Rated 2/10
Sorry Syd. I know you had issues and really do hope you got the help you needed but this is not good.
It’s okay being whimsical, irreverent amd pretentious but it does not mean it makes good music. Sadly the only understandable explanation for releasing thisis exploitation of a vulnerable person.
Rated 6/10
perfect '80s pop? Great in places and forgettable in others
Rated 6/10
Ah the perfect exemplar of what his project is about. Never heard of this but it was definitely something I needed to hear . While not my normal cup of tea this was interesting and something different .
A piano album that is not jazz or “classical “.
The only issue is 1 hour of solo piano playing, split into 4 tracks, can be a be a little long
A real mixed bag of “classic” 70s rock n roll. nostalgia for the 50s sure was big in the 70s but this is less “Grease” and more “Happy Days”, but unfortunately it’s after the shark has been jumped.
Thankfully it’s short and American Girl almost makes it worthwhile….almost.
“Anything that is rock n roll” is definitely not fine.
Rated 6/10
Immigrants Song is a really great way to start any album let alone a classic rock album .
Plants whiny vocals fit perfect with acoustic guitars and is that a mandolin . Tolkien rock at its best
Rated 10/10
Feels dated and futuristic at the same time.
I am dreaming as I write this and my judgment for today … is 4 stars.. or is it 5 can’t decide
… oops out of time
Rated 10/10
More soul and jazz than the typical Funk from War
Urban in the dictionary definition meaning “Reflecting the fast-paced habits, styles, or attitudes typical of city dwellers.” In this case resulting in a sophisticated, soul -infused, mix of funk, rock and jazz
I was leaning towards a 4 but “City,country, city” is such a banger - a 13 minute jazz funk masterpiece that raise the bar for the album that never drops again
Rated 4/10
It’s just “Talking over music” … isn’t this the same stick boomers used to deride rap when it started.
Country folk . Telling stories accompanied by steel guitar.
. Joan Baez version of “hello in there” is vastly superior.
Ironically “Pretty Good” is well “Pretty Good” Which is the only reason it’s not 1 star
Rated 4/10
This is odd as I did not immediately dislike this nor did I love it either. But I found it interesting.
Half Bowie and half talking heads and half as good .
Rated 6/10
Duran Duran are the quintessential '80s synth pop, so it’s really supposing how funky the bass is .
The good songs are out standing but the others fall to close to the sound of the time - “my own way is reminiscent” of Hasi Fantazee more than anything else , but nowhere near as good as.
Rated 2/10
nothing special about it, like toast simple easy and bland.
The singer sounds like bob dylan but with out any of the angst or talent
Blissfully short .
Oh and that second song sounds like the theme tune to “Casualty” (not in a good way)
Rated 6/10
Starting a song with high pitched wine is bold and while nowhere near as successful as Public Enemy this is at least interesting.
The glass breaking also pails in comparison to that in the excellent “Heart Monitor Riddem" by Kurupt FM.
https://open.spotify.com/track/61NiI5dYMLy7p1Cblkc6G6?si=dmfDlsX9QXqSWhX530YoXw&utm_source=copy-link
Per Ubu are not quite a temu Iggy Pop per se but are close. More Per Unusual than Per usual.
Not a perfect album, but the highs make it worth the effort
Rated 8/10
I fear jazz , but this is great
Serious jazz. Loved by the likes of Louis Balfour and Howard Moon. Not sure I’m smart enough to talk about this other than .. Nice.
“I fear the lack of rules. Skiddly biddly dee wop ba-wow. “…Jazz
Rated 6/10
Classic thrash metal by the masters of the genre . Great but does not have the nuances of some of the other metallica albums , or short songs. This should not really be on the list - especially as Ride the Lightning is not there.
Rated 6/10
English Female indi singer songwriter meets folk, in theory I should love it of at not least like this … but I didn’t. I also did not hate it
The best and worst thing I can say is I experienced it.
Rated 8/10
crunchy bass and sweeping synth - could be no one else but Numan . great way to start any song let alone an album
Sounds of its time and somehow futuristic after 40 years
Rated 4/10
For an album that starts with what sounds like a 70s sports program intro this is surprisingly listenable (just), Prog before it got too tedious.
Heavy on melody and mystery played with great musicianship, but still suffers from overly long songs, noodeling and unnecessary changes in pace
Rated 6/10
Overly complex with switches in rhythm and timing - kind of like that weird hip and arm based dance old hippy metal chicks from the 70s used to do ( “black dog” in Liverpool )
Interesting but tedious in equal measure
Richard and Linda - King and queen of the English folk revival of the 70s
Nice, calm folk. The people and the music
My only complaint is that it’s missing some of the rock cross over that makes Fairport so compelling
Rated 6/10
Overall it does what it says on the tin . Sad stories with a country twang and steel guitar
Well this is hard , not least because Dolly passed in the last week . “Coat of Many Colour” is one of 3 songs that is guaranteed to get me to well up (along with “Mean” by Taylor Swift and “The leaving of Liverpool l” by the Dubliners)
Music like all good art should cause an emotional reaction and this album does
As an Englishman that grew up with Ernie the fastest milkman in the west as they only real country touchstone it’s hard not to class honky tonk as comedy- especially if they are humorous like traveling man.
