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Post by raliverpool on May 15, 2021 20:16:19 GMT 1
Amy Macdonald - This Is The Life (2007)
This Is the Life is the debut studio album by Scottish singer-songwriter Amy Macdonald, released on 30 July 2007. It reached number one on the UK Albums Chart on 13 January 2008 and sold over 900,000 copies in the UK as of February 2017.
Produced by Pete Wilkinson, all bar one of the alternative rock/indie folk album main tracks was written solely by Amy. This album was also a huge success across Europe, where it spent over a year inside the German top 20 album chart.
Mr. Rock 'n' Roll 10.0 This Is The Life 9.5 Poison Prince 8.5 Youth Of Today 7.5 Run 7.0 Let's Start A Band 9.0 Barrowland Ballroom 7.0 L.A. 6.5 A Wish For Something More 7.5 Footballer's Wife 7.0
Hidden Tracks: The Road To Home 7.5
Caledonia 7.0
Score: 94.0/12 = 7.83
A fairly strong debut album which sounds like a cross between Del Amitri meets early KT Tunstall. Like a lot of albums its starts off strongly but gets a little tiresome & samey in the second half as the quality dips a little.
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Post by raliverpool on May 15, 2021 20:44:56 GMT 1
Amy Macdonald - A Curious Thing (2010)
A Curious Thing is the second album by Scottish singer-songwriter Amy Macdonald, and was released on 8 March 2010. Again produced by Pete Wilkinson for Mercury Records, it tried for the same formula as the successful debut album with all self penned material (on the main album followed by a bonus cover). However, it scored a Metacritic rating of 54 (down 13 on her debut) reflecting some very mixed to underwhelming reviews of the album.
The album sold worldwide (1 million sales), what the debut sold in the UK alone. It debuted at UK #4, but still topped several European national charts, (& indeed the European album chart), but did not hang around the charts anywhere near as long as her debut.
Don't Tell Me That It's Over 7.5Spark 6.5No Roots 6.0Love Love 6.5An Ordinary Life 7.5Give It All Up 5.5My Only One 6.5This Pretty Face 9.5
Troubled Soul 6.0Next Big Thing 5.0Your Time Will Come 7.5What Happiness Means To Me 6.5hidden track:Dancing In The Dark - Live Version 6.0
Score: 86.5/13= 6.65
It is bad enough the songwriting is nowhere as strong as on the debut. But what really hurts this album is the XFM radio landfill alternative rock sound for far too much of this album (think a Dolores O'Riordan tribute act fronting a drab The Killers tribute act). The result is so much of the charm of the debut album is replaced by dull competency. What sums things up is the third single, the jaunty Travis like This Pretty Face is by far and away the best thing on the album ... and that peaked at UK #138!
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Post by smokeyb on May 15, 2021 21:18:30 GMT 1
ABC - The Lexicon Of Love (1982)
The Lexicon of Love is the debut studio album by the Sheffield pop band ABC released in June 1982 produced by Trevor Horn. It features four UK top 20 singles; "Tears Are Not Enough", "Poison Arrow", "The Look of Love" and "All of My Heart".
Though not a concept album, the album features repeated themes in which the singer experiences heartache as he tries and fails to have a meaningful relationship. A longform music video/film, Mantrap, featuring songs from the album was released in 1983.
The songs on the album were written collectively by the band, with arranger Anne Dudley given songwriting credits on some tracks. Martin Fry said that the band's ambition was to fuse punk and disco, music that was more sophisticated but still had some attitude. Lyrically, the songs are all about the matters of the heart. "Most of the other people were writing about electric pylons. We wanted to hark back to Cole Porter and his ilk, but in a very modern way".
The album reached No. 1 on the UK charts and peaked at No. 24 in the US charts. It was followed by a tour with the band extended to an 11-piece on stage, reaching Europe, USA and Japan.
The album received near universal critical acclaim at the time. Colin Larkin awarded the album 5 stars (outstanding) in The Encyclopedia of Popular Music stating: “Their pristine pop songs were nowhere better showcased than on the superb The Lexicon of Love. This Trevor Horn-produced album remains a benchmark of 80s pop, and a formidable collection of melodramatic love songs assembled in one neat package.”
