Reviews Supplemental

25 Apr 2012: "Music from Big Pink" by The Band
On the essentials list. Also, "welp".
It took me a minute or two to get used to this guy's voice. It's pretty good now that I've gotten used to it, though.
The Weight is the required "OH I KNOW THIS SONG". I like it.
Long Black Veil is a song Yellow won't like! It's entirely dependent on the lyrics. The emotion he puts into his singing goes with the lyrics spectacularly. Just because it's a cover doesn't make it any less perfect.
This album is more about the feeling than the musicianship. I like it.
Highlights: Long Black Veil, Chest Fever, Long-Distance Operator, The Weight, Yazoo Street Scandal
Lowlights: In a Station, Caledonia Mission
In relation to other albums:
Yeah.

BONUS REVIEW: "Ramones" by Ramones
http://musiccouldbebetter.blogspot.com/2011/09/i-like-to-like-things-by-it-is-fun.html
On the essentials list, and, once again, "welp".
Blitzkrieg Bop starts off the album. You know. It's followed by filler, and a lot of it. You know.
EVERY SONG ON THIS ALBUM SOUNDS THE SAME
Highlights: Blitzkrieg Bop
Lowlights: The one other song they repeat thirteen times
In relation to other albums:
HA.

26 Apr 2012: "Sweetheart of the Rodeo" by The Byrds
On the essentials list. Something to note is that I've never heard a The Byrds song before, to my knowledge.
So far, they're like Bob Dylan meets The Kinks meets some country guy.
The Christian Life is annoying. I don't care if the lyrics are supposed to be ironic or something, it's annoying.
The live bonus tracks extend the album into "please make it stop" territory.
Highlights: Lazy Days, Pretty Boy Floyd, You're Still on My Mind
Lowlights: The Christian Life, Nothing Was Delivered, All I Have is Memories
In relation to other albums:
Probably not.

26 Apr 2012: "Dig Me Out" by Sleater-Kinney
http://musiccouldbebetter.blogspot.com/2011/09/two-whole-years-of-reviews-and-filler.html
WELP.
...
what
what is this
what
this is not what i was expecting
seriously what
i don't even
i'm at a loss
for words i mean
but seriously
what
i seriously wish you could see the look of frightened confusion on my face
i
i just don't know
they like
hired a sheep to do the vocals
i
i just don't get it
why /mu/
why
she's like
screaming or something
i like
i seriously don't understand
please help
going in i
had no idea it was chicks
why do i do these entirely blind
this is what i get
i have a headache
this is just
this is torture
why am i still listening to this
this shit is awful
in contention for worst thing i've ever heard
dance song '97
i get it
like
pop song '88

27 Apr 2012: "The Smoker You Drink, the Player You Get" by Joe Walsh
I'm not even going to try to make sense of that title.
This album was actually recommended by RYM's automatic thing.
The album opens with Rocky Mountain Way. It's as good as ever.
Midnight Moodies is a cool instrumental. If such a thing existed.
This album was good.
Highlights: Days Gone By, Rocky Mountain Way, Midnight Moodies
Lowlights: Meadows
In relation to other albums:
Sure.

BONUS REVIEW: "Temple of the Dog" by Temple of the Dog
http://musiccouldbebetter.blogspot.com/2011/09/swift-recovery-by-men-of-action.html
Yeah.
With musicians from Pearl Jam and Soundgarden, I'm pretty sure this will be great. Well, technically, it's Pearl Jam + Chris Cornell. I don't mind.
Cornell sings super-well on the first track, so we're doing well so far.
Reach Down is eleven minutes, but it fills them nicely with SOLOS and VOCALS and WHATEVER. There's also an acapella section. This is the best song.
Hunger Strike features Vedder singing deeply and meaningfully. I love this. When Cornell screams himself in, it's just perfect. I usually don't like backing vocals on such deep/meaningful songs, but Vedder can't do Cornell screams, can he?
Call Me a Dog is Cornell's turn at a deep/meaningful song. He does a great job.
All-Night Thing ends the album. It's just Cornell singing over drums and organ. It's cool. An odd way to end the album, but it's cool.
Every so often, I find an album that I absolutely love. This is one of those. Thank you, Yellow, for reminding me that it existed.
Highlights: Hunger Strike, Call Me a Dog, Reach Down
Lowlights:
In relation to other albums:
Better than any Pearl Jam or Soundgarden album.

