Reviews by deepee

I’m over 700 albums into this project and I would like to nominate this album for “worst opening track” award. Awful, made me expect a one star album to come. To my surprise there are some lovely moments in this album. It’s a bit scattered stylistically, but overall is a message of uplift for black people. It varies an important message. Some of the R&B and sort of near gospel style tracks are beautiful. I personally didn’t enjoy the ones with the repetitive chorus yelling, and thought those took away from it. However, I freely acknowledge that I, an older white woman, am not the target audience. In the end I’m glad to know about this group of musicians and I think they have much to offer.

One hit wonder (There She Goes). Overall fairly pleasant, but very average generic, pop music. The main vocalist needs to stay away from slow ballads (such as Looking Glass) because his limitations become even more evident.
This certainly wouldn’t make my list of 1001 most essential albums, but I’ve heard worse things.

It’s rude AF, but it’s important. He doesn’t lie or sugar coat things. He will spit out misogynistic lyrics but then give Yo-Yo a chance to make her rebuttal. I appreciate Ice Cube for standing up and speaking out.

The fullness of this man’s voice is gorgeous. However either he has very little range or the songs have no range. In any case they all sounded extremely similar. And they are nothing special, sadly. Plodding.

Had never heard of this band. Not bad. I appreciate their energy. They don’t sound like everybody else. The vocalist’s tendency to over-enunciate when wanting to be dramatic is a bit annoying. But using 3/4 time is a nice touch (The great Beautician in the Sky)- sounds like a punk waltz with a bit of merry-go-round music thrown in.
I’m not saying this is one of my favorite albums, but at over 700 albums in, it’s nice to hear something with originality.

This one is so monotone. The songs all mopily drone into one another. No thank you. Hearts and Bonezzz

This feels like listening to a David Bowie tribute band where the vocalist isn’t very good at all. It’s not horrible because the rhythms are there and some of the music is creative, but- it’s not great.

Some good compositions musically. Didn’t care for the vocals much. Overall kind of a downer. It’s meant as a soundtrack to an imaginary movie. From the sound of it a pretty depressing European art movie.

For those of you who don’t speak French, let me assure you that this sucks just as hard when you understand the lyrics.

Hahahaha this one was a ride.
I really could have done without the din of Birthday Boy, but the rest of it was a fine mix of weirdness, creative musicality and general mindfuckery. It would not shock me to find out these people have had encounters with extraterrestrials.

It hardly sold any copies and musically is boring as hell. Why in the world must I listen to this? I was going to give it two stars when I thought it was from the 1960s, and then I looked and saw this album was made in 2004! By then this artist should have known better. This is some pretentious hipster tedium.

So… doesn’t a live album kinda go against the whole “no greatest hits albums” rule?
Just asking because my listener pick may be a greatest hits album if I think I can get away with it. Filing this album away in my mind as evidence.
These guys sure can play the guitar! Also has some very famous hits. Not my preferred musical genre, but very good example of classic rock.

I love her lyrics. I think her music is moving too, but I especially love her lyrics. This is an album that I have listened to multiple times in the years since it came out. It’s very unique, original, moving. It won’t hit the same way for everybody, I expect there will be some wide variation in opinions. Which is what happens with art that isn’t generic and doesn’t cater to the lowest common denominator.

Well this one has me head bopping, shoulder shaking and toe tapping all the way through! Fun new find.

I really love Linda Ronstadt‘s voice. So it irks me, a lot, that this is the only place she shows up on the 1001 list. She had an amazing solo rock career! This country folk sound is very meh in comparison. The entire album focuses on one particular show folk sound, heavy on the Dolly warble. All three of these musicians are highly talented but this album is a snooze.

Oh my God make it stop. It Doesn’t Matter sounds like my broken washing machine, just stuck on the same cycle forever.

I’m not giving this one star because I know it’s not made to be listened to at home like I’m doing. I should be drunk off my ass at some dance club with lots of strobe lights. I still think I better be pretty wasted before I walk in to be able to tolerate it for very long. It is very very mindless, lacks melody, only about movement. 1.5 stars, I’ll round it up for you ravers out there.

Straightforward rock with some dramatic flair thrown in. Mr. Cooper knows how to entertain. Rises a cut above standard classic rock.
3.5 stars.

Not exactly to my taste, but her music is interesting and varied. This 1001 list has made me exceedingly grateful to artists that make albums that don’t sound the same all the way through or don’t heavily imitate somebody who came before them.

I mean it’s… fine. The lead singer’s voice is kinda whiney. On the slower songs it feels draggy, as if it was a chore for these guys to stay standing up to play their instruments. Wavering whether to give this 2 or 3 stars. Certainly won’t have any inclination to come back to it.

Some of the lyrics are good, but the lack of musical variety on this one drags it down. Too much drone, not enough melody. It’s consistent and not horrible but not their best for me.