I always felt like this album allowed you to experience a band finding themselves in real time - each track an exploration of who they are and what they have to share. Endlessly creative. A classic, even if not as focused as what would come after this.
The soundtrack for so much of my late teens and early twenties - listened to this album almost every day while vacuuming the dining room of the camp where I worked. Iconic for me, and led me to a bunch of great music tracing back their influences.
Surprised by how much I loved this album. Never been a giant Cohen fan, always appreciated his lyrics, but it often seemed like his musical arrangements only highlighted the limits of his vocal range. Here, I felt like the musical elements created a perfect space for Cohen’s ruminations. Maybe it’s just because it’s my birthday and I’m feeling one day closer to death…
4 for the album overall, but 5 for their original songs - especially “Strychnine” - going to have to check out more
Always too much bloat in almost all of The Smashing Pumpkins catalog (I’d exempt Gish from that). Corgan’s voice is what it is - it works for me sometimes.
The bombast of this album still works for me. The band’s tight - the bass lines are always moving like a storm at the edge of breaking. I feel like the band isn’t taking itself too seriously on this one, and that definitely helps to swallow the excesses.
Two stars for the band - the instrumental end track convinced me this could have been a better band with a different lead
A classic, and for good reason
If you had to put an album by this p.o.s. on this list, at least make it Mechanical Animals - far less of a slog
Might be nostalgia goggles talking, but this still hits for me
Two stars because of Soda Pop
Probably my favorite of the pre-Rubber Soul Beatles catalog
I first heard this album in 1987 during a transformational Summer for me. This album was one of the first inklings that there was a much larger world of music than I had been exposed to in the small Massachusetts town that I had done most of my growing up in. “Big Mouth Strikes Again” is one of my all time favorite songs. Classic album.
Wanted more fun from this album, but it’s just okay.
Certain bands become part of your DNA if you grow up with hearing them all the time, and Led Zeppelin is one of those bands for me. I don’t remember the first time I heard them or what song it was. I underrated this album when I was younger because it didn’t have as much of the interplay between folk, blues, and rock that came later, and that immediately drew me in. This album was more of a slow burn for me as I came to appreciate more of the roots of the music that they were exploring. The rhythm section of this band is one of the best in rock history - the Johns thunder, howl, and thump like a prowling beast
Wayyyyy too long for the level of craft here.
Liked this much more the second time through - I could see it growing on me. The sonic textures build into each other, rising and falling slowly - chant-like and meditative - boringly interesting
“Highway Star” is prime 70’s rock in my book - enjoyed listening to this again - had been a while
Had never listened to a complete Alice Cooper album until today, and I feel like I’ve been missing out - the variety of styles, the absolute embrace of camp, just so good
I first heard this album when I was 12. It is so tied up in memories of my first 6th grade dance where not only did Michelle Zabka go, but she danced with me, and then I slept over my friend Cory’s house and we listened to “Foolin” about a million times. So, to make a long story short, can’t be terribly objective, here. But “Photograph” still rocks solid
Love this album, though the two EPs that were released before this album, still rise above this for me. Fugazi’s incredible rhythms and lyrics always move me. I never feel yelled at by them, more invited to stand next to them and add my shout.
Definitely one of my favorite albums of all time.
I always felt like this album allowed you to experience a band finding themselves in real time - each track an exploration of who they are and what they have to share. Endlessly creative. A classic, even if not as focused as what would come after this.
Love this album! I’m a huge fan of odd time signatures, and an even bigger fan of Paul Desmond’s sax playing - his tone and the way he adds these little triplet runs all over the place with ease - just perfect. The changing rhythms make it so arrangements don’t fall victim to the riff/bunch of solos/end with riff format that can make listening to a whole jazz album a bit maddening for me.
Fun fact - I absolutely hated Steely Dan until I reached my thirties - don’t know what can be drawn from that musical and physiological parallel, but figured I’d put it out there
Classic songs by a classic singer - a few with a sweet band behind him
Such a great variety of musical styles and lyrics. Not a weak track on the whole album for me.
