Perfect quiet morning vibes. Lovely arrangements and instrumentals. Hazey Jane I and II are standout songs, as well as At the Chime of a City Clock and Northern Sky are beautiful and evocative.
Side 1 is a sci-fi rock opera and I loved it all. Overture is an incredible way to start the album. The Twilight Zone is a favourite from Side 2, a little psychedelic. I think I knew Something for Nothing before listening, but I enjoy it more as the closing song in the context of the album. Solid album, may revisit a few songs.
Classic album and Canadian gem. I think I can tell why this is one of their biggest albums, commercially and with fans. I enjoyed the whole album, the drumming is phenomenal, overall still sounds great. Will be an album I revisit again.
Favourite song: Limelight, that song is just so catchy
I was already very familiar with Arcade Fire, this album came out when I was a teenager and was essential listening for an indie rock loving Canadian like myself. Likely played the crap out of this on my iPod. Amazing to revisit the album again beyond the singles. Very grand and beautiful sounding, I love the variation of instruments used, like the orchestra and the organ. Lyrically, I still think it's poignant.
Favourite songs: Intervention, Windowsill, No Cars Go
Never really had much experience with Steely Dan, I knew a couple songs but didn't know that this was the band that made those songs, like Dirty Work and Reelin in the Years, I like those songs. It's easy listening, and soft rock is a good descriptor. I'm not mad at it and I appreciate the lesson in 70s music, but likely will not relisten.
Michael Jackson is iconic, and controversial, but ubiquitous in popular music when I was growing up. I like learning about this album, that it's the first on a new label, first with Quincy Jones, a breakout from his Jackson 5 background/Motown. And I think it shows, a level of asserting independence. I like the disco and funky elements, very fun.
Rock With You and Off The Wall are my favourite songs. Nothing I don't really like here
This album has its iconic moments and riffs, and maybe it was just coming to me at the wrong time, but I wasn't really feeling this. Or more like it just wasn't that memorable. As I think about a lot of these 70s rock albums, I appreciate the musical education, and how much this inspired the rock and metal that came after, but I likely won't revisit.
I love this album and have listened to it before. Really like the flow of the album, and the arrangements/piano, the vocals are great too, really front and centre. Queen Bitch hits different on this listen, such a banger. Same with The Bewlay Brothers, weird and great closer. No skips, one of my favourite Bowie albums
This album has so many hits, I was surprised by how many I had heard but didn't necessarily associate them with this band. I like the use of different genres and sounds, and the nods to early rock & roll and blues. I enjoyed it.
Favourite song: Who'll Stop The Rain, I wish it was longer, it's simple but I love the harmonies and vocals.
I feel like their second album gets more of the glory (hehe Morning Glory). I had never listened to this album before. But it sounds like they are having fun and it's got a charm and energy of a band seemingly before all the fame and drama. I enjoy it.
Standout songs: Shakermaker, Live Forever, Cigarettes & Alcohol, Slide Away
It's simple, chord wise and lyrically, but it's still super fun. Short songs, nothing drags. One of the most influential, essential punk albums.
I did not know any early Queen songs. I like this heavier at times, prog rock, art rock, whatever you want to call it. It's like the precursor to everything I know musically about Queen, I can see the origins. I like the fantasy lyrics, the diversity of sounds. Not my favourite, but fun to explore, and will likely come back to it
I had never heard of this group. But I really do like this kind of Bay area, political, socially conscious hip hop. The vocals are very Public Enemy and the lyrics are still very hard hitting and relevant.
Incredible album. I fell into a Sparks rabbit hole a few years ago and watched the documentary on them and was blown away. Their longevity and creativity never ceases. This album seems to be their most widely acclaimed album. I love the fun and sense of humour you can see throughout. It's weird and highly influential to many genres and artists. A joy to get this morning, an album I return to regularly. Really love the opening 3 songs especially.
A few good songs, but overall nothing too special. I think it's just not for me
Love this album and Arctic Monkeys. It was a great debut and really brought more attention to British music in the mid 2000s. It's so very British. It's what I want to call 'indie dance punk' and is super fun and takes me back to high school when this came out. Really like the Vampire song on this listen, can't think of the title.
