Reviews by gregorsmith

Honestly, as far as early 80s metal goes, this was pretty bland, it was good for a whole sit down listen, but really nothing memorable stood out to me.

Hard not to gush over this album, despite its inherent flaws of shit production, mediocre derivative music, and pretty average lyrics, because it captures a mood. I was 16 when this came out. Too young to appreciate the Stone Roses when they appeared some 5 or so years earlier, too young for the whole baggy scene, and UK music world seemed dominated by electronic dancey music, so having a guitar band that genuinely spoke to me was a life changer. But it took me a while to get into them, the early singles didn't register on my radar but hearing "Live Forever" was a revelation, instant fan time.

It would be stupid not to give a pivotal, foundational moment in my musical education a solid 5.

A Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young album in everything but name. Super jammy, super harmonies, and, dare I say, super weedy.

Starts with "Buffalo Stance" which is probably the peak of the album and, as I've noted before, I struggle with albums who blow their creative load right off the bat.

Opens with the beyond cool "The Girl from Ipanema" and the vibe is set from there onwards. Bossa Nova is always a cool sound and this way utterly delightful.

Psychedelic folk was still happening in 2004? That blew my mind...

Much like my treatise on the relationship of Deee-Lite's "Groove Is In The Heart" and its stratospheric trajectory vs. the greater meh-ness of the World Clique album containing it, does something as immortal as "Don't You Want Me" make The Human League's Dare! a *must* listen? I mean there's a lot of good early 80s synth-y vibes here and Phil Oakley is a perfect frontman for this genre, but I can't help but feel my life would have been just fine if I hadn't listened to this at all...

I enjoyed this way more than I thought I would as my exposure prior was Pixar work and "I Love LA", he's not the best singer, but has a distinctive tone, but his songwriting is top tier.

I will not stand for Emmylou Harris erasure, Gretchen!

For some people, there's a time and a place for drum and bass, but, alas, a Friday morning before I've had my coffee ain't it for me. I can appreciate the craft, but I was just waiting for it to end

Sounded a little like The Black Keys, which I really liked. I'll probably relisten to this, its cool.

The original version has all but disappeared from streaming, there is a 30th anniversary rerecorded version called Shaka Zulu Revisited, which, alas, is an inferior version. This opens up a debate about the sanctity of physical media as a vital cultural safeguard and a commitment to permanence, integrity, and the unassailable right of the artist's original creation to exist unaltered.

Just an hour long ass kicking where they literally tell you ways they'll torture your ass, rugged and raw is the name of the day and each member gets their chance to shine. Hard to pinpoint individual songs when the whole album is a continuous flow, but big shoutouts to "Bring Da Rukus", "Shame On A Nuh" (censored title) and "Da Mystery Of Chessboxin'" as well as the usual "C.R.E.A.M." and "Protect Ya Neck". I do prefer the more rocking version of "Wu Tang Clan Ain't Nuthing Ta Fuck Wit" featuring Tom Morello of RATM and Chad Smith of RHCP thats on Loud Rocks

Shack made this list? Fucking Shack? They're barely a level above the worst busker you ever heard, and even the best song on this album, "Natalie's Party", sounds like the shit theme song for a shit 90s sitcom starring Samantha Janus

I can tell this was crafted with love and care, but it comes across as just unbelievably dull

This is the good shit, this is the kid of hidden gems I love to find, this is why I signed up for this.

I mean, its goddamn Patti Smith, playfully covering "Gloria" and "Land Of A Thousand Dances", but raw as all hell. She comes swinging out the gates and doesn't let up for the duration.

A very middling album, generally ok, but mostly unmemorable. The cover of "Working Class Hero" was a choice though.

The drummer sounds like he's having a good old time on "Arrogance Gave Him Up", but it might also be a drum machine, it's the early 80s, its hard to tell... it might all be drum machines, all the way down...

I almost rolled my eyes out my sockets at the thought of _another_ mid to late 2000s UK landfill indie rock band, but this was fun, energetic, frantic. I do love a band where the bass is the driving force, and the basslines on this are powerful.

Standouts were "Gravity's Rainbow" (solid Pynchon reference), and "Golden Skans"