How is this album nearly 60 years old? First listened 25 years ago, still hits. You can almost smell the marijuana in the air as you stare at beautiful Jim Morrison singing through the haze.
chaotic vocals, felt the urge to skip a few tracks, but after a couple of listens it started to grow on me. high energy!
Everyone was right, 1970s rock is fuckin cool.
is there anyone cooler than snoop? i think not.
easy to listen to. mighta gone a little too hard on the back-to-back Beck listening on this day and overstayed my welcome, but I very much enjoyed this one! What an artistic weirdo.
fun back-and-forth at the beginning of track 2. not a major fan of the vocals in general (off key?). the haunted simplicity of Elegia caught my attention every time.
easy to listen to. liked it, but left me wanting their top hit track. atmosphere is vibey, 90s rave.
short and stanky! Born on the Bayou, Penthouse Pauper, and Proud Mary are stand-out tracks for me. The muggy, gravely vocals really and the swagger if the guitar riffs feel incredibly genuine and immersive. Reminds me a lot of Chris Stapleton - white guy sings the blues, and I really enjoyed it!
Generally, just NOT my style. I appreciate the role this band and album have in music history, but it's not something I'll ever reach for. There were a few tracks I really wanted to skip during the first listen, but I feel as though I did give a fair shake and listened twice through. The vocals and vocalizations really bothered me, very out of tune at times and jarring. Although I did enjoy some of the instrumentation, the vocal delivery really killed it for me. Sorry Iggy, it's a no for me dawg.
this one felt just so incredibly blah to me. definitely not something i would reach for. even the singles (So Far Away) are boring and - dare i say - cheesy in a way that's not nostalgic to me. The only track I kinda like is The Man's Too Strong, fun lil country lane with bold guitar and the vocals sound more Bob Dylan-y on this one.
From the jazz flute to an iconic bluesy bass riff to take-me-to-church vocal delivery and disco-era big band exuberance - this album is all over the place in the best way. Needs more cowbell, which I would happily provide. Some of the riffing get a tad long in the tooth and wears out its welcome.
Let's skank! Let's jump! Let's bop around! I'm really digging this! Quirky and groovy, classic ska. This reminds me of so many other artists that came after... B52s, No Doubt, Reel Big Fish, and another one that is on the tip of my tongue, but I can't quite put my finger on... Ashamed I hadn't explored this album before. Like many other Millennials, I had a ska loving period in the mid-90s and this album feels nostalgic even though I hadn't listened before. A couple of the tracks are annoyingly repetitive, but overall I enjoyed the album.
Thoughts on Thom Yorke pre-listen: Thom Yorke is a pretentious, conceited music snob for assholes. After listening to In Rainbows by Radiohead: Wait, Thom Yorke is the singer for Radiohead? hahaha... lil blind spot, I guess. Anywho, the vocals kind of creep me out at times, but I really like the mood and atmosphere created on this album. Each listen brings me closer to floating in the amorphous goo.
first listen: his voice gets on my nerves. i like the piano riffs here and there, fun and joyful. nothing super compelling imo.
I didn't think I'd make it through a second listen, but I stuck it out and gave 'er a go. (pats self on the back) While there are some parts of it I genuinely enjoy, the overwhelming majority just drones on far too long for me to really enjoy it. I appreciate the talent and musicality, but it's a no for me, Mingus.
Finally an album I'm well-versed in! Top to bottom well done. Powerful vocal delivery and lyrics and production - soulful and dramatic and painful and compelling. Feels pretty timeless. If you're not singing along and doing diva hand movements, you're not enjoying this masterpiece properly.
Even though the big band, orchestra and dreamy backing vocals is more swing band and less "country and western music", Ray Charles' voice is so strong, sincere and emotive, so I'll forgive the possible misleading album title. My favorite tracks are ones with minimal backing vocals like 'Lonesome Me', I find myself wanting one-on-one swing time with Ray and the 1950s Disney-style dream girls kind of ruin the vibe.
I was nervous to listen, but happy to report I was pleasantly surprised. I saw a several reviews complaining specifically about the vocals and the "noise" of it all, but I found the album to be pretty compelling!
Do I know what the songs are about lyrically? No.
Did some of the tracks get a little too "noisy"? Yes.
Would I seek it out to listen again? I'm not sure, but for the most part I really enjoyed the ride.
Feelin' alright, just alright. Diggin' the funky groove. Weird lyrics - the mention of "barely thirteen" and "medicated goo"... idk man, idk.
The sloppy loose vocals make me uncomfortable in a way I find difficult to describe. "my phone's on viiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiibraaaaaaate" gtfo. Perhaps if I gave more of his catalog a listen, I'd uncover some gems, but as an entire album idk if I'm totally in on this guy...
