Overall, a really solid album. Of course there are the well-known hits like "Sledgehammer" and "In Your Eyes," but "Don't Give Up" (with the incredible Kate Bush) and "Mercy Street" bring a quieter, softer feel, and the album is rounded out nicely with some synth pop/electronic fun stuff. Great listen start to finish.
To be fair, this album literally made up part of the soundtrack of my childhood, as my mom was a big Billy Joel fan and played it front to back often. These songs are very familiar to me, and in fact, when I was probably three or four years old and my mom came home from the salon with Ash blonde hair while I was used to her brown hair, I reminded her of "Just the Way You Are" when I said "Don't change the color of your hair, just like the song says!" Still, it was a wonderful journey to the past, and I enjoyed listening again today. It's got so many well-known hits.
Fun, peppy pop - lots of fluff, not a ton of substance.
I could listen to this album while hosting a dinner party, taking a good drive, or even just relaxing and reading a book while it plays in the background. Chapman's voice is hypnotic, and these are solid, very listenable songs. Very enjoyable overall.
Although I'm not a huge hip-hop fan, there's no denying that this group and this album features a powerhouse of talent. There are fun, recognizable, and infectious hooks, and intelligent word play in the lyrics.
I played this album so much in college and throughout my early 20s, I practically have it memorized. Amos' powerful lyrics tell great stories - not all with happy endings, but that certainly does mirror what happens in real life. It's a powerhouse of an album considering it's just Amos, a piano, and some backing vocals & instruments... not a full band in the true sense. The focus is always, as it should be, on her skillful piano playing chops and her hypnotizing voice. The first album I've rated as five stars, but for me, it deserves it.
Well, I was disappointed with this. Most of the songs are so stripped down and bare, and sound as if they were recorded in someone's basement. I got the sense while listening that this is what it must be like when your friends tell you, their son is starting a band and they want you to come listen to some of his songs. You'd smile politely and say, "Wow, that's great!" and then go home and think to yourself "meh." Nothing makes me want to listen to these songs again.
Wow! I was instantly fascinated by the classical orchestration in the opening track, and then equal parts captivated and impressed by the rest of the album. I knew I had heard Monáe's name before and it wasn't until I read more about her that I realized it's as an actress from the movie "Hidden Figures," but I don't know that I was aware that she was a singer as well. This entire album was so much fun with its poppy, experimental vibes and its concept album feel. "War of the Roses" sounds like a track ready for the Broadway stage and "Wondaland" and its poppy, upbeat self sounds like something Katy Perry or Janet Jackson, or a contemporary could easily have recorded. "57821" features wickedly gorgeous layered harmonies and reminds me of a 60s folk group. "Say You'll Go" has moments where she's channeling a lounge singer in all the best ways, ramping up into something akin to a movie score. Monáe's range of styles is quite different throughout the whole album, but somehow it all works together and I am so thankful to have found this because it is going to be added to my library for future frequent listens. What a great find! Fans of big voices like Janet Jackson, Adele, Diana Ross, or Whitney Houston, will no doubt enjoy this.
I listened to this album two times in a row, back to back. I was painting our outdoor bench on my patio and it provided a pleasant soundtrack for this task. Did I enjoy the music? Sure, as I tend to like Indie and folk music. Was there anything truly remarkable that stuck out to me on this album and made me say wow? Not really. It was nice background music and I can see myself listening to this album again in the background as I am studying or reading or cooking… But it will not be one that I will seek out all the Time if I'm looking for up-tempo or high energy stuff. It was mellow, it was pleasant enough to listen to, but as for being one of the 1001 albums, I must hear before I die, I was a bit underwhelmed.
There were only two or three songs on here that were familiar to me, but the whole album was really great! No surprise that Black Sabbath enjoyed the popularity it did for so long, and even listening to this album from 1970 in 2025, it's easy to see what solid rockers they were. I will say, I was pleasantly surprised to hear a few more "mellow" tracks from these gods of rock 'n' roll. A great rock album!! RIP Ozzy.