A lot of anthemic and heavily played songs on this album. It's hard to distinguish for me whether I do really love it or it's just so omnipresent in culture to the point that I can sing along. I enjoyed it immensely today and I reviewed Definitely Maybe last week, and preferred Morning Glory overall I think. Don't Look Back in Anger will always get me.
I had never listened to Dire Straits before this, I maybe recognize Sultans of Swing. Technically the guitar and instruments are very funky and interesting. Vocals aren't my favourite, but I like it on Sultans of Swing, but I wasn't connecting to it overall. Maybe will try to get into it another time
I legitimately didn't know that this band had so many albums before Sex on Fire blew up. It's... Interesting, I guess? The music fits with a lot of what was happening in rock music in the mid 00s, which I generally like, but the vocals and delivery are just pretty off-putting for me. I was starting to enjoy Soft, then I read the lyrics and full body cringed.
It definitely is and sounds of it's time. And I do enjoy new wave, but nothing really wowed me here. I like the vocals and the lyrics are interesting sometimes.
Excellent album, staple from the early punk scene. I love the lyrics on class and social issues, The Clash do that well, paint a picture of what that time was like. The music is fast, and propulsive, so many bangers. Will forever return to this band as one of my favourite punk bands.
Excellent album, it's a classic and very timeless. I like the lyrical themes, of religion, of breaking free from oppression, of love. It was the ultimate morning vibe and brought a lot of joy to me this day.
I had never heard of this band, but it seems like I should've because it would've been right up my alley back in the early 2010s. Very interesting blend of genres, and very cool guitar work, and jazzy drums. Sometimes leans a little bit 'jammy' for my taste. The vocals are nice and draw you in. Standout songs: Street Joy and Keys.
I already loved this album. A 90s grunge staple. I grew up with a lot of these songs on the radio, so it's nostalgic. Black and Jeremy will always be my favourite songs I think.
I was so pumped to see this today. I absolutely love this album. I first encountered it in high school when I watched the documentary Dark Days, about the people who were living underground in the NYC train tunnels. And the soundtrack was basically all DJ Shadow, and I started doing a deep dive. I can't listen to some of these songs without remembering the dark and gritty shots from that film though.
The sampling is wild and beautiful. I can't claim to understand the technique or half of the sample references. But it is so impressive and like grandiose and cinematic.
Building Steam with a Grain of Salt, Midnight in a Perfect World, and What Does Your Soul Look Like (Pt 1) are my favourites, equally haunting and beautiful.
Also, as if it's 30 years old this year.
I enjoyed this album, I only knew a couple songs prior. I liked the concept, the ambiance, the psychedelia. I liked it but didn't love it. Not sure if it just wasn't fitting with my mood this day or what. Objectively I know it's great, but it was kinda dragging towards the end.
First off this cover art is crazy, I've never seen it. I only knew Immigrant Song prior to this listen. I enjoy the varied sounds here, with them going acoustic and folk on a couple tracks, I really liked and was drawn to Gallows Pole.
I was very surprised by this and how much I was into it. Super experimental and noisy, way before its time! The variety of sounds and vibes across the record are nice and keep things interesting, and trippy. I like the floaty but raw vocals, the bass is killer, and the drums come in when you really need them, and just a weird assortment of electronic sounds. I will definitely be revisiting this album.
I enjoy Beck, but I had never really encountered this album before. I feel like It's the most stripped down of his works. I can feel the emotion and heartbreak, very melancholic. The guitar work really stands out and is front and center. I really like Lost Cause, I connected with is most. It's not my favourite Beck, and it was a little too chill for my vibe this morning. Liked it, didn't love it though.
I went into this album with no prior knowledge of the band and found myself blown away. Even with just the opening track, 'I Wanna Destroy You,' the appeal is immediate. You can clearly hear the influence of psychedelia and late '60s/early '70s rock, but with distinct shades of British punk. It’s easy to see why so many bands were inspired by this sound, like R.E.M., the Pixies, and that entire era of alternative rock is all right here, Brit Pop too. I was pleasantly surprised and felt no reservation about diving deeper to see what they would do next.
