May 07 2021
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A Hard Day's Night
Beatles
A few I've heard before but a lot that's pretty forgettable and repetitive.
3
May 10 2021
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Another Green World
Brian Eno
Hmm, I guess you had to be there.
2
May 11 2021
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Station To Station
David Bowie
Golden Years is classic, hadn't heard the others but some good jams.
3
May 12 2021
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Too Rye Ay
Dexys Midnight Runners
Wow this guy's voice is annoying!
1
May 13 2021
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Maxinquaye
Tricky
Wow this guy's voice is annoying!
1
May 14 2021
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Remedy
Basement Jaxx
Bumpy! Some interesting ideas and benefits from not being super self-conscious and serious. Not a fan of the autotune. Fav track: Same Old Show.
3
May 17 2021
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Very
Pet Shop Boys
bArf!
1
May 18 2021
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Beauty And The Beat
The Go-Go's
Passable and hooky
2
May 19 2021
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Inspiration Information
Shuggie Otis
Yeah, this is more my speed! Funky, layered, original. Dude plays all the instruments and did the whole thing as a teenager!
4
May 20 2021
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american dream
LCD Soundsystem
The problem when can't really sing and just talk over the music is that everyone can clearly hear how inane your lyrics are. Sometimes this works if the music is good enough to be able to ignore the lyrics, but that's not the case here either. Not bad just something I wouldn't feel the need to listen again.
2
May 21 2021
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Rapture
Anita Baker
Not my deal, but nice voice and production
3
May 24 2021
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The Rising
Bruce Springsteen
A lot of the same, but consistency is good
3
May 25 2021
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Be
Common
Straight fire, rhymes, message, music, production this is real hip hop
5
May 26 2021
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Master Of Puppets
Metallica
I guess, but the trash thing gets dull after the first few songs.
3
May 27 2021
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Slanted And Enchanted
Pavement
Rather hit my head against the pavement
1
May 28 2021
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GI
Germs
Proof that music is whatever people will make and whatever other people will listen to, everything else is extra.
2
May 31 2021
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School's Out
Alice Cooper
Actually really liked it, 1st track is classic, but a few others are quite catchy as well. Bass playing is gold.
3
Jun 01 2021
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Dig Me Out
Sleater-Kinney
Sax on track 7 makes it. Shows why bass is needed in Punk. Overall pretty good, right for it's idiom.
3
Jun 02 2021
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Hearts And Bones
Paul Simon
Soft, bloated, unoffensive, smugly inane lyrics, about as much character as white bread. If he wasn't already famous, he'd have been laughed out of the studio (\"2 x 2 is 22\", \"cars are cars\"). Some good session musicians trying to keep a straight face while playing on this dross, but doesn't redeem it. Negative 5 stars, I will go out of my way to burn any physical copies I find.
1
Jun 03 2021
View Album
69 Love Songs
The Magnetic Fields
Wow, didn't expect this to be so consistent and entertaining. Definitely some forgettable tracks but with 69 there's an amazing amount of variety and creativity here. Plus the rhymes are hilarious. Definitely no writer's block for this guy.
4
Jun 04 2021
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Germfree Adolescents
X-Ray Spex
Kick ass! Straight raw punk, definitely not for everyone, but this is exactly what it's supposed to sounds like, no over production, no radio hits, no shits given and plenty of sax!
4
Jun 07 2021
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Queen II
Queen
Rocks harder than I expected and quite consistent throughout. A bit too many vocal overdubs, overproduction and weird lyrics for my tastes but I can see what they were trying to do.
3
Jun 08 2021
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Bizarre Ride II The Pharcyde
The Pharcyde
Classic party rap from my younger dayz. If you don't like this, you're just not cool, sorry.
4
Jun 09 2021
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Jagged Little Pill
Alanis Morissette
Wow the first CD I bought as a 10 year old. Happy to report my musical tastes have evolved significantly in the past 25 years, but this album still left a mark. I'll always remember trying to understand the lyrics and not knowing what to make of (that hasn't changed). On this listen, I was still impressed by Flea's bass on You Oughta Know and all those jangly guitar effects and 90s production tricks. Not all has aged well, but still something I'll come back to in 25 more years.
4
Jun 10 2021
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Superfuzz Bigmuff
Mudhoney
Sound innovative guitar effects and great punky bass and drums, but not much really stands out. The breakdown In and Out of Grace is cool and they definitely bring the out the grunge. Would have been into this in the 90s had I known about it, but they've been eclipsed by everything that came out of Seattle subsequently.
3
Jun 11 2021
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Fuzzy
Grant Lee Buffalo
I was hoping this would be more than just your standard 90s alt/indie rock. There are occasional glimmers with the ragtime piano on the first and 8th track and some interesting 12-string guitar sounds, but that's about it. Not saying it's bad, but just a bit too safe to stand out.
