Reviews by tape-boy

This is #day302 of my #1001albumsyoumusthearbeforeyoudie challenge, and… "I want my MTV!" Oh, wait… not yet, right? Anyway, Dire Straits... a band from the classic rock radio station with a never-ending run of "Sultans of Swing," "Money for Nothing," and "Brothers in Arms." As for the debut, this is exactly the kind of record you go to when you want some signature guitar work, particularly from the late '70s. Perfect for a Saturday evening with a lager beer. A great debut to boot. P.S. This is a revisit review, since I promised myself to be more open-minded. This is a 4 out of 5. Looking forward to #day303.

This is #day301 of my #1001albumsyoumusthearbeforeyoudie challenge, and… oh well, another country record. Or, is it? The instrumentation is pretty pleasant, at least compared to the rest of the country I've heard so far, with some jazz and blues here and there. But anyway, this isn't an album I'd ever choose to play again. This is a 2 out of 5. Looking forward to #day302.

This is #day300 of my #1001albumsyoumusthearbeforeyoudie challenge, and… my second Beatles album so far, making me wonder if I'll be getting them in order of release, since only two weeks ago I got With the Beatles. While this one follows a similar pop pattern, it feels a little more diverse, though not to the extent that becomes clearer with Rubber Soul. It's also kind of less cheesy than With the Beatles, but not too much. At least there's one of my favourite songs of theirs, "And I Love Her," and I also like "I Should Have Known Better." This is a strong 3 out of 5. Looking forward to #day301.

This is #day299 of my #1001albumsyoumusthearbeforeyoudie challenge, and… here's to some tight, loud rock'n'roll, baby. As heavy and speedy as it gets, right? Quite possibly my first album encounter with Motörhead, and it's a live album. Not sure that's the best way to meet a band, but here we are. I'm not a huge fan of '80s heavy metal, but I can try appreciating the band's role in the genre's development. I wouldn't mind if this came up on, say, a classic rock radio station, but not more than the length of a couple of songs. Let it be a 2 out of 5. Looking forward to, wow, #day300.

This is #day298 of my #1001albumsyoumusthearbeforeyoudie challenge, and... where the fuck did Monday go? Oh, wait, that's from another one... Though I don't think it's a Bowie record you must hear before you die (in fact, it was dropped from the list in a later version), it's still an enjoyable listen. What makes it such, aside from the music, which echoes different eras of Bowie's career, is the production. Some of my favorites are the title track, "The Stars (Are Out Tonight)," "Love Is Lost," and "Heat," the latter hinting at the sound Blackstar would soon explore. That said, I wouldn't mind trimming the tracklist a little. But, given it was Bowie's first album in a decade, the length is understandable. Also, I'm sure there were plenty of potential inspirations out there besides the fucking russian history that some of the lyrics reportedly draw from. Fuck russia. It's a terrorist state. This is a 3 out of 5. Looking forward to #day299.

This is #day297 of my #1001albumsyoumusthearbeforeyoudie challenge, and... this challenge has helped me solidify two key aspects of my mature musical taste. I'm not talking about post-punk or the edgier side of new wave, not the time for that. What I do want to say is: I love psychedelic rock and the hippie era. I'm not sure I can explain it sensibly (my wife would probably prefer it if I could), but there's just something about this era that feels so relatable. Maybe in another life, I was a hippie? Dumb thought, I know. The other thing is, I love golden age hip-hop. Anyway, Electric Music for the Mind and Body may be a little too bluesy at times, but when it leans into that psychedelic/folk kind of shit, it steals my heart. This is a 4 out of 5. Looking forward to #day298.

This is #day296 of my #1001albumsyoumusthearbeforeyoudie challenge, and... here's to my third and final album by Elvis. As before, I don't care for either his persona or this music in general. I'm just not feeling what I'm hearing. As a background, it's kind of listenable, but... sooner or later, all that voice brings about in me is just a big yawn. This is a 2 out of 5. Looking forward to #day297.

This is #day295 of my #1001albumsyoumusthearbeforeyoudie challenge, and... not the easiest kind of listen before the weekend, right? The Downward Spiral is one of the quintessential records of the '90s (what a year in music it was, huh? In Utero, Holy Bible, just to name a few). It's a statement with a concept behind it, and not just any concept, but one that's masterfully narrated and executed: a descent of a man into self-destruction and ultimately suicide, rendered through an abrasive sound that stirs alt-rock, industrial, post-punk, techno, and more. A dark, brutal, and visceral listen. Some of the highlights are "Mr. Self Destruct," "Closer," "Ruiner," "Reptile," and "Hurt." I also like the fact that the Japanese pressing of the album includes a cover of Joy Division's "Dead Souls." Anyway, Trent Reznor is the man, one of the most compelling and uncompromising figures in modern music. This is a 5 out of 5. Looking forward to #day296.

