Nov 10 2021
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Disintegration
The Cure
Super atmospheric, and definitely in the 80’s goth style as I remember it. Not my style really as it is too plodding, but certainly if I was in the right mood it could fill in the spaces of a dark day….
3
Nov 11 2021
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Head Hunters
Herbie Hancock
Starts with a super funky vibe (Chameleon) and veers all over the place from there. Straightforward funk, electric jazz and way out space avant- garde, at least to my ears
4
Nov 12 2021
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Fetch The Bolt Cutters
Fiona Apple
Great record! Shameika, Relay are particularly good in showcasing her odd phrasing and her fascinating way of turning a phrase, often with a real bite. Overall I still prefer Idler Wheel……
4
Nov 15 2021
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The Gershwin Songbook
Ella Fitzgerald
Not sure if it’s the exact version as there were 3 on Apple Music. Love Ella and her phrasing, My One and Only is great.
3
Nov 17 2021
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Hot Rats
Frank Zappa
I’ve tried listening to Zappa in the past. He certainly has the chops and a tight band behind him but I guess I just don’t get it. Some parts of songs are cool like much of SOn of Mr Green Genes, but devolve into silliness or random noise. Not for me
2
Nov 19 2021
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Reign In Blood
Slayer
Blood, sacrilege, violence, and general mayhem are key in this classic old school thrash album. Did I mention the blood?
4
Nov 30 2021
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Surf's Up
The Beach Boys
Wow, that was The Beach Boys? A very strange album. Student Demonstration Time is so out of the blue, it’s crazy. Interesting harmonies in several songs.
3
Dec 01 2021
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Horses
Patti Smith
A classic sounding album even though it is commonly labeled as punk. Gloria is a fantastic cover.
4
Dec 02 2021
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Synchronicity
The Police
This was the album that put them into the stratosphere. I didn’t like it as much when it came out although Synchronicity I is one of my favorite songs. It hasn’t held up well… at least for me.
3
Dec 03 2021
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Heaux Tales
Jazmine Sullivan
Hmm, this was a real stretch for me. I guess it’s not really made for a 59 year old male, but it was still cool. Pick up your feelings is great! She is an unapologetic sexual being. Recognizing the ups and downs of that reality. Go for it girl
4
Dec 07 2021
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Rain Dogs
Tom Waits
It’s all here; the raspy yawp, weird percussion, tales of the backroads or alleys. Great band as well. Gun Street Girl, Big Black Mariah, Jockey Full of bourbon, Union Square, and Walking Spanish are all highlights. Makes me want to sip some bourbon… cheap bourbon!
4
Dec 08 2021
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The Seldom Seen Kid
Elbow
Slow and dull. Not for me. But I did play it all the way through, so I guess it didn’t bug me that much
2
Dec 09 2021
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Rocks
Aerosmith
A real 70s hard rock classic. The Back in the Saddle to Last Child opening is a throwback to the sleazy bluesy hard rock of that era.
3
Dec 10 2021
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Mermaid Avenue
Billy Bragg
This might be Wilco’s best album… Ingrid Bergman, California Stars, Hesitating Beauty all highlight their “sensitive” side really well.
5
Dec 15 2021
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Ill Communication
Beastie Boys
All time classic! The Beasties in the middle of their peak. All the different sounds, Sabotage, Root Down, Sabrosa, Tough Guy! They are there own genre and we are better for it.
5
Dec 16 2021
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I Do Not Want What I Haven't Got
Sinead O'Connor
What a cool record! O’Connor has a great voice used to great effect. This was when she had the world prepped for her to be a big star and told everyone to fuck-off. Nothing Compares 2 U, Feels So Different, Black Boys on Moped. Chill yet full of passion.
4
Dec 20 2021
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Let It Bleed
The Rolling Stones
One of my favorite, if not the favorite Stones album. Starting with Gimme Shelter, Let it Bleed, You Got the Silver, Monkey Man are all classics. The incredible Love in Vain cover rules. Stones at their sleazy, druggy best!
5
Dec 21 2021
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Arrival
ABBA
Amother flashback to high school! Didn’t realize they were just a 50’s girl group with a disco beat! Now they’ve been ruined by white women drinking too much Chardonnay and dancing to Mamma Mia. There’s a place in my heart for Knowing You, Knowing Me and Fernando. Always liked Money, Money, Money too.
3
Dec 22 2021
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69 Love Songs
The Magnetic Fields
Self indulgent? Tongue in Cheek? Sometimes funny? Yes to all, and that’s why it should not be soooo long. I get that you’re going for 69(hehe) but c’mon.
2
Jan 10 2022
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Rock Bottom
Robert Wyatt
Unlistenable! British art house nonsense for the sake of itself.
2
Jan 11 2022
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American Idiot
Green Day
The opening 4 songs are as good as it gets. A real window into Bush’s America and it rocks hard!
