Reviews by londonhawkredux

If I had to do a "Top 10 artists that *everybody* loves, but that I have never seen the appeal of" then this dude here would be top. Every time one of his albums appears, I dutifully listen, and then draw the conclusion that I must be "doing music wrong".

This album is ever-so-slightly different though, because, as much as it pains me to admit, "Golden Years" absolutely SLAPS. The slightly sleazy vocal, the irresistible bass line, the "whop, whop, whop" AND the massive irritation to my wife when I kept singing "Golden Circle" to the same tune whilst on holiday in Iceland.

From the reviews, this clearly touched people deeply. I had no idea Fiona Apple had produced anything post-debut.

Ah, Mr Joel. Very very firmly in the "I don't *quite* get it" category. Clearly talented, very clearly a talented man. But the music doesn't speak to me. Similar to Springsteen or Grateful Dead - am I the wrong age? Born in the wrong country? The wrong socio-economic group? Whatever it is, I enjoy the songs, appreciate the levels of fandom, whilst still being left cold.

I accept 3 looks harsh, but it feels even more wrong to vote 4 on something that I simply don't enjoy that much.

One of the daddiest of the dad rocks - is there a driving album in the world that doesn't include "Can't Get Enough". Never fully understood the "super group" billing, and Rodgers voice kinda grates.

It's perfectly acceptable of course, but hardly a stand-out in a pretty crowded field. Probably a 3 in its own right, but I'm deducting a star for the general bafflement that it's included here.

I am not a big fan of The Jam, The Style Council or The Weller. I wonder if there's a consistent reason for that? *think emoji*

Pharrell is one seriously talented dude.

Robert Wyatt is in this list too much.

The 2nd album I ever bought. You want to know the first? Well, that's not important right know *shuffles feet awkwardly*

Not *quite* as good as the albums that came before it, but all the important bits are there. Neil's arch sneery detached vocal, Chris' soaring bleeps and bloops.

Ha. A white man? Doing hip-hop with credibility? (SIT DOWN Robert Van Winkle). Whatever next.

Even if it's not "your genre" there's no denying the skill on display here. Could it have done with being tighter? Sure - very much a victim of the CD capacity era but did it change the face of music at the turn of the millenium. Yep. That too.

2 absolutely enormous pop BANGERS. And some other stuff.

This definitely felt enormous at the time. Britney was absolutely everywhere along with all the discussions about whether she was still a virgin. Which, in hindsight, was pretty weird.

A game-changer, or just another in a long line of pop artists who achieve stratospheric popularity out of nowhere. I feel like the title track alone should get it a 3-star minimum, it more than stands the test of time. But the filler.................oh boy, that was not easy to get through. A "slightly sad for my younger self" 2 stars it is.

*brews coffee* "Oooh, what a sunny Wednesday morning. I wonder what 1001 albums will throw my way this morning"

Oh.

"Not just another DROP IN THE OCEAN."

Opening track absolutely streets ahead of anything else here, but I absolutely love that track.

No. Still don't understand.

Opening track : "oh, yes. I know this one. Pretty smooth and funky"

The remainder : endless brass orchestra noodling.

No wild and windy moors here

Was reading the Wiki notes - how was this already his 15th album. People really did churn out the music "back in the day" huh.

Dylan will always be forever linked with the old man (thanks Dad!) so enjoyed this greatly. I'm not sure I enjoy it as much as, say, Highway or Blonde, but at least you can still *vaguely* hear what he's trying to sing.

Felt like I was in a bar too cool for me.

Eh? "Chewbacca sings to a vaguely pornographic 80s soundtrack"

Made me smile when the page refreshed. Well, that's a good start isn't it.

It's almost impossible to unpick this from the cultural impact now isn't it. Which is a testament to the staying power in a way - the album cover art, the "punk as a movement" (which Lydon himself was pretty dismissive of), which are still relevant today. This still felt very edgy when I was a teen about 15 years too late - not sure you could say the same today, the popularity has tamed it in a way. But my God, the ANGER is still there. The sheer fury at the system and the desire for change leaps out of the speakers and beats you around the head.

Musically, probably 3 stars, 5 stars for Jones' "What a fucking rotter!". 4 star average? I'm happy with that.

Felt like music I'd hear in a trendy (expletive friendly) coffee shop. Found myself nodding along on occasion without ever feeling the need to work out who it was, or to seek it out again.