Reviews by jacjac

A stunning & quirky debut dreampop album featuring jangly guitar à la Mac Demarco. Stephen expertly vocalizes a lilting baritone and a crisp falsetto, coupled perfectly with Audun's funky basslines. Completely bittersweet knowing their fate…

An intimate folk classic featuring the most gorgeous and goosebump-inducing piano riff ever. Is it "man with guitar" music? Yes. Is Drake the best to ever do it? Very possibly. Drake walked so Jeff Buckley could run.

Much too soft for my liking. A few standout songs, but overall, this just wasn't for me.

Mixing is unique and somewhat interesting, but the "soft industrial" sound doesn't seem so experimental after a while.

A classic record by a cult favorite. Understandable why this has the accolades it does: jangly, melancholy, and unmistakable vocals.

Peak early 2000's indie, just the way I like it. Creative lyrics, tight instrumentation; sexy with a haunting edge.

I fucking love the Beastie Boys. Anyone who says this is just "a bunch of yelling" has no idea the fun they're missing out on. The sampling is sublime, and the flows may be simple, but they are perfect to me. I can't believe it's taken me so long to listen to this album, and it's now going in my regular rotation for sure. I truly can't say anything beyond calling this a total masterpiece.

Favorite tracks: Shake Your Rump, Egg Man, Looking Down The Barrel Of A Gun

What a delicious album. I could listen to this all the time, and I'm so happy I pulled this as my 100th album. Of course, I was already familiar with the two big hits, and man, there was so much more to discover! The solos aren't taxing because the guitar work is so damn good (it's Santana, duh), and I liked the combination of instrumental & lyrical tracks. Each track has that juicy 70s quality, and that's even before you get to the organ-esque keyboards that also reek of the 70s to me. Maybe it's time for me to listen to this not sober?

Favorite tracks: Black Magic Woman, Oye Como Va, Mother's Daughter

Okay, I'm not going to lie, parts of this sounded like I was listening to the filler tracks from Napoleon Dynamite. Which, although I love that movie dearly, is not exactly the style of music I tend to enjoy. For a lot of the tracks, I would prefer to listen to the original track that actually has the vocals (especially Ray Charles, c'mon). It's not a bad album by any means, but fully instrumental albums like this aren't really my jam. I can see why it's included on this list, even if I find this kind of chuggy R&B pretty boring.

Favorite tracks: Green Onions, I Got a Woman

Did I understand what was going on during a single moment of this? Absolutely not. Was it a chore to listen to? Kind of. The track I have listed as my favorite was quite literally the only one that didn't completely fade into the background as I was listening - I suppose this means I endorse this album as good background listening? I kind of forgot it was on, which I suppose is exactly why many people choose to listen to instrumental soundtracks. The acid jazz flavor of this one was more interesting than a lot of orchestral soundtracks, so it definitely has that going for it. Not exactly sure if it deserves a spot on this list, but I also didn't hate it. Perfect for Noirvember.

Favorite track: Sounds From The Big House

I haven't listened to much Fiona Apple beyond her radio hits, so this was definitely an adventure. I think it would have hit harder if I'd heard it mid-pandemic, but I do think it holds up 6 years later. It's hard for me to compare this work to the 90s releases (per my acknowledged Fiona Apple blind spot), but I kind of liked how experimental this felt. I really had no idea what I was going to get with each song, let alone within the same song. Cool stuff, not necessarily what I tend to listen to, but definitely one that I'll be listening to again.

Favorite tracks: Under The Table, Newspaper, Drumset

I love an album that is atmospheric from the jump. This was such a sleeper hit for me, as I foolishly never would have guessed how much more I would find from this group past "Bohemian Like You". What an absolute banger of an album. The late 90s sound that I know and love, with some clear slacker and garage influences that I just adore. I don't always love an album that is this long, but I really appreciated the way that each song took time to build - each element of the instrumentals really had a moment to shine, not to mention the layered vocals. Will absolutely be adding this to my regular rotation.

Favorite tracks: Be-In, Orange, Every Day Should Be A Holiday

Definitely in the running for the most lustful album maybe ever made. And, I mean, for good reason. Really happy he got to have an album like this before making one twice as long all about getting divorced. An interesting turn away from the very political "What's Going On" as well, and he shines in a different way here. Classic Motown soul sound, which of course works great for a voice as smooth as Marvin's. A fun listen, if not a little balladic at times.

