Really loved the overall vibe of the album. Some if the folky stuff dragged a bit too long though.
It was.... "historically intereseting" 😂 and actually an okay listen.
But overall too repetitive and the clean voice was annoying (robot voice yessss)
So boring that it would have put me to sleep - if it hadn't annoyed me so much. 😤
Too American? Too much reverb on the damn voice? I don't know but I don't like it.
Nice riffs everywhere. Actually liked it best when the Grunge was turned down and the Doom turned up, like in "Sickman" or "Junkhead". "Rooster" also had a cool vibe.
That said, it runs too long (CD age sickness 😮💨). Also, whole album about suicide, addiction, mental breakdown? You ok guys? 😅 Negative vibes dragging me down and would prevent me from listening to this often.
3,5/5
Was hyped as I saw this coming up because I listened to this a lot when I was a kid. And YES, it lived up to the hype all these years later.
It's crazy and over the top, and that is its strength. Great guitar work, sweet vocal harmonies and top tier songwriting with lots of unexpected turns. Every song presents new flavours but it all adds up to a real treat that just makes me feel good.
Also, that vocal middle part in Prophet's Song? Just wow.
Near perfect 4,5/5
Pleasant enough listen, but none of the tracks really stood out. Quite nice background music.
So boring and uninspired. It feels like their goal is to make music in a way such that least people are annoyed by it... and that's very annoying
Very cool and enjoyable, especially the A-side. Liked the background singers and the occasional wahwah guitar.
Minus one star because musically there wasn't much new on side B.
On the negative side, it's somewhat dumb party rock. (I'm no AC/DC fan either.)
On the plus side, it's somewhat fun party rock.
But still not much there to really catch my attention ("Look at Last Night" and "I Don't Mind" were pretty cool though).
2,5/5
It goes on for too long, it's quite weird and freaky, and I don't love his voice.
That said, it did somehow develop kind of a hypnotizing spell. And so I found myself listening to it again and again over the day, and my liking for it grew step by step. Definitely a grower.
"Will Is My Friend", "Fall", "This Beard Is For Siobhan" were highlights.
3/5, and might grow on me further.
Some of the experimental ambient-like soundscapes are pretty cool, like in "Kid A" or "National Anthem" with its brass instruments.
What I can't get over with is the depressing undertone of the whole thing. No, thanks, I don't love music that makes me feel so lonely, anxious and fundamentally sad.
2/5
Will put on some Colour Haze now to heal my soul :)
First of all: can't unsee Garfunkel's magnificent moustache, and that's a good thing.
The title track and "The Boxer" are so good and quite breathtaking when listened to at proper volume.
The rest of the album was surprisingly diverse musically and also really enjoyable apart from like two boring numbers (and what about that live version near the end? The clapping and cheering was annoying and the song wasn't that good).
All in all: 3,5/5 - strong
Okay, heavily biased here. This album showed 11year old me the way towards music that was heavier and more aggressive than my parents' classic rock and pop stuff. (I remember them being shocked by Chester Benningham shouting from my room SHUT UP WHEM I'M TALKING TO YOU!!!)
There's much to like here, and the parts fit together nicely: Downtuned metal riffs, sweet DJ effects, Mike Shinoda's rapping, Chester's powerful clean and non-clean singing. The songs are short and effectively constructed.
Only the middle stretch of "Crawling" and "Runaway" insn't that strong.
I know mu metal is often frowned upon (by me also), but here, it really comes together and forms a sweet listen. As I said, I'm biased ;)
4/5
Never got into HipHop, and this album certainly won't help.
Many instrumentals are actually quite good, I like the beats and the Jazz samples. Would have enjoyed this more if it WAS only instrumental HipHop, because I hated the rapped verses. I generally don't pay much attention to lyrics, so I get why some of the appeal might be lost to me. But on the other hand, whenever I did listen to the lyrics, it was about why this guy was the coolest and that everyone else can suck it... yawn.
1,5/5 weak
Well, it goes on and on and is pleasant enough, but it's getting boring pretty soon. And sometimes there's a little country music mixed in there, and a little country is too much country for me.
Also, I do love me some vocal harmonies, but here these are just over the top.
Would probably not skip but wouldn't actively put on either.
