An album with some high highs and low lows. Overall I liked what they were doing with their take on the punk sound though.
Standout tracks were Blister in the Sun and Probe My Love.
Unfortunately there were too many “lows” to go much higher than a 3.
Amazing to think about this album coming out over 50 years ago… immediately recognizable, still holds up as a great heavy metal album. Loses some points for the “jam session” quality of some of the back half of the album. Title track is the standout track for me.
An interesting collection of songs, some unmistakably the distinct garage rock / punk I knew or expected but many felt a bit more experimental (and not always successful)
Overall I enjoyed the listen but it was far from a perfect album. Standout tracks include Dead Leaves and the Dirty Ground and We’re Going to Be Friends
This album drips with 70s Motown - it’s clear why Superstition and You Are The Sunshine of My Life are the biggest hits from the album but I also really liked Big Brother.
Unfortunately the rest of the tracks were more miss than hit for me. Some good lyrics, ok Motown sound, and easy listening- but also fairly forgettable.
Really strong album with a whole lot of songs to love. Standouts for me are All I Really Want and Hand in My Pocket.
Lyrically great - themes covered might be common in love, heartbreak, family drama - but there’s a rawness in how it’s presented that is moving.
I really want to give this a 5 but basically every song that isn’t a charting single (of which there are so many!) feels like filler.
A surprising amount of range for an acoustic album. I think the album ends stronger than it begins with Open All Night and Reason To Believe as the standout tracks for me.
I enjoyed the storytelling a lot (and for most tracks more than the sound). Each song is like a snapshot of an average Joe dealing with their life and most are quite moving. I appreciate the slight hope the last track brings after an otherwise fairly dreary set of vignettes.
Overall though the sound for a lot of the tracks leaves a bit to be desired for me so I can’t go much higher than a 3.
I barely made it through this one, I think I might just not have the perspective or context to understand why this album is even in the list - it just wasn’t good for me.
Vocals are flat, arrangements are largely boring, pacing is hard to evaluate because so many of the songs feel like they drag on.
Lyrically it’s somewhat interesting but tough to follow. If I had to pick a standout track I’d say I’ll Keep it With Mine.
I really enjoyed this listen and found it hard not to be tapping me feet along to the songs. Good mix of disco funk and soulful ballads and the quintessential groove I expected throughout.
Lyrically hit or miss (some gems but a lot where the words didn’t feel meaningful and it was all about the groove) and the album ends a bit rocky but all in all it’s a great album. Standout tracks for me were Reasons and Shining Star.
Cool sound with some good tracks. I liked No Good Trying and Here I Go.
Lyrically I liked it, even if the lyrics were quite cryptic at times.
Not sure it’s an album I’d revisit but a good listen
Wow what an amazing debut. From the first track you just get such a great introduction of the Talking Heads sound.
This was my first time listening to this album cover to cover and boy does it hit on every level for me. Love the sound, in particular the prominent bass lines and unique riffs. I could see some folks not digging the vocal style and while it’s a bit unrefined it works for me.
Lyrically great with one of the best rock love songs I’ve heard in awhile in The Book I Read. Some weird topics covered like civil servants and college but still well written.
If I had one nit to pick it’s that the flow of the album sorta abruptly ends on an odd song for the last track - but I give it a pass as it’s a pretty heartwarming (if somewhat boring) track.
Standout tracks: the album. If I had to pick a few Uh-Oh Love Comes to Town, The Book I Read, and Psycho Killer.
Truly exceptional album. I loved everything about it from the nice movement between piano and guitar between songs to the poetry that is the lyrics of these songs. All of it underpinned with a beautiful voice. I’d give this 6 stars if I could.
Favorite tracks: My Old Man, Blue, A Case of You
I feel like I would have enjoyed this much better as an instrumental album.
I really liked the bass-led tracks, and some were passable even with vocals but whether by choice or just “production circumstance” it’s a hard listen with the vocal tracks.
