Reviews by conorr90

★David Bowie

Rated 10/10

Incredible album, and not just because he died! Although it is impossible to separate the release if this album from Bowie's death. It's like he turned his death into an art piece, or like the album was a funeral that the whole world could attend. I'll never forget listening to this album in work that Monday morning completely oblivious, thinking "wow this is really dark", but loving it. Then going out to the canteen and a co-worker broke the news to me that he had died. I think it's the only time I've really been truly saddened by a aging celebrity's death.

I've become a bit of a Prog head over the past couple of years, but this is a bit too "proggy", even for me. This must be what Yes sounds like to people who don't like Yes.

Never heard of this band or album, but I'm always up for some early heavy metal. Should be interesting!
Overall I enjoyed this and see the influence of it, but I found some of the songs outstayed their welcome. Probably not one I would re-listen to often.

Absolutely fantastic album, one of my favourites. Started listening to this when I was in college and it has been a constant in my life ever since. I think it did take me a while to get into it properly, "Only Shallow" hooked me though and from there I knew the rest of the album was for me. I really think this is a near perfect album; it's unique, hugely influential, and is a pinnacle of alternative music in general. Best Irish album ever released, in my humble opinion.

This is a great album. I've only really come to appreciate Steely Dan in recent years. Before, I would have enjoyed their singles but had them consigned as some sort of Dad Rock trope. However, now that I've delved into a few of their albums I really appreciate their musicianship, songwriting, and above all, production skills. This album is definitely one of their best, and the production here is fantastic. Even the few songs that don't resonate with me lyrically sound amazing. I'm not sure why they often get lumped in with Prog, to me they seem quite unique and stand somewhat alone in the early 70s rock scene.

Well well well...Once you make it past the opening onslaught, there's a lot to like here. It's certainly unusual and definitely intentionally off-putting. It's interesting though, would definitely listen to it again, not very often though. Looking forward to reading some of the other reviews for this one!

Is this a joke album? I love Neil Young for After the Goldrush and Harvest, but this is just terrible. I think it's the first time on this list I actually stopped before getting through the whole thing. Honestly, this has some of the worst singing I've ever heard on a record. Especially on World on a String, he's both out of tune and out of time!

1984Van Halen

Rated 6/10

Well, it doesn't get much more 1984 than this (I mean actual 1984, not George Orwell's 1984). This is a bit of a guilty pleasure for me I guess, although I try not to use that phrase anymore! Definitely the best of the testosterone fueled "Hair Metal" of the 80s.

Since I got this the day after getting Pump by Aerosmith, it started me thinking about this 80s hair rock scene in general. It was a very strange time compared to 70s glam wasn't it? As I see it 70s glam's "gender bending" and cross dressing was somewhat more inclusive and boundary pushing, whereas these 80s bands were hypermasculine to the point that their cross dressing seems to have been more of a shock value thing exclusively. It's a bit off-putting really, considering the modern backlash against Trans rights. I can't help but wonder if this scene contributed somehow to that. Anyway that's the end of my Ted talk for today. 3 great singles on the album, the rest I can take or leave.

PumpAerosmith

Rated 4/10

This album is fine, but nothing fantastic IMO. Love in an Elevator is very catchy, but in a junk food, insubstantial sort of way; Janie's Got A Gun is great, but I can take or leave the rest. Except for "What it Takes", that song is atrocious.

Never listened to anything like this before. I found it quite a dramatic listen, got me working at a much quicker rate! Would definitely listen again. I'm glad that I've had a decent variety of albums over the past couple of weeks.

There's a bit of nostalgia here for me since I listened to this band a good bit when I was about 13. I'd pretty much forgotten about them though, and I see why, they aren't particularly interesting. It makes sense to have them on the list though, since they were a big part of that garage rock revival, particularly in the UK.

I actually don't enjoy this album as much as I used to, which is surprising because I still listen to a good bit of noise rock. There was a time when Just Like Honey was one of my favourite songs, and I still like that and quite a few of the others on here. I just find their wall of noise to be a bit oppressive and monotonous after a while. Having said that, it's undeniably a hugely influential and important record. I wouldn't be surprised if I warm to it again at some point.

I understand why this is on the list, but it just doesn't really do much for me. Relaxing vibes, but just sort of fades into the background.

Great album, Massive Attack opened me up to much other music when I got into them as a teenager. I much prefer Mezzanine, but this is nearly perfect. It looses a couple of points for the somewhat cheesy closing track and a couple of other duds, but the title track, Safe From Harm, and Unfinished Sympathy are all classics.

This is the third Creedence album I've gotten out of 163 so far, that seems like a lot! Nowhere near as good as Green River, even though it does have Proud Mary. I prefer Cosmo's Factory too. Overall some decent jams on here, but a bit hit and miss, some fairly forgettable songs.

I listened to this twice, the first time just in the background and I didn't think much of it. I only knew "Didn't Cha Know" before and did like it, so felt like I was missing something. I gave it a second listen with my "good" headphones, and was completely blown away! The production is fantastic, great drum and bass sound, and her vocals are really unique and interesting. The panning on "AD 2000" is particularly beautiful, like being wrapped in a warm blanket.

I got caught out by another deluxe edition here - thought it was a double album and listened to all 80ins or so. Then found the proper 45ish minute one, which is much better! Some very good songwriting on here, I'm surprised I haven't heard more of these songs before.

I can't bring myself to give this anything less than a 5, it's not one that I listen to often anymore, but it's a definite cornerstone of my music taste. I played this to death when I was a teenager, but much prefer III and Houses of the Holy these days. I find some of the lyrics on this one a bit cringy and immature (especially Living Loving Maid and Lemon Song), and I now now that something like half of the songs are rip offs, but the incredible musicianship and groundbreaking production more than make up for those missteps. Ramble On was and still might be my favourite Led Zeppelin song.