Well, I really wanted to like this. I mean, I really did. Electronica, scrappy West Germans trying to make a name for themselves in the 70s new music scene, ("Now is the time on Sprockets when we DAHNCE!") but honestly, I just found this to be rather redundant/repetitive and a bit of a snoozefest if I'm honest. Listening to other late 70s albums like those by The Police make this seem like a weak effort, and parts of this remind me of the demo tracks that came on a Casio keyboard.
I was in college when this album dropped. I listened to it a fair amount, but haven't heard it in many years until now. I think I had forgotten what an overall strong album this is. It's not something I want to put on all of the time… I would definitely need to be in the right mood for this one, but there's no doubt that Björk was a trendsetter, and if this is an incredibly strong debut album. Is her voice a little bit weird? Yes, but pleasantly weird, if that's a thing.
Wow...um, not sure how to begin on this one. Every song is completely different, which isn't necessarily a bad thing but is a bit jarring when you think that many albums do you have some sort of a theme or a flow to them and this one just does not! There are definitely moments of fun with clever, bouncy lyrics and melodies, and some catchy tunes that could easily become earworms, but I'm not certain that I will return to this monstrosity of an album very often.
As a child of the 80s, I knew Supertramp for radio hits, but this was my first full album listen. Interesting stuff- I'd like to listen a few more times to really gel with it, but my favorites were "Bloody Well Right," which I knew, and "Rudy," which I didn't. This album sounds like the love child of ELO, the Moody Blues, and Steely Dan.
I love this album so much! You can rock out to some tracks (Cherub Rock, Disarm) and relax to others (Soma, Mayonaise). I like that the Smashing Pumpkins' sound is so different from anyone else's, too. Several of these songs were popular, mainstream hits, and I find myself smiling and turning up the radio when they come on even now, many years after the album's release. Even if Billy Corrigan's voice or the whole band's style is not your thing, there's no denying that the Smashing Pumpkins made a big mark on 90s alternative for good reason.
When I got my album selection today, I thought to myself, "Wow...this is the second album from this band, and I have never heard of them?!" Then, I listened, and I see why. It's just meh - these guys would be fitting entertainment for the county fair, but not much else.
I enjoyed this album - "Heads Will Roll" is a fun one. Played it through twice and while there was nothing I can say I really disliked, I also can't say anything stuck out to me as being amazing.
Is this a Clash-esque band? Kind of, I felt like, only less interesting. Does it sound like something from 1979? No way. Would I listen again? Meh...probably not.
How appropriate that I listened to this while driving along Florida's A1A, as the beachy atmosphere and scenery were the perfect backdrops for the album's SoCal-inspired punk-pop. I was excited to get this album because I grew up listening to the Go-Go's, but hadn't heard this fully in a long time.
These talented women were true pioneers in new wave music, writing & playing everything on their own, and that ought to be enough to give them a high rating, but the fact is, they also have serious musical chops and solidly earn their rating. Everyone knows and loves the hits "Our Lips Are Sealed" and "We Got the Beat" but tracks like "How Much More" and "This Town" are great examples of how talented the Go-Go's really are. Belinda Carlisle's voice is enchanting, and this entire album will stick with you to create the best type of ear worm .
Nice piano music - good background music to put on during a cocktail party… Impressive to know that the artist did this all on the fly and it was improvised. It's interesting enough, but I didn't find the hour-long album to be dynamic simply because it's just piano.
Not my thing. Yes, Biggie's rhymes are impressive, but as a woman, I struggle with too many of the lyrics.
Well, there's almost an hour of my life. I will never get back.
After a while, every song on this album began to sound the same to me. I enjoyed The Cutter but that's probably the only song I would add to a playlist..
I was honestly so excited to get this album today because I grew up on the Beatles and recognize them for their musical genius and sheer impact on the modern music world. However, I honestly tried to approach today's project as if I had never heard the Beatles before.
I probably would have marveled at how different all of the songs on this massive album are. They honestly sound as if they have completely different personalities and styles and indeed they do, which is one great way to glimpse the individual personalities of the songwriters and singers. Yer Blues and Why Don't We Do It In the Road are two examples of their solid bluesy style , but then you get the honky-tonk piano of Rocky Raccoon, the bouncy, playful, Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da, Harrison's wicked guitar on While My Guitar Gently Weeps along with its hypnotic sound and vibe, the simplicity and sheer beauty of Blackbird, and the sweeping orchestrations in many songs, especially evident in Good Night. Music critic I am not much to be said which I am missing here but this is when casual observers take on just how incredible this album is from start to finish.
