I'm not huge on live albums, but I think there's something special with Cooke's voice and energy here that warrants its place on this list. So undeniably electric--"Feel It (Don't Fight It") got a creeping smile out of me by the chorus. The gravelly grit of Cooke's voice (most prevalent on songs like "Somebody Have Mercy" or "Bring It On Home To Me") was amplified in its power by the joyous crowd; had I been present, I'm sure I'd feel the same catharsis everyone in the room must've felt. Cooke is clearly a talented vocalist, and I appreciate how he lets loose to make for an unforgettable display of human soul. I do hesitate on ranking it any higher than a 4, though. I don't see myself coming back to this particular record very often, and many of the songs on an individual level weren't suited to my particular tastes. Still, I can't deny its incandescence: this is a light 4 for me.
STAND-OUT SONG: "It's All Right / (I Love You)"
HONORABLE MENTIONS: "Feel It (Don't Fight It)", "Cupid”, "Chain Gang", "Nothing Can Change This Love"
Really good folk & blues rock. It’s not an immediate standout record, but there are moments of brilliance & I can see myself coming back to these tracks when the mood is right. I need some time to develop a final opinion, but songs like “See the Sky About To Rain” and “On the Beach” easily tip the scales in favor of a solid three. Excited to explore some more Neil Young!
STAND-OUT SONG: “See the Sky About To Rain”
HONORABLE MENTIONS: “Walk On”, “On the Beach”, “Revolution Blues”
Coltrane is clearly a massive talent, but I guess I just don't gravitate towards instrumental jazz like I do with most genres. Wouldn't mind it as background music though. A personal 2, but I can recognize why it'd be much higher for others.
STAND-OUT SONG: “A Love Supreme, Pt. 2: Resolution”
HONORABLE MENTION: “A Love Supreme, Pt. 4: Psalm”
So chill but hypnotic—I can really see how a lot of contemporary music was informed by this record’s sound. Some tracks dragged a bit but it never made for a poor listening experience, and when there were highs (“Sour Times”, “It Could Be Sweet”, “Glory Box”), they soared. A strong four:)
STAND-OUT SONG: “Glory Box”
HONORABLE MENTIONS: “Sour Times”, “It Could Be Sweet”, “It’s A Fire”, “Mysterons”
Ugh Dolly my queen. The songs are structurally pretty simple, but her voice infuses them with a quality that’s so soothing and moving. A three almost feels too low, but I don’t see myself coming back to most of these songs. Nonetheless a really enjoyable listen throughout: probably a veeeery strong three overall.
STAND-OUT SONG: “Early Morning Breeze”
HONORABLE MENTIONS: “Coat of Many Colors”, “The Way I See You”
It was pretty fine, but I don’t feel compelled to listen again. Stewart’s voice is unique enough but its gravelly quality can get repetitive at times; I can recognize the appeal though. These songs have the potential to come to life in a live setting, but on their recorded versions, I’m generally lukewarm. Overall a strong two.
STAND-OUT SONG: “Country Comfort”
HONORABLE MENTIONS: “Gasoline Alley”, “My Way of Giving”
His voice is so finely controlled but loose and expressive it’s insane. Vocal performance aside though, I wasn’t feeling this one. It’s probably a symptom of it being another live album but some tracks were quick & abrupt, while others ambled slowly to the finish. It never felt like the album found its footing to me, but I can totally see the appeal. A personal very strong two.
STAND-OUT SONG: “Try Me”
HONORABLE MENTION: “I’ll Go Crazy”
Vast majority of the songs are a pleasant listen and enjoyable background music. I don’t know if I’d come back to these songs as anything but a musical backdrop, but I felt the groove and life in each track. Some songs didn’t click for me (“Blues for Huey”, “Ingoo Pow-Pow”), but the ones that did (“Part of a Whole”, “Minawa”, “Maseru”, “Inner Crisis”) made the record worth it. A solid three.
STAND-OUT SONG: “Part of a Whole”
HONORABLE MENTIONS: “Minawa”, “Maseru”, “Inner Crisis”
After listening to the first track of this album, I was prepared to extrapolate & judge this album for its off-putting atmosphere and disparate elements. But as I listened, I realized that these weren’t necessarily bad things; the last thing I want from a record is for it to be uninspired, and you can’t argue that this record isn’t full of funky sounds and imaginative storytelling. It sets a mood for sure, and it’s one I haven’t heard from any artist prior to Waits. He won me over by the end, but there’s still something lost between my personal tastes and where the album goes sonically. A personal strong three.
STAND-OUT SONG: “16 Shells From A 30.6”
HONORABLE MENTIONS: “Shore Leave”, “Johnsburg, Illinois”
Enjoyed this record more than “On the Beach”, but not enough to elevate it above a three (closer to a 3.5). It definitely has the Neil Young sound I’ve learned to take some enjoyment from, and expands upon it with punchier arrangement and catchier melodies. I think I connected more with some of Neil’s earlier work thematically, but enjoy these songs more as individual pieces, which is obviously very important. A strong 3 overall.
STAND-OUT SONG: “Welfare Mothers”
HONORABLE MENTIONS: “My My, Hey Hey (Out of the Blue)”, “Pocahontas”, “Sail Away”
Such a broad range of songs with the through-line that is Fleetwood Mac’s musical synergy. I wouldn’t say any singular song blew me away, but together it’s such a solid—often soothing, sometimes electrifying—collection of songs. Strong four!
