Reviews by dcspool

Love me some shoegaze. I like the group vocals on the opener, they are so unambitious but charming. Vapor Trail - great shoegaze song name.

Fave Tracks: Seagull, Dreams Burn Down, Vapor Trail

4.2/5

Not very captivating reggae. Didn't dislike but couldn't really get into.

3/5

This was quite interesting, more than I was expecting for a 70s rock group I'd not heard of. But still I think unlikely I would revisit.

3.4/5

Much preferred this to Reggatta de Blanc. The first few tracks are a little uneventful but from Synchronicity II onwards there's just a lot of neat tracks. The instrumentation has a nice subtle sheen to it, aged remarkably well for an 80s album.

Fave Tracks: Synchronicity II, Tea in the Sahara, Murder by Numbers

4.3/5

I can't believe it, but I actually liked this. A Cheap Trick live album sounds like a terrible idea to me (and I still don't think this belongs in the 1001), but somehow this was fun. The run of tracks from Ain't That a Shame to Goodnight is a powerful hit parade. How could you not sing along to Surrender. On this occasion I liked finding out that the performance was 1 week after the track released, that was cool.

3.4/5

Boring live album. At least it was short.

2/5

Hmmm. I don't think this is aging well tbh. The rocky bits are a bit tacky for me. Of course I love D.A.N.C.E, and The Party and DVNO were two tracks buried deep somewhere in the recesses of my brain, but a lot of the rest didn't do much for me. I think the songs with words are stronger, they give the tracks more meaning.

Fave Tracks: D.A.N.C.E., The Party, DVNO

3.3/5

Maybe just because of Femme Fatale, but reminded me of a VU album. I prefer the power pop Big Star.

3/5

Have you read the Big Beat Manifesto? Big Beats are the best, get high all the time.

Fave Tracks; Praise You, Love Island, Acid 8000

3.1/5

This felt like a weird inclusion. Fine, nice, not exciting.

3/5

Really liked this despite only really listening out of one ear whilst working. A very pleasant surprise, I thought it would be way more discordant and lacking musicality, happy that I was very wrong about that.

Fave Tracks: Re-Ignition, She's Calling You, Hired Gun

4.3/5

Mostly meh - didn't really dislike it, but found it mostly quite boring.

2.8/5

Some moments of this were very cool, others were a bit too airy and lacking impact. The cool moments were a bit too diluted over a one hour run time.

3.4/5

I liked this, surprised I hadn’t heard of them. Good coherent early psychedelia. I had too much to dream last night is a great song name.

Fave Tracks: I Had too much to Dream Last Night, Onie

3.7/5

I think this album is overrated. They sound too polished and edgeless (pun intended). The first 3 songs, the big hitters all merge together a bit for me. Then I think the album actually gets more interesting, but overall it kinda just flows over me. I can’t help but hear the premonitions of the b(l)and U2 would become. Washed out airy nothingness.

I mean it’s not that bad, but I’m kinda disappointed.

3.4/5

Very fun, albeit repetitive.

Fave Tracks: P. Funk (Wants to Get Funked Up), Give up the Funk, Night of the Thumpasorus Peoples

3.9/5

Born Under Punches is an apt opener - it punches you in the face and tells you to dance. This album is close to perfect, only gripe is the last few tracks slightly pale compared to the start and the last track kinda whimpers out - it's kinda effective in a moody contrarian way, but a banger finish would leave you gobsmacked. Once in a Lifetime is somewhere between my 89th and 117th favourite song of all time.

Fave Tracks: Born Under Punches, Crosseyed and Painless, The Great Curve, Once In a Lifetime, Houses in Motion, Seen and Not Seen

4.9/5

Pretty nice, but no strong feelings from me

3.6/5

Gotta love a bit of Gazza. Some of these songs do sound quite similar though, I couldn’t believe that Observer didn’t transition directly into Cars they are almost identical. Cars is a bit of a standout but I love what this albums about and crucial to the 1001.

Fave Tracks: Metal, M.E., Conversation, Cars

3.9/5

Pretty mid, I didn't get much from this. Familiar with Mountain Song and Jane Says, but found them both underwhelming in this context.

2.7/5