This is such a strange album; Tom Jones doing dance music is pretty normal, because he seems to really enjoy doing dance music (I saw him live a couple of times and I promise you he seemed to be having the time of his life singing songs like Sex Bomb), but at the same time, this is not totally dance but some kind of early-90s hybrid? Very R&B influenced, I feel. And that is actually where this album is at its best. His voice is as awesome as ever. Dude could belt out a tune like no other. And I would argue he probably still could.
Highlights: I Wanna Get Back With You, Lift Me Up, If I Only Knew, I Don't Think So
6.5/10
Lean Into It - Mr. Big
Sadly, this is only Green-Tinted Sixties Mind. Amazing song. Paul Gilbert has become one of my favourite guitarists to follow on social media - both skill-wise and personality - so I really need to check out more Mr. Big.
10/10
The Legend - Johnny Cash
A strange career-spanning compilation; instead of being completely in chronological order, it instead chooses themes for each disc and then going chronological. And completely skips all the "American" recordings. The first disc is just the "hits". As you can well imagine, these songs are all very good and is some of the most important country music. I, personally, enjoy it most when he is doing a bit of storytelling - songs like Folsom Prison Blues and One Piece at a Time. Disc 2 is like the 'singles that were not quite as big as the stuff on the first disc'. And I actually kind of prefer a lot of this; the 50s stuff is much more of the rockabilly variety, which I am a fan of. The third disc is "traditional" American songs or whatever. Everyone wants to sing a song about Frankie and Johnny, huh? This disc just reinforces his 50s work being his best, although it stops being chronological about halfway through. Disc 4 is collaborations. Just a random mix all over the show - mostly with his wife or other members of the Carter family. Not Beyoncé, thankfully. Shiiiz I ain't afraid of you mofos! I need to hear more Highwaymen, honestly. Kris Kristofferson was a real one. Johnny Cash did some pretty decent gospel at times. But this really needed tracks from the "American" recordings. Someone get me a box set of that nonsense, please.
Highlights: Folsom Prison Blues, Daddy Sang Bass, A Boy Named Sue, One Piece at a Time, Cry Cry Cry, Luther Played the Boogie, Dark as a Dungeon, Casey Jones,
7/10
Lemon Parade - Tonic
I thought for sure this came out in like 98, because I remember having to hear If You Could Only See on the radio all the time around then. But then, it does kind of sound like typical mid-90s radio rock, so the 1996 release does kind of track. Also, I wanted to say mean things about that song, but it is actually better than I remember. These dudes have their moments (but only moments).
Highlights: Soldier's Daughter, Open Up Your Eyes, Casual Affair, If You Could Only See
6.5/10
"Albums" listened to so far: 955
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