This isn't an easy album for me to rate. I don't like dense structures and there's a few bits, such as the long song, where nothing happens. It's also not the kind of album I could imagine coming back to, there's not much rhythm or groove. That said, I must still acknowledge the awesome quality of sound production. Even if it's not to my taste, it was anxiety-inducing in places and explosive throughout. The standard of artistic quality, especially on the sound ... read more

It was nice and relaxing, but it didn't etch itself onto my brain like his other highly rated album.

I feel like I've struck gold with the Brazilian music I have found on this site. This album is bouncy, uplifting and fun, I love it. I'd have told the men step aside and let this woman sing on this one though, her voice has a wonderfully soft but earthly quality that we need more of.

This guy's command of rhythm, melody and strings is exceptional. The vocals complement nicely but the arrangement of sound steals the show. Lovely percussion too.

Technically this is a cake but without any vocals it is missing a key ingredient. No vocals, no emotion, no connection. I just can't get behind instrumental music, it's boring.

Flawless, it's delightful. It's relaxing but the notes, strings and rhythm are perfect. Plus, importantly you get to feel incredibly pompous while you listen to it and enjoy the Buena Vista Social Club.

Gorillaz once again showcase their ability to mould a set of has-beens, nobodies, half-somebodies into a respectable musical outfit. It's a good blast of nostalagia, but doesn't "go" as well as their best albums, nevertheless it's a respectable effort.

Should be trialled as a relief for insomnia.

There's 4 or 5 extremely good tracks. The rest of it was filler and I doubt you would recognise it was the band if you heard it. The banana is carrying the user rating says my gut. The other album by this band, with the high user score I much prefer.

Very solid but I'm not convinced it is worthy of the highest ratings anymore. The tracks are tidy, the melody is decent, there's a good amount of rock, other than that it's nice, it's not exactly abrasive.

What a delight it is to listen to music from other places. The same instruments are available to the artist yet the interpretation is so radically different that you don't realise how confined your tastes really are. Here the sound production is excellent, somehow the sounds seems to be circular/rotating. The drumming and percussion sounds great. It's entertaining and very high quality. A total release of flavour.

This is a beautiful album. The notes are delicate, dainty, warm, twinkly and a little fuzzy. Her voice is lovely and most importantly, there is melody. I would have given this a perfect score had that melody exploded a few more times, but it's a fantastic effort.

2009 was a simpler time. Back then we would go out clubbing, I'd have pre-drinks and take £10 out with me. Pints were £1 each. I'd be thoroughly inebriated and have enough cash spare for something from the kebab shop. I remember one time running home after such a night out with my eyes closed, full pelt, and running into a lamppost. I hit it at such a pace, surprise and with such a thump, it's a wonder I didn't knock myself out. A pint is £6.70 in my local ... read more

No. This was just chanting and banging a drum for nearly an hour. There was no music, no melody and no singing. There were no grooves, no blooms, and nothing of any interest. Actually, Man is like a Spring Flower was okay, that was it. The rest of it was rubbish though

If you showed this to a random person not a music enthusiast they would turn it off almost immediately. And I would agree with them. Terrible album.

A not too flashy, half-asleep, half-awake hypnagogic haze. Some lovely drums and grooves.

I'm not one to get carried away, I am uninterested in most things. However, Juan Gabriel has delivered here an outright detonation of charisma, precision and theatrical command. You don't need to understand Mexican Spanish, I can't speak a word. It feels like sitting in a sun-soaked village square with a drink in hand, swept up in community - something bigger than you. This performance bypasses the language filter entirely. The vibes are irresistible. If you don't speak ... read more

It's clean, a little jangly with reasonable guitar work. Although I don't like the vocals that much, it's probably worth hearing once or twice. I won't be rearranging my entire internal hierarchy for it though.

I appreciate the craft and architecture but I didn't get the emotional payoff I was hoping for. This is my second listen, if I had to sum it up, I would say it is definitely something, but it doesn't really go anywhere.

This might tell you how interesting I found it, but I didn't notice the Japanese singing the first time I listened to it several months ago LOL. Overall though, it is still worth a listen. The scale is grand and the composition is excellent.

I like spreadsheets because they are orderly, predictable and logical. There is no sentimental formatting, only clean structure and the thrill of things lining up properly.

Black Sea channels that same energy. The guitars are neat. The drums stop when they should. The choruses arrive when expected. It runs like an efficient train timetable.

Although the range is limited and there are no iconic moments, with this album, XTC have satisfied my primal desire for order, logic and straight lines. ... read more

Urgency and melody are not the same thing.