1001 Albums Summary

His voice of course is unmistakable, and the melodies are so unique. The instrumentals are doing so much, but the melody somehow fits right in. Something tells me that he isn't going to work on Maggie's farm anymore. Folky, rocky, bluesy, country; somewhere in the middle there. Either way it's fun, and a cool dense mix of genres but still consistent. Started to fall flat for me by the time it got to Gates of Eden. It's too much of a turn for an almost 6 minute song that doesn't keep my interest. The a-side of this album was so big and dense and it just wasn't able to keep that up. But then It's Alright Ma does that same thing, for an even longer song, and nails it. It's so catchy, and demands my ear. It's lyrically impressive and poignant. And in the end, it sticks the landing. I enjoyed this album much. 3.8/5

Different than anything I've listened to with real intent before. I just never have dove deep into hip hop and sample based music. I definitely prefer vocal based music, but this is still a vibe. The tremolo effects in Changeling are dope. Takes you to a completely new place. When it goes back to normal it almost feels like that wasn't possible. And the seamless transition into Transmission 1 is beautiful. I really do appreciate the artistry of this album. Isn't quite my vibe but I respect it a lot. The back half of this album is make or break territory for me. Why Hip-Hop Sucks In '96 got a real chuckle out of me. Well played, Shadow. Napalm/Scatter is nice, that smooth transition right in the middle was well executed. One of few songs that spoke to me in any meaningful way. Blue Sky Revisit is awesome. Well deserved spot near the end to round of this album. It's fair to say at this point that the back half leaned a lot more towards make than it did break. Again not quite my vibe, but a really impressive work of art here. I can't knock it too much. 3.1/5

Some catchy hooks, but it just doesn't resonate with me yet. I was hopeful this whole album that something would really impress me. Smooth sax just simply ain't my vibe. The use of the name Frankie for that song just doesn't work. So many lyrical choices are so cheesy and difficult to get through. The quality musicianship on the instrumental unfortunately can't do much to cover for that flaw. The hook and general vibe on When Am I Going to Make a Living is the best on the album so far. By a lot. I enjoyed this track enough. It's not all bad. I was hoping to be swung by one of these last few songs. Didn't quite happen. I respect the artistry, and I get why some people really enjoy this, but I am apparently not some people. It seems to land in this spot where to me it's easy to have on, but hard to listen to. 1.5/5

It's crazy how much the vocals carry the instrumental on this album. They do just enough to keep me happy while leaving plenty of room for accompanying the lead and giving Amy space to completely crush this. It's catchy and dynamic. Doesn't try too hard. It's just good. It's smooth, soulful, jazzy, funky, and more importantly purposeful. The lyrics are clever, and the performance is great. The thing that brings it down is it can be a little bit one note at times (but that note is *really* good) and it runs just a bit too long. It goes a little more diverse with songs like In My Bed and Help Yourself, I just wish it did more of that cuz those moments are really good. Also Help Yourself is so good, maybe best track on the entire record, how is it not on Spotify? I also wish Cherry was it's own track, it's a fun little moment. 4.2/5

Immediately gets your head bobbing. Just so groovy. And it just keeps going. I like the intermittent use of harmonica on this record. Livens it up a little bit. Keeps me on my toes. I wish they did more of it. My standout track here is Talkin' Blues. The groove is pretty consistent with the rest of the album, but somehow it just feels like the epitome of everything they were doing here. The instrumental, the melody, the message. It all comes together in a high quality way here. I think it ends a little bit wonky. Am-A-Do is a fine track, but doesn't come off to me as an ideal closer. It's just another song on the record. I think ending on Revolution would have been smoother and more satisfying. Overall I think it does what it was trying to do. It's a fun, groovy album, with meaningful lyrics if you really pay attention. It could have been a little more diverse, but it is quite good. A little bit outside what I would normally listen to, but I'm glad I spent the time on it. 3.6/5