4
Jan 12 2022
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The Rising
Bruce Springsteen
A very murky sounding album from the Boss. Makes sense as it is a post 9-11 album.
3
Jan 13 2022
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Dance Mania
Tito Puente
Feel like I should be sipping a martini at the club with the Rat Pack. Very hip in a 60’s kinda way.
4
Jan 14 2022
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Too Rye Ay
Dexys Midnight Runners
I like the mix of traditional Irish music and an R &B/should sound.
3
Jan 18 2022
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Darklands
The Jesus And Mary Chain
Great guitar wall of sound. Reverb and atmosphere for days.
4
Jan 19 2022
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Dust
Screaming Trees
Old school grunge. Great vocals and I particularly like All I Know and Dime Western
4
Jan 21 2022
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Deep Purple In Rock
Deep Purple
Speed King is a hard rockin opener. The rest is pretty typical Purple with that prog/hard rock mix, soaring vocals, etc. Good record. Not necessarily for me, and certainly no Machine Head.
3
Jan 24 2022
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Hysteria
Def Leppard
Why would you have this album on but not Pyromania. This album is everything wrong with 80s metal. Overproduced plodding crap. At least Pyromania had some decent riffs. PourSome Sugar On can still draw a smile though
2
Jan 25 2022
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Tres Hombres
ZZ Top
Bluesy, sleazy, and fun. Jesus…Chicago, Waitin for the Bus, LaGrange all classics. This set them up for a lifetime of great boogie.
4
Jan 26 2022
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Haut de gamme / Koweït, rive gauche
Koffi Olomide
Bluesy, sleazy, and fun. Jesus…Chicago, Waitin for the Bus, LaGrange all classics. This set them up for a lifetime of great boogie.
3
Jan 27 2022
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The Blueprint
JAY Z
In my admittedly narrow mind this is the epitome of mindless big star prattle passing for cool. The same big star attitude that created punk rock in the 70’s when rock became stale.
2
Jan 28 2022
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Here Are the Sonics
The Sonics
Don’t let the sweaters fool you, this is loud, obnoxious, and sweaty rock(early punk?). Strychnine, Have Love Will Trave are two of the standouts
5
Jan 31 2022
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Music For The Jilted Generation
The Prodigy
Okay that is a bit too much for me. In a club when I was in my 20’s it wasn’t even my style, but I could have enjoyed it for a night. Beats and random noises, the occasional guitars, voices, and more beats.
3
Feb 01 2022
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Elephant
The White Stripes
Hardest Button to Button, I Don’t Know What to Do With Myself, Little Acorns, Black Math, the list goes on and on. Ball and Biscuit is a classic blues rave-up, Seven Nation Army is a sports stadium staple. The White Stripes at their world conquering rock n roll height. Blistering, thumping, a little sensitive, and a lot weird.
5
Feb 02 2022
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B-52's
The B-52's
It’s hard to recall how offbeat and strange this album sounded back in 79. From the gradual build and killer guitar of Planet Claire to the body shaking Dance This Mess Around and the goofy Rock Lobster. It opened up a new day glo world to my 17 year old brain. Good stuff.
4
Feb 03 2022
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Happy Trails
Quicksilver Messenger Service
When I hear the term jam band, this, unfortunately is what comes to mind. Mindless noodling by the guitarist in search of an interesting groove. here they take the class Bo Diddley beat, Who Do You Love and try many different versions, one more boring than the next. My question is, why?
1
Feb 04 2022
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Queen II
Queen
They’re still searching on this album. Too many fantasy songs with the Brian May guitar and vocal harmonies being played with. Not close to their best. Why put this album over most of their catalog which is much better?
2
Feb 07 2022
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MTV Unplugged In New York
Nirvana
This album really highlights the strength of Nirvana’s songs. They hold up under a light acoustic setting just as well as with squalls of guitar and pounding drums. I forgot how they gave the Meat Puppets a huge boost by playing three of their songs from the II album.
4
Feb 08 2022
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In The Wee Small Hours
Frank Sinatra
A real contemplative album, just as the title suggests. Dancing on the Ceiling, Last Night When We We’re Young stood out on the first listen. Overall needs a little more swing for my tastes.
3
Feb 09 2022
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Crime Of The Century
Supertramp
I had almost forgotten about these guys. This album was a radio favorite with Dreamer, School, Bloody Well Right. Piano pop with a bit of a prog edge. Holds up pretty well after all these years. They had a very distinctive sound… maybe the Spoon of the 70’s? Probably not….
4
Feb 18 2022
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En-Tact
The Shamen
That’s a lot of beats! I find it rather repetitive but have to say Make it Mine is a bumper.
2
Feb 21 2022
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Bridge Over Troubled Water
Simon & Garfunkel
Ahh the harmonies. The Boxer and Cecilia are super strong songs. Still feels a little too earnest, but good stuff
3
Feb 22 2022
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Suede
Suede
On first listen this is a slab of ponderous guitar Brit-pop. Not grunge, not Oasis, just slow and dull.