Show Me 9.0 Poison Arrow 9.5 Many Happy Returns 8.5 Tears Are Not Enough 9.0 Valentine's Day 8.5 The Look Of Love (Part One) 10.0 Date Stamp 9.5 All Of My Heart 10.0 4 Ever 2 Gether 5.0 The Look Of Love (Part Four) 7.0
Theme From "Mantrap" 8.0
Score: 94/11 = 8.55
In retrospect this is the album which helped cement the reputation of producer Trevor Horn, but that would be disrespectful to Martin Fry's band and their stylish imagery. Sadly they never came close to an album as good as this. But they certainly had their singular moments away from this album.
This album I bought long after it's release, making do with greatest hits cd, but when I finally got it it's pretty good. I bought The Lexicon Of Love 2 a few years ago as well.
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Post by smokeyb on May 15, 2021 21:21:21 GMT 1
There are four acts starting with the letter A left in Haven Factor 9. I have more than a couple of albums by three of those acts. It might mean I'm a mentor for one of those acts, or it might be I'm mentoring another entirely different act .... Anyway ... a-ha - Hunting High & Low (1985)
The debut studio album by Norwegian new wave band. It was released on 28 October 1985 by Warner Bros. Records. The album was recorded at Eel Pie Studios in Twickenham, London, and produced by Tony Mansfield, John Ratcliff and Alan Tarney.
Hunting High and Low was a-ha's breakout album. Upon its release, Hunting High and Low peaked at number 15 on the Billboard's Top 200 album chart. The album granted A-ha international recognition. Hunting High and Low got 3x platinum status in the UK and Platinum status in the United States and Germany, and Gold status in Brazil, and the Netherlands.The album reached No. 11 in the European top-100 albums sales chart. The album peaked at 15 in the U.S., according to Billboard music charts and has sold about 1.8 million copies in the U.S. It peaked at 2 on the UK charts, and hit 1 in Norway. The album has been certified platinum in the United States and 3x platinum in UK. On the Billboard 200, Hunting High and Low held the record for the highest-charting album by a Norwegian artist until Do It Again by Norwegian duo Röyksopp and Swedish singer Robyn (which peaked at number 14). Beginning with the single "Take On Me", A-ha's debut album sold more than eight million copies worldwide and spawned two number one hits. In the fall of 1986, "Take On Me" and "The Sun Always Shines on TV" were nominated for 11 MTV Video Awards combined, and A-ha won eight of these. Tim DiGravina of AllMusic Guide said "It's a cohesive album with smart pace changeups, and it rarely fails to delight or satisfy a listener's need for a synth pop fix... One can't escape the feeling that Hunting High and Low is a product of the 1980s, but with highs like 'Take On Me' and 'The Sun Always Shines on TV,' and no lows in sight, A-ha's debut is a treat worth relishing.
Take On Me 10.0 Train Of Thought 8.0 Hunting High And Low 9.5 The Blue Sky 7.5 Living A Boy's Adventure Tale 10.0 The Sun Always Shines On T.V. 9.5 And You Tell Me 7.0 Love Is Reason 5.5 Dream Myself Alive 5.0 Here I Stand And Face The Rain 9.5
Score: 81.5/10 = 8.15
An excellent synth pop debut let down by the drop in quality of the filler three track in the middle of Side 2 of the album. Tracks 2 & 3 would improve by 0.5 each via their single (re)mixes.
I bought this one when it was released, an excellent album, a lot of great tracks, but somehow I never bought anything else by them, which is a pity as I can see they have a good back catalogue.
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Post by Whitneyfan on May 15, 2021 21:25:34 GMT 1
Amy's first album is up there with the best debuts of all-time IMO. 'Run' remains my favourite song of hers.
The second album is good too, but it is definitely more of a grower. Her subsequent 3 albums are all excellent.
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Post by smokeyb on May 15, 2021 21:26:06 GMT 1
Alison Moyet - Hoodoo (1991)
Hoodoo is the third studio album by British singer-songwriter Alison Moyet. It was released in 1991, reached No. 11 in the UK and features the singles "It Won't Be Long", "Wishing You Were Here", "Hoodoo" and "This House".
Largely produced by Pete Glenister, the album includes contributions from Kirsty MacColl, Steve Lillywhite, Marius De Vries, Ocean Colour Scene, Londonbeat, and ex-Fine Young Cannibals Andy Cox and David Steele.
