Softboi mad max concept album. Two tribes now makes more sense but is less enjoyable
Some total dross mashed discontinuously into a few singles. Buy the greatest hits if you must
Disappointingly repetitive still. Not quite Devo
Interesting but not one of the toppers, even from 2009
Bit of a 1 trick pony but at least they spotted the trick 30 years before The XX
So much possibility, so much hubris
Magical, melodic, challenging, obscurantist, cold. I like it but it's like a friend that's really interesting and you have brilliant conversations occasionally but you'd never look to them for help with anything
Virtuosic chamber folk free association on the edge of sanity
A typical artifact of a bad period in recorded music. Was everyone really so smacked up? (rounded up to a 2 because of the sound quality in the mix)
Big Bush energy! Something new every listen
Sublime. If only Dylan had been born into a Cumbrian village community and come up with this bunch
Harder and heavier than on first hearing
Original album is a 2. Deluxe tracks are a 3. A historical cultural experience at the time I'm sure, but all hype and no lasting value. Like Warhol, it is emblematic of other things that were also going on so you could happily take this out of the cannon without the progression of culture being affected. It's legacy casts a shadow on pop music where people insist on rehashing this nonsense in order to attract attention and fade away, just like VU. Being critical, It's the sound of being a vain, over educated, unskilled, privileged NY moron with too much time on your hands. Young, dumb and full of smack...
Strong concept album. A lot of fun to see live but then you think to yourself 5min later why did I just spend the last 2hrs immersed in that guy's weird fantasy. The concept is fun but too abstract to be sincere, and too on the nose to momentarily dip into abstract escapism or enjoy the songs as they are. Might be better if re-edited as an instrumental album with a few verse/choruses cut out?
Dreampop from heaven's gate. So much better than the Beatles...
Like the aimless middle 8 in a mid -80s Springsteen arena gig where the boss has gone backstage for a shit and a new pair of boxers. Minus the redeeming sax solo. The third guitarist has been allowed out front to do some of his Jeff Beck tributes...
A lost Joan Armatrading album meets Ani DiFranco? I like it. Don't love it. There are a whole bunch of Lucinda Williams albums that blow this out of the water that don't get so much attention.
There's a lot going on! Occasionally a bit too much. This must have sounded wild when it came out but now it feels like hot mess. If you take the guitar out it's the template for bland MOR. Probably sounded much, much better live and a bit looser. It's a shame Terry Kath didn't last long enough to find a band he fit with. All of Chicago's output seems very generously reviewed online
Ethereal beauty meets creative intensity. A 4.5
Heavenly highs or is it just a cup of Dexamyl tea? 2.6
Shoo wop doo wop! A lot more going on here than at face value and with the passing of time, the encoded layers are more obvious.
Dirge oozing through the rose-tinted memory of elegant light naiveté. Somehow less acceptable now that they're all older, wealthy and churning out indie shlte
Champagne and coke turned into music through a Manc filter. Sounds better every time I come back to it (like champagne and coke it's not a good idea to do on repeat, daily). Much more fun to hear on hifi not surrounded by Oasis fans 4.7
The master at work. Like all his best work, depths you can't fathom and breadth that disappears over the horizon. No need for extremes of novelty, Bob's undersell leaves you coming back for more. 4.8 only so as to leave room for some of his even more fine works.
Funky visceral liberation
Nice. A bit contrived and repressed. The music sounds super trad and so smooth the beauty becomes dull at some points but this is a country thing
Of it's time. Naff. I hadn't realised bohemian rhapsody was on this album and it sounds worse now because it's of this context. Over-written songs, dumbed down music theory and novelty guitar/studio effects are off-putting and Queen's camp music hall rock mixed with the tone of what now appears to be a sincere rendition of god save the queen. Pass the sick bag
Really saying something! 3.7
Operatic cyber extremism. Stunning. So progressive, it still sounds like it's from the future. Primordial ooze made electric 4.8
Alright. Fills in a missing link between punk and new wave. 3.4
A gaye night out in Paris. Much more coherent as an album than the singles would suggest. Surprising musical depth given the poptastic sounds
Did not love this the first time. Has not aged well. Get some credit for not being other US punk-ish bands of the same period.
