Really enjoyed the African influence that didn't come off like a parody or cheap imitation. Preferred the first 2/3 of the album to the last. Already knew/loved Once in a Lifetime. Happy to have heard The Great Curve and Houses in Motion.
Holy shit. 25 Minutes to Go was written by SHEL SILVERSTEIN?!? I am partial to the more fast-paced tracks and they're less than half the album but they carry it. Might regret not giving this a 5 later.
This is where I admit that I started this project once before and abandoned it. The first time I listened to this album all the way through was at the very beginning of that run. I still get the hype, but it's still not really my thing.
Second second-pass album. I guess it's not as groundbreaking as I felt it was on my first go round, but it's still very good blues rock. Sympathy for the Devil (obviously), Dear Doctor, and Factory Girl are tops for me.
Third second pass in a row, but it didn't matter much for this one. I bopped to this album quite a bit when it came out. 15 years later, sure, it's not groundbreaking. Still sounds good though. (I like 19 better).
This reminds me a of a lot of things I really like. I can’t quite put my finger on why, but I definitely like this less. Feels quite repetitive. The opening riff on Unknown Brother was the first thing that made me go "oooo"
I was all set to give this a 3 for leaving me unmoved but not sounding bad. I decided to give it another shot and listen to the lyrics more carefully. Now here we are.
I feel like I've heard better versions of everything I liked about this from other bands/albums. The Ox is a 4. That I'm a Man cover is a 2.
When I was in college, I halfheartedly agreed to go with my friends to a show by a band I had never heard of (Of Montreal) at Terminal 5. The best thing that came out of that night was hearing Janelle Monae for the first time. Even though that was 15+ years ago, this is the first time I am listening to this whole album. Not everything was my jam and I sort of conceptually object to having extra reading when you can give me lyrics, but making something so eclectic and enjoyable throughout is a feat. She's undoubtedly wildly talented. Loved Faster, Oh Maker, and Say You'll Go (Tightrope, too).
Do I think I needed to hear this before I die? No. Am I happy I did? Absolutely. I am predisposed to enjoy an extended jam and I don’t feel everything worth listening to needs to be profound. But the reports of unpleasantness on here are greatly exaggerated. Under Wraps, The Swinging Detective, and The Man With The Golden Arm slap.
Another second pass. My opinion hasn't changed much (I dislike that intentionally fuzzy sound and too many songs, even the ones I like (A Salty Salute, for example), feel too short to the point of seeming incomplete.) Didn't hate it, but I don't think it deserves a "fine" ranking.
While I don't consider "easy listening" an insult, this does feel like music you'd hear in a department store. Her voice is beautiful and the band is really jamming (I feel like I can hear a recognizable a sample in every track), but I'd still be in a Macy's.
For the first time, I am stealing wholesale from another review... "Bittersweet Symphony overshadows the rest of the album, which comes off as sleepy and uninteresting. It doesn't even have the decency to be short." If it was 50% as long, it might be a 3.
As expected considering I've only really listened to CSN(Y) greatest hits. I'm partial to the Y, so Helpless was already a favorite coming in. Also love Our House and happy to have heard Country Girl.
I was expecting to hate this as anything described as hardcore usually isn't my thing. This was surprisingly melodic and, therefore, surprisingly enjoyable. Really loved She's Calling You.
I enjoyed every minute of that. Perhaps what I read as cohesiveness is repetitiveness, but I don’t know enough about Afro-Cuban jazz to be bothered by it. Either way, I was hooked all the way through (more than once).
I don't think I was picking up what this was putting down. Enjoyable enough to listen to (his voice is fine and I appreciate how orchestral it is), but I was confused the whole time. Maybe I'd try again another day but probably not on purpose.
Not my fav Neil Young but I dig, especially Walk On and See The Sky About to Rain. Neil Young does have a shit voice though.
