What an absolute bop to start the album. I dare you not to move to this track.
The title track is all about those soulful vocals and harmonizing. That guitar made me levitate as well.
Happy Feelin’ picks things up nicely but that xylophone is a little goofy. It overpowers the horns which is a no-no.
My first impression of All About Love is that it’s a little too dramatic and corny with the vocals and lyrics. I did enjoy the instrumentation somewhat and when he starts “rapping” it put a smile in my brain. Trippy outro as well.
Yearnin’ didn’t do much for me. It’s not a bad song by any means but I do feel it feels similar to other tracks on this that do it better like the opener.
Reasons is a fun and cute track even if the vocals are a bit much. Also it could’ve been trimmed a little instrumentally.
Africano may be just an instrumental but it goes hard, sounding like the soundtrack to a car chase in a grimy blaxploitation movie.
And they really go out with a bang with the closer.
What a rocker to open with. Especially when it explodes.
Sit Down has a haunting piano which erupts into this frenzy of bleeps and bloops. And then when the drums kick in I’m levitating.
Sail feels very Floyd when it starts. But then those vocals from Yorke destroy me. This is a good time to point out how dystopian, more so than usual, these lyrics are.
Backdrifts didn’t do much for me but musically it’s interesting. It just goes on for too long for what it is.
Go to Sleep starts with killer acoustic guitar and Thom’s awesome vocals. It really builds on this which I appreciated.
The drums on Where I End stood out the most until that guitar and mysterious synths of course.
We Suck is probably my least favorite on the album. I just don’t dig on how slow it is and the clapping bothered me. It eventually has a burst of energy but by then it didn’t matter.
The Gloaming is a feast for the ears when it comes to the synths but that’s all that stands out.
There, There is another standout but I did have a point where Yorke’s vocals were a bit grating.
I Will feels more like an interlude so it didn’t do much for me other than the vocals.
A Punchup is a great track especially that bass riff.
The guitars sound like nothing I’ve heard before on Myxomatosis but that may not work for everyone.
Scatterbrain feels like a leftover from the last two albums so I don’t know why they chose to use it here. Not a bad track but I do feel it sticks out in a negative way.
Finally it closes with something that musically feels like a fairytale but the lyrics tell a different story.
I went with the original vinyl track list. But both versions start with the killer opener Big Iron. This track makes me want to play Fallout.
Cool Water is more low key but still solid.
The next track made me realize how accurate this album title is going to be. Not too exciting musically but excellent storytelling.
A Hundred was catchy but went by way too quick.
The Hanging track must’ve inspired or was inspired by Cash because it feels like one of his songs.
Strawberry Roan is cute but I could’ve did without that Roman comment.
El Paso is another standout with solid singing and Latin inspired instrumentation.
In the Valley is a little too slow for me but it’s pretty while it’s on which isn’t for that long.
This next track feels like a rehash of Big Iron.
Running Gun picks up the mood and is a fun little ditty.
Green Valley is nice sounding but the style feels like Marty is painting himself into a corner. But since it’s the second to last last track it’s not a huge loss.
And the finisher just ends things anticlimactic.
The first track is musically interesting but I feel it gets the point across in the first five minutes. Brahms helped a lot with this second track. The vocals standout on the third track.
South Side captures most of what Roundabout does but the guitars are more emphasized.
Track five I don’t understand the point of when they are so short like this. They might as well make it an intro or an outro but why make it its own track?
By track six the music is just washing over me. I didn’t even realize I was on track seven while listening to the one before. The transition is too smooth.
Mood for a Day has pretty acoustic picking but that’s about it.
They turn things up to eleven on the last track which I appreciate. This shows things to come for their next album.
The bass is killer on the first track. I also love the instrumentation like that trippy noise that periodically appears. Catchy tune all around.
Sullen Girl is more low key but still pretty musically.
Shadowboxer’s chorus is great and her vocals standout the most here. She’s so commanding with how she sings.
Criminal is the perfect example of this. What a banger. I dare you not to sing along to that chorus.
Slow Like Honey is a fitting title because this does drag a bit. I still didn’t mind it though lyrically.
The hand drums and what sounds like xylophone are a nice change of pace on The First Taste. Even get a little electric guitar too.
Very soft but powerful vocals on Never Is a Promise but the instrumental didn’t grab me as much.
There’s a part in The Child Is Gone that sounds like an angel singing and I love it.
Pale just washed over me. I didn’t get much out of it.
The last track has got this instrumental that sounds like a spy movie at first, then it switches gears for a little before going back. And then we get a cool guitar solo with chimes that is fun.
