Reviews by tallis12

This album was a pleasant surprise for me, as I only knew O'Connor from her hit cover of Prince's "Nothing Compares 2 U", which is one of those rare cases where the cover surpasses the original.

But this album is much more than that. It is a haunting and atmospheric example of alternative rock, with some hard-hitting songs that touch on personal and social issues. O'Connor sings about her miscarriages in "Three Babies", and about racism and police brutality in Britain in "Black Boys on Mopeds".

O'Connor's voice is powerful and emotional, and the music is often sparse and simple, creating a contrast between the intensity of her vocals and the simplicity of the arrangements. The album shows O'Connor's courage and honesty as a singer-songwriter, and her ability to create beautiful and memorable melodies.

This album is not an easy listen, but it is a rewarding one. It is one of the best alternative rock albums of the 90s, and I would give it 4 stars out of 5.

Arcade Fire is one of my favourite bands, and The Suburbs is their third album. The album’s concept was inspired by the childhood of Win and William Butler, who grew up in a suburb of Houston, Texas

The album features 16 tracks that vary in style and mood, but share a common theme of longing for something more. Some of the songs that stand out to me are “The Suburbs”, which is a catchy and poignant reflection on growing up in the suburbs; “Ready to Start”, which is a fast-paced and energetic anthem of rebellion; “Sprawl II (Mountains Beyond Mountains)”, which is a synth-pop dance track that expresses the desire to escape from the monotony of the sprawl; and “We Used to Wait”, which is a piano-driven ballad that contrasts the past and present modes of communication. The songs are richly orchestrated with strings, horns, keyboards, guitars, drums, and vocals. The band also uses various instruments such as accordions, harps, mandolins, xylophones, and percussions to create a diverse and layered sound.

The album is a masterpiece of musical storytelling, as it captures the emotions and experiences of living in the suburbs. It is also a commentary on the social and cultural changes that have occurred in the past decades.

The album resonates with me on a personal level. I listen to this album frequently, as it never fails to move me or make me think.

The Suburbs is my second favourite Arcade Fire album, after Funeral. It’s really close between this and Funeral, but Funeral just pips it on run time, and the fact it came first.

I still think this is an absolute beauty of an album and one I would give a full 5 stars rating.

Was really into this album and the follow up when it came out, good to listen back today, wouldn’t be one I’ll revisit frequently much better dance albums out their, but for personal reasons
I’m glad it’s within the book 1001 albums before I die, and I got the chance to listen to it again today.

Never really gave Animal collective much of a listen before this. This album really ticks a lot of boxes for me in terms of style its experimental nature and psychedelic influences. Really enjoyed it and one I’ll come back to more frequently.

I enjoyed listening to this today and appreciate how important this album was to the UK dance scene at the time.

Despite its undeniable quality and importance, Music for the Jilted Generation is not a flawless album. Some of the tracks are too long or repetitive, the overall album is also too long for my personal preference and some of the samples are dated or clichéd.

The album also suffers from comparison with its follow-up, The Fat of the Land (1997), which I consider as the group’s masterpiece and one of the greatest albums of all time.

Therefore, while Music for the Jilted Generation is a remarkable album that deserves respect and admiration, it is not an album that I would listen to frequently or enjoy as much as The Fat of the Land. For that reason, I would give it 3 stars out of 5.

However, I would still recommend it to anyone who is interested in electronic music or in the history of British culture in the 1990s.

Among the Living is the third studio album by American thrash metal band Anthrax, released in 1987. The album is considered one of the band's best works, as well as one of the most influential albums in the genre. It features some of the band's most popular songs, such as "Caught in a Mosh", "I Am the Law", and "Indians".

The album showcases Anthrax's signature style of fast, aggressive, and catchy riffs, combined with humorous and socially conscious lyrics. The band also experiments with different influences, such as hardcore punk, rap, and horror movies. The album is praised for its production, musicianship, and songwriting, as well as its energy and attitude.

However, not everyone may enjoy this album, especially if they prefer other thrash metal bands such as Metallica. Some may find the album too noisy, chaotic, or silly. Some may also dislike the vocals of Joey Belladonna, who has a more melodic and clean voice than other thrash metal singers. Some may also prefer the darker and more serious themes of other thrash metal albums.

Among the Living is an important and worth listening to album for any fan of thrash metal or heavy metal in general. It is a classic and influential album that showcases Anthrax's, but personally I’d listen to Metallica over this if given the choice, and I’m not a big enough metal head to come back to this one.

Another album not on Spotify so had to listen on YouTube which doesn’t give the full experience, I enjoyed this good dance album using samples one I’d come back to if it was available on streaming, so would agree this deserves to be on the list.

Before starting this project, I was not very familiar with sonic youth, but after listening to their albums, I have become a bit of a fan.

My favourite album is sister, which I think is their masterpiece. I have also explored their 90s albums like goo and dirty, but I never listened to their earlier works like EVOL. So I was curious to hear how they sounded before they became more popular and polished.

EVOL is a dark and twisted album that blends noise and pop in a unique way. It sounds like the soundtrack to a nightmare, full of distorted guitars, eerie vocals, and creepy lyrics. The album is inspired by various aspects of American culture, such as Marilyn Monroe, Charles Manson, The Great Gatsby, and Alfred Hitchcock. It also shows the influence of the West Coast punk scene, where sonic youth recorded the album with SST Records.