The musicianship is great, and it seems like it was a fun show. A cool little time capsule of an album. The mix is a uneven at times, the trumpet sometimes just completely overpowers the entire band in an bad way. For a live show in 1956 I will say the production is fine, but when I'm comparing it to the history of the best albums, it's not better than most. This album isn't designed to be something you put on and listen to with unmatched intent and intensely critical ears from your home stereo, even if some people would do that anyway. It's designed to be heard from a stage while you admire the band and share the moment with an audience, and you'll never be able to do that. There's a cap on live albums, they'll never be perfect even if they're as good as they can be. After the hour and 20 minute live show you get an entire album's worth of studio recordings and those are much more balanced and well suited for listening to in this format. I like the way it ends, but it really needs to be listed as 2 separate releases. Skin Deep is probably my favorite of the live tracks. The album though certainly becomes hard to get through, it's just so long. And ultimately it's not for me. 2.3/5

Unique and familiar at the same time. Punchy, riffy, memorable, big. It's not overly one note and stagnant - it's actually rather dynamic/diverse. So many songs deliver their own vibe and it's makes this record really really enjoyable. It's also organized in such a way to maximize the diversity of these tracks. Keeps you on your toes the whole time. And I'm very impressed that they're able to keep this up over a 19 track album, even though I still find that to be too long for any album. It's everything from punk to big band to ska to classic rock, but it's all absolutely unmistakably The Clash. Wow. Instrumentally it's impressive and delivers on it's own, and the vocals fit in perfectly. The tones and performances are creative and intentional in a way that just works. I love the vocal back and forth between the Joe and Mick on a lot of these tracks. Hateful and Revolution Rock are standout tracks to me. Work of art right here. 4.7/5

I feel like this album doesn't know what it is. Or maybe it exists only to be an unexpected concoction of sounds, but if that is the case I don't really respect it. Many of the parts just feel like they weren't well thought out, not arranged intelligently, and not written with a lot of intent. The tones aren't impressive, the singer is fine at best, and the instrumental often seems kind of random. The organ/keyboard doesn't do any favors to any of the songs it's used on. On top of that, the production is extremely lack luster. There is but one song on this record I can stomach hearing again, Use Me. The least like the rest of the album, the most stripped back. This album is experimental, and the experiment failed. Use Me doesn't experiment - and it works. It isn't amazing, but I hear that song and I hear the potential of what this album might have been able to be. Very unfortunate. They hit in a few moments and I have it give it points for that, but there is way, way too much miss on this record. I struggle to imagine why this is an album I must hear before I die. Maybe just for some perspective so I can really appreciate the good albums. 1.2/5

I really like the bluesy vibe here, which usually isn't the case for me so I gotta give it props there. The songs are just energetic and unassuming, and leave a good impression on me. The keyboard makes such a difference for The Doors. The way it integrates with the guitar is so different than most rock music, and it really works imo. The timbre of the vocal is also really unique to this band in such a good way. The arrangements and songwriting feel so purposeful. I think the way it's produced leaves a little bit to be desired, but it is largely made up for in the quality of the songs otherwise. The instrumental performance is tight and impressive without trying too hard. It's dynamic and everything plays off each other in a way that really resonates with me. The guitar riffs are so good - they don't quite melt your face off, but they still demand my attention either way. Even the songs that I don't think are awesome still got me vibing and having a good time. This album falls short of being 5 stars, but it's really not far from it. A better mix might have gotten it there, if only barely. I also appreciate how this album respects your time at 37 minutes. One of the biggest flaws with some albums is that they overstay their welcome. Not a problem here. It sticks the landing and gets out of the way. 11 good tracks. Respect. 4.3/5

