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Judas Priest — Sad Wings Of Destiny | DeRank™: 0,31

Stunning album, with the band making a significant leap in quality compared to their debut, which was not bad but still quite immature. As far as I'm concerned, it's among the best Hard Rock albums I've ever listened to, and even more so, I consider it one of those albums capable of surpassing the barriers of categorization and the boundaries of genres, an album appreciated beyond one's own "musical current" of belonging. Here, the Judas draw inspiration from this and that (a bit from the usual rock giants of the early '70s - Led/Purple and their ilk, a touch of the best Queen, the finest melodic refined pop/songwriting/electro-acoustic croonerism/a sprinkling of melodic ideas or musical concepts close to a certain "prog" taste of the more "romantic") but they have the merit of blending it into a concoction that is entirely their own, doing so with great inspiration in songwriting, eclecticism, and sophistication, as well as a masterful balance of aggression, melancholy, and dramatic flair. In doing so, they themselves throw collected (and often exaggeratedly misinterpreted) insights from a multitude of other bands from the following decade onward ("Tyrant," for example, is clearly a pre-cursor to Maiden, citing perhaps the most capable disciples, even in beautiful melodic, vocal, and guitar taste). "Victims of Changes" and "Epitaph" (written solely by Tipton - like the theatrical rock gem that is "The Ripper") are my favorites, but there's not a second wasted here. more
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Rush — rush | DeRank™: 0,48

First album for Rush, by the way without Peart on drums (played by one John Rutsey); practically a duo (Lee-Lifeson) + 1. A very conventional hard rock album, played by two musicians with unquestionable high technical skill (already here it's a pleasure to hear Geddy's bass, not so much to hear his voice that's like a chicken being strangled) but very green when it comes to ideas, personal style, and songwriting. Sometimes they venture into territories that seem like lesser apocryphal Led Zeppelin in tone (definitely) minor, and Lee seems to be an awkward cross between Plant and a car alarm siren; in other songs (I’m thinking of his singing in "Finding My Way") he instead comes off as a spiritual guide for future generations of sharp-beaked hard/metal poultry, and it’s hard rock that is very much rooted in those coordinates (and without reaching the level of the best hard 'n' roll of bands like, I don't know, AC/DC from the immediately following years). It’s not a bad album, no, in fact there are nice things to be found in "Here Again" (a good Hard-Rock-Blues track which is indeed a lesser apocryphal of Led but more than respectable) or in the long instrumental introduction of "Before and After," where Lee prefers to let his bass sing for a couple of minutes, a very commendable choice, thank you. A fundamental piece was missing for the birth of the "true" Canadian trio, this is a decent but lukewarm introduction. more
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Mazzucca
Mazzucca

Guns N' Roses | DeRank™: -0,48

Maurizio Ganz & Rozez more
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Il Tarantiniano
Il Tarantiniano

Joey Ramone | DeRank™: 0,00

God more
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Tom Waits — Foreign Affairs | DeRank™: 2,46

Being squeezed between two albums that I consider the two best of early Waits (pre-Trombonepescespada, in short), one sometimes forgets, as I have myself, how beautiful "Foreign Affairs" is; indeed, it is probably the album in which Waits most explicitly expresses, up to that point, all the load of inspirations and cultural baggage he has carried throughout his life and in his songs: the love for the authors and figures of Beat literature, which always echo in his songwriting, the old folk songs of various origins, the old black-and-white crime-noir films ("Potter's Field" with arrangements and music by Bob Alcivar is a spoken recitation that more than ever transports us into one of those old films, with lyrics that become noir literature, a small masterpiece even to be read while listening); then, it's called "minor," but even here, Waits, lightening his ogre-like voice compared to the tones of "Small Change," for a more elegant and refined album than its predecessor, needs very little to create masterpieces: a shaving cream brand becomes a shattered dream of escape towards a city that will never be reached, a sweet lullaby turns into a heart-wrenching toast to memories and recollections; then gems like the elegant duet (another novelty) with Bette Midler. Being squeezed between two masterpieces does not prevent "Foreign Affairs" from being a very, very beautiful album. more
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rafssru
rafssru

Raffaello | DeRank™: 0,00

0. Gigi D'Alessio in comparison is Pino Daniele! more
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vasbam
vasbam

Stephan Micus — Implosions | DeRank™: 0,00

Masterpiece in my opinion. more
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rafssru
rafssru

