I still think that Eleanor Rigby gets way too much credit, but there's plenty of good stuff (and Yellow Submarine) that makes up for it despite a couple of other duds (Taxman and Dr Robert? Don't hate them but not great maybe). I always like The Beatles more than I think I will, this album was no exception. Would listen to again, favourite tracks were 'Here, There And Everywhere' and 'Good Day Sunshine'.
Melodrama just about covers it. Lyrically very uninteresting, pretty laughable in spots - 'hard feelings' really made me giggle. You can see where Olivia Rodrigo gets it. I went in pretty optimistic given the very positive coverage Lorde has got but this did nothing for me, preoccupied with uninteresting teenage drama (kissing is really quite something apparently) but she sings nicely at least. I suppose it's deliberate, given the name? But it's not funny or musically interested enough to carry the cringeworthy content. I didn't enjoy this and I won't be coming back for a second listen, but maybe it's not supposed to be for me. Sorry Lorde.
I'd not heard of this artist before and had no expectations going in. Really liked it, fun sound, very enjoyable to listen to. Definitely coming back for more.
I've never been drawn to grunge, I've never really listened to Nirvana before, outside of knowing the more famous songs. I was pretty disappointed, this did very little for me. I didn't enjoy Kurt's singing, the music felt very dreary to me. I know I'm in the minority here but I just didn't like it. I went back and listened to part of the album again, it was less boring to me the second time, saving it from 1 star, but still not something I'll be coming back to.
Relentlessly maudlin. Technically competent is the nicest thing I can say about it. Really made me appreciate Nirvana, about the only thing that could have made the Unplugged album seem interesting and varied.
I might have to accept that I actually really like The Beatles. This was great fun, it is a rightly lauded album that I'd go back to.
John Lennon shouldn't have been let near anything resembling blues. I listened to this twice to make sure I wasn't being contrarian but I think this is all sort of...bad. The song 'Imagine' can just do one, always hated that patronising dirge. Not sure what's going on with the horns on 'It's so hard', and the production on 'I don't wanna be a solider mama' is really odd, it's like it was mixed from the bottom of a well. And the whistling on 'Jealous Guy' is really irritating. Picks up a bit in the second half (How do you sleep) but then hits you with 'Oh Yoko', which makes the rest of the album seem lyrically interesting. 2 stars feels very generous, but, it is objectively better than Trafalgar by the Bee Gees.
Not a jazz fan and didn't go in with much in the way of expectations but I genuinely loved this.
I’m a sucker for this stuff, very much enjoyed listening to this.
Tedious provincial-dad guitar wanking. Another album that felt a billion years long. I was sort of coping until "Do you feel like we do", which was truly interminable. This is already a lot of words for an album that offers absolutely nothing of interest, it's too dull to even hate properly.
No-one will believe me that, despite a deep sense of foreboding, I didn’t want to assume this album would be a generic, grating, uninspiring experience. Maybe Coldplay aren't all that bad, I don't have to regurgitate the negativity that gets splattered all over this band. Let me tell you, Chris Martin and Co didn’t disappoint. It’s nearly replete with low-energy guitars minced over basic lyrics delivered in a way that is both, magically, tortured and boring. The songs admittedly tell some sort of story sometimes, but perhaps one found in a book at the bottom of one of those wire bins in an abandoned WH Smith inside a condemned airport.
I don’t know what I expected, but I still don’t get it, I think this is all very very dull. Saving graces are that Martin does have a recognisable voice and the song Trouble is almost pretty good. Somehow, I don’t think this deserves one star, I do believe Coldplay are really trying here but I’m not sure what they’re trying for.
"And the spies came out of the water
But you're feeling so bad 'cause you know
That the spies hide out in every corner
But you can't touch them, no
'Cause they're all spies"
Yeah, I guess. Cool thoughts you have Chris.
I’ve never listened to a metal album before and I can’t say I’ve been convinced to listen to more of them. None of this is serious, right? I didn’t hate this like I thought I might, it was fine, but the whole sound is just not for me. Whoooo, the devil, oh no, it’s all very scary and edgy, not satan. I could maybe stretch to 3/5 but I was getting a bit impatient for it to finish towards the end. Music made for other people.
The popularity of this album makes sense to me, but, if I can continue being pretentious; it’s fundamentally uninteresting and I strongly suspect that it’s only value is for people with nostalgia for a time before they developed taste. Or those that arrested their development at that point.
