-sounding for me. It's pretty much all downhill starting from the only good track "Please Forgive Me." I hate to say it but to me it just sounds like a bunch of Britpop slop to me. Definitely not a fan of this, nor do I think this could be saved by another listen.
Highlight Song/s: "Please Forgive Me"
Rush
4/5
Rush's 2112 album has the amazing, epic-lengthed title track taking up one side of the album, and the other side of the album with commercial normal-lengthed hard rock. They doubled down on progressive rock (prog) after their previous album where they starting exploring prog was commercially a flop, and were at threat of being dropped from their record label, yet they doubled down and it paid off.
The second side songs really didn't do much for me (except for "The Passage to Bangkok") and I believe lot of the songs purposes was only there to just please the suits and have single-ready songs just in case anything bad were to occur. Maybe this album would've been a bit better received by me if this was in an alternate reality where Rush's 2112 had only 2 entire-side-lengthed songs, maybe the title track had a part 2?
Just the second side doesn't fell as sincere as the first that's all. Still a solid album, and it was a better listen than the first I listened to it.
Highlight Song/s: "2112" and "The Passage to Bangkok"
Dead Kennedys
5/5
Fresh Fruit for Rotting Vegetables is for sure an seminal album in the hardcore punk genre, and one the first of its kind. It primary uses sarcasm and satire - as evident by the album name - to criticise beliefs the Dead Kennedys don't believe in; in which they believe in left-wing ideals not right-wing ones, big misconception about this band! Like the song "Kill the Poor" is not literally about killing the poor, you gotta put your thinking-cap on and not take everything as is written and sung, which is what most people won't think to do when listening. If you can look past the edgy and offensive humour, it actually in fact has a lot of good takes under the humour people should ponder and question themselves about. Definitely a must listen album, especially if this was in a punk must listen album list.
Highlight Song/s: "Kill the Poor", "Let's Lynch The Landlord", "California Uber Alles" and "Holiday in Cambodia"
Janelle Monáe
4/5
I admit I rolled my eyes when looking at the runtime of the album and assumed the worst, but that feeling went away early on in the album. Suite II was pretty killer, on the other side, Suite III was not the best to be frank and seemed to drag fairly hard. The album is a good evidence of music as an art-form. Janelle's vocals are superb which are backed by the luscious instrumentation that JUST infects this release. I appreciate the cohesiveness this album radiates, cohesiveness seems to more of a thing left mostly in the 70s, so always glad when a modern release brings it back.
Highlight Song/s: "Faster", "Cold Love" "Oh, Maker" and "Wondaland"
Jimmy Smith
3/5
I just can't with this soul-jazz fusion with the electric organ as the lead instrument, it sounds so same-y! I can do Jazz and or soul by themselves and not get bored, but this specific fusion feels like I'm literally watching paint dry, where 40 minutes feels like 4 hours. It's un-real that I feel this intensely about the sound of the album. One very important thing is that this is better than Green Onions (by Booker T,) so at least one positive thing.
Definitely won't be re-visiting this nor will I with Green Onions!
Highlight Song/s: "When I Grow Too Old to Dream"
Anita Baker
3/5
It was alright I suppose, this is an album where (to me) nothing stands out too far to really comment on. The production doesn't stand out either - it's just typical 80s production - but some days safe, 80s-proudced, predictable albums/songs are good as a refresher after listening to some awful releases that list decides to chuck at you.
Highlight Song/s: "Caught Up in the Rapture" and "Mystery"
Björk
4/5
I've haven't had experience with Bjork outside of her amazing album of Post. It seems to be eclectic-ness city, which seems to something inherent with her, which I love. Lots of the music seems to be centred around electronic music - both experimental and straight-forward stuff. That sort of music is also complimented by some pop (i.e. "Venus As A Boy") and folk (i.e. "Like Someone In Love") which have unique twists and takes. One track that just 'wows' me is "There's More to Life Than This." Its concept and idea is just wonderful; Just so immersive! I wonder how an album of like-minded tracks would've sounded; in my opinion really good if executed properly.
I enjoyed this one thoroughly!
Highlight Song/s: "Venus As A Boy", "There's More To Life Than This", "Big Time Sensuality" and "Come To Me"
Mercury Rev
3/5
It was an alright one. Very dreamy and hazy record, it has a nice contrast of acoustic-focused and some noisy - bordering on shoegaze - tunes with both sort of songs having poppy hooks. The vocals are pretty androgynous and the album is overall quite nocturnal. I'd say I liked it other than the last couple tracks.
