162
Albums Rated
3.3
Average Rating
15%
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Deltron 3030
Deltron 3030
Rating Distribution
Rating Timeline
Taste Profile
1990
Favorite Decade
Psychedelic-rock
Favorite Genre
UK
Top Origin
Wordsmith
Rater Style ?
14
5-Star Albums
0
1-Star Albums
Breakdown
By Genre
By Decade
By Origin
Albums
You Love More Than Most
| Album | You | Global | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Sea Change
Beck
|
5 | 3.33 | +1.67 |
|
Blue Lines
Massive Attack
|
5 | 3.38 | +1.62 |
|
American Gothic
David Ackles
|
4 | 2.49 | +1.51 |
|
Illinois
Sufjan Stevens
|
5 | 3.5 | +1.5 |
|
To Pimp A Butterfly
Kendrick Lamar
|
5 | 3.62 | +1.38 |
|
The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill
Lauryn Hill
|
5 | 3.64 | +1.36 |
|
LP1
FKA twigs
|
4 | 2.81 | +1.19 |
|
In Rainbows
Radiohead
|
5 | 3.84 | +1.16 |
|
Rip It Up
Orange Juice
|
4 | 2.9 | +1.1 |
|
What's Going On
Marvin Gaye
|
5 | 3.94 | +1.06 |
You Love Less Than Most
| Album | You | Global | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
|
At San Quentin
Johnny Cash
|
2 | 3.8 | -1.8 |
|
American Idiot
Green Day
|
2 | 3.76 | -1.76 |
|
3 Feet High and Rising
De La Soul
|
2 | 3.45 | -1.45 |
|
Murmur
R.E.M.
|
2 | 3.42 | -1.42 |
|
My Generation
The Who
|
2 | 3.42 | -1.42 |
|
Blunderbuss
Jack White
|
2 | 3.4 | -1.4 |
|
Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers
Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers
|
2 | 3.39 | -1.39 |
|
Hybrid Theory
Linkin Park
|
2 | 3.39 | -1.39 |
|
The Next Day
David Bowie
|
2 | 3.3 | -1.3 |
|
Low-Life
New Order
|
2 | 3.3 | -1.3 |
Artists
Favorites
| Artist | Albums | Average |
|---|---|---|
| Nirvana | 2 | 5 |
5-Star Albums (14)
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Popular Reviews
The Disposable Heroes Of Hiphoprisy · 1 likes
3/5
--Satanic Verses...well, this is direct. a little long
--Famous and Dandy...this one is nice and bass-ee. needs an editor. no reason to be over six minutes
--Television The Drug of the Nation...good lord, sir, you can make this point in under five minutes
--Language of Violence...for those idiots that think "woke" is a new phenomenon, this was released in 1992
--The Winter of the Long Hot Summer...the other tracks are long but they seriously groove. This is the longest track and has almost no movement. I was into this album up until now but this one just feels lazy
--Hypocrisy is the Greatest Luxury...finally the groove is back. it's also under four minutes!
--Everyday Life Has Become a Health Risk...a great bass line and we once again are under five!
--INS Greencard...a phone skit with a sick bass line
--Socio-Genetic Experiment...kind of a list song
--Music and Politics...I guess this is the thesis statement
--Financial Leprosy...another good bass groove
--California Uber Alles...I like this one but I'm ready to be done
--Water Pistol Man...another track that's too long but its vibe differs from earlier tracks. The lyrics aren't quite as direct. I like it
All Ratings
Le Tigre
3/5
Some great tracks, but not enough for me to come back to that often
Kendrick Lamar
5/5
R.E.M.
2/5
bass intro on Laughing is fun
Shaking Through has a nice kick
Simon & Garfunkel
3/5
Lorde
3/5
Green Light rips
Also digging Sober
Supercut feels like teen dream filler
Talking Heads
3/5
I Zimbra has got the groove
Not digging Mind
Paper is interesting, but probably takes multiple listens to truly appreciate
Cities is weird but fun
Life During Wartime rips. I prefer the live version tho
Memories Can't Wait through me for a loop. Kinda gives me U2 vibes, but heavier
Air is weird. I like it...I think?
Heaven feels like filler and also written by a different band
Animals feels more like a TH song, but I don't care for it
Electric Guitar is fun
Drugs is the typical Throw Random Crap on There as a last track
The Black Crowes
2/5
Twice As Hard is...ok
Jealous Again...meh
Sister Luck? Sister Suck
Could I've Been So Blind is decent
Seeing Things...zzzz
Hard to Handle is the obvious moneymaker
Thick N Thin has a solid groove
She Talks to Angels is a standard teenage panty dropper
Struttin' Blues kicks. Should've been an earlier track
Stare It Cold exists
Stan Getz
3/5
Not really my type of music so I' don't feel I can properly rate it. I enjoyed it enough
The Beach Boys
3/5
Do You Wanna Dance... Fine
Good To My Baby is solid
Don't Hurt My Little Sister is good
When I Grow Up is aurally interesting
Help Me, Rhonda is good fun
Dance Dance Dance is enjoyable but forgettable sugar
Please Let Me Wonder...shrug
I'm So Young is enjoyable. I'm a sucker for old school love songs and harmonies
Kiss Me, Baby has a solid groove and good harmonies
She Knows Me Too Well...meh
In The Back of My Mind is an interesting curve ball
Bull Session With "Big Daddy" seems to be an interview
Pink Floyd
5/5
I never got Money. Still don't.
5 STARS
Arctic Monkeys
3/5
View from the Afternoon...decent opener
I Bet You Look Good...is good until the chorus. Don't care for the chorus
Fake Tales...first half is a little boring. Second half kicks
Dancing Shoes rocks in a generic way
You Probably Couldn't See...you know what? fuck these song titles
Still Take You Home...I like this one. Nice drive all the way through
Riot Van...slows things down a bit. It's fine
Red Light...feels like a throwaway
Mardy Bum...this isn't all that aurally interesting, but I like it
Perhaps Vampires...feels like a jam session-turned song. meh
When the Sun...ok, but all the tracks are really starting to blend together
From the Ritz...I like this one...like the bass groove
A Certain Romance...just kind of exists. Pretty normal for a final track. So, why is it over 5 minutes?
The Pharcyde
4/5
Oh Shit...decent opener (if you don't include the skit)
4 Better...is good fun
I'm That Type...great track
Soul Flower fux hard
On the DL continues the groove. This one sounds weird in the best way
Officer...fuck yeah
Yo Mama. So stupid. So great
Passin' Me By givin' me Portishead. Who did it first???
Otha Fish. This shit keeps hitting
Pack the Pipe...lemme hit it again
Return of the B-Boy seems more stripped down than the other tracks but still good
The Boo Radleys
3/5
I Hang Suspended...whatever
Upon 9th...Interesting. I dunno but I think I could like this with multiple listens
Wish I Was Skinny...old school teenage dream vibe I like
Leaves & Sand...interesting sound and movement but is it a good song? meh
Butterfly McQueen...again, interesting. But who is this for?
Rodney King has a nice groove
Thinking of Ways is aggressively British and I appreciate it
Barney...Is that a Flute? Wtf is happening? Ok, I like it
Spun Around...boring intro but I liked it by the end
If You Want It...Pretty boring compared to everything else. Was this the radio friendly track?
Best Lose the Fear is generic
Take This Time Around...don't hate it but it feels like filler
Lazarus...huh, I like the instrumental breakdown. Don't care for the rest
One Is For...an unnecessary but appreciated acoustic interlude
Run My Way Runway...Here's an experimental sound collage for you sickos!
I've Lost the Reason...Like several other tracks, I really like some parts but not others
The White Noise Revisited...plodding
Now that I'm reading this it sounds more negative than I actually feel about it. I don't know how much I'll come back to this album in the future but it kind of won me over in the end.
Nirvana
5/5
Smells Like Teen Spirit...we all know about it
In Bloom...Heavy. Love it
Come As You Are...heavy and dreamy vibe at the same time. Just cool
Breed fux hard
Lithium...not their best song but the production elevates it
Polly...dark acoustic track. Darker if you know the backstory. Evidence to the world that these guys were more than loud. An omen of their Unplugged future.
Territorial Pissings...Could be a track on a lot of punk albums. Generic
Drain You...good but not a highlight
Lounge Act...just kind of there
Stay Away...kicks some ass but is overshadowed by similar but better songs
On A Plain...just an ok rock song. Hard to separate from the superior Unplugged version.
Something in the Way...great stuff. Minimalist but with fantastic production. Haunting.
Endless, Nameless...I'm guessing this was added just to piss off the label
Led Zeppelin
5/5
Black Dog...sloppy but fun
Rock and Roll...Yes. More!
Battle of Evermore...ELVES AND FAIRIES
Stairway...What else is there to say?
Mist Mountain Hop...Groovy. I like it more than I used to
Four Sticks...Not my thing
Going to California...good if you don't mind that Plant goes a little wild
When the Levee Breaks...Great stuff
Depeche Mode
4/5
World in My Eyes...good tone setter
Sweetest Perfection...not the most accessible pop song but I like how dirty it feels
Personal Jesus...yes. everything about this. yes.
Halo...interesting sounds but nothing special
Waiting for the Night...see above
Enjoy the Silence...this is the shit
Policy of Truth...dark and dirty. fuck ya
Blue Dress...Weird. I think I would like it with a few more listens
Clean...forgettable
Dirty Projectors
2/5
Cannibal Resource...starting off weird. It's almost an anti-song? Like it's trying to avoid making sense
Temecula Sunrise...sounds like the dumb shit I would come up with while noodling on guitar
The Bride...what is happening?!
Stillness is the Move...sort of resembles a pop song. I can groove to it
Two Doves...hmm. I appreciate the attempt at a sincere acoustic ballad on an otherwise strange album but it's just not good.
Useful Chamber...continues the weirdness. Not an enjoyable listen
No Intention...an accessible and welcome reprieve from the rest of this insanity
Remade Horizon...guh wtf is this? Sounds like a first draft with high production values
Fluorescent Half Dome...not my thing. not my thing at all
Johnny Cash
3/5
The Man Comes Around...badass
Hurt...It hurts me to say it (heh), but I was never into the NIN version and this one also never won me over
Give My Love to Rose...simple and sweet. I like this
Bridge Over Troubled Water...not sure Mr. Cash is the best choice for this cover
I Hung My Head...pleasant but somewhat generic
First Time...I like its atmosphere. A great vibe if not a great song
Personal Jesus...fun but feels off. I appreciate the effort but prefer the original
In My Life...not my thing
Sam Hall...old timey and fun
Danny Boy...probably deserves a more "classical" singer but whatever
Desperado...the original is cheesy and so is this
I'm So Lonesome...Is that Nick Cave? I love Nick but not a fan of his contribution here
Tear Stained Letter...I like this one. Always down for some whisky-soaked pianee
Streets of Laredo...another sweet and affecting song
We'll Meet Again...Something tells me this is Cash's idea of dark humor
Les Rythmes Digitales
2/5
--Dreamin'...at least the album cover isn't lying
--Music Makes you lose control...I like this one. Repetitive but with a solid groove and sound
--Soft Machine...more of a pop song than the earlier dance tracks. I feel it's making interesting choices but I don't really vibe with it. Tryhard lyrics
--Hypnotise...an annoying and boring first minute before it devolves into generic club music
--Hey You...I like it until the vocals come in. Too repetitive but that's what the genre often does
--Take a Little Time...throwback to late 80s/early 90s dance pop. I dig it
--Disco II Disco...First I hated it, then I laughed, now I'm grooving. Perhaps still too weird for repeat listens
--Brothers...more generic club stuff
--MDC Vendredi...Not interesting enough to be 6+ minutes long
--Jacques Your Body...I'm mixed on this one. I like the bass groove. Vocals are throwing me off
--About Funk...takes too long to get going and once it does it's just kind of okay
--Sometimes...oddly schmaltzy compared to everything else. Not for me
--Damaged People...why are the weak tracks also the longest?
Reaction: Not a fan of this, but you could argue I wasn't really listening to it in its "correct" environment. If you're someone that's into EDM, however, I'm sure Darkdancer has something on it for you to enjoy.
Beastie Boys
4/5
--Sure Shot...grand opening statement
--Tough Guy...short punk track. meh
--B-Boys...a lot of interesting ideas but never quite comes together for me
--Bobo...short drum break
--Root Down...funky and fun. Great stuff
--Sabotage...Classic
--Get It Together...slows things down a bit. Great groove and rhymes
--Sabrosa...funky instrumental. Very nice
--The Update...I'm not sure I love this song but it's kind of fascinating. Off-balance but precise at the same time.
--Futterman's Rule...Another funky instrumental. I really like the fuzz these guys are able to produce
--Alright Hear This...sounds too much like Sure Shot but keeps the groove going
--Eugene's Lament...another instrumental. I appreciate the left turn but it doesn't really fit with the rest of the album
--Flute Loop...It's exactly what the title says and it's great
--Do It...decent but overshadowed by similar but better tracks
--Ricky's Theme...instrumental. feels like a track I would keep on while using the bathroom. Nothing that interesting happening
--Heart Attack Man...another pure punk song. I like how heavy it is but otherwise it's just okay
--The Scoop...I was afraid the back half of this would just be a repeat of the front but this track feels like it's bringing something fresh to the table
--Shambala...is that Mongolian throat singing? Sure, why not?
--Bodhisattva Vow...the throat singing continues and it's fantastic. Banger
--Transitions...another uninteresting instrumental. Should have ended on Bodhisattva Vow
Johnny Cash
2/5
--Wanted Man...plodding
--Wreck of the Old 97...now we're kickin'
--I Walk the Line...nice but maybe too straightforward/basic
--Darlin' Companion...fun but nothing special
--Starkville City Jail...lyrics eerily relevant
--San Quentin...sounds like a Johnny Cash song
--San Quentin (Reprise)... ...
--A Boy Named Sue...funny lyrics but musically? meh
--Peace in the Valley...nice and sweet
--Folsom Prison Blues...uh, where's the rest of the song?
