Rated 2/10
Fuck Kanye. Tried to give this an honest go and it's boring at best. I hate modern production and this is no different. Flow and rhymes are entirely amateurish outside of a few moments from guests. This has to be one of if not THE MOST overrated artist/producer in the history of music.
Rated 4/10
Well... it's better than most of what Ive heard that'a labeled "indie" from the 2000s. Lyrically (when I paid attention to them) this seems to completely lack any substance at all, but maybe I just don't "get it". Musically, this is pretty low-tier garage/grunge style rock, lacking any real hook. All-in-all this sounded like people specifically trying to create "safe punk" to me. What's the fucking point?
Rated 6/10
Not a huge fan of the crooners. I respect the talent I suppose, but it does nothing for me. OK as background music.
Rated 2/10
Big snooze-fest here. Who is this music made for? It just feels so vapid. I recently read an article about the dumbing down of music and this album really feels like a perfect reference for that.
Rated 6/10
Not my usual thing, but it's not bad. Very light for lack of a better term. Hard for me to really get into, but provides a nice tranquil background vibe.
Rated 10/10
PE is inarguably my favorite all time hip-hop group, and Fear Of A Black Planet is probably my favorite album they made. It represents the absolute culmination of the Bomb Squad, perfecting their unique approach to production. Hundreds of layered samples creating a cacophonous wall of noise that some consider unlistenable, but hits ALL of my brain's pleasure centers. This is an audio assault. All of that, paired with Chuck's revolutionary lyrics and aggressive delivery and this album just oozes power you can feel as well as hear. Fight the fucking power!
Rated 6/10
Rare instance of something that certainly does not rock, but I still find myself enjoying it. A lot of it reminds me of early Björk. If someone described this to me without me hearing it, I'd be convinced the vocals and music could never work together, but somehow, when you're listening, they do.
I just don't enjoy folksy singer/songwriter shit. Nothing wrong or offensive with this, it just doesn't speak to me at all. Most of this feels like it's designed to be a drunken crowd singalong in a pub. Nope!
Rated 10/10
This fucking ROCKS!
Rated 8/10
A little more pop influence than previous albums but there are some great songs here none the less. Very solid album.
Rated 4/10
Oh great... over-produced, major-label pop punk. If you're over 18 and still listen to this, you're undeniably a pedophile. Giving it 2 stars because at least it's still better than the absolute crap they put out after this.
Rated 6/10
This gives me more Cure vibes than Britpop. Most likely the whiny vocals and prolific use of keyboards (both things I'm to a huge fan of).
I've really enjoyed all of the African music this list has put in front of me. This... not so much. Soukous sounds a lot like Soca to my ears and I'm just not fond of it. Koffi has an undeniably strong voice, but I just can't get into the jerky rhythms and pop production overall.
Rated 8/10
Pretty solid mix of punk with blues and rockabilly. Opens up with a total banger to grab your attention before it shows off its weirder moments. That's how you do it! I dig this.
Rated 10/10
Fela Kuti is like Miles Davis. I see I have an album by either and I know before I listen that it's a 5/5 (I still listen for confirmation and enjoyment).
Rated 10/10
The original architects of funk/rock fusion, and it's never been done better. George Clinton was a genius.
Rated 2/10
I've always liked their early work, but it seemed to fall off around Joshua Tree. This opens up sounding a little bit like The Cars. Was not expecting that. But by the halfway point, that is honestly the most positive thing I have to say about it, and the back half sure doesn't redeem it. Most of this a complete bore. Basically sounding like audio drivel, tailor-made to be commodified. Not shocking at all it would only be a short time before they were shilling for major corporations.
Rated 10/10
I know Billy Corgan is a total piece of shit, but this album is FUCKING KILLER. It sounds huge! Production is so perfect; giving room for all the instruments to be heard clearly, but still creating this massive wall of noise as they come together. Drags a little in the back half, but god damn does this album rock.
Rated 4/10
Nope. Points for experimental originality I guess, but this just isn't doing anything for me. Sounds like arthouse keyboard karaoke night.
Rated 10/10
Damn! As someone who knows VERY LITTLE about music made in the last 10 years, this was completely off my radar. Really great stuff here. Obvious '70s Soul influence at work here, but that's just where it starts. Some psychedelic rock. I hear, brit-pop hooks buried deep in there too. That being said, it never feels like a Frankenstein's monster. There is a natural feeling of cohesion to it, especially in the vocal delivery and clarity. Even the orchestrated sections retain a feeling of intimacy only the vocals can deliver.
