This might be the first time I’ve consciously listened to Björk.
The first 3 songs are great and I like how the album doesn’t have a strict pattern and yet seems to flow really nicely.
She lost me a bit at Big Time Sensuality but the eeriness of Come To Me brought me back in.
The Anchor Song might be my favourite of the album and I can really hear where BC,NR are clearly inspired from.
Second half better than the first
I like the album and it’s an easy listen with a nice beat and dynamic changes.
But I don’t quite put in on the level of Björk at 4 stars and in the absence of 3.5, I’ll have to go with a 3.
But I’d say a decent listen I’d come back to.
The obvious classics
My favourite part is how live the album feels and it lets you really hear Little Richard’s voice and just how powerful it was.
Solid 50s album, by one of the game changing artists of his generation for reasons beyond music.
I think impact of this album and Little Richard takes the album above I 4 but something in me not quite giving it a five is why I’m going for 4.
This is annoyingly a very well produced album with a lot of Kanye classics on this
But because of who he is and what he’s said and done especially in this period I can’t be rating this highly
I really liked this album.
I find it weird because it’s not my genre and all the collaboration makes it hard to tell who’s doing and creating what but also makes it quite eclectic.
Really loving the tribute to 90s rap, some funk, soul and jazz parts with really easy listening grooves behind some great lyrics.
I think there’s something to like about each song and a really interesting project.
Maybe a new Kendrick fan has been born, only over a decade behind the trend.
I thought this was going to be my first 5-star album but the instrumentals really knocked the flow for me.
At the time this might have been pretty groundbreaking but I don’t think they’ve quite stood the test of time.
I’m Glad is a beautiful song and the vocals are incredible on this song and I really like the tendency to allow the instruments to flow throughout the songs.
He’s a bit of a prick isn’t he.
Alsatian Cousin is a decent song and he does have his redeeming unique voice but it’s a pretty underwhelming album overall.
I don’t feel like I’m listening to anything particularly special.
A few decent tracks that redeems it though.
A really good album.
I really enjoyed the soul, funk grooves behind a great vocal rhythm.
The flow of the album is so smooth it makes it such an easy listen without feeling like it’s never ending.
Despite featuring that guy, I do think it’s a really good album with interesting themes and an uplifting social message within a sad reflection on social landscapes.
An enjoyable listen with a strong beginning and end but a bit of an average middle which doesn’t quite stand out “Smile please” and “Please don’t go” do.
I thought after the beginning I could be heading to my first 5-star album but it starts to tail off which is a shame.
Still a decent listen and Stevie’s voice is always a treat to listen to and his lyrics are a lot deeper on social issues than I’d realised before.
Cards on the table I’m not a classic rock person. But I do really like some of the composition in this album.
It’s a pretty nonchalant listen for me without bringing any great feeling. But “I love The Dead”, “No More Mr Nice Guy” (obvious classic), and “Elected” are part of the better few.
I think the musicality and cheeky James Bond riff bring it up a little.
I’m really not getting that 34 minutes back in my life.
Constantinople really made me think maybe King Gizzard were inspired by this but there’s nothing public on that, so they don’t even get that saving grace.
I hope I don’t meet the person who gives this a five.
When I saw the length of the first song I was scared.
But this was a really engaging live album.
It’s not my style in music (shock horror) but I can appreciate the intensely good piano playing, especially to be able to hold an audience as a solo pianist I think is always impressive.
Probs a harsh rating but from someone who knows little about the genre and performance style.
That was unenjoyable from start to finish.
Felt like that era of hip hop that really just should stay in the point of history.
Pretty uninspiring album, at times monotonous but with a couple of good songs - Broken Heart was a stand out for me that was quite pretty but the rest seemed to blend into one.
A great album with some absolute classics and I really enjoyed Contusion.
Stevie Wonder’s voice is magical and he shows off some great songwriting pomp in this double album.
I think there is some tail off in this album that caused me to lose a bit of engagement in this listen. For me it doesn’t quite make it an all timer perfect album. But I’ve been wrong before.
