Reviews by jf01

I know this one well enough that I don’t need to listen today, but I still will. You may recall this was the famous “pay what you want” album. I think I paid $10 when it came out, when I was a broke law student.

Highlights: everything except Faust Arp, which isn’t even bad, it just doesn’t meet the standard set by everything else here, IMO.

Please play Videotape at my funeral. Thanks, bye.

I can tell this is *supposed* to be fun, but it just doesn’t quite get there for me.

The rockers on this, which I perceive to be Lindsey’s, aren’t doing it for me, but I’m enjoying the Stevie/Christine slow jams.

Favorites: think about me, storms, honey hi, beautiful child, tusk (the exception to my rule), never forget

Pre listen: I know I listened to this a few years ago out of curiosity, but Spotify is telling me I didn’t “like” a single song. Not even bang a gong. So we’ll see what today’s listen holds.

Obviously I love these sad bois.

One of my all-time favorites. Easiest 5 of the project so far.

Pre listening: A few weeks ago I saw a car with license plate that was something like “BLK CRWS” and other decals related to this band and I thought, I have never in my life considered for even a moment the idea that the Black Crowes could be someone’s favorite band. Welp, time to find out what the fuss is about and whether they’re just a one-hit wonder.

Listening: this is more fun than I expected. Never going to be my favorite band, but I could see why someone would like them. And, bonus, now I know what he’s saying in the chorus of Hard to Handle. And I know that song is called Hard to Handle! Learned so much today.

This was fine.

It’s a no for me.

It’s been a long time since I’ve listened to this all the way through. I think I’ve grown and the album has definitely aged. And the group has disavowed much of it, if I remember correctly. What would have been a strong 4-star, bordering on 5, in high school is probably just a 3 now.

I think of this band as a two-hit wonder, even though Spotify is telling me “not if you were the last junkie on earth” isn’t even their second-biggest song. Let’s see how the rest of the album does.

I like the rock stuff. Less the experimental/droney/shoegazey stuff.

Also hated this, but I appreciated its inventiveness. One star for existing and a second star for trying something new.

I hated this and I’m afraid it’s going to put me in a bad mood all day. When you hear “Money for Nothing” or “Sultans of Swing” in isolation, you don’t think, “Oh, this is the world’s most masturbatory band,” but then when you are subjected to a whole album, oh boy. I’m a little torn on rating because I do like SoS and Wild West End—maybe those are good enough to get it to a two? But I don’t think so.

Probably my favorite solo artist ever. His third-best album (XO, Either/Or). Even before listening today, I can tell you “Happiness” is one of the most beautiful songs, period, and when the drums drop on “everything means nothing to me” is incredible. The first five songs are all bangers (but the other two albums are all bangers).

This was the final studio album released while he was alive as heroin and depression consumed him.

Reddit’s favorite album. Just listened to this a few months ago as I gave it yet another chance. I think it’s always going to be good, not great for me. Epitaph and ITCOTCK are my two standouts.

Too much of an ok thing

I had never heard of this band, so I set out to read up on them. The comparisons were Oasis, Blur, The Verve, Elbow, Coldplay, Radiohead! How exciting! This is going to be my new favorite band!

Nope. It is indeed a British band that plays rock music. But not my new favorite one.

I appreciate, but don’t love, their singing.

According to WhoSampled, 7 of the 8 songs have been sampled by other artists, with “he’s the greatest dancer” leading the way—duh, it’s getting jiggy with it. No samples for “you’re a friend to me” and only one for “somebody loves me.” But I get it: these grooves are infectious. Obviously “we are family” is the standout, and it always makes me think of the Pittsburgh pirates.
https://youtu.be/hB4eGNYMDKQ?si=m1lkxpT9CLx9qYxl

DNF. I got the gist. “Jump jive and wail” does make it onto my ongoing playlist.