Don’t understand what is special about the Pixies. Just weird and discordant sometimes.
Needs more variety in song styles. Album comes alive when it mixes up in the second half.
I will admit the tracking of the vocal harmonies doesn’t sit with me for some reason and becomes grating at times, but I know people love CSN for that reason, so to each their own.
Parts are very good. Others are just too much musical noodling with lots of lengthy intros and outros. I don’t think this is for me and really feel like I am missing context either musically or culturally to understand why this is deemed a masterpiece.
My first real discovery so far. I was only aware of later-stage P-Funk era Parliament/Funkadelic. I definitely hear the influences of Jimi throughout this album. I will say that my first impression on the first track coming off Sigur Rod the day before was “Not another navel-gazing jam session type album” but once I understood the context for the opening track, it all clicked in for me. The next five songs were all tight, late 60’s/early 70’s style rock tracks that fit right in my wheelhouse with socially conscious messages and I was surprised I had never heard them before because they were great. So much so that the final track of purposeless noodling didn’t bother me. I will be recommending this album to others. Love it.
Second Pixies Album in five days. Enjoyed in more than Surfer Rosa on average, but every song started to sound the same after about the fifth track. So the highs of Surfer Rosa are more appealing to me and the lows of Bossanova are not as discordant as those on Surfer Rosa but I still feel like I’m missing the context of what makes the Pixies so important and influential.
I feel like I really need a better understanding of the context to get why Bowie is so important. I feel like I’m missing something. Also the production from this era sounds hollow and tinny to me, as if there are elements missing, so this is a pass for me. I just don’t get it as much as I want to.
Started off better than I expected. I liked the variation from song to song. But after the mid point, each song quickly became internally repetitive. If the songs were each about 60-90 seconds shorter, I would consider rating this four. But I started to fall asleep by the end of it due to the repetition.
Seems like two different bands competing for space on the same album. I enjoyed this more than I thought I would. The two best songs are listed on the cover image. There are definite elements of early psychedelic rock in here. I wish the rating system allowed for decimals because I liked this more than some of the other albums I’ve listened to but still give it the same number. Also ignore the complaints about some of the latter songs. The songs are just silly and of the time.
This is fantastic. I was unfamiliar with Jurassic 5 before but this is quality straight through. The harmonies on the verses and choruses throughout are excellent. Not a weak song on this.
It is interesting but this just isn’t for me. A few moody songs here and there is ok but a whole album is too much for me.
This really just isn’t for me at all. Constant Craving is by far the best song on the album and I have never liked it. I just prefer some energy in my music.
Was very unfamiliar with her work other than Paper Planes from this album, so I wasn’t sure what was in store. I found myself grooving by the end of the first song, appreciating the way the beat slowly incorporated other elements throughout to get my head nodding along. Each song seems to work around a different aspect of global music and I really appreciated the exposure throughout. M.I.A.’s rapping style isn’t for everyone and I found myself going in and out of synch with her vocals, which did take me out of some songs (especially Mango Pickle Down River which I think has kids rapping on it too) and keeps this from a five star for me, but I really dug it for the most part. And I was surprised to be vibing and singing along to 20 Dollar having never heard it before only to realize it is a “cover” of Where Is My Mind by The Pixies, but completely different musically.
This is a fantastic new discovery for me. Epic and soaring, you can definitely see the early influences on 70’s soul and R&B. When I saw it was only 4 songs, I couldn’t believe it, but they are all unique and great in their own right. The only knock against it in my opinion is the lengthy spoken intro for By the Time I Get to Phoenix, but that was because I wanted to get to the rest of the song already. The groove on the second track is my favorite of the whole album and might be one of the best I have encountered in the project so far. The guitar on “Walk On By” is fantastic, excellent tone and I feel like it has been sampled repeatedly because it was recognizable and yet new at the same time.
Really glad I listened to this.
So many thoughts on this one. I was in High School when this came out and was witness in real time to the immediate revisionist history being written after Cobain committed suicide and the framing of him as the tortured soul of our generation. It has never sat right with me all this time that this guy who rejected fame and materialism was forced down our collective throats by the marketing machine at the forefront of a wave of rock that was all about rejecting the materialism of the 80’s and hair metal only to then be the face of the next wave of rock music by that same machine.
I also feel like Cobain was so full of himself that the only reason he is still so well loved is that he died before he could reveal himself to be as pretentious as Billy Corigan.
Finally, I really feel like Nirvana gets more credit for the grunge revolution than they deserve. Alice In Chains was breaking through first. Pearl Jam was more popular than Nirvana from 91-93. I’m not saying they weren’t integral to grunge’s success but they were not the end all be all they are made out to be.
