Album review 001
Highly Evolved by The Vines (2002)
Rating 2/5.
I remember being underwhelmed by this album back when it was first released, especially so with all the UK music press hype that was surrounding the band.
Still not impressed 20+ years later; a couple of the slower tracks are ok but there’s very little on this album that makes me think I’ll be listening again in the coming 20 years.
Album review 002
Dirt by Alice In Chains (1992)
Rating: 1.5/5
This is the first time I’ve listen to this album in its entirety and, knowing some of the tracks already, it didn’t bring anything I didn’t expect - essentially, a very one-dimensional set of songs with pretty much every one being an angst-ridden whinge about the singer/band slowly killing themselves with their drug addictions.
What should be a powerful and emotional album ultimately becomes everything it shouldn’t be: boring.
I doubt I’ll ever feel the need to listen to Dirt, or Alice In Chains for that matter, again.
Album review 003
Lady Soul by Aretha Franklin (1968)
Rating 4.5/5
I looked forward to re-listening to this album and was not disappointed at all - so much so that one listen turned into four in a row over the space of two very short hours.
Not just amazing vocals, with one of the all time greats at the very top of her game, but great musicianship and some fine songwriting too.
Album review 004
Catch a Fire by Bob Marley and the Wailers (1973)
Rating: 4.5/5
If you’d asked me to write a list of my favourite albums at any point in the last couple of decades, Catch a Fire would be consistently somewhere in the top 20 or 30.
Two versions of this album have been released; the original which some claim is over-produced, and the 2001 stripped-back “Jamaican Version” that doesn’t have the original mixes’ overdubs which some claim is under-produced. I love them both (but find the original a more enjoyable listen).
The Wailers are on top form and tight as they’ve ever been, bringing us songs that mean Something.
Album review 005
Three Feet High and Rising by De La Soul (1989)
Rating 3.5/5
Everyone remembers the first album I ever bought(?) and Three Feet High and Rising was mine. It’s been years since I last spun this but sat with a big smile on my face when listening to it again.
First thoughts were how refreshing it was to hear a rap album from late 80s-90’s that’s fun and isn’t “gansta”. I expect I’ll be listening to De La Soul and other artists from this period (a Tribe Called Quest, Statsasonic, Pete Rock & CL Smooth, Jungle Brothers, etc., etc….) a lot in the next few days.
Album review 006
Signing Off by UB40 (1980)
Rating 3/5
It’s the first time I’ve listened to this album and reading the tracklist beforehand, was glad to see that Signing Off was free of any of the cod reggae covers I mostly know UB40 for.
The message the album brings is unfortunately becoming relevant again as, in late 2025 when I write this, we’re seeing an increase in everything UB40 are voicing against; discrimination, division in society, and lack of opportunity.
Mostly enjoyed Signing Off and feel I owe another listen for me to fully appreciate it, although if I wasn’t making an effort to listen closely I expect it’d be the type of album that would just blend into the background.
Album review 007
The New Tango (recorded live at the Montreux Festival) by Astor Piazzolla & Gary Burton (1987)
Rating 3.5/5
So, it’s not often that I can say that I spent an hour listening to a live recording of a virtuoso bandoneonist playing nuevo tango with a renowned vibraphonist. Quite enjoyed it.
(Interestingly, a quick read of the review on AllMusic mentions how the pair only had three rehearsals together before playing this set. I didn’t expect that at all, sounds like they’ve been playing together for years and their styles/instruments/playing combine really well).
Album review 007
Fullfillingness’ First Finale by Stevie Wonder (1974)
Rating 3/5
Most reviews of this album will talk about how Stevie Wonder’s run of five albums between 1972’s Music of My Mind and 1976’s Songs in the Key of Life is one of the greatest purple patches of any artist, and Fullfillingness’… is the oft overlooked and neglected sibling to the other albums in this run.
Listening to this objectively though, I don’t find it to be a truly great album with great songs; it’s more of a ok album with some good songs, and doesn’t stand up to the quality of Stevie Wonder’s other albums of this period.
Album review 008
It Takes a Nation of Millions… by Public Enemy (1988)
Rating 3/5
I get why people love this album and can see how relevant it was back when it was first released. Almost 40 years on and Chuck D’s delivery remains as powerful as ever but It takes a Nation… is an album that just doesn’t do it for me.
Album review 010
Rage Against the Machine by Rage Against the Machine (1992)
Rating 3.5/5
The 1001 Album Generator dealt me It Takes a Nation of Millions… by Public Enemy for my 9th album and followed it up with RATM for #10, I mention this as found so much similarity between them despite the difference in style.
A call to arms for social justice over heavy riffs, Rage Against the Machine does exactly what it promises.
(Got this on cassette when I was 13 and leant it to a mate, never got it back)
Album review 011
Face To Face by The Kinks (1966)
Rating 2/5
1966 was the year we saw Pet Sounds, Revolver, and Blonde on Blonde released. I can’t help but compare Face To Face with these, which maybe a bit unfair, and feel this isn’t a truly great album.
If we were still in the 60’s (or even in the 90’s for that matter) I’d likely rate this much higher but almost 60-years on, Face To Face now sounds very much a product of its time and has little to excite or interest me.
Album review 012
Live at the Star Club, Hamburg by Jerry Lee Lewis (1964)
Rating 1/5
When the 1001 Album Generator dealt me this album, my first thoughts were about separating art from the artist. Is it ok to listen to Morrissey since he outed himself as a racist/fascist, or Phil Spector’s work despite the domestic abuse and murder conviction, or Michael Jackson after he morphed from the abused to the abuser???
With his history of domestic abuse, incest, paedophillia, racism, two dead wives and the associated murder “allegations”, etc, etc… it’s pretty clear in my conscience: No matter how good the performance might be, F*ck Jerry Lee Lewis and Live at the Hamburg. 1/5.
Album review 013
I Want To See The Bright Lights Tonight by Richard and Linda Thompson (1974)
Rating 2/5
It’s been a long time since I last listened to this album and despite regular appearances on best ever lists, I Want To See The Bright Lights Tonight has never clicked for me.
Two songs into this most recent listen I thought “yeah, this actually may be an album that I might really grow to like”. By track 11, I realised I was wrong - folk rock just isn’t a type of music I enjoy (although there are a couple of notable exceptions which we’ll get to over the next 1,000 or so reviews).
It’s a perfectly ok record, but not one I think I’ll ever appreciate.
Album review 014
Exodus by Bob Marley & The Wailer (1977)
Rating 5/5
I’ve listened to Exodus more time than I’d care to guess.
