Reviews by meemesker

Thanks to 1001 I'm discovering I actually have a pretty big soft spot for country music.

Was worried this was gonna sound dated upon revisiting it, but he captured a pretty timeless sound - incorporating various influences from the past fairly seamlessly with a more modern, at times even progressive, touch. The grooves are nice but I like it most when he gets more atmospheric and textured with the the arrangements, like on "Jonz in my Bonz" and "Cruisin'". This was a breath of fresh air compared to the more formulaic R&B of its era.

I love how Thundercat just comes out swinging with his idiosyncratic weirdness. I think it's brave and it feels like he's being really true to himself. He's got a very unique sound as a result. Like an ADHD kid in the gifted program who was raised on jazz and r&b but got into prog and electronic music. He seems to know no boundaries, musically or lyrically. Nothing seems to be off limits. It almost has this confessional feeling to it. Like he's getting a bunch of shit off his chest and being himself perhaps more completely than ever before in this really liberating way.

He is a virtuosic bass player, and sometimes leans into that, but it never comes across as showboating or anything - just another part of the wild ride. Speaking of wild, I can't forget to mention how much I love that he got Kenny Loggins and Michael McDonald together again on the track "Show You The Way." I have a very special place in my heart for Yacht Rock, and obviously Thundercat does too, so I deeply appreciate that.

I feel like a more apt title for this album would be "Insane," cause that's what I keep saying to myself while I listen to it: this is insane... in the best way. Not something I would put on every day but there are some real moments of brilliance here and I have nothing but respect for his ability to create a sound all of his own.

Me and my friends couldn't find jobs one summer and so instead we'd get together each day and drink Miller High Life. We'd usually start the day around noon seeking sustenance, either cooking a big batch a scrambled eggs, or going to Burger King because they had a special on Whoppers: two for $2.22. Most nights we'd get to the point where we'd throw Iggy's mix of this album on a boombox and beat the shit out of each other Fight Club style. "Search and Destroy" was a particular favorite. This is rock and roll in its most potent form. For all it's snarling menace and brutality, it doesn't lack subtlety though, which is probably due to Bowie's careful production. He was able to refine their energy without overcooking it. Raw Power indeed.

I like metal the same way I like comic books and in that regard this is a great album. Just look at that album cover: you know it's obviously gonna be a little dark, but in a fun and entertaining way, rather than being overly morbid or taking itself too seriously. Definitely my favorite Maiden album.

I thoroughly enjoy The Monkees and don't hold their origins as a manufactured group against them. I think it's rather remarkable that they were able to gain creative control in the process of making this record. And on top of that, the fact that they were talented enough to make that transition sound fairly seamless to their previous output is kind of amazing really. I appreciate their sense of humor and playful nature. It's not complete fluff as some would have you believe. Their music easily stacks up to other psychedelic pop albums on this list (Electric Prunes come to mind for example) and they're often much more enjoyable because they don't take themselves too seriously. Yeah, they are indebted to The Beatles, but who wasn't? They're not simply Beatles clones by any means.

I like the beats but I don't like his voice so I'll split the difference and call it a 3. He doesn't sit well in the mix and sometimes sounds like he's just reading poetry over music rather than actually flowing with the beats. It ends up leaving me feeling exhausted.

So they pumped up their obnoxious sound with horn and string arrangements to make it even more obnoxious? Has no business on this list. I could think of several dozen albums from the era that could take its place. Would normally be 2 stars but I'm feeling crabby today and the shitty font choice and graphic design on the cover are pissing me off. At least Photoshop that grey speck out near the scorpion's right pincer.

Enjoyable at first but the horn blasts start to grate on me after awhile. Can you imagine listening to this with a hangover?

I think this album is amazing. One of the most emotionally intense folk albums I've ever heard. I love it all but "Calvary Cross" is the one that really hits me hardest. Also one of my favorite album covers of all time.

In terms of my personal enjoyment I'd say this a 3 but the story behind it and the fact that he recorded pretty much everything on it by himself makes me have to round up to 4. Gotta respect that. Plus, Dave Grohl seems like a solid all around dude.

Sort of like a wallpaper that is so out of fashion it comes back around to being curiously compelling and quaint. You think to yourself, "huh...that's kind of interesting..." and then it simply fades into the background again.

I haven't listened to this album as much as the other two Creedence albums on this list, but still a 5 for me. A bit heavier and looser than their other albums. Some serious jams.

Generally not a big fan of Alice Cooper but I must say this album is produced quite well. Bob Ezrin gives it that big layered sound he is known for and I appreciate the effort that went into the details. Bonus points for having both Donovan and Marc Bolan on it.

I've never been able to get into Tom Petty for some reason. That smirk on the album cover might have something to do with it. He sounds like he's literally finding his voice here. Like he's some kind of A.I. generated rock star, created in a secret lab by the other members of The Traveling Wilburys and sent back in time to defeat Bruce Springsteen. Unfortunately, they had to rush the process and sent him back through the timegate before he was complete, so he ended up being kind of unstable and ultimately failing his mission. Just look at that face on the cover: that's not the overconfident young face of a rock star at the outset of his career, it's the face of a lab created monster acknowledging that he failed.

Historic, groundbreaking, and... kind of boring.

Some of Elton John's best tracks are on this but I don't think his style of songwriting holds up over the course of a double album. Needs more of a narrative thread or something to do that. Still, it's a four for me just on the sheer strength of the singles that came from this.

I want to like this more than I do but meh.

The only Jefferson Airplane album I'm really familiar with. It's sort of inconsistent in tone. I prefer the heavier psychedelic material to the lighter folkier stuff. But man, those iconic songs like "White Rabbit" and "Somebody to Love" are so powerful they give me chills, and certainly make up for the lighter tracks. The folkier stuff isn't necessarily filler, it's just very of it's time. Pleasant enough but just doesn't hold up next to those big anthems. Grace Slick has such an incredible voice. I wish she sang lead on every song.

I consider this a perfect album. Completely solid from start to finish without a wasted note. They struck the ideal balance between good old fashioned rock and roll and new wave synth flourish. Some of the catchiest tunes ever recorded.