I never really got into the Pixies, so this was my first real introduction to them. I wouldn't use this album to introduce them to other people though. It is a fine rock album, but I think it settles for "a fine rock album that is played in a bar to mask uncomfortable silences". Nothing really stuck out to me in this album the way "Sgt Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band" or "Kid A" does. It appears that the albums preceding Bossanova are the ones to really check out.
I thought I was getting a punk album for some reason so when I heard the Cuban sounds I thought "fun intro, lets see where it goes". I try not to google anything before I listen so that way if its brand new I go in with an open mind. Once the second song hit, I knew I was in for a treat. It had me thinking I was back in Epcot, or an episode of Burn Notice. The tone and tempo makes these songs seem upbeat but I dont know the words. Either way, I dig it.
This album has it all: an organ solo, walls of amps cranked all the way up, catchy riffs, catchy lyrics, and soaring melodies. The first of only two albums they would release, this album starts hard and doesn't let up for the next 38 minutes.
A highly rated album, this feels like the precursor to Radiohead. It has a lot of interesting things going on, but the songs seem to labor on longer than they should. Very repetitive in both the lyrics, which are minimal, and the melodies from the synths. I can see why, back in 1977, this was a ground breaking album but listening to it today isn't the easiest thing to do.
A departure from previous Byrds albums, they leaned heavily on Jesus and twang, sadly neither of which really helped them here. Sonically its not bad, as it was the first Byrds album to be released on Stereo, and you can hear some good guitar and steel pedal riffs but the lyrics fall flat here.
I dont know if I know a single Fiona Apple song but I do know the name. Apple's debut album "Tidal" hits from the opening and maintains a raw energy through the first 4 songs. I think pop is a bit disingenuous here. I would call this "girl grunge". It doesn't have the grizzliness of Cobain's tone but the lyrics, tone of music, and overall vibe really strikes me as a bit grungy.
90s era hard rock just has a sound. The lyrics are pushed in the back a bit so the singer has to work harder to make them come through the amps and drums. Screaming Trees isn't one I've heard of before, but they have a nice little melodic feel to them that comes through the kind of grungy wall of sound. The opening track had a really interesting sitar solo, something you really dont hear. It's like they saw what George Harrison did and took it to the next level. That is pretty neat.
Another one I've never heard, but knew Ray Charles. And I think this album so far is near perfect. It has upbeat songs, ballads, soaring lyrics and melodies, swinging backing arrangements and soul. It's fun to catch the little bits of other songs Ray uses in his songs on this album.
