Reviews by jaileer5

Reveal reaction: Never heard of this band. But it's never a good thing when the album of the day isn't on Apple Music of Spotify. I found it on Bandcamp.

So, I should append "unfortunately" to the last sentence. The album starts with some very severe slide guitar. I had to stop it and check wikipedia to make sure I wasn't going to accidentally listen to some country music because fuck that. Either way, the first song is country adjacent trash.

The second song is better. Very indie alt-rock, sort of like The Lemonheads. What follows is a very mixed bag. There are some songs that are sparse, elegant and beautiful, like Jenny, but more often, the songs are boring, cookie-cutter facsimiles of better artists' music. I found myself swinging wildly between a 2 star and 3 star review here because there are several songs that are actually pretty damned good - the aforementioned Jenny being the pick of the bunch. but there are songs that are infuriatingly boring slogs. 2.5 would be the right play here, if we had half stars.

Reveal reaction: I LOVE the song Dear God, but I don't really know anything about them. I thought they were an 80s band, but this was released in 1999. So either they're not an 80s band, they had a longer career than I thought, or this is one of those late career "experimental" albums that completely change and refine their signature sound. We'll see.

The first song is brilliant. Very lush, and layered. The second song sounds like an outtake from a Pretenders album. Which is to say annoying, but oddly catchy. The rest of the first half of the album swings between very interesting and very catchy in a pop-y sort of way. Which is to say, it's very good. I thought I was heading for a 4 star review.

Then, starting at song 7, Your Dictionary, it just gets...boring. It's hard to put my finger on exactly why, because there's nothing egregious, there's no dramatic shift to the vibes, or a change in musical philosophy - it just kinda sucks. Fruit Nut might be the worst song on the record, it sounds like a crappy, organ-y, bouncy, spearmint gum commercial jingle. Even the best song of the back half of the album, I Can't Own Her, is just sort of bland. in fact, the last three songs are sort of interchangeable drone.

I know I've spent more words describing why I don't like the second half of the album, but that's only because I'm trying to work out what's *actually* wrong with it. I think the bottom line is that for whatever reason, it just didn't connect like the first half. Overall, solidly decent album.

Reveal reaction: Oh HELL yes! I used to listen to the shit out of this album, but it's been a long time. This album was never meant for general consumption, so I'm sure the overall rating is going to be dogshit, but I cannot wait to revisit this and see how it stands the test of time!

It's still really good to me. A little corny at times, but still interesting and unique. I think it's a 3.5, but I'm going to give it 4 stars because I'd happily listen to it again and again.

Reveal reaction: This should be fun!

OK, I was right, it was a lot of fun! I've never really been that interested in Missy Elliot, so this is the first time I've heard this entire album. On one hand, it's a capsule to a time in hip hop where Timbaland was EVERYWHERE, and on the other hand, it's really unique in a way that I never realized. Off the top of my head, I can only point to Lauren Hill as an example of an artist whose album is as equal parts singing and rapping - and equally comfortable with each.

This album isn't as good as the timeless Miseducation of Lauren Hill, but it definitely deserves the love it gets. Great album that sounds of its time, but not anachronistic.

It's fine. Sludgy, mid-90s, post-grunge brit-rock. If Oasis and Screaming Trees had a baby.

Reveal reaction: Oh no. Goddammit.

Full disclosure, I'm about 4 days behind on this project because I've been ill and I desperately don't want to listen to this album. I made a commitment, though, so let's get into it.

So, it's as bad as I thought. My wife informs me this is called "yacht rock." I have no idea why, but whatever. Apparently it's a genre of smooth rock jazzy shit that white people listen to on boats, I don't know. What I *do* know, however, is that it's not for me.

I really try to avoid 1 star reviews, and I'm really searching for something that allows me to give this 2 stars...and I got it at the end. Home at Last had me actually tapping my toes a little, and I Got The News is strangely jaunty and fun. With a different vocalist, I think Josie could be a decent 60s-ish funk joint with a killer bass line.

So there it is. That's all I got. If you're a white guy that has a predilection for white shorts rolled at the knee and boat shoes, you're probably really going to dig this album.

Reveal thoughts: no idea.

This is an outstanding album. I know post-rock instrumental music isn’t for everyone, but I quite enjoy it. If you appreciate Moreau or Godspeed You! Black Emperor, I think you’ll vibe with this.

Reveal reaction: I've never heard of this band.

I started listening to this a couple days ago, and just wasn't in the mood. Then I got sick and kind of forgot about it for a couple days. Coming back to it, it's actually quite a bit better than the first little bit of listening I did. I don't really know how to categorize it. There's definitely a punk twinge to it, down to the singers somewhat nasally delivery, but it's got some four-on-the-floor straight ahead rock chops as well. There's a few songs in here that have some shades of what would eventually become grunge.

I gotta be honest - for a guy that is PROPER sick of 70s rock, this kinda slaps. I'm not going to listen to it every day, but it actually sounds fresh for what it is. I know that's weird, because if I didn't know the year it was released, I'd definitely peg it as a 70s album, but at the same time it doesn't really sound like other 70s albums.

Reveal thoughts: OK, Morrissey could be coo…2004?! Wasn’t Morrissey about 20 years past his sell date by 2004?

