Omar's Album Reviews of The Rolling Stones' Top 500 Albums (and some other albums too)

[Omar 382]

Slink likes to shake, shake, shake it as much as the next guy.


Which album made the list? ATLiens? Aquemini?

Stankonia at 359 on the '03 list. On a newer list, they also added a token Auqemini at 500 in addition.

 

[broncosmitty]

Stankonia at 359 on the '03 list. On a newer list, they also added a token Auqemini at 500 in addition.

Yeah, the radio loved that one too.

 

[Chewbaccer]

Stankonia at 359 on the '03 list. On a newer list, they also added a token Auqemini at 500 in addition.

Are you taking requests now?

I'd like for you to sample some of my kind of music.

I'll start you off with Hank Williams III's Straight to Hell Album

 

[Omar 382]

Are you taking requests now?

I'd like for you to sample some of my kind of music.

I'll start you off with Hank Williams III's Straight to Hell Album

Ah what the fuck. If I'm doing the whole gauntlet, may as well try your shit. I'll see if I can get around to it this weekend.

 

[TheDayMan]

Calling all Beatles fans- what do we think of the album commonly referred to as The White Album:

@Sir Robin Of Camelot
@beardown07
@Wazmankg
@Clayton
@SlinkyRedfoot
@outofyourmind
@TheDayMan
@broncosmitty

A lot. Not being alive when the Beatles were a thing, it's what made me like the Beatles and dig deeper and actually listen to them.

 

[outofyourmind]

Tbh, I'm not a huge Beatles fan, though I recognize their creative brilliance and contribution to music. I was 8 when I watched them on the Sullivan show and loved their early stuff. They started losing me a bit with their more experimental stuff after Revolver.. some of it I love and some of it I really don't.. and while catchy and nice homages to differant styles, I just don't need songs like "Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da" and "Rocky Racoon" in my life. That's right around the time I decided that I was a Stones guy. Abbey Road, Revolver.. and pretty much anything before Revolver would be my go-to's for a Beatles fix.

I knew some guys like you.
Usually guys and girls back then, they all liked the Beatles. I can see why you didn't like some of their stuff.
I like most of it. Oh, our older cousins got us going on the Beatles.

 

[Omar 382]

Sticky Fingers: 4.5/5 stars. I liked this one a lot almost on first listen. Though there is some filler with "Bitch" and "You Gotta Move," but almost every other song is a single song worth listening to. My favorites were "Brown Sugar" (whose riff sounds identical to "I Can't Get No Satisfaction," which sounds very similar to Bowie's "Rebel, Rebel"), "Sway," "Wild Horses," "Sister Morphine," and "Moonlight Mile." Usually, I only want to highlight two or three songs I liked best off each album, but this album was so good that each of those songs deserves a mention.

I don't even know the background of this album too well (though I know that there is one), but I have heard people call it a "drug album." Aside from that being a lame thing to call an album in general, I feel that that description is particularly ill-suited for this album. I haven't scrutinized all of the lyrics in detail, but from the couple times I listened to each one, and the music on, say, "Sister Morphine" and "Moonlight Mile," I would call the album an album full of sadness and pain, rather than drugs. It wasn't like these guys were getting tuned up and then recording all the songs (that's what Their Satanic Majesties Request (3.5/5 stars) sounded like); this album- both its lyrics and music, sound as if they were carefully chosen with the utmost care to reflect its curators' pain.

It paid off. One of my favorite rock and roll albums of all time, and also one of the sadder albums I've ever heard.

 

[Sir Robin Of Camelot]

Sticky Fingers: 4.5/5 stars. I liked this one a lot almost on first listen. Though there is some filler with "Bitch" and "You Gotta Move," but almost every other song is a single song worth listening to. My favorites were "Brown Sugar" (whose riff sounds identical to "I Can't Get No Satisfaction," which sounds very similar to Bowie's "Rebel, Rebel"), "Sway," "Wild Horses," "Sister Morphine," and "Moonlight Mile." Usually, I only want to highlight two or three songs I liked best off each album, but this album was so good that each of those songs deserves a mention.