STAND-OUT SONG: “Brown Eyes”
HONORABLE MENTIONS: “Sara”, “Never Make Me Cry”
Accomplishes what it sets out to do, and does it well. I almost lean four stars, but I’m sticking with a strong three here because most of the lyrical content/song composition doesn’t do much for me. Nelson’s delivery makes these songs special, however, and warrants replay value on a special kind of nostalgic day.
STAND-OUT SONG: “September Song”
HONORABLE MENTIONS: “Moonlight in Vermont”, “Don’t Get Around Much Anymore”, “Georgia On My Mind”
I thought it was pleasant enough and enjoyed where it went sonically. It never surprised me, which I don’t love, but it feels derivative in a way I can appreciate. Not much else to say: probably a weak three overall.
STAND OUT SONG: “Jupiter and Teardrop”
HONORABLE MENTIONS: “Fuzzy”, “America Snoring”
I honestly didn’t connect much with this record. I can appreciate it for what it is, but the songwriting/lyrical content didn’t really resonate with me (esp the first few songs). There were some cool instrumental moments in the title track, but it’s not something I see myself coming back to regularly. Strong two.
STAND-OUT SONG: “In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida”
HONORABLE MENTION: “My Mirage”
Pretty interesting! This was my first (formal) introduction to Afrobeat as a genre, and I think Fela Kuti is a good ambassador for it. It was pleasant overall, but nothing really stuck out; at times the instruments’ meandering or the vocals chanting caught my attention, but it’s nothing I’m dying to come back to. With only four songs, I was hoping each would pack a punch—and in a way they did—but my feelings about this album were never really challenged after listening to the first few minutes of the title track. Strong two.
STAND-OUT SONG: “Mr. Follow Follow”
HONORABLE MENTION: “Zombie”
Childhood classics ❤︎ I’m a bit biased but I really did like this record. You can hear the imperfections, sure, but I think the hodgepodge nature of the Beatles’ earlier work is what makes it so charming. Can feel a little musically repetitive at times, but the melodies are catchy enough that I don’t find myself bored really ever. I didn’t care for some of the covers, and it’s not my favorite album of theirs, but a solid, career-defining entry of their catalogue. Four stars!
STAND-OUT SONG: “It Won’t Be Long”
HONORABLE MENTIONS: “Hold Me Tight”, “I Wanna Be Your Man”, “Money (That’s What I Want)”
I actually love the electronic ambient-jazz fusion sound this record brings, but I found myself disappointed by its lack of consistent forward momentum. As much as I was trying not to be, I was just kinda bored. There are certainly idiosyncratic and noteworthy sounds produced (especially on some of the earlier tracks—“Tantos Desejos” & Na Neblina” come to mind), but the second half lost me and never reeled me back in. Solid three for the vibes, but not much else.
STAND-OUT SONG: “Na Neblina”
HONORABLE MENTIONS: “Tantos Desejos”, “Felicidade”
Expands on the David Bowie sound I was familiar with in all the best ways. I really love how he isn’t afraid to just let a song unfurl, and tracks like “TVC15” and “Wild Is The Wind” are better for it. He’s a master of crafting a good rock / pop song (whatever you wanna call it, but “Golden Years” is a straight bopppp), and his aura is radiant even on tracks that feel more drab than technicolor. All in all, however, I’m not actually sure it lives up to a five star score; I think it’s great, but I’d say it’s generally more of a superb installment in Bowie’s catalogue than its own five-star-worthy record. Strong four:)
STAND-OUT SONG: “TVC15”
HONORABLE MENTIONS: “Golden Years”, “Wild Is The Wind”
Half of these songs sound like they could be used in a Breaking Bad montage & one of them sounded like they sampled the fitness gram pacer test. Strange but in a weird electronic, club-y way that I can enjoy when I’m in the right mood. I liked the songs that settled into the electronic production more than the lyrical ones, though. Three stars.
STAND-OUT SONG: “Climbatize”
HONORABLE MENTIONS: “Smack My Bitch Up”, “Funky Shit”, “Narayan”, “Fuel My Fire”
This is the shortest record on the list and I was still actively waiting for it to be over… yikes. I’m too lame for punk I think, but “Beverly Hills” into “Operation” were the standout tracks for me. If more of the album sounded like these two tracks, I’d probably have it a bit higher. But it doesn’t. And I’m like never coming back to this album probably. Maybe time will pass & I’ll have a punk epiphany that prompts me to retcon this review. Until then, though, it’s a personal one star with some redeeming qualities :(
STAND-OUT SONG: “Beverly Hills”
HONORABLE MENTION: “Operation”
I was gonna give this a three… but I think I’m landing at a strong two here. I dunno. It’s fine. I liked “1969” and “I Wanna Be Your Dog” enough, and then “We Will Fall” hit and all momentum was lost IMO. It picked up again towards the end, but by then my opinion was tempered by the other less captivating tracks. I want to explore Iggy Pop & his work with The Stooges more for sure, but this album wasn’t my favorite.
STAND-OUT SONG: “1969”
HONORABLE MENTIONS: “I Wanna Be Your Dog”, “Ann”
