Really pleasantly surprised by the Black Sabbath cover. Who would have thought that Iron Man can be such a chill song? The arrangements and musicianship are astounding. Lots of neat references to the sixties baroque pop and quite a few jazzy melodies.
Growing up is realizing that Exile is the Stones' best record. There is something raw and premordial that the Stones never quite captured on any other releases. It sounds gritty, almost lo-fi at times and it's perfectly compounded by brilliant musicianship. Most importantly, every song feels grand, even the less known cuts and the band sounds like it's constantly on edge.
Just a beautiful record. I've had it for a long time but for some reason I never properly sat down and listened to it in one sitting. The first few songs are incredibly strong, you may even argue that they are some of the best pop or rock songs ever written but the whole album is a beautiful example of brilliant musicianship and songwriting. The lyrics are very evocative of all kinds of nostalgic episodes with excellent storytelling. Elton was simply at his peak with his vocals and melodies here. How does one even write something so brilliant as Goodbye Yellow Brick Road with one of the most dramatic hooks in the history of music.
A unique piece of music that goes beyond jazz. Coltrane may be the most brilliant player of all time but his composing skills are what makes him a music genius. I feel like one needs to find the right place and time to listen to this masterpiece, give it their full attention and let the music cleanse their soul.
Three songs in and I'm not sure how I feel about it. It does sound good but most of the music sampled makes me wanna go and listen to the original recordings of great African-American traditional blues music. Moby does add an interesting twist to it and I'm glad he brought some of these recordings to my attention. The second half of the record feels like a different record. It's packed with very atmospheric electronic landscapes with a lot of spoken word by Moby. I'm definitely intrigued and I might give it a few more spins.
Oh, I'm not a huge hip-hop fans but I'm somewhat familiar with Kendrick's work. To be fair before I started listening to this one, I wasn't necessarily in the mood for a hip hop album. Once I actually dug in, the record kept pulling me in with each song with its narrative, the depiction of a certain life and challenges, the voice of both protest and desperation but also filled with indomitable spirit. The last few tracks fully opened the floodgates, especially the 12 minute Sing About Me, I'm Dying of Thirst which perfectly captures the essence of the whole album. Astonishing!
As much as this album is a sort of rebirth following the great and tragic loss of their previous lead singer Bon Scott and it is arguably their last truly great album (not that the ones that followed are bad by any measure). This album is pure fun and what astounds me the most is their classic groove that many have unsuccessfully tried to emulate. It is here in full glory alongside the unique and spicy guitar work by the Young brothers. The lyrics are a bit cringe at times but with the album like this, it may even work in its favor. Brian Johnson is young and ferocious here and while he lacks some of Bon's personality and attitude, he perfectly assumes his spot without being the exact carbon copy.
This is one of my all time favorites, just a perfectly executed album in any way with Mick Taylor adding a new layer of sound to the Stones. It's one of those albums that doesn't let up, where every single song is a masterpiece in its own right. It does help that the Stones were also backed by a wonderful horn section. Sister Morphine might be one of the darkest drug-fuel nightmare songs ever written.
It's exciting to see a person from your own country making it to this list of albums. Suba was a pioneer of electronic music in Serbia (former Yugoslavia back then) and apparently became a major producer in Brazil where he made this swan song of an album (what really could be just the beginning of a great streak). This is not the kind of music I usually listen to but I feel I will be giving it a few more spins. I like the blend of Brazilian music and electronic sounds but what struck me the most were some of the ending tracks that had more of a trippy psychedelic feel to them
I really liked this one and I may revisit it soon as I feel that I can't rank it fairly at the moment. The lyrics are witty, sarcastic and open to interpretation. They also feel deeply personal. The singing has quite a bite to it and reminds me of George Harrison. The guitars are jangly, distorted, melodic and at times a bit gritty.
Another great Beach Boys album but somewhat uneven. I feel like the B side of the album had much more cohesion with one gorgeous song after another. Definitely, a great listen. My highlights are Brian's songs near the end as well as Carl's beautiful Free Flows with the great Charles Lloyd on the flute.
A brilliant jazz album with one of the best line ups of all time. This album is ground zero of jazz fusion and is a precursor of the legendary seventies group Weather Report. Unlike the more lauded Bitches Brew that followed a year later, In a Silent Way seems more accessible and it is a very relaxing album with beautiful laid back grooves and subtle sounds blending together to create a beautiful dreamy textures. The last few minutes of the title track are sublime.
What's so special about this album is not solely the great virtuosity of the musicians but the way they build textures and melodies so seamlessly. There is a little instrumental section during the third track in the 4th minute where all the instruments come together with such force and beauty that my jaw drops every single time. There are actually many such moments throughout the album.
I love his biting tongue in cheek commentary. The way he puts down the American establishment's illusions of grandeur is both humorous and astute. There are also several very touching moments like the songs he dedicated to his father and a newborn son. Randy is a treasure.
