thelofistorm

Now, listen. I’m not a monster, and I’m not an idiot either. I love “Come On, Eileen.” And this belongs on here. That’s what I know. It’s foundational Irish rock, foundational 80s pop rock, it has one of the best pop rock songs of all time on it, and yet…

Ehhh. It’s fine. The highlights are highlights but they’re few and far between in all honesty. I don’t care for most of the songs, other than the charming opener which I enjoy plenty, the main attraction, that being “Eileen,” and “Plan B/Show Me,” which by any measure is a pretty alright song.

I don’t really know what to say. I don’t love it, but I don’t dislike it. Maybe I don’t like it. Maybe I won’t think of it. What I know is it’s listenable, and you should hear its biggest song. That’s good enough for me.
6.2/10
DOES IT BELONG ON THE LIST: YES
REASON: foundational, fun, charming, has “Come On Eileen” on it.

I like Paul McCartney a lot. This album is no exception. I also think that this album, like plenty of other Paul stuff, is quite half-formed. Even on its best songs (“Maybe I’m Amazed” notwithstanding), it feels like something Paul came up on the spot. In a way I’m glad he put this out before Ram, it feels like a somewhat worthy precursor to that MASTERPIECE. That being said it doesn’t impress and doesn’t do much for me.

“Junk,” though hindered somewhat by its brevity, is charming at worst and enchanting at best, “Wasn’t We Lonely” is a sort of bright spot, though it’s obviously not a very formed song, much more of an idea in any case. Paul’s knack for rhythm and charm make this album more than bearable, though his lack of motivation to do anything other than flounder about makes it a disappointment.

“Maybe I’m Amazed” is not like any of these other songs, it is obviously an incredible outing of pop rock. It’s an incredible song, a classic of the McCartney Canon, and easily the high point of this album. It’s only a shame it lands on such an underwhelming album.
5.9/10
DOES IT BELONG ON THE LIST: NAH
REASON: TOO HALF-BAKED; SEEK IT OUT FOR YOURSELF IF YOU MUST
WHAT WOULD I REPLACE IT WITH: Yoko Ono / Plastic Ono Band

The Wailers’ “Abbey Road.” Or their “The Stranger.” Whether it is truly their best, it is deservedly their most popular, vastly so. It has their most iconic songs on it, “Jamming,” “One Love,” and “Three Little Birds” to name a few, and it overall is a really pretty album. I greatly enjoy it.

It also spans across the two topics that Bob Marley sang best about: love and systemic injustice. Most of his albums, this included, eventually reach a sort of middle point between the two, with this one culminating in the complete merge of the two, in “One Love/People Get Ready,” one of the most beautiful songs ever and one of the best reggae songs of the 1970s.

I confess, I will always remain partial to The Wailers’ swan song, Uprising, over this outing, because of my personal attachment to it, and my preference for a number of songs it features over any other Wailers release; that being said this is obviously more important, arguably the most important reggae album ever made, and for that it deserves perhaps more dues than Uprising.
9.1/10
DOES IT BELONG ON THE LIST: YES
REASON: to some, the statement piece for not only one of the most important bands ever, but one of the most important genres ever.

Fela Kuti and the Cream drummer! Incredible stuff. Oh my. Fela is just absolutely electric onstage, and the instrumentalists all play so well. I’m astonished by this album’s quality frankly.

The best song is probably the last one, just because of the visceral nature of such a title, and the way Fela says it at the beginning: “Carry Me, I Want To Die.” He’s somber, and stony. It is a truly great performance.

Ginger does some good work here too. You can feel the rhythm, the funkiness, deep in here, and his experience adds something for sure. I like his willingness to collaborate out of the spotlight, many white men could learn from that. Great album.
9.2/10
DOES IT BELONG ON THE LIST: YES
REASON: landmark collaboration, great tunes

Oh, After the Gold Rush. You have one, maybe two incredible songs; everything else is unimpressive at best. Yet you remain one of the most celebrated folk outings of the last however many years. Why? Why is this the case? I don’t think I will ever understand.

“Tell Me Why” is beautiful. It is the album’s best song hands-down. It is the only unmistakably incredible song on the album, at least to me. From there, “Southern Man” and “When You Dance I Can Really Love” both also stand out as awesome, but the former feels as if it’s on autopilot, and the latter isn’t much more than a really fun, sweet little joint. I also really enjoy “Cripple Creek Ferry,” but it’s short! So short! It’s less than 2 minutes long! It’s very pretty though.

Other songs on here, the title track is cute, yet Young’s vocals can grate, and it’s much too simplistic. “Birds” has a similar problem, it’s very forgettable. The entire album can tend to be actually. “Only Love Can Break Your Heart” is very pretty, though I don’t love love love the hook. I don’t know. The album is pretty and it’s cute. That’s kind of it…

This album is a pretty necessary listen. That much is obvious. It is not very great though. That is what I will say.
6.8/10
DOES IT BELONG ON THE LIST: YES
REASON: place in history