The Cry of Love review

Jimi Hendrix's first posthumous album. Before he died, he was working on a new album and some of the songs for that album, his first after The Jimi Hendrix Experience broke up are featured here.

Tracks:

1. Freedom: 7/10 while far from one of his best tracks, Jimi is on good form here and delivers plenty of musical ferocity with confidence and style.

2. Drifting: 8/10 a quiet, minimalistic, smartly written song which shows Jimi isn't just all loud guitar riffs and no soul.

3. Ezy Rider: 8/10 the most entertaining and compelling song yet.

4. Night Bird Flying: 9/10 evoking memories of the psychedelic brilliance from Electric Ladyland, this is another hugely welcome round of wonderfully heavy madness.

5. My Friend: 6/10 a bit meaningless and bland, but it sounds like nothing else Hendrix has ever done and is an interesting song.

6. Straight Ahead: 7/10 it doesn't boast a lot of substance, but it's still good fun.

7. Astro Man: 8/10 it doesn't quite live up to its full potential, but it's weird and entertaining enough to soar to reasonable heights.

8. Angel: 9/10 one of Jimi's most touching and poetic songs.

9. In From the Storm: 8/10 a fairly typical good Jimi Hendrix song: well-written and backed with an excellent guitar instrumental.

10. Belly Button Window: 4/10 the title is weird and stupid. The song follows suite. The guitar is barely even in it.

Best song: Angel
Worst song: Belly Button Window

Summary: This is a good posthumous album. It's certainly not Jimi Hendrix's best album and the songs don't showcase him at his best, but they showcase his talents reasonably effectively and at its best the album is very strong. The songs are also diverse and aren't all just the same, and this is a pretty entertaining album overall, though it's not definitive.




Final rating: 8/10

Reflektor review

The fourth and most recent album by Arcade Fire, whose influences include the film Black Orpheus and Haitian music.

Tracks:

0. Unnamed Hidden Track: 4/10 what am I supposed to do with this?

1. Reflektor: 8/10 an unpredictable, philosophical and fiercely intelligent (If overlong) musical roller-coaster through many equally compelling musical highs and lows that is different to everything else Arcade Fire has done before.

2. We Exist: 8/10 this well-constructed song doesn't quite make its subject matter clear but it's still a very interesting listen.

3. Flashbulb Eyes: 8/10 this one manages not to outstay its welcome, and offers an interesting message and a strong baseline, although it does show Arcade Fire's occasional habit of being portentous and pretentious while meditating on deep themes.

4. Here Comes the Night Time: 8/10 while again over-extended, this overwhelming, vastly entertaining and deliciously dark tune is the album's best yet.

5. Normal Person: 7/10 the instrumental has a lot of energy, but the song is so cynical it's just a bit off-putting.

6. You Already Know: 6/10 you already know what?! Still, it's adequately entertaining to listen to.

7. Joan of Arc: 7/10 a bit confused and yet again overlong, but this one is still interesting and yet again with this album you never know what's coming.

8. Here Comes the Night Time II: 7/10 the instrumental is quietly powerful and it is effective, but overall this song is just a bit flat.

9. Awful Sound (Oh Eurydice): 6/10 more technically efficient yet pretentious stuff.

10. It's Never Over (Hey Orpheus): 8/10 this quietly powerful one is an improvement and extra points for its Greek mythology references.

11. Porno: 8/10 the brilliant instrumental and interesting ideas ensure this song will speak to most, even though the lyrics are far too vague.

12. Afterlife: 8/10 ditto.

13. Supersymmetry: 7/10 before the bizzare, nearly silent instrumental, this is a good one which does make you feel something.

