Reviews by scribeben

The most abrasive top-40 album in history. A gloriously unparalleled aesthetic achievement.

I think I can imagine what it would be like to be a person who is moved by this music, but that is not, in fact, me.

Got this on the semi-quincentennial. Gets extra points for confusing conservatives for 40+ years.

Decent 80s pop even beyond the first track.

Love this record. The soundtrack to the Electric Kool-Aid Acid Test. A million times better, more poignant and more evocative of its time than anything The Grateful Dead ever made.

Don’t you fucking touch this man’s shoes!!!

Oh it’s that 70s band

Truer now than ever before.

Bowie’s victory lap after the success of Ziggy Stardust. It’s not one of my favorites of his records, but it does have several superb tracks.

Incredible voice. The songs aren’t that distinctive or memorable which I suppose is why he didn’t have that many hits and so has been under celebrated.

A cut above most of the new wave of its time. The title track is of course a timeless classic.

Another Tom Waits record. This one a bit bluesier and balladier than others. Not as engaging as my favorites of his. “Jersey Girl” may be his worst song ever. Way too Springsteeny. All in all this is by far my least favorite record of his. Really kinda boring for the most part.

I feel like his heart was in the right place.

Somewhat hokey, mediocre psych-rock with a few standout tracks.

Chill 90s trip-hoppy electronica

Disco Beatles. Starts out well but gets a bit tiresome over the course pf the record.

Wonderfully hyper-literate creative and cool lady punk. Where has this record been my whole life?

Not a thing hardcore about this. Not bad though. Better than their other record on here. At best it reminds me of other things I like better: Bowie, U2, Pavement, etc.

I don’t understand how this made it on the list. Their first record was at least somewhat innovative, but this is completely insipid, boneheaded, self-congratulatory bs from the first song which is apparently some sort of diss track against Trent Reznor. The best that can be said about this is that it produced at least two memorable pro-wrestling themes and that it has Method Man, Redman, and DMX on one track. The saddest part is that without Fred Durst, the music really wouldn’t be that bad. There are moments where I couldn’t help headbanging a bit, but they’re quickly ruined by his obnoxiousness. The 9 minute outro of that idiot laughing was no more endearing.

They really hit the ground running with this one. My faves will always be The Royal Scam and Gaucho but every track on this one is a banger.