Reviews by georgehart1122

System Of A Down had their sound basically fully formed on this album, in time to lead as kings of the nu metal scene. They have this sense of dynamism and groove that is so rare in this space. Tankian's voice soars on Spiders. Soil and War? both have powerful lyrics. Mind I am not too fond of.

I really don't understand the critical appeal of this band. Wish Fulfillment is the only song on the album to grab me even a little this far into it. This is like punk but without the point. Dear god this album sucks. Chapel Hill keeps this from being a 1 star album.

This album in it's entirety is more than Will The Circle Be Unbroken. Jesus what am in for? I am going to break this into two days of listening, because I am currently playing catchup so 2 albums a day isn't too bad. First 23 are filled with quirky and wonderful little songs like Reno Dakota, Chicken With Its Head Cut Off, etc. Come Back From San Fransico. Very TMBG vibes. Luckiest Guy on the Lower East Side slaps. First 23 songs is good, though kind of tapers off the last third. 2nd album starts with Roses and Love Is Like Jazz, puts this on a darker and weirder footing. album 2 is super dark, Noone Will Ever Love You, If You Don't Cry and others. Long Forgotten Fairy Tale is G R O O V E. Papa Was A Rodeo is beautiful. I Shatter is a great way to end the 2nd album. Third album puts the album into an electronica space, very spacey and etherial. More groove in this one than album 2. Album 3 is just all over the place, like flying over the concept of love from 30,000ft away. Love Is Like A Bottle Of Gin perfect example. Zebra is a fantastic, weird, shambolic, perfect way to end this towering weird monument to love songs.

This was meh. They have 1 good song, thats spread out between 12 songs. like too much bread and not enough butter.

WE ARE THE ROBOTS. This album is all angles and geometry. Metropolis sounds way ahead of its time. Goddamn that specific song has been copy pasted to a wide variety of success about a billion times. The album as a whole is a great showcase of this sound and style. The influence it has on electronic music is hard to overstate.

This album is the mount olympus of music. Soaring highs, crushing lows, and the depth of human connection birthed from the most totured of circumstances.

The bass work is really wild. They have a great sense for song dynamics on Nowhere Fast. The album gets kind of same-y in the middle. Drive gives a breath of free air to this album. Battlestar is way out of place.

I don't remember the huge extended musical intro to this album, though its got that early 70s grit. This album is so grand in vision scope and sound. It goes everywhere. Its incredible.

MOVING OUT! and Scences From An Italian Restaurant. This album is basically all hits, though I don't know that I find Billy Joel especially compelling. It's supremely polished, no rough edges, and all about appealing to the widest audience possible. Which is a valid approach, but not one I find super compelling.

This is of so much in electronic music ethos in here. Crazy to think of how much impact this style would basically take over the world and put music on its head. Changeling is a cool track and doesn't overstay its welcome even at over 7 minutes. Stem/Long Stem goes into some weird cool places. The Organ Donor theme comes up a couple times previously but the track itself is the power of a compelling hook. What Does Your Soul Look Like is a relaxed groove.

I Feel The Earth Move and You Make Me Feel Like A Natural Woman! Home Again has some pretty forward, dumb lyrics however. Where You Lead! Will You Love Me Tomorrow! wow this album is studded with hits.

I like the blend on his voice in Time Has Told Me. River Man is a lot more of his second album sound, which was so damn depressing. I am a little sad about not being able to give this album a totally blank slate as work kept getting in the way. The guys has guitar chops, its just I am not into sad wistful rock.

Starting your album off with a cover? bold choice. Though its so transformational that its a nice setup for the rest of the album. Girl VII is infectious. I like Nothing Can Stop Us. Kiss And Make Up is fun as well.

I like how this album brings the bass fuzz on Next Girl and is very comfortable in it's sonic atmosphere. Howlin For You is an excellent showcase of the power of this sound. I like Too Afraid To Love You, though it leans in heavy on a 60s nostalgia vibe. I love the story about the band getting plastered and asking their manager for a harpsichord. recorded at Muscle Shoals. I go back and forth on whether this is a 4 or a 5. I will be generous this morning.

The bells on Sour Times sounds like the Taskmaster TV show. And is also a cool groove! It's A Fire is another groove. Glory Box is a nice closer, though I personally feel this album as a whole is lacking.

Dog Eat Dog has some excellent beat and bass work. This sounds like the sound track for the lost boys in Peter Pan.

This was a good relaxing time.

Dirty Boots into Karen is a strong 1-2. This album definitely has my attention.

An album with more singles than it knows what to do with. Taken by themselves, these songs are well written and have a fully formed sonic vision. Too much personal exposure blunts their impact on me now but something needs to be said for their ability to command attention. Its not a 5 star album for me because all of their low tempo acoustic stuff all sounds the exact same!

This is ok.