I liked it well enough, but it didn’t grab me. He’s clearly a gifted storyteller with a powerful voice, but after a while I found myself wishing for more flexibility and nuance. There was an opportunity to do more with the musical references & samples.
I was drawn more to the songs that had guests like The Corner and They Say.
Listened this morning - more classic rock and protest vs dreamy pop. They still can write the heck out of a song
This album is such a time capsule for me back to 2011 - brings back a particular place and time so clearly.
Anyway, back to my review: I enjoy their blender approach. There’s late 60s - early 70s classic rock combined with 2010’s indie which is definitely my wheelhouse. Prog Rock, The Birds, The Dead.. mixed up with modern influences like the Black Keyes. Who lean heavily into blues. I’ll give this a 4.
I’ve decided that my rating system is this:
1: Couldn’t get through 2 songs
2. Couldn’t complete the album or it made me mad
3: Not memorable or no interest in hearing it again
4: I liked it, worth another listen. Saved a few songs to my library
5: Evangelist. Everyone I know needs to hear about it
Her voice is incredible, which is like saying Ella Fitzgerald can sing, I know... I can immediately hear how influential this album is - in big ways like Brandi Carlisle and in small ways like the Heartless Bastards.
I’m not a big listener of this style country, so some of the arrangements aren’t my thing. I do like a little fuzz with my guitars and less sincerity in my lyrics. That being said, it’s beautiful album and a great example of this being done well.
I’m going to skip listening to- The Doors make me mad. I’ll save everyone reading the screed about pointless organ music and Jim Morrison’s voice.
How do I know every song on this album??!? I have no memory of ever listening to it but it was ubiquitous when it came out.
For me, this album is all about Flea’s bass playing along John Fruscianti’s guitar. I like their noisier songs, harking back to their older albums. Flea can just embrace the chaos muppet that he is.
56 minutes is on the long side for me.
This album was fun, and a great example of Kraftwerk’s wacky synth music strengths. It’s clearly influential as I can think of several bands that reference tracks on it directly or indirectly.
Was it repetitive? Sure. Kind of silly? Yes. Did I enjoy it? Yes! I’m glad it’s short at 36 minutes as longer may have been overkill.
As an aside - I love LCD Soundsystem, so this album was fun for me. LCD’s “Get Innocuous” is basically “The Robots.” According to the interwebs it’s not a sample, just heavily influenced.
It sounds like a SNL parody of indie rock. I made it to 1.5 songs and gave up. Earnestness, silly instrumentation, precious lyrics.. The list goes on.
The cover art is a warning shot of what’s to come
Not surprisingly, I’m a fan
A classic that holds up after 60 years
I love this album so much. I need to spend time digging into all the samples
4 stars, but actually 3.5 could be appropriate. I should say from the outset that Apple Music had the original 13 song album so no endless outtakes and alternate versions.
I listened to this CD a lot when it came out (I was in college) and always have had a fondness for Celtic trad music. Is some of it hokey? Yes. Did it age well? Some songs more than others. But the song “We Will Not Be Lovers” is a great one
I love the proto punk/70s NYC CBGB era period so this is squarely in my wheelhouse. That being said, I had never heard this album before. I liked a solid 70% but don’t think I’ll listen to it again unprompted.
We Will Fall’s chanting got to me, had to skip to the next song.
5 stars. No notes. Stir It Up x 100000
It was..fine? It seems like a perfectly inoffensive example 1969 folk-rock (borrowing Rolling Stone’s description.) I’m not sure why it made the list
This definitely sounds like Paul McCartney’s first foray after the Beatles. It feels like he’s recording music he wanted to do as a Beatle, ideas he didn’t get to, messing around in a studio with artificially lowered expectations.
Some tracks are better than others for sure. It would have benefited from a producer-as-editor to reign in the filler songs and outtakes. “Maybe I’m Amazed” is great, signaling what’s to come.
I’m not sure why it made the 1001 albums list. It’s fine, albeit completely unremarkable.
Lovely. A standard
I started it 3 times but it just didn’t grab me. My 18 year old self listened to this non-stop so I’m surprised it doesn’t resonate more
So much fun.
Lovely, joyful album. Some of it is too sweet for me (quoting Hozier) but a charming listen nonetheless
On of my favorite Beastie Boys albums, although the Heart attack Man hardcore songs could go. I know it’s a callout to their roots, but feels a bit out of place.
Sure Shot is a particular favorite, love the flute sample: https://www.whosampled.com/Jeremy-Steig/
I enjoyed it a lot more than I expected too. Roundabout is cheesy fun. Lots of different genres that I didn’t pick up as a kid.
South Side of the Sky is fun. I hear the beginnings of Jane’s Addiction (minus the piano) Influential on pop, Indie, & jam bands. Long Distance Runaround is fun
Fame and Young Americans are brilliant. The rest of the album is good, not standouts like those tracks. I enjoyed hearing Bowie playing around with Philly Soul, and it was most successful when he leaned more into the bass & rhythm.
Across the Universe version was good..
I’ll give it 2 stars, made it through 3 songs . It made me think this is what Spinal Tap is parodying
I didn’t make it through the entire album - 90 minutes is long. My initial thought was TL;DR (but replace the R for F = finish.) I enjoyed what I heard, though! He’s a classic for a reason.
5 ⭐️s. I’m amazed that I know every word to every song -, it was in heavy rotation in high school and college.
I think it holds up. Cult of personality is still a fantastic song, and the cover of Memories Can’t Wait is really inventive. Some of the songs are stronger than others, like they are working out what their voice is but the highs are some of the greats. Which Way to America blends everything happening at the end of the 80s - sampling, jazz, rock, social consciousness, even some arena rock for good measure. The 80s production is noticeable but the music holds up
I love that Bowie continued to experiment until his last album. Some of it worked better than others but compelling
Objectively good, but piano jazz isn’t my thing