Best song: Here Comes the Night Time
Worst song: You Already Know

Summary: This highly experimental album ultimately pays off just about. However, it's the weakest of Arcade Fire's albums to date and certainly has its problems. The Greek myth of Orpheus and Eurydice is a very fine story, but tying the album to it so much as well as a foreign film most listeners won't have heard of was a slightly odd decision. Much of the time listeners will be confused, while the album sometimes slides into being pretentious and over-indulgent. There is a slight sense of Arcade Fire losing its identity here, while Regine Chassagne is completely marginalized. Still, it is a fine album full of fascinating experimentation and unique, emotionally powerful material which goes far out of one's comfort zone and into complex, borderline art-house material. It took me a couple of listens to realize this, but Reflektor is an accomplished, hypnotic record which counter-balances its various missteps with some truly awesome compositions.    



Final rating: 8/10

Soul Revolution review

The third album by Bob Marley and the Wailers.

Tracks:

1. Keep On Moving: 8/10 on the surface it's pretty straightforward, but it's more sophisticated than it looks and it's a typical example of Marley's wonderfully relaxing music.

2. Don't Rock My Boat: 6/10 an early version of Satisfy My Soul, this is somewhat dull but it's got plenty of spirit.

3. Put it On: 7/10 repetitive but pleasant.

4. Fussing and Fighting: 8/10 a delightful love song which is a standout among Marley's early tracks.

5. Duppy Conqueror: 7/10 a bit subdued, but enhanced by interesting and intelligent lyrics.

6. Memphis: 6/10 an inoffensive but forgettable instrumental. 

7. Soul Rebel: 8/10 the title track of the previous album. A very good song indeed.

8. Riding High: 6/10 perfectly nice but it doesn't really grab you. It just sort of drifts along without ever hitting a peak.

9. Kaya: 5/10 decent enough but it doesn't really do much or say anything interesting.

10. African Herbsman: 8/10 moving lyrics and an excellent instrumental make this song hugely effective.

11. Stand Alone: 6/10 the upbeat sounding instrumental clashes with the more downbeat lyrics, but it's still a song that provokes thought.

12. Sun is Shining: 7/10 it feels like a children's picture book turned into a song, but there's not an awful lot wrong with that. It's quite charming.

13. Brain Washing: 7/10 it's not a bad song in any way, shape or form, it's just not very striking.

Best song: Fussing and Fighting
Worst song: Kaya

Summary: This is a good album. It is undeniably a comedown from Soul Rebels and it's not massively striking, but it's well played and written. It certainly isn't Bob Marley at his best and the track listing here isn't brilliant. Still, it's good music and makes for an enjoyable listen.



Final rating: 7/10 

A Hard Day's Night review

The third Beatles album, and the first to consist entirely of original material written by John Lennon and Paul McCartney.

Tracks:

1. A Hard Day's Night: 9/10 a monumentally catchy title track, this brilliantly named song is one of The Beatles best early songs.

2. I Should Have Known Better: 9/10 unique-sounding among early Beatles, the effectiveness of what initially seems like another love song is a major rug pull.

3. If I Fell: 8/10 a less showy track filled with honesty which connects in a very genuine manner.

4. I'm Happy Just to Dance With You: 8/10 short but highly enjoyable.

5. And I Love Her: 9/10 as a simple, unsophisticated and blunt love song, it's a smash-hit success and might be one of the best Beatles love songs of all time. And since so many of their songs are about love, that's seriously saying something.

6. Tell Me Why: 8/10 it's sung with such conviction and played with such skill it's impossible to ignore despite the familiar material.

7. Can't Buy Me Love: 9/10 the biggest hit on the album aside from the title track, and with very good reason. Another case of simple but effective, this one stays in the memory.

8. Any Time at All: 8/10 more of the same in some ways, but this basically means more delightful music so I'm not complaining at all.

9. I'll Cry Instead: 8/10 mature and compelling in terms of narrative, although one of the early attempts at a more downbeat for The Beatles isn't entirely successful since the seemingly upbeat instrumental doesn't always match up to the lyrics.

