One of my life highlights was playing lead guitar for a production of Tommy in 2005. I'll always choose it over Quadrophenia, though I love both. Cousin Kevin is so hard to replicate live they only played it live once or twice. Anyway long live The Who. This record contains the entirety of human experience and rocks. How could that not be 5 stars?
Again I don't have any perspective really because this record is so deeply embedded in my DNA. I've performed the whole album multiple times and each song is a massive masterpiece imho. Tangled Up In Blue alone justifies his Nobel Prize. I do prefer the slower version of Idiot Wind from the outtake records. It is not my favorite Dylan record but since he is one of my main heroes (Bowie being the other) I keep close to all of his work (yes even Under the Red Sky lol). This album was my Dylan gateway. You never forget your first.
It's been nice to see this album's reputation grow over the last 30 years. Beach Boys have been a perpetually underrated group imho. So many gems even on some of their later records. Brian Wilson's sense of whimsy, skill as an arranger and singer, and positivity always make me smile. And this record speaks for itself. Any songwriter arranging their own material should take heed.
One of my favorite all time albums by anyone. It opened my mind to abstract music in general. I love the psychedelic whimsy, the screaming garage rock, the philosophical moments, the soundscapes, and the slight edge of menace to the whole proceedings. The rock idiom has been the locale of choice for many true originals; Syd Barrett was one of them. Sadly we'll never know what could have been had his own mind not been his own worst enemy. But the work he left is brilliant. This album more than any other really brought free jazz into.rock in a way that still has yet to be fully explored, though some have ventured. In my all time top ten.
one of the greatest collections of songs by one of the greatest songwriters
I enjoy electronic music and I enjoy pop music but I don't necessarily like when the two mix. When pop stars go electronic it's cool usually (Bowie) but when electronic artists try to be more pop it leaves me pretty cold. Anyway only little bits of this were appealing. I don't ever need to hear more.
I appreciate that Kate Bush is unique and different but her music still eludes me somehow. I do like a handful of her songs, none of which are on the dreaming.
It's funny how time changes things. Back in "the day", AC/DC were seen very much like Aerosmith - some hits but nothing special, just one of a number of pedestrian RAWK bands. Then somehow both bands ended up becoming lofted into the pantheon of gods by their sheer longevity. Last band standing writes the history? Anyway there's always been a place in my heart for big dumb greasy 70s rawk, and a few months ago I realized these Aussies had quite a few kickin tracks. Mostly I love the greatest hits - there's not many great songs here besides the obvious big 3 but their lean 1980 approach stripped bare of 70s bloat is fun to listen to. Angus's tone crushes it. If there were just a couple more songs with actual hooks, this would push into 4 stars easily for the sheer joyous cheeseburger sound of it.
I really want to give this one 3 1/2. It's funny to listen to it right after back in black because I see both of those album albums similarly – I love the sound and there are three or four great songs on each of them, but the rest is just kind of meh songwise. I saw them play this whole album live a couple years ago and felt similarly. American idiot though is a five star album IMHO.
I've been listening to Os Mutantes and other tropicalia recently so I was entirely in the mood for this - but also how can you not get drawn into her intoxicating spell?
enjoyed this far more than I thought I would. The backgrounds are spectacular. Really 3 1/2 but it definitely is closer to 4 than 3. He has an interesting voice and delivery.
I mean...at this point I don't even really have any perspective on Nevermind. I was in college, it was "our music", it was a specific moment in time that felt like the Beatles exploding. We all agreed on Nirvana and this album. It's of its time and entirely timeless.
The melodies over the dissonance and unresolved tritones - Kurt was such an important songwriter, sophisticated beyond his technical knowledge. And I believe his greatest work was probably still to come. Huge loss. Thankfully we have what he left.
Eh. Bland and dated. I might like the songs if they were done acoustically or in some format without the dated production, but did nothing for me as is.
I can absolutely see how somebody wouldn't like this, but I did. It was perfect walking and putter around the house music at that moment. Was definitely ahead of its time. I really wish that there were half stars bc I don't like this as much as Dookie or Back in Black but I couldn't squeeze a fourth star out for those. Anyway, I'd listen to more when in the mood.
Perfectly fine, though I think her 1992 album Love Deluxe is really much better. I also liked 808 State more 😂. 3 stars is apparently a broad umbrella for me.
I came to the Smiths later than most of my friends, and a long time after I first heard all of the records (I was in high school when this album came out). Was really the early 2000s before I realized their genius and also how much subtle humor is behind all of the lyrics. The tongue-in-cheek aspect was missed by a lot of fans and detractors alike at the time. For all of his shittyness now, Morrissey was a brilliant and unique lyricist. Marr is the kind of guitar hero I sought in the 80s, I just found Peter Buck first. Anyway this is the Smiths' masterpiece. Now I know how Joan of Arc felt!
How do you rank a 1.5-2 star album with one 5 star song? THE SONG (you know which one) is incredible but the rest of it kinda just goes nowhere. I do own this record on vinyl. Fascination is better. I do like Philip's voice but jeez, the lack of songs besides the one is rough.
