A classic and powerful album, have a cigar and wish you were here easy to listen to separately. Interesting that you only hear the vocalist 9 mins into the album. Reminiscent of PF’s early work with Syd Barrett
This album transcends seasons. Some songs fit a glorious sunny spring day, others (Everybody Hurts and Sweetness Follows) merit more of a melancholic cloudy grey day. Classic songs like Nightswimming and Man on the moon perfectly capture Stipe’s iconic voice and the consistent use of orchestral instruments and piano make this an album bring a tide of nostalgia over you
WOW. This album was a powerhouse in its first listen. The layering of instruments, genres, moods. Joni I’m sad that I have neglected you in my life as an avid listener up until now. Raised on Robbery a particular highlight. Only giving four stars as I need to leave something for the GOATs…
This album grew on me. Stevie’s vocals in Boogie on Raggae woman are unapologetically cool and effortless. Heaven is one of those powerful songs that could make anyone reconsider their faith to god. Listening to this album at the end of the day and really taking in the rhythms, lawlessness of Stevie’s voice and all the beautiful harmonising bumped it up
One to come back to. The first half of the album grew on me at the second listen. I like Jack White and other White Stripe albums, but I think it was too much cacophony for how I was feeling.
Needs coming back to but compared to other REM albums it feels lacking
Meh. I didn’t love. A couple of the songs grew but can’t say I’m a new found fan of Donovan. Will come back to this
Need to listen to it all the way through once more. But it’s a great collection of songs and has reminded me how much I like the pretenders
Eh I didn’t love, maybe it will grow on me but I also didn’t get much of a chance to listen properly
As a south Londoner it is obvious that some songs resonated strongly with me and the energy, unapologetic vocals make you want to vigorously scream YES. A band to come back to
Like fine wine. I hadn’t listened the the full album in years and what a treat. Psychedelic, old school alternative rock, incredible guitar segments, the rhythm and percussion. I could help but sing along on my commute to so many of these songs. Instantly put me in a good mood as I delved into what is an intensely pleasurable listening experience
I might be harsher here purely because the album wasn’t on Spotify and it was a struggle to find each song and listen to in order. This was a fun album, but in my opinion a very basic way of combining almost stereotypical rhythms of Latin America amongst other cultures. The music is fun and perhaps I need to look into the lyrics more
I’m somewhat comforted by the fact that I like other XTC stuff.
The beginning started off well with the orchestral accompaniments. But as this album progressed, it started triggering a deeply visceral feeling within me. They say art is supposed to evoke something within you and connect to your emotions, will this album did it in the form of irk, shock, horror, grimace. NO NO NO. If you were a musical theatre kid in school, into nerd rock, have an unhealthy relationship to Disney soundtracks, then maybe this is the perfect album to start your day with. For me, it felt like an audio khole that I am sure will haunt my nightmares for days to come.
I have a new found appreciation for albums that are less than an hour. This felt like a saga time commitment and challenging to fit in one sitting. I hadn’t come across Todd Rundgren before, but instantly recognised some great songs like Hello it’s Me, I Saw the Light, It Wouldn’t Have Made Any Difference. The album has a three parts to it: up to Sweeter Memories it’s fun laidback jazzy soul harmonious (although I really didn’t like it takes two to tango). Then it transitions into a genuinely irritating annoying phase. I would believe you if you told me Todd was drunk in despair and feeling petty, then smoked a j when he wrote Song of the Viking as he fantasised about a different corporeal experience. I went to the mirror is when the album picks up again for me, like he’s getting his shit together after being in a weird pit of misery. Enter the beautiful powerful guitar mixed with the piano.
Black Maria he’s back in a groove, slowly standing up. Overall I liked the transition of the album as if we’re joining Todd in getting through the pits of life. It fits different moods, but I definitely prefer the songs on the rockier side, as well as the beginning others harmonious sunshine simple jazzy songs.
It was fine but not a particular standout album. I like some of Queen’s music, but it’s also not really the type of everyday listening either.
Unfortunately I wasn’t able to listen more than once the whole way through (for it being two hours long!!!!), but I loved this. The progressions, mix of rhythms languages moods. Disc 1 was stronger than disc 2 in my opinion
The fact that Britney had these vocals at the age of 17 is wild. Better than I thought it would be, but mainly the first couple of tracks that brought me down nostalgia.
I like Beck. Overall it was a good listening experience, in particular I liked Missing as it’s reminiscent of beachy hazy guitars and vocals with strings often seen in Brazilian jazz
I think I may have liked disc 2 than 1 (practice demo versions). Triffids was a new discovery for me but as a fan of Echo and the Bunnymen, The Beat and The Smiths, they slot in very well to my music library. Is it revolutionary? No, but some great songs all the same
Ask and you shall receive. Give Aretha an assignment and she shall deliver. A classic for very good reasons. Concise album where each song is a standalone. I hadn’t realised how many of the songs I didn’t know have been used in recent house music. Do Right Woman, Do Right Man will remain in my head for the rest of the day