An easy listen with some nice and moving tracks. Taylor’s voice is smooth and has a nice blend of country / folk / rock sound.
Sweet Baby James, Sunny Skies, and Country Road are the standout tracks for me.
It’s punchy, it’s clean, I like a lot of the lyrics. Sympathy for the Devil might be a top 100 song all time. Unfortunately the sound of the album is just a bit hit or miss for me overall.
I recognize that at the time it would have been a statement album but I don’t actually know that it’s my bag. Too many tracks that blended together for me.
Standouts Sympathy for the Devil and Dear Doctor.
A fine country album, but some tracks drift just a bit too twangy for my tastes. It’s just not quite where I want my country to sound.
I do dig the storytelling - Good Ol’ Boy feels like it tells an story you might even still hear today, and there’s something about a lonesome country song like My Old Friend the Blues that can’t be captured in any other genre.
I liked some of the rock elements brought in more towards the back half of the album and liked the journey through heartbreak and loneliness in the middle of the album to the more hopeful and touching back of the album.
Standout tracks are My Old Friend the Blues and Good Ol’ Boy.
I found this album to be a bit boring overall. I was excited to see something from the aughts and was intrigued by the opening of the album, but as it went on I kinda lost the ability to distinguish any one song from any other.
It wasn’t a bad album by any means, just easily turned to background for me.
Meadowlarks is the standout track for me.
Wow I don’t know what I was expecting but this exceeded it in every way.
Feels like there’s no way this could have come out in ‘68. The whole album absolutely shreds and Beck’s Bolero is one of the best rock instrumentals I’ve heard.
I was not familiar with Jeff Becks game, and I am now converted. Everything about this early hard rock album is perfect.
Standout tracks: Beck’s Bolero and Morning Dew
Prime, Dylan, and Springsteen all were played a ton in my house growing up as it’s what my dad likes, so they always have a bit of a soft spot for me.
I don’t always dig the sound on this album but you just don’t get much better storytelling than this. Incredibly moving tracks like Sam Stone and Pretty Good are the highlights for me.
I mean this is about as perfect as an album as there can be as far as I’m concerned. Raw gritty lyrics, massive scope in terms of the rock opera quality, beautiful sound throughout.
Honestly hard to pick just a few tracks as I really think this sandwich is best eaten whole. Comfortably Numb, Mother, and Another Brick in the Walk pt 2 would probably be my standouts.
Wow this album caught me off guard.
It starts out ok, but man does Buckley start showing off his enchanting voice as the album gets going. A seriously amazing vocal performance - great range and impressive control.
I’m also struck by the range of sound the album brings with tracks like Eternal Life being quite heavy.
Lyrically some very moving songs too like Grace in particular.
Standouts for me are Eternal Life, Grace, and the cover of Hallelujah.
Michael Jackson - enough said. Probably my favorite of his albums.
I have to also spend a few words talking about the music video for Thriller - I know this isn’t “1001 music videos” but man is that an iconic video. Absolutely 1 of 1.
Hard to pick out flaws in this one, it’s exceptional. Standout tracks have to be Thriller, Beat It, and Billie Jean.
This album was not for me. It sounded ok and some of the music they were able to create was definitely unique and sounded good but ultimately it just didn’t hold my attention and quickly became (pleasant) background noise.
No standout tracks for this one.
Beautiful music but not for me.
Fun album but got a little stale for me by the end. Favorite track was Deceptacon for me.
I think I still slightly prefer Discovery to Homework, but this definitely is still a banging album with a lot of tracks that make you want to move.
Standouts: Da Funk, Around The World, and Rollin’ & Scratchin’
Amazing cover to cover. Every time I listen I’m reminded just how unique and powerful these tracks are. Certainly nothing like it at the time and honestly maybe still.
Some powerful tracks lyrically like What Happened To You? Not The One, and Come Out And Play.
Not The One in particular feels timeless in its message and just as powerful today.
Stand out tracks are Come Out and Play, Bad Habit, Not The One, and Self Esteem.
