1.) Back In The U.S.S.R.:
They can't stop thinking about the Beach Boys.
2.) Dear Prudence:
It is a classic. Pretty glad they didn't go too much into experimentation for this song.
3.) Glass Onion:
Too tongue-in-cheek with talking about Strawberry Fields and the Walrus.
4.) Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da:
Wild that Charles Manson liked this album.
5.) Wild Honey Pie:
Filler.
6.) The Continuing Story of Bungalow Bill:
One or three minute(s) too long.
7.) While My Guitar Gently Weeps:
Still can't believe that this wasn't going to get recorded.
8.) Happiness Is A Warm Gun:
One of Lennon's best songs.
9.) Martha My Dear:
My left ear liked this song. I think one of more overlooked songs on this album.
10.) I'm So Tired:
How I'm feeling about this album. Might be my first skip.
11.) Blackbird:
A classic.
12.) Piggies:
Tad bit on the nose.
13.) Rocky Raccoon:
I guess not all British can do an American accent. It is one of my favorite songs on the album though.
14.) Don't Pass Me By:
Fine, a bit repetitive.
15.) Why Don't We Do It In The Road?:
Reminds me of that Italian song that is supposed to sound like an American rock song but is complete gibberish. Was this supposed to be them trying to sound like the Blues?
16.) I Will:
Odd to go from last song to this one. Weird idea to say that you that you will love someone forever and not know their name. Otherwise, good love song/lullaby.
17.) Julia:
Not bad song but feels like McCartney vs. Lennon love song battle after following I Will.
18.) Birthday:
No one asked for this.
19.) Yer Blues:
O god, this is their take on Blues.
20.) Mother Nature's Son:
Maybe because I'm thinking of Mother Child Reunion, but you could convince me that Paul Simon wrote this song. Its in a similar vein to Blackbird.
21.) Everybody's Got Something To Hide Except Me and My Monkey: Would like this more if it didn't follow Mother Nature's Son. Should've followed Back In The U.S.S.R. Good and upbeat.
22.) Sexy Sadie:
Eh, its fine I guess. Randy Newman sounding piano intro. Better 2nd half. Not a fan of the "wa-wa-wa-wa"
23.) Helter Skelter:
Probably my favorite on the album. Good song about a slide and like that it was to one-up The Who. McCartney's yell-singing is good here except for the middle part.
24.) Long, Long, Long:
Good song, but doesn't need the sound at the end.
25.) Revolution 1:
A classic. The clashing sounds fits the theme.
26.) Honey Pie:
I like it. Wasn't expecting this vaudvillian sound from them.
27.) Savoy Truffle:
Good song for writing about a sweet tooth.
28.) Cry Baby Cry:
Almost sounds like a companion piece to Eleanor Rigby.
29.) Revolution 9:
Interesting.
30.) Good Night:
I always like the idea of finishing a large album with a symphony backing piece. One of the few Ringo-led vocal songs.
1.) Synchronicity I:
Fine song. Sounds like a generic The Police song.
2.) Walking In Your Footsteps:
Didn't know Sting was a dinosaur kid. I like to think if they disbanded because of a song on this album it would be this one, not Mother.
3.) O My God:
I like this one. Bass-forward, saxophone in the background, an eerie bridge: sounds like the 80s.
4.) Mother:
Perfectly normal.
5.) Miss Gradenko:
Not my favorite on this album. Its a weirdly catchy song.
6.) Synchronicity II:
I < II. Has more 80s action sound. Always forget that this is about a Loch Ness Monster.
7.) Every Breath You Take:
Everyone knows this one. Good song. Would be funny if this song were from the perspective of the Loch Ness Monster from Synchronicity II.
8.) King Of Pain:
Always think I don't like this song but has a good chorus. I get the first verse not needing the synths for progression to verse 2, but I think it's missing something.
9.) Wrapped Around Your Finger:
I forget about this song. Good synth intro. Honestly prefer the verses over the chorus. Don't want to be near Sting's fingers, I guess.
10.) Tea In The Sahara:
This song feels disjointed. I liked the intro of this one but nothing really panned out. I would skip this one, and I didn't skip Mother.
11.) Murder By Numbers:
My favorite song on the album. I like the emphasis of the beat on the drums being almost surgical mixed with the laxxed guitar playing.
This is one of my new favorite albums for the fact that half of it is Duke Ellington playing fantastically and the other half is making sure the crowd doesn't get too crazy.