I intentionally never listened to this album before yet I still knew all the words to 10 out of 13 songs. It’s definitely been a popular and lasting influence on culture writ large, but grunge as a whole came and went by 96-97 at the latest, making way for the next iteration of more punk influenced bands. Which makes me wonder why grunge gets representation but other generations of rock not so much on this list.
Definitely see the influence it had on a bunch of later genres. Only problem is I don’t care for any of those genres in the least. But this is still pretty decent.
Wow. This was terrible. Overindulgent. And this was supposed to be a triple album? This was the point right after he broke up The Revolution and he really needed someone to be telling him no. Maybe two or three good songs on this album. I was in Middle School when this came out and there’s a reason I only really remember U Got The Look from the four singles and have vague recollections of the title track. The only other song I’d say is good is The Cross. Hell, there’s a whole song about taking multiple baths with a woman with his pants on. This is really bad.
This is peak 70s music and that is my least favorite decade. This just is not for me.
Why is this here? Why is this deemed important? What is the lasting influence of a modern collection of torch songs? I am genuinely perplexed. The album was fine. Not as bad as some of the others so far.
Not for me again. I understand why people like this but I just can’t get past her voice. It is so dissonant from the ethereal and beautiful orchestration that it just doesn’t resonate with me. And she NEVER STOPS SINGING for more than five seconds so I can’t just vibe out to the music. I’d love to hear the orchestration alone to experience that.
Loved it, just would have preferred a few more up tempo numbers throughout. Nice blend of styles, including funk and soul. Can’t go wrong with classic Motown.
What can I say. This is awesome and full of nostalgia for me. The first album I already knew fully. Of course it is getting five stars.
Interesting and definitely see the influence it had on subsequent music throughout the 90s and beyond. Found myself grooving out to it more than I expected. Not musc I would normally listen to.
Very interesting. Loved the exposure to new cultural music. Definitely a vibe to it.
Very good early hard rock/prog album with a number of cuts I will revisit. Love Queen.
This is an all time classic album. Great songs throughout and a huge influence on many artists worldwide to follow. I had never heard this album before yet I knew most of the songs already. Just put this on and enjoy the vibe.
I am not familiar with this genre as a whole and never heard of this artist prior. I really enjoyed the blending of the trio hop style with the Latin and Brazilian influences. This album is great and one I would revisit.
It was ok. A fine record of the time. I remembered hearing about the band at the time and instantly remembered Get Free. Ain’t No Room also rang a bell. Not really sure why this is on the list tbh.
Better than I expected. Never heard a full Neil Young album before and I would definitely revisit this. Have a new appreciation for his role in rock history.
Never got into Screaming Trees but I really dig this album. The eastern influences in late stage grunge was cool to listen to and I will be exploring more of their stuff. Not sure why it’s in the list but I’m glad I listened to it and I will definitely revisit it.
Awesomely surprised by this. Never heard of this artist before but this was a great jazz album.
Of course this gets 5 stars
How can you go wrong with 70s funk/soul?
Unremarkable. Not sure why this was included. Already forgot most of it.
This was a slog of prog. Too may different keyboard instruments in the same song. The 21 minute opening track is all over the place. At least Floyd and Rush have the decency to somewhat organize their prog epics into movements or chapters. This was just everywhere and nowhere at the same time. The fact that it is 3 minutes longer than every other song on the album combined really tells you something.
Another great jazz album. You can just leave these on repeat for the vibes alone.
I know why it was here because at the time this album was raved about as a return to classic soul but it comes of like a white dude trying to mimic Stevie Wonder on a lot of the songs. There’s a reason they released the four songs as singles they did, because the rest are not nearly as good. This hasn’t aged well at all, just like Justin himself. I’d probably give it a 2.5 if I could because two seems too harsh but it definitely doesn’t merit a 3 star review, so be it.
This shit is yacht rock for the 2000s, but instead of the earnestness, it is replaced with pretentiousness. God this is really just not for me at all. I can’t wait to give this navel gazing garbage one star.
So much repetition. Just mix it up musically a little.
This is the epitome of grunge for me. You can feel it as you listen to this masterpiece of an album. Alice In Chains is the best band in this genre and this album showcases all of the best. Full of all time classics and perhaps the best first side of an album in all of the genre. It als has my favorite song of all, Would?, as the closer. Would give this more than five stars if I could.
I’m genuinely uncomfortable grading this album. I don’t have the cultural or religious context to understand why this is considered important other than the artist is considered the King of Qavvali. It was definitely different than anything I am typically exposed to and enjoyed it, but I doubt I would ever seek this out again.
More instrumentals than I expected and less mopey as well. First time I ever listen to a full Cure album. Nothing very memorable sticks out to me.
