Reviews by fique

Skunk Anansie – Post Orgasmic Chill (1999)
On Day 217, I experienced something completely unexpected: trip-hop mixed with heavy metal, and it actually worked exceptionally well. This was my very first introduction to Skunk Anansie, and I wasn't disappointed in the slightest. Sonically, the production capability all around was crazy—one minute it's quiet and groovy, and the next, it feels like the whole world is coming crashing down around you.

The vocals were easily a major highlight. Skin has an incredible vocal range; the chick can truly sing. "Charlie Big Potato" easily takes the cake as the absolute standout, it couldn't possibly be a greater opener for a record like this. Other major highlights across the session included "On My Hotel TV," "Good Things Don't Always Come To You," "Cheap Honesty," and "I'm Not Afraid." A fantastic, heavy, and soaring 90s alt-rock discovery. A solid 4/5.

Devo – Q: Are We Not Men? A: We Are Devo! (1978)
On Day 216, I dove into a genuinely great New Wave record that strongly reminded me of David Bowie's work. I really liked how groovy it was, as well as how experimental the instrumentation and overall production capability felt throughout the session.

The tracklist had a solid run of standouts for me. "Uncontrollable Urge" was great, a track I recognized from The Wolf of Wall Street, followed by their brilliant take on "(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction." "Space Junk" and "Mongoloid" were both super groovy and funky, alongside "Gut Feeling / (Slap Your Mammy)." But my absolute favorite of them all was "Come Back Jonee." A super fun, experimental, and infectious listening experience.

Black Monk Time - The Monks (1966)
I give psychedelically music a chance but this one was very unsettling. There's a thin line between music and anti-music and that line was this album. Apart from not being on Spotify, it was unlistenable to me. Too experimental, but I get the vision... at least

Beastie Boys - Licensed To Ill (1986)

Absolute masterpiece of album bangers after bangers, drawn closer The New Style and Time To Get Ill the instrumental went crazy rhmes crazy 5/5

shit sounds like Hitler raging

The Velvet Underground & Nico (1967)

Ahead of its time doesn't even begin to cover it. You can clearly hear how this record laid the groundwork for noise rock, punk, and art rock long before those genres had names. The avant-garde edge peaks on "The Black Angel's Death Song," where the jarring, dissonant viola and stream-of-consciousness delivery push rock music into experimental territory.

On the melodic side, "Femme Fatale" (a long-time favorite) and "Sunday Morning" stand out as immediate highlights striking a perfect balance between delicate dream-pop textures and underlying tension. Packed with standout moments from start to finish.

California - American Music Club
Bruh telling me that the album this ass wasn't on spotify would have saved me time. hard to find hard to listen to

David Ackles – American Gothic (1972)
On Day 208, I experienced a record that brought a surprisingly unique sound compared to what I initially expected for a country/folk album. During the session, it actually blew me away at certain points with its scale. However, on the other hand, the project would go on to lose momentum pretty quickly.

The main issue I had was that the overall sound design simply wasn't consistent across the tracklist. Some songs were absolute peak, while others felt mid, and a few were just plain bad. I did manage to really like a couple of standout tracks, specifically "Montana Song," "Another Friday Night," and "Love's Enough." I respect the grand attempt and the unique direction it tried to take, but the inconsistency makes it mid regardless. A flat 3/5.

Dr. Dre – The Chronic (1992)
After multiple separate sessions, this LP proved to be an absolute masterpiece and a cinematical, great body of work. Regarding the production, calling it one of the best-produced albums ever is completely reasonable, clearly demonstrating why it created an entirely new wave of the G-Funk sound. The sampling is remarkably crisp, brilliantly pulling from Parliament-Funkadelic which coincidentally I got earlier during this challenge.

"Let Me Ride" was my absolute favorite track, while "Lil' Ghetto Boy" served as my major sleeper pick (noting how Biggie later interpolated it on "Things Done Changed"). Then, of course, there's "Nuthin' but a 'G' Thang," a track I knew from GTA: San Andreas that brought back so many fun times and great memories during the session. The lyrics and delivery across the board were exceptionally crisp, with both Snoop and Dre killing it alongside the other performers. A truly great record packed with incredible joints. A flawless 5/5.

