Reviews by florida-metalhead810

Fusion-era Miles Davis should be a good listen, right? It is a good enough listen-if you like sidelong jazz workouts. This album consists of two sidelong jazz fusion pieces, with "Shhh/Peaceful" being a pretty good extended jazz song. The title track starts less energetic and more intimate than "Shhh/Peaceful" before it ultimately settles into a nice jazz groove. This is a pretty good jazz fusion album that showcases Miles Davis's willingness to experiment with different styles of jazz and his excellent musicianship, allowing for a uniquely great album. I would expect nothing less from the greatest jazz musician of the album era.

This album is ranked #8 of 38 albums for 1969. Other 1969 albums rated by me:
Abbey Road(1/38)-5
Led Zeppelin(3/38)-4
At San Quentin(5/38)-5
Bayou Country(7/38)-4
In the Court of the Crimson King(9/38)-5
The Velvet Underground(10/38)-4
Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere(11/38)-4
Stand!(16/38)-4
Cloud Nine(17/38)-4
Arthur(18/37)-3
Hot Rats(19/38)-3
From Elvis In Memphis(21/38)-2
Tommy(22/38)-4
Songs From A Room(25/38)-5
Unhalfbricking(26/38)-4
Kick Out The Jams(29/38)-3
The Gilded Palace of Sin(30/38)-3
Odessa(36/38)-2

Yay, another 90s British techno album! This one might be as boring as the last few. Surprisingly, there are some legitimately good songs on this album. A few of the songs are legitimately fun, groovy electronic music, but a few more are bad electronic music that does absolutely nothing for the listener. I don't really think that this band or album are one of the most essential electronic acts of this period, but it's better than many of the British electronic acts of the period. I'll give it points for that.

This album is ranked #28 of 29 albums for 1994. Other 1994 albums rated by me:
Dookie(2/29)-4
Grace(3/29)-3
Dummy(4/29)-5
Illmatic(7/29)-5
Smash(10/29)-4
Ready to Die(11/29)-2
Live Through This(13/29)-4
Protection(15/29)-4
Talking Timbuktu(17/29)-3
Music for the Jilted Generation(19/29)-4
Dog Man Star(20/29)-3

This album is when Guns N' Roses were at their peak, having most of their best-known songs. As you'd expect, it's an excellent hard rock album full of raunchy, dirty rock tunes. The songwriting is great, with excellent hooks married to catchy riffs and choruses. Lyrics aren't very good, but this is a 1980s hard rock album. The important part is that the album's sound is very well suited to the genre, with high-range vocals and guitar heroics well suited to late-1980s hard rock. This is an absolute classic of the genre with how many of its songs still get played today on rock radio, and while its genre isn't for everyone, it is most certainly for me.

This album is ranked #2 of 25 albums for 1987. Other 1987 albums rated by me:
Bad(1/25)-4
Document(4/25)-4
Sign o' The Times(5/25)-4
Strangeways, Here We Come(6/25)-4
Music for the Masses(7/25)-4
Darklands(9/25)-4
You're Living All Over Me(13/25)-4
The New Tango(19/25)-2
Warehouse: Songs and Stories(21/25)-4
Opus Dei(24/25)-4
Scum(25/25)-5

This will mark my first experience with the Fall on the list. As it stands, I don't really care for them. The sound of this album is best described as punk/new wave with some pop hooks. However, the vocals are very weak. He mostly just does a spoken word thing for the entire song, which is either difficult to hear or annoying. This album would be quite a bit better if the vocalist actually tried to, you know, sing rather than just speak the lyrics over the songs. A weird Can imitation on "I am Damo Suzuki" does nothing to aid this issue, instead making me want to listen to actual Can. The lyrics tend to be cynical examinations of the state of Britain and the world. So, this album has some good stuff and some bad, which puts it squarely in the middle. I'll say 3 stars on this one.