Sparks
2/5
--This Town...boisterous and strange. Not sure how much I like it
--Amateur Hour...I like parts but never really comes together for me
--Falling in Love...I appreciate the theatricality but I'm just not feeling the song
--Here in Heaven...it's okay I guess
--Thank God...This one grew on me by the end
--Hasta Manana...again, some interesting things happening. But it never comes together
--Talent is an Asset...I like the bass. I'm starting to think I disagree with most (all) of the vocal choices on here
--Complaints...every time these guys get a groove going they take a weird turn. I'm sure they would say it's artistic, I say it's annoying
--In My Family...a more straightforward rock song but meh
--Equator...I'm not in the mood for this bullshit
--Barbecutie...I like the intro, I guess
--Lost and Found...these guys can play but the songwriting is just not there
Beastie Boys
4/5
--Rhymin & Stealin...nice opener
--The New Style...hell yeah
--She's Crafty...great sample great track
--Posse in Effect...seems pretty generic for the era
--Slow Ride...I love the sampling. Fun and groovy
--Girls...uh, no comment
--Fight for Your Right...this may have been funny/awesome at the time but now it's just kind of cute
--No Sleep Till Brooklyn...running full speed with Run-DMC's baton
--Paul Revere...going quiet for this one but it's really effective
--Hold It Now, Hit It...liking not loving
--Brass Monkey...just plain fun
--Slow and Low...we're at the point where tracks are starting to sound the same. But that's actually a good thing for this album
--Time to Get Ill...ends on an absolute banger. Should have done the same for Ill Communication
Miles Davis
4/5
--Spanish Key gets me going
I connect with the back half more than the front
Reaction: Yikes. I think this music is above my head. But I hear the virtuosity and I hear the other music it would eventually inspire. Definitely something everyone should listen to before they die
Cyndi Lauper
4/5
--Money Changes Everything...good opener. great voice
-- Girls Just...her voice cuts straight through. delightful
--When You Were Mine...not one of Prince's best. Definitely not good enough to justify the 5 minute length
--Time After Time...classic
--She Bop...it's groovy. That's all I'm going to say
--All Through the Night...I like this one a lot. Ridiculous synths but they somehow still work. Her voice continues to power through
--Witness...a surprising but fun left turn
--I'll Kiss You...appreciate the swing but not a great track
--He's so Unusual...
--Yeah Yeah...weird and fun
Yeah Yeah Yeahs
3/5
--Zero...good opener. I have a sneaking suspicion this song is about the female orgasm
--Heads Will Roll...I like the production but it lacks a decent hook
--Soft Shock...not a total banger, but something that could grow on me with time
--Skeletons...I feel like this was a very therapeutic song for Karen O. Unfortunately, it doesn't translate into good pop
--Dull Life...the guitars are back! This song kicks and takes some fun turns
--Shame and Fortune...grimy. I like it
--Runaway...interesting diversion but I think they should've kept it more minimalist. Just 2 minutes, Karen O, and a piano would have been great
--Dragon Queen...great track. Love disco shit
--Hysteric...nice ballad. like it a lot
--Little Shadow...more of a vibe than a song
John Lennon
3/5
--Imagine...cheesy? cliche? overplayed? overrated? I understand why someone may feel these things about this song. I think it's timeless
--Crippled Inside...a fun groove with cynical lyrics. Not one of his best but still classic Lennon
--Jealous Guy...kind of sluggish but it works somehow
--It's So Hard...sounds like one of his pre-Beatles rockabilly obsessions. meh
--I Don't Wanna Be a Soldier Mama...not a good enough song for it to be the bold statement he wants it to be
--Gimme Some Truth...subtle as a sledgehammer. I want my Lennon anger counterbalanced with some dry British wit. There's no wit here
--Oh My Love...sappy but nice
--How Do You Sleep?...mean-spirited song from a mean-spirited man
--How?...more sap but nice production
--Oh Yoko!...a total delight. Saves the back half from being a slog
David Bowie
4/5
--Changes...never thought this was his best but still great
--Oh! You Pretty Things...weird and fun
--Eight Line Poem...sounds like a more classical voice could deliver a nice cover. Don't like it much as is
--Life on Mars?...perfect no notes
--Kooks...kooky (hah) and fun
--Quicksand...a little long but it justifies its length more than other "epic" songs
--Fill Your Heart...twee bullshit but Bowie makes it work
--Andy Warhol...strange and yet totally accessible. Pure Bowie
--Song for Bob Dylan...this one has a lot of elements I like but it's missing something. Doesn't quite come together for me
--Queen Bitch...banger
--The Bewlay Brothers...doesn't immediately jump out as one of the better tracks but it may take multiple listens to truly appreciate
Ray Charles
4/5
--Let the Good Times Roll...big band stuff
--It Had to Be You...never liked this song but I like Ray singing it. Don't care for all the extra instrumentation
--Alexander's Ragtime Band...fun
--Two Years of Torture...nice and cool
--When Your Lover Has Gone...this one is great. I just need the other musicians to get out of his way! Let Ray do his thing!
--Deed I Do...Big Band stuff
--Just for a Thrill...mostly Ray. Which is a good thing
--You Won't Let Me Go...very nice
--Tell Me You'll Wait...this shit calms my soul
--Don't Let the Sun...keeps the mood going
--Am I Blue...wonderful
--Come Rain or Come Shine...Thank you, Ray
Rage Against The Machine
5/5
--Bombtrack...righteous anger
--Killing in the Name...all-timer. Makes me want to run through a wall
--Take the Power Back...this rhythm section kicks all of the ass
--Settle for Nothing...we change tempo. Not for the better
--Bullet in the Head...starts out more funky than other tracks then goes hard. The bass work/sound is perfection
--Know Your Enemy...yes. Yes. YES!
--Wake Up...this group is in full command
--Fistful of Steel...a lesser track but still good
--Township Rebellion...If you read my past reviews, you may notice that I like my songs on the shorter side. Most of the tracks on this album are 5-6 minutes. It's not a problem for me here because these guys keep things interesting and demand your attention
--Freedom...kind of a Greatest Hits of earlier tracks. Not the best but seems appropriate for a closer
Duran Duran
3/5
--Rio...decent pop elevated by a killer bassline
--My Own Way...I should listen to some John Taylor solo work
--Lonely in Your Nightmare...some interesting sounds but it just kind of meanders
--Hungry Like the Wolf...I've heard this song 1000 times and as I listen to it now it just feels very basic and a little aimless. It's possible the music video had a lot to do with its popularity
--Hold Back the Rain...loving the production but not the song
--New Religion...I like this one. More focused than earlier tracks
--Last Chance on the Stairway...feels like a sequel to Rio
--Save a Prayer...schmaltzy and overlong
--The Chauffeur...an odd turn but I like it. Still could be at least a full minute shorter
Bonnie "Prince" Billy
3/5
--A Minor Place...this is certainly a tone setter
--Nomadic Revery...not sure I enjoyed this track but there's passion here. Sincerity
--I See a Darkness...minimalist but deeply affecting. This guy doesn't have the best voice but he seems to "get it"
--Another Day Full of Dread...I'm not into this one
--Death to Everyone...a sad album suddenly turns sinister
--Knockturne...a nice reprieve from the gloom
--Madeleine-Mary...something different. I don't love it right now but something tells me I could learn to
--Song for the New Breed...sounds similar to earlier songs but more sluggish
--Today I Was an Evil One...meh
--Black...straightforward folk. I like it a lot
--Raining in Darling...feels like it's missing an ending
Todd Rundgren
3/5
--International Feel...we already gettin' weird
--Never Never Land...staying weird
--Tic Tic Tic, It Wears Off...funky instrumental
--You Need Your Head...crazy cacophony
--Rock & Roll Pussy...What is happening?
--Dogfight Giggle....could the next track be an actual song, Todd?
--You Don't Have to Camp Around...treacly
--Flamingo...jesus, time to come down, Todd
--Zen Archer...this music was made for somebody, it's not made for me but somebody
--Just Another Onionhead...there are interesting sounds happening but where are the actual songs?!
--When the Shit Hits the Fan...an actual song! It's good!
--Le Feel Internacionale...a reprise
--Sometimes I Don't Know What to Feel...Showing that Mr. Rundgren has very good pop sensibilities. I appreciate the psychedelic experimentation but he should stick with what he's good at
--Does Anybody Love You...twee bullshit
--Medley...I'm not sure why it's on here but it's good
--Hungry for Love...shrug
--I Don't Want to Tie You Down...schmaltz
--Is It My Name?...this one rocks
--Just One Victory...another good one. Nice bass groove
Adam & The Ants
2/5
--Dog Eat Dog...I guess this is technically a song
--Antmusic...It's fine. I might put this on an animal themed playlist
--Feed Me to the Lions...not a fan
--Los Rancheros...this one is more fun. It sounds more professional (?) than earlier tracks...
--Ants Invasion...ok I like this one. Good bass groove. The guitar and vocals fit in nicely with it. I would like more of this from the Ants
--Killer in the Home...after delivering their tightest track they give us this. Aimless
--Kings of the Wild Frontier...this is the lead single? why? this reached no. 2 in the UK? how?
--The Magnificent Five...not bad. not good
--Don't Be Square...I was excited for about 20 seconds, then the next 3 minutes happened. "You might not like it now but you will." I guess we'll see, Adam
--Jolly Roger...a sea shanty? sure
--Making History...are the drum parts on each track the same? Vocals not good
--The Human Beings...this offers me nothing. Plodding and annoying
Pretenders
3/5
--Precious...nice opener
--The Phone Call...kind of uneven but I like it
--Up the Neck...this one checks all the boxes. Good stuff
--Tattooed Love Boys...fun pop punk
--Space Invader...instrumental. I feel like they could have added lyrics to this but whatever
--The Wait...nice bass line. Everyone seems to be having fun on this one
--Stop Your Sobbing...interesting turn. Sounds like a 50s/60s throwback. (edit: it's a Kinks cover and it was produced by a different person than every other track. Explains why it sounds so different)
--Kid...sort of a ballad. Chrissy Hynde has a good voice but this sounds like a song written for a different singer in a different genre
--Private Life...Hynde's sultry alto carries the track but she can't make it any better than mediocre
--Brass in Pocket...never loved this song but its continued appearance on classic rock radio speaks for itself
-Lovers of Today...I didn't hate this but it feels like a time filler
--Mystery Achievement...a good jam. Maybe should have been earlier but I appreciate when the final track isn't just a throwaway
Beck
5/5
--The Golden Age...good morning music
--Paper Tiger...easy listening symphonic funk. cool
--Guess I'm Doing Fine...feels like a sequel to Golden Age. Not a bad thing
--Lonesome Tears...the production is glorious
--Lost Cause...simple and sad. wonderful
--End of the Day...first track I didn't love. Still good
--It's All in Your Mind...feels similar to End of the Day
--Round the Bend...hear some Radiohead in this. beautiful
--Already Dead...gorgeous
--Sunday Sun...seems like a bridge to Beck's past with the electronic beat, but still sounds at home here with the piano and acoustic guitar
--Little One...interesting. Not one of the better tracks but it could grow on me
--Side of the Road...Beck's voice and the production are nice, but this feels like a 90 second idea of a song that's been stretched to 3 minutes
Rocket From The Crypt
3/5
--Middle...fun opening statement
--Born in '69...some solid, straightforward rock
--On a Rope...see above
--Young Livers...not a lot of track variation but it's all pretty fun
--Drop Out...meh
--Used...changes things up a bit. Not sure the vocals are up to the task
--Ball Lightning...another decent rocker but the tracks are starting to meld together
--Fat Lip...I like this one. It has all the elements of previous tracks but this feels fresher for some reason
--Suit City...these guys are fun and know what they're doing, but is this album doing anything different or special compared to other pop/punk bands from '75-'95? I'm confused as to why I need to hear this before I die
--Heater Hands...sure
--Misbeaten...this one is interesting. They've injected some surf rock
--Come See, Come Saw...Slightly heavier than earlier tracks. This is good
--Salt Future...it fits but nothing special
--Burnt Alive...this one feels a little darker than the others. I like it
Black Sabbath
3/5
--Wheels of Confusion...takes a while to get going but once it does watch out
--Tomorrow's Dream...this is some good sludge
--Changes...I honestly didn't know this was a Sabbath song. I prefer the Charles Bradley version
--FX...just remove this one, guys
--Supernaut...hmmm, I like the guitar but the mixing is on the other instruments is muddy
--Snowblind...good not great
--Cornucopia...another track that takes a while to get going. Seems to be an issue with this album
--Laguna Sunrise...nice interlude. I hear Zeppelin's Rain Song in here
--St. Vitus Dance...meh
--Under the Sun/Every Day...this kicks
James Brown
3/5
--I'll Go Crazy...cool
--Try Me...too early for a ballad but it's fine
--Think...this kicks. But it's too short!
--I Don't Mind...a sexy and slow groove. Very cool
--Lost Someone...after a few rapid fire tracks we have a 10+ minute epic. Sounds like the audience is having fun but if all you're doing is listening, it just meanders
--Medley...You've Got the Power section is beautiful
--Night Train...we end with a nice groove
Metallica
4/5
--Blackened...pretty awesome
--...And Justice for All...not impressed with the first few minutes. but it ultimately rocks
--Eye of the Beholder...it's fine. James Hetfield starts to drift into parody of himself
--One...nice change of pace but the lack of bass is really evident here. Great guitar solo at the end
--The Shortest Straw...\m/\m/\m/
--Harvester of Sorrow...weaker than earlier tracks but still a headbanger
--The Frayed Ends of Sanity...didn't care for the first half. Second half fux
--To Live is to Die...the longest track and the least interesting
--Dyers Eve...technically impressive. Just okay as a song. Confusing ending
Sarah Vaughan
3/5
--September in the Rain...great voice. very nice
--Willow Weep for Me...great vibes. I think something fell down? The audience laughs. It's fun
--Just One of Those Things...continues the mood but it's just okay
--Be Anything But Darling Be Mine...slows things down. Wonderful tone to her voice. Very nice
--Thou Swell...another 'okay' one
--Stairway to the Stars...It's all been good so far but I really like when she gets slow and soft
--Honeysuckle Rose...this is scandalous!
--Just a Gigolo...another slow and sweet one. I feel like this album is really only two songs slightly rearranged into nine tracks. At least both of those songs are really good and Sarah Vaughan can really sing
--How High the Moon...lol did they not give her the lyrics to this one? This is hilarious
Bad Brains
2/5
--Intro...
--I Against I...already digging the rhythm section
--House of Suffering...I like the speed but it's a little basic compared to the previous track
--Re-Ignition...this is interesting. Not sure I like it. But it has something
--Secret 77...another interesting sound and structure. But is it a good song? Where is the hook?
