First song feels weak in lyrics. The second is a bit stronger but is massively helped by better music. I Have Forgiven Jesus feels more personal and introspective and works well. This continues nicely in Come back to Camden. This back and forth continues through the album. The First of the Gang is a clear standout as a single.
I have really enjoyed this album. There's something arresting about it. The songs in the middle aren't singles that I would think to add to a playlist, but are amazing album songs. On, On, On, On was one that really stood out for me.
For the first half I wanted different mixes of most of the songs. The second half picked up and was an enjoyable ambient group of songs.
It was relaxing by the end, but didn't stand out to me.
Enjoyable album. I can't help but think that the faster songs are the ones that kick in the a 90s action film when something cool is about to go down.
It's most famous song is right at the start. I thought it would make the rest of the listening dull by comparison, but was happy that wasn't the case. It's a fun, easy album. For me the first two songs are still the strongest. I had thought Something about you was the closing song and probably would have preferred that it was.
Nice and chilled back hip hop. Really easy to listen to. High 3.
It was difficult at times with the deliberately discordant parts, but overall a nice listen to something a bit more experimental. Parts of it felt like it would fit with later Radiohead. I'd listen again and would check out what else he had
Blue orchid is great. Feels like Marc Bolan would approve. The Nurse calms it down again before upping the fun again with My Doorbell. Really like the way the words spit out. Little Ghost is fun but the ones around don't leave much impression on me until Take, Take, Take. It was difficult to get into at the start but by the end of the song I enjoyed it. I'd skip Red Rain. I'm Lonely is a good ending.
Overall strong album. Although Mama Gave Birth to the Soul Children's voice effect went on too long for me at the end of the song. Would happily work or workout to this.
I liked the album and I would happily just put on to listen the whole way through again (and would have on if having people over). Take me to the river was the one that stood out this listen, which I feel a bit bad about as it's a cover.
First half was strange and fun in places, but not consistently enough for me. Then the second half is okay, but feels all over the place with only half an album left to establish anything. I liked the more melodic parts, however nothing stuck with me.
They were a bombastic band from the start. Maybe because of the skill and experience they already had, but it feels like they were a fantastic, fully formed idea from the beginning. I would have felt like the cool kid for sure if I put this on at a party when it came out. Although it would have been hard not to break that illusion as I would have probably done some air guitar at some point. Would have been amazing to see live.
I really enjoyed it and would happily have on again. I can't remember thinking a particular song must be the single, but that wasn't a bad thing.
First song feels weak in lyrics. The second is a bit stronger but is massively helped by better music. I Have Forgiven Jesus feels more personal and introspective and works well. This continues nicely in Come back to Camden. This back and forth continues through the album. The First of the Gang is a clear standout as a single.
A mixed bag. The singles still feel strong, Fucking in Heaven felt like a lad culture throwback, and then the others were between fun and forgettable. Love Island and Acid 8000 were pleasant surprises near the end.
A great mix of personal/love songs with the more political. An album I'll enjoy listening to again and again to pick up more and more on the lyrics.
I like the music more than the vocals and lyrics. My energy wained by 666 edit. I can imagine it being used in a spin class nowadays. On the songs with less vocals, it fit for focussed working. At those 90s raves I can imagine this going down well. I don't think I would listen to without ear/headphones. The "move any mountain" across different tracks becomes repetitive.
A solid album. In my head I remember "God Only Knows", then it comes on and it's so much better.
Came out when I was 16 and was listened to by those who didn't just go for pop music. They feel like another wave of New York effortless cool. There's a lot of fun riffs/sections; really liked the singles and the opening song.
Great album. Songs have a good variation from one to the next make it engaging the whole way through.
Fun and fast punk.
Has some fun moments. It was pretty easy to listen to and inoffensive. Didn't strike me as much as some other more well known Rush songs.
Rock 'n' Roll star is a great energy opening. A lot of the happiness I get from this is probably nostalgia. I didn't play Oasis songs but heard the album a lot with my brother. As a result I didn't over listen to it since and it comes as a nice return.
Feels like it should be listened in summer. Which it is. Scooby snacks was still fun despite it being overplayed in my university halls (with one person always acting it out...). The second half wore thin (including the what a wonderful world cover) and easily forgettable until the last two.
A comfort album. So many great singles coming together with the other tracks holding their own like "Elizabeth my dear" using the traditional ballad Scarborough fair.
The beginning was a hard listen hearing the mindset of a teenager so crude and toxic (in their toxic world). The music was good and I like there being a journey over the album. I think I would have to listen a few times to appreciate more of the arc. I
Fun and silly psychedelic rock.
I preferred the instrumental songs over the ones with vocals. A really interesting album to relax into.
They deliver exactly what you expect. It keeps a fast (galloping) pace throughout the album. The songs are unapologetically over the top, silly and fun. If you're in the right zone when listening, the fun carries over. If not, it's eye-rolling and record switching time.
Lovely and engaging start with "mining for gold". Drifted into music I'd expect to be live background for a restaurant on a summer's evening. When returning we'd say something like "that was really nice, wasn't it?" To each other whilst realising we had had 2 bottles of wine between us and a strong aperitif.
Hard to get over his voice being so synonymous with Toy Story in the first song. After that their are some interesting songs in topics, however I suspect I would find more to connect with in later albums.