10. Things We Said Today: 8/10 one of Paul McCartney's touching love songs, and a good one at that.

11. When I Get Home: 8/10 not one of the album's standouts, but typically strong stuff all the same.

12. You Can't Do That: 8/10 once again, the more serious material doesn't always work but it's still a good song.  

13. I'll Be Back: 8/10 this time, the seriousness works and it concludes the album in excellent style.

Best song: A Hard Day's Night
Worst song: When I Get Home

Summary: A delightful album from The Beatles, and their best yet. This time consisting of just original material, it's an honest representation of the band's genius, and although not all of the songs are massively memorable, the standard of quality is remarkably consistent. Only half an hour in length, it doesn't outstay its welcome either. Great stuff from The Beatles, and the best album of the early, pre-psychedelic years.



Final rating: 9/10

London Calling review

The Clash's third album; a 65 minute rant against society which is considered one of the best rock albums of all time. Despite the awesomeness of Dark Side, the cover might be my favourite album cover ever.

Tracks:

1. London Calling: 10/10 a masterful apocalypse filled with musical pyrotechnics, brilliant lyrics and furious energy, this has to be one of the best album openers ever.

2. Brand New Cadillac: 7/10 a comedown from the opener, but a perfectly entertaining bit of filler.

3. Jimmy Jazz: 8/10 a bit confusing at times, but it reaffirms what brilliant songwriters Joe Strummer and Mick Jones are although they never seem to get enough credit for that and features a brilliant impersonation of a saxophone with a guitar.

4. Hateful: 9/10 a brilliant song on drugs which rings with believability.

5. Rudie Can't Fail: 9/10 repetitive at times, but still very interesting and boasting a great chorus.

6. Spanish Bombs: 9/10 this really is poetry, and although singing in Spanish doesn't really add anything to the song it's one of the most catchy on the album.

7. The Right Profile: 7/10 this one's intriguing and well played, but ultimately a bit tedious.

8. Lost in the Supermarket: 10/10 this feels like the most sobering and mature song that The Clash have ever done and here the anger is toned down a bit for a more melancholy and resigned meditation on isolation and consumerism. It's mesmerising.

9. Clampdown: 9/10 brilliantly written and enormously entertaining, this is so delightfully rebellious and full of attitude it'll have you punching the air.

10. The Guns of Brixton: 8/10 it doesn't quite manage to hit a real peak, but it provokes thought and is another artful rant from The Clash.

11. Wrong 'Em Boyo: 7/10 aside from provide a typically good baseline and a great intro this song doesn't do a lot. Often in the second half of an album it goes downhill a bit. Can London Calling avoid this?

12. Death or Glory: 8/10 typical Clash stuff which still packs plenty of punch and has a great chorus.

13. Koka Kola: 8/10 a bit difficult to understand, but it packs a lot of compelling material into under 2 minutes in a very impressive manner.

14. The Card Cheat: 8/10 skilfully mixing entertainment with downbeat lyrics, this one is a highlight of the second half of the album.

15. Lover's Rock: 5/10 a thoroughly mediocre sex song.

16. Four Horsemen: 8/10 although it's less subtle than some of the other songs on the album, it's still highly intelligent and very enjoyable.

17. I'm Not Down: 8/10 this song is full of spirit and triumph, and it's also nice to see a Clash song which isn't a rant.

18. Revolution Rock: 8/10 an overlong but thoroughly entertaining cover song.

19. Train in Vain: 9/10 an awesome and pleasingly restrained break-up song, it's clear why this is one of The Clash's most popular songs.

Best song: Lost in the Supermarket
Worst song: Lover's Rock

Summary: A mind blowing, scorching, swaggering atom bomb of an album filled with musical diversity, amazing lyrics and endlessly entertaining tunes, London Calling is one of the best albums of all time. Although it's more than an hour long, it remains hugely entertaining throughout and in terms of song-writing and instrumental skill, it's actually somewhat masterful. This album describes the apocalypse in London, and with its explosive music brilliance, smashing writing and overall epicness, it's a superb apocalypse that would make Roland Emmerich proud.



