Reviews by nevele

It was 2001, rock music was at its lowest level in decades and all of a sudden there was this album called Is This It by a group called The Strokes, from NYC, that played uncomplicated rock 'n' roll.
An album that influenced a lot of new bands in the early 2000's and brought about a revival of the alternative rock-band scene. And this is by no means a bad album, it's simplistic and passionate rock 'n roll.

But looking past the immense influence this album had, truth be told, it's not that this has really added something special to the ever-growing rock history. It's good, but it's not great, it's not inventive, it's nothing new.

3,5*

On the one hand you have Strange Brew, Sunshine Of Your Love and the best song of the album: Tales Of Brave Ulysses.
On the other hand you have Blue Condition and Take It Back which both really shouldn't be on the album.
Mother's Lament I can take as a funny, if somewhat discordant ending.

And every music lover knows the Bruce, Baker and Clapton story of Cream. But this, to me, is an ok blues-inspired psychedelic rock-album. With hits and misses.

MC Solaar shows what hip-hop can be, relaxing jazzy beats with incredible raps. Now the message of the album unfortunately passes me by a bit, but that is by no means an obstacle to any enjoyment you can get from the album.

The first half of the album, with its Gang Starr influenced eclectic mix of hip hop, jazz, funk, reggae and the French troubadour style, ending with the great hip hop ballad Caroline is a classic in its style and would be a 5* album

Unfortunately, there's also the second half of the album, a bit of half-hearted dub style that brings the album down and was a bit unnecessary.

So it ends with 4*

What is there to say about this album that hasn't been said so many times before.
This album doesn't have a weak moment, all songs are absolutely right. It's an album with the atmosphere of night. One of my few 5*

The album starts off really strong (with the exception of her annoying posturing chats in amongst the songs) but after a couple of listens I'd have to say this might be the least of Missy's albums.

Timbaland and Elliot's beats are just groovy and they're trying to get a bit of that old school soul and hiphop feeling here, but after a few songs it feel like they just weren't fully in it.

As for all the guest appearances, Ludacris has never been one of my favourite rappers, Jay-Z is not adding anything special, 50 Cent is not nearly as bad as most people make him out to be, but it's not a good last song of the album. The TLC colab "Can You Hear Me," would've been a better choice.
One good appearance is Method Man though. Love his work in Bring The Pain. Also I'm always smiling with the Beastie Boys references, like in Work It

All in all, not a bad album, but not really special either.

The title track is immediately symbolic of the entire record: extremely simplistic, with a different chord only at the end of the third line, continuously repeated riffs, a minimalistic guitar solo, a rustic text full of country town pleasures, an accompaniment that has no frills – but it works.

The melodies immediately stick in your head, bobbing along, the voice of Fogerty is honest and superb, the band swings and the overall sound is somewhere between rock and rockabilly, with a little less blues and a bit more country than on earlier albums.

Even though you're jumping into the hippy-folk from the first tones, I didn't mind this eclectic and inventive folk album.

This is especially due to the amazingly talented guitarists on this album who bring a very psychedelic tone to the whole.

It's not bad but it really isn't more than that. It's a re-listen because I've heard the album before in the 90's.
Even then I had the same feeling. It's not bad, but it never stands out.

The single version of Wilmot was a lot more interesting than the version they put on the album.

Dylan at his best.

What a discovery. Of course I knew Dylan from his hits (and the well-known Blonde on Blonde and Highway 61 albums.)
But I never really listened to this one and must say I personally think this might be Dylan's best!
Sparkling, bitter, sneering, intimate AND intense music.

Dire Straits' first and best album.
An album with an atmosphere where you could see Tarantino creating some of his best scenes.

It's bit more playful and less boring and perfectionistic than their later work.

Brothers in Yawns. I won't give this the long review and multiple listens it (probably) deserves. But this elevator-rock really does nothing for me.

'Brothers in Arms' and 'Money For Nothing' are great tracks in their own right. So there's 2 stars for this album.

But 'Walk Of Life' is just annoying, songs like 'Why Worry' and 'Ride Across The River' are nothing more than snoozefests without any depth.
'The Man's Too Strong' and 'One World' are unnecessary tracks.

This is the 3rd Elvis Costello album coming past on my list, and I'm only 140 albums in.

Side A has two highlights: opening song "Accidents Will Happen", with its lovely melody, and Party Girl, a somewhat languid song, different from the rest of the album with some nice piano work.

On the B-side, Busy Bodies in particular stood out, with a faded intro, uptempo and this albums characteristic organ; again that fresh new wave atmosphere.

And yet, the other songs do much less for me, even after repeated rotations. While at the same time, they do rise above the average, I hear that. I don't really understand why they bore me faster than most of the songs on the other 2 albums I've heard.

This album is a great, fresh, up-tempo and razor-sharp produced record, to which I nevertheless and to my surprise can only award 3*

A very jazzy album from a talented voice and songwriter. Some great music on this album but my main issue is the Alicia Keys-like drumcomputer in some songs like You Sent Me Flying. Lots of songs could have shone a lot more with a better production.
But I know that happened on the next album!

An album I've never listened to before now. And I've heard a lot of these songs before because they've been covered by bands I like (This Mortal Coil, Placebo, Jeff Buckley) or are covers themselves like Femme Fatale.

A very interesting ramschackle of an album that seems to have had more success among musicians than it did commercially.

And now listening to the entire album a 4th time it dawns on me why it is. My first listen was a decidedly 'meh'-experience. But it sure is growing, into an album I would listen to again and again, especially songs like Holocaust and Kanga Roo. It's dark, it's emotional it's terribly played.

Absolutely amazing album. 4,5*

This is always the record that I use to introduce people to the wonderful world of PJ Harvey. This is all a bit lighter, rockier and poppier than much of her other work.

Although it does a lit less to me than much of her other albums, it is not inferior in quality and always a pleasure to put this on.

It's a greatly enjoyable rock-album and probably the best the Manics have ever made, with the pain from all of them on missing Richey Edwards as a guiding thread through the album, even though the songs are quite hopeful.

After a while the 'wall-of-sound' production makes the songs sound alike a bit, with only the real standout songs (especially the first three) jumping out.
Still, an album I listened to with much pleasure.

Unfortunately only been able to give it one full listen, but was impressed with what I heard.

I don't think I need to explain this album to anyone. It's an absolute masterpiece, whether you like the Beatles or not.
And it would be a 10/10 album if Yellow Submarine wasn't on here. Now it's a 9/10.

Taxman is also one of the best songs Harrison ever wrote. The tempo, the bassline, the extra cowbell, the sneering lyrics, the guitar solo. It's nigh on perfect.

It's at least better than the kitschy mess that's A Bridge Over Troubled Water.

The music is nothing special, but that's how I've always felt about S&G

This album is pure garage rock 'n' roll. Rhythmically all over the place, with some killer riffs. With just a guitar and drums. I don't think you need to look deeper into it than that.

Hardest Button To Button might be my favourite White Stripes song.

4*