Dec 22 2021
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The White Album
Beatles
Better than I remember
5
Dec 23 2021
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Siembra
Willie Colón & Rubén Blades
Ding ding ding
3
Dec 25 2021
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Paul Simon
Paul Simon
4
Dec 28 2021
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Play
Moby
If I had to list out the most important albums of the 2000s I likely would not have thought of this one. Listening to it now it’s pretty undeniable how pervasive this music was during that decade.
The bad take is this is the sound of car commercials. Realistically, this is the sound of cool for this era and everyone wanted to be associated with Moby. This album is so clean and so catchy it’s no wonder every song got put under any commercial or movie that would pay for it. 20 years later I think you have to call this the point when ‘selling out’ stopped being a thing.
5
Dec 29 2021
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Darkdancer
Les Rythmes Digitales
I really dig this album!
4
Dec 30 2021
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KIWANUKA
Michael Kiwanuka
Ah so this is very good
I might have to listen to this a few more times because this is absolutely a masterpiece
4
Dec 31 2021
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Let's Get Killed
David Holmes
3
Jan 02 2022
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The Low End Theory
A Tribe Called Quest
3
Jan 03 2022
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Virgin Suicides
Air
4
Jan 04 2022
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Fragile
Yes
Roundaboot
3
Jan 05 2022
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At San Quentin
Johnny Cash
Johnny Cash is a lot funnier than I expected lol
4
Jan 06 2022
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All Mod Cons
The Jam
The Jam (and Paul Weller) is a band I know about; but don’t really know their music aside from a few songs. I mostly know them from influencing most of the bands I grew up listening to. Hearing this now you definitely hear where every Oasis song is ripped off from, but also the stems of New Pornographers and Paraquet Courts. For good reason too.
This album absolutely rips. A little over half an hour and doesn't overstay it’s welcome.
Killer tracks
David Watts
English Rose
5
Jan 07 2022
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Born To Run
Bruce Springsteen
5
Jan 08 2022
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The Blueprint
JAY Z
3
Jan 10 2022
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Mothership Connection
Parliament
Pretty good, but most songs need to be 3-4 minutes shorter lol
3
Jan 11 2022
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Tracy Chapman
Tracy Chapman
4
Jan 12 2022
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Want Two
Rufus Wainwright
Ugh do I like Rufus Wainwright?
4
Jan 13 2022
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Colour By Numbers
Culture Club
3
Jan 14 2022
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Bummed
Happy Mondays
Pretty good album!
I’d like to use this time to ask ask the question; why is it that Spotify and Apple Music always put these remastered versions of albums up that double the songs of the original release? It’s always a bunch of B-sides or demos. Really kills the flow of an album or in the case of one like Bummed, I have no idea if this is a double album or just expanded. I have to assume because they're the latest version the studios have put out, so that’s what these services are able to license. I’ve noticed this trend more going through the list of albums and most LPs are usually only 30-45 minutes long, but the version that’s available is 2 hours long. It’s too much! It’s like if the only version of Lord of the Rings that was available was the extended editions. I would never watch them!
4
Jan 15 2022
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The Undertones
The Undertones
Honestly one of the best discoveries I’ve had going through these albums. This is absolutely my shit.
5
Jan 16 2022
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Tigermilk
Belle & Sebastian
4
Jan 17 2022
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Melody A.M.
Röyksopp
Candidate for lo fi hip hop radio-beats to study/relax to
Not gonna say I didn’t enjoy it tho
3
Jan 18 2022
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If I Should Fall From Grace With God
The Pogues
Well not at all what I was expecting.
As someone with a passing interest in Dropkick Murphies this was pretty good. I’ve definitely heard this album in bars in Peterborough.
3
Jan 19 2022
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Connected
Stereo MC's
Oh this album is so of its time. And I’m (slightly) too young to have nostalgia for this one. I’m sure if I was in university in the 90s I would have loved this
2
Jan 20 2022
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The Notorious Byrd Brothers
The Byrds
Good vibes! Will likely listen to more
4
Jan 21 2022
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I Do Not Want What I Haven't Got
Sinead O'Connor
Um this album rips
Empowers New Clothes is very good
4
Jan 22 2022
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Unknown Pleasures
Joy Division
5
Jan 23 2022
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Here's Little Richard
Little Richard
Whamp ba de lu bow
4
Jan 24 2022
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Layla And Other Assorted Love Songs
Derek & The Dominos
In high school my friends and I poured over this encyclopedia of Beatles history. In it, there was a full page photo of Patti Boyd and we were obsessed.
So I get it Eric Clapton.
Shame this guy has some bad options on COVID and wrote a protest song about having to wear a mask. The 2020s has really done a number on older pop culture icons lol.
3
Jan 25 2022
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Superfly
Curtis Mayfield
Good album
4
Jan 26 2022
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Something Else By The Kinks
The Kinks
I really like the Kinks but this album wasn’t doing it for me. Waterloo Sunset tho still great
3
Jan 28 2022
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Everything Must Go
Manic Street Preachers
This album is very good.
I feel like the only song that make it onto the radio or TV of Manic Street Preachers in the 90s was If You Tolerate This (very good song and terrifying music video). However I think I have heard most of these songs before. Australia and Design for Life are very good.
I think last time I had checked in with Manic Street Preachers it much have been in the early 2000s as Richey was still an open missing person. I spent some time reading the Wikipedia on the band and found he was declared dead in 2008. Really tragic figure and it’s important he was discussing depression and mental health in the 90s when that wasn’t a subject discussed in pop culture. Likely would have been treated differently had they been around 20 years later.
4
Jan 29 2022
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Let It Be
The Replacements
3
Jan 30 2022
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Public Image: First Issue
Public Image Ltd.
Doesn’t respect your time
1
Jan 31 2022
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John Barleycorn Must Die
Traffic
I wasn’t sure about this album but then they bought in the flute out Freedom Rider and then it’s like ‘blow on, brother’
3
Feb 01 2022
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Kind Of Blue
Miles Davis
I put this on while making dinner tonight and I have never felt more classy.
Also I was making chicken fingers
4
Feb 02 2022
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Blur
Blur
I guess if you’re going to have a Blur album on this list it’s going to be the self titled one. I think The Great Escape and 13 both have better songs.
I have once heard that One Week by Barenaked Ladies is the most recognizable first second of a modern pop song. Song 2 is a very close second.
3
Feb 04 2022
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Songs From The Big Chair
Tears For Fears
Oh man the vibes this record is giving off.
Most of this album was still in rotation in the early 90s when I was growing up and started hearing pop music. I have a lot of nostalgia for Shout, Everybody Wants to Rule the World and Head Over Heels
4
Feb 05 2022
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Nothing's Shocking
Jane's Addiction
What an absolute classic.
I got into Janes Addiction when they were gearing up for their comeback album in 2003. I remember I had purchased the Spin Magazine they were on the cover of, and the bands I love (RHCP, Smashing Pumpkins, Soundgarden) all had stories about how Janes Addiction shaped their careers. I’ve been trying to figure out now how I was listening to Janes Addiction as I just had my MP3 CD player at that time so uneless I had purchased one of their albums, I likely would have been reading about Janes Addiction for a while before listening to them. It’s crazy to thing how now a band you hadn’t heard you could pull up on Spotify or Apple Music and listen to everything from them. This was still the age when there was some ceremony to having new music, whether you downloaded on your PC or got the CD from a store. But then again, I realize I’m talking nearly 20 years ago.
It is wild how this album now sounds about 2 decades ahead of its time. Listening to some other 80s albums through this list they’re all so much of a time and place. Nothing’s Shocking is so different from everything else popular at the time, and it’s apparent why it doesn’t place in the 80s, as every alternative band writes songs like them and every album is produced like this one is.
Ocean Size, Mountain Song and Standing in the Shower Thinking are all so massive.
Summertime Rolls though is my favourite on this album. Probably because I discovered this band while on a family holiday I have so much nostalgia in this one. I’m listening to this one in February during the worst snowfall in like 10 years and this song sort of is giving the same vibe. I’m really going to have to put this one on again come June.
5
Feb 06 2022
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Talking Book
Stevie Wonder
On the list of best closing song to an album ever.
5
Feb 07 2022
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The Wall
Pink Floyd
Dads favourite album.
Is great
4
Feb 08 2022
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The Marshall Mathers LP
Eminem
I mean it’s good.
I feel like a bad person for listening to it though. I can’t reconcile the violence against women, homophobia and I think racism. Even if he’s rapping about people who think like that, there’s not enough distinction in the text that’s what his intention is.
The talent is undeniable. The message is terrible.
4
Feb 10 2022
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Destroy Rock & Roll
Mylo
Someone else has said in here that they’ve already heard this album every time they’re on hold, which is accurate.
Also you you what, it’s pretty good!
What’s wild is this album came out in 2004 and had a remaster in 2005. I guess it’s because it didn’t come out in North America for a bit.
4
Feb 11 2022
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Ananda Shankar
Ananda Shankar
2
Feb 12 2022
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L.A. Woman
The Doors
I always thought the Doors were being unnecessarily pretentious. This is pretty good tho!
4
Feb 13 2022
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B-52's
The B-52's
4
Feb 14 2022
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Every Good Boy Deserves Fudge
Mudhoney
5
Feb 15 2022
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Remain In Light
Talking Heads
This album gets 5 stars for Once In A Lifetime alone. The video also is completely a vibe I aspire to.
The rest of this album is pretty good. Born Under Punches has real ‘just discovered my computers’ soundboard’ energy
4
Feb 16 2022
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American Idiot
Green Day
Expert witness account of this album incoming.
It is easy to forget how big this album was, and Green Day were after this one hit. Going into it though in 2004, popular culture had passed them by. Dookie had hit 10 years earlier and while the following Green Day albums were hits, they were never going to reach the heights their breakthrough did. At the start of the 2000s, Blink 182, Good Charlotte, Sum 41 and Simple Plan had taken what Green Day were doing in the 90s and replicated it (to lesser artistic success) and dominated the charts, MuchMusic airtime (yes I’m Canadian) and magazine covers. At the same time, a narrative had been going on in music conversations that rock and roll was dying, the pendulum had swung to pop and hip hop (very short sited and mostly perpetuated by people who only get music through TV and top 40 radio, of which I was mostly too) which had contributed to the overall decline in relevancy of guitar-bass-drum acts.
By time fall 2004 had come around there already were the next generation of popular rock acts coming up (The Killers and Frank Ferdinand had hit earlier in the summer, Arcade Fire would hit mainstream this fall). So here came Green Day with a new album, and it had been a few years since they had put out new music. I think there was some level of hype, and it was known this was going to be a concept album. People forget though, Green Day had changed their image in preparation of this album. For a band that had been at the height of their relevancy 10 years earlier, the refreshed look absolutely helped their appeal, as they somehow looked cooler and ahead of the curve than the other bands that had surpassed them. This was sort of a clean entry point for new fans too as they’re visually striking at this point, sound as good as they ever have and are riding this Anti-Bush wave that’s happening right before the 2014 US election.
So when the American Idiot single came out, I remember the music video had gotten a lot more play than singles from previous Green Day had been. But this album just kept growing with each successive single. Holiday, Boulevard of Broken Dreams and Wake Me Up When September Ends we’re all massive hits and had endless radio play. This album landed like nothing else in rock had. They stayed in the public spotlight for at least 2 years off the strength of this record. I remember seeing them on the cover of Entertainment Weekly in 2016 still promoting American Idiot, and the band won the Grammy a few weeks later which kept them going. Now this album has been adapted into a Broadway show and Green Day is the only other band that got a Rock Band game besides the Beatles (AC/DC had a disc, but that was just songs, no band representation)
So I say all of this because looking back at the 2000s decade because of when American Idiot hit, the case could be made Green Day was at the top of the rock pile, along with U2, RHCP, Coldplay and I suppose the Killers. So while people had this conversation that rock was dying in the 2000s we have to count ourselves pretty fucking lucky we had Green Day that rode the mainstream. You may hate this album but it’s better than most of the other slush pile the 2000s had to offer.
The album itself though; it is still absolutely killer and it’s obvious why they became the biggest band in the world again because of this. There’s nothing challenging here about the music; it’s immediate, every song is catchy, lyrics are great (if dated criticism of America in the 2000s). So many of the songs have been ridden into the ground (anything released as a single) so the real winners here are the longer concept album saga songs (Jesus of Suburbia, Homecoming).
What I have had to contend with doing this 1001 album project is putting into perspective when I would have been listening to this album before. American Idiot doesn’t seem like it’s that old. Im assuming this is because the songs in this have been played to death on the radio as well as movies and video games. I’ve also been thinking about Green Day lately as I listened to the excellent episode of the podcast Bandsplain did on Green Day a few months ago. But to place it, I would have been listening to this one when I started university. I would have listened to it on my 3rd Gen iPod (the one with the four red action buttons across the top and the first touch click wheel). I wouldn’t have even had a laptop yet, I would have still had my Compaq desktop PC.
In terms of where this lands in Green Days legacy I have the unpopular opinion that this is their best album. Still incredible that this is a comeback on the level it was considering how they had fallen out of fashion, but listening to the album, it seems obvious. Could Green Day make another comeback? Sure. Apparently Green Day is hot with teenagers. They make music that sounds like what it’s like to be a teen.
Among the best albums of this decade, deserved all of its sales and the success the band had from it.
5
Feb 18 2022
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Buenas Noches From A Lonely Room
Dwight Yoakam
3
Feb 19 2022
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Strangeways, Here We Come
The Smiths
The only other Smiths album I had listened to was The Queen Is Dead because I think I had seen it on a list of best British albums. Besides the title track I really couldn’t connect with that album.
This one, upon listening to today I have heard a few times before. I did end up digging this one more. Paint A Vulgar Picture is really good.
4
Feb 20 2022
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Since I Left You
The Avalanches
Does this boy really need therapy?
3
Feb 22 2022
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The Downward Spiral
Nine Inch Nails
Pretty good! I’ll likely listen to it more
4
Feb 23 2022
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The Specials
The Specials
I saw this band when they had just reunited in 2009 when I was in Scotland. This was at T in the Park (which I’m has now been reworked into a different festival apparently). First time I had seen someone skanking.
4
Feb 24 2022
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Blood And Chocolate
Elvis Costello & The Attractions
.
4
Feb 25 2022
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GREY Area
Little Simz
4
Feb 26 2022
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Bad Company
Bad Company
Peak dad rock
4
Feb 27 2022
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At Folsom Prison
Johnny Cash
I’m just gonna say these boys in prison prob don’t want to hear a song about waiting to be hanged. Just play Boy Named Sue, John.
Also the last Cash album I got on my list I listened to on the way to get my third COVID shot. So that’s still working well!
3
Mar 01 2022
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It's A Shame About Ray
The Lemonheads
Good 90s vibes
4
Mar 02 2022
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Meat Is Murder
The Smiths
4
Mar 03 2022
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O.G. Original Gangster
Ice T
I heard the ‘rock that shit homie’ sample then got sucked into listening to JSRF soundtrack.
This was really good tho! Better than I expected
4
Mar 04 2022
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The Wildest!
Louis Prima
4
Mar 05 2022
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1989
Taylor Swift
Bow down before your queen
5
Mar 06 2022
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Stand!
Sly & The Family Stone
Everyday People is a song that never fails to make me feel better. Pure pop perfection
5
Mar 07 2022
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The College Dropout
Kanye West
Kanye I know a lot about and not much about his music. The only one I’ve ever got into is Dark Twisted Fantasy, which would be among my most played albums of the 2010s.
I remember when this album came out and a lot of popular rap was pretty materialistic. Kanye (while I know was around for a while before this and had success as a producer) shows up with the rugby sweaters on is going to stand out.
This is an album I’ve heard pretty well all of through osmosis. This one is really good, and really funny at times.
Killer tracks
Jesus Walks
The New Workout Plan
Slow Jamz
5
Mar 08 2022
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Dusty In Memphis
Dusty Springfield
Son of a Preacher Man. Good song!
4
Mar 09 2022
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Back At The Chicken Shack
Jimmy Smith
Goes down smooth
3
Mar 10 2022
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Let's Get It On
Marvin Gaye
Appreciate that this man starts the record with getting it on, then has a mid-album check in to make sure you’re still getting it on. Thank you Marvin
3
Mar 11 2022
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Smash
The Offspring
A dirtbag masterpiece
The Offspring being one of the only groups to come out clean after that Woodstock 99 documentary
5
Mar 13 2022
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Iron Maiden
Iron Maiden
I mean we all look like the guy on the cover after the last 2 years
3
Mar 14 2022
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Dookie
Green Day
This is the first album I thought of as ‘cool’. I remember when it came out none of my friends had it (we were 8) but their older siblings were huge into it.
What a masterpiece. This is the ideal for pop punk and so many bands have been chasing this high since.
5
Mar 16 2022
View Album
Hysteria
Def Leppard
Such a good album. If only for Animal which is a masterpiece.
