Really funky, heard TTC in this
This is exactly what I imagined a white dj from the 90s would make
Really dope use of strings. Lyrics didn't move me very much. Feels like it's just a 30 min jam. Which is cool! But also not ground breaking to me
Very funky album - kinda feels like he was trying out a new sound. I was surprised to find out it came AFTER Purple Rain. Some people say it's better but generally I disagree
Highlights: Ballad of Dorothy Parker, The Cross
Was very cool and had some bangers. Interesting to see how they teetered between country/soul on this album a little more than they did their debut.
Favorite Songs: Parker's Band, Through with a Buzz
Just general feel good music. The harmonies are absolutely crazy
Highlights: Midnite Blue, Lil Darlin
Idc what the people say this was a very fun album with some funky elements. Frampton was having fun with the crowd
Highlights: Money, All I Want To Be (Is By Your Side)
This is my first time of the 1001 where I am very familiar with the album, so it's hard for me to take a step back and think critically about it. I tried to listen through and document how many I'd skip. Realized I'd probably only skip love song. She's too damn good. The first half is banger after banger tho. Kinda slows in second
Highlights: He Won't Go, Someone Like You
Man. What an album. It's damn near perfect. Absolute elite world building and story telling. Takes you on a journey where you end right back at the start. Forces you think about how we should see the god in everyone. And let's talk about the MUSIC. Wow! Elite use of vibraphone or some type of metalophone percussion - gives it this ethereal floating through sky vibe. I loved it all.
This album just makes me want to be better to people.
I don't hate it. It reminds me of a simpler time. The album is definitely painfully millennial (lol). They synths made me feel alot of nostalgia -- feel very true to early 2000s. I just don't think it's necessarily for me.
Highlights: As Above So Below, Forgotten Works
This was pretty good. Psychedelic is always fun when done right. Santana is a master and it's easy to tell. I do wish some of the tracks at the end were pushed to the front, but that's a stylistic choice.
Highlights: Oye Como Va (ofc), Hope You're Feeling Better (!!!)
About three songs in I realized it was a rock opera - that's on me the first song is literally called Overture. The writing is way better than the music imo, but I do really love the world building.
What I can say about this album is that each instrument has a purpose and connection to the albums overall allegory which I thought was really cool:
Highlights: Acid Queen, Sally Simpson, We're Not Gonna Take It
Is this characterized as post punk? I really love the grunge influence and you can hear the influence this had on several bands I fw today.
Highlights: Black Tongue, Maps
I really try to go into these unbiased but this whole album just feels like it was stolen from black rock artists and repackaged for a white 60s audience. The organ playing was sick tho -- probably my favorite part. Paul Revere had some sauce with that
Highlights: Kicks, Shake It Up
This is my first Radiohead album that I've listened front to back. Never thought RH was bad just hadn't gotten around to it. I definitely get it now.
V experimental in all the right ways. Creepy but funny. Introspective. But never goes too far out that you don't know what's going on. Well fucking done.
Highlights: Pyramid Song, I Might Be Wrong, Life In A Glasshouse
I just know that Brian Eno thought he was doing something with this album. Finished it and had a smug look on his face, knowing he had created...something.
I think I'm just not a fan of glam rock. If it's not Bowie it just sounds off. The arrangements were really cool I'll give them that. But I hated pretty much all of the mixes. There were so many times I was like...why is this ONE chime loud. Lyrics were annoying
Highlights: Needles In the Candle's Eye
Thank you 1001Album gods for putting this album right after I listened to Brian Eno, because I was easily able to pinpoint why I did not like this album. The whole thing felt like I was trapped in Buffalo Bill's dungeon idk
Highlights: Beauty Queen, Editions of You
Really love how Coltrane writes lyrics without writing lyrics. Like it's clear he has a word in mind for his notes.
Generally jazz moves me but I don't have the range to critique it, feels like high art where I just let it wash over me. Feels like a bath. So I can't say why I like it I just do
Not a big fan of Bono's voice but definitely dug some of the riffs and the overall themes. Not bad I just think that Bono sounds like he's whining most of the time
Highlights: Bullet The Blue Sky, With Or Without You (ofc), In God's Country
I actually really enjoyed this album, I just wish there was more of it. Each track felt like the beginning of an idea that wasn't really developed (except for the final few tracks). This is a really different approach, especially in 70s where songs were like 5-8 min long. The Americana influence is so interesting - like it's very much a British guy making American-based rock & roll but he does a great job of blending both worlds. Lyrics were very solid too
Highlights: Man We Was Lonely, Junk, Kreen-Akrore
Was this a good album? No. But did Julian Cope put something cohesive together? Also no. But did he at least keep me interested? Well, no. But did the songs sound like straight Crash Bandicoot loading page music? Yes.
I can appreciate this tbh. I need to do more research on how much he stole some the early rock stuff from black influences. You can definitely tell there are influences there. The lyrics are killer tho. Really love how he plays with pocket -- i guess that's his schtick.
Highlights: Maggie's Farm, It's Alright Ma (I'm Only Bleeding)
Nothing inherently wrong with this one it's just kind of boring. Rock & pop from the 70s/80s gets all this shine but when you really dive in, the whole genre is top heavy. The greats are great, but you have this kinda stuff that is considered middle class and doesn't hold up.
I didn't really have much fun after the first few tracks. It became background music that I'd hear in an old record store.
Highlights: Do It Clean, Rescue
I'm surprised how much I liked this album. Very cool arrangements and Neil's voice aint half bad either! Was impressed - wish he would have named his tracks better. Everything ain't the blues.
Highlights: For The Turnstiles, See The Sky About To Rain
This was a journey! Very Quintessential modulations and beat changes on a dime that I now realize have always been Fiona. Nothing feels sporadic tho. Everything feels carefully timed while and she creates these movements in her song that feel very true to piano. Never felt like I was listening to a 5 min song. Really enjoyed it all around - and to think she put this out at 18???
Highlights: Sleep To Dream, Shadowboxer (ofc), First Taste
A really dope album. Love the vintage distortion of the instruments and Jack's voice. Very bluesy in ways that demonstrate an homage to the greats. Eclectic tastes between the two of them.
Highlights: I'm Finding It Harder To Be A Gentleman, Fell In Love With A Girl, We're Going To Be Friends (ofc)
It didn't suck, it's just exactly what I'd expect from 5 white guys in the 60s. They were so up they had nothing to actually talk about so they just made whatever the fuck this is. I bet if this shit goes hard at a bingo night in a wisconsin retirement community tho
Highlights: Higgle-dy Piggle-dy
The thing about Elvis is that critiques should be largely centered around his voice because literally nothing else about his music is his. His voice is fine -- he uses the same vibrato trick and I guess in that era that would've been cool to hear. But his schtick goes stale for me maybe a quarter into the album. Not really my cup of tea.
Highlights: In The Ghetto (ofc), It Keeps Right On A-Hurtin'
This is a fun album nothing more nothing less. Why does this remind me of Lou Vega
This album is a journey. I really enjoyed her take on folk - felt very James Taylor meets America. Really interesting use of new instruments and were those synths i heard? I'm not even sure.
Also! The opening song is probably my favorite opener of the series so far.
Highlights: In France They Kiss On Main Street, Don't Interrupt The Sorrow, Edith and the Kingpin
