Unfortunately just not my thing, but I can appreciate the groundbreaking aspect of this
A couple of standout tracks - Breakdown and Mystery Man, but then some that were like nails on the chalkboard
Awesome album. I found some new faves on here that I wasn't familiar with! Lost in the supermarket has been a long time favorite - but somehow has never picked up on how awesome Hateful is.
I can appreciate the musicians behind this, the horn playing is amazing. But, I don't rent listening to this.
A few stand out tracks - lust for life, passenger, success - but was already familiar with those. Didn't care for most of the other tracks
Good album, better than expected
Aerosmith at the top of their game, a one of a kind album. I had several memories associated with this album. But, one I would be ok not listening to again.
I tried. I just couldn't make it through it
Awesome album, solid all the way through. The combination of Dave at the top of his showmanship with Eddie being at his best is just great
Such a great album that was completely foreign to me. This captures the late 70s , early 80s beautifully.
Very nice album, was only familiar with a couple of songs on here. Would listen again
I hate this type of music. I tried, but just couldn't.
This album, although I'm sure it's great was work to listen to. I may just need to grow my appreciation of jazz
Such a great album that I have listened to in years
Had never listened to this before, won't probably listen to it again. Liked Peaches the most.
Such a beautiful relaxing album. It's been years since I listened to it so was glad this refreshed my memory
Just not a fan of Steely Dan
I can respect this album a lot, and glad I listened to it, but will probably not return to it
I actually really like this album. The speed, aggression, many juvenile lyrics. Definitely enjoyed
Love this album. Sway. Wild Horses. Solid all the way through
This album was new to me - but I actually really ended up enjoying it. Rap is rarely my thing - but I would definitely relisten to this
Good album, but man - he's mopey. I needed some Prozac just to make it through. I did really like my heart is full though.
A wonderful album - I didn't realize I liked Aretha Franklin this much!
I just can't do The Beach Boys. They make me cringe
Good album, great for a background listen in the pool. Just not earth shattering
Very nice album, I was only familiar with a couple of tracks on here.
I do not like this Sam I Am!
Very nice album, I just prefer funeral a lot to this one
I have tried to like Sufjan - like seriously tried - but this album is just like nails on a chalkboard to me - everything about it - his voice, the lyrics, the song titles, much of the music just irks me. I gave it an honest try again, but I just can't.
I'm familiar with Merle but have never heard this before. Love it!
Meh although I used to like this album I think. I was just bored by it this time
I really like 4/5ths of this album!
This is a good album - but I just can't stand much pop. She's great, talented, and great production on here. Songs are catchy. But still - pop.
Boring computer atmospheric
I definitely appreciate the history of this album, and really like Highway Star - but other than that, I would be ok not listening To this again.
My son loves it. I do not.
Rating this 4 simply because of man comes around and hurt.
I absolutely loved this, heard many of the tracks before but not all
Actually a decent album and I respect its history. Lyrically, it's dumb. Didn't hate it, but wouldn't listen again
Good album, but not my favorite Dylan - I like much much later Dylan
Great album, great song writing, but def a little too folksy for me
Not a bad album, but would have been just fine if I died before I heard it. Beats were fun, but repetitious
I just can't do this. I tried. Too poppy for me, but she is a great showman!
Definitely on my top 100 albums
Such a great album. Definitely in my top 10 of all time. Musicianship is great, lyrics are poetic, like someone else on here said - it's like a warm hug that smells like weed.
Great album, liked it more than I expected
Some great tracks, but some I would give a negative score if I could!
Parts of this album are a 5 for me. Others are a 2-3. But Sade has become one of my favorite artists after hearing her entries on 1001 albums...
In torn on this. Musical artistry is absolutely stellar. Freddie's voice is amazing. Brian's guitar is phenomenal. Song writing and composition is just on another level. But for me, it's just too much everything. So although I appreciate the artistry, and I'm glad I experienced this album, I don't see myself ever going back to this. Overall I just didn't enjoy it.
I expected to hate this, just more whiny 90s new wave. But this album is Great. I may have to bump this up to a 5.
No. This is not the album I am looking for.
Eddie's playing was just on a very different level from all his peers. Dave was just a completely different showman than everyone else. Alex's drums were great - they all came together to form something special - and unique .
Good album by all means - I'm just not that angry any more!
