1001 Albums Summary

Some very fresh, jangly-sounding guitar work which was later copied by legions of inferior indie bands. The lyrics are by turns witty and pretentious. Feel I would have enjoyed it more as a teenager.

The cliche 'stripped back' comes to mind. Drake sings softly over his own guitar. I loved this album. A very Cohenesque type of melancholy, and some lovely imagery throughout. Each song is a gentle tragedy. His songs are not just rambles or excuses for poetry, however - each has a distinct musical identity and a graceful, folksy sense of melody.

Burke has a glorious baritone voice. By turns controlled, then exploding, bursting in despair; rich, then shaky. Lyrically, the album is squarely focused on love's despair - the despair when love is going well, and when love is over. Musically, the drums and piano plonk in compound time, the connecting tissue to squelchy guitar, horn parps, and a thick, billowy cloud of backing vocals.

Sweet, but disposable

Each song has such a incredible groove - the backing band (piano, keyboards, guitar, bass, drums) is so in the pocket, yet matches Joplin's irrepressible vocal energy throughout. And what a voice. By turns sweet then ferocious, controlled then ecstatic. It is not just one explosion throughout. She knows exactly what she is doing, going soft and restrained then shredding her voice a moment later, choosing the right approach for each song and individual lyric. An astonishingly dynamic blues voice. Loved it.

Probably as good as the synth-schlock of the 80s is going to get.

Aside from the iconic title track, the rest was less memorable.

Really enjoyed - very gritty, very cool. Felt like a gangster whilst listening. Will no doubt return whilst driving through white bread suburbia.

Beep beep, beep, beep, meep, squeak, beep, beep, beep, whee!

Beatles-esque art pop. A very warm production with an impressive wall-of-sound orchestral sound. The singer has a rich baritone.

Often described as Paul's peak post Beatles - I personally prefer, RAM. Nonetheless, an exuberant, insanely melodic and diverse album.

Very nerdy, reminds me of Devo and therefore of my father. A twitchy, bespectacled album

Perhaps I am not a punk rocker.

First doesn't always mean best - but it must have blown their minds in the 60s.

So smooth, silky smooth. Smooth like silk.

A strong album, very moving at times, but I am simply not in the mood for the Radiohead brand of depressive melancholy at the moment.