Mar 24 2021
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Who's Next
The Who
This is an ok album. Not much of it thrills me. "Baba O'Riley" is a all time classic track but not really anything special to me. "The Song Is Over" is a painfully long song. Probably long for the sake of irony but still so long. "Behind Blue Eyes" is also a classic track that I enjoy thoroughly. And "Won't Get Fooled Again" is an amazing song that is just a little too long. All in all a pretty good album but not something too special to me.
3
Mar 25 2021
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That's The Way Of The World
Earth, Wind & Fire
This is a wonderful R&B/Soul album. You could say it just makes me feel much better. And I enjoy Earth, Wind & Fire much better when September isn't being shoved down my throat. Giving it a 4/5 because I didn't enjoy the funk parts of it as much.
4
Mar 26 2021
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The College Dropout
Kanye West
This was the third album on my list, but I am rating it while I am currently on album 142. Finally Kanye has been out of the new long enough for me to be willing to listen to it.
I do have to admit it is a decent hip-hop album. It does feel very dated to the early 2000s. Still not my thing but better than I expected going in.
3
Feb 09 2022
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Illmatic
Nas
As somebody that is not a big fan of hip hop this was a very enjoyable album to listen to.
4
Feb 10 2022
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Live 1966 (The Royal Albert Hall Concert)
Bob Dylan
When I am reviewing these albums I try to not be overly critical about genres or artists that I am not familiar with. That being said I am damn near an expert when it comes to American Folk in the 1960s and 1970s.
And I cannot stand this album.
Now in full transparency I am just not a fan of Bob Dylan so that contributes to my dislike of this album. But there are so many more issues that outweigh that dislike.
To start with it is a live album which is bad enough, but add onto that the fact that it is a "Bootleg Series" live album released 32 years after the original concert. There are also not 1 not 2 but 5 songs that are over 7 minutes in length. I like long songs but that is ridiculous.
There are only two of his top songs played in the show and they were the worst versions of them I have ever heard. Even though it was early in his career he still had some of his top songs all time already released.
This album was terrible for all 95 Minutes and 18 Seconds of it. I'm not looking forward to the next 6 Bob Dylan albums on this list. But I am comfortable knowing that they aren't worse than this one.
I appreciate everything he has done for music and the genre of Folk and I admire his talent as a songwriter. But I just have never enjoyed him. And I despise this album.
1
Feb 11 2022
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Elvis Presley
Elvis Presley
All in all a pretty good album. Contains some essential Elvis songs but also contains quite a few filler songs that aren't at all memorable. But also a couple of underrated sleeper tracks. Just a good nice easy listen.
4
Feb 12 2022
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Iron Maiden
Iron Maiden
Good album. Nothing too special but a fairly easy intro to metal for somebody that hasn't really listen to metal before.
3
Feb 13 2022
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Zombie
Fela Kuti
Not a genre I would have likely discovered on my own. I really like this album. Good arrangements with powerful significance behind the songs.
4
Feb 14 2022
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The Slim Shady LP
Eminem
Listening to Eminem reminds me of my angsty middle school years when I thought I was hard. It definitely has not aged well in terms of content. Musically still holds up very well though. And funny enough I got this album on February 13, 2022 the same day Eminem performed the Super Bowl Halftime show.
3
Feb 15 2022
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Sheer Heart Attack
Queen
This is a very mediocre album to me. I just am not much of a Queen fan. It is certainly a listenable album but not necessarily one I'll come back to. It didn't have any bad tracks but certainly some mid tracks. Killer Queen is a fantastic song and obviously the best one on the album.
3
Feb 16 2022
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Tanto Tempo
Bebel Gilberto
This album it a good example of why I really enjoy this list and this website. I would never listen to this album or have even heard of it otherwise. This was a really enjoyable album despite not being able to understand most of it.
4
Feb 17 2022
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Highway to Hell
AC/DC
This album gives me major flashbacks to middle school when I was a "my generation doesn't appreciate music" kid. And it is a good album that is certainly formative to the Hard Rock sound. That being said it is fairly consistent in sound throughout and the only really memorable track is Highway to Hell.
3
Feb 18 2022
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Maxinquaye
Tricky
This album is... interesting. I had high hopes after the opening track but then it just got kinda weird. I was still feeling the vibe musically until Aftermath when it got really weird with a flute interlude. And Abbaon Fat Track was... let's go with a "lyrical journey" hidden behind a very good jazzy track. The rest of the album after that was just a bit of a fever dream.
2
Feb 19 2022
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Something/Anything?
Todd Rundgren
This is a strange album to process through. The front six are as the album self-describes "A Bouquet of Ear-catching Melodies" that are very easy listening.
The second side is described as "The Cerebral Side" and I'm not quite sure that is the best description. Unless by Cerebral he meant "I've fucked up my cerebral cortex with too much acid" which then yes I agree. There are so many mood swings in these 6 songs but yet it's still enjoyable to sit through. Until you get to the Song of the Viking which just feels like a Ringo song. And then I Went to the Mirror drags you down into the trip with him.
"The Kid Gets Heavy" side is the return to rock roots if the first two sides are the weed album and the acid album respectively. It just doesn't really all flow together well. Feels a bit like the songs that couldn't fit on the other sides got thrown together with the hopes that it would work.
The back seven, otherwise known as the "Baby Needs a New Pair of Snakeskin Boots (A Pop Operetta)" side was an ummm........experience. Not exactly sure why the 4th side needed to be a Pop Operetta but yet it is anyway. As a standalone album it might actually work really well, but it is just a strange way to end and album. But then again the whole album is all over the place so it is fitting. And to end your album with a song called Slut is a power move.
I think the first two sides despite their weirdness sit above a 4/5 for me. But the third side sits at a 2 and the fourth a 2 in this but a 3 or 4 standalone. So I honestly don't know how to grade it.
3
Feb 20 2022
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Let's Get It On
Marvin Gaye
This album might be responsible for more human lives than any other album. Just a classic album that makes you feel happy to be listening to, or doing other things to.....
4
Feb 21 2022
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Opus Dei
Laibach
I understand just enough German to make this album enjoyable. It is just really weird. I just don't really get the appeal of industrial music. I don't think it's a bad album just not something that I will ever consider listening to again.
2
Feb 22 2022
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The Wall
Pink Floyd
Side one might be one of the best single sides in music history. With the exception of Mother which is just a real quick downward mood swing. Which is still a really good song just fits strangely in the order.
Side two leaves a little more to be desired musically following that first side. But it is still a fantastic musical journey. And when you factor in the plot narrative of it as well it is just fantastic character development.
Side three is a bit strange and depressing which from a regular album standpoint is weird because it also contains two of the best songs ever written. But for the narrative of the rock opera it is fitting.
Side four really begins to feel like I expect a rock opera rather than just a regular album. Which is also still very fitting to the narrative as its where Pink's "show" actually occurs. And to end it a peaceful resolution to the story that loops back into the top of the album.
Just rating this as a top to bottom album it is a great album but probably like a 3.5 or a 4. It flows weirdly and has a lot of strange mood swings.
Rating this as the beautiful work of art that it is and the fantastic narrative story it is certainly a 5. It's influence on the music industry is and will likely always be lasting. It has three of their greatest songs which are just flat out three of the greatest songs of all time. I'm happy that this is my first 5 that I've given. I'm only on album 17 but I am surprised it took this long to get a 5.
5
Feb 23 2022
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Gunfighter Ballads And Trail Songs
Marty Robbins
This is THE ALBUM to show people who say they don't like country music. I'm not even a big country fan but this is a fantastic album. It reminds me of what my Grandpa would call "attitude adjustment" music. You just can't be mad while listening to it. El Paso invokes memories I forgot I had of childhood. The fact that this album was recorded in a single 8 hour session makes it all the more impressive just how good the album really is.
4
Feb 24 2022
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Copper Blue
Sugar
It really just sounds like imitation pop punk/rock. And this is an era of that music that I like a lot. I feel like I've heard all of these songs before but don't actually know any of them. Just doesn't hold up as one of the greatest albums of all time.
This might be one of those albums/bands like Sparks where the average person doesn't know about them but all your favorite bands say they are a major influence, but I just don't see it. The only track that feels "individualistic" was Hoover Dam.
I think a 2 or 2.5 is fair. It's not an album I wanted to turn off but I don't see myself listening to any of these songs again.
2
Feb 25 2022
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Yank Crime
Drive Like Jehu
I enjoy the musical side of this album. I'm not the biggest fan of the vocals but it isn't too bad and is very fitting for the genre. My biggest gripe with this is the length of the songs. 2 songs over 9 minutes and another two over 7 is a bit much. Just gets stale after a little. I really like the first 4 and a half minutes on Luau but after that there were still 5 more minutes to suffer through. Sinews however I think does justify the length.
2
Feb 26 2022
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I'm Your Man
Leonard Cohen
I'm not fully sure why we are taking Manhattan or Berlin but I'm pumped to do it! "Everybody Knows" is an all time great track. "Take this Waltz" is a beautiful song. "Jazz Police" however is a terrible track in the midst of beauty. Ironically I first found this album through a video of the worst songs on great albums (shoutout to Alfo Media). The album recovers in the last two songs though.
As a big fan of folk I know and love a lot of Cohen's early work. I do forget just how good Cohen's mid career was. Some of the songs are a little long and "Jazz Police" is what it is. I would give it a 4.5/5.
4
Feb 27 2022
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I Want To See The Bright Lights Tonight
Richard Thompson
I'm a folk fan so I really enjoy this album musically. And its lyrically solid. I just am a much larger fan of American folk music and get tired of the English whine at times. It is still a really good album just not the vocal sound I enjoy.
3
Feb 28 2022
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Faust IV
Faust
This was better than I was expecting. Not having to try to remember my three years of high school German was nice and unexpected. And the one German titled song was French. Krautrock at least on this album feels like the 80s landed in German far before they hit the US. I liked parts of it and others were a little too experimental than I care to listen to.
3
Mar 01 2022
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I Should Coco
Supergrass
This is a great album. Being raised on quite a bit of Brit-Punk this just gives me so many good vibes. Alright is just an all time classic. Only song I didn't really like was "We're Not Supposed To" which was just a really strange departure from the rest of the album. "Sofa Of My Lethargy" is a good track that just goes on for a little too long. This also might be the most upbeat punk album that I have ever heard.
4
Mar 02 2022
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Tellin’ Stories
The Charlatans
I liked this album well enough but it isn't too special to me. I likely will not return to any of these songs. My album yesterday was also a Brit-Pop/Rock album and I enjoyed that one significantly more.
3
Mar 03 2022
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Raw Power
The Stooges
I've never been a fan of Iggy Pop and I did not enjoy this album. Search and Destroy is a good track and Gimme Danger isn't bad depending on the version of it. But the rest of it is just growly and displeasurable. Giving it a 2 because I'm very picky about what I give a 1.
2
Mar 04 2022
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Connected
Stereo MC's
I wasn't quite sure what to expect from an album listed as Acid Jazz. Then I realized just how much I had heard the titular track. I think this is a nice groovy album that is very listenable. It gets a little repetitive at times and falls flat at others.
3
Mar 05 2022
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Ready To Die
The Notorious B.I.G.
Biggie's flow is amazing and the beats are fantastic. Big Poppa is one of the greatest songs of all time. I'm not a huge fan of Hip Hop but this is a fantastic album. The interludes also made it real strange at times, I didn't need to hear what I really hope was simulated sex.
4
Mar 06 2022
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Let's Get Killed
David Holmes
Holy Mother of long songs....
I find a lot of this album musically intriguing. But I just don't really vibe with instrumental music that much. Also as for my first comment, five 6 and a half minute plus songs is ridiculous. The James Bond cover is pretty good.
I just don't think this belongs on this list.
2
Mar 07 2022
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Physical Graffiti
Led Zeppelin
This is by no means a bad album but it is in my opinion the weakest of Zeppelin's albums featured on this list. "In My Time of Dying" and "The Wanton Song" are very solid songs. "Kashmir" is of course an all time classic. Shining moments but very flat in others.
3
Mar 08 2022
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Wild Wood
Paul Weller
I really like the bass on this album. "All The Pictures On The Wall" was really the first song on the album that pulled me in. "5th Season" is also a great song with a good solo. "The Weaver" follows it up with a groovy vocal line. "Shadow Of The Sun" grew on me in the second half with the instrumental jam on the outro it just feels like jamming the homies and brings out good feelings. "Holy Man - Reprise" is also a good feeling jam track. The album ends kinda flat after that, but overall it is a very good album. Having a track called "Instrumental Two" and another named "Instrumental - Pt. 2" is a weird idiosyncrasy, but neither are essential to the album in the way "Instrumental - Pt. 1" is. Having a song that is a reprise of a parenthesised part of another song is also a strange naming convention but that's a good song so I can forgive it.
4
Mar 09 2022
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Another Music In A Different Kitchen
Buzzcocks
I too love fast cars, but the only part of that song I liked was the bass. And that is about all I like on this album. It's classic Brit-Punk but isn't that formative to the genre to me. The Sex Pistols had come and gone by the time this album was released. And The Clash had put out one of their two albums on this list. It's a listenable album and fits the genre well. I mean they essentially started as a Sex Pistols fan band after all. For a debut album it isn't bad but their next album is significantly better than this one. Just doesn't really feel like it is one of the greatest albums ever.
2
Mar 10 2022
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Vauxhall And I
Morrissey
Morrissey is a piece of shit and a sad excuse for a human being. But damn is he an amazing songwriter. If you are able to separate the art from the artist with Morrissey his catalogue is a fantastic lesson in music history especially in The Smiths era. And if you don't know how The Smiths wrote music it's worth learning because it is a strange situation that became wonderful art.
All that being said this is an amazing album. It opens strong and then "Spring-Heeled Jim" is a weird track and "Billy Budd" falls flat. "Hold on to Your Friends" has a beautiful guitar part. "The More You Ignore Me, the Closer I Get" reminds you that Morrissey is a creep while backed by a great song. The next two tracks just feel like classic Morrissey but nothing too special to me. "Lifeguard Sleeping, Girl Drowning" is strange vocally but solid musically. The next two have that classic Morrissey sound again and "The Lazy Sunbathers" is my second favorite song on the album. "Speedway" I think is the most progressive song on the album, it somehow balances the Morrissey sound with a much more progressive musical sound that is an energetic masterful way to end an album.
Morrissey is a 0/5 person this album is a 4.5/5. If Morrissey wasn't a shitty person and was more of a musician I'd be inclined to give it a 5, but I'll stick to a 4.
4
Mar 11 2022
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Follow The Leader
Korn
I'm not a big fan of Nu Metal or Korn. But their cultural impact cannot be denied. I often think of the band before I think of the grain and I have never lived more than a mile from a cornfield. That backwards R is iconic as well.
"Freak On a Leash" is definitely the best track and probably the only Korn track most people know. It's not a bad album by any means just not something I vibe with very hard. Its impact is a 5/5 but personally I view it as more of a 2/5. Factoring both of those I'll give it a 3/5
3
Mar 12 2022
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Here Are the Sonics
The Sonics
This album sounds like the Beach Boys meet Punk Rock. Also in true punk fashion it sounds like it was recorded on the cheapest mic they could find. For a collection of screamy covers it is not too bad of an album. I get where it was a influential sound to early Punk. "Strychnine" is my favorite track and it's an original so that's cool too.
3
Mar 21 2022
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A Walk Across The Rooftops
The Blue Nile
I wasn't sure what to expect from a genre called Sophisti-pop. But I actually really like it. I definitely hear the Peter Gabriel influences and at times I feel a bit of lyrical style similar to Leonard Cohen. At times it can be an overload of Synth tones, but it is a very musically progressive sound that I do enjoy when the overload isn't too much. I think it is one of my favorite synth basses I've heard recently. I was not expecting a song that said automobile noise over and over again but it was honestly kinda good.
I think my favorite part of this list is getting to discover new genres and actually enjoy more of them than I would have expected.
4
Mar 22 2022
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Nebraska
Bruce Springsteen
As far as Springsteen albums go this is not the best. It isn't a bad album just not as good as a lot of his discography. It is also a really depressing album when you read the message behind it. I do have this to thank for one of my favorite albums of 2021, "Pressure Machine" by The Killers.
3
Mar 23 2022
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Sunshine Superman
Donovan
This is a pretty good album. Psychedelic-Folk is a calmer launching point into Psych music than I really got. This is especially true as a large 60s and 70s folk fan. I've been trying to get into more psych and really enjoyed this album. And "Season of the Witch" is a classic psych track that everybody should know. Even though I enjoyed it thoroughly I have fewer thoughts than I expected to.
4
Mar 24 2022
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Daydream Nation
Sonic Youth
This is a pretty good album. I can hear so many different bands that too influence from it as it played. It definitely fits the Jam Band vibe that the recording sessions ended up being. The guitar can be a bit screamy at time and the feedback on some of the songs is not kind on the ears. All in all it doesn't really do that much for me. "Candle" is my favorite song on the album.
3
Mar 25 2022
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Happy Sad
Tim Buckley
Psychedelic-Folk crossed with Jazz Fusion is a combination of genres that I did not expect to see together. And I gotta say it's pretty enjoyable. I normally have a tendency to complain about albums having an excess of long songs. But I think it is something that both Tim and Jeff Buckley manage to do very well. "Love from Room 109 at the Islander (On Pacific Coast Highway)" Has as many words to the title as it does minutes in the song, but it was a great song to just sit there and vibe out to. "Dream Letter" is similarly wonderful to vibe to. "Gypsy Woman" is where it gets more experimental and feels like too long of a song. It isn't a bad song, but it's just not for me.
Happy Sad is basically how I describe my personal musical style of both what I make and what I listen to. So this album resonates with me very well.
4
Mar 26 2022
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2112
Rush
I've never really given Rush the credit they deserve. They are certainly masters of the Prog-Rock era. It still isn't exactly my thing, but I do think it is a masterful album and why it deserves a place on this list.
4
Mar 27 2022
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Medúlla
Björk
Avant-garde is certainly accurate for this album. I don't dislike it but I have a hard time enjoying the vocals throughout all of it. If this was a instrumental album or even a limited vocal performance album I would enjoy it more. I'm confused as to how to rate this album. At times I get it and love the artistry and at other times I just feel like I'm about to be possessed.
3
Mar 28 2022
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Surf's Up
The Beach Boys
I think there are better Beach Boys albums, but I don't think it is necessarily a bad album. It flows a little strangely and is a bit more experimental at times than I really enjoy.
3
Mar 29 2022
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Your New Favourite Band
The Hives
I'm not the biggest fan of having compilation albums on this list, it just seems like a little bit of a "cheat" if that was a thing. I do think this is a great album as far as compilations go. The first two tracks are all time greats with "Main Offender" being one of my favorite Rock Band songs. "The Hives Are Law, You Are Crime" is my favorite track I hadn't heard before. It had some fun mixing with the back and forth guitar. Just a good punk rock compilation album.
3
Mar 30 2022
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Rejoicing In The Hands
Devendra Banhart
I would say that folk is my primary genre that I listen to and to me this is a decent early 2000s folk album. But as far as early 2000s folk goes there are much more notable albums missing from this list. Sufjan Stevens' Michigan had come out about a year before this and his album Seven Swans came out a little over a month before. Iron and Wine had also just released Our Endless Numbered Days which belongs on this list as well.
That all being said I think it's still a good album and I'm just being picky because it is my genre of choice. I think there is a good exploration of different instruments and playing styles without being overwhelming. Which is something more experimental folk musicians struggle to achieve.
3
Mar 31 2022
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Juju
Siouxsie And The Banshees
I will say a British lady named Susan Janet Ballion calling herself Siouxsie Sioux feels slightly problematic. It's not a bad album. It is very front loaded in tracks and blends together after a bit. I think most punk albums benefit from being about 30-35 minutes. This just feels a bit long at 41 plus the 12 minutes of bonus tracks. Especially because the last main album song is 7 minutes and is definitely where the album earns its art rock listing. I would say that I do like it overall. Surprisingly the 3 additional remixes were what brought the album back around for me.
3
Apr 01 2022
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The Piper At The Gates Of Dawn
Pink Floyd
Not a bad album just not as comparable to their other albums.
3
Apr 02 2022
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Machine Head
Deep Purple
035036503530!
