Rated 8/10
I loved this album. It wasnt one I was familar with all the way through but I really enjoyed exploring it. Cohen is one of the greatest musical storytellers there is. Great lyrics delivered well.
Bird on a wire and the partisan are great songs.
Favourite song: The Butcher and Partisan
Least favourite: All great stories
Album artwork: Standard Leonard Cohen album cover
Rated 4/10
I found this album a real struggle. It’s nothing like back to black. I find Amys voice a tough listen, and it grates as you go further through the album. There are no big hits on this either to help to redeem my score.
Favourite song: I couldnt pick one
Least favourite: All the songs were just not for me. Jazz mixed with pop is a bad combo.
Album artwork: Good cover, she looks waisted on it though
Rated 6/10
I really liked this album. I would listen to it again. I have always loved the song Without You but had never heard this version before. Some good Beatles inspired pop songs.
Favourite song: Without You
Least favourite: Coconut. What on earth was that about.
Album artwork: Standard album cover
Rated 4/10
Looking at the track listings and awful titles of the songs this is going to be a very hard listen.
Favourite song:
Least favourite:
Album artwork: I wont be hanging this one up at home.
Rated 8/10
Not quite on the same level as Different Class, but still a very strong album in its own right.
Where Different Class was sharp, witty and socially observant, This Is Hardcore feels darker, more cinematic and more self-aware. There’s a sleazy glamour running through it — and at times I get major Bowie vibes, especially in the dramatic delivery and theatrical atmosphere.
“Help the Aged” is a standout for me. It’s witty, uncomfortable, catchy — and classic Jarvis Cocker. The album as a whole leans into decadence and disillusionment, but it does it with style.
Favourite track: Help the Aged
Least favourite: None really — it’s consistently good throughout.
Album artwork: A sexy, provocative cover that perfectly matches the album’s mood and themes.
Rated 10/10
For me, this is the best album of the Berlin trilogy.
It feels like a culmination of everything Bowie had experimented with before. Art rock, electronic textures, atmosphere, drama and melody are all here, and he pulls them together brilliantly. There is ambition in every track, yet it never feels forced. It is bold, confident and completely distinctive.
“Heroes” is of course the centrepiece. It is one of the greatest songs ever written, building layer upon layer into something euphoric and timeless. “Beauty and the Beast” bursts out of the gate with energy, and “Joe the Lion” is a real hidden gem with its driving rhythm and sharp edge. Honestly, every track feels strong enough to have been a single.
Favourite song: Heroes
Least favourite: Everything is superb
Album artwork: Iconic and instantly recognisable, perfectly matching the mood of the record
Rated 4/10
Even more Metallica, this must be the 3rd or 4th now in 320 odd doing this challenge! My gut reaction is not another album and its a long one at 1 hour and 5 minutes for 9 tracks.
This is all a bit meh and sounds like all the others. There is nothing new and different.
Favourite song: I enjoyed eye of the beholder and the opening guitar riff to one.
Least favourite: The rest of the album
Album artwork: Cool cover
Rated 8/10
Abbey Road by The Beatles is a fantastic album, made even more impressive by the fact it was recorded while the band were starting to fall apart.
This feels like one last moment of brilliance, where everything comes together perfectly. George Harrison delivers some of his finest work with Something and Here Comes the Sun, two of my all-time favourite songs. At the same time, Paul McCartney is at his best, with tracks like Golden Slumbers and She Came In Through the Bathroom Window adding to the album’s strength.
What really sets this album apart is how cohesive it feels, especially across the medley on side two. There are also some brilliant deeper cuts like Oh! Darling that often get overlooked but add real depth to the record.
Favourite tracks: It’s hard to choose, but Come Together, Here Comes the Sun, and Something are three of the best songs ever recorded
Least favourite tracks: Because doesn’t quite land for me
Album artwork: An iconic cover, and arguably their best
Halfway through track 1, I decided that I would not like this album, I thought this is just Jazz and not for me like many other jazz albums on this challenge. I was wrong. as the album went on it grew and I grew to enjoy it.
This album has far more to it than just jazz. it is funky and groovy with some great instrumentals and meaningful lyrics and songs. In summary the album is not one that I would run to put on again, but I enjoyed it none the less.