2,5/5 okay-ish
Awesome. Such a warm, cozy, mildly psychedelic album. Instant stress relief.
There are so many beautiful details in the compositions and I'd like to point out all of them, but I'm too lazy and will just mention the first thing and that is how I absolutely love the bass line in the first track.
They manage to start off very strong and maintain the magic throughout the whole 43mins.
"Talisman" is the best track here and can compete with All Them Witches' "Talisman" for "Best Track Called Talisman".
4,5/5 near perfect
Great album, the songs are as tight as the guitar and bass lines.
I like how Franz Ferdinand show that they have a talent for interesting chord progressions and meldodies, which makes it an engaging listen from start to end.
Two or three songs are of lesser quality though, which keeps it from being a real classic.
Highlights: Dark of the Matinee, Darts of Pleasure
4/5 very good
Expert voices, beautiful vocal harmonies, warm and soothing. Reminds me of the vocal parts in The Lion King soundtrack and musical, which I like very much.
However, I felt that after one track, I had heard them all. So, as a whole album, it's not for me.
Add some orchestra and percussion, and I think I would enjoy it much more.
2/5 below average
Very mixed bag here, lacking coherence. Most of the more alternative rock oriented tracks are quite listenable, but not much really stands out. The country stuff on the other hand... nope. Most of the ballads... yawn.
Hotel Arizona was cool.
2.5/5 okay
Well, yes, this one is truly incredible and lives up to its reputation. I love the flowing opening chord of Breathe, the psychedelic intro of Time, the heavenly Gospel voices of The Great Gig In The Sky, the odd measures and saxophone in Money, the powerful climaxes of Us And Them, the great solos of Any Colour You Like, the melodies of Brain Damage and the conclusion in Eclipse. I love how everything fits together so perfectly, but does never get samey. No second wasted anywhere on these tracks, while the songs still take their time if it fits them.
And then.... there's also On the Run, which I don't get as a track (and even less why it's placed near the beginning of the record!?) and which keeps this from being a perfect record.
Still, the rest is pure magic. It's fantastic and I will probably listen to it many many times again.
4,5/5 near perfect
Well, it didn't offend, but it was boring, kind of a snore fest. Some of the choruses are pleasant enough, but nearly every song drags way too long. Why repeat verse-chorus three times when it's so bland and forgettable?
2/5 below average
This album was a masterclass in how tastes differ... the critical acclaim for this is off the charts, on RYM this is rated higher than all of the unbelievable legendary masterpieces by The Beatles, Pink Floyd, Black Sabbath, ...
So I really really tried to get into it, although it felt wrong from the beginning.
At the end I can say, I do acknowledge the great production, but that's where my appreciation ends.
Nope, it's not for me.
1/5 very weak
Masterpiece.
I just recently got into the Kinks and have to say this (together with "Village Preservation Society") is pure pop rock gold.
The songwriting is focused but varied enough to keep it intersting at all times. Nearly every song stuck in my head pretty soon. I love the chord progressions and tempo changes. And that jammy stretch in "Australia"!
It's not perfect, because the last three songs don't resonate with me as much as the rest, but it's damn near perfect!
A band that deserves more credit.
4.5/5
Love the album cover.
This may be influential for a lot of genres and whatnot, but if I am to rate the actual music presented here (and that's what I want to do), then... 😮💨
In my ears it ranges from okay (like the opener "Sunday Morning" or "There She Goes Again") to boring (hello, "All Tomorrow's Parties") to annoying as hell (looking at you, "Black Angel's Death Song" and "European Son"). Both vocalists do a bad job and the guitar solos are embarrassing.
All in all, I'm afraid there's barely anything that makes me want to revisit this influential classic.
2/5 below average
I have to give this album credit for going to some weird places and creating unique atmospheres, especially using Björk's special vocal abilities.
But unfortunately, for me it's not all hit, but some miss too.
Surely a grower album, as on the first listening, I liked much less of it.
"Human Behavior" is really cool.
All in all, 3/5 - solid
Listenable, well crafted folk music and piano ballads.
For my taste there's happening too little in most of the tracks, which makes it a pleasant background listen, but lacking immersion.
"Southern Man" was an exception to this and pretty cool.
3/5 - solid
I miss real instruments :'( The synths sound so shitty and outdated.
