Okay, I gave it two listens, and I was enriched by the broadening of new music. However, this kind of sonic quality, this kind of production does not appeal to me...I would even say I have an almost physical aversion to it. I did my best to hear past that and listen to the songs and the message and I think I got something from it. Trying to place it in context helped but I think that's the main thing I'm missing. Yeah geez it's just so clean and "80s" hahaha.
Okay WOW I used to think that I wasn't crazy about these sonics (no pun intended). However, listening to this record directly after Heaven 17 is like "okay, at the very least it's in my neighborhood of interest...it's got something I can bite into". For whatever combination of reasons, now that I'm older this record has been much more accessible to me, even evoking some strong emotions at times.
A classic sounding 60s records with a lot of sonic qualities that I love. I was surprised to notice some of the fidelity of the room sounds present on one of the vocal takes early on in the record; a very noticeable "room tone" that sounded...pretty rugged. A couple of covers, no notably huge ear-worms for me. Enjoyable listen
Okay yeah obviously a classic record. Listening to it with intent gave me a fresh perspective. I didn't realise how politically loaded the namesake hit is. Also some of the "romantic" songs are kind of predatory (lyrically). Sonically, well...not my fav sounds. Too 'eighties'. Also some pretty rough-around-the-edges guitar and vocal performances that I haven't noticed before.
Now, this is an absolute classic, hands down. I'm definitely biased, because this was the first jazz record I thrashed. Still, love it. Paul Desmond's soft sax tone shaped my taste for sax tones. Joe Morello's simple yet conceptually sophisticated solos informed my early drumming. The solo piano sections also influenced me in a big way, opening the door for me to explore more than just drum-centric music. Top-tier, gold standard for me.
Obvs some massive songs on here, hard not to enjoy. Very into the 70s sounds. Some interesting chord changes in ABBA songs, I wish I could identify more of what's going on; I really appreciated quite a lot of the harmonic progressions in the filler tracks. Over all, not really my thing though.
Hey, I gave this one a GOOD hoon, about ten listens. I don't hate it, I think I got a lot from it. The era really shows in the songwriting. It's somewhere between the Beatles, Elton John, and Steely Dan. Some real solid grooves on here, not to mention huge HITS. I like a lot of the sonics. Some really rich harmonic ideas. So many long songs and tempo changes...what's up with that?
A stone cold classic. Ashamed to admit I was previously unfamiliar with this. Five Years is a real huge hook of a song that really sets the mood. This record is a self-defining 'sound', with some compelling sonic moments. Healthy amounts of tension, intrigue, and release.
Okay, yeah...it's good. I can't fault it for quality. Very creative rapping, classic hiphop production. But...damn it's a difficult listen for me at this stage in my life. There's so much negative, angry energy. Good record.
I was not familiar with this record before today. I had an impression in my head that these guys were a really good, solid band of top-notch performers. I'm not sure if times have changed or if my standards / expectations have changed, but I was a little underwhelmed. As far as the record goes, it plays like a collection of songs, a playlist; there doesn't seem to be any cohesive theme to the lyrical content. Sonically, I like the way the instruments are captured. It's quite a folky collection of instruments (incl the way they're played) which is not really my thing. Some quite catchy numbers though, could imagine enjoying this at some hipster party in the 70s.
I could already tell pretty soon into this record that I was going to enjoy it. I've never listened to it before. Records with these sonics would have turned me off 20 years ago simply because they were over-used and ubiquitous at that point. Where I am now on my musical journey, this comes through as quite refreshing.
I've heard a few of these tracks on Spotify playlists, fits into a "chill electronica" kind of vibe...sounds a little bit generic to my ears, a tier or two above muzak, but not something I'd consciously LISTEN to. Safe production, safe mixing, just...safe.
This sounds like nascent era-defining electronica. It's not something I would choose to listen to. I can imagine how this influenced artists that I do listen to. I can also hear samples from music that I listen to. It's lacking a little depth and character for my taste, as if it were created by people with little knowledge or interest in music theory. However, there are some moments where it all comes together for an enjoyable listen.
This record definitely a vibe I can dig. It's quite a rich sonic quality; so saccharine it almost makes my teeth hurt. I wouldn't normally choose to listen to this much of this kind of sound. Trying to decipher the lyrics is pointless for me, it sounds like sexy gibberish (in a good way). It's difficult for me to latch onto anything in particular apart from the songs I already knew (and whose lyrics I was wildly wrong about)...too much clean reverb? I don't know.
Obvs a classic. Pretty dang... rock-and-roll-blues-band-y. Personally, I have never been able to dig the sound of this record. Maybe it just ain't my thing? Is it the mix? The instrumentation? The wandering vocal "melodies"? Nothing futuristic about it? I'm stumped. To me it sounds like the taste of an over-cooked beef stew. Sure, it's tangy and beefy but the beef is dry and there's a slight acidity from too many tomatoes which isn't balanced by any sweetness or fat. On re-listens I find I'm not singing along to anything. Re-listens are actually making me like it less. It's too long. Yes, I know about the history and about the exile. This would have been a hell of an undertaking. It's just...not for me.
Yeah this is cool, some classic country. Very on-brand all the way through, thematically, sonically, musically, instrumentationally...Not often in the mood for this kind of thing but it's a vibe I can dig.
