I’ve never really fucked with Oasis, and the opening of this album made me wonder if that was a mistake. The first four tracks are incredibly strong, and oof the drums, mixing and vocal production are all absolute 🔥. The songs are good. Once we’re past Don’t Look Back In Anger (their best song imo), however, its a steep slide into a tedious and repetitive offering Liam’s limited vocal range, Brit Invasion inspired riffs & Beatlesque harmonies (She’s Electric could pass for an Abbey Road B-side) to carry us through the remainder of the album until the Champagne Supernova closer (ok, this is probably objectively their best song.)
A pleasant, if underwhelming listen.
It’s a bop, a vibe, a glam rock gem. Respectable 3
This is a great album to have on in the background while socialising, but it’s not one I’d reach for to actively listen to. The use of cowbell, agogô (your girl loves an agogô bell) and laser drops are a sensory yum, there’s no other way to put it.
I’m trying to limit 4 and 5 to objectively exceptional albums & personal favourites- this deserves a 3.5 realistically, but since we can’t do halves my hands are tied.
New York I Love You But You’re Bringing Me Down is a multiple playlist staple for me and deserves a special mention.
I enjoyed this much more than I wanted to.
Andy Rourke’s sublime bass work deserves all five stars.
The album deserves four, but I am deducting one star, because fuck you, Morrissey.
In summary:
Andy: perfect 5/7 score 🌟
Album: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Morrissey: 🚫
Day 5: I’ve hit the first truly great album in this cycle.
I’ve never taken the time to listen to any Dylan album start to finish and I’ve been remiss in doing so.
I love a weird, distinctive voice. I love a good songwriter.
I like the harmonica in general, but it’s overused here.
3 stars feels too little, but this isn’t a perfect album despite the fact it is a no skips gem I’d recommend to anyone.
I would deduct a half point for gratuitous mouth organ fuckery if I could.
It feels…. almost incorrect to give this a 3 because it is Fela Kuti AND Ginger Baker BUT: this is a live album, and a very meandering one.
This would have been 5 stars in the room, only 3 recorded.
This is the 3-est 3 so far. Some bangers here, solid album, inoffensive crowd pleaser. It’s no Nebraska though, let’s be real.
Day 8: First totally new discovery for me!
Nothing really groundbreaking here, but solid, fun psychedelic offering.
Almost lost a mark for the hideous spoken interlude in the Girl Is Mine. Let’s not bring back this trend.
Still a 5 though, full credit to QJ
One of the songwriting greats- unfortunately I think his work often works better in the hands of others. Beautiful songs, ok album.
Fuck you Morrissey, I’m not listening to this.
Boomers, I understand the hype now. Solid.
Full disclosure: I did not finish. I didn’t have an hour to waste on divorced grandad yacht rock. The first song was fine I guess, but also so uninspiring I found myself wanting to do literally anything else than stick with it.
If I remember to revisit, I will come back with an update.
1 star but it remains to be seen who is really at fault here- Steely Dan or adult ADHD. Stay tuned.
This was the album everyone a few years younger than me frothed over and that makes sense because it’s political commentary for kids. The lyrics would have to actually say something to have any sort of weight, but the slick production would totally undercut the punk credentials of any genuine message. It’s the most heavy handed attempt at a concept album, just cringe through & through. Facile, shallow, bitterly disappointing.
Drums sound great.
This was such a good time- people say this has aged poorly, and I disagree! It’s a product of it time for sure, and there’s not really anything innovative going on here but our girlie was only 19 here!
Is it on par with the greats of the era? No. Is it arguably more enjoyable to listen to? I think so!
This is my favourite new discovery so far. If I were a much cooler person this is the sort of thing I’d have playing on vinyl in the background on a lazy afternoon while I swanned around the house in a fabulous robe with a caipirinha and a cigarette.
Wow, this is really bad. There’s something special about a horribly executed but earnest effort where the people involved are blissfully unaware of what a shitshow they’re churning out. It’s why The Room is one of my favourite movies. With this in mind, I have added a star for sheer entertainment value.
Look, it’s fine. It’s not anything to write home about though is it? Poor old Travis, all they wanted was to ride in on Radiohead’s coattails only for Coldplay & Keane to beat them in the wuss acoustic market. Good effort lads, my Mum quite liked you back in the day.
I love Lou Reed, I like John Cale a lot, but I have something to say: a deep dark secret that has haunted me, a theatre/art history grad who has been described as a “pretentious wanker” more than once:
I hate the Velvet Underground. I hate this album, I hate the production, it’s almost unlistenable.
🎵bury me deep in🎵- nope.
18 seconds in.
I might come back and give this a fairer shake another time. No promises
This is a desert island album for me. Can’t beat smooth bossanova from the best to do it. Sublime
So there’s a pretty famous musical from this era called Rent & in it one of the main characters is a failed musician. If you don’t know the show we, the audience, are lead to believe this is due to a downward spiral of tragic circumstances (heroin, dead girlfriend, AIDS) but it’s literally a major plot point that it takes him a year to write the worst song you’ve ever heard. This character could have released this album before his life went to shit.
This is the music someone fumbled Karen O for but at least we got Maps out of it.
I appreciate noise works best live, but I don’t think that would improve this self important turd.
This is so close to a 5 it’s not funny. This is easily their most underrated album. Outstanding.
Once again, Andy Rourke is carrying the whole album with the bass, and this brings the album up to a two.
God what a load of wank, fuck you Morrissey.
Nile Rodgers and Bernard Edwards can’t score lower than 4, I don’t make the rules. I made so much stank face listening to this I’m gonna need to see my Botox lady early.
Is Kim Gordon the coolest person alive? This is a rhetorical question.
Excellent.
This is fine, it was an enjoyable listen.
I can’t believe I’m doing this. They’re derivative, juvenile, self referential, and were only edgy to 10-15yr olds back in the day but a banger is a banger. Durst may not be brilliant lyricist but he knows how to write a hook & is backed by slick production and surprisingly competent musicianship. This has aged better than it has any right to.
Featuring the best version of Walk On By (it’s had me in a chokehold since I first heard it 20 years ago). While a very pleasant morning listen, 4 tracks makes a great EP, not a 45 minute album. Don’t bore us, get to the chorus.
Why would you do this to me on today of all days? 😭😭😭😭😭 I was not emotionally prepared. 3 beautiful voices blending beautifully together.
It’s too rough around the edges to be a 5 but it’s probably a top 50 album for me.
Meh.
I’ve always slept on Sisters of Mercy because honestly while I have mad respect for the genre I’m just not really into goth rock. By track two I was literally grooving in my seat and resisting the urge to crack out my palest foundation and the really dark blue lippie I really love but should throw out because I’ve worn it once in 10 years. This is so so close to being a 5 for me and my favourite “new” discovery (this album and I are almost exactly the same age).