2
Jun 14 2021
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Dog Man Star
Suede
Just about got into it! Some cool production and guitar tones. Like a lot of British music (not sure why this is the case and other countries have their own faults), this quickly becomes cheesy and shoe-gazey. The last track works when they got out of their own way a bit and just played, but not sure I would be back to listen to the other tracks.
3
Jun 15 2021
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Tanto Tempo
Bebel Gilberto
Have never really been able to get into Bossa Nova, especially in comparison to the other amazing music coming out of Brazil. It always just fades into the background no matter if you're trying to listen or not. It's the music equivalent of a boring football (soccer) game--nice but pretty hard to pay attention to the whole time.
2
Jun 16 2021
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Buenas Noches From A Lonely Room
Dwight Yoakam
Never been a huge country fan, but this is manageably short and sweet. Some funny lyrics in the first song but the rest is pretty depressing, which, I guess, is country's thing. Interesting how the instrumentation is put together with really formal solo breaks and each instrument weighing in.
2
Jun 17 2021
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Phaedra
Tangerine Dream
Historically interesting prog-electronica from the 70s when it must have been super uncool. Can't imagine these German guys where rocking at hotel parties with hookers and blow. Still cool to learn about the process and how they made it. Sounds better than much of the electronic music today, but still basically ambient and not quickly fades into the background.
2
Jun 18 2021
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Devil Without A Cause
Kid Rock
Yeah Kid Rock is easy to hate on, and there's a lot of really stupid stuff on this album. But the 13 year old in me can still enjoy this after 23 years, so it must have something going for it.
3
Jun 21 2021
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Beach Samba
Astrud Gilberto
Cute and sweet. The Portuguese lyrics work for me more than the English as they seem to match the music better. Cool to hear so many hip hop samples from this.
3
Jun 22 2021
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Bridge Over Troubled Water
Simon & Garfunkel
I have an abiding dislike for Paul Simon and this didn't do much to change that, but it was still worth a listen. Seems like they tried to break the mold a bit by sampling some other genres and adding some different instrumentation, but still to much fetishization of the voices at the expense of other elements.
2
Jun 23 2021
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The Contino Sessions
Death In Vegas
Wow really interesting, didn't expect to enjoy this as much as I did. Very hard to describe but sorta like ambient electro hard rock psychedelia. Lots going on with the many, many layers of productions so will definitely listen again with headphones.
3
Jun 24 2021
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Make Yourself
Incubus
Ah yes that time in history with soul patches, ear lobe plugs, rock bands with DJs, that Justin Delong guy from the Mac vs. PC commercials, pretentiousness of rocking out in 7/8 time, and those generic MTV music videos which are either super deep or were just made up on the spot.
3
Jun 25 2021
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Murmur
R.E.M.
Listened to the whole album and could only tell the songs apart due to the youtube ads. Yes they had a good sound but can't imagine this being anyone's favourite album.
2
Jun 28 2021
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Tres Hombres
ZZ Top
Guy sounds like he's gargling marbles and some of the tracks are a bit iffy (Sheik), but still a fun album and worth a listen
3
Jun 29 2021
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Real Life
Magazine
Interesting mix of pop, punk, electro with some sax and other random stuff thrown in. Some funny rhymes and cool production but that sneering/whiny British accent gets old after a while. The Goldfinger cover at the end was cool.
2
Jun 30 2021
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Paranoid
Black Sabbath
Wow what a dead-center-kick-to-the-nuts album from top to bottom!
5
Jul 01 2021
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Meat Is Murder
The Smiths
Some of the best to come out of the UK in the 80's the rhythm section is on point and the guitar playing is layered with great rhythm and melodies. The grooves are huge for a 4-piece rock band. Even Morrissey works way harder than most vocalists.
4
Jul 02 2021
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Supa Dupa Fly
Missy Elliott
Classic Timbaland beatz and some surprising fresh rhymes and content from Missy that have really aged well. Part of her appeal is that she's not a pop star and doesn't need to go the Nicki Minaj/Cardi B route, so there's a lot more attention and emphasis on the music vs. the packaging.
3
Jul 05 2021
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Maverick A Strike
Finley Quaye
Interesting vibes and some pretty groovy tracks, would listen again.
3
Jul 13 2021
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Deep Purple In Rock
Deep Purple
Not recommended to listen to with a headache.
2
Jul 14 2021
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The Wall
Pink Floyd
Having never sat and listened to the whole album "cover to cover" I definitely found it way more impactful. Sure there are the 6-7 classic songs which are some of the best rock ever written, but a lot of the shorter conceptual tracks work to tie everything together. It does occasionally crest into pretense and self-indulgence, but has aged surprisingly well over the past 40 years.
5
Jul 15 2021
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A Wizard, A True Star
Todd Rundgren
Weird. Definitely has been mined for some great hip hop samples though. Don't listen on youtube with ads.
3
Jul 16 2021
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Tonight's The Night
Neil Young
Good old Neil! As a Canadian, I'm bias, but the dude gets it across! I know people quibble with his voice, but it's really just a few notes that sound a bit whiny.
