T. Rex, Electric Warrior (side A)

Canonical and iconic albums can sometimes be the hardest to write about, and everyone has listened countless times to 1971's Electric Warrior, so it's hard to add new perspective.  The biggest thing that surprised me, on this listen, was just how little drive and energy the performances really have.  The drums tend to lag slightly, and the snare sounds soft and friendly with little punch.  String arrangements on songs like "Tiny Dancer" add a lyrical sentimentality that blends into the background only because it sounds so familiar.  Marc Bolan's vocals are full of charisma and personality, but they also sound like he's whispering.  Sometimes Bolan's guitars bring attitude, and they can employ exaggerated distortion, but they're also often smeared into the canvas of a subtler and more spacious mix.  Even the Hipgnosis cover design is immediately recognizable, and adds to the album's canonical and almost unapproachable air — it also looks great, and emphasizes the attitude that's sometimes buried in the mixes.