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Fri Jan 12 2024
Spilt Milk
Jellyfish
It's like Supertramp for the 90's! I dig it.
4
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Sat Jan 13 2024
Apostrophe(')
Frank Zappa
Zip-Zap-Zoppa do be a boppa
3
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Sun Jan 14 2024
I Need to Start a Garden
Haley Heynderickx
Well this was just a delightful dollop of indie folk today. I definitely enjoyed it as a whole, but Oom Sha La La in particular is going to be on heavy rotation for me this year, I can already tell.
4
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Mon Jan 15 2024
Before These Crowded Streets
Dave Matthews Band
After years and years of hearing about Dave Matthews Band while knowing NOTHING about them, finally time to take my first step!
And... it's jazz fusion? Huh. Honestly wasn't expecting that.
Good stuff though. Manages a very commercial jazz fusion/alt rock sound while still being very, VERY excellently played. Carter Beauford alone honestly brings this to 4 stars.
Hold up they even got Bela Fleck in this? Wild.
4
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Tue Jan 16 2024
Madvillainy
Madvillain
This album is so important to me.
Back in early high school, I was a "rock is the only REAL music" kid. Electronic music was just dumb bleeps made by computers, and rap wasn't real art.
The journey away from that began with Gorillaz Demon Days, which featured MF DOOM on a track. I was intrigued for many reasons, but primarily because it actually seemed like thought was put into his flows and rhymes, unlike the rap I was being exposed to (Flo Rida, Pitbull, and the like).
I googled what was his best record, and spun this bad boy. My mind was blown. I didn't even really LIKE it yet, it was so far outside my usual taste. But I couldn't deny that there was true thought and artistry put into every dense rhyme, double entedre, and off-kilter beat in here.
It started me down a journey of wider musical horizons that never would have been possible otherwise.
RIP MF DOOM
5
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Wed Jan 17 2024
Zuckerzeit
Cluster
Perfectly fine and foundational early electronic music, but nothing here blew me away like contemporaries such as Kraftwerk, Jean-Michel Jarre, or Can.
3
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Thu Jan 18 2024
Relatives in Descent
Protomartyr
You know it's a great album when you get disappointed that it's over.
Excellent balance between harsh a melodic ideas, deadpan vocals reminiscent of Nick Cave, and the flow of tracks from one to another was seamless. This was a great add that I probably never would have listened to otherwise, thanks!
5
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Fri Jan 19 2024
After Hours
The Weeknd
There's a few certified bops here, for sure. But as a whole album? This just felt bloated, bland, and boring. It's a shame, from the singles and lots of features I know him from, I had high hopes for this, but it just wasn't for me.
2
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Sat Jan 20 2024
No.1 In Heaven
Sparks
Well this was just way too much gosh darn fun. Oodles of fun, even. Scrumptious.
4
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Sun Jan 21 2024
Marvin's Marvelous Mechanical Museum
Tally Hall
Pre-Tumblr internet forums absolutely popped off for this shit. They could barely handle this much condensed musical theater kid energy.
Honestly, I had all but written off this album as "not my thing" while listening to it until Ruler of Everything; wasn't expecting a song that good to punch me in the face right near the end, but it was enough to earn it 3 stars.
3
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Mon Jan 22 2024
Because the Internet
Childish Gambino
It's been a couple years since I've listened to Mr. Glover in full album format and I forgot just how good this is. Cheesy pun-filled lyrics, cool ass dreamy/spacey production, concept and thought. Issa goodun.
5
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Tue Jan 23 2024
Night Drive
Chromatics
Accurate title. This is absolutely an album to take a night drive to.
4
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Wed Jan 24 2024
Don't Throw Stones
THE SPORTS
It's enjoyable I guess, they've got some undeniable charisma, but I get nothing out of it that I don't get from other bands I enjoy more. I feel like this is the exact type of album that this list is already far too full of.
2
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Thu Jan 25 2024
Dogrel
Fontaines D.C.
It has a couple very solid tracks and overall is a very enjoyable record, I see why some people would fall in love with this. But for me, it's having a hard time standing out from the crowd, both its contemporaries and the 2000's post punk revivalists it draws from.
3
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Fri Jan 26 2024
Kick
INXS
This is the soundtrack to my mother-in-law's house. I don't care for it much as a full album but by God does it have some bangers.
3
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Sat Jan 27 2024
Bloody Kisses
Type O Negative
It's hard to tell just how "in on it" they are with their own inherent silliness, but it really does put out an unmatched vibe that mostly makes up for the bloat.
