Reviews by dcspool

I criticised the other JC inclusion for just being a replica of this album, so I guess I have to be positive about Folsom.

It’s good, it’s definitely a worthy list inclusion, though the songs are mostly very formulaic, Johnny’s best songs are probably elsewhere, but this is an iconic performance.

Fave tracks: Folsom Prison Blues, Cocaine Blues, 25 Minutes to Go, Dirty Old Egg Sucking Dog

3.9/5

I thought I was going to like this one a lot, but I couldn't really get into it. I've had the title track in my rotation quite heavily for the last year or so, but not many other tracks stood out to me. The album didn't feel as thematically cohesive as Arthur either, though maybe I needed to pay more attention lyrically.

Fave Tracks: The Village Green Preservation Society, Big Sky

3.1/5

Fave Tracks: A Rush and a Push and the Land is Ours, Stop Me If You Think You've Heard This One Before

3.9/5

What a load of pretentious nonsense. 4 of the 6 tracks were just experimental noisescapes. I'm all for experimentation, but you still gotta make something that sounds nice, or compelling, or interesting, or something.

Fave Tracks: Easy Money, Larks Tongues in Aspic Pt 2

2.4/5

This was neat, surprised I've never listened to them before. Fully in the old wheel house.

Fave Tracks: Genesis Hall, Autopsy, Who Knows Where the Time Goes, Million Dollar Bash

4.5/5

Quite a pleasant album, but just lacking something to make it feel really special - one real big hitter perhaps. I like a lot of the elements here and I think I could happily have it on in the background all day.

Fave Tracks: Testify, Love Is..., Real People, They Say, It's Your World

4/5

I really liked this at the start. Just charming nice bluesy tunes. But I didn't need a double album of it - waned and got repetitive. Didn't get much from the second disc.

Fave Tracks: Bye Bye Love, Just a Little Lovin'

3.3/5

Captures a nice vibe, and was a nice accompaniment on a night drive through suburbia, but ultimately a very samey set of songs without many standouts of note.

2.9/5

What a pleasant surprise. Some really nice beats, can't say I was really paying too much attention to the lyrical content but two of the tracks are called "Perverted Monks in Tha House" so you have to assume the wordplay is elite.

Really liked this, very tight, no real filler, some creative and catchy beats, mellow but also pretty hard.

Fave Tracks: D. Original, Perverted Monks in Tha House, Mental Stamina, Da Bichez

4.4/5

I know that ostensibly Sloop John B is about a rowdy crew of seamen, but it sounds to me like the sound of white privilege. It makes me feel something between guilt and cringe listening to it.

God Only Knows is really an all-timer. I was suprised at how Wall of Sound-y this album actually is. Clearly this was a groundbreaking record, but hearing the Spectoryness of it made it feel less unique to me.

Fave Tracks: Wouldn't It Be Nice, That's Not Me, God Only Knows, I Just Wasn't Made For These Times, Caroline No

4.2/5

The Freddie's Dead cover doesn't try to do much but does its job. Bonin' in the Boneyard is silly, but in a kinda good way. Sounded a lot like a Prince song or even a Bootsy song. I liked this album more than I thought I would based on the concept.

Fave Tracks: Freddie's Dead, Bonin' in the Boneyard, One Day, Ghetto Soundwave

3.7/5

The Instrumental kinda sounds like a Linkin Park song. I appreciate Lupe but most of his music doesn't really resonate with me, generally the production comes across as a bit too glossy, but in its moments there are some really fine tracks here.

Fave Tracks: Kick, Push, American Terrorist

3.6/5

Not bad, but really quite boring when compared with their later work; without My Generation this album would really be uninteresting.

Fave Tracks: My Generation, I'm A Man

2.8/5

Something about this album was very comforting. I liked the saxophone on Fireplace. I thought Its the End of the World As We Know It would sound more We Didn't Start The Fire, but it felt very organic within the album.

Fave Tracks: Finest Worksong, Its the End of the World As We Know It

3.8/5

I was surprised at how well some of the hits had aged. Although it's weird that the first words on the album are name checking the stars of Charlie's Angels, Independent Woman goes hard. Bootylicious also a bop, and Emotion quite a nice slower cut. In between though not much to write home about - ok songs, decent production that again doesn't sound too dated, but couldn't really pull out any deep cuts of note.

Fave Tracks: Independent Woman Pt 1, Bootylicious, Emotion

3.3/5

Mostly enjoyable. Very T. Rex T. Rex album - although I wasn't already familiar with any of the tracks here, I could hear lots of similar elements to the biggest hits which I am familiar with (Get It On, 20th Century Boy, Children of the Revolution)

Fave Tracks: Metal Guru, Chariot Choogle

3.6/5

The 1001 is making me realise that The Rolling Stones are probably the most overrated band in history, for me personally. This was so dull. I can't stand Mick Jagger's voice - somehow both mumbly and whiny.

Fave Tracks: I Just Want to See His Face

2.3/5

A bit cheesy, very repetitive, but also quite a lot of fun, like the musical version of the movie Bad Boys. I giggled when Ice-T said "I fucked her" at the end of the "Evil e - What About Sex?" bit. Then the a capella section about Nelson Mandela at the end of "Prepared to Die" - kinda corny but also kinda powerful.

Fave Tracks: Bitches 2, Escape from the Killing Fields

3.5/5

Not hugely strong feelings about this one - too long, mostly boring generic rock and roll. The first couple of tracks on the second side are nice, but then fades back into nothingness.

Fave Tracks: The Lyre of Orpheus, Breathless

3/5

Did I enjoy this? Do I like country music? Honestly I don't really know. Drunken Angel has been in my rotation for some time, but its probably still my favourite track from the album.

Fave Tracks: Car Wheels on a Gravel Road, Drunken Angel, Joy

3.3/5