Jan 05 2022
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Hard Again
Muddy Waters
1977, p377, 2021-01-04: Spotify.
Excellent blues album, single LP
5
Jan 06 2022
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Halcyon Digest
Deerhunter
2021-01-05, p933. Spotify
OK US indie guitar rock, vaguely 60s vibe
4
Jan 07 2022
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Enter The Wu-Tang (36 Chambers)
Wu-Tang Clan
p717, 1993.
Rap :( Well done of its type but not my thing at all
1
Jan 10 2022
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Street Life
The Crusaders
p426, 1979. 3 stars.
1970s smooth pop-jazz, plus Randy Crawford. The background music for Studio 54, silky strings, horns and electric piano. Title track is a classic. Good stuff, well done, but not my thing.
3
Jan 11 2022
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Drunk
Thundercat
p950. 2022-01-10. 2017.
Steely Dan-ish jazz/rock crossed with modern R&B+rap, but without any memorable tunes. Good production, technically good, pleasant enough but a bit soulless. Nothing that sticks in the mind. Not my thing.
2
Jan 12 2022
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Your New Favourite Band
The Hives
2022-01-11. Not in the book!
Indie guitar rock meets punk. Great riffs. I approve :)
4
Jan 13 2022
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Repeater
Fugazi
2022-01-12 p628 1990
So-so garage/indie/heavy rock, nothing special
2 stars
2
Jan 14 2022
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Murder Ballads
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds
p788, 1996, 5 stars
Nick Cave :) all the favourites:
Stagger Lee, Henry Lee, Curse of Milhaven, O'Malley's Bar
5
Jan 17 2022
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Abraxas
Santana
p218. 1970. 2022-01-14. 3 stars
Early 70s samba jazz rock and ace guitar, vague Doors-ish echoes. Slightly bland. Cool background summer music :)
3
Jan 18 2022
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Ladies And Gentlemen We Are Floating In Space
Spiritualized
p820. 1997. 5 stars.
Terrific mix of 60s psychedelia, Pink Floyd, Stones, Beatles, Julian Cope, 90s Brit Pop. This is GOOD.
5
Jan 19 2022
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The Infotainment Scan
The Fall
p717, 1993. 4 stars.
Bass driven indie rock with great riffs and sardonic delivery. Excellent :)
4
Jan 20 2022
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The Wildest!
Louis Prima
p27, 1956. 3 stars
Light listening, "jumping jive", good fun. Have to be in the right mood for it though. You can see where Paolo Nutini stole from.
3
Jan 21 2022
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Risque
CHIC
p434, 1979, 3 stars
Classic dance album, fabulous production. Play and recreate nightclubs in 1978-79. Suffers from the "extended dance version" syndrome. Still sounds good, have to be in the right mood it though :)
3
Jan 24 2022
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The Yes Album
Yes
p226, 1971. 2 star
Prog rock hence excessive musical wankage :( Jon Anderson, can't stand his voice :(( Dodgy lyrics.
Shame as the rest of it is good, especially Steve Howe's guitar work.
2 stars for production, and guitar work in general, especially on Clap.
2
Jan 25 2022
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Heroes
David Bowie
p385, 1977. 5 stars.
Prime Bowie, Brian Eno production. Not a weak track on it. Excellent.
5
Jan 26 2022
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Introducing The Hardline According To Terence Trent D'Arby
Terence Trent D'Arby
p584, 1987. 5 stars. 2022-01-25
1980s electro soul. Great voice, catchy hooks, great songs. Production a bit dated - cheesy synths - but still excellent and still sounds great today. I'd forgotten what a great album this is.
5
Jan 27 2022
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Selling England By The Pound
Genesis
p294, 1973. 2 stars
Was prepared to dislike this as I tended to lump Genesis in with the entire prog rock-wank era but... parts of this are OK. Always liked Peter Gabriel's solo stuff, and his voice is spot on. Steve Hackett and Phil Collins also on form. Set against this, all the usual early 1970s complaints... dodgy lyrics, overly long instrumental "fiddly" bits - look how fast I can play! Listen to my fabulous, sterile instrumental "improvisation"! See how long I can go on and on and on and on and on and on and on and ON - and dig my groovy 70's synths maaaaaan. But it's got something, despite all that. I wouldn't go out of my way to listen to it, but I don't hate it either.
2
Jan 28 2022
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Pink Flag
Wire
p381, 1977. 3 stars
Proto punk, surprisingly OK, not as raw as The Clash or Sex Pistols but suitably angry. Decent songs and playing. As with a lot of punk, you have to be in the right mood for it, and if you are then this is above average.
3
Jan 31 2022
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Tusk
Fleetwood Mac
p441. 1979. 3 stars.
The Fleetwood Mac equivalent of the Beatles White album - a weird mix of well crafted pop songs, half thought out ideas that don't really cut it, fabulous harmonies and over-production. Someone needed to slap Lindsey Buckingham with a wet kipper and tell him, "this track ain't good enough." Would have been a great single album.
3
Feb 01 2022
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Licensed To Ill
Beastie Boys
p546, 1986. 3.5 stars, not strong enough for 4.
Wasn't expecting to like this as much as I did. Rap meets heavy rock riffs, bass and guitar. THE sound of twenty year old American white boys in the mid 80s, taking the piss of out everyone and themselves. Having said that... points deducted for Girls, which is just cheese - compare that with the next track, which is Fight For Your Right - and it is all a bit shouty and "samey".
3
Feb 02 2022
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London Calling
The Clash
p436. 1979. 3 stars.
Strange mix of punk and garage rock and reggae and ska. Vague Springsteen undertones, which isn't a bad thing. Excellent production values. However... don't like Joe Strummer's voice, and other than title track, nothing stands out. Goes for on far too long - it's rare for a double album to actually hold up without spotting the filler, and this fails the test. Saggy in the middle. Can see why this was influential in the punk era - far more sophisticated that most of the offerings of the time - but it hasn't aged well. Would have made an excellent single album. Glad I've listened to it but just doesn't do it for me.
3
Feb 03 2022
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Fever To Tell
Yeah Yeah Yeahs
p894. 2003. 3 stars.
Came cold to this one, didn't know anything about the band or the album. Well done garage rock, great voice, but nothing here that hasn't been been done before (and better) by Siouxsie, PJ Harvey, Garbage or Elastica. It's good, and I'd listen to it again, but not sure why it's on the list as it's neither innovative or anything special.
3
Feb 04 2022
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Songs From The Big Chair
Tears For Fears
p531. 1985. 3 stars
Prime example of 80s stadium synth pop, even down to the audience whooping it up on the end of Broken. No doubt that they could knock out a good tune - some of these tracks are instantly recognisable - and the album has excellent production and musicianship. Lots of synths, sax and big guitars, and as a consequence it does sound a bit dated. Most of the tracks meander and outstay their welcome. Whilst it's well done, I always found them a bit soulless. 3 stars just because of personal preference.
3
Feb 07 2022
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Crime Of The Century
Supertramp
p325. 1974. 2 stars
Straight up I have to say I have always hated Roger Hodgson's voice. Every time he opens his mouth I just want to punch him to make him shut it. It's like chalk being drawn down a board. I also don't like electric piano, which is a major part of the band sound. And somehow the cheesy sax makes things 10 times worse. So, this album starts at a major disadvantage. Shame really as musically its OK, tight clean production, but suffers badly from prog-rock wank solo pretentions. And as usual with mid 70s albums, a lot of the songs outstay their welcome. Well done of its kind, and some good tunes, but that voice and tinkly piano... ffs. 2 stars.
2
Feb 08 2022
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Crosby, Stills & Nash
Crosby, Stills & Nash
p159, 1969. 4.5 stars.
All the best bits of Buffalo Springfield, The Byrds and The Hollies in a strange mix of folk, country, rock and jazz. Gorgeous harmonies and songs. Excellent and understated guitar work from Stills. Unfairly dismissed in recent years because of the retrospective view of late 60's/early 70s long hair rock and by the punk ethos, "never trust a hippy". This is the direct ancestor of all of the West Coast soft rock albums of the 1970s. Half a star deducted for those songs that haven't dated well, Marrakesh Express being the prime suspect.
4
Feb 09 2022
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Psychocandy
The Jesus And Mary Chain
p540. 1985. 1 star
Dull indy rock that thinks noise+feedback = edgy+important. Would have helped if the singer didn't sound doped. Nearly every track sounds the same. Listened to the entire album and nothing stuck or left an impression. This is just noise. Move on, nothing to see (or hear) here.
Not sure why this is on the "must hear" list, as there is nothing new or innovative here - the Velvet Underground did this kind of thing better 20 years earlier.
1
Feb 10 2022
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Back At The Chicken Shack
Jimmy Smith
p52. 1960. 3 stars.
Nice ;)
Wasn't expecting to like this as much as I did. Smooth as Jim Beam bourbon. Direct connection to Booker T and Georgie Fame. Tight guitar work and smooth sax. Tends to stray into background music though. Not a jazz fan, so not sure I'd play it often.
Incidentally, I once owned an album called "The Swinging Organ of Jimmy Smith". Sadly missed opportunity for the album cover.
