Reviews by tape-boy

This is #day262 of my #1001albumsyoumusthearbeforeyoudie challenge, and… excuse me, but there's no way I'm listening to a 42-song country album that's more than 2 hours long. Besides, country is already among my worst genres on this journey. I tried one song, but this is where it ends. I just don't relate to this music. This is a 1 out of 5. Looking forward to #day263.

This is #day261 of my #1001albumsyoumusthearbeforeyoudie challenge, and… it's kind of weird listening to a band called Jeff Beck with not-Jeff-Beck behind the mic. Overall, it feels like I suddenly caught a classic rock radio station. Typical late-'60s hard rock and blues rock, with wah-wahs galore. Also, it just so happens I'm not a fan of Rod Stewart's vocals. I gave his solo album a 2 a couple of months ago, and I can't go higher than that here either. Looking forward to #day262.

This is #day260 of my #1001albumsyoumusthearbeforeyoudie challenge, and… "I just wanted to be one of The Strokes," right? This is one of those snapshots of an album whose role in the early '00s post-punk revival is undeniable. There's something peculiar about what you hear on the band's debut. It feels like it's meant to sound vintage. There's this great mix of '70s punk and garage, but with a distinctly modern indie rock twist. Guitar pop begs the description. Sure, you can complain about the production and the buried vocals, but honestly, I don't mind that. In fact, I think that's part of what makes this album. It is what it is, a little rough around the edges. There are so many great tunes here: the title track, "The Modern Age," "Someday," "Last Nite," "Take It Or Leave It," and others. Is this it? Yes. And this is a 5 out of 5. Looking forward to #day261.

This is #day259 of my #1001albumsyoumusthearbeforeyoudie challenge, and… fuck Kanye West. Honestly, I think he should be dropped from the list for a whole bunch of reasons. At this point, three of his albums are included, and zero are from, say, Slowdive or Deftones, or other bands and artists who are more important and influential. I listened to The College Dropout in full back on #day10 because I told myself then that no matter the music, I'd check out every single album, as that's what the challenge is about. I must admit, since then, there have been a couple of exceptions when I couldn't get through the whole record. I tried listening to one song today, too, and nope. I don't want to hear this before I die, and I wish the same for you. This is a 1 out of 5. Looking forward to #day 260.

This is #day258 of my #1001albumsyoumusthearbeforeyoudie challenge, and… getting this album today was like a balm to my ears. The music speaks directly to my interests: early post-punk, goth, darkwave, and all that jazz. I did wonder at first why Mask and not In the Flat Field? But after relistening (or maybe really listening to Mask in its entirety for the first time (I honestly don't remember doing it before), I see it now. This is a more approachable album than the debut. The raw intensity and overall doom and gloom are still dominant, but there's a certain smoothness around the edges in the form of acoustic guitar, sax, and funky rhythms that can't be ignored. If you're interested in the gothfathers of the genre, this is one of those records to hear before you die. Some absolute bangers are "The Passion of Lovers," "Dancing," "Kick in the Eye," and "The Man with the X-Ray Eyes." But honestly, the whole record is amazing. This is a 5 out of 5. Looking forward to #day259.

This is #day257 of my #1001albumsyoumusthearbeforeyoudie challenge, and… take me to church, I'll worship like a dog at the shrine of your lies. Oh, wait, that's a different church. I have to admit, I liked CHVRCHES's 2021 album Screen Violence. It's arguably the band's best work (though I haven't deep-dived into the rest of their discography). The music in general and this debut? It's too poppy and indietronic (?) for my taste. The sound feels sterile and overly synthetic. You could say the same about most contemporary electropop, I guess. It's certainly well-crafted, but it just doesn't stick with me. The highlights are The Mother We Share, Gun, and Recover. This is a 3 out of 5. Looking forward to #day258.

This is #day256 of my #1001albumsyoumusthearbeforeyoudie challenge, and… the first track instantly rang a bell. Portishead or some other trip-hop band must've sampled it. Just checked: it was actually Hooverphonic... The rest of the album? Progressive/psychedelic soul, just like Wiki says. To tell you the truth, I'm revisiting this record after today, my 700+ day, when I got a D'Angelo album, which I really liked. Listening to Hot Buttered Soul on my Technics SU-7300, the music does flow like a hot butter across the room. Great, groovy, psychedelic stuff. Made for vinyl experience. The last tack is a fucking trip. This is a 4 out of 5. Looking forward to #day257.