Solid album by RHCP.
It’s got a mix of everything that made them great, the funk the screeching solos, flea on bass and one of the drummers of a generation.
Containing some of their best work and maybe even their greatest track Under The Bridge.
Not even a huge Chilli Peppers fan but this really was and is a great album.
This was a fun listen and with the obvious classic Give Up The Funk.
I think it’s a good album and I don’t know enough about the history of funk to really say whether it should be considered a funk great but Parliament definitely should be.
Decent and fun listen, head bobbing for 33/38 mins.
Could not get on board with that last song though - killed off a good album for me.
It’s a decent album.
Interesting songwriting and a departure from AM at this time but you could clearly see the direction Alex Turner wanted to move on to at this point.
The songwriting and composition is good but I don’t find it mind blowing.
Maybe in 2008 I’d have had a different opinion but I think he’s since gone on and evolved into much bigger and better song writing.
Really enjoyable album.
I didn’t realise I knew so many of these songs, they must appear in films or be stuck in my brain from the days when radio blared out in our house.
A pleasant rock and roll listen with a slight hint of psychedelic rock just leaking through.
A solid album added to the library.
This is a very 60s album
It’s psychedelic, experimental, rock and roll, jazzy, it’s got 50s Doo Wop
The first second had me on edge when I saw it was an hour but first three tracks are great.
Wowie Zowie maybe not so, but Help, I’m a rock is pretty fun
You can kind of tell they didn’t care, but also really caring about the music especially the last song/soundscape with all the phaser like effects.
Kind of sad music doesn’t really get created in this way anymore where labels gamble on a group of weird music people.
Admittedly that approach did lead to “sometimes maybe good, sometimes maybe shit” music, this lands on good for me.
Old school punk really just isn’t my thing
That being said it isn’t bad album, it just doesn’t wow me so much
I think there were better albums out at the time that had a bit more edge to them than this does.
Another fun album for the day.
I really like the jazz/rock fusion and it’s done really well and the nice folksy twist brings some emotion to the album.
It’s just very good musicians in a room writing very good music.
It’s not the most exciting listen, but that’s a taste thing it’s a great album with two great finishing tracks.
A good opening track that’s pretty well written and composed.
The remainder to me is just more of a pleasant listening experience than anything else. I didn’t feel particularly moved in one way or another.
I think 2 would be too harsh and without a 2.5 down the middle “it’s not bad” I’ll go with a 3.
His story is quite interesting as well and never linked him to south park until I read it but the voice lived in my memories somewhere.
I’m not really sure I needed to hear that before I die.
I’m sure there’s many more interesting listens out there from the 80s/90s in the genre that could’ve made this list instead.
It’s not awful, and fits the title. Just doesn’t move the needle for me.
No notes - brilliant album.
My favourites were Like a Rolling Stone, Tombstone Blues but Desolation Row is my standout.
Brilliant vocals, compositions - long form music done perfectly.
One of if not Green Day’s best album.
I’m biased because I saw the full play through at Reading years ago. But it’s early pop punk when it was something to enjoy and not just whiny.
You e got the obvious classics but in fairness it’s an album with multiple classics, “She”, “Longview”, “Basket Case”, “When I Come Around”.
I wouldn’t put it as an all timer album. But a great intro to anyone for Green Day.
This album didn’t really give me much to work with.
Man Out Of Time was the stand out for me that really gave something emotional from the album.
It’s sort of a weird mix of prog rock and old school rock and some rockabilly stuff and it feels like the album wasn’t sure what it wanted to be and maybe there’s too many ideas going on at once.
It took me a couple songs to warm into this but once I got it I think it was a really good album.
The obvious People Ain’t No Good classic and I really enjoyed the accordion track (?) Black Hair.
I was aware of the Nick Cave hype and now I think I can see why, this feels like a really emotional album and despite its slow melodies, it avoids being monotonous and remains interesting.
The first half of the album left me a bit uninspired. Sinead’s voice is obviously great but I just didn’t get anything from the songs in the first half.
