Reviews by meemesker

Definitely more of a fan of Public Enemy for my gritty hip hop realism in terms of both lyrics and beats. Not to mention consistency of sound and message. Having "8 Ball" a couple tracks away from something like "Express Yourself" makes it seems like they're throwing everything against the wall and just seeing what sticks. But man this album was absolutely contagious even despite limited radio and MTV play. They certainly tapped into the zeitgeist and pushed the envelope content wise further than anyone had done before. This may well be the most influential hip hop album of all time. Still hearing it's influence today. Favorite track is "If It Ain't Ruff" for the stereo panning bass. Also surprised by (and kinda like) the album's last minute electro conclusion "Something 2 Dance 2."

The Kinks are, to my ear, the most consistently listenable of the big British bands from this era. I put 'em up there with The Beatles, Stones, and The Who. All of whom were shuffling towards the concept album at this time. This album is thoroughly enjoyable and I'd throw it on nearly anytime.

I find this to be a major improvement over "Five Leaves Left." Though still generally mellow, there is much more range and vitality to the arrangements.

I loved this period in the 90s when the floodgates were temporarily opened to allow for truly unique and idiosyncratic music to make it's way into the mainstream. Record labels were taking chances again, trying to find the next unpredictability big thing in the wake of Nirvana's success and the creation of the "Alternative" classification. Is Alternative still a thing or has that simply evolved into Indie?

Had Beck come up in any other time period I think he would have remained a fascinating sort of semi-outsider artist that was beloved in hip circles, but because he came up when he did, he was able to really let his musical ideas run wild and we're all the better for it.

As a lad, I really identified with Beck's whole approach. His melding of genres, his surreal lyrics laced with humor, his thrift store hodgepodge aesthetic, his back catalog of smaller indie records that revealed his true range and depth, and then of course records like this one that showed he was capable of practically creating a genre of his own.

In my opinion this record temporarily broadened the palette for pop music in the 90s and early 2000s; loosening genre barriers, interweaving samples more fluidly, allowing for more esoteric material, and essentially popularizing a sort of free wheeling collage aesthetic outside of a purely hip hop context.

Though "Mellow Gold" is great and "Loser" was, and still remains, his biggest hit, I fear Beck would have remained a one hit wonder had he not met up with The Dust Brothers. They were able to give his musical vision the scale, flow, and shine it needed to cement his appeal with a mass audience. Together they made something that was not only unique and innovative and fresh, but something that was fun as hell. One of the first real big shows I ever went to was seeing him play on the "Odelay" tour with The Roots as the opener. Man, it was a good time. Almost as good a time as I had blasting this album on repeat from a boombox in the backseat of my friend's car during the summer of '96.

Every album CCR recorded between 1968-1970 is solid fucking gold. In those 3 years they put out 6 albums! An average of 2 stone cold classics per year. This album is the apex of their most productive year, 1969. They were absolutely on fire here.

I often shy away from rootsy music but John Fogerty oozes such authenticity and passion in every phrase that I can't help but fall under the spell. The playing is so tight and focused, but isn't overly technical or showy, so it comes across feeling very natural and relatable.

These songs sound nearly timeless. Every one an anthem. It's almost as if they could be traditional folk and blues songs with bad-ass rock and roll arrangements. Hard to believe that, besides the final track, they came from the mind of a then 24 year old who was somehow able to channel and express what sounds like at least a century of experience and perspective. He didn't just catch lightning in a bottle here, he was a veritable musical lightning rod at this point.

Hypnotic and seductive. Interesting atmospheres that are simultaneously textured and smooth.

When you get into these sub genres of metal it kind of ends up sounding like a parody of itself. This certainly isn't so over the top so as to be unbearable, and there are instrumental moments I enjoy, but when they flip the switch and do the high-speed kick-drum thing with the bark/shout/growl vocals it just comes across as comical (at least the first 10 times they do it). And they do that gimmick so often it becomes tedious and even exhausting. If they just used that technique like once or twice per album it would come across much more powerfully. But when they do it all the time it's just constantly being jerked in different directions, which I'm sure is the desired effect in the mosh pit, but on record the effect wears off quickly. Aside from that, the music is fine by me. Never got into this type of nearly unintelligible, exaggerated vocal delivery though. Can't really take it seriously. I'm more of a stoner/doom/sludge kind of guy when it comes to metal. If all music genres had drug equivalents this would be meth metal.

I absolutely respect his effort to get more reflective and even somewhat sensitive in-between the swagger, but the beats are so weak! It's like a movie with a good story but terrible cinematography. So much heart but no atmosphere. Never been a huge fan of the west coast g-funk sound with all the glissando on the synths. I really respect "Dear Mama" though, and I think it's a standout, perhaps because the track is a little more stripped down and seems to foreground his voice in a way that the other tracks don't.

This has some nice moments that sort of waft in and out throughout the album but mostly it just sounds dated in an awkward way to me. If you give it enough time I'm sure it'll come back into vogue aesthetically at some point. One thing that will always hold it back though, like any good CD era album, is that it drags on a few songs too long.

I like this for about 3 tracks or so. I can see how some individual tracks could be used really effectively on a soundtrack or something but an entire album kinda wears out it's welcome with me.

Ice Cube is easily my favorite member of NWA and this is the album of his that I remember the most. I like his voice and I think the beats hold up really well.

I think this is gonna be my first five star rating that's going to an album I hadn't already heard previously. Such moods and grooves here. Downtempo numbers are absolutely my thing. Uptempo numbers are breezy and enjoyable too.

Had to throw on my vinyl copy for this one. One the best $1 records I ever bought. Hands down my favorite Billy Joel album. Starts strong with Moving Out. Then goes all over the place for the rest of Side 1. Feel like "Just The Way You Are" is a response to 10ccs "I'm Not in Love" but more positive and sincere. "Scenes from an Italian Restaurant" is like Showtune-Prog. Wouldn't be surprised if an actual full blown Broadway musical is made out of this song someday. Then onto Side 2, beginning with my all time favorite Billy Joel track, "Vienna." Feel like you gotta have some mileage behind you to appreciate that tune to it's fullest, but it's really a message for the young - so listen up kiddos! This ain't cheese, it's a rich and complex flavor best appreciated by a refined palette.

Solid Stones album. Not my favorite but very listenable.

Don't really know what to say. She has a nice voice but the arrangements don't do much for me. Can't honestly say I enjoy this.

I have Pata Pata on vinyl and it's a popular one around the house. I have loved her since college when I heard her on the college radio station and had to call in to find out who it was. Her music always lifts my spirits. Gonna knock this down to 4 though cause the song with Charles Coleman and the Flea Song throws the album off a bit for me.

Just kind of washes over me.

Elvis Costello was huge for me and my friends in college. Got a taste for his music in high school from my stepdad. Especially the 77-80 albums. Some of the most brilliant lyrics. So intelligent yet they still have have real emotional punch.

This may be the only band I actually like that Eric Clapton was in. And that is mostly due to the rhythm section if Jack Bruce and Ginger Baker.

I like Liz Phair. Makes me feel nostalgic. Wasn't a huge fan back in the day but had many friends who were.