Favorite tracks: Let's Get It On, Let's Get It On, Come Get To This

An absolute 80s gem. Am I biased toward this TFF because I am a certified Donnie Darko enjoyer? Certainly. But damn, are these cats cooking. Never thought a guy named Ronald would have this much aura; need him to take me to wherever the big chair is ASAP. Starts out with a bang - "Shout" might be one of my favorite 80s songs of all time. You know what, I could say that about several other tracks on this album as well. I just can't get over how perfect the synth lines are. Excellent pacing with interesting musical interludes, captivating songwriting, catchy riffs, and deliciously echo-y vocals create a goddamn VIBE. I seriously don't have a better way to describe it. Not that I haven't already, but I will be yelling from the rooftops about this album to anyone who will listen.

Favorite tracks: Shout, Everybody Wants To Rule The World, Head Over Heels (duh)

I totally resent having to do two Bruce Springsteen albums in the same week. I was already sick of his voice after hearing a whole album's worth 3 days ago, so I fear this review is going to be clouded by my own irritation. Somehow, some way, I made it through this entire album, but I'm not going to sit here and say it was my favorite by any means. It was actually perfectly middling, to be completely honest. The saxophone solos, however, definitely increased my enjoyment. A bit ballad-heavy in the middle, but sandwiched by some more rockin' tracks that I tended to enjoy more. Nothing to write home about with this one, I fear...

Favorite tracks: Adam Raised a Cain, Prove It All Night

I could have done without the crying child interlude three songs in, but otherwise this was alright. Really not my genre, but I definitely have respect for the influence the Temptations have, especially 9 albums in. Good classic grooves, where each member has their moment to shine vocally (however, that's not to say I love all of their voices). I can't say I loved the B-side either; several songs about the theoretical possibility that the girl in this situation has another man just get tiring. Overall, this was just a little too same-y for me, in the way that it felt like it lasted for far longer than the 35 minutes it actually did. I only just remembered that I've already listened to a Temptations album on this list, and I think I'm beginning to realize that I just don't really care for them at all...

Favorite tracks: Cloud Nine (because this was one of the only non-love songs)

I had to listen to this twice just to make sure I got it all, and man, does the first 3 minutes of the title track not get any easier to listen to the second time? I quite liked it after that part, though I couldn't commit to adding any of the 3 tracks to any playlists considering they are virutally playlist length in & of themselves. Listening to this fully convinced me that I am still VERY undecided as to whether I even like prog. However, I gained a hell of a lot of respect for Bill Bruford. Unfortunately, I'm going to have to give this a middling rating (despite its awe-inducing sprawl) since it is an impractical listen.

Favorite track: Siberian Khatru

Man, I was really hoping that finally listening to this album would turn me into a Springsteen fan. I hate to say it, but this really didn't do much to convince me. I think I'd built it up in my head far too much, expecting to find some excellent songs past the major hits. Unfortunately, I came away still enjoying the famous tracks the most by far, and wasn't too impressed by everything else. I think I just get a little sick of Bruce's voice sometimes, and when it's his voice + slow/balladic instrumentals + the same lyrics repeated over and over, that really doesn't do it for me. Iconic album cover, though, and I'll keep listening to the hits.

Favorite tracks: I'm On Fire, Glory Days, Dancing In the Dark

Now this is the Marvin Gaye album I've been waiting for. Adroit messaging, great grooves, and soulful vocals make this an absolute 4-star album for me. I already knew this album pretty well (I do in fact own the vinyl and love to spin it to cultivate a vibe), and my favorite tracks haven't changed from those I already knew, but still a very enjoyable listen for a Friday afternoon.

Favorite tracks: What's Going On, Mercy Mercy Me, Inner City Blues

This was, as expected, super old-school all the way through, and I fear I don't love that kind of hip-hop for 45 minutes in a row, as it can become a little repetitive for me. However, as forerunners of the genre, I have a ton of respect for this. Fun beats, lyrics that don't take themselves too seriously (most of the time), and exactly the flows you'd expect from an '82 hip-hop album. Reminds me of my dad, who is the one who introduced me to "The Message".

Favorite tracks: It's Nasty, The Message