Reviews by j-bizzle

It's such an unusual album, with many strange and wonderful tracks, but I both admire it and I'm into it for the most part. There's lots of minor keys, strange sci-fi synths that punctuate the songs, and violins that sit underneath it all. There's really nice keyboards and soundscapes that run through it, but with lots of really good instrumental work over the top. It's like one big mood. Strange, and ethereal, and melancholic.

I'm not always a fan of breathy vocals, but they're really evocative here, and really beautiful. Yes, some tracks have definite Bond overtones, with those big dramatic swells - but hey, I'm into that stuff!

If you were being picky you might say it can be a bit much after a while, but if you're in the mood then this definitely hits.

I'm sorry "The Rolling Stones", I think you're great, I really do, but this album of generally competent covers isn't it. A nice enough listen, but completely uninspired.

2.5 rounded down.

I think this is the best one of theirs yet. The first track is really bold and in your face out of the gate, and shows some of the promise found elsewhere on the album. However it does also segue into that typical downbeat, out of tune, droney wall of noise which I struggle with. Parts of this album are like a bad fever dream, and it's not a pleasant listen.

When the songs get a bit more structure to them, with either a good hook or a more discernible rhythm, and it's not hidden behind a complete wall of fuzz, then it's much more listenable.

2.5 rounded up.

As with his other albums, I admire the artist and the artistry. Maybe more so than the actual music..? Perhaps. Less so on this album though, as there's some good stuff in here. It's weird. Much of it is discordant and kind of 'off', but it has a cohesive rhythm and drive to it. I like the random chimes and little areas of detail across the album, and I'm really liking the softer ballads.

3.5 rounded down.

I knew more songs on here than I realised. As someone else said, this is very much a product of its era, but it's got such a moody edge to it that I really like. There's layers and layers of sound. I have to say I also really enjoy the magic 80's sax, it really works.

3.5 rounded up.

Ah man, it started off really well but just turned into one long blah-fest, punctuated only occasionally with a good track. If it didn't end with Good Vibrations then I likely would have missed the ending. Just far too many boring tracks in here that passed me by and struggled to hold my attention.

2.5 rounded up.

This is actually great. Despite it's length, it grew on me more and more as it played, and I found myself admiring the scope and talent behind it as it went on.

There's lots of range in here, with different styles and approaches. Lots of different instruments. Running through the whole thing you get a great tempo, tons of personality, and the sense of real quality and commitment. Musically it's really on-point. There's lots of surprises in there, with little notes of difference, a choir at one point, brass, synths, talked-over bits. It's so vibrant.

I just think it's really accomplished, and you get a sense of a true artist at work. I hadn't heard of this guy at all, or his previous band, so it's nice to have access and knowledge of this whole other scene that I was completely unaware of.

I know loads of people like this, and I know some of my favourite albums sit adjacent to this - but I just can't get fully on-board. I like a bunch of tracks. I like some of the guitar work, especially when it's really big and bold sounding. But there's also plenty here that just sounds a bit generic rock to me.

I want way more melodies and identifiable riffs in my rock. They are in there in places, they're just not popping for me. Also, I'm not as won over by his voice, or this style of singing as a lot of others are, so I'm not giving plus points there. I can still appreciate it when he's wailing away at times, but I'd much rather some strange but interesting vocals personally. I know I'm in the minority there.

It's pretty good, but I'm not going to revisit.

This is a real random album, flitting between different styles and moods, and sometimes even within the same song. You just have to look at the first track which has really interesting, dark, moody synths and those iconic smoky vocals - only for it to suddenly shift into an upbeat 80's bubblegum pop tune! It's really jarring. It's also kind of echoed with the album cover, where he looks all dark and mysterious, and yet completely unserious.

People are mean about the synths. I like them dammit! They're layered in really interesting ways (at times). Some other tracks are just weird - I'm looking at you Jazz Police.

Everybody Knows is a great track. I love the music in that song. You have some great guitar work (the internet tells me it's guitar, but it sounds more like some kind of twangy sitar or something), and then those really pervasive synths sitting under everything. And the backing vocals and strings. I particularly enjoy singing this song when I have a really bad cold and my voice sounds Leonard Cohen as fuck.

I kind of admire him being a bit of an oddball on this album, but it's hit and miss. I still like the guy.

For whatever reason I can never seem to muster enough energy to properly engage with her music. All of my prior reviews for her albums have just been straight down the middle, "It's alright". Aaaand... It's kind of the same here. Yeah, it's alright. At least she's consistent. Some tracks are nicely done, but there's also a lot of dirgy stuff in there which I'm not into.