I don't even know the background of this album too well (though I know that there is one), but I have heard people call it a "drug album." Aside from that being a lame thing to call an album in general, I feel that that description is particularly ill-suited for this album. I haven't scrutinized all of the lyrics in detail, but from the couple times I listened to each one, and the music on, say, "Sister Morphine" and "Moonlight Mile," I would call the album an album full of sadness and pain, rather than drugs. It wasn't like these guys were getting tuned up and then recording all the songs (that's what Their Satanic Majesties Request (3.5/5 stars) sounded like); this album- both its lyrics and music, sound as if they were carefully chosen with the utmost care to reflect its curators' pain.

It paid off. One of my favorite rock and roll albums of all time, and also one of the sadder albums I've ever heard.

The fact that this was the 2nd album after Brian Jones' death might have had something to do with the "tone" of the content. I'll leave that to more knowledgable folks here. I do know that this album was my first foray into the Stones (I was 15 when it came out) and a classmate invited me over to check it out. It was also the first time I smoked a joint. Nice combo platter. Just a great, great album - start to finish.

 

[Omar 382]

Magical Mystery Tour: 3/5 stars. This one was a bit of a let-down, but the singles saved it. It sounded like every song was made in the mold of a catchy chorus, and then the verses were forgotten about. And while they are catchy and good every now and then, listening to "You say goodbye/And I say hello/Hello, hello" over and over and over gets old. Most Beatles albums get better with time, but with Magical Mystery Tour, my first listen was my favorite.

Still, with songs like "Strawberry Fields Forever," "Penny Lane," and "All You Need is Love" it's not bad at all. MMT is kind of like Lyndon B. Johnson- The greatest bad President we've ever had (except MMT wasn't even bad. Neither was LBJ, IMO, but I like that saying).

 

[Omar 382]

The Flaming Lips- The Soft Bulletin: 3.5/5 stars.

This one was not included in Rolling Stones' Top 500 Album list, and while it's not my favorite album of all time or anything, it earned the critical reaction that would certainly warrant an inclusion.

I only discovered this album because I was searching online for great baroque pop albums. This album was dubbed the Pet Sounds (4.5/5 stars) of the 1990's, so I knew that I had to give it a listen. On first listen, I was like ...the lead singer (Wayne Coyne) has to have the most unorthodox singing voice in the history of rock and roll with people not named "Bob Dylan." I'm not a singing expert, but everything sounds off-pitch on first listen. It was like hearing me attempt to lay down vocals over some dope orchestra/classical music.

But you get used to Coyne's voice after a couple re-listens, and while I don't think it was a stand-out feature when it was all said and done, it wasn't necessarily a liability either. What were the stand-out features were the thoughtful, moving, sometimes sad, and sometimes uplifting lyrical content; and the production. While it didn't feature the classical music influence as much as Pet Sounds did, there is a reason that Pet Sounds is Pet Sounds. By rule, there can only be one "Sloop John B" (ironically, there are actually multiple "Sloop John B's").

I think that the biggest thing holding this album back was its lack of a bona fide classic song. Pet Sounds had 3, maybe 4 of them. The Soft Bulletin comes close with "Waitin' for a Superman," and to a lesser extent, "Race for the Prize," but the fact that I have to question it makes me think they're not bona fide classic single songs. That's not to take anything away from "Waitin' for a Superman;" that song is beautiful- especially the ending.

 

[Omar 382]

To all who have been waiting patiently for album review releases, and I know there are (not) many (any) of you, I apologize and thank you for your patience. As illustrated in my most recent review above^, I have learned that sometimes an album takes multiple listens all the way through before a judgement can be rendered. This is quite different from the film ratings that I am used to, where one viewing is sufficient for a rating to be given. Nonetheless, I am finishing up a third or fourth listen to an album, and my review should drop within the next couple hours. As a hint, this album does appear in RS Top 500 Albums list; in fact it's in the top 200.