I was looking forward to this because I never really dove into Prince before and I've only heard good things about his musicianship, but it didn't leave me impressed. I'm not sure I agree with the way many of the instruments are used on these songs. Housequake is a really good example of a song that just doesn't make sense. The lyrics seem rushed and the instrumental clashes with itself especially with that strange warbly synth in the background. Fortunately most of the album isn't quite like Housequake but man that song is not good. There are long stretches of songs that just don't need to be there and get quite boring. There is no world where Hot Thing needs to be longer than 2:15. Any of it's catchiness and desire is completely erroded by the needless instrumental repetition. I guess that's how the album got to 80 minutes. I've heard those stories about how Prince would write a song every day for long stretches of time. It's impressive but I think it really shows in a bad way here. So much of this record is severely under-developed. Only a couple of these songs are good. It starts with a filler track and a large majority of the track listing is just more filler. Slow Love is one of few standout actually good song on this record. It was like a breath of fresh air once we got there. It's the first enjoyable track 7 songs in. The music compliments itself and doesn't try too hard. The lyrics feel like he actually tried to make sense of something. I can say the album generally has a decent vibe, it's sure to get people to bob their head. But it absolutely overstays its welcome and doesn't inspire me to ever revisit it. At least it ends with a song that sounds like the last song on the record. Quality resolve at the end of a largely mediocre project. 2.3/5

I've heard almost all these songs before, but somehow I missed out on hearing the album as one thing. It's so good, so well crafted and diverse for the genre. Easy listening today. It's written intelligently, performed well, and despite the long songs it doesn't struggle to maintain my attention. The tones are so good. The guitars have such a dynamic range and it works so seamlessly. Everything has the space to shine in the mix as well - very well produced. There are only a couple songs that aren't total bangers, and even those are still darn good and sound as good as anything else on here. I'd never heard Through the Never before and it surprised me, I love the melody in that song. 4.4/5

Very Beatlesy. Catchy, dynamic, unique, performed well, dense, funny stereo imagery. Very well written and arranged and so classic. Obviously it has the benefit of being a Beatles record, but it just has this aura that it has always been both classic and fresh. The usage of harmony is so good. Every song, even if comparatively lesser, is at least a solid foot-tapper. A lil bit funky, a lil bit bluesy, a lil barbershop, rock percussion, good tones, good vibes. Fun record. It's not the most complete album in their discography, I personally think there is a bit of a lull in the middle. It's bookended by runs of bangers and true classics, but there is a 4-5 song stretch where I would hope for a bit more. I also do really wish the remaster chose to center the vocals in the stereo image. I understand why they might have pushed the stereo tech back in the day, but if you're gonna remaster it anyway then why not actually remaster it. Pushing everything to mono the way it was really designed is definitely a better listening experience, but that's not how they give it to you anymore. Ultimately it is a very, very, very good album and easy to listen to. Absolutely necessary album. I'm putting it towards the top of my 4 range, not quite giving it 5 stars. 4.3/5

It's a fine live performance. Disc 2 is much more worthy of being recorded for this format than disc 1, but either way for recorded material I don't much care for putting live shows in the same conversation as studio recordings. If I'm being forced to then these songs are just fine in comparison. Would have been elevated a lot to have experienced it with the audience. Similar (in an opposite way) to how studio recordings don't do much for an audience in front of an empty stage. I don't love the free time signature during much of what disc 1 has to offer, it's makes it very hard to feel the groove. The backbone of the percussion on disc 2 with the full band recordings make the performance so much more enjoyable. The mix is good for what it is as well. Ultimately it is largely well performed and sounds good 2.8/5

Every time I draw an album that I've never heard of from an artist I've never heard of, I want to like it so bad. The name was cool, the cover art is interesting... But the album falls so short. It feels like it's almost close to being good, but it really isn't. Everything is about 50% wrong. The vocal melodies are unintelligible, the guitar parts don't compliment each other very well, the drum samples are distracting, the violin is just kinda there, the mix is okay at best, and the arrangements on their own aren't conducive to high quality music. The best thing about this record is the idea of it. It seems like it would have been something I'd really enjoy if any of it was done well. It doesn't even conclude with something that feels like an end. I feel like the car just ran out of gas in the middle of nowhere. Also the drummer literally counts only himself in on one of these songs? Usually I can at least find a couple things redeeming about an album I don't like, but it isn't even performed super well. The guitar is regularly out of tune. The vocal performance is... unfortunate. The instrumental sections often aren't very good on their own either. Maybe I can say that the lyrics aren't too cheesy. But man... it's just a bad record. At least it's only 35 minutes. The worst part is that I think it's all done on purpose. Maybe I just don't get it, but I don't think I want to. 1.1/5