Some of the orchestral touches are quite nice, as are some chord progressions. "Enjoy the Silence" is great.
But in the end it all feels too artificial, cold, dead. This isn't for me.
2/5 - weak
Can't say much about this. This is okay, as far as Electronic Dance music goes. Unfortunately, this kind of music doesn't go very far for me...
It started okay with the first two tracks in more Downtempo like style but switched quickly to a boring House party which felt quite uninspired most of the time.
Give me some Rock'n'Roll instead...
2/5 - below average
Hard to rate this.
On the one, all of the songs were really "okay" as they passed by.
On the other hand, not one was good enough to make me wish to revisit.
I felt the song parts often didn't fit together, so a good instrumental interlude or nice chorus in there was quickly followed by something that brought the song down again.
In my ears, (they may have been one of the first to create this kind of melodic alternative rock sound, but) many others did it much better.
2/5 below average
So. Relaxing.
Soothing music that can be consumated as background listening but contains enough details and twists in the arrangements that active listening doesn't bore either. Also, lovely voice in a language I barely hear.
Not all of the tracks work the charm in the same way though.
All in all: 3/5 - good
Most important question here: love or hate the coconut song? For me, love! Looking forward to countless hours of earworm.
Apart from that, strong album which covers lots of styles. Incredible voice also.
Side note: For many years I thought pop music is mostly shitty and not for me. But recently I realized that there was a time when pop music was pretty good. This album serves to prove the case.
3.5/5 - strong
It's good. Far on the "pop" side of pop rock. "The Chain" is a really great song.
Most of the other songs however just pass by without leaving a mark with me. Perhaps it's too polished, too clean for me.
3/5 - good
Liked the rocking tracks "Alabama" and "Words". If the album built more on that style, it would be great.
The other stuff is okay, but a little boring in my ears with the exception of "Heart of Gold", which is a beautiful song.
All in all, 3/5 - solid
I guess it takes balls to start the debut album of your new punk band with a 9min noise jam, followed by a spoken word piece.
I actually liked the jammy opener (really has a Heavy Psych vibe going, and also, give the bass technician a cookie, the bass sound is delicious) and the riff in "Annalisa". Problem is, the voice ruins these good moments for me. And the other problem is, the other pieces are worse, or in the case of "Fodderstompf" much much worse (what the hell?).
2/5 - below average
My thoughts exactly when I listened to this:
*Roots Bloody Roots starts*
Man, this is awesome! The riffs, the aggression! Why don't I listen to metal more often!
*10 minutes later*
Huh, well, this sounds all the same. Starting to get on my nerves already.
*10 minutes later*
Give... me... melodies and harmonies...
*puts on Beatles*
To be fair, I returned later, and the mixing of metal riffs and growls with Brazilian tribal percussion was awesome. But the point stands.
2.5/5 - okay-ish
They sure found "their" sound, and this sound is quite cool. Problem is, they exploit it over 15 tracks with only little variation from more rocking to more soulful. So, while I really dig some standouts like "Everlasting Light", "Tighten Up", "Unknown Brother" or the one where they reverse-rickrolled us, the album as a whole drags and doesn't make me want to check out their other stuff.
3/5 - good
Wow, first real surprise of this project! My first time listening to Talking Heads. Will surely come back.
Unique mix of danceable funk/rock, elements of world music and weird electronic noises. Also, how the songs were arranged, I had the feeling to be taken on a real journey.
4/5 - excellent
Not for me. In my ears, the ingredients don't fit together, and the voice is annoying. "The Bogus Man" wasn't bad, but too long.
1.5/5 - weak
I love how guitar, bass, drums and voice all sound awesome in their own rights, and then together they meld to an even better sounding big picture.
The A-side is impeccable - proto Stoner/Doom perfection. Unfortunately, the B-side is just a similar but much weaker version of that.
All in all, it's excellent, but not among my very favorites.
4/5
Strong guitar driven album with incomparable feel good feeling. Especially liked "Ramble Tamble" with its instrumental interlude.
Some more ordinary rock'n'roll and blues numbers keep the album from being truly excellent.
3.5/5 - strong
Meh...
The actual riffs are OK. But most of the songs are too long without much happening (which is not bad per se if I dig the vibe, which I don't feel here), and obviously the whole album is much too long without enough variation.
