The Marshall Mathers LP

Eminem's insanely successful third album, which offended a lot of people but is mostly praised.

Tracks:

1. Public Service Announcement 2000 (Skit): 8/10 a truly hilarious start to the album which is a thoroughly effective attack on his critics. It makes me feel relived not to be one of Eminem's critics.

2. Kill You: 4/10 just no. Eminem usually does this kind of song well, but this is nasty, misogynistic, offensive and not even very catchy. Aside from a cool reference to Psycho and his typical rhyming skill, this is uglier than a Lord of the Rings orc and a pain to listen to.

3. Stan: 10/10 a harrowing, unbearably powerful tale of an obsessed fan which feels like a poem written by one of the greats, this is one of the best things Eminem has ever done.

4. Paul (Skit): 4/10 what? I don't get it.

5. Who Knew: 8/10 the message isn't always clear, but this works typical lyrical wonders from Eminem.

6. Steve Berman (Skit): 8/10 pretty funny, and unlike some Eminem skits it doesn't feel superfluous.

7. The Way I Am: 9/10 Eminem's serious side comes out in this melancholy yet superbly written track about the dark side of his fame. There's no question he deserves all his fame.

8. The Real Slim Shady: 10/10 this might just be Eminem's masterpiece. It's hilarious, it's ferocious, it's insanely entertaining and the writing on display here is truly awesome. There really is only one Slim Shady, and this song confirms that.

9. Remember Me?: 9/10 the question mark in the title should be removed. Thanks to its sheer intensity, you definitely won't get forget it.

10. I'm Back: 8/10 fairly typical Eminem fare, but Slim Shady never fails to entertain.

11. Marshall Mathers: 9/10 a journey into Eminem's mind, which despite containing the usual humour and sharpness, is actually a lot more compelling, deep and serious than it sounds.

12. Ken Kaniff (Skit): 8/10 I don't know what to say. It's pretty low, but with such as amazing punch-line this could be the greatest Emimen skit of them all.

13. Drug Ballad: 8/10 some of the lyrics don't work, but this is for the most part a brilliantly written song about drugs which tells its message in a far more imaginative way than many songs would.

14. Amityville: 6/10 the beat is good and it's clever, but not that clever and it fails to navigate the tightrope between effectively shocking and pure ugliness.

15. Bitch Please II: 8/10 while not the album's best song, it's still a razor sharp hip hop track with many highly entertaining guest verses from Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, Xzibet and Nate Dogg.

16. Kim: 7/10 it's pretty unpleasant and to be honest it's a bit much. Still, this certainly gets your attention and the skill of the song cannot be denied.

17. Under the Influence: 7/10 an enjoyable rehash of the album's previous songs which manages to get past the ugly tone reasonable successfully.

18. Criminal: 8/10 a summary of the album's themes, this hammers the messages of this excellent album home.

Best song: The Real Slim Shady
Worst song: Kill You

Summary: The Marshall Mathers LP is Eminem's response to all his critics. While his critics have a point- occasionally it all just gets a bit ugly and similar themes are covered repeatedly- this album is certainly a perfect piece of evidence for his defenders. Crackling with raw energy, bursting with wit and endlessly entertaining, Eminem's brilliant lyrical work hits a new peak here. While extremely funny, at the same time Eminem shows his more thoughtful poetic side, which is arguably just as good, if not better than his lighter songs. A hip hop epic and Eminem's best work yet.



Final rating: 9/10  

A Saucerful of Secrets review

Pink Floyd's second album. The first to feature David Gilmour and the last to feature Syd Barrett.

Tracks:

1. Let There Be More Light: 8/10 it's fairly typical Pink Floyd (The intro sounds suspiciously like Another Brick in the Wall) but that's certainly not a bad thing. It may be completely bonkers, but impressively the lack of any kind of sense never matters and it always connects.

2. Remember a Day: 9/10 Pink Floyd's music comes down from outer-space for this one, and the result is lyrically mesmerising and unexpectedly effective.

3. Set the Controls For the Heart of the Son: 6/10 as unpredictable and different as ever, but a bit too quiet and uninteresting.

4. Corporal Clegg: 7/10 a slightly 'meh' song although it features great use of a kazoo and it's quite interesting.

5. A Saucerful of Secrets: 9/10 a wonderful musical kaleidoscope where the brilliant and unique sounds speak louder than words. An experiment, but a very good one.

