Reviews by j-bizzle

It's another one of my nostalgic 5's, but this one is pretty special to me, and it still KICKS ASS.

I was about 14 or 15 when I first heard this album. I remember it incredibly vividly. I know the exact spot I was standing in at school when a friend handed me his headphones one lunchtime and I listened to 'Gotta Get Away' for the first time. The Offspring for me weren't just a gateway band into alternative music, it was a whole moment in our lives. I became part of the 'alternative' crowd and embraced that as part of my identity. I wasn't a trendy asshole and I liked good music!

I was obsessed with the Offspring from there. They were the first band I saw live (side note: The 'Million Miles Away' video is from that very gig!), and I listened to them all the time. I'm SO happy that they've actually aged well, and that the albums still have heaps of energy and punch to them. I even saw them live again last year for the first time since 2000, and they were excellent!

Putting my music critic hat on.. some of this can sound quite samey, or have the same kind of energy throughout. The drum beats and drive is so similar across the album. But I love how relentless it is, and how it barely stops for air. There are some great tunes on here, full of energy and bite and get up and go, and I love it.

I'm way more up on this than I thought I would be when I read about it, but then of course I did have super, super low expectations. Just the fact that it wasn't ear-splitting noise was a nice enough surprise. I would say it's more 'experimental music' than outright noise, but I didn't find it particularly challenging to listen to, and it's at least interesting.

2.5 rounded down.

Aw gee shucks, more good ol' country. He's got a nice voice at least, I'll give him that.

The great con in muso circles is that Coldplay are shit. You can't be part of the club if you like Coldplay. How embarrassing! But of course, they're actually pretty good. The songs are solid, well put together, and quite effective. There is an actual reason they're so popular amongst the great mass of musical plebs. I'm glad some people on this project are coming to the same conclusion - as am I! Before this I mostly wrote them off, but now I'm middle-aged and I don't care and I like what I like, with no pretence. Overall this is pretty solid, with some nice tunes in there.

3.5 rounded up.

The production is good, but it's just a bit boring innit? It's all very twee and lovely and lah-de-dah. Let's all drink a pint of mead and stroke our luscious beards while swapping our favourite vegan recipes.

It's not for me. There wasn't really enough to grab a hold of. No solid enough melodies or rhythms. A fair few reviews mentioning the grittiness and energy - I don't know, it feels pretty tame to me. And it's way too long, or felt it.

2.5 rounded down.

I'm sure if you go into an obscure record shop somewhere, all the bearded men behind the counter would be nodding along sagely while this plays over the speakers. You have to have a 'musical ear' to get this. Simpletons don't understand. Prog rock is music in its FINAL form. The truest music in existence.

Actually, this got better as it went on, so ignore some of the snark above. It's still definitely a bit wanky, but some of the music and themes are good, and parts of it sound properly epic - particularly as they bring in those cool synths.

I've been annoyed by a few reviews of various albums here where they mention white people misappropriating blues music, and rate it extremely harshly almost out of spite. In those cases I've seen the skill in the album and enjoyed them in their own right. I thought that might be the case here too, but actually.. I think they might have a point. This is still accomplished enough, but it does sound like a much tamer sound, like they've taken something way more raw and powerful and just 'blanded' over the top of it. They play their instruments well enough, but this is incredibly dull for the most part. I enjoyed some of the tracks.

2.5 rounded down.

It's kind of rock n' roll country, which really isn't my jam. It's just a bit boring. I don't want to go too hard in on it though, as it's not too offensive. It's nice enough in places. I like the track with the mandolin, that's nice. But the rest.. mostly forgettable.

2.5 rounded down.

I like the upbeat, funky nature of the beats and I like their vibe. It's pretty good fun.

Now that your kids are all grown up and off at university, it's just you and the wife at home. Things are comfortable, but dare you admit... uninspired? You're so entwined as a couple that you feel like you've lost some of your own personality. A little bit of your own spark. Time to challenge that! The wife has just taken up a new pilates class, so here's your chance to stay home and have some proper 'me' time. Pull on that sensible cardigan, break out the comfy slippers, and treat yourself to some alone time with Donald Fagen. Cup of tea to match, or pint of bitter if you're feeling a bit saucy. Go on, nod along and let that foot tap in time, be a bit extravagant. You still have a fire burning deep within you.

I think these guys have been pretty consistent across all the albums I've heard. Once again, this is an album full of energy and I'm pretty on-board with it. I really like the mad squealing on all the tracks. Kna' what I'm sayin'? YeeeeeAAAH booOOOiiii.

Side note: I've noticed a bunch of references from other artists. 'I'm the epitome of public enemy' is lifted by Weezer, and I've only just had the Tricky album that lifts the words from 'Black Steel In The Hour of Chaos'.

3.5 rounded up.

I was thoroughly expecting to hate this, but it's good! I actually really like the music. It's quite murky, the guitar sounds quite dirty and distorted at times, but it also has a real driving beat to a lot of the songs. I don't mind his vocal delivery at all, it works.

'A Past Gone Mad' might be my favourite track. It has drum n' bass elements along with synths - very cool!

3.5 rounded up.

This is such a strange album, but I can't help but admire it rather than be put off by it. It's kind of ramshackle and down and dirty, but there's a real artistry to it. It's not really my thing, but it's bold and I like that.

This isn't necessarily bad, but it's really samey. It's the exact same style and energy throughout the entire album. I couldn't differentiate any of the tracks.

2.5 rounded down.

I'm surprised by how modern this sounds. I'd previously liked 'Gone Daddy Gone', and looked this band up, thinking they were like late nineties or something. It's mad that this was early 80's as it doesn't sound like it at all.

It's got some good songs, however a lot of songs really drag, especially the slower ones where he's doing his manic, Lou Reed kind of thing. The upbeat tracks are way better.

I'm not really into folk. This at least, is kind of lah-de-dah and a bit boring.

I like some of the beats, and it's a chill enough time, but I don't think much of this as a whole to be honest. It's so one-note, and I don't think they're even saying anything particularly meaningful or profound. And it's really long.

2.5 rounded down.

I really like the variation on show with this album, and I’m generally impressed with the quality over the two halves. Musically it’s very good, and at the least it's always interesting. He’s feels like a true artist forging his own path and I admire that.

This is pretty good! I like his voice. The songs are well put together and deliver for the most part.

3.5 rounded down.