Also I'm not a fan of "grungy" vocals, what most people see as a strength of this album.
Of the many many tracks I only really liked "Mailman" and "Black Hole Sun".
2/5 - below average
On first listen, I quickly wanted to dismiss this as "not for me".
But somehow, it called me back for a second listen, during which I realized I liked many aspects of this blend of dance and post-punk, especially the repetitiveness and the driving feeling that somehow felt Krautrock-inspired. Also, great instrumentation that differs from track to track, incl. bonus points for cool use of cowbell.
Highlights for me were "Get Innocuous", "Us v. Them" and the title track.
Unfortunately, not all tracks are that good and the voice remains a weak point.
Will surely revisit and take a dive into their discography.
3.5/5 - strong
Blew. Me. Away.
The filthy guitar riff in the opening track. The beautiful vocal lines in "Book of Saturday". That groove at the beginning of "Easy Money" and the sick bass line during the psychedelic freakout later in this track. I could go on endlessly.
At no point did I know where the band would take us next. And boy did they create places to take us!
Masterpiece. Might become a proper 5/5 in the future. For now:
4.5/5 - near perfect
Melodic, fuzzy riffs, lots of effects, rich instrumentation?
On paper I should like this.
But somehow I really didn't. Perhaps because it was all over the place, and not in a good way.
1.5/5 - weak
Do I think this is brilliant because I listened to it so much, making it sound so very familiar?
Or did I in fact listen to it so much because it is so brilliant?
Actually, I don't really care. I loved it when it came out, and I loved it every bit as much relistening now.
I think that the songs and the whole album is excellently constructed, the sound is guitar-heavy, just as I like it, and I somehow have a knack for these background "ooooh"s that are employed always at the right time.
There are lots of well earned hit singles on here, but I love most "deep cuts" even more, like the fast paced "Letterbomb" or the beautiful closer "Whatsername".
There is not much keeping this from being a 5/5, for example the opening title track being average instead of as brilliant as the rest.
4.5/5 - near perfect
It was okay, I could listen to it without skipping.
However, for me, the genre mix of funk, art rock and piano rock didn't work. Also I thought the sound lacked power, it felt somehow weak the whole time. And it doesn't help that I don't really like Bowie's voice.
Near the end it got better with "Stay" and "Wild Is the Wind".
2.5/5 - okay-ish
The A-side was really good. Especially "Perfect Day" is a great song, but also the upbeat rock numbers were very enjoyable.
Then, the B-side. What happened here? Didn't dig the tuba. Weaker songs overall. It's a pity. Still, nice find.
3.0/5 - good
Positive vibes and great musicianship on all instruments. The brass instruments and percussion elements were especially nice.
However, what this album lacks is variety. I grew tired of the sound on the back half.
Funnily enough, right there in the track "Love's Got Me In Triangles" the German speakers among us very clearly hear a "Scheiße, mir wird langweilig" at 2:40... coincidence? I think not 🥸
3/5 - good
The good: Some nice chord progressions and harmonies here.
The bad: The singer's voice, I don't like it.
The ugly: The instrumentation is horrible in my ears, artificial and dated, just no.
2/5 - below average
The band name sounds so much cooler than the music presented here.
Somehow, this was even worse than the Pet Shop Boys I listened to yesterday.
Hadn't it been for the kind of beautiful slowburning "Sealand", this would've been a sure 1.
1.5/5 - weak
Similar to Coldplay, and equally hard to listen to.
Somehow even more infuriating because they sometimes put out good moments like a passable guitar riff or atmospheric verse, only to destroy any spark by detouring into totally forgettable choruses or cringeworthy parts.
No thanks.
1/5 - very weak
Excellent! I love Jack's brand of modern blues rock, and his voice is as unique as his guitar tone.
The album is a potent mix of riff based blues rock numbers and ballads. I dig the use of keyboards and piano here, like in the nearly-over-the-top "Weep Themselves to Sleep".
All in all, lots of moments that made me smile, headbang or just feel groovy. Might become a 5 in the future.
4/5 - excellent
If you don't pay attention to the lyrics (which I don't), then most of this album is quite repetitive.
That can be a good thing because some tracks have a really good feel to them, like "Love Sick", "Million Miles", and especially the cool "Cold Irons Bound".
