Jan 13 2021
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Tusk
Fleetwood Mac
Decent tunes, I think this album veers too far into folksy territory for me to appreciate as a cohesive product. The tracks using electric are enjoyable, but the acoustic material just didn't grab me
2
Jan 14 2021
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Blue
Joni Mitchell
Liked this way more than I expected to - rich songwriting and lyrics that drew me in
3
Jan 15 2021
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Madman Across The Water
Elton John
Liked this way more than I expected to - rich songwriting and lyrics that drew me in
3
Jan 16 2021
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Legalize It
Peter Tosh
Love the arrangements on this one. I would enjoy a greater variance in tempos but given this album's intent I can understand why it likes to sit in the groove. Highlights: Legalize It, WHY MUST I CRY
3
Jan 17 2021
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Born In The U.S.A.
Bruce Springsteen
Not jiving with this at all - the compositions are repetitive and at times cheesy due to overusage of the 80s synth sound. Narratives are a bit lifeless.
2
Jan 18 2021
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Figure 8
Elliott Smith
Glad I gave this another listen. While the compositions veer from minor to major, there’s still a cohesiveness to this LP which I think stems from Elliott’s vocals. The lyrics are vague but delivered with enough emotion to carry each song from one to the next. I’m not usually a downtempo acoustic guy, but even the slower compositions here grabbed me.
4
Jan 19 2021
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Ready To Die
The Notorious B.I.G.
Great interplay between the simple but alluring beats and Biggie's great flows. Lyrics are surpisingly hooky for what I expect a typical rap album to be, there's the usual boasting and explicit content but it's delivered with such authenticity that you can't help but be drawn in.
4
Jan 20 2021
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Dusty In Memphis
Dusty Springfield
Some good ones on here but most compositions were a bit overlong/not varied enough to hold my interest. An interesting genre mix though
2
Jan 21 2021
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Live At The Regal
B.B. King
Great energy for a live album, but felt the tracks didn’t have enough variation to keep me hooked
2
Jan 22 2021
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Rio
Duran Duran
Good, but not memorable outside the big hits. Some great new wave sounds, though
3
Jan 23 2021
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Parklife
Blur
Not as engaging as their later efforts. Some tracks have a good deal of life to them, but I feel like most are somewhat repetitive and forgettable. Too much straight britpop with sing-song structure
2
Jan 24 2021
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Mr. Tambourine Man
The Byrds
Interesting mix of a little country twang + Beatles-like vocal harmonies and compositions. Not wholly memorable or distinct from other 60s output in the same category but still a good listen
3
Jan 25 2021
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The Blueprint
JAY Z
Great flows and beats. I do think the vocal sampling became somewhat gimmicky but not to the point where it sunk the tracks. Great listen
3
Jan 26 2021
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Maggot Brain
Funkadelic
Good jam album, a whole lot more than just a Sleigh Bells sample. I do feel some of the compositions had more room to grow, but the jams as they are were great and refreshingly experimental
3
Jan 27 2021
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Now I Got Worry
The Jon Spencer Blues Explosion
Who would've thought that the band that wrote Bellbottoms, a song I enjoy immensely, would write other songs that I enjoy immensely.
I can hear so many influences in bands I like coming out of this album - BDoD, VU (inspired by), Autolux even. A great modern garage rock LP
4
Jan 28 2021
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Forever Changes
Love
Just not varied at all - some uptempo compositions but most are slow acoustic ballads that all blend together
1
Jan 29 2021
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The La's
The La's
This one deserves another listen - I loved how fluidly this album moved through genres, and though they didn't always excite me there are definitely tracks worth returning to on this one
3
Jan 30 2021
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Halcyon Digest
Deerhunter
A shame Spotify burnt me out on Revival, this is a great LP that sounds surprisingly modern for being released 14 years ago. I do wish they had leaned in more on the more expansive, wall-to-wall production rather than the standard indie rock fare, but this is still a solid listen through and through.
3
Jan 31 2021
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Gasoline Alley
Rod Stewart
Not vibing with this at all. Bland/repetitive country-esque fare.
1
Feb 01 2021
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Abbey Road
Beatles
Don't know how I called myself a Beatles fan without having given this one a thorough listen. For some reason I thought of this one as disjoint from the rest of their discography, but there's still the narrative whimsy of classic Beatles interspersed throughout. The tension inherent in the creation of this LP is clear as the track lengths thin towards the end, but even these snippets carry a wealth of life and delight.
5
Feb 02 2021
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Femi Kuti
Femi Kuti
This kind of choral long-form jazz is just not my thing
1
Feb 03 2021
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Cut
The Slits
Was not expecting the heavy reggae influence here. Even though I don't think this album comes together for me, a few of the tracks on here are definite bops.
2
Feb 04 2021
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Soul Mining
The The
Some decent new-wave with interesting influences but nothing memorable
2
Feb 05 2021
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Exile On Main Street
The Rolling Stones
Decent LP but no standout tracks really
3
Feb 06 2021
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Hysteria
Def Leppard
I will never understand the unholy fusion of overdriven guitar, cheesy synths, barbershop-quartet vocals, and horny lyrics that is hair metal. Contains two of what are perhaps my least favorite songs of all time ('Love Bites' and 'Pour Some Sugar On Me')
1
Feb 07 2021
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Trafalgar
Bee Gees
Enjoyed this more than I anticipated. There's a definite cheese factor, but it's genuine cheese - the production is polished but the feelings are still raw. Some great and memorable progressions in here.
3
Feb 08 2021
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Raw Like Sushi
Neneh Cherry
Some great energy and messages here, but the tracks could've used some editing -- cut everything by 1-2 min and this would be a much tighter, catchier album
2
Feb 09 2021
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Murder Ballads
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds
Haven't listened to an album this dependent on narrative song structures in a while. Some tracks definitely overlong, but this is an LP meant to be taken in as a whole.
3
Feb 10 2021
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Odessey And Oracle
The Zombies
Me: Mom can we have Sgt. Pepper?
Mom: We have Sgt. Pepper at home
Sgt. Pepper at home:
Enjoyed the psych-tinged 60s/early 70s pop vibes this gave me. 'Time of the Season' is a track that's been on the mental tip of the tongue for a while and the rest of the LP is similarly good.
4
Feb 11 2021
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The Band
The Band
Not digging the bland, Beatles-country-bluegrass-esque fusion here. Nothing memorable on this one.
1
Feb 12 2021
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Songs For Swingin' Lovers!
Frank Sinatra
Show tunes just aren't my thing
2
Feb 13 2021
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Live 1966 (The Royal Albert Hall Concert)
Bob Dylan
Not a Dylan fan
2
Feb 14 2021
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The Pleasure Principle
Gary Numan
Some great synth work here - tracks tend to drag on a bit longer than they should but it's easy to see why this LP was revolutionary
3
Feb 15 2021
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Arise
Sepultura
Think there are some good ideas here but after a while all the chugging sounds the same. Would have loved more exploration of the harmony blending on 'Dead Embryonic Cells' or the solo work on 'Murder.'
2
Feb 16 2021
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Abattoir Blues / The Lyre of Orpheus
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds
Not what I was expecting after Murder Ballads. I loved the uptempo tracks here - reminded me of Lullaby-era QotSA. Think the slow tracks dragged on way too much though
3
Feb 17 2021
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Vivid
Living Colour
This one just did not resonate with me. Though technically impressive, the tracks are all over the place and just do not mesh with one another. There's additionally too much push-and-pull between overlong choruses and indulgent shredding that make the songs 1-2 choruses too long imo.
1
Feb 18 2021
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Here Come The Warm Jets
Brian Eno
While the front half of this album tends to lose the plot in all its production tricks, the back half manages to nail the balance between instrumentation and cohesion. A solid Bowie-esque experimental album all around.
3
Feb 19 2021
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Let It Bleed
The Rolling Stones
A decent fusion of blues, country, and rock - I do think 'Gimme Shelter' promises a wholly different album than the one that follows, but the following tracks are enjoyable for the most part.
3
Feb 20 2021
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Rock 'N Soul
Solomon Burke
Does exactly what it says on the box. A good portion of the songs do follow the same drum pattern, but the emotion here is palpable.
3
Feb 21 2021
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Space Ritual
Hawkwind
Great live rock album. I think one would have to take this in the moment to get the full experience (the out-there interludes don't make for easy listening), but even as a recorded experience the energy and life behind each track is apparent. Reminds me of a prog King Gizzard.
3
Feb 22 2021
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Da Capo
Love
Unsure what to make of this one - absolute rippers ('Seven and Seven Is') among cheesy ballads ('Orange Skies') and extended jam tracks ('Revelation'). I don't know if this stands as an album per se, but the parts themselves are interesting and unique enough to warrant further listening.
3
May 12 2021
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A Love Supreme
John Coltrane
Didn't really grab me, good jazz but nothing memorable.
2
May 13 2021
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Apocalypse Dudes
Turbonegro
Decent hardcore but overly repetitive and smilar-sounding throughout the record.
2
May 14 2021
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Rejoicing In The Hands
Devendra Banhart
Great material for a singer-songwriter album, every song felt unique.
3
May 15 2021
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All That You Can't Leave Behind
U2
I think what's so frustrating about this album is that it could be so much better if the arrangements were allowed to go even a little off the rails. The opening track and 'When I Look At the World' get close, but otherwise the production is so sterile it saps all the fun out and leaves mega-cheesy ballads behind. Sounds like a Keane album.
1
May 16 2021
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Peggy Suicide
Julian Cope
The scope of this project is admirable but it runs into a jack-of-all-trades situation as a result. Any memorable riffs were too buried in the kitchen-sink mix to jump out at me.
2
May 17 2021
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Nevermind
Nirvana
3
May 18 2021
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Spiderland
Slint
Better on a second listen - most of the songs here are slow burns but worth the wait.
3
May 19 2021
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Antichrist Superstar
Marilyn Manson
Surprised by how good the arrangements are on this record. That being said, things tend to get monotonous after a while, and it's hard for things to feel organic with Manson's over-the-top lyrics making everything feel way too on the nose.
2
May 20 2021
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Everything Must Go
Manic Street Preachers
Great indie-rock album. Maintains the classic sound of the late '90s without feeling dated or tired. The more synth-heavy, balladish tracks lose me but most everything on here rocks.
4
May 21 2021
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Pink Flag
Wire
Love this mix of punkish-indie rock. Both the bite-sized and longer tracks alike share a kind of spastic energy reminiscent of acts like Squid or black midi today, and the remaster on this thing is insane - sounds like it could have been recorded today. The sludgey guitar tone that features on many of the tracks is absolutely perfect to boot.
4
May 22 2021
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Brothers In Arms
Dire Straits
I think my problem with Dire Straits has always been the lack of dynamic or structural variation in their tracks. 'Money For Nothing' takes a good riff and then repeats it on end for 8 minutes with few changes, and that just doesn't make for an interesting or engaging song. Also the whole back half of this album sounds like the soundtrack to a chintzy 80s Tom Cruise romance flick verging on porno territory.
2
May 23 2021
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This Is Fats Domino
Fats Domino
Absolutely classic, not a weak track on here. There's no escaping the groove on any of these tracks thanks to the strong instrumentation and lyrics from Fats.
4
May 27 2021
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Clube Da Esquina
Milton Nascimento
Beautifully vibrant album. Every track manages to twist and turn through several variations within 2-3 minutes while maintaining a core sound throughout the LP - it's immediately clear the influence this has had in Melody's Echo Chamber and other dream/psychic rock projects of the like. Amazing that this was recorded in 1972 as well, each instrument is layered so well in the mix it sounds modern as can be.
4
May 28 2021
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At Folsom Prison
Johnny Cash
Absolutely classic, a list of best ofs for Cash coupled with the amazing dialogue between performer and prisoners.
4
May 29 2021
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Sweet Baby James
James Taylor
I can acknowledge that the instrumentation and vocals here are exceptional, but I didn't find anything memorable outside of that in this LP.
2
May 30 2021
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The Last Broadcast
Doves
Interesting melodic ideas here, I just wish they had mixed things up as each song rehashes the same themes over and over rather than going anywhere new or different.
3
May 31 2021
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Veckatimest
Grizzly Bear
Angry I didn't listen to this in full sooner. Brimming with a melancholic energy that permeates the entire LP. The arrangements are dense but discernible, and the shifting natures of the track means there's never a dull moment.
4
Jun 01 2021
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Liege And Lief
Fairport Convention
Great at first, but the arrangements tend to grow a bit stale after 4-5 minutes of repetition
2
Jun 02 2021
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Eternally Yours
The Saints
Standard but solid garage-rock fare.
3
Jun 03 2021
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Odelay
Beck
Definitely some sounds on here that push the indie envelope but the whole slacker-chill vibe wears thin after 5 songs or so
2
Jun 04 2021
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B-52's
The B-52's
I think I would like this more if the vocals weren't so obnoxious and had more dynamics. The sparse arrangements work well but the shouting doesn't
2
Jun 05 2021
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Elephant
The White Stripes
Some ho-hum B-sides and gratuitous noodling here and there can't detract from the absolute classics on this one. A highlight of early '00s rock for sure.
3
Jun 06 2021
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Deja Vu
Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young
The slower tracks tend to drag a little, but the vocal harmonies and compositions still make this album a solid listen.
3
Jun 07 2021
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Violent Femmes
Violent Femmes
The lo-fi recording style, threadbare instrumentation, and frenetic energy of this album all work wonderfully together. Worth another listen just to piece together the themes of sexual frustration and denial that run throughout.
4
Jun 08 2021
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Yoshimi Battles The Pink Robots
The Flaming Lips
There are definite highlights, but the lack of variation in the synths means the whole album washes together into 40 minutes of monotony.
2
Jun 09 2021
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Music For The Jilted Generation
The Prodigy
This album leans heavily on dense breakbeats and the rhythm section as a whole. That's not wholly a bad thing, but a bit more melody would have made everything feel cohesive rather than 1-2 synth lines over percussion.
2
Jun 10 2021
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Roxy Music
Roxy Music
Disappointed in this one - the synth textures on 'Virginia Plain' and the earlier tracks promised an exciting fusion of proto-punk and dance, but afterwards the LP fizzled and hit middle-of-the-road territory for me. Multiple times I got absorbed in other things and then snapped back to the music only to be surprised that a track was /still/ playing, often repeating the same riff I had tuned out on.
2
Jun 11 2021
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Electric Ladyland
Jimi Hendrix
A bit more plain noodling on here than I expected but still a classic in every way. I do think some tracks meander a bit, but the monoliths of "All Along the Watchtower" and "Voodoo Child" make this LP a must for any rock fan.
3
Jun 12 2021
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Fishscale
Ghostface Killah
Some great tracks on here but the production is lacking - even the enjoyable beats wore 1-2 samples thin over the course of a 3-minute track instead of adding in some other instrumentation or melody.
2
Jun 13 2021
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Risque
CHIC
This album works best when it focuses on the uptempo, guitar-driven tracks, but even the slower songs have their place here. It's clear this is an LP to dance to - the track lengths and structures are undeniable in their rhythm and catchiness. Fun to see the building blocks of early House (four on the floor beats, synth-like piano lines, and tight, compressed guitar looped) permeate this album and remember where the samples originally came from.
3
Jun 14 2021
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American Beauty
Grateful Dead
I will never understand how such a mediocre band became so monstrously popular. The tracks here aren't bad, moreso forgettable - there's only so many ways you can arrange a major blues scale and noodle over it. Also some majorly uncomfortable vibes on 'Til the Morning Comes'
1
Jun 15 2021
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Sunshine Superman
Donovan
One trick pony of an album, really. The off-kilter energy of the opener could've sustained a good chunk of varied tracks, but instead we get a slate of bloated ballads that go nowhere quickly.
2
Jun 16 2021
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Bridge Over Troubled Water
Simon & Garfunkel
A lovely album that hits its stride moreso on the uptempo tracks than the broodier ballads. Whether sparse or wall-to-wall in production, the foot-stompers like "Cecilia" have an undeniable genuineness and joy that's hard to find nowadays
3
Jun 17 2021
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Opus Dei
Laibach
A captivating but unconventional listen - hard to pin down a genre on this one as it sways between anthemic orchestral tracks to spoken word to overdriven guitar solos. Definitely an album to be consumed in one sitting, as vocal and instrumental leitmotifs weave the LP into one continous narrative. Need to look at the German to see what the overall message is here, but still an enjoyable listen notwithstanding.
3
Jun 18 2021
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En-Tact
The Shamen
I don't think I've ever listened to an album more reminiscent of the 90s than this one. Some decent melodies and occasional guitar work on here, but it's not enough to escape the LP's datedness or lack of forward momentum.
2
Jun 19 2021
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All Mod Cons
The Jam
Interesting mix of Britpop vocals and more punk-leaning guitars. Slight traces of Sex Pistols here and there, an overall enjoyable listen
3
Jun 20 2021
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Abraxas
Santana
The LP is at its best when it takes on the frantic but freewheeling energy found in 'Se a Cabo' and ;Hope You're Feeling Better,' but often eschews these joyrides for bogged-down noodling and annoyances like 'Oye Como va'
2
Jun 21 2021
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Emergency On Planet Earth
Jamiroquai
As a dance album this is great, for just easy listening it's lacking the variation in tempo and composition to make it more than background music.
2
Jun 22 2021
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For Your Pleasure
Roxy Music
Falls into the same trap as S/T before it - several stunners on here, but buried in between overlong ballads or operatic tracks that well overstay their welcome. Still manages to be much more entertaining overall than its predecessor, though
3
Jun 23 2021
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Five Leaves Left
Nick Drake
This album commits the cardinal sin of being plain boring - while some of the compositions shine, the overall woodland meadow vibe can hardly save the LP given how little vocal range Drake uses.
1
Jun 24 2021
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Merriweather Post Pavilion
Animal Collective
A fantastic synth-filled romp – some definite duds in the tracklist bring this down a bit, but the freewheeling energy that permeates this LP is undeniably infectious. Particularly impressed how well most tracks function with minimal percussion (usually only relying on a handclap) while creating tight rhythms.
3
Jun 25 2021
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Crazysexycool
TLC
The compositions and vocal harmonies are engaging, but without any solo vocal sections the LP feels way too homogenous. Wish it had leaned more into harder rhythms and flows and dropped the interludes as they completely derail the flow of the album
2
Jun 26 2021
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Parsley, Sage, Rosemary And Thyme
Simon & Garfunkel
A much more engaging listen than 'Bridge...' for sure. Dapples in several types of genres and arrangements that create unique, memorable tracks while preserving a sense of unity throughout the LP. Worth another listen for sure.
3
Jun 27 2021
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Like A Prayer
Madonna
Blown away by how little key modulation happens in the span of this album. The vocals and instrumentation for each track are good, but rarely does a song venture outside the 4-chord/Verse-Chorus structure in the starting key. Overall bland
2
Jun 28 2021
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Raising Hell
Run-D.M.C.
Amazing bars, wordplay, and arrangements define this LP. An absolute blast to listen to.
4
Jun 29 2021
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Songs Of Leonard Cohen
Leonard Cohen
The compositions themselves are beautiful, but often last 1 chorus or verse too long. There's an inherent mystery in the progressions, but repetition wrings out any interest before the tracks have ended.
3
Jun 30 2021
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...And Justice For All
Metallica
Even though the guitar tone remains constant throughout the full hour, it works surprisingly well with the brilliantly arranged tracks that make up this album. There's a bit of a slide into monotony near the back half, but still a strong LP nonetheless.
3
Jul 01 2021
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Floodland
Sisters Of Mercy
Includes all of the worst aspects of New Wave - annoying drone vocals, flat compositions, annoying synth choices, and arrangements that go absolutely nowhere
1
Jul 02 2021
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Arthur (Or the Decline and Fall of the British Empire)
The Kinks
Some solid rock tracks on here with interesting arrangement but dragged down by some ho-hum filler in between.
2
Jul 03 2021
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Ritual De Lo Habitual
Jane's Addiction
Contains too many callbacks to 80s hair metal to be enjoyable as a whole, especially the made-for-radio ballads on the back half. Still interesting to see the groundwork being laid for later progressive metal like The Mars Volta, At The Drive In, etc.
2
Jul 04 2021
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Mama's Gun
Erykah Badu
Some great tracks on the front half, disappointing to hear the album turn to repetitive and uninspired ballads on the back. That being said, the astounding mix of R&B/Hip-Hop + production (especially on the vocals!) show that Badu knows exactly what she's doing.
3
Jul 05 2021
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Scream, Dracula, Scream
Rocket From The Crypt
Hot Snakes with a horn section.
While the arrangements are somewhat simple and SJR's voice can't carry all of the tracks, there's a solid core of great balls-to-the-wall rock songs here.
3
Jul 06 2021
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Pretenders
Pretenders
A decent Brit pop-rock LP. Female vocals are a much-welcomed change of pace from the usual fare in this genre.
3
Jul 07 2021
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Siamese Dream
The Smashing Pumpkins
An absolute rock classic. This is the band's rawest LP by far, but the production makes every Muff-slathered guitar lead shine through. Tight riffs and tonal shifts make for a thrilling and varied album that remains fresh to this day.
4
Jul 08 2021
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This Is Hardcore
Pulp
Bland British pop-rock – seems like the band is trying to force these big, emotional moments but they're not earned anywhere in the instrumentation or track layout. The more upbeat and enjoyable tracks just sound like discount Blur.
2
Jul 09 2021
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Kala
M.I.A.
Great mix of influences stirred together and dashed with some off-the-wall production. Some of the more minimal tracks tend to grate with annoying samples/vocals, but the others lean fully into a complete wall of sound and clever drops that make this a joy to listen to.
3
Jul 10 2021
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Blood Sugar Sex Magik
Red Hot Chili Peppers
To this album's credit, the instrumentation is diverse and interesting - each track has its own sonic identity and stands out from the rest. It's in the composition that this album fails to impress. Once a groove is locked in, it remains in neutral while Kiedis' questionable RATM-esque delivery is the only dynamic element of the song. Things get stale quickly, though there are still flashes of pop-inspired brilliance that would foment in greater quantities in later Peppers albums.
2
Jul 11 2021
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White Light / White Heat
The Velvet Underground
Some good tracks on here but the final product is ultimately too disjointed to read as a cohesive album. Comes across more as a set of B-sides and demos, a view reinforced by the garage-level production
2
Jul 12 2021
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Hms Fable
Shack
Starts off strong but the arrangements quickly lose creative steam and blend together. The unearned bombast of the horn section is grating as well.
2
Jul 13 2021
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Vincebus Eruptum
Blue Cheer
Decent early garage rock LP, some tracks reminded me of Ty Segall and Oh Sees.
3
Jul 14 2021
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Haut de gamme / Koweït, rive gauche
Koffi Olomide
Good varied instrumentation and voice leading, but French Tropicana is just not my thing.
2
Jul 15 2021
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Non-Stop Erotic Cabaret
Soft Cell
Not sure how to feel about this one. There are some excellent/classic tracks on here, but this LP tiptoes dangerously between tongue-in-cheek and all-out cheese. When the balance is right things are enjoyable, but some of the later ballads strain patience.
3
Jul 16 2021
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3 + 3
The Isley Brothers
Overly jammy on some tracks, but the tip-top arrangements, production, and guitar tones compensate to make for a mostly enjoyable album.
3
Jul 20 2021
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Imagine
John Lennon
Expected more in the songwriting department from John on this one. Lyrics veer way too repetitive and obvious, instrumentation could use a boost of originality and harkens back to Beatle days.
2
Jul 21 2021
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The Soft Bulletin
The Flaming Lips
Earns its title as an indie classic - sounds like an album that could have been released within the past 5 years. Not all of the tracks are stunners and sometimes wear their welcome thin with repetitive arrangements, but there are enough high points here to make for an enjoyable listening experience.
3
Jul 22 2021
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Germfree Adolescents
X-Ray Spex
Enjoyable riot grrl LP with some unexpectedly deep songwriting and arrangements along the way. Need to give this another listen to fully appreciate it.
3
Jul 23 2021
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Elephant Mountain
The Youngbloods
An interesting mix of influences leads to an LP with a surprise around every corner. Though the instrumentals shuffle on well past their end-by date, each track still blossoms with its own unique sense of adventure.
3
Jul 24 2021
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The ArchAndroid
Janelle Monáe
Takes its time to get going but encompasses a wide swath of well-blended influences at its end. Swing, acid house, a touch of Tropicana and more are blended into unique pop operas that have a life all their own. The interludes could be trimmed (even in the context of the narrative) and some fat cut from overlong arrangements, but a great concept album over all.
4
Jul 25 2021
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Better Living Through Chemistry
Fatboy Slim
Overreliant on one to two vocal samples to drive each track, this album fails to impress in terms of originality and variation no matter how catchy some of the underlying DnB is. The sampling and arrangement brilliance of the last two songs show how the others could have been so much better.
2
Jul 26 2021
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Unhalfbricking
Fairport Convention
Much more dynamic and inspired than 'Liege and Lief' - the songs here are varied and draw from a wide range of influences that surprise and entertain at each turn. Track length is still an issue, though, with several pieces beating one verse and chorus within an inch of their lives.
3
Jul 27 2021
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Low
David Bowie
While some of the individual tracks impress with their strong instrumentation and influences, the album as a whole reads more as a grouping of demos than a cohesive product.
2
Jul 28 2021
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Hunting High And Low
a-ha
A slog of a listen - songs tend to drone on without soul or purpose, meandering through with plenty of annoying synths and vocal accents but no substance to speak of
1
Jul 29 2021
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Double Nickels On The Dime
Minutemen
Some interesting tracks here and there but missing the unifying element to bring it all together, especially for an album of this length
2
Jul 30 2021
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Screamadelica
Primal Scream
Strives to hit some balance between choral, dance, and indie but ends up becoming a bland, repetitive mess in the process
1
Jul 31 2021
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Green River
Creedence Clearwater Revival
Some decent tracks on here but nothing memorable, especially given their other work.
2
Aug 01 2021
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Idlewild
Everything But The Girl
I cannot put into words how much I hate this album. Muzak-like synths, awful violin parts, and lyrics dripping in cheese make this the worst examples of 80s indulgences
1
Aug 02 2021
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Solid Air
John Martyn
Not enough here to generate substantial interest from a singer-songwriter standpoint. Most tracks abandon any interesting improvisation in favor of rehashing the chorus on a loop, but even then the style isn't strong enough to differentiate it from the crowd.
2
Aug 03 2021
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Face to Face
The Kinks
Overall enjoyable but needs more variation - blends into an indiscernible amalgam of Beatle-esque jangle pop after a while.
2
Aug 04 2021
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Deserter's Songs
Mercury Rev
There are several stunning compositions and brave production decisions throughout this album, but they're overshadowed by odd interludes and a cheese factor that's hard to shake and dates the LP heavily.
2
Aug 05 2021
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Something Else By The Kinks
The Kinks
The virgin Harry Rag vs. the chad David Watts
2
Aug 06 2021
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World Clique
Deee-Lite
Some fun vocal manips and beats here but not enough to justify the runtime
2
Aug 07 2021
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Goodbye Yellow Brick Road
Elton John
From the get-go it's clear this is John's 70s album. Borrows influence from prog all the way through tropicana and injects them with his typical bombast to make each track uniquely its own. Whether the LP holds together as a cohesive whole is dubious, but each track is a great ride in and of itself even outside the well-known hits.
3
Aug 08 2021
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LP1
FKA twigs
An absolute masterclass in electronic arrangement and production. Each track is its own small microcosm of carefully layered synths and samples, a small world that exists for only 3 minutes at a time and fully encompasses the entire soundstage. Some tracks could use a bit more variation, but overall an amazing listening experience.
4
Aug 09 2021
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Paul's Boutique
Beastie Boys
A little disjointed sample-wise, but still some solid beats and bars here. Wish there was more of the aggressively nasty synth and guitar present on some tracks, but the lo-fi production still brings out the savagery across the rest of the tracks.
3
Aug 10 2021
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I Want To See The Bright Lights Tonight
Richard Thompson
Some interesting instrumentation, but most tracks are dreadfully one-note in structure
2
Aug 11 2021
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Life's Too Good
The Sugarcubes
Solid early Ska album with some B-52ish influences. This does lend some annoying vocals at points, but the varied melodies and innovative use of chorus compensate to make for a good listen.
3
Aug 12 2021
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Franz Ferdinand
Franz Ferdinand
Great early 2000s alt-rock statement. Sharp instrumentals and arrangements complement witty lyricisms for an incisive (if sometimes repetitive) LP.
4
Aug 13 2021
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New Boots And Panties
Ian Dury
This isn't a joke? I'm not being put on here, am I?
1
Aug 14 2021
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Want Two
Rufus Wainwright
Few interesting tracks on this one, most are repetitive and instrumentally bland
2
Aug 15 2021
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Marquee Moon
Television
A great early alternative, guitar-driven album. The back half of the LP does seem to lose steam and resort to repetitive arrangements, but the combined force of the instrumentation and charging title track still make for a decent listen.
3
Aug 16 2021
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Live At The Witch Trials
The Fall
A shame that the production mutes the raw intensity present on this LP. As a progenitor of the lo-fi distorted chorus sound, it's boggling that this album eschews a louder, more visceral production style for the flat mix that does nothing for the tracks.
2
Aug 17 2021
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Maxwell's Urban Hang Suite
Maxwell
There’s no denying this LP is well-constructed, but it leans so hard into one-note rhythms and song structures that it all kind of blurs together into an overlong porn Muzak compilation
2
Aug 18 2021
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Countdown To Ecstasy
Steely Dan
Surprised by the range of influences on this LP, but a bit disappointed in how monotonous the album becomes after the first few tracks
2
Aug 19 2021
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Parallel Lines
Blondie
The highs are smashing but the lows are disappointingly bland on this one. 'Heart of Glass' still slays though
3
Aug 20 2021
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Born To Run
Bruce Springsteen
Much better than 'USA' - this is a big, bold album bursting with life. While the tracks aren't mindblowing (save for the absolute screamer of a title track), they bubble with a life and individuality that makes the LP a fun listen.
3
Aug 21 2021
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Darkness on the Edge of Town
Bruce Springsteen
Some Elton John has creeped in during the intervening years between 'Born to Run' and this LP. This one does cross too much into ostentatious territory, unfortunately - the tracks feel just a tad overwrought but not memorable.
2
Aug 22 2021
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Sail Away
Randy Newman
While there are some clever lyrics ('Political Science' for example) to be had on the album, the compositional choice for most tracks to be standalone piano ballads or have sparse orchestral backing strands the majority of the LP in uninteresting waters.
2
Aug 23 2021
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The Doors
The Doors
Solid classic rock album both contemplative and riff-filled. Some dynamic contrast could have livened things up a bit but good compositions nonetheless
3
Aug 24 2021
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If You Can Believe Your Eyes & Ears
The Mamas & The Papas
Sounds to me like Beatles-meets-Monkees here and there, could definitely use more of the former as the slow, shambling one-note ballads could use some more lyrical and instrumental variation to move things along.
2
Aug 25 2021
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Gunfighter Ballads And Trail Songs
Marty Robbins
An album that goes well beyond the meme. Some amazing narrative lyricism + expertly minimal instrumentation makes for a rapturing listen even if country isn't your genre. The explicit religious themes of 'The Master's Call' dates/detracts the narrative and loses this LP a few points, but doesn't hamper the album enough to make it any less of a lyrical joyride
4
Aug 26 2021
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Ace of Spades
Motörhead
While most of the songs lean on their lyrical theme pretty hard and there are some questionable choices ('Jailbait') made, there's no denying that at its core this is an absolute charging rock machine that's a classic for a reason. RIP Lemmy
3
Aug 27 2021
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Fun House
The Stooges
Some dark, contemplative rock on this one - the longer, trying, experimental back-end is balanced out by some concise bangers on the first half.
3
Aug 28 2021
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Morrison Hotel
The Doors
An interesting mix of bluesier influences and proto-rock but not enough for an engaging listen
2
Aug 29 2021
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Lazer Guided Melodies
Spiritualized
Starts out rough with meandering tracks searching for a plot, but comes into its own strongly on the back half with gazey, domineering guitar parts and strong psychedelic overtones.
3
Aug 30 2021
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Live At The Star Club, Hamburg
Jerry Lee Lewis
A zippy live album for sure. There's no dynamic contrast or distinction to be found, but the rollicking energy of Lewis and the crowd still provide an enjoyable listen.
3
Aug 31 2021
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Bookends
Simon & Garfunkel
While this is still definitively a S&G album, the wealth of influences it incorporates within their iconic sound pushes it well beyond their past output. The brash synths, upbeat orchestrations, and more sinister compositions here all build into an album that changes face with every track but maintains a coherent throughline.
4
Sep 01 2021
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Blood And Chocolate
Elvis Costello & The Attractions
Interesting guitar work here and there but not enough to overcome the repetitive song structures and annoying vocals
2
Sep 02 2021
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Apocalypse 91… The Enemy Strikes Black
Public Enemy
An amazing hip-hop album, great production and flows + a lyrical focus on social issues that are /still/ relevant today makes for a fun but engaging listen
4
Sep 03 2021
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Underwater Moonlight
The Soft Boys
Interesting tracks here and there punctuated by just enough tongue-in-cheek energy and wild abandon to make things work. Kept me interested enough to listen through all 2.5 hours at least
3
Sep 04 2021
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Sticky Fingers
The Rolling Stones
Leans too hard into the blues portion of blues rock, way too much gratuitous noodling over what would otherwise be nice, concise rock tracks.
