Reviews by abitfishy

Highlight Song/s: Immigrant Song, Out on the Tiles and That's the Way

I previously heard the first four (separate from 1001) back in June-July of this year for the first time, hearing songs here and there before that. The one that stood out the most to me was definitely III. Most likely as this one lacks the excessive banshee wailing that infected the first two. And perhaps musically it isn't nearly as frantic as the first two. I particularly enjoy the second half of the album (except for Hats Off.)

I also enjoy that the lyrics got a lot more intelligent, instead of just sex this and sex that, love me baby and all that crap; just exceptionally lazy writing. And they seemed to continue to mature with the songwriting after releasing this album, which is great.

Highlight Song/s: Communist Eyes, Land of Treason, Lexicon Devil and Our Way

Wow, this album is just completely brutal. So so nihilistic. There is just not an ounce of hope to be found here. The other instruments matching the ferociousness of the vocals adds a lot to the album.

Highlight Song/s: Blue Suede Shoes and Trying to Get to You

Almost done with the rock and roll albums. Was hoping Little Richard was the next one I would get, but no I got the king instead... I'm really going to build up hype for the Little Richard album aren't I?

Anyways back to the main topic. This album wasn't a real rocker compared to some of other ones I've listened to; such as Live At The Star Club by Jerry Lee Lewis. The ballads just don't do it for me on this one. It is a bit funny how bloody bleak some of the songs are, I never would've expected those sort of songs from Elvis.

Highlight Song/s: Clouds Up and Dirty Trip

I really do wish some of the tracks were longer. They seem like they are about to take off and in great shape, and you know sky's the limit. Then it just ENDS. I'm like awe man, it was getting so good, I know its a soundtrack album, but it doesn't lessen the blow.

Highlight Song/s: Wrap It Up, Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This,) Jennifer, This Is The House and Somebody Told me

The backing tracks are a lot more interesting than your run-of-the-mill synth-pop group. Annie's singing voice might be a bit of an acquired taste for me; just a BIT difficult to get into. She at times sounds a tad bit like Katy Perry or rather the opposite. I also believe her singing excels in the last couple songs.

Solid pop album, albeit a bit bland at times. It's surprisingly interesting for a synth-pop album.

I just really don't get this album and a bit confused. I'm definitely quite lost with this one. Lots of this album is just underwhelming, just nothing exciting happening perhaps. I did try to get into it, but some albums I just sense that I won't come around to like it. And I believe this is one of those albums.

Highlight Song/s: Emerald, Dancing In The Moonlight, Massacre and The Boys Are Back In Town

All of these tunes are really solid - coming from somebody who's only listened to Jailbreak (song), The Boys Are Back In Town and Bad Reputation (song.) I definitely ought to check out Jailbreak (album) at least! I really do see why these guys were worshiped by 80s hard rock and metal bands; this has opened my eyes a LOT.

Some other thoughts: Really sick transition between Dancing In The Moonlight and Massacre as well as, Cowboy Song to The Boys Are Back In Town. The guitar solos are so so good. Okay, I really do gotta check them out.

Highlight Song/s: Let's Get Killed, Rodney Yates and Slashers Revenge

Really cool album, especially the concept. One of those cool things is him recording dialogue and city ambience of New York and incorporating it into his album. Sometimes reading the Wikipedia page really helps me get into the album and understand it a lot more.

Solid album all around. It did get a bit repetitive, especially near the end. Also pretty eclectic album so hats off to him, some electronic musicians just don't care about diversity and have the entire album sound like the same one song; at least the ones I've gotten on this list so far.

Highlight Song/s: Krautrock, Jennifer and Lauft...

I've been drowning in krautrock lately, can't keep myself from going under. Krautrock just sends the right signals to brain, I mean as I've said on other krautrock reviews, my favourite album is Low by David Bowie and I'm a fan of post-punk music. It's a great feeling when I hear what influenced my favourite bands, music genres and albums. For me this album sounds quite industrial but way before it was a genre, just yet another genre It practically created.

The album was pretty much flawless. Mostly. Except I did not enjoy at all the 4th track with that chirping sound, that just completely triggered the wrong signals.

