Rated 8/10
I had never heard of Jane Weaver. But I found this album very good. Very interesting fusion between folk, electronica, some rock... Nice surprise. It's a 4 star album for me. Some tracks I particularly enjoyed: "Did You See Butterflies?", "Modern Kosmology", "Slow Motion", "Loops in the Secret Society" (probably my favourite), "The Architect", or "Valley".
Rated 10/10
Great album. One of the best albums (my favourite is "Mellon Collie" though), by one of the best bands, in my favourite musical period (early nineties). So, this is at least 4,5 stars for me ("Mellon Collie" is undoubtley 5 stars). Some favourites: "Disarm", "Mayonaise" (my favourite and probably enough to grant this album 5 stars), "Today", " Cherub Rock", "Hummer", "Geek U.S.A.", "Soma", "Spaceboy", "Silverfuck" (a divisive track I really enjoy), or "Luna". For once, I don't have any complaints about the length of the album.
Rated 6/10
Good album. Nice vocals and interesting "re-interpretation" of folk music. Songs I enjoyed: "White Winter Hymnal" (probably my favourite), "He Doesn't Know Why" (interesting outro), or "Your Protector" (which is kind of "epic folk"). This is 3,5 stars for me. I have to admit that my mind startedwandering at times, so the music is definitely good but not really captivating for me.
Rated 6/10
This was pretty good. It would be a solid 4 if not because of the length. I enjoyed the percussion in some of the tracks and I like how they show some of their Brazilian heritage. Some songs I liked: "Roots Bloody Roots" (the most famous single and probably my favourite track in the album), or "Ratamahatta". I'd also like the more instrumental tracks or even interludes, like: "Jasco", "Itsári", or "Canyon Jam".
Rated 6/10
I liked this one. I had never listened to any music by the Fairport Convention and was only vaguely familiar with the name of the band. But I found this one pretty interesting. I enjoyed it more than I expected. It's in the range of 3,5 stars for me. Some songs I enjoyed: "Reynardine" (my favourite), "Matty Groves" (really enjoyed the instrumental section in the second half of the song), "Tam Lin" or "Crazy Man Michael".
Rated 10/10
One of my favourite albums from the 90s (yep, there was a time when U2 were great). This is, in close competition with "The Joshua Tree" my favourite U2 album.
So, I actually don't need to listen (again) this album to give 5 stars. By the way, I really like Daniel Lanois (the albums he produced for Dylan are also among my favourites).
I'd say I (almost) enjoy each and every song. Here're some personal favourites: "Who's Gonna Ride Your Wild Horses", "Tryin' To Throw Your Arms Around The World", "Until The End Of The World", "Misterious Ways", "The Fly", or "Acrobat".
And yes, I know that Bono may have become increasingly insufferable...(but that has nothing to do with the quality of this album).
Rated 8/10
Good album. However, I find it surprising that some people refer to this as the best live rock album ever. As far as I'm concerned, this is all about the medley in "My Generation". If not for this, I would give this 3 stars instead of 4. "Substitute" is also ok.
Rated 10/10
Tom Waits is really divisive. And well, this is one of those albums that helps fuel such divisiveness. As far as I'm concerned, I'm totally onboard. The album is varied and musically challenging and experimental. Some songs I enjoyed: "Underground" (I love the experimentation and the lyrics), "Shore Leave" (probably my favourite, together with "In the Neighborhood"), "Johnsburg, Illinois", "16 Shells from a Thirty-Ought-Six" (great lyrics), "Town with no Cheer" (again, great lyrics), the already mentioned "In the Neighborhood" (fantastic!... "the eggs chase the bacon round the fryin, pan..."), "Swordfishtrombone", "Trouble's Braid" (crazy percussion), or the great final instrumental "Rainbirds". This is 5 stars (and it would be even more so if it was a bit shorter). It takes some effort (as usual with Waits), but the reward is huge. In any case, Tom Waits is not for the faint-hearted. It takes some courage, haha
Rated 6/10
Good album, even if not really my style. When it comes to funk, I prefer the fusion with rock (as in record by Funkadelic in this same project) than with disco. But, in any case, this is at least 3 or 4 stara (probably, for my personal taste, more in the 3 star range).
Rated 6/10
Second album by Bob Marley in this project. Not a big fan of reggae. But, in any case, this is indeed pretry good. Songs I enjoyed: "Lively up Yourself", "Natty Dread", or "Talkin' Blues" (good lyrics). I found some of the guitar licks particularly nice. I also like the theme and lyrics.
