having just listened to music from big pink, it's obvious the band's sounds have crystalized on this album. it's more refined, it's more focused on genres / genre blend. unfortunately, i just don't really care much for where they took their sound - i found music from big pink was more interesting and engaging than this. highlights - the night they drove old dixie down, look out cleveland, king harvest
second "album made as a soundtrack to a movie" in a row (vanishing point by primal scream was yesterday), and you know what? here for it. more albums like this please. more bed time stories about borderline personality disorder maiden please. highlights - something wicked this way comes, the vibes ain't nothing but the vibes, achieved in the valley of the dolls
beautiful album. treat of an album. soulful, sweeping, and cinematic - as a fan of more vintage rock and pop acts this didn't sound tired to me at all. the title track, coles corner, is the showstopper for me, reminding me of a scott walker song or maybe even a track off of the arctic monkeys' the car (was pleasantly surprised to learn that hawley, also from sheffield, has previously collaborated with them). will be adding mr. hawley into regular listening rotation. highlights - coles corner, hotel room, the ocean
don't get me wrong: this is a really good album. it's obvious there's some insane talent and production going into the tapestry of genres this album weaves together, but i, personally, like more of what came later and what was developed adjacent to twangly, jangly, americana rock. i wish there were more tracks like chest fever. highlights - the weight, chest fever, this wheel's on fire, bob dylan's artwork
having just listened to music from big pink, it's obvious the band's sounds have crystalized on this album. it's more refined, it's more focused on genres / genre blend. unfortunately, i just don't really care much for where they took their sound - i found music from big pink was more interesting and engaging than this. highlights - the night they drove old dixie down, look out cleveland, king harvest
don't really care that this was basically two albums glued together - why not take the time to meander through an album if the music is good? it's hard to decide which side is better, because i like both of them, just based on different merits. speakerboxxx is so solid, it's so good, and i think it beats out the love below as a stand alone album. the love below might be a bit more convoluted, but i was happy to tag along for a ride on big psychedelic-concept-album mountain. plus, it has hey ya!, and that's gotta count for a star or something. highlights (speakerboxxx) unhappy, the way you move, the rooster, last call (the love below) happy valentines day, she lives in my lap, hey ya!, roses
forget about the songs themselves here for a sec: tom scholz has a masters from MIT?? he worked at polaroid?? he outfitted a mad scientists lair of diy music equipment to make the perfect rock song?? he conspired with the rest of the band to hoodwink the record company and get their unadulterated demos on the album?? this became the second highest grossing debut album of all time for a north american band?? lol. lmao, even. i like the story of boston more than the album itself, and the album itself isn't half bad. having just emerged from under a rock where i've been living for the past three or so decades, i can hear why people think these songs sound overplayed. this is a ceremonious and benevolent 2. highlights - more than a feeling
really liked the production on this album. unfortunately it was a little hit or miss for me: some of the tracks were great, while others... well, they were there. beyond the catchy beats, can't say i'm a huge fan of the tasteless lyrics, which MAYBE could be excusable if you aren't really listening and just have this playing in the background, though i had to pause and double check what i'd just heard several times on my listen through. oof! 😬 highlights - murder was the case, who am i (what's my name?), pump pump
wowie zowie!! i love music. highlights - so much love, breakfast in bed, the windmills of your mind
enjoyable!! think this is a really solid album with a bunch of good songs, and i'm partial to the pairing of hole's sound to california as a theme. leaves a lot to be desired though, so: three gross melted plastic palm trees from a movie set that fell out on a truck and are now condemned on "the 5," out of five. highlights - celebrity skin, boys on the radio
i'm afraid i'm a bit toy story-pilled having first encountered randy newman through pixar, and i must admit that every song sounded like "you've got a friend in me" until i really got into the album. he's obviously a great songwriter, but the music itself sounds a little hokey, like a cowboy doll is going to crawl out from my bed at any moment. still - great album!! highlights - last night i had an amazing dream, simon smith and the amazing dancing bear, dayton ohio
lovely, absolutely lovely. i adored how this, as a live album, became something of a time capsule unto itself. everything about this: the music, sarah vaughan's voice, the atmosphere... just magical. i love music!! highlights - willow weep for me, be anything but darling be mine, honeysuckle rose, just a gigolo, how high the moon
i mean... people like the Voidz, don't they?? (it's me, i'm people) there were a handful of tracks on here that were instant saves but i can't say the whole package was solid. some great highs, some okay lows. will be giving a listen to this band's other stuff for sure though. highlights - star, if they move, kill 'em, motorhead, trainspotting, long life
second "album made as a soundtrack to a movie" in a row (vanishing point by primal scream was yesterday), and you know what? here for it. more albums like this please. more bed time stories about borderline personality disorder maiden please. highlights - something wicked this way comes, the vibes ain't nothing but the vibes, achieved in the valley of the dolls
yeah, not my thing. first album that was a one and done listen through. highlights - blue suede shoes, money honey
another "this really isn't my thing," and there were no songs i liked enough to save from this album. i could hear elements in this album that i really liked - i am a sucker for orchestral pop music. but then as soon as i thought i was enjoying myself, the tune would shift into something grating. i wanted to be wrong and end up liking this, but again: not for me!
