Not bad, 'Sabotage' was a good track. I'm not into rap but I did like the instrumentals. Vocals were too yell-y for me. 'Sabrosa' was nice too even though I don't favor lyric-less tracks. 'The Update' also stood out as interesting to me. The rest of the album was a bit forgettable. I liked the final track too, 'Transitions'. All-in-all, I liked it but wouldn't really listen to the full album again anytime soon.
2/5
Stand out tracks: Blue Suede Shoes, I'm Counting on You, I Got a Woman, Trying to Get to You, Money Honey
All in all, a good album but most of the songs weren't my sort of energy.
2.5/5
Banger album through and through. Not a single miss. And full of lyrical genius.
5/5
First couple of tracks seemed promising but then it started to drag on and each song sounded too same-y. Bit disappointed really. Vocals were nice, however, and so was the instrumentals.
2.5/5
Was alright, not my genre so didn't think anything much of it. Still a pleasurable listen.
2/5
Generic country/pop album, not my thing at all. Only song I enjoyed really was Cover Me. All others were a bit of a bore.
1.5/5
Absolutely boring and generic. Did not like it at all.
1/5
I love the lyrics, even if Dylan's voice gets a bit repetitive and grating to listen to after an hour. And the backing tracks are quite nice too. Except the harmonica solos. Not sure if it's modern compression or maybe me listening on headphones but the piercing notes Dylan hits with it hurt like hell. Furthermore, every song, while sounding nice, did feel like it over-stayed its welcome. Basically, Bob Dylan rambles at you while playing some bouncy folk-rock.
Favourite track: Tombstone Blues
2.5/5
Some really funky stuff, I liked it a lot. Great instrumentation as well. A bit repetitive, to be honest, but to put in the background while you work it's perfect. I didn't favor towards 'Good Times' or 'My Forbidden Lover' but the other tracks got me moving.
4/5
Eric Clapton is a racist, rapist cunt who doesn't deserve my time. I am not listen to this album.
-5/5
Love the gothic vibes on this one. Every song was a banger too, nice riffs. Bit muddy on the mixing - wish Siouxsie's vocals were a bit louder and clearer - but I enjoyed it nevertheless.
Favourite tracks: Monitor, Sin In My Heart, Head Cut
5/5
Favourite tracks: Our House, Mr. Speaker (Gets The Word), Tomorrow's (Just Another Day)
3/5
Not as cohesive or great as the other QOTSA albums but this still has some bangers on it. Notable ones are: You Can't Quit Me Baby, The Bronze, If Only, and Regular John. The instrumental tracks didn't really make an impression on me (except Spiders and Vinegaroons, shit hit hard). It ain't no Era Vulgaris or Songs For The Deaf. Those are peak QOTSA LPs.
4/5
I hate trash metal. Tough listen. It all sounded the same to me. Felt like the vocalist was struggling to keep up with the rest of the bans lmao. Never listening to this again. Didn't even finish it.
1/5
Banger album. Gets a bit meh closer to the end but maybe that's just fatigue from the amount of energy and listening to it all in one go. Still, so good. Serj's voice is amazing, the way he can be softer one second and then scream like a pterodactyl is sick. Plus the backing tracks are also well made.
Favourite tracks: Sugar, Spiders, Soil
4.5/5
Favourite tracks: Black Math, The Hardest Button to Button, Little Acorn, and Girl, You Have No Faith In Medicine
A classic. Simple drums, catchy riffs, and a strong voice. That's all you need for a rock staple. I remember covering some of these tracks with my best friend and it was so much fun. Jack White is a legend and an inspiration to me as a guitar player. Can't wait to listen to the other White Stripes albums from this list.
4/5
Favourite tracks: It's So Easy, My Michelle, Think About You, Rocket Queen
Don't think there's a single *bad* song on here. Sure there are some tracks that don't hit as hard as others but I can sit down and listen to it all in one go without feeling fatigued. Great riffs, great vocals, and great energy. I normally dislike older rock records but this still holds up in this day and age.
4/5
Favourite tracks: Tea for Two, Take the "A" Train
I'm not sure I'm well versed enough in music theory and all that jazz (ha, get it?) to fully appriciate this album. I like it, don't get me wrong, but having it on in the background while I do other things is probably not the best way to enjoy it. Every track sort of blended into the same song in my brain and I could not tell you off the top of my head any memorable moments. But maybe that's just my shitty memory at play. Either way, I wouldn't mind this if it came on, but I wouldn't seek out to listen to this in my free time. Also the squeeling trumpet solos were not it. I hated them.