--Let Me Help...when he sings it's good, but then he does this annoying talk-singing thing which is not as good
--She's Calling You...feels like it keeps working its way up to a kick-ass chorus that never comes
--Sacred Love...boring
--Hired Gun...decent guitar solo, I guess
--Return to Heaven...now we're getting a little weird. I like this
Jerry Lee Lewis
3/5
--High School Confidential...fun!
--Money...I think this is the first version of this song I've liked. Dude can play
--Great Balls of Fire...I've heard better versions from him but it still rips
--Good Golly Miss Molly...keeps the party going
--Lewis' Boogie...not enough piano. More piano!
--Your Cheating Heart...we slow the tempo down. It's almost like Jerry's hand can't handle slowing it down so he plays at double (triple?) speed to fit the new tempo
--Long, Tall Sally...another toe tapping classic
--Whole Lotta Shakin' Goin' On...things are starting to meld together but we're almost done. Short, sweet, and fun
R.E.M.
3/5
--Finest Worksong...Stipe and the guitars sound good here
--Welcome to the Occupation...plodding
--Exhuming McCarthy...oooh, a bass groove!
--Disturbance at the Heron House...interesting guitar solo. Other than that, meh
--Strange...they sound like they're having fun here and it's infectious
--It's the End of the World...classic
--The One I Love...great song. Stipe especially shines here
--Fireplace...I appreciate the odd turn with the saxophone, but it kind of derails the song
--Lightnin' Hopkins...sounds like it's coming from a different band on a different album but it kicks!
--King of Birds...filler
--Oddfellows Local 151...not interesting enough to be the longest track on here
Elton John
4/5
--Funeral for a Friend/Love Lies Bleeding...love that bass starting around the 6 minute mark. A long but fun track
--Candle in the Wind...great song. Prefer this over England's Rose (sorry, Diana)
--Bennie and the Jets...I used to hate this song. I still do, but I used to, too
--Goodbye Yellow Brick Road...good not great title song.
--This Song Has No Title...very nice. I don't think I've heard this before. Great production
--Grey Seal...has a nice groove
--Jamaica Jerk-Off...I'm guessing Sir Elton is trying the old White Album-style genre stretch
--I've Seen That Movie Too...not good enough to be six minutes long
--Sweet Painted Lady...not bad but a little too old fashioned for me
--The Ballad of Danny Bailey...this is weird. I love it!
--Dirty Little Girl...decent. Could be shorter
--All the Girls Love Alice...this one has a good groove and interesting tempo changes. Nice
--Your Sister Can't Twist...trying a Jerry Lee Lewis thing. It's fun
--Saturday Night's Alright...I'm not sure exactly whose ass Elton John thinks he's kicking, but this rocks
--Roy Rogers...nice but basic, which is probably the point. Might like it more if I were more familiar with Roy Rogers
--Social Disease...checking the volume on my headphones. I can barely hear him? Okay, it's getting louder. Intentional, I guess. It's a fun song
--Harmony...fitting closer. Good stuff
Green Day
2/5
--American Idiot...giving "I just got to college and realized society has problems" energy
--Jesus of Suburbia...did Mike Dirnt get a hand injury after Dookie? His bass parts have been seriously lacking since then (edit: I've been told he still does cool stuff on Insomniac). This track rocks a little. Don't know why it's 9 minutes long.
--Holiday...guh it's fine, I guess
--Boulevard of Broken Dreams...not about this at all. I just don't buy it, the emotions don't ring true
--Are We the Waiting...no
--St. Jimmy...here's the Green Day I know and liked
--Give Me Novacaine...straightforward power pop. it's good
--She's a Rebel...forgettable
--Extraordinary Girl...(see above)
--Letterbomb...more decent power pop
--Wake Me Up When September Ends...wake me when this song ends, amirite?
--Homecoming...I'm exhausted. The middle 3 minutes are kind of fun
--Whatsername...sure
The Icarus Line
2/5
--Up Against the Wall Motherfucker...huh. At least this will be interesting
--Spit On It...oof this might be a slog
--On a Lash...this almost sounds like a song
--Caviar...okay, I like the bass groove on this one. Not much else
--Spike Island...I feel more connected with what they're trying to do here. This is still strange but feels like a complete song
--Kiss Like Lizards...there's a cool guitar solo buried in the random noise
--Getting Bright at Night...9 minute epic with a build. I like this more than the random loudness of other tracks
--Big Sleep...takes two minutes to get going but then it's pretty good
--White Devil...channeling Marilyn Manson here. Not a compliment
--Meatmaker (US version)...wat
--Virgin Velcro...this one lost me with the title. It kind of rocks, I guess
--Sea Sick...slog of a song on slog of an album
--Party the Baby Off...it has the cadence of a pop song
Q-Tip
4/5
--Johnny is Dead...oh snap, this might be a great experience
--Won't Trade...the beat! the samples!
--Gettin Up...funky and smooth
--Official...first one I didn't love. Still interesting
--You...not impressive lyrically but the production remains fantastic
--WeFight/WeLove...Q smartly adds a new singer to help change things up. The smoothness continues
--ManWomanBoogie...now we get smoothness with a kick. Very nice
--Move...first half is great then we switch gears. It's still good, I'm just not sure why it wasn't listed as two separate songs
--Dance on Glass...opens with a cappella (spoken word?) then drops a decent beat. Not bad but not as lush as other tracks (I like lush)
--Life is Better...Norah Jones is a great addition
--Believe...keeps the groove going but things are starting to sound samey. We're almost done anyway
--Shaka...good closer. This was a very pleasurable listen
Soft Cell
3/5
--Frustration...this is weird. Like that sax tho
--Tainted Love...good
--Seedy Films...is that a clarinet? Is someone playing the ol' licorice stick? These guys are weird but I dig it
--Youth...singer sounds off. Probably should have rerecorded this. Maybe it's intentional? This also lacks the fun vibe of previous tracks
--Sex Dwarf...it sounds exactly like you think
--Entertain Me...I don't love this album, but there is something about it. Feels haphazardly thrown together but it sounds like they're having fun and it's infectious
--Chips on My Shoulder...great groove. This one is my favorite so far
--Bedsitter..."hey, ChatGPT, make me an 80s song"
--Secret Life...off-balance but interesting little number. Hard to describe
--Say Hello, Wave Goodbye...really like the synths
Marvin Gaye
5/5
We didn't listen
Marvin Gaye
3/5
--Let's Get It On...this track makes me think about boomers drunkenly "dancing" at various wedding parties in my past. Not Marvin's fault but it is what it is
--Please Don't Stay (Once You Go Away)...nice but not his best work
--If I Should Die Tonight...sappy but what a voice
--Keep Gettin' It On...an unnecessary reprise. would make more sense as a closer
--Come Get to This...decent funk with some doo-wop
--Distant Lover...more of a vocal jam than a song but the vocals are amazing
--You Sure Do Love To Ball...I don't know what this phrase meant in the 70s and I'm afraid to ask. Sounds nice and funky
--Just to Keep You Satisfied...a mediocre song carried by amazing vocals. I stand by my earlier opinion that 'Keep Gettin'...' should have closed
Led Zeppelin
4/5
--Whole Lotta Love...pure sex
--What is and What Should Never Be...love that slide guitar
--Lemon Song...Page and Plant as flashy as ever, but JPJ is the star of this one
--Thank You...can a song be both interesting and boring at the same time?
--Heartbreaker...you can hear the "heavy" here. solid sludge
--Living Loving Maid...funky
--Ramble On...this guy Tolkiens
--Moby Dick...I'm told this is an amazing drum solo. shrug
--Bring it on Home...feels like two different song ideas jammed together
T. Rex
3/5
--Metal Guru...the backing vocals are fun
--Mystic Lady...Bolan wants me to believe this is soulful. I don't
--Rock On...this doesn't rock
--The Slider...this is interesting. I like the guitar chug, the odd use of strings. Bolan's voice works best when it sounds too close; a vaguely (very?) creepy dude whispering in your ear at the bar
--Baby Boomerang...a fun if generic groove. I do enjoy the way backing vocalists are used on this
--Spaceball Ricochet...Marc Bolan has a distinctive but not great voice that can be elevated in certain situations. this is not one of those situations
--Buick Mackane...This one rocks. I like this
--Telegram Sam...this is just Get It On
--Rabbit Fighter...blues guitar. gets more expansive towards the end. a little strange. I bet Axl Rose loves this
--Baby Strange...pretty fun
--Ballrooms of Mars...obvious Bowie reference is obvious
--Chariot Choogle...whoa, this came out of nowhere and it's awesome! Lead with this!
--Main Man...more diet Bowie
Black Sabbath
3/5
--Black Sabbath...so this is metal? it starts kicking four and one half minutes in. The song is six minutes. I'm told this is proto-'Doom' metal. Not sure I like Doom metal
--The Wizard...sounds very similar to LedZepp's Heartbreaker
--Behind the Wall of Sleep...this also sounds like Heartbreaker. Decent bass groove in the back half
--N.I.B....hello, Mr. Iommi, lovely to see you
--Evil Woman...power pop. bass is great
--Sleeping Village...more of a jam than a song. still good
--Warning...over ten minutes long. starts out strong but it's not very cohesive. The back half could simply be Iommi warming up his fingers for all I know
--Wicked World...another decent track that doesn't quite come together. This album is the sound of a talented band that is not yet totally confident in their abilities
David Bowie
2/5
--The Next Day...I don't love it but I like the driving drum beat
--Dirty Boys...begins with a 'dirty' sax verse that then becomes a 'clean' chorus. It's interesting but is it 'good'?
--The Stars...there's something chaotic and desperate about the vocals. Like he's pleading for me to do something but I don't know what he wants me to do
--Love is Lost...this is boring. why is Bowie being boring?
--Where Are We Now?...It's pretty, I guess
--Valentine's Day...the production is great. the song is almost there but I dunno, DB, I'm just not getting this
--If You Can See Me...this is crazy in a good way. Hard to describe but that desperation in his voice from The Stars is back
--I'd Rather Be High...is this the radio friendly unit shifter?
--Boss of Me...solid groove and great production. This is the Bowie I love
--Dancing Out in Space...sounds like a one hit wonder from an unremembered 80s group
--How Does the Grass Grow?...this is annoying. I don't think DB ever annoyed me until now
--(You Will) Set the World on Fire...I have to commend the production once again, but the songwriting? I don't connect with most of these tracks
--You Feel So Lonely You Could Die...sure, David, sure
--Heat...haunting closer. I wanted more of this
MGMT
4/5
--Time to Pretend...have I heard this too many times? yes. is it still great? yes
--Weekend Wars...not as accessible as 'Time...' but still interesting with great production
--The Youth...the good production remains but I find this too repetitive and a little boring
--Electric Feel...I like this song. I like it a lot. But there's a paint-by-numbers feel to it that makes me embarrassed to admit it
--Kids...I have no idea what the lyrics mean but the melody/beat are simple and effective
--4th Dimensional Transition...more of a sound collage than a song
--Pieces of What...this is a piece of something all right
--Of Moons, Birds & Monsters...where's the Oxford comma, guys? smdh. I like the second half instrumental
--The Handshake...It's hard for me to decide whether or not I like the song but--again--the sound they produce is great
--Future Reflections...mediocre closer. First song on here that wasn't able to interest me at least a little
Queen
3/5
--Procession...okay
--Father to Son...It's interesting in comparison to other six minute jams by this band. This "opera" doesn't have the maturity of their later work
--White Queen (As It Began)...it's odd. Maybe I could like it after a few more listens?
--Some Day One Day...May on vocals? Interesting. It's surprisingly good, but if you have Freddie Mercury available to sing you should probably use him
--The Loser in the End...now we got Taylor as lead! Good voice. Still not Freddie
--Ogre Battle...did every major 70s UK band read Tolkien and play DnD?
--The Fairy Feller's Master-Stroke...the answer is yes
--Nevermore...good ballad
--The March of the Black Queen...preparing the world for Bohemian Rhapsody
--Funny How Love Is...has a Beach Boys quality to it
--Seven Seas of Rhye...not a total banger but does a good job of showing off Queen's many talents
The Dave Brubeck Quartet
3/5
DISCLAIMER: I am a complete jazz ignoramus
When I hear the word "jazz" I think of controlled chaos. This album is described as "jazz" but there's too much control and not enough chaos. The instruments sound jazzy but the overall vibe is easy listening. Can easy listening also be jazz? Isn't jazz supposed to be challenging? I don't feel challenged by this
Tom Waits
4/5
--Singapore...we get thrown into the deep immediately. lyrically it's...uh...problematic
--Clap Hands...I don't know if anyone out there thinks Tom Waits has a "good" voice, but he knows how to use it. Hypnotic
--Cemetery Polka...Don't love it but I wouldn't be surprised to hear that the Unicorns built their entire sound around this track
--Jockey Full of Bourbon...love it. this is everything
--Tango Till They're Sore...this album is an absolute vibe
--Big Black Mariah...fits the vibe but I'm not feeling this one
--Diamonds and Gold...same as above
--Hang Down Your Head...surprisingly sweet. Maybe too sweet? It's still nice
--Time...timeless and sad
--Rain Dogs...meh
--Midtown...interlude
--9th & Hennepin...a poem. damn, his voice is menacing
--Gun Street Girl...better than 95% of the country/western music released today
--Union Square...a fun rocker
--Blind Love...a more classical singer could provide a decent cover, don't care for it as is
--Walking Spanish...nice and funky
--Downtown Train...I do prefer the Rod Stewart cover
--Bride of Rain Dog...sure
--Anywhere I Lay My Head...this album has great stuff but it's quite long. I'm too exhausted to even try to appreciate this track
Amy Winehouse
4/5
--Rehab...it's a bop but real sad
--You Know I'm No Good...great bass. just a great overall groove
--Me & Mr Jones...60s girl group vibes. good not great
--Just Friends...I'm hearing Erykah Badu. It's nice
--Back to Black...a haunting dirge
--Love is a Losing Game...simple, sad, beautiful
--Tears Dry on Their Own...a little too poppy relative to the rest of the album
--Wake Up Alone...pretty but it feels a little aimless
--Some Unholy War...grimy with cool harmonies
--He Can Only Hold Her...the mood lightens slightly, probably for the best. Nice and funky
--Addicted...it's fun. I feel bad for liking it knowing what eventually happened
Talking Heads
3/5
--Thank You for Sending Me an Angel...nice opener with a driving beat
--With Our Love...it's definitely a TH song but I don't care for it
--The Good Thing...the interplay of the bass and synths is great
--Warning Sign...hmm, this sounds like it was made up on the spot. musical improv
--The Girls Want to Be with the Girls...synths are the stars here. Lots of nice sounds going on
--Found a Job...one of my favorite bass grooves
--Artists Only...really like the drums on this one. Other than that this is just kind of there
--I'm Not in Love...great opening riff. closes with a sick jam
--Stay Hungry...nice synths at the end but it's mostly filler
--Take Me to the River...I'll take the Al Green version, thank you
--The Big Country...boring and long
The White Stripes
4/5
--Seven Nation Army...never got the popularity of this. I understand part of the appeal of the White Stripes is their stripped-down, back-to-basics rock. But this song is too stripped, too basic
--Black Math...headbanger
--There's No Home for You Here...a weird rocker with cool harmonies. Like it a lot
--I Just Don't Know What to do With Myself...the loud/quiet/loud Pixies thing. It's good
--In the Cold, Cold Night...a song that feels like an interlude. Meg's voice is sweet and direct. A nice contrast with Jack's caterwaul
--I Want to Be the Boy...I love this. Just a ridiculous forever-thirteen piano ballad. Why is it here? Who cares? it's great
--You've Got Her in Your Pocket...nice acoustic track. Would it be even better if Meg sang it?
