Rated 6/10
When the album started I my initial thought was: oh no not another 80s hard rock album. But actually after the first 3/4 tracks this was so much more than that, infusing funk into the mix and having more interesting lyrical themes. Was NOT expecting a talking heads cover which was very cool. However I’m giving only a 3 because it was a little bit bland
Rated 10/10
Amazing jazzy prog rock.
I guess it’s not surprising as the genre is progressive rock but this album really sounds ahead of its time to me. Such varied songs and structures.
Album cover is iconic too.
Maybe I just don’t get it, but that middle section of moonchild kinda just sounded like a bunch of toddlers hitting random instruments for a bit. That is really one of the only negatives of the album for me.
Rated 10/10
Absolutely love the album cover, the crab is me listening to this album. I haven’t listened to many albums that match the energy of this album. It also feels so much more intricately produced than I expected and there were so many moments and sounds where I was like whoa (the singing in the middle of Smack My Bitch Up, sword fighting sound effects in Breathe)
Fave tracks:
Smack My Bitch Up
Breathe
Firestarter
Climbatize
Rated 6/10
I’ve been meaning to listen to another album by Wilco ever since I discovered their 2002 album Yankee Hotel Foxtrot, which I absolutely love. So I had high hopes for this.
Safe to say it didn’t live up to my expectations, sounded like YHF in parts but a lot simpler and even more of an alt-country sound, which can get tiring. It also did not need to be 80 mins long. Without comparing to YHF though, it was a fun album with a good mix of slow and fast pacing and loud and quiet within songs.
Highlights:
Misunderstood
Hotel Arizona
Sunken Treasure
When you start an album with a song as strong as respect it’s inevitable that the songs after won’t reach the same heights. That said, enjoyable album with amazing vocals.
Scarborough fair takes me back to group singing in music class at secondary school
Snoozefest
Really don’t have much else to say about the album
Rated 10/10
One of those bands/albums I’m very surprised not to have ever listened to considering they sound like a mix of 90s artists/bands that I love (PJ Harvey, smashing pumpkins, portishead, the breeders)
Vocals are great
Some very cool riffs
Rated 8/10
Never actually listened to a queen album in full but was exactly as I’d hoped, fun and theatrical
Fave tracks:
Killer Queen
Tenement Funster>Flick Of The Wrist>Lily of the Valley - absolutely love when songs seamlessly transition to the next on an album so this 3 song run is amazing
In the lap of the gods (+ revisited)
Rated 6/10
Had no idea what to expect with this
Did not expect some pop punk tho lol (title track)
Range of genres on this
Fave tracks:
Lazy Day
Angels - actually can’t unhear the big ange version anymore
South of the Border
Let Me entertain you
Rated 4/10
Could it really be a hard rock album from the 80s if the only 2 lyrical themes weren’t:
a) rock
b) sex
That said, this album is a least more instrumentally interesting than Back In Black
Fave tracks:
Photograph
Foolin’
Rated 4/10
Not sure this is the genre for me
1h20 of jam session over the same 3 chord progressions
Nice vibe I guess
Actually second half was better
Rated 8/10
Back to back u2 albums - not complaining though
Fave tracks:
Sunday Bloody Sunday - narrowly beats Zombie by the Cranberries as my favorite song from the fairly niche genre of ‘songs about the troubles’
New Year’s Day - sounds like The Cure
The Drowning Man
A more interesting album than Joshua Tree but maybe less consistent
Rated 8/10
Good vibe for walking to work on a sunny morning slightly hungover
Fave tracks:
Where the Streets have no name
I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For
Exit - unexpectedly rips
A bit front-loaded
Rated 6/10
This could be the school of rock soundtrack I wouldn’t know
Fave tracks:
Hells Bells
Shoot to Thrill
Back in black - absolute classic, first riff I ever learnt on guitar
Let Me Put My Love Into You made me feel a bit sick
Rated 10/10
Fave tracks:
Headmaster Ritual
That Joke Isn’t Funny Anymore
Barbarianism Begins at Home - that bassline
Meat is Murder - cow go moo
