When to listen: Want relaxed AND uplifted
When to listen: Want to seem CBGB cool
When to listen: Intense jazz experience
When to listen: Fall, Berkshires, homey-vibes
When to listen: High school nostalgia, need to kick into high gear. Appreciate, then skip songs with excessive moaning.
When to listen: For the hippie trippy ~experience~ A true no skip album that reminds me of high school, and the great Strong Songs ep breaking down the album
When to listen: Pump up or feel like a boss. Surprisingly loved this as a no skip. Made me think about and appreciate metal vocals and musicality.
When to listen: chill and funky vibes. Love the experience of listening to Stereolab but don't have much to say from a music theory standpoint—just that it was engaging and interesting!
When to listen: feel like fighting the m-a-n, get amped. I was really debating between 3 and 4 stars, the songs themselves itself are great but as an album it's a lot of the same without evolution.
When to listen: I wouldn't listen to this album again. It just... wasn't an experience that added anything to my life.
When to listen: feeling like funk. Very enjoyable listen
When to listen: rainy or cold or moody or autumnal. Really enjoyed this album and discovering this artist
When to listen: mellow background banjo. Amped up my yen to learn the banjo. Lovely music, blended into the background though nothing really stood out to me.
When to listen: feeling smooth or easy or sentimental. I really enjoyed this album even if a few songs I feel like were overplayed on TikTok. I think Frank Ocean is a genuinely impressive artist / this album top to bottom is a great listening experience.
When to listen: feeling like the main character getting ready to leave the house. I loved that this album had a distinct sound / through line but added a new element to each song that fit, e.g. a saxophone or East Asian inspired melodies.
When to listen: hanging out and in a folksy mood. I enjoyed this album more and more as it went on, but it didn't move me one way or another.
When to listen: feeling edgy and punky and cooler than I am. I genuinely enjoyed this album—would listen again!
When to listen: Not sure I would again, not because it isn't amazing just because I don't need to. Great album, great music, but it just... is.
Is this experience making me realize I like metal?!
When to listen: A melancholy spring or summer day. Longing. Yearning. Feeling enormous love. I think she's a wonderful singer and I enjoyed this album.
When to listen: On drugs and want to see sounds. As an opera nerd I liked the integration but it wasn't enough to get me into the album.
When to listen: spacey, trippy, chill vibes. Idk why this album got hate on here I think it's unique and a fun listen. Is it... essential? Maybe not. But enjoyable!
When to listen: Want to feel good. Really anytime: cooking, cleaning, road trips, party. This was a fun one because I have this album on vinyl, the Irish man I was seeing found it for me in Dublin. Grew up in an Elton John family, and am a diehard for life. FIVE STARS!
When to listen: Feeling 80s. So quintessentially 80s I love this album so much.
When to listen: Feeling bluesy. I know Muddy Waters can do more emotive blues, the kind that makes you want to get up and dance. That wasn't this album for me. Maybe it wasn't supposed to be?
When to listen: Unoffensive (to the ears) punk mood. I really liked this sound, it felt like melodic but punk-y? At times it felt very Bowie-esque with a little bit of Rocky Horror Picture Show thrown in.
When to listen: Don't! I've seen the album iconography but had never sat down and listened to this album and I... didn't like it?! To me, it sounded like boring, harsh, industrial noise.
When to listen: relaxing, glass of wine, chill vibes. Have always loved this album and Al Green's voice
When to listen: IDK if I would again, but I love I Can See For Miles and I can see how smart it is, how funny the little jingles are, and how dedicated to the concept album The Who is.
When to listen: Need an 80s synth uplift moment. Some of the elements felt so dated, but damn does he have a gorgeous voice. But truly, many of the songs are catchy as hell I just couldn't get over the overly 80s elements. Def loved his cover of Who's Loving You!
When to listen: Guitar licks? IDK honestly I probably don't need to listen again. It all sounded very repetitive and didn't interest me.
When to listen: Want to raise my blood pressure, feel stressed, feel panicked. I tried to listen, I really did. .execute. was a tough listen, and it got slightly better throughout but not enough. I can respect the genre, respect the guitar skills, respect how much Slipknot means to others. But... doesn't mean I like it.
When to listen: In the mood to be screeched at. This is not an easy listen, but I do think the chorus of Pa(Ubu) Dance Party is a bop.