Final rating: 10/10

David Bowie review

David Bowie's second album, again titled David Bowie and released in 1969. Since this is the beginning of David Bowie as we know him, the title is more appropriate this time.

Tracks:

1. Space Oddity: 9/10 a weird, wonderful and musically dazzling journey into space, this masterful track creates a hugely compelling science fiction narrative backed with an interesting central character in just 5 minutes.

2. Unwashed and Somewhat Slightly Dazed: 7/10 although it outstays its welcome, this absurd in a good way song is pretty entertaining and delightfully surreal.

3. Don't Sit Down: 4/10 I don't know what they were thinking here. Why would they insert such a pointless, bland song, 42 seconds in length, into the album? Thankfully, this was removed in the 1972 re-issue.

4. Letter to Hermione: 7/10 derivative yet surprisingly touching, and it once again shows Bowie's song-writing skill.

5. Cygnet Committee: 8/10 this one takes its time to get going and feels derivative of Bob Dylan, but it rewards the listener's patience with an awesome crescendo and plenty of mad imagery.

6. Janine: 6/10 it has more energy than on would expect but it's pretty bog-standard stuff.

7. An Occasional Dream: 7/10 a bit too similar to the other songs on the album for it's own good, but it's still entertainingly weird.

8. The Wild Eyed Boy From Freecloud: 6/10 there's some interesting imagery here but after so many songs like this on the album it's not particularly diverting anymore.

9. God Knows I'm Good: 7/10 it's a bit stripped back, but it tells a good story.

10. The Memory of a Free Festival: 8/10 a strong finale for the album.

Best song: Space Oddity
Worst song: Don't Sit Down

Summary: All in all, this album isn't bad at all. Space Oddity is the obvious standout and with the rest of the album in an awkward middle ground between the insane rock of Bowie's future projects and Bob Dylan style lyrical gymnastics backed with acoustic instrumentals, it admittedly peaks too early. Some of the songs are flawed and fairly generic, while others stand out more. Most of the time, this an enjoyable listen and a lot better than Bowie's first album without a doubt. Thanks to Bowie putting his energy and personality into every song with the exception of that bizarre third track, this is a good second album and Space Oddity alone makes it worth the listen.   



Final rating: 7/10

Out of Our Heads review

The US version of the third Rolling Stones album reviewed. This deviates from my original plan to just review the British versions, but for some reason the American versions get all the good songs so at least this post will contain more recognisable tunes. After this album, The Rolling Stones moved away from doing the covers and started doing original material a lot more.

Tracks:

1. Mercy, Mercy: 7/10 a fairly typical rock song, but it's got plenty of energy and Mick Jagger sings like he means it.

2. Hitch Hike: 6/10 The Rolling Stones have less energy in this somewhat dreary track, but it's perfectly competent and certainly isn't bad.

3. The Last Time: 8/10 with more personality and edge than the first 2 songs, this is where the album hits its stride.

4. That's How Strong My Love Is: 7/10 although overly sentimental, it's enjoyable enough to distract from the syrup.

5. Good Times: 8/10 short but effective.

6. It's Alright: 8/10 unusually optimistic for a Rolling Stones song, this live recording of their performance shows their skill as performers and the excited screams heard from the audience throughout this recording are justified. 

7. (I Can't Get No) Satisfaction: 6/10 one of the most overrated songs in history, yet it's still considered the signature song by The Rolling Stones. It's repetitive, it's as sophisticated as a small child's temper tantrum about being dissatisfied, it conveys its message in the most basic way imaginable and worst of all doesn't even explain why this person can't get any satisfaction! It's a catchy, well played rock song which has genuine personality, nothing more. It's barely a 6.

8. Cry to Me: 8/10 again, it's a bit sentimental but it's very energetic and effective, so one stops caring very quickly.