I would probably have also remarked that some of the stuff is just super weird, and I might have (accurately) guessed that there was a fair amount of drug-inspired/influenced content on this album.
I might've remarked that in some ways, the album due to its track differences, lacks sheer coherence as an album, but further listens would prove to me to be quite wrong, and when taken as a whole, The White Album is a solid beginning-to-end coherent masterpiece.
There's a reason these guys have been labeled musical geniuses and a reason they continue to impact artists today. Yes, they're worth all of the hype and this is the first album I have rated five stars in quite some time.
Sounds like a less-polished version of the alternative bands I loved in the 90s.
Sounds like a less-polished version of the alternative bands I loved in the 90s.
My favorite band growing up, and still a top favorite of mine today. These guys are excellent musicians, and both Roland and Curt's vocals are unique and add so much to their songs. Listening to Songs From the Big Chair after so many other recent albums, which I rated only a one or two stars , points out the stark contrast between Tears for Fears and these other bands. These guys are so polished and the studio album is just so tight. Songs flow extremely well from one track to the next.
Starting off with the high energy, angsty "Shout" is an outstanding way to pull listeners right into the action on this album Things immediately seem to mellow out with "The Working Hour," but by the end of track two, there's ramped-up energy in that song as well. The album's, most famous song - in fact, probably the group's most famous song - is their third track, "Everybody Wants to Rule the World" which still sounds fresh and modern 40 years later. Other notable tracks include "Head Over Heels" and "Mothers Talk," but honestly, I can't really find much to critique on this whole album. It's just so polished and the musicianship and instrumentals are head and shoulders above most of the drivel I've listened to within the last several weeks through this platform.
Tears for Fears are touring again in 2025 and if you've never seen them live, they put on a hell of a show! High energy, their voices still sound pretty damn amazing all these years later and their music quality has improved, if anything. Highly recommend you check them out.
I'm sure the 60s and 70s folk purists were upset about this one...they probably were as angsty as Dylan himself seems when he reminds us 300 times that he's not working on Maggie's farm anymore.
Little moments like Dylan's laughter at a mis-start on "Bob Dylan's 115th Dream" make albums feel so much more personal and invite us into the fun of creating the music.
Also, this album has an unusual amount of lyrics about hotdogs. "On the Road Again" (no, it's not *that* version), "115th Dream", and I'm almost certain I heard them one other time… But really, isn't two mentions about hots on the same album already a bit excessive?
I was not looking forward to this album because honestly, I've never liked Bob Dylan's singing. I can absolutely respect his chops as a songwriter and realize his influence on the music and political scene of the 60s and 70s I just can't stand to hear his voice. Still, it wasn't a totally boring album.
Pretty music which would've been much better as an instrumental album.
Not bad but I also would say not amazing. "It's a Shame About Ray" and "Mrs. Robinson" are the only two songs I knew and while I could say each are pretty solid examples of 90s alternative - even the cover of "Mrs. Robinson" has been updated for a fresh spin- overall, many of the song sounded the same to me. It didn't knock my socks off like other 90s early alternative albums from the time may have done.
Well, this was a fun ride! I knew a few Kinks songs but can't say I've heard anything from this specific album and I really enjoyed it! It's so obvious to hear the Beatles influence on many of these tracks, but yet The Kinks' individuality also shines through.
I really love Nevermind, but this album is just screamy and loud and feels to me like the band was just attempting to sound really pissed off all of the time. I was so thankful for "All Apologies" by the time it rolled around because it was a balm to my bleeding ears.
No one out there sounds like AC/DC, and this album is so full of loud, raucous hits, it's sort of crazy. This is the gold standard of hard rock. Solid.
Just a guy and his acoustic guitar. Sounds like it should be kind of a snoozefest, but it's really interesting and the songs are varied enough to keep you listening. It's a great background album for reading, studying, or just chilling.