This album is ranked #12 of 16 albums for 1985. Other 1985 albums rated by me:
Brothers in Arms(2/16)-5
Hounds of Love(3/16)-4
Low-Life(5/16)-3
Rum, Sodomy, and the Lash(6/16)-3
Hunting High and Low(8/16)-3
Steve McQueen(10/16)-3
Picture Book(13/16)-2
Fear and Whiskey(15/16)-2

Many of the records on this list haven't aged well at all. This is probably one of them. Immediately at the album's start, you hear a mostly mediocre metal track with exceedingly poor lyrics(white guy using the N-word in a song's chorus, among other things). The rest of the album mostly follows this pattern, with some decent songs mostly ruined by Manson's awful vocals. He can't sing at all, so he just does a weird whisper thing that is pretty annoying or screams, which is a facsimile of rage lacking any real passion. This album is mostly decently hooky metal songs brought down by bad lyrics and vocals. It's not particularly memorable or worthwhile, and it does suffer from CD-era bloat. So, yeah, time has kind of left this one behind, if it was ever that good to begin with. This is not an essential album by any means.

This album is the lowest ranked album of 1996 globally. Other 1996 albums rated by me:
The Score(1/28)-4
Tigermilk(8/28)-3
Everything Must Go(11/28)-3
Emperor Tomato Ketchup(13/28)-4
1977(14/28)-2
Better Living Through Chemistry(15/28)-2
Oedipus Schmoedipus(23/28)-3
Now I Got Worry(27/28)-4

This is perhaps one of the most tragic albums on the list. Only albums always kind of are, as are final albums of a career cut short by death. This album is both of those things. However, I found it to be rather mediocre alternative rock. Many like to point to his vocal chops and dynamic songwriting as reasons for this album's greatness, but they don't necessarily have the same quality that many say they do. There are some pretty good songs on this record, but much of it is mediocre, and it's probably not entirely deserving of its reputation. It wouldn't be held in such high regard had Buckley still been alive to this day in my opinion.

This album is ranked #3 of 29 albums for 1994. Other 1994 albums rated by me:
Dookie(2/29)-4
Dummy(4/29)-5
Illmatic(7/29)-5
Smash(10/29)-4
Ready to Die(11/29)-2
Live Through This(13/29)-4
Protection(15/29)-4
Talking Timbuktu(17/29)-3
Music for the Jilted Generation(19/29)-4
Dog Man Star(20/29)-3

Before starting this project, my primary music genre of choice was metal-including some extreme metal. I an actually familiar with a few of this album's tracks and enjoyed them, contrary to this site's general opinion towards it. This album is better when they build up to the noise blasts rather than have the entire song be a noise blast(yes, there is an actual difference). While the band are clearly capable players, the vocals on Side A lack the virtuosity that later extreme metal vocalists have(proper techniques for "toilet-gurgle" vocals hadn't yet been developed, though they do exist now). Lyrics are mostly rants about corporate greed and capitalism, though they require the help of lyric sheets and/or Spotify's helpful lyrics tool to decipher. On Side B, the sound gets noticeably tinnier and the vocals get even less intelligible somehow(with Side A only being barely intelligible as is). Side B loses the dynamic ferocity of Side A for just straight blasts of noise that barely sound distinguishable(yes, even to someone familiar with the genre). I won't say that it's the best extreme metal album for the list or even the most essential(surely, if this could make it on, then so could Death's Symbolic or Human and Morbid Angel's Altars of Destruction). But, it is the most extreme metal album on the list, and as a result of uncompromising ferocity that got me to headbang for the first time in way too long, it gets 5 stars from me. And no, I'm not insane, you're just wimpy(jk).