It's not my vibe but I can definitely respect the artistry. Seems to be very good unassuming music to just have on in the background. Extremely chill. I don't think I'll go out of my way to revisit these songs. However, I'm glad to have heard them once. It's performed well, and really easy to just hit play and let it fill out the room. Hard for me to really get into it, but it's good music 3.0/5

It's good, certainly. Background music for me. The performance is really well done. I'm not the biggest jazz fan but it's obvious that these musicians are experts of their craft. I don't like the choice to put 2 of the 3 instruments on the left side of the stereo image, the drums should obviously be right in the middle. I'm not gonna knock it too much for that but it's certainly something that takes away. It's really good for jazz. I won't put it on myself, but I wouldn't mind if this was on in a restaurant. 3.4/5

This album is cool. The tones are really nice, especially that bass guitar. It took me a little while to come to terms with the vocal timbre, but once I got used to it I can vibe with it. It grows a little bit stale in the middle, but that's not because the middle songs are necessarily worse than the first songs, It's just a little bit too much of the same thing. Not a very dynamic album. It's absolutely a product of it's time, and slots in nicely to rock music of that era. But I don't think they do it better than many of the others. I'll be saving a few of these songs. A lot of them are cool but some of them are a bit too much. Wish they left off the live track and let the album close on Go Buddy Go 3.3/5

Nice to get an album I'm already familiar with every once in a while. So funky and diverse for the 90s punk scene. It benefits from being a preferred genre of mine but I really find this to be an incredible record. The use of harmony is very tasteful, the songs don't try too hard, the bass is amazing, the guitar riffs are delicious. There are a few track I didn't quite remember but I'm very happy to have found them again. 4.5/5

I'm struggling to understand how I've never heard of Norah Jones before. It's not my favorite kind of music, but reading into who she is, the successes she's had, and from what time period she had it, it's strange that this is my introduction. But outside of that -- It seems a purposeful and soulful record. She's certainly a good singer, though I must admit the vocal style seems like a precursor to cursive singing. It's not all the way there so it's fine, but there are elements. I think the instrumental is kinda lack luster. It could do a lot more to accompany the melody on a lot of these songs. It only does just barely enough to make a place for a melody to go, which is okay but I wish it did more. It seems like a catalogue of first dance songs, which maybe was the goal, but 14 consecutive love songs was quite a bit too much for me. Not a dynamic album. It's sweet and nice and that's about it for all 45 minutes. It think Nightingale is the best of what this album does. The backing track does like 25% more and makes the song much more of an experience than most of the album. 2.9/5

The arrangements of these songs are so unique. The performance is also really deserving of praise. This is a record that doesn't really emulate, it's experimental and fun in a way that is still refreshing. The fact that it was self-produced as well is remarkable. The pop hooks are so catchy, and the instrumental on it's own is so demanding of my attention. The vibe goes anywhere from electric pop to orchestral rock and lots of places in-between but somehow it's all glued together by Kate's vocal performance. I really dig it. The B-side of this album really dives into the experimentation with all parts of instrument choice, arrangement, performance, and production. I don't think it's quite as well done as the A-side but it is still really cool. For example, the way that Waking The Witch is done is stunning. And it does absolutely stick the landing with the last few songs. There are a couple tracks that bring it down, but largely it is very easy to get past those and enjoy this record as the wonderful experience that it is. 4.7/5

Queen is just one of them ones. So much talent on display here. It grooves and it rocks. The performance is so tight and diverse. The songwriting is awesome. The tones are gorgeous. The classics are classic of course, and for good reason, but the rest of the album is also stunning. The song transitions are tasteful and make the album such an experience. There isn't one song on the entire record that doesn't blow me away for at least a moment. Ridiculous, incredible album. 5.0/5

This is such a good alternative rock album. It's also simply right up my alley as far as genre so that helps. But regardless the tones are so good on this record, and it's mixed so well. Everything has space to shine, and everything deserves the space that it has. Each piece of these arrangements is so purposeful and works so cleanly with everything else. The vocal timbre is just right and everything is performed so gorgeously. I had a great time running through this album. The guitar is tasteful and the bass so full that is feels like that would even be enough. But the percussion is tight and groovy without being repetitive and the keys and a dimension that is really working for them. And it has an awesome closer to help resolve this project. Wonderful use of 50 minutes. 4.8/5

