Goofle recommended it to me in plug, and I'm glad I listened to him. What is this, anyway? Well, it's a guy with a guitar who sings the cheesiest ghost stories imaginable while supported by some tacky, yet haunting background noises. The result? Quality cheese. It's simple, but so original, and though I do not know exactly what to rate it, it's certainly not below 7 (out of 10, of course).

I give it an 8/10. Also, it's a band. He has his own solo stuff.

It's a guy with a guitar and some friends, then

I described it as the kind of album Leonard Cohen would make if he grew up in a haunted house.

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedi...albumcover.jpg

What's going on --- Marvin Gaye --- Recommended by Surell

This one took me a little by surprise. I'm no big Marvin fan but like everyone I've heard the hits, and I knew two tracks off this, unbeknownst to me. Well, beknownst for one: the title track. I knew I had heard that. The other one was "Mercy mercy me", of which I had heard Robert Palmer's cover.

I have featured this in my journal "Classic albums I have never heard" today, so I'm not gong to go into too much detail here, but just to say this is an incredible album, a concept no less, and says some very brave things for the time. In fact, were the songs not so good and were this Gaye's first album I think that the strong anti-Vietnam war sentiment here might have caused it to have been banned, or at least for Motown to have thought twice about releasing it.

Thankfully that didn't become an issue and we're left with one amazing album that pretty much pulls you by your heartstrings from beginning to end. Great strings section, lovely horns and of course Marvin's soulful gentle voice pleading with us all to be kinder to one another. What more could you want?

Rec rating: 9.5/10

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedi...Lady_cover.jpg
The electric lady --- Janell Monae --- Recommended by DJChameleon and Anteater

Sorry guys but I tried, but I really hated this album. I mean, not just didn't enjoy it but physically hated it. I only got about five tracks in before I had to stop. I don't know how to describe it: I felt like I was being suffocated. I'm no fan of r&b but there is some of it I can listen to but this was just awful imo. It's been a long time since I was unable to finish an album but this was physically hurting me so I had to stop it. Haven't heard anything this bad in a very long while.

Rec rating: 1/10 (and that's only because the opening track was all right...)

Boring album, but 1/10... Harsh much?

Well considering I didn't finish it, had no desire to finish it and that it actually made me feel physically, not sick, but oppressed, I think it's lucky to even get 1! Seriously, I have not disliked an album like this since I heard 19ADD's "Dead river", and that was puke!

I'm not saying it's a terrible album --- obviously at least two well-respected members here rate it --- but it is definitely not something I enjoyed or would consider coming back to. Ever.

What did you dislike about it?

I recommend her far superior debut album Trollheart.