Highlight Song/s: In the Flesh? (and the reprise as well), Another brick in the Wall, Pt. 2, Mother, Hey You, Comfortably Numb, Waiting for the Worms and The Trial

Side A:
A1/1: What an anthem In The Flesh? is. Like my god, there can't be a better album opener then this one, everything about it is literally perfect.
A2/2: A sombre number is definitely needed after that big intro, there would've been too much momentum, too quickly.
A3/3: Another Brick in the Wall, Pt. 1 starts the 3-part song, it also kick starts the next song's momentum. It is a bit underwhelming when put by itself.
A4/4: It sounds so sick when the momentum starts up again with just the bass and drums, I'm not too sure if I like this song a lot because of the association with Another brick in the Wall, Pt. 2, or if its just a sick song, but I like it a lot, especially the transition into the aforementioned song.
A5/5: That transition is so killer! I'm grateful Pink Floyd took the advice of the producer when he said disco elements would make it a lot better, I can not imagine this one without the elements. One of best songs ever made easily.
A6/6: The vocals changing between Waters and Gilmour, where Waters is Pink and Gilmour is Mother is brilliant. This one probably has my favourite lyrics of all the bunch. It has my favourite guitar solo on the album (the first one.)

Side B:
B1/7: Goodbye Blue Sky is such a sweet sounding song all around. My favourite part is the guitar melody.
B2/8: This one there isn't too much to go off of but the stuff that I can dissect is, that this is connected to the next song musically with that cool transition and the ambience preceding it.
B3/9: Young Lust is considerably groovy alongside it's sick transition, sick riff, sick guitar solo.
B4/10: The last 01m30s of the song is absolutely s-tier, the intro goes on for a bit too long, but It does make sense story-wise and why its there. I believe this is where things start going considerably downhill for Pink.
B5/11: Pink still isn't over that groupie... Anyways great guitar solo, incredibly powerful. Very ominous as well.
B6/12: Just a bit meh without the first two parts. Pink is really starting to slip away.
B7/13: Solid half way point. Where the first half is mostly fine thematically, and the second half where everything is complete lunacy.

Side C:
C1/14: Gilmour begging Pink to hold on. That first guitar solo is just completely crazy. Another song that I like the lyrics a lot. And Just the ENTIRE song in general.
C2/15: Not much to off of once again, just is the case with these interlude tracks. But the acoustic guitar and piano sound really sweet together in the last minute or so.
C3/16: Solid ballad track; very needed after the past few tracks. This is where I believe Pink is trying to keep himself together and trying not to implode.
C4/17: Probably my least favourite song on the entire album. The only thing noteworthy in my opinion is that its connected with the previous song.
C5/18: Bring the Boys Back Home brings back that big sound In the Flesh? introduced to the album. And is another song on the C side that has the orchestral sound to it.
C6/19: Pink just keeps descending into madness; just completely heartbreaking this song is. Very gorgeous sounding guitar solos.

Side D:
D1/20: It's all downhill from here on out (thematically, of course!) Beautiful backing vocals.
D2/21: I tend to think of the In the Flesh reprise as the beginning of the end for this album, it definitely isn't a bad shout I'd say. I like the changes this song does, such as: The choir before the actual singing starts; where Pink tricks us by starting like the original but then starts singing completely different and then him becoming fascist as well, definitely do not play this when others are around! and finally the very loud kick drum before the main part starts.
D3/22: Run Like Hell brings back the disco elements, I truly would've liked this one a lot more if it was like the live version, which is a lot more creepy sounding. If I have to be frank, I just can't help but feel a bit let down. But it still is a good song.
D4/23: Waiting for the Worms is another song you should not play when others are around. The song intro also kind of sounds like where In the Flesh reprise left off. The first quarter is a bit misleading compared to the other 3 quarters, it completely changes directions. Sick marching beat, I'd probably march to my death with this one, if you remove the lyrics of course.
D5/24: The calm before the storm... Thematically Pink is having second thoughts.
D6/25: The Trial... this the climax of the album. Love the cabaret sound this song has. This brings back that very big sound, I love it! Really does help give a lot of imagery in my head, especially the Judge character. The wall finally comes down.
D7/26: The relaxing outro is really needed after everything Pink went through. The clarinet, concertina and the mandolin (yes, I had to look it up,) really help give it a reminiscing feel to it. And he's doomed to repeat it all again. In other words: The comedown after the wall comes down.