I'm sure something with such raw guitar and solid instrumentals should excite me more than this. I like what they're doing, and moments really shine, but it's also just a bit boring. It's quite a murky, wall of noise mix, and there's something about the compositions that doesn't sit quite right for me. I'll give some bonus cred to music and production that must have been quite bold and experimental back in 1970, but it doesn't all land for me. I really liked Machine Head, but for whatever reason this just isn't really gelling with me as much.

This didn't leave as big a mark as I may have wanted, but it's still a real funky time for much of it. I like the way they rap together and the rhyme and flow is really good. I like the production too, and the music, samples and beats are always at least interesting.

3.5 rounded up.

It’s got quite an interesting sound to it. It has elements of 80’s rap and hip hop, as well as some of the sound that became more prominent in the 90’s. I’m surprised at how funky it is, and I’m actually pretty down with most of it. I’m guessing this was at the earlier end of having skits on records, and of course, they remain painfully unfunny.

There’s a strong feeling of Public Enemy about this (and actually after writing this I re-read the intro and realised it was the same production crew) – and the more politically charged tracks do work well - but it’s kind of undermined when he also starts rapping about going at a hoe with a coat hanger. I made the mistake of actively looking at the lyrics for one of the songs and…. eeeeesh. I made a concerted effort to ignore them as much as possible after that point.

Eh… it is what it is. It’s one of those generally pleasant albums your parents would play back in the day. You didn’t like it, but it was inoffensive enough to not cause upset. A bit boring. Parts of it do sound very 80’s, with those soft backing keys and drum loops. There’s some bass in there that’s threatening to make a mark but doesn’t quite do so. There’s some nice piano and strings. A bit of awkward sax.

This might be the least exciting album I’ve ever heard. It has barely any edges or texture to it.

2.5 rounded down.

Hey this is pretty good fun you know. I really wasn’t into this scene as a kid, but I think these guys may have aged better than some of their contemporaries. The whole album is a consistent bop and much better than I thought it’d be. Musically it’s good. I particularly like the guitar work, which alternates between some nice acoustic work, to some upbeat twangy solo stuff, and down into that really grimy, thick sound. Underneath everything there’s some genuinely good grooves in there, and I routinely nodded my head along. I can’t understand a fucking thing he’s saying, but it kind of doesn’t register after a while. That kind of drawly, mumbly approach might grate elsewhere, but for some reason I’m ok with it here.

3.5 rounded down.

They’re a really good band aren’t they? There’s not really any all-timer greats on here, but what you do have is a bunch of perfectly crafted, straight-forward pop singles. Many of them aren’t their own songs of course, but musically they’re on-point, and it’s an overall brief, fun time.

3.5 rounded up.

I’m mixed on this. It has an interesting mix of instruments and styles. Everyone mentions the flute, but it works, man! I also like the guitars and music in general. I found myself mostly tapping along. It’s just… all a bit weirdly dramatic. I can’t think of many prog / concept albums that I really enjoy. This has the same kind of trappings as those. I just find it hard to engage with it as much.

This is quite a jarring record. Some of the content and style isn’t for me. It’s super repetitive and it’s abrasive as anything… but that kind of works for it? I thought I would hate it from the off, but it’s got so much attitude and personality, and some dirty, DIRTY beats.

It won me over the more I listened despite it still not really being for me, and it not being something I’ll ever return to. The production is genuinely great. It’s so weird and unusual, it kind of doesn’t sound like anything else I’ve ever heard before. I like the voice over bits, the random noises and beeps, and those phat, disgusting beats as I mentioned.

I love that something like this is on the list, rather than listening to another fucking Bruce Springsteen record or something. At least this is something genuinely different that I would never have listened to otherwise.

It’s not the kind of thing I’d ever reach for, but I enjoyed my time with this. He’s a very good musician, and you can’t deny the musicality is on-point throughout. There’s some real nice guitar in here, some really great grooves, and some nice keys. I’m much less into the country stuff.

I had to keep reminding myself to listen to this critically because I just found myself singing along to the whole thing. I mean, what an album. Not only is there not a bad track, there's SO many very strong ones. Just a few of these tracks on a single album would elevate it, but all on the same one? Phew.

This is more 'jangly guitar' Radiohead, but still the production and musicality on this album is really interesting. Lots of layers of instruments and melodies and sounds going through the songs. I like the build up of instruments and atmosphere, and his singing is really on point. There's a real sense of feeling running through it.

Some of the songs are just stunning. You wouldn't always expect to end an album on one of the best songs, but wow, what a way to sign this off. Street Spirit is such a beautiful song.