I'm not big into hip hop, but I do appreciate the artistry. I like the beats in general, but many they reaaaalllly overused whatever that squeal is early in the album. It's so incredibly distracting and detracting from some otherwise really cool instrumentals. It also takes away from being able to hear the message. And every time is goes away the beat improves significantly. These tracks have a message and relevant commentary on the world that is well thought out and well performed and I respect that. The beats are funky and arranged well. Unlike most albums, the middle is actually the best part imo. I really enjoyed this album for a good run of 7 or 8 tracks in the middle. In the end, it's alright for someone of my tastes, I can't quite get all the way into it, but it's well made and I can get why people like it. Get rid of that squeal entirely and the album goes up a few points. 2.8/5

This is so well produced. I've never listened to a full album of his, and this is a good introduction to it. Each instrument in the beat really shines, and Jay Z puts on a great performance. I'm not a rap afficionado, but this it definitely well made, and I could see myself listening to a few of these songs again. A lot of people don't respect the lyrics on this album, and maybe for good reason, but the melodies, performance, and beats deserve a lot of props and I'm gonna give it to him. I do love how instrumentally diverse this record is. It flows nicely and every track has it's own identity - and that really resonates with me. 3.6/5

3 hours? No thank you. I listened to only about 40 minutes of this. I don't got time for that. That said, this vocal performance is sublime. The jazzy backing is nice, definitely well performed and does more than just be there to have something to sing over. It is engaging on it's own and even takes over in some spots to become featured and impressive. But regardless of that, this record is all about Ella and how talented she is, which is very. Her range and dynamic use of tone is gorgeous. She has power, softness, sass, and grit all dialed in and uses them all at just the right times. It really is some beautiful music. Great, stunning, and yet horrendously long - which has to factor in when I'm comparing it to the history of the best albums, the greatest of which are all designed to be a singular uninterrupted experience. Even most of the rest are at least that. This isn't something you can put on and realistically take in with very much intent front to back. There's 2 hours too much of it to do that. I wish I could give this a better rating, because usually jazz doesn't do much for me, but this is different and I enjoy it. It boils down to this: it's really good *music* but not a very good *album*. 3.0/5

This is a very classic album, some heavy hitter all timers on here. Top heavy though. The A-side of this album is completely loaded with amazing songs. The B-side grows a little bit stale in comparison, though it's still very good and definitely none of the songs are bad. It is a super fun record with tons of memorable guitar riffs and vocal melodies. Absolutely one of the better albums on the list. 4.2/5

This album is good. It's the kind of album that grows on you as you listen to it. The instrumental sections are long but well performed and don't feel like they stay past their worth. I'd be happy to revisit this album. It's unique in it's genre but don't go so far from it that it's completely foreign. It's a solid middle ground. I can see it being quite enjoyable on relistens. 4.0/5

This album, by and large, is just a fun time. It feels like the band was really enjoying themselves putting this together. It's definitely a style that has to grow on you. The vocal performance is unique and certainly not near being technically great, but it feels like maybe it's simply what it should be for this acoustic punk vibe. I am curious what a better performance could have done for these songs though. It loses me every once in a while trying to be too different seemingly just for the sake of it, but it doesn't happen often enough to completely ruin an otherwise good album. It's no great shakes, but there are a couple great tracks on here - and it is, as previously stated, a fun time. 3.4/5

Well I can start with the good. The tones are nice, the guitar is performed well most of the time. That could be it. The vocal performance isn't very good, and I don't think the timbre works with the genre. The songwriting also leaves so much to be desired. The songs just throw anything together and are hoping it works - the parts themselves really don't flow into each other very pleasingly. Individually some of the moments are catchy and fun, but it's usually not more than 15 seconds at a time that I'm finding myself able to vibe with any song. That said, they do get a quality 15 seconds here and there, and it seems like they were having fun, but that's not nearly enough to make up for the quality of song they display here. It really drags along for what feels like a whole lot longer than 35 minutes. 1.8/5

