Reviews by fique

Bob Dylan – Time Out of Mind (1997)
Through the record and its incredibly deep lyrics, you can clearly understand that Bob Dylan was completely reinventing his sound. It is a deep project—like sick deep—proving his songwriting ability was right there like it had never left. Off a first listen, this is a strong 4/5. I really liked the deep emotional weight of "Standing in the Doorway," alongside other standouts like "Love Sick," "Dirt Road Blues," and "Cold Irons Bound." Hearing "Make You Feel My Love" was great, especially knowing its powerful lyrics from Adele's version, and "Highlands" is just an incredible closer to wrap up the journey.

Tricky – Maxinquaye (1995)
This album started off strong, but in the midst of it, the project became disjointed. It honestly felt like I was listening to three completely separate albums under one name. However, "Overcome" and "Black Steel" dragged this album up to a passing grade. I really liked the vocal work on "Overcome" and the intense production style on "Black Steel." The main takeaway here is that his girlfriend (Martina Topley-Bird) absolutely cooked on her parts. If it wasn't for the presence of those two massive standout tracks, the total lack of cohesion would have made this a 2. Because they saved it, I am compelled to give it a 3/5.

Amy Winehouse – Frank (2003)
This album is decent, and the vocals are absolutely priceless. It is incredibly refreshing to see an artist like her make a serious attempt to bring back that classic crooner tune while adding her own little sauce to the mix. The hip-hop and jazz fusion works brilliantly on tracks like "Intro / Stronger Than Me," "You Sent Me Flying / Cherry" (which I liked for the most part), "Know You Now," and "Fuck Me Pumps." I also loved the R&B attempts on "I Heard Love Is Blind" and the warm closer, "Mr Magic (Janice Has He Left You?)." Other notable shoutouts go to "Help Yourself," "Moody's Mood for Love / Teo Licks," and her beautiful cover of Dinah Washington's "(There Is) No Greater Love." It is an excellent project all around, pure performance cinema. 5/5

The United States of America – The United States of America (1968)
I mean yeah, it is cool. Regarding the sound, I have to say that because I liked Bitches Brew, I understand what is clearly happening here and I lowkey liked it. I cannot say for sure if it is rock or jazz, but the intersection would definitely be psychedelic. For an album from 1968 to sound this visionary, hats off to them, to be honest. There were not many songs that I instantly liked on the first pass, except for "No Love to Give" and "I Won't Leave My Wooden Wife for You, Sugar." However, I am going to give it some time and see how it grows on me. 4/5

Edit: Hold on, I spoke too soon, the back half of this album is incredibly good, and I did not expect it. Tracks like "Stranded in Time" (Tailor Man) and the "Perry Pier" section blew me away. The intense organs on Tailor Man and the stunning vocal work on Perry Pier are just incredible. 5/5

The Undertones – The Undertones (1979)
Catchy, high-energy, and completely free of pretension, that is the perfect explanation for this album. It is incredibly good and high-energy, giving you so much in just 34 minutes of runtime. With 16 tracks, the pacing was incredible and the energy momentum was pure. I really enjoyed the Ramones, so this felt right in that same wheelhouse. I liked various tracks across the record, including "Teenage Kicks", "Get Over You", "Jimmy Jimmy", "Here Comes The Summer", plus "Family Entertainment" which was a massive intro standout. Other highlights for me were "Girls Don't Like It," "Male Model," "I Gotta Getta," "She's A Runaround," "Listening In," and "Casbah Rock," which served as an absolutely great closer. To be honest, the whole project was so great that I might even end up loving the remaining tracks because I will definitely be returning to this one. A strong 5/5.

M.I.A. – Arular (2005)
I have one piece of advice for her: maybe don't try to spread a revolutionary message over mess beats and production. This one I just wasn't feeling at all. The vocals and lyrics felt so disconnected from the rhythm, production, and beats. Honestly, she probably should have been preaching for girls to shake their asses on these tracks instead of trying to preach about vaccines. A flat 2/5.

