Every One's A Critic

[Blackguard]

Since this is a music board, and we all are music fans, and we all have an opinion on the music we buy. Why not post our own reviews of the CDs we have purchased over time?

Personally, I prefer to read what the fans think about who and what entertains us. Sometimes the paid critics are living up to their reputations, just filling space in their columns, or trying to be controversial.

What you can do here is let the world know how you honestly feel about what the music companies are releasing. It's all fair game from Box Sets to CD singles. Weather you bought it yesterday or a decade ago. This thread gives you, the fan, a forum to review who enveloped you in bliss or brought your ears to tears.

How many stars will you give?
* - Auditory Abomination
** - Not bad, worth a listen
*** - Recommended Listening
**** - Life Enhancing
***** - Shear Bliss

[ringo_rama]

Ben Folds - Songs for Silverman: ****
While some of the songs feature lyrics that you wouldn't want to play in front of a child, the pleasant melodies and piano makes for a rocking, yet relaxing album.

Jason Mraz - Mr. A-Z: ***
Ouch. After his excellent debut, Jason's sophomore album just doesn't pack the same punch. The upbeat tracks (including the single "Wordplay") are fantastic, but the ballads and slower songs are snoozers. All in all, if you like the debut album, you'll find something you'll like on here, but it still pales in comparison.

Peter and Gordon - Greatest Hits: ***
This 10-track compilation can be bought for just $6 on Amazon, and is worth the investment for Beatles fans eager to pick up a few lost Lennon/McCartney compilations. The non-Lennon/McCartney cuts are ok, but are mainly filler.

[taxman]

Oasis - Don't Believe The Truth ****

Best Oasis album since (What's The Story) Morning Glory, very consistent in terms of music, with strong melodies, lyrics and production (lots of loud guitars in the best Oasis style).
The Importance Of Being Idle is one of the best Britpop songs of the last years, very "kinksesque".

[Zimmerman The Gnome]

very "kinksesque".

Very Blur-esque too although I'm sure the Gallachers wont agree!

[pattiboyd's slave]

Bob Dylan's Greatest Hits Volume 3 & No Direction Home.

Whilst lending an ear to the Bard on GHV 3 & NDH, it doth occur to this critic that Mr. Dylan has reached the realm of immortality in the annals of Western culture along with the rather eternally famous crew called The Beatles. In fact, I would venture to swing out on a rather large bough and say, towit! Mr. Dylan has my vote not for the 5th Beatle, but rather for being the answer to that once age old question: whom is the American version of The Beatles? Sorry Simon & Garfunkel & The Mamas and The Papas! I should think that from now on no one, dare I say even myself, can ever question who the two greatest recording artist in the world (nay, the cosmos!) have been. Congrats, Mr. Dylan!

[Blackguard]

http://images.amazon.com/images/P/B000002LBV.01._SCLZZZZZZZ_.jpg

Paul Simon ****

This was the very first LP I ever bought. It was first released in 1972 and it still holds up today. Looking back on it now, it set the stage for what was to come in Simon's solo career. Upbeat pop songs, Reggae and Latin influences, a ballad here and there, and of course Simon's intellectual and clever lyrics. Having mastered pop songcraft in Simon & Garfunkel, with this CD he expands his pallet with more complex arrangements and time signature experiments. An artist moving confidently into a new phase of his career with what can be called a pop classic.

[ringo_rama]

Green Day - "Wake Me Up When September Ends": *****
I've always liked Green Day, but have never really been compelled to buy any of their music. But this is an absolutely amazing song. It's been in my head all week, so I finally went ahead and bought it on iTunes. I may even spring for the album; this is a modern-day classic. Highly, highly recommended!

[jtal909]

Peter and Gordon - Greatest Hits: ***
This 10-track compilation can be bought for just $6 on Amazon, and is worth the investment for Beatles fans eager to pick up a few lost Lennon/McCartney compilations. The non-Lennon/McCartney cuts are ok, but are mainly filler.

With the exception of "I go To Pieces", one of the better and lesser known non Beatles songs to come out of the British Invashion.
I can't understand why it didn't become a huge hit.

[Magill]

Green Day - "Wake Me Up When September Ends": *****
I've always liked Green Day, but have never really been compelled to buy any of their music. But this is an absolutely amazing song. It's been in my head all week, so I finally went ahead and bought it on iTunes. I may even spring for the album; this is a modern-day classic. Highly, highly recommended!

