178
Albums Rated
3.18
Average Rating
16%
Complete
911 albums remaining
Rating Distribution
Rating Timeline
Taste Profile
1970
Favorite Decade
Metal
Favorite Genre
US
Top Origin
Wordsmith
Rater Style ?
9
5-Star Albums
10
1-Star Albums
Breakdown
By Genre
Top Styles
By Decade
By Origin
Albums
You Love More Than Most
| Album | You | Global | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Superfuzz Bigmuff
Mudhoney
|
5 | 2.93 | +2.07 |
|
Fear and Whiskey
Mekons
|
4 | 2.61 | +1.39 |
|
Young Americans
David Bowie
|
5 | 3.62 | +1.38 |
|
Beggars Banquet
The Rolling Stones
|
5 | 3.62 | +1.38 |
|
To Pimp A Butterfly
Kendrick Lamar
|
5 | 3.62 | +1.38 |
|
KE*A*H** (Psalm 69)
Ministry
|
4 | 2.69 | +1.31 |
|
Appetite For Destruction
Guns N' Roses
|
5 | 3.73 | +1.27 |
|
Phaedra
Tangerine Dream
|
4 | 2.73 | +1.27 |
|
Live / Dead
Grateful Dead
|
4 | 2.82 | +1.18 |
|
Bug
Dinosaur Jr.
|
4 | 2.93 | +1.07 |
You Love Less Than Most
| Album | You | Global | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Blue Lines
Massive Attack
|
1 | 3.38 | -2.38 |
|
xx
The xx
|
1 | 3.36 | -2.36 |
|
Under Construction
Missy Elliott
|
1 | 3.15 | -2.15 |
|
Trans Europe Express
Kraftwerk
|
1 | 3.15 | -2.15 |
|
I'm Your Man
Leonard Cohen
|
1 | 3.09 | -2.09 |
|
Ambient 1/Music For Airports
Brian Eno
|
1 | 3.07 | -2.07 |
|
Skylarking
XTC
|
1 | 3.04 | -2.04 |
|
Foxbase Alpha
Saint Etienne
|
1 | 2.94 | -1.94 |
|
Kick Out The Jams (Live)
MC5
|
1 | 2.92 | -1.92 |
|
Club Classics Vol. One
Soul II Soul
|
1 | 2.82 | -1.82 |
Artists
Favorites
| Artist | Albums | Average |
|---|---|---|
| David Bowie | 3 | 4.33 |
Least Favorites
| Artist | Albums | Average |
|---|---|---|
| XTC | 2 | 1.5 |
Controversial
| Artist | Ratings |
|---|---|
| Leonard Cohen | 2, 4, 1 |
5-Star Albums (9)
View Album Wall
Popular Reviews
Johnny Cash · 1 likes
4/5
Fantastic performance by a legend. He was candid, fun & engaging throughout all of it. I love Shel Silverstien ever since I read Light In the Attic, so I love his playful lyrics on A Boy Named Sue. San Quentin is great song as well Starkville City Person. Both shedding light on our broken prison system even back then. 4
Tracy Chapman · 1 likes
4/5
Socially conscious, politically charged music. Excellent songwriter.
Revolution- your standard Revolution song. powerful.
Fast Car- seems like a cycle of abuse & poverty. Trying to escape only to be back in the same place again.
Behind the Wall- listening to abuse & realizing the system can't do much about.
Mountain o Things- I love the sarcasm in this. Definition of consumerism & Keepin Up With Joneses'. You can't take it with you.
This is from the late 80s with powerful politically charged music. I'm having the same problem I've had with Rage Against Machine. All this protest music, decade after decade, nothing seems to change. I hate it but shedding light on it helps. It just falls on deaf ears for the people who need to actually hear it. The ones who actually CAN make it change. POLITICIANS Nothing changes.
This music is still good though.
I'm glad Fast Car got a second wind from Luke Combs' cover. She deserves it. That cover is serviceable at best.
4
The Smashing Pumpkins · 1 likes
4/5
I am screenprinter by trade, in being a screenprinter, I have alot of interesting shirts. One such shirt has a certain moon with certain rocket crashed in it's eye enblazed on the front. The moon is from an imfamous French silent film but that's not how I know of it. I and several others got that shirt because of the music video for Tonight, Tonight. I still wear this shirt, even though it's holey and fading.
The Pumpkins really did do well for themselves with this album. I grew up with this band in the City by the Lake, I was the correct age when they were at their height with this album. Zero shirts adorned by many of my classmates. This is their masterpiece-eh Billy's masterpiece. Is it their best? Most definitely their peak.
Judas Priest · 1 likes
4/5
Just your classic hard rockin British Heavy Metal band. Rob Halford brings alot of gravitas with his singing. Enjoyed this album not a whole lot of filler either. 4
Johnny Cash · 1 likes
4/5
How many cover albums are on The List? This is my fourth album full of covers as I haven't even cracked a hundred yet. I know that this ain't Johnny's first rodeo when it comes to cover albums as this is the fourth in the American series. It is his last recording & it feels that way. Like He Knew. I had stop listening half way through Bridge Over Troubled Water at work because I felt like I was gonna start bawling at any moment. That's how hard this hits. There is a reason why Trent Reznor says Cash owns Hurt now because you can feel that he has lived through all those things even though they are not his words. The legend of Johnny Cash carries that song through emotion & performance. Haunting & also woefully depressing. They aren't are all winners but he still kills it. The stripped down music & well worn voice just adds to the layers of all of it. 4.5
1-Star Albums (10)
All Ratings
Elvis Presley
4/5
I understand Elvis's place in music history & I love him but alot of these hits are done better by other people. He kills the vast majority of them. Still loved the album.
Beastie Boys
4/5
Alot more mature then Liscense to Ill. You can see their punk influences. I never really went beyond Sure Shot & Sabotage, but it was a great album
Supertramp
2/5
Meh. Not for me.Bloody Well Right is the best song. Asylum is an interesting song. Musically they great musicians its just not my bag.
Neil Young & Crazy Horse
3/5
Alot more jammy than I thought it would be. Solid Neil Young album.
Otis Redding
4/5
Fantastic renditions of stone cold classics. Satisfaction & Respect are Fantastic
Parliament
3/5
Funk, Funk & nothing but the Funk. Enjoyed it but I was a little disappointed and I've seen Parliament live.
Gang Of Four
4/5
Loved it even though I'm not into punk. Politically charged, interesting musical genre mix.
Pet Shop Boys
2/5
If your opening track is Being Boring boasting lines of Never Being Boring, you best not be boring. You were! Even when the beats picked up, I was still bored.
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds
2/5
My first exposure to Nick Cave beyond Red Right Hand. I found it to be a bit uneven & long winded & over indulgent. When he hits though it can pretty interesting & dark. For whatever reason his voice sounds like a poor man's David Bowie to me.
Pink Floyd
5/5
It may sound cliche but I've always felt this album feels like being stoned without actually being stoned. To the dream like trippy feeling of music & voices to giggles & hypnotic heart beat like drums. You can feel you eyes deepen & relax like being stoned.
Great Gig in the Sky is overrated. It's just a gospel singer screeching over trippy music.
Missy Elliott
1/5
This is a Missy Elliot exclusive review.
Her flow is good, the guest rappers are good & she has a good singing voice. I just found it to be annoying & didn't care for it. She's really only on here due to her frank nature of talking about sex. Oh & did I mention this is a Missy Elliot exclusive.
The Who
2/5
I'm a tad disappointed. This nice bluesy, 60s sound that the British did is nice. I'm A Man is a nice cover. My Generation is a classic song but rest is meh to good. 2.5.
Bob Dylan
2/5
To get this outta the way, Bob Dylan can't sing. Even when he could "sing" he wasn't all that great at it. This bluesy album works in that way with his voice. Somebody done did break Bobby's heart & he's gonna tell you about in 5 minute+ songs that desperately needs trimming. When the songs are on they are fantastic. When they are not on, its just boring. Cold Iron Blues is great. Trying to Get Into Heaven just sounds like he rewrote Knocking on Heavens door. Decent breakup blues with long winded songs.
Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan
3/5
Pleasantly surprised musically how good this is. The drums can be hypnotic, the guitar pleasant & his voice is wonderful. I can't speak lyrically as there is a language barrier but I'm kinda assuming this is this culture's gospel music. I'll probably never listen to this again but I'm glad I did.
Culture Club
3/5
Fun, infectious 80s cheese at its finest. Boy George surrounds himself with amazing musicians that makes this better then it ought to be. Man Shake is hilarious. Very much a product of its time
3.5
Amy Winehouse
3/5
Amy Winestone shoulda went to rehab but that's not this album. She is one of many stars that I like to call burning stars. You know, the Jim Morrisons, Hendrix & Joplins of the world. Genius who went hard & fast with drugs & booze then later died young but left a lasting impact. Amy Winehouse wasn't that for me, while others might find her fascinating, i was lukewarm on her. Her voice is undeniable, there's some good tunes here. Nice arrangements. BUT there doesn't seem to be any hits here. Mr. Magic? FUCK me pumps? I liked it, didn't love it. 3
Aerosmith
3/5
Is this a good album? Is it Great? No, not at all. The problem I have with this album is: Sweet Emotion & Walk This Way are too damn good & seem way too polished. They almost stick out like sore thumb. Big Ten Record plays like drunk, horny Weird Al song but it's not funny. Round & Round sounds like they are trying to ape Zeppelin. I want to score this higher but I cant.
Stereo MC's
2/5
Pick a song, any song. They all sound the same with enlightened lyrics that they think will change the world. Connected is all you really need to listen to & you've heard the whole album. Fun & upbeat hip-hop electronica.
2
R.E.M.
4/5
This is intriguing. I've heard most of REMs music but for whatever reason this doesn't sound like REM. You can see the glimpses of their future self. Its interesting to see how they have evolved as a band. The drums are awesome on this. Just everything that hits that sweet spot. I really
4
Leonard Cohen
2/5
I don't know what to make of this. He looks he would be crooner like Sinartra bur it's more like beatnik spoken word poetry jam. It reminds me of William Shatner's attempts at singing but Cohen has some talent. His prose throughout is too similar in the vast majority of his songs. So Long, Marianne is the best song in a sense that it's a more melodic song than others. He is songwriting is good but I just see anytime I would listen to this beyond this list. 2 only because it's more interesting than good.