No lengthy review or detail needed beyond saying this is a 5/5 album and one of the best ever recorded.
Album review 015
Nebraska by Bruce Springsteen (1982)
Rating 4/5
I’ve never given this album much time in the past and my previous (attempted) listens didn’t give the attention that’s needed. I knew what to expect this time round, stripped back, minimal and fairly bleak songs but, sitting without distraction and giving Nebraska my full focus, I found that I really enjoyed it.
Album review 016
The Atomic Mr Basie by Count Basie & His Orchestra (1958)
Rating 3/5
I can see why some think this is a great album, and I’m sure The Atomic Mr Basie a fine example of the best big band swing music of the time.
It’s just not particularly interesting.
Album review 017
Country Life by Roxy Music (1974)
Rating 3/5
Roxy Music’s fourth album (and my fourth favourite so far) starts as strong as any album of this era with The Thrill Of It All, it’s just a shame that there’s nothing as good over the remaining nine tracks.
Not to say that this is a bad album as there are some high points, including Phil Manzanera’s guitar work, but most of Country Life is just mediocre.
Album review 018
A Love Supreme by John Coltrane (1965)
Rating 4/5
Viewed by many as one of the greatest works of music ever recorded, but I’ve never managed understand A Love Supreme.
Sure, the musicianship is exceptional and it’s unlike anything recorded up to that point (according to my limited understanding of all things Jazz), but the dissonance of Coltrane’s playing is something I struggle to appreciate.
I know I’ll listen to this many more times and gradually come to learn how and why the music and instruments work together (or against one another??) on a technical level but right now, this is an album I respect rather than love.
Album review 019
Melodrama by Lorde (2017)
Rating 1.5/5
The album title, Melodrama, is apt but the album itself sounds like it was written by a focus group with the objective: “write an album that appeals to 14-year old girls (or boys) who are feeling sorry for themselves after seeing the boy (or girl) they fancy ask another girl (or boy) out”.
One-dimensional tedium, without a single memorable song.
Album review 020
Let’s Get It On by Marvin Gaye (1973)
Rating 4/5
Marvin’s here and he’s all about the get-down, wooo-baaaaby.
He’s gonna love you… and he’s gonna make sweeet, sweeet love wit’ you, yeahhh.
It’s time to turn the lights down low, and, and, and, and… ooh-wooo-oooooh…
Album review 021
Ogdens’ Nut Gone Flake by The Small Faces (1968)
Rating 4/5
It must be at least 20 years since I last took time to listen to Ogdens’ Nut gone Flake and, sitting down to give it a whirl, I expected some dated 60’s whimsy with annoying interludes and had a 3/5 rating ready to go. Thankfully, my pre-conceptions were only half-right; certainly it’s late-60’s Brit whimsy and may be an acquired taste, but there is some really good stuff here.
Side one is a pretty straightforward set, whereas side two is built around the non-sensical story of Happiness Stan going on a quest to find out where half of the moon has disappeared to and is assisted on his journey by a hungry little fly.
With the partial exception of the first half of Rene and HappyDaysToyTown, Ogdens’ Nut Gone Flake is a delight, thoroughly enjoyed it and certainly won’t be waiting another two decades to listen again.
Album review 022
The World Is A Ghetto by War (1972)
Rating 4/5
Only 6-tracks long but those tracks all pull together so well to paint a dark and almost mournful-sounding picture. Slow, funky and soulful, The World Is A Ghetto still sounds good more than 50 years after its release.
Album review 023
Locust Abortion Technician by Butthole Surfers (1987)
Rating 4/5
I’ll admit that when the 1001AlbumGenerator dealt me Locust Abortion Technician, I thought this would be an album that I’d instantly dislike and end up giving a 1/5.
I expected a puerile, limpbizkit-like half-hour of disappointment and distaste, with crappy songs aimed at frat boys. I’m pleased to say how wrong I was, so don’t let the band’s or album’s name give you any pre-conceived ideas like I did!
Without wanting to sound too reductive, this is heavy, sludgy, proto-grunge and it’s made me want to take the day off and spend it digging into their back-catalogue.
Album review 024
Aqualung by Jethro Tull (1971)
Rating 2/5
Before listening to Aqualung, if you’d have asked me what I knew about Jethro Tull, I’d have answered that I don’t know much beyond them being named after Mr Seed Drill and their singer stands on one leg whilst playing flute.
After listening to Aqualung, if you were to ask me what I know about Jethro Tull, I would answer that they’re named after Mr Seed Drill, their singer stands on one leg whilst playing flute, and I don’t like their music.
Not a truly awful album, but not one I particularly enjoyed.
Album review 025
Thriller by Michael Jackson (1982)
Rating 1/5
Ignoring context and taking this album for the music only, Thriller is exceptional. However, and it’s a pretty big however… Michael Jackson was “allegedly” abusing young boys from the late-70’s and, at the time of this recording, there were already several reports of him having regular unsupervised “sleep-overs” with children at both his home and in hotel rooms.
As good as this album is, Michael Jackson was a predatory paedophile and I can’t separate him and his behaviour from his music.
Album review 026
The Visitors by ABBA (1981)
Rating 2.5/5
I find ABBA to be a band that are almost universally liked, but that most who like them never move beyond ABBA Gold (similar to Bob Marley with Legend, or Queen’s Greatest Hits, etc., etc.). Whilst this is in no way a criticism of others and how they “consume” music, I do feel that having The Best Of as the only go-to means, at the very least, the listener is missing out on so many excellent songs tucked away in studio albums.
I mention this especially in regards ABBA as each of their studio albums generally has some nuggets that are on par with most of what’s on their BIG compilation. Unfortunately these nuggets are few and far between on The Visitors.
Here, ABBA are sounding tired and regretful, and largely out of ideas and with Agnetha/Bjorn now divorced and Frida/Benny mid-divorce, it’s no surprise in retrospect that this was their final album (until their return 40-years later with 2021’s Voyage).
Album review 027
The Undertones by The Undertones (1979)
Rating 2.5/5
It’s too easy to compare The Undertones against releases by other punk bands of the time but in doing so it’s clear that the album isn’t anything special. It lacks the attitude of Ramones, or the anger of The Clash, or the energy of the Pistols, or the charisma of Buzzcocks, etc….
Despite a few good-ish songs, there’s very little of interest on The Undertones.
Album review 026
Very by Pet Shop Boys (1993)
Rating 3/5
Pet Shop Boys made some of the finest pop songs of the 1980’s and Very sees them evolve towards the euro-pop sound of the early-90’s whilst keeping it instantly recognisable as Pet Shop Boys.
