Not even halfway through most of the tracks, I found my finger hovering over the skip button. But the vocals are not the problem here — this album mostly does Tomlinson's voice justice since he spends most tracks singing softly and gently, giving his voice a delicate, wind-chime-like feel. He's talented, sure, and intriguingly enigmatic. The thoughts expressed are those of the author(s). But at least they're not as unforgettable as some of the other songs on this tracklist. I stand by that analysis. The roots of influence are all too clear on Styles' debut album, from Pink Floyd ("Meet Me in the Hallway"), Elton John ("Woman"), the Rolling Stones ("Carolina"), and The Beatles ("Sweet Creature") to David Bowie, Blur, and The Verve ("Sign of the Times") — whereas "Fine Line" has shades of the greats, but sounds definitively like Styles himself. And sure, while it does feature one of the most famous songs ever written, the rest of the record is largely dispensable, if entertaining: a series of loose piano ballads about how much smarter John Lennon is than everyone else. It’s impossible not to view Double Fantasy through the lens of Lennon’s death — he died a mere three weeks after its release. So consider that a warning straight from the horse’s mouth. Michelle Rennex, Culture It’s Time To Admit That JoJo Siwa Has Actually Always Been An Icon Time Takes Time was officially positioned as a comeback record for the increasingly disliked Beatle, and it received better reviews than anything he’d released in about two decades. McCartney never really found his feet in the ’90s, and Off The Ground is one of his most lost records; a confused jumble of electronica and new wave crooning. But really, I think he needs to collaborate with and follow the lead of experienced songwriters who can deliver — maybe he should DM Jack Antonoff, Taylor Swift, or Finneas O'Connell. by Within the more than 60 and often deeply polarising Beatles solo records are a … Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on YouTube. Ever notice those folks who are convinced Lennon was far and away the genius of the Beatles rarely mention he released a song called ‘Tight A$’? If you can get past the distractingly try-hard lettering of its tracklist ("BoRdErSz?" No wonder it’s the favourite record of retired yoga instructors the world over. Insider's music team (reporter Callie Ahlgrim and celebrity and music editor Courteney Larocca) teamed up with freelance editor Paige DiFiore, another One Direction enthusiast, to rank the former boy banders' eight solo albums. Some are good, some are great, and a lot are downright terrible. Classic albums, classic songs, a platform that would launch some of the most memorable solo careers in rap history, a Hulu TV series and one of the most recognizable brands in pop culture. “What an opener! Stylistic consistency isn't necessarily bad. The album starts with "Kill My Mind," which sounds like it should be playing at the beginning of an early-aughts film, like "A Cinderella Story.". Bridgerton’s Most Controversial Scene Showcases The Series’ Mishandling Of Consent And Race The album itself is terrible, of course, but that rollout is kinda nice. Soily is a great encore and only availble here, or as a B-Side to the somewhat improved Maybe I'm Amazed. “Although Bad Boy was meant to reverse this trend, Starr’s fortunes dwindled further.” As dependable as an old swing, as essential as a third wheel. But time has been astonishingly kind to the record. As daggy as a pair of khaki pants. McCartney has never topped anything like ‘Ram On’ or ‘Heart Of The Country’, both of which are as beautiful and as humane as anything he wrote while a member of the Fab Four. A leading-edge research firm focused on digital transformation. The Beatles: Their 10 best solo albums ranked, from Flaming Pie to Imagine. Style: Hard Rock, Pop … Listen, the late ’80s were tough for everyone. No one in the history of the universe has released a record of early rock and roll covers that doesn’t deserve to be immediately slung into the bin, and Lennon’s half-hearted attempt at this deeply cursed, deeply boring tradition is no exception. Despite writing a number of their best songs (‘Here Comes The Sun’ amongst them), Harrison was always underrated during the Beatles’ tenure, pigeonholed as “the quiet one”. It won’t change your world, of course, but it’s perfectly suited for a lazy Sunday morning. “Although Bad Boy was meant to reverse this trend, Starr’s fortunes dwindled further.”. To which I say: wrong. Claire Keenan, TV I'm usually not one for upbeat, club music — and "First Time" is not revolutionary, nor particularly clever — but the EP is catchy and fun and I played it on loop for months after it was released. Every inch of it trembles. "), I'm going to just keep blissfully bopping to his "First Time" EP and pretending this album does not exist. By the late ’80s, when Vertical Man was released, Starr’s already obnoxious voice had been weathered into near obliteration. — Callie Ahlgrim, Best songs: "BeFour," "Intermission: Flower," "Wrong," "Lucozade," "Tio," "Like I Would", Worst songs: "Fool For You," "Blue," "Bright," "She Don't Love Me". ), this album is freckled with moments of brilliance. Insider named it No. Louis Tomlinson, Liam Payne, Harry Styles, Niall Horan, and Zayn Malik were famously cobbled together by Simon Cowell after they auditioned individually for "The X-Factor." He also recorded 34 solo albums, of which A, a quintet session recorded in 1955, is arguably the best. 25. 27 November 2020, 20:00. Michelle Rennex, Celebrity This is Starr at his most lowkey, which also means Starr at his easiest to ignore. Malik treads much of the same terrain that he did on his debut album, "Mind of Mine," without enough growth or fresh material to keep the experience interesting. The 10 Best Solo Albums by Former Boy Band Members By Daniella Boik March 10, 2020 | 11:15am The 60 Best Albums of the 1960s By Paste Music Staff January 2, 2020 | 10:45am Happy Birthday, John Lennon! But its biggest flaw is its bland familiarity. This is the record to shove in the face of anybody who tries to tell you that Paul McCartney was nothing but a soulless pop machine. This trio of experimental records were released separately, but are far too weak and limp to stand on their own. However, "Heartbreak Weather" is far from perfect. Muddled and slapdash, Somewhere In England is notable for featuring Harrison’s most public display of grief over the death of his bandmate John Lennon via the song ‘All Those Years Ago’. That intensity doesn’t let up, either: every song is essential, and brutal, and beautiful. The framework of "Icarus Falls" suggests that Malik fancies himself as an experimental, high-concept artist. Yes, that Car Seat Headrest-obsessed dude that you met at your mate’s party will have the nerve to tell you that Ringo Starr is underrated. ‘Ebony and Ivory’ is absolute rubbish, and everybody who ever loved it should be perpetually ashamed of themselves. Or maybe it's that a Christmas song, "All I Want (For Christmas)," was shoved onto the end of it. The tracklist flows so gracefully for having such variety; early singles like "Watermelon Sugar" and "Lights Up" set the funky and triumphant tone, while Styles lets himself get a bit weirder on the tracklist's second half, soaking in '70s slow burners ("She," "Fine Line"), beachy dancehall ("Sunflower, Vol. Sure, some people still like to take the piss of this thing’s bucolic pleasures, but time has only strengthened its majesty. ‘When We Were Fab’ is as sweet as ‘Here Comes The Sun’, in its own way. By Daniella Boik | March 10, 2020 | 11:15am. A Paul McCartney record that barely features Paul McCartney, Wings At The Speed Of Sound is a pleasant reminder that Denny Laine was always the secret weapon of Wings. Image Source: The Beatles Magical Mystery tour via Parlophone Music Sweden used under Creative Commons Licence 3.0, Culture The 25 Best Soundtrack Albums of the 1990s Sonic Youth, Mudhoney Members Unearth Stooges Cover Recorded in 1997 Thurston Moore Shares ‘Cantaloupe’ Off Upcoming Solo Album It's a true middle-of-the-pack album.