When to listen: after a breakup.
When to listen: Feeling oldies melancholy. Not sure how I'd feel about it paired with a rando guy doing magic tricks.
When to listen: In a bed, with tea, in dreary weather, when feeling a deep pit of despair in your stomach. Look, Leonard Cohen is an impressive artist. This album is lovely, gritty, and complicated. It's just not all the way there (for me)
When to listen: October moody. My college boyfriend had a few songs from this album in a mix he made me and I liked those songs, which made me think I’d like this album. But it was truly meh to moi.
When to listen: bummed out or want to be more bummed out. Look, it's a good album. Heart of Gold and Old Man... always loved 'em. But sometimes having a musical style means having a repetitive album and that's the case here in my humble opinion.
When to listen: to zone out, potentially after smoking a lot. What I liked about this album is that it was short. Techno mumbo jumbo not my vibe.
When to listen: To groove out while working or on a car ride. A few songs I liked more than others, like "Crying." But overall this was a great listen and I enjoyed it
When to listen: Driving down the PCH, palm tree weather, sunshine. Great album, so nostalgic for my teenage years.
When to listen: Don't listen to antisemitic musicians. Separating the art from the artist, this is a good album. Reminds me of college, Mark loved this album.
When to listen: In a old dive bar, on vinyl, major yacht rock vibes. From the reviews I see racism/anti vax vibes (0/5) and acknowledge of how much of the blues is stolen from African American culture (0/5) but damn I love this era of music. Five stars but hate myself for it…
When to listen: Manic pixie melancholy. 'Twas a fun listen but nothing that grabbed me too intensely.
When to listen: Feeling like you're in an indie movie. I know this band isn't indie music, but it's the foundation of all that came after it ya know? I knew I loved Time of the Season and This Will Be Our Year but I ended up liking the whole album.
When to listen: feeling hipster “I know British rock bands better than you.” I bopped. I jammed. It was catchy. It feels like the prototype. Good but by today’s standards fine.
When to listen: feeling dark, spooky, edgy. I loved that this album's music is super diverse but always has the style of Depeche Mode coming through. Such a unique and unmistakable sound.
When to listen: On LSD?! It was trippy, it was cool, it was definitely ahead of it's time and I like the more melodic songs in the beginning but I'm just not smart enough to enjoy the weird ones at the end... I know that's the point. I'm a normie what can I say ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
When to listen: in a dark rage. Started out enjoying this album more than I thought I would but then, as the title suggests, it took a downward spiral and I liked the later songs less.
When to listen: party-time, dance-time, fun-time. The type of music that is just joyful and alive.
When to listen: all the time. Another album spun on my record player! This is an all-time favorite. Brilliant in so many ways. So unique. So wonderful
When to listen: feeling down but energetic, morbid. I really enjoyed this album, felt like a few songs were very Springsteen-esque (but I think a lot of albums are Springsteen-esque so that might be a "me" problem.)
When to listen: at a retro diner with a milkshake (or even an egg cream!) on the jukebox. Fun album, great voices, lots o boppos.
When to listen: Driving upstate in the sun. Yea, it's moody, but it's got a ray of light to it musically that I love. Starts great, lags a bit as it goes through but that doesn't change my rating.
When to listen: Need noise. Feels unfair to rank as this type of punk just isn't really my style and coming in 1980 I just don't quite feel it was on the cutting edge. Just not my vibes so trying to appreciate it for what it is
When to listen: hating men, loving men, feeling like an empowered gal. This album is hit after hit, with lots of new to me songs to enjoy. Love.
When to listen: feeling nostalgic, patriotic, NOT patriotic, like the Jersey girl I am. Know this album very well and knew it would be 5 stars.
When to listen: feeling spacey and futuristic. It’s synth. It’s fun. It’s unique. But it’s also repetitive.
When to listen: feeling like raging against the man, millennial style. Can’t believe how many angsty teen hits were on this one. But was more impressed when I thought about the global influences, the lyrics, and the gestalt of it all. It sounds like a band the weird kids formed in their garage and they’re finally playing the school talent show… and I kinda love that?
