3.5 / 5 The album is super catchy and fun, but ultimately simple and without much in the way of transformation - feels like a great expression of britpop instead of a reinvention of it.
3.5 / 5 Great album for the time, some classics that I love (chauffeur, save a prayer), but as an album I don't see myself coming back to it. It was inventive and boundary pushing when it was released, but unlike other albums from the era, there's not enough here for me to come back to - it's too poppy, not complex enough for me
Having been forced to listen to "Legend" on repeat by a colleague years ago, I had thought I had lost any ability to appreciate Bob Marley. Fortunately I gave this a spin. It's not something I will likely ever go back to, but this is a wonderful album and has much more depth than any greatest hits compilation.
Five stars for the title track alone, one of my favorite songs of all time, on one of Neil Young's best albums. Love this bleak album.
Not for me, but found myself getting immersed in it at times. "U2 but folk" is a pretty apt description, and I'm not a fan of U2, but I can appreciate the talent and the fact that some people are really into this kind of thing. The most memorable thing for me about this album is the realization that Carolan's Welcome is the source of the Game of Throne's theme song.
An absolute masterpiece. I could listen to this album for days.
Somehow I missed this album growing up, I know the singles, but never listened all the way through. It’s much better than I expected. Solid production, great tracks start to finish, little to no filler. 4.5
This is a fantastic album, I bought it when it came out - really captures the indie-folk sound of the time. Music for the winter
4.5 / 5 Fantastic album. Clever and playful, oozes with talent and just outright enjoyment of what they're doing.
I see why this was a classic, but to me it’s quite boring college rock. Probably won’t listen to the album again.
Loved this. Love how weird and experimental it is. Love everything that was influenced by this sound. 4.5
This is quite possibly the most boring album I have ever listened to. I suppose it makes sense that he went into soundtrack work, the music disappears into the background and I guess it creates a mood (?) but it's not a particularly powerful one. Repetitive and dull.
Wasn’t expecting to like this so much, but it really grew on me. The story telling, the darkness, the musical-like quality of the music. It reminded me of how I felt when I first heard Leonard Cohen - intrigued, a bit confused, but ready to come back for more. I can see this one growing on me a lot.
4.5 / 5 A lot to unpack here. Very much of its time, but also (sadly) universal. Groundbreaking even if followers have eclipsed the original in terms of talent and creativity - will be revisiting this album a lot, and I expect my opinions will get even more positive.
3.5 / 5 A little too poppy for my taste, but still a solid punky-pop album that broke barriers. Like a more radio-friendly Slits. A few tracks in here I will come back to.
I've loved this album since I was a kid, and it holds up. Staley's vocals are are unlike anything before or since, and he brings a haunting presence to the entirety of this album. It's now back on my normal rotation.
Some classic tracks here, but nothing too special. Glad to have 'Heads will roll' back in my head, but overall this is way too polished, especially compared to early work. Enjoyable but a bit forgettable.
3.5/5 Not generally into the new wave bubblegum stuff, but this album grew on me - much more depth than the singles suggest.
3.5/5 Not exactly my style, but Buddy Holly was extremely gifted. The album is pretty standard blues rock, but with Holly’s range and some striking harmony, it’s a much better offering than most of the other stuff that comes out of the 50s. Solid and enjoyable album.
Grew up on this one and it still holds up, and not in a simple nostalgia way. Unique sound, consistently fun and danceable, with a dark undertone. Love it.
More layered, creative, and ambitious than I remembered. This album is fantastic above and beyond its singles (which were rightly huge hits). Will be adding this back on to the rotation.
2/5 Not a great album, waters down a lot of what is going on at the time into palatable hits, boring. At times I get glimpses of something, but it just makes me want to listen to an Asian dub foundation album. I will give this one another listen at some point, but only because it sold much better than it should, and clearly tapped into something. Will revisit once I’ve listened to some more of the contemporaries, but for now this is a no go for me.
4.5/5 Groundbreaking at the time, and still manages to sound innovative. I was never huge into beastie boys when they were putting out records, but credit where credit is due - this is a killer album.
Always been a Joy Division fan, but haven't actually given this album a full spin for a long time now. Experimental, noisy, raw, abrasive yet comforting. Right up my alley, love it.
Ok, so this surprised me. All I had ever heard of deep purple before was smoke on the water, but this album shreds. Will definitely be digging into their back catalogue.