Meat Is Murder

I think this album gets slightly overlooked in discussions about the best of its era, which is a shame because it does so many things right. The arrangements are inventive without being showy, the performances are committed and emotionally present, and the overall arc of the tracklist is really well considered. My only real criticism is that it occasionally feels like it's holding back when it should be going for broke. There are moments where you can sense a bigger, bolder idea lurking just beneath the surface. But what's actually here is still great — a confident, cohesive album that rewards close listening and repeated plays.

Some truly transcendent moments here. A few tracks feel like filler but overall stellar.

Ambitious and mostly successful. A couple of missteps keep it from true perfection.

Lost me about halfway through. The front end is promising though.

A confident, mature work. You can hear the growth from their earlier releases.

Pleasant listening experience but not something I'll return to often.