I believe many of these songs would go crazy if I heard them being performed while I was out at the bar and especially if I had a few drinks in me and started to move a little... Unfortunately for today, I listened to this album sober at home and the individual tracks felt rather... boring. Each songs intro in the first 15 seconds sets up exactly what you will be hearing for the next 2-5 minutes, the songs don't have much change or variation throughout, and despite the bands reputation and musical ability, they did not do anything of interest with the drums and rhythm throughout the entire album. It just felt like one hour long "jam" with some classic rock instruments, which leads me to say if I had to describe this album with one word it would be "fine". I am not displeased with this album, but I am not particularly interested in listening again as very few tracks stood out as noteworthy.
Started off... Eh 😐, but then I really fucked with the ending of black sabbath (song) and then immediately grooving on the wizard. Really liked the drums on wasp and behind the wall of sleep, you can hear the inspiration it leaves for later 90s era grunge rock, especially some of Nirvanas music (the smells like teen spirit drum fill intro kept coming to mind) so it's interesting that this album came out in 1970. Rest of the album was solid, would definitely be even more enjoyable if played on some loud speakers with a beer in my hand. Overall solid album, giving it a 3/5 stars.
Only Shallow- THIS is how you start a rock album... Absolutely amazing, no notes on the chord progression, the guitar tone, perfect use of reverb and pedals to make an amazingly pleasant rock sound with a lot going on, yet all of it working perfectly together. Side note but the vocals initially reminded me of how Djo edits his to kinda fade in a greater ethereal sound. Brilliant use of the 3D soundspace.
Lommer - Absolutely beautiful soundscape, perfect delay and reverb effects, amazing chord progression, hazy vocals, just brilliant.
Touched - Fuck it, why not. Put some beautiful instrumental bullshit in there for 60 seconds cuz who's gonna stop you. Brilliant, and sets up a great abrupt transition to To Here Knows When.
To Here Knows When - Thank god for stereo sound, once again taking perfect advantage of sound from every angle. I feel like I'm transcending, but to where yet is unclear. the little flute (or keyboard sound at least) hiding so subtly in the background is a chefs kiss throughout the track.
When You Sleep - Another catchy hook, absolutely brilliant with the slight note bending in the end of the main riff which makes it borderline out of tune for just a moment, but gradually goes just enough back up to the main note for it still to sound "correct" but different
I Only Said - Good song, but maybe the first point in this album where I'm starting to get a little tired of the constant drone of distortion which has not taken one second off since starting.
Come in Alone - A little easier on the ears than the last song, and adds some more beautiful vocals like the earlier tracks
Sometimes - Once again, just starting to get some listeners fatigue, very similar to a lot of earlier songs
Blown a Wish - I feel like I'm dreaming again
What You Want - Feels similar to the earlier songs again, but love the keyboards at the end
Soon - Love this as the ending track, the little loop they have of what sounds like a violin? Maybe a keyboard? Possibly a guitar with a really unique pedal? Whatever it is it works great with the rest of the song. Beautiful vocal processing again and a good chord progression.
Overall notes - drumming leaves something to be desired, sound gets repetitive as you continue to listen (but they did find a phenomenal dreamy but distinctly rock sound). Was originally gonna be a 5 star from me from the first few songs but the more I listened it just left me wanting a little something more to earn the fifth star.
I'm breaking my usual rule of not looking at reviews until after posting mine, and just finished reading everyone else's. I gotta say, I agree (with everyone but Tyler). The pure musicianship alone almost made me give a 3, because I respect what they're doing, and Owen is right, at an actual live show (with some substances) this would go crazy... But as an album listening experience on an airplane this was pretty tough, and after seeing all the 2's, I'm inclined to agree.
This album definitely had its ups and downs for me. I absolutely LOVED Hope You're Feeling Better and Mothers Daughter, and I wish the entire album sounded more like this. A good number of the tracks were alright and made for a really chill background but just didn't pique my personal musical interest. That being said, I still liked their covers of Black Magic Woman and Oye Como Va and appreciate the instrumentation throughout the entire album.
Such an insanely talented band, the drumming especially- I could spend the whole review just talking about how good Neil Peart is at the drums. The first song(s) were interesting, dynamic, evolving, and well written. I love a good themed album that has structure and intention behind it. But for some reason, this album still felt short on wowing my socks off. I know rush has some very good albums and a lot of musical talent so I'm looking forward to hearing their other albums, but this one was just alright for me.
