One of my favorite records. The first side of this is flawless and never fails to move me. 10/10. The second side is a bit shaky, but still has some great tunes. 7/10
Over all: 9/10
This was much more stylistically varied than I expected. It’s not really a punk album, it’s more an album by a punk band with some punk songs on it. It very much feels like they’re trying to stretch out and try new things, and they’re pretty successful at doing so. The variation and exploration keep the record from dragging, which is pretty hard to do on a double album. Definitely worth the listen.
Another one of my favorites. Its ‘70s pop at its most indulgent and resplendent. It does drag on the last side. It kind of feels like it doesn’t quite know what to do after Mr. Blue Sky and just throws a few left over songs out before ending. Still, when this album is good it’s great. It reaches a high that this symphonic style of pop hadn’t reached since the Beach Boys a decade before. Catchy, slick and polished. Still think A New World Record is better.
This goes hard. Not my typical style, but it was a very fun listen. It’s a pretty hard album to dislike. I just wish I knew enough Spanish to understand the lyrics! The songs do tend to run a bit long (the shortest track runs 4:50), but I didn’t find myself getting bored really. It’s too easy to listen to to get tired of any given song
Not my thing. Some decent tracks, but I found most of them to be either forgettable or grating
This may be the most maliciously compliant records ever made, and I’m here for it. It’s over an hour of Marvin Gaye lamenting the loss of his marriage (often in excruciating detail) while taking absolutely no responsibility for it. Luckily, he knows how to put a song together and the record doesn’t feel lower effort at all. It does get a little monotonous since every song is about the same thing. That’s the point, though, and I don’t think Gaye really cared.
The kind of person Bob Dylan pretended to be when he first rolled around. I’m a folkie, so I unsurprisingly liked this one a lot. It’s fun and impromptu.
Perfectly listenable. Not really my jam. A lot of the songs sound like eachother, and this isn’t aided by the Dylan-esque word-salad lyrics that are typically talk-sung in a low voice. I do like some of the tracks and I’m not saying it’s bad by any means. If I loved the singles off of this I’d be totally in love with the record. However, I like/don’t mind them, and consequently like/don’t mind the record as a whole. Again, not my jam.
Very nice. 3.75/5
It’s fine. Not bad, not wonderful
Probably my favorite Yes album. Very good
I love every song on this record. But, as a whole, it overstays its welcome a little bit. That’s not to say there’s any slack on the album; there isn’t. But, 2 & 1/2 sides from one artist is a lot. Things become staid, and I find myself feeling bad for not having the capacity to appreciate the songs after a certain point.
Nevertheless, this is a triumph. There is a reason why this is commonly listed as the greatest album of all time, and that is because every track on it is worthwhile. Some of my favorite music I’ve ever had the pleasure to hear is on here. (Sir Duke is easily in my top five songs of all time.)But, I find 85 minutes of the same artist to be fatiguing— regardless of how good that artist may be. There are tracks here that go on longer than they really need to, no matter how good they may be. (I may get some flak for this, but think: Isn’t She Lovely, As, Another Star, Black Man, etc.) This, for me at least, contributes to the fatigue. The songs are great, but this is a marathon rather than a sprint. Were any of the songs I mentioned parenthetically to be featured on a single record the length would be justified. But they aren’t, and that length adds up.
Still, for all of my whingeing, one of my favorite tracks is the last. There’s a certain kind of longing to it, one that the subtitle builds: “Easy Goin’ Evening (My Mama’s Call)”. It’s a languid, half-lullaby. A tune of pure and potent nostalgia, even if that nostalgia calls back to a time and place I have no direct connection to. I don’t know, I just like that song and think it’s the perfect and to a near-perfect album (despite my criticism), even if that album is best taken in doses.
Not the vibe for today
Surprisingly listenable for a pure electronic record. There’s some bops on here
Easy listening, but not in a bad way
A very competent pianist noodles for an hour. Occasionally, he strikes on something that verges on a fully-formed song. Mostly, it’s just a talented musician playing around.
Pretty fun record. It’s a bit silly but selfaware in its silliness. The brass is great and the band can really play. Not a huge fan of reggae, but it was still pretty entertaining to listen to.
Undeniably a classic. Half of this album is comprised of some of the best songs ever written. The remainder is just ok. There are songs that you’ll find deeply resonant and incredibly potent, and there are songs you’ll forget even existed until you hear them again. It’s a true dichotomy. Still, the strong material is so monumental that the weaker stuff is easily glossed over. Definitely a track-by-track deal
If you don’t like this record I can’t trust you
I don’t know why I didn’t think I’d enjoy this. It’s folk, and I love folk. Springsteen at his most Guthrie. It works and it’s wonderful
Great record. It’s a shame the band fell apart after this
