Reviews by bindamusic

Wannabe Rolling Stones crossed with American Soft Rock.

Nothing original going on at all.

I find it’s just washing over me...just bland.

2

This is famous enough that at some point I must have bought the CD back, but I don’t recollect giving it a serious listening until now.

Only song I will admit to knowing is River which has become a bit of a Christmas hit of late.

Simple, personal, heartfelt and achingly pretty. It’s kind of timeless. Will listen again when I want to just sit back and need to nourish my soul for a while.

4

First Listen. Was never into Yes - just too proggy for me as a kid. However since then I've ended up loving Supertramp and Pink Floyd so lets see!

Some serious guitar playing to open. Mercifully light on the organ so far. Is like the guitarist has to prove they know every trick in the book (and has every pedal)....almost jazz like the way musicians are spiralling off.

Washing over me quite nicely - can see why people love this. Will be listening again.

Surprised to see this on the list.

Quite like some of Sheryl Crow’s music, but this debut is too one dimensional for me to listen to. This hits are good, but as an album it drags on a bit.

Follow up is much better for me.

2.5 rounded up to a 3

All the link pieces date it a bit, but then it launches into an all time classic bit of hip hop. 3 is the magic number is still cool af. So many amazing tracks on here.

Loved the quirky nature of De La Soul. Feels a bit more cerebral and musical than most of the gangster stuff that soon followed.

Looses its way a bit as an album, but when it’s good it’s absolutely brilliant. Helps that there are so many amazing samples on it. Made in the era before sample licensing killed off this kind of eclectic sample based music. Amazing it was also made before sampling was particularly easy to do as well.

3.5 rounded up to a 4

Having only heard the title track, and not being the biggest fan of it either, this has always passed me by.

First listen- wow! Like a prototype Bat out of Hell. Will revisit this one.

3

Ok - it’s all a bit generic to my ears. Recording almost sounds like it’s from the 60s. Was stunned this was 2004.

Was ok-ish, I guess. 2 and no idea why this is on the list tbh.

Won’t be coming back again

U2 - bit marmite aren’t they….anything after Joshua Tree is a no for me. After that Bono disappeared up his own backside.

1

So - this is almost overfamiliar. I played this album a LOT back in the day.

It’s the high water mark of EJ’s 70s output and that’s saying something when there are a LOT of other very very good albums in his run from 1970 to 1975.

This is a sprawling double album and it shows a couple of times where weaker material made it onto the release, but overall the breadth of tracks on here remains really impressive even now.

So many classic tracks on side 1 alone. It is a masterpiece.

Still love it.
5

This is the example I would give to explain why I tend to dislike Metal.

Just noise.
1

Man - I just don't get the Doors.

I just can't see what others see. It just dribbles on for me...and the organ ruins every song.

1

It’s the bridge between 80s metal and indie/grunge and can see why it’s on the list. Very pop sounding these days.

It’s ok for me. Nothing more.

3

Back in the day I thought some of the tunes were reasonably catchy, but overall I never understood the hype around Oasis. It was just noise to me mainly.

And I still don’t. I prefer this to What’s the Story… but that’s not saying much. It’s not improved with age and that’s probably because, in the end, the music just isn’t that great.

I guess it stands as a moment in time for some people due to it being everywhere for a while, but I don’t think it stands up to scrutiny without that.

See - still don’t get it!
2 - and that’s being generous.

Ok - so I know this one inside out. It’s the best Beatles album for me. Everything is spot on, the singing, musicianship, recording and production are perfect and basically set the blueprint for years to come. And an iconic cover just finishes the package off perfectly.

And with the exception of Maxwell’s Silver Hammer it’s a joy from start to finish.

Side 2 with the medley of songs is still jaw dropping when you consider there is just 6 years separating this and the simplicity of some songs on Please Please Me.

If ever there was an album to make the case for the Beatles this is it. Lennon, McCartney and Harrison provide some of the best songs of all time for this album.

And they did it as they were falling apart. It’s the ultimate final bow.

Easiest 5 on the list and a great excuse to listen to it again.

This is a first listen....I've never really been exposed to Nina Simone, other than her reissues in the 80s onwards.

Turns out I also know some of the songs from their cover versions. And also turns out (as is often the case) that the originals are the best....Lilac Wine - just wow.

Its simply divine. There is an effortless cool to it and the vocals just give you chills. Am stunned these were the cast offs from other albums...I need to dig further into her albums for sure.

5

Like it. First listen....instant Stranger Things vibes going on. Love the 80s sheen to it. Right up my street.

Have always dismissed this as I never got the original version of Brimful of Asha. Loved the Norman Cook version though.

As is often the case it’s fascinating to hear the track you do know in the context of the rest of the album.

And I rather like it. Innovation all over the place and very cool/chill. Will give it a few more plays now.

3

Smooth. Always loved a bit of Sade.

Tight band. Good groove and Sade’s smooth as silk voice.

Time travel back to the 80s thanks to the sax, but stands up really well.

Arrived fully formed and mined the same seam from here on, so the debut is the best for me.

Solid 3

This is the musical equivalent of a good action movie. Don't worry about the plot, you're just there for the experience and the special effects!

I bought this back in the day and played it a lot (and LOUD). Probably doesn't stand up to analysis too much, but its still enjoyable for me.

Was always a harsh and compressed sounding record to listen to though. With the master tapes allegedly gone in the Universal Studios fire, it'll probably never get any better sadly.

3

Ahhh Big Star….never heard of them until this list came along.

It’s a very good mid 70s rock album. Kind of wild that it flew completely under the radar. They definitely deserved to be a lot bigger.

It’s very much rooted in the 70s, but I love it. Feels so cool listening to something so old and yet so fresh to me….like a kind of Time Machine.

Well worth a listen (as is the follow up).

4