Great album with some all time great songs. "Highway Star" is one of my favorite Rock Band songs to play even if it gets tiring by the end. "Smoke On The Water" is obviously one of the most well known songs of all time. I think every guitar player has played that classic riff at least once. My favorite track though is "When A Blind Man Cries" which unfortunately didn't make it on the original track listing. I just love the groovy band jam vibe of it.
4
Apr 03 2022
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The Number Of The Beast
Iron Maiden
Decent metal album. I think it's slightly better than the self titled that is also on this list. "Run to the Hills" is another great Rock Band track.
3
Apr 04 2022
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Peace Sells...But Who's Buying
Megadeth
This is a pretty mediocre metal album to me. Not much else comes to mind to say about it.
2
Apr 05 2022
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Speakerboxxx/The Love Below
OutKast
If they had separated this into two seperate albums instead of a double album both could very well be on this list. It's just good in every genre it touches. And on the second album even though I knew it was there I was not expecting "Hey Ya!" to come in where it did. All in all a great album and just a fun listen.
4
Apr 06 2022
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Millions Now Living Will Never Die
Tortoise
Though all parts of it were interesting a 21 minute fully instrumental intro track that had at least 5 different mood swings is not the right way to start an album. After that I was expecting lyrics, but then I read about the genre of Post-Rock. I am usually against instrumental albums because they lack that extra flavor that lyrics add. That being said I do quite enjoy the album because past the lack of vocals I enjoy the musical style. "Glass Museum" and "A Survey" were the top tracks for me. And if "Djed" had been split up into multiple songs a few of them would have fit on there too.
3
Apr 07 2022
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Slipknot
Slipknot
Nu Metal is just not my thing. I get this is a very formative album in the genre, but I can't get into it. The rappier tracks I like a bit more they remind me a little of Rage Against The Machine. Not something I will return to. If I had found this when I was first learning to play guitar and still wanted to play the heavier and shreddier sound I probably would have enjoyed it more.
2
Apr 08 2022
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In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida
Iron Butterfly
This is one of the milestones I've been waiting for since I started this journey. This is the first album that I get to listen to on vinyl instead of Spotify. My pre-relisten review is that it has a unmemorable A-side but the titular 17 minute B-side is a classic Psychedelic-Rock track that is fun to get super high and just jam out to. I think I will give it a 4/5.
Now for the relisten review. "Flowers and Beads" is better than I remembered and feels like it should be on a Peter Quill Awesome Mix. As for the rest of the front side "Most Anything You Want" is also a good track, but as predicted the rest falls flat. I could have done with a little less electric organ or at least slightly lower in the mix at times. The titular track is pretty much exactly how I remember it a groovy psych track with a great drum interlude around the 7 minute mark. The only detracting part is the strange elephant type of noise. I normally am against long songs, but this is how you do a long song right. It holds your attention the entire way through. The album as a whole held up to my expectations and I stand by my 4/5.
4
Apr 09 2022
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The Renaissance
Q-Tip
Very 2000s Hip-Hop mixed with synth pop. Not terrible but not a single thing I latched onto.
2
Apr 10 2022
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american dream
LCD Soundsystem
It's not bad, but I personally enjoy LCD Soundsystem's earlier work. Still an enjoyable album to listen to.
3
Apr 11 2022
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Hotel California
Eagles
A great classic album. The A-side is a collection of great songs, but it honestly drags a little bit on the B-side. I expected to have more to say about such a classic album but I don't. But it is still a great album.
4
Apr 12 2022
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Blur
Blur
"Song 2" is an all time classic song. However the rest of the album is pretty lackluster 90s alt rock.
3
Apr 13 2022
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Very
Pet Shop Boys
I don't give Pet Shop Boys the credit they deserve. I think "West End Girls" just made me immediately disqualify them as something I'd like. The front four were good but it was "Dreaming of the Queen" that really pulled me in. "To Speak Is a Sin" was also a great track. "Go West" is a fun song to listen to waiting for the bonus track was not as fun. I'm surprised at how highly I am rating this album based on my preconceptions, but that really is the beauty of listening to all of these albums.
4
Apr 14 2022
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En-Tact
The Shamen
This makes me disappointed to be Scottish.
Scottish Electronic music just should not be a thing. I just can't get behind most electronic music in general, but this is another level of painful. There were individual "instruments" on songs that I liked the sound of. The one song I actually somewhat enjoyed was "Possible Worlds". I'm selective about what I give a 1 to in these ratings...I do not feel bad about this one at all. I am in pain, but I somehow made it to the end without turning it off.
1
Apr 15 2022
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Odelay
Beck
"Devils Haircut" is a classic Alt Rock song that I feel like I heard a ton as a kid. "Where It's At" is very much so the same in that regard. It's a decent album. There just wasn't anything I loved about it.
3
Apr 16 2022
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Straight Outta Compton
N.W.A.
This is an all time classic album whose legacy will last forever. I am not a fan of rap or hip hop and I am certainly not qualified to speak to the message of the album, but it is a great album musically and socially. Great album!
4
Apr 17 2022
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Remain In Light
Talking Heads
David Byrne is a musical genius. The Talking Heads take everything I dislike about dance music, art pop, and new wave and do it in a way that I actually enjoy. This isn't my favorite of their albums, but it is a great album from a great band. "Once in a Lifetime" might be my favorite of their songs overall though. And if for some reason somebody is still reading this review and hasn't watched the Stop Making Sense film do yourself a favor and watch the amazing art that it is.
4
Apr 18 2022
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Night Life
Ray Price
Just good classic country. A simple beat and melody that just make you happy. Another of what my grandpa would call "attitude adjustment music" type of album. And Willie Nelson played bass and sang on this album too which makes it even cooler.
4
Apr 19 2022
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At Budokan
Cheap Trick
I'm about 40 minutes away from Rockford, Illinois right now so I have to be careful about what I say or the Cheap Trick assassins will come for me. This is not a good album. It isn't recorded well, but it is a live album from 1978 so that is forgivable. The music isn't my thing either. But given that this album was the launching point for their popularity in the United States and formative to the hard rock genre in the US as well I understand its place on this list. But my rating is lowered because I hate live albums. "I Want You to Want Me" and "Surrender" are all time classic songs, but I still prefer the album versions.
2
Apr 20 2022
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B-52's
The B-52's
"Planet Claire" sounds like a Bond song. "Rock Lobster" is honestly not a good song, but it's humor factor and bassline make up for the rest of it. All in all not too bad of an album just early new wave.
3
Apr 21 2022
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Yankee Hotel Foxtrot
Wilco
This was a very enjoyable album to listen to. Just great Indie Rock. At some point I might come back when editing is added and give it a 5 after a few more listens, but right now I'm giving it a 4 because some of the scratchier sounds don't appeal to me as much.
4
Apr 22 2022
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Want Two
Rufus Wainwright
This is a strange album. There are moments where I think this is exactly what I enjoy musically and then something else comes into the mix and ruins it for me.
2
Apr 23 2022
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Band On The Run
Paul McCartney and Wings
Paul McCartney is a musical genius. While his work with Wings doesn't hold up as well as The Beatles work. This is still a very very good album and I enjoyed it a lot. Paul McCartney's bass playing is one of my favorite parts of anything he's on and that is the case on this album as well.
4
Apr 24 2022
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The Queen Is Dead
The Smiths
Fuck Morrissey, but damn this is a good album.
It is so impressive to me that the music and lyrics are completely separate creative processes within The Smiths and still manage to be so damn cohesive. This album is a fantastic sound that keeps you encapsulated the entire way through. I just can't really put into words that make sense how good I find this album.
5
Apr 25 2022
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There's No Place Like America Today
Curtis Mayfield
Fun easy to listen to R&B with a solid bassline. Nothing that I personally grasped onto but I still enjoyed it.
3
Apr 26 2022
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Let England Shake
PJ Harvey
English Folk Rock is always a strange experience. I am the biggest fan of American Folk Rock that I know and I just can't get into the genre. This album sounds like if Björk was a folk artist. The can horn version of reveille playing in the background of "The Glorious Land" was a strange thing to hear I actually looked outside during the first one to see if somebody was being annoying in my parking lot. There are parts that I really love and musically and vocally. But there are also times where the vocals much like Björk just are too shrieky and strange for me to enjoy. Overall I didn't dislike it, but I just didn't like it and I have a hard time believing there is 3 more PJ Harvey albums if they are all like this.
2
Apr 27 2022
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White Light / White Heat
The Velvet Underground
This album is very strange. Especially "The Gift" at least the stereo mix that is, where the short story and music are panned hard left and hard right respectively. I don't think it is bad and it was certainly an influential and critically acclaimed album, but I don't think it is The Velvet Underground's best album. I feel bad about ranking this low, but I know that the other two albums I'll end up rating higher.
2
Apr 28 2022
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Fever Ray
Fever Ray
Wow that was bad. I had high hopes after “If I Had A Heart" and then it just got worse and worse and worse. By the end my ears were actually hurting. Why is this album on the list at all? Just a bad album.
1
Apr 29 2022
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Green Onions
Booker T. & The MG's
I am drowning in organ music. I do however enjoy the bass on the album. But the only song I think I will ever listen to again is the titular track. Though I will probably listen to a different version of all of the covers at some point. Just way too much organ to want to listen to these ones again.
2
Apr 30 2022
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Bat Out Of Hell
Meat Loaf
Not a big Hard Rock fan and I have always had prejudice against Meat Loaf because of the name. But I do have to admit that this is a pretty good album. More melodic than I expected it to be.
Rest In Peace Meat Loaf!
3
May 01 2022
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Meat Is Murder
The Smiths
Fuck Morrissey!
But I do really really enjoy The Smiths. This is not my favorite of their albums, but it still is a very enjoyable album. Johnny Marr is an amazing musician and to be able to write as good of songs as they did without being in together while they write is so impressive.
4
May 02 2022
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Fetch The Bolt Cutters
Fiona Apple
I can't believe I putt of listening to the Fiona Apple albums I had in the backlog for as long as I did. This is fantastic. I need to get into her other stuff. No idea why I thought I wouldn't like them, but I do. Certainly will listen to this album again. I didn't like it as much as Tidal but it was still really good.
4
May 03 2022
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Tidal
Fiona Apple
I liked this album more than I expected to. I don't know exactly what I expected from it. But it was in my backlog of albums I had to skip for one reason or another, right next to another Fiona Apple album. I put them off for months but I was so pleasantly surprised and regret putting it off. This will be an album I re-listen to at least one or two more times to pick it apart.
4
May 04 2022
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The Gershwin Songbook
Ella Fitzgerald
What a great listen. Ella is a Queen and this is just one of her crowning achievements. I choose to listen to the full three hour version rather than the best of and it was well worth it. Great album!
5
May 05 2022
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Violator
Depeche Mode
Some of these songs are ingrained in my brain from the countless times my parents played them throughout my childhood. The songs I didn't know going into this didn't do it for me. While I did enjoy "Waiting for the Night" it felt out of place on the album especially leading into "Enjoy the Silence". All in all I did really enjoy this album and the childhood memories it brought out. However the non-single tracks are a little harder to enjoy and at times are overboard with the synth. Though it is a Synth-Pop album so I should expect that, but I just am not the biggest fans of synths if they aren't used tastefully. With all that being said I am giving it a 4/5 because a 4.5/5 isn't a thing.
4
May 06 2022
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Vespertine
Björk
I just do not get Björk. It is just not my thing in anyway.
1
May 07 2022
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Siembra
Willie Colón & Rubén Blades
Something I have noticed in the process of this project is that I am less critical of world music than I am of English music. I am not a big fan of dance music in general salsa I do think is the best of it though. I don't understand the album but it is fun and upbeat and it being the best selling salsa album in the history of salsa music certainly gives it a deserving spot on the list. I liked it though it doesn't have the relisten value that some of the other foreign language album that I have heard on this list.
3
May 08 2022
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Scott 4
Scott Walker
The front half is fantastic. Very melodic and calm. The warm smooth baritone of Engel/Walker's voice is so satisfying. "The Seventh Seal" finds a groove that I didn't expect from the intro to it. The bass manages to drive the song while not drawing undue attention to it in the mix of so much else. It is such a complex track that feels like it belongs in a old movie as a main characters theme. Which makes a lot of sense reading about what it was based on. "Angel of Ashes" is another very peaceful somewhat ethereal track. I really liked the song "Boy Child", my mom has called me that since I was young. The lyrics are pretty strange though for that connection.
The back half starts off strange. "Hero of the War" is a complete shift in style. "The Old Man's Back Again (Dedicated to the Neo-Stalinist Regime)" fall somewhere between the sound of the first half and the energy of the opening to the B-side. That track has fantastic bass on it. "Get Behind Me" is another great bass driven track. Though I don't love his scatting on the outro. "Rhymes of Goodbye" was a good but nothing too special outro track.
I am conflicted on what to give this album. I love the way the album is mixed. The vocals for the most part are smooth and easy to listen to. The bass work on the album is fantastic as well. There is so much to pick out and dissect that I will need to listen to a few more times to grasp fully. I however don't love the back half as much. It jumps around and is a completely different mood to the front half. It still contains good songs, but the mood shift is a bit harsh. I think I do need to give it a 5 star rating. I love most of the album and certainly will listen to it again.
5
May 09 2022
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The Slider
T. Rex
I want to like this album more than I actually do. It is a good album, but just not really my thing. I love a lot of artist that this album inspired though I don't love the album itself. "Ballrooms Of Mars" was probably my favorite track, the guitar work on it made the song shine. I think its cult status is persuading me to give it a better rating.
3
May 10 2022
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Sea Change
Beck
On paper I should love this album. It's chill, melancholy folk. It sounds like an album that I would write. It just has the right flourishes of alternative sounds mixed in like the strings or synths. But I just don't love this album. The flourishes can be a bit overpowering and I just don't like Beck's voice. Put some Sufjan Stevens or Ray LaMontagne vocals on this instead and it might be a 5 star album for me. Between the voice and the weirdness of some of the back half I just don't enjoy it that much.
3
May 11 2022
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Forever Changes
Love
I am so conflicted on how I feel about this album. On one hand I like the style a lot and the music is pretty good, on the other hand I really don't vibe well with the sound of the vocals on most of the album. I think it is a pretty solid 3 for me. I do love that Carol Kaye played on this album, she is a legend of a session musician and bass player. Everybody should go watch the video Polyphonic on YouTube made about her.
3
May 12 2022
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Here, My Dear
Marvin Gaye
I put listening to this album off for a day because I was in the middle of finals. I'm glad I did put it off it is just what I needed to relax and wind down after two stressful weeks of projects, papers, and exams. It is not my favorite Marvin Gaye album, but it was a lovely way to spend my evening. It'll be a 4 for me today, but when a edit feature comes around it might get bumped up to a 5 on a second listen.
4
May 13 2022
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British Steel
Judas Priest
I do not typically like Heavy Metal and this isn't exactly a exception to that rule either. I understand Judas Priest's importance to metal as a whole and I am sure the metal I do enjoy was influenced by them. Also "Breaking the Law" is an all time classic. The album cover drops the slight thought of a 3 completely out of my mind and settles it as a 2 for me.
2
May 14 2022
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Exit Planet Dust
The Chemical Brothers
Past "Leave Home" I just did not enjoy this album. I just cannot get into Electronica or House music.
1
May 15 2022
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Repeater
Fugazi
Musically I enjoy this album, vocally not so much. The bass work is amazing on this album and the way it fits in the groove with the drums is magical. And the guitar work is fairly intricate and fun for a garage/hardcore band. It just is not a repeat listen album for me. Based off the vocals alone I would give it a 2, but the music and legacy of the album inclines me to bump it to a 3. I was pleasantly surprised with the music.
3
May 16 2022
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Birth Of The Cool
Miles Davis
Jazz is just not my thing. I know that is sacrilegious to music lovers but oh well. It is good jazz, but good jazz is still jazz. Miles Davis was a musical genius and I appreciate the impact he has had on music. Just not my thing.
2
May 17 2022
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Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band
Beatles
Easy 5!
This is my second album where I am able to listen to it on Vinyl and this is easily my most valuable record in my collection. I don't think there is a bad track on the album.
"Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band" is a great opening track and leads into what is one of my favorite Beatles songs in "With a Little Help from My Friends" for uh certain relatable reasons. Then you have "Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds" which is an amazing song and as much as John insisted it wasn't a euphemism I do not believe him. The song flows way too much like an actual acid trip to not be 100% about one. I mean this is the Acid album afterall. "Getting Better" and "Fixing A Hole" are two of the weaker songs on the album, though neither is in anyway a bad song they just don't stand out as much. "She's Leaving Home" is one of the Beatles more underrated songs in my opinion, if you can even call a song that popular underrated. "Being For The Benefit Of Mr. Kite!" is certainly one of the stranger songs, but feels right as a summation of the A side of this album.
"Within You Without You" also lands as one of the stranger songs, but I think these 'weird' songs are the beauty of The Beatles' studio bound years. The exploration of world music instruments and styles really is the beauty of the latter years. "When I'm Sixty Four" is certainly a departure from the sound of the previous two tracks. It's a fun bouncy track that if it weren't for the general strangeness of this album doesn't feel like it should fit. That and "Lovely Rita" both fit into the category of weaker songs on an amazing album. "Good Morning Good Morning" while maybe not your regular listening type of Beatles song is still a really great and fun song. Though the animal sounds on it do take it down a peg. The "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band - Reprise" I almost like more than the originating track. "A Day In The Life" is a great track and a good way to end the album.
Listening to albums I've heard before is great too because I get something new out of them. The exploration of different instruments and techniques in this album is what makes it one of my favorite albums. The mixing on the album is also very masterfully done. The hard panned vocals certainly throw you for a loop at times. Especially if like me you grew up on the bad digital stereo mixes that hard panned every sound and had no blending. If I weren't listening to the vinyl I would have assumed that was just the case. This is one of the few albums I have ever seen where every single song has its own Wikipedia article. Truly a masterpiece.
All in all this is an amazing album that should be rated no lower than a 5 and anybody that puts it lower than a 4 just shouldn't be trusted in their judgement of music.
5
May 18 2022
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Penthouse And Pavement
Heaven 17
What in the actual FUCK is this album?
It is just so damn bad. Early 80s New Wave and Synth-Pop is always very hit or miss. And this is one of the worst misses I have had the displeasure of listening to. The first few songs are mediocre at best. "Geisha Boys And Temple Girls" is problematic. It is creepy and racist and I'm sad I left Spotify to be able to listen to it. "Let's All Make A Bomb" while a strange song to follow that up with is probably the best song on the album.
I do not understand how this album made it to the list. It wasn't even that influential to the genre. It's just terrible!
1
May 19 2022
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Rain Dogs
Tom Waits
"Singapore" sounds like if Leonard Cohen were trying to sing in the style of "The Monster Mash" but right after smoking an entire pack of cigarettes. "Clap Hands" was just weird and I can't believe there is a polka song following it. I listened to the rest of the album, but I couldn't be bothered to trying to assess it any further. I can see how some people like him. I am not one of those people. His voice is just gross to me. The music isn't terrible, but it's simple. Maybe his four other entries on this list are better, maybe I'm finally just accepting that Robert Dimery is a bad music critic.
2
May 20 2022
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Back to Mystery City
Hanoi Rocks
Terrible album! How does this at all belong on this list. I don't care who it allegedly inspired. It is a badly badly mixed album and bad music. I can't understand why this is on here. These are the albums that make me consider if this project is even worth finishing. I mean it's so bad Spotify doesn't have half the songs and whoever made the YouTube playlist couldn't even be bothered enough to put playlist the right way up so I heard the first 5 seconds of each song at least twice. Xbox 360 headsets had better audio quality than the mics they used to record this album. I am still hesitant to give it a 1 because there are worse albums, but I am just so tired of getting so many bad albums so it gets what it gets.
1
May 21 2022
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Parklife
Blur
Good album just nothing too special. I prefer later Blur when they got more alternative. Brit-Pop is just not really my thing, but this is a great Brit-Pop album.
3
May 22 2022
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I’ve Got a Tiger By the Tail
Buck Owens
Good classic country that is just fun to listen to. Nothing to special on it, but it just puts a smile on your face and is an easy listen.
