Dec 21 2021
View Album
Rust Never Sleeps
Neil Young & Crazy Horse
Pretty nice album. I haven't listened to much Neil Young, and I'm starting to think his songwriting might be right up my alley. This may spark my interest in going down a Neil Young rabbit hole!
3
Dec 22 2021
View Album
Come Away With Me
Norah Jones
It's not something I see myself ever listening to again, but I could totally see why some people would love it. The laid back instrumentals complimented the vocals fairly well. Speaking of those instrumentals, I need to find out who did the guitar work on this record - I was loving it! I could see someone listening to this while getting some work done in a coffee shop or something, that's the kind of vibe it gave off to me.
2
Dec 23 2021
View Album
Ágætis Byrjun
Sigur Rós
I found this to be an interesting listen. I like music in unfamiliar languages because instead of paying attention to the lyrics, you just kinda vibe with the melodies and whatnot. I could see myself revisiting this album/band, especially as some background music for work/reading or even meditation. The only thing I dislike about albums/music like this is that you can't really sneak it into most playlists (except for like a study/focus one) so it's hard to show/introduce other people to it. Anyways, hope we get more interesting albums like this, it was a nice change of pace.
3
Dec 24 2021
View Album
...And Justice For All
Metallica
While I enjoyed this one about as much as the Norah Jones one (meaning not very much), I give it one extra star because there is one song that I genuinely enjoy on this album (ironically, the track called "One"). It'd be more of a 2 and a half if that was possible here. A lot of the songs just felt really similar to one another, and on top of that the songs are long with not much variety. Got nothing against long songs, Tool is fucking sick, but their songs have like a build up and a purpose, where a lot of these tracks just felt like "metal because it's cool" if that makes any sense.
3
Dec 27 2021
View Album
A Christmas Gift For You From Phil Spector
Various Artists
A nice little christmas album. I enjoyed most of the songs here with only a few of them being duds. I could see myself listening to this more often next holiday season, because I enjoyed these covers more than the versions of these songs I normally hear.
3
Dec 28 2021
View Album
Paul's Boutique
Beastie Boys
Oh yeah, this was wayyyy more up my alley than previous entries. I was jamming out to this shit! I was actually sad when it ended, wanted it to keep going. I'll be the first to admit that Beastie Boys can be corny as all heck, but I really just do not care because it's hella enjoyable. Love their delivery & energy, and I was really enjoying the beats.
4
Dec 29 2021
View Album
Come Find Yourself
Fun Lovin' Criminals
I found this album to be pretty generic for the most part. I only liked one track enough to save it (Scooby Snacks) and that's probably the only part of this album I'll revisit. There are 2 'slow jams' in this album that feel hella out of place - I get that they were probably trying to show that they can do more than rap/rap-rock, but it did not work for me at all. At least it wasn't insultingly bad or anything - just mediocre.
3
Dec 30 2021
View Album
The Wildest!
Louis Prima
Midway through it now, listening to "Body and Soul". While I haven't been loving or hating this album, I've gotta give this man his flowers for the trumpet work here. I used to play back in middle school and holy heck is he doing some wild stuff with that thang. Hahaha the banana split song is really fun, too. That one might be a keeper. I've actually been jamming to this way harder than previous albums on this list - my shoulders and feet keep grooving all on their own!
4
Dec 31 2021
View Album
My Generation
The Who
There are some songs by The Who that I really really love, but this album's just not doing it for me. Though I do have to give some credit to Pete, the guitarist - there are some riffs and whatnot I enjoyed throughout the record. I know that not everyone likes The Beatles, but The Who has always given me a "we have Beatles at home" kind of vibe - at least that's what this album sounds like.
Also I would like to point out that the guy on the left in the UK flag jacket looks like Glenn Howerton of Always Sunny fame.
2
Jan 03 2022
View Album
Pink Flag
Wire
Yeah it was decent, nothing that I necessarily disliked but nothing that stood out to me as great. Just felt like kind of generic old-school punk rock.
2
Jan 04 2022
View Album
Odessey And Oracle
The Zombies
I had forgotten how much I enjoy a lot of tracks on this album, used to listen to a lot of them while in college. Standout song for me is This Will Be Our Year - I hadn't heard it in a long time and it put a big nostalgic smile on my face. I think this is gonna be the first 5 star for me - I would do 4.5 if possible, but it definitely deserves more than just a 4. This definitely isn't everyone's style, so it's not something I'd recommend to just anyone. But if you can get into it, then it's a great listen.
5
Jan 05 2022
View Album
Every Good Boy Deserves Fudge
Mudhoney
I had never heard of this album or band before this, but was pleasantly surprised at how much I enjoyed listening. Big fan of the guitar work on this record - there's something magical about fuzzy sounding guitars. Lowkey inspiring me to whip out my electric again and mess around with my effect pedals. The guitar is definitely what stood out to me the most and what I enjoyed the most, but I also liked the vocals. Album was chaotic in a way that I thoroughly enjoyed. Might check out more by this band!
4
Jan 06 2022
View Album
Tusk
Fleetwood Mac
The first 1/3 of this album I was somewhat enjoying, but then it just kept becoming more derivative and boring. Some decent guitar work, but nothing that stood out to me as amazing. Some pretty vocals, I mean come on Stevie can sing, but again nothing that stood out to me too much. I'm a fan of a lot of the Fleetwood Mac songs off of Rumours, but this record just didn't really do it for me. By the last few tracks I was just waiting for it to be over.
2
Jan 07 2022
View Album
Stand!
Sly & The Family Stone
I'm very much digging this album, how have I not heard anything from this group before? Nice and funky, some dope effects on instruments (especially for the time), and hella enjoyable vocals. I like me some long songs, but "Sex Machine" went on for a bit too long - but also, I get it, jams can be fun. Just a bit much and felt sort of out of place among the rest of the tracks - almost felt like an "intermission".