It's the Beatles. How can I rate them anything but five stars? These guys are the GOAT.
It's Elvis alright, but in just "meh" form.
I knew Dusty Springfield's voice from "Son of a Preacher Man" on the Pulp Fiction soundtrack. Strong, soulful, and sassy, so this was definitely an enjoyable listen. I'm not sure I can say that it's groundbreaking or earth shattering since these are cover songs, but it was definitely fun to listen to.
Avoid "Helter Skelter" at all costs. You'll be glad you did.
Look, I like some of Siouxie's later works, but this debut album - perhaps save "Hong Kong Garden" is essentially screamy talking to bad music.
Cool vibe and all but I don't need a whole album of dance music.
Pure perfection! Sinatra's velvet voice coupled with these American songbook classics are an unbeatable combination. Put this on the next time you're chilling with some wine or hosting friends for dinner.
A wild ride for sure-boundary pushing, experimental, and highly entertaining. This album made me feel "bad" when I was a fresh-faced 20-year-old college student, dancing and singing along to "Closer" in the club and feeling a bit naughty for doing so. I saw NIN live on this tour and it was a really incredible show.
Incredible concept album that still sounds relevant and timely today.
I'm sorry, ears. I will never again subject you to Tim Buckley's screaming about "speaking in tongues" or his drug-fueled sex songs. This *almost* makes me want to cue up Birthday Party. (Almost.)
Fantastic album that I'm a bit ashamed to say I had never heard cover to cover until this. David Bowie was a true musical genius and it's evident here.
Girl can sing, no doubt. She also writes much of her own music, which is impressive to me.
Really pretty music with weird-ass lyrics. "I feel just like Sigourney Weaver when she had to kill that alien guy."
"Bittersweet, strawberry, marshmallow, butterscotch, polar bear, cashew, Dixieland, phosphate, chocolate..."
"Baby, you are where dreams go to die and I regret the day your lovely carcass caught my eye."
Timeless and oozing with talent and just raw coolness.
Kind of weird, kind of meh.
Wow! This was the first time I've ever played this whole album through – I knew the hits but not the others, and this was a great album start to finish. Honestly surprised it's from 1977 – it feels very modern and fresh.
This is such a great album – wish I could rate it 4.75 stars. Read the notes in iTunes about the re-released Dolby Atmos 2017 version - cool "insider" stuff.
Some really great high spots and some really strange low ones. Nyro's voice ranges from beautiful and angelic to screamy and just odd. Solid 3 for me.
Overall, I prefer REM's "Automatic For the People," but this is still a really interesting album.
A hit machine yes, but a best album of all time? It's not like they did anything new...
Not my favorite Radiohead album.
I tried... I really did...
Nope. Piss-poor talking & yelling over pretty amateurish guitar licks.
Pay special attention to the keyboard on "Two Steps Back." I feel very confident that the keyboard player just took his first piano lesson about 10 minutes before they laid down this track . Next, please.
Ultimately, I stopped listening because who needs two hours of this drivel?
The Beatles are in a class of their own - just hearing their tight, interwoven harmonies on "Drive My Car" against a relatively simple instrumentation proves it. "Norwegian Wood" feels ahead of its time, and has complex song development and interesting instruments.
Every song on Rubber Soul is different and varied but somehow still work together as a coherent unit.
More yummy harmonies in "Think For Yourself"
Having recently heard other albums from the time this was released makes others feel like a joke, honestly. This album - and The Beatles - are the OGs.
I understand why this album is as seminal and groundbreaking as it is, and there are several songs I really like a lot, but if I'm being honest, after a while, much of this sounds the same to me.
Personal favorite is "Gimme Danger," although I swear they 'borrowed' aspects from the Stones' own 1969 "Gimme Shelter."
For starters, I had to Google "Shoegaze." Ok, got it. The definition promises a "wall of sound" but this album just sounded amateurish and unpolished, and the vocals are not keeping pace with the music. In the words of Randy Jackson, "It's a no for me, dog."
Kind of cool - never heard of these guys but I'd like to hear more.