Genesis
4/5
I've heard that early Genesis was progressive as I'd only heard their hits after Phil Collins took over the band but didn't realize how awesome they are as a prog band. Collins' drumming is amazing. Musically this is amazing prog music with face melting guitars & a flute!? With a dash of folk music.The songs run a bit long but thats expected for the genre. Lyrically though Genesis did little to nothing for me but I'd willing to go down the rabbit hole for more Genesis.
4
The War On Drugs
2/5
He sounds like the lovechild of Don Henley & Bob Dylan who doesn't know how to properly end a song. Your soundscapes aren't interesting enough to end every song like that. The songs tend to be needlessly long. To me the drummer makes this incredibly better then it ought to be. Fun upbeat keeping the flow really saves alot of the songs.
David Bowie
3/5
I want to give this a 4 but it's the instrumentals that drags it down. They are wonderful atmospheric songs that sounds like a score for an unproduced Horror movie with Bowie but they don't fit the rest of the album. The rest of album great I really dug it.
The Psychedelic Furs
4/5
I made the mistake of telling my son about Music Boners but he said that was too crass. So I changed it to Music Errection, but that was still too crass. So I settled of Music Attraction. Or what it is that attracts you to a certain thing that just turns you on Musically. This album gave me a Full On Chub. While a handful of songs just sound like Brit punk, the rest you can hear the groundwork of early alternative music.
Soul II Soul
1/5
I'm really struggling to see why this is on the list or even what the "hit" is on this album. It's kinda sad when your best songs rely on guest stars, when the rest of the bands open their mouths, you can see why. There's some funky bass lines on a few tracks. Oh I enjoyed Ron Burgundy's guest appearance on flute in African Dance.
David Bowie
5/5
David Bowie is a bad man. Infinitely funky & soulful. All the funk converges in Fame, which is so damn funky it hurts. I don't think there is a weak song here. Loved it.
2/5
Critics really do like to glob onto anything that is even remotely different & act like it's the best thing ever. When really it's just artists recording their own farts. That's what this feels like. Musically the compositions are fine. The lyrics are quirky, odd & awkward. The only accessible song is I'd Like That, which I'd had Heard the song before & it's a decent song. 2
Morrissey
3/5
This is Morrissey? the douchey-ist douche whoever douched. THAT Morrissey. Well he shows it in the We Don't Like Our Friends... song. Other than that he's just kinda medicore. The rock music is fine. The love ballads are a bit much but fine. He seems like a sad petty little man based upon reputation for just meh music.
N.E.R.D
3/5
Horny NERDs amirite? I had fun with the album. Alot of the songs have positive messages which is kinda refreshing. Has a nice blending of genres. Some of the songs kinda blend together. A bit too horny for my tastes at times. But solid fun album. 3.5
5/5
There's a reason why Bowie has 9 albums. It's because he deserves it. This is great album. Psychedelic, bluesy with interesting lyrics & themes presented. This is my 3rd Bowie in the last 10 albums issued. Keep em coming. Another 5.
The Auteurs
3/5
I'd never heard of this band before. I quite liked it. The sound is very 90s alternative but different than the sound of that era here in the US but familar as well. The piano adds a different sound. His lyrics are quite odd & quirky which I like. My few knocks on this is the songs can run a bit long & they all sound to blend together.
2/5
Would I want to listen to again? No, Fuck You. What the fuck is wrong with you? As I say this, I don't hate it. When it finds its groove & rhythm, it can be quite good but unfortunately they rarely maintain that groove. It ends up sounding like a cacophony of frantic drums & saxophone noodling. I could compare it to a panic attack at times but that's mean. Or the sound of infinite toolchests falling down endless stairs while running over infinite cats. Just buckle up & enjoy the ride. The second half is much more coherent than the front. So stick with it. I want to give a 3 or even a one. But 2 feels like the right rating. I kinda get what Zorn is attempting to do here: compress Coleman's compositions. It just doesn't quite work.
Amy Winehouse
3/5
Not nearly as fun as her first album but it is superior. As the songwriting is much more mature, but also depressing considering her fate. You can see her depression in the songs & also she seems to have a submissive nature towards men. She shoulda went to Rehab.. 3
New York Dolls
4/5
This is that Buster Poindexter guy. The cabbie from Scrooged! This will indeed affect the review. This album is Hot Hot Hot! Like a punk rock Rolling Stones with lots of angst. Buster's (I know that's not the name he used in this band) voice is gravelly & smokey which adds alot to angst, sometimes he sounds like the singer of Rancid. Which one would guess that he may have been influenced by NYD. You can hear their influence in the punk world.
Solange
2/5
Her voice is pleasant but not all that great. The songs that hit like Cranes in the Sky are quite good but most of the rest I just get bored with it & want it to end The music itself is a nice music collage. Songs start to blend together. I get it, there's strong themes here & its fine. Is that the reason this is on the list? Or is it because of who her sister is? I'm not a huge Beyonce fan, the hits on the radio are fine if that's the type of music you like. I'm gonna guess that Beyonce's albums on this list are better than this. At least, One would hope. 2 By the way, that's Master P on the interludes. It was driving me nuts as to who this guy is & why we should listen to him.
Count Basie & His Orchestra
4/5
This was delightful. Silky, smooth compositions. Made me want to take my best girl out on the town for dancing & martinis. Maybe smack the Cigarette waitress on the ass after getting a pack of Lucky Strikes. Seriously good album. 4
Guns N' Roses
5/5
So Teddy, my pug, does not like Welcome to the Jungle. When that opening came up, that head tilt & annoyed disposition & Axel began to squeal. He hid next to his mommy. This is not for a Pug Dog, no Sir. He proceeded to lick the air obsessively for 3 songs & fell asleep. 1 star from the pug.
Luckily I'm not a pug. This is a solid album from top to almost bottom. Five standouts: Welcome to the Jungle, Mr Brownstone, Sweet Child, Paradise City &Night Train. Axl shows his sweeter side with Thinking About You. And of course there is that little layer of 80s cheese that you can't deny is totally there but you love it anyway.
I listened to this with my wife & I asked her what she thought. She said:
Its Guns N Roses!
George Harrison
4/5
Lyrically & sonically, this album rips. If you surround yourself with great musicians, you get great results. That's exactly what Harrison does. Does this run long? Yes, especially the Apple Jam but it's Derek & the Dominoes. What are you complaining about? It's a high & tight jam with George Fuckin' Harrison & a great band!
Frank Sinatra
3/5
So the idea of the first concept album is Frank's Sad. It seems a bit lazy but it was a different time. Which is exactly what this album sounds like. Frank's the best crooner that there is & his voice sells it but alot of these are dull & boring. The music behind him is fine but it sounds like I'm watching a Disney movie. But again from a different time. I'm giving a 3 if only for Frank's voice & showmanship.
The Rolling Stones
5/5
This is a great blues that explores the blues. You got country tinged blues like No Exceptions & Dear Doctor. Then your standard blues & boogie blues sprinkled throughout. Sympathy for the Devil is one of my favorite Stones tune. Street Fighting Man is raw hard song with nice piano bit to make it more melodic which I dig. Easy 5
Dr. John
3/5
This is a delightfully weird album with weird, far out soundscape jams. Dr. John's voice is both unique yet familiar & adds alot to the New Orleans flared sound but you can tell it's a Dr. John song. Which can go both ways: good or bad. I guess it depends on how you reacted to this sound. 3
Brian Eno
1/5
This was....zzzzzzz... an incredibly.....zzzz...boring.....zzzzzzzzzzz...album! While the music is pretty it never really goes anywhere. If that's Eno's critique of muzak, than it's spot on. I've heard elevator music that's better this, it's faint praise, but it's praise. My God, he made 3 other albums like this. At least, it'll put you to sleep. I need a nap.
Ms. Dynamite
2/5
I would like to give this a 3 but its just that I don't care for this type of music, so when the songs go long, I lose interest Musically, I love the musical collages she makes & her voice is fine, rap is ok. The lyrics are where I just lose interest. It's fine if you like this type of music. Otherwise, mediocre. And what's with that weird panting at the end of All I Want.
The Cure
3/5
This is a great album with a nice groove throughout. Moody but not as moody as I thought it would be. That might be because i wasnt quite paying attention to the lyrics. Overall I enjoyed it. 3.5
Tears For Fears
4/5
This album is unfair & frustrating because it is so good. It gets its hooks in you but those hooks drag a bit. That really is my only complaint of the album is: the songs tend to drag on & needs an edit. I found this to be a lovely surprise though it very much is a product of its time in a good way. 4
Kendrick Lamar
5/5
The hype behind this guy is very much real. His flow, his voice & voice effects confuse me at times. And I DON'T KNOW WHY? But I dig it. In Dick For Sale it's straight up scatting over jazz. In For Sale, he adds a childlike lisp. This dude tells the world & his own people the harsh reality of the world that needs to heard. I had gotten Solange's album a couple few albums ago, it deals with the same themes as this. I had given it a Medicare review. Difference between the two is the writing & sounds you put around you to tell your truth. Kendrick just does it better.
It takes alot to impress me in rap & hip hop world. So my hats off to Kendrick.
5
The Isley Brothers
4/5
Silky, smooth, funky fresh soul & r&b at its finest. The stark difference between the singles & album can be jarring but that elongated bluesy version of That Lady is just amazing.
The Saints
4/5
A pleasant surprise of an album. I've never heard of them. This was fantastic. Horns added depth. Various punk sounds & also some surfer vibes too. 4
Deep Purple
3/5
Light Doobie, Press Play & Enjoy!!
The debate about all your songs sounding the same but still be amazing is a long & sorted one. Like acdc & Motorhead, this is Deep Purple. Face melting psychedelic hard heavy rock. Accept or don't. 3.5
Fishbone
4/5
This may be the best Ska album I've ever heard but I'm no aSKAcianado (I butchered that spelling) Every song is a different journey. Soul, metal, hip hop, reggae, funk & dash of doo wop. Songs about struggle, politics, sex & funk. Just a fantastic album. I wanna give it a five but for now 4.5
Massive Attack
1/5
It's amazing how you can listen to something & have little to no reaction to it. I know what I like & it ain't this. Didn't care for lyrics or style of rap. The beats were meh & did little to nothing for me. I feel nothing for this. I just don't like it. No musical attraction whatsoever. 1
Dusty Springfield
3/5
Why covers? She has a lovely great voice but you're having do cover songs. She does them quite well. Can you imagine if they introduced the world to Brittney Spears with a cover album? Apparently that's what they did at the time. She has a great voice & does a great job of these covers.
