The Beatles are one of the few bands that even a non trained ear can pick out the contributions of each member. A plus pop rock album, doesn’t get five because there are some meh songs but otherwise it’s perfect.
Love this era of the police, polished enough to produce a song like walking on the moon, but still has that local ska/reggae/punk sound. Doesn’t get a 5 as there are not enough iconic songs and there is a skip or 2.
The influence this one generated is thick. I hear elements of Radiohead and a ton of other emo leaning art/alt rock. With that said some of the songs drone on way longer than they should. Big fan of the creepy spider man song
The best Elvis album. Really want to give it 5 stars but reserving that for undeniable, no skips, world changing etc type of albums. Elvis in Memphis transports you to I guess Memphis in the 70s. You feel the vibe throughout & can’t deny suspicious minds, that bitch slaps.
Perfect album. Not a bad song (even smells like teen spirit still slaps). The most underrated element of Nevermind is its whimsicalness. In bloom, genuinely a hilarious bit about the worst people in the world rocking out to songs written about how much they suck. The joke doesn’t work post internet sadly.
Meh, got some bangers, but the rest is fillers. Can’t deny the talent, but when compared to the other “greatest” albums it lacks a bit. With that said, natural woman and earth moves both reach epic levels of slap.
Nothing wrong with this one. Beautiful harmonies, transports you to another time and place but still somehow timeless.
No notes. Maybe the greatest rap album ever. I can’t think of an album that transports you to a place and time more effectively than illmatic.
Liked this one a lot, great vibes. Vaughn and the band captures the fact that music should be fun, it’s brought me back to New Orleans prev hall. Not to mention the whole experience oozes with soul.
To me this is the sister album of Dr John’s Gris Gris. Never heard it before, glad I did. The blend of US blues with I assume African plus other worldly music hits well for me.
The obvious, it’s Bob Marley, party music that defined a revolution and a generation of Jamaicans. Listening more closely, I also have to give a ton of props to the production, the placement of the guitar and various drums on lively up yourself is a thing of beauty. Gets a strong 4
#12 Paul Simon - Hearts and Bones
Fascinating album. Not to say I like it much, but def worth the journey. Reading the background, it was apperently an attempt for Paul to communicate through music how challenging it is to balance your heart and brain when working on something you’re passionate about. That is exactly what is going on here, the songs are intricate, time signatures moving all over the place, then a bunch of new instruments and effects come in and once your intrigue peeks, it jumps right back into a pretty basic and not interesting pop song.
It typically doesn’t land for me, but I can’t stop thinking of how cool a redo of this album could be by a Brian Eno or some colab with my morning jacket and tame impala….ive gone to far.
Listened to this years ago and it didn’t hit, but today….god damn this is a masterpiece. The influence Closer had on bands like Radiohead, the cure, NIN etc is undeniable. It’s the upside down of conventional music, a minimalist post punk electronic record where the bass plays the lead and the synths (a newish concept for the time if I am not mistaken) tuned to sound like an ancient organ built but the Druid/aliens who did stone hedge and percussion that lays the foundation for everything Radiohead produced post OKC.
I assumed this would be a 3 based on past experience but we’re gonna give this a 5.
A 2 feels harsh, but outside of track 1, this album feels extremely flat to me. If you want to hear what this band could do at their apex, check out Déjà vu, which of course includes Neil which gives the band the lyrical and general edge the self titled lacks. What really torpedoed this for me was the cover of everybody’s talkin. One of the greatest songs ever written, so many beautiful versions, it’s like that 3 dragon meme, CSN being the dumb one. Déjà vu also has the Jerry steal pedal Teach your children, the version here is nap enducing.
Never heard this one prior, listened to it 3 times already. Sad that it still resonates today, but it of course does. Giving it a 4 because there is nothing about this album I dislike, but for the genre there are definitely better soul funk albums & there is no real mono culture worthy stand out jam here.
One of those that I’ll admit, brilliant but nothing about it was easy. Glad I heard it once, but never again. If I were going to recommend it to someone, it’s perfect for theatre kids who love Radiohead, enjoy a music challenge and maybe has done a few murders. Me personally, imma pass on this one dawg.
Stills self titled comes with a lot of boxes checked that gets me into an album.