3
May 23 2022
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Wonderful Rainbow
Lightning Bolt
Noise Rock is a different kind of genre, it certainly is not for everybody. I would not place it as one of my favorite genres but I do enjoy this album. "Assassins" feels like a Muse interlude or filler track. It is good it just is all build with no resolve. Honestly that entire sentiment tracks for the album, "2 Towers" is seven minutes of build which is anxiety inducing. The back half of "On Fire" was good minus the vocals on that. "Longstockings" is a great track until the scratchy breakdown at the end and again minus the strange vocal parts.
I want to love this album and at the same time I want to hate this album. Some of the noise was a little too much for me and other parts were amazing. It sounds like a lot of different artists most of the time I was getting Muse and I also heard some RHCP elements in there too and some others that I can't place but know. It is also a fairly quietly mixed album and I had to bump up my volume to hear it clearly.
3
May 24 2022
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Ill Communication
Beastie Boys
There were two rules for music in my moms car, if Jack White comes on you have to call him a musical genius and if the Beastie Boys come on you crank the volume. So that is exactly what I did today. While this isn't my favorite of their album it is still a great listen and contains some deep cuts I haven't heard in years. I thoroughly enjoy getting the chance to re-listen to albums I've loved my entire life.
4
May 25 2022
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Treasure
Cocteau Twins
My best friend is probably the biggest Cocteau Twins fan I will ever meet and formally introduced them to me last year. I can't tell you how many nights I've spent with him on one of our couches or in one of our cars stoned out of our mind just disassociating to "Lorelei" and more songs from Heaven or Las Vegas. This album just brought about some good memories.
While this is certainly their second best album and coming into it I only really knew "Lorelei" and the general sound of the band, I did enjoy this album. I found some tracks I like that I haven't heard before like "Pandora (For Cindy)" that were really good. All in all this was a great album to get blazed and vibe out so hard to.
4
May 26 2022
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Since I Left You
The Avalanches
Fake record static and skips ruin an album for me, I'm just imagining someone that buys this on vinyl and then is just frustrated with why the brand new album is in such bad condition. About the only thing that made the album better was thinking about that and laughing. "Frontier Psychiatrist" was good just because it's honestly relatable. I don't get why this is on here. I was doing homework so at least I didn't fully waste an hour of my life.
1
May 27 2022
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Beyond Skin
Nitin Sawhney
I liked this first half of this more than I expected. It was groovy and relaxing. The back half though I disliked thoroughly. It was strange and off putting to me. Speaking of off putting what the hell is this album cover.
2
May 28 2022
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Van Halen
Van Halen
A great classic album. RIP EVH!
"Eruption" is top 10 on the list of songs that made teenage boys want to play guitar. The cover of "You Really Got Me" is one of the best covers of that song. "Jamie's Cryin'" was also a great track. Overall I liked the album, but it is not my favorite Van Halen album I look forward to 1984.
4
May 29 2022
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Third
Portishead
I wanted to like this album and some of it I really did enjoy. Some of it however I just can't get behind. I think that is the genre breakdown within the album, the experimental and psychedelic rock sides of it are great the electronica is where it loses me. I'm just conflicted on how to rate it probably needs more listens to appreciate it or hate it more.
3
May 30 2022
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Electric Warrior
T. Rex
I like this more than The Slider for sure. "Cosmic Dancer" is a classic and "Bang a Gong (Get It On)" is an all time classic. "Monolith" wa a somewhat deep cut on this album that I vibed with and "The Motivator" was the same way. Pretty good album.
4
May 31 2022
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Being There
Wilco
A nice chill album to sit and listen to. "Sunken Treasure" was a vibe until the noise breakdown at the end still my favorite on the album. I also do like that Tweedy cut most of his proceeds from the album so he could sell it at a more affordable price. Not my favorite Wilco, but still a really good album. The second disc really made it for me.
4
Jun 01 2022
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Car Wheels On A Gravel Road
Lucinda Williams
I love Folk Rock so Americana and some Alt Country is fully in my lane. And knowing that she toured with Jason Isbell just makes me like her and this album more. "Right In Time" and the titular track were two of my favorites. I certainly attach more to the Americana aspects, but it is good Country music too. A very re-listenable album for sure!
4
Jun 02 2022
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Songs Of Leonard Cohen
Leonard Cohen
"Suzanne" might be one of the most beautiful songs ever written. In my opinion it is his best song very closely followed by if not tied with "Hallelujah". The rest of the album is beautiful, albeit not nearly as special as the the first. While the second most popular song on the album, "So Long, Marianne" just didn't do it for me. It would have been strange buying "Suzanne" as a single and then experiencing that on the B-side. A beautiful album by an amazing songwriter.
4
Jun 03 2022
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Seventeen Seconds
The Cure
My dad loves New Wave and particularly loves The Cure, so an album where I only know one song ahead of time is surprising to me. It is a good album, certainly not their best work but you can tell it is the foundation for a lot of New Wave and their later work.
3
Jun 04 2022
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The Real Thing
Faith No More
This was an enjoyable album with a lot to listen for. I liked the bass line on most of the tracks and thought that it sat fairly well in the mix. I could see myself listening to some of the tracks again and possibly giving the album as a whole a second listen at some point and possibly boosting its rating.
3
Jun 05 2022
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Fuzzy Logic
Super Furry Animals
It is an interesting album, it's just not my thing.
2
Jun 06 2022
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Brothers
The Black Keys
Pretty good album with some all time party bangers. Garage rock as a genre does tend to lose its allure for me around the 35 minute mark so this album being 55 minutes is just a little wearing. I still like the album, but prefer some of The Black Keys other albums more.
3
Jul 11 2022
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Led Zeppelin IV
Led Zeppelin
People will continue to debate what the best Led Zeppelin album is. I put my money on this album, though I do understand the case for most of their others as well.
"Black Dog" is a beautiful way to open an album and it became an all time classic. "Rock and Roll" is a good track, though not my favorite. "The Battle of Evermore" I feel is an underrated track on this album, understandable why with the rest of the songs on here that it just doesn't quite hold up to. And then of course we have one of the top 5 greatest songs of all time on anybody's list. "Stairway to Heaven" is a masterpiece of a song. It alone could put this album at a 4 in the midst of bad songs, though obviously that is not the case. The only qualm I have is that it got so popular that it became the forbidden riff in guitar stores.
"Misty Mountain Hop" and "Four Sticks" are the two weakest tracks on the album and I don't have much to say about them. But "Going to California" is my favorite Led Zeppelin song and I could listen to it on repeat for days and not get tired. It is amazing how it balances sad and hopeful in such a beautiful and effortless way. "When the Levee Breaks" is tonally different than the rest of the album, but is such a powerful song. It is also a masterclass in recording a cover song.
This is an amazing album! It is an all time classic and one of the greatest albums of all time. I knew from the second it came up on my homepage that it was going to end up being a 5 star album!
5
Jul 12 2022
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The Man Who
Travis
Pretty good album. I enjoy the chill energy of a lot of their music. I knew "Why Does It Always Rain On Me?" coming into this and it still is my favorite from the album. "Driftwood" and "Writing To Reach You" were also highlights of this album. Though I enjoyed the style and the album as a whole it really wasn't anything too special.
3
Jul 13 2022
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To Pimp A Butterfly
Kendrick Lamar
A very good and very poignant album. I am not the right person to dissect the meaning of this album, but the message is important. Not to mention that the features on this album are insane from Thundercat to George Clinton to Snoop Dogg they all add special flare to their respective tracks. I will note that the fact that DAMN is not featured on the list is criminal. I'm not even typically a fan of rap and I know how important that album is. This album is good, but I don't see myself relistening to most of the album.
3
Jul 14 2022
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Like A Prayer
Madonna
I respect Madonna's fame and notoriety as a musician and her impact on music as a whole will last forever. I just do not enjoy most of her music past her hits. It is just not my type of music and most of it is just meh. She gets a 3 instead of a 2 just because of her impact on music.
3
Jul 15 2022
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Bubble And Scrape
Sebadoh
Wow that was not a good album. It had one or two good songs, but by the end I just had bad listening fatigue. I didn't hate it enough to give it a 1 so 2 it is.
2
Jul 16 2022
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Document
R.E.M.
This album gets a boost by being constantly played in my home growing up. Songs like "It's the End of the World as We Know It (And I Feel Fine)" and "The One I love" are all time classics. The rest of the album is honestly a little bland, but the memories give it the extra point boost. An all time favorite!
4
Jul 17 2022
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Lady Soul
Aretha Franklin
If there is a album with a more famed and established list of songwriters I would like to put it head to head with this one and watch the world explode. James Brown and Curtis Mayfield alone puts this album in a separate category, but you also have The Vegases and Jerry Wexler. And of course not to mention the combination of Carole King and Gerry Goffin who are one of the best songwriting combinations of all time. And I won't even begin to list out the legendary list of artists that played on this album, as I already know this review is going to be substantially long. But damn, is that just as impressive if not more impressive.
"Chain of Fools" is a fantastic opening track followed by a couple of solid fillers. Then you have the one and only "(You Make Me Feels Like) A Natural Woman" the fact that this is just the end of the A-Side is possibly the one disappointment of this album. It rightfully belongs as the culmination of a fantastic album (as Carole did on her fellow 5 star album Tapestry).
"(Sweet Sweet Baby) Since You've Been Gone" is a great open to the B-Side. But the groove of "Good to Me as I Am to You" speaks to me in a special way. What a work of art on the bass! "Groovin'" is exactly what it claims to be. "Ain't No Way" is the only song that I can understand putting at the end over "A Natural Woman". The only way to end an album other than a song that powerful is with a song this heartfelt and powerful in a completely different way.
All in all this is an album that you could apply every positive adjective you could ever think of to and it would be accurate. A masterpiece of an album! Anybody that gives it lower than a 4 star rating should be declared incompetent. That being said it should absolutely be a 5 star album!
5
Jul 18 2022
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The Nightfly
Donald Fagen
I read Jazz Pop and then Steely Dan on the Wikipedia page and immediately rolled my eyes thinking I was going to dislike the album. I however was amazed at how much I enjoyed it. Right off the bat "I.G.Y." hits you with this groovy bass driven, borderline funky jam. I can see why this song is so loved by audiophiles and used as a reference song by so many sound engineers. It has so much to digest and I imagine in many more listens I will only continue to appreciate it. The next three songs are nice easy listens and then "New Frontier" is another fun energy boost right in the middle. The titular track is probably my least favorite on the album, but it still isn't a bad track. The final two tracks are a nice calm, but happy way to end an album.
This is the first album I have found on this list that I had no exposure to beforehand and I instantly want to get on vinyl. Right now this is a 4 for me but I need to give it a 5 upon a few more listens.
4
Jul 19 2022
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Golden Hour
Kacey Musgraves
One of the best modern country artists out there right now. Her list of artists that inspired her is a list that I loved to read from, John Prine (Rest in Peace!) to Alison Krauss (gotta respect somebody from my hometown who went to high school with my dad) to Jim Croce (my favorite songwriter) and even people like, Cake, Weezer, and ELO (the last of those you can hear on the song "Oh, What A World"). I'm leaving some notable country artists off of there but, the point is she has great taste in music. I also love a country artist that is willing to openly support progressive social movements, helps me not feel guilty about enjoying country music.
As for this album "Slow Burn" is a wonderful song that is enjoyable to listen to and to find out she was on acid while writing it makes me like her even more. "Butterflies" was intriguing song with a lot to pick apart and some nice bass fills. The middle of the album is peaceful but mostly forgettable. I also quite enjoy the upbeat yet chill energy of "High Horse", it maybe sits a little late in the album for me but I like the song. "Golden Hour" was calm with an interesting guitar line. "Rainbow" is the perfect peaceful, but powerful way to end an album.
All in all I enjoyed this album more than I expected to. I was expecting a 3 going in but by the end I felt it was a 4 for me. The calm energy that tows the line of country and folk is a musical spot that I love, though her voice gets a little twangy at points for my liking.
4
Jul 20 2022
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Hail To the Thief
Radiohead
While I wholeheartedly believe that OK Computer is one of the greatest albums ever written and will certainly give it a 5 when it come up on my list, I do not enjoy much of their work that came after. I do admit the fact that it is largely due to my distaste for electronica, in fact my summary lists it as my worst genre. That being said I do feel there is a reason this album isn't as well known as their other albums like The Bends or Pablo Honey, or even their electronica albums of Kid A or In Rainbows. It feels like a lot less of a complete album as the other, its folly is likely that it was recorded in roughly two weeks. I think it also leans too heavily on the electronics at times, but I am impressed that they were mostly live recordings rather than overdubs. The electronics are overwhelming on some tracks and when they aren't, Thom often uses the whiney voice that I just despise to hear on any album. "We Suck Young Blood" is a good example of this, it is a lovely bass and piano song that is simple and erie with a surprising but wonderful uptempo break in the middle, but the song is just ruined by the whine.
Though I did not love the album it did have some favorable parts. The message of course is good I love when people take the opportunity to chastise the failings of George W. Bush, I mean I was a Green Day kid that loved American Idiot. I also enjoy the bass work that drives a lot of the songs. The tracks that incorporate what you might consider more typical rock aspects are also more appealing to me.
While I didn't hate the album the listening fatigue set in quick. I do feel as though my hatred of electronica is jading my perspective in giving it a low rating. Towards the end I started to appreciate it more for some of the musicality, but the fatigue made it too hard to give a second chance. Maybe it'll be one I revisit when I finish the list or after I give more of Radiohead's electronica albums a closer listen. It probably deserves better than a 2, but today that is just what it gets.
2
Jul 21 2022
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Pictures At An Exhibition
Emerson, Lake & Palmer
The volume levels are horrendous on this. At times I have to crank my volumes by 20 to 30 percent to be able to hear anything and others I have to drop them below normal to be able to not burst my eardrums. It's a live album so that might be some of it, but I think it was mostly intentional. I didn't dislike this album, but I don't think it is necessarily belongs on this list. It wasn't bad but it isn't that great of an album in my opinion.
2
Jul 22 2022
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Remedy
Basement Jaxx
There is no such thing as good house music, but if there was.....
This would still be bad house music.
1
Jul 23 2022
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Closer
Joy Division
Joy Division and New Order were bands that I was raised on. While it isn't the sound from my childhood that I latched onto the most, I do love their music. This album is not as good as Unknown Pleasures to me. It is also a tragedy that "Love Will Tear Us Apart" was never released on an album. All in all a good album that reminds me of childhood.
3
Jul 24 2022
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Music for the Masses
Depeche Mode
This is a great album! I grew up on 80's New Wave especially Depeche Mode. I can't say that much about this album other than I love it and have so many good memories of these songs.
4
Jul 25 2022
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Felt Mountain
Goldfrapp
I liked it more than I expected to. I hate electronica as a genre in general so this is still a bad album, but it was very melodic and dark so I enjoyed it in that regard.
2
Jul 26 2022
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(Pronounced 'Leh-'Nérd 'Skin-'Nérd)
Lynyrd Skynyrd
A pretty good album. I am not really a Lynyrd Skynyrd fan but this album contains two all time classics in "Simple Man", my personal favorite of the album, and "Free Bird". The latter is a great song, but I do think it is overhyped and it's just so long. It is also the bane of any gigging musicians existence so I like it less as a result of that.
It is a good album with two great songs.
3
Jul 27 2022
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Bringing It All Back Home
Bob Dylan
I am a massive folk fan and I absolutely recognize how amazing of a songwriter he is. I however hate Bob Dylan. I think almost every Bob Dylan cover is better than his originals. That is certainly the case here with "Mr. Tambourine Man" and "It's All Over Now, Baby Blue", easily the best two songs on the album. Both of them were done considerably better by The Byrds.
Dylan's voice pre Royal Albert Hall concert is considerably better than after. But it is still just so nasally. And OH MY GOD put down the fucking harmonica once in awhile! After this list I will probably never intentionally play a Bob Dylan song again. This however does not deserve the one star that most of his other albums do.
2
Jul 28 2022
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Brown Sugar
D'Angelo
This was a fun and funky album. I liked the bass but most of the time I wanted it to sit a little higher in the mix. It was a good album, just not really my thing.
3
Jul 29 2022
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Pieces Of The Sky
Emmylou Harris
This leans a little too country and less folk than I enjoy, but tows that line pretty well. I enjoy it more than I expected to at first. "Bluebird Wine" was the only track I knew well before this and it is a great song. "Boulder to Birmingham" was another standout track. "Sleepless Nights" based off listen counts is a underrated song on this album, it is calm and heartfelt. I really enjoyed this album a lot more than I thought I would.
4
Jul 30 2022
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Qui sème le vent récolte le tempo
MC Solaar
A lot cooler than I expected. It was very fun. I don't love hip-hop so it isn't that much of my thing. If I knew how to speak french it might be more interesting.
3
Jul 31 2022
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Ogden's Nut Gone Flake
Small Faces
It is a good album, but certainty a very interesting and strange album. I got a little overwhelmed at times, but was very intrigued at others. I though enjoy other psychedelic albums and other concept albums from the era better.
3
Aug 01 2022
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Home Is Where The Music Is
Hugh Masekela
I hate Jazz, but the Afrobeat side of it was not too bad though. I just got listening fatigue way too early and I just did not like it. Might be a little unfair giving it a 1, but that is just how I feel right now.
1
Aug 02 2022
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Come Away With Me
Norah Jones
Great album! Very calm and groovy. I loved chilling out and just enjoying the smooth enticing vibe of Jones's voice. Great listen.
5
Aug 03 2022
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It Takes A Nation Of Millions To Hold Us Back
Public Enemy
A really good album, but just not my style.
3
Aug 04 2022
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Colour By Numbers
Culture Club
Not a bad album, but not a good album either. Just very very meh. "Karma Chameleon" is a classic track, though very overdone as a meme and I'm over it. Nothing else really stands out to me on the album.
2
Aug 05 2022
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Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness
The Smashing Pumpkins
This album has some all time classic songs. It also has quite a bit of filler. But for a grunge album from 1995 it surprisingly does not get tiresome after 45 to 60 minutes. It holds up for the whole two hours. The filler isn't bad, but if it was just the highlights this would easily be a 5 star album. The filler drops it to a 4 and Billy Corgan being such a dick makes me want to drop it to a 3 or a 2, but if we are separating the art from the artist this stands as a 4 star album.
4
Aug 06 2022
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Low
David Bowie
A decent album, but not Bowie's best. The front half is fairly weak as far as Bowie's songwriting goes. The back half includes some fun ambient tracks that would be nice to chill out and vibe to while high as hell. Maybe will revisit it at some point in the future. Right now I feel it is a 3 star album, mostly because of the quality of his other work.
3
Aug 07 2022
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...And Justice For All
Metallica
While this is not my favorite Metallica album, that title going to The Black Album, it does contain what I think is my favorite Metallica song though with "One". I do agree with the criticisms of the mix and have laughed at my fair share of ...And Justice For All lack of bass memes. It just isn't there. The length of these songs for a metal album is also a point against the album. Despite these negatives there are way more positives and this is still a great album that certainly deserves its spot on this list.
4
Aug 08 2022
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Songs From The Big Chair
Tears For Fears
I was raised on 80s New Wave, and while I never choose to listen to it on my own time I do have a soft spot for it. This is a pretty good New Wave album, it has a couple of all time classic songs in "Shout" and "Everybody Wants To Rule The World". Another standout on the album was "The Working Hour", the rest of it didn't stick out much to me but was a nice chill listen.
4
Aug 09 2022
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Astral Weeks
Van Morrison
Not Van Morrison's best album. Not a bad album though. I am disappointed that this is on here but Blowin' Your Mind! isn't. Decent just not anything special.
3
Aug 10 2022
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Autobahn
Kraftwerk
Kraftwerk is what I would consider "good electronica" but then again there is no such thing as "good electronica" so still just not my thing.
1
Aug 11 2022
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Apocalypse Dudes
Turbonegro
Norwegian Death Punk.....what a unexpected genre to see come up. It was actually a pretty good album and I was pleasantly surprised.
3
Aug 12 2022
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Darkdancer
Les Rythmes Digitales
This is not a good album, I do not understand its place on this list. It was made well past the height of Synth-Pop and wouldn't even break the top 10 in the genre on anybody's list. And what the hell is Post-Disco. This might have ruined a Buffalo Springfield classic for me. I did not need a 4 minute synth version of it.
I do have to give him credit though. He produced some of my favorite albums and songs by The Killers. Luckily this album didn't quite seep into those to have enough effect to make them bad.
