Reviews by tape-boy

This is #day242 of my #1001albumsyoumusthearbeforeyoudie challenge, and... it's been a hell of a week. I've been moving apartments, running around transporting stuff, so I'm exhausted and anxious. It's the third time this year I've had to listen to an album the next day instead of the day I got it. Kind of a cheat, right? This way, I end up listening to two albums a day. But hey, I'm just catching up... As I write this, the place is fucking chaos—boxes everywhere. Mountains O' Things, if you will (pun un/intended). But my wife and I always get it together, so fingers crossed it happens sooner rather than later. The album itself? Well, she's definitely got the vocals and a peculiar delivery. The instrumentation seems out of place for the year the album was released, which is fun. Across The Lines is my highlight. This is a 3 out of 5. Looking forward to #day243.

This is #day241 of my #1001albumsyoumusthearbeforeyoudie challenge, and... this has to be one of the weirdest style combos I've encountered—not just on this list, but in general. I tried pushing through the vocals, but by the second song, I just couldn't. The music's like space blues, veering into jazz, folk, ambient, and whatnot... Sometimes it was fun, but for the most part, it was big a fucking yawn. I'll check out his other album, but I'm not holding my breath. This is a 2 out of 5. Looking forward to #day242.

This is #day240 of my #1001albumsyoumusthearbeforeyoudie challenge, and... speaking of the American alternative rock/indie rock scenes, I've always loved Sonic Youth and Yo La Tengo. The Pixies come to mind as well, though perhaps not as much. For some reason, Dinosaur Jr. never made it onto my radar. But listening to You're Living All Over Me, you can hear how it influenced the grunge explosion just a couple of years later, as well as shoegaze. The music is loud and dissonant, and what's interesting is how the vocals manage to stay melodic despite the chaotic backdrop. I can also pick up traces of post-hardcore and maybe some emo, which I don't mind. Still, in the end, I'd probably rather revisit one of the bands I mentioned above. This is a strong 3 out of 5. Looking forward to #day241.

This is #day239 of my #1001albumsyoumusthearbeforeyoudie challenge, and... I'm starting to wonder what's going on with this list because here we are with my sixth consecutive 5 out of 5. Not complaining, though! It’s been a while since a Bowie record popped up. Low is from my favorite Bowie era: the Berlin years. Actually, if you look at his '70s discography, it’s wild how many incredible albums he released in just a decade. But then, at what a personal cost... I love Low. Listening to it makes me feel right at home. The experimental instrumental pieces stand out, making up almost half the album. But the avant-pop and art-rock fragments deserve equal attention, too. This album has a very distinct sound: the drums and synths show how much of a playground music was at that time. A few of my favorites include Speed of Life, Sound and Vision, A New Career in a New Town, and, of course, Warszawa. Looking forward to #day240.

This is #day238 of my #1001albumsyoumusthearbeforeyoudie challenge, and... oh my, this is my fifth consecutive 5 out of 5. The music is as smooth as the first sip of Negroni on a Friday night. A compelling blend of soul, jazz, and '80s pop, with lavish productions that complement Sade's unmistakable vocals. It's a stunning debut, and once again, no choice but to give it a perfect score. Looking forward to #day239.

This is #day237 of my #1001albumsyoumusthearbeforeyoudie challenge, and... to me, as a Ukrainian based in my hometown Lviv, it’s unsettling listening to War Pigs with its air-raid alarm at the start, especially since February 24, 2022, when russia’s full-scale invasion began. It’s hard not to see the russians (or rather ruscists) as war pigs (and I don’t want to offend pigs). Invaders must die. Meanwhile, here's to the band that pioneered heavy metal... "Paranoid" and "Iron Man" are stone-cold classics, but the whole album is a masterclass in heavy metal, doom metal, and beyond. Listening to this record, you can almost taste the metal in the air. The music? Just as they say: tight, loud, simple, and exciting. I must be on a roll, as it's my fourth consecutive 5 out of 5. Looking forward to #day238.

This is #day236 of my #1001albumsyoumusthearbeforeyoudie challenge, and... here we are with my second The Fall album on the list. The first time I got The Infotainment Scan, I gave it a 3, and I wasn't entirely sure what to make of this band. After all, can you really grasp their elusive enigma? Listening to This Nation's Saving Grace is quite an adventure. I found myself thinking it’s like hearing a language I don’t understand, even though the band is British. Love them or hate them, The Fall are unlike any other band in '80s alternative rock. They're weirdos, sure, but also uniquely idiosyncratic, and it's worth celebrating. This is uncomfortable music, challenging music, uneasy music—whatever you call it—but that’s part of what makes it so fascinating. I can’t rate this album lower than a perfect score. If you're into post-punk and a bit of a vinyl nerd like I am, it surely deserves a spot in your record collection. This is a 5 out of 5. Looking forward to #day237.