When to listen: in someone’s basement, hanging out, teenage years (even if I was a teenager in the 00s.) I knew I loved the song In Your Eyes, but the rest of album is new to me and underwhelming? Or just not my style? 4 stars for the one finale song tho…
When to listen: uhh... Idk it's hard to rate albums that make me physically uncomfortable to listen to.
When to listen: when men suck and I want to just shake it all out. I loved this album when it came out in 2020, gave it one listen through and never touched it again. It holds up!
When to listen: Feel like I'm 16 and performing in the choir of Tommy at a high school in New Jersey over the summer. The concept is weird and brilliant, the music is wonderful and interesting. Damn I just love The Who
When to listen: while cooking a fancy dinner and drinking a glass of red wine... AKA you need to concentrate on the cooking and not on the music. It's pleasant, it's background-y, but it didn't rearrange my mind.
When to listen: Sunny Sunday morning brunch. I love Billie Holiday but these songs just kind of blended together for me, so I docked off a point. I know her other albums have more range. Her voice and her vibe is incredibleeee
When to listen: want renaissance metal vibes. Cool instrumentation, absolutely loved the song "One"
When to listen: Nostalgic millennial pump up music. Voices are incredible, first 3/4 of the album definitely better than the last but not sure why it's getting so much hate cause I think this album is impressive.
When to listen: feeling squeaky?! IDK honestly this house album was catchy in moments but mostly not my jam
When to listen: 70s feel good. Damn this was a wonderful album, can't believe I'd never heard of Joan Armatrading before but definitely would listen again! Really interesting, very catchy, very easy to listen to. Pleasant and enjoyable like an easy-drinking wine.
When to listen: In a dark, dark depressive hole. It's a tough listen, no song stood out they just kinda mushed together, and it was simply not my style... so it's hard to rate yet here we are
When to listen: In a pub on a rainy day. Pint not optional. I liked the beginning of the album more than the end. I've always loved the song for which the album is named, it's so wonderful, and it was cool to hear the full soundtrack from whence it came.
When to listen: Rage-y but cheerful, powerful. Assumed anything Courtney Love would be scream-y but this was... awesome.
When to listen: in a moment of needing to kick ass. This experience is teaching me that I like 70s/80s metal?! Who knew. This was enjoyable to listen to and had a nice variety to the sound of the overall album
When to listen: missing collegium, wanting to impress a date, to fulfill my passion for harpsichord music. This is a weird album. It's a conceptual album. I really liked the last piece, Cosmia. But not an easy listen and I understand the criticism, especially of her crunchy vocal style
When to listen: working on my car in the garage, drowning out the neighborhood noise. Except I live in an apartment and I don't own a car. This is a situation where I can hear its influence on others, I can hear its influences from others, and I can see its value—just not my vibe.
When to listen: Bopping around and feeling like a girl's girl. I've had their version of I Heard it Through the Grapevine in my Spotify saves for a long time. What a treat to hear the whole album. The sound is an unusual mix of lots of influences and the lead singer's voice is definitely unique, but that's what I loved about it!
When to listen: the world is against you. Love this album, great music great sound
When to listen: moody my-so-called life vibes. I always kind of assumed I'd like S-K cause it's my vibe but I couldn't get into this album, which is a bummer. The sound, the harshness... maybe I just need to give it a listen when I'm in a different mood. I do, however, agree with the reviewer that said "if you think this is like 'being yelled at by your girlfriend' I'm sorry that you hate women"
When to listen: Want to kick down a door and feel powerful. When I saw punk and hard rock I was like nah but this was a really enjoyable listen. I especially liked "Lately." Her voice is amazing and it was very listen-able.
When to listen: want to feel good and groovy. Honestly what a fun album.
When to listen: airy, wispy, manic pixie vibes. When I started the album I thought "damn why do people only talk about 'Running Up That Hill' this entire album is awesome" and then we got to the weird album end songs and I was like ok ya I know why. So yea, liked the start of the album. The end not so much.
When to listen: While reading Lolita? Didn't really vibe with this and then read the translation / plot of this album and felt super icked out. Sorry Serge.
When to listen: on a beach, somewhat dingy but the sun is shining and the sand is soft and there’s a slight breeze. Like many listeners here I’m not a huge reggae person. The music is good but repetitive.
When to listen: walking through the streets of New York in the middle of August. Good beats. Good lyrics. Good listen.
When to listen: want to feel a pep in your step. Enjoyed the album but didn't read too much into it. I think better Ray Charles albums are to come...