I can understand the significance of this record - but it's something I would never listen to again - and had a hard time getting through the first time.
This is absolutely stellar.
This one is hard for me to rate. It is utterly unique and hauntingly beautiful in a discordant, at times chaotic way. It's an album to be felt in the soul - not processed in the brain. It is not pretty, or simple, or easily digested. It's not even easy to listen to. It feels like a hurting soul translating a melancholy fever dream into music. I am glad that I experienced this, and am absolutely amazed - but I'm not sure it's a ride I want to go on again. 7/10
Good - but gets repetitious for me
I appreciate the creativity, but is a lot of overwhelmingness for me.
Here's how ChatGPT said to enjoy:
How to Enjoy Spy vs Spy by John Zorn (1989):
This album is a violent, uncompromising blitz of sound. It’s free jazz played at hardcore punk speed, and unless you’ve already built up a tolerance for abrasive, high-velocity chaos, it can feel totally impenetrable. But there’s real structure and beauty inside the firestorm—if you know how to approach it.
⸻
🎯 What is Spy vs Spy, really?
• It’s John Zorn’s tribute to Ornette Coleman, but reimagined through the lens of 1980s New York no-wave, punk, and avant-garde experimentation.
• The lineup is two alto saxophones, bass, and drums, with most tracks played in simultaneous takes—they literally recorded two versions of each song at once and mixed them together.
• It sounds like a jazz explosion happening in a mosh pit.
This isn’t about melody in the traditional sense—it’s about energy, freedom, and confrontation.
⸻
🧠 How to Listen Without Losing Your Mind
1. Accept that it’s not chill background music
This album demands your attention, like a boxing match in a hurricane. If you’re looking for something to relax to, walk away. But if you want pure catharsis, this is it.
2. Focus on the rhythm section first
The bass (Mark Dresser) and drums (Joey Baron) are insanely tight, even when it feels like the saxes are tearing reality apart. Lock into the pulse, and the chaos becomes clearer.
3. Don’t try to follow both saxes at once
Zorn and Tim Berne are blowing over each other like two people screaming in different languages. Try following just one horn for a track or two, then switch. It’s like tuning in to a different conversation in the same riot.
4. Listen in short bursts
Each track is around a minute long, and there are 17. It’s not designed to be heard straight through unless you’re already deep into this world. Treat it like tasting a flight of extremely spicy cocktails—small sips.
5. Approach it as protest music
This is jazz-as-destruction. Zorn was reacting against sterile jazz education, smooth fusion, and even the academicized free jazz of the time. This is revolt music—urgent, pissed-off, and alive.
⸻
🔥 Recommended Listening Path
Start with these three tracks:
1. “WRU” – Short, aggressive, a microcosm of the whole album.
2. “Peace Warriors” – Ironically titled; it’s war.
3. “Feet Music” – One of Ornette’s grooviest themes; here it’s turned into a weapon.
Then try:
• Listening to the original Ornette Coleman versions of these same tracks.
• Return to Spy vs Spy and notice how Zorn honors the themes while exploding them.
⸻
🗝️ The key to enjoying it:
You’re not listening for beauty—you’re listening for ferocity, interaction, and freedom. Once your brain adjusts to the onslaught, it becomes thrilling. If Black Flag and Coleman had a baby and raised it on espresso and amphetamines, this would be it.
Such a great album - would give a 4.4. Was only really familiar with their greatest hits 1 & 2 - but there's equally as good songs on here. Will definitely play this a lot....
I do not like this. Not at all. Not a little. No likes here.
Not my thing at all, but here's how ChatGPT said to appreciate it:
Listening to ABC’s The Lexicon of Love (1982) is like stepping into a glossy, theatrical world where heartbreak is sung with exaggerated elegance and pop precision. If you’re coming at it from punk, jazz, soul, or art rock—this might feel almost too polished at first. But give it time, because this album is camp, cleverness, and high drama set to some of the best pop production of the ‘80s.
Here’s how to get into it:
⸻
🎯 What You’re Dealing With
• Genre: Orchestral new wave / synth-pop / post-punk sophistication
• Producer: Trevor Horn (same guy behind Owner of a Lonely Heart, Grace Jones, Frankie Goes to Hollywood)—expect lush layers and perfectionist polish
• Theme: It’s a concept album about heartbreak, infatuation, manipulation, and emotional performance. Think Scott Walker fronting a disco band.