This is #day235 of my #1001albumsyoumusthearbeforeyoudie challenge, and... rock'n'roll ain't noise pollution, rock'n'roll ain't gonna die, right? This album ticks off so many categories and deserves nothing less than a perfect score. Face it: one of the most iconic album openers in rock history, possibly the greatest comeback album of all time, especially considering the original vocalist passed just a year before. And last but not least, it’s simply a flawless rock'n'roll record, delivering all killer, no filler. The energy, the raw power, and the riffs make it timeless. Some absolute bangers are "Hells Bells," "Back in Black," and "You Shook Me All Night Long." I'm giving it a 5 out of 5. Looking forward to #day236.

This is #day234 of my #1001albumsyoumusthearbeforeyoudie challenge, and... every so often, this list still can surprise me in the best way. While there are certainly some divisive choices, when it clicks, it clicks. And when that happens, I give an album the highest score. The previous example was A Walk Across The Rooftop by The Blue Nile. The latest one? The Rise & Fall, the fourth studio album by the band called Madness. I didn’t know the band or their music... But when you see something from the '80s on the list, at least for me, that’s an automatic appeal. The Rise & Fall is an absolute pleasure. It's fun, catchy, and musical from start to finish. I particularly enjoy jazz interpolations. Some standout songs include the title track, "Sunday Morning," and, of course, "Our House." This is a 5 out of 5. Looking forward to #day235.

This is #day233 of my #1001albumsyoumusthearbeforeyoudie challenge, and... once again, I find myself listening late into the night—just like I did with Air's Moon Safari a couple of weeks ago. It’s been a tough (but also great) day, so I didn’t have much time to do it earlier. After rating Blood On The Tracks a 2, I was rather skeptical when I saw Freewheelin’ on today’s list... But listening to the album, it turned out I might not mind some early Dylan, or maybe it’s just that nighttime suits this record. Blowin' In The Wind is beautiful—I really like it. It's an anthemic tune. The rest of it? Some fine folk-rock, but nothing that stands out. Should it, actually? This a 3 out of 5. Looking forward to #day234.

This is #day232 of my #1001albumsyoumusthearbeforeyoudie challenge, and… as a child, I used to believe that when artists released their first album, they usually called it Best Of. Boston's debut could've easily been called that, because it really is one of those records where every single song sounds like the best one. The guitar is particularly great, but the whole thing is a pleasure to listen to. P.S. I'm here again after a Rick Beato YouTube episode about the best-sounding records of all time. I agree. The epitome of mid-'70s hard rock. Sounds delicious on my Technics SU-7300. This is a 4 out of 5. Looking forward to #day233.

This is #day231 of my #1001albumsyoumusthearbeforeyoudie challenge, and... it's 1978 outside, and the remnants of punk still linger in the air... Listening to Public Image: First Issue makes me wonder how, just a year earlier, Nevermind the Bollocks was released, and now John Lydon and his crew are shaping the future with this new sound. It's arguably the most punk post-punk record. I love the album's avant-garde nature: the dub-heavy bass, jagged guitars, and otherworldly drumming. It's unlike anything heard before (no wonder post-punk was dubbed "new musick" back in the day). Lydon's vocals are a key part of this soundscape: sneering, sardonic, and unsettling. This is a 4 out of 5. Looking forward to #day232.

This is #day230 of my #1001albumsyoumusthearbeforeyoudie challenge, and... once again, old-school hip-hop just hits the spot. I can only imagine what it was like hearing this in the '80s. This is my second DMC record on the list, and according to the Album Explorer feature, it's their last one. Could I have predicted this band would end up among my favorites? Not sure, but they are now. It's tough to judge the importance of this album fully, but you simply can't help it, right? It's breaking down all kinds of barriers: cultural, racial, musical... Tracks like "Tricky," "My Adidas," "Walk This Way," and "You Be Illin'" are just a few of the bangers that prove how this album has stood the test of time. Celebrating its 40th anniversary next year... that's crazy. I'm giving it a 5 out of 5 because it absolutely deserves it. Looking forward to #day231.

