This album is a classic I never really listened to completion until now.
My favorite track was and still is "Life on Mars". That's definitely the standout track for me. However, the album really kicks into gear immediately with "Changes" which is pretty good.
I also really liked "Song for Bob Dylan". Other than that, I didn't really click with the rest of the album.
Absolute banger of an album. Really amazing stuff on display here. While it's certainly the most approachable and beginner friendly album on their discography, this doesn't mean that there isn't depth to its songs both lyrically and musically. There's not a single bad song in here, and the track order is spot on. Really great album and it's been a part of my regular rotation for a few years already and will likely stay as such.
Pretty solid first album.
Not bad but not really much to write home about. It felt a tad repetitive after the first 30 minutes. I'd gladly listen to its songs as standalones in a playlist or sorts. But as an album I didn't really enjoy it that much.
This was amazing. I'd never heard of her work so I wasn't sure on what to expect, but I was hooked from the very first chords. I'm not the biggest folk rock fan out there, but it's clear that Joan didn't want to stick to a single genre or style in here, and is thus brimming with creativity and an eclectic approach to a handful of genres. I ended up loving this and it's this kind of discovery that I was expecting to make when I got into this site.
The opening track is a perfect pick, and really sets the tone for the rest of the album. The following two tracks keep the fire up until "Love And Affection" which seems to be the most popular track in here, and for good reason. It's a wonderful track, with some jazzy resources and a great hook.
I think there isn't a single bad song in here, but I do think that "Save Me" is the only one that doesn't stand out, specially being placed right after "Love and Affection". On this note, regarding the quality of the songs in here, I feel like the whole second half of the album is a sort of suite that builds up on different styles before it's natural culmination. So it's no wonder that my favorite tracks in here are "Join The Boys" and "Tall In The Saddle".
"Join The Boys" is just so so great to listen to. It's got this very blues-y guitar riff but with a baseline that's so funky that it ends up creating a wonderful fusion of styles. I also love the interplay between the piano, bass and guitar, specially as the song builds up.
Coming back around to the final track, it feels like the perfect conclusion to all the styles the album explored. It starts off like a nightly Blues and progressively evolves into a roots rock with some tasty jazz fusion textures spread throughout.
It's an amazing album with a great taste for production, instrumentation, and writing. It's got most of what makes 70s Rock so engaging to me and I feel very grateful to have found it thanks to this site.
It's a fun listen. The title track is iconic and one of my favorites. I've got nothing but respect for Cash and I enjoyed the album listening experience but it's unlikely that I'd listen to any one song on its own (except, of course, Folsom Prison Blues)
Fun album. Nothing to write home about but I enjoyed it.
Terrific Album from an all-around great band.
I was never too big of a fan of this album, actually, mostly because it felt a bit daunting when listening to it on streaming platforms. This is, of course, not really a fault of the album but instead of how most algorithms seem to push the deluxe edition of it instead of the original tracklist.
In this particular case, the site recommended the Deluxe Edition from 2003. While writing this review I became aware of a most recent remaster from 2022 for the original tracks, and a 2023 remaster for the "Lifehouse" demos as well as a remaster for the rest of the deluxe tracks. These are the far superior versions, in my opinion. Not only because of the sound quality but also because they are far more clearly laid out for the listener to distinguish which tracks are from the original album and which aren't.
Anyway, this time around, the album definitely clicked for me in all the right places, but I had to come at it with a different approach. I listened to it on two separate sessions, one focused on the original 9 tracks and another one focused on the New York Record Plant Sessions.
Session 1: The Original 9 Tracks
The opening track is a masterpiece and that's not really anything new. I understand that "Baba O'Riley", and much of this album, came out of a failed attempt to make a new Rock Opera album after "Tommy" and you can definitely tell from this song, and the end product is stronger for it, I think. I'm a big fan of mini rock operas and one of my favorites is The Who's very own "A Quick One While He's Away", so something like "Baba O'Riley" is right up my alley.
Now, moving on to the rest of the original album tracks, I really clicked this time with pretty much all of them, though the standouts are: "Love Ain't For Keeping", "The Song is Over" (this one I think is now a new favorite of mine, I just love the buildup and its an incredible ending to Side 1 of the album), "Behind Blue Eyes" and "Won't Get Fooled Again". I also really enjoyed the old-school rock style of "Going Mobile".
Session 2: The New York Record Plant Sessions
I've become a big fan of jam bands these last couple of years, and while The Who are certainly not one, these sessions really clicked with me because of their raw nature and how clearly they depict the incredible musicianship of all the band members. My only other reference point for a live performance was their Rolling Stones Circus performance of "A Quick One...", so I was blown away while listening to these recordings, with all their crude improvisation, while also accomplishing a super clean sound.
All of these tracks are great, but if I had to pick a favorite, I'd say it's "I'm In Tune". Specially because you can compare it to the final studio version of "Getting In Tune" and get a really different experience. Special mention to "Love Ain't For Keepin'" for the same reasons.
I'm now intrigued enough to listen to the Lifehouse Demos that the 2023 remaster includes.
Fun album. The production quality is top notch and it's full of really catchy songs. Now, on the other hand, it's really raunchy and I don't really care much for the lyrics, but at the same time it's not aiming to be deep or anything, and it's just having fun, so I can't hold it too much against snoop. It had been a while since I listened to a hip-hop album and this one got really close to hitting the spot, specially because the beats and production is top notch.
If I could, I'd give it a 3.5, but since I can't I'm closer to giving it a 4.
Second half of the album is pretty solid except for the last song.
First half only has Starman and Moonage Daydream.
Here's the thing with Bowie. To me, the songs that I don't like from him either annoy me or bore me, which is pretty bad. So the lows feel very low (Five years as an opening track almost made me quit), and some highs are better than other so what I look for in his albums is consistency. And the second half of Ziggy Stardust provides that consistency, minus the landing which in my opinion is a tad disastrous.
Now, comparatively to other Bowie's albums this is pretty solid and I'd probably listen to the songs I liked multiple times. I also like the Ziggy Stardust character so that's cool.
not bad not terrible, but i really wouldn't pick it again. It's a fun listen I guess, but nothing stands out really and I'm uncertain on whether to give this one a 3. I guess it's closer to a 2.5. It's ok.
One of my favorite albums of all time, though I'd say it's length doesn't work in its favor, the eclecticism in display does. There's like 3 songs I don't like in here (Revolution 9 is the only one I skip, though in principle it's not a bad idea, it goes on for too long) and the rest of the songs are bangers. I love this album.
I also really like the Esher Demos. There's just so many layers here.
Anyway another criticism I have is that clearly the cracks were already starting to show within the band and thus it's no wonder that the variety of styles and moods is so diverse. Paul, George and John are all doing their own thing for the most part, but goddamn they're also at their prime.
This album pales only next to my other two favorites: Abbey Road and Sgt. Peppers. But it sits at a very comfortable third place. I would probably give it a 4.5 but given how things are, I'm rounding up to a well deserved 5.
Really great psychedelic album. Albeit most songs I wouldn't listen on their own without the context of the rest of the LP, but I think it's a very solid album and Season of the Witch is and always will be a banger.
I mean... why is this here? There's nothing that really stands out. It feels very much like a product of its time. There's nothing offensively bad or anything, but also nothing worth noting. It's ok, but it's pretty pointless. I mostly feel disappointed.
