Reviews by tjehl

No wonder such harsh and bleak beats were divisive in the late 70’s. It’s not exactly easy listening.

I like it though. I think?

More experimental and daring than the debut. The fact that so many versions of this album have been released proves just how revered it is so some.

I still don’t get the hype of Big Star after this one though. It’s fine but is it really THAT good?

While side A is great, it's side B that's truly gets me going on Before And After Science.

It's a goodbye to Eno, the rock musician, and a welcome to Eno, the avant/ambient mastermind.

This album is the definition of best of both worlds.

Quite surprised that Absolution is not on this list instead. It’s as accessible and even better - Origin of Symmetry is a less obvious (but even better) choice.

That said - I love BH&R.
Muse, and especially Bellamy, suffers from megalomania and the result is an over the top and massive album ranging from somber ballads to aggressive and paranoid rock pieces.

You’re probably not into the rest of their discography if this isn’t for you.

The 90’s would have sounded vastly different if not for the blistering noise of 80’s Dinosaur Jr.

Also, what the fuck is “Poledo”?

23 year old Tracy Chapman sings with the power, maturity and wisdom of a woman who’s lived a full life already.

This couldn’t possibly have been produced in a studio at the time - obviously needed to be a live album.

MC5 was really ahead of their time and while I’m not really down with all of their choices I’m always ready to kick out the jams, motherfuckers!

The fact that this might not be in my top 5 Neil Young albums just speak to the quality of this man’s songwriting.

I mean … It’s pretty good.

Is it extraordinary? No.
Is it unique? No.
Should it really be on this list? No.

I’ll cut it some slack due to the great nature of the quieter tracks though.

One of my favorite new wave goes synth-pop albums.

The gloomy and almost gothic ambience makes it incredibly intriguing - especially due to Mike Kern’s layers of saxophone.

It’s never busy and you feel that Japan take the time needed to let their arrangements breathe. It’s just as great listen!

The bridge between Eno the band member and Eno the ambient artist.

Another Green World is strongest when Eno gets everyone to do as little as possible and just lets the magic slowly evolve - they are not bad by any means (how could they be when you look at that backing band), but I probably would have preferred a non-vocal version.

Easily one of Clapton’s greatest solo efforts. 461 Ocean Boulevard showcases his skills on the six string while never making him seem flashy - he just goes with the arrangements and binds everything together like hot glue.

A few really strong songs keep this record from ultimately collapsing under its own weight - “On A Rope” being the prime example.

Rocket From The Crypt don’t know whether they should stick to their hardcore roots or fully embrace the commercialization. The result is a weird middle road - one that I don’t hate, but it’s weird nonetheless.

I read a bit about their live performances; I wasn’t around to see that, but I rate them higher than this.

“Okay, so how did you imagine getting that live sound on your upcoming album?”

“Hear me out. We will all play at the same time - in front of an audience!”

“Oh, so it is a live album then?”

“WHAT?! No! I must be explaining it badly … You see … “

Does an album require more than Dylan covers and great vocal harmonies to be really good? Apparently not.

Rundgren is a wonderfully creative and talented musician and songwriter. His albums always burst with ideas and this is no exception.

Well - it’s not really an actual album now, is it? It could easily be a clumsy affair with no cohesion; but it is instead divided into four separate, shorter albums with their own individuality.

The first three are rather brilliant, but I don’t really catch the vibe of the fourth and final which ultimately makes the album too long.

1 and ⅓ star for each of the first three - and then a deduction for the fourth side.

Touré’s greatest album until his later collaborations with the brilliant Toumani Diabaté.

Talking Timbuktu is a journey through a wide variety of languages and cultures - and even though Ry Cooder probably deserves a lot of praise for this, Ali Farka Touré is the true star of this record.

Some live albums make you wonder if the live element makes an actual difference.
That is not the case for At Folsom Prison.

Raw, alive and at times chaotic - there’s just no faking the energy of Cash and the inmates of Folsom Prison.

Cool beats, great scratching and an impeccable flow is really the cornerstone of every good East Coast hip hop album.

Gang Starr tick off every box.

It unfortunately ends up being too long, but the overall aesthetics and ideas are great. Lemper’s vocals are mesmerizing and the songwriting is stellar - even though it’s difficult to keep up the pace when opening the album with a Nick Cave-song and the powerful “The Case Continues”.