1. It’s got a cerfitified banger - love the one your with. A song that has fascinated me as long as I can remember. The ideal version, the message is extremely positive & it serves as a good theme for this 1001 album journey. With streaming we all choose what we want to enjoy, and typically it’s something we love. But that shouldn’t be the case, as in life you’re typically stuck with less than ideal scenarios so rather than going - meh I hate country or I only like punk, or god damn these boomers, find something you love about the music or at least try. I like that version. - however the song is just about Mr Stills trying to bang some lady who is on a business trip. But the congas during the chorus slap!
2. Songs ending with rocking extended jams. Jams when done right are the best time to hear a band loving what they do, and if you play an instrument and have had the opportunity to play with like minded people, doing so with limited guidelines is the apex music experience. Steve Stills got this done beautifully. (Even if it’s just him layering in instruments and not a live jam)
3. Uncredited (or at least not listed on the song title) legendary players joining for a song. We got both Clapton and Hendrix, that’s awesome.
Not sure if it’s a 3 or a 4 but after reading a lot of silly hate from the reviews (although this is music for people that clap when a plane lands made me laugh and is correct) I’m giving it a soft 4, but with out that conga, it’s a 3.
Son of a preacher man is an A plus perfect song. For the rest of the album, honestly not really a bad song, ands it’s a delight to listen to. It gets a strong 3 however not a 4. Best album I can compare it to is Amy winehouse’s (black? To lazy to look it up) which when it comes in for me, it’ll be a no hesitation 5 as it has 7 preacher man quality bangers. I might be on to a new rating metric…number of preacher men. Any way Dusty is a national treasure and belongs on the list, she gets a strong.
Not enough psychedelic folk in my life. Haven’t heard this before, enjoyed it thoroughly. Jeff Buckley’s dad? Stuff like that shouldn’t impact my enjoyment, but this fact gave it a boost. Getting a mid 3, which as I doubt I’ll go out of my way to listen to it again & there isn’t a track that I would consider “stand alone” great.
Well hot damn, not sure how this dude was in my blind spot. I’m astonished by the talent Bertie J displays on the acoustic. You hear the influence his playing had immediately, for instance strolling down the highway is the same guitar lick as the for you blue and after reading the wiki, you find out that dudes like Neil swore by this guy. Unfortunately his lyrics and vocal delivery are a discount Leonard Cohen at best. Giving it a weak 4 as the influence and talent deserves acclaim.
#21 Fairpoint Convention - Liege and Leif
Important caveat before I start, went to my first Ren Faire this weekend, my daughter loved it more than Disney and personally I had a delightful time eating a turkey leg, drinking mead and hanging out with all the local nerds. I needed to disclose this as it definitely influenced my enjoyment of this album.
For a British folk album that focuses on medieval themes, it rocks way harder than it has any right to. The tone is set on the opening track as vocalist Sandy does a full band roll call (even the bass gets a line!) establishing that this band of “minstrels” is playing with purpose celebrating the communal experience of music. “The fiddler player loves to play, that’s why he plays so good” simple line that perfectly captures one of the essential qualities of great music. The rest of the album is doesn’t let up at all, god damn love Matty groves. Anyway I’ve said enough. 5 stars
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Always tough to rate good albums in genres I don’t care for, and big band probably ranks right there with edm for me on genres that I typically give a hard pass. That said, The Atomic CB has a lot going for it, likely the best album the genre has to offer, maybe the coolest album cover ever, it’s got got the right amount of chaos to keep my attention, it’s a swan song to a genre which ties back into the brilliant album name and cover and on a personal note, I live and grew up 10 minutes from red bank NJ, where the kid is from. Prob the only 4 star album I won’t listen to again, but for the above reasons I don’t think I can give it anything lower. Soft 4.
So close to a 5! To start with the overwhelmingly good, bitter sweet sympathy - personal top 25 song of all time for me, even as a 12 year I felt seen by his beautifully obnoxious crowded street bumps. The rest of the album is a perfect blend of everything Brit pop can offer, it nails that cigarettes are cool oasis vibe, in fact this would be my second favorite oasis album (cast no shadow btw is about these dudes or at least Ashcroft), plenty of stone roses like rhythm section grooves and even a spacey but rockin guitar hero Bends era Radiohead moments.
However it’s 3 songs to long. Strong 4, might even spend 45 dollars or whatever to get the vinyl.