3
Feb 11 2022
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Imperial Bedroom
Elvis Costello & The Attractions
p487, 1982. 2 stars
I know he's a great wordsmith, but lyrically this is just depressing and bloody miserable to listen to. Very few standout tunes either. And something about Elvis Costello's voice leaves me cold, its either a whine or a sneer or a whiney sneer. Well done but definitely not my thing. Not likely to listen to this again. And will avoid sharp objects, pills and alcohol if I do.
2
Feb 14 2022
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ĂgĂŠtis Byrjun
Sigur RĂłs
p853, 1999. 1 star
I like Sigur RĂłs , but this one... meh. Left me cold. Strays dangerously close into pretentious, over-long prog-rock wankage. Not sure why this one is on the list, as Valtari is a far better album.
1
Feb 15 2022
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Countdown To Ecstasy
Steely Dan
p301, 1973. 2 stars.
Early hipster jazz-rock. Look how well we can play our instruments! Look how fast we can go! Look how precise we are! Look at the polish and sheen and shiny chrome! All at the expense of any emotion or feeling. It doesn't help that Donald Fagin sounds stoned on every track. And it has an electric piano ffs. The entire album sounds like something you'd hear in the lift or restaurant in an expensive hotel.
Technically excellent, but zero heart or soul. 2 stars for some sharp lyrics and for the guitar work, even if that does stray into 70's "look how fast I can play" wankage a lot of the time. Thank god for punk.
2
Feb 16 2022
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Vento De Maio
Elis Regina
p400, 1978. 2 stars.
Not my thing, but pleasant enough of its type. Nice voice, nothing exceptional though, and a lot of the arrangements are very 70s and haven't aged well. This album needs a warm sunny day to bring the best out of it, and we tend not to get them in Stoke. Not sure why this is on the list, definitely not essential.
2
Feb 17 2022
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Rattus Norvegicus
The Stranglers
p377, 1977. 3.5 stars
New wave/pub rock classic. A little bit dated, but still holds up well, with some absolute bangers - Hanging Around, Peaches, Get A Grip, Go Buddy Go, Peaches - with the last two making up possibly the greatest double A side ever. On the downside, some surprisingly out of place guitar wankage (Princess of the Streets, Down In The Sewer), Not strong enough for a 4, hence 3 stars.
3
Feb 22 2022
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Bummed
Happy Mondays
p592, 1988. 2.5 stars, not a 2 but definitely not strong enough for a 3.
Suspect this is highly rated by people who were there at the time and are re-listening with psychedelic tinted headphones. For the rest of us... nothing to like or dislike. There are better Happy Mondays albums.
2
Feb 23 2022
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Hypocrisy Is The Greatest Luxury
The Disposable Heroes Of Hiphoprisy
p686, 1992. 3.5 stars, leaning towards 4.
Came to this absolutely cold. Don't usually like rap or hiphop but this was surprisingly good. Excellent production and accessible. Would happily listen to this again.
4
Feb 24 2022
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My Generation
The Who
p83, 1965. 3.5 stars.
The sound of an above average 60s beat combo :) It's a 50/50 split of filler and genuine classics. Interesting to listen to from a historical perspective - you can hear the genesis of The Who's later sound, and Pete Townshend's song writing is at least on par with anything Lennon/McCartney, Jagger/Richards or Ray Davies did at the same time, but not sure it needs repeated listens.
3
Feb 25 2022
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Truth
Jeff Beck
p152, 1968. 5 stars
Classic Brit blues rock. Beck and Stewart on absolutely top form - the interplay between guitar and vocals is fantastic. Most of the tracks are stone cold classics - they even manage to cover Ol' Man River and get away with it. A couple of weak tracks - Shape of Things doesn't add anything to the original other than Beck's guitar work, and Blues Deluxe outstays its welcome, complete with the overdubbed "live" audience applause - but they are still worth listening to just for Jeff Beck. This still sounds great nearly 50 years on.
5
Feb 28 2022
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Music For The Jilted Generation
The Prodigy
p750. 1994. 1 star
So-so drum and bass with synths and samples. Probably brilliant for clubs at the time but not my thing at all. Just goes on and on and on...
1
Mar 01 2022
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Green River
Creedence Clearwater Revival
p163. 1969. 4 stars
Classic late 60s 'merican blues-tinged rock. The sound is dated, but you can't argue with the song writing, one of THE great rock voices, the energy, or the simplicity of great music stripped down to bare metal. 4 bangers on the album: Green River, Bad Moon Rising, Lodi, Commotion. 1 star deducted for dated production and filler (Broken Spoke Shuffle, Glory Be). This album is a lesson for all the prog rockers: if you can't say it in a 4 minute song, don't bother saying anything.
4
Mar 02 2022
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Apocalypse Dudes
Turbonegro
p823. 1998. 4 stars
Came cold to this, knew nothing about the band or their music. Pleasantly surprised. Vaguely pretentious hybrid of punk and glam rock with ridiculous song titles, but doesn't take itself too seriously. All sorts of echoes in here - Ramones, The Who, Queen, Oasis. I liked this more than I was expecting to :)
4
Mar 03 2022
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Talking Book
Stevie Wonder
p268. 1972. 3.5 stars
He knows how to write a tune for sure - there are absolute classics here (You Are the Sunshine of My Life, Superstition, I Believe). Having said that, points deducted for some songs outstaying their welcome (Maybe Your Baby) and it does drift to "easy listening" mode far too easily. Probably on the list for historical reasons as it's generally recognised as the first of his "classic" albums. It's OK, with some real highlights, but there are better Stevie Wonder albums.
3
Mar 04 2022
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Haut de gamme / KoweĂŻt, rive gauche
Koffi Olomide
p681. 1992. 1 star
Well, the cheesy synths and arrangements haven't aged well on a lot of the tracks. Nothing much to like here. This was the first album on the list that I struggled to listen to all the way through. Not my thing at all.
1
Mar 07 2022
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Songs Of Leonard Cohen
Leonard Cohen
p136. 1968. 3.5 stars
Lyrically light years ahead of the competition. Stripped down, sparse sound that still sounds fresh. Overwhelming sense of melancholy though, and if you're not prepared to listen to the lyrics a lot of the tracks can sound the same. You have to be in the right mood to fully appreciate this, and if you're not it can sound like self pitying meandering.
3
Mar 08 2022
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The Visitors
ABBA
p483. 1981. 2 stars
We all know their great run of singles in the 70s, but I'd never actually listened to an ABBA album all the way through. First time for everything.
Pros: They know how to write a hook. Fabulous voices and arrangements. Excellent production.
Cons: schizophrenic style - can't make its mind up whether it wants to be 80s electro pop (The Visitors, One of Us, Slipping Through My Fingers) or show tunes (Head Over Heels, I Let The Music Speak), which is where Benny and Bjorn eventually ended up. All the usual issues with suspect lyrics, and one song - Two For The Price of One - is possibly the worst thing they've ever done. It is all a bit bland and soulless. When they're good, they're brilliant, but there is too much filler here for repeated listens. This album is not essential listening. ABBA Gold is.
2
Mar 09 2022
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The Colour Of Spring
Talk Talk
p551, 1986. 1 star.
Poor man's Tears For Fears. Mark Hollis always sounds like he is straining, and not in a good way. It's all 80s synth and sax, long meandering tracks, and that ain't aged well. Soulless and dull. Not essential listening.
1
Mar 10 2022
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Freak Out!
The Mothers Of Invention
p92. 1966. 4 stars, 1 point deducted for being too clever by half.
Bunch of smart arses taking the piss out of 60s American society and the music of the time and doing it really well. Still holds up today, and it's got some great tunes and production. There is a direct line from this to everything early 10cc did. I loved it, but satire and humour are subjective so some people might miss the point. I'm in love with Suzy Creamcheese :)
4
Mar 11 2022
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Veckatimest
Grizzly Bear
Not in my edition of the book! 5 stars
Came cold to this, hadn't heard of the band or the album. Surprisingly good indie-pop. All sorts of good echoes/influences in here - late 60s Beach Boys, Radiohead. On the replay list.
5
Mar 14 2022
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The Lexicon Of Love
ABC
p484. 1982. 4 stars
The sound of a thousand UK early 80's nightclubs. This isn't about ABC, its all about Trevor Horn and his production. Quality work, fabulous orchestration, instantly recognisable and still fresh despite the 80's synths and sax. Some great tunes here, let down by dodgy lyrics. And it's all slightly pretentious... but fun. It's a bit like eating candyfloss, you know it's not good for you but you still enjoy it at the time.
"Like a phoenix coming back/From the ashes/I know what's good/But I know what trash is"
4
Mar 15 2022
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Let It Bleed
The Rolling Stones
p167. 1969. 2 stars
Got to be honest, I've never been a fan of the Stones - booze soaked, drug raddled white boy blues rip-offs with a fucking annoying fat lipped gobshite who thinks he is God's gift to women for a front man. The faux blues-country whine he uses on most of this album is really annoying, especially when everyone knows he comes from Dartford. On the plus side they know how to knock out a good tune (Gimme Shelter, Midnight Rambler, though You Can't Always Get What You Want outstays its welcome), and the band is tight - Keith Richards is on form, and Nicky Hopkins and Ian Stewart stand out on every track they are on. At the end of the day it comes over as the so-so efforts of an average white band in it for the chicks.
