Reviews by scribeben

Really enjoying that M.I.A album. Such a cool, dynamic combination of elements. The songs are a but rhythmically repetitive though, which I get is a stylistic choice but it does get a bit tedious at times.

I had written them off as just another hipster band back in the day, but there’s actually something too them, a lightness and joi de vivre that’s infectious.

Inoffensive but didn’t really grab my attention other than a couple of songs. “Armistice Day” and “Peace Like a River” were highlights.

Not quite what I expected from one of the progenitors of rock and roll. Besides “Let The Good Times Roll” this is mostly Charles as a crooner, which isn’t a bad thing. I especially enjoyed the string-accompanied second half of the record.

I generally don’t care for the Rolling Stones, but find this album particularly uninspired and distasteful. White dudes doing a Ledbelly impersonation while strutting around and horndogging over black women (I guess, reading the lyrics closely, self-awarely?). “Moonlight Mile” is the only sonically interesting track for me.

I was a big Doors fan at around 13/14 years old but soon after grew tired of them, particularly this album. Listening to it now is oddly nostalgic. It’s not bad, but still feels immature musically and lyrically. Still rocked out to “Soul Kitchen” and “Crystal Ship” though. Other tunes did not age as well, particularly “Back Door Man”.

I was surprised this one was on here, despite the wide-ranging influence of “Kashmir” on subsequent rock music. I played Zep’s catalog out for myself in high school and never had much desire to revisit it over the past 20+ years. That said, I enjoyed this more than I expected. “The Rover”, for instance, is an absolute banger. Definitely didn’t need to be 2 discs, though. Several tracks could have been way shorter or left out entirely. There’s only so much Robert Plant I can take in one installment. Disc one is way better than disc 2.

Pop perfection! Yet personal and challenging.

Interesting proto-industrial. A bit repetitive though. I think some of their later stuff is better.

I’ve completely played this record out for myself several times in my life. But it’s still awesome.

It’s impossible to listen to this music and not smile. Absolutely wonderful. I was surprised at the Africana elements at the end but that too was a cool additional element to this deep soul experience.

This T. Rex album brings me utter joy. It’s like if Bowie didn’t take himself quite so seriously.

Thoroughly enjoyed the Biggie album. But I don’t quite connect with him as much as I do 2Pac, Wu Tang, and some others of the era. Just a little bit too much macho swagger for me. Still undeniably great stuff.
Though the track “fuck me” reveals some refreshing self-awareness about all that. Hilarious!

I appreciate some of the songcraft and the sonic inventiveness of the guitar tone, but there’s something about this music that I just can’t connect with. Is it the lack of bass? Jack White’s personality? The dumb simplicity of the riffs? The fact that it’s yet another White guy playing the blues? Whatever it is, I’ll never love the White Stripes the way so many people seem to.

Put me to sleep.

Amazing playing. An extremely cool thing to exist. Seeing the Broadway show puts it in context and made it that much more enjoyable.

I’d never really listened to The Kinks before and had mixed expectations because they influenced a lot of bands I love but also a lot of bands I don’t care for. As it turns out I find this album delightful. It has an intellectual streak that sets it apart from other similar offerings of the time, similarly to Talking Heads vs the rest of the classic punk scene. The irreverent satire and social commentary is top notch.

Deliciously eccentric

I enjoy Walker’s ultra-horny ballads.

Beautiful a cappella compositions infusing traditional call and response with barber shop and doo-wop. This is exactly the kind of record for which this list was made. I probably never would have listened to it otherwise but am very glad I did!