2
Sep 05 2021
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Harvest
Neil Young
This LP sounds unsure of what it wants to be - it starts off with some gratingly repetitive country tracks, tries to go in for big bombastic numbers that Young's voice can't support, and then manages to nail a few standard rock tracks. A very uneven listen and album overall
2
Sep 06 2021
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Every Good Boy Deserves Fudge
Mudhoney
Works best when it explores the fray between indie arrangements and grungier instrumentation, unfortunately leans too hard into the latter on most tracks and becomes a bit homogenous and unremarkable throughout
2
Sep 07 2021
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Meat Is Murder
The Smiths
Didn't leave much of an impression - even as an originator of the jangly but dark chorus-tinged 80s sound, the Smiths don't know when to mix it up or cut a song short. The back half here especially drags as 6-minute tracks wear out 3 minutes worth of ideas.
2
Sep 08 2021
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Pictures At An Exhibition
Emerson, Lake & Palmer
While I'm sure this worked as a live experience, there's not enough connective tissue to make something this proggy work on record. Without the visual experience of being there or the fidelity of a studio recording, the threads that tie this into a cohesive listening experience just aren't there.
2
Sep 09 2021
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Black Metal
Venom
If you're going to write an hour's worth of thrift store Metallica songs about hell, you should at least make them sound different from one another.
1
Sep 10 2021
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Dire Straits
Dire Straits
While the overall composition here is rock solid, these tracks just don't know when to quit. The grooves established on some are enough to power through a solid 3 minutes, but others are so limpid that even 2 minutes feels like a drag.
2
Sep 11 2021
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Live Through This
Hole
Superb female-fronted grunge/garage rock. Though the compositions tend to be repetitive, Love's take-no-prisoners energy makes each track its own inherent testament that needs to be heard until the end.
4
Sep 12 2021
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Dear Science
TV On The Radio
Blech - songwriting is at best cheesy/lazy, the tonal flow jumps all over the place, and the tracks are too long by at least 1-2 minutes each.
This is the first album that's made me question the mechanism behind the list. Surely there are more seminal albums from the aughts than this one?
1
Sep 13 2021
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Oedipus Schmoedipus
Barry Adamson
A fever dream of an album - more than a few listens are necessary to fully explore the nooks and crannies here
3
Sep 14 2021
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Sheet Music
10cc
A fun and tongue-in-cheek LP that sounds surprisingly modern. Some of the slide guitar lines remind me of Ratatat for how trebly and rhythmic they are.
3
Sep 15 2021
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Machine Head
Deep Purple
For being the inspiration behind the most abused guitar store riff in history, this album does tend to punch above its weight. However, it still gets mired in repetitive song structures and gratuitous noodling that tends to wear thin after a while
2
Sep 16 2021
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Jazz Samba
Stan Getz
Solid jazz album, appreciated the inclusion of some Spanish influences here and there.
3
Sep 17 2021
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Suzanne Vega
Suzanne Vega
Vega's vocals (though odd) are beautiful, though the entire album is weighed down by repetition in its tendency to abuse a 4-8 bar lick/chord progression throughout.
2
Sep 18 2021
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Ladies And Gentlemen We Are Floating In Space
Spiritualized
An abject disappointment following 'Melodies' two years earlier. The lack of a strong rhythm section and any kind of melodic variation does make it feel like you're floating in space, but more in a 'god this is boring' kind of way rather than anything exciting.
2
Sep 19 2021
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Pacific Ocean Blue
Dennis Wilson
Some tracks are enjoyable here and there, but overall the LP left little to no impression on me after the fact.
2
Sep 20 2021
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Aqualung
Jethro Tull
I'm likely biased since I learned bass on these songs, but man is this album one of balance. It knows when to go for the proggy narrative lyricism but also when to let the rippers fly, when to dial it down to acoustics but also when to crank the dynamics to 10. The fact it maintans a sense of cohesion throughout is just the cherry on top
4
Sep 21 2021
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Birth Of The Cool
Miles Davis
Miles always delivers - a solid jazz album, not entirely memorable but makes for a good listen
3
Sep 22 2021
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Time Out
The Dave Brubeck Quartet
Contains some of Brubeck's strongest tracks, but is mired slightly by the homogenous piano interludes.
3
Sep 23 2021
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Licensed To Ill
Beastie Boys
Great to hear the classics in context on this one. Suffers from the usual BB drawbacks (vocals on top of each other in the mix especially) but the production and guitar here still make for an entertaining LP
3
Sep 24 2021
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Sweetheart Of The Rodeo
The Byrds
This is at least reminiscent of classic country, so not nearly as grating as modern country can be. However, this thing is just way too homogenous - tracks blend into one another after a while if the slide guitar tone and arrangements remains relatively static.
2
Sep 25 2021
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Bongo Rock
Incredible Bongo Band
Not at all what I was expecting! While there's still some cheesy arrangements here and there, this LP takes its premise to the extreme and doesn't let up. Bongos forever y'all
3
Sep 26 2021
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Kick Out The Jams (Live)
MC5
The energy is there, but without much representation in the mids it’s hard to distinguish one track from another in a live environment.
2
Sep 27 2021
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If I Could Only Remember My Name
David Crosby
Weird cross between muzak-level vocal-led tracks and attempts at flashy rock that fall flat. Not a fan
2
Sep 28 2021
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Who's Next
The Who
Classic rock at its best - some ho-hum tracks stall a bit of the forward momentum, but the synth tracks on this LP absolutely kill.
3
Sep 29 2021
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Truth And Soul
Fishbone
An interesting mix of Reggae and rock influences that tries but misses the mark. Marred by overlong arrangements, dated synths, and questionable vocals.
2
Sep 30 2021
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One Nation Under A Groove
Funkadelic
Lacking enough cohesiveness to work as a full LP, reads more as a scattered collection of (sometimes catchy) B-sides
Aside: This is my ~180th album and the first not available on Spotify
2
Oct 01 2021
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Groovin'
The Young Rascals
Decent Beatles-esque LP, though a bit forgettable
2
Oct 02 2021
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At San Quentin
Johnny Cash
While the selection and quality of songs on 'Folsom' is better, the banter between Cash and the inmates here really sells the authenticity of these performances.
3
Oct 03 2021
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xx
The xx
This still holds up as a solid overall LP, but on relistening it's clear how much this album suffers from static song structures. Most tracks tend to ride solely on a repeated 8-bar verse, and while they tend to end before things get grating a few tracks stay well past their welcome.
3
Oct 04 2021
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Rapture
Anita Baker
Baker’s vocals are outstanding, but the backing tracks fail to live up to the vox with their dated synths (the drums and sax still rip tho)
2
Oct 05 2021
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The Low End Theory
A Tribe Called Quest
This album is crisp as hell - minimalist beats and bass lines that take no prisoners coupled with dense bars that range from abstract to narrative gems. Deserves more than a few replays for sure
4
Oct 06 2021
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Metallica
Metallica
Plenty of metal classics on this one - while the production is air-tight, the album does lag in its back half as the songs tend to fall into repetitive arrangements.
3
Oct 07 2021
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Paul Simon
Paul Simon
While these tracks meander from tropicana to rock-inspired with little cohesion between, Simon's narrative storytelling weaves a strong enough thread to make the entire LP a worthwhile listen
3
Oct 08 2021
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(Pronounced 'Leh-'Nérd 'Skin-'Nérd)
Lynyrd Skynyrd
There are some good songs in here, but they're all buried beneath way too much gratuitous noodling to enjoy listening to.
2
Oct 09 2021
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It Takes A Nation Of Millions To Hold Us Back
Public Enemy
While there are some great themes explored here, the production is way too busy and at times overwhelms the bars.
2
Oct 10 2021
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From Elvis In Memphis
Elvis Presley
The Delta-Blues influences are front and center for most of this album, allowing Elvis to show off his guitar and vocal chops. The back half sags into kitsch balladry a bit, but the overall product still makes for a good listen.
3
Oct 11 2021
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Scott 4
Scott Walker
Too much orchestration in the instrumentals or drama in Walker's vox to feel genuine. Frustrating because songs like 'Old Man' masterfully blur the line between genres while remaining catchy, yet such hits are few and far between on this LP.
2
Oct 12 2021
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Station To Station
David Bowie
Unsure what to make of this one, there are flairs of the Bowie charm here and there but the tracks feel too disparate to form any kind of cohesive LP.
2
Oct 13 2021
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Gris Gris
Dr. John
This Creole jazz LP struggles to string even 30 minutes of runtime together without feeling threadbare and hollow.
2
Oct 14 2021
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Penthouse And Pavement
Heaven 17
I can appreciate the group leaning fully into these off-the-wall synth textures and arrangements even if things tend to get a bit repetitive here and there.
3
Oct 15 2021
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Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness
The Smashing Pumpkins
Though a tad overstuffed, this LP dodges any sort of datedness with a diverse set of influences to pull from. The scorching guitar tone still invokes the 90s, but purely in the best way possible as it floods the tire soundstage. A masterclass in production and arrangement all around
4
Oct 16 2021
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Slippery When Wet
Bon Jovi
Only gets two stars because I heard several of these songs on the "80s, 90s, and today" radio station on repeat when I was a kid in the car. 'You Give Love A Bad Name' is a killer track, but the rest is bland, repetitive, overproduced fare that should have been left in the 80s.
2
Oct 17 2021
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Dirt
Alice In Chains
Solid 90s grunge album with a surprising amount of variation in the guitar licks and song structures. Some tinges of 80s grandstanding and the mix bring the LP down a bit, but not enough to prevent a relisten.
3
Oct 18 2021
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Rain Dogs
Tom Waits
While the initial lure of this LP's odd vocals and compositions is strong, it quickly dies out due to the one-trick-pony aspect. Most tracks blend into one another with little distinction and fail to provide a good hook into the album at large.
2
Oct 19 2021
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Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers
Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers
Bland, repetitive rock. There are flashes of intrigue here and there with good hooks, but they're greatly outweighed by the bland crooners and lack of genuine energy on any of the uptempo tracks.
2
Oct 20 2021
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I See A Darkness
Bonnie "Prince" Billy
An intriguing whisp of an album - didn't cohere fully on first listen, but this may have been a function of the organic, ethereal feel each track has, as if they're arising out of nothingness
3
Oct 21 2021
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Rid Of Me
PJ Harvey
One thing I appreciate about Harvey's artistry is how undeniably 'her' each album she makes is. This sophomore effort has all the classic PJisms - gnashing guitars, looming interludes, creeping voices in the background. Things do tend to get a bit homogeneous and too blandly 90s grunge in the middle, but some discordant interludes snap things back into focus sharply for a strong finish.
4
Oct 22 2021
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Aftermath
The Rolling Stones
Shame that some of the more exciting instrumentals from the Stones have to be paired with their most alarmingly misogynistic lyrics
2
Oct 23 2021
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Close To The Edge
Yes
Say what you want about prog, but no other subgenre can produce sprawling yet intricate tracks like this. Squier keeps the band locked in with a boisterous yet precise bass tone, and from there the band builds into massive melodic structures that can stop and turn on a dime. Docking two stars as the middle track feels somewhat listless (and eats up nearly a third of the runtime!), but the other two tracks could stand as EPs in their own right.
3
Oct 24 2021
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Life Thru A Lens
Robbie Williams
Starts off strong as a passing of the torch from Oasis to Blur kind of LP, strong guitar leads with a healthy dollop of facetious wit. Wilts in the back half unfortunately, swapping sardonic rippers for Keane-esque Britpop ballads dripping in cheese.
3
Oct 25 2021
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Songs From The Big Chair
Tears For Fears
Outside of the huge singles, this LP struggles to find an identity for itself. The leading tracks all have strong personalities with their defined guitar or synth hooks, but the meandering quality of the rest derail any kind of overall cohesion.
2
Oct 26 2021
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I'm Your Man
Leonard Cohen
Hard to believe this is the same artist who put together ‘Songs.’ Arrangements are one-note, instrumentals are cheesy, and the overall product is just disappointing
2
Oct 27 2021
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Hunky Dory
David Bowie
Caught between the Bowie extremes of quirky, threadbare ballads and all-out pop-rock stardom. There are some excellent tracks on here ('Changes' and 'Queen Bitch' to name a few), but the entire product never really gels into a full LP.
2
Oct 28 2021
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The Seldom Seen Kid
Elbow
Nagging vocals get lost in ethereal instrumentals to make this LP end up a repetitive yet forgettable mess.
2
Oct 29 2021
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Destroyer
KISS
Everything about this album - the strained vocals, limp instrumentals, and blandly repetitive arrangements - sucks, but that was to be expected.
1
Oct 30 2021
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Here's Little Richard
Little Richard
While the tracks get somewhat repetitive after a while, Richard's voice and energy make the whole LP an absolute blast to listen to.
3
Oct 31 2021
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Exodus
Bob Marley & The Wailers
Marlie can pull off some great vocals, but the LP as a whole is overwhelmingly repetititve.
2
Nov 01 2021
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Elastica
Elastica
Starts off strong with some pop-rock stunners, but completely loses all momentum with some middling ballads in the back half.
2
Nov 02 2021
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A Rush Of Blood To The Head
Coldplay
A dark, brooding LP wrapped in layers of production. Probably the group's best effort alongside 'Viva La Vida'
4
Nov 03 2021
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Cee-Lo Green... Is The Soul Machine
Cee Lo Green
Starts off completely uninteresting (muzak-level composition and vox) before taking a turn into the annoying with grating vocals that come across as trying too hard. There are some commendable production decisions on this LP, but everything above coupled with an overall dollop of arrogance throughout means I won't soon be returning to this one.
2
Nov 04 2021
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The Contino Sessions
Death In Vegas
Great collection of some out-there remnants from the death throes of the 90s. While I wish the LP carried more of the chaotic energy of 'Dirge' and felt a bit more cohesive, I still find myself drawn by how well this encapsulates such a revolutionary and scattershot decade of music in a collection of tracks that evoke without feeling dated.
3
Nov 05 2021
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Let Love Rule
Lenny Kravitz
The instrumentation is there, but everything else falters big-time. The entire LP is so repetitive that once you've heard the first verse-chorus set you can skip the entire rest of the song.
2
Nov 06 2021
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Illinois
Sufjan Stevens
I've tried to get into this album for years and it only just clicked today. One of those that must be listened to as a complete product - no single song defines this LP, nor sets the tone. It's the collective themes (coupled with great melodies and lush production) that make this album whole.
4
Nov 07 2021
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Dare!
The Human League
An album from the 80s that doesn’t indulge in itself for once. Though some songs tend to plod due to lack of editing, the synth melodies and catchy vox are enough to keep things moving through the slow spots.
3
Nov 08 2021
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Yeezus
Kanye West
The production on this LP is pristine - massive walls of synths cascading into quieter passages with some hard-turn samples thrown in for good measure. The bars usually rise to meet the occasion, but there are some lyrics that stick out like a sore thumb with their datedness or slightly cringe viewpoints.
3
Nov 09 2021
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Being There
Wilco
I’m still stuck on whether I like this band or not - the tracks that borrow heavily from early ‘00s rock with some country influences shine on this one, and some of the slower tracks with more country elements are enjoyable as well. There are just a few songs here that completely get lost in the country veneer that sound so bad I can’t make my mind up as to whether they derail the whole thing.
3
Nov 10 2021
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The Undertones
The Undertones
Solid punk basis with pop sensibilities on top. Nothing to write home about (especially some stale non-starters in the back half), but enjoyable rock all around.
3
Nov 11 2021
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The Notorious Byrd Brothers
The Byrds
Some more imaginative and varied tracks on this one than previous Byrd outings – though the strong psychedelic streak at the start fades out in the back half, there's still enough thematic links (and a hell of a lot of flanger) to cohere the entire LP together.
3
Nov 12 2021
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Talking Heads 77
Talking Heads
Slightly on the repetitive side, but with such fun, spontaneous energy on each track that’s hardly a problem. The instrumentation could be a bit more varied on each track, but for its time this LP still shines.
3
Nov 13 2021
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The Genius Of Ray Charles
Ray Charles
Classic blues-inspired R&B. Not a lot of variation to be found, but Charles does one thing and he does it well.
3
Nov 14 2021
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In Utero
Nirvana
A grunge manifesto in disgust for corporate and popular society at large. Cobain's seething delivery and simple yet evocative guitar lines underwrite not only an indictment of Nirvana's success post-Nevermind and Kurt's feelings of exploitation ('Rape Me', 'Radio Friendly Unit Shifter'), but a continually relevant vision of the sheer vapidity of modern society ('Very Ape', 'Dumb'). Shifting between pure discord and true beauty ('All Apologies' is and always will be a stunner of a track), this LP is not so much rage but cynicism sonified, one final wail against the cesspool of American society before finally giving in.
5
Nov 15 2021
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Maverick A Strike
Finley Quaye
Starts out a typical reggae album… sidesteps into straight rock… and then proceeds to mix the two throughout? While the vocals did wear on me after a while, this LP managed to keep me on my toes for its entire runtime with an eclectic mix of genres that somehow works way better than it should.
3
Nov 16 2021
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Sweet Dreams (Are Made Of This)
Eurythmics
Outside of the title track, this one fails to impress. Some of the vox here are shockingly bad, and the instrumentation presents itself in sparse and displeasing ways. Unsure why the wonderful vocal harmonies and synth lines of 'Dreams' didn't play a larger role in the album as a whole.
2
Nov 17 2021
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Searching For The Young Soul Rebels
Dexys Midnight Runners
I know this band can bring the energy just from 'Come on Eileen' alone – this LP instead just sounds limpid and flat, even the brass/string sections sound as if they're just reading the sheet without much enthusiasm.
2
Nov 18 2021
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The Real Thing
Faith No More
Another misguided 80s mishmash of genres, this time between something approximating heavy metal and of course cheesy, blaring synths. There are some salvageable tracks on here, but throwing aggravating vocals into the mix means there’s little enjoyment to get out of this LP.
2
Nov 19 2021
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Revolver
Beatles
An intersectional Beatles LP - snippets of the past poppy and future psychedelic/rock-ripper directions all jumbled together in one album. Not the most cohesive product, but an interesting one at the very least
3
Nov 20 2021
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Let It Be
The Replacements
Wish this one had stuck closer to the crude, punkier tracks that showed real instrumental and thematic verve. The intermingling of piano ballads and slower pieces just killed all momentum and cohesion of the LP as a whole.
2
Nov 21 2021
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Here, My Dear
Marvin Gaye
I think my biggest qualm with this album is the production - Gaye’s vocals are great as always and the melodic instrumentation is layered wonderfully behind a small ocean of filters, but there’s not enough umph in the rhythm section to grab onto. I get this is an R&B album, but without any kind of strong rhythmic presence these tracks just flop around like a blob fish without much sense of direction (which doesn’t help the fact that some of the melodies sound similar to one another)
2
Nov 22 2021
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On The Beach
Neil Young
More captivating than 'Harvest' in its composition and instrumental execution, but still lacking a singular focus. Tracks drift mindlessly from one to another without any sense of cohesion, even taking into account the beach theme.
2
Nov 23 2021
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She's So Unusual
Cyndi Lauper
Such a frustrating LP - the base melodies and most of the vocals are stellar, but overlong runtimes and grating delivery make this an album to endure, not enjoy.
2
Nov 24 2021
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S.F. Sorrow
The Pretty Things
An interesting LP that starts out as Beatles-lite only to morph into more experimental and involved psych work on the back half.
3
Nov 25 2021
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Arc Of A Diver
Steve Winwood
An interesting LP that sounds surprisingly modern at times - the opening track especially called to mind modern electronica artists like Porter Robinson with its structure and synth tones. Does meander from where its best in some more questionable tracks, but there’s enough here to warrant another listen.
3
Nov 26 2021
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Isn't Anything
My Bloody Valentine
The bridge between Britpop and true shoegaze, this LP sees MBV wading into a prototype of the glide guitar style that would come to define an entire subgenre. Altered/eery melodies and song structures complement the style well, giving this album a somewhat menacingly ethereal feel. Not every track lands (the band can’t write a dynamic arrangement to save their life, meaning a few songs drag on), but the visceral creativity and knowledge of what comes next makes this LP a notable one.
4
Nov 27 2021
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Entertainment
Gang Of Four
Glisteningly sharp proto-punk. While one could claim the songs sound similar instrumentation-wise, each has a distinct, sharp take due to clever melodies and wry lyrics.
4
Nov 28 2021
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The Hissing Of Summer Lawns
Joni Mitchell
As always Mitchell's vox soar and swoop all over this LP, evoking a range of emotions and reeling the listener in with its tones. However, the orchestration and arrangement here are a bit too meandering to gel together as an artistic whole - this album nearly sells the essence of floating across Central Park on a lazy day, but gets caught up in one too many refrains and jazz licks to really land the concept.
2
Nov 29 2021
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Aja
Steely Dan
Too bland to escape beyond muzak-level recognition - some interesting melodic ideas, but nothing punchy enough to draw attention.
2
Nov 30 2021
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Rage Against The Machine
Rage Against The Machine
An LP fueled by righteous anger alone. The lyrics and instrumentation are simple, but the furor with which each is delivered brings each track to a level greater than the sum of its parts. Big props to Morello for indulging in some nu-metal guitar tones in a way that feels experimental without dating the album.
4
Dec 01 2021
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Disraeli Gears
Cream
A simmering proto-psychedelic LP that blends more than a few genres into a rocking, cohesive whole. Has a surprisingly modern feel to it - some tracks reminded me of bluesier QotSA songs even.
3
Dec 02 2021
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Third/Sister Lovers
Big Star
Some interesting textures and ideas here and there, but not nearly enough to unify these scattershot tracks into a cohesive whole.
2
Dec 03 2021
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Kenza
Khaled
An interesting mix of Arabian, French, and even English styles that makes for an overall engaging listen. The slower tracks drag a bit, but there’s enough energy and variety in the remaining tracks to keep one engaged.
3
Dec 04 2021
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Technique
New Order
I always struggle to believe that the band that can produce stunning guitar+synth-driven powerhouses like 'Age of Consent' can revert to such dull, one-note tracks. While some of the melodic lines here are catchy, there's not nearly enough variation to hold interest for the 4-5 minute runtimes most tracks occupy.
2
Dec 05 2021
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Boston
Boston
An ecstatic LP that excites on both emotional and instrumental levels. While the back half slides into forgettable classic rock territory, the front dominates with catchy melodies that don't skimp on flashy, satisfying solos.
3
Dec 06 2021
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Beyond Skin
Nitin Sawhney
While some of the ideas here are exciting, there is absolutely way too much going on for anything to gel into something beyond a weird primal scream. The vocal are either great or insanely irksome, the instrumentation groovy and interesting or grating, and the overall effect one of misused potential.
2
Dec 07 2021
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Highway to Hell
AC/DC
Blandly repetitive outside of the title track, perhaps the only song on this LP with an interesting melody behind it.
2
Dec 08 2021
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Tonight's The Night
Neil Young
You could group all the uptempo and slow Neil Young songs together and any two tracks from either group would be indistinguishable. There’s an attempt here to jazz things up with some jazzier arrangements, but the sheer repetition and Young’s scraggly vocals just make every track an absolute drag.
2
Dec 09 2021
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Heartbreaker
Ryan Adams
A shame this LP can't live up to the wonders of uptempo tracks like 'To Be Young' - while the pace is significantly too slow across the rest of the album, Adams' lightheartedness and genuine delivery do at least make the slower tracks tolerable.
2
Dec 10 2021
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I Do Not Want What I Haven't Got
Sinead O'Connor
O'Connor seems to sample every hot genre of the 90s in this one, running over the bombastic pop ballad, trip-hop piece, and standard britpop rocker just to name a few. Some are executed better than others (a few even to a T!), but the lack of a consistent theme means this feels less an album and more a dartboard of musical experiments.
2
Dec 11 2021
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The Score
Fugees
An excellent collaboration between three stellar hip-hop titans. A solid blend of beats, bars, and social commentary thrown in with some not-too-cringy skits make for an enjoyable LP, though I wish Hill had more airtime on this one.
3
Dec 12 2021
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Eli And The Thirteenth Confession
Laura Nyro
A wild ride of an LP - the compositions are loud and boisterous, while Nyro’s vocals sit on top and often threaten to go off the rails (though never do). Worth another listen just to fully digest all that’s happening here.
3
Dec 13 2021
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Tragic Songs of Life
The Louvin Brothers
The narratives here are engrossing enough, but lord the song structures need some sort of variation. Often the 'chorus' follows every verse, some of which are as short as a single line. This wouldn't be too much of a problem normally, but given every song overstays its welcome by a minute and one of the Louvin brothers has more twang than a detuned guitar, this does begin to grate after a while.
2
Dec 14 2021
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The Queen Is Dead
The Smiths
Some interesting production tricks and solid chorus-tinged guitar tone, but not enough variation from song to song to leave any lasting impression. Also Morrissey is a piece of shit.
2
Dec 15 2021
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Ananda Shankar
Ananda Shankar
Starts off strong but quickly gets mired in overlong arrangements that have no payoff. I don't mind the covers since they have some unique takes to offer on some classics, just wish the album could maintain the focus and energy found on its opening and closing tracks.
2
Dec 16 2021
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Truth
Jeff Beck
There are some genuinely interesting compositional and voicing ideas on this LP, they're just too obscured by indulgent noodling and cloying vocals to make it worth the listen.
2
Dec 17 2021
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Chelsea Girl
Nico
Absolutely beautiful when it allows Nico to juxtapose her vocals against simple guitar melodies, but too often opts for crowded arrangements that squeeze her vocal range uncomfortably.
2
Dec 18 2021
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The Renaissance
Q-Tip
The production soars near the beginning of this album but quickly loses steam to the point where the last tracks are cloying in their use of samples. Mediocre bars throughout mean this one lands firmly in the disappointment pile.
2
Dec 19 2021
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Tubular Bells
Mike Oldfield
Great prog weaves several distinct themes into a unified whole, meaning songs that last up to 20 minutes can feel distinct yet greater than the sun of their parts. This LP takes sharp turns, abandons themes left and right, stuffs incompatible ideas into overlong tracks, and has weird growling noises on it. This is not great prog.
2
Dec 20 2021
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Welcome To The Pleasuredome
Frankie Goes To Hollywood
Never have I heard an album where all the songs are stuck in first gear, right on the verge of breaking through to some big musical moment but stuck instead wearing down the same melodic line and tired lyrics. Not a great sign when the most exciting song on the LP is a Springsteen cover.
2
Dec 21 2021
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Moving Pictures
Rush
A masterclass in prog composition and execution. Each track bursts forth with memorable melodies underscored with amazing technical prowess. Even on the more subdued and less notable back half of the LP, Lee, Pert, and Lifeson still deliver outstanding performances that continue to offer hidden intricacies.
4
Dec 22 2021
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It's A Shame About Ray
The Lemonheads
If you took every single alternative album released in the 90s and averaged them together you would get this absolute milquetoast, forgettable LP.
2
Dec 23 2021
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The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars
David Bowie
An LP that manages to build whole worlds out of nothing but some sparse arrangements and a healthy dollop of personality. While Bowie plays fast and loose with the actual narrative structure here, near every song thrums with a life, ego, and damnably catchy melody of its own.
4
Dec 24 2021
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Steve McQueen
Prefab Sprout
Starts off as a strong alternative LP but quickly loses itself in dated synths and truly awful songwriting. I swear everyone in the 80s set their Juno-6 to the same vocal-esque patch and used that for pads.
2
Dec 25 2021
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The Joshua Tree
U2
Rating this one higher than expected for how modern it sounds and how gracefully it has aged. The band still may be riding the success of being the first outfit to use a delay pedal on every song, but the compositions, productions, and rare 80s tendency not to overindulge in dated synths makes it seem at least some of that success was warranted.
3
Dec 26 2021
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A Christmas Gift For You From Phil Spector
Various Artists
A great collection of different takes on some holiday classics, I was able to tolerate listening to this one which speaks highly to its quality.
An aside on Christmas music: When will someone create a new holiday staple? The current Christmas song canon has been unmodified since Mariah Carey cursed the world back in the early 2000s. Perhaps I'm just a 20-something cynic but I'm tired of hearing the exact same recording every single year.
3
Dec 27 2021
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I Should Coco
Supergrass
An interesting, angular LP that harkens the arrival of Jack White 4 years before the White Stripes would drop their S/T. Not all of the slower tracks work alongside the familiar-yet-skewed uptempo rock songs, but the overall product is one that warrants a relisten by far.
3
Dec 28 2021
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Cosmo's Factory
Creedence Clearwater Revival
Some of the more lively tunes from CCR's discography on this one, though after 3 of these LPs everything does tend to run together.
3
Dec 29 2021
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Shaka Zulu
Ladysmith Black Mambazo
Nothing personal against this album, acapella/choral stuff has just never been my thing. Extreme props to the performers and recording engineers on this LP - the hint of natural reverb lifts the delivery of this album beyond a recording into an almost hypnotic aural vision.
2
Dec 30 2021
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Electric Music For The Mind And Body
Country Joe & The Fish
You've heard this one before - a ho-hum, Doors-esque rock LP complete with gratuitous noodling, meandering song structures, and not much of a point. A few tinges of psychedelia aren't enough to save this one from mediocrity.
2
Dec 31 2021
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Sound of Silver
LCD Soundsystem
The lead track isn't lying - this LP arrives with a lot of pomp and circumstance only to retread 1-2 loops for seven minutes at a time, leading to an album full of mildly peppy background music. James Murphy tries to add some flair in the vox, but lacks the delivery, creativity, and quality of not being an asshole to make things work.
2
Jan 01 2022
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Sunday At The Village Vanguard
Bill Evans Trio
Ya like jazz?
3
Jan 02 2022
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Don't Come Home A Drinkin' (With Lovin' On Your Mind)
Loretta Lynn
Enjoyed this one much more than I expected to. Lynn and her genuine vocals carry each arrangement on a mix of pure simplicity, true sorrow, and honest emotions.
4
Jan 03 2022
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The Dark Side Of The Moon
Pink Floyd
Despite the cult of personality surrounding this album, it does deliver on its premise of a highly thematic rock album that doesn't get lost in its own narrative. Though some tracks tend to run long, the majority manage to exhibit a wealth of their own personality while still serving the overall LP as a whole, helping it to deliver a message of mortality and meaning.
4
Jan 04 2022
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L.A. Woman
The Doors
There are some melodies and ideas which try to extend beyond the rock canon here, but ultimately they're crushed by the mediocrity of noodling, overlong track lengths, and harsh vocals.
2
Jan 05 2022
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Bluesbreakers
John Mayall & The Bluesbreakers
A mostly forgettable rock album filled with gratuitous lead guitar and not much melodic substance.
2
Jan 06 2022
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Treasure
Cocteau Twins
Not as definitive or memorable as their other works, mainly lacking in verve due to a noticeably less prominent rhythm section.
2
Jan 07 2022
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Pink Moon
Nick Drake
A warm hug of an album that flashes in and out of existence hardly before it gets started. What makes this short, sweet LP work is the rawness of Drake's vocals and performance - the rasping of guitar strings silhouetted against his dulcet vox makes it feel as you've stumbled upon his performance umprompted.
3
Jan 08 2022
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Sea Change
Beck
Discogs said this was one of the 'best breakup albums of all time,' so if by breakup album you mean plodding, repetitive, mumbly moaning tracks and by best you mean worst, I agree.
1
Jan 09 2022
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Surrealistic Pillow
Jefferson Airplane
Though it succumbs to the late 60s temptations of limpid ballads/Beatles-esque tunes at times, this is LP exudes a clear sense of direct purpose otherwise. The early psychedelic stylings (the constant presence of reverb, jangly interwoven guitars, hell the song titles) here hint at what was to come in the 70s and still sound fresh to this day.
3
Jan 10 2022
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Bandwagonesque
Teenage Fanclub
Two halfway decent tracks bookend the rest of an LP filled with pure schmaltz. Disappointing to see the slight sparks of something different in the lengthy opener and shoegazey closer completely snuffed by the insipid melodies and eye-gouging repetition of lyrics such as "I know/ but I don't know" and "I love your walk/ I love your talk."
2
Jan 11 2022
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Synchronicity
The Police
Finally, an 80s album that doesn’t overstay its welcome or choose the worst synth presets possible. Some tight, punchy compositions on this one using great interplay between guitars and synths. Sting’s almost improvisational bass and crooning vox on top yield an overall solid listening experience.
3
Jan 12 2022
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The Visitors
ABBA
There are hints of interesting ideas on this LP, but they ultimately end up being washed out by standard 80s fare uninspired synth ballads
2
Jan 13 2022
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Moon Safari
Air
French House meets Stereolab in the best way possible. An expansive, encompassing LP that could come off as cheesy but reads as genuine due to its wonderful instrumentation and vocal performances.
4
Jan 14 2022
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Wild Is The Wind
Nina Simone
The idea is clearer than the execution here - Simone strives to tackle some weighty issues on this one, but the arrangements are just too sparse to make things feel cohesive enough
2
Jan 15 2022
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Queens of the Stone Age
Queens of the Stone Age
Yes. Hell fucking yes. This wasn't my first Queens album, but it was certainly the first album to permanently drag me into the fray of fuzzed-out, lo-fi garage rock that pulled no punches and took no prisoners. The lack of polish on this LP is a feature, not a bug - the grimy guitar, punchy drums, and absolutely sinful growl of the bass unify to form some sort of primal roar, a sound dwarfing the expected output of a usual rock threesome. Already the vestiges of future QotSA albums are present in the straightforward rock charts augmented with off-kilter, skittering accents that suggest something is not quite right, that perhaps the sex, drugs, and rock n' roll this song describes belies some greater horror. An unbelievably deep first outing for a band (thanks in part to Homme's time with Kyuss) and an album I return to whenever there's the need to kick some metaphorical teeth in.
