Reviews by stade

In a cheeky way, this sounds like if Persona 5’s OST had been composed by Daft Punk -- a gorgeous blend I never knew I needed, and somehow predating Discovery's release! I guess the French electronic touch was just that good at that time.

Gorgeous stuff overall, and all of the instrumentals are immaculate. It juuuust misses the 5 because a few vocal tracks don’t quite stick with me as much as the highlights.

Standouts: Femme D'Argent, La • Sexy Boy • Ce Matin La • Voyage De Penelope, Le

it's a testament to how samey this all sounds that, as I went into this album knowing exactly what Shrek song was on here, three songs made me go "this is the one!" before My Beloved Monster actually showed up.

In the context of the 1001 it's actually a decent record, but I don't see myself throwing it on again anytime soon.

Standouts: My Beloved Monster • Mental

I really don't care for the vocals here, but when an instrumental track came up it made me realize that this band has some really impressive instrumentation. Love the subtle, surf-y guitar playing throughout, as well as the not-so-subtle guitar solos in the blues tracks. Decent 60s joint!

Standouts: My Best Friend • Today • Embryonic Journey • In The Morning

It's 'good kid, m.A.A.d city' meets 'The Wall'!

It did take my full attention to keep up with the UK accent and flows, but it was worth sticking with it to the end -- the payoff on the money stash storyline left me with an absolute GRIN on my face. The Kendrick fan in me also couldn't help but get hyped when the closing track pulled a narrative trick reminiscent of the way DAMN. loops back on itself.

Honestly, I'm very pleasantly surprised here -- especially after seeing both anonymous reviewers and even my own associates tear it apart.

The Brits win this one!!

I respect the Beatles a lot more since this challenge started. Through so many 60slop albums, it's clear to me how much these guys ran circles around most contemporaries, and the varied experimentation on this particular album is a breath of fresh air on that front (the sitar parts are especially cool).

With that said, this is still a type of rock that doesn't much appeal to me, and aside from the historical interest, nothing really wowed me in the way even Sgt Pepper did with its big finale. Good album nonetheless.

Standouts: Taxman • Good Day Sunshine • And Your Bird Can Sing • Tomorrow Never Knows

The only reason I see for this being on here is to show how a band can evolve from making Beatleslop in 1971, to making iconic disco jams post-reinvention. This was a terribly forgettable listen.

I was constantly floored by these instrumentals. He’s pulling out guitar solos, FUUUUNKY synthlines, and monster basslines that make your head explode.

I gauge funk by how much it makes me want to tear my shirt off, and by the time The Ballad Of Dorothy Parker came on, that shirt might as well have been through a shredder.

Purple Rain might be his more focused project, and it's an all-timer for sure -- but this one had me in awe at how consistent and cohesive it stays despite 1) the double-LP runtime, and 2) Prince switching from freaky, to hilarious, to funky, to conscious from track to track.

4.5/5

"Shut up already, damn!"

Standouts: Housequake • The Ballad Of Dorothy Parker • Hot Thing • Forever In My Life • I Could Never Take the Place of Your Man • It's Gonna Be a Beautiful Night - Live

I came back to this twice because I genuinely enjoyed some aspects of it a lot, certainly more than I did 'War'. Unfortunately it didn't impact me much, nor do I see myself returning to it enough to warrant a 4 star. We've had worse though!

Standouts: Until The End Of The World • Who's Gonna Ride Your Wild Horses • The Fly • Ultra Violet (Light My Way)

This is more a flavor of soul I can get behind. Funky fresh with some criiiispy guitar work.

A bit too dad rock for my tastes. Sick riffs and all, but there's really not much substance past that. Sick album cover tho

Standouts: I Need You Tonight • Legs

Weird album. Half of these tracks are just sample loops that don't really go anywhere. I actually recognized two on here from later reworks (Porcelain sampled in A$AP Rocky's 'A$AP Forever', and 'South Side' covered by The Knocks & Foster The People). That made me realize Moby does know how to build a solid foundation, and his production really shines once fully fleshed out by these other artists.

In the context of this album though, these songs mostly feel like unfinished ideas that I don't want to revisit. I suppose it makes sense that it gained popularity as music for commercials, where it's not the sole listening focus.

Very solid record! I love what she can pull off with these instrumentals, but it feels like Joni ends half her lines on the same drawn-out, sustained note (the closing track is especially egregious). This sameness in delivery drags the record down a lot, imo, though she does have a beautiful voice nonetheless.

Standouts: The Jungle Line • The Hissing of Summer Lawns • Harry's House / Centerpiece

I guess even Soul isn't safe from the 60s' Curse of Slop 💔
It's good when it sort of deviates into other genres, like the bossa nova-flavored Don't Let Me Lose This Dream. Outside of that, as soulful as it is, I can't say it does much for me. I like her voice though!

The cover art had me fooled for the longest time -- this is super accessible for a Radiohead project! Everything is pretty good, with some tracks I'd even consider spectacular, but overall it doesn't quite feel like a 5. I might have to let it simmer a bit for that. Into the rotation it goes!

Standouts: High and Dry • (Nice Dream) • Just • Street Spirit (Fade Out)

BANGER record dripping with sex, funk and soul. I did watch the movie to get the full context, but this soundtrack cooks just as well on its own, especially the longer cuts that don't get to fully shine in the film. I honestly wouldn't have minded a scene of John Shaft shaggin' and ass-kickin' to Do Your Thing's full 20 minutes, because that's where Isaac Hayes *really* busts the funk faucet wide open.

– What'd you get, Shaft?
– I got *laid*.

Standouts: Theme From Shaft • Café Regio's • No Name Bar • Do Your Thing

Immaculate. Soulful. Laid back, yet groovy. I closed my eyes for a sec and it felt like the seaside, sun rising in the horizon. Made me appreciate life a little more as it played. Is that not the mark of great music? What a wonderful pull. 🏝️

Ohhhhhh, Heart Of Glass, THAT'S what the song is called!!

Frankly it's unlikely that I'll come back to this, the songs are all good on their own but quickly blur together as an album. Enjoyable in the moment though!

Standouts: One Way Or Another • 11:59 • Heart Of Glass

I know it's a satire, I get what it's going for, but man is this a *rough* listen if you're not part of its exact target audience. Not a fan of 60s rock? Well this is straight 60slop with a shitload of kazoos and absolute vocal fuckery! On the lyrical side there's quite a bit of depth, I can tell this Zappa guy is based, but again his sense of humour is so wacky that the album falls apart entirely if you don't vibe with it.

It gets a 2 star because I do see how this could be a great album to the right people, but I'm personally very far removed from Zappa's wave.

my clothes flew off as soon as I hit play. I can't believe this album starts with THE babymaking song

I will say, it's great when you get an album that really opens your eyes to where modern artists get their inspirations. I swear I could hear some Anderson .Paak on some of these songs.

Standouts: Let's Get It On • If I Should Die Tonight • Keep Gettin' It On

Banger. This might be my favorite Bowie project yet, its shorter tracklist with longer songs make the album feel more focused, and they're all just incredibly fun. The Bowiepill starts to take effect!

Standouts: Station to Station • Golden Years • TVC15 • Stay