I remember the hype around Discovery in 2001. I was a primary school kid on a two-day residential, horrified at the prospect of dressing my own bed. I made a mix tape in a computer room (which I never received, who knows, maybe that was the moment I could've made it big), crawled through tunnels, drove a quad bike, and lastly danced to Daft Punk at the disco. Then I forgot all about them, until I was at university when my girlfriend (now wife) was thrilled to tell me she had found for her ... read more
Tracks 1-7 were brilliant, very entertaining. Tracks 8-11 in contrast were incredibly boring and turgid.
In fact, I am convinced Bowie has made a mistake here. The first half of this album, then the first half of Heroes and the final track, should have been an album. Then all the weird, ambient stuff in the second half of each album, should have been an album for people who like and understand that stuff.
Or failing that, make it one long album and do it as Disc A and Disc B. Disc A has the ... read more
The first half of the album, it wasn't the best thing I've ever heard but I was finding it interesting. The second half of the album was boring ambient filler, until the final track, which was fun again. I don't understand the hype around this, it doesn't make me feel much. It's boring, if I had to compare it to a food it would be cauliflower, it doesn't taste of anything. Better than Hunky Dory, worse than Ziggy Stardust.
Finally, at the fourth attempt, it's a Bowie album that I actually like! This has good pace and rhythm. The first track set the tone, at 10 minutes I wasn't expecting such an enjoyable and hypnotic groove. It's a little funk-ish, which I don't mind, but most crucially this album plays at different tempos which gives it that essential quality: a point, something of interest to the listener! It's also slightly more electronic, which makes it feel tighter. Impressed!
This is more exciting and dramatic than Hunky Dory, but I thought that was boring, and this doesn't do it for me. Emotionally and sonically fairly average in my estimation. Iconic, but I'm not feeling it. Onto the next one!
I hate that I'm not clicking with Bowie yet. On paper I should love it, I like many of his tracks, but have never listened to his albums. This was just a bit of a nothing album. This was all played at the same tempo and volume. Chicken and chips, no sauce.
Kate Bush is so good it's almost unfair, I feel she's operating on a plane other artists can't even see. The Dreaming is denser and more chaotic than Hounds of Love. It's more experimental, theatrical and strange, although tracks like Sat in Your Lap, Suspended in Gaffa and Night of the Swallow still deliver the type of music we all know her for. I wouldn't call this a victim of Hounds of Love, but the fact that album is so polished and leans more towards pop make it an ... read more
It's a commendable production, it's very clean. It reminds me of Ravedeath, which I also liked, but it's a little too slow for regular consumption.
I was attracted to this album by the cover. Also, I really like Latin music every now and again. It was a bit fun and weird, which is what I was hoping for. It's got some really strange sounds and one or two shocks in it. Overall I enjoyed it. At 31 minutes, it's low risk, fun and never outstays its welcome.
Kids, sit down and be quiet, we're listening to your Aunt Kate!
Her vocals are supreme, the sounds are supreme, the beats are supreme. It's grand, it's intimate, it's about everything, it's about nothing. Love it!
Can you imagine if you'd never heard of any of her songs and you discovered her?
P.s. I liked Kate Bush even before Stranger Things rediscovered her
The first time I listened to this it was really strange and alien. It didn't seem to fit any structure that I understood and my brain wasn't able to parse it, so I didn't feel anything. Then I listened to it again a few weeks later and again a few weeks after that and as I've become more familiar with it, it's become one of the richest and most rewarding things I've heard, the beats are hypnotic.
There are two things that are comment worthy on this album. First, how fun and groovy it is. The beats aren't incredibly complex, but they are nice, pleasant and fun. The second is that it's quite intimate, honestly it felt a little overfamilar in places lmao
I love this as much as when I first heard Depeche Mode 13 years or so ago! In fact it sounds even better as I've listened to more and more music
The standout feature of this album is Polachek's voice, it's incredible. The rest of the music, its job is to let her voice shine, gently push it along and complement it, which it does. I'm hoping for plenty more Polachek work in the future!
I once dismissed Carly Rae Jepsen as just pleasant pop. However, and I'm certainly talking absolute crap again here, but listening to this after rating Joy Division - Unknown Pleasures, I realise Emotion is its inverse. One shadows, one glows. One rumbles, one glistens. One implodes, one explodes. Of course it's not on the same level, but I haven't treated this with the respect it deserves.
Just enough darkness, just enough party. I love that low rumbling in every track. Oh god yeah
I love the thought that you might pass a sweet little grandma in the supermarket, quiet, unassuming, she wears a cardigan or something or, I dunno, but it’s actually Carole King. You’ve no idea, but her music is better than Olivia Rodrigo and Dua Lipa.
Maybe what I'm about to say is unfair, because I'm reviewing it in its cultural context and I haven't always done this with other albums, but Rumours, I’ve heard the life out of it. The big songs are everywhere; by the time I press play, I’m already done. The cover’s become a “look at my taste” badge, like Arctic Monkeys or The Smiths. It’s tight, it's polished, but that takes the edge off. It's medium tempo all the way. Not bad, just ... read more
I liked a lot about this. It’s soft and beautiful, with guitars, piano, and strings arranged in a way that makes the songs warm and authentic. Natalia has a lovely, emotive voice. It’s not the most powerful I’ve ever heard, but it's certainly lovely, and it suits the music perfectly. The album is a bit of a slow burner; you probably need to be in the right mood for it, but when you are, it’s no chore at all. It just misses the sweet spot for me though. I like my ... read more
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Recent Review Comments
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On russky's review of David Kauffman / Eric Caboor - Songs From Suicide Bridge
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On Talk Talk - Laughing Stock
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On zygote's review of Silvana Estrada - Marchita
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"Ahhhh I understand this angle completely.
Glad to read that some tracks have made it into your rotation and that overall you enjoyed it despite some parts you were less fond.
I love how relaxing it is but without sacrificing tempo. I imagine how vocals might be offputting depending on preference 👍"
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On zygote's review of Bright Eyes - I'm Wide Awake, It's Morning
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On DJZorrit's review of Talking Heads - Speaking in Tongues
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