--Ball and Biscuit...a delta blues rocker throwback. pretty sweet
--The Hardest Button to Button...kind of sounds like Little Timmy's First Band at the High School Talent Show. both lame and awesome
--Little Acorns...I don't know how a self-help recording turns into something so menacing but it's great
--Hypnotise...another oldies throwback, they just do it harder
--The Air Near My Fingers...meh
--Girl, You Have No Faith in Medicine...not great but a lot of fun
--It's True That We Love One Another...sure
The Fall
2/5
Things that are cool on this album:
Craig Scanlon – guitar
Steve Hanley – bass guitar
Simon Wolstencroft – drums
Dave Bush – keyboards
Things that are terrible:
Mark E. Smith – vocals
At least 'The League of Bald-Headed Men' & 'Why are People Grudgeful?' are fun tracks that Mark E. fails to totally ruin
Jack White
2/5
--Missing Pieces...I like the organ. song is fine
--Sixteen Saltines...it's different. it's also very polished. Do I want "polished" from Jack White
--Freedom at 21...nice heavy groove
--Love Interruption...a super serious acoustic rock ballad. meh
--Blunderbuss...oooh, strings and slide guitar! this is how you know Jack's made the next step in his musical journey!
--Hypocritical Kiss...piano sounds good, I guess
--Weep Themselves to Sleep...okay, this is good. diabolical piano work and the fuzzy guitar is back!
--I'm Shakin'...an average throwback rocker. The extra musicians and backup singers don't make this better than what would also be an average White Stripes song
--Trash Tongue Talker...another generic throwback but the ending kicks
--Hip (Eponymous) Poor Boy...a fun piano groove
--I Guess I Should Go to Sleep...maybe I should. wait, there are two more tracks. sigh
--On And On And On...and on it goes
--Take Me With You When You Go...it's weird in that special Jack White way. Don't care for the first half, the back half kicks
The Who
2/5
Listening to the mono version
--Out in the Street...a little r&b here
--I Don't Mind...James Brown cover. I'd prefer Brown
--The Good's Gone...just kind of drones on
--La-La-La-Lies...Entwistle is doing cool stuff and there are interesting harmonies but overall this is just okay
--Much Too Much...I usually like Daltry's voice but he isn't doing it for me on this album
--My Generation...I can see why this is the big hit, finally feels like each band member is firing on all cylinders
--The Kids Are Alright...I like the song but the recording's a little muddy. Probably been cleaned up for remasters
--Please Please Please...Another straight James Brown cover. Daltry's great but he can't touch Brown at Brown's own game
--I'm a Man...now we're doing Bo Diddley? The Wikipedia article about this album claims that when it was first released, it received criticism for being a "rush job". I have to agree based on the current listen
--A Legal Matter...Townshend takes over lead vocals. I like this one. It kicks and feels more like where the band would eventually end up
--The Ox...a jam to close things out. It's fine. Nicky Hopkins on the keys is fun
The Rolling Stones
3/5
--Rocks Off...oh hells yeah. the horns are everything
--Rip This Joint...not a total banger but that damn saxophone elevates it
--Shake Your Hips...guitar is great, average song
--Casino Boogie...a decent groove elevated by the sax and Richards' guitar
--Tumbling Dice...great song. I love when backup singers are properly utilized
--Sweet Virginia...I like Richards' guitar work but I'm not sure Mick has the type of voice to pull this off
--Torn and Frayed...piano, guitar, and bass are all fun
--Sweet Black Angel...an acoustic ballad with a healthy dose of woodblock. nothing special
--Loving Cup...great track. feels like the entire band is contributing equally and it's great
--Happy...a boring version of Rocks Off
--Turd on the Run...I've read multiple critics that claim this is a weak track. I think it's a little simple but fun and it fits the overall vibe
--Ventilator Blues...I prefer Turd
--I Just Want to See His Face...filler
--Let it Loose...this song is remarkably lame for its title
--All Down the Line...another lesser Rocks Off imitation
--Stop Breaking Down...here we go. dirty and fun
--Shine a Light...a good song and I'm sure Mick is an electric live performer, but I never understood how these guys were rivals with the Beatles when both McCartney and Lennon's vocals were much better than Jagger's (in my opinion). Never mind the songwriting but that's a different discussion. "Rock n Roll", I guess
--Soul Survivor...decent closer. also sounds like Rocks Off
Paul Simon
4/5
--Allergies...you throwing a robotic voice at me, Paul?! A funky groove. Cool guitar solo.
--Hearts and Bones...beautiful
--When Numbers Get Serious...a little weird but fun
--Think Too Much (b)...another beautiful song. I like that marimba (that's a marimba, right?)
--Song About the Moon...It's nice, maybe a little cloying
--Think Too Much (a)...Paul drops the funk again. It's good
--Train in the Distance...I do love the sound of a train in the distance!
--Renee and Georgette Magritte...another nice track
--Cars are Cars...wtf is this?
--The Late Great Johnny Ace...interesting and ambitious closer. I think I like it
John Coltrane
3/5
Songhoy Blues
3/5
--Soubour...I like that guitar
--Irganda...this rips
--Al Hassidi Terei...this is very cool, I wish I were good with words so I could describe it
--Sekou Oumarou...we slow things down a bit. It's good but not as exhilarating as previous tracks
--Nick...some nice old school blues with a fuzzy guitar
--Al Tchere Bele...good but not one of the better tracks
--Wayei...not my favorite. repetitive
--Petit Metier...an acoustic ballad that expands into something more. very nice
--Jolie...the guitar/bass interplay is fun but the song is meh
--Desert Melody...a nice vibe but there's something with the guitar on this one. a lack of precision? intentional?
--Mali...a nice, quiet closer
David Bowie
4/5
Pink Floyd
4/5
KISS
3/5
Final thoughts: I don't like Kiss, but I think I get it. If you want the full Kiss entree, you have to buy a ticket to the show. Can't make it to the show? Here's an album with slick production that will give you a general idea of what they're all about; a decent tuna melt made by the nearby greasy spoon. Also, there's no Gwar without Kiss. That's worth something.
*******************************************************************************
--Detroit Rock City...after a minute of nonsense the song starts. it's fine. the guitar solo at the end is lame
--King of the Night Time World...good lord these lyrics
--God of Thunder...Sounds like Gene is singing this one. I do not like Gene's voice
--Great Expectations...not a fan at all. what is this? terrible lyrics. is that a children's choir?! Turned into a so-bad-it's-good situation for me by the end
--Flaming Youth...simple and stupid but in a good way
--Sweet Pain...The Gene songs just don't do it for me.
--Shout It Out Loud...this is fun. feels like the entire band is on their game here
--Beth...did Kiss fans ask for this? is this a beloved Kiss track? Does every album need a ballad? When they play this song in concert is Gene still sticking his tongue out the entire time?
--Do You Love Me...no
--Rock 'N' Roll Party...uh
The The
3/5
--I've Been Waitin' for Tomorrow...could pull back on the drum machine a bit. not liking this, it has an off-kilter spoken word vibe that's not for me
--This is the Day...here we go. this is the synth pop I crave
--The Sinking Feeling...I like the bass line but the lyrics are a little dramatic
--Uncertain Smile...nice groove and nice build. I really like the piano
--The Twilight Hour...I like a lot of the sounds here but there's a disconnect between the instruments and the vocals. it just doesn't fit
--Soul Mining...it's not bad but I wish the first half were as good as the second half. If your uneven song is approaching five minutes, trim it down to three!
--Giant...a decent song with a nice groove but--once again--a little long. oh, wait...there are five more minutes left
--Perfect*...I'm having trouble figuring out if this is a bonus track or not. I guess Matt Johnson didn't intend for it to be included? not sure why this wouldn't be included, sounds like one of the tighter tracks. did it sound too "happy" relative to the others?
4/5
--Hello...good opener. how much you like Oasis is probably dependent on your tolerance for the signature Liam nasal snarl. I like it. for now
--Roll With It...generic 60s throwback
--Wonderwall...overplayed to death by every dude on a college campus with an acoustic guitar but for a good reason: it's a legitimately great track. the lyrics get a little sentimental, but it's counterbalanced by the Mellotron/cello and Liam's untrained vocals
--Don't Look Back in Anger...we get it, guys, you like the Beatles. It's a solid hit. great sing-along chorus. Noel's voice adds a different dimension to the group
--Hey Now...plodding and overlong
--The Swamp Song (V1)...rock interlude
--Some Might Say...song's generic but I like the production
--Cast No Shadow...I like this one but I wonder if Liam's voice is too acidic(?) for it. Should it be a Noel track? but then we wouldn't get Noel's great backup vocals. tough choice
--She's Electric...totally not a Beatles song
--Morning Glory...high quality rocker
--The Swamp Song (V2)...interlude
--Champagne Supernova...silly and too long but the production is great. I will always respect a band that can get an eight minute song on the radio
The Clash
5/5
--London Calling...great opener
--Brand New Cadillac...love the guitar
--Jimmy Jazz...no thanks
--Hateful...this kicks
--Rudie Can't Fail...love that groove
--Spanish Bombs...keeps the groove going
--The Right Profile...I like the horns but not a great song
--Lost in the Supermarket...great pop punk
--Clampdown...thumbs up
--The Guns of Brixton...great bass line. Other than that, meh
--Wrong 'Em Boyo...this is fun
--Death or Glory...great track
--Koka Kola...the fun continues
--The Card Cheat...something a little more epic. that trumpet! that piano!
--Lover's Rock...a fun change of pace. the piano and bass excel here
--Four Horseman...good initial drive then kind of meanders its way out
--I'm Not Down...love that bass
--Revolution Rock...love that reggae beat! love those horns!
--Train on Vain...is this the greatest "hidden" track of all time? Yes. Yes it is.
Thelonious Monk
3/5
Einstürzende Neubauten
2/5
and here we go
--Tanz Debil...yup, it's different
--Steh Auf Berlin...Ow, my teeth. Once I settled in, I could sort of groove to it
--Negativ Nein...okay, I kind of hear Reznor in this. Not as fun as NIN but it's there
--U-Haft-Muzak...jawohl! Ich habe Muzak!
--Draussen ist Feindlich...ambient oddness with a scary lady voice in the mix
--Schmerzen Hoeren...you can't scare me away, Blixa! I'm listening to all of it!
--Jet'm...a synth interlude? gives my ears a chance to rest
--Kollaps...is that a fairly standard guitar chug? Bargeld can certainly create an atmosphere
--Sehnsucht...another track that sounds like an actual song. it's short
--Vorm Krieg...interlude
--Hirnsaege...we return to the found-objects-as-instruments part our tour
--Abstieg and Zerfall..."and"? why not "und"? this is madness! weird song, too
--Helga...wat?
--Schiess Euch Ins Blut...could be a track on The Wall
--Rohrbombe...not a bad beat. that's all it is
--Futuristischer Dub...short ambient stuff
--Sado-Masodub...there's a cool bass sound hidden in here. not sure if it's an actual bass. PVC pipe?
--Liebesdub...sick beatz
--Spionagedub...okay, I like these sounds. Probably sampled somewhere by someone important
--Mikrobendub...meh
--Gastarbeiterdub...what weird dreamspace did I just walk into? Oh, it's the dentist's office
--Rivieradub...I've almost defeated you, Bargeld!
--Luenebest...sounds like children rhythmically slamming their school supplies onto the gymnasium floor. And with that, it is done
Silver Jews
2/5
--Slow Education...the lyrics come through nice and clear. The song? meh
--Room Games and Diamond Rain...pleasant. the guitar was nice
--Time Will Break the World...your enjoyment of this song is probably dependent on how much you like the lyrics and vocals. I don't
--I Remember Me...I think understand how this dude and Stephen Malkmus hooked up. I can hear Beavis yell "Try more!" while listening to this
--Horseleg Swastikas...plodding
--Transylvania Blues...an instrumental to remind you that this is a band. it's nice
--Let's Not and Say We Did...a fun piano groove
--Tennessee..."you're the only ten I see"? really?
--Friday Night Fever...generic country
--Death of an Heir of Sorrows...hate the title, song just kind of exists
PJ Harvey
3/5
--Rid of Me...grungy but a little boring. the very end gets interesting
--Missed...a 3 minute song squeezed into 4.5 minutes
--Legs...I like the rawness but something's still off. It's maybe too slow? I need more of a kick
--Rub 'Till It Bleeds...takes a while to get going but it ultimately rocks. I feel like the drumming on this album could be more assertive or slightly more complicated. She could use a Grohl-type back there
--Hook...uh, where are the hooks?
--Man-Size Sextet...it's certainly different
--Highway '61 Revisited...good cover. feels like a full band effort and it works
--50ft Queenie...here we go. more uptempo stuff like this, please
--Yuri-G...good groove. the tracks that she keeps under 4 minutes are more focused. interesting how that works
--Man-Size...definitely digging the back half over the front
--Dry...we bring back the sluggishness of the opening tracks
--Me-Jane...chaotic but it works. loud/quiet/loud stuff
--Snake...is the snake a penis?