4
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Sun Jan 28 2024
The Best of The Hot 5 & Hot 7 Recordings
Louis Armstrong
Ah, my submission! (Well, my Patreon submission at least)
By far the biggest snub on the original list was the lack of Louis Armstrong, in my opinion. No other artist has come close to the sheer amount of influence upon popular music as he had, even if the roots of the influence now go so far back that they can seem completely buried. He was 20th century's first musical star, and with the advent of radio and vinyl records, he pressed himself into the public identity like no other could. His soloing and singing styles practically rewrote the book on how jazz was made, especially when he began incorporating and reinventing classic American Songbook tunes that are now more famous as jazz standards BECAUSE of him.
I chose this record to showcase Louis Armstrong's most fundamental early days. His Hot Fives and Hot Sevens groups truly showcase what a master trumpet player he was. I chose the "best of" recording for brevity's sake (and because these recordings predate the invention of the LP record that most of the list is based on, primarily being released in much shorter formats). However, if you enjoy this, please listen to the complete recordings from these groups. It's a veritable treasure trove.
5
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Mon Jan 29 2024
McDonald and Giles
Ian McDonald
I was so excited for this given the pedigree of the two featured musicians, but it really just did not click for me. It's a shame, as prog is arguably my favorite genre, but I felt like an outsider looking in and seeing all the dislikeable things about it highlighted. Oh well.
2
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Tue Jan 30 2024
A Live One
Phish
Pirates of the Caribbean: Curse of the Black Pearl (Disney, 2003). Timestamp: 1 hour, 33 minutes, 40 seconds.
3
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Wed Jan 31 2024
F♯ A♯ ∞
Godspeed You! Black Emperor
Oh yeah this is the good stuff. I'd only ever heard LYSFLATH before, and this delivers the goods just like that does. Excellently atmospheric, potent, haunting. Love it.
5
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Thu Feb 01 2024
Version 2.0
Garbage
I don't think it quite hit the amazing highs of their debut, but this was still a super catchy and fun 90's rock joint.
4
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Fri Feb 02 2024
Rêver mieux
Daniel Bélanger
In one ear and out the other. I nearly forgot to even rate it. But I didn't HATE it, it was just a lot of nothing to me.
2
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Sat Feb 03 2024
Control
Pedro The Lion
I quite liked this! Cool themes, good depressive backing, and I'm always a sucker for a concept album. Thanks for introducing me to something I wouldn't have likely found otherwise!
4
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Sun Feb 04 2024
Weezer
Weezer
What a massive gap this list made for itself by not including any Weezer. Few bands hit both the critical acclaim and pop heights that they have, and with an interesting story in their artistic trajectory. Thanks for putting it here!
5
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Mon Feb 05 2024
Maestro
Kaizers Orchestra
Consistently cool alt rock. I liked this quite a bit!
4
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Tue Feb 06 2024
Give Up
The Postal Service
One of my favorite albums of all time. It pops, it bleeds watercolor, it is a synthesized masterpiece. If you didn't already add this one I just might have.
5
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Wed Feb 07 2024
Discosis
Bran Van 3000
Opening with Curtis Mayfield was too bold a move, the rest of the album really just couldn't reach that bar again.
3
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Thu Feb 08 2024
Tomb
Angelo De Augustine
I like the vibe, but a whole album of it got very samey very quickly. Neat that someone from my hometown got put on this list though.
3
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Fri Feb 09 2024
The Beautiful Letdown
Switchfoot
Fuck yeah, former church kids REPRESENT
4
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Sat Feb 10 2024
Forced Witness
Alex Cameron
Fun throwback 80's sound with some pretty funny lyrics, but the songs themselves weren't lovable enough as a whole to really enjoy it as a full album experience.
3
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Sun Feb 11 2024
Daisies Of The Galaxy
Eels
I liked the Eels record that was already on the list, but I LOVED this one
5
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Mon Feb 12 2024
Dimanche à Bamako
Amadou & Mariam
It's okay? A couple bangers for sure, but a lot of stuff that just didn't tickle my fancy. Certainly not a favorite afrobeat record.
3
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Tue Feb 13 2024
Poesía Básica
Extrechinato y Tu
Certainly some rad sections here! Unfortunately, it's a bit challenging to appreciate spoken word in a language you don't speak.
3
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Wed Feb 14 2024
Oil of Every Pearl's Un-Insides
SOPHIE
I hope you can still see the moon, Sophie.
5
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Thu Feb 15 2024
Tranquility Base Hotel & Casino
Arctic Monkeys
I kept feeling like this was about to click for me, but unfortunately Alex Turner makes a pretty inferior Bowie no matter how hard he tries.
2
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Fri Feb 16 2024
Music For People In Trouble
Susanne Sundfør
Quite excellent stuff, very moody and cutting in its restraint.