3
Jul 19 2021
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Double Nickels On The Dime
Minutemen
Really admire the punk aesthetic, despite what you think of the music, the idea of generating this amount of creativity in a short period is inspiring. Obviously some tracks are better than others, but you can't really say its too long or that any not necessary.
3
Jul 20 2021
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Eli And The Thirteenth Confession
Laura Nyro
Not sure why I've never heard of her before, this sounds like it should be classic stuff, but I guess she never had a major hit. Definitely sounds like it could have been recorded yesterday.
3
Jul 21 2021
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At Folsom Prison
Johnny Cash
What a legend, what an album, what a venue, what a performance!
5
Jul 22 2021
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Doolittle
Pixies
Some great tracks that I hadn't heard before. Can definitely see the influence on grunge, metal, and punk.
3
Jul 23 2021
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Vespertine
Björk
I can appreciate the thought and care that went into this and the production is pretty good, but got to be honest I just can't get into her voice and her weird infantile fairy thing.
2
Jul 26 2021
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The La's
The La's
Pretty good, had never heard of them but clear how much influence this album had on Oasis and various other Brit bands from the 90s. Would relisten.
3
Jul 27 2021
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Is This It
The Strokes
Classic from my youth. Nice mix of punk, jangly guitars and melodies. Not wild about all of the singing but mostly works.
3
Jul 28 2021
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Fred Neil
Fred Neil
Sorta like Neil Diamond with a better voice and better guitar. Sometimes there's just too much going on however and things sound confused, could have used better production and some more sparse arrangements.
2
Jul 29 2021
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Mr. Tambourine Man
The Byrds
I know it's a classic album, but sounds like they're trying too hard to be The Beatles and the same jangly guitar sound on every track is repetitive. I think you had to be there in the 60s to fully appreciate this.
2
Jul 30 2021
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Californication
Red Hot Chili Peppers
Another classic from my youth that aged spectacularly well...except the funk stuff which I never got. All together a great album though from top to bottom with some of their best songs and concepts.
4
Aug 04 2021
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Exit Planet Dust
The Chemical Brothers
Classic electronic still sounds a lot better than most stuff today. But have to admit I got a bit bored on this listen and probably wouldn't come back to it again for a while.
3
Aug 05 2021
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Solid Air
John Martyn
Yeah the British bias of this list is showing up again here. This is some weird sort of funk folk rock that sounds like the doobie brothers trying to be country.
2
Aug 06 2021
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Electric Warrior
T. Rex
Hmm, sounds like the whole thing was recorded at half speed, with the singer whispering in the closet. Guitar was fun and lyrics are entertaining. Sort of a loungey rock and roll for late-night listening.
3
Aug 09 2021
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Violator
Depeche Mode
Not really a fan of this guy's voice and the whole angsty electronica from the 80's genre. Album got a lot better in the middle when it was just instrumentals, however and I probably would have enjoyed it more as an instrumental soundtrack to a bad 80s scifi action movie.
2
Aug 10 2021
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Endtroducing.....
DJ Shadow
Aaah yeah this was my jam back in the day, had organ donor on repeat for months. Probably enjoy the Private Press a little more overall but this is one of the foundations of instrumental hip hop. Not everyone will like the aesthetic and the quirky samples, but you have to at least acknowledge the amazing drum programming, looping and sampling. Nearly every sound on the album came from something that was already recorded, yet it's all completely original.
4
Aug 18 2021
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Veckatimest
Grizzly Bear
Not really grizzly bears more like a group of pretentious winnie the pooh voice bears singing intentionally awkward harmonies while playing their instruments half asleep. Way too many vocal overdubs and production sounds like a vat of goop that's been cooking on the stove for days.
1
Aug 19 2021
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Bitte Orca
Dirty Projectors
Definitely missed this whole 2010s indie scene and can't say I regret it. Just can't wrap my head around why anyone would submit to this torture. The music is a grab bang of half finished guitar parts and weird synths, the lyrics are inane and the lead singer has one of the most annoying voices I've heard so far on this list, which is saying something. The only bright spot is when one of the women is singing and that only happens on the one single.
2
Aug 20 2021
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The Only Ones
The Only Ones
Some great guitar and arrangements, occasionally cresting into jazz, ska, and other genres. Songwriting and lyrics are good, but the nasally drawl is more annoying and distracting than edgy and ironic. Seems like they would be a great live band where they could jam out at more length.
3
Aug 23 2021
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Honky Tonk Heroes
Waylon Jennings
Not a huge country fan, but don't mind this kind of "classic country". Songwriting is great and production is clean. Would have liked the songs to open up a bit more and have time for longer solos and more jamming, but I guess that wasn't the style.
