One of the tags for this is "baroque rock" which I love, and it being recorded in a church adds to the initial draw. I think it opens very strongly, but falters in the back half where it veers into stomp-clap-hey territory (second half is loaded with listen-onces, personally). Use of organs, strings, and other untraditional rock instruments complements the vision. 2.5
DELICIOUS. I loved every track on this album; the depth and growth of the music across each song and the album as a whole was a sheer joy. I feel sorry for people who think that if music is in another language, they can't enjoy it fully. This had me groovin!!
Not an album I'll reach for again. I love the funky bass work of Revolution and the drums are sick, but my personal hurdle is reggae as a genre: unfortunately I was leaning towards bored. I didn't love the backup singers; lyrics are ever-relevant and blistering.
Inoffensive and unobtrusive prog rock. An album you'd thrown on when you want background music that listeners can tune in and out of with ease. Like me at work, forgetting I was listening while the album was actively playing over my headphones. When I remembered, I mostly enjoyed the sound before my attention slipped away again. That being said I don't like the plink-plonky mixing of the album, it's a bit abrasive. I'd listen to The Clap and Starship Trooper again.
The creative energy and sheer ability on display is incredible, and contagious--even the interludes are super fun and full of personality! LOVED My Favorite Things; all together I think I preferred The Love Below. Both are great
Wow I am absolutely not the target audience for this. The guitar work on Neighborhood Girls redeemed this album a bit. Her voice is stunning tho
His musicality swings between fun and boring. Lands on boring most of the time–I'm all folked out at the moment, tbh
I was initially excited, because I thought it was finally time for classic rock, but then Why Worry happened. And then I skipped Why Worry!! First time not listening to a full song for this project. Really enjoyed Money For Nothing. Listened to the album twice :)
I only got through Rendez-Vu in its entirety, started skipping after that, and tapped out in Red Alert. This album would be fun if it's 1999 and you're absolutely piss drunk at a packed club, probably! I don't know though, I was six when this album dropped. Also it looks like their most recent EP uses AI art for the cover and video, so 👎
Fuzzy drums tend to crowd the vocals and guitar, but this indie pop/pop country/indie country (?) sound is so familiar to me. Little bit of Sheryl Crow and The Chicks. Really liked Say Anything! Actually liked this album more as it went on, more than I thought I would, especially the more energetic high tempo stuff. Skipped some of the slower ones. 3.5
Some of these songs are goofy in a very deliberate manner, kind of like the music version of Austin Powers. They're all fun and very quintessential Brit pop. Album started to overstay its welcome around London Loves. What was charming at the start was grating by the end.
Another album where I can say "ah, yes, I can definitely hear how influential this was" and also "not for me thanks".
Really unexpected stuff in here. Judging by the album's wiki I'd probably enjoy XTC's other albums more but I love it when any artist decides to swerve in a completely new direction, even if it's just for one project. Another very British album.
I like the backing tracks, but his voice and lyrics just grate on me. The groovy big band feel is fun tho! 2.5
My collection of "just fine" British albums grows!
This REALLY doesn't strike me as being anywhere near rave; it definitely has high nonstop energy, but more in a "manic episode" kind of way. Maybe that's what makes it 'new rave' and I'm just woefully out of the rave loop? Vocals and harmonies felt very samey from song to song.
Her voice is gorgeous, and I love the Motown/blues influence, but I am simply not a fan of ballads, no matter how beautifully sung or produced. Would have loved if it was full of Rumor Has Its! Beautiful music that I won't reach for again.
Not enough glam in this glam rock!
A classic, and I seem to have been in the mood for late 60s' British humor today, so I had more fun than I was expecting! (Princess Marina almost lost me)
It's cool when you can directly tell who was influenced by the artist and sound--this album really made me think of Japanese Breakfast. I just know this album got lots of angry heartbroken 20yo girls through some tough times in the mid 90s
A lot of my experience with this album was "ohhh, he sang that song??" Short and sweet. Fun stuff!
REALLY enjoyed this album, definitely a lot more than I expected. I wish I could articulate why I enjoy some slow folk rock more than others.
Good chill rainy day music.
Sleeping Village and The Warning were unavailable on Spotify, so had a quick detour to make sure I got the full experience.
Jet is so much fun! Mrs Vanderbilt started to grate on me a bit towards the end. Some of the riffs in other songs got repetitive, too. I always like a big band sound, but I realized I just don't enjoy McCartney's voice or style enough for a whole album.
I was genuinely not prepared for what I got here--did Cemetery Polka inspire Runscape's composer? One must marvel at the infinite possibilities of artistic creation and experimentation. Especially when I don't get it!
Album for late, post-party nights with your crew while working at Yellowstone for the summer. Really beautiful
So far my favorite of the Beatles-adjacent albums. I don't think it needed to be two hours, though
Again, very obviously influential. Her voice is FABULOUS. But her music isn't my jam.
Just not a huge fan of trip hop. If I was stoned out of my mind at like 2am this would have for sure sent me into a comatose-like trance state
Evil sax!! Violence!! Noise!!
Delicate soft indie. Patience started wearing out around Jacksonville, tapped out in Decatur
His voice can get a bit screechy for me, but I love the overall vibe of the sound
First artist repeat... I'm not sure if I buy the argument for having some artists appear multiple times on this list. I enjoyed this more than Murmur!
The epitome of late 80s/early 90s basement sleaze rock, haha. Hard not to bop to ITEOTWAWKI