3/5
You thought Pink Floyd were good at wasting time with nonsensical riffs and boring progressions? Well you haven't listened to this King Crimson LP!
There are some really nice rock parts and great orchestration hidden behind the extended periods of prog-fuckery. Sure, this was probably insane hearing in 1973 but in the modern times (and compared to bands like Pink Floyd and Yes), King Crimson sounds uninspired. I did not enjoy a majority of this album however the fleeting moments that made my bob my head give this an extra star.
Favourite tracks: that one guitar part in the title track (part 1), and a bit of Easy Money
2/5
Favourite tracks: Old Friends, A Hazy Shade of Winter
A really interesting album with a range of different tracks. Of course, personally, I didn't favour the slow and moodier tracks but I did quite enjoy the orchestral elements in 'Old Friends'. While it might not be one of my favourites, 'Save the Life of My Child' is a track that it took me a couple listens to like. At first it was a bit jarring but after focusing on the lyrics a bit I enjoy the exploration of this scene of a kid about to jump.
All in all, I don't think this album is for me. I know it's supposed to explore the theme of life and growing old but it just didn't click with me. The varying vibe of each track really didn't work. Maybe if the track order was done a bit better with the upbeat tracks at the start and the moodier tracks at the end then I would've like it.
2.5/5
All the yucky Americans in the reviews keep saying "ew so British" and completely glosses over the catchy riffs. Great rock/pop album, for sure better than the Beatles rip-off that is Oasis. That being said, it did get a bit bland in its latter half.
Favourite tracks: Advert, Colin Zeal, Chemical World, Villa Rosie
3.5/5
This is their debut, of course it's not going to hit as hard as Discovery or RAM but it still has it's highlights. Overall, it's too repetitive for me. Latter half is great though, tracks like "Oh Yeah" and "Indo Silver Club" hit hard. Love the distorted stuff more than anything.
Favourite tracks: Da Funk, Fresh, Rollin' & Scratchin', Teachers, Oh Yeah, Burnin', Indo Silver Club
3.5/5
I love the overall tone of this album. It's like a precursor to modern shoegaze mixed in with a bit of country. There are some great melodies on here but it gets a bit boring after the first few songs. I don't mind putting this on in the background while I work but there's just something about this that doesn't hit like other records do. And I'm a bit distraught by that since these guys seem so good!
Favourite tracks: Jupiter and Teardrop, Dixie Drug Store, America Snoring
3.5/5
As soon as I saw on Spotify that today I was to listen to 4 tracks, one of which was nearly 20 minutes long, I said, "Damn, this one might be a drag".
And yet here I am, entirely wrong.
Isaac Hayes's instrumentation on this album is godlike. Some of the funkiest, most groovy music I have heard on my 1001 album journey. Never once was bored listening to this. And Hayes' lyrics are so soulful too; I was tearing up on the track 'One Woman' right up until it was revealed the song was about cheating. Happened when I listened to CHIC last month too, got to a great love song only for it to turn out to be about "forbidden love". Ugh.
Anyways, this album here was great. Absolutely loved it.
Favourite tracks: Hyperbolicsyllabicsesquedalymistic
3.5/5
Favourite tracks: I Wanna Be Adored, Made of Stone, Shoot You Down, I Am the Resurrection, Fool's Gold
Love the tone of this album. Such good rock music, and from the late 80s too? If you told me this is some modern indie band I'd probably believe you. The actual album starts off a bit weak - everything up until (Song for My) Sugar Spun Sister barr the first 2 tracks is too pop-y for me - but after Elizabeth My Dear we get into some amazing tracks. Absolutely loved the last 2 tracks as well. I'm a huge fan of prog so that near 10-minute closers made me scrunch my face up and headbang hard.
4.5/5
Favourite tracks: Sidewalk Serfer Girl, Receptacle for the Respetcable, [A] Touch Sensitive
I lovd weird albums. This is really good but I enjoyed the heavier moments more than anything. Great instrumentation either way. Vocals sound kind of like David Albarn too.
4/5
Jazz is definitely not my genre. Didn't get much out of this album when listening it. It wasn't bad but I just didn't find it interesting. The odd time signatures were cool but as I lack knowledge in music theory it was just nice background noise to me.