This album is the lowest rated album of 1987 globally. Other 1987 albums rated by me:
Bad(1/25)-4
Document(4/25)-4
Sign o' The Times(5/25)-4
Strangeways, Here We Come(6/25)-4
Music for the Masses(7/25)-4
Darklands(9/25)-4
You're Living All Over Me(13/25)-4
The New Tango(19/25)-2
Warehouse: Songs and Stories(21/25)-4
Opus Dei(24/25)-4

I've had plenty of good experiences with Neil's other albums on this list, so I hope this one's equally good. Immediately, this strikes me as different from other Neil Young albums; it's his rawest and loudest record on this list. While After the Gold Rush was mostly folky and political, this album is a torrent of guitar noise linked with introspective lyrics on songs like "F*!$in' Up" and "Love to Burn". And it's a great album. Young has a surprising flexibility across genres from acoustic country- folk to garagey alt-rock- and his emotive songwriting shines through on all of them. I can't help but like his signature vocal delivery and lyricism in all its, well, "Ragged Glory". This is my favorite of all the electric Young albums(with Crazy Horse) on the list.

This album is ranked #14 of 22 albums for 1990. Other 1990 albums rated by me:
People's Instinctive Travels and the Paths of Rhythm(2/22)-5
Heaven or Las Vegas(3/22)-4
Bossanova(4/22)-5
Fear of a Black Planet(5/22)-5
Shake Your Money Maker(6/22)-2
I Do Not Want What I Haven't Got(7/22)-4
The La's(12/22)-3
En-Tact(22/22)-1

This seems to be the most popular reggae album ever made, so it better be good. It is good, as good as any reggae album I've ever heard(which is solely Marley's own Catch a Fire). It does try to move beyond the genre constraints of reggae into other genres such as funk, with some success. The music is well performed, but many songs lack in hooks. The lyrics are highly political and speak of the emancipation of (presumably) Black Jamaican people from an oppression of some kind through devout religiosity. They are fairly well written, but not overtly interesting. Come to think of it, that's the whole album. It's certainly well written reggae, but I can't say it was terribly interesting.

This album is ranked #2 of 27 albums for 1977. Other 1977 albums rated by me:
Rumours(1/27)-5
The Stranger(3/27)-4
Out of the Blue(4/27)-3
"Heroes"(5/27)-3
Lust for Life(6/27)-4
Talking Heads '77(8/27)-4
Marquee Moon(11/27)-4
Aja(12/27)-3
Zombie(13/27)-4
Bat Out of Hell(15/27)-4
My Aim Is True(16/27)-2
The Idiot(18/27)-3

This marks my 365th album of the project. In other words, I have been rating albums here for an entire year now. Over the past year, I've discovered many musical delights-and a few rancid turds. This album is neither, but rather it's perfectly inoffensive 50s rock and roll. This genre of music was never my favorite, despite some good songs and its influence on later genres. Buddy Holly has a nice voice, but the 50s rock sound has a tendency to feel generic to me, and this record falls into that trap. If I'm being frankly honest, I'd rather listen to Weezer's "Buddy Holly" off of their Blue Album(criminally and infamously snubbed from the list). However, that song wouldn't exist without this, so I'm grateful to this record for that.

This album is ranked #6 of 9 albums for 1957. Other 1957 albums rated by me:
Birth of the Cool(1/9)-4
Here's Little Richard(2/9)-4
This Is Fats Domino(4/9)-4

Is Morrissey's solo work really essential listening at all? Does he deserve even one solo album on the list(he definitely doesn't need four)? I guess we'll find out here. This album is okay. It's okay, not great, and certainly not better than the Smiths. The lyrics range from mediocre to shit("Bengali in Platforms" is incredibly xenophobic, and most other lyrics are mediocre). The songs themselves are not very good or interesting, they're all just kind of there. This album is literally the definition of mediocre and doesn't belong on this list even before you take Morrissey's political beliefs into account.

