There's actually no way this is random wtf. Banger. Okay. Guess this is how we're starting. Happy birthday to me I guess. Haha. Love you Radiohead.
1. Airbag - 8.5/10 Great opener. Sets the tone nicely. Not really one I go back to revisit outside the album, but always puts you in the right mood to listen to the rest of it. Some cool effects with the pedals?
Curse these metal hands jumpscare (forgot to check queue lmao)
2. Paranoid Android - 10/10 Rocker. 1997 live performance still gives me chills. Man if that's the one thing I miss the most from twitter is all the live performances in my bookmarks lost to time. Again some really creative choices with the choir as well that I most definitely will never appreciate properly because this was one of the first albums I ever listened to seriously. I hope there isn't a word limit. Also I just realised this is a 10/10 song. Nothing I would change. Well done guys.
3. Subterranean Homesick Alien 9.5/10 - Actually underrated. Possibly the most Radiohead song Radiohead has ever Radioheaded. Honestly, there's just nothing I'd change. This album fucks man.
4. Exit Music (For A Film) 10/10 - I don't need to listen to know. Also Lucy went to see Baz Luhrmann Romeo & Juliet today (yesterday), so I guess that's a funny coincidence. Also used really well in Black Mirror.
5. Let Down 11/10 - I wish this wasn't as popular as it's getting at the moment, but deserved. Hits hard when you're rising and falling. Guitars are real pretty. Love thinking about train stations wistfully. Was very happy I got to hear this live on acoustic with Thom at Spark Arena. You know where you are when (You know who you are). One day I am gonna grow wings. \\8//
6. Karma Police 8/10 - First song I learnt when I went back playing with Dave. Probably don't have as great of an appreciation for this one as much, as there are no pretty or fuzzy guitars or effects pedals. Still tight as always. This album does not miss.
7. Fitter Happier 9/10 - People always rate this the lowest because it's not a song. But it's probably the most iconic part of the album tbh. I don't skip when listening to the whole thing.
8. Electioneering 9/10 - love the chains transition. Another good rocker. People also rate this one low, but kind of a necessary burst of anger. idc if it's not intellectual I like angsty music. III. MMM. FFF.
9. Climbing up the walls 9.5 - Technically probably the best song on the album. Don't know when I'd ever willingly listen to this (leisurely stroll, anyone?) Man does it build tone so well though.
10. No surprises 8.5/10 - Nice. Don't know why I don't connect with it as much but very nice. Such a pretty garden.
11. Lucky - 9.5/10 - This is the other song that makes you feel both moods depending on what your mood is. Thom also played this one in the encore. Euphoric chorus. It's gonna be a glorious day. Also I've gotta say I don't know another album where each note is placed so deliberately. It's somehow so clean, even though it shouldn't be.
12. The Tourist 9.5/10 - Slow one to end the album. I don't think I appreciate this one enough. This is probably the best I've listened to it, and is kind of unique. Kind of feels like that first night on antidepressants. Goes to show that music can be right time, right place, even when you listen to things a million times
Final rating - 10/10. Honestly feels pretty harsh that the averages only come out to 9.33. I think this is a perfect album. The weakest songs would be the best songs on most other albums. Very rare that an entire album can be so good with no weak songs. But this one is really really good. I'm kinda glad this came first, as it motivates me to do the other 1000 of these. Still doubtful that this was random...
This album still goes so hard. I almost wish the bar wasn't set so high so early on, but we know what we're in for.
Let's go to 1001. I'm ready.
Ooh another one that I've listened to before. It knows me so well. I hope it's not stalking me... Here we go.
Ok I'm not going track by track for all of these. Will give best and worst song though.
Best - In the Gallery 8/10 (impossible to pick a favourite - they all occupy similar spaces in my brain. This one is cool)
Worst - Southbound Again 7/10 (Again not a lot to separate these. This one is probably the most generic bluesy song, but still groovy. Outro of SMU saves it from being the worst offender IMO.
Dire Straits sit as snugly in the pocket as you can imagine. Probably the best and worst parts of all of these songs. Most of them don't go anywhere. But man are they funky. And also somehow distinct even though they sound the same. Clean guitar sounds, groovy riffs. I can easily listen to this on a summer walk or drive. Pure uninterrupted vibes. This is a very solid album front to back as well - no weak tracks. No undisputed bangers either though, which probably stops this from being in my top tier.
8/10.
Haha I remember Adele. Probably the first artist I remember completely taking over the radio. I enjoy the fact that we are finally leaving the realm of rock music as well, as I already listen to a lot of that already.