Very is a fairly good and consistent album but doesn’t come near to matching their earlier work.
One high point of note is their cover of the Village People’s Go West, which still sounds great more than 30-years later.
Album review 027
Eliminator by ZZ Top (1983)
Rating 1.5/5
Whilst I wasn’t expecting Eliminator to be an album I’d particularly enjoy, I had no idea it would be so bad.
It’s the same song played 10 times over about how women only exist for ZZ Top to “do love to” (yes, that is a lyric), and one song about tv dinners - which is presumably a metaphor for ZZ Top doing love to women.
If Eliminator was a person, he’d be on a register, wouldn’t be allowed to see his kids, and probably not allowed within 500 metres of his ex-wives or schools.
This is music for the middle-aged lech, day drinking on his own in a Hard Rock Cafe and hitting on girls half his age. Awful paint-by-numbers MTV rock.
Album review 030
Enter The Wu-Tang (36 Chambers) by Wu-Tang Clan (1993)
Rating 2/5
It’s the early 90’s and from one of the worst areas of New York come a dozen or so teenagers who are creating something that we needed to hear. The Wu-Tang Clan pulled no punches and delivered a game-changing album for rap, with samples from obscure soul tracks and kung-fu movies and lines delivered without mercy. or something, I dunno.
Anyway, 30-odd years later a couple tracks still sound good, but there’s nothing on this album that I really want to go back and hear again.
I loved this record as a kid when it first came out, but it’s a product of its time that doesn’t say much to me today (apart from “F***” many, many times).
Album review 031
São Paulo Confessions by Suba (1999)
Rating 3/5
I’d never heard of this album or the artist before being dealt it by the 1001 generator.
I felt São Paulo Confessions deserved to be more than just background music but I really had to try to stop myself losing concentration in places.
Album review 032
Third by Portishead (2008)
Rating 3/5
I can see why some folk love this album, I can also see why some folk hate it.
Me? I’m not that bothered either way. Third is a big step forward in Portishead’s sound yet still sounds uniquely Portisheady, but taking the album as a whole, there are few standout moments that make me want to have a second listen.
Album review 033
A Christmas Gift For You From Phil Spector by Various Artists (1963) Rating 4/5
Arguably THE definitive Christmas album. Whilst Phil Spector takes the credit, for me it’s Darren Love who steals the show and gives us one of the greatest songs - and that’s not just Christmas songs - of all time with Christmas (baby please come home).
There are a few skipable songs on A Christmas Gift For You but with 5 or 6 of the best Christmas songs ever, it’s still an album I’m guaranteed to listen to at least once a year.
Merry Christmas everyone xx
Album review 034
Buena Vista Social Club by Buena Vista Social Club (1997)
Rating 4/5
There is a magic about this album in that it can evoke a different sense of place and time like few others.
Welcome to Havana, sometime around the mid-1950’s; pour yourself a drink, sit back and enjoy.
Album Review 035
Rio by Duran Duran (1982)
Rating 3.5/5
I’ve never really enjoyed 80’s new wave synth-pop, finding too much of it to be more style than content. Rio wears that style proudly and whilst it might be cliched to reduce this to superyachts, supermodels and superhuman amounts of cocaine, this cliche is based very much on Duran Duran themselves.
As an album, Rio is pretty consistent though; as well as having two of the best pop songs of the decade in Rio and Hungry Like The Wolf, there are some strong non-singles here too.
Nothing unexpected, but nothing I can’t say didn’t enjoy.
Album Review 036
Layla And Other Assorted Love Songs by Derek & The Dominos (1970)
Rating 3.5/5
I’ve never been a fan of Eric Clapton; racism aside, I’ve always found his music to be indulgent wankery and I really wasn’t expecting to be as impressed as I was with this album.
I’d normally avoid anything labelled “blues rock” but there’s some really good stuff on Layla - both musicianship and the songs. Can I just give the credit to the band members not named Eric though? (see earlier point about Clapton being a racist ****).
Album Review 037
The Seldom Seen Kid by Elbow (2008)
Rating 3/5
The Seldom Seen Kid: Not a great album, not a poor album. One that didn’t move me or make we want to stop listening.
Worth more than a 2/5 rating, not deserving of a 4/5.
Doubt I’ll ever think “What I really want to hear today is some Elbow”.
Album Review 038
Teenager Of The Year by Frank Black (1994)
Rating 3/5
I hadn’t listened to TOTY for at least two or three years before the 1001 generator dealt me it for album #038. Immediate memories were that it had a couple of standout tracks, wasn’t as good as his first solo album or anything the Pixies had released up to that point, and that could be 20mins shorter and no less good.
And after listening again???
Few artists write songs like Frank Black and there’s not a bad one across the 63 minutes of TOTY. Yeah, it’s not as good as early Pixies but it is different enough to have its own character.
Album Review 039
Tea For The Tillerman by Cat Stevens (1970)
Rating 4/5
Well this was a pleasant surprise.
Tea For The Tillerman isn’t an album I’d ever heard in full and whilst I expected it to be a good album, I didn’t think I’d actually like it.
The songwriting and music is consistently strong, and there’s not a bad track on the album. It’s nice to be proven wrong once in a while.
Album Review 040
Urban Hymns by The Verve (1997)
Rating 3.5/5
The Verve’s debut album, A Storm In Heaven, is a contender for a place in my top 20 albums of all time. Their third album, Urban Hymns, never really reaches the brilliance of A Storm In Heaven but it is still a strong album.
Urban Hymns has the feel of break-up and regret to it, which is obvious in hindsight largely due to the conflict between Richard Ashcroft (Vocalist) and Nick McCabe (Guitarist), and Ashcroft’s indulgent use of drugs.
I hadn’t listened to Urban Hymns or felt the urge to listen to it for at least 20 years as I never thought it was that good an album but enjoyed it more than I thought I would this time around.
Album Review 041
Violent Femmes by Violent Femmes (1983)
Rating 4/5
How had I never heard this album? Yeah, sure everybody knows Blister In the Sun, and maybe I thought it was a bit of a novelty one-off and didn’t think they were a band who had much else to offer so didn’t have the inspiration to dig further into their work??
I was wrong, Violent Femmes by Violent Femmes is an excellent record; it’s stripped-down low-fi alt-rock without any pretence (if that’s the right word??) and reminded me of early Modern Lovers - which certainly isn’t a bad thing.