Never would've guessed that a disco album would be one I'd return to and say, "Hey, let's listen to this," yet here we are. This album deserves its spot on this list, simply by merit of the number of times pieces of multiple songs have been sampled and used in other music over the last 40 -45 years. It's also just so funky and fun and it made me really appreciate a genre I may have previously tuned out.
I'm generally not a fan of a live album unless it's a concert I've personally attended. Hearing this was fun though, just to see how concert crowds have changed since 1970; there are some cheers and whoops, of course, because it's The Who after all, but the audience mainly applauds at the end of a song, and then it dies out, and the performers can be heard speaking. There's a fair bit of conversation with the crowd, but it's quiet enough that you can hear everything, unlike today at live shows where people seem to always shriek and scream the entire time...
Now about the music, it's The Who for heaven's sakes. They put on a really good live show and it's since it's been remastered, the sound quality is outstanding. The songs are solid and tight as you would expect. It's an interesting mix, although not all of the songs are originals. If I could round, this would be a 4.25 but alas, I cannot so It's just a four.
Buckley's impressive vocals take us on a journey through quiet, almost whisper-like moments, to true stadium rocker wail, and to soaring (but very well-controlled) falsetto. I knew and liked two or three of the tracks on here but enjoyed pretty much every other one that was new as well! This is an album I will return to.
This one didn't do it for me. I like some of Public Image Ltd.'s music, but I was not impressed with this album.
Man, I love it when I get a great album on a Friday and can really take my time with it. This album was not new to me, having heard it covered to cover many times before. Love them or hate them, there's no denying that the Eagles are extremely talented musicians and their talent is on full display in this album. There are so many hits within these tracks, and songwriting, deep lyrics, and really strong musical chops all come together to make it work. Personal favorites are "Pretty Maids All In a Row," "Wasted Time," " Victim Of Love," and of course the title track.
Certainly is some cool, funky music but probably not something I think I would pick up and listen to again.
The title track is a banger!! Aside from the pseudo-stuttering (which I've never understood), the vocals are strong, and the song rocks with a harder edge. "Please, Please, Please" and "It's it True" sound much like another famous British foursome of the time, but if anything, this shows that The Who (and the Beatles) were churning out the kind of popular music the fans wanted and is a testament to both bands' talent. Highly enjoyable album and a great debut for The Who.
OK, this was just really weird. While there were elements I found somewhat enjoyable or cool, the overall package just kind of didn't work for me.
Some have commented on not liking the lead singer's voice – I actually found it worked. I like the concept. I don't think this is one. I will rush to listen to and it's entirety again if ever. These guys were clearly influenced by prog rock bands that came before them and I can't help but thinking that Twenty One Pilots probably love these guys - while not prog rock themselves, they definitely enjoy similar stylings, the concept album, etc.
Wow! This is an incredibly strong debut! The band gels so perfectly and I'd have an easier time believing that this was their fifth or sixth studio album together, as it's just so solid.
And talk about influential?! So many bands and styles took ideas from Talking Heads. Favorite tracks: "Uh-Oh, Love Comes to Town" (fantastic opener), "No Compassion" (cool guitar work and a fun "Howard Dean-esque scream at 1:08), and "Psycho Killer" (classic banger).
I had no idea that this album was as early as it was - I knew "Paint it Black" and "Under My Thumb" of course, but thought they were later 60s if not early 70s.
"Paint it Black" is by far the strongest track here, remaining relevant and a strong cultural influence that pops up in movies and commercials nearly 60 years later. Also, it's such a damn good song. I imagine Morrissey cut his teeth on this, leading him to the dark lyrics he would later pen.
"Under My Thumb" is a fun little tune with the xylophone, but I never honestly listened to the lyrics closely until now. Um, creepy and completely inappropriate...Jagger sings about how he can be thanked for "reigning in" his former free-thinking girl so that now she "does just what she's told" and is "a squirming dog who's just had her day," and yet scores of women still wanted to crawl into bed with this louse? Yuck!
Aside from that vibe, there are some other good songs here, but I can't give this anything more than a 3.