Lots of rambling in this review, more than I usually would do or write. There are probably parts where it doesn't fully make sense or parts that have spelling mistakes, I should've corrected most of them, but some may linger. As I thought a track-by-track review is the only way I'd do a review of this album justice.

If i were to rate the sides from best to worse it definitely would be: Side A > Side D > Side B > Side C.

Highlight Song/s: It's Tricky, My Adidas and Raising Hell

What a pioneering album, It sounds a bit crazy but it legitimately sounds like I'm listening to history happening, as if this was an album released last month that changed the game or that I'm walking near a historical monument. Tad bit ludicrous, I know. Run-D.M.C. walked (created this album) so others could run. This is undeniably one of the essential albums in all of hip-hop, and a stepping stone which connects disco rap to gangsta rap.

Highlight Song/s: Born In '69 and On a Rope

Punk with brass instruments is certainly interesting, especially with Bob Dylan as the lead singer. I felt like the album progressively got worse, nothing TOO bad. But it really did get boring and quite samey.

That rock and roll snarl throughout the entire album is just too much. It also sounds like he is trying hard to achieve the voice, which is just distracting me from enjoying the other parts. The last couple songs were the most brutal to get through, after having gotten completely sick of the voice long before.

Highlight Song/s: Three Hours, Way To Blue, 'Cello Song, The Thoughts Of Mary Jane

Another Nick Drake album. Unlike Pink Moon (which is the first one I got from him,) this one isn't a solo acoustic album, there IS a backing band; or at least session musicians. For better or for worse. Well for better, the bongos add so much texture. Or for worse, as I do enjoy the emphasis on the acoustic guitar, the orchestration on some songs takes away from it. Which I just don't like. But I believe the orchestration isn't too overbearing most of the time, so its A-OK (for the most part.)

Wasn't too hopeful in the first couple tracks, but it came around and It's a solid album. Nice sombre overtones as well; just like Pink Moon, just less bleak.

Highlight Song/s: Desespoir

This one has a really cool tropical sound to it. But my god, does this album really seems to last. That may be because this is completely out of my norm.

Highlight Song/s The Corner, GO!, Faithful, The Food and They Say

Such a refreshing album, it is not often when a new album gives me that feeling. Solid flow and solid production. It seems like the lyrics aren't too negative and gangster, It gets a bit old when a rapper tells me hes going to spray all his rivals.

Highlight Song/s: Visions, Golden Lady

This one right here is my second Stevie Wonder album. I found this a lot better than Songs in the Key of Life. I'm honestly not sure what he did here that he didn't do on 'Key of Life. Some of the songs here are some solid melancholy tracks.

Highlight Song/s: Disco 2000

This is an alright album. I find the verses and intros on this quite good, however the choruses tend to kill the momentum that the verses and intros worked hard to do. And then the choruses start to make the song drag by going on for longer than it should. "Disco 2000" is a STRONG exception to what I just said

I had previously listened to this album, and the result was that I didn't like it. So when I got this album today from the generator, I thought it might convert my current opinion. But no, still think it's a miss from me.

Highlight Song/s: Miracle Man, (The Angles Wanna Wear My) Red Shoes and I'm Not Angry

1/6 Elvis Costello albums. Costello's music is quite difficult to understand and to get into. I don't know if his singing on this album is natural of its forced, I feel that's the biggest hurdle for me at the moment. I know he modeled his look after Buddy Holly, so maybe he decided to also add a twang to his voice like Buddy had? I don't even know, but it feels a bit forced. I'm not a hater of him (at least at this point in time,) I am a fan of Radio Radio and Pump It Up, but that's just his singles not the deep album tracks.

Highlight Song/s: Future Days

I am a big fan of Davie Bowie - especially the Berlin Trilogy-era, where he was inspired by krautrock - and post-punk music. Both of those things were heavily inspired by the aforementioned krautrock and the German experimental scene in the 70s. The incredibly tight and manic drums might be my favourite aspect of all those three things (Bowie, post-punk and krautrock.) When I got "Phaedra" by Tangerine Dream, I noticed the similarities between that and Bowie and post-punk, which include some of my favourite albums, so I was a bit hyped for this album to come along; and it did not disappoint.