Album Review 042
The Score by Fugees (1996)
Rating 1.5/5
In a list of 1001+ albums, I can’t imagine there’ll be many that I like as little as The Score.
There’s few good samples used and Lauryn Hill has a good singing voice when she uses it but it’s track after track of uninspired beats and the same message in the raps, and two stale covers - one so bad that I’m knocking a half a point off. The Score is 1.5/5.
Album Review 043
Beyond Skin by Nitin Sawhney (1999)
Rating 4/5
In the late 90’s, it seemed that every other complication album released in the UK was of “Ibiza Chill” and on face value Beyond Skin sounds like typical, generic music that you’d hear on one of these records. However, listen a little more closely and you’ll hear something with a lot more depth and complexity.
On Beyond Skin, Sawhney fuses something I’ll lazily call down-tempo electronic chill-out with elements of classical, jazz, drum & bass, and Indian influences to create something special.
Beyond Skin speaks of the need for global peace and racial inclusivity and is one of the best “new-to-me” albums I’ve heard in a long time.
Album Review 044
War by U2 (1983)
Rating 3/5
I’ve never been a fan of U2 and despite War being recognised as one of their best albums, it hasn’t done anything to change my opinion.
There are a couple of very good tracks on the album (notably New Year’s Day), but I found that most fell into the area of not great, not awful.
Saying that, I listened to this while running on a cold, wet, windy and generally miserable winter afternoon and it suited the conditions perfectly.
Album Review 045
Ten by Pearl Jam (1991)
Rating 3.5/5
There were very few bands from the grunge scene that I truly liked and Pearl Jam were never one of them, mostly due to Eddy Vedder’s vocals. But…. this is the first time I’ve listened to one of their albums in full and I enjoyed it far more than I thought I would.
Ten is a consistently strong album that has more to offer than just the well-known tracks (Jeremy, Even Flow, Alive), and sounds far more developed and confident than it should considering it’s the band’s debut.
Whilst it doesn’t change the fact that I’ll never likely be a fan of Pearl Jam, after listening to Ten they’re certainly a band I can respect.
Oh, and after 35 years of uncertainty, I now know that Jeremy spoke in class today which, when you think about it, does make a bit more sense than Jeremy’s pogrnnnn glaaa-aa-yay-yay.
Album Review 046
Here Are The Sonics by The Sonics (1965)
Rating 2/5
Here Are The Sonics is an album that’s not shy in showing it’s influences; it’s 12 tracks of Little Richard riffs (and covers) played on overdriven amps, with Little Richard-type howls every 15-seconds or so.
The Sonics and this, their debut album, are clearly an important stop-off point in the evolution of Rock’n’Roll and many bands who followed owe them dues (Stooges, MC5, etc.), but Here Are The Sonics isn’t as good as what came before or what followed, and Gerry Roslie’s WHAAAA-OOOOOOHH’s before every verse/chorus/guitar solo get tiresome quickly.
Album Review 047
Safe As Milk by Captain Beefheart And His Magic Band (1967)
Rating 4.5/5
Safe As Milk is Captain Beefheart’s debut and, whilst being fairly unconventional in rhythms, instrumentation and lyrics/vocals, it is his most accessible album.
It’s also one of the best Psych/Garage albums ever recorded is a must-have for any fan of the genre.
Album Review 048
Rumours by Fleetwood Mac (1977)
Rating 5/5
AKA: Cocaine and Adultery - The Musical.
Few bands would be able to survive the blizzard of drugs and the intra-band affairs that was Fleetwood Mac between 1976-77, let alone use it as the environment and inspiration to create one of the best albums ever made.
There’s very little to say about Rumours that hasn’t already been said. Every song is at least very good, most are great and the run of tracks 5-8 (Go your own way - Songbird - The chain - You make loving fun) is exceptional.
Album Review 049
…And Justice For All by Metallica (1988)
Rating 3/5
…And Justice For All was a tough listen. I see why Metallica are recognised as one of the greats of the genre; their playing is fast, complex and tight but I simply not a fan of their music or thrash/metal in general.
The highlights of the album are the couple of down-tempo shifts but ultimately, it’s 65-minutes of angry and that’s a bit too one-dimensional for me.
Album Review 050
Live! by Fela Kuti (1970)
Rating 3/5
I’ve never been a fan of live albums; out of the 3,000+ albums I’ve ever bought, I’d say that less than 10 are live recordings. It’s not that I don’t love live music, I just find that one listen of a live album is often enough. So, Live! By Fela Kuti was always going to be a hard sell to me.
Fela is widely seen as the key figure in the Afrobeat genre and this album showcases what is great about his music, his band, and Afrobeat in general. It’s funky, jazzy, and Tony Allen’s complex and prominent rhythm section drives the whole performance - as I would have expected.
The album doesn’t disappoint and there’s a lot of energy here, but if I were to choose something for repeated listens, my preference would be to go with one of his studio albums from the mid/late-70’s*.
*(hoping either Expensive Shit or Zombie are elsewhere on the 1001 generator)
Album Review 051
Under Construction by Missy Elliott (2002) Rating 2.5/5
Let’s start with the good; the music, production and delivery from Missy and her collaborators are decent enough: 4/5.
Listening to the lyrics though, it’s apparent that Missy Elliott likes talking about Missy Elliott. Under Construction is essentially 12 tracks of Missy & Friends saying “I am/do/have [X], so you are/do/(don’t)have [Y]” in different ways. Shite: 1/5.
As my adventures with the 1001 Album Generator continue the more I realise that, with the rare exception, it’s the rapping that stops me liking rap.
Album Review 052
Only Built 4 Cuban Linx by Raekwon (1995)
Rating 2/5
Only Built… is cited as one of the best album created by any member of the Wu-Tang Clan solo or by group as a whole. The beats, production and delivery are all consistently sharp and the mood and character of the album gives the feel of a Brooklyn version of a classic gangster movie.
At more than 70mins, this is a long album but the duration does suit the storytelling and themes.
One thing I’m not a fan of though is the whole glorification of violence and misogyny that sits at the heart of gangsta rap. The theme that runs through this album is one of making good for your family by selling drugs and killing rivals.
Musically, this is probably in the top 10 rap albums I’ve ever heard, but listening objectively I can’t get away with the drugs/murdery stuff and it’s unlikely that I’ll ever listen to Only Built… in full again.
(Incarcerated Scarfaces is an absolute banger though and it’ll be going on my monthly “best of” playlist for Jan 2026)
Album Review 053
Want One by Rufus Wainwright (2003)
Rating 4/5
If I were to review this album in one line it would be this: “Want One is an album that insists upon itself”. (Queue the Family Guy meme)
So, what do I mean by that?
