Reviews by ninexnineteen

This sounds no differently than every other English rock band 5 year before this album was released

⭐⭐⭐.51

I loved everything about this. Need to listen again, but I'll be adding this to my personal collection, so that shouldn't be a problem

⭐⭐⭐⭐.49

Can't be mad about listening to a Cure album! Not my favorite of theirs, but I have no complaints

⭐⭐⭐.49

This was a pretty solid album by a new-to-me artist. It feels a lot like the breathy indie music of the 2010s, which I'm into, but I don't understand why someone 15 years late to the genre is being put on the list.

No matter. I liked it, and I'll add this to my collection.

⭐⭐⭐⭐

There's a whole lot of average and inoffensive music on this LOOONG album. I'm fine with it, I guess, but I can't ever see me spinning this again. What mood would one even have to be in for this? Or what setting? No idea

⭐⭐.51

I hear a lot about what a great songwriter this guy is, and that may be so, but whoever he hires to do vocals fucking SUCKS.

Seriously, this is fucking torturous. There are supposed to be 4 of this guy's albums on the list, and this is my 5th. I have done some really regrettable things in my life, but I don't think any have risen to the level of bad that I should have to listen to 5 Leonard Cohen albums.

If I'm ever captured by the Viet Cong, they can pull out all my fingernails and electrocute my balls and I'll never talk. However, if they just show me they have a Leonard Cohen album and it looks like they have the means to play it, I'll tell them whatever they want. If there is a hell, this album is on a loop there.

But that's maybe enough griping. Let's try some gratitude practice: today, I am grateful for my health, my wonderful wife, my daughter, the growing group of truly good and honorable humans in my life, and that I'll NEVER HAVE TO LISTEN TO ANOTHER LEONARD FUCKING COHEN ALBUM AGAIN AS LONG AS I LIVE

⭐.49

Beck is weird. Good weird, but weird.

This would have been an easy four stars had the B side been good as the first half

⭐⭐⭐.49

Anyone else have that "thing" where they avoid engaging in "the popular thing everyone else is doing" because of the excessive hype? Like, you didn't watch La La Land or Ted Lasso, or didn't read Project Hail Mary until way later because people wouldn't shut up about it? And then later, you finally catch an episode of Ted Lasso, your heart swells and your soul begins to heal, and you're like "ah, yeah, this is what the hype was about. Well deserved. My bad." I did this with Adele. My bad.

I've been verging on tears for the entirety of this album, reveling in her emotional delivery and powerful voice. Brilliant.

I'll be adding this album to my collection. And probably her others as well.

⭐⭐⭐⭐.49

This is going to be a tough one. We buried my grandmother to the title track of this album. This is music that makes me feel like home and remember those I loved who are now gone.

Hearing this, I am transported to my childhood. Listening to my grandfather and his brother and friends picking and singing music like this, or attending bluegrass festivals with that same crowd, being a shirtless kid in the hot Tennessee sun, completely lost in the music and dancing without embarrassment. Beautiful memories and unbelievably good music. Right now, my soul is more "home" than it has been in quite some time.

I think another thing I love about this album in particular is the intimate setting of the studio and the conversations of the musicians. Just regular people chatting, and then launching into some of the best guitar, banjo picking, and storytelling there is.

Easy ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

I feel like I should be taking more notes here, but I also don't have much to say. This is good.

⭐⭐⭐.51

Tracks 9 and 10 were the first bits of actual music on the whole album. Everything else is basically spoken word/elementary school "poetry slam" (which is perhaps the worst insult I'm capable of making, given my feelings towards children and slam poetry, and the horrifying potential of combining the two). Pretty disappointed with this one as a whole.

Cons:

Even among the mediocre, this is pretty mediocre. Forced rhymes in a childish rhyme scheme. Little substance.

Pros:

Short!

Consistently poor enough that skipping a song halfway through doesn't make me feel like I might miss something. And that makes it shorter!

⭐⭐.25

Competent pop, but I feel like something is missing here. And whatever is missing is probably just some ingredient I personally like in my electronic/pop/dance music, not something that's necessary.

I can definitely put my finger on something I don't like: autotune. No matter how it's used, I don't like it. I'd rather hear a real human voice, no matter how imperfect. I understand it's often used as a creative tool and not just to disguise flawed delivery, but there just isn't any use I personally like.

Nothing to write home about
⭐⭐⭐

Inoffensive, but unengaging and unnecessary. Blissfully short

⭐⭐

I don't think I have heard anything by Paul Simon I didn't like. This was no exception. I do feel, however, this wasn't his strongest work, though I don't think he can be blamed for not having his voice and sound fully fleshed out, as this was his first solo venture. This might be the only time I complain about an album being too short

⭐⭐⭐.75

I have listened to this album a few dozen times, but never with real intention, and probably never on anything but shitty car speakers and not in YEARS. After only a few tracks, I'm reminded that I love this album. Unparalleled rhyme arrangements, one of the best flows in all of rap, and some of the most truthful, disturbing reflections and scathing indictments of the hypocritical country I live in. I also don't think I can point to a rapper that gives such a transparently emotional delivery either.

People got pissed at Eminem because he reflected their values back at them without the thin veneer of "polite and civilized." They somehow think they're different than what he's talking about. He makes great points about the US, and won't allow himself to be blamed for people's unwillingness to have difficult conversations with their kids about art, sex, drugs, and violence. I think a lot of people tend to dismiss the argument he makes, but I'd wager those people aren't introspective enough to see he's talking about them specifically. We pretend a lot here, and if people want change, we need to be honest with ourselves about who we really are. Fat fucking chance though, right?

Eminem is a generational talent. I'll die on this hill.

I normally write these reviews while I'm listening, and there have been maybe 3 albums of 600+ that have kept me so involved and paying strict attention that I find it hard to write at the same time. This is the most difficult one of those so far. I can't even take notes. His imagery and delivery are cinematic and demand my full attention.

I enjoyed this more today than I ever have, in large part because I UNDERSTOOD it this time. I understand that it's a black mirror he aims at us all, and I understand who and what I'm seeing within it. I saw reviews talking about how the lyrics have aged poorly over the last 25 years, but I'd say they were of their time, and as much as we'd like to think it's true, it's a lie that things are any different today. I truly cannot wait until the lyrics are a time capsule and not reflective of who we are as a country. That day damned sure isn't today

Outstanding album. Definitely listening again during my workout tonight

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Unobjectionable in quality, about 15 unjustifiable minutes of quantity. Definitely could have done without the Sounds of Silence ripoff. Completely adequate and competent, but unfortunately, nothing special about this album

⭐⭐.51

This is my second album from The Fall. The first one, I quit before it was over. This is FAR better. Really good, actually. There was nothing on here I didn't like

⭐⭐⭐.75

Man, that was pretty good folkin' music right there! I especially liked the bluegrass style raga. Pretty neat!

⭐⭐⭐.51

Didn't expect Mr Dobilena in there. Not sure how to evaluate this album. It was fun, it was quirky, and it was somewhat of its time. Still good and enjoyable, but I'm not sure about groundbreaking or anything.

⭐⭐⭐?

"Post Punk and Art Rock" as genre descriptors typically mean an unenjoyable album for me, but that wasn't the case for this. Pretty fun, and I think it merits at least a second listen. I'll add this to my collection so I don't forget to do that.

I really wish I could give this my full attention, but I listened to Chingon on the way to work today, and I have electric mariachi on the brain

⭐⭐⭐