From Nothing Compares 2 U I think the album picks up and Last Day of Our Acquaintance and the acapella of I Do Not Want What I haven’t Got are both quite beautiful and moving songs and definitely give an uplift to the album.
No Notes - for me this is an all timer.
Having never heard it before, I come out of listening having just really enjoyed everything they put into this album.
Rating this with 30 seconds left on the album because I don’t think my opinion is going to change here.
It’s a nothing album, like yeah I guess vaguely enjoyable rock n roll but I really think I could have died without listening to this and felt the same.
And yeah those last 30 seconds really didn’t do anything.
Another album that didn’t quite move the needle enough.
I can see why in 2001 this might have been a bit different to the usual, but it doesn’t really push far enough for me.
It’s a decent enough album, I think there’s been better mercury prize nominees. And sandwiched by the album’s two better songs “punchbag” and “Sky Holds The Sun”
A middling album I’d rather give 2.5, but I have to go 3
A middling listen for me.
Would be cool to hear a bit more of the bluesy guitar coming through but it’s still a nice album and definitely easy listening vibes.
I don’t think I’d have been in their target audience in fairness.
Really great album
Obvious classics but I really enjoyed the sidewinder closing tracks from Mr Gruder to Another Song
They gave another angle to the album that is brilliantly produced and beautifully composed.
A great way to perk up a Thursday afternoon.
This album grated on me a lot.
It was a mix of orchestral rock/pop and the vocals were just in a style I really can’t abide.
It might have been a good album but it riled me up too much to enjoy it and I really found it all samey- just not a fan, sorry Scott.
Pretty enjoyable little country album.
She has a very nice voice, and some decent songwriters around her. And it just about avoids being an annoying pop album for me.
A good job!
I liked Velvet Vices & Rainbow
I know I’m supposed to hold this album on some pedestal and I’m a post-punk fan and it’s got early signs of that.
But I’m just not a fan of these type of vocals.
I know Joy Division are iconic and this album itself is as much a modern fashion piece, but it just doesn’t quite click with me.
It’s obviously not a bad album, so my 3 comes from personal taste over objective scoring.
Quite enjoyed this album after being a little unsure on the first track.
I like the genre hopping and the vocals are quite pretty and soft to listen to.
It’s not something I’d rush back to, but an interesting listen to get something different in here.
Monstre Sacre was a personal favourite from this one.
This was an enjoyable album that I think would have been served better if they cut the length to about 40 minutes but the obsession with long albums in this era was pretty standard.
I actually quite like free form guitar, as it’s cool to see how far back that screeching sound traces back.
But yeah an enjoyable album that does tend to drag on a touch too long for me. But interesting concept of crossing the jazz/blues/rock.
Lyrically a bit stale and not the most exciting and vocals that don’t completely have a wow factor.
Good album from a blues legend but didn’t quite blow me away like o was hoping for.
His voice and guitar playing is obviously incredible and from this you can hear how he was adored at the time.
I think there’s better albums from B B King so I’m gonna give this one a middle score which is maybe a bit harsh.
It’s feel good 80s rock
But some of the lyrics are dodgy as hellllll
I’m a Bon jovi hater here - bland and boring music with a few karaoke classics.
Wild in The Streets is just horrible.
Bad way to start a Monday, but I’d be lying if I said it was a 1.
I think it’s a good album but when it’s getting good there’s just a few bits that let it down.
The Easy Blues being an example of this for me.
Over The Hill is quite a beautiful song with the country/folksy singing and playing I really enjoy.
It’s the lack of consistency for me that stops making it a four star album - 3.5 would be where I’d land, because I think the songwriting here is great, but some of the execution just doesn’t quite land in pockets of some of the songs.
This is a great live album. It’s surprisingly clean quality as well given the time.
Also quite funny to hear how almost polite the crowd is.
There’s hits missing but The Who don’t miss on this one.
It’s a great performance with great tracks. I don’t know enough about The Who to know if this is one of their iconic shows or not, it doesn’t quite feel it which is why I’m dropping to a four.