Also, that Joe Walsh album was apparently my 1,000th post on the blog.

28 Apr 2012: "Lions" by The Black Crowes
I've been wanting to do this all month, but I couldn't find it. Thanks Yellow I guess
Based on the reviews on RYM, this is their worst album. While that would be an easy feat (I gave all the previous albums 5s and 4.5s), I hope it isn't true.
Lickin' sounds like an entirely different band. Not a bad band, but certainly not up to par with The Black Crowes.
Overall, it was a good album. The highlights are among the band's best songs.
Highlights: Losing My Mind, Ozone Mama
Lowlights: Lickin'
In relation to other albums:
Worst, unfortunately.

BONUS REVIEW: "The Unforgettable Fire" by U2
http://musiccouldbebetter.blogspot.com/2011/09/german-guy-by-german-guy.html
Welp. This is the third U2 album I've listened to, after How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb, and Achtung Baby.
Wire reminds me of a Bran & Friends song, instrumentally. Probably Groove On.
Fourth of July is textbook filler.
Revisiting Vinyl guy says that MLK is powerful or something, but it just bored me. I don't think I was paying enough attention.
This album was good. It doesn't crack my top three for 1984, though.
Highlights: Wire
Lowlights: Fourth of July, MLK
In relation to other albums:
Best U2 album.

29 Apr 2012: "Diary of a Madman" by Ozzy Osbourne
This album was the last to feature Randy Rhoads. But I guess you already knew that.
The album opens with Over the Mountain. I never noticed how great the drum part was.
Second is Flying High Again, which I've always loved.
Tonight is one of Ozzy's best songs. It's not, you know, metal up your ass, per se, but it's fucking brilliant.
The album ends with the brilliant title track.
Overall, this album was... wait for it... pretty good
Highlights: Diary of a Madman, Over the Mountain, Tonight, Flying High Again, S.A.T.O.
Lowlights: You Can't Kill Rock and Roll, Little Dolls
In relation to other albums:
Better than Blizzard of Ozz.

BONUS REVIEW: "Maiden England" by Iron Maiden
http://musiccouldbebetter.blogspot.com/2011/09/man-of-man-of-man-of-man-of-man-by-man.html
I just wanted to get this out of the way before next month. This album came out in 1989, between this month's Seventh Son of a Seventh Son, and next month's No Prayer for the Dying.
Of note is that this show didn't have a performance of Run to the Hills. It did have Hallowed by thy Name and Can I Play with Madness?, but those were cut for the album. Fuck.
You know how this goes.

30 Apr 2012: "I AM A GIGANTIC FAGGOT PLEASE RAPE MY FACE of the Reconstruction" by R.E.M.
Welp.
The album starts with Feeling Gravity's Pull, which is super-good.
Overall, I really liked this album. This is the album I was searching for after Document.
Highlights: Feeling Gravity's Pull
Lowlights: Kohoutek, Can't Get There from Here
In relation to other albums:
Not as good as Document; better than else.

BONUS REVIEW: "Foot in Mouth" by Green Day
http://musiccouldbebetter.blogspot.com/2011/09/who-feels-child-by-child.html
I can't go without it
As always, Green Day are great live. You know.
Yeah.

01 May 2012: "Twist and Shout" by The Beatles
This was an EP made of tracks from Please Please Me.
Nothing else to say, really.
Highlights: Twist and Shout, Do You Want to Know a Secret
Lowlights: A Taste of Honey
In relation to other albums:
Fuck off.

02 May 2012: "Enter the Wu-Tang" by Wu-Tang Clan
I already regret this. I've decided that if I don't like this, I'll just go back to rock forever.
I also made the song titles a lot more white.
Bring the Ruckus is kind of boring. The BEATS are fine, but the vocals leave a lot to be desired.
I take it that this album is just rapping over beats with no other instruments. Oh well. I could always use more red marks on the /mu/ essentials list.
AND WE ALREADY HAVE EXCRETEMENT JOKES. THIS ALBUM IS GREAT.
Now they're talking to eachother and acting like they killed someone! They're so fucking edgy! And now they're talking about drugs! The sooner this shit ends, the better.
OH SMOKING SOUNDS I GET IT YOU'RE SO FUCKING EDGY
You know what word best describes this album? Cheesy. Maybe it wasn't at the time, but in retrospect it's really fucking cheesy. Tears (or "Tearz" if you're looking at the album itself) best defines this.
This album sounds extremely lethargic and nearly bored me to sleep. If this is the best of the genre, get me off this train.
If there was a lesson to learn from My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy, I didn't learn it. I'll sure as fuck learn it now, though.
Overall, this was the album that most surprised me by my ability to see it through to the end.
Highlights: N/A
Lowlights: All of it.
In relation to other albums:
NEVER AGAIN

