Reviews by forestfly2009

I've never heard of New Order before today. They are a synth pop/electronic band that formed out of the remnants of Joy Division after Ian Curtis killed himself.

After learning this, I didn't have much hope for this band, as Joy Division is a shitty goth rock/mood rock band with unenthusiastic music delivery. This, however, was very different. Joy Division's keyboardist/guitarist Bernard Sumner took over as lyricist, and his voice is 100 times better than Ian's ever was.

I find that New Order sounds a lot like Duran Duran or Depeche Mode with their strong 80's synth/electronic sound, and heavy reliance on drum machines.

Some of their lyrics are super weird too, like from the song "Fine Time":

You know, I've met a lot of cool chicks;
But I've never met a girl with all her own teeth...

Where was he soliciting women, a meth house?

Overall, not a bad listen, and a definate improvement from the Joy Division days. This was actually listenable.

Favourite songs: Round and Round, Mr. Disco, Fine Time, Vanishing Point, All the Way

Least favourite song: Guilty Partner

3/5

I never thought I knew of Dusty Springfield today, until I heard that she sang Son of a Preacher Man. That song is fantastic!!

Dusty Springfield is a pop/soft rock/soul artist from the 60's-70's. By times she sounds similar to Nina Simone, The Supremes, or Janis Joplin.

A lot of her songs dealt with themes of love, morning sex, lust, and gossip. It seems Dusty was awful thirsty!!

Overall, a good listen today. Not something I'd gravitate to often, but a good listen nonetheless.

Favourite songs: Son of a Preacher Man, So Much Love, Don't Forget About Me, I Don't Want To Hear It Anymore, Just A Little Lovin', Breakfast In Bed

Least favourite songs: In The Land of Make Believe, The Windmills of Your Mind

3/5

John Coltrane was a jazz saxophonist from the 60's. He got his start as a sideman for Miles Davis before heading out on his own in 1957.

Coltrane pioneered a playing technique called "Sheets of Sound", which consisted of a saxophonist playing a flurry of notes on his tenor within the confines of a few chords.

A Love Supreme is a dedication by Coltrane to God, as a thank you for blessing him with his gift of music. That being said, there was a very personal, intimate touch to this album.

On this record, Coltrane had paired up with bassist Jimmy Garrison, pianist McCoy Tyner, and drummer Elvin Jones. What I enjoy about this record is that each artist is given a solo with which to showcase their skills. The drummer in particular was insanely skilled!

Overall, this record wasn't bad. Jazz isn't my favourite type of music, and sometimes it just felt like each artist was playing whatever they wanted, instead of keeping things cohesive like a band should, but even still it wasn't bad. The artistic talent on this album is crazy!

Favourite song: A Love Supreme Part 1: Acknowledgement

Least favourite song: A Love Supreme Part 3: Pursuance

3/5

I've never heard of Herbie Hancock before, except on the movie Tommy Boy:

Richard: I need your John Hancock.
Tommy: John Hancock.... It's HERBIE Hancock!

Herbie Hancock is a jazz fusion musician, who got his start as a member of the Miles Davis Quintet, before branching off on his own in the 70's.

This record is apparently heralded as record breaking, because of its blending of electric jazz, funk, and rock, but it did nothing for me!

What I heard was a jazz/funk blend on acid. Long, drawn out solos may work in rock music, but definately don't in jazz music. When a brass instrument is played in such a high key that it sounds like someone murdering cats, I lose interest.

A painful listen. I won't be listening ever again. Glad it's done.

Favourite song: Watermelon Man I guess, because it is the shortest runtime.

Least favourite songs: Chameleon (15 minute instrumental jazz numbers are just too long!!), Vein Melter (the only thing this song melted was my brain out of boredom), Sly

1/5

The only album I've ever listened to by The Prodigy was The Fat of the Land, so I am looking forward to checking out more of their stuff.

This, unlike every other electronica album I've listened to on this album generator, was actually not bad. It is very high energy, and it has a few looping lyrics to some songs.

Their music is electronica mixed with rave, hard rock, and punk. This music, instead of putting you in a trance like all the other electronica I've heard, pumps you up and makes ya wanna move.

I didn't mind this album. Not my favourite genre of music still, but not bad as background music. It was great to listen to while working today.

Favourite songs: Voodoo People, Their Law, Speedway (Theme from Fastlane), Poison, No Good (Start the Dance)

Least favourite songs: Skylined, 3 Kilos, The Heat (The Energy)

3/5

I have never heard of Richard Hawley so I am looking forward to today's listen.

Richard Hawley is a singer/songwriter whose vocal delivery is very similar to Nick Cave, and sounds like a cross between John Denver and Frank Sinatra. The fact that this album was released in 2005 is amazing. If I learned it came out in the 50's - 60's, I wouldn't have been surprised.

