View Album
Fri Sep 25 2020
All That You Can't Leave Behind
U2
2
View Album
Mon Sep 28 2020
Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band
Beatles
5
View Album
Wed Sep 30 2020
Phaedra
Tangerine Dream
Not typically my type of music (70s German electronic!) but found myself more interested than I thought I'd be.
Synthesisers at that time de-tuned themselves quickly as you played, and so they wrote this into the first song (Phaedra). The second was completed by the frontman (Edgar Froese) on his own one night with his wife recording and no other members.
FFs: Soundtrack to Bandersnatch (Black Mirror); Froese and Bowie lived together for a spell and influenced each other.
4
View Album
Thu Oct 01 2020
Among The Living
Anthrax
There are catchy riffs, I guess. From a general standpoint I struggle to get behind this genre, and this album did not seem to show me anything different to what I've already heard.
2
View Album
Fri Oct 02 2020
Iron Maiden
Iron Maiden
Pleasantly surprised. This was their first album and, whilst still hard rock, there was restraint and control here. Can’t fully get behind the genre still, but stronger than I thought it would be and I’m still thinking of some of the tracks the next day.
3
View Album
Mon Oct 05 2020
From Elvis In Memphis
Elvis Presley
Fantastic album. Was trying to choose favourite songs, but they were all brilliant. Southern soul sound.
FSs: (All), Suspicious Minds, In The Ghetto, Long Black Limousine, Only The Strong Survive, True Love Travels On a Gravel Road
5
View Album
Tue Oct 06 2020
Darkdancer
Les Rythmes Digitales
This was unlistenable. Naff, artless, annoying, repetitive trash
1
View Album
Wed Oct 07 2020
Beach Samba
Astrud Gilberto
This is the voice behind "The Girl from Ipanema". And there is A LOT of soft samba here. The best part of this record is the band: the flute (especially in the first track) is controlled and animated, and brings a lot of colour to what is, largely, an exceptionally dull listen.
The songs themselves deal with nothing of real depth; the "Parade" song is particularly bizarre. I looked for some contrast in some of these songs (e.g. Perhaps this is a sombre idea of everything being a parade, whilst the singer looks on, unfeeling), but it's a reach. This is really just a collection of inoffensive rhythm.
Unfortunately, whilst she undeniably has a beautiful voice, listening to (even just) 35 minutes of it is very dull. There was no variation in there, no colour. Just that dreamy, wavey, beautifully accented patter. It works for a song or two, but dries up quickly.
"You Didn't Have to be So Nice" is a duet recorded with one of her children. Naff.
FSs: Misty Roses
2
View Album
Thu Oct 08 2020
The Black Saint And The Sinner Lady
Charles Mingus
I can’t claim to know much about jazz at all. Especially not avant-garde, experimental jazz like this. But I loved this album so much.
It’s an album where you just give yourself over to the way the music feels. It teases you with a reprise that you think you’re familiar with, then beats you round the head with a horn section for getting too comfortable. It has moments of delicacy and beauty, and of utter stormy cacophonous noise.
Putting aside the stories about Mingus (aggressive, violent bugger, essentially) it feels like these people are all playing for their lives. Quite a thing to behold
5
View Album
Tue Oct 13 2020
Slanted And Enchanted
Pavement
This album is lauded by music critics and is often in ‘Top Albums of All Time’ lists. It sounds a little like prototypical Strokes. It’s essentially early indie rock. And usually I’d enjoy that; I just couldn’t enjoy this. No catchy riffs, meaningless lyrics... just felt very little.
FS: Summer Babe
2
View Album
Wed Oct 14 2020
Let's Stay Together
Al Green
4
View Album
Thu Oct 15 2020
Nothing's Shocking
Jane's Addiction
Schlocky crap
1
View Album
Fri Oct 16 2020
There's A Riot Goin' On
Sly & The Family Stone
4
View Album
Mon Oct 19 2020
Damaged
Black Flag
2
View Album
Tue Oct 20 2020
The Genius Of Ray Charles
Ray Charles
Great album. Preferred the back half of more piano-based ballads to the first brass band stuff
4
View Album
Mon Oct 26 2020
Straight Outta Compton
N.W.A.
5