When to listen: sitting on a lawn with lots of trees, staring up at the sky. Not just this album but any Van Morrison album. Not his best album but there were little flourishes and moments I deeply loved.
When to listen: on a journey to Middle Earth. I liked the random influences infused with rock, I liked the weirdness. If you can't have fun making music when are you supposed to have fun?
When to listen: an art gallery in Chelsea. I felt very torn on how to rate this because knowing it’s David Bowie impacts my objectivity. This album didn’t feel distinct, it felt like noise. But I do love his voice and there are moments I enjoyed, like “You Feel So Lonely You Could Die”—which had some interesting plays in traditional chord progressions.
When to listen: Literally anytime. All the time. So many wonderful songs on this album, Joni Mitchell has the voice of an angel, her lyrics tear your heart out and sew it back in again. Love <3
When to listen: metal mood with a twist. I liked some songs more than others. Unsurprisingly, it was the more melodic less metal tunes, like Change. I also liked Bloodsport.
When to listen: want to feel mellow but not sad. Ok this album got a LOT of hate on here and he's done some weird stuff but I enjoyed listening to this album despite a genre I generally dislike so... idk I liked it?!
When to listen: road trip obviously, cross country in a junker. I would never have called myself a ZZ Top fan but I liked this album. "Gimme All You Lovin" "Sharp Dressed Man" and "Flag Her Down" especially.
When to listen: Reading "my year of rest and relaxation." Not because this is restful or relaxing, the book isn't—it's just that funk, that rut, that sinking feeling. I enjoyed the music but have a feeling there's better Beck to come.
When to listen: Short burst of energy. I thought this album was really interesting and a nice little tasting menu of punk fusion. Also easy to listen to and enjoy—not easy for this genre!
When to listen: I wouldn't, because... other, better versions exist. I found this derivative and boring. Way too much harmonica for my liking. Kiiinda liked "Touch, Feel, and Lose" but that's it. Forgettable.
When to listen: want cheery, childish rock? Honestly this album underwhelmed me, I felt like it didn't know what it wanted to be.
When to listen: Sunny Fall Gilmore Girls day (duh.) Obviously new "One Line" from the show but really loved this whole album and understand why Rory liked her. Intelligent lyrics, interesting chords, all around a good listen.
When to listen: laying in the grass looking through the trees. This is an album I've listened through too many times to count. I love it so much, every song is unique and special and beautiful and I'm not accepting any commentary to the contrary.
When to listen: want to indulge in the melancholy. Buckley was lovely musician and did some really interesting stuff here.
When to listen: suburban yearning. I always hated when men waxed poetic about Arcade Fire, but perhaps they were onto something. I liked the musical allusions and I liked the lyricism.
When to listen: In my feelings, a dark night in New Jersey. A strong no skip album. Nightswimming will always be a fave. Also really enjoyed The Sidewinder Sleeps Tonight.
When to listen: a hazy, warm day with steaks on the grill. The Doors are good, this album is... fine.
When to listen: Gray day, candle lit, tea brewed, maybe spiked with some liquor. Loved this album: the musicianship, the variety, the lyrics.
When to listen: Aliens have landed and we need to communicate. I respect that this is art, it's just not my kind of art. I love the global elements, but this is pretty dang inaccessible. I agree it belongs in the annals of history, and there it shall stay.
When to listen: at a renfaire. When this album is good, it's really good. When it's not... some of the songs just don't hit I'm sorry. "Help Me" and "Free Man in Paris" are absolutely brilliant. Knocked a star off for the songs that I found to be... rougher.
When to listen: rowdy blues moment. I love the energy. I love the music. It did all blend a bit to me but what fun!
When to listen: Wanting to go on a disappointing trip. I was tempted to give this a 1, but there were moments of interest that I think merit a bump up, specifically "Rodney" and "Lazarus." At times it felt like a rip-off of the Beatles, at others like The Who's Tommy, but most of the time it's noise that doesn't interest me personally.
When to listen: outer space? I hated the literal noise parts of the songs, but other parts were more listen-able and bumped it up to a 2.
When to listen: coffee shop, but a nice one not a Starbucks. Obviously I knew Doo Wop but it was good to listen to the whole thing. Some songs stood out to me more than others, especially near the end. I loved the eponymous track.