9. The Under Assistant West Coast Promotion Man: 7/10 with this one, ignore the repetitive lyrics and listen to the excellent baseline instead.

10. Play with Fire: 8/10 it's a bit too short to truly hammer its point in, but it's a very good one and a nice change of pace.

11. The Spider and the Fly: 7/10 a Jagger/Richards original, and certainly not one of their best although it has some interesting bits and quite an intriguing title.

12. One More Try: 8/10 a more successful original which is repetitive but the writing is intelligent, it's catchy and it doesn't outstay its welcome.

Best song: The Last Time
Worst song: Hitch Hike

Summary: As I've said before, I was previously somewhat unimpressed by The Rolling Stones but this is another good early album. Again, it feels a bit slight and I've already made my thoughts on Satisfaction's popularity clear, but for an album full of covers it is surprisingly effective, and The Rolling Stones inject their rebellious personality into every song, ensuring that nothing is ever phoned in.



Final rating: 8/10

Waiting For the Sun review

The third album from The Doors. Despite the great title, it's generally seen as weaker than the first 2 Doors albums, although to be fair they did set the bar pretty high.

Tracks:

1. Hello, I Love You: 8/10 this one improves as it gets louder after a slow start, and kicks the album off with another unique sounding slice of lunacy from The Doors.

2. Love Street: 8/10 undemanding but sweet, this makes for an enjoyable listen.

3. Not to Touch This Earth: 9/10 this is brilliantly mad poetry from The Doors which is up there with their classics from the first 2 albums. The organ playing has rarely been better.

4. Summer's Almost Gone: 8/10 fairly typical in some ways, but it's peaceful tone and interesting sounds prevent it from being completely generic. 

5. Wintertime Love: 8/10 while less than 2 minutes long this packs a surprising amount of punch.

6. The Unknown Soldier: 6/10 this starts off being pleasant to listen to but unremarkable, then it becomes really unconventional and interesting, then it descends into a lot of shouting. What a shame.

7. Spanish Caravan: 7/10 the instruments blend together well and it's pretty entertaining, although it's hard to be genuinely compelled by a song which seems to be someone talking to an anthropomorphised caravan. 

8. My Wild Love: 7/10 again, the songwriting seems a little weaker, but this is still a good song and it's surprisingly made more effective by using mostly vocals instead of instruments.

9. We Could Be So Good Together: 6/10 it's competently done but not particularly interesting.

10. Yes, the River Knows: 7/10 one again: perfectly well done, but it doesn't really grab you.

11. Five to One: 7/10 ditto. Compared to the epic finales of the last 2 albums, this is a bit of a let-down.

Best song: Not to Touch This Earth
Worst song: The Unknown Soldier

Summary: An enjoyable album for sure. It's very well played and none of the songs are bad. It's a fairly entertaining album to listen to, but the trouble is the music and song-writing isn't as good as it was in the previous 2 albums. With slightly less impressive instrumentals and more repetitive and uninteresting writing, this is a bit weaker as a result. Still, most artists have their weaker albums and this isn't even that weak. It's only a mild decrease of quality.



Final rating: 7/10 

The Bends review

The second album from Radiohead, and it was after this album that people started to notice Radiohead. Stylistically, it feels like a bridge between the generic rock of Pablo Honey and the unique wizardry in OK Computer.

Tracks:

1. Planet Telex: 9/10 the song never refers to a planet called Telex, but given the ferocity of the song it could represent a planet's apocalypse. Short on subtlety but full of punch.

2. The Bends: 9/10 a brilliant exploration of the dark side of fame full of brilliant guitar work and pathos.

3. High and Dry: 7/10 a soft and safe commercial single that is unsurprisingly hated by Thom Yorke. It's hardly bad though and is perfectly catchy. .

4. Fake Plastic Trees: 8/10 this one is a bit too quiet and the louder bits feel jarring as a result. It's overrated, but the lyrics are awesome and it powerful enough to get under your skin.

