Reviews by k-dot-r

Solid but light, funky but jazz, with a tight rhythm section who keep it loose. With a mass of contradictions like that, this was one of the hardest to rate - I might have given 2 after the first (distracted) listen, 5 after a couple of (more focussed) plays, but the repetitious nature (and lack of vocals) means after a full day, it dropped just short of full marks. I really liked it though, and have enjoyed learning more about jazz and associated styles

Taylor before Taylor was Taylor - and an interesting one to get as the Swifties gather in Scotland. Produced in the modern way, with muddy vocals and all the songs sounding the same, but more interesting than some of the more bubble-gum pop efforts out there. Like the AOR/MOR of pop music - but I can't work out if that's a compliment or not.

The third of her four albums which, in my opinion, get gradually worse. She clearly has a wonderful voice, but the songs feel a bit "play it safe", and don't do much apart from show off her pipes. She had so much potential on her first couple of albums, and it just all feels quite "corporate" by this point. Doesn't help that she had such bother with her voice I suppose, and she has had (and will continue to have) a great career, but I was kind of expecting more from her, in terms of how good she could have been.
Sometimes the 'music' as an art can be secondary to the 'business' side of the music business. The story of Adele should be a cautionary tale, but I worry some young artists will see "selling more records" as better than "making the best records you can".
Judged solely on its merits, it probably deserves 4 stars, but based on how much I loved her first album (and liked her second), she should have been making 5 star albums by this point!

A new name in hip-hop for me, but who had worked with a bunch of names I know. I can see why he had so many top collaborators, but not quite sure why he didn't break through - unless he didn't want to!

Great example of big band music, and the blurry lines between that and the more accessible side of jazz. I liked it, especially the drumming, and appreciate its place on the genre, but not sure how deep down the rabbit hole I feel the need to venture.
I loved the cover art though - but not sure it would pass the legal dept. nowadays!

How could it not be great? The king of drummers, a bass player with attitude and riffs aplenty, a guitarist happy to play his part without overstepping, and a vocalist and lyricist who barely writes a duffer. Oh, and one of the great producers of the era!
One of the defining supergroups - such a shame they shone so briefly.

Not as good as his son, which isn't often how these things go, but pretty solid. Much more funk and heft than I had expected, given his reputation, but I thoroughly enjoyed this. Interesting collaborations as well, which might explain the change from his more delicate early work

Very 80s jangle-pop sounding, clearly influenced by the British scene of the time. An outsiders view of things though, which adds intrigue, and a band I plan to explore more when I have time (i.e. I'm not getting a new album each day!)

Charming background music, with wonderful vocals and gentle music and arrangements. Doesn't grab your ears lome some on the list, but would probably stand up well to regular repeat listens - maybe after the list!

Good, but not great, and lacking some of the attitude and swagger that made his later work brilliant. Loads of religious references, which surprised me.

Cheesy pop nonsense, from a band whose best days were behind them

I still don't think there should be live albums on the list. However, this is easily his most famous and successful album, and the prototype for the phenomenon, so the one that absolutely needs to be here! Far from flawless, but enjoyable and fun, and clearly a hell of a good gig

Perfect - and their next album is even better!

Not for me, too art for art's sake. Very 80s sounding, but not in a good way. No thanks

I still don't think live albums belong on the list, but this is probably the best of them.

Awesome. I listened to all their other album the same day - not many other bands have inspired that (although I guess it is easier when there is only one other full album).
Like early Biffy Clyro, raw Nirvana, with a hint of At The Drive-In energy.
I loved it

Musically interesting, lyrically dense; much better than I expected, but still far from perfect; probably a band that will pop up again, although there is (in my opinion) more deserving artists. A tricky one to score, but for the music and the influence, I'm going to round up, rather than down.

Lush and expensive sounding, with lyrics which are more interesting than I would have guessed from the singles. Thanking Jésus (& his dad) seems a bit unnecessary, as I don't think either actually had much to do with the success. But all three can clearly sing excellently, and one of them went on to be (arguably) the biggest star on the planet for a while, so hard to be too curmudgeonly!

Not one I'll come back to, but probably a worthy inclusion on a list which can be pretty light on massive selling pop artists.

Clear influence on and of Led Zeppelin, although it doesn't have the one they ripped off! Very prog at points, but also exceptionally folky. I liked it, and will listen to more of their stuff after the list, but there is room for other work to be better, so I can't really give this full marks!

A really important album to me, released a month or so after I turned 18, and the soundtrack to my uni days. Will always remind me of my flatmate Dan, who could sing the whole album virtually note perfect (but needed me for the rapping!)