1001 Albums Summary

Obviously Tutti Frutti is an all-timer. The rest of the album is good but feels a bit same-y after awhile - maybe to be expected for the time period. I also think this isn't as much an album as just a collection of songs that the record company probably put together. Little Richard's wailing vocals just cannot be denied though. Best song - Tutti Frutti Notable Mentions - Jenny Jenny, Baby (both for their great vocal performances)

This album is a bit of a mixed bag for me. The highlights are some of the best songwriting examples of the grunge era in songs like Down In A Hole and Rooster, with some amazing vocal performances in songs like Rain When I Die, Junkhead, and Them Bones. There's some good riffs, interesting rhythmic changes, effective harmonies, and some interesting structures and progressions. But the flip side is how depressed it left me feeling. There are many songs with no tonal centre or intentionally dissonant chord usage that - while theoretically interesting - left me feeling unsettled lead my mind to wander. There are also some pretty lacklustre and forgettable verses that just drag when compared to highs this album. Best song - Rooster Notable mentions - Them Bones, Down In A Hole, Rain When I Die

What a voice! I love an alto voice, and hers is as good as it gets in jazz. I love the intimacy of the live crowd which reminded me in moments of Tom Waits' Nighthawks At The Diner. The album went a little long for me though and it became more background music than a really engaging album by the end of it.

When I think back on Radiohead's discography, I never consider The Bends to be one of their very best. In my memory this record will always be outshined by the radical change in sound they brought to Kid A, or the infectious rhythms of The King Of Limbs (yes this is a top 5 Radiohead album IMHO), or the sheer perfection of In Rainbows. But anytime I return to actually listen to The Bends in full again I am forced to reconsider that opinion. Every song on this album is memorable on its own, with beautiful melodies and dense guitar parts over an understated rhythm section with underrated bass lines. The production is consistent between tracks and crystal clear, allowing the strength of the songwriting and performances to shine through. But the album as a whole also has a greater arch, slowly building to a peak just past the midway point, only to fall off a cliff, and then sort of coast to the finish line in a beautiful way. It is album storytelling at its best. The Bends is probably one of the greatest rock albums ever made.

Suspicious Minds is a strong 5/5, but the rest of the album is only pretty good. Great basslines!

Maybe my favorite piano performance on a rock album ever

Liked this a lot more than I thought I would. Can't imagine how mind blowing this must've been in 1970.

Some true classics of house on this album, mixed in with some really boring songs. Bit of a rollercoaster but it was mostly enjoyable.

Na na na na na na na

An unexpected perfect album in my mind. Creativity and execution are just off the wall on this.