Instantly sucks me into a specific time and place, but I can't help but feel like each track that follows the opener becomes redundant and even nap inducing. I need some more listens when the winter months hit, I suppose. Give me time to come around.

Fav - In the Wee Small Hours of the Morning

Put down your copy of Grapes of Wrath and get your tater stew ready. Can't say this is something I'd listen to on the regular but it's certainly a lyrical blast from the past.

Fav - Dusty Old Dust (So Long It's been God to Know Yuh)

James was blessed with a nice voice and a peaceful sound but the album as a whole doesn't do much to excite me. I can understand the allure of his calm demeanor but all emotions feel glossed over to me. Fire and Rain is very good though, but I hoped to find more gems and was disappointed.

Fav - Fire and Rain

Like getting a big hug from the most gentle man you will ever meet.

Fav - Cello' Song

Somehow both austere and colorful, this album is an essential experience for music lovers. The lyrics, the vocals, and the compositions create the most incredible explosion of melodies track after track. Conceptual and quite the love letter to Illinois. With tons of interludes bearing rediculously long titles this one can certainly be a grower, but it gets better each time and never gets old.

WE WERE INNN LOVE, WE WERE INNN LOVE

Fav - The Predatory Wasp of the Palisades is Out to Get Us

So much energy and excitement coming from a debut album. I would have loved to experience this right when it came out but seeing as I was only an infant I had to wait awhile. But it still brings the same excitement to this day.

Fav - C.R.E.A.M.

I mean Jesus this album is loaded with iconic tracks and is super expirimental for the times while still being catchy as hell. Some cheeseball songs like Dr. Robert once again prevent a Beatles album from being listenable all the way through. Lacks the consistent flow and vision from track to track like that of Sgt. Pepper or Abbey Road but in terms of songs its basically a greatest hits album.

Fav - Here, There, and Everywhere

My first love of Kendrick Lamar. Superb depth in storytelling and aesthetic while keeping the listener hooked track after track. My only complaint is that he didn't put Black Boy Fly on the album instead of Real.

Fav - The Art of Peer Pressure

I've listened this a few times since my first listen, but it hasn't become something i've been keeping on heavy rotation despite thinking it might be after my initial shock from it. Definitely need to be in the right mood for it. The heavy and dense tracks create one disturbing experience to go with its thought provoking lyrics. But the long stretches of deadpan singing just wear me down after awhile. Still, I get why this is rated so highly on here. Not much else like it, especially for ... read more

One of my favorite Beatles albums, if not my favorite. Depends on the day. Their best production with such a full and clear sound. Keep in mind this was still 1969 people...I mean damn it sounds good. Has a little of everything -- the iconic tracks (Something, Here Comes the Sun) , the psych rock tracks (She's So Heavy, Because) the 2 usual corny tracks (Maxwell's Silver Hammer, Octopus' Garden), and the most wonderful medley finish.

Fav - Golden Slumbers/Carry That Weight

It's hard to believe there was once a time in my life when I loved the title track, but whenever listening to the full album and hearing the loud I LOVE YOU JESUS CHRIST and the loud fuzz I shut the rest of it out immediately. Then at some point the wall of fuzz become a little less abrasive and it all clicked. Every little weird horn noise, every odd lyric of Anne Frank, and every belting vocal just struck every chord in me. Now I get chills at multiple points in this album. And no matter how ... read more

Probably the most quirky, weird, frantic, catchy, bouncy, groovy, original, and awesome first four tracks to an album ever. The balance is thrown off in the second half when it gets more sleepy. I still like much of the second half but its such a different direction than the listener is expecting and hoping for. Regardless, I love the hell out of this album.

THIS IS NOT MY BEAUTIFUL WIFE

Fav - Once In A Lifetime

I think I get it (sort of) after many tries. You have to let the album wash over you and not try so hard to hook onto something. It can be almost therapeutic. Still, I prefer other shoegaze albums even if this is the Godfather so to speak.

Fav - When You Sleep

Legendary flows and clever lyricism over thumping beats, what more could you ask for. Yeah it's straightforward but that's ok.

P.S. Stop putting One Time 4 Your Mind in your least favorites people, that track bumps. "Make me richer than a slipper made Cinderella, fella"

Fav - It Ain't Hard to Tell

What the hell. Why was this not playing at every family gathering I've ever had. Guess it's time to start the tradition. waaaaaaaWAHHH

Fav - Track C - Group Dancers

Yeah it's pretty awesome. Moonchild is too long drawn for my liking but other than that this album utterly slaps.

Fav - Epitaph

Like watching a movie but with your ears. The sort of album you just sit back and let play out. The crescendo and loop back into shine on in part 2 is wonderful. Yes, the title track is an iconic 5 minute song but if your looking for more of that here you've come to the wrong place.

Fav - Wish You Were Here

Freaking awesome record. A couple bone chilling tracks on this and as everyone has said -- the epitome of ahead of its time. Some noticeably weak spots but this album deserves all the praise it gets.

Fav - Heroin

One of those albums I don't go out of my way to listen to much, but when I do it really puts me in awe. Some of the coolest sounds coming from out of nowhere and work beautifully with the passionate vocals.

Fav - Running up that Hill (A Deal With God)

Some impressive lyricism here and there and nicely layered samples, but overall the cadence remains the same song after song. Not my favorite delivery style I guess. The way he ends every other line with one drawn out word doesn't sound natural to me. And the quasimoto tracks just turn me off so quickly. The sort of psychotic aesthetic is neat, but I can't see what makes this the 3rd best hip hop album of all time let alone 3rd overall album ever.

Fav - All Caps