Liked the development in style, much funkier than earlier Davies (kind of blue/cool) than I was aware of. I absolutely loved the keys playing both as comping and solos on this Piano/Rhodes and Hammond really elevated the arrangements.
1st track 4/5
2nd 5/5
Loved it.
I know it's a classic of the genre. But it both left me cold and I couldn't dissociate from the artists views. I struggled through the tracks. Definitely not returning! 1/5
Thought it was a bit samey at the start of the album, but enjoyed it more as it went on. Wanted to like it more but probably won't return to it. 2/5
Not my usual genre, soul with a little funk, but pleasant to listen to, and the themes still hit hard today. 3/5
A cracking cover album. Legendary voice, and great arrangements but...
I struggle to like listening to it. As an album and the history of music I can see why it is included, poignant and heartfelt.
4/5
I was amazed I'd never actually listened to this one in its entirety before! I loved the variety on this album, I'd heard quite a few of the songs before, but in isolation rather than en mass. Was pleasantly surprised by the depth of talent, humour and instrumentation on show, as well as the expected punk roots and themes. I don't think there were any particularly weak tracks either.
A great listen. As an album hard to beat.
Most surprised by Jimmy Jazz, but it was perfectly placed between Brand New Cadillac and Hateful. Someone really thought about the track order and that pleases me.
As an album 5/5
As listening enjoyment 4/5
I felt this was more a collection of tracks than an album with 2 types of track, mostly good but each seemed to have different production styles which made them seem incoherent on the album.
The improvised ones missed an opportunity to tell a story through the album and seemed rawer in their production with the drums way higher in the mix than the guitar. The improvisation/soundscape sections tried to tie it together but it came across as directionless and just a jam session looking for ideas.
The rock/blues ones seemed to have higher production values, tighter in their mix and the songs felt they'd been crafted and worked on as opposed to a single jam take.
I feel that each style merited it's own album, and both new ones would be better for it.
As an album 2/5 , which hurts because I like the songs, but depending on my mood I'd skip about half of them.
As listening pleasure 4.
I loved this when it came out, and still do now, not as self indulgent as later albums, but excellent arrangements and a nice mix of emotions that blend each track into the next. A solid 4
Not usually a live album fan, and instrumental jazz is usually my go to, but what a voice. Lovely arrangements of standards. The humour of the live show makes it seem more intimate. The piano and bass work are super tight and supportive as well.
Be anything, but darling be mine, was absolutely sublime.
But despite loving the voice and the arrangements, my mind was wandering by the end and it wasn't a particularly long album. So vocal jazz is still not my thing.
3/5
I got through it.
Things I liked, the creative sampling, baselines and beats, she can rap well and had a nice flow with interesting word rhymes (outside of the obligatory swearing) and rhythms.
But... It hasn't changed my opinion of hip-hop and rap in general. I won't be looking up any of her other tracks.
I'll give it a very generous 2, as although it's not for me I can see the craft in it, and the whole point of this project was to listen to new types of music. As listening pleasure a 1.
Loved the bossa nova on this, looking up Antonio Jobim as he seems a fantastic guitarist. Great voice and pairing, I just wish there was more of the guitar. You know what you're getting with Frank and this is a nice foray into another style.
Whilst there were no absolute classics, I don't think any were weak either.
3/5
The soundscape, guitar/keyboard tones and instrumentation on this are close to perfect. The themes of loss and the take on their realities of the music industry make it an emotional album.
So much DNA of Pink Floyd in many of my prog metal favourites. One of my favourite albums of all time.
5.
Wasn't expecting crooning Elvis, which was a surprise. Nice backing group, with a couple of classic bits.
But it put me in mind if an OK Elvis impersonator doing a set they've done a thousand times before, and it left me a little cold.
2.5
Can I have 10 tracks of grunge alt rock please? Certainly sir, we've got a special offer on today and you get a couple free.
To me it felt like an opportunity to get in on the zeitgeist rather than contribute to it, all the elements of grunge were obviously there, but it somehow felt clinically done. The tracks had some great bits but then had to include each of the grunge elements (including the whole "I'm drowning in reverb" effect)
Saying that outtathaway was a fun track and I started to get more into it, but the horrible piano sound on homesick, did for me.
Overall it wasn't hard to listen to it, I just found it pretty soulless.
2/5
I liked it. Raw and a bridging from rock and roll to rock. But I felt the tracks were a little haphazard, and that it did nothing to dissuade me from the notion that The Who is a band I like, but in small doses!
3
I really liked this. Especially the instrumentals on the second half of the album that I wasn't previously aware of. Interesting sounds and creative arrangements throughout.
Only fly in the ointment was so many fade outs at the end of songs, it broke the flow for me. I'm sure it was a conscious decision but it wasn't for me.
