Reviews by tape-boy

This is #day102 of my #1001albumsyoumusthearbeforeyoudie challenge and... here's to some sheer class late '70s disco. Funky, groovy, jazzy... I've never heard this one before, but that was finger-licking good. It's a solid 4 out of 5 this time around. Looking forward to #day103.

This is #day101 of my #1001albumsyoumusthearbeforeyoudie challenge, and... you must be kidding me. Another album? Precisely a week ago, I got Lam Toro, and now this. As soon as those vocals kick in, I'm like, goddammit. The first song on this album is where it ends for me. I get to think that this list was made by folks who don't have a clue about music. Otherwise, why MUST I listen to this? It's another 1 out of 5. Looking forward to #day102.

This is #day100 of my #1001albumsyoumusthearbeforeyoudie challenge and... (yikes!) those vocals... I was going to give this a 2 out of 5 solely because of the artwork, which I liked, but I changed my mind when the album was finally over. It should never have made it to the list. Looking forward to #day101.

This is #day99 of my #1001albumsyoumusthearbeforeyoudie challenge, and... throwing Hybrid Theory at me on a day when From Zero is released? Well played, random generator, well played. Linkin Park. What does this band mean to me? Well, everything and beyond. LP wasn’t just one of my first exposures to alternative rock; it’s a band, whose music's been tattooed under my skin ever since. It articulates pain—a feeling that isn’t limited to adolescence but resonates with simply being a human. I used to scream my lungs out with Chester, rap along with Mike, scratch with Mr. Hahn, and bang my head to Brad’s riffs. I'm not even mentioning graffiti (there's still one on the wall of my parent's basement), haircuts, outfits (those Chester's shirts though!), and posters all over my room... That’s what Linkin Park means to me. And, beyond the personal connection, this is just incredibly well-crafted music. Smartly produced, catchy, and emotionally charged. Now, Hybrid Theory... Funnily, I’ve always considered myself more of a Meteora guy (although it’s not directly related, I’m also a huge fan of Fort Minor, which came onto the stage two years after). My first exposure to Linkin Park around 2004-2005 was via a mixed CD-R that combined both albums, plus a Hybrid Theory EP. So, for the longest time, I didn’t quite know which songs belonged to which album! And over the years, I've grown into being very much an album person. It wasn’t until I got my first PC and internet access a few years later (and finally got to watch Live in Texas) that I might have started to understand the distinction. One thing I do know for sure, though, is that Minutes to Midnight was the first album I consciously remember looking forward to. Still, some songs from Hybrid Theory send shivers down my spine to this very day. With You, Crawling, Runaway, In the End, A Place For My Head, and, of course, Pushing Me Away—these are the moments that not only define this album for me but are among Linkin Park's many timeless pieces. Yes, this is the one to check out before you die, hands down. A solid 5 out of 5. Looking forward to... well, wow, #day100.

This is #day98 of my #1001albumsyoumusthearbeforeyoudie challenge, and... let's break the law, shall we? When I first dove into heavy metal, British Steel (along with Sad Wings of Destiny, I believe) became one of those albums I kept on hand as a Priest classic. While I don't revisit it often, if ever, it's still undeniable how the album set the blueprint for '80s heavy metal. Tracks like "Breaking the Law" and "Living After Midnight" are metal staples, the rhythm section is tight, the riffs are contagious, the drums are crisp... The record rocks hard (or, rather, heavy). I also appreciate Rob Halford's outspoken support for Ukraine against russian aggression. This is a 3 out of 5, though, as I'm not sure I'd be playing this in full soon. Looking forward to #day99.

This is #day97 of my #1001albumsyoumusthearbeforeyoudie challenge, and... here's to another record from 2004 that I didn't know about. Nothing is outstanding here, except learning there's Pharell, whom I've always found extremely annoying. Again, what's the significance of this album to earn its entry on the list? This is nowhere near must-listen, not to mention must-listen before you die. I'm giving it a 2 out of 5 solely due to my sentiment for the year it was released. Looking forward to #day98.

This is #day96 of my #1001albumsyoumusthearbeforeyoudie challenge, and... oh well, there you go with another country album... I pulled myself together and listened to it to the very end, though. Still, this is a 1 out of 5. As I've said before, it's not my genre. Looking forward to #day97.