This album is ranked #15 of 26 albums for 1988. Other 1988 albums rated by me:
Straight Outta Compton(2/26)-3
Vivid(10/26)-4
Truth and Soul(16/26)-4

Ok, a French electronic music album from 2007. Not exactly high on my list of favorites, but hopefully not terrible. This album isn't exactly a great album for just listening to, but I suppose that a lot of EDM falls into this trap. It's probably meant to be danced to at raves and parties, not for listening while sitting in bed at 8:30pm on a Tuesday. That said, they do know how to carry a groove. Since I can't really talk about lyrics or hooks here, I guess I'll just say that makes it a good example of its genre. Maybe someone will get something more out of this, but I'm not that someone.

This album is ranked #5 of 8 albums for 2007. Other 2007 albums rated by me:
Neon Bible(4/8)-2

This is the last Steely Dan album for me on this list. Their ethos revolves around achieving absolute sonic perfection, which often comes at the cost of truly great songs. And this album sounds pretty much exactly like their other albums. For some inscrutable reason, they tried a blues song with the title track- and Steely Dan are the last band that I'd want to hear blues from. There are some good tracks here, but there's also plenty of mediocre yacht rock(admittedly, that's Steely Dan's bread and butter). Is this essential for this list? I'm going to say no because Steely Dan have better-loved albums that sound pretty much identical to this.

This album is ranked #7 of 26 albums for 1974. Other 1974 albums rated by me:
Queen II(4/26)-4
Court and Spark(8/26)-4
Grievous Angel(22/26)-4

I've often found Doors albums to be somewhat overrated and lacking in quality on this list, so I don't really expect to much from this. It kind of falls in the same category as the other Doors albums, with some good songs and some less good songs. Lyrics are as bad as usual for the Doors. I don't really get what makes this particular Doors album essential when it lacks their best-known songs. It's not any better or worse than other Doors albums, nor does it do anything particularly interesting relative to the rest of their catalog.

This album is ranked #12 of 29 albums for 1970. Other 1970 albums rated by me:
Bridge Over Troubled Water(2/29)-5
Led Zeppelin III(3/29)-4
Cosmo's Factory(4/29)-5
All Things Must Pass(6/29)-3
Tea for the Tillerman(10/29)-4
After The Gold Rush(11/29)-5
Deep Purple In Rock(14/29)-5
Fun House(17/29)-5
Ananda Shankar(27/29)-4

School's out for now...but for me, it's back in in a week. Great time to get this album, no? As for the actual album, it's a nice enough classic rock album with heavy musical theatre influences(also reflected in Cooper's infamous stage show) and even a jazz-influenced number("Blue Turk"). However, I don't particularly find any of these songs to be truly great. The lyrics are frequently risible, and the songs don't always make up for it. This album should be applauded for trying multiple things beyond guitar-fueled glam cheesiness, but the entire thing is cheesy. I guess that's kind of the point with Alice Cooper, but it still doesn't make for a great album. Or maybe it does, if you're into this sort of thing.

This album is ranked #22 of 31 albums released in 1972. Other 1972 albums rated by me:
Ziggy Stardust(abbreviated title)(1/31)-4
Vol. 4(4/31)-5
Can't Buy A Thrill(5/31)-4
Talking Book(6/31)-4
Superfly(7/31)-4
Machine Head(11/31)-5
Paul Simon(12/31)-4
All Directions(13/31)-4
Home Is Where The Music Is(14/31)-4
The World Is A Ghetto(15/31)-4
Eagles(16/31)-4
#1 Record(20/31)-5
Manassas(25/31)-2
Something/Anything?(26/31)-3
American Gothic(31/31)-2

I am from Florida and therefore basically obligated to like this album. It's a good thing a lot of the tracks hold up, then. Side A starts off with a fairly weak track in "I Ain't The One" before giving us not one, not two, but three songs that hold legendary status in the rock canon. Side B, surprisingly, holds up in comparison with two pretty good rock tracks. "Mississippi Kid" is a straight blues song that feels slightly out of place on this album, but isn't terrible. And "Free Bird" is...well, "Free Bird". These tracks add up to a classic of an album that deserves its place in the classic rock canon. It's no Dark Side of the Moon, but it never needed to be. Are the lyrics a little dumb? Yes. Are a couple of the tracks a little weak? Yes. Is this still a classic album? Hell yes. Political stances aside, this is quite possibly the greatest Southern album ever recorded.(Most of the blues greats that gave this album it's sound came before the album era).

