Reviews by jkegz

3/5 - Not my usual style, but I was into this. Maybe because the thumping corresponded with all the sinus pressure in my head. Of all the rave-y albums we've had here, I'd pick this one so far.

2/5 - This is more for the real Morrissey fans. I like a couple tracks, but that's about it.

4/5 - I like Kate's voice a lot, so that drives this rating, but I also think the production here is pretty great for the era. You can really hear the influence she had on other experimental women musicians in the coming decades. Not an album I'm going to listen to frequently, but I enjoy it, and it belongs on this list.

3/5 - Great vocals, but the constant big band sound wore me down after awhile

2/5 - Punk-a-billy is fine in small doses. I kept the dose small, and this was fine.

5/5 - No notes

4/5 - If everything here was as good as Vapour Trail, then this would be The Stone Roses' 1st album. :D Still, this is a solid record, and I'll listen to it anytime.

3/5 - How do you not give a point just for the cover art alone? The variety of sounds here is pretty cool, but I'd need several more spins to really have it stick.

4/5 - I probably could have listened to this all day. I sorta did. Chan Chan is a newly discovered favorite.

3/5 - I like the first two songs, and then I'm good. It's all competent stuff, but nothing I'd call great. Lacks a dynamic range for me.

4/5 - I tend to land on a 4 for albums that are clearly a big deal, but I'm not personally going to listen to a ton, so here it is. I like Elton John, but I definitely don't love Elton John. Great listen. Magnum opus. Belongs on the list.

2/5 - Not for me

4/5 - I listened to this twice and I'll play it again. Shouldn't have taken me this long to listen to the whole thing, as I have no prejudice against talk-singing in rock, and Reed is one of the originals. Bowie's production works for me here, and I didn't even mind the tuba.

2/5 - I would have rated this much differently in 2004, but this hasn't aged well for me at all. I've listened to it plenty in the past, but really couldn't make it through this time. Funny how time changes your perspective on what's worth the bother and the hype. The observational lyrics are still solid, but the total lack of flow on this record just kills me now.

3/5 - This was better than I expected, despite being obviously self-indulgent and overly long. The second half finally started to move me with more rock, and the whole thing felt like a tour of early 70s music across multiple styles with some solid production skill by Rundgren.

Aside: I'll bet Tom Scholz listened to "Couldn't I Just Tell You" more than few times.

1/5 - Hard pass. Please tell me how I'm not enlightened enough to see the genius here.

5/5 - From here to Exile is the sweet spot of the Rolling Stones for me. Gimme Shelter and the all-time backing vocal by Merry Clayton would be on my lifetime mix. Go find the naked vocal track on YouTube. Monkey Man, Let it Bleed, You Can't Always... -- great songs.

2/5 - I got vibes of T. Rex and Meatloaf with super ick-out lyrics. It was occasionally OK, without the Gang Bang and Ding Dong.

2/5 - For about 30 minutes, I was OK, but I lost the thread entirely during Enter the Circus. How is a double album "Back to Basics"?

3/5 - I prefer Iggy doing the Stooges and Bowie doing Bowie.