3
Aug 24 2021
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The Number Of The Beast
Iron Maiden
Oh man! Can't describe how happy I was to see this come up on the list. Definitely a a huge Maiden fan and even though I haven't listened to this in years, it was just as kick-ass and over the top. Yes the lyrics are ridiculous and the whole occult aesthetic is hooky as hell, but Bruce Dickinson's voice is one of the best in the history of music, the twin lead guitars are straight fire and the bass playing is equally iconic. You may not like it, but there's a reason these guys can still sell out stadiums 40 years later.
4
Aug 25 2021
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I’ve Got a Tiger By the Tail
Buck Owens
Twangy as all hell. Works great if you don't take it too seriously.
3
Aug 26 2021
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Toys In The Attic
Aerosmith
Some decent 70s rock but other than Walk this Way and Sweet emotions, nothing stood out for me.
3
Aug 27 2021
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The Psychedelic Sounds of the 13th Floor Elevators
The 13th Floor Elevators
Crazy and weird but fun and rocks pretty hard. Twangy surf guitar, 60s ginger baker style overdrumming, and that electric jug thing adds a whole level of frenetic energy.
3
Aug 30 2021
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Billion Dollar Babies
Alice Cooper
A few flashes of the musical creativity from earlier albums, but mainly just doubles down on the weirdness and shock value.
2
Aug 31 2021
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Nebraska
Bruce Springsteen
Wow, this is the real deep americana, not "my dog died" country or "blowin in the wind" dylan but some deep dives into real life without a lot of hopeful moments. Takes a lot to write and pull off songs with this level of credibility and authenticity.
3
Sep 21 2021
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Cypress Hill
Cypress Hill
Classic! Great beats and rhymes, inane lyrics that are both too silly and too violent to know what to think, and B-real's nasally voice, you either love or hate. So many songs have built off of samples from this album, listening to this is like a greatest hits of all the hip hop it inspired afterwards.
4
Sep 22 2021
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Let It Bleed
The Rolling Stones
For a band on their 10th album in 6 years, this is a solid effort with at least 3 classics tunes. Not every song works, sometimes it sounds like they're just jamming and making stuff up on the spot, but overall still a solid effort.
3
Sep 23 2021
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Natty Dread
Bob Marley & The Wailers
Really interesting to hear the first version of No Woman No Cry and see how much it's evolved over the years with so many covers. Rest of album is decent, but Bob Marley was just one of many great singers/songwriters in Jamaica at the time and has a far greater reputation than this material would warrant.
3
Sep 24 2021
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The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill
Lauryn Hill
What can you say? A great album that has been thoroughly review and acknowledged as a great album with anyone with a soul.
4
Sep 27 2021
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Enter The Wu-Tang (36 Chambers)
Wu-Tang Clan
In 300 years, when future civilizations sift through the wreckage of our society, this album will be treated as one of the foundational building blocks of a global culture. People will analyze the lyrics of the GZA like Shakespeare and the production of the RZA like Mozart, they'll probably even think ODB was a genius! The fact that a group of teenagers from the worst areas of New York were able to combine a few snippets from soul records from the 70s, culture and dialog from martial arts movies from Hong Kong and Japan, and a kick and snare to make something that will still be banging in car stereos and block parties 300 years from now is what music is all about. Wu Tang forever!!!
5
Oct 13 2021
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It Takes A Nation Of Millions To Hold Us Back
Public Enemy
A huge part of the foundation of hip hop, this inspired pretty much everything that came after. I didn't realize Flava Flav could rap but his track is actually pretty good.
4
Oct 14 2021
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The Nightfly
Donald Fagen
PUuukyyy schmaltz for middle aged white people. Seriously what the hell!?
1
Oct 15 2021
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Bossanova
Pixies
A very solid listen, no stand-out tracks for me but good variety and some great grooves. Better than 80% of the non-grunge music coming out in the early 90s.
3
Oct 18 2021
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Synchronicity
The Police
When Sting ruled the world. One of those asshole ego maniacs that treated "his band" like shit. You want to hate him, but can't argue with the songwriting on this album. The weakest tracks are the ones by the guitarist and drummer so also hard to feel sorry for them if this was their best effort.
3
Oct 19 2021
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Paul's Boutique
Beastie Boys
What a masterpiece, I can't believe that I hadn't listened to the whole thing before now. The samples, the production, hot-potato hand-off rhymes, the ridiculous lyrics--you could listen to this for years and not catch everything.
5
Oct 20 2021
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Born In The U.S.A.
Bruce Springsteen
Wow this dude loves construction work, baseball, and tight pants! Pretty much the epitome of America in the 80s. Lots of classic rock radio jams and some pretty decent deep cuts. What can you say?
3
Oct 21 2021
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The Sun Rises In The East
Jeru The Damaja
Pretty solid 90s hip hop. Classic DJ Premier Boom Bap production, but noting super stunning. Good rhymes and concepts, but again not much stands out. Fav track: Mental Stamina.
3
Oct 22 2021
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Crossing the Red Sea With the Adverts
The Adverts
Short and consistent, some cool ideas and great energy, but hard to get super excited about it. The Great British Mistake is pretty ironic these days.