This is #day229 of my #1001albumsyoumusthearbeforeyoudie challenge, and... yay, my first Led Zeppelin record on the list. I’ve never listened to it front to back before, and, well, I just did, and I have to agree with the consensus about the album's sprawling nature. Clocking in at almost 83 minutes, it’s just so fucking long. But then again, it’s Led Zeppelin—can you ever really get enough of their music? The album features gems like "In My Time of Dying," "Trampled Under Foot" (one my personal favorites), and the pure oral blessing that is "Kashmir." So, at least for this very reason, I can’t give it a 3. Even though I lost focus at times, this is a 4 out of 5. I predict it’s going to be one of my favorite artists. Because, well, there are so many albums of theirs ahead. Looking forward to #day230.

This is #day228 of my #1001albumsyoumusthearbeforeyoudie challenge, and... here we are again with another psychedelic funky gem from the late '60s. I might have said it before, but I'll do it again: everything that has to do with Woodstock and that era is oh so appealing to me—it’s just such a special moment in time... Stand! is full of wild experimentation, wah-wahs, and historical significance. I mean, just take a look at a song title like Don't Call Me Nigga, Whitey, and it’s 1969 outside. The energy coming through this record is immense, as is the vibe. And, yeah, Sex Machine may well give you an eargasm. This is a 4 out of 5. Looking forward to #day229.

This is #day227 of my #1001albumsyoumusthearbeforeyoudie challenge, and... this is an album I kind of learned about Radiohead. I remember a feature on their song "All I Need" in a local teenzine, though I can't recall the details, just the fact that I saw it. Radiohead started to click for me a couple of years later, and looking back (which I’ve come to do best in life), I think discovering bands like Radiohead, who eventually become some of your favorites, is like trying on clothes everyone says are cool, but not understanding why at first. You keep trying them on, and over time, some of the pieces begin to fit, like a jigsaw falling into place. Moreover, the clothes turn out to be some of the most comfortable you've ever worn. In Rainbows stands apart from and transcends what they've done before and what they'll do after. It's astonishingly beautiful, intricately mesmerizing, and deeply personal. I love this album. This is a 5 out of 5. And I have it all here in red, blue, green... Looking forward to #day228.

This is #day226 of my #1001albumsyoumusthearbeforeyoudie challenge, and... this might just be the ultimate jazz album. Looking back, I kind of regret rating the first Miles Davis album I reviewed some weeks ago too highly. I think I rated it high because, well, it's Miles Davis, and I was kind of supposed to do it. Now, I feel I would've given Birth of the Cool a 3, maybe? There’s this uneasy feeling I’m starting to get as jazz records begin to pop up in my summary. Anyway, as for Kind of Blue, I really like it. I can’t fully explain why—I'm not versed enough in jazz theory or whatever—but there’s just something about this record. The music kind of feels like a conversation between the musicians and it's interesting to listen to it. Plus, it’s always a special experience to be listening to this on vinyl. Should I rate this a 5? Well, since I like it more than Birth of the Cool... But also because it's such a seminal album... Or, so they say. Looking forward to #day227.

This is #day225 of my #1001albumsyoumusthearbeforeyoudie challenge, and... here’s to some early 70s funky psychedelic soul. Like with many albums on the list, I probably wouldn’t have chosen to listen to this one on my own if it weren't for the challenge, but it was fine—pretty groovy, if you will. Papa Was a Rollin' Stone is definitely the album's centerpiece and its biggest gem. It kind of reminded me of Funkadelic's Maggot Brain, given its epicness. I’m giving it a 3 out of 5. Looking forward to #day226.

This is #day224 of my #1001albumsyoumusthearbeforeyoudie challenge, and... hell yeah, here’s to the album that kickstarted the Second British Invasion, right? Seriously, folks giving this record low scores, what’s going on? It’s 1981, and the machines are taking over. With synthesizers becoming widely available, they quickly became the "toys" musicians were playing with, shaping the sound of the future… or at least the future from a past perspective. Dare! is a classic new wave, synthpop, and electropop record that would go on to define the genre for years. What else is there to say? If you haven't heard "The Things That Dreams Are Made Of", "Don’t You Want Me", and others, what have you even been listening to? This is a 5 out of 5. Looking forward to #day225.

This is #day223 of my #1001albumsyoumusthearbeforeyoudie challenge, and... however incredibly long, it was fine for the most part. But I can’t stand when songs are blocked on Spotify, or worse, when the whole album isn't available. Then I have to switch to YouTube Music and hope for the best. I didn’t care to figure out which version of the album I was listening to and whether it was a Big Star album or more of an Alex Chilton solo project, as they say. This is a 2 out of 5. "Holocaust" is a highlight, as are some of the more stripped-down songs. Looking forward to #day224.