This album is definitely outside of my comfort zone. I typically don't love listening to more melancholy songs because music really affects me emotionally and I don't like being bummed out (haha).
I think my favorite song was Subterranean Homesick Alien. I also really enjoyed the first part of Paranoid Android.
I think I need to give this one another listen in the future and pay more attention to the back half.
On this first listen, I'd give a 3.5/5.
This was another one out of my comfort zone. I haven’t listened to a lot of punk before except for a few songs from The Clash.
I enjoyed this one a lot, it felt silly at times, and the artists sounded like they had a lot of fun with this one.
My favorite songs off the album were a tie between Kiss Off and Good Feeling.
I’d give this a 4/5.
I felt a lot more at home with this one than the other albums I’ve listened to so far. I really liked all the jazz/blues instrumentals. I definitely see myself listening to TPAB again, especially to dive into all the meaning in the lyrics that Kendrick packs in.
I’m withholding a half star because I don’t see myself putting the majority of the songs into my heavy rotation. 4.5/5
I wouldn’t say rock is a genre I normally gravitate to, but this was extremely listenable. I enjoyed all the different moods.
I really physically felt the performances through my headphones in a way that I don’t think I’ve felt with other music before. I’m not sure what the term is for that, if it’s the production or the mix or what, but it was awesome.
4.5/5
I loved this one. I’ve always wanted to be a jazz fan, and this feels like what I’ve always imagined jazz is. I’ve also never listened to a live album before, and it really felt like I was there.
5/5
I enjoyed a lot of this album. I listen to a lot of phonk (not drift phonk) so this felt familiar in a lot of ways (actually haven’t heard many Snoop samples that I know of, come to think of it).
This is just a personal thing, but I just don’t enjoy a lot of the more crass lyrics/interludes.
3/5.
I think I’m missing some context and appreciation for what music was like around this time, because I’m a little underwhelmed. Maybe I just take more modern music for granted, or the Beach Boys are just so over-played in movie sound tracks or whatever, but after years of hearing how this is one of the best albums of all time, this just did not wow me.
Very listenable, just didn’t knock my socks off.
3.5/5.
This album was just fine. Nothing really stood out to me, but it was all very listenable. It reminded me of Vulfpeck (or maybe that should be vice versa…).
3/5.
This was fine but there was nothing memorable here for me.
2.5/5.
I’m not sure if this was life changing for me, but this was a nice change after my last few albums this week (in that I actually enjoyed this one!)
The songs felt kinda same-y but also there was a lot of variation in the tempo, the singer’s delivery, etc. I enjoy plenty of drone-y songs (as long as they’re not overlong), so the songs like that worked for me. I’m not sure if the songs were meant to, but some of them definitely provoked a sense of uneasiness and even dread at points.
3.5/5.
I can appreciate what a talent Johnny Cash is, but I don’t think this album or genre is really for me. I’m still really glad I gave it a listen.
I think my favorite part about Johnny Cash’s music is that he effortlessly identifies with “regular” people. A lot of popular songs these days are much more generic or don’t really resonate (I love rap and I don’t do drugs or have fancy cars, etc.). It might just be what I listen to regularly, but I also don’t hear a lot of music that tells stories the way Cash’s songs do.
4/5.
Enjoyable but nothing super memorable for me here. I loved how all the different genres blended together.
3/5.
Very moody, but definitely not whiny. The singer’s got a really cool voice!
3.5/5.
This album was awesome!
My first introduction to NIN that I’m aware of was the Challengers movie soundtrack (which is incredible). I know this album is closer to rock rather than electronic, but there’s a real through-line between the two.
4/5.
This was fine. I like the idea of a 15 minute album as an introduction to a band or genre.
I haven’t listened to much punk before, but I love the energy. I saw some other reviews take issues with the content but I don’t really focus on lyrics unless they’re really the only thing there, like in skits or more stripped down songs. I felt the volume and emotion more than I heard the words.
I don’t think this will make my heavy rotation but I’m excited to see what else punk has in store for me!
3/5.
At times this was extremely repetitive and there were some whiny samples that just hurt my ears. This was the first time during this project that I’ve actually skipped anything on the album.
That aside, this album was great! I will definitely be re-listening soon.
4/5.
I honestly feel so unqualified to review this album. I’m still a nascent jazz enjoyer so this was an intimidating listen.
I enjoyed Spanish Key.
I listened to this while working (same for most of the albums I’ve listened to so far) and while I enjoyed the album, nothing really stole my attention.
3.5/5.
This is pretty much exactly what I think of when I think of 50’s diner music. Listenable but pretty repetitive.
2.5/5.
This was definitely an experience! Much more memorable than a lot of my last few albums.
At least the version of the album I listened to was in stereo, so if you listen with just one earbud or side of the headphones like I usually do, listen with both!
I really enjoyed The Gnome. The rest of these won’t be going into the heavy rotation, to put it lightly; this album isn’t really easy listening. That doesn’t mean it’s not good of course!
4/5.
Enjoyable but nothing super memorable for me. I enjoyed the mood and atmosphere.
3.5/5.
This was almost a 5 star for me because it was so groovy, but honestly the tracks were a little long for my taste.
4.5/5.
This was good! I listen to a lot of music in this vein already (good background music for working!) so there wasn’t anything noteworthy here for me, but this was still an enjoyable album! Definitely have found a new band to check out.
3/5.
This was fine for me. I’m not a huge rock fan, so this all sounded pretty much the same.
3/5.
This started out really good, but as it went on I was disappointed.
2.5/5.
This has the same vibes as someone who peaked in high school but makes who they were in school their whole identity.
I liked Heroes and Villains, but every other track should’ve been left in the 60s. I almost burst out laughing at how bad Vega-Tables is. I am in shock that Mrs. O’Leary’s Cow won a Grammy.
This felt moody but not in an interesting way for me. I liked Interzone, but it really all blended together.
The album cover is cool so it makes sense I see it on T-shirts and phone screens, etc. but I would’ve thought this would be a better album because it’s everywhere.
2.5/5.
This was cool to listen to, very unsettling. That said, I never need to listen to this again. I’m honestly stumped on how to rate this properly.
At the start this was alright, but as it went on, I was really not enjoying this. A little too repetitive for me. Also I’m not impressed with the singer’s performance.
This is the first dance/electronic album I’ve had in a while so I liked the change.
1/5.
Not my cup of tea but not unlistenable. It reminded me of the Smiths but less melancholic, or at least less whiny.
Edit: this dude is the singer for the Smiths so that explains the resemblance.
3/5.
This was a good listen! I don’t think this album is for me: as talented as the singer is, it was hard for me to enjoy the constant falsetto. That said, I did like a few of the tracks.
3.5/5.
This was great! Super different than a lot of the other stuff I’ve listened to so far on this list (I guess it being so recent is a big reason why) so that bumps it up in my book.
I normally don’t like skits in albums (maybe interludes would be a better term here), but I thought all the stories really added to the concept.
4/5.
2/5.
This album felt a little long. Thankfully not as long Spotify told me at first (a terrifying 53 tracks over 183 minutes???). There were several songs in here I liked. Lyrically (and in some of the production) this felt like a theater kid trying to impress others with their edginess.
3/5.
4/5.
