Clocks

I can hear why this was praised at the time — the production was clearly ahead of the curve, and there are a few genuinely innovative moments. But stripped of its historical context, this is a pretty uneven listening experience. The first third is strong, the middle is forgettable, and the back end is a slog. I don't think this is bad by any means, but I do think its reputation has outpaced its actual quality. There are better albums in this genre that get a fraction of the attention. Worth hearing once for context, but I won't be coming back to it.

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.