On the other hand, it sometimes gets boring (my oh my, 16-minute closer "Highlands").
All in all, I enjoyed this much more than 1960s only-voice-and-guitar Dylan.
3/5 - good
Nearly unlistenable for my ears.
The beats are so repetetive, the instrumentals minimal, boring or annoying.
I get that I fail to connect with Hip Hop albums mostly because I'm not a lyrics guy and pay only little attention to the words.
However... whenever I did pay attention, it was cringeworthy or even a little disturbing. Nope, not for me.
To say something positive, the movie samples they used were really cool.
1/5 - very weak
Makes me want to go lie down in my bed and cry. Not exactly a quality I'm looking for in music.
As in Kid A, I like some of the sounds (here, especially "I Might Be Wrong"), but wouldn't listen to this ever again.
I'll politely say: Please go whine into somebody else's ears, Thom Yorke.
1.5/5 - weak
This album just flshed past me without making a dent. Some moments sounded cool, others really silly, but nothing makes ma want to revisit sometime soon.
2.5/5 - okay
First Michael Jackson album I've ever listened to as a whole. Phew...
He employs his signature "heee heee"s, "wooo"s and "ow"s so damn often, you get the impression this is a Michael Jackson parody.
Most of the songs did nothing for me, though it had its good moments like in the title track or the groovy "Smooth Criminal". Other songs were cringeworthy and hard not to skip.
"King of Pop"? Apparently not earned through great songwriting.
However, worst of all is the 80s sounding production. The drums and bass sound like shit, the synths are just horrible.
1.5/5 - weak
Complex percussion rhythms? - ¡presente!
Salsa piano sixths? - ¡presente!
Lovely spanish vocals? - ¡presente!
Great brass section? - ¡presente!
I really enjoyed listening. However, for my non-salsa-trained ear, everything started to blend together real soon, forming a nice trip to another world, but lacking any standouts.
3/5 - good
The coolest things about this: the interesting intro track and the interludes that often use snippets from interviews and connect most tracks seamlessly which I think is really cool.
Also, great voice.
Unfortunately most of the actual songs are pretty boring to my ears with barely anything happening beat-wise or intrumentation-wise.
2/5 - below average
This always was at its best when they switched to instrumental parts. Not because the singing was bad, but because then interesting things started to happen, whereas the verses and choruses were a snoozefest.
That's why I enjoyed the second half of "Sunrise" and the subsequent "Elegia" most.
I don't think I'll revisit the rest of it.
2/5 - below average
Another album that was on heavy rotation in my room when it came out. Still think it's brilliant!
We get cleverly constructed tracks with great riffs at the center, really cool drumming, and a sloppy vocal delivery that I just love. These jazzy chords in "Riot Van" and in the intro of "When the Sun Goes Down"? The thick ending of "Fake Tales"? That finale in "A Certain Romance"? *chef's kiss*
Not a bad track to be seen. Only two tracks that keep this from being a 5/5 because they're "just" good.
Unconditionally recommended, landmark of modern rock music.
4.5/5 - near perfect
I enjoyed listening. Great musicians, mellow summer vibes.
Because this isn't a genre I'm familiar with, it started to sound samey very soon and didn't really captivate me.
3/5 - good
Mixed Bag. I liked it most when the simole punk song structures were spiced up with jam or experimental parts like in "Anti-Pope".
This was the first album where I consciously thought "wow, production is really shit". Too much reverb on everything and muddy mix.
All in all, not bad, but not really good either.
2.5/5 - okay
It's really good!
That was a surprise, I didn't reckon to like anything labeled with "Country" that much. To be fair, this isn't the usual country stuff, but something more elaborate and even a little psychedelic (yay!).
I loved the maximalist production of this album, layer upon layer upon layer, rich instrumentation and the almost gospel-like background choirs.
"No Other" and "Strength of Strings" were phenomenally good songs, incidentally the ones that stray away from country the most. The rest of the album is good too, but I wish there were fewer moments where I get the "country cringe".
Dear Gene, it's a pity you chose that genre as your main one, because I bet you would have had a superb cosmic psychedelic folk rock album in you!