Saying that though, although the keyboard sounds sound a little dated, the tracks still seem fresh.
A solid 4
This left me cold, I didn't hate it, but it was just musical wallpaper. I'm struggling to remember anything notable even whilst listening to it.
2
I liked this more than I thought I would. As ambient music with a nice groove, it was nice in the car. It may well even make an appearance on my playlists when I need to focus.
I liked the sampled sounds and thought the tracks were well put together.
Still doesn't beat Mr. Scruff though!
3
This is a massively biased rating and review. Normally I'd listen critically. But this is more than an album. The first time I bought an album myself I picked up BloodSugarSexMagik and this one. I even fired up the old cd player for this for the full experience.
I used to say there weren't any weak tracks on this one, with hindsight the production is rough and his voice does grate...
But it was such an important part of my growing up, and each track has such specific memories, from people to places to moments, I can't not rate this 5.
A couple of nice piano tracks, but very samey through the whole album. Nice to get the lyrics front and centre with fewer distractions but I feel that a volume of poetry would have had the same effect.
To be honest I got pretty bored and though I knew it wouldn't be the most uplifting album, they all sort of blurred into one.
Maybe on another day I'd be more generous, as I know Leonard Cohen was a big influence and that comes through in spades (or should I say oars) on this album, but today it is a 2 / 2.5.
No preconceptions as I was going into this one - I didn't know Bill Callahan at all - not even a broad genre!
1st track (Jim Cain) I really liked, a lush string soundscape and a really nice chilled vibe. Lo-Fi folk maybe?
Overall I liked the interplay with the backing samples and the voice, nicely constructed arrangements that evoked, with nothing too dominant in the mix. Different moods in the music and painting with the words. including the very twee trill to describe the ripple on the water in Rococo Zephyr.
Pleasantly surprised. 3.5
A classic punk album. Very much captures the spirit of the age, quick and punchy tracks, but my ears got numb to it by halfway through.
If punctuating a playlist for an injection of energy any of the songs would work, but as an album not for me.
2.5, 3 for the influence of later artists.
Some good arrangements, I just wish they were sung by someone else. Not a fan of his voice singing in this genre and the whole album just felt quite medium, it put me in mind of a bunch of demo tapes in different country rock styles to see what fitted best.
That said some lovely backing musicians on it.
A very mediocre 2.
k.d. lang has an angelic voice. The songs are well written with luscious instrumentation throughout. But it's honestly just one big, sad, song after another; it never reached any kind of peak of excitement as a journey of songs. Miss chatelaine was the closest to an upbeat track on the album at track 3.
Overall a 3.
Fun punky pop with some nice riffs that doesn't take itself too seriously. I'd forgotten about Sharkey's weird vibrato - on another day it would have annoyed me, but not today!
The album was a couple of songs too long, but a nice variety of tempi and riffs.
A 3.5 for me, I'll decide tomorrow when I vote whether I'm rounding up or down.
A solid album, no really weak tracks and a lot more range than I'd originally pinned the kinks for. Definitely be listening to this again!
A nice cohesive album as well, the themes of Little England and all it's foibles as part of the British invasion (musical!) tied it nicely together. (Did some reading after my listen and it was cited as an early concept album based on the characters portrayed)
Very solid 4
Not for me. I'll be the first to admit that I struggle with hip-hop, at the best of times. Was listening with the lyrics in front of me to desperately try and get into the genre, but I found the bragging lyrics about how good they were at rapping throughout, as well as the rapping over each other too much. "Too many MCs" I agree with this lyric.
Struggled through the whole thing. Even the tracks I was aware of (ready or not, killing me softly and fugeela, were a tricky listen for me. I did like Lauren Hill's singing, when she was singing, though.
1.5, but rounded down. I won't be listening again.
I really liked this longer blues inspired album. It felt really cohesive despite the different arrangements. Listened to it twice, and still it kept my attention. Loving cup, and ventilator blues were particular highlights. As was the piano playing throughout (just looked it up and of course it was Nicky Hopkins, which tracks!)
An incredibly strong album, a 4.5 for sure.
It’s got a great mix of blues and rock, and has a brilliant energy to it throughout. That alone would be a solid 3.
What really made it stand out for me, was the story behind it. The conflict, at a time when music was being banned there, made the album feel that bit more special, and the blues feel more of a method of resistance. I was vaguely aware of it at the time, but never listened to it. I'm glad I have now.
So it elevated it to a 4.
I liked it more than I thought I was going to. She has such a... unique voice, and the constant chopping and changing between samples and instrumentation made it a bit weird and unpredictable. It felt a little all over the place at times. But it was somehow cohesive enough in its weirdness. not sure I’d rush back to it, but I'm glad I listened to something I'd have avoided just based on my prejudged preferences.
3
