Fire!!
The platonic ideal of folk rock. Timeless sound. Vocals sound like Joni Mitchell at times and with a gorgeous gospel fullness. Incredible instrumental arrangements of traditional folk songs that incorporate psychedelia and the rock conventions of the time. 1969 what a time to be alive!
Reminds me a lot of Let England Shake in its concept
I love a good concept album but sometimes the concept hits harder than the execution. Great songwriting and themes but the musical style was just not working for me except for on a few songs like Wicked Annabella. Found the circus-y Sgt. Pepper-y sound pretty samey
I was younger when Arcade Fire hit the scene so this album is not super nostalgic to me like it is for so many people. This is the first of Arcade Fire album I’ve ever played all the way through. It grew on me more in the final third, but Sprawl II was the only song that really struck me. I like the baroque influence and see how they were influential themselves to bands that came more around my childhood. But like, that includes Imagine Dragons lol. The Suburbs evokes dread, darkness, and nostalgia but without the synthy brightness of Sprawl II carried through the whole album it feels compressed and kinda unoriginal to me. Just not my thing. Sprawl II earns the entire second star
The hits are hits for a reason. The rest are, well, Liberian Girl
Man in the Mirror is better than I remember, and Smooth Criminal and Dirty Diana are standouts for me. It’s not a no-skips record but I’m here for the drama of it all
Flawless album. Starts at 100 and stays there. Debbie Harry is one of the best to ever do it!!
Such pure expressions of every kind of love! This album reminds me of driving into Yosemite with my best friends. Beautiful songwriting, and the cover of Will You Love Me Tomorrow was a surprise standout
Shocked by the STRONG gospel influence. Old Times Good Times and Go Back Home were the highlight. Liked the closer. Lots of boring stretches
Blue might be the most personally meaningful album of my life. The first time I listened all the way through I was in a similar place as Joni Mitchell was when she wrote it. Her music was off Spotify so I listened on vinyl. Carey made me feel so hopeful that new love was possible at that time. Through the years and countless listens different songs have become my favorites and then old favorites. Her songwriting is insane and her compositions are unlike any else. Truly one of the best albums of all time. Blue is a masterpiece!
So moody. Sooooo 80s. Liked the cover of All Tomorrow’s Parties. Can’t deny the impact but I think I’m more about the later bands that took inspiration!
These guys played at Barrington Hall. Another Bay Area W
Never got into the Dead Kennedys before but this album got me recharged on punk all day! Some iconic songs on here and iconic song titles
Atmospheric, industrial, gothic! It took a few songs for me to get into it but everything after Heroes was captivating. This album gave me a lot to “chew on” which I really enjoy. As Tristan would say, “it’s a sipper!”
Just sick as hell start to finish. This record was oozing 90s cool before the 90s even began
I can’t believe this came out in the 70s. It sounds timeless, simultaneously like so much that came before and so much that came after. I hear the 50s influence that contemporaries like Blondie also took after. I hear pop punk, I hear Weezer, I hear new wave, it’s crazy! The lyrics are sneering, playful, and inventive. Overall this sound isn’t really my thing, consistent with how I’ve felt about the snippets of Elvis Costello I’ve heard in the past. But I can appreciate what it accomplished!
Maybe Adams has been rightfully buried from relevance due to his nasty actions because I hadn’t heard of him before today. But unfortunately I did like this album. Though sometimes sickly sweet it was moving. The music is lush and full and Adams’ voice is beautiful. Obviously there’s a strong Dylan influence in here, which sometimes veers a little too close to imitation, especially in his vocal inflections. I also hear Jeff Buckley in some tracks. And it’s always fun when you hear a record and think oh this is where THAT came from: Amy could have been pulled straight from Harry Styles’ first solo album.
It’s a good album. A shame when someone is more committed to hurting others than they are to their art!
Long overdue listen on this album, which has so many songs I already love. For a long time I thought this was a 90s record because it it’s so fuzzy and slinky. I wouldn’t say it’s super “glam” more like “glitzy.” I’m into it.
