James Brown: Hell


I’m actually as surprised as you were that we have been a group that specializes in reviewing influential artists and albums, but this is our first review of a James Brown album. I thought for sure that in out live album selection round that his Live at the Apollo album would have been chosen, but alas, it was not.
I am very excited to really dive into the album. I invite you to listen to why I selected this particular album and to join me in rediscovering a classic from a legend*.
*A legend in his music. I actually detest that he was an abusive man and how he took advantage of others close to him.
Links:
Hell on Spotify
Rolling Stone Review

Review of Cyndi Lauper: She's So Unusual

Please read Scott Gregory’s pick for Cyndi Lauper: She’s So Unusual before reading and listening to our reviews below.

Quick Summary: 

  • Worth the hype?
  • Influence us and our tastes?
  • Would we recommend?
3.5

Review of Cyndi Lauper: She's So Unusual

Apparently, not only do girls want to have fun, but they can influence a decade. With close to 60 million albums sold and 16 million of this album alone, there is no denying the influence of Cyndi Lauper. We all had strong feelings about this pop album from 1983 and as we still hear songs today like Time After Time we let you know how this album stood up over time. Sorry it’s a bit long this month but we had lots to say. Enjoy the review of She’s So Unusual.


Our Individual Review Scores
Scott Gregory:
Overall opinion: 4
Would I recommend?: 4
Influenced my tastes: 4
Worth the hype? 4
Scott Coates:
Overall opinion: 3.75
Would I recommend?:3.75
Influenced my tastes: 2.5
Worth the hype?: 3.75
Darren Scott:
Overall opinion: 3.5
Would I recommend?: 4
Influenced my tastes: 2.5
Worth the hype? 4
Alain DuPuis:
Overall opinion: 3
Would I recommend?: 3.5
Influenced my tastes: 1.5
Worth the hype? 3

Review of Led Zeppelin: Led Zeppelin II

Please read Alain DuPuis’ pick for Led Zeppelin: Led Zeppelin II before reading and listening to our reviews below.

Quick Summary: 

  • Worth the hype?
  • Influence us and our tastes?
  • Would we recommend?
5

Led Zeppelin: Led Zeppelin II

Some may find our reviews obvious and wonder why we do them. Well, it is albums like this that can make it more clear. Our intention isn’t to go back in time and be a music critic, it is rather to go back and listen to a great influential album and see how it stands the test of time. We also want to remind music lovers to take the time to listen to albums in their entirety.
Led Zeppelin II is well worth the time. Listen to our review in this post and join us in celebrating a band that shifted the way rock and roll was perceived. It started with the Blues but this English band took it somewhere new.


Our Individual Review Scores
Scott Coates:
Overall opinion: 5
Would I recommend?:5
Influenced my tastes: 5
Worth the hype?: 5
Darren Scott:
Overall opinion: 5
Would I recommend?: 5
Influenced my tastes: 3.5
Worth the hype? 5
Scott Gregory:
Overall opinion: 5
Would I recommend?: 5
Influenced my tastes: 4
Worth the hype? 5
Alain DuPuis:
Overall opinion: 5
Would I recommend?: 5
Influenced my tastes: 4
Worth the hype? 5

Review of Neil Young: After the Gold Rush

Please read Scott Coates’s pick for Neil Young: After the Gold Rush before reading and listening to our reviews below.

Quick Summary: 

  • Worth the hype?
  • Influence us and our tastes?
  • Would we recommend?
4

Neil Young: After the Gold Rush

There is one thing that none of us doubted, and that was Neil Young’s massive influence in the world of music. Well wasn’t it strange that none of us had really given Neil his due respect? After all, the members of The Sonic Collective are all Canadian. Maybe it was the fact that he was most influential in the 70s when most of us were toddlers or not born yet, or that he was known more for folk music, which isn’t the usual pick of the group. Or, maybe, it was his high-pitched squeaky voice? Well, we listened for a month, and the results were quite shocking. Maybe not as shocking as Darren revealing he’s a secret fan of a modern pop female vocalist that will make you giggle. Scott’s pick and insights are worth listening to. Enjoy our review!


