I have this album. Some great tracks but some haven't aged so well...
What a conundrum. If I was assessing this on how good some of the songs are I'd give it four stars. But I'm not. It's an album, which should stand as a body of work. And this is a frankenstinian body of disjointed styles and uneven tempo that I can't get into as a result. Now feeling I marked Pentangle really harshly when I at least wanted to listen to that one again.
Day 4 and finally a stone cold banger. Great contrast to the REM album. Hangs together as a piece. Genius tracks. Only one or two less than stellar tracks so marked to 4 (unless I can give a half?)
I know I'm supposed to love AF. I know they've won awards, I know they're very clever, and I know the critics love them. But. I. Just. Can't. Don't know if it's that irritating shuffle beat they love to use. Or a complete absence of emotion in the music. But there we go. Next.
Another failed attempt to like this album. Two (three if you're generous and include Sloop John B) decent tracks. The rest sounds like an Andy Williams Christmas special. Maybe that's the point. It influenced a lot of music and production at the time. But sadly we've all moved on.
It's the tracks that weren't hits that make you realise the depth of songwriting quality on this album. Apart from an excess of (obligatory in the mid 80s) Fairlight synths it's barely aged. Banger.
It's got Neil on it. Always worth at least 4*
Errr, no.
Love the energy and venomous lyrics. Still has it even after all these years. Just a lack of variety on the album (where are the ballads ;-)) stops it getting the full 5*.
Really enjoyed the mix of blues and African roots music. Shouldn't really be surprised how well that works. Cooder's guitar work is amazing.
Some great bits. Some less so. Could be a grower.
Wasn't initially going to rate this as a protest against the content. But felt I should express my disgust at the material, whatever the quality of the music. Not an ok topic for an album. And what on earth was Jane Birkin thinking when she posed for that cover? Shouldn't be gracing the list.
Listened to Enter Sandman and actually quite enjoyed it. Briefly worried I might have missed out on 30 years' enjoyment. Further listening reassured me that wasn't the case. Relieved.
Had forgotten how many great tracks there are on this album. The creativity is amazing. Would sell a kidney for the Comfortably Numb solo alone. If it didn't tail-off quite so badly it would have got 5*
Sadly doesn't live up to memories from my youth. Three good tracks, one of which was a (albeit impressively arranged) cover anyway. The rest is just a soup of 80's musical tropes. Shame.
Starts as it means to go on and doesn't relent. Even the drum solo is tolerable.
Where's this one been hiding? Not often you come across an album you've never heard of, by a band you've never heard of, and quite like it. Some great musicianship and very listenable tracks. Definitely going on the metaphorical turntable again.
I love Bob Dylan, love Neil Young, love Joni Mitchell. Non of them can be described as having conventional voices. But Billie Holliday's voice leaves me cold. Would like it to be different. It is what it is.
Difficult one this. Possibly my least favourite album by one of the bands I most enjoy and admire.But it took me 20 years to realise how good Kid A is (despite loving Amnesiac from the get go) so wouldn't rule out an upward revision when I've had more time.
Beautiful and hard hitting by turns. Proof of how much great lyrics can add to a song. There's a reason this guy won a Nobel...