not my favorite R.E.M. album but it's good. Scott Litt some rough choices (from the 80s). 'Welcome to the Occupation' is my favorite. IT"S OK
I had this CD when I was a kid and I think even then I only ever listened to the first two songs and 'Add It Up' which I can no longer stomach. This gets same-y even at 35 minutes but it's fine .
They are stuck in midtempo boring land here. They also sound very tired. I don't understand why this is the Big One for this band and I don't really like them in the first place. There will occasionally be a cool riff but then there'll be a really boring one.
"BLUE BLUE ELECTRIC BLUE 🔥🔥🔥🔥" This was the original review of this album that I did not write nor did I rate it (the original rater gave it a 3). How did you get into my account .......... Whatt ....... Anyway I love this album, it's beautiful, great textural exploration, thank you for your time.
Few songs I love on here and there are a few that I don't think are that good. I'm sorry Pixies... Some of these could have used some more cooking...........
This one is interesting, I like some of the material a good deal but some of it reflects the tidbit about it on the Wiki page where the producer just kind of let the tape run the whole time they were in the studio and picked up whatever.
Beautiful, sounds like cyberpunk racing games for the N64 / PS1, it stays varied enough that it's easy to take even as an album but almost all the tracks are great individually I think.
First three tracks: Great. Next four tracks: I don't care . Last track: Randomly fantastic.
UGH, I want to LOVE this album but as it is I only LIKE it but I think one day I'll be really into this band. Really interesting songwriting and arrangement choices abound but I just can't help but find it all a little sleepy at this time. It must grow on me. Everyone watch The Last Waltz RIGHT MEOW!!!
Mostly pretty solid, it's kind of crazy this came out in 1980, but the second side feels like every song could have used a few more passes, they all have some issues . But it's a fine album.
OK, I understand, this shit is pretty off-putting and I am close to a 2 on it, but I think enough of the guitar work and the weird arrangement shit on here is interesting that I will give it a light 3.
"Starship Trooper" is so unbelievably ahead of its time and beautiful the entire way through, it weds like Byrds-esque jangly arpeggiated guitar lines with like proto-"Space Rock" atmosphere(??). "Yours Is No Disgrace" is also one of their best songs. In fact all these songs are good.
The lyrics are so depressing . This is all good. They sound like a Shibuya-kei band. THANK YOU.
What a great record, the production from Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis is legitimately unbelievable especially for 1989. They're making sounds I was not even aware you could make especially on tracks like 'Escapade' and 'Lonely' and the title track, which is a perfect layered piece of art. The album ends with three 5-6 minute ballads which is an odd choice but they're all so good that it doesn't matter.
Great survey of ways that Funk music could go at this time .
As has been said 4 billion times the production on this is unbelievable and makes this such a fun album to listen to. My favorite moment is when you hear 'Mississippi Queen' for .5 seconds in 'Looking Down the Barrel of a Gun.'
I am confused by why this is on here. Even Mr. Tom himself is like "yeah this didn't all work but I needed to do it to get to where I was going." It starting with the title track which is really weird and fades out like in the middle of a chorus into a 4 minute instrumental that is very loose and shaggy is so funny. It's fine but surely we could have put something else here, there's already like 5 other Tom Waits albums in here, WHY!!! AND I LOVE HIM!!!
Pretty cool, great guitar work , the blues has always been an area where I am very not educated and it was nice to hear an album from Mr. Muddy Waters (65 years old here!).
I like this album but I've always felt like their next two albums are huge improvements. The next one takes this sound and perfects it then the one after that creates a whole new thing. (Then the one after that is good too!) I'm waffling between 3 and 4 but I'm going to go with a 3 because I want you all to know my 3 star ratings still mean I like it .
I was hoping I'd love this but for the most part I just liked it. OH WELL!! I don't know if this is sacrilegious but I kinda wish the arrangements had more variation. I liked the songs where there was more going on. Maybe this'll grow on me.
I didn't like this the first time I heard it. I am a fool. I will take all of that you've got Neil. He is shredding .
You can tell how much reverence these guys have for all the genres they're cribbing and the performances are all great. This one is the most country / blues / folk forward of the ones from their GOLDEN PERIOD and I like it a lot but it still places #3 of 4. This is great stuff though from one of the best bands at the peak of their powers.