Want One is pompous, grandiose, and seems full of its own self-importance, which is an approach that works for or can even define some artists (Freddie Mercury??). But, unless it’s done with enough character or authenticity, depth, grandiose pomposity would be something I’d find off-putting at best, repellent at worst.
I really didn’t think I’d like this album but there is some charm and even an occasional glimpse of brilliance here, and I’m already looking forward to listening to Want Two.
Album Review 054
The Number Of The Beast by Iron Maiden (1982)
Rating 4/5
The Number Of The Beast is one of the most influential and best-selling metals records ever recorded. Its sound is one of galloping rhythms, operatic vocals, and twin guitar harmonies, and if it had a smell it would be one of sweat, beer and unwashed denim - i.e. classic metal.
When TNOTB first came out there was a lot of furore and pearl-clutching about perceived “satanism”. I’m probably reading too much into this but if there is a narrative it is that any damnation is of our own making and only we can save ourselves/each other, and there’s nothing wrong about that.
Musically, there’s a reason this is a classic of the genre. It bridges 70’s hard rock and the thrash metal that followed and although there are a couple of skipable tracks (e.g. Invaders, Gangland) almost all of the songs hit hard without let-up.
I’m not a generally a fan of metal but after listening to TNOTB, I’m ready to tune up my air guitar then give it a second listen.
Album Review 055
Born In The USA by Bruce Springsteen (1984)
Rating 3.5/5
Apologies in advance but I’m going to labor a sports analogy here:
On most teams we’ll have played on there’ll have been a Bruce Springsteen. This is the player who isn’t the most gifted but always gives 100%. The one who is steady, dependable and always makes the sensible pass, who’ll rarely give a performance above 7/10 performance or less than 5/10.
Born In The USA sums him/her up: the hard-worker who’ll never excite or do anything too unpredictable but will never disappoint too much either. It’s good not great, but it is honest and authentic.
Born In The USA has those songs most of us will know already and which don’t need any explaining (the title track, I’m On Fire, and Glory Days), but the other tracks aren’t just there for filler and in some cases are at least as good and overall, it’s a worthwhile listen.
Well done Bruce, another above average effort. As expected.
Album Review 056
Kenza by Khaled (1999)
Rating 2/5
On day #56 of my adventure, the 1001 Album Generator deals me not just an album I’ve never heard of, but an album by an artist I’ve never heard of from a genre that I’ve never heard of. It’s just a shame that I didn’t particularly like it.
Trying to describe Kenza is difficult without a frame of reference. It sounds like a fusion of Arabic tunings and scales, flamenco, bhangra, salsa and ‘western’ pop, and I haven’t a clue what the lyrics are about - aside from Imagine, which is godawful.
I tried to be open minded and give Kenza a chance, however whilst some of it sounded pleasant enough, my untrained ears didn’t find enough familiarity or understanding to make it an enjoyable experience and getting though the full 79 minutes was a challenge. Best I can say is that it’s the finest Algerian Rai album I’ve heard (but the worst at the same time).
Album Review 057
Movies by Holger Czukay (1979)
Rating 3.5/5
This is the reason I’m here on the 1001albumsgenerator adventure; findings an album I’ve never heard and would unlikely to find without it being recommended, but would now recommend myself after hearing.
Movies sounds like the product of a hugely talented and creative artist given the key to the recording studio and being told “go have fun”, and is the type of album that folk with a more mainstream taste in music would likely turn off in the first 20seconds.
Here we have 4 tracks totalling 39 minutes:
The first (Cool In The Pool) is quirky and built over a crisp and funky riff. It sounds like it’s trying to be humorous whilst serious and is the weakest track here. Second (Oh Lord, Give Us Money) is a jam session with Czukay’s Can bandmates with sampled snippets of radio. Third comes the most conventional track on the album, which is still unconventional in itself with Arabic melodies and singing and is the highlight of the album.
Finally, there is the 15-minute epic of Hollywood Symphony, where Holger takes dozens of song ideas and mushes them together to create something that would take the full 15-minutes to describe.
On paper, this has all the ingredients to be an album that I’d love, but on first listen I find it more interesting than enjoyable. However, there is so much here I’ll no doubt give it (or at least side two) another close listen with expectation that I’ll grow into it.
Album Review 058
Paranoid by Black Sabbath (1970)
Rating 5/5
The review of Paranoid on the once great AllMusic.com site concludes “Monolithic and primally powerful, Paranoid defined the sound and style of heavy metal more than any other record in rock history”, and it’s hard not to agree.
Amongst all the sludge and heavy riffs, Black Sabbath also show very different, more subtle and melodic psych side, with the unexpected but brilliant Planet Caravan, but most of the album is exactly what we’d expect.
Only negative for me is the late-Ozzy Osbourne’s pro-Zionist views and general dickheadedness in later years, although I try to believe that he was just an idiot who didn’t know any better and was just influenced by the malignant SHARON, although this is likely just wishful thinking and the man was indeed a c***. Still, I’ll separate the art from (one of) the artists and call an easy 5/5 rating.
Album Review 059
The Velvet Underground & Nico by The Velvet Underground (1967) Rating 5/5
1967 was the “Summer of Love” and the soundtrack was one of peace, love, social change and experimentation. The Velvet Underground’s debut came out in this year and didn’t reflect any of that - this is an album that can be summed up in one word: depravity.
The Velvet Underground and Nico lives in a world of addiction, sexual deviancy and paranoia and the music suits the themes perfectly with droning off-key tunings, dissonance and feedback that is occasionally contrasted by a gentler, softer but no-less dark side. Oh, and 1:21 to 1:24 on Run Run Run is possibly the greatest sound ever committed to tape.
I first heard this album around 25 years ago and it has been in my top 5 albums of all time ever since that first listen; it’s as perfect and authentic as a rock record can be.
Album Review 060
Fleet Foxes by Fleet Foxes (2008)
Rating 4/5
Fleet Foxes is a quite lovely album but one I need to give full attention to appreciate. Perfect listening for a slow Sunday morning in winter.
It’s hard to believe that this is their debut as it sounds so accomplished and complete.
Album Review 061
Gunfighter Ballads And Trail Songs by Marty Robbins (1959)
Rating 2/5
Here’s an album recorded almost 70 years ago that romanticises the Ol’ Wild-West of at least another 70 years earlier. This is primitive country music about cowboys, outlaws and how love will end up with you shooting someone of getting shot yourself.
