Reviews by magsmusic

This was really kind of cool! Light, OK and Eclipse were my top three. It was amazing to see a blend of electronic, Indian and classical influences together in such a unique yet perfect manner. Light especially was so beautiful with the electronic beat emphasizing the melody that had classic vibes but played with an Indian instrument (I think) supported by Indian rhythms. Electronic is not my thing so I probably won't listen again, but I give this one props for being something I would say is influential and different to the music world (or at least my music world).

CJ introduced this one to me and I enjoyed it then and have a deeper appreciation for it now. I think part of the draw is understanding Illinois history and connecting the references to the songs. His melodies and music are very unique and different and beautiful. The concept of the album is really cool and turns history into music. I would say some of the references are a little over done and forced and not sure I really enjoy having a song that gives time to Gacy. But overall I enjoyed it and will listen again and again. Favs are Decatur (awesome rhyming) and Jacksonville.

Never been a super fan of Springsteen so I did a look work looking into this one and it really moved up this rating. Still not my fav, he has a little too much macho facade for me, but his lyrics really are deep and meaningful to the white working class poor experience. He wants love, to get out of his town and working class life, but feels stuck and knows he can only give so much to live up to the macho lifestyle. He also discuss the complicated return of working class young men from Vietnam. This experience did not make me a Bruce Tramp, but I do see why this album is influential and appreciate what he created.

There were some great ones (Golden Years makes me so happy!) Then some I was a little more confused about. I couldn't quite understand the concept of the album, sort of felt like some random songs he wrote and liked, but didn't really have a connecting thread, but decided he liked the songs so much he would make an album. I would listen again and enjoy it

This is beautiful, deep, meaningful and wonderful. Beyond being a work of art, she feels so intimate and genuine. She is sharing her innermost thoughts and feelings and we are blessed to hear them from her in such an amazingly perfect way.

It was fine and different. Reminded me of modest mouse. Some songs drug, just repeating sounds. My favorite was cool waves and the use of so many sounds that worked in harmony and didn't feel forced. Mixed feelings in cop shot cop. It really rocked out and had a good sound but it just kept going over and over and then got weird.

R.E.M. is one of those bands you can't really go wrong with. This album is a little more upbeat overall (upbeat for R.E.M.) which is kind of a nice change for them. I don't think there is a bad song on this album. Stand is great but my favorites might be Orange Crush or Pop Song 89.
Only criticism is they do start to sound similar after awhile, but for some reason that doesn't bother me with R.E.M. When you hear one of their songs you instantly know its them because everything sounds similar, but it also sounds different and unique. That is part of what makes them great.

This might be less country and more hillbilly hill music (saying that in the best possible way). New York was not bad, but the yodeling on Mule Skinner's Blues was just bad. Reading about him, he is influential in that he changed every expectation life would have set for him and became a singing cowboy. Good inspiration to try something totally outside of your comfort zone if it is what you truly love!

It was an interesting album that went back and forth before really artsy and more radio/commercial. Overall I liked their sound a lot. Sometimes the lyrics and music sounded disconnected and didn't go together, but I still liked both parts. Reading about them it sounds like they changed their sound over the years so it would be interesting to hear different albums, and understand why this was the album that was seen as influential and not others. Overall I see how a lot of current alt rock has roots in their sound (Nature Boy's opening reminded me a little of Flo and Machine's ship to wreck.) Really liked There She Goes, My Beautiful World, Messiah World, Nature Boy and Breathless.

I was really unsure what to expect, especially after the first song was called metal guru. But this was a pleasant surprise. The guitar on some songs was pretty fire. Rabbit Fighter and Baby Strange were some of my favorite songs. Perhaps Slash have found some inspiration from this guy.

These are all remakes but he does an awesome job making them his own. Willie does not have a traditionally amazing voice, but he has so much feeling and passion in his voice. I felt happiness, sadness, love and everything in between.

It started out good and I enjoyed the first couple of songs. But as time went on it really started to sound exactly the same.

Never listened beyond the hits. This is metal I can find palatable. We aren't screaming and growling just because and the lyrics are actually deep and meaningful instead of being mad for no real reason. I won't be coming a Black Sabbath fan anytime soon but overall not a bad album.

This is an album I would have loved to be placed in the historical time because I have to think it was pretty revolutionary and impactful at the time. Today when I hear it I think, yeah this is Dire Straits, they are mellow, cool and I like it. But coming out in the late 70s in England this was probably super revolutionary. Overall a good album and I would listen again.

Going back and forth between a 3 and 4. Some songs were great, some were nontraditional but worked (gave me Taylor Swiftish nontraditional song vibes). Then some were just straight up weird performance piece/modern dance songs.

This is a band that I had heard of but never knew much about them and hadn't listened to their music. Personally the name of the band was a little deceiving (at least for this album), I thought there would be a lot of screaming so I was really pleasantly surprised! I really like this album and this band, one I will look into more.

I started off liking but then got confused. It has some interesting jams, but I didn't really see how it connected or how it was really an album. It felt like some guys that are trippin and just playing their instruments. Don't get me wrong they are talented, but I just didn't get it as a collective piece. Which at first isn't a big thing but after looking into the album more the reason it is popular because of what it is as a collective album. I liked Mona and Who Do you Love - Pt. 2, but I didn't get how those really connected with Calvary or Which Do you Love.

I love the Pixies, but hadn't listened to their albums before this project. This album has a lot of the songs I had heard to make me fall in love with them. They are just so unique, but do it perfectly. For me the music has a 50's sock hop vibe, with punk rock vocals, and 70s/80s style lyrics. They created such a uniquely perfect sound that really welcomed a new generation of alt rock. They were so unique, and to this day you can hear bands that were 100 influenced by them.

After the first couple of songs it reminded me of opening music from ER and then all I could think is 90's sitcom opening credits or 90-00's movie background music (Gone in 60 Seconds). Which at first made me think meh...but writing those few cords that stick with you and make a moment in a movie more memorable are amazing. So I will give it a 3 because there is something there but I think I have heard enough of it.

So meh...I mean it was fine background music for an airport, mall, mediating or whatever you might need this kind of music. From today's context I don't see how this was amazing and influential. Not bad...you can just hear this kind of music anywhere.