TV On The Radio – Dear Science (2008)
On Day 206, I jumped into a decent album that unfortunately didn't fully justify its spot for me. Sonically, it is undeniably great, and I am a really great fan of the overall production capability on display across the tracklist. During the session, I found a few songs that I definitely liked, specifically "Crying," "Family Tree," and "Love Dog."
However, looking at the bigger picture, I honestly can't see why this project belongs on the definitive list. If this had been a random side discovery, I probably would have loved it, but experiencing it towards this specific challenge felt a bit out of point. It's a good record, but I could easily try to name 1001 albums better than it. A flat 3/5.

Tracy Chapman – Tracy Chapman (1988)
Not too long ago, I heard "Fast Car" and then realized the entire album was included in this listening challenge. To avoid any spoilers and ensure I experienced the full context, I disciplined myself and restrained from listening. Coincidentally, I got the album just three weeks later, and I wasn't disappointed in the slightest. Hearing "Fast Car" during this full session was an eye-watering experience; it is an incredibly great song.

I then went deep into the album context to discover other tunes like "Talkin' 'bout a Revolution," "Across the Line," "Baby Can I Hold You," "For You," and "If Not Now...". It is an immaculate record. I can't say much more, it was peak discovery, an absolutely elevating experience. The vocals, the powerful writing and lyrics the acoustic instrumentation, and the entire production lay-out was pure folk perfection. Flawless. A definitive 5/5.

De La Soul – 3 Feet High and Rising (1989)
On Day 204, I dove into a definitive classic. This LP was incredibly fun and refreshing to experience, standing out as a brilliant change of pace in the sea of hardcore hip-hop that was coming out during those years, serving as the catalyst for an entire movement. The highlights across this great 60-minute session run incredibly deep, including "The Magic Number," "Change in Speak," "Buddy," "Tread Water," and "Me Myself and I." Another major standout was "Eye Know," a track I really liked and actually knew way before starting this challenge.

The smooth vocal delivery from Kelvin and Trugoy (RIP) was truly one of one, and the sampling across the record was an absolute masterpiece. Prince Paul’s production capability is a complete masterclass, brilliantly flipping tracks like Steely Dan's "Peg." Even the skits and the trivia elements gave the entire LP a distinct, unified concept that ties back perfectly to the intro. A flawless 5/5.

Thelonious Monk – Brilliant Corners (1957)
On Day 203, I experienced what might be the most intense, in-depth analysis I have ever done against an album. This record completely puts aside traditional expectations of what jazz is all about to create an obscure, highly complex sound, built on layers of instruments going in parallel, opposite directions to each other a structural chaos perfectly exemplified by the title track.

The second track, "Ba-Lue Bolivar Ba-Lues-Are," maintained a clearer melody, yet you can tell it was meticulously pieced together after multiple grueling takes. Despite the exhausting effort it took to master, the chemistry on display is fantastic and incredibly enjoyable. In the vast sea of obscure experimentation across this project, "I Surrender, Dear" stood out as a moody, solo piano piece driven by Monk's distinct touch. "Pannonica" beautifully showcased Monk’s multi-instrumentalist talent, starting with a unique blend of celesta and piano that set a magical, guiding tone for the rest of the track. Everything finally came together in unison on the closer, "Bemsha Swing." Sonny Rollins' chemistry on saxophone with Monk was stellar as he fought to match Monk's unpredictable energy, backed by stellar drums and a rock-solid, constant bass. I used to call myself a "jazz head" before my ears were truly put to the test by this record. I don't know if I officially succeeded or failed, but I know this quest was highly entertaining. A flawless 5/5.

Talk Talk – The Colour Of Spring (1986)
Judging the album strictly off the first listen, I simply didn't get it. I could definitely hear that "revolutionary sound" people talk about because the style sounded entirely new to me, but I wasn't quite impressed with the overall sound design of the project. There wasn't quite much to say about this LP as a whole during this initial session.

While the bulk of the record didn't land for me, one song did absolutely stand out: "Living in Another World." Initially, I was thinking that the album was mid, but I will deem whether that's officially the case after giving it multiple listens in the future.

ts is ass gang I'm sorry, and I'm not being homophobe 🥀💔

Sam Cooke – Live at the Harlem Square Club, 1963 (1985)
On Day 200, I hit a massive milestone with a perfect album from start to finish. Historically, executives might have worried that this recording was too raw and gritty for his "pop image," but I beg to differ. While it is certainly raw compared to his studio LPs, his technical ability on this stage was immense. His vocals were as crisp as it gets, honestly tracking with more depth and clarity than what standard studio engineers can process. The performance was incredibly swingy, which was exactly the kind of fitting vibe I needed today as I celebrate 200 days in this challenge.
The production layout is incredible; the observation that it sounds like you are sitting just three feet away from the stage was absolutely spot on. If I wasn't driving during the session, this record would have had me jumping off my feet. "Cupid" was my absolute standout track today, though potentially I can see so many other songs standing out on future plays. It is a truly timeless album where you simply cannot judge the timing. An absolute masterpiece and a definitive 5/5.

