Rated 10/10
This album is hard. Many elements are more metal than grunge I would say. The opener slaps. It all kinda slaps. Not what I'd normally listen to, but really appreciated this.
Fave Tracks: Them Bones, Rain When I Die, Rooster, Junkhead, Would?
4.5/5
Rated 6/10
Back in Black fits the category of songs I know very well but would never choose to listen to but then when it comes on in the context of the album you realise it is a very good song. So sharp, such a good use of the blank space.
Overall, within its lane I think this album does what it wants to do well. Its just not really my lane.
Fave Tracks: Back in Black, Rock and Roll Ain't Noise Pollution
3.2/5
Boring
2/5
Rated 6/10
Kinda just a bit too slow for me
3/5
Rated 6/10
Gruff. Velvet Underground are pretty overrated for me. I like the story of "The Gift", the rest of the album is kinda just messy.
2.8/5
Rated 4/10
Nah, not interested
2/5
Rated 6/10
One of the more enjoyable Stones albums I think. Paint It Black is a very cool track.
Fave Tracks: Paint It Black, Under My Thumb
3.4/5
Rated 6/10
I really need F Me Pumps to be the MJ Cole remix tbh. And that's a sorta microcosm of how I feel about Amy Winehouse's music. I respect the singing and the songcraft, but I don't like the style and you're gonna need to remix it to grab my attention.
Fave Tracks: In My Bed
3.4/5
Rated 6/10
probably quite good but I found it quite boring
2.8/5
Rated 6/10
Not really strong feelings about this one. I guess it was quite good, but I found the vocal kinda annoying, and only the last song really captured my attention.
Fave Song: Delta Sun Bottleneck Stomp
3.2/5
Rated 8/10
Wooah this is one of those albums which turns you from an Elton John appreciator to a fan.
The opening track is so ambitious and kinda works. Candle in the Wind what can you really say. The original here feels more genuine than the Princess Di version which is definitionally contrived. Bennie and the Jets is a song I only knew by name, but it slaps. I hear the influence in Frank Ocean's Super Rich Kids, Beck's Debra, and probably countless other tracks. Goodbye Yellow Brick Road is very similar, I'm only loosely familiar, shame on me.
Jamaica Jerk-Off doesn't feel like a good idea.
The Steely Dan part of my brain really enjoys this album.
Fave Tracks: Bennie and the Jets, Goodbye Yellow Brick Road, The Ballad of Danny Bailey (1909-1934),
4.4/5
Rated 8/10
Something about this was quite mesmerising. 1967 has something in the air.
Fave Tracks: Are You Happy?, The Wolf of Velvet Fortune
3.8/5
Rated 10/10
I don't necessarily love Devil's Haircut or Hotwax, but they are so exciting. The way Beck blends genres on Odelay is groundbreaking, and still sounds pretty unique - its like slacker rock plunderphonics. High 5 sounds like a Beastie Boys song.
I don't really think there's a miss on the album, save except maybe those last 43 seconds. But even that repeating electronic bar is so unequivocal that it presents intriguing questions - is there a follow up electronic album coming? (A: no, not immediately at least).
Fave Tracks: Devil's Haircut, Hotwax, The New Pollution, Jack-Ass, Where It's At
4.5/5
Rated 6/10
Two real belter rock songs on here. The Walk This Way version with Run DMC is definitely the canon version though, this original sounds like its missing an edge.
I'm not that offended by this, but I also dont think its particularly good.
Fave Track: Sweet Emotion
2.8/5
Rated 6/10
Look this album is fine. It's quite good. But it is really one of the least interesting and ambitious of Beck's storied catalogue. Mellow Gold, Odelay, Midnite Vultures and basically everything he did after this - not necessarily better, but more interesting.
Fave Tracks: The Golden Age, Lost Cause, Already Dead
3.4/5
Rated 4/10
I did not vibe with this at all.
1.7/5
Rated 8/10
Sounds very unique and quite gorgeous. Have to say I only had it going in one ear as I listened and probably need to give it another whirl.
3.7/5
Rated 8/10
BOB
4/5
Rated 6/10
Didn't find this that vulgar. Considering how heavy it was I could appreciate elements.
3.2/5
I really do not like the wobbly vocals. Favourite track towards the start of the album is easily the instrumental "The Teams That Meet in Caffs". Ok and I have to admit "Seven Days is Too Long" is kinda fun. The vocals on "Thankfully Not Living In Yorkshire It Doesn't Apply" should be super annoying but I think I find it somewhat refreshing. Some of the horn riffs are compelling, like at the end of "Keep It". Honestly if they made an entirely instrumental album I might be really into it.
I thought I was heading to 1 star territory after the first two tracks, but they kinda won me back with some catchy horns.
2.7/5