4
Jan 16 2022
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Power In Numbers
Jurassic 5
A decent hip-hop LP, some interesting bars here and there but the arrangements don't do enough to push this album into memorable territory
3
Jan 17 2022
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Bitches Brew
Miles Davis
Interesting free form jazz LP with a heavier dose of effects (especially reverb) than one would expect. Some interesting takes hear, just wish there were stronger melodic threads or motifs in the longer tracks
3
Jan 18 2022
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Master Of Puppets
Metallica
I don't think I've ever heard the full-length version of the title track, so I was pleasantly surprised to find ~3 more minutes of head-banging goodness on top of what I already knew. It's that relentless energy that makes this album listenable; maybe I'm using the wrong speakers/'phones, but this thing absolutely drowns in mids that tend to wash out the bass and drums. Burton's lines deserve to be heard, damn it!
3
Jan 19 2022
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Darklands
The Jesus And Mary Chain
A solid proto-shoegaze LP filled with lush chord vamps and looming vocals. Spoiled this one a bit by knowing J&MC's later work - this album does feel a bit stuck in second gear when every song is centered at the ~90 bpm mark, especially when this band can really crank it out on uptempo tracks.
3
Jan 20 2022
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Out Of The Blue
Electric Light Orchestra
An album made even more outstanding when one considers its lead architect can't even read sheet music. Jeff Lynne fires on all cylinders with this LP, interlacing stacked vocal melodies on top of horns, organ, guitar, bass, and countless other multitracks to form a carefully crafted wall of sound that defies any genre label one might want to put on it.
4
Jan 21 2022
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Beggars Banquet
The Rolling Stones
Contains some of my favorite Stones tracks (the multi-layered 'Sympathy for the Devil' and rollicking 'Street Fighting Man'), but the good here is greatly outweighed by the gratuitous honky-tonk of the remaining tracks.
2
Jan 22 2022
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Live At The Harlem Square Club
Sam Cooke
A lovely live recording bursting with energy. Cooke clearly enjoys being a conduit on center stage, leading the crowd in call-and-response refrains while providing a healthy dollop of banter on top.
3
Jan 23 2022
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Bad Company
Bad Company
Only a few tracks here (mainly the title) stand out from a background of droll, almost muted songs that lack in originality and verve.
2
Jan 24 2022
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Only Built 4 Cuban Linx
Raekwon
Minimalistic production paired with easy-going bars. Nothing too memorable lyrics or backing-track wise, which is especially a disappointment for an album of this length.
2
Jan 25 2022
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Songs In The Key Of Life
Stevie Wonder
It’s to this album’s credit that it manages to be so entertaining enough as to warrant nearly 2 full hours of airtime. Not every song is a hit (and some tend to stay well past their welcome), but those that are pulse with a genuine, earned passion and joy that’s hard to turn off.
3
Jan 26 2022
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The Sensual World
Kate Bush
Nothing extremely memorable here - several tracks felt on the verge of taking off, but stayed at frustratingly mid-tempo paces. Lots of delivery with little payoff
2
Jan 27 2022
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Talking Book
Stevie Wonder
Wonder's vox come through much more powerfully here than on 'Key of Life,' a marked improvement given how talented he is as a singer. Though the LP feels more like a grab bag of songs rather than a cohesive album (too much tempo/styling variation), there are enough highs here to keep things enjoyable throughout the 45-minute runtime.
3
Jan 28 2022
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Oxygène
Jean-Michel Jarre
Might as well have come out in the 80s for how dated, excessive, and cloying it is. A lack of any melodic throughline means this is ambient music listening at best.
2
Jan 29 2022
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You've Come a Long Way Baby
Fatboy Slim
Some fun dance/house on this one, normally I’d be annoyed by the length and repetition but the beats are great and there’s enough tongue-in-cheek lyricism to make things work
3
Jan 30 2022
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Selected Ambient Works 85-92
Aphex Twin
Much less melodically driven than other AT works, dwells more in ethereal soundscapes and ideas than grounded song structures. This works intermittently throughout the album - the highs are enjoyable, but other tracks tend to fade into the background due to repetition or lack of meaningful melodic content.
3
Jan 31 2022
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Group Sex
Circle Jerks
Too ephemeral to leave much of an impression – tracks appear and exit before they are able to leave much of a melodic impression. I get that this is punk, just not seeing much to return to here.
2
Feb 01 2022
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The Black Saint And The Sinner Lady
Charles Mingus
A fun improv jazz album that hits harder than most on this list so far. The Spanish influences and melodic echoes throughout the track (especially the anthemic closer) bring this one to a new level and give it a bit of staying power.
3
Feb 02 2022
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Fulfillingness' First Finale
Stevie Wonder
Having taken one (1) astrophysics course in graduate school, I am completely qualified to make the following assessment:
If we estimate a zillion as being equal to 10^33 and take our reference point to heaven as the center of the universe, it is located ~10^24 light years away from the edge of the known universe. Assuming the rate of cosmic expansion holds constant at 67.4 km/s/megaparsec and taking the edge as a static point (not an extended unit of length that will expand itself), this implies that it will make contact with heaven in (10^12 ly)*(9.46*10^12 km/ly)*(67.4 km/s)^(-1)= half a million billion years (4.45*10^14 centuries).
2
Feb 03 2022
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Straight Outta Compton
N.W.A.
A hip-hop album that prefers to lay back in the groove with some more narrative bars. Wish there was a bit more variation in tempo and beats on this one, things seemed to run together after a bit.
3
Feb 04 2022
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Tago Mago
Can
The first quarter of this LP slays, full of crunchy krautrock riffs on top of smooth, infectious grooves. The rest is its Achilles heel, however, as things get way too experimental and out there to support interest in the rest of a 2 hour album.
2
Feb 05 2022
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Californication
Red Hot Chili Peppers
A whole different album beyond the singles that have been played to death on alternative rock/mainstream radio. Pleasantly surprised by the more hard-driving uptempo tracks on this one, as they push well beyond what's expected from an RHCP song. The slower, ballad-like tracks come out of left field as well, but balance some of the more indulgent energies on the rest of the LP.
3
Feb 06 2022
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Tapestry
Carole King
There are some powerful tracks where the lyrics shine through here, but for most of the LP it seems King's vocals are mixed directly in the instrumentals. Everything just tends to blend together as a result, obscuring the singer half of this singer-songwriter album.
3
Feb 07 2022
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Gentlemen
The Afghan Whigs
Starts off strong with powerful guitar leads and riveting vocals, but quickly dates itself back to the 90s on the back half with schmaltzy arrangements and questionable vocal delivery.
2
Feb 08 2022
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Lady Soul
Aretha Franklin
Most of the absolute classics on this one. The arrangements do tend to get a bit repetitive, but even then I wish some of the tracks were longer here - Franklin knows how to write a damn catchy verse.
3
Feb 09 2022
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KE*A*H** (Psalm 69)
Ministry
There are some genuinely interesting ideas and musical moments on here, they're just a bit washed out due to overlong arrangements. A bit of editing to cut the fat would've made this a 3-4 star album; as is, it's a bit of a slog to take in all at once.
2
Feb 10 2022
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Let England Shake
PJ Harvey
Disappointed in this one - feels way too tame for a Harvey album. Missing the usual frenetic, undeniable energy of her past LPs and feels deflated and limpid as a result.
2
Feb 11 2022
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Blue Lines
Massive Attack
Caught between the pull of early dancehall and soulful R&B, this LP lands smack dab in the disappointingly tepid middle. There are occasional flashes of the innovative production and sound design that would later characterize 'Mezzanine,' but here the highs aren't nearly frequent enough to keep the album from feeling like a chore.
2
Feb 12 2022
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Catch A Fire
Bob Marley & The Wailers
Listened to the deluxe version on Spotify which includes both the standard reggae versions + original album tracks. Refreshing to hear Marley rephrase his Jamaican reggae stylings into more modern arrangements of the time - it's a testament to his musicianship and passion that both versions both share a common thread but manage to have their own distinct sonic personality. While I'm still not the biggest fan of reggae for its inherent repetition and downtempo nature, the tracks here did grow on me as the LP progressed.
3
Feb 13 2022
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Back In Black
AC/DC
One of my favorite quotes is Angus Young saying “ I'm sick to death of people saying we've made 11 albums that sounds exactly the same, Infact, we've made 12 albums that sound exactly the same.” And hey, if your dumb horny rock n’ roll music ain’t broke, I certainly agree you shouldn’t fix it.
3
Feb 14 2022
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Repeater
Fugazi
Disappointed with this one - a lack of variation in both the guitar tone and melodic lines means everything just blurs into one big hardcore mess that's ultimately forgettable.
2
Feb 15 2022
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A Seat at the Table
Solange
Reminds me of a smaller-scale, more intimate version of FKA Twigs' LP1. Smaller-scale tracks rich in lush production are complemented well by meaningful, socially-focused interludes that give a loose sense of narrative without distracting from the album's flow.
3
Feb 16 2022
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Mothership Connection
Parliament
Missing the experimentation and energy of their other LPs. Most songs tend to beat an already dated melody to death over the course of 4-5 minutes, and even those that shine pale in comparison to the tracks this band can knowingly produce.
2
Feb 17 2022
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Wish You Were Here
Pink Floyd
While the middle tracks are a bit ho-hum standard Floyd rock, 'Diamond' absolutely dominates the LP with its swaggering synths and boisterous guitar. Not shying away from the true depths of prog means the final product sounds a little dated, but still maintains enough grandiosity to enthrall on each listen.
3
Feb 18 2022
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OK Computer
Radiohead
5
Feb 19 2022
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The Beach Boys Today!
The Beach Boys
Deeper vocals and less reliance on doo-whop harmony means this one stands out from the typical Beach Boy LP output. A bit of bite from the slightly overdriven guitars gives the whole production a bit of edge as well.
3
Feb 20 2022
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Street Signs
Ozomatli
An interesting blend of genres and influences that doesn't quite stick the landing - some tracks swirl with the perfect mix of Eastern/Latin/Hip-Hop rhythms, but others bite off more than they can chew and fall into a repetitive (and boring) holding pattern.
2
Feb 21 2022
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Club Classics Vol. One
Soul II Soul
Repetitive and cloying, mainly thanks to bargain-bin beats and the most British vocals you can find. Some tracks on the back half manage to eke their way into mildly catchy territory, but after the absolute slog of the first half the LP needs a lot more than a few bangers to atone for its sins.
1
Feb 22 2022
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Lust For Life
Iggy Pop
There are definite grooves and high points outside the frustratingly repetitive title track, but not nearly enough to elevate this album to anything memorable when it comes to rock.
2
Feb 23 2022
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Close To You
Carpenters
Most of this LP is what one would expect from the Carpenters, but there are a few curveballs in here that eschew the long ballad structure for more exciting uptempo jaunts. A decent (if not entirely memorable) listening experience
3
Feb 24 2022
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High Violet
The National
One thing I find so frustrating about this band is that they will let a song build and build and build... before just leaving it stuck in 2nd gear on a repeated refrain? There's no payoff to any of the tension built in unique arrangements and instrumentals, just kind of a dull fizzle as if the band ran out of steam halfway through writing the song.
2
Feb 25 2022
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The Nightfly
Donald Fagen
At first this is a somewhat fresh take for the 80s, still reveling in horribly-dated synths but keeping things scaled back production-wise as opposed to an all-out assault on the ears. Even this quirk isn’t enough to save the album from droll repetition, though, as crooning can only get you so far when all the backing tracks sound the same.
2
Feb 26 2022
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The Specials
The Specials
The unique, quirky ska energy manages to keep things fresh for about 3-4 songs before the bit gets stale. Little variation in rythms, instrumentation, or arrangements means everything starts to blend together into 40 or so minutes of British whining and vaguely reggae-ish beats.
2
Feb 27 2022
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Hard Again
Muddy Waters
An in-situ (and even meta) look at the transition between Delta blues and what would eventually become rock n' roll. Some tracks run a bit longer than they can sustain interest for, but the LP mostly delights with infectious energy, passion, and historical interest.
3
Feb 28 2022
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Faith
George Michael
Kudos to this LP for wearing its aggressively horny heart on its sleeve. Michael manages to get away with this in no small part to how endearing and catchy these songs are - some stray into standard cheesy ballad territory, but most keep things lively and interesting beyond what one would expect.
3
Mar 01 2022
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Deep Purple In Rock
Deep Purple
Whatever catchy initial hook these songs enter with is inevitably lost under 4-5 minutes of gratuitous, unnecessary guitar soloing. This band cannot just let a track breathe (or end in a reasonable amount of time).
2
Mar 02 2022
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Brilliant Corners
Thelonious Monk
A good if not wholly memorable jazz LP. The performances are fluid and graceful, just not anything I think will stick in my memory.
3
Mar 03 2022
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London Calling
The Clash
Classic tracks aside this album earns points for how varied and experimental it's willing to be - no two songs seem to rely on the same structure or tempo, and as a result things stay relatively fresh throughout the LP. While the guitar tone could be a bit more pronounced in the mix and the tracks a tad more memorable, the project still sounds modern and engaging enough to warrant a re-listen.
3
Mar 04 2022
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Elvis Is Back
Elvis Presley
Seems almost like a throwaway album the studio put out as an afterthought. Some of the melodies are catchy, but most songs just exist for two minutes and peter out into nothing almost as if Elvis gave up trying to find a suitable ending and just left the stage. Goes without saying this isn't a wholly memorable project.
2
Mar 05 2022
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Fear Of A Black Planet
Public Enemy
A rare miss for this group - usually the beats and bars hit hard and fast on a Public Enemy album, but here they feel a bit tired and repetitive. The subject matter and flow is still at the top of its game, but there aren't as many standout tracks or even individual mic-drop lyrics I know this group is capable of.
2
Mar 06 2022
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Blood On The Tracks
Bob Dylan
My dad does an absolutely over-the-top, sidesplitting parody of Bob Dylan and that's all I can really think about as poor Bob slurs his way through one repetitive chorus after another on this one.
2
Mar 07 2022
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GREY Area
Little Simz
Even for a shorter runtime this LP can't hold enough interest to be more than background music. Occasionally a memorable bar or beat will slip through, but Simz' doesn't put up nearly enough on the production or lyricism front to warrant a re-listen.
2
Mar 08 2022
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Run-D.M.C.
Run-D.M.C.
Missing the energy of their later efforts - there's a latent sense of the fun lyricism and infectious beats that would later define the outfit, but the creativity here feels stifled and mute compared to what comes later in DMC's discography.
2
Mar 09 2022
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The Poet
Bobby Womack
An enjoyable mix of uptempo soul and smooth R&B. Some tracks get a bit repetitive towards the end of their lengthy runtimes, but a healthy dose of slap bass sitting forward in the mix means even these moments feel infectiously groovy.
3
Mar 10 2022
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Rising Above Bedlam
Jah Wobble's Invaders Of The Heart
The arrangements are repetitive, the vocals are just plain bad (or irritating, take your pick), the sound is dated, and the ideas were already done better in the 80s. Nothing salvageable here at all.
1
Mar 11 2022
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Rust In Peace
Megadeth
Solid metal album - appreciated the variation in instrumental arrangements so it wasn’t just 40 straight minutes of chugging. Some questionable vocals near the end, but overall an enjoyable listen (which is apparently more than I can usually say for LPs in this genre)
3
Mar 12 2022
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Surf's Up
The Beach Boys
From PSAs about your feet to ripping student riot manifestos, this LP clearly isn’t interested in any kind of coherence as a musical whole. It does read as genuine, however, mostly thanks in part to the passion and catchiness that are a part of every tune on here no matter how diverse.
3
Mar 13 2022
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Stardust
Willie Nelson
Not nearly enough energy here to sustain interest for even a sub-40 minute LP. Nelson can write a great country ballad, but without any uptempo tracks in the mix to balance them out this album becomes a snoozefest real quick.
2
Mar 14 2022
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Third
Portishead
Full of surprising guitar tones and production choices, this LP caught me off guard as I haven't been a fan of Portishead's earlier works (which I found to be mired in unexceptional instrumentation and mumbled lyrics). The whole band seems sharper here, as the production brings out challenging, unresolved chord progressions that highlight the simmering emotion in Gibbons' vox.
4
Mar 15 2022
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My Generation
The Who
A decent rock LP that shines when it sticks to the janglier guitar tones and livelier, catchy arrangements. Does lose itself in the middle with an ill-advised try at Delta Blues + some other genres that don't suit the band well, but the sheer number of tracks manage to produce enough winners to make for an overall pleasant listen.
3
Mar 16 2022
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Honky Tonk Heroes
Waylon Jennings
Shines in its uptempo moments but not enough to break the mold of usual 70s country.
2
Mar 17 2022
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White Ladder
David Gray
This LP has aged worse than spoiled milk - the drums sound straight out of the 90s Korg catalog, and the synths could be presets on any old synth you'd find at a garage sale. The only part that makes this semi-tolerable are the mildly unique arrangements, but even those are hard to find under Gray's melodramatic vox.
2
Mar 18 2022
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Jagged Little Pill
Alanis Morissette
An interesting mix of singer-songwriter downtempo ballads and high-energy rock tracks. Alanis' domineering vocals and unique songwriting means the latter land in unforgettably catchy territory, though that's balanced out by the more generic, ho-hum ballads. Tried my best to give this one a fair shake, nearly 1/2 of the album was already engraved in my mind from listening to the radio in the car as a kid.
3
Mar 19 2022
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Fever To Tell
Yeah Yeah Yeahs
Reminds me of a punkier, more abstract Screaming Females with a layer of slick, chimey production on top as was common in early-aughts indie. It does seem to me the album loses steam halfway through, especially as Karen O's vocals tend to wear thin. However, the sound and orchestration of the tracks are killer - if the band had varied things a little throughout the album's runtime this would easily be a 4-5 star LP.
3
Mar 20 2022
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The Hangman's Beautiful Daughter
The Incredible String Band
A bit downtempo and acoustic for my tastes - there are several interesting vocal touches on choruses, but not enough to keep things from getting stale across the 40-minute runtime. That being said, this hardly deserves to be one of the lowest globally rated albums in the project given some other LPs I’ve heard…
2
Mar 21 2022
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Chris
Christine and the Queens
Listened to both the English and French versions and felt the latter flowed better - the rich production complemented by the lyrical flow of the less-angular vocals made the LP feel warm and syrupy. This was both a benefit and detriment, as the synths are top-notch and the production clear without being overpowering, yet there's just too much here to stomach all in one sitting as the melodies vary little from track to track (though maybe that's because I listened to the whole 2LP at once).
3
Mar 22 2022
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The Downward Spiral
Nine Inch Nails
Caught between the push-pull of the harder industrial tones and attempts at enveloping melody, this LP ends up feeling disjointed and a bit unpolished. There could have been great synergy between these two goals, but each song tends to lean so hard one way or the other it's hard to find this a cohesive product rather than a grab bag of ideas thrown together. Throw a 14-year old's version of "edgy" lyrics on top and this one just feels misguided and half-baked.
2
Mar 23 2022
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Cypress Hill
Cypress Hill
Most tracks start out strong with great samples and defiant bars, but run into trouble when they get stuck in an infinite loop (i.e, "Hole In the Head") before hitting lazy fade-outs every single time. The LP would be so much well-composed if the tracks maintained their energy through variation and actual endings rather than disappearing like puffs of smoke once they've seemingly run out of ideas...
2
Mar 24 2022
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The Scream
Siouxsie And The Banshees
Lo-fi punk rock that's just interesting enough to be listenable while still serving as decent background music while I worked today. Will say the energy starts off strong on this one, but the arrangements and vocals became a bit repetitive about midway through - there are still some surprises on the back half, but nothing that blew me away.
3
Mar 25 2022
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The Rise & Fall
Madness
An enjoyable standard Britpop outing, a bit more listenable than its brethren as each track displays individuality while maintaining the core sound of the band. A few songs here and there drag on, but most have catchy enough hooks to sustain interest. Excellent production as well, everything on here is clear as day.
3
Mar 26 2022
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Juju
Siouxsie And The Banshees
Dated in all the best ways - heavy but not overpowering use of flanger, grungy lo-fi production that sounds like it was done on a dive bar's DI, drawn-out vocals that carry from one verse into another. The intersection of post-punk and 80s glam and it sounds damn good.
4
Mar 27 2022
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Armed Forces
Elvis Costello & The Attractions
Costello's voice sounds like what would result if you asked an AI to recreate Lenny Kravitz and it produced a soulless, uncanny-valley esque replica but also it kind of sounds squeaky and clown-like? If that wasn't enough there are some boggling songwriting decisions on this one - never mind several of the tracks borrow chord progressions from each other, ending a verse on you crooning 'garbage' or 'barbershop' with way too much vibrato is just odd and a little disconcerting. Never mind the fact Elvis thinks he has an n-word pass...
1
Mar 28 2022
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Layla And Other Assorted Love Songs
Derek & The Dominos
A decent, if overlong, classic rock LP. Definitely wears thin by the end, but the guitar tone is so good and the solos so bread-and-butter blues rock that I was able to find myself nodding along most of the time.
3
Mar 29 2022
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Dookie
Green Day
An absolute classic. This album's secret weapons are both the strong, memorable basslines and presence throughout + Billy Joel's intuitive sense of melodic rhythm and harmony. Pushing and pulling against the instrumental, Armstrong's verses elevate this LP from standard punk to a deserving classic.
3
Mar 30 2022
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Music in Exile
Songhoy Blues
There’s more authenticity on this single LP than all of last year’s Top 40 releases combined. While not breaking any new ground musically, Songhoy are playing directly from the heart with all the chops needed to back it up. Exceedingly rare to hear music made simply for expressions sake, and though this may be ‘just’ a blues-inspired rock album it’s a damn good listen when all is said and done.
4
Mar 31 2022
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evermore
Taylor Swift
In which domineering pop icon Taylor Swift co-opts and bastardizes the label of 'indie' to take up shelf space and sales that should've gone to actual indie artists
Musically I can't add anything new to what's already been said here. The album is inoffensive and blandish, but not altogether unlistenable. What has always repulsed me from Swift's music is the blatant inauthenticity in her image and actions. From the time when she pulled her music from Spotify because she 'wasn't making enough' (when her net worth was already in the millions) to now, where she attempts to pass as a reformed indie artist in some sort of half-assed musical rebirth, everything has been a calculated play not in the interest of making music but money. Swift is a cultural chimera, adapting her image to whatever will sell the most albums actual musical content be damned. Her true artistry ended after she abandoned thoughtful songwriting and actually decent musicianship on the first two country albums and traded them in for the big bucks making soulless pop smashes that dominated the cultural zeitgeist for years. So no, Taylor, you don't get to claim to be an indie artist after topping the Billboard time and time again, no matter how many attempted soulful piano ballads and The National collabs you stick on one LP.
2
Apr 01 2022
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Bug
Dinosaur Jr.
A standard Dinosaur Jr. outing, save for some younger J. Mascis vocals that help the LP evoke an almost heavier Pavement-like sound. No tracks that really leap out, but this band has undeniable chops which mean the album is an enjoyable listen.
3
Apr 02 2022
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Fear Of Music
Talking Heads
I've been trying to get into this band for what feels like forever, and I think this is the album that finally opened the door a bit. Each track is distinct 'Heads' material, but the off-kilter guitar tones now match up to Byrne's eclectic delivery and leave every song an earworm. Lots of head-turners in terms of instrumentation, rhythm, and production only complement the sense of artistic weirdness and make this a fun but easily digestible listen.
4
Apr 03 2022
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Basket of Light
Pentangle
Started off at a 2-star level as I expected yet another retread of the tired Scarborough fair sound, but improved along the way. There are some fun rhythms and vocal interplay on this LP, and while not wholly memorable it does stand out just a bit more among a crowded field in this project so far.
3
Apr 04 2022
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The Lexicon Of Love
ABC
I can't well give this a one as there's a certain point where it becomes such a parody of itself it crosses into 'so bad it's good' territory. Highlights and personal favs include -
1) The opening track maintaining a sense of seriousness for all of 30 seconds before laying on the 80s synths as thickly as possible.
2) The mildly porno slap basslines on a few songs where regular bass would've been just fine
3) How every song's chorus includes an awful two-word or so vocal tag (sHoW mE, shOw ME)
4) The point where the band's songwriting gives out and devolves into, I shit you not, "Hip hip hooray...Yippee ai yippee aiay!!"
5) A song that tries to make everyone's most-hated retail job into a convoluted metaphor about being horny
6) A reference to the 12 disciples on a track called "4 ever 2 Gether [sic]"
And many more. So yes, this is a musical dumpster fire, but it's at least an entertaining one
2
Apr 05 2022
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Rumours
Fleetwood Mac
If you asked 1000 people to name one song off this album and made a histogram of the results, 99% of the answers would involve 'Dreams,' 'Go Your Own Way,' or 'The Chain.' This isn't a knock on the LP, but it definitely depends on a few anthemic tracks that have stood the test of time for most of its impact. The other songs are pleasant, but lack the absolute verve that these 3 powerhouses incorporate (as well as feeling a little dated... Wurlitzer much?), and it's hard not to feel as if they're filler around absolute killer in an album that dominates vinyl sales even today. The additional reliance on fadeouts for the end of every track gives the album an almost unfinished feel as well.
3
Apr 06 2022
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All Directions
The Temptations
A decent R&B/rock crossover LP. The driving track feels a bit overlong for how threadbare it is, but most of the other songs are equipped with catchy enough hooks and plenty of envelope filter to get the job done without too much fuss.
3
Apr 07 2022
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Let's Stay Together
Al Green
This one didn't escape background music level for me - there are some interesting melodies and Green's voice is generally pleasing in delivery, just not any solid hooks I found to grab onto here.
2
Apr 08 2022
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Hotel California
Eagles
One of the stronger pillars of my parents’ marriage is their shared hatred for Hotel California to the point where I was not allowed to play it on Guitar Hero World Tour in their presence.
I don’t share the same level of disdain, but there’s not much to like here either.
2
Apr 09 2022
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More Songs About Buildings And Food
Talking Heads
Not as immediate or charming as their other work, meaning it ends up in standard twee territory and lacks some of the eclectic energy that makes a Talking Heads LP stand out. Bonus star for the pure nostalgia of 'Take Me to The River' - my great uncle had an animatronic mounted fish that flopped around and sang this song, and I was ultimately banned from using it because I loved hearing it sing so much.
3
Apr 10 2022
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Live At Leeds
The Who
Lacks the energy of a truly great live album, and the culprit lies mainly with the vocal performance. There's a great selection of the band's hits and best B-sides at play, the instrumentals are charged and rip through the mix, but Daltrey sounds tired and is buried underneath everything else to the point where even his stage banter seems forced.
2
Apr 11 2022
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Skylarking
XTC
Solid in the first half, with interesting and unexpected melodies for an 80s Brit pop effort. Unfortunately gives in to its roots on the back, resorting to that intolerable sniveling vocal delivery the Brits were so fond of at the time plus overdramatic yet somehow equally bland songwriting.
2
Apr 12 2022
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The Velvet Underground
The Velvet Underground
A more relaxed and low-key affair from a usually eclectic band. Could use some more uptempo tracks, but what's here is enjoyable and listenable enough as is.
3
Apr 13 2022
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Infected
The The
Contains some sparks of the well-thought-out songwriting on S/T, but lacks in the memorability department. This LP kind of washed over me - I didn't mind most of it (though some parts leaned heavily on standard 80s indulgences, mostly synths), but found nothing to latch on to here.
2
Apr 14 2022
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Graceland
Paul Simon
A left turn of a Paul Simon album that eschews his usual warm, bare-bones guitar-based style for a distinctly unique take on the 80s. A wealth of genres and styles are sampled on this LP, but none clash or overwhelm in the way that most 80s records tend to do; this is still Simon's sound and songwriting, just clad in the sounds of its time.
3
Apr 15 2022
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Beach Samba
Astrud Gilberto
For Gilberto's Brazilian roots this album sounds surprisingly French, with light and airy guitar/other instrumentals floating along in time to her powerful but not overpowering vocals. Some tracks do fall flat (any song that includes a child sing-along is an instant no from me), but most of this brief LP delights.
3
Apr 16 2022
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Definitely Maybe
Oasis
A lesser outing as compared to the masterpiece of 'Morning Glory' that would follow in '95. That being said, this isn't a bad album by any means - one can hear the slow churn of early grunge mixing in with Britpop, even if the two disparate genres still seem a little at odds.
3
Apr 17 2022
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Something/Anything?
Todd Rundgren
Starts off strong with some wonderful meta touches (the recording dialogue was amazing), but with the back half being live takes and demos the overall LP feels overstuffed and half-baked. Would be much stronger with most of the second half left on the cutting-room floor
2
Apr 18 2022
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461 Ocean Boulevard
Eric Clapton
Barely a 2 - while there are a few fun tracks here, the others test patience to the extreme by riding on one or two unimaginative progressions/riffs for much longer than they can hope to sustain. I get this LP has a heavy blues influence which entails some repetition, but there's a complete lack of improvisational energy that's necessary to make these tracks not grate after 5 minutes of the same two chords.
2
Apr 19 2022
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Made In Japan
Deep Purple
Live albums require a good deal of energy and focus to even hope of matching the energy of an in-person show. This outing starts strong but quickly fades in the effort as it gets lost in gratuitous soloing and fills that just don't translate from a live setting to wax.
2
Apr 20 2022
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Immigrés
Youssou N'Dour
A fun, vibrant LP - the longer track lengths and relative lack of vocals means this one falls into the background music category a bit, but not in a negative way.
3
Apr 21 2022
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First Band On The Moon
The Cardigans
What seems a standard twee pop album quickly expands to become an interesting exploration in pop arrangement and instrumentation. While 'Lovefool' steals most of the LP's spotlight, it's the at-times discordant progressions and off-kilter rhythms that make the tracks here so memorable and engaging.
4
Apr 22 2022
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Melodrama
Lorde
This LP was a disappointment to me in 2017 and remains so to this day. I'm not going to get into an Antonoff hate rant (there's plenty of discussion on that already in these reviews), but for the follow up to "Pure Heroine"'s dark instrumentals, encompassing production, and intoxicating feel overall to be so flat and lifeless is just depressing. This album fades into the background, doesn't demand attention as its predecessor did - each song is so overengineered and wrapped in such a thick layer of production gloss that it goes down without a thought, each track another 'perfect' pop song without much personality or any distinguishing features. The continuing homogenization of music does nothing but disappoint, and this LP is unfortunately a good example as to why.
2
Apr 23 2022
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The Village Green Preservation Society
The Kinks
Most of the tracks here are interesting enough, just wish this LP could maintain a single plot thread – veers all over the place genre-wise, from straight 60s' rock to Beach Boys-esque ballads.
3
Apr 24 2022
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Nowhere
Ride
As a shoegaze fan, I found myself subconsciously avoiding this LP for some reason. Found it refreshing to dive in and find a rich, substantial album that escapes feeling dated while delivering on a wide sonic palette. The early Britpop foundations of shoegaze as a genre shine here, imbuing a strong melodic body without carrying over the awful remnants of the 80s. Not every track finds its own voice, but those that do stun with the heavy guitar lines that would become fundamental in later gazer works.
4
Apr 25 2022
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Vespertine
Björk
Despite some of Björk's irritating vocal tics, this is a mostly enjoyable LP. The production is lush and encompassing, and the instrumentals generally offer interesting melodic progressions intertwined with the singer's swooping delivery. Could use some editing, though, as most tracks exhaust their ideas by the halfway point.
3
Apr 26 2022
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Loveless
My Bloody Valentine
No album in the past 30 years has come close to revolutionizing the guitar as an instrument as much as this LP did. Each track leaves no inch of production space unused as every inch of the sonic spectrum is slathered in crunchy mids, ridiculous amounts of feedback, and healthy dollops of reverb to round everything out. It took bankrupting a whole record label to find out that guitars could sound as alive and real as this, but it was worth every penny.
This album is not without its flaws - mbv can't write a dynamic song structure to save their life, and I fully understand people who get bored with this LP. For me at least, however, the lack of dynamism is excused when the instrumentation and melodic structures are /this damn good/. 'To Here Knows When' may be the same sound and general 'aaaAAAaah' lyrics for 3 minutes on end, but hell if it isn't the most beautiful thing I've ever heard come out of a shitty tube amp. The inklings of early 'gaze on 'Isn't Anything' ignite into fully realized bliss here as artistry and instrument collide, the band's experimentation and creativity coming through clear on each song. A personal fav moment has to be the entirety of 'Sometimes' - the mental imagery for me has always been as if Shields covered the entire guitar line in gasoline and lit it ablaze, the longing and melancholy of the melodic line backlit by the warm flickers of fuzz.
30 years on, it's clear why this LP continues to inspire new generations of guitarists and musicians despite how abstract and uninviting it may seem on first listen. Who knew fucking around with pedals could create one of the best albums of all time?
5
Apr 27 2022
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Shake Your Money Maker
The Black Crowes
Hated this a little less than I expected too given these tracks were plastered all over rock radio throughout my childhood. There are some genuinely good riffs and melodic ideas here, they’re just buried under either track lengths that are way too long or vocals that grate to the extreme
2
Apr 28 2022
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Shalimar
Rahul Dev Burman
It's not entirely fair to judge a soundtrack without knowledge of the film and its context, but I doubt any film could give much order to the smattering of tracks here. Jabs at American big band, Spanish classical, and others are mixed in with a constant undercurrent of Bollywood that just feels a little half-baked as a whole.
2
Apr 29 2022
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1999
Prince
Just like Prince to release an LP 17 years ahead of its eponymic title, only for it to still sound as if it came right at the turn of the century. Not every track here is perfect and a few tend to drag on a bit longer than they have the melodic power to, but most are infectiously catchy across the board and are still listenable today (something that can't be said for most 80s music).
3
Apr 30 2022
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We Are Family
Sister Sledge
Good production and melodies on this one, just not enough distinct material to sustain much interest.
