Cool juxtaposition of sloppy, loud, bombastic percussion against the soft and airy vocals and strings. Can definitely sense influences from this album on more modern indie rock. Wayne Coyne's pitch can be grating at times, reducing overall listenability
Great background jazz for focusing, but interesting enough to hold your attention when you do dial in. Very approachable.
Iconic 90s grunge metal, lane Staley's voice is unmatched in the genre
I've always felt as if I was supposed to like REM (and of course I know the words to their singles), but could never fully dive in. This album made me realize why - Michael a stipes vocals and lyrics are too whiney Art Student for me to really dig. It either feels like he's just complaining or trying to hard to be profound/poetic. Music is great and I want to like it, but he just irritates me a bit. All that said, still a quality piece of music and an awesome debut.
Hard to listen objectively as this is on my rotation monthly at minimum; this is your favorite album's favorite album; arrangements are superb, the reprises make it feel like a single piece of music instead of a collection of attempted singles.
Interesting enough to keep my attention, but not my bag baby.
Short, sweet, good toe tapping rocking chair type music, enjoyed it but likely only in small doses
Loved the intro rolling into the cover of only love can break your heart, as well as four or five other tracks. Definitely heard influences from traditional pop artists (esp. Madonna and the Cranberries) and New Wave artists (INXS and Tears for Fears), but I also get hear traces of artists to about to blow up with entry of sample-based House/Dance music into top 40 like Moby and Fatboy Slim. Really enjoyed the album in spite of a couple duds.
I liked this album less than I thought I would, being familiar with a handful of tracks from the band. I enjoyed the energy and the chaotic punk vibe, but not something I'll listen to frequently
Good songs, but too much of it. Woulda been a fantastic 10 track album, instead it was kind of a slog. That said, there were prob 3-4 songs that will make into my rotation., and I recognized the last song from the Harry Potter movie (which always felt really out of place in that scene).
Was already a bit familiar due to the collab album between his son and Khruangbin. I loved this record and ended up listening to another of Ali Farka Touré's records later in the day. Ry Cooder's slide guitar intertwined seamlessly, Ali's voice is rich and soulful, and the riffs get wedged in your head in the best way.
In fairness I'm a big Louie Prima guy already, but this listen reminded me why. The music makes me feel nostalgic for a time that predated me by 50 years. Every track sounds like a party, and yet the vocals, the musicianship, the difficult-to-find line between planned vs ad hoc tempo changes and call/response banter makes it understandable why Louie and Keely's versions of songs done a thousand times are seen as the standard in so many cases.
Probably much better in its time, but I found it pretty unremarkable overall, felt like music that would be playing at a JC Penney. The one Thom Yorke track was somewhat interesting, but I think just because it was a new vocal rather than actually liking the song. Feels like a 2.5.
I am a known Doors-hater, so am coming in biased. That said, I didn't enjoy listening to this album at all. The four tracks from Blue Sunday to The Spy are the low point, just boring music and less profound than he thinks lyrics. Roadhouse Blues slapped the first 500x I heard it, but I'm over it now. Peace Frog is in a similar state. Without the hype around this album and the band in general, I could have seen this getting a 3 but my stubborn ass won't give in to it.
Good, not great, album. Remember Me was a highlight, but the whole thing is nice relaxing easy listening, without the distractions of breaking new musical ground or experimenting with a new sound.
It's interesting, I feel like half (literally 5 of 10) of these songs are classics that get me pumped up and singing the lyrics, and the other half are wholly forgettable. But what's strange is that all 10 sound like pretty much the same song. So why do I love half and not care about the other half? No clue, but the good songs are fucking awesome.
Great if you're into that kinda thing, no denying they're talented vocalists. The album just felt like a lot of less good than the original covers. If you dig Rockapella, this prob your Abbey Road
Wasn't the worst but not something I'd pick up again. I guess it's indicative of the music style at the time, but I find it too generic to enjoy, sounds like music in a CVS.
Would have given it 1.5 if possible, only after learning that Captain Beefheart wrote the entire thing note for note on a piano, and then made a bunch of actual musicians (which he is not) figure out how to play this nonsense on their given instruments. The fact that it's intentional makes it an ounce better but not enough to justify two stars.
Probably super influential and important to artists that I love, but I feel like it doesn't really hold up without putting into the context of "the sixties, maaan". It is cool in that context, but music shouldn't require a backstory to be enjoyable.
