Reviews by sterry2289

After college I lived in an apartment ive mentioned before, Superbad poster on the wall etc. Well, we came across this album and it had a lot of mystique. You could buy it for $150 otherwise it wasn’t available anywhere else. BUT we discovered it was available on (defunct?) music streaming platform Grooveshark under the name “Val Mallrison” The album on its own is pretty flawless but the elusive nature made it that sweeter. It’s only been available on Spotify for a few years now. Hope you all stuck around for the final minutes, most electric close to an album possibly ever. Sick name/cover too.

I think i enjoyed this but punk also kind of hacks this exercise. For one, they're extremely short songs and albums which I appreciate because of the backlog. Second, it sort of holds a mirror to anyone wanting to be critical. We're the Circle Jerks and you want to write a critical review? As a pretty buttoned up Dad I sort of long for this freedom. To pick up a guitar and scream about whatever for 90 seconds. The vocals are pretty good and i appreciate the occasional reggae influence coming through on a punk track. Kinda wanna go see a punk show.

For some reason had it in my head this was Donovan, I think they’re on similar soundtracks, Zodiac maybe. Feel like the title track is a weak spot? First few tracks were better, or maybe just fresher to me.

Somewhere between 2 and 3. Definitely put off initially by whatever that middle eastern scale (key?) is, but appreciated the overall range and the backhalf worked a bit better. I think I recall some R&B? Cool look. Will check out this guys wiki.

10/5

I also owned Americana but did not listen to other Offspring albums. I think what made this approachable was its a kind of kidz bop for punk/rock music. Just a little edge, kind of cheap sounding production, won't turn heads if its played at Walmart, but that's what makes it pretty forgettable as well. Self-Esteem straight up rocks, though I've recently discovered I have an unusual preference for songs about men being wronged. I choose not to explore why that may be.

What’s standing out here is JT reallyyyy wants to be cool and is kinda lame.

Very nice. Dreamlike. Didn’t know the BH story. Sad stuff!

Pretty haunting. Little bit of a drag but beautiful. Saved The Emperors New Clothes.

Enjoyed "Wrong" but overall this sounded pretty cheap. Very very 1996.

The cover is horrendous, looks like something youd make in computer science class in 2003. The music is fine. One year before Every Picture, which feels better by every measure.

Chad - thank you for the long Zappa reviews and podcast rec! Gotta way too much content in the tank now.

Pretty nice album. Bookmarked Hoodoo Voodoo. Will throw this on as background music. Tweedys vocals sounded awesome on this.

Title track rocks

Started strong and i got really excited. First few tracks I've added to rotation. After that it fell off pretty sharply.

Pretty freakin cold. Kinda sounds like the music they'll play on the way to hell. Iconic riff on Sweet Dreams though. bump bump bump bump BUMP BUMP bump bump bump bump bump bump BUMP BUMP bump bump.

Not one I'll come back to but impressive for a number of reasons. Read "Chipmunk Soul" in wiki as a description of his sampling style and love that. One thought is I think there are hooks and then theres Kanye. He has the most songs that will stop you in your tracks. Jesus Walks stood out as one of those on this record. Overall though, a little bloated and not nearly as interesting as later stuff. Outstanding debut.

So damn good. Fun reading up on this and seeing all the names who contributed. Larry Carlton, Robbie Robertson, Nash and Crosby etc. etc. This is peak Joni. Feel like this would have been a better weekend album than Paul.

Very nice. Half baked but also feels appropriate given the circumstances. Starting over. Between 3 and 4.

Just enough Stones spice added to the American blues. Under My Thumb is an all time favorite, also love that distorted bass sound.

First of all, I need to retroactively give Blonde on Blonde a 4/5. I’ve been thinking about it for a week now and that might be worth 4 stars alone.

With that in mind, it’s hard not to compare this album to Blonde on Blonde. Two legendary singer song writers in a specific time in their lives, struggling with one thing or another and coping in very different ways. I gotta say, I don’t love hearing sad Neil Young. I’ve listened to Walk On 1000 times and never listened to the rest of this.

For some reason the last track of On The Beach I was hit with this, Neil’s looking back, and maybe I will too one day, but my life is great right NOW so I should enjoy it. Probably not the intended message, but it’s making me feel stuff. Dylan’s got me thinking a lot too, hence the retro score change.

I also agree and appreciate Neil’s own review "Good album. One side of it particularly — the side with 'Ambulance Blues', 'Motion Pictures' and 'On the Beach'. It's out there. It's a great take."