Favourite song:
Least favourite:
Album artwork: Good cover
This album is a classic and a clear 5 out of 5.
“Five Years” is one of the greatest album openers ever recorded. It builds so perfectly, drawing you into the story with tension and emotion. From there the record barely puts a foot wrong. Every track feels essential to the Ziggy narrative and the whole thing flows brilliantly.
Then you get one of the strongest closing stretches on any album. “Suffragette City” explodes with energy and attitude, and “Rock ‘n’ Roll Suicide” is an unforgettable finale. Dramatic, theatrical and deeply moving, it is Bowie at his absolute best.
Favourite songs: Starman, Suffragette City and Rock ‘n’ Roll Suicide
Least favourite: Every song is brilliant
Album artwork: An iconic cover that has become part of music history
This challenge has taught me I really like early hip-hop and arrested development. This is a great album.
Funky music and great lyrics. I was 10 when this album came out and I have great memories of hearing Mr Wendal and Tennessee on the radio. I loved haring these again
Favourite song: Mr Wendal
Least favourite: All good.
Album artwork: Cool cover
Rated 4/10
Electric music without any point or substance. It was an OK listen, but I have nothing positive or negative to say. It was just on in the background and nothing grabbed my attention. French music and language just doesn’t work for me.
Favourite song: Metronomiuc underground.
Least favourite: Nothing was terrible, but nothing stood out.
Album artwork: Very cool cover
Rated 8/10
I was so surprised by how much I liked this album. The music was really good, it sounded new, different and refreshing. This album is such a good surprise and why I have loved this challenge.
Favourite song: Come on feel the lilinoise is a great tune.
Least favourite: Prairie fire that wonders about was a bit too whimsical for me.
Album artwork: Superb artwork
Rated 2/10
I agree with a lot of the reviews. Cabaret / Christmas songs that are perfect for a hotel or restaurant. There is nothing on here that grabs you or is worth listening too. I have no idea how it made the list.
Rated 6/10
I enjoyed this album a lot more than I thought I would. You can hear so many bands that have been influenced by Bert Jansch. The album is hard to put into a genre, the tracks go from Blues to folk to pop linked together by some great guitar work! Loved it!!
Favourite song: Angie and Needle of death
Least favourite: Alices wonderland
Album artwork: Cool cover, It’s a classic look
Rated 8/10
This is a great album, Lots of variety and great music and lyrics. I really enjoyed it.
Shameika and I want you to love me are 2 great songs to open the album and real set the tone and it goes from strngth to strength from there.
Favourite song: On I go and under the table
Least favourite: All tracks were good
Album artwork: Cool cover
Rated 6/10
I am not that familiar with R.E.M and looking at the track list on this album it has none of the big hitters are on it. I am looking forward to seeing what this album is all about.
It was OK, A 3/5. Musically it was very tight. You can hear that R.E.M guitar sound forming and there is some brilliant piano on this. I feel the album lacks a killer song that you remember it for though.
Favourite song: Radio free Europe
Least favourite: All songs were OK to good, nothing is bad.
Album artwork: Cool cover
Rated 2/10
I was not a fan of this album at all. I thought the lyrics were dated and dangerous and offered nothing new that was not done and done better 20 years ago. Poor album
Rated 6/10
I had 0 expectations from this album, but I really enjoyed it. This has been downloaded and will be listened to again!
I had never listened to them before but feel I have seen them live at a festival once. I was not expecting all different types of genres. Rock at the core and a little Springsteen thrown in with elements of pop, psychedelic, glam and everything you can think of. Fantastic melodies but lacking a couple of real bigger hitter on the album that would make it memorable. It’s a 3/5 but nearly a 4
Favourite song: Something for the weekend
Least favourite: Everything was worthy of being on the album
Album artwork: Cool cover
Rated 10/10
Double album with an 11-minute-long opening track. Very brave and it works. The album has so much variety from ballads, Reggae, and rock. everything is nailed and perfect. It’s an easy 5/5 album
Favourite song: Bonnie and the Jets and Saturday
Least favourite: Jamaica jerk off. this really didn’t work.
Album artwork: I love the cover