Highlights: I Wanna Destroy You, Tonight
This was a Bowie album I had never really heard before. I like that is a quick and fun burst of funky jams. I have liked other Bowie albums much more, this one may take some more time to catch on with me.
I knew the big hit from this album, but would not have expected this album to be on this list. I get it as a pre-cursor to BritPop, but I don't think it really wowed me. I like Timeless Melody.
I have never actually seen Shaft, but it's been around long enough in pop culture that I know the story and the references. I really enjoyed this, I was craving something funky, and I love instrumental tracks, so this delivered. I love the horns and strings, they just sort of amp it up. It was the perfect accompaniment to my morning routine.
I own this album, I brought this CD when I was like 15. I am already fully on The Sugarcubes/Björk train and was so excited to see it today. I love that this band went out to make a pop record, but with punk sensibilities. It's weird and absolutely put Icelandic music on the map.
I enjoyed the musical education in this one, a foundational album for rock & roll. I enjoyed Blueberry Hill. I appreciate it, it's just not my taste
I've never really got into Springsteen, though I know Born to Run. I can see how this was the follow up, it's a little different, that it's a little grittier with its themes, lots of good stuff with the band. I don't think I will ever be much of a fan of his vocals but I don't actually hate it today.
This was interesting, I enjoy the blend of chill trip-hop bears and piano with traditional Indian singing and instruments in parts. I couldn't really get into the story much. I liked the piano sound in Tides a lot. Didn't wow me and dragged towards the end
I've always enjoyed the Gorillaz singles, but never really did a deep dive through this album, I know Demon Days better. Clint Eastwood will forever be a banger, Del's work here is so good, and brought so much deserved attention to him and his career. Sound Check (Gravity) became a new favourite. It has its moments overall as an album, but a bunch of these songs just don't land for me.
I grew up listening to rock radio in this era, so I heard this band a lot, and the 3 singles from this album a lot. After listening to the full album, I can say that I still enjoy the hits. It definitely sounds 'of its time' with the scratching and production. Overall, I liked it, but kind of as a guilty pleasure.
It is a beautiful album, and she is deservedly one of the greats of this time and style! I loved reading about the history of this album, and there is a certain additional sadness around this being the second last album she made, and the last to be released while she was alive. I will be honest and say I do not typically listen to this style of music, but the orchestra is gorgeous and cinematic, and the bit of grit in her voice as she aged is lovely. It has put me in a distinctly melancholic place today.
I had never heard of this band. I like the mixture of instruments and styles, I can see the combination of rock, folk, Celtic elements, country. I may have to check out earlier music to see how this is a departure from what they had been doing.
We Will Not Be Lovers is my favourite song, that to me was the song everything came together and appealed to me the most, maybe because it's the most rock forward. Same with World Party, I'm a fan of the uptempo rock songs.
I think there's maybe a little bit too much here and drags towards the end, or some songs lean a little jam band. But I guess that fits with that sort of pub rock that's mentioned. I can see this killin in a pub.
I thoroughly enjoyed this whole album, I knew the hits obviously, but was surprised the rest was really good too. I love new wave, I wasn't alive in the 80s but there is absolutely a weird nostalgia in it. Hungry Like the Wolf and New Religion were my favourites.
I've always heard Kraftwerk mentioned as a defining artist and influential to so many. The opener was cool, I don't mind a long song as long as it's fairly dynamic. I certainly got the vibe of driving down the autobahn. I found the rest of the album harder to get into. I liked Komentenmelodie 2 though.
I respect it, and will probably seek out more Kraftwerk but I'm not all the way there yet
Very familiar songs from classic rock radio. More Than a Feeling is a little over played, so I feel like that taints my opinion a little. It's all very accessible 70s rock, there's nothing wrong with it, but it just doesn't excite me more than some good catchy hooks.
Listen, I love The Smiths, I admit it. Despite what I know of Morrissey's shitheadery. I liked a few songs here but nothing that wowed me as much as the earlier stuff.
