MW: 7.4
Fav: Feel It
Least Fav: Medley: It's All Right / For Sentimental Reasons
MW: 8.4
Fav: Nightswimming
Least Fav: Ignoreland
8.7
Favourite: Pusherman
Least favourite: No Thing On Me
5.1
When did Bon Jovi start taking heroin?
Fav: Would?
Least fav: God Smack
"I made a lot of mistakes, I made a lot of mistakes, I made a lot of mistakes, I made a lot of mistakes" - Sufjan Stevens
No mistakes detected.
10.0
Fav track: The Predatory Wasp of the Palisades is Out to Get Us!
Least fav (longish) track: The Man of Metropolis Steals Our Hearts
6.3
This is fine. I can imagine playing pool to this.
Fav track: La Grange (HM: Sheik)
Least fav track: Hot, Blue and Righteous
4.5
Fav track: The Fun Lovin' Criminal
Least fav: Bombin' the L
6.8
Fav track: Eat Em Up L Chill
Least fav: Illegal Search
Paul had a lot of ideas for this album. They were all bad.
2.8
Fav track: Nineteen Hundred and Eighty Five
Least fav: Picasso's Last Words
I've never listened to Nina Simone purposefully before this. I'm going to be controversial and say I think this is amazing.
9.2
Fav Track: Wild is the Wind
Least fav: I Love Your Lovin Ways
I don't see what this represents being on the list. There are way more interesting punky albums from the mid-90s. Didn't totally hate it or anything.
Fav track: On a Rope
Least fav: Come See Come Saw (Is this meant to be a play on "Comme ci, comme ça"? It annoyed me either way.
I like how it doesn't include any of their big hits. A cool eclectic mix of songs that fly by, dedicated to a nostalgic version of England. I can't give it a 5* because a few songs grate on me.
8.0
Fav track: Picture Book
Least fav: Starstruck
I wasn't really in the mood to listen to this today, but still amazing and slightly unhinged in places.
8.9
Fav track: Famous Blue Raincoat
Least fav: Sing Another Song, Boys
I liked this a lot more than I was expecting.
6.8
Fav track: There There, My Dear
Least fav: I Couldn't Help It If I Tried
Great but way too long.
7.0
Fav track: Plenty Nonsense
Least fav: Live For Today
He's obviously a genius musician, but also this drags towards the end ("Saturn", "Ebony Eyes"), and about half of it is too schmaltzy and sentimental for my tastes.
7.0
Fav track: I Wish
Least fav: Isn't She Lovely (sorry, just no)
This is quite good. Not really the call to action you'd expect from knowing the title track. Can do without the blues tribute tracks like Please, Please, Please and I'm A Man.
6.5
Fav track: The Kids Are Alright
Least fav: Please, Please, Please
Just love the Curtis vibe.
7.5
Fav track: Hard Times
Least fav: Blue Monday People
I've listened to this many times in my life, but not for a long time. Still sounds great.
9.4
Fav track: Dream Brother
Least fav: Corpus Christi Carol
Falls into the unfortunate category of bands I thought were rubbish when I was growing up. Can I re-assess them with wisdom and experience? I can accept that their songs are well-crafted, but they're too polished and middle-of-the-road for me to care.
5.0
Fav track: Four Seasons in One Day
Least fav: It's Only Natural (still hate this for some reason)
I like it for its sheer over-the-topness. Three Out of Five Aint Bad.
6.6
Fav track: Bat Out of Hell
Least fav: For Crying Out Loud
Amazing voice but it all blends together a bit after a while. I think it would need a closer listen.
6.7
Fav track: I Don't Wanna Talk About It Now
This is fine. Great musicianship, but unfortunately, this type of music has been co-opted for commercial use, and it's hard to understand in its historical context.
There's a lot of jazz/blues/folk from the early 60s that I'd rather see on the list.
6.2
Fav track: Green Onions
Least fav: One Who Really Loves You
I think embracing Nick Cave is largely about buying into his schtick. Listening to this, I buy into it, for a while, and then I get tired of it. Some great moments on here, but it's too much for me for a long album.
6.8
Fav song: The Curse of Milltown
Least fav: O'Malley's Bar Song
I've been aware of this album's status all my adult life, but I've never sat down to listen to it... until now. I was taken aback by how disagreeable I found it.