BONUS REVIEW: "Heaven Tonight" by Cheap Trick
http://musiccouldbebetter.blogspot.com/2011/09/sons-of-by.html
This album comes highly recommended by RYM. It was first on the list for a while.
The album begins with Surrender. I hated it when I first heard it, but I kind of like it now. I've noticed that the Guitar Hero II cover of Surrender makes the singuy sound a lot younger, which I think works better with the song.
Auf Wiedersehen is fucking brilliant. It's my favourite Cheap Trick song so far.
On the Radio is really cheesy. Shame.
SCRATCH WHAT I SAID TWO LINES AGO Heaven Tonight is brilliant, also, and better than Auf Wouuefoui. It has really dark-sounding strings, kind of like I Want You, but they go through the entire song, making it sound really menacing.
Stiff Competition would be really surprising if I hadn't heard Hello There. I really like Cheap Trick's rock songs.
How are You? is also a gem. I can't explain it. Also, it's the best song on the album. I know I've said that twice now, but this time I mean it.
Oh, Claire is orgasmic just due to how retarded it is. It's an amazing way to end the album. But bonus tracks
They're just alternate versions of songs that aren't On the Radio, so it's all right.
Overall, this album really impressed me. I can't resist its charms.
Highlights: How are You?, Heaven Tonight, Auf Wiedersehen, Oh Claire, Stiff Competition
Lowlights: On the Radio
In relation to other albums:
Yeah.

03 May 2012: "Tug of War" by Paul McCartney
This was his first album after John's death. Wings had disbanded, and Paul wasn't in the best state of mind. Some of his friends, including RINGO and DENNY guest on the album. Oh, and Stevie Wonder. You know.
What's That You're Doing is more about Stevie's vocal than Paul's. I'm okay with that.
I don't like the transition from Here Today to Ballroom Dancing. It doesn't work at all.
Get It is incredibly cheesy, and makes me wonder what happened after Back to the Egg. Oh right. Everything.
Be What You See is... I... don't get it. At all. I think it tries too hard to be meaningful, but falls as flat as is possible. ... OH THAT WAS TWO SONGS Well, the both sucked.
Ebony and Ivory is kind of cheesy. Not really a fan.
This was frightfully mediocre.
Highlights: Here Today, What's That You're Doing
Lowlights: Be What You See/Dress Me Up as a Robber, Get It
In relation to other albums:
Better than Wild Life.

BONUS REVIEW: "Breaking the Chains" by Dokken
http://musiccouldbebetter.blogspot.com/2011/09/like-true-natures-child-by-born-to-be.html
Welp.
I've loved the title track since I first heard it. You know.
The rest of the album ranges from good to great. It's a good album, overall.
Highlights: Breaking the Chains
Lowlights: In the Middle, Felony
In relation to other albums:
Sure why not

04 May 2012: "No Prayer for the Dying" by Iron Maiden
Yeah.
This album is a lot more, well, you know. It's less Iron Maiden-y and more generic than previous Iron Maiden albums. That doesn't mean it's bad, though.
Tailgunner starts the album, and it sounds like it wants to be Aces High II, but it's not even close to the correct quality.
Holy Smoke, as always, is great.
The final and longest song, Mother Russia, is the closest to '80s Iron Maiden as this album gets.
Overall, this album was good.
Highlights: Holy Smoke, Mother Russia
Lowlights: Hooks in You
In relation to other albums:
Worst.

BONUS REVIEW: "The Stranger" by Billy Joel
http://musiccouldbebetter.blogspot.com/2011/09/hat-does-his-laundry-by-hat.html
sorry, the-hat
I have to say that on a few tracks, there's something about Billy's voice that puts me off. Not completely off, but just a bit off. You know.
The title track has a really great guitar riff.
Scenes from an Italian Restaurant shifts styles seamlessly from piano ballad to jazzy thing to uptempo almost-rock song. It doesn't stop there, though. It does so much in seven minutes.
Everybody Has a Dream is pretentious drivel.
Overall, though, it was a good album.
Highlights: Scenes from an Italian Restaurant, Get it Right the First Time, Only the Good Die Young
Lowlights: Everybody Has a Dream
In relation to other albums:
Yeah.

