#341: Moby - Play

Moby - Play

May 17, 1999, V2

1. "Honey" - 3:27

2. "Find My Baby" - 3:58

3. "Porcelain" - 4:01

4. "Why Does My Heart Feel So Bad?" - 4:23

5. "South Side" - 3:48

6. "Rushing" - 2:58

7. "Bodyrock" - 3:34

8. "Natural Blues" - 4:12

9. "Machete" - 3:36

10. "7" - 0:58

11. "Run On" - 3:44

12. "Down Slow" - 1:32

13. "If Things Were Perfect" - 4:16

14. "Everloving" - 3:24

15. "Inside" - 4:46

16. "Guitar Flute & String" - 2:07

17. "The Sky Is Broken" - 4:16

18. "My Weakness" - 3:37

RESULTS

Rate: 4.5/10

Best Song: Bodyrock

Worst Song: The Sky is Broken

Comments

Holy Jesus this Album was bad.

Before I delved into this Album, I had a preconceived notion of Moby: He was super annoying about being a Vegan, he was super annoying about his activism, and Eminem destroyed him in a quick diss.

So, when I sunk my teeth into this Album, I didn't have high expectations, and low and behold, I was correct.

Techno is a genre which is dead and gone, replaced by significantly better genres that took the bad parts of Techno, and replaced it with awesome parts. I'll admit, I did dig the Gospel intertwined with the Techno, but the actual Moby part itself was just horrendous. It's the kind of shit the DJ plays when it's late in the night and he's trying to get the rest of the crowd to finally leave and go home. My God, if this Album isn't an effective choice ...

I'm praying that if there is another Moby Album down the road, that it does it's job and illicits a proper reaction out of me. This was just stale, boring, and I couldn't wait for it to finally end.

#342: Depeche Mode - Violator

Depeche Mode - Violator
March 19, 1990, Sire

1. "World in My Eyes" - 4:26

2. "Sweetest Perfection" - 4:43

3. "Personal Jesus" - 4:56

4. "Halo" - 4:30

5. "Waiting for the Night" - 6:07

6. "Enjoy the Silence" - 6:12

7. "Policy of Truth" - 4:55

8. "Blue Dress" - 5:41

9. "Clean" - 5:32

RESULTS
Rate: 8.5/10
Best Song: World in My Eyes
Worst Song: Blue Dress

Comments
As an avid Depeche Mode listener, I went into this Album fully anticipating putting "Personal Jesus"or "Enjoy the Silence" as my 'Best Song'. However, I was absolutely captivated by the opening track, "World in My Eyes", a track I've never heard before. It's so ... bizarrely good. The composition is risky, yet hits such impressive marks of quality, that really sets the standard for the rest of the album.

The Album ebbs & flows into itself really well, dominating an almost unprecedented sound of Synth-Pop, mixed in with some brief alternative rock. It's such an interesting take on Electronic music, and it's gotta be one of the most Metrosexual sounding things in history.

I'm really glad I got to hear this Album, but I had no idea it came out in the early 90's! Depeche Mode sounds unbelievably 80's to me! Still, would it really be a an 80's event without Depeche Mode blasting on the nearest boombox, while the crowd shuffles around in sweaty leather outfits and 'Flock o' Seagulls' haircuts?

Nope!

#343: Meatloaf - Bat Out Of Hell

Meatloaf - Bat out of Hell

October 21, 1977, Epic

1. "Bat Out of Hell" - 9:51

2. "You Took the Words Right Out of My Mouth (Hot Summer Night)" - 5:04

3. "Heaven Can Wait" - 4:40

4. "All Revved Up with No Place to Go" - 4:19

5. "Two Out of Three Ain't Bad" - 5:26

6. "Paradise by the Dashboard Light" (I. Paradise / II. Let Me Sleep On It / III. Praying for the End of Time) - 8:28

7. "For Crying Out Loud" - 8:48

RESULTS

Rate: 2/10

Best Song: Bat out of Hell

Worst Song: For Crying out Loud

Comments

Picture this: A barbarian-shaped naked man riding a bat-shaped motorcycle out of the explosive depths of Hell itself and landing in an appallingly large cemetery. What loud, hardcore, and disturbing music awaits us? What music effigies and offerings to the very top of the Rock Gods await us? Screeching Death Metal? Perhaps some Hair Rock? Goth?

