Epic album from the Pumpkins. Not only one of their best pieces of work, but I feel it's one of the greatest rock records in existence. Packed full of killer writing and musicianship, emotional Siamese Dreams blows my mind on so many levels from beginning to end. I am so grateful to have gotten to see them perform many of these songs live on 3 occasions. Zowie!

I hear (and see) Pet Sounds as a pure Masterpiece. It is my belief that it has some of the best music the band ever created...lovely, catchy, and experimental. The Beach Boys were in major transition and Brian Wilson was insisting on pushing the envelope in writing and instrumentation. Some of the sounds on the record are quite raw and wild, and while the rest of the band wasn't feeling it, Wilson's mental health imbalances and his creative genius combined were strong contributors to making sure this piece of art was recorded as it was. I am so grateful that I was able to take my mom to Milwaukee to see Brian Wilson and his band (including original member, Al Jardine) perform Pet Sounds in its entirety a few years back. We were overjoyed. We were choked up often. The album live was gorgeous! The second half of the show was a long line of Beach Boys hits written by Brian. We sang along and smiled at each other often. I'll never forget it. Only a few years prior, I witnessed the entire band perform at Bonnaroo. The crowd was nuts and hundreds of massive beach balls were flying overhead. This was a time that the ego of Mike Love and mental health of Brian Wilson were able to merge for a reunion tour. Wouldn't It Be Nice to experience a music festival again and the Beach Boys again soon! **important to note that Love & Mercy with Paul Dano & John Cusack (each taking on two stages of Wilson's life) is a stellar representation of the highs & lows of the Beach Boys and Wilson.

Aaaahhhh...the soothing sounds and driving beats of the Cocteau Twins, an 80s gem. I love them, and have fantasized about them opening for Echo & The Bunnymen in a small venue. Treasure is a dark, melodic journey and an album for many moods. It is a dreamy night drive album, but my first listen today was in the morning while sipping on Kenyan coffee and staring at the snow covered trees. Such a beautiful compliment to the squinting brightness and unknown of the day. And yet, it was even better on tonight's crisp trail walk...magically mesmerizing, with each song steering my mind and eyes into the mysteries of the wintery night. This record is an ethereal piece of art with not one reason to hit fast-forward on the tape deck. As a staple in our car tape cases back in high school, Treasure's A-side is still so strong (Lorelei & her friends) that it begs us to flip to B and keep driving until Donimo floats us home. (or to the river to float away from everything...)

Nothing like a 5-star record on a Saturday! I love this album so much, and I don't think there is a better album that represents Nirvana's talent more that this set. Beyond cool renditions of their own stuff, which was pretty new at the time, they did an amazing cover of Bowie's The Man Who Sold The World. From beginning to end, they have never sounded better and the gritty Where Did You Sleep Last Night is Cool Whip on top for me. Where would listening to this album be the best?....IN THE PINES, IN THE PINES!

Elephant is massive and has long tusks. Thundering through the forest right off the bat with Seven Nation Army, this album has no gaps but does allow room for breathers. In The Cold, Cold Night is a beautifully chilling song that was on bedtime mixtapes I made for my girls when they were little, and You've Got Her In Your Pocket is a heartbreaking love song of insecurity and control that somehow is still tender and sweet. However, the heartrate isn't lowered for much time as Ball & Biscuit, The Hardest Button to Button, Little Acorns, and subsequent followers strike hard like a voltage surge with Meg-n-Jack signature grinding grooves and beats that trigger electric joy. Sometimes when spinning this album, organic dance spasms have been known to induce. Elephant is definitely one of my favorite rock albums of all time and the one that caused me to step back to their prior 3, and never lose sight of what these two were up to moving forward. May we all follow in the footsteps of Janet, who allowed the squirrel to teach her about breaking this sometimes-overwhelming life down into piles and take one acorn at a time! ***I'll never forget Jack's innovative 2014 set at Bonnaroo. Ben and I were jumping like kids for a VERY long time.

This classic guitar-grinding, beat-driving, angst-spilling, iron-pumping album is not for the faint of heart or ear! It always gets under my skin and triggers fist pumps of rebellion and release!

