Reviews by k-dot-r

I'm still not convinced live albums belong on the list, but if they do, this is a good one. Proto prog, still with masses of psychedelic influence, with extended (to an average of over 10 minutes a song) versions and jams. Good background music, but doesn't really grab my attention much. I really liked it, but would have preferred to see the show as well (or to have been there!)

Genius east coast hip hop, from a time most of the scene was looking west. An artist I had never even heard of, but wish I had! Hints of wu tang style, in beats and flow, and i can hear his influence on both Akala and eminem, and many others. Bordering on conscious, but with beats and skits too. Loved it, now off to find out what he did to be expunged from the history books!

Boring garage influenced dance, with a couple of radio friendly tracks and way too many remixes and alternate versions. Not my thing at all, not really sure why this is on the list

The first few outkast songs I heard were on this album, as was the first time I heard Killer Mike and Ceelo Green.
As is often the case with hip-hop albums, there is a fair bit of filler, and too many interludes, but they work in context and don't dilute the genius.
Some of these songs will live forever (ever)

The moment that Punk became Post-Punk is somewhere in here - maybe (somehow) in every song! One of the (many) albums of the list which is interesting *and* important, while also being more fun than a hard-left political polemic playlist has any right to be!
I really enjoyed and appreciated this, and have added their next few albums to my "after the list" list.

Psycho killer and a bunch of filler - most of it pretty pish. It doesn't help that David Byrne can't really sing that good (at this point in his career). Interesting though, and important due to the stature and influence of the band. A tricky one to score - forgive me for bottling it a bit!

Boring and repetitive and very very French. Not my thing at all, but I have just enough nostalgia and positive associations with a handful of tracks that it scrapes a second star. Goes on far far too long though

Genius

Classic

Hits you over the head like a jackhammer, full of early 80s paranoia and fear. Sounds like the threat of nuclear war is looming, so what's the damn point of anything. If the aim of art is to impact the emotions of the audience, this is most definitely art. Not a great deal of nuance, but that's not what they were aiming for!

Great fun, and probably the most multilingual album I have ever listened to. Only two of them are languages I speak though!

Very New Orléans, but plenty of light and shade in there too. Drags a wee bit, just until i tuned my ear into his drawl. Really interesting as a document of where such an important artist started out. I really liked this, and expect more from him later in the list

Very samey, but i like the one song! The more bluesy one is good too, but riffs and rythyms is why they are on the list. Not quite top drawer for me, but solid work, and not a band I would skip if they ever come on.

A lovely warm hug of an album, as comforting as a bowl of soup on a winter day. Washes over you like the ocean on a shore, but further listens really show the skill of the band. I loved it, even more than the other album of theirs that i had a few weeks ago.

A beautiful and freaky album. One of my sister's favourite bands, so I will always have a fondness for that reason. There's a lot of good songs here though, and a handful of great ones. Susan's House is utterly unique, and the whole thing sounds like not much else. The closest comparison would be Beck (at least in my head), but E achieves more light and shade, and evokes more emotion.
I was delighted to be reminded of this album, and cause to listen (properly) in full.

I loved this at the time, which may be clouding my judgement slightly! Some songs have aged poorly (or were never that good) but the opening salvo is up there with the very best. I love the Chilis, and this and the follow up (by the way) are are my favourites of their albums. It was always likely to get full marks, but listening again confirmed it for me.

No need for live albums on the list - especially not prog nonsense ones. Not actively bad, but far from good. Being slightly generous with my rating, but I'm a nice guy in a good mood!

Brilliantly fills the gap between grunge and britpop, hinting at the sound of Nirvana and oasis, foo fighters and biffy, Pearl jam and stereophonics. A great album I would never have otherwise heard, and exactly the point of doing this (in my opinion)

Obviously the classics are brilliant, but I was struck by how good the "filler" was too - even the covers, remixes and live versions are great!
The whole band are impeccable, but the vocals lift this album (and band in general) far above most of their peers.
A great album, well worthy of another listen - even if you think you know it inside out!

One of my favourite albums, by my all time favourite band. Was always going to be full marks, but listening again (and again, and again) confirmed it. Riffs, melody, vocals and epic drumming - flawless