I'm not against the idea of a concept album, but nothing about this worked. Escruciating in places. Worst album I've come across so far on the project.
I don't even like Pinball Wizard, I'm sorry.
1.6
Fav track: Sparks (the lack of vocals was a real treat here)
Least fav: Do You Think It's Alright? (no)
Not really my kind of thing. Somehow sentimental and patronising at the same time. Some nice acoustic guitar. I'd rather be listening to Simon and Garfunkel.
5.2
Fav track: Into White
Least Fav: Father and Son
There's a tendency to say prog rock is endless, purposeless noodling, but I didn't get that impression from this album at all. I thought it was tight and super inventive. I can hear the influences even in post-rock or post-hardcore 20-30 years later. Came out two years after the Who's awful Tommy that I had to sit through two days ago, and sounds light years ahead (I know light years are a measurement of distance).
Fav track: The Fish
Least fav: Mood for a Day
I think Psychocandy is the only JAMC I need in my life, but I enjoyed this. I thought two of the songs were "Head On" because they sound almost exactly the same, but that's on another album.
6.9
Fav track: About You
Least fav: On The Wall
I'm a fan but I don't think this is consistently great.
6.8
Fav track: Never Let Me Down Again
Least fav: Little 15
There are undeniably great songs here. I prefer folk Dylan, and this didn't change my mind.
Side One - On the whole, I prefer the studio versions. There are some great moments (the harmonica on Mr Tambourine Man), but he sounds bored of singing the songs at times (also Mr Tambourine Man).
Side Two - Again, great songs, but I don't think his rock arrangements are very interesting, and it drags.
6.7
This is brilliant. Loads of variety and inventiveness. Sunny, psychedelic... I will put it on again in the summer.
8.2
Fav track: Um Girassol...
I think this is a great project. Capturing Cash's epic voice with modern production that suits his style and some cool, unexpected song choices (NIN, Depeche Mode…). When it's great, it's great. When it's not, it's still Johnny Cash singing some good songs.
7.5
Fav track: The Man Comes Around
Least fav: Bridge Over Troubled Water
It's kind of impossible not to like this. Great energy.
7.2
Fav track: (I'll Be Glad When You're Dead) You Rascal You
Least fav: Body and Soul
Not very interesting. This doesn't belong on this list, given how much great music came out during this period.
4.8
I enjoyed this a lot more than I was expecting. Good long-form hippie guitar noodling.
7.8
Didn't engage strongly with this. I don't need great lyrics to enjoy music, but these lyrics baffle me, especially Indian Sunset. Some cool musical moments, like the guitar riff and strings on the title track.
5.5
At least it's different. I found the dissonant parts made the digestible parts hit harder.
5.9
Fav track: Feet Music
This sounds quite ahead of its time for 1991, maybe an influence on the later trip hop and downtempo scenes? But the production sounds bland and dated now, and the vocals and lyrics don't stand out. Doesn't compare well with other releases from the same era by the likes of Massive Attack or Cocteau Twins.
5.2
Fav track: Spring
Least fav: She's the One
I remember when this came out. I was a big fan of Dry and (especially) Rid of Me, and I thought this was a bit commercial, bland and 'tasteful' by comparison. I think I appreciate it a bit more now, but I'm not sure if it's just because we've had a crappy run of albums on this project recently.
6.9
Fav track: This Mess We're In
Least fav: This is Love (sounds like a toothless version of her earlier stuff)
I’ve got a big soft spot for these guys. It’s not a 5 because of a few throwaway tracks and Silent Night is a bit of a misfire
Very well produced. But it sounds like it was made for the dance floor. There’s not enough development in the individual tracks so the second half drags until Alive. I liked the waves on Fresh
They sound comfortable jumping on the britpop train but it’s bland. I don’t like this even as much as sneered-at landfill britpop like Shed Seven’s Maximum High.
Indie disco standout is One To Another
Nice beats but I find his lyrics a bit dull despite the odd great line so it really drags for the second half. Some hooks are good (In Da Club) some are annoying (PIMP).
I think this deserves its place for its towering trip hop influence but sounds dated compared to what came after - a more muscular Massive Attack, Portishead, Tricky’s debut.