5. Bones: 6/10 some interesting themes here, but it needs some lessons in the art of the subtlety.

6. (Nice Dream): 7/10 a repetitive and quiet but skilled and gently compelling song.

7. Just: 8/10 a delightfully heavy and fun song.

8. My Iron Lung: 8/10 a cracking rock song and a thoroughly entertaining meditation on Creep. Unfortunately the chorus is completely incomprehensible.

9. Bullet Proof... I Wish I Was: 7/10 even if it's one of Radiohead's whiner songs it's still, at 20 years old, far ahead of much of today's music.

10. Black Star: 9/10 this works as both a masterful relationship song and as a hugely entertaining piece of rock music.

11. Sulk: 7/10 a surprisingly good one, although it is generic.

12. Street Spirit (Fade Out): 9/10 do not listen to this if you are feeling down. While highly depressing, this is also strangely beautiful and is a hypnotic, haunting and bleak work of art.

Best song: Street Spirit (Fade Out)
Worst song: Bones

Summary: I'm not crazy about The Bends. While good on a technical level and still way better than a lot of modern music, it doesn't hold up well when compared to their later stuff. Most of this is just samey rock stuff which can be found elsewhere, although at it's best it's excellent. Everything's fine and there aren't any particular flaws, but it's just in honesty a little boring and isn't as good as the reviews would have you believe. It is actually rather a fine album, but it lacks the uniqueness of the band's later work and none of the songs are among my all-time favorites by Radiohead. It's an absolutely solid 4 star album nonetheless. .



Final rating: 8/10

Led Zeppelin III review

Led Zeppelin's third studio album, which is more folk rock and less hard rock than the first 2 albums. Although reception was initially lukewarm it's now hailed as a classic.

Tracks:

1. Immigrant Song: 8/10 a ferocious 2 minute burst of rock energy with one of Led Zeppelin's best guitar riffs. It's a bit short and vague to be one of their classics, but it grabs you by the throat and gets your attention.

2. Friends: 9/10 sounding different from much of Led Zeppelin's discography, this delivers a great message against a backdrop of some strange, wonderful and at times surprisingly intense music.

3. Celebration Day: 9/10 this hugely entertaining song more than lives up to its name despite the occasionally confusing lyrics.

4. Since I've Been Loving You: 10/10 a fully fledged rock masterpiece. With Robert Plant's possibly never better vocals and Jimmy Page's amazing guitar work, this blisteringly intense epic seems to get overlooked but really shouldn't be. If you want to know what it's like being pounded over the head with a boombox repeatedly, you've come to the right place.

5. Out on the Tiles: 7/10 a less memorable track, but it sounds interesting.

6. Gallows Pole: 7/10 this one outstays its welcome but it's an interesting narrative well told and played.

7. Tangerine: 9/10 a delightful song which veers away from Led Zeppelin's earlier stuff and has a wonderful acoustic instrumental and pathos filled lyrics.

8. That's the Way: 8/10 another more mellow track which is a tiny bit dreary at times but overall effective.

9. Bron-Yr-Aur Stomp: 8/10 pretty enjoyable though unspectacular.

10. Hats Off To (Roy Harper): 5/10 chaotic, unfocussed and just plain odd, this isn't bad exactly (When are Led Zeppelin ever genuinely bad?) but it doesn't conclude the album well and it's not surprising this was never performed in concert.

Best song: Since I've Been Loving You
Worst song: Hats Off To (Roy Harper)

Summary: Out of the quadruple smash of the first 4 Led Zeppelin albums, this is the weakest. the songs are less memorable and there's only one classic on here. Still, it's an excellent album which takes Led Zeppelin in new directions and has a pleasing amount of experimentation and is less thematically repetitive than the first 2 albums. Still a great listen despite its lack of classics.



Final rating: 8/10