Favorites: You Want It Darker, On the Level, If I Didn't Have Your Love, String Reprise/Treaty
I really enjoyed this and it was a good listen for the warm weather today!
Favorites: Lively Up Yourself, Them Belly Full (But We Hungry), Talkin' Blues
I wouldn't call it "underrated" but I feel like The Bends is often overshadowed by OK Computer and Kid A (and probably even In Rainbows). While all those albums have different styles, I really enjoy the alt-rock, guitar-focused sound of this album (and the more experimental moments like on "My Iron Lung"). Lots of cool instrumentation and guitar work here (all very good to listen to)!
Favorites: Planet Telex, The Bends, High and Dry, Bones, Just, My Iron Lung
I've always wanted to get more into folk music, so I'm glad I got to listen to this! I've never intentionally listened to Springsteen before but these songs are heartfelt and full of energy and meaning. I like the way this album is simply composed and how honest its vignettes are. Really a beautiful album!
Favorites: Nebraska, Atlantic City, Used Cars, My Father's House, Reason to Believe
This album was beautiful to listen to. I loved the lush strings, bright horns, and, of course, Fitzgerald's voice. It's incredibly composed, produced, and mixed too. But it is extremely long, and after a while the tracks stop standing out from one another, and many of them feel unmemorable (I don't blame it, it's a songbook). Definitely something I'd come back to for certain songs, but I probably won't revisit this project as a whole for a long, long time (is it even meant to be approached like this?).
Favorites: The Man I Love, I've Got A Crush On You, Love Is Sweeping The Country, Slap That Bass, Love Walked In, Prelude II
I've never really gotten into Led Zeppelin which is probably my own fault but whatever. I liked the "chiller" vibe of a lot of these (like Tangerine, That's the Way, etc.). Not really what I expected from Led Zeppelin!
Favorites: Gallows Pole, Tangerine, That's the Way
Lots of crazy shit going on and you know what I'm here for it
Favorites: 3000, Earth People, I'm Destructive, Waiting List
There's just so much raw talent in these songs. Not only in the guitar playing (which, of course, is amazing), but in the other instruments, the production, the lyrics, the melodies... Everything just complements one another so well. I love the effect of the reversed guitar solos on songs like "Castles Made Of Sand" and the crazy panning and bass lines on "If 6 Was 9" too. Anyways, what a great record! I have to listen to more Hendrix now.
Favorites: Spanish Castle Magic, Little Wing, If 6 Was 9, You Got Me Floatin', One Rainy Wish, Bold As Love
While I appreciate the camp-y vibes and the bold performances, this album feels a bit too unserious for me to really appreciate it. I definitely like some of the pop hooks and melodies here, but, overall, it just didn't click.
Favorites: Feed Me to the Lion, Making History
Love the synths, love the vocals. Lauper is certainly great at writing pop songs, and the vibes are just so much fun. Definitely gets a bit slower on the second half, but this has some great songs and is an album I would go to for some good commercial 80s pop.
Favorites: Money Changes Everything, Girls Just Want to Have Fun, She Bop, All Through the Night
I enjoyed this! Kind of Fiona Apple-esque, kind of jazzy, reminds me somewhat of NFR! by Lana Del Rey. Those are both artists/albums that I would go to first for this style of music, but I certainly appreciate this album for what it is and certainly that it won Album of the Year at the Grammy's. I kind of wish an album with this much clear artistry could win again today.
Favorites: Seven Years, Cold Cold Heart, I've Got To See You Again
The best part about this album is definitely Turner's vocal performances, which are powerful to say the least. While a couple songs were enjoyable, this was largely unmemorable, and some of the instrumentals were honestly unpleasant to listen to (e.g. I Can't Stand The Rain... what is with those horn blasts?). Maybe this just isn't meant for me.
Favorites: Private Dancer, Better Be Good to Me
I don't know enough about this style of music to articulate why I enjoyed this, but I did! There's lots of movement in these compositions, and they are filled with energy.
Favorites: Vibraphonissimo, Little Italy
I should probably stop handing out so many 5s, but...
