Reviews by mikey_nc

A bitter album with a chilly, dark atmosphere. I don’t intend to revisit it, but very much worth hearing.

Not memorable enough to stick much for me (save maybe for the goofy and glorious Judge Dredd tribute), but still a worthy entry in the 80s thrash canon. This is around the heaviness threshold where I can still enjoy metal.

It’s hard for me to actually like an album that’s this vicious and nasty, but they sure can force some interesting noises out of their guitars.

Best song: Kerosene

The sound is too big and in-your-face, it’s too long, and the skits are pretty much all wastes of time. The fact that this still kinda rips despite all that is impressive.

Best song: Back Like That

A very dull and bare-bones synthpop album. The title track is pretty good, but one of my hotter takes is that the Marilyn Manson version is better anyway.

What a strange little album. Sounds like someone formed a punk rock band with old acoustic instruments lying around grandma’s house. I ping-ponged between liking and hating it. I think it’s worth hearing at the end of the day.

A quirky one. Kind of dark and withdrawn but with a “lighter” sound, like a less claustrophobic Joy Division. A lot of the songs feel like endless buildup with that humming guitar/piano/string drone that seems to be present in every song. I didn’t love it, but it’s worth more attention.

Best song: Vanderlyle Crybaby Geeks

A great album, mixing sunny 60s harmonies and jangly guitars with surreal lyrics and post-punk darkness. Reading that this influenced REM and the Stone Roses makes a lot of sense.

Best song: Tonight

I was told there would be bongos. I was not disappointed.

A prototypical Summer of Love album. Great harmonies and vibes, though none of the songs really struck me.

An atmospheric and unique album with a good mix of melody and experimentation. Probably too weird for me to really be into it, especially with the nonsense vocals, but well-thought and well-executed.

Kind of like a cross between early 70s rock and show tunes. I do not like show tunes, but Bowie sells it pretty effectively. It deserves its status as his first classic album, though I think it’s just a taste of things to come.

Best song: Oh! You Pretty Things

Obviously important historically, and the title song is pretty impressive for its commentary and the foundation it lays for the genre. Still, it’s a very dated album. Some might describe the primitive techno song or the generic schmaltzy soul ballad as showing the album’s variety, but they added zilch for me. I wouldn’t listen to this again.

Cowpunk has never made much sense to me as a genre, and I don’t think it makes any more sense after listening to this. Still, it was a decent album that I enjoyed some of the pieces and components of, particularly with the instrumentals.

Best song: The Whistling Song

This album has a strong sound and an all-time classic song (Common People), but there’s also something about it that kinda makes my skin crawl. Jarvis Cocker has a weird anti-charisma going on.

I sure hope this spoke to somebody out there cuz it didn’t speak to me.

A solid album mixing tango sounds with modern electronic production, though I had a hard time appreciating it beyond the point of good background music.

There are few genres of music more wrapped up in their own history and tradition than country music, and so there have been many attempts over the years to rediscover or revive the roots of the form. None have ever been more successful than this album, which assembles an all-star cast from country and bluegrass’s early days. Performing almost entirely covers and traditional folk songs, the album sways between instrumental virtuosity and simple balladry with equal acumen. It’s also extremely long, traditional to a purist level, and not really an album in the normal sense. But that’s all fine with me. Some may complain about the studio chatter that bookends songs, but that’s part of the entire point, documenting the voices of these old legends before they pass away or retire.

This ain’t for everybody. For my money, it’s an essential recording, a humble yet epic tribute to country’s origins. And it was all pulled off by a band of west coast hippies? Hoo-wee. Music truly forms a new circle.

It’s as if she’s mocking me when she sings “where is the line?” (Excuse me, “whur is dee lay-ay-i-i-ine???”) Well, this is it, Bjork, this is the line. I’ve tolerated and even enjoyed much of your Bjorkness through this project. This is it, I’m tapping out. Concentrations of Bjork this strong could kill weaker men. Perhaps it will enlighten stronger men. It is driving this man away. You’ve Bjorked me out, Bjork. Good work.

Very funky and psychedelic with a tripped-out hazy sound, notes and melodies floating over the rock-solid rhythms. A little hard to grasp at times, but I liked it.

Best song: Family Affair