Not my cup of tea. I'm just not into jam band type music and this was no exception. As a dear friend of mine once said, "It's like they got ripped to the gills and just stepped into the studio: 'LETS JUST FUCK AROUND, BOYS'"
hmm... what to say, what to say... the album cover is A+, and the music? Well, I mean, I understand the influence Ramones play on the punk scene, but it doesn't grab me or move me or make me want more or want to bop around. Many of the songs sound nearly identical to my ear, and since the vocals are difficult to discern, I'm not even sure if the songs are telling a story or merely a series of grumbles and grunts. The opening is fantastic, but beyond that, sorry to say it's a no for me.
Slow start, but definitely fuckssss overall! Fun grooves, some meaty rhymes. She flows just like a pro, all hail the queeeeen! Lil dated, but as a Salt n Pepa and TLC fan, it was fun to hear the origin story.
Strong opening track, but it goes downhill from there. As far as 80s rock bands go, this one isn't offensive - it's fine for background music. I like this better than some other "let's jam" bands on the list...
Witch Hunt is a fun one! I like the moody atmosphere created with the synth and guitar.
Express Yourself - this is probably my fav track, fun sampling, less "I hate everyone (especially cops and women), I'm gonna fuck you up" and more "Music is fun! Let's have a good time, boys.", Dre let's it flow.
Fun beats and sampling throughout - If It Ain't Ruff, Express Yourself, Dopeman (remix), Quiet On Tha Set, Something 2 Dance 2
Musically speaking, this isn't really my cup of tea. Big props for speaking their minds and resonating with so many people. Ice Cube's overly angry/harsh delivery is off-putting to me. Some of the lyrics might not have aged well, but others are still right on the money.
ok, ok... so i'm usually not into jazz or jam bands, but like... this one is SO FUNKIN FUNKY it just pulls me in and takes me on a groovy magic carpet ride. i probably wouldn't reach for it again, but it was a fun surprise.
uhh... dafuq is dis? i wanted to like it, but i just... i just can't. the droning, forced and stiff vocals were incredibly off-putting.
"Is this album over yet?" I ask myself on track 3.
WOAH HO HO! What do we have here?!
Black feminist rage, you say? WITH aggressive guitars?? (<-- says Brad.) FROM 1999?!! Add a nod to Cruel Intentions (the movie) and I'm officially on board.
I really enjoyed this whole album! Not really any skips imo.
the album art really screams "SURF'S UP!" and beyond that the music is fine, and other than the weird nonsense lyrics about ecology and garage wine, there's nothing here that really perks my ears up.
I'm longing for the falsetto harmonies of the 60s.
the buzzy vocals, the strong beats, fun lil hooks - this album is a fun, funky groove that takes me right back to 2010. I love how raw and real the instruments sound - no sound bites here - just two dudes jammin' on real instruments in the studio, creating a unique and catchy sound vibe.
Music that makes ya wanna mooooove. Infectious rhythm, celebratory vocals and variety of instruments had this gal feeling mighty fine!
If you need me, I'll be reciting 'everything means nothing to me' on repeat like a sad boi who got put in time out for the rest of the day.
Elliott Smith reminds me of many, many other early/mid-2000s hipster indie bands, however:
1. Did he do it first? Maybe.
2. Did he do it justice? YES.
3. Is it derivative? Of course, but I ain't mad about it.
"Everything Reminds Me of Herrrrrrrrr" - the pleading vocals, it pulls at my heart strings in the best way.
Vocal harmonies and plinky piano on "The Lost and Found" and a couple other tracks reminds me of The Beatles.
After listening to this one through several times, and knowing that Paul McCartney is an undeniable music legend, I'm kind of embarrassed to admit the only tracks that really caught my attention were "Maybe I'm Amazed" - the passion is intoxicating - and "The Lovely Linda", which was just kinda fun, kinda weird. Beyond that this was fine background music. *shrug*
might revisit this rating, but sticking with a 3 for now. it was fine. i might dig it out again when i'm in the mood for happy music, but no promises.
No, just no. Feels cheap and cheesy. Lacks depth in lyrics, storytelling, musicality, production value, and funkification.
I bet these guys call themselves THEE Band, and that tells me all I need to know. This album feels like a prank.
Give me CCR over this gaggle of goons any day.
Blood: a little long at 17 tracks
Sugar: high energy throughout the record has me hyped like a 90s kid binging Surge soda
Sex: 6 explicit tracks - lyrics are capital h Horny, honey.
Magik: authentic, funky grooves track to track, these guys genuinely sound like they're having a blast jamming together