6. See Saw: 8/10 another very nice one although it's not as memorable as many of Pink Floyd's songs.

7. Jugband Blues: 8/10 Syd Barret's final song for Pink Floyd. What does this song even mean? Who knows, who cares? It's awesome.

Best song: A Saucerful of Secrets
Worst song: Set the Controls For the Heart of the Sun

Summary: Another excellent Pink Floyd album. Not definitive, but as well played and mad as ever. It's fairly straightforward Pink Floyd fare: psychedelic, brilliant, insane, strange and wonderful. Pretty darn entertaining, although I don't know if any of the songs here are examples of Pink Floyd at their absolute best.



Final rating: 8/10

The Velvet Underground review

The third album of The Velvet Underground, imaginatively titled 'The Velvet Underground'. Stylistically, it departs from their previous album White Light/White Heat and goes in a new direction for the band.

Tracks:

1. Candy Says: 8/10 brilliant lyrics combine with a refreshingly straightforward approach in this quiet yet mesmerising song, kicking the album off excellently.

2. What Goes On: 8/10 excellently mixed and even better played, this creates a good instrumental and manages not to do it to death like other Velvet Underground songs have done.

3. Some Kinda Love: 6/10 perfectly passable but it's mediocre and forgettable and therefore just feels like filler.

4. Pale Blue Eyes: 7/10 a bit overlong, but quietly touching and although it's less eye-catching than some Velvet Underground songs you won't zone out.

5. Jesus: 6/10 consisting of only one verse and only occasionally entertaining, this one could definitely be skipped. It's pretty chilled and peaceful though, which is a plus.

6. Beginning to See the Light: 7/10 with more energy and a more entertaining baseline, this gets the mixture of experimentation and entertainment right. The repetition gets tiresome though.

7. I'm Set Free: 7/10 pretty entertaining, although it goes on for a bit too long.

8. That's the Story of My Life: 7/10 it's strangely short, but this is actually surprisingly effective. Overall, slight but still good.

9. The Murder Mystery: 7/10 it is a mystery nearly impossible to unravel, but how many other bands would attempt something like this?  Audacious and somewhat jaw dropping, here you just have to embrace the madness.

10. After Hours: 6/10 an overly low-key but effective album closer.

Best song: What Goes On
Worst song: Jesus

Summary: Overall, a pretty good album. While occasionally a bit dull, it's technically well done and the lyrics are very interesting. Once again, the album is pleasingly experimental but this time feels a bit less self-indulgent than the other 2 albums. Nothing here tops Sister Ray, but there are some pretty strong tracks in this album, alongside a few boring ones.



Final rating: 7/10

Surfer Girl review

The Beach Boys' third album, and the first to be produced by Brian Wilson.

Tracks:

1. Surfer Girl: 8/10 a delightful opening track where the harmonies are quite simply unreal.

2. Catch a Wave: 8/10 a great advertisement for surfing. Whoever came up with those awful Go Compare adverts should take note. This is how you sell a subject.

3. The Surfer Moon: 9/10 a really nice song with great vocals, although you do yearn for a subject other than surfing.

4. South Bay Surfer: 7/10 as well done as ever, but it does feel like I'm listening to the same song again and again by now.

5. The Rocking Surfer: 7/10 quite a fun instrumental, although it feels a bit like filler.

6. Little Deuce Coupe: 7/10 it doesn't always make sense but it's pretty entertaining.

7. In My Room: 9/10 pretty darn wonderful, with amazing vocals and wonderful lyrics which are finally not about surfing.

8. Hawaii: 9/10 only the most cynical listeners won't be charmed by this delightful burst of joy.

9. Surfers Rule: 7/10 it feels like filler, but it's thoroughly enjoyable filler at that.

10. Our Car Club: 7/10 it's just about a car club, but surprisingly it's pretty fun.

11. Our Summer Dream: 8/10 a bit sentimental but it's quite sweet.

12. Boogie Woodie: 8/10 the first 3 Beach Boys albums have been burdened with boring instrumentals, but this isn't one of them thanks to an interesting mix of sounds and speedy pace.

Best song: In the Room
Worst song: South Bay Surfer

Summary: I'm very impressed. The Beach Boys have improved a lot since their forgettable first album. The endless surfing references do grow tiresome, but their done with such glee and enthusiasm that the album is hard to resist. The instrumentals are wonderful, the vocals are even more so and far away from the depressing subject matter of many of my favourite artists, here's a band where you can just have a good time. This one rides on a very high wave.



