No. I did not need to hear this album before I died. I could have lived a very happy and full life not knowing this album ever existed. It's not bad music, but it sounds like an album that you'd find at a Renaissance Faire. If I wanted to listen to RenFaire music I'd go to a RenFaire.
My rating: 2/5 swords.
Rated 10/10
It's no wonder Iron Maiden is so influential in heavy metal. This is mind blowing, especially for 1979. This feels like THE ORIGINAL heavy metal band. Sure, Led Zeppelin blazed the trail, but Iron Maiden sets the standard. First time I've heard this album, and just ... Wow.
My rating: 5/5
Rated 6/10
Influential? Maybe. They're definitely not a HIT band. Some of the songs are boppy, but it's nothing to write home about and they don't sound like anything we haven't heard before. It's pretty predictable.
My Rating: 3/5
Rated 10/10
I really enjoyed this album. It felt like a bar band, and the whole album carried that through. Solid rocking music. They sound a bit like a more approachable, rocky-er version of REM.
Rated 8/10
One hit song does not an album make. I think that they would have done better getting more of this on the radio, because there's genius on here that's undersung. There's a variety of styles and moods, but none of it cohesive.
My Rating: 4/5
Rated 10/10
Amazing rock album and lots of little gems that never get any attention.
Lots of emotionally available stuff here. John's little outbursts in the middle of songs really throw me off. It's still the Beatles, though.
Rich, luscious beats with beautiful melodies. Yeah, there's some synths in here, but there's a lot of ethnic instruments. This is one of the weird ones we came to this list for.
Rated 8/10
I don't think this is his best work. There are a few good ones, but I think Odelay is a better album.
Rated 10/10
This was a good one for me. Trancey, but not like current trance. Felt like what was going to be trance. Not a lot of vocals to get into, but 808 was always good for being light on vocals, and heavy on getting you into the dance vibe.
Rated 4/10
Broody, atonal, muttering. If this is what inspired math-rock and post-rock, I'm glad someone got something out of it. This felt like kids who have some musical talent wasting it under the wings of someone who didn't realize what they could do. This isn't musical.
My rating: 2/5
Rated 10/10
ZZ top. Can't complain.
Rated 8/10
Good one. She's got some range. There are a variety of styles here, and I was just expecting more like "Criminal". I LOVED "Slow Like Honey".
My rating: 4/5
Rated 10/10
The birth of a legend.
Solid Latin drenched vibes with SoCal hip-hop. I think Black Sunday is more approachable and recognizable, but this sets the foundation for what Cypress Hill delivers.
My Rating: 5/5
Rated 6/10
He's a really good singer and composer (at least I hope he's written and composed all these songs), but it all feels very theatric to me, which sets me off. Good music, but not really for me.
My Rating: 2.5/5, rounding to 3.
Rated 10/10
Wonderful Funk album. You can't beat this one. Solid all the way through. The world is alright as long as we have Bootsy Collins.
My Rating: 5/5
Rated 10/10
Dark, sludgy. Felt like prog-industrial. The droning on "We Carry On" just about drove me spare. Really good album.
Rated 8/10
Unhinged
This album has got to be the weirdest I've listened to yet. The tracks are almost stream of consciousness, like they let a madman loose in a studio with a drumkit and a guitar and an infinite supply of tape and said "Work your magic." And he did. If I didn't know there was an engineer in there with him, I'd have thought he recorded all the parts himself. There are times where the three tracks don't match tempo. He sings atonally at times and barely at others, the lyrics being whispered or murmured or even suggested. Ending the Spotify version the way they did was just perfect. *chef's kiss*
Would I listen to it again? Hell no. Is it weird? Abundantly. Am I glad it's on the list? Oh yeah
My Rating: 4/5
Such a lovely album! I normally don't like jazz or live albums, but the audience fully appreciated the performance, only interjecting a couple of times when appropriate. The mistakes she made during the recording made it feel very immersive.
My rating: 5/5
Rated 8/10
Beautiful bouncy 80's pop. I especially liked the big hits, plus "This Town", which I had heard before, but I don't think it got a lot of radio play.
My Rating: 4/5
