Reviews by aretzorn

A seminal album in the history of heavy metal (from 1970, no less!). So much of it is unique and groundbreaking, and every band member is firing on all cylinders. The interplay of Ritchie Blackmore and Jon Lord is particularly awesome, both when they play in unison and when they trade off solos. Ian Gillan is a powerhouse singer, and Paice and Glover provide the hard-charging drive. There are only a couple of weak spots, but the worst spot is Hard Lovin' Man, with cheesy lyrics and an awful full pan from left to right speakers at the end that makes me feel seasick when listening through headphones. What moron thought that was a good idea? Take Hard Lovin' Man away and this album is an easy 5. So, does this one track bring it down to a 4? There are so many great moments but also occasional moments that take away from the quality. For example, I didn't appreciate Child In Time until I listened closely. The slow burn build to Gillan's screaming Ohs and Ahs is really intense - but the last minute is pretty cheesy. Speed King is a cool opener, but the vocals are too far back in the mix. But then there are awesome heavy grooves in Bloodsucker and Living Wreck (although Living Wreck is the most derivative track on an otherwise groundbreaking album). Even Hard Lovin' Man has some positives - the driving metal riff introduced here is literally a blueprint for future metal songs. I think I'm going to have to go with the 4, only because I give 5's to albums that have no major negatives in my opinion, but this album absolutely belongs on the list for its historical significance alone and is pretty rocking album to boot.

Nice enough country. Unfortunately, I generally don't like country. There are exceptions - I really like Johnny Cash (and found it interesting that Haggard was an inmate at San Quentin and saw J.C. play there). But even though this is also in that "outlaw country" genre, I just find this repetitive and a little boring. It's also sometimes jarring. Take Life in Prison - pleasant country, with lyrics sung from the point of view of someone serving a life sentence after killing his "darling" and he just wants to die - but it makes you want to just bop along, which is just bizarre. One notable positive to the album: Roy Nichols' twang country guitar solos are really good. I went back and forth between a 2 and 3. There's nothing specifically bad about it, and it was fine in the background, but on close listen my mind wandered and I was waiting for it to be over, even though it's just 31 minutes long. Sounds like a 2. Tracks I liked most: usually the most upbeat ones with great guitar playing - If You Want to Be My Woman, Mixed Up Mess of a Heart.

Such tragedy. The final of his three albums, with all three on the 1001. With the exception of a piano overdub in the track Pink Moon, entirely consists of his outstanding acoustic guitar playing and his plaintive voice. The production quality makes you feel like you're sitting right next to him as he recorded on those two late nights (crazy that this masterpiece was recorded in two late-night sessions). An absolutely captivating album. Favorite tracks: Pink Moon (beautiful iconic track), Road (love the guitar line), Which Will (made me pull out my acoustic guitar and look up the tab), Horn (simple yet beautiful instrumental interlude), Things Behind the Sun (again, the guitar part is fantastic - listen to the clarity of his playing...absolutely beautiful), Parasite (love the chord progression), From the Morning (surprisingly upbeat and hopeful final song of his final album). Perfect melancholic masterpiece.

Great debut album. I guess I shouldn't have been surprised at the couple of straightforward R&B tracks (including covers of James Brown and Bo Diddley) considering they were billed as "MAXIMUM R&B" but when The Good's Gone started my thought was "Ok, THIS is the Who!" Certainly a much more original debut than the Rolling Stones, who covered a bunch of rock & roll standards on their debut that weren't better than the originals, just faster (and whiter, unfortunately). But The Who were The Who from their debut, even if they evolved and became even better on later albums. Entwistle's thundering bass, Moon's frenetic drumming, Townshend's fantastic guitar work (and writing), and Daltrey's powerful vocals (often with Townshend's harmonies). Let's give credit also to Nicky Hopkins on piano. A legendary band right out of the gate. Favorite tracks: My Generation (The Who ANTHEM and a stone cold classic, with every element of The Who - Entwistle's bass solo is awesome), The Good's Gone, The Kids are Alright, The Ox (did anyone else rock this hard in 1965??). Easy 5.

