Reviews by blakestewart

Both albums are amazing. I think Speakerboxxx is the better composed of the two but The Love Below is more successfully experimental. I've probably heard this whole album at least 25 times and, given reasonable breaks between listens, it just holds up so well for being 23 years old.

Nick Drake is a wildly good songwriter. This isn't my favorite by him but it's really, really good.

Great album with a ton of variance in songwriting. D'arby is an interesting singer in that he has a bit of fragility and strain in his natural voice. It makes the emotive passages more engaging and keeps you guessing how he will style his vocal runs. It's a little mawkish at times, but that's the style.

Raucous tiny punk shenanigans.

I have always liked this band and virtually everything I've heard of theirs but, for some reason, I've never sought their albums. I think Bug changes that for me. Really fun and solid little album.

Citar isn't my jam but Donovan is ok by me.

Halfway between REM and Oasis. Not sure why I've never heard of this prior given when it came out? Feels like it should have been a smash at the time?

The REM part thrills me. The Oasis part is a noper.

Well it was interesting if a bit contrived. The lyrics were pretty cool. Felt a bit like Coheed or vice-versa.

I always found the sound of the White Stripes to be good if repetitive. On a relisten I agree with myself.

Just a lovely album that feels like a slightly earlier Juan Esquivel sort of space age bachelor pad deal. I, for one, really love that stuff. Four stars.

Listen, if you are in a rush to get to work and have to do all of the morning things you might be stressed out trying to cram a protein bar in your face while halfway shaving...or...you could listen to this album while it all comes together and come in smiling and ready to take on anything.

It isn't my thing. It also isn't a thing I dislike. But, today, it was perfect so I'll give it a four. I think I'd be happy if I walked into a bar later and this was playing.

Nice little jazz album. Not my favorite but definitely a good way to set the mood for a nice morning at work.

Pretty solid album with a few skippable tracks. I find it hard to deal with U2's almost mawkish lyrics but they do have an undeniable charm.

Apparently my least favorite Pet Shop Boys album but still ok. Bit twee.

Great punk album. Will listen again.

Just a fantastically classic 90's hip-hop album.

Really nice conceptual album. Hard, given the title, to not picture wandering through various airports. Definitely helped me get the laundry folded. That has to count for something right?

Great punk album...which it needs to be to get past Dexter's voice. That said it is a bit in the tone of a heavier and less-melody driven Bad Religion album in the same time-frame in terms of song construction. Obviously, if you're a certain age, you were blasted relentlessly with "Come Out And Play". I was sick of that song for years and I still am...but it is a well-made song and so are all the others. I even enjoyed the intro/outro tracks. It's a solid 4 from me.

Nice and broadly instrumental. I wish there was more variance internally to each track? There was enough between each song. Half the track length and twice the tracks would have made it a better listen for me.

This just felt less formed than his other albums. Obviously it has a big hit for him but otherwise it's just isn't my favorite.