Reviews by john

There are way too many live albums on here that aren’t Alive 2007 by Daft Punk. There are too many live albums on this list in general.
Is it good? Yes. Very good. Incredible noodling and drum soloing throughout. Is it necessary to the list?
………..

This album was the ultimate “falling into your dad’s music taste check” and it checked me HARD. I used to think Valarie as a song as so mild when I’d listen to it compared to the sampled version from Eric Prydz/Thomas Bangalter. Then I listen to this album and maaaaan Steve’s in the POCKET on these songs. Not overdoing it, just groovin

It’s a damn shame these two hate each other now. Because together they were such a force of songwriting and harmony. This album displays some of their most creative and whimsical ideas alongside some of their most sincere lyrics and instrumentals. And this isn’t even their best album. Incredible!
Maybe it’s just the constant harmonization but there’s something so natural about a good Simon & Garfunkel song

Really makes you feel like you’re in a snooty jazz bar

Not much to say here fun listen

Cause ALLLLLLL I neeeeeed, is a beauty and a beeeaaaaaat

This album is sweet, tight, punchy, and fun. I can see this having inspired all sorts of projects and genres that came after it, everything from Sleater-Kinney to No Doubt.

Quick, someone who was alive back then tell me how bad and persistant the comparisons to Prince were.

This is solid, I think it’s survived it’s time and aged maybe better than most mainstream rock albums of it’s time. A hard-working 3 from me.

Saw a tweet one time that was just this picture, captioned “these honkeys were COOKING” and it’s so true.

‘Shout’ is just one of those few 80’s gems that will never be replicated. It’s got AURA. It’s got ATTITUDE. This can be said for the entire album actually. Tight, direct song structure that knows when to slip in and out of instrumental atmospheres. A massive generational pop hit. One iconic vocal melody after another. A mystical album ender. Socially conscious messaging. This album has it all and doesn’t overstay it’s welcome at all. Perfect!

It’s incredible that we got this less than a year after Purple Rain. It’s worth noting that they’ve done the impossible recently - they made a song that’s unique and new sounding, unlike every other legacy band from the 80’s or earlier pumping out nothing-burgers to cash in on yet another world tour. Check out ‘No Small Thing’ it’s worth a listen

Peggy NOOOOO 😳
I dunno, I see the appeal to this, and if I actively listened enough times I could find the enjoyment in it. But I don’t think I should have to do that much legwork to meet this album where it is, especially when there are more albums of it’s time that execute its sound better. Respect, but not enjoyment

Oh baby this has long been in many peoples top albums of all time list.
On that note Sloop John B -> God Only Knows is incredible, two generational songs back to back. I think God Only Knows is a top 5 song of all time.

This album has such a specific sound and formula, not only unique for it’s time but unique for almost anytime.

Do we really need to prove that Van Morrison sounds good in a live setting on the 1001 albums you should listen to before you die list?
No problem with the album in a vacuum, he’s super talented. More a problem with the album in the context of this list

This set a nice ambiance for me to get ruthlessly ledge-camped by a marth named “TheNik” on slipping during my paid day off. TheNik, no amount of bluesy lamenting on this album can replicate the misery of your play style.

Strange and extravagant. Went to the grimes school of music. Sometimes gets a bit lost in the crazy atmosphere of the album. I’m glad she’s since done more pop-focused projects, she’s got the chops for it! I think she deserves more mainstream recognition for the space she’s carved out for herself in contemporary music.

This album is such a 2014 time capsule. It’s features, the themes of self-love and new-wave feminism. The trappy production choices. I think it’s aged pretty well though, the composition and writing stands on its own especially in the most memorable songs to have come from this album.

A 1.5 hour album is such a slap in the face to the listener, she just did it again with the Cowboy Carter record. I am one of the few people that has the time and attention to listen to albums at that length, most people don’t! Streaming has ruined the succinct album experience.

Very solid 3 for me almost a 4.

Life could be dream type beat.

Actually really entertaining, it’s clear that this guy was an entertainer as much as he was a musician. Most joyful listen I’ve had in a bit

Tough week for me, this ends a full week of albums from 1969-1980.
Most metal is a bit hard for me to really dig into, since modern dubstep festival kinda fills a similar role for me.
But I super respect this regardless. A little samey all the way through but that’s expected. Super tight arrangements. A neat feature for me was all the drum fills peppered in throughout the album

This is my first 1/5 stars (a little over 100 albums in).
There is nothing redeemable or functionable about this record. I tried SO hard to justify a 2/5. But I can’t. The instruments are often atonal, the composition is so forgettable, the recordings/mixing is ?????.

https://imgflip.com/memegenerator/260817778/Guy-taking-off-headphones

I should be giving this a 2 stars just on the principle of this list containing over three Pink Floyd albums. Putting that aside.

Today we get to learn about artistic foreshadowing! Syd Barrett sings about whimsical gnomes and leads the band into wild vocal/instrumental passages, surely foreshadowing is imminent mental spiral! Fun!

Hard for me to grasp that this was someone’s G Jones. I appreciate it for what it was at its time, but I’m so far removed from music like this now

ELO’s greatest hits is up there with any rock band’s. Seriously, go listen to it. However, with this album, once you’ve heard a few songs you’ve kinda heard em all