Some of his songs are very croonish, and others are kind of country folk/soft rock. I thoroughly enjoyed today's album. The man can certainly write a song. His song topics included: love, and heartbreak. I listened to this album twice today, and will definately listen again!

Favourite songs: (Wading Through) The Waters of My Time, Coles Corner, Just Like The Rain, Hotel Room, Darlin' Wait For Me, Born Under A Bad Sign, I Sleep Alone

Least favourite songs: The Ocean, Who's Going to Shoe Your Pretty Feet

4/5

I've heard of Sepultura before via a documentary I was watching one time called "Global Metal" but I've never delved into their stuff before.

They are a thrash metal band from Brazil, very similar to Slayer. The name "Sepultura" means 'grave' in Portuguese. The title track from this album "Arise" was banned from MTV America due it its apocalyptic religious imagery.

I enjoyed this album. The ferocity and speed with which the band approaches their instruments is phenomenal. The beat is complex and ever changing, and the lyrics are heavily influenced by religion, doom, darkness, and war.

This isn't something I can listen to every day, and it takes some listening to warm up to (I listened to the album 3 times today) but it is phenomenal in its own right.

Favourite songs: Dead Embryonic Cells, Under Seige (Regnum Irae), Orgasmatron, Arise, Murder, Desperate Cry, Subtraction

Least favourite song: I really can't pick one...

4/5

Very familiar with Madonna's hits, but not much else.

Like a Prayer is Madonna's 4th studio album. This is said to have been a confessional record. It contains songs about her parents, and bonds with her family members. A lot of controversy surrounded the music video for Like a Prayer. The video shows Madonna dancing in front of burning crosses, and making out with Jesus.

All that said, one can not take away the fact that Like a Prayer is a phenomenal pop hit that has stood the test of time! Express Yourself is another phenomenal hit.

Madonna called on the amazing musicianship of Prince on this album a few times. They duetted in the song Love Song, and Prince also played guitar for the strange album closer, Act of Contrition.

Overall, a good album, not something I would revisit a lot, but I can see how it deserves to be on this list for its influence on pop music.

Favourite songs: Express Yourself, Like a Prayer, Love Song

Least favourite song: Promise to Try

3/5

The only song I've ever heard from the band Living Color is Cult of Personality. I really like that song, just never looked into their stuff any further before, so I am looking forward to this listen! And Cult of Personality is the first song on this album, so it's starting off right!

Living Color are a rock band from New York, and this is their debut album. The single Cult of Personality did very well, winning a Grammy for best hard rock performance in 1990. The band was also named best new artist at the 1989 mtv video music awards.

The band draws influence from jazz, funk, heavy metal, and hip hop to name a few. They sound kind of like Huey Lewis except heavier by times. That signature 80s sound is there, but much heavier than most of the music being created at the time. A few songs on this album were a social commentary on the racism seen in the USA at the time of recording, and they still ring true today (notably Funny Vibe and Which Way to America). There are also some personal lyrics (Open Letter (To A Landlord)).

Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed today's album, and may explore Living Colors catalog further.

Favourite songs: Which Way to America, Cult of Personality, I Want to Know, Open Letter (to a Landlord), Funny Vibe, What's Your Favourite Color?

Least favourite songs: Broken Hearts, Glamour Boys

4/5

Never heard of Magazine before today, and apparently it was for good reason. This was a weird album.

Magazine is a new wave/post punk band from the UK, formed by Howard Devoto of the Buzzcocks.

Howard can't sing for shit, the music feels Unfinished and lyrics are nonsensical.

Not a big fan of this band or album. Definately won't listen again.

Favourite song: Shot by Both Sides, My Tulpa

Least favourite songs: The Great Beautician in the Sky, Burst, The Light Pours Out Of Me, Motorcade, Parade

2/5

I've been looking forward to my first Led Zeppelin album in this series, as I'm sure there is more than one!! And what an album to start off with! Trampled Under Foot, Houses of the Holy, Kashmir, Custard Pie, The Rover, Black Country Woman; there's something for everyone!

As this is a double album, you really get to experience the gamut of influences and sounds that Zeppelin had to draw from. Everything from folk rock, to psychadelic rock, to prog rock, funk/disco (Boogie With Stu) and even the real heavy stuff!

Robert Plant is a master of his craft. The way his voice can soar over every instrument is amazing. Jimmy Page is a phenomenal guitarist, and really shows his chops on pieces like Trampled Under Foot and In My Time of Dying.

Overall, thoroughly enjoyed this album, and can't wait for the next one! Almost every song on this double album is gold, and that is generally unheard of.
Usually one whole side suffers with filler, but not this album!! Not my first time listening to this album, and it won't be the last!!

