Both versions of this album are beautiful, and with some mixing and matching of certain tracks between them, it would a perfect 100. Sour Times on the original (unremastered) version is miles better than the performance on the rerelease, but the remastered versions of everything else feel so much more spacious and intimate. However, I'm just gonna rank the remastered version for this one.
Favourite Tracks: Glory Box, Roads, All Mine
Least Favourite: Half Day Closing
I got this album on vinyl for Christmas a few years back from my uncle. I had never listened to Daft Punk before (outside of their hits) and the vinyl was pretty messed up. This album still managed to blow me away on the first listen. Holy shit. The drum solo on Giorgio is one of the greatest recorded musical moments. Fuckin chills man.
Favourite tracks: Giorgio by Moroder, Instant Crush, Contact
Least favourite: Doin' It Right
Goddamn. My friends mercilessly mock me for my 'midwest emo phase', but I will defend this album with my life. No matter my mood, I can never go wrong with this album. Also the idea of these college students writing one last album (which happens to be absolutely perfect) before going their separate ways in life just makes me sad. The whole album makes me sad. Damnit man just listen to it.
Favourite tracks: Stay Home, Never Meant, The One With The Wurlitzer
Least Favourite Tracks: None.
Holy shit, I finally get it. Took me a while, but this album has finally hit, and it hit HARD. Originally thought the songs were quite repetitive and boring, but if you spend some time with it (preferably at near-lethal volume) you notice all the different textures that make up this massive brick wall of pure noise. The repetitiveness becomes hypnotic.
Favourite tracks: soon, sometimes, when you sleep, i only said
Least favourite: to here knows when
My summer album, and an absolute masterpiece of noise. Hits you like a truckload of heavy blankets.
Favourite tracks: Mayonaise (the greatest song of all time), Cherub Rock, Today
Least Favourite: Sweet Sweet
A genuine classic, and the greatest breakup album of all time. This is indie rock at it's best.
Favourite tracks: We Looked Like Giants, Tiny Vessels, Transatlanticism
Least favourite tracks: Death of an Interior Decorator
Death Cab at their peak. My dad showing me the Grapevine Fires music video at 11 years old was what convinced me to become a musician, so maybe there's some bias here, but I don't care. This is an incredible album.
Favourite tracks: Bixby Canyon Bridge, Grapevine Fires, Cath
Least Favourite: You Can Do Better Than Me
Death Cab's best lyrical work; Sarah Said has some of the most gut-punching lyrics out there. This album also has the best love song of all time (I'll Follow You Into The Dark).
Favourite tracks: Marching Bands of Manhattan, I'll Follow You Into The Dark, Sarah Said
Least Favourite: Different Names for the Same Thing
Honestly, I'm kinda stumped on this one. It's fun, catchy, and very listenable. But that's pretty much all it's got going for it. A step down from Are We There Yet.
Favourite tracks: Something's Wrong, It's Only Love
Least favourite tracks: I Don't Want To Live Like This
New review:
I was wrong. This album is actually incredible. I get it now.
Old Review:
I really want to love this album. There are some genuinely perfect songs on here (Self Control. Wow), but just as I feel like I'm finally starting to get why this album is so universally loved, I get hit with a feature that rips me right out of the immersion (looking at you, Solo Reprise.)
Favourite tracks: Self Control, Nikes
Least favourite tracks: Solo (Reprise)
All of Ben's emo-ness from Death Cab beautifully carries over into this lofi (but still beautifully produced) synth-pop album. Charming and comforting. My favourite pop album.
Favourite tracks: The District Sleeps Alone Tonight, Natural Anthem
Least favourite tracks: Nothing better, Clark Gable
I listened to this album to impress a girl. We've stopped talking but this album has stuck around. As someone who had only ever heard Scott Street, this was a very pleasant surprise as it kept everything I loved about that song and then some. A lot of the tracks felt pretty similar, but the BANGER finale makes up for it.
Favourite tracks: ICU, I Know The End
Least favourite tracks: Garden Song
An improvement on literally everything from their first album. The high energy songs are even catchier, and the slow songs occasionally cross into dream-pop territory with delicate guitar lines drenched in reverb and delay.
Favorite songs: Thursday, You and Your Friends
Least favorite: Puppy Grin
Would be a mostly forgettable album if not for the generational three song closing run. A fun, summery, indie surf rock album but those last three songs will give you massive emotional whiplash.
Favorite tracks: Hot Knifer, Private Presley, Tommy's Party
Least favorite tracks: Not Me
A really solid album, all made by a 17 year old in his bedroom. Blends so many different genres, but still manages to feel like a single cohesive project. This dude is going places.
Favourite tracks: Pills 4 The Pills, Upstairs
Least favourite tracks: In The Red Light, No
Man I love this band. Their music has matured from teenage angst to midlife crisis, and this is possibly their best album yet. It's raw and punchy but still gorgeous and pristine.
Favorite tracks: Holy Smoke (2005), Clown Blood, Long Throes
Least favorite tracks: Literally none. This album is banger after banger.
The definition of a perfect 100. Melancholic, sad, and filled with emotion but still warm and comforting. The greatest album of all time by the greatest band of all time.
Favorite track(s): Jigsaw Falling Into Place, Reckoner
Least favorite track: Faust Arp
This is THE dream-pop/shoegaze album (yes, it's better than loveless. Sue me.) Also my go-to winter album; just chuck that shit on and you'll warm right up.
Favorite tracks: Machine Gun, Here She Comes, Souvlaki Space Station, When the Sun Hits
Least favorite track: Melon Yellow