Didn’t expect to love this so much. Had no idea Prine wrote Angel From Montgomery. Poetic, powerful anti-war songwriting and moving storytelling, just as country should be! My favorite thing about this album is how effortlessly Prine glides between themes and tones. His delivery is always relaxed and it’s unmistakable in each track that’s he’s got a love for the music
While listening to this today (a hot early September day) it started pouring rain out of nowhere. That’s kind of how this album feels: unsettling, tense, and nostalgic like deja vu. Everything is in its precise place to evoke a mood of not-quite-right. Ahead of it’s time by about 8 years, but not something I’d just put on to listen to. Sounds like a more concentrated brew of Stratosphere, OK Computer, or Lift Your Skinny Fists, which I think balance that spooky sound a bit better than the crunchy punk spots do on this record. It’s interesting stuff!
This album is a kaleidoscope of so many different genres! Prince performs these songs like a cat in heat but I’m not mad about it.
Some of the tracks were too long in my opinion. Still one of Prince’s best! I can’t believe he never collaborated with Chris Frantz and Tina Weymouth. Love the 80s futurism.
Beck is one of those artists whose legacy is everywhere but not by name. Very cool collage sound and totally a progenitor of the indie rock I grew up with. This rocked!
This is what I mean when I say I wanna listen to some 60s music. Perfectly weird.
Everything works so well together here! Some of the best from the Kinks I’ve heard!
Springsteen has such a distinct masculinity while still being sincere and poetic, similar to the great country artists I love. His sound is not that interesting to me, and I wasn’t compelled to pay super close attention to this album.
Irreverent and fun! I pray that artists like Doechii will successfully bring back this dark humored 90s sound. It’s refreshing how much fun everyone is having with every track, and the music is good!
Listened on the subway in Manhattan. There are multiple masterpieces on this album. Maybe it’s corny but I will never not be moved by Blowin’ in the Wind. Masters of War is another 10/10, as is Don’t Think Twice. I could keep going and going
Everything I love about 90s alt dialed up to 100. One of my favorites of all time. Polly Jean the woman you are!
Incredibly beautiful songs here. Drake’s guitar does so much, creates so much depth even while the compositions and honestly songwriting are so sparse. This album is a lullaby, peaceful and often haunting.
I liked this more than I thought it would! Sparkly and nostalgic
Listening feels like looking up the side of a towering skyscraper. Supreme indeed!
Like it but didn’t love it
Total edgelord music. One or two songs I liked but almost every track is too long.
I’m torn between a 3 and 4 tbh. There are some forgettable songs on here and some that don’t work for me. But I mean, Since I’ve Been Loving You and Tangerine might push it over. I really think Zeppelin is at their best on those softer tracks
At first I really didn’t like it, and I’m not sure if it grew on me or if the sound and organization of the songs actually grew sharper in the second half, but I started to enjoy myself beginning at Stoned is the Way of the Walk and on. I probably wouldn’t put this on just to listen to, but it’s an interesting look into a genre/time period I don’t know much about
Definitely one to listen to with the wired earbuds. Another atmospheric and ambient sound from the Berlin trilogy. I was into the beeps and boops, not as into the chanting and low humming like I was on trial before the ancient alien council. The songs that do have lyrics are pretty sparse and I like it that way. Sound and Vision is obviously the commercial hit here and is hands down one of my favorites of all time.
Reminds me of the MO. Especially All Blues. Love it.
I really struggled through this one. Elias said that maybe I can't really get into rhythmic music as often and I think he's right. But also, what in the world is that grating effect they put over Common's voice in 50% of the songs on here? Surely this album did not need to be so long, either. I will say I found myself nodding along at some points, so I'll throw in a star for that. But mostly I felt like nodding off.
I didn’t love every song but there are some certified bangers on this one! Fast paced and so stupid you sometimes don’t want to admit it’s also kind of genius.