I'll be frank, I only listened to the first disc (out of 4) but this is no brainer. Ella is one of the greatest singers of all time. The instrumentation itself is gorgeous, warm and inviting, perfect for a pleasant (dare I say romantic) evening.
I like this quite a lot even if I was sceptical at first. I love the way they channel a lot of the sixties music through more modern indie sounds of the time and dancing beats. Some songs even have a bit of a gritty Rolling Stones flavor.
An album that simultaneously sounds sunny and joyful on the surface and conceals a dark undercurrent below. Brilliant!!
This band meant a world to me back in my twenties. Neon Bible may not quite as good as their debut album Funeral, but it's a great work in its own right. There is some kind of millennial sadness or pathos to this music. It makes one feel seen and it's a thing of beauty.
Great musicians and there is absolutely nothing wrong with the songs here. However, it just doesn't move me enough. I remember seeing them on the tour promoting this album and while the show was meticulously performed it left me a bit cold. Lots of songs sound like pastiches of other artists such as U2, Radiohead, King Crimson etc. I can see why people love this band and they're worth lending an ear to.
This is one of the albums that defined the sound of the nineties. I was mostly familiar with the hits that were hugely popular in my childhood. I loved them back then even if I wasn't necessarily interested enough to pursue her albums. Now, I finally got to sit through it and despite some issues I have with some of her vocalisations, I would say it's a very strong and deeply personal album. Ironic is a major classic for a good reason.
This is a vibrant and powerful live performance. Blood, sweat and tears ooze from every note.
Honestly, I believe that Simon and Garfunkel's catalogue is seamless in its perfection. While listening to this one, I realised that I wasn't as familiar with this record as I thought I was. There a true moments of songwriting brilliance as well as some humour and Dylan pastiche thrown in to lighten up the mood. Right from the start, the harmonies will overwhelm you with their beauty.
Badass!! Love the guitar work, the overall punk attitude, the fifties like ballads with a sharper edge to them, the atmospheric reggae of Private Life. A perfect example of that sweet spot between punk, new wave and power pop.
I remember hearing this one for first time (the original 6 track version). I had been only familiar with the band's studio work by then, and I just couldn't believe how ferocious and powerful their live performances were. I still can't believe it. It is also noteworthy to mention that this is probably the moment when Roger Daltrey fully came into his own as a vocalist.
Dookie is funny, exuberant, catchy, self-deprecating, easy to sing along to, and what's more important, it's a genuine generational cry.
Widely considered one of the best debut albums of the time, it's a record that in many way spearheaded the darker and more Gothic sound of the subsequent decades. It is also heavily influenced by blues but the band doesn't simply emulate their influences but rather adds new layers of color to it. There is also a notable cabaret, vaudeville element but distorted into a more grotesque sound.
One of the definitive Johnny Cash records. Not only do you get some of the best renditions of his famous hits but his banter with the prisoners gives a fair insight into his personality.
Elvis is so iconic that people don't dare question his greatness, and while he really was an excellent performer, albums like this just confirm that he was merely a vehicle to sell black people's music to a largely bigoted white audience. If you listen to any great black musicians of the era, you'll find incendiary passion that Elvis rarely approaches on this or other records. He even croons his way through a well known blues standard Reconsider Me. The upside is that it is still largely an enjoyable records but unlike the music of his black peers (and quite a few white ones), a large part of it sounds a bit outdated and milquetoast. I love Scotty Moore's guitar work though, as well as Elvis's somewhat subdued performance of Fever.
I pretty much grew up with this album but the most amazing thing is that I find it better with each listen. It's more than metal, it's almost akin to greatest symphonic music out there. There is a layer of deep and beautiful sadness under some of the tracks, particularly the instrumental, Orion.
Ozzy has just died and much to my surprise, it's made me cry a little. I've realised that Black Sabbath and this record have been with me throughout my life and I never got tired of it. Every track here is nothing short of spectacular and one could argue that it truly set the template for heavy metal alongside the brilliant debut album. There is something electric in the combination of Iommi's riffs, Ozzy's menacing vocals and Butler's and Ward's nearly jazzy rhythm section. A record that everyone should own.
When it came out, it spread through the word of mouth first, then got the adornment from the likes of David Bowie and Springsteen. Eventually, you could even hear it in a random clothes shop. There is a reason why it's gained so much popularity despite being a quirky indie album. Every song here evokes a flurry of emotion particularly for us older millennial. There is something generational about it. A nearly perfect album.
I feel like my rating system still needs to be adjusted a bit since I gave some albums high grades a bit too easily. This one is an excellent album but I am not sure if I'm ready to give it anything about 4. It is in many ways a precursor of stoner rock and some of the metal and that does give it a lot of credence. The performances are wild and incendiary but it does lack a bit more substance.
Quirky, poignant, jovial. This album is like a pallette of different emotions and yet everything gels perfectly well. The musicianship is top notch.
Not much to add here. This is one of the most acclaimed albums for a good reason. Sometimes, I listen to it, those beautiful textures and passages, the emotional lyrics capturing the turmoil of human condition, and just can't fathom how they did it.
