Reviews by tape-boy

This is #day782 of my #1001albumsyoumusthearbeforeyoudie challenge, and... here's to some excellent South African jazz I've never heard before on this Tuesday evening. It was fun to learn about the term Cape jazz, since improvisational jazz is my jam. It was sad to learn that the guy passed away this year, back in June, though. Otherwise, this is a 4 out of 5. Looking forward to #day783.

This is #day781 of my #1001albumsyoumusthearbeforeyoudie challenge, and... here's to some more drugged-out acid electronica from the heyday of rave. The sucky part is the album isn't available on Spotify, so I had to look it up on YouTube, and that's always annoying. I guess I listened to the original version, at least the artwork matched. Why are there different versions of it anyway? Can I remember anything after hearing this record? I'm not sure. It was kind of all and nothing at the same time. This is a 2 out of 5. Looking forward to #day782.

This is #day780 of my #1001albumsyoumusthearbeforeyoudie challenge, and... here's to what I believe is my fourth Who record already, which means I only have one more to go. I've never heard this record before, although I'm pretty familiar with its existence. While I appreciate the intent, the narrative itself, and the music... I'm just not seeing myself revisiting it anytime soon. I don't think I'm a big fan of long-form rock albums either. But, you know, times were like this. "Underture" is, of course, a signature piece. Otherwise, this is a 3 out of 5. Looking forward to #day781.

This is #day779 of my #1001albumsyoumusthearbeforeyoudie challenge, and... here's to my second and last record by The Pogues. As with the previous one, this is some good stuff to have a beer or two to. I mean, I don't mind it. I'm not sure I'd ever listen to this band/kind of music on my own, but hey, that's what this list is for, I guess? This is a 3 out of 5. Looking forward to #day780.

This is #day778 of my #1001albumsyoumusthearbeforeyoudie challenge, and... another artist/album I've never heard of before. The first song was kind of promising, but then... I mean, the whole thing is fine overall and has its moments? Except... overly safe and mellow? I don't quite get why you'd have to hear this record before you die. "This Year's Loving" rang a bell from hell knows where, though. Still, this is a 2 out of 5. Looking forward to #day779.

This is #day777 of my #1001albumsyoumusthearbeforeyoudie challenge, and... here's to my only second Björk album so far. The first one, ironically Debut, popped up all the way back on #day17. Crazy how long ago it was. This is my first time hearing this particular record, and all I can say is it's fucking weird, even by Björk standards. I prefer more "conventional" numbers, like, say, "Oceania," though. What I can't comprehend is the selection of her albums on this list. How on earth are Post and Homogenic not here? Let it be a 3 out of 5. Looking forward to #day778.

This is #day776 of my #1001albumsyoumusthearbeforeyoudie challenge, and... it's been a while since I got some reggae. I don't really mind. Sunshine vibes all around, except it's September outside. This is a 3 out of 5. Looking forward to #day777.

This is #day775 of my #1001albumsyoumusthearbeforeyoudie challenge, and... here's to some good ol' early-'90s alternative rock. Solid, but I don't think it begs to be heard before you die. I'd rather have included something from, say, Catherine Wheel. This is a 3 out of 5. Looking forward to #day776.

This is #day774 of my #1001albumsyoumusthearbeforeyoudie challenge, and... oh well, another country record. I didn't hate it, though. Inoffensive rainy Monday morning listen. This is a 2 out of 5. Looking forward to #day775.

This is #day773 of my #1001albumsyoumusthearbeforeyoudie challenge, and... as seminal as it might be for the development of the genre, this isn't the kind of metal I'd normally reach for, let alone enjoy. The diabolic/satanic element of the whole affair doesn't appeal to me. Let it be a 2 out of 5. Looking forward to #day774.

This is #day772 of my #1001albumsyoumusthearbeforeyoudie challenge, and... I had no idea this record was released on 9/11. As a kid who grew up in the late '90s-early '00s and was into hip-hop now and then, Jay-Z was moderately prevalent in my life, mainly through songs like "99 Problems" and that notorious mash-up EP with Linkin Park, which I loved a lot (and still do). Turns out "Izzo" (which I only knew as "Izzo / In the End") is from this record. And then, of course, there's this fiery collab with Eminem. What's not to like? When it comes to hip-hop from this era, the quality is almost always there by default. This is a 4 out of 5. Looking forward to #day773.