Plus I don’t think live albums should always count in this bracket personally, as to me they’re two different things.
Maybe the best opening song of all the albums so far (?)
Unmistakably one of the greatest and most iconic voices of old blues rock n roll.
This may not be an all timer album, but it’s a great listen from start to finish for the joy of listening to Aretha Franklin.
This is more my bag and I’m not the biggest Smashing Pumpkins fan, but I think this is possibly their best album & I really enjoyed Mellon Collie, but this one feel more complete to me.
I don’t think there’s a song that lets it down, only ones like Quiet, Disarm and Soma that raise it.
The fuzzed wall of guitar lets Corgan’s nasally vocals really come to the fore. It’s a great album from an era when grunge was both in and overdone thanks to other Seattle greats of the time.
Definitely an all time great for my listening ears, even if it is less iconic than Mellon Collie in their story.
A beautiful folksy album, carefully composed and delicately delivered.
This really is a gem of an album that delivers on all levels.
An album worthy of 5 stars every time, with a deeply dark underbelly behind the soft music.
I can appreciate they’re very good musicians and they really are
But again I stand by my point that live albums really shouldn’t count unless they have ultra cultural significance
My protest vote is a 2
But the musicians are obviously incredible.
I think this is a relatively decent album
But to give it a three would mean I put it on the same level as other 3s which I don’t think it is
I like the genre crossing and I think for what it is it’s not a corny effort like some gothic rock at this time
But it’s not the most attention grasping listen and I think almost too many genre hops / like the random ska track
And the fish cake song killed it off as well
Just below middling listen for me
A fun pop/glam rock album with typical 80s synth.
Cyndi Laupner’s voice is great in this album, even if it gets mashed with some cheesey 80s music, it’s a decent album that goes through different moods.
The album drops a little on the second half, but I quite liked the closer Yeah Yeah.
For all of the crap produced in the 80s, this is quite clear from that, albeit not an all timer for me or necessarily a game changer.
Not an iron maiden fan or nwobhm person at all.
This album isn’t as cringey metal as I thought it would be.
I know at the time they were part of a ground breaking scene, but to me this is just hard rock.
Decent instrumental stuff and vocals even before Bruce but it’s not the most entertaining album and the lyrics really don’t hit for me but I appreciate their role in the music I listen to now and without bands like this I might not have the bands I’ve grown up with.
It’s not a terrible album, but a 3 would suggest I enjoyed it a little, and I didn’t.
YYZ was kind of interesting but the rest fell a bit flat for me.
Again another example of a band that took the world by storm etc etc but just really not my bag. And the kind of vocals that makes me cringe every time I hear them.
A brilliant album.
It doesn’t just have one of my all time favourites in “God Only Knows”, it’s a well constructed, produced and written album.
Brilliantly performed and simple to the point of genius.
Having come off the back a few Iron Maiden and Rush, this album really epitomises the less is more and delivers on it.
I love Brazilian pop/bossanova it’s always fun to listen to.
Her voice is amazing and goes through different stages of harsh to soft and provides different emotional spins to each song.
I don’t know enough to say how revolutionary this is in the genre, but it’s a great album with some really strong production ideas.
Really good front to back and I’m going to assume the lyrics are just as good.
It’s a good album with soft vocals that can be both warming and haunting.
I like the split between full band and acoustic to add different dynamics to the album and the vocal production with overdubbing.
It’s got that post-grungey feel with angst so I can see the relatability.
Maybe I’m harsh but I just don’t think it’s an amazing album that blows me away.
But definitely a decent album with some good tracks in there that are well performed and written.
Forgot to write a review at the time
But yeah this was great
Great production, songwriting, vocals and some absolute classics
Perfectly fine folk album.
Nice singing and instrumental moments, nothing really standing out for me.
A 2 feels harsh so going with a 3.
It’s a nice album and better than the previous Smith one.
Son of Sam and Can’t Make A Sound were highlights of the album for me.
But I just can’t quite build myself to really enjoy it, it’s just not the vibe for me but all in all a decent record.