2
May 01 2022
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Either Or
Elliott Smith
While I think I prefer the larger production and uptempo feel of 'Figure Eight,' this LP offers a collection of beautiful, small-scale tracks that highlight Elliot's penchant for simple but poignant songwriting.
3
May 02 2022
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Tracy Chapman
Tracy Chapman
Wish this LP offered more of Chapman's vocal range - her vocals are stunning, but remain firmly in the midrange for the entirety of the record leading to a sense of monotony. Doesn't help that the instrumentals have aged poorly and read as quite dated.
2
May 03 2022
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The Man Who
Travis
Tries to hit the sweet spot between nascent '00s-indie (think Guster/Keane) and Radiohead-esque grunge roc,k but lands more in the doldrums reserved for forgettable contemporary radio you hear while waiting in the doctor's office.
2
May 04 2022
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Time Out Of Mind
Bob Dylan
While refreshing to hear Bob with a bit more instrumentation and production around him, it's quite frustrating when he does absolutely /nothing/ with it. This isn't a 1-star LP (that's reserved more for albums I feel antipathy towards), but it's close due to committing the cardinal sin of any media: being boring. None of the instrumentals on this thing go anywhere or make any statements, which leaves Dylan's cig-decimated vox to pick up the slack (spoiler: they don't). There's no narrative or melodic excitement to be found here, and closing things out with 16 minutes of monotony is the ultimate frustrating footnote.
2
May 05 2022
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Warehouse: Songs And Stories
Hüsker Dü
Doesn't commit too many fouls outside of some annoying vocal rhythms, but quickly wears thin after 40+ minutes of repetitive melodic lines... when there's still half an hour left to go. Some editing of the filler tracks could've made this a tight, exuberant rock LP but as is it's just way too bloated an album.
2
May 06 2022
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Innervisions
Stevie Wonder
True to its title - some broader, more experimental compositions from Wonder that stray outside his usual comfort zone. Not all land successfully, but there’s enough energy here for a solid toe-tapping listen.
3
May 07 2022
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Daydream Nation
Sonic Youth
A bit too much of a good thing when it comes to the song structures on this one. The grungy wall-of-sound guitar approach means there's plenty to love sonically, but things do tend to blur together with how low the vocals and other instruments sit in the mix.
3
May 08 2022
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Future Days
Can
Can albums are challenging in that they're usually a joy to listen to, but lack the melodic staying power necessary to be memorable in any sense. Exact case here - this was an enjoyable 40 minutes of psych-rock, but I'm pressed to remember any exact phrases that stayed with me.
2
May 09 2022
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Blonde On Blonde
Bob Dylan
The only benefit I got out of listening to this album is figuring out where that one Death Grips song title comes from
2
May 10 2022
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Step In The Arena
Gang Starr
Picks up steam as it goes along but can't escape some fatal design flaws – most beats are built around either repetitive or straight-up annoying samples (or both!) that grate across the space of a 3-minute track, and the bars tend to feel somewhat monotone and uninspired. There are several high points where the production and delivery rise to the occasion, but mostly this LP just feels a bit hollow.
2
May 11 2022
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Maxinquaye
Tricky
There are several moments on this LP where everything clicks into the place and the songs mix off-kilter production with sly vocals to great effect. For the most part, however, the production is either too obtuse or the vocals too cringe-inducing to listen to these tracks more than once.
2
May 12 2022
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Aladdin Sane
David Bowie
One of Bowie's best guitar-wise – Lots of fun tones and tricks on here that pull standard guitar cliches of the time into fun, transgressive statements in the way only Bowie could. Doesn't settle wholly into a cohesive LP as some of the more experimental tracks are a bit hit-and-miss, but a fun listen per usual from Dave's discography.
3
May 13 2022
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Rubber Soul
Beatles
This is probably the Beatles album I'm least familiar with, so I found myself pleasantly surprised by how strong the songwriting is here. Not too many fancy instrumental tricks or experimental styles, just good instrumentation and lyricism executed to a T with genuine feeling.
4
May 14 2022
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Brothers
The Black Keys
I remember when 'Tighten Up' swept pop radio airwaves back in middle school, and looking back the feat seems even more impressive given several pop titans such as Lorde and Adele were on the rise. It helps that the Delta Blues styled songwriting lends itself to simple, catchy melodies that can sustain 3-4 minute tracks, but Auerbach deserves credit for injecting just the slightest touch of synths and slick production to make the LP more digestible in the ultrapop age. I don't know if this album deserves more than 3 stars (the songwriting isn't super dynamic, and I don't know if we'll be talking about this album in 10 years time outside of a Stereogum anniversary post), but it deserves quite a bit of credit for clawing its way onto the charts in the first place.
3
May 15 2022
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I’m a Lonesome Fugitive
Merle Haggard
While still miles better than today's country offerings, this one falls a bit flat for me just based on preference. Much more in the Johnny Cash-style uptempo lawless classic country camp, as opposed to the slower, slide-guitar and chorus-driven love ballads found here.
2
May 16 2022
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Nothing's Shocking
Jane's Addiction
There's a decent metal album (one well ahead of its time) somewhere on this LP, it's just buried underneath dated gratuitous guitar solos and the repetitive vocal stylings of the 80s.
2
May 17 2022
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Off The Wall
Michael Jackson
At the risk of sounding culturally inept, I didn't know that the heavy hitters that begin this LP were by Michael Jackson (though the vocals and production flair should have made this obvious in hindsight). While these early tracks wow, the energy definitely decays across the remainder of the album as things drift into Muzak territory. There aren't enough novel melodic ideas or song structures on the back half to spark interest, so the overall enjoyment droops as the LP runs.
2
May 18 2022
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Vulgar Display Of Power
Pantera
Does better than the usual metal album at keeping things interesting and varied. The wide variety of rhythmic structures and guitar tones here keep the LP from falling into the usual metal doldrums of endless mid-heavy guitar tone and chugging riffs for 40 minutes straight.
3
May 19 2022
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Ágætis Byrjun
Sigur Rós
Symphonic post-rock at its finest, an enveloping hour and ten minutes of warm, gazey guitar and ethereal vocals that consumes the entirety of the soundstage. Not easy listening by any means - this is an LP that requires full playback for the best experience, but rewards those willing to listen.
4
May 20 2022
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New Gold Dream (81/82/83/84)
Simple Minds
This album managed to be so stereotypically yet inoffensively 80s that it really went in one ear and out the other. Couldn’t name you a single melody beyond some vague gestures at chorus-heavy guitar if I tried.
2
May 21 2022
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Remain In Light
Talking Heads
This is my fourth TH album in the project, and I’m glad I had a chance to hit the prerequisites before arriving at this one. To the uninitiated, this album may seem obtuse, overlong, and hard to vibe with; but those who know the Heads formula, this is the epitome of their free-flowing, organic, and near-improvisational nature. I didn’t find every track on here enjoyable, but those I did fell into such a strong and memorable groove that it’s hard to remove the hooks even hours later.
3
May 22 2022
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Bossanova
Pixies
Sits at the intersection of the decades gracefully, calling back to 80s guitar tones and melodies (some things on here sound verbatim Clash) while dialing up the distortion that would pervade the 90s grunge scene. Not all tracks on here are memorable or enjoyable, but the LP still deserves big props for balancing such a notable shift in popular styles as well as it does.
3
May 23 2022
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Exile In Guyville
Liz Phair
While there's definitely some radio filler on here, most of the LP shines with mesmerizing songwriting and decent instrumentals. I'm not big on lyrics so much as form, but Phair's vocals make it impossible to ignore the narrative structures that clearly drive each track.
3
May 24 2022
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Drunk
Thundercat
This album excels in its willingness to be fun and freewheeling while still managing to smuggle in serious topics and discussion into its stream-of-consciousness delivery. The instrumentation is wild and distinct across each track, giving a cohesive feel to the LP while allowing each track (even the tiny interludes) to have distinct personalities. Overall, a fun ride with hidden undercurrents that warrants endless relistening.
4
May 25 2022
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The Bends
Radiohead
This may well be Radiohead's best /rock/ album – There are only hints of the experimental band that would emerge with OK Computer a few years later, meaning Yorke and Co. were still in their nascent grungy days preceding the tentative debut of Pablo Honey. This LP certainly dips into grunge for a good chunk of its sound, but manages to escape feeling dated with an iron core of catchy melodies and restrained but beautiful instrumentation. Not every track is a winner ("High and Dry" has always bugged me for how much of a whiny, repetitive Oasis-like ballad it is), but from the spacey "Planet Telex" to the chilling "Street Spirit," Radiohead were at their prime here when it came to primarily guitar-driven tracks. "The Bends," "Just," and "My Iron Lung" are still some of my all-time favs to play on guitar – the progressions here aren't revolutionary, but they're distinctly unique enough and just plain fun, catchy, and evocative of a harder Radiohead sound I do tend to miss on the newer albums.
4
May 26 2022
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Chicago Transit Authority
Chicago
A fun mixture of big band and rock instrumentation that provides an instant nostalgia shot. While the more anthemic nature of the LP means I don't see myself returning to all the tracks for easy listening, the album as a whole is a toe-tapping ride from start to finish.
3
May 27 2022
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White Blood Cells
The White Stripes
While I wasn't on the music scene in my toddler years, I can only imagine the jolt this sharp, directed LP delivered at the time. Clean-cut, searing guitar riffs pulling from both the blues and grunge over tight, effective drums - nothing more and nothing less. Compressing De Stijl's nascent lo-fi idealism into a guitar-driven gut punch, there's no instrumental or production ornamentation necessary here. Whether slow-burning or white-knuckling in their delivery, the Whites' were at their absolute prime and the result is one of the best rock albums of the century.
4
May 28 2022
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The White Album
Beatles
Some of my absolute favorite Beatles tracks on this one. The range of sonic and lyrical experimentation here is astounding, and demonstrates how innovative the band could be once they dropped the pop focus. The use of early distortion tones is a key feature to note - my dad told me how the blown-out intro riff on 'Revolution' floored him at the time because nothing else before it had sounded quite like that. I do think this album falls a bit short of 5 stars as there's no hope of cohesion as a full LP given how many genres and styles exist alongside one another, but the highs are plentiful and represent the most exciting and out-there tracks of the Beatles' long career.
4
May 29 2022
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Otis Blue/Otis Redding Sings Soul
Otis Redding
A solid collection of well-orchestrated covers that Redding absolutely nails the delivery on. This isn't my preferred genre and the LP isn't mind-bending, but still a well-executed and enjoyable listen that I wouldn't mind revisiting.
3
May 30 2022
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Electric Warrior
T. Rex
The early notes of slacker rock take hold here, each track unhurried but delivered with clear focus and enchanting progressions. This does mean a few tracks last a bit longer than they should (a minute could easily be chopped off most of the tracks here), but the earnest and lyrical storytelling + varied instrumentation mean even the overlong tracks float by enjoyably.
3
May 31 2022
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Live And Dangerous
Thin Lizzy
A live album gives the opportunity for a band to create a larger-than-life experience, an LP that conveys the excitement of the crowd and experimentation of the band on playback. Kind of hard to excel at that when you play the tracks straight off their respective LPs with no flair and the crowd can't be bothered to clap/respond in time with the music.
2
Jun 01 2022
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Dummy
Portishead
The early notes of Portishead magic are here, but they're much too dated and buried underneath abstruse arrangements to make much of an impact. I'll always be a "Third" fan (likely a function of my age, but who knows), and to me that LP works because it has the perfect mix of dynamic contrast and emotion – this one doesn't hit the right balance between loud and soft, emotional and out-there to really leave a favorable impact
2
Jun 02 2022
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I Against I
Bad Brains
Not nearly as tight or exciting as their debut album, more so tainted by the general 80s tendency for repetitive vox and uninspiring, repetitive instrumentals (even by punk standards where the songs are under two minutes).
2
Jun 03 2022
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Hounds Of Love
Kate Bush
An 80s album that has surprisingly stood the test of time - whether the choice to put Bush's enamoring, demanding vocals forward in the mix or to eschew the dated synth sounds of the time, this LP still holds up today. Not every track is a winner, with the slower pieces coming closest to evoking the dreaded stereotypes of the decade, but when the tempo keeps pace the album charges forward triumphantly.
3
Jun 04 2022
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A Girl Called Dusty
Dusty Springfield
I have a soft spot for these late 50s/early 60s crooner records, mainly because they were written at a time when narrative storytelling was essentially the whole point of each song. Dusty's voice cuts clear through the mix and delivers a powerful, impactful performance (even if the subject matter is the same for every single song). The big band instrumentation, while not revolutionary in any sense, adds the necessary pomp and drama to deliver an experience.
3
Jun 05 2022
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Fire Of Love
The Gun Club
On paper, this album should be well within my wheelhouse – fast-paced, deeply rhythmic, guitar-driven, and lo-fi as all hell. Where the LP loses me is its inability to see beyond progressions with more than the same 2-3 chords. /Everything/ seems to be centered around a C or Emaj, so the initial excitement quickly gives way to melodic blandness. Really wanted to love this mix of proto-punk with a little twang, but the substance just isn't there.
2
Jun 06 2022
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The Wall
Pink Floyd
Builds up some grand, anthemic feeling across 80 minutes of runtime, but for what? The thematic impact is nil when most of the tracks are formless, amorphous blobs of dates 80s synths and none of the awesome guitar work this band displayed on ‘Dark Side.’
2
Jun 07 2022
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Moondance
Van Morrison
A decent singer-songwriter LP. Well-fleshed, catchy instrumentals and good vox, nothing too memorable but still a good listen.
3
Jun 08 2022
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Swordfishtrombones
Tom Waits
I'm not sure how many packs Waits chain-smoked a day, but I know it was enough to give me secondhand smoke from listening to this.
1
Jun 09 2022
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KIWANUKA
Michael Kiwanuka
I don't think I've heard an album unbeholden to genre since the last few Avalanches releases - manages to pay homage to several styles without becoming trapped within them. There could be a bit of a stronger melodic throughline (things do tend to become a tad too amorphous for any sense of strong cohesion), but the songs stand strong on their own and I have no doubt they'll end up in my heavy rotation.
4
Jun 10 2022
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Histoire De Melody Nelson
Serge Gainsbourg
Definitely would've enjoyed this more if I knew how to speak French. The guitar work is delectably lo-fi and loose throughout the LP, but the spoken-word focus means I found myself waiting out some sections as the narrative part of this concept album took center stage.
2
Jun 11 2022
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Pornography
The Cure
Absolutely stunning and timeless album for being released so early into the 80s. The miracle of this LP is how it defines some of the musical tropes of the decade (see espec. the Cure's trademark chorus-based guitar tones) without making itself a relic of the time – one or two instrumental aspects of each song will date the track to the 80s, but once the full mix prevails that quickly becomes forgotten. Couple this with stunningly dark melodic compositions and proto-gaze wall-of-sound production and you have an album that is both a product of its time and yet timeless in itself. My only complaint here would be that runtimes could be a bit tighter, as each track could cut about a minute to heighten impact, but overall this still stands miles above other LPs of its time.
4
Jun 12 2022
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Arrival
ABBA
Standard issue ABBA album: dated instrumentals, schmaltzy love-based lyrics, every song sounds the same-ish. The attempt at a Beach Boys track is interesting but still ends up an amorphous synthy blob like the rest of this band's tracks.
2
Jun 13 2022
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At Fillmore East
The Allman Brothers Band
If I really wanted to hear 15 minutes of mediocre noodling over blues scales at a time, I would just go to my living room and play guitar myself.
2
Jun 14 2022
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Beauty And The Beat
The Go-Go's
Decent pop LP that lives mainly by its refusal to go downtempo at any point in its runtime. The songwriting isn't mindblowing, but each track comes with a guaranteed fun melody and exciting (if somewhat repetitive) vocals that get the job done. Definitely enjoyed this and could see some tracks going onto a high-energy playlist.
3
Jun 15 2022
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Every Picture Tells A Story
Rod Stewart
A mixed bag here, but most of what's in the bag is good. Some of Stewart's best guitar work and catchiest songwriting means most tracks are toe-tappers, with only 1-2 duds to slow things down. Stylistically it never coheres as a full LP for me, but still an enjoyable listen all the same.
3
Jun 16 2022
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Bitte Orca
Dirty Projectors
A fun, defiant LP that pushes slightly above the crowded 2010s indie scene. There's some excellent guitar work here, and the arrangements are generally chaotic and absorbing without being too abstruse. There is a fair amount of soft-voiced downtempo generic indie filler, however, and even the most interesting tracks suffer a little from lack of editing when they introduce a fun guitar lick... only to repeat it for four minutes into an eventual fade-out. Longer tracks are fine ('Useful Chamber' is one of those sprawling indie anthems that contains worlds within itself and invites endless relistening), but only when there's a fair amount of variety to keep things from getting stale.
3
Jun 17 2022
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Fuzzy
Grant Lee Buffalo
There are bright moments of interesting composition and guitar work on this LP (most notably the genre-androgynous title track), but most of the album just felt too pedestrian to be overly memorable
2
Jun 18 2022
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Chirping Crickets
Buddy Holly & The Crickets
While it's not to be unexpected for this period, most of the tracks on this LP are melodic one-note love songs with maybe one catchy hook and chorus to their name. Resoundingly meh listen all said and done, found myself tuning out a good deal.
2
Jun 19 2022
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In The Wee Small Hours
Frank Sinatra
A Sinatra album with a good mix of tempos and valences? Just my thing. A Sinatra album comprising only downtempo crooners and woe-is-me love songs? Boring as hell.
2
Jun 20 2022
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Scum
Napalm Death
Not as bad as the ratings would imply, it's just a politically-minded hardcore album and what you see is what you get. Heavier music and hardcore especially, much like coffee or beer, is an acquired taste that you have to step into – jumping into this album without much prep is like swigging a beer you stole from your dad's fridge at age 12. The production sinks this one to a two for me since the guitars are muddy as hell, but otherwise this completely tracks for a Reagan-era hardcore album.
2
Jun 21 2022
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Stand!
Sly & The Family Stone
Starts out strong with a great melodic footprint, setting down some major grooves and thematic pillars for the rest of the album. Falls apart about midway through, though, as tracks become more and more interlude-like
with little driving focus.
2
Jun 22 2022
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Freak Out!
The Mothers Of Invention
Interesting to hear the entire parody album genre take shape in what's probably one of the earliest attempts at musical self-satire. Some interesting takes and mild chuckles here and there (and crystal-clear production on the first track and first track only?), but the ultimate impact of this LP is mired by fact it sounds (and acts) exactly like the songs it's attempting to parody.
2
Jun 23 2022
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Goodbye And Hello
Tim Buckley
A decent singer-songwriter LP that’s a bit thematically scattered but still mostly hits the mark. Does well when it leans into some real impressive guitar-driven tracks and stays away from the Scarborough Fair-esque stuff
3
Jun 24 2022
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My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy
Kanye West
The best parts of this album are the artists Kanye invites on or lifts entire melodies from, with his own contributions bordering on cringeworthy (saw the 'black balls' line coming from a mile away, and not in a good way). Even the production can't save this one, the track lengths are way too gratuitous and often wear surprisingly minimal ideas down pretty quick. Hard to believe this is the LP that preceded the similarly tongue-in-cheek but way more hard-hitting and tighter 'Yeezus' that would follow three years later.
2
Jun 25 2022
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Gorillaz
Gorillaz
Starts off as a typical Blur album but quickly snowballs to become a genre-bending project of its own, in a bag. Hip-hop, alt-rock, breakbeat, reggae, rap... Albarn brings together a talented consortium of artists to make an LP that exists solely within its own class while building on well-recognized tropes, in a bag. The album definitely struggles in the editing department (some of these tracks are clearly base-level melodic ideas extended to 3 or 4 minutes), but there's enough gold here to warrant relistening, in a bag.
3
Jun 26 2022
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Fifth Dimension
The Byrds
One of the more forgettable Byrds albums, nothing much here to distinguish it from the other run-of-the-mill guitar-driven 60s albums. Some melodic flavor here and there, but again nothing to write home about.
2
Jun 27 2022
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You Want It Darker
Leonard Cohen
Kudos to whatever studio forced this one out of Leonard before the poor old fart died – the cigarette on the cover is fitting, as the man sounds like he's on death's doorstep with how onerous he croaks out each verse. The range and dynamism of his earlier vox are clearly out of reach on this one, and even if the vocals were at their previous peak the dollar-bin production and instrumentation would damn this LP anyway.
2
Jun 28 2022
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This Year's Model
Elvis Costello & The Attractions
This one isn't as infuriating as the last EC album I got here, but it's still got the annoying tics this artist relies on so much. There's actually decent guitar work/tones and some genuinely catchy melodies here, but the song structures are so repetitive that any melodic love a song may earn is quickly squandered by the third chorus. Each song ends with the title being repeated upwards of 10 times in Costello's best (read: most annoying) squeal, and honestly after listening to an hour of this man's vocals I've had about all I can take thanks.
2
Jun 29 2022
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The Fat Of The Land
The Prodigy
A bit unfair to judge a dancefloor album off a first listen sitting here in the office, but this one still delivered for the most part. Even if there's not a lot of rhythmic variation within each track, there's enough across the whole LP to keep things moving and decently interesting. Wish there was a stronger melodic presence here, this group usually leans toward sparser DnB/breakbeat arrangements but has a great ear for catchy progressions.
3
Jun 30 2022
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Real Life
Magazine
A mixed-bag of an album that throws a spastic combo of Brit pop guitar, mild cheesy synths, and genre uncertainty at the wall where it doesn’t quite stick.
2
Jul 01 2022
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That's The Way Of The World
Earth, Wind & Fire
Solid funk album, starts to drag a bit on the back half but wraps up before the magic is gone.
3
Jul 02 2022
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Sheer Heart Attack
Queen
The popular conception of this band over time has become more 'Freddie Mercury and the Queens' than just 'Queen.' This album is a good reminder of how integral Brian May and co. were to making the band's catchy formula work, supporting Freddie's sky-high vocal range with solid backing instrumentals that excel in their own regard. Not every track here is a winner (outside of 'We Are the Champions,' I don't think this band has done well at downtempo tracks, with most being snoozers), but those that shine do so brightly and are memorable to a fault. I will die on the hill that 'Killer Queen' is the best track this band has made, the subtle touch of phaser on the chorus vox is a sign of a band that knows exactly how to make interesting, fun music.
3
Jul 03 2022
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Foo Fighters
Foo Fighters
A decently exciting first outing from Grohl's long-running post-Nirvana outfit. While some tracks are pure 90s radio filler and it's not /as/ grungy as I would like for the time, the guitar tones and song structures here often hit heavy and hard enough to justify a solid listen.
3
Jul 04 2022
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Like Water For Chocolate
Common
This album thinks pretty highly of itself for how utterly mediocre its production, beats, and bars are. Bloated as well, though that's keeping within its egotism.
2
Jul 05 2022
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Physical Graffiti
Led Zeppelin
Overstuffed - what could’ve been snappy, tight melodic songs are extended well beyond their welcome into 4 or even 5 minute territory. Also a bit confused as to why this needed to be a double album? There’s no major tonal or symbolic shift between discs, leaving this whole thing a structurally and melodically confusing mess.
2
Jul 06 2022
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The Age Of The Understatement
The Last Shadow Puppets
A fun, breezy indie LP that's aged quite well. The orchestral additions on top of Turner's unmistakable AM sound make for some interesting tracks that feel a bit highbrow without seeming pretentious.
3
Jul 07 2022
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Central Reservation
Beth Orton
There are some amazing guitar tones and riffs going in the first track, and then they completely disappear never to be heard for the rest of the album. All that's left is an hour of bland, stereotypical 90s singer-songwriter minutiae that's a shadow of what the opener promises.
2
Jul 08 2022
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The Idiot
Iggy Pop
Feels a bit thematically unbalanced (having 20% of the LP runtime in one track definitely doesn't help), but still hits the familiar and welcome marks of an enjoyable Iggy Pop album. This one wins bonus points for sounding like a shamble through a druggy haze, the stilted rhythms of "Nightclubbing" are just one example of how the musical uncanny valley is put to good use.
3
Jul 09 2022
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In Rainbows
Radiohead
What I would consider the best Radiohead album - the perfect mix of their pioneering synths against the rock basis that brought them to prominence, a juxtaposition mirroring how major-key this album sounds while being depressing as hell lyrically. My only complaint is that the tempo is generally lower than desired, especially since high-energy favorites '15 Step' and 'Bodysnatchers' frontload the album (check out the 2006 Bonnaroo version of 'Videotape' to hear what could've been). Downtempo tracks like 'Nude,' 'Arpeggi,' and the absolutely haunting 'Reckoner' are hardly consolation prizes, however, and the overall feel of sugar-coated, media-driven breakdown is perhaps the most intoxicating thing the band has made. Also worth noting that this is the last true 'rock' album Radiohead has made - TKOL/AMSP find Yorke and co. exploring deeply rhythmic and synth-based tracks, so the prominent, driving guitar here represents some of the last we may hear from the band (unless LP10 arrives to prove me wrong).
5
Jul 10 2022
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Dance Mania
Tito Puente
Now That's What I Call Samba©
3
Jul 11 2022
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25
Adele
A lab-grown, executive-directed, soulless album with about as much cultural impact as the first Avatar movie. Adele has great vocals, but some of the vocal rhythms/song structures here are so tortured they should be protected under the Geneva convention.
2
Jul 12 2022
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Violator
Depeche Mode
There's a reason you only hear the singles from this one on 90s radio. All of the good melodic ideas and pacing are expended on these 3-4 tracks, leaving the rest of the LP a plodding mess of half-baked synth ideas. While certain songs shine and maintain a strong foothold in memory, the shambling remainder means the whole album feels wildly inconsistent.
2
Jul 13 2022
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Cafe Bleu
The Style Council
A decent 3-star jazzish muzak album that completely abandons genre coherency at the midway point to tack on a mish-mash of 1 star bargain-bin demos it sounds like. Just utterly bizarre.
2
Jul 14 2022
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Welcome to the Afterfuture
Mike Ladd
An interesting breakbeat/hip-hop LP from the beginning of the aughts. Not every track is a winner (the guest features are downright bad and some songs easily date themselves to the time period), but most present a mix of electronic production and wordplay that's engaging and enjoyable. Wish this was on US Spotify, there were a few tracks I really vibed too and would drop in my heavy rotation
3
Jul 15 2022
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Urban Hymns
The Verve
Despite some of the more experimental instrumental tones on this album, it ultimately ends up a slog of standard 90s light radio fare. Whiny vocals and a general lack of melodic/thematic focus don't help either. If I never have to hear the pained violin intro to 'Bittersweet Symphony' again it'll be too soon.
2
Jul 16 2022
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Tres Hombres
ZZ Top
A mix of decent country rock and unbearable drawling country - there are glimpses of brilliance here, but the overall product comes across as a loosely-bundled collection of guitar noodling
2
Jul 17 2022
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Frank
Amy Winehouse
There's no doubt Winehouse has vocal prowess, but damn if she doesn't make it hard to appreciate it when she insists on doing vocal runs in /every/ /single/ /phrase/. I never once felt enmeshed in the tracks (which have serviceable at best instrumentals that feel a bit GarageBand-esque) because of the constant vocal acrobatics, as Amy never once allows a verse to be a verse so the listener can settle in and appreciate the track.
2
Jul 18 2022
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The Colour Of Spring
Talk Talk
This is the muzak you heard when you were at the doctor's office as a kid and all the chairs/decor were weirdly stuck between 90s and 2000s trends and it overall felt like a very liminal experience that doesn't seem quite real in hindsight.
1
Jul 19 2022
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Actually
Pet Shop Boys
Not much to say on this one, just typical 80s schmaltz with annoying vocals.
2
Jul 20 2022
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Tanto Tempo
Bebel Gilberto
The nice thing about slower, stripped-down samba albums like this one is they allow me to realize how much Spanish I've forgotten since high school.
3
Jul 21 2022
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Post Orgasmic Chill
Skunk Anansie
Thought this would be a grueling slog after hearing the first few tracks, but surprisingly this LP manages to exceed expectations by earmarking itself as a time capsule of the late 90s. While not every song goes by without sounding dated, the majority manage to live at the weird intersection of grungy metal and trip-hop that evokes the time period without being unlistenable. The sometimes repetitive song structures and tonal whiplash between tracks are the cherries on top that solidify this LP as the 90s incarnate.
3
Jul 22 2022
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Speakerboxxx/The Love Below
OutKast
An absolutely exhausting double LP. Struggles to fill the time with interesting melodic ideas and bars for even one hour, much less two - some production ideas are interesting, but the absolutely limpid vocal delivery (save for some great guest features like Killer Mike) just makes this an absolute battle to finish.
2
Jul 23 2022
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Country Life
Roxy Music
The least memorable of the Roxy albums - oddball genre attempts and a lack of melodic/thematic consistency means this one falls in the bland, standard-issue Britpop pile.
2
Jul 24 2022
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Snivilisation
Orbital
Falls straight into the outdated 90s techno/acid house bucket. Overlong and underwhelming tracks means this LP is only good as a reminder of decades past, one that’s probably not worth too many revisits at that.
2
Jul 25 2022
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Diamond Life
Sade
An enjoyable listen, mainly due to a strong melodic presence and powerful vocals from Sade. Some tracks (mainly those that lean heavily on the auto-wah) do feel a bit outdated, but most are still engaging and fresh enough to warrant a relisten.
3
Jul 26 2022
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Ill Communication
Beastie Boys
A bit overlong, but still an enjoyable listen. The mixture of the outfit's usual ferocious yet tongue-in-cheek bars plus the genre experimentation between rap and punk yields a Beastie Boys product that is at once familiar yet experimental and refreshing.
3
Jul 27 2022
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Led Zeppelin IV
Led Zeppelin
A decent if somewhat overlong in parts rock LP. At its best when it keeps things simple and tight like bravado-filled opener 'Black Dog,' but tends to stumble later on with dragging one-note ideas or overstuffed tracks (yes, this includes Stairway).
3
Jul 28 2022
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Suicide
Suicide
Despite its flaws, I like this LP for presenting something completely different. While repetitive, the synth backing tracks are distinct for the time period, and the frenetic vocals do line up with the thrumming background energy.
3
Jul 29 2022
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Zombie
Fela Kuti
A great long-form jazz album – keeps a steady, enjoyable groove while being melodically diverse enough to maintain interest. The addition of the live track is brilliant, as the impromptu energy of the performance heightens the sense of freedom and playfulness hinted at in the earlier songs.
3
Jul 30 2022
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Unknown Pleasures
Joy Division
Rarely does a debut album enter the world so fully formed and confident, much less containing a complete sonic world within itself. With only sparse drums, minimalist guitar lines, a bit of synth, and a dash of hall reverb, Ian Curtis and company construct an endless cavern of solitude and isolation, a melodic landscape built a single note at a time in the darkness.
The MO is clear from the start with the fake-out cheerfulness of 'Disorder,' a 3.5-minute death spiral perked up by a singular, catchy bass line. It's all downhill from here through the various melodic fugues and monotone pleas from Curtis. Less is more as the bright, trebly guitar rebounds off seemingly infinite space, sneakily bolstering the minimal instrumentation while increasing the sense that these are the last dispatches from some place of emptiness and desolation. 'Shadowplay' manages to feel so immense only because it's the first song on the LP to let actual full chords ring out - by holding so much back, the album imbues the song's 3-note solo with more import and feeling than entire tracks on modern releases.
Much like Nirvana's 'In Utero,' knowing what comes next in Joy Division's short history paints this LP as an obvious warning sign of Curtis' failing state. Even without the grim context, however, it's clear to see the album exudes darkness and singularity from the cover art to its musical core. Perfect albums are often personified as having a unifying soul at their core, but 'Unknown Pleasures' wears its dark, bleeding heart on its sleeve instead.
5
Jul 31 2022
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Electric Prunes
The Electric Prunes
A great early psychedelic effort, some real fun use of tremolo, reverb, and drive to get that classic sizzling psych tone. Does lose the plot and wander off into weird genre experiments at the end, but for the most part is a laser-guided, driving LP that gets the job done.
3
Aug 01 2022
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The Cars
The Cars
What the 80s could and should have been: fun, synthy tracks driven by a baseline of solid guitar, drums, and relatable lyricism. Not every track here stands out memorably, but those that hit do so in a huge way - "Just What I Needed" still gets airplay today and manages to sound nostalgic yet new, a throwback that still feels fresh in the modern era.
4
Aug 02 2022
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Pyromania
Def Leppard
Given my expectations from the last Leppard LP, I was pleasantly surprised to learn the band had taken the time to write actual bridges and unique verses on this album instead of beating the same chorus to death for three minutes at a time.
2
Aug 03 2022
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Crossing the Red Sea With the Adverts
The Adverts
A pounding, frenetic garage rock LP – the instrumentals slap, the lyrics get the job done without being overly British, and the overall feel is upbeat and high energy. A bit overlong in places, but not enough to prevent a few of these tracks from ending up in my heavy rotation.
3
Aug 04 2022
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Pump
Aerosmith
Not the absolute cheese-fest I expected it to be. Tyler is a genuinely good vocalist, and paired with some fun melodic ideas in the vox and instrumentation the band manages to make most tracks shine with a bit of tongue-in-cheek joy. Not too much soppy balladry or radio filler - the only thing dragging this LP down is that most tracks are a minute or two too long.
3
Aug 05 2022
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Mott
Mott The Hoople
At best forgettable and at worst cloying and a waste of time. Not sure if this band is American/British but aping already stale Britpop themes isn't the way to go.