Our Individual Review Scores
Scott Coates:
Overall opinion: 4
Would I recommend?:4.5
Influenced my tastes: 4
Worth the hype?: 4
Darren Scott:
Overall opinion: 4
Would I recommend?: 4
Influenced my tastes: 2.5
Worth the hype? 4
Scott Gregory:
Overall opinion: 3.5
Would I recommend?: 4
Influenced my tastes: 2
Worth the hype?3
Alain DuPuis:
Overall opinion: 3
Would I recommend?: 3.5
Influenced my tastes: 1.5
Worth the hype? 4

Review of The Clash: The Clash

Please read Darren Scott’s pick for The Clash: The Clash before reading and listening to our reviews below.

Quick Summary: 

  • Worth the hype?
  • Influence us and our tastes?
  • Would we recommend?
4.1

The Clash: The Clash

Though many people will automatically relate to being a Clash fan, I also imagine like us, they probably have not listened to their first album from beginning to end in a long time, if ever. It was a fun ride to rediscover one of the albums that is considered to be one of the greatest punk albums of all time. It is definitely worth a listen but before you jump in, have a listen to our review to learn about this album as well as hear our ramblings aboout what we thought was great and not so great. Enjoy, we did, except Alain… sheesh Alain. Ha ha ha…


Our Individual Review Scores
Darren Scott:
Overall opinion: 5
Would I recommend?: 5
Influenced my tastes: 4
Worth the hype? 5
Scott Coates:
Overall opinion: 5
Would I recommend?: 5
Influenced my tastes: 4
Worth the hype?: 5
Scott Gregory:
Overall opinion: 4
Would I recommend?: 4
Influenced my tastes: 3
Worth the hype?4
Alain DuPuis:
Overall opinion: 2.5
Would I recommend?: 3
Influenced my tastes: 3.5
Worth the hype? 3

The Clash: The Clash


 
Listen above to hear why I decided to pick The Clash’s debut album. I am really excited to give this influential album the dedicated listening time it deserves. Though not the inventors of punk The Clash took the FU attitude of the music and escalated it and pushed it into a new era of U.K. punk. Enjoy listening and be sure to come back at the beginning of next month to hear our reviews.
Darren Scott
Resources
The Clash (Album) Wikipedia
The Clash Official Site
A Brief History of Punk

Listen to our review of this pick here!

 
 

Review of The Who: Live at Leeds

Please read Scott Gregory’s pick for The Who: Live at Leeds before reading and listening to our reviews below.

Quick Summary: 

  • Worth the hype?
  • Influence us and our tastes?
  • Would we recommend?
4

The Who: Live at Leeds

To end our round of live albums Scott Gregory picked The Who:Live at Leeds. Though we did indeed rate this album highly we have to say that we had some negative comments. Have a listen to find out what Darren and Alain struggled with some parts and why Scott Gregory loves him some rock opera.


Our Individual Review Scores
Darren Scott:
Overall opinion: 3.5
Would I recommend?: 4
Influenced my tastes: 2
Worth the hype? 4
Scott Coates:
Overall opinion: 4
Would I recommend?: 4
Influenced my tastes: 4
Worth the hype?: 4
Scott Gregory:
Overall opinion: 4.5
Would I recommend?: 4.5
Influenced my tastes: 4
Worth the hype?5
Alain DuPuis:
Overall opinion: 3.5
Would I recommend?: 4
Influenced my tastes: 3
Worth the hype? 4

Review of Nirvana: From the Muddy Banks of the Wishkah

Please read Alain DuPuis’ pick for Nirvana: From the Muddy Banks of the Wishkah before reading and listening to our reviews below.