A Tribe Called Quest – People's Instinctive Travels and the Paths of Rhythm (1990)
I can't say much about this album man, it holds a special place in my heart alongside The Low End Theory, but let's stick to the main guy here. Discovering ATCQ back in 2023 when "Can I Kick It?" played as a movie soundtrack changed everything. Like any other music nerd, I dug into the crates and did my research, which made me a long-time fan of their work. Aside from that background, ATCQ really are among my favorite rap bands ever, and I don't see that changing in this life. In terms of favorite songs and highlight tracks from this project, it's honestly all of them except "Mr. Muhammad." An undisputed, rule-breaking 6/5.

The Roots – Phrenology (2002)
Ngl, this might be the best experimental rap album I have ever heard in this challenge. I wasn't feeling how it started at first, and the burst of punk rock on "!!!!!" right after "Rock You" was crazy, but the transition from there into "Sacrifice" completely changed my mind. I liked "Sacrifice" and "Thought @ Work" lowkey got me moving, but that was before I reached "Break You Off", a beautiful song I’ve heard before, and it was great finding out where it came from.

You can't talk about experimental and forget the 10 minutes of pure madness on "Water," which beautifully gave birth to a run of "Quills" and "Pussy Galore" that was just a chef's kiss. Then let's talk about "Complexity," the absolute favorite of them all. The chemistry between Jill Scott and Black Thought over Questlove was exactly what I was rooting the Roots for (pun intended). The subtle interpolation of Marvin Gaye's "Got to Give It Up" didn't go unheard either; it was beautiful, absolute art. The spoken word on "Something in the Way" was great too. I liked how this album brought together many genres; even though I didn't feel the majority of them individually, the cohesion and ambition of their purpose was entirely there. A strong 5/5.

Ray Price – Night Life (1963)
After an undeservedly long listening session, this was great, but to me, it wasn’t the revolutionary project they say it is. The performance itself was great, but it really would have done it for me if it had just stuck to its country roots instead of trying so hard to be pop. A decent 3/5.

Songhoy Blues – Music in Exile (2015)
Day 145 was decent and refreshing to hear something from the motherland. This album has a unique desert blues sound that is just great. The guitar work all around this project is a masterpiece, especially on "Soubour" and my personal favorite, "Al Hassidi Terei," which has an incredible groove, mood, and vibe.

The range here is immense. "Nick" was great and felt much more refined than other tracks, while "Sekou Oumarou," "Wayei," and "Ai Tchere Bele" (especially "Ai") featured stellar guitar work. "Petit Metier" was another great standout, and "Jolie" showed off a beautiful, mellow vocal range. The inclusion of "Desert" and "Mali" further proved their vocal depth. Although it was a real tussle to actually find the album and save it for easy accessibility, and despite the language barrier, the music speaks for itself. An undeniable 5/5.

Neneh Cherry – Raw Like Sushi (1989)
Day 144 was a decent listen. It’s a fair attempt from the late 80s to revolutionize the pop sound by blending in hip-hop and R&B elements. While I wouldn't go as far as calling it a classic, its upbeat energy and rawness made it an enjoyable experience. It felt more "focused" than previous attempts at genre-bending. A solid 3/5.

Christina Aguilera – Stripped (2002)
Day 143 was a bit of a disconnect. I have to agree with the critics on this one. As Jane Stevenson wrote for E! Online: "If she had just shown up and sang her ass off, Stripped would've been a better show." Instead, the album sounds like a headless chicken spanning random directions, trying so hard to genre-bend that it loses its own track. While her raw talent is obvious, the lack of cohesion makes it a frustrating listen. Not quite a 1, but definitely a 2/5.

Rage Against The Machine – Rage Against The Machine (1992)
Day 142 was an explosive transition. This album is a fucking banger, the energy, the immaculate production, and the devious lyrics all hit perfectly. It’s high-velocity rock that feels ahead of its time, even decades later.

The highlights were monumental. "Bombtrack" and "Take the Power Back" were so good I was literally tearing during the listen ...literally :(. "Killing in the Name," "Bullet in the Head," "Know Your Enemy," and "Fistful of Steel" were all absolute standouts that showed off the band's slick chemistry and raw conviction. A definitive 5/5 for a "revolutionary" body of work.

