Reviews by theblanderman

Great beats, memorable lines, important lyrics - all around this album hits the mark. The biggest detractor is how repetitive some of the moments are. Repetition can be great to hammer in a point, but too much and it just dilutes the impact. 4.3/5 -> 4/5

I expected more of this but was underwhelmed. Other than her voice being very nice, the songs themselves are lyrically vapid, instrumentally barren, and pandering to a simple-minded pop audience. She wrote few of these tracks on her own, and predominantly got help from people in bands like One Republik that are known for making soulless muzak. Rounding up because she is vocally talented, but this was not successful as an album experience. 1.5/5 -> 2/5

Pretty good. Dolly steals the show on most songs, and the slower ballads are pretty uninteresting. Generally a net positive experience though. 3/5

Emmylou is really just fine - I find it hard to believe she drastically impacted musical history with her inability to break away from mid covers of better artists. OK but not impressive. 2/5

A very OK nothing that special type of album. Nothing offensive but nothing that stands out. 2.5/5 -> 3/5

Some great socially aware tracks and some others that haven't aged perfectly. All around a good listen. 3/5

I was initially underwhelmed but it warmed up on me as I went through the album. Not bad for early heavy metal and much more palatable than much of today's nu metal. 3/5

This started off strong, but fell off a bit around the halfway point. Sarah had a beautiful voice and a lot of talent. This recording was just a bit too long without much variety (especially in the second 30 mins). 3.4/5

There are a few standout moments in this tracklist for sure, but generally I feel like the overall experience is attenuated given how long the album is. It's not a bad listen for sure, but just a tad bloated with some songs that are pretty bland. 3.2/5 -> 3/5

Another instance of an album predominantly included for the hit single. The rest of it is OK, if not a bit subpar. 2.3/5 - > 2/5

Incredibly disappointing. Paper-thin beats, basic lyrics which all just try to flex. Really expected more from Latifah. 1/5

Ska is not a genre I've spent much time with. I generally liked this though. Some colt spots, but the passion was there and I love the song Enjoy Yourself. 3/5

This is incredibly unpleasant to listen to. Diddling off-key garage quality punk rock is not my thing. 1/5

I feel like I just sat in JC Pennies for an hour. What a boring slog of an album, with no personality or unique qualities. Not good. 1/5

god this was a frustrating listen. When I saw the cover I immediately thought I was going to dislike it, but once I saw it was Frank Black of the Pixies fame I thought it might be interesting (though my enjoyment of the pixies is mixed).
This album was a mess. Bloated to all hell, with 90% of the songs being entirely uninteresting. I was the 10% that experimented with more loud rock elements was extended. Unfortunately this one doesn't make it to a favorable rating for me. 1.4/5 -> 1/5

Very ok, older metal album. Very few tracks stood out. Not their most interesting work. 2/5

I had to listen to this album a few times to solidify my opinion.
It was pretty good. Some songs are very strong (In Pursuit of Happiness), some have a meh start and an amazing end (Someone, I'm all you need), one is annoying but gets stuck in your head (everybody knows) and a few are meh/less than impressive (if, if I were you, timewatching). All around a positive experience but not one that blew me away. Would rather listen to 69 love songs. 3/5

Really not a great folk album. Pretty messy and wandering with lifeless paint by the numbers instrumentals, and bad vocals and lyrics. Some moments were OK but not close to deserving of a spot on the list. 1.5/5 - > 2/5

Not a bad album, but it really didn't have much cohesion or direction for its runtime. It jumped around stylistically so much that it really didn't have much of a personality. Elliot Smith and the Microphones have a very similar feel with a more refined sound. 3/5

OK, but other than Light My Fire and Break on Through, not many standout songs. I especially disliked Alabama Song - they should have just kept that song cover off the record. A meh listen. 2/5