Reviews by jf01

It seems “got the life” got its hooks into me so thoroughly when this first came out that I still like it. The rest, though…

Owned this as a kid but would rank it third behind the other two LZ albums I owned: I and IV. Listening to it today, man, if it were just disc one and “ten years gone,” we’d all remember this as one of the greatest rock albums ever. If my math is right, that’s about a 50-minute album chock full of bangers. Instead the second disc is so bloated. At least on streaming, you don’t have to remove disc one just to play the one song on disc two that’s any good.

I think “our house” is one of the best songs in the pop canon, I think “helpless” is also pretty great, and then there’s also the rest of the album!

I don’t think this is as consistent as Elephant, but it is the album that got me into this band, and I love it.

Five days after seeing a standup comedian reference this band in her set, we are blessed with this: the least liked or second-least liked album in the collection. Certainly not my favorite album so far, but far from my least favorite. At least it’s not fucking Peter Frampton.

Oh hey, I actually liked the title track! What a fun surprise. I was totally expecting a “I respect this but I don’t like it” album and I maybe like it ever so slightly more than that. Not going to get a lot of airplay in the house, though.

I’m actually torn between a 1 and a 2. I was never bored! That’s good! But I only liked the one song. I’ve given 1s to albums with songs I liked before. Much to consider. You know, I think I’m going 2 for the simple reason that I do think this is worth listening to once, which sets it apart from much of the 1s I’ve awarded. This is very much in the spirit of the project and I appreciate that.

Side A has to be in contention for “greatest first four songs on an album.” Second half is a slight let down, but anything would be.

Another pivotal childhood album. My friend who grew up to be a gigging bassist got into the Dead, this album, the Doors, and Blue Oyster Cult in junior high, and introduced me to all of them. (I don’t *think* he was getting stoned in junior high, I just think his parents were, and they introduced him to this music.) BOC, meh. The Doors, meh. GD is hit or miss. But this album stuck and has never gone away. Odds are extremely high I’ll practice Paranoid, Iron Man, or War Pigs on the guitar later.

And I don’t think it’s a hot take to trace back all my favorite sub genres of metal to this album, “Planet Caravan” in particular. The band Sleep doesn’t exist without that song, I’m convinced. (I now see the top review for this album credits “Electric Funeral” for sludge metal. The review’s not wrong. The real marvel is the diversity of sound among these songs, and the credible claim several of them would have on later subgenres. It’s a little like hearing a foundational document of a religion that later had all kinds of schisms.)

When I think back to the mid 90s, I have such a fondness for albums like Dookie, Blue Album, and Mellon Collie…, but in truth I think it took a while to warm up to them. This one, though, I loved immediately. Except for “she’s electric,” I love every single song. And I learned we are a house divided: I think “cast no shadow” might be the best song here, and I think “morning glory” might be the most fun song here; Maggie thinks those are the two weakest. Like the Gallagher brothers, we too are at odds. Will we go our separate ways for 20 years only to reunite for that sweet, sweet reunion-tour cash? Time will tell!

Here’s the give and take of Chicago: I really liked the horns on the first song. I was into that song almost from the jump. Then there was, like, a three-minute instrumental break in the middle of the song. When they’re doing pop, I think I really like them. When they’re doing jazz, I’m way less into it.

Oh here’s another one: Poem 58. Were there lyrics before about 5 minutes into this? I zoned out and now I like the last 3 minutes.

This is probably a 3.5, but closer to a 3. A 3.49 album? Anyway, 3 it is.

I don’t think I’ve listened to his version of Mr. Tambourine Man in a million years. William Shatner ruined it for me. But it’s really a great song.

39 minutes my ears will never get back

I can’t be mad at more 90s rock. That’s my wheelhouse. But it is really funny to think of the 1001 authors sitting down to be like, “you have *got* to hear this average example of a genre already well represented, both in pop culture and in our book, before you die.”

I was thinking “2” the whole time, but honestly, I don’t think I enjoyed more than a minute of this. I was wishing for it to be over by song three. If that’s not a 1, what is.

The one memory I have of anything Rush-related is of other drummers at band camp geeking out over Neil Peart. I appreciate Peart, but I’m never going to fall in love with a band because of their drummer. Mayyyyyybe John Bonham, but that’s about it.

I’ve heard Tom Sawyer on classic rock radio but have never willingly listened to it until today. And (three songs in) I’m getting exactly the vibe I expected of Rush: it’s complicated and technical, but it isn’t pleasing. Oh I’ve heard Limelight before. Meh all around.

This is my favorite of the early-career stuff. But a lot of that credit belongs to Motown. And there are some real clunkers here too. Four stars.

I knew this would be between a 4 and a 5. But I think when I listen to this normally, I play “bring da ruckus” and then skip straight to “cream.” The cream / method man / protect ya neck / tearz run is great, but the first half of the album is not my favorite.

Didn’t expect to ascertain the origin of a primitive radio gods sample today.

I’ve really tried to get into this over the years. Never have. Is today the day? Or is it my usual thoughts: an incredible first four seconds and then not much else after?

Okay, I do like it more than that—more than four seconds. But none of these songs ever get in my bones. They’re fine and then I forget about them. “Sometimes” got closer to that this time, and I like the riffs from only shallow, when you sleep, and I only said.

First song’s first riff sounds like Radiohead’s “a wolf at the door.” Second song clearly sampled in sleigh bells’ “rill rill.” Loving this so far, not just because of these connections. Oh there’s another one — Atmosphere’s “Los Angeles” uses the same PA announcement that’s in wars of Armageddon. Almost like this is an influential album.

I’m between four and five but I listened to this probably five times this weekend, so I think I’ll round up.

I don’t think I’d ever heard “afternoon tea.” I liked it.

Besides “more than a feeling,” I can never remember which songs on this I like. I had the first three songs liked on Spotify, so there was some pleasant anticipation because I could not remember what those other two were.

And then there’s the rest of the album! Don’t get me wrong, I would have bought this too based on those three songs if it were 1976 and streaming didn’t exist. But the rest is a letdown.

The real revelation is the Wikipedia page. I assumed Boston was, idk, Journey but better, or Aerosmith but less toxic. But it’s just one genius dude?

“Scholz is an MIT-trained engineer who designed and built his own recording studio in an apartment basement in the early 1970s. A fan of rock music throughout his teen years, Scholz began writing songs while earning his master's degree at MIT. The first Boston album was mostly recorded in his basement studio, primarily using devices he invented. After the success of Boston, he founded Scholz Research & Development, Inc. to develop and market his inventions, many under the Rockman brand. Scholz holds several patents related to his work at SR&D over the years.

He was described by AllMusic as an "un-rock n' roll" figure who did not enjoy the limelight of being a performer, preferring to concentrate on music, production, and inventing new electronic equipment. In more recent years, he has dedicated much of his money and time to charitable work.”

Never again will I talk shit about Boston. Except to say this album is three classic rock songs and not a whole lot else, and the rest of their catalog is totally forgettable. Okay, NOW I won’t talk shit about Boston.