1.) The Star-Spangled Banner:
Interesting way to start an album. Reminds me of band class, but they are better.
2.) Father Norman O'Connor Introduces Duke & the Orchestra / Duke Introduces Tune & Anderson, Jackson & Procope:
What a Cosmopolitan group.
3.) Black and Tan Fantasy:
Great starting piece. Each solo between was smooth. Fantastic growl on the trumpet.
4.) Duke Introduces Cook & Tune:
Apt name
5.) Tea for Two:
Always a sucker for a trumpet solo. Interesting mixing to have the woodwinds in the background to almost a hum.
6.) Duke & Band Leave Stage / Father Norman Talks About The Festival:
O boy, we got a yapper.
7.) Take the 'A' Train:
A classic, can't go wrong.
8.) Duke Announces Strayhorn's A Train & Nance / Duke Introduces Festival Suite, Part I & Hamilton:
I think he thought of the name beforehand.
9.) Part I - Festival Junction:
The saxophones and trumpets have great synchronicity. Like the clarinet scales at the beginning. Would've been cool if they incorporated the arpeggios throughout the song. That trumpet run at the end was pretty impressive, but take it easy.
10.) Duke Announces Soloists; Introduces Part II:
He does it again.
11.) Part II - Blues to Be There:
Felt like some of Duke's adlibs were clashing with the band in the beginning, especially the trills. I liked the clarinet solo with the band's decrescendo in the middle.
12.) Duke Announces Nance & Procope; Introduces Part III:
He's on a streak of introducing these songs.
13.) Part III - Newport Up:
Here for the tempo change. Nice almost call and response with the trumpet, saxophone, and clarinet near the end. Wish Duke would get more into it than provide backing piano. Probably my favorite of the three pieces though.
14.) Duke Announces Hamilton, Gonsalves & Terry / Duke Introduces Carney & Tune:
Honestly, when I decided to review each song, wasn't expecting this many introductions in an album.
15.) Sophisticated Lady:
Nice love tune. Could see it being a track in a 1950s movie or a Tennessee Williams adapted movie.
16.) Duke Announces Grissom & Tune:
There are two things this man can do like no other: play music and announce.
17.) Day In, Day Out:
Interesting way they mic'd the singer. Sounds like he's singing from the backstage. Wasn't expecting the scatting. Cool that they used the trumpet to emphasize the heart-pounding in the song.
18.) Duke Introduces Tune(s) and Paul Gonsalves Interludes:
Uh oh, whoever wrote this track title just found a thesaurus.
19.) Diminuendo and Crescendo In Blue:
Good song. The hand clapping a quarter of the way is throwing me off. Like the swing of this song.
20.) Announcements, Pandemonium:
Thrashing at Jazzfest.
21.) Duke Introduces Johnny Hodges:
They got The Hedgehog on this joint?!
22.) I Got It Bad (and That Ain't Good):
Great saxophone leadinng on this one with Duke supporting.
23.) Jeep's Blues:
No intro?! If crusing in a Jeep felt like this, I would consider getting one.
24.) Duke Calms Crowd; Introduces Nance & Tune:
Great name for a painting.
25.) Tulip or Turnip:
Should've been on the Fallout radio. Good song but love how the audience is going insane over this song.
26.) Riot Prevention:
Damn, they don't play around at the Newport Jazzfest. Duke Ellington is the original Motorhead.
27.) Skin Deep
Okay, the drums do go hard on this one. The song was essentially a 9-minute drum solo, and it was well justified.
28.) Mood Indigo
Criminal to limit Mood Indigo to just over a minute but honestly a good outro for a concert.
29.) Studio Concert (Excerpts):
Good slow & lurking song. Nice ending.
I'm assuming this is a different recording of the previous songs, so I will omit the following reviews:
30.) Father Norman O'Connor Introduces Duke Ellington / Duke Introduces New Work, Part I & Hamilton:
31.) Part I - Festival Junction
32.) Duke Announces Soloists; Introduces Part II
33.) Part II - Blues To Be There
34.) Duke Announces Nance & Procope; Introduces Part III
35.) Part III - Newport Up
36.) Duke Announces Hamilton, Gonsalves & Terry / Pause / Duke Introduces Johnny Hodges
37.) I Got It Bad (And That Ain't Good)
38.) Jeep's Blues
Haven't heard this album, or pretty sure any of these songs, before. With Radiohead's experimentation, I was worried that it was going to be too avant garde or too uniform to the theme. Overall, not too bad but probably wouldn't go back to this one again.