Interesting. Curious. Not my favourite PJ album. A bit of the Julian Copes filtering through. Maybe not enough? Feels throughout that she could've gone weirder in every moment 3.4
Not bad but not even the best Irish diaspora traditional or revivalist music of that era. I've heard Fairytale that many times now it can do one. Some innovation bringing the tradition forwards with affection but also derivative and repetitive in parts. Their best works are overshadowed by the mythology of 'The Pogues'
So funky, so abstract. There's a lot going on here. Sometimes not enough. Sometimes it loses its way - especially in the deluxe re-release, but overall a groundbreaking banger that still sounds great 4.5
Indie electro psychedelic rock with John Bonham on drums. Still not sure about Wayne Coyne's voice. 3.6
Exciting stuff! Some of the lyrics/attitude are a bit smug but this is probably played up as part of the act. Has aged better than many other works of the period. 3.4
Really nice album if you employ some active listening. Not Elvis' best and not the best ever but very enjoyable.
O children, Lift up your voice, lift up your voice, Children, Rejoice, rejoice 4.4
Nice indie artefact. In the end a bit bland but showing the Boo Radleys were a load more than wake up Boo. 3.4
A really frustrating album. Only when you get so bored you want to turn it off do they do something interesting 3.4
Hard to 'hear in context' but still sounds like a collection of bangers. Every song has been heavily polished. It's just a great record. Almost underrated 😂
An assembly of similar-sounding, skiffle-inflected catchy singles filled with kitsch hooks. Ends up feeling a bit of a 1 trick pony and a retro rehash without the overwhelming power of Oasis or even Ocean Colour Scene. Well-made but lukewarm and a bit damp
Rich and complex. Full of possibilities and something new each listen. Some killer individual tracks surrounded by some less-inspiring, but still good variations 4.4
Dense, funky, in-your face. Continuing the Beastie's development into a musically more complex vehicle. Having said this, I found it difficult to listen to as an album through headphones as it feels like they're hammering the words direct into your skull. There's too much reverb and distortion on the samples and vocals and the beats have been compressed into brad nails. i tried it again on the hi-fi and it wasn't much better. taken a track at a time in a shuffled playlist there are some killer tracks but 1 at a time is plenty
The production is so bold, the performances strong and beautiful. Technology has come on but contemporary recordings are rarely so rich. Shows what you can do with ambition, dedication and the time, space and lack of distractions.
Technically excellent. Strong energy and emotion. What's the Latin term for funky? Anyway, some of the rhythms and melodies are so heavily played and copied, it's almost a caricature. OK, but not hugely enjoyable on this occasion
Trialing some ambitious and expert musical/studio play in a generally dull and conservative genre. Some good song concepts and lyrics but then are sometimes wasted on facile personal stories
Warm overwhelming rollers and delicate alt rock berceuses. A high point for the Pumpkins 4.4
Jive Bunny for indie pop. Cherry-picked highlights stolen from 5 years of indie and mashed into over-produced radio friendly slop. Clearly they can play their instruments but their art is forgettable marketing dross.
First time I heard this around 2005 (at 21/22) I could see the musicality, but it sounded really dated compared to the angular indie/electro coming out at the time and not as raw as Gang of Four. Listening to it again now it sounds amazing! I don't know why exactly. The obvious theory would be that they're more subtle than some of their contemporaries and this is a strength. I just wasn't ready to hear this at the time because of being 21 (too many hormones/not enough life) and, maybe having heard more music now I'm feeling references I wasn't in a position to connect before. Anyway, nice album
Beats and samples are sick. Full on NYC attitude and some catchy chorus hooks but ultimately let down by Nas the man
Listened to this 3 days ago and I'm still; angry about the time it wasted
Never listened to this album as a whole before. It's actually a really progressive post-diasporic collage. Impressive. Not sure what happened to Soul II Soul after this but something has been missing ever since (Nellee Hooper?). Certainly Jazzie B's output has never reached these heights...
Deep. At points, impenetrable and trivially obscure. Musically more complex than the sparse palette suggests. Interesting and emotionally satisfying
As a whole, even worse than Boy George's USA accent. Unforgivable drivel
Whimsical, crude, warm, dynamic, experimental, limited, beautiful - very humane. A lot like John
Not as interesting as its contemporaries and has not aged well
Some nice moments with a load of waiting around in between for something to change or happen. Really nothing special
Occasional intelligently designed sections but then let down by lyrics and generic-sounding stretches. Sometimes it's like espresso in your eye and others it's actually boring
Fine at low volume in a coffee shop but not for my cans!
Complicated and bright. Just like teenage Frank
Just the right side of schlock in this rock - earnest, grand and powerful music counterbalanced by silly, fun lyrics but with enough sincere social satire to make you suspend your gag reflex (that makes Queen unpalatable for example). Some great music that was/is underrated and much referenced throughout the 80s
Super funky tunes. Amazing band. The lyrics speak to black suffering while coding it in terms that remain universally accessible. There's hope and uplifting optimism for the modern world. Several songs talk about the pains and struggles of being a man and are more complex and poignant than many soul or funk songs of that era. I actually cried at one point
My awareness of Orbit's work came primarily from late 90s collaborations/remixes in naff mainstream pop so I haven't explored his earlier catalogue. This is much more interesting and varied.
