Reviews by madvi11ain

A dark synth pop masterpiece with a few flaws. I know this deserves at least 4 stars, but I might even bump it up to 5. Anyway my RYM rating will be 4.5/5.0 most likely. I am feeling generous this morning and giving this 5

OK, now here's something very interesting. I only found out about this band quite recently, last year. Big influence on indie and shoegaze and funnily enough this album to me sounds almost like a mix between The Pixies and MBV. Had a listen on my way to work and enjoyed it. At least 3.5/5.0 after first listen, just like a honey, an album opener, instantly stood out. On a few more listens, "Never Understand" also stood out. I get how some people might see it as noise but after listening deeply you really get immersed into this experience, and it feels very special like some 60s pop rock band completely engulfed by this sea of well controlled and arranged noise - basically Velvet Underground/Sonic Youth + Beach Boys.

This list just keeps disappointing me. Look, I have nothing against Lorde, this is not such a terrible music or anything, but c'mon, so many great artists are left out from this list, and it seems like the author of the book went to Wiki and searched for best-selling albums and billboard mainstream charts. This is already much better than that Spears debut nightmare, but after a few songs this just gets so similar, can't remember a single song and hate this type of production drowning everything in reverb and there's no dynamic range here at all, sounds too pristine and sanitary. 2.0 at most, maybe less.

Alright, first country record. I know and love the title track, but never listened to the album by itself. So had a few listens and sadly only title track really stands out, however there are some other nice songs and the overall vibe is authentic and warm. A good classic country album, 3.5/5.0 but probably rounding down to 3 stars.

Foremost, I am surprised to see an album from so recently, was this book reissued after 2019 or is this post-book addition? Anyway, I am not complaining, never heard of this artist before, but I am like what I am hearing. Had a couple of listens and a few songs stuck out, especially "Rolling". A well-produced, soulful records. Not really sure how to rate this, I know this is at least 3.5/5.0, but not sure if I should round up to 4 stars. I do want to REVISIT this in the future as this is a good record no doubt, and I am glad to see we still have original and good music these days unlike some people would like you to believe... After a few listens I somehow feel bad for about to give 3 stars, but also don't want to give 4, too bad you can't change them after

Probably won't write much about this. Bowie is easily my favourite solo artist and already well aware of this record. One of his best for sure but just a tad short from being masterpiece for me. 4.5/5.0 but will probably round down to 4 stars. Fav tracks: The Jean Genie, Watch That Man, Drive-In Saturday and Time.

Ah! Finally, some post-punk. Enjoyable first listen, pure classic post-punk sound released at the peak of the genre. But can't help it but compare to other post-punk releases from 1980–we have "Remain in Light" by Talking Heads, "Closer" by Joy Division and "Seventeen Seconds" by the Cure to say the least. This album simply blanks compared to these 3, however it still seems like a solid debut effort by these guys. Definitely very enjoyable, at least 3 stars for sure, 3.5/5.0. A few songs from this going to my post-punk/new wave playlist. "Going Up" - an opening track and "Rescue" really stood out for me along, to a lesser extent, a couple of other tracks.

Well aware of these guys, where's Young? Listened once this morning, and it's not bad at all, several songs stuck out at first a bit like "Helplessly Hoping" and "Long Time Gone". But so far seems like fairly average, above average folk rock, really reminds me of Neil Young's 70s albums even though, funnily enough, he has not joined this group at this point in time. All in all I am thinking this is good but not overly great, quite easily 3.5/5.0 but I will round down to 3 stars.

Ok, so this is the first time I am listening to full Simon & Garfunkel album. Really cool how you can instantly from the first song tell it's these 2 fellas. Scarborough Fair is a beautiful opener. Album is very short so already had a go this morning and I have to say I appreciate the reverberated atmosphere and haunting harmonies which are done so well. Already few tracks are standing out and closing Silent Night with 7 o' clock news dubbed over it felt like a fever dream.

Not sure how much can I take from this in one day of listening, but I already love "Pink Moon" and like a lot his first album, so this one is the only one I haven't listened to fully yet. Will be an enjoyable ride, I'm sure. So far this is quite different from his 2 other albums as this has orchestration on top of it which does fit nicely even though I heard Nick did not like it himself. Weird to hear something like "Poor Boy" from Mr. Drake - it has Sax, backing vocals akin to the Stones record, not bad though. Also, interestingly, parts of the last track reminded me of some song of Bowie, but can't remember which one. So far I really like side 1 and especially that instrumental introduction is breathtaking, other highlights of mine would include "One of these things first" and "Northern Sky". Side 2 seems weaker, and I can't help but compare this to Pink Moon. So for this one, strong 4 stars seems likely.

P.S. I know what flute melody in instrumental "Sunday" reminds me off! "Kooks" from David Bowie!

OK, this is the first artist on the list, I've never heard of before. From the get-go, seems like a classic sampled house style. Reading upon this, seems like they were an influential UK electronic band in bringing Hip-Hop into UK's mainstream and contributed to Big Beat scene.