Not really my type of music, but ok I guess
I was pleasantly surprised by this. When I read it was more folk music I was ready to tune out but I liked the songs, all of which were pretty good. I’m not sure I would label this folk, it’s much more of a blend of genres and definitely worth the listen.
There is not one option for this. Wu-Tang is for the children.
It was fine. I don’t know what to say about this.
This album was just a ton of fun to listen to. So many classics on here. I think Banana Split for my Baby may be my new favorite silly song.
The first five songs were way better than I thought they should be. Very funky dance tracks that had me moving. But I feel like it dropped off a cliff after that.
There are some classic songs on here but listening to this actually sounds like the 60s giving way to the 70s and I really don’t enjoy much of 70s music.
Otis Redding covering a number of all time classics and providing the original version of Respect. Also, I’ve never heard his cover of Satisfaction and I think I like it more than the Stones. He really makes it into a hard blues song. This is fantastic.
This was great. Looking forward to more by Miles Davis
This was better than I expected. Imagine is his signature song and Jealous Guy was reminiscent of A Day in the Life. I felt like I Don’t Want to be a Soldier Mama was almost proto-grunge. But the highlight was How Do You Sleep? Liked the varying styles of the songs even though some didn’t quite hit for me.
Tired of all the Steely Dan.
This is the kind of music that makes me convinced that music critics are pretentious douche nozzles that enjoy the smell of their own farts. You will never convince me that anyone willingly bought this album and looks forward to putting it on when they get home. The only exception would be the CIA acquisitions department for the sole purpose of torturing prisoners.
I’m not a fan of the keyboard as lead instrument so it was overwhelming at times. This is clearly the work of talented musicians and I’d probably love this if the keyboards were guitars instead. Everything from Blues Variation on is fantastic until the keyboard overwhelms the bass and drum work.
A masterpiece by the greatest guitarist of all time. I can’t say enough great things about this album, packed with classics throughout.
This was just a mess. Stated off somewhat interesting but by the time it got to the second track I was just too annoyed with it and it didn’t get much better from there.
A lot to like as a blend of different genres of rock. When it comes together, it works really well but there are times where it doesn’t quite work for me. I will definitely revisit this album and may check out other stuff as I’ve never heard of this band before. Definitely a good surprise.
I’ve never been a fan of Chrissie Hynde’s voice. I know some people love it but it just isn’t for me. Combined with a bunch of off beat talk singing throughout the songs, it just doesn’t work in my opinion. I think the band is great, there are a lot of quality tracks underlying the signing, but it doesn’t come together for me.
This was pretty bad, even by Kiss standards. When Gene starts attempting to sing on the third song, I had to check how much longer, and it was still too long, even with Beth yet to come. Not sure why this is on the list and I actually like a lot of 80s glam metal.
It is ok I guess but all of the songs start to sound alike after a bit
Elvis Costello’s voice grates on me. I’ve never really cared for it. The songs on this are not very good and the lyrics are pretty terrible. Not the worst album I’ve heard so far but I had to keep checking how many more songs until it was done.
You cannot tell me that there has ever been a time or place where a group of people have been gathered, having a good time, and individually or collectively thought that they should put this album on to keep the fun times going. This is a mash of half baked ideas on the first half and tine poems on the second half. At least when the Beatles put out their half baked ideas, they spent enough time to collectively work them into one of the greatest album sides ever. Here, I would not believe that Bowie did anything more but show up to sing some improv poems over song concepts that had not been fleshed out. I get that the second side was ahead of its time, but that doesn’t make it “good” just because it was first.
Just a joy to listen to. You can see why many consider them a continuation of The Beatles sound.
Loved it. Never would have listed to this without this project. So glad I discovered this.
I forgot how great this album is. I agree that it does feel a little long but I’m not really sure where I’d trim it. Plus it has Sooundgarden’s best song, 4th of July, on it.
All time classics, great banter, and then June shows up and slays Jackson. This was fantastic.
Fun, old school hip hop. I can see why this album is so influential. I never listened to it when it came out but I certainly do appreciate why it is so respected now that I have. Great beats, great samples, and effortless flow from the MCs. Perfect rap album.
Starts with a live orchestral rendition of The Ecstasy of Gold, goes right into The Call of Ktulu, which rarely gets played live, and gets better from there. The audience shouting the lyrics to Master while an orchestra plays is surreal. Another great album.
This was a great mix of funk and soul classics. You can hear the beginnings of a transition to disco music that would rule the late 70s. Also has some inspired covers of early 70s classics.
First time I listened but it was about what I expected. Awesome beats and Mtg has good flow. I just vibed to it and appreciated the 90s nostalgia and Kung fu movie samples throughout.
