Reviews by mikey_nc

Well it’s rare that an album sounds this much like its cover art. That’s about all the praise I got.

Classics from a master.

Best song: (You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman

Kind of like Britain’s nerdier, punkier answer to Springsteen. A solid album although nothing here wowed me.

Best song: Miracle Man

Well that’s an experience. I was going to criticize the inclusion of this for being a compilation, but it looks like it l was intended as a single new release, with the songs recorded newly for the album. Fitzgerald is obviously a master vocalist, and the songs are polished as can be. So you can’t knock it, but I’m not going to lie and act like this didn’t get wildly monotonous. I respect it, but I don’t plan on returning to it.

Hearing the Our House song was a light jumpscare. A very respectable album that doesn’t fit well in any genre, though I can’t say I loved it.

Best song: Madness (Is All in the Mind)

The Bee Gees are one of the most profoundly lame bands of all time, and as this album demonstrates, it’s not just for the disco.

This feels like something I should like on paper—a Southern rock opera would be in my wheelhouse. But it’s so damn long and they’re so obsessed with Skynyrd. I get that’s the entire idea but I do not want to hear someone make a movie-length album about a totally different band.

I think there’s a certain cultural gap here that keeps me from fully “getting” this, probably akin to how non-Americans feel listening to country music. Still, it’s a solid album with great energy and a unique sound.

Actually quite a neat album with tuneful melodies and strong rhythms. Wasn’t expecting much but was into it. Discovered some great Indian/Indian-influenced music on the generator.

Best song: Good to Be on the Road Back Home

What the boomers listened to if they wanted to feel sophisticated, I guess. It’s not 80s slop but it’s not very good.

Best song: In Your Eyes

An hour of basic-ass repetitive electronic music from 1989. I’m so stoked. I’m pumped dude.

Kind of the closest thing Britain had to the Ramones, although they’re snider, shriekier, and less catchy. It falls into the large category of albums I liked fine but wouldn’t have put on the list.

I’m all for experimentation and innovation, but when it leads to music no longer sounding good by any normal metric, I tap out very quickly. What a great example I have of this idea in Pere Ubu.

A mix of psychedelia, soul, garage rock, and chamber pop(?). Also 60s as hell. Objectively not that great but damn is it well suited to my taste.

Best song: Groovin’

Well I guess music was not in a good place in the year 2000. What It Feels Like for a Girl narrowly saved this from a 1 just by being a competent pop song.

The hippies may be gone, but their memory remains with us, largely through their music. Some of it beautiful, some of it ridiculous, some of it brilliant, some of it cringe, but all of it reflective of their drugged-out lil brains. The whole spectrum is here on this album, which makes it an interesting document for the era.

Best song: Traction in the Rain

Frank Zappa is clearly very talented and quite creative, but for whatever reason, he demonstrates almost no interest in making music the average person would describe as good. He does produce some entertaining send-ups of 50s pop and 60s rock on this album, but I think those are mostly accidents that come out of his real intent of mocking those genres and the people who like them. I can’t tell if Zappa is a grump that hates fun or if he’s actually having more fun than any other musician out there. Either way, this album is worth hearing even if it will obviously not be everyone’s taste.

I sorta want to like this since the start isn’t bad, but it gets way too sloppy and discordant for me by the end. Kind of reminds me of Patti Smith if you took away the musicianship and the hooks.

The exact type of thing you’d want the generator to introduce you to. A calm and beautiful album that conjures up the countryside perfectly.

Kind of a boring album, but a well-made one that executes a cool concept, applying the American folk rock approach to British folk music. I can appreciate it.

Best song: Matty Groves