Reviews by h3lios

What do the Greek titles have to do with the album? It sounds somber and moody unlike Heaven or Las Vegas, but the instruments are still familiar. Maybe it's HoLV but in a minor key. Anyways, I can't really get into this because the melodies just aren't there! I don't care about the yap-singing, just the fact that if I can hum it, I'll enjoy it. I don't really find that much there; it's atmospheric for a reason. Guess that's a muscle I need to grow throughout this challenge.

Thankfully, I can add this post-punk/dream-pop album to my growing knowledge base of British-sounding records! Feel like I'm slowly becoming a pop/music detective with how many records I've listened to the span decades (2.5-3).

I was literally on the plane recently, this should've been the music that played. This album reminds me of those ambient YouTube videos where they have someone narrate Bible verses as you drift off to sleep. Ambient 1 gets you in a mood to reflect, journal, and play some Breath of the Wild.

1/1 sounds like the Zoom doorbell notification when someone has joined the waiting room. It definitely fits the airport vibe. 2/1 and 1/2 sound like a sanctuary. And 2/2 is the triumphant traveler going home. Can't believe I listened to 48 minutes of this... intently... (3.5)

Maggot(s for) Brain(s)

So many guitarists probably started their careers from that first track's guitar solo. It's a nice experience hearing the birth of funk coming out of rock's belly. The first time I listened to this, it was in the afternoon, on the bus with the volume pretty low. I never did appreciate the opening track and believed that each track sounded the same. Second time through, I seem to pick up more details and appreciate the sound at a louder volume. Like for example, the last track is just plain goofy. That's a pretty signature Funkadelic vibe. They stuck to a vibe and the end result paid off pretty well (3.5-4).

EDM-house really took over the mid-2010s huh, or maybe since this is my first "The xx" album that I might actually be describing their niche sound?

It sounds so of its time and also very "modern" (in that I'm reliving my teenage years) that I'm still a bit turned off by it. I'm not sure how to describe the album but to me it's uncomfortably familiar: the dance-adjacent production and the ambient synths. I think trite is a better word; I heard elements of this album from listening to Top 40 radio every day as a teen.

In-between music Sinead wanted (folk-baroque) vs what the label put on the album (pop-rock). It feels like the album revolves around the hit song. Each track makes liberal use of the fade in (3.5).

the Ass.

This album gives me a bit more context into the British new wave/post-punk scene in the early 80s. It's too atmospheric and all over the place for me; totally not the pop or even rock I'm used to. Giving experimental Bowie and that Ocean & The Bunnymen album vibes. The exceptions, "Party Fears Two" and "18 Carat Love Affair", are probably the closest to an 80s pop sound.

Why didn't they just sprinkle the poppier tracks near the beginning of the album? Personally it wouldn't have been as bad if listeners got a break with something more commercial and familiar in-between the more experimental tracks (2.5-3).

Incorporates some Latin instruments and rhythms to soul. Thought the album cover didn't carry the vibe but all they had to do was put some slower tracks in a minor key and it fit the mood quite nicely. The long tracks were the best, reminding me that soul works well when you let it simmer and cook long enough.

I wish there was just more groove to it though! With a bleak mood, the songs feel like they're getting somewhere but not arriving there yet.

Album cover has an "outlaw country" vibe to it. Simplistic and minimalist. I hear some back-to-basics elements like honky-tonk, the harmonica, and the storytelling cadence. It's very calm for pretty dark subject matter (that I only found out through Wikipedia-- more proof of being a melody guy).

First few songs were in "E" so I was tempted to call it an "E" album until the next bunch turned into "D".

Haven't heard of rappers with a nasal tone. Has some nice funk beats but the MC's cadence turns me off. This is another case of gangsta rap sounding corny before the G-funk sound. This hasn't aged pretty well (2.5-3).

On first listen: Samples are so random and funky; the vocals sound like cacophonous Bob Dylan

Months later:
Quirky sample-heavy hip hop. Goes beyond their frat-rap sound for more abstract ones.

Guess Supertramp have always leaned into the synth organs. Other than that, I really don't know how to distinguish this album from all the other prog-rock acts in the 70s. Each tracks flow into the other and uses a lot of piano. Tone and mood are a bit too slow personally (3-3.5).

They know how to harmonize their vocals. Reminds me of the Gunfighter Ballads album. It says "Tragic" in the album but without reading the lyrics it's kind of a soothing country record. Does get pretty repetitive, like I've heard this Latin guitar strum pattern at least once per song (2.5-3).

Drums working overtime, adding “chemicals” and “excess fat” to the other tracks.

It’s bombastic and if I were dancing to this at the club, I’d probably wonder why I’m hearing the same motif like 20 times for each song. Like for example Don’t Stop the Rock is giving meme brain rot vibes (air horns, phonk-type synths). I’d vibe more if each song was more simplistic (2.5-3).

I love the mini concept songs in the beginning. Sounds even more modern and polished than "The Soft Bulletin". Some songs I could see being hip hop beats/instrumentals.

Quite poetic and there are some melodies. The raw, acoustic production just didn't cut it for me on my first impression. It's a little hard to wrap my head around the music when I don't really those "pop" hooks (2.5).

Crams a lot of musical sections; mostly blues rock but with added sound effects (2.5-3)

Wow, on a Friday? I literally watched his biopic the day before. Easy day today.

People know most if not all the songs here. They're catchy and groovy what else is there to say? (4.5-5)

Love the cover art, it’s pretty psychedelic and all over the place. Reminds me of the underground comix style.

As for the music, this album showcases Janis’ vocals. It’s raspy and fits so well with their blues sound. The Big Brother members seem to compose based around Janis.

The mix definitely needs to be remastered on Spotify. Even at max volume on my phone I can’t fully appreciate the music. Overall it was pretty groovy, which I think is all you need for the blues. And they did their homework pretty well (3.5-4).

Omg black punk? Nice to see some diversity, and I really needed a fast and heavy sound to channel my emotions today.

Listening further, it sounds more like an 80s heavy metal album, given how hardcore punk helped give it a foundation. It bends the genre by adding a bit of funk to it (She's Calling You, Sacred Love). Would love to hear more metal-influenced funk in the future though!

The singer has some interesting vocal flexibility, which adds some character to each track. What I did like was that the riffs at the beginning are so good, but I guess my pop instincts took over and wanted to hear more of that in the song. I was a bit disappointed that they didn't carry through the way I wanted them to. I honestly wish they did more genre bending as advertised on Wikipedia.

What I put down on my first listen: "More folk-rooted than their previous hard hitting records. Robert really carries with his voice."

I remember it being more slow, but actually it's less intense than their first two records. Has more of an introspective mood for sure that's added by the folk rock sound of this album (3.5).