Reviews by kenny-mike

I have wondered why the Police don’t inspire me, especially as I so love late 70s post punk and (some) new wave. I think for me the dividing line usually comes down to lyrics… in the case of the Police the lyrics aren’t bad, just not at all provocative. It’s very…vanilla. Very… reggatta de blanc.

No hate. I can appreciate that others love ‘em, just something missing for me here.

Train of thoughts:

Ugh… no doubt this will be too far removed from me culturally to truly appreciate.

“World music.” Just how many countries and cultures are loaded into that one signifier? Too many. Crazy.

“Toro.” Hey… this sounds REAL nice. Think I’ll add it to my liked songs.

Who is Baaba Maal anyway? (Reads over full Wikipedia article.) Oh.

I love fusion.

“Sy Sawande.” Man, this album is pretty.

“Ndelorel.” Love this. What a groove.

So glad I listened.

This list introduced me to Elliott Smith through “Either/Or” which, by the end, gained my appreciation. This album had me from the first song and was just… consistent, interesting, enjoyable, even if quite a bit of melancholy was masked behind the pleasant sound.

I give this 5 stars. Not the 5 stars of the “Rubber Soul” sort, not a groundbreaking classic, but the pleasant surprise kind. The kind of album you joined this crazy roller coaster ride to learn about.

The two singles, Tumbling Dice and Happy, truly are two standout songs on this album. Happy has Keith Richards on vocals, a change up I always appreciate. A song called I Just Want to See His Face has another change up: a positive reference to…Jesus? Am I hearing that right?

I’m only at 4 stars because I’m not a huge Stones fan to begin with but it’s a solid album that deserves its reputation as one of, if not their very best.

1963-1969. The Beatles led the way, defined a decade, innovated, perfected, and left music that still amazes to this day. Paul McCartney, at the end of the Beatles’ career, was at his height and everything he touched was gold. He was in his strength.

Which is what makes his solo career, including Band on the Run, so tragic. (Let me get this out of the way: first two tracks are listenable, then I can’t anymore, but it does close with an energetic “Nineteen Hundred and Eighty Five” - why couldn’t he have done more of THIS at least?)

Paul was at his best in tandem and friendly competition with his friend John, with the guidance of George Martin, and with George and Ringo. Paul was an amazing talent, but others helped channel that to perfection. He was never the same afterward, so even his best work sounds like it needed John or one of the Georges to come in and lift it to the next level. Or any level really.

There is still some strength coming through on “Ram.” That would be the best I’ve heard from Paul post-Beatles.

Is this a 2 or 3? Some of y’all will enjoy this much more than I am able to. I will be kind and go with 3 but I’m just so distraught over the whole sordid affair.

I’m a lifelong Beatles fan, and have never really taken The Beach Boys seriously. It proved quite interesting to investigate the nuances of the Beatles/Beach Boys rivalry and place this album, Today!, in context. It made me want to listen to a lot more early Beatles.

Quite simply, this sounds fantastic.

Just one trigger warning: If you're squealing about the Beatles' "Run for Your Life," you are really going to have trouble with "Down By The River."

Simple, beautiful, thoughtful songwriting. Happy to learn about Suzanne Vega. I had only known the name and now I’m made curious to hear more of her music.

Quite good musicianship. On first listen I didn't hear anything lyrically that made me think we'd get out of the shallow end, and that's why I'm not prone to go back to it. But if I do, maybe I'll reconsider and love it... Not sure. This one was a tough call.

I’d like to give these stars to Tom Fogerty for some nice blues guitar work. Also thought their version of Good Golly, Miss Molly was strong.

Hey, they were on the Billy Elliott soundtrack makes track. And this sounds pretty good. I’d like to hear their later albums.

Southern punk blues rock.

Lyrically it’s ok, not offering much that isn’t tried and true adjacent. Vocally it’s sometimes grating.

But… Musically, this album absolutely delivers. Every song throws in something extra. Totally in the zone.

Not sure why this album doesn’t do more for me.

It is widely acclaimed.
The band has another album I rather enjoyed.
The genre(s) and musical influences check a lot of boxes for me.

But, I just can’t make myself love it. This maybe it’s because there is a sameness to the songs. Or, because Liam Gallagher’s exaggerated vocals sound too much like a misplaced John Lydon?

Anyway, enjoy the album (like the rest of the world) and I’ll be over here if you need me….

I believe this is the best solo album made after 1970 by any 60s icon named Paul.

When it came out, my girlfriend’s dad played the cassette on repeat on a long road trip we took together. The songs are well written and interesting, and also safe for the whole family.

Some fine music, and I could get into the more up tempo songs in particular.

But, this fits well on a list of “1001 Albums That Are Fine to Hear Before You Die.”

Not “must.”

That’s the problem with trying to add new albums every year.

But that’s not Deerhunter’s fault. Enjoy!

I pass on this despite Marshall M’s extraordinary talent, since that talent is deployed in ways so destructive to his own humanity. And to ours…

If the whole album sounded like “One Hundred Years From Now” I’d be all in.

Alas, it does not.

Other favorite songs for me include the final three, which were not on the original release.

At first I thought it was cute to receive a Christmas album, but I must admit this truly belongs on the list.

Phil Spector’s “wall of sound” production is legendary and makes even Pop Christmas music captivating. But none of that would be possible without Darlene Love’s amazing voice and the other musicians and vocalists that bring down the house. Even a deep cut (one of only few) like “A Marshmallow World” was a jam.

I doubt you’d find an album this consistently strong in 1963.

Merry Christmas!

I see this was ranked the 17th greatest punk album. That seems like a really low ranking for a movement that quickly displaced itself and gave way to post-punk and new wave.

By the time this album came out we had the Ramones, the Clash, and the Sex Pistols. We had Talking Heads releasing their second (amazing) album and the Cars releasing their first. A few days after this Adverts album came out, Public Image Ltd released their first album.

It’s like the bands are all packing up their equipment as the Adverts are jumping onto the stage, a little too late. It’s cute but unnecessary.

When you have trouble choosing between the James Bond soundtrack and that old Killers album.

I respect what they are doing here. “Calm Like You” was my favorite on first listen.