This album honestly makes me feel like I am in a romantic mystery film or something of the sort. I enjoy the percussion and the slow feel with the acoustic guitar. I do not speak Portuguese, so I am unsure of what the lyrics are saying, but this is a nice album to sit back to while you are relaxing or doing simple, repetitive tasks. Even typing this, it is just nice to have on in the background because it is not very distracting, although a part of this is also likely because I am not as focused on lyrics since I don't know Portuguese. I appreciate the music, but it is also not fully my taste. I can see why people would like it, and if I knew the lyrics I would also likely appreciate the songs more. I haven't listened to much Brazilian music, but this was a fair intro.
My favourite songs were
- Superbacana (Loved the upbeat energy)
- Clarice (Enjoyed the acoustic guitar and slow feel)
Surprisingly enough, I had never listened to this album, although I had wanted to get around to it. This album has very nice harmonies, instrumentation, and catchiness to the songs. A soothing album to listen to. Before listening, I had The Beach Boys pegged as solely a surf-rock band, but listening to Pet Sounds has certainly changed my mind about the different genres they can cover. Unfortunately, the songs are so short, being only around two minutes long! (With that typical fadeout of classic songs) But that didn't stop me from loving the tracks. I enjoyed the wonderful instrumental of Let's Go Away For A While. This was a great album and I understand why it is such a classic.
My favourite songs
- I'm Waiting For The Day (Those drums and bass! And the ending is great)
- Wouldn't It Be Nice (A classic I was already familiar with)
- Sloop John B (Wonderful harmonies and instrumentation)
- I Know There's An Answer (The sax!)
- Pet Sounds (Ooh, another instrumental...with a guiro!)
Another popular album I had never listened to. This album is a cool one. Interesting harmonies/vocals along with unique instrumentation using a variety of different instruments from pianos to horns. It uses jazzy instruments yet still manages to sound more like its own thing. Nice melodic songs. I liked the mixture of a big bustling feel along with a smaller folky feel- this is prominent in the switch of Come On! Feel The Illinoise to John Wayne Gacy. I think the album is too long for what it is, but I still love it...makes me want to go to Illinois. The replay value isn't great, but I'd give it a 4/5.
My favourite songs
- Come On! Feel The Illinoise (Big vibes)
- John Wayne Gacy (The lyrics and melodies)
- Jacksonville (Nice banjo and guitar)
- Chicago (This reminds me of The Sims, ngl)
- The Man of Metropolis Steals Our Heart (Rocky...electric guitar woohoo)
- They Are Night Zombies (Oohhh guitar n bass)
Before this, I had not listened to much ska music. I am not a very big fan of it. It feels a bit too repetitive for me and not interesting enough for my ears, but I think if in the right mood I could listen to it. I don't care too much for the vocals. It is not my thing, really. I enjoy the more punky tracks such as 'Do the Dog' with more involved drums and bass, but other than that, I am not very interested in this album. I would give it a 2.5-3/5. Overall, I am more a fan of ska-punk rather than just regular ska. I love the basslines and upbeat feel, but the repetitive nature drops it down a bit for me.
My favourite songs:
Do The Dog
Nite Klub
Before listening to this album, I obviously knew Seven Nation Army and a few other White Stripes songs, but only a few. Very garage rocky- I love the fuzzy electric guitar. Some tracks are quite bluesy and remind me of 70s rock like Led Zeppelin, an example of this being There's No Home For You Here. The drums are high energy and hard hitting. Some of the tracks have that quiet-loud-quiet aspect that I LOVE!!! in music. There is a big sound for just two people in the band. This album feels like a mix of alternative rock and classic rock. There are also softer tracks such as In The Cold, Cold Night and You've Got Her In Your Pocket that I also like, especially with the change of vocals to Meg. For me, definitely a very replayable album that I would give 5/5.
My favourite songs
Seven Nation Army
Black Math
Little Acorns
The Air Near My Fingers
Girl, You Have No Faith In Medicine
I Just Don't Know What To Do With Myself
Bohemian Rhapsody.
I like the riffs in this album. A nice 90s album that I think should definitely be listened to by anyone into rock music, especially 90s rock. The shorter tracks are more my type of music- I would give it a 3.5-4/5. Although longer tracks aren't usually my thing they were pretty good. Though the vocals are slightly irritating to me.
Favourite songs:
Been Caught Stealing
Then She Did
Three Days
Stop!
Another White Stripes album! The entrance with Blue Orchid really caught me in. It has an interesting texture to it that seems almost kind of futuristic and synthlike with whatever effect it has on it along with that beating heart like drumbeat staying steady throughout. Then with the track The Nurse, a surprising difference with soft mallets and piano (and crash cymbals) really shows just how diverse The White Stripes are. The speed up and build up really get you on the edge of your seat with what will happen next. It doesn't go anywhere far, unfortunately, and ends very suddenly.
Then there is My Doorbell- very Robert Plant like vocals and a groovy sounding song. With piano, shaker, and drums. Nice! I liked it. The vocals also seem distant at times- and I assume that is a stylistic choice for the more garage rock feel, although I'm unsure how to feel about it.
The album seems to become more marimba and piano centered as it goes on. This isn't neccessarily a bad thing, but more guitar would have been nice considered Jack White can come up with catchy, bluesy riffs.
A few songs seem quite filler to me, such as Little Ghost. The album also starts to become less interesting around halfway through to me, as I think the piano is overused for a duet where one of the members is a guitarist.
Overall, I enjoyed the variety of genres, especially at the start, but my interest started wearing out around the halfway point. I would have preferred more rock n roll sounding tracks like Blue Orchid over bluesy piano with crash cymbals scattered around.
The last few tracks pushed it from a 3.5 to a 4/5.
4/5
Favourite songs:
Blue Orchid
My Doorbell
The Denial Twist
As Ugly As I Seem
Jazzy folk...me like. Nice, easy listening. Van Morrison has a pretty chill voice (though hard to understand at times). I enjoy the acoustic work along with the horns and pianos. That solo in Moondance(!!!) was amazing.
Favourite songs:
Moondance
Come Running
Caravan
Brand New Day
Glad Tidings
Nice! I had only heard the entirety of Dark Side Of The Moon before this.
Favourite songs:
Lucifer Sam