The storytelling and Simone’s voice are just stunning. Her vocals are so powerful yet seem effortless and almost casual. The songs are so simple in scope but every word pulls a lot of weight. Such an intentional album, I love it.
I started out really disliking the first 3 songs. Then this album slowly won me over in a big way. It feels strange to listen to on headphones or just in the car and not in a club or house show. Always be There, Bingo Bango, and Stop 4 Love were the highlights and really showed me the depth of this record, how broad it could span, and how much emotion could be packed into these tracks!
Listening to this album was a rollercoaster for me. We started out strong with Seven Nation Army. A classic. The next three or so songs I was ready to decide I wasn’t really into it though. It felt like they were trying to keep speed with the first track but weren’t as striking and so all melded together. Around the halfway point, You’ve Got Her In Your Pocket recaptured my attention, got me thinking about The Velvet Underground. And then the rest of the album consistently surprised and wowed me with every song. Twists and turns everywhere. Just incredible!
Talking Heads’ polyrhythm era. Once In a Lifetime is one of their many masterpieces. This is an amazing album but not my favorite of theirs! It’s like listening to the sound of unraveling (in a good way)
There’s something so unique and almost flamboyant about the sound of heavy metal to me. The vocals are often really impressive, expressive, and melodically beautiful, as they are in this album. It’s such an exaggerated form of expression, and Iron Maiden really takes that exaggeration to an almost cartoonish level. It’s kind of a juvenile idea of “evil,” and hardcore, simple lyrics and references to the devil and such. I almost wish it were a bit goofier to really sell it. I generally don’t love the metallic, grinding sound of the electric guitars as much as I like the brooding sound of the early Sabbath album I listened to recently. But the slow/fast compositions are fun and the timing and high level of control are very impressive. This isn’t gonna be for me but I get it.
The best thing my ex ever did was introduce me to Marquee Moon. Hard to even capture the influence because this album’s sound just feels so ubiquitous in indie rock. An instant 5.
Why did I ever stop listening to salsa?? This album is so good, you can’t help but move and dance listening to Tito Puente. Reminds me of Grace teaching me to dance salsa the summer before senior year. I’m no good at it, but I did have a cute lead :)
Wow! A hidden gem. The melodies are transcendental. I knew the first track but the entire record is one I will surely return to. Reminds me a lot of some of my favorite 70s albums from Lebanon and Iran!
Actually made me get why people fw Geordie Greep. There’s a few really great songs on here. Sometimes got a bit too showtunes-y, but it was unique I’ll give him that. Feels old and new at the same time. I hear a bit of Walker in the Magnetic Fields
Franklin has the smoothest voice and her lyrical work is so good here! She flows between playful and serious so well. Not even my favorite Aretha Franklin album but so good!
Wait... I really liked this. Iggy is one of those names I've always heard but never really checked out. My favorite parts of this album remind me of my favorite parts from Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders From Mars. Gimme Danger also really captivated me and stuck out as a clear contemporary influence on Patti Smith. The growly vocal thing he does in songs like Your Pretty Face is Going to Hell is interesting I guess but I don't really like how it sounds. Another favorite was I Need Somebody
Apparently, I like honky tonk! This album was really fun, I expected it to be more fast-paced or noisy for some reason, but it was simply composed and reminded me of my favorite folk artists with dancable, almost groovy basslines and beats. A+ production and Jennings' voice is beautiful and rich!
Lush, gloomy, and intricate. There’s such a strong sense of mood here. Nice to get to know The Cure beyond their hits, to revisit some old favorites and find some new ones.
My favorites were Lullaby and Fascination Street. Plainsong is also an incredible opener here.
Boringggg!! I just don’t like this 80s rock. Legs was good, but every song sounds the same!
When I was in college I worked at a restaurant with an attached book and music store. We were only allowed to play jazz, classical, and Latin music. Apparently this was one of the CDs we had on deck, because every song on this album, in order, made me feel like I was back behind the bar there. There are other albums from that job that I've listened to outside of the restaurant, and they remind me of that time, but I have other memories built around them. This one was like listening to a distilled memory of that time and I loved it.