3.5/5 - strong
I like the general musical direction of the album and feel I would be able to get into this if it wasn't executed so badly. It sounds amateurish but not in a charming way.
The tracks go all kinds of places but those are neither nice nor interesting. And some of the shout-singing is so annoying.
"Slideshow at Free University" was okay I guess.
1.5/5 - weak
Long live the rock flute!
I dig the style employed here - much acoustic guitar, the occasional electric riff, the awesome flute solos.
It's really good, but also I quickly get the feeling of listening to the same two or three tracks over and over again, because there's little variety here.
Recommended, but in my eyes no classic.
3.5/5 - strong
FIFA 98, anybody? I think big part of why I loved that game was "Song 2" playing as menu music.
Still, it took me 28 years to give the whole album a listen! My loss, because it turns out the album is pretty good.
The band incorporating influences from alternative/indie rock was a good move, as I like "Blur" much better than the pure britpop of "Parklife", which we listened to some weeks ago.
It's really raw at times, with screeching guitars and feedback, which is great. At other times we get Trip-Hop beats or lo-fi / Slacker Rock vibes. Every track has its individual identity, and still it comes together nicely for a listen from front to back.
Bonus points for writing a QOTSA guitar riff in "Movin' On" before QOTSA ever existed.
4/5 - excellent
Not bad per se, but generic and boring as hell...
"Ready For Love" is a good song. Other than that, no reason for me to revisit.
2/5 - below average
Wasn't my cup of tea. Can't really pinpoint why, apart from the fact that I didn't like the voice and the guitar sound.
"Enola/Alone" and "No Surface All Feeling" were standouts though.
2/5 - below average
Chameleon and Watermelon Man are the definition of "cool".
Jazz is a pretty uncharted territory for me, so this Herbie Hancock album was a pleasant surprise.
The B-side is a little less memorable and a little less accessible for me.
All in all I must say, I will be back.
3.5/5 - strong
Epic album cover.
I liked "Bargain" and "Won't Get Fooled Again" ok, but the rest was mostly boring radio rock.
They certainly put much effort into the production and they're good at their respective instruments, but most of the songs didn't pique my interest at all.
The 60s The Who stuff that I know is much cooler.
2/5 - below average
A good blues rock album with nice jams and lengthy songs, elevated greatly by Janis Joplin's stellar vocals.
I love that they can go full on rocking as well as psychedelic and soulful.
Unfortunately, the B-side pales in comparison to the A-side, keeping it from being a real gem.
3.5/5 - strong
Crazyness: 3/5
(all earned by "Sexy-Interlude", ugh, what in the name was that!?)
Sexiness: 1/5
(tried very hard, achieved barely anything)
Coolness: 0.5/5
(just no, sorry)
This album really isn't for me. I found it to be forced and very artificial. It was't unlistenable, but I won't ever put it on again.
Album rating: 1/5 - very weak
Solid enough rock album. Great vocals. "Sympathy For the Devil" is an awesome track, as is "Street Fighting Man".
I don't care as much for the rest of the album, but enjoyed listening to it.
3/5 - good
A HipHop album which is musically decent, interesting even in some places and doesn't rely solely on its rapped lyrics.
The strange ambient elements woven into the songs make this the best album I know in a genre that doesn't really click for me.
2.5/5 - okay
Started off much better than expected with the driving opener "Synchronicity I". Part II of that and the radio classic "Every Breath You Take" was decent too.
Unfortunately these were the only highlights as the rest of the tracks were either pretty forgettable or even hard to listen to (lowlight "Mother"... why?)
All in all, didn't get me interested in The Police's other work.
2.5/5 - okay
I just can't see the appeal in this kind of music. And this album in particular just doesn't engage me at all. The vocals are annoying, the songwriting as boring as the instrument parts.
The idea with the sample interludes didn't work either as the samples were shit.
To say something positive... "Lost" was okay I guess.
1/5 - very weak
So simple, so effective. Jack White's guitar style is legendary. Meg White's drumming is boldly simple, yet exactly what the songs need.
The first four tracks are so good, and the quality stays decent throughout, with standouts like "Ball and Biscuit" and "The Air Near My Fingers".
If I could, I would delete a handful of songs from this 50 minute album and make a 5/5 40 minute album from it.
But as it is, it's still a consistent album that I would recommend to every fan of guitar based music.