Nope. Trash Can music.

This Album looks so sweet. But holy Jesus, this music is repulsive. Every song is like, 8 minutes of just piano pop, even though the back says "Hard Rock". It's trash. It's literally a steaming hot pile of mold, designed to look cool. Seriously Meatloaf? No Rocky Horror, no Hot-Patootie, just Grandma music. 

Stick to acting, and stay off this list.

#344: Lou Reed - Berlin

Lou Reed - Berlin

July 1973, RCA

1. "Berlin" - 3:23

2."Lady Day" - 3:40

3. "Men of Good Fortune" - 4:37

4. "Caroline Says I" - 3:57

5. "How Do You Think It Feels" - 3:42

6. "Oh, Jim" - 5:13

7. "Caroline Says II" - 4:10

8. "The Kids" - 7:55

9. "The Bed" - 5:51

10. "Sad Song" - 6:55

RESULTS

Rate: 7.5/10

Best Song: Lady Day

Worst Song: The Kids

Comments

Oh man, Lou Reed is the best.

Back in 1973, when this Album came out, Rolling Stone columnist Stephen Davis gave this Album a scathing review, calling it "a disaster". Years later, it's now included at number 344 in the 500 greatest albums of all time. Kind of funny how sounds adapt to retrospect.

I personally really enjoyed this Album. It's a somber Album detailing a failing relationship, riddled with drug abuse, domestic violence, and depression. The songs are very calm, but very bleak. A piano is present in almost every track, and the Album climaxes at "The Kids", with the couple's children crying as they are taken away by Social Services. Super dark stuff.

With all that in mind, none of the songs are outright bad, yet none of them really stand out. They are all very decent, but it's no surprise that none of the tracks hit their stride long enough to be a "hit". It's all very straight-forward, which I think is the point of the Album. I am a sucker for concept albums, and I think Lou Reed really struck the right chords when coming up with this one.

#345: Talking Heads - Stop Making Sense

Talking Heads - Stop Making Sense

September 1984, Sire

1. "Psycho Killer" – 4:24

2. "Heaven" – 3:41

3. "Thank You for Sending Me an Angel" – 2:09

4. "Found a Job" – 3:15

5. "Slippery People" – 4:00

6. "Burning Down the House" – 4:06

7. "Life During Wartime" – 5:51

8. "Making Flippy Floppy" – 4:40

9. "Swamp" – 4:30

10. "What a Day That Was" – 6:00

11. "This Must Be the Place (Naive Melody)" – 4:57

12. "Once in a Lifetime"  – 5:25

13. "Genius of Love" (performed by Tom Tom Club) – 4:30

14. "Girlfriend Is Better" – 5:06

15. "Take Me to the River" – 5:32

16. "Crosseyed and Painless" – 6:11

RESULTS

Rate: 6/10

Best Song: This Must Be the Place (Naive Melody)

Worst Song: Swamp

Comments

I've always loved the Talking Heads, and when I saw that they finally had an Album on here, I was more than excited to cover it.

This Album was pulled from their concert movie of the same name. It starts with David Byrne coming out alone in an absurdly large suit. He introduces a drum machine, and plays a solo version of Psycho Killer. Each song after, another band member comes out, and by "Burning Down the House", everyone has arrived.

It's a really cool premise, and even Robert Ebert rated the film quite highly. I only watched a brief bit of the film, but decided to stick to the Album, as I'm critiquing the music itself.

