It's just all so twee, isn't it? Maybe it would be different if I was there when it happened, but the whole album just feels like The Beatles/Who/Kinks-lite. "We have psychedelic 60's rock at home" kinda vibe. I did like the more pastoral songs. like "Lazy Sunday". It felt more like they were in their element experimenting with light hearted parochial British sounds and themes. God the narration parts in the second half of the album just went on and on and on...
With a voice startlingly like Gordon Gano of the Violent Femmes and a lyricism reminding me of a nicer, more emo Lou Reed, this album surprised me. The first track really brought me in, the languid vocals and spare instrumentation. But most of the album sort of shuffled by me, it felt like it was missing some spark to really bring it all together. All around though, a decent album that I didn't get too bored of.
Choice Cuts - "The Whole of the Law", "The Immortal Story"
Not as good as Pure Heroine, in this reviewers humble opinion, but it holds up. Lorde just can't help but be very distinctive in her pop-girl persona. And that identity shines through her music. Never a dull moment on this album. My main complaint would be the melodrama of it all, but I can't exactly fault her for that can I?
Choice Cuts - 'Sober', 'Perfect Places', 'Green Light'
Great Lyric Mention: "We're the greatest/they'll hang us in the Louvre. Down the back/but who cares/still the Louvre"
The rhythm guitar plays the same 3-4 licks and rhythms throughout, while the lead sometimes makes some interesting sounds sometimes. The singer needs to stop trying to make his voice gritty and gravelly, its not working, it sounds terrible, please. The drummer and bassist are tight, slick, and pretty unremarkable throughout. Same goes for the songs themselves. Slick production, some interesting twists in some of the songs, but overall very samey overall. Except for the second half of 'Misbeaten', when the band briefly breaks out of their hard rock box and temporarily become the Beach Boys.
Choice cuts - 'Misbeaten', 'Young Livers', 'Used'
An exceptionally mid album. There's nothing outwardly good, or bad about it. Production is slick and the band is tight, there's even some interesting chord changes here and there! But it all adds up to a very unexceptional album. Some cool breakdowns/bridges. Feels like an album I'd have listened to in middle school before I discovered cooler music.
Choice Cuts - 'Everything Must Go', 'The Girl Who Wanted to Be God'
Turns out, I like Elvis!! Who knew?? The energy of his performances om this album really made clear to me why Elvis is considered such a legend. And I knew he had pipes but woo-ey! That boy can sing. Some real Melodrama(foreshadowing) on some of the tracks, like In The Ghetto and Don't Cry Daddy, but it feels par for the course for that era of music and his performances are just flawless every time.
Choice Cuts: 'Wearin' That Loved On Look', 'I'm Movin' On', 'I'll Hold You In My Heart(Till I Can Hold You In My Arms)
This is an album in two parts. In one corner we have arguably one of the most notable and well-known songs in Rock N' Roll history. The Song.
In the other corner, a handful of very prettily performed, quiet folk songs(and one familiar-sounding rock n' roller). Old Don's voice is absolutely beautiful. It's like he can't hit a wrong note, and he's so darned expressive and unique with his phrasing. However, the songs that are *not* The Song, sort of drag after a while. Lot's of very similar, pretty, acoustic guitar/piano pieces.
I would give this a 3, but The Song bumps it up an entire grade.
Choice Cuts - THE SONG, "Till Tomorrow", "Winterwood"
Shockingly not absolutely insufferable, only mildly insufferable. It was a nice album to zone out to in traffic, but otherwise I remember nothing of it other than a riff or two.
Choice Cuts - 'Shakermaker', 'Married With Children'
I don't know what I was expecting from this album. As someone who has heard my uncle talk about how important and great and life-changing The Band are, I was at least expecting something interesting. But really it just sounded like some blues dudes doing country rock, and bored me quite a bit. Maybe you had to be there to understand the importance, maybe I'm just not a country rock kinda guy. I like them better when they Bob Dylan is singing.
Choice Cuts - 'Chest Fever', 'This Wheel's On Fire'