I can understand why this is seen as such an important milestone in the history of country music, and it may have sounded exciting and polished back in 1959, but now it just sounds hokey, dated and repetitive.
Album Review 062
New York Dolls by New York Dolls (1973)
Rating 4/5
New York Dolls, both the band and their debut album, are the embodiment of the “live fast, die young, leave a f*cked-up looking corpse” attitude - everything about them and their music was designed to shock.
Take the swagger of the Stones, drag it up, add copious amounts of heroin, then play 50’s rock’n’roll and girl-group pop through overdriven amps and this is the result.
But is the music any good??? Well, not really but dare I say that is secondary to what the Dolls are/were; the glammest of Glam, punks before there was Punk. New York Dolls has a sleazy brilliance and I can’t help but love it.
Album Review 063
69 Love Songs by The Magnetic Fields (1999)
Rating 1.5/5
No album that I’ve ever heard better sums up the phrase “quantity over quality”. I won’t be the first or last to think it but there are enough songs hidden away in here to distill into a half-decent 10-12 track album but it really, really isn’t worth the effort or commitment to listen to the full 273 minutes of 69 Love Songs to find them.
The vast majority of the album is not good at best, unlistenable at worst, and so many of these songs are little more than the shell of an idea, here only to make up the numbers.
If this were broken down to three double-albums, I doubt I’d rate any of them above 2/5 - as a single, drawn-out experience, it deserves less.
Reading up on The Magnetic Fields, AllMusic.com mentions that their lead song-writer, Stephin Merritt, originally considered writing 100 songs for the album but he thought that might be too long and pared it down to 69 songs - I guess that’s at least something to celebrate.
Album Review 064
Superfly by Curtis Mayfield (1972)
Rating 5/5
Possibly the best soundtrack and also funk/soul album of all time.
Album Review 064
Lust For Life by Iggy Pop (1977)
Rating 4.5/5
There has been so much written about Pop and his dear friend David Bowie’s work and lifestyle around this period. The pair, with other collaborators, moved to Berlin to get sober outside the glare of public life and to indulge themselves in the culture of the city. What they created is the stuff of musical legend: Pop’s The Idiot and Lust For Life, and Bowie’s Low, Lodger and Heroes.
In March 1977 Iggy Pop released his debut solo LP, The Idiot; a dark, paranoid work of genius reflecting the lows that Iggy had reached.
His follow-up, a mere 6 months later, couldn’t be more different in that it was optimistic, cheerful and accessible. Although it’s still characteristically sleazy in its themes.
Album Review 066
Abattoir Blues / The Lyre of Orpheus by Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds (2004)
Rating 4/5
I’ve always had one issue with this album; should it have been two single album releases rather than a double package or not?
The two albums sit together well enough, one seemingly more aggressive in tone, the other softer and more reflective, but in full it’s a long listen at 80+ minutes. If I understand right though, what distinguishes the pair is they have a different drummer, and that’s about it.
Some of my favourite Nick Cave songs are found here, but there is a bit of filler and the total of 17 could be slimmed down to 12 or 13 leaving a truly exceptional work that would still have balance and flow over two sides instead of four.
Anyway, a strong songs with a bit of gospel choir backing here and there. My favourite work that Nick Cave done has done with the Bad Seeds.
Album Review 067
Rising Above Bedlam by Jah Wobble’s Invaders Of The Heat (1992)
Rating 3/5
This is an album I’ve never heard before, despite knowing and enjoying some of Jah Wobble’s other work, both solo and with PiL. Rising Above Bedlam isn’t on my usual streaming service though so that’s may be why.
Rising Above Bedlam is seen as an important step in the evolution and development of “world techno” (e.g. fusing dub, bass-heavy slow house, and ethnic Middle Eastern, Spanish, and North African melodies). There’s some good stuff on here but, listening in context with the other big indie-dance albums around that time, it doesn’t stand up to the likes of Screamadelica or Blue Lines. this may be an unfair comparison and one badly influenced by not being able to listen to the full album without adverts (thanks YouTube) and I probably need to give it another listen to fully appreciate what’s here.
Album Review 068
Shadowland by KD Lang (1988)
Rating 3.5/5
An album of country covers and songs written for the singer that (mostly) sound like they could have been recorded at some point in the mid-1950’s - think Patsy Cline or Loretta Lynne.
These songs are languid and never get out 2nd gear, but that’s not a bad thing as this works well with her (very good) vocals and build a mood. Only one track doesn’t really fit in here: Busy Being Blue has a the feel of a 1980’s blues/jazz bar, rather the feel of morning-after-a-hoedown in Hicksville.
I was surprised at how good this album was, but ultimately, it’s a country album and that’s a style I’m just not a fan of.
Album Review 069
Aftermath by The Rolling Stones (1966)
Rating 2.5/5
There are two versions of Aftermath, the UK release and the US one - I’m going with the UK version here, even though it’s a weaker album (in my opinion) and omits Paint It Black which is arguably the best song across both versions of the record.
Aftermath is the first album by the Stones with 100% their own material and their weaknesses and immaturity in their songwriting at this early stage in their career are clear (especially the misogyny of Under My Thumb and Stupid Girl, etc.).
Whilst listening, I read a handful of reviews of Aftermath, one of which saying that Jagger/Richards were the cake and Jones was the icing (yeah a poor analogy but work with me here), but for me it’s Jones’ work that provide the highlights with the unorthodox-at-the-time instrumentation and experimentation. The rest of the album is average at best.
Album Review 070
James Brown Live At The Apollo by James Brown (1963)
Rating 5/5
Arguably the best live album ever recorded and certainly one of the most influential. Not much else to say aside from it being an essential listen.
Album Review 071
Happy Sad by Tim Buckley (1969)
Rating 2/5
Happy Sad sees Tim Buckley at a point where his music is evolving from folk-pop with a touch of psychedelia to a more folk-jazz style and comes with mixed results.
First track starts the album strongly with Strange Feelin’, by track two (Buzzin’ Fly) we reach the highlight of Happy Sad and I’m already polishing a 4/5 rating. Then it’s all downhill and a constant feeling that Tim is trying to convince himself, not us, that he’s Happy Sad and not just Sad Sad.
Happy Sad leaves me thinking that it could have been something special and was a brave piece of work that went against the expectations of his fans at the time, but for the most part I can’t help but feel that it’s 45-minutes of Tim wallowing in pity and indulging himself.