Having recording her second studio album Raindancing while living in Los Angeles, Moyet returned to live in England after completing a world tour. Moyet's record company, CBS, wanted her to continue producing pop hits but this left the singer feeling artistically compromised and under pressure to deliver. During the period after returning to England, Moyet began a songwriting partnership with Pete Glenister, who had been Moyet's guitarist for part of the Raindancing tour. Keen to have more artistic freedom, she suggested to CBS that Glenister should produce her. Muff Winwood of the label's A&R division granted Moyet permission to record the album she wanted to.
The album met with a classic case of critical approval, and public displeasure, with its sales very poor compared to her far more commercial glossy sounding first two albums.
Footsteps 8.0 It Won't Be Long 10.0 This House 9.5 Rise 6.0 Wishing You Were Here 10.0 Hoodoo 7.5 (Meeting With My) Main Man 6.5 Back Where I Belong 6.0 My Right A.R.M. 7.5 Never Too Late 6.5 Find Me 8.5
Score: 86.0/11 = 7.82
This mix of raw, power house blues rock; post Madchester Indie Pop; and melancholic folk ballads was a radical departure on her commercial success. It is perhaps no coincidence that the best tracks have harmonies which on the album were credited to vocal arranger Elysian Chorus (which we now know is Kirsty MacColl). Oh for Adele to have the nerve to make a similar radical change of direction on her next album (But we'll probably get a feature from Drake instead!).
I bought Alison Moyet's first 2 albums when they came out, but I only picked up Hoodoo in 2018, she has a great singing voice.
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Post by smokeyb on May 15, 2021 21:28:33 GMT 1
Amy Macdonald - This Is The Life (2007)
This Is the Life is the debut studio album by Scottish singer-songwriter Amy Macdonald, released on 30 July 2007. It reached number one on the UK Albums Chart on 13 January 2008 and sold over 900,000 copies in the UK as of February 2017.
Produced by Pete Wilkinson, all bar one of the alternative rock/indie folk album main tracks was written solely by Amy. This album was also a huge success across Europe, where it spent over a year inside the German top 20 album chart.
Mr. Rock 'n' Roll 10.0 This Is The Life 9.5 Poison Prince 8.5 Youth Of Today 7.5 Run 7.0 Let's Start A Band 9.0 Barrowland Ballroom 7.0 L.A. 6.5 A Wish For Something More 7.5 Footballer's Wife 7.0
Hidden Tracks: The Road To Home 7.5
Caledonia 7.0
Score: 94.0/12 = 7.83
A fairly strong debut album which sounds like a cross between Del Amitri meets early KT Tunstall. Like a lot of albums its starts off strongly but gets a little tiresome & samey in the second half as the quality dips a little.
I checked and I do own this on CD, must admit I haven't played it for a while.
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Post by Earl Purple on May 15, 2021 22:29:31 GMT 1
Amy MacDonald peaked at #2 in my singles chart twice, with This Is The Life (kept out by the Parlotones - Beautiful) and Run (kept out by Alphabeat - Fascination)
I didn't buy the album though. I was buying very few albums then.
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Post by raliverpool on May 16, 2021 11:43:22 GMT 1
Great seeing all the comments on these albums. Please feel free to keep them as coming as and when you can.
I forgot to mention, I've been listening to these albums in the past few weeks (going through my shoeboxes, etc) and playing them whilst working from home, and scoring them in a spare notebook. I then quickly recheck on Spotify before posting on here.
I'm already getting close to the point where I've caught up with what I've listened to so far. So if my rate of posting slows a little, that will be why.
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Post by raliverpool on May 16, 2021 12:04:15 GMT 1
Here is one album I missed earlier alphabetically: Air - Moon Safari (1998)
Moon Safari is the debut studio album by French electronic music duo Air. It was released on 16 January 1998 by Source and Virgin Records.
The Jean-Benoît Dunckel & Nicolas Godin self written & self produced album was acclaimed by critics. It is credited with setting the stage for the budding downtempo music style.
Moon Safari was met with general acclaim upon its release. Writing in Mixmag, Alexis Petridis called it a "superbly inventive" album that "creates a soundworld in your living room, a world where everything's more shiny, chic and sophisticated than reality". John Mulvey of NME praised Air's "sensitive but tenacious grasp of melody, a laid-back disposition and a reckless way with a Vocoder that makes them unafraid of sounding like a digital ELO", also noting similarities to Garbage on "Sexy Boy" and Beth Hirsch on "All I Need".