Final rating: 8/10

Joy Division other tracks

The Joy Division tracks which I haven't listened to reviewed and rated.

(Living in the) Ice Age: 6/10 perfectly OK, but a bit of a meh since it doesn't do anything particularly exciting.

As You Said: 7/10 repetitive, but it's a pretty good instrumental with a beat that, for Joy Division, is really rather catchy.

At a Later Date: 6/10 mildly diverting. It's a bit of a 'Whatever'.

Atmosphere: 6/10 it has its peaks, but overall it's a bit monotonous and forgettable.

Autosuggestion: 5/10 since it's just more of the same and despite being well played only hits its peak very late, this doesn't have enough lyrical material or musical variety to sustain 3 minutes, let alone 6.

Ceremony: 6/10 the lyrics are barely audible so this one should be judged for its instrumental, which is decent if repetitive.

Dead Souls: 7/10 competent, but by the time the lyrics belatedly kick in I've slightly lost interest.

Digital: 8/10 a pretty intense one, Joy Division goes heavier for this song and it works.

Exercise One: 8/10 a horrifying song, but in a good way. This one actually gives you the shivers with its chilling instrumental and frightening lyrics.

Failures: 7/10 it has a speedy if chaotic instrumental and some interesting ideas, but it's just more of the same in the end.

From Safety to Where: 6/10 this monotonous song has some interesting things but it's completely forgettable.

Glass: 6/10 why do I feel like I'm listening to the same song over and over again?

Gutz: 5/10 not without its merits, but pretty generic and it feels meaningless.

In a Lonely Place: 8/10 the lyrics are difficult to hear, but this is an effective and atmospheric song that lives up to its title.

Incubation: 6/10 this has a good beat which is unfortunately done to death through repetition with no variety.

Inside the Line: 7/10 it's a bit too stripped back, but it's quite enjoyable and has some interesting if overly obscure imagery.

Komakino: 5/10 pretty boring.

Leaders of Men: 6/10 it's nothing different but it's a bit louder, snappier and more engaging than many of these.

Love Will Tear Us Apart: 8/10 it's a little confusing and as depressing as ever, but it's genuinely a decent song with one of the best Joy Division instrumentals.

No Love Lost: 7/10 this starts off very well, but once the pretentious lyrics kick in it's a challenge not to zone out.

Novelty: 7/10 a bit more memorable at least and actually reasonably diverting.

She's Lost Control (12" Version): 5/10 a weaker version of the song which sounds like it's coming through broken speakers since it's so muffled and restrained, but like always it's undeniably skilled.

Sister Ray: 7/10 the original's better and crazier but this is a more than adequate cover which retains the musical skill- and some of the insanity- that made the Velvet Underground version so memorable.

Something Must Break: 7/10 yet more portentous stuff lifted by its skilled production and semi-interesting lyrics.

The Drawback: 5/10 competent enough, but thanks to the short length and overall flatness, blink and you'll miss this one.

The Kill: 7/10 well executed but overly distant. Since the songs of Joy Division are so similar, my reviews of them are becoming nearly identical.

The Only Mistake: 8/10 just another song, but one that is more eye-catching than many of the others.

The Sound of Music: 6/10 just another one.

These Days: 7/10 another slightly better one.

Transmission: 8/10 a pretty good one, thanks to its overwhelming sound and lyrics which are distinguishable from other Joy Division tracks.

Walked in Line: 8/10 this one's snappy, well written and surprisingly catchy, so it's definitely a highlight.

Warsaw: 6/10 interesting enough, but it makes no sense.

You're No Good For Me: 5/10 pretty forgettable overall.

The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan review

Bob Dylan's second album which propelled him, at the age of 22, to fame and he soon became a symbol of the 1960s Counter Culture.

Tracks:

1. Blowing in the Wind: 9/10 the ultimate case of 'Less is more'. A series of abstract questions without an answer and backed by a fairly stripped down guitar soundtrack, this is still one true shockwave of a song, and its devastating effectiveness makes it the ultimate minimalist masterpiece.

2. Girl From the North Country: 8/10 a typical love song piece of formula enhanced considerably by Dylan's wonderful lyrics and his edge of cynicism.