⸻
🎧 Tips for Appreciating Lexicon of Love
⸻
1. Embrace the melodrama
• Martin Fry isn’t trying to sound “cool” or detached. He’s performing heartbreak, fully committed.
• The lyrics are theatrical, full of irony and longing. Let lines like “When your world is full of strange arrangements…” wash over you—they’re poetic in a stylish, almost overblown way.
⸻
2. Focus on the production
• Trevor Horn’s work here is legendary. You’ll hear:
• Real strings and lush orchestration
• Tight, gated reverb drums
• Layered backing vocals, funky bass, shimmering synths
• If you like Steely Dan’s polish or Pet Shop Boys’ grandeur, you’ll love this.
🎧 Start with “Poison Arrow” and “The Look of Love (Part One)” to get the feel—hooky, glittery, emotionally explosive.
⸻
3. Listen like it’s a stage play
• This isn’t meant to be subtle or raw. It’s emotion as spectacle.
• Each song feels like an act in a romantic tragedy—misunderstandings, betrayals, self-delusions—all sung from a spotlight.
⸻
4. Don’t overlook the irony
• Fry knows he’s being dramatic. There’s tongue-in-cheek wit behind all the hurt feelings.
• “Valentine’s Day” or “Date Stamp” are fun, biting takes on modern romance and emotional capitalism.
I know this will be heresy to some - I really just don't like this. At all.
What a fun album - and had never heard these versions of Just a gigolo or jump jobs and wail before... these were even better then the versions I knew!
Other than the well known tracks on here - I really don't like this drug addled album. Over rated.
This is a good album with great musicians. Excellent for background music. I could see listening to this a couple of times a year. 3.4 overall score
Nice album, I really like his voice, and his spoken word
This has to be one of the hardest albums I’ve reviewed from this list so far. On one hand, the music is absolutely terrible - over the top, badly written, and kind of a mess. But on the other hand… it’s brilliant. It feels like a low-budget community theater production where everything is technically awful, yet the actors are so passionate that you can’t help but get caught up in it.
I wouldn’t call this a great album musically, but in a strange way it made me genuinely happy. I could see myself listening to it again - not on repeat the same day or even the same week, but it’s something I’ll come back to. Honestly, it might even be the album I put on when I’m ready for people to leave my house.
Still, it made me smile. It made me happy. It just took two or three listens to get there.
Not horrible, would definitely play again - just not over and over.
Good album but don't see listening to it often unless I'm out at the club!
I like other REM songs, but these were all like nails on a chalkboard To me. perfect circle was ok. 1.8 / 5
This is great. Crosses genres from 60s psychedelia to soul to Eastern Africa infused rock. I didn't expect to like this, but I loved it.
I really enjoyed this - especially Sandy Denny's voice. I alternated between a 3 and 4, ultimately deciding on a 3.4 as I didn't care for the last 2 songs. But I would give who knows where time goes a 5 on its own.
I find this hard to explain. I *thought * I liked this album, I thought I had listened to this several times. But - there's songs on here I don't remember ever hearing - that I just really don't like. I'm confused, but other than two tracks on here, I will never listen to this again.
Great harmonies, seems to be an influence on Boston, foreigner and the like.
What a fun album, not what I expected, but I enjoyed this. 3.5/5 stars
Great musicians, I just don't like instrumental jazz. At all.
There were brief moments of this I appreciated, and maybe this is one that would grow on you after repeated listening. But there were too many moments of I hate this to give it another shot
That's a lot of bongosof, but it's fun.
I love this album. I was familiar with most of his covers on it already but had just never listened to this album in its entirety. This turned into such a cohesive , simple, beautifully arranged work of pared down standards that it's just great music. Different vein, but similar to one of my other favorites, the When Harry Met Sally soundtrack. Very strong 5.
As far as rap albums go, I kinda like this one. Not enough to listen to it a lot. But I don't hate it
Fun, but extremely repetitive
So she has a beautiful voice, but I'm just not sure about all of the songs. The instruments were great, the music itself was good, but I just didn't care for the actual songs if that makes any sense. But I absolutely love her voice.
I'm glad I listened to this; it felt like I was listening to a piece of musical history; however I don't think it's something I will go back to again very often. I wouldn't change it if it came on but I wouldn't willingly put it on again, very often anyway. It's the best bongo album I've ever heard.