In-A-Gadda-Da-too much psychic hammering for me thanks. There are many more enduring enjoyable examples of heavy and psychedelic from the 60's that aren't this. Iron Butterfly were neither original nor excellent - why is this on the list??
I used to think more of this album when I was less experienced and had less confidence in my own taste
It's fine in the background at Xmas at a suitably low volume .
Brilliantly inventive! All time favourite
Barf me out! Gag me with a spoon!
Derivative, sarcastic, not particularly beautiful or interesting. More preoccupied with topical generational in-jokes than wider human experience or creative integrity. Polished but shallow. Like watching 99% of SNL
Quirky, unique sound identity. Songs are better than the audibility suggests, although as with most 'alternative' music, veer too often into abstraction to share much significance. Not completely divorced from influences but definitely bringing their own take. Also a fun listen 4.4
Captures the good vibes energy of the electro canon. Now only a little cold and blue. Not as washed out and bleak as those that followed. Some of the eviscerating honesty of this music in its moment has been lost and so the songs now need to stand on their own - which they do, just less proud 3.4
Tight, deep and an impressive performance. On the other hand, it's so wrapped up in its own mythology I feel like I've been pulled off the street to hold the tissues on this guy's colonoscopy. Sorry mate, you seem really talented and energetic, and you seem to have some post traumatic developmental issues to work through but I'm just not that into you
Twee. Fine. Nice guitar work but otherwise a heavily trodden path - granted mainly by their followers
Inoffensive and charming but forgettable
Brilliant album. So often imitated and rarely matched. Many similar ideas of other post-rock/indie acts of the period but uniquely able to match innovation and novelty with a consistently pleasant and accessible listening experience
One of the best tracks ever and some good stuff 4.6
Can't find a reason to give this less than 5. I love it every time I listen to it
Hauntingly funky and swings! 4.5
Like a girl you dated after leaving home but possibly didn't even introduce to your friends. A learning experience. You thought maybe she was interesting but actually she turned out shallow with frustratingly disorganised thoughts...
Must have been mind blowing for white middle England at the time. Some nice arrangements but fundamentally this is a blues covers band and Clapton was happy to lap up the credit. Sure he may have paid some dues many years later after a few stints in rehab but he build his bank account and fan base on the backs of disenfranchised black American former slaves. Some of this is a note for note mugging. It's no Muddy Waters. It's no Freddie King. It's no John Lee Hooker. It's no Buddy Guy etc. to mention only a few big names contemporary to this album that stand out from a much deeper bench. Only possible due to technological limitations, geographical separation and privatised recording industry domains. maybe we should be grateful that exploitation is unlikely to happen on this scale again? There were perhaps worse offenders who didn't even record decent renditions 2.5
Some infrequent harmonic magic. As with most of the Eno output
Well I feel MUCH better now, thanks
(listened to the deluxe reissue) A few outstanding tunes and then a lot of forgettable Who-style tracks. When it's good it's very good though 4.4
Good, but seems less magical each year 3.5
Locked in a nihilistic battle with Coldplay and Elbow to dull us all to death
This brother is free, I'll be what I want to be...
Bright and bristling but typical of Madchester, so happy with where it's at, it doesn't feel the need to go anywhere
An artifact of its moment. You can hear its influence - or the influence of the same inspirations - throughout mid-90s alternative rock. It's not bad and what you can hear of some of the lyrics are provocative and challenging dominant narratives on some American historical subjects. Not spectacular though 3.4
Funky. Creepy. Not Stevie's finest hour
Better than the Rolling Stones? 4.4
Sometimes it can be, especially when the deluxe version goes on a disc too long...
Fair. There's a constant tension between my love for Aimee's voice and my disinterest in most of the lyrics and tunes
Impressive but not as essential as the original 2.5
Good for its moment. Always difficult to separate the man from his art with Clapton, and as I began to enjoy the British 60s rock innovation, there he'd pop up with an appropriated Albert King lick... The ego. The lack of shame. Still, this is a great album, marked down for El Crappo
Goo-d, not quite great. Rarely underrated
Lounge pop and mind junk lyrics that are the kind of internal monologue the majority of us manage not to burden everyone else with...
