Reviews by tape-boy

This is #day42 of my #1001albumsyoumusthearbeforeyoudie challenge, and... you just made me sit through and listen to a whole hour of Malian folk. Because no matter the music, I try to listen to all the albums on this list. What can I say? Well, my facial expression would convey more than my mouth. I'm sure I could do without this album before I die. I don't mind world music interpolations in post-punk or new wave (think Dead Can Dance, Talking Heads, or even Sting on, say, Brand New Day), but I'd never choose to listen to it in such a bare form. Most of the songs drag on way too long. Separating the wheat from the chaff, I preferred those with a bluesy edge. Still, this is a 1 out of 5, aka never again. Looking forward to #day43, which I was looking forward to yesterday because I messed up the numbers again.

This is #day41 of my #1001albumsyoumusthearbeforeyoudie challenge, and... while I had heard the band's name before, this was my first experience with their music. Another UK '80s post-punk gem? Bring it on! For a start, this is a case in point when you judge the album by the cover. Because, well, isn't it just fascinating? I was instantly hooked on the first song, especially that bass line. It's safe to say the bass is the nerve of this record. The album echoes the works of Gang of Four, Au Pairs, and The Clash, infused with the quirky flair of the '60s. English countryside post-punk for the working class, if you will. "Monday," "Set The House Ablaze," "Start!," and "That's Entertainment" stand out among the many highlights. What a gem of an album! I'm on the hunt for a nice vinyl copy, I guess. This is a 4 out of 5. One of the greatest finds on this list. Looking forward to #day43.

This is #day40 of my #1001albumsyoumusthearbeforeyoudie challenge, and... I'm sipping my morning coffee to some thrash metal... Not my usual breakfast fare, but that's part of the fun. One of the things I love about music is how it can spark memories. It's like a bridge to different stages of life, just needing a spark to light the way. The name "Slayer" has been familiar since my teenage years. I remember seeing it in the teen zines I devoured around age 13-15, I can recall Kerry King's tattoos, the name "Dave Lombardo", and a feature about their album God Hates Us All. But I never listened to their music until now. My initial thrash metal experience was with Metallica, actually, their 90s works (I know, it's a far-from-thrash Metallica but still), which set a high bar for me. Reign in Blood doesn't quite live up to that, and, I guess, it shouldn't because it's a pure inferno spread across a little more than 28 minutes runtime. As I listen to the penultimate track, I can only identify it by checking the tracklist. Maybe that's the whole point of it? A kick-in-the-teeth punk thrash? This isn't something I'm hell-bent on revisiting in the future, but it's definitely a cornerstone of the genre. This is a 3 out of 5 because I'm not a fan of the satanic lyrical content. Looking forward to #day41.

This is #day39 of my #1001albumsyoumusthearbeforeyoudie challenge, and... my wife made me laugh when she found out which album I needed to listen to today. She said she used to think Prince was Michael Jackson's son... Anyway, diving into 1999, it was interesting to learn about the Minneapolis sound. The rhythm section and those cosmic synths steal the spotlight, adding a distinct flavor... Eventually, when I realized there's an Edit feature on this site available, I came here to re-rate an album because revisiting it made me score a NM vinyl copy for peanuts, and it sounds absolutely phenomenal. Such a NYC vibe and sex all over. One of my favorites in the collection. I'm giving this a 5 out of 5. Looking forward to #40.

This is #day38 of my #1001albumsyoumusthearbeforeyoudie challenge, and... this is Elvis, an iconic album artwork, the music that's deemed pivotal, at least so they say. To me, it’s just another rockabilly/country/rock and roll stuff from the 50s (look up my review of Chirping Crickets by Buddy Holly & The Crickets for reasons). I belong to a camp of those questioning Elvis’s luck, status, and the "King of Rock and Roll" label. How about "King of Bleached Rock and Roll"? As of today, this music and his persona mean little to me, if anything. The sound, lyrics, and overall style feel dated and even laughable. Let it be a low 3 out of 5. I wonder what Monday brings, aka looking forward to #day39.

This is #day37 of my #1001albumsyoumusthearbeforeyoudie challenge, and... here we are with "an album by the Serbian-born musician Suba, his musical account of life in that humid, foggy, and manic megalopolis." Hell, yeah, that's the album description to get me sold on. Not to mention the album title and the artwork. What else do you need? Oh, wait, the music? It's dark and sultry, with a touch of wickedness to it... It kind of sounds like Sade Adu accompanied by a supergroup consisting of Amon Tobin and Bohren & der Club of Gore, peppered with Latin and Samba, though. During the listen, I raised my eyebrows a couple of times. That was fun. I'm giving it a strong 4 out of 5. Looking forward to #day38.

