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Here are some reviews of albums. Old and new.
This album is as original as it is fun. Easily one of the best albums of the last five years. The White Stripes self-titled debut album has spawned three more excellent records in it's wake. ('De Stijl', 'White Blood Cells', 'Elephant') Every one of them extremely good, but they don't compare to this one. The album starts with a heavy drum beat courtesy of the group's female drummer Meg White. Then is followed by a funky guitar riff played by the incredibly talented Jack White; who I might add is the band's only other member. This song is the wonderful "Jimmy The Exploder" which proves to be one of the most fun openers you'll ever hear. Then the album picks up even more with my personal favorite White Stripes song "Stop Breaking Down". Although the song is a Robert Johnson cover, I still consider it a Stripes song. Then into the hardest rocking song on the album: "The Big Three Killed My Baby". It also carries a message of Jack White's hate for the automobile industry (and his love of the number three). Then to a song that shows off the duo's blues/country capabilities: "Suzy Lee". Also shows that Jack White is a very talented and diverse guitar player. Next the album goes into one of the most creative songs I've heard in quite a long time: "Sugar Never Tasted So Good". It flaunts that the band can play softer acoustic numbers just as well as fast electric rockers. The albums goes through so many diverse classics (seventeen in all) but there are some standouts. For example: Track eight: "Astro". An amazing and mysterious rock tune. Track nine: "Broken Bricks". A flat out punk rock song. Fast, hard, crunching, and furious. And track thirteen, a Bob Dylan cover: "One More Cop of Coffee". Just genius. Widely considered to be the best on the album. This is the birth of what I call "Nu Classic Rock". A mix of blues, rock, punk, and a little country. Let's hope this is a turning point in music. Grade: A+
This - the follow up to The White Stripes' self-titled debut album - is a perfect compliment to it's predecessor. No sophomore blues here. The White Stripes have evolved since 1999. This record is much more bluesy and meaningful. While not as hard or rocking, still an amazing effort. Featuring thirteen great tracks, there are some highlights: Track four: "Apple Blossom". This song proves even further the duo's talent for acoustic riffs. What a great song. A story song with nice lyrics and a fun beat. Track five: "I'm Bound To Pack It Up". A very Led Zeppelin inspired song. Reminiscent of such classics as "The Battle of Evermore", "Bron-Yr-Aur", and "Black Country Woman". I must say, this song even improved upon those riffs. It is the best acoustic riff ever created in my opinion. Track six: "Death Letter". (Cover of a Son House song.) A flat out blues song. Just great. Show's Jack White's love for the south using words like "reckon" and "gal". A classic song already. Track ten: "Let's Build A Home". On the album it is just okay, but the song just EXPLODES live. When they performed this song on Late Night with Conan O'Brien in 2003 my mouth just hung open the entire time. It showcases Jack White's full guitar playing talent and shows that Meg White actually - contrary to popular belief - isn't the worst drummer on Earth. Track twelve: "Why Can't You Be Nicer To Me?". You could say this is their "Led Zeppelin Tribute Song" if you will. It sounds so similar to a Zepp song it's scary. A great blues/rock number featuring harmonica and all. And finally; track thirteen: "Your Southern Can Is Mine". Easily the most infectious song on the album. My favorite next to "Let's Build A Home". So much catchy fun. A cover of western singer Blind Willie McTell. If this doesn't charm you into the Stripes, I don't know what will. Grade: A-
This album needs no introduction. A pure classic. Zeppelin's first and only double studio album, this is two discs of unfiltered music bliss. Disc one features several of Zeppelin's staples: "In My Time of Dying" - An eleven minute song featuring some of the best guitar and drumming ever recorded. "Houses of the Holy" - One of the catchiest riffs you'll ever hear. "Trampled Underfoot" - Even more catchy and infectious than "Houses of the Holy". And of course; "Kashmir". This song really needs nothing said about it. An epic. One of the best songs ever recorded. Period. Just amazing. There has never been and never will be a better or more memorable riff. Just mind-blowing. Disc one also features one of Zeppelin's most overlooked songs; "The Rover". It's such a nice, easy-going song. Listen to it about three times in a row and you'll realize how good it is. Disc two is underrated beyond belief. It opens with "In The Light"; which - once you get past the annoying two minutes of keyboards in the beginning - is a very, very good song. Then comes the instrumental "Bron-Yr-Aur" which is one of the best acoustic riffs I've heard. Then onto "Down By The Seaside" which I never liked because I always skipped it after about the first minute. But then I listened to it all the way through. About mid way it switches to a completely different song, and is that song ever good. Then to what used to be my favorite song; "Ten Years Gone". Great soft riff and very powerful lyrics. Then a few tracks later, the album hit's you with one of the best one-two punches ever put on an album: "Boogie With Stu" and "Black Country Woman": Two of the catchiest, coolest, and best acoustic songs you'll ever have the honor of hearing. They're just so dang amazing. All in all, this album is incredible. Brilliance. An absolute classic. Grade: A+
