The double album, while novel as a way for a two person group to work together separately, led to the overall project feeling bloated. Each song, like the double album itself, felt like it overstayed its welcome with only a few exceptions. Extended repetition in word and beat is a perfectly reasonable tool to be used by artists, but each time it was employed here was more loathsome than it was compelling. A phenomenal production value and the handful of hits save these albums from not being revisited for me. Perhaps I lack some inter-textuality or broader context for the works within their respective genres, but they just don't do it for me standing on their own.
2.5/5
Burke's warm, easy voice and straightforward style gave me chills front to back on the basis of the emotionality he baked into every verse. Tugged at the heart and plumbed the soul amply, with each song capturing the essence of a universal theme effortlessly. Without having heard this before, it felt like I was listening to the inspiration for many songs from the last 20, 30 years or more, and that realization made me enjoy this album all the more. Much like reading a foundational work in a literary genre then suddenly realizing its fingerprints were all over some of your favorite novels. Will be listening again.
4/5
Enjoyable record with bouncing instrumentation (those basslines!), solid hooks, and good wordplay that work at both a lyrical and rhythmic level. Easy to see why this album would make it onto a list like this, given the style that oozed from every track and the timeless production. The dated cultural references, lack of cultural alignment to my experience, and thus my tastes mean this doesn't quite rate highly for me. However, I wouldn't turn my nose up at listening more, and I'm glad to have been exposed to the album.
3.5/5
As pioneers of New Wave and shapers of what would become post-punk, Talking Heads were always going to be poised to play well to my tastes. Add on top of that the incorporation of a more experimental spirit and funk elements and the brew is exquisite. While I have listed to TH before, I had not made it through this entire album before this experience. I enjoyed Fear of Music from front to back, the obvious inspiration of punk groups at the time, David Byrne's vocal performance, and the diverse and varied instrumentation made it a thoughtful and engaging listen. I will be coming back, and look forward to more albums in this space to build out the picture of the evolution of the genre(s).
4.2/5
All recorded on 1950s and 1960s analog equipment, pushing the limits of an 8 track mix. Stupendous display of making the most out of little. Jack White's guitar and songwriting have always been great, and Meg's drumming may not dominate but they drive the songs so well. The whole album was consistent in quality front to back. Hard to hate anything on the record or really find a hair out of place, so to speak.
Solid 5/5.
Outside the hits, didn't grab me. Excellent production, of course. But thematically uninteresting and not very compelling for my tastes. The same tendency for over-repetition that I didn't enjoy on Speakerboxxx//The Love Below also showed itself in some songs on this album. May revisit 2-3 songs, but not much more than that.
Weak 3/5.
Phenomenal. I already knew a number of songs on the album, but listening to it front to back gave me a new appreciation for them in situ. Beautiful piece of art in songwriting and delivery. Every piece dripping with intense emotion. While the changeup in tone on Eternal Life initially caught me off guard to it's detriment, it really grew on me on re-listens. Many of these songs are going to be in consistent rotation for me, and I'd happily listen to the album again anytime.
Solid 5/5.
Concepts of the immigrant experience, nuclear proliferation, and globalist humanism wrapped in an Indian, trip hop, electronica package. Very, very, interesting. Evocative of some Massive Attack and Portishead. The sampling of Oppenheimer quoting The Bhagavad Gita helps marry the stylistic and thematic elements perfectly. The feminine vocalisation employed thoughout is compelling and at times chilling and helps set the tone for the album and songs beautifully. Then the sections in Hindi amplifying both the trance-like quality of the electronica base and rhythm of the music was excellent. Overall a fascinating approach to anti-nuclear advocacy and pacifism while emphasizing common humanity "Beyond Skin." Strong 4/5.
Earnest. Straightforward. Really, really enjoyed the album, front to back, even the multiple minutes of silence on the last track before the "secret song" at the end. Incredibly consistent in quality front to back. The dialogue with and/or reference to their contemporaries in an understated way - Beck, Oasis, Manic Street Preachers - was a great detail. As a long time fan of the British music scene, Travis weren't at any risk of landing poorly for me, but I was still pleasantly surprised with how much I enjoyed their music, esp the songwriting and soft instrumentals.
