Reviews by nevele

A very enjoyable Van Morrison album. I must admit, this is the first time I've truly appreciated one of his albums, whether solo or with Them. The orchestrations, music, lyrics, and vocals are all spot on here.

"Beggars Banquet" contains some of the Rolling Stones' most iconic tracks, including the monstrous "Sympathy For The Devil" and "Jigsaw Puzzle," which are truly exceptional. However, for my taste, the album's overall quality is uneven. While "Street Fighting Man" and "Salt of the Earth" are still quite strong, tracks like "Dear Doctor," "Parachute Woman," and "Prodigal Son" don't quite connect with me and I find them lows on the album and almost their repertoire. It's an album with clear highs, but the inconsistencies prevent it from being a favorite.

Almost hard to believe this is not a best-off album.

The Cure cover lovesong is marvellous

Strong debut, although it is not yet Talking Heads at their peak. The band has not yet found its sound (they are also looking for something in punk and funk), but I can already hear a fresh, unique sound. Talking Heads also sound audibly more thoughtful than many bands, without losing spontaneity.

The band that undeservedly never made it as big as their name

It’s a shame The Cult abandoned the dark, atmospheric post-punk/hard rock fusion of their masterpiece "Love" for a more straightforward sound on "Electric." While the bone-dry production due to Rubin’s influence made it a stark departure, the original "Electric Peace" mixes show glimpses of their earlier style.

For years, I struggled to compare it to "Love" and "Dreamtime," but judged on its own, it’s still solid—Astbury’s vocals and Duffy’s riffs elevate tracks like "Lil’ Devil," "Peace Dog," and "Love Removal Machine" above most hard rock of the era. 3/5

A dissapointing listen compared to their other albums

An album that balances between the 4 & 5.

Fiona Apple's 'Fetch the Bolt Cutters' is a visceral, unflinching masterpiece. It's a unique percussive landscape from found sounds where raw emotion bleeds through every track, from the percussive slams of mattresses to the unedited, dripping anger in her vocals. The album's power lies in its fearless confrontation of trauma and the yearning for liberation. Apple's lyrics, as exemplified by the stark 'Good morning, good morning/ You raped me in the same bed your daughter was born in,' cut to the bone, making this an essential and deeply affecting listen

Considered a classic in the pop-rock genre, this album launched Billy Joel to stardom. This album is outstanding in what it's trying to achieve while also not being my style

I've really tried to enjoy this album, but it has become grating for my ears. The versions of the songs aren't even decent, and I'm not a big fan of the songs to begin with. While I don't mind the style, the execution feels borderline kitschy for me. I listened to both the English and German versions, but it still didn't work.

Overall, this album just isn't for me, and I’m glad I won't have to listen to it again.

The first track, "Being Boring," serves as a strong opener. The song reflects on the passing of time and the loss of youthful recklessness. While it has a somewhat melancholic tone, it also carries an element of hope. The lyrics evoke memories of the past and highlight the changes that come with life. The soft, atmospheric music adds to the song's special quality.

The rest of the album follows a similar theme. Compared to most other albums by Pet Shop Boys, 'Behaviour' is introspective and relatively modest. Chris Lowe adopts a less energetic approach to his electronics, favoring languid beats and the analog synthesizers provided by German producer Harold Faltermeyer. Neil Tennant's vocal delivery is also less cool and detached than usual. There has often been debate about the quality of Tennant's singing, but personally, I find his voice quite pleasant, particularly in the sultry, languid sounds featured on *Behaviour*.

One standout track can be found in the 'Further Listening' section: "Miserablism," a notable satire of Morrissey, made even more enjoyable by the contributions of Johnny Marr to this album.

Overall, 'Behaviour' is an enjoyable album and is often regarded as Pet Shop Boys' best work. However, for me, it lacks the tension that many of their other albums possess.

When we're talking in term of avant garde music, this one is deceptively light and balances that fine line between pop and noise.
Thouroughly enjoyable!

Seen as the start of Stevie's artistic renaissance.

Trout Mask Replica is probably the biggest cult album in rock history. Some people think it is the biggest racket ever recorded on record, others can sit there for hours listening in ecstasy to the demented dadaistic delta blues that the Captain has immortalized on this disc.
This cult status is due not only to the controversial music but also to the stories that circulate about the recording of this album. Captain Beefheart refused to wear headphones during the recording of his vocals to it's never in sync with the music, and is said to have lived in isolation with the Magic band for more than a year to prepare the recording of this album, almost starving the band. Then only to record the entire 80-minute album in an 6-hour session.

It blasted through all conventions.

Trout Mask Replica has been influential mainly by acting as a catalyst for freer thinking within the rock context, by opening up so much unexplored territory. It pushed the boundaries and it's a fascinating cabinet of curiosities of unparalleled creativity.

And apart from the opener I actually don't mind listening to this at all.

Unapologetically militant and clever. The album flows like a live concert and is aggressive and focused like a revolutionary manifesto.
That is, until Flava Flav does his thing. The skits take away from making this album a 5*

I remember when I got a few genuine nerds at a dance night on the floor for the first time in their lives dancing to EPLE, because that was the music that played when they installed their Mac OSX

This is an incredibly sensual album. But where people would normally use that description for artists like Sade, this is a darker, experimental, and almost industrial variant with ditto lyrics instead of soft jazz. This music sounds incredibly elaborate and yet sensitive.

This album was a huge surprise, especially the first three songs, which stuck with me after just a few listens. This is the only reason it doesn't receive a full five stars. The album feels a bit front-heavy and loses some momentum towards the end.

I have rarely encountered a pop album as consistent as The Village Green Preservation Society by The Kinks.
When I first heard this album, I wasn’t particularly impressed. It didn't sound exceptional to my ears at all. However, with each listen, my appreciation for the album has grown, and it might now be one of my favorites on this list.

This shift is largely due to its nostalgic and dreamy atmosphere, full of childhood memories while also containing social commentary. This gives the seemingly cheerful and simple songs an extra layer of depth. Together with countless catchy melodies, 'The Village Green Preservation Society' is an album that improves with every listen.

The songs are all quite short but wonderfully constructed, featuring catchy melodies, strong vocals, and recognizable, nostalgic lyrics. Tracks like "Do You Remember Walter" and "Picture Book" have become my favorites.

The combination of cheerful, playful pop melodies with nostalgic and socially critical lyrics makes for an album that brings me joy while also evoking some deeper emotions. This is an incredibly addictive record, and I will definitely listen to it again!

I really appreciate the ambitious scope of this project. They not only created three full albums that explore all aspects of love but also presented the material in a wide range of styles.

However, I can't shake the feeling that this album could have benefited from a good editor, much like a 1,200-page novel. There are entire passages that could have been cut, as they don't contribute anything new to the story and simply repeat themes, either in the narrative or in the music.

That said, I genuinely enjoyed the album and am glad I took the time to listen to it a few times over the last couple of days.