Well now! I love surprises like this fun little album. "Fall in Love With Me"(and then practically every other track) gives Duran Duran vibes, while "Despair" and its sax solo reminds me of Tears For Fears' "The Working Hour" with vocals sounding very much like Martin Gore of Depeche Mode. Enjoyable and clear that although I may not have listened to "Quiet Life" when it was out, some up-and-coming new wave and alternative bands certainly did.
"Buffalo Stance" is the best song here. The rest is rather forgettable.
Interesting and does sound like something I would've listened to when it was released if I had known about it. There are a couple of songs I would return to, but this will not be making its way into my daily playlist. Just a good solid three for me.
As with so many Beatles songs, the title track is really a song within a song (within a song?). It's unique and when done well, as McCartney and band mates do here, it's very interesting and appealing. I'll be honest and saying that I've always considered myself a Beatles fan but not really a Wings fan. Wings to me just feels hokey and theatrical, but I was pleased that I listened to the whole album and can say well yes, while it is still those things, there's also some really quality music which was made. It's not a five for me, but it did earn a four.
Didn't love this one - it had some nice moments, but it just felt like they were cramming as much dark, angsty stuff as possible onto one album.
Like many other reviewers have noted, these guys are pretty much a grimier, louder version of The Stones. Reading that their gender bending outfits and makeup were not well received made me chuckle because I guess New York wasn't quite ready for that sort of thing yet, but hang on for a decade or so and the glam rockers are going to make it cool. Music wise, it was just 'meh' for me. Some easily-forgettable stuff that I would have turned the channel on the radio had I been surfing and stumbled upon it. Giving them three stars because it does sound as if they majorly influenced many others and that's certainly worth something.
Oh boy. "Imagine" is as awful as other reviewers warned. The instrumentation sounds like part-Karaoke backing track, part-1985 Casio Keyboard demo song. The vocals are doin' too much. This song cries for simplicity, and we don't see that here. Apart from that, I absolutely found some fun bops on this album! "Trigue Lycee" is poppy, bouncy, and has a great bass line alongside brass and bright Middle Eastern vibes. Enjoyable! "E'Dir E'Sseba" gives early 80s "end-of-disco" feels, and honestly, it works!
I like these guys. This is the kind of music. I usually listen to so it seems kind of unfair reading them this way, but I liked it very much. Simple as that.
I can't believe I've never heard of this band and I'm honestly shocked that Television didn't become a bigger hit - their sound was very much ahead of its time and in some ways it still sounds fresh and modern today in 2025. The title track was my clear favorite. It's got an infectious hook that repeats several times throughout the song, and I've already added it to my iTunes library. I'm looking forward to giving this entire album another good listen but even on my first quick run through, it's a solid four.
The first time I heard "Get it Together," (back in my college days), I thought it was a new song by A Tribe Called Quest - no doubt because Q-Tip is a guest artist, but because it gives more hip hop vibes than the Beastie Boys' usual rap infused with hip hop to me. No matter in the end, as it's a pretty sick song. "Sabatoge" is iconic, "Root Down" will stay looped in your head in a good way, and "Ricky's Theme" is a fun little jazzy number that might make you forget you're listening to the Beastie Boys. This is an amazing example of what happens when a musical artist infuses their style with different flavors and musical personalities. To have gone so high on the billboard charts at the time that it did against other powerhouse artists like Nirvana and Boyz II Men, who were exploding onto is also a pretty remarkable feat, since not everybody purchased rap albums, but a whole lot of people certainly did purchase this particular rap album. I love it!
Nope. Too much- a double album, weird lyrics, smacking of pretentiousness...to be fair, I did not listen to more than the first three or four songs, but that was all I needed.
I'm familiar with The Strokes, but not this entire album. Thankfully, that changes today! The title track has a cool, funky bass line which loops through the song, and the guitar solo in "The Modern Age" proves these guys are no hacks. The whole album is a treat and a really strong debut. Solid 4 stars for me.
"Any Major Dude" sounds like the poster child for 70s mellow ballads, and I'm all here for it.
I'm disappointed in this album - guess for me, Lennon's magic is at its best when among the rest of his former Beatles bandmates. "Working Class Hero" is a good & thoughtful ballad, but there wasn't a lot on this album that excited me.
