This is a more varied album than I thought it would be. Never been a big Springsteen fan, and this is a great album.. but its not for me. Whatever it is where some people connect with this deeply, I don't have it.
I wonder if he's got any more abstract songs. These seem to be very "I did this, we saw that, then this happened" style songs.. these rarely hook me, unless I can really discern a deeper meaning. The meaning of these is right up front.
I can hear a little Bowie in here though. And some Silver Bullet Band. Elvis Costello, Neil Young. I think I'd rather listen to those artists. I don't know why.
The themes around the right-wing turn of the country from 75 -> 85 are clear, and I appreciate that. Not whiney or preachy. Interesting to hear the concerns from 40 years ago, and think about the current emergency. All the same themes, magnified and transformed into a killing floor.
I think I give this album a 4. Its clearly great and special, and meaningful. No songs skipped. I'm glad I finally listened to it. But, not for me. I can tell it is very much for some people, though.
OH HELL YEAH. LOVE the production on this album. The lyrics are absolutely cartoonish swagger. Tight.
Let Me Ride is a banger for all time. Turned the volume up on that one.. the shuffle percussion does somethin to me.
The album kinda sags in the middle. I'm not sold on the skits. These songs seem aimless and not fun.
It lands the outro, though.
Fun sample spotting. I feel like listening to some of the Funkadelic source material.
A 4 just because its not consistent. VERY high highs, no lows, about half mids.
OH HELL YEAH YOU ALREADY KNOW. I am a Steely Dan fan.
The first (and debut) masterpiece, in a career of masterpieces. Nothing else like it. No skips. A pleasure to listen to with much to ponder and wonder over. 5 stars.
OH SHIT YOU ALREADY KNOW. Another Steely Dan. Another masterpiece. If I could rate it a 6 I would.
Bernard Perdie. Steve Gadd. Larry Carton. Joe Sample. Chuck Rainey. Michael McDonald. Tom Scott. Wayne Shorter.
Incredible arrangements. Inscrutable lyrics. Very much my shit.
A lush album. I haven't interacted with any Beck outside of radio hits. This was a surprise.
I like the meager lyrics.. not descriptive really, just longing. The production and orchestration is what is pulling me in.. slight use of electronics (you can hear a lot of Air in here, I think). Fascinating use of synths, guitar, and strings. And, slide guitar.. haunting. I found all this arresting.
I didn't care for Beck's vocal delivery. It just isn't for me, particularly when he is being emotive. But, I can hear how great this album is. A singular artistic piece from an artist with a strong vision.
"Lost Cause" is a standout to me. A beautiful song, with appropriate vocal delivery from Beck.
I like "Round The Bend" as well. Sparse AND lush.
I love Nigel Godrich's production more than the material I think. It looks like it played on the album, too. 3 stars because of that. I'd rate it 3.5 if that was an option. After this album, I put on Air's Talkie Walkie.
Ah, I remember this album. I listen to it often, still. What a great listen. More Nigel Godrich. This is one of the bands I'm a big nerd about, so I'm just going to rate it 5 stars and not write a whole novel.
I think I have heard of this band but never listened to it.
I like this track Black Heart. And, Pepita. And, Attack El Robot, Attack!
What a fun, relaxed album. It covers a lot of ground. It sounds like some bizarre soundtrack and I love that. I can hear the author's voice. I believe I will listen to it again sometime. 4/5
I'm coming in a little biased. I haven't heard this U2 album, though I am familiar with the singles from this record. That said, have listened to U2's earlier albums, and I think I'm pretty familiar. To me, Brian Eno is the star and I don't care for U2.
No standouts here. Seems like they just felt like they needed to make another album and sharted out some bullshit. A few ideas that could use some baking. "Peace On Earth" is a good song.
Its a "Live Laugh Love" album. There is nothing _wrong_ with that slogan, actually its good advice. But also, there is something lame about it and how it is displayed. I get the same feeling while listening to this album.
