Obviously Cool Water is the standout. The strawberry roan also stood out to me, partially because it’s the inspiration for Chappell Roan’s stage name. Overall, I love Marty’s careless lilt. It contributes so much to each and every story. Loved The Masters Call!! Lonesome Dove vibes. El Paso 😭
Complex orchestration and lyrical genius = Sufjan Steven’s. I loved this album, especially how he drew elements from the history of Illinois and the Bible. I would love to see the musical!! Decatur was my personal favourite.
Not my favourite David Bowie album, still a bop. It’s understandable why Fame is the most well known track on here.
My least favourite of the albums we listened to so far, mostly because I couldn’t hear the lyrics without reading them first. The percussion and guitar on scatterbrain was great! I’ll have to listen later down the road when I have more time.
Astounding. Showstopping. In my humble opinion, one of the most essential ingredients to hip hop is the theatrical aspect. I love how dirty the sound feels, like it was produced with drums in a garage in the Bronx. I love the comic book references, the Black experience, the samples. This is definitely an iconic album that launched hip hop into the stratosphere…wish it stayed at this peak.
The perfect playlist for a rainy road trip when you don't have to pay too much attention to the lyrics and can instead drift along to the orchestration. I wasn't the biggest fan of his vocals and the lyricism held nothing spectacular - it felt a little kitsch (do i dare?, but there was an ethereal quality to this album which I enjoyed. I'll give it a solid 3.
Total cash grab album. I don't understand why this specific LP of hers made the list, and I have listened to Astrud Gilberto for YEARS and consider myself a fan of the Bossa Nova sound. Too much cheese for my taste. "I Had The Craziest Dream" is my favourite on the list but even now, I'm forgetting it.
Heavy metal isn't my thing, guys :(
Super enjoyable!! I love the jazz backing the rap...theology is questionable, but I'll let it slide this once. The perfect album to have in the background while cruising the city streets. "Real People" is my favourite track on this one.
It's funny but I don't know why Hotel California is as revered as it is today. There are plenty of other songs on this album(8 to be exact) that rival it. My favourite was the last track, The Last Resort. Wasted Time also had a marvelous string section. Each song felt like a journey, which I very much appreciated.
A 90s time capsule, in a good and bad way. Didn't evoke any strong feelings in me and a feel very little connection to the country/rock crossover...All I Wanna Do is a great bop nonetheless.
I had never even heard of Gene Clark before today. Now I know why. The only song that actually caught my attention was "Tears of Rage", until I discovered that the lyrics were actually written by Bob Dylan. And that's the entire problem; this guy wants to be Bob Dylan so bad, he writes an entire album of simple melodies and supposedly complex lyrics that lead anywhere but the heart. There is no depth. There is no great metaphor. There is no originality. All we got is the country twang. 2 stars, only because Bob Dylan saw something worthwhile in this doof.
A bleak landscape, emerging from the contemporary, psychedelic punk rock scene. Love the dizzying guitar licks and Robert Smith's howl; you can feel the existential anguish. This is a hard listen, but I would say it's necessary to help build perspective on post-war, industrialist society. Really loved this...won't listen to it again for a while ;)
This is a joke, right?
I wish this music played while I'm on hold with health insurance companies.
Is it the greatest album ever? No. Is it the best Beatles album? Also no. But is it still a conceptual masterpiece of vivid imagery and experimentation? YES! Best track hands down is A Day In The Life.
They had me at the name of the band. This was such a pleasant surprise! I really enjoyed the experimental melodies and thought-provoking lyrics, especially on Wish I was Skinny and Lazarus. I'm going to have to give this another listen before I award it an immediate five stars, but this is up there with my favourites I have heard so far.
Shocked that this is a debut!
This album took me completely by surprise. I was so prepared to hate it, especially when I saw 'metal' in the description but when I actually listened, I found myself jamming out! It reminded me of - super niche theater kid reference - Holy Musical Batman funnily enough. Really enjoyed this and I could see myself unironically listening to every track many times over. My favourites are Falling to Pieces and War Pigs.
Play that funky music, white boy! Unironically one of the best albums I have listened to. The title track alone deserves all the stars.
Charming at first, but falls off when each and every song is about girls, girls, girls. I guess I should credit the album title and cover for zero nuance. There are much, much better albums that came out of this era of music.
I don't know how any person could listen to a single track without the context of the entire album. Even if it makes no sense together, it should totally be considered a film soundtrack where you have no choice but to watch the movie.
I mean, what else can I say... I was quoted in the New York Times for my thoughts of "Fast Car". How can I possibly rise to that level again? I do think Tracy Chapman is a masterpiece of an album and a person. Her lyrics are so raw but also incredibly thought-provoking and sincere. Her melodies are simple but add so much depth to her lyricism. I love this album so much!!
Don't be afraid, David Ackles! Make your broadway musical!! Maybe I am just more of a theater kid than I thought, but I really jived with this. I thought the entire concept was well executed, the songs were sometimes funny, sometimes sad, mostly relatable. Family Band made me queasy...The titular track and Ballad of The Ship of State caught my attention the most.
It starts out groovy and gets a little lost in the sauce towards the end...I enjoyed the experimentation with electronica and do think Shuggie Otis deserves way more recognition than a cover of Strawberry Letter, but I found myself wanting to listen to other music.
Just GOOD music. Love the flawless infusion of jazz, pop, and rock!! This was a great vibe that made me love music more. I need more Steely Dan in my life.
This was like listening in on a jam sesh...highly enjoyable, even if I didn't know what was going on half the time.
I've listened to this album many, many times and every time, I fall more and more in love. Paul Simon has such a gift for melody and lyricism. Graceland, Diamonds on The Soles of Her Shoes, You Can Call Me Al, all songs on a single album?! When this came out, I'm sure multiple people had a fit.
I was introduced to LCD Soundsystem through the Noah Baumbach film White Noise and ever since, they've figured into my playlists. Very unique use of sound...I love the weird, unexpected lyrics that are dancy while also furthering an existential crisis. It's also not that deep.