This album is ranked #5 of 30 albums for 1973. Other 1973 albums rated by me:
The Dark Side of the Moon(1/30)-5
Goodbye Yellow Brick Road(2/30)-4
Let's Get It On(4/30)-5
Band On The Run(6/30)-5
Catch a Fire(8/30)-4
Head Hunters(10/30)-4
Tres Hombres(11/30)-4
Raw Power(12/30)-4
Countdown to Ecstasy(13/30)-3
Selling England by the Pound(15/30)-4
Paris 1919(25/30)-3

So... "college rock" crossed with country? I'm not sure that's a great combination, but it could be. Turns out, it's actually a pretty good sound that makes for a good alt-rock album. The album's songs have a good sound, with acoustic hooks frequently leading into jangly electric choruses later in songs. Also, Grant Lee has a very expressive voice that suits his songs quite well. However, the lyrics aren't very good on most of the songs. I'm usually willing to forgive bad lyrics if the album is enjoyable, and this is. It's not a 5 by any means, but it's certainly good enough to be a 4.

This album is ranked #13 of 23 albums for 1993. Other 1993 albums rated by me:
Doggystyle(5/23)-2
Tuesday Night Music Club(11/23)-3
Very(14/23)-1
Giant Steps(16/23)-2
New Wave(17/23)-1

Early 2000s R&B music, only it's British(because half the goddamn list is random British shit nobody outside of the UK actually thinks is essential). It's mostly just mediocre, boring songs with no real merit to them. Yes, she can sing, but the songs aren't good at all. They often lack strong hooks and have incredibly poor lyrics. There's not much at all worth your time here, save for the biting critique of gangster rap that is "It Takes More". That song has good lyrics and some catchiness, making it the song that the rest of the album should have been. As it is, there's no reason for this to be on the list. Come on, Britain.

This album is ranked #15 of 16 albums for 2002. Other 2002 albums rated by me:
Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots(2/16)-5
Sea Change(6/16)-2
Highly Evolved(11/16)-2

Great, so a British ex-boy band member I've never heard of is essential listening now? Surprisingly, it wasn't mostly boy band-like pop, but rather generic Britpop/jangly rock. It's not bad, but it is very mediocre. The hooks are generic, the guy has a generic voice, the lyrics are generic(when they aren't terrible). It literally sounds almost exactly like the La's album that came out 7 years earlier. Because it is just a straight La's ripoff by a boy band guy probably trying to court a collegiate rock audience, I have to regard it as utterly worthless in terms of artistic merit. Why was this even on the list?

This album is ranked #21 of 25 albums for 1997. Other 1997 albums rated by me:
Either Or(4/25)-3
In It For The Money(8/25)-2
Let's Get Killed(22/25)-3

This seems to be Cohen's equivalent of David Bowie's Blackstar. Essentially, it's him crafting this album as a farewell to the world and his fans before he kicks the bucket. While listening to it, you can hear how much his voice has changed since his youth, and in a way that makes the album more poignant. You can feel the resignation and acceptance of fate throughout the album, from the soft yet touching musical arrangements to the poetic lyrics. This album is not a comfortable listen, but none of Cohen's best work ever really is. While it's very different musically from Blackstar, they share a unique beauty in their confrontations of mortality. Both artists knew it was time to say goodbye, and both were able to express it in brilliant songwriting that ranks among the best they've ever done. This album moved me emotionally, perhaps more than any other album on this list ever will. This is essential listening for everyone to hear at least once(alongside his 1971 masterpiece Songs of Love and Hate).

This album is ranked #2 of 4 albums released in 2016. Other 2016 albums rated by me:
Blackstar(1/4)-4
Konnichiwa(4/4)-3