Again will give best and worst tracks.
Best - Turning Tables 6.5/10 - reminds me of a Bond theme. I know that's generic, but I don't mind cinematic-sounding piano tracks with strings. Piano riff reminds me a lot of Trouble by Coldplay, which is also a song I quite like
Was thinking of putting the lovesong cover as best track, but figured it would be cheating to put a Cure cover instead of an original song. Would be against the spirit of doing this. But it actually does the song justice; doesn't bastardise the original sentiment of the song (looking at you, cigarettes after sex), and still fits really well on the album. Good genre change. Works really well. Pleasantly surprised when it came on.
Also the chorus of 'He won't go' is quite catchy to me. Just stuck in my head for some reason.
Least favourite - Take it all 5/10 - just the least interesting song to me. Not actually bad by any means, just a slightly boring piano ballad.
This actually surprised me. The more I listen, the less I hate it tbh. Hate is a strong word, but this isn't really in my wheelhouse. No bad songs on here again. And if anything the songs I already knew weren't as good as I remembered them, but somehow not obnoxious either. Adele has a lot of personality in her voice, which adds a much needed dynamism to the slower songs. The more upbeat ones are catchy, and I don't ever find it grating or inauthentic, which is my main issue with most pop music. Don't think I will return to it, but hopefully this gives me some perspective that I can use to branch out into other kinds of this music.
We are still yet to have a miss. Long may it continue
Final score: 6.5/10
Led Zep! Have tried to get into them before (with I think IV?), but didn't succeed the first time. Dad loves them though, so there's gotta be something I'm missing. Another rock album, but more classic rock, which I'm not as familiar with. Feels wrong that III is #4. Feel like that's a missed opportunity. Also more numbered albums so yay. 21, 3.
Starting with Immigrant Song.
Best track: Tangerine 8/10 - Robert Plant isn't shouting on this one. Very nice acoustic track. Was apparently at the end of Almost Famous, which makes sense. Fitting as a credits song, which also happens to be my favourite.
Since I've Been Loving You is epic. Think it's finally clicked on the third listen. Love the keyboards. Epic guitar solo. Actually really like it. Seems inspired by I Want You (She's so Heavy) to me if I had to guess (came out a year earlier. Something about the doomy-sounding slow guitar motif that goes through the song.
Worst: Hats Off To (Roy) Harper - 3/10 - This was a 1/10 on first listen tbh. Barely sounded like a song. Weird demo guitar sounds paired with a baffling vocal effect. Kind of got it on the second listen, but doesn't really go anywhere and still don't like the vocal effect.
Not my favourite. Understand Led Zep a little better now, but still struggled to get into it. Can't vibe with Robert Plant's voice that much. Especially when he's shouting. Got into the bluesy acoustic guitars on this record eventually. Think I am sorely missing context from their first 2 albums, as apparently this one is more acoustic than normal. Immigrant song is a rocker, even if the lyrics are a little cringy. Still probably have 3 more chances to fully understand them. Bad tracks are bad. Good tracks are good. Still willing to give them another shot. They've grown on me slightly.
Final score: 6/10
OOh baby. Love Talking Heads. This one I haven't listened to all that much either. Not a lot of 77' songs on Stop Making Sense. This one is more punky or so I've heard.
Very fun record. Right mix between nervy post-punk aesthetic and good pop songwriting. Would love to hear or see some of these songs in a live context.
Best pop-adjacent - uh oh (9/10) - my favourite song on this album. So joyous. Fun lyrics. Great bass line.
Also really like no compassion as well for something a bit edgier. Awesome outro.
Worst song - Tentative Decisions (6.5/10) - chorus doesn't do a lot for me. Still catchy and far from a bad song.
Final score - 8.5/10. Had a lot of fun. Talking Heads does not dissappoint. Perhaps less variety than their other records, but right up my alley. Love it!
Very good songwriting. I love how there is almost never a weak song on any of these albums.
Opening track is great. Had to search up what parsley, sage, rosemary, and thyme meant, but is an earworm of a refrain nonetheless,
Cloudy is a nice short tune.
Homeward bound is iconic. Would probably resonate more if I hadn't listened to it before.
Flowers bend with the rainfall is probably my favourite on this album. Don't know why it reminds me of Nick Drake a little bit. Like the lyrics too. 9/10
7 o'clock news is interesting. Kinda crazy that that was the news in the mid 60s.
Love the album. probably 8.5 out of 10. Good stuff
Anothrt