1.) 2 + 2 = 5:
I like the drums and distorted guitar on this one. Like how the beat picks up on this song. Gonna be honest, I could only make out half of the words in this song, but I like the sound. Big sound guy.
2.) Sit Down, Stand Up:
I want to think that this song is about the game Duck, Duck, Goose. Good brooding mood to this song. Another song that builds. Cool beat after the transition. Don't hear many laser sounds in songs these days.
3.) Sail To The Moon:
A bit too slow for my liking. If he didn't hold onto that many words, it wouldn't feel that slow. Did like the piano in this one, simple but nice.
4.) Backdrifts:
The beginning reminds me of another song but I can't place it. Too much reverb-drone sound on this one for me. So far, the track listing is my ranking of the album.
5.) Go To Sleep:
Nice change-up with the acoustic guitar intro. Not bad song. Could fool me and say its a Beck song.
6.) Where I End and You Begin:
Pretty repetitive. Don't hate it, don't love it. The theremin-sounding effect was interesting at first, but it contrasted too much with the melody.
7.) We Suck Young Blood:
Another song that felt too slow from Thom Yorke stretching notes. At times the clapping throughout the song was all together, and other times it was off-beat. Was looking forward to the song picking up with the middle but fell back into the slow melody.
8.) The Gloaming:
The beginning sounds like something in between shows on Adult Swim. Good background music.
9.) There, There:
I like this one. Its got the indie-rock sound with a little bit of grunge. Has the experimentation of sound that makes it a Radiohead song.
10.) I Will:
Wasn't feeling it.
11.) A Punch Up at a Wedding:
Good transition from last song to this one. I like this one. I wish this one had a little more variety to it. The melody lacked variety in the choruses. Even utilizing the additions at the end of the song in a verse or 2 would've made me like the song more.
12.) Myxomatosis:
I like the fat synths on this one. Reminds me of a Gary Numan song. I like the sound.
13.) Scatterbrain:
I like this one. The guitars on this one are nice. Pretty simple song on this one but still kept the Radiohead sound.
14.) A Wolf At the Door:
Almost sounds like The Pixies at times in this song. Can't make out if I like it or not. This is a darker arrangement but has good variety to it.
Well I wrote reviews for more than half the tracks that were witty, cunning, and downright sensational but forgot to save it. Essentially, it described this album as an example of Ella Fitzgerald's vocal capability and how she defined love ballads.
Covering this quantity of songs in an album would give a low rating since the experience to listen to all of it would be overbearing. But since this an Ella Fitzgerald album, I will give it a higher score. Not 5 stars though. If it was the Very Best album version that has a portion of these songs, I would give it a 5. But it is not.
I have listened to half of the songs on this album before and was excited to give it a full listen. I forgot how many songs had sad undertones to them, even the happier-themed ones.
1.) Start:
You game bro?
2.) Thinkin Bout You:
This is a great song, but it's a victim of pop culture with the Vine of the girl having a tomato spin on her ceiling fan. Great example of Frank Ocean's range.
3.) Fertilizer:
I like it. It's a small, experimental song that I kinda wish was longer.
4.) Sierra Leone:
Interesting song. Has a very casual love song sound, which fits the theme. Shows how Frank Ocean can make songs about heavier subjects like unexpected pregnancy and under a lighthearted, almost bubbly sound.
5.) Sweet Life:
One of my favorite songs on the album. Has a smooth sound with a good amount of variation. Great lyrics that visualize what a taste of another life out of reach looks like and its own limitations.
6.) Not Just Money:
Good interlude to fit between Sweet Life and Super Rich Kids with money and the excess of it being the theme.
7.) Super Rich Kids:
I do like this song and an Earl Sweatshirt feature. I know they don't sound the same but I always thought that Hotline Bling was inspired by the drum machine in the intro.
8.) Pilot Jones:
Was never a big fan of this one. Its good with an interesting sound but not my cup of tea.
9.) Crack Rock:
This one has grown on me since first listening. Great beat, and I like the heavier drum beat against the soft, slower-paced keyboard. Almost reminds me of Home is Where the Hatred Is by Gil Scott-Heron.
