Reviews by blakestewart

As much as I loved Bob Marley's legend, I really don't like this album. Feels too primitive in some ways? Like old punk. I respect it. It's the roots of a genre I adore...but I don't listen to it hardly ever. This album was a little better than I expected it to be. It's engaging. It's hard to be map listening to reggae!

This was an album I've heard a few tracks off of already. As a contiguous album. It's wonderful. I've heard a lot of praise over the years for the flaming lips but haven't really been dedicated to setting out a blessing. I will absolutely listen to this album again. Then we'll have to be in the right mood.

A lot of people have made bones about the conflicting views expressed in this album. But I think that Tupac was ineffective luminary for the lifestyle. That was evident at the time. Clean order to live in such conditions, one must accept multiple conflicting truths. The album is a wonderful example of beauty in a low vocabulary. The production values are excellent and, while there weren't any real standout tracks aside from "Old School" and "Dear Mama", The album as a whole is magnificently composed In total.

TechniqueNew Order

Rated 4/10

If you had asked me yesterday in a list of '80s since we've been if I liked New order I would have emphatically said sure! After listening to this album, I've just got to say that I don't like it. Part of it is that it is just a rudimentary area where people were focused on forcing in new technology that maybe wasn't quite ready for prime time. Part of it is that it is self-centered and kind of weenyish. I just didn't care for it. I'm not going to say it's bad.

BostonBoston

Rated 10/10

Maybe one of the best albums of all time. I'm warm on dad rock. I like a Nazareth, I like some journey...but this album is insane and basically made by one guy and a really wild singer. It's very, very good.

Felt a lot like Warren zevon. Very well composed album full of songs that I don't particularly like. Probably was fairly groundbreaking in its era.

FrankAmy Winehouse

Rated 10/10

A true modern classic. Haven't listened to the whole thing in order maybe ever. Feel like I've been missing out. Amy was sort of a joke culturally at the end of her life but Frank is at the zenith of her talent and she (and the Dap Kings) are amazing here. No notes. Guess I gotta Five-Star this one.

Great album. Oddly, I don't like the first and last tracks but everything in between is sublime. It isn't perfect but I'm going to give it 5 stars for what it is able to accomplish in terms of renovating my whole mood today. Thanks Bob and company.

Not my favorite queen album. Possibly my least favorite. That said it is still a good album with impressive diversity. A bad queen album is still worth hearing at least once deeply.

My favorite bowie album remains in a vast minority. 1. Outside is the tops. This album is really good though. David Bowie always comes in eras. This era is simply not my favorite. I don't care for the Disco swing of it all, the mix feels muddy, and the lyrics feel despondently cynical and clever but just not as pointed as other albums. It's not for me but it's a great album!

✝Justice

Rated 6/10

Fine album. Drags a little. Had an opportunity to improve on the best work of ratatat but is merely different.

Great album. Lots of dynamic range in terms of tempo and feel. Rang life, Gold Soundz, cut your hair, silence kid, and heaven is a truck are all winners. There are a few draggy spots but they set the table for the next course. I've been a Pavement listener for years and years but never really listened to whole albums undistracted and pointedly. I think I'll work my way through the catalog now. Very enjoyable experience.

Today's album isn't making it easy on me. I mean, I loathe romantic pop. Aside from my disgust I was surprised at the reggae on "Soda Pop". That is maybe the soul interesting cut left on this whole album. It is mathematically crafted to sell the idea of young sexuality...which, I'm 43. so...no thank you.

It was less awful of an experience than I was expecting on the whole. I was maybe a little surprised that the non-hits on the album were more listenable than their more popular counterparts. "I Will Still Love You" with Don Philip was frankly an 80's ballad. The following track was a super-soft gay dancehall bop. Maybe "Deep In My Heart" is the "best" track on the album.

My life is shorter and incrementally worse but I am wiser for having embarked on this listen. Isn't that just the way of learning.

Loungey and delicious. I'm four tracks in a it is a simply wonderful album that is outside of my normal sphere of listening. Peeping Tom feels similar. With that album Mike Patton was trying to reveal an alternate world where he was interpreting what he compose for various radio stations. While Channel Orange (so far) isn't as genre-swappy it is extremely diverse and densely packed. Alright, finished now. I'd put this up there as a modern masterpiece. Even the parts I am not fond of work as hallways to the next vista. Palette cleansers.

PlayMoby

Rated 10/10

Ye Gods, a 2.5 hour long album is the version I listened to. Gotta say, it is so gentle and groovy and relaxing it just made my day way easier around the house. Even as an extended album every song just flows together so amazingly well. I've been a fan of Moby since I was around 13 and heard "Rain". So, while the beat and effect choices seem a little clunky and dated, the language of the music retains a charming cohesiveness that is pure Moby. Really, I hadn't ever given this (or many) of his albums a full and focused "Dark Side Of The Moon" style listen. I am so glad that I did. I'll come back to this again and again...albeit probably the regular album.

ArrivalABBA

Rated 6/10

It's pretty conceptual. I definitely am old enough to appreciate what ABBA is without a trace of irony. I guess that I would say it fills the role it set out to perfectly. It is generally uplifting and even when it is sad and contemplative it isn't very deep about it. It is a candy apple but the apple is a granny smith variety. I like it in small doses but it is cloying and ultimately begins to agitate like apple flesh between my molars. Patently well made but not for me...picky fuck that I am.