Album Review 072
Africa Brasil by Jorge Ben Jor (1976)
Rating 4/5
Wow, what an album. Funky soully bossa-nova samba rock with dirty(-ish) electric guitars and liberal use of a cuica, giving a full-on, dense, and energetic feel.
Haven’t a clue what Ben is singing about, but when it sounds this good, should I really care??
Album Review 073
Crossing The Red Sea With The Adverts by The Adverts (1978)
Rating 3.5/5
Crossing The Red Sea… is fine example of the first wave of UK punk and is often cited as being one of the best and most consistent and coherent albums of the genre.
There are some good songs on here and the albums is brimming with the energy, anger and disillusionment of 1977/78 UK teenagers.
Maybe I just wasn’t in the mood for it today and need to give it another listen (with more volume and more cider next time), but it’s the old adage of the tallest dwarf or the prettiest pig: it’s a really good UK punk album, but ultimately it’s a UK punk album.
Album Review 074
I Should Coco by Supergrass (1995)
Rating 4.5/5
Supergrass were the weird kid at school, the one who saw things differently to everyone else and got by just doing their own stuff but had a unique charm and innocence once you got to know them.
If there is one underlying theme on I Should Coco, it’s them saying “Yeah, we’re a bit different but that’s cool. Let’s be friends” and 30-years on, the world needs this message more than ever.
Musically, some tracks are hyperactive and full of energy, others are softer and more reflective but it’s all pretty simple and there isn’t a bad song here.
I loved this album when it first came out and I still adore it now, it feels like a group hug and makes me all sunshiney.
Album Review 075
Talking Heads 77 by Talking Heads (1988)
Rating 3.5/5
Despite originating from the New York punk scene, this is very much pop.
There are a few excellent tracks here including the two closers, Psycho Killer and Pulled Up, but it is a little inconsistent and doesn’t reach the heights or creativeness of their follow-ups. It’s a really strong debut though and showcases the potential of the band and their unique quirkiness.
Album Review 076
Hunky Dory by David Bowie (1971)
Rating 4/5
Hunky Dory is the point where Bowie, consciously or otherwise, sets out the manifesto for the rest of his career in Changes. It’s also arguably one of the best-first-half’s on any album with Changes, Oh! You Pretty Things, and Life On Mars?. Those three tracks alone would be the highlight of anyone else’s career and are head and shoulder above anything else both on the album or recorded by most other artists in the early-‘70’s.
However, this is so much filler here (e.g. Kooks, Fill Your Heart, Andy Warhol) it’s difficult to rate this as a truly great and consistently strong album.
Album Review 077
Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band by The Beatles (1967)
Rating 4.5/5
Sgt. Pepper’s was a huge part of my musical upbringing/education and it is undoubtedly an “album you must hear before you die”. It’s one of the most important albums ever made, by one of the most important bands ever, and has some of their best work (A Day In The Life, Lucy In The Sky…, Within You Without You).
Looking as this as a single full piece of work, there are a few tracks that are really not essential listening (putting it politely) and looking back 60 years later come across as filler (Good morning, Lovely Rita, …Sitxy-Four). However, this is an album that is far more than the sum of its parts.
Album Review 078
Guero by Beck (2005)
Rating 3.5/5
Beck’s best album; Guero is consistently strong and has plenty of different styles but at almost an hour long, this a long album and I’d expect only his biggest fans will regularly re-listen all the way through.
Album Review 079
MTV Unplugged by Nirvana (1994)
Rating 4.5/5
Nirvana proving that grunge can be more than angst and distortion pedals. Highlight for me is the Leadbelly cover that closes the set but this is consistently strong and a landmark album in rock.
Album Review 080
Hybrid Theory by Linkin Park (2000)
Rating 1/5
“I GET ANGRY AND I SHOUT BECAUSE I MANAGE MY EMOTIONS LIKE A SIX YEAR OLD GIRL”.
Shite.
Album Review 081
Play by Moby (1999)
Rating 2.5/5
Coffee table music. It is formulaic but the formula does work in it’s own sterile way: take a sample of an old vocal to give the feeling that the track will have some soul, lay it over some ProTools loops and repeat - eighteen times! - then licence the lot for use in adverts.
Everyone had a copy of play when it came out but it’s an album that feels so artificial and doesn’t have any warmth or give anything that I feel the need to re-listen to.
Album Review 082
Bug by Dinosaur Jr. (1988)
Rating 4/5
Lovely warm fuzzy fuzzy muffness. Yum.
Album Review 083
Talking Timbuktu by Ali Farka Toure (1994)
Rating 4/5
I’d heard Ali Farka Toure’s name many times before knowingly sitting down to listen to him, and Talking Timbuktu didn’t disappoint when the 1001generator dealt it to me.
In short, it’s him, his bandmates and Ry Cooder jamming along, playing west-African blues on clean, slightly-reverby guitars.
A nice chilled record, I’ll definitely be listening to more of Farka Toure’s work.
Album Review 084
3 + 3 by The Isley Brothers (1973)
Rating 2.5/5
3 + 3 should be an album that I love. It’s the Isley’s evolving their sound away from Motown soul and further towards a heavier funk, however, aside from the opener (Who’s That Lady), the album leaves me feeling underwhelmed.
I love the guitar and bass playing of Ernie and Marvin Isley around this time but most of the album just feels too soft and ballad-focused, and lacks the energy it opens with.
Album Review 085
Smash by The Offspring (1994)
Rating 1.5/5
Call me cynical, but here we have a band whose main songwriter is clearly a very intelligent person (PhD in molecular biology no less), but decided to cash-in with diluted pop-rock cos-playing as punk. Sure, the drumming is powerful and fast and the distorted guitars are there, but Smash is lacking in any sort of spirit or substance.
It’s performative, entry-level noise, manufactured by a 30-year who's target market is middle schoolers with faux anger and a skateboard they don't know how to use. And the lyrics are crap too.
Album Review 087
Tidal by Fiona Apple (1996)
Rating 2.5/5
This is the first time I’ve knowingly listened to Fiona Apple, although I may have heard it countless times in book shops or queues as it is perfect background music.
There may be some really strong, emotive stuff here but I simply didn’t have enough interest from the start to find it. Ask me to hum one of the tunes or repeat a lyric and I’d be at a loss.
Album Review 087
Electric by The Cult (1987)
Rating 1.5/5
The Cult take a new direction for this album and that direction is signposted “meat and potato pub-rock”. Whilst most of it isn’t truly awful, their cover of Born To Be Wild sets the benchmark for how bad a song can be.