Highlight Song/s: "Tonite It Show", "Hudson Line", "Goddess on a Hiway" and "The Funny Bird
Nina Simone
4/5
I have heard possibly the most powerful vocals ever in my life because of this album. This is a voice that could stop a hurricane or something! The lyrical contents are pretty conscious, which I do like. The instrumentation are pretty well done, especially Nina Simone's piano playing.
Highlight Song/s: "I Love Your Lovin' Ways", "Four Women" and "That's All I Ask"
4/5
Blur's second album is another one of THOSE albums that I've been meaning to take a listen to, and unlike some other Blur albums and other musicians on the album listen list, this was good! Not my first run with Blur having liked self-titled and 13, and not liking Parklife apart from a couple songs. Modern Life is Rubbish themes are mostly about British everyday living and heavy emphasis on positivity and not anything American, which is what they were trying to do at the time.
Damon Albarn (Blur's frontman) really did not like much things American, more specifically Grunge. It started because of their first tour of America went poorly and Grunge was popular at the time with Albarn saying along of the lines on how if punk was getting rid of the hippies, then he's getting rid of Grunge. So this album was a reaction against depressing, slacker, American rock and because their first album did poorly so they were also under pressure to change the sound by their label.
Some songs are fairly energetic than what I was expecting, as I only knew the song "Blue Jeans" prior so I thought all songs would be in the style of that, but no, not at all! There is a nice contrast of punk-adjacent stuff (like "Chemical World") to the aforementioned "Blue Jeans" which is more like sleepy-sounding pop rock you'd hear on the next album. There are some weird stuff to compliment the rest such as "Intermission", "Commercial Break" and "Oily Water."
The album cover gives off great imagery and does a good job at highlighting the point of the album. This is a good album for sure.
Highlight Song/s: "Colin Zeal", "Blue Jeans" and "Chemical World"
Orbital
2/5
Another bloomin' 80 minute techno album, to hell with all of its kind! That melting/squeezing sound at the end of the first track and start of the second track, it was just one of those sounds that seems so common in techno albums on this list, that always never fails to make me act irrationally and see complete red. Which is completely out of character, not at all a hothead.
Just can't really dig electronic music intended for dancing, and that sort of music tends to be insanely repetitive. At times it's literally the same 2 bars going for 4 minutes, which is beyond ludicrous. Though the only 'good' thing about the album is probably the ambient elements.
Highlight Song/s: "Forever" and "Philosophy by Numbers"
The Velvet Underground
4/5
Definitely listening to their self-titled (no Nico) without listening to their other stuff is a bit unconventional, but this was a good one. It's very whimsical with the guitar and vocal melodies, sounds like blissful hippie acoustic music. I think this is an album that would be good one to put on during a rainy day. I sense this album is one of those ones that I will come around to rather than totally get straight away.
Highlight Song/s: "What Goes on", "Some Kinda Love", "That's The Story of My Life" and "Afterhours"
Frankie Goes To Hollywood
3/5
Probably one of the better synth-pop albums I've heard. This album and some particular songs was pretty controversial for referencing an un-shamed gay-focused lifestyle. Nowadays it doesn't seem too bad, perhaps maybe hip-hop lyrics have desensitised me, or the lyrics were never bad and just newspaper editors and readers have always been easy to offend. The styles as I mentioned earlier are quite synth-poppy, there isn't a crazy variety, but that's sometimes just fine. Definitely the first ever synth pop double album I've heard, and as an afterthought it could've been shortened, shaving portions off of the third and fourth side would suffice.
Highlight Song/s: "Relax", "Two Tribes", "Born to Run" "Including the Ballad of 32" and "The Power of Love"
Pink Floyd
5/5
Pink Floyd's hippie-era debut is for sure one of a kind with its uniqueness. Their then-frontman Syd Barrett was a fairly big reason for its quirks, some examples of the said quirks are the songwriting, lullaby-like melodies and guitar playing. This was before he totally lost his mind and people turned his story into a myth.
It has a good atmosphere to it, lots of space. Mix-wise and tone-wise. The dissonance is done really well and is contrasted by the whimsical melodies. Some examples of what I just mentioned that have elements of that are "Astronomy Domine", "Lucifer Sam" Pow R. Toc H." and "Interstellar Overdrive."
Some of the refrains are really weird, like in "Flaming" it has "Yippee, you can't see me / but I can you." At first It just feels so wrong and off-putting but it is said in such a charming way that I feel compelled to like it. Another refrain I like is in "Lucifer Sam" - which sounds like a TV show intro by the way - "The cat is something I can't explain." My favourite refrain of the album is in "Bike" which has "You're the kind of girl that fits in with my world / I'll give you anything, everything if you want things." That song is just filled with the most original, best and quotable lyrics ever.
