Reviews by jlazerus

One of the albums I have essentially memorized top to bottom. Haven't listened all the way through in a while and it was interesting to hear Sandy Dennis on this after the Fairport Convention album. Truly did not appreciate her contribution on this. Remarkable. JPJ's organ on Misty Mountain Hop is underappreciated.

I don't want to see documentaries about this. I don't want to biographies authorized or unauthorized. I don't want to read the (probably) too long Wikipedia article. It's just music, man, don't over-think it. Unless you want to, and Led Zeppelin allows that as well. They finally got to jam the folk-rock down our collective ear-holes, though, and we ar BETTER FOR IT.

Surprisingly great singing and you can feel Alice Cooper influencing every heavy rock artist that came after. Noteworthy for the Broadway style theatricality, which is not unexpected for Alice Cooper considering his reputation as a live act (esp. in the early days). I love that Alice Cooper is partially responsible for jettisoning the hippies from the pop charts. In 1972 I think everyone was probably ready for a break. Fun album!

Still shockingly good, downright mythical. Simply a masterpiece.

Much of this album seems to be self-indulgent experimentation, or contractual obligation work, or writer's block. None of these are bad per. But they are not the stuff masterpieces are made from. Bigger Rundgren fans than I probably appreciate this more, and it did have its enjoyable moments. Listened to this twice to get a better grip on it. It does go down a little easier the second time. Rather listen to Iron Maiden again, though.

Sex, drugs, and Rock n Roll I guess? A reluctant 3 ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Ushered in an era of lo-fi blues posers. That in itself is both unforgivable and welcome. Unusual, heavy, bare-bones, intense, and satisfying. Actual songs that don't overstay their welcome. Some raw emotion down at the end that sounds more bitter 20 years on. Great genre-defining album with one of the most interesting drummers ever.

Moments of brilliance but nothing too special. Really liked the heaviness and interesting sonic quality splattered across the album. Didn't so much love the insincerity in the lyrics. Self-pitying super-successful rock stars has always been a sore spot for me and I think there is a bit of that here, albeit more abstract than Bon Jovi, Metallica or Bob Seger. All in all though an enjoyable listen if not slightly contrived, like most of Blur's stuff, but well executed.

Love CCR and I'm not even a boomer! Even their toss-off blues cover is far and away more entertaining than anything else at the time. The album has aged well, it still sounds good. Great mix of blues-rock styles with great energy. LISTEN UP ROD STEWART: this is how you do gravely-voiced blues singing!Short and awesome.

Didn't want to listen to this. Like a walk in someone else's dark, slightly frightening forest. You probably shouldn't be there alone. Very 'adult contemporary' without being catchy. No contrast, everything is of a piece. Nothing to anchor the listener in a context.

Seems to me like he is trying to write popular (1960's UK) music but with some kind of anti-war thread, but I could be completely wrong. I found this hard to understand in an unpleasant and confusing way, the point of view in any given song was not clear. But a lot of the best music is hard to "get" on first listen. Maybe I'll listen again to try to figure it out. Probably not, though.

So, this is a fairly deep work. Unique and touching. It's pretty obvious to me that this music would not be beloved by a vast audience. Too introspective, too insecure. These are qualities in people that we often tr to overcome and the casual music buyer doesn't want to spend their hard-earned cash on such things. But as a work of art I can appreciate it. In fact, the poetry here is (of course, Drake studied literature at Cambridge) on a higher level.

Sorry to hear about Drake's ultimate inability to satisfy his own ambition. Maybe if he had been able to accept his own version of himself... life is difficult for us all at times. Maybe don't try so hard and accept that the world IS the way that it IS. Not to say that it isn't painful. This music is a strangely clear and vivid view of Drake and his feelings, feelings that I know I've had a various times. Quite an amazing work actually.

Not bad. The Phil Spector spoken word thing at the end is... ironic? Cool Christmas album for Christmas day! Some really fun uptempo high-energy stuff, lacking in sentimentalism, which I appreciate in a Christmas album.

You guys! Don’t tell anyone.

This is NOT GOOD.

Dude. Some people are going to pretend that they think this is the best thing that has, literally, ever been recorded. But here’s the thing about that:
They don’t play together
They sing off key ( annoying not quaint)
More pretentious immature poetry (I’m looking 👀 at you Tom Waits)
Don’t act like you’re the first person who was ever in a difficult relationship.
Seriously someone is trying to trick you. Listen more critically. Maybe I’m at a place in my life where I don’t want to hear your complaining anymore. I don’t understand the love for this or the VU in general.

Incredible musicianship and interesting juxtaposition of GSH's poetry in the jazz improv context. Different from anything else I've heard recently. A bit "of its time" while still being relevant. A lot of music about Black culture is acclaimed, but did we not get the point? It doesn't seem like the world has changed at all in the 50 or so years since this.

Not bad, not my thing. Huge record at the time. A little TOO smooth. Inoffensive pop from the eighties, I sort of can't get through it all the way. Just okay.

They do not heed Miles’ admonition: “Don't worry about playing a lot of notes. Just find one pretty one.”

First recorded use of guitar feedback! What an historic moment. Love Teenage Lobotomy! This whole album is great, put The Jam on the map, I love it.
In all seriousness, this is in my top ten favorite albums of all time and one of the most important albums in rock music.

Finally some metal! Near flawless execution by possibly the most influential Metal band of all. Kind of a bummer that Steve Harris and Clive Burr didn't play on more records together because this rhythm section is massive. Bruce Dickinson is hands down the best metal singer of all time. Yeah, I said it.

For me great music takes you to a different place, a state of mind. Mothership Connection does that. I got totally into it, just changed my thinking for the better in the middle of a semi-trouble-filled day. The opposite of the seriousness of Radiohead or Gracelend (Paul Simon) but equally excellent. Has a good sense of humor. I loved it.

Interesting document, but I don't need the talking in between songs. Enjoyable bluegrass. I especially like the instrumental tunes (please learn how to finish those without resorting to "Shave and a Haircut, though!). The old-school Country/Hillbilly artists are not at their best so it works more as a tribute than an original work of art. Could be condensed to a single LP without losing anything. Maybe do that for casual listeners then make the extended version for the hardcore fans/historically motivated.

She's Fresh, It's Nasty and Scorpio (especially Scorpio) are agreat time. Didn't love the R&B/slow-jam middle. THe Message everyone remembers, and sadly really nothin' has changed. This version finishes up with The Adventures of Grandmaster Flash, very very cool, ya gotta hear it. Definitely agree that this is an album you have to hear before you die. Glad I didn't die before I heard it. 😬

Ahh, I love Radiohead's sonic experimentation. Just wish I had more time to just sit down and listen because there's a lot of layers. So I guess Radiohead is like an Ogre. I jest, but this band DOES NOT. This is their main flaw - so serious! That and Thom Yorke's vocals don't always resonate (no pun intended).
Sometimes feels like the musical equivalent of the movie Eraserhead. This is a really interesting album, heavy both thematically and structurally. A unique, risk-taking band band that somehow makes their experimental psychological meanderings almost accessible. One last thing - if EVERYTHING is obscure, nothing is obscure.