3. Masters of War: 9/10 Dylan's brilliant, thought provoking and above all truly enraged protest song hits like a missile between the eyes through 8 relentless verses of bleak poetry.

4. Down the Highway: 6/10 this one's a bit of a meh, though certainly not bad.

5. Bob Dylan's Blues: 8/10 although it's a bit difficult to understand at times, it's very intelligent in conveying its message and interestingly meta.

6. A Hard Rain's a-Gonna Fall: 10/10 a brilliantly written epic, this is the ultimate Boy Dylan tune and a true masterpiece of cynicism.

7. Don't Think Twice it's All Right: 10/10 this song often feels like it's in a conflict with itself but that's part of what's so brilliant. A wonderful balance of optimism and pessimism filled with pathos and honesty, this is one of Dylan's masterpieces.

8. Bob Dylan's Dream: 9/10 this melancholy song's most impressive achievement for once isn't the lyrics. It's how truthful it feels.

9. Oxford Town: 7/10 a bit of filler, but it's got a serious message to it.

10. Talkin' World War Three Blues: 7/10 it's quite clever, but it goes on for too long and doesn't say enough despite being 6 minutes long. It sort of feels like an inferior sequel to Masters of War.

11. Corrina, Corrina: 5/10 here Dylan's minimalism really tries the patience and this is just filler, pure and simple.

12. Honey, Just Allow Me One More Chance: 6/10 some of the lyrics are good but again, this is just forgettable and lacks as much effort.

13. I Shall Be Free: 7/10 quite clever but a bit boring.

Best song: A Hard Rain's a-Gonna Fall
Worst song: Corrina, Corrina

Summary: Bob Dylan's fabulous second album already shows him approaching the peak of his powers. It's a bit inconsistent and loses its way slightly towards the end, so it isn't quite a masterpiece, but some of the songs are juggernauts, and many of them are excellent. What nearly all of them have in common is Dylan's impeccable, unbeatable writing, but the instrumentals, even if the writing is the star of the show, are excellent as well. In fact, the stripped down feel makes the album feel more personal and character driven. An excellent and thematically rich record that, at times thanks to certain songs, becomes a fully fledged masterpiece.


Final rating: 8/10   

Electric Ladyland review

Jimi Hendrix' third and sadly final studio album. This 75 minute double album epic is generally regarded as his best work.

Tracks:

1. And the Gods Made Love: 8/10 this one kicks off with... I don't even know what it is, just a crescendo of non musical sounds. It's cooler than it sounds though.

2. Have You Ever Been (To Electric Ladyland): 8/10 a little slight, but it's the spot on mixture of instrumental style and lyrical substance which the earlier Hendrix songs didn't always get right.

3. Crosstown Traffic: 9/10 heavy, brilliantly mixed and delightfully chaotic, this beautifully recreates Manhattan's traffic congestion.

4. Voodoo Chile: 10/10 Guitar Heaven would have been a more appropriate title. 15 minutes of one of the best guitarists of all time unleashing a relentlessly energetic, endlessly brilliant and euphorically enjoyable guitar extravaganza with some brilliantly insane lyrics. You can't really fault this.

5. Little Miss Strange: 8/10 a little bit of a comedown, but still highly entertaining and very well played.

6. Long Hot Summer Night: 8/10 it's a bit bewildering, but if you just focus on the guitar playing it's still a highly entertaining song.

7. Come On (Part One): 7/10 a slightly less successful song but it's full of awesome guitar riffs.

8. Gypsy Eyes: 8/10 another very good song although again it doesn't make your jaw drop.

9. Burning of the Midnight Lamp: 9/10 with melancholy psychedelic lyrics and an incredible baseline, this song is Jimi Hendrix and his guitar on fire.

10. Rainy Day, Dream Away: 7/10 quite well done, but out of the 4 verses, I couldn't hear 2 of them at all which prevented me from engaging with this one as much.

11. 1983 (A Merman I Should Turn to Be): 9/10 not as good as the album's other epic, but still pretty darn excellent with an excellent lyrical section followed by a long, stripped back yet still hugely entertaining instrumental section. Hendrix continues to write better lyrics than ever before for this album.

12. Moon, Turn the Tides... Gently, Gently Away: 7/10 a superfluous but interesting interlude.

13. Still Raining, Still Dreaming: 8/10 repetitive but brilliantly played and mixed.

14. House Burning Down: 8/10 it refuses to make any sense like many of the songs on this album, but this one follows all those other songs in being epic, ferociously played and masterfully crafted.

