#1 Record Review

"#1 Record" is the debut album from rock band Big Star back in 1972.  The album received overall critical acclaim when the album was released but poor distribution of the album hindered the band from reaching massive success.  Big Star was formed by former Box Tops frontman Alex Chilton who brought the band an already successful musician to help create the unique sound the album had for the time.  Many people rank this as one of the most underrated albums ever and for good reason, "#1 Record" displays every positive aspect of "Classic Rock" as well as infusing some of the earliest remnants of alternative/indie rock.

The album doesn't exactly reinvent the wheel but they took an established genre and created a really, really, good album from it.  The album hits you hard with in your face riffs on the first half of the album and mellows out with many acoustic melodies and synchronized harmonies reminiscent of The Byrds or Crosby, Stills, & Nash.  "#1 Record" fires on all cylinders and just about every song is solid or really solid.  One of the tracks that I find myself hitting replay on a lot is "Thirteen".  The sweet melody, soft acoustics, and nostalgic look back at junior high school really hits home for me and is the most beautifully crafted songs on "#1 Record".

I'm a bigger fan of the first half of the record just because its heavier, but the acoustically dominate second half provides a great deal of balance and really completes the album on that front.  The band had all the chops in the world to make more iconic tunes but it just goes to show you that exposure and distribution can make or break a band, not matter how talented they may be.  The band influenced many artists including "R.E.M." and "The Replacements" who continually pay homage to Alex Chilton and Big Star.

Final Summary:

Big Star created one of the most underrated albums of the 70's that deserves a lot more exposure than it got.  I'd check out the Big Star Documentary "Big Star: Nothing Can Hurt Me" that is currently on Netflix if you want an in depth look at the band's history.  It's hard to create a perfectly balanced record.  Everything needs to fall in place ever so precisely in order for that to happen and it did with "#1 Record".  Alex Chilton went from one successful bout with the Box Tops and created a masterful album that will be looked back on as one we all may have missed.

Rating: 9.2/10

American Beauty Review

"American Beauty" is the sixth studio album from The Grateful Dead.  The album veers a way a bit from the full on psychedelia that the band is notoriously known for and takes a different path, more along the lines of something you'd hear from Bob Dylan or Crosby, Stills, & Nash.  The tighter melodies and closer care put into the vocals gives The Dead possibly their most complete album from their lengthy discography.

The album is filled to the brim with hit after hit with songs like "Box Of Rain", "Friend Of The Devil", and "Truckin'" which are classics in their own right.  The Dead come together as a band beautifully in harmony and individually each member has a standout moment.  "Operator" features Pigpen on lead vocals, "Box Of Rain" features bassist Phil Lesh at the helm, Bob Weir sings lead on "Sugar Magnolia", and of course Jerry Garcia leads on "Truckin".  More importantly, the reason "American Beauty" is a classic album is the fact that there aren't any big egos in The Grateful Dead.  Each member has their moment but the main focus was always the group effort and how to blend everything together properly.

The songs aren't lighting quick but they all leave a mark.  The album is scattered with melancholy and mellowness as the album wouldn't be necessarily classified as "upbeat" but it's stoner music, it doesn't have that effect.  "American Beauty" is the successor to "Workingman's Dead" released only a couple of months later.  Beauty makes up for anything that the "Workingman's Dead" left off the table and gave the band a complete sound that was highly influenced by the music of the times.  

Final Summary:

"American Beauty" didn't necessarily put The Grateful Dead on the map, yet it solidified their position as one of the most consistent, legendary bands of the 21st century.  The album is nothing short of a masterpiece and each and every song leaves a lasting impression on you.  The vocal harmonies are spot on, the band has never sounded more focused in and accurate, and the overall product created was one of top 500 albums of all time.

Rating: 9.5/10

Tell Me Something Different Review

"Tell Me Something Different" is the second album from Americana/Western artist Sam Cregger.  Sam uses a unique blend of sounds to make his vision come to life on this album.  The very open, airy feel to it places you out in the middle of a country field mesmerized as you're staring into the distance.  Cregger's influences are pure as you can hear Bob Dylan, Fleet Foxes, and Ray LaMontagne as the artists that impacted his music the most.

"Tell Me Something Different" isn't a cowboy album, its more of a modern Dylan-esque record with the acoustic guitars and the harmonica to boot.  "In The Dirt" presents the most upbeat track on the album and part of me was wishing more of the songs on "Tell Me Something Different" followed suit.  The song made me bob my head and feel the energy coming through my speakers.  Song such as "Still Love" and "Out West" also reminded me of saloon songs that I really connected with and provided me a very relaxing listening experience.  

To be honest, "Tell Me Something Different" does require some patience to listen to.  The album moves at a very slow pace and could deter some people from the longer tracks such as "Finding John Duphrane" and "For My Mama".  Nevertheless, Cregger's voice is very warm and inviting and you can feel the amount of emotion put in to each and every note he sings.  It's very unique to find an artist like Sam Cregger nowadays, so when I came across this record I was given hope, hope that there are still people out in the world who use older artists as their main influences and aren't afraid to stand out from the crowd like many are.