Playful and rhythmic, this bass guitar heavy album feels like the backdrop for a summer day playing beach volleyball on the Pacific or a sweaty dance floor at a rock club. With some of the most catchy tunes every to hit the radio, the diversity of vocal tones and lyrical themes (of resistance and freedom) complete the prescription of joy and release that cause so many embrace the entire album.

Funky, Danceable, Emotional, Sexual, and Rockin'.... 1999 is a innovatively groundbreaking album that truly enlightened me in 1982 when Little Red Corvette hit the radio waves on my Sony Walkman while at church camp! Whether I spin it on vinyl, cd, or digitally, I always hear something new that I didn't catch in the past - a word, a beat, a sound, a breath... The deep cuts like Free, Lady Cab Driver, and International Lover are probably my favs. **Missing Prince's 24 song live set (14 of which were covers) at Chicago's City Winery and hearing him perform 1999 while I was stuck in the country 4 hours away, is one of my biggest regrets, IN LIFE. I got an email he was doing a surprise show at the venue after he played the George Lucas wedding reception in Hyde Park. I clicked to purchase a ticket and got through but couldn't go...but I could and SHOULD have. Of course the tickets sold out in seconds after that. https://www.nbcchicago.com/news/local/prince-performs-at-chicagos-city-winery/1957730/

It is easy to pluck out all the hits, but this album as intended, as a whole, is a mood masterpiece. When I listen in its entirety, I am on a spiritual journey with Marley, and all the many sojourners who have left a world of oppression and trekked towards freedom. Exodus is a mesmerizing record that saves us with positivity and hopeful imagery. Whether hiking in the snow, dancing on the beach, or walking through the desert searching for home, Exodus uplifts, relaxes, and affirms. No problem, mon.

This is one good example of how the radio can sometimes distract from the art of an album. Songs like Crystal Ship remind me how many good vibes are found between the overplayed hits. Whether psychedelics are involved or not, this self-titled LP of wild organ riffs and raw Morrison vocals provide quite a trip!

This album that hit the scene the same year that my infant self did! All of this record makes me happy! Fogerty's raw vocals, songwriting, and guitar work, driven home by the rest of the band's rock & roll twang, are always welcome ingredients for anything from a workout to a road trip, frisbee in the park to a hammock in that same park :) Seeing John perform some of these songs live is on my bucket list!

When I grabbed The Joshua Tree on cassette when dropped my senior year of high school, it was exactly what I needed and solidified that U2 was my favorite band. There was no album I knew better that year. Its symbolic and poetic lyrics are rich with very human truths and contradictions, as well as spiritual longings. I could write on and on about how each song has influenced my own writing, spirituality, and outlook on life, and how the musicianship from Bono, Edge, Adam and Larry in this piece of art framed a sound that I gravitated towards back in '87 as well as inspired my search for more of the same moving into college and beyond. There isn't 1 of the 11 songs that I don't love and that doesn't spark contemplation and joy in me. I know each one personally and have meditated on each with endless hours and emotional intention. Initially One Tree Hill was not a popular song, but it made it onto several mix tapes that Scott and I made. One of my Top 10 albums of all time, The Joshua Tree is one of my favorite representations of why an album is greater than the sum of its parts, even though each individual song is so powerful!

It's been such a long time since I listened to Hot Rats that I forgot most of it. It's such a playfully groovy trip of an album with crazily long and diverse songs. I really like Son Of Mr. Green Genes & The Gumbo Variations, and It Must Be A Camel is a smooth culmination of such a fascinating album of instrumentation. Gonna have to grab it on LP. I can only imagine spinning this in the Shelter. Groove on!

New album to me and truly nothing grabbed me. Bad version of standard 90s pop rock IMO

Such a beautiful first album from the goddess of folk. Totally forgot that House Of The Rising Son was on her debut. Hard not to get emotional on All My Trials or Girl Of Constant Sorrow, and have some peyote and run around like a kid in the fields of Walnut Grove as school lets out on Wildwood Flower. I would have loved to be on the hillside listening in at Woodstock when she was 6 months pregnant and missing her husband who was in a Texas prison for refusing to fight in the Vietnam War. There is a reason that a passion for folk songwriting is in my soul, and I know that Joan had something to do with it. Tip of the hat to present era folk troubadours like Colin Meloy who continue to water the flowers that Baez planted.

