Reviews by kj10

Idk what it was about this album, but I actually didn’t mind it. Typically not a fan of the honky tonk, but there was some depth beyond that. Could be that it was a nice rainy morning while I listened to this too. That set a vibe be for sure

Lots of people have said this already, but it’s one of those albums where it doesn’t offend you and isn’t awful by any means, but it’s just too dated to make you feel something.

I get it, but I just didn’t like it. I’ve seen what the bass player can do live and it’s innovative. But much like Jacob Collier, what’s the sense of having great musical knowledge and great musical skill to do something on your instrument that others can’t if the music is not great?

Surprisingly decent album. Had never heard of this band and was even more surprised to find out they worked with Sly Stone on their previous album.

Ughh!! As I write this in 2026, I can wholeheartedly say I don’t listen to Kanye anymore. It pisses me off that he went from a person who can make such an insightful album like this with topics on family, self confidence, religion, and still throw in the occasional banger with funny metaphors and non sense; to now be a person who spews hate, talks down on black people….i mean, yall know. The lists goes on and on. But I can not understate how important it was for hip hop to have an album like this in 2004. Gangster rap was still continuing to rise. 50 Cents Get Rich or Die Trying had just been the best album a year before this. But then when this came along, it breathed new life into the genre that had been missing for so long. An average black man saying, hey, I’m not about to rap about guns and killing people and I’m still going to make bangers. It was refreshing and totally changed the landscape and mind sight of so many rappers for what was possible. And if I’m being honest, there’s also this nostalgia factor for me, as I was 13 when this album came out and for me, I finally felt like their rapper talking about things that I can relate to. All this to say, I gave it 5, but I really despise who this person turned out to be and this is a situation where I truly am removing the art from the artist or looking at the artist for who he was when he made this album.

I talked to my Congolese friend about this album and he gave some interesting insights. I informed him while why I didn’t hate this album, it all kind of blended together for me with the exception of Elixir. And he informed me that it’s meant to be that way as these albums are meant to be a continuous story. He also informed me that they get money most of the time from donors to sing songs about them or their situation and then the artist will throw in a couple of songs that are personal to them but still fit within the narrative. I just thought that was interesting to share.

What a fun album! Had never listened to anything by the Go-Go’s outside of We Got The Beat. This was a pleasant surprise. Catchy and fun hooks with music that keeps you moving but isn’t dumbed down.

4.5/5

Cmon now!! Might be the epitome of a perfect album. 10 tracks, 30 minutes, and a range of emotion on each track. Digestible, but warrants repeat listen to pick up on all the great nuances between Aretha’s singing and the music.

I was going to rate this lower, but the string of songs from “It Doesn’t Matter” to “The Treasure” were great! A little too munch hockey tonk in the previous tracks for me. But even then, still a solid album. 3.5/5

I was ready to give this album a somewhat decent rating based on the music. But the lyrics…between Fast and Loose and Jailbait, I just can not. I’m no longer forgiving these sick fucks that thought during anytime it was ok to make songs about women curing your sexual desires or songs about having sex with underage women. See Fast and Loose and Jailbait for examples.

As a Michigan native, I really want to say that I love MC5. But man, idk. This was like a wall of distorted guitars with chaos and energy amped up to a 1000 with the occasional melody. Which, some people might enjoy and I might even enjoy it on a different day. Today was not one of those days though

Didn’t know Brian Eno made a solo album so accessible

This is an interesting album. Definitely some good in here. But it’s a little too weird and wacky and all over the place to listen in full over and over again. I don’t hate it, but I don’t love it.

Had never heard of this album or this band. Was pleasantly surprised. Solid grooves and fun music. More like a 3.5/5, but I’m not rounding up

What an album! The grooves are undeniable. If they don’t move you, you might be dead. But I also love the slower joints/ballads on this album; Somebody Loves Me, You’re a Friend to Me…still got groove. I’ve got so much I wanna say about this album, but shoutout to the Sledge sisters, and of course shoutout Nile Rodgers and Bernard Edwards (RIP)

I think I just don’t like music pre-Beatles. Lol. Partially joking. But so many of the reviews have touched on all my beefs with this album. Not going to spend energy giving more explanations of why this album is not it and should be removed from the list.

As a young black man who plays guitar in genres that aren’t just hip hop, I can’t state enough how important the legacy of the Bad Brains is. Opened a lot of doors for people like me.

But, I have to be honest that the music sounds dated now. I could say much more. But I do t have the time and this isn’t the place.

This was more intriguing than I expected. Giving it an extra half star because I had no idea he wrote Everybody’s Talkin Now. Love that song and always assumed that Harry wrote it.

Color me surprised! I only knew Tom’s Diner going into this album and wasn’t expecting much. But it struck me instantly. I’m a sucker for good metaphors that aren’t cheesy. And that’s all over this album. Small Blue Thing is a perfect example of that. The album lost a lot of bit steam for me with The Queen and the Soldier and Knight Moves. But the closer, Neighborhood Girls, made up for that.