So why did I give it such a lukewarm review? Well, I've never been too hot on live Albums. Secondly, I felt this album in particular, while full of a really cool energy, just dragged on directionless. New Wave doesn't translate very well live, and I just ended up rather tired by the 16th track. They did a fantastic set-list, and it was really cool to see them pull out my favorite Tom Tom Club song, but in the end, I would've much rather have listened to a cleaned up studio version. Good, but a little disappointing.

#346: De La Soul - 3 Feet High Rising

De La Soul - 3 Feet High Rising

March 3, 1989, Tommy Boy

1."Intro" - 1:41

2."The Magic Number" - 3:16

3."Change in Speak" - 2:33

4."Cool Breeze on the Rocks" - 0:48

5."Can U Keep a Secret" - 1:41

6."Jenifa Taught Me (Derwin's Revenge)" - 3:25

7."Ghetto Thang" - 3:36

8."Transmitting Live from Mars" - 1:12

9."Eye Know" - 4:13

10."Take It Off" - 1:53

11."A Little Bit of Soap" - 0:57

12."Tread Water" - 3:46

13."Potholes in My Lawn" - 3:50

14."Say No Go" - 4:20

15."Do as De La Does" - 2:12

16."Plug Tunin' (Last Chance to Comprehend)" - 4:07

17."De La Orgee" - 1:14

18."Buddy" (featuring Jungle Brothers and Q-Tip) - 4:55

19."Description" - 1:32

20."Me Myself and I" - 3:50

21."This Is a Recording 4 Living in a Fulltime Era (L.I.F.E.)" - 3:10

22."I Can Do Anything (Delacratic)" - 0:41

23."D.A.I.S.Y. Age" - 4:43

24."Plug Tunin'" (Original 12" version) - 3:43

RESULTS
Rate: 8.5
Best Song: Eye Know
Worst Song: De La Orgee

Results
So, I've decided to take a new stance on Skits in Albums. I''ve come to the conclusion that it's sort of a cop-out to place a skit as the "Worst Song", because quite frankly, they aren't songs.

This Album is known as the Album that actually started hip-hop skits. The Album;s theme revolves around a Game Show, and each artist coming in and answering the questions through the power of Rap, or whatever. Pretty dope.

It's a super vibey Album, and is reminiscent of walking down a New York Avenue on a Summer's day. Jazzy, boppy, and upbeat. I really enjoyed the first half of the Album, and keeping the upbeat theme was really pivotal for my tastes. However, I felt it slowly sunk and hit lower in the second half, though the content wasn't to bleak.

Overall, I'd have to say check it out. It's super fun, and really put in a cool perspective to De La Soul.

#347: Pink Floyd - The Piper at the Gates of Dawn

Pink Floyd - The Piper at the Gates of Dawn
August 4, 1967, Tower

1."Astronomy Domine" - 4:17

2."Lucifer Sam"- 3:09
3."Matilda Mother"- 3:05
4."Flaming"- 2:46 
5."Pow R. Toc H." - 4:24 
6."Take Up Thy Stethoscope and Walk" - 3:07 
7."Interstellar Overdrive" - 9:41 
8."The Gnome" - 2:14 
9."Chapter 24" - 3:53 
10."The Scarecrow"- 2:10 
11."Bike" - 3:21

RESULTS
Rate: 8/10
Best Song: Lucifer Sam
Worst Song: Interstellar Overdrive

Comments
Here's a Pink Floyd album that has completely flown under the radar. No idea it existed.

This album is a pretty straightforward introduction into Barrett's huge plunge into LSD. The psychedelic overtures of the Album are incredibly thick, and it appears as if there were two styles of songs: Songs that were either incredibly long and free-form, or short doo-wops about gnomes and bikes.

My personal favorite was the second track in, "Lucifer Sam". The opening guitar riff is just so pleasing to listen to, and it's a weird song about Syd's cat, so, yeah. Kind of hard to beat.

It seems everyone loves "Intersteller Overdrive", an almost 10 minute song that sounds like every generic psychedelic song on Earth. Everyone is just randomly playing their instruments off of each other, making this weird, awful jazzy sound, that simply does not appeal to me. I could make the same songs out of pots and pans.