Elephant is massive and has long tusks. Thundering through the forest right off the bat with Seven Nation Army, this album has no gaps but does allow room for breathers. In The Cold, Cold Night is a beautifully chilling song that was on bedtime mixtapes I made for my girls when they were little, and You've Got Her In Your Pocket is a heartbreaking love song of insecurity and control that somehow is still tender and sweet. However, the heartrate isn't lowered for much time as Ball & Biscuit, The Hardest Button to Button, Little Acorns, and subsequent followers strike hard like a voltage surge with Meg-n-Jack signature grinding grooves and beats that trigger electric joy. Sometimes when spinning this album, organic dance spasms have been known to induce. Elephant is definitely one of my favorite rock albums of all time and the one that caused me to step back to their prior 3, and never lose sight of what these two were up to moving forward. May we all follow in the footsteps of Janet, who allowed the squirrel to teach her about breaking this sometimes-overwhelming life down into piles and take one acorn at a time! ***I'll never forget Jack's innovative 2014 set at Bonnaroo. Ben and I were jumping like kids for a VERY long time.

totally unsure if this album is good or bad in its genre, but regardless of the language barrier, wasn't feeling it

Hot, sexy, soulful, groovy and trippy improv from the late great! No doubt other trios like Nirvana followed closely into the age of complex songs with minimalistic instrumentation. Back-to-back Little Wing & If 6 Was 9 is killer example of the diversity this record expresses. You Got Me Floatin’ & Castles Made Of Sand is another 1-2 punch of heavy lyrics and grooves. Really diggin’ in the hot tub. Thought of tipping some Hennessy into my coffee out here. Cannabis is probably too much before work. Shiiiiiit....Jimi, much obliged.

This is a sweet album from the classic 70s rock icons. I appreciate the sentiments, harmonies, and variety of tones. I lean towards artists like CSNY, but I respect the jazzy undertones and rhythms that SD brings to the table. Overall, this album isn't my thing, but With A Gun is a diamond in the rough.

Aaaahhhh...the soothing sounds and driving beats of the Cocteau Twins, an 80s gem. I love them, and have fantasized about them opening for Echo & The Bunnymen in a small venue. Treasure is a dark, melodic journey and an album for many moods. It is a dreamy night drive album, but my first listen today was in the morning while sipping on Kenyan coffee and staring at the snow covered trees. Such a beautiful compliment to the squinting brightness and unknown of the day. And yet, it was even better on tonight's crisp trail walk...magically mesmerizing, with each song steering my mind and eyes into the mysteries of the wintery night. This record is an ethereal piece of art with not one reason to hit fast-forward on the tape deck. As a staple in our car tape cases back in high school, Treasure's A-side is still so strong (Lorelei & her friends) that it begs us to flip to B and keep driving until Donimo floats us home. (or to the river to float away from everything...)

On some level, I get it. You are angry. You sometimes feel dead inside. You need a sound that matches that hopelessness and rage. I am angry too! But whoever thought it was vital to include this album as one of the greats, really does need to check their vital signs. It's okay though; we all have our paths to musical bliss and these guys really do strike a nerve for so many, that I'm happy to have another listen. What I hear are machine gun drum beats. I hear lyrics rich with authentic human emotion and truth. I hear gut-birthed gnarly screaming. I hear catchy arena rock riffs. And, I hear some infused melodic vocals, and even harmonies. I can appreciate all of those components, and do in several bands that I sometimes resonate with (i.e. Linkin Park, Creed, etc.) but while I can appreciate these things that Slipknot brings to the table, All Hope Is Gone is far too elementary at its core for me. No judgement to all of the rockers who embrace the growling thunder that is Slipknot. But for me, the thunder is so overpowering, I cannot hear the rain.

