There's a Riot Goin' On

I appreciate the artistic risk-taking even if the result is a bit of a mess. There are kernels of good ideas scattered throughout but nothing is developed enough to really land. Frustrating because you can hear the potential.

Decent album with a handful of really excellent tracks. The problem is the material between those peaks isn't compelling enough to hold your attention. Worth cherry-picking the highlights for a playlist.

The arrangements here are stunning. You can tell real care went into every detail.

I wanted this to be better than it is. The ingredients are all there — the talent, the ambition, the production budget — but it never quite gels into something greater than the sum of its parts. Still a pleasant enough listen though.

I remember exactly where I was when I first heard this and how it made me feel. Very few albums create that kind of indelible memory. The craft on display here is extraordinary but it never feels cold or calculated — there's real heart behind every note.