Reviews by ikejiri

It’s Pronounced Lynyrd Skynyrd
Exactly what you’d expect. Solid, straight down the line. Some great guitar playing and sounds and nice organ work.
The well known ones are my stand outs - Tuesday’s Gone, Simple Man, Free Bird
Not much more to say
⭐️⭐️⭐️

Kenya
Not a big jazz fan, don’t like salsa. I guess Buena Vista Social Club is in the same vein, and I did enjoy that when it came out (although it was cool to like it at the time)

Sounds a lot like it should be the soundtrack to the Cuba scenes in Godfather Part II. Which makes sense as this is from 1957/58 and is Cuban. I know it was you, Fredo.

In fact the whole thing does have an early 60s film soundtrack vibe, a bit like Dr No or something.

I’m sure aficionados can tell the subtleties and variations in the rhythms and instrumentation, but I can only really tell the difference between the slightly slower ones and the not slightly slower ones.

However, as an overall listen I did enjoy it. To my uneducated ear it seems to balance the Latin and jazz elements quite nicely, it doesn’t stray into Ron Burgundy style manic improvised jazz parping and trumpeting too much, or into the music you hear coming out of a provincial community centre on the over 60s salsa night.

If I was in the mood for some relatively easy listening jazzy background music I would definite consider putting this on.

It’s obviously not in my wheelhouse, but I’m really glad I listened to it and enjoyed it, and that I am now aware of its existence

⭐️⭐️⭐️

Drunk
What I think I like most about it is the singular vision of it all. It brings in so many influences, classic 70s souls, video games, hip hop, films, tv, pop, jazz l, sci fi, anime etc and just sprays them across 22 tracks. The scattergun, skittish, low attention span eclecticism of it really expresses his obsessions and idiosyncrasies, and you feel as though you get a sense of who he is and that this really is the sound in his head - there’s no concession to adhering to a ‘normal’ structure

Show You the Way, what a tune and love that he bought Michael McDonald and Kenny Loggins in on it. Brilliant idea.

Captain Stupido, Uh Uh, A Fan’s Mail, Walk on By, Tokyo, Them Changes

Sonically, I love it, obviously the bass playing is superb, and that squelchy sound, and the jerky, off kilter rhythms work so well together.

It’s not a perfect album, and not every song works, but it’s a such an intriguing listen and a fascinating musical vision that it makes up for the dips and lulls.

Almost certainly will get better with more listens, and when you put all the bits together (sound, influences, playing, ideas, themes, tunes and melodies) it’s a 4 for me
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

At Newport
It sounds amazing, brilliant voice, excellent band

Can really understand how influential it was, mainly cos it’s just really good.

I Got My Brand on You
Hoochie Coochie Man
Baby, Please Don’t Go - that really fizzes
I Feel So Good
Both the Got My Mojos

Listened to it this morning while making breakfast and coffee, mmm, really cookin’ dem grits, getting dat skillet hot for dem biscuits and gravy, mmmhmmm, gonna cook me some crayfish, nice’n’hot

But I genuinely really enjoyed it - think it will go in my rotation.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

B52s
I had a bit of a B52s period last year or the year before so am pretty familiar with this album.

It’s a banger, great songs, great sound. They get mischaracterised as a novelty band, which is unfair, they are a brilliant band, right in that post punk new wave sweet spot bringing in lots of influences into an angular, spiky, punky, funky, surfy sound. The organ/electric piano element I love. I can understand how Fred Schneider’s singing can be a bit of an acquired taste but like the way fits their whole look, sound and vibe. Their whole aesthetic I love too.

Mmmm, the bass in Dance this Mess Around. That song is a bang to rights, stone cold, gold certified banger

Planet Claire, Dance this Mess Around, Rock Lobster, Lava, Hero Worship are my stand outs.

This is my favourite of their albums. Wild Planet, the next album, is also superb, but thereafter, it’s diminishing returns really, despite some good tracks here and there.

So overall it’s probably just about a 5 for me Clive.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

MC&TIS
The well known songs (Tonight, Bullet, 1979 etc) and then To Forgive, Cupid de Locke, Galapagos, Porcelina of the Dark Oceans, Thru the Eyes of Ruby, By Starlight, Farewell and Goodnight stood out
Jellybelly, Zero (terrible lyrics), An Ode to No One, Tale of a Scorched Earth - not a fan of those at all

Take me Down sounds a lot like a song from a musical, particularly the rising chorus, which kind of chimes with Dan’s Queen observation, they do have those slightly showtune/musical theatre aspects some of the melodies. We only come out a night has a similar Queen vibe too. That’s not a criticism btw.

Generally, like on SD, not a fan of the harder songs, the slower tempo ones are more interesting melodically and atmospherically, and I think his voices suits those songs better.

Lots of great musical hooks and instrumentation, I didn’t really realise what a great gift for melody he has.

I admire the ambition and genuinely earnest pretension of it, but it is A LOT of music and whether it’s me or the music that falters, his voice does start to grate on mover the course of 2 hrs.

I think I’d be likely to go back to SD more frequently than this but a very enjoyable listen none the less.
⭐️⭐️⭐️/⭐️
Prob closer to 4 but the length is why I’m prevaricating

Perfect

At Fillmore East
Am familiar with it and aware it’s supposed to be one of the best live albums ever.

I do like the Allman Brothers and southern rock in general, and they do sound fantastic, but there is A LOT of noodling. Hot Lanta and Whipping post are great.

However apart from Get your Ya Yas Out and Live at Leeds I’m not a big fan of live albums, I’d rather listen to the recorded versions of songs or watch a video of a live performance, and on balance I think I’d rather listen to their first two albums or Eat a Peach

⭐️⭐️⭐️

Siamese Dream
Listened to it first thing this morning. I know the big ones like Cherub Rock (Guitar Hero banger) and Today, but I don’t think I’ve heard the album before.

I never really got into SP, they kind of passed me by in the 90s - probably too ‘American’ sounding for my tiny teenage brain.

However I was surprised by how much I enjoyed this.

I know they are not directly analogous but for an album from the same kind of time period in the grunge/alternative rock milieu as Ten by Pearl Jam, it’s quite clear to me how much better, more interesting and enjoyable Siamese Dream is.
Not a big fan of some of the faster, noisier songs like Geek USA and Silverfuck.
Really liked Hummer, Disarm, Soma, Spaceboy, Sweet Sweet, Luna

Will definitely give it many more listens

It’s a fucking great album

GBYBR
I actually listened to it a few times not that long ago. It is a great album.

First 6 songs are great, particularly side 1 of the original vinyl, Funeral for a Friend, Candle in the Wind and Bennie and the Jets.
Really do Love FFAF and BATJ. Have heard CITW too many too many times but it is great.
Jamaica jerk off is fucking awful.
It does dip in the middle and feels a bit long, but I do like the Ballad of Danny Bailey.
Saturday Night a bit overfamiliar but still great.
The run from Saturday Night to Harmony is very nice, I like Roy Rogers a lot and Harmony is a tune.

Not my no1 Elton album, but it has some of his best songs and is really really good. It is a bit long overall though, and Jamaica Jerk off is wank.