3
Oct 25 2021
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The Joshua Tree
U2
Not sure who it was but I think it might have been Henry Rollins said somewhere what a ridiculously overrated band U2 was. It was like I had been brainwashed and was finally snapping out it and ever since I've not been able to enjoy them. They are a band with a limited amount going for them other than their singer's voice yet they've managed to stick around for 40 year, the last 20 objectively without any good music. This album was definitely a highlight and I know people rave about how good a singer Bono is and how amazing the Edge's guitar playing is, etc. But when you take a step back, you realize they are an average band with great production, a few catchy hooks and way too much guitar delay. I know that will offend a lot of people and I'm truly sorry for shattering this illusion, but the sooner you come to recognize it, the sooner the world can finally get rid of Bono!
2
Oct 26 2021
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Superunknown
Soundgarden
Solid 90s rawk, not super grungy but has all the classic elements of heavy distortion riffs, tons of toms, vaguely poignant lyrics, rock screams (CC's are pretty great though), and music videos with creepy bugs and other weird shit for good measure.
3
Oct 27 2021
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The Soft Bulletin
The Flaming Lips
Another one of these bands I've heard so much about over the years but never sat down to listen to an album start to finish. I can see the appeal here and imagine if you were a fan and invested in it it would be pretty cool. For the causal observer it's a bit inaccessible and hard to place: Do you listen to this at party or is headphones music? Had me a few times with some clever lyrics and the occasional head-bopping rhythm break, but not sure I'd come back to it anytime soon. Solid 2.5Stars
2
Oct 28 2021
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Ramones
Ramones
Classic album, classic sound, a couple of their best songs. Doesn't always work and the same tempo, 3 chords and singing gets repetitive by the end, but hard to find fault elsewhere. All bands should endeavour to reach this level of consistency, congruency and existential rigour.
4
Oct 29 2021
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Sunday At The Village Vanguard
Bill Evans Trio
Classic jazz, never gets too crazy or experimental, but still keeps your attention. Bass playing is next level.
4
Nov 01 2021
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Surf's Up
The Beach Boys
Don't get it, sounds like the worst of early 2000s indie bands with way too much production and vocal harmonies. Some of the songs were decent "Don't go near the water", "Feel flows" but the rest are just blah.
2
Nov 02 2021
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Dirt
Alice In Chains
More of a mix between hard rock and and metal than grunge to me but rocks in any case. Definitely built around the lead singer's vocals and lyrics, rest of band is adequate but not much ground breaking materials. Always liked "The Rooster" but a very consistent album beyond that.
3
Nov 03 2021
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Abattoir Blues / The Lyre of Orpheus
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds
Wasn't aware that his was a genre, but some great stuff in terms of songwriting, composition, and overall vibe. Comes across as vaguely familiar and almost classic, but suffers from the number of tracks and ambition to an extent.
3
Nov 04 2021
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Something/Anything?
Todd Rundgren
I don't get it, lame-ass 70s pop. This is album to listen to *after* you die.
2
Dec 02 2021
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Hysteria
Def Leppard
Generic 80s Rawk. A lot of screaming about stuff, way too much synth, and fake drum sounds (obviously drummer only has one arm so can't blame him for that but could have dialed back the compression) Guitar playing, which is normally the best part of hair metal, is so so. Overall, would prefer to be a deaf leopard than to listen one.
2
Dec 03 2021
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Pump
Aerosmith
Prize for most double entendre, puns, and sex jokes per song! Still funny and rocks hard today. After listening to a bunch of other hair metal bands on this list, it's hard to overstate just how much better Aerosmith is in every way to Def Lepard, Motley Crue, etc. Arrangements, musicianship, song-writing are all a cut above.
4
Dec 06 2021
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There's No Place Like America Today
Curtis Mayfield
Smooth and soulful, but the wispy voice and minimalist arrangements start to sound pretty similar after a while.
3
Dec 07 2021
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Mothership Connection
Parliament
Make my funk the P. Funk, I wants to get funked up
3
Dec 08 2021
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Want Two
Rufus Wainwright
Shrill and repetitive you'd have to be a fan to get into this, not for the casual listener.
2
Dec 17 2021
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Mott
Mott The Hoople
The worst of 70s rock, no new ideas, second and third hand guitar riffs, the most cliched lyrics imaginable that would make Spinal Tab cringe in embarrassment.
2
Dec 20 2021
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Screamadelica
Primal Scream
Nope.
2
Dec 21 2021
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Bayou Country
Creedence Clearwater Revival
Even though I've heard these songs a million times, they still bring a smile to my face because of their authenticity and unbridled passion for the music they are making. I know John Fogerty was a dick and the rest of the band hated him, but what can you say when a guy can play guitar, sing, write songs, play harmonica, and basically create a whole mythology around a time and place that never really existed.