I have never listened to a Kanye album before. Maybe I was sleeping on Ye. It really is written, performed, and produced very well. It dips down in a few moments, but largely is very well composed. He has the range and the musical intelligence to put this together. In his own vocal performance as well as the backing of songs on the album themselves. So dynamic and diverse, definitely keeps me engaged. I don't often like rap very much, but I can recognize talent, and it's on display here. Now there are a couple duds in here, and I'm not talking about the between tracks with the narrator or other talking/skits. Get Em High and The New Workout Plan it is probably the low point on the record, right in the middle. There aren't a lot of moments like that though, most of the music feels more intelligent and purposeful than those tracks. But on an album that's already too long at 76 minutes, with 21 songs, you'd think maybe they could just toss those to the curb. It's pretty good otherwise. 4.2/5

Very impressed with the mix on this. The performance is really nice, the vocal isn't doing too much and the instrumentation is lush and full. Rides the line between folk and punk without really feeling like it exists as some kind of middle ground for very long and I find that really impressive. The songwriting and arrangement are very purposefully done. It's easy listening, not too much of any one thing but also consistent enough to make it a very well rounded project. It doesn't lose me at any point. And it resolves in such an amazing way with Nightswimming and Find the River which are just awesome. It doesn't have as many huge highs as most albums that I'll round to a 5 to on here, but it is so consistently great that I can't give it anything else. 4.6/5

The guitar riffs on this thing are very tasty. Rod's voice is a little unique but it only took maybe half of the first song to vibe with it. I must say that the mix is unfortunate on this thing. It's not consistently very well centered, I actually went in and turned up the right speaker in spots to even it out and enjoyed it better. Unfortunately that's just not how it's presented. There are moments where a guitar or a piano part are just so much louder than is necessary. It's also a little frustrating that the drums are hard panned left so often when you get to the final track and they have a proper stereo presence making it seem like they could have done that the whole time, but only did it for one song. While there is a lot I could say about the mix, it really isn't horrible, it's still definitely enjoyable for the most part. It is simply what drags this album down more than any other thing. It seems a lot of people question the song choices, but I think it's cool to hear these different takes on something like Ol' Man River. The tones and arrangements are great - they're diverse and engaging, intelligent, fun, and have personality. I really enjoyed the musicianship on this record. 3.8/5

These songs are well written, poignant. And the performance is pretty tight. I can't get into Neil's singing; he of course already has a pretty *unique* voice, but it also seems like he has a predisposition to sing outside of his best range a little too often. The instrumental is quite good most of the time - it has a fun bluesy rock vibe. The guitar tone is so good. Some of the tracks drag just a bit, but not very many of them. 3.2/5

It's an instrumental jazz album from the 50s alright. They do indeed play their instruments. The mix is dated at its best, and simply bad at its worst. Not something that engages me very much. It's crazy to me how many people in these reviews are saying it's amazing background music and giving it a 5. A perfect album should make you want to pay attention to it. It's musically impressive sure, but I don't feel inspired to say much else extremely positive. Though it does get bonus points for featuring someone named Cannonball. 2.1/5

Interesting to find that The Beatles and Donovan collaborated and they seemed to have a good relationship. I don't think Donovan does this sound as well obviously, but seeing his apparent influence on an album of the magnitude of peppers, this is undeniably an album you must hear. All that said, I'm not really feeling very drawn to most of these songs. I can't help but listen because it *is* interesting, but I keep wishing it was just... better. I can't help but feel like it just lacks those moments that truly elevate it. Only a couple tracks really have that. But it is a good album. 3.4/5

This album has such a particular sound. Everything from the songwriting to the production, so props to the whole process. The vocal performance sits in perfectly with the instrumental vibe, and the whole thing really shines. It really engages my mind and is easy to listen to, and the performances are really well done. They definitely lean into a handful of sounds that they are really good at, and this does make it extremely consistent almost to a fault, which could be a negative, but that bank of tones is a really good so that doesn't bring it down much at all. A Certain Romance is just an unbelievable closer. Great album. 4.7/5

