Reviews by suspiciousnumber

Madlib is just a hell of a producer, and his skill is on full display here. Great samples that lift the lyrics up and make them work. The album also has a great list of collaborators, though I'm pretty sure it would have worked as an instrumental too

4/5

This one was actually kind of a disappointment, despite the fact that I gave it a 4. Since this album came out right before Automatic for the People, an album that I dearly love, I was hoping that this album was similar. It was still good, it's still an REM album after all, but it Automatic for the People is a 5 star album for me, while this one was more of a 4 star. It just felt less consistent, and the highs weren't as high

4/5

Really enjoyed this album. The harmonies were great, and the music fit perfectly

4/5

This one took me a second to get into it, but once I got used to it, I really liked this album. Her vocals are great, and musically you never know what's around the last corner. Lots of variety, and not afraid to be a bit abrasive at times. This one is going on my list to pick up on vinyl

5/5

This album is just 100% not for me

2/5

I put this album on and listened for a while, and thought "This first song is going on for a long time." I was on the 7th song. This shit is ambient with a capital A. I generally like these albums, though they are not something that I tend to come back to afterwards. Like a lot of Brian Eno's stuff, I think it's just great, but I pass over it at the record store because I never know which ambient album to buy, or even which ones I like

Still, 4/5

I've heard about this band for a while, so I was curious when I got this album, but it's definitely a "not bad, but not for me" type of situation. I've liked some of the emo stuff that I've gotten on this list, but I just didn't connect with this one as quite as much

3/5

This was a fun surprise. I find myself getting into these modern rock operas more and more lately, probably because other people are finally forcing me to listen to them via this list. This reminded me a lot of Hadestown, which I absolutely loved. I didn't love this one quite as much, but I'm still putting it on my list of albums to pick up on vinyl

4/5

Listening to this album, it seems like they were inspired by Living Color and Faith No More, and fair on them. I didn't enjoy this quite as much as those groups, but it's still some solid heavy funk in the late 80s/early 90s tradition

4/5

Was Paul McCartney the only talented member of the Beatles?

No. They were all talented, although John's solo work makes me question his contributions sometimes.

But, Paul may have been the most talented of the group. Everything I've heard from his 70s post-Beatles career is stellar. Just filled with well-crafted catchy songs. This album is another one of those. I don't love any of these albums the way I love All Things Must Pass, but it's remarkable that Paul had so many great songs in him, and that he managed to be so prolific right off the bat after leaving the biggest band in the world

4/5

This is one that I've had for a long time on vinyl, but it's been several years since I revisited it. I feel the same that I ever did. The Sam and Dave song is a banger. Jaco is a true master of his instrument, and this album deserves recognition just for showing so many bassists from future generations what was possible. At the same time, it occasionally feels like endless guitar solos, but worse because it's a bass. Still, it's an important album, and I rate it thusly

4/5

I'm not usually a fan of double albums, let alone triple albums, but this album is perfect to throw on and let play in the background while you work. Just really solid music throughout with plenty of variety. Overall just very calm and relaxed rock album with a lot of thought and effort put into it

4/5

I liked this one better than Dummy. I've always wanted to like Portishead, since I really enjoy their contemporaries, and the individual components of the group seem to add up to a great mix. I honestly think the reason I don't like this band more is that they mix the vocals too loud, so you can't hear the music very distinctly. The music is great, but it tends to sit murkily in the background. She has a great voice, but I feel like a more balanced mix would do a lot for me and this band. Still, I did like it

4/5

This is a fun album overall, but it didn't really speak to me. I guess when it's all said and done, I'm just a land lubber

3/5

Thought this album was a cool, stripped down folk album. I'm never all that much of a folk guy, but I found this pleasant to listen to overall

4/5

This was pretty similar to the last War on Drugs album I got on this list. A nice modern rock album that just oozes 80s influence from every pore. The style of the music caught me less off guard than the last album, so I wasn't as enamoured with this one, but it is still an excellent album, especially for us aging millennials who want the world to sound familiar as we slowly slip into senility

4/5

If the 90s was an album, it would sound like this. I enjoyed this album overall. I never felt blown away, but it was good from the beginning, and remained solid throughout. Just really solid poppy alternative rock

4/5

I like the Stooges, I think they are one of the most underrated and important bands in rock history. I'm sure these shows would have been a fucking blast to be at live. However, the recording just isn't there. You can hear Iggy way above the rest of the band, so the parts where he's not doing much, I either need to listen to it with very little happening, or turn it up and wait for Iggy to blow out my eardrums by yelling the word "Bitch" over and over. These sorts of albums are important, and they provide a lot of insight into musical history, but as something to listen to, it's not an album I'm likely to choose to put on.

Still, 3/5

I have no idea what to say about GYBE albums, nor do I think having a lot to describe about the music and vocal content is particularly the point of their albums. They just are, and you either feel it or you don't. This is one of my favorites, but then again, the current one I'm listening to is always one of my favorites. I love this band so fucking much. Go see them live if you can

5/5

It's amazing how you grow older and you learn things you never knew about yourself. Like, if you told me when I was 16 that Satanic Disco is a genre tailor made to make me feel good, I would have told you that you were crazy for multiple reasons. Yet, here we are, and I need you all to know that I pledge my fealty to the Lord of the Dance, sweet Satan himself

5/5