Most if my knowledge of Def Leppard (and this album) comes from the Classic Album episode about it where they walk through the making, Rick Allen and his drumming, and how they thought they messed up the order they put out the singles on this one. Really fascinating stuff and I’m definitely going to be watching that again after hearing the album through (Classic Albums I have found is free on TubiTV)
5
Mar 17 2022
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Appetite For Destruction
Guns N' Roses
So good
5
Mar 18 2022
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The Doors
The Doors
Break On Through To The Other Side. Jammed out to that one on the piano in Rock Band 3
Everything else, goes on for way too long. Not that I didn’t enjoy it.
4
Mar 19 2022
View Album
Nevermind
Nirvana
This is as good as it gets right?
I got into Nirvana when I was 16, when the Greatest Hits album came out in 2002 (I think I got it for Christmas, and proceeded to drink deep of their back catalogue). That fall there was also a new Foo Fighters album out, Muchmusic was rerunning their Nirvana documentaries and Kurt’s diaries were wrongly published. Nirvana were in a revival period and despite Kurt having died 8 years earlier, it felt a generation ago at that time.
Listening to this one now, it’s amazing that I had ever thought of this as gritty or non mainstream music. It’s pure pop perfection, I think it’s basically The Beatles in its specificity and catchiness. Part of this has been every popular rock band of the last 30 (!) years ripped this off, from Oasis to Arctic Monkeys, and Linkin Park to Royal Blood. This one is also short enough that it absolutely does not waste a single note. There’s nothing difficult to understand here, guitar solos are pretty much the chorus’ repeated again and Grohls drumming makes the music exciting even if you’re listening on iPod headphones. While a lot of the albums on this list I’ve played I love, this is one of the very few I would play again after it finishes. It’s so focused and still so raw. Probably about the most powerful album I’ve ever heard.
Nirvana were a gateway for me to the rest of alternative and indie rock. At this time my nascent CD collection would have been Foo Fighters, Red Hot Chili Peppers and maybe Barenaked Ladies. I went into so much material on Nirvana I started learning about Pixies, Janes Addiction, Bay City Rollers and Mudhoney. I also started listening to Pearl Jam and Soundgarden at the same time. To this day I still have flannel button down shirts as part of my uniform. Likely the most influential album to my musical tastes and pop culture leanings. I also have no misgivings or embarrassment about my allegiance to it. I think this album is an essential part of growing up.
I suppose I will go into my thoughts about Kurt Cobain next time I get a Nirvana album. Maybe on Dave Grohl if there’s a Foo Fighters coming up.
5
Mar 20 2022
View Album
Fishscale
Ghostface Killah
I appreciate this man’s love of Tony Stark.
3
Mar 21 2022
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The United States Of America
The United States Of America
My wife while listening to this album:
“ This sounds like the music that would play when a clown comes to murder you”
1
Mar 22 2022
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Endtroducing.....
DJ Shadow
Drum fills with some diffferent record samples playing.
1
Mar 24 2022
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Another Music In A Different Kitchen
Buzzcocks
In and out in 37 minutes. You love to see it
3
Mar 25 2022
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The Rising
Bruce Springsteen
I had heard most of this album on the radio in the early 2000s. Likely as it was deemed safe to play while a lot of songs that had anything to do with death, flight or not loving America were deprioritized.
Lonesome Day and The Rising are pretty good. But this album as a whole has aged pretty bad. I guess this is considered a return to form for Springsteen, but I don’t think anything he’s done since Born in the USA has really grabbed me.
2
Mar 26 2022
View Album
Groovin'
The Young Rascals
2
Mar 27 2022
View Album
2112
Rush
So I got this album around 2003 and it may have been during my class trip to Ottawa in grade 12. I had for sure got Everything to Everyone by Barenaked Ladies and Live Between Us by Tragically Hip (two bands who's absence on this 1001 list invalidates the whole endeavour).
I started getting into Rush around the time they were having a resurgence during the Rock In Rio DVD and album (with the amazing dragon drinking from a coconut cover). During this time I’m pretty sure the Toronto Star had an article calling 2112 the greatest Canadian album. For me, I cannot agree with that as we have Funeral, Day For Night or even Gordon.
I guess what is the greatest around this album is the mythology. That it’s dominated by a 25 minute anthology about some far flung sci-fi saga. Then you have the musicianship of these three guys completely on display here and it’s pretty unarguable this is their masterpiece.
I am also listening to this album on the day Taylor Hawkins died. The version I listened to on Spotify has the cover by Taylor and Dave Grohl. I saw Foo Fighters in 2015 and they played Tom Sawyer. My brother had years earlier seen Rush in Toronto and Foo Fighters came out for a song on that one too. Really appreciated having this one today on a day when we lost a legend. Likely one of his favourite albums.
4
Mar 28 2022
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Kick Out The Jams (Live)
MC5
Had tried years ago to get into this one when this was cited as one of the main influences on punk into grunge era bands. Liked the vibes and energy more than I liked most of the songs. Do appreciate what it did for popular rock over the next 50 years tho.
4
Mar 29 2022
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The Number Of The Beast
Iron Maiden
I really like Run to the Hills and Number of the Beast. The rest I can appreciate but overall Iron Maiden is not my thing.
3
Mar 30 2022
View Album
Back to Mystery City
Hanoi Rocks
This is music that a band would play in a cutaway gag from 30 Rock.
Gotta respect that man’s hair tho.
2
Mar 31 2022
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Live At The Harlem Square Club
Sam Cooke
What can I say here.
Sam Cooke is the greatest singer of all time.
Bring It On Home to Me is the greatest song of all time.
5
Apr 01 2022
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Fear Of A Black Planet
Public Enemy
4
Apr 02 2022
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Highway 61 Revisited
Bob Dylan
Bob Dylan’s fit on this cover still works in 2022
4
Apr 03 2022
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Madman Across The Water
Elton John
I really like Elton John. I first came to him in the early 90s when they used the song I’m Still Standing for a show on City TV (I had thought it was Fashion TV but that was Obsession by Animotion). Really good music video and I’m disappointed they didn’t fully recreate it for the Rocketman movie, instead just green screening Edgerton into it.
I also grew up on the Lion King soundtrack he collaborated on. I think his versions of those songs were the superior ones, but the ones in movie are obviously more appropriate.
Really good few songs. I mean Tiny Dancer is an all timer. Levon is pretty good. I think a lot of the other songs kind of lack any hook or go on for too long.
3
Apr 04 2022
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Bert Jansch
Bert Jansch
4
Apr 06 2022
View Album
Music From Big Pink
The Band
I like The Weight. But could get into the rest of this album. Kind of sad boy folk music.
The Band is one I always thought I should be into but could never crack. I say this as a Canadian and from Peterborough, where Ronnie Hawkins who was a previous leader of the band is from. I even remember him doing radio commercials in the early 90s for local businesses.
Their other album has some songs I like but this I could not get in the same wavelength.
3
Apr 07 2022
View Album
Liege And Lief
Fairport Convention
I was almost going to skip this album today.
Had a super stressful day and was burned by the last few folks albums I had got on this list.
This though? It’s an album that a bunch of hipsters could put out now and Pitchfork would go crazy for. This is really good. I’m amazed that it seemly is one of the freshest sounds I think I’ve got from this. Yes, it does start going into some songs about medieval-age battles (?) but the driving force behind escpecially the first few songs it’s so modern.
I put this on while walking around downtown Toronto for the first time in 2 years. Felt like a king.
4
Apr 08 2022
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Lady Soul
Aretha Franklin
4
Apr 09 2022
View Album
The Poet
Bobby Womack
3
Apr 10 2022
View Album
American IV: The Man Comes Around
Johnny Cash
I watched Walk Hard:The Dewey Cox Story this week and would have loved for Johnny Cash to have covered Beautiful Ride or Let’s Duet on American V
4
Apr 12 2022
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Dig Your Own Hole
The Chemical Brothers
Back with another one of those Block Rockin Beats
4
Apr 13 2022
View Album
Your New Favourite Band
The Hives
As everyone says, probably should have been Veni Vidi Vicious on this list.
I first heard The Hives from the Spider-Man soundtrack-which is some early 2000s ass music. I listened to some of it tonight after this, but most of the songs are not avalaible on Apple Music (incl. the Chad Kroger song Hero. What a crime)
I think the Hives are very good for a 2-3 song stint at a time. After that they seemingly start losing melody in their songs. Why don’t they try a slower or more downbeat song to mix things up?
Also did some Wikipedia research on the Hives. Apparently they formed under a different name in 1989? They would have been like 9 years old! Even when the band was started in earnest in 1993 they would have only been 14!
4
Apr 14 2022
View Album
Microshift
Hookworms
This one really took me off guard. I had never heard of this band and honestly thought they were electronic vs alt rock
Apparently now broken up after this one came out from accusations against their lead singer which is unfortunate.
4
Apr 17 2022
View Album
Welcome To The Pleasuredome
Frankie Goes To Hollywood
You got Relax which is more of a vibe than a song. The rest of this is barely an album
2
Apr 18 2022
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Thriller
Michael Jackson
5
Apr 19 2022
View Album
Ritual De Lo Habitual
Jane's Addiction
I have love for this album. When I was getting into Janes Addiction in the mid 2000s I feel like the consensus was that this is their best album. I think it’s obviously Nothings Shocking. This one is weirdly more of its time than Nothings Shocking wave. Stop, Been Caught Stealing and Three Days are my favourites
4
Apr 20 2022
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Stories From The City, Stories From The Sea
PJ Harvey
4
Apr 21 2022
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Mr. Tambourine Man
The Byrds
3
Apr 22 2022
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Phaedra
Tangerine Dream
Bank robbing music
4
Apr 24 2022
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Beggars Banquet
The Rolling Stones
Has some of their best songs, not quite their overall best album tho.
4
Apr 25 2022
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Foo Fighters
Foo Fighters
Who would have made the decision to have this be the Foo Fighters album on this list? It’s the Colour and the Shape that’s their definitive one. The rest of the ‘Foo Fighters’ aren’t even on this album
I listened to this record a few weeks ago when Taylor died (along with the other albums he played on). I think it’s really interesting as a fan of their work. It’s pretty scrappy compared the the relatively polished sound of what they do next.
Foo Fighters are one of my bands. I have heard every album, especially One by One, There is Nothing Left To Lose, Colour and the Shape and Wasting Light. I was lucky enough to see them twice, including in 2015 when Dave had broken his leg, and played from his Iron Throne of guitars.
I think Foo Fighters have been the most universally liked band over the past 30 years. Who else is there? U2 is one, but there’s enough people who actively hate them. Or Red Hot Chili Peppers but I don’t think they’ve been as consistent or have released music at enough of a clip. This band has Dave Grohl, one of the most most recognizable and affable front men of all time, Taylor an incredible drummer and occasionally Pat Smear from Nirvana. Along with their classic music videos this is just a band that has always seemed like they were having fun. They have always had respect for those that came before them, and all of the Foos have been involved with other legendary rock acts throughout the years. They are our generations North Star, you can always count on the Foo Fighters and they are a band that generally everyone likes.
It’s their choice now if they continue on given Taylor’s passing. I have to expect they’ll take a few years off then come back with a new drummer. If they decide not to, that’s ok too.
Rest In Peace Taylor
4
Apr 26 2022
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Selected Ambient Works 85-92
Aphex Twin
This album stressed me out
2
Apr 28 2022
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Goodbye And Hello
Tim Buckley
2
Apr 29 2022
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Tommy
The Who
Should probably like Tommy more than I do. Like Pinball Wizard, Go to the Mirror and Tommy can you hear me. Feel like I should watch the movie to get it.
4
Apr 30 2022
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Music in Exile
Songhoy Blues
This was fun!
3
May 01 2022
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The Atomic Mr Basie
Count Basie & His Orchestra
3
May 02 2022
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The Dark Side Of The Moon
Pink Floyd
What a masterpiece. I have mostly heard The Wall growing up and have otherwise not really gotten into Pink Floyd. That one is one of the most bloated, indulgent albums of all time and is fantastic for it. Dark Side of the Moon while still pretty out there is pretty much stripped down compared to Wall. This is really 4-5 songs with interludes in between. Doesn’t overstay it’s welcome, gets to the point and leaves stronger because of it.
Time the ultimate mid-life crisis song hahaha
5
May 03 2022
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Californication
Red Hot Chili Peppers
This is probably my most played album of all time. My brother had got this CD in 1999 when Scar Tissue hit. This album had TV commercials that aired to hype its release. The next summer in 2000 we basically had this on repeat on our portable Panasonic CD player.
I personally can’t rate this album lower than 5 stars. It has so many songs that I’ve heard thousands of times and I still put on playlists to this day. Otherside is among my favourite songs of all time.
I knew in the 2000s this album lost it towards the end. Listening how this one way too long. They could have cut out most of the songs after Easily could have been cut out.
5
May 05 2022
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Stankonia
OutKast
Power
Music
Electric Revival
4
May 06 2022
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Seventh Tree
Goldfrapp
Of the albums I’m listening to for the first time on this list, this might be the best so far. I had only really known Goldfrapp from ‘Ooh La La’ being in commercials in the 2000s. This was fairly different from what I would have expected given what I knew of her (and upon listening to some of their other top songs, this was a different direction for them).
I was so surprised though on this that every song hit. I was expecting eventually there was one that didn’t work but right up until the end it was still working.
This album is going to stay in the rotation.
5
May 07 2022
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Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness
The Smashing Pumpkins
When I was started to comprehend pop music and rock music in the mid 90s, my recollection is that Smashing Pumpkins were a bigger deal than Pearl Jam or Soundgarden. However now they aren’t really mentioned in the same breath as them or other rock bands as the best of the 90s. I’m guilty of this too, if I had to list the top rock acts of the 90s off the top of my head, I don’t think I would have thought of Pumpkins.
It’s crazy too that given how good this album is that I can’t really point to any band that ripped them off. Melancholy and the Infinite Sadness is a record I’ve always meant to listen to, maybe I hadn’t because it’s a double album and over 2 hours long; it’s a big time commitment. I now wish I had jumped into it earlier, this thing is a masterpiece and I would have worn this out. I know most of the songs on its, from Zero to Bullet With Butterfly Wings. But the other songs in between really kill it. Like Jellybelly which is going into my current rotation.
Amazing work Corgan and company.
5
May 09 2022
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Frampton Comes Alive
Peter Frampton
Can confirm he was alive
4
May 10 2022
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(Pronounced 'Leh-'Nérd 'Skin-'Nérd)
Lynyrd Skynyrd
5
May 11 2022
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Siamese Dream
The Smashing Pumpkins
4
May 13 2022
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Fun House
The Stooges
I can appreciate Iggy Pop for his stage presence and how many acts he influenced.
This didn’t do it for me, mostly seemed like the same song over and over again
2
May 14 2022
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Dummy
Portishead
4
May 15 2022
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Wonderful Rainbow
Lightning Bolt
4
May 17 2022
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C'est Chic
CHIC
Some good disco songs
3
May 19 2022
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The Healer
John Lee Hooker
3
May 21 2022
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Chicago Transit Authority
Chicago
I hate to say it, but I enjoyed the Documentary Now! sendup if Chicago- Blue Jean Comitee-than I liked this.
2
May 22 2022
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Unhalfbricking
Fairport Convention
2
May 24 2022
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This Year's Model
Elvis Costello & The Attractions
Eli is Costello is my guy
4
May 25 2022
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Odelay
Beck
Guero is his album that I really got into. Didnt think I had heard Odelay the whole way through but I knew pretty much all of it. This has some really good tunes; Devils Haircut, Derelict and Where It’s At are my faves
4
May 26 2022
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The Suburbs
Arcade Fire
Man this was a ride listening to today.
This album came out when I was finishing university and had no idea what to do next with my life. I was in that period where I was working full time and moving up at work, but still had so much free time and was still hanging around my hometown. I picked it up again in 2011 after they won the Grammy, and I was travelling around the country for work.
My interpretation of The Suburbs is all about nostalgia trying to get back home. I think this was my most played album of theirs and I could likely recite every word from it.
Now more than 10 years later I come to this album happily married, with a mortgage living in the suburbs with a cat and a job I’ve been at for 6 years. Then I had shaggy hair, now I’m contemplating shaving off what hair I have left. The nostalgia is so potent for that period in my life right before I became a real adult but more importantly before I had any real responsibilities. The Suburbs is looking back even further than the era I’m nostalgic for; before cell phones and the internet. When communication mead weight even when it’s inane. When we went on adventures and explored our surroundings. Had stupid conversations and acted smarter than we were.
Is this their best album? Funeral I can’t get through without tearing up. Reflector is real messy but has I think their strongest songs. The Suburbs though does the best job of creating a mood and tapping into a feeling. I think with the benefit of hindsight I think the argument could be made this is the definitive Millennial rock album. Like Nevermind for Gen X or Sour by Olivia Rodrigo will be for Gen Z. It’s so of it’s time and has only grown in power in the decade since.
