Reviews by sterry2289

While I appreciate Cave’s zeal and originality, I really hate this. I really try to listen to each album through but this one I’m bailing on.

A+ listen. I think I have zero negative criticisms.. I think some of these bands over time get so hyped that you end up only hearing negative shit - its not interesting to say Pink Floyd rules... But they do! Of course I know these songs, but i can't say I've listened to the album front to back, maybe since I was a kid. It really creates a world that is both dystopian and cold but for some reason you want to stay longer. The structure is tremendous as well, bookending with Shine On...

Iconic album cover.

Just noticed Welcome to Machine has no drums!

Props to Pink Floyd for making the music they wanted to. Fucking sick album!

I think Sheryl is boom or bust. Generally a big fan of the hits but there are some bad ones in here. Also, it occured to me "All I Wanna Do" is its very similar to Stuck In The Middle With You. Pro-Sheryl, but this one had too many weak songs.

This album hits all the marks for me. Making loops is very fun, but after so many times you find the loop, no matter how many layers you create, ends up feeling hollow. That's why its more fun playing in a band with other people. Murphy took the benefits of loops, technology, endless instruments etc but didn't let that limit the songs. He still created something with substance and variety. It does sound a bit lonely at times, but it works. Uniquely LCD Soundsystem.

I don't know if I've ever actually liked Van Halen, but I definitely have wanted to like them. They seem fun, EVH is obviously a great guitar player, certain songs are legit good, but in my heart I just don't like this band. David Lee Roth is too damn obnoxious. Through this listen I enjoyed "I'll Wait". Panama is good but i think ive just heard it too many times, also the chorus just being PA-NA-MA! struck me as dumb this time. May be too old for VH!

Very polished but very boring. Take it Easy is good.

Sounds like Marvins ex was possessive and needy! Let the man live. He wants custody of his kid but still wants to do coke and fuck “midnight ho’s” And the nerve to make him pay alimony!

I had heard some songs but had not done a deep dive on this, and man is it sad. The ill advised cover art kind of tells the story. Marvin is lost and that comes across in his music in both positive and negative ways. At times it feels like a meandering bitch-fest and others he hits some truly transcendent grooves (Is That Enough) Marvin Gaye is probably my favorite male singer. Rating this is tough because the bar is What’s Going On, but I’ll just hit him with 4. Probably a 3 but idgaf.

Also - noticed the Sippin on Some Syrup sample for the first time on Is That Enough. Pretty good call by Three Six Mafia.

Initial review: Nice, but not for me. Starting to consider this type of country for certain situations though. Sunny fall day, some George Jones for ambiance. We’ll see.

Second review: It took me a while to get into the pace of this, but now I’m fearing I could get into country. It’s very comforting, makes life feel a lot simpler. Something is nice about not having to seek anything from this and just listen. Less is sometimes more? Getting into country would be a dramatic transformation.

First time listening to a full Smiths album and I was pleasantly surprised. Morrisey's singing is the signature of this band, but I found listening to this that it also distracted from the great progressions and instrumentation in general. Stop Me If You Think You've Heard This Before rocks and I've been playing it on repeat.

Grew up loving early Steely Dan and not understanding the more prog albums like Aja, but have grown to love this and other later year Steely Dan. I’m sure it’s a common story. Like all my favorite albums, this one grows on you the more you hear it. I do wonder if we should be critical of Steely Dan for their clinical approach. Obviously precision/perfection is their thing, but would it have killed them to let their hair down in spots? Either way, one of the great records.

Not a drum solo guy but the outro to Aja is so fucking sick. Steve Gadd >>>>

I think the group summed this up well. A lot of good here but felt like it never quite made it off the ground. I also agree we may be missing the context. If Nebraska was your intro to Bruce you’d be pretty confused about the hype. Feel like there’s more here. I’ll come back for “The Words That Maketh Murder”

Really really bad. Gave me more appreciation for the good ones.

Really good! First time listening to these guys.

I went through a Chronic phase. One time was blaring this, sitting in traffic and heard loud honking, turn around to see an expressionless person... continue jamming out... another honk. Now i turn the music down, throw my hands up, expressing frustration with the person behind me etc. Realized I was the one leaning on the horn, honking at myself.

Overall, i've always enjoyed the overall sound of this album. "Let Me Ride" is the best example, with great samples from Parliament and James Brown. Super west coast rap sound. What ever that weird organ sound is all over the album.

Some other highlights: the first 10 seconds of Rat-Tat-Tat, Nuthin but a G Thang and Snoop in general, sick album cover, the intro to the album and launching a record label "Welcome to Death Row"

In it's entirety I'm not sure it's held up. In hindsight I think a lot of the success of The Chronic was based on marketing - selling Dr Dre and Snoop as characters (they smoke weed!) and the intrigue of the overall bad blood with NWA etc. prob 3.5

Cool story. Good execution. Not particularly engaging or interesting music to me.

Favorite guitarist by far and one of my favorite artists. I will never not enjoy listening to Hendrix.

Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

I can’t go from Kollaps to this.

Why metal and machinery?
I think I’d rather listen to water music. Splashing for 3 minutes followed by spraying. 3 more minutes of dripping. Wood clanging would certainly sound better. Maybe just beat my head against a wall for an hour. The fact I’ve actually considered the plausibility of a water sounds record may mean they achieved their goal...

+1 for originality

Bowie was an alien, sent to earth to make records like this. Only he could make a soul album, have it sound nothing like soul, but instead create something this unique and generally awesome. I’ve read a lot of the criticisms of this, which are basically that it’s not soul? Who the fuck cares! We have plenty of soul - we need more Bowie! The Beatles liked Elvis, but as great as Elvis was I’m glad their music didn’t sound like his.

Personally this album has grown on me over the years. I wrote off the title track as “too poppy” and on the day I got married heard it in a convenience store in VT and was overcome with gratitude and joy. Since then I’ve been borderline obsessed. Last night I was listening to it with my 4yo daughter. Pretty cool!! This time through Win, Fascination and Right stood out.

Certain songs you “need to listen to with headphones” and that is exactly how I’d describe “Somebody up There Likes Me”. Hearing it today I was shocked by the number of layered tracks. The hand clap at 4 mins in, Bowie doing 3 or 4 different backing vocals to close the song, the guitar fills. Sick sick sick.

Also sick, having John Lennon feature on your album.

This does make me feel guilty for being critical of The Next Day. This man can do no wrong and it’s surely my dumb ears that couldn’t handle The Next Day.

Bravo!

Best part of this album is Kanye. Great album etc but unfortunately I have an aversion to Common.