This is a great album that's an instant throwback to a happy wild wide-open time -- musically and personally! Thrillingly fun tracks, with "Clint Eastwood" obviously surviving as the stand out that may well survive on radio and playlists until the end of human's time listening to tunes here on earth. Buoyant and maximally produced in a fun, fuzzy, head-bopping way. While I never fully understood the animated character concept, the vibes and beats and tunes are undeniable and awesome. Some of the deeper cuts here (which I may or may not have ever listened to!) are a little grittier and a lot weirder. Cool that this album contains multitudes, who knew!?
Hard not to compare this (unfavorably) with the Beatles -- it sounds SO much like late-stage Beatles (obv). So trying to evaluate it on its own, completely separate, merits is hard...almost impossible. At the same time, there is no more obvious master of tunes and hooks than McCartney. So in a world where the Beatles never existed this is a super fun, groovy rock and roll album, filled with energy and spirit.
Some of the "goofing" (Mrs Vandebilt) feels a little forced and derivative of the madcap Beatles tracks. If I had any complaint it would probably be that it overall leans a little TOO light and borders on insubstantial. But Band on the Run and Jet are deservedly pop classics and the rest of the album still holds up in 2026 as the most classic form of classic 70s pop-rock.
Never heard of Hugh Masekela before (as far as I know!?). This album rode the line in terms of the jazz I prefer -- I am more of a "mellow" and "melodic" jazz guy personally. But, while being mostly upbeat, this has a nice balance of melody and tempo and wasn't all wild and crazy dissonance. Overall, an enjoyable listen -- not one I will be returning to regularly but one I'm glad to have heard!
Pretty crazy this album is from 1967. Could pretty easily have been a band from yesterday. You can certainly still hear the resonances at the forefront of our music today. I'm not a hard rock guy or an extended electric guitar solo fanboy, so some of this isn't what I would choose to listen to in a vacuum, but there's still a ton of tunefulness and rollicking glee I can enjoy. Overall, an undeniable classic and I enjoyed hearing some of the deeper and album cuts you don't hear on the radio these days.
fun to listen to -- again not exactly my cup of tea musically for an entire album, but obviously some stone cold classics in here that are still completely delightful.
LOLOL get me out of the 70s! This is another "great album" that isn't fully to my personal taste. I like this OK without LOVING it. A little bit of Byrne goes a long way for me but I know I'm in the minority and he is a legend and an institution. (FWIW I like the artist/guru/institution of David Byrne much more than Byrne's music itself :) )
I can understand the appeal for some but this kind of preening, muscular, churning rock isn't my bag. In small doses, I could definitely like some of these tracks, but overall this album is not anywhere close to being a favorite of mine.
hahaha absolutely not.
Never listened to this album before -- aside from the "bang a gong" mega-hit I don't know that I could even have Identified a T Rex song, it's just never been in my orbit. But this is a fun and great album! A little bluesy, rocky, groovy, weird, catchy... what's not to love!?
Funny to hear an ultra-nerdy fantasy prog-rock version of Queen -- that sounds just like the Queen we all know and love -- just without the massive hits. Fun and honestly pretty hilarious.
Please stop making me listen to David Byrne? This is a great artist who I can like -- even love! -- in small doses...just not at album-length. This is "excellent," "good," "artful" rock and roll that I just don't personally enjoy/prefer. It's good, ok?!? It just gets on my nerves after awhile musically. I'm not a math-rock/art-rock enough guy for Talking Heads, I'm sorry! Please let me continue to appreciate them from afar and occasionally on the radio, 1001 Album Project!!!