2
Aug 06 2022
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New York Dolls
New York Dolls
What could be a serviceable garage rock LP is cratered by over-the-top, cringe-inducing lyrics. Instrumentals and production generally bop, just can't stand the lead singer trying way too hard to wring comedy from what should be an easy performance to nail
2
Aug 07 2022
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Bright Flight
Silver Jews
While solidly downtempo from my usual taste, this LP contains an unexpected wealth of lyrical and instrumental power not belied by the first few tracks. The first half excels at less is more - powerfully raw lyrics set against minimal but appropriate melodic tracks can never go wrong. The second wows with an almost orchestral swell in the melodic and rhythmic sections, bringing the album to an emotional breaking point before drifting away into the ether.
4
Aug 08 2022
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Hail To the Thief
Radiohead
The most challenging and abstruse Radiohead album by far - even more so than the juvenile effort of Pablo Honey and the rhythmic jungle of TKOL. Took me years to get into and appreciate this one as a whole, so I fully understand all the low ratings here.
The crowd-pleasing '2+2 = 5' is a fitting opener, as while it seems to herald a return to Bends-ish territory from Kid A/Amnesiac the shifting 3-act structure belies the melodic and rhythmic menagerie that follows. From here, the complete downshift into 'Sit Down' thus begins the surprising, hills and valleys that make up this LP. I think this is far and away the least polished RH album, especially given that Thom's lyrical subtlety is about as smooth as sandpaper throughout ("Fuck Bush. Fuck you, Bush. What were you doing in Iraq, Bush?").
Themes aside, even the instrumentals and vocals sound slightly rawer than the vacuum-sealed electronic efforts that came before. That's not to say they lack interest or staying power - 'Where I End' was one of the first Radiohead tracks I listened to on repeat solely for the bass, '2+2' shreds obviously, 'Young Blood' builds to one of the most satisfying climaxes in the group's discography, and even 'Gloaming' has a bit of frenetic charm to it.
In describing these tracks, though, it's clear that the melodic throughline is a bit lax. Rather, the thing that holds this burgeoning mess of tracks together is the airtight production and distinct instrumental palette throughout. It's a recalibration period for the band, a step back to OKC territory but with a bigger synth presence after the practice afforded on Kid A and its twin. At its heart, however, is Amnesiac 1.5 in disguise - listening at all to Thom's lyricism betrays the same sense of curdled hope that has passed through cynicism into bitter despair.
So yeah, there's a lot going on here. Not all of it works, it's bumpy tempo transition-wise, and some of it just isn't even palatable the first time around. But despite its flaws, the LP presents such a logical step in the band's discography and overall sound that it shines in context (and honestly presents some experimental pathways I wish the band had followed). I don't fault anybody who hates this on first listen or just doesn't get it - an album that requires understanding an entire band's output to 'get' isn't perfect by a long shot. For me, though, I keep coming back to this runt of the litter LP that wears its 'Scatterbrain' on its sleeve and finding things new to love about this band.
4
Aug 09 2022
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Chocolate Starfish And The Hot Dog Flavored Water
Limp Bizkit
Hot take: this would be a semi-decent metal LP (maybe mid-tier deftones level) if you cut a few tracks and the lead singer didn't sound like Ron Stoppable.
2
Aug 10 2022
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The Sun Rises In The East
Jeru The Damaja
A solid, back-to-basics hip-hop album. Appreciate that this one doesn't have too large an ego about it, only a good sense of solid shittalk. A bit long in places, but solid beats and bars are hard to beat.
3
Aug 11 2022
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The Velvet Underground & Nico
The Velvet Underground
A wonderfully lo-fi, more coherent VU effort that expertly straddles the line between chaotic freeform and musical excellence. The more improvisational nature means some tracks do come across as rambling (and the LP nearly falls apart in the back half), but those that stick to the message while living it up a little are a joy to listen to.
3
Aug 12 2022
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Ragged Glory
Neil Young & Crazy Horse
Would be a great album if it focused more on the bold lead guitar parts, but falls back into the tired and trite Young-isms of way too long runtimes, repetitive verses, and bargain-bin songwriting.
2
Aug 13 2022
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Automatic For The People
R.E.M.
What could be a surprising departure for the band ends up being an underbaked flop. There’s one solid ballad on here (“Everybody Hurts”), but the rest are woefully sluggish and sound as if they’ve been ripped off commercial radio of the time. Stripe’s voice isn’t up to the task, the band sounds a little lost and uncomfortable playing such slow tracks, and the overall thing is just blegh.
2
Aug 14 2022
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Survivor
Destiny's Child
Wanted to like this one, but repetitive song structures, clunky lyrics, and an overall feeling of sameness (especially on the vocals) between the tracks made that difficult.
2
Aug 15 2022
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Disintegration
The Cure
Lacking in direction and focus compared to 'Pornography' before it, this LP unfortunately succumbs to the ostentatious, blown-out orchestration that was common to 80s albums as the decade came to a close. At its best when it opts for the tight, chorus-drenched guitar, this album instead opts for grandiose synth numbers that feel bloated and tend to stretch track lengths well beyond their logical run times. Chop 30 minutes out and you have a solid Cure album, but in its current form 'Disintegration' is much too long and melodramatic to leave a mark.
2
Aug 16 2022
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Doolittle
Pixies
A more electrified, unhinged Violent Femmes feel to this one. Oddly prescient of the 90s with its grungy riffs mixed on top of radio-friendly acoustic, an amalgam of all the best parts of the decade to come. My only qualm here is that a few tracks are too short to fully realize their melodic potential, but otherwise this is a great, fun listen throughout.
4
Aug 17 2022
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Parachutes
Coldplay
An interesting retroflection on Coldplay's earliest artistic focus now that they've fully jumped the musical shark for profit's sake. This LP expertly rides the line between singer-songwriter (plenty of acoustic/soft vocals throughout) and the burgeoning early-aughts indie rock of the time, given that it's not afraid to throw in a healthy dose of overdrive/reverb or even delve a little into gazier, washed-out tones. Things do get into Radiohead-lite territory on the back half and drag just a tad, but this is still a worthy artistic product in its own right and a great listen at that.
3
Aug 18 2022
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Penance Soiree
The Icarus Line
These are the albums that make this whole project worth it for me - had never heard of this band before, but love this absolutely thrashing, nasty, guitar-whirlwind of an LP. The runtime may be a bit long for how many melodic ideas it has to offer, but what it lacks in creativity this album more than makes up for in energy. While it has a solid blues-rock basis, there are a few left-turn zigzags into weird chords or rhythms that keep the listener on their toes and make this an exciting trainwreck-in-motion of a listen.
4
Aug 19 2022
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Heaven Or Las Vegas
Cocteau Twins
Absolutely love that this band said fuck it to intelligible lyrics and let them instead flow with the rhythmical and melodic needs of the song. As someone who pays mainly to melodies, I strongly believe that vocals tend to bring down a song rather than elevate them. It's when the voice is used as a complementary instrument (rather than a central feature) that songs reach their true potential. Coupled with the lush, encompassing synths and production on this LP, the end result is an immersive listening experience unlike anything else out there.
4
Aug 20 2022
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1984
Van Halen
Caught between pleasing the questionable tastes of the 80s and the usual VH desire to shred the threads of reality through riffs, this one falls a bit flat as a whole album. It shocked me when I learned 'Jump' was a Van Halen track for how synth-reliant and cheesy it is, and you expect me to believe this can live alongside 'Hot For Teacher' and form a coherent whole? Some bright moments here but overall just a misfire of an LP in my book.
2
Aug 21 2022
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The Holy Bible
Manic Street Preachers
Not nearly as tight as the follow-up album (which I received way back in the project). Still packs a punch with the same tight, punkish energy (and gets deliciously heavy in parts), but most tracks run for 1-2 minutes past their welcome. A bit of editing and the dismissal of the more repetitive tracks would make this a rip-roaring, undeniable LP, but as is it's still a fun listen regardless.
3
Aug 22 2022
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The Only Ones
The Only Ones
From the Dylan-esque opener that falls flat with offputting vox, through some Byrds-like attempts in the middle, to some mild rock at the end, this one is hard to pin down across the board. While an idea of where the band wants to go is present, it veers a bit too much and lacks just enough direction to land.
2
Aug 23 2022
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Hot Rats
Frank Zappa
Decent background music so long as it stays away from the skit-style vocals, but not an LP I would consider essential listening by any means.
2
Aug 24 2022
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Tellin’ Stories
The Charlatans
Oasis but make it bland and without all the fun Liam Gallagher antics
2
Aug 25 2022
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Another Green World
Brian Eno
An album-length equivalent of when you’re over at a friends house and he asks you to listen to a riff/lyric/synth sound he’s excited about and then you have to sit there and nod politely while waiting for the whole ordeal to end
2
Aug 26 2022
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Play
Moby
I would’ve thought the album this guy used to catapult himself to mild fame and then be a massive creep would’ve been way better
2
Aug 27 2022
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Low-Life
New Order
Hard to believe the same band that wrote the absolute anthem that is ‘Age of Consent’ can churn out an album full of listless pop-rock. The instrumentals and melodies are serviceable at best, and the vocals (both songwriting and delivery) are godawful
2
Aug 28 2022
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Microshift
Hookworms
A fun, immersive LP in the stlye of MGMT meets Soulwax meets Animal Collective. I appreciated the tasteful throwback and reimagining to 90s-era synth sounds, just not sure this one is impactful enough to warrant inclusion on the list.
3
Aug 29 2022
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Golden Hour
Kacey Musgraves
There was a huge amount of discourse around this LP when it dropped, especially concerning how Musgraves was 'reimagining' country. To that end, the album does start out strong - even if the songwriting is a tad stream-of-consciousness, the melodic ideas are fresh for the genre and the production is air-tight. As the album progresses, however, this clean execution starts to sound more like the same sterile, bitter taste of any other modern pop-country artist. Somewhere around 'Space Cowboy' the melodies curdle into the same plasticine Max Martin progressions we've heard 1000 times before, and the LP gives up completely on sounding like anything other than pop-country radio filler.
2
Aug 30 2022
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Le Tigre
Le Tigre
A truly uncaring, rough-around-the-edges LP that keeps its tongue firmly in its cheek for the whole runtime. Not every track lands (if you don't like the vocals/hook that's all you have to run with for the 2-3 minutes each song runs), but those that do have such a fun, careless swagger about them that it's hard not to smile.
3
Aug 31 2022
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Night Life
Ray Price
Starts off strong with its off-kilter, fourth-wall-breaking intro, but quickly becomes a bit plodding as each track stays firmly within the 60-80 bpm song about heartbreak lane
2
Sep 01 2022
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Dirty
Sonic Youth
Like most Sonic Youth albums, this one never fully coalesces as a whole for me. The tracks are mostly enjoyable, containing the usual noise-rock mixture the band is famous for, but at a certain point it feels more like a semi-related playlist than a fully-realized LP.
3
Sep 02 2022
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Heartattack And Vine
Tom Waits
How to turn growl knob down
2
Sep 03 2022
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Under Construction
Missy Elliott
Lacking originality and it shows - most tracks rep on the same bar for up to a minute at a time, giving way to guest rappers who lay down much better lyrics than Elliott is even close to coming up with herself. Throw in a few unfortunate cultural references and not much distinction in the backing tracks and this is just a forgettable mess
2
Sep 04 2022
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The Hour Of Bewilderbeast
Badly Drawn Boy
What a weird mess of an LP. Attempts to go the bargain-bin Elliott Smith route before dipping its hands into a wild assortment of genres on the back half and spiraling out of control. Some tracks here have great melodic ideas and explore them well, but overall this is just a fractured tangle of songs stuck together rather than a full album
2
Sep 05 2022
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Nebraska
Bruce Springsteen
No matter how acoustic his guitar is or how much reverb he puts on it, Springsteen just cannot pull off the country authenticity needed to sell this LP. Little rhythmic or lyrical variation means this is a forty-minute slog that just never hits home as a truly genuine red-dirt country album.
2
Sep 06 2022
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Buffalo Springfield Again
Buffalo Springfield
A high 2 that has some great tracks ("Bluebird" rocks), but is all over the map when it comes to track flow and thematic consistency. Veering from great emergent 60s' rock songs to weird country-ish ballads on to anthemic concept pieces does not a cohesive album make.
2
Sep 07 2022
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Africa Brasil
Jorge Ben Jor
An enjoyable African-Reggae album. The tracks were forthright enough to keep me interested, but not so melodically demanding as to take my attention away from other things. Some of the instrumental choices (see: the prominent 'woo!' sounds on most of the tracks) grated on me a bit, but I can definitely see myself turning this on and vibing while getting some work done in the future.
3
Sep 08 2022
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Throwing Muses
Throwing Muses
Absolutely worth the effort to piece this one together. Underneath the surprisingly effective combination of grungy guitar and near honky-tonk rhythms is a frenetic energy that keeps one on their toes, not knowing which way the track will dodge next but fully understanding the new direction when it does. For being released pre-90s, the LP also shows a prescient vision of where guitar-led music was headed with early dips into grungier tones and abrasive vocals. Overall, this LP is an exemplar of why I put up with some of the more questionable albums on this list, as its hidden gems like this which make the experience worth it.
4
Sep 09 2022
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Come Away With Me
Norah Jones
Wanted to give this one a shot, but 45 straight minutes of tempos in the sub-70 BPM range and not much melodic/instrumental variation made this LP a slog. Very much coffeeshop-core and not sure why it's on the list to be quite honest
2
Sep 10 2022
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Band On The Run
Paul McCartney and Wings
Has a soft spot in my heart due to the title track being a favorite on Guitar Hero: World Tour. Though it doesn’t always pull off the grand ideas it’s trying for, sometimes sounds like an incoherent mess, and can be pretty damn annoying, this album has heart and a sense of fidelity as Paul finds his post-Beatles way around.
3
Sep 11 2022
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Fear and Whiskey
Mekons
It takes until the final track for all the wayward ideas in this LP to coalesce into something listenable, and even then the final product leaves quite a lot to be desired. Adding a bunch of funky instruments (including some of the worst-recorded violin I've ever heard) and spoken word segments does not make your generic rock sound any better.
2
Sep 12 2022
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Nick Of Time
Bonnie Raitt
Boring, repetitive, and perhaps the progenitor of modern country-pop.
2
Sep 13 2022
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Lost In The Dream
The War On Drugs
Indieheads loves this band but I just don’t get it. The melodic ideas are tepid at best, and without any strong rhythmic structure the whole thing is an aqueous, chorus and reverb-drenched hour without much form or flow. Stronger drum presence in the mix would elevate things slightly, but there just needs to be more compelling and grounded leads in this thing for it to be a palatable listen.
2
Sep 14 2022
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In It For The Money
Supergrass
Would’ve loved to listen to a 45-minute cut of this LP. It speaks to the strength of the songwriting and performance that I enjoyed the whole hour, but this album’s downfall is its extended runtime. The opening half of the album is so strong that it doesn’t need the extra back to water down the overall impact
3
Sep 15 2022
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Architecture And Morality
Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark
Even on an 80s curve this one falls flat. The orchestrations are messy, the performances are all over the map, and outside of the first few opening tracks none make a strong enough mark to ride above background noise.
2
Sep 16 2022
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OK
Talvin Singh
Got a lot of work done today with this running in the background, managed to keep me interested with the mix of styles and upbeat rhythms. Some songs become repetitive and a tad cloying, but for the most part I was able to zone out and let the music wash over me.
3
Sep 17 2022
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Home Is Where The Music Is
Hugh Masekela
Not a bad listen, but not entirely grabbing either – I question why such a run-of-the-mill jazz LP made it on the list at the expense of others. Definitely could've used some cuts to the runtime too, as it did tend to drag on and could've been much more concise.
3
Sep 18 2022
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The Gershwin Songbook
Ella Fitzgerald
A well-done if somewhat blandly uniform vocal-driven LP. Would’ve liked to see more variation from Fitzgerald on this one, as she mainly stays in the lower registers instead of really using her set of pipes.
3
Sep 19 2022
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Wonderful Rainbow
Lightning Bolt
A wonderfully frenetic romp of an LP. Not all melodic attempts here work with the hyper-aggressive instrumentation and delivery, but for the most part this one flies by in a usually enjoyable rush.
3
Sep 20 2022
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The Message
Grandmaster Flash & The Furious Five
A somewhat decent funk LP that’s lacking in memorability. Not a lot of the key melodic rhythm and repetition from Flash’s other work that makes it so memorable
2
Sep 21 2022
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1977
Ash
An enjoyable alt-rock LP that comes across as just a bit more radio-oriented but in the same vein as what Hum was doing around the same time. Does run a bit long for how many ideas it has to present, but a solid find from the project nonetheless.
3
Sep 22 2022
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Slipknot
Slipknot
Production and monotony kill this one for me – despite some interesting rhythms and instrumentation tricks, the constant onslaught of mid-heavy guitar and screamed vocals just makes this a sonic wash for an hour. Gets tiring quickly and doesn't innovate between tracks enough to maintain interest.
2
Sep 23 2022
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People's Instinctive Travels and the Paths of Rhythm
A Tribe Called Quest
Absolute masterclass of hip-hop delivery and production. The beats are minimal yet demand toe-tapping, allowing the delivery to take center stage while propelling each track along an undeniable groove. The bars themselves are the perfect mix of tongue-in-cheek, witty, and drop-dead serious that allow the words to flow right on top of the mix while packing a serious thematical punch. Overall, this LP is a great reminder of what focused, uncluttered hip-hop can be
4
Sep 24 2022
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Hejira
Joni Mitchell
A more experimental LP from Mitchell which still stays true to her singer-songwriter roots. Not every instrumental sound lands well (the filtery bass sounds especially dated), but they're still a small yet welcome departure from the artist's tried-and-true formula.
3
Sep 25 2022
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Fragile
Yes
Though the meat of the album is in its anthemic, multi-part bookends, the entire LP is a rightful prog classic that dips its toes into a multitude of genres and plays with the limits of instrumentation. The personal highlight here is Chris Squire's bass work - the undeniable Ric 4001 sound defines this album and serves largely as its melodic core, pushing many of the tracks along and scoring many of the notable riffs.
4
Sep 26 2022
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Cheap Thrills
Big Brother & The Holding Company
A serviceable rock album with a great Joplin lead. Does get a bit stale by the end due to a lack of melodic variation (and really, this LP is just an excuse for guitar noodling and theatrics), but maintains enough raw power to remain interesting.
3
Sep 27 2022
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Yankee Hotel Foxtrot
Wilco
I've never quite understood the appeal behind this band and specifically this album. Taking a standard indie rocker and adding some mildly off-kilter samples does not a coherent genre epic make.
2
Sep 28 2022
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Music Has The Right To Children
Boards of Canada
This one has always felt a bit too loungey for me, likely due to its lack of overwhelming valence like Geogaddi's simmering menace or Campfire's slightly ominous tones. Cohesion and grip lack as a result, but that being said there are no bad Boards of Canada albums - this one is just a bit too free-flowing for my taste.
3
Sep 29 2022
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Billion Dollar Babies
Alice Cooper
A solid early rock-n-roll LP with some characteristic flair. There are some memorable riffs throughout, just wish it had stuck more to narrative, tongue-in-cheek songs like 'No More Mr. Nice Guy' as the band has a real knack for nailing these tracks with catchy leads and lyrical zingers.
3
Sep 30 2022
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Another Music In A Different Kitchen
Buzzcocks
A decent Britpop/rock LP. Don’t know if any of these tracks will stick with me through the end of the week, but they were at least a joy to listen to in the moment
3
Oct 01 2022
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Hot Buttered Soul
Isaac Hayes
An interesting take on long-form jazz and balladry, but lacking in melodic material to prevent the LP from falling into repetition.
2
Oct 02 2022
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The Chronic
Dr. Dre
Despite my southern upbringing, I would like to think I’m not much of a prude. That being said, I find this LP hampered by a lack of maturity and especially a fixation on using bitch whenever possible (to the point where it interrupts some great flows for no reason). Other hip-hop greats like B.I.G. have shown how to do sex-obsessed tracks masterfully, so the juvenile showmanship here just seems lacking in taste.
2
Oct 03 2022
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Mask
Bauhaus
While I enjoyed some of the individual tracks here, I never felt as though they gelled into a coherent LP. The mixture of grungy guitar and synths + abstruse songwriting is usually a winner, but a few annoying vocal choices and lack of cohesion derails this one for me.
2
Oct 04 2022
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Ocean Rain
Echo And The Bunnymen
Amazing how all 80s-era Britpop albums manage to sound exactly the same across the vox, instrumentals, and general melodic feel. This was a pleasant listen but lacks any distinguishing features to make me feel it warrants inclusion here.
2
Oct 05 2022
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American IV: The Man Comes Around
Johnny Cash
It’s got all the classic Cash flair even if it’s a somewhat melancholic listen overall. I do think the covers detract from the impact of the LP (even though I enjoy Cash’s interpretations), but for a final farewell it’s still a solid product.
3
Oct 06 2022
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Hearts And Bones
Paul Simon
Though a tad dated instrumentally, this LP has enough strong songwriting and melodic variation to keep things interesting until the end. 'Cars are Cars' is an absolute bop and you cannot convince me otherwise.
3
Oct 07 2022
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Spy Vs. Spy: The Music Of Ornette Coleman
John Zorn
You know what? Fuck you. 3 stars. After reading some of the more informative reviews here and putting this LP in context, I'm willing to give it a decent rating for being completely different than anything else I've heard on this list. While the first half is an absolute auditory mess (and I would bet more than a few of the people here don't even listen for more than 5 minutes), the back half shapes up into some pretty energetic improv work that had my toe tapping. It may not be an easy listen and it does take some understanding, but at least it's not another tepid Britpop or Bob Dylan album
3
Oct 08 2022
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Berlin
Lou Reed
Expected more from a Reed solo project given his work as part of the Underground. The narrative components are fine, but the surrounding instrumentals are just... there? The melodies aren't compelling and none of the instrumental choices grab the listener's attention, which is disappointing given the distinctly unique tracks Lou would orchestrate with VU.
2
Oct 09 2022
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Goo
Sonic Youth
Like all other Sonic Youth albums, the individual tracks are great but don’t coalesce into something greater than their parts. Things also tend to get monotonous near the end - save for occasional bursts of personality like “Kool Thing,” there’s not enough narrative or melodic power hear to keep the same guitar tone from wearing thin over the course of 40 minutes.
3
Oct 10 2022
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John Prine
John Prine
A strong sense of lyrical narrative (both serious and tongue-in-cheek) on top of great country songwriting is a sure fire formula for a great LP. I’m a little ashamed I hadn’t listened to any Prone before this - it’s easy to see why his passing invoked such loss as the artistry and skill here is rather clear.
4
Oct 11 2022
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Rocks
Aerosmith
It's the same Aerosmith album you've heard before, just lacking in any definite highlights such as 'Dream On' or the like. Would recommend for fans of bland guitar noodling and radio-friendly rock.
2
Oct 12 2022
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MTV Unplugged In New York
Nirvana
One thing I love about live albums is getting to hear the artists' commentary/feedback/jests, and that's especially true on this LP. Rolling off the distortion both shows the melodic power of Kurt's songwriting, as well as gives him a chance to step out from behind his usual tortured vocals and be a person. Deconstructs a good deal of the general Nirvana criticisms and manages to be a powerful music statement and artifact of an artist gone too soon.
4
Oct 13 2022
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Punishing Kiss
Ute Lemper
I fully believe the lyrics were written by a teenager making their first attempt at erotic fan-fiction and you cannot convince me otherwise.
2
Oct 14 2022
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Roger the Engineer
The Yardbirds
While I’m not sure any of these tracks will stick around with me, they were at least enjoyable in the moment. Some solid guitar lines here and there plus some interesting genre twists to boot.
3
Oct 15 2022
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Murmur
R.E.M.
An interesting early effort from the band which I had not heard before. Challenges typical R.E.M. expectations both melodically and instrumentally, especially with Stipe exploring different vocal ranges and intonations well beyond his trademark tenor.
3
Oct 16 2022
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With The Beatles
Beatles
The Beatles had to teeny-bop before they could run
2
Oct 17 2022
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Superunknown
Soundgarden
There are strong examples of great songwriting and entrancing melodies on this LP (Black Hole, Spoonman, Head Down), but they're weighed down by either running for far too long or are in general drowned out by the sub-60 BPM chugfests surrounding them. I'm all for some proto-djent sludgy guitar lines, but filling over an hour of runtime with slow-burn grunge and ONLY slow-burn grunge is a recipe for boredom.
2
Oct 18 2022
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Music for the Masses
Depeche Mode
Just plain bad – not only are paper-thin melodies stretched to full-length runtimes ('The Things You Said' is literally the same riff repeated for four minutes), but some of the instrumental choices and attempts at novelty are mind-bogglingly poor (the song that's just pure grunt noises, anyone?).
2
Oct 19 2022
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Bert Jansch
Bert Jansch
This one didn’t leave much of a mark on me, but the guitar work was enjoyable in the moment.
3
Oct 20 2022
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Sign 'O' The Times
Prince
Did not enjoy this one at all - most tracks were bogged down in misguided synth melodies and rarely offered Prince a chance to let his vox shine. Feels like a stale relic of the 80s more so than any kind of lasting classic.
2
Oct 21 2022
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In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida
Iron Butterfly
Close to being a solid listen but still a misfire. Attempts to be radio-friendly Beatles on the first half while aping Cream and the like in the second, resulting in a weird mishmash of tones and tracks. As for the title track, it doesn't offer enough melodic meat to justify its length – I absolutely love long, anthemic tracks, but this one is just too much gristle to be an enjoyable listen.
2
Oct 22 2022
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Court And Spark
Joni Mitchell
A short but focused effort, and likely my favorite of all the Mitchell albums I’ve heard here so far. Each track manages to expand on its chosen narrative without going overboard, allowing the story and melody to flourish without dragging on. Also includes the most upbeat and fleshed-out instrumentals of Joni’s career, which do well to highlight her more playful lyricism this time around as opposed to her more introspective efforts
3
Oct 23 2022
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Exit Planet Dust
The Chemical Brothers
Solid, pumping background music while I cleaned the apartment today. Don't know if I would recognize any of these tracks a few months down the road, but I don't think recognizability is the goal when your music is made to play in packed clubs while up on Molly.
3
Oct 24 2022
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Kid A
Radiohead
Hot take as a Radiohead fan but the hype around this album has well eclipsed its musical worth. That’s not to say I hate this album - it still contains several of my fav RH tracks and sees the band continuing the radical experimentation started on OKC on their way through to In Rainbows. Mostly brilliant technically, though the mix of synths and guitars is a bit lopsided and makes the album feel a little bit short of gelling as a sum of its parts.
Rather, the issue is that I’m tired of hearing about it. I’m tired of the never-ending Pitchfork/Stereogum/Reddit rehash of how Kid A is such a great album when there’s never any deeper level of discourse about it. I don’t understand why the music community collectively wanks over this specific LP so hard when its predecessor was much more daring and Rainbows was a much more well-realized album as opposed to Thom Yorker’s First Go at a Synthesizer (Plus Some Guitars). This album has become such a sticking point for entry into the band as a whole as well, and it makes me a little sad I see people put off by the circlejerking over this album as it just completely crowds out any wider discourse on the actual music or band itself. Maybe I’m just a salty Amnesiac fan who gets mad that the sister LP to this release gets completely shafted when it’s the much more expressive and organized released, who knows? But in any case, can we please collectively agree to put any further discussion of this album on ice until we have some actually meaningful things to say about it?
3
Oct 25 2022
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Led Zeppelin
Led Zeppelin
Good mix of rock and delta blues that mostly scratches the riffing itch. The longer tracks do tend to drag on - the band is at its finest on the shorter rippers like 'Good Times Bad Times' where it can barnstorm a riff and chord change. The longer tracks become monotonous after a few reps and drag down the momentum.
3
Oct 26 2022
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Street Life
The Crusaders
Elevator muzak: the album
2
Oct 27 2022
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Wild Gift
X
Usually a fan of quick and dirty, ramshackle guitar-driven LPs like this one but it's just not hitting for me. Think the mix is a bit too timid for the instrumentation and the songs a tad one-note to really stick.
2
Oct 28 2022
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Blur
Blur
A great, guitar-driven relic from the late 90s that’s aged quite well. Many have already mentioned the Blur v. Oasis debate here and even as an Oasis fan I have to side with this band - there’s a greater sense of raw feeling, performance, and overall fun to this LP that makes it glide through time a bit better than the sometimes preachy nature of the Gallaghers’ output.
3
Oct 29 2022
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Kind Of Blue
Miles Davis
A great jazz album and an excellently invigorating but calming listen while working today. I will say that I wasn't bowled over by any one element of this LP (as its reputation would suggest), but again it was a solid listen and I'll likely be returning in the future.
3
Oct 30 2022
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Virgin Suicides
Air
An enjoyable listen, just think I'm lacking some context here by going in cold without having seen the film. Sounds more like ambient covers of Air than their usual personality-filled work, but again I'm lacking the extra oomph that comes from seeing these tracked alongside the film.
3
Oct 31 2022
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BEYONCÉ
Beyoncé
Who run the world? Girls (girls) Who run the world? Girls (girls) Who run the world? Girls (girls) Who run the world? Girls (girls) Who run the world? Girls (girls) Who run this mutha? Girls Who run this mutha? Girls Who run this mutha? Girls Who run this mutha? Girls Who run the world? Girls (girls) Who run the world? Girls (girls) Who run the world? Girls (girls) Who run the world? Girls (girls) is still better songwriting than most of what's on this album
1
Nov 01 2022
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Strangeways, Here We Come
The Smiths
There are attempts here at sonic palettes beyond the usual jangly guitar and 4x4 drums that characterize most Smiths songs, but they're hamstrung by Morrissey taking an off-day and not even trying to show up in the vocal department.
2
Nov 02 2022
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Let's Get It On
Marvin Gaye
Instead of making a sex joke (which I see we’ve already beaten to death here), I just want to point out how well Marvin can sing, a fact that’s often overlooked with regards to the subject matter he’s singing about. There’s both an ease and power in the vocal delivery, and along with the near-orchestral instrumentation and layered production that means this LP stands out as a fully genuine, well-crafted artistic product. Though things do tend to get homogenous near the back end of the album, it’s still a strong testament to how powerful simple things done well can be.
3
Nov 03 2022
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Out of Step
Minor Threat
A blink-and-you'll-miss-it ripper of a punk LP. Leaning towards a low 3 on this one, while fun and energetic it does feel somewhat homogenous and overlong even for its 21-minute run time.
2
Nov 04 2022
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Butterfly
Mariah Carey
I won't deny that Carey has an amazing vocal range and performance, but it's completely wasted on soulless commercial pop like this. Too much vocal filler and seemingly computer-generated instrumentals just leave this LP feeling lifeless and flat - RIP to the session musicians responsible for playing the blandest backgrounds possible on this one.
2
Nov 05 2022
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Appetite For Destruction
Guns N' Roses
Some absolute classics and pure hits of nostalgia on this one - ‘Paradise City’ was the soundtrack to a racing game I played religiously on the PS3. Fond memories aside, the gems do shine bright enough here to carry (but not cover up) how repetitive the rest of the track list is. It’s hard not feel a little disappointed when the absolute fucking ripper that is ‘Welcome to the Jungle’ segues into a tepid rock-101 track, especially as the lyrics start to tend towards overly edgy.
3
Nov 06 2022
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Blackstar
David Bowie
I remember the double whammy of having this drop and then Bowie passing shortly after. With that retrospect, it’s clear this LP is both a reflection on and confrontation of mortality. Not all the new instrumental ideas work, but there is an overall feeling of completeness and tempered celebration that makes the album flow despite its rougher sections. Few of us will have the chance to eulogize our own death beforehand, but then again no one was quite like Bowie.
4
Nov 07 2022
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Q: Are We Not Men? A: We Are Devo
Devo
I’ve only heard the main Devo hits, so this LP full of wiry, energetic punk-pop was a welcome surprise. Things do get a little repetitive, and some vocal fills are a little annoying, but these pass by so quickly it hardly detracts from the fun of this 30-minute romp.
3
Nov 08 2022
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The Clash
The Clash
Think I did myself a disservice by listening to the band’s later work first - this one seems to lack the maturity and ideation that’s all over ‘London Calling,’ going for quick spastic bursts over the more refined idealism of the later LP. There are some fun tracks on this one, it just pales a little in comparison to what came after it.
2
Nov 09 2022
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Strange Cargo III
William Orbit
Some interesting ideas here and there but nothing that pushes this album beyond background noise – if an album is going to floor me (and be worthy of being on this list), I would hope it at least does enough to grab my attention
2
Nov 10 2022
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Pills 'n' Thrills And Bellyaches
Happy Mondays
An enjoyable album if somewhat crass and dated at points. An uptempo way to start a Wednesday, at least.
3
Nov 11 2022
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Modern Life Is Rubbish
Blur
A tad long and bit on the nose, innit bruv.
2
Nov 12 2022
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Too Rye Ay
Dexys Midnight Runners
They somehow managed to combine all the worst British vocal tics into one lead singer on this one, the continuous runs and qUirKy vocal tricks are like sandpaper to the ears. The instrumentals are somewhat salvageable but lord is this guy annoying
2
Nov 13 2022
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Teen Dream
Beach House
An excellent turning point in the dream-pop outfit's discography as they maintained the warmth of their earlier output while bringing in the live drums and exciting synths that would define their later work.
While not my favorite Beach House album, Teen Dream still holds a place in my heart for being the sonic equivalent of a bear hug – Alex's guitar tone with its massive bass response + Victoria's breathy vocals means the production space feels way clamped down, almost as if you're sitting around a campfire as the band plays away. Couple this with some top-tier songwriting and simple but effective instrumentals and you have an absolute winning combination, especially in the band's masterful use of late game-changing codas to spin a song on its axis even as it ends.