15. All Along the Watchtower: 9/10 a true legend of a song. A musical thunderstorm if there ever was one, Jimi's relentless, ferocious guitar solos might be his finest instrumental achievement and Bob Dylan's typically brilliant verses translate surprisingly well to Hendrix, who is a very different artist.

16. Voodoo Child (Slight Return): 9/10 a fantastic and fittingly heavy finale.

Best song: Voodoo Chile
Worst song: Rainy Day, Dream Away

Summary: I'd started to grow into Jimi Hendrix more recently, and this album shows why he's so popular. A psychedelic epic with endlessly dazzling guitar work from the master, combined with the best song writing he's ever done and a brilliant mixture of guitar wizardry and lyrical excellence, Electric Ladyland is a true treat and unquestionable Hendrix's masterpiece. While a bit too long, every song delivers in some form and since there are 16 songs, that's pretty impressive. Jimi and his guitar are on fire throughout this album. Think the flaming guitar dude from Mad Max Fury Road. Jimi is probably the best guitarist of all time and it's truly tragic he died so young.



Final rating: 9/10     

The Suburbs review

The third album by Arcade Fire. A 16 track extravaganza, this one thematically centres on suburbs. Since a neighbourhood was brought to life so well in Funeral, this should be good.

Tracks:

1. The Suburbs: 9/10 the best way to sum this up is as a musical kaleidoscope of nostalgia, heart, fear, youth, childhood, light, darkness and instrumental wizardry. Dazzling.

2. Ready to Start: 9/10 a rousing and inspiring song, which carries a familiar message but manages not to feel overly formulaic.

3. Modern Man: 8/10 it feels a bit too restrained at times, but it feels relevant and truthful and is as well played as ever.

4. Rococo: 8/10 lyrically, it's message about teenagers conforming is spot on, and it's more beautifully played, soulful Arcade Fire fare despite some overly quiet moments.

5. Empty Room: 8/10 a bit too minimalistic, but it boasts a typically brilliant blend of instruments and is full of energy.

6. City With No Children: 7/10 well played and reasonably engaging, but it manages to be both pretentious and simplistic at the same time.

7. Half Light I: 8/10 a mesmerising song fuelled by a fascinating and genuinely brilliant metaphor for growing up.

8. Half Light II (No Celebration): 9/10 it's certainly not cheerful, but it's breathtakingly powerful and despite being depressing it's depressing because it's being truthful, which certainly wasn't always the case with Neon Bible.

9. Suburban War: 10/10 yet another overwhelmingly powerful song, this is a showcase of Arcade Fire tackling more universal themes than you can shake a stick at with honesty, intelligence and emotion.

10. Month of May: 6/10 a well mixed but boring straight rock song which works best as a reminder of Arcade Fire's range rather than as a song.

11. Wasted Hours: 5/10 this says what the other songs on the album has said with obvious imagery and a dull instrumental background, making it an unnecessary addition to the album, although it's Arcade Fire so it's partially well done. I think it was called Wasted Hours for a reason.

12. Deep Blue: 8/10 I don't know exactly what it's even about. Something to do with machines? I don't know. It's a very good addition to the album though.

13. We Used to Wait: 8/10 it's got a good instrumental and ending and is a successful song even if it's difficult to care about someone not being able to write letters anymore.

14. Sprawl I (Flatland): 7/10 yet another song about growing up from this album, but still a good track.

15. Sprawl II (Mountains Beyond Mountains): 10/10 enchanting, hypnotic and downright heavenly, this could be the best song Arcade Fire have ever done. Even if it's not, it's the best to dance to.

16. The Suburbs (Continued): 7/10 a bit slight and quiet, but it hammers home the message of the album pretty well.

Best song: Sprawl II (Mountains Beyond Mountains)
Worst song: Wasted Hours

Summary: Arcade Fire have produced another breath-taking album here. In terms of lyrics, it can be pretentious and repetitive but most of the time the intelligence, depth and honesty of the song writing stand tall above the bland lyrics of many pop songs. The instrumentals are completely brilliant, unique and flawlessly produced and mixed. The thing which truly makes this album work is the way it takes a normal suburb and turns it into a vivid, dark, beautiful and symbolic fictional universe which not only represents more universal themes than you can shake a stick at, but makes the Marvel Cinematic Universe look more boring than a 3 hour lecture on a science of paint drying.