5
May 27 2022
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Now I Got Worry
The Jon Spencer Blues Explosion
Only really knew this guy from Bellbottoms. This was pretty fun
3
May 28 2022
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Live 1966 (The Royal Albert Hall Concert)
Bob Dylan
Listen, there’s already several studio Dylan albums on this list. This was put out in 1998, we couldn’t have picked another album from that year (Mezzanine from Massive Attack isn’t on this list, I though critics loved that one?)
I know why this is on the list too. This would have got a high rating from one of the boomer writers they had on staff at Rolling Stone, then every main stream publication from Entertainment Weekly to People magazine would have followed suit and reviewed it the same.
2
May 29 2022
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Who's Next
The Who
What a ride. This is probably the best album that’s going to be on this list. And to think this was leftovers from their previous record. Absolute legends.
5
Jun 01 2022
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Purple Rain
Prince
5
Jun 02 2022
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Live At Leeds
The Who
I love the Who but the discussion about a A Quick One While He’s Asay is not only really long but SUPER creepy
3
Jun 03 2022
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Night Life
Ray Price
2
Jun 04 2022
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Too Rye Ay
Dexys Midnight Runners
I listened to Come On Eileen several times today. Didn’t vibe with the rest of this
3
Jun 06 2022
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Dear Science
TV On The Radio
I bought this album in 2008 from iTunes without hearing any song before from TV on the Radio. Crazy to think of in 2022, but such was the power of being promoted on the iTunes front page. Helps this is one of the best albums of the 2000s.
Sounds so incredible. First half is all killer. The second half when it slows down a bit I check out a little, but it does keep the quality all the way through.
*upon further research I think it may have been the glowing review in Pitchfork that drove me buy this. I actually thought they didn’t like TV on the Radio. Must have been someone else, I remeber reading in an article the author was talking about things that are garbage and they mentioned ‘TV on the Radio songs that aren’t about wolves’. What a weird dig lol
4
Jun 07 2022
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Live At The Star Club, Hamburg
Jerry Lee Lewis
3
Jun 08 2022
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Either Or
Elliott Smith
Real good
4
Jun 09 2022
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Lost In The Dream
The War On Drugs
This is a perfect album for cruising around in the summer
4
Jun 11 2022
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Goo
Sonic Youth
Kim Gordon and Thurston Moore are divorced, and you're just the orphans left behind.
4
Jun 14 2022
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The Velvet Underground
The Velvet Underground
Did not jive with
2
Jun 15 2022
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Haut de gamme / Koweït, rive gauche
Koffi Olomide
Couldn’t vibe with this
2
Jun 16 2022
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Rust Never Sleeps
Neil Young & Crazy Horse
4
Jun 19 2022
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Sweetheart Of The Rodeo
The Byrds
2
Jun 21 2022
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If You're Feeling Sinister
Belle & Sebastian
Put me to sleep
3
Jun 23 2022
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Infected
The The
2
Jun 24 2022
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Dire Straits
Dire Straits
Sultans of Swing do slap. The rest of the album sounds like the noodling you’d do to eventually reach writing that song.
3
Jun 25 2022
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I Never Loved a Man the Way I Love You
Aretha Franklin
R
E
S
P
E
C
T
4
Jun 26 2022
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Francis Albert Sinatra & Antonio Carlos Jobim
Frank Sinatra
Jeez have not got an interesting album in weeks
2
Jun 28 2022
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The Yes Album
Yes
Seen all good people turn their heads each day
4
Jun 30 2022
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New Forms
Roni Size
There was drum and there was bass
3
Jul 01 2022
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m b v
My Bloody Valentine
This is an album I have been dragging my heels on for nearly 10 years. I have no reason to have done so. I love Loveless. I knew MBV hadn’t made an album in a lifetime. I knew this album was getting rave reviews and appearing on year-end best of lists. What was I listening to instead in 2013? Mostly Foster the People, Naked and Famous and Two Door Cinema Club. I should have been listening to this, just vibe out to it in my old basement apartment.
My Bloody Valentine I started listening to in my early 20s. I was in my third, maybe fourth year of university and while already a scholar of Britpop, I started digging deeper into some of the other bands that preceded the 90s boom. I loved those Ride albums. I love only Just Like Honey by the Jesus and Mary Chain(I cannot with the rest of their catalogue. I’m likely going to have to face Psychocandy at some point on this list). Even the revivalists Black Rebel Motorcycle Club. But the top is My Bloody Valentine and that album Loveless.
I got into MBV most of all because their music weirdly sounded like music from Final Fantasy 7 (also had references with in game billboards) which I had been obsessed with 10 years earlier. I had also seen Lost in Translation during this period of my life and after that how could you not live shoegaze music.
MBV (the album) sounds like a companion piece to Loveless. It still has that beautiful noise-pop sound going on and still manages to have catchy songs even though there is nearly always a wall of sound coming at you at all times. The winners here are she found out and only tomorrow. Truly wild that this group makes one of the best albums of all time, make everyone of their contemporaries look like musical morons, their record label drops them because they spent too much money, then come back nearly 20 years later and pitch a perfect game.
I listened to this today while I mowed my lawn. I now have to schedule time when I can just lay on the floor, put this on an iPod, completely vibe out and become 24 again
5
Jul 02 2022
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461 Ocean Boulevard
Eric Clapton
Clapton is cancelled.
I’m going to use this space to bemoan the lack of Shania Twain on this list. Best selling country artist ever, radio staples that have somehow got better with age and a career arc for the ages. Show some god damn respect.
3
Jul 03 2022
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Revolver
Beatles
When I started reading music magazines and criticism in the early 2000s, Revolver would be usually listed as the best Beatles album, and usually best album overall of all time. I think I still consider this my favourite Beatles album, but I’ll be listening to the rest of them during the list so I’ll follow up.
Really interesting now with the changing tastes in popular music criticism that I don’t think Revolver would be in the top 20 albums list in Rolling Stone. Further, that they would likely list something like Help! or Hard Days Night as their best. I think the notion was in the early 2000s that music that was difficult, non-populist was automatically graded better as the more straightforward, crowd pleasing fare.
Revolver is by no means a difficult album. It has Yellow Submarine on it for Gods sake. The deal is though that this is really when the Beatles started exploring what they could do beyond the confines of a record that would translate to being played live on tour. I also realized listening to this today for the first time in like 10 years that this record was so much more influential during the Britpop and post Britpop UK rock music. Oasis obviously, but as well as Kasabian, Coldplay and Keane. Now if younger artists are ribbing anything from the Beatles it’s likely from their first few albums.
Crazy how the circle of influence from one band continues going. In another 20 years Revolver will once again sit in the highest esteem of the Beatles output and likely at the top of the Rolling Stone album list. For now though we can enjoy this for what it is, a amazing constructed collection of songs from a band that is going in different directions and succeeding because of it.
5
Jul 04 2022
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Queen II
Queen
3
Jul 05 2022
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Birth Of The Cool
Miles Davis
3
Jul 06 2022
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Chris
Christine and the Queens
4
Jul 07 2022
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Tuesday Night Music Club
Sheryl Crow
I am very pleased this album is a part of the list. I listened to the excellent episode of Bandsplained they did on Sheryl and I really came to appreciate her music and career arc. But I had assumed that this would be a situation of one of the best selling albums of the decade with inescapable radio play and music videos on all the time but not critically appreciated. Much like the situation in this book of Shania Twain.
Really like All I Wanna Do, Strong Enough and Can’t Cry Anymore.
While it’s not on this record, If It Makes You Happy is top 10 (maybe 5) of the 90s.
4
Jul 12 2022
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Woodface
Crowded House
Had never heard of this band. Put this on during my drive home today and was enjoying it, but was trying to put my finger on why I recognized the sound. When the first second of ‘Weather With You’ came on it all clicked into place.
Enjoyable music. Don’t know that I’ll go back to it
4
Jul 15 2022
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Fifth Dimension
The Byrds
3
Jul 17 2022
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This Nation’s Saving Grace
The Fall
Based on the album art art, title and first song I was not interested in this.
Really good album afterwards though. Going to be listening to this more.
4
Jul 18 2022
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One Nation Under A Groove
Funkadelic
3
Jul 19 2022
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It Takes A Nation Of Millions To Hold Us Back
Public Enemy
4
Jul 22 2022
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Are You Experienced
Jimi Hendrix
5
Jul 23 2022
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Moving Pictures
Rush
4
Jul 25 2022
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La Revancha Del Tango
Gotan Project
Gran Turismo menu music
2
Jul 26 2022
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Sticky Fingers
The Rolling Stones
Cant You Hear Me Knocking, while being on the best songs ever, is easy shorthanded in movies to communicate sleazy business goings-on.
5
Jul 27 2022
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Paranoid
Black Sabbath
Hell yea
5
Jul 28 2022
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Crime Of The Century
Supertramp
3
Aug 01 2022
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Live!
Fela Kuti
Thank you to the person who wrote the review about 28 star for this album-one for every wife. Sent me on a very enjoyable Wikipedia rabbit hole.
3
Aug 02 2022
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Astral Weeks
Van Morrison
I have it a shot but Van Morrison is still not for me
3
Aug 03 2022
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Document
R.E.M.
REM is another band I know enough about, and like we’ll enough, but haven’t owned any of their albums. Probably should given how much I like Tragically Hip and the comparisons people make about these bands.
This album is really good. Every song on the run from the start is so solid, up until The One I Love. Then. It looses steam a little bit and peters out to finish. But overall still really fun. Looking forward to listening to more of their albums now
4
Aug 05 2022
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Elastica
Elastica
This album is great and lead to influencing some of my favourite acts.
The observation I have is well I think Connection is the song that has endured in pop culture longer, Stutter has been seriously underserved. I still hear Connection used in movies and commercials. I was of the opinion that the Captain Marvel trailer should have you Stutter in it instead of Connection. I realize why it wasn’t chosen, as being a song about male impotence. I would also probably would have made the movie seem more exciting than I actually was.
My question remains, though, why isn’t Stutter having a resurgence at this moment? Absolutely seems like a song that Olivia Rodrigo would cover on tour right now.
4
Aug 06 2022
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xx
The xx
You know there’s a bunch of albums on this list I’ve had where there’s one iconic song and the rest is pretty forgettable.
The first 5 songs on this one are now all timers. Crystallized is about as perfect as a pop song can be. The rest of this record I feel looses steam in the second half. I can’t imagine eating this anything less than 5 stars. It’s an essential part of the 2000s alternative canon. (I might have only heard it first in 2011 but who cares)
I’m not going to find who to attribute it to, but I once read with The XX it’s more important the notes they don’t play (truly terrible take, up there with calling music life affirming). I’ve also heard this music called really simple. What it is is very precise, accurately built.
Have not given the other XX (or Jamie XX) albums a chance after this one. I suspect I’m going to be listening to them at some point either in this list or otherwise.
5
Aug 07 2022
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Life's Too Good
The Sugarcubes
Did not realize that this was Björk’s old band. Easy to see why she popped out of this, which sounds like Birthday.
3
Aug 09 2022
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Sound of Silver
LCD Soundsystem
I said a few weeks ago on this list that The Suburbs by Arcade Fire was the definitive millennial rock album. After listening to Sound of Silver today maybe 3 times I don’t think I was wrong, but I really had to give my statement some thought.
I had known most of the big LCD Soundsystem songs but had never listened to any of their albums all the way through. I think I had also maybe seriously started listening to them in 2010 when they were wrapping up the band for the first time. This was such a triumph to listen to. Starts strong, doesn’t ever lose steam and is the rare album that saves its strongest song for the end.
I’m not into dance or electronic music (although have dug some of the records on this list) but this just transcends a bunch of genres into its own thing. It has the elements of scrappy garage rock that make it so exciting and immediate, and the the repetition of rave and dance that just puts you in a higher state of being. This is the music of being a young dirtbag in the city, living away from home for the first time and feeling invincible before your back starts hurting.
Amazing supplemental material to this album: the Franz Ferdinand cover of All My Friends is so good. Amazing song for Franz.
In addition: the video on YouTube of New York I Love You But You’re Bringing Me Down with Kermit singing. Seemingly the official video?
I would give 6 stars if I could.
5
Aug 13 2022
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Melodrama
Lorde
Gen Z masterpiece. Can’t argue with this being on the top 10 of the 2010s.
So sick of music snobs who over the past few years discount anything Jack Antonoff has been involved with. This is her album, get over yourselves assholes.
5
Aug 18 2022
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Peggy Suicide
Julian Cope
I was probably not going to listen to this album today. I have been jazzed about the last few albums. I got on this list, and I had a bunch of other stuff that I was going to spend my time listening to today. Also, this album was longer than an hour, which usually reduces my excitement to listen to it. I still give thid Hey a shot later in the afternoon at holy shit.
This was one of the biggest prizes on this list for me. Had never heard of this guy, he never seen this album. And I can’t find a lot on the history of this album, there’s a Wikipedia article, but it’s more about the political content that made its way into his songs. I’m finding it adjacent to Primal Scream.
It’s an album like this that makes me heat bands the call them self psychedelic rock. Because most the time they’re just fooling around on instruments and playing music that is intentionally obtuse. This kind of stuff though on Peggy Suicide is the real psychedelic as it has amazing, musical complexity, and structure, but while you’re listening to it, just transports your mind somewhere different.
I also thought that I was probably gonna drop this down star because it was going on for so long, and I thought it was going to overstay as welcome. But this thing keeps its flow, the entire way through, and wins a big finish, which I love to see on an album. It’s a strategy that basically dead tnow in 2022.
Amazing album and if anyone was thinking of skipping over it, I would advise against it
5
Aug 21 2022
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Diamond Life
Sade
Smooth operator
4
Aug 23 2022
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Elephant
The White Stripes
Masterpiece
Meg White you are a master. Good for you for taking care of yourself.
This album contains some of my favourite musical moments;
-Seven Nation Army opening
-the sustained feedback on There’s No Home For You Here
-The solos on Ball and Biscuit
-I got a backyard with nothing in it, except a stick, a dog and a box with something in it.
We are poorer for not having the White Stripes in our lives anymore. The bands that followed in their wake never really reached their heights. Jack Whites fine on his own, but there’s something about the raw, deliberate energy the Stripes had.
I listened to this album twice today. Does not seem like it’s going to be 20 years old next year; most stuff on alternative radio hasn’t evolved since what these two put out.
Incredible lineup of music videos that went with this album too. Seven Nation Army is still incredible to look at.
5
Aug 25 2022
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The Man Machine
Kraftwerk
Sorry wasn’t feeling this. Kraft week is a band I feel like I should be in and just have not cracked.
2
Aug 26 2022
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Young Americans
David Bowie
Young Americans is an all timer
4
Aug 28 2022
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Bad
Michael Jackson
Smooth Criminal is so good
4
Aug 29 2022
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Emergency On Planet Earth
Jamiroquai
Jamiroquai has some amazing singles (Virtual Insanity, Canned Heat, Deeper Underground) but then I listen to their albums and forget they’re a jazz-funk outfit. And the rest of the albums are digressions into that. Not for me
2
Aug 31 2022
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The Stone Roses
The Stone Roses
What can I say that has been said about the absolute piece of art?
I legitimately think this is the best British rock album ever. And I say this as a fan of the Beatles and the Rolling Stones.
I hadn’t heard this album in full in a few years. I think I had listened to it in passing at the start of the pandemic. The thing that I forgot about it is how pretty much every song has some sort of change in direction that elevates them from pretty good to just amazing. Like in Shoot You Down the pause and then key change for the ‘I never wanted …the live that you gave me’ part. It’s such and amazing surprise after thinking I knew how this whole album goes and then realizing they still have more to show.
You can say the Stone Roses legacy is tarnished because they never reached this height again, but neither has anyone else.
5
Sep 02 2022
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21
Adele
Remember Duffy? The Welsh singer who popped up the mid 2000s? She has those songs Warwick Avenue and Mercy which got pretty big radio play and I’m pretty sure she was a musical guest at one point on SNL. I had stock in her as I was sure she was going to blow up. She seemed an obvious choice to do a Bond theme too.
Well she got market-corrected by Adele a couple years later and had this massive album and put out what many now consider the best Bond theme song.
This album is undeniable. Nearly every song became a radio staple, it plays like a greatest hits record.
5
Sep 04 2022
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Ogden's Nut Gone Flake
Small Faces
The title track is the music from the excellent trailer to GTA 5. Everything else I really didn’t connect to.
3
Sep 05 2022
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There's A Riot Goin' On
Sly & The Family Stone
Man I really like so much of Sly and the Family Stone. This really didn’t grab me.
2
Sep 06 2022
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Boston
Boston
Weird detail but here it is.
Rock and Roll Band is my favourite song to play in Rock Band
5
Sep 08 2022
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Achtung Baby
U2
In 2005(?) I saw Pearl Jam in Toronto. The whole night Eddie Vedder was making jokes thanking U2 for opening for them, as they had done concerts the previous 2 nights.
