I’m a casual punk listener, and I tend to value strong lyricism in music. I struggled to connect with that here, maybe I missed the intended meaning. I understand they were discussing some important political messages, but I could hardly understand them, which to me, takes away from getting the message across.
At times, I felt the lyrics were unclear as they just mumbled or screamed the entire time, though I did appreciate the overall production quality.
I listened to London Calling after this to give them a fair shot, and I definitely enjoyed that way more.
The first track relied heavily on repetition rather than lyrical depth. As someone who values lyricism, it didn’t connect with me, although I thought the production was fine.
I picked up on it in the first track, and by the second, it became clear that this repetition was likely going to define the whole album. Most songs seemed to centre around one repeated sentence instead of fully developed verses. I really do not like this and do not see a point. Each song sounds like something that would be in the background of a commercial....
Porcelain is the first track that introduces more than one repeated line, which gives it a bit more depth. However, I can’t tell whether I actually liked it on its own or if it just stood out because the first two songs set the bar so low for me. South Side and Run On were other songs i somewhat liked, but i doubt I would go out of my way to put on.
I think to make this appeal better to the new generation, someone should sample this and add more lyrics to these songs......
it definitely sounds like it had been beamed in from another galaxy, in a dreamy, calming sound. However, it's a bit boring to me. This might just be because i need lyrics to actually enjoy a song and deem it as good (I do not speak Icelandic). The production is good, but repetitive.
I would never go back to this album.... a bit pretentious. my first "did not finish."
Off to a great start with the first song. Then came “The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down” — wow. What a great track. I had to do a bit of research to fully understand what it was about since I’m not very familiar with the Civil War, and I was especially confused about what “Dixie” meant at first. But once I understood the story, the songwriting really stood out. The storytelling is vivid, and you can feel the emotion through the instruments.
Why do they sing so much about America if 4/5 of them are literally from Canada......
songs I liked;
up on cripple creek
whispering pines
Rockin' Chair
I usually need strong lyrics to stay engaged with a song, so despite how beautiful this sounded, I found myself getting a little bored.
Very soothing and beautiful overall. It wasn’t until I heard Unchained Melody that I realized the entire album is actually made up of covers, which caught me by surprise.
The sound has this soft, dreamy quality that feels cinematic, like it could easily be part of the soundtrack to The Princess and the Frog. It has that warm, fairytale-like sound that makes you want to listen to it in the summer, underneath the stars.
Imagine someone writing a song about you, and one of the lines is "Although she may not be the girl some men think of as pretty." Damn....
2.5/5
wasn't too familiar with blondie before this aside from the popular songs, but i really enjoyed this album and don't know why i didn't explore them sooner.
Fav songs;
picture this
11:59
sunday girl
i love the transitions between the interludes and the tracks.... so well done!
the production is super fun and energetic, but at times it doesn’t seem to match the message in the lyrics. While the themes she touches on are important, some of the lyricism feels weak in places. Lines like “Prejudice? No. Ignorance? No.” come across a bit blunt and underwritten rather than impactful.
after the interlude, the album shifts into more straightforward pop songs without much of a political message, which makes the placement of “Livin’ in a World (They Didn’t Make)” feel confusing. It would have made more sense in the first half of the album alongside the other message driven tracks.
I do like how after the first few songs she says "Get the point? Good. Let's dance." and then continues the album with more typical songs. I do think this is one album where the interludes make sense.
she reminds me of a better version of mariah carey.
songs i would possibly go back to:
Miss You Much
Escapade
Black Cat
Lonely
Going into this with low expectations, considering I’ve only heard bad things about U2, especially from my dad, who absolutely hates this band.
The album starts off with “Beautiful Day” and I was pleasantly surprised. This song is very nice, almost reminds me of Coldplay a bit. It’s so good. I’m already excited to go back and listen to it again once I’ve finished a full album listen.
After the second song, I started thinking I might actually be becoming a fan of U2.
Near the end of the album, it gets a little weak and boring (New York and Grace).
Songs I would go back to:
Beautiful day
Stuck in a moment you can't get out of
Elevation
Walk on
Wild Honey
3.5 -> 4
I was excited to listen to this when I saw it ranked among the 100 best albums on Rolling Stone and Apple Music’s lists.
The first song sounded like nothing I’d ever heard before; it was cinematic right from the start.
At times, though, the instrumental breaks felt too long and not engaging enough to really hold my attention.
I honestly think if I forced myself to sit with it more, I could possibly grow to like it, but right now, there isn’t much about the album that truly grabs me. That said, it has aged well as it doesn't sound like it was from the 80s.
I'm conflicted on how to rate this album as I don't see myself going back to it, but it's not bad......
I already knew going into this that metal isn’t my thing, and this album didn’t change my mind.
i hated this, i couldnt finish it.
this albuum is so calming! His voice is so soothing and silky... the lyrics are great too!
Soul is not usually my thing, but this is a great album. Only one thing is that the songs all sound the same, they seem to blend together.
Songs i would go back to:
Cry to Me
If You Need Me
Very groovy!!
There was something I genuinely liked in every track, but as a whole it didn’t completely hold my attention. Was it an enjoyable album? Definitely. Would I find myself reaching for it again? I’m not totally sure since this isn’t usually the kind of genre I gravitate toward. At the end of the album, it just gets very repetitive.....
This is deeply weird, which I guess is the point, but this is not for me.
There are moments that almost work. “Gigantic” stands out because it’s melodic and actually feels structured. And yes, “Where Is My Mind?” is atmospheric and memorable. But outside of those highlights, a lot of the album feels chaotic for the sake of being chaotic. The screaming, sudden shifts, and strange lyrical choices don’t always come across as artistic, sometimes they're just bad.
