Average Rating: 3.93 Rating Variance: 0.62 Objectivity Score: 62% (Fairly Balanced)
Sort by: Rating | Release Date | Rating Date | Name5.0 classicOasis (What's the Story) Morning Glory?Radiohead The BendsWeezer Weezer4.5 superbJohn Mayer Heavier ThingsThe Smashing Pumpkins Rotten ApplesThe " best" of the Smashing Pumpkins deserves 5/5 - An incredible band with an mindblowing catalogue of songs. My only objections are the inclusion of "try, try, try", "real love", "drown" and "eye", none of which were big hits or are among the best songs the Pumpkins wrote. The inclusion of "try, ..." definitely over-represents Machina, and the other 3 are rarities not "best of" material. The omission of "Rocket" from Siamese Dream and "Muzzle" and "thirty-three" from MCatIS is excruciatingly misguided.4.0 excellentBen Harper The Will To LiveJohn Mayer ContinuumContinuum is one of those slowburning albums that is underwhelming at first but as you re-listen you appreciate it a lot more. The songs really get in your head, especially In Repair, Dreaming With A Broken Heart, Gravity, Heart of Life and Belief. As always with Mayer the lyrics have a lot of heart and brains and his knack for soloing on the melody is even more perfect on this album than the previous ones. I would rate it higher but with the exceptions of tracks 1, 5, 8 and 9 the album's vibe is a bit too unvarying for me. Room For Squares was a bit that way too. As an album, I prefer Heavier Things.Pearl Jam No CodeRadiohead My Iron LungShihad ShihadThis album kicks off with the Shihad's most famous song "Home Again", which is sort of like the national rock anthem of New Zealand. It's awesome, with a great little riff and guitar interplay in the verse, which crashes into a pretty wild pre-chorus and then emerges beautifully into a memorable chorus. "Ghost From The Past" is powerful. "Hate Boys" is average musically but interesting lyrically. "It's A Go" is atmospheric but pop-rockish. "Lala land" is a rollicking fast song about the band's experiences in L.A., it's good on the album and brilliant live. "A Day Away" is my 2nd favourite song on the album behind "Home Again", it's a song that makes you want to jump in the car and drive off to anywhere. "Yr Head Is A Rock" is kind of difficult to categorise and really good. The other tracks are all perfectly enjoyable pop-rock sorts. Overall an excellent album, principally on the strength of 2 or 3 absolutely classic tracks and 3 or 4 extremely good ones, combining industrial, rock, indie and pop elements - it doesn't fit squarely in any boxes. Highly recommended by me, that's for sure3.5 greatLiam Finn I'll Be LightningSelf-described as "experimental pop". It's kind of like Beck meets Crowded House, but younger, if that makes sense. Second Chance is really catchy (love the outro especially). Other tracks I'd particularly recommend are Better To Be, Lead Balloon, Wide Awake On The Voyage Home and I'll Be Lightning. Porno For Pyros Good God's UrgeI'm pretty ambivalent about Jane's Addiction and the other PFP album, but Good God's Urge is great. Most of the songs are related to the sea somehow, or at least feel like they are. Listening to it reminds me of being on a surfboard, the constant rhythm of the waves, sometimes gentle and reflective, other times uncontrollable and dangerous. Porpoise Head is an atmospheric, underwater sounding song. 100 Ways and Kimberly Austin are gentle but interesting love songs. Tahitian Moon and Good God's:/Urge! are both great, much more urgent, and fairly unique sounding. Bali Eyes is very trippy but cool. Flea busts out some nice bass on Freeway, overall it's a pretty good track. I like Wishing Well somewhat. Dogs Rule The Night and Thick Of It All don't do much for me, but they're ok. Overall, 5 or so great tracks and a handful of good ones, no total duds. It has an awesome vibe and some interesting playing. Highly recommend it.3.0 goodThe Smashing Pumpkins Gish2.5 averageSnow Patrol Eyes OpenChasing Cars is great, Set Fire to the 3rd Bar is good, but really, it's pretty much repetitive pop-rock from start to finish. Perfectly listenable, and it at least comes off as reasonably sincere, but it's hard to really get enthused about. The Shins Wincing the Night AwayI have given this album a couple of listens because of all the positive reviews the Shins get, but honestly it seems really average to me. The songs just really didn't grab me at all in any way. The lyrics were amusing and interesting in places, but that's about all this album has going for it IMHO.
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