At the end of the concert, they started playing Keep On Rocking in the Free World and a guy in a cowboy hat came out on stage and was dancing along. We at first thought it was Neil Young (we were sitting at the farthest seat at ACC, now Scotiabank Arena). Neil Young though had just had brain surgery so no doctor would have cleared him. We then realized it was Bono.
To my recollection, Eddie sang the first verse and corus alongside Bono, then Eddie passed the mic to Bono to sing the next verse. I don’t think Bono knew the lyrics to the song because he just started rambling sort of in time to the music? Then continued dancing. Great night overall.
This album is amazing. Not their best but an amazing and worthy follow up to one of the greatest records of all time.
5
Sep 09 2022
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Damaged
Black Flag
4
Sep 10 2022
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The Queen Is Dead
The Smiths
4
Sep 12 2022
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The Next Day
David Bowie
Really good stuff. I remember when this came out and it was a complete surprise as he hadn’t hade an album for 10 years.
Bangs out 2 albums with 0 warning they were coming, then exits this mortal coil. Legend.
4
Sep 13 2022
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Run-D.M.C.
Run-D.M.C.
That’s the way it is
4
Sep 14 2022
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Pretzel Logic
Steely Dan
Yacht rock
3
Sep 15 2022
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Bug
Dinosaur Jr.
Watch the movie Singles this week, so I was definitely in the mood for some Grunge
4
Sep 18 2022
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Ray Of Light
Madonna
POV: You installed Windows XP on your Compaq Presario
3
Sep 19 2022
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I Against I
Bad Brains
I mean I wasn’t in to it but at least it was short
2
Sep 20 2022
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Innervisions
Stevie Wonder
3
Sep 21 2022
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Nick Of Time
Bonnie Raitt
3
Sep 22 2022
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Psychocandy
The Jesus And Mary Chain
I’ve complained that albums on this list have one song that is essential and the rest are pretty forgettable.
This is on where the first track is undeniable and gives the whole album enough power to be called essential, even if the rest of it is not great.
I can appreciate Psychocandy for the sound they pioneered, mostly for the other bands such as My Bloody Valentine and Black Rebel Motorcycle Club who went on to make better music.
4
Sep 23 2022
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Warehouse: Songs And Stories
Hüsker Dü
Really did not think I was going to like this but you know what, I was actually in to it.
I see people reviewing this saying they’re getting Barenaked Ladies vibes to this. I think we’re all picking up an early BNL vibe that may not have actually existed. I can see where they’re coming from though.
4
Sep 25 2022
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evermore
Taylor Swift
Early entry into best of the decade.
I definitely listened to this one around the time it came out as the province was going into another lockdown. Related so hard to these emotions, but also felt like it was so disconnected from our reality at the time; as in we didn’t have real experiences with each other anymore during covid.
5
Sep 27 2022
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Tapestry
Carole King
5
Sep 29 2022
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A Date With The Everly Brothers
The Everly Brothers
If these two boys are calling you from a pay phone, hang up and call the police
3
Sep 30 2022
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All Directions
The Temptations
2
Oct 01 2022
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Parklife
Blur
Truly a formative album for me so it’s getting 5 stars.
By the time that I started getting into rock and alternative music, Blair, we’re on the self titled album add Song 2 was all over the place. As a Canadian millennial, blur his first and foremost, known for their inclusion on Big Shiny Tunes 2-a truly formative text for us.
I was unaware at the time that the direction Blur were heading in musically at that point was a departure from the previous sound. I started getting into this album Parklife when I started to do a real deep dive on Oasis and then by extension their Britpop peers.
I listen to this album today and felt like I needed to immediately follow it up with the first two Oasis albums. I hadn’t heard any of these in 10 years and wanted to see how time had affected my perception of them.
The Oasis albums are undeniable and have an amazing energy that even that band could not replicate. They are both masterpieces. Parklife though is so interesting. Lyrically it is so much more complex and actually dives into real subjects in songs instead of feelings, you can tell that these are very much more accomplished musicians working at the height of their powers.
I believe I talked about this during my review of the self titled blur album, but I was at what was at the time meant to be the last blur show during their late 2000s reunion at T in the Park in Scotland in 2009. They nearly had to cancel the show, because Graham Coxon had food poisoning, and apparently had come right from the hospital to the venue amazing euphoric experience, though, as that crowd was primed to see blur, I had brought a bunch of signs for them, including someone with one of the milk carton guys on a stick that he was holding up in the crowd.
The band did go on hiatus but then returned about five years later with a new album. But I was so proud that I had managed to see Blur before they had broken up. A few weeks earlier to the show, I had also seen oasis in Edinburgh. It was to be one of their last concerts before they broke up that fall.
This is going to seem inconsequential to most people, but I was given advice on concerts from a coworker, Jason I have never forgot. He had gotten tickets to go see Pearl Jam, and wanted to know if I wanted to buy one of the tickets. The day of the concert, I had class the next day and was not doing great in school that year. Jason told me that whenever I had an opportunity to see a band, I should always take it. He said you would never know if they were going to break up before you got a chance to see them again. Thanks to him, I got to see the two Titans of Brit Pop in the UK, something I would likely never gonna get to do again.
This is turned out to be the best advice in my life. Thanks, Jason.
5
Oct 03 2022
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Apocalypse 91… The Enemy Strikes Black
Public Enemy
3
Oct 04 2022
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London Calling
The Clash
5
Oct 05 2022
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Kid A
Radiohead
An album I like but don’t love.
I remember in the mid 2000s feeling like I should love this album and was listening to it on repeat. Eventually it sort of clicked for me and I understood what they were trying to do. But The Bends, OK Computer and In Rainbows are still my top Radiohead albums.
If you have a PS5, that KIDAMNESIAC app which is basically a virtual art exhibit is essential.
4
Oct 07 2022
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Headquarters
The Monkees
3
Oct 08 2022
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The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars
David Bowie
5
Oct 09 2022
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The Hour Of Bewilderbeast
Badly Drawn Boy
Knew the name Badly Dawn Boy but didn’t even know what type of music they played. Started out not liking this then eventually clicked with it. Apparently they had members of the band Doves play on this so I can see the lineage.
4
Oct 11 2022
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Bandwagonesque
Teenage Fanclub
3
Oct 12 2022
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Eagles
Eagles
4
Oct 14 2022
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The Pleasure Principle
Gary Numan
Listened to this at work on a rainy Thursday morning. Such a vibe.
4
Oct 15 2022
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Bongo Rock
Incredible Bongo Band
Go off, Bongo King 👑
4
Oct 17 2022
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Green Onions
Booker T. & The MG's
Essential cooking music.
4
Oct 18 2022
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Loveless
My Bloody Valentine
Masterpiece. Likely in my top 10 of all time.
5
Oct 19 2022
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Fever To Tell
Yeah Yeah Yeahs
I have a lot to say about Maps although this album as a whole is absolutely essential.
Maps is the best song of the 2000s. Represents so much about the time with garage rock revival. The amount of power it outputs is incredible. All done by drums and guitar which (with all due respect) are not using too many notes and vocals which are sparse. The economy and precision are unmatched.
The music video is an essential part of this equation too. Bringing in my own baggage and knowing the story of the filming of the video and the emotional place Karen O was in, I have never been able to hold it together once she starts tearing up. Just incredible myth making stuff. This is what we come to music for.
Speaking of the video, it warms my heart to see so many of the YouTube comments talking about playing this song in Rock Band. Maps is really the essential song to the Rock Band experience. It’s simple enough that anyone can play along with it. Anyone who does though is just going to wail away on the instruments or vocals and unload all their angst and heartbreak into hitting those 5 notes. Stroke of genius putting it into the first game.
Maps. They don’t love you like I love you
5
Oct 26 2022
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Fetch The Bolt Cutters
Fiona Apple
Amazing stuff. Meant to listen to this when it hit and was getting widespread critical acclaim. This doesn’t sound like anything else. Has the charm of a homemade album (done in GarageBand) but has the precision and intent most studio albums can’t match.
5
Oct 28 2022
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Bat Out Of Hell
Meat Loaf
4
Oct 30 2022
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Grace
Jeff Buckley
An album I’ve meant to listen to for years. I’ve seen this album cover in music stores for decades, seen it listed in music magazines but never gave it a chance. What a record though, so happy I have heard it in its entirety. But I would have been so in to this when I was in my 90s renaissance phase in my teens/early 20s.
I love Last Goodbye so much.
5
Nov 01 2022
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My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy
Kanye West
Can’t be random I got this album this week lol.
I was not into Kanye in 2010. I knew him from the songs that would be on the radio or MuchMusic but had never listened to any of his albums. I picked this one after hearing Ryan Davis (RIP) talk about this on the GiantBombcast podcast. His pitch was this album was justifying his craziness over the last year. This is also one of the last albums I’ve purchased on CD (I think I had later a Black Crows greatest hits once when I rented a car with no auxiliary port)
This is a massive accomplishment. It’s so aggressive and angry, and while the man might not seem it now, it’s all directed inward.
So many standouts but the one that has stuck with me over the last 12 years is Hell Of A Life. That bass hook and piano(?) run are just incredible. I really got into the album in February 2011 when I was in Vancouver, where it should be completely snowed in but it was mostly just foggy. I am always immediately transported back to that time and place whenever I put this song on.
I’m going to have to come to terms with these landmark records by problematic people as I get deeper into this list. I have Funeral by Arcade Fire I know will be coming up I’m going to have to tackle. Can we separate art from the artist? I don’t know if we can. I listen to Michael Jackson now and I feel guilty for liking it. In spite of this, I would still be putting this one on my top 10 albums of all time. It is what it is.
5
Nov 02 2022
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Maxwell's Urban Hang Suite
Maxwell
Hotel lobby music
2
Nov 03 2022
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Frank
Amy Winehouse
3
Nov 04 2022
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Every Picture Tells A Story
Rod Stewart
When you don’t really have a good hook for a song but you’re just gonna put more backup singers and different instruments on top, and you just shove it across the finish line.
And I like a lot of other Rod Stewart
2
Nov 06 2022
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Catch A Fire
Bob Marley & The Wailers
Sorry Bob wasn’t into this one
2
Nov 09 2022
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Countdown To Ecstasy
Steely Dan
Bodhisattva good but I could leave the rest
2
Nov 10 2022
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Merriweather Post Pavilion
Animal Collective
4
Nov 11 2022
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The Bends
Radiohead
I had this one on a few weeks ago and completely forgot Street Spirit was the cap to the record. I get people like OK Computer, but how do they not rank this just as high?
This is likely my favourite Radiohead album. Definitely my most played.
I think about this album cover image all the time.
5
Nov 12 2022
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Parallel Lines
Blondie
4
Nov 15 2022
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Parsley, Sage, Rosemary And Thyme
Simon & Garfunkel
I want Homeward Bound played at my funeral
5
Nov 17 2022
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The Cars
The Cars
4
Nov 19 2022
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In Rainbows
Radiohead
One if favourite albums of the 2000s. On any given day I would change the order of my ranking this, The Bends or OK Computer.
I remember when this was announced with the pay what you want scheme. I was a piece of shit and paid $0 for this for the download. Quickly became one of my most played albums, and I eventually bought the physical special edition CD.
Bodysnatchers is the standout here for me and I always forget how hard it goes whenever I put on In Rainbows
The Reckoner cover by Gnarls Barkley is essential listening.
5
Nov 21 2022
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Dirty
Sonic Youth
4
Nov 22 2022
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With The Beatles
Beatles
I get it. The Beatles are slaves to the system at this point and have to crank out several records a year. So this is a pretty slight record. All My Loving is really good though.
This is also top tier Beatles album covers though
2
Nov 23 2022
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Actually
Pet Shop Boys
Pet Shop Boys don’t do it for me
2
Nov 24 2022
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Ctrl
SZA
4
Nov 26 2022
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S&M
Metallica
I like Metallica but the symphony was just doing too much
2
Nov 29 2022
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Shake Your Money Maker
The Black Crowes
This is actually the last album I have purchased on CD. I had a rental car through work in 2011 and it didn’t have a auxiliary port and this was before Bluetooth was standard. I needed some music so found this at Best Buy.
5
Dec 03 2022
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Highway to Hell
AC/DC
4
Dec 04 2022
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Hypnotised
The Undertones
The first Undertones records was one of my first big discoveries in this list. This one is really good too.
4
Dec 05 2022
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The Madcap Laughs
Syd Barrett
Nope.
1
Dec 06 2022
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Legalize It
Peter Tosh
Not for me
2
Dec 07 2022
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Songs In The Key Of Life
Stevie Wonder
Liked it a lot. I think I had this one built up too much from years of seeing it listed on top of greatest albums lists and such. Doesn’t quiet reach those heights for me. Pastime Paradise, Feel It All Over and Isn’t She Lovely are all timers.
4
Dec 09 2022
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Garbage
Garbage
Pour your misery down on me
4
Dec 12 2022
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Dirt
Alice In Chains
Alice is Chains is one of the bands I expected to fully appreciate from this list as I hadn’t really dove into them before.
I liked some some songs on this but mostly just couldn’t vibe with the singer.
3
Dec 14 2022
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Live At The Regal
B.B. King
Pretty sure I’ve heard this one played at my barber shop
3
Dec 15 2022
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The Velvet Underground & Nico
The Velvet Underground
Never heard the whole thing but it’s apparent that pretty much all rock after this was just trying to recreate this album
5
Dec 18 2022
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My Generation
The Who
4
Dec 20 2022
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Harvest
Neil Young
I’m going to be rating this one 5 by default. I’m from central Ontario and I’ve worked at a lumber yard when I was younger. What do you want from me.
Has some all time classics and some truly bizarre diversions. A Man Needs A Maid is so such a weird song with the orchestra and him singing about needing a cleaner for his house?
5
Dec 21 2022
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Closer
Joy Division
This just rolled right off me. Forgot I had it playing in the background.
And I love Unknown Pleasures
2
Dec 22 2022
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White Blood Cells
The White Stripes
Top 10 essentials of the 2000s
First heard of White Stripes from the Fell In Love With a Girl video. While I think I do like Elephant a bit better than this, this one is incredible for the energy and arrangements.
I watched a couple of videos breaking down Meg Whites drumming style and had a greater appreciation for her contributions to White Stripes sound. And I think it’s why I just haven’t connected with any other of Jack Whites projects.
5
Dec 24 2022
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Power In Numbers
Jurassic 5
Holding on to What’s Golden
4
Dec 25 2022
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First Band On The Moon
The Cardigans
I knew this group had more in them than Lovefool but there are some real bangers on this one.
4
Dec 26 2022
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Don't Come Home A Drinkin' (With Lovin' On Your Mind)
Loretta Lynn
3
Dec 28 2022
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Metallica
Metallica
I have kept trying to get into Metallica, and while Enter Sandman rips, the rest is just so plodding and repetitive. Can’t do it.
3
Dec 29 2022
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The La's
The La's
This was a big surprise. I thought they were a one hit wonder with There She Goes. But this sounds more at home on 2022 Indie Rock radio than 1990
5
Jan 01 2023
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At Mister Kelly's
Sarah Vaughan
The announcer really did Sarah dirty by announcing at the stop she would be using lyric sheets.
Otherwise all I’m hearing is Mya Rudolph doing scat improv here.
2
Jan 02 2023
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Kings Of The Wild Frontier
Adam & The Ants
2
Jan 03 2023
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(What's The Story) Morning Glory
Oasis
Likely my most listened to and I’m pretty sure favourite album.
I started listening to Oasis seriously at the end of high school, but really in university. This was also in 2004, once they had gone through several lineup changes and pop culture had more or less moved past them. I think it’s because I was so into the Beatles in high school that I eventually migrated to Oasis.
I had a ton of memories come back today while listening, mostly playing this on my iPod on the city bus back and forth from university.
In 2009 before graduating university I went on a month long trip to England and Scotland, mostly on a self administered Britpop tour. I actually had never seen Oasis live up to that point, so my first day landing in Scotland I had a ticket to see them in Edinburgh, with The Enemy, Reverend and the Makers and Kasabian opening for them. That solo trip now seems impossible I did without a smartphone, but I landed in Edinburg, I think walked to my hostel (some student dorms in the summer) and then took a bus not knowing where it was even going and I guess just expecting I would end up at the stadium? Maybe I just followed the crowds of drunk hooligans singing Oasis songs. After the show, I walked back to the hostel, again not knowing where the hell I was going and not recognizing any landmarks. How did I do that?! I had also been up for 36 hours between flight time. I remember trying to use my calling card to dial back to Canada to tell my parent I had arrived, and crying that I couldn’t figure out the card. To be in your 20s in a pre smartphone age.
Anyways the show was amazing and they tore the place apart. Later when I was in London I took an afternoon to find the street this album shot was taken. Surprisingly not a lot of fanfare-there was one record store that had the Morning Glory record in their window. But compared to the current Abbey Road there’s nothing.
Some Might Say is just perpetually underrated.