There’s not much to explicitly hate but there’s also not much to like. It’s extremely bland for the most part (indie Coldplay?), the singles were the singles for a reason. Where this strays from being boring, I found it annoying, which might be largely due to the singing. The elephant on the album is THAT SONG, maybe the most overplayed song in history. I'm not going to write about THAT SONG, just send a silent prayer out to the universe that we let it die, I never, never need to hear THAT SONG again.
Somebody else should have been in charge of selecting the keyboard sounds, they nearly all sound perfectly silly, and this band seems like they take themselves very seriously. I don’t though. I thought I’d be more worked up about this album but you can ignore most of it even when it’s directly in your ear. Deeply unchallenging and joyless.
I tried, but this really isn’t for me. Even if a 1 second song is pretty funny.
Celtic influenced and folky, a solid album.
This album is fine, it was interesting to listen to something with influence entirely different from what I would typically lean towards. Saying that, it didn't really excite me and I can't say I'm interested in hearing it again. It's fine. Didn't appreciate being blind sided by an 'Imagine' cover though, woof, that really took me out of it. 2.5/5.
I was pleasantly surprised by this album. I haven't historically enjoyed hearing Adele on the radio, and her style of singing doesn't really appeal to me. But this is pretty good. It's nice to listen to, with catchy, soulful elements that I didn't expect. Not sure I'd listen to it again, but it's a very solid album. Even 'Someone like you' didn't actually annoying me. I am very surprised but I must be honest about it - it's pretty good! Particularly enjoyed 'Rumour has it' and 'I'll be waiting'.
As a enormous Elvis Costello fan I recognise that my opinion might be unrepresentative, but this is an easy 5/5 for me. I think this is one of the best albums made with the Attractions. I've listened to it a million times and will listen a million more.
Another album that neither excited nor offended me. Cool to listen to something different to what I usually go for but probably not something I'd return to.
I was pretty excited to get this one, I like the Beastie Boys a lot (though not made it through the entire catalogue). This contains some true classics and is very fun and enjoyable if (and only if) you're into the BB schtick. I am, this is great, even if it doesn't quite reach the heights of later efforts.
A band that I was too snobbish to listen to as a teenager but thought I might quite like. This was underwhelming for me, catchy hooks but didn't leave too much of an impression otherwise. I enjoyed it enough, wouldn't be upset to hear it again but won't be rushing back for a listen.
Slightly better and more enjoyable than expected! I'd struggle to give it more than 3, but it wasn't bad if you enjoy a very particular 80's sound (though this is much earlier than I thought it was released).
Another good album that I enjoyed but don’t have a strong urge to return to. Pleasant psychedelic(ish) 60s rock. Stand out is easily ‘Time of the Season’ which is a really great song.
I liked this but not that much. Felt pretty middle of the road for the most part, pleasant enough but not especially exciting.
Going in I felt there was a chance I’d like this. But no. The highs (mainly ‘Roadtripping’) are not high enough to rescue this. Iffy lyrics throughout, a really annoying guitar sound and way, way too long. This is a long album and it feels it. Couple of enjoyable moments save this from 1 star but I was
Very underwhelmed.
Always concerned that I’m going to be slapped in the face by a million over-played Queen songs that I can’t stand but this at least doesn’t have any of those. Some more fun glam rock stuff and a weird fantasy theme so make this alright but it’s still extremely ‘Queen’
Really enjoyed the instrumentation and production, can't say that the lyrical content or overall effect moved me much, though I would consider listening to it again to see if I enjoy it more. Not in love with this but far from hated it. 'Lunch' is easily the stand-out on the album.
The first listen sort of washed over me and didn’t leave much of an impression either way, so I listened again (paying a bit more attention) but the sensation remained. I’m not sure I could pick out the songs on this album (Sunday Bloody Sunday excluded) if they were played for me again. Largely inoffensive and without impact, which is odd given the subject matter.
I’ve listened to a fair few tracks by The Smiths but not sure I’ve ever listened to an album all the way through. Really enjoyed it, even though Morrissey is a knob. Girlfriend in a Coma, Unhappy Birthday and A Rush and A Push and The Land is Ours all brilliant, already listened to the album again.
I really hated this. I thought the lyrics were highly embarrassing, the sort of thing I'd have written as a poem for an English assignment at school, aged 12 - Iooking straight at you 'Glamour Boys'; which is where I decided to score this album punitively. 'What's your favourite color?' didn't improve my opinion, which was honestly pretty sour from the get-go because the production on this is awful, so glossy and sterile to my ear. This heaping pile of tedium is topped off by a singing voice that I simply do not enjoy and some guitar-wanking that is probably generic at best.
Best wishes to the folks with more developed taste than me that feel this is brilliant, please put me first up against the wall when the revolution comes.
