The Official Needles and Grooves 1001 Album Generator Project (aka Preachin’ about the Preachers if today’s selection sucks)

One of my first encounters with Van Halen was pretty painful, trying to learn the riff to "Ain't Talkin Bout Love" on guitar in high school (I still can't quite get it right without spraining my pinkie finger). I guess I've always kinda passively liked them as a band, even though I can't say that I've ever been a full fledged fan. I think this was the first time listening to this album in full, and I was surprised that the synths only featured on a couple of songs, and that it was a lot more guitar driven than what I had expected. But still a pretty boring album in total. Panama is a good party banger and Jump is what it is (although way overplayed). The rest is all filler, a messy mix of dumb 80s sexism, tricky but overambitious guitar wanking and boring hair metal. Their first two albums are more fun (at least in my memories of them), and I think the Sammy Hagar years have better tunes. Total score: 2/5
 
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Van Halen - 1984
SYNTHSSSSSSSSSS!!!!!!!!!!!

This is kinda the perfect pop song, isn't it?

Cheese, cheese, cheesy, cheese. Love it!

It would be foolish to say that EVH was anything but a brilliant guitarist. Hahaha, fucking amazing!!!

Another stone-cold classic right here!!

Clocking in at just over 30 minutes, 0% fat, bonkers guitar playing and some interesting synth sounds too, great album and one I have overlooked for too long.

4 / 5 stars.
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Even farther behind, goal is to catch up this week...

#14 - Leftfield - Leftism

Never heard of this album prior to this challenge, so once again, props to this challenge. Familiar with this era of electronic music (Bjork, Prodigy, Chemical Brothers, Tricky, Underworld, etc.) so this does sound familiar in context, sound, and vibes. My favorite tracks are "Release the Pressure," "Melt," and “Open Up.” With that being said, I don't necessarily think this is as strong of an album or one meant for listening to as a whole as contemporary albums like "Music for the Jilted Generation" or "Maxinquaye." So it’s not a 5 star album, but there’s enough bangers on here to qualify it as a healthy and hearty…

Rating: 4.0/5
 
wmeugene said:
Even farther behind, goal is to catch up this week...

#14 - Leftfield - Leftism

Never heard of this album prior to this challenge, so once again, props to this challenge. Familiar with this era of electronic music (Bjork, Prodigy, Chemical Brothers, Tricky, Underworld, etc.) so this does sound familiar in context, sound, and vibes. My favorite tracks are "Release the Pressure," "Melt," and “Open Up.” With that being said, I don't necessarily think this is as strong of an album or one meant for listening to as a whole as contemporary albums like "Music for the Jilted Generation" or "Maxinquaye." So it’s not a 5 star album, but there’s enough bangers on here to qualify it as a healthy and hearty…

Rating: 4.0/5
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It’s actually a bit of a compilation, most of it predates the album by several years. So it wasn’t really laid out like Maxinquaye was. It’s one of the remarkable things about it is that it does work so well.
 
Lee Newman said:
2/15/23
c6d2437e7e691dee0116700caa5b21232d63551e

Van Halen - 1984



Allmusic Review:
www.allmusic.com

1984 - Van Halen | Album | AllMusic

1984 by Van Halen released in 1984. Find album reviews, track lists, credits, awards and more at AllMusic.
www.allmusic.com www.allmusic.com
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When I do reach for a Van Halen album it's not this one because I don't care for the singles off it. The rest of the tracks are good though. 2.5/5
 
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Lee Newman said:
2/15/23
c6d2437e7e691dee0116700caa5b21232d63551e

Van Halen - 1984



Allmusic Review:
www.allmusic.com

1984 - Van Halen | Album | AllMusic

1984 by Van Halen released in 1984. Find album reviews, track lists, credits, awards and more at AllMusic.
www.allmusic.com www.allmusic.com
Click to expand...


This isn't for me. In my younger days, I thought it was - a lot of my folks' friends and some family members were certainly more into the cock rock side of things, but the lustre of most of it faded pretty fast for me. That said, I don't hate it - I just don't super like it either. Eddie could rock hard, and I can appreciate that. David Lee Roth mostly just annoys me though. 2.5/5 because I find this more listenable than AC/DC but rounded down for the lack of fractions on the site.
 
Lee Newman said:
2/9/23
4b75f62dc127de65f0f08dab5ab1fe0807c07f35

Love - Forever Changes



Allmusic Review:
www.allmusic.com

Forever Changes - Love | Album | AllMusic

Forever Changes by Love released in 1967. Find album reviews, track lists, credits, awards and more at AllMusic.
www.allmusic.com www.allmusic.com
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Finally got around to checking this one out yesterday, but didn't get around to coming back to write about it. This is an album I've been meaning to check out for a long while now, while simultaneously kind of avoiding it as well. I've had it kind of associated in my head with a snobbish prick I knew over half a lifetime ago and that, I think, had kept me from checking it out before yesterday. Which is really a damn shame because I very much enjoyed it. So much so that it's going on my wantlist for the record shelf. 4/5, but likely to get higher over time.
 
avecigrec said:
This isn't for me. In my younger days, I thought it was - a lot of my folks' friends and some family members were certainly more into the cock rock side of things, but the lustre of most of it faded pretty fast for me. That said, I don't hate it - I just don't super like it either. Eddie could rock hard, and I can appreciate that. David Lee Roth mostly just annoys me though. 2.5/5 because I find this more listenable than AC/DC but rounded down for the lack of fractions on the site.
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Yeah I hate how you cant use a 10 point scale. I had this album in the beginning of my personal project, and gave it a 3/5. I never loved or hated VH. I've known this one and their debut pretty well throughout the years, but haven't listened to any other albums besides them. The hits are always fun, and Eddie shreds. This album does actually sound great on vinyl compared to anywhere else I've listened to it.
 
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