5
Jan 04 2023
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Bayou Country
Creedence Clearwater Revival
4
Jan 06 2023
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16 Lovers Lane
The Go-Betweens
Barely registered this was playing.
2
Jan 07 2023
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1999
Prince
Price was just feeling himself on this and the grooves kept going.
4
Jan 08 2023
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1977
Ash
So I was not going to listen to this today. I’ve been getting burnt out on pre-80s albums I have no context for and I misread and thought this album came out in 1977.
I know Ash because they’ve had a song or two in Gran Turismo. But that’s it.
This music I am such a sucker for; the noisey pop-rock. Adding this album to my regular rotation.
4
Jan 10 2023
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All Things Must Pass
George Harrison
Just hands down the best thing produced between the 4 Beatles post breakup.
What Is Life in particular is such an incredible triumph. I realize its widespread usage in romantic comedy trailers, but somehow it’s only gained power over the years. I write this the week that the trailer came out for Are You There God It’s Me Margaret came out, which uses this song to amazing effect.
5
Jan 11 2023
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american dream
LCD Soundsystem
Sound of Silver was my number 1 discovery from going through this list last year. Jumped to my most played album of 2022. I had known LCD Soundsystem enough before, could likely name 5 of their songs and at least the name of their albums. I would always tune in whenever they were the musical guest on SNL.
2022 I really made LCD Sound System one of my bands though. I suspect part of it was that my favourite band (Arcade Fire) had some bad press this year and I haven’t sorted my feelings about following them.
American Dream is incredible. It sounds so much wider and deeper than their previous albums. Call The Police and other voices I think are my favourites. This one still has that LCD thing where a song is just grooving and pounding along for a while and the second they have a key change your head just explodes. Love it.
Really hope they put out a new album. New Body Rhumba they did for White Noise is incredible and deserves the Oscar.
5
Jan 12 2023
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Come Away With Me
Norah Jones
I was calm afterwards
I’m old enough to remember when this swept the Grammys seemingly out of know where. Thus I think I’ve heard most of this album in the ensuing 20 years from how much it was played specifically at Chapters.
4
Jan 13 2023
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Pump
Aerosmith
One of the first CDs I owned was the Armageddon soundtrack my parents got me for Christmas. I hadn’t even seen the movie. The album was mostly Aerosmith or Aerosmith adjacent bands.
Honestly didn’t expect this album to come up but it makes sense. This has all their second wave big hits.
I will say though listening to this album in the head of January winter makes no sense. This is made for June driving.
5
Jan 14 2023
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25
Adele
4
Jan 15 2023
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The Last Of The True Believers
Nanci Griffith
More Than A Whisper just knocked me on my ass
4
Jan 16 2023
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Atomizer
Big Black
Had never heard of this band or album. Looked them up later and realized this is Steve Albini’s band so makes sense it’s on this list.
Pretty good noise punk
4
Jan 17 2023
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Seventeen Seconds
The Cure
I was here for the vibes…not much else
2
Jan 18 2023
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Surfer Rosa
Pixies
It could be ten, but then again I can't remember half an hour since a quarter to four
Throw on your clothes, the second side of Surfer Rosa and you leave me with my jaw on the floor
5
Jan 20 2023
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Talking Heads 77
Talking Heads
Ayayayayay
3
Jan 21 2023
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Sheer Heart Attack
Queen
Remember how the surviving members of Queen made a movie about the band and made themselves look loyal to their families and threw Freddie under the bus.
4
Jan 22 2023
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A Grand Don't Come For Free
The Streets
2004. What a time.
I listened to this album a bunch when it came out. Being Canadian there wasn’t much exposure on the Streets or Mike Skinner but I remember they played the video for Fit But You Know It on Muchmusic once and I had to find out who this was.
This thing is about being a cringy 20-something in the 21st century. I have to rate it 5 stars as I was one of these people!
5
Jan 23 2023
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Being There
Wilco
4
Jan 24 2023
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Pretenders
Pretenders
4
Jan 26 2023
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Fleet Foxes
Fleet Foxes
4
Jan 27 2023
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Close To You
Carpenters
3
Jan 31 2023
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Back To Black
Amy Winehouse
This is one of the rare records that feels like it’s been in my life forever and also is older than I think it is.
I remember this coming out and the first time I heard Rehab. I already knew about Amy Winehouse, and had heard one or two songs but mostly knew her from the tabloids already being obsessed with her.
Classic example of an artist making a splash with their first record, but then tightening everything up and just laying down a masterpiece to build on their previous LP. The production is so on point here and her vocals are just soaring.
5
Feb 06 2023
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Dig Me Out
Sleater-Kinney
3
Feb 07 2023
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Suede
Suede
Remember, the first time at heard about Suede I was watching a documentary on Brit Pop and Noel Gallagher said that when the song animal nitrate came out, he was pissed because he thought that he was about two weeks away from writing that song. I think about that all the time what a wild thing to say
4
Feb 08 2023
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Blood Sugar Sex Magik
Red Hot Chili Peppers
So horny
5
Feb 10 2023
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It's Blitz!
Yeah Yeah Yeahs
Going to rate this 4 stars purely for Zero (a song I still have on running playlists 14 years going).
The rest of this though is really trying to reach that height and just not making it. What else can I say.
4
Feb 13 2023
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Blackstar
David Bowie
So I know why this is included on the list. But I was thinking; say I had to come up with a list of the 100 greatest Canadian albums, I likely would not put the last Tragically Hip album in there. Made under similar circumstances where they have a person involved who knows their time is up.
Anyways I really didn’t connect with any of these songs.
2
Feb 16 2023
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Cee-Lo Green... Is The Soul Machine
Cee Lo Green
4
Feb 18 2023
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At Fillmore East
The Allman Brothers Band
Good jams but I had my fill pretty quickly
3
Feb 19 2023
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Urban Hymns
The Verve
This album was a mainstay during my original iPod (technically 3rd Gen, blue screen, black text unit) in the late 2000s. Haven’t heard it all the way through since then. I read some of the other reviews before listening again and was surprised so many people were rating it pretty low. Came to the realization that Urban Hymns falls in the same category that I’ve read a bunch of different albums on this list as far as well too. Mostly songs go on way way way too long. I think it’s definitely I was grooving to it during that time because I would be listening with nothing else really going on. Maybe riding the bus home or something.
Bittersweet Symphony is obviously the centrepiece and main draw on this one. The lyrics, although pretty simple, are just purely elemental at this point. I need to hear some sounds that recognize the pain in me.
I remember in the late 2000s when the Verge reunited and people were in awe of how good Bittersweet Symphony sounded after it, not really being in his eye guys for the past 10 years. I’ve always thought that that is the songs legacy, when you hear it for the first time in a while you’re bowled over by how big it is. I think the only song that’s come close in the past 25 years is The Mother We Share by Chvrches. Equally of a time and already nostalgia triggering.
Otherwise, Lucky Man is a song made for walking around during golden hour. And the drugs don’t work is an incredibly depressing song that still works.
The Verve are definitely a band You have to listen to more passively, in the background to truly vibe with I don’t know if this is a truly great album, but I am going to give it five stars. It’s firmly in the canon of my musical upbringing.
5
Feb 20 2023
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A Rush Of Blood To The Head
Coldplay
This is peak stereo-shelf system with 5 disc changer, AM/FM and dual cassette era music. If you know you know.
Definitely Coldplays best.
I did actually listen to X&Y afterwards thinking that was the inferior album. It’s just more of it’s time. Still pretty good though actually.
5
Feb 21 2023
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NEU! 75
Neu!
3
Feb 28 2023
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Billion Dollar Babies
Alice Cooper
This one was a surprised I really had fun with this!
5
Mar 03 2023
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Sea Change
Beck
An album I like but don’t love. Connected more to Becks next two albums
4
Mar 04 2023
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Crooked Rain Crooked Rain
Pavement
Really enjoyed this. Currently listening to the episode of Bandsplain about Pavement and it’s giving me some good context.
4
Mar 06 2023
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Toys In The Attic
Aerosmith
Great album with a bunch of hits on it.
I had given this one a listen nearly 20 years ago because I was reading that Kurt Cobain biography Heavier Than Heaven and this album was listed as one of Kurt’s favourite growing up.
5
Mar 08 2023
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Smokers Delight
Nightmares On Wax
Basic restaurant music
3
Mar 09 2023
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Opus Dei
Laibach
Sounds like those throat singers from Dune
2
Mar 12 2023
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Trans Europe Express
Kraftwerk
What if I got really into Lraftwerk. Their fans seem really cool
4
Mar 13 2023
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Illmatic
Nas
I recognize this is a landmark album.
But I did not really even register this album. Don’t know enough about Nas or rap at the time.
4
Mar 14 2023
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Reggatta De Blanc
The Police
Not my favourite Police album but still good.
4
Mar 17 2023
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Golden Hour
Kacey Musgraves
I listened to this on my HomePod today and it’s in Dolby Atmos on Apple Music. The quality of it made me regret I started buying vinyl records. Truly reference level shit.
5
Mar 18 2023
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Ladies And Gentlemen We Are Floating In Space
Spiritualized
I guess the vibes were good.
This is the most recommended album from all the music services algorithms I’ve had. Really had no idea what to expect on this one. I expect I should have just laid on my floor and listened to this instead. Maybe I’ll still do that.
3
Mar 20 2023
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Raising Hell
Run-D.M.C.
No shame in saying my first exposure to this album was from SSX Tricky.
5
Mar 21 2023
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Ten
Pearl Jam
I was actually in a store deciding wether to buy this on vinyl or not.
This is one of those albums I’ve heard so much I barely process it as music anymore, more just a series of sounds. Especially with a bunch of tracks being used for Rock Band I’m more thinking about the individual notes and structure.
I hadn’t heard this whole thing through in at least 10 years. There really isn’t a lull, it’s maxed out all the way through.
5
Mar 23 2023
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Disintegration
The Cure
4
Mar 24 2023
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Never Mind The Bollocks, Here’s The Sex Pistols
Sex Pistols
I got super into this album in high school with my friend Alex let this be his copy on CD, and the DVD of the Classic Albums episode on this.
Haven’t heard this in probably 15 years. Every track still rips. I forgot how John Lydon just tries to stuff as much extra lyrical content in as a song is wrapping up.
5
Mar 25 2023
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Ready To Die
The Notorious B.I.G.
I hate doing this but it’s not a good listen. These skits. I don’t know what they were thinking.
3
Mar 26 2023
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Hunky Dory
David Bowie
I mean Life on Mars is on this.
5
Mar 27 2023
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Vivid
Living Colour
Wow what a record. I had known really only of Living Colour from Guitar Hero but this vibe of rock was just what I needed. Driving around in the first sunlight we’ve seen in Ontario for the last 6 months was 😘👌
5
Mar 28 2023
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Faith
George Michael
First two tracks are all timers. Father Figure is an incredible song. The rest: ah I didn’t dig. 4 stars tho still
4
Mar 29 2023
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Violator
Depeche Mode
4
Mar 30 2023
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Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not
Arctic Monkeys
Arctic Monkeys are a band that I bought stock in early. I had heard some of the demos that were going around before the album released, this was in the era of websites like Stereogum and other MP3 blogs. The narrative at the time was that this act was the next Libertines (who had flamed out like a year or two earlier). I also remember taking one of my friends to Future Shop for me to buy this album when it came out. A few weeks later the Arctic Monkeys gave one of the all time great performances on SNL (when Alex mid song calls out someone for yawning). I fully expected them to take over culture then and there and while they were known, they were never really huge.
They did however get huge when they changed their sounds by slowing down and dropping key. Those albums I really have never listened to. Perhaps I should give them a fair shake
Haven’t heard this album in whole for over 10 years. Every song hits completely. Mardy Bum especially is pop perfection.
5
Apr 01 2023
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Live And Dangerous
Thin Lizzy
This guy has about the best voice and delivery in rock.
3
Apr 04 2023
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OK Computer
Radiohead
I’m on the side that this is Radioheads best work and the best album of the 90s.
I think I would have heard this whole thing first when my friend Alex (who I have to credit with so much musical influence on me and he had the best CD collection) lent it to me. Would have been around 2003-4. This is an album I come back to maybe every 2-3 years and am just completely bowled over by. What a journey.
5
Apr 07 2023
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Vanishing Point
Primal Scream
Really hate to rate this one so low as I think Screamadelica is in my top 10 of all time and I actually really like their more bluesy stuff they did in the early 90s and the 2000s. This was just a mess though of no direction. Just layering on sounds and expecting magic would happen in the final product.
2
Apr 08 2023
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Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere
Neil Young & Crazy Horse
I like Cinnamon Girl but wasn’t crazy about the rest
2
Apr 09 2023
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Behaviour
Pet Shop Boys
This is the kind of CD you’d get to show off your HiFi system in the early 90s
4
Apr 10 2023
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Slanted And Enchanted
Pavement
Sorry I tried just not getting into Pavement
2
Apr 12 2023
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Born In The U.S.A.
Bruce Springsteen
Unpopular opinion but I’m Going Down is my favourite Springsteen song.
5
Apr 14 2023
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Walking Wounded
Everything But The Girl
Crazy another album I don’t remember every hearing or seeing music videos for, but they ran ads for on MuchMusic all the time when it music have come out.
3
Apr 15 2023
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In The Court Of The Crimson King
King Crimson
This cover is iconic
21st Century Schizoid Man rolls
The rest of this mostly stressed me out
2
Apr 17 2023
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Veckatimest
Grizzly Bear
Two Weeks just pushes this whole thing to 4 stars at least on its own. Top 10 songs of the 2000s.
4
Apr 18 2023
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Yoshimi Battles The Pink Robots
The Flaming Lips
3
Apr 21 2023
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The Last Broadcast
Doves
One of my favourite bands. I know no one who knows them though.
I discovered Doves when I was on Oasis forums in the early/mid 2000s. What can I say I was a popular person in university. I had downloaded Some Cities off a torrent and it sat on my iPod for a few months until I remember I was in bed one night listening to music and a song from them came on and I was immediately hooked.
I had heard The Last Broadcast and the rest of Doves a ton in the 2000s (I actually saw them live in 2009 when I went to Scotland at T in the Park. Excellent show). This is their best album, although I still have a soft spot for the melancholy vibes of Some Cities.
I haven’t heard this one in probably 10 years though. I forgot how much Doves are a vibes and groove band. Very much like The Verve. The songs all do go on for too long, the vocals are really not great. Now that I have good speakers to listen on and not iPod earbuds I can hear the production on this really is not good. But I have enough nostalgia to carry me through.
5
Apr 22 2023
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Rumours
Fleetwood Mac
I actually bought this on vinyl and listened to it this Monday. It’s an album made for vinyl.
This is just the best album of all time.
5
Apr 24 2023
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Heartbreaker
Ryan Adams
This album is phenomenal. I always knew I should listen to Ryan Adams as I had been recommended him from iTunes and such. I have also heard most of this album being played at restaurants and coffee shops. Every song is a winner and I was astounded he was keeping it up throughout.
But I also know this guy has had a messed past with women and he will likely never recover professionally. I don’t think I would feel good ever supporting this guy financially. Again, another album we have to evaluate our feelings about. I think criticism of him is justified. I think he deserves the hardships he seems to be experiencing. But this is obviously a great record and likely influenced a lot of artists. Still deserves to be on this list.
5
Apr 25 2023
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Green
R.E.M.
I got my spine I got my orange crush
Also Stipe just makes a meal of the word ‘conscious’. Legend.
5
Apr 27 2023
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In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida
Iron Butterfly
An album just over 30 minutes in length it’s still about 15 too long
2
Apr 29 2023
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Beach Samba
Astrud Gilberto
What the hell
2
Apr 30 2023
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Slippery When Wet
Bon Jovi
So couple of stray thoughts on this one.
Genius inclusion of Wanted Dead or Alive in the original Rock Band game. You had to really explore the space while singing ‘I’ve been everywhere, still I’m standing tall!’
I was fully prepared to give this a 5 sight unseen but the non-single tracks are so forgettable.
Top 10 worst album covers for how many good songs are on this. I know the story behind why they had to change it last minute but come on.
4
May 02 2023
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Led Zeppelin II
Led Zeppelin
Crazy that at nearly 500 albums generated this is my first Zeppelin.
This is my favourite album of theirs. I realized today when I had my CDs the only Zeppelin I owned was their 2 disc Early and Later days greatest hits album.
5
May 03 2023
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Daydream Nation
Sonic Youth
Hell yeah
5
May 04 2023
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Lust For Life
Iggy Pop
This was so good
5
May 05 2023
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Celebrity Skin
Hole
I have to confess I fell victim to the narrative around Courtney Love in the late 90s. Too young to really comprehend when Kurt Cobain died, by the time I was really aware of Love she was doing solo work. I remember the way MuchMusic was talking about her at the time was pretty rough. When I eventually got into Nirvana in 2001/2002 when they had the greatest hits I had read a couple of books about Nirvana and Kurt and they were pretty clear about painting Courtney Love as the villain. Heck, I even remember the PopUp Video episode that had the video for Doll Parts went into the rumours Kurt had written that album.