This is another one I did the original vinyl release. Combination is a hell of an opener with its fast paced drums like a freight train and psychedelic guitar. Love the woo woo vocal line as well. The lead vocals weren’t doing much for me.
Track two has Joplin front and center which is electric. A real powerhouse of a singer. Can’t be group vocals are a bit annoying but the guitar makes up for it.
Summertime has such a memorable guitar part that always sticks with me. And the vocals have a lot of pain that is beautiful.
And the center piece of this is outstanding. Mainly for that catchy chorus and those outrageous vocals from Janis.
This bluesy number is decent enough. Musically it’s pretty basic but Joplin owns the track as usual.
Sweet Mary has some great drum work. The guitar is solid too.
And then the monster Ball and Chain has everything I’ve written about but at length. The length is a bit much at times.
Instrumental and vocals are evil as fuck. Love that bit of organ and choir throughout the title track.
Treaty has some heartfelt lyrics but I find Cohen’s vocals don’t match the vibe of them. The instrumental carries this for most of it.
On the Level is a little more upbeat but only slightly. It has some nice female group vocals that add alot.
Leaving the Table has a simple guitar and strings but changes to some piano. His vocals are starting to do less for me as it goes along.
Track five has similar problems too but the music worked more this time.
Traveling Light starts strong but it’s the vocals that do less and less for me.
Better Way is pretty similar to the title track which I enjoyed the most. Even if it feels repetitive it’s still solid. And that violin is fire.
Steer Your Way has all the pros of the previous track. His vocals go hardest here for sure.
The last track feels like a credits roll moment that is fine while it’s on.
I had notes written for this but I forgot to save. This isn’t worth recalling because I didn’t get much from this album.
Just dated musically and this guy just feels like MJ from Temu.
Very chill opener that gives you an idea of the vibe he’s going for.
Track two will get you moving. Some nice horns too.
At the Chime has some smooth sax at one point that is great. And nice touches of strings too.
One of These Things has fun lyrics that stick with me. And that piano works brilliantly with them.
The first is solid but it’s hard to follow the second Hazey Jane.
Another pretty instrumental but this one has an emphasis on flute.
Fly continues the instrumentals that feel like something from the 18th century.
Poor Boy uses group vocals at one point that is real cool. And cool is how I’d describe this track that feels jazz inspired.
Nothern Sky uses what sounds like chimes of some sort that are gorgeous.
The closer is another instrumental but at this point it worked the best because it’s like a credits roll moment.
The intro is fine but I love the transition to the next song.
Life of My Child is catchy and that bass is fun.
America is great musically, especially the drums. The lyrics are nice as well that work great with Paul’s voice.
I can’t believe Lil Wayne stole the intro to Overs.
The next track has the most accurate of titles.
The strings are wicked on Old Friends. And the closer for side A adds lyrics to the theme at the beginning.
Fakin’ It has some nice vocal harmonies and a lively instrumental that has strings and horns with clapping and stomping.
Punky lays a thick bass line throughout. It even has parts that seem a little trippy.
Mrs. Robinson is a banger that is just awesome. The guitar is so great and the lyrics hit hard as fuck.
It is followed by Hazy Shade of Winter which has a great horn section at times but it’s mostly guitar and drums, or maybe tambourines.
And that closer is fire.
That intro explodes with a history of Biggie and then we are rolling.
Things blasts a sparkling beat with Biggie owning the mic.
When I first heard Gimme the Loot I thought it was three rappers. That shows how much style this MC has.
Funk has a killer beat and the flow is unmatched.
Not much more to say, this shits fire.
1. 4.5
2. 5
3. 4.5
4. 4.5
5. 5
6. 4.5
7. 5
8. 4
9. 4
10. 3.5
11. 5
1. 3.5
2. 4.5
3. 4.5
4. 4.5
5. 4.5
6. 4
7. 5
8. 4.5
9. 4
10. 3.5
11. 4
12. 3.5
13. 3
14. 4.5
1. 3.5
2. 4.5
3. 3
4. 2.5
5. 3
1. 4
2. 3.5
3. 4
4. 4
5. 5
6. 4
It blows my mind that this band had Grace as a vocalist but barely utilized her, at least on this album.
1. 5
2. 4.5
3. 4
4. 4.5
5. 5
1. 4.5
2. 4
3. 3
4. 4
1. 5
2. 4.5
3. 4.5
4. 4
5. 4
6. 5
1. 3.5
2. 4
3. 5
4. 4.5
5. 4
6. 5
1. 5
2. 4
3. 4.5
4. 3.5
5. 4.5
1. 4.5
2. 4.5
3. 5
4. 4.5