With how much attention certain songs on this album have gotten (especially Wonderwall, which has been overplayed to oblivion), I expected the "deep cuts" from it to drag a lot more than they did. However, although these compositions are not the most original, they are just so nice to listen to, and there is certainly merit in that. The production is great, Liam's voice and delivery scratches some itch in my brain and fits the music perfectly, the melodies are so catchy, and there are some great guitar solos here. And, by the way, Wonderwall IS a great song.
Favorites: Roll With It, Wonderwall, Don't Look Back In Anger, Some Might Say, Champagne Supernova
This isn't typically the kind of music I listen to, but I was surprised to hear how modern this album sounds. Some of these songs feel like they could've been released today, and its clear how much Stevie Wonder has influenced so many current artists. Anyways, I'm glad I got to hear this, but we'll see how much I revisit it.
Favorites: Heaven Is 10 Zillion Light Years Away, They Won't Go When I Go, Please Don't Go
I honestly didn't get to focus on this much at all, but I liked what I heard! Of course, some of these sound very Beatles-esque, but there's definitely a development in the sound (especially on the second half).
Favorites: Bed Bug Blues, New York Town
I probably won't listen to this album too often, but I'm really glad I got to hear it. Really cool music to listen to, and there's so much talent that must've went into this.
Favorites: Yaad-E-Nabi Gulshan Mehka, Haq Ali Ali Haq,
I'll definitely have to revisit this! This album has such a cool sound, and there's a lot of interesting things going on here. Love the fusion of Mexican influences with indie rock/folk/jazz/Americana.
Favorites: Sunken Waltz, Black Heart, Attack El Robot! Attack, Guero Canelo, Crumble
Great to listen to the Rolling Stones. Definitely a great collection of songs here!
Favorites: Love In Vain, Live With Me, Midnight Rambler, Monkey Man
Definitely reminiscent of the Oasis album we listened to, but though I enjoyed many of these songs, some of them were just a bit forgettable. Regardless, I think this album gets less credit than it deserves. I was surprised by how almost Radiohead-esque some of these songs were and by the more ambient, drone-y moment on songs like Daylight and A Whisper. There is definitely some great songwriting here. Also, I really love The Scientist a lot... very nostalgic even for me.
Favorites: In My Place, The Scientist, Daylight, A Whisper
I love to indulge in some metal, and I've been looking to expand my horizons, so this album was a great listen for me. There's so much energy in these songs, and so many cool riffs, drum parts, guitar leads, etc. It was nice to hear the punk influences that clearly shaped the sound of many of these tracks. That is to say, I thoroughly enjoyed my time with this, and I'll definitely be returning.
Favorites: Altered State, Under Seige (Regnum Irae), Meaningless Movements
This was very exciting to listen to! I loved the sampling and the multidude of genres explored in here, and, therefore, the beats and the instrumentals overall are just great. The flows are incredible, and some bars in here are so funny or perceptive or memorable. Definitely a bit on the long side; 24 tracks is a lot to listen to and, of course, some were less memorable than the rest.
Favorites: Kilo, The Champ, Beauty Jackson, Heart Street Directions (Skit), Clipse of Doom
Shoutout to the fact that the second the drums kicked in I recognized them from Bleach by Nirvana (which was also produced by Jack Endino and recorded at the same studio). Anyways, surprisingly, I've never listened to Mudhoney before! But this is some good, grungy, garage rock, and I do have a soft spot for that. Love the energy here, love the riffs, and love how pivotal this was for grunge music. Definitely sounds a bit like a band still finding their sound, but that can happen when you're doing something no one's done before.
Favorites: Need, If I Think
Not too much to say about this album, but I loved the combination of jazz and soul in the music here. I'll definitely return to this! Overall, a great listen.
Favorites: The Cisco Kid, The World Is A Ghetto
First time really listening to Soundgarden, and I enjoyed it! Chris Cornell's voice is certainly powerful, and he has tremendous control over it. There are many cool riffs in here, and Soundgarden does a great job at getting so much heaviness across in these songs. It's first half is definitely stronger than the second, but there are admirable moments throughout this album.
Favorites: Let Me Drown, Superunknown, Head Down, Black Hole Sun, Fresh Tendrils
