It was alright! Honestly, some tracks wound up rather boring, but I've come to expect such from Finneas' stuff. I find him much more appealing in this format, where more upbeat tracks get released. It's by no means a perfect album, and some may even argue it isn't a particularly great one, but it has it's moments, is thematically consistent, and features rich instrumentation. A solid step in the right direction as far as debuts go.
Favourite Songs:
Home Sweet ... read more
A really nice album! I feel the thematic inclusions of "noir" somewhat dwindle and wane at times, especially as the album progresses, but it is prevalent enough that I can overlook it, especially for such an early work of hers. The lyricism is on point, too! There are some that are extremely profound and clearly curated creatively, such as some lines on Peace & Violence. Other lyrics are explicit, they slap the listener directly across the face, and the mixture of both profound ... read more
The extra five tracks really contribute to the depth of this album, an album that is overhated to begin with. It's heavy rock! It's supposed to be fun! And it is fun! They manage to get sensual at times (in both a kinky and heartfelt way, albeit not simultaneously) and they knock it out of the park! Insert some glam rock inclusions, some songs that pack a powerful message, they all work in cohesion and produce a wonderful record. The bass playing is some of Vic's best, the drums ... read more
Another perfect album, albeit another hot take. As opposed to "Teatro d'Ira," there isn't much rock and roll (if any) on this album, but it still manages not to produce a skip. When Damiano performs in Italian, at least early in his career, the vocals are stupendous. They have since strayed from many Italian tracks, but I would still enjoy a 50/50 split, because as I mentioned on their sophomore review, it makes the record feel as though it transcends barriers. The same goes ... read more
Hot take: perfect album! It's got the metal inspiration in In Nome del Padre and Lividi sui Gomiti, it's got the tame inclusions in Coraline and Vent'Anni, and it's got the kinky lyricism and vocals in I Wanna Be Your Slave and For Your Love. That isn't even mentioning the two best songs on the record! Damiano's voice is MADE for rock and roll, truly a breath of fresh air. The instrumentation is incredibly vivid, each instrument contributing to each track and ... read more
I'm not going to bother giving this a rating, because MJ doesn't deserve the stain on his resume. Why they would so hastily toss together an album after his tragic death, will never seem logical to me, and will never strike me as anything other than disrespectful. Of course, we know it was about the Money (As 1995 MJ would so eloquently remind us). I refuse to consider this a portion of his discography. I can tolerate some tracks, and I regularly return to Behind the Mask, and the ... read more
Let me preface this by addressing the absurd reviews, not for their rating (as incorrect as I may consider them, they are entitled to their opinion, yadda yadda) but for their usage of the term "Jacko." Some may not be versed in the origin of said term, but it had heavily racist connotations centuries ago. So much so, that it is less a "connotation" or more like a jab to the eye socket courtesy of Muhammad Ali. So, maybe, just a thought, don't use that name to refer to ... read more
For all intents and purposes, the debut of Michael Jackson as a solo performer. And, man, does it get lost in the glory of all his other projects. It truly is a marvel, though! Who knew disco could sound so groovy!? Who knew such noises could pass through a human beings lips and sound so spectacular?! It was a much needed separation from his brothers, and probably a much needed record to instill the confidence in MJ to make the glorious art he made customary in the future. The manipulation of ... read more
Best selling album EVER. What more is there to say? I probably don't have as much fascination for it on account that it literally paved the way for so much modern music, but I still appreciate it all the same. So much variety, as he became accustomed to from the beginning. Pop? Yep. R&B? You betcha. Hard rock? Fancy some Eddie van Halen? So many songs that rival perfection. The only reason I don't have this album ranked higher than other MJ projects is because the deeper cuts lack ... read more
Really wonderful record! Some really slick and great vocals, and some fantastic beats! They do get a tad repetitive, but songwriting and performance help to soften the blow. The intro and outro, I thought, was a magnificent bow on the entire project. Really impressed!
Favourite Songs:
On and On
4 Leaf Clover
Appletree
There just doesn't seem to be much variety from more than two decades prior when Dummy was released. The album is by no means bad, but it suffers from the same repetition that plagued the self-titled record before. Beth Gibbons brings her superb vocals back to the project which helps boost the rating, though. And instrumentation is always interesting enough
Favourite Songs:
Nylon Smile
Small
Not terrible, but is pale in comparison to their debut album, in my opinion. It starts off with a bang, but lacks the groove and variety on Dummy, which makes this record feel more like the tracks are too repetitive. Beth Gibbons' vocals are impressive yet again, but it isn't enough to salvage the success that Dummy found. Not terrible, but not great, either
Favourite songs:
Cowboys
Over
Mourning Air
Quite enjoyed it! Really nice vocals! Really groovy and complete instrumentation! It manages to grow a bit tedious and boring around halfway through, and then the end of the record sucks you back in with some really nice tunes. I'm excited to listen to their other projects in the hopes that they construct a more complete album start to finish. Becoming a fan!
