Reviews by syrinx

This makes number three from Nick Drake for me on this list, which is sad because that's all his albums and I won't get any more. This guys was an absolute genius. Such a sad life, one thing that always strikes me about his music is that you can hear him struggling throughout the entirety of each of his albums. Pink Moon is really his best and the one that I connect to the most.
I feel like Nick Drake, and this album in particular, are everything that Bob Dylan wishes he could be. This is extremely well written, well performed, well sung. Instrumentation is fantastic. The emotion behind this albums is everything you can want from this type of music. It's sad, sort of hopeful, melancholy and beautiful all in the best way. It's such a shame we only ever got three records from Nick Drake. 5/5

Yep, it's a hip hop album. And a pretty long one at that. I'm not a fan. It may not be quite as laden with misogyny, violence, and homophobia as some of the others, but it's still the same thing over and over. I mean, of course those elements are there if you want them, just not front and center like most of the hip hop albums on this list. For the most part. But the lyrics are dumb and simple. The music is unoriginal and repetitive. The whole genre is just monotonous and irritating and this album is the same as all the rest. It may not be quite as bad as others but still, not for me, thank you. 1.75/5

This list really does skew heavy to the New Wave/Brit pop doesn't it? It's a little lopsided and I feel like that is a major flaw and some of these albums are starting to drag on a bit. Oh well, in we go for today.
I'm halfway through and I'm not sure if I've ever heard this before. I don't think I have but it all seems really familiar. Maybe it's just super generic? It all really sounds like it was included as the montage soundtrack for an 80s romantic comedy. I don't really get why this album is on here, there are tons of records that sound just like this. There were a couple songs here that I really liked, Picture Book and Sad Old Red are both great. I don't think I would listen to this again though. 2.75/5

I didn't realize until halfway through that this was the same Malcolm McLaren that managed the Sex Pistols and New York Dolls. Weird that he felt he should do this too.
This record is pretty trash. It sounds like an out of touch white guy's idea of what 'ethnic culture' would be. Like, who did he make this for? If this had come out now it would be immediately pegged as racist, culturally appropriated garbage. And that is pretty much exactly what it is. Would this be on the list if this guy didn't manage the Sex Pistols? Probably not. I suppose it's supposed to be a novelty record so maybe I judge it a little less harshly because of that? 2/5

I think this is a brand new one for me, though I know I have heard Gang of Four before. Damaged Goods is one that I've heard a bunch of times but I don't know anything else from this album.
I love how this record could have been released any time from the late 70s to like 2020 and it would fit right in. Right around the mid 2000s there was a sort of resurgence of this kind of straight up lightly produced but brilliantly recorded rock and I wish we had more of that today. It's super funky and punky and the same time. Great guitar work and the bass is outstanding. I love that the guitars are scratchy and angular without sounding brittle like REM or some others in that vein. Really interesting things going on and super catchy riffs. This album is really a masterclass in post-punk and I feel like I should have heard it much sooner. An underappreciated (from the mainstream masses at least) gem for sure. You can hear tons of bands that came after this throughout the whole record. Really really great album. 5/5

Been a long time since I actually sat and listened to QOTSA, I remember being sort of lukewarm on them. We shall see.
It's sort of monotonous and generic. The same power chords droning through each song, which is typical of stoner rock I suppose. But a few good guitar parts here and there. I don't particularly like the vocals but they're listenable. If I just heard this playing in the wild somewhere I don't think it would really catch my attention. It was fine for a listen through, but I only saved Mexicola to my likes and I don't think this would make me want to listen to more from them. I can see why a lot of people would really like this though. 2.5/5

This is apparently number two from XTC on this list for me. I don't really remember the first much so we'll see if this one is any better.
I think I said this about the last record of theirs but I find it hard to believe this came out in 1999. Totally unlike anything else happening at the time. Not that they were ahead of themselves or anything, quite the opposite - this still sounds like Donovan in the 60s to me. It's ok. There's some fun things on this one but given the time difference between the two albums of theirs I've listened to, there isn't a whole lot of growth as a band. If any growth at all. There are a couple of high spots here and there but this one is not something I would come back to and I think I'm done with XTC as a band. 2.75/5

Definitely the best album from Simon and Garfunkel. And also the best of either of them after they split up. Paul Simon is such a good songwriter and although his lyrics are always great I think this album is really his best work. And he's an absolute monster of a guitar player. Others have said that this is a near perfect album and I find it hard to disagree, there's not really anything you can criticize here. Frank Lloyd Wright is the one slow spot for me but that song has always been kind of a joke between me and my wife so I even like that one now. The Boxer, one of the best songs ever written. The same could be said for The Only Living Boy in New York. And the title track for that matter. There's just so much to love on this album and the people who rate it poorly, sorry - you're wrong. This is objectively fantastic. 5/5

