Embarrassingly I’ve never listened to any Isley Brothers before (except for Summer Breeze, which before yesterday I couldn’t have told you was them). This was an effortlessly cool album. I’m the least cool person I know, but feel cooler for listening to it.
Highlights: Some voice! Epic guitar riffs that make you want to dance. Sexiest break up song I’ve ever heard (You Walk Your Way).
Lowlights: Some questionable lyrics in That Lady. Don’t love the fade outs.
Top tunes: That Lady, Don’t Let Me Be Lonely Tonight, obviously Summer Breeze.
3.5
I was excited for this as listened to a lot of The Cure but never this album in its entirety. Overall, don’t think it is my favourite album of theirs, but it still made me wish I’d been alive at a time I could have danced to this in a club. I unashamedly grinned while listening to most of it, despite its sad moody topics. And it has one of my favourite songs of all time on it - The Forest. Literally time travelled back to being 17 for 5 minutes while that played!
Highlights: I love it when an album is a complete “piece” with intro, interval tracks, songs mixed - makes it a performance and I loved that. Will never be able to fault guitars and bass on a record by The Cure - pure 80s perfection.
Lowlights: The Cure are too good to end a track on a fade out!
Top tunes: Play for today and THE FOREST - I mean everything about this track is awesome.
Rating: 3.5
I was excited for today’s album having bought this when it came out and enjoyed it a lot. However, listening to it in its entirety in my mid-thirties has not been the same experience. Can’t deny it’s an insane debut album and the writing is clever - mundane events become hilarious anecdotes, and I feel like being both witty and honest is a quality you don’t hear in a lot of song lyrics today. However, listening now i can’t get past some of the misogynistic lines, which sucks.
On this listen I found the upbeat tunes a bit samey - like slight alterations of the same thing. Possibly a symptom of listening to them a lot, but just don’t feel the tunes hit as hard as they used to (or maybe I’m just getting old).
Overall I think it is a good album from this time and a cracking debut - I think that’s why it made this list, but not sure it’s a “classic”.
Highlights: Cracking album opener! Love the complexity of all the musical parts - you can listen to each section individually and it stands strong alone, yet still works brilliantly together as one.
Lowlights: 99% of the album just describes a night out on a northern high street in the 2000s, and looking back (as a northerner) in my mid-thirties it just sounds bloody grim 😂
Top tunes: The view from the afternoon, Red light indicates doors are secured
Rating: 2.5
I’ve never loved The Beatles, but admittedly have only heard the famous stuff so sitting and listening to a whole album was an overdue experience.
I really like the guitars on this album and they definitely made me sit up and listen properly from track one. The Beatles are awesome at harmonising and didn’t disappoint, and I loved the genre mixing - bit of folk in there, classic rock n roll elements, Motown in places, then country!
I found Nowhere Man a really interesting listen. I felt it captured modern life today exceptionally well for a song written in the 60s. Almost found it eerie that it could have been written today.
I liked that the songs were short and snappy, but felt 14 songs was a lot and was ready to have a change by the end.
Run For Your Life was where it fell off a cliff for me. Was going to give this album a higher rating but then this misogynistic drivel popped up. Seems completely at odds with “The Beatles” you’re presented in music history!
Highlights: I loved McCartney’s and Starr’s voices on this album - it has opened my eyes and made me realise it might be Lennon I don’t get, rather than The Beatles as a whole?! Really liked the vibe on What Goes On and The Word.
Lowlights: Girl was a complete whiny flop and that noise he makes when he breaths in makes my teeth on edge. Run for your life - WTF.
Top tracks: Drive My Car, The Word, What Goes On
Rating: 2.5
Oh my goodness, what a find. Very grateful to the generator for introducing me to Nick Drake. A gorgeous, endearing voice that made me constantly want to lean in to hear more. Heartbreakingly this warmth was in contrast to the sadness clearly felt by ND as we hear in the lyrics. Parasite stood out painfully in that regard, and was a hard listen when contrasted with the beauty of this music. But then I adored the hopeful ending in From The Morning.
I found myself smiling more with each song, and this will definitely be added to my most played list. I expect to have some profound moments in the future listening to this and I can’t wait.
If I’m honest, I think I would have been a bit in love with Nick Drake if I’d been alive in the early 70s.
Highlights: I loved the simplicity of just a guitar and a voice, paired with gorgeous imagery in the lyrics. ND’s guitar playing is beautiful and almost lullaby-like at times, with stand out moments on Horn, Know and Road.
Lowlights: I listened twice and struggled when the album was background music. I can see why those who didn’t listen intently missed the point.
Top Tunes: Road, Which Way, Know, From the Morning
Rating: 4
I didn’t expect to know as many songs as I did on this album, and didn’t know they were Billy Joel. There were some great moments across the album, and I can appreciate that this is musically brilliant and great song writing. However, it wasn’t really my style overall.