So, It's hard not to like, because it's very Morrissey. He's got a very cool, soothing voice, and I like it. So there's that. But some of the lyrics, man. He's a deeply unlikeable guy, I think. He's VERY fucking pretentious who seems to think he's special and better than everyone. And sometimes, he *really* wants you to know that, at the expense of the song. An example is in America Is Not The World. Now, as an American, I like a good takedown of 'Merica as much as anybody, but lyrics like "Oh, in America, it brought you the hamburger. Well, America, you know where you can shove your hamburger." Like, what? That's not clever, that's just clumsy.

Anyway, I like his voice. 3 stars.

Reveal thoughts: Never heard of it. Released in 1981. This is gonna suck.

OK, not sure it sucks, but it's not my thing. It kind of sounds like punk meets rockabilly? Some songs kind of have a blues-y type sound. This will be a tough ranking because I don't really like it, but at the same time, I can *just* see why it's in this project. It's sunk, mostly, but it's not exactly like the other punk from the era, and you can hear the influences of other types of music.

In the end, though, I just don't like it. It's too long, especially for a punk album, too repetitive, and too dated. 2 stars.

Revea thoughts: No idea.

Slightly tedious. Kind of sounds a bit wanna be punk-ish, but not quite as obnoxious.

It was fine.

Reveal thoughts: No idea.

You know the movie Love, Actually? This sounds like if the “rock star” guy made a full album.

Initial thoughts: *heavy sigh* everyone is supposed to like Sinatra for some reason, but I do not.

Ok, so, it sounds like Frank Sinatra. Like, who gives a shit? It’s fine, I suppose, for what it is. But honestly, you could convince me that Sinatra had one album, and this is it, because every song sounds like every Sinatra song I’ve ever heard.

And here’s a mini rant: yesterday was Maxwell’s Urban Hang Suite and it’s sitting at a 2.98 rating. Because this is Sinatra, I guarantee this one will be above 3.5, probably creeping towards 4. But what’s the difference in the two albums? They’re both full of love songs that are a bit sappy. They are both filled with songs that all sound a bit similar. They’re both sung by very good, very smooth singers. But this one will be ranked MUCH higher, even though it’s not as good of an album, in my opinion.

I don’t know. It’s a 2.5 but I’m ranking it 2 stars because I’m a bit of a dick and I’m annoyed by what I wrote in the last paragraph. It’s time white Americans stop idolizing scumbags like Sinatra and Elvis.

Reveal thoughts: Hell yeah! I love(ed) this album!

So, this is an interesting one. I went into it thinking it could be 5 stars - I listened to the shit out of it back in the day. Now though…it doesn’t hit as hard. It magnificent for what it is, and I remember when Neo-Soul was my jam, and this album was/is Neo-Soul royalty! But this is the first album that has made me think about how different I am now.

I’m not saying it isn’t good - it’s really good! But it’s more like 3.5 good instead of 5 star good. A little boring, maybe? I think it’s one of those things I need to be in the mood for, versus there being a time where this *was* my mood.

Like I said, it’s probably 3.5 stars, but it’s so much better than many albums I’ve given 3 stars, it’s getting a 4.

Quite good for what it is. Lots of really good songs, but the live versions aren’t the best, in my opinion. Still, solid 3.5 stars.

Reveal thoughts: I'm not disappointed! Most of my experience listening to The Doors has been through movies, so it'll be fun to listen to an actual album.

Actually, I’m a little disappointed. Kind of boring, to be honest.

Reveal thoughts: OK, I'm interested. U2 is an odd band and this is their iconic album. Let's see how it goes.

Weirdly underwhelming. It has a couple all-timers like One and Mysterious Ways, but it has quite a bit that are just...blah. And that's the mysterious (ha!) thing about this album. They have some songs that are really great, that stand up over time, that don't necessarily sound like they're from any era but are able to stand on their own. Then they have a bunch of songs that aren't *bad* per se, but they're just really kind of boring. It a 3 star album because I didn't hate it, but I think it's an opportunity missed in a sense.

Initial thought: Oh no. 1973? Strike one. Jazz? Strike two. Sigh. Let’s get to it.

Actually, it’s pretty damned good. Turns out maybe I just don’t like trumpet jazz? Or maybe this is just cream of the crop. Either way, pleasantly surprised, and a solid 3.5. It got a little weird in spots. Not cool weird, but cringey 70s weird. That keeps it from a 4, but overall it’s nice.

Initial thought: Hell yes! I adore this album, I adore this band. I honestly don't know what I'm going to be able to say after listening - it's a 5 star banger.

I mean, that’s it. That’s the review. An all timer. It’s perfection.

Initial thought: I'm kind of blah about it. I don't know a ton about Nick Cave. I *think* I've heard some and didn't love it, but I don't think I hate it either. I'm not excited about this, but I guess I'm not dreading it either.

Actually, I just took a look at my history and I've had TWO Nick Cave albums already! That's hilarious, and it shows how memorable his music is.

Too long, wtf. Why is this an hour and a half? It's whatever. some songs are pretty decent, some are stupid and annoying. I'd give it a 3 but I'm annoyed at how long it is.