This is #day294 of my #1001albumsyoumusthearbeforeyoudie challenge, and... I'm just tired of the abundance of country on this list. I really am. That whole truckers and kickers and cowboy angels thing isn't my jam. I don't relate to it. I was about to drop this album in the middle, but then there was the bluesy "Brass Buttons," which was kind of beautiful, and the cover of "Love Hurts" was also sweet. This is a 2 out of 5. Looking forward to #day295.

This is #day293 of my #1001albumsyoumusthearbeforeyoudie challenge, and... as I'm listening to this album, raindrops are falling on the roofs, and it's been like this for the better part of May now. I don't recall such a wet season in recent years. No complaints, though, as it makes for the perfect backdrop to one of the most idiosyncratic rock albums of the '90s. It stands apart from Britpop's swagger with its sense of spirituality and soul-searching. I've always loved The Verve. One of those bands I listened to a lot in my early 20s (Forth being a record I remember when it came out). Some of my favorites here are "A New Decade," "On Your Own," "So It Goes," "Life's An Ocean," and, I guess, "History." When those strings kick in, the album just ascends. It's this blend of alt rock, psych, shoegaze, (pun un/intended) northern soul, and the raw yet immersive sound that makes this album so distinctive. Richard Ashcroft is the Jim Morrison of British rock. Heck, how about an allusion to the "doors of perception" on the album cover? Anyway, I was happy to see him (solo, though) back in 2019 as part of the Rock Werchter lineup. This is a 4 out of 5. Looking forward to #day294.

This is #day292 of my #1001albumsyoumusthearbeforeyoudie challenge, and... yay, another Dylan album. To be precise, my fourth already. And there are three more to go. Compared to Blood On The Tracks, which I found very annoying, though it's kind of considered one of his best efforts, this was mostly all right. Maybe I'm just in a different mood today. Well, at least there's "Subterranean Homesick Blues" and "Mr. Tambourine Man." This is a 3 out of 5. Looking forward to #day293.

This is #day291 of my #1001albumsyoumusthearbeforeyoudie challenge, and... early '00s minimal garage classic, aka Stripes' best album, or so they say? I had a phase in my early 20s when I dipped my toes into this kind of music (Jack White's solo work, and his other projects like The Dead Weather and The Raconteurs). This mix of alternative/indie rock and blues must have drawn me in. However, my infatuation turned out to be fleeting, and today this music feels kind of foreign to me. "Seven Nation Army" (despite how much it's overplayed) and "I Just Don't Know What To Do With Myself" are still sweet, though. Anyway, if you must hear The White Stripes record before you die, this may well be the one. This is a 4 out of 5. Looking forward to #day292.

This is #day290 of my #1001albumsyoumusthearbeforeyoudie challenge, and... what a beautiful Sunday morning listen! As I spin this record, I'm tracking my wife's flight from Oslo to home. She's wrapping up a short vacation, and being an industrial fan, she'd probably enjoy this one. Now, I like my music to be challenging sometimes. When it's unsettling and eerie... The kind of music that makes you think, or takes you places. D.O.A.: The Third and Final Report of Throbbing Gristle is exactly that. An early specimen of experimental electronics and industrial, a sound kaleidoscope, a movie without images. This is my first experience with the band, and it's a great introduction. I didn't know (or, maybe forgot) that Peter Christopherson was a member of Throbbing Gristle. As an occasional Coil fan, that makes this even more interesting. Sadly, there's absolutely nothing on this list by Coil or, say, Psychic TV. At least, there's Neubauten. This is a 4 out of 5. Looking forward to #day291.