Strong 4/5.
Wow. The power and tenderness in her voice in the final track tempers the rage and drive in the rest of the album in a really beautiful way. Adds closure to the overall feeling of catharsis embodied in the record. Throughout the rest of the songs, her unique voice, intonation, and delivery cuts a really interesting picture with the music. Obviously I was aware of the bigger songs on the album before listening, hard not to be if you've listened to any radio on the last 20 years. But the less popular tracks are just as good. Fascinating music and not really something that's been replicated.
Strong 4/5.
Tom Petty rules. Incredibly consistent front to back with American Girl being a standout closing track, and a longtime favorite of mine. Not much to say beyond that. Just rock solid classic rock music. Not earth shattering, so it doesn't crack a 5, but very very good.
Shit. Like half a dozen bangers that I've had in my library for over a decade. But the album is shit. Grating vocals and writing, obnoxious cadence and performance. If it's satire, it's incredibly well done. But I get the sense that it isn't. Outside the songs I already had saved and locked in my memory, I won't be touching any part of this album again.
Weak 2/5.
First half was great, second half lulled and despite my attempts to lock in, this insisted upon becoming background music. I enjoy electronica but can't say this album rocked my world.
I mean it's The Beatles. They have a basic quality floor. But this album didn't surprise me with anything other than "huh The Beatles have a version of this?" on a couple tracks.
3/5.
Listening to this as I cruised through the Ozark mountains as the leaves began to change color for the fall was an experience. Probably skews the score but idc.
All around solid, but nothing to write home about.
Fantastic song writer, which goes without saying, and a beautiful voice to boot. Bought this album on CD to have in my physical collection.
Schizophrenic. High quality, but all over the place. Some enjoyable tracks but hard to settle into anytime resembling a groove to enjoy the album in.
Weak 3/5.
Great. Very clearly foundational to hardcore in the album and song structures and the short bursts of chaotic emotion. Some of the instrumentation and tone also establishes the documented connection with post punk. Just fascinating to listen to and really driving, gripping music. Clearly of it's time, but also so forward thinking and inventive. As someone who has also listened to Gang of Four (also on this 1001 albums list), it's clear they are of the same era, both being bands started in 1976, and both really pushing punk forward from the UK. Really cool album and a piece of music history.
Solid 4/5.
Consistently excellent, front to back. Easy to see how this is definitive in the genre. Hard to find anything out of place. Getz' saxophone parts are exquisite, and the soft vocals are such a vibe setter.
Really, really, really good alternative rock album. The bassist Kim Deal's work is groovy and appropriately bouncy throughout without being overpowering. Debaser, Here Comes Your Man, Monkey Gone to Heaven, and Hey are all classics that can make the cut on almost any rock playlist and not seem out of place. Reading around the album, noticing the description of "a loud/quiet sound," despite being a bit hamfisted, is perfectly apt. Obvious how the Pixies were and inspiration for many alt rock and grunge outfits in the 90s. Not a perfect album by any stretch but a really strong 4/5 for me.
Just listening to this in isolation, you wouldn't know it was their debut album. But for a debut album, hot damn. Maybe a 4/5 is a bit too generous if I were to split hairs and a 3/5 would be appropriate because the album is a bit rough around the edges. But I really liked it anyways so I'm giving it a solid 4/5.
Outside Money for Nothing which is an obvious classic, the first half of the album got off to a slow start. And now I'm a known long song enjoyer, but 8.5 minutes for Why Worry was a stretch with the back 4.5 minutes being just a slow jam. But the second half of the album......the second half of the album was ridiculously good. It's like they dropped the training wheels and just started having fun with it. From Ride Across the River to the end, it felt like a different album, and one I felt compelled to listen to.
Tepid 4/5, with the back half carrying.
Pat Smear on the guitar. Germs, Nirvana, Foo Fighters. Absolute legend.
Foundational hardcore album. A full length frenetic frenzy of fun.
Fucking sick. Just so, so good.
Simple as.
5/5
Solid folk. Great lilting vocals from the female vocalist. Enjoyable album but not compelling in a way that really sucked me in. Might revisit, might not.
Unremarkable 3/5.