This is #day95 of my #1001albumsyoumusthearbeforeyoudie challenge, and... what a great way to kick off the week! I've known Lou Reed’s work both solo and with The Velvet Underground, but I'd never listened to this album in full until now. And wow, what an album! It’s packed with immediate classics like "Vicious," "Perfect Day," "Walk on the Wild Side," "Satellite of Love," and "I'm So Free." Knowing it was partly produced by David Bowie, "Transformer" feels like a precursor to Bowie's Aladdin Sane in many ways, especially with its glam rock influence and string/piano/jazz arrangements. Lou's vocals are comforting yet sharp, and the entire album sounds as beautiful as it can. I'm giving it a 5 out of 5. I'm also excited to explore more of Reed’s solo work and VU's catalog. So, random generator, bring it on! Looking forward to #day96.

This is #day94 of my #1001albumsyoumusthearbeforeyoudie challenge, and... please excuse me, but I just can't agree that this should be on the list of albums you must hear before you die. This isn't simply boring, this is also fucking irritating. I was like 80% through, and I had to stop. It's a 1 out of 5, of course. Looking forward to #day95.

This is #day93 of my #1001albumsyoumusthearbeforeyoudie challenge, and... how about something funky and new wavy? As a spin-off of Talking Heads, Tom Tom Club brings a lot to the table on their debut. Released a year after the groundbreaking Remain In Light, Tom Tom Club shares a similar edgy and artsy vibe: infectious rhythms and experimental sounds... The album blends sharp, quirky early '80s synths and playful beats with a laid-back, tropical-tinged quality, giving it a distinct personality. It feels like Tina and Chris were just having fun, making music together, and it shows. Standout tracks for me are "Wordy Rappinghood," "Genius of Love," "As Above So Below," and "Lorelei," which is half of the record. This is a solid 4 out of 5 again. Looking forward to #day94.

This is #day92 of my #1001albumsyoumusthearbeforeyoudie challenge, and... I finally get to dive into the album I've known for its enigmatic, eye-catching cover, but never actually listened to. Well, now I have, and? The title track is an absolute revelation. It's one of the most mind-blowing pieces of music I've ever heard. Actually, “mind-blowing” might be too strong a word; it's more like a sonic avalanche, crashing on you from a distance, in slow motion. As if Have A Nice Life resurrected Jimi Hendrix and decided to record a soundtrack for the apocalypse. This track alone justifies the album's "must-listen" status. As for the rest of the record, it's funky, psychedelic, and undeniably acidic. Other standout tracks include "Hit It And Quit It" and "Wars of Armageddon." On the other hand, "Can You Get To That" and "Back In Our Minds" feel a bit more drawn out and less engaging. I'm giving it a 4 out of 5. Looking forward to #day93.

This is #day91 of my #1001albumsyoumusthearbeforeyoudie challenge, and... over 90 million monthly listens on Spotify prove the world is flat. After listening to this (yes, I did it... against every single fucking odd), I feel like putting on some Einstürzende Neubauten... Has to be the blandest shit I've ever heard. Don't be ridiculous, don't listen to Taylor Swift before you die. Fucking challenge yourself. This is a 1 out of 5. Looking forward to #day92.

This is #day90 of my #1001albumsyoumusthearbeforeyoudie challenge, and... don't you know, pump it up? Oh, wait, that's from another dimension. While Aerosmith's influence was cemented in the '70s, their mid-to-late '80s albums, especially Permanent Vacation and Pump, define the band just as much, if not more. Pump is one of my favorite Aerosmith records. It's packed with gems. From the opening riffs of "Young Lust" to the raw energy of "F.I.N.E.," the anthemic "Love in an Elevator," the funky "Janie's Got a Gun," to the emotional closer, "What It Takes," this album is arguably the band's most consistent effort. It might be their most polished one, but it still rocks and is always a joy to listen to. I'm giving it a 4 out of 5. Looking forward to #day91.

