I wasn’t alive then, but this is what the late 60’s sound like to me. Ray’s unmistakable organ and Jim’s iconic wailing. Their cultural impact and influence on subsequent music can’t be denied. 2 or 3 classic songs, but there’s also a lot of filler here.
Techno is not my jam. But I have to acknowledge that these guys are extremely influential to bands from Depeche Mode to Daft Punk. Unbelievable that this came out in 1978! Very crisp sound some catchy melodies. Great background music for me, but no one song really stood out.
This is one of the best-mixed live albums for me, up there with Arena and Live Killers. Why some people don’t like Neil’s voice is beyond me. Whether acoustic or electric, he nails the harmonies and the screams. The band sounds great too.
I never got into The Who, only heard some of their singles, which I didn’t particularly like. I was looking forward to actually listening to a whole album and see what awaited. There was nothing here for me. Not the lyrics, the voice, the instruments, nothing. The drums were cool, I guess
This is further from my wheelhouse than other albums so far. Musically, the early 50’s are so different from the late 60’s, only 15 years later. No guitar or bass, only horns and strings. It was pleasant to listen to, and Sinatra has a great voice. I know his most famous tunes, and this album only has one song I was familiar with.
This one was weird. It’s very chaotic and has harps? Her high voice and her wild cadence remind me of Tori Amos or maybe Bjork. Her ear for rhyme and unconventional lyrics was a welcome surprise. Who talks about the difference among meteors, meteorites, and meteoroids in a song? Did I find it interesting? Yes, and I would go see her live. Did I enjoy it? I’m not sure, but I’m glad I was exposed to it.
In my teens and 20s, I would have loved this band! Heard of them, vaguely, but never gave them a shot. They are weird and noisy, his voice sometimes reminds me of Black Francis, sometimes David Byrne, sometimes Lux Interior. And of course, often just his weird self. The tunes are great, but the noises and sound effects are distracting. To me, Sonic Youth figured out how mix distortion and effects without detracting from the music. On this album, especially on the right channel, the music kinda fades into the background. Overall great effort and I want to listen to more Pere Ubu!
I enjoyed this one. I think everyone my age has heard the two singles thousands of times, but there are some interesting songs that I had never heard. Not all of them land, but overall a good album
This one is a masterpiece. So many layers to the sound, so many sounds, and of course, Trent’s angry voice. Plus, Hurt is just fantastic.
My first thought upon hearing their name and reading that the album is about space was Spinal Tap’s “Stonehenge” era. I was not particularly looking forward to this one. But I was pleasantly surprised, somewhat. They are good musicians, and there are parts and riffs that are great, like “Time We Left…”, which is reminiscent of Black Sabbath. But some parts, like the spoken word stuff and the endless solos are a slog. Case in point is probably their best effort here, “Orgone Accelerator,” which has a great riff and catchy lyrics. But does it have to be 10 minutes long? No. It does not. That’s this album in a nutshell. Even now I am wavering between a 3 (some parts rocked!) and a 2 (when I remember the lowlights)
I like some operatic stuff, like Queen. I even like some sappy camp, like Neil Diamond. But this was too theatrical and too campy for me. It’s fun, but it just didn’t land for me.
I was not a rave kid, but I enjoyed a lot of this. It actually made me want to dance, or at least move, and I don’t dance. This is great background music for cleaning the house, and that’s not a knock. Some great beats, albeit a bit repetitive at times. I appreciated the sampling of the harmonica from Black Sabbath’s “The Wizard” on “The Weekend Starts Here”
I was looking forward to this one. This is one of those bands that I was not into contemporaneously but that everyone raves about. After all, this is why I signed up for this— to listen to albums that are not in my wheelhouse but are widely acclaimed. So I was a bit disappointed. It was ok, the bass stood out, but besides “there is a light…” there weren’t any bangers like I was expecting.
This one is not in my wheelhouse, but I am very glad I listened. Was not aware of Thundercat, but it turns out that he was in Suicidal Tendencies, who I am familiar with. This was very interesting and pleasant and funky. Love his voice (and that of his feat.s), some riffs were complex and intricate, and the lyrics are sometimes funny.
Love this album. Some tracks are experimental, but I guess that’s needed to produce classics like “Brighton Rock”, “Killer Queen”, “Now I’m Here”, and “Stone Cold Crazy” (as well as their later greatness). That voice can rock, can roll, and can ballad (and play piano). Few guitarists have that unique sound that you immediately know who it is even if you don’t know the song. Just majestic. Like their namesake.
I don’t particularly like folk or country rock, but I understand that The Byrds were trailblazers in those types of music. The album itself is eclectic and pleasant. A couple of straight rock tracks, reminiscent of early Beatles. A couple of more psychedelic rock songs, including the space rock “CTA-102”. “Time Between” has a country twang. The rest very Folky with nice vocal harmonies . Not my jam but not bad and definitely influential.
By the early 90’s, classic, black, and glam metal was evolving to grunge, which I like, and to nu-metal, of which I am not a fan. Musically, this album is heavy metal. Lyrically, it’s already looking toward the coming nu-metal, full of violence and nihilism. I guess I prefer my angst laced with the occult, not with violence. And to that end, “By Demons Be Driven” was a standout for me.
Never been a fan of the country twang. I do recognize that there are some great voices and lyrics in the genre, Dolly included. I was surprised how much I enjoyed this. Her songs are so sweet and sad and funny! Especially this “mama” character that recurs in a few songs. She can be loving, two-timing, or wise, as the particular song requires.