And @SlinkyRedfoot, I know that you asked me to listen to that Tool album. I didn't blow you off; I looked it up, and it turns out that Spotify doesn't have any of Tool's shit, and that's how I listen to all these albums.

I just looked it up on iTunes to see the price to ask you if it was worth it- and holy shit, they don't have it, or any of Tool's music. What the fuck is up with you man? You tell me about this amazing 80 minute album that nobody can seemingly access, anywhere?

 

[SlinkyRedfoot]

And @SlinkyRedfoot, I know that you asked me to listen to that Tool album. I didn't blow you off; I looked it up, and it turns out that Spotify doesn't have any of Tool's shit, and that's how I listen to all these albums.

I just looked it up on iTunes to see the price to ask you if it was worth it- and holy shit, they don't have it, or any of Tool's music. What the fuck is up with you man? You tell me about this amazing 80 minute album that nobody can seemingly access, anywhere?

I had no idea. Found this. From the link:

Tool
Don't expect "Ænema," "Sober" or any other song from this rock band to appear on Apple Music: Tool is among the shortlist of bands who are sticklers on not having their albums on streaming services or iTunes — out of artistic principles.

They were pretty big in the late nineties. I wasn't much of a fan until I saw them headline Lollapalooza in 1997, and their live show was pretty impressive.

I'm not saying that Ænema is one of the greatest albums of all time, but it's pretty well done and when I'm in the right mood, I fucking dig it. I think you might to, but don't blame me if you shell out the duckets and don't like it.

 

[beardown07]

To all who have been waiting patiently for album review releases, and I know there are (not) many (any) of you, I apologize and thank you for your patience. As illustrated in my most recent review above^, I have learned that sometimes an album takes multiple listens all the way through before a judgement can be rendered. This is quite different from the film ratings that I am used to, where one viewing is sufficient for a rating to be given. Nonetheless, I am finishing up a third or fourth listen to an album, and my review should drop within the next couple hours. As a hint, this album does appear in RS Top 500 Albums list; in fact it's in the top 200.

And @SlinkyRedfoot, I know that you asked me to listen to that Tool album. I didn't blow you off; I looked it up, and it turns out that Spotify doesn't have any of Tool's shit, and that's how I listen to all these albums.

I just looked it up on iTunes to see the price to ask you if it was worth it- and holy shit, they don't have it, or any of Tool's music. What the fuck is up with you man? You tell me about this amazing 80 minute album that nobody can seemingly access, anywhere?

I am a firm believer that every album needs listening to at least twice before you can form a valid opinion on it.

 

[Clayton]

I am a firm believer that every album needs listening to at least twice before you can form a valid opinion on it.

Agreed, although I'd up that number to ten. Especially if you're talking about anything progressive.

I think after two times though you get a feel for the album and whether or not you like it. I just find that after ten listens the songs you love aren't the songs you thought you'd love which is one of the things that makes music so great.

 

[SlinkyRedfoot]

I am a firm believer that every album needs listening to at least twice before you can form a valid opinion on it.

Years ago, a friend and I rented a cottage for a summer at a lake about 45 minutes away. A guy from work had loaned me Steely Dan's Aja, which I'd listened to, but didn't like. I thought it sounded like bad seventies commercials.

I get out to the cottage the first weekend and I realize that Aja was the only CD I had in my car, and my buddy had just picked up a new car and had no CDs. He was a Steely Dan fan though, and said we should listen to it. We pretty much listened to that album on repeat the whole weekend, and I've been a big fan of Steely Dan since.

It definitely takes time to get to know an album.

I'd also say that as I'm getting older, I find myself really enjoying some songs/albums that I thought were OK when I was younger, but I'd have never bought them. I'm not sure if my tastes are changing, or if I'm giving less fucks about the general perceptions of songs/bands, which allows me to listen with less bias.