4
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Sat Feb 17 2024
Frosting On The Beater
The Posies
3/5 album, but 0/5 album title. This set me up for the false hope that it would be as delightful as licking frosting off the beater, and it was nowhere close.
3
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Sun Feb 18 2024
Oncle Jazz
Men I Trust
Firstly, this wins cutest album cover. Just look at them! Just a little guy!
As for the music, it was great vibey background stuff, but pulling it into the foreground got it quite samey, and really emphasized how long of an album it was with too little to say across the run time.
3
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Mon Feb 19 2024
Nuyorican Soul
Nuyorican Soul
This was actually really boppin. What a great amalgamation of genres all fused together.
4
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Tue Feb 20 2024
Hand. Cannot. Erase.
Steven Wilson
Kind of bland prog, if I'm being honest. I mean, it's fine, very enjoyable in moments. But if I want prog I want it spicy, but this is like when you go to a Vietnamese restaurant and they give you the "white people" spicy. Nah man, I want it to hurt, hit me with the challenging stuff.
3
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Wed Feb 21 2024
Cleopatra
The Lumineers
Perfectly okay stomp-clap-hey music that doesn't overstay it's welcome
3
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Thu Feb 22 2024
The Lion's Roar
First Aid Kit
Neat indie folk, but I appreciated this more as individual songs over a full album ride
3
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Fri Feb 23 2024
Emotional Mugger
Ty Segall
If I found that eyeless baby rocking in my garage I would scream. Four stars.
4
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Sat Feb 24 2024
Enema Of The State
blink-182
It's basically the defining pop-punk album, sharing a tight first place with Dookie. How this wasn't on the original list is genuinely baffling to me.
5
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Sun Feb 25 2024
Recipe for Hate
Bad Religion
Just some solid ass punk. Not the Bad Religion album I would have chosen (come on No Control is RIGHT THERE), but those Graffin-led harmonies over the speedy punk spunk never fails to get me moovin' and groovin'.
4
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Mon Feb 26 2024
Ænima
TOOL
I personally think I prefer the proggier Lateralus, but this is still such a classic album that I'm shocked the list didn't already have.
5
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Tue Feb 27 2024
Piledriver
Status Quo
This is what my dad's garage sounds like while he's drinking tequila and folding laundry.
2
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Wed Feb 28 2024
I Am
Earth, Wind & Fire
The bops here are every bit as strong as the ones on That's the Way of the World (the official album on the list). However, the ballads here are FAR stronger than on the official album. This is absolutely peak RnB/Disco/Funk jam. They may not include water in their entitled elements, but I'd still drink a glass of this any day.
5
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Thu Feb 29 2024
Continuum
John Mayer
I feel like this is just solid enough to secure 4 stars. It is a consistently good record (if rather samey), and it even manages a few upward spikes into greatness.
4
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Fri Mar 01 2024
In the Aeroplane Over the Sea
Neutral Milk Hotel
It really is as good as nerds on the internet say (says fellow nerd on the internet).
5
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Sat Mar 02 2024
El Circo
Maldita Vecindad Y Los Hijos Del 5to. Patio
Never heard of this artist before, so I got to go in completely blind. With the first few seconds I thought, "Oooh, some ranchera?" NOPE, LATIN SKA BABYYYYY.
This was fun, filled with variety, danceable, kickass, and other praise-worthy adjectives. I had a blast with this. Thank you for adding it to the list!
5
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Sun Mar 03 2024
Yeti
Amon Düül II
This was right up my alley. The krautrock filter overtop all the psychedelic, proggy, avant-garde sounds is exactly what I needed shoved into my ear holes this morning. LOVE IT.
5
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Mon Mar 04 2024
Vedergällningen
Garmarna
The back half of the album was definitely my favorite, but the first few songs cleared up some burning questions I've had since childhood:
I still may not know where he came from, but I can finally answer "Where did he go?" Sweden!
3
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Tue Mar 05 2024
Sublime
Sublime
This is one of the biggest failures of the list. How could they not include Sublime? Their absolutely perfect blend of punk, hip hop, and reggae; their hits that still get attention today; the tragic story of Bradley; it should be a foregone conclusion that this belongs on the list.
Maybe it is my bias as a Californian? Is Sublime just not as big of a thing outside of their home state? I genuinely am baffled how this isn't included.
5
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Thu Mar 14 2024
Nonagon Infinity
King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard
My favorite album, by my favorite artist.
I remember when I first listened to this album, after meaning to check out "that lizard band" for a while. I put it on while doing some mindless work at my job, and it absolutely blew me away. I think I listened to the loop of the album 3 times in a row that day.
And it's been looping in my mind ever since.
5