Final Summary:

"Tell Me Something Different" sticks to its theme and doesn't let go of it.  The jangly guitars and wailing harmonicas provide the structure for the Americana/Western sound and Cregger's voice compliments the structure nicely.  The only recommendation I would make is to add a bit more upbeat tracks on the next album to provide more contrast.  The slower songs are good but it gets a bit overwhelming on some of the longer tracks.  But all in all, Cregger shines on this album and certainly is a unique, modern artist that you should look out for.

Rating: 7.7/10

Be sure to support his new album as well on Kickstarter!

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/2115205263/sam-creggers-third-album-it-is-always-now?ref=discovery

Rumours Review

"Rumours" is the classic album from the band Fleetwood Mac that made its mark in music history as one of the most distinguished albums of the 70's.  The album was written during a period where the band members were breaking up with each other behind the scenes.  What makes "Rumours" special is that you can hear that process taking place.  It's filled to the gills with different emotions spanning the likes of love, heartbreak, and distress as Fleetwood Mac perfectly portrays each and every feeling.  When you think Fleetwood Mac you think of the overpowering voice of Stevie Nicks, and even though shes absolutely phenomenal on this album, each and every member shines through equally as "Rumours" is a complete team effort.

Fleetwood Mac was a full on blues band before the group restructured.  "Rumours" was the culmination of the band's new direction and the defining moment for a group that was breaking down during the process of recording.  The group used their situation to their advantage as they created their best music at their lowest point individually.  Songs like "Go Your Own Way" and "I Don't Want To Know" are more on the upbeat side but personify emotional issues such as separation and distrust.  "Dreams" and "The Chain" are slower ballads that use a "ground and pound" method to get their message across.

But either way you slice "Rumours", you can't help but enjoy each and every song for what its worth.  The writing and musicianship is so accurately depicted throughout the album and the band paints such a beautiful picture throughout the album.  The airy, crisp atmosphere, the tasteful guitar lines of Lindsey Buckingham, the strong rhythm section, and even the keyboards from Christine McVie wow you and were simply groundbreaking during the time of release (1977).

Final Summary:

"Rumours" doesn't fail on any level you can think of.  There's a reason why people still talk about this very album today almost 40 years later.  The album is so influential on many fronts and it goes to show that you can create some of your best work at your lowest point.  Fleetwood Mac will forever be known for this album and its very deserving of all the accolades it has received over the years.

Rating: 9.8/10

Royal Blood Review

"Royal Blood" is the debut album from the British rock band Royal Blood.  The album features an album's worth of in your face heavy rock tracks that leave a small impression on you.  The sound is heavy and you can pinpoint influences from a mile away.  The sound reminds you if Jack White and Queens Of The Stoneage had a baby in Brighton.  The album comes after you quickly and fiercely like a lion would, but it doesn't really hold up as an overwhelmingly memorable debut.

Songs like "Out of the Black" and "Little Monster" provide the album with the hard hitting image it was trying to portray.  The duo really does do a great job of generating a full sound from only two members.  Though with two members you still feel as if you're wanting more.  The in your face attitude from Royal Blood unfortunately doesn't keep your your interest for too long as you find a couple of tracks that you really like, but the album as a whole doesn't congeal the way it should.

Some songs like "Ten Tonne Skeleton" feel very robotic and repetitive in nature and don't add to the overall spectrum for the group.  The effort sort of feels limp in places with a smattering of decent tracks in between.  Most importantly, I feel the band needs to find its own identity.  Its great to be influenced by plenty of bands but not when you can distinguish them blatantly.  The band has a great batch of influences that encompass some of my favorite bands ever (The White Stripes, QOTSA, Arctic Monkeys) but what Royal Blood truly needs is its own identity.

Final Summary:

The hard rock stylings of Royal Blood is a breath of fresh air when it comes to new age rock groups.  The influences from them are pure and songs like "Little Monster" and "Out Of The Black" stick with you for a while, but overall the band is in dire need of their own identity and an album that showcases what makes them unique from the previous bands mentioned.  I enjoyed my first listen through but after further analysis, I gotta say this album is pretty lackluster.

Rating: 7.3/10  

Enema Of The State Review

"Enema Of The State" is arguably Blink 182's most iconic album that they've ever released.  With classics like "All The Small Things" and "Going Away To College" the album is very memorable.  My teenage years were filled with blasting this album and in the process, were some of the first riffs I started playing on guitar.  It easily was the best pop-punk album since "Dookie" from Green Day and with iconic riffs, and the simplicity of teenage angst, Blink 182 created a memorable moment for many teenagers alike.