--Ecstasy...an overlong closer on an overlong album
Beatles
5/5
Happiness Is A Warm Gun is the best
Revolution 9 is the worst
the duality of man
Garbage
3/5
--Supervixen...good production. okay song
--Queer...sleazy. it's good
--Only Happy When it Rains...heavy. it rocks in an industrial way
--As Heaven is Wide...good production/average song again. also it's too long
--Not My Idea...I like this a lot and it's under four minutes!
--A Stroke of Luck...the great production continues but this track feels lifeless
--Vow...huh, I'm a little flummoxed by this one. It sounds both experimental and like it's trying too hard to be radio friendly. Lands in a weird space between both
--Stupid Girl...I just realized this is basically Train in Vain. I'm smrt
--Dog New Tricks...the bass is doing a lot of heavy lifting here
--My Lover's Box...fits on the album but the tracks are starting to meld
--Fix Me Now...this one feels schmaltzy when compared to the other tracks
--Milk...great production/meh song. again
Justin Timberlake
2/5
I prefer the FutureSex 20/20 stuff
The Specials
3/5
--Gangsters...I'm grooving to it
--A Message to You Rudy...nice
--Do the Dog...but not the donkey!
--It's Up to You...like that bass
--Nite Klub...oh, this fux
--Doesn't Make It Alright...meh
--Concrete Jungle...great bass, great guitar, great beat
--Too Hot...not for me
--Monkey Man...fun
--(Dawning of a) New Era...more good bass
--Blank Expression...meh
--Stupid Marriage...stop yelling at me
--Too Much Too Young...it's fine. album feels long at this point
--Little Bitch...okay this one kicks. woke me up
--You're Wondering Now...I guess this is the end
Ozomatli
3/5
--Believe...interesting!
--Love and Hope...solid groove
--Street Signs...the groove continues
--(Who Discovered) America?...a little cheesy
--Who's To Blame...is that a melodica? it's dope. great flow
--Te Estoy Buscando...not my cuppa
--Saturday Night...It's decent. I like when the distorted guitar comes in
--Dejame en Paz...directed by Robert Rodriguez
--Santiago...I appreciate classical guitar where I can get it. piano groove is nice, too
--Ya Viene el Sol...is that Don Callis at the beginning? can't be
--Dona Isabelle...piano interlude
--Nadie Te Tira...something with more prog elements. I might like it more if this album weren't already running a little long.
--Cuando Canto...we close with a ballad. it's nice but could easily be a minute shorter
The Mamas & The Papas
3/5
"Monday, Monday" & "California Dreamin'" are great songs that earned their place in the pop/rock music canon. I also really like "The 'In' Crowd". Everything else is forgettable
AC/DC
4/5
Great vocals. Great guitar. Awesome, fat bass sound.
This rips
Jurassic 5
4/5
--This is...
--Freedom...like that beat. very promising intro
--If You Only Knew...I'm a sucker for flutes in hip-hop
--Break...more minimalist. heavy on the drums/bass with a small dose of guitar. The star here is the rapping and it's great
--React...interlude. Deltron 3030 vibes
--A Day at the Races...this is sexy af
--Remember His Name...it's good but feels like a step below earlier tracks
--What's Golden...see previous comment
--Thin Line...I love Minnie Riperton's 'Les Fleurs' so I'm required by law to love this
--After School Special...another decent but lesser track
--High Fidelity...not lesser! great beat, great samples, great lyrical flow
--Sum of Us...another stripped down track. just talented artists rapping over a straightforward guitar/bass/drum beat. it's great
--DDT-- I was excited for Kool Keith but it's just a forty second poem. I'll take what I can get
--One of Them...damn, I wish Kool Keith did this track
--Hey...it's not bad, but it feels like a track from a completely different LP. This album feels a little too long already so I would have suggested saving this for a single or mixtape
--I Am Somebody...we course correct and it's oh so smooth
--Acetate Prophets...I hate to whine about the length again but if your album is already 50 minutes why would you tack on a six and one half minute sound collage? whatever. at least it's better than Revolution 9
Dr. Octagon
3/5
Final thoughts: I believe this album deserves to be on the list because, for me, it opened up a lot of doors to more, uh, "alternative" forms of hip hop. That being said, it's very uneven, too long, not as funny as Keith thinks it is.
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--Intro...oh my
--3000...meh
--I Got to Tell You...interlude
--Earth People...I like the sound and beat, his flow doesn't always work for me
--No Awareness...Kool's flow seems better here, fits more with the nice production. Sir Menelik seems to be having issues getting each syllable out. tbf, there are a lot of syllables
--Real Raw...the first 3ish minutes are boring. Then someone starts scratching (Q-Bert?). it elevates it a little
--General Hospital...skit
--Blue Flowers...the sample is my brand of weird but the way Keith raps on here kind of forces each track to sound too similar
--Technical Difficulties...not for me
--A Visit to the Gynecologyst...oh my
--Bear Witness...instrumental. It's good
--Dr Octagon...the cool production continues but there are so many words! There are so many syllables I can't tell if they're on beat. Or if they're even supposed to be on beat. Sir Menelik again!
--Girl Let Me Touch You...here we go, I like it when Keith allows himself to breathe
--I'm Destructive...something with more of a rock feel
--Wild and Crazy...probably my favorite track. the simple, driving bass beat really ties it all together
--Elective Surgery...skit
--Halfsharkalligatorhalfman....it certainly fits the theme
--Blue Flowers Revisited...not sure you need to revisit anything when your album is already over an hour
--Waiting List...starting to feel like I'm in a waiting room
--1977...I do like this but it doesn't really belong here. And, again, this album is long. cut this one and put it on something else
Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers
2/5
Final thoughts: This is Tom Petty's only album on the list? Really?
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--Rockin' Around (With You)...not bad but it's as generic as the title
--Breakdown...always liked the keyboards on this
--Hometown Blues...shrug. very local bar band
--The Wild One, Forever...not sure Tom has the voice for this
--Anything That's Rock 'n' Roll...not escaping the dad rock allegations, guys. It does build nicely
--Strangered in the Night...like the intro. doesn't light my hair on fire but it's groovy
--Fooled Again (I Don't Like It)...I don't like it
--Mystery Man...more bar band music
--Luna...here's something a little different. I think I can hear Petty's future more on this one than earlier tracks
--American Girl...we've all heard it. it's great
De La Soul
2/5
--Intro...
--(3 is) The Magic Number...opening your hip hop album with some School House Rock is a choice. It's a good choice
--Change in Speak...something about the mix bothers me. percussion is a little muddy
--Cool Breeze on the Rocks...skit
--Can U Keep a Secret...wtf is this? This is somehow weirder than anything Dr Octagon has done and that's saying something
--Jenifa Taught Me...not really feeling this. where's the hook?
--Ghetto Thang...it's good but the beat is a little basic
--Transmitting Live from Mars...interlude
--Eye Know...I dunno, y'all, I find the production/beats on here pretty basic. Are the lyrics good? I'll leave that up to smarter people
--Take It Off...I'm surprised at how hard I'm bouncing off of this
--A Little Bit of Soap...sure
--Tread Water...I don't know if every song has been the same tempo but it feels that way
--Potholes in My Lawn...here we go. this is my kind of weird
--Say No Go...you can't use a Hall and Oates sample! that's cheating!
--Do as De La Does...wtf is this? part 2
--Plug Tunin'...another track I just don't feel. I think my issue is mostly the tempo. not for me
--De Le Orgee...no. just no
--Buddy...save me, Q-Tip! Of course I like this one. not sure how much of it is Q's or the Jungle Brothers' influence
--Description...whatever
--Me Myself and I...I'm just not vibing with the production. not much more to say
--This is a Recording...I like the bass here
--I Can Do Anything...what is with 90s rap and "doodoo"?
--D.A.I.S.Y. Age...yeah, don't get this at all. it's basically an anti-groove
CHIC
3/5
I'm a slut for a good bass line and this album may as well be titled Sick Bass All The Way Through. Well, not on 'At Last I Am Free'. That track is just lame.
Ella Fitzgerald
4/5
Final thoughts: I listened to all of it. Was I looking forward to it? No. But I'm glad I did. What a voice! I didn't love everything on here, but the slower ballads continued to hit me just right for the duration. Will you love these songs? Not necessarily. Should you listen to this if you care about the history of pop music? Absolutely. I may not like the length, but this is exactly why I started this project.
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DISC 1
--'But Not For Me' was lovely.
--Sigh, nobody says 'potato' like that.
--'Oh, Lady Be Good' is also very pleasant. I like the slow tracks
--'How Long Has This Been Going On?' slows things down again and once again it's great
DISC 2
--'The Man I Love' is hauntingly beautiful
--we get some ragtime pian-ee with 'The Real American Folk Song'
--'Somebody From Somewhere' is slow and wonderful. I'm noticing a pattern
--This has been a pleasant experience so far, but I'm not going to do this all in one sitting. I'm not that much of a psycho (yet)
DISC 3
--'For You For Me For Evermore' is perfect
--'I've Got a Crush on You" I could listen to her ballads all day
DISC 4
--Slap That Bass!
--'Isn't It a Pity' is great. Surprise, it's a ballad!
--'Love Walked in'? banger
--'Embraceable You' is a classic
DISC 5
--'Lorelei' is awesomely sassy
--'Oh So Nice' is indeed very nice
DISC 6
--this may all be instrumental. which wouldn't be terrible because the musicians are excellent. but I'm here for Ella
Napalm Death
2/5
Final thoughts: I liked 'Siege of Power' but that might be the only "complete" song on here. Other tracks dabble in interesting ideas and sounds but in the end this wasn't for me.
*******************************************************************************
--Scum...interesting
--Siege of Power...pretty cool
--Human Garbage...almost sounds like a pop song
--Success?...Love that guitar chug
--C.S....cool guitars on this one. sick drumming
--Moral Crusade...heavy af
--M.A.D....again, like those guitars
Orange Juice
4/5
--Rip It Up...this is weird. I like it! Oh, here comes a sax solo!
--A Million Pleading Faces...this is fun. kind of a "world music" feel. which is probably reductive
--Mud in Your Eye...cheesy. but it's my flavor
--Turn Away...this one rocks a little more. guitars feel slightly more sleazy
--Breakfast Time...Not sure about the song, but I've enjoyed the production on this album so far. Everything sounds nice and crisp
--I Can't Help Myself...again, cheesy. but dammit do I like it
--Flesh of My Flesh...nice synths. these guys are good at hooking me early. Horns?! oh yeah. sounds like a Destroyer song
--Louise Louise...not bad but it's the first track that feels like filler
--Hokoyo...lots of things going on here. May take many listens to truly appreciate. Then they hit me with a marimba at the end. well played
--Tenterhook...not my favorite track but the guitars are pleasant and it has a nice build that provides the album with a solid closer
Elliott Smith
3/5
--Speed Trials...I'm neutral on this one
--Alameda...I like it but the production is doing a lot of the heavy lifting
--Ballad of Big Nothing...nice but nothing special
--Between the Bars...here we go. beautiful and haunting
--Pictures of Me...more of a band feel. it's fine
--No Name No. 5...I like this one. the layering of his voice can be cool, but I like it more when Smith's voice track is isolated
--Rose Parade...pleasant to listen to. a little repetitive
--Punch and Judy...again, nice but nothing special
--Angeles...the more "solo" sounding the song is the more I enjoy it. this guy probably owned open mic nights before getting semi-famous
--Cupid Trick...another "band" song. not bad not special.
--2:45 a.m....interesting. it tells a story and I want to know more
--Say Yes...nice closer
Television
3/5
--See No Evil...nice opener
--Venus...I feel like to be a true Television fan, you have to like Verlaine's voice. I don't
--Friction...I like the bass groove here. Not a fan of Verlaine's voice in general but it works here. The guitars are doing fun stuff
--Marquee Moon...I like the first two minutes. let's see how far I can get. some cool guitar stuff gets me through the next two minutes. Song could definitely end at the five minute mark but I guess we soloing now
--Elevation...don't like the chorus much. Verlaine's "singing" gets in the way of the decent sounding verses
--Guiding Light...nothing about this justifies it being five and a half minutes long
--Prove It...I like the bass on this one. but it's just not a great song. also too long
--Torn Curtain...I'm tired, boss
Neil Young
3/5
--Title track...a little odd. might be my flavor of odd
--Speakin' Out...something bluesy. I really like the piano.
--World on a String...nice guitar tone but the song is a little basic. some strange vocal choices at the end
--Borrowed Tune...this is very nice. Young's voice has limits but I feel like he knows exactly how to use it
--Come On Baby Let's Go Downtown...nice groove and I like that it's more of a duet. Gives this solo album a band feel
--Mellow My Mind...okay, maybe he didn't know how to use his voice here (heh). It's a nice melody outside of the voice cracking. Probably a joke about the "school boy" lyrics
--Roll Another Number (For the Road)...bar music
--Albuquerque...I feel like Young's doing a Lou Reed impersonation here
--New Mama...here we go. lonely piano, soft harmonies, isolated guitar. this is the stuff
--Lookout Joe...solid rocker
--Tired Eyes...Neil Young does recitation. Not sure I want that from him but he's trying so good for him
--Tonight's the Night - Part II...another basic rocker
Elton John
4/5
--Tiny Dancer...cheesy but great
--Levon...great song. what the hell is it about?
--Razor Face...funky. I like
--Madman Across the Water...feels like the last song of the first act of a musical. in a good way
--Indian Sunset...woah, did not have based Elton/Taupin on my BINGO card. good lord this is insane in the best way
--Holiday Inn...damn. that mandolin! am I a bigger Elton fan than I thought?
--Rotten Peaches...bombastic, funky, and fun
--All the Nasties...a lesser Tiny Dancer. first track that didn't hit for me
--Goodbye...an oddly sad closer. still sounds nice
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds
3/5
--Song of Joy...menacing. oh boy, this might be a slog
--Stagger Lee...nice bass groove. interesting lyrics, to say the least
--Henry Lee...PJ Harvey joins the party. meh
--Lovely Creature...the background "la la la" brings this one together. this track also has a swing that earlier tracks lack
--Where the Wild Roses Grow...Kylie! My Queen! cheesy melodrama but it's nice
--The Curse of Millhaven...sounds like Gogol Bordello. It's a little repetitive oh god there are four more minutes
--The Kindness of Strangers...more cheesy melodrama but where's Kylie?