1
Aug 15 2022
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Different Class
Pulp
A pretty good album. "Common People" was certainly the highlight of the album. It is a really good song that is pretty much my idea of good Britpop. I would listen to this entire album again.
4
Aug 16 2022
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Drunk
Thundercat
A decent album. Not really my thing, but it is a groovy album with a wide range of features. Thundercat is a god of a bass player and I aspire to be a 10th as good as he is. And his main bass is just insane and I can't imagine trying to stretch my hands around that thing.
3
Aug 17 2022
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Guitar Town
Steve Earle
Just meh, very mediocre. I didn't hate it but there is so much better country out there to listen to. A Guitar Town is my type of town though.
2
Aug 18 2022
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Life Thru A Lens
Robbie Williams
It's not a bad album, but I just don't see why I needed to listen to this before I die.
2
Aug 19 2022
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Eternally Yours
The Saints
Decent Punk from the 70s. It's good, but I don't have the formative memories of this album in the way I do with The Clash or Sex Pistols.
3
Aug 22 2022
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Raising Hell
Run-D.M.C.
This is a great album. An absolute classic. "It's Tricky" and "Walk This Way" are amazing songs. "Walk This Way" might be the best cover song/collaboration song of all time. Not all the tracks are classics, but every one of them is worth hearing.
4
Aug 23 2022
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Moon Safari
Air
This wasn't as bad as I expected it to be. That does not mean it was good because it wasn't. "La femme d'argent" was certainly the highlight of the album. Some of the chill energy at the end was a nice vibe though not my favorite musically. Overall it had decent bass, but that was really the last of the positives for me. I just don't understand why Robert Dimery has such a affinity for Electronica.
2
Aug 24 2022
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Tigermilk
Belle & Sebastian
This was a good album. I really enjoy the energy of this album and would re-listen to pretty much all of it. "Electronic Renaissance" being one of the lowlights of the album. The first two tracks were probably the best of the album with my personal favorite being "The State I Am In". "I Could Be Dreaming" was a song that I enjoyed, but didn't necessarily feel as though it fit the album in the way I wanted it to. "My Wandering Days Are Over" was another song I liked quite a bit.
Overall a really good album that I would enjoy listening to again.
4
Aug 25 2022
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The Pleasure Principle
Gary Numan
I am just not a fan of 95% of the Synth-Pop/New Wave era of music. This is not an exception. It is just mildly ok Synth music. I have heard much worse Synth music, but also have heard much better. "Cars" is a good classic track though. That however is all I really enjoyed about this album.
2
Aug 26 2022
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Live At The Star Club, Hamburg
Jerry Lee Lewis
Ah yes, the racist, pedophillic, incestual, music stealing piece of shit.
That being said, for 1964 this is a fairly well recorded live album. That doesn't mean it's recorded well, just not bad for the time. I'm not quite sure why half the album is missing but I am also not complaining. The two songs he is credited as a songwriter on are the two weakest on the album and the others are about half as good as their originals.
Live albums in general just do not have a place as an album that I MUST hear before I die. There are very few worth listening to and this just isn't one of them.
1
Aug 29 2022
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Pyromania
Def Leppard
While I would consider Hysteria their best album, this is a pretty good album. The highlights for me were "Photograph", "Too Late For Love", and "Rock Of Ages" the middle being my personal favorite.
3
Aug 30 2022
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Hot Buttered Soul
Isaac Hayes
This was a fun groovy album that was nice to listen to. The bass was fantastic and really drove the album. I however did not love the length of some of the songs, I just think anything over about 5-7 minutes has to do a lot to justify the length. I think "Hyperbolicsyllabicsesquedalymistic" did justify the song length, but nothing justifies a song title that long. "By The Time I Get To Phoenix" was also another lowlight it was just so slow and I don't love the talking over the cymbal taps. The second half of the song goes back to the form of the rest of the album and is chill and groovy. I'm between a 3 and a 4 so I'm going to give it the bump up and will be more likely to give it another chance.
4
Aug 31 2022
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Manassas
Stephen Stills
Of CSN and sometimes Y (I laughed way too hard writing that, curse my Dad and his love of tagging me in dad jokes on Facebook), I probably listen to Stills the least. And I certainly hadn't heard of this band from one of their breaks. This is a good album, though it skews more bluesy than I typically prefer. I tend to like the more folk rock aspects of CSNY. Some of this hits that spot but most falls in that blues route. "Jet Set (Sigh)" was probably my favorite track, it was a great blues song that had an exciting turn at the end of it. I do find it hilarious that all four members of CSNY had an album in the top five at the same time, though two of them were together on an album.
3
Sep 01 2022
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Modern Life Is Rubbish
Blur
This is my third and final Blur album on this list, funny enough I got them in reverse order of release. While the other two were certainly more commercially popular, I think this one is my favorite of the three. It is just so musically intriguing to me. Parklife and their self titled album are just a little more alt rock and loud while this is a slightly quieter and full of interesting instrumentation. The mixing is also very well done, some of the pans on songs like the guitar intro to "Colin Zeal" starting panned hard right and then panning over to the middle and then a second guitar that is panned more left. The bass intro on that track is fantastic too. I still can't quite get over the typical Brit-Pop vocal sound though on some tracks like "Villa Rosie" it flows a lot better for my ears. Great Album!
4
Sep 02 2022
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Safe As Milk
Captain Beefheart & His Magic Band
It is a decent album with some interesting aspects to it and good bass. But overall I don't think it is all too special. "I'm Glad" is probably the track that I like the most, but the one that feels like it belongs on the album the least.
3
Sep 05 2022
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Cypress Hill
Cypress Hill
I'm not a big hip-hop guy, but this is a fun groovy album with some great bass lines. I love the amount that this album talks about weed, because I just love weed. I also appreciate this album for giving me one of my favorite Rage Against The Machine songs which I also just learned was a cover. I really enjoyed this album.
4
Sep 06 2022
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Music For The Jilted Generation
The Prodigy
Wow this is just a terrible album. Only two songs of twelve are under 5 minutes and 7 over 6 and a half minutes. All of them too long. My ears were hurting after the first three songs and it never stopped. I don't get how anybody can listen to Techno. I really cannot believe this band has a second album on this list either. Just a really bad album, I will never understand Dimery's affection for electronic based music, there is just way too much of it on the list for the to all be musts.
1
Sep 07 2022
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Imperial Bedroom
Elvis Costello & The Attractions
My mom is a big Elvis Costello fan and she was excited when I got this album today. Unfortunately I will have to be disappointing her, while I do think this is a good album it is really just not my thing. Costello is a wonderfully talented musician and I respect his impact on music and I know he is a particularly creative lyricist. It just doesn't really hit the spot for me.
3
Sep 08 2022
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Songs For Swingin' Lovers!
Frank Sinatra
I did not expect to be reading about the history of "swinging" today, but that is the beauty of having the Wikipedia articles hyperlinked on here. Part of me likes to think that this was the reason for the choice of name.
Sinatra had such a wonderfully smooth voice. I normally have a lot more to say about my 5 star albums. This one speaks enough for itself without me talking too much about it. "You Make Me Feel So Young" and "I've Got You Under My Skin" are all time classics and cement my choice of a 5. I Would very happily listen to it top to bottom again.
5
Sep 09 2022
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Fear Of Music
Talking Heads
I love the musical genius that is David Byrne. This however is not his best work. I am constantly disappointed that Speaking in Tongues is not included in this book, its my favorite of the Talking Heads albums. Stop Making Sense is also one that should be included, but that is something that should be watched instead of just listened to. All that is not to say that I didn't enjoy this album because I did like this album. I think I'd only put two or three of the songs as essential to knowing the Talking Heads. Just a lot of deep cuts.
3
Sep 12 2022
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The Marshall Mathers LP
Eminem
This album aged better than the Slim Shady LP. I still find it hard to believe how into Eminem I was in middle school, I could have ended up much differently if I had kept listening to him religiously. It is a pretty good album, but I just hate the use of slurs in pretty much any music so it takes me out of it when it is just so prevalent.
3
Sep 13 2022
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She's So Unusual
Cyndi Lauper
I don't love this album that's for sure, but it is not a bad album. "Girls Just Want to Have Fun" in my opinion is one of the most overrated and overplayed songs ever. The message is good, but damn Cyndi I got it the first thousand times it was said in the song. "Time After Time" still holds up and I think it is a great timeless song. I never realized how great the bass on that song was. The bass on the album as a whole was the real highlight to me.
I think this is the perfect definition of a 3 for me. I didn't love it, but it was a nice listen that I didn't dislike. It has a couple of timeless classics (even if I was a little hard on one of them) that everybody should hear at least once. Though in reality a 3 ends up being a much more broadly assigned rank.
3
Sep 14 2022
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Fleet Foxes
Fleet Foxes
When I refreshed the page this morning and saw this album pop up on my screen I was so immensely happy. This is one of my favorite albums of all time and Fleet Foxes one of my top bands. To put it in perspective, 5 of the 11 songs are in my daily playlist (10 total by the band), and 4 made it to the playlist I made for my mom to get a better grasp on the music I love. All that to say it is an instant 5 for me and I am more than happy to give it another listen through with some long listening notes (song by song time! WOOT WOOT!).
"Sun It Rises" - I love the traditional folk vocal intro to set the pace of the album in a way. The guitar intro is fun and uplifting and the ethereal vocals on the rest of the song fit my listening style of treating the voice as an instrument and not noticing lyrics right away quite well. The outro riff gives me a almost strokes vibe.
"White Winter Hymnal" - It sounds like they are making an indie folk cover of a traditional folk song, but no its an original. I do love the Pentatonix version of this one too.
"Ragged Wood" - This is one of the best songs on the album, certainly a departure from the first two song in terms of rhythm and BPM, it plays to its favor though pulling you back in after you drift off to dreamland during "White Winter Hymnal". The bass on this song is fantastic when it is poking through in the energetic parts it is captivating and then a simple but not overbearing bass solo as it then builds instrument on instrument back to that energy. I have listened to this song 62 times according to Spotistats and have never really had the reaction I just had to the bass on that song and I processed some of the vocals in a way I hadn't before. It sounds cheesy, but that moved me. Maybe it was listening through my studio headphones instead of speakers for once but it was amazing.
"Tiger Mountain Peasant Song" - This goes back to that traditional folk sound of the doubled guitars making a harp like sound is just purely gorgeous. When they sync up for a measure or two at a time it brings the contrast of the two together. It reminds me of the composition of Simon & Garfunkel's "Scarborough Fair/Canticle". The near shouted vocals on the what I guess you could call choruses have such a visceral feeling to them.
"Quiet House" - This is probably my least favorite track on the album. It has amazing instrumentation to it especially that bass it really pulls the other parts together. The "Don't give in" section is what really throws me off, I just hear "Donkey Man" over and over again. The guitar on the outro is also very fantastic. I still really like the track just not my favorite.
"He Doesn't Know Why" - I can't quite place my finger on it but the vocals on the intro reminds me so much of another song. It has bothered me since the first time I heard this song and still does. Great song with more great instrumentation. I love the in sync rests they do just before the bridge.
"Heard Them Stirring" - I don't have too much to say about this one. It is a good filler track. I don't have strong feelings either way it is just a meditative respite in the middle of the album.
"Your Protector" - Another of my favorites. The vocal and flute intro is very gently powerful. The build of the chugging cymbal leading into the bass dig in and then an explosion of instrumentation. There is so much to dissect in this song and I love it more and more each time.
"Meadowlarks" - Another one of my lower listen count songs. I love the guitar part under the vocals. They work as two different songs in one that just fit with each other. The chorus of vocals that come in for the middle of the song are very relaxing. The song as a whole is very relaxing. A little too low energy for it to be on my everyday playlist, but I love it.
"Blue Ridge Mountains" - The song named for my favorite place on this planet. Is it my favorite for that reason or because it is just an amazing and beautiful song. A little combination. I do prefer the Blue Ridge Mountains in North Carolina but close enough. Another traditional folk sound on the intro. I close my eyes and I am taken there while listening. I can't wait to go back. It is the most beautiful and peaceful places I have ever been. Its fitting for one of the best Indie Folk albums to have a song about part of Appalachia one of the birthplaces of American music and particularly folk. Everybody should drive at least part of the Blue Ridge Parkway in their life. The rolling blue mountains for as far as the eye can see just have the most beautiful calming aspect.
"Oliver James" - Another "lowlight" of the album for me. Doesn't mean it isn't a good song I just wish it was in a different spot and it ended with the fade out of "Blue Ridge Mountains".
I was going to try to provide a little bit of an objective review at the end but that will not be possible. This is a top 10 album for me all time. It is just a beautiful indie folk album that is in my opinion and absolute must listen before you die. If for some reason you are still reading my long winded review I highly recommend that you listen to A Very Lonely Solstice by Fleet Foxes. It is one of my favorite live recorded albums I have ever heard. It certainly benefits from being recorded with no audience during COVID so not a live album in the typical way. I love this album, I love this band, I was having a stressful week and this just melted so much of my stress away.
5
Sep 15 2022
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Destroy Rock & Roll
Mylo
I'm surprised just how much I like this. I normally despise house music. This is just chill enough for me, probably those soft rock samples. Like most house music it does have really good bass synths they manage to not be overwhelming which tends to be a rarity in house. The rest of the synths find a somewhat peaceful balance too, again a rarity. It is a very very rare day when something listed as house or electronica gets higher than a two from me. The titular track is just weird, funny but very weird. Quite a few good names there (though some pronounced horribly wrong). Not sure I love that with the title itself makes me concerned. Though after reading the Wiki page about the song those both make so much more sense. But anytime you name drop my hometowns most famous band I'll like it. I have to be an REO fan by law. Though this being on the list and none of theirs being here should be against that law.
3
Sep 16 2022
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Suede
Suede
Decent album, really just more ok Britpop that good ole Bobby Dimery is obsessed with. This does fit on the better end of the britpop he put on here. The influences from The Smiths are very apparent, probably why I like this more than most Britpop. I liked it, but nothing stood out to me from it.
3
Sep 19 2022
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Buffalo Springfield Again
Buffalo Springfield
A good groovy album. Just a nice album to sit around and vibe out to. It's better than their self titled, but it is a shame that "For What It's Worth" didn't make an appearance on the list. By far their best song of course. I don't know if it quite makes the bump to a 4 star for me, but if I put it there now I'll be more likely to listen again and give it another try.
4
Sep 20 2022
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Sweet Dreams (Are Made Of This)
Eurythmics
The titular song is amazing. Past that it is just mediocre still gets the bump to a 3 because of the legendary song.
3
Sep 21 2022
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This Is Fats Domino
Fats Domino
This album is simplistic in the best way. It's very of it's time. It gives you weird nostalgia for the 50s even if you weren't alive then. Fats was great and very formative to the genre that became Rock & Roll and this belongs on the list even if it isn't as complex as later rock.
4
Sep 22 2022
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Le Tigre
Le Tigre
Very meh album. I thinks its good just nothing special. "Phanta" was probably my favorite track. "Deceptacon" is also a good track.
3
Sep 23 2022
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Ghosteen
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds
My initial reaction to opening the Wiki was "What the Fuck Rob Dimery, an Electronic album from 2019 has zero place on this list"
My sentiment remains similar, I think there are much better albums from the era that could take its place. It is not another horrible electronic album. It certainly leans more towards the Ambient genre it is listed as. The first three tracks are actually very good. It gets a little more forgettable after that. Didn't dislike the album, just not something that is a must listen. Especially considering he has four more albums on this list.
2
Sep 26 2022
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Bookends
Simon & Garfunkel
Unfortunately this is the only of Simon & Garfunkel's studio albums I don't own on vinyl and it's the first of the three on this list that I have gotten. The second I see it in a record store I will certainly be buying it. This is not my favorite of their album, but it is still a 5 star album.
"Bookends Theme" - A intro that is short and simple and sounds like a S&G instrumental track. (Reprise) - The way the note from the last song fades in. This is the instrumental at the start with the lyrics you'd expect to be there. Great way to do a reprise.
"Save the Life of My Child" - This sounds like somebody covering a S&G song. By that I mean it feels like a S&G song in the lyrics and rhythm, but after that it sounds like a psych band got their hands on it. I like it but it throws me off every time how little it feels like it belongs.
"America" - One of my favorite all time S&G tracks. Truly an all time classic and a example of perfect lyrical storytelling. I could write an essay on this song alone, but I will leave it simple and call it one of the most beautiful songs that has ever been written.
"Overs" - Definitely a deep cut in the S&G discography, a good chill out song. The guitar drives the track in the most beautifully subtle way.
"Voices of Old People" - Yeah....could have done without this one if I'm being honest. Just disconcerting. I could see this one being the reason it drops a star for some people.
"Old Friends" - Wow! I don't know that I have listened to this song with as much focus before. The strings tell a story within a story. They start more elegant and in tune with the story and lyrics and as the song goes on they become more chaotic. I also love how that last high note fades into the Theme Reprise.
"Fakin' It" - Another somewhat disconcerting start of a song. A bridge into the psychedelic folk world. It's a genre I as a folk head should like more than I do. I like psych music too which is why that confuses me even more. That aside it is still a good song.
"Punky's Dilemma" - I too wish I was Kellogg's Cornflake Paul. Not sure about the English Muffin though. I love the bass on this track. A different type of deepcut still a good one.
"Mrs. Robinson" - This song speaks for itself and is one of the greatest songs of all time. The guitar on this song is fantastic and I love trying to dissect it. Lyrically fantastic as well of course, no surprise there.
"A Hazy Shade of Winter" - The one S&G song that I think you can argue the cover version is better. The Bangles made this song their own. This is still a great version of it and yes the original, but it belongs to The Bangles.
"At the Zoo" - The walking bass line does a great job of driving the song from the background. There is so much going on that grabs your attention. The bass pokes through that haze but doesn't overpower any of it.
An immaculate album indeed. Not their best, but contains some of their best songs. An all time classic and certainly a must hear.
5
Sep 27 2022
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James Brown Live At The Apollo
James Brown
Very few people can command a stage quite like James Brown could. And literally nobody I've ever heard before could translate it so well to a live recording. And damn is the audio quality great on this for a live album from 1963! Great performer, great artist, great album!
4
Sep 28 2022
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Locust Abortion Technician
Butthole Surfers
The teenage boy inside of me really wants to love a band named Butthole Surfers, I just don't though. Noise Rock is just not my thing. "Human Cannonball" sounds more like a classic Punk track and is probably my favorite. It's an album that I get why some people like it and the name of the band is just awesome, just not my thing.
2
Sep 29 2022
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Bitte Orca
Dirty Projectors
I really love parts of this and then others get too experimental for my tastes and the noise rock aspects are overbearing. "Two Doves" was my favorite song from the album. Overall the bass was very good throughout the album.
3
Sep 30 2022
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The Beach Boys Today!
The Beach Boys
An album of Beach Boys deep cuts. I mean it is still a good album, but it's just not an amazing album. I do like it more than Surf's Up which I also thought was a strange inclusion when neither of their first two albums got a spot. The influence of those two albums on Surf Rock and then the influence of Surf Rock on so many other genres makes me so confused as to why they didn't get a spot. The leading single on both of those albums have more streams by themselves than this entire album totaled. I however won't disagree with the inclusion of Pet Sounds. Good album just not anything more than a 3 star to me.
3
Oct 03 2022
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Arrival
ABBA
I'm not the biggest fan of ABBA, but this is a pretty damn good album. "Dancing Queen" of course deserves the legacy it has earned. My other favorite songs are "Arrival" and "Fernando"
4
Oct 04 2022
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Cloud Nine
The Temptations
A good album over all and really good bass. It just is all deep cuts and not really anything too special. I like the Temptations, but there are other albums that belong on here over this.
3
Oct 05 2022
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Out of Step
Minor Threat
GOOD FUCKING PUNK!
Without the 80s punk scene in Arlington, Virginia and Washington D.C., Nirvana would not have been what it was. The Foo Fighters wouldn't exist and music would be a different world than what we know now.
I am a much bigger fan of MacKaye's work on this than I was on Fugazzi when that came up for me. Good album that I was happy to listen to.
4
Oct 12 2022
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Space Ritual
Hawkwind
Interesting album, but after awhile it just drags on and on and on.
