Reviews by de_baron

This has everything that I love about soul: incredibly funky, extensive musical arrangements, and Mayfield’s voice is awesome as well. I really appreciate the lyrical content as well.
And man I wish Junky Chase went on longer, such a good instrumental.

This album is just way too long. It’s not bad, but even a beautiful voice gets tiresome after 3 hours and I had to really force myself to listen to all of it

From what I’ve heard from Steely Dan, I like “Can’t Buy A Thrill” more. Still, nothing wrong with this: very chill and laid back, jazzy feel.
3/5 rounded up.
Favourite tracks: Ricky Don’t Lose That Number, Any Major Dude Will Tell You, Pretzel Logic, Monkey In Your Soul

I know you’re not supposed to judge a book by its cover, but seeing this album doesn’t exactly make me think I will be listening to a masterpiece. Also reading that Pharrell Williams is in this group doesn’t really give me high expectations.
At times, the album certainly exceeded those expectations. Some songs are incredibly catchy and there are some nice jazzy moments in it.
There were also songs, however, that I just couldn’t bring myself to like (Fly or Die, She Wants To Move). The features by Lenny Kravitz didn’t do much for me either.
Favourite songs: Don’t Worry About It, Breakout, Wonderful Place, Maybe

Sounds very much of the time. I liked the harmonies on this album, but not much more stood out to me. Maybe because the songs are quite short, they feel a bit forgettable.
Favourite songs: 8:05, Changes, Indifference, Rounder
And why did I hear “The Wheels of the Bus” at the end of Lazy Me, haha

Awesome album, with bangers all the way through. Knopfler’s guitars are never too over the top present but also never boring.

Super funky, super catchy all the way through. Loved the vocals on this.

I liked this album less than I thought. Of course there were interesting and good moments. However there were too many moments that were too dragged out or boring, and on some songs I did not really enjoy the vocals (Cuckoo Cocoon, The Grand Parade of Lifeless Packaging).
The biggest downside for me is that this album is goes on for too long. I was quite tired at the end of listening to it.

Favourite tracks: In the Cage, Hairless Heart, The Carpet Crawlers, The Lamia, The Light Dies Down on Broadway

This album starts off incredibly strong with River Song. Thoughts of You and Time are two awesome songs. At times, however, the songs become a bit repetitive. His voice here is quite raspy and raw, very different than what I have heard on the Beach Boys' records. This is something I would return to on a warm summer evening, maybe with a beer and some friends, to put on as background music. If I had listened to it on such a day, it might have gotten a perfect score.
Of the “bonus” tracks (which make up the majority of the album), I liked the first 4 the most. Wild Situation was a fun listen as well and Are You Real almost sounded like prog at times.

Apparently I kind of like country? I didn’t mind this at all, but it’s probably not something I’ll return to. Some songs are a bit forgettable.

Enjoyed this much more than I had expected. I went in expecting a boring pop album but this was way more prog rock and gospelly than I initially anticipated. Pretty good listen.

I heard of many people praising this album and have listened to it before, and although I like it, it is not a 5/5 album for me. There is certainly nothing wrong with it; musically it is up my alley (Although Neignorhood #4 (7 Kettles) eventually got pretty boring) and it has some awesome lyrics, but it did not sound all that special to me - there is just something missing for me that keeps it from a perfect score.
Favourite tracks: Neighborhood #3 (Power Out), Wake Up, In the Backseat

This is definitely weird, but in all the right ways. Sounds to me like a mix of The Pixies and Nirvana. The instrumental 5-4=Unity was interesting (is it a "cover" of Dave Brubeck's "Take Five"?). This album gives me the urge to gather some friends and jam out and maybe start a band.
Favourite Tracks: Stop Breathin, Cut Your Hair, Range Life, Fillmore Jive
4/5

I don’t know if this was a good first “real” introduction to Leonard Cohen (I know Hallelujah, of course).
I am sure that I don’t understand all the intricacies of the lyrics on this album, going off of what I’ve heard about Cohen. So lyrically, there is probably a lot of interesting things going on.
Musically, this was nothing like I expected this to sound. I liked the three track run Everybody Knows, I’m Your Man, and Take This Waltz most of this wasn’t really for my taste.

I had never heard of this album but it’s great! The dance/house elements combined with the 60s influences make for a very interesting and enjoyable trip-hoppy album. Only Love Can Break Your Heart is a great cover, Girl VII is super catchy and I liked the bass in People Get Real. The instrumentals Stoned to Say the Least and Like the Swallow stayed interesting all the way through, but Nothing Can Stop Us is probably my favourite song on here.

THE SOUNDS OF FREEDOM RAAAGH 🦅🇺🇸🦅🇺🇸🇺🇸🦅🦅
This is the most American shit I’ve ever heard. Nonetheless pretty good.
Favourite tracks: I’m On Fire, Bobby Jean, Dancing In the Dark

It is hard to deny the influence this record and Little Richard in general has had. However, there is only so much variation you can have within a twelve bar blues structure and eventually the album got quite boring.

I didn’t really mind this album and thought Don’t Tell Me was actually pretty good. There were no songs I absolutely hated but Paradise (Not For Me) went on for too long, however. I was about to give it a 3/5 but then the cover of American Pie came.

I had never heard of Isaac Hayes, so I was not sure what to expect. But to my surprise, I had heard Walk On By, but as a sample on Hooverphonic’s “2 Wicky”.
I really liked the first two songs. REALLY liked them. That’s why I think it’s a pity that One Woman didn’t carry the same energy for me: it felt much more generic and dull. Not a bad song, but my least favourite of this album.
Although the spoken intro to By The Time I Get To Phoenix is quite long, I don’t really mind it and it’s a nice intro to the song. The song itself is beautiful.
The musical arrangements on this album are awesome, just like his voice, which is very soothing and perfect for this music. Definitely one worth revisiting.

The album title says enough.
I just can’t stand Michael Jackson and his hoo-ha’s for more than two song on end, so no surprise the rating here.
I hate Speed Demon and Liberian Girl and the ever-present 80s drum groove throughout the album drives me insane. I also never realised how awful Man In The Mirror actually is and the two songs that follow make up the worst three song run I have ever heard.
The fact that I quite liked the first two songs cannot save this album, probably because after those the amount of Michael Jackson I can handle was exceeded.
hee hee 1/5