--Crow Jane...this one has a nice groove
--O'Malley's Bar...14 minutes? really? this better be good. it's not. this entire album would improve immediately if this track got cut
--Death is Not the End...PJ, Kylie, and Shane MacGowan join us for a simple and sweet bar closer
DJ Shadow
4/5
Favorite tracks:
--Building Steam
--Stem/Long Stem
--Transmission 2
--Organ Donor
--Midnight in a Perfect World
Nas
4/5
Elis Regina
3/5
--Sai Dessa...this is funky fresh
--So Deus E Quem Sabe...I can't spell the title correctly because I forgot how to locate those accents on the keyboard. anyway, this is very nice. easy listening in the best way
--Saudade Eterna...love when she brings the funk
--O Medo De Amar...now she brings the rock
-Aprendendo A Jogar...ends on a funky note. that's good
Linkin Park
2/5
--One Step Closer...ridiculous but it slaps
--In the End...I don't like Chester's voice but he's good here
--A Place for My Head...I like the rap flow here but it's still cheesy overall. I think Chester's scream singing would be more impactful if he dialed it back a little more
--Cure for the Itch...not sure why this sound collage is on here, but it's pleasant.
--Pushing Me Away...has a decent hook
SZA
3/5
--Supermodel...interesting
--Love Galore...nice but nothing special
--Doves in the Wing...Kendrick rapping about pussy
--Drew Barrymore...I like the vocal choices here
--Prom...this is good. straightforward but driving rhythm. vocals shine again
--The Weekend...generic "the girl/boy is mine" track
--Go Gina...solid post-club track
--Garden...meandering
--Broken Clocks...again it's a little generic. this song could be found on any R&B album post-1990
--Anything...I'm not sure I like this but it's not a generic
--Wavy (interlude)...not an interlude! or maybe it is because it's short? whatever it's nice
--Normal Girl...the great voice shines again but the production doesn't wow me. this is all very nice but I'm confused as to why I need to "hear it before I die"
--Pretty Little Birds...I like the use of horns here. a more experimental mood. it works
--20 Something...a stripped down ballad with a guitar. it's nice
Coldplay
3/5
Final thoughts: PG rated Radiohead. +1 for The Scientist
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--Politik...not enough movement to be 5+ minutes long
--In My Place...Christopher Cross for millennials
--God Put a Smile upon Your Face...menacing. it's fine
--The Scientist...simple. sad. wonderful.
--Clocks...the piano is nice
--Daylight...a decent Radiohead impression
--Green Eyes...a simple folk rocker. it's fine but skippable
--Warning Sign...I think I'd be more lenient on some of these tracks if they were a minute shorter
--A Whisper...I like when they get a little dark. Not a great song but the production is cool
--Title track...too long. it's not like you're adding Jim Steinman-esque movements to your songs, guys. pinch it off
--Amsterdam...WHY IS THIS 5 MINUTES LONG?
Aretha Franklin
4/5
--Respect...classic
--Drown in My Own Tears...okay
--I Never Loved a Man (the Way I Loved You)...great voice with a heavy bass. good stuff
--Soul Serenade...okay
--Don't Let Me Lose This Dream...oh, this is the good good. nice walking bass
--Baby, Baby, Baby...whattavoice!
--Dr. Feelgood...wait, this isn't Motley Crue! I'm the first person to ever make this joke
--Good Times...a fun rocker
--Do Right Woman, Do Right Man...nice and sweet
--Save Me...oh yeah. great groove
--A Change is Gonna Come...her voice carries it but it just kind of meanders
Radiohead
5/5
What if an all time great band released a greatest hits album but every track on it was brand new? How does this work or make sense? I have no idea but Radiohead pulled it off. Every track on here could be a hit single from one of their previous albums. Maybe they would take that as criticism but I think it's impressive. Masters of songcraft and the studio pretty much just showing off at this point.
New Order
2/5
--Love Vigilantes...the jangly guitars are doing interesting things
--The Perfect Kiss...not really feeling the vocals. the synths (?) are interesting
--This Time of Night...generic 80s ballad #327
--Sunrise...I like the energy. too long but it rocks
--Elegia...instrumental. it's interesting
--Sooner Than You Think...decent dance groove. the vocals are meh
--Sub-Culture...another decent dancer. it's all starting to bleed together now
--Face Up...vocals once again get in the way of what would otherwise be a decent groove
Bee Gees
3/5
crazy Wikipedia intro. let's go
--Odessa...the cello is nice. Beatles-esque ("baroque pop"?). More ambitious/interesting than good
--You'll Never See My Face Again...It's pleasant but the strings are doing the heavy lifting
--Black Diamond...melodrama
--Marley Purt Drive..."take a load off, Fanny"
--Edison...but what about Tesla?!
--Melody Fair...totally not a Beatles song
--Suddenly...this is a weird groove. I like it
--Whisper Whisper...drunken bar music. with a weird change in tone in the last minute? These guys are trying stuff, I'll give them that
--Lamplight...boring
--Sound of Love...this sounds like George Michael!
--Give Your Best...this feels like the "Ringo" song
--Seven Seas Symphony...instrumental. it's nice
--With All Nations...bombastic but generic
--I Laugh in Your Face...whatever
--Never Say Never Again...perhaps one of the most generic pop songs I've ever heard
--First of May...title refers to May but seems to be a Christmas song? whatever
--The British Opera...instrumental. feels like an into to a Broadway musical
Nirvana
5/5
The grooves of this record have been etched into my bones since I was 10 years old. There's no way I can be objective about it.
Elvis Presley
3/5
--Blue Suede Shoes...a classic
--I'm Counting on You...Elvis is known for his baritone, but it's interesting hearing him tickle his upper register here
--I Got a Woman...whitewashed as hell
--One-Sided Love Affair...like the piano and walking bass line
--I Love You Because...pleasant but nothing special
--Just Because...is this skiffle?
--Tutti Frutti...you ain't Little Richard, bro
--Trying to Get to You...meh
--I'm Gonna Sit Right Down and Cry...this kicks
--I'll Never Let You Go...run, Priscilla!
--Blue Moon...nice and easy
--Money Honey...it's fine
The Smashing Pumpkins
4/5
DISC 1
--Title track...it's melancholy!
--Tonight, Tonight...not as good as Silverchair's Emotion Sickness, amirite? I'm kidding (or am I?)
--Jellybean...nice 'n' heavy
--Zero...same as above. really digging the production. Lame angsty lyrics
--Here is No Why...like the guitars
--Bullet with Butterfly Wings...lyrics are lame but it rocks
--To Forgive...we pull back a bit. Not a great song but a nice change of pace
--An Ode to No One...drums and guitar are great at the start. odd middle section. we finish strong
--Love...things are starting to blend together and we ain't close to done. I guess this one has a more industrial feel, which is different
--Cupid de Locke...we drop the distortion for something more dreamlike. it's nice
--Galapogos...Mello Dramma and the Infinite Album
--Muzzle...generic rocker
--Porcelina of the Vast Oceans...it's over 9 minutes long and the title is stupid. so how is it? not great
--Take Me Down...Iha takes a stab at vocals. it starts pleasant then goes a little above his range
DISC 2
--Where the Boys Fear To Tread...like the production but not special
--Bodies...no thank you
--Thirty-Three...song might be a little too sweet for Billy's acidic vocals
--In the Arms of Sleep...interesting. sort of a country feel
--1979...sounds like a song from a different band, or at least off a different album. whatever, it's a great pop song
--Tales of a Scorched Earth...the bass finally arrives!
--Thru the Eyes of Ruby...a lesser remix of earlier tracks. and it's almost 8 minutes long
--Stumbleine...no thanks
--XYU...I like the energy but a pretty boilerplate punk song
--We Only Come Out at Night...is Billy a vampire or a cenobite? many are asking
--Beautiful...it's interesting but both discs of this album are bloated and whimsical experiments like this don't help
--Lily (My One and Only)...it's an attempt but it's a genre of song I don't need or want from Billy
--By Starlight...another track Billy doesn't have the voice for
--Farewell and Goodnight...yup
A Tribe Called Quest
4/5
--Excursions...love Q-Tip's flow
--Buggin' Out...that bass
--Rap Promoter...drum beat mixed with palm muted guitar. sick
--Butter...feels like a lesser and longer version of the previous track
--Verses from the Abstract...very smooth
--Show Business...things were starting to get samey, so they smartly increase the tempo for this one
--Vibes and Stuff...very cool production. I like the bell(?) sound
--Infamous Date Rape...feels similar to earlier tracks
--Check the Rhime...the samey vibe continues but I'm more forgiving of this one. the horns and the light keyboards add a lot
--Everything is Fair...fun sample
--Jazz (We've Got)...great groove but the similarities between are making this long album feel even longer
--Skypager...here we go, this is weird
--What?...not sure what that robot guitar sound is in the background but it's fun
--Scenario...Busta!
Steve Earle
2/5
--Guitar Song...definitely a country song.
--Goodbye's All We Got Left...decent but nothing special
--Hillbilly Highway...if you told me this was Weird Al I'd believe you
--Good Ol' Boy (Gettin' Tough)...the production of this one makes it sound like a karaoke track
--My Old Friends...it's not bad but I'm really not feeling this
--Someday...I like this one. goes slightly beyond the generic trappings of previous tracks
--Think It Over...'50s throwback
--Fearless Heart...the production of this one is a little quirky, at least
--Little Rock 'N' Roller...is this a lullaby? I respect the cheese
--Down the Road...I like this one. Simple and touching but not in a cringe way like the preceding track
Massive Attack
5/5
"Hymn" is just an okay track that probably belongs on a completely different album. Does that take away from the almost 40 minutes of perfection that preceded it? No, not for me
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--Safe from Harm...sick
--One Love...not loving Horace Andy's vocals but it's still pretty great. really like the slight guitars. head bopper, too
--Blue Lines...silky smooth. great keyboards
--Be Thankful for What You've Got...just a solid bass groove. not special but it continues the immaculate vibe. outro vocals elevate it
--Five Man Army...the bass! the rappers' flow! it's simply too good!
--Unfinished Sympathy...love the high percussion sound on this one. what is it? This group's ability to stay in a vibe pocket but still create surprising moments is impressive
--Daydreaming...perhaps the weakest track so far. still a bop
--Lately...sexy as hell. shout out to Shara Nelson
--Hymn of the Big Wheel...not bad but it feels like it belongs on another album entirely. will I have to remove a point for this?!
Nick Drake
4/5
--Pink Moon...first heard this in a gd Volkswagen commercial and my life was forever changed
--Place to Be...heartbreaking
--Road...chills. this guy somehow creates full soundscapes with just a guitar and his voice
--Which Will...he’s vocal styling is basically just whispering but I love it
--Horn...interlude
--Things Behind the Sun...great lyrics
--Know...guitar tone is more raw here. probably intentional but it creates friction with the preceding tracks. his voice is still alluring
--Parasite...menacing (which I'm learning has become my favorite word)
--Free Ride...things are starting to sound similar. not surprising when the entire album is basically one instrument (technically two: piano on "Pink Moon").
--Harvest Breed...short but interesting guitar diversion. probably included to fill out the album
--From the Morning...a fine closer
Arcade Fire
4/5
Slipknot
3/5
Final thoughts: I wasn't looking forward to this but there are some headbangers. Mostly the front half
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--(sic)...well, it definitely has energy
--Eyeless...these guys seem upset
--Surfacing...ok, this one's got me grooving
--Spit it Out...some rapping. I'm starting to dig this
--Tattered and Torn...ew no
--Me Inside...I can't tell if this is Jonathan Davis or an impersonation
--No Life...I like the bass
The Soft Boys
3/5
--I Wanna Destroy You...sonically it's lighthearted power punk. lyrics are not so light
--Kingdom of Love...like the bass. I don't love the track but it has an interesting arrangement
--Positive Vibrations...the bass/guitar/sitar middle eight is cool. fun song
--I Got the Hots...I'm pretty cold on this one
--Insanely Jealous of You...this one has me tapping my toes. not a ton going on but it has a driving rhythm that I enjoy
--Tonight...radio-friendly unit shifter
--You'll Have to Go Sideways...solid guitar-focused instrumental jam. a little repetitive
--Old Pervert...throwing me a curveball here. bass is real heavy. track title is apt; nice 'n' grimy. I like it
--Queen of Eyes...generic '60s feel
--Underwater Moonlight...feels a little like Pulp. fun closer
Joan Armatrading
3/5
--Down to Zero...I like the piano. Don't love the song yet but it could grow on me
--Help Yourself...didn't enjoy the first half but it builds into something pretty funky and sweet
--Water with the Wine...nice 'n' sleazy. I like her vocal choices here
--Love and Affection...the vocals, again, are very nice. but I think they're elevating a pretty weak song
--Save Me...I do NOT like the vocals on this one. She hovers too long in her upper register and it's not her strength
--Join the Boys...starts strong. interplay between drums, guitar, bass, and piano is really fun
--People...nice instrumentation but kind of cheesy
--Somebody Who Loves You...sounds like it was recorded in a closet. that's a compliment
--Like Fire...good beat. good guitar. good voice. good song
--Tall in the Saddle...guitars giving me "Shine On You Crazy Diamond" vibes. Last 90 seconds kick
David Bowie
3/5
--Watch That Man...the master of incorporating sax and backing vocals. fun times
--Aladdin Sane...if it weren't for the chaotic piano attack it would be kind of boring
--Drive-In Saturday...the concept/story seems more important than the arrangement here, which isn't really my bag
--Panic in Detroit...not really feeling this, DB
--Cracked Actor...nice, crunchy guitars
--Time...saloon pian-ee! Once again it feels like the concept takes precedence over making a tight song. Not bad, I just don't care as much as he wants me to
--The Prettiest Star...the first track kicks really hard. every thing after feels slow in comparison
--Let's Spend the Night Together...here we go. good fun but not sure it's as good as the Stones'
--The Jean Genie...a little repetitive. the guitar solo is nice
--Lady Grinning Soul...interesting piano. a lot of interesting things happening here. Giving James Bond theme vibes. I wanted more of this
Air
4/5
--Playground Love...titillating
--Clouds Up...computer guitars. nice
--Bathroom Girl...I like the bells (glockenspiel?) and bass
--Cemetary Party...[sic]? has a funeral procession-like feel. There's a choral sound in the background but highly digitized. it works
--Dark Messages...ooooh, dreamy. Like a creepy Nutcracker Suite
--The Word Hurricane...hard to relate to this one without seeing what's represented on screen. It's interesting, though
--Dirty Trip...nice bass. feels like an instrumental Radiohead would make
--Highschool Lover...acoustic reprise of 'Playground Love'
--Afternoon Sister...the glockenspiel is back
--Ghost Song...Pink Floyd coded
--Empty House...haunted house vibes
--Dead Bodies...a strange but welcome change of pace. this kicks. I wonder what's on screen while this is playing.