3
Oct 13 2022
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...Baby One More Time
Britney Spears
Basic and Overrated.
2
Oct 14 2022
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Is This It
The Strokes
Instant 5 Star album!
"Is This It" - A good LoFi sounding indie song with a very rounded bass sound that cuts through the faded sound of the rest of the song quite well.
"The Modern Age" - A good song but certainly not my favorite on the album.
"Soma" - I think this is a bit of an underrated song on the album. A very good intro though the rest leaves a tiny bit to be desired.
"Barely Legal" - A really good song and I like the guitar on the bridge and the bass work. The chorus guitar work is not my favorite though.
"Someday" - My personal favorite song on the album. It is an all time classic indie rock song that I listen to on a regular basis.
"Alone, Together" - In terms of deep cut tracks this is the one I would say is the best.
"Last Nite" - Another all time indie rock classic. While the most popular it is not the best to me. It is a great song with so much good energy to it.
"Hard To Explain" - My number 2 track on the album I would say. It is nice and bouncy making for a good listen.
"New York City Cops" - A good song that has a wonderfully accurate political message to it that sadly is still too accurate 21 years later.
"Trying Your Luck" - This is a lot more chill than the rest of the album which is also a good thing for me. It is one of the tracks that I notice more of the lyricism on. Also really good sounding bass and a nice chunky guitar tone.
"Take It Or Leave It" - Good song, but not my personal favorite song but has good energy. I would like it more a little higher in the track listing to end the album on the chill of the previous track, but that's just personal preference.
An all time classic album and one of my personal favorites!
5
Oct 17 2022
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Soul Mining
The The
This was a good album. It was very intriguing to me I heard a lot of things I like and I look forward to listening to it again to try to pick out even more interesting sections.
4
Oct 18 2022
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Modern Kosmology
Jane Weaver
Why the hell is this on the list? My issues with Rob Dimery are really highlighted by his modern additions to his list. I feel like I could make the most dogshit Britpop-Electronica crossover album of all time and he would add it to the list without a second thought.
The Search For Everything - John Mayer
The Nashville Sound - Jason Isbell & the 400 Unit
Capacity - Big Thief
DAMN. - Kendrick Lamar
Stranger in the Alps - Phoebe Bridgers
Those are just 5 albums released in 2017 that aren't included on this list but absolutely deserve a spot on this list over another mediocre unheard of album. I could probably include more from that year but my point stand with those 5.
I did not hate the album so I am being a little harsh. I would listen to any of those 5 albums 10 times each before I replayed this one though. Its a 2 star album because I'm pissed about the disrespected albums, but it might deserve a 3 if I was in a different mood.
2
Oct 19 2022
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The Yes Album
Yes
A very formative band to prog rock and music as a whole just not really my type of music. But I do really have to appreciate the arrangements on it and just how good some of the guitar is.
3
Oct 20 2022
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Murmur
R.E.M.
Not R.E.M.'s best album but still a great album. "Radio Free Europe" is certainly the highlight of the album. It is a lot more chill of an album, while not what I think of when I think of R.E.M. I enjoy their softer side.
4
Oct 21 2022
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Born To Be With You
Dion
I really have nothing to say, this is just a very ok album. Not good not bad, but I don't want to give it anything more than a 2 star rating.
2
Oct 24 2022
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If You're Feeling Sinister
Belle & Sebastian
Chill indie music, just not the greatest.
3
Oct 25 2022
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In Utero
Nirvana
All Nirvana studio albums are deservingly 5 star albums, and I cannot wait to get to the Unplugged album on the list that is one of the greatest live albums of all time. And so it is also time for a song by song review.
"Serve The Servants" - Not bad but just a week intro track for what lies deeper within the album.
"Scentless Apprentice" - This is where I could see a lot of people turning off the album because they don't have the patience to go further, not a good song.
"Heart Shaped Box" - Not only one of the greatest Nirvana songs of all time, just straight up one of the greatest songs of all time. Its musically speaking one of their more complex songs and lyrically is just a magnificently complex and painful love song. Or about cancer, but even if Cobain himself said that is what it is about, I just doubt it.
"Rape Me" - Made sure to turn the volume down on this one before it started. Don't need the neighbors asking questions. It is an amazing song despite not being one you can blast in public. It is a classic feminist track at this point and while crude gets the message across.
"Frances Farmer Will Have Her Revenge On Seattle" - Holy hell is that a long song title. This is certainly as much of a filler song as the two opening tracks, but certainly in a more classic Nirvana tone that is much more digestible. Very painful and somewhat concerningly relatable lyrics.
"Dumb" - Whether you believe Cobain's interpretation of his song or the one his daughters interpretation 21 years after his death the meaning is sad and relatable. There are many people I can place in his description that I am just confused but oddly jealous of their contentment in life. But I personally relate to the outer view more always working to progress myself and become a better person every day. But it's not always easy sometimes I just want to space out and let the world go by around me and just be happy. His daughter's feelings towards the song are also relatable to the feelings of inadequacy I sometimes feel. A great song that has so much to think about despite its simplicity.
"Very Ape" - It is filler, but pretty good filler at that. Nothing more to say really.
"Milk It" - I think it must be the bass, but I just really enjoy this song. It doesn't quite feel like a Nirvana song but more of the later side of darker grunge music. I like that side of grunge too but usually think there is more separation between the eras.
"Pennyroyal Tea" - Another great Nirvana sounding somewhat filler track. The vocals also somewhat remind me of Chris Cornell, though very much so same genre same era.
"Radio Friendly Unit Shifter" - Just more filler. All I really have to say.
"Tourette's" - This is what I call bad filler. But really the only bad song on the album.
"All Apologies" - Maybe one of my favorite Nirvana songs. Just a great track. So beautiful and expressed with so much pain behind it.
All around one of the greatest albums of all time and certainly very deserving of a place on this list. One of my all time favorites too.
5
Oct 26 2022
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Oracular Spectacular
MGMT
A great album that was very of its time in the ironic way they intended. "Time to Pretend", "Electric Feel", and "Kids" have become cultural icons in music. The Youtube channel Middle 8 did a wonderful video essay on the band that I recommend to anybody that enjoys this album. "Weekend Wars" was a highlight track that I never noticed in my first few listens of this album, great bass and interesting melodies on that song.
4
Oct 27 2022
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Power In Numbers
Jurassic 5
This is a pretty damn good hip hop album. I love Jurassic 5's collaborations with Dave Matthews as well.
4
Oct 28 2022
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Nowhere
Ride
Decent shoegaze but there are significantly better albums in the genre. The highlights for me were "In a Different Place", "Polar Bear", "Decay", and "Vapour Trail" the last of those being the only one I knew before today. Good album but just not super special to me.
3
Oct 31 2022
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Pretzel Logic
Steely Dan
I love the instrumentation on this album a lot. I don't love Fagen's vocals on this album. Though I did really love his solo album. I think I am going to give this the bump to a 4 just because I enjoyed it a lot more than I expected. I highly recommend watching Polyphonic's YouTube video "Steely Dan: More Than Just a Band" if you want to learn more about Steely Dan. My favorite songs were "Rikki Don't Lose That Number", "Any Major Dude Will Tell You, and the titular track. Overall a really good album with amazing bass and drums.
4
Nov 01 2022
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Pretenders
Pretenders
Decent punk, decent new wave. Doesn't do either great though. It is a good album to just have on in the background.
3
Nov 02 2022
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My Aim Is True
Elvis Costello
Elvis Costello is just one of those artists where I respect him and his work, but it just is not my thing. "Alison" is a great track, but other than that it kinda falls flat.
3
Nov 03 2022
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Surrealistic Pillow
Jefferson Airplane
Jefferson Airplane's impact on music is far greater than their actual music. This is by no means a bad album in fact it is a damn good album. I just don't think it gets the bump to a 4 or 5 star album for me. My top tracks were "She Has Funny Cars" and "Somebody to Love" the latter being the one that nearly bumped it to a 4 in my book.
3
Nov 04 2022
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Abraxas
Santana
If I don't give the album containing "Black Magic Woman" a 5 I would be insulting all guitar players. Santana is a God among men on the guitar. I still always find it hard to believe though that Fleetwood Mac wrote the song. "Oye Como Va" is another all time classic. My other highlights are "Incident at Neshabur" and "Samba Pa Ti" I could say more but its Santana and he speaks well enough for himself.
5
Nov 07 2022
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Ten
Pearl Jam
A legendary album! An all time classic that deserves a 5 instantly. So song by song time.
"Once" - A great grunge track that just rocks!
"Even Flow" - This one speaks for itself. That intro riff is one any self respecting music fan knows from the first second. The one thing I have always wanted from this song was more bass in the mix. Other than that it is a perfect song.
"Alive" - Another perfect song. I can't quite put it into words, but the song just speaks to you and it's impactful on many levels. Also a legendary guitar solo, one of the all time greats in an all time great song.
"Why Go" - This song makes up for the bass that is missing on the first few tracks. Certainly a deeper cut on the album, but it is still is a good song.
"Black" - For a grunge song from a grunge band it is just so melodic and beautiful. Vocally and lyrically it is also particularly gorgeous. If you close your eyes and let the song take you on a ride it is absolutely worth it. And good bass that sits too low in the mix.
"Jeremy" - Another guitar intro that everybody should instantly recognize. I love where the bass sits in this song in addition to great guitar and drums. It is also lyrically complex and sad.
"Oceans" - This is where we get to the more deep cut tracks. I don't have strong feelings either way on it really. The lyrics/vocal style take me out of it a little bit. Good instrumentation though.
"Porch" - For a deeper cut on the album it is a great song. I think the more uptempo energy of it is a bit off-putting compared to the rest of the album.
"Garden" - More good instrumentation with mediocre lyrics and vocals. It also contains a good guitar solo that I quite enjoyed.
"Deep" - Not bad just by a decent margin the worst song on the album.
"Release" - This is a good outro song. I love downtempo songs to end an album and this serves the job perfectly. Don't know that I love the hidden track though.
All in all this is one of the all time great albums. The back half is slightly disappointing given just how great the front half is. The front half automatically solidifies it as a 5 star album though. I will always enjoy giving this album another listen.
5
Nov 08 2022
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People's Instinctive Travels and the Paths of Rhythm
A Tribe Called Quest
Man Q-Tip is just so much better on a project than he is in his solo work. Also when he is in the booth he thrives, man can produce the hell out of an album. This is an amazing hip-hop album and I look forward to listening to their second album when it comes up for me. The bass on this album was amazing. My top tracks were "Push It Along", "Luck of Lucien", "I Left My Wallet in El Segundo", "Can I Kick It?", and "Youthful Expression" the second to last of those being my favorite. Great Album!
4
Nov 09 2022
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Aja
Steely Dan
Good album with good instrumentation. I just didn't like it as much as Pretzel Logic or Fagen's solo album The Nightfly. I liked the album, but I do not see myself returning to it later.
3
Nov 10 2022
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Harvest
Neil Young
I can't not give this album 5 stars. It is an all time classic and foundational to so much music. Especially a lot of the bands that I love. Every song is good but my personal favorites are; "Out on the Weekend", "Harvest", "Heart of Gold" (My number one on here and an all time great song), "Old Man", and "The Needle and the Damage Done".
An all time great album from an all time great artist. I would much rather have Neil Young on Spotify than Joe Rogan, but unfortunately they don't feel the same.
5
Nov 11 2022
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Smash
The Offspring
A classic formative pop punk album for sure. I think there are better albums in the genre and era and even from the band. The top tracks for me were; "Gotta Get Away" (which sounds like it should be a Nirvana song at the start), "Come Out and Play", and "Self Esteem". I think for me it gets the nostalgia boost to a 4 star rating, but I do think there are some much better albums from that year that are missing from the list.
4
Nov 14 2022
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We Are Family
Sister Sledge
This is a damn groovy album! I just love good bass work on any album and this is some damn exceptional bass work. And of course the titular track is an all time classic. "He's the Greatest Dancer" has to be my favorite song on the album though.
4
Nov 15 2022
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Led Zeppelin III
Led Zeppelin
I think of the numbered Led Zeppelin album this is probably my least favorite. "Immigrant Song" is such a strong opener, but other than "Since I've Been Loving You" the rest of the album falls somewhat flat for me. I know that'll disappoint any hardcore Zeppelin fans but oh well.
3
Jan 17 2023
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Bluesbreakers
John Mayall & The Bluesbreakers
A pretty good blues album. Nothing more to say about it really.
3
Jan 18 2023
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American Idiot
Green Day
Didn't even have to think about my choice for a second. Instant 5 star album!
American Idiot: A great opening and titular track. A classic song that when listened to right is a wonderful protest song, and when listened to wrong becomes a beautiful form of irony.
Jesus of Suburbia: While the song doesn't compare to it's inspiration in terms of sound or legacy, it is a damn good song, that even at 9 minutes and 8 seconds long doesn't drag.
Holiday: If the fact that this is a protest album hadn't set in yet this track has to make it apparent.
Boulevard of Broken Dreams: This track really just speaks for itself. It is one that stands on its own as its single and while I don't mind the message behind the album it is nice to have a less political song.
Are We the Waiting: I think this song is super underrated just a nice melodic break in the middle of the punk.
St. Jimmy: Good classic punk sound for the first half and more rock opera like at the end. Not my favorite but good.
Give Me Novacaine: Also very underrated, I like melodies and I will not apologize for it. I love punk and pop punk but they could benefit from more melodic parts sometimes.
She's a Rebel: Not bad just not that special of a song on this good of an album.
Extraordinary Girl: This is probably the weakest song on the album, just nothing special about it.
Letterbomb: I like this song a lot, but I get why it isn't as popular.
Wake Me Up When September Ends: I mean it is the all time classic song. It is just such a damn good song. Though I hate the memes that get made from it and the annoying commenters that "inform" everybody what it is about even though we all already know.
Homecoming: This tries to do everything that "Jesus of Suburbia" did, but it just doesn't quite do it as well. It is supposed to be the wrap up to the story and it does have a lot of resolve to it, just not as much of a hitter on its own.
Whatsername: Just a nice closing song to a great album!
I love Green Day I love this album! Green Day was my first ever concert and I went with my Mom. Will forever be one of my favorite memories! This album is a 5 in so many ways and just never gets old. As a concept album and as a album with great singles it excels. Polyphonic on YouTube has a great video breaking down this album.
5
Jan 19 2023
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Highway 61 Revisited
Bob Dylan
I love folk but damn do I just not like Dylan. The pre-Royal Albert Hall (1966 tour in general) era of Dylan is a lot more tolerable than his later work. Though better his voice is still whiny on this album and just wrecks what are admittedly really good songs at their core. And for the love of GOD if Dylan just never found the harmonica I might actually like some of his music.
I like this album more than most of Dylan and "Like a Rolling Stone" is an all time classic of course. And like most Dylan, it has fantastic lyricism and instrumentation, but I just would like all of these songs better covered by somebody else. I am overly harsh to Dylan and I think it would get a 3 or 4 depending on a different artist, but he gets a 2 today.
2
Jan 20 2023
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The Next Day
David Bowie
This feels like it's just on here because it is a Bowie album. It really isn't anything more than mediocre, especially when you compare it to the body of work that Bowie is known for. Just let the good Bowie albums speak for themselves and don't focus on the mediocre albums.
3
Jan 23 2023
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Black Sabbath
Black Sabbath
Certainly a formative album to the genre of Heavy Metal, but the genre isn't really my thing to begin with nor is it particularly exciting compared to others in the genre. Great guitar as to be expected. Not too bad of an album all together though. I did however skip out on the two unavailable songs.
3
Jan 24 2023
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1989
Taylor Swift
You just can't really hate on T-Swizzle. The amount of time she's been in the public scene and hasn't gone absolutely crazy is just impressive. "Blank Space" and "Shake It Off" captured the cultural zeitgeist for long enough that even the most adamant "Taylor sucks" fans will find themselves humming along. And while I wouldn't say I'm a Taylor fan, or even that this is her best album, I found myself knowing all the words to "Style", "Bad Blood", and "Wildest Dreams" This album is a solid 4 star for me. As much as I will shit on Taylor for co-opting the Indie Folk genre, I know I will likely give her a 5 star for Evermore. She is just a great artist that gets a lot of hate because she's popular, though she deserves the hate for her private jet usage.
4
Jan 25 2023
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The Joshua Tree
U2
Sure you can argue what the best U2 album is, but if you are arguing any album other than this one then I'm afraid that you are just wrong. Easy 5 star album. I would normally do a song by song review, but today I'm just not in the mood. It deserves one and I'll get around to it when the edit feature comes around.
U2 is one of the two bands that I instantly associate with my Dad. I have so many good memories of listening to U2 in the house while I was growing up. The opening three songs are all time classics that instantly cemented this album's legacy. And tracks like "Bullet The Blue Sky", "Running To Stand Still", and "In God's Country" are all amazing tracks in their own right and just bolster the album's resume. And even the less popular songs on the album are pretty good.
5
Jan 26 2023
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Survivor
Destiny's Child
There are certainly far worse albums on this list, and far worse albums with disappointingly better global ratings. That being said, I just have never really bought into the Beyoncé hype. I think she is a good singer and certainly very damn attractive, but just not as good as the overwhelming hype she gets every time a single word leaves her mouth. The first three tracks have all become classics, the titular song having gained an unintentional but extremely powerful message behind it. All in all it is a very mediocre album that even though it isn't my thing I can at least understand why it made the list.
3
Jan 27 2023
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Calenture
The Triffids
This is a very interesting album. I am not exactly sure what to think of it. I certainly hear the Nick Cave influences in this album, I also hear a bit of Scott Walker at times. I do really enjoy it, but like when I got my first Scott Walker album on the list, I just have a hard time actually digesting it. I think it will get a 4 from me today and a revisit at a later date. Pretty good album.
4
Jan 30 2023
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White Blood Cells
The White Stripes
Jack White is a musical genius. This is a damn good album. Though I would say as far as his discography goes this falls fairly middle of the road. My top tracks in order are; "Fell in Love with a Girl", "Dead Leaves And The Dirty Ground", "I Think I Smell A Rat", and "We're Going To Be Friends". Though I do not think there is a bad song on the album. Great album, just not quite a 5 star when I compare it to other White Stripes albums.
4
Jan 31 2023
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Surfer Rosa
Pixies
When all you really know from Pixies is "Where Is My Mind?" this album is a bit of a surprise. That's not to say I'm complaining, I love me some grungy punk like this. The aforementioned song is by far the best on the album it is a damn all time great track! Other standout tracks are "Broken Face", "Gigantic", "Cactus", and "Tony's Theme" the last of those being a very fun song.
3
Feb 01 2023
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Hybrid Theory
Linkin Park
I mean I know it is a formative album and "In The End" is an all time classic song. But I just can't get into Nu Metal. I don't know what I want to give it, but the aforementioned song is making me lean towards bumping it up to a 3 star.
3
Feb 02 2023
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Rattlesnakes
Lloyd Cole And The Commotions
This album is a lot to process. Cole cited Bob Dylan directly as an influence, and while I don't hear this as much in the sound, I can tell from the lyricism. The good thing is the one thing I actually like about Dylan is his lyrics, I can't stand his whine or the egregious use of harmonica, but he can write a damn good song. He also cites Booker T. & the M.G.'s, which for that to be mentioned by name seems heavy for the one song I recognize their influence on. I might be mistaken, but I hear quite a bit of Elvis Costello's influence on the album, if the band name didn't hint at the like of him. I also get a bit of Nick Cave in the first half of the album, and if naming conventions do mean anything to this band, it also tracks.
All that wordiness behind me I do like the album, not sure if I'd give it another listen or if it is a "Must Hear", but it's good.
3
Feb 03 2023
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Let It Be
The Replacements
I had to listen to this one twice before I rated it, and I'm still not sure what to give it. It is at its core pretty good post-punk with some shining moments of great. But it is also a surprisingly socially progressive album that I quite liked. But kinda half zoning out my first listen and then suddenly being bombarded with chants of "Gary's Got A Boner" was shocking. I think it gets a 4 because with that I'm more likely to go back and give it an additional listen.
4
Feb 06 2023
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Abbey Road
Beatles
I means its Abbey Road by The Beatles, need I say anymore?