Favourite songs: Trampled Under Foot, Houses of the Holy, Kashmir, Custard Pie, The Rover, Black Country Woman, Bron-Yr-Aur, The Wanton Song, Sick Again, In My Time of Dying

Least favourite songs: If forced to pick, In the Light

5/5

Today's album was a salsa album, something I am not very familiar with. Salsa music can trace its roots to Latin jazz, mambo, and I heard a touch of funk influence in there too(mainly in, the intro of Plastico).

This was an interesting listen, as it is way out of my wheelhouse, and all the lyrics are sung in Latin. The brass instruments add some liveliness and danceability to the tracks, and the precussion is on point!

Overall, not my favourite to just focus on and listen to, but as background music, it would be great. Not sure if I will listen again, but I appreciate why it is on this list.

Favourite song: Ojos, Pedro Navaja, Plastico

Least favourite song: Dime, Siembra

3/5

Oh great, another Talking Heads album. My God I don't understand the appeal of this band. Nonsensical lyrics... Weird sounds...

I did like this album better than the first Talking Heads album I reviewed (Fear of Music). Apparently, this album was a big change in sound for the band. Their singer, David Byrne, had a bad case of writers block, so on the advice of their record producer, Brian Eno, David began exploring the sounds of African drums, as well as horns, and a more funky bass.

I think it is the heavy reliance on the African drums, as well as Tina Weymouth's phenomenal bass playing that made this album more tolerable to me. It certainly wasn't David's rediculous vocal delivery.

Overall, I still hate Talking Heads, and probably will never listen to this record again. I will say the first half of this record was much better than the back half, and the Spotify link for this album is the Deluxe Version.... 4 more God awful Unfinished outtakes of songs. So yourself a favor and just listen to the regular version of the album.

Favourite song: Once in a Lifetime

Least favourite song: Seen and Not Seen.... And most of the rest of the album

2/5

I am not the biggest fan of country music, specifically what they call country music today (some unholy blend of pop and country), but I've always had a soft spot for Waylon Jennings.

Every time I listen to his music, I am immediately transported back in time to driving around in dad's old truck with him listening to Waylon on cassette. Dad loves Waylon, and has passed that admiration of his work on to me.

Waylon, and specifically this album, is attributed to the start of the outlaw country subgenre. A perfect melding of rock/blues/country. This era of country was fantastic. So many amazing acts came as a direct result of the works of Waylon, Willie, Johnny, and Merle.

It is insane how similar Colter Wall's voice is to Waylon's. Especially in the song Ain't No God In Mexico. Listen to that song, then listen to the song Raisin' Cotton by Colter Wall. The similarity is crazy!!

Overall, I loved today's listen, and enjoyed shot of nostalgia that came with it!

Favourite songs: Honky Tonk Heroes, Omaha, Black Rose, Slow Rollin' Low, Old Five and Dimers (Like Me), Low Down Freedom, Ride Me Down Easy, Ain't No God In Mexico

Least favourite song: if forced to pick, Willy the Wandering Gypsy and Me

5/5

This is my second Steely Dan record on this album generator. As like the first album, Steely Dan is fantasticly beige elevator rock. Typical "yacht rock or dad rock".

I did enjoy this album more than the last one. It was more consistently good, with a few rockin' songs, and some heavy blues and funk influences heard throughout. East St. Louis Toodle-Oo was a weird ragtime song just thrown into the middle of the album, and it just felt like it didn't fit with the theme of the rest of the album.

Overall, not a bad album. Better than I expected, and I will listen again.

Favourite songs: Night By Night, Pretzel Logic, Rikki Don't Lose That Number, Barrytown, Any Major Dude Will Tell You, With A Gun

Least favourite songs: East St. Louis Toodle-Oo, Through With Buzz, Charlie Freak

4/5

This is the second album of Neil Young's that I've reviewed on this album generator. This one, from his time recording with the band Crazy Horse.

This, unlike his solo stuff, is more rockin' than folky. It is fantastic!!

I really enjoyed the harmonies reached by Crazy Horse and Neil Young. Every song on this album was awesome. Even the couple of 10 minute epics. The only song I didn't care for was Farmer John. It felt rushed and unfinished.

Overall, thoroughly enjoyed this album. Will definately listen again!

Favourite songs: F!#*in Up, Country Home, Over and Over, Mansion on the Hill, Love to Burn, Days that Used to Be

Least favourite song: Farmer John

4/5

I am very familiar with Metallica, and this album. I have listened to it many times before, and can't wait to give it another spin today!!

