Band name was a great start. Never heard of them. As I started listening I wondered why I need to listen to this before I die. The book probably has a good explanation. With that said, this album grew on me. Good background album to have on while cleaning, cooking, working in the yard, or chilling on the porch in the spring or summer with your drink or smoke of choice.
Never been an Elvis fan. Just never got into him. The only time I listen to him is “Hound Dog” on the Forrest Gump soundtrack and around the holidays mixed between other holiday classics. Was interesting to hear his different vocal tones on the less popular songs I hadn’t heard before. Didn’t realize the range he had and I did dig his slower songs. I’m sure this was influential for its time but since I gave Burrito Brothers a 3, I’ll give this one a 2. At least I listened to it before I died.
Michael’s songs on Off the Wall pulled me into each track even the ones I didn’t like at first. There’s a couple instrumental breakdowns with some “Michael-isms” that had me bobbing and thinking about what Corey Feldman tries to emulate, particularly the breakdown on track 4 (around 3 minutes) where you can’t really tell what MJ is saying. I’ve added the first two songs to a variety of different Spotify mixes over the years so it’s got some bangers but the album as a whole is just fine to me today. I’m sure it was an influential album in the late 70s and on repeat. However, I believe there’s more MJ on this list that would rank higher than this album for me, so it gets a 3.
Overall, I enjoyed food prepping for dinner and doing dishes while listening to this album. The first two vocal tracks (2 and 3) were rough and it was not because of the onions I was cutting. I don’t think so, anyway. Album picked up for me at Sound and Vision (track 4). I really dug the instrumentals and ambient sounds on this album. For me, I believe it would have been a better album solely instrumental with maybe the only vocals being on “Subterraneans” to close it out. Due to this thought, it gets a 3 from me. There’s better Bowie.
I enjoyed this one with a cup of coffee on a Saturday morning. A joint or cigarette would have complimented the experience well. This wouldn’t be something I would play again often but I could see myself revisiting this every decade or if I start smoking again.
This album has hit in every decade of my life so far. I revisit frequently. Will I be 90 and blasting RATM? I hope so. What a great debut and introduction to RATM. Great summer album to blast while cruising in the car with the windows down or when you’re ready to quit your job. Or just want to. I don’t know if this is their best album and because of that I almost gave it a 4, but god damn it goes so hard. By the end of the album I was all in again.
Really dug the opening instrumental. Had me wondering “Am I going to dig the B-52s?” Though I did like their sound, and both the lead singer vocals are iconic, it was strange that most of the songs just didn’t hit for me. I found myself waiting for most of the songs to be over.
Didn’t love it. Didn’t dislike it. I just couldn’t get into it. I’m guessing this was one of the first albums of its kind in the 70s and I’m sure influenced a lot of bands I enjoy, but considering my ratings of other albums this gets a 2 from me. I’m glad I experienced it and held out for the “Great British Mistake.” I need to educate myself on the early punk scene. I may have a greater appreciation for this later.
Album had a nice flow. I enjoyed how it made me feel. There were several nice and unexpected moments. I was inspired to listen to it again immediately after finishing it.
Had this CD album on heavy rotation in the early 2000s. I enjoyed listening to this again. Great album to play on a walk or road trip drive. With streaming becoming my main source for listening to music, I haven’t found myself itching to stream this one in its entirety like I would with a CD. Still has some great gems and unique grooves.
I bought this album when it came out in 2001 because of “Clint Eastwood.” At the age of 14 I was disappointed. I tried and tried and tried to get into it. I needed to get my moneys worth, but still only liked 1 other song (Rock the House). 5 or 6 years later I gave it another shot after the success of their second album and was blown away with what I had missed. It still hits for me today as one of their top albums. Close 5, but “Plastic Beach” exists.
Felt like I was on an elevator but never in danger, so it was a relaxing experience. I’m not sure what was influential or experimental or just generally interesting about this work, especially in the late 60s. I kept thinking about how this album dropped during the Vietnam War and wondering how many young adults this pissed off. I don’t feel like I have the right to have this perspective as I wasn’t present during this period, but it crossed my mind a lot. I guess it wasn’t as relaxing after all. I haven’t listened to a Sinatra album before but I imagine he has to have better albums than this.
I enjoyed this experience. Would listen to again but not sure how often. Good for focusing or wanting to get lost in thought. I enjoyed this while sweeping floors and doing dishes on a Saturday morning.
I feel like after a listen or two, if you’re not using the album to learn, the instructional segments pulls you out of the zone the instrumental segments were pulling me into. I appreciate the album but not sure how often I would listen to this album as a whole.
Catchy start. I’ve only listened to their hits. Starting at “….Sniff Some Glue” it felt like I was in “the song that never ends.” It started to get a bit repetitive for me. “53rd and 3rd” was refreshing considering all the other tracks on the back half. I think I’d still listen to a compilation of hits but as an album it wasn’t something I could jam on as a whole again. Not the worst album I’ve rated 2 but I can’t give it a 3 based on other albums I’ve rated 3.
Half these songs were on the definitive John Lennon collection I had on repeat back in college. I personally enjoyed this album as a whole but it’s not something I would really go out of my way to recommend that you have to hear before you die. If anything, you should hear Corey Feldman’s version of “Imagine” before you die. Overall, I still really dug this.
Never listened to a UB40 album. It’s probably all the reggae rock and ska I enjoy that had me pleasantly surprised something like this came out in 1980.
I really dug the beats. I wasn’t a big fan of some of the vocalists but surprisingly that didn’t distract me from really enjoying this album.
I enjoyed a lot of tracks on this album but something about the album as a whole didn’t flow together very well for me.
I appreciate the exposure to new bands I probably would have never found. I really dug this album. Will be looking into their later work.
Haven’t listened to a Smiths album before so I was surprised to hear a subtle reggae rhythm on the first track and how musically diverse this album is overall. Felt more like a compilation album highlighting their different musical styles. I enjoyed this.
I thought I would have enjoyed this more. I had their Best of Album on repeat when it came out and years after. I’d probably still play it often if a car CD player was still accessible. The back half starting at “The One I Love” was better for me.
Solid debut. Can definitely hear their influence. Always loved “The Wizard.” I saw Magic Mike Marvin open his magic show, “Magshit,” with this song. Incredible. Like RATM, feels like a solid debut should get a 5 from me.
What a ride. Musically I loved, but had a hard time getting into the vocals. They kind of grew on me ….. and then grew off me. There were moments of 4, but overall it swayed between 3 and 2 and sometimes a 1 where I almost stopped. This is the highest 2 so far if that helps.
I haven’t listened to much Count Basie in my jazz ventures but will be listening to more.