I don't but I will anyway. "Come Together" is just a perfect song that I never tire of. "Something" is also a perfect track, one so good that Harrison thought he must have heard the melody and stolen it accidently. You can thank James Taylor for the intro line and George getting the motivation for finishing the song. "Octopus's Garden" might be one of the stranger Beatles songs, especially on this album, but it is such a damn good song. "I Want You (She's So Heavy)" might be some of McCartney's best bass work, and the rest of the track was, well, heavy and dark and just groovy as hell. "Here Comes The Sun" is yet another perfect song on this album, the contrast of the bright optimistic tone of this song in comparison to the prior song is the best way to open up the back half of the album.
I can admit that the back half of the album is a little weak, but that doesn't take away from it being a 5 star album. The sheer number of time this album cover has been recreated should immediately qualify it, I would venture to say this is the most recreated album cover of all time. Fantastic album by an obviously fantastic band. Justifiably the highest rated album on the website.
5
Feb 07 2023
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Debut
Björk
I just can't do Björk. I do not get how this album has a 3.42 star global rating. I hate all things electronica and Dimery's fascination with the genre constantly frustrates me. Her voice just annoys me and it isn't even bolstered by that impactful of lyrics. The shrieking just makes me want to turn it off the entire time. The vocals are horrendous and the music is just as mediocre barring a couple small shining moments. This just fits what I need for an album to get a 1 star rating. I wanted to turn it off the entire time. I was tempted to bump it up to a 2 for the importance, but I just can't betray the pain my ears went through for the last 48 and a half minutes.
1
Feb 08 2023
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Superfly
Curtis Mayfield
Good and Groovy! Just a fun listen.
3
Feb 09 2023
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xx
The xx
It's good chill vibey Indie Rock and I love that type of music so I enjoyed this album a lot. It won't be everybody's cup of tea I'm sure, but I will return to this album a couple times.
4
Feb 10 2023
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American Pie
Don McLean
The album as a whole is just pretty ok. But the titular track and "Vincent" are all time classics and I know every single word of both. Other highlights for me were "Till Tomorrow" and "The Grave". All together I am putting it down as a 4, but the two tracks I mentioned first are both 10/5 star songs. I sat down with a glass of rye while listening, it just felt right.
4
Feb 13 2023
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The Village Green Preservation Society
The Kinks
A pretty good album. I enjoy this era of The Kinks quite a bit.
4
Feb 14 2023
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I Never Loved a Man the Way I Love You
Aretha Franklin
It's Aretha, anything below a 4 would be criminal. "Respect" is by far the best song on the album and by a slimmer margin the best in her catalogue. I didn't like this album quite as much as Lady Soul, but this is still a damn good album. Other highlights for me were "Soul Serenade", "Baby, Baby, Baby", "Save Me", and "A Change is Gonna Come". All in all a great album from an all time LEGEND.
5
Feb 15 2023
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Strangeways, Here We Come
The Smiths
Fuck Morrissey!
Ok that out of the way, I do fucking love The Smiths. It is a bit disappointing to me that their self titled never made the list, I do prefer it to this one. I'm still giving this a 4 though because it is still so good. "Stop Me If You Think You've Heard This One Before" is my favorite song on the album. "Girlfriend in a Coma" is also a good track and as a single guy getting this album on Valentine's Day it is a bit funny to listen to that song. And funny enough I listened to the album and The Queen Is Dead this past Thursday because I was craving some good Andy Rourke bass lines. They aren't the most impressive, but they are catchy and distinct.
4
Feb 16 2023
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Wild Gift
X
I don't know what to think of this album. It just goes in so many different directions that I just can't grasp it. I do like it, but it's hard to listen to top to bottom.
3
Feb 17 2023
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I See A Darkness
Bonnie "Prince" Billy
I am hesitant to ever deem myself an "expert" on any given topic, the genre of Indie Folk is one where I feel somewhat comfortable making that claim on. While William Oldham's works and this album are formative to the genre, he just isn't one that hit the mainstream music scene with the same impact as Elliott Smith's works, or later Bon Iver, Sufjan Stevens, and Fleet Foxes' works did. Its honestly disappointing because I do really enjoy this album. I can certainly hear things that Phoebe Bridgers and Julien Baker picked up more from him than Smith or Stevens. I had a very surface level knowledge of Oldham and I look forward to diving deeper.
As somebody who is in love with this genre and did enjoy this album I will be giving it a 4 and giving it a few more listens. If I am looking at it from a more objective position I don't necessarily think it deserves a place on the list, but does deserve at least a 3 global rating.
4
Feb 20 2023
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The Clash
The Clash
Just a good classic and formative punk album. I don't think it quite holds up to London Calling, but it's still great.
4
Feb 21 2023
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Superunknown
Soundgarden
Chris Cornell is a musical god. I love everything the man ever did and I will always wish that I had gotten the chance to see him before he died.
This is just a perfect album, "Fell On Black Days" is the third most popular song on the album, but is by far my favorite on the album. "The Day I Tried To Live" would be my second favorite. "Black Hole Sun" and "Spoonman" are obviously fantastic as well.
It's just great. I want to talk more about it, but when I get too deep into the lyrics and symbolism of this album it makes me a little sad. I just can't praise the artistry and lyricism of Chris Cornell enough. He was a master of music and is dearly missed. Easily a 5 star album!
5
Feb 22 2023
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Bright Flight
Silver Jews
This is one of those just "why?" albums for me. I don't dislike it, but I don't think it is a must hear. It's just mediocre and boring even for a guy that likes chill indie rock music. The vocals just don't do it for me either, his voice is just too "Tom Waitsy" for me. I don't like it and I don't hate it. I just don't think it belongs on the list. It isn't bad enough to earn a 1 but a 2 star is about where I'm feeling.
2
Feb 23 2023
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Sister
Sonic Youth
Good album just not as good as Daydream Nation.
3
Feb 24 2023
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Low-Life
New Order
Not my favorite New Order work. Still a good album that I enjoyed. Just nothing too special for me.
3
Feb 27 2023
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Shaft
Isaac Hayes
Great and Groovy!
4
Feb 28 2023
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The Cars
The Cars
Good formative New Wave album. Top songs for me were "Good Times Roll", "Just What I Needed", & "Moving in Stereo" all of which I did know prior.
3
Mar 01 2023
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Fire Of Love
The Gun Club
It's good, just nothing too special
3
Mar 02 2023
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Marcus Garvey
Burning Spear
Maybe it's just because I'm stoned as hell, but I love me some reggae. Pretty good album!
4
Mar 03 2023
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Dare!
The Human League
It is pretty decent new wave. Not my favorite from the genre, but in the range of new wave it earns its keep. "I Am The Law" was my top song outside of the closing track. Speaking of the last track, it is fucking amazing and bumps this from a 3 to a 4 star album for me. At the start I wasn't sure if it would make it there, but damn "Don't You Want Me" is an amazing track.
4
Mar 06 2023
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Live At The Regal
B.B. King
It's B.B. King! He is the GOAT. This is a very well done live album in comparison to many. Just great blues and a nice calm listen. I just love B.B.
4
Mar 07 2023
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Elastica
Elastica
It's a good post punk album and I liked listening to it. I tend to lean more towards grunge in the world of "Punk inspired genres", so I'm a little surprised how much I liked it.
3
Mar 08 2023
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The Downward Spiral
Nine Inch Nails
I shouldn't like this album just based on genre. But I was to some extent raised on Nine Inch Nails. My mo has been sideside at Lollapalooza when they were playing. "March Of The Pigs", "Closer", and "Hurt" are my favorite songs on the album. The last of which most people forget Reznor wrote, I drop that fact nearly anytime somebody mentions the Johnny Cash version (which is amazing). Best industrial rock album there is.
4
Mar 09 2023
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The Healer
John Lee Hooker
Decent blues.
3
Mar 10 2023
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Fulfillingness' First Finale
Stevie Wonder
It's Stevie! I could listen to him all day everyday and just chill out. This doesn't stick out as much as some of his other albums, but it's still great.
4
Mar 13 2023
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A Girl Called Dusty
Dusty Springfield
She has a great voice and it really shows itself on her versions of "You Don't Own Me", "My Colouring Book", and "Anyone Who Had A Heart". And as a Carole King die hard I appreciate the faithful rendition of her writing. I really did enjoy this album, it's simple but that's it's strength.
4
Mar 14 2023
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The Köln Concert
Keith Jarrett
Very good for a live album, very good for a Jazz album, and very very good piano. It starts to drag at times, but quickly overcomes that hurdle by switching moods completely. All in all I really enjoyed listening to this cross faded as hell.
4
Mar 15 2023
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Maxwell's Urban Hang Suite
Maxwell
Just a good groovy album, I'm just a sucker for some good bass. I also love hearing some tight envelope filter on "Dancewitme". I enjoyed this a lot more than I was expecting too. Great way to end my night.
4
Mar 16 2023
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Strange Cargo III
William Orbit
As far as electronic music goes this is not bad. Maybe Dimery shoving a million electronic albums down my throat is opening me up to them. Or maybe it's the hip hop aspect that gives it more favor to my ears. Still don't really love it though.
2
Mar 17 2023
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Come Find Yourself
Fun Lovin' Criminals
It's ok, just not my thing.
3
Mar 20 2023
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Apocalypse 91… The Enemy Strikes Black
Public Enemy
Good meaningful album, just not really my style.
3
Mar 21 2023
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Liquid Swords
GZA
It's a good album and I enjoyed it, but I just don't understand it.
I'll give it another listen at some point when I have a better grasp of Wu Tang in general.
3
Mar 22 2023
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Rid Of Me
PJ Harvey
Admittedly this was better than the first of her albums that I got. Still not the biggest fan, but it's not bad. Very musically strong, Harvey's voice is not something I just can't get behind.
3
Mar 23 2023
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Live!
Fela Kuti
Zombie was the 8th album that I got from this project and I have touted Fela Kuti to anybody since that has expressed interest in anything similar to Afrobeat. Here at #257 I still enjoy the style a lot.
I normally don't enjoy live albums, but this is recorded quite well and makes it worth listening to. It was a good album and I want to keep listening to more from Fela Kuti.
4
Mar 24 2023
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Moving Pictures
Rush
I mean it is just a classic. "Tom Sawyer" is an all time great song and the rest of the album is super solid as well. Neil Peart is one of my favorite drummers of all time and this album just shows off his talents so well. "XYZ" shows off some insane bass shredding and makes me as a bass player want to bow down even further to Geddy than I already do. And I feel bad at this point for not mentioning Alex Lifeson so I will, dude can play! This is just a great album.
4
Mar 27 2023
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Made In Japan
Deep Purple
I like Deep Purple and I like most of these songs, I just am vehemently against 99% of live albums. Just not essentials.
2
Mar 28 2023
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Appetite For Destruction
Guns N' Roses
It holds up!
Though I was born 14 years after the album was released this is one of the albums that is quintessential to my musical journey. In middle school I attached myself to this album and yes admittedly more the three all time classics than anything else on it. It is the album that first got my into slightly heavier and louder music, which is a far cry from my typical daily listen these days. But it was also the album and more specifically the song "Sweet Child O' Mine" that made me want to learn to play guitar. Though I never have learned that damn solo I still play and am constantly thankful that this album got me started in playing music. Of course "Welcome To The Jungle", "Paradise City", and "Sweet Child O' Mine" are by far the best songs on the album, but "Nightrain" and "Mr. Brownstone" are also amazing songs.
Realistically I do think this album falls more in the range of a 4 for me, but it's importance to my musical journey makes it hard for me to not bump it up to a 5.
5
Mar 29 2023
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Bone Machine
Tom Waits
What the fuck is wrong with people who like Tom Waits!
1
Mar 30 2023
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Savane
Ali Farka Touré
Very interesting, the mix of traditional blues with some local styles and instruments is good. Don't know that it would be a repeat listen for me, but I like it
3
Mar 31 2023
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A Love Supreme
John Coltrane
The list has really opened me up a bit more to jazz than I was willing to tolerate before. This is still a little much for me, modal anything is just hard to get into unless you are a different level of music nerd. I can appreciate what it is, but it's just not for me.
2
Apr 03 2023
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Deja Vu
Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young
Not their best album, but it is really good. "Teach Your Children", "Helpless", & "Our House" are the top songs on the album. "4 + 20" I like just cause 420. All together a good, but not necessarily great album.
4
Apr 04 2023
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Shake Your Money Maker
The Black Crowes
Fairly mediocre late 80s/early 90s rock. Not bad, not great, just good.
3
Apr 05 2023
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Are You Experienced
Jimi Hendrix
I am a guitar player, and as per the code of the ax wielders I must always bow down and pray to the good lord above Jimi! Man was just a magician, even his more simplistic playing you just can't replicate without his fingers. There is also some damn good bass and drum playing as well. Excellent album top to bottom and this is absolutely an album that you must hear.
5
Apr 06 2023
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Mott
Mott The Hoople
Just sounds like they took the only bad aspects of Bowie and amplified them to the max.
2
Apr 07 2023
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Architecture And Morality
Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark
Synth-Pop just isn't my thing. This isn't bad though, it is just kinda peaceful. Really great band name though!
3
Apr 10 2023
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New York Dolls
New York Dolls
Good punk with a good progressive message. It leans a bit too heavy towards the glam side for my taste in punk, but I like it.
3
Apr 11 2023
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Tea for the Tillerman
Cat Stevens
It's always a good day on this website when I get to listen to one of these albums on vinyl. Today is one of those days, this was 29th album I bought when I started collecting. It's just a great album! "Wild World" and "Father and Son" are all time classic songs and the latter has made many a strong man cry! It is a constant debate for me if this or Teaser and the Firecat are the better album, either way both are great! It's a disappointment that one isn't on the list.
4
Apr 12 2023
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E.V.O.L.
Sonic Youth
I like it, but I just can't believe there are 5 total Sonic Youth albums on here. Daydream Nation absolutely deserves its spot, but I'm not as sold on the rest. That being said I don't dread the last two of their albums I still have coming because I do like them. Just not necessarily must hears.
3
Apr 13 2023
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Gold
Ryan Adams
I just do not know what to think of this album. I really like it at times and then a moment later I just couldn't care less. Just mediocre.
3
Apr 14 2023
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Exile On Main Street
The Rolling Stones
Kinda falls flat for me as far as Stones albums go. Not bad, just not great.
3
Apr 17 2023
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Permission to Land
The Darkness
It's not bad, it's just not my thing.
2
Apr 18 2023
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Rio
Duran Duran
There's a lot of good New Wave and there's a lot of bad New Wave. This is among the best of New Wave.
"Rio", "Hungry Like the Wolf", and "Save A Prayer" are of course extreme classics, maybe a bit overplayed for the first two but still great. "Lonely in Your Nightmare" is a very underrated song on the album, "New Religion" has some fantastic bass playing on it, as does "Last Chance On The Stairway". All together I really like this album and it is deserving of the 5 stars it's getting from me.
5
Apr 19 2023
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Signing Off
UB40
It is good progressive reggae music. It has a good message behind it and is groovy as hell. A good listen!
4
Apr 20 2023
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Arc Of A Diver
Steve Winwood
Not bad background music, not something I'll choose to listen to again.
2
Apr 21 2023
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Figure 8
Elliott Smith
I got this two days after its 23rd anniversary!
Elliott Smith is one of my favorite musicians. Aside from him just being a masterful songwriter himself, he is the main inspiration for many of my top artists such as Sufjan Stevens and Phoebe Bridgers. This however I think is my least favorite of his albums, I would have placed XO on the list over it, but I'm glad Either/Or made the cut. I don't dislike it it's just not the 5 that his other albums are. Elliott's impact on me and the rest of my favorite artists makes this an automatic 4 star album for me.
4
Apr 24 2023
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Chirping Crickets
Buddy Holly & The Crickets
Just good classic Rock-and-Roll!
It's not anything special, but when you compare it to the music of its time you realize that it was a much more important and progressive than you'd think. Everybody has to like Buddy Holly just a little bit, Rivers Cuomo wrote a whole song about looking just like him. Jokes aside, this is still just a nice fun album to listen to.
4
Apr 25 2023
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The Last Broadcast
Doves
I have never heard of this before and I love it. Great early 2000s indie rock. Very chill and I will listen again for sure.
4
Apr 26 2023
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A Night At The Opera
Queen
Queen is great. This isn't their greatest album, but it has their greatest song so that just boosts it up a level.
4
Apr 27 2023
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My Generation
The Who
The Who is classic, but just not my favorite of the 60s classic rock bands. It's a good album just not my favorite from the era.
3
May 01 2023
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Garbage
Garbage
Garbage is great. I have long hated "Only Happy When It Rains", and to my family I will continue to pretend like I do. But I am man enough to admit that it is actually a good song and I understand the sentiment a lot more at this point in my life. "Stupid Girl" is easily my favorite Garbage song. It is just a really good album.
4
May 02 2023
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Kenya
Machito
I'm just not a jazz guy and this is a little much for me.
2
May 03 2023
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Orbital 2
Orbital
Why, just fucking why? What is wrong with Dimery that he gets off on electronica so much. 99.99% of electronica is just absolute shit. And the 0.01% that is worth listening to he just doesn't include on the list. Somebody with actual good music taste needs to remake this book. I think the only way I'd enjoy this is if I was on molly or a shit ton of coke at a club while also being like 10 drinks deep. Or in other words, I would need to be a literal monster to enjoy this absolute steaming pile of shit. What a waste of 65 minutes of my life.
1
May 04 2023
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Heaux Tales
Jazmine Sullivan
I have nothing against this album. It's just mediocre R&B. It's my personal opinion that nothing that is under 5 years old should be considered for this list. But that being said I still think there are many albums from 2021 that deserve a spot on the list over this. Not bad, just not great. My favorite song was "Price Tags" anything Anderson .Paak touches turns to gold and it just took what would have been a decent song and turned it great.
3
May 05 2023
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In The Court Of The Crimson King
King Crimson
I've been on Reddit long enough to see endless memes about the Red Screamy Man, but I had never listened to it until now. It is a pretty good album but I will continue to laugh at the memes about it.
4
May 08 2023
View Album
Kid A
Radiohead
This is pretty much where I start to hate Radiohead in their discography. I just can't stand electronica and I blame them for really pushing the genre back into the mainstream after its birth in the 90s. This album just drags for me.
2
May 09 2023
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Peter Gabriel
Peter Gabriel
Just an ok album, "Solsbury Hill" was about the only song worth a re-listen.
2
May 10 2023
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Otis Blue/Otis Redding Sings Soul
Otis Redding
Otis is always a good listen. I hadn't realized he did a version of "Satisfaction" it was strange, but I'm here for it. Great album!
4
May 11 2023
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The Undertones
The Undertones
Good Punk!
3
May 12 2023
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Junkyard
The Birthday Party
I normally like post-punk, but this just does not do it for me. There are way worse albums out there, but this is just terrible. Why Rob, just fucking why?
1
May 15 2023
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You've Come a Long Way Baby
Fatboy Slim
The only thing keeping this from being a one star album is "Rockafeller Skank"
2
May 16 2023
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Francis Albert Sinatra & Antonio Carlos Jobim
Frank Sinatra
Sinatra's Bossa nova phase is criminally underrated. I could pour a whiskey and sit and listen to this any day of the week.
4
May 17 2023
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Natty Dread
Bob Marley & The Wailers
Not the best Marley album, but good nonetheless. "No Woman No Cry" is by far the best song on the album. A good listen overall.
4
May 18 2023
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Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere
Neil Young & Crazy Horse
Great album! "Down by the River" is one of my top Neil Young songs.
4
May 19 2023
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You Want It Darker
Leonard Cohen
Cohen and Bowie both in the same year managed to write and release albums that were ponderous reflections on the end of their lives just days before they each passed. And both of them are just amazing. This album is a wonderful reflection on the life Cohen lived and his comfort in the end of it. Sad but great album.
4
May 22 2023
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Court And Spark
Joni Mitchell
Joni is just amazing!
4
May 23 2023
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Sound of Silver
LCD Soundsystem
Not LCD Soundsystem's best showing. It's not bad it just isn't great.
3
May 24 2023
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The Stooges
The Stooges
This was Iggy before he really became Iggy Pop and that is a very good thing. I don't like Iggy Pop but I do really like this album. Especially the 10 minute gregorian chant that was something else.