Some of the songs that stand out for me are “Tom Violence”, which opens the album with a menacing riff and a catchy chorus; “Expressway to Yr Skull”, which is a 7-minute epic that builds up to a chaotic climax; and “Shadow of a Doubt”, which is a haunting ballad that features Kim Gordon whispering over a sparse melody. I also like the instrumental tracks “In the Kingdom #19” and “Marilyn Moore”, which add some variety and texture to the album.

EVOL is not as flawless or consistent as sister or daydream nation, but it is still a great album that deserves to be heard. It shows sonic youth experimenting with their sound and style, and creating something original and influential. It is one of the best albums of the 80s, and one of the 1001 albums to listen to before you die.

I give it 4 stars out of 5.

This album is worth a listen for fans of cabaret, chanson, and art pop. It showcases Lemper's talent and versatility as a singer and interpreter of songs. It is also a tribute to the legacy of Kurt Weill and his influence on modern music.

However, the album is not too my personal taste. I felt that some of the songs were too similar to each other and lacked variety. I appreciate the artistic value of the album, but I won't be listening to it again anytime soon.

I would give this album 3 out of 5 stars. It is an important album that deserves more attention and appreciation than it has received, but it is not for everyone.

I was curious to listen to this album, as I had heard that John Zorn was a talented and innovative saxophonist and composer. However, I was very disappointed by what I heard. The album is a tribute to Ornette Coleman, a pioneer of free jazz, but it does not do justice to his legacy. Instead, it is a chaotic and noisy mess that tries to combine free jazz with hardcore punk, thrashcore and grindcore.

The album consists of 17 tracks, all composed by Coleman, but performed in a very brief and intense style by Zorn and his band. The tracks range from 1 to 4 minutes in length, but they feel much longer due to the lack of structure, melody and harmony. The saxophones are constantly screeching, squealing and clashing in stereo, while the bass and drums provide a frenetic and erratic rhythm. The music is so loud and abrasive that it gave me a headache after listening to it.

I understand that Zorn wanted to experiment with different genres and challenge the conventions of jazz, but I think he went too far with this album. It is not enjoyable or accessible to listen to, and it does not capture the spirit or the beauty of Coleman's music. Even more frustrating that Coleman himself doesn’t have an album on the list! It is an insult to both jazz and punk fans, and a waste of time and money. I would not recommend this album to anyone, unless they want to torture themselves or their enemies.

I give it 1 star out of 5. (Lost an extra star due to this being picked over an actual Coleman album)

The biggest problem I have with the 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die list is that it has too many albums from the same artists. I have a bigger problem when live albums of the same artists are also included. I think this album is redundant, because it does not add anything new to the band’s discography. The songs are basically the same as the studio versions, except for some minor variations in tempo and vocals. The sound quality is also not very good, and the crowd noise is sometimes annoying.

I have already rated Ace of Spades 4 stars out of 5, because it is a classic heavy metal album with catchy riffs and lyrics. But this album does not deserve more than 2 stars out of 5, because it is just a repetition of what they have already done before.

I’m a believer with the majority on Reddit there are far too many Elvis Costello albums on this list.

But along with Armed Forces this album deserves to be on the list. I would go as far to say it’s his masterpiece, takes influence from the past and makes an album that sounds so ahead of its time, brilliant. I’d these were the only 2 albums on the list he wouldn’t get anywhere near the hate

Fred Neil is an album that showcases the talent and versatility of Fred Neil, a pioneer of the folk-rock genre. The album features a mix of original songs and covers, all performed with Neil’s deep and expressive voice and guitar. The album has a warm and intimate feel, as if Neil is singing to you in your living room.
The highlight of the album is “Everybody’s Talkin’”, a song that was later covered by Harry Nilsson and became a hit. The song is a catchy and upbeat tune that contrasts with Neil’s melancholic lyrics about wanting to escape from the noise and troubles of the world. Neil’s version is more subtle and nuanced than Nilsson’s, and it captures the essence of his style.
However, the album also has some flaws that prevent it from being a masterpiece. Some of the songs are too long and repetitive, such as “Faretheewell (Fred’s Tune)” and “That’s the Bag I’m In”. Some of the covers are not very original or memorable, such as “Sweet Cocaine” and “Green Rocky Road”. The album also lacks some diversity and variety, as most of the songs have a similar mood and tempo.
Overall, Fred Neil is an album that deserves recognition and appreciation for its influence and quality, but it is not for everyone. It is an album that you might enjoy if you are a fan of folk-rock music or Fred Neil’s voice, but it might bore you if you are looking for something more exciting or innovative. I would give it 2 out of 5 stars.

Parts of this are brilliant, others the prog rock guitar groans do my head in.
I couldn’t get through free form guitar without skipping, but enjoyed the rest of this album.

My 700th album, this is a treat. Love led zep, and this album is great, but just a bit on the long side of my liking, hence I tend to go back to earlier albums more than this one. Still more than deserving of being on the list. And one I’ll come back every now and again given it’s more musically varied than their earlier stuff.

Brilliant, first Brian Eno solo album Iv properly enjoyed not just appreciated. Added to my frequent rotation.

Such a rediculous debut album. Wonder what people thought first listening to this in 1966. 100% an album you need to listen to before you die. Won’t be for everyone, and some of it is just a bit too strange that it’s not quiet a masterpiece in my eyes.

Interesting and different album, deserves to be on the list, would I come back to it, probably not

Really enjoyed this album, added to my frequent rotation, especially for when I’m working, ideal background music.

Love talking heads. And can’t argue against their debut being on the list, but they have a few better albums than this one that I tend to go back to more