Classic of Punk-Rock. Self Esteem has been a long time favorite.
A couple of power house singles and I definitely saved a few off. A few songs that in my opinion went on a little too long and a few times throughout the album where it began to feel a little one note to me unfortunately. The really high points carried the low points.
Loved the lyricism. Favorite songs- Scarborough Fair/ Canticle , The Dangling Conversation, and Flowers Never Bend with the Rainfall. Least favorite was the 59th Street Bridge Song. A Simple Desultory Philippic could’ve fooled me as a Bob Dylan song.
- Some wicked riffs off the bat, immediately Eddie Van Halen shows why he’s one of the greats. Middle of the album is kind of a miss for me but it picks back up in the back third. Ice Cream Man is such an interesting mix of styles and dare I say genres(?)/ eras, somewhat blending the rock styles from the earlier decades with the styles of the late 70s/ early 80s. Feel Your Love Tonight almost felt like if the Beach Boys made a harder song. Solid album but I don’t know how much I’ll be coming back to it. A 3.5 for me that I’m gonna round down.
Groovy, vibey lil album. Starting off strong with the classic Shining Star. I didn't save a ton of songs off the album individually (Only Shining Star and Happy Feelin') but I could definitely see myself putting the whole album back on again in the future.
Kate Bush has a talent for taking somewhat simple beginnings on songs and turning them in songs that feel MASSIVE ( Cloudbusting, Jig of Life, Running Up That Hill). This album makes you feel with so many of its songs like you are just shy of making a break through, right on the edge of something. Others like Under Ice, Waking the Witch take that to more of a level of feel like in a thriller movie where something is about to catch up with and get the protagonist.
Not every song is a classic, but when this album does hit it hits hard. (I've loved Cloudbusting and RUTH(DWG) for over five years since I first heard them back just after covid, so I am a little biased towards them already)
Best Bob Dylan album of the ones I’ve heard. Saved a few songs. Sometimes the lyricism is awesome, others I’m asking myself what is he rambling about now.
Favorites- Brown Sugar, Sway
Least Favorites- You Gotta Move
Solid album
One of the best vocalists ever, what a voice. That being said, while there are some legendary tracks on this album, not enough caught my attention
Very cool, had moments where it felt like an early 2000s video game soundtrack. Definitely able to see the influence it had.
Eh. Not for me, wouldn’t play it again but I can appreciate it. Can definitely see how his work would allow a collab with Paul McCartney
Another one that I can appreciate, saved a couple songs off of, but probably won't be adding to the regular rotation.
A little one note but I vibed
I was so surprised by the amount of songs off of this album I already knew! She seems to me like 60's Adele.
Felt very nostalgic, and like any of the songs could be used in a 2010's romcom or coming of age movie/show.
Really cool album for a rainy day.
All time classic. I’ve never listened to it all the way through and can see how inspirational this album has been on so much that came afterwards. Saved 9 songs. Will definitely be re-listening
Honestly a blast of an album. Favorite Songs: Rich, Maps, Y Control. Least Favorite- Tick. I loved the raw, punk style. These songs would go so hard at a garage show. Maps is of course a classic, but feels different from the other songs on the album to me.
I feel bad giving this a two. It's a vibe but it's not mine. I was relieved it was only 28 minutes. It does what it does well, but it feels very one note to me. I can appreciate the influence this band and album had on later acts and also hold the belief that the later acts improved upon it. Pros- the iconic harmonies and vocal style. You know its the Beach Boys immediately. Cons- The lyrics (very one note and surface level IMO). The repetitive instrumentals.
It's a vibe that makes me harken back to a 60s soda fountain, but I don't feel like I'll ever willingly play any song off this album again. Not a single track stood out to me.
A very chill, melancholy, sad album. Not really any songs in particular that stood out but it was a vibe for a rainy, relaxing night.