4
May 25 2023
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Roger the Engineer
The Yardbirds
I mean Jeff Beck makes anything great. This is a strange album that just does flow super well for me. It really shines at times and then at other times it's just a little "off". But overall I did enjoy it and would listen to most of it again. Jeff Beck is also just a god and that helps pull it together.
4
May 26 2023
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Heaven Or Las Vegas
Cocteau Twins
My best friend Ben introduced me to this album a few years ago and I've been a fan of it since. Very good chill ambient music. As someone who loves to treat vocals as an instrument for the first few times I hear a song the gibberish that this album has for lyrics is perfect for me. A beautiful instrument in its own right. Great listen!
4
May 29 2023
View Album
Play
Moby
As far as electronica goes this is not bad at all. It certainly is not my favorite thing, but this is groovy and chill. The DoppleDeaner really hit it out of the park on this one, or the Fake Moby from HIMYM take your pick, it's the same dude.
3
May 30 2023
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3 Feet High and Rising
De La Soul
Good groovy hip-hop. A nice listen with a lot of good samples. Not sure if it is something I will listen to again but I liked it.
3
May 31 2023
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The Rising
Bruce Springsteen
It is just ok. Not the best of The Boss.
3
Jun 01 2023
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The Wildest!
Louis Prima
It's not bad, but I just do not like swing music that much.
3
Jun 02 2023
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OK Computer
Radiohead
It is an unpopular opinion, but this is the last of the great Radiohead albums. It is just a masterful album and the last one before it just got weird. Great listen!
4
Jun 05 2023
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Crime Of The Century
Supertramp
I liked it quite a bit. The great side of Prog and Art Rock. Good listen.
3
Jun 06 2023
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#1 Record
Big Star
Good album! And as far as power pop goes it is very tame and I really like that about it.
4
Jun 07 2023
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Murder Ballads
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds
I hate Nick Cave and I hate PJ Harvey and this album has both of them. What the fuck is wrong with Rob Dimery. I get the title because I want to murder myself after listening.
1
Jun 08 2023
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Butterfly
Mariah Carey
Yeah she can fucking sing!
3
Jun 09 2023
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Red Dirt Girl
Emmylou Harris
She has such a peaceful and beautiful voice! I don't think most people would be able to guess this was released in 2000, it has the timeless 70s folk sound that she was known for from Pieces of the Sky, another great album on this list. I enjoyed spending a calm Sunday morning listening to this.
4
Jun 12 2023
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S&M
Metallica
The symphony really elevates Metallica to a different and very interesting level. Part of me likes it more than standard Metallica, but the more rational side of my brain knows that it just shouldn't really be compared in that way. It is very enjoyable of a listen even though it just lasts forever.
4
Jun 13 2023
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Unknown Pleasures
Joy Division
I own this on Vinyl!
Now that I've established my superiority, this is such a fucking great album. Also Peter Hook is a fantastic bass player, New Order's "Age of Consent" was one of the first songs I was able to figure out on bass without any sort of chart. It just so happened to be by complete accident trying to come up with some cool riffs and it caught my ear because I recognized it. Now that is technically a different band, but my connection to the music stands. I have heard the songs on this album so many times that nothing on it surprised me in how good it was. But it just holds up so much better than most of the post-punk albums of the late 70s. I will say the same as I did on my review of Joy Division's Closer, it should be a crime that "Love Will Tear Us Apart" was never released on an album.
This is just such a fucking good listen! 5 stars every day of the week and twice on Sundays.
5
Jun 14 2023
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Youth And Young Manhood
Kings of Leon
Just such a meh album.
3
Jun 15 2023
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Parsley, Sage, Rosemary And Thyme
Simon & Garfunkel
For the second time this week, I own this on vinyl!
I just like being able to say that. But as it usually goes, when I own it on vinyl it is going to get a very high rating. And in this case it will get a 5. It maybe isn't this iconic duo's best album, but they didn't ever put out a bad one. This is still a fantastic album and this is like the third time I've listened to it this year and certainly won't be the last time. "Scarborough Fair/Canticle", "Homeward Bound", and "The Dangling Conversation" are three of the best songs from the duo and catapult this album right to a 5 star album. I also love any album that insults both Robert McNamara and Bob Dylan in the same song, two people I hate for very different reasons, but I love to see them both put down. The abstract ending of "7 O'Clock News/Silent Night" is just such a wonderful way to end an album so deeply ingrained but oft overlooked in the counter cultural movement of the mid 1960s. All in all a very very good album that I love listening to.
5
Jun 16 2023
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Hejira
Joni Mitchell
Joni is a living legend!
Just a great album top front to back. I had to listen to this one on YouTube and so of course there were comments. And many were rightly praising the talent of Jaco Pastorius, but Max Bennett's bass work on this album is equally impressive and deserves to be noted. Great bass players deserve their props and he earned them on this. Back to Joni though, her lyricism and vocal work is great on this album! I would return to this much more often if it was on Spotify still, but I also respect her decision and wish the jackass was gone instead of her and Neil.
Great album!
4
Jul 07 2023
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The Blueprint
JAY Z
There is something a little interesting about a New York rapper releasing an album on 9/11. In general there was a strange number of iconic albums that either released or were set to release on 9/11.
That being said, JAY-Z just isn't really my thing. Good album, just not for me.
3
Jul 10 2023
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Led Zeppelin II
Led Zeppelin
Great classic rock album! Holds up very very well. A wonderful way to end a week on the generator.
4
Jul 11 2023
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Back To Black
Amy Winehouse
Just a fantastic album. Just such great songwriting and the legendary era bending voice that she had. I could and will listen to this over and over again. 5 stars all day!
5
Jul 12 2023
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Tago Mago
Can
The first half of the album was pretty decent even with an 18 and a half minute song, but for that to then be followed by 17 and a half minutes of moaning was rough. Just a strange listen, every time Krautrock starts to pull me in it somehow immediately flips on itself and loses me again.
2
Jul 13 2023
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Reggatta De Blanc
The Police
"Message In A Bottle" is a certified all time banger. The rest of the album falls a little flat though.
3
Jul 14 2023
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Crazysexycool
TLC
Good and Groovy and "Waterfalls" is an all time classic.
4
Jul 17 2023
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Nevermind
Nirvana
I mean this just has to be a 5 star album. If you give it anything else you are a crazy person. It is easily a top 10 album of all time. Even if you don't like Nirvana you have to be able to admit that this album changed the world! The leading song alone was such a moment in music that it cemented the legacy of this album. There are only a couple of song that don't have massive staying power. And even those songs still rip pretty hard. Great album from a great band!
5
Jul 18 2023
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Mothership Connection
Parliament
I love the use of a good envelope filter!
4
Jul 19 2023
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Madman Across The Water
Elton John
I own this on vinyl!
Which in my case typically denotes a fairly highly ranked album. And this certainly falls into that category. Great listen!
4
Jul 20 2023
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White Light
Gene Clark
Good classic country.
3
Jul 21 2023
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Sincere
Mj Cole
House music is trash!
2
Jul 24 2023
View Album
L.A. Woman
The Doors
Fantastic album with a couple all time classic songs on it. You just can't help but groove to "Riders on the Storm"!
4
Jul 25 2023
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Brilliant Corners
Thelonious Monk
I know Thelonious Monk is a legend and this is a solid album objectively, it just isn't my thing.
2
Jul 26 2023
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Born In The U.S.A.
Bruce Springsteen
I'm not the biggest fan of The Boss, but I'd venture to say that this is his best work. Great album! It is a shame though that it has been twisted as a patriotic album rather than the true protest album that it is.
4
Jul 27 2023
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The World is a Ghetto
War
Groovy and a good listen. Just not really my thing.
3
Jul 28 2023
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Fifth Dimension
The Byrds
It is a good and classic album, it just isn't the best Byrds album. It drags a bit more than their prior two albums and doesn't feel quite as genre defining as those either. Still a good listen.
3
Jul 31 2023
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Station To Station
David Bowie
Not Bowie's best work. Not bad just not amazing.
2
Aug 01 2023
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Stankonia
OutKast
Not my favorite OutKast album, but it is a decent listen. "So Fresh, So Clean" and "Ms. Jackson" are certified bangers though.
3
Aug 03 2023
View Album
Trout Mask Replica
Captain Beefheart & His Magic Band
r/vinyljerk makes so much more sense now!
I'd love to make my review a meme and give this a 5, but my love for accurate data can't do that to this website.
1
Aug 04 2023
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Can't Buy A Thrill
Steely Dan
As far as Steely Dan goes this is one of their best albums. Couple classics in the mix.
3
Aug 07 2023
View Album
Deep Purple In Rock
Deep Purple
Literally nothing about this album stands out to me. It's not bad, but they just did better.
3
Aug 08 2023
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At Mister Kelly's
Sarah Vaughan
Nice chill lounge music, I just don't enjoy jazz enough to feel like it was memorable at all though.
3
Aug 09 2023
View Album
All That You Can't Leave Behind
U2
Probably one of the last two good U2 albums, just not one of their great ones. It starts strong but just kinda is just there after the first two songs.
3
Aug 10 2023
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The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill
Lauryn Hill
Great meaningful album and I know due to its impact I should like it more. I just am not overly into the style.
3
Aug 11 2023
View Album
Scott 2
Scott Walker
Not as good as Scott 4 but still not a bad listen. Just a little weird at times.
3
Aug 14 2023
View Album
Lost In The Dream
The War On Drugs
Great chill atmospheric album. Love listening to this again.
4
Aug 15 2023
View Album
Only By The Night
Kings of Leon
It's easy to mock Kings of Leon and the whole mid 2000s era of Alt Rock, but I do have to admit this is actually a pretty decent album. The hitters, while overplayed, still hit and some of the deep cuts are better than they get credit for as a band.
4
Aug 16 2023
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Dirty
Sonic Youth
Not Sonic Youth's best album but still a pretty good album. There just not really a singular song that feels like a big hit.
3
Aug 17 2023
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The Infotainment Scan
The Fall
Nothing about this was one bit memorable, I mostly forgot there was even music on.
2
Aug 18 2023
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Mama Said Knock You Out
LL Cool J
Good album but it starts dragging towards the end.
3
Aug 21 2023
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The Specials
The Specials
That was rough.
2
Aug 22 2023
View Album
All Things Must Pass
George Harrison
While George is not considered the greatest songwriter of the Fab Four he is still a pretty damn good songwriter. And I think he was their best musician and he demonstrates that thoroughly on this album. A great listen top to bottom.
4
Aug 23 2023
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Happy Trails
Quicksilver Messenger Service
Not too bad, not too good.
2
Aug 24 2023
View Album
Frampton Comes Alive
Peter Frampton
Live albums are always a toss up. This one was recorded in a very mediocre way, except for the guitar and vocals, by far the most important aspects of Frampton. This version of "Baby, I Love Your Way" is one of the most classics and a great listen. Frampton was an amazing guitar player and a pretty decent singer. If he had a studio album on here it would be so much easier to judge the total sound, but Frampton's playing shines through.
4
Aug 25 2023
View Album
The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars
David Bowie
Bowie has a lot of album on this list, some more questionable than others. This one however undoubtedly belong on the list. Great album with a couple classic tracks. I still am not the biggest Bowie fan, but this album deserves a 5.
5
Aug 28 2023
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The Fat Of The Land
The Prodigy
Wow this sucks.
1
Aug 29 2023
View Album
Catch A Fire
Bob Marley & The Wailers
Good and groovy, just not Marley's best work.
3
Aug 30 2023
View Album
21
Adele
I didn't think I'd be giving Adele a 5 today, but here I am because this is a fantastic album! For an artist to have one song with over a billion streams is an impressive feat, for that artist to have three on the same album is unbelievable. It is just a fantastic album that doesn't have a single miss in the lineup. Not to mention that is has the best cover of one of The Cure's songs I have ever heard. Great album, very deserving of a 5 star rating.
5
Aug 31 2023
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Cheap Thrills
Big Brother & The Holding Company
"Piece of My Heart" is a classic. Other than that just an ok album.
3
Sep 01 2023
View Album
Close To You
Carpenters
Karen Carpenter is so fucking underrated! She is just a legend and deserves more recognition as a drummer and a vocalist. Not to mention the rare feat of being both at once. Great band, great album!
4
Sep 04 2023
View Album
Horses
Patti Smith
Patti Smith is a punk legend! Great album!
4
Sep 05 2023
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Darkness on the Edge of Town
Bruce Springsteen
Decent album, just over the Boss.
3
Sep 06 2023
View Album
D.O.A. the Third and Final Report of Throbbing Gristle
Throbbing Gristle
Terrible!
1
Sep 07 2023
View Album
Talking With the Taxman About Poetry
Billy Bragg
I should like Folk Punk a lot more. This just falls so flat. I don't dislike it but I had higher expectations.
3
Sep 08 2023
View Album
Beggars Banquet
The Rolling Stones
It is a great Stone album! Very good listen.
4
Sep 11 2023
View Album
Get Behind Me Satan
The White Stripes
It may not be his best album, but Jack White is a musical genius and you can't hate on him! Great listen!
4
Sep 12 2023
View Album
Hot Fuss
The Killers
It is just a perfect album! Amazing every single time and it absolutely still holds up.
5
Sep 13 2023
View Album
Vol. 4
Black Sabbath
Great classic album!
4
Sep 14 2023
View Album
Dog Man Star
Suede
I wasn't expecting too much, but I was fairly impressed. Really great instrumentation and groove. Great album!
4
Sep 15 2023
View Album
Nick Of Time
Bonnie Raitt
Good Americana. Raitt is a legend for a reason. Very easy and peaceful listen.
4
Sep 18 2023
View Album
Wild Is The Wind
Nina Simone
Nina Simone is fantastic! Great listen!
4
Sep 19 2023
View Album
Teen Dream
Beach House
Great album top to bottom. Very ethereal and I loved it! Just endless ability to re-listen to it.
5
Sep 20 2023
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Only Built 4 Cuban Linx
Raekwon
Good album, just not super my thing.
3
Sep 21 2023
View Album
Electric Music For The Mind And Body
Country Joe & The Fish
Pretty decent psych music. A bit rudimentary but not bad.
3
Sep 22 2023
View Album
Automatic For The People
R.E.M.
Fantastic album! An all time great for sure.
5
Sep 25 2023
View Album
Bossanova
Pixies
Grungy, Groovy, and Good! Nice listen.
3
Sep 26 2023
View Album
Innervisions
Stevie Wonder
Good album, not Stevie's best, but still a great listen!
4
Sep 27 2023
View Album
London Calling
The Clash
Just an all time classic punk album! Great listen top to bottom. My mom raised me on this album and a bunch of British Punk and I am thankful for that. The way this album changed the landscape of music going into the 80s is indescribable. 5 stars all day!
5
Sep 28 2023
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Cupid & Psyche 85
Scritti Politti
I liked it but nothing really stood out too much.
3
Sep 29 2023
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Sticky Fingers
The Rolling Stones
It is yet again, a great Stones album. All time classic album with an all time classic album sleeve.
4
Oct 02 2023
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3 + 3
The Isley Brothers
Great album with some really surprisingly complex guitar work. Some good originals and some great covers to back them up.
4
Oct 03 2023
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Doolittle
Pixies
Good album, not their greatest though.
3
Oct 04 2023
View Album
Immigrés
Youssou N'Dour
Great listen for something I had never heard of before.
4
Oct 05 2023
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Rattus Norvegicus
The Stranglers
Great Punk!
4
Oct 06 2023
View Album
Chicago Transit Authority
Chicago
This is certainly Chicago Transit Authority's best work, whether or not it is Chicago's best work I'm less certain. Certainly one of their top though, a very good listen!
4
Oct 09 2023
View Album
Franz Ferdinand
Franz Ferdinand
Fantastic freaking album! So unique for its time and influential to today's music! Great every time.
5
Nov 14 2023
View Album
The Predator
Ice Cube
Good album!
3
Nov 15 2023
View Album
Chemtrails Over The Country Club
Lana Del Rey
I am a big backer of the modern folk revival. For once it was a trend I was ahead of the curve on. Lana tends to be hit or miss for me. I think this is a good album and honestly if I wasn't coming at it from an analytical perspective of a folk lover I would like it more. For me as a classic and indie folk lover it just has a bit too much of a pop influence at times. I think that does lend itself into its own space in music. I think the other thing that detracts from it for me is just how melodramatic her voice comes across in the slower parts. I like depressing music more than most, but her voice just depresses me in a way that my typical sad folk doesn't.
It is a really good album, but I am just overly critical of folk albums. I think a few more listens to adjust and I would probably rate it higher I'm just not there yet with it.
3
Nov 16 2023
View Album
In Our Heads
Hot Chip
I had never heard of this and had zero expectations going in. Reading synth-pop and indietronica did begin to worry me a little bit, but I was so pleasantly surprised by this album. Really good chill listen.
4
Nov 17 2023
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Central Reservation
Beth Orton
Not bad but not something that I will be checking out again even as a folk fan, just doesn't stand out.
3
Nov 20 2023
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Back In Black
AC/DC
CLassic angry Elmo. Not my favorite but a classic.
3
Nov 21 2023
View Album
Doggystyle
Snoop Dogg
Snoop is the GOAT, great fucking album!
4
Nov 22 2023
View Album
Lost Souls
Doves
That was a pretty good listen for an album I've never heard before. Will be returning to it again!
4
Nov 23 2023
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Brothers In Arms
Dire Straits
Better than I was expecting.
3
Nov 24 2023
View Album
Live At The Harlem Square Club
Sam Cooke
I like Sam Cooke and I like pretty much all of these songs, I just don't enjoy live albums. It seems like it was a great performance, it's just too 1960's recording technology heavy for me. Great artist, bad recording.
3
Nov 27 2023
View Album
With The Beatles
Beatles
While I love The Beatles this is one of the places where I recognize that they maybe didn't need to have 7 albums on the list. It is a great album and is still going to get a high rating regardless. "All My Loving" is a top 5 Beatles song for me and I am always happy to listen to it. Great listen any day!
4
Nov 28 2023
View Album
Rock 'N Soul
Solomon Burke
Good, groovy, classic, but just not fantastic. A good easy listen that I could be ok with hearing any day.
4
Nov 30 2023
View Album
Want One
Rufus Wainwright
Just ok, not as good as the sequel.
3
Dec 01 2023
View Album
The Stranger
Billy Joel
Some of Joel's best work! Fantastic album.
4
Dec 04 2023
View Album
Thriller
Michael Jackson
I mean yeah this is just widely considered one of the greatest albums of all time and it deserves that praise. Great legendary album top to bottom!
5
Dec 05 2023
View Album
Never Mind The Bollocks, Here’s The Sex Pistols
Sex Pistols
Just a fantastic, legendary, and endlessly influential punk album! Always an amazing listen, and I own it on vinyl which is always a plus!
5
Dec 06 2023
View Album
Close To The Edge
Yes
I have such a love hate relationship with Prog Rock. I like the style and the general vibe, but the weird interludes and just ridiculously long songs just ruin it for me. Still a good album, just not amazing to me.
3
Dec 07 2023
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Shaka Zulu
Ladysmith Black Mambazo
One of my favorite parts of this generator is being able to get introduced to beautiful world music like this. A very enjoyable listen!
4
Dec 08 2023
View Album
Another Green World
Brian Eno
Good and chill, just not totally my thing.
3
Dec 11 2023
View Album
Water From An Ancient Well
Abdullah Ibrahim
Just very very meh Jazz.
2
Dec 12 2023
View Album
Tical
Method Man
Not a bad album, just absolutely was not written with me as the intended listener. Method Man is a legend and this was a good listen.
3
Dec 13 2023
View Album
Ocean Rain
Echo And The Bunnymen
Not my favorite New-Wave band, but a good album and "The Killing Moon" is an all time classic track.
4
Dec 14 2023
View Album
Whatever
Aimee Mann
It's a good album, however it comes across very dated. Just also kinda drags at times.
3
Dec 15 2023
View Album
Chris
Christine and the Queens
Great Album! Christine is a very talented artist and their music is fantastic. Not quite a 5 for me, but a worthwhile listen. Highly recommend their 2020 album La vita nuova.
4
Dec 18 2023
View Album
Black Holes and Revelations
Muse
This album is just a masterpiece, just a gorgeous gorgeous piece of art. Fantastic listen any day of the week. The ways in which Muse affected the landscape of music in the early 2000s was something special. There isn't a bad song on this album and most of them deserve the love and notoriety that they have if not so much more. Great fucking album!
