Rolling Stones Top 500 Albums of All-Time - DOGGYSTYLE by Snoop Doggy Dogg

I was soooo happy about with the randomizer this time as it spit out number 340, which happens to be Doggystyle by then Snoop Doggy Dogg.  When this album was released in 1993 - while I was in college - we knew it was a gamechanger.  Definitely excited to give it a listed from a different, older perspective.

First Track:  G Funk Intro
Start:  Strong for an intro track, as it contains funky beats, Dr. Dre, Lady of Rage, but, not a song.

Real First Track:  Gin and Juice

Start:  The strongest!

Best Attribute:  Dre's funky beats!

Worst Attribute:  Too much actual Barking

Best Song:  Ain't No Fun (If the Homies Can't Have None) - Younger me would have said Gin and Juice no doubt, but older me appreciates the depth of the funkiness in this one.

Worst Song: Pump! Pump!  The aforementioned barking!

Most Interesting Song:  Tha Shiznit - Because of the cymbals.

Most Interesting Quality:  G-Funk production.  Not just the beats, but the drums, horns, everything.

Would I listen again: Hellz Yeah!

Who would I like to Re-Make/Re-Imagine this Album:  Bruno Mars.  This was a tough one, because it is so eclectically iconic, but Bruno could do the instrumentation and make it his own, even if it wasn't rapped.

Rolling Stone Ranking:  340

My Current Ranking:  2

Projected Final Ranking:  189

Top 500 Albums of All-Time

1.  Love Deluxe, Sade

2.  Doggystyle, Snoop Doggy Dogg

3.  Pearl, Janis Joplin

4.  Ramones, The Ramones

5.  Beyonce, Beyonce

6.  John Prine, John Prine

Rolling Stones Top 500 Albums of All-Time - PEARL by Janis Joplin

 

This time I was given number 259 from the random number generator, which just so happens to be "Pearl" from Janis Joplin.  Released in 1971.  I know songs from this album, but if I have listened to this entire album, I don't remember how long ago that was.  Let's get into this.

First Track:  Move Over
Start:  Really strong start.  A driving snare beat which meshes well with Joplin's captivating voice.  Lyrics are strong also.

Best Attribute:  the combination of blues, folk, jazz and rock.

Worst Attribute:  Not really sure what I should put here.  I would say perhaps that her voice sounds the same in every song, but with each song carrying different hits of blues, folk, jazz and rock, it still sounds different (which is good!)

Best Song:  Half-Moon - A very jazzy, fast-swing, type of accompaniment makes this song amazing.

Worst Song: Mercedes Benz. Go figure, one of the songs I have heard endlessly is the worst on this album.  Too preachy without some of the musicality of the other songs.

Most Interesting Song:  Cry Baby - The song sounds like it is supposed to be a really slow song, but isn't.

Most Interesting Quality:  The guitar solos interspersed into many of the songs.  High quality playing, rhythm, sound - just everything about the guitar solos hits.

Would I listen again: Definitely, and I enjoyed the entire album more than I thought I might.

Who would I like to Re-Make/Re-Imagine this Album:  Mariah Carey.  It would bring the album a completely different feel, but I want quality re-imagination, not just an impersonation.

Rolling Stone Ranking:  259

My Current Ranking:  2

Projected Final Ranking:  211

Top 500 Albums of All-Time

1.  Love Deluxe, Sade

2.  Pearl, Janis Joplin

3.  Ramones, The Ramones

4.  Beyonce, Beyonce

5.  John Prine, John Prine

Rolling Stones' Top 500 Albums of All-Time - BEYONCE' by Beyonce'

  

This review is number 81, Beyonce's Self-titled album Beyonce', released in 2013.  I can honestly tell  you I have not heard this album in its entirety, although of course I have heard the hits before.

First Track:  Pretty Hearts
Start:  Interesting little musical crescendo into the start of the lyrical opening lines.

Best Attribute:  Lots of variations of styles and tempos within many of the songs.  Production is amazing.

Worst Attribute:  Some very boring, worn-out trite lyrics and sayings.

Best Song:  Mine - Her voice is amazing, the beats are great, and the background vocals are outstanding.  I also really enjoyed Heaven.

Worst Song:  Angel - Very breathy and weird.

Most Interesting Song:  Jealous - With all of the production in this album, this song emphasizes Beyonce's voice.

Most Interesting Quality:  The production - beats, instruments, etc.   That is what makes this album.

Would I listen again: Yes, not often, but yes.

Who would I like to Re-Make/Re-Imagine this Album:  Total.  Imagine Beyonce, but three of them.  (Not saying everyone on Total is Beyonce, but the trio should put an extra something into this album that Beyonce' physically cannot as one person.

Rolling Stone Ranking:  81

My Current Ranking:  3

Projected Final Ranking:  399

Top 500 Albums of All-Time

1.  Love Deluxe, Sade

2.  Ramones, The Ramones

3.  Beyonce, Beyonce

4.  John Prine, John Prine

Rolling Stones Top 500 Albums of All-Time - LOVE DELUXE by Sade

 

The random number generator gave my number 247, which is Love Deluxe by Sade from 1992.  This album is fantastic, and I am so excited to listen to it again.  This came out in college, and I loved it then, and have listened to it in its entirety dozens of times.

First Track:  No Ordinary Love
Start:  An amazing start to the album.  A sensual, rhythmic beat, with equal lyrics, and Sade's sultry voice.  Think Enigma, but with soft guitar and drum.

Best Attribute:  Lots of songs with beats that seem equally fast, and slow - at the same time.  

Worst Attribute:  I couldn't really pick one out.

Best Song:  No Ordinry Love - Other songs are great, but there is a reason this is the defining track of this album.

Worst Song:  Pearls - Not a bad song, just the worst of this album.  I did really like the cymbals in this song, though.

Most Interesting Song:  I Couldn't Love You More - The clapping in the background was very interesting, and a differing characteristic of the rest of the songs on the album.

Most Interesting Quality:  The mix of instrumentation in the various songs; drums, cymbals, piano, guitar, clapping.

Would I listen again: Hell Yeah!

Who would I like to Re-Make/Re-Imagine this Album:  Alicia Keys

Rolling Stone Ranking:  247

My Current Ranking:  1

Projected Final Ranking:  98

Top 500 Albums of All-Time

1.  Love Deluxe, Sade

2.  Ramones, The Ramones

3  John Prine, John Prine