Reviews by florida-metalhead810

Now, you see, this is the kind of music I believe would have been appropriate for the 4th of July. However, I got it on the 6th of July instead... That's life, I guess. This album is a good first effort, but lacks most of the songwriting that Petty's best work has. Most of the songs are pretty mediocre, with mediocre lyrics and mediocre hooks. Petty's vocals are surprisingly Elvis Costello-esque in nature on this record, considering how they sound on his later and better work. I am slightly baffled by this album's inclusion, especially with Full Moon Fever and Damn the Torpedoes being altogether more acclaimed and popular yet absent from this list. But this list has many baffling inclusions, and this album is only the latest one of my project so far.

This album is ranked #7 of 18 albums for 1976. Other 1976 albums rated by me:
Ramones(5/18)-4
Africa Brasil(8/18)-5
Joan Armatrading(10/18)-4

It's been a long while since I had a Velvet Underground album. This seems to be less abrasive than White Light was while still being dark and somewhat experimental in nature. Upon listening, this initial assessment is proven accurate, as this is a far softer and more pleasant album than the distortion-heavy White Light. It definitely has an edge, but not so much as to put off the average listener. The lyrics are often personal and confessional, making a stark contrast to the lucid, macabre stories that defined White Light. However, some songs(particularly "Murder Mystery") do evoke the uncompromising weirdness of the Velvets as a band, if not as noisy or challenging as the likes of "The Gift" or "Sister Ray"(from White Light). This is a good gateway album for the Velvets as a band, though the banana album(which I haven't had yet) is generally their most acclaimed record. It's more generally a good and interesting record.

This album is ranked #10 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
Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere(11/38)-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

Oh, great, a 60s pop album for the 4th of July. Not exactly what I'd call quintessentially American music, but at least the band hails from the US. A problem with pop as a genre is that it tends to age really poorly, which is usually because it's a product of the era it was made. This album is no exception; it sounds incredibly 60s-and not always in a good way. Though the vocals are pleasant enough, they sound incredibly old in a bad way that proves detrimental to my enjoyment of this album. Lyrics are frequently basic but not terrible, and the underlying songs are decent enough. However, this album fails to convince me that it's essential listening in a sea of other 60s pop. While the Beatles and other bands were revolutionizing music as we know it, this group was putting out this album that could have been made 5 years earlier. There are some good songs, but most of it is disposable pop.

This album is ranked #6 of 18 albums for 1966. Other 1966 albums rated by me:
Revolver(1/18)-5
Wild Is the Wind(3/18)-4
Parsley, Sage, Rosemary, and Thyme(4/18)-4
Aftermath(7/18)-4
Face to Face(8/18)-4
Midnight Ride(13/18)-2
Fred Neil(16/18)-3

London Calling, eh? This album is widely considered one of the greatest punk records of all time. Surely, it opens with one of the greatest punk songs of all time in the title track. Afterward, it experiments with rockabilly and ska while maintaining a recognizably Clash sound. Lyrics are appropriate for the genre but nothing terribly special. The Clash are excellent songwriters, managing to write catchy songs while experimenting with genre in an incredibly fluid way. This is definitely one of the classic albums of punk and of rock in general.

This album is ranked #2 of 28 for 1979. Other 1979 albums rated by me:
The Wall(1/28)-5
Highway to Hell(4/28)-5
Rust Never Sleeps(5/28)-4
We Are Family(7/28)-4
Reggatta de Blanc(10/28)-3
Pretenders(11/28)-4
Risque(14/28)-4
The Undertones(16/28)-3

Three U2 albums down, one more to go... I can't stand Bono's voice at all. The band underneath him are usually unremarkably mediocre as well, making U2 music completely irredeemable, irritating awfulness. Granted, this album is at least a little better than the others I've had, with better songs and a slightly- SLIGHTLY- less irritating Bono. But, unfortunately, that doesn't make him tolerable. So it's good in comparison to the absolute piles of shit that are Achtung Baby and All That You Can't Leave Behind, but not good enough to overcome my anti-U2 bias. Sorry, not sorry.