This album is a collaboration between Metallica, and the San Francisco Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Michael Kamen. Many people would be surprised how well orchestras and thrash metal fit together. I watched a documentary one time called Metal: A Headbanger's Journey. It traced the roots of metal music back to opera and classical music, and notably, composers such as Vivaldi and Bach.
They had the same flare seen in many metal bands today to make louder music, and provide spectacle for the observers. Some composers even used cannon fire to amp up the bass sections of their operatic pieces!

The melding of the overreaching operatic performance, laced with the heavy, fast, traditional Metallica sound is amazing. This is a double live album, so the run time is quite long (over 2 hrs), but it is an amazing listen all the same. If you want a better experience, watch the live film of the performance. It would have been amazing to have been there in person to experience it!

Overall, a phenomenal album. I've loved it for years, and still love it. This made for a fantastic Saturday!

Favourite songs: For Whom the Bell Tolls, Wherever I May Roam, Nothing Else Matters, Battery, No Leaf Clover, Of Wolf and Man, Hero of the Day, Master of Puppets, Sad But True, One, Fuel, The Memory Remains, Enter Sandman

Least favourite songs: The Ecstasy of Gold, The Call of Ktulu, Outlaw Torn

4/5

I have heard all of Prince's hits in the past, but I am not familiar with many of the songs on this album. All of Prince's songs that I know, I like, so I am looking forward to listening to this album today.

This is Prince's first solo album after the break up of his supporting band "The Revolution". This is a double album, so the run time is a little long, but it doesn't feel like it, because Prince has a way of keeping your interest, and there aren't many bad songs on this record.

The one song I was very familiar with before listening to this album was Starfish and Coffee. Back in 1997, Prince was on an episode of Muppets Tonight. I was a big fan of the show, and remember that episode well.
The whole show the muppets keep teasing him, and keep "forgetting" to call him "The Artist (Formerly Known As Prince)". Prince was a good sport through the whole thing, and when they got him up to sing a song, Starfish and Coffee was the song he sang.
I remember thinking "what a great song, with some of the weirdest lyrics I've ever heard". That song is the definition of an ear worm, and I'm sure, now that I've listened to it again, I will be singing it for the next little while.

Overall, a solid album. I wasn't much a fan of the drum machine he used, but his ability to write, and perform far overshadows that slight blemish on an otherwise great album!

I think nostalgia drove this choice, but: Favourite songs: Starfish and Coffee, Hot Thing, Sign O' the Times, Strange Relationship, I Could Never Take the Place of Your Man, The Cross, Adore

Least favourite songs: If I Was Your Girlfriend, Housequake, The Ballad of Dorothy Parker, It (I wasn't as much a fan of the songs he sang as his "female alter-ego, Camille")

3/5

Before today I had never heard of Weather Report. They are a fusion jazz band (jazz mixed with rock and funk). The music reminded me of upbeat TV show theme songs from the 80's and 90's.

Jaco Pastorius has been called the "Jimi Hendrix of bass playing" and I can see why! Just have a listen to the songs Teen Town or Palladium, or from the extended release of the album, Black Market, and you will hear it too! His bass playing is phenomenal!!

This is great ambiance music, and I really like how they blend jazz and funk together really well!

Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed this album! Not something for heavy rotation, but I would listen again for sure!

Favourite songs: Birdland, Black Market (Live), Rumba Mama, Havona, Teen Town, A Remark You Made, Palladium, The Juggler

Least favourite song: Harlequin

3/5

Jefferson Airplane were a 60's psychadelic rock band. They had two singers, Grace Slick (this was her first album made with the band), and Marty Balin. There is no trouble telling that this music hails from the Flower Power hippy generation, as the themes of peace and love are laced all through this album.

Grace has an almost haunting voice, especially in the song Somebody to Love. The harmonies reached by her and Marty are teriffic.

There was a lot of experimentation going on in this album (and also the expanded re-release of the album in 2003) with different styles of music, as well as the inclusion of various instruments. In The Morning, for example, is an excellent blues song, which included Jerry Garcia (Grateful Dead) on one of the guitars. Jerry also was included in the songs: Today, Plastic Fantastic Lover, Comin' Back to Me, and J.P.P. McStep B. Blues, and played the part of "Sage council" for the band and helped arrange the songs for the album. How Do You Feel has a flute included in the musical accompaniment. Jorma Kaukonen dabbled away at the fantastic instrumental number Embryonic Journey. White Rabbit is a song about Alice in Wonderland, whose lyrics would be super trippy if you were on heavy psychadelics. In fact the whole album would hit different if you were stoned.

Overall, a great album! I have never delved into Jefferson Airplane before, but there is some great stuff here. Will listen again!

Favourite songs: Somebody to Love, 3/5 of a Mile in 10 Seconds, Embryonic Journey, White Rabbit, Plastic Fantastic Lover, In The Morning

Least favourite songs: Comin' Back to Me

4/5