Though I'd argue it's debatable as to whether or not this was the first heavy metal album, or if it even falls in that category, it's still a good album. Certainly heavier than most of what was happening in 1968 for sure. But I mean it's not really any heavier than Electric Ladyland which came out the same year. Or the first Zeppelin record which came out shortly after. Anyway, I've always loved this version of Summertime Blues. Doctor Please is great as well. As is Parchment Farm.
An early hard rocker, one that inspired countless bands that came in the following years. I'm glad to see this one on the list, it's one I need to get on vinyl for sure. 4/5

This album really makes you appreciate how much Johnny Marr contributed to The Smiths. The bad thing about solo Morrissey is that every song sounds the same because he only sings one way. Like you could lay the vocal line for any of these songs over the music of any of the others on the album and it would be fine. Plus Morrissey is a dick. 2.5/5

This is a banger! I was sort of casually familiar with The Dandy Warhols but I don’t think I’d ever say and listened to an album all the way through. I missed out! I really liked this one a lot and will definitely seek out more of their stuff. Would love to have this on vinyl. 4.75/5

I do like a good punk album. This counts I suppose. I think I like their first album a bit better than this one but it’s still solid. I don’t like these albums that are 15 songs and 30 minutes long but that was the fad with this music I suppose. I’d give this one a good 3.5/5 but I’m rounding down because it’s not a 4 at all.

I liked this album but it wasn't one of the better African guitar albums I've heard. Not much to say, it was playing in the background and I feel like that's kind of where it belongs. Great playing but it didn't exactly hold my attention. 3/5

This album is the musical embodiment of the color beige. I can’t imagine anyone would react to this at all one way or the other. 2.5/5

In what world is this an album that everyone needs to hear? This is like a nine year old boy who just found out about porn and also realized that he can curse without repercussions. This is quite possibly the worst album I've ever heard. To think that this album took up space on the list that could have been taken by so many others who are vastly more deserving. It’s not right. It's just disappointing. 1/5 and dear god please take this one out.

I chuckled a little when I saw this one pop up today. Well maybe I just breathed a little harder out of my nose. I suppose if there has to be a Christmas album on the list, today is the day for it.
Insert joke about Phil Spector killing it with this album here. Then insert second joke about Phil Spector’s hair. That’s the real joke. Murder isnt funny.
So Christmas music is not something I ever listen to on purpose. Even at Christmas. This album could be good or bad because of that. It’s sappy Christmas music that I hate but I suppose it serves a purpose. Not really being a Christmas celebrator I kind of wish I had a real album today though. 2/5

80s hip hop was so much different than what started in the 90s. It was more innocent and fun and less violent and derogatory towards women, although that’s relative I suppose. I would guess that this album is on the list because of the version of Walk This Way, that’s great and all but the Aerosmith version is much better. However, the guitar solo Joe Perry does on this record is way better than the original. I didn’t exactly enjoy this album, more like tolerated it. Though I did listen to the Walk This Way guitar solo multiple times, extra points for that. 2.5/5

It's always funny reading the reviews before I listen to these highly rated hip hop albums. Every time I think, 'wow maybe this will be the one that changes my mind about hip hop'. And yeah never once has that ever even come close. Same with this one. It's more of the same: repetitive, needlessly violent, misogynistic (though not as bad as some), offensive, bad music. I always appreciate the social/racial commentary but the method of delivery is just so bad. 1.5/5

A solid soul album. It's maybe not the best out there but it's good enough. A little slow and simple at times but otherwise great lyrics, great keys. Great bass lines. Not really a lot more to say about this one, I don't think it was exactly groundbreaking or worth listening to all the time but I liked it enough for today. 3.5/5 but rounding down because it doesn't make it to 4.

Goddamn why is there so much fucking Bob Dylan on this list? This makes 7 or 8 for me I think. There can't me many more. Well let's get into it, maybe this one will change my mind about him.
Yeah this didn't change my mind. It's bad. Guitars are literally out of tune for some of it. And put that fucking harmonica down Bob. How did this man win a Nobel prize? However, I do like some of the guitar work on this album when it's in tune so that's a plus I suppose. And I do rather like Ballad of a Thin Man but I think it's safe to say I am still not a Bob Dylan fan. 2/5