This album is nice. I don't find it particularly special, but it is good. The songwriting is probably the best part of this, and it is well written. The arrangements are fine enough but nothing particularly incredible. It's nice to hear an alto lead female voice, that definitely makes Joni stand out here. Very soft and round timbre, so easy to listen to her sing. The songs themselves are kind of an extension of that, very soft and grounded. I do like it, but I'm not amazed. Raised on Robbery is a lot of fun, probably my favorite. 3.3/5

This is cool. Kinda hit or miss, but cool. Never heard of Aimee Mann before. I'm not a big fan of the country twang that this has on it. Maybe it's more of a southern pop rock than country but it's definitely in that world for better or worse. The arrangements are good, though I do find the lyrics a little cheesy at times. I think her voice is used a lot better on a couple of these songs than others, which is unfortunate because it definitely rocks on a few of these tracks, such as Say Anything, particularly the chorus. Everything about this record is so close to being great, but it just doesn't quite get there to me. It is produced well, I'll say. 3.0/5

First off, gotta make sure you listen to the right album, which *isn't* In A Doghouse as the link would have you think. Throwing Muses Self-Titled record is a little bit bipolar. There are some great moments on here, but a lot of meh too. The production is a little bit lackluster, but better in spots. I do like the indie alternative grunge vibe this has going on. The songwriting is just kind of inconsistent. And actually the B-side is WAY better overall than the A-side. All of the songs that are actually a complete package and get you into it from start to finish are on the second half of this record. Most of the first half songs only have a moment or 2 that are great but are otherwise forgettable. Reviewing this as a complete package unfortunately I can't just ignore the okay/meh first half, but by the end I am very glad I listened to this. 3.8/5

Dang this is great, until it isn't. For the large part, the performance is so tight, the tones are delicious, the groove is immaculate, and the mix is luscious. Everybody has their time to shine on here, all members of the band, and they all crush it. Then it fell apart. First is that twirly metallic instrument in Back In Our Minds, which is extremely prominent in the arrangement, loud, doesn't accompany anything, and pretty much makes it unlistenable. And second is the closer track - it's a bit of a let down conceptually from the rest of the album. Feels like it goes somewhere and then just stays there forever without developing, and then gets gross and weird to end the album. Those last 2 tracks definitely keep it from being a 5/5. Track 1 is great. Tracks 2-5 are complete bangers. And tracks 6 and 7 are unfortunate. I'm going to weight those standout songs heavily because they really are so so good. 4.1/5

It's well performed for sure, and it's better than most live albums from the time. However, to me it's not much different. It's a live album from the 60s. It doesn't really compare to the best studio albums of all time. I'm trying not to weigh too heavily that I don't speak French, but it really doesn't help. I am glad I heard it because there is passion and intent behind this performance, but it isn't timeless, and it has been surpassed many times. 3.0/5

This is a fun album. Old school cool. Certainly plenty of classic country elements but does involve a little a bit of a rock feel. The songs are well written and easy to get into. A little bit overly consistent and the mix is disappointing at times, with some distorted elements really distracting from the quality of the songs, which are good. Overall I do like this, but I don't find it amazing. It's a fine record. 3.2/5

Man, this album hits. Hard to put words to it, but I'll try. It's so honest. It's performed eloquently and mixed beautifully, if sparse. I'm not even in a down mood, but this album certainly takes over you emotionally, and that takes talent. Very, very few albums accomplish that for me. It's diverse enough in its arrangements to keep it interesting while also remaining consistent in the tones and execution to keep it obviously one project. It's darn good. I wish it was available on Spotify, I would save a good few of these songs. 4.7/5

So yeah, the music is exceptional. It is epic and grand, amazingly mixed, and all that comes with a great record. But 26 of the 43 minutes is 2 of 5 songs. There are really only 3 approachable songs on the entire thing, and of course those are awesome. Minute for minute it's incredible, but song for song it doesn't offer a whole lot that I'm interested in revisiting. Still real good though. 3.8/5

