Reviews by simonh

This came out a year or so before I regularly subscribed to 'Sounds' music paper, but they'd have surely been all over this.

I find it difficult tobelieve this was recorded in 3 days? Surely one? And probably written at the same time and to the same formula... play a few notes on the keyboard of choice, loop, vocal over the top. Jobs a goodun

Interesting but too simplistic .

Frankie Teardrop is too long

Like a lot of 1977 material, made more for effect than art

I think Pink Floyd can regard themselves as very fortunate that their record company didn't drop them after this first effort, or we might never have heard of them.

Even by the standards of other "psychedelic" albums of the period this is absolute shite.

They had to name it "The Minneapolis Sound" because even *they* knew that all Prince's stuff sounded the same. Why does everything have that clunky drum sound and a similar arrangement.
And the shreaking.
And be too long.

I bought the follow up to this, Lovesexy, in 1988 and really liked it. But that was before I grew tired of the thuddy drum machine, the synthetic band and the screeching. Sorry mate.

I don't know what I was expecting but it definitely wasn't what I heard. A dreamy soundscape of songs that sort of merged into each other.
I enjoyed it. But now it's finished I couldn't tell you anything about it, except that I will listen again.

I bought 'The Golden Age of Grotesque' at the time which I thought at the time was a great album (though I haven't listened to it in a while).

I like their heavy guitar/bass sound and the songs where he makes more or an attempt to 'sing', or at least a more restrained growl. I dislike the out and out screaming numbers.

Some stuff on here I love (Tourniquet) and some I don't (Irresponsible Hate Anthem). But mostly it's ok.

Mariah "I'll sing whatever notes I fucking like" Carey.

Spoiled a little by the last 2 tracks that run out of steam, the rest of the album I enjoyed. So what happened?
3½

Electronica crossed with ambient. Eno could learn something from these guys. Kinda mellow and kinda foot tapping too. And plenty of earworms if you let them burrow into you. Not bad. Telephastic Workshop is superb.

I bought this album in 1989 but haven't listened to it for nigh on 30 years.
Great pop songs that still stand up.
The only dud is the Prince track which sounds exactly like every other 1980's Prince track and ruins the vibe slightly.
4½

Ash.
Well, I never knew.
Nice little album, though I enjoyed the first listem more than the second.

A really great album. Crammed with hits. All killer, absolutely no filler.
Sadly, from this point on, things could only go downhill.

I wish I'd seen them in the 90s. I'd have liked a ticket for 2025 but no way was I paying those prices.

He has a lovely voice. And the songs are good. Nice and short too which is a blessing as I'm not a huge fan of country. This is so much better than the dire vanity project 'Stardust' album I've already listened to.

He has a good reputation so I'm glad I don't think he's complete crap any more.

Why do I have such trouble writing a review of Beatles albums. Maybe it's because I don't want to use the same sycophantic fawning clichés used by everybody else.
But sometimes you just have to.

This is my favourite Beatles album.
I like all the tracks.
Some I love.
The contrast between each song - and even within songs makes it a record you have to listen to... meaning it forces you to.. rather than some albums you put on, do other stuff, and don't even notice it until it finishes. Sgt Pepper's always grabs your attention. I'm not going even try to pick apart every song. I just love the whole. And is't that the point of an 'album'?

"Noise rock". Without any rock.
(It didn't help that I had a hangover today, but this isn't very good)

I don't like marking down music from my youth. And Madness was a big part of my formative years. Their hits were all over the place, every radio station, every school disco, every student nightclub.

And I love the hits on this album, Our House and Tomorrow's Just Another Day. And the rest of it is fine too.

But it's all very "Madness".

Similar tinkly piano. Similar sax and similar arrangements. It's not at all a bad album but I didn't love it and I really wanted to.

I'm going to see Cabaret At The Kit Kat Club later this summer, and this is the sort of stuff I'm expecting.

It's altogether not at all bad, but there's a time and a place and that's either West End London 2026 or Berlin 1938.

Bizarrely, I ended up with an earworm of "Song Of A German Mother" all afternoon.

Everyone says she has an incredible voice. And she does I suppose.
But the music on this album doesn't really do anything for me. It's pleasant. And a recognise the talent. But <shrugs>.

First thing to say is that when "The Real Thing" popped up on my phone at a bleary 7.30am in the morning, I was looking forward to hearing the Toxteth funk pioneers, the "Black Beatles", the grandaddys of Brit soul.
But, alas, it wasn't to be... shame they don't have an album on this list.

But reality was almost as sweet. I've never listened to any Faith No More except that which I've heard accidently. And this was a revelation. A well structured album, heavy but melodic. Great tunes that I didn't find at all repetitive.

Dud final track though (Woodpecker From Mars). I didn't consider War Pigs in the review as it's not on the original album and I generally only listen to albums as they were intended. Though I did listen to War Pigs - cos it's War Pigs - and it was a good faithful (excuse the pun) cover, more a tribute I think - which is maybe why it didn't make the final cut.

A positive day after all.

A really really good pop album. I can understand why these guys were all over the radio and a lot of other media (certainly in the UK) in the early noughties.

As for the 'Comfortably Numb' debate, I thought I vaguely recognised it before I looked at the title. It's SO far from the original that it's almost a different song. I thought it was perfectly aligned to the rest of the album.

If they actually *were* known as "that gay band" then I'm coming out.

Hey, groovy, cat.

Enjoyable romp thorough 1967 San Fran.
If I was going to be super-critical then it was a bit top-end trebley. A lot of tambourine / harmonica / whiny high organ burrowing into my head.
Rather a dumb-ass idea to create such a colourful album cover and then put 5 black & white photos of the band on it?

But I bet the hippies loved it.

3½