I really liked the story in The Stranger and Movin’ Out and they really hooked me in. But I found the rest of the album more background music - ironically would be great in an Italian restaurant. Listened to it a couple of times but sadly that didn’t change my thoughts.
Highlights: Really like his voice, and the piano is, of course, wonderful. Especially liked his voice on The Stranger.
Lowlights: Found some of the slower songs a bit cheesy/crooner-esque, and wasn’t a fan of the accordion use - made me feel like I was in Lady & the Tramp 😂
Top tunes - Movin’ Out - thought this was a banger!
Rating: 2.5
Overall I haven’t got a lot to say about this album - it was just a bit flat. I kept waiting for it to kick in, but sadly just found myself wanting to skip songs to get to the good bit that didn’t come. In all honesty I’m not sure I’ve been able to tell the difference between songs.
I think this is a “had to be there album” and if you were coming of age in the 90s or listened during some life changing event it’s probably brilliant, but for me it just sounds like good background music for a scene in American Pie 😂
Highlights: Like the guitars overall with some nice rock melodies.
Lowlights: A very average example of early 90s rock, sadly nowhere near as good as their peers.
Top tunes: Mrs Robinson - shame it’s not originally theirs!
Rating: 1.5
Listened to this album a couple of times and it definitely had me tapping my feet, but not sure it went beyond good background music. It had some great guitars but it just didn’t quite reach the heights of similar music from this time.
Highlights: The guitars were great and I enjoyed the multi voices on some tracks.
Lowlights: Nothing really stood out, not unpleasant but not wow.
Top tunes: Silver Raven and Strength of Strings
Rating: 2
Another band I’ve never heard of, but was immediately taken by the album artwork. I liked a lot of the guitar on this album, and there were some great little stories told throughout - glad I’m not called Emily though! There were some stand out moments which I loved, like the verses in Changes, but was disappointed that this didn’t come to much and always reverted back to harmonising, 60s generic style.
I definitely think listening to Tony Blackburn every Saturday morning has helped me not hate this album 😂 I wouldn’t say I was a fan of most 60s music but he’s certainly educated me slightly to appreciate the good parts of this album.
Highlights: Although a grim song and not one I’d class as a favourite, I thought Butchers Song really stood out from the rest of the album. Heart-wrenching and gruesome lyrics, but a captivating story and really different musically from the rest of the album. More of this depth would have been great.
Lowlights: Overall I did find the album a bit samey - lots of 60s harmonising and at times a bit boring.
Top tunes: Changes, This will be our year
Rating: 2
I’ve never really been a huge Springsteen fan. I always felt like he’s someone you’d adore if you’d grown up listening to him, but my family were never fans. The title track didn’t really change this view for me, but from Working on the Highway onwards I enjoyed the album far more than I expected!
What I enjoyed the most is that for the first time I listened properly to the lyrics and actually discovered that Springsteen is not the MAGA American I thought he was (I know all the Springsteen fans are infuriated I ever thought this!) I was really taken by some of his words, and deep dived more into his political history and views and was completely blown away. What a bloody great guy!
I’ll be listening to more Springsteen to educate my musical knowledge for sure.
And I couldn’t stop thinking the whole way through…I bet he’s awesome live!
Highlights: Some awesome guitar riffs (bass especially!) and a brilliant voice.
Lowlights: Sometimes the country-rock vibes just went a bit far for me - Darlington County was the low point for me.
Top Tunes: Working on the Highway, Downbound Train, Dancing in the Dark
Rating: 3
I’d heard of Public Enemy but to my knowledge haven’t heard any of their songs before. I really enjoyed this album overall! It had such a nostalgic feel to it despite never hearing it before. I feel like so many artists today have been inspired by these tunes so maybe that’s what got me.
Another album with an intro track which I loved! I thought the overall pacing of the album was good with the live interludes, long and short songs, and the instrumental track. Loved the samples, and was playing “guess where I’ve heard this before” as I’m sure a lot of their tunes have been sampled elsewhere.
Bring the Noise was a great introduction to Public Enemy and instantly it was obvious they had a lot to say. What’s devastating is a lot of their social commentary still rings true today and you wonder how the hell things haven’t changed. Show’em Watcha Got felt like a bit of a call to action in that regard and loved the build up of it.
Highlights: A lot of banging tunes that would sound awesome turned up in the car! And I love a nostalgic record scratch effect 😉
Lowlights: Some of the tunes were a bit samey in places and at times blurred into each other - I blame the fade outs 😂
Top tunes: Bring The Noise, Terminator X, Show’em Watcha Got
Rating: 3.5
My goodness I think this has been the most disappointing album yet! I was very excited for a Rolling Stones album as haven’t listened to very much at all, and the opening track blew me away! Absolutely brilliant!