This is #day36 of my #1001albumsyoumusthearbeforeyoudie challenge, and... it's a sullen September morning in Lviv, I'm listening to a full Bruce Springsteen album for the first time. Until today, I've only heard "Born In The U.S.A." (a single song), and never an entire album. Knowing, however, that this is heartland rock, I viewed it as a musical reflection of personal places and memories: home, childhood, and beloved people... themes that I relate to. This perspective deepened my appreciation for the music, I guess. What struck me was Springsteen's vocal delivery. It varies from mumbling to singing to screaming, which is a rather unpredictable versatility, whether due to production choices or Springsteen's style, we'll see (I believe this isn't his only album on the list). I found the backing band, especially the keys, the sax, and the drum and bass sections, particularly enjoyable. I also started to understand where The Killers might draw their influences. On the other can't, I couldn't help labeling this as a case in point of "dad rock," mainly due to the release date, stylistic elements, and the "working-class" leitmotif. But, overall, it was a nice discovery. This is a 3 out of 5. Looking forward to #day37.

This is #day35 of my #1001albumsyoumusthearbeforeyoudie challenge, and... it's a September morning, the fall sky is pewter, and the air is pregnant with rain... The scene begs for corresponding music. And that should not be "sunshine" music. Also, a Scottish guy playing reggae? Don't get me started. This is a 1 out of 5, and I hope I never listen to it ever again. Looking forward to #day36.

This is #day34 of my #1001albumsyoumusthearbeforeyoudie challenge, and... it's all about the vibe here. Happy Mondays... Even though I prefer Pills 'n' Thrills and Bellyaches (the 2020 UK & EU vinyl reissue slams hard, by the way), I find Bummed to be an essential document of the Madchester era. It's nothing short of psychedelic, funky, ecstasy-driven sonic sluggishness. Agreed, it's not The Stone Roses or New Order circa Technique (and it shouldn't be), but there's something about the laid-back, goofy nature of this record that you can't resist. Can you? I'm giving it a 4 out of 5. Looking forward to #day35.

This is #day33 of my #1001albumsyoumusthearbeforeyoudie challenge, and... when I first looked at the artwork, I thought it would be some post-hardcore, but then... Yes, somebody can play the guitar. But this isn't an album I'd be willing to put on before I die. For this reason, I'm giving it a 2 out of 5. Looking forward to #day34.

This is #day32 of my #1001albumsyoumusthearbeforeyoudie challenge, and... that's a gentle way to start the week. The list seems to have taken a somewhat linear path recently, moving through country, folk, early rock and roll, and back to folk. But today's pick is a different kind of folk. I was introduced to Nick Drake by a friend a couple of years ago, and it's one of those rare recommendations I decided to keep. Even though I prefer a more inward-looking Nick Drake, with his introspective and solitary style, this album offers something exquisite. It feels as though a shy guy with a guitar wanted some company. And... he found it in the form of backing instruments, which resulted in a beautifully rich sound. Bryter Layter blends contemplative, melancholic folk with lush arrangements sprinkled with flute, sax, strings, and more. This is an album worth listening to before you die. Personal highlights are "At The Chime of A City Clock" and "Poor Boy." I'm giving it a 5 out of 5 this time around. Looking forward to #day33.

This is #day31 of my #1001albumsyoumusthearbeforeyoudie challenge, and... the first full week of September 2024 is coming to a close. A beautiful sunny Sunday afternoon. As I listen to this album, I watch my loved one sitting on a couch, an apple in one hand, a book in another, and I feel happy. The music on the album matches the mood, throwing me back to Carole King's Tapestry. It's warm and comfortable. I particularly liked the string of songs beginning with "Steamroller" through "Anywhere Like Heaven." The whole album, actually. But since I'm not sure I'll be coming back to it soon, this is a 3 out of 5. It's a nice discovery all the same. Looking forward to #day32.

This is #day30 of my #1001albumsyoumusthearbeforeyoudie challenge, and... I messed up the numbers in the previous review and wrote #day28, which should have been #29 instead. Anyway, country... I've nothing to say except this music leaves me indifferent. Sorry, but we're back to square one with, you guess, a 1 out of 5. Looking forward to #day31.

