The first song, even just the first few seconds set the tone very well. The contrast between the joy in his voice and subject matter of loneliness in the first track is a cool way to express his ideas. In fact this kind of contrast occurs throughout the whole album. The album is strong throughout, the moments where he isn't singing the instrumental fills the space perfectly and these points were often even more enjoyable. Banana Split For My Baby is super fun, evoking the absurd image of spoiling his Baby with the hugest most calorific banana split then having her pay. It's filled to the brim with personality as he cheekily laughs to himself throughout knowing full well what he's going to do. As for the final 2 tracks they are decent but after the rest of the album I felt they didn't add much and led to an ending that felt just okay. At least the whistling on Whistle Stop makes it stand out somewhat. Best songs: Just A Gigolo/I Ain't Got Nobody, Body and Soul, "Jump, Jive, An' Wail", Buona Sera , Banana Split For My Baby Worst Songs: Be Mine (Little Baby), The Lip

I went in to this album expecting to give a relatively low score, and after the getting most of the way through track A I felt that a 2 or maybe 3 was in order. It started somewhat slowly and felt a bit repetitive. It's unfortunate the album starts in the way it does because I feel it can easily put someone off the album, it certainly did for me, leading me to pay less attention to the coming tracks. I re-listened later to rectify this after thoroughly enjoying the final track. When the saxophone came in during Track A though I knew there was something special about this album. Unfortunately, Track A to me is still the worst, the initial section goes on for too long, whereas the other tracks are consistent with sprinkles of magic throughout this only really takes off when the saxophone comes in. But when it comes, wow. It steals the show. Throughout the album you'll so often be hit with a bunch of instruments at the same time and yet somehow it just works, sometimes it feels like the music is screaming out, other times that different instruments are at odds with each other but intentionally so. The opening to track B is so beautiful, slow and serene, with a pretty piano and later on delightful horns. Then it sounds like something is approaching, almost cartoonish then these weird like vocal sounds come in which I love and the track just keeps gaining pace, its exciting and has this impending feel to it. Eventually it finally calms down, near silence, then bam, back to life once more. C starts with a pretty relaxed piano, simple yet super effective. The flute throughout is such a beautiful addition, then we get hit with this Spanish guitar. I have no clue how it manages to balance all of this without sounding like an absolute mess. I have to imagine there is a lot being said here that I'm missing due to my lack of fluency with music in general. The last track is a long one, 18 minutes, and it does not disappoint. Again it's hard to my finger on exactly what it is doing but it made me feel such strong emotion. Beyond it being somewhat positive I'm not sure how to describe it, I want to say hope with a hint excitement but I don't think that quite covers the range, but it had such a weight to it; I can name few other songs that achieve the same. I will note, this isn't the easiest or most fun listen at times. I wouldn't expect to come back to this music much. Despite that, what this album managed to achieve for me is extremely impressive, and I can only imagine my appreciation for it growing over time. Best tracks - Track B- Duete Solo Dancers, Track C- Group Dancers, Medley: Mode D / Mode E / Mode F Worst track - Track A- Solo Dancer

I think this just isn't my kind of music to be honest. There are a few good songs but in general neither the vocals nor lyrics are really impressive, the instruments do a lot better but overall I just don't really care for this. Starts not so bad, Bat Out of Hell sounds good at times but often falls into becoming what I'd imagine a stereotypical rock song to sound like. It has quite a few nice moments, weirdly enough I think its near 10 minute length is somewhat warranted, it doesn't really become stale but for me personally that is still too long to listen to this kind of song, I can't imagine wanting to come back to it. I liked the opening to the second song, kinda funny. The song is decent, pretty catchy. Heaven can wait stands out I guess, not in a good way. All Revved up is pretty good, I quite like his singing here especially at the end and the saxophone is cool. Two Out Of Three Ain't Bad became something better than I expected but went on for too long. Again the same issues are present. Paradise By the Dashboard - has some pretty stand out moments, I like the piano a lot when the woman is singing, and her vocals are good, I liked when the presenter guy came in but then he just stayed for way too long. I enjoyed when they both sang though, and the general idea behind the track is kinda fun. Good stuff though I'd prefer it to be shorter, although I can maybe see myself coming back to this. For Crying Out Loud is okay, the later middle section is actually really good as all these instruments come in, probably the highlight of the album for me. Unfortunately the rest of the song doesn't hold up. Best tracks - You Took the Words Right Out of My Mouth, All Revved Up with No Place to Go, Paradise By the Dashboard Light Worst tracks - Heaven Can Wait, Two Out Of Three Ain't Bad