--Suicide Underground...slowed down dialogue (the entire plot?) from the movie on top of a meandering instrumental. The preceding tracks felt like a cohesive album and this closer seems so "film". Is this what plays over the credits? It's also 6 minutes long. Don't like that.
Bruce Springsteen
4/5
--Nebraska...sets the mood
--Atlantic City...the desperation feels real
--Mansion on the Hill...nice but doesn't jump out at me
--Johnny 99...a great change of pace
--Highway Patrolman...similar to "Mansion..." but this one is perfect
--State Trooper...meh
--Used Cars...simple and sad. things are starting to blend together
--Open All Night...we pick it up and things get fun again
--My Father's House...nice but things have become samey
--Reason to Believe...it's fine
FKA twigs
4/5
--Preface...oh, we gettin' weird
--Lights On...the production is lush. a lot of interesting things happening
--Two Weeks...the great production continues but this track kind of wanders aimlessly
--Hours...definitely an album for headphones (compliment)
--Pendulum...it's minimalist but expansive at the same time. not sure I can truly appreciate this without multiple listens
--Video Girl...keeps the vibes going
--Numbers...this feels both accessible and challenging. I love that
--Closer...I don't know if I would even call these "songs". Soundscapes? Sound collages? But I'm enjoying it
--Give Up...I can't say that I love this album, but it has its claws dug into me. like a David Lynch movie
--Kicks...damn, this was fun. I will come back
Kate Bush
3/5
--Running Up That Hill...Kate is one of my favorite weirdos but I find the resurgence of this song a little odd. Repetitive, long, doesn't really build to a climax
--Hounds of Love...I like the "do do do do dos"
--The Big Sky...nice energy. Why didn't this one get the Stranger Things bump?
--Mother Stands for Comfort...boring
--Cloudbusting...this one could grow on me
--And Dream of Sheep...the title doesn't lie
--Under Ice...there's my weirdo
--Waking the Witch...burn her!
--Watching You Without Me...is some of this recorded backwards? Girl, you crazy
--Jig of Life...a menacing Irish bounce!
--Hello Earth...she's great
--The Morning Fog...the sheep song should probably go here
Coldplay
3/5
--Don't Panic...I like the guitars here
--Shiver...I'm liking the more rock-forward feel of this album over Rush of Blood to the Head
--Spies...pleasant
--Sparks...not a lot of, well, sparks to this one
--Yellow...simple but effective
--Trouble...nice piano-centric track
--Parachutes...okay
--High Speed...kind of twiddling their thumbs here
--We Never Change...dreamy. nice vibes
--Everything's Not Lost...a jazzy number for the closer. Not bad but a little long
The Disposable Heroes Of Hiphoprisy
3/5
--Satanic Verses...well, this is direct. a little long
--Famous and Dandy...this one is nice and bass-ee. needs an editor. no reason to be over six minutes
--Television The Drug of the Nation...good lord, sir, you can make this point in under five minutes
--Language of Violence...for those idiots that think "woke" is a new phenomenon, this was released in 1992
--The Winter of the Long Hot Summer...the other tracks are long but they seriously groove. This is the longest track and has almost no movement. I was into this album up until now but this one just feels lazy
--Hypocrisy is the Greatest Luxury...finally the groove is back. it's also under four minutes!
--Everyday Life Has Become a Health Risk...a great bass line and we once again are under five!
--INS Greencard...a phone skit with a sick bass line
--Socio-Genetic Experiment...kind of a list song
--Music and Politics...I guess this is the thesis statement
--Financial Leprosy...another good bass groove
--California Uber Alles...I like this one but I'm ready to be done
--Water Pistol Man...another track that's too long but its vibe differs from earlier tracks. The lyrics aren't quite as direct. I like it
The Band
3/5
--Across the Great Divide...a quality rocker
--Rag Mama Rag...see above
--The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down...meh
--When You Awake...not feeling this
--Up on Cripple Creek...this is funky fresh
--Whispering Pines...plodding
--Jemima Surrender...I prefer their more up-tempo tunes like this one
--Rockin' Chair...this walks the fine line between comfort and corny
--Look Out Cleveland...another solid but not great track
--Jawbone...this is kind of an odd jig. I like the backend groove
--The Unfaithful Servant...sloppy like Dylan
--King Harvest (Has Surely Come)...a fun funky closer
Isaac Hayes
3/5
Curtis Mayfield
4/5
Definitive proof that you don't need dope to make dope music. Favorites: 'Pusherman', 'Freddie's Dead', 'No Thing On Me (Cocaine Song)', and 'Superfly'
Alice In Chains
3/5
--Them Bones...power stance!
--Dam that River...solid
--Rain When I Die...like the guitar work here
--Down in a Hole...getting a little long
--Sickman...this is weird. not sure if it's my brand of weird
--Rooster...sudden urge to grab my crotch
--Junkhead...mildly interesting sludge
--Dirt.../checks watch
--God Smack...not digging the vocals
--Untitled...interlude
--Hate to Feel...I like the heaviness
--Angry Chair...what did you do to the chair, Layne?!
--Would?...is that a heavy bass intro? don't mind if I do
The Pogues
3/5
--If I Should Fall from Grace with God...sounds like an Irish punk band
--Turkish Song of the Damned...I like the middle eastern bent
--Bottle of Smoke...this one's fun. I feel like I'm on the lower levels of the Titanic. Before things got bad
--Fairytale of New York...it's cute
--Metropolis...fun instrumental
--Thousands Are Sailing...I was starting to tire of their sound but this one builds nicely
--South Australia...these blokes are well-traveled
--Fiesta...see previous comment
--Medley: The Recruiting Sergeant/The Rocky Road to Dublin/The Galway Races...it's odd to refer to a four minute track as a "medley" but sure
--Streets of Sorrow/Birmingham Six...sounds like an Irish punk band
--Lullaby of London...more traveling
--The Battle March Medley...another four minute medley. Instrumental. it's invigorating
--Sit Down by the Fire...I am the Lord of the Dance!
--The Broad Majestic Shannon...I feel like I've listened to this at least three times already
--Worms...creepy
Björk
3/5
--Hidden Place...lush
--Cocoon...I like the sounds, not much of a song
--It's Not Up To You...I appreciate a good harp
--Undo...much like "Cocoon", some interesting things happening but it doesn't quite grab me
--Pagan Poetry...my elfin queen finally erupts. this is my shit
--Frosti...love the opening sounds here. glockenspiel? whatever. sounds like pagan christmas
--Aurora...again I like the lush production, but it's more of a sound collage than a song
--An Echo, a Stain...same as above. there's a lot to like about this album and a lot I just don't vibe with. I've decided that everything I don't like is Lars von Trier's fault
--Sun in My Mouth...can an album be both experimental and constantly plagiarize itself at the same time?
--Heirloom...I like the lower end on this one
--Harm of Will...great voice, meh song
--Unison...sure
Creedence Clearwater Revival
4/5
--Born on the Bayou...John Fogerty was born in Berkeley, CA
--Bootleg...nice swing and groove
--Graveyard Train...plodding
--Good Golly Miss Molly...now we're kicking
--Penthouse Pauper...love that bass walk. great guitar, too
--Proud Mary...solid
--Keep on Chooglin'...I'll keep chooglin' if someone tells me how!
Michael Jackson
4/5
--Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'...Ma-ma-se, ma-ma-sa, ma-ma-coo-sa! Ma-ma-se, ma-ma-sa, ma-ma-coo-sa! Ma-ma-se, ma-ma-sa, ma-ma-coo-sa!
--Baby Be Mine...cheesy af. but it's a groove
--The Girl is Mine...Michael Jackson and Paul McCartney together?! Must be one of the best songs ever, right? it's terrible
--Thriller...classic
--Beat It...it's a good tune but I never bought the attitude
--Billie Jean...GOAT
--Human Nature...warm grilled cheese
--P.Y.T....(see "Beat It")
--The Lady in My Life...not my thing but he's in good voice and Quincy drops some nice bass at the end
Pixies
3/5
--Debaser...like the guitar. a little too chaotic for me
--Tame...this must be the dynamic range Pixies fans are always talking about
--Wave of Mutilation...I like the song but Francis' voice is oddly low in the mix. Much lower than tracks one and two. I imagine this was a deliberate choice I just can't imagine why
--I Bleed...not a fan of this one. the chaos is back
--Here Comes Your Man...fun change of pace. sunny surfy pop
--Dead...proto-White Stripes
--Monkey Gone to Heaven...love some good numerology rock
--Mr. Grieves...like the bass groove
--Crackity Jones...like the speed of this one
--La La Love You...different singer? it's fine
--No. 13 Baby...I'm kinda miffed that this isn't the 13th track. this just kind of meanders
--There Goes My Gun...things are melting together now
--Hey...I don't hate this but it almost sounds like an improv jam until the chorus
--Silver...slide guitar time
--Gouge Away...a lesser "Wave of Mutilation" mixed with a bit of "Debaser"
Bobby Womack
3/5
--So Many Sides of You...I like it when there's great use of backup singers
--Lay Your Lovin On Me...lay this bassline on me!
--Secrets...I'm an absolute slut for this bass. Keep it comin'
--Just My Imagination...a pleasant but generic ballad
--Stand Up...oh, we get funky now. this is a booty shaker
--Games...cheesy and too long
--If You Think You're Lonely Now...more soul with cheese
--Where Do We Go From Here...see above
Frank Sinatra
2/5
Frank Sinatra could sing in tune. Whatever
Beach House
2/5
--Zebra...a dreamy alto
--Silver Soul...I get the feeling this album has a vibe that it's going to stick to. will it get old?
--Norway...song is nice, but very similar to what came before as I suspected. and we have 30+ more minutes of this
--Walk in the Park...why is this over five minutes long?
--Used To Be...the vibe continues. I appreciate that this is "only" four minutes long
--Lover of Mine...I think this highlights one of the limits of the 1001. We only have so much time to listen before we move on to the next and sometimes an album is very much a "mood". I am not in the mood for this today
--Better Times...I am liking this one. it has the same feel as the other tracks but the vocals are a little more exciting
--10 Mile Stereo...another fine vocal performance but why is it five minutes long? If this album were a tight 35-40 we would be cooking
--Real Love...same stuff
--Take Care...I feel like I've listened to this same arpeggiated intro chord at least five times by this point
Buena Vista Social Club
3/5
--Chan Chan...pleasant acoustic guitar. nice trumpet
--De camino a la vereda...not really my thing. it's great background music
--El cuarto de Tula...there's something sinister about this one. I like it. guitar gets a little dirty towards the end. not a criticism
--Pueblo Nuevo...a fun piano-forward interlude
--Dos gardenias...a sultry ballad. the trumpet compliments the voice in a wonderful way
--¿Y tú qué has hecho?...another nice interplay between guitar and voice
--Veinte años...a duet between a man and woman. dammit I need to learn Spanish
--El carretero...the bass is simple in this one but compelling. This singer sounds like the singer from Gipsy Kings
--Candela...hip shaker. love a good Caribbean trumpet
--Amor de loca juventud...this is a delightful guitar jaunt
--Orgullecida...another fun walk
--Murmullo...like the harmonies here
--Buena Vista Social Club...interesting but a little too chaotic for me. album is also getting a little long in the tooth at this point
--La bayamesa...a fine closer. ready to be done
The Go-Go's
4/5
--Our Lips are Sealed...really dig the bass on this. good pop
--How Much More...fun chorus. not much else to it
--Tonite...solid pop punk driven forward by the bass
--Lust to Love...we shift to something a little darker. Carlisle shines on this
--This Town...dark surf pop. I like the small guitar spikes
--We Got the Beat...always loved the bass groove in this one. simple but effective
--Fading Fast...these ladies certainly had great pop sensibilities
--Automatic...this one's a little different. Most of the album has somewhat needly arpeggiated guitar chords. This one has more of a crunch
--You Can't Walk in Your Sleep (If You Can't Sleep)...fun pop punk
--Skidmarks on My Heart...feels like a lesser version of previous tracks. this is the first real miss for me
--Can't Stop the World...a solid but uninspiring rocker to close
Lou Reed
2/5
--Berlin...the piano is compelling
--Lady Day...hmmm
--Men of Good Fortune...each individual instrument is doing something interesting but does it come together? I'm having difficulty figuring out my feelings about this record. it may require multiple listens
--Caroline Says I...backup singers! this feels more accessible. great bass
--How Do You Think It Feels...I may not love all of his choices, but Reed is consistently surprising. didn't think I would get such a solid rocker with this one. Actual guitar shredding!
--Oh Jim...more rock, this is nice but less surprising. there's...a second acoustic song at the end? that is surprising, and odd
--Caroline Says II...plodding. first song that bored me
--The Kids...why is this 8 minutes long? is that a baby? Alright, Lou, you convinced me. I won't have kids
--The Bed...I like the production but it's too long
--Sad Song...same as "the Bed"
Lauryn Hill
5/5
--Intro...
