"Broken English" title track vocals reminiscent of an angry tipsy woman singing karaoke; very 80s sound for a late 70s release so I guess it's probably quite inventive.
"Witches' Song" adds a second drunk karaoke woman but takes a step back in creativity.
Karaoke definitely seems to be the overall vibe of the album - I just have a picture in my head of Marianne wandering around a bar invading people's personal space and "singing" aggressively at them. It's reasonably inoffensive in terms of the actual musicality - a couple of decent guitar hooks and bass lines, I just feel like I'd enjoy all of the songs more if they were sung by someone with a better voice.
Favourite track probably "What's The Hurry?" even though I still think the singing is the worst aspect. "Why'd Ya Do It" close second, it's a bit too repetitive musically (breakdown is OK) but the lyrics are amusing.
David Bowie isn't an artist I'd generally choose to listen to, but I enjoyed this album. I think I like his music, just his voice doesn't do it for me. Main negative for me is that the middle of the album is a bit samey, not _bad_, just not different enough that I was particularly aware of each new track.
Highlights:
- "Five Years", basically a poem set to music, feels powerful, love the emotion building throughout
- "Moonage Daydream", lots going on here, love the layers, all just blends so seamlessly and sounds great.
- "Starman", probably controversial but I'd prefer this song if it started at 00:20. Rest of it is great. Catchy if slightly repetitive. Still enjoy it though.
- "Rock 'n' Roll Suicide", really like how this song builds up musically and emotionally to quite a dramatic final 30 seconds or so, love the instrumentation throughout. Not one I was super familiar with in advance but one I'd happily listen to in future.
Looking forward to other Bowie entries in the list.
"City, Country, City" is great. It's a jam. It doesn't outstay its welcome on any one thing. Cool variety of instruments and styles.
"Four Cornered Room" - Zoom zoom zoooooooooooooom. Probably my least favourite song, takes 5 minutes to get interesting. The zooms were great though. I wonder if this song was a premonition about COVID lockdowns... *mind blown*
Overall, not an unpleasant album. I enjoyed the listen, but definitely feels like "City, Country, City" is the only real highlight.
It's undeniably cheese, but it's the kind of cheese that's also basically cocaine... like Roule. There's enough musical and vocal talent on display that the cheesiness is more than tolerable, and it's not samey such that each song blurs into the next. Good stuff Mr. Piano Man.
Started off well, I enjoyed "In France They Kiss on Main Street". "The Jungle Line" didn't click with me at all, definitely not something I'd choose to listen to again, but it tried to do something different. The rest of the album is just very safe easy-listening hotel-lobby music. Lovely vocals, and the instrumentation overall is good it just doesn't really break the mould. Stuff I could happily listen to as background. Piano solo in "Harry's House" woke me out of the easy-listening coma (in a good way). Back to sleep until "Shadows and Light", which was _fine_ but not my vibe.
Much powerchord. Such strumming. Very 4/4.
First 2 tracks, multiple guitars, but all playing in harmony with a bland 4/4 time signature in 4 bar patterns? Drums just playing a simple rock beat. Repetitive and droll.
"If Only" goes down to a 2 bar repeat. Still 4/4.
Rest of the album is more of the same... find a riff, play riff for 2 minutes with no variation... switch to a very slightly different riff for the final minute, maybe sneak in a generic guitar solo if you're feeling a bit naughty.
"Hispanic Impressions" managed some non-4/4 time signatures for the first 30 seconds at least, then back to 4/4 obviously, but at least it tried.
The latter half of the album arguably got a bit more creative, but it wasn't good, it somehow got worse to listen to.
This is probably the genre of music I spend most time listening to but I think there's a reason Queens of the Stone Age are a band I've never really bothered with. The only thing saving this from a 1 rating is the fact that it's not actively unpleasant to listen to, it's just boring. There's the odd bit of interest but everything is repeated to the point of irritation - maybe if I listened in 5-10 second bursts I'd think they were incredible.
The Bowie influence is obvious throughout but just I find Iggy just... worse. I don't get along with Iggy's voice. Couldn't say if the lyrics are any good because I can't understand them (in most songs at least). I don't mind the music itself, though it's a bit too sludgy/plodding for my taste; granted I think that's deliberate within the theme of the album.
Mass Production strikes me as the most creative song, but I didn't particularly enjoy listening to it.
Highlights:
- China Girl - I still think Iggy's voice is my least favourite aspect of this song, but he does do a decent job of conveying emotion, and I think the backing is interesting and varied, with some well done deliberate dissonance that manages to not be unpleasant.
Not an album I'd choose to listen to again.
Prefer the mix on this album over Ziggy Stardust - I like the sharper sound.
Minor gripe with "Andy Warhol" - I didn't mind the song but I really don't like when artists include random studio chatter etc., it just doesn't belong on an album from my perspective (maybe as a B-side or nowadays as part of an attached extras disk or something). Is it realistically something that your average listener wants to hear every time the song plays? That being said at least it's an amusing exchange - Wingardium Leviosaaaaaaah.
Highlights:
- "Life on Mars?", something about this song just feels really powerful. Not sure what it is exactly. Is good.
- "Quicksand", like the instrumental choices, like the vocals. Just a very expressive song.
- "Queen Bitch"
I think I could quite happily listen to most of this album again. High 3/Low 4.