The opening line in "The Gnome" "I want to tell you a story / about a little man If I can / a gnome named Grimble Crumble" is an un-matched line in the history of music, everything about it is amazing. The words themselves and how it's delivered - Syd's monotonous voice makes it more hilarious than it actually is.
People who overly hate this album shouldn't be trusted, this is the most light-hearted music ever and doesn't take itself serious. There must be something wrong at play if you dislike this album. 5 Star album every time!
Highlight Song/s "Lucifer Sam", "The Gnome" and "Bike"
Creedence Clearwater Revival
3/5
I liked this one a lot more than my other CCR album I've listened to on the list (Bayou Country.) Even though I do like this one more than Bayou Country, I just still see CCR more as a singles band rather than a band that has deep album cuts. This definitely has their trademarked swamp rock sound littered all over. I do have to say that John Fogerty is pretty good at writing absolute anthems.
Highlight Song/s: "Lookin' Out My Back Door", "Up Around The Bend" and "Who'll Stop the Rain"
Deep Purple
4/5
This was a lot more relaxed comparatively with Deep Purple In Rock, but still energetic and anthemic nonetheless. Just like ...In Rock it has some of the most unique guitar riffs I've ever heard in my life, Ritchie Blackmore must worship the devil or something to come up with all these riffs. This album had a lot more consistent high than ...In Rock, but that album had more drastic highs and lows.
Highlight Song/s: "Maybe, I'm a Leo", "Highway Star" and "Smoke on the Water"
The Pogues
3/5
Punk fused with Irish folk music goes together so well, it's as if they were meant for each other. Shane's vocals are quite perfect with his punk-ish slurring, half-talking/singing, singing traditional Irish music melodies. I've heard a fair bit about this band but never listened to a song of theirs, very unique sound for sure. So it was quite a delight to listen to.
Highlight Song/s: "If I Should Fall From Grace With God" and "Bottle of Smoke"
Simon & Garfunkel
2/5
I remember listening to this prior to here because I really liked the songs "America" and "Mrs Robinson." I vehemently understood then why just because an album has some killer singles does not mean the rest is great and this is a exceptional example. Just mind numbing material, that's what it is. A 30 minute album dragging hard is completely crazy to me but It can happen I suppose. I also think Simon & Garfunkel stuff isn't for me, just to add to the negativity train. My reasoning is that because this album and the critically-acclaimed Bridge Over Troubled Water was miss.
Some positive things to leave on a semi-good note is that, the aforementioned "America" Is a god-tier song. I first listened to that song from the Yes cover, which I didn't like, I then stumbled across the original not knowing at first it was the same song, and fell in love with it. Oh and "A Hazy Shade of Winter" isn't half-bad I s'pose. AND last but not least of the note-worthy songs is "Mrs. Robinson" which I don't need to state how good that classic is because it's just THAT good.
Highlight Song/s: "America" and "Mrs Robinson"
Garbage
3/5
This is a pretty cool-sounding album. It fuses traditional alternative rock with pop and noise elements and tad bit of industrial music. Shirley Manson's vocals are top notch even if some of the songs instrumentally are a bit boring. I am fan of noisy music with solid pop hooks, so this one was easier than most new music to listen to. I believe this just yet another of those albums where it will grow on you.
Highlight Song/s: "Supervixen", "As Heaven is Wide", "Not My Idea" and "Vow"
Big Star
3/5
When I started listening to this I was just NOT into this whatsoever. It was heading straight to a 2 star, but it really picked itself up by the time the B-side started. I suppose I just started to understand it a lot more. I didn't like the first couple songs which reminded of the wimpy rock whiny vocals aka Led Zeppelin's first two albums. It has a really nice variety of songs, which I appreciate a lot.
I suppose the lesson I learnt from this album, is that you should believe in the album as much you can and keep an open mind always. Especially even if you're on a semi-bad album streak. I feel the album is just right on the cusp of the 4 star, but I believe 3 star is closer to what my heart wants.
Highlight Song/s: "Blue Moon" and "O, Dana"
LCD Soundsystem
3/5
Not too bad of an album for a first listen. The mannerisms and singing from LCD's frontman gives me heavy Franz Ferdinand vibes, especially with the overly aware lyrics. This album had a nice variety of sounds, but some of the more dance-focused songs were quite repetitive which was a negative. So it kind of evened each other out. Just yet another one of the albums that a re-listen might help with, it's not whatsoever a completely lost album which I see no hope in.
Highlight Song/s: "Someone Great", "All My Friends" and "New York..."