Yet another ground breaking album that I've always meant to listen to, and now trust my instincts on avoiding it. It was interesting to hear how Siouxie and the Banshees evolves into this 15 years later, still don't mean I like to listen to it. Would give 2.5 if poss.
Very solid album, enjoyed the difference in flows playing off each other, the warm but crisp beats, and the cohesive feel to the record end to end. What's Golden is a total classic, thin line is a fun song, but not too many other stand outs.
I know she was huge and won grammys and all but this album sounds amateur and sloppy. Album closer was really grating in particular.
Would have been a five star album if not for the number of filler tracks. Masterclass in sampling, Prince Paul is top notch. De La has a relaxed but crisp vibe that balances your focus between the music and lyrics perfectly.
Hard to judge objectively since I know every word having heard this album constantly growing up. I'll keep it at a 4 since it's sort of the transitional album just before they started really breaking new ground. Songwriting is top notch, no duds on the album, catchy ear worms that have you humming them the rest of the day.
Incredible album, filled to the brim with anthems, fantastic production that gives every song a depth/weight that was rare for indie rock in the early oughts. My only criticism is closing the album with the track they did, I feel like it's the weakest song on the album and should have been swapped with Everything is Alright. That said, still on my top 20 all time.
Indulgent, dramatic, stank-face inducing, funky soul r&b thats unapologetically sexy as fuck. Love it, would be 5 stars if it was more accessible and easier to sell normies on.
It was an interesting listen, spotted a couple sample sources, can definitely hear how the entire EDM genre is stemming from this. All that said, it has no human quality to it, and that keeps it from being truly enjoyable. It's like a non fiction book, important and valuable but not something you pick up to enjoy casually.
Kirkland brand rock n roll, sounds like variations of the same riff over and over. If you never heard ACDC before you might like it, but it gets old kinda quick and doesn't include their best stuff.
Sympathy, Street Fighting Man, and Salt of the Earth are highlights, but even my less favorite tracks are solid. Nice cohesive album, ties all the way through end to end. I'll prob listen to couple more Stones albums today, which I think is a true test of how good an album is.
Solid album, more like a 3.5, though I'll say I could see this being a 4 or even a 5 had I discovered it when it was new. At this point it's a little dated and of a specific time, but I definitely enjoyed it. Can hear influences from Bruce, Dylan, and the Cure. Also reminds me of Future Islands, which I like as well.
Some absolute classics, like feeling alright and medicated goo, but felt like there was a fair amount of filler too, lot of very psychedelic 60s british blues, for which you kinda need to be in the right mood. Maybe 730am on the long island expressway isn't the most conducive vibe. Another 3.5, they really need half stars.
Enjoyed it more than I initially thought I would, based on the distance in the first song. If pearl jam is sativa, Pavement is indica - it's like grunge for chill chillers.
Hard to judge objectively, loved the album as a middle schooler but Linkin Park has become kind of a punchline over the years. That said, the songs are well written and catchy, the album itself feels well produced, and this was definitely new ground in 2000. I think it's an honest 3 stars.
Completely meh, very forgettable, not terrible but at least that would have made it interesting. Really a 1.5 but they get off easy.
I had heard them before and wasn't impressed, but this time around it was more enjoyable. Worked well as flight music but don't know that it would keep my attention otherwise. Prob a 2.5 but I'm feeling generous.
This is another band that is loved by people whose music taste I respect, but I just never tried them out. This album was really good, enjoyed the experimental nature of it and was surprised that it was from 2004. Will def check out more
Quintessential 90s brit alt rock/shoegaze, Damon Alban has a great voice and the music is super accessible. I feel like the US knows them as a OHW for Song 2, but they have a lot more to offer. All that said, it didn't blow me away, honest 3.
Honestly without bohemian rhapsody and you're my best friend, this is a two star album, little too indulgent. I'm in love with my car and prophets song are straight up dumb songs.
Had never heard of the band or the album, but I'm a fast fan. Great songwriting, catchy but keeps you interested. Vocals kinda remind me Glen Tillbrook from Squeeze. Excited to dive into the rest of their albums.
The Band has such a uniquely warm and nostalgic sound to them, like it makes me reminiscent of times I wasn't there for. Great album, has multiple bangers on it. King Harvest is a sneaky favorite of mine.
Was better than I expected, but an interlude nearly every other tracks is kinda dumb. Junie was a highlight, but the rest felt a little underdeveloped.