This is #day255 of my #1001albumsyoumusthearbeforeyoudie challenge, and… two albums by this artist on the list? You must be fucking kidding me. I find this music to be particularly insignificant. Two and a half songs in, and I was done. It's been a while (actually, a month) since I rated an album a 1, so there you go again. Looking forward to #day256.

This is #day254 of my #1001albumsyoumusthearbeforeyoudie challenge, and… I consider myself an open-minded person, especially after 254 days of this, but not quite enough to embrace Salsa. Don't get me wrong, there's nothing bad about the music, it's just way outside my wheelhouse. That said, I can now say I've heard something from Panama. Yay! This is a 2 out of 5. Looking forward to #day255.

This is #day253 of my #1001albumsyoumusthearbeforeyoudie challenge, and… it's been a while since I last messed up the numbers. Yesterday was supposed to be #day252, but I labeled it #253 instead. With how hectic the past couple of weeks have been, it's understandable. Anyway, it's kind of funny to land on Stankonia today, because I had "Ms. Jackson" on the playlist for my birthday party on Sunday. It was a party with a good cause, though, as I raised money for the Ukrainian Armed Forces. The playlist was packed with pop/rap/dance tunes from the '00s, the kind of stuff you'd hear on the radio or catch on TV. Outkast… I learned about this duo from a local teenzine around 2003–2004. I can still picture the Speakerboxxx/The Love Below cover and remember seeing Southernplayalisticadillacmuzik listed in their discography. "Hey Ya" was massive back then. And I remember "Ms. Jackson" on the radio, too. So I've always had a bit of a soft spot for this duo. And it's no surprise, because what you've got here is something way beyond hip-hop. Outkast runs the gamut of styles, remaining on the edge of progressiveness. Name another band mixing rap, rave music, psychedelia, gospel, rock, and all that jazz in such an entertaining way. That's what I'm saying. I'm giving this a 4 out of 5. Looking forward to #day254.

This is #day253 of my #1001albumsyoumusthearbeforeyoudie challenge, and… "What is this that stands before me?" Well, a history book of heavy metal, my child. Less than two weeks ago, I got Paranoid, and having listened to it front to back for the first time, I ended up giving it a 5. The band's self-titled debut is, without a doubt, a seminal work, often credited with laying the foundations for doom metal, stoner rock, and whatnot. It's crazy to think it was recorded in a single session... what was it, 12 hours? Just raw energy, captured in a moment of time. It's riff-heavy music, sometimes hilariously over the top, but imagine hearing this 55 years ago... I'm tempted (or rather obliged) to give it a 5, so be it. This is a 5 out of 5. Looking forward to #day254.

This is #day251 of my #1001albumsyoumusthearbeforeyoudie challenge, and… funny how just a few days ago I got An American Prayer in Ukrainian translation for my birthday, and now it's my second The Doors album on the list. What can I say about L.A. Woman? It's fair to call it the band's magnum opus. For me, though, Strange Days will remain one of my personal favorites, on par with Waiting for the Sun. But there's something about L.A. Woman that is undeniably enigmatic. First, it's the last album recorded while Morrison was still alive. Then, it feels like a pull-yourself-together kind of record, like a final burst of energy, a statement made loud before the doors slam shut. And finally, it's just a wild psychedelic blues rock record, showcasing the band at their absolute best, with Riders on the Storm as the cherry on top. Some of the highlights are... well, the whole damn album. This is a 5 out of 5, of course. Looking forward to #day252.

This is #day250 of my #1001albumsyoumusthearbeforeyoudie challenge, and… here's to something from 68 years ago. Not great, not terrible, but not something I'd ever choose to put on by myself either. Afro-Cuban jazz, or so they say... Oh well, I guess I'm not that into maracas. This is a 2 out of 5. Looking forward to #day251.

This is #day249 of my #1001albumsyoumusthearbeforeyoudie challenge, and… Murmur is both a hidden gem in R.E.M.'s discography and, if memory serves me right, the album that sparked the college rock movement. It's fun to hear the post-punk influences, which makes total sense for the early '80s. But even on this humble little record, there's already that signature jangliness that would become R.E.M.'s hallmark in later releases. The whole thing is a great listen through and through, but I particularly love "Radio Free Europe" and a run of "Moral Kiosk", "Perfect Circle", and "Catapult." This is a 4 out of 5. Looking forward to #day250.