I like the music—good beats, some jazz mixed in, lots of samples. I can see a path from here to someone like Thundercat. But I don’t think it’s aged particularly well, especially the lyrics. It was undeniably novel when it came out and there are some fun moments, like “Rhymin’ on the Funk.” In general, I liked the first half better, when they are establishing their approach and their flow. The second half, a kind of sex fantasy concept album, fell flat for me.
After reading the description of him turning country standards into R&B, I was excited. I was underwhelmed. It was boring and slow. Sometimes his wonderful voice or the virtuous piano playing came through, but not often enough. I liked “careless love” Maybe it would have helped if I knew the original songs and hear the changes.
The title track is one of those songs with a complete mid-song change that could’ve been 2 or even 3 songs that Paul is famous for. His voice can sound so smooth but when he kicks it up, it’s a great rock n roll growl. “Let Me Roll It” is one of my favorite McCartney songs—that double hi-hat gets me every time. I grew up listening to Paul and the rest of the Beatles thanks to my mom—Ram is still in my heavy rotation— so there’s a soft spot for them in me, but it’s still a wonderful album.
I got the same vibes as with the live Hawkwind album—Spinal Tap. Just too proggy for me. Some cool riffs here and there, but not much else. Besides, I can’t forget they beat Metallica for the metal Grammy!
I like this. Was not familiar with them, which is a shame because their punk-adjacent ethos combined with great guitar work, sick bass and adept drumming sound great together in this album. Can’t wait to hear more, including this album a few more times. For now it’s a 3, although I can see this growing on me.
Loved this album. High-energy, fun, and enlightening. I bet these guys were so much fun live! Not a huge fan of Ska, but this is as good as it comes.
Like Dylan, but I don’t think I had ever heard a full album. This one has some great songs like “Hard Rain is A-gonna Fall” and classics like “Blowin’ in the Wind”. I guess his voice is an acquired taste but it didn’t take too long for me to acquire it. Love the rhythm, the cadence, the poetry.
I really enjoyed this one. Had heard “Pictures of Me” and “Ballad of Big Nothing” and liked them, but this album if filled with great little songs, filled with nostalgia and raw feelings. I think it’s his voice that makes this sound subdued when the songs actually rock.
I didn’t know Frank Black’s “Hang on to Your Ego” was a Beach Boys cover. It makes me like them more. Everyone talks about this album as a masterpiece with all the layering. I don’t know enough about that to get it, but it’s pleasant enough. It’s definitely not the bubblegum surf pop that I was expecting.
REM is one of those bands that I was looking forward to listening because I largely ignored them when they were active. I think “Shiny Happy People” ruined them for me. The songs I like here I really like: “Drive”, “Sidewinder”, “Man on the Moon”, “Everybody Hurts”. The rest were OK, some a bit boring. Maybe I will like other of their albums better?
This is a Masterpiece from the first beat of “Blitzkrieg Bop” through “I Want to be Your Boyfriend” until the last lingering guitar chord of “Today yr love Tomorrow the World”. They are punk personified and influential beyond their wildest dreams. So simple yet so different from anything before. Do a lot of songs sound similar? Sure, that’s the reason for the 4 stars, but how else are you going to invent a genre?
They were important in the hardcore/ thrash scene and in the skateboarding scene. I recognize their place, but I’m just not 16 anymore. Incredible how someone like the Ramones hold up for me but not this. Love their intensity and punk has a special place in my heart, but this is a relic of the past for me and not something I would put on regularly.
I don’t know to what extent this is the best Indian music, but I guess it was among the first to be publicized in the West (although apparently only on YouTube nowadays). I love the microtonal or half-tone notes, but of course they sound “weird” to my Western ears. It was good though.
One of the great albums by one of the greatest bands. It’s not cohesive as an album since they were really experimenting in the studio, but there are some great pop songs here —something they are really good at. Eleanor Rigby is a beautiful song.
I was very pleasantly surprised by this one. Of course I’d heard “Lovefool”, their big, overplayed hit in the US. It’s an ear worm for sure, and I liked it OK but I didn’t think the band was for me. This album is very layered and catchy, with good beats and riffs. Not at all what I expected. Favorites include “Choke”, “Heartbreaker”, and of course that “Iron Man” cover. In order to make a cover your own, you have to have your own style and these guys sure do.
I remember when I first heard “Stop”, their first single from this album. It was my first year of college and it sounded like nothing I’d heard before. The power, the amazing guitar by Dave Navarro, the driving drums from Steve Perkins, and of course, Perry’s unique voice. It was perfect. The smoldering intensity of “3 Days” and “Then She Did”, the amazing guitar of “Obvious” (it’s basically one long solo), the weirdness of “Of Course”, the sweetness of “Classic Girl”. I hadn’t listened to it in years, and it still holds up. Proves that flawed people can create great art (Perry, not the rest of the geniuses)
This is a hauntingly beautiful album. Great arrangements and lyrics, played and sung achingly. I think he purposely makes it ambiguous if he’s talking about god or a lover. “If I didn’t have your love” is a great example of that and my personal favorite.
There’s something here, I just can’t quite find it. There’s cool grooves and catchy lyrics throughout. I really like both singles “Clint Eastwood” and “19-2000” and I didn’t even know the latter was the Gorillaz. May grow on me.
This was very bland. Peripherally aware of his name, don’t know any of the songs here. I read about how groundbreaking he was on this album but I just can’t find it. And it doesn’t even have the benefit of nostalgia to me.
This sounds like something I would like, but I need to listen more. That’s a problem with this project. Sometimes it takes several listens for an album you had never heard to sink its teeth