Gillian Welch's voice is pretty and unique, and while there were some parts of this album, I really enjoyed, overall it was just a solid three for me. It's one I would like to go back and give a full listen to another time, however.
So these guys remind me of several things:
1. The band you would hear in college when you went to that dive bar that sold $.050 draft beer on Tuesday night.
2. The clearance albums for sale for $3.99 each in the bin at the record store featuring an assortment of bands you've never heard of and now you know why.
3. The band that somehow makes it into some kind of talent competition, but it's the first one eliminated.
I'll pass. The lead "vocals" are bad, u less you like toneless speaking to music. The music is average to below average. It doesn't work together for me.
Powerful. Sassy. Raw. Aretha Franklin remains the undisputed Queen of Soul, and an album like this proves it. "Respect" alone is a five-star track, and it really says something when the writer of a song reveals that a cover artist did a better job on it and then he did.
Not really my thing, although I do respect that they wrote some powerhouse hits that other bands covered much more successfully. Still, nothing on this album blew me away or made me say these guys deserve to be on this list.
Oof. I'm sorry ears.
Ok, so the vocals are just weird. "What Can I Do?" is perhaps the highlight of the album, as it has different lead vocals and this singer sounds a but like the dude from The Fray. But...the other songs are sung with such breathy, falsetto vibrato as to be distracting. The primary lead singer has an almost theatrical quality (for an off-off-OFF Broadway show) and honestly would not make it past the first round of auditions on American Idol.
Does it havesome beautiful piano and instrumentation? Yes, but that's not enough to salvage the album in my view. iTunes classifies it as alternative which made me excited when I saw that because generally that's a genre I prefer, but alas. "Free At Last" is just a minute of someone talking about telling Jesus they're FREE AT YAST while a Morse Code operator works diligently in the background. (I didn't listen closely enough but I'd bet dollars to doughnuts he's tapping out a frantic S-O-S signal.)
Try to avoid if possible. Don't believe me? Play "Spiraling" first and save yourself the trouble of the full listen.
I feel like the Rolling Stones fall into two categories for me – stuff of theirs I think is groundbreaking, really awesome, and showcases their talent, and other stuff that makes me think they're overhyped, just average, and not my jam. This album is the latter.
I feel like the Rolling Stones fall into two categories for me – stuff of theirs I think is groundbreaking, really awesome, and showcases their talent, and other stuff that makes me think they're overhyped, just average, and not my jam. This album is the latter.
Black Sabbath are undeniably heavy metal gods- even to someone like me who wouldn't normally listen to an album like this and who really just knows the big, famous hits. The album hooked me and it was a fun listen
. "Supernaut" has this cool little bridge that reminds me of Zeppelin's "Bron-Yr-Aur Stomp." I really like "Snowblind" - it may be my favorite track.
This was an excellent album I never knew existed! Somehow I missed this - could've been that 1991 was the yeat I graduated high school and then started college...
Look, I'm all for powerful, opinionated, musically talented women who had to be scrappy and fight their way onto the male-dominated music scene, but this... well, it ain't it for me."Birdland" is nine minutes of gorgeous piano and Patti Smith whine-talk-singing all over it. For several measures in the middle she sings the same damn note for what seems like an eternity.
"Free Money" seriously reminds me of a Tori Amos song- that may be the only redeeming quality this album has. PH WAIT - now that we've reached the middle of the song, Smith is back to the whine-talk-singing on the same note again. Nope.
I just don't get it. Vocally, she just isn't strong. Poetically more so, but not enough to save this for me.
"Kimberly " features more one-note singing. Is this Smith's schtick?
Well, even on albums like this which are not my favorite ("Across the Universe" - Yuck!), it's still David Freaking Bowie and makes others sound like amateur hour. This is most definitely not a soul album- may be "soul-ish" at best. "Fame" is the obvious stand out track for me, with "Young Americans" next. Other songs are ok - nothing to write home about, but also nothing to make me want to switch to the next song...well, apart from "Across the Universe." *shiver*
David Bowie deserved all the accolades and recognition he received. He was a master at so many musical styles, and this album is a great example.
Some very cool licks but also some very cool licks over and over and over again.
Overall fun but the lead singer's voice annoys me at times.