On the one hand, "you had to be there" and "you had to be on drugs." Lots of truly weird moments and waaay too long. On the other hand, this album rocks. Surprisingly heavy, driving tracks throughout. Can't help but bang your head along to the beat. Not an album I'd focus on for two hours again, but would probably put on just to get a good heavy groove going. Favorite tracks: Born to Go, Lord of Light (particularly the part with the bass groove and sax interplay), Upside Down, Time We Left this World Today.

I got worried when I looked into this band and saw it was most of the members of Spacemen 3 who I really disliked. Looks like the problem in Spacemen 3 wasn't Jason Pierce (the main guy here in Spiritualized). I'd still like to see the songs develop more, instead of often just one theme ebbing and flowing, and would like a little more energy behind the vocals, but otherwise I enjoyed this album. The first couple of tracks got me worried I was going to dislike the shoegaze lack of energy, but If I Were With Her Now started pretty cool. I was very surprised by I Want You - almost sounded like U2. Run picked things up even more. Then they get pretty ambient starting with Step Into the Breeze, but it was enjoyable. Overall, I was pleasantly surprised.

This feels like an album you need to hear mainly because they were big in the 60s - but I don't think they've achieved the timeless status of other bands from that era. You can hear the proto-punk sound here, but the Kinks did it better. There were definitely some good tracks, but it seems a bit like they were a "you had to be there" kind of band. Favorite tracks: Kicks, There's Always Tomorrow, I'm Not Your Stepping Stone, Get It On.

Shoegaze slacker singer, noisy guitars - these are some of my least favorite things. Singer doesn't put an ounce of effort into singing. Every time I started to think I liked a song, they ruined it with feedback and noisy, often sloppy guitar playing. Big no from me on this one. Least annoying tracks: Best Lose the Fear, Lazarus.

They sound a bit like a band you'd hear playing at a county fair, but this is where I guess you need to know that they were groundbreaking at the time. Either way, I really enjoyed this album. Sandy Denny has a great voice, the band is on point, and the songs were very engaging (and often surprisingly dark). Plus kudos to the recording quality for the late 60s. Would definitely revisit. Favorite tracks: Reynardine (captivating), Farewell, Farewell, Tam Lin, Crazy Man Michael.

Country. Favorite tracks: Too Far Gone, Boulder to Birmingham.

I like their style, but admittedly they sound pretty dated and repetitive. I'll give them an extra star for simply having a style I like, which means I'd listen again, but don't know if I needed a full album to get a sense of that style. Favorite tracks: All the Way from Memphis (minus the racial slur that they would later remove live), Whizz Kid, Violence, I Wish I Was Your Mother.

It sometimes takes me a moment to get past the way she jumps up and down the scale in her singing, but once I get past that it's clear as day what a beautiful voice she has and how outstanding her songwriting is. There are so many albums in the 1001 that reward a close listen. I was a little dismissive in my first listen, but when I focused on listen two, following the lyrics, I was blown away by this album and understood all the accolades. Great musicianship (guitars, piano, singing), great songwriting, powerful lyrics, beautiful voice. Favorite tracks: Little Green (about the baby she gave up for adoption and didn't see again until 1997 - crushing lyrics), Blue, California (fun fact - Going to California by Led Zeppelin references Joni Mitchell: "To find a queen without a king / They say she plays guitar and cries and sings"), This Flight Tonight (really like the guitar on this song), River (the nicest song to ever feature Jingle Bells), The Last Time I Saw Richard ("All romantics meet the same fate someday" - great line). Definite 5.

Need to start by complaining about the fact that there are two Happy Mondays albums on this list (at the same time - this isn't a case of removing one and replacing it). When I got "Bummed" I complained that they reminded me of James who don't have an album on the list (even though Happy Mondays opened for them!). Also, the lyrics on Bummed were so crass I took a point away from my rating.