Just a complete copy / paste of my review for Moon Safari by Air... and the irony of the last sentence is not lost on me.
When to listen: feeling spacey and futuristic. It’s synth. It’s fun. It’s unique. But it’s also repetitive.
When to listen: funky party background. The few Shuggie Otis songs I knew I loved, and it was fun to add to the repertoire. I think the album is creative, consistent, and a nice smooth listen.
When to listen: On a boat? On roller skates? Moving in some way for sure. I really enjoy this album, I loved all the bridges and random interludes. Obviously very talents singers and musicians. Twas very much my jam.
When to listen: At a bar mitzvah or wedding. I like disco, funk. I like Michael Jackson (the art, not the artist.) But this album has too much baggage and associations in my mind for me to like or appreciate it. It just doesn’t hit for me.
When to listen: anytime, all the time. I love this album and I love Simon & Garfunkel.
When to listen: need somewhat angsty background music. This felt a little generic, all of it blended together, an easy listen.
When to listen: at the beach, at night. Moody, moving, I enjoyed this album but it also felt very much in the background—it was hard to listen to it deeply. I enjoyed Faust Arp for a slow one and House of Cards
When to listen: Laying on the floor. I'd heard "High and Dry" and "My Iron Lung" before but really liked new-to-me songs "Fake Plastic Trees" and "Just"
When to listen: walking down the streets of New York. I’m not a huge hip hop connoisseur but I love the sampling and energy of this album.
When to listen: mood improvement. Stevie Wonder is a brilliant musician and I love this album so so much.
When to listen: Chilling at a BBQ. I was excited to hear this full album because songs 1 and 2 are total bangers, but the rest just fell flat for me. The Eagles are getting a lot of flack on here, I don't think they're as bad as the rest of y'all, but there was a significant drop in interest post Witchy Woman
When to listen: psychedelic vibes. Did I need to listen to this? No. Do I love weird covers? Yes.
When to listen: feeling indie but want to bop as well. Really enjoyed this, and obviously New York, I Love You But You're Bringing Me Down is iconique.
When to listen: in a bubble bath after a long day of secretarial duties, obviously. Gorgeous album.
When to listen: Driving down the PCH. I enjoyed the first 3/4 of this album a lot but it kind of faltered at the end. Cool influenced and cool sound. I love the Beach Boys too so this all tracks.
When to listen: commuting, driving, concentrating. I really liked this album, I felt like it had variety despite being classic Talking Heads. Especially liked "The Girl Wants to Be with the Girls" "Stay Hungry" and their cover of "Take Me to the River."
When to listen: surf dance party. Okay, the B-52s are weird and fun. I can bop around as good as the next person. I recognize how interesting and unique the album is, but to be real, the shrieking kinda got to me.
When to listen: to fight the man. I like what this band stands for, I like their lyrics, but I couldn't parse out the influences that others here seemed to understand deeply. It sounded like... classic, indistinguishable, punk. Sry :/
When to listen: feeling an early 90s beat walking down the street. I love a Jersey girl, I love Queen Latifah, and whatever it's dated but this is a bop and she was *19* when she released this... it was fresh for the time, it's fun today, it's empowering, yadda yadda.
When to listen: Hardcore studying in Burling Library... at least that's what this reminds me of. Obviously talented musicians but the sound wore on me after the first few songs.
When to listen: in the mood for a global jam sound. Good energy. cool influences, cool story.
When to listen: July, outside, BBQ. This album just *feels* good. The music, the lyrics, everything. Loved.
When to listen: certain songs for hype, like The Seed 2.0... but mostly just a historically important album that is in a genre I don't normally vibe with
When to listen: relaxing, thinking, being. Incredible.
When to listen: at a retirement home. The first song I was like... ok this is... pleasant. By the last song I was like pleaaase I want this out of my ears. Soft, ballad-y, sleepy.
When to listen: party, unity, community, hype. I found myself bopping my head to every song. Loved the samples, especially the latin influence. Creative. V v good.
When to listen: fun energy needed. Found myself toe tapping to this one, literally. Loved the brass elements. Fun and upbeat. "Thankfully Not Living in Yorkshire" is one I wanted to end quickly but the rest were really a blast, felt especially pumped up for "Geno."