4
Dec 22 2021
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Midnight Ride
Paul Revere & The Raiders
Pure 60s pop. Very much forgettable, so-called "hit song" "kicks" is super weak sauce considering what else was coming out at the time. This is like the Maroon 5 of today, popular but irrelevant long term.
2
Dec 23 2021
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World Clique
Deee-Lite
Ah the early 90s house sound: drum and bass that sound like they came through a telephone, the same 3 chord piano riff in every song, some cheap keyboard stabs, over the top singing and vocalizations. The formula became a joke, but these guys at least got out in front. Groove is in the Heart is by far the best track, but it's also hard to go wrong when you have Bootsy Collins, Fred Wesley, Maceo Parker and Qtip together on a song.
3
Dec 24 2021
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Cafe Bleu
The Style Council
Surprisingly good! I really liked The Jam and thought this was a good exploration outside the mod-sound into new territory that could have been quite risky. Not all of the tracks are amazing but it's consistent despite the variety of genres and style.
4
Dec 27 2021
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A Christmas Gift For You From Phil Spector
Various Artists
Not sure why I'm listening to Xmas music in the spring but I guess it doesn't matter. Nothing particularly new or exciting here but that's the point.
2
Dec 28 2021
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John Barleycorn Must Die
Traffic
Worth a listen, but wouldn't say it blew me a way. Very 70s, very English, very jam bandy.
2
Jan 10 2022
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Back to Mystery City
Hanoi Rocks
Um yeah, not too sure. Some sort of 80s punk/hair metal from Finland. If this has any relevance to the world of music, it must be lost on my ill-informed ears, but this could safely have never been made.
2
Jan 11 2022
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Elvis Is Back
Elvis Presley
Elvis in top form, nothing amazing or super original, but such as contrast to the pop music of today: real instruments, doo-wop backup singers, a wide variety of songs and lyrics. Today the best you can hope for is an autotuned singer and a guy with pro tools rehash the same tired drum samples, loops and chord progressions for the millionth time.
3
Jan 12 2022
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Pink Moon
Nick Drake
Just a dude mumbling to his guitar. Liked the playing but not really feeling the vocals or the song writing. Probably one of those artists that if you discover them yourself you think they are great, but if someone tells you to listen to them you're not impressed.
2
Jan 13 2022
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Lazer Guided Melodies
Spiritualized
Hmm another super niche British album that really had no discernible impact or influence anywhere else in the world. Most of the time the music alright but the singer sounds like he's mumbling to himself in his sleep, and a lot of the songs blend into each other. Definitely, nothing "wow!" here but more tolerable than the other super lame stuff on that often comes up on this list.
2
Jan 14 2022
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Axis: Bold As Love
Jimi Hendrix
What can you say? Classic. A very specific moment in music and the world that coagulated into a cultural high point that couldn't happen again the same way.
4
Jan 17 2022
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Music for the Masses
Depeche Mode
Pretty much the same review as for the last DM album: Find the singing super annoying; the instrumentals are better and more suited for their cinematic creepy/minor key keyboard sounds. 0 Stars for album cover.
2
Jan 18 2022
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The Slim Shady LP
Eminem
"Dave pull up your pants, we need an ambulance, there's a girl upstairs talking to plants." Some of these rhymes have been deeply buried in my teen-aged mind for decades. Yeah it's violent, misogynist, homophobic, and all the other things and I'm not defending it. But criticizing this is likely going to a horror movie and complaining it was too violent, or going to a modern art exhibit and saying it sends the wrong message to kids--that's point, you're supposed to be offended and shocked! Not saying this a great work of art or anything but the context of how and why it came to be is important. Slim Shady is a symptom of many larger social problems that have gotten worse over the last 2 decades. If you're not mad after listening to this, you're doing it wrong!
3
Jan 19 2022
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Risque
CHIC
5 stars for the Good Times bassline alone. Never gets old. Rest of album is pretty wishy-washy disco/70s but listenable.
3
Jan 20 2022
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The Hissing Of Summer Lawns
Joni Mitchell
As a Canadian, I'm contractually obligated to like Joni Mitchell and Neil Young. Honestly though this is some 70s junk. She can write a good song like nobody's business but it just doesn't come across in these arrangements and production. Prefer the stripped back vocals and guitars, but can't please everyone.
2
Jan 21 2022
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21
Adele
Never been a huge fan of music that fetishizes a person's voice over other elements such as songwriting and music, but this hits all three areas quite consistently. Hard to knock even though something so popular generally means it serves as the lowest common denominator to everyone's tastes. The only thing she could have done was take a few more chances later in the album instead of edging closer to lounge music.
3
Jan 24 2022
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Live At The Star Club, Hamburg
Jerry Lee Lewis
Teetering on the edge of chaos for 40mins without ever completely losing it. This is that real, scare your parents, start a riot, lose your mind rock and roll that few will ever equal (sorry Beatles)!