The good news is that this album is much better, sounds more unique, and the lyrics aren't so crass (except Bob's Yer Uncle <insert eye roll emoji>). I still question why this band needed two albums on the list, but this album was a fun listen and the lyrics didn't detract this time. If the editors ever revise the 1001 going back further than the last 10 - 20 years they should remove Bummed and keep this album. I'd listen again, so that's a 4 for me. Favorite tracks: Kinky Afro (reminded me a bit of The The), Donovan (do I hear an 80s King Crimson-type guitar line? Noice), Loose Fit, Step On (cover of "He's Gonna Step On You Again" by John Kongos - 1971 - the original is pretty cool. Check it out).

Suicide was 10+ minutes of f'ing aural torture. The only reason this album doesn't get a 1 based on that track alone was because I liked the vibe of the other songs (particularly Come Down Softly to My Soul and Let Me Down Gently), even if each song was basically one riff repeated over and over. Next.

I was already a big fan of this album. I know some listeners get tired of all the UK band bias on the list, but this one is worth it. To me Elbow is what Radiohead would be if they didn't get weird and what Coldplay would be if they were actually good (yeah, I said it). And this is my favorite Elbow album, so good pick. Favorite tracks: Starlings, Mirrorball ("We kissed like we invented it" - great line), Grounds for Divorce, An Audience with the Pope, One Day Like This (the anthemic ending always puts me in a good mood). Easy 5 for me.

A bit derivative, but fun to listen to. Cool to see that they opened for Bowie on his Reality tour. Favorite tracks: Be-In, Not If You Were the Last Junkie on Earth, Every Day Should Be a Holiday.

Really enjoyed this album. She had an amazing voice and the songs are excellent. Nothing Compares 2 U is completely worthy of all the accolades. When it first came out, I felt it was ridiculously overplayed on MTV, but many years later (and many years wiser) I gave it a closer listen and realized how powerful and emotional it is. Still think so today. Probably the only misstep of the album is the cheesy fake gunshot sound and revved-up beat that starts off Jump in the River immediately after the amazing mood of NC2U. It's like getting ice water dumped on you. Beyond that, though, it's a great album. Easy 5.

Way too long, but I decided to consider this as two separate albums, which is really what it is. Big Boi's Speakerboxxx is a funky groove but like a lot of rap the lyrics are definitely not for me. I'd probably give it a 4. Andre 3000's The Love Below was ok but didn't draw me in as much. I got pretty bored with it after a while. I'll give it a generous 3. So, 3.5 average, which I'm going to pull down to a 3 for just being too damn long. Favorite tracks: GhettoMusick, The Rooster, My Favorite Things (high point on the second album for me).

This is one of those albums that's always in the list of top albums of all time and I admit I never listened to it before. I knew some individual tracks, like London Calling, Spanish Bombs, and Train in Vain. I didn't even realize the last one was by the Clash, let alone on this album.

My first reaction to seeing that this was a double album was - ooh, a double album from a punk band? That's going to be a little much. But, man, did it grow on me. This really is a great album, and is definitely more than simple punk. Definitely deserving of all the accolades. Favorite tracks - Pretty much all of them are great, so I'll just list the ones that really stood out when I listened: London Calling, Brand New Cadillac, Rudie Can't Fail, Spanish Bombs, Lost in the Supermarket, The Guns of Brixton, Wrong 'Em Boyo, Revolution Rock, Train in Vain. Yeah, that's pretty much a full album worth of songs. I've been listening to this album over and over for days, and don't want to move on yet. Sounds like a 5 to me.

Holy crap, she's a horrible singer. Note to Andy Warhol, Velvet Underground, Bob Dylan, and Jackson Browne: you can't hear good looks. I might have given this a 2 because the underlying music was often pleasant enough but then I had to sit through "It Was a Pleasure Then" which reminds me why I dislike the Velvet Underground so vehemently. Feedback, awful guitar playing...yup, it's the Velvet Underground. This is one of the few albums that made me regret my commitment to listening to every album at least two times. Awful.