Loving the cool flavour and rhythm of this album! I have heard some tunes by Gang Starr before, but totally forgot about these guys. The first full Step In The Arena listen was a lot of fun chillin' in the crib, and then kickin' it a 2nd time in the car on an hour drive to hike in the woods was smooth as well. Banjo was salivating on that drive, so I assume he was diggin' too. The song Take A Rest represents most what I am enjoying from this record. Thanks dudes, it was refreshment after the desert of yesterday's album!

Bang pints of Guinness together for Sinead!! This is not only my favorite record of her amazing catalog, but one of the most personally satisfying of the 80s, 90s, and beyond. O'Connor's hauntingly emotional voice is a delicate and powerful instrument, and one I fell hard in love with as a teenager. The Emperor's New Clothes and her cover of Prince's Nothing Compares 2 U were the first singles that dropped on our local college radio station, THE BUS. I believe it was that very next week that I counted my bills and headed over to Chicago Records in Kankakee to grab this on cassette. An example of Sinead's vocal diversity is the moody transition from Feel So Different to I Am Stretched On Your Grave to Three Babies. Without sounding too crazy, I really don't know what more I could ask for in a record, both vocally, lyrically, and instrumentally. It is folk, it is rock, it is alternative, it is Irish...and its beauty and spiritual ascent spans a vast spectrum, from stories to meditations. And just when you think you've had enough Jameson and know what's next, Sinead surprises you with an unexpected shift (i.e. Black Boys to Nothing Compares to Jump In The River) that many times has left me in tears. The last 3 songs on the album tell all. Truly, thank you for sharing your gift and touching me deeply. I Do Not W*ant What I Haven't Got, unless I don't got Sinead. xo ** I would put this is in my top 10 flashback records that I spin on a regular basis

This album is new to me. I have heard of Stan, but never really took the time to explore him. I dig several forms of jazz, but Samba just isn't my thing. However, this listen on a Sunday morning with 7 inches of freshly fallen snow, did give me reason to sample some more of his stuff. Then once I saw there was a "The Essential Stan Getz" album, I have been enjoying him since, and would consider more of his smooth slow stuff a beautiful option in the right time and place.

Another new band and album! My first spin was a weak half-listen in which I prematurely dropped this trio into a pop punk category that I typically have no time for. But thankfully after a deeper listen, I was awakened to the radical statement that is "I Should Coco". After needing to calm down from I'd Like To Know, Caught By The Fuzz, and Mansize Rooster, the fourth song, Alright, helped me to really taste the British flavour and artistic ingredients with a fresh palette. What first felt simple transformed into a complex mutation of themes and sounds including bells, strings, organs, drums, and more. I am so stoked to have learned of this playful rock album! That is one of the wonderful truths about full albums - the more intentional the listen, the more you begin to hear. These strikingly manic mood shifts span a much broader spectrum than realized, and the musicianship & creativity is far more diverse. I really dig Strange Ones and the surprise harmonica in Time! While I truly appreciate every single song on the record, The Sofa Of My Lethargy showcases the breadth of writing and instrumentation that I missed the first time around. At the end, Time To Go is a pleasantly Beatlesque surprise desert to conclude the 13 course meal! ** I taste notes of Supergrass in Cage The Elephant, The Lemon Twigs and The Psychedelic Porn Crumpets? **I also was reminded how easily we can label or judge things before we know anything about them. Music is always a guiding light for me in this area.

It was initially nice to hear the light rock 80s sound of Steely Dan's Fagen because just about any music from that era takes me back to fuzzy places. However, I quickly realized that the only thing I like about The Nightfly was the album cover.

Live At Fillmore East is a great example of The Allman Brothers Band's intention to fuse Blues and Jazz in a soulful way with a country rock vibe. Although I very much respect traditional blues and dig them live, I am often not drawn to listen away from the stage. However, The Allmans' style has always helped bridge that gap for me and cause me to appreciate the genre more and awaken me to their influence on many artists that I know and love. After the first 3 more traditional blues tunes, for me the album just gets cookin' 4 songs into the album with You Don't Love Me. This epic 19 min. blues rock saga gets all cylinders hummin'. Cool jams Hot 'Lanta and In Memory Of Elizabeth really keep it rollin' to the pinnacle of the whole set, Whipping Post. Damn, it's so good! **I would love to see My Morning Jacket cover You Don't Love Me at Red Rocks someday!!! (eyes bugged)

While I'm a fan of what I have heard of Siouxsie & The Banshees since high school, I've never had a full listen of their debut, The Scream. Siouxsie's emotionally charged vocals explode from the grinding guitar and punk-rich drum & bass rhythms. And I'm not gonna lie, a lot of the A-side is not for the faint of heart or ear, and wasn't easy to swallow today for me. But Hong Kong Garden and The Staircase peaked my interest above the rest of the record and are better examples of SATB's developing accessibility that bloomed in the 80s.