This album is ranked #3 of 16 for 1983. Other 1983 albums rated by me:
Soul Mining(8/16)-1
Back to Mystery City(15/16)-2

Oh, a country covers album. One by a singer I have no prior experience with at that. Harris is clearly an excellent country singer on par with the likes of Dolly Parton and other legends of her ilk. "Boulder to Birmingham" is the only original song, but it's an excellent country ballad dealing with grief in a way all of us can understand and empathize with. Harris's talent as an interpreter of other people's songs is on clear display here as well. I would give this a 5, but for my old rule: albums comprised mainly of covers lose a star because the artist's songwriting cannot be properly assessed in the absence of original material.

This album is ranked #16 of 22 for 1975. Other 1975 albums rated by me:
Wish You Were Here(1/22)-5
A Night At The Opera(2/22)-5
Physical Graffiti(3/22)-4
Blood on the Tracks(4/22)-3
Mothership Connection(7/22)-4
That's the Way of the World(8/22)-5
Red Headed Stranger(11/22)-5

So... Is this hip hop or electronic music? I am legitimately confused by the album classification vs. the reviews. I listened, and the answer is that it's vocal electronic music. Basically, this was made by writing some basic lyrics and singing them in a not terribly involving way over early-90s rave music. Unfortunately for the Stereo MC's, it's not really a winning formula. I find myself preferring big beat when it's just the music itself rather than with tepid vocals over it. In the end, the effect is the creation of a terrible mid-90s electronic record with shitty rapping. I've had three less-than-good albums in a row now, and this marks a new nadir. Grossly terrible.

This album is ranked #19 of 26 albums for 1992. Other 1992 albums rated by me:
Dirt(3/26)-5
The Predator(5/26)-3
It's A Shame About Ray(11/26)-3
Hypocrisy is the Greatest Luxury(21/26)-2
Lam Toro(23/26)-3

I just instinctively groan when I see 2000s indie rock albums pop up on here... And this one has a country twang to it! I don't know if that's better or worse. It's not either of those things, as this is another mediocre indie rock album. It has some passably good songs, but most of it is just barely perceptible background noise. Lyrics are basic and unremarkable, just like everything else about this album. I know that Wilco have a pretty good reputation with indie heads, but those guys and me have very different tastes. This is just another mediocre album in a sea of mediocre albums.

This album is ranked #5 of 17 albums for 2001. Other 2001 albums rated by me:
Is This It(1/17)-4
Gorillaz(3/17)-3
Vespertine(8/17)-4
Gold(15/17)-1
Southern Rock Opera(16/17)-3
Bright Flight(17/17)-3

The Black Crowes... I'm a little surprised to see these guys on here. They were effectively trying to bring the old-school Southern rock sound into the 1990 mainstream, with some success. This is a pretty simple, somewhat generic blues-rock album that occasionally leans into country balladry. It has a couple good songs(the big hits), but it's mostly kinda mediocre. I want to enjoy it, but I find myself not caring about it. They don't really have a whole lot of musical prowess, and their songwriting is frequently lacking(both in hooks and lyrical content). The best song is an Otis Redding cover, for fuck's sake! This more or less feels like a predecessor to modern radio country(a genre with no artistic merit whatsoever), which makes me want to hate it more. This is the kind of album that is not really essential but definitely had its day in the sun, much like yesterday's altogether more enjoyable Darkness album.

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

The Darkness are probably one of rock's biggest anachronisms. When other bands made back-to-basics garage rock and pretentious indie, they made unapologetically bombastic glam rock. And it is good when taken as unapologetically bombastic glam rock. It is incredibly ridiculous and over-the-top in many ways, not least the falsetto vocals. The lyrics are as ridiculous as you'd expect, laced with F-bombs for maximum impact on the listener(in a goofy, tongue-in-cheek way). This probably isn't essential listening, but at least it's entertaining in a way few 2003 albums were.