I realized as I was listening to this album that I don’t think I have ever listened to it as an album. I know that is sacrilege, and in my listening group, even more so. Not a bad track, and listening in order was an even better experience.
I liked this a lot more than I expected to. It kept my interest much more than most ambient electronic music. It still is background music to me, but more variety in the sonic textures made all the difference for me.
One of my favorite albums. I’ve enjoyed albums from every stage in Rush’s career - incredible musicians and always thoughtful lyrics. Red Barchetta is one of my favorite songs (and lyrical short stories)
Had only heard individual songs from Marianne Faithfull, but I liked this. The Ballad of Lucy Jordan was a highlight for me, as was her cover of Working Class Hero.
I mistakenly bought This is Hardcore from Columbia record club because I thought Common People was on that album. That song is worth a listen, but Jarvis Cocker is uncomfortably horny or just okay for the rest of the album. 3 for Common People, 2 for the album.
Saw Anthrax open for Iron Maiden in the early 90’s - they are even better, live. That being said, I haven’t really listened to much of their catalog. I enjoyed this - really liked One World in particular.
Love me some ABBA
A bit heavy handed at points, but overall, a thoughtful and pointed look at the social and political landscape of America, both in the recent past, and ongoing. Loved the production on this album - just so dense with layers upon layers feeding in and out each other. I was left pensive, in a good way. Still wondering how someone who saw the mindless and virulent nature of television would have reacted to a future peak at the internet…
Overly long, but not bloated, much like Kashmir. Don’t feel like I can adequately critique Led Zeppelin’s work - it feels like picking out your favorite child - there’s just this inherent love that gets in the way of my objectivity. Just love what they did. But 4 stars for stealing so much time out of my day lol
Liked this - surprised how much it reminded me of Donovan. Got a bit samey for me in parts, but a solid album all around.
I liked this more than I expected. That is not saying much since I hate most top 40ish pop. This at least had some maturity lyrically.
Surprised by the repetition in this - how many times do you have to say that you say whatever you want to say and don’t care who cares? Eminem’s diction is impeccable, which is a shame because you’re not able to miss a single word. And what is the purpose of sharing a personal cathartic fantasy like “Kim”? Who the hell listens to that more than once?! Ugghhh
This was so hard to get through. A good enough band in small doses, but this album drags.
A classic and great song interpreter. Particularly liked “No Easy Way Down”, which I had not heard before listening to this album.
Problematic lyrics aside, this album is even better than I remember - Slash’s amazing guitar work is immediately to the forefront, but Duff McKagan’s thumping and grooving bass lines are something I missed as a teen. Classic album that injected some much needed raw energy into rock at a time where most of it was being produced to death.
Blues is not usually my go to for listening. I acknowledge the influence and legacy of Muddy Waters, but much prefer listening to Mississippi John Hurt or Son House. That being said, still a solid blues set from a master.
Had heard of Bert Jansch, but never had actually listened to any of his work. Didn’t gel with me with a first listen, but sunk in on the next time around. Beautiful finger picking phrases and lyrics.
Nice aural textures, but even in headphones, still couldn’t engage me.
What benji2 said - verbatim what I was going to write, so won’t be redundant
Listened to this album for the first time at a listening station at Border’s Books & Music, and immediately was completely sucked in by the collage of sounds and lyrics. It felt new and exciting. I’ve listened to the album hundreds of times since then, and though it has lost that luster of newness, still a great album overall.
I don’t feel like I have the history or perspective enough to adequately review this album. I’m glad I listened.
A brilliant songwriter at the top of his craft. One of my all time favorite albums. “Mercy Street” alone is worth 5 stars
I’ll have to return to this one when I can look past the posturing - loved the production and flow, but can’t abide inflated male ego at the moment - can’t imagine why
Stevie Wonder’s voice is phenomenal - whether the sweet smooth ballad, or the growling funk - and this album showcases his range and creativity throughout. Songs in the Key of Life is still my favorite by him, but this album still stands proud next to it.