a nice change of pace - i liked a handful of songs, but at times they just blurred into one another without much differentiation. run time was a little too long for my liking... got a little tiresome. but!! overall, these guys were fun. highlights - on a rope, used, misbeaten, come see, come saw
did i enjoy this?? maybe more than i expected i would: it surprised me how paired down this album was, seemingly in service to the focus of taylor swifts singing / songwriting. and, of taylor swifts singing / songwriting... it was alright. i found myself more interested in learning about the context behind the songs and this album, as opposed to the sound of the album itself, because again - to me - there wasn't a lot to parse through sonically /beyond/ taylor swifts singing / songwriting (like, i can't imagine i was supposed to be wowed by the tunes and instrumentation here, right?). this was the first taylor swift album i've listened to in its entirety. i don't think i'd listen to this album again, but i am going to listen to other taylor swift albums because my curiosity has been piqued. to all the gaylors out there: there's still time for travis kelce to transition. don't ever give up. highlights - no body, no crime, cowboy like me
so, to kick this review off, i was initially listening to the 2011 remastered version of this album on spotify. i got through the first two songs - okay, right, this is the smashing pumpkins - but then i get to "today." the one smashing pumpkins song i know (because i played rock band 2 as a youngin), and i'm flabbergasted. why does this sound like DOO DOO?? did i hallucinate that "today" was a good song?? corgan's vocals sounded distant, the guitars nonexistent, and the drums were WEIRD. switched to youtube music and it sounded more like how i remembered it (like, good????). i don't know what's up with the mixing, but i'm glad i switched because otherwise these tracks were seriously lacking and were not being done justice. anyway, on to why this is a 1 (jk) - i don't care for crogans vocals. like, really really don't care for them. IN SPITE OF THAT, this album rocks. hard to say yet if i like this or i REALLY like this, but this album is sitting at a 3.5 so we can round up to 4. highlights - cherub rock, today, hummer, silverfuck, sweet sweet
the main thought i had listening to this album is "oh! interesting!" one of the first rock operas? interesting! it was widely panned upon release but was later rehabilitated for it's place in music history? interesting! unfortunately, the final product is a little meh. highlights - balloon burning, death, baron saturday, old man going
i'm bewildered by the fact that power corruption and lies isn't on this list. it is, imo, the defining new order album (especially if you want to talk about music history and groundbreaking albums), though in revisiting technique i'm reminded that they just make great music anyway. and technique, front to back, is a great album. highlights - fine time, all the way, run, dream attack
upon learning this is the best-selling album of the 21st century (so far) i was incredulous, but after a front to back listen: it makes sense! the album is solid, and adele's incredible vocals are able to elevate it to something that much more. it was an enjoyable listen, though beyond a few songs (rumor has it) it didn't leave any indelible impression on me - i heard most of these songs on repeat in the mid 2010s and i'm happy to leave them there. and not that anyone asked: but i think i'll always have some difficulty approaching certain songs (ahem, someone like you) in earnest because of how much it's been meme-ified. i can't hear that song and not feel ironic. that's not adele's fault, and it's not a knock on the album, i just have internet brain worms. highlights - rumor has it, turning tables, set fire to the rain
this album sounded dirty and grimey. like i wanted to wash my hands after i listened to it. but then i listened to it again, so what does that mean?? not too big of a fan of the vocals on some of the tracks (teenage head), but pretty much everything else they were doing, otherwise, was cool. highlights - have you seen my baby?, yesterday's numbers, whiskey woman, shakin' all over
i only had vague knowledge of mr. fiasco before this listen, but i instantly recognized "kick, push" and "daydreamin'" - the rest of the album did not disappoint!! happy to be introduced to mr. fiasco as i will be checking out his other stuff. highlights - kick, push, the instrumental, daydreamin', american terrorist
i will be honest, if i can dance to an album it's gonna be a high 4 to 5. i heard so many sounds on this album that i already love from the late 80s / 90s (they got house on here?!?! yippee!!), and queen latifahs evident skill as a rapper was the icing on top. was not expecting to dig this as much as i did, but it had all the makings of a great album for this user. highlights - dance for me, wrath of my madness, evil that men do, and the REMIXES OH MY GOD!!! great stuff!!!
i was waiting for the other shoe to drop as i was listening to this: when was there going to be song that's a stinker? imo, there aren't any. what a treat to listen to a 1001 album and experience a growing sense of disbelief that EVERY song is an instant save. highlights - excursions, buggin' out, verses from the abstract, show business, vibes and stuff, check the rhime, everything is fair, jazz (we got), skypager