05 May 2012: "One Hot Minute" by Red Hot Chili Peppers
This was their album with Dave Navarro, after John left the first time. It was also the follow-up to Blood Sugar Sex Magik. Ouch.
It starts with Warped, which I could see totally turning people who expected another BSSM (or, more realistically, another Under the Bridge/Give it Away/Suck My Kiss) off. Effects are rampant and it sounds like something Yellow might like.
UH-OH The third track is EXTREMELY pretentious. Words can't describe how pretentious the first minute-forty is.
Pea is one of the worst songs I've ever heard in my entire life. Flea sings it.
One Big Mob has extremely annoying shouting behind Kiedis. Also, it has some sort of weird noises towards the middle. I have a headache.
Falling Into Grace is really annoying also.
Luckily, Shallow be thy Game reminded me of why I like these guys.
It's certainly not Navarro that's the problem here. It's fucking Kiedis.
Highlights: Shallow be thy Game, Warped, Aeroplane
Lowlights: Deep Kick, Pea, One Big Mob, Falling Into Grace
In relation to other albums:
Worst.

BONUS REVIEW: "Shout at the Devil" by Motley Crue
http://musiccouldbebetter.blogspot.com/2011/09/wallet-twenty-nine-by-man-of-many.html
Just so you know, this is how I got the album. This Dirtydingo guy is a fucking menace.
In the Beginning is one of those album intros. It tries to be creepy or something.
I've always hated the original Shout at the Devil. Vince sounds absolutely atrocious. He sounds like a cat. The Guitar Hero II cover was better, objectively.
Looks That Kill is okay. It's pretty generic.
Bastard has one of the worst fadeouts ever.
God Bless the Bastard Children of the Beast is pure filler.
Motley Crue's cover of Helter Skelter is on this album. I don't think I need to say more than that. But I have to say this: FUCK YOU MOTLEY CRUE. FUCK. YOU.
Too Young to Fall in Love is Motley Crue's best song. I'm fucking calling it. I've loved it ever since I first heard it in Vice City.
Danger tries to be epic and whatnot. It succeeds, for the most part.
Basically, this album is saved from being a half-star by Too Young to Fall in Love, Danger, and Red Hot.
Highlights: Too Young to Fall in Love, Danger, Red Hot
Lowlights: Helter Skelter, Helter Skelter, Helter Skelter
In relation to other albums:
Helter Skelter

06 May 2012: "Bark at the Moon" by Ozzy Osbourne
This album was the first after Randy's death, and the first with Jake.
The album starts with the ever-impressive title track.
Rock 'n' Roll Rebel is kind of cheesy. I thought it was a Zakk song for the longest time.
This album was very good and stuff
Highlights: Bark at the Moon, So Tired, You're No Different
Lowlights: Rock 'n' Roll Rebel
In relation to other albums:
On-par with Blizzard of Ozz.

BONUS REVIEW: "Low" by David Bowie
http://musiccouldbebetter.blogspot.com/2011/09/understand-and-sympathise-guys-by-frog.html
Welp.
This album is really good until Warszawa, which is one of the worst things I've ever heard. Fucking Bowie. Art Decade continues the boredom. And so does Weeping Wall! The last track also.
Highlights: Side A
Lowlights: Side B
In relation to other albums:
Better than Aladdin Sane and Space Oddity.

BONUS BONUS REVIEW: "Tribute" by Ozzy Osbourne
http://musiccouldbebetter.blogspot.com/2011/08/help-by-men-of-orphans.html
I wanted to revisit this, because I may have slighted it in the past.
As a note, the version of Crazy Train on this is, like, the first rock/metal song I'd ever loved. It's still fucking amazing. It's just a shame that the studio version's so lame.
The guitar solo of Suicide Solution is still among my absolute favourite music moments ever.
Highlights: Childhood nostalgia
Lowlights: That fifty seconds of crowd noise at the end of Children of the Grave
In relation to other albums:
Best.

07 May 2012: "Gimme Back My Bullets" by Lynyrd Skynyrd
Remember last month when I said their third album was them going through the motions? It doesn't have shit on Gimme Back My Bullets.
I'm not joking.
Highlights: All I Can do is Write About It, Double Trouble, Searching
Lowlights:
In relation to other albums:
Worst.