Go ahead. Spring for the cd, RR. I recently bought it for my daughter, a GD fan. Like you, when I first heard "Wake Me When September Ends", it blew me away. She played the whole cd for me today while playing "The Sims" on her computer. I think we bonded (even more!) at that moment. The whole cd is very good. Even I, a 42 y/o geezer mama, thoroughly enjoyed it. It's totally rockin' dude! :rock2:

[ringo_rama]

Awesome, thanks for the recommendation! :smile1: I've liked all of the singles so far and liked all the samples on iTunes, so I'll definitely put it on my list of albums to buy.

Now, my reviews of the five Foo Fighters albums:

Foo Fighters (1995): ****
All the vocals and instruments are by Dave Grohl (except for a guitar part on one song); it's essentially a rough demo of what was supposed to be played out by a whole band. But it was decided that it was good enough to release, so they went ahead and put a band together after the album came out. I'm not sure if it would have benefitted if it had been recorded by a whole band, because most of the songs are pretty mediocre...although it wouldn't have hurt.

The Colour and the Shape (1997): *****
By far their best album, and one of the top five non-Beatles albums of all time. Every single track is good or better, from the brief ballad "Doll" to the 6-minute hard-rocking opus "New Way Home." Includes "Everlong," which is David Letterman's favorite song of all time and one of the Foos' most successful single. It's a shame that this lineup of the band only lasted for this album; it's one of the greatest musical masterpieces ever. It includes their most underrated song (and perhaps my favorite song of theirs), "Hey Johnny Park!" too.

There is Nothing Left to Lose (1999): ****
This is just a little bit better than the debut album, but the songs aren't really that memorable and the lead single ("Learn to Fly") is probably my least favorite single of theirs. But there are some gems, like "Gimme Stitches" and "Aurora."

One By One (2002): ****
Overproduced, and, by Dave Grohl's own admission, very rushed, One By One is still a pretty good album. It includes their two best singles ("All My Life" and "Times Like These"), but this is one album where the four singles chosen were by far the best songs on the album (well, "Low" is on par with some of the other tracks, but I love "Have it All"). Still, worth it for those four songs alone, and the others aren't that bad. Look out for a cameo from Brian May on "Tired of You."

In Your Honor (2005): *****
Their latest effort is two discs of audio magnificence. The first disc is full of the great rock songs that the Foos are famous for. The second, even better, disc is all acoustic, and features some beautiful music. There's not one bad track in the bunch. The singles aren't really the best songs on the album, but they're all decent songs.

[Pepperland Kamer]

Glad you liked the Foo's RR, I recently Bought all the albums at costco for a low price, but haven't listened to em yet. But your reviews are promising

[beatlelover45223]

With the exception of "I go To Pieces", one of the better and lesser known non Beatles songs to come out of the British Invashion.
I can't understand why it didn't become a huge hit.
I love that song too jtal909!

[jtal909]

I love that song too jtal909!

It is truly a gem if there ever was one!

"When I see her coming down the street
I get so shaky and I feel so weak"

[Pepperland Kamer]

Whats that Billie Joe's reading?! :D

http://www.bobgruen.com/potda/1105/GrnDayJLBookSm.jpg

[sourmilkpinky]

LOL...

[beatlebangs1964]

Amazon is a good place to read music reviews.
Just go to Amazon, pick the country and check
out reviews of music you are interested in.

[motherTheresa]

It is truly a gem if there ever was one!

"When I see her coming down the street
I get so shaky and I feel so weak"


:lightbulb:

ah, now i remember it! (the title didn't ring my bell....)

LOL, it just came on the radio RIGHT NOW!

is that weird, or what? :look:

[jtal909]

:lightbulb:

ah, now i remember it! (the title didn't ring my bell....)

LOL, it just came on the radio RIGHT NOW!

is that weird, or what? :look:



No way! :laugh1:

[motherTheresa]

No way! :laugh1:





WAY! i couldn't get over it.....i have the oldies station on

while i'm on-line, & all of a sudden, "i go to pieces" started playing,

just as i was typing that post. :afraid2:

but i've always suspected i had some strange psychic ability at times.

.....are you about 5'10"?

:wink3:

[jtal909]

yes.