Not an album I’ve ever sat down to listen to which is shocking but what kismet it was that it was the first one that generated. I’m glad to say I’ve listened to it, listened at 2am so glad it was a quick 37 min. Dripping with emotion so probably not a casual listen for me. There’s A World really took me by surprise, very grand and unexpected. The Needle and The Damage Done broke my heart. I can tell a lot of took inspo from his wispy vocals, especially 2000s indie rock artists like Elliot Smith. Fav tracks were Heart of Gold (already knew I liked but liked even more in context with the album), Alabama, Old Man, Words, and Are You Ready for the Country?
Another one that I’m familiar with the artist but haven’t sat down to process this full album. It’s also another short one. Kind of shocked this is The Cure album chosen for this list, I would’ve thought maybe Disintegration would be the more popular choice but that may be me being biased. Started off thinking my heart just wasn’t really in this. The songs kind of dragged to me which makes me kinda sad cause I do love The Cure, maybe if I revisit it’ll grow on me. The lyricism was beautiful though, there’s just so many lyrics. Only stand out tracks to me were The Hanging Garden and A Strange Day. I like the title track but that intro is sooo long. This lead me into listening to The Head On The Door and I actually really liked that one, so silver lining.
Was unfamiliar with this artist and genre (Afrobeat). Looked him up on google and found out the guy had 27 wives that were all members of his commune. “After the devastating army attack on his Kalakuta Republic, marrying the women offered them legal and social protection from police harassment and false kidnapping accusations.” The guy lived one hell of a life and advocated for human rights so that makes him cool in my book. Music wise this is the longest album this has generated, 53 minutes spanning over only 4 songs. Very danceable but easy listening. Lively. Loved when the words would come in with the almost call and response chorus. Sounds like community and culture. Fav track was the title track, loved the live element of Mistake as well. Not a huge jazz listener but I respect it, and the rhythm of this is undeniable and kind of addicting.
Another artist I’m familiar with but the first album that’s been generated with a woman artist involved! There are plenty of talking heads songs I really like, as a band from the 80s I pretty much like them on principle. But sometimes their songs really over stimulate me lol. Not what I would consider ‘easy listening’. When I realized this album had Once in a Lifetime on it, the most overstimulating of their songs, I strapped in. Lots of beeps and boops. Lots of talk singing, and that classic David Byrne yell-singing. I can describe David Byrne’s vocals as the guy at the bar that’s drunk enough that you’re kind of scared of him. This one had the most tracks of any of the albums so far. And I like a decent amount of them but they kind of blend together. I had to listen a couple times to grasp them individually. That could be a testament to the cohesiveness of the album as a whole, which I can appreciate. By the 3rd or 4th listen I was starting to get into the groove of it. The Overload was the track that took me by surprise, I can sense a little The Doors influence, a little gothy influence. I know a lot of musicians who really like Talking Heads and I can tell why people who are passionate about music like them. They make music that you have to pay close attention to absorb all of it. There wasn’t a track I disliked necessarily just parts of the songs I dislike. But standout tracks for me would probably be The Great Curve and Houses in Motion.
Ohhh been on the Simon and Garfunkel train since I was a baby with Songs From A Parent to A Child. I am more familiar with Bookends and Bridge Over Troubled Water but this album seems like my vibe. The music gives you the perfect background to the lyrics. The lyrics are my favorite part, some are so devastating, “ And we note our place with book markers, that measure what we’ve lost.” It’s so easy to absorb but I want to listen again to make sure I didn’t miss anything. Only qualm I have is I wish this album was longer! All of their albums are short, perhaps from lack of chorus’ or song structure, but they waste no time. I am partial to the lullaby tracks like Scarborough Fair, Cloudy and The 59th Street Bridge Song. But the folkier ones like Homeward Bound and Flowers Never Bend with the Rainfall are so fun. Folk music just gets me so giddy. A Simple Desultory Philippic is so Paul Simon doing a Bob Dylan impression, you can tell the idea for the song came from Paul. This was a perfect album to recommend on the first day of winter. Especially with devastating 7 O’clock News/Silent Night, so powerful, a perfect teary eyed ending to this perfectly cozy album. Simon and Garfunkel, I love you.
