First two notes was all it took. What an album. Smooth voice. Lyrics. All of it. What a way to start this journey.
Already had Northern Sky downloaded but we miss out on so much with the absence of records that we listened to grove to groove. Has a bit of a Rodrigues vibe; orchestration is delicious.
Released about two weeks after a loved one died. Makes ‘I could have been’ a bit sad and sorry to listen to, and somewhat tragic when finding out that this remarkable self-taught young Englishman was himself dead four years later.
Triggers a summer of witnessing a teenaged friend slip into depression. We had so few albums so we listened to this one over and over. Listening to it now, a few songs are decent, others just sound like Morrison is an aging lounge act, drunk and lacking energy. Saw his grave in Paris with same depressed friend a few years later. The whole thing now gives me the ick.
Listened to the full album but didn’t realize I was on track 6 before figuring out I’d heard them all the first time around. Everything sounds the same, but in this era, the songs were all about dancing—course you’d just want them to just keep swinging with your partner from one tune to the next. Sinatra’s voice is like another instrument in the band, not forced, not overtaking, just included.
Around and around the floor you go, oh fox-trotting fiends of the post-war baby boom begetting generation!
If you’ve ever painted with watercolours, you’ll know that the outcome is about timing and the right amount of saturation of keep colours true—too much pigment mixing with too much water and you’ll end up with mud. This album is 11 tracks of mud. Who can hear the strings in the background over the whacking drums, and that’s before you mix in Adele’s overstretched voice. There is nothing subtle here.
I really want to like this--I mean, come on, it’s Adele, but she sounds like a kid learning to play the clarinet: Too much air and then, cracks and screeches that make your molars ache.
In the spirit of 1001 albums, listened to the whole thing. Would I do that again? Nope, but have at it if you like the idea of juvenile gangsta Beavis and Butt-Head.
A reminder to listen to more Snoop.
First album I bought with hard-earned babysitting money. I still have it and still know all the lyrics to every single song. So many times you’d never hear if you didn’t listen to the entire thing. Some a bit weak…well, honestly many more than just some.
Listening to it, I wonder who has the harder job--Bernie or Elton? Title song earns a 5, Dirty little girl a 1. Album overall, middle of the road: 3
Album demonstrates that Bruce really needs the E Street Band to keep things interesting. This one is as monotonous and uneventful as a drive across…Nebraska.
Was super stoked to listen to this one thinking it was A Tribe Called Red. Would I listen again—yeah, maybe when I need some motivating beats and just ordinary, lyrics that aren’t offensive m-fing misogynistic. Overall fun and nice to be taken out of my usual genre.
The harmonies are Monkees and Mama & Papas familiar, maybe, but just trying too hard. Overall, nothing particularly memorable or remotely trilling.
Plus ça change—lyrics and themes that resonate today. Nothing more to be said for this one.
Feel like there are likely boxes of unsold CDs in some hopeful and indulgent parent’s basement.
It’s like the Doors, except by comparison, Jim Morrison sounds sober and clean. Need to jump into the reviews on this one to see if there are any five star —nay, even one star—in an attempt to understand anything positive about this album.
There are two memorable lines from this album that I carry with me from the year it was released: ‘Losing love is like a window in your heart; everybody sees you’re blown apart’ & ‘she calls herself a human trampoline’.
It was great in 1984 and it’s still great. Pop or blusey, I feel his more heartfelt songs are more sincere.
It’s the 70’s version of Frank Sinatra’s Songs for Swingin’ Lovers. Great sounds, instrumentation and a beat that just keeps going from one to the next—keep on dancing sexy, sweaty Band Stand generation. Instant Luther Vandross recognition.
Love the 80s and this is so that. Boys. Synth. Head nodding drums and a 4-string king. It was a good decade.
I try to like the Beatles but they weren’t my generation and maybe because they had morphed into terrible solo bands like Wings, I just find them boring. Lazy triad harmonies and John Lennon’s strident nasal voice overpowering everyone else. Despite that, lots of singalong songs because they’re so familiar and the inclusion of a sitar means I can understand the attraction for listeners in the 60s.
I really like Leonard Cohen, poet. His voice is so young here and without the rasp of decades of smoking. Was odd, at first.
A yawnfest of same old 80s techno band stuff. Did they just all use the same drum track?
Appreciate his influence. Fun and quick listen.
That was a wild and unpredictable ride. Overall I really liked it. One of the better ones, so far.
Not generally a fan of live recordings but this delight was intimate and as close to being there as possible. Sarah Vaughan’s voice and impromptu humour was lovely.
Brutal indeed.
Listening to REM requires a commitment to Michael Stipes voice. Like the Hip and Gord Downey. I can’t do it for long before everything sounds the same.
Mono was a good reminder of how stereo changed listening. Also the orchestration was great and something I’d forgotten. Overall really enjoyed this one.
Tedious.
Nope, again
Twice now with a tribe called quest. 2x the underwhelm.
Talent and clearly not a one hit wonder. A welcome album after a die too many duds.
Two in a row. Come on. This is painful.
No notes
Feel like I should like this more but it’s repetitive sprinkled with a couple of familiar one hit wonder songs.
Love an album with great and complicated melodies and ballads that tell a story.
Adam Sandler SNL song days. Dumb lyrics worse sound. Waste of time.
I can get behind this album because of Waylon Jenning’s voice but the melodies are humdrum country and the lyrics…does everything need to start with ‘way down someplace’? Moderately better than the last stretch of albums so will give this a 2.
Not usually a fan of live recordings but this was such a slice of history.
Would give a zero if possible. Didn’t listen and won’t listen to this.
Love it. And her.
Creative but a great deal of breathy angst and self doubt makes it hard to listen after the first few songs.
Kinda fun. Not distractionary. Felt like I was at a cocktail bar.
If we made this 500 albums, this one should be included.
An hour of the same beat and record scratching. Ugh.