This is #day248 of my #1001albumsyoumusthearbeforeyoudie challenge, and… I was supposed to listen to this album yesterday, but since it was my birthday, it got pushed to today. Anyway, catching up, here's to another seminal record from the '80s synth and electropop era. Starting with the artwork alone, this album screams the time it came out in: neon lights, smoke machines, disco balls, sunglasses, and synths galore. But what sets Soft Cell apart is that sleazy, sinful vibe and a kind of experimental edge that wasn't as present in other new wave acts. Some of my favorites from this record include "Frustration," "Tainted Love," "Sex Dwarf," and "Bedsitter." This is a 5 out of 5. Looking forward to #day249.

This is #day247 of my #1001albumsyoumusthearbeforeyoudie challenge, and... here's to my second Springsteen record on the list. As I'm listening to Nebraska, I'm about an hour away from turning 35. Well, 18 hours, if we're being precise. According to my mom, I was born on a Friday, April 13th, around 5 p.m. It was Good Friday before Easter, which, for some reason, feels meaningful to me. Now, my wife and I have finally settled into a new place. We did a great job together, and one by one, and it's starting to feel like home. It's been a hell of a week, so it's time for a little bit of "me." I've invited a few friends over to celebrate, and I'm looking forward to seeing my mom and dad, too. Nebraska is a fine album to end my 34. I also like its artwork. This is a strong 3 out of 5. We'll see what tomorrow brings. Looking forward to my birthday, aka #day248.

This is #day246 of my #1001albumsyoumusthearbeforeyoudie challenge, and… this one was kind of more engaging, if you will, than the previous Beck album I got. But still, I'm not sure I'm a fan. There's a peculiarity around this artist that I can't help but mention. As an occasional vinyl collector, I've noticed in Ukrainian vinyl communities on Facebook that Beck is oddly appreciated by audiophiles... There are just those acts, you know? Yello comes to mind, too. It's an unexplainable phenomenon, especially since most of those audiophiles get to be in their forties or fifties. Me, I don't really care for this music for the most part. A weird combination of hip-hop, lo-fi, indie/alternative rock, and whatever else in between. Also, I've said that before, but I'll say it again: there are too many Beck records on this list. I'm pretty sure you don't have to listen to all of them before you die. This is a 3 out of 5. Looking forward to #day247.

This is #day245 of my #1001albumsyoumusthearbeforeyoudie challenge, and… yet again, I'm listening to the album a day later, not the day it got generated. As I play Joan Baez's debut, it's snowing outside my window, and it's April. Honestly, it hurts to see this view. It's the window of a new apartment my wife and I moved into just a couple of days ago. It's not our own place, still rented. I say "still" because we've set a goal to one day have a nest of our own. We're working on it. These are fragile days of adjusting and settling in... Hopefully, it all turns out well. The music on this album soothes the storms inside and gives space to reflect on the moment. It's a pleasant listen overall. But since I'm not a huge fan of folk and am unlikely to return to this one, I'm giving it a 3 out of 5. Looking forward to #day246.

This is #day244 of my #1001albumsyoumusthearbeforeyoudie challenge, and… this one's not the easiest listen, I must admit, not even to my ears. Am I getting old? Actually, I'm turning 35 in a few days, but honestly, I'm just a bigger baby me. I've been on "a bit" of a nostalgia streak lately, diving back into the music of my teens, the early '00s. So much so that my wife recently asked when I was going to listen to something "normal" again (knowing full well I'm into post-punk, new wave, synth, and all that jazz). Now, I know Killing Joke, but they've largely stayed off my radar, aside from Night Time, which is the only other album of theirs I know. Listening to the self-titled debut in the context of the early '80s, I can see why it's considered seminal. The sound is raw, intense, and distinct. Heavy/industrial post-punk begs the description. Not something I'd revisit in full soon, if ever. This is a 3 out of 5. Looking forward to #day245.

This is #day243 of my #1001albumsyoumusthearbeforeyoudie challenge, and... I used to play blues records when I worked at a record store here in Lviv. There was something about putting on some blues, especially on a Sunday morning. It felt like there was nothing better than a moaning guy pouring his heart out in the quiet of the city. I think some early John Lee Hooker was one of those guys I'd spin. Listening to The Healer, though, I have to admit, I'm not that big of a fan of electric blues. I get to prefer the more acoustic, one-man-band kind of sound. It feels like the full-band or collaboration approach somehow takes away from the essence of blues—maybe it even turns sadness into something to celebrate. Just thinking out loud. For now, this is a 2 out of 5. Looking forward to #day244.