Reviews by jf01

I think I tapped out of Doors fandom after the much-heralded debut album. So I’ve never listened to this before, but I really liked it. The opener, especially.

Two albums into my Doves journey, I get it. The long songs where they can really build are the highlights. I just wonder if they ever get confused about which song they’re playing live: is it the soaring long one or the other soaring long one or the other soaring long one? “The Cedar Room” was my favorite track from the other album and I honest to god thought they were playing it again 2-3 times on this one.

This was coasting to a 3–fine, nothing special, but not bad either—until that last song, which was interminable.

The most overrated album in existence. People were sad because their favorite band broke up and they haven’t stopped feeling those feelings for 50 years.

Still, I don’t dislike it. Last year I rated it 7/10, this time I’ll give it a soft 4/5. The medley is fun and I love Oh Darling. The rest of the first half, meh. I could live without hearing Maxwell’s Silver Hammer, She’s so Heavy, Come Together, Something, or Here Comes the Sun ever again.

Strangely meditative for a rap album*. I felt very at peace. But it wasn’t exactly what I wanted. I may have to return later with different expectations.

*Sabotage excluded.

I like “fire and rain” and I think his voice is pleasant. Here he uses it in service of an incredibly boring album.

I’m not sure when I would ever listen to this. Not sure what mood this sets.

Somebody in my senior thesis cohort learned I liked rap and slipped me a burned CD-R with this on it. What a kindness.

Fun

According to Wikipedia, the first six songs of the version we found on YouTube were the original LP, and the last two songs were part of a three-song “bonus EP” that came with the record. No word on that third song. Anyway, if it were just the first six songs, probably a 3 for me. They’re all fine. I especially have fond memories of Ice Cube’s “Bop Gun,” which heavily samples “one nation under a groove” and was a staple of high school cross country. But a little long, a little repetitive.

But those last two songs, wow. Huge fan. Especially the final one, which sounds like a funk “Cortez the killer.” They were enough to boost this to four.

Going into this: “Scenes from an Italian restaurant” is the one song of his I like. “Movin out” and “just the way you are” are among my least favorite pop songs by anyone.

Listening:
-okay, “Vienna” isn’t bad either. Am I just a fan of Billy Joel deep cuts?
-I didn’t realize how many truly awful people got most of their personality from “only the good die young”. Late ‘70s high school yearbooks hate to see that song coming.
-“she’s always a woman” is a new contender for least favorite Billy Joel song. Got a metric ton of competition. River of dreams is *tough*.

Alright, two songs I like. I want to hate “only the good die young” but it is catchy, I will admit that. Just hate the lyrics. And then six truly terrible songs I would prefer not to hear again for the rest of my life. Let’s call that a 2.

I don’t get it.

Here’s what I think happened: Brian Wilson is a genius. He is also a perfectionist. Faced with the singular failure of his 60s-era career, he spent approximately 35 years tinkering with this album, ultimately producing a work filled with half-baked ideas. Again, he’s a genius, so some of them kind of work on their own, but there’s no sense of cohesion.

This was ok

I remembered not liking this, but I really do. I think I just don’t like it *as much* as Post, Homogenic, and Vespertine.

Something that’s always bothered me: if he’s unfadeable, couldn’t I *try* to fade this? It would presumably be fruitless, because he’s unfadeable, but asking me (politely) not to try fading this right after you’ve told me you’re unfadeable feels suspicious. Are you as unfadeable as you say you are?

The album as a whole: unfadeable. Don’t waste your time trying to fade this.

This was pretty good. I really liked stop me if you think….

No thanks.

I’m a sucker for a good backstory. This interested me before I even turned it on. And then, it was pretty good to boot.

Beforehand, I was familiar with black magic woman and oye como va, both of which I think are fine. The real surprise for me here was “Hope you’re feeling better,” which I genuinely loved. This is a 3 album with one 5 song on it, as far as I’m concerned.

Meh

I think of myself as someone who likes dance music, but this website probably thinks I hate it because it keeps serving up these boring albums.