This is #day289 of my #1001albumsyoumusthearbeforeyoudie challenge, and... oh well, it's hard to be objective with this one, as it's easily one of the top 10 albums of my teenage years. I bought the CD in 9th grade back in 2004, and I still have it. So yeah, listening to it on Spotify feels a bit wrong. But since I don't have a CD player at the moment (I've grown to be more of a vinyl/tape kind of guy), it'll do. Anyway, the moment those first chords of the title track kick in, the memories come flooding back. But let's try to look at this through a broader lens than just nostalgia. It's safe to say American Idiot is kind of The Wall of modern rock. It's big, it speaks to its time. It's a massive fuck-you record, and, honestly, twenty years later, I can't think of anything else quite like it. The '90s gave us Nevermind. And then what came after? This, maybe. I'm not even saying how it completely revived the band. Okay, I just did. Some of my absolute favorites: "Boulevard of Broken Dreams," "Give Me Novacaine," "Wake Me Up When September Ends," "Whatsername"... honestly, the whole album. It's been a while since I listened to it in full, but hearing it now still feels the same as it did 21 years ago. Except... I'm fucking older now. "And in the darkest night, if my memory serves me right, I'll never turn back time. Forgetting you, but not the time." This is a 5 out of 5. Looking forward to #day290.

This is #day288 of my #1001albumsyoumusthearbeforeyoudie challenge, and... given the inner band disintegration moods during this time, it feels like this is the Pumpkins' Pornography album (even the end of "Spaceboy" echoes the beginning of Pornography's title track). But dark times often breed career-defining works, right? Because that's exactly what this album is: a superb juxtaposition of alternative, hard rock, psychedelic rock, dream pop, and shoegaze, against a grunge backdrop with heart-on-sleeve, introspective lyrics woven in. Some absolute classics here: "Cherub Rock," "Today," "Hummer," "Disarm" (which is Pumpkins' "Eleanor Rigby" moment), and others. This is one of the '90s alternative rock essentials. Of course, I'm giving it a 5 out of 5. Looking forward to #day289.

This is #day287 of my #1001albumsyoumusthearbeforeyoudie challenge, and... while there are a few interesting beats and production hooks, it's not landing for me. It doesn't feel like it carries much historical weight. If this is a guy from A Tribe Called Quest (I know they're on the list and was looking forward to checking them out since I enjoy some golden age hip-hop now and then, especially with jazz interpolations), this isn't the best way to introduce the name. I'm giving it a 2 out of 5. Looking forward to #day288.

This is #day286 of my #1001albumsyoumusthearbeforeyoudie challenge, and... that's a classic 3 out of 5 album to me: early 70s soul and funk with some psychedelics thrown in. I'm sure it's seminal and all that, but it's just not my cup of tea. As I've mentioned before, I prefer coffee. Looking forward to #day287.

This is #day285 of my #1001albumsyoumusthearbeforeyoudie challenge, and... this list keeps throwing curveballs. I mean, why not Zen Arcade or New Day Rising? Hüsker Dü is an essential band in the American hardcore punk and alternative rock scenes, but is this the album to showcase that legacy? I'm not sure. So... Do I rate it a 5 because of the band's impact? Or a 4 because, while it's worth checking out, it might not be their defining work? I've run into this before with a few other entries on the list. Still, the record has its moments. I like what I'm hearing, and I also like the artwork, and that's always a big deal to me. I guess I'm landing on a 4. After all, it deserves more love than it seems to get. Looking forward to #day286.

This is #day284 of my #1001albumsyoumusthearbeforeyoudie challenge, and… here's another PJ Harvey album. This list is heavy on PJ Harvey and Björk. Dry and/or Rid of Me would've been just enough. And yet there's nothing from Deftones or Slowdive, or plenty of other bands that deserve a spot. Now, there was a time I explored her stuff, mostly because of a friend of mine I've mentioned in a couple of reviews. He's a big grunge head and loves PJ Harvey, Tori Amos, those female alt singers. I like "This Mess We're In" with Thom Yorke, though. Ironically, I also used to like "I've Seen It All," Yorke's collab with Björk, probably because I was deep into Radiohead in my mid-20s. Again, partly because of that same friend. Stories from the City, Stories from the Sea is… okay. Alternative rocky-folky kind of a Patti Smith thing. Fine, but not essential. I'm giving it a 3 out of 5. Looking forward to #day285.

This is #day283 of my #1001albumsyoumusthearbeforeyoudie challenge, and… you should've seen the look on my wife's face when I showed her what album I got this morning. She's very much into Brett Anderson and his early '90s androgynous looks, and Suede (along with Manics, though they're coming from a slightly different realm) is one of those bands we've bonded over throughout our marriage. This particular album is also one of those we own in our vinyl collection, the others being Coming Up, the most recent Autofiction, and the 30th anniversary 2-LP edition of Dog Man Star. Some absolute killers here, including So Young, Animal Nitrate, The Drowners, and more. This is one of those seminal albums that defined the era. I'm going with a 5. Can't wait to revisit Dog Man Star when it's time. Looking forward to #day284.