1
Feb 23 2022
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Let It Be
The Replacements
Gloriously sloppy, rockin, perceptive,juvenile, sensitive. The Replacements here are all that and more. Favorite Thing, Unsatisfied, Tommy Got His Tonsils Out, Androgynous, and even Black Diamond(a Kiss cover). Are they the world’s best rock band or a bunch of hard drinking idiots? Yes they are!
4
Feb 25 2022
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Africa Brasil
Jorge Ben Jor
I’m not sure what type of music this is. Maybe some samba influence but also plenty of electric guitar and some African beats. The first song is excellent as is the title song to finish up. It has a real angsty feel even though I have no idea what the lyrics are saying. Interesting sounds and I’ll listen to it more for sure.
4
Feb 28 2022
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Soul Mining
The The
Kind of 80’s dance/industrial with dark lyrics.
2
Mar 01 2022
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The Wall
Pink Floyd
Pink Floyd finished off the 70’s with their biggest hit. The paranoia surrounding Roger Waters comes spilling out in this concept album of a tortured rock star. Tons of big hits spread throughout, Another Brick in the Wall Pt 2, Comfortably Numb, Run Like Hell, Is There Anybody Out There. Fantastic!
4
Mar 02 2022
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Live At The Regal
B.B. King
BB King is a smooth entertainer and this live show proves it. His band is crackin’ with horns and keyboards especially shining. King has a story to tell and plays Lucille, his guitar, with shimmering leads and most importantly restraint. He is not a flashy guitarist but it fills the sound perfectly. How Blue Can You Get? And Woke Up This Mornin’ are standouts for me.
4
Mar 03 2022
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Imperial Bedroom
Elvis Costello & The Attractions
This album has been giving me goosebumps since it came out 40 years ago. The Attractions are at the top of their game in mellow, loud, chamber pop and everything else. Elvis’s songs cover relationships as usual with biting sarcasm and wordplay. The opening trio of Beyond Belief, Tears Before Bedtime, and Shabby Doll set a level of brilliance followed up through the whole album
5
Mar 04 2022
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Technique
New Order
I honestly never gave New Order much of chance back in the 80s. I was more on the punk side and there was plenty to listen to. I find their overreliance on drum machines(?) to be a little dull. However some of the tunes like Guilty Partner and Run are a little closer to The Cure and are kind of interesting.
2
Mar 07 2022
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To Pimp A Butterfly
Kendrick Lamar
A no holds barred look at life for young African Americans in the USA. Some of the production is super soul/jazz/funk and some is very spare and spoken word. Not sure if I liked it, but I have to respect it.
3
Mar 08 2022
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Live 1966 (The Royal Albert Hall Concert)
Bob Dylan
This album is split between the “old” acoustic Dylan’s and the new rock n roller. After all these years it doesn’t sound all that wild.
3
Mar 09 2022
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Songs For Swingin' Lovers!
Frank Sinatra
You Make Me feel So Young, I’ve Got You Under My Skin, Pennies From Heaven all standout in this big band version of Frank. I’m struck by how lite this collection is. I’m assuming Frank could put out anything and people would eat it up.
3
Mar 10 2022
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Let Love Rule
Lenny Kravitz
With nods slinky soul, funk, R & B, glam rock this album is a winner. Freedom Train, Let Love Rule, Be, Mr Cab Driver and more show him as an inspired artist letting his freak flag fly.
4
Mar 11 2022
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Boston
Boston
The classic rock album to beat all others! Seemingly unknown as individuals, but the ultimate 70’s band. For those of us in high school in the late 70’s this is the soundtrack of those years more than any other. It is definitely a rockin piece of nostalgia, but is tired after 50+ years on repeat….
3
Mar 14 2022
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Melodrama
Lorde
Sometimes I listen to modern pop and I just feel old and out of touch. this is one of those occasions
2
Mar 15 2022
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The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill
Lauryn Hill
Lost Ones, That Thing, Everything is Everything - the list of great soul/rap songs goes on and on. Hill sings and raps her way through songs of love, relationships, tension and growth. Holds up after all these years!
5
Mar 21 2022
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In The Court Of The Crimson King
King Crimson
In my opinion 21st Century Schizoid Man is the one true highlight of this album. Mixes prog, free jazz, rock freak out into a heady stew. The rest is filler.
3
Mar 24 2022
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Vanishing Point
Primal Scream
Kind of a trippy album. I’m assuming, based on some of the samples in there, it’s loosely based on that late 60s/early 70s movie. Not nearly as strong a set as on Screamadelica.
3
Jun 14 2024
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Live!
Fela Kuti
What a great funky jam! Cool polyrhythms and JB style horns.
4