2
Mar 16 2022
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Ocean Rain
Echo And The Bunnymen
p526. 1984. 2 stars
Sounds like the bastard love child of Nick Cave and The Cure's Robert Smith, but without the talent. Perfectly acceptable without being exceptional in any way. A couple of OK singles, but that's it. On the plus side, it's short, so it doesn't outstay its welcome.
2
Mar 17 2022
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Lust For Life
Iggy Pop
p392. 1977. 4 stars
Stripped back rock and roll at its finest from one of the great voices. Two absolute bangers in the title track and The Passenger. Bowie production and vocals are a bonus. 1 point deducted for the filler (Neighbourhood Threat) and some tracks (Turn Blue, Fall In Love With Me) outstaying their welcome. Still essential listening.
4
Mar 18 2022
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Van Halen
Van Halen
p412. 1978. 1 star.
Soulless, spandex-clad, big haired cock rock. Lots of sheen and not a shred of emotion. Yes, you can play the guitar fast, but if you don't put any passion into it then it turns into pomp rock wankage realllll fast. Jeff Beck gets more feeling in 3 minutes than this lot have managed in a career.
1
Mar 21 2022
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The Cars
The Cars
p415. 1978. 3 stars
I knew the singles, but never listened to the album. This is good stuff - quality power pop, echoes of Blondie. The singles are the standout tracks, the rest is well done but not memorable. Short and sweet, still holds up today.
3
Mar 22 2022
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Marcus Garvey
Burning Spear
p342. 1975. 2 stars
It's well done, but nothing outstanding - it just washed over me and left no residual trace. No standout tracks. Not a fan of reggae, so won't be revisiting.
2
Mar 23 2022
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Quiet Life
Japan
p436. 1979. 3 stars
Thin White Duke impersonator and Brian Ferry sound-alike steals the best bits from Roxy Music's "Stranded" and "Manifesto" and creates the template for Duran Duran, Midge Ure-led Ultravox and the entire New Romantic movement. If you like synths and moodiness then you can appreciate how influential this was. If not, then you'll get bored with this VERY quickly.
3
Mar 24 2022
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Wild Wood
Paul Weller
p705. 1993. 4 stars
Elder statesman of Brit rock on top form. There is valid school of thought that says Paul Weller is a better songwriter than Elvis Costello, and they are right - there are more good tunes here than in the last 10 Costello albums. One star docked for the faux jazz wankage of the instrumentals - it didn't work with the Style Council, and it doesn't work here - and the vague worry that he is slowly turning into Eric Clapton.
4
Mar 25 2022
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Blood On The Tracks
Bob Dylan
p347, 1975. 4.5 stars
He's always had a bloody awful voice, sounds like he's straining with bad haemorrhoids when he tries for any long notes. Set against that, he writes some cracking tunes and is a fabulous wordsmith. This sounds like something that Mark Knopfler should have written, and sung better. Half a star deducted for the voice.
4
Mar 28 2022
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Rubber Soul
Beatles
p79. 1965. 4 stars
Loveable 60s mop tops discover illicit substances, and expand minds and song writing potential. This is the departure point from covers and 3 minute pop gems - you can hear the cross-pollination between Dylan and The Byrds. It's Lennon-McCartney-Harrison, so there are more stone cold classics on this one album than most bands manage in a career. Docked a point for What Goes On, and the production which haven't aged well. This album is a bit like sex - when it's good, it's terrific, and when it's bad, well, it's still good.
4
Mar 29 2022
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Remain In Light
Talking Heads
p461, 1980. 2 stars
It's not bad, its just not great either. Too many tracks just meander. Brian Eno on form though. Great guitar work on The Great Curve. Other than Once In A Lifetime, nothing left a lasting impression. Not on the replay list.
2
Mar 30 2022
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Heaven Or Las Vegas
Cocteau Twins
p634. 1990. 2 stars
Instantly recognisable, lovely sound and production but... it's all a bit samey. Becomes background noise very quickly and there are no real standout tunes. Perfectly unremarkable 90's cocktail bar music. Not on the replay list.
2
Mar 31 2022
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Back to Mystery City
Hanoi Rocks
p508. 1983. 3 stars.
Above average rock band with glitter and a sly sense of humour. A refreshing change from the 80's synths at the time. You can see where The Killers got their inspiration from. Well done of its kind, but it's hardly essential listening.
3
Apr 01 2022
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You're Living All Over Me
Dinosaur Jr.
p564. 1987. 2 stars.
Prototype grunge. Nirvana meets Black Sabbath but without the songs or talent. The vocalist can't sing, and they do enjoy their feedback and squealing guitars, so its a bit harsh on the ears. There is also an unhealthy degree of weirdness (Poledo) and hard rock wankage. On the plus side, they do keep it short. Perfectly acceptable of its type, and probably on the list because of its influence rather than its quality, but points deducted for wankage and the vocals. Wouldn't listen to it again.
2
Apr 04 2022
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Tigermilk
Belle & Sebastian
p778. 1996. 4 stars.
So this is what the bastard love children of Donovan and Albert Lee sound like. Bittersweet songs, sharp lyrics and a sense of melancholy. All that is missing are some standout tunes. On the replay list.
4
Apr 05 2022
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Faith
George Michael
p570. 1987. 4 stars
One of the great voices evolves from pop pretty boy into accomplished blue-eyed soul boy/singer/songwriter. Who would have thought the man who wrote Club Tropicana could move on to Father Figure? Not a weak track on this, although you can make a case that I Want Your Sex outstays its welcome and that Look At Your Hands is filler. This still sounds great today. Essential listening.
4
Apr 06 2022
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Isn't Anything
My Bloody Valentine
p594. 1988. 1 star.
A bloody mess more like. Badly mixed, tuneless noise, with no redeeming features. Lead vocalist can't sing. 38mins and 2 seconds of my life I'll never get back.
1
Apr 07 2022
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Led Zeppelin IV
Led Zeppelin
p241. 1971. 3 stars.
Got to be honest, I have never cared for Robert Plant's voice, it strays too close to a hysteric shriek. He sounds like Roger Daltrey with added oestrogen. This is a schizophrenic album - a competent rock band with some good tunes that can't decide whether to play blues, be rock'n'rollers or folkies. And it suffers from the usual early 70's wankage which means a lot of the songs outstay their welcome. Didn't do it for me. Jimmy Page seems like a quite good guitarist though.
3
Apr 08 2022
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Autobahn
Kraftwerk
p318. 1974. 4 stars.
In terms of influence, this is absolutely massive. Giorgio Moroder, Vangelis, Gary Newman and all of the 80's electro/synth bands owe this a huge debt, as well as John Carpenter and anyone working on sci-fi soundtracks in the 1980s. Aural cinema :) If you don't like atmospheric synths then you're going to hate this - but everyone should listen to this once in their lives.
4
Apr 20 2022
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Live At The Regal
B.B. King
p78. 1965. 4 stars
Damn I love me some blues :) It doesn't get much better than this. The blueprint for everything Eric Clapton and Peter Green became famous for, only done better. One of the great guitarists on top form. 1 star deducted for it being a live album.
4
Apr 21 2022
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I'm Your Man
Leonard Cohen
p586. 1988. 2 stars.
This has not aged well - it sounds like every bad drum machine, synth and mid-80s cocktail bar musical cringeworthy cliche you can imagine. In particular the female backing vocalists and whoever did their arrangements need to be taken outside and shot. Twice. Shame, as there are some cracking tunes here, and lyrically he is still light years of the game.
2
Apr 22 2022
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Closer
Joy Division
p462. 1980. 2 stars
All sorts of echoes here - Kraftwerk, Moroder, Bowie from his Low period. Depressing lyrics, harsh on the ears, repetitive songs. Vocals sounds like Jim Morrison after a bottle of bourbon and downers. Bleak machine music for a country under the early days of Thatcherism. No wonder Ian Curtis topped himself.
2
Apr 25 2022
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The Band
The Band
p176. 1969. 3 stars
Yeehaw. Average band play average country rock songs. Well done of its kind I suppose but... just washed over me and left no residual trace. Only a couple of standout tunes, and a lot of the vocals veer into a thin whine far too often. I might be missing something, but on the other hand this album could just be really average.
3
Apr 26 2022
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A Night At The Opera
Queen
p351. 1975. 5 stars
Yes, it's overblown and over produced camp rock - but it's also an A grade rock band on top form with some cracking tunes and a sense of humour, and that covers a multitude of sins. There is a reason why Queen were so popular and why their songs are still played today, and this is the perfect illustration why. There isn't a weak track on it, although you can argue that The Prophet's Song outstays its welcome. And Brian May seems quite a good guitarist.
5
Apr 27 2022
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Soul Mining
The The
p505, 1983. 2 stars.
So-so 80's Brit synth band with no tunes and desolate lyrics. A lot of the tracks meander and outstay their welcome. Bonus star for Jools Holland on Uncertain Smile, otherwise there is not too much to like here. Not on the replay list.
2
Apr 28 2022
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The Joshua Tree
U2
p582. 1987. 4 stars.
