Fast living wrapped in a blanket of consistency. This album contains themes relevant to a young man with a proclivity for danger. It is sonically tuned to a 70s backdrop of mesmerizing counterculture and revolutionary personalities. Themes explored also included the highs and lows of a precarious lifestyle within a tempting urban environment. I enjoyed being transported to this attractive and hair-raising world of pleasure chasing, somber reflection, and lowlife regret.
Particularly, the themes of love, romance, and pleasure stuck out to me as the most prominent within the album. They immediately transport you into the rapid fire nature of 70's NYC and its endless cast of quirky and distinctive personalities. It captures the intoxicating rush of romantic encounters, chasing highs, and reeling from danger within a bustling back drop that begs for whole-hearted devotion.
Lou Reed does a great job pulling you into his world of idling, crashing, and exploring the Rotten Apple during a time where pop culture was transforming, much like the album title suggests. This is a great listen for anyone willing to taking a leap into this wild goose chase of desire, hurt, and ecstasy.
This was a great listen containing biblical themes and elements such as despair, faith, peril, and persistence. I enjoyed how the spiritual elements were combined with more humanistic and everyday perspectives within our everyday world, much like in the Antichrist Blues song. Just pretend you know nothing about Butler and you will see what I mean.
Musically speaking, I also enjoyed hearing the grandiose and classical instrumentation clash with conventional arrangements like talented backup singers, guitars, and rhythmic drum beats. It made for a particularly enjoyable indie rock record. Definitely a classic that needs to be heard.
Great listen that combines breakbeat music with crossover pop appeal. I enjoyed the melodies and pop samples used throughout the record. Even though I don't usually listed to electronic music, this was definitely a must listen.
As for the commercial hits on this record, I understand why Rockefeller, Right Here, and Praise You songs are certified platinum. They definitely stand out in a cohesive & melodic album such as this one. I can now say I like these songs after not caring at all for them as singles.
This was a great time capsule listen. Blueberry Hill is a great jam that contains a catchy hook with a danceable chord progression that instantly reminds you why such songs were inescapable back in the day. I was amazed with how familiar the song sounded on first listen.
This was pop music before we knew it....catchy, danceable, and lyrically relatable with words of love, pleasure, and pain that instructed us to forget our troubles and dance the night away. This Fats Domino record should be preserved for future generations to listen to as there are many pop, rock, and even punk elements. Catchy and uplifting chord progressions, quick guitar shredding, and melodic, fast paced drumming made this record very enjoyable.
Great Jazz rock record with intense vocal deliveries and jam sessions that seem to be improvised. Great iconic 70's record that continues to simultaneously stand the test of time and throw you back to an era that kickstarted the media avalanche we know today.
Riders on the Storm is one of the greatest songs of all time.
A definitive 2000's turn-of-the-century MUST LISTEN record. Even if you are not a fan of rap music this will definitely make you think. Eminem was a larger-than-life artist that was not afraid to dive into his hardships and commiserate with them through vulgarities and expletive expressions.
He had a knack for creating catchy songs out of rapid-fire internal rhyme schemes that you would find in a rap nerd's almanac. He packaged the classic hip-hop essence for a middle White America audience and ushered in the breaking of the class barrier that existed within rap music of the era.
Nothing more to say than WHAT A RECORD. I had not heard this in its entirety but jeez what a banger. 10/10!
Bright, happy, introspective, moody record that incorporates and interpolates many driving musical influences of the era and those that preceded it. Its like listening to an indie record that cannot help but take cues from other musical genres & artistic visions such as film and television. Its druggy and boozy qualities are also enjoyable, including I'm Coming Down, which explores the physical and emotional turmoil of coming down from a huge high.
I appreciate its chameleonic musical approach and will always enjoy its company. There's definitely a song or two in here for everyone. They may not be radio hits but the blueprint for many electronic/indie/experimental acts we enjoy today are certainly there. Its status as a pioneering record cannot be understated particularly in the 2020's where many new digital acts have come to fruition using modern sampling techniques.