When to listen: rainy, cool day... which was actually the case here. Lit some candles, listened to the music and the rain outside. Really interesting album.
When to listen: before a bar fight. I know Sonic Youth are iconic, but they can be iconic somewhere else. The tuning stuff is cool, the artistry is cool, I’m not cool.
When to listen: Meal prepping dinner - which is when I listened to it. Loved the energy, this is a fun album!
When to listen: thunder stormy day in. Reminds me of college. Had only heard a few songs but the whole album is excellent.
When to listen: In a Beatles mood, but don't want Beatles. I loved this album, psychedelic but easy to listen to. Fun, upbeat.
When to listen: a hazy almost fall day in the cornfields. Really enjoyed the range of this album. Good listen.
When to listen: block party. I wish I loved this album. Parts were awesome but the relentless beats and siren-like sounds really stressed me out. Appreciate the art, the craft, and the history.
When to listen: 80s party pre-game. Had no idea how many of these songs I'd recognize and know. The music felt... derivative, but it was a derivation of music I like.
When to listen: off Kazaa in my childhood bedroom, or in Julianna's Woodstock house. Obviously I've known a few of these songs from back in the day but surprised how many other songs I enjoyed, especially the ones with brass instrumentation. Not every song was a banger, but enough of 'em were for me to wholeheartedly recommend the album.
When to listen: Background rock? This album didn't really speak to me, but I liked the last two songs (The Sulphur Man and Caught By The River) Album just felt.. generic.
When to listen: chill but upbeat hangs. I'm surprised how much I enjoyed this. I only learned they were a virtual brand when I did the talent one-sheet for them ahead of their SNL performance... this album is cool, it's catchy. I especially liked 19-2000 and Double Bass.
When to listen: with a hot cup of cocoa on a wintry day (I listened on a hot sunny summer day but okay) What a warm and honeyed voice, what a lovely moment in time captured.
When to listen: at a barn? In Ireland? Unclear. This album was... overwhelming. A lot of instruments. A lot of styles. A lot of dissonant chords. A lot of tracks. I see the vision in moments but not the whole time.
When to listen: feeling RHCP but want something different, which is almost never?! I liked the cover of War Pigs and the last song but the rest was just itchy scratchy music to me.
When to listen: slow and gauzy moment. I absolutely loved this album, I haven't heard anything like it before and Glory Box is a triumph.
When to listen: videogames, 80s diner, members only jacket vibes. Have always appreciated the hits from this album but very much enjoyed the whole thing. Fun stuff.
When to listen: Dusk, not too warm and not too hot. I imagine it on a beach, even if this music isn't particularly island-y. I'd heard of the band but never heard their music, pretty darn good! Had to go back and re-listen to The Killing Moon because it didn't make an impact first time around, but the second time I really liked it.
When to listen: Feeling NYC pride? Honestly I wish I was cool enough to like Wu-Tang Clan but I don't care for rap, I didn't care for the lyrics... all around nah. Bumped up a point for cultural impact.
When to listen: on a sunny summer drive with the top down. I'm not sure I'd categorize this as a must-listen... I liked the covers, I liked the Rolling Stones-esque sound and guitar, but it wasn't outstanding (to me.)
When to listen: quiet rural day. I’d heard a few songs on this album but never the whole thing. Love Everybody’s Talkin.
When to listen: on a mythical quest. This album is so Queen, so fun. They are incredible musicians and I've always loved Seven Seas of Rhye.
When to listen: grooving down the street on a sunny day. I love funk, I love a cover, so obviously I enjoyed the album but just a litttttle too cheesy to get the full 5.
When to listen: in someone's basement after Guitar Hero. Idk why this album is getting so much hate I found it very listen-able. Loved the intro song. Love Supermassive Black Hole despite the Twilight. And obviously Knights of Cydonia. You might think it's rock for dummies, but I'm a dummy so let me be.
When to listen: after school in your humid attic with slanted ceilings after sneaking weed into the house. A no skips album, respect.
When to listen: crisp autumn day in the Berkshires. Another album I know backwards and forwards, all hits no skips. King is a genius lyricist and composer, stunning singer... I love her—an appreciation made even deeper after seeing Beautiful on Broadway.
When to listen: Just Solsbury Hill, on a road trip. I love Peter Gabriel's voice and I love the album's one clear breakout hit, but the album is a bit of a mishmosh mess.
