Brilliant start, consistent album, great album tracks, and a memorable performance of the title track to finish. When Doves Cry is perhaps the most important song to come out of the 80s.
This is not an album I would have chosen. It sounds slightly derivative of Illmatic, but , idk, funkier? Rhymes are good but nothing I haven’t heard before. Great beats with a fresh variety of instrumentation. The message comes through loud and clear- sharing the struggles of poverty and social injustice- and it isn’t painful to listen to. EXCEPT Nelly Furtado’s vocals grated on my nerves - if I never hear her again I’ll die happy. Please don’t include any if her albums!!!
… and High Fidelity rescues me from the proverbial Pit of Despair. This is the kind of old school rap I remember and can appreciate.
The last track (Acetate Prophets) was inventive but unfortunately seemed to drag and I just wanted the album to end about 2 minutes sooner. I am not the target audience or demographic and that leaves me wondering if I just don’t “get” the music or is it the message I am missing? 2 star's
I’m partial to quality vocals. Gordon Gano does not have them. Not that this is a bad record - far from it. I listened to music like this maybe 10 years after it came out, but it didn’t sound dated and still holds up. The bass lines are well composed and the drums keep the music interesting, at times teetering between a hot mess and sheer genius. Back to the vocals, they fit in context with the style of music, so ultimately it’s a reasonable sacrifice to make.
I’m a sucker for quality tracking on an album. The last song on the original side A (Confessions) ends the side with a great instrumental break before wrapping up. I could stop listening here and come back later. Side B kicks off with Prove My Love which sounds like early rock n roll with an edge (Ramones anyone?) and sets up the rest of the record, which culminates in a slow ballad (Good Feeling) that is so very different from everything else, but in a good way. A great end to a solid album.
3 stars
Thom Yorke sounds like an unreasonable man though he claims otherwise on the first track of - what’s this album called? He’s at the end of his rope on Pyramid Song, but that’s okay, because the piano takes care of him.
I am always hesitant to start listening to Radiohead. The music is so complex, and I don’t always want to think too deeply when I listen to an album. But somehow, as I listen to this, it sounds familiar- like OK Computer or Kid A. Yes, I heard and appreciate those, but never gave Amnesiac a fair chance. I’m glad I did. This album holds its own in the Greatest Albums list, just not as high as the aforementioned masterpieces.
5 stars? YES FIVE STARS.
How blue can I get?
No bluer than the King…
5 very blue stars
Couldn’t help noticing that this sounds like the outtakes from a bad Nine Inch Nails or Cure album ( but I don’t think there are any of those). Not one single memorable song, nor any melody worth mentioning. I don’t mind gloomy atmospheric music, but this never feels like there’s a point in listening to. Is that the message here? I don’t know, in fact, I don’t care.
1 unsatisfied star
Very pleasant throughout, punctuated by moments of pure genius. I feel like a true Illinoisan (Illini? Illinoiser?). Multiple complex layers of sound from start to end. Just ran a little longer than I hoped, but I understand why. I might listen to this again.
3 stars
