Reviews by oldmancthc

A lot of people have told me that the early Coldplay albums are really good... They lied.

Well this was mostly garbage. Shout out to Impressive Enstant and Runaway Lover for being the only semi-redeeming moments for me. (Who knew I'd respond to what I can only describe as futurist house?) Things dropped off a cliff shortly thereafter though. The obviously experimental folksy/country vibe was pretty terrible. Then a bunch of generic dance pop, some of which sounded like experimental demos in all the wrong ways (stutter guitar on Don't Tell Me, I'm talking about you here). American Pie cover was the breaking point for me, and made me question ending my own life it was so bad. By the time I hit the Raga I didn't know what the fuck I was listening to. This is a complete disaster of mismatched styles in a desperate attempt to compete with Britney and Christina in the charts. It's a singles collection, not an album.

These bullshit wannabe Lou Reed vocals are completely awful. Musically, this has a brief few moments of interest but for the most part stays safe and in doing so just becomes forgettable. Another "Why is this on a must-hear list?"

This sounds VERY dated. It sits squarely in that keyboard heavy '80s pop-wave sound. Lots of ska/reggae rhythms that feel sterile without much additional instrumentation as accompaniment. Melodies are almost recognizable as other artists work, but not quite. Obligatory 80s sax on one track. Didn't hate it, but there's just nothing interesting happening here. It's typical and generic schlock for the era it was produced.

Everything Nina does contains true power. Even in the more quiet and reserved songs here, you can feel it. She is an artist with true greatness matched by few.

Another nostalgia album that I have listened to regularly since the '80s. Surprisingly, the triple-threat hit list of Every Breath You Take, King of Pain, and Wrapped Around Your Finger is probably my least favorite part of this album, mainly because this songs were played to DEATH on pop radio when this album was new. Sychrnoicity II is easily my favorite Police song and the inspiration for me to start looking at faster and heavier music. I have ALWAYS loved how Summers' Mother takes you completely out of the album (in the best way) and Copeland's Miss Gradenko pulls you right back in (before returning us to the Sting show). It’s not a perfect album, but one I'll always find pretty great.

As a kid, Alice Cooper really disappointed me because the music wasn't as heavy as his appearance and reputation made me think it should be. Also got turned off by how straightforward theatrical some aspects of his sound was. As an adult, I can overlook most of this and admit that this just rocks. School's Out will always be an anthemic ripper.

Weird one, but not in a bad way. A good mix of experimental and approachable material blended here. Sometimes fun, sometimes out there, sometimes just making you think. Cool In The Pool is so god damn quirky (and fun), but WILL get stuck in your ear really quickly. Persian Love was the track I liked the least, and even that had its moments that pulled you in and made you pay attention. This definitely merits multiple listens.

Retro-rehashed '80s and '90s pop that countless other artists did better. What a useless pile of crap this album is.

I love the Minutemen. I love Mike Watt. I really liked Ragin' Full On (even though it was quite clearly NOT the Minutemen). I really wanted to like this just as much, but I just... don't. It's not bad, it just doesn't have anything that sticks to my ear. Some interesting parts here and there but mostly forgettable. Maybe it's a multiple listens type of album before it gets you?

This is like sitting through a Vegas lounge act. I'm NOT drunk enough for this bullshit.

Respect the experimentation, but I still don't "get" this band.

Pop music from this era might be some of the worst ever made. This is pure trash. Generic "beats" layered with overtly commercialized over-produced vocals. Can't find a single redeeming thing about this.

Not something I expected to like based on description, but I did. Not all of it was up my alley but on the whole, it's much more interesting than I expected. Drony, repetitive guitar work is great as a counter to the saccharine melodic vocals. Never heard of this before.

Not my favorite FM album but undeniably something I could put on anytime and not be unhappy with the decision.

YAWN! Almost 10 years late to the Britpop party and this is supposed to be an important album? And that doesn't even start to touch on the fact that this is totally uninspired and derivative drivel.

Classic Wu sound. Great production. Great Flow. Not sure why I don't listen to this as often as Liquid Swords or Ironman?

Not as much Psych as the last FC album I listened to. Still something more than just straight-forward folk, but close enough that I can't really get into it so much. Obviously talented musicians and great vocals.

Much cooler people than myself have told me for years how great Slade is and I still never listened to them. The only thing I ever knew about them is that a couple of Quiet Riot classics from my youth were covers of their songs. Well this rocks, and I'm embarrassed I slept on this band.

Vocals were great. The music hovers between ethereal and sleep-inducing in most parts. It had a very "adult contemporary" sounding on that's not really my thing. Overall it was very forgettable.