I can see the bands that were influenced by this album, but I enjoy all of their albums much better than this. The tracks where the bass was forward in the mix, I enjoyed a bit better, but overall it didn’t move me.
The sonic collage of this album was a fun ride - made me realize how much I miss good sampling. They were able to capture the sense of hanging out with a group of friends swapping stories and observations of life. Not a small feat. Also appreciated the overall sense of claiming who you are without pretense or posing.
Not sure that I would call this album an essential listen - there are much better albums in the same vein - anything by Joan Jett, for example. Celebrity Skin is a great track, but just a decent album.
Needed an edit to make it really hit for me, but still a solid Bowie album.
There was some good elements in this, but the repetition of electronic music always makes me check out.
Loungy and unrushed - smooth jazz but not saccharine - vocals are fantastic
Damn, what a debut! Great mix of styles and grooves. Loved the rawness of “Precious” as an opener and shifting gears until finally ending with the poppier groove of “Mystery Achievement”.
Just can’t get over how tight the band is on this album - the crazy runs both saxes and brass do in such perfect matching tones and lightening speeds. Always in awe
I’ve always felt like I should hate Stuart Murdoch’s voice but iI don’t. I love his lyrical and musical sense. It always takes me at least 4-5 listens for any given Belle and Sebastian song to really sink in, but then they stick with me. This album less than others, but still a solid debut.
Everything about this album is okay
Nothing remarkable here - a good down and dirty blues based rock band, but not quite sure it rises to the level of a listen to before you die album.
Simply one of the best rock albums of all time - has never gotten old for me - lyrically, musically, emotionally
Often sonically interesting, but so lyrically abysmal at points that I could barely make it through one listen, not two, like I normally do for albums I’ve never heard.
A great set from a fantastic writer and performer.
Sometimes virtuosity detaches me from the enjoyment of music. I find it more in jazz, but also here - where I find myself thinking “wow, look at what they are doing here with that instrument”, and have the realization that I have become detached from the music as an emotional experience and I’m experiencing it as a clinical one. This album still rocks, but I just never seem to find the extended jams move me the same way as a succinct tune.
This album could have been a masterpiece with better editing - got a bit too sonically repetitive as it wore on. That being said, it’s still a damn good album - his vocals are so smooth and the harmonies layered in perfect little petite fours of sound. A lot of Todd Rungren both in harmony and instrumentation. Loved this
Nope in 97, nope in 25 - though the last 2 tracks brought it up to 1.5
Soulful and smooth - definitely a slow groove of an album, but still a classic for good reason
Love the live energy of this album, and just the energy, in general - it feels like the whole group is just feeding and building off each other with every track - love it
If you need to listen to only one White Stripes album, this is what I would recommend every time - a feast of ideas served up loose - driving, loping, and grooving. Not perfect, but perfectly creative
It’s hard to rate an album that contains such an iconic song. It’s hard to imagine a world without “Imagine”, but you can do it if you try. But like so many one hit wonder bands, we ignore the wider scope of their music for one smash. I like the varied tone of Lennon’s solo work, at times playful, scathing, and hopeful.
I like the Chili Peppers in small doses, and sometimes not at all. But I do admit that every once in a while “Give it Away” strikes some chord in my lizard brain that makes me a slave to the beat for a radio blaring moment.
Another nope for me - just not my genre in any way, shape, or form. Okay background music, but their are much better backgrounds
Hadn’t heard of this band before listening to this. I like the way they blend all the elements of bluesfolkpsych rock - “Simon Diamond” sounded like what the Partidge Family might have sounded like if Peter Wolf stood in for David Cassidy… but I digress. Solid and fun and creative throughout - I’ll be checking out more