'Walk in the Park,' 'Take Care,' and 'Silver Soul' have soundtracked some of the best and worst moments in my life, and in each case it was the warmth and comfort that every song on this LP exudes that I was looking for. I still stand by Bloom and 7 as my favorite Beach House albums for their gazey mix of spatial, ethereal dream-pop, but every time I need to come down back to earth it's this LP I will turn to.
4
Nov 14 2022
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Enter The Wu-Tang (36 Chambers)
Wu-Tang Clan
The coarse, uncut energy I needed today. Though I expected a bit more diversity in the bars and would've hoped for a little less repetitiveness in the beats, the pounding flows and undeniable fury behind the performances make this a pump-up album I'll be returning to whenever I need some backing tracks for some righteous anger.
3
Nov 15 2022
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2112
Rush
Definitely lopsided when it comes overall feel, the absolute monster of a lead track eating up over half the album's runtime and good melodic ideas. That being said, it's still a Rush album - Geddy, Pert, and Lifeson are all respective masters of their instruments and the rhythmic/melodic play here shows that. Kudos to the band for continuing to push the experimental envelope and stepping into some unfamiliar territory here ('Tears' sounds like an early Radiohead track at points).
3
Nov 16 2022
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Junkyard
The Birthday Party
There’s definitely a space for music that’s not afraid to get down and dirty with grungy, scuzzy instrumentation and primal vocals - this LP misses that mark by being a musical slog fest with fucking annoying mumbling on top.
2
Nov 17 2022
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Brutal Youth
Elvis Costello
Even if Costello's vocals weren't as grating as squeaky sandpaper, the banal and overlong backing tracks would still sink this album as a boring mess. Also, someone tell Elvis he still doesn't have an n-word pass, man sounds like an edgy high-schooler who just discovered racial slurs.
2
Nov 18 2022
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Can't Buy A Thrill
Steely Dan
Coasting on some nostalgic memories of playing ‘Do It Again’ on Guitar Hero: World Tour all the way back in ‘08. Not every track stands out, but those that do have enough diversity and sheer hooks to make this one more than just a flash in the pan.
3
Nov 19 2022
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The Predator
Ice Cube
Expected more from this one – the thematic content and general social awareness of the LP is great, but repetitive sampling/lack of originality in the backing tracks and sometimes limpid bars hamper the album's flow.
2
Nov 20 2022
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Car Wheels On A Gravel Road
Lucinda Williams
Hello, my name is Lucinda Williams, welcome to Masterclass.
Today I will be discussing how I write great country albums.
First I add generic red-dirt instrumentals
Then I add the title of the song, a four or five word phrase
Then I say it again
Then I say it again
Then I say it again
Then I say it again
and we’re done! Thanks for watching
2
Nov 21 2022
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Second Toughest In The Infants
Underworld
The most positive thing I can say about this LP is that it helped me fall asleep on the plane.
2
Nov 22 2022
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Raw Power
The Stooges
A decent if somewhat rambling hard rock LP. Would've liked most of the tracks to be a bit more concise in execution, but they at least have enough energy to make their minimal ideas pop.
3
Nov 23 2022
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A Night At The Opera
Queen
I've never heard Bohemian within the context of this album, so I was surprised to find its orchestral trappings fall right in line with the rest of Queen's output here. It's definitely a novel place to take a rock-oriented album, and while not all of the ideas here work, most are catchy enough to make me glad that Freddy and Co. gave it a try.
3
Nov 24 2022
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Pretzel Logic
Steely Dan
One of the more varied and experimental Steely Dan efforts, with each track having its own distinct feel. There were no songs that stood out and wowed me, but taken as a whole this was a pleasant listen I could see myself returning to for some easy listening.
3
Nov 25 2022
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Behaviour
Pet Shop Boys
Reminds me of British food - bland, monotonous, and lacking in any discernible punch or taste
2
Nov 26 2022
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Tea for the Tillerman
Cat Stevens
While Stevens plays from the heart and bares his soul across this LP, it's ultimately not striking enough to leave much of an impression. There are no melodic or lyrical hooks to turn heads and elicit a response, meaning the whole album feels somewhat anticlimactic and monotonous.
2
Nov 27 2022
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Hybrid Theory
Linkin Park
Somewhat repetitive, but has enough little details a la the synth accents in ‘Points of Authority’ to show that some artistic effort did go into this LP. It’s definitely aged much better than other products of its time and still presents a decent listen.
3
Nov 28 2022
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Get Rich Or Die Tryin'
50 Cent
Hard to believe this is a debut album given how limpid and tired Fitty delivers his bottom-of-the-barrel bars. Seriously sounds like they had to slow the tempo down on the instrumentals (which are uninspired at best) so the man can eke out his kindergarten-level rhymes and strings of curses/slurs. The best part is when Eminem shows up to inject some life into this album, but then he tries to rhyme “pork” with “walk” and it’s back to having the worst bars possible. Only giving this a 2 as I was able to tolerate listening to it and didn’t feel the outright hatred which merits a 1.
2
Nov 29 2022
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Black Holes and Revelations
Muse
Confession: I was a huge Muse fan in high school, and that obsession started with this album. Nostalgia definitely plays a role here, but listening back today I'm still floored by how well this album mixes the ostentatious, proggish rock the band was already known for with a heavy dose of electronics + a little Western pastiche to make a Space-Cowboy rock opera that somehow doesn't crumble to bits under the weight of all its ideas.
Is it a little corny in parts? Yeah. Do all of Bellamy's conspiratorial, lizard government ideas make for great song material? LOL. Is 'Demonocracy' perhaps the most high-school edgelord lyric of all time? Most certainly. But despite the obligatory trappings of being a Muse album, Black Holes is so much more than the sum of its odd and contradictory parts. The instrumentals here still wow to this day and represent perhaps the most experienced and tasteful performances of the band's career – I've been trying to mimic the simple-but-speedy drum fill in 'Assassin' for years now and still need some practice. Every bass line, guitar solo, and drum fill steals the show without detracting from the holistic impact of each track, and though somewhat indulgent at times the album manages to pull off a cohesive feel without sacrificing each song's wildly individual feel.
Muse hadn't jumped the shark yet, but they were definitely on the ramp at this point. Bellamy's introduction to synths on this album may have cratered the band's already divisive career from then on out, but damn if it didn't perfectly gel together into one LP that had a huge impact on high-school me. While I've grown out of my outright fandom for the band, I will never forget or forsake the album that contains all the tracks that made me pay attention to instrumentation for the first time. 'Knights of Cydonia' rocks so damn hard it made me start playing the guitar, a musical touchstone in its own right that put me on the path to being the indiehead I am today. Cheesy, stupid, and over-the-top it may be, but I'll be damned if I don't say that I love this LP.
5
Nov 30 2022
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Grace
Jeff Buckley
This one is just all over the place stylistically and can't find a niche where it can thrive. Zig-zagging from 90s' grunge-adjacent alt-rock to operatic ballads to Leonard Cohen covers is guaranteed whiplash, and doesn't leave much room for Buckley to demonstrate much artistry given how many vocal personas he has to put on in the course of 50 minutes.
2
Dec 01 2022
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Live!
Fela Kuti
Another great Kuti live album - while not as raw or memorable as 'Zombie,' the album still wins out on its energetic, improvisational performances and Fela's driving energy as a frontman.
3
Dec 02 2022
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Modern Kosmology
Jane Weaver
Love discovering more modern albums that flew under my radar off this list. This LP is an inviting, enclosed psych-synth adventure from start to finish and one that I found myself perfectly okay with playing again once its initial run had finished. The instrumentation maintains a cohesive feel throughout while giving each song its own distinct personality, and the song structures remain diverse enough to sustain interest (plus create a perfect loop on the final track, a touch I always find immensely satisfying). The vox stay smooth and inviting throughout without being distracting, and at times sound near sympatico with a Melody's Echo Chamber project.
A bit of editing could have elevated this one a bit as things do tend to feel a bit long by the end, but for what it's worth this was a great discovery all-in-all. I get the debate here around whether this LP 'truly' deserves to be on this list, but I think it's worth considering A) the musical canon of the past 10-15 years is still an open topic of debate and B) we don't need to include every single Beatles/Stones/old white dude rock album from the 60s-80s on here at the expense of newer LPs and that it's okay to live a little with something a touch different :)
4
Dec 03 2022
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The Who Sell Out
The Who
I don’t think the band committed to rhe bit on this one - some stellar and interesting tracks at play on top of a topic ripe for satire, yet the end product feels too tame to make much of a statement. The interstitial tissue just isn’t there between the commercial jests and standard Who tracks to gel this into something more than a miscellaneous collection of songs.
2
Dec 04 2022
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Dog Man Star
Suede
Stellar, expansive production and guitar on the first few tracks and then
2
Dec 05 2022
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Savane
Ali Farka Touré
Some great guitar work here, even if nothing breaks all the way through to the surface. There’s a bit of paucity in the melodic department to justify its runtime, but I could see this going on a top-tier focus playlist so I can enjoy the music while keeping my mind locked in.
3
Dec 06 2022
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Vol. 4
Black Sabbath
Strong, heavy rock LP. Not as immediate or powerful as their other output but a great, chugging listen nonetheless.
3
Dec 07 2022
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Tidal
Fiona Apple
A decent singer-songwriter LP – kept me interested enough to not dread listening, though some parts have already dated themselves heavily in terms of the overlong vocal runs and instrumental choices. Apple does know how to write a great song, though, and there are several standout tracks here that piqued my interest enough to appreciate this LP a bit more.
3
Dec 08 2022
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Kimono My House
Sparks
Was dreading this one a few seconds in, but came to regret that early impression pretty quickly. This LP mixes equal parts bombast and whimsy to wild success, managing somehow to take its antiquated vocals and make them sound tastefully retro atop heavy layers of sharp, angular guitar. A real out-of-left-field find that I know for a fact I’ll be returning to!
4
Dec 09 2022
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Siembra
Willie Colón & Rubén Blades
What sinks this album for me is the track length. The instrumentals and vox are well-executed and pleasant, but wear quite thin after 5-7 minutes. I'm sure being able to follow the narrative would make things a bit more interesting, but my Spanish is way too rusty to keep up here.
2
Dec 10 2022
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Purple Rain
Prince
Prince at his most maximalist – an album that throws everything at the wall and manages to stick quite a bit. While a good number of these tracks have been ruined for me by radio overplay, there's no denying the sheer personality and presence Prince injects into each song, leading to a listening experience that zig-zags constantly but still manages to sound shockingly coherent.
3
Dec 11 2022
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Natty Dread
Bob Marley & The Wailers
This LP is just a tad too laid-back for my tastes. I understand reggae isn't the genre to expect uptempo tracks from, but there's not nearly enough tempo variation or exciting melodic hooks here to raise this album to anything noteworthy in my book.
2
Dec 12 2022
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Bayou Country
Creedence Clearwater Revival
Feels like this LP wants to be a jam album so bad, but can't commit to letting itself loose. Does feel a bit locked into longer songs without much variation, but there are enough highs to keep listening from getting too repetitive.
3
Dec 13 2022
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Toys In The Attic
Aerosmith
'Walk This Way' and 'Sweet Emotion' are way too good of tracks to be buried under the rest of the boring, overlong, and at worst creepy shit that makes up the rest of this album.
2
Dec 14 2022
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Ray Of Light
Madonna
Madonna tries to make a New Age dance record and it goes about as well as you would expect. Takes the crown for most dated instrumentals I’ve heard yet in the project (including all the 80s LPs, which is saying something).
1
Dec 15 2022
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Buena Vista Social Club
Buena Vista Social Club
Like others noted here, I kept tuning out of this one rather than finding myself drawn in. On paper a mix of jazz instrumentals with samba stylings should at least be enjoyable to me, but there's not enough editorial or musical guts here to get down to killer tracks rather than filler background noise.
2
Dec 16 2022
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Buenas Noches From A Lonely Room
Dwight Yoakam
An enjoyable country album that was well ahead of the curve, even if it sounds somewhat banally country-pop today. Good mix of tempos, instrumentals, and vocal delivery to keep things varied but musically cohesive. Yoakam sounds almost prescient of the late 90s/early 2000s sound on this LP, and even though many have done the same after him, he does manage to break new ground and at least keep things interesting on this LP.
3
Dec 17 2022
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American Pie
Don McLean
Some dismally slow and sour guitar ballads bookended by great, uptempo folk rock. Some of the effort in ‘American Pie’ should’ve been smeared around the other tracks a bit more to make this a steadier listen.
2
Dec 18 2022
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Transformer
Lou Reed
A better solo outing from Lou as opposed to ‘Berlin.’ Varied tempos and interesting ideas keep this LP moving right along, experimenting just a little bit less than I would still like from the Velvet Underground frontman but still coming together to form a mildly gripping listen.
3
Dec 19 2022
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Olympia 64
Jacques Brel
As others have noted here, I wish I could get a better sense of what Brel is singing given his flair for wit - alas, I do not speak French. That being said, the instrumentals are way too low in the mix here (even for a live album), and the whole experience of being spoken to by a French man for 30 minutes is not a pleasant one.
2
Dec 20 2022
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The Stranger
Billy Joel
This LP gets off to a hella strong start with 'Movin' Out' and co., a snappy number that my dad loved to parody in my younger years. Nostalgia aside, that streak does continue throughout most of the album even as it wanders through more contemplative tracks such as 'Scenes.' Does get a little cheesy near the end with sappier ballads, but overall the album is still impressive for how much variation in melodic ideas and tempo Joel gets to flex on.
3
Dec 21 2022
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Never Mind The Bollocks, Here’s The Sex Pistols
Sex Pistols
RIP Queen Elizabeth, you would've loved the Sex Pistols
4
Dec 22 2022
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Stories From The City, Stories From The Sea
PJ Harvey
Definitely the intermediary point of Harvey's discography between the ferocity of 'Rid of Me' and the somewhat more radio-friendly and less memorable 'Let England Shake.' Some of my favorite individual tracks of PJ's live on this album, but as an album, I'm not sure they cohere well enough over the 40-minute span to make the collection more than a sum of its parts. That being said, there's a wealth of excellent musicianship and songwriting here that plays with fast and slow, loud and soft, and Harvey's other favorite extremes to create standout tracks that I've listened to time and time again.
3
Dec 23 2022
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Van Halen
Van Halen
An absolute ripper of an LP – convinced Eddie and co. walked into the studio, cranked their amps, and proceeded to ram out all 35 minutes at once. There's not a whole lot in the way of dynamic, rhythmic, or melodic contrast, but that's not the goal here. EVH revolutionized guitar for a reason, and while I suspect many will be turned off by the technical wankery that dominates most of the album, I'm all here for it as a guitar dude. Hearing those two-hand tapping runs all over each track makes me grin ear-to-ear, and the whole LP is worth it just for the gratuitous bombast of 'Eruption.'
3
Dec 24 2022
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American Idiot
Green Day
Despite the nostalgia behind this one, I can’t get myself behind everyone’s favorite mainstream emo LP of the aughts. The highlights (‘Idiot,’ ‘Boulevard,’ ‘September’) show the band at their most creative and confrontational, but they’re ultimately dragged down by being coupled to longer, less innovative sections in the weird decision to shove two songs together into one for a cinematic purpose. The rest is just filler - I’m not expecting punk songs to use more than three chords, but the production is so sterile and lifeless that the lack of dynamic melodies/tempos/rhythms really sinks this one to two-star territory.
2
Dec 25 2022
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A Hard Day's Night
Beatles
A solid transitionary album for the band as they leave teeny-bop behind and begin experimenting with slightly less radio-friendly songwriting. ‘Hard Day’s Night’ may be my fav Beatles track of all time, and though the rest of the LP does slide into homogeneity during its runtime it’s at least a pleasant one.
3
Dec 26 2022
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Back to Mystery City
Hanoi Rocks
Somehow derivative of 80s pastiche only 3 years into the decade, this album manages to bring in all of the hokey harmonica and tiring vocal antics one would expect and then beat them to death over the course of 40 minutes. Not really any creative ideas here outside of some faint interest in the intro, and that's damning praise at best.
2
Dec 27 2022
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Shaft
Isaac Hayes
Agree with others here that this is a questionable addition outside the context of the movie – several tracks are enjoyable and decently funky, but this OST was written to literally provide background music for the film. There are definitely musical chops shown here, but as a standalone listen it just doesn't break above surface level.
2
Dec 28 2022
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Bummed
Happy Mondays
Just another long, tired, and overdone 80s Brit synthpop album. I understand the conveners of the list lean largely British, but man am I tired of hearing the same repetitive synth/bass-line + wacky male vocals track over and over again. There were so many experimental and interesting ideas to be had in the 80s - is this really the best we can come up with as a representative of the era?
2
Dec 29 2022
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Autobahn
Kraftwerk
While I can appreciate the electronic experimentation going on here, the LP is just too simple melodically to justify its track lengths or existence really. Not sure I would've been as accepting as I was with this one if it wasn't on as background music while I cleaned the house.
2
Dec 30 2022
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When I Was Born For The 7th Time
Cornershop
An interesting amalgamation of tracks that really gives me no clue as to the base genre this artist stations in. A few songs wore down my patience but ended without beating a melodic dead horse to death too badly before giving way to something different entirely. No way in hell these tracks gel together as one cohesive LP, but there's at least a strong enough thread of artistry to make them feel at least loosely connected.
3
Dec 31 2022
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The Number Of The Beast
Iron Maiden
A great metal LP that couples strong, narrative songwriting with fun, blazing licks. Does get a bit monotonous production and tone-wise towards the end in the context of a full-album listen, but the stand-alone tracks respectively rock hard enough to warrant relistening.
3
Jan 01 2023
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Manassas
Stephen Stills
Just plain boring, overlong, and stale. Only gets two stars for the level of musicianship at play, plus some enjoyable guitar runs mixed into the hour of dull twang.
2
Jan 02 2023
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I Am a Bird Now
Antony and the Johnsons
This one didn't leave me with much of an impression - solid instrumentals and decent vocals, but not enough melodic impact for me to return to.
2
Jan 03 2023
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3 Years, 5 Months And 2 Days In The Life Of...
Arrested Development
Phased out for the first half of this LP but was snapped back to attention by the take-no-prisoners lyricism and stylings in the second. After giving this another front-to-back run-through I can appreciate the stylistic experimentation in the genre's early years as well as the pointed but artistic political messaging in the bars. Some tracks do run overlong or use annoying samples, but while this drags the album down just a bit the highs are still noteworthy in their own right and definitely warrant re-listening.
3
Jan 04 2023
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Timeless
Goldie
Hard to give this one a fair rating when it's being presented so far outside its intended context. If this was on at a club while I was out on the floor, then sure, I wouldn't mind the vibes. As a solo listening experience, however, it's way overlong, repetitive, and annoying - but again, I don't think it's /intended/ to be listened to on its own! Times like these are when I wish I had the 1001 blurb on hand to understand why exactly an LP like this made it onto the list.
2
Jan 05 2023
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m b v
My Bloody Valentine
The fractured, matured sister to Loveless - while the latter has more tracks that I outright enjoy, something within me says that this LP is better in some holistic way. The disjointed grouping of ideas and sometimes rambling nature of the tracks makes that a hard sell, I know, but even in the more abstract, experimental final third of the album there's a complete sense of artistic freedom and creativity that's rare to experience in situ. The opening three songs are by far the band's best production-wise, and 'who sees you' is perhaps the most primal, evocative collection of sounds I can think of (like a melody ripping itself into existence from the sonic vacuum). The lows may be low, but the highs present a band so completely focused on a creative vision and singular sound that they changed the guitar's instrumental trajectory /again/ for an entirely new generation of listeners.
5
Jan 06 2023
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The Marshall Mathers LP
Eminem
A hard one to rate - this is by far one of my fav hip-hop albums on the list to date given the 5-star bars and overall exemplary wordplay that Mathers is able to lay down faster than one can blink. That being said, the homophobia and misogyny that crops up in the later half of the album is hard to stomach and permanently strands the LP in the early 2000s, unnecessarily aging what could’ve been a timeless album. Gonna have to hit the middle of the road and give this one 3/5, but man I wish I could give it the full 5.
3
Jan 07 2023
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At Newport 1960
Muddy Waters
A simple but effective Delta Blues LP that doesn’t overstay its welcome. Waters was /the/ progenitor of electrified rock and roll, and it’s easy to see why with both the chugging ballads and relative rippers on display here.
3
Jan 08 2023
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Happy Trails
Quicksilver Messenger Service
I enjoyed the long-form, guitar-driven movements of the first half, but then again I am squarely at the intersection of both those musical interests. The back half definitely drops off into pure noodling territory, but I find myself so surprised at how captivated I was in the first that I'm willing to mildly excuse it. Perhaps a bit malformed and wandering for an early stab at psychedelia, but somebody had to take the first shot and it's overall good for what it is.
3
Jan 09 2023
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Songs The Lord Taught Us
The Cramps
A straightforward garage-rock LP that's about what you would expect from The Cramps. No surprises on this one, but that's not a bad thing – I personally enjoy this style of rough 'n ready, sleazy rock, so I found it a solid listen.
3
Jan 10 2023
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Tommy
The Who
A solid take on a rock opera, wins big nostalgia points for 'Pinball Wizard' alone which I listened to a good deal when I was younger. Do wish the band had been a bit more experimental and out-there with the instrumentation on this one, but without the context of the full show I'm missing a huge deal of dialogue/staging that would make more sense alongside the somewhat passive arrangements here.
3
Jan 11 2023
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Music From Big Pink
The Band
You only need like, what, one chorus and verse to write a 5-minute song, right?
2
Jan 12 2023
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The Slider
T. Rex
An LP that really puts the rock in glam-rock. Plenty of laid back, in-the-groove melodies and tracks to dig into here, and while some border on repetitive with their track length, most are great shots of tranquil, fuzzed-out guitar right into the bloodstream.
3
Jan 13 2023
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Eliminator
ZZ Top
Pure commercialized schlock - all the genuinely great instrumental performances this band can put out are nothing when sterilized by a layer of sterile production and clear label interference
1
Jan 14 2023
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Bad
Michael Jackson
A decent Jackson LP that suffers a tad from the track ordering. Putting the uptempo heavy hitters (especially the title track) up first before stacking all the ballad-pace songs in the middle means the energy seems to peter out. Luckily the instrumentals don’t suffer from datedness, and Michael’s killer vocals do save even the slowest track from being too boring.
3
Jan 15 2023
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Young Americans
David Bowie
Not Bowie's best – the incorporation of more funk-oriented melodies should be a hit knowing his regular style, but each track stretches its musical content way too thin.
2
Jan 16 2023
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Cloud Nine
The Temptations
A short, groovy LP that has juuuust enough in the tank to sustain its brief runtime. Not overly wowed by this one, but it did get my toe tapping and I could see myself listening to it again.
3
Jan 17 2023
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Thriller
Michael Jackson
While I don’t know if I would class this as ‘best-selling album of all-time” in my own book, this is still a strong LP fill of fun instrumentals and great songwriting. The rising/falling action from ballads at the beginning/end to the monstrous three-song run in the middle keeps things flowing well, and the songs in question (“Thriller,” “Beat It,” and “Billie Jean”) are so rich and evocative across the board it’s easy to see why they’ve become Jackson’s biggest hits.
3
Jan 18 2023
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Casanova
The Divine Comedy
Bland Britpop drivel that can't even decide what it wants to be – veers from cheesy 80s balladry to orchestral themes and back without any clear sense of direction (or guiding talent).
1
Jan 19 2023
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The United States Of America
The United States Of America
I can appreciate the experimental spirit here, and definitely appreciate an LP outside the usual fare this project spits out. The album in question, though, lacks any defining traits other than ‘vague circus music’ and pushes way too far into avant-garde for my tastes. Wish I could enjoy this one a bit more but it just wasn’t there for me.
2
Jan 20 2023
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Mermaid Avenue
Billy Bragg
What a great and touching idea for an album. I’m not a huge fan of the genre or artists at play here, but Wilco definitely knows how to execute instrumentally and there were instances of songwriting that made me smile more often than not. Hearing Guthrie’s efforts brought to life posthumously is an exceptional artistic endeavor, so it’s easy to see why this one landed on the list.
3
Jan 21 2023
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Clandestino
Manu Chao
Man(u) had me hooked by “Bongo bong.” An exceptionally fun world album which breaks the mold for a genre I usually don’t enjoy. Lots of shining songwriting moments and fun instrumental flourishes which run throughout the album.
4
Jan 22 2023
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Heaux Tales
Jazmine Sullivan
It’s fine - the modern trend towards more spoken word sections and less emphasis on the beats isn’t my favorite, but some tracks here are enjoyable. More so annoyed that this crowded out other selections from what was a massive year in indie music for LPs much stronger than this one.
2
Jan 23 2023
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This Nation’s Saving Grace
The Fall
A great post-punk forerunner LP that delivers plenty of brash, heavy guitar, abstruse songwriting, and overall mercurial sonic whirlwind. Points off mainly for being a tad forgettable - I listened to the album first thing this morning and its excitement is nowhere near present here at the end of the day.
3
Jan 24 2023
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3 Feet High and Rising
De La Soul
An amazingly fresh hip-hop LP with personality in spades You could argue this album is too bit-heavy, but the sense of personality woven in between masterful micro-sampling and exquisite beats yields a winning combination that easily sustains the hour-long LP. Great wordplay in the bars and a loose narrative thread for everything together into a top-tier product that’s joyful yet focused, playful but heavy on performance. Between De La Soul and A Tribe Called Quest + others, I’m realizing just how shamefully uninformed I was on the genre - tradeoff is I get to discover all these amazing LPs in exchange for taking the deep dive.
4
Jan 25 2023
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Kollaps
Einstürzende Neubauten
Actually kinda vibed with this one. My receptiveness would definitely depend on my mood at the time, but yesterday I was in the zone for something a little different and this delivered. Interesting to see the raw, unfiltered emergence of some industrial textures that still define the genre today and listen to some semi-improvisational discovery along the way. Not every experiment lands, but kudos to these guys for pushing the envelope a little.
3
Jan 26 2023
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Be
Common
Notable bars and beats are few on this LP – Common has a few great lyrical insights to share, but is easily outclassed by each and every guest feature on the album when it comes to wordplay. Instrumentals aren't helping given they're firmly stuck in the mid-gear of the early aughts, some blandly positive commercial vibes transposed into music.
2
Jan 27 2023
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British Steel
Judas Priest
Solid metal LP from an outfit I've been meaning to check out for a while. Rides the line between genuine expression and outright cheese fairly well, and knows when a track has run its melodic course and needs to end. An enjoyable listen that goes to show less is often more (except when it comes to guitar tone).
3
Jan 28 2023
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Bryter Layter
Nick Drake
A more downtempo, singer-songwriter LP with some frills I found myself enjoying more than expected. The songwriting isn't strong enough to wow melodically for the whole runtime, but the lyricism and fun punches of (somewhat dated) sax keep things interesting enough for Drake's soft lull to work its magic.
3
Jan 29 2023
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More Specials
The Specials
This was going pretty well until they decided to stop in the middle and poorly appropriate a bunch of cultural music they couldn’t/shouldn’t have executed.
2
Jan 30 2023
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Amnesiac
Radiohead
Kid A’s twin brother that languished outside the spotlight, but that’s almost fitting given how introspective and isolated this album feels. Yorke and company turn the slightly-off synths and excellent guitar work inward for a darker mirror image of the already heavy Kid A, and the end result is a tight, claustrophobic LP that suggests something dark and formless just beneath the surface. Excellent instrumental work (especially guitar) on this one, creative songwriting in spades, and just some overall great tracks (even if I can’t listen to them when I’m depressed). One wonders if this album was meant to live in the A shadows, as that’s where it finds the most gripping examination of loss and isolation put to wax.
4
Jan 31 2023
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Rust Never Sleeps
Neil Young & Crazy Horse
Not usually a Young fan, but the addition of Crazy Horse on this LP balances out what I usually dislike to make for an entertaining product. The gradual ramp from the slow as molasses tempos Neil favors to some nearly breakneck songs at the end of the album was a fun ride, and there’s some great sizzling guitar on here to underscore the usual narrative songwriting that leads to a fun and unique product.
3
Feb 01 2023
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Superfuzz Bigmuff
Mudhoney
Sludgy, thick, heavy guitar coupled with frenetic vocals and energy is a perfect combination in my book. Any album named after a fuzz pedal (much less two!) probably rocks, and this LP does so in spades. Things are fairly homogenous in the track length/tempo department, but when the sound is this good you gotta let the little things slide and let it wash over you.
4
Feb 02 2023
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Frampton Comes Alive
Peter Frampton
Not a Frampton fan to begin with and the recording quality on this one does him no favors. Sounds entirely washed out compared to other live albums of the time, with no bass presence and brittle drums. The song selection is understandably hit-heavy, but when it’s just guitar and vocal in the mix there’s not a lot you can do with the set list to overcome serious sound design flaws.
2
Feb 03 2023
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Nixon
Lambchop
Not sure who this album is for - solid, orchestral/choir-like, and well-performed the instrumentals may be, but the abstract songwriting and lack of focus on any driving melodic or narrative themes means this one is a meandering mess.
2
Feb 04 2023
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Illmatic
Nas
Feels as if Nas could be bringing a whole other level of wordplay, but is taking it easy and only giving us a casual attempt at MCing. This is reflected in the beats, where every track seems to hone in on a 3-note sequence to repeat endlessly rather than opting for a longer, more interesting loop.
2
Feb 05 2023
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Modern Sounds in Country and Western Music
Ray Charles
There’s no denying Charles’ vocal talent, it’s just hard to sustain interest in 1.25 hours of love me/love-me-not ballads in the sub-60 BPM range.
2
Feb 06 2023
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Crosby, Stills & Nash
Crosby, Stills & Nash
It’s fine - a bit downtempo and uneventful for my tastes, but the vocal harmonies and guitar are well done, and it actually throws some minor key into the mix instead of remaining in haply-go-lucky sunshine and rainbow mode the entire runtime (like other 60s-70s LPs are prone to do).
3
Feb 07 2023
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The Boatman's Call
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds
There's been some recent press about Cave explaining his (extremely well-reasoned) motive for shifting towards lighter, happier music, but damn if it's not boring as hell. The songwriting here is repetitive and milquetoast as hell, and the muzak-level piano and guitar focus isn't helping either – expected way more out of this one :/
2
Feb 08 2023
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Chemtrails Over The Country Club
Lana Del Rey
Not as terrible as I expected but still somewhat of a drag - aside from some fun guest spots, there’s little to distinguish one track from another instrumentally, melodically, or vocally. Some of Rey’s vocal inflections and rhythms here are annoying as hell, but these grating bits are usually scattered enough to make her singing tolerable and at times even interesting. Wish we could get some 2020s-era LPs representative of the decade’s explosion in genre-bending and other creativity, though, rather than the albums that sold the most because they made the best tiktok tracks or had the largest cult of personality surrounding them.
2
Feb 09 2023
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The Stone Roses
The Stone Roses
Takes the standard, overdone Britpop formula and stands it on its head with washed-out, heavily spatial sound design and melodies that break far beyond the usual Brit mold. Strikes an impressive balance between the rock canon of the time and an almost proto-shoegaze with its dense reverb and delay on nearly every track. Found myself enjoying even the mandatory sappy Brit ballads on this one – though definitely the weaker elements of the LP's songwriting, anything is digestible if you wrap it in enough overdriven guitar and reverb.
4
Feb 10 2023
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Sound Affects
The Jam
Doesn't reinvent the wheel or bring much of anything new to the table, but still presents an enjoyable Brit-rock LP that kept me engaged for the full runtime.
3
Feb 11 2023
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Debut
Björk
Surprisingly accessible compared to what I expected going in - there are some great uptempo tracks that are digestible on an easy-listening scale, not at all what I thought a Bjork release would look like given her recent LP. The longer tracks drag and tested my patience a bit, but definitely some tracks on this one I see myself returning to.
3
Feb 12 2023
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The Next Day
David Bowie
A disappointing contemporary outing from Bowie. The man sounds tired on this one, and while he's still putting his soul into every lyric, the overall performance just doesn't land satisfyingly. A large part of this is the dollar-store instrumentals that sell out the usual Bowie flair in this department, but it doesn't help this is some of the most repetitive and clichéd songwriting Dave has produced.
2
Feb 13 2023
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I Never Loved a Man the Way I Love You
Aretha Franklin
Sole classic Aretha on this one - her vocals are perfectly situated within the mix on top of some creative, funk-inspired instrumentals and backing vocals that make each track pop. A bit downtempo for my taste, but still great to hear the context around some all-time classics
3
Feb 14 2023
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Qui sème le vent récolte le tempo
MC Solaar
Starts as a strong, in-your-face hip-hop LP with promise but never quite finds the grit needed to shift into fifth gear. Solaar easily slips from vicious to smooth on his French vocals (a key standout given how prominent they reside in the mix), but a lack of dynamic or instrumental contrast across the album means the oomph just isn’t there to push things beyond mildly-enjoyable listen territory
3
Feb 15 2023
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All Hope Is Gone
Slipknot
Got off to a rough start but ended up dialing in the djent near the end. Don’t think the falsetto vox are Feldman’s strong suit, but when the band locks in around an uptempo riff with the heavy vocals things click.
3
Feb 16 2023
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1989
Taylor Swift
Hindsight is 20/20, and I'm feeling that now that I look back on my 2-star rating of Swift's 'evermore' a while ago. Compared to this LP, 'evermore' is a Nobel Prize in Literature winning, 5-star work of genius and creativity.
