Reviews by syrinx

I've been a huge Rush fan since high school but I guess I kind of slept on Genesis. I mean I had heard some random Genesis here and there but never actually sat down to listen to them until starting this project. I think I've kind of missed out. I guess because I can take or leave both Phil Collins and Peter Gabriel I never really thought to listen to Genesis. But damn, I love this. Is it pretentious? Yes. Is it flowery and light? Yes. Are people gonna make fun of me for liking this? Also yes. But you can't deny the musicianship, songwriting, composition, and production are all top notch. The lyrics are debatable.
I think I like The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway better, but this is up there too. 4.5/5

So 60s western music is one of my least favorite styles of music. I just hate everything about it. It's sappy, cheesy, I hate the steel guitar, the vocals usually have that warble-y quality that just grates on my soul. I was gonna hate this one from the get-go. But I'll add a star because I do like Night Life, all versions of that song are pretty decent, and Willie Nelson on bass is kind of cool. Grudging 2/5.

I like this album but maybe not as much as I expected to. It's good solid funk and soul but it just kind of lacks something. I do appreciate that it is a little darker and more serious but it kind of lost something else, I can't really explain what. It's got some nice grooves and the lyrics are great and the musicianship is top notch. It just seems like there's something missing, although there is some...yodeling. What the hell? 3.5/5 and rounding down because it lacks whatever it is that would make it rate higher.

Ok so I've always loved Patti Smith. Early punk rock with a female singer? I'm in. But most punk doesn't have this kind of songwriting. She was a brilliant lyricist. I think the lyrics are where this album really shines. And maybe it's simplicity - it was a band in a studio recording music and that's a great thing that is sorely missed these days of having like 25 different producers for each song on any given album.
So much of the music I love wouldn't be the same if it weren't for this album. I don't think this album is quite up there for a 5/5 but it's a strong 4/5 for sure.

I wonder why the idea of making a concept album fell out of favor? Maybe people don't have the patience for it anymore. Or maybe it never really was that popular and I just kind of like the idea more than others so it seems like it had a day when it reality it was sort of a flash in the pan. This one is sort of a tough sell, 94 minutes of conceptual prog rock is not an easy ask for most people. And I feel like this one is an album you kind of need to sit down with and follow along with the story or else you won't appreciate it as it should be. It would be really hard to listen to this album on shuffle.
I can certainly see how this album influenced a lot of the music I love that followed. Rush (the greatest band of all time) definitely owes a lot to early Genesis and you can hear it in this album in particular. And remember the Jeff Buckley cover of Back In NYC? That always seemed a weird choice to me but he did it really well. It's a banger of a song though, probably my favorite part of this record.
If you sit and listen to this whole album, it's kind of a masterpiece. Casually listening to it in the background is not going to do anything for you. It's a great album though and one I absolutely need to get on vinyl. 5/5

This is one of those albums that I've seen everywhere and I know it's a total classic but I don't think I've ever heard it. I was never really in to Steely Dan but I don't think I have any real negative thoughts towards them either. I appreciate their jazzier vibes and their musicianship is always amazing. Looking forward to listening to this one.
Ok so this album is incredibly well played and orchestrated. Really really good musicianship here. There is definitely nothing you can fault in that department. But I feel like the whole album is just lacking something. I can't really say what. It's a bit too shiny and polished maybe? It's all very bright and new sounding. And there's nothing that really grabs you and pulls you in. I feel like this could be playing in the background and you might pick up a bit here and there but it wouldn't really make you listen.
I get why it's a classic but there are much better albums out there. This one kind of needs to pick a lane. 3.5/5 but rounding down because it isn't quite there to round up.

I'm kind of surprised to see this one today. This makes two for Dexys Midnight Runners for me and surely one is enough.
A quick review on this one because there isn't much to say. It's fine. Not as good as Too Rye Ay. I do like the brass on this one but it just kind of lacks something. 3/5

As others have said - it's worth it to find the real album on YouTube.
This album starts off super peaceful and chill. Like I can imagine having this play in the background while just lounging around the house on a warm afternoon. I can't pretend to 'get' this kind of music at all, I haven't experienced any of that culture, and even the language of this music is unfamiliar to me. But I love it. I've always loved tabla, such a distinct and intricate kind of drumming. And who doesn't like a sitar?
I wish there were more albums like this on the list. The list is heavy on Brit pop and synthwave, it's really light on actual non-western albums. This album is something I probably never would have listened to had it not come up today even though I really like this kind of music. I just don't think about playing it that much. But I really enjoyed it, I wish it had been longer. 4/5

I think I actually did listen to this album when it came out during covid lockdowns. I don't remember it but who really remembers anything they did at that time?
Ok so I don't know why this album would be included on the list. It's fine, not nearly as good as some of her older stuff from the 90s. This really does sound like the project of someone stuck inside by themselves for an extended period of time. Which is odd because this was released in April of 2020 and that was right at the beginning of the whole covid lockdown period. Maybe I just didn't get it? I'd never listen to this again. 2.5/5

I had never heard of this one and it was exactly what you would expect for an album with this cover. Super weird, kind of disjointed, really uneven. But it all kind of works for some reason. I would by no means call this a great album, maybe not even a good one, but I am happy to have heard it today. I feel like it was a very successful attempt at experimental music, especially for 1979. I listened to this twice today and though I may not ever listen to it again, if I ever see it in the wild I'll definitely pick it up just because, well, how could you not? 3.5/5

Halfway through the first song, yeah this is gonna be a struggle today. This is 100% not an album that everyone needs to hear. And it's hilarious to me that the same people will shit on this album and praise Daft Punk to no end. 1/5

I feel like this is one of those albums that everyone is just supposed to like. That's not a bad thing I guess, but it really would seem weird to me if someone actually didn't like this album. That's not to say I think its one of the best albums ever, it's totally not. I like it well enough but honestly wouldn't really play it much. Sultans of Swing is a beast of a song though, absolutely brilliant in every way.
On the whole this album accomplishes what it sets out to very well. It's a super chill record, mostly kind of laid back, and really showcases Mark Knopfler all over the place. And that's a good thing. A little too country-ish for me in some places and not all of the record really grabs your attention. But solid nonetheless and I suppose a classic for good reason. 3.5/5 and rounding up for the near perfect Strat tone on every song.