Please stop making me listen to David Byrne? This is a great artist who I can like -- even love! -- in small doses...just not at album-length. This is "excellent," "good," "artful" rock and roll that I just don't personally enjoy/prefer. It's good, ok?!? It just gets on my nerves after awhile musically. I'm not a math-rock/art-rock enough guy for Talking Heads, I'm sorry! Please let me continue to appreciate them from afar and occasionally on the radio, 1001 Album Project!!!
stone cold classic! I love (prefer?) some R&B and soul and singing mixed into my hip hop!
for better or worse I absolutely love this!
weird and interesting and experimental and kind of pre-jam-my? Or maybe it's full jammy? I'm not sure as a non-jam guy. But this was mostly funky and interesting, and while I would never willingly listen to it again, I enjoyed dipping my toe into these waters!
weird and interesting and experimental and kind of pre-jam-my? Or maybe it's full jammy? I'm not sure as a non-jam guy. But this was mostly funky and interesting, and while I would never willingly listen to it again, I enjoyed dipping my toe into these waters!
weird and interesting and experimental and kind of pre-jam-my? Or maybe it's full jammy? I'm not sure as a non-jam guy. But this was mostly funky and interesting, and while I would never willingly listen to it again, I enjoyed dipping my toe into these waters!
weird and interesting and experimental and kind of pre-jam-my? Or maybe it's full jammy? I'm not sure as a non-jam guy. But this was mostly funky and interesting, and while I would never willingly listen to it again, I enjoyed dipping my toe into these waters!
I have definitely never tried to listen to a whole Soundgarden album. Too hard for sensitive lil old me, sorry!
This is awesome. Absolutely bizarre and dated while also being vibrant, relevant and thrilling. "Moribund the burgermeister" has got to be the craziest biggest swing for an opening track of a debut solo album ever -- totally bonkers and hilarious -- which leads into solsbury hill, this absolute timeless pop classic. Lows and highs? Or maybe flip sides of the Peter Gabriel coin, beats me. I know I enjoyed this one, despite some giant eye-roll and totally gonzo ("Excuse Me"?!?!) moments.
Liked this one! I know so little about jazz that I'm sure I sound as ignorant as I truly am, but I do need my jazz to have some melody and swing in order to be accessible to a dolt like me. This one is in a good spot -- some challenging sounds and sequences but all of it grounded in enough melody that I can hang on.
Perfect. It doesn't get any better.
I've never been a huge Elvis Costello fan (like some of my friends), but I definitely enjoy his work -- his songwriting probably more than his vocals. That said, I can appreciate him and his work. This album is a great distillation of my Elvis-feelings: some absolute home run songs and a great overall vibe, even as I get a little sick of his voice on and off over the course of a whole LP. He's more of a "singles" artist + songwriter for me -- it can all be a little too much "the same" over the course of a whole album. But still a lot to love in here!
Not really my bag, baby, but turns out I can enjoy a moderate dose of classic mid-90s rap here and there!?
Awesome. I obviously know plenty of classic Kinks songs but have never listened to an album from start to finish. This one was awesome to dive into. I have a feeling I could REALLY get into the whole Kinks oeuvre with a little time and effort. Could this be the start of my journey into Kinks superfandom?
A perfect album honestly.
Love and celebrate the seminal nature of this album, but aside from the gigantic hits (esp Sabotage) this album is only OK for me. In the right mood I can really love 80% of it, but in my normal life its less than that. Still gotta love and celebrate the Beasties of COURSE though!!
Knew nothing about this band or album. (I have heard of Steve Winwood of course.) I must have heard something in my life at some point but damned if I have any idea what.
Having your album kickoff with a squawky Benny Hill-style sax is absolutely hilarious and this whole album was a groovy jammy guitar-noodle-y goof. You can hear the 70s creeping in! But overall it kind of blends into the background of vague classic rock that feels somewhat indistinguishable? Maybe it's a seminal work of genius but it just kinda disappears for me.
Fun to revisit this classic, good stuff.
crazy synth-sounds on here! but really fun to listen to
Embarrassingly never heard of The Specials as far as I know! but enjoyed this ska-pop-punk fusion -- which may seem crazy but actually sounds great and really holds up for the most part!