Cool album. I’m not a big Clapton dude, but this first listen was enjoyable. There may even be a time and place for it somewhere in my life again in the future ;) No time for a true review but jam on!

Never heard of this Aussie electronic crew until now. Pretty fun stuff with a hip hop flav!! Not doing a full review since I'm a couple of days behind on my listening due to our 2020 countdown weekend, but glad to know who The Avalanches are!

What a surprise that Veckatimest showed up here! I would have never imagined that Grizzly Bear would appear, but I'm glad they did and I sure agree that this album deserves it. I learned about GB at my first Bonnaroo the year this album hit the scene, and have stayed close to them since. Their incomparable rhythms has been a breath of fresh air even for indie music. The depth of Veckatimest is rich with diverse, playful and haunting sounds and harmonies that really capture something unspoken,...an internal experience that includes feelings of sadness, anxiety and transition, but ultimately, for me, wraps around me like a warm blanket of affirmation, hope and love. Veckamist represents a day in my life, with all of the variations of heart rates, emotions, and thoughts. The balance of Droste's & Rossen's vocals touch different personal nerves, and the band's instrumentation truly is riveting. Seeing them live in a venue that can adequately reflect the beauty of their off tempo songs with the congruency of their light show, is something I'll never forget. Smooth and melodic, striking and penetrating, Veckamist as an LP is a strong reminder to the world that art follows no protocol and that it cannot be contained.

What a sweet record from Buddy Holly! While I don't remember ever giving The "Chirping" Crickets a full listen before, I'm pretty sure I was listening from the womb as he was someone my parents had on the radio or spinning in the console. As one of the early rock-n-roll troubadours, his short 22 years of life not only influenced rock music moving forward, but was a definitive variable in my own musical development. The record is wonderful from beginning to end and has just inspired a 50s rock-n-roll listening party here in me. All I've listened to since yesterday morning is Buddy Holly, The Everly Brothers, Elvis, Chuck Berry, Roy Orbison, Ricky Nelson and more. With fresh ears I'm transported back to my childhood and the childhoods of my parents. Thanks for your music, Buddy! It's made a difference in endless lives. RIP.

The Who Sell Out is a rad concept, including a hilarious cover and some fun ads here and there, but does the music behind the concept bring equal joy? YES! This record hosts my favorite Who song, I Can See For Miles, and a bunch of other fun and lovely tunes. I am so grateful to have been able to grab a last minute ticket to see Townsend, Daltery, and the gang live in Tinley Park 1 1/2 years ago. The weather was gnarly that day so folks were releasing tix and I was able to grab 20th row for $20 and hang with my friend Mike (co-author of Kiss The Sky Records) and his childhood friends for part of the show. Hell, they had a full orchestra there with them! Epic!! Well, time to roll on some Odorono, grab some Heinz beans, and rock on into my evening!

Big love for The Beauty And The Beat! The gorgeous and bad ass 80s new wave rockers stole my heart in high school and still give me a rise when I hear their music. Fun album!

Oh man, I was drawn into Oldfield's Tubular Bells. Both epic sides of this record really were mesmerizing and instrumentally beautiful. The growling on Side B was even acceptable :) The single that followed on Spotify was a nice bonus that connected me to my Irish/English ancestors. The other additional song, Sailor's Hornpipe, is bloody hilarious! I am grateful to have been invited to discover Mike Oldfield and look forward to checking out his catalogue. I have a feeling I'll be doing the jig!