Lyrics and delivery are a bit trite and earnest.
Some great songs though and enjoyed hearing a young, less paranoid Tricky
Some really good songs here and quite nostalgic for me. The production is a bit clean and samey so it kind of washed over me but maybe I’ve heard these songs in the background too many times.
Great at what they do and I appreciate it. But ends up being a bit too silly for me.
Really strange album, from the cover/title juxtaposition to the musical styles being all over the place.
The great tracks are great and the oddities are odd enough to be fun.
I liked this better than Night at the Opera. It’s refreshing to not had the weight of their big hits. Liked the epic fantasy elements, but it lost me towards the end.
Refreshing how raw and immediate this is compared to other Beatles solo works we’ve had. Stripped down and quite dark.
It’s a fun vibe at the beginning, but it all sounds the same after a while to my untrained ears
Really well produced. It’s minimal but still has atmosphere. Just didn’t really grab me
Surprised myself how much I liked this. Really inventive and varied
Nice chill country album. Would happily drink cheap beer and play pool to this
Love the production on this: energetic, inventive, fun. The rhymes suit it perfectly. Can hear the influence on my favourite hip-hop from the following decades like Wu Tang, MF Doom…
Just too much skit-ery for a full score 🥲
Not sure if this is even in my top 5 Bowie albums but I’m completely biased. When it’s good it’s transcendent, but it’s always interesting and engaging.
Sons of the Silent Age is mental.
They have a cool sound but Jason Pierce’s projects bore me a bit over the course of a full album
Fantastic album. I love all the songs on the first half (especially Cloudbusting) and the second half is so imaginative and eclectic. The very 80s production adds to its charm for me.
The Pogues’ celtic punk sound is great. I listen to the previous album a fair bit but this one wore on me towards the end and I’m tired of the Christmas song (not their fault)
There are two unnecessary things on Vol. 4. The guy whispering “cocaine” in the background on Snowblind and the entire song “Changes”.
Love Supernaut and Cornucopia but I don’t think this is a patch on Master of Reality.
Perfectly performed old-school Nashville music that is way too predictable and one-tempo to engage with:
One of the most self-consciously “English” album. The question is do I buy into their schtick here? Mostly, yes. There are 1-2 misfires.
This is very very very very very alright. There are many moments where it starts to move in a cool and interesting direction and then reverts to a very alright big drunken festival singalong anthem chorus
Loads of cool ideas on here and really well produced. I find it too engaging for background music not engaging enough for active listening.
Very well produced and pleasant to listen to. But it feels like she hiring all the coolest collaborators and producers of the time to make something very calculated and on brand so it lacks a certain spirit.
Never listened to this guy consciously before. Totally blew me away from the start of the first track. Great vocal command, loads of great musical ideas to keep the long tracks interesting, even a flute at the big jam at the end.
After countless hours pondering the mysterious glowing red pyramid that crashed through his bedroom window from the cosmos, Gary went to the to the studio to invent the 1980s.
This album didn’t change my life but I enjoyed it a lot
I went into this thinking I’d prefer it to their overplayed later stuff but, although I still enjoyed it, I found a lot of it irritating. Especially the vocals. They did have an original sound at the time though.
Unique concept for a record and I really like the atmosphere and the banter between the tracks. It’s just kind of missing the standout tracks other TW albums have to tie it together and outstays it’s welcome a little bit.
I’m very much not the target audience for this. It has its moments but sounds a bit soulless at times for a soul album. I like the talky bits.
I’ve tried to get into this guy a few times over the years. It’s in my ballpark. There’s something about his voice and the 50s rock n roll throwbackness of it. Doesn’t click. Then XTC came on Spotify shuffle after and blew this out of the water. Only 25 more Elvis Costello albums to go. It might click eventually.
Nice songs. A pleasant time capsule into 60s pop
The hits are quite nostalgic from university student union nights. Really good pop production values and it’s good at what it’s trying to do. I just don’t really like what it’s trying to do.
I love this album. Here is an essay about how it’s the most influential album of the last 50 years
Really enjoyed this. There’s a lot of variety and probably the nicest song with a child singing on it I’ve heard (which isn’t saying that much tbh)
Enjoyed it. It’s a bit shit but in a good way
