I listened to half of this album before, but it didn’t stick for whatever reason. Probably because ten minute song in the middle of an album is something which usually puts me off. But this time, it definitely stuck. Wow. Those guitars are amazing throughout the whole album. I love this kind of nasally singing. And every song is unique too.
The bests:
See No Evil
Venus
Marquee Moon
Elevation
I enjoyed it all the way through, but very little stuck with me. It’s good as a vibe album in the background when I’m doing something else, but I think I’d get bored of it on its own.
I liked this a lot more than I expected. I honestly expected this to be an album which was only put on here because it’s Bowie and the album cover is cool. But it was genuinely really good. Lots of good songs and a few great ones.
Best songs:
The Stars (Are Out Tonight)
Love is Lost
(You Will) Set The World On Fire
Didn’t hate it, but nothing about this album stood out to me. I feel like I could’ve enjoyed this album if there was more variety among the songs, but they began to blend together for me. A 2 feels harsh, but a 3 feels generous, so I’ve landed on 2.
The poetry in these songs is so good. Every lyric conveys so much meaning and I’m going to be thinking about how lyrically dense these songs are for a bit. Also, it’s so fun! Every song is fun to listen to. It was a fantastic album.
Best songs:
Subterranean Homesick Blues
Maggie’s Farm
Love Minus Zero
Bob Dylan’s 115th dream
Mr. Tambourine Man
Every song is so bombastic, constantly keeping the energy high. The guitars go crazy, and the vocals are obviously great (it’s Queen). I liked this a ton.
I enjoyed each song for maybe a minute, but it then repeats the same thing for 2-3 more minutes. It got so repetitive by the end. It wasn’t terrible by any means but I really wanted it to end for most of it. South side was a good song though.
This album is magic. I love love love that odd mix of Simon’s speak-singing and twiddly guitar combined with the louder trumpets and keyboards. Alongside that, the African inspired stuff is implemented really well. It’s certainly unique on a record like this, but it doesn’t feel out of place.
There’s something here. I’m intrigued by noise rock, and I seriously think that, in the right mood, an album similar to this could be therapeutic in a way. This album just doesn’t do it. I enjoyed the riffs and it was definitely fun at times, but it was too repetitive. Each riff, though good, would be played a million times, and I’d think “okay, that’s enough.” Then they play it a billion more times.
Cool album cover though.
Light hearted and low stakes punk. I love a good punk record, and this certainly is one. It rarely gets as political as something like the clash, and when it does, it’s masked by obvious sarcasm and stupid humor. The good kind of stupid humor. This album isn’t super insightful like other punk albums, but it’s really fun. And it’s one of the first punk rock albums! It’s super ahead of its time. The guitars are awesome too.
It’s good as a background album. I’m not absorbed by it, but it’s not so boring that I forget I’m even listening. I just can’t get super into these bands which break into a 15 minutes jam sesh whenever they want.
This album is so close to being a 5. But I just barely feel like it doesn’t reach it. Around half of the album is straight masterpiece level. Insanely good stuff, that does so many things so right. Songs like Some Mother’s Son, Brainwashed, Shangri-La, Young and Innocent Days; these songs are on par with some of my favorite music. But the album just doesn’t come together in the way a 5 star album would. It’s missing something that I can’t really put my finger on. But it’s still really good and I’ll listen to it many more times in the future.
I already know this album. And I already love this album. I own a vinyl of it! First of all, it’s way ahead of its time. It sounds like an album from the mid 90s, it’s actually from the early 80s. Additionally, it is probably the most punk-y acoustic album I’ve ever heard, and that’s a great thing. It’s a straight conversion of teen angst into an album. The lyrics are all introspective, and though they’re not always the most insightful, they’re performed with such angst that they feel stronger than they really are. On a few songs, the lyrics are strong enough that they don’t even need the boost, but they get it anyway. The way the following lyrics are performed perfectly describes what I’m talking about:
“You know that I want your loving
But my logic tells me that ain’t ever going to happen
And then my defenses say I didn’t want it anyway
But you know sometimes I’m a liar”
It’s not a particularly unique lyric, but the emotions it conveys are so intense that it doesn’t even matter.
I enjoyed each song individually as a cool background song, but 48 minutes of it straight is too much for me.
I feel like I’ll like this album more as I listen to it more. It’s super melancholy, which normally can end up being boring if I’m in a good mood. But an album like this, despite being so sad, doesn’t rely solely on the sad vibes to be good. It’s also just really strong instrumentally and lyrically. The lines “I’ve got a long way to go / Getting further away” from “Better Be Quiet Now” is the kind of longing in lyrics which can easily stir up emotions in me.
It really sucks he died so young. I feel like he could’ve made some incredible albums after this one, and it’s really a tragedy his life was cut so short.
Favorite songs: “Son of Sam,” “Somebody That I Used To Know,” “Better Be Quiet Now,” and “Can’t Make A Sound”
I can like hip-hop, but not this kind. I don’t think it’s bad, but I just can get into it.
Sorry, but this isn’t my kind of pop. I understand the appeal, but it doesn’t do anything for me. I’m also not a fan of her voice.
Pretty good, but not very memorable in my opinion.
