2.5 stars.
I was impressed by their sound at first, but then the vocals kicked in and they just don't work for me. Lots of singers can get away with a whiny, nasally voice that is clearly untrained - sometimes that's half the charm of a band (Felt, for example). Here, however, the instrumentation is tight and carefully arranged, making Perrett's voice sound jarring and out of place in comparison. Many songs started with great sounds that made me excited to listen until the vocals inevitably kicked back in - pretty disappointing. The album as a whole was listenable but probably isn't one I'll go back to.
Went into this knowing I don't like U2 but trying to keep an open mind. I can't really put my finger on what I don't like about their sound, but I've always just found it too open, too flowy, maybe too earnest? I also tend to gravitate towards artists with vocals that really speak to me, which just isn't the case with Bono's rasp. I think I'm just looking for harder-hitting songs - faster tempos, thicker textures, more excitement. Everything about this album just felt bland and flat to me - same-y songs, safe for radio, nothing that tries too hard.
Really beautiful harmonies and vocals. I'm not usually a fan of lots of gang vocals, but here they work well and weave through each other in really interesting ways. The sound is cozy, comforting, and warm. Not my usual type of music but a really nice listen.
4.5 stars.
I'm not sure why I was never more into the White Stripes when this album came out. I liked the singles, but the songs were 'just' good - they didn't have that extra special something to really draw me in. Revisiting this album in 2025, however, is different because I can really appreciate how good the White Stripes were, especially as compared to a lot of current popular rock bands, who don't much appeal to me.
These songs are relatively simple, with only a few parts at any given time, and many of them end abruptly - nothing here is unnecessary. The drums are crisp and clean, there's a great range of vocal styles from Jack White, and each song just comes together easily.
This is the kind of stuff that reminds me that music can be innovative and exciting without a million tracks building on each other or using overcomplicated song structures. It's the type of stuff that makes music feel open and accessible and makes me want to make it myself.
3.5 stars.
Really liked this, especially the opening and closing tracks - the middle ones were just okay. Not necessarily my usual type of music but it was a great listen with some sounds that really tickled my ears and I'd happily give it another spin.
I love Nick Cave and I know this about myself, so why don't I listen to his music more?
I love the energy, the slam poetry reading vibes of Cave's vocals, the unexpected lyrics. Each song has a totally different character, and the gospel elements work into different tracks in such wonderful ways to accent the emotion.
I find it difficult to give an album I'm only hearing for the first time 5 stars, but if this album isn't worth it, what will be?
I know literally nothing about jazz or samba or bossa nova but this feels pretty accessible. Chill vibes, feels like being in a fancy cocktail bar with no real worries. Interesting to learn a bit more about a genre I don't normally listen to. I love a good cozy saxophone and this has lots of that.
Well, this certainly isn't my standard fare but the whole point of this project is to expand one's horizons, right? This is fun. Parts of it reminded me of the soundtrack to the Sims vacation expansion pack. Good vibes, great percussion, very cool vocals. A fun listen.
This is a delicious album! I'm not sure I would have found this album on my own, and it's a great discovery. Really rich sounds, great beats. Fun, chill vibes. Love the variety of instruments, sounds, and textures.
Was going to give it 5 stars until I saw someone else mention the homophobia in 'One of Them'. Went back and listened again more closely and... yeah, no thanks. Otherwise a solid album, though.
