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good kid, m.A.A.d city

I genuinely don't understand the hype. This was a slog to get through.

good kid, m.A.A.d city

I go back and forth on this — some days it's a 4, some days it's a 4.5. The inconsistency in my own feelings about it probably reflects the slight inconsistency of the album itself. But at its best, this is breathtaking.

DAMN.

The instrumentation is gorgeous throughout. Really well produced.

sealdove80onDAMN.·4.0·4d ago
DAMN.

I respect the ambition but this doesn't work for me.

sub_moon941onDAMN.·2.0·4d ago
DAMN.

This grew on me enormously. What initially seemed messy revealed itself as brilliant.

gull.glow76onDAMN.·3.5·4d ago
DAMN.

The atmosphere this album creates is incredible.

vapor_pilot808onDAMN.·4.0·4d ago
DAMN.

Fine album from a good band. Nothing offensive, nothing transcendent. It sits comfortably in the middle of their discography and that's okay. Not everything needs to be a masterpiece to be worth your time.

fragile-fossil708onDAMN.·3.0·4d ago
DAMN.

I slept on this for way too long. A friend kept recommending it and I kept putting it off, and now I feel like I wasted years not having this in my life. The songwriting is remarkably assured — these aren't the kind of hooks that grab you immediately and then fade. They're the slow-burn kind that embed themselves in your brain and only get stronger over time. The production deserves a lot of credit too. It's detailed without being cluttered, polished without being sterile. There's a warmth to the sound that makes it feel alive and breathing. A few tracks could have been trimmed but honestly that's a minor complaint about an excellent record.

cypher.stride10onDAMN.·4.0·4d ago
DAMN.

Really strong album with only a couple of tracks that don't quite land.

cloudworn85onDAMN.·3.5·4d ago
DAMN.

Overrated in my opinion. There's some good stuff here but not enough.

reef.strange64onDAMN.·1.5·4d ago
Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers

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.

Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers

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.

Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers

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

Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers

Feels self-indulgent in places. Could have been much better with editing.

Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers

I can see why people love this but it didn't grab me the way I expected.

Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers

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

Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers

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.

Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers

I can see why this has its fans but it just doesn't connect with me the way their other work does. The songwriting feels less inspired and the production, while technically impressive, feels a bit sterile. A few standout moments keep it from being a total miss.

Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers

Feels self-indulgent in places. Could have been much better with editing.

Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers

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.