The sound of late 80s stadium rock. Oddly enough, it's the most well known tracks - Where The Streets Have No Name, I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For, With Or Without You - that haven't aged well, it's like repeated plays have worn off any real impact they once had. The album really kicks in from Bullet The Blue Sky onwards. It's good stuff, not a weak track on it BUT then we come to Bono. You can only take so much Irish bombastic earnestness before thinking, "just shut the fuck up", so a point deducted for that. On the plus side, The Edge seems quite a good guitarist.
4
Apr 29 2022
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Sweetheart Of The Rodeo
The Byrds
p155, 1968. 2 stars.
Yeehaw. Former folk/psychedelic/pop idols go country in desperate attempt to reinvent themselves. Well done of its kind and in hindsight one of the key bridges between pop and country - you can see a direct line from this to The Eagles and The Dixie Chicks - but not my thing at all. Unlikely to play this again.
2
May 02 2022
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Raising Hell
Run-D.M.C.
p556, 1986. 2 stars.
I can see why it's influential - rap meets rock - but not my thing. The impression I get is other than the singles, a lot of the tracks sound the same and seem like filler. Unlikely to listen to this again. Well done of its kind though.
2
May 03 2022
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Moon Safari
Air
p836. 1998. 4 stars
The bastard love children of Jean-Michel Jarre and Vangelis. Accessible electronic mood music for the masses. It's good, but does outstay its welcome on the longer tracks.
4
May 04 2022
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The Specials
The Specials
p446, 1979. 4 stars
Ska meets disillusioned angry young men at the start of Thatcher's Britain. I don't usually like ska or reggae, but this is good - a rare example of the soundtrack to a moment in time that still sounds fresh today. Having said that... I like it, but don't love it. Just my taste in music.
4
May 05 2022
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It's A Shame About Ray
The Lemonheads
p684. 1992. 2 stars.
Average white boy garage band plays average white boy garage songs. Nothing memorable here. Why is this on the list?
2
May 06 2022
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Vanishing Point
Primal Scream
p802. 1997. 3 stars.
Weird, but it's got something. It's like the soundtrack to a B movie., along with the associated risk of it becoming background music You have to be in the right mood for this otherwise I should imagine it gets tired very quickly. Worth listening to though.
3
May 09 2022
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Led Zeppelin
Led Zeppelin
p174, 1969. 5 stars.
60's tail end classic. White man blues meets heavy rock with a garnish of folk, and world domination ensues. I'm still not a fan of Robert Plant's voice, but here it hasn't evolved into the hysterical shriek of later years. Bonham and Jones are on top form, and Jimmy Page seems quite a good guitarist.
5
May 10 2022
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This Is Fats Domino
Fats Domino
p28. 1956. 4 stars.
Feel-good primitive rock'n'roll that still sounds fresh today. Great sound, great production, great voice. The only thing missing is the same sense of excitement you get from a Little Richard or Jerry Lee Lewis track.
4
May 11 2022
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Gentlemen
The Afghan Whigs
p709. 1993. 4 stars
Accessible indy rock with distinct hints of Nirvana. Came cold to this and was pleasantly surprised. On the replay list.
4
May 12 2022
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Dry
PJ Harvey
p702. 1992. 3 stars
The source of skinny white chick rock. Well done of its kind, but a lot of the songs tend to blur into one another after a while.
3
May 13 2022
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You Want It Darker
Leonard Cohen
p943. 2016. 5 stars
Gravel voiced old man ruminates on death and produces final work of power and beauty. Lyrically, still light years ahead of the competition, and this time we've got decent tunes and quality production to match the words. Not a weak track on it. I am guessing this will resonate more with an older audience.
5
May 16 2022
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Thriller
Michael Jackson
p496. 1982. 3 stars
THE soundtrack of a million 80s nightclubs worldwide. It's packed with hits, and Quincey Jones is on top form. Having said that, there is filler - Baby Be Mine, The Girl Is Mine (hang your head in shame Macca) - and the 80's synths haven't dated well (PYT). Jackson sounds like he never really cracked puberty, and those shrill whoops get annoying real soon. It's not as good as Off The Wall.
"You're a vegetable (you're a vegetable)/Still they hate you (still they hate you)"
3
May 17 2022
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Nilsson Schmilsson
Harry Nilsson
p251. 1971. 3 stars
I feel like I should like this more than I do but... meh. Don't get me wrong, lyrically it's sharp, he had a cracking voice and it has its tunes, but I think it says a lot when the biggest track on it was written by someone else. And it has an utterly redundant cover of Let The Good Times Roll. When it's good, its very good, but there is a lot of filler that hasn't aged well. It feels and sounds like a hipster Billy Joel.
3
May 18 2022
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Non-Stop Erotic Cabaret
Soft Cell
p475. 1981. 4.5 stars
The sordid pale white underbelly of early 80s Britain disguised beneath brilliant electropop. Like or loathe him, Marc Almond has a terrific voice and sharp lyrics, whilst Dave Ball is simply a musical genius. At it's best this is brilliant - Youth and Say Hello Wave Goodbye are highlights, and it was a stroke of brilliance to tempt in the casual listener with Tainted Love, which proves that you can cover a song and make it your own. Set against that, some of the tracks outstay their welcome, and Entertain Me is filler. Apart from that, you get sex, kinks, self loathing, emptiness, isolation, all within the hits. I feel like I need a shower after listening to this.
4
May 19 2022
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Welcome to the Afterfuture
Mike Ladd
p867. 2000. 2 stars
Rap. Well done of its type - I like the Indian samples and jazz influences - but otherwise, not my thing at all. Would not listen to it again.
2
May 20 2022
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Dig Me Out
Sleater-Kinney
p805. 1997. 2 stars.
Average white girl punk band with nothing to add to what The Runaways and The Go-Gos have done before. In fact it sounds like the Go-Gos. Well done of its kind but not essential listening. Why is this on the list?
2
May 23 2022
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Machine Head
Deep Purple
p256. 1972. 2 stars.
Primeval 70s hard rock. So this is where we put the blame for a thousand hysterical shrieking vocalists and an eternity of guitar wankage. I found this tedious beyond belief, really struggled to listen all the way through. Well produced though. Thank god for punk.
2
May 24 2022
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White Ladder
David Gray
p825. 1998.
A perfect example of the artist's surname reflecting the content. It's a bit like porridge, you consume it to fill a need but it leaves you feeling vaguely unsatisfied. Every track sounds the same, and the cover of Say Hello Wave Goodbye is appalling, it sounds like a dirge. The entire album is background noise for a 90s dinner party. Definitely not essential listening.
2
May 25 2022
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Floodland
Sisters Of Mercy
p569. 1987. 3 stars.
Broody Goth rock meets Jim Steinman and ends up sounding like late 70's Bowie/Iggy. It's OK, but nothing special.
3
May 26 2022
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The Hissing Of Summer Lawns
Joni Mitchell
p344. 1975. 3 stars
The epitome of 70's singer-songwriter albums. Great voice, sharp lyrics, all sorts of things going on here - burundi beat, jazz, West Coast AOR. Not to everyone's taste, and probably not as good as Blue. 1 star deducted for dated production - dig that electric piano baby! - and some tracks outstay their welcome.
3
May 27 2022
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Ray Of Light
Madonna
p829. 1998. 5 stars.
Madge on top form. Not a weak track on this. Excellent production. Still sounds great 20 years on.
5
May 30 2022
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Otis Blue/Otis Redding Sings Soul
Otis Redding
p75, 1965. 5 stars.
One of the all time great vocalists shows how it should be done. Yes, most of these are covers, but they are mostly definitive versions that you'll have heard a thousand times before, and they still sound great. Production is excellent and the MG's are on absolutely top form. There is something on this album for everyone every time you listen to it.
5
Jun 08 2022
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Deja Vu
Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young
p201. 1970. 4 stars
Late 60s hippies wake up in a new decade and discover country. Fantastic harmonies, fine musicianship, great tunes - what's not to like? Still holds up after 50+ years, although you can argue that Country Girl is filler and that Our House is as weak as a kitten. Imagine what they could have done if they hadn't been perpetually wasted and/or soaked in booze.
4
Jun 09 2022
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At Newport 1960
Muddy Waters
p53. 1960. 4.5 stars.
Damn I love blues, and this is as pure as it gets. Half a point deducted for being a live album, but other than that it's perfect.
4
Jun 10 2022
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OxygĂšne
Jean-Michel Jarre
p367. 1976. 3 stars
Primeval trippy electro music from the 70s, and hence a high degree of musical wankage. Outstays its welcome on most of the tracks, and oh my, didn't someone have fun passing those synth sounds from speaker to speaker? Vangelis did this kind of thing much better IMHO. Perfectly acceptable of its kind, but it's all a bit pompous and sterile.
3
Jun 13 2022
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Mothership Connection
Parliament
p364. 1975. 3 stars
Perfectly acceptable fodder, well produced with a sense of humour but... not my thing. It's missing standout tracks. Listened to it, thought it was OK, then forgot about it.
3
Jun 14 2022
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Illmatic
Nas
p729. 1994. 2 stars.