5
Dec 19 2023
View Album
Hot Rats
Frank Zappa
Zappa can be very hit or miss sometimes, and with that album cover and jazz fusion as the main genre I was worried. I was however pleasantly surprised. This was a good listen.
3
Dec 20 2023
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Oedipus Schmoedipus
Barry Adamson
That was weird and bad.
2
Dec 21 2023
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Out Of The Blue
Electric Light Orchestra
If this album were just a little bit shorter it would be amazing. It is still a really good album, just has some filler that drops it a slight bit. "Mr. Blue Sky" of course is an all time classic that has such a great place in history. Fantastic fucking listen just a slight mark short of a 5 for me.
4
Dec 22 2023
View Album
Heartbreaker
Ryan Adams
It's a shame Adams turned out to be such a sexual harassing asshole, he made some really good music back in the day. It would be nice if he ditched his harmonica too, but in comparison to my other criticisms that can slide. All in all, good album, bad guy. Separating art from artist it is a 4 star for sure.
4
Jan 17 2024
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Greetings From L.A.
Tim Buckley
Not bad, just not Buckley's best.
3
Jan 18 2024
View Album
Kollaps
Einstürzende Neubauten
Quite a few things demonstrate the massive effect that a divided Germany and Berlin had on the world. German industrial music is unfortunately one of those things. And man does it show the mental state of those people. Just strange strange stuff, how fucked up does your life have to be and how many drugs do you have to be on to go "you know what, we should make and album full of a bunch of clanking metal and power tools and call it music!" Because that totally seems like a logical choice. What a fucking terrible listen! It is the worst rated album on here for a reason.
1
Jan 19 2024
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Moondance
Van Morrison
Great album with good vibes and some classic songs!
4
Jan 22 2024
View Album
Lust For Life
Iggy Pop
Do I like Iggy for once? Usually I just am not a fan of Iggy Pop, his later work just doesn't do it for me and his work with The Stooges is also just not my thing. But this album does actually do it for me! It is a great album in a way I wasn't expecting.
4
Jan 23 2024
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Chore of Enchantment
Giant Sand
Just a little too strange. Jumps all over the place and I just can't quite get to that enjoyment point without a spike in the wrong direction.
2
Jan 24 2024
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Smile
Brian Wilson
I mean it's basically just a Beach Boys album recorded a couple decades too late and it sounds just like that. Not great not bad, just ok.
3
Jan 25 2024
View Album
The Scream
Siouxsie And The Banshees
Top tier post punk!
4
Jan 26 2024
View Album
Mr. Tambourine Man
The Byrds
A very classic good album. Not necessarily the greatest album of all time but one that I'm happy to own on vinyl and give a it a couple spins a year.
4
Jan 29 2024
View Album
This Year's Model
Elvis Costello & The Attractions
Not a bad album, I'm just not super into Costello.
3
Jan 30 2024
View Album
Neon Bible
Arcade Fire
Musically it is pretty solid, however I have issues with the mixing. At times it is significantly too quiet and then the next song will nearly blow my speakers out before I can turn the volume back down. The mix also feels too busy on most of the songs, a lot of the instrumentation struggles to differentiate itself unless there is a specific solo moment. I don't think it is a terrible album, it just doesn't hold its own space in the way The Suburbs does.
3
Jan 31 2024
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Queen Of Denmark
John Grant
Good album, a little strange at times. I'm gonna need a few more listens to fully appreciate this album. I enjoyed it a lot though.
4
Feb 01 2024
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Marquee Moon
Television
Not bad not amazing.
3
Feb 02 2024
View Album
Songs Of Love And Hate
Leonard Cohen
Not my favorite Cohen album, but I still enjoyed it. It was a bit more of that talk singing that a lot of people don't like him for. I enjoy that side of him for the most part. Good listen just doesn't stand out in his discography.
3
Feb 05 2024
View Album
What's That Noise?
Coldcut
I think the main source for this album being a YouTube account with a Wide Yoshi profile picture says pretty much everything you need to know about it. Weird dancetronica, come on Rob after this many "tronica" albums you need to submit yourself for psychiatric evaluation. It's not the worst one he put on this list, but it is still a rough listen.
2
Feb 06 2024
View Album
Emperor Tomato Ketchup
Stereolab
Way better than I anticipated. Still not my thing, but I was pleasantly surprised.
3
Feb 19 2024
View Album
Hunky Dory
David Bowie
I try and try but I just can't ever get myself to love Bowie. I like him, I respect the hell out of his talent, and admittedly he has put out some all time banger songs, but I just cannot love him as a whole. It just isn't my vibe. I want to love him, but watching Labyrinth too young probably is what soured me on him forever.
3
Feb 20 2024
View Album
Live At The Witch Trials
The Fall
God I love a good post punk drum part. Fantastic drums certainly carry this album, but as far as post punk goes this is a fantastic album even if the drums weren't as good as they are. The bass work is also pretty great throughout. The vocals are strange for sure, but I wasn't paying as close of attention to the content as much as the tonality and they very much so sound post punk so I can't complain.
4
Feb 21 2024
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L'Eau Rouge
The Young Gods
Just bad!
1
Feb 22 2024
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Californication
Red Hot Chili Peppers
Fantastic album! An all time great, 5 stars all day.
5
Feb 23 2024
View Album
Frank
Amy Winehouse
Amy is just fantastic! Need I say anymore? Great album!
4
Feb 26 2024
View Album
Supa Dupa Fly
Missy Elliott
Great album!
4
Feb 27 2024
View Album
Make Yourself
Incubus
This holds up so damn well. Great drums throughout and the bass on "Stellar" is just so damn juicy. "Drive" is still a fucking banger, all time classic song with such a good hook lyrically and musically. Not sure it quite elevates itself to a 5 for me, but it is certainly a very high 4 star. Great album!
4
Feb 28 2024
View Album
Destroyer
KISS
I just never got into Kiss. They are always just ok to me with a couple of shining songs. Given I'm not super into hard rock anymore, but even when I was much more into the genre they didn't do it for me. "Beth" is one of the greatest power ballads of all time, but it is also just the epitome of having a power ballad in the middle of a rock album trend in the late 70s and early 80s. It's a good album with some great moments, it's just not an all time great for me.
3
Feb 29 2024
View Album
La Revancha Del Tango
Gotan Project
I'm confused by this album and its origins in so many ways. It's not terrible just weird and draining to listen to top to bottom.
2
Mar 01 2024
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Guero
Beck
Probably my favorite Beck album I have gotten from the list so far. I still don't quite love the album but it was a pretty good listen.
3
Mar 04 2024
View Album
Hunting High And Low
a-ha
"Take On Me" is my go to blackout drunk karaoke song, and if I've sung along enough throughout the night and my voice is loose enough about 1 in 10 times I can still hit the high note. I miss when that success rate was a bit higher when I was still singing regularly. The rest doesn't shine quite as much and has a slightly different tonality, but I still vibe with it hard. Great album!
4
Mar 05 2024
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Red Headed Stranger
Willie Nelson
One of Nelson's best, great listen!
4
Mar 06 2024
View Album
Darklands
The Jesus And Mary Chain
Great album, great band! I enjoyed this one a lot, being super stoned right now probably aided in that because it might just be a little too slow otherwise. Still great though.
4
Mar 07 2024
View Album
16 Lovers Lane
The Go-Betweens
This one is interesting, not super my thing, but I think I like it? Good listen, different but good.
3
Mar 08 2024
View Album
Rage Against The Machine
Rage Against The Machine
All time fucking banger! An amazing album that I am always happy to listen to. Great message, great lyrics, great fucking guitar playing! Fantastic listen every single time!
5
Mar 18 2024
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Off The Wall
Michael Jackson
Hard to believe he was only 20 when he recorded and released this album. Legendary artist, legendary album!
4
Mar 19 2024
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Leftism
Leftfield
Wow bad just bad...
1
Mar 21 2024
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Exile In Guyville
Liz Phair
Interesting listen, not totally my thing but I liked it. Good album.
3
Mar 22 2024
View Album
OK
Talvin Singh
Not as bad as I was expecting but still not good.
2
Mar 25 2024
View Album
The Stone Roses
The Stone Roses
Different, but very interesting and enjoyable.
4
Mar 26 2024
View Album
Jack Takes the Floor
Ramblin' Jack Elliott
Great classic country folk. Not the most impactful, but still a good listen.
3
Mar 27 2024
View Album
Paul's Boutique
Beastie Boys
Not their best album, but I am not objective about the Beastie Boys and they would never get lower than a 4 from me. Great album!
4
Mar 28 2024
View Album
Lazer Guided Melodies
Spiritualized
Interesting and different. I have a hard time fully placing it in any of its Wiki Genres, but it does actually blend fairly well as a combo of all three of them. It gets a bit strange for me at times in the more "space rocky" moments. Liked it overall just nothing overly lasting for me.
3
Mar 29 2024
View Album
Eliminator
ZZ Top
Great classic rock! Legendary!
4
Apr 01 2024
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Sheet Music
10cc
Surprisingly good! And my god is that bass juicy as hell!
4
Apr 02 2024
View Album
Electric Prunes
The Electric Prunes
This is one of those album that feels like it should be better than it is. There is so much potential in this album, if it hadn't been prepared so hastily it might hold up a bit better. It's a good album, just not necessarily a great one.
3
Apr 03 2024
View Album
So Much For The City
The Thrills
Good, not great!
3
Apr 04 2024
View Album
Rip It Up
Orange Juice
It was just hit or miss for me. Just fell flat at times and was strange at others, good at others though. Solid, just not essential to me.
3
Apr 05 2024
View Album
Hysteria
Def Leppard
Fucking classic!
4
Apr 08 2024
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Coles Corner
Richard Hawley
Just meh, feels like it belongs in another decade. Just not that impressed.
2
Apr 09 2024
View Album
The Black Saint And The Sinner Lady
Charles Mingus
I desperately long for the day when Jazz "lovers" pull the 20 inch dildo of pretention out of their asses and admit that their beloved genre is actually just steaming shit most of the time. There's about a good minute and a half per song, then 5+ minutes of crap. How this has a 3.3 is beyond me, it didn't offend me quite enough to drop it to a 1, but it was just straight up not good.
2
Apr 10 2024
View Album
Berlin
Lou Reed
I love The Velvet Underground, and I think Lou is a bit of a musical genius in that band. However, his solo work has just never done it for me. It flashes greatness but is so interspersed with just some weird ass and uber depressing vibes.
2
Apr 11 2024
View Album
The Seldom Seen Kid
Elbow
Second one in a week I've had that just belongs in a different decade. Just doesn't feel like it should be on the list.
2
Apr 12 2024
View Album
Green
R.E.M.
Of the four R.E.M. albums I've had, I think this is the weakest entry of the bunch. Still a really really good listen! R.E.M. is legendary and I couldn't give this any less than a 4 though.
4
Apr 15 2024
View Album
The Score
Fugees
Fantastic album!
4
Apr 16 2024
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Rumours
Fleetwood Mac
Where to even begin with this album, I mean it is an obvious 5 star album without a single doubt. I think John Mulaney has the best quote about this album, "an album written by and for people cheating on each other", which just sums it up pretty perfectly. There is so much more depth to this album than that quote of course, you could write a thesis on this album. Just a fantastic listen every single time with just some of the most legendary songs of all time on it. It deserves the love it gets and the hate it gets is just contrarians who hate on anything popular. Fantastic all time great!
5
Apr 17 2024
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Scream, Dracula, Scream
Rocket From The Crypt
Ok not great.
3
Apr 18 2024
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Welcome To The Pleasuredome
Frankie Goes To Hollywood
Interesting, energetic, just not my thing. "Relax" is an all time classic though.
3
Apr 19 2024
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Parachutes
Coldplay
Coldplay gets far more hate than they deserve. I mean sure, they are not my go to and I am as tired as anybody of hearing the overplayed hits. But there are a lot of really good deep cuts in their discography that deserve love. Good instrumentation throughout and fairly lyrically intriguing. Great album!
4
Apr 22 2024
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Bizarre Ride II The Pharcyde
The Pharcyde
Really interesting and different! Loved it!
4
Apr 23 2024
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Entertainment
Gang Of Four
I do love me some good post-punk. I don't think this is the best of the genre but I'm gonna give it the boost up because it is an essential piece of the puzzle. Post-punk drums will forever be one of my favorite things, and this delivers well on that so I'm happy!
4
Apr 24 2024
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Sign 'O' The Times
Prince
Prince is great, this isn't. It was good, but just not special compared to some of his other work.
3
Apr 25 2024
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Queen II
Queen
Queen has better, still good.
3
Apr 26 2024
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A Short Album About Love
The Divine Comedy
Meh.
2
Apr 29 2024
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461 Ocean Boulevard
Eric Clapton
Clapton is just a classic. Bad person, but a good album!
4
Apr 30 2024
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Don't Stand Me Down
Dexys Midnight Runners
That was rough.
2
May 01 2024
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Head Hunters
Herbie Hancock
I'm not a big fan of jazz, but I can acknowledge the beautiful artistry that is Herbie. This album slaps!
4
May 02 2024
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Dookie
Green Day
All time fucking classic! Any day where I can actually spin my generated album is great one! I could write for days about this album, but I am in fact just stoned. 5 stars any day!
5
May 03 2024
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Coat Of Many Colors
Dolly Parton
I can't hate on Dolly, but she just isn't my thing.
3
May 06 2024
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Funeral
Arcade Fire
Just never been too into them. I usually like 2 or 3 songs per album of theirs and this is the same way. Just ok as a whole.
3
May 08 2024
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Fragile
Yes
"Roundabout" slaps, rest is just a little better than good, but not quite great.
3
May 09 2024
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Sound Affects
The Jam
Not great but good enough post punk ish. Just not sure it's a must.
3
May 10 2024
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The Libertines
The Libertines
The Garage Rock scene in the early 2000's were very interesting, it ranged from this to anything Jack White was involved in. And all of it was actually pretty good. I can see the formative aspects of it, but don't fully love it. It has a lot of potential, but ultimately just falls a little flat. Mick Jones being behind the board is always a little bit of a boost. Maybe with a couple of listens it might pop up to a 4 star, but today I'm not quite there.
3
May 13 2024
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Shadowland
k.d. lang
Not bad, not great. I should like k.d. lang more than I do, she always falls a little off the spot for me.
3
May 14 2024
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G. Love And Special Sauce
G. Love & Special Sauce
Below mediocre, above terrible...
2
May 15 2024
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Microshift
Hookworms
Rob's modern picks are mostly shit, this included.
2
May 16 2024
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Giant Steps
The Boo Radleys
Even as someone who likes shoegaze and some britpop this just falls pretty flat. Not bad, just not what I was hoping for from it.
3
May 17 2024
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A Northern Soul
The Verve
Eh, The Verve is one of the most mid bands of all time.
3
Jul 09 2024
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Nilsson Schmilsson
Harry Nilsson
Well, that was....something...
3
Jul 11 2024
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Axis: Bold As Love
Jimi Hendrix
I love Jimi, but this is not his best work.
3
Jul 12 2024
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Melodrama
Lorde
I have a lot of criticisms over the modern albums on the list. However, this one really does belong. I don't listen to her a ton, but Lorde is such an incredibly talented artist. Great album!
4
Jul 18 2024
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Blue Lines
Massive Attack
Interesting and different, will have to return to this one at some point for sure.
4
Jul 19 2024
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Warehouse: Songs And Stories
Hüsker Dü
Good, but not memorable.
3
Jul 22 2024
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Street Signs
Ozomatli
Not fully sure what to think about it, but I liked it quite a bit.
4
Jul 24 2024
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Highly Evolved
The Vines
This was really damn good. I expected to like it just not as much as I ended up liking it. Great listen.
4
Jul 25 2024
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Q: Are We Not Men? A: We Are Devo
Devo
Started strong but got weird. Seeing produced by Brian Wilson pretty quickly confirmed that I was not wrong in this assumption. Not bad, not amazing, just good enough to escape a 2 from me.
3
Jul 26 2024
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Risque
CHIC
Not super my thing, but "Good Times" is a classic for sure.
3
Jul 30 2024
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Songs The Lord Taught Us
The Cramps
What the fuck is this. It has the makings of a great album but just stays slightly shy of achieving those goals. Neo-Rockabilly isn't something I had heard of before this, and one that I hope to not hear much from again...
2
Aug 01 2024
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Take Me Apart
Kelela
Alright, just not great.
3
Aug 02 2024
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Basket of Light
Pentangle
There were some really great parts of this album, but some of it was just really fucking strange. Overall I liked it well enough.
3
Aug 05 2024
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John Barleycorn Must Die
Traffic
Better than I expected.
3
Aug 06 2024
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Roxy Music
Roxy Music
Good enough, nothing outstanding to me.
3
Aug 07 2024
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Tragic Songs of Life
The Louvin Brothers
There's something special about this area of Country Folk. The things I can hear in this album that influenced the next 15+ years of Country Folk, and the two individual iterations of those genres, are too many to list. A brilliant album for its time and a classic sound that holds up well with time. Great Listen!
4
Aug 08 2024
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New Forms
Roni Size
Drum and bass just gets painful to me after awhile. Just sounds like my anxiety.
2
Aug 09 2024
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The Hissing Of Summer Lawns
Joni Mitchell
Not my favorite of Joni's albums, but it is still a great listen!
4
Aug 12 2024
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GREY Area
Little Simz
Better than most UK Rap. But there is just a few things about it that really threw me off and took me out of it. Just doesn't feel like it should be on the list, most of the new entries aren't deserving. There have been a few that have caught my attention in a good way, but most of them just feel like an excuse to throw in some random artist he's into at the time.
2
Aug 14 2024
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Underwater Moonlight
The Soft Boys
That was a pretty good album!
4
Aug 16 2024
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Under Construction
Missy Elliott
Missy is always a classic!
4
Aug 21 2024
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Rum Sodomy & The Lash
The Pogues
Wow that was not good.
2
Aug 22 2024
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Suicide
Suicide
Not horrendous put not really that good. And certainly a bit off putting of a title and band name.
2
Aug 26 2024
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Woodface
Crowded House
I really enjoyed this album!
4
Aug 27 2024
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Dust
Screaming Trees
I've heard a number of Screaming Trees songs over the years but I don't think I've ever heard one of their albums in full. Pretty great listen though.
4
Aug 29 2024
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Midnight Ride
Paul Revere & The Raiders
Good mid 60s rock, not much more to say than that.
3
Aug 30 2024
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High Violet
The National
I like the national, but this just isn't one of my favorites of theirs.
3
Sep 02 2024
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The Lexicon Of Love
ABC
Good listen, pretty interesting.
3
Sep 03 2024
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Picture Book
Simply Red
Decent album.
3
Sep 04 2024
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Everything Must Go
Manic Street Preachers
Unexpectedly good listen!
4
Sep 05 2024
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Untitled (Black Is)
SAULT
Albums under 10 years old should have to be added to the book by a committee. Rob just can’t be trusted to choose newer albums on his own. The last song was the only one that stood out to me in anyway. And it was different than the rest of the album by quite a bit.
2
Sep 06 2024
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Cut
The Slits
It was alright. Weird fucking cover tho.
3
Sep 09 2024
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Beautiful Freak
Eels
"Novocaine For The Soul" is a classic banger. The rest is good enough too. That cover is creepy as fuck though.
3
Sep 11 2024
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Sail Away
Randy Newman
I do not like Randy Newman. Short People is a banger though!
2
Sep 12 2024
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Abattoir Blues / The Lyre of Orpheus
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds
Nick Cave fucking sucks!
2
Sep 13 2024
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Graceland
Paul Simon
Paul Simon on his own just doesn't hit the same. Still a pretty good listen.
3
Sep 17 2024
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Buenas Noches From A Lonely Room
Dwight Yoakam
Meh, mediocre 80s country.
2
Sep 19 2024
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Da Capo
Love
Bad
2
Sep 23 2024
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Maverick A Strike
Finley Quaye
Not terrible, not good.
2
Sep 24 2024
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Konnichiwa
Skepta
For UK rap this isn't too bad.
3
Oct 09 2024
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Before And After Science
Brian Eno
Brian Eno is a genius, but Brian Eno is also weird as fuck when he's making solo music. Not a fun listen.
2