Moon Safari was voted as the best album of the year in The Face and in Select. It featured in top 10 lists for magazines such as Spin, Melody Maker, NME and Mojo. On aggregation site Acclaimed Music's list of the most recommended albums of all time, Moon Safari ranks 139th. Rolling Stone magazine later ranked the album at number 93 on their list of the best albums of the 1990s.
La Femme D'argent 9.5 Sexy Boy 9.0 All I Need 10.0 Kelly Watch The Stars 9.5 Talisman 8.0 Remember 7.0 You Make It Easy 8.0 Ce Matin Là 9.0 New Star In The Sky 7.5 Le Voyage De Pénélope 8.0
Score: 85.5/10 = 8.55
A lovely slice of retro-futuristic synthesizer-based lounge pop that would be just as at home at a laid-back party as it is for quiet listening with my Sunday morning cup of Yorkshire tea. It has a timeless quality to it, as it has aged remarkable well.
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Post by raliverpool on May 16, 2021 15:06:31 GMT 1
Amy Winehouse - Frank (2003)
Frank is the debut studio album by English singer and songwriter Amy Winehouse. It was released on 20 October 2003 by Island Records. Production for the album took place during 2002 to 2003 and was handled by Winehouse, Salaam Remi, Commissioner Gordon, Jimmy Hogarth and Matt Rowe. Its title alludes to the nature and tone of Winehouse's lyrics on the album, as well as one of her influences, Frank Sinatra.
Upon its release, Frank received generally positive reviews from most music critics and earned Winehouse several accolades, including an Ivor Novello Award. The album has sold over one million copies in the United Kingdom. Winehouse was nominated for British Female Solo Artist and British Urban Act at the 2004 BRIT Awards, while Frank was shortlisted for the Mercury Music Prize that same year. It has a Metacritic rating of 78.
Nate Chinen of The New York Times complimented her original lyrics and called the music a "glossy admixture of breezy funk, dub and jazz-inflected soul". The A.V. Club's Nathan Rabin commended its loose, organic songcraft and wrote that it "features languid, wide-open neo-soul grooves and jazzy vamping". Beccy Lindon of The Guardian described Winehouse's sound as "somewhere between Nina Simone and Erykah Badu ... at once innocent and sleazy".
Intro / Stronger Than Me 9.5 You Sent Me Flying / Cherry 9.0 Know You Now 8.5 f*** Me Pumps 9.5 I Heard Love Is Blind 8.0 Moody's Mood For Love/ Teo Licks 6.0 (There Is) No Greater Love 7.5 In My Bed 9.0 Take The Box 10.0 October Song 7.0 What Is It About Men? 7.5 Help Yourself 8.5 Amy Amy Amy / Outro 8.0 Hidden Tracks: Brother 7.0 Mr. Magic (Through The Smoke) 7.5
Score: 122.5/15 = 8.17
A really great debut album. Like an Eastenders version of Erykah Badu meets Billie Holiday meets Nina Simone meets Lauryn Hill. I'm so glad one of the last gigs I saw was her at the Birmingham NIA in 2007.
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Post by raliverpool on May 16, 2021 15:24:58 GMT 1
Amy Winehouse - Back To Black (2006)
Back to Black is the second and final studio album by English singer and songwriter Amy Winehouse, released on 27 October 2006 by Island Records. Winehouse predominantly based the album on her tumultuous relationship with then-ex-boyfriend and future husband Blake Fielder-Civil, who temporarily left her to pursue his previous ex-girlfriend. Their short-lived separation spurred her to create an album that explores themes of guilt, grief, infidelity and heartbreak in a relationship.
Influenced by the pop and soul music of 1960s girl groups, Winehouse collaborated with producers Salaam Remi and Mark Ronson, along with Sharon Jones' band The Dap-Kings, to assist her on capturing the sounds from that time period while blending them with contemporary R&B and neo-soul music. Between 2005 and 2006, she recorded the album's songs with Remi at Instrumental Zoo Studios in Miami and then with Ronson and the Dap-Kings at Chung King Studios and Daptone Records in New York. Tom Elmhirst mixed the album at Metropolis Studios in London.