Hip-hop/rap. Not my thing at all, so 2 stars. Like the bass and production though, and there are a couple of OK tracks like Life's A Bitch. On the whole, 40 mins of my life I won't get back.
2
Jun 15 2022
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Ingenue
k.d. lang
p688. 1992. 3 stars
Middle of the road songs offset by terrific voice and production. There simply aren't enough standout songs - after a while they tend to just blur in to each other. Not sure it is essential listening.
3
Jun 16 2022
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Vespertine
Björk
p872. 2001. 3 stars.
The Icelandic love child of Sinead O'Connor and David Lynch. This sounds like the lost soundtrack to Twin Peaks. Having said that, their is only so much weirdness you can listen to before it gets boring. Well done of its kind, but becomes background music real soon.
3
Jun 17 2022
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Inspiration Information
Shuggie Otis
p316. 1974. 2 stars.
This ain't aged well. Vague echoes of early Hall and Oates but without the melodies. The boy's got talent - he plays nearly everything on the album, and some tracks like Rainy Day, Sweet Thang and Freedom Flight show promise - but there's a reason why this didn't sell in the first place, and its because its utterly forgettable. Why is this even on the list?
2
Jun 20 2022
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Bluesbreakers
John Mayall & The Bluesbreakers
p97. 1966. 4.5 stars.
Classic 60s Brit blues. This is where Clapton made his reputation, and he still sounds light years of most of the competition. There a couple of filler tracks - the cover of What I Say outstays its welcome - but other than that it doesn't get much better than this.
4
Jun 21 2022
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Electric Warrior
T. Rex
p252. 1971. 4 stars
Fey, but muscular. Absolutely fabulous early 70s glam rock. As with all things Bolan, lyrically suspect, but the riffs and band and production are still fantastic. Some filler, especially on the 2nd side, but if you can't dance to at least one track on this you are officially dead.
"Just like a car/You're pleasing to behold/I'll call you Jaguar/If I may be so bold"
"Girl I'm just a vampire for your love/And I'm gonna SUCK ya"
4
Jun 23 2022
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Iâm a Lonesome Fugitive
Merle Haggard
p121. 1967. 1 star
Poor man's Johnny Cash. All the worst excesses of country music are here. I really struggled to listen to the entire album. On the plus side the songs are short. Definitely not my thing.
"If I could die/My pain might go away". I wish he would.
1
Jun 24 2022
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Are You Experienced
Jimi Hendrix
p122. 1967. 5 stars
Sounds as fresh today as when it was first issued. Not a weak track on this. Hugely influential. Raised the bar for every other guitarist without ever straying in wankage, although you can argue that Third Stone From The Sun outstays its welcome. Noel Redding and Mitch Mitchell on top form. Packed with genuine rock classics. This one is essential listening.
5
Jun 27 2022
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A Love Supreme
John Coltrane
p78, 1965. 1 star
There is a reason that jazz fell out of favour, and this is a prime example of why. It might be technically excellent, but for the casual listener it simply isn't accessible - it comes across as formless, self indulgent, meandering musical wankage. This is 32 minutes of my life I will never get back.
1
Jun 28 2022
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Oracular Spectacular
MGMT
Not in my edition of the book! 2007. 3.5 stars.
Fabulous synthesis of indie pop and 60's psychedelia, irritating catchy riffs and vague Beatle-ish overtones. Time To Pretend and Kids are standouts, but a lot of the album is filler. This would get a 4 on a good day.
3
Jun 29 2022
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Elvis Presley
Elvis Presley
p24. 1956. 3 stars.
Primeval white rock'n'roll. Even after this time, the voice is terrific. Fabulous guitar solos from Scotty Moore, and Bill Black and DJ Fontana are rock solid on bass and drums. Set against that, there is an awful lot of filler, especially on the maudlin ballads, and some of the covers don't add anything to the originals. When this is good it's excellent - it's there are just too many average songs to give this anything other than a 3. But that voice...
3
Jun 30 2022
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Architecture And Morality
Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark
p476. 1981. 1 star.
Dreary and soulless synth pop. This is the soundtrack to every dull grey wet Tuesday in Liverpool in Thatcher's Britain. Most the album is the band farting about with synths on songs that outstay their welcome - who the fuck needs a 7 minute "moody" instrumental, it's like punk never happened, eh lads? And what the fuck is the album title about? Pretentious wankers.
1
Jul 01 2022
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American Beauty
Grateful Dead
p206. 1970. 2 stars.
Bland late 60's/70's CSN&Y wannabees with no redeeming features. Sounds like the less talented younger brothers of the Band. Well done of its kind, but utterly forgettable. Not essential listening.
2
Jul 04 2022
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Pretenders
Pretenders
p470. 1980. 4 stars.
Fabulous rock-pop-punk hybrid. Outstanding songs and vocals about sex, desire and loathing. Needs to be played loud for maximum impact. 1 star deducted for occasionally straying into guitar wankage. Still sounds fresh 40 years on. PJ Harvey has based her entire career on trying to write something as good as this.
4
Jul 05 2022
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John Prine
John Prine
p251. 1971. 4 stars
Came cold to this and was pleasantly surprised. Lyrically sharp as a razor and some good tunes. Sounds like country-era Dylan, which isn't for everyone, but once you get past the strings and slide guitar it's terrific - there is a direct line from this to Springsteen's Nebraska. It's everything The Band aspired to and failed to deliver. Probably too country for most, but it's definitely worth a second listen.
4
Jul 06 2022
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Under Construction
Missy Elliott
p890. 2002. 2 stars
Hip-hop, so not my thing at all. Well done of its kind, and had me tapping my foot, but a lot of the tracks just blurred into each other.
2
Jul 07 2022
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Shake Your Money Maker
The Black Crowes
p639. 1990. 2 stars
Adequate pub-rock band tries to be Rod Stewart and the Faces, only without the talent or songs. It says a lot when the most successful song is a cover. This is just average - why is this album on the list?
2
Jul 08 2022
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Elvis Is Back
Elvis Presley
p50. 1960. 2 stars
Well, this ain't aged well. It's mostly a collection of mediocre pop songs, saved only the Voice. There are maybe 2 songs that stand up to comparison with his pre-Army songbook, and on the couple of occasions that the songs are decent, we have the Jordanaires droning on it. And who let that sax player in?? Seriously, this album sounds like something meant for Bobby Vinton or Pat Boone.
The boy had the looks, the moves, and the Voice. Just a shame that he rarely got the songs to match.
2
Jul 11 2022
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At Fillmore East
The Allman Brothers Band
p230. 1971. 2 stars
On the plus side: if you want an example of why Duane Allman rates alongside Clapton and Hendrix as the greatest guitarist of all time, look no further. This is it.
On the negative side: if you want an example of excessive, overly long, wankage filled early '70s southern blues/rock, look no further. This is it.
Don't get me wrong, the musicianship is great and Duane Allman is fantastic but... it's too much, and too long. Seriously, did anyone actually enjoy 15-20 minute "jams" on a live album unless they were stoned? Maybe you had to be there.
2
Jul 12 2022
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Nevermind
Nirvana
p656. 1991. 4 stars.
Point deducted for suspect lyrics, filler tracks on the 2nd half of the album, and for ripping off "More Than A Feeling" by Boston. Apart from that, this is pretty good.
"Here we are now/Entertain us/A mulatto/An albino/A mosquito/My libido/Yeah"
4
Jul 13 2022
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Underwater Moonlight
The Soft Boys
p455. 1980. 2 stars.
The sound of musicians that were born 10 years too late and wish the 60s had never ended. This sounds like an album of 13th Floor Elevators, Byrds and Ziggy Stardust outtakes, only without the talent. Listening to it you'd have thought that punk never happened. Quite good guitar playing, though it frequently strays in 70s wankage. It's OK, but nothing special - no idea why this is on the list.
2
Jul 14 2022
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Goodbye Yellow Brick Road
Elton John
p300. 1973. 3 stars
All the evidence you need to prove that Elton John is best as a singles artist. When it's good, it's very good but... most of it is filler, and do we really need a 5 minute instrument as the opener? The production hasn't aged well - one listen and you know it was recorded in the early 70s. This could have been a stunning single album - just needs the fat trimming off.
3
Jul 15 2022
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My Aim Is True
Elvis Costello
p390. 1977. 5 stars
Costello when he could still knock out a decent tune. Listening to this, you can see what the fuss was about - razor sharp lyrics, minimal production, and short snappy songs that actually stick in the ear. This is the standard he set himself, and it's just sad to hear the thin meandering whining that he puts out these days compared to this.
5
Jul 18 2022
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Parsley, Sage, Rosemary And Thyme
Simon & Garfunkel
p94. 1966. 5 stars
A perfect time capsule of the mid 60s, capturing all the hope and fears of the era in 28 minutes. 50 years on this is still an example of why Paul Simon is one of the greatest songwriters ever, and why Art Garfunkel is one of the greatest vocalists ever. Classic.
5
Jul 19 2022
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Face to Face
The Kinks
p88. 1966. 3 stars.
The primeval ancestors of Blur. Pros: Ray Davies can knock out a tune, and lyrically he's as sharp as Costello or Weller. Cons: he can't sing, the Kinks weren't great musicians, and the production hasn't dated that well. Compare this with Revolver or Pet Sounds from the same year and all the flaws really show up. It's more of a historical significance piece - "look what Ray Davies was doing at the same time as Dylan and Lennon and Wilson".