That being said, 'Strange Meadow Lark' was a strangely beautiful track. Loved how soft it was and how it felt like walking down a path in a nice forest setting. Also, 'Take Five' is iconic. Even I knew that start piano lick. Otherwise, meh album. Cool album art though.
2/5
Favourite tracks: Lost Woman, Rack My Mind, Happenings Ten Years Time Ago, Psycho Daisies
I'm guessing it's because this album was made in the 60s and mixing technology wasn't as advanced but a lot of the songs on here don't hold up. They have great riffs and good vocals but it all seems too distant. I would've liked it if it was a bit louder and clearer.
And like always, the extra tracks always better.
2.5/5
This ain't a rock album. It's more like some funky soul stuff. The bass is real nice, so are the horns and vocals. And the prog-length tracks are neat. Makes for a fun listen when I'm constantly bobbing my head. But I didn't really think, "Wow! This is some life-changing stuff!"
Guitar in 'Poem 58' was amazing however. Probably my favourite track off the album. Then comes in 'Free Form Guitar' and ruins that energy with grating guitar noise. Least favourite track. I also quite liked 'I'm a man', very nice energy to it.
3.5/5
Some pretty good rock-infused blues, although the album cover made me believe that I would hear something a bit heavier. Nevertheless, I enjoyed this album. Great energy throughout the whole thing.
Favourite tracks: Twice As Hard, Hard To Handle, Struttin' Blues, Stare It Cold
3.5/5
Rap isn't my favourite genre. In fact, I hate most rap songs as they sound the same to me. However, Kendrick seems to keep my attention for the duration of this album. The instrumentation is amazing. I do tend to prefer rap artists who use guitars, pianos, and real drums instead of doing everything inside of their DAW. There's more life to the music that way.
I also like the voicenotes/spoken word bits at the end of traks that tell the story of Kendrick's childhood. Helps differentiate him from the countless sea of other artists who sing about sex, killing, and drugs like it's nothing.
Then again, I would not listen to most of these tracks again on their own. Artists like Childish Gambino or Tyler, The Creator who are pushing a more experimental take on the rap genre are more my style than what this album has. Not to say that this album is bad - I like it - but I wouldn't play this on my way to uni or work.
Favourite tracks: Sherane a.k.a Master Splinter's Daughter, Money Trees, the 2nd half of Sing About Me, I'm Dying Of Thirst, Real, and Compton
3/5
This is why I love older pop records. All these newer artists are just trying to make something that'll make it big on the radio. Some catchy tune that repeats ad nauseum with nothing to differentiate it from the next artist. Maybe it's just faux-nostalgia on my part but artists like Eurythmics and Modern Talking or more "modern" examples like Lady Gaga or the Black Eyed Peas have so much more personality than any artist on the radio right now.
This album is so catchy while still experimenting with the electronic genre. I absolutely love it. There's a couple misses but I can sit through the album in one sitting without being exhausted or bored. Lennox's vocals are mystical. At times her melodies sounded akin to something Imogen Heap would go on to make. It's truly captivating. And don't get me started on the instrumentation. Bass lines out of this world, sweeping synths, and punchy drums. Everything you need for an album that gets stuck in your brain for years to come.
Favourite tracks: I Could Give You (A Mirror), This Is The House
4/5
Like a dollar store Oingo Boingo. Mixed so flat I couldn't even tell if the backing track was any good. There's some good material here but it's buried so far in the mix it was hard to pick it apart from the whiny vocals.
1.5/5
Holy what a voice. Shook me to my core the second I heard him sing. Very poignant sound to the whole album. The instrumentation is quite minimal which compliments the robust voice of Cohen. Created a great, moody atmosphere.
However, I didn't get much enjoyment out of it. Not an album I would listen to over and over again or have songs get stuck in my head from.
Favourite tracks: You Want It Darker
2/5
Oh hey this vocalist sounds a little bit like Björk that's weird.
Oh hey this group's from Iceland, that's a neat coincidence.
Oh hey that's literally Björk🧍♂️
I love this album. This is what punk is supposed to be. Making fun of pop with non-sense lyrics, loud instruments, and style. Whole tracklist is great too barr the first track and a couple outliers near the end. Middle section is so good. Definitely will be checking more of their stuff out.
5/5
Was not in the mood for an hour of noodling guitars and boring beats. Sure, they're skilled but come on man, 20 minutes of just some repetitive backing track with a whiny guitar? 'Stormy Weather' was nice since it wasn't so in-your-face but the rest of the album I had to skip through because fuck that man.
1.5/5