This is #day771 of my #1001albumsyoumusthearbeforeyoudie challenge, and... here's to some early-'70s pop rock, if you will. Prog/art-rock touches, though, make it more than just pop/soft rock. "Without You" is a gem of a song, sitting right in the middle of the record. This is a 3 out of 5. Looking forward to #day772.

This is #day770 of my #1001albumsyoumusthearbeforeyoudie challenge, and... here's to my second record by My Bloody Valentine. As much as I like shoegaze and dream pop, I don't think this particular record belongs on the list. It's a comeback record, right? So is that the only reason it's here? Otherwise, this band has said it all before. Also, hear me out again: three My Bloody Valentine and absolutely fucking zero by Slowdive on this list. Not to mention Lush and many others. Slowdive released an impressive comeback in 2017, but who cares? This is a 3 out of 5. Looking forward to #day771.

This is #day769 of my #1001albumsyoumusthearbeforeyoudie challenge, and... how about some neo-psychedelic indie schmindie shit from the late '00s? Well, I don't think so, thanks. This is a 2 out of 5. Looking forward to #day770.

This is #day768 of my #1001albumsyoumusthearbeforeyoudie challenge, and... here's to my third and final record by Pixies. That's the way you do it: put on any record by this and enjoy. A crazy run, if you get to think about it: Surfer Rosa, Doolittle, Bossanova. Pure class of alternative rock all around. Maybe a little less consistent than the previous two, but enjoyable nonetheless. Personal highlights are "Cecilia Ann," "Velouria," "Is She Weird," "Ana," and maybe "All Over the World." This is a 4 out of 5. Looking forward to #day769.

This is #day767 of my #1001albumsyoumusthearbeforeyoudie challenge, and... The Chemical Brothers is one of those names from my childhood. I wasn't really familiar with them before 2005's Push the Button, which is when "Galvanize" and "Believe" were some of the biggest tunes in the world at the time, particularly "Galvanize." Dig Your Own Hole, though, is surely a '90s electronic classic, alongside The Prodigy's The Fat of the Land: big beat, techno, psychedelic rock, and all that jazz. Excellent stuff. This is a 4 out of 5. Looking forward to #day768.

This is #day766 of my #1001albumsyoumusthearbeforeyoudie challenge, and... here's to another band I've never heard of. Some indie/lo-fi rock from the early '00s, which I don't mind, but then I don't think I'll ever remember it or feel like putting it on again. Is it really a must-listen-before-you-die record, though? This is a 2 out of 5. Looking forward to #day767.

This is #day765 of my #1001albumsyoumusthearbeforeyoudie challenge, and… isn't it cool to learn about a band through... another band? Particularly when it's a band from an older generation getting a nod from a new, breakthrough band, if you will. What a great move! Talking about Nirvana's MTV Unplugged, of course, and songs like "Plateau," "Oh Me," and "Lake of Fire." Turns out all of these are from the same record! This is some excellent stuff, and those songs are damn good in their original versions, too. I can't help but mention the peculiarities of the singer's voice, though. This is a 4 out of 5. Looking forward to #day766.

This is #day764 of my #1001albumsyoumusthearbeforeyoudie challenge, and… here's to hard rock meeting blues rock in the mid-'70s. Pretty good company, right? I either forgot or didn't know Paul Rodgers was a vocalist for this band. Shame on me, but I only learned about him when Queen released a record with him in 2008. Most of the time, though, I prefer the music to the vocals on this one. This is a 3 out of 5. Looking forward to #day765.

This is #day763 of my #1001albumsyoumusthearbeforeyoudie challenge, and… I've heard the band's name before, but never paid them a visit, so this is another first-timer. There's something about rockabilly/psychobilly that sort of draws me in. The gothic element? Hello, Dead Neighbours, a former rockabilly band led by Craig Lawrenson of the Scottish post-punk/dream-pop band Lowlife, if you know what I mean. The fact that it grew out of '70s punk? I don't know, but it surely is an important facet of alternative rock music. I'm landing on a 3 out of 5. Looking forward to #day764.