 

[Omar 382]

Radiohead- OK Computer: 3/5 stars

This album was ranked at 162 on Rolling Stones' Top 500 Album list. I had to give it multiple (three or four) listens to determine what I think of it, and here's what I came up with.

The album, in my opinion, is more of a technical achievement than it is a musical achievement. What I mean by that is that the album, though not a concept album, works as a whole to produce a haunting image and feel of what the turn of the 20th century felt like. In that way, it predicted how a lot of people felt socially in the beginning of the 2000's (9/11, Patriot Act, War on Terror, technology, consumerism, social alienation, depression/mental health issues). In that way, I laud the album.

But I can't say that I liked most of the songs on the album. Again, this is really weird; two of the songs on the album ("Let Down" and "Karma Police," ironically, back to back on the track list) could appear on my top 100 song list of all time (though they'd both be low on the list). They are fucking masterpieces; this is what I was talking about with The Flaming Lips' Soft Bulletin (3.5/5 stars) above. That album did not have a definitive single masterpiece song; OK Computer has two. I mean I could write a fucking thesis on those two songs, they're so brilliant.

But the rest of the album is hard to listen to. "Subterranean Homesick Alien" and "No Surprises" are decent songs, but "Lucky" and "The Tourist" are horrendous, monotonous pieces. The biggest mystery to me is people's love of "Paranoid Android." I heard some critics liken it to "Bohemian Rhapsody" with the different distinct sections in the six minute song. What they forgot is that "Bohemian Rhapsody" is an awesome song, while "Paranoid Android" fucking sucked balls.

I also read a critic say something to the effect of: "Much like the Beatles, Radiohead with 'OK Computer' has made a song where the music fits the lyrics perfectly." Again, while technically true, that does not make for good listening. You can make an hour-long album about staring at a wall and have the music fit the lyrics, but that does not mean that you will necessarily like the album, unless you're tripping balls (or have some mental impairment or something).

Another thing I'll say is that Thom Yorke's vocals are really unintelligible at times. There were whole songs where I couldn't make out a single word, and had to look up the lyrics to know what the fuck he was saying. It does fit the mood of the album, I agree- again, technical achievement.

I thought this album was ok, but honestly, it scared me. It's hard to explain. Tread lightly when listening.

 

[Chewbaccer]

Years ago, a friend and I rented a cottage for a summer at a lake about 45 minutes away. A guy from work had loaned me Steely Dan's Aja, which I'd listened to, but didn't like. I thought it sounded like bad seventies commercials.

I get out to the cottage the first weekend and I realize that Aja was the only CD I had in my car, and my buddy had just picked up a new car and had no CDs. He was a Steely Dan fan though, and said we should listen to it. We pretty much listened to that album on repeat the whole weekend, and I've been a big fan of Steely Dan since.

It definitely takes time to get to know an album.

I'd also say that as I'm getting older, I find myself really enjoying some songs/albums that I thought were OK when I was younger, but I'd have never bought them. I'm not sure if my tastes are changing, or if I'm giving less fucks about the general perceptions of songs/bands, which allows me to listen with less bias.

Steely Dan?

 

[Hank Kingsley]

no doubt. III is actually my personal fave

Agreed.

Love me some Gallows Pole. Bron Y Aur Stomp, since I've Been Loving You.

 

[Clayton]

The biggest mystery to me is people's love of "Paranoid Android." I heard some critics liken it to "Bohemian Rhapsody" with the different distinct sections in the six minute song. What they forgot is that "Bohemian Rhapsody" is an awesome song, while "Paranoid Android" fucking sucked balls.

I wouldn't compare it to Bohemian Rhapsody but its definitely a great song.

 

[Hank Kingsley]

I heard about this... don't get Showtime but I'll find it somehow. I always do.

I've seen it.

A bit slow at times but worth seeing.