3
Jul 20 2022
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The La's
The La's
p638. 1990. 3 stars
The bastard love children of The Byrds and Love. Lots of jangly guitars and OK tunes, but there's an overwhelming feeling that this was done by a late 60s B-list band, and the record company rejected the album. There She Goes is the only standout track. Well done of its kind but not outstanding.
3
Jul 21 2022
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Is This It
The Strokes
p874. 2001. 2 stars
Velvet Underground wannabees without the style or the substance. Great album cover though.
2
Jul 22 2022
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Beyond Skin
Nitin Sawhney
p845. 1999. 3 stars.
Mood music/background listening, with samples and Asian influences to hook you in. Well done of its kind, but it does outstay its welcome.
3
Jul 25 2022
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Ritual De Lo Habitual
Jane's Addiction
p648. 1990. 1 star.
Shouty power pop with no redeeming features. Green Day without the tunes. No thank you. Why is this on the list?
1
Jul 26 2022
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Mama's Gun
Erykah Badu
p864. 2000. 3 stars
Classy soul/jazz background music. Vaguely reminiscent of What's Going On, but without any standout tracks. It sounds like a Nora Jones outtakes album. Can imagine this being played whilst the black forest gateaux is being served.
3
Jul 27 2022
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Scum
Napalm Death
p578. 1987. 1 star.
This is noise, not music. It sounds like acne ridden teenage boys finding their older brothers guitar and drum kit and pretending to be Motorhead, and doing it badly. It is loud, badly played, pointless, pretentious, annoying random shite. Avoid.
1
Jul 28 2022
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Moving Pictures
Rush
p483. 1981.
1970s Canadian-American prog-rockers, and that in itself should be enough warning. I can't stand Geddy Lee's vocals, he sounds like his testicles have only just dropped. You could put him in a room with Jon Anderson and Roger Hodgson and have your own boys choir. And as with all things prog-rock, there is excessive musical wankage. Not my thing at all.
2
Jul 29 2022
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Francis Albert Sinatra & Antonio Carlos Jobim
Frank Sinatra
p115. 1967. 2 stars
Well, the voice is fantastic, but this isn't his best work. Frank barely breaks a sweat, and sounds half asleep in a lot of the songs, and the arrangements pale in comparison to those of Nelson Riddle. Each track sounds the same as the one before, and the bossa nova vibe hasn't aged well. It's bland, and that ain't good.
2
Aug 01 2022
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Here's Little Richard
Little Richard
p36. 1957. 5 stars
The raw DNA of rock'n'roll and that would follow. Little Richard crams in more excitement and energy in the opening track than some artists manage in an entire career. There isn't a weak track on this.
5
Aug 02 2022
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good kid, m.A.A.d city
Kendrick Lamar
Not in my edition of the book so! Obviously not essential to listen to before you die! 2012. 1 star.
Purile, sexist, misogynistic, obnoxious shite that gets boring reallll fast.
Strange that it's OK for black rappers to use the N* word but if anyone else does you're racist. Or that it's OK for them to call women bitches and pussy and hoes (whores), but if anyone else does you're misogynistic. Or that it's OK from them to to boast about how high and doped they get, but if anyone else does then you're just a fucked up junkie. Just saying.
"I pray my dick get big as the Eiffel Tower/So I can fuck the world for seventy-two hours". FFS, grow up.
1
Aug 03 2022
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Manassas
Stephen Stills
p270. 1972. 3 stars
CSNY meet the Byrds and Merle Haggard. Well done of its kind, but not many standout songs. It frequently strays into musical wankage and outstays its welcome. Would have been a far better single album.
3
Aug 04 2022
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Melodrama
Lorde
p948. 2017. 3 stars
Kiwi Pink wannabee but without the songs. Sharp lyrics, which is a plus, but a long of the songs blur into one another. It's OK, but not great.
3
Aug 05 2022
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The Real Thing
Faith No More
p606. 1989. 2 stars
Average Aerosmith/Kiss wannabees with average songs play loud to try and cover up deficiencies and fail. The best song on this is a cover. Nothing to keep your attention here, move along. WTF is this doing on the list?
2
Aug 08 2022
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John Barleycorn Must Die
Traffic
p213. 1970. 3 stars.
60's white soul boy gets jazzy and throws in some folk to spice it up. It's well done, but there are no standout tracks, and you get all the usual musical wankage you expect from early 70s albums. It says a lot that the best track on it is an old English folk song. On the plus side, it is is short.
3
Aug 09 2022
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Dusty In Memphis
Dusty Springfield
p169. 1969. 3 stars.
One of the great white female voices on top form, but let down by suspect material and production. When it works (Just a Little Lovin', Son Of A Preacher Man, I Don't Want To Hear It, Breakfast In Bed, Just One Smile, I Can't Make It Alone), it's fabulous. Unfortunately the rest of the songs are filler, some of the production hasn't aged well - the strings quickly veer into middle of the road syrup - and the cover of The Windmills Of Your Mind is pure cheese.
3
Aug 10 2022
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Debut
Björk
p718. 1993. 4 stars.
Good things: great production, some great songs.
Bad things: Bjork's voice. It's the aural equivalent of a cheese grater on the fingertips.
4
Aug 11 2022
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The Notorious Byrd Brothers
The Byrds
p141. 1968. 3.5 stars.
Schizophrenic mix of pop, country, folk and 60's psychedelia wrapped up in an aura of world weariness. It's odd, but it's got something, and it still sounds fresh nearly 50 years on.
3
Aug 12 2022
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Queen II
Queen
p321. 1974. 3 stars.
Vaguely pretentious glam/pomp rock that outstays its welcome and frequently strays into early 70's rock wankage. Well done though, and Brian May seems quite a good guitarist. Other than Seven Seas of Rye, it's missing standout tunes. Not sure it's essential listening.
2
Aug 15 2022
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Grace
Jeff Buckley
p744. 1994. 5 stars
Great songs, great production, great guitar work and THAT voice. And it has the rarest of things, a cover that has become the definitive version. Faultless. To what heights could he have risen...
5
Aug 31 2022
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Led Zeppelin III
Led Zeppelin
p204. 1970. 3 stars
This is going to be unpopular opinion, but I don't think Robert Plant can sing. He sounds like a castrated bullock that has inhaled helium. It's like a weird high tone yelling. Combine that with the 7+ minute wankage that is "Since I've Been Loving You Too Long" and it makes your ears bleed. Shame, because there are some good songs on this, the rest of the band are on form, and Jimmy Page seems quite a good guitarist.
3
Sep 01 2022
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Call of the Valley
Shivkumar Sharma
p126. 1967. 4 stars.
Ethereal mood music with an Indian vibe. Had low expectations of this and was pleasantly surprised - excellent production and musicianship. Not sure I will listen to it again, but glad I did.
4
Sep 02 2022
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Blood Sugar Sex Magik
Red Hot Chili Peppers
p662. 1991. 2 stars, but should be 1.5.
Distinctly average, and far too long for what it is. Not keen on the shouty white faux funk/rap, and most of the tracks sound the same and just blur into each other. Set against that, excellent musicianship and there are a couple of good tunes - but not enough to deserve repeated listening.
2
Sep 05 2022
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British Steel
Judas Priest
p460. 1980. 1.5 stars.
Well done of its type, but definitely not my thing. Rob Halford can't sing, and there is a lot of filler. It's dull and left no lasting impression, and the final track (Red White And Blue) is an abomination. Really struggled to listen to this one all the way through. Not essential listening.
1
Sep 06 2022
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Sea Change
Beck
p888. 2002. 4 stars.
Nick Drake for the new millennium. Came cold to this and was pleasantly surprised - strong lyrics, excellent musicianship and production. On the repeat listen list.
4
Sep 07 2022
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Hybrid Theory
Linkin Park
Not in my edition of the book! 2000. 1.5 star.
Shouty white boy rap metal noise. Gets tedious VERY quickly. Shame, as they seem to be adequate musicians. Not essential listening.
1
Sep 08 2022
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Golden Hour
Kacey Musgraves
Not in my edition of the book! 2018. 5 stars
The millennium lovechild of The Dixie Chicks, Joni Mitchell and Lana Del Rey. Great songs, lovely voice, classy warm production and excellent musicianship. On the repeat play list.
5
Sep 09 2022
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Hunky Dory
David Bowie
p254. 1971. 5 stars.
One of the great singer/songwriters on absolute top form. There is not a weak track on this. Exquisite musicianship and production. What's not to like?
5
Sep 12 2022
View Album
The Queen Is Dead
The Smiths
p560, 1986. 2 stars
Jangly 80s guitar music for lonely pasty faced Mancs in long overcoats whilst standing on damp street corners in the rain, waiting in vain for someone to notice them. Everyone has a musical blind spot, an artist or band that everyone loves and which you just don't like. The Smiths are my blind spot. I don't like Morrisey's whinging whine of a voice, and too many of their songs sound the same. 2 stars for the couple of songs that sound different from the others and for Johnny Marr's guitar work.