10.) Pyramids:
Not a big fan of this one. The synths can be a bit much at times, especially when first introducing them to the song. Too long with the repetitive lyrics. Wouldve skipped this one if I wasn't listening to the whole album. I do like the guitars at the end.
11.) Lost:
I like this one,. good melody with lighter beat used to hide the darker undertones of the lyrics.
12.) White:
I like this interlude. Heavy beat with light guitar picking.
13.) Monks:
Thought this was a song in honor of the fanbase of the hit 2000s comedy drama starring Tony Shalhoub. I like the mix of the bass and keyboard. Interesting symbolism for storytelling.
14.) Bad Religion:
Was never a fan of this one. Thought it was alright. Each part of the song is good just don't mix together nor contrast well. Would probably skip this song too.
15.) Pink Matter:
Always a fan of heavy bass and an Andre 3000 feature no matter how long it is. With both of them being elusive, they should do more together.
16.) Forrest Gump:
A good uplifting song. If the album didnt have the Start/End tracks to bookend the album, it wouldve been a great way to end the album.
17.) End:
Similar to Fertilizer where it teases songs that aren't on the album that I would like to hear more of.
Never heard of this album or artist before. I do like punk music but wouldn't listen to this many songs in a row from this era. I find it to be a bit repetitive in song structure. I will give them credit for having 17 songs on this album, most of them were under 2 mins. Also, didn't know Joan Jett produced this album.
1.) What We Do Is Secret:
If this is an indication of the rest of the album, I am going to struggle to make out the lyrics of this album this morning.
2.) Communist Eyes:
You know what it is? Its the Tasmanian Devil doing punk rock. I like it.
This is an interesting song because I never know which political ideology that punk follows, maybe besided anarchism, and here it outlines it that whether you take the good & bad of communism or capitalism, its a double-edged sword.
3.) Land of Treason:
I definitely needed lyrics up to make out the words.
4.) Richie Dagger's Crime:
I do like this one. It is a bit more upbeat and has a good bridge and a good bass line in the chorus.
5.) Strange Notres:
Shorter lyrics on this one. Kinda wish there was more to the guitar solo than letting it ring.
6.) American Leather:
High energy, really struggled to make out the lyrics on this one.
7.) Lexicon Devil:
Good guitar riff in the intro, similar to hair metal bands of the day. Faster pacing song. I imagine this would have been crazy to see live, wouldve been intense or everyone would be off-beat.
8.) Manimal:
Didn't like the holding notes for the chorus on this song. Sounds like someone trying to pass a kidney stone.
9.) Our Way:
This song is interesting cause it could be more prog rock than punk rock with the slower beat of it. You could convince me its a Captain Beefheart song.
10.) We Must Bleed:
Very repetitive. This one was either one minute or three minutes too long.
11.) Media Blitz:
I like the bridge on it. I would like it more if the singer wasn't off-beat on some lines. I also like the incorporation of broadcasts.
12.) The Other Newest One:
This one has an occurrence that comes up with punk music of this era. At times, there is weird accent that punk singers do. Another band that does it sometimes is the Cramps. Just a weird thought.
13.) Let's Pretend:
I like the drums on this one. Interesting song.
14.) Dragon Lady:
Looked up the meaning behind the song, cool little late 70s LA punk rock history.
15.) The Slave:
Cool guitar effect on this one.
16.) Shut Down (Annihilation Man):
O no, over 9 min song. Yea im gonna have to skip this one.
I've never listened to Jane's Addiction before. I started liking it but slowly felt repetative. I really don't like the lead singer's voice and it lends itself a lot to the repetition feeling.
1.) Up the Beach:
Not a beach tune. I like the little guitar lick in the intro, nice and simple. Was waiting for something more to come of it but once I realized it is an intro song for an album, I was here for it.
2.) Ocean Size:
This is the second song in a row that had a soft guitar riff followed by the entire band breaking in at the same time. It works, but if it keeps going throughout the song, it will get too repetitive. Not a bad song, its got easy lyrics and is a song for the band to have fun licks and riffs.
3.) Had a Dad:
Feels a little lackluster of a song with the lyrics. Could be summed up with dad gone, family in shambles.
4.) Ted, Just Admit It...:
This one is a heavier song. I do like how this one builds as the anger is rising on the song.
5.) Standing in the Shower...Thinking:
Weirdly enough, without the lyrics and a guitar solo, it could be a song by The Police. With the lyrics, it sounds like a song like they made while goofing around, almost like a Blink-182 song.