King Crimson
4/5
Atmospheric but at times dull. Uses music to build their wonderful world. At times they can be funky. Easy Money is easily the most accessible song on here. I have only really dipped my toes in progressive rock but this is indeed PROG. I listen to this & I hear how King Crimson helped shape Prog. This album demands an emerisive listen, so that you can hear all that they put out. These guys most be the Grand Pappys of Prog. Right?
Judas Priest
4/5
Just your classic hard rockin British Heavy Metal band. Rob Halford brings alot of gravitas with his singing. Enjoyed this album not a whole lot of filler either. 4
Elton John
4/5
Hold Me Cloaer, Tony Danza. Once you hear it, you cannot unhear it. And it amuses me to no end. Anyways, I love this album. The compositions are fantastic. I call them compositions because they feel like that rather than rock songs. Strong first half but peters out at the end.
4
Neu!
3/5
Atmospheric, weird. The instrumentals are good & interesting. It's uneven though. Weird Atmospheric instrumentals then punk inspired rock. Emusik is a mixture of both. This is right in middle. 3 or 2.5
Elastica
3/5
For some reason I thought this was an Electronica band. Its not, they are a fantastic alternative rock band. Various different song styles not be bored. They remind me a lot of Garbage but not as creative. This is very high 3.
3.8
Michael Jackson
4/5
The nicest way to put this is: the last 20 or so years of Jackson's life, he was a weirdo. He chose to be weird instead of making great music. This is great music. There are times where it sounds like a product of its time, the 80s. Lovely, wonderful 80s cheese. The hits are, well, hits. It's almost unfair how good they are. I may have misheard the lyrics in Dirty Diana but did MJ just imply that he was raped (or emotionally raped) by a groupie or shows his disdain for groupies. Messed up song but I guess that's the price of fame.. Liberian Girl is probably the reason this isnt a 5 star record. Its just awful. Too simple. Opinion: I prefer Alien Ant Farm's cover of Smooth Criminal. 4 Fun Fact: Michael Jackson is from Gary, Indiana. That explains everything.
Red Snapper
2/5
Just your run of the mill British techno band. Never heard of em. They can build a good groove & great atmosphere with the songs but can either get repetitive or annoying. Sometimes on the turn of a dime. Better than most of the other Brit techno on here. Also I have the urge to put together a gang for some sort of heist. Which is kinda like this album: Sometimes I'm IN, but most of the time I'm OUT! 2
Beatles
5/5
I get to listen to Abbey Road today! Today is a good day! That's really all that needs to be said. Brilliant, Bizarre Beast of an album. 5
Jack White
4/5
Jack White always delivers. This is an album of his That I have somehow not heard. Though not his best work, it's still amazing. White always takes you on his music journey with face melting guitars & bluesy country licks. Always a showman. 4.
Elbow
3/5
This is more interesting than actually good and there is a difference. The songs and music are pleasant enough but go on too long. I can hear the comparisons to Radiohead but they are just not even on the same level as them. The songs tend to blend together. Not necessarily a bad thing but if you don't care for the one song they keep playing "differently", you're in for a bad time. 3
Iron Maiden
4/5
I was surprised to find a bluesy bar band that totally shreds instead of Iron Maiden. Then The Metal Showed Up on Phantom and barely let up on the back half. This is a solid debut. Bruce Dickinson is whom I'm used to but this guy is very good. He doesn't have the gravitas of Dickinson though. Can't wait for Number of the Beast to show up. Soild 4
Frank Zappa
4/5
Zappa is niche. He is music for music nerds. That very much means that this album should be on this list. He tends to have perverse, Bizarre lyrics, luckily all but one is an instrumental. First & foremost he is a composer, who surrounds himself with the best & expects perfection. All of this is for his amazing musical experience but still niche. Amazing great album that the average person would struggle with. Which is why it gets a 4.
Jefferson Airplane
4/5
Groovy, mellow, psychedelic sound of the 60s. Personally, I'd prefer the psychedelic tripping balls stuff like White Rabbit than the Hippy Dippy I Love You stuff. Those are still good but to each their own. Different styles throughout lots of bluesy numbers or skipping through the fields with your lady friend numbers. In The Morning is generic blues song #362 that is actually pretty great. Grace Slick is best of the vocalists here it really shows up when she takes over in some of the songs. 4
Cream
3/5
The Psychedelic British blues band.that features Clapton among others is utterly fantastic but I'm find myself underwhelmed. Their singing voices are serviceable at best & where does Cream land on the list of great British blues bands of that Era. Let's face it there's a ton & they are in conversation. Just seems like it's been done. Kinda felt this way about The Who's debut album. It's fine, the hits, HIT & the rest is fine bur been done better by others.
Lynyrd Skynyrd
4/5
Southern Rock Legends with all their legendary songs. Simple Man is too good & gave me the feels. Mostly cuz that was Mother/Son Dance at my wedding reception. I'm tempted to give it a 5 but it's a 4.
Frank Sinatra
3/5
Silky, swinging, smooth jazz with Ol Blue Eyes smooth as silk voice is still very much a product of its time but that doesn't make it bad. Most of his hits are here & they sure are swell. The others are swell as well but still suffers from sounding all the same. I've said it before: If you don't like the ONE song they play DIFFERENTLY, you're in for a bad time. If you do, you'll love it. I enjoyed the album much better than the Frank's Sad album that is on the list but it's still a 3.
Where have I heard of the band, Faces? That's right. Rod Stewart's band. UGH! I dislike Rod Stewart & this album only helps that cause & fuels it. Silly, cheesy Lyrics, rhyming Judy & Moody, then Rita & sweeta. UGH! The band itself is actually fantastic & the music is impressive but I have to listen to ROD some of the time. UGH! 2.5
Rod Stewart looks like someone put a mullet on a pug & cut off the party in the back. Then squeezed it into tight leather pants & a white collared shirt with the top few buttons undone.
Throwing Muses
4/5
Sounds like a punk version of Tori Amos. Her quivering voice is very unique & adds a lot to the sound but can scream if need be. I am slightly annoyed by having to hunt for the album but it is what it is. This is a weird, fun album. Some of the songs seem to transition into another but its the same song. Dying Rabbit is a fine example of this: it starts out slow & somber then BAM something that sounds like a country hoedown with punk flare. Right back to slow & somber. Overall it was a pleasant surprise. I'm beginning to like punk more & more. I've never had anything against it, just never got fully into as other genres. I always found it simple musically but simple isn't bad. The old saying KISS: Keep It Simple, Stupid works with music too. 4
3/5
This was indeed a wild gift. Punk rock with rockabilly sensibility. I got the vibe that if Courtney Love started a punk band with a mediocre Elvis impersonator in the 80s, it would be this band. I'm struggling between a 3 & 4 on the rating because the songs start to blend together. So I'll split the difference & say 3.5
The Who
4/5
This is a fantastic performance but this being the second Who album I've heard so far. They are overrated. The weakest of the British Invasion bands of that Era. That doesn't mean it's not good, it's just not hitting for me. It should as I enjoy Loud bluesy based bands, it just not doing it. As someone who listens to a lot of live albums, they translate well live. That's a great variation of Magic Bus. Their jams tend run a bit long & kinda boring. I'd be a Happy Jack if I saw this show live. 4.5
Beatles
4/5
I'm not going to do a traditional review at this time as I've previously heard the album & Phish's live version(sans no.9) I'm going to ask questions. Is every Beatles album a 5 star album? What makes an album 5 stars? Does the bloat of a double album make it a lesser album than single album? Are going to accept that this is 5 star album because "it's ThE wHiTe AlBuM" or are you going to critically listen to it? Do you start with 5 stars & deduct due to lesser songs not being as good as the "hits?" How does one review a legendary album? These are the questions I ask when reviewing a legendary album. This is part of fun of doing this list.
Traffic
3/5
Musically, this is a brilliant album. Glad is nice Lil improvised piece that goes to some trippy places. Stranger in his Mind is best song by far & Empty Pages is alright. Some of the songs go a bit long but I never felt bored. I may have to actually read the lyrics to John Barleycorn to figure out why he must die but if I didn't care while listening, it must not be that intriguing. 3
The Rolling Stones
3/5
I want my 11 minutes back from listening to Jagger catawall on about Going Home to Bang his girl. That's the most cliche bullshit blues "jam" I've ever heard. It's sounds like piss poor Grateful Dead expression but with Mick's voice "jamming" UGH!! Otherwise the hits are good & the rest is hit and miss. The band behind Mick should get more kudos for they prop up more so.
Sabu
2/5
Surprisingly good, musically with hypnotic conga drums & better then it ought to be guitar riffs. I just don't really think I would revisit this album or style of music.
Elvis Costello
4/5
On the way to work today, I heard Billy Joel's It's Still Rock N Roll To Me. Why is this relevant? Costello gives me Billy Joel vibes & Elvis sounds like that old style of rock with a slight punk aspect.. The punk is there but only if you squint real hard. I dug this, fun interesting song writing.. just great songs.
Klaxons
4/5
This may very well be the dorkiest album I've ever heard. I say this as a Weird Al fan. That being said, they are talented dorks. There is hardness that pops up, weird falsetto voices, nice quirky lyrics & unique soundscapes. The album really is a unique listen & hits my music funny bone. 4
The Go-Go's
4/5
Just wonderful, wondrous girlie poppy punk rock at it's finest. Love the drums, love the melodies & songwriting. Keep it rocking girls!
The Smashing Pumpkins
4/5
I am screenprinter by trade, in being a screenprinter, I have alot of interesting shirts. One such shirt has a certain moon with certain rocket crashed in it's eye enblazed on the front. The moon is from an imfamous French silent film but that's not how I know of it. I and several others got that shirt because of the music video for Tonight, Tonight. I still wear this shirt, even though it's holey and fading.
The Pumpkins really did do well for themselves with this album. I grew up with this band in the City by the Lake, I was the correct age when they were at their height with this album. Zero shirts adorned by many of my classmates. This is their masterpiece-eh Billy's masterpiece. Is it their best? Most definitely their peak.