Final rating: 9/10

Blackstar album review

To mark the tragic passing of David Bowie, whose music I have enjoyed, this is my review of his final album. Apparently this was deliberately intended by Bowie to act as a swansong and a goodbye to the fans, so this is going to be an emotional one.

Tracks:

1. Blackstar: 9/10 an enigmatic and often confusing, yet always strange and wonderful song. Despite its unclear meaning this obscure riddle of a song is very moving and will have the listener successfully hypnotised for almost 10 minutes.

2. Tis Pity She Was a Whore: 8/10 the title immediately grabs your attention. With its chaotic but controlled instrumental and interesting ambiguous lyrics, it doesn't let you go.

3. Lazarus: 8/10 it's as weird as ever, but it still mostly works largely thanks to the fact that despite being a unique song which could have come from outer space it still feels deeply human.

4. Sue (Or in a Season of Crime): 7/10 it's well played and good in many ways, but it just doesn't connect as well.

5. Girl Loves Me: 9/10 I'm automatically going to like any song with references to Stanley Kubrick's masterpiece A Clockwork Orange. To add to that, this has some of the best repetition in a song that I've heard and is excellent on a technical level as well.

6. Dollar Days: 8/10 while similar to the other songs on the album, it's another well written and powerful track. It's impact is now heightened as it appears to be Bowie talking about his upcoming passing.

7. I Can't Give Everything Away: 9/10 this poignant final song from Bowie, which has an excellent chorus and is typically brilliantly played, feels like the Starman leaving Earth for the last time.

Best song: Blackstar
Worst song: Sue (Or in a Season of Crime)

Summary: A very experimental album which is often very abstract and opaque, but through all the ambiguity and through all the enigmas there are many soulful and human messages and themes beaming through. David Bowie's final album is technically excellent and often affecting, and the tragic death of the singer adds a new layer of bittersweet meaning to Blackstar. Overall, a very strong final album and within the songs, abstract and experimental as they are, there are many chords which sound like they are blasting off into the stars. Rest in peace David Bowie.



Final rating: 8/10
  

RIP David Bowie

                                                           
                                                                 DAVID BOWIE
                                                   8 JANUARUY 1974-10 JANUARY 2016
RIP David Bowie. The music legend may be gone but he will never, ever be forgotten. Well, forgetting his wonderful music from outer space would be pretty much impossible. Goodbye Starman.

Soul Rebels review

The second album by Bob Marley and the Wailers. It was their first to be released outside Jamaica.

Tracks:

1. Soul Rebel: 8/10 while the opening track is minimalistic and stripped back, in many ways that adds to it. Using fewer instruments than many Bob Marley's songs do, the result is haunting in a good way and deeply soulful.

2. Try Me: 7/10 a fairly solid Marley tune. It won't stick in your mind but it's well played and most other songs wouldn't make the repetition of the words 'Try me' meaningful, but this one does.

3. It's Alright: 8/10 with this track, even with the stripped back instrumental, Bob Marley proves once again music's best at making everyone feel alright.

4. No Sympathy: 8/10 pretty darn excellent. This haunting song contrasts sharply with the last track and shows Marley's range.

5. My Cup (I've Got to Cry): 7/10 it feels like a less effective version of the last track, but it still works reasonably well and delivers on the emotional beats up to a point.

6. Soul Almighty: 8/10 some of the lyrics are a bit random but with its catchy beat and harmonious tone it'll win over even the most cynical listeners.

7. Rebel Hop: 7/10 my main problem with Bob Marley is the repetition, but here the repetition works. It's not standout but it's fairly engaging.

8. Corner Stone: 6/10 I don't really get this one and it's also a bit dull.

9. 400 Years: 8/10 this is a step back up, and it has a serious message running through it's core that makes it more effective.

10. No Water: 7/10 well done, although a bit boring.

11. Reaction: 8/10 this makes a good point in an engaging manner despite the slow pacing.

12. My Sympathy: 8/10 a thoroughly enjoyable reggae instrumental.

Best song: No Sympathy
Worst song: Corner Stone


Summary: All in all, it's a lot better than the first one. Every song, even the more banal ones, has a soul and feels meaningful, while the sparse, stripped back instrumentals which allow the vocals to do the work are actually very effective. Like many albums, it has run out of gas slightly by the end, but overall this is a very good bit of early reggae music. If I were you, skip the first album and just start with this one.