Rated 10/10
Need to listen...again. But I think this is going to be 5 stars after a quick listen.
Rated 6/10
From the very first song, I already knew that I liked this. I don't really "know" anything about this kind of music, but I really enjoyed this album. I like her "fragile" voice, even if I understand some people say her voice is not as good as when she was younger. Well, I don't know about that but, as far as I'm concerned, her voice is really good in this album. This is in the range of 3,5 stars for me. The orchestral arrangements are very good. It sounds really cohesive, so I don't have real favourites. Among others, I enjoyed: "I'm a Fool to Want You", "You Don't Know What Love Is", "You've Changed", or "Glad To Be Unhappy".
Rated 6/10
Enjoyed this one more than I expected. I'm not a big fun of disco. Actually, my favourite track is "Savoir Faire". I particularly enjoy the instrumental sections (not a fun of the vocals in this album). Other songs I enjoyed: "Le Freak" (though clearly not my top-one), "I Want Your Love" (probably my second favourite in the album), or "Chic Cheer". It's between 3 and 4 stars for me.
Rated 10/10
This is a very good album. Highly influential and original. It contains some great songs: "Hey, Hey, My, My..." (both versions), "Thrashers", "Pocahontas", or "Powderfinger" (my favourite track). This is between 4 and 5 stars for me. I'm leaning towards 5 because, apart from the music itself, I like the acoustic/electric concept and, more particularly, the use of the song(s) "Hey, Hey, My, My...".
Rated 8/10
This was a surprise. I had never heard of Scott Walker. But, I actually enjoyed this one quite a bit. It's at least 3 stars and, after a couple of listens, this may easily fall in the 4 star range. Songs I enjoyed: "The Seventh Seal", "Angels of Ashes" (great strings on this one), "Boy Child" (loved the atmospheric instrumentation), "The Old Man..." (great bass lines and orchestration), or "Duchess". It reminded me of Bowie at times (and that, alone, should be enough to grant an album 4 stars). Damn, I'm even considering 5 stars...
Rated 8/10
This is my second album by the Beastie Boys. I think I enjoyed this one more than "Paul's Boutique", which was already good. Very good album (though I'm definitely not a hip-hop expert). Songs I enjoyed: "Rhymin & Stealin", "The New Style", "She's Crafty", "Fight for your right" (together with "No Sleep Till Brooklyn" my favourites), or "Paul Revere". This is between 4 and 5 stars for me.
As far as I'm concerned, this is more relevant (thanks Mr. Malcolm McLaren) than it is actually great. However, this is still a pretty good album.
Songs I liked: "No Feelings", "Liar", "God Save The Queen" (very good), "Problems", "Anarchy in the UK" (my favourite track in the album), or "Submission" (surprising one).
I think this is in the range of 3,5 stars.
And, by the way, IMO, the Beatles or Bowie are infinitely more disruptive, provocative, and "dangerous". I can't help but feel that this is a bit of a joke...it's real fun, but kind of childish.
This is very good. "The Girl From Ipanema" is a classic, a song that makes you travel. Overall, this is in the range of 4 stars. Other songs I enjoyed: "Para Machuchar Meu Coraçao", "Desafinado" or "O Grande Amor".
Rated 8/10
Good album. Never heard of Julian Cope, but this was a pretty nice surprise.
Yes, the album is way too long, but it is also very varied so it manages to keep some interest.
Some songs I enjoyed: "Pristine" (I love the Velvet's vibe, probably my favourite), "Promised Land", "Safesurfer" (very good 8 min track), Leperski (nice bass), or "Las Vegas Basement". Interestingly, the first and the last song are probably my favourites.
This is between 3 and 4 stars for me. Leaning towards 3 because of the length, and towards 4 because of the variety and originality (also, 3 or 4 tracks are very good).
Overall, I think I'm leaning towards 4 stars.
Rated 8/10
This is obviously a very good album. I actually own the CD, although I have not listened to it that much over the years. Some of the tracks are really good. I particularly enjoy: "Maybe Your Baby" (though not a fan of the last section), "Tuesday Heartbreak", "Big Brother", "Looking for Another Pure Love" (very nice guitar), "I Believe..." (though this is another song with an end section I don't really love), or "Superstition" (a classic, and clearly my favourite track in the album)... And, by the way, I did not forget "You Are the Sunshine...". It's just that I don't particularly like thar song. Overall, a perfectly solid 4 star album.
