Reviews by mattrickpow

Overall: 7/10

Eric Clapton is someone I really respect as an artist but hate as a person. I won't get into that here because I want to focus on the music, which is awesome. Clapton really was one of the best blues guitarists out there. This album is full of memorable riffs and solos, and his singing is actually pretty good too. There are two tracks that standout the most to me. The first is Layla, which is a song that I have nothing new to say about that everyone else hasn't already said. The other is Little Wing, a song originally written and performed by Jimi Hendrix. I'm shocked this cover isn't talked about more because I think Clapton made it his in the same way that Hendrix claimed All Along the Watchtower. I'm sure the lack of praise comes from who Clapton is as a person. The rest of the album is full of great blues songs and I recommend it to anyone who can separate the art from the artist and wants to hear some good blues songs. Way too long though.

Fav Song: Little Wing
Least Fav Song: Nobody Knows When You're Down and Out

Overall: 7/10

I'm a huge Elvis Costello fan already. I think I would like this album more if the quality of his music didn't improve as much as I feel it did in the future. The songs are catchy and fun but nothing really sticks out to me as exceptional. Still, it's a great introduction to Costello's music and a pretty good album overall!

Fav Song: Less Than Zero
Least Fav Song: Mystery Dance

Overall: 6/10

The production of these songs is quite honestly really impressive and shows off why Phil Spector was such a highly sought-after producer at the time. I'm personally not a big fan of christmas music but these songs are well done.

Fav Song: Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)
Least Fav Song: I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus

Overall: 8/10

I really appreciate the genre-blending Monae does on this album. It's still a pop album at the end of the day but she experiments with making danceable bops and beautiful ballads, all with a futuristic angle. Tightrope is also may be the most fun song I've heard while going through this list, I adore it. I could see this getting a perfect rating from me after a few more listens.

Fav Song: Tightrope
Least Fav Song: Say You'll Go

Overall: 8/10

This album is very obviously from the 80s but it honestly hasn't aged that terribly! The beats are fun and the lyrics were super edgy for the time. Eazy E was easily the most charismatic and fun rapper of the group, it's a shame he never got to have much more success before his death. Oh well, that's life!

Fav Song: Fuck Tha Police
Least Fav Song: Something Like That

Overall: 1/10

I'm usually open to experimental music but this is straight up garbage of the highest degree.

Fav Song: N/A
Least Fav Song: All of them quite honestly I can't even stand a second of this trash

Overall: 7/10

This is great! It's some of the earliest proto-punk I've heard and it's incredible knowing this is from 1965. The energy and passionate vocals (he sounds like a maniac at times) make this standout from most of the other music being made at this time. The instruments sound like weapons, as if the drums and guitars were replaced with AK-47s. If I had any major complaints it would be that there are too many covers (which was actually common at the time) and the songs start to lost steam by the end. Still, it's pretty great and I recommend it to anyone who gets sick of the old school rock n roll being made at the time.

Fav Song: Psycho
Least Fav Song: Roll Over Beethoven

Overall: 8/10

At times I'm reminded of Portishead (who I've fallen in love with since getting Third a couple months ago) and at other times I'm reminded of the more chill, experimental hip hop emerging around this time. The highlights are definitely the songs featuring female vocals but the rapping is actually pretty great too and I think it's pretty cool how well they mix the two different styles. I'm way more open to listening to more trip-hop after listening to this.

Fav Song: Unfinished Sympathy
Least Fav Song: Be Thankful for What You've Got

Overall: 8/10

Usually I can get a good sense of how I feel about an album after one listen but this was a twofer if I ever heard one. I found it to be challenging yet rewarding. This certainly isn't your typical mainstream pop album. I'd even go as far as to say that it's experimental in it's blending of genres that feels cohesive and eclectic. It may not be something that you decide to listen to every day but the occasional spin would be a delightful change of pace.