At least now the prevailing narrative is that Hole is one of the most important bands of the 90s and Courtney Love is a genius.
Anyways this thing is pretty much start to finish bangers. You got Celebrity Skin and Malibu. A few song in the middle fell slat for me but Boys on the Radio picked it back up.
4
May 06 2023
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Trout Mask Replica
Captain Beefheart & His Magic Band
Couldn’t make it through this. Was so stressful.
1
May 07 2023
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Here Come The Warm Jets
Brian Eno
This was interesting. Don’t think I feel the need to listen to it ever agin though
3
May 08 2023
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Oar
Alexander 'Skip' Spence
Not into this. I have no interest listening these kind of curiosity. I don’t want to give it one star because it’s not actively trying to get me to hate it. It just sounds like someone falling sleep mid song.
2
May 09 2023
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3 Feet High and Rising
De La Soul
Incredible stuff. De La Soul was a blind spot for me and I loved this start to finish. Now looking for this on vinyl
5
May 12 2023
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Rid Of Me
PJ Harvey
4
May 13 2023
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Calenture
The Triffids
2
May 14 2023
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Introducing The Hardline According To Terence Trent D'Arby
Terence Trent D'Arby
Yea man this was great. Wishing we’ll kiss and tell
4
May 16 2023
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Straight Outta Compton
N.W.A.
This one is tricky because I understand the context, I understand the historical significance and legacy it left. They were on the right side of history with the police in a conflict that still hasn’t been solved.
But outside if the police stuff, the hatred especially of women especially, but also the Hispanic community and the homophobia just really makes it hard to fully get behind what they were trying to say.
4
May 17 2023
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Dare!
The Human League
Shows why album sequencing is so important. If you’re going to have Don’t You Want Me as the closer, the rest of the record has to be all bangers. This is not.
2
May 19 2023
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Crazysexycool
TLC
It is wild that in the years since a bunch of TLCs music has become a comedy punch line. I’m thinking of Michael Keatons character in The Other Guys, Bill Murray singing to Drew Barrymore during the SNL 25th anniversary show. I don’t think any of it was malicious, just part of the legacy.
I haven’t heard Waterfalls in a long time and I think it’s one of the top songs of the 90s. I might even rank it #2 after Smells Like Teen Spirit.
This album is so incredibly horny as well hahahah
5
May 23 2023
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Be
Common
Good 2005 throwback
4
May 24 2023
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A Girl Called Dusty
Dusty Springfield
2
May 28 2023
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Tea for the Tillerman
Cat Stevens
Shit man Father and Son
5
May 30 2023
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Let England Shake
PJ Harvey
3
May 31 2023
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Q: Are We Not Men? A: We Are Devo
Devo
One of my favourite album covers
4
Jun 02 2023
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Get Rich Or Die Tryin'
50 Cent
Can’t lie. I had a good time.
This was also status symbol if you saw this in someone’s car in 2003 they were a dirtbag hahahah
4
Jun 03 2023
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Hybrid Theory
Linkin Park
Men will literally record Hybrid Theory before going to therapy.
3
Jun 04 2023
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System Of A Down
System Of A Down
Couldn’t do it. I like Chop Suey but their stuff is just too aggro
2
Jun 06 2023
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Back In Black
AC/DC
Incredible collection of songs. Shoot to Thrill is their best song with Brian Johnson
5
Jun 08 2023
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Gasoline Alley
Rod Stewart
I like Rod. Didn’t think this deserved a place in the 1001
2
Jun 09 2023
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Grievous Angel
Gram Parsons
Really didn’t like this at the start. Came around on it by the end tho.
2
Jun 10 2023
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Gorillaz
Gorillaz
You know what? Was not into it this time I listened to it! Most of it just seemed aimless except for a couple tracks (Clint Eastwood, 19-2000).
I’m also very surprised to see that Demon Days is not on this list. I feel like that album was more popular at the time. Plus in the last couple of years everyone has rightfully evevated it to masterpiece status.
3
Jun 11 2023
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Axis: Bold As Love
Jimi Hendrix
Great Hendrix album. The title track is my favourite song of his.
4
Jun 14 2023
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Third
Portishead
I know this album is supposed to be good. I remember all the music critics falling over themselves for this. Wasn’t for me.
2
Jun 21 2023
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The Real Thing
Faith No More
I’ve been aware of this album and more specifically Epic since the early 2000s. I may have first heard of them during the VH1 top music videos of the 90s week long special they did. I remember the one critic describing the video and asking ‘why is there a fish flopping around at the end? It doesn’t matter!’. But I’ve mostly just filed it away as a curio from the 90s.
I have come to realize in the last couple of years this is actually one of the most influential albums of the 90s and is responsible for plunging us in to 1000 years of darkness as Limp Bizkit and Korn took their musical style largely from this record specifically.
This is still better than those guys though. Really evokes the stocky men in zip up-sleeveless hoodies and long basketball shorts vibe.
4
Jun 24 2023
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Exile In Guyville
Liz Phair
This album turned 30 years old yesterday
The first time I encountered Liz Phair was in the 2000s and she had that song Why Can’t I come out and it was all over MuchMusic and the radio (seems like it’s her most popular song on Apple Music). All of the stuff I was reading about her though was about how she had sold out, wasted potential and now she’s just pop music. The other time I would hear about her (and this album specifically) is as a footnote in writing about Exile on Main Street. I’m pretty mute I had read in Rolling Stone or Spin a piece written by Phair about the Stones record and how much she liked it.
30 years on now, this is about the most contemporary sounding album I think I’ve heard on the list. If you listen to indie rock radio there are a ton of acts that are going after this lo fi, confessional style of rock. I’m thinking Courtney Bartlett, Phoebe Bridgers and Boy Genius and Lana Del Ray. Yet Phair is still more pointed in her lyrics regarding sexual relationships especially. This album sounds timeless, while even on her next album songs like Supernova are peak 90s production.
I’ve got to say this has been one of my great discoveries and one I think I need to own on vinyl.
5
Jun 25 2023
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Odessa
Bee Gees
One of the most pretentious, overwrought and frankly misogynistic records I’ve heard. Crazy these guys change course and put out a 5 star masterpiece as a movie soundtrack nearly a decade after this.
2
Jun 26 2023
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Pills 'n' Thrills And Bellyaches
Happy Mondays
Step On
4
Jun 28 2023
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Remedy
Basement Jaxx
I remember when this album had a moment in culture. Don’t think this was good tho
2
Jun 29 2023
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Ocean Rain
Echo And The Bunnymen
This is incredible. I only really knew them from The Killing Moon (which I love). I hear where all my bands come from in this though. Like Arcade Fire, The Killers, Coldplay and Radiohead. This is of its time in the best way.
5
Jun 30 2023
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Street Life
The Crusaders
They do love the Street Life
2
Jul 01 2023
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Rocks
Aerosmith
Not their best but Back in the Saddle elevates this.
3
Jul 06 2023
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Pet Sounds
The Beach Boys
I listened to the Atmos mix of this they have on Apple Music on my Sonos today. The wall of music effect really suits it well.
5
Jul 07 2023
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Here Are the Sonics
The Sonics
I’m fascinated that record companies were just letting all these bands put out albums covering the same rock and roll songs. I guess this would have been before we took the idea of the album seriously.
3
Jul 08 2023
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The ArchAndroid
Janelle Monáe
I have been meaning to give Janelle Monáes music for the last few years now. I heard a bit of her second album once and was really intrigued.
Crazy this is her debut LP. I know she has an EP and couple singles before this, but what a statement piece.
5
Jul 14 2023
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Protection
Massive Attack
First two tracks are essentials
The rest? Eh…
3
Jul 17 2023
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Off The Wall
Michael Jackson
I have no problem rating this 5 off the strength of the first track
5
Jul 19 2023
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In Utero
Nirvana
It’s been at least 10 years since I’ve heard this one. I had the memory that the back half was pretty abrasive and not very pleasant to listen to until the last song. I expected I would have given this 4 stars.
This one is not nearly as difficult as I remember. I don’t think the production actually does it any favors. Very good album with all songs firing.
5
Jul 23 2023
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Marcus Garvey
Burning Spear
Sorry barely registered I had it on
2
Jul 24 2023
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Superunknown
Soundgarden
Timeless
5
Jul 26 2023
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A Short Album About Love
The Divine Comedy
A short album you say?….
3
Jul 27 2023
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The Who Sell Out
The Who
I had a good time with this.
Wild the only version seemingly on streaming is a 4 hour version with just different takes of the same songs?
4
Jul 30 2023
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Metal Box
Public Image Ltd.
Straight up fuck this album.
Public Image was my first 1 star and this was worse.
1
Aug 02 2023
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Live At The Witch Trials
The Fall
Run of the mill punk
2
Aug 03 2023
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Black Sabbath
Black Sabbath
4
Aug 04 2023
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Electric Warrior
T. Rex
3
Aug 08 2023
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The Libertines
The Libertines
Absolutely baffling the this one is on the list and the debut isn’t. This is just tabloid fodder for the 2000s.
I love the Libertines, their debut is actually timeless. This hasn’t held up
2
Aug 10 2023
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The Village Green Preservation Society
The Kinks
We are the Draught Beer Preservation Society
God save Mrs. Mopp and good Old Mother Riley
We are the Custard Pie Appreciation Consortium
God save the George Cross and all those who were awarded them
4
Aug 13 2023
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Teenager Of The Year
Frank Black
I really vibed out with this. His band is really tight on this one. Just too ling
4
Aug 16 2023
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The Joshua Tree
U2
In my top 10 all time.
Red Hill Mining Town is underrated
5
Aug 20 2023
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I Want To See The Bright Lights Tonight
Richard Thompson
Had some good songs. Like the title track
3
Aug 21 2023
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Sheet Music
10cc
God I’ve had enough of this 70s/80s also-ran, extremely mid Brit rock off this list
2
Aug 22 2023
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John Prine
John Prine
I often try to convince my wife the country is not all just ‘There’s a tear in my beer’ type songs.
But then some bullshit like this comes along
2
Aug 25 2023
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Only Built 4 Cuban Linx
Raekwon
lol Tony Stark
2
Aug 27 2023
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Fulfillingness' First Finale
Stevie Wonder
Not my favorite Stevie but still pretty funky
4
Aug 28 2023
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When I Was Born For The 7th Time
Cornershop
Well
it seems like the funky days
they're back again
4
Aug 29 2023
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Antichrist Superstar
Marilyn Manson
I’m OK I’m just gonna pass on this one
2
Aug 30 2023
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The Holy Bible
Manic Street Preachers
4
Aug 31 2023
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Murder Ballads
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds
Hard pass on this one Nick Cave
1
Sep 01 2023
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Electric Ladyland
Jimi Hendrix
I knew this was my least favorite of Jimis 3 studio albums but I actually could barely stand this one. Just so much noodling. Never been a fan of All Along the Watchtower either.
3
Sep 02 2023
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The Fat Of The Land
The Prodigy
Big Shiny Tunes-core
Breathe with me
5
Sep 04 2023
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Buena Vista Social Club
Buena Vista Social Club
Sorry wansnt for me
2
Sep 09 2023
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Darklands
The Jesus And Mary Chain
So while I think Just Like Honey is seminal, I think the rest of Psychocandy is pretty middling.
This though I love. Doesn’t hit the heights of their biggest song but remains solid throughout
4
Sep 10 2023
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Rock Bottom
Robert Wyatt
Respectfully, fuck off with this shit.
1
Sep 12 2023
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Beauty And The Beat
The Go-Go's
They got the beat
4
Sep 13 2023
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Autobahn
Kraftwerk
I was thinking, while listening to this, if one of our Canadian bands pulled the same move, and just started writing music about the TransCanada Highway or the 401.
But I guess like the Barenaked Ladies and likely the Tragically Hip have already
3
Sep 14 2023
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Survivor
Destiny's Child
I’m not going to dispute this albums place on the greatest list. I was there, this thing was huge. All the videos were on all the time. This is the lasting legacy from the Charlie’s Angels movie. 3 incredible bangers right off the top that no one is going to miss off biggest songs of the 2000s. Who among us can claim that? No one.
I was ready to hand out a 5 on this one but after Bootylicious the rest of the record is so aggressively mid it’s wild.
Also weirdly the next song is Nasty Girl which is hating on other women not wearing a lot of clothes. Such a bizarre heel turn.
4
Sep 16 2023
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Alien Lanes
Guided By Voices
I mean I live an album under 45 minutes. And it has nearly 30 songs? Incredible commitment to the bit.
3
Sep 17 2023
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Neon Bible
Arcade Fire
I’ve bought this on iTunes when it came out. I don’t think I’ve ever listened to the whole thing through, but I’ve heard every song before just from shuffling.
This doesn’t hit the heights of Funeral, but it is more even throughout. Approaches some of the nostalgia that they master on The Suburbs. Doesn’t have a ton of songs they play live still. It’s kind of the forgotten middle child between one of the most important rock debuts and a surprise Grammy winning record.
This is still really good annd I would rank it aMing the best of the 2000s. Intervention just goes, I don’t get why it’s not a live staple for them. Windowsill is amazing.
Two observations about the context of this album.
- I didn’t realize how Springsteen this one is. Also strange considering at the time The Killers had their second album Sam’s Town which also went pretty Bruce. I can’t place why The Boss was in the zeitgeist in 2006/7?
-This was also Arcade Fire at the height of their cultural relevance with established bands. I remember Coldplay trying to make themselves more like Arcade Fire for Viva La Vida. U2 was always playing Wale Up before they came on stage. And the Foo Fighters covered Keep the Car Running.
I don’t know where this band goes from here though. They barely finished the tour for WE with their support dropping out. They’ve done a couple of festival slots where they have done amazing. A real shame given this was our best Canadian rock act going.
5
Sep 18 2023
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Private Dancer
Tina Turner
I went to pick through some vinyl records from my parents old collection a few months ago before they got rid of it.
I stupidly passed this one over.
4
Sep 19 2023
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Millions Now Living Will Never Die
Tortoise
Was hyped for an under 45 minute album. But then the first track is the longest song in history and just goes no where.
2
Sep 20 2023
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The Man Who
Travis
As a Britpop scholar I found this so derivative of everything else. I know this one has its fans but it’s just lifting wholesale riffs from Oasis and Blur songs that were like 3-5 years old.
Why Does it Always Rain on Me is great though
3
Sep 21 2023
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Follow The Leader
Korn
Kind of let down honestly. I thought maybe if I revisit this for the first time in almost 25 years I might dig it.
I can’t deny their musicianship. These boys had a sound nailed down.
3
Sep 24 2023
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Oracular Spectacular
MGMT
True millennial-core
This was among the last albums I bought when they came out on CD even though I had an iPod for a few years.
Kids especially is in the top 10 of the decade.
5
Sep 29 2023
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Jagged Little Pill
Alanis Morissette
Has only grown in strength, and like Exile in Guyville is now about the most consequential album of the 90s outside Nevermind.
Also I only know my dad owning 3 albums since I was born. The Wall by Pink Floyd, Balance by Van Halen and this. Not sure what to make of that hahaha
5
Sep 30 2023
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Hot Fuss
The Killers
I said MGMT was pure millennial-core. I have have spoke too soon.
Killers one of our last great American rock acts. Most of this one is all-timers
5
Oct 04 2023
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Wild Gift
X
This was fun!
4
Oct 05 2023
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GI
Germs
This was ok. I’m not much for noise punk
3
Oct 06 2023
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D
White Denim
Can’t believe I had never heard of this. I listened to a ton of indie/alternative radio in 2011-14 and never heard is this group. Truly a failing of the machine.
I have also hated any psychedelic album that’s come up but this is an easy 5er for me.
5
Oct 08 2023
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Doolittle
Pixies
Just about the most important indie rock album of the last 40 years.
5
Oct 14 2023
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Gentlemen
The Afghan Whigs
I had been meaning to check in on Afghan Whigs as they were the subject of Bandsplain this week and I had never heard them.
This is one of the most intense records I’ve heard and it absolutely rips. May not be a repeater for me unless I’m really in the mood but goddamn this is excellent
5
Oct 15 2023
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All Hail the Queen
Queen Latifah
So I had never heard any of Queen Latifah’s music, dispute knowing that she was an artist before actor and maybe seeing one or two of her music videos. As an actor she is great anytime she pops up in anything.
This though was great. Totally my vibe of hip hop.
4
Oct 18 2023
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Peter Gabriel
Peter Gabriel
I love Salisbury Hill, it’s an all timer. I like a bunch of other Peter Gabriel as well.
The rest of this did not click for me though.
2
Oct 21 2023
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Chemtrails Over The Country Club
Lana Del Rey
Weird choice, I thought this wasn’t a super well reviewed album of hers and kind of forgotten. Born to Die and NFR I thought were considered her at the height of her powers.
This was ok but I know there is better Lana out there.
