Reviews by arewenotben

Great when it's breakneck and on the verge of collapsing on itself with super hooky verses and choruses colliding with no space to breathe. The chuggier tracks kill the vibe

The title track is borderline perfect, Eddie Hazel was a force of nature

Terrible lyrics throughout (A mole, digging in a hole/Digging up my soul/Now going down, excavation) but I enjoyed this more than I expected tbh, the singles are bangers for sure - opening 1/2/3 is undeniable despite their overplayed nature. Production is a bit weird, certainly very over-produced and clean, but there's an element of vulnerability to the album that I wasn't really anticipating.

I'm sure I used to like this but it doesn't do much for me now, the longer two final tracks are easily the standouts

An interesting listen, if only for how much hip-hop has changed in 25 years. Jay-Z flexing over imperial-era Just Blaze and pre-nazi Kanye - overlong but there's some fantastic stuff here.

Feels slightly churlish to give less than the full 5.

Top 5 of all time, nothing else like it

Expected to love this but found it a real slog. Game of Pricks is good though

Timeless beauty

Has its moments and Buckley's voice is always golden, but this is a bit naff sadly. 2.5

So good, I think I prefer Fear of a Black Planet as a listening experience but this is such a jolt. The Bomb Squad's wall-of-noise production weaponising it's samples into something genuinely thrilling with Chuck D and Flavor Flav capturing lightning in a bottle. Best intro track ever too

kicks into gear with 7+7 is - maybe the best Love song? Prefer Forever Changes as an album but this has some great moments

Smooth, Sinatra's voice works perfectly with bossa nova

18!?!?!?!?!?!? Probably her weakest album (tough competition) but man, what a talent.

brings me back to my late teens - can remember hearing suite-pee on a metal hammer (i think) covermount CD and just having my brain melted. Stands up well, shades of nu-metal but slightly askew

didn't expect to like this at all, much more off-kilter than I anticipating and a slightly horny vibe to it all - good stuff

Reminds me quite a bit of the Stooges, really scuzzy sound. Ace of Spades is a bit played out and the slower tracks don't work quite as well, but this is largely great. The hard boogie of Over the Top at the end the highlight for me

Still astounding

No idea why this is getting such bad reviews

This is a blast, what an atmosphere