Reviews by verbaljazz

Decent album. Some songs with great hooks.

Before seeing this album today, I was thinking about what I would say about The Smiths when one of their albums came up. The title track is one of the all time best opening tracks on any album, with, perhaps the funniest line ever in a song: "She says, 'Eh, I know you and you cannot sing.'/ I said, 'That's nothing you should hear me play piano.'" It gets me every time.

Morrissey took his gift for sardonic lyricism, and his inimitable vocal style and decided to become a world class crank in his old age. While his lyrics capture the maudlin misanthropy of many a youth, Morrissey has chosen to not grow up. But in not growing up, he's not an athlete failing to realize the game has passed him by, but a poet obsessed with holding everyone in judgment of not being worthy of his time or consideration. He judges everyone for failing to live up to his standards, without acknowledging that the problem is him.

But, Johnny Marr. Johny Marr. Has there ever been a guitar player with a better sense of melody? His chord changes are exquisite: so understated, so flash-less and so in service to the songs. The music of these songs is where the magic starts.

The lyrics make the music come alive and make the Smiths one of the most idiosyncratic bands ever.

Imagine listening to Hendrix as he was putting out new music. He must have seemed like a creature from some other planet, an endless improviser looking for new sounds from an electric guitar. While his output is legendary, and often brilliant, it seems like there were steps waiting to be taken and music left unexplored due to his untimely death. But we were fortunate to have what he left behind.

There are some great moments on this album (Little Wing, Castles Made of Sand, If 6 Was 9, Spanish Castle Magic, Bold as Love), but also some filler.

If you can be a big influence on The Cure and Radiohead, maybe you're on to something.

Who's inspired more think pieces: Elvis or The Beatles? If Elvis had lived, he's be dead by now.

What is striking about this album is how good the backing band is. Just listen to the bass lines! Wow!

Elvis himself sounds like a relic at this point. It's cringe to listen to a wealthy white musician who appropriated Black music sing about the ghetto.

The musicianship is top-notch.

There is no denying the enormous influence this album had on hip hop and popular music in general.

Not a fan of the misogyny, but the sampling and the flow of the rap is top-notch.

Such a great album! Pixies did not sound like anything else. They anticipated '90s grunge, but somehow sounded weirder, like a punk band that was into art films.

The covers on this can charitably be described as....different.

Some decent songs, a lot of misses.

This album just sounds like the 1960s. Pleasant enough sound, nothing groundbreaking. Good covers should make you think about songs differently.

Just seemed to run together.

The music is great, the lyrics are not. Their biggest hits are about a guy who refuses to commit (Freebird), and a Neil Young diss track (not on this record). Southern Rock doesn't exist without Lynyrd Skynyrd.

The best thing that ever happened to Dave Mustaine was getting kicked out of Metallica. The best thing that happened to Metallica was kicking out Dave Mustaine. Some Mustaines were born to run free.

How had I not ever taken the time to listen to this?

Back when this was released, album covers were critical, and this cover does not do anything to sell the music on the album.

Having an annoying singer with questionable singing talent/skill is not in and of itself disqualifying, but this does nothing for me.

Heavy Metal in the 70s and 80s does not exist without the influence of this album.

The lyrics are dark and mercurial, and it's easy to overlook what a great, idiosyncratic singer Ozzy was.

Despite the spoken word interludes sounding like Spinal Tap outtakes and subpar vocals, the music on this is great.

Villain origin story: this album is released on the edge of our villain's puberty. He thinks the songs are okay, but the girls go wild for the good looking band and their lead singer, which causes him to hate the music. Fast forward many years later, and this shows up on the album generator. He decides to be open-minded. After all, Livin' on a Prayer is on this and that's a catchy anthem, and he remembers You Give Love a Bad Name and Wanted Dead or Alive. Then he listens to the album and is gobsmacked by how dated it sounds. The guitar solos don't flow. Every song is designed to be an arena rock anthem. What the villain now understands is that the band was a marketer's dream: the hits were good enough, and that the girls who were into this band probably weren't ones he wanted to be with anyway.

Being at this concert must have been a transcendent experience. A live show is about the music, yes, but also the interaction with the crowd. Sam Cooke was such a great singer and performer. The music leaves you feeling energized and wanting more. And there's something to be said for music that makes you feel good.

Eh, it's fine. Some of the songs later in the album show off an impressive voice. Wouldn't put it on a list of must-hear albums.