A nice early-morning album to wake up, grab a brush and put a little makeup

It had its highlights, but much of it felt resigned to shock rock. The missing link between Mott the Hoople and AC/DC.

One of the greatest drumming records of my lifetime

Some interesting production techniques, but felt a bit tiring by the end

Felt so massive but could’ve been twice as long…did the original LP end with that teasing intro to Mountain Jam?

It’s actually incredible how much they manage to do with such a narrow palette

Everyone wants to be Special but there can only be one Specials

Phenomenal sound. Would sit on the record shelf between TV on the Radio and Parquet Courts

Thin Lizzy strikes again. Some excellent prog elements sets them apart from being just that “bar band” sound

A great sound, but I often found myself wishing I were listening to the original versions

Impressively and surprisingly consistent. “Embryonic Journey” is one of the greatest compositions of the decade.

Absolutely beautiful and devastating. A perfect album for early mornings or late nights.

I wasn’t familiar with most of these standards, but when I was, I was amazed at how much Charles made these songs his own. An excellent themed album that manages not to feel like a gimmick.

Very cool

The guitar-playing is stellar, yet it blends so well that it isn’t a “guitar record”

I could not find a happy balance between easy-listening and sonic experimentation

The death of rock n roll?

Some great riffs, and some great tracks, but a lot to get through

A lot of energy, but that’s about it

They can make some decent music when they aren’t being complete tools

To the point

Like an ambient Tom Petty, or a smoothened out Kurt Vile, but less interesting than both

I like Eurydice’s wordplay, but otherwise had trouble getting settled into this world

Amazing how the production can be so lush, with a full band, strings, horns…without sounding ostentatious or over-the-top

Is it any wonder?

It’s hard to go wrong with productions by Pete Rock, Premier AND Q-Tip

This gets wonderfully weird but I think it’s really well sequenced and makes me want to listen to it all the way through. Some days it’s a 5, today it’s a 4.

The combination of instruments on this album feels so natural and full, but I never hear this type of arrangement. I also feel like the percussion was punching up a lot of these tracks but wasn’t getting a lot of credit considering the drummer isn’t one of the listed “artists.”

Partial credit for the creative arrangements…extra credit for Sugarcane Harris

This one was hard for me to get through. It’s interesting to me how the 90s sometimes gets talked about as a renaissance for rock, or the last time it was a relevant form. Maybe it has to do with the way bands stripped back some of the excessive and synthetic-sound studio techniques of the 80s. I love some 90s rock but albums like this feel like they didn’t have much they were trying to say.

I can tell this band worked really hard on this album…to hone in on all of the elements I dislike about 80s production and arranging and distill them into one album

Not long enough…

I love Ella, but I guess I’m learning that Gershwin is pretty hit or miss for me.

Some killer tracks, and I loved when the album went really out there, especially the intro. But did not care for Elton doing “reggae”

I honestly never get tired of hearing Q-Tip say he’s gonna clean out your ears

A nice early-morning album to wake up, grab a brush and put a little makeup

They’ve got the vision, now let’s have some fun

Yodeling, bass slaps, experimental tape effects, and 8-minute vamps? What more could you ask for?

I really wanted to enjoy it…

Very cool sound. I can hear a lot of people who followed in their footsteps…Beach House, Phoebe Bridgers, Mac Demarco…

This young Bowie guy’s showing lots of potential

Shout out to all the internet sites

Some creative production techniques and it did feel cinematic as he intended, but I think a lot of the appeal is shock factor and not something I’ll probably return to (apart from the great Labbi Siffre sample on “My Name Is”)

This gets wonderfully weird but I think it’s really well sequenced and makes me want to listen to it all the way through. Some days it’s a 5, today it’s a 4.

Some good tunes on this, but mostly forgettable

I haven’t delved deep into any of these performers’ catalogs, but I was completely struck down by these performances. The production is sparse, allowing their voices to stand out, on tracks that sound so timeless that they could just as likely be heard on 78 shellac discs or a cut on Zeppelin IV

I can’t believe I forgot about Part VIII

This mostly seems to rely on the strength of its singles. Unfortunately, the version I had access to uses the singles mixes, so I don’t know quite what the original LP sounded like.

I sometimes feel like the Beatles are too well documented, in a way that makes them seem flatter, less human and more spectacle. But there is something beautiful about being able to follow the musical journey of someone from the age of 15 who then goes on to make music like *this*.

I didn’t really know what to expect but I enjoyed most of it, even if I found some of the lyrics a bit corny. I’ll probably return to this album at some point to see if it grows on me. I miss the days of truly hidden tracks.

Such a stunning debut…it has so much personality and its own distinct sound. Not my favorite Tribe album but this was a pivotal one in my education. The samples themselves are a library into entire musical worlds. “Get the force like Wan Kenobi.”

Turns out to make a great album you don’t need fancy effects, lofty conceptual work, or postmodern medleys. Just good songwriting and a lot of feel. Not to say the Band aren’t capable of heady work, as I’m sure a lot of effort went into that unpolished, off-the-cuff “feel” of the album. I still don’t know how they got that ribbiting bass sound on “Cripple Creek.”

Excellent songwriting, of course, but I also love how well she fuses the 90s rock ethos with Magical Mystery Tour circus sounds. I previously only knew one album by Mann and on this one I heard some Laura Nyro-like arrangements that honestly shouldn’t work but manage to sound great. I just wish she dug into more of that funky intro on “Could’ve Been Anyone.”

A lot of great beats and some incredible cuts. It’s a sound which is so tied to its era, that nowadays it feels more like a novelty listen than something on regular rotation. It’s between 3 and 4 stars for me.

Debbie Harry is obviously a star but this isn’t the most memorable record.

Definitely dropped me into an early 2000s time warp. I would’ve probably be really into them if I knew them at the time. But, as it is, I’m enjoying it more as a novelty than anything else.

Nothing is made in a vacuum, but there sound is so instantly identifiable and seems to have been developed so completely by their second album. This is definitely a record where I’m not even marking the passage of tracks, it just exists as one work for me.

Sounds of Television and Talking Heads, a strong example of early 2000s rock. Although “Take Me Out” will always be on a level of its own, this album was much more interesting than I knew.

I am usually tired of hearing The Beach Boys, since I find a lot of their musical tastes off-putting, but this had some really wonderful tracks. Was also surprised by the burgers skit, felt very modern, except for the fact they made it the finale!

I’m not sure what to make of this. At first it sounded like Gainsbourg-esque spoken word riffing on the subconscious over nice musical textures. Then it took a left turn. And another left turn. And another. This is maybe the most postmodern album I’ve come across. For something so extreme, it seems only fitting to give it a mundane rating. Glad I came here, don’t think I’ll return.

Definitely not my favorite work by MJ or Quincy, but there’s a lot of powerful vocal performances and a strong hit/filler ratio. “Man In the Mirror” might be my favorite 80s track by MJ.

Some of Jay Z’s lyrics are crude, some tracks feel like marketing material for his other businesses, and some contain gems: “You’re a candle in the sun, that shit don’t even out” While Jay’s contributions are mixed, Kanye’s productions, without fail, are exceptional. I would give them six stars if I could. But it’s not a Kanye album.

(Duplicate) I wasn’t familiar with most of these standards, but when I was, I was amazed at how much Charles made these songs his own. An excellent themed album that manages not to feel like a gimmick.

I don’t think I really “get” R.E.M. An extra star for “Ignoreland”.

Serious Beck makes serious music

Pretty good range on here, given that I’m not really familiar with early 00s electronica and I started to get away from feeling that “every song sounds the same.” Not sure that I will listen again, but it certainly felt like an inspired work.