Final rating: 8/10

With the Beatles review

The second album by The Beatles. Released in 1963 when Beatlemania was getting started, this consists mostly of original songs with a few covers as well.

Tracks:

1. It Won't Be Long: 8/10 it may cover a familiar subject, yet as often with The Beatles they turn even the most generic song subjects into true art and there's just something so fun and addictive about it.

2. All I've Got To Do: 7/10 pretty good, but it lacks some of the energy Beatles songs often have.

3. All My Loving: 8/10 another awesome Beatles love song.

4. Don't Bother Me: 8/10 a typically strong early Beatles song with a nice side of pessimism.

5. Little Child: 8/10 a burst of formulaic energy.

6. Till There Was You: 8/10 sweet and poetic if a tiny bit restrained.

7. Please Mister Postman: 8/10 this love song, one of many from the early Beatles albums, feels fresher than many of the others and its mixture of energy and pathos make it a standout.

8. Roll Over Beethoven: 8/10 fast paced and highly entertaining, it's easy to see why this was a favourite of Lennon, McCartney and Harrison's.

9. Hold Me Tight: 8/10 it's hard to distinguish from other songs on the album yet it's still more fun than many other similar songs.

10. You Really Got a Hold On Me: 7/10 pretty fun but a bit of a meh.

11. I Wanna Be Your Man: 7/10 ditto.

12. Devil In Her Heart: 8/10 a bit of a darker one, and still pretty solid if not definitive.

13. Not A Second Time: 6/10 I actually zoned out a bit during this one. It's just more of the same really.

14. Money (That's What I Want): 7/10 it's got the usual energy, but just like the Pink Floyd song focussing on money, it abandons subtlety entirely.

Best song: It Won't Be Long
Worst song: Not a Second Time

Summary: Overall, a good, four-star album, but weaker than their debut. This one gets a bit frustrating as it just feels like the same stuff over and over again. Still, from the wonderful vocals to the brilliant instrumentals, there's plenty to like and even the most generic material is performed with energy.



Final rating: 8/10

David Bowie review

David Bowie's debut album, which has little in common with the type of music he would become famous for. Still, seeing a future musical legend finding their voice is always interesting.

Tracks:

1. Uncle Arthur: 7/10 musically fairly generic, but this fine piece of song-writing will take you by surprise and improves as it progresses.

2. Sell Me a Coat: 6/10 it's fine, but you're hugely unlikely to remember it.

3. Rubber Band: 5/10 well.... that was a bit random.

4. Love You Till Tuesday: 7/10 a perfectly competent and sweet love song.

5. There is a Happy Land: 4/10 this song belongs on some nauseatingly sugary kids programme, not in the discography of an acclaimed musician.

6. We Are Hungry Men: 7/10 bonkers and thought provoking, if slightly nonsensical, this feels like the Bowie we know.

7. When I Live My Dream: 5/10 some inventive imagery here, but kids are always told too much sugar is bad for you. Bowie clearly forgot that when he did this song.

8. Little Bombardier: 6/10 some interesting stuff pops up here and there, but it's mostly boring.

9. Silly Boy Blue: 4/10 yawn.

10. Come and Buy Me Toys: 5/10 it's kind of sweet but I don't know whether this is a song or whether a toy company tried to sneak a commercial into the album.

11. Join the Gang: 5/10 it's got some good lyrics, but it's still not very compelling.

12. She's Got Medals: 5/10 once again, a few good bits here and there, but try listening to this without zoning out. It's a challenge.

13. Maid of Bond Street: 6/10 interesting enough but what it's about isn't truly clear.

14. Please Mr Grave Digger: 6/10 this one definitely grabs your attention, but its ambiguity just makes it frustrating.

Best song: We Are Hungry Men
Worst song: There is a Happy Land

Summary: I'm sorry. I really liked the Ziggy Stardust album and I like what I've heard from David Bowie, but this really isn't very good. In fact, it's the worst album I've reviewed on this blog so far. A lot of occasionally intriguing but often overly sweet and bland lyrics are sung against a painfully generic guitar backing track. It's not really worth your time. You can't feel the later Bowie stuff in this at all. Overall, with many galleons of syrup and lots of dumb kiddy stuff which often feels like one extended toy commercial, David Bowie's debut album could have been sponsored by Toys R Us.


Final rating: 4/10