Back to Black was acclaimed by music critics, who praised Winehouse's songwriting and emotive singing style as well as Remi and Ronson's production. It scored a Metacritic aggregate rating of 81. The album spawned five singles: "Rehab", "You Know I'm No Good", "Back to Black", "Tears Dry on Their Own" and "Love Is a Losing Game". It has also been cited as being a key influence to the widespread popularity of British soul throughout the late 2000s, paving the musical landscape for artists such as Adele, Duffy, and Estelle.
At the 2008 Grammy Awards, Back to Black won Best Pop Vocal Album and was also nominated for Album of the Year. At the same ceremony, Winehouse won four additional awards, tying her with five other artists as the second-most awarded female in a single ceremony. The album was also nominated at the 2007 Brit Awards for MasterCard British Album and was shortlisted for the 2007 Mercury Prize. Back to Black sold 3.58 million copies in the UK alone, becoming the UK's second best-selling album of the 21st century so far. The album has sold over 16 million copies worldwide.
Rehab 10.0 You Know I'm No Good 9.5 Me And Mr Jones 9.0 Just Friends 8.0 Back To Black 10.0 Love Is A Losing Game 10.0 Tears Dry On Their Own 10.0 Wake Up Alone 9.5 Some Unholy War 8.5 He Can Only Hold Her 8.0 Addicted 9.5
Score: 102.0/11 = 9.27
I know when I completed my Greatest Album of All Time list (which I've since deleted in error) this was the only album of the 21st century in my Top Ten. I remember hearing "Rehab" for the first time and thinking, this is an instant classic, and she's gone to a whole another level with this track. When I bought the album first week it was obvious it was far from an exception. Unfortunately, like Lauryn Hill, she found it impossible to follow up. Of the 11 tracks on the album, the six produced by Mark Ronson beat the five produced by Salaam Remi (9.50 ave v 9.00 ave).
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Post by raliverpool on May 16, 2021 15:56:16 GMT 1
I was in too minds whether or not to include this, but as it featured all "new" material then ...
Amy Winehouse - Lioness: Hidden Treasures (2011)
Lioness: Hidden Treasures is a posthumous compilation album by English singer and songwriter Amy Winehouse. It was released on 2 December 2011 by Island Records. It was her third album, and features unreleased songs, covers and demos selected by Mark Ronson, Salaam Remi and Winehouse's family, including the first single, "Body and Soul", with Tony Bennett. The album was released in aid of the Amy Winehouse Foundation. "Our Day Will Come" was released as the album's second and final single on 4 December, and was Winehouse's first solo single to be released since 2007.
Producers Salaam Remi and Mark Ronson compiled the album with the consent of the Winehouse family. They worked together on listening to thousands of hours of vocals by Winehouse. Remi told NME that the album would not lead to "a Tupac situation", referring to Tupac Shakur, in whose name seven posthumous studio albums have been released since his death in 1996. He stated, "A lot of people, through the other antics that were going on with her personally, didn't get that she was at the top of what she did. Coming to Miami was her escape from all of that, and her writing process could document her life, whether it was recording the pain or the loneliness or the humour. It makes no sense for these songs to be sitting on a hard drive, withering away."
The album received a Metacritic aggregate rating of 65. Q called it "an admirable tribute if frequently deafened by the echo of its tragic catalyst." Andrew Ryce of Pitchfork wrote in his review, "There's little on Lioness: Hidden Treasures that sounds throwaway, or like it should have never been released; but there's equally little that sounds absolutely essential."
The album topped the charts in the UK, Australia, Austria, Greece, Netherlands, Portugal and Switzerland, while reaching the top five in Canada, New Zealand and several European countries, including Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Spain and Sweden. Lioness: Hidden Treasures had sold 2.4 million copies worldwide by the end of 2011.
Our Day Will Come 9.0 Between The Cheats 8.0 Tears Dry (Original Version) 8.0 Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow? (2011) 7.5 Like Smoke 7.0 Valerie ('68 Version) 7.5 The Girl From Ipanema 6.0 Half Time 7.0 Wake Up Alone (Original Recording) 7.5 Best Friends, Right? 7.0 Body & Soul 8.5 A Song For You 7.0
Score: 90.0/12 = 7.50
It has to be said producers Saleem Remi & Mark Ronson did a truly remarkable job with the material available. The material dates from 2002 "The Girl From Ipanema" through to material for an incomplete third album, of which only two original compositions appear on the album recorded in 2008 "Between The Cheats" & "Like Smoke". The best track on the album is the opening track recorded in 2007 (a cover of a USA 1963 #1 hit originally planned as a "B-side", but was thought to be too good to waste on that); whilst the last two cover tracks on the album were both recorded in the last 12 months of her life highlighted that her voice and vocal control had largely gone.