I now have a newfound love for the song Higher than the Sun. 9/10 record.
What a great album. Elliot Smith's cult following was definitely born out of this record. The spider-like delicate delivery over fingerpicking acoustic riffs was an intense experience. This was a human who was dealing with many emotions all at once and clearly used music to sort some of them out.
He had a great knack for creating melodies in his lyrics without the need for catchy hooks. I noticed that many of the songs on this record do not contain a hook, but rather his lyrical prowess, melodies, and subject matter take center stage. It is a forlorn, distant, and melancholic record that reminds us of the person who Elliot was and how he lived his artistic vision.
8/10 record. A must-listen for those who love stripped back vocals and heavy subjects.
Very powerful riff-heavy hard rock and metal album that took the metal genre to new heights. The heavy-hitting songs on this record have not lost their bang at all. They sound as menacing as they did in the early 90's.
However, as someone who is not a huge fan of this record, some of the longer tracks definitely drag on. The tail end of the record overstays its welcome for a bit longer than liked. All in all, great record to sparse within a hard rock playlist and the beginning of the metal genre going mainstream.
Interesting progressive rock listen from a band I never heard of. I enjoyed the folk, punk, and thematic qualities of the record. In particular, the Starship Trooper song never got stale despite being 10 minutes long.
Great record to listen to while binging 70s music. Might take a few more listens to really enjoy all the elements.
Very atmospheric synthesizer-based electronic record. The "songs" on this record are more like soundscapes based on the artist's interpretation of the earth. The sounds produced by the synthesizers and effects are very life-like, for example the chirping bird sounds throughout the first and last songs.
This a forward-thinking record that inspired many electronic acts for years to come. The blueprint for synthpop, house, electronica, and other genres was laid out in this record. Despite not being too melodic, it was a great listen and probably blew people's minds back in the 1970's.
What to say about this record.......once in a lifetime experience. Never to be replicated ever again. Lightning in a bottle for any rock n' roll fan. Wish I could listen to to these songs for the first time again. LIVE FOREVER.
Transcendent and influential album. The first half of the record invokes the ambient, atmospheric sounds and rhythms you hear in ethereal post-rock while the second half introduces the trademark fast-paced classic time signatures that drive punk rock forward.
As a first time listener, there are many bands that I heard on this record. No wonder many artists credit NEU! as an influence....the blueprint for punk, shoegaze, and post-rock hard to ignore. I will be def be listening to their discography.
Great listen at work. The music begs you to stay focused on it, which makes you focused on what you are doing. It sounds like the musical equivalent of drinking coffee.
Joyous, upbeat, beatlesque record that ran wild with outer space themes. A great record to play on a road trip with older family members to remind them of how amazing music was back in the 70's compared to today.
Personally, there are 3 great songs worth coming back to. The end of the record falls a little flat and drags on a bit too much. The album could have ended on the instrumental track rather than include two more songs. All in all, a great reminder of the staying power of melodies (Mr. Blue Sky is still 10/10).
Every rock/indie/alternative band has something to thank Sonic Youth for. Sonic Youth reinvented the rock genre by playing and singing about what they wanted, all while perfectly capturing their rebellious energy. They did not give a F about major rock label musical standards which in turn gave artists the blueprints to make their own music on their own terms.
The noise rock might not be for everyone. But it pushed the boundaries as to what people can consider music and art. For that this album is genius.
Great gospel-coded hits on this record, the pick of the litter being Father Figure. For the late 80's, this personal and spiritual touch to a pop record must have been game-changing not only to the genre but humanizing to the artist as well.
However, the Prince and MJ influence gets a bit heavy throughout the record. All in all, great listen to get moving to.
Atonal but cerebral record. Definitely filled with the internal revelations, struggles, and fears of someone who just suffered a life-changing accident. The beginning tracks are hard to wrap your head around until you stop thinking about them. After that, the record becomes an expressive mess that carries the emotional weight of the person who wrote it.