6.) Summertime Rolls:
Do like the guitar strumming with the drone sound in the background of the beginning. Its a fine song. Wasn't liking the harmony near the middle.
7.) Mountain Song:
Fine song. I know this was a new song but was feeling like the songs were repeating.
8.) Idiots Rule:
Liked that they added horns to this song to make it feel different but nothing else really stood out.
9.) Jane Says:
Jane of Jane's Addiction fame?! I actually don't mind this song. It's easy going for being a sadder song.
10.) Thank You Boys:
Sad that the song that I like the most is the interlude.
11.) Pigs in Zen:
Yea had to skip this one
I don't know why I've always tried to listen to as little Beck as possible, maybe cause he is(?)/was Scientologist. Overall, his music is enjoyable. Beck doesn't display much vocal range but rather a variation in composition and mixing.
1.) E-Pro:
Good thump to it. Good upbeat to it. Could see it being on a Fifa game soundtrack.
2.) Que Onda Guero:
I like this one. It's got an easy listen to it with the beat.
3.) Girl:
Wasn't a fan of the 8-bit intro. It has been a bit played out now but this was back in 2005 so it was probably trendy.
4.) Missing:
I like this one. Its almost has a samba/bossa nova undertone. The strings are a nice touch. Beck sounds almost sounds like Eddie Vedder at certain parts of this song.
5.) Black Tambourine:
Good bass-driven song. Nice distortion on the guitar. Kinda wish the chorus did a little more to build off the bass but I guess its going more in the direction blues.
6.) Earthquake Weather:
Interesting composition of the beat. I like the little guitar riff and how light it is and the synths contrasting. I like the bridge/outro of this song it almost reminds me of Khruangbin even though this is before their time.
7.) Hell Yes:
Not a fan of the spoken word style of this song. I know record scratching were still in style around this time but feels too dated. I do like the bass near the end but it was kinda drowned out by the call and response loop going on.
8.) Broken Drum:
This one was not too bad, just a little slow. Maybe if the repeating guitar riff was taken out for half of the song, it wouldn't make it have that feeling.
9.) Scarecrow:
The beginning before the vocals sounds like a copyright-free version of Thriller. I like the song. It kinda reminds me of Seagulls, Stop It Now.
10.) Go It Alone:
I like it. Has a good bassline. The na-na-na-na-na-na part reminds me of that Ed Sheeran song Don't. There is parts where it sounds like someone is talking in the background that throws me off.
11.) Farewell Ride:
This one didn't have much variety from lyrics and melody but still a fine song.
12.) Rental Car:
Didn't know he was a fan of The Yeah Yeah Yeahs. I like this one, it would be a song that I would listen to in a rental car. The bridge on this one was kinda cool. I like the almost acapella transition.
13.) Emergency Exit:
Fine, felt a little slow.
Full disclosure: I don't like Bruce Springsteen. I know Bruce Springsteen fans feel like this is in his top 3 albums, but I keep have trouble seeing it. He has some good songs but not enough for me to fully understand the hype. I tried going into this one unbiased but it got the better of me.
1.) Badlands:
He almost mumbles at times in this song and with the harmonizing on this one, he almost sounds like what I would imagine Dracula sounds like singing this song. Good horns.
2.) Adam Raised a Cain:
The beginning almost sounds like a Tom Petty song. Not bad, chorus has some energy behind it. Should play this in a Raising Cane's (I've only been in a Raising Cane's for less than 5 minutes because the guy ahead of me in line wanted to fight the cashier so it would fit in that situation).
3.) Something in the Night:
I like the piano intro in this song. I like the part break with the bass drum. Not a fan of him hollering at times in this song, sounds like Wario.
4.) Candy's Room:
Not a fan of this one. Weird exposition in the beginning.
5.) Racing in the Street:
Found this one to be too long. For a song about racing, it is pretty slow.
6.) The Promised Land:
Dracula is back and he's a racer. Especially when he says "blow away". Not bad story on this one. Don't mind the sax or the harmonica on this one.
7.) Factory:
Fine song, I don't know why I never liked his portrayal of blue collar work.
8.) Streets of Fire:
Another slow song that felt like it dragged on. Too much belting in the 2nd verse.
9.) Prove It All Night:
I did know this one before listening. Its a fine song. I feel like this would be someone's go-to karaoke song.
10.) Darkness On the Edge of Town:
Fine song, alright as an album-ending song.
