Solid B+; holds up pretty well; sounded very MODERN (and fresh), when it came out; 1st 3 songs very strong; song 1 (Good Times Roll) was the "class song" for my graduating class, in my senior year (1979-80); song 3 was a song that I remember my college friends and I talked about performing together (we never did, but I still think of that when I hear it, and take a stab at singing it); #4 less substantial (but ok, for an album); by around songs 5 & 6, I'm starting to wonder: do the songs start to sound kind of the same, after a while? I guess you could say that The Cars had a sound, *their* sound, and it was a pretty darn good sound, very much OF their time, but also at the cutting edge of their time; #7 is good; #8 is the "deep cut" that wasn't a hit, but I remember that some of my friends liked it a lot (I like it, too) - kinda trippy, and catchy, too; #9 is similar to #8, in being maybe a little deeper (less obviously a catchy pop hit song); together, 8 and 9 help to make the album a stronger ALBUM, and not just a string of catchy (but maybe a little lightweight) pop songs.
I've known about Kraftwerk for a long time (I think I remember JB - John Buchanan - who led a band at Notre Dame when we were there, and later played with the Soul Searchers and Chuck Brown in DC, saying, maybe in the later 80s, that Kraftwerk were cool) but, for whatever reason, haven't paid them a lot of attention, or been particularly drawn to them. I think they probably had an influence on many kinds of music, like, House, techno, and hip-hop. I do own 1 Kraftwerk CD (Trans-Euro Express), but am not familiar with this one. I did recognize "Neon Lights," though, because it was covered by a Georgia alternative band from the 80s that I like, Love Tractor (I think it was a minor hit for them). I would probably rate this one about the same as The Cars album (and, I'm guessing, a lot of the 1001 albums, lol), as a solid B+, which I guess will translate to 4 stars.
This is a difficult one to rate, for a couple of reasons: 1) it's in my DNA, since my parents bought it not long after it came out (late 1968), so I've been hearing these songs most of my life, and 2) there are so many songs, which run the gamut from great to filler. It's tempting to say that it would easily be 5 stars if they'd left a few off, although I'll admit that, as I look over the tracks, there aren't as many as I'd thought there'd be, of tracks that for sure I would have left off. So, I guess, I'm gonna go with a hesitant, almost reluctant, 5 stars, *even though* it's a messy, flawed, all-over-the-place album. But, I suspect, that was sort of the point.
Another difficult one to rate. I want to like this one more, because I've always been a fan of War, and I like their music. The (original) album, though (which I think is what we're rating), is just 6 songs, including 3 longer ones. Maybe if I listened a second time, I'd like it more? But still, it's not like I don't like it - on the contrary. I was gonna give it a 3.5, but then I realize that's less than I gave Cars and Kraftwerk, and in some ways I like this better than both of those (LOL). *Sigh* - I give it 4 stars (and kind of wish I could change Cars, at least, to 3.5).
Oh, man, this is so hard to rate! Before I started listening, I was thinking it could be 5 stars - but I'd forgotten how steeply it falls off, after the 1st 3 or 4. But: I sooooo love those first 3 (4?) songs! #4, Rock Lobster, is the beginning of my complicated relationship with this group, and this album (and that song, specifically), because, I guess, I was put off by the singer's weird voice, and puzzled by the crazy, weird (but catchy!) song, and so, I guess, you could say, I wasn't ready for "Rock Lobster," when it, incredibly (how did this happen?!) became (only) a minor hit, ca. 1979-80 (#56, in the US - though in Canada, it made it to #1). I also just confirmed my suspicion that they played "Rock Lobster" on Sat. Night Live (Google says it was January 26, 1980 - during my Senior year of high school), which I'm sure played a big part in the whole Rock Lobster phenomenon -- I'm also pretty sure I remember being at a party later in 1980 (I didn't go to that many parties, so this stands out, lol), and people dancing the Rock Lobster to this song. But, yeah, the singer's voice (and the band's whole shtick) were so weird, and I wasn't sure what to make of the whole Rock Lobster phenomenon . . . so it wasn't until (a year or two?) later, when I was in college, that I discovered that the B-52s had other, even better, songs, and were part of an exciting "new wave" of music, which included others (e.g., Talking Heads, Elvis Costello) who I was initially puzzled by, but soon came to love. Anyway, apologies for kinda getting sidetracked, but . . . CONTEXT, I guess. So, anyway, NOW? Today? I love the B-52s, and I LOVE the 1st 3 (4? 5?) songs on this album, plus I have to give props to the B-52s for helping to usher in a new wave of freedom and fun and creativity into popular music, and so I think I have to give this (unofficially) 4.5, despite the relative weakness of tracks 6-9.
