Al's voice is soothing, calm, vulnerable yet controlled. I like the rhythm section, don't love the horns and strings that permeated soul music of the 70s. Al's voice and backing vocals are the highlight. I find myself trying to sign along to songs that I don't know. Fun album to groove to.
Listened to this at least 20 times previously. Not my favorite Beatles album. It does have one of my favorites, Happiness is a Warm Gun. The album is less cohesive than most later Beatles albums. Still a great album that has an anthology/b-side feel.
I’m very familiar with most of the songs on this album. I’ve even listened to this album a few times prior. Growing up with classic rock stations also hammered some of these songs into my head, for better or worse. I’m not in love with this album. I appreciate it for what it is, and it’s just overplayed. Going to California is my standout track. I understand the praise for Stairway to Heaven, and it just doesn’t do it for me. I’m giving a 3, it’d be a strong 3.7-3.9 if this rating system were more granular.
I like Joni Mitchell and haven’t listened to this album. I am familiar with Help Me and Free Man in Paris. Love the album. 3rd favorite of Joni’s.
Many childhood listens of this album. I still love Eddie’s playing and tone. I’m less high on David’s vocals. As I’ve grown I’ve avoided what we now call butt rock, and this Van Halen album was a precursor to that.
This may be one of my most listened albums. Rubber Soul is my favorite Beatles album. Not much else to say. Norwegian Wood is my favorite John Lennon-led song. It’s the first album that the group made as a studio only band. It shows their growth as songwriters exploring different genres more in depth for the first time. Love it.
Upon re-listen, I don’t think it’s as strong. There are some duds on this album and I would rate 3 other Beatles albums higher. Still a fantastic album.
Fantastic album. I love prog that is still coherent. I was worried there may be tons of dissonance or odd time signatures. This did have some of that, but it was tastefully done. I am familiar with Yes but have never listened to this album.
Listened to this a ton of times in my teens. It’s the same album I remember. The latter half is much weaker than the beginning. I can hear some of the bass in the remastered version. The guitar tone gets a little tinny at times.
This is my first listen. It sounds like Neil Young b-sides jam rock. Not a fan. It has some fun moments, but this album feels like low effort nonsense.
This will be my second listen of this album. I've listened to Aja several times. This is a fun album. The sarcasm is wonderful. What a great sounding album.
First listen. I should, from my history and listening patterns, like this much more than I do. However, it feels neutered and dull. I don’t dislike it, it just falls short of expectations. Costello, on this album, feels like the generic brand of Television.
Great listen, the skits and sound effects throughout were unexpected. I like the album. I’m not sure I would listen frequently or often.
First listen. It was alright. It’s got the NY 93-97 vibe. Jeru’s flow is good but the content has not aged well. DJ Premier’s production is wonderful and is the standout of this album.
First listen. This is an ok listen. I understand the experimentation and the influence, but I’m not loving this. I’ve gotten a bit more into it and I’m seeing the appeal. I still can’t say that I love it, I just appreciate it more.
First listen. Moondance is a nostalgia trip. I thought the first few songs were alright. I really like Into the Mystic. The rest of the album felt like it was in the same key. Van Morrison’s vocals are great and the performance on the record is wonderful. I’m just not a big fan of the latter half of the album.
First listen. Not a huge country fan. I can listen to Willie in small sessions, but a full album is pushing my limits.
First listen. I’m enjoying this. Tom’s vocals are interesting, layered and emotive. The lyrics are evocative. Some of the arrangements are wonderful. I’m not sure that I’d listen to this repeatedly, but it is a nice surprise.
First listen. I’m very familiar with Pink Moon, and love that album. I do t like this one quite as much. It’s good, not great and maybe one song stands out Cello Song.
Second listen. I enjoy this. I love the deadpan and sarcasm. Likely a rotation album.
I’ve had many prior listens. Fantastic album with maybe 1 skip. Great production, writing, engineering, and of course, Amy’s performance.
First listen. This album is ok. There is a fine line with smooth jazz and jazz fusion that I just do not care for. This album falls just on the less desirable side of that line.
First listen. I enjoyed this. It’s a great sounding album. It’s a funky vibe with some honest themes.
First listen. I’m familiar with Yes and have reviewed their 4th album within this format. This album feels a bit less prog-y than the previous Yes album I’ve listened to. Lowlight- The Clap, it doesn’t seem to fit with the rest of the album. Highlight- I’ve Seen All Good People. This track was frequently on the classic rock stations growing up and I am extremely familiar with it. I prefer Close to the Edge over this album, still not bad.
First listen. This album is alright. I love the chord progressions throughout the album. I do find some of the lead synth sounds to be a bit blah. The songs are great but I’m not a fan of some of the popular synth sounds of this era. Highlight- While You See a Chance, Lowlight- synth sounds.
First listen. I’m enjoying this. The psych-inspired rhythms between multiple guitars are great. I’m not in love with the vocals or the vocal production, but it is manageable. Highlight- Dolphin’s Smile, Tribal Gathering Draft Morning. Lowlight- Moog Raga, it’s nice that this is one of the first major records to feature the synth, it’s just not a good song.
Many listens. Highlights- Grace, Hallelujah, Lover, you Should’ve Come Over. Lowlights- Jeff’s premature death. What a fantastic voice and guitar player.
Probably one of my most listened to albums of all time. Wonderfully depressing album that I can only listen to when I’m in a specific mood. No skips. This albums art is so well engrained within the music. The vibe of the cover matches the music so well. This is an album I’d like to experience for the first time again.
First listen. Fun album once you get past the first section of the first song. Frequently, classic albums bolster such terms as groundbreaking and avant garde without producing something appealing. This album shows its inventiveness with ease while pumping out some bops.
First listen. This was fun. There were some bangers, and some ok tracks. On the surface, these songs feel simple. They seem to have a hidden depth to them that is hard to describe.
First listen. Listening to August Day Song on an August day; peak music exploration. This album is alright. I generally like bossa nova but some of this production is just not my style. It’s a bit subtle and a bit boring. Gilberto’s vocals can lean towards the dull side of things. Highlights - Samba Amor, Lowlights - the monotony of the vocals.
First listen. This album feels like 80s indie (REM, The Cure) with a ton of talk-singing. It’s alright, not the worst but I wouldn’t choose to listen to this frequently.
First listen. Themes are still relevant, but half of the content doesn’t age well. Dre’s production on the non-singles is lackluster. Highlight- Fuck tha Police. Low lights- the rest.
First listen. It’s good.
First listen.
First listen. This is alright. Nothing exciting. The singles are very popular.
First listen. Fun concept album. There are some deeper themes being displayed as well.
First listen. RIP Dolly. (Maybe not a coincidence that this came up the day after she died.) What a wonderful voice.
First listen, but maybe not first listen. Chicago is one of my parents’ favorites. This was a fun album. As much as I like horns, they can be a bit much, at times.
First listen. Nice album. I’m impressed with the arrangements. There were a couple of duds.
Not a huge fan. I’m not sure how much of an impact this album had. There were plenty of other rap artists doing something similar and better. Not to knock Lupe, he’s not a bad artist. This album just doesn’t seem very impressive sonically or influentially.
First full listen. Meadowlarks is a favorite of mine. I like the album. It elicits feelings of nostalgia.
First listen, but not really first listen. The singles are all great. I appreciate Edge’s guitar textures more than I would have originally admitted. Sometimes, the lyrics come off as pretentious. That can start to ruin what enjoyment that I had while listening.
First listen. Loved the themes. Leaving this album depressed, not in a bad way.