A bit played out at the time. Doesn't have great continuity with more recent music - not to say it won't come back round... Some of the guitar work suggests John Frusciante could do more but then this phase RHCPs seems they set the acceptable bar quite low. Flea and Chad Smith have both done more interesting things too. Anyway, I used to really like this album but it's fallen to a 3.4
Great live at the time, record hasn't aged so well as the memories
Haven't heard this for ages and it sounds great
I have different feelings about this album every time I hear it. On balance a 4
A lecture on where the cool is 3.6
Can't believe there's only 1 Armatrading album on this list when there are 3 Kanye West albums and Linkin Park and Limp Bizkit appear... Anyway, you can still enjoy what's in front of you
Banger. Better now than it was then. Almost makes Damon bearable
Yes, it does sound like Kid A b-sides, the ones too experimental to reach consensus on putting on the A album. Some experiments are interesting, some foreshadow some dead ends the band got stuck down later... 3.75
Still sounds like it's from the future
Like a fart on a windy beach. A polished fart but still a fart
Muddy never lets you down
The style is enjoying a revival but this still sounds do fresh, so juicy, so energetic. Both inspires and calms my inner human
Dull minimal dark nonsense
The gates of dawn are a shonky mess
A really excellent example of what it is. Interesting but not pleasant 3.6
Must have sounded like a great idea at the time 3.4
A good album for a road trip if you're not planning to listen too carefully 2.6
Don't tell my dad, but I could listen to any Steely Dan for weeks
Swings wildly from super cool to formulaic. Sometimes you think the whole album's the same song and then you're in the middle of a banging iconic chorus. It was certainly more exciting when you heard them very loud 7 pints down in small indie venues. It's definitely one of the better albums of the era 3.6
Amazing album. Even better if you can get the deluxe edition with the studio outtakes 4.6
Derivative pop made worse by strings
Knock-off psychedelia and artless imitations of Ivor Cutler
Hard to hate, too easy to love 4.4
Quite unusual: A score that's almost better to listen to without the film but also written specifically as a score and really adds a lot in the film, without being obtrusive. An elegant contemporary composition made largely with electronic instruments without being too techno-fetishistic. I love this album. I don't want to hear it often but sometimes there's a moment where I know I need to hear it start to finish. It hasn't got everything but it's a powerful piece of art 4.6
Not his best but it's OK and "If You Think You're Lonely Now" is a powerful banger 3.9
Funk without the intent. Electronica without the intensity. i respect it, but I don't like it 2.5
I don't get what the fuss is about? A sixth-form project Pogues tribute-act
Directly from Frank to my heart
Nicely written and recorded. Not facile pop. Borrows a load from some outstanding contemporaries without being as essential
Not as shocking as it used to be and all things gangster have lost what glamour they had. The overall impression is as narcissistic as Morrissey but with man-child thug mindedness instead of the white supremacy bollocks. Tupac is still the outstanding example of his era 2.6
Having listened to this too much at the time of its release and then not at all for a long time I found this hard to reach a conclusion on. It ranges from genius to trivial constantly and the edge and novelty was largely achieved as it was set against contemporary music. Which is fair and unfair because all music's cultural significance is to an extent set against contemporary context. However, I'm leaning more towards the perspective that this was over hyped at the time and hasn't aged well, than this is an all time act of genius. I like some of Jack White's output since this a lot and in a way that helps to make it clearer that this isn't actually that great 2.75
Charming how variable the degree to which tracks have been polished/not polished. A couple of standout tracks and then the rest is 'nice'. If it had been recorded 5-8 years later it would be unremarkable but a pioneer in 1978. This helps the loose and 'DIY vibes' feel honest and engagingly un-cynical,even if they did have access to a proper studio and knew their way around
Some beautiful noises and novelties sprinkled throughout. Fundamentally though this is still a collection of dull pop songs over unsatisfyingly complex compositions
1 classic single and a bunch of sexually frustrated nursery rhymes. I appreciate Stuart Copeland but this album feels like he's doing his summer job.
I love some of these tracks individually and have great memories of them coming onto indie radio shows, cutting through the fey, the poppy, the melancholic mix with something quirky and yet consistently distinctive. Unfortunately, listening to these tracks in sequence is underwhelming and can't muster the enthusiasm of my youth 2.75
Incredible. Deeply rooted in established forms but hugely ambitious
Sounds very conservative now but a nice listen, none the less 3.4
A grudging 3 because it's not entirely unenjoyable but the overall impression is an audio brochure for a west coast euthanasia centre
Musical punks? Polishing shite
Paeans to the chip on his shoulder. Disappointingly compelling at points 3.4