2
Sep 13 2022
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Transformer
Lou Reed
p264. 1972. 5 stars.
Camp, sardonic glam rock classic. 50 years on and it still sounds terrific. Half a star deducted for suspect lyrics (Andy's Chest), but otherwise this is practically flawless.
5
Sep 14 2022
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Emperor Tomato Ketchup
Stereolab
p775. 1996. 1.5 stars.
Vaguely annoying, repetitious, soulless electro Europop with bland vocals and no tunes. Strays into synth wankage far too often. Well produced, but outstays its welcome big time. Not essential listening in any shape or form.
1
Sep 15 2022
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Fulfillingness' First Finale
Stevie Wonder
p316, 1974. 3 stars
This is going to sound like heresy, but I don't think Steve Wonder is a great album artist. The singles are usually fantastic, and there are always one or two standout tracks, but there is also a lot of filler - and this album is no exception. I appreciate the craftmanship, but not sure I would listen to it again.
3
Sep 16 2022
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Let Love Rule
Lenny Kravitz
p607. 1989. 4 stars
Well done pilfering of Prince, Hendrix and Beatles circa Abbey Road. Was surprised at how much I liked this. 1 star deducted for some tracks outstaying their welcome. Still on the replay list, though.
4
Sep 19 2022
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Fear Of Music
Talking Heads
p431. 1979. 2 stars
The problems here are David Byrne's voice - he can't sing - and no standout songs. It's instantly forgettable, other than the "singing". The best thing about this is Brian Eno's production. Not sure this is essential listening.
2
Sep 20 2022
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Apocalypse 91⊠The Enemy Strikes Black
Public Enemy
p665. 1991. 2 stars
Hip hop/rap. Well done of its kind but not my thing at all hence 2 stars.
2
Sep 21 2022
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Dub Housing
Pere Ubu
p400. 1978. 1 star.
Unpleasant mixture of Talking Heads, 13th Floor Elevators and The Doors, only without the songs or the talent. And David Thomas cannot sing. This is bloody awful. 35 minutes of my life I will never get back.
1
Sep 22 2022
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Synchronicity
The Police
Victim of poor quality control and letting the untalented song writing members of the group contribute. There is a LOT of filler - both the Copeland and Summers tracks are B side material at best, and there worrying hints of the faux jazz wankage that Sting strayed into as a solo artist. Points also deducted for suspect and vaguely repellent lyrics - Every Breath You Take is every stalker's theme tune. Bit of a shame really, because when Sting is on form he can definitely knock a tune out. When this is good, it's very good.
"Hey Mr. Dinosaur/You really couldn't ask for more/You were God's favourite creature/But you didn't have a future." How prescient.
3
Sep 23 2022
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The Contino Sessions
Death In Vegas
Not in my edition of the book! 1999. 4 stars
Interesting Brit alt guitar rock that wants to be Godspeed You! Black Emperor when it grows up, but with lyrics. Could be the soundtrack to a cult urban horror film. Good if you like this sort of thing, which I do.
4
Sep 26 2022
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Time Out
The Dave Brubeck Quartet
p45. 1959. 3 stars
Jazz, so points immediately deducted. Inoffensive background music for cocktail and hipster bars. Technically impressive. but meanders far too often and is soulless. Saved from 2 stars for Take 5, but would not listen to again.
"Nice" - The Fast Show.
3
Sep 27 2022
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Zombie
Fela Kuti
p370. 1976. 2 stars
African jazz-funk background music. Pleasant enough, but outstays its welcome. Probably best enjoyed outdoors at a music festival on a sunny day when smoking a quality spliff. Unfortunately you rarely any of those in Stoke. Unlikely to listen to this again.
2
Sep 28 2022
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A Date With The Everly Brothers
The Everly Brothers
p52. 1960. 3.5 stars
THE sound of pre-Beatles white teenage America. In their heyday, the Everlys hit the sweet spot - cute AF for the girls, and cool enough to appeal to the guys. However - there's a lot of filler, and some of the sentiments in the songs are so sweet that they strip enamel from your teeth, but those harmonies can save even the most dire pop song. When they get a great song - and there are some great ones here - it's fabulous. There is just too much filler and saccharine to rate it more than 3 stars.
3
Sep 29 2022
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White Light / White Heat
The Velvet Underground
p127. 1968. 1 star.
Unattractive 60s art-house rock. You can see its influence on punk rock, but that doesn't mean it's good. Outstays its welcome on most of the tracks, especially the 17 minute wankage that is Sister Ray. You can see why it didn't sell. Would not listen to it again.
1
Sep 30 2022
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Head Hunters
Herbie Hancock
p297. 1973. 2 stars, but would give it 1.5 if that were an option.
Tedious 1970s jazz-funk with loooooong double digit minute tracks. Sounds like the rejected soundtrack for a blaxploitation film. As with most jazz, technically proficient, but it leaves me cold.
2
Oct 03 2022
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Tres Hombres
ZZ Top
p305. 1973. 3 stars
No frills quality 70s southern blues/rock. No track longer than 4 minutes, so it never outstays its welcome or gets bogged down by guitar wankage. Prefect driving music. On the other hand... a lack of standout tracks, a lot of them sound the same.
3
Oct 04 2022
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Let's Get It On
Marvin Gaye
p295. 1973. 3 stars, just.
The soundtrack to a million 70s seductions. Has not aged well - production sounds dated, and a lot of the tracks are filler. Set against that, you have one of THE great soul voices on absolutely top form.
3
Oct 05 2022
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Like A Prayer
Madonna
p610. 1989. 5 stars
An absolutely perfect pop record. And beneath the shiny veneer of love songs and chart hits there are also songs about religion, domestic abuse, sex, dysfunctional family relationships, loneliness and loss. There is not a weak track on this.
"Romeo and Juliet/They never felt this way I bet"
5
Oct 06 2022
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Tago Mago
Can
p235. 1971. 2 stars.
70's German prog-rock/jazz wankage with Japanese vocals. Let's not forget that previous collaborations between Germany and Japan have not ended well.
Alarm bells went off as soon as I looked at the track times... 7:28, 7:23, 18:32, 17:37, 11:37, 6:27. FFS. Early fears confirmed, lots of pointless noodling and dodgy vocals. Outstays its welcome after 5 mins. Shame as the bass and drums are really tight - all sorts of future influences for 90's club and dance.
Never trust a double album made by German hippies.
2
Oct 07 2022
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Bryter Layter
Nick Drake
p208. 1970. 2.5 stars.
Perfectly acceptable background listening, with no redeeming features. There is a reason this didn't sell when it came out, and that reason is there are no standout tracks. It's the perfect background music for a million hipster bars. It's the aural equivalent of porridge.
2
Oct 10 2022
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Stories From The City, Stories From The Sea
PJ Harvey
p865. 2000. 5 stars
New millennium Chrissie Hynde. Great tunes, great songs, great attitude, great image. What's not to like?
5
Oct 11 2022
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Red Headed Stranger
Willie Nelson
p352. 1975. 4 stars
Country/Americana with most of the saccharine extracted. Most of the tracks are short, so it doesn't outstay its welcome. Yeehaw, but in a good way.
4
Oct 12 2022
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Brown Sugar
D'Angelo
p769. 1995. 1 star.
The background music they use in stores selling Gwyneth Paltrow's "This Smells Like My Vagina" candles.
Wannabe Marvin Gaye for the 90s, only without the talent or the voice. This was a key influence on Craig David - so! We finally have someone to blame! Can't be doing with high pitched male voices, especially when they are used on such bland material. This is soulless and instantly forgettable.
1
Oct 13 2022
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Straight Outta Compton
N.W.A.
p631. 1988. 1 star.
Arrogant, puerile noise. Shouting "fuck" and "motherfucker" every other sentence is neither "big" or clever. This noise is obnoxious on pretty much every level - misogyny, homophobia, violence, toxic masculinity, its all there if you want it. I don't.
1
Oct 14 2022
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Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band
Beatles
p100. 1967. 5 stars.
Not a weak track on it, and it has aged astonishingly well for something that is over 50 years old. There are more ideas and quality tunes on this album that most bands manage in a 10 year career.
5
Oct 17 2022
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Country Life
Roxy Music
p322. 1974. 2 stars
70s art rock for lounge lizards. Well done, but oddly soulless and emotionless. Only a couple of standout tunes, certainly not enough to repay repeated listening.
3
Oct 18 2022
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Be
Common
p905. 2005. 2.5 stars.
Rap, so... not my thing. Seems to be well done, but only 2 stars as I don't like rap. Liked the last track though.
2
Oct 19 2022
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The Madcap Laughs
Syd Barrett
p220. 1970. 1 star.
Drug addled half baked outtakes from an acidhead casualty do not make for interesting listening. WTF is this doing on this list?
"I tattooed my brain all the way/Won't you miss me? Wouldn't you miss me at all?" Actually Syd, no we won't.
1
Oct 20 2022
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Shaft
Isaac Hayes
p228. 1971. 3.5 stars.
Not his best album - see Hot Buttered Soul for that - and as with most 70s double albums it outstays its welcome. Do we really need 19 minute plus workout? Having said that, it's still good, easily accessible soul with silk smooth strings, and the title track is a perfect 4:39 snapshot of the early 70s.
