Reviews by theblanderman

While I can appreciate the music of most of this record, the lyrics and themes read as shallow reflections of the ills of the world. Ones that Janet Jackson likely didn't face head to head due to her family's success (most of them, anyway). Like that one story about little Johnny - definitely an eyeroll there. Not a horrible record but one i won't return to. 2.5/5 -> 3/5

One of the best rap albums ever created. We pulled out the vinyl for a listening party just for the occasion. 5/5

This album was exceptionally tedious. Elvis didn't hit a successful balance between the claimed "experimental musical pallets", and his vocals. He just barrels over everything without taking a pause, and with himself sitting way on top in the mix. The songs all listened the same, and while there were some good moments this was all around nit my thing. 2/5

Love some good dance music. Not many high highs or low lows but pleasant while it's on.

A derivative, and generally uninteresting album. He sings way too high in the register which makes his voice sound at the breaking point much if the time. Most of the songs sound like bad Michael Jackson/Jackson 5 covers (horn sections and all). The slower ballads also weren't amazing, other than Sign Your Name which is a bop. If he had gone in more of a Sade direction with this I think it'd have been more successful. 2/5

Ugh, I was on the fence here. One one hand some of the guitar work and beats are kind of nice, on the other some of the other songs are annoyingly repetitive. I especially didn't like the second song which sounded like a lesson in Spanish 101. Overall less impressed. 2.4/5 -> 2/5

Pretty interesting and grungy listen. Most of the songs I felt were "good" but some were great when they got a bit more "noise rock". Poledo was a great finisher. 3/5

A weak comeback album from Bob. The songs were all about 2× longer than they needed to be, the content was pretty homogeneous, and really there were no standout moments. Sometimes more or less pleasant, but not enought to average up. 2.4/5 -> 2/5

This was not my thing. Disc 1 was especially grating, and while disc 2 was an improvement it still wasn't a great time. 2/5

I'm going to create a new genre where I whisper in a small Styrofoam cup while stomping out a beat. I'll get my wooden clogs on, grab my favorite one-use dixie drinking receptacle, and go to the local studio to record a 139 minute album. Folks won't get it at first, but years from now it will be known as one of the pioneering albums of stomp 'n' hushcup.

I'm being facetious, and I typically like off the wall music, but honestly who would go out of their way to listen to nearly 140 minutes of drum and bass!? And not just that, the fact that it won so many prizes?? I feel like I'm taking crazy pills.

I listened to this years ago and thought i liked it, but in retrospect I made it through maybe half of disc 1. I'm sorry Roni Size, but I was just begging the album to be over by the 30 minute mark. I'll give an extra .4 for the craftsmanship. 1.4/5 -> 1/5

A tough one. This is my personal favorite of the Arcade Fire albums I've heard but it's by no means perfect. I had to break it down song by song:
Amazing - Black Mirror, Neon Bible, Ocean of Noise, My Body Is a Cage
Good - Intervention, Bad Vibrations, The Well and the Lighthouse
Meh - Keep the Car Running, Black Wave, (Antichrist Television Blues), Windowsill
Shit - No Cars Go
On one hand Neon Bible absolutely nails the bookends with Black Mirror and My Body Is a Cage which gives it a leg up, but between those 4.5 songs are "good" and above, and 4.5 songs are "meh" and below. All around it is an inconsistent album with high highs and some lows, but at the end of the day I keep coming back. 3.5/5 -> 4/5

I was on the fence here. Really not much staying power with most of these songs. Maybe it'd be pleasant for the background, but I can think of a number of other reggae albums i find more interesting. Just ok. 2.4/5 -> 2/5

That'll do, Eels, that'll do. 3/5

A great progressive rock album that has mostly stood the test of time. His vocals are a bit silly, and it's not as iconic as many of it's contemporaries, but nice overall. 4/5

Super compelling and cacaphonous album that has a great meaning. Some moments feel a bit stale in the middle but impressive nonetheless. 4/5

I love the album artwork here, it's really provocative and is the highlight of the album for me. The music is good, Curtis just has a really delicate voice that doesn't always do it. The song jesus is incredibly annoying and preachy. All around good though. 3/5

Being from the seattle area, I grew up with grunge. It's amazing the diversity of sub-genres within the genre (which makes sense, as "grunge" is largely a geography and time-based concept) - Alice In Chains leans metal, Mudhoney and Green River lean punk, Nirvana, Soundgarden and Pearl Jam all lean comfortably between hard rock and alternative rock. Screaming trees are about as far toward alternative rock as possible. Many songs have very melodic hooks and are catchy, and Mark's vocals sometimes leaned a bit country. They had cool ideas, though I generally am less excited listening to their albums than many others in the genre due to the softness of the music and "meh" guitar playing. A landmark album nonetheless. 3/5

The fact that Fiona wrote and composed this lush, meticulously crafted album before she was 20 is absolutely incredible. A jazzy, well constructed breath of fresh air. 5/5

I was expecting to absolutely hate this album given that it's 2000s "Alternative Country", "roots rock", and is "51:57". But I was pleasantly surprised. Definitely an elvis/Dylan thing going at the beginning that turned into slower ballads later in. Not something I'd replay but not too shabby. 3/5

Not too shabby. Pretty descent 80s pop hits some of which i've heard before. 3/5