The Vines
3/5
If Weezer & Silverchair tried to make a psychedelic Nirvana album but forgot to listen to Nirvana & listened to surfer punk instead. It's not that it's bad, it's damn good in fact. I just fear that it's forgettable.
Duke Ellington
3/5
This is exactly what I expected from Duke Ellington, smooth, swinging jazz. What I didn't expect was banter & intros. Like 20% banter. There is just a whole lot of jazz. I don't pretend to know it, I've heard enough & I respect it. I respect this & all the great musicans. It may not be my cup of tea, all the time but it can be good. Transports you places. 3
XTC
1/5
All of this, from the singing, to songwriting to music, is only vaguely entertaining. Far too theatrical for my liking. Sounds like a bunch of idiots trying to be British bards.
3/5
I quite simply do not like U2. There are some songs that I like, note that I said like, but for the most part they do little to nothing for me. The first 3 tracks are the "hits" they are fine songs but I don't like them, I tolerate them only because they are familiar. That being said they are talented. I just don't like it. 3
The Teardrop Explodes
3/5
I thought this was going to be a schlocky 80s new wave bullshit but I was pleasantly surprised by this interesting album. Weird, quirky lyrics, interesting soundscapes. I didn't care for the singer's voice but the music was good.
Rage Against The Machine
5/5
Someone threw a grenade & BOOM!! the result Rage Against the Machine. Tom Morrello's turn tabl-- wha... that's his fucking guitar! Zach de la Rocha's angry growling & spitting truth about the world. This is a five album easily. BUT the problem I have is with this both ignorance & the fact that none of this ever changes.
This album came out in 1992. All the shit that Rage has been spouting out against are still problems. Yeah cool you shed light on those issues but I listen to it in 2025. Same shit, different year.
Not to mention, some of these issues, that you bring to light with the subtlety of crowbar smacked to face flew directly over fans heads. How stupid do you have to be to not figure that from the second song on the album? Ignorance plain & simple.
I like protest songs & bands but they just seem to land on deaf ears.
AC/DC
4/5
What if the only reason why AC/DC is successful is because Angus Young sold his soul to the devil with the twist being that it only works in the School Boy Uniform? Also all your songs will sound exactly the same but somehow different. Just look at these tracks on here;
It ain't even fair!
1. Hell's Bells
2. Shoot to Thrill
The B SIDE!!!
Back in Black
You Shook Me....
Have a Drink on Me
Shake a Leg
Rock N Roll Ain't Noise Pollution
THATS THE B SIDE
BLACK MAGIC FUCKERY
nothing more nothing less.
Just listen to Give Your Dog a Bone. Its so dumb, it's good. So cheesy.
Oh and somehow they did this with a completely different singer because Bon Scott died from binge driinking.
blackmagicfuckery
The Devil makes the best music.
Even though it all sounds the same.
4.5
Depeche Mode
3/5
Music can take you different places. Sinatra takes you to Vegas swing joints, Buddy Guy takes you to smokey Chicago blues bars.
Depeche Mode takes you to a H.S. boys bathroom circa 1980 something. You smell clove cigarettes, Aqua Net, actual cigarettes, a hint of weed & whole angst, sadness & desperation. 80s synth at its finest used to make moody atmospheric music that brings the dark clouds over head. Some of the songs go on a bit long. 3.5
ZZ Top
4/5
Seems quite odd that it took damn near 90 albums to get to actual U.S. Blues. No, Jack White's neo garage blues don't count. Good old fashion Texas style blues. Not the Stones, or the Who's or Clapton's blues. Authentic American Blues. This is how its done though homogenized by the mainstream. Still the blues. Gotta love ZZ Top. The only reason why I've seen Kid Rock is to see these bearded badasses.
Death In Vegas
2/5
Aisha, I'm confused as to why this is on this list. This isn't nearly as bad as some of the other Brit Techno Wank that you insist upon me hearing. A bit too long at times. Aladdin's Story has a good groove. Aisha has an interesting subject matter even though it sounds like an abandoned Rob Zombie song. 2
Madness
3/5
Seek out the album on YouTube, what they have on Spotify sounds like Zappa doing Weird Al doing clown music besides Our House & Primrose Hill. Which are the only two songs on the actual album.
The album itself is pretty good when they don't devolve into clown music, it happens quite a bit. Our House seems like it's from another planet compared to rest. This is not your modern Ska though. It's closer to Badfish than Less Than Jake. It has a good sound with horns, guitar, piano/organ & whatnot. I also hear some They Might Be Giants in there. Also New Delhi is um incredibly dated.(is a nice way of putting it)
Christine and the Queens
2/5
80s synth pop with a good but not memorable singer. I guess fake 80s is good, psst its not. Its not nearly as bad as I'm making it out to be & it sure as hell isn't as Great as they are claiming it is. Feels So Good is the silliest, fake-ist 80s song on here. Just pick a random 80s singer artist & it will be better than this. This isn't my cup of tea, so I'll wade into French version to see how deep I get. Not far. The French versions are better but I don't care enough to listen more. Doesn't matter is a great song in either language. It's poppy, it can be fun. I just do not care for it. You might. 2.5
Johnny Cash
4/5
How many cover albums are on The List? This is my fourth album full of covers as I haven't even cracked a hundred yet. I know that this ain't Johnny's first rodeo when it comes to cover albums as this is the fourth in the American series. It is his last recording & it feels that way. Like He Knew. I had stop listening half way through Bridge Over Troubled Water at work because I felt like I was gonna start bawling at any moment. That's how hard this hits. There is a reason why Trent Reznor says Cash owns Hurt now because you can feel that he has lived through all those things even though they are not his words. The legend of Johnny Cash carries that song through emotion & performance. Haunting & also woefully depressing. They aren't are all winners but he still kills it. The stripped down music & well worn voice just adds to the layers of all of it. 4.5
Elvis Costello & The Attractions
4/5
He certainly does know how to write an infectious poppy punk new wave earworm songs. I am getting a lot of Tom Petty's more sophisticated British cousin more so than on his debut. I loved it. 4.5
Jane's Addiction
3/5
Have you heard Been Caught Stealing? That's the best song on here & they all sound about like that to varying degrees of interesting. They are like a less quirky Primus or less trippy Flaming Lips. Every single one of his peers of this Era are better than Perry Ferrell.
Everything about this is overrated from Perry Ferrell's importance to Lollapalooza to Dave Navarro's pretty boy guitar god.
It's good at times, just not as good as everyone makes em out to be. Mediocrity at its finest. 3
Public Enemy
3/5
You have to like flow of the rappers in order to enjoy hip-hop & rap. There's always been gimmicks in rap when it comes to rap. Flava Flav has a such a gimmick with "Yeeeaahh Boy" & I'm ok with it. Cuz dude knows how to spit. The rest of their flows are old skool & I dig it. Their choice of samples are quite unique, I liked the Bugs Bunny sample on one track. Though old school & goes long on some songs. I give it a 3.
Beastie Boys
4/5
What's a big clue that you're listening to a satirical song? Usually its something over the top in nature or bizarre that makes you question what you're listening to. Fight For Your Right is claimed to be a satirical song. If you pair It with the music video, you'd have a case. I'm listening to the song though. Nothing in Fight For Your Right is over the top enough for my brain to question if this is serious or not. All the stuff that they say is par for the course for the frat boy culture they are supposedly skewering. If you're telling me they have a sarcastic delivery in which they rap. Have you heard the Beasties Boys before? Their flows sound sarcastic. In Nirvana's In Bloom, the over the top line is "Shoot his Guns" and there's a subtle sarcasm in his voice. Thats how satire or poking fun at oblivious people is done right. To me Fight For Your Right sounds like a Breakfast Club Era defiance song fighting for the -um-well- right to party!? All this being said: Great song, Bad satire.
Enough about one song.
I love the Beastie Boys. Their old school, fun, playful & often times pervy flow is so much fun to listen to. Their rock/punk savyness with their hip hop styles just gives it a well rounded sound.
Love the samples from Zep to Mr. ED. I don't recall all the gun talk from when I listened to the album in my youth. Seems like a poser move. Great album
4.5
One last thing. During the background harmonies on Girls, It sounds like they are going to crack up at any moment. Oh and I just wanted to mention the Castle of White! White Castle!
Eagles
3/5
This band is overrated & bland. I'm comfounded as to how they are so revered to fans & critics. 3
NOW FOR WHAT YOU REALLY WANT!!!
A REVIEW OF THE BIG LEBOWSKI!!!
The Coen Brothers have done it again with Jeff Bridges owning the role of constantly stoned, Creedence Lovin' slacker, Jeffery "The Dude" Lebowski. When the Dude's rug gets stolen by Nillists in a case of misidentification because another Jeffery Lebowski, a multimillionaire, is in hot water when his hot wife is kidnapped & put up for ransom. His butler (Phillip Seymour Hoffman kills this small but important role) enlists the Dude to help with the dropoff. When his bowling buddies Walter & Donny are skeptical of this ransom & Walter attempts to double cross Lebowski by switching the cash with his dirty socks. The whole thing gets botched & the Dude has to figure out what the fuck is going on.
This insanely quotable, often times weird mystery is one of my favorite movies. You have John Goldman steal the movie with Walter, the weird, delusional Vietnam vet & the delightful Steve Buscemi as Donny
I Am The Walrus.
There's so many memorable scenes in this movie. One that involves the Eagles.
After getting into a cab with the Eagles playing on the radio the Dude laments "I've had a rough night. I HATE THE FUCKING EAGLES" The cab driver promptly drags him outta his cab in a case of extreme overreaction.
There's also the infamous scene which has the funniest TV edit in history.
When Walter confronts the teen, Larry, with questions about where the ransom money is. He becomes frustrated with his interrogation, so he goes outside & begins to smash the kid's brand new car screaming "This is What happens when you fuck a stranger in the ass." Although it ain't the kid's car. In the TV edit he screams: THIS IS WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU FIND A STRANGER IN THE ALPS!! FEED SCRAMBLED EGGS TO A STRANGER!! It's just such a ridiculous way of censorship.
Love the movie. The Dude is totally validated in his hatred of the Eagles. Joe Walsh is cool though but not on this record. Boo.