What happened then?! I don’t think I could even pick out a song after that. All very samey, full of misogynistic lyrics, and nothing really stood out at all. I liked some of the more bluesy elements and a bit of harmonica brightened it up in places.
Highlights: Paint It, Black - everything about this was a banger. Awesome voice, drums, guitars. Wish there had been more of this as I loved it.
Lowlights: 11-minute finale track. It has to be my FAVE bands for this to even be considered as acceptable 😂
Top tunes: Paint It, Black
Rating: 1.5 and that’s purely for Paint It, Black.
I’m not really sure what to say about this album if I’m completely honest. I feel like I was high listening to someone enacting a musical while they were high. And at one point I thought I’d accidentally started playing my toddlers playlist when the farm yard animals chimed in. Basically I don’t think I got it at all 😂
I think there’s perhaps a lot of context to this album that I don’t have a clue about, and if other reviews and critics are anything to go by then I think if you understood the background you’d appreciate this album more.
It can’t be denied that the harmonies in this album are brilliant. And at times I do really like his voice. Not sure about his need to use every instrument ever created (I’m sure I even heard a rainmaker at one point and I didn’t know they existed outside of school music class).
An experience, for sure!
Highlights: Although not my vibe, I quite liked the “performance” of the whole album. It felt like an entire story and I wish more albums did that.
Lowlights: I don’t think I had a clue what was going on!
Top tracks: Good Vibrations, parts of Heroes and Villains, and for tripping vibes Wind Chimes
Rating: 1.5 because I don’t know what happened for 50mins of my life 😂
Another artist I have heard of but never actually listened to… and I’ve been missing out! I really enjoyed my first Neil Young experience and will definitely be listening again.
I feel like one of my favourite albums, Plans by Death Cab for Cutie, was heavily influenced by NY and was really struck by similar aspects in this album. It’s always good to hear the “first”!
I loved NY’s voice and its unusual sound. Matched with great guitars, and some very cinematic-style tracks it was very captivating.
I honestly enjoyed every track on this album for one reason or another and feel very late to the NY party! Looking forward to listening to more (apparently he’s the godfather of grunge so I’m excited to hear that segway!)
Highlight: NY’s gorgeous tenor voice that at times is ethereal, matched with great lyrics, harmonica and guitars. Gorgeous!
Lowlights: I don’t know why fade outs were ever popular.
Top tracks: Man needs a Maid, Heart of gold, Needle and the Damage Done.
Rating: 4
Great to have a female in this list at last! The first of many I hope 🤞
Overall Dusty’s style isn’t my thing, and it took me a couple of listens to warm up to the album. There’s no denying she has a wonderful voice, and I can imagine quite a stage presence. I found a lot of the lyrics quite basic and not super engaging - apart from Windmills of Your Mind. That was a stand out track for me!
I also cannot believe Dusty is British! Been conned my whole life!!!
Not my fave by far, but a chilled listen nonetheless.
Highlights: A beautiful voice to introduce me to the Swingjng Sixties.
Lowlights: Land of Make Believe - felt too high for her voice and really forced. AND THE FADE OUTS.
Top tracks: So Much Love, The Windmills of Your Mind
Rating: 2.5
I’ve never really been a Prince fan and it’s taken a lot to pluck up the motivation to listen to this album I’m afraid.
It goes without saying that Prince has an incredible voice, a captivating stage presence and is an all round enigma. Making him superstar-worthy. But sadly his vibe is just not my thing 😔
I really liked the album art, and some of the synths reminded me of early Depeche Mode which I really liked - especially Delirium and Let’s Pretend We’re Married.
Highlights: The range of that voice!
Lowlights: how is every song sooooo loooooong!
Top Tracks: In all honesty a lot of them blurred together, but International Lover stood out.
Rating: 2
What a nice change of pace from the generator! I loved the “Sunday morning coffee in the sun” vibes (although maybe biased as we do love a bit of jazz in our kitchen on a Sunday!)
This album feels effortlessly romantic - there’s just something about jazz that makes normal life feel a little bit more magical, and this is jazz at its technical best.
Like a lot of classical jazz, all the songs sort of merge together for me a bit and not sure I could pick out a song. But I almost quite like that. It’s not an album I’d put on all the time, but has its place and it sits perfectly in it.
Highlights: Exquisite musicianship, even more so being a live album which I liked a lot. I loved the obvious demonstration of improvisation with all the different takes, and really makes you appreciate how talented this trio are.
Lowlights: A bit more same-y than modern jazz, and there was a fade out! But a live one, so almost quite cool…!
Top tracks: Honestly it all blurs into one song with different movements so I can’t pick one!
Rating: 3.5