This is #day89 of my #1001albumsyoumusthearbeforeyoudie challenge, and... something wicked this way comes, right? To me, Angus Andrew is one of those visionaries able to create the weirdest of shit and make you drown in it. The band took a turn in 2014 with the release of Mess, and what we're hearing here is more in line with their early work: raw, experimental, and post-punk-ish. It’s like The Doors filtered through the lens of Joy Division. A comparison is a bit off, but there’s certainly a haunting, ritualistic quality to this album (I've heard it's a concept record about witches). Is this a "must-listen before you die", though? It's a challenging listen, no doubt. But it's also an album that keeps you hooked. I get to believe that sometimes music is all about disruption and/or making you feel uneasy. And in that respect, They Were Wrong, So We Drowned absolutely succeeds. After reading the reviews, I'd even bump my score up a bit. This is a 4 out of 5. Looking forward to #day90.

This is #day88 of my #1001albumsyoumusthearbeforeyoudie challenge, and... I've always found Billy Corgan's tendency to create sprawling albums like "Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness" fascinatingly bewildering. While I can appreciate its monumental scope and how it reflects the '90s alternative rock scene, I'm highly unlikely to listen to the entire album again due to its unjustified length. I mean, the whole thing is 28 tracks long, droning on for a little more than 2 hours... But then again, I think the point here is that you must hear this album before you die... So, kind of at least once? At the same time, however, the consistency and story are undeniable. Standouts are "Tonight, Tonight", "Bullet With Butterfly Wings", "Galapogos", "1979", and maybe a few more. Overall, let it be a 4 out of 5 from me. Looking forward to #day89.

This is #day87 of my #1001albumsyoumusthearbeforeyoudie challenge, and... listening to Club Classics Vol. One (for the very first time) feels like tapping into an endless beat that flows through time... Released at the turn of the 1980s and 1990s, this album serves as a time capsule, reflecting the vibrant sound system culture, Belgian New Beat, and The Second Summer of Love, all intertwining to create a dizzying mix of genres: dub, reggae, house, soul, gospel, downtempo, jazz, and more. When they sing "with this music I'll put you in a trance" on "Dance", they don't joke, they will do it. The record brilliantly reflects the spirit of its era. And I love this era! This is a 4 out of 5. Looking forward to #day88.

This is #day86 of my #1001albumsyoumusthearbeforeyoudie challenge, and... how about music to take a dump to? Long story short, this is not an album you must hear before you die. It's a 1 out of 5, of course. Looking forward to #day87.

This is #day85 of my #1001albumsyoumusthearbeforeyoudie challenge, and... unlike Blur, which funnily enough, I got just yesterday, Gorillaz holds a special place in my teenage years. I was 15 when Demon Days came out, and tracks like "Dare," "Dirty Harry," and "Feel Good Inc." were all over the radio and TV... Although I've never listened to the debut album straight through (same as the sophomore up until last year, I believe), I'm familiar with "Clint Eastwood," of course. Maybe a couple of other tunes as well. Truth be told, I was pleasantly surprised by how well the album flows; it’s an enjoyable, laid-back listen packed with dub, hip-hop, and trip-hop hooks. The project is truly one of a kind, there's been nothing quite like it before or since. I mean... virtual band in 2001, man. This is a 4 out of 5. Looking forward to #day 86.

This is #day84 of my #1001albumsyoumusthearbeforeyoudie challenge, and... woo-hoo! It's because of this challenge that I listen to Blur album-wise for the first time in my life. As I've mentioned in the Parklife review, I've always perceived them as more of a single-song band. "Song 2" was my introduction back in my teenage years, thanks to a Tuborg beer commercial. Since then, I've enjoyed beer more than this band's music. Now, the self-titled... It's a head-scratcher for the most part. Blur is going indie and alternative rock, so? Also, and I must have said that before as well, their records are disrespectfully and groundlessly long: everything up until Think Tank drags on for about an hour or more, which gets annoying sooner or later. In this case, sooner, because halfway through, I felt like turning it off. Ah, let it be a 3 out of 5. Looking forward to #day85.

This is #day83 of my #1001albumsyoumusthearbeforeyoudie challenge, and... I wonder what the percentage of country music on this list is... Country is in my top 3 worst genres now. What else is there to say? Ah, wait. It's a 1 out of 5. Again. Looking forward to #day84.