808 State
3/5
I grumbled to myself this morning when I saw this album before me. Hooray! More British Techno Wank! Look I'm not British, but from what I've heard so far from that genre, it's a wank or whatever. From the boredom I endured on Pet Shop Boys Behavior or that Guy Ritchie heist movie soundtrack that was Red Snapper. I was ready to hate this but I was hasty in my Judgment.
I enjoyed this more than I disliked it Yes, it's repetitive but that's kinda the point & the lyrics don't really matter clearly. I loved the soundscapes & grooves on Paficic 202. This is far closer to modern edm than the 80s Techno that I have come to dislike from The List.
It makes me want to listen to Disco Biscuits or that take some, that'll make this a 5 star album. I'm too old for that shit. So I'm Pleasantly surprised by this. 3
Sade
3/5
I remember in the 90s when Sade was big in the US, everyone was just wondering how to pronounce her name.
I did not expect all the funky, amazing bass lines that is prevalent throughout the album. I'm more impressed by the silky smooth, funky, jazzy music throughout then the songwriting but the lyrics are pretty good. I liked Cherry Pie & Hang on to Your Love especially. Some of the songs start out with the same with sax. I wasn't that impressed with Smooth Operator but I think it may be a cover. This is incredibly close to 4 but I'm going with a 3.8
This is my 100th album, which somehow landed on my sister's birthday.
Mudhoney
5/5
For our anniversary, my wife asked me where I wanted go for a trip, I choose Seattle. The reason why is because of the grunge scene & it's natural beauty. The Gum Wall & Fremont Troll are a bizarre sight to see in person. I wanted to go to Sub Pop store but we couldn't get around to it in the city. Oddly enough they have a location at airport. When we returned home, I wanted to explore the Sub Pop catalog, I wanted to listen to THIS but it's on The List. So I was ecstatic to have it show it's face today for my listening pleasure.
I've always been aware of Mudhoney but never heard them properly. Punky-er & Harder than Nirvana. Not as bluesy as Soundgarden. This is a album that the Grinch would hate because of the NOISE! NOISE! NOISE! Luckily enough, I'm not that Grinchy.
I love this, I might even listen the live disc later on. His growling vocals & screams just add alot to that dirty, distortion punk sound that the grunge scene was known for. The idiot kids who only listen to the Popular Pop music would call it Screamo but what do they know. I don't think his vocals are as memorable or unique as Cobain, Cornell or Vedder which may be why they weren't as big as the others. They still are a legendary band in that scene & never stopped making music. They can make some good dirty dank grungy punk rock. 5
Bert Jansch
3/5
I love the sound of guitar pickin' like this, whether it's bluegrass or folk, I dig it. I find it to be hypnotic at times. Although at times, it can get old & begin to blend together but that's where the words come in. Bert, here, can write a chilling song. Needle of Death is great example as well as Rambling. Reminds me of Billy Strings.
3.5
Ella Fitzgerald
3/5
This morning when the app reloaded & I'm revealed my album of the day, I was struck by the Picasso inspired caricature of Ms. Fitzgerald. My weird cartoon obsessed brain remembers her caricature used throughout cartoons in that Era. For the vast majority of us listening to this list, she probably is just is a caricature & a legendary name. Which is sad.
When scanning the reviews, someone mentioned the song was too Tom & Jerry for them. Often times, jazz & classical music were used to protray emotion & action in those animated classics, hence the reason for the insane number of cartoon caricatures of Ella. And that's fascinating. (I may be thinking of Eartha Kitt.) What's crazier is way back in the day, they had orchestras in the pit at theaters. Can you imagine watching Bugs & the gang with an live orchestra?
Is this good? Yes. Does Ella have an amazing voice? Yes. Is the band cooking? Very much so. Are the lyrics good? To some degree. The Rhumba song has some playful rhymes but silly at times.
The potato - poTOTo song is fun. It reminds me my mother's pronunciation of wash as warsh & that amuses me.
Do I really need to hear the ENTIRE songbook of the Gershwin boys? No.
It's delightful nonetheless.
Congrats if you finish this because you just listened to an ENTIRE composer's songbook & that's why it gets a 3.
A daunting task but delightful.
I'm getting a bit slap happy as I reach disc 5!?!?! I slappa da Bass! I must continue my journey. My God, those Gershwin Boys like rough sex. Pervs! Three hours & 15 minutes to listen to I Got Rhythm! 3:15 for I Got Rhythm! John Zorn could've played this in an hour in a cave. It wouldn't sound anything like this at all.
Wait! This is the only Ella Fitzgerald album on here. There isn't a shorter better album that showcases her talent. I guess they wanted to kill two birds with one stone by having it be the Gershwin Songbook.
At certain points, I said to myself "Didn't I just listen to this song?" Which is a bad thing after I just listened to this for 3 hours.
There are a lot of things frustrating about rating this album & it has nothing to do with the music. It's too long & it's the ONLY album of hers on here, which makes wanna give this a 2. Yet, I did enjoy it, which makes me wanna give it a 3.
I won't go any higher than 3 since I doubt I would revisit it.
CHIC
2/5
BROWN CHICKEN, BROWN COW. Savoir Faire was the best produced Porn music I've ever heard. All I saw was big fro-y bushes getting wrecked. Where's John Holmes? Which song does Debbie Do Dallas to? The plot to Deep Throat is her clit is in the back of her throat.
A bit too glossy & poppy for my taste. I like my funk to be dirtier than this but still funky nonetheless. Le Freak is really all you need to hear.
2
Stevie Wonder
3/5
My first exposure to Stevie Wonder was on The Cosby Show. I was five or six & I didn't understand why his head was swaying back & forth. My mother told me it was because he is blind & I thought that was amazing. Guess what? It IS, if your teeth don't fall out from the sickly sweet lyrics. Stevie does make a great soundscape around those sugary lyrics especially on the final track. Superstitious IS how make a filthy ass wiggling bass line not sound like 70s porn. That song alone gives it a 3, it's so good.
Saint Etienne
1/5
At their best, they make fair music. At their worse they are dull & repetitive. I just don't care for this type of music. It does absolutely nothing for me. The Neil Young cover is serviceable, I guess. Nothing Can Stop Us is the best song. My favorite parts were in between songs & the end because it had no music. 1
Sarah Vaughan
3/5
I'm having a disconnect with Ms. Vaughn's singing style, that isn't really her fault as I assume it's just how she was trained. Her singing voice is fine, beautiful even, but like old-tyme actors annotation & projecting one's voice is paramount. Yet, to modern ears they like old tymey radio show hosts & all sound the same. Though Vaughn's voice is slightly different than Ella Fitzgerald's they sound very similar. So much so that she even mentions singing How High The Moon like her.(which is a fun bit of improv on her part)
The band is cooking on Honeysuckle Rose but I found them to be somewhat dull or serviceable on the rest. It's highly intriguing to hear Just a Jiggalo not sung by David Lee Roth's cheesy whimsical 80s blues version but Vaughn's version is a bit dour. 3
John Martyn
4/5
This dude warbles but he warbles with passion and makes it work. He has a very unique voice, he growls at times & warbles some more. He makes a funky sound that I loved. And excellent blues numbers he warbles passionately about. All kidding aside, I'm giving this a 4. I enjoyed it. Some of the songs kinda blended together. Solid Air was probably the worst song on here but that only because it's a tad bit too long. Good song otherwise. I like his sound funky folksy blues. Warbles!
Simple Minds
2/5
You fab, totally rad, new wave earworms won't get your cheesy hooks in my brain today!! They aren't quite Sharp enough to dig in. It makes me want a can of orange Nacho "cheese" & a hot pretzel real bad.
2
Johnny Cash
4/5
Fantastic performance by a legend. He was candid, fun & engaging throughout all of it. I love Shel Silverstien ever since I read Light In the Attic, so I love his playful lyrics on A Boy Named Sue. San Quentin is great song as well Starkville City Person. Both shedding light on our broken prison system even back then. 4
Manic Street Preachers
2/5
I feel like I just watched VH-1 for an hour. This is fine, perfectly bland yet catchy music. When try to go hard, they sound like they are trying too hard. They sound like Gin Blossoms or post-Iris Goo Goo Dolls. They play alright music but I'd never go out of my way to listen to them. 2
Devendra Banhart
3/5
I started this the day it was issued to me, I got half way through & started again on Sunday.while shoveling my driveway out after a snowstorm. The whimsy of the first listen was gone in the gray Midwest snowy hellscape. I told this Hipster douche-tool to Go Fuck Himelf when I heard the line about freezing as scraped into my driveway of Ice & slush. Then his cracked haggard voice droning on about getting older does not help my aching back. While shoveling snow this is a 2.
3 in other less frozen hellscapes.
Jungle Brothers
3/5
I was ready to give this a review yesterday, when I realized I listened to the wrong album. That album was cheesy LOL funny, antiquated rap.
This album is better than that one, still antiquated rap but still good. Listening to older rap album feels like watching 70s NBA basketball with short shorts & you see a guy with dorky glasses shooting Free-throws Granny style. It's dorky, it works & is effective but still awkward. This is the awkward teenage years of rap. I dug this. Good message, pg-13 rap & good use of samples. Good legendary guest stars as well.
Bruce Springsteen
3/5
Bruce should count his blessings that he has the E Street Band. I don't think he would be as legendary without them. They make his Elvis Bob Dylan workerman voice shine. It helps that he is a good songwriter, too. Max Weinberg is the best especially for his Conan days. The band just rips. BRUCE not so much.
3
The Smiths
2/5
Dull, depressing, emo bullshit. The music is fine & I can dig it, then Morrissey opens his music & I gotta listen him drone on about being sad or not in love or his band he has to BE in. Sometimes the song is so sad it's unintentionally hilarious, like Unhappy Birthday. Second time exposed to Morrissey on here, this time with the Smiths. Still unimpressed. 2
The Good, The Bad & The Queen
2/5
The idea that this album knocked some other albums off The List is laughable considering how mediocre it is. 2.5
4/5
I had only heard maybe a song or 2 in passing by PJ Harvey. I enjoyed this album. It got more ambitious & heavier as the the album goes on. The Thom Yorke tracks were good. I keep trying to compare her to somebody but PJ seems to have her own vaguely familiar sound. Like a grungy Tori Amos without the oversinging. This is Love is great. I dug Kamikaze. Not all the songs are winners but they are at least interesting like Float On. 4
The Libertines
3/5
This has a nice bluesy, punky sound to it that I like & the two leads seem to have good chemistry together. Their voices are dime-a-dozen Brit punk voice but it's nice. Giving this a 3.5 because I think it may be forgettable. I also vaguely remember the Daughtry name in tabloids for whatever reason. Something Something Amy Wainhouse. I have a poor memory.
