Reviews by x2ysx2ys

The 8th best selling album ever in the UK.

The first ‘big’ album to be recorded digitally for the CD market

Won a bunch of awards.

Wildly overrated.

Prejudice-free assessment:
1 over the top ballad but I kind of liked it
2 bop
3 boring ballad
4 boring ballad
5 ballad but marginally more interesting
6 this was ok
7 boring ballad
8 dishwater
9 music from the Streets of Rage beach level
10 pointless reprise

Should be mandatory listening for anyone who starts talking about Oasis whenever Manchester is mentioned.

Amazing how well this has aged for an album nearly 40 years old.

Dusty in Memphis is one of the best albums I’ve had on this list so far. Every song is expertly arranged, great individually but seems to work even better as an album.

By comparison, this album is utterly pointless. Zero cohesion. A bunch of generic covers where just about every song here has a better version by someone else. (The Shirelles, The Supremes, Barbra Streisand, Carly Simon, Dionne Warwick.)

1 star for being another pointless inclusion that felt like filler to get to 1001.

No idea how you even go from Tago Mago, Ege Bamyasi and Future Days to this nonsense.

Terrible person. Great album.

First time listening to this and thought it was great. Will be back for more

Day 271 and I’m feeling jaded with this.

You don’t need to hear 6 Elvis Costello albums before you die. You should probably listen to 1 or 2 tops.

1 star for being a pointless inclusion on the list.

‘British music critic Derek Jewell of The Sunday Times described it as "the Sgt. Pepper of folk." ‘

British music critic Derek Jewell needs hearing aids.

Almost so dark it’s hard to listen to in one sitting.
When it finished I listened to Elliott Smith to cheer myself up.

Deserving of being on the list for sure but I don’t know how many times I’ll choose to put this on.

Third Stevie Wonder album and third time I’m giving 4 stars.

Consistently great

The guy who manufactured Sex Pistols and opened a bondage shop with Vivienne Westwood steals music from 4 continents and creates a disjointed mixtape.

I’d score this a strong ‘whattheactualfuck’ out of five.

22 years ago a friend’s older brother gave me 4 CDs on the same day.

Sonic Youth’s Dirty, Slint’s Spiderland, My Bloody Valentine’s Loveless and Mogwai’s Happy Songs for Happy People.

Ben - thanks for changing my worldview. I should really message you. It’s been a while.

What genre is this album?
Yes.

Don’t know anything outside of Come On Eileen which is a wedding classic for a reason. I actually really enjoyed this. Was close to giving 4 stars a few songs on the back half started to drag.

I didn’t get Sister Scissors back when they were everywhere… I still don’t get them now.

Should probably be a 2 star (I don’t mind the first 2 tracks) but the Comfortably Numb cover is so offensive I’m deducting a star.

I really didn’t expect to like this as much as I did… chilled out great story telling. 3.5 stars and not sure which way to round.

Can’t explain it but it’s such a human sounding album

Situations where I’ve thought South Asian music was good:
A) In India, where it was part of the cultural experience
B) In a curryhouse, and who doesn’t love a curry
C) Listening to The Beatles, and therefore not actually listening to South Asian music at all.

Strip these things away and this kind of music does nothing for me.

Always thought I don’t like Elvis.
Cruise ship karaoke in a jumpsuit.

This one wasn’t the cheese fest I was expecting.
Likely won’t be back but I enjoyed it.