Reviews by tape-boy

This is #day22 of my #1001albumsyoumusthearbeforeyoudie challenge, and... how about an album from 50 years ago? I must admit that before today, I only knew Stevie Wonder mostly because of "I Just Called To Say I Love You," which is kind of corny, as I assume his legacy and influence stretch far beyond that song. So, this is another first-timer for me, and my first Stevie Wonder album, too. What can I say? Well, it's kind of fine... But it's not the record I'd want to revisit soon, or ever. I'm not seeking feel-good music either. Besides, something tells me more of his works will be on this list down the road, so... This is a 3 out of 5 this time. Looking forward to #day23.

This is #day21 of my #1001albumsyoumusthearbeforeyoudie challenge, and... discovering a record released 60 years ago and learning about the Star Club and its history is great. Yes, it's a wild live album, full of energy, presence, and all that. But... it leaves a bitter taste when you dig deeper. Why does a panel of music critics that compiled this list tolerate moral degenerates? This isn't the first time. For this reason, I'm giving it a 1 out of 5. Looking forward to #day22.

This is #day20 of my #1001albumsyoumusthearbeforeyoudie challenge, and... I'm fine with Arctic Monkeys in general (actually, their debut still holds a special place in my heart), but I'm not a fan of this baroque-western indie rock with occasional orchestral romances that Alex Turner is head over heels for. Is this album so significant that it's featured on the list? I would never choose to play it when I'm knocking on heaven's door. "Standing Next To Me" is a lovely tune, though (listened to it back in the day). Overall, this is a 2 out of 5. Am I being too harsh at this point? Looking forward to #day21.

This is #day19 of my #1001albumsyoumusthearbeforeyoudie challenge, and… Sally was able to wait, as today Oasis announced their first reunion gigs in 16 years. Well played, random generator. I've always belonged to the Oasis camp, with (What's the Story) Morning Glory? being my favorite of theirs. When it comes to Blur, though, I'd only ever heard selected songs. So today, more than 30 years after its release, I finally sat down and listened to this one from start to finish. It's a fun and versatile record: full of attitude, very London, sometimes almost too London. But that was the point back then. Britishness and all that. I also like the album cover. So if there's one Blur album you kind of must hear before you die, I suppose it's this one? This is a 4 out of 5. Looking forward to #day20.

This is #day18 of my #1001albumsyoumusthearbeforeyoudie challenge, and... it must have been fun to dance to this in mid-50s parties, I guess. Not for me, however. I can't catch up with the tempo. When the tempo does get slower, though, I'm already exhausted by the previous song to be able to listen to the next one. Also, that sax makes me jump every time it pierces through. Is that what Jump Blues is about? This is a 2 out of 5 from me. Looking forward to #day19.

This is #day17 of my #1001albumsyoumusthearbeforeyoudie challenge, and… I was kind of rough when I first reviewed this record, so I decided to revisit it. Maybe I want to try to like her, or maybe just understand her better. Either way, you can't deny there's no one quite like Björk. Debut opens up a one-of-a-kind world of eccentricity and atmosphere. The '90s UK dance and trip-hop influences are unmistakable. But there's more going on here than just that. Personal highlights: "Human Behaviour" and "Venus As A Boy," among a few others. I'm giving it a 4 out of 5. Still think that she's overrepresented on this list. Looking forward to #day18.

This is #day16 of my #1001albumsyoumusthearbeforeyoudie challenge, and... let's rock! Or, shall we? Although I'm listening to this one for the first time, I was immediately sold on the synth-led songs ("Jump" and "I'll Wait," especially "Jump"), and the drumming on "Hot For Teacher." Well, the drumming in general. However, guitar solos are too much in-your-face. Other than that, typical mid-80s hairy, hard, and heavy glam rock that I wouldn't listen to regularly. Let it be a 3 out of 5. Looking forward to #day17.

This is #day15 of my #1001albumsyoumusthearbeforeyoudie challenge, and... another plastic poo-poo pop. Has the world gone flat? What's wrong with the list at this point? Or, is it just me? This is easily a 1 out of 5. I guess I'll go and listen to "Flowers" by Miley Cyrus. Unlike shit that I just syringed into my ears, that song makes me feel. Looking forward to #day16.

This is #day14 of my #1001albumsyoumusthearbeforeyoudie challenge, and... here's another name/album I haven't heard before. Given the approach that music is made on this one, I'd rather revisit DJ Shadow's debut. Yes, it's kind of smart, but somehow... it doesn't stick. Maybe because the mix of genres is too overwhelming. Maybe because I'm not a huge fan of French house or those vintage disco sounds. I don't know. So, it's 2 out of 5 this time. Looking forward to #day15, which is also the beginning of my short vacation (of course, I'm not taking a break from the challenge). So, don't let me down, random generator.

This is #day13 of my #1001albumsyoumusthearbeforeyoudie challenge, and... I must admit I was a little skeptical when I saw that this is a movie score. Yes, I know Air and the omnipresence of their Moon Safari on similar lists, although I never really paid attention to this band. But... movie score? Stupid me! It's like early Pink Floyd got equipped with synthesizers and went electronic. I'm fairly impressed by what I've heard on this album. It hit all the right spots. Entirely enjoyable. And I've got to revisit the movie soon. This is a 4 out of 5 this time. Looking forward to #day14.

This is #day12 of my #1001albumsyoumusthearbeforeyoudie challenge, and... this album makes me feel nothing but irritation. Bland, uninspired, etc. For this reason, it's joining the company of 1s. Also, why is there an album from 2018 already? Has the list been revised or something? I thought it was a 2016 version. Whatever. Looking forward to #day13.

