Reviews by kuvien

I’m not sure how highly I should praise this album. It’s obviously a groundbreaking, legendary album that helped guide the course of rock history, but my style of listening to and enjoying music is to come to the albums in my collection with as much of a clear mind as I can. That is, I try not to bring meta considerations to my appreciation. I really can’t stand the “oh this is an important album” mindset. I don’t care if an album is important. I only care if I enjoy it. There are tons of “important” albums I either don’t care for or flat-out despise. So what about this gem? For it is a gem in my collection, no matter its place in rock history. It has such a strong beginning, of course, one that always leaves me stunned at how brutal it is, but for me, the closer is even stronger. “Desolation Row” is one of my favorite Dylan songs. Everything about it is beautifully ugly, and I find that paradox fascinating. And I love the little poetic flourishes that anchor the song as an image in my mind, like when Dylan sings, "Cinderella, she seems so easy, 'It takes one to know one,' she smiles, and puts her hands in her back pockets Bette Davis style." I also have a soft spot for sprawling, epic songs.

This is much better than I thought it would be. Catchy, short, fun songs with a lot of attitude. It's not for me, but I'll nod in understanding if someone else wants to nosebleed over this album.

Such a perfect, beautiful, creative, and progressive album that you’ll feel like you’re tripping even when you aren’t. This album turns your mind inside out. The first track, “Close to the Edge”, in its four part composition, might just be the greatest prog rock composition ever penned.

A garage-rock cover band of their future selves, with Dickinson trying to sound like Rob Halford.

Two excellent ballads cannot save a mediocre album of worse ballads and questionable choices in blues-rock flirtation. Besides, you can't handle the truth, John.

Kill me. Why the hell is this album on the "1001 Albums to Hear Before You Die" list when everyone's already heard it piecemeal 1001 times in every damn movie, mall, and TV commercial known to man? Fuck you, whoever compiled this list.

All Zep had to do was fucking give credit where credit was fucking due! Some folk singer named Anne Bredon whom no one has ever heard of getting partial songwriting credit for the second track wouldn't have detracted from Page's arrangement, his playing, or Plant's wailing. Must've been an ego thing, which doesn't make sense, considering how excellent the band is. Adaptation is its own form of artistry, ya cunts!

What a pleasant little album I couldn't give two squirts of piss about! Clunky melodies sung in a way that I'm convinced the singer is thinking, "Damn... almost, but not quite" and cringing.

A great example of one of those albums that, at my age, I shrug and turn off halfway through. It's decent, but it ain't for me.

I don't care a bit for her, and I'll never understand her appeal. The perfect example of the kind of music that just passes me by. I'm sure it's very good for the right kind of listener.

Boring music for boring people.

I'd love to vibe to this with all the guy's vocals cut out. The musicality of it all is pretty nice.

I'm not supposed to be bored by Springsteen. I am. I'm supposed to like this guy. I don't. Generic rock that I can't remember two minutes after it's over. The title track, "Born to Run", sounds like theme song to an 80s TV show reboot of "Grease". Truly terrible stuff. Whenever I'm constipated, I do my best Springsteen imitation, and it clears my bowels right away.

I dig this so much...in spots. No one swallows his histrionics the way Ric Ocasek does. To me, this music is all the updated swing and swagger of 50s rock for the contemporary new wave crowd. This must be one of the earliest examples of power pop, and it's all just so pure. Yep. "Moving in Stereo" would be the perfect song to strip to.

Holy shit. This is worse than I imagined. Is this some kind of parody? I can't imagine anyone involved in the production of this turd went in with a straight face. I guess they laughed all the way to the bank. I mean, white trash money is still legal tender, right? The only people who listen to this album are people who literally have nothing better to do. Oh fuck, that's me.

I like Queen. They’ve got a fun, clean feel. Their close harmonies are always a delight, even though they may sound a bit passe today. I prefer the glam to the hard, but that’s just my sexual preference. And the iconic album art is a perfect level of retro-cheese.

It's not that this is bad. The musicality and whatnot are all on point. I guess for me this has more to do with Bob Dylan. My love of Dylan is directly proportional to my dislike for The Byrds. You don't need to dress up Dylan's songs this way--or any way.

The magic that is the year 1971. I wonder if it's a self-fulfilling prophecy at this point--I just expect 1971 albums to be amazing so I make them so in my mind? Nope. Can't be that. I was slain from the opening track, with that psychedelic, apocalyptic guitar. I've rarely heard anything so soothing and hypnotic. Eddie Hazel, where did you learn to play like that? The rest of the album is pretty great, the other high point being "Super Stupid", but nothing compares to the epic opening track. It's like it opened a door to another realm. Dude's playing his guitar as if his mother had just died, just as instructed.