Cannibal Ox - The Cold Vein

Pretty interesting samples and generally otherworldy lyrics. I quite like this. Even if it does have some of the same old macho bullshit so typical of the genre.

Caravan - In the Land of Grey and Pink

My first introduction to Canterbury prog and it's good. Frothy guitars intertwine in and out. Cool melodies. And the side long song doesn't grate or bore.

Beastie Boys - Paul's Boutique

The fun is infectious. And the Dust Brothers' production is flawless, no scratchy samples. And it samples "Folsom Prison Blues", which is my fave country song. In totality, however, I still prefer the stupidity of their debut.

Dr. Dre - The Chronic

Nothing much to say about this. I dunno how to review rap, basically. It rolls along quite nicely.

Dr. Feelgood - Down by the Jetty

Solid pub rock. And the herky jerky guitars no doubt influenced Gang of Four and Talking Heads. Their covers of rock classics are a bit boring, though.

Duran Duran - 1st Album/Rio/Notorious/Wedding Album

1st album still sparkles. The fillers on "Rio" aren't as bad as those on "7 and the Ragged Tiger" even if the singles aren't as strong. Notorious is pop frilliness. Wedding Album is their most guitar-oriented album.

Fleet Foxes - Sun Giant EP

More feelgood stuff from them. Generally lethargic, though.

Guided by Voices - Alien Lanes

Like this more than B1000. Generally catchier and more immediate. And "My Valuable Hunting Knife" is forever in my head. Get out please!

Ice-Cube - AmeriKKKa's Most Wanted, Death Certificate

Both pretty militant and aggro. Homophobic and racist as well(against Koreans mostly). Nice Bomb Squad production - has the nice shrill scratches reminiscent of PE.

Marvin Gaye - Let's Get It On (Deluxe Edition)

An expansion to my cassette copy. A nice seductive album. The outtakes are not really complimentary, with some political rants and 60s leftovers.

Neil Young & Crazy Horse - Ragged Glory

Replacing my fucked-up cassette. Best proto-grunge ever. Though it doesn't quite live up to the first 2 songs.

Patti Smith - Horses

Nothing punk about this, except for the cover of "My Generation". Vocals sound somewhat like Tom Verlaine's. Ok for me. Nothing on here like "Because the Night", though.

Pretty Things - S.F. Sorrow

Pretty disappointing, despite all the good things I've heard. Only song approaching brilliance is "Private Sorrow". Pretty much simple yet ornate pop songs.

Robin Trower - Bridge of Sighs

Yet another replacement. I love this. Sorta like a poppier Hendrix without the RnB bits. Great engaging songs.

Snoop Dogg - Doggystyle

Forgot I had this on cassette and torrented it. I still like it after so long.

Steve Reich - Music for 18 Musicians

Nice ambient proggression over 12 songs. Kinda like Tubular Bells although that's just my take. Not a huge fan of minimalist but this is quite good and remarkable.

The DOC - No One Can Do it Better

Addition of guitars on some track lifts it up from the norm. But generally very good. Funky as hell.

The Decemberists - Her Majesty The Decemberists

More whiney folk-rock. But I like it just fine.

The English Beat - I Just Can't Stop It

Lots better than "Special Beat Service". "Mirror in the Bathroom" is phenomenal. And the toasting songs are great.

The Human League - Travelogue

More experimental than their later synth-pop. "Being Boiled" the LP version sucks ass, with an overkill of brassy synths. Give me the single version anytime. Otherwise, "I Don't Depend On You" is a glimpse of their later pop genius. While Gary Glitter's ROck and Roll" and Iggy Pop's "Nightclubbing" are totally slaughtered here.

The New Pornographers - Twin Cinema/Electric Version/Mass Romantic

Nice syrupy quirky power-pop from this Canadian supergroup. Electric Version is the most subdued one while Mass Romantic screams "Play it Loud!".

The Sparks - Kimono My House

Didn't review this last time as I didn't have the entire album. Whatever I say here has no bearing whatsoever at all as this is an established Babble fave.

UGK - Ridin' Dirty/Super Tight

Still dunno how to review rap but I like what I hear.

Quadrophenia

My first viewing of the movie. Uncanny that they should pick Phil Daniels to play "Jimmy the Mod" as he bears a strange resemblance to an amalgam of all four of them. Otherwise, there's too few songs from the album to satisfy me, leaving out the heavenly "The Punk and the Godfather". The Who show they're not above self-mythologizing, with Jimmy being a fervent fan of them, even if he does break out into a Kinks' song, them being the 'Oo's main 60s rivals. I really miss the more metaphysical bits of the album, maybe it's hard to transfer that to the screen. And where's the Quadrophenic aspect, anyway? I thought Jimmy was supposed to be a 4-person split personality. And the ending sucks.......

ABBA : The Movie

I saw this when I was a really wee child. Those images and music were forever embossed in my mind. As a movie, it is kinda sucky, with a porn actor-lookalike playing a DJ tracking the Fab Swede Four for an interview. As a capture of ABBA's live performances, it is cool, being energetic and bouncy and all. And those girls sure are sexy then. However, the non-hits kinda meander and are rather aimless, with only "I'm A Marrionette" and "Tiger" sticking out. Nostalgic bliss! And it only records one concert in Australia, even if they played Perth, Adelaide and Sydney.