Reviews by mikey_nc

Very loud and raw. I can pick out things to like here; nice riffs, nice rhythms, good stretches; but overall the vibe here is just not for me at all. Some songs/sections of songs (Meatmaker, most of Kiss Like Lizards, the ending of Seasick) are straight up unlistenable. Wouldn't ever put this on again.

Best song: Spike Island

Great guitar album. Was dreading the long songs, but I actually found myself vibing to them and being lower on the shorter, more vocal numbers... and the reason for that is probably Neil's voice. I'm not a stranger to him and I think there's a certain resonance to it, but that tends to hit more on his acoustic stuff. With this kind of backing, he mostly just sounds weak and thin. Not many melodies to speak of, either, despite whatever's being attempted on that last song. Band is consistently pretty great though.

Best song: Love and Only Love

Very raw and bluesy. Strong, consistent sound. No one song really stands out from the crowd. Guitar sound is kind of rattle-y and thin. Singer sounds like an OK-but-slightly-drunk Mick Jagger impersonator. A solid album overall. I didn't listen to the CD tracks.

Best song: Yesterday's Numbers?

Groovy, chill, bassy, spacey. A very fun listen. I already knew from limited exposure that I was into the acid jazz sound and this is just further confirmation.

Best song: Music of the Mind

Smooth music with occasional bursts of energy. Pretty repetitive and lacking in melodies/hooks to hang on to. Not particularly inspired songwriting. Nothing wrong with this but not something I’d really choose to listen to.

Best song: Lay Your Lovin’ on Me

This dude must have inspired an entire generation of whispery singer-songwriters. The album itself is quaint, and frankly a little boring, but I can’t help but find it oddly touching. Crushingly intimate, like he’s singing right to me. The fact that it's shorter really works in its favor; doesn't overstay its welcome. Not something I’d put on much, but sincere and worthwhile.

Best song: Pink Moon

Really love the sound here. The jangly guitars can be a little thin, but they always give the bass a lot of room to pop and give the songs body. The band just sounds really tight. Good melodies. Michael Stipe’s voice is kind of an acquired taste, but overall really enjoyed this.

Best song: Radio Free Europe

Very impactful for obvious reasons considering the context of the time. Still pretty entertaining. Beats are harder and bouncier than a lot of other 80s hip-hop, and Ice Cube and Eazy E are both distinctive and energetic rappers (MC Ren...... well he's not BAD i guess). As far as the subject matter, it's a pretty accurate document of the mentality and vibe of this time for them, if not an accurate document of what was literally happening, lol. Not the kind of thing I'm really attracted to or like to surround myself with these days, but I get it and it's valid artistically. Also what was going on with that last song. Did the label just demand a crappy dance instrumental.

Best song: Fuck tha Police

An interesting one. Great instrumentation, very atmospheric soundscapes. Singer is hit-or-miss and so are the melodies. Some songs sound divine and others sound loud and badly produced. Overall I think the good slightly outweighs the bad here as the highs are quite high.

Best song: Two Weeks

I don’t really get this one. It’s got some good elements but there’s no real hooks, the singer is just kind of whatever, and none of the songs stick out much. Feels like it’s halfway between punk and new wave in a bad way, not really achieving the strengths of either genre.

Smooth yet expansive sound with lots of great instrumentation. All songs are listenable yet have some of depth. Still, I don't think I would put this on much again. It's distinctive and well-made, yet not totally for me.

Best song: Bloody Well Right

Awesome guitars, good rhythms, good melodies, good vibes. Call me a basic southern white boy but this is good music right here

Best song: Simple Man

Awesome voice, smooth yet sparky sound. Things do get kinda repetitive near the end, particularly with the backup singers who are the most gratingly dated element here (though I do still like them sometimes). Not the most substantial album but a nice listen.

Best song: If You Need Me

Energy, lyricism, beats, power. As far as old school hip-hop goes this is pretty strong. Sometimes the loops are too obvious/loud and that becomes grating. Could definitely do without the NOI references but I guess that’s where they were at.

Best song: Rebel Without a Pause

Incredible voice, full of character and passion. The backing band at times doesn't have much impact; a little too much 80s synth. Not necessarily catchy, kinda lacking in good hooks.

Best song: Private Dancer

Interesting downbeat album. Great use of strings, nice guitars, soft but rhythmic and well-mixed. The singer’s decision to sound like either late-career Bob Dylan or Tiny Tim on almost every song does bring it down, though.

Best song: Up with People

What is this. I did not enjoy it.

Best song: Penguin Cafe Single???

Very breezy, laid-back, kinda soft rock. It makes the album good mood music but it kinda works against it in the sense that some of the songs end up blurring together. The sound is a bit mealy-mouthed, like the Carpenters or something, and the little injections of jazz hurt more than help. Still, she has such a nice warm voice that it carries the sections I found dull.

Best song: Help Me

Very fun, if kinda stupid. The beats are obviously dated but some of these genuinely rip. Girls maybe brought the whole album down a point on its own.

Best song: The New Style

Really solid album. Pop and hard rock and prog and opera(??) in a mix that only they could pull off. And as overplayed as Bohemian Rhapsody is it is still an awesome song idc what anyone says.

Best song: Bohemian Rhapsody (You're My Best Friend deserves a shoutout though)