Gonna be an unpopular opinion because I know this is a lot of people's favorite album, but I bounced back and forth from really enjoying some songs ( Last of the Steam-Powered Trains, Wicked Annabella, Picture Book) to absolutely hating some of them (All of My Friends Were There, Phenomenal Cat, The Village Green Preservation Society). I honestly think the kind of almost whispery, sing-songy , whimsicality of the vocals on some of the songs got on my nerves after a bit. I enjoyed the instrumentals way more than the singing. It's a British Invasion album, what can I say. It's got enough high points and interesting songs/ guitar riffs that it kept me engaged *almost* the whole album, but the lows were low.
What a trip! Sad I was fully sober listening to this, as I feel like I didn't get the full experience. Started off a little apprehensive, but once the riffs and solos started on Born to Go I was locked in. Maybe not an album that I would listen to often, but definitely one to throw on and vibe to for a couple of hours.
I get that we are going for a space theme here, but some of the songs and monologues almost pull me out of it rather than add to the experience for me (Electronic No 1).
Favorites: Born to Go, Orgone Accumulator
Maybe its just the amount of this type of music that i've been listening to from the list the past couple of weeks, but oof. Relative to the other albums from this era, it did not age well and the mix sounds extremely outdated (possibly since it was self done), while others from this era have held up. I did not like this album overall, it was at times grating noise and the screeching and yelling/screeching just weren't doing it for me.
Pros:
The end of Le Feel Internacionale was a great way to wrap up the medley that was the first 12 songs on the album. Some of the tracks were cool, but to be honest I didn't save a single song off this album and probably won't be listening to it again.
Best Songs- Zen Archer (Specifically the Sax Solo)
Flamingo- Why does this sound like it could've inspired a Legend of Zelda town theme
I mostly preferred the second part of the album over the first. The first 7-9 songs had me ready to give it a one but the back half brought me begrudgingly up to a two.
I think that this album probably needs some sort of insobriety to fully appreciate and understand, but alas, I listened to it fully sober and it was not for me.
Chill album, I felt very neutral toward it overall
Not my usual preferred genre or type of music, but man oh man from "Hello, I'm Johnny Cash" did he have my full attention. His vocals commanded it, and while I couldn't necessarily relate to the lyrics very much, I caught every last word and followed along for the entire album. I don't know how often I'll be replaying these songs, but for the 45 minutes of this album I was hooked and intently following along with the stories being told. I finally get the Johnny Cash Hype.
My first experience with this band, not at all what I expected but I really enjoyed it! Thought I was having a stroke when "Bitter Sweet" switched to German. Fave Songs- The Thrill of it All and Prairie Rose
One of my favorite things about this process has been hearing songs that I've heard tons of times before but never known the name or the artist, especially when there are no lyrics. This is a prime example. I've heard pretty much every song on this album repeatedly throughout my years working in coffee shops, whether studying or as a barista, and listening to this album was incredibly nostalgic and simultaneously relaxing. Made for a fantastic spring morning sitting on the balcony enjoying the music, coffee, and the finally warm breeze.
Musically, I vastly prefer this album to Bitches Brew. Where Bitches Brew felt chaotic to me, this album is soulful, full of emotion, and all conveyed without any lyrics whatsoever. Listening to this album feels like uncovering the roots of so much amazing music that came to follow. I'm a fan.
Favorites- So What, Blue in Green
Starting off with Sympathy for the Devil, an all time favorite Stone's song based off of one of my all time favorite books (Master and Margarita)? Instant points. Otherwise, the normal Rolling Stones folky twangy rock without any other major stand outs to me.
I had to listen to most of this album twice just to really get the full experience, and I really liked it. This is probably gonna get me crucified, but I honestly thought the only thing I didn't particularly care for was Ian Curtis' vocals... distinctive and influential? Yes, however, I felt they detracted from the otherwise very cool baselines and guitars.
Fave Songs- New Dawn Fades, Insight and She's Lost Control
