Psy-Fi

N.A.S.A. - The Spirit of Apollo

I've never been much of a fan of all-star collaboration songs or albums and this one is no exception. It started out on an interesting note with "The People Tree" but just seemed to get rather pedestrian after that. A couple of other songs stood out to me ("Way Down," & "There's A Party") but overall the album just seemed mediocre at best. Other than the three songs I've mentioned, I don't see myself returning to this one for another listen. It wasn't awful but it just didn't grab my attention and make me want to revisit it.

5/10

__________________

She's a Brick House

TechnicLePanther

N.A.S.A. - The Spirit of Apollo

This album has it's ups and downs, but generally it's what I hoped the new Gorillaz album would be like. Therefore, it's gotta get some props. "Gifted" is my favorite track, not by a whole lot though. There are a lot of great artists on here, Kanye, Byrne, and Waits sound great on this album, and most of the other features are great as well. In a couple places the album falters, but generally it's pretty good.

8/10

On my list of favorite albums (of all I've heard since coming up with the concept), it goes here:

The Sonics - Here Are The Sonics!!
N.A.S.A. - The Spirit of Apollo
Naked City - Radio

__________________
Many have tried to destroy it... but... true evil never dies. It is only... REBORN

SUGGEST ME AN ALBUM - I'm probably not going to listen to it but I will if you bother me enough.

OccultHawk

NASA

The David Byrne tracks had everything but a decent melody for him to sing around. A sad waste of talent. The songs start with respectable hooks but suffer from lackluster performances from the stars. Way Down is a standout track. Barbie Hatch's Hypertrophic Heart is worth checking out. Wu Tang without profanity or hypnotic sonic back drops. I dislike Sizzla and he doesn't surprise. To be fair this isn't the type of album that I would usually try to swallow all at once, occasionally fun but never hits a stride. Compares unfavorable to the Bootsy Collins record. 2/5 stars.

djchameleon

N.A.S.A. - The Spirit of Apollo

I have listened to this album years ago. Over the course of the week, I ended up giving it three replays. My favorite listening session was while I was cleaning. The length of the album was great for that similar to how I listened to Bootsy's album. I wanted a bit more mixture of South American beats than I got. There is a lovely section in the middle of the album that has great tracks back to back. It started from Strange Enough then onward. My favorite is definitely Gifted. I've heard a great remix of that track before ever listening to the album version. I saw that other albums were released. So I will tackle that catalog of albums soon. I would give it a 3.5/5. A very strong like and has decent replay value.

__________________

Fame, fortune, power, titties. People say these are the most crucial things in life, but you can have a pocket full o' gold and it doesn't mean sh*t if you don't have someone to share that gold with. Seems simple. Yet it's an important lesson to learn. Even lone wolves run in packs sometimes.

Aloysius

N.A.S.A. - The Spirit of Apollo

I only have time for a brief review - some good stuff but not a coherent overall vision. Too often the hip hop side of things lacked teeth and the funk side of things lacked syncopation, at other times it worked well. Possibly I'd make a playlist out of my favorite tracks on here but won't keep it in the library.
6/10

Pet_Sounds

Can I jump in for the next couple of weeks?

__________________
Everybody's dying just to get the disease

Trollheart

Return to sender: I did not order this. Not known at this address.
You mean to comment or to suggest an album?

__________________
Trollheart: Signature-free since April 2018

Pet_Sounds

I don't expect to choose an album, as I've been away so long. Additionally, I'll only be active for a couple of weeks, then I'm off again. But if the rules allow me to, then by all means I will.

__________________
Everybody's dying just to get the disease

Trollheart

I got to be honest, when I saw the album title I was thinking another Bootsy. That's not necessarily bad, but what I ended up with was a superb, engaging and interesting album that really has no bad tracks. I mean, I've listened to it seven times now and every time I just want to hit repeat when I get to the end.

1. What were your VERY FIRST impressions on listening to the album, say from the first five minutes in?
Hey this is instrumental. Not so much funk, more world music I'd say, but I love it.

2. What did you think of the opening track?
Sounded very Indian, or maybe Arabic, not sure. The percussion was great. Really hypnotic.

3. What did you think of the next track?
This has vocals and is, if possible, better than the opener.

4. Did you like the vocalist? Hate him/her? Any impressions?*(see note 1)
There were several, but I liked them all.

5. Did the music (only) generally appeal to you, or not?*(see note 2)
Goddamn, yes.

6. Did the album get better or worse as you listened to it (first time)?
Just kept getting better. Great as the opening tracks are I think it really hits its stride about halfway, from “Nanny Jee” on.

7. What did you think of the lyrical content?
I kind of concentrated on the music more. Not sure what the lyrics were to be honest but that didn't detract from my enjoyment of the album.

8. Did you like the instrumental parts?*(see note 3)
Oh yeah. Fantastic.

9. What did you think of the production?
Seems clean ?

10. Did you know of this artiste prior to listening to the album, and if so, did that foreknowledge colour your perception of this album?
Never 'eard of him.

11. Is this, generally, the kind of music you listen to or not?
Usually, no, but I'd certainly be prepared to hear more of this.

12. Assuming you listened to the album more than once, on repeated listens, did you find you liked the album more, or less?
I loved it more with each listen. The first album here, I think, that I may listen to AFTER the review is done, just for pleasure.

13. What would you class as your favourite track(s), if you have any?
Everything, but especially “Nanny Jee”, “Iceberg”, “Booja”, “The mighty Atlas”

14. And the one(s) you liked least?
Not a single one

15. If the album in question is a debut, did that fact allow it, in your mind, any leeway, and if so, was that decision justified or vindicated?*(see note 4)
n/a

16. Are you now looking forward to hearing more from this artiste, if you have not heard any of their other material?
Very much so

17. Were you surprised by your reaction - positive or negative - to the album?
I was, but I'm beginning to trust Psy more on his recs.

18. Did the album end well?
Two short instrumentals ended it very well. Okay, the last wasn't exactly an instrumental, more a chant, but still great.

19. Do you see any way the album could have been improved?
Impossible

20. Do you think the album hung together well, ie was a fully cohesive unit, or was it a bit hit-and-miss?
I found it hung together very well.

Happy to give this my first 10/10

__________________
Trollheart: Signature-free since April 2018

Frownland

Shawn Lee's Ping Pong Orchestra - World of Funk

What more can really be said about this album? It's a fun funk record that isn't the most innovative but the inclusion of world music certainly added a flavour to it that moved it past pretty neat background music to something I might throw on once in a while. I think that it would have been stronger as an instrumental album, but that's just personal preference since the vocals don't weigh down the music at all, they just don't seem necessary to me and a little extra spotlight on the instrumentals is always welcome. I'll go with a 7/10.

__________________

Studies show that when a given norm is changed in the face of the unchanging, the remaining contradictions will parallel the truth.