Reviews by socksonfire

In 94/95 I lived in a ramshackle party-house with three other guys. 2 university freshmen, 2 working stiffs. Just so happened all four of us had dookie on cd. One night we had some fun trying to press play on all four cds at the exact same time. While it is impossible to be objective about this rampantly over-played album, especially in light of Green Day’s vile descent into respectability, in retrospect, dookie is, itself, the titular dookie.

Their rep for having very fun live shows seems to be strongly supported by this very fun album.

I guess this is a novelty album. Very interesting idea that works better than it should. It must be the Woody of it all that makes it sound old fashioned. I didn’t love it, but solid like.

Joan Armatrading’s voice and singing style reminds me a lot of Tracy Chapman (noting JA came a decade earlier). After two tracks I was perfectly happy to give this a solid 4-stars. But the damn record just got more and more impressive with intriguing musicianship, surprising vocal delivery, and a very cozy vibe. Incredible album. I’ll definitely be keeping my eyes open for a vinyl copy.

This jaunt into the roots of industrial went over gangbusters at the breakfast table. I don’t think I’ve seen the faces of my family look so uniformly miserable.

I was slightly more enthusiastic, though the back half held my attention more than the first half: once there was a bit more structure. It prompted some intellectual curiosity. What inspires someone to make music like this? What elements impressed listeners enough to give it such a solid legacy? Could I make an album like this with my minimal musical skill set? Would I? Should I? I should? For real?

My project partner knows well I have an inexplicable, and perhaps ill-advised, affinity for R&B pop songstresses. That they sometimes look very hawt on their album covers may be one factor, but it is one of many. For that reason I gave this one a good shake.

In the end, it didn’t break any new ground, and lacked anything to really enliven it. I didn’t hate it or even dislike it, and may even check out more from Kalela, but ultimately kind of disappointed. Especially because that album cover was so hawt.

Quite the revelation. Anita Baker’s touchy little corner of musicdom was never even close to my radar, in spite of my fond adoration of sultry jazzy ladies.

Some bands I know entirely through their greatest hits albums, but those I feel like I’ve heard endlessly. ABBA. Supertramp. Journey. Of course CCR. I don’t think I’ve ever heard of this album title or seen this cover before.
But boy do I ever know those greatest hits.

Oh yeah, that’s nice. Like winterfresh mouthwash after eating yesterday’s turd.

An album that first baffles with its astonishing overratedness before transitioning into continuous boringness, ultimately leading the listener into a state of sleepy indifference. I look forward to the day when all fans of The Doors have passed from the earth and we no longer have anyone left to advocate for this band’s inclusion on lists like this.

Look, I like Seven Nation Army as much as the next guy. And if all this album was was a bunch of thumping rockers it would fine. But this album takes a bunch of wacky swings and has a secret weapon hidden up its sleeve . That secret weapon is a continuous battery of clever, funny, and, dare I say, insightful lyrical gymnastics that sets the album apart. Grimy and smart, and most importantly of all, fun.

International f’ck’n treasure.

After giving Back to Black a glowing review only a few weeks ago, I was very surprised by how little of this one worked for me. When it hit is was great, but more tracks missed than not. And some parts I found almost unbearable. Maybe I’m nuts and need counselling.

Woof…1001 needs to space out their Joni Mitchell assignments more. Odd duck this album. I was pretty neutral and that is fine.

This is pure math. IV ≠ 5.
In fact, IV = 4

Was I going to get the Talking Heads strip-down Eno or the U2 pomp Eno? Turns out it was neither. It’s a dense hodge-podge of demented ideas concocted and blended by a mad scientist.
I had a joyful time listening to this incredible album.

For the last two years I’ve been slowly coming round to the conclusion that I really don’t like The Who. I went from “I like them” to “I respect them more than I like them” to “ I neither like them nor respect them”.

So imagine my surprise when I realized this album is kind of rad.

But it’s not THAT good.

Stevie Wonder was just one of those guys who was built different, and his 70’s run is one of the best in all musicdom.

Dubious going in, but the beeps and bloops kind of work. Especially if the primary objective is to make people sing “Don’t. Don’t you want me? Doo Dee doo dee doo deet doo doo, doo dee doo dee doo dee DOO Dee” all day long.

This whole album made me feel sad.