--Lost Ones...great beat. her ability to switch between S-tier rapping and singing is possibly unmatched
--Ex-Factor...I don't generally like pop music that lasts 5+ minutes. Hill is a rare exception
--To Zion...okay, maybe 6 minutes is a little long
--Doo Wop (That Thing)...classic
--Superstar...keeps the groove going
--Final Hour...headphone head bopper
--When It Hurts So Bad...this bass hits real hard
--I Used to Love Him...great R&B
--Forgive Them Father...the great vibe continues. the length is starting to get to me a little
--Every Ghetto, Every City...oh, we getting funky now. great groove the entire time
--Nothing Even Matters...first track I don't vibe with. veers too hard into 90s r&b cheese that's better left behind
--Everything Is Everything...love the symphonic sample. the harmonies. so much is happening here
--The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill...I appreciate the record scratches. nice piano
--Can't Take My Eyes Off You (hidden)...a fun cover
--Tell Him (hidden)...I had hoped this would be a cover of the Exciters song but this is also good
The Beta Band
3/5
Final thoughts: I'd give this a 3.5 if I could. This is good pop album with enough experimentation to keep things interesting throughout, but it lacks a true blue banger. The Three EPs show off this band's talents a little better but I guess it's not eligible for the 1001 because it's a compilation.
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--Assessment...I like the guitars
--Space...a scifi bop
--Lion Thief...really dig the way these guys record their vocals. love the dreamy breakdown in the middle
--Easy...odd but fun and funky number
--Wonderful...starts out of tune. stays that way but it works somehow?
--Troubles...pleasant
--Out-Side...now for a little rock
--Space Beatle...next time a little more Beatle, a little less space
--Rhododendron...sounds like christmas
--Liquid Bird...lots of things going on. most of it is compelling. these guys definitely are trying things
--Simple...I may be a slut for Nigel Godrich
--Pure For...sleepy closer
Bob Dylan
3/5
I think to truly love Bob Dylan you may have to be a lyrics-first type person. I am not
The Offspring
4/5
--Nitro (Youth Energy)...I like the, uh, energy
--Bad Habit...a dumb song about dumb teenage road rage. it's fun
--Gotta Get Away...this was my favorite song in 5th grade. I think I had decent taste (trust me, bro). great bass
--Genocide...I like the speed
--Something to Believe In...sounds similar to earlier tracks. this was probably a fun live show
--Come Out and Play...nice crunchy-but-surfy guitars. these hits hold up for me
--Self Esteem...the lyrics from previous tracks were pretty juvenile but the lyrics on this are quite clever, in my humble opinion. A solid pop song about a near-universally relatable problem
--It'll Be a Long Time...similar "Bad Habit", "Genocide", etc. still fun but a little been there done that
--Killboy Powerhead...quick track, the bass shines again
-- What Happened to You?...is this ska? it's a booty shaker
--So Alone...throwaway
--Not the One...the guitars really melt nicely with the bass here. definitely angsty teenage stuff but whatever
--Smash...solid song but it doesn't do much different than previous tracks
--Genocide (Reprise)...guitar stuff
Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young
4/5
--Carry On...those harmonies. that guitar. those keyboards
--Teach Your Children...sweet cheese
--Almost Cut My Hair...dirty blues. good stuff
--Helpless...not my favorite Neil song
--Woodstock...all the ingredients come together here
--Deja Vu...this is different. good different. great bass
--Our House...a delightful ditty
--4+20...sad soulful folk. very nice
--Country Girl...dramatic. maybe too dramatic
--Everybody I Love You...this kicks. hells yeah
David Ackles
4/5
--American Gothic...we got storytelling. not what I was expecting. it's interesting
--Love's Enough...simple and sweet with a touch of sadness. nostalgic
--Ballad of the Ship of State...four years before "The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald"!
--One Night Stand...pretty melody, nice piano. elegant
--Oh, California!...downright vaudevillian!
--Another Friday Night...nothing special but it builds nicely
--Family Band...old school christian tent revival music. sincere or cynical? (edit: Wikipedia says it's sincere)
--Midnight Carousel...could be from a musical. a good musical
--Waiting for the Moving Van...the production throughout is very satisfying
--Blues for Billy Whitecloud...bravo to the person that arranged the orchestration
--Montana Song...you got a new fan today, Mr. Ackles
Various Artists
3/5
Definitely a Christmas album. The Ronettes prevented total boredom
Willie Nelson
4/5
--Time of the Preacher...like drinking cool iced tea
--I Couldn't Believe It Was True...toe tapper
--Time of the Preacher Theme...dark
--Medley...ho-hum
--Blue Eyes Crying in the Rain...sometimes a classic arrangement is classic for a reason
--Red Headed Stranger...I feel like I'm playing New Vegas. That's a compliment
--Preacher Theme (Short Version)...very short
--Just as I Am...sweet piano interlude
--Denver...nice little bit of storytelling
--O'er the Waves...a fun tropical diversion
--Down Yonder...some mighty fine pian-ee!
--Can I Sleep in Your Arms...beautiful
--Remember Me (When the Candle Lights Are Gleaming)...for some reason I'm disappointed this isn't sadder
--Hands on the Wheel...nice but a little long for how samey things are starting to get. almost done
--Bandera...pleasant instrumental outro
Curtis Mayfield
3/5
--Billy Jack...capital f Funky
--When Seasons Change...preachy
--So in Love...easy listening cheese. classy, expensive cheese
--Jesus...not my bag lyrically but it's pleasant
--Blue Monday People...I can't help but feel like this is similar to but a still a step back from Superfly
--Hard Times...okay, this is a return to form. funk with some grime
--Love to the People...strong finish. I feel like this record is a 3.5. Superfly is a 4.5. I usually round down
Taylor Swift
4/5
--Welcome to New York...it's a bop. like the synths
--Blank Space...see above
--Style...another strong track but the beats and choruses are already starting to meld together. hope she mixes it up soon
--Out of the Woods...this one is different but it's boring. lyrics are a little labored
--All You Had to Do Was Stay...a booty shaker. reminiscent of the first three tracks
--Shake It Off...we got a new beat and it's a fun time. I could do without the rapping
--I Wish You Would...we back to the beat and synth well. it's still good
--Bad Blood...not a fan of this one. don't buy the attitude at all
--Wildest Dreams...treacly
--How You Get the Girl...serviceable pop
--This Love...meh
--I Know Places...another good song but the album's getting long and this doesn't reach the heights of the opening tracks
--Clean...okay time to wrap it up
Penguin Cafe Orchestra
3/5
--Penguin Cafe Single...huh
--From the Colonies...I'm scared? exhilarated? mostly confused
--In a Sydney Motel...uh
--Surface Tension...a more traditional orchestration. which makes this entire enterprise even weirder somehow
--Milk...avant-garde stuff
--Coronation...dark
--Giles Farnaby's Dream...this one is fun. harpsichord?
--Pigtail...now we're in a spacecraft or something
--The Sound of Someone You Love Who's Going Away and It Doesn't Matter...this is genuinely beautiful. well, the first four minutes, at least. We take a weird left turn in the last four minutes but it feels earned. I like this one
--Hugebaby...pretty basic arrangement but slightly alien. hard to nail down what exactly this album is trying to accomplish, but there's something compelling about it
--Chartered Flight...nice but the first one that kind of bored me
Sufjan Stevens
5/5
--Concerning the UFO Sighting Near Highland, Illinois...pretty intro
--The Black Hawk War...trumpets!
--Come On! Feel the Illinoise!...well done baroque pop
--John Wayne Gacy, Jr....sad. dark
--Jacksonville...something with a little more funk. I don't know how you do that with a banjo but he does
--A Short Reprise for Mary Todd, Who Went Insane, but for Very Good Reasons...a short reprise
--Decatur, or, Round of Applause for Your Stepmother!...a playful ditty
--One Last 'Whoo-Hoo!' for the Pullman!!...hmm
--Chicago...exhilarating
--Casimir Pulaski Day...a beautiful bedroom recording. the quiet elegance of this contrasts nicely with the soaring "Chicago"
--To the Workers of the Rock River Valley Region...another short diversion
--The Man of Metropolis Steals Our Hearts...more of a rocker. it's fun
--Prairie Fire That Wanders About...the lyrics seem a little random but sure
--A Conjunction of Drones...next
--The Predatory Wasp of the Palisades Is Out to Get Us!...the arrangements are complex but also seem effortless. it almost makes me angry how easy he makes it all sound
--They Are Night Zombies!!...album is long but damn he keeps it interesting
--Let's Hear That String Part Again, Because I Don't Think They Heard It All the Way Out in Bushnell...diversion
--In This Temple as in the Hearts of Man for Whom He Saved the Earth...sure
--The Seer's Tower...pretty and sad
--The Tallest Man, the Broadest Shoulders...if you insist on adding a seven minute epic onto an album that's already over an hour long this late in the game, maybe cut out the 30-50 second diversion tracks? that said, this is still good. I'm being nitpicky
--Riffs and Variations on a Single Note...speaking of
--Out of Egypt, into the Great Laugh of Mankind, and I Shake the Dirt from My Sandals as I Run...pleasant but unnecessary
Peter Gabriel
4/5
--Red Rain...good opener
--Sledgehammer...classic
--Don't Give Up...Kate Bush. So hot right now. a little schmaltzy
--That Voice Again...fits the vibe but is missing something
--Mercy Street...somewhat sinister
--Big Time...heavy synth groove
--We Do What We're Told (Milgram's 37)...did you get abducted by aliens again, Pete?
--This is the Picture (Excellent Birds)...kind of an improv feel. not a fan
--In Your Eyes...*raises boombox*
Dire Straits
4/5
--Down the Waterline...great guitar
--Water of Love...a lazy river jam. it's sweet
--Setting Me Up...there's kind of a Lennon/Plastic Ono Band feel to this. groovy
--Six Blade Knife...grimy and cool
--Southbound Again...funky fun. the guitars throughout this album is just so tight
--Sultans of Swing...classic
--In the Gallery...guitars are great once again but we got a solid bass groove going here
--Wild West End...nice 'n' breezy
--Lions...they're veering into easy listening territory with sort of a Latin feel. not sure I love it but it's an interesting change of pace
Alice Cooper
3/5
--School's Out...the bass stands out to me here. otherwise it's a solid anthem at best. if the lyrics weren't so "rebellious" I doubt it would stand out much
--Luney Tune...this is weird. I like the distorted guitar in the middle
--Gutter Cat vs. The Jets...despite the unfortunate West Side Story references, this humps
--Street Fight...a nice bass interlude
--Blue Turk...an interesting, unexpected, and jazzy change of pace. not sure I totally dig it but it gives the album a new dimension
--My Stars...didn't like the opening much but it starts kicking at the 90 second mark. a little long but fun
--Public Animal #9...fun rocker but nothing special
--Alma Mater...a 50s/60s heart throb pastiche. more fun
--Grand Finale...a spacey instrumental. didn't love this listen but kudos to Alice Cooper for consistently surprising me
Sheryl Crow
3/5
--Run, Baby, Run...seems a little like-gulp-easy listening
--Leaving Las Vegas...I feel like I'm shopping for turquoise jewelry in Flagstaff
--Strong Enough... more easy listening but this is stronger (heh) songwriting than preceding tracks. surprise! it's only three minutes long. take note, singer-songwriters
--Can't Cry Anymore...sure
--Solidify...okay we're bringing the funk now. this is fun. I'm having fun
--The Na-Na Song...this is weird. don't love it but I appreciate weird
--No One Said It Would Be Easy...too long, Sheryl
--What I Can Do For You...not bad but nothing special
--All I Wanna Do...I do remember when this song first exploded. I thought it was a refreshing change of pace from the other radio hits I had heard to that point. To be fair, I was eight
--We Do What We Can...more of a jazz lounge singer number. I like it. smooth and sexy. not too cheesy. maybe too long
--I Shall Believe...I think I would rate this album higher if the fun weirdness of the middle tracks weren't bookended by uninspired and overlong adult contemporary
New Order
3/5
--Fine Time...robot rock. lots going on. probably more fun to listen to in da club, as the kids say
--All the Way...Friday I'm in love?
--Love Less...I like it. I wish there was more bass
--Round and Round...this is a toe tapper
--Guilty Partner...this feels aimless. the last two minutes with the classical guitar is nice
--Run...this is good pop but these guys would really benefit from a heavier low end
--Mr. Disco...oh, did they listen to me? yup! a heavy bass gets my booty shakin'
--Vanishing Point...cool, dark dance club hit
--Dream Attack...a nice closer with a driving beat. could still use more bass
Duke Ellington
3/5
Disclaimer: I am a complete jazz idiot
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--Black and Tan Fantasy...sly and sexy
--Take the 'A' Train...yes, this is jazz
--Festival Junction...starts with the ol' licorice stick, then trumpet, then saxophone solo?
--Blues to Be There...things slow down. it's nice
--Newport Up...so many notes
--Sophisticated Lady...sophisticated sax
--Day In, Day Out...fun vocal performance
--Diminuendo in Blue...long but fun. still jazzy. sounds like quite a commotion at the end
--I Got It Bad (And That Ain't Good)...my kind of sleazy
--Jeep's Blues...we return to some sweet sax
--Tulip or Turnip...I like the singers (Nance & Tune). nice swing. the crowd seems upset? wants the show to continue, I guess
--Skin Deep...we got drums! I still don't really get drum solos
--Mood Indigo..."You are very beautiful, very sweet, and we do love you madly."
***Now we have studio recordings of the same music? Not sure if this is supposed to be included as part of the 1001 but I'll listen anyway***
David Bowie
4/5
--Beauty and the Beast...my kind of weird. my kind of funky
--Joe the Lion...a little insane but my kind of insane (I'll stop now)
--"Heroes"...Bowie really goes for it here. falls just short of a true classic for me. probably hits harder if you grew up in Europe during the Cold War
--Sons of the Silent Age...retrofuturism?
--Blackout...Bowie always knew how to bring the funk
--V-2 Schneider...a funky and fun instrumental
--Sense of Doubt...foreboding piano with synthetic trumpet chords(?). interesting dynamic
--Moss Garden...is that a koto?
--Neukoln...Wir lieben es, deutsche Angst. or something
--The Secret Life of Arabia...While I appreciate Bowie's ambient diversions, I really appreciate that he delivers an actual song to close this one out. love the handclaps. great bass once again
Röyksopp
3/5
--So Easy...nice opener
--Eple...fun sci-fi instrumental
--Sparks...lyrics! I was not expecting lyrics based on the first two tracks. Portishead vibe to this one
--In Space...a pleasant sound collage
--Poor Leno...don't love the autotune. this feels like a typical euroclub stuff
--A Higher Place...another fun collage with a great beat drop
--Röyksopp's Night Out...wonder what they got up to. sounds funky
--Remind Me...more generic euroslop
--She's So...nice background music
--40 Years Back Come...first half seems weird for weirdness' sake. I like the more ethereal second half