I’m realizing live albums just might not be my thing…
That said, I do find the topics he writes and sings about really interesting. You don’t usually hear those kinds of themes in music, so I definitely appreciate that. I also liked how he wove humour into both the songs and the performance.
I really like the instruments and production, however, at times I really hate the singer, especially in "Teenage Head" and "High Flyin' Baby".
How did we go from the vocals on those songs to the Elvis impression on "Evil Hearted Ada".....
Songs I would maybe go back to:
- Yesterday's Numbers
Not usually my type of music, but I can appreciate it.
I’d never heard of this artist or the album before, and halfway through the first track I caught myself thinking, “This sounds like Kanye… but not in a good way.” Then I checked the credits and, of course, Kanye West is actually on it.
I was fully jump-scared when his vocals came in on “The Corner.”
And seeing that “Go!” has both Kanye West and John Mayer credited? double homicide.......
enjoyed some parts, but there are too many solo instrumental parts that make me lose interest..... I need lyrics.
The songs seem to go on a bit too long. I feel neutral about this album.
songs I might go back to:
- freedom rider
- every mother's son (if only it wasn't so long...)
- sittin' here thinkin' of my love
I enjoyed the drums in Miracle Man & (The Angels Wanna Wear My) Red Shoes!
Alison had some great songwriting and storytelling.
This was such a fun listen and also incredibly good for being a debut album. I'm honestly surprised I haven't heard of Elvis Costello before.
Rating: 3.5->4
Teen Age Riot was a great song. It almost reminds me of a song that would've played in a 90s-2000s coming-of-age movie.
I don't like how the songs are so long.
The rest of the album, I did not enjoy.
I tend to enjoy songs by their lyrics, and since I don't speak Spanish/French, I feel like I can't really get into them. Sonically, it sounds good, though.
I was very surprised that I had already heard some of these songs before tho.
I loved the beat change in Jacqueline, such a great opener for an album.
Take Me Out was a great song!
However, after a while, the songs start sounding the same...
Rating: 2.5 -> 3
Does Anybody Really Know What Time It Is & Beginnings were pretty good. However, some tracks were just too long.
Cool album name!
However, I'm sure this would be better appreciated by someone else, as I am not a fan of Jazz. For me to enjoy music, I need lyrics.
I hadn't heard Deep Purple before this album.
I didn't enjoy **Speed King**. It felt like there was too much happening all at once.
**Bloodsucker** was decent.
I was worried about **Child in Time** because I usually dislike long songs, but this one surprised me. I really enjoyed the gradual build-up, and it's one of the few cases where I actually think the longer runtime worked in the song's favor.
**Flight of the Rat** started off well enough, but it just kept going. I thought it had ended three different times, only for it to continue. At one point, I even thought a new song had started before checking the track title and realizing it was still the same one. The extended guitar and drum solos felt unnecessary to me.
Overall, I think I'd enjoy these songs more if they were shorter.
I think George Harrison just became my fav Beatle...
I very much enjoyed: I'd have you anytime, my sweet lord, What is Life, If Not for You,
I'm usually not a fan of electronic/dance music; however, Get Innocuous and All My Friends were pretty good.
I enjoyed the beat and drums of Us v Them; however, the lyrics weren't as strong. The album was slightly repetitive...
"New York, I Love You But You're Bringing Me Down" was a great way to end the album. It's a really nice track, but the lyrics aren't that strong. They try to sound deep, but they end up feeling pretty shallow and don't say anything that interesting. However, I really enjoyed the build-up.
2.5->3
Easily Led Zeppelin's best album!
Going to California is arguably their best song other than Stairway to Heaven, and the fact that they're both on the same album is insane.
There's a song for everyone on this album; this is too good.
4.5-5
The track "Bat Out of Hell" was giving Bruce Springsteen, but then the chorus was giving elton john......
From the album cover to the first few seconds of Bat Out of Hell, I really thought this was going to be some hard rock/heavy metal, and that I would absolutely hate this and wouldn't be able to get through. After the first song ended, I was pleasantly surprised that I genuinely liked it.
You Took the Words Right Out of My Mouth was an amazing song. I believe I have heard it before briefly. I thought the beginning was so clever, and the rest of the song was so fun and catchy!
Two Out of Three Ain't Bad also sounded very familiar to me; this was my first time listening to it fully. I loved it!
I don't know what to say....
I feel neutral about this album, but I don't think I'll listen to it ever again.
I don't get the hype.....
Have never listened to this album in full; however, some of my fav radiohead songs are on this album: High and Dry, Fake Plastic Trees, Just, My Iron Lung.
Some new songs I didnt know that I added to my playlist;
- Black Star
- Bullet Proof.... I wish I was
- (Nice Dream)
This would be a 5-star album; however, there are some songs I would skip, and I would consider a 5-star album to be a non-skip, perfect album.
Rating: 4.5/5
horrible, refuse to finish this.
Boring and insanely repetitive, it's driving me crazy.
I don't get the hype....
The lyrics are not well written, and I found this very boring.
Very relaxing and great background music. I enjoyed listening; however, there was nothing about this album that was outstanding.
favs: you don't have to cry, pre-road downs, helplessly hoping.
Not really for me, but this was incredibly relaxing and very heavenly!
It was ok, I feel almost neutral about it. The lyrics are just so bland, and I fear the singing is very whiny.
I enjoyed this album, but nothing stood out to me enough to add it to my library. I feel neutral about this album.