If this album was just the first half, it would still be 5 stars. The songwriting on the first half is just one banger after another. The second half gets a little slow at times but Stevie's singing, playing, writing, and arranging are top tier all time great all the way through. Mfer plays DRUMS on a bunch of the tracks. Is there nothing he can't do? Has been a fav of mine for many years. The state of the art 1975 synth sounds are so tasty.
Better than their first record but still pretty meh. Not a lot of strong songs.
It's solid. Hugely influential. 3 1/2 really. A pleasant groove.
If the first half of this album was like the second half of this album, it would be five stars no question. It really is far better than it gets credit for. My second concert! I saw them in 1984. I probably haven't listened to this record in 35 years, I feel like if I gave it a couple more spins it might hit 5. Pretty much everything Annie touches turns to gold.
Definitely a unique and special record and moment in time. Growing up in the 80s as a budding guitarist, you really had Eddie shoved down your throat – he was portrayed as the be-all end-all peak of everything. Every guitar magazine. My band in HS insisted we cover some, it was a trio so I was def pressured into it. I rebelled the other way, getting into REM, the Grateful Dead, Dire Straits. But through the lens of history I can appreciate Eddie. And I did learn to play the mid section of Eruption lol. This album and 1984 are about as far as I go with them but both are exceptional. Shout out to Michael Anthony, a woefully underrated part of the chemistry, groove, and backing vocals of VH. It's great. It's not the GREATEST MUSIC EVER MADE. But it's great.
It's funny to say this as I am usually a proponent of keeping things in their original state, but I think this album could use a stereo remix - might give a doorway in for current and future generations. I really, really love the Airplane. Everything up to and including Volunteers I think is brilliant. I always find the gentleness of SP startling. You hear a lot of psychedelic fury from the 60s but not a lot of psychedelic quiet. Anyway I may listen to this again today bc it's so groovy ✌️☮️. Jorma and Jack rock always too.
Ha! First one to listen 😄. I admit it took me a couple sittings to finish the whole thing. It's pleasant enough if you like Indian subcontinent pop music from the 70s. I prefer Indian classical music like Ravi Shankar if we're going there. But this was fine to footle around the house to.
Shocking 4 from me. I used to think their hits were way too long but I don't mind them these days and the other tracks on this record slap hard. Generally for me to give something a 4 or higher it means that most every track caught my interest, something that never happened before with Morning Glory for me. Britpop finally makes sense to me 30 years later so that helps too. Enjoyed this album more than I ever have before.
Peter is the King Midas of rock to me – everything he touches turns to gold. The album that made the gated snare famous, the lineup of supporting cast is completely ridiculous - Robert Fripp, Tony Levin, Paul Weller, Dave Gregory, Kate Bush, Jerry Marotta. 4.5 would be a more accurate rating as I don't think this album is perfect, but its flaws tip towards perfection more than failure. I don't think I've ever heard a Peter Gabriel track that I don't find something interesting in.
I really do have the musical taste of a Boomer, despite being solidly Gen X. I just fucking love the Byrds. The 12 string jangle that shook the world. I need to do a deep dive into everything Gene Clark - the true hero of this record. He was writing great stuff out of the gate. Their cover of Bells of Rhymney is one of my favorite recordings by anybody. Yes it's dated, yes it's over half covers, yes they have better albums. I don't care though. Byrds forever ✌️ something about the gentleness of their version of Chimes of Freedom drives home the message more I think. "And for every hung up person in the whole wide universe".
There are moments where this feels just like interminable Brooklyn hipster muzak and then there are moments of great beauty and authentic emotion. It's probably fun to hear him live with all his devoted fans singing along to the songs. I don't mind this, but I've heard it once before and I don't really need to ever hear it again. It's not pop music, but as "soft art-rock" it never really gets musically interesting enough for me to really get into it. But I don't mind it either. If it came on randomly someplace I wouldn't be mad.
The last time I listened to this whole album I swear I liked it more. I love Freedom, Something To Save, Cowboys and Angels, and Heal The Pain. Beyond that, it really does sound dated and the songs are meh. Praying for Time was meant to sound "contemporary" but it seems so silly leading off the album with that when Freedom is so strong. Anyway I still love his voice but probably the greatest hits can suffice.
This was fantastic. I learned about Arcade Fire from Bowie, who was really big on them in the early 00s. I loved the first album and then wasn't crazy about the second album so I had never actually listened to this. Definitely going to listen again and I think on repeated listens it will probably become a 5 for me. They have interesting song structures and arrangements, I love the words and the melodies. Stellar record. 4 1/2 for sure - and only not a 5 because it's brand new to me. I did give Bebel Gilberto a "pristine 5" - so I may revise my vote later.
I don't hate this. It would be a 3 if his vocals weren't out of tune so often. If the whole album were sung by Tom Waits or Leonard Cohen, it might even be a 4 because there are good melodies and some interesting lyrics. But it just becomes ponderous and grating when it sounds like a demo he recorded late at night drunk. I would prefer to hear his songs sung by other people. I know a lot of people feel that way about Bob Dylan but Bob Dylan generally sings on pitch.
