Album Rating: 5.0

It has some summer songs on here - 'Bugs' has to be a summer/spring tune

Album Rating: 2.5

Love the band, they've become a fave. Constantly spin their stuff Oh Ohio is stunning but I just can't warm to this one.

Album Rating: 5.0

Plonker



You probably won't like 'How I Quit Smoking' either as it is quite similar. The debut is a must listen though, just to see how different it is.

Album Rating: 5.0

Surprised to see you flying the Ohio flag while slapping a 2.5 on this Zak, I've been getting into Ohio recently and some of the atmosphere/sonic touches on it kind of remind me of this.



This is coming from a Lambchop noob though (this is by far their album I'm most familiar with from the four I've heard) so maybe I'm picking up on something that isn't there.



Doof - Smoking similar to this? Confirmed as the Lambchop I'm checking next, after giving Ohio the time it deserves :D

Album Rating: 5.0 | Sound Off

Smoking is similar in some ways but it also isn't, for one it doesn't have as much piano as this, it also has more of a country/Americana feel to it overall. Lots of strings on that one as well. It's not as out and out inviting as this, it took me a lot longer to get a grip on than this - the lyrics are a bit more obscure too.

In fact the more I think about it the only song on Smoking that really reminds me much of this is "Thëone" (which happens to be its best track!)

It's great though, you may take more time to warm up to it than this one Dylan but I'm confident you'll enjoy it.

Still haven't heard Ohio myself.

Album Rating: 5.0

'Smoking' is similar in how it blends and the whole subtle orchestration aesthetic. 'Ohio' is quite clean and pristine, almost snappy for Lambchop. Think latter day R.E.M at times. Only minor gripe is a few of the songs are a bit 're-run'y if you tackle it in chronological order. I mean 'Dissolved' and 'Hold of You' are great but they've recorded songs 90% similar to those at least twice before.



Stuff like 'Popeye' and 'Sharing a Gibson' are classic though. Nothing on it would crack a top 20 'Chop tunes though, but that's a tough ask. 'Popeye' would be close.

Album Rating: 5.0

Just getting into 'Thriller' and 'Hank' more, might put up a top 100 Lambchop song ranking soon as they're officially my favourite band of all time now...

Album Rating: 5.0

Ohio doesn't have any 5/5 songs for me yet, but it does have a whole slew of tunes in the 4-4.5 range. That run from "Slipped" to "Of Raymond" is ridiculous, those six tunes and "Popeye" would make a mini-album that is either a strong 4 or perhaps even a light 4.5. The other four tracks feel a bit limp by comparison, unfortunately :/

Album Rating: 5.0 | Sound Off

Revisited this last night for the first time in several months - still absolutely wonderful, but still just short of the 5.

Album Rating: 5.0

'but still just short of the 5'.



why you got to hurt me like this?

Album Rating: 5.0 | Sound Off

I'm sorry Doof, I've become a grumpier and harsher rater of late.

Album Rating: 5.0

Same



I've dished out about a hundred 3/5 ratings to new releases this year :D



That's to say nothing of the further hundred or so I rated below that.

Album Rating: 5.0 | Sound Off

I will agree, as you've said before, that the difference between a 4.5 and a 5 is utterly arbitrary - it's just a matter of having that extra indescribable thing that sets something apart.

Album Rating: 5.0

100% agree, technically my 4.5 and 5's are all on the same level. My 5's have something special that singles them out beyond the level of 4.5.



Saying that, a few of my 5's are now 'trial 5's' - they have a certain amount of time to prove their worth or I'll demote them to a 4.5.



I think I said in my Top 100 list that 75 of my 5's are set in stone - so there are about 20 on shakier ground.

Album Rating: 5.0 | Sound Off

Right now I'd say that about 20% of my 5s could be dropped to 4.5 without it really hurting my soul. To be fair it wouldn't hurt my soul at all to have this one at a 5 either, if there were an album to bump as a trial 5 like you have this would be it.

Album Rating: 5.0

I guess as you get more 5's you should feel more able to promote other albums to a 5 - for example, I just bumped 'Full Moon Fever' to a 5, an album with a lot of nostalgia but ok maybe a few weaknesses for me too.



Now, would I feel uncomfortable naming it among my top 50 albums? Yeah, a bit. Am I more comfortable it can be bumped to a 5 and still only be rated as my 100th or so favourite album? A lot more.



It deserves the 5 but it doesn't deserve top 50 album billing.

Album Rating: 5.0 | Sound Off

I find Damn the Todpedoes vastly superior to that album if I'm being honest.

Album Rating: 5.0

Nowhere near as fun and for me Petty is at his best when there's some fun in the mix. 'Full Moon Fever' is the ultimate radio album from the era.



'Torpedoes' is strong, his third best and maybe a 4. I still rate 'Wildflowers' above it though.

Album Rating: 5.0

I promised myself that next time I got a new pair of headphones, this would be their first album - the moment the opening piano notes of "The Daily Growl" delicately wandered in, I knew I'd made the right decision.

Album Rating: 5.0

I love that intro too Dylan