I haven't listened to this album in years, it used to be on repeat for me. I went to a Flaming Lips concert once in 2008, their live shows are amazing and full of energy. I remember them crowd surfing in giant balls, and there were lots of pyrotechnics. "Do you Realize" is a classic but overplayed. I noticed a "Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds" quotation in "It's Summertime." Psychedelic, with a lot of great imagery, I'll happily listen to it again though it is no longer on my list of favorites. The pacing of the album is quite slow, especially after the first half.
An enjoyable album, but not something I would necessarily choose to play again regularly. I enjoyed thinking about the bossa nova craze in the 60's.
While I recognize the musicianship, this album was not for me. I did warm to few of the tracks, particularly Mother Goose, but ultimately could not finish listening to the album.
Such an eclectic album, punkish hip-hop with jazz and funk influences. Driving percussive rhythms keep the head bobbing. Sabrosa is a turning point to really cool instrumentals in the back half of the album. I see some people complaining about it meandering a bit because of this, and while I agree it's not the most coherent album I really like the experimentation on display here. Sabotage was instantly recognizable, widely played on the radio in the 90s, but Sure Shot, Get It Together, Sabrosa, Eugene's Lament, Flute Loop, are great. Definitely an album I would not have listened to in its entirety without this challenge. Some of the more jazz inspired tracks remind me of later albums from artists I've heard like Madlib or Fourtet. Not one for permanent rotation, but would listen to it again. Probably a 3.5
Duke Ellington is great, Caravan is one of my favorite tunes, especially the Thelonius Monk recording. That being said the big band genre is perhaps not my favorite. However the sheer amazing talent of the musicians is fully on display here, and I appreciate the compositional style of Ellington. This kind of live recording has a nostalgia for me, it takes me back to Tulsa as a teenager. The city has a great live festival every year that I would go to, with lots of raucous crowd participation and dancing. As an album this is overly long with too much emcee banter, but as an experience it is so cool that we have this kind of recording. I think I would listen to certain tracks again, Take the A Train, Festival Junction and Diminuendo in Blue are highlights for me, but not the whole album.
An interesting historical album from a band I wasn't very familiar with. The troubled history of the production made for a good read. A lot of the synth effects sound somewhat dated, but were certainly groundbreaking for the time. My favorite track was probably Born to Follow, the psychedelic breakdown 1 minute into it is awesome, and then that country bass just picks right back up again. I can see how the country-folk-electric sound was super influential, but not much here was particularly memorable to me.
I thought this was fine but nothing really stood out to me other than There She Goes, which verged on irritating.
Definitely some all time great on this album, but as a whole not something I would listen to again in it's entirety
Really enjoyed this one as I was working outside, and will listen to it again. Intricate orchestrations, throbbing blues bass lines, screaming guitars, soaring vocals, what's not to like.
Glitzy and theatrical, this album also rocks pretty hard. I'd say the back half is weaker than the first. Brighton Rock, Tenement Funster, and Stone Cold Crazy were highlights for me.
I have to be in the right mood, but this is a really well done album.
Cabaret pop from a teenager struggling with substance abuse and her relationships. Some offensive lyrics out of the gate in Stronger Than Me immediately turned me off. Some of the later songs were interesting to me, Fuck Me Pumps and October Song in particular.
Very unique album, I'm glad it exists and is on this list. Maybe not an everyday listen though.
A bit repetitive and religious for my taste
Have always loved this album, but haven't listened to it in a while. It's fun to listen to it with new ears. Propulsive and full of energy.
I've listened to this album a lot and I still really like it.
I think I'm tired of this band after two albums
He's talented but this is not my thing.
I used to love this band, but not any more :(
