With the slight exception of the lead track "Second Hand News", the first half of this album is hit after hit of uniquely crafted and impeccably mixed songs (at least on the Dolby Atmos version I listened to on Apple Music). I don't know what happened with Second Hand News, but there's a weird rhythm tone in there which I found distracting. But then the second half arrives with "The Chain" which is possibly the standout of the album, an exercise in melancholia, heartbreak and rueful anger, conjuring days lost to emptiness in the wake of a lover's betrayal. What a way to start my 1001!
This type of surf-inspired proto-grunge isn't really my thing, but there's some great mixing going on here.
Especially like the drum tone and the punchy bass.
Incredibly clean mix, especially for a live recording, and from 1971 at that! Lacking a little bit of low end, but every instrument and vocal is very clear. At times it's hard to believe it's a live recording but then the audience chimes in.
Absolutely peak musicianship in "In Memory of Elizabeth Reed" too.
Overall quite a few songs lack structure and devolve into noodling, but it’s eminently listenable noodling by supremely talented artists.
Not really a huge jazz listener but this is absolutely standout music in every regard.
I like Stevie Wonder, but this slower, more introspective album isn't my favourite of his. Stevie is at his best when he's bouncing around on upbeat tunes.
Meh - it seems almost like a piece of meta-irony.
Technically well put together but just not that interesting. You could see where they were going with future albums but this is just a bit forgettable.
Besides the hits that got played to death in the 2000/2010’s, there’s not much that really stands out, and towards the back half of the album it’s starting to overstay its welcome.
Not my bag - I just am not that interested in this prog-post disco noodly stuff.
Tried gritting my teeth and getting through a listen whilst cooking dinner. Couldn't do it. Lasted three and a half tracks.
I feel as though Coldplay make music for people who don't really like music but have to put something on so they can be seen to be participating in the act of enjoying normal people music. Background noise for accountants and real estate agents engaging in courtship. That kinda thing.
Not quite my bag but impeccably produced and full of very catchy songs. I can now see why this was such a big deal back when it was released.
Banger after banger.
ADHD - the album.
Well produced, but it's lacking something. As if it's meant to be the companion soundtrack to an art installation. Either that or I just don't get it.
Not really my kind of thing, but considering just what a state Bowie was in during the production of this album, it’s nothing short of miraculous that it came together as well as it did. Bowie’s singing sounds as good as it ever would, and the band are brilliant.
The only thing this album needs is a remaster to emphasise the lower end a little bit. Other than that, and absolute classic.
Had this album back in the 90's as a scrawny teenager dipping his toes into the world of Hip Hop and it was always a favourite, though I must admit a lot of the cultural touchpoints went straight over my head, and some of the looser, almost slam-poetry delivery lost me at times, especially compared to more straight-ahead stuff from the likes of Dr Dre and Ice Cube.
Listening to it now though as adult? I'm amazed how fresh and relevant it sounds, yet simultaneously of its time. Helps that the mix on Apple Music is especially dynamic in it's use of spatial effects. What a great re-discovery this has been!
Not really my bag, there's a good number of songs here that simply overstay their welcome, which spoils the occasionally interesting crunchy industrial stomping metal over punchy beats. There's elements of the Prodigy but without their discipline, White Zombie but without the loose flamboyance, and early-nineties metal fuzz but without the coherent songwriting of the bands who best represented such tones. Perhaps at it's best when it sounds like the demons are escaping out through the factory floor, but even then it all feels kinda directionless and chaotic.
Somehow, despite all the effort put into the production, all the talented musicians, and all the interesting bits sprinkled throughout, it never really comes together.
The jet-age optimism makes for an often difficult listen in this year of our Lord 2026.
And the mix is a bit thin and treble-y, which I guess was the style at the time. Still, interesting...
Can't stand Tom Waits.
Bland.
