Reviews by deepee

The next time, which will be the first time, I host a Mad Men-themed dinner party, I now know the perfect album to have playing in the background. Very suave.

Remember that time George went through a jazzy phase and ended up dangerously close to becoming a lounge singer?
I didn’t either.

This was a new discovery for me. I had never heard of these people. It honestly is a lovely little pop dance album. A bit of fluff that I’m not sure I’ll remember for long, but quite an enjoyable listen. Reminds me a bit of the Bee-Gees, although without the harmonizing. But the same sort of lightweight dance feel.

I have never understood the adoration for this guy. The music is fairly standard, the singing is below average. I have heard about his lyrics so this tune I made a point to read them. Is the answer. He writes snapshots from the angry working man’s point of view. Which is a good description of millions of people in America. So his fans are identifying with his protagonists.
I get it now! Do I personally love his music? Still no. But now I get why he appeals.

It was pretty run of the mill rock, until the wall of screaming metal in “Don’t”. Screaming is a personal turnoff for me. ( hence the one star Sepultura album rating). Then they follow that with a pop-ish song, almost in apology. Or in pandering… suffice it to say the last two songs felt like a departure from the rest in a very calculated let’s try to expand our marketing kind of way. Knocks it from a three to a 2.5 for me.

Hip hop is not really my preferred genre, but I kinda liked this one. I gave her last album I was assigned a 3, but I’ll bump this one up a bit. 3.5 average makes sense to me.

It sounds like an Elvis Costello album. There are several in this list and nothing about this one is distinct enough from the others to justify its inclusion. It’s not his best, it’s not his first and it’s not a drastic departure. Another artist could have been included to be discovered. This album is interesting- Elvis is talented and never boring- but feels superfluous.

I find the lyrics ridiculously pretentious, but that voice is so absolutely silky and the musical arrangements are luscious. No denying it’s a vibe. I can’t decide if I think it’s gorgeous or ridiculous. But no way I’m giving a middle of the road score of three stars to this album, so I’ll have to make up my mind.

One banger after another. Sounds like nobody else. Lyrically and musically interesting. Towards the end are there a few tracks that don’t hold up quite as well? Yeah I might take off a half a star for that, but I can’t so I’m In for all five.

I’ve never been a big Grateful Dead fan, usually just because my attention span is much too short for their drawn out jams. I was surprised this album fit 10 tracks into 42 minutes- maybe I would like this?
Well, no. There is some really ponderous stuff on here. They must have been on some serious downers. It felt like a struggle to get through most of the tracks they were dragging so much. Truckin’, the last track, was a relief because they finally picked up the pace!
So yeah, this album did nothing to make a Dead head out of me.

It’s good to have a woman-led band on the list. We need more. I want to like it more than I actually do. Maybe it takes several listens? After two listens I’m hearing strength but the energy isn’t really grabbing me in anyway. It most certainly isn’t inserting itself in my memory at all.

Once again the white man makes a ton of money off of indigenous black music. But I can’t deny that the music is enjoyable to listen to. This is a “hate to like” album. I’m going to rate it on the music, in the spirit of this project, but I sorta wish that this album was never made.

Catchy robot music!

I was very pleasantly surprised by this album. After Amnesiac I had little hope for Radiohead returning to melodic compositions. This album is moody and complicated but with a welcome return to melody. Thank goodness.

Tainted Love is one of the best songs ever recorded. The singer’s voice is lovely. Sex Dwarf entertains. But this is a genre that gets a bit tiresome before the album is over.

Simpler times! Nothing deep, it’s all about the harmonizing.

I just don’t get the appeal of this guy generally. I’ve tried focusing on the lyrics. Helps slightly, but not enough to overcome that Vice. The best I can say about this album is that it isn’t his worst.

Everybody knows the iconic songs from this one. After that it unfortunately sounds very similar through the middle. Descends into chaos on the last track, which I’m sure some like alot, not me personally.

Good energy. Really enjoy the percussion. I’m not a huge fan of the timbre of her voice, which lends a goth edge to it all, but that’s just my personal preference. Definite throwback that captures the time.

This one doesn’t really give me the feels. Not enough soul.