Such an interesting and fun album about nature, love, and simpler times from 80z gems, XTC. I love GRASS! Multiple other favs on this cool album are The Meeting Place, Ballet For A Rainy Day, Season Cycle, Earn Enough For Us, Big Day, and Dying. I remember when single Dear God first got air play and I was like "wow!" and "what?" Still such a unique and thought-provoking song. XTC continues to be a band one can get deep into. Sometimes at first listen it's easy to miss something. Look at all of these 80z bands standing out from this list. So excellent!

Vespertine is unconventionally and hauntingly creative, with moments of beauty for me. However, overall, it's not something I would listen to again. I respect Bjork's work, but don't gravitate to her art.

I believe Kate Bush was ahead of her time in '85. Minus some obvious keyboard parts here and there, Hounds of Love presents as something that could have dropped anytime in the last decade even though it's 35+ years old. Other than epic single, Running Up That Hill, I hadn't heard any of this record before today but it is really interesting and diverse. The power of her voice, songwriting, and experimentation is inspirational. Kate's experimentation and sound has obviously echoed into the hearts of artists such as Enya, St. Vincent and Florence & the Machine. Cloudbusting and Under Ice are cool dark favs of mine. What's up with Waking the Witch? Nasty. And I'm a sucker for a jig, so Jig Of Life was a really cool addition for me. Nice ending with 6-minute Hello Earth. Hounds Of Love really sounded like a soundtrack to a twisted indie film. This album wasn't major for me, but definitely triggered an urge to sample some more Bush! ;)

What a fun ride Bat Out Of Hell is! I am having visions of theater kids in the 70s getting so stoked to hear this record and perform its songs. It's definitely a helluva rock-n-roll musical and really made me smile this morning. I liked it as a whole, but You Took The Words Right Out of My Mouth and Two Out Of Three Ain't Bad are my favs. I know more now why Meatloaf was made fun of and why he is beloved by his fans. What a killer show he must have done back in the day!

Oh Yah! (What's The Story) Morning Glory is a fabulous album front to back. So glad to listen today!

Cool flashback jams from Cube helping push me through the morning with beats and lyrics that not only take me from overthinking on what's going on here, but a vital reminder that the burdens of so many are heavy and historic. I have never listened to The Predator in its entirety before, but it's vibin' here! It Was A Good Day, Check Yo Self, and Who's Got The Camera are a few favs. Glad to know this record and look forward to tapping it more in the future.

Ella is great, and I love the big band and crooner oldies, but this Gershwin covers album didn't do much for me. Tried 3x. Pretty boring record.

Epic powerhouse record front to back with weaknesses. I put it in my top 100 rock albums of all time! (mic drop...with sleeveless concert tee on, haha)

Refreshing album that I’ve always wondered about. It would be beautiful to see him at a festival. Not sure I’d ever choose this album again but I appreciated nonetheless

Joe & a few others songs peeked my interest but overall PJ left me empty on her debut.

I adore The Teardrop Explodes, and this album does NOT disappoint. Yet another record that proves how lovely that 80s new wave music from the UK was, and how much in influenced some of today's best indie music. Can't choose fav songs on Kilimanjaro but Poppies In The Field is a really cool one that stands out. The record just keeps rollin' with good vibes with their own alt flavour, full of danceable beats and solid vocals-n-songwriting. AND HORNS! :)

I hear (and see) Pet Sounds as a pure Masterpiece. It is my belief that it has some of the best music the band ever created...lovely, catchy, and experimental. The Beach Boys were in major transition and Brian Wilson was insisting on pushing the envelope in writing and instrumentation. Some of the sounds on the record are quite raw and wild, and while the rest of the band wasn't feeling it, Wilson's mental health imbalances and his creative genius combined were strong contributors to making sure this piece of art was recorded as it was. I am so grateful that I was able to take my mom to Milwaukee to see Brian Wilson and his band (including original member, Al Jardine) perform Pet Sounds in its entirety a few years back. We were overjoyed. We were choked up often. The album live was gorgeous! The second half of the show was a long line of Beach Boys hits written by Brian. We sang along and smiled at each other often. I'll never forget it. Only a few years prior, I witnessed the entire band perform at Bonnaroo. The crowd was nuts and hundreds of massive beach balls were flying overhead. This was a time that the ego of Mike Love and mental health of Brian Wilson were able to merge for a reunion tour. Wouldn't It Be Nice to experience a music festival again and the Beach Boys again soon! **important to note that Love & Mercy with Paul Dano & John Cusack (each taking on two stages of Wilson's life) is a stellar representation of the highs & lows of the Beach Boys and Wilson.