2
Oct 23 2023
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McCartney
Paul McCartney
The man has an entire album of half baked ideas and then finishes with one of his all timers.
3
Oct 28 2023
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A Nod Is As Good As A Wink To A Blind Horse
Faces
You know what, The Faces are an amazing Greatest Hits band. Can’t put together a good album though.
3
Oct 29 2023
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Blonde On Blonde
Bob Dylan
You know, I was prepared to give this one 2 stars and concede Dylan is not for me.
This son of a bitch has a record that can’t be hated though.
5
Oct 30 2023
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All That You Can't Leave Behind
U2
I was prepared to give this one 5 stars off the bat. I remember this album coming out and how huge it was. With a catalogue as great as theirs was before this one was, they still would not make it out of a stadium alive without playing Beautiful Day.
I can concede most of these tracks are reworking of their classics and I was still prepared to give it a 5. But the back half of this falls off so incredibly hard. Needs 1 or 2 great songs to end it off.
4
Oct 31 2023
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Rio
Duran Duran
Incredible bass lines on this
4
Nov 01 2023
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Soul Mining
The The
This Is The Day is pretty good. The rest I could leave.
Also Apple Music defaults to the album art from the 2000s reissue which is an all time downgrade from the original art.
2
Nov 02 2023
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Pacific Ocean Blue
Dennis Wilson
You know what?
Liked this better than Brian Wilson’s Smile
4
Nov 03 2023
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Imagine
John Lennon
It’s good
4
Nov 06 2023
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MTV Unplugged In New York
Nirvana
I think the consensus on this is since Unplugged was so successful that Nirvana likely would have done something for their fourth. I don’t think they would have been an interesting thought.
I forgot how many Meat Puppets songs are on this. I had never heard the original songs and I listened to them afterwards. Such a weird choice to turn into basically country songs.
Ultimately in 2023 I don’t think I’ll need to keep replaying Unplugged like I did in the early 2000s when I got really into Nirvana. It’s more a curiosity of the Nirvana narrative. It’s also crazy they were only in their mid 20s at this point. The banter in between songs is just kids awkwardly playing to the tv cameras.
5
Nov 08 2023
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Parachutes
Coldplay
When Coldplay was at their peak around 2002-4, I had friends who told me Parachutes was their best album. I had never heard this one in full despite being very familiar with all the singles.
That was a bonkers take, and Rush of Blood to the Head is hands down their best record. Parachutes while it does have song absolute all-timers (Yellow, Shiver) it is way too acoustic guitar forward in the back half. I barely registered that songs were changing.
I’m still landing on a 4.5 stars though
4
Nov 11 2023
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Duck Stab/Buster & Glen
The Residents
Straight fuck off with this art rock shit. I hate music that sounds like it’s intentionally obtuse just for the sake of it.
1
Nov 12 2023
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Queens of the Stone Age
Queens of the Stone Age
So I was bemoaning that this was the only Queens album on the list, despite Rated R being one of the most well reviewed rock albums of the 2000s and Songs for the Deaf I think now generally considered a landmark.
This is great, I cannot deny. I don’t have the same love as their next two albums but I can’t disagree with it’s inclusion
5
Nov 14 2023
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Rings Around The World
Super Furry Animals
It’s ok I’m into enough British bands, I think I can let Super Furry Animals pass me by without feeling guilty. I tried
2
Nov 15 2023
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Vincebus Eruptum
Blue Cheer
I get it, this is how we get to heavy metal.
But this is also the third album I’ve had where someone covers Summertime Blues
2
Nov 16 2023
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She's So Unusual
Cyndi Lauper
A classic. While before my time, I saw her videos all the time on Pop Up Video
Gotta say, the Dolby Atmos mix on Apple Music is not good
4
Nov 19 2023
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Myths Of The Near Future
Klaxons
It’s been at least 10 years since I’ve heard this one properly. I still occasionally hear Golden Skans on the radio, but Klaxxons I think are a largely forgotten band (seems they’ve been inactive since 2014).
Before today, I don’t know if I would have thought to put this on a list of my top albums of the 2000s. Now I’m pretty sure I would have in the top 3 maybe.
5
Nov 21 2023
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Is This It
The Strokes
I love the sequencing on this how it doesn’t really seem like the band is going to be able to keep their groove together the first few songs, and then when you hit Barely Legal and then Someday and realize they are in complete control.
I have to speak my truth, though, and admit that, while I knew them before, I only really came to the strokes because of their inclusion on the 2002 Spider-Man soundtrack
5
Nov 22 2023
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Time (The Revelator)
Gillian Welch
Could not stand this
I get it’s not for me.
2
Nov 25 2023
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Nowhere
Ride
In the minority in that I like Going Blank Again better but this is still very solid
4
Nov 26 2023
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Sincere
Mj Cole
Asian-fusion-restaurant-core
2
Nov 27 2023
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Cross
Justice
The way you move is a mystery
4
Nov 30 2023
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Roots
Sepultura
They sounded great.
Still not into metal
2
Dec 01 2023
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Something/Anything?
Todd Rundgren
I only really knew Todd Rungren from that song in the Toyota commercials in the 90s.
This was great. I may even bump this up to 5 upon relisten. Wolfman Jack is my standout.
4
Dec 02 2023
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Yeezus
Kanye West
Realized it’s likely been 10 years since I heard the album in full.
I do really like it, a good companion piece to Dark Twisted Fantasy. Quick and angry.
4
Dec 04 2023
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Histoire De Melody Nelson
Serge Gainsbourg
Listen this albums content is problematique.
But the music so so my vibe! Guitar riffing over an orchestra! Sounds a lot like Beck.
4
Dec 06 2023
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Let's Stay Together
Al Green
4
Dec 07 2023
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Fromohio
fIREHOSE
I am struggling to say anything about this. Some of the riffs were good but no songs were memorable
2
Dec 09 2023
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Rubber Soul
Beatles
I go back and forth on this one being my favourite Beatles album. Had they included Day Tripper on it there would have been no question. I think these days I lean more towards Abbey Road or the White Album.
5
Dec 12 2023
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Sister
Sonic Youth
I was here for the vibes on sonic youth. But none of the songs really grabbed me. Love the albums after this though
3
Dec 13 2023
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The Clash
The Clash
I have to give it up for the musicianship and the energy. My preference is London Calling but this is still great
4
Dec 14 2023
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Violent Femmes
Violent Femmes
Sure I like Blister in the Sun
3
Dec 16 2023
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...The Dandy Warhols Come Down
The Dandy Warhols
Overstays its welcome by maybe 3 songs but I really dig this.
I’ve also been meaning to watch Dig! for like 20 years.
4
Dec 20 2023
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Live Through This
Hole
Truly the most ‘real’ grunge album I’ve heard. Incredible
5
Dec 21 2023
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Ill Communication
Beastie Boys
Crazy I’ve had nearly 800 albums generated and this is my first Beastie Boys
This has two of the absolute top songs of the 90s on here in Sabotage and Sure Shot.
The rest of it, there isn’t really a song that doesn’t work. However this like most Beastie albums goes on for so long. At a certain point listening it’s just background noise and I go in and out paying attention. Would have benefitted so much from being 40-45 mins long.
4
Dec 26 2023
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John Lennon/Plastic Ono Band
John Lennon
I hate to say it but this is a case of people love his previous gig so they’re going to be all in on this.
I haven’t heard all of it, but Johns output is about the weakest post Beatles. I don’t know why people stand up for him. Working Class Hero is an actively bad song.
2
Dec 27 2023
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Sweet Dreams (Are Made Of This)
Eurythmics
Really enjoyed this.
Obviously Sweet Dreams is an all timer
The first song is really good too tho. Could be a great cover for LCD Soundsystem
4
Dec 28 2023
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Shaft
Isaac Hayes
The Title track and last are icons.
I do like how the rest is just the score for Shaft just doing his daily business hahahah
3
Dec 30 2023
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Teenage Head
Flamin' Groovies
Had fun, did t really stick with me
2
Jan 01 2024
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Led Zeppelin III
Led Zeppelin
Zeppelin 3 is my least favourite of their first 4 but this one is still solid. Can’t disagree with a record that has Immigrant Song and Celebration Song. Zeppelin II remains my favourite.
I have always found it so off putting that Plant frequently refers to the woman he’s singing to as a ‘child’. Rolling Stones do it too.
4
Jan 02 2024
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Paul's Boutique
Beastie Boys
What a way to start off 2024
I have come to a realization about this album and its place in society recently. I came to Paul’s Boutique in the early 2000s, possibly when this album was having a cultural reassessment and being recognized as the peak of the Beasties powers, that this was heir apparent to Sgt Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band. So ambitious and pushing the limits of what music could be (figuratively and legally). 35 (!) years on it still sounds ahead of its time and a miracle that it all works so well; never does it sound like all the samples are overused or out of place.
I think now though this is closer to Exile on Main Street, in a much as it’s such a ‘dude’ album that people (me included) take so much joy in explaining to people why it’s significant. Like where the samples are coming from, how unique this was at the time, that a song is made up of all Beatles samples. Like I believe that the next Liz Phair will be writing a song for song companion to Paul’s Boutique. Kicked Out of Lees Sportswear?
This along with Sound of Silver are on my essential New York record list I will be starting hahaha
5
Jan 03 2024
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Caetano Veloso
Caetano Veloso
Not for me but good album!
3
Jan 06 2024
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Heroes to Zeros
The Beta Band
So I really liked this. I only know the Beta Band from The 3 EPs, obviously from High Fidelity. This one doesn’t really sound like that record though. I know Beta Band is an act many hipsters hold in high esteem, and apparently Radiohead and Oasis (at least Noel) said they wanted to make an album like Beta Band.
This sounds so much like Soundtrack of Our Lives though. And I find out this came out years after they were active and arguably at their commercial peak in 2002.
4
Jan 08 2024
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A Night At The Opera
Queen
Pardon me,
Do you have any Grey Poupon?
5
Jan 09 2024
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Chore of Enchantment
Giant Sand
This was fine. Didn’t really grab me. I didn’t see the shifting tones of the record as a plus.
I also listened to this while playing DOOM (2016) which is an incredible mismatch.
2
Jan 10 2024
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Like Water For Chocolate
Common
I listened to this on my HomePod and this album is in Dolby Atmos. Sounds amazing
4
Jan 12 2024
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A Hard Day's Night
Beatles
An album that always sounds great with every remaster.
Very solid collection of songs at the height of their popularity. Like the movie a lot, not as big on this album though.
4
Jan 14 2024
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Stephen Stills
Stephen Stills
This was a complete surprise. I knew Love the One You’re With and I thought the rest would just be him noodling.
This whole record maintains the heights of its first track. This is great 70s blues and keep an amazing momentum throughout
5
Jan 16 2024
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Bluesbreakers
John Mayall & The Bluesbreakers
Eric Clapton I’ve really soured on the last few years.
This is another entry in the 50s/60s phenomenon of covering other popular songs that have already been done to death, then getting added to this book.
This act covers What’d I Say in just the most embarrassing way. I was giving this man the wrap it up signal 60 years in the future.
2
Jan 17 2024
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Pyromania
Def Leppard
Kind of wish now I had heard this before Hysteria. I knew the story of Def Leppard mostly from the episode of Classic Albums where they touch on this one a bit, then what happens with their drummer and how they had to adjust for the next album.
I enjoyed this a lot. Hysteria is still top though.
4
Jan 18 2024
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Synchronicity
The Police
I come back to this album every few years. It’s truly a ‘they don’t make em like this anymore’ affair. It gives you some of the best songs ever recorded and the production is incredible.
I forgot how early Mother hits in the track list. I do concede it is the worst song by the Police and it’s absolutely bizarre to put this on an album that is going to include Every Breathe You Take. I do love it though.
This is one my all timers
5
Jan 19 2024
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What's Going On
Marvin Gaye
There’s a reason it tops Rolling Stones albums list.
Also the Dolby Atmos mix on Apple Music sounds incredible
5
Jan 20 2024
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The Rolling Stones
The Rolling Stones
This was interesting to hear where the Stones started. Wasn’t offering much more than that.
3
Jan 21 2024
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The Black Saint And The Sinner Lady
Charles Mingus
Wasn’t for me
2
Jan 22 2024
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Beautiful Freak
Eels
Don’t have much else to say about this one other that upon recognizing the first track I was positive this was also the band who plays ‘Pepper’
Of course that is the incomparable Butthole Surfers
4
Jan 23 2024
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Hearts And Bones
Paul Simon
I like Paul Simon enough. I think this was ok, interesting this came before Graceland and he blows up again. Otherwise I didn’t think this offered much beyond being solid work.
3
Jan 25 2024
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For Your Pleasure
Roxy Music
Amazing musicianship. I really didn’t connect with any of the songs though
3
Jan 27 2024
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Station To Station
David Bowie
Golden Years
4
Jan 29 2024
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Ingenue
k.d. lang
The rest of the songs on this aren’t bad, all well done songs. I just wasn’t connecting with any of them. And I knew what was coming at the end.
Constant Craving is an all timer.
3
Jan 31 2024
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Strange Cargo III
William Orbit
I continue to be surprised I like 80s/90s eurotrash electronics
4
Feb 04 2024
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Back to Basics
Christina Aguilera
The title is a misnomer. So over produced with the face 50s sound and other business going on.
3
Feb 05 2024
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Low
David Bowie
A Bowie I didn’t connect with. I’ll have to give it another shot at some point
2
Feb 06 2024
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Shleep
Robert Wyatt
Wasn’t sure what this was
2
Feb 07 2024
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Youth And Young Manhood
Kings of Leon
Oh hell yea
Kings Of Leon were my band for while in the 2000s into the 2010s. Come Around Sundown was maybe the last new album I bought on CD (at my beloved MusicWorld). Wild how they were a band that didn’t really last past that era though, even though they are putting out new music and are seemingly trying to build an audience on TikTok.
This album is amazing. I go back and forth on which of their four albums are their best. This pretty much keep the momentum throughout so this is a likely winner.
5
Feb 08 2024
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Another Green World
Brian Eno
I dig this and will likely revisit. Reallly like I’ll Come Running
4
Feb 10 2024
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Licensed To Ill
Beastie Boys
This was a high school mainstay for me (this is in the early 2000s). My friend Alex had this on CD and always played it in his car when we went out for lunch. Tons of nostalgia for Girls and Brass Monkey
5
Feb 11 2024
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Get Behind Me Satan
The White Stripes
Tough to follow up one of the decades best.
I still love the drum work especially on this. The slow drumming is what makes White Stripes great. Jack White is free now to use whatever the most talented session musicians to make whatever music he thinks he couldn’t do before. I just do not care about it. Constraints breed creativity.
4
Feb 12 2024
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Teen Dream
Beach House
This is extremely my shit.
5
Feb 13 2024
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Heavy Weather
Weather Report
Nice jazz album
3
Feb 14 2024
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Electric Prunes
The Electric Prunes
The vibes are immaculate. This is totally a record you throw on if you want to look hip to someone.
4
Feb 15 2024
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The Piper At The Gates Of Dawn
Pink Floyd
Still not a big Pink Floyd person
3
Feb 16 2024
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Better Living Through Chemistry
Fatboy Slim
Fun album. I always dig Fatboy
4
Feb 17 2024
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Desperate Youth, Blood Thirsty Babes
TV On The Radio
I like TV On The Radio a lot, but besides Staring at the Sun I wasn’t really feeling this
3
Feb 18 2024
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Led Zeppelin
Led Zeppelin
It’s Zeppelin I. One of the greatest debuts
5
Feb 19 2024
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Face to Face
The Kinks
Like Sunny Afternoon, could leave the rest of this
3
Feb 20 2024
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Your Arsenal
Morrissey
Still don’t like Morrissy the person but this was pretty solid
4
Feb 21 2024
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Doggystyle
Snoop Dogg
Mind on my money and money on my mind
4
Feb 22 2024
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Coat Of Many Colors
Dolly Parton
Dolly just smashed it out of the park. Incredible album
5
Feb 23 2024
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People's Instinctive Travels and the Paths of Rhythm
A Tribe Called Quest
Oh this was great. Totally my vibe of hip hop.
Can I Kick It all timer
5
Feb 24 2024
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#1 Record
Big Star
Oh this was great. This is always an album I had been recommended but never checked out. Right up my power pop alley.
5
Feb 25 2024
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Bright Flight
Silver Jews
So I was completely wrong about who Silver Jews were. For some reason thought they were like White Lies or Interpol. Not alternative country.
This was pretty good though. Might revisit.
4
Feb 26 2024
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James Brown Live At The Apollo
James Brown
2
Feb 27 2024
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Brothers In Arms
Dire Straits
The first half is so amazing I could maybe squeak out a fiver just on its strength.
The back half though I think falls right off a cliff.
4
Feb 29 2024
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Devil Without A Cause
Kid Rock
First of all fuck this guy
Second the first two songs are not bad. Mostly because I’ve heard them so much on the radio.
