This is another one of those albums that I appreciate a lot more than I actually enjoy. I do for sure enjoy a lot of parts in this (I Hate You is a fucking banger), but I think the gimmick starts to get old after one or two listens. The circus-like rhythms and instrumentals sometimes sound identical between tracks, to the point that hearing the same beat again later in the album borders on annoying.

With all that being said though, the album gains points for its ambition and innovation, since ... read more

If you wanna support me in my Big Girl career then check out this more formal review I did a while back that I forgot to ever post about:
https://www.uncmirror.com/arts/2021/10/10/review-by-the-time-i-get-to-phoenix-haunts-us/

Phil Spector's production is nothing short of immaculate, and several songs on here have contenders for the best pop melodies of all time.

If the whole album kept the quality of the first half it would have a higher score, but some of the b-sides just don't live up to the greatness of songs like Be My Baby and So Young.

I think it goes without saying, but John Coltrane was fucking superhuman. This is probably my second favorite album of his (behind Blue Train) from his pre-avant-garde era. I am a little disappointed that the last two songs don't quite live up to the opener, which I think is genuinely one of the greatest songs ever recorded, but those other two are still really great songs despite not being as mind-blowing.

Anyway, it doesn't commit to the concept as much as Miles Davis did with Sketches of ... read more

I definitely prefer Getz / Gilberto to this (piping hot take I know), but this still maintains that timelessly beautiful sound that I love so much about João Gilberto's music. He has what I could only describe as a perfect singing voice, the instrumentals walk the line between orchestral and minimalistic, and the whole album does a consistently fantastic job at conveying pure joy.

If you're wondering which version of this album I'm talking about, they're both essentially just as good. There are of course differences in the solos, but the general structure and feeling is the same for both. I think this is absolutely another masterpiece for John Coltrane, and my second favorite album I've heard of his so far. My only real issue is that some of the ideas overstay their welcome just a little bit. Still, this is one of the most unique albums I've ever heard, and still sounds ... read more

Yeah there are one or two weak songs on here, but Emily Armstrong is one of the most underrated rock vocalists of the 2010s, and For You I Am is by far one of the best songs of that decade.

There are plenty of standout tracks on here, with April Come She Will and Blessed being two of my favorite Simon & Garfunkel songs, but it's ultimately more inconsistent than the albums that would follow. The electric version of Sound of Silence feels so much more clunky and off-beat than the original, most likely due to the fact that the duo allegedly had no part in making it. Some of the instrumentals on other tracks like We've Got a Groovey Thing Goin' don't necessarily play into their ... read more

It's a lot less consistent than other psych-era Beatles albums would end up being, but its quality songwriting for the most part really can't be denied.

I've been listening to this song nonstop for the past four days and I haven't even heard the album yet. It fucking bangs and also has lyrics so disturbing they'll come to your brain when you're just going about your day and make you think "damn, hope Indigo De Souza's okay."

While it isn't the most ambitious jazz album, it's an undeniable classic. It captures such a specific feeling of winter melancholy mixed with holiday celebration that I don't know how else to describe the feeling than "the Charlie Brown Christmas feeling."

Edit: Hey to the two people reading this, I wrote a more formal review a while back that I forgot to ever post about, please support me at my Big Girl job
https://www.uncmirror.com/arts/2021/08/29/review-on-happier-than-ever-billie-eilish-is-neither-hero-nor-villian/

Oh shit, is Billie Irish growing on me??

Anyway, I originally rated this a 70 because I felt like there were too many songs that were too bland to leave that much of an impact, but on a few relistens I really only feel that way ... read more

negative xp ruined an entire generation of men

I guess my only real hot take about this album is that the middle section drags a little bit, but other than that... I mean what else is there to say? The start and end of this album are nothing short of incredible, and I don't even think it's controversial to say that Nina's reworking of Sinnerman is one of the greatest songs ever recorded.

It's fucking Nina Simone, what else do you want me to say?

What a fucking power move of an album. Immediately after making one of the greatest jazz albums ever made, Mingus chose to make what's essentially a greatest-hits compellation. Except instead of just compiling all these songs into one album, he re-recorded them with a different band, added more of the big band influence that was on The Black Saint, covered a Duke Ellington song, and even included the new song Freedom on CD releases of the album years later.

I don't know if I'd necessarily call ... read more

Even though most of it is covers, I think Otis Redding does a great job at making these songs his own and giving the whole album a consistent feeling. Definitely another "not reinventing the wheel" sort of album, but it's incredibly entertaining to listen to Otis's vocals and energetic backing band for a tight and short album like this.

God I've listened to this album like five times over the past two days and I'm still not tired of it. Ambitious song lengths and electric performances with enough variety to keep you interested the entire time. Definitely essential listening, and it deserves every bit of praise it gets.

Slightly inconsistent in comparison to later Nina Simone albums, but still a great introduction to her songwriting and performance style with some of her most iconic tracks.

It might not get all the love that Highway 61 gets, but it's still a spectacular entrance into folk rock for Dylan with some of his best and most iconic songs on it. It's just essential listening for any fan of classic rock, full stop.

I actually first heard this album a long time ago, but I never really returned to it. At the time it was one of the first jazz albums I'd listened to, and part of me felt like I just didn't "get it" enough to enjoy it.

But hooooly shit I see the appeal now.