I have always respected this Stones album with it's diverse rock-n-roll, blues, and country flavours. There are some phenomenal songs on this record, especially the "non-hits" and slower tempo like Sweet Virginia, Torn and Frayed, Sweet Black Angel, Loving Cup, Let It Loose, and Shine A Light. HOWEVER, I am just not a Stones guy. Jagger's voice has always made me want to slap him. In the end, my respect for EOMS still doesn't translate to pleasing to my ears overall.

Queen Of Denmark is a beautiful Grant/Midlake collab album that I grabbed on CD when I saw them all perform 10 years ago. The classic indie folk sound that he creates paints a picture from another time. I have always visualized his & Midlake's music as a backdrop for an underground home in the deep woods, in which animals and humans coexist and speak the same language, much like a Colin Meloy book. Queen Of Denmark hits all the modern indie folk marks with stellar storytelling, diverse instrumentation (flutes, keys, & strings), tons of humor, catchy grooves, and endearing ballads. Forgot how much HUMOR :) Chicken Bones & Silver Platter Club are delightful musically, but lyrically produce plenty of smiles & chuckles. And of course, Outer Space and Jesus Hates Faggots are my favs for their imagery and messages of true love.

So cool that an album that slipped through my fingers 25 years ago, could stand out so much! I have heard Pulp in the past but never leaned in for a true listen. Rate Your Class felt like the perfect education on them. These obvious Bowie-lovers really can write and perform a song! Mis-Shapes is an excellent album starter for the continued catchy & endearing tunes to follow, including the sexy Pencil Skirt and beyond! This will be one of the 1001 that I find on vinyl and add to my collection. **I'd enjoy hearing Arcade Fire cover this record :)

Refreshment, and yet another African record that I imagine being cool live.

Unless it is already playing on the dance floor or in my pretend cabana in Brazil, I’d never choose to listen

Not a Rage fan, but there are some cool songs (like Soil) that have excellent guitar work. And, all of the songs definitely have an energy about them (coping, expressing, celebrating) that while this record doesn't do it for me, I do understand it on some level. Steve and his daughter Emily are huge fans, and it wasn't until Emily's wedding reception that I was like "ohhhhhh, it's so much more for them". Emily had the DJ play like 30 straight minutes of Rage towards the end of the night, and about 15 folks (including Steve AND his pregnant wife Kristin) were jumping and singing and smiling. It was cool to be a witness to the joy that transcended the pain & sorrow that so many Rage fans find healing from.

Cool debut album from one of the first indie bands to warm our hearts. Twas a refreshing listen!

As a very fair weather blues man, I have never heard of these guys. Groovy but wore on me after 1/2 album.

Nothing like a 5-star record on a Saturday! I love this album so much, and I don't think there is a better album that represents Nirvana's talent more that this set. Beyond cool renditions of their own stuff, which was pretty new at the time, they did an amazing cover of Bowie's The Man Who Sold The World. From beginning to end, they have never sounded better and the gritty Where Did You Sleep Last Night is Cool Whip on top for me. Where would listening to this album be the best?....IN THE PINES, IN THE PINES!

A Sleater-Kinney song could possibly work for me in a soundtrack but I’ve never been able to get involved in their stuff

I know this Wilco album the least, I think because it really hasn't ever grabbed me. Nice listen, but not what represents what I love about them. 7/10 but I'll give them the benefit of the doubt :)

I love The Byrds and this album. Just no time to get into the details!

The question is...have I had enough Bush? Somehow the answer is Yes :) I sampled each song enough to be affirmed that I'm much more of a chest man.

My fav Zeppelin album and another listen didn’t budge that truth. It has it all!