3
Jan 25 2022
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Hard Again
Muddy Waters
"She used to get a ride in the daytime now she gets a ride in the night" Looolz!! Singing about your wife cheating with the bus driver, going to Florida, a cross-eyed cat it doesn't really matter. If you got troubles, 12 bars and three chords you can build any kind of song you want. Throw in some blazing guitar, harmonica, and piano solos and jam the f*ck out!
4
Jan 26 2022
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Orbital 2
Orbital
It's very easy to hate on electronic music. All the things that make music great, the timing, the tonality of live instruments, the play of expected vs. unexpected changes and sounds, improvisation, and the slight imperfections that make something sound organic just don't come across in a mathematical sequence. Things have improved somewhat since the early 9s when this came out but it's still about as emotional as interacting with a pissed off microwave.
2
Jan 27 2022
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Kid A
Radiohead
Sort of ambient, free jazz, electronic, rock, with creepy singing and "you just don't get it" pretensions. I missed the boat on Radiohead as a pre-teen and now it appears I'm too old.
3
Jan 28 2022
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New Forms
Roni Size
Could have been a few hours shorter. I appreciate that not every genre can or should appeal to everyone. If it did, it would be so generic and lowest common denominator that everyone would rate it as 2 or 3 at most. While I'm sure this isn't a very popular album on this list, the idea that there are people out there, throwing down the 5-stars and rave reviews, to me, is a good thing. I'm glad you like it!
2
Jan 31 2022
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Pearl
Janis Joplin
Grating doesn't begin to describe it, this voice could shred rocks. I admire the vibe and feeling, but still feels a little like Amy Winehouse or another soul music recycler, a bit hallow like why are you so upset again?
2
Feb 01 2022
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Franz Ferdinand
Franz Ferdinand
Remember Take Me Out being quoted as the "best music for banging" in university due to it multiple rhythm and time changes. Definitely do as much as they can with the pop-punk-dance vibe without going over produced or electronic. Had it's time and place in the mid-2000s but I guess they sort of ran out of steam.
3
Feb 02 2022
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The Grand Tour
George Jones
Country has a whole different concept when it comes to sad songs and depressing subject matter. This guy is more emo than any of those black eye shadow dudes and actually has the depressing life story to back it up. Music is straightforward with little variation, so it's mostly about that twangy country voice thing.
3
Feb 03 2022
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Millions Now Living Will Never Die
Tortoise
Nice and mellow and I generally like instrumental music. This skates dangerously close to elevator music territory and quickly fades into the background.
3
Feb 04 2022
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Done By The Forces Of Nature
Jungle Brothers
Really like the mix on this album. Lot's of different styles and samples, positive vibes, and some super corny 80's lyrics. Interesting to speculate on how hip hop would have evolved had something like this became more popular vs. the NWAs and Wu Tangs.
4
Feb 07 2022
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Court And Spark
Joni Mitchell
Okay, nothing really stands out, but enjoy her observational songwriting and wordplay. Music is all over the place and sometimes seems to have been an after thought thrown together at the last minute by the studio musicians. Raised and Robbery is a good jam, rest wouldn't come back to.
2
Feb 08 2022
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Yankee Hotel Foxtrot
Wilco
Songs all start off promising enough, then the sleepy-voiced singer comes in and they start layering way too many things on top and mid way through it just turns to generic rock-mush. Potentially a good live band if they got a jam going, but doesn't seem to work in this format. Nothing much to the lyrics or themes, so not sure why they were so famous for a while. Maybe I'm missing something here.
2
Feb 09 2022
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The Visitors
ABBA
Wow, never thought I would listen to a full ABBA album beginning to end. Wasn't as bad I as thought: they definitely had a formula down by this point so the songs are consistent and pretty catchy. You can't argue with the vocal harmonies, songwriting or musicianship either, but it all has the weird bizzaro tinge of 70s Sweden which makes everything sound vaguely familiar but not quite natural.
2
Feb 10 2022
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Nilsson Schmilsson
Harry Nilsson
70s schmaltz, but some good signing and a few good grooves. Had only ever heard the coconut song before, which is not representative. I think this music would have been long forgotten without the novelty factor. Dude strikes me as the Ed Sheeran of the 70s.
2
Feb 11 2022
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Tracy Chapman
Tracy Chapman
Interesting artist who had real authenticity, musicianship, and songwriting chops, but whose success came at direct cost to her ability to retain what made her so unique. This album has some great stuff, but is generally pretty heavy and sad. Some of the rather half hearted attempts at "African" and "Jamaican" sounds seems like they were someone else's idea.
3
Mar 28 2022
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Selected Ambient Works 85-92
Aphex Twin
Nice chillout muzak, some tracks get lost in themselves and despite a valiant effort the limitations of the genre quickly become clear. There's only so much emotion and soul that can be channeled through repetitive loops and synth sounds.
2
Mar 29 2022
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Unknown Pleasures
Joy Division
Interesting soundscapes and moods, can definitely see the influence on later Manchester bands and post punk genres. Not all of it is actually that much fun to listen to, but the creativity is admirable.