N.W.A.
3/5
Do you know that I came up with the idea for Sesame Street? I came up with it before PBS. The white man stole it. That's right. I was gonna call it "N.W.P." - N!66@z With Puppets. Catchy, ain't it?
-Jay & Silent Bob Strikes Back
Mekons
4/5
A wholly unique album that has a sound all it's own. Take a tad of British Punk with some twang from a Guitar & that rock sound. I'm also a sucker for a harmonica in odd spots. Not all that unique of singing voice & it reminded me of Ween's country album. 4 for being unique.
Prince
2/5
Prince IS the 80s. Like seriously, almost every song sounds like the 80s! Drum machine, key-tars & synth galore. Prince is indeeded talented, soulful & oozes sexual energy outta every pore on his tiny sexy body. He sounds like a James Brown soul party at times. I just find everything about Prince to be off-putting. I get his appeal, lyrically he talks about treating women with respect & mutual pleasure. Men want to be him & women want to be with him. I just don't like the sound he Puts out.
2.5
Adam & The Ants
3/5
Hey! I kno- that song isn't on here. Goody Two Shoes is from his SOLO career, is what you're telling me. This guy had a band & was big enough to leave the Ant Hill. This guy. And Goody Two Shoes is NOT on the album represented on The List. I may be a dumbass American but seriously WTF. And I'm pretty sure the album cover is a still from that music video. I have a poor memory.
They seem to use (over-use) Western hooks alot. Not bad overall. Nice surfer, punk country sound. They lean into the Ant shtick a bit too much. Its weird, kinda quirky, Fun & infectious. Still disappointed at no Goody Two Shoes. 3
Arrggg matey Ther be a jolly sea shanty fur me & me buccos! Yo Ho. HAR HAR
Kraftwerk
1/5
Are these lovely compositions? Yes. Do I want to listen to this again? No, NEVER. Tedious, overly long, boring ass songs about trains. I will say they seque into songs quite well, which is admirable, especially in that style of music. But I HATED this & couldn't wait for it to be over.
I did like the Schubert song & Metal on Metal.
Beep Bop Bork Union Pacific Beep Bop Bork Chicago Northwestern Beep Bop Bork Monon Beep Bop Bork Amtrak Beep Bop Bork Metra Beep Bop Bork Am I doing this right?
1
The xx
1/5
Slow, dull simplistic songs that all sound exactly the same. Even when it gets interesting, its just the same slow dull song as before. The only saving grace is the female's sultry voice, which sounds like every other sultry singing voice. The male's voice sounds like he's trying too hard to be cool & is annoying.
1
The United States Of America
2/5
I don't know what this weird hippy shit is but I kinda dig it. You have to accept that this can & will be incredibly absurd or just sound like Jefferson Airplane or a cheap Beatles knock-off. That Wooden Wife song is so weird & absurd. i sense a bit of satire here but I think I may be over thinking Hippy Music. Its unique, I'll give it thst. 2.5
Carole King
4/5
This is the very definition of Easy Listening. Like a hot cup of tea under a warm cozy blanket on your favorite EZ chair. Even when the lyrics are sorrowful its easy to listen to. There's a ton of great songs on here & they are all comforting and/or uplifting. 4
Les Rythmes Digitales
2/5
It's my job to repetitive. My job. My job. Repetitiveness is my job.
-Bart Simpson
The Allman Brothers Band
4/5
Dirty, blues-based Southern Rock at it's finest, played LIVE at it's best, as it should be. Juat Sit Back, Relax & Enjoy. Yeah, they jam. What of it! 4
The Beach Boys
4/5
This ain't your Cars, Girls, Surfin' Beach Boys. This is barely thinly veiled cry for help. I can't believe anyone knowing Brian Wilson's mental health issues would listen to this & say "He's a shiny beacon of mental health." That being said, it's sophisticated, lovelorn & just a guy trying to figure himself out in this world. While also being a world famous rock star. He's homesick, lonely & seeing his life & mind change around him. It's a bit depressing at times. Still brilliant.
Terence Trent D'Arby
2/5
It just seems like Mr. D'Arcy or Maitreya or whatever his name is now (Hey! It's like Prince.) heard Michael Jackson & Prince & said: "I can do that." With varying degrees of success. I hope he evolved beyond being poor man's MJ or Prince because his voice is good & it just sounds like poppy 80s soul. 2.5
Blur
4/5
This really hit in all the spots for me. It is fantastic, rarely ever dull & interesting sonically throughout. Not every song sounds the same & the try different styles throughout. It was alot better than The Good, Bad, & the Queen album earlier. 4
1/5
Just because you're are the first group to do something doesn't make it good. Like the first person to bite into a raw egg. The shell cracks & the goo of the whites & the yolk hit inside your mouth. Crunchy, gooey yummyness, huh! The recording does them no favors as it sounds like dog shit. Motor City is Burning seems like the only competent song, mostly cuz it's a simple blues number. I get it, it's raw & loud & angry but it's just not good. I imagine this is what Kiss sounded like to those pearl-clutching parents who gave them them their reputation. 1
Björk
4/5
Bjork creates this wonderous musical landscape for her amazing, unique voice to float seemlessly around her songs. Though the songs do run a bit long, I never felt bored. Same for the songs that sound similar to each. Her voice makes it endlessly listenable. I had heard one of her early albums but the life of me I can't remember much about it but her voice. 4
Barry Adamson
3/5
This is a very silky, smooth, dark, highly sexual, weird album. It's not nearly as weird as everyone in the other reviews make it out to be. The fake movie soundtrack gimmick is what makes it weird. It was surprisingly jazzy.
Miles Davis
3/5
My son's middle name is Davis, partially because of this man but also Jonathan Davis of Korn & Jon Davis creator of Garfield. Miles Davis is also my father's favorite jazz musician. In my twentys, I went on a brief jazz fixation. Davis' Bitches Brew & Herbie Hancock was what I consumed. Guess who's on the keys on this album? Herbie. That's the crazy part.about all these jazz legends, they all played together.
I found this to be a very somber jazz album but I believe that was Davis, intentions. Most likely due to this being the first electric jazz album. I preferred In A Silent Way, the music landscape was a bit more upbeat.
One other thing, my ears absolutely hates that high pitch struggle note that the trumpet hits at times. Luckily it only happened a few times. 3
Orbital
3/5
When the robot A.I. invasion happens, at least we know their musical culture will be accepted. They've been preparing us for years! You've been warned!
Arcade Fire
4/5
Hipster Bruce Springsteen goes to church.
Al Green
3/5
This is considered R&B, ya know, rhythm & blues. If you listen to r&B now, you'd be hard pressed find one like this one. Soulful, sorrowful & little bit funky. He's got a great voice & I love horns. 3
Big Star
4/5
This is a fantastic album that seems like you could put it in any era & it would succeed but it didn't. I know Cheap Tricks cover of In the Streets from That 70s Show. Big Star's version sounds like REM covered it & that's a compliment. Try Again sounds like The Beatles trying out a country song. Beautiful & melodic but they can go hard if they want to. 4
Pet Shop Boys
2/5
Lots of cheesy 80s synth in this that I have trouble taking seriously, even though there is serious subject matter. I sense some of the sarcasm in Hit Music. I don't think I care for their voices whatsoever. I think their voices are dull & that is the disconnect. They can write good songs, just DULL voices. When the songs are slow, I'm bored to tears. This is better or on par with Behavior, which I just found dull. The yawn on the cover is fitting. The other guy looks annoyed at him yawning and I'm yawning because of how bored I am. Hey! At least, there's cheese. So much cheese. 2.8
Various Artists
4/5
I'm kinda scared to ask how many other albums on The List Phil Spector has had his hands in. He is (was idk if he's dead or not) a legendary producer who just happened to kill his wife later in life. He's a known weirdo & I think I recall McCartney releasing Beatles' album without the Wall of Sound. This is a pretty standard Christmas album with some undeniable Christmas Staples. 4
Joan Armatrading
4/5
She has a very unique voice, that seems to use quite well. She can sound quite mannish at times. You get some folksy bluesy funk music on here. Her voice to me sounds like a cross between Melissa Etheridge & Cher in the best ways possible. I hear the Tracy Chapman comps but it's a bit on the nose. It's got a bit of a twang too. Pleasant surprise.4
Nitty Gritty Dirt Band
3/5
I love the idea of bringing in the Old Guard of bluegrass with the New, so that these legends get heard again. Their banter is intriguing as well as their antiquated music. I love bluegrass but that's a lot of bluegrass. I often times wondered if the Duke Boys would get away from Boss Hog & Ennis. I kid. 3
Tangerine Dream
4/5
Trippy, spacey, atmospheric soundscape that I wasn't expecting. I dug this but don't think I'd listen to it again.
Metallica
4/5
There was part of me that just wanted to listen to the hits & scream 5 STARS at the top of my lungs but then I listened to the whole album. Its a 4 Star album mostly for the last two forgettable tracks. It just sorta peters out & even the last track ends abruptly, somewhat jarringly. That's my criticism, other than that, it's a metal masterpiece. 4
The Prodigy
3/5
Firestarter is the song that tells you exactly who Prodigy is: INSTIGATOR! Everything about this is designed to be provocative, to get you to talk about it. Their look, their provocative video for Smack My Bitch Up & lyrics designed to be off putting or offensive to the "normal" people. Punk! Very Punk in that sense.
LTJ Bukem
2/5
The problem with compilations when they are all the same style of music is you begin to hear its flaws or clichés. Animals sounds like birds or whales or monkeys. A British rapper with a dated flow but is surprisingly good. An annoying word usually spoken like a child looped throughout the song. Oh and She just wanted to let the world know that she's singing this song. 80 fucking times. All over the same repetitive sounding yet slightly different then the other songs. I'm giving this a 2 because those clichés are interesting not good. Oh and the spacey trippy stuff is kinda cool.
