Reviews by gmuzza

Growing up Dave Brubeck was Jazz is my mind. Not because my parents liked or even played him, but because he appeared to be tv’s go to example. So a character in the Beiderbeck Affair liked Jazz, out would come the vinyl and on would go ‘Take 5’.

This is undeniably easy listening, its just soothing like a musical trickling along, not the handbrake turn you get with some Jazz. There’s security in this dort of Jazz, you are never in doubt that someone will go off script and do that Jazz staple of improvising. That said this safety means it generally feels like background music.

Take 5 is a classic.

The album seems partly preoccupied by how great/different they are in terms of their delivery or things like their funk. Newsflash very little of difference here and there’s a limit how many songs about the technicalities by of making the song is interesting/bearable.

When the lyrical content moves away from this, isn’t doesn’t get any better unfortunately.

This album is definitely of its time and there’s nothing here that suggests it shouldn’t be left there.

A pivotal album in hip-hop. De la Soul introduced me to Queen Latifah and obviously they feature on this album. The production is similar in style and i love but Latifah’s flow is still the standout here.
Ladies first is just a classic and always good to hear some Monie Love.

To my shame despite living for a year with a massive Beastie Boys fan, i dont think i’ve ever listened to an actual album in it’s entirety outside of ‘To the 5 Boroughs’ (which is far from their best). Having already being bitten several times by albums popping up that i assumed (mistakenly) i’d love this one had me worried. However finally this one confirmed my preconception and i thoroughly enjoyed it.
It perfectly soundtracked a very sunny summer morning.
Sabotage holds a particular place in my heart from going to the alternative club nights whilst at school, safe in the knowledge that at some point you would get the double hit of Sabotage and Killing in the name of and everyone would just lose their shit.

The album starts fairly middle of the road inoffensive 60s pop rock and then you reach Sueno. Sueno suddenly introduces flamenco stylings, but this still doesn’t lift the overall album from mundanity.

Groovin is however a great song.

Overall the album is a pleasant enough snapshot of the era but nothing to write home about.

Now i’m all for a bit of harmonica but the introduction to this album is taking it too far. Aside from from that the tune (eventually) is jolly enough but the singer’s vocal grate on me.

Bloody well right continues the pointless intro issue. Already being to get tedious. When the tune (again eventually) arrives i dont think there’s any doubt, if there ever was, what decade this album is from.

This is just slow boring drivel.

I do Not like ABBA and ‘When i kissed the teacher’ does nothing to dispel that opinion. It is very ABBA by numbers all jangly backing track and layered vocals singing counter to the main vocals. If hell has an audio form it might be this song.
Dancing Queen at least puts you in mind of joyous nights out, but retains that horrible tweeness ABBA bring to all their songs.

My love my life makes me long for the normal twee upbeat europop you associate with their singles. Even with this dirge of a track i dont think you are ever in danger of not knowing what the song is called. ABBA definitely like to hammer a song home.
Dum dum diddle- christ please make it stop!
Knowing me knowing you at least puts me on mind of Alan Partridge so adding him shouting aha! Adds something to it.

Money money money’s is possibly ABBA’s most enjoyable 40 odd seconds, although in part my mind thinks it would be improved by Fagin from Oliver! Singing it. Oh and the annoying chorus.

Why did have to be me? At least brings some musical variety but who would’ve picked ABBA doing Chas n Dave doing an upbeat pop song as the style to go with.

Tiger and arrival provide no respite from the attack on my senses. Not sure whether instrumental ABBA is preferable to non instrumental ABBA

Fernando is at least another song i associate with Alan Partridge. It also has possible the catchiest of their choruses.

Without doubt have of the great duos, despite their issues their vocals complement each other perfectly.

Homeward bound is a beautifully crafted song, but that along with 59th street highlight that some of the other songs (Big bright green pleasure machine) dont quite live up to that exceptional standard.

It also feels odd to include a Christmas song on a normal album, no matter how good that song is

Solid modern day funk.
The arrival of Kendrick provides the first real highlight. Adding a much needed layer of texture to the track, lacking on those before it.
Generally there is too much synths for my liking and no where is that more apparent than ‘Friend zone’. Which is the sound of an oncoming migraine.
Drink dat is another standout and it’s not coincidental that this is another track with a guest rapper, in Wiz Khalifa. Unfortunately for me at least when Thundercat is playing off someone stylistically different and therefore this generally falls a bit flat

This is very much an album of its time, but lacks anything to lift it over and above in a crowded hip-hop field of the mid-nineties.

Solid but nothing to excite or endear which results in a largely forgettable listening experience

Nina Simone’s vocals are faultless and other an interesting counterpoint to the lyrical content of this album.

The story telling of racial equality is impactful without detracting from the enjoyment on a musical level.

I love Jeff Buckley’s version of Lilac Wine and Nina’s version definitely holds its own with that.

The songs are just so perfectly crafted. The production on this and obviously Marvin’s vocals are just on point.

Album openers dont get much better than ‘What’s going on’.

As someone who quite often finds soul music a bit blah, i cannot speak highly enough about this album.

Generally mediocre but the unnecessarily long final track drags this down even further.

More to not like than like

Fast loud a raucous, what’s not to enjoy!

Great start but quickly turns to mediocrity

The only positive here is that the album is only 27 minutes long, although it does feel longer

I have never really liked synth pop, but Annie Lennox has an amazing voice.

The album opens strongly with ‘Love is a stranger’ but quickly dips to mediocre 80s synth pop. Obviously’Sweet Dreams’ offrrs some respite and is a true classic.

Within the other tracks it feels like there are traces of other similar music of the time. ‘ This is the house’ put me in mind of the Human League but with Annie on lead vocals(and ‘Pop Musik’ by M).

Over the album serves only to reinforce my view that Annies best material was as a solo artist

Joni Mitchell has a great distinctive voice and that shows on this album. However overall i was left underwhelmed by the album and slightly bored. For an album lasting only 37 minutes it really seemed to drag at points.

The change in tempo for ‘Raised on robbery’ was a welcome relief from what went before but was not enough to lift this album for me overall.

Green onions is definitely a classic, but cant say i knew much beyond that. I think my general mood throughout the album was boredom. Everything was technically good but just didn’t move me.

In particular their version of Twist and shout just put me in mind of a fairground organ tune.

Pleasant enough but it all felt a bit background music for me.

I suspect my engagement may have been increased if i understood the lyrics, which alas i dont.