The songwriting on this album is good. It is well performed, though the best part is definitely the middle. I think the beginning and end of the record leaves a little bit to be desired, and the mix is pretty dated overall. Many of the other older albums here have benefited from a 21st century remaster. I think that would make a big difference for this album. The hits from this record are deserved, and there are a couple other good tracks, but I'm not amazed by the totality of this record. 3.3/5

The songs on this are okay. Nothing particularly special. Seems a little bit self-indulgent and like it wasn't finished being written before they decided to record. The mix is kinda tinny, thin, and very uneven sounding in a lot of moments. Definitely far from my favorite of these albums. Break It Up is maybe the best of these songs. 2.1/5

This is a fun album. The instrumentation is so big and engaging, really pulls you in. The songwriting is cool, and the performance is very good. I'm impressed by a lot of the technical achievement of this record. I'm getting a big Phil Collins vibe. Some of the songs are a bit too much for me to have much of a desire to revisit them, but none of them are bringing the score down very much. Definitely a product of its time. Still a very solid record. 4.2/5

Fun to get an album I'm already very familiar with every once in a while. Harder to be as objective though. I really enjoy a lot of this album. Drive was one of the first songs I tried to learn on guitar. The album's departure from typical rock music is alluring and curious while remaining familiar. It's very cool that way. I don't think it's among the upper echelon of albums, but I do enjoy it. Some of the songs leave me wanting. Song by song, it rides this fine line between good and just okay. But it's mixed very well, carefully crafted, well performed, and interesting either way. It's a good album. 3.9/5

This album isn't nearly as good as The Rolling Stones were eventually capable of. It's really not that good in general. The recording is regularly distorting, and the mix doesn't save it. Not to mention that the performance was only just fine to being with. The instruments aren't even all consistently in tune. The songwriting is okay and nothing better, the hooks aren't that catchy, and the music is largely forgettable. I'm not going to give it any bonus points for being made by the stones. This isn't a great album. The best of these songs is only okay. 2.2/5

This album is really cool. I don't dig into hip hop and rap often, just not quite my vibe, but I know talent when I hear it and it is definitely here. This is intelligently crafted and well performed. The songwriting is diverse and full of hooks. There are definitely some lyrics that I don't appreciate and I'd have preferred them to be a little more intelligent in those moments. However, I'm a listener that tends to tune out lyrics and really only hear more of the melody. It's experimental at times in its instrumentation in a very successful way, and It knows when to let itself breathe and when to change it up. I do think an hour is just a little too long for an album, and it would have been stronger to trim some of the fat. It overstays it's welcome just a bit, but it's very good either way. 3.8/5

Very good album 3.9/5

This album is fine, it's nothing special. 2.9/5

I wanted to like this. But it just isn't a very palatable style of music. The Beastie Boys in general really only have a song or 2 worth returning to. The production is good, the songwriting really isn't all that great. The performance seems completely unserious, and to be fair it probably was. Maybe that's part of what makes them who they are, but it just isn't for me. The best thing going for it is that it's unique. I'd rather it stay that way. 2.4/5

Is this supposed to be important? Because it's pretty mid. I got bored halfway through the first song, and it never drew me in. It's fine and dandy to put on this robot gimmick but as straight music it's just not interesting. Easy way to make 36 minutes feel like 90. I get that it's somehow synth based music from the 70s but that doesn't mean it's automatically good. It's far from timeless and doesn't stack up to even just the music of its time. Barely giving it a 2 just because it not entirely unlistenable. 1.5/5

This songwriting is engaging and well paced. The performance is also very nice. It's a much more respectful use of Neil's voice than some of his other albums. It really represents the best of his ability. The production is simple but is very smooth and appropriate - nothing spectacular, but enough to appreciate. The instrumental is impressive (particularly some of the guitar work). It's also thoughtful, interesting, well performed, and at the end of the day very enjoyable. When it's time for the vocal to shine it's given space, as well as the guitar. I really enjoy the back and forth between the singing and the big instrumental sections. This is a good album. 4.1/5