3
Mar 30 2022
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Illinois
Sufjan Stevens
Lame, smug proto-hipster music for people you like to think that this guy is somehow god's gift to songwriting, sorry no
1
Mar 31 2022
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Ambient 1/Music For Airports
Brian Eno
Music for (empty) elevators, deaf people, morgues, and trees falling in the woods when nobody can hear them.
2
Apr 01 2022
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Bongo Rock
Incredible Bongo Band
Every hip hop track in the 80s and 90s owes an eternal gratitude to these funky drum breaks. Must have been a hell of party to record this!
4
Apr 04 2022
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Funeral
Arcade Fire
More of that mid 2000s overproduced, whining, emo, why is there a fiddle in everything?, proto-hipster, I wear a funny hat but I can pull it off because I'm a musician type stuff.
2
Apr 05 2022
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1989
Taylor Swift
Dear god that was horrible!!!
1
Apr 06 2022
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The ArchAndroid
Janelle Monáe
Wow, great! I had heard people raving about this album but hadn't sat down to listen to it before. Definitely starts out stronger than it finishes, but a really creative and artistic set of songs, lots of variety, great musicianship and interesting overall vibes. No wonder it never got the credit it deserves!
4
Apr 07 2022
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Emergency On Planet Earth
Jamiroquai
I guess this was unique when it first came out: some white guys from the UK doing soul and funk, but now that everyone and their dog has copied this sound it no longer feels very fresh. The most creative part is the digeridoo on the first and last songs, but rest sort of melds together into a gelatinous blob of recycled funk and derivative vocals.
2
May 12 2022
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Steve McQueen
Prefab Sprout
Wow that was truly miserable, I have no idea how anyone could connect with this: music is the driest, most unsoulful pop goop imaginable, the lyrics are weird, and the whole thing has a locked in a dark closet humming to himself vibe.
1
May 13 2022
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Da Capo
Love
60's freakout rock with every hippie cliche imaginable. Still fun though and rocks pretty in places. Could have used better production and edit down the final track.
2
May 16 2022
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Ocean Rain
Echo And The Bunnymen
Interesting classical/punk-new wave, not what I was expecting, but worth a listen.
3
May 17 2022
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Hot Buttered Soul
Isaac Hayes
Grooves, soul, long-winded story about a guy leaving his wife that didn't seem to get anywhere, swelling strings, funky breaks, and more soul. What would happen if you showed up to record an album having thought it over only briefly but were so talented that it's an instant classic.
4
May 18 2022
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Wild Is The Wind
Nina Simone
How does one woman kick so much ass?
5
May 19 2022
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Unhalfbricking
Fairport Convention
Bob Dylan and Joan Baez, with fiddle trying to sound like English folk music, but comes across pretty American. Not altogether unpleasant though.
3
May 20 2022
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James Brown Live At The Apollo
James Brown
Short and screamy, but a good intro to JB and captures the vibe. Band is air tight!
3
May 23 2022
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If You Can Believe Your Eyes & Ears
The Mamas & The Papas
Sing-songy, lite folk/pop, I guess this was the safe bet for office parties in the 60s if you weren't cool enough for Hendrix.
2
May 24 2022
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Everything Must Go
Manic Street Preachers
Early 90s, British emo by skinny, white guys who look like they've been locked in a cellar their whole lives.
3
May 25 2022
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Maggot Brain
Funkadelic
Maggot Brain was left on repeat for days at a time in my dorm room, but hadn't heard the other tracks in a while. Some of it crosses the line for me in terms of good taste, but hard to argue with it overall.
4
Jun 16 2022
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The New Tango
Astor Piazzolla
Banging vibes and concertina thing, weird little percussion noises in the background. Surprisingly interesting and varied overall. Good background 60s party music.
3
Jun 17 2022
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Melodrama
Lorde
Mellow some drama, but mostly the same few song ideas swashing around like a shoe in a dryer. Song writing is aight I guess but can't remember any of it as the song is over. Still better than a lot of computer-/committee-generated pop content in recent years.
2
Jun 20 2022
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Marcus Garvey
Burning Spear
Deeeeep riddims,! Big Up!
4
Jun 21 2022
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Golden Hour
Kacey Musgraves
Country pop combines two genres of music that I find most devastatingly annoying. This wasn't as bad as I thought, so maybe two wrongs can partially redeem each other. Still pretty bad though.
2
Jun 22 2022
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Blonde On Blonde
Bob Dylan
Man so damn classic! Even if you don't like Dylan, the fact that pretty much everyone still knows these songs 50+ years later is insane. The guy could write a song about any random mundane part of life and it would still be a classic.
4
Jun 23 2022
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Vauxhall And I
Morrissey
I like The Smiths and Morrissey in general. There's nothing that really stood out for me, but I still get a kick out of the depressing lyrics and turns of phrase. That chainsaw break is also pretty sweet!
3