Very interesting and needs more listens.
With the band it has a "full" rock and roll sound. That fullness was maybe too consistent for me. On first listen I don't really connect with the lyrics for many of the songs on this album, however it feels like there will be more to get out of some with multiple listens.
I've not really listened to this sort of music before. If I could dance I could imagine the songs on a night at club. It had the ones you bring out your best moves on, and then ones you sit and catch your breath, then there are those where you just watch the band have fun. Holiday was a cheeky change that feels like an extended theme tune of a TV series in the 50s. I might have preferred if 'Blues a La Machito' had come earlier on the album.
Musically I think it's quite beautiful, however I have a low tolerance for his cynical view of the world and people around him so often without much light. That said, I felt Lifeguard sleeping, girl drowning was a strong modern folk song with lovely use of wind instruments. And Speedway was a good finish. I'm thinking a 3 for me.
Straight from the start there is a lot going on. The first song sounds vintage beastie boys, before a quick fast guitar led song. The album then has a lot of variation in music styles as well as format. It makes you feel more part of who the beastie boys are beyond just the songs. On the right day this all hits one score higher.
The sound feels unique. After Poison Arrow, I found it hard to plug into the particulars of the songs (except The Look of Love PT 1), until the change of pace with 'All of My Heart'. 4 Ever 2 gether also stands out and the last two songs are both fun returns (Although I don't think Theme from "Mantrap" was on the original release)
The two sides are both engaging for different reasons. The singles in the first half have a unique sound to the contemporary songs I've heard but are still great pop songs. The second half explored different sounds and was more experimental. Particular favourites were Waking the Witch and Jig of Life.
Having swerved this album when it came out, I wasn't sure how listening now would go. The first track didn't give me much hope as the fast and frantic on each instrument and vocal quickly became a constant baseline without much deviation for me. But then as the tracks progressed it gave me that variation I craved; in particular on the vocals. The lyrics are confrontational and caricatures people, which I find hard to tune into, but when/if you are tuned in, it's an adrenaline fun ride.
Fun, in-your-face, offensive, and crude in places but a raw reflection on life and racial tensions in America. Second half felt it could have been trimmed a bit.
There are definitely parts I find interesting (bass lines most frequently), but some songs faded totally into the background for me. I liked Glittering Prize, and then the beginning of Hunter and The Hunted, but the length of song lost its impact.
The opening feels like Queen (Flash era) and the weakest song for me. The rest of the album feels more distinctly Muse. It has a fun operatic rock style that could be a successor to Iron Maiden without sounding like ripping them off. It's easy to imagine how enjoyable a live show would be.
I had never heard of them but can instantly hear that other bands were influenced by them. It was a really enjoyable listen that I would love to work to.
Really enjoyed this. It felt that the vocals were always with the band, in the same room, rather than clear over the rest, which was a nice difference. I did partly think "the next album is going to be even stronger!"
I was surprised how short it was. I felt it stayed in comfort zone for most of the album, with the last track trying something different (but staying in the relaxed feel), but it didn't wow me.
Felt like there was a lot of exploration but in different directions and as it was a short album, it didn't have a strong centre.
I have really enjoyed this album. There's something arresting about it. The songs in the middle aren't singles that I would think to add to a playlist, but are amazing album songs. On, On, On, On was one that really stood out for me.
The songs didn't stick with me to be memorable and the sound overall was a bit safe.
Enjoyable listen, if not quite my thing overall. Sunshine Superman and Season of the Witch stand out. The Arthurian songs feel right at home here, probably because of the influence they had on the movement.
Iconic. Has great depth and energy.
It's not my favourite Black Sabbath album and doesn't have as many "big hitters". However the variation really works nicely. 'Changes' is the main example of this, shifting to a piano base. Then I also felt that it had a strong end with 'Under the sun'.
I was skim reading a reference book throughout listening to the album and it worked nicely as unobtrusive background music. Only slightly feeling like it was dragging a bit by the end.
I think the lyrics are rubbish/nonsense, but for the most part don't get in the way of my enjoyment of it. I like the loud energy, and don't even care how many of the songs probably go on much longer than they need to (including Paradise City and Sweet Child O' Mine). I kept thinking it needed to have the volume turned up a bit more and there was lots of the guitar that would be air guitar fodder or riffs I'd want to be able to play. Incredible that they are so overblown on the debut album. I would probably prefer making a hard rock compilation that they featured on rather than listen to the album start to finish.
It was fun that was really accomplished whilst not taking itself seriously. I think it will only grow in appreciation with each listen.
There is some parts that I find interesting, but they don't often fit together for me. The vocals also feel safe and with not enough identity.
A really great combo of grunge and folk.
I was worried when I saw 21 tracks and thought my energy wouldn't stay with theirs. But at 35 mins it works. Love hearing little bits that influence bands I love.
At times felt like it was part of a movie soundtrack with emotional waves flowing through it. Will get better with more listens. It did have a few songs with a cacophony/wall of noise ending which on other albums would be saved for the end of an album. You could sense where if seeing it live, the whole audience and band would feel as one.
I don't really listen to grime. I really liked the music, though found it harder to embrace the lyrics. I think that would soften over multiple listens.
A feel good album. Males me think of wedding receptions and family parties.
Fun and interesting pop punk. The first half is great and it fades slightly on the second.