4/5 - excellent
I really dig the Krautrock vibes in the first half of this double album. "Paperhouse" and "Oh Yeah" are cool and "Halleluwah" is that kind of epic jam that is already very long but you wish it would go on forever (must have been killer live).
The second half was much less for me - I'm not fond of sound collage experimental stuff.
Will definitely return to this album, but only to the funky proggy rock jams.
3/5 - good
These synth sounds are so shitty. The lead singer's voice so weak. The songwriting bores the hell out of me. Even the great hit at the end is awful.
Can't imagine why anybody in their right mind would choose to listen to this.
0.5/5 - nearly unlistenable
I just don't buy the jangly, weak sounding guitar sound and the vocal non-melodies that feel like the exact same from track to track.
However, it wasn't generally unpleasant to listen to, so that's not nothing I guess.
2/5 - below average for my tastes
Beautiful mix of styles that works very well, especially since Amy's voice is phenomenal. I don't think the quality is consistently very high, but there sure are many great tracks on here, like "You Know I'm No Good" or the title track.
A great example that modern pop music can be quite good.
3.5/5 - strong
Very simple punk music. Simple isn't automatically bad, but here I find very little that engages me. Or in other words: I was bored pretty fast. I could listen to 1, 2 or 3 of these songs and even enjoy it a little. But a whole album... no thanks.
2/5 - below average
Listened several times now and still feel I'd need more time with the album.
Kudos to Kate Bush for being as weird as she just liked to be. It's theatrical and musical-like in many places and really intriguing, even if not all works well (for my tastes). It's special, that's for sure. (I got a similar feeling when listening to Björk.)
I especially liked "Suspended In Gaffa" and the title track.
3/5 - good
Producer Suba creates an interesting blend of Samba polyrhythms, smooth Bossa Nova and electronic elements.
The end pruduct is... well, it's okay, but I wouldn't write home about it. The album is too long and I'm not a fan of the vocal delivery here. Other than that, nice background music.
3/5 - good
This does absolutely zero for me. Highly polished nothing.
1/5 - very weak
Another one I've been waiting for. This album (or, to be exact, at first the brilliant song "City of Delusion") started a years long Muse hype for me.
It's an exciting collection of very good rock songs. Muse manage to sound diverse while still building a coherent album. They also manage to put pop sensibilities into heavy rock instrumentals, thereby creating a powerful catchiness.
The electronic rock buildup in opener "Take a Bow" - the delicious fuzzy bass in "Supermassive Black Hole" - the unstoppable roll of "Map of the Problematique" - the genius acoustic guitar riff in the aforementioned "City of Delusion" - the theatrics of "Hoodoo" - the grand finale "Knights of Cydonia" - there's just so much I love about this record.
"Starlight" and "Invincible" are the poppiest inclusions here and in parts show where the band would (sadly) be headed with the next albums. I actually grew to like these songs, but they prevent the record from reaching the perfect 5/5 score.
If you like this album, reach for Muse's perfect, much rawer, really exciting "Origin of Symmetry" from 2001 or for the 2007 live album "HAARP".
4.5/5 - near perfect
Not bad, but not really good either.
I like the dreamy vibes, I like the vocals, but here it doesn't really click for me.
The songs just aren't that strong.
2.5/5 - okay
I don't know, this album just flew by like a summer breeze and whenever I tried to pay proper attention, I couldn't.
Nothing wrong with the musicianship or her voice, but it was just really uneventful and not my vibe.
1.5/5 - weak
7 tracks were exactly the same, the eighth a boring ballad. I'm not a fan of the disco sound. The strings are cool, yes, but can't elevate the album singlehandedly.
2/5 - below average
Crazy good jams in the second half, where the jazziness superposes the bluesiness.
"In the memory of Elizabeth Reed" brings Latin influences, "Whipping Post" is an extraordinary 23-minute journey. Guitar skills are off the scale, as well as the telepathic band chemistry. Also, two drum sets? Nice!
Problem is, I'm not sold on the first half. The ordinary blues numbers are neat, but nothing more. And "You Don't Love Me" has a cool riff, but the soloing here overstays its welcome.
All in all, still very cool. Would recommend, and will dig into the discography of these guys.
3.5/5 - strong