I don't mean to yuck anyone's yum if this is their cup of tea, but I really did not like this album much at all... I felt like it lacked uniqueness, and not that every rock song needs to have extra effects and pedals and mixing and whatnot, but this album definitely felt like it could use some. It just felt boring at parts and I was not a fan of their "sound" from a mixing point of view. Car Song (and later Indian Song) sounded interesting because it had a little more going on around me, but then they immediately went back to the same stuff I didn't like about the first 3 songs. Once again, it's not that a DIY more "barebones" sound can't sound great or even amazing, but the overall production or composition of this album just doesn't click for me, and it certainly does not scream "top 1000 album all time" to me in the slightest. No bonus points for any sort of cool transitions or even having an "album" feel to it. Just a compilation of short jams which I didn't much personally vibe with.
Best Songs
-Car Song
-Indian Song
-Waking Up ---- right in the middle of an album I was not enjoying this banger comes on, idk why more of the album doesn't sound like this but this track carries a much more creative sound with great layering and a catchy bass hook, well mixed vocals into the blend and some sick backing keys/synth to match a more unique guitar tone.
- Stutter
"If I had a magic wand,
I'd make the world suck my dick without a condom on while I'm on the john "
... I needn't say more. 4 solid stars
I know everyone's expecting me to glaze this album, and I just wanna make it clear this is NOT glazing, this is adequate reviewing for an all-time great album... Without further ado...
Sgt Pepper is one of the very first rock concept albums ever made, and was a turning point in the beatles history where they decided to stop touring and focus full time on staying in the studio making music (and doing drugs). The range of this album is insane, especially for 1967. It's hard to call this album a "rock" album because this is really where the Beatles start to differentiate from the more mainstream sound (just guitars, bass, drums and keys) and start using every instrument they can (strings, sitar, reeds, brass, you name it).
Songs like being for the benefit of mr kite and within you without you show off the true reaches of the Beatles post-touring range, with some of their most unique sounds yet. You can go from Indian inspired sitar, to music that makes u feel like ur at an evil circus, and then the next song is a beautiful string melody about a daughter leaving home, yet somehow it all makes sense together and sounds uniquely "Beatles-y".
"With a little help from my friends" and "when I'm Sixty four" are two of my favorite Beatles songs. When I'm Sixty four is just the sweetest little tune about growing old with your loved one, and is just such a Paul mccartney song through and through (what's wrong with silly love songs?). And with a little help from my friends is ringo's single track where he sings on this album, and it's just such a sweet little tune, with a simply perfect bass line and backing vocals that understood the assignment perfectly.
Getting better is an amazing song, another one of my favorites on the album, and I'm always happily singing along until the random third verse where he drops the line "I used to be cruel to my woman I beat her and kept her apart from the things that she loved" 😭 which comes out of left field for a jolly song about how things are getting better but that alone is not enough to ruin the song. It's followed by fixing a hole which is a song that's grown on me with age, I think it's a banger now.
Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds and the albums intro I actually think are slightly overrated. While not bad, both tracks are very iconic in Beatles discography but neither are my favorite, I actually think the reprise of the title track is better than the intro.
Lovely Rita is another sweet Paul Mccartney track, and good morning good morning is a great jolt you out of bed rocker to listen to when u gotta wake up at 5 am.
Last but not least, A Day in the Life... I could have written this entire review about this song alone, which is truly one of the greatest songs ever written (Riley would say it's undebatably number 1). There is something so human about listening to this song. One of the few Beatles songs that needs the "pink Floyd treatment" to get the full effect (sitting in a chair in the middle of the room with your eyes closed feeling the music around you). From the two part melodies going back and forth between John and Paul, the lyricism, the crescendos, the final chord, it's truly the Beatles at their best, and couldn't be a better capstone for this album.
I hope someone took the time to read this review, I know you all don't like the Beatles as much as I do but this band means a lot to me 🥹
A very good album, definitely one of the more enjoyable "sounds" I've heard so far with the new wave 80s synth vibes and highly reverby guitar. While not the most technical, The Cure always make a pleasant tone with that distinct 80s sound. Biggest gripe with this album is the overall length, each track runs just slightly longer than it needs to and the total run time reflects that with only 12 songs being 1 hr and 12 minutes. I think they have a good thing going but nothing amazing enough to warrant such long run times. Overall, a very high 3.
When I first started listening, I thought "huh, this could use some mo' onions"...
Boy was I NOT disappointed by track 4
Very solid album, a strong strong 3 (fucked with the vibes but every song is almost the same and there's no vocals)
