Kicking off my journey with one I already own. I picked this one up back in... oh idk 2003-2007 sometime. I recall listening to this and Elephant quite a lot in around '08/'09 (that and a lot of The Who).
AD 2001 was right in the hyper-polished, studio executive created "Barbie Band" phase of American pop music - everyone plastic, everything sounding and looking glossy, all tips frosted, all triangle composition choreography -
"music" (and "musicians") intentionally manufactured for mass, global consumption (you know, what K-Pop is now). This album is a response to that environment. It's unpolished on purpose. It's jagged on purpose.
Impressive what you can do with just 3 (4 if you include vocals) instruments. The White Stripes manage to carry maximalist intensity minimalistically.
TBH, I like Elephant more (Ball and a Biscuit *chefs kiss*) but appreciate White Blood Cells chiefly for going against the grain. I tend to be like that.
I listened to this this album a decent amount in middle school - being at the mercy of whatever cassettes my parents had lying around. Thing is, I'm no longer prepubescent. I have my own money to buy music and ... well, I ain't reaching for this, thx.
Not to say it isn't a competently composed and well performed body of work. It's fine. Fun to sing along with but not much else. Other reviewers have called this album boring...and I can't refute that. If you have a mature pallet, "soft-rock" is bland as hell. It's not this album, it's the entire genre.
Not really sure why this one is on this list except that it's popular. It gets a solid "meh" from me.
So this is the album that kicked off glam rock, huh? Don't know much about glam rock, tbh. It's fine. Points for historical value - influenced such varied acts as Queen to X-Japan so I get why it's here.
The lyrics aren't anything to write home about. Just standard British pop-rock circa 1960-1970 ("ooo girl, I love you girl, ooo ooo"... zzz). Enjoyable instrumental work throughout (surprise appearance from Ian McDonald of K.C.). I can see a much younger me digging it.
Standout tracks: Monolith, Girl, Rip Off
Giving it a 3 but, make no mistake, this is a much higher quality 3 than the 3 I gave Hotel California.
Gangsta' rap is not a genre I have any interest in. Not a fan of the non-stop cursing (it should be seasoning, not the main dish), slurs, misogyny, glorifying of violence. But that's the genre, so keeping that in mind...
Listening to this as a semi-autobiographical story - it's genuinely heartbreaking. The bluster and machismo aren't just glorifying "thug life", they're condemning it too. This dialectic is on full display on "Everyday Struggle". The entire album is tragic (even more so in retrospect considering B.I.G.'s death).
Well delivered, occasionally funny (dark humor, mind you, but I don't mind that), well written (even if I don't care for the subject matter). It makes sense why B.I.G. is considered one of the greatest of the genre. I respect it as art but it's not something I'd listen to for enjoyment. I'd rank it higher if I could see myself listening to even a single track outside of this experiment. Thank you for the experience; next.
I have never heard a Steely Dan song that I enjoy. In that regard this album did not disappoint. I do not understand working that hard to sound so bland.
Instantly recognizable. If you've never heard Green Onions, yes you have.
Fun music. The guitar work is delightful (especially notable on Twist and Shout). Loving the percussion on I Got a Woman.
So far, the most enjoyable album I've heard from this list that I didn't already own. The fact that it's all instrumental is really working in its favor.
Damn good coffee. Loving the intensity on The Whores Hustle and the Hustlers Whore, Kamikaze (who is that ripping up the drum set? Kudos.) and This is Love.
I wasn't feeling totally inspired to go after the whole discography but looking at the album list it seems like I won't have a choice. Won't be mad when I roll the next album in the set.
Is this supposed to be "inspired" by 80s synth-pop? In what way? I don't hear the style, the risk or the attitude here. Let's be real - most 80s pop was neon nonsense. But it was unashamed of that. I'm not getting "unapologetically garish" from this album. I'm not getting art pop. I'm not getting glam. You can't just slap some synth on it and call yourself "New Romantic". Sorry, you're still giving 2010s pop. And I'm into it.
Nicest thing I can say about Swift is that I appreciate her dedication to self-determination. She steers her own ship. Good for her. This is still a pass.
"There was a band playing in my head and I felt like getting high" - literally me.
I keep wanting to give this a 3 because I don't care for his voice, but that guitar playing on Southern Man is too enjoyable. I did not expect Neil Young to go so hard.
Put this one in the Dylan pile. Good stuff, but it needs a stronger vocalist. He's fine in harmony but kinda' weak solo. Seems like a running theme with singer songwriters. A lot of them are way better at the songwriting part.
Hmm, I might like Neil Young. Who'da guessed.
P.S. More harmonica please. What an underrated instrument.
If it had just been the MC this would have been ok. But DJ Premier is delightful. I love the turntable work.
Day 11 and I'm about to give my first 5.
I like Tangerine Dream - so the B side is right up my alley in the first place. But it is worth it to go read up on the history of Bowie at this point in his life and the events that inspired some of these songs (like Always Crashing in the Same Car).
This album is the sound of a man hitting rock bottom (thus the title) - disillusioned with his career, on the verge of losing his wife, low in inspiration and strung out on too much coke. And this is how he processed that. This is gorgeous. I mean I liked it the first time through but each time after I appreciate something new about it.
See, I like multilayered music like this. I'm a prog fan. The weirder it is the more I like it.
Very cool album. Neat to hear funk/soul experimentation with the emerging electronic/synth instruments of the day. The list of instruments Wonder plays on this album is really interesting: Hohner Clavinet (synthesizer that uses rubber band sounds), drums, Moog bass (foot-operated analog synthesizer ), harmonica, piano, harpsichord, T.O.N.T.O. synthesizer (quote Wikipedia: the largest, multitimbral polyphonic analog synthesizer in the world), Fender Rhodes (electric piano).
The percussion and backing vocal work on 'You Are the Sunshine Of My Life' saves it from being just another an overly saccharine love song. Fun texture. The clavinet on 'Maybe Your Baby' is very cool. Not sure that song justifies a 7 minute run time though. The last few minutes get repetitive - or maybe the vocals just need to be toned down a bit so the instrumentals can shine. I thought I was hearing a theremin on 'You and I' but that's the TONTO synthesizer. 'Superstition' is an absolute jam as everyone knows. 'Big Brother' kinda' goes hard for something that chill.
The more I listen to this the more it's clearly about experimenting with the instruments and vocal techniques. I'm down. Very cool. Not a big fan of love songs and this album has way too many but if that's Wonder's thing, he does it well.
Oh I'm going to have an attitude about this. I didn't sleep, I'm cranky and I've never liked 'Maggie May' - it's just so blechhhhh. Never liked '(Find A) Reason to Believe' either.
Normally I give albums multiple plays before I settle on a rating, and maybe it's just the massive attitude I woke up with today, but I don't wanna'. I don't like Rod Stewart and 1.5 plays of this album have not changed my mind. It's an interesting album and maybe I'd like it if I hadn't heard other artists do everything Stewart is doing but better. Also the casual racism and misogyny are ... not helping. I'd like to give him a fair shot but ... see: attitude.
Ah yes, weirdo music. Thank you.
Creative, fun, kinda' bonkers - I had a compilation CD with a lot of her stuff on it back in the day. Nothing about this is changing my life but I kinda' like it.
