Reviews by brndnnll

This was fine, pretty basic middle of the road alt rock.

I never really listened to much Animal Collective or solo records with any real attention. For some reason this really hit today, it feels a bit like a Brian Wilson fever dream, just gorgeous psych pop. Really enjoyed this.

As far as adding a live album from a band that is already well represented on the original list, I am not sure you can do any better than this. I have a hard time divorcing this from the film, but this is so good and incredible. Probably only listened to the music on it's own two or three times ever, because it's better with the film, and like in all other cases, listening to the studio records is better than a live record. But this is great.

This album is truly unlike anything I’ve heard before. Some weird cross between medieval and mystical and noisy folk. Very much its own thing. Very cool.

This is very much of a specific time and place. Early 2000s twee indie, it sounds a lot like Bright Eyes. I had a hard time getting past the vocals. In general this type of music is not for me. Did not enjoy, will not listen to again.

Seeing that an album was nominated for the Mercury Prize usually means it's not going to be great, but this was the rare exception to the rule. This was a lot of fun, punchy and irreverent. Listened to this succinct album multiple times today and loved it more and more each time. Great addition to the list.

Yeah I don't know. I know everyone loves Beyoncé, but this just feels like background coffee shop music to me.

Very cool album from an underrepresented place and time. Listening to this within the context of what 1980s Yugoslavia was like is interesting and relevant for sure. Enjoyed this and this was a great choice for this list.

This is the exact type of mid 2000s English indie genre blending shit that I never cared about and know nothing about. This made zero impression on me.

Beautiful record. Possibly Low's best. Thrilled this came up and enjoyed re-visiting this today.

I was not expecting a Lou Reed solo record from 1989 to sound so vital. This record is incredible and contains everything that makes Lou Reed so vital. Listened to this on repeat all day, fantastic record.

of Montreal held an outsized role in the music I listened to in my college years. Those albums from 2002 through 2008 are all super solid. This isn't my favorite of theirs, but man I love it so much. The transition from The Past is a Grotesque Animal into Bunny Ain't No Kind of Rider unlocked some visceral window into listening to how I felt listening to this record constantly when it came out. Revisiting all of those albums now, and having a blast.

A wholly unremarkable--and very long--collection of 90s emo pop punk songs.

I love Iggy and I love The Stooges, and I think they are appropriately represented on the original list. This is not needed. It's a cool artifact of live performances, but it shouldn't be treated as anything more than that. Pretty whatever on this overall.

This is some typical middling 90s Welsh indie pop rock. Far too much of this all over both lists.

Totally unfamiliar with this band. It looks like this is their debut album. Very much in the vein of early of Montreal, leaning towards that art pop sensibility that has a lot of influence from 60s pop. Enjoyed this for sure, but not really for me at this point.

I remember when this album came out and never really listened to it. Reading about it now, I'm surprised that this is so critically acclaimed, both then and now. It seems like this has incredibly staying power. This album to me certainly rocks, but just sounds like a bridge between pop punk and indie. I am having a hard time hearing what it so ground breaking about this, but it's probably more of a "needed to be there" type thing. This was enjoyable enough for sure.

Beautiful French chanson pop music from the 60s. Perfect Sunday morning coffee music.

Classic Daft Punk. Honestly kind of surprised this isn't on the original list. Not that I think it deserves it, it was just a very seminal album at the time and still has real staying power, especially with the ubiquitous hits.

Probably something that rewards digging in and multiple listens, but it's not enough to grab me to endeavor to do that.