This is #day28 of my #1001albumsyoumusthearbeforeyoudie challenge, and... here we are with something from the '50s again... I have to agree that reviewing music from this era can be tricky. On one hand, something is intriguing about stripping away modern influences and enjoying the simple themes of love and longing... her leaving, his yearning, and so on. Until you realize it doesn't "work" that way any longer. As the third or fourth song starts, the naivety becomes more apparent. This pre-rock era's country-bluesy rock and roll, with its surely unmistakable hiccuping vocals, doesn't captivate me in the way it might have back then. I do get its influence and importance, but it feels like watching movies from the '50s: kind of fun but not as engaging in a modern context. I'm giving it a 2 out of 5. Looking forward to #day30.

This is #day28 of my #1001albumsyoumusthearbeforeyoudie challenge and... I'm pleasantly surprised again by an entry on this list. I've heard only the band's name, never listening to a single song. I mean never. So I'm happy the stars aligned, and not only am I discovering TV On The Radio from their debut, but listening to it now, 20 years after it came out. Now, this is intricately weird music. And I like weird! A couple of other names come to mind while listening to TVOTR: Algiers and The Veldt. All three share one common core. Soul. But, while the first band blends it with industrial, darkwave, and hip-hop, the second, with shoegaze, TV On the Radio, with post-punk, noise, and all sorts of experimental sonic paraphernalia imaginable. That was really interesting. This is a strong 4 out of 5. Looking forward to #day29.

This is #day27 of my #1001albumsyoumusthearbeforeyoudie challenge, and... it's only my second album of theirs if we don't count Voyage, which was the very first ABBA album I fully listened to, aside from individual hits, of course. What always drew me in was the album cover. Dark and ominous, it starkly contrasts ABBA's upbeat pop music. This shift is reflected in the album itself; The Visitors marks a departure in both sound and emotional depth. The music is pensive and progressive, with poignant lyrics, though not always. There are many gems, such as the title track, "Head Over Heels," "When All Is Said And Done," and "I Let The Music Speak," each one a beautiful yet bittersweet example of the band's evolution. I'm giving it a solid 4 out of 5. This is truly an album you must hear before you die. Looking forward to #day28.

This is #day26 of my #1001albumsyoumusthearbeforeyoudie challenge, and... Talking Heads happened to me in 2014 when I was 24. Seeing a Stop Making Sense concert movie at one of the local pubs here in Lviv was both eccentric and entertaining. Looking back, I can say it was the right time: in 2004, I was soaking up electronic and rock music, which would define my taste later on, so, one way or another, 2014 marked a new decade of my music revelations. The result? Talking Heads have stayed with me, becoming one of my favorite bands. Although I prefer a run of their albums from 1979 to 1983, I still find the debut fu-fu-fu-fun to listen to. This is a 5 out of 5. Looking forward to #day27.

This is #day25 of my #1001albumsyoumusthearbeforeyoudie challenge, and... yet another first-timer here. I'm aware of The Bad Seeds' discography and album covers, but somehow I've never listened to this one (as some of their other works either). Now, I'm not a big fan of double albums. I like Nick Cave, but listening to this was rather tiring as I prefer the band's later works, such as Skeleton Tree and Ghosteen. A couple of highlights are "Hiding All Away" and, of course, "O Children." There might be some others, but this isn't the record I would be giving another spin to remember them. I'm giving it a 3 out of 5. Looking forward to #day26.

This is #day24 of my #1001albumsyoumusthearbeforeyoudie challenge, which is also the first day of autumn 2024, and... to me, among the classic '80s post-punk acts, say, Echo & The Bunnymen, The Chameleons, Sad Lovers & Giants (some of my favorites), and others, The Teardrop Explodes have always fallen behind. This listen wasn't an exception. The music is good, but because it's kind of too pop (?), I can't relate to it on a level I do with those other bands. My favorite song here is Second Head. Anyway, this is a 3 out of 5 today. Looking forward to #day25, which also means getting back to work as my short vacation is over. Fingers crossed, random generator.

This is #day23 of my #1001albumsyoumusthearbeforeyoudie challenge, which is also the last day of summer 2024, and... what a nice surprise this album was when I turned it on. I've never heard of the band, but (so far) this is a rare case when an entry on the list is some wonderful music. I love the sound. Grandiose, begs the description. An enjoyable combination of new wave, power pop, and alternative rock, underpinned by majestic vocals. And, compared to most albums on the list I've had to listen to recently (but not only... this one's genuinely a great record), I'm giving it a strong 4 out of 5. It deserves more love and attention. So... be it. Looking forward to #day24.