The Jam – Sound Affects (1980)
On Day 199, I reached the final doorstep of the 200-album milestone with a decent listen. Right off the first check, I really liked the overall energy of the record and found the production capability to be remarkably well-layered. Going into it, it turned out to be a great punk album, though it didn't hit quite how I was expecting it to based on traditional styles.
The tracklist brought some immediate familiarity, as I recognized a few songs that I already knew from my personal Punk playlist, specifically "Set the House Ablaze," "Music for the Last Couple," and the aggressive rhythm of "Scrape Away." However, during the actual album session, I found myself drawn much closer to "Start!", which easily became a major highlight. It's a rock-solid, high-energy project that keeps the momentum completely steady. A strong 4/5.

Octagon – Dr. Octagonecologyst (1996)
On Day 198, I dove into an underground hip-hop project that I tried incredibly hard to like, but it ultimately killed the experience for me. The album is packed with corny lines, and the overall progression left me feeling incredibly bored and completely disengaged. To make matters worse, I was already feeling sick during the session, and the strange, chaotic nature of this LP actively made me feel worse as it went on.
Despite the rough listening experience, I did find one definitive highlight in "I'm Destructive." I really liked this track because the production and the abstract vocal flow at least reminded me of bits of MF DOOM's style, which gave me something solid to attach to. Outside of that track, however, the project simply didn't land well at all. An incredibly tough sit and a flat 2/5.

Guns N' Roses – Appetite For Destruction (1987)
On Day 197, I tackled a definitive classic. Sonically, this album is an absolute masterpiece. Axl Rose completely tested his voice box showcasing an incredible vocal range, while Slash absolutely abused his guitars to deliver a historic performance. "Welcome To The Jungle" serves as the perfect intro here, immediately setting the tone for everything to follow. The blues tracking on songs like "Nightrain," "Out Ta Get Me," and "Mr. Brownstone" is completely ridiculous. "Paradise City" is another phenomenal standout; there is something incredible about how it handles the production layout, bringing it down in the middle of the track to transition the blues directly into heavy, hard rock arena energy.

I also really liked "My Michelle." Then, of course, there is "Sweet Child O' Mine." Unless you live under a rock, you have heard this song, and growing up I encountered it in many movies without knowing how truly good it was until now. Listening to it here brought back so many nostalgic moments, and something about that opening riff just strikes your mind like absolute cinema. Tracks like "You're Crazy" and "Anything Goes" beautifully carry that blues-rock foundation directly into "Rocket Queen," a stellar closer that found its way to being my personal favorite track on the record. Ultimately, "Rocket Queen," "Paradise City," and "Sweet Child O' Mine" absolutely take the cake today. This project goes to show you just how incredible a debut album can be. A flawless 5/5.

Elvis Costello & The Attractions – Blood & Chocolate (1986)
On Day 196, I revisited Elvis Costello & The Attractions, and while this album didn't sound as good as the last project I reviewed, it surprisingly wasn’t a bad experience either. You can clearly hear the intense themes running through the tracklist, dealing heavily with heartbreak and unresolved conflicts. The biggest issue holding the record back is its overall inconsistency, especially on tracks like the single "I Want You," "Uncomplicated," and "Tokyo Storm Warning," which feature some rather unusual and cringy lyrics.

Despite those flaws, the rest of the album was great. What stood out to me was how well the premium production complimented the songs, especially on the more laid-back tracks where the band really found a smooth groove. "I Hope You're Happy Now" was the absolute standout for me it serves as the prime example of how the production, lyrics, and overall vibes should come together in perfect unison. The second half of the record carries a highly enjoyable and consistent run of highlights, including "Home Is Anywhere You Hang Your Head," "Blue Chair," "Battered Old Bird," "Crimes Of Paris," and "Next Time Round." A solid and respectable listen.