One last thing, and I say this about a lot of stuff, but this sounds like the fishing game music from Club Penguin (complimentary).
Feels weird to call a psychedelic album “no frills” but that’s how I feel about Disraeli Gears. Cream has a pure, somewhat plain sound that cuts right through to the meat of 60s rock. There are some bluesey bops here and a few standouts. This is exactly the kind of thing I’d put on again when I want to listen to some groovy guitar.
Now THIS is a five star album! What’s not to love? Maggot Brain is worth the price of admission alone. Not to mention Can You Get To That. I loved You and Your Folks as well, and really every track on this. If there’s one skip it may be Back In Our Minds. This album just has that something special, and it rocks out so hard!
The amount of ADHD running through this record is astronomical. The influence on 100 Gecs cannot be overstated.
I loved the backing tracks and samples! Such a feat of creativity. The vocal delivery and flow did get old after a while, but not enough to distract me from everything there is to love here.
Early on in listening I was like, y’know this kind of sounds like Le Tigre. Then I remembered that Kathleen Hanna is married to Adam Horovitz.
Anyone who knows me knows I love this album. Buckley's voice is just insane. It gets really heavy and loud at points, a very quiet/loud 90s sound with a more delicate texture than most rock artists. The guitar is almost like a character in this universe, it has its own dialogue and agency. Buckley really makes that thing sing. I find this album soulful, desperate, and haunting, in a classically tragic sort of way. Buckley does Simone so beautifully, too.
Direct descendent of Elvis Costello and the clear evolutionary bridge beween him and 2000s pop punk.
The ska influence here feels very SoCal. This was definitely a familiar sound given I was born and raised in San Diego. It's got a little spikier, a little grungier texture than what I'd total identify as SD DNA, though. There's definitely some 50s doo-wop and surf rock in here which I like. The vocalist sounds very earnest at times in a way that comes off as a bit trying, a little forced. Did I like it? I would happily listen to some of these songs in a playlist of similar stuff. But I wouldn't seek this album out, really.
Ok so the storyline is creepy, duh. But so is the narrator's voice eughhh!
That said, there are creepy spoken-word esque songs that I do like, I'm thinking about Velvet Underground and Black Box Recorder and such. Maybe if I spoke French I would have a higher opinion of this album. Actually, the plot is pretty easy to follow since the album is so short, but I think the issue is just that. It doesn't seem that novel or interesting. Maybe there are clues to metacommentary or storytelling nuances I am missing that would make this more of a literary experience.
I do really enjoy the sort of plodding, sultry music, the bass is similar to Portishead, who I love for similar qualities.
But every time she whisper-speaks "Melody," I cringe!
I couldn’t dream of giving this less than a 5. It’s just exquisite and sounds like nothing else. Iconic and breathtaking!
Very meh to me. Neil Young can do so much better! I’ve known and liked Only Love Can Break Your Heart for a while, and that one still stood out. Besides that and the guitar on Southern Man this album was pretty forgettable.
Depends on my mood kinda thing. Today I wasn’t really feeling it and it felt like a bit of a slog at times. There were some fun moments, though! I don’t think prog is my favorite generally, it’s just hard to escape into? A little too self aware? Like they’re constantly going: look how cool this part is!!
I can almost explain why I don’t like this but it’s gonna take too much effort and I just wanna move on.
A really fun listen! The energy is high, the songs are good, this just goes hard! Rock n roll!
The production is stunning! Not all these would be included in my personal favorite set of Christmas songs, but Baby Please Come Home is one of the best of all time for sure!
This was SO GOOD! It’s like… well balanced? Scratches an itch in my brain. Dare I say it’s like the best parts of Bowie distilled and concentrated? Iggy I was not (that) familiar with your game!
Impressive at times, but drawn out.
This has been my favorite of the electronic albums so far. It’s truly cinematic, with lots of sweeping movement and soundscapes. That said, it was still a relief when it was over, not because I didn’t enjoy it but because I drove from LA to San Diego and still didn’t finish it and I can only take so much!
