Reviews by mark-bionix

Billie and Finneas are really good songwriters and the production is great. A welcome addition to the 1001.

I like the Bjork, the Bjork is good.

This vote is not about the merits of Motorhead; I like Motorhead ok. Just, why with this album? If you do an A-B comparison between the songs that overlap between this and the Ace of Spades album, there's really nothing that makes the live versions special. This is also recorded like ass. It feels so inessential. I'm sure this band was a powerhouse live if you were actually in the room, but I'm not reading that from this. Would rather hear a proper album, and we have one already represented here.

Here's my take (developed by listening to this album loudly while driving, because I thought it would help). Van Halen aren't a band. They're a really good guitar player plus three sub-replacement level musicians. No one else contributes anything even remotely interesting to this album, and Diamond Dave is always searching for the note he wants to sing and not quite finding it (yeah I've heard the stems, but it's plenty bad in real time too). I'm not going to troll this with one star because Eddie Van Halen is in this band after all, but I thought about it. Kick them out of the canon.

I liked it. Maybe there should be more movie soundtracks on this list.

I like this band and I'm happy this is on the list now.

Competent but boring music made by boring people.

I don't know what to make of the inclusion of this, but it's musically fine. Not special. This list seems to think Britain did unique things with distinct American genres in the early 2000s that they most definitely did not do.

Hey, this one has the good Deep Purple songs on it. This is dumb rock and roll, and it's totally fine.

Marley albums are always pleasant, but this one doesn't connect with me as much as something like Exodus does.

We're currently on at least the third full generation of middle-class east coast white guys who all love Billy Joel.

[i'm-in-this-photo-and-i-don't-like-it meme]

jk Billy, luv you forever

On my Mount Rushmore of SY albums along with Dirty, A Thousand Leaves, and Evol.

I liked it. Developing a growing tolerance for 70s prog as long as it's not ELP.

I caught the infection that every white dude gets when they're like 35 and I love Steely Dan now.

Kind of a revelation. I've been a (Smog) skeptic my whole life (though that hasn't prevented me from mumbling along with "Cold Blooded Old Times" whenever I've heard it). But this is the best thing I've heard Bill Callahan do. I love how present the vocals are, and how his voice weaves around these drums and strings. It's gorgeous and the lyrics are incredibly evocative and demanding of a re-listen. I have no idea what he's trying to say here but I want to take the ride.

Torn on this. It doesn't have too much of the really out there Zappa stuff that I don't like, but I didn't find too much of the "normal" 60s rock all that compelling.

Another great one. Not as great as Songs in the Key of Life, but great.

It's fine. Don't know why we need two Undertones albums on this list though.

Very pleasant, but nothing earth shattering.

Hey the Chemical Brothers put out a record in 2023 and... I kinda liked it?