The 1001 Album Generator Project Thread

Should we do a group project

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I have a decent handful of friends who claim this as their favourite Bowie album. I've only listened to it a half dozen or so times and it has definitely not clicked into the favourite zone for me - which almost seems odd because it contains so many elements I love, but just doesn't come together to astound me. That's not to say I don't like the album, I definitely do like it, just not to the point of favourite territory. But my journey with Bowie has also been erratic, manic and very non-linear so I recognize there is a lot of context to the album that doesn't hit me the way it might ought to. I should definitely do a chronological pass-through of his catalogue at some point.

"Speed Of Life" definitely grabs my attention to open the album, and "Sound and Vision" would be in my top 20 Bowie songs, were I ever to take on such an endeavour. But really it's the second side that shines for me - even more so on this listen than ever before.
"Warszawa" reminds me a bit of some of my favourite Dead Can Dance, the cello in "Art Decade" is exquisite and I don't think I realized (or remembered) that the saxophone on this album was played by Bowie himself.

The album is still not rocketing to my top spot in the Bowie catalogue, but I love that it seems to be unfolding a bit more and more for me each time I visit it, which I plan to continue doing. I don't know if it's a good one or not, as the quality of the series can be hit or miss, but I reckon I'll grab myself a copy of the 33 1/3 book for Low at some point as I continue to dig deeper.
 
Going to give this a shot. Not sure how far I'll get, but why not.

First up:
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I'm a big Stones fan but I prefer the material beginning from Beggar's Banquet on. This is probably the best record prior to that era, but in my opinion, it doesn't meet the quality of that amazing string of records from Beggar's to Tattoo You. The lyrical themes are somewhat cringe-worthy at times. "Stupid Girl", for example. "Under My Thumb" is great musically, but the lyrics are creepy. 3 stars.
 
Forgot to post yesterday's, which was this all time banger and one that is still regularly in my rotation. It's hard to believe that this album is 40 years old this year. The raw energy and intensity that lyrically has punk roots, but moves in a totally different direction musically than post-punk, new wave, or grunge. There aren't many bands I can compare to the Femmes, and that's why they've stood the test of time for me in my lifetime.
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The B-52's were great. Were. I loved seeing them live and listened to then regularly when I was starting to get into music. But it's such a dated sound and I didn't really enjoy listening to this today. I think it's too "fun" and almost feels like parody music. Maybe the world will be ready for The B-52's again, but today it isn't.

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this is one of those records that feels like it should be right in my wheelhouse, but one that i've never been able to fully latch on to. i enjoy it enough, i guess, but it's not something i've ever found myself coming back to on my own- it usually takes an exercise like this or a discussion prompt for me to try it again. definitely one of those 'what am i missing here?' albums.
 
AndySlash said:
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this is one of those records that feels like it should be right in my wheelhouse, but one that i've never been able to fully latch on to. i enjoy it enough, i guess, but it's not something i've ever found myself coming back to on my own- it usually takes an exercise like this or a discussion prompt for me to try it again. definitely one of those 'what am i missing here?' albums.
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If you can find it, I would recommend giving the Zomba Promo version of the album a listen if you haven’t done so already. This version is how the album was intended to be heard but due to sample clearance issues every time the album has been released it’s shed more and more of those samples. I still enjoy it a great deal but ideal version is the Zomba Promo version.

Also, I am not sure if the explanation of the albums them/concept will help in your enjoyment ( I was already a big fan before I learned of the concept) but the album is about a guy chasing a lost love around the world always a step behind.
 
Hemotep said:
The B-52's were great. Were. I loved seeing them live and listened to then regularly when I was starting to get into music. But it's such a dated sound and I didn't really enjoy listening to this today. I think it's too "fun" and almost feels like parody music. Maybe the world will be ready for The B-52's again, but today it isn't.

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Proof of how music is a YMMV thing: I got a cheap copy of this and listened to it for the first time last year and I loved it. Clicked the same way Sparks’ Kimono My House did as well around the same time.
 