This is #day11 of my #1001albumsyoumusthearbeforeyoudie challenge, and... unfortunately, I can't say much about this selection. I don't mind some folk once in a while, but this was a little too dragging. "Long Time Gone" is probably the most memorable cut here. Sorry guys, but this is a 2 out of 5 this time. Looking forward to #day12.

This is #day 10 of my #1001albumsyoumusthearbeforeyoudie challenge, and... luckily, I never heard a song by this "character" in my entire life. I wish it would continue that way. But I just listened to the whole damn album because that's what this challenge is about. What can I say? I'd rather die than do it ever again. I like some hip-hop once in a while, but this... is a lifeless pile of crap. 65M monthly listens on Spotify only is scary. Stop this world, I want to get off. Looking forward to #day11.

This is #day9 of my #1001albumsyoumusthearbeforeyoudie challenge, and... how many times must I have died listening to this record? Joy Division happened to me in 2008, when I was 18. I guess it was tied with that Control movie by Anton Corbijn, The Killers' cover of Shadowplay, which I didn't first know was a cover (I still cherish that Sawdust compilation, btw), and also my then infatuation with Interpol (how come Turn On The Bright Lights isn't on this list?!) Funny how I didn't quite like what I heard when I first turned on Unknown Pleasures. "A 50-year-old tired man struggling to get through the stark darkness of minimal post-punk", my first impression was. But, time went by, and I kept coming back to Unknown Pleasures... Now, have I discovered those pleasures? I'm not sure (actually, I prefer questioning things to finding answers to them, so I don't mind keeping it unknown; isn't that what pleasure is about?) But as I'm writing these words and listening to this album for not even a tenth time in my life, I must admit it has become an essential part of me and my taste in music, rooted in the '80s indie and alternative. I don't get to listen to this album that often, but when I do, it's always a "special moment in time". I think, however, I'll stay in a camp of those (how many of you are out there?) enjoying more of an "in-the-flat-field" type of Joy Division, like "Day Of The Lords," "Candidate," "New Dawn Fades," and "I Remember Nothing." This is a "me-in-my-own-world" music. A solid 5 this time. Looking forward to #day10.

This is #day8 of my #1001albumsyoumusthearbeforeyoudie challenge, and... how about some '90s hip-hop? I only knew "Ready Or Not," which was on heavy rotation on the radio in my childhood, so I never listened to the album in full until today. What do we get under the cover? Some of the best specimens of alternative rap music out there. Not gangsta rap, but genuine hip-hop, telling a story. The productions, the live instruments, and the flow make this record an amazing listening experience. I also love the blend of male and female vocals here. How about a 5 this time around? You bet. Looking forward to #day9.

This is #day7 of my #1001albumsyoumusthearbeforeyoudie challenge, and... what the fuck did I just listen to? Starting with song #3, I couldn't wait for this to end. Can anybody explain to me the significance of this album being featured on the list? That was rather annoying. The first entry on the list that I'm generously giving a 1 out of 5. Looking forward to #day8.

This is #day6 of my #1001albumsyoumusthearbeforeyoudie challenge, and... again, I have neither seen nor listened to this album/artist before. But I can play a guessing game by looking at the artwork: singer-songwriter pop, early 70's folk, some Joplin/hippie vibes maybe? I don't mind. Just look at that cat looking at you! This is a beautiful morning album (somehow, I get to listen to all of these albums in the morning). A kind of music that begs the vinyl. Cozy music, if you will. I Feel The Earth Move and It's Too Late are personal favorites. But there are other gems here like You've Got A Friend or Smackwater Jack. I'm giving it a 3. Looking forward to #day7.

This is #day5 of my #1001albumsyoumusthearbeforeyoudie challenge, and... somehow, I've always passed this band by. So, as you might expect, this is my first time listening to this album. I seem to be getting the sound and where it's coming from: NYC 70's punk, garage rock, bits of 00's post-punk revival in the likes of the Strokes (more) or Interpol (less). Sadly, the band/music/delivery doesn't click with me. Given the year it was released, I'd rather stick with Turn On The Bright Lights (I hope it's on the list, isn't it?), although it's more in a different vein. Sorry, guys, but this is the first contender for my lowest rate so far. Modern Romance was sweet, though. Looking forward to #day6.

This is #day4 of my #1001albumsyoumusthearbeforeyoudie challenge, and... look what we got in here! I remember reading somewhere about album artworks that while Kid A hints at the hell on the horizon that you're merely observing, Amnesiac is the hell you're in. "After years of waiting, nothing came," an unmistakable way to start a Radiohead album. Amnesiac is a darkly paranoid record that leaves you with a sense of anxiety, dread, and irk. Is music that stirs in you those kinds of feelings a good one? Absolutely. I'm here for Yorke's apocalyptic moans and his cronies' wild experimentations. Now, bring on Kid A, and let's go down the waterfall... That said, I'm not sure it's an album of theirs to listen to before you die. The Bends, OK Computer, Kid A, and, I guess, In Rainbows are. Still, this is a 4 out of 5. Looking forward to #day5.

This is #day3 of my #1001albumsyoumusthearbeforeyoudie challenge, and... I have never listened to an album by Bob Marley in its entirety in my life. Only a couple of songs... Now, reggae? Not my cup of tea at all, but I get the way reggae and dub influenced the rhythm and depth of post-punk (some early trip-hop comes to mind as well... think "Blue Lines"), which is the genre I find myself most comfortable with. The Police is a perfect example of marrying both (yes, I love Sting). Anyway, Exodus flows fine from the first track (my favorite here) until the last one. I like the vibe and all those Rastaman vibrations, but is this the record I'd want to return to anytime soon? Rather unlikely. Did I enjoy discovering it as part of this challenge? More yes than no. Let it be a 3 this time around. Looking forward to #day4.