Fav Song: Penguin Cafe Single
Least Fav Song: Coronation

Overall: 4/10

Honestly, what are you supposed to expect from a band called "Silver Jews". Well, country-tinged indie folk wouldn't have been my first guess but I'm not complaining! Or at least, I wasn't complaining at first. This is the kind of music that I tend to like in shorr bursts, but an entire album of the same nasally monotone voice gets really grating on the ears after a while. The music behind that voice is actually pretty great but one thing I'm realizing by doing this list is that vocals seem to be incredibly important to me when it comes to how much I enjoy an artist.

Fav Song: Transylvania Blues
Least Fav Song: Let's Not and Say We Did

Overall: 7/10

I think I appreciate this a lot more than I enjoy it and I think that has a lot to do with Hawkwind's visual presentation rather than the music. Their live performances were basically performance art for people on shrooms, and they even credit poets and dancers as band members because of it. The music itself is very trippy and spacey. I think I would have rather watched a performance than listen to this but it's still a great piece of music worth checking out. Also, Lemmy from Motörhead played bass in this band!

Fav Song: Brainstorm
Least Fav Song: Lord of Light

Overall: 7/10

My first Nick Drake album. This dude had a pretty great voice and he was a talented songwriter. I always imagined his music being just vocals and guitar so it was a pleasant surprise to find out that he's playing with a band on this album. Even if this is generally his least celebrated album, I can definitely see why people love his music so much.

Fav Song: At the Chime of a City Clock
Least Fav Song: Bryter Layter

Overall: 2/10

Listening to this album felt like when you go to a restaurant that everyone in town tells you is amazing and you're incredibly hyped up about it but when you get your food it's just a big pile of crap on a plate...it's corny and makes you nauseous.

Fav Song: I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For
Least Fav Song: Trip Through Your Wires

Overall: 8/10

Folk music with an incredible voice and some experimental tracks. I found myself mesmerized for most of the runtime. Excellent for relaxing late at night.

Fav Song: Go Down Easy
Least Fav Song: Don't Want to Know

Overall: 7/10

There's really nobody on this planet like Björk. Her music is so interesting and her voice is unique. This isn't my favourite album of hers as I find the songwriting quality to be a little inconsistent but the great tracks hit hard and it's the perfect introduction to the crazy world of Björk.

Fav Song: Human Behaviour
Least Fav Song: Come to Me

Overall: 8/10

I mostly knew Meat Puppets from the Nirvana MTV Unplugged, but the songs from this album that were featured there sound way different than expected. It's a raw, punky album with the type of vocals that I feel I should hate but fits so well with their music. I also like the instrumental tracks. Really interesting album.

Fav Song: Lake of Fire
Least Fav Song: The Whistling Song

Overall: 5/10

Not bad, but not great. This is music you put on to clean up after you've hosted a party. I feel like so many indie bands sounded just like this at the time and I blame Arcade Fire (who I actually really like).

Fav Song: Two Weeks
Least Fav Song: Dory

Overall: 4/10

The opening title track is actually pretty good, and Rod's voice is uniquely raspy. I just found the rest of the album to be pretty bland.

Fav Song: Every Picture Tells a Story
Least Fav Song: Tomorrow is a Long Time

Overall: 9/10

The generator seems to know that I'm really into Steely Dan right now. This album is much closer to actual jazz than Can't Buy a Thrill was, and in my opinion that's a good thing because it feels more focused and consistent. The crazy amount of perfectionism that went into this album also paid off cause every track is so so good. My biggest complaint would be that a couple tracks are longer than I would like them to be but it's a minor complaint. Such a great album!

Fav Song: Peg
Least Fav Song: Home at Last

Overall: 10/10

Perfection. Sleater-Kinney were the first "all girl" punk band I ever listened to and they showed me that not any can women rock out, but they often do it harder and better than the men. This is actually my 3rd favourite album by them which shows just how amazing their entire discography is (I would have at least added The Woods to this list). Corrin's incredible vocals, Carrie's creative and interesting lead work and Janet Weiss's pounding, infectious rhythms make this one of the greatest statements in rock/punk history. I can't say enough good things about how much this album and band mean to me.

Fav Song: Dig Me Out
Least Fav Song: Not What You Want