Manu Chao
3/5
You know that toy Lazer gun sound in really cheap toys. Manu Chao likes that as I've heard that sound throughout the album & it makes me giggle everytime I hear it. It is very prevalent in Welcome to Tiajuana. The language barrier is kinda hard to overcome but the wonderful guitar picking is nice. He seems to put a nice earwormy grooves around interesting soundbites I don't understand. Bongo Bong is a fun quirky song. I'm getting a French-Spanish Bob Marley vibe.
3
Leonard Cohen
4/5
Mr. Cohen's voice is shot. He never had a conventional good voice to begin with but he wasn't about the voice. It was about the music & the songwriting. His broken voice was almost growling in the title track. This reminded me alot of Johnny Cash. He clearly was on his last legs & the songwriting reflects that. Making peace with his maker, even questioning it at times. Love lost & pain. There was lots of somber secular soundscapes & even a country sounding song. 4
The Band
3/5
Shrugs. This is just kinda right smack dab in the middle. They're excellent musicians, no doubt about it. Their singing voices are hit & miss, like most of the songs. The Weight is fantastic, as well Chest Fever. Wheels on Fire starts out ok & gets better. Some songs I found to be too similar to each other or just plain dull. I found Black Veil Women to be quite creepy. Just good rather than great. Almost a perfect 3 star album, if there is such a thing.
The Black Keys
3/5
There is nothing worse than having all your songs blend together. This is a great album other than that. I'm also very hard pressed not to mention a certain band on the opposite side of the color spectrum as the Black Keys. The two Midwest Blues Duos are intertwined to some degree & have had equal success. The Keys seem to be more polished. I prefer white meat to dark in this situation.
There's not much difference between The Only One & I'm Not the One. Why are they even on the same album?
Are those Sleigh Bells in Unknown Brother? I don't know how I feel about that.
Automatic Christmas song?
Howling For You sounds like Rock N Roll part 2 almost to a point of ripping it off.
If you like the same song over & over but slightly different, it's fantastic. If not, you're in for a bad time. Broken record here. Give me a bit more sonic variety.
3.8
Bruce Springsteen
4/5
Bruce. A guitar. A harmonica. Great songwriting played in the most stripped down way possible that makes it really hard to dislike this. It can be dull & they can sound similar but the STORY is different.. He writes stories like Dylan & like Dylan, the voice is the issue. Why do all these lovely storytellers have such shit voices? 4
Leonard Cohen
1/5
I did not know that Vincent Price put out an album after his Thriller success. From the cheesy 80s production to the baffling Kirk Van Hooten Can I Borrow A Feeling songwriting, this is a mess. Unintentionally hilarious at times & every single song is too long. Last Waltz is good though.
1
Ministry
4/5
The biggest gripe that most people have about metal is being able to understand what the singer is singing. If I should want lyrical analysis, I would have to check them. That is my gripe on this on an otherwise brilliant metal album. I did understand most of Jesus Built My Hotrod but that's because most of it is gibberish. DANG DOODLE. 4
New Order
3/5
Infectious 80s earworm pop with a bit a danger to it, not much, but it's there. Love Vigilante is one of those road weary laments that I tend to dread but it seemed very authentic in him missing his family. They have a nice groove. Face Up was good song some nice motivational lyrics. This is just kind of there though. Neither good nor bad. Just there. 3
I don't like the overlay of New over Order on the cover. I find it to off putting. Ordheeiw is the name of the band apparently.
Eminem
4/5
Stupid childhood reason why I tend not to gravitate towards rap. Picture it! Vague early 90s there was a comerical for Kool-Aid with the Kool-Aid Man (Oh Yeah!) dressed in an open Hawaiian shirt complete with bling rapping his little Kool-Aid rap. My weird little brain thought that was the stupidest thing ever & I was turned off by rap ever since. UNTIL this man came along & showed me that rap can be more than just Money, Drugs, Ass, N-bombs & over-inflated egos. He showed me rap can be dark, hysterical & satirical. This is a dude who says you can rhyme orange by how you say the word similar to orange.
Not nearly as good as Slim Shady LP but still on the level. Em touches on such topics as: censorship, parental responsibility/accountability, the wear & tear of fame, insane fans & his hatred towards POP music such as Britney, Nsync etc. I had to skip Kim, I've heard it before & don't need to hear his angry fantasty about killing his wife again. I get that his music is his therapy but my God. He did it better with '97 Bonnie n Clyde anyway.
4
The Jam
3/5
Mostly Harmless....
With Great Bass.
3
The Pretty Things
2/5
"General Inzanity, an evil robot general takes control of America in the year 2007, and starts cracking down on rockers. One rocker named “the Rebel” writes a song that inspires people to rise up against General Inzanity."
"General Inzanity arrests the Rebel, and sentences him to hard labor, pushing rocks from a quarry up a mountain to build the general a new lair. A group of rebel fighters show up to help the hero, but are trapped on the mountain by a robot army, when the Rebel gets the idea to roll boulders down the mountain to ram into the robots. He rolls a rock to save rock and roll."
-from Bob's Burgers.
Firsts tend to lend itself to parody quite often. Hence the reason why I'm reminded of a Bob's Burgers episode where Bob takes Gene to Lazer light show of his favorite prog Rock band, Zentipede. The episode pokes fun at such bands as Rush, Pink Floyd, etc. This album feels like that but not poking fun. Just lifting the sounds of their Era but they TOTALLY are not doing that at all. -wink-
Mostly just a half assed rock opera that apes their peers. I didn't care about the story. But they do do an admiral job of copying better bands.
"Let My People Rock"
-more Bob's Burgers.
2.5
Little Richard
4/5
Burst onto a piano like a flamboyant bomb of hoots, hollers, frantic piano & horns is the flamboyant enigma that is Little Richard. Is he gay? Straight? BI? Religious? He was reverend at a certain point in his life. Did he know that Prince raided his wardrobe? You can't help but smile & want get up & dance when you hear his music. Woo. I grew up listening to Oldies music in my childhood, so this is comfort music.
4
The following exchange is something I stumbled upon while searching for the dirty lyrics of Tutti Fruitti:
Little Richard:
[improvising on the piano] A-wop-bop-a-loo-bop-a-good-hot-damn! Tutti frutti! Good booty! Tutti frutti! Good booty! Tutti frutti! Good booty! Tutti frutti! Good booty! If it don't fit, don't force it! If you grease it, make it easy!
Bump Blackwell:
We have *got* to record that!
Little Richard:
What?
Bump Blackwell:
Yeah that! *That* is a hit!
Little Richard:
You're kidding me.
Bump Blackwell:
No, no, no, no, I mean, we gotta clean up the lyrics though. That's a... that's a definite. Dorothy, get in here!
Little Richard:
But wait a second. Bump...
Bump Blackwell:
This is gonna be...! Dorothy!
[Dorothy runs in]
Bump Blackwell:
C'mere! Quick! Get in here!
Dorothy:
Yes?
Bump Blackwell:
Okay look, Richard, Dorothy is a lyricist. Alright, I want you to sing that song to her. Dorothy, I need you to write me a clean version of it in a half hour. Okay?
Dorothy:
Okay, okay.
Little Richard:
[Embarrassed to have to sing a dirty song to a lady] But Bump, that song has some terrible, terrible words!
Bump Blackwell:
Oh trust me! She's heard it all.
Dorothy:
It's true, I have.
Bob Marley & The Wailers
4/5
I seen the Wailers without Bob Marley I have also seen Blind Melon aans Shannon Hoon. Odd one here is I've seen Scott Weiland without STP. I am very aware of Marley, mostly off of Legend. In fact, when I read on Wikipedia that the album is the first without Pete Tosh, Steppin' Razor popped in my head. It's still there.
Marley makes fun upbeat reggae music with political charged lyrics as a way of dealing with the turmoil in Jamaica.
We need someone like this in America right now.
4
Dinosaur Jr.
4/5
If the only song you heard on here was Don't, you did not get a representation of what they are but what they can do. That song is a ball of anger, noise & angst. The rest is Noise rock but it's incredibly melodic. I can't put my finger on whom the lead singer sounds like. I was thinking Scott Lukas of Local H. I was just bopping and rocking out to this amazing album. 4
Yeah Yeah Yeahs
4/5
Maps had a bit of a resurgence this past year due to TikTok complete with a dance. I only know this because as the song came on the radio, my teenage son knows it & the little dance. I'm like: How do you know this old song? He is like: TikTok. So I guess thats a good thing to hear about a song having a second chance.
This was a surprise for me as I've only heard Maps & a cover of Highway 61. This was a frantic ball of indie punk energy. Her voice is slightly annoying & slightly arousing with a slight hint of punk Bjork.
Why do hit singles tend to sound like they are from another planet? I've noticed it since I've started The List. It can be frustrating at times.
4
Jimmy Smith
4/5
I imagine this what Mr. Fantastic listens to to unwind after a hard fought battle with Dr. DOOM. Then Johnny Storm comes in and calls him a SQUARE. Ben clobbers Johnny up side his head & Sue tells them all to BE NICE. 4
Aretha Franklin
4/5
There is a reason why she is so revered, it is because she talented & can Sii-ii--innn--nngg!! Sing!! Since I recently had Carole King's album with her rendition of Natural Woman, Aretha's version is light years better. I did not care for Franklin's version of Groovin'. Slowed it down too much for my liking.
Chain of Fools is The One on here for me. Popped in my head, when I saw it on the track listing. ITS still there. Natural Woman will too. 4
Grateful Dead
4/5
FYI!!! WARNING!!!! IF YOU ARE A DEAD NOOB (yes, I said noob) DO NOT LISTEN TO dark star FIRST!!!! YOU MAY VERY WELL HATE THE DEAD IF YOU DO!
The reason being is Dark Star is one of their signature jams: a daunting, dark, sprawling, 23 minute excuse to improv experimental psychedelic noise. This one is one of the more infamous renditions. If that sounds good to you, listen as intended. If not, place Dark Star before And We Bid You Goodnight & you may have a better first impression.
Jerry, Bobby & Phil are grabbing you by your wrists & ankles & throwing you in the fire by putting it first. Dimery is laughing in the corner.
YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED!!!
"We are like licorice. Not everybody likes licorice, but the people who like licorice really like licorice."
-Jerry Garcia on Grateful Dead Fandom.
People like piss on the DEAD due to the whole hippie thing. That's a disservice to an amazing, historical significant band. This is a band that died when Jerry died in 95 but continued on in various versions of the band. With the recent passing of Bob Weir, there are only a couple of original members left. Yet, the band & the MUSIC will carry on.