Overall, I actually really enjoyed this Album. I think it fits right into the time period, and hits the right notes if some trippy , somewhat funny experience is what you're looking for, in terms of Pink Floyd.

Hiatus Update

Hey everyone,

The last few years I've been focused on other areas of my life, and I'm afraid, this blog has been left in the dust in terms of priorities.

In the time between my last post and now, I've grown up quite a bit, including graduating High School, attending University, and allowing that dirt-bag Tom Cruise to borrow my impressive yacht for the Summer, while I was away in Tahiti. However, not once has this personal project left my mind, and I've been itching to get back into it, and finish this puppy off once and for all.

Therefore, I'm happy to announce I will be returning to listen and review the infamous Rolling Stone "Greatest 500 Albums of All Time"!

Stay Tuned :)

-Jacob

#348: Muddy Waters - At Newport 1960

Muddy Waters - At Newport 1960

November 15, 1960, Chess

1. "I Got My Brand on You" - 4:24

2. "I'm Your Hoochie Coochie Man" - 2:50

3. "Baby, Please Don't Go" - 2:52

4. "Soon Forgotten" - 4:08

5. "Tiger in Your Tank" - 4:12

6. "I Feel So Good" - 2:48

7. "Got My Mojo Working" - 4:08

8. "Got My Mojo Working, Part 2" - 2:38

9. "Goodbye Newport Blues" - 4:38

RESULTS

Rate: 8/10

Best Song: Goodbye Newport Blues

Worst Song: Tiger in Your Tank

Comments

Two things I've always felt I had a closed-off perception of are Blues, and Live Albums.

I generally dislike Live Albums. I think that the crowd blocks out the quality of the music, the band is achieving a different sound than what they want their audience to be used to, and it's a cheap, fast way to make money off of both the concert, and the concert album. It completely ruins the feeling of exclusivity to the people who attended the concert.

As for Blues, I do like Blues, I just feel like it drains itself out after awhile, much like a sponge. A few songs are fine, but a whole album can end up sounding disorganized, and reused.

So, I decided it would be best if I opened my mind to the idea of both. And you know what? I actually greatly enjoyed it. The Blues were tight, yet fun. The sound had a hard-hitting feel, while still managing to have an energetic rhythm to it. I would find myself tapping my foot to songs I've never heard of, and it generally made me want to listen to it a second time.

Also, this Album influenced Rolling Stones, Hendrix, AC/DC, and Zeppelin, so there's that.

#349: Jay-Z - The Black Album

Jay-Z - The Black Album

November 14, 2003, Roc-A-Fella

1. "Interlude" - 1:22

2. "December 4th" - 4:32

3. "What More Can I Say" - 4:55

4. "Encore" - 4:11

5. "Change Clothes" (feat. Pharrell) - 4:18

6. "Dirt Off Your Shoulder" - 4:05

7. "Threat" - 4:05

8. "Moment of Clarity" - 4:24

9. "99 Problems" - 3:55

10. "Public Service Announcement (Interlude)" - 2:53

11. "Justify My Thug" - 4:05

12. "Lucifer" - 3:12

13. "Allure" - 4:52

14. "My 1st Song" - 4:45

RESULTS

Rate: 8/10

Best Song: 99 Problems

Worst Song: Dirt Off Your Shoulder

Comments

If you got music problems, I feel bad for you son

I got 499 problems but this Album ain't one.

This Album is pretty sick, not gonna lie. It's hard, it's heavy-hitting, and it's all around just kind of fun to listen to. Jay-Z has a pretty decent rap voice, and the beats are well selected. Jay-Z decided that every single song on this Album should have a diff producer, which definitely had an effect on some all the tracks. Fantastic songs like "Moment of Clarity" were produced by Eminem, while shitty songs like "Dirt Off Your Shoulder" were produced by Timbaland. You know your song is bad when the Skit is more fun to listen to than the song itself.

Tight Album, Loose Lips.