These are the types of personal records that influence future artists to write the music they want. Music is subjective!
Great forward-thinking and hard-hitting conscious hip-hop/rap record. It packed all the punch I though it would after having only heard PE singles. Messages were loud and clear on wax and definitely stand the test of time. This record is now as relevant as ever and should rightfully be considered among the best of all time.
Can't wait to revisit this one and chop up what I missed on the first listen. Insane record.
Real American music. If the blues ain't for you, keep it moving.
B.B. King in his prime!
THIS ALBUM IS COMMUNISM....COMMUNISM IS BAD!
The first half sounds like Morissey fronting a Smiths cover band who just heard Definitely Maybe. I do love the jangly riffs tho.
Second half is more his usual speed. 3/5. Did not overstay its welcome but didn't captivate either.
Openly honest about wanting to kill others on songs that somehow melodically worked. Cold is a banger.
This psychedelic funk record starts of strong with danceable grooves and catchy baselines. The Runaway Child song is a great banger that I saved to my personal playlists.
The rest of the record slows down to accommodate the love hits that end the record on a softer note. All in all an enjoyable listen. 7/10.
Slow jazz, smooth voice, & cheek to cheek dancing. Sounds like a warm night with cool company and a fireplace going.
The instrumental tracks are the highlights of this record. The dissonant vocals and chaotic melodies take center stage and beg for attention. Not a bad album by any means.
Sharp, witty, poignant, & electric. Amazing record front to back with zero skips.
Weird & WIRED AF. Grindcore grandfathers here. To quote the great song:
"Systematic rape of nature
Profit precedes need
Maintaining economic stature
Steal the fruit yet leave no seed
And of future generations?
What of their inheritance
A world of contamination
Poisoned by our ignorance"
Great improvisational Jazz record that captured the raw nature of the talented musicians. My personal fav moment were the drum solos that occurred throughout the second half of the album. They sounded like the drummer was right next to me playing his butt off.
Solid listen in the 21st century.
Great energy and amazing crowd mastery by Sam Cooke. It's a wonder to realize that this album was shelved by the label for 20 years out of fear that Sam's public view would deteriorate. How far we've come....
Chain Gang is my personal favorite, but all of the songs carry the same joy, passion, and energy as the last one. Great live listen.
Forward thinking record with beatlesque qualities and sounds IN ADDITION to synthesizer and modulator production that came to dominate popular music.
The synth-based production is probably why this album is on this list, it was simply ahead of its time. Also, while the lyrical content and avant-garde song structures might turn folks away, it was the peak of the love revolution of the 60's so I give it a pass. Personally, 6.7/10 record with a huge question as to what future albums of this artist might have sounded like.
Short and sweet. Much like Dolly herself. R.I.P to a legend.
This one might take a couple more listens to appreciate. On first listen, this was a cold, off-kilter post-punk record with disillusioned lyrics to the point of depression. The vocal performances are great, but lyrically the album is very negative.
This would probably sound amazing during times of hardship. For now, 6/10.
Front-to-back banger record with a staying power unlike any other. No other words needed. Dance the night away. 10/10
Great introspective listen from one of America's most fabled artists. The cover tracks were outstanding and unexpectedly fresh. You can hear both a mourning for life and yearning for greatness in Johnny's voice throughout the record.
Solid Irish inspired folk-rock record with sing-along jams perfect for a bar and poetic, introspective cuts inspired by traditional Irish art.
I enjoyed the emotional and expressive energy throughout the record, particularly the early cuts where the violin player absolutely trashes the instrument while the rest of the band goes into a frenzy. There need to be more records on this list with that sort of intensity. For that alone I place this album a bit higher than most so far.
Solid thrash metal record that dared to be edgy af with both the technical rapid-fire shredding and all the graphic, satanic, and occult references in the lyrics. Not a bad listen at all and the title track still holds up to this day.
This was a much more entertaining listen than Metallica's Black album. This shit definitely inspired some edgy weirdos but the music checks out. 7/10.