Do have any idea how many bands tour playing the Dead? It is an insane amount both regional & nationally. Probably internationally.
To name a few:
Dark Star Orchestra
Joe Russo's Almost Dead
Graciously Departed (local)
Grateful Grass
Grateful Shred
Other than Dark Star, the vast majority of these songs are blues based.
Lovelight & St Stephen are great.
I have to be in the right frame of mind to truly enjoy Dark Star. -wink-
Feedback is just trippy noise.
But hey continue to shit on this band because:
HIPPIES!
4
Depeche Mode
2/5
Better than I thought it would be but still not my taste. The lyrics can good at times, but I don't like the music. The music is good sometimes, and the lyrics are less than stellar. The music & lyrics never match up at the same time to my taste.
2.5
Arctic Monkeys
3/5
Everything about this reminds if the Strokes.(their first album) So British Strokes?! They have a nice punk sound, but not overtly. Decent, interesting songwriting but they all tend to sound about the same. Which is fine, I like their sound. I don't care for his singing voice but it works here. Part of me wants to give this a 4 but 3 seems about right. I am interested in exploring their catalog more.
Alice Cooper
4/5
Wayne Campbell: So, do you come to Milwaukee often?
Alice Cooper: Well, I'm a regular visitor here, but Milwaukee has certainly had its share of visitors. The French missionaries and explorers were coming here as early as the late 1600s to trade with the Native Americans.
Pete: In fact, isn't "Milwaukee" an Indian name?
Alice Cooper: Yes, Pete, it is. Actually, it's pronounced "mill-e-wah-que" which is Algonquin for "the good land."
Wayne Campbell: I was not aware of that
Alice Cooper: Stick around. Hang out with us.
Garth Algar: Cool! Yeah, we'll stay and hang around with youse - with Alice Cooper.
Wayne Campbell, Garth Algar: We're not worthy! We're not worthy! We're not worthy! We're scum! We suck!
(Alice has his hand straight as Wayne & Garth bow down on the knees.)
I'm referencing this infamous scene due to how unexpected this album is. The Milwaukee quote plays on the unexpected intelligence that one wouldn't expect from a Shock Rocker like Alice Cooper. And of course Wayne & Garth not being WORTHY to be in his presence.
I was expecting it to be heavier but each song sounded different. Even a ballad in Mary Ann. An Unexpected Harmonica in Generation Landslide. He was always Schlocky even back then. Although it is a little uneven at times.
4
The Go-Betweens
3/5
I like to make a Joke about how big established, nostalgia-based fast food companies like McDonald's should change their slogan to:
McDonald's
It's Food!
That is exactly what the Go-Betweens feel like.
The Go-Betweens
It's Music!
Everything is fine about them musically & lyrically, it just seems forgettable, disposable & just kinda THERE. I liked it & I wouldn't hate if you put on but...
It's music!
3
Red Hot Chili Peppers
3/5
RICK RUBIN: So Anthony, what have you been writing? Anything like Under the Bridge or anything?
ANTHONY KIEDIS: Yeah, I think my writing has matured somewhat.
ANTHONY hands his notebook to RICK proudly.
RICK: (mumbling as he skims)
Around the World is one of those cliche city listing songs. Californication is a fun play on words if you're a frat boy. Otherside not bad. Scar Tissue, eh.
RICK: Sigh! Half of these have some sort of Cali reference. Do you have anything that doesn't have any references to California?
ANTHONY flips through the notebook.
ANTHONY: All I got is I Like Dirt!
RICK: Have Flea put a phat funky bass on that & John come up with some riffs. And we got something! Where's Chad?
FLEA: Oh! He's gone. Will Ferrell has control of the body this week.
RICK: What?! The Saturday Night Live guy? Why?! I don't care. Does he play Drums?
FLEA: Not well but I hear he plays a mean Cowbell.
Tracy Chapman
4/5
Socially conscious, politically charged music. Excellent songwriter.
Revolution- your standard Revolution song. powerful.
Fast Car- seems like a cycle of abuse & poverty. Trying to escape only to be back in the same place again.
Behind the Wall- listening to abuse & realizing the system can't do much about.
Mountain o Things- I love the sarcasm in this. Definition of consumerism & Keepin Up With Joneses'. You can't take it with you.
This is from the late 80s with powerful politically charged music. I'm having the same problem I've had with Rage Against Machine. All this protest music, decade after decade, nothing seems to change. I hate it but shedding light on it helps. It just falls on deaf ears for the people who need to actually hear it. The ones who actually CAN make it change. POLITICIANS Nothing changes.
This music is still good though.
I'm glad Fast Car got a second wind from Luke Combs' cover. She deserves it. That cover is serviceable at best.
4
Frank Sinatra
3/5
The only song I knew going in was Girl from Ipanema & I think I enjoy the other version better. This album is fine. Frank's singing is spectacular as ever. It's just not my cup of tea. I think most of the intros sound about the same. It's fine. I seem to be indifferent to Frank.
3
Funkadelic
4/5
I don't know what I just listened to but It was the funkiest Funk of Funk that my Funkin ears have ever funkin heard. One Nation Under a Groove indeed. Doo Doo Chasers is so Funkin weird, I love it. Which one is Funkin George Clinton? A bit of an edit can be done on some of the songs but Funk It. It's Funk! Can I live in the United Funk of Funkadelica? 4
Robbie Williams
2/5
Hello, I'm an American & I know who Robbie Williams is! The Donnie Wahlberg (the bad boy) of the British boy band, Take That. MTV was always trying to make British boy bands a thing in the States. And Robbie. IT didn't work. I did love that video (Rock DJ) where he does a strip tease & when he's about to take off this Undies. He starts ripping off his skin. The effects were meh at the time but it was a memorable video, not so much song wise.
Is this good? Hahaha ha NO! This would only be considered "good," if you worship at the altar of Big Dumb Pop. As I say that it isn't even all that hooky or full earworms that make you want more Dumb Pop Music. The songwriting, assuming he wrote them himself, has a nice motivational message to it on some songs, though they aren't particularly well written either.
Most of this screams: "Look At Me!! I'm Free From The Shackles Of My Shitty Boy Band!!" And makes an album that is not too far from the Boy Band Sound. It's intriguing because I've never heard a full breakaway solo album. It's interesting, not good.
The Bad Boys Of Boy Bands are never the good singers. They're just there to be slightly dangerous. It shows here alot.
2
Let Me Entertain You is good. And Angels is screaming for some country artist to do mediocre cover of it & make it a hit.
Americans won't know it's a cover or who Robbie Williams is.
Björk
4/5
I think I may just be a dork for Bjork. Or I don't think Bjork is jerk. The album is way more dance oriented than the other but it's fun. I dig it. The sounds she puts around her lyrics is somewhat interesting especially on the percussion side. Has some jazz flair to it. Her voice can sound angelic but she also has that weird raspy-ness to her voice that she brings out. I love it. Kinda peters out on about Violently Happy. As I somewhat lost interest. Still giving it a 4
Pink Floyd
4/5
GUEST REVIEW
Teddy, my Pug.
Upon turning on the album the first few seconds, his ears perked left and right. He does not seem to care for this.
For Another Brick 1 & 2 he barked with the child voices. Generally just seemed chill & relaxed during the solos.
He did not care for the beeps in the intro to Mother, but started to have an errection. So that's a thing that happened. He is quite the Momma's Boy though.
He seems to mostly annoyed & seems to respond to voices & odd sounds.
His nap is beginning. It will not be a very good nap as we are listening to The Wall.
Not Napping.
He can barely last through Young Lust.
Lazy pug!
He awoke after the next track & he ate a chip.
Still not amused by the music. Back to sleep.
Doesn't seem to like to Don't Leave Me Now as seemed to shudder a few times & lots of brow wiggles up & down.
Seemed to listen to a whole verse of Hey You & went back to sleep. He woke up. That seems to his favorite song, I guess.
He seems like the slow strumming parts.
Nobody Home he perks up and is reacting to the sound effects & voices rather than the music.
We took a break & went outside. Teddy decided to dig in the snow by The Fence. I wonder where he's getting these defiant ideas from. Certainly not Pink Floyd. He also took a dump. Then started digging by fence again. Then ran away when I tried to stop him. We went back in.
He seems disinterested in this & is back at attempting to nap. We're still listening to The Wall. He doesn't seem to understand that double albums tend to be bloated & long. Especially rock operas. Because, well, he's a pug dog. All he wants to do is sleep.
Little to no reaction to Comfortably Numb other than disinterest & sleepiness.
MY SHORT SWEET REVIEW:
I don't believe double albums can be perfect albums (5 star album) They tend to be bloated & over indulgent. Which is of course the problem with The Wall. I thought the Wall would be the exception but like The Pumpkins: Melon Collie & The Beatles' infamous White Album, the bloat seems to win. It's so close but no cigar. That doesn't mean it's not brilliant. I know this album, I love this album. Hence the reason I had my pug dog review it. For a different perspective.
Also, Teddy got treats. Lots of em.
Curtis Mayfield
3/5
This is socially conscious, silky, sexy, smooth Funky R&B with some danger to it. This isn't fun, experimental weirdness that you get with P. Funk & what not.
Horns are nice & so is the organ.The Blues influence is very present.
i hate my brain. All I'm picturing is The Cryin' Man from Sliders singing these while sobbing. Especially on Jesus. It's unfair that my brain went there because this is pretty good. Cryin' Man is a slight parody of the cliche gimmicks that sometimes Funk & R&B artists used to have. I think its the high pitched voice that Mayfield uses often is what's doing it.
Billy Jack & Hard Times are the standouts.
Album cover is nice composition of what America thinks of itself & the Reality of America.
3
Mott The Hoople
2/5
Big Dumb Rock with Big Dumb Roll. It's not bad, but it's not good either. It's fine when you want to turn off brain & listen. There's just so many other better Butt Rock bands than this. I really hate to use Butt Rock but...
it's one of those things, when you hear it, you know it. 2
I Wish I Was Your Mother is probably the best song on here. The guitar is memorable & the lyrics are almost nonsense but he uses the same cadence as Bob Dylan when he sings. It's almost a parody. Someone mentioned on the another review & I can't unhear it.
Listen to Bob- Weird Al
Dylan+Palindromes=Brillant