Repetitive choruses written at the schoolyard-chant level, bland instrumentals born straight out of a sterile DAW with no human hand, classic Max Martin production that sucks the air out of every ounce of soul or humanity left – the awful but understandable ingredients of an LP that dominated the airwaves and zeitgeist so thoroughly it hasn't quite been matched since. This lab-grown, genetically-engineered organism of an album has no other purpose but to seek and destroy entire blocks of radio play, to still dominate house-party and club playlists, to worm its way so thoroughly into your brain you can't help but tap along to the stupidly simple saxophone accents in 'Shake It Off.'
There's not one entire genuine expression of artistic merit or flair on this thing; instead, it's a scientific study in how to combine the most dull and minimal of musical elements to maximize the fittingly named Big Machine Records and Swifts' bottom line. And before you accuse me of being a hater, please compare her debut (that forgotten country relic which features Swift playing a real instrument and swinging above her weight with some pretty impressive narrative lyricism) to this album, one that can rarely be bothered to find a different set of lyrics for the second verse instead of just aping the first one again.
It should be abundantly clear by now but this album, to me, represents the absolute nadir of big-money, label-made music and the homogenization of pop culture as a whole. This is what happens when you pursue a 100% capital-oriented pursuit to music in the interest of inflating your profits - and it worked! It worked so well that Max Martin gets to produce anything and everything nowadays, leading to popular music which sounds melodically similar (there are YouTube compilations out there if you don't believe me) and lifeless, music that has no soul because no one involved had actual music in mind. I guess this is /truly/ one of the 1001 albums to listen to before you die in that it provides a tripping hazard in hell of bar for genuine artistry.
1
Feb 17 2023
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Fetch The Bolt Cutters
Fiona Apple
Being able to look back at this album after the absolute fervor it caused when it dropped mid-pandemic, I can appreciate it a bit more on its own and not be too put-off by the cult of personality. I definitely think this is my favorite Apple album – it's easily the most accessible and melodic, intertwining the artist's penchant for offbeat instrumentation and lyricism with creative sound design and a sense of cynical fun. The sparse back half does wear a bit thin with its overuse of strained vocals and the minimalist, near purely-rhythmic backing tracks, but overall this is a concerted and creative songwriting effort I can see myself returning to again for sure.
3
Feb 18 2023
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All Things Must Pass
George Harrison
A lush, resplendent suite of psychedelic outpourings that suggest the former Beatle was holding a good deal of creative energy back during the final years of the band. Each track bursts with creative energy as novel chord progressions are amplified by warbling, reverb-wrapped instrumentals. Add in vocals which sit well-balanced in the mix and straddle the perfect line between simple and meaningful, and you have an absolute sonic treat that spills, soars, and ensconces for close to two hours on end. The jam sessions are a fun if noncommittal bonus, a bit of gritty, grounded palate-cleanser guitar and drums that can serve as an optional epilogue without being required listening.
4
Feb 19 2023
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Atomizer
Big Black
A high 2 – there are some genuinely interesting ideas for a unflinchingly abrasive punk album here, but I’m just not feeling it gel together as I would hope or expect it to. Big missed opportunity to maintain genre expectations while being different in only using Albini’s warbly, hyper-distorted guitar harmonics for maybe two songs. A punk LP of this stature leaning into heavy instrumentation with plentiful melodicism would still be revolutionary today, leading me to wish that was the case instead of constant sludgy guitar I would usually enjoy.
2
Feb 20 2023
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Black Monk Time
The Monks
Started off strong with some angular guitar work that reminded me of some modern-day Dwyer projects a la Damaged Bug, but quickly sloughed off into annoying 60s tropes. Repetitive surf guitar, one-hook structures, and cloying vocals made this a journey I increasingly wanted to end.
2
Feb 21 2023
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Ten
Pearl Jam
Despite more than a few of these tracks being played to death on early aughts radio, I still found myself jamming along to the gold standard hits and deep cuts on this one. Definitely better to listen with headphones and get the full brunt of the guitar tone on this LP, which is the real star – given that it makes Vedder's vocals tolerable and then some is a notable feat. Avoided this band due to way too much exposure on the radio as a kid, but may have to circle back if the other albums are as solid as this one.
3
Feb 22 2023
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Songs Of Love And Hate
Leonard Cohen
While Cohen's picking and singing remain untouchable on this LP, his bitter attitude tinges a good deal of the songs on here with way more hate than love. Something about the disposition towards cloistered, minor-key fugues here with only a few sardonically cheery ones to balance out just put a bad taste in my mouth, and the clear pro-life sentiment of 'Diamonds in the Mine' certainly doesn't help either (and has aged rather poorly).
2
Feb 23 2023
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Sex Packets
Digital Underground
One of the most challenging listens of the project so far, and not in a constructive or positive way. This thing is dripping in enough cheese to give any person a coronary - the bars are consistently corny, creepy, or both, leading to a steady level of baseline cringe that fluctuates from unbearable to uncomfortable. The beats offer no salvation as they opt to instead beat several 1-2 second samples out to 4-7 minutes at a time, meaning the backing tracks are at best stale and at worst infuriating. There’s one track that has some sort of female moaning/vocalizing looping over and over for the entire runtime, and it’s probably the most annoying track I’ve listened to out of nearly 700 albums on this list so far. This is not some nostalgic relic worth revisiting, it’s just plain bad and should remain firmly in the 90s.
1
Feb 24 2023
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Peter Gabriel
Peter Gabriel
An exuberant and commanding listen, if a bit more pomp than substance. Signals the coming of the 80s as it maintains some narrative worth, but opts more for the big synth splashes and gated drums, a herald of the gradual cheapening of the instrumental and lyrical value that was to come over the next decade. Would consider re-listening as I had a pleasant experience, but only because the songs did not leave much impression outside general positivity the first go round.
3
Feb 25 2023
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Francis Albert Sinatra & Antonio Carlos Jobim
Frank Sinatra
Frank can sing but man is he a one-trick pony. This is my second or third Sinatra album on the list, and each initially wows with the bombast and flair one would expect in vacuum from the crooner but quickly grows old over the span of 30-40 minutes. The added orchestral element here was a nice addition, but some sluggish sections + constant crooning didn't win me over at the end of the day.
2
Feb 26 2023
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Horses
Patti Smith
It's clear Smith can write and play interesting guitar parts, but that means little if she can't get her vocals out of the way. I'm all for experimental singer-songwriter approaches to liven things up a bit, but the tricks, gimmicks, and downright annoying vocal mannerisms across this thing just kept me from getting into the flow of the album.
2
Feb 27 2023
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The Yes Album
Yes
A Yes album with a bit more pop sensibility mixed in along with their usual blend of classic prog. Wish Squier’s bass sat a bit higher in the mix and had more presence overall, but hey , not every album can be ‘Fragile’
3
Feb 28 2023
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If I Should Fall From Grace With God
The Pogues
The instrumentals/vocals are well done to my ear, just think this isn’t the genre for me. An hour of distinctly Irish music felt a bit tiring when the Pogues opt to use a small set of keys over and over, with not much rhythmic variation on top to spice things up.
2
Mar 01 2023
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Phaedra
Tangerine Dream
Enjoyed this genuinely new-to-me find today. Wish there was a bit more verve to the melodies and instrumentation, but this was a solid early electronica album that provided some enjoyment and a few surprises along the way.
3
Mar 02 2023
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Iron Maiden
Iron Maiden
Solid metal LP – not as dynamic as their other album on the list, but given the selections I've been going through recently I will take any well-done guitar-based album I can get.
3
Mar 03 2023
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Heavy Weather
Weather Report
Big nostalgia hit for 'Birdland' alone, which was one of my favorite stand tunes we got to play in high school band. Not every track on this LP measures up to the verve of its opener, but with Jaco's basslines gluing everything together into a perfect rhythmic mesh even the more filler tracks keep moving at a great clip. Lovely jazz album overall and definitely a formative LP in my high school years.
3
Mar 04 2023
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Phrenology
The Roots
Too many ideas at once to make these tracks coalesce into a sold LP. I can appreciate some fun interludes and weird textures, but this album never establishes a core sound or identity before it starts throwing everything at the wall (with not much sticking).
2
Mar 05 2023
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Signing Off
UB40
A great reggae album with some verve to keep its downtempo arrangements moving along. Appreciated that each song had a distinct melodic feel to it, rather than one major key mush some albums in this genre tend to become.
3
Mar 06 2023
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Guitar Town
Steve Earle
Too much twang over a short period of time for me on this one, some interesting song compositions here and there but mostly too straightforward and static to capture me.
2
Mar 07 2023
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Led Zeppelin III
Led Zeppelin
A solid and diverse LP that offers 70s rock at its best. I have to shamefully admit my experience with this album didn't go beyond 'Immigrant Song,' so I'm glad to have a chance to revisit and take in the wealth of musical talent on display. From the eerily off-kilter symphonic accompaniment on 'Friends' to the straightforward chugging of 'Celebration Day,' Zepp manages to pull off a staggering range while maintaining their distinct sound and feel throughout. I did feel the back half sagged due to the front-loading of all the uptempo tracks, but even in its slower moments, this LP delivers a genuine, rich compositional feel that has easily stood the test of time.
4
Mar 08 2023
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Nighthawks At The Diner
Tom Waits
If you make me listen to another album by the man who sounds like he smokes 12 packs of cigarettes a day and reminds me of the crazies on the Philadelphia bus system I am going to cry.
2
Mar 09 2023
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Vento De Maio
Elis Regina
A samba album with nothing much memorable to say - the melodies and vocals were good, but nothing to make this album notable or 1001-worthy.
2
Mar 10 2023
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Faust IV
Faust
An interesting krautrock album that runs the gamut from ambient to industrial, showcasing some exceptional guitar tones and musicianship throughout. Not sure this one wholly gels as an experience for me given how some songs just don't fit with the longer, nigh-orchestral tracks and their flow, but an engaging and novel listen nonetheless.
3
Mar 11 2023
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Django Django
Django Django
Listened to these guys a lot in high school, so this was a great blast from the past for today. Love the reedy guitar, rhythmic focus, and actually good use of unusual rhythm elements from the dreary hay day of clap-stomp indie. Definitely frontloaded in terms of the energy and better tracks, but a fun album for a car ride or other casual listening.
3
Mar 12 2023
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Good Old Boys
Randy Newman
Another snoozer from ol' Randy. Doesn't even get into the darker, more complicated narratives that at least jazzed up his previous efforts' songwriting, and drives home my impression of the guy as the Tom Hanks of music.
2
Mar 13 2023
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A Wizard, A True Star
Todd Rundgren
Loved this creative, unhindered synth romp. While there definitely was some listening fatigue (and some of the cheesier, 70s musical vice tracks) near the end, most tracks shine with just enough unhinged energy to be wild and memorable while staying well within listenable territory. It's clear Rudgren had a blast making this LP, and it's both a rare and wonderful thing when the artist's joy transfers 1:1 to the listener.
4
Mar 14 2023
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Reggatta De Blanc
The Police
A serviceable Police LP – gives away the ghost by letting its best track ('Bottle' by a long shot) up front, with not much achieving that high bar for the rest of the runtime. That being said, even a ho-hum Police album is a solid listen, as Sting and co. pilot their way through the standard mix of chorus-drenched guitar + unconventional rhythms to great effect.
3
Mar 15 2023
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Jack Takes the Floor
Ramblin' Jack Elliott
For what it is musically, it's fine, but the co-opting of Southern culture by a Dylan compatriot definitely reads as anything other than genuine. Throw in some off-base bonus tracks meant to lengthen the album for re-release (including a near-orchestral track with female vocals?) and it's hard to feel that this is a passion project more so than money grab.
2
Mar 16 2023
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Axis: Bold As Love
Jimi Hendrix
An effortlessly amazing LP defined by how at ease Hendrix feels throughout – this isn't a performance or production, just Jimi expressing pure feeling by means of his guitar. The lack of any kind of artistic facade felt wonderfully refreshing and meant I was able to tune purely into the sheer wonder that is Hendrix's musicianship. A spectacular listen, and one I will be returning to often.
4
Mar 17 2023
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Document
R.E.M.
Easily R.E.M.'s most vibrant, upbeat album and one I had largely never heard before (though it contains my favorite track of the band's in 'One I Love'). Appreciated the changeup in rhythms from the somewhat slow pace the band usually favors for faster, more energetic, and alive arrangements. Not sure too many tracks stuck with me after an initial listen outside the mega-popular singles, but definitely a welcome listen after my last few R.E.M. outings on the list.
3
Mar 18 2023
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Homework
Daft Punk
A much rawer and more experimental debut for the duo as compared to their follow-up efforts – the acid house/French touch influences aren't so much tinges as stains all over the album. The progressive layering of each track into something greater than its parts would take a backseat to cinematic bombast when 'Discovery' rolled around a few years later, but here it's easy to see the pair synthesizing the surrounding musical era (even giving a few facets a nod on 'Teachers') into something uniquely their own. Definitely overlong in terms of track arrangements, and not every sample/melody/beat combo hits, but an interesting retrospective nonetheless into an act that would come to dominate the electronic and house scenes down the line.
3
Mar 19 2023
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Moss Side Story
Barry Adamson
Usually a fan of concept albums but this one misses the mark a bit in the balance between cinematic diegesis and musical structure. Without a real film or even general story to give context to the many screams, spooky tritones, and other world-building elements, there’s not a whole lot to drive interest in a 1D soundscape not tethered to any deeper lore. Maybe I’m just not imaginative enough - would’ve loved to see a musical experiment like this succeed, but the effort here just doesn’t resonate with me.
2
Mar 20 2023
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Larks' Tongues In Aspic
King Crimson
After the high of ‘Crimson King,’ this one comes off as more of a slightly-polished studio jam sesh than tight prog epic. I think some more vocals or string melodic themes would’ve helped this album feel more cohesive rather than a scattershot of collection of tracks (and at times, individual phrases or even sounds).
2
Mar 21 2023
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Woodface
Crowded House
A banal, vapid 80s LP masquerading under the more reserved, authentic instrumentals of the early 90s. The musicianship is serviceable, but the melodies drag on and underwhelm at best. Add in truly god-awful songwriting and this was one poor performance away from being a 0.5 star album in my book. T
2
Mar 22 2023
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Os Mutantes
Os Mutantes
This album isn't lacking in vibrance or originality, but a bit of cohesion wouldn't hurt. Enjoyed most of the tracks individually for their out-there approaches and arrangements, just wishing there was a stronger melodic throughline to connect some of the noisier, spastic moments in a little better.
3
Mar 23 2023
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To Pimp A Butterfly
Kendrick Lamar
Expected a good deal from this album given the praise it's received in the indie community and general culture, but felt let down given how overstuffed and overlong the end product is. Starts off incredibly strong with some excellent beats and wordplay courtesy of some heavy hitter guests (especially Thundercat), but hits a wall in the second half once the instrumentals start to blend together. Kendrick has some top-tier bars to lay down throughout the entire LP, but they get lost in a mix of too many ideas being stuffed into one song structure + too many one-off interlude/throwaway tracks that feel like dead-ends rather than detours on the LP's narrative journey.
2
Mar 24 2023
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White Light
Gene Clark
Not gonna lie, this one was pretty fucking boring. The musical chops are there, but my attention isn’t.
2
Mar 25 2023
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The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill
Lauryn Hill
While there were rhythms, beats, and box I definitely enjoyed, this one just left me a little flat for some reason. There’re hints of a narrative and melodic thread here, but it’s not strong enough to tie together an absolutely stuffed LP that doesn’t have much exciting to say.
2
Mar 26 2023
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Closer
Joy Division
Such a tough rate after the perfection of 'Unknown Pleasures.' The same driving energy and dark creativity are still at play but fail to coalesce into any kind of piercing image unlike its predecessor. Manages to pull a 3 based on strong tracks like 'Decades' and 'Means,' pillars which suggest a larger form the other tracks just can't sustain due to some poor choices in lyricism or repetitive instrumentation. This album still wows with its experimental verve, it just feels stuck in a weird space between the guitar-born darkness of Joy Division and the synth-happy splendor of New Order.
3
Mar 27 2023
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Led Zeppelin II
Led Zeppelin
A straightforward outing from rock’s most consistently stellar group. Doesn’t wow as much on the compositional side as its follow-ups, but still pulls out some fun studio tricks and exceptional instrumentation as always to deliver a great listen.
3
Mar 28 2023
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The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan
Bob Dylan
Can't believe I'm saying this, but I've finally found my first tolerable Dylan LP after getting around 5 or so on this list to date. Helps that he keeps the nasally delivery down on this one and tries out several different kinds of arrangements, leading to an album that has a bit of flow from track to diverse track rather than singer-songwriter acoustic throughout. While the messaging isn't groundbreaking by any means, the overall peace themes are pleasant and I would even consider listening to some of these tracks again.
3
Mar 29 2023
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The Stooges
The Stooges
Would be a riot of an album if it didn’t include a 10-minute funeral dirge in the middle
2
Mar 30 2023
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Channel Orange
Frank Ocean
I’m a victim of the hype here - it’s understandable how Ocean’s debit earned massive critical acclaim, given its introduction the soft, R&B-inspired vocals on top of heavily electronic instrumentals that still dominates popular music to this day. With that being said, however, I’m not blown away by the performances here, especially given the almost life-changing status they’ve been raised to by most indie heads. The production is exciting and creative, but most tracks seem to meander and attempt to stuff several songs into one which leads to thematic burnout. Definitely see myself returning to several tracks here (especially the dark centerpiece that is ‘Pyramids’), just a bit disappointed this one didn’t live up to the atmospheric expectations that have been built up around it.
3
Mar 31 2023
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The Sounds Of India
Ravi Shankar
A great introduction to traditional sitar music. The explanatory, pedagogic intro was a welcome surprise and made me realize how much I would love to hear musicians talk more about their craft within a song itself, an interactive Song Exploder-like experience.
3
Apr 01 2023
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Cross
Justice
Somewhere along the way you heard an album that changed everything – an album that transcended your personal understanding of music and showed you that there was so much more.
I wasn’t unfamiliar with Justice as a group before I listened to Cross, but I hadn’t taken in much of their musical output. Even as a 12 to 13-year-old the cross iconography seemed a bit edgy, and what tracks I had encountered on Pandora hadn’t resonated and most always used up an hourly skip. It took a particularly boring day in freshman Bio to give in to Youtube’s insistence I listen to “Justice - Cross [FULL ALBUM]” after it had languished in my recommended section for a good long while. The opening brass section of ‘Genesis’ was all it took to get me locked in for the next hour and redefine what I knew an album could be.
Cross’s strength is managing to build up a completely logical hourlong LP out of the most disparate, batshit-insane bloghouse tracks produced in the genre’s short span in the spotlight. Each track is a small little world in its own right, an escapade through corners bright and dark alike. ‘Genesis’ wastes no time in wiping the floor with expectations, delivering a massive brass overture that tumbles into the grimiest, slitheriest club staple known to man. Any other album would take the hint from the jet-black album cover and keep things in the dark of the dance floor for the next track, but no, ‘Let There Be Lite’ is a slippery, nervous romp that goes for blowing the tweeters instead of the subs.
This constant reinvention never stops once over the LP’s 48-minute runtime – from the absolute earworm smash that is ‘D.A.N.C.E.’ to the claustrophobic ‘Stress,’ Gaspard Augé and Xavier de Rosnay create, destroy, and demolish any kind of consistency while maintaining an incredibly tight sense of cohesion. The seamless bleeding of tracks into another (something which blew my mind as a 14-year-old raised on Top 40 and Red Dirt radio) definitely helps keep this paradox afloat, each auditory assault seeming to both rise from the ashes of the previous track and simultaneously rush into existence from the vacuum. But so too does the airtight production and omnipresent sense of goddamn slickness contribute to the sense that this album knows exactly what it is and what it’s meant to do. Not one of the 400-odd microsamples across this thing feels out of place, each distorted, chopped, and twisted beat or melody fitting effortlessly into Justice’s chaotic jigsaw.
What should be an absolute mess of ideas is instead a laser-guided missile made up of jagged 808s, slap bass, overdriven synths, and a few Britney Spears samples, a motley crew of influences that lands the mark every single time. The dynamism here astounds; while all loosely assembled under the dance/electronica umbrella, the tracks cut a wide swath across all parts of the era’s electronic sound. ‘DVNO’ leans into club music with a vengeance, forging a 4-on-the-floor tongue-in-cheek banger in both melody and lyrics alike. ‘Newjack’ presents a twitchy take on acid house, the sound unmistakable but the composition unstable and spastic. ‘Waters of Nazareth’ is a close personal favorite, a take-no-prisoners onslaught of gritty synths and triumphant organ that finds the album at its sonic peak (both in dB and rising action). The ‘Phantoms’ present Justice’s spirit the best, the domineering Pt. I reimagined with a dancefloor-friendly swagger on Pt. II immediately preceding.
It was unlike anything I’d ever heard before – not just the brimming, untouchable textures each track contained, but a fully-realized artistic vision, a complete statement in its own right. Cross was the first album I listened to as an album, and even today I can’t dip my toes into one track without throwing the whole thing on from front to back. Justice’s opus isn’t without its Achilles (‘The Party’ is an unfortunate bit of label meddling, with Uffie hogging the spotlight on a wholly unearned and uninspired guest vocal), but this humanizes the ordeal if anything. It’s still by far the closest an album has gotten to perfection in all my listening, and little has done to touch it in the years since I clicked play on an unassuming YouTube album rip.
5
Apr 02 2023
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In The Court Of The Crimson King
King Crimson
A tighter and more carefree outing than ‘Larks’ that remembers prog is supposed to be fun at the end of the day. Sashays between near tongue-in-cheek inanity on ‘Schizoid’ to serious operatic theming on the title track, hitting every possible valence stop along the way. It’s clear the the band is enjoying themselves as they lay down some seriously impressive lines, and the fun studio tricks add another layer of melodic color and variety that give this album a cohesive feel despite its dynamic content. Just a fun prog opera romp at the end of the day, and you can’t really ask for more than that.
4
Apr 03 2023
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The Libertines
The Libertines
Some decent instrumentals ruined by Wish.com Morrissey vocals. Some truly awful musical choices by the frontman on delivery, timing, and overall musicianship, so I hope the band found someone better to lead their relatively catchy early-aughts indie pop down the road.
2
Apr 04 2023
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The Köln Concert
Keith Jarrett
While impressive as an improvisational piece, this is at the end of the day simply an hour of piano playing. Inspired as it may be, this LP opens a whole can of worms about list inclusion when it comes to more classically-oriented pieces – if improvisational piano is worthy of 1001, aren't at least 100 other classical pieces with inspired performances or innovative designs?
2
Apr 05 2023
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Safe As Milk
Captain Beefheart & His Magic Band
A surprisingly accessible Beefheart effort with some fun takes on Delta Blues meets early rock. Does run a bit long, but probably would’ve checked out earlier if the tracks weren’t as interesting or unique.
3
Apr 06 2023
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It's Blitz!
Yeah Yeah Yeahs
A fun attempt at mixing both the early aughts dance and indie crazes into a singular LP. Gets a bit homogenous towards the back end, a few standout tracks but loses the energy as the album goes on.
3
Apr 07 2023
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My Life In The Bush Of Ghosts
Brian Eno
Funky out-there background music fueled by David Byrne’s creative whimsy is still just background music at the end of the day
2
Apr 08 2023
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The Healer
John Lee Hooker
Solid, well-crafted Blues album with some more energetic takes on the genre. Not wholly my thing but I can respect the craft here.
3
Apr 09 2023
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Mama Said Knock You Out
LL Cool J
Mr. J is his own worst enemy on this LP; each track has something going for it in terms of the album’s overall flow and production, but the MC can’t keep from tripping himself up on either awful lyricism (see: tuna melt) or cloying, repetitive samples on a loop. Part of me really wanted this to break into low 3 territory, but there are too many songwriting sins on this one to do so.
2
Apr 10 2023
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O.G. Original Gangster
Ice T
Was prepared to write this LP by everyone’s favorite SVU star well off before it started, but found myself pleasantly shocked at how it managed to hold my attention for well over an hour. The cheese factor is definitely on okay, but there’s some alarmingly prescient and outspoken social consciousness as well which was unexpected. Musically it’s a bit middle of the road, but T keeps it varied enough between skits, interludes, spoken word tracks, and fully-fleshed beats to where things aren’t too grating over the course of 70 minutes. Overall, this one came out of left field for me, and I’ll have to give a few tracks here some replays given how well they landed the first time around.
3
Apr 11 2023
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At Mister Kelly's
Sarah Vaughan
A soulful live jazz album with heart. Not usually my cup of tea, but Vaughan’s velvet voice and charming personality made this one an enjoyable quick listen.
3
Apr 12 2023
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Little Earthquakes
Tori Amos
Usually when I’m listening to a new (to me) album I’m looking for songs that grab my attention and don’t let go - ‘Crucifier’ came close in that regard before the rest of the album sunk into banal 90s singer-songwriter tropes, and my attention never recovered.
2
Apr 13 2023
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São Paulo Confessions
Suba
Didn’t leave too much of an impression - I wasn’t overly wowed but didn’t find myself bored either. Warrants a relisten to make sure I caught everything this time around, but I’m not sure I’ve ever felt more middle of the road about an album here than this
3
Apr 14 2023
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Let's Get Killed
David Holmes
Not terrible but not great either - when the defining characteristics of multiple tracks is just the heavy use of cymbal, things probably aren’t going well composition-wise.
2
Apr 15 2023
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Marcus Garvey
Burning Spear
A short and sweet but solid little reggae album. Doesn’t fall into the genre’s usual trap of beating a melodic dead horse, as each track arrives with distinctive progressions and flair for a compact 2-3 minute jaunt.
3
Apr 16 2023
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Listen Without Prejudice Vol. 1
George Michael
There are a few decently successful attempts at some dynamic songwriting on this one, but for the most part Michael just parks it on one big riff/line and stays there for most of the track. Needs to be a bit more there to substantiate an LP, no matter how talented the vocalist.
2
Apr 17 2023
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Back At The Chicken Shack
Jimmy Smith
Serviceable, but not entirely the groundbreaking organ performance I expected. Did provide some nice easy listening this morning even if I don't see myself returning to it anytime in the future.
3
Apr 18 2023
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The Bones Of What You Believe
CHVRCHES
Somewhere in my shoegazey, guitar-driven hard-rock heart I have a big soft spot for indie electronica, and I’m pretty sure it’s this album that started me down that path.
When this LP dropped in 2014, it was the first melody-driven, well-executed electronic music I’d heard that didn’t revolve around massive drops or progressive builds. Mayberry’s featherlight yet strong vocals on top of some great synth choices and big, booming rhythms is a great play of light against heavy, light against dark. The use of space is exceptional - not a single track goes by without feeling huge and anthemic due to the airtight production and heavy use of reverb, but the group still manages to make tracks feel small and intimate (‘Gun’ is a great example of this).
To this day the album feels fresh, alive, and new thanks to the strong songwriting and use of texture that makes every line, beat, and word resonate hugely in a wall of vibrant sound. It’s unfortunate that the band hasn’t been able to innovate their sound with much success in the following decade, but with an opening statement this strong, unique, and fully-formed, I have no problem if the group continues to stay in their lane and make excellent indietronica.
4
Apr 19 2023
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Crooked Rain Crooked Rain
Pavement
By all means I should be a huge fan of Pavement’s stoner-esque irreverence and garage band sound, but the band has never stuck with me. Maybe it’s Malkmus’ whiny vocals and (to me) holier-than-thou attitude, maybe the instrumentals aren’t distinct enough from other 90s fare. In any case I’m always left feeling a bit weird after listening, like with this album - didn’t hate it, enjoyed some of the tracks a good deal, but felt like I should it enjoy it so much more, ya know?
3
Apr 20 2023
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Giant Steps
The Boo Radleys
The definition of throwing everything at the wall to see what sticks. A complete mess of 90s genres, musical cliches, and melodic fads messily glued together in an attempt at relevance - there's no sense of coherent personality here whatsoever, and I'm left at a loss as to what genre the Boo Radleys actually are given how poorly they sample across a wide swath of unnecessary genres here.
2
Apr 21 2023
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Lupe Fiasco's Food & Liquor
Lupe Fiasco
Nearly breaks into low-3 territory with some inspired beatmaking here and there, but the lyricism just drags it so far down. The gratuitous 12-minute one-loop ‘outro’ (if you can call it that) is perhaps the most egregiously bad and self-indulgent/narcissistic thing I’ve heard on the list so far.
2
Apr 22 2023
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Ellington at Newport
Duke Ellington
Solid live jazz album. The artistry and interstitials were notable here, just a lot of music to take in all at once and fully appreciate at once
3
Apr 23 2023
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New Wave
The Auteurs
Feels like I’ve been transported to an alternate universe where I like The Smiths. This LP definitely stands in the shadow of Morissey and co. vocally, but carves its own unique niche with some biting post-punk guitar and simple yet delightfully odd arrangements. Didn’t like every track on here (the slow ones especially veer far too close back to the source material), but enjoyed hearing something a bit old and a bit new to break up the Brit pop monotony.
3
Apr 24 2023
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Teenager Of The Year
Frank Black
An interesting departure from the Pixies frontman. Still has some of the same frenetic energy, but takes a more melodic and structured approach with each track. It’s a testament to how good the melodies are that I never felt bored, but I can’t help but wonder if this could’ve been a killer LP if it wasn’t 30 minutes of good ideas smeared out over a full hour.
3
Apr 25 2023
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Tom Tom Club
Tom Tom Club
Expected to hate this, but found myself pleasantly surprised by how varied this LP was. Definitely stays within its funky comfort zone for most of the runtime, though the Tom Tom Club manages to make each track feel distinct with its own vibe rather than a rehash of the same melodic/instrumental territory again and again.
3
Apr 26 2023
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Shadowland
k.d. lang
An interesting, genuine country album that dips its toes into a bevy of genres alongside. Lang’s voice carries through whatever arrangement she’s working with, and while I wish the production felt a bit smaller and less blown-out/grandiose I did enjoy this one a good bit.
3
Apr 27 2023
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Tical
Method Man
Doesn’t push above the surface for me - several tracks had notable beats and great lyrics, but as a whole I never felt the album coalesced into something which demanded my attention (as one would expect for a Wu-Tang product)
2
Apr 28 2023
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Locust Abortion Technician
Butthole Surfers
Not always successful in its gritty mixed-media approach to song composition, but commendable in its attempt to offer one (1) creative, prescient riff on the grunge craze that would dominate and homogenize rock sounds of the 90s. If this one manages to stick around in my rotation, I could definitely see this one being a grower. There's a combative layer here that definitely rankles on the first go-'round, but some of my fav albums have been challenging, abrasive ones that didn't click until many listens later and this might be one of those.
3
Apr 29 2023
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Red Headed Stranger
Willie Nelson
Not usually a country guy but found myself enjoying this one. Rare to hear this level of genuine care for the craft - it’s clear Nelson has put his entire heart into this LP, and it shines as a result.
4
Apr 30 2023
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Rattlesnakes
Lloyd Cole And The Commotions
Roughly 750 albums in and I can’t count how many mid Britpop albums there have been. The editors have a clear bias towards UK music, especially this middle of the road 80s pop, and it’s a bit tiring when there are so many other great albums out there to explore.
2
May 01 2023
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Lady In Satin
Billie Holiday
Was having a bad day and this didn’t make it any better - an hour of the same instrumentals repeated and barely recontextualized again and again, plus Holiday’s monotonous and often croaky vocals on top. Just plain boring and a waste of my time
2
May 02 2023
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No Sleep 'Til Hammersmith (Live)
Motörhead
Listened to all two hours because no other band out there went as hard as Motörhead did. Definitely gets samey without any variation in the tempo (and not much in the instrumentals if we’re being honest), but that hardly matters when you have the hardest guitar and bass tone of any rock band. An absolute treat to hear the group match and exceed their studio expectations, RIP Lemma and RIP rock n roll.
3
May 03 2023
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Miriam Makeba
Miriam Makeba
This one didn't grab me, never really broke above the surface and demanded my attention. Makeba's voice is great, but this vocal-focused fare with generic instrumentals has never been my fare.
2
May 04 2023
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Fromohio
fIREHOSE
Maybe it’s because I expected a hardcore/Midwest emo LP from the band/album name combo, but man did this not come across in any kind of memorable way. Listened before lunch and I’m struggling to recall any specifics outside the somewhat Pearl Jam-esque closing tracks, just not distinct or important in any kind of way.
2
May 05 2023
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Are You Experienced
Jimi Hendrix
The common factor among Hendrix's releases is how effortless all of them sound, as if this music spontaneously emerged from the vacuum and is now winding its way into your ears. It's easy to forget just how much of himself Jimi is giving to guitar and how insanely difficult this style of fast but lyrical playing can be. Not every track on this LP specifically shines with individual personality like some of the other Hendrix albums, but the overall ebb and flow from lick to lick is enough to carry the LP a good deal. Always excited to see one of these come up in the project, as it means a guaranteed good listen and (usually) good day.
3
May 06 2023
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Smile
Brian Wilson
Realizing I’m not a fan of The Beach Boys without the vocal harmonies - the songwriting here is good, just not a fan of the execution vocally or with some of the instrumentals.
2
May 07 2023
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Very
Pet Shop Boys
A total musical dumpster fire but at least it’s a silly one. +1 for making me chuckle multiple times at how over the top whimsical and goofy this thug managed to be while trying to be 100% serious.
2
May 08 2023
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Fred Neil
Fred Neil
A low 3 for me - some great, powerful country-western guitar on a few tracks made this listenable, it’s just the shockingly bland songwriting that lets the LP down.
3
May 09 2023
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Rattus Norvegicus
The Stranglers
An 80s-esque LP that preceded the key-driven, goofy sound of the next decade while executing on the style better than any actual 80s LP on this list. A touch of quirkiness makes this one work, and though most tracks tend to run long for how much melodic/lyrical content they have to share, the end product is still a stellar out-of-left-field inclusion on the list that I’ll likely be returning to.