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Post by raliverpool on May 30, 2021 14:31:31 GMT 1
I've built up a stockpile of albums reviewed whilst I've been working from home during the week, so I can now do a bunch more of these, although you'll see a couple of other reasons why it might have been a good idea to delay ... Anastacia - Anastacia (2004)
The third studio album by the American pop rock singer. The album added soul and hard rock elements to her trademark early 2000s pop sound. It was a commercial success, peaking at the top of the albums charts in several countries, including Australia, Belgium, Germany, Greece, the Netherlands, Sweden, and the United Kingdom, and becoming one of the top 10 best-selling albums of the year in much of Europe. in contrast the album was never released in Anastacia's native United States, despite plans for an August 30, 2005, release.
In January 2003, Anastacia had discovered that she had breast cancer when she was preparing for breast reduction surgery due to orthopedic reasons. Anastacia subsequently established the Anastacia Fund through The Breast Cancer Research Foundation to promote awareness of breast cancer amongst younger women.
After this traumatic experience, Anastacia entered recording studios in September 2003 to record the Anastacia album with Glen Ballard, Dallas Austin, John Shanks, and Dave Stewart for release in 2004.
Seasons Change 8.0 Left Outside Alone 10.0 Time 7.5 Sick And Tired 9.5 Heavy On My Heart 9.0 I Do 7.0 Welcome To My Truth 8.0 Pretty Little Dum Dum 7.0 Sexy Single 6.5 Rearview 8.5
Where Do I Belong 7.0 Maybe Today 7.5
Score: 95.5/12 = 7.96
It is the only studio album by her that I own, although I bought the following year's victory lap Pieces Of A Dream greatest hits collection. But for her next album she went R&B with fairly disastrous results effectively killing her career momentum.
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Post by raliverpool on May 30, 2021 14:53:58 GMT 1
Animal Collective - Merriweather Post Pavilion (2009)
The eighth studio album by the Baltimore, Maryland experimental pop group released via Domino Records early in January 2009. This indie electronica psychedelic pop album was Metacritic's (Score of 89/100) most critically acclaimed album of 2009. Pitchfork's Mark Richardson gave the album a 9.6 out of 10 rating, stating the album is "striking in its immediacy and comes across as friendly and welcoming".
In The Flowers 9.0 My Girls 9.5 Also Frightened 8.5 Summertime Clothes 9.0 Daily Routine 7.5 Bluish 9.0 Guys Eyes 7.0 Taste 8.0 Lion In A Coma 7.5 No More Runnin 7.5 Brother Sport 9.5
Score: 92.0/11 = 8.36
Firstly, this is one of those albums that is definitely better than the sum of its parts; as its unique ambience works best listening to the album from start to finish. Secondly, I strongly advise against having it on in the background, or on your earphones whilst working or focusing on something else. Because that is an impossible task to do as this album demands your attention (for better/for worse). Hence, I left reviewing this album until one evening...
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Post by Whitneyfan on May 30, 2021 15:00:23 GMT 1
I bought all of Anastacia's albums up to, and including, the one you reviewed. That is probably the most solid one, but there are some great moments on the first 2 too.
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Post by raliverpool on May 30, 2021 15:42:21 GMT 1
Antony & The Johnsons - I Am A Bird Now (2005)The second album by New York City band Antony and the Johnsons. It won the Mercury Prize on September 6, 2005. After winning the prize, the album shot up the UK albums chart from #135 to #16 in one week, the biggest jump in the history of the Mercury Music Prize. As of September 2011, UK sales stood at 220,000 copies. The album features guest appearances by Rufus Wainwright ("What Can I Do?"), Devendra Banhart, Joan Wasser and by lead singer Anohni's childhood heroes Boy George and Lou Reed. The cover is a photograph by Peter Hujar of Warhol Superstar Candy Darling on her deathbed.
On the review aggregate site Metacritic, the album has a score of 88 out of 100. The album has appeared on several end of year lists. Mojo named I Am a Bird Now the best album of 2005. Pitchfork ranked the album #5 on its list of the top 50 albums of 2005.