TenderLovingKiller® said:
If you can find it, I would recommend giving the Zomba Promo version of the album a listen if you haven’t done so already. This version is how the album was intended to be heard but due to sample clearance issues every time the album has been released it’s shed more and more of those samples. I still enjoy it a great deal but ideal version is the Zomba Promo version.

Also, I am not sure if the explanation of the albums them/concept will help in your enjoyment ( I was already a big fan before I learned of the concept) but the album is about a guy chasing a lost love around the world always a step behind.
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that is the version i have been listening to- got it from what however many years ago, probably around when vmp put out wildflower. but i also probably couldn't tell you in a blind listening test which version you're playing for me, i'm just not that in tune with it. definitely wasn't aware it had a loose concept.

i guess it comes down to- i like it. i don't love it. i do recognize the talent in putting a record like this together, though.
 
Before I get a new album, one last thing to say about Dusty in Memphis. It is one of my favorite albums, I don't really know the rest of her catalog. I should fix that. I think this every time it comes up in some type of discussion like this and never get around to it. I definitely would not hesitate to grab a record by her in the local used bins if I ever saw one.
 
AndySlash said:
that is the version i have been listening to- got it from what however many years ago, probably around when vmp put out wildflower. but i also probably couldn't tell you in a blind listening test which version you're playing for me, i'm just not that in tune with it. definitely wasn't aware it had a loose concept.

i guess it comes down to- i like it. i don't love it. i do recognize the talent in putting a record like this together, though.
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I love Wildflower, but have never really gotten into this one either, for what it's worth.
 
It's interesting to have two like this back to back that I know like the back of my hand. Reason being is Dusty is hard for me to look at with anything other than this is perfect swoon. I couldn't even begin to think about it in any critical manner. However, I relish the thought of thinking about this one.
 
For better or worse, And Justice for All was sort of the culmination of all Metallica had done before it. While Master of Puppets was brilliant and really the only perfect album the band ever made, Justice overreaches its ambitions and loses itself. Conversely, Metallica saw the band streamlining everything which happened to strike a chord with the public at large and create a massive beast of a hit album that dominated rock radio and MTV at the time.

Enter Sandman's riff announces the new Metallica to the world. A child's lullaby as nightmare.
 
AndySlash said:
f9b0edd76820b968fca4b8f348208f99e4e45435


this is one of those records that feels like it should be right in my wheelhouse, but one that i've never been able to fully latch on to. i enjoy it enough, i guess, but it's not something i've ever found myself coming back to on my own- it usually takes an exercise like this or a discussion prompt for me to try it again. definitely one of those 'what am i missing here?' albums.
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Man you're all getting great albums! This is one of my favorites. It got me into a deep rabbit hole of finding the version with the most samples. I really wished they completely uncleared the album and released it that way with the deluxe version.

Besides the Zomba promo version - another cool "version" of the album is the GIMIX - which contains some interesting samples like Bob Dylan & even Madonna.
 
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Sad But True is a slow sludgy song that has pretty much defined Metallica's sound since (well, I don't know Load or Reloaded, but after St Anger, this is sort of the template for all of it). There is a certain feel that Sad but True, Holier than Thou, and Don't Tread on Me might be Metallica saying f you knowing that the fans were gonna be ultra critical of this record.
 
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The Unforgiven, the second we all realized that Hetfield could actually sing. It would be easy to say that this is where they jump the shark in self importance, but this is the band that took Johnny Got a Gun to make One into a pretentious video. Metal has never lacked for self-importance.

Wherever I May Roam is the hardest song about touring I've ever heard.

Don't Tread on Me - I'm not real sure what they were trying to do here, but they definitely created an Anthem for all the Murica all black jeep owners.

Through the Never - somewhere through the tiresomeness of the message on Don't Tread on me is when this album starts to feel long. Through the Never doesn't really get the fair shake it deserves because it just feels like the album has started to over stay its welcome. I love the bridge to the chorus though. One of the more successful songs with their new template.

Nothing Else Matters - as earnest a love song that metal has ever produced. A tender moment from a band that tends to be over the top.
 
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