This album was ok bordering on good. But nothing special. I liked the more Caribbean influenced tracks and the vocals but the lyrics were pretty corny at times and the flow a bit choppy
I've definitely heard the influence of this album in present-day SoCal mosh pits. That's pretty cool! This is definitely music that would be more fun live, the main draw is how much energy and movement is in the tracks. Black Flag always reminds me of that movie 21st Century Women and the scene when the mom is with her son and Greta Gerwig's character at a punk show and she says, "They're not very good... and they know they're not very good?" This isn't really for casual listening to me, it's for emotion and thrashing around! So, quite good at what it does!
Another artist I've long wanted to get into but never made an effort. I really liked Black Sabbath! Heavy and dark, lots of bass, so much emotion in Osborne's vocals. Really captures that evil sort of sound while remaining sort of refined? The songs are not too noisy is what I mean. Sick guitar solos. I'm learning I love rock that retains its bluesy DNA.
I feel bad rating this a 2 but it just didn’t do anything for me! Shining Star was fun but the rest of the first side was just tooooo smooth, nothing interesting for me to grab onto. The second half was an improvement. It deserves its place on this list but just didn’t excite me at all.
Interesting to listen to this so soon after Black Flag. I liked it more as a listening experience but not enough to earn it an extra star. I found the music and Crash's voice interesting. Manimal was one of my favorites.
I can pretty much always do with less women/children screaming and crying sounds in my music. Overall I liked this album, Eminem has so much fun with the wordplay and is crazy talented with a great ear and intuition for flow. The production is great besides the unfortunate choice for all the crying sounds my god. I like the skits, and I usually don’t like skits.
The content isn’t so much “offensive” as it just starts to feel boring after a while, like I’m rolling my eyes a few songs in. I like the comparison to a horror movie, but the best horror movies make use of pacing and variety so that the shocks remain shocking. The bizarre- and ridiculous-ness of the concept make it mostly work for me. Definitely earns its place on the list!
I really dug the two-track run of Machete and 7 and a I liked few songs at the beginning okay, but the rest was a bit boring. Sort of simple.
This dude’s bass sounds like when you shake a piece of laminated paper and I love it. I actually just discovered Mayfield not that long ago but hadn’t listened to this album yet. I feel like the energy dropped as it went on, but the first half was excellent and the second was really good as well. I’m putting it at a 3 for now but want to relisten soon.
Wow! I mean, when I was growing up, like as a literal child, this album was everywhere. Adele was constantly on the radio, and as I’ve gotten older I think I kind of just lumped her in with other radio hits from my childhood. This album is much more than that, and I’m glad I gave it a through listen! I feel that she avoids cliches in her lyricism, even as some pop structure is still there. I enjoy the almost baroque piano and the clear soul and Motown influence. I can’t believe Rolling in the Deep is syncopated…
It’s hit after hit after hit! Emotional, beautiful production, and soulful voice. She seems to take after Amy Winehouse, who I do prefer—Adele plays it a little safer. This album isn’t groundbreaking but it performs very, very well in its lane.
So, so fun! This is an album of pure creativity. I like the comparison to Sgt. Pepper but for hip hop. Although I do like the darker humor, this was a nice break from the edgelord hip hop the generator has been giving me lately. Reminds me of a Julia Cameron quote, something like "serious art requires serious play." I don't want to say they "stumble" onto some great stuff here, because there's obviously a lot more intention and skill than that. But there's a creative freedom to 3 Feet High and Rising that comes, I think, from getting just as much satisfaction from the process than from the product. I'm happy to come along for the ride!
This is really unique but also familiar? I feel like I'll definitely be returning to listen to this album. I really liked it. The fiddle goes hard. Or is it a violin? Is there a difference?
From a more analytical standpoint, this album gets really close to absolute genius a few times without going all the way. I think some later 90s bands filled in the missing pieces. But that keeps it feeling weird and unexpected in a way that hit very well for me, even if not "perfect."