4
Jan 10 2022
View Album
Forever Changes
Love
Oh yeah, this album is nice and chill. I'm diggin this shit. Randy said this is one of this band's worse albums, so I definitely need to remember to check out more of their stuff, because I liked this album but didn't love it (haha get it cause the band name?).
3
Jan 11 2022
View Album
Surf's Up
The Beach Boys
Hey wait a minute, this isn't the soundtrack to the hit 2007 computer animated film? My disappointment is immeasurable and my day is ruined.
Oh wow, I was not ready for how bluesy "Student Demonstration Time" is! The guitar and vocals on that track have some got-damn attitude. I had no idea The Beach Boys had that in them. Also holy shit, the lyrics to that song are socially conscious as fuck and are still relevant today.
Wow yeah this album is way different than what I've previously heard from this group. I was expecting some "round round get around I get around" type of beat, not this deep, existential sonic experience - I'm all for it!
4
Jan 12 2022
View Album
Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness
The Smashing Pumpkins
The second album we've got that I'm familiar with! I'm going into this very biased as I had a big Smashing Pumpkins phase back in middle/high school, so nostalgia is definitely going to factor in to my score.
Can confirm: Georgie still loves him some Smashing Pumpkins. Is this a perfect album? No, it definitely has its flaws and Corgan's vocal style is not for everyone. Is it an album I thoroughly enjoy despite imperfections? Absolutely! I like me some grunge and I always appreciate Corgan's use of other instruments such as the keyboard - I like the juxtaposition of jumping from slower, almost ballad-like tracks right into hard-hitting rock.
4
Jan 13 2022
View Album
Goodbye Yellow Brick Road
Elton John
I'd heard plenty of Elton John's hits, but I'd never actually listened through an entire record before. I feel like this album awoke something inside of me, I don't know how to describe it. But I'm certainly going to dive deeper into Elton's discography. Front to back I was genuinely jamming out and loving nearly every track, I never found that momentum was lost at any point. Great listen, will absolutely be revisiting this record.
5
Jan 14 2022
View Album
The Queen Is Dead
The Smiths
There were a few tracks I enjoyed and was kinda dancing along to while making myself lunch. In fact, one of the songs I had previously liked, probably from a spotify radio or my discover weekly. There are some interesting tones and effects on the instruments throughout this record, and I think that aspect is the primary draw for me. I totally get why people would love this, especially back when it came out, but it didn't really do it for me.
3
Jan 17 2022
View Album
At Mister Kelly's
Sarah Vaughan
Got a couple of songs in and got very bored. Jumped around the tracklist and it's just more of the same. I get why some people would dig it, and he's got a great voice, but definitely not for me.
1
Jan 18 2022
View Album
Countdown To Ecstasy
Steely Dan
4
Jan 19 2022
View Album
Melody A.M.
Röyksopp
Not my type of thing admittedly. There were a few tracks that had me grooving along a bit, but even those tracks would get old pretty quick.
2
Jan 20 2022
View Album
Trans Europe Express
Kraftwerk
Not too enjoyable, kind of for the same reasons the Royksopp record didn't work for me. Just nothing that I really connected with, and on top of that I found it quite repetitive. Didn't even finish this one honestly.
2
Jan 21 2022
View Album
Out of Step
Minor Threat
Now this was fun. Listened to it while making myself some lunch and the record was almost done by the time I sat down to eat. Some classic fast, high-energy punk stuff. Can't go wrong with it.
4
Jan 24 2022
View Album
Like A Prayer
Madonna
Of course I've heard Madonna songs before, but I'd never listened through an album before. I'd say I came out of this presently surprised, the overall production on this record was pretty enjoyable. And of course Madonna can sing, so there's great vocals throughout. While it's not my usual listening style, I can appreciate it.
3
Jan 25 2022
View Album
Cosmo's Factory
Creedence Clearwater Revival
Oh hell to the yes, CCR is my jam. Their blend of blues rock and folk/soul hits this beautiful sweet spot for me - I think some refer to their music as "americana".
This record just keeps on grooving throughout the track list. While it's not my favorite of CCR's catalogue, there's some great hits here, along with a long version of Heard It Through The Grapevine which I hadn't heard before.
I think where this group really strikes a chord (haha because get it?) with me is the songwriting and vocal style. Something about their lyrics and style has always drawn me in, and Fogerty's delivery of these lyrics is incredible, I absolutely love his style.
5
Jan 26 2022
View Album
Led Zeppelin III
Led Zeppelin
It's Zeppelin, man. That's all you need to know.
But really, I'd say this is a solid record but it's not their best. I mean of course Immigrant Song and Tangerine are classics, but some other tracks fall short. One of my favorite things about Led Zeppelin is (of course) Jimmy Page. His guitar work is what brings me back to Zeppelin time and time again. This album seemed to have some standout acoustic arrangements, and acoustic Zeppelin is pretty great. Decent record, but not enough killer tracks to be "great" in my book.
3
Jan 27 2022
View Album
Rattlesnakes
Lloyd Cole And The Commotions
The first half of this record I found to be fairly forgettable, but the tail end had some acoustic stuff I enjoyed and could see myself revisiting.
3
Jan 28 2022
View Album
Crosby, Stills & Nash
Crosby, Stills & Nash
Oh yeah, fuckin amazing record. Standout songs for me are Suite: Judy Blue Eyes and Helplessly Hoping. Fantastic vocals and guitar work all throughout this album. Some incredibly nostalgic sounding music.
5
Jan 31 2022
View Album
Deja Vu
Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young
Some songs I thought were absolute slappers (Our House comes to mind) but there were also a few duds in the tracklist
3