When to listen: at a weed shop. I respect this album's contribution to the genre and its historic impact. But the sexism and homophobia were icky. The beats, samples, and lyrics didn't outweigh the icky. Did not enjoy, sorry.
When to listen: to induce anxiety. This album stressed me out. It made me physically uncomfortable. Was that the point? I’m not sure. The singing was sickly, the music sputtering… it reminded me of the red room in Twin Peaks.
When to listen: When you feel like punching something but probably shouldn't. I found the beginning a bit repetitive and tough to listen to but loved the sampling near the end. I think it's more a testament to my love of funk and Motown than this album in particular though. Rap is just not my genre, but I appreciate it nonetheless.
When to listen: I love that a reviewer said "when I want to pretend I'm at The Bronze" so I'm going to go with that. I enjoyed this album more than I thought I would, especially the first half. Liked the song "Heroine." But that said it was a bit repetitive and didn't feel like... revelatory.
When to listen: in the type of dive bar with lots of stickers on the bathroom walls (that may be all dive bars.) This album was... cool. But unfortunately, forgettable. I had to re-listen as I wrote this.
When to listen: driving down a dirt road, arm out of the car. The usual. My love for CCR is unwavering.
When to listen: Eclectic bohemian coffee shop. The music sounded interesting but interesting but familiar.
When to listen: ehhh perhaps don't because Bruce Springsteen has so many good, better albums. Agree with most of the sentiment here -- it's a fine album but compared to what Springsteen is capable of? It's watered down, it's boring, it's meh.
When to listen: strutting. It’s got substance, it’s got style, it’s a great freakin album.
When to listen: cooking a steak with a glass of wine. Amy Winehouse is iconic and I love her deeply but this isn’t her best album, the songs feels a bit repetitive but it’s a repetition of something highly enjoyable.
When to listen: somewhere groovy with a lava lamp on. Yes we’ve heard these songs a million times but that doesn’t make them less great. Amazing sound, amazing lyrics.
When to listen: on your way to Kabbalah. This album is ambitious and interesting, I understand why it's getting so much hate but I think it's genuinely cool and a fun listen. Obviously love Ray of Light.
When to listen: on a really rickety boat. I generally like yacht / dad rock but this lacked, especially the weird little toodle oo ditty.
When to listen: At a very empty, very wooden bar where the bartender knows everyone’s names and resents you for being there. I liked this album but that makes sense because I like Maggie May. Thought it was a good mix of sounds that always sounded like *them.*
I liked the sound and the variety of the album, very nostalgic for my teen years and thinking I had a lot of feelings.
Same review as Johnny Cash at San Quentin... "When to listen: Not sure I would again, not because it isn't amazing just because I don't need to. Great album, great music, but it just... is."
I had no expectations but surprisingly really enjoyed this album. Of course Smoke on the Water is a great song, but I also thought some of the more unexpected chord progressions and harmonies were super cool.
Liked the more tropical sounding songs, disliked the more country sounding ones. But damn does Ray Price have a beautiful voice.
House, dance, rave... not really the type of music that I can deeply analyze so let's just leave this at... it was fine.
When it's good (So Fresh, So Clean, Ms. Jackson, B.O.B.) it's good. When it's mid (Gangsta Shit, Slum Beautiful)... it's real mid and meh.
Not my genre so hard to gauge but the overall beats, samples, and lyrics didn't really grab me.
Liked this a lot more than I thought I would. Felt like the musicality was interesting in contrast with the lyrics and rap. Enjoyed this listen.
I liked the sampling in this one but as always, hate any weird moaning.
Accessible punk, very listenable. That said, the album restarted and I didn't even realize it so... that isn't great?
I struggle with this rating because this album is still better than my other 3 stars, but it's 3 stars *for the Rolling Stones* as in... they have albums and songs that are so much better! Favorite songs were "Tumbling Dice" and "Let it Loose."
So raw and emotional. Truly incredible
"The End of the World" and "The One I love" are so unique and interesting but the rest kind of blended together.
Damn impressive but a wee bit over my head.
Like it JUST SLIGHTLY more than the other Ryan Adams album :/
I'm not sure I get the hate here -- I feel like they have a really unique and fun sound. Really enjoyed this listen