3
May 10 2023
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Water From An Ancient Well
Abdullah Ibrahim
An interesting mix of big band, soul, and rhythmic jazz that explores the whole range of dynamic contrast in its modest runtime. Not mind blowing by any means, but an interesting listen nonetheless.
3
May 11 2023
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Time (The Revelator)
Gillian Welch
Not notable in any way, really - the live track was nice, but everything else felt so stereotypically singer-songwriter that it didn't leave much impact, if any. Not sure if there's historical context I'm missing, but man have I been getting some boring albums here lately.
2
May 12 2023
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Hypocrisy Is The Greatest Luxury
The Disposable Heroes Of Hiphoprisy
Went into this one with high hopes but ultimately left just kind of whelmed. Some interesting ideas in the production and sampling, but repetitive bars and a general lack of verve in the vocals kinda killed it for me.
2
May 13 2023
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Heroes
David Bowie
A higher point in the Bowie backlog that straddles the singers’ excesses quite well. Dripping in production, there’s still a sense of the stripped-back human element Bowie excels at present even with synths and guitars blaring at full volume. The back half does peter out fairly quickly, but the excitement of the first is more than enough to sustain a whole listen.
3
May 14 2023
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Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere
Neil Young & Crazy Horse
Neil should break out the electric more often, as this one LP has more energy than all his others on the list combined. The upwards shift in tempo and instrumentation means the songwriting hits harder, and even if the songs run a bit long they have much more melodic variation to sustain them now. A good shift in pace for the singer-songwriter that leads to a nice rock slow burn overall.
3
May 15 2023
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Follow The Leader
Korn
Amazing how long an hour and change can feel.
2
May 16 2023
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good kid, m.A.A.d city
Kendrick Lamar
The first big Kendrick album and the last for me on the list. Walking back in order of maturity has been an interesting review of Lamar’s work - while I prefer the hyper-focused lyrics and interlocking beats of the DAMN era, this LP has a sense of sprawling chaos that feels much more raw and alive than anything that comes after it. Lacks some polish and gets way too loose/experimental at times, but has some killer consciousness /and/ instrumental combos that may be some of my fav Kendrick tracks I’ve heard.
3
May 17 2023
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Guero
Beck
Wherein Beck tries his hand at appropriating more than a few different cultures with mixed results. Several songs have a certain catchiness about them, but the end product feels to scattershot and see-what-sticks to feel whole. Can’t decide whether it wants to be radio-friendly or experimentally artistic and lands firmly in the middle at Beck’s usual smarminess
2
May 18 2023
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Feast of Wire
Calexico
An interesting mix of modern alternative and salsa. Enjoyed this as a departure from the regular fare on the list, as it brought new ideas to the table and was well-executed instrumentally and production-wise. Don’t think this LP packed enough of an artistic, cohesive punch to land on my faves list, but I definitely see myself revisiting tracks here if I’m feeling stuck in a rock rut.
3
May 19 2023
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Ctrl
SZA
Torn on this one, the production soars in places with touches of shimmering synthpop that meld perfectly with the vocals, but said vocals often strain the limits of my patience (such as saying pussy so many times it loses all coherent meaning). Need to listen to SZA's most recent release to see if it can maintain the strong instrumentals, as some maturity in the songwriting would easily make this a 4-star album.
3
May 20 2023
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Rip It Up
Orange Juice
Another so-called post-punk album I had high hopes for that started off strong but quickly devolved into bland and repetitive guitar work. A few tracks with interesting melodic lines, but not nearly enough meat and potatoes to hold together an entire LP
2
May 21 2023
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Remedy
Basement Jaxx
An inventive, high-energy romp from a group I’ve enjoyed on the list before. This LP contains its fair share of annoying samples and overall repetitive tracks, but the songs which hit the groove do so in a way that more than makes up for the rough patches here and there.
3
May 22 2023
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Bone Machine
Tom Waits
I was dreading, and I mean DREADING listening to this album given my prior experience with Tom Waits on the list. Found myself shocked that Waits opts for a less growly and more melodic vocal approach here, one that allowed me to focus better on the creative instrumentation and melodies building up each track. While I don't know if I would return to this LP, I did not hate my experience with it and that's much more than I expected!
3
May 23 2023
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Felt Mountain
Goldfrapp
One of those albums I wanted to enjoy more than I actually did. The duo nails a perfect blend of 50s lo-fi nostalgia with early-aughts indie sensibility when it comes to the instrumentation, but there's not nearly enough melodic or rhythmic variation to wow consistently across the whole 40 minutes.
3
May 24 2023
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Konnichiwa
Skepta
Mid-2010s rap/hip-hop experiment that aims to mimic the heady beats and poignant themes of its modern contemporaries, but ends up feeling completely lifeless and without a personality of its own as a result.
2
May 25 2023
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My Aim Is True
Elvis Costello
Another album I was dreading this week that was much better than expected, this time thanks to Costello opting to nOt dO waCkY gOofY thInGs WItH hIS vOicE.
3
May 26 2023
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A Nod Is As Good As A Wink To A Blind Horse
Faces
Great Britrock album with some interesting ideas, not sure it will stick with me into the near future but enjoyed listening in the moment.
3
May 27 2023
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There's A Riot Goin' On
Sly & The Family Stone
All for a good jam album, but this one lacks in character and content to sustain its runtime. There’s plenty of funk, it’s just so repetitive that the genre’s presence can’t be appreciated
2
May 28 2023
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Black Sabbath
Black Sabbath
Pure, unadorned rock that leaves everything on the table. No gimmicks, tricks, or attempts to patch over potential weak spots with studio fixes - just one band showing off instrumental prowess by way of chugging melodic lines that break far beyond the blues scale woes of the time.
4
May 29 2023
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Private Dancer
Tina Turner
An expressive, vocal-focused album that surprisingly doesn’t suffer from it’s dated instrumentals - rather, the 80s cheese factor buoys Turner’s vocals and provides a nice contrast to their impassioned, genuine delivery.
3
May 30 2023
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Next
The Sensational Alex Harvey Band
A wild 35-minute ride that careens from symphonic-backed group-sex celebration to paranoid, tango-esque lamentations the next. While held together by a thematic thread, there’s a sense of unruly passion that laces this disparate collection of tracks together into a hell of a good time. Not sure if the songs will hold up in isolation, but even if this is a full-album listen kind of LP I don’t mind taking another spin.
3
May 31 2023
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Bubble And Scrape
Sebadoh
This one was much more expansive and sprawling than the Sebadoh tracks I’d heard prior. There are definitely moments of fatigue given the length and instrumentation choices on the LP, but once I had an understanding of what was going on I felt this one hit a groove of its own. Shame the bonus tracks aren’t available on US Spotify, as the few I tracked down added some
Interesting layers to the sounds the main LP had built up.
3
Jun 01 2023
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The Trinity Session
Cowboy Junkies
A country album which does things a bit differently, if for a bit too long. Straightlaced female vocals in place of stereotypical male twang was a welcome change to the usual formula, and the instrumentals were executed well. Just wish there had been a tad more variation in the melodies, as I did feel a bit fatigued by the LP once the 50 minutes were up.
3
Jun 02 2023
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No Other
Gene Clark
Yet another singer-songwriter effort on the list that left me flat. Not overly wowed by any of Clark’s attempts at bombast, as the core songwriting is just too stereotypical for the era to grab me at any point.
2
Jun 03 2023
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Palo Congo
Sabu
Starts off wild and free but grinds itself into mediocrity rather quickly. The improvisational spirit is there, but the instrumentation is so sparse and the vocals too annoying to sustain even the short runtime that’s there.
2
Jun 04 2023
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They Were Wrong, So We Drowned
Liars
An album that feels like each track is pulling in a different direction – was hoping for a bit more out of this one, certain songs are executed well and show strong songwriting, but when each track feels like it’s off a different album it’s hard to constitute a focused LP.
3
Jun 05 2023
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Suede
Suede
While it has definitively more verve in the instrumentals than its compatriots, this LP falls squarely into the Britpop bucket I’ve grown so tired of throughout the project. I did find myself bopping my head to a few tracks, but otherwise the vocals were forgettable at best and the overall feel tiring at worst.
2
Jun 06 2023
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Come Find Yourself
Fun Lovin' Criminals
This one was fun, appreciated the mix of different instrumental approaches along with fun, effortful lyricism. Can already tell this one's gonna fade from memory fast, but it was definitely a fun whelming listen in the moment.
3
Jun 07 2023
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Live / Dead
Grateful Dead
So when I dick around for the guitar for an hour I'm a "public nuisance" and "about to be evicted for noise violations", but when the Grateful dead does it they're "one of the greatest bands of all time" and "make eleventy billion dollars"
1
Jun 08 2023
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Coat Of Many Colors
Dolly Parton
I found this to be enjoyable, if a bit dull in places. Parton’s voice is meant to carry the album, and some of the instrumentals feel a bit lackluster as a result. That being said, Dolly’s genuine songwriting and heart shine through in the lyricism, and while she can veer into cheese territory sometimes there were also a few lines that warmed my cold, dead heart
3
Jun 09 2023
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We're Only In It For The Money
The Mothers Of Invention
Usually open to whatever Zappa's thinking, but this one doesn't come together for me. Too sparse in the instrumentation to have any kind of throughline, and too spastic in the ideation to grab me with any kind of experimental hook.
2
Jun 10 2023
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Orbital 2
Orbital
The only time this rose above the level of background music is when it went for the plinky, annoying synth leads. Suffice to say I was not a fan
1
Jun 11 2023
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Lam Toro
Baaba Maal
Not my kind of genre to begin with and it doesn’t help that Mail can’t pick a genre to stick with - the shift towards pop orchestration in the second half is a bit baffling and leaves the whole LP feeling disconnected and haphazardly conjoined together
2
Jun 12 2023
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Pelican West
Haircut 100
Robert Dimery really out here forcing us to listen to every mid Britpop album he liked in his teens, huh
2
Jun 13 2023
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C'est Chic
CHIC
Some classics on here, but man are they looooong classics. There’s just enough melodic fuel to keep these tracks churning for the full runtime without wearing on the listener, and at about 800 albums in knowing when to quit gets huge points in my book.
3
Jun 14 2023
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#1 Record
Big Star
Had high hopes for this one but it didn't leave me with much – started off strong with some great guitar work and songwriting, but just kind of puttered into mediocrity as time went on. May need to revisit later, but for now I'm feeling pretty meh.
2
Jun 15 2023
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Odessa
Bee Gees
An unexpected left-turn by The Bee Gees into narrative rock. Definitely dragged in places, but I appreciate the nerve in going from the brainless fun of ‘Staying Alive’ to an album-long concept-driven journey where each track serves the whole. Need more cool concept LPs on this list, it’s been a while since I’ve gotten one
3
Jun 16 2023
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Talking With the Taxman About Poetry
Billy Bragg
A surprisingly robust singer-songwriter LP with some instrumental weight behind it. The chorus-heavy guitar and plentiful accompaniment means there’s a good deal of melodic meat and potatoes here to back up and bolster Bragg’s lyricism.
3
Jun 17 2023
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Is This It
The Strokes
An LP which exudes effortless lo-fi cool. Julian’s vocals + the great guitar harmonies all wrapped up in warm, fuzzy production makes simple lyrics, instrumentation, and overall tracks feel massive from a sonic standpoint. Not a whole lot of melodic variation going on, but when the core sound and narrative are so locked in that’s hardly an issue.
4
Jun 18 2023
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Dr. Octagonecologyst
Dr. Octagon
Why are the worst albums always the longest? There's an attempt at making some sort of themed narrative throughline here, but no effort is put into making any of the beats or bars interesting. Every musical aspect of the LP feels phoned in and tired, and that's exactly how I felt as a result of listening.
1
Jun 19 2023
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Crocodiles
Echo And The Bunnymen
Another Britrock album which somehow manages to lose steam it already didn’t have as the energy slowly peters out over the LP’s length. It’s albums like these that have made me consider taking a break from the project for a week or two - these British throwaway albums are a dime a dozen and I’ve honestly run out of original things to say about them
2
Jun 20 2023
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Pieces Of The Sky
Emmylou Harris
A decent singer-songwriterish country effort. Not entirely wowed on the songwriting front (I’d already heard Dolly do ‘Coat of Many Colors’ much more justice a few albums ago), but the vocals were pleasing and the instrumentals well done.
3
Jun 21 2023
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So
Peter Gabriel
The domineering final track overshadows one of the only good albums to come out of the 80s. Gabriel’s vocals are stellar, and while the instrumentals retain a certain cheese factor, it comes across as genuine and doesn’t make the album unlistenable.
3
Jun 22 2023
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Southern Rock Opera
Drive-By Truckers
What could’ve been a absolute one-hour slog of a country album here is instead raised to a gripping sonic narrative thanks to some of the strongest lyricism I’ve encountered on the list yet. Though there’s a fair share of straight yokel tunes played for laughs, the dark heart at the album’s middle goes straight for some brutally honest evaluations of humanity through a Southern lens. I’m probably right in the target audience given my upbringing in the Bible Belt, but it was still refreshing to hear a genre that’s commonly associated with evangelism and exclusion warped back on itself for what honestly borders on spoken word slam poetry about problems which still plague American society today.
Overlong? Maybe. On the nose? Definitely. But there’s a prescient sense of warning and prophecy wrapped up in this country album, and it’s an intoxicating mix I’ll venture no one else has come close to replicating since.
4
Jun 23 2023
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Stankonia
OutKast
Not clicking for me – the bars and overall lyricism feels too lackadaisical and repetitive to warrant attention, and the beats feel uninspired and generic. Some fun moments of wordplay or comedy here or there, but most of the LP feels like it's trying too hard to ape the 90s' hip-hop greats without adding any noticeable identity on top.
2
Jun 24 2023
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21
Adele
If you were alive in 2011 there was no escaping this one. Adele has killer vocals and can sing the hell out of anything, but unfortunately the music industry has conspired to saturate her music in every aspect of daily life. I did enjoy what songs hadn’t been ruined by repetition already, but noted that the non-single tracks (i.e. those that didn’t break into the mainstream) felt lacking in songwriting power relative to the others. Just a shame, as there are great tracks on here that deserve their (non-forced) moment in the spotlight.
2
Jun 25 2023
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The Suburbs
Arcade Fire
Win Butler being a creep aside, this is an impressive indie effort that unknowingly heralded the genre’s shift into the smoother, radio-friendly anthems of the teens. What the band lacks in dynamism, they make up for in composition and verve – a few lyrics here are cringe to the fullest, but they’re chanted over fun synths/guitars so many times that it’s easy to let it slide. This weakness does poke through a few times, however, when the melody just doesn’t hit right and the tracks drag on beating a dead horse of a chorus. Still, there are some ideas and lines here that show the band getting ahead of (or even defining) the synth-fueled aughts-teens transition. The hypnotic drone of “Sprawl II” (check out the Soulwax remix), pounding urgency of “Ready to Start”, and melancholic paranoia of “We Used to Wait” are only a few of the highs of this album, and they’re lofty enough to wash out the bad and keep me coming back to this LP year after year.
I’m doing my best to put nostalgia aside here and be fair even though I was like, what, 12? when this came out– does anyone else remember the interactive music video webpage for We Used to Wait? Loaded that thing on my Grandma’s computer and crashed it. Good times!
3
Jun 26 2023
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Rhythm Nation 1814
Janet Jackson
Long, repetitive, and bland - Jackson’s vocals are impressive, but the contortions she puts them through render the point moot. The usual 80s obstacle course arrangement style means the LP feels like a spastic mess that can’t pick a lane as each track bounces off the walls rhythmically. Just another listen that faded into the background rather than grabbing my attention.
2
Jun 27 2023
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Protection
Massive Attack
Outside of the title track this one completely fell off into nothingness. Hard to even write this review now, the tracks were so instrumentally sparse and unidentifiable from one another melodically. This LP needed a massive injection of actual content, outside the rhythm section it seems nobody else really came in the day this was recorded.
2
Jun 28 2023
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(What's The Story) Morning Glory
Oasis
Big ups to Guitar Hero World Tour for introducing me to the Gallaghers' best album by a mile, where raw instrumentals meeting (mostly) inspired wordplay create what is perhaps the only good Brit rock/Britpop album in existence. While the LP definitely suffers from some guilty indulgences in smarmy ballads on the back end, most everything else is perfection. Liam's defiant whine over pounding, overdriven guitars is an unexpectedly powerful combination, and one that pushes several tracks into transcendency ('Some Might Say' is one of my fave tracks of all time for how unbound and free it feels). 'Wonderwall' may get all the credit, but this album is stacked with tracks that (again, mostly) defy the trends of the time to create something perfectly nostalgic but ageless at the same time.
4
Jun 29 2023
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Caetano Veloso
Caetano Veloso
First encounter with tropicalia on the list, found this LP enjoyable if somewhat homogeneous melodically and instrumentation-wise. Don’t know if any of these tracks will stick with me long, but all of them were an enjoyable listen and that’s usually not the case in my experience.
3
Jun 30 2023
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Bat Out Of Hell
Meat Loaf
A campy B-grade horror flick purified and condensed into audio form, including the over-the-top melodrama, cinematic voiceovers, and of course sex with blatantly underage women 🤢
3
Jul 01 2023
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Doggystyle
Snoop Dogg
Maybe it’s the Martha/Snoop memes and resulting cultural saturation, but I’m getting tired of Mr. Dogg’s schtick. ‘Gin and Juice’ is the only notable track on here, and the rest just kind of existed without declaring or demanding much musically.
2
Jul 02 2023
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Red Dirt Girl
Emmylou Harris
All of these red dirt albums are starting to blend together and even use the same tracks reinterpreted through barely-discernible lens. Harris’ voice is great, but I need something a bit different and novel to keep me interested in the genre rather than the same dead horse beaten for the nth time.
2
Jul 03 2023
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The Last Of The True Believers
Nanci Griffith
A pleasant listen, but so unmemorable it left my brain by the time I was 30 minutes out from the last track.
2
Jul 04 2023
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Myths Of The Near Future
Klaxons
Found this one by way of a Justice live show that sampled the blaring horns from 'Atlantis,' and bumped it a good deal through undergrad. I think this album works pretty well by taking the standard Brit rock template (a big dramatic chorus, narrative building in the verses) and dressing it in abrasive, out-there textures/instrumentation. Not every crashing guitar or electronic element works and some tracks do drag a bit, but there's no denying the absolute forward momentum this LP has as it careens through 36 minutes of maximalist fun.
4
Jul 05 2023
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War
U2
An actually enjoyable U2 album that lacks any of the smarminess and complacency that defines much of their back catalog. Appreciated the varied song structures, great minor key melodies, and the Edge’s grittier but still atmospheric guitar work on this one.
3
Jul 06 2023
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Trio
Dolly Parton
Out of the three artists in this Trio, the only one whose work I’ve enjoyed has been Parton’s. It makes sense, then, that I only enjoyed about a third of this album. Dolly can’t write the whole group out of a songwriting rut, and while the vocals are stellar the instrumentation drags and barely changes across the whole runtime.
2
Jul 07 2023
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Blunderbuss
Jack White
Before the maxed-out production and extremely loud, over-the-top tracks, Jack White made a nice and simple rock LP that spoke from the heart. This one veers into the neo-Delta blues territory a la The Black Keys, but keeps things distinctly within the Jack White wheelhouse with his signature blend of pitch-shifted guitars and acidic lyricism. Not every track is a winner, but the sheer simplicity and genuineness (especially in the softer acoustic-driven pieces) win major points on heart alone.
3
Jul 08 2023
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Planet Rock: The Album
Afrika Bambaataa
Dated and campy in the worst way - not a single one of the musical fads featured here made it outside the 80s, and for good reason. There’s some rhythmic breakdowns later on that drew me in a bit, but they were a day late and a dollar short to overcome the cloying instrumentals and goofy lyricism that dominated most of this LP
2
Jul 09 2023
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Sulk
The Associates
The absolute worst that the UK has to offer. Histrionic, tortured vocals on top of bland, homogeneous instrumentals indistinguishable from any other Britpop LP out there. Getting real tired of these, feels like there’s at least two a week when many other albums from the era deserve to be on the list.
1
Jul 10 2023
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Tarkus
Emerson, Lake & Palmer
Enjoyed the longer prog jams on this one, felt somewhat fresh relative to all the other Rush-era prog LPs I've heard given a different, more rock-oriented perspective. The closing tracks feel a little out of place (tacked on if I had to guess) and make the album more of a mixed bag, but it's still an enjoyable ride overall
3
Jul 11 2023
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Shleep
Robert Wyatt
An interesting LP from a new (to me) artist. Not exactly sure the theme is on I jive with, but the tracks are executed well and have some interesting ideas to build on. Things do tend to stay a bit dreary in lower gear (which is perhaps the point), but I can't complain about an overall pleasant listen
3
Jul 12 2023
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Ingenue
k.d. lang
Liked this better than the first lang album I had on the project – this one feels more confident, a bit more surefooted in its arrangements and style. Appreciated how tracks took typical country standards and played them against differing instrumentation and structures to make something fresh.
3
Jul 13 2023
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Oar
Alexander 'Skip' Spence
You ever so worked up after trying to murder your band mates with a fire axe that you hit the studio and knock out a full hour of demos, 40 minutes or so of which are actually pretty great for live takes, that your label then releases without your permission?
3
Jul 14 2023
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Aha Shake Heartbreak
Kings of Leon
Surprised at how good some of the guitar lines were on this one, but as others have noted the lead singer sounds like he’s choking on his own tongue and it kind of ruins the vibe 😔
2
Jul 15 2023
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The Madcap Laughs
Syd Barrett
Thought this was going to be an absolute drag given the first track, but once the tempo picked up there was some enjoyable guitar work going on here. Not really an album that will stick with me, but a nice afternoon listen nonetheless
3
Jul 16 2023
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Gold
Ryan Adams
Making a tired, exploitative Americana album right after 9/11 feels slimy and gross, kind of like Ryan Adams
2
Jul 17 2023
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Calenture
The Triffids
One of those albums that's just an absolute slog - nothing about the execution (instrumental or vocal) is terrible (in fact I found myself bopping along to a few tracks), but the constant beatdown of cheesy synth timbres and lackluster songwriting grates after the better part of an hour.
2
Jul 18 2023
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A Date With The Everly Brothers
The Everly Brothers
Simple is sometimes all you need – the compositions are solid and well-crafted, the vocals stellar, the emotions genuine, and the production crisp and clean. This album doesn’t need much more to feel effective and lived-in, and while I’m sure it’s been remastered to hell in recent times damn does it sound nice (studio-grade even).
4
Jul 19 2023
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Dust
Screaming Trees
Bitterly disappointed in this one as a Kyuss/QotSA fan. Was expecting grimy, locked-in guitars and just a touch of edge but got derivative, radio-friendly Pearl Jam instead. The whole thing just feels as if it’s aiming for rock radio play with its big swooping ballads and deliberately repetitive vocals. Call it a case of unrealistic expectations, but I was expecting a lot more than this
1
Jul 20 2023
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Devil Without A Cause
Kid Rock
I'm about to wrap up this album and it has some good guitar parts despite the annoying vocals, so I'll give it a two, unless Kid Rock drops a completely unwarranted n-word on a track built solely on harmful racial stereotypes in a weird thematic left-turn for an album that already has a lot of dicey moments. Seems kinda unlikely though
1
Jul 21 2023
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Tigermilk
Belle & Sebastian
A truly resplendent LP, one that makes doing this project worthwhile. The rich acoustic guitar alongside the finely-balanced vox is at once minimal but full, the production expansive but intimate. Once the synths kick in midway through, each track becomes a little miniature explosion of melody for a few minutes, a tiny burst of color that says its piece and goes.
Absolutely wild how modern and progressive this one feels for being released in the 90s - it’s clear how much influence the group has had through the aughts until now for how many ideas here still resonate in today’s indie releases. I’ve neglected Belle&Sebastian up until now, but I’m looking to correct that mistake immediately.
4
Jul 22 2023
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Achtung Baby
U2
Another one from U2 that lacks anything resembling a heart or soul. I’ll admit I’m negatively biased towards “One” and “Mysterious Ways” due to death by radio play, but every other track on here is just as guilty of feeling like it was crafted by a focus group for #1 straight line status. The Edge tries to inject some cool and creative guitar tones into the mix, but any kind of creative energy is completely annihilated by Bono and his genetically-modified corporate radio voice that somehow embodies the concept of smarm in sound waves.
2
Jul 23 2023
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Endtroducing.....
DJ Shadow
Plunderphonics is usually one of my absolute favorite musical experiments out there, hell I can’t tell you how many times I’ve run the Avalanches catalog back to back. This one should’ve been a home run, then, but I found myself getting a bit bored with it due to a lack of personality.
It takes a definite bit of verve to make all these musical pieces line up in a way that’s new and exciting - the glue holding everything together is the character each track receives out of sonic piecemeal. ‘Endtroducing’ lacks any kind of necessary cohesion like this to make it more the sum of its parts. Maybe it’s the rhythmic bent of the samples or the heavy amount of scratching, but this LP reads more as DJ mix than elevated creation. Found myself tuning out after the nth lengthy vocal sample that didn’t contribute anything to the track, and even nodded off in the car for a bit near the end.
2
Jul 24 2023
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Sometimes I Wish We Were An Eagle
Bill Callahan
All these Callahan albums sound exactly the same and cover the same thematic ground every time, you would think he would at least find something different to write about or a different tuning to try after a while
2
Jul 25 2023
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Wild Wood
Paul Weller
Nothing you haven't heard before, just a tired 70s-era sound transported to a 90s toss-up LP. The only moment of feeling this inspired in me is when one of the melodies sounded like 'Give Me the Beat Boys,' as I really hate that track.
2
Jul 26 2023
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Vanishing Point
Primal Scream
Nearly a three, liked several of the tracks more than anything from Screamadelica but none of them meshed well to form an actual statement as an LP. Wish there had been more focus on the synths mixed with the pounding drums and lively guitar, this at times almost felt evocative of proto-Black Moth Super Rainbow and I would've been all over that.
2
Jul 27 2023
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Honky Tonk Masquerade
Joe Ely
Fine album by country standards, wasn't wowed but also didn't hate it and dug a few of the tracks. Perhaps the most median album of the project so far - I have no strong opinions one way or the other
3
Jul 28 2023
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Porcupine
Echo And The Bunnymen
I'm not saying <checks notes> Echo and The Bunnymen aren't a significant band, but do they really deserve a whopping 3 spots on the list? Is this really the best music humanity has to offer out of all the albums in the world?
2
Jul 29 2023
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Before And After Science
Brian Eno
A better Eno effort than the last few I’ve received - gets quite spry on uptempo tracks like ‘Lead Hat,’ wish we could see more of that Eno on the list than the ambient snoozers of late.
3
Jul 30 2023
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Stephen Stills
Stephen Stills
A much livelier, jammier album than I expected. Some great guitar and overall songwriting on this one, the pervasive rock organ does date it a bit but not enough to detract from an overall good time.
3
Jul 31 2023
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Happy Sad
Tim Buckley
An album that takes itself deeply seriously without knowing what it has to say. The title alone gives away how binary the writing is on this LP, and Buckley pours his heart and soul into each track but it’s a bit questionable what exactly he’s Happy Sad about. Results in 40+ minutes of emotionally confused whiplash as one would expect
2
Aug 01 2023
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Kilimanjaro
The Teardrop Explodes
Pretty good by 80s standards, personally. A good mix of instrumentation and super-British vocals that didn’t annoy me too much. Don’t think this one will stick around in memory, but at this point in the project I will gladly take an enjoyable 80s album and not look a gift horse in the mouth.
3
Aug 02 2023
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Selling England By The Pound
Genesis
The vocals: emotional and well-delivered
The melodies: varied and soulful
The drums: https://tinyurl.com/msvu3ddx
In all seriousness, this one surprised me in a great way. Layered and proggy without feeling like a product of its time, as so many other prog bands of the era do. There are times the guitar and drums reminded me heavily of Yes without delving into the more experimental, abstracted side that sometimes lacks an emotional beat.
4
Aug 03 2023
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Metal Box
Public Image Ltd.
A groovier, timelier Joy Division-esque LP. Definitely suffers due to some editorial oversight (most tracks could stand to lose some fat) and not every sonic experiment hits, but there are some great pulsing moments of rhythm and emotional intensity that caught my attention. Can see how someone would absolutely hate this, but it mostly vibed for me.
3
Aug 04 2023
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Arular
M.I.A.
Kinda timely to get a female-fronted rap album with ‘Banana’ as the first track given all the Lizzo allegations that just came out.
Alas, this album isn’t nearly as entertaining as any celebrity drama. Flat, repetitive, and with some disappointingly weak songwriting from M.I.A. that grates with its constant turn to schoolyard-chant style verses. The skits aren’t even skits, just half-formed musical interludes that offer no connective tissue or further meaning to the album. A bit of wasted spot here if you ask me, especially given the much stronger LP from this artist I got much earlier on in the project.
2
Aug 05 2023
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I’ve Got a Tiger By the Tail
Buck Owens
An enjoyable early country effort. Definitely biased by my recent trip to Nashville, but the deceptively simple lyrics and honky-tonk instrumentation really speaks to me here in a way that hits much differently than later country efforts (though granted, there was much less original ground to cover later on). This one misses out on a few stars as it definitely loses energy around the midway point and could’ve been paced a bit better, and still doesn’t come up with enough original ideas to fill a mere thirty minutes without repetition.
3
Aug 06 2023
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I See You
The xx
Remember when this dropped as the first post-"In Colour" xx release and it was immediately clear how Jamie was doing 90% of the heavy lifting for the band's musical output. The move toward greater sample usage meant the songs felt fresh, kinetic, and a bit more inspired than those of the band's previous output, and several of these tracks ended up in my heavy rotation.
Looking back, however, it almost feels like this could've been "In Colour 2" and almost suffers for the other band members being there. Romy at least has some great solo moments that feel heartfelt and genuine, but Oliver feels kinda like he's just there to provide the obligatory male vocal and maybe play a cool bass line before going back to playing the root for every single bar. The project had clearly transcended both of them by this point and this one feels almost like an awkward goodbye in recognition of that, especially since everyone went their separate ways following its release. Regardless, it's by far the xx's best album and has some stellar standout tracks.
3
Aug 07 2023
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A Northern Soul
The Verve
Surprised by the reviews here as I thought this one was much better than whatever Bittersweet Symphony was off of. Yes, still overly gratuitous when it comes to the draggy ballads and overall track lengths, but there were some good guitar tones and bigger moments that actually worked pretty well.
3
Aug 08 2023
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Funeral
Arcade Fire
A greater guitar-driven effort from Arcade Fire I overlooked in favor of their progressively synthier discography that followed. There’s no denying the genuine emotion here, but something felt unsatisfying - my best guess would be how homogeneous the instrumentation and mostly upbeat melodies feel throughout the entire LP, never really throwing any curveballs or even mildly deviating from expectations once the first track is done. This was a decent listen, but just never shifted into a gear that demanded my attention.
3
Aug 09 2023
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Me Against The World
2Pac
Long, tedious, and gratuitous when it comes to extolling 2Pac’s questionable accomplishments and ego. Given how much I’d heard about this guy I was expecting a layered, confrontational LP with something to say, but it seems the best pac’s got is boasting over milquetoast, repetitive beats
2
Aug 10 2023
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american dream
LCD Soundsystem
I would be willing to give this album more credit if it wasn’t clearly James Murphy’s blatant attempt to start his ego and cash machine back up. Breaking a strong hiatus when your band bowed out at its peak is one thing, but going on to play for crypto conferences and packed residences in the middle of COVID is pretty telling of his intentions down the line.
Problematic creator aside, this album can’t decide on its identity - I love the dark, brooding synth tracks in the vein of ‘i used to,’ but for every one of these actual artistic efforts there’s an art-school wannabe song or lyric that just ruins the vibe. Murphy whines all over this thing and honestly should just shut up and let the other band members make music, and the closing track ‘black screen’ ending in a minute of silence is about as subtle as a punch in the face. It feels like there’s a great introspective album in here that could’ve pushed the band in new directions, but it’s so choked out by unnecessary gloss, posturing, and indie pick-me energy that it’s really a mixed bag at best once all is said and done. James Murphy is basically this generation’s Morrissey, and in all the worst ways.
2
Aug 11 2023
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Head Hunters
Herbie Hancock
Played snippets of ‘Chaneleon’ for a marching band show so I’m definitely partial on this one. While the back half does run long for the melodic content it has to share, the two heavy hitters up front are more than loaded with enough bounce and personality to compensate. Not going to be for everybody due to the length, but I greatly enjoyed the 40 minutes of grooves this one provided.
3
Aug 12 2023
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The Psychedelic Sounds of the 13th Floor Elevators
The 13th Floor Elevators
Listened in stereo and didn’t regret it - this is exactly the rough yet lush psychedelia I’ve been craving every time an album comes up on the project with the tag. Swirling and unconventional instrumentals coupled with some gritty bar-room vocals make for a wonderfully spaced LP that clearly earns its cult status - my only complaint is that it was too short!
4
Aug 13 2023
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Whatever
Aimee Mann
As apathetic as the title suggests, not much more than standard angsty 90s rock with some slower emotionally-oriented albums thrown in. Mann has some great vocals here and there, but the whole LP feels very unmotivated and lacking in purpose.
2
Aug 14 2023
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The Good, The Bad & The Queen
The Good, The Bad & The Queen
Damon Albarn and his mates have a go at being Radiohead, but (spoilers) he’s no Thom Yorke
2
Aug 15 2023
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