Funny, I was just wondering this morning (before I saw today's album) when we'd get an album that I wasn't familiar with, and here we are! Jumping right to ranking: this would be a 3.5, if I could, and it'll be almost a toss-up to choose between 3 and 4. It's interesting to listen to music sung in a language you're not fluent in (or don't know at all). I know some French, but mostly, unless I really focused, it was just vocals as another element of music and rhythm. And, at that level, it's pretty good. It's a weird combination of old and new (for me at least; maybe different for you 2, since it's from before you were born): old (35 years ago), and yet, at least for me, there was a time when this would have been very fresh and new and groovy, and it *still* has some of that, at least to my ears, partly because I haven't heard it before, but also because the music itself feels fresh. It has a good vibe, and I'd enjoy hearing it again, so I think for that reason I'll give it 4 stars.
Oh man, so many thoughts . . . . Here's one: this album epitomizes the debt we 3 owe to Mombo. She must have bought this album around when it was first released (May 1971, a year before we moved to Florida), because I'm pretty sure I remember listening to it in South Bend. Anyway, safe to say, probably a pretty small minority of white kids growing up in the 70s whose mother bought this album. Thanks, Mom (for ALL the music)! I remember listening to this in the 80s (probably 90s, too), and feeling like it had been forgotten, but in the past 20 or 25 years or so, I feel like I've been hearing it (the hits, at least) more often. I bet this is one of the highest rated albums (by all the people who rate it here, I mean -- not just us). 5 stars (though, if I had the option, I *might* rate it 4.5 - but maybe 5).
Gonna have to choose between 4 and 5, here (wish I could give it a 4.5). 4 feels too low, but 5 feels slightly dishonest since (if I'm honest) I prefer (and have always listened more often to) the other albums we had when I was growing up, "Life" and (especially) "Greatest Hits." But, still, c'mon: this is Sly; I gotta give 5 stars (4 stars definitely feels too low)! Maybe this will help me remember to continue listening to this album (and also to read Sly's biography, which I have but haven't yet read).
If I were grading this by Ray's scale (the idea, I think, being that we should have about 200 each of 1s, 2s, 3s, 4s, and 5s), I'd probably give this one a 2, but, on my scale, I'll give it a 3. I've never been a huge Bowie fan, but most of his stuff is solid enough, and this album is pretty decent. 2 of the songs I already knew (Golden Years, TVC15). The rest, after 1 listen, good enough, maybe a little forgettable. Actually, if I could, I'd probably give this a 2.5, rather than a 3. A little boring, maybe? Curious to know what you guys think.
I don't think I've ever heard the full album, though I do seem to recall hearing/reading that this was one of his better solo albums; I'm familiar with 3 of the 11 songs (Vicious; Walk/Wild Side; Satellite). I think I'll give this one 4 stars, which is higher than I expected. I've long liked The Velvet Underground, but always sort of shied away from Lou Reed's solo work, partly because of his ("singing") voice, but also maybe a little because he seemed kind of . . . dark and scary. I think, in a small way, he colored how I thought about New York City, when I lived there (1983-87); he seemed like a quintessential New Yorker. My first exposure to Lou Reed, I think, was hearing "Walk on the Wild Side" on the radio (released November 1972, a few months after we moved to Jacksonville); I think even my 10-year-old self was a little surprised that it was played on the radio, but the song was (and is) undeniably cool and catchy. So, regarding the other 8 songs (that were not familiar to me - although 1 or 2 of them did sound a little familiar), I'd again say: a bit better than I expected, with an impressive variety of styles, and a good overall sound. And the singing voice, while slightly off-putting, wasn't really a big problem. So, yeah, not a 5 (for me, anyway - though I'm sure it is for a lot of people), but not a 3, either, so 4 it is (for me). P.S. After listening a second time to the songs I didn't know previously, I liked them overall maybe slightly less, so would probaby go for 3.5, if that were an option, but still choose a 4 over a 3.