Hope There's Someone 9.5 My Lady Story 7.5 For Today I Am A Boy 8.0 Man Is The Baby 7.0 You Are My Sister 8.5 What Can I Do? 8.0 Fistful Of Love 7.5 Spiralling 8.0 Free At Last 5.5 Bird Gerhl 7.5
Score: 77.0/10 = 7.70
Whilst this album is littered with cameos, the star is unquestionably Anonhi's Nina Simone/Bryan Ferry hybrid vibrato. This is unquestionably, a great album, it is just a bit too emotionally intense for my personal tastes .... which probably say more about myself than this album.
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Post by onehitwonder on Jun 4, 2021 14:31:53 GMT 1
I only bought Anastacia's Pieces of a dream, I enjoyed all of her singles, but not so much the album tracks.
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Post by raliverpool on Jun 10, 2021 18:13:50 GMT 1
Arcade Fire - Funeral (2004)The self produced debut studio album by Canadian indie rock band. Funeral was largely recorded over the course of a week at the Hotel2Tango in Montreal, Quebec in August 2003. Additional recording also took place at Régine Chassagne and Win Butler's apartment, and the album was completed in 2004. The production cost of the album was estimated to be around $10,000. The album was given its title because several band members had recently lost members of their families; Régine Chassagne's grandmother died in June 2003, Win and William Butler's grandfather (swing musician Alvino Rey) in February 2004, and Richard Reed Parry's aunts in April 2004. The album gained a Metacritic aggregate rating of 90. AllMusic reviewer James Christopher Monger gave the album a rating of five stars out of five. He described it as "brave, empowering, and dusted with something that many of the indie-rock genre's more contrived acts desperately lack: an element of real danger." Pitchfork gave the album a 9.7 out of 10 rating, and ultimately ranked the album #1 on their Top 50 Albums of 2004 list, as well as #2 on their Top 200 Albums of the 2000s list. It charted at UK #33 & USA #123 but would become a long run legacy selling album. Neighborhood #1 (Tunnels) 9.5Neighborhood #2 (Laïka) 9.5Une Année Sans Lumière 7.5Neighborhood #3 (Power Out) 10.0Neighborhood #4 (7 Kettles) 8.5Crown Of Love 9.0Wake Up 10.0Haïti 8.0Rebellion (Lies) 10.0In The Backseat 10.0Score: 92.0/10 = 9.20My favourite album of 2004, and my second favourite studio album of the decade. This is truly a remarkable debut album, I could name check half a dozen acts who clearly influenced this album. But with hindsight this album is more influential within the alternative rock scene, than its influences.
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Post by raliverpool on Jun 10, 2021 18:29:25 GMT 1
Arcade Fire - Neon Bible (2007)
The second studio album by Canadian indie rock band was first released on March 5, 2007. The majority of the album was recorded at a church the band bought and renovated in Farnham, Quebec. The album is the first to feature drummer Jeremy Gara, and the first to include violinist Sarah Neufeld among the band's core line-up.
Neon Bible became Arcade Fire's highest-charting album at the time, debuting on the Billboard 200 at number two, selling 92,000 copies in its first week and more than 400,000 to date. During its first week, it debuted at number one in both Canada and Ireland, and number two in the United States, the United Kingdom and Portugal. It scored a Metacritic aggregate rating of 87 out of 100.
Beginning work on Neon Bible immediately following a North American tour in support of the band's first album, Funeral, songwriter Win Butler, born in the United States but having lived in Canada for several years, said that he felt he was observing his homeland from an outsider's point of view. The album is rooted in Americana themes, with Bob Dylan, Bruce Springsteen and Elvis Presley being cited as influences.
Black Mirror 9.5 Keep The Car Running 10.0 Neon Bible 8.5 Intervention 10.0 Black Wave / Bad Vibrations 7.5 Ocean Of Noise 8.0 The Well And The Lighthouse 8.5 (Antichrist Television Blues) 7.5 Windowsill 8.5 No Cars Go 10.0 My Body Is A Cage 10.0
Score: 98.0/11 = 8.91
The Canadian indie rockers follow up their stunning debut album, with a more Americana influenced one which is arguably more cohesive, and nearly as good. At this early stage I realized they were my new favourite band replacing Radiohead.
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