Epic album from the Pumpkins. Not only one of their best pieces of work, but I feel it's one of the greatest rock records in existence. Packed full of killer writing and musicianship, emotional Siamese Dreams blows my mind on so many levels from beginning to end. I am so grateful to have gotten to see them perform many of these songs live on 3 occasions. Zowie!

What a refreshing album from a talented group of Cubanos. I can definitely see myself spinning this again in the future in order to set a mood, transport myself to another place, dance, or meditate on our brothers and sisters in this intriguing country. I can hear joy and pain in each song, much like Jamaican reggae or Latin/Mexican mariachi music. I am ready to get out of this country and hide in someone else's culture for a while....

Groundbreaking album by Talking Heads. Fear Of Music is spectacular art, giving foreshadow to the diverse creativity that David Byrne expanded into the 80z and beyond.

Funeral is the record that awakened me to Arcade Fire and drove the long stake of their art, sentiment, & depth into my heart forever. This album is 6 strong stars out of 5 and would easily rank in my top 20 albums of the last 20 years. There is no calling out any one song, as Funeral has not one weakness of any sort, but only lavishes us with the angst and love of youth that reminds me that no matter how far away from our childhoods that we are, we can dance, sing and celebrate life amidst the pain of living. HOW is this any band's first full length album? INCREDIBLE. **On Saturday I watched the St. Paddy's SNL episode from 2018 when AF performed from their latest album and was reminded once again how epic their live performances are. When the music venues are open once again and Arcade Fire is within driving distance, I will be there celebrating life and dancing with them.

Pretty cool

Their very best of their Emo-Rock Days. Epic!

Beautiful album from British icon, Dusty Springfield. I have never listened to this album in its entirety but have only heard the pop hits from her, but it causes me to dig deeper. I bet she could put on a show! **Classic record that I need to grab used sometime

Oh yah... Such a lovely record from the Rev

Love the album cover and title! Maybe one of the best titles yet. I wasn't getting into it until Telephasic Workshop grabbed me. I'll explore this album in another state of mind in the future...even dropped TW into the Broccoli Alien Mix :)

What a fun pop punk album full of reggae & ska flavours! Loved it!

CSN's self-titled debut cannot be touched! From Judy Blue Eyes to You Don't Have to Cry to Wooden Ships to Teach Your Children Well (and everything in between), there is no better folk rock record of its time. Where is the 6 star option?!

S&G have been my dudes since I was a kid, and this album always touches a lot of sights, sounds, and storylines. Loving the spin as usual!

Smooth record, and thought I recognized them from Paul Simon's Graceland album! Africa refreshes me :)

Always a joyful and groovy album to spin from Stevie

I've heard about this album for a while, but this is my virgin listen. Nice grooves but a lot of the tempo and vibe felt the same, except for the covers. Not bad, but didn't do a lot for me.

Really enjoying this album. Definitely one to come back to while riding my bike, chilling in the tub, or to have echoing through the house. Cool find!

Rust Never Sleeps continues to be a gem of an album, shining brightly for all to see how multi-faceted and lyrically expansive he can Crazy Horse can be. I am grateful to have seen them together at UIC years ago, and to see Neil solo a couple of times as well. Mr. Young goes down as one my fav artists of all time. At least one of his records should have been in our stereo console, but somehow my parents missed him along the way. Maybe a little too punk? Can't imagine them catching Sedan Delivery on this album and knowing what to do with it back then :)

nope

Great stuff

This record is cool as sh!t! Only 2nd listen I believe but forgot how bad ass!

It’s ridiculous that I’ve only heard a couple songs off this rad album, and that I’ve never given it a full spin. May the rock gawds shame me! Haha. Bad ass! I repent!! (my penance shall be picking it up on vinyl)

Rockin album!

Groovy, melodic, whimsical & very Beatlesque...so cool I’ve never heard of Syd or even seen this album cover over the years. Juts learned he is a co-founder of Pink Floyd. Sweet! So far The Madcap Laughs is one of the best discoveries yet. No Good Trying, Love You, Octopus, Long Gone & Late Night are my favs!

Kinda cool, but nothing crazy

Always beautiful to listen to this classic album by Van the Man

Dark, humorous, and hip as usual. Great album!!