What can you say about Tom Waits, other than the obvious he's one of a kind, sui generis, in a category of one. And maybe: you either love him or hate him (or, possibly: you have to be in the mood - love him one day, hate him the next). All I can say is I'm glad he exists, and has persisted (for decades, now), and, although it took me a little while to get there, I've been a fan of his for quite a while now. Since he IS in a category of one, arguably, it's difficult to rate him: he's only competing with himself. But, anyway, I'll give it 4 stars. lol
The 2 songs I already knew, "Bang a Gong" and "Jeepster" are GREAT, and I'd picked up references, over the years, to this album being great, too, and very influential on "glam" rock (and beyond), so I was prepared to be . . . blown away (?) . . . but, unfortunately, I wasn't. None of the other 9 songs really grabbed me, at least on first listen (but I wasn't inspired to listen again). I'd probably do 3.5 (7 out of 10), but I think I'll have to go with 3, based on the relative weakness (at least on first listen) to the other 9 songs. But those 2 songs are still GREAT, and I'm always glad to hear them on the radio :)
Weird to think that this album is (slightly) older than you guys. Curious to know whether either of you were already familiar with it (and also what you make of it). When it came out, it was BIG, especially in the Chicago area, since it was at the forefront of the 90s Wicker Park scene, when Wicker Park was the epicenter of coolness (or at least thought it was, lol) - a lot of indie music came out of there (or with connections there) then, and achieved a fair amount of success, probably not matched since, in the Chicago area. Before I forget, I just noticed that the video for "Never Said" (track 5) was filmed at the Garfield Park Conservatory. Trying to think of which of the 19 (!) tracks stands out, I'd probably (without thinking about it too much) choose that track, plus Fuck and Run, and Stratford-on-Guy. Feels more difficult than usual to rate this one, but I guess I'll choose 4 (rather than 3). Not something I'd choose to listen to a lot, but every once in a long while it's just the thing -- but maybe this is partly (and this wouldn't apply to you two) as a landmark of a certain time in my life. Also, though, I think the album has an impressive overall cohesiveness; the flip side of this, I suppose, is that (you could argue that) after a while, the songs start to sort of sound the same, and blur together. Still, I'm sticking with 4 stars, for an album that's a good way to spend an hour (every once in a while), plus, for me, a milepost from a certain time in my life, just before my sons came along :)
God bless Paul Simon; what a blessing his music is! That said, I'm struggling between 4 and 5 stars, for this one (even though it's an obvious classic). I think my primary struggle isn't really the album's fault, and so should be discounted/discarded: I heard these songs so much, in the first few years after the album came out, that they've lost a tiny bit of their impact for me, maybe? The other strike against it, and it's very minor, is that a couple of songs toward the end of the album (track 9, plus the last track, track 11) struck me as (relative to the rest of the album) lesser songs. Still, the rest of the album is so great, and still (40 years later!) sounds amazing, so I think I have to give this one 5 stars.
It's between 3 and 4 stars on this one, and I feel a little bad about this, but I think I'll give it 3. This brings to mind another general question about the ratings we're giving here: is it just how much we like it, or, in a broader sense (not just for us, but for everyone), how "good" we think it is. I guess maybe a mix of the 2, but with an edge to the former? Anyway, ELVIS. Yeah, it's complicated (for me, anyway). I think I picked up some of Mombo's . . . disdain (?) for Elvis, probably most of all because so much of his success was from covering songs that were originally done by black singers. Over time, as an adult, I've come to like/appreciate (but not love) Elvis. I was glad for an opportunity to hear this album, in particular, as it's mostly new to me, but I've long heard/known about it. The only songs I knew before (I think) are "In the Ghetto," and "Gentle on My Mind" (but that song I knew the Glen Campbell original, which I think I prefer). Might be interesting to ask Granddad about his take on Elvis: Elvis was most successful in the mid/late 1950s, when Mombo and Granddad were teenagers. In the 60s, he was overshadowed by The Beatles (and many others), but this album was part of his late-60s "comeback." (He died prematurely in 1977, at age 42.) Pretty good stuff, and tempting to give it a 4, but I'll stick with 3.