I vaguely know TV On The Radio and have a couple of their songs saved on Spotify but I can't really say that I've spent any time listening to them. So this one is basically an unknown for me. I do remember a lot of people comparing them to Radiohead when they first came out. Maybe the Radiohead fans needed a new band? I don't really remember.
Some cool vibes to start off. Nice and chill sort of ambient stuff. Then Dancing Choose starts and you've lost me here a bit. It goes back to the sort of airy ambient fluff afterwards. It just kind for carries on from there. I'm not sure this is really for me. It was ok but even thinking back after a couple of hours I can't remember any of the songs specifically, more just the overall feeling of the album. One and done for me. 2.5/5

I wish this list had more jazz on it. It's a shame that there is so much Brit pop and so little jazz. And this album counts as jazz I suppose. I'd not heard this one before so didn't really know what to expect. It's pretty bland, totally background music. The bass is good, the drums are good. But it just doesn't keep your attention. I did really like the three live tracks on the expanded version though.
I don't think I would buy this if I came across it in the shop. If it started playing randomly I might let it play for a few songs and then switch to something else. It's not bad, it just...fine. 3/5

The most interesting thing about this album to me is that the only real instrument is drums. Often electronic drums but still, like a real dude playing them rather than programming them into a computer. Everything else is digital. It grounds it a little I suppose. While this isn't really a kind of music I would listen to all the time, I did enjoy this album for what it was. I really liked the vocals a lot, great voice and it fit in very well with the music. Minimal auto-tune which is always a good thing, and seemingly mostly used for effect rather than obvious correction.
A hard one to rate for me. I liked it, probably wouldn't listen to it again but wouldn't be upset about throwing it on now and then. Would I buy it if I saw it in a record store? Yeah maybe if I was in the mood that day. But this is another example of why we need scores out of 10 or the ability to give half stars. This one would be like a 3.6 (7.5/10 maybe) but I just can't see rounding it up to a 4. So 3/5 it is.

I've never heard of this album or this band but I feel like I know what I'm getting into before it even starts. We'll see...90+ minutes seems like a big ask for an album with this cover.
"Hey Lynyrd Skynyrd can we copy your homework?"
"Yeah but change it a little so the teacher doesn't know."
"Oh yeah. Totally."
And then they go on to mention or reference Skynyrd in like every song. And Alabama. Honestly I guess the music isn't bad, it's what you'd expect for southern rock and is super derivative. But the lyrics and vocals sound like a parody. Songs about whiskey, trucks, good ol' boys, Lynyrd Skynyrd (of course) and more! Sometimes (usually) all in the same song. And good god why on earth does this album need to take up 90 minutes?!?!
I think I might actually appreciate some of this if it was half the length but as it is, no it was a struggle before the first half was done. I was really close to turning this one off before it was done. I probably would have given this a generous 3 if it weren't so long. Knocking it down to 1.5/5

Aerosmith was my favorite band for a long time when I was a kid. This is one of their best albums for sure. I actually don't really listen to them much anymore and haven't heard this album all the way through in years so I'm excited to sort of rediscover what I loved as a kid.
This is still a great album. Say what you will about the lyrics from the band overall, they can write some damn fine songs. And the lyrics aren't terrible, not everything needs to be brilliant, witty, and pithy. I really like this album, it flows well, is really well played, amazingly well sung. Production is decent although it could be better. This is definitely one of Aerosmith's best albums, maybe their top. I always forget about Nobody's Fault and that song is such a beast. Every time I hear it I'm always surprised at how heavy it is. Combination is another one that has always flown under the radar and I think it's should get more credit.
I can happily say that the kid in me still loves this album, as does the adult. It holds up well and is still a great record. So I don't think it was just nostalgia talking. At least not 100% 5/5

On the surface level this is a nice poppy synthwave album. The lyrics are a little more serious than the music sounds for much of the album though. I still don't really like this kind of thing. I mean it's fine, there's nothing to really hate or love about it. It's super commercial sounding though. Kind of like they tried to make it as friendly and accessible as possible. And damn, the 90s 'secret song' fad strikes again. I'm happy humanity chose to move on from that nonsense. 2.5/5

I bet Nick Cave is a super intense guy to have in your company. Like imagine if he was just sitting in your living room, I bet that would make you uncomfortable. Probably because he wasn't even invited but I feel like that would be on brand for him anyway. Just all of a sudden...Nick Cave.
I really like this album. Like all Nick Cave it sort of has a bit of a downer vibe but that's ok sometimes. It's certainly a lot different than most music that was coming out in 1992 and it's sort of hard to categorize. Is it rock? Alt rock? Singer songwriter? Gothic? Vocal jazz? Yes and no to all of those. I suppose that's a good thing though, it keeps it interesting.
This one is going to be pretty polarizing I think. But I've always really liked Nick Cave so I suppose I'm on that pole. 4/5

It seems like it's been a long time since I've had a good jazz album on this list so this one is very welcome today.
Not a lot to say about this one, it's great big band and exactly what you would expect from Count Basie. Probably not the best big band album out there but solid nonetheless. And a very strange cover for this kind of music. 3.5/5 but rounding down.