Album Rating: 3.5
I’ve been surprised how I return to stuff - sometimes it takes a month after an initial listen to return but then I listen to it a further two that week.
Saying that I’m consciously going to listen to and rate less albums next year - the 4.5-5 ratings aren’t flowing like they were, it’s time to revisit the stuff I like best and more quality control over what I pick out.
Still, funny I had one year here I’ve rated almost the entire top 200 chart for that year. Found a couple of excellent metal albums but not really worth the effort, not too many hidden gems up there
|
| |
Album Rating: 3.5
Biggest criticism of this album - there's no 'classic song' on it, in fact I wouldn't rate any song over 4 out of 5
Next album straight away you have 'Needle in the Hay' which is more powerful than anything here, plus others like 'The Biggest Lie', maybe 'Sgt Ides Heaven' etc are close to classics if not actual certified classics
By the time you reach 'Either Or' there's no looking back - that one has four songs I rate a 5 and a load more 4.5's.
In terms of its place among the other releases in the GOAT year of 1994 this album comes in at about 75th best of the year for me, that's the ultimate context. What a year '94 was.
|
| |
75th best of the year
wat
On another note you guys make me wanna revisit Smith's discog. Might do that after the decade gibberish.
|
| |
Album Rating: 3.5
yeah, 1994 is my favourite year for music - this being 75th confirms it
|
| |
Album Rating: 5.0
no name #1, roman candle, and last call are all classic Elliott songs. easy 5/5
|
| |
Album Rating: 4.6
Condor Ave might be his actual best song
|
| |
Album Rating: 4.5
seriously cmon doof at least admit t/t and last call are top tier
|
| |
Album Rating: 4.5
this is my favorite album of 1994
Last Call and No Name #1
|
| |
all songs great but yeah “last call” for sure
|
| |
Album Rating: 4.6
Condor Ave is a top 5 Elliott song imo
|
| |
Damn close
|
| |
Album Rating: 3.5
really? no
this album really sounds like what it is for me - early just above demo level cutting teeth with fledgling song writing.
I get that the stripped down style doesn't hurt Elliott as much as it does many others, you could even think it suits him best, but these really aren't his best songs
I mean the word 'oldsmobile' is cool but that's not enough in itself for Condor to crash his top 10 songs ye gods, pleasant melody and the word 'oldsmobile'...no, he has more to offer
|
| |
Album Rating: 4.0
"Condor Ave" is def one of my faves here, that's one with a sort of breezy sound but that guitar melody is sneaky complex and the lyric is pretty striking when you pay attention. An excellent piece of songwriting I'd say.
|
| |
Album Rating: 3.5
I'd go as far as to say 'New Moon' might have 10 songs it'd be possible to line up and best this album for me - it's that sort of level
Either/Or demolishes it. I'd take the first five songs of 'Either/Or' above this entire album. Same with X/O, first five songs off that mean more to me than this one.
|
| |
Album Rating: 3.5
'Condor Avenue' might be my favourite here so yeah, a nice melody and the word 'oldsmobile' does go a long way for me too...but not once you start listening outside of this album.
|
| |
Album Rating: 4.6
easy top 5 yea agreed klap
|
| |
Album Rating: 4.5
This is the Smith album I find myself wanting to listen to the most now adays - EO > Basement / This > s/t > XO > New Moon > Figure 8 - probably, all 4+ though
|
| |
Album Rating: 3.5
Maybe if I’d had this album in my life a year before listening to any of the rest of his work there’d be a greater nostalgia and it wouldn’t be a case of hearing similar melodies I believe he improved massively on later in these early attempts
As it is, starting at Either/Or and getting to this one near last it seems good (excellent even, 3.5 means excellent on my scale) but it’s lacking compared to most of the rest
Figure 8 would be the only one it could catch as that’s the one where the studio got the better of Elliott a bit - rambling and overstuffed but still I’d say more important Smith toons than here
|
| |
Album Rating: 3.5
Maybe I just listen to too much demo-y folk, and in my listening this approach isn’t too unique
|
| |
Album Rating: 3.5
No Name #3 might be my fav on here honestly.
Home to Oblivion ... The guitar lick after the chorus is so nice
|
| |
|
|