So I get the influence, but at the same time it's kind of boring after a few tracks so far, a bit of a cheesy 90s house feel. I like "My Telephone" so far, and intro track was alright. I want to skip quite a few tracks on this one already. This just doesn't seem on the same level to me as some other UK electronic acts of the time. Not bad at all but not a masterpiece either in my opinion, an average 2.5/5.0. And I'm pretty sure this is not first sampling albums by miles, David Byrne's and Eno's collab is way more interesting and creative than this. Interesting takeaway from this is that seems like Eric B & Rakim might have based their Paid In Full from track 10 on this album.

Never actually listened to this fully before. Only for sure was aware of "Voodoo People" which is an electronic dance masterpiece. After a short intro you get "Break & Enter" which is a bold, dark yet very groovy statement. This should be a fun listen. So far interesting how this album so far does not seem to be mixed very loudly at all, I guess loudness wars haven't started yet at that point in time, the mix sounds very good. Edit: nevermind, this came out in '94, great year for music. My verdict is a strong 4.5/5.0 but on 1001albumsgenerator it will have to be 4 stars. Enjoyable ride, worth REVISIT. On the other hand might even give 5 stars but still strong 4.5 for me, no more, no less.

This one will be a hard one to review. Not because I don't like Radiohead - on the contrary I think they are great because they are doing their own thing, sound like no one else, draw from a wide range of influences and are not afraid to experiment. I feel like this is not the sort of music you can listen once or twice and form a good opinion. My experience with them only goes as far as OK Computer, Kid A, Bends and In Rainbows all of which I love a lot. It took me quite a few times to get In Rainbows, so I suspect this one will take some time to soak in as well.

From the first full listen I love the influence of drone and krautrock which induces hypnotic, relaxed state of mind. Not too many songs instantly stand out however it's about vibe. So far this is easily strong 4.0/5.0, but will need to REVISIT in the future.

Ok, so debut album of Kravitz. Almost halfway through on my first listen, it is quite enjoyable experience. Title track is very nice. "I Built this Garden For Us" is pretty cool. Lyrically full of clichés, however still a very enjoyable listen.

P.S. It's kind of disappointing reading many low reviews for this album and people seem to base their opinion on whatever bullshit was spouted by rock journalists comparing him to Hendrix or Prince when this came out. Maybe just take this as a work of art by itself and make up your own opinion. It's not a masterpiece by any means, but I don't see this as utter garbage as some people seem to think it is.

It's Britney Byatch..

Kitsch, the beginning of the end, super weak lyrically, samey. I can see why this would be historically important, however this stands against everything I believe in music.

OK so apparently this is super influential, name sounds familiar but music not so much. So far, this might be super influential, but it's lacking much musicality for me. Quite possible was very original at the time of its release but seems a bit anticlimactic to me.

Apparently Peter Buck from R.E.M. acknowledged influence from these guys and I can definitely hear some of them but in terms of songwriting R.E.M. debut easily knocks this one from its feet.

A couple of more listens and I can def see how this is influential, it does remind me of indie stuff from 90s and so on, but still is just not my thing, so I can't be objective here, just for it's influence I will increase to 3.0/5.0 but afraid no more than that. Really torn on this one for some reason. REVISIT in the future...

P.S. This is their third and last album and I heard this is really quite different from the first two albums, so perhaps I should investigate their full discography.

This is full-on guitar album. Obviously what really stands out here is "Sultans of Swing" which is a masterpiece. Knopfler's intricate playing shines throughout the album. Kind of seems like he drew some inspirations from some country players here like Albert Lee. "Six Inch Blade" is another standout track. "Water of Love" is a cool track as well.

Taken as a whole, I feel like some songs are a bit weak, but this is still a very enjoyable listen all in all. 4.0/5.0 - great debut effort by Dire Straits.

Welcome change of pace from yesterday's listen. What can one even say any more about Steely Dan and Aja? Absolute top-notch production, incredible, with every instrument well-thought-out and placed in the mix. Not a single bad song. Maybe "I got the news" is weaker from the rest, but still carries that Steely Dan as well as the rest. No doubt a masterful record, 5.0/5.0 without a doubt.

P.S. I can see why some people just seem not to get it. Yes - it is a complete antithesis to Punk ethos. So what, ultimately, good music is the ones which resonates to you personally. And you can enjoy both and not overthink it

This one is a very weird addition to 1001 albums, like really? Nothing against her at all, she definitely has pipes, however this seems already very outdated in terms of when this was released and lacking any authenticity or originality. Are you telling me Dusty's debut is on par with what Nina Simone was dropping at the same time? I don't think so… However, production is alright there are some nice songs, but I don't see wanting to go back to this record or even re-listen to it after I did once this morning, currently thinking 2.5/5.0 - a very average record, not bad at all but nothing to die for either.

So far thoughts, listening for 2nd time, some nice songs. To be honest, not a huge fan of 60s pop rock sound. In places, it kind of seems derivative of the Beatles. Production is OK and songwriting is solid, some solid tracks, still can't decide if this is worth 4/5 or less, but I don't see this as an underrated masterpiece some people claim this to be.

2nd update evening: growing on me on each listen, indeed seems like very personal work, lyrically very interesting, kind of reminds me of Selling England by the Pound by Genesis. Getting hang of this, interesting song structures as well, especially 1st half of the album. This is the one to REVISIT.