Favourite Songs:
Biscuit
Glorybox
Guitar playing from Kirk Hammett is ahead of it's time, no doubt, but nothing really pops to me on this album. An influential album but most tracks don't do much for me. It will be an unpopular opinion
I respect the influence and how ahead of its time this album likely was, so the rating gains points. With that in mind, it does just feel like they are simply speaking over some peculiar sounds, which doesn't offer much artistic appreciation from me.
Little too slow and drawn out for my taste. The songs were by no means bad, though
Quite bland, in all honesty. Nothing truly unique that sets them apart from anyone else. So I'm not just hating, I did like their single released in 2019 titled "Monsters"
Certainly not a bad debut, some tracks on this record were quite impressive and a joy to listen to. Others felt rather bland and repetitive. Also, around track eight there are some inclusions that are reminiscent of country, which just do not hit. Instrumentation is good, though. Vocals are superb. Certainly a solid debut, and a band that I will monitor closely. The tracks that are good are more than just that — they are spectacular.
Favourite songs:
Stuck on You
Wilderness
Get My Mind ... read more
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Recent Review Comments
On IloveApples's review of Magdalena Bay - Imaginal Disk
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On AngstyTeen's review of The Stooges - Raw Power
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On AngstyTeen's review of The Stooges - Raw Power
"Yea I generally find Iggy Pop vocally distasteful too. I Wanna Be Your Dog is about all I can tolerate from them"
On Nagi111910's review of Laufey - Bewitched
"Congratulations on three-hundred followers!! And wonderful review!! My main takeaway is that Laufey really could have benefitted from visiting an Ikea"
On Shayden's review of Britney Spears - In the Zone
"@Shayden That's very interesting! I had no idea George Harrison used those elements so prevalently. It's very fascinating to understand how rooted in Indian music some of his work is. You seem to know quite a bit about it, I bet you could write an article/paper on it. It would be extremely intriguing
Also, I will have to look out for those influences once I delve into Madonna's discography"
On Shayden's review of Britney Spears - In the Zone
"@Shayden Are there other artists who utilized similar elements frequently, that you can think of?"
On Shayden's review of Britney Spears - In the Zone
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On The Plague Review's review of Paul McCartney - The Boys of Dungeon Lane
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On Shayden's review of Katy Perry - Witness
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On Britney Spears - ...Baby One More Time
"@Shayden Those are the two that always come to mind for me that received so much abuse at the end of the media's sword. What they experienced exceeded anything I can even think of. The media was deliberately cruel toward them, and actively perpetuated false narratives that continuously harmed them, fully cognizant of their culpability in the assault on both of them, arguably contributing to the death of Michael Jackson for one, and to the literal removal of Britney Spears' autonomy. She was eighteen on her second effort, and already writing lyrics regarding the pain that fame brought. It is absolutely terrible that so many normalized that treatment of her. She deserved so much better"
On Ninedescent's review of d4vd - WITHERED
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On Ninedescent's review of d4vd - WITHERED
"I tend to agree. Review bombing strikes me as attention-seeking. "Look at me!! I'm against this person!!" The same sentiment is conveyed if one just doesn't engage with the art whatsoever. If I despise the artist I am reviewing on an ethical plane, I simply attach a link to support those who have been victims in similar instances. I am more pleased with offering that assistance, however miniscule it may be, than trying to display my apparent ethical superiority for clicks"
On IloveApples's review of Michael Jackson - Dangerous
"This was a project that cemented himself as a force of pure versatility. He was the King of Pop, and as you mentioned, allowed his drive for perfection to steer him down a completely foreign road. And he excelled. He allowed his morals and ethics to tackle cultural issues such as racism, "human apathy" (as you so intelligently put it), and worldwide mistreatment of the planet. It expands across such a vast array of thematic grievances, and it is superior for it. It's truly perfection. I'm very glad that you enjoyed it for the marvelous masterpiece that it is, and I am pleased to read and reply to your reviews!! You analyze them without a measurable bias, and with a willingness to allow the art to speak for itself. Simply stunning review!!"
On IloveApples's review of Michael Jackson - Dangerous
"DANGEROUS AT 97!!! YES!!! My absolute favourite record of all time. I adored this review!!! It really was a symbolic evolution for the King. It was his first example of completely unbridled creative control, and it is safe to say he rose to the occasion. I was extremely intrigued by your mention of the palpable paranoia that encompasses this record! It is no secret that MJ was perhaps the most paranoid person on the planet throughout his career, and its really interesting to see that terror manifest itself in a romantic context on tracks like Who is It and Dangerous, while also in the context of himself as a celebrity on tracks like Jam and Why You Wanna Trip On Me"
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On realjulianj's review of Arctic Monkeys - Tranquility Base Hotel & Casino
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On IloveApples's review of Michael Jackson - You Rock My World
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On GVLSCH's review of The Warning - Ego
"@josech5 lmfao cook, I have never understood why people on this site genuinely seek to review things they know they won't like. It's one thing if you go in wanting to like it and find yourself disappointed, but so many people hate review things on this site because they know they won't like it"
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