Reviews by dcspool

I've got into Steely Dan in a big way the last couple of years, and I've got this record on vinyl, but that being said, its not close to my favourite album of theirs. There are some catchy hooks, and to me its also the point where they are really starting to hone their polished studio sound. But there are also some rather corny moments, and the attempts to experiment with arrangements or styles outside of their typical wheelhouse mostly just fall flat to me.

Though I still think its a pretty decent record I don't think its very necessary for the 1001 list.

Fave Tracks: Rikki Don't Lose That Number, Night by Night, Any Major Dude Will Tell You, Pretzel Logic

3.7/5

The piano at the start of the album gives me slightly cringey over dramatic vibes. But then I kinda just love Peter Gabriel's voice - the way he sings "on broadway" is tasty.

This prog feels particularly nerdy. I think the proggier aspects don't really add that much, and the best music here is just the pop songs hiding underneath, like the choruses of Counting out Time and The Carpet Crawlers. Perhaps this is why I generally just prefer Peter Gabriel's solo stuff to Genesis overall.

Maybe it was also just a deluxe version or something, but the album is bloated for sure.

Fave Tracks: The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway, Broadway Melody of 1974, Counting out Time, Here Comes the Supernatural Anaesthetist, The Light Dies Down on Broadway, It

3.1/5

Very pleasant and very well produced, but tbh the whole thing was sullied for me knowing it’s all covers. It’s not bad at all but I don’t really see the point for this list.

3.1/5

I find the long opening track to just be a bit boring and meandering, but the rest of this is pretty solid, especially Stay.

Fave Tracks: Golden Years, TVC15, Stay

3.8/5

Halcyon and on and on and on and becomes a loop and on becomes a loop and on and on a loop and on becomes a halcyon loop a halcyon loop and on a halcyon loop and on and on and on and on and becomes an on and becomes an on and on and becomes an on and on and on becomes a Halcyon loop.

Fave Tracks: Lush 3-1, Halcyon and On and On

3.8/5

It's another CCR record, its pretty good, what more do you want from me?

3.7/5

Not a baggy man myself. Didn't really hate this, but did find it a bit annoying, and very little grabbing me.

Fave Tracks: Creation

2.4/5

This is kinda fire. Wasn't expecting much based off the album cover, but this is the sort of thing I'm very happy to see on the list.

Fave Tracks: Soubour, Al Hassidi Terei, Nick

4.6/5

I like Bob. I respect his poeticism and his compositions, his legacy and influence, but for me this album is too scruffy. After listening through I find there aren’t really any tracks I want to go back to - my favourite is Girl from the North Country, for which I much prefer the duet with Johnny Cash.

Fave Tracks: Girl from the North Country, Corrina Corrina

3/5

Maybe this is a classic for country music fans but I found it very slow and boring. Just couldn’t find anything interesting in it.

2.3/5

I've always struggled to get into Janis and this listen was no different. I can't really find much to criticise but it also just doesn't grab me at all. Whilst she's objectively a fantastic vocalist I just don't seem to enjoy listening to her sing.

2.9/5

Interesting comparison having this a couple of days after STAND! Everything that album does well, this one lacks. “Black Is” isn’t bloated so to speak, but lacks punch. To me the first few tracks were interesting and then Wildfires was the only other with strong redeeming qualities. That being said the album on the whole js a very nice mellow listen, there isn’t much bad on any specific track apart from being a bit boring. “Free” from the other SAULT album of this year was one of my absolute favourite tracks of 2020 - it’s a shame nothing on this record gets close despite a very similar sound palette.

3.1/5

Liked this a lot, the whole album was beautiful.

4.7/5

What in the name of the sweet baby Jesus was that?! The first half is so good, I thought we were heading for a 5. Then the second half sounds like it was written by a child, offensively bad. I guess we’ll split the difference.

Fave tracks: Message in a Bottle, Regatta de Blanc, Walking on the Moon

3/5

Funny and soulful protest record. Crazy that this guy went on to play Rambo.

Fave Tracks: Stand, Somebody’s Watching You, Everyday People

4.2/5

I’m really glad this album is on the list. I listened to it 2.5 times so I could fully appreciate it. If Tom Waits and Nigel Spackman met at a Napalm Death concert and took a load of coke and went back to Tom’s basement and decided to make art I think it would sound something like this.

Fave Tracks: Several Sins

1.3/5

Loved it, loved it all. Great blend of rock and jazz elements. The Satie bookends are beautiful, can’t go wrong there.

4.8/5

A lot of meh for me. The guitars sound awful mostly, I prefer the songs that sound new wavey. Ah this Brass in Pocket track is familiar. My takeaway from this album is that (the) Pretenders are better being poppier.

2.8/5

Gotta give Aretha her respect, but most of the start of this album is very bland. However my favourite tracks were the last two.

3.1/5

Love Brian. Another fantastic album here. Beautiful blends of pop songs, experimentation, instrumental tracks, ambient elements. Not a bad track on the album in my view. However do think it slightly lacks elite punch.

Fave Tracks: St Elmo’s Fire, Another Green World

4.4/5