Enjoyed the hit tracks but album tracks just okay. Not sure about Mother. Sounds a bit like String compromising and letting someone else “have a go”! Not really for me.
Easy one for me! Loved this album right from the first listen and still remember “Where Are We Now?” being débuted on very early morning radio in 2013. What a great surprise to wake up to! 4.5 stars.
I guess it’s an important release in the revival of ska in its time but didn’t float my boat then and still doesn’t really. Curiously, it actually feels much slower than I remember it being at the time.
Quite a pleasant listen. Not something I would normally listen to. Some very soulful tracks with influences from other genres. 3.5 *
A decent set of mostly tight pop songs but probably not their best output. Lyrically a bit light but 3.5 for me.
As their debut album it’s listenable and has a few good songs but it all becomes a bit like wallpaper anthems in the end and sounds very samey. Staggering that they have > 93 million monthly listeners on Spotify!! Guess there’s no accounting for taste 😝
Hard to argue with the classic status of this album. Feels like a bit transitional with some older elements from Electric Warrior but also looking forward to the soul influences on Tanx and Zinc Alloy. Marc in full pomp! 4.5 *
Somehow managed to never hear this before! Great album in a similar vein to Fotheringay, Fairport Convention and other folk rock bands of the time. Really pleasant to listen to. Love Danny Thompson’s bass! Solid 4 *
Better than anticipated with some quite musical moments. A bit schizophrenic but that’s fine. Probably not one I’ll listen to much.
What to say about this? Probably listened to it more than 100 times over the years and it never gets tired. Miles and the ‘59 crew in great form changing the sound of jazz again. Fabulous! 5* and then some.
Quite disappointed to see this appear today! Still, let’s give it a go. Rolling in the Deep is quite a good opener. So far so good. Ho hum, then Set Fire to the Rain quite good. I’ll be Waiting has a bit of a 60’s soul vibe. Clearly has a strong and quite soulful voice. Overall not bad but not going in my collection! 3.5
Unexpectedly, really enjoyed this album. Some great tracks on here. Happy to add this to my collection. 4*
Excellent power pop. Quite raw but with very catchy melodies. Like this a lot. A good few songs on here which I’ve never heard before. Of these, “Bye bye love” and “All Mixed Up” standout. Solid 4
Excellent and unexpected album from the Beasties. Starts off well and continues from there. Started listing my favourite tracks but in the end there were too many. Good stuff! 4 *
Technically brilliant and way ahead of anything in its time. Very doomy in feel but with excellent production. A bit too noodly for me though. Favourite tracks are “Court of….” and “Schizoid”. 3.5 *
What a lead off track! Hello heavy rock! A great reinterpretation of the blues in a British stylee. As heavy as this gets there’s still room for some great sensitive playing on things like “Thank You” and Ramble On“. All wrapped up nicely with Bring it on Home. A rightful classic. Good to hear you again, old friend 🙂
Quite relaxing to listen to overall. Can’t say I’ve ever come across these guys before. Feels a bit like being in a fancy coffee shop with some pleasant ambient background music but there are better choices to listen to if I want something like this. Technically competent but a bit uninspiring. 3.5*
Not bad overall. Highly polished and the embodiment of 80’s glitter. They definitely cherry picked all the best songs for singles. 3
More 80’s! Great lead off track and single. Upbeat jangly indie pop. Hard not to like this. Not sure it’s one for the collection but very enjoyable. 4
Like this quite a bit. Some great samples. Can see why it was influential in its time. “Left my wallet…” is hilarious! Would defo listen again. 4
Hard to review this objectively after years of listening previously but a great album with some excellent songs. Grapevine cover is excellent and Who’ll Stop the Rain is an all time classic. Time in a bottle! 4
Pretty sure I’m not the target audience for this. At least I’ll never have to listen to it again. 2.5 * rounded down for overuse of MF. Next
A bit schizophrenic with 70’s punk, thrash metal, hard rock and 80’s pop! Didn’t hate it but probably wouldn’t revisit. 3
Absolute Christmas banger. Can’t be beaten, in my opinion.
Feels a bit like FM’s White Album. Coming from all directions at once. Some good tracks. Particularly like Tusk itself. Generally though, not enough to push it up another notch. 3.5