Quick Summary: 

Nirvana: From the Muddy Banks of the Wishkah
  • Worth the hype?
  • Influence us and our tastes?
  • Would we recommend?
4

Summary and Overall Score

Alain’s pick this month took us back to the Grunge era. It turns out we were all already fans of Nirvana though none of us had ever really listened to this album. This album was a compilation of live recordings throughout Nirvana’s short lifespan of 1989 – 1994.
Though we all had some praise and did overall like this album there was some things we agreed were not great parts of this album. Listen to our reviews and then listen to the album yourself to see if you agree. As always, we would love to hear your comments.


Our Individual Review Scores
Darren Scott:
Overall opinion: 4.25
Would I recommend?: 4.5
Influenced my tastes: 4
Worth the hype? 4
Scott Coates:
Overall opinion: 3.5
Would I recommend?: 1
Influenced my tastes: 1
Worth the hype?: 1
Scott Gregory:
Overall opinion: 4
Would I recommend?: 4
Influenced my tastes: 4
Worth the hype?4
Alain DuPuis:
Overall opinion: 4.5
Would I recommend?: 4
Influenced my tastes: 4
Worth the hype? 4.5

Review of Frank Sinatra: Sinatra at the Sands

Please read Scott Coates’ pick for Frank Sinatra: Sinatra at the Sands before reading and listening to our reviews below.

Quick Summary: 

Frank Sinatra: Sinatra at the Sands
  • Worth the hype?
  • Influence us and our tastes?
  • Would we recommend?
4.5

Summary and Overall Score

Well, when I, Darren Scott, picked Johnny Cash at Folsom Prison last month as our first round at selecting influential live albums, I thought nobody would come close to matching such an epic album. I was wrong. Though our group rated this awesome album a little lower than Folsom, this was a very fun ride.
Frank Sinatra is at his best in this Quincey Jones arranged live album with Count Basie and his orchestra backing him up. It’s funny, well sung and sounds awesome. Give a listen to our reviews and interesting factoids about this American classic.

Sending
User Review
3 (3 votes)

Our Individual Review Scores
Darren Scott:
Overall opinion: 4.5
Would I recommend?: 5
Influenced my tastes: 4.5
Worth the hype? 5
Scott Coates:
Overall opinion: 4.5
Would I recommend?: –
Influenced my tastes: –
Worth the hype?: –
Scott Gregory:
Overall opinion: 4
Would I recommend?: –
Influenced my tastes: –
Worth the hype? –
Alain DuPuis:
Overall opinion: 4
Would I recommend?: 4
Influenced my tastes: 3
Worth the hype? 4.5

Johnny Cash at Folsom Prison Review

Please read Darren Scott’s pick for Johnny Cash at Folsom Prison before reading and listening to our reviews below.

Quick Summary: 

Johnny Cash at Folsom Prison
  • Would we recommend?
  • Influence us and our tastes?
  • Worth the hype?
4.4

Summary and Overall Score

Darren Scott’s selection of Johnny Cash at Folsom Prison was well received by the group as we kicked off our round of live album selections. This classic album of Cash’s was just the type of album he needed as he had been recovering from addiction issues and was out of the spotlight for a few years. The atmosphere of the prison and the raw energy that this album produced was awesome. Just when you think Johnny cash couldn’t get any cooler, he did.
Though some of us were not the biggest country music fans and were not drawn to this music in our younger years, we all agreed that this album was great and a must listen. Definitely listen to the legacy edition. Please listen to our audio review and enjoy-we sure did!


Our Individual Review Scores
Darren Scott:
Overall opinion: 5
Would I recommend?: 5
Influenced my tastes: 5
Worth the hype? 5
Scott Coates:
Overall opinion: 5
Would I recommend?: 5
Influenced my tastes: 5
Worth the hype?: 5
Scott Gregory:
Overall opinion: 4.5
Would I recommend?: 5
Influenced my tastes: 4
Worth the hype? 5
Alain DuPuis:
Overall opinion: 4
Would I recommend?: 3.5
Influenced my tastes: 2
Worth the hype? 4
Greg Jorgensen:
Overall opinion: 3.5
Would I recommend?: 4
Influenced my tastes: 0
Worth the hype? 4