Reviews by mikey_nc

That went hard. Deep Purple is not the most inspiring band in the world, but damn do they go hard.

Best song: Child In Time

Smooth and warm. Traces of pain give some depth to plenty of joy. Drags a little, but overall a full slate of classic soul.

Best song: Let's Stay Together

That was pretty sick. Lots of great guitar, cool Latin rhythms, highly smooth vibes. I liked it.

Best song: Black Magic Woman

Leonard Cohen’s voice might have about as much personality as a wet sack of gravel, but you know what, I will concede it. The man can write some songs.

Best song: So Long, Marianne

Well you can definitely tell it was made in the 80s. There’s some interesting ideas and decent atmosphere here, but I don’t especially like any of the songs, so that’s kind of a hard problem to overcome.

Best song: Living in Another World

A pretty enjoyable if not very impactful electronica album. There wasn't a lot of music going on in the last couple tracks, but the atmosphere was solid throughout. Some good bass.

Best song: Water from a Vine Leaf

A raspy, ethereal, orchestral rock album with a highly original sound. That original sound did not really click with me, but it’s certainly a fascinating one. RIP Dennis.

Best song: Rainbows

Long, heavy, dramatic, and pretty interesting if occasionally boring. His voice took a little getting used to but I think I liked it. The arrangements never really hit a sweet spot for me, either too formal and "arranged" or too slapdash and experimental, but I still would say I liked this more than I didn't.

Best song: Hiding All Away

A cool and unique take on American blues/rock. Not the most exciting, but pretty well-executed.

Best song: Sekou Oumarou

Well that definitely sounds like some dudes on drugs in a random home studio in Georgia.

Best song: Sweat Loaf?

I was not excited when I saw Julian Cope's name attached to this album... but this is good! It mixes new wave with psychedelic pop in interesting ways while staying anchored by strong melodies. The horns can be a little much but I really enjoyed it.

Best song: Treason

This album fuses country with British post-punk, and it sounds just as weird as you’d expect. This isn’t very good in a lot of ways but I’m kind of into it regardless.

Best song: Lost Highway

I've got plenty of respect for Public Enemy, but man I was not necessarily angling to hear another hour-long Public Enemy album within a week of the last one. The production is good but clearly dated, and the raps are dynamic but sometimes heavy-handed. I also just flat out got tired of Flavor Flav. I can't pinpoint why, I got nothing against him, I'm just not very into hearing Flavor Flav's voice anymore.

Best song: Fight the Power

Wow that's disappointing. I get that the scattershot sound of this album probably helps it sound authentic for a lot of people, but this straight up does not sound good. The three singers clash and run into each other a ton, and the production is kind of a mess. There's some strong songs here, but I have serious trouble enjoying them.

Best song: The Weight

I saw a post not long ago talking about how Snoop Dogg was in a weird situation where he had become known more for his cultural legacy and not his music. I listen to this album and I find that hard to believe considering the incredible beats and buttery-smooth delivery. Then I pay attention to the lyrics and I realize how hard this album clashes with Snoop’s wholesome modern image as your friendly weed-loving uncle, because this is an aggressively misogynistic set of songs. I guess the fact that he was a scion of gangsta rap is part of the entire joke of Snoop being considered so wholesome today, but I feel like a lot of people wouldn’t consider it quite so funny anymore if they were reminded of what he was actually saying back then. Can you ignore it? Sure, but it’s part of the package whether you do or not. This is a fun and brilliantly produced album, but it is something of a relic for good reason.

Best song: Gin and Juice

Damn. That rocked.

Really melodic with some great harmonies and cool multi-section songs. Kinda dorky in that distinctly prog-rock way, but quite enjoyable.

Best song: Yours is No Disgrace

I’m pretty sure I prefer this to The Low End Theory—it’s not quite as focused, but the beats are fresher, the lyrics are stronger, and there’s a little more range. Great production as you’d expect. Could be a little shorter but a really solid album.

Best song: Can I Kick It?

A huge achievement by the Beatles’ most undervalued member, bursting with creativity and spirituality. The length is a little much, but I think it’s appropriate to the album’s scope and its massive Wall of Sound production. I can also take or leave the Apple Jam, but I consider those to be bonus tracks and not really a part of the main album. Either way, this is George’s day in the sun as a songwriter that deserves to be taken just as seriously as John and Paul.

Best song: Isn’t It a Pity (Version 1)

It’s definitely the blues. Pretty dated, but a sharp and well-executed set from one of the kings of the genre.

Best song: Got My Mojo Working