But seriously get him off this list.
2
Mar 01 2024
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Channel Orange
Frank Ocean
This is a knockout.
I’ve been meaning for nearly 10 years now to listen to Frank Oceans albums. This was amazing. Sounds great, every song is a winner, never drops the vibe.
5
Mar 02 2024
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Nixon
Lambchop
I liked Up With People well enough. The rest I could leave honestly.
2
Mar 04 2024
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Take Me Apart
Kelela
This was great, never heard heard of her. LMK especially.
4
Mar 05 2024
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Truth
Jeff Beck
Great guitar work.
Wasn’t for me.
2
Mar 07 2024
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Tical
Method Man
Not for me
2
Mar 09 2024
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Modern Life Is Rubbish
Blur
My least favourite of the early Blur albums. Damon is too whiny on this.
3
Mar 11 2024
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Speakerboxxx/The Love Below
OutKast
Crazy given the ubiquity of Hey Ya, Andre’s disc is pretty weak. Has way too many interstitial skits, doesn’t really hit a good song for a while and overall goes on for too long.
Big Bois is incredible though.
Overall still an essential album
5
Mar 17 2024
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Mermaid Avenue
Billy Bragg
I like the first two songs a lot. Didn’t care much for the rest of it.
3
Mar 19 2024
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Viva Hate
Morrissey
Nah
2
Mar 20 2024
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In Our Heads
Hot Chip
I was miffed the album with Over and Over wasn’t on this list. I owned that album in the 2000s.
I was pleasantly surprised by this one. Seems like a cool record to put on to impress people with your indie cred.
5
Mar 21 2024
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Fly Or Die
N.E.R.D
Pretty good.
Just bout the worst album art of the 2000s
4
Mar 22 2024
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That's The Way Of The World
Earth, Wind & Fire
That’s the Way of the World. So good
4
Mar 23 2024
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Coles Corner
Richard Hawley
Love Pulp. Did not care for this.
2
Mar 24 2024
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Trafalgar
Bee Gees
All time divorce record
5
Mar 26 2024
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Liquid Swords
GZA
Wasn’t for me but I still appreciate these guys love of Tony Stark
3
Mar 27 2024
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Safe As Milk
Captain Beefheart & His Magic Band
I could appreciate their musicianship. But I’m never going to listen to this again
2
Mar 28 2024
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Kimono My House
Sparks
Need to watch the Sparks Brothers documentary now
5
Mar 30 2024
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Sex Packets
Digital Underground
I can appreciate the Humpty Song. Then most of the other songs go on 4 minutes too long just naming cities. Ya gotta cut it off.
2
Mar 31 2024
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Exile On Main Street
The Rolling Stones
Yea still at the top of my all time list.
This time listening today I really was stuck by the horn section. The solo on Sweet Virginia is incredible.
5
Apr 01 2024
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Getz/Gilberto
Stan Getz
Smooth
3
Apr 04 2024
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American Pie
Don McLean
Title track is one of the greats. Giving 4 stars purely on its strength.
The rest I honestly could leave out.
4
Apr 05 2024
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Moby Grape
Moby Grape
2
Apr 06 2024
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New Wave
The Auteurs
At this point there are too many British albums on here.
This was not needed. I don’t care if people think this is what shaped Britpop.
2
Apr 07 2024
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69 Love Songs
The Magnetic Fields
I can appreciate the ambition and commitment to the bit.
I did not like one song on this album though
2
Apr 08 2024
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Two Dancers
Wild Beasts
This was good! I will likely listen to again
4
Apr 09 2024
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OK
Talvin Singh
Wasn’t even good chill out music.
2
Apr 10 2024
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Ambient 1/Music For Airports
Brian Eno
Love the idea of this. Album definitely does what it sets out to do. The last movement is the most evocative of ‘airport’
5
Apr 11 2024
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Suicide
Suicide
Nah I’m good
1
Apr 12 2024
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Boy In Da Corner
Dizzee Rascal
I was looking forward to this. I remember this album coming out and how much praise it was getting. And I really like Bonkers (not on this album though).
This didn’t really hit for me though. Listenable, but not for me.
2
Apr 13 2024
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Life Thru A Lens
Robbie Williams
I had purchased (the superior) Ego Has Landed album when it came out. Which is how they packaged this LP to North Americans. Life Thru a Lens has a couple of his hits, but there is so much filler.
3
Apr 14 2024
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Abbey Road
Beatles
Considered the GOAT for a reason.
I actually only came around on this album in the last year. When I was in my Beatles era I always thought this one felt like a bunch of half baked ideas for songs. I guess knowing it only from CD/iTunes where songs are broken up will do that. I got it on vinyl last year and it really made sense.
Oh Darling is about my favourite late period Beatles tune.
I am very happy that Here Comes the Sun is the most played Beatles song on Apple Music and Spotify. With how much has been made of the Lennon/McCartney writing partnership it’s Harrison who has the standout.
5
Apr 15 2024
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Ramones
Ramones
Incredible stuff, every song is a banger.
The Dolby Atmos mix they have on Apple Music is a war crime. Blitzkrieg Bop sounds so bad and echoey
5
Apr 16 2024
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Copper Blue
Sugar
Helpless was good.
The rest was like Dollarstore Collective Soul
2
Apr 21 2024
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Picture Book
Simply Red
This is a completely forgotten vibe of pop music. Basically made for department stores.
Even the well known songs were very bad. I was relieved to find this album/artist is not secretly some majorly influential inflection point and this is just bargain bin fodder.
Do not recommend.
2
Apr 22 2024
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A Little Deeper
Ms. Dynamite
So I remember Ms Dynamite coming out in the early 2000s. I could not remember any of her songs.
This album sucked. I hate to be that guy but when the lead single is a named introduction to your stage-name, you’re already starting from 0 for me.
Fascinating artifact of the book originally being published in 2003 though.
2
Apr 24 2024
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I Should Coco
Supergrass
Caught by the Fuzz is among their best.
Alright is pretty alright
The rest not so much. Still good overall tho
4
Apr 25 2024
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Illinois
Sufjan Stevens
Tobeymaguriecrying.gif
5
Apr 26 2024
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Drunk
Thundercat
I was not vibing with this.
Then he hits us with the Michael McDonald and Sonic the Hedgehog sample?
The vibes are immaculate.
5
Apr 27 2024
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Tellin’ Stories
The Charlatans
I realize these guys have been around since the late 80s but this just sounds like dollar store Oasis.
2
Apr 30 2024
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American Gothic
David Ackles
This is music made for getting old vegetables thrown at you.
1
May 02 2024
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Like A Prayer
Madonna
Top marks for Express Yourself alone
4
May 07 2024
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Rum Sodomy & The Lash
The Pogues
No one songs about a dirty old town like these boys do
5
May 08 2024
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No Sleep 'Til Hammersmith (Live)
Motörhead
All love and respect to the God Lemmy, but I would be checked out of a Motörhead concert after Ace of Spades
3
May 09 2024
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Felt Mountain
Goldfrapp
The other Goldfrapp album I had was the first 5 star first listen I had on this list. This one didn’t really speak to me
2
May 13 2024
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Nebraska
Bruce Springsteen
Probably need some more time with this one but I can see why indie heads love this.
4
May 16 2024
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Gold
Ryan Adams
Sucks this guy is a creep because this album is good
4
May 18 2024
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BEYONCÉ
Beyoncé
This one has some solid tunes but goes on for too long
3
May 24 2024
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War
U2
I had never heard this one front to back before. I dig the how new wave they were at the beginning, I feel like they often try to get back to this a bit in their post 2000s work.
4
May 25 2024
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Mama Said Knock You Out
LL Cool J
Some of the singles were good.
I don’t think this was an essential listen though.
3
May 26 2024
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Ellington at Newport
Duke Ellington
There was trumpet playing
3
May 27 2024
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Bitte Orca
Dirty Projectors
Included in the late 2000s hipster starter pack
4
May 28 2024
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This Is Hardcore
Pulp
I know I’m on the wrong side of history but I find this brand of navel gazing and mourning your own success so exhausting.
2
May 30 2024
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Van Halen
Van Halen
Most impressive part of this is David Lee Roth. At this point the charisma and the voice are yet to be matched.
5
Jun 01 2024
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So
Peter Gabriel
The singles are all timers. The rest of this I could leave.
3
Jun 05 2024
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Third/Sister Lovers
Big Star
I loved the first Big Star record.
This I could not make it through. So plodding and boring.
2
Jun 08 2024
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Highly Evolved
The Vines
What a bonkers track sequence in this album. I had to back and double check I didn’t have shuffle on. This is The Vines. It should be
1. Slow song is acceptable
2. Increasing intensity track
3. Lead single
4. Slower but harder rocking song
5. Quick song
6. Slower song
7. 2nd single
8. Experimental track
9. Song that starts slow and comes back around quick.
Overall I was disappointed after knowing the singles for 20 years.
2
Jun 11 2024
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Talk Talk Talk
The Psychedelic Furs
My body rejected this completely.
Annoyingly British garbage.
1
Jun 13 2024
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Slayed?
Slade
Not essential
2
Jun 14 2024
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I See You
The xx
Never got around to listening to this when it came out. I think their debut is just an all timer. Loved how it used silence and negative space to its advantage. This one is wider sounding and there’s more going on. Still really good though.
4
Jun 17 2024
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Elvis Is Back
Elvis Presley
I love Elvis, but I generally wasn’t into this
2
Jun 19 2024
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Movies
Holger Czukay
You know what I enjoyed this.
Saw a straight line from this to LCD Soundsystem
4
Jun 20 2024
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Ace of Spades
Motörhead
Why yes I played Tony Hawks Pro Skater 3
4
Jun 21 2024
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Guero
Beck
Very likely my most played CD of the 2000s.
I’m not a Beck completionist but this is his favourite album of mine. Every song is a banger.
5
Jun 23 2024
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Lost Souls
Doves
As a big Doves fan even I have to concede this is not essential listening.
Catch The Sun is great
The Cedar Room actually unlocked as a song when they did that BBC concert with the choir
4
Jun 24 2024
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Deloused in the Comatorium
The Mars Volta
I’m glad I finally listened to this after seeing it around so much in the 2000s.
I can appreciate the musical chops on display. I just find this so stressful to listen to most of the time.
3
Jun 27 2024
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Tago Mago
Can
What the hell was going on here.
Didn’t hate it.
3
Jun 28 2024
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Moss Side Story
Barry Adamson
Nah I’m ok
2
Jun 30 2024
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Scissor Sisters
Scissor Sisters
I enjoy this group enough. I think I Take Your Mama is a great song. The rest of this was kind of weak.
3
Jul 01 2024
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Permission to Land
The Darkness
20 years later, it’s undeniable. Amazing execution on an idea
4
Jul 06 2024
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Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band
Beatles
For a long time this was my favourite Beatles album. I think I switch every few years, I would have said the White Album last while here. I recently came around on Abbey Road after hearing it on vinyl and the album making so much more sense than listening on iTunes.
I picked Sgt Peppers up on vinyl a few months ago and may have to put this back at the top of my rankings. I also totally turned into that guy when A Day in the Life came on and I was trying to explain what each of the sections meant hahah.
When I got into the Beatles in the early 2000s Sgt Pepper was the Center of my fascination. I’ve read several books about this and seen most of the best documentaries about this period. The most impressive part is most acts going to make their ‘Sgt Peppers’ are going to take several years, use several different studios, pull in every musician and likely never complete a master to submit to the studio. Ask Brian Wilson how it went for him. The Beatles knocked this out less than a year after their last album and because McCartney didn’t want to tour. In 2024 parlance this is called ‘king shit’
Anyways I don’t think this is a perfect album. There are misses; With You Within You is a skip. For The Benefit of Mr Kite I’m usually waiting for what’s next. So I think in terms of what the ‘best’ Beatles album it’s gotta be Revolver, Abbey Road, White Album or Rubber Soul. But Sgt Pepper is their greatest because this cements their legacy and it’s honestly the reason we talk about which record is best. It’s such a swing for them and they are at the limits of what technology of the time came do for them. Usually when someone has the resources all available to them in the studio and they want to go for a reach it’s usually pretty messy, bloated, self indulgent. This record is why everyone think a they can succeed where others have failed.
5
Jul 07 2024
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Chirping Crickets
Buddy Holly & The Crickets
I thought this was another one of these 50s/sarly 60s albums where the band just played a bunch of the same songs everyone else puts out.
Glad to see most of these are theirs.
4
Jul 08 2024
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Physical Graffiti
Led Zeppelin
Love Zeppelin 1-4
I checked out for a reason after.
3
Jul 12 2024
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Homework
Daft Punk
Daft Punk is an act I like the vibe of more than I like their music. Love the costumes, the aesthetic, all the people they collaborate with.
I enjoyed this enough, even if I was just waiting for the singles to come around.
4
Jul 15 2024
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The Coral
The Coral
Incredible lead single in Dreaming of You. They lost it after that though
2
Jul 18 2024
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Kala
M.I.A.
Wasn’t as into this as I thought I would be. Paper Planes is great though
3
Jul 26 2024
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Music For The Jilted Generation
The Prodigy
Wasn’t into this. Fat of the Land for me.
2
Jul 31 2024
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Club Classics Vol. One
Soul II Soul
Asian restaurant music in the mid 2000s
2
Aug 02 2024
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Foxbase Alpha
Saint Etienne
Kind of music only played at restaurants for old people. Absolutely juiceless
2
Aug 03 2024
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You're Living All Over Me
Dinosaur Jr.
Amazing music for working at a shop on a rainy spring day.
4
Aug 06 2024
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Penance Soiree
The Icarus Line
Listen, I liked this.
But I recognize why this didn’t break out in 2004 and has to settle for critical praise. It’s not that different from most of the garage and dance rock we were getting in this era. I’m thinking Louis XIV, We Are Scientists or Black Rebel Motorcycle Club.
This album is crying out for 1 or 2 radio singles. If it had at least 1 I would be giving this 5 stars. Alas, 4 is all you’re getting
4
Aug 08 2024
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Manassas
Stephen Stills
Some good vibes by ol’ Stephen.
3
Aug 09 2024
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I Am a Bird Now
Antony and the Johnsons
I’m sorry I could not do this voice
2
Aug 10 2024
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The Contino Sessions
Death In Vegas
I wasn’t as much into this. Songs were too long. I prefer the other record they did with like Paul Welles and Liam Gallagher
3
Aug 11 2024
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Talking Timbuktu
Ali Farka Touré
Get Ry Cooder to sing my eulogy
3
Aug 13 2024
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This Is Fats Domino
Fats Domino
4
Aug 14 2024
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Machine Head
Deep Purple
Highway Star is great
4
Aug 15 2024
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Brothers
The Black Keys
Great album. This is a band people now love to hate, maybe because this album got so overplayed. Not deserved tho these songs are great.
If it was 10 minutes shorter I would have done 5 stars
4
Aug 17 2024
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In It For The Money
Supergrass
This was good but largely forgettable. I find I only really like Supergrass for the singles that crossed over in North American (Caught By The Fuzz, Pumping on Your Stereo, Grace)
4
Aug 18 2024
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Tom Tom Club
Tom Tom Club
Hey sometimes ya gotta noodle around and come up with Genius of Love and and d your kids through college
3
Aug 20 2024
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Django Django
Django Django
Never like that Default song when it was out.
2
Aug 21 2024
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Ys
Joanna Newsom
I remember when every music magazine at the time was tripping over themselves to throw accolades on this record.
Not my thing
2
Aug 29 2024
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Who Killed...... The Zutons?
The Zutons
Pressure Point is a good time. The music video for it was on the UMD that came with the first run of the Sony PSP.
The rest of this was pretty unremarkable
3
Sep 07 2024
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Come Find Yourself
Fun Lovin' Criminals
Pretty sure I’m the only person who remembers Scott Snacks in 2024
3
Sep 09 2024
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Sound Affects
The Jam
This was ok, All Mod Cons is my favourite of theirs
3
Sep 10 2024
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Let Love Rule
Lenny Kravitz
Solid record. Love Lenny Kravitz
4
Sep 13 2024
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Hail To the Thief
Radiohead
I’m currently reading Steven Hydens book on Kid A. So I’m deep into Radiohead lore right now.
I often forget about this one as it comes between what we now largely consider the best album of the 2000s and what now people call the album for millennials with In Rainbows. I didn’t even think I had heard this one all the way through before. Turns out though I know every song so I just have spun it back in the day.
This is really good, not any bad tracks on it. Certainly more of its time though than any Radiohead album between 1995 and 2007. Kid A especially just exists out of time. This though you have to understand he’s talking about George W Bush and the war on terror. Doesn’t make this any worse, just an outlier for them.
5
Sep 15 2024
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Aha Shake Heartbreak
Kings of Leon
This is a good album, but out of their first 4 this is their weakest. I’m still going to give 4 though
4
Sep 17 2024
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Black Holes and Revelations
Muse
This might be Radiohead for dumb people but it’s great
5