This is an intriguing and unique album, one that no other sounded like at the time. The album as a whole feels remarkably connected, yet every song explores a distinct topic. For most, this may be a harder album to really dive into because of the unique sound, vocals, and dark lyrics, but once you give it a real chance, it stands out above most records of the time. It feels like listening to a horror movie in the pastoral woods of medieval England. Completely enveloping your environment and ... read more

The second Nick Drake album represents a significant stylistic shift from his debut. Joe Boyd wanted to make Drake's music more accessible, so the introduction of horns, strings, drums, and woodwind instruments adds a great deal of depth to the album. At times, it can take away from the intimacy of Drake's lyrics and vocals, but most of the time, it works. Drake was becoming more withdrawn and quiet with the failure of Five Leaves Left, but this album doesn't show it. This album ... read more

So this is my first introduction to Yes, and it did not disappoint. This feels like a transitional album for not only the band but the entire rock scene. You can totally see where other progressive rock bands borrowed from this, but also bands like Boston. There are some incredible orchestrations and instrumentals on every single track, but Steve Howe's guitar playing was fantastic. He was the newest member of the band he brings so much.

This has only grown on me over the past week of listening. Every song sounds better than it did the day before, and I think that is due to the masterful atmosphere and songwriting. Carole King fully embodied the Laurel Canyon scene and produced the best album from that area yet. It has such fun instrumentals with incredible and thoughtful writing on every song. The first three songs are magical, and they are all written so differently. The performances across the board are fantastic, with the ... read more

I may slightly prefer 'I Got Dem Ol' Kozmic Blues Again Mama!' over 'Pearl', but both just show how absolutely talented Janis was as a vocalist. She had one of those uniquely amazing voices that can be put into the conversation as one of the best of all time. There might be some more standout tracks here compared to her debut, but as an album, this feels less cohesive, but that doesn't mean it isn't cohesive. The album just takes a very small dip in quality ... read more

I find it so interesting to truly see how different every member of The Beatles were. Paul’s solo album was vastly different to George’s, which was vastly different to Johns. I never reviewed any solo Ringo albums, but I find it so cool that he played the drums on all of their albums. Everyone just loved Ringo.

This album completely dives into the psyche of John Lennon, both mentally and spiritually. He touches on the trauma of his past, his difficulty with religion, and his ... read more

This is a completely different band from the band that made In the Court of the Crimson King. The only remaining member is guitarist Robert Fripp. This is a step down from both of their previous albums, but it is still wildly entertaining in both good and bad ways. It can sometimes be overwhelming with the new full jazz-rock sound and muddy production, but it is a blast to listen to.

And here we go. The start of the downfall for one of the most prolific bands of the era. To sum it up, the band was tired of Fogerty and Fogerty was tired of the band. Fogerty though, and was better than everyone else in the band and he wanted to prove it every day. The band wanted more of a say and this is the album we get. Less innovation, less catchy tunes, and just less Creedence Clearwater Revival. No doubt Have You Ever Seen the Rain is still one of the band’s best, but this album ... read more

Nico is such a unique artist because of her ability to blend eastern and western music in an unorthodox way. This is her best work to date, and I think it is because she finally found that sound she always wanted to create, with the help of John Cale.

This feels like, and it is an album full of nursery rhymes. Just a lot of beautiful, simple, three-verse tracks that throw you into the countryside of the UK. There are some great arrangements, cozy instrumentals, and sweet vocals that come together to just make a great folk album. Unfortunately, this album did not sell well, and in fact sold horribly and caused Vashti to quit music, but this album grew in popularity in the early 2000s and became a cult classic among folk lovers.

Solid album that I was entertained with the whole way, but nothing surprised me or blew me away. It was just good vocals, good production, and okay writing that made a good album.

While I haven't listened to much soul music while going through my music list, mainly because of its lack of innovation up until the late 60s, Isaac Hayes has become my favorite artist. Hot Buttered Soul is a true classic record that changed the future of music; however, this album doesn't quite achieve that, but wow, it is still great. ...To Be Continued is very similar sonically to Hot Buttered Soul, but it takes a slight turn thematically. This isn't a revolutionary album like ... read more

In 1968, George Harrison released his first solo album, which was part of a soundtrack to a movie. After the White Album died down later that same year, he visited Bob Dylan and The Band in Woodstock, where the two collaborated and started a lifelong friendship. He loved to spend time with Dylan, and this is where George ultimately realized his time as a Beatle was coming to a close. The Beatles were run by McCartney and Lennon, and they wrote the majority of the tracks. Harrison would ... read more

The Kinks have to be the most underrated band of this era. They continued to release such cool and unique concept albums year after year, but they never lost their identity. Each album has its own flair and sound to it, but they are all undeniably Kinks records. This one is my least favorite of the last three "big" albums that they released, but it is still so great, with yet another great loose concept. The band doesn't get the gratification that they should, mostly because of ... read more

I love how this album sounds. Cat Stevens' voice is so unique and stands out throughout the album. The piano and guitars are so warm and make every song feel so comforting, which makes this the perfect fall album. Two songs do stand above the rest, and I think we all know which songs those are. Stevens can bring out so many emotions, but the album does tend to get really samey as it goes on. Songs start to blend together, but many songs in this genre tend to do so.

The Velvet Underground were known for their experimentation, and I think that is why they are so loved today. Every project sounds completely different from the last, either building upon what they had made or switching styles entirely. The Velvet Underground and Nico brought, what some would say, the first proto-punk album, with so much weirdness and experimentation that it was impossible to sell. Their next album, White Light / White Heat, takes that sound and makes it weirder and more ... read more

This was a great, thoroughly written hip hop album. The instrumentals may be lacking at times, but the lyrics and thoughtfulness that was put into this record make up for it.

In 1968, a college student wrote a scathing review of a Cream record. This review will be posted on Rolling Stone magazine, and Clapton went crazy. At the same time, The Band’s ‘Music From Big Pink’ was released, and Clapton was convinced that country rock was the new big thing. As a result, Clapton left Cream before ‘Wheels of Fire’ even came out. Clapton had an identity crisis, going from band to band, leaving several over the course of a few years.

Now, in ... read more

David Bowie's best up to this point, and I don't think it is even close. He focuses more on rock here, and it pays off well. The guitar melodies and progressions throughout the album are great. 'The Man Who Sold the World' is the standout track, and for good reason. Nirvana would cover the song almost four decades later, and they might do a better job with it, but it is truly up in the air. Of course, we all know where Bowie is going from here, but this is a great direction ... read more

This is such a strange and drastic switch-up from Buckley's previous albums, which were predominantly folk. This is now full-on avant-garde rock music, and it can be not easy to listen to at times. Some of the weirdest arrangements I have heard yet, full of insane vocal inflections that only Tim Buckley could do. Nothing, and I mean nothing, except for Frank Zappa, sounded like this. Some of the bass or guitar lines put you into a trance, but all these crazy instruments in the background ... read more