Rate Albums

Reviews by thelastbaron

ActuallyPet Shop Boys

4/10

There are only two possible reactions to this album, and they are both depicted on the album cover.

2.0/5.0: Disappointing

Fever RayFever Ray

4/10

Did not enjoy this at all. Vocals were annoying and the music, while interesting, was not good.

1.5/5.0: Bad

Live/DeadThe Grateful Dead

4/10

Good moments, but far, far, far, too long, even for a jam band. Huge portions of this were completely unnecessary and added nothing except time to the album.

1.5/5.0: Bad

Meat Is MurderThe Smiths

6/10

Maybe I wasn't in the mood but this was kind of boring. Yes, it's well-made and the lyrics are good, but my attention kept drifting.

2.5/5.0: Mixed

SincereMJ Cole

4/10

Yes, it's very long and repetitive (par for the course and forgivable), but it's also completely undanceable and boring.

1.5/5.0: Bad

HeadquartersThe Monkees

4/10

Heavily front-loaded album. Really tries hard to be The Beatles from two years before. Unfortunately for them, Sgt Peppers released the next week and made this seem so out of time.

2.0/5.0: Disappointing

Either/OrElliott Smith

10/10

The chord changes on this are beautiful and never predictable. It's like Radiohead or Nirvana playing sad boy folk (this is a good thing).

4.5/5.0: Excellent

Boy in da CornerDizzee Rascal

8/10

I decided to read up on Grime and it turns out (if I'm not mistaken) that the big innovation here is that it's hip-hop over EDM. With that knowledge in mind, my expectations were adjusted and I really enjoyed this. The beats were great and once I got used to his style this was a really good listen.

4.0/5.0: Great

All Hope Is GoneSlipknot

6/10

So many great metal albums to choose from, but no let's add a SECOND Slipknot album to the list.

That said, Is Slipknot really metal? All Hope Is Gone certainly incorporates more metal elements into the music than most of Slipknot's other albums. In fact, when they get into a groove, the music is pretty good - although nothing special in a genre known for musical excellence. For the most part this album leans into hardcore/metalcore riffing (with an emphasis on the groovier aspects of those subgenres), but never gets truly heavy in the way that a death metal, doom metal, or black metal band can.

Genres quibbles aside, my big complaint here is that Corey Taylor's vocals are just not good. His growls are weak - almost any other band using that style has a better vocalist. His screams are just poorly done hardcore punk screams, and his cleans are more poorly done emo croons (and the melody choices are painfully basic).

The big positives are Joey Jordison's phenomenal drumming and the variety on the album (something a lot of other nu metal bands never really got).

Finally, the album would be so much better if they cut the weakest 15 minutes. A tight, groovy, angry 42 minute album might even be worthy of this list.

2.5/5.0: Mixed