Radiohead's second album - 'The Bends' - shows great evolution since 1993's 'Pablo Honey'. It was a bit harder for me to get into than 'OK Computer' or 'Hail To The Thief', but it has greatly grown on me. This album helped Radiohead gain their status as one of the best and most innovative alternative rock bands of the '90s. It still carries the rockness left over from the grungy 'Pablo Honey' but it also showcases soft acoustic numbers and experimental electronic noises. It opens with the hip "Planet Telex". A good rocking opener. Then onto the rocking title track - "The Bends". This is the track that has grown on me the most. I didn't like it at all upon first listen, but gave it a few more tries, and it's a great track. The best part of the song has Thom Yorke singing rapidly "I wish it was the '60s, I wish we could be happy, I wish, I wish, I wish". It's just an infectious beat. Then the track that is so radio friendly it's not even funny - "High and Dry". Don't get me wrong - it's one of my favorites off the album, but it's sounds like it was written for radio. Then the best song on the entire album: "Fake Plastic Trees". I also think it is the best name for a song ever thought up. Such a beautiful, poignant acoustic track. Next is track five: "Bones". Such a fun song. I love it. Another big grower. Track seven: "Just". Probably the biggest rocker on the record. The chorus has great lyrics and a fun sound. Yorke's vocals are so powerful: "you do it to yourself, just you, and that's what really hurts, is you do it to yourself, just you, you and no one else." Track eight: "My Iron Lung". Another rocker. This one a little messier and more raw then the other rockers on the album. A personal favorite. Amazing lyrics. The album closes on track twelve: "Street Spirit [Fade Out]". Truly breathtaking. This is an epic that goes into the same category as Led Zeppelin's "Kashmir". Overall, this album may not be the easiest one to get into at the beginning, but once you've heard it a few times it grows on you quite a bit. Grade: B+
Another classic album from Radiohead. This album has twelve great cuts, but the only problem is it feels the same on shuffle. There's no real flow. But if you just look at the songs individually, this album is awesome. It opens with "Airbag". A great rock song. Then onto the song that is tied with 'Hail To The Thief''s "A Wolf At The Door" for Radiohead's best. "Paranoid Android" is perfectly crafted, recorded, and balanced. Everyone is always saying how perfect Led Zeppelin's "Stairway To Heaven" is. If you want a perfect song, this one is much more perfect. Just like "Stairway", this song starts out slow and soothing, and builds to a rocking closing. Just remarkable. Then to the second best song on the album in my opinion: "Subterranean Homesick Alien". A great song which basically has front man Thom Yorke saying how he would like to be abducted by aliens. A little weird? Yes, but weirdness is the spice of life. Next is the most powerful track on the album: "Exit Music (For a Film)". Absolutely breathtaking. Track six: "Karma Police". When of Radiohead's more well known songs, this is as cool as songs come. Excellent piano and guitar and as amazing as Yorke's vocals come. They lyrics are great. The chorus is so cool. It has Yorke stating "this is what you get when you mess with us". Such a great song live, the audience really gets involved. Track seven: "Fitter Happier". It's not really a song, it's more of a poem - spoken by that spooky computerized Stephen Hawking voice. The most poignant lyrics you could find. Track eight: "Electioneering". Catchy, messy, loud, fun, and rocking. Need I say more? Track ten: "No Surprises". A remarkable little lullaby. Great lyrics and soft sound. Track twelve, the closer: "The Tourist". I love this song. The ending to a brilliant album. Features some of Yorke's best vocals. The end has him wailing "Heeeeeyyyy man, slow down, idddiiiooot, slow down!" This album is an instant classic. I love it. It would probably get an A+, but points are deducted due the the flow (or lack there of). Grade: A
This album is perfect. Flawless. This was my first Radiohead album, so I wasn't quite sure what to expect. Well it absolutely blew me away. This record is just mind-blowing. Extremely intense, even gut-wrenchingly so. It starts out with the breathtaking "2+2=5", then it sends you into the seemingly calm "Sit Down Stand Up" which then shoots out of the calm into it's chorus which has front man Thom Yorke (with some help from the band) belting out "the raindrops" which is the arguably most intense sucker punch on the album. Then into another brilliant and intense track: "Sail To The Moon". And then onto the amazing electronic sounds of "Backdrifts". Well, thirteen tracks have passed, and just when you think the album has thrown everything at you and can't get any better, it hits you the best track on the entire album - the closer - "A Wolf At The Door". Just pure brilliance. Since I heard this I have already purchased two other Radiohead albums ('OK Computer' and 'The Bends') and I plan on buying more. Radiohead is one of the most innovative, experimental, inventive, and influential bands of our time. I think they still have some great music to come. We can only hope. Grade: A+
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The White Stripes, 'The White Stripes': (1999)
The White Stripes, 'De Stijl': (2000)
Led Zeppelin, 'Physical Graffiti': (1975)
Radiohead, 'The Bends': (1995)
Radiohead, 'OK Computer': (1997)
Radiohead, 'Hail To The Thief': (2003)