Not only do you have the hits, but you've got some hidden gems that stick with you after a while.  Songs such as "Dumpweed" and "The Party Song" are in your face pop-punk standards that symbolize the teenage spirit that Blink was portraying.  Blink 182 wasn't wowing you with complex riffs and over the top vocal performances either, but that's what makes them so special, they don't have to.  The songs stick to your brain like a tumor and instead of over analyzing each and every song, you can sit back and bop to the music.

"Adam's Song" is the somber note on an album filled with energy and spunk.  The song was inspired by a suicide note that Mark Hoppus read in a magazine apparently and the song leaves you with a lonely feeling that throws you off in the middle of the album.  Besides "Adam's Song",  Enema Of The State doesn't lack on energy.  Each song is relatively short but they pack a strong punch and each time I listen to this record I imagine myself back in high school.  The nostalgia factor is off the charts with with one.

Final Summary:

It's "Enema Of The State" dude, its hard to top as far as classic 90's albums are concerned.  Mark, Tom, and Travis all grabbed the reigns and created a masterpiece in the simple way that Blink conducts their business.  The album inspired many teenagers, including myself, to pick up a guitar and emulate the riffs as the simplicity of Tom's guitar lines are sweet to the ear but not overly complex like a Yngwie Malmsteen solo.  Given the nostalgia factor, it doesn't get much better than a listen through Enema Of The State.

Rating: 9.0/10

Weezer (The White Album) Review

"Weezer" is the tenth studio album from American rock band Weezer.  With the band's tenth installment in their discography, Weezer really sticks to what made them popular in the first place.  Songs like "California Kids" and "King Of The World" have the great alternative/punk sound that you'd expect from Weezer while the album simultaneously pumps out some of the best tracks the band has produced since Pinkerton.  There is also a heavy Beach Boys influence on the album as the band pays homage to the California rock legends.

The album manages to be very consistent throughout.  Song after song you get catchy hooks with an in your face attitude that Weezer is known for.  "Weezer" brings you back to the 90's in many ways as we are privileged enough to get bombarded with nostalgia on this album.  The nostalgia trip mixed in with the heavy Beach Boy influence works in perfect harmony as the concise guitar riffs keep you level throughout and the sleigh bells and ukuleles don't disappoint either.  Not only is it consistent throughout, but I've found myself blasting the same few songs over and over again.  "California Kids" and "King Of The World" in particular.  I just can't get enough of the catchy vocal melodies and in you face riffs.

Final Summary:

I can't help but love this new album from Weezer.  Weezer provides you with a mature album that is high on brownie points.  They stick to their strengths on this one and Weezer brings you back to the glory days of the band in the mid 90's.  If you are a fan of Weezer you can expect a prototypical album from the band but it seems like a huge breath of fresh air as the band tried to expand their horizons over the past ten years, in my opinion, to no avail.  "Weezer" or "The White Album" is a confident effort by a band that knows their strengths and highlighted it greatly with an album they desperately needed.  

Rating: 9.0/10

My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy Review

My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy is the fifth studio album from hip-hop/rap artist Kanye West.  The album features some of the more carefully crafted work from Kanye as many critics alike rank this album as the culmination of Kanye's music career.  The album was created after months of seclusion from Kanye as he retreated to Honolulu, Hawaii to record most of this album; getting away from the paparazzi and the press.  Just about anyone who is anyone had a guest appearance on this record including the likes of Rick Ross, Jay Z, Rihanna, and Nicki Minaj, just to name a few.  It also had an eclectic cast of producers who worked on the album including Madlib, Pete Rock, Q-Tip, and DJ Premier.    

My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy takes what his previous work "808's and Heartbreak" did and adds a larger spectrum for diverse ideas rather than an average, condensed collection of hip-hop tracks.  West samples from King Crimson most notably on "Power" as you are at first caught of guard by Kanye's use of "21st Century Schizoid Man".  Right from that moment you can sense that Kanye was thinking even more outside the box than he usually would.  Kanye gives in to his ego more and he truly believed and still believes that he is the cat's meow.  On "My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy", Kanye does it right and his eccentric, boastful attitude is justified due to this album's huge shift in style from Kanye's previous works.  The entire album feels open to new ideas and it isn't afraid of stepping on toes, or converting from the norm of what people expect.

My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy is driven less on emotion and more on sheer brilliance when it comes to production and when it comes to pushing the envelope.  "Lost In The World" for example layers so many vocal melodies on top of each other as well as having Bon Iver's contribution adding to the density of the track.  The craft on this album is nothing to shake a finger at as you could tell Kanye was determined to prove his status in pop culture with his stand out album My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy.

Final Summary:

It's hard to knock Kanye on this one.  With all the chaos that erupted within Kanye's life during that period, Kanye needed this to refocus and use as a medium to get out his frustrations.  With monster production, tasteful sampling, and on point guest features My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy delivers on just about every level.  I could've used a little less dirty laundry from Kanye as it did get in the way on certain tracks, but all in all, My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy will grow on you from a production standpoint and could very well be Kanye's most bold effort yet.

Rating: 8.8/10