Some cool music and some which to me feels kind of meh. This is my third Arcade Fire album, and I'm not certain that they all warrant a spot on this list.
"She's Calling You" was my favorite track, probably because it was more alternative and less punk metal-leaning.
I have read several reviews where people said they loved the vocalist. Eh...are we listening to the same thing? Sometimes yes, his voice does sound cool and suit the song well but much of the time it's all over the place, screamy-whiny-shouty and just weird.
Ok, and the song recorded over the phone while he was in jail – cool story and all if you're into that sort of thing, but I think the overall effect sounds amateurish.
I really tried with this one, but the only impression I'm left with is that it's not for me and now I need some Tylenol.
A whole album of sitar solos just isn't for me.
"Baba O'Riley" is an intense, energetic, thrill-ride and a kick-ass way to begin an album! It still sounds fresh 50+ years later - that's impressive!
"Bargain" has moments of both hard-hitting rock and stripped-down honesty and rawness that make it a great second track.
You know what, I really enjoyed this one. I got this album on the day I had to return to my job as a high school teacher after winter break. I wasn't really feeling it, but enough of this music kicked me in the ass and was an enjoyable listen so it helped my morning run more smoothly. "Messiah Ward" got two back-to-back plays and was immediately added to one of my playlists.
Yes it's groundbreaking and yes, she was 19 and yes, there are some really good beats and hooks on here but all in all, as much as I love Queen Latifah, this is just average.
Good album? Yes, I enjoyed it. One of the top 1,001 of all time? Uh....nope.
The grown-up, more relaxed version of the Pet Shop Boys. Great album, still just as talented, but more music that you can chill out to instead of play as you host a dance party.
Great album! Of course I knew the hits, but the rest of the tracks are very strong too. Tom Petty could play the guitar, there's no denying that. "American Girl" should get you grooving - it's infectious and fun.
So I was disappointed with this one. Initially, since I received this album on a Monday morning, I thought, "Yessss! Some Parliament will kick me in the ass and get me moving with some funk!" I cued up my wireless speaker and started track one, "P-Funk (Wants to Get Finked Up)" as I hopped in the shower. Well...hf the track is just talking, and the rest is extremely repetitive and not the funky jam I was expecting. One fun lyric does stand out from track one: "Doin' it to ya' in the earhole." Also, wear your sunglasses!
On to track two, "Mothership Connection" which started strong, and seems more funky & groovy. I also learned that Warren G took a nod from this song when, in "Regulator" he sings "...will you let me ride?" The sunglasses reference is back!
Track three, "Unfunky UFO," tells you that "You've got all that is needed to save this world from a funkless hell." Well. I'm probably not up to that task, but thanks for the confidence. Great groove in this one!
Track five, "Handcuffs," is completely misogynistic - "Do I have to put the handcuffs on you mama? Do I have to keep you under lock and key?" or "Do I have to keep you barefoot and pregnant to keep you in my world?" or "I don't care 'bout looking like a chauvinistic kinda whatever..." Uh... it's not funny, it's not cute, it's inappropriate plain and simple.
Finally, we arrived at track six. "Give Up the Funk" was the classic Parliament sound. I was needing on a Monday morning to get the energy flowing. I was dancing around my bathroom and singing and honestly, this is the highlight of the album for me.
I'm actually surprised to see such a decrease in popularity in this album over time. Overall, as a concept, I think it's still really, really strong. I wish there were a way that I could read it 4.5, but I will round down to 4. The mere fact that this has been redone and covered and turned into stage shows, etc. should automatically earn it a few stars, and then when listening and picking out some of the really difficult guitar licks or hearing Keith Moon's incredible drumming, or listening into the disturbing (but super creative) lyrics that somehow all come together, it's easy to see why I rated this highly.
This just really isn't my vibe or my jam. I'm not a country fan so I went into this telling myself to listen for technical precision and great lyrics and strong music. Sure, I got a good deal of all of that but it still just doesn't trip my trigger and this is not anything that I will return to. By the way, a couple of tracks made me feel like I should be sipping a margarita and eating chips and guac at the local Mexican place so maybe that's why I felt hungry after listening?