Leonard Cohen – You Want It Darker (2016)
Not this dark Mr Cohen!

Day 141 was intense. But nah blud this made me appreciate life, shit can turn your beautiful day with a snap of a finger while keeping itself beautiful! I mean the vocals were deep and you can hear he troubled life through and the lyrics. never heard anything darker than this while being the most beautiful sound. I can't go on to describe song by song because what I took is this LP tackles and ponders one question! DID YOU LIVE?, ARE YOU READY TO SEE WHAT'S ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE SPECTRUM!

God it was answered! I liked on the level played it multiple times it was deep imo both and treaty, Leaving the table I don't need a lover, no, the wretched beast is tame... damn it's deep Cohen, Steer your way beautiful performance and the closer just wow but on the level, play it at my funeral. I'll use the LP as my eulogy.

Gotan Project – La Revancha Del Tango (2001)
On Day 140, I found an album that is strictly for the vibes. It’s a background-focused project that blends Latino elements with trip-hop and electronica immaculately, but it doesn't necessarily grab your attention or force you to decrypt an artistic vision.

While it’s not groundbreaking in a way that makes the tracks stick in my head, I get why it’s on the list for its cinematic atmosphere. It’s decent for when you need something to allow you to think without being one-note. I did save "Santa María," which stood out as a highlight. A solid 3/5 for a mood-setting listen.

The Hives – Your New Favourite Band (2001)
Day 139 was explosive, but ultimately it didn't leave a lasting mark. The energy was immense from start to finish, which kept the momentum up, but none of the tracks really stood out as memorable masterpieces. It felt a bit one-note compared to the sophisticated layers I've heard recently.

I did have a soft spot for the closer, "The Hives Are Law, You Are Crime," which had a great vibey delivery. It’s a decent listen for when you need a high-velocity boost, but for now, it hasn't grown on me enough to go higher. A solid 3/5.

David Bowie – Hunky Dory (1971)
On Day 138, I witnessed the moment "Bowie became Bowie." This album is a perfect shift toward a more singer-songwriter style, and he pulled it off with high-level artistry. It feels raw and introspective, offering a vulnerable look into his talent that differs from the experimental or glam sounds of his other work I’ve heard.

The highlights were immense: "Changes," "Oh! You Pretty Things," and the vocal triumph of "Life on Mars?" were outstanding. I also really connected with "Eight Line Poem," "Kooks," and "Queen Bitch." Closing with "The Bewlay Brothers" was a masterclass in concluding a body of work. A definitive 5/5 for a great transition in sound.

Def Leppard – Pyromania (1983)
On Day 137, I found the perfect antidote to my last listen. This album is a triumphant example of how pop and rock can blend when the technical chemistry is this tight. The energy in both the vocals and the instruments was immense, and for the first time in a while, everything felt like it hit with "immaculate" precision.

"Photograph" was the absolute standout, but "Rock! Rock! (Till You Drop)," "Rock of Ages," and "Comin' Under Fire" all brought that high-velocity power I was looking for. It’s a great project and a masterclass in stadium production. A definitive 5/5.

Kings of Leon – Aha Shake Heartbreak (2004)
On Day 136, the streak came to a halt with a project that just wasn't it. There was a major disconnect between the singer and the production that made the whole experience a struggle. The vocal performance was particularly rough, it felt disjointed to the point where the lyrics were unintelligible, leading to a total lack of immersion.

I wasn't a fan of the genre execution here; it felt like it was trying for a garage vibe but missed the mark. Aside from a few moments, it lacked the cohesion I’ve enjoyed in previous listens. It’s a 2/5, and honestly, a bit of a relief to be moving on from this one.

Nick Drake – Bryter Layter (1971)
On Day 135, I moved into a more levitating space with a 70s folk classic. This is a truly decent LP that earns a full 5/5. It’s got a slick production that feels more "conscious" and arranged than a standard acoustic record.

The standout tracks were definitely "Hazey Jane II," "At the Chime of a City Clock," "Poor Boy," and "One of These Things First." The title track also set a blessed tone for the whole experience. It’s a triumphant project that manages to be sweet and noir all at once, proving that Nick Drake was truly in a league of his own.