This album is ranked #8 of 14 albums for 2003. Other 2003 albums rated by me:
Elephant(1/14)-4
Frank(2/14)-4
Hail to the Thief(3/14)-3
So Much For the City(12/14)-2

*Sigh* More bland 2000s indie rock? Are we serious? As expected, there is absolutely nothing even remotely interesting about this album. It's just basic modern pop with whispery vocals and basic beats. The lyrics are as basic as everything else on this album. So, yeah, this shit is not good. It's not anywhere near worthy of being on the list, so why is it here? I've asked this far too many times, and I'll ask it far too many more if this damn list keeps throwing random boring bullshit at me! Just give me good albums!

This album is ranked #2 of 8 albums for 2009. Other 2009 albums rated by me:
It's Blitz!(1/8)-4
Veckatimest(3/8)-2

I don't know if I can properly rate this as I'm obviously not the target audience(I'm a suburban white boy from Florida). This album was clearly made with incredibly respectable intentions, but yet it doesn't grab me. It's unobtrusive modern R&B that doesn't really move me in any way. The album was based around the power of its lyrics, which are based on themes of African identity and racial justice. Yet lyrics are only one part of the puzzle, and they are often repetitive and simplistic (which is probably the point). That said, I find the album somewhat lacking in hooks and great music, as it relies too much on the lyrical messaging to make an impact. But, then, I'm white, so what do I know about the subject matter?

This album is ranked #2 of 3 albums released in 2020. Other 2020 albums rated by me:
evermore(3/3)-3

Creedence is always a pretty good listen, so hopefully this album is as good as Willy & The Poor Boys/Cosmo's Factory. Unfortunately, it's not; while it's still Creedence, the songs here are definitely second tier. They aren't as strong as their best work despite having that classic atmosphere and sound. The only song on the album that is close to top-tier Creedence is "Proud Mary", which itself is still not the best compared to their later hits. I would say that this album should be replaced with the superior "Willy and The Poor Boys" on the list.

This album is ranked #7 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
In the Court of the Crimson King(9/38)-5
Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere(11/38)-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

This album will be my introduction to Nick Cave. While he has 5 solo albums on the list in addition to this, I have not had any of them. It's also in the bottom 20 albums globally(which adds a layer of intrigue to it). And, listening to it, I have no idea what to make of this. It's completely wild and mentally insane, with pop songwriting and production taking a backseat to the manic energy of Cave's vocals and the band. A lot of it sounds like random noise for the sake of noise, but there are actual musical elements in here. Lyrics are chosen more for shock value than anything else and often sound incoherent. So, yeah, this isn't necessarily a great album. It's not outright bad, but it's certainly difficult to listen to. I don't quite know what the band hoped to achieve when making this(maybe alienating most functionally normal people?). Anyway, I find this album to be more interesting than it is likable. Also, the album cover makes me want to rip out my own eyes every time I look at it for more than a second.

This album is the lowest ranked album of 19 1982 albums by global rating. Other 1982 albums rated by me:
1999(2/19)-4
Rio(4/19)-4
Nebraska(6/19)-3
Too Rye Ay(8/19)-2
The Rise and Fall(10/19)-4
The Nightfly(11/19)-3
The Dreaming(12/19)-3
Black Metal(17/19)-2

This album is a major milestone in the development of hard rock and heavy metal. It's also one I own physically, meaning I am very familiar with it. This album is just pure hard rock, probably one of the heaviest albums of 1970. It demands to be turned up to 11 for a proper listening experience, energizing the listener with an incomparable drum groove, powerful guitar & organ, and electrifying heavy rock vocals. The only weak spot of this album (and band in general) is the lyrics. Purple is one of the worst lyrics bands of all time, but I don't care. Their songs are driving, groovy, and (most importantly) as heavy as a tractor-trailer. That, at least for me, provides an enjoyment to the listening experience that basically cancels out the embarrassment of hearing the abysmal lyrics. This is one of my favorite listens, especially on cassette. I can't not give this a 5.