I really only knew The Humpty Dance before this and it's fun as a sort of novelty song, but that dude's voice would get so annoying if it it was all that, but it's funny to read that's an alter ego. But there's lots of good jams, I love the jazzy and funky bits. I will always have a soft spot for this era of alternative hip hop, it's just interesting and different. My only issue is maybe there is just too much here, there's something to be said for a shorter album to make an impact and not overstay the welcome.
I have heard this album before and really enjoyed the fuzzy guitars and distortion with really echo-y vocals. I love shoegaze so this band is essential foundational listening. It's noisy but really melodic in spots.
Something's Wrong really hit me on this listen.
This is a classic album. I wasn't alive yet but it is absolutely nostalgic sounding. It has great production and catchy interesting hooks, and some of the best 80s hits in one album. Everybody Wants to Rule the World remains my favourite song here.
This is my second foray into Dire Straits, and I was feeling this one much more. I like the 80s-ness on Money for Nothing, musically. Lyrically I think I missed the slurs, but I get that's the point, it's apart of the narrative and character he's singing as.
I have never listened to Elvis Costello, besides maybe Radio Radio. There is a lot that I liked. I liked the music of Kinder Murder, but the lyrics made me uncomfortable, even if it's a comment on toxic masculinity, I just couldn't get through it. This is Hell is great. By this point in the album I was getting used to his vocals. I like the variance between songs. You Tripped at Every Step is just a great pop song, with excellent piano. 20% Amnesia is interesting, leaning a bit more pop punk. I like London's Brilliant Parade. Overall, I think the songwriting is very evocative and paints a picture.
I enjoyed this a lot, I only knew the later stuff from this band. But this is pretty good for a debut. If Only and Walkin on the Sidewalks were great to start. I think calling this just stoner rock is reductive, technically the sounds are really cool, sometimes psychedelic, but just overall good hard rock. I feel like you can feel the heat and dusty desert in this music. Josh Homme is a great player and singer. Maybe a bit droning and repetitive with its production etc. but still a cool record to explore.
I love some 80s goth, it was a great album to come up on this particular day. I enjoy the mix of drums, synths and vocals, it's maybe an acquired taste, but I'm into it. Lucretia My Reflection was my favourite song, it has a nice addition of guitar. I like the piano ballad 1959 too. Classic.
I'm embarrassed to admit that I don't think I knew of this band at all, and I am Canadian and love 'CanCon'. I really love the laid back bluesy, folky sound. I can see why some may call this too slow, or boring, but I dig it. Her voice is haunting and suits this kind of music. Really liked that Sweet Jane cover
Another great Led Zeppelin album. I only knew a couple songs, but I like the variation of sounds and genres. Kashmir is wild with those strings. The first half of the album really grabbed me but was weaker towards the end.
I find this a hard one to get through. I was once a big Kanye enjoyer, and his early career is really interesting and the production is amazing. But I just can't get past his shitheadery in real life, and have no interest in supporting him anymore. This album is experimental certainly, I was no bored lol, but I don't like it.
This is an absolute 5 before even listening to it again today. This is one my dad had on vinyl when I was growing up, I think. War Pigs gives me chills everytime with its opening, and the vocals are so good. Paranoid is one of their best hits and will always be a banger. Planet Caravan is a surprising song, chill and noodley guitars. Iron Man is... Iron Man, iconic riff. Electric Funeral is chunky and dark and weird, another great guitar riff throughout. Hand of Doom has it all, and the lyrics are so dark and poignant about war and drugs and addiction. Faeries Wear Boots is a great closer. Classic, must listen album.
I knew a couple of these songs going into this album, The Pyramid Song and Like Spinning Plates. Knowing that this comes after Kid A, I feel like I like Kid A more, but similar vibes surely. This one is a little too same-y. I enjoyed You And Whose Army and I Might Be Wrong. But maybe I just wasn't in the right mood to enjoy as a whole. Life in a Glasshouse was a pleasant ending but came a bit out of left field with the trumpet and extra band, I would've like more of that maybe sprinkled in throughout. But I enjoyed that dynamic of song more than most on the album.
