I really enjoyed the production and the beats and samples used on this album. I’m not massively familiar with Kendrick Lamar and I’m beginning to understand the hype. I’m not sure if this is his debut, but there was some very strong thought that I might revisit in the future.
Decent. I never liked Arcade Fire at the time but I particularly enjoyed the melodies on the first track. My tastes have changed and I have more time for them now. Will listen again.
found it mostly boring after the first three tracks, which are u2 staples and fantastic. I think there’s a relatability to 1-3 lacking in the rest.
The humbler beginnings of huge bands are usually far superior to me and this is no exception.
It’s a genre that I’m still exploring and getting a feel for. The creativity of the beats and samples are what really strike me in each composition. As for the vocals and lyrics, I'm pretty far removed culturally but I recognise a lot of famous lines and think the production and craft is excellent. I’m keen to become more familiar and was already aware of the iconic Fight The Power. The album has a few standout tracks between the ones that sounded a little more “samey” to me.
Solid album. His songs all feel very Lennon / McCartney esque which is a good thing. Will definitely revisit this one.
I enjoyed this way more than Joshua Tree. I know it’s more poppy but it has much more interesting production and energy about the music.
This album is excellent from start to finish and offers lots of different colours and vibes. I knew the hits but have never listened to a full album. Excellent production. Some very poppy and others more dark and avant garde!
This just doesn’t resonate with me at all. I can appreciate it on an artistic level but I have absolutely no desire to come back to it. I’m currently waiting for it to end. Maybe someday I’ll have time for dreary folk rock. After it ended Spotify played another of their tracks which was better than this whole album.
This has been my favourite hip hop pick yet from this list. I like how provocative it is. I’m
Enjoying the vibe more. I guess I’m starting to develop more of a taste for the genre, for which I’m thankful to this process! Recognised the When The Levee Breaks Led Zeppelin drum sample too.
It was okay. Decent background music. Wouldn’t say there was a standout track as I can’t really remember any. Short album too.
I enjoyed this one from start to finish. There’s enough variation between tracks without straying too far from their sound. Some huge hits. Still sounds great and exciting.
Interesting album. I mainly know Randy Newman through Toy Story and a handful of other film soundtracks, so this was quite a departure!
Obviously, some of the lyrics are pretty shocking by today’s standards, particularly the racial slurs, which I imagine Newman himself would be unlikely to use if he were writing it today. But I think dismissing the album as simply racist misses something important about his approach to songwriting.
His lyrics are often character-driven, adopting the perspectives of deeply flawed people rather than necessarily expressing his own views. I somehow doubt he’s genuinely declaring himself a redneck intent on keeping Black people down! There’s a difference between portraying prejudice and endorsing it, even if you don’t agree with the language used to make that point.
I also wonder whether this kind of narrative songwriting is sometimes lost on modern audiences, particularly when we’re so accustomed to artists singing from their own perspectives. Newman seems to trust the listener to recognise the satire without spelling everything out.
It’s a provocative, divisive and distinctly Randy Newman album. I probably wouldn’t listen to it in its entirety again, as I found it a little repetitive musically, but there’s something quite charming about its laid-back sound. You could almost have it playing in the background at a dinner party, provided you skip track one! 🤣
I prefer the gentler moments here. I can’t bare the rambling and wailing parts, but I understand that’s Brown’s shtick, it just doesn’t do much for me. He’s clearly having a lot of fun and hearing his live performances show his skill and talent. You can sense the energy.
I only really know the big hits and so it was nice to hear a full album from start to finish. I like his voice and melodies. What’s Going On is definitely the standout track for me. The gospel vibe through much of the album added some extra colour and context. I probably won’t listen to this much again but it was still a good experience.
One of my favourite albums. I haven’t listened to it for 10+ years so it was great to hear again. I prefer the more intense rocking moments on this album but it’s great from start to finish.
Enjoyable soulful album. The first track is a classic, the rest are okay and definitely for a specific mood. She has a great voice and some good songs to back it up. Not usually my thing but I’d add odd songs to my more chilled out playlists when that mood strikes.
I’ve never heard much outside of their radio hits which are much more poppy in comparison to this album. I weirdly enjoyed their self indulgence here. I could hear their influences and also their influence on subsequent acts. A 20 minute track is pretty rare and it’s probably the best 20 mins of the album. It’s a solid album but probably not one I’d revisit much in future.
Absolutely fantastic performance and audio production on this. When the bass riff of Ace of Spades hits it’s more ferocious than the studio recording, then it’s full speed ahead all the way through. Really enjoyed listening to the show as I haven’t really listened to any live recordings of them (I did see them live in 2005 and was amazed how good an ageing rocker could still sound)
One of my all time favourite albums already so I don’t mind listening again. This album is a masterpiece that for me has no skips. It’s one I frequently go back to and probably in my all time top 10. Massive Bowie hits on this one.
Some very uplifting tracks. Enjoyed a lot more than expected given I’m not usually into reggae, and it’s clear why Bob Marley is so highly regarded as the songs are unique and brilliantly written and performed.