Osanna | DeRank™: 0,00

A Hosanna to the Hosannas, Palepoli above all, but to be known at least as far as Suddance. more
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nicpagano3000
A delicate and highly refined arabesque. Two minutes and forty-five seconds of absolute vocal virtuosity. more
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MatteoPaolino29
MatteoPaolino29

Little Simz | DeRank™: 0,00

In my opinion, leaving aside Lauryn Hill, Simbi, despite her young age, can be considered the greatest rapper of all time.
Her music blends orchestral Hip Hop (with deep old school references) with Neo-Soul, Kuti-style Afrobeat with Jazz, and R&B sprinkled with Trap and Electronica.
With her masterpieces (particularly "Sometimes I Might Be Introvert"), she has brought a breath of fresh air, modernity, class, and profound truth to the genre.
What can be said about her live performances... An authentic stage animal!
Energy, temperament, character, personality.
GODDESS. more
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SandRock
SandRock

Timo Tolkki | DeRank™: 0,00

Guitarist not necessarily counted among the innovators, but possessing a decent technique in the power/neoclassical realm and a compositional orientation that, combined with the talents of capable bandmates, has produced some good genre albums, especially in the '90s. As happens to many musicians in the heavy metal area, he has always remained within certain boundaries, so if you like it, you like it, and if you don't, it’s hard to change your mind. How many hard and heavy artists can be accused of stylistic stagnation? Many too many... more
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albix73
It's how a romantic song should be, melodic yet not trivial... more
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Stevenstar66
Albu
Great debut album from this Polish band of the 70s more
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Stevenstar66
Band highly appreciated in Germany and Poland, excellent 70s sound. more
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Martello
Martello

Niccolò Fabi — Meno per meno | DeRank™: 2,79

A donut with a perfect hole... more
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MatteoPaolino29
MatteoPaolino29

Marvin Pontiac | DeRank™: 0,00

Between the U.S.A and Africa radiates this mix of Blues, Jazz, and Rock brought forth by the imaginary "Marvin Pontiac," born in 1932 to a Jewish mother (from New York) and an African father (Mali), and who died, hit by a bus, in 1977. Behind this fictitious project, skillfully crafted, lies the genius of John Lurie: actor, painter, and above all, the renowned musician, founder and leader of "The Lounge Lizards" (1979). With his deep, gritty voice, as dark as pitch, the puppeteer Lurie (amid marimbas, saxophones, shekeres, and trombones) weaves the threads of a vivid fresco of the desolate, nocturnal New York alleys, the infamous neighborhood bars flooded with whiskey, and, parallelly, the ancestral Mother Earth Africa. A masterpiece! more
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Martello
Not everything I would have wanted to know about sex but never dared to ask, but recommended for those who want to know about sex but have never dared to ask. more
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MatteoPaolino29
MatteoPaolino29

Erykah Badu | DeRank™: 0,05

It's difficult to express in just a few lines my immense and boundless love for my favorite artist, so I will limit myself to providing some evocative yet effective guiding coordinates for most.
Erykah Badu is undoubtedly the most important Black artist of the '90s, the boldest and most eclectic priestess carrying the banners of Neo-Soul.
Her music is an explosive mix of Soul, Jazz, Hip Hop, and Funk with a splash of Reggae and Trip Hop.
Her gaze at the past (Billie Holiday, Nina Simone, Stevie Wonder, Chaka Khan) never ceases to be oriented towards the future, to experimentation and innovation.
Shivers and soul vibrations that show no signs of diminishing with each repeated listen.
No. 1 Absolute❤. more
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MatteoPaolino29
MatteoPaolino29

Annabel Lee | DeRank™: 0,00

The haunting and melancholic Night-Club Jazz repertoire meets, in a dreamlike way, the evocative sweetness of Contemporary Folk. In dusty rooms with an ancient flavor, memories of Ella Fitzgerald, Billie Holiday, Nina Simone, Sara Vaughn, and even Beth Gibbons come to life. Dark Jazz, Contemporary Folk, Soul & Ambient. Deification. more
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MatteoPaolino29
MatteoPaolino29

Micah P. Hinson | DeRank™: 0,00

Immense artist endowed with great sensitivity, deep poetry, and heartfelt passion. Magnificent voice, beautiful soul. more
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