Reviews by dcspool

Found this pretty uninspiring. Its raw and punky and doesn't really do anything for me.

2.4/5

First side is pure Kate Bush magic. Second half gets a bit less lush and a little bit more ballady and loses me slightly.

Still K8 is gr8, another very solid and unique album.

3.9/5

Another Doves album, how ridiculous. And yet, once again this album is really quite great. My opinion is similar to their other album - its not really necessary for this list, but its still a very solid album.

Fave Tracks: Rise, Catch the Sun, The Cedar Room

4/5

At first I found this just painful and noisy. But after a while I began to hear beauty through the brashness. Tracks like Luau and Super Unison have a lot of charm in the instrumentation. The whole thing is quite reminiscent of Sonic Youth.

I think if I really engaged with this and was in a shouty mood I could like it a lot.

Fave Tracks: Luau, Hand Over Fist (I think this one's just a bonus track)

3.2/5

A very nice vibe, not a lot of standout tracks, but a very enjoyable experience.

3.8/5

No strong feelings. I think I liked a lot of the bonus tracks more than the album itself.

3/5

M.I.A.'s sound is pretty distinct, and for that reason you can argue it as a good 1001 inclusion, but, and big but, this album doesn't have Paper Planes on it, soooo... not sure how necessary it is. The first 6 or so tracks are quite abrasive and noisy in a way I don't find particularly appealing. The second half has way more interesting cuts such as Amazon, Bingo and even the silly U.R.A.Q.T.

An ok album but just makes me thirsty for PP.

Fave Tracks: Amazon, Bingo

3.2/5

Doesn't do it for me.

2.3/5

This feels like quite a peculiar inclusion. It's a very listenable album, it's so inoffensive its almost offensive. For me the only really questionable track is the most famous - the cover of the Jorge Ben/Os Mutantes samba-rock track "A Minha Menina" - which screams early 2000s tv advert music.

A few of the tracks I really enjoy for their simple charms, but overall its hard to make an argument for this album as one you must hear.

Fave Tracks: Punchbag, Angryman, Lying in the Snow

3.7/5

I think Good Kid Maad City is better. I am definitely not a fan of the "I remember you were conflicted..." interjections. Solely because of the repetition where Kendrick gradually reveals more and more of his poem. Its just a waste of time, after the first time it makes me groan at the end of each of those songs.

Still, this album is fantastic. It has a ton of bops and bangers, some incredible instrumentals, and of course plenty of the headiest bars.

But this is an album that should flow seamlessly, and for me at times it just doesn't - "i" is a great track, but its so out of place on this album. I think its still just about a 5 star album, but not RYM best album of all time level.

Fave Tracks: For Free?, King Kunta, These Walls. Alright, How Much a Dollar Cost, i

4.5/5

This album straddles an interesting space between post-punk and rave music. It has a reckless abandon that reminds me of Can in ways. It doesn't take itself too seriously, the Lost in Music cover feels so tongue in cheek, I don't even know why, there's just something so wry in the vocal.

I can see a lot of influence from this album. Light/Fireworks feels like a blueprint for LCD Soundsystem, I'm Going to Spain for some reason reminds me a lot of the Libertines (minus the synths).

Fave Tracks: I'm Going to Spain, Service, Why Are People Grudgeful

4.2/5

Gimme Shelter is brilliant. Then the next 4 tracks are just a waste of time - boring blues rock staples. The back end picks up with some slightly more interesting arrangements, and somewhat crescendos with You Can't Always Get What You Want. Though I weirdly don't like the angelic choir intro to that track, sounds corny to me.

I've always felt like The Rolling Stones are one of the most overrated bands of all time, and this album doesn't really change that, though I much much prefer it to Beggars Banquet and Exile on Main St.

3.4/5

I was really enjoying this one until "A Gospel". Lots of loungey jazz. Vocal-less, chorus-less tracks where warranted. Second half was quite disappointing though.

3.6/5

He's not even fat

2.6/5

Some nice bluesy rock, some weird stuff about 13 year old girls.

Fave Tracks: Pearly Queen, (Roamin' Thro' the Gloamin' With) 40,000 Headman

3.4/5

Bruce doesn't do much for me. I just struggled to engage with this.

3/5

I love the vibe of this album. It has a very distinct sound despite none of the elements being particularly groundbreaking. There's a mesmerising robotocism in the rhythms juxtaposed with Eastern melodies on tracks like Life's a Beach and Skies over Cairo. The album cover is a very accurate representation of the music I'd say.

That said the album kinda runs out of steam after the first few tracks, falling a bit flat. Replace Skies over Cairo with the Bullion remix and you'd have a much stronger album.

Fave Tracks: Hail Bop, Default, Waveforms

3.4/5

Honestly this was a very pleasant experience. I thought the Carpenters were maybe too clean cut, but no complaints about the cleanliness here.

4.1/5

Pretty much fine album. Did not offend me even slightly.

3.3/5

Peach Trees sounds like a Radiohead song. A lot of this sounds like Radiohead tbh. I like the less theatrical bits generally.

Fave Tracks: Agnus Dei, The One You Love, Peach Trees, Old Whore's Diet

3.5/5