This album is ranked #14 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
Ananda Shankar(27/29)-4

This album is essentially the foundation of American punk(and possibly punk in general). And what a blast of pure punk energy it is! These songs are fast, brief, and surprisingly tuneful given punk's reputation for lack of songwriting skill. While most of the songs are very similar and musically simple, they demonstrate a strong appreciation for pop hooks. Lyrics are generally not too deep, but punk lyrics are supposed to be easy to understand and straight to the point. And that's this album's biggest strength: it's straight to the point. There is absolutely no room for bloat and pretension here, which are two of my biggest pet peeves with the album's on this list. So, yes, this is a great album. It's not necessarily something I will return to all the time, but it is lean and purposeful in the best way possible.

This album is ranked #5 of 18 albums for 1976. Other 1976 albums rated by me:
Africa Brasil(8/18)-5
Joan Armatrading(10/18)-4

I don't think this will be very good at all. It's a late 2000s indie rock album, which scares me(despite the fact that it was released in my birth year). Unfortunately, my suspicions were correct. A lot of times, the music is barely even there, and when it is, it's mediocre indie pop. I've completely lost my patience for this shit that nobody cares about. Lyrics are...ahh, who gives a damn when the album is this boring? Again, there is no world in which this album is essential listening. It's basically list filler, like the other 9000 mediocre indie albums.

This album is the lowest ranked album of 8 2010 albums globally. Other 2010 albums rated by me:
Brothers(1/8)-3
The ArchAndroid(3/8)-5
Queen of Denmark(7/8)-4

So I've had Harrison, I've had Lennon, and now comes McCartney. This sounds incredibly like the best of the Beatles' pop efforts. All of the Beatles are deservedly legendary songwriters, and Paul is on peak form here. He wrote plenty of hooky, rocking jams that are really fun to listen to. Lyrics aren't the most substantial, but that's not what McCartney specialized in. Rather, he was great at writing fun, upbeat pop songs, which is what this is. I'm going to go out on a limb here and declare that McCartney is the best solo Beatle(Lennon songs are not anywhere near as enjoyable despite often superior lyrics, and Harrison's stuff is mostly basic rock that doesn't stand out terribly). So, yeah, this is one of the great pop-rock albums of the 70s. And, quite possibly, of all time.

This album is ranked #6 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
Catch a Fire(7/30)-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

Hmm...ELO definitely had their moment in the late 70s, but I don't know how influential they actually ended up being. Also, my tolerance for double albums is very limited. This is pretty much a straight pop/easy listening album. It's overall a very pleasant listen, with pleasing vocals and orchestral backing. The harmonies really improve the album's overblown pop songs so that they sound ready-made for radio. Jeff Lynne clearly knows how to write hooky, catchy hit songs and would perhaps have been well served by a career as a label songwriter. However, he chose to perform his compositions and created ELO, and today I listen to this album. The lyrics are fairly generic pop fare, which isn't surprising as that's the whole album's sound. However, I see no reason that this needed to be a double album. It's not like an hour of easy listening 70s music would really entertain me rather than drag. Most of the songs don't really impact me that much, a result of being as inoffensive as possible. This is a fine example of 70s pop, but it's not really anything more than that.

This album is ranked #4 of 27 albums for 1977. Other 1977 albums rated by me:
Rumours(1/27)-5
The Stranger(3/27)-4
"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

Oh, yay, another new wave album with one song that anybody remembers! Interestingly, for an 80s pop album, this attempts a lot of things. A large part of the album consists of covers of popular songs of the era rather than original songs. The covers sound wildly different from the original songs, which are mostly standard new wave. The attempts at different musical styles are commendable but ultimately undermine the album's cohesion. The original songs are mediocre, as they're not particularly memorable. The lyrics are not that great, and neither are the vocals. Hooks are not very strong at all. The album is an interesting but ultimately mediocre effort that is incoherent and bloated, as the covers ultimately don't work within the album and hurt it significantly. It's also slightly too long, being a double album that runs for an hour. The list can do better than this.

This album is ranked #10 of 16 albums for 1984. Other 1984 albums rated by me:
Purple Rain(1/16)-4
1984(3/16)-4
Diamond Life(4/16)-3
Ocean Rain(7/16)-4
A Walk Across The Rooftops(16/16)-3