Two stars for Eno.
I remember when this came out. We listened to it a lot in my highschool.. particularly my percussion class! I didn't like it much then.
Now, it is very much for me. Very warm, I love the simple but lush percussion.
I am really enjoying how languid Pueblo Nuevo is. El Cuarto de Tula has some great playing and listening, too.
I hadn't heard this live album before. I have given a lot of their records a spin throughout the years. This is a really great album; really fun to listen to, it must have been nuts to be there.
You can hear the genesis of a lot of the rock to come in the 70s, right in here. Also, I think this version of The Magic Bus is the one played on my local classic rock station growing up, around when school got out every day.
There is a deluxe edition of this with more material, I think I'll track it down.
A classic, heaters from top to bottom. With Stanley T on the sax and Kenny B on the guitar.
Everyone really opens up on "When I Grow Too Old To Dream", what a joy.
Ah and on Minor Chant, a drum solo! Trading 4 with Stanley.
Messie Bessie is another workout. Ending with a definitive (for me) Sunny Side.
Look at first glance, folks will think this sounds like elevator music. This is a sensational jazz quartet. 4 stars. The only thing keeping it from being a 5 is, I don't dig the organ bass sound.
This is a new one to me. I think I've heard some of these tracks in mixtapes and such, but I haven't heard of this group. This kind of early/proto rave music is really fun, so I'm glad to know about this one now.
Its really got that early 90s rave positivity. Some of the vocal tracks overstay their welcome. I enjoyed "Evil is Even" into "Hyperreal Orbit". Very fun stuff.
The album does what it needs to, and I can tell it was influential. I did get a little bored though. This must have been a blast when listened to in a tape deck, driving around in the UK.
Three stars
Rough. I know this album. This genre is not for me. Detox and Text Me Back were fine.
One star, this just isn't for me and I didn't like it. I also couldn't find anything positive about it for me. Whatever this influenced is also not for me.
It was a pleasant album.. but kinda the same idea developed the same way on each tune. Two stars
What an opener. Some soft organ music, lush percussion.
The vibe continues to evolve on the next tracks. A little experimental, some great soundscapes. Not over-wrought, like some of these kinds of projects can be. I am digging this.
I have never listened to any Talk Talk, except on playlists and stuff like that. I think I'll be indulging in some of their other albums.
What an album. That dutty organ.
"The Clap" is a fun surprise. The build up and release on Starship Trooper is excellent, what a journey. "I've Seen All Good People" is one I have heard before, and I'm glad to hear it again.
Overall this is a thoughtful album. It flows well, grooves when it should, and the band shows off in a good way. Five stars!
I found this to be a challenging listen. The heavily processed sound is not for me. Her voice, the empty sounding percussion - its not for me. I listened to the whole thing though. Two stars.
Oh geez. A classic. To me, this is more of a Quincy Jones joint than a Michael Jackson one.. when there is a genius in the producers seat driving the show, sometimes the headline talent is just in the passenger seat. U2 / Eno is like that for me, and this album is the same.
Many bangers on this. Human Nature is my favorite here. The crew they had running through the studio is nuts as well.. Van Halen, Porcaro, Tom Scott.. its like a Steely Dan session, practically.
I must give it a 5. Quincy Jones is the GOAT and this is up there with his highest achievements.
I know nothing about this album. What is THIS, love the orchestral arrangements. Such pathos.
I kind of love this album. These little pop canapés. 4 stars!
This was really fun. Kind of a long EP, exploring a single motif.
Kacey Musgraves has a very simple voice as a writer. When she finds some depth of meaning with it, the results are fabulous. That said, there are some real stinkers on this album.
Giving it a 3 because of this
What a beautiful, understated album. I hadn't heard it, though I knew some of the material. Taken as a whole, I enjoyed it. You can hear Paul Simon exploring different emotions and sounds.