Album Review 088
White Ladder by David Gray (1998)
Rating 2.5/5
Beige ladder.
Album Review 089
At Newport 1960 by Muddy Waters (1960)
Rating 2/5
Whilst there is no argument of its cultural importance and relevance at the time, 60+ years on 12-bar blues is to me one or the most formulaic and tiresome genres of music: I-IV-V, I-IV-V, I-IV-V, Zzzzzz….
Yeah, Muddy delivers with some grit in his vocals and his band are superbly tight, but ultimately it’s the same song ten times over, with the only changes being tempo and whether he has / has lost / is chasing a woman.
Album Review 090
Cloud Nine by The Temptations (1969)
Rating 4/5
1969 was the year that the peace and love “sound of Young America” grew up, realised the party was over and became a lot more cynical.
On Cloud Nine, we hear the Temptations mirror this change as their sound moves from the poppy Motown roots to a heavier, funkier and darker style of music.
The first half is a 5/5 masterpiece of cinematic soul but the momentum stumbles with side two. That’s not to say Cloud Nine isn’t a landmark record; it’s just an album that peaks too early, trading the force and spirit of the title track for a second half that feels like it’s searching for a direction it already found on Side A.
Album Review 091
American Gothic by David Ackles (1972)
Rating 2/5
Take a spoonful of Jacques Brel, a pinch of Neil Diamond, and a handful of downers and what you’ll get is one of the most depressing albums ever recorded.
This is not music to dance to, it's not life-affirming or at all joyous; it's 42 minutes of abject misery.
Album Review 092
Violator by Depeche Mode (1990)
Rating 3.5/5
There is a constant theme throughout this album and it’s one of despair and heavy drug use. Although it’s the synths that drive the music, this is NOT pop, this is Depeche Mode at their darkest and most bleak.
I find Violator a difficult album to listen through as there is no let-up in mood, but it does have two of the greatest songs of the early 90’s in Enjoy the Silence and Personal Jesus.
Album Review 093
American Beauty by Grateful Dead (1970)
Rating 1.5/5
I know very little about the grateful dead aside from their reputation that they were very much a live band whose studio work never lived up to the highs of their shows. American Beauty is the first album by them I’ve listened to in full, and what I hear is a poor-man’s Crosby, Stills & Nash and, although it pre-dates the Eagles by a couple of years, they’re the closest comparison I can draw to their sound without just labelling it boring, Americana dross.
Album Review 094
Harvest by Neil Young (1972)
Rating 3.5/5
I don’t know much about the background to the album, aside from Young’s being burned out from touring and unable to move freely due to a back injury, but what this sounds of is someone who is tired, lost and feeling fragile.
Harvest has strong set of songs, some of which over-polished, others under-polished and raw sounding. The only song that doesn’t fit is There’s a World, which is orchestral and sounds out of place, but does act as a good break between the softer earlier tracks and the heavier electric ones to follow.
Album Review 095
Deep Purple In Rock by Deep Purple (1970)
Rating 4/5
“…the numbers all go to eleven. Look… right across the board.”
Album Review 096
Every Good Boy Deserves Fudge by Mudhoney (1991)
Rating 4/5
If and when I want to listen to “grunge”, Mudhoney (after Nirvana) are my go-to.
To me, EGBDF is the essence of the grunge sound; none of your over-polished Pearl Jam or your woe-is-me-I’m-so-sad Alice in Chains, this 14 rapid-fire tracks of sludgy, fuzzy chaos in the mold of the Stooges.
Album Review 097
Strangeways, Here We Come by The Smiths (1987)
Rating: 4.5/5
Arguably the band’s best and most refined work, though listening to it today requires an effort the size of Morrisey’s ego in separating the art from the artist. It’s much easier to get through if you stop viewing Morrissey as a relatable outsider and start seeing him for what he is: a self-enamoured, narcissistic twat with an Oscar Wilde obsession.
Whilst the album gives a fascinating character study in pettiness and bitterness, it also gives us the chance to appreciate the talent of Johnny Marr, who in his nature and sound is everything that Morrisey is not. His arrangements are deep and layered and move far beyond 80’s Manchester indie into something much more grand.
It’s a brilliant musical goodbye from one of the UK’s most important bands of the 80’s, and you can appreciate the genius of the composition while acknowledging the singer is a dick.
Oh, and the other two in the band do ok too.
Album Review 098
Untitled (Black Is) by Sault (2020)
Rating: 4/5
This album is more important as a statement than as a collection of songs. Released during the 2020 BLM protests and the height of the pandemic, it is a message of solidarity and Black pride. In an ideal world, saying "Black Lives Matter" and taking the knee shouldn’t be needed but sadly, this record and the reaction to BLM shows we aren't there and why we needed this album.
The core of the album is the partnership between producer Inflo and singer Cleo Sol. Their chemistry is obvious, especially on Wildfires, which is probably the most important soul track of the 21st century.
The only issue is that the album feels too long. At 20 tracks, the message and the strenths of the better song gets diluted a bit. If they had cut the filler, this would be a 5/5 and one of the best albums of the 2020s. Between the chaos of COVID-19 and Sault releasing Untitled (Rise) so quickly after, the impact of this Black Is felt a bit crowded out and maybe didn’t get the attention it deserved at the time.
Album Review 099
It’s Blitz by Yeah Yeah Yeahs (2009)
Rating: 3.5/5
I’ve been a fan of Yeah Yeah Yeahs since their debut, Fever to Tell, and I consider Karen O’s 2019 collaboration with Danger Mouse to be a highlight of the last ten years.
However, my opinion on It’s Blitz! is divided. The opening is strong with driving dancefloor indie, but the quality drops noticeably in the middle.
I find Karen O to be at her most compelling when she slows it down, and the album closer, Little Shadow, is one of the most beautiful and haunting songs YYYs have recorded.
If the other tracks on It’s Blitz even came close to the quality of Zero, Head Will Roll and Little Shadows, it’d be an easy 5/5 but there too much skippable filler here for me.
Album Review 100
Hot Buttered Soul by Isaac Hayes (1969)
Rating: 4/5
Hot Buttered Soul sounds exactly as described: sumptuous, indulgent, and velvety smooth.
Across four expansive tracks, Hayes delivers high-end studio production and lush orchestration, anchored by one of the most soulful voices in music.
While some of the song choices themselves are unexpected, he completely makes them his own; particularly his transformative takes on Walk on By and By the Time I Get to Phoenix. The album's peak, Hyperbolicsyllabicsesquedalymistic, is almost nasty in how deep it finds the groove.