Really cool album with a great variety of interesting ideas. I enjoyed it from the get-go and continued to throughout, there were a few weaker tracks, but other than that my main issue is just trying to relate to/ understand what is being said at times. I like a lot of the lyrics but I wasn't always sure on what they were trying to get across - though I imagine this is in large part my own short coming. Debaser is a great start, I loved his singing and most of the screaming too, but this is a great example of just having no clue on what the song is about. I have briefly looked into it now and apparently it refers to movie Un Chien Andalou and the lyrics are more or less based off events in it. Tame isn't quite as strong, don't love the whispering at the start but I enjoyed most of the rest and I like the breathing that grows louder later on and kinda grows into becoming a fuller vocal. Wave Of Mutilation is pretty dark both due to the vocals at times and the lyrics - basically romanticising suicide - it sounds good giving us a break from the screaming, accompanied with a nice guitar. I Bleed is an interesting one, the overlayed vocals are kind of haunting/disconcerting at times and the instrumental adds to that general vibe. I liked the more strained vocals at the end quite a lot here. Here Comes Your Man comes in with this groovy guitar letting you know from the get go it's different. It's a good easy listen - to me it's kind of strange as it seems to lack any of the challenging elements that all previous tracks provided either through lyrics or vocally. Somewhat confusing how it fits here. Dead was quite good too (and more in line with the general themes thus far). Monkey Gone to Heaven was great, the chorus was heavenly in a way though still has this kind of eerie vibe, the guitar is great. I also enjoy the end section where he gets progressively quieter then way louder when moving to a new subject going from man to devil to God. Mr. Grieves and Crackity Jones are fun tracks, Crackity Jones has this kind of crazy energy, becoming unhinged at times, and it's so infectious. La La Love You is a huge change of pace compared to the previous, way more relaxed, the whistles are a nice touch. No 13 Baby not my favourite track in terms of subject or sound. There Goes My Gun is solid, nothing too special. Hey sounds great. When I first listened I wasn't in a great mood and this had a more sombre feel, being stuck, but coming back to it, it feels like it doesn't push for that much but allow you to ease into it if you're already primed for that emotion if that makes sense. Silver is a really interesting track, it gives this weird haunted western vibe - it sounds fine for what it's trying to be but not exactly something I'm looking to come back to. Gouge Away is a good fitting ending. Best - Debaser, Wave Of Mutilation, Monkey Gone to Heaven, Hey, Gouge Away Worst - Tame, No 13 Baby, There Goes My Gun

I've not listened to much electronic music, I can appreciate this for what it is but a lot of the time the tracks feel too repetitive to warrant their length. I have to imagine what is being done here was very impressive at the time, but I am viewing from my current tastes, and it could definitely do better. The Robots - game soundtrack vibes, robot voice is at least initially pretty cool, I like the synths, keyboard is cool. I was left wondering for a while when the song would go somewhere and it just kind of didn't. It's fine but slightly underwhelming, I feel it could have used the time better. Spacelab - the synth is cool, the track does simultaneously achieve this futuristic and slightly otherworldly vibe, I like the effect on the vocal a lot. Metropolis - I love the way the synths come in moving up to their specific note. I care less for the rest of the song. Despite not initially liking the vocal it ended up being pretty catchy. The Model - the first song with proper lyrics, I like it. Neon Lights - this song made me realise I pretty much always love whatever they're doing with the synths on each track but also that overall I don't really like anything here enough that I'd want to listen again. It's not bad, just fine with a small number of enjoyable parts - but even these repeat in such a way that its ruined. This song in particular really, why is it so long, I don't understand.The end has a least this nice high vocal etc but it really just wasn't worth sitting through. The Man Machine - actually quite a nice outro track Best - Spacelab Worst - The Robots, Neon Lights

Normally I'd talk about each track individually, but given the sparse arrangements here there isn't so much I want to talk about. In general each track gives off the country vibe appropriately and I think the simplicity does it favours here, you can easily imagine sitting around a campfire hearing these songs. Later into the album it feels like we're just being given more of the same, this combined with the fact I don't love country to begin with means it wasn't the most enjoyable time. Though I would like to point out that this album is very consistent, whilst I'd find it hard to point to many high points it is even more difficult to think of any low points. Time of the Preacher - I like the singing and guitar Blue Eyes Crying In the Rain - is understandably the most popular track, its decent Red Headed Stranger - as it goes on it end up being on the fuller side compared to other tracks with piano dancing with the guitar. Probably my favourite track. Just as I Am - quite a nice instrumental, growing into something beautiful mainly due to the piano Denver - super short one but I love a lot of his vocals here and the guitar is good too. Down Yonder - love the super fast bouncy rhythm, the piano is great. Best - Time of the Preacher, Red Headed Stranger, Just as I Am, Denver, Down Yonder

Overall I think the album is really strong with a slightly weaker middle section. It has some really stand out moments, from more groovy, catchy tracks like ...& on, to the slower beautiful ballad of Orange Moon. Penitentiary Philosophy - whispering is alright, groovy start, don't love the vocals that much but there are good moments, like "why world", pretty catchy too. Reminded me slightly of Prince with the vocal inflections at the end. Nice guitar and drums throughout. Would be more re-playable if slightly shorter, but good nonetheless. Didn't Cha Know - I think in general I don't like her voice that much which is quite unfortunate. The start of the chorus is great though. My Life - the piano has this slightly weighty feel to it, I like it. ...& On - zika deka del. She says herself in this song that her words can only do good if they are understood, so I want to note here that I think she has achieved her goal of a clearer album. The things being tackled here are relatable and at times comforting, very human. Cleva - deals with the body image issues many people face, instead moving the focus over to the positives, accepting herself. Pretty relaxed beat, sounds good. I like the vibraphone a lot here. Booty - I just don't like the idea in the first place, the horns were nice but the whole track becomes stale pretty quickly. Kiss Me On My Neck - simple premise, everyone wants love and to feel desired, as far as the actual song not the best but not too bad. A.D. 2000 - this track seems more relevant now than ever, the world is changing at such a rapid rate it's difficult to keep up or understand the implications of what we are doing. Sounds decent. Orange Moon - such a chilled out song, beautiful slow beat, nice simple idea too - the light that love brings. The increase in volume and instrumental filling out is a really powerful moment. The longest track so far, and it uses the time well. In Love With You - really like the male vocalist here and the guitar, groovy. Catchy too. Bag Lady - fun song, another good simple idea. Drums are great. Time's A Wastin - a little too long but good enough otherwise. Green Eyes - vinyl cracking and the old style initial section in general is fun. I liked how the song developed too, another long song that really hits the mark. Best - ...& On, Cleva, Orange Moon, In Love With You, Green Eyes Worst - Booty, A.D. 2000