Rated 10/10
Brilliant, classic, hear its influences all over the place. I was a bit surprised how may of the songs I knew, but they released SIX singles, and one of the other songs is one of the singles backwards! Really enjoyed it, but now frustrated they didn't kick on from here.
Rated 6/10
Nothing like what I expected, since by the 90s they had gone into dance music. The cover of i don't wanna talk about it surprised me, but was good, the sax turning up was less enjoyable. Decent, but not one I am likely to come back to
Rated 2/10
Never heard of them before this, never will again. Pish, which should never be in this list, or in end of year top album lists. Not one song I liked, or would be happy to hear again. Rubbish
Brilliant voice, brilliant songs, properly stopped me in my tracks at points. The title track, A Change is Gonna Come and, of course, Respect were highlights.
Rated 8/10
Good songs, great lyrics and production. Kanye West clearly heavily involved.
Rated 6/10
Very short album, but still with a couple of very long songs. All sound similar, although with a few different voices popping up. Run Charlie run has some lyrics you would not expect to see in a pop record nowadays!
The First time ever I saw your face is my favourite of these songs
Rated 6/10
Sounds very much of its time - the line between dated and nostalgic is thin! Not a band I knew well, due to my age, and my parents' ages, when they were big. Lazyitis (too short) and Wrote for Luck (too long) were my favourites
Rated 8/10
Good album, was everywhere for a while, but the songs stil hold up. Very relaxing, very chilled, very enjoyable in a low key way. Svefn-g-englar probably my favourite, along with the title track
Rated 8/10
Really good, if a bit samey. Politik, the scientist, and the title track were stand outs for me. Kind of odd to listen to it just as their new album is released.
Rated 6/10
Ok, with a couple of great songs - Frozen and The Power of Goodbye. Sounds expensive, well produced, designed to be a hit, and slightly dated
Rated 6/10
Old, very old, country, more my dad's taste than mine. God example of this genre though, and I did enjoy it. Really surprised to find In The Pines, covered by Nirvana as Where did you sleep last night, turn up
Rated 10/10
Great album, loved every song, from hugely famous (walk this way) to the fun ones (you be illin) to the serious ones (proud to be black). Proper hip hop, still relevant today. Love it love it love it!
Rated 8/10
Only about half the songs are on Spotify, which was a shame. Really enjoyed the songs I did hear. Not sure why they were not huge, or why they have been forgotten if they were a big deal.
Rated 6/10
Not my kind of thing, but can hear its influence in loads of stuff. Instrumentals with only electronic sounds get very repetitive very fast.
Rated 8/10
More of the songs than I expected were ones I knew. A wide variety of styles and vocal range. The guy is clearly a genius, both in songwriting and in picking his cover versions to sing. Gotta get up, jump into the fire, and coconut were my favourite tracks
Rated 4/10
Sounds very dated, although probably in a nostalgic way for anyone who liked it at the time. I only knew 2 songs before listening to the album, and didn't really feel connected (!) to them or any others afterwards
Really good album, not sure why I didn't get into it at the time. Title track, come together, and electricity were my favourite songs.
Rated 6/10
As a Scot, the idea of english folk music sounds a bit strange to me - who do they sing about being oppressed and invaded by? Or do they sing about doing the invading and oppressing? Turns out it's like Scottish and Irish folk music, but with less politics and more soap opera stories! Tunes are good though, and I enjoyed the album even though I would probably never have chosen to listen to it. Matty Groves and Crazy Man Michael were my favourite tracks.
Rated 10/10
Really enjoyed this, only knew one song well, but it wasn't even the one I liked most. My favourites were son of a gun, doledrum, timeless melody, and the absolute best was looking glass. Just wish they had done more, but better one 5 🌟 album than five 1 🌟 ones!
Rated 6/10
Good album, but a bit samey. Not a huge fan of the organ being so prominent on all the songs, but that happens when you have an organist. Good vocals, often bizarre lyrics, largely unexciting music