4
Oct 21 2022
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Palo Congo
Sabu
p33. 1957. 1 star
Dreadfully dated, and outstayed its welcome very quickly. Might be influential but not my thing.
1
Oct 24 2022
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Paul Simon
Paul Simon
p275. 1972. 4 stars
One of the great singer/songwriters shows to successfully transition from the 60s to the 70s in style. It's not perfect - there is quite a bit of filler - but there are enough standout tracks to make up the gap, and Simon is also an excellent and underrated guitarist.
4
Oct 25 2022
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We Are Family
Sister Sledge
p425. 1979. 3.5 stars.
Perfect snapshot of classy late 70s disco, packed with hits and with Nile Rodgers and Bernard Edwards on top form. Well done of its kind, but as with all disco it outstays its welcome. Not essential listening.
3
Oct 26 2022
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Giant Steps
The Boo Radleys
p721. 1993. 2 stars.
Average early 90s Brit rock wannabees, stuck between the Stone Roses and The Lightning Seeds but without the tunes or the talent. Strays into "just noise" far too often and outstays its welcome big time. Not essential listening.
2
Oct 27 2022
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Fear Of A Black Planet
Public Enemy
p649. 1990. 2 stars.
Hip-hop, so not my thing. Well done of its kind but... meh. On the plus side, most of the tracks are short. Bonus point for Fight The Power.
2
Oct 28 2022
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Picture Book
Simply Red
p541. 1985. 2 stars
Bland, middle of the road faux jazz/soul, only without the technique or the soul. One massive hit and a lot of filler. Not essential listening.
Q. Whatâs the difference between Simply Red and a bull?
A. The bull has the horns at the front and the arsehole at the back
2
Oct 31 2022
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Selected Ambient Works 85-92
Aphex Twin
p679. 1992. 1.5 stars
Background synth music. Well done but instantly forgettable, and it really outstays its welcome. Someone whistle me a tune from any of the 74 tedious minutes. Anyone? No, thought not.
1
Nov 01 2022
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Dookie
Green Day
p751. 1994. 2 stars.
Rehashed punk/New Wave for the early 90s, with a couple of radio friendly tunes. The Undertones did this first and much better. And Billie Joe Armstrong sounds like he has a bad cold.
2
Nov 02 2022
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Celebrity Skin
Hole
p832. 1998. 3.5 stars.
So this is what happens if you splice the genes of The Bangles and The Pretenders. Surprisingly accessible jangly guitar rock, but a lot of the tracks sound the same. On the replay list.
3
Nov 03 2022
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Stardust
Willie Nelson
p419. 1978. 1 star.
Lazy, bland, middle of the road album of covers by a distinctly below average singer. This is background music for department stores. WTF is this doing on the list?
1
Nov 04 2022
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Kenya
Machito
p35. 1957. 2.5 stars
50s Latin big band jazz. Too many bongos, but perfectly acceptable otherwise. Not sure I would listen to it again.
2
Nov 07 2022
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Chirping Crickets
Buddy Holly & The Crickets
p31. 1957. 5 stars
Stripped down, primeval white rock'n'roll at its finest. Instantly recognisable sound, packed with genuine classics. It still sounds great today.
5
Nov 08 2022
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Bitches Brew
Miles Davis
p196. 1970. 1 star.
It's probably technically exquisite but... ffs, do we really need a double album of 70's jazz wankage and 20+ minute shapeless, pointless, free form tracks? There is no difference between this and all those double album prog rock albums from the same era that no-one listens to. Life is too short for this.
1
Nov 09 2022
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White Light
Gene Clark
p250. 1971. 2.5 stars.
70s country tinged Dylan wannabee, but without the standout tunes. It's perfectly acceptable, and he has a better voice than Dylan, but it's mostly typical early 70s bland singer/songwriter meandering.
2
Nov 10 2022
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Rio
Duran Duran
p502. 1982. 3.5 stars
Classy 80s Brit synth pop. Hasn't aged well - the cheesy sax and synths are firmly of the era, some of the tracks outstay their welcome, and points are deducted for dodgy lyrics. On the plus side, there are some cracking tunes in here, and at least they weren't Spandau Ballet. 3.5 stars on a bad day, 4 on a good one.
4
Nov 11 2022
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On The Beach
Neil Young
p331. 1974. 3.5 stars.
Classic early 70s singer songwriter fodder. Not his best, but still worth a listen.
3
Nov 14 2022
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Coat Of Many Colors
Dolly Parton
p238 .1971. 3 stars
Quality country singer/song writer, clean production and doesn't outstay its welcome. Points deducted for occasionally straying into saccharine so sweet it can strip the enamel from your teeth.
3
Nov 15 2022
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The Man Machine
Kraftwerk
p397. 1978. 4 stars
Would be 5 stars just for its influence on most of the early 1980s synth bands and 90s electro/trance. Even without that it still sounds great. One point docked for most of the tracks outstaying their welcome.
4
Nov 16 2022
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Scott 2
Scott Walker
p152. 1968. 3.5 stars.
A nearly perfect snapshot of late 60s cabaret by one of the great voices, with subversive lyrics beneath the strings and Spectoresque production. All that is missing are standout tracks. Still holds up well today.
3
Nov 17 2022
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The White Album
Beatles
p156. 1968. 4 stars.
This might sound like heresy, but there is a LOT of filler here. Trim that out and you would have a 5 star album. On the plus side, there is still more inventiveness and melody here than most bands manage in a 10 year career.
4
Nov 21 2022
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Rattlesnakes
Lloyd Cole And The Commotions
p527. 1984. 3.5 stars.
Sounds like Edwyn Collins hipster kid brother. Jangly 80s guitars, bitter sweet cynical lyrics, but missing standout tunes. If the rest of the album was as strong as Perfect Skin you'd be looking at 5 stars... But it isn't.
3
Nov 24 2022
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Blue Lines
Massive Attack
p673. 1991. 3.5 stars.
Classy Brit fusion of hip-hop, reggae and trance. Shouldn't work on paper, but somehow does. Unfortunately a lot of the tracks sound the same, and points deducted for tracks outstaying their welcome.
3
Nov 25 2022
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All Things Must Pass
George Harrison
p212. 1970. 4 stars
How to emerge from the long shadow of The Beatles in style. Far too long - does anyone really need a triple album? - and a lot of the third disc is pure instrumental filler. When it's good, its very good indeed - with judicious editing this would have been a 5 star single (maybe even a double) album.
4
Dec 01 2022
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White Blood Cells
The White Stripes
p878. 2001. 5 stars
Gorgeous, stripped down guitar rock with quality tunes. There is a direct line from this back to 50s Sun Records Elvis. What's not to like?
5
Dec 02 2022
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69 Love Songs
The Magnetic Fields
p842. 1999. 3 stars.
Well done hipster pop, but far too long for what it is. Do we really need 3 albums of this in one sitting? Don't get me wrong, there are some cracking tunes and sharp lyrics... but it definitely outstays its welcome and gets annoying after a while. A bit of judicious editing and this could have been 5 stars.
3
Dec 05 2022
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OK Computer
Radiohead
p798. 1997. 5 stars.
Cracking tunes, great vocals, sharp lyrics, even sharper production. Not a weak track on this.
5
Dec 06 2022
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Mermaid Avenue
Billy Bragg
p823. 1998. 3.5 stars.
Woody Guthrie lyrics and Billy Bragg tunes. Well done, but feels a bit "worthy", and is not exceptional. Worth a listen.
3
Dec 07 2022
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Get Rich Or Die Tryin'
50 Cent
Not in my edition of the book. 1 star.
(C)Rap. Angry black man rants about motherf**kers, killing people, taking drugs, and refers to woman as "sluts with a nice butt to get a nut"... and then on his biggest hit asks "come on and give me a hug". Tedious, misogynistic, macho posturing rubbish.
"Your mami, your papi, that bitch you chasin'/Your little dirty ass kids, I'll fucking erase 'em"
1
Dec 08 2022
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Immigrés
Youssou N'Dour
p527. 1984. 2 stars
Well done of its kind but left me cold. Bonus star for the guitar work of Mamadou "Jimi" Mbaye.
2
Dec 09 2022
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Eliminator
ZZ Top
p511. 1983. 4 stars.
Stripped down Southern rock meets 80s synths and produces classic hybrid. Great guitar work and riffs, but a lot of the tracks sound the same and you can argue that most of them outstay their welcome.
4
Dec 12 2022
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Unknown Pleasures
Joy Division
p432. 1979. 2 stars.
Dreary and depressing meh for the most part. Ian Curtis sounds like Jim Morrison on Valium. Bonus star for the bass work.
2
Dec 13 2022
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The Suburbs
Arcade Fire
Not in my edition of the book! 2 stars, borderline 2.5.
Canadian Deacon Blue but without the tunes. Noisy, meandering hipster noodling with no redeeming features. A couple of decent tunes but not much else.
2
Dec 14 2022
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Histoire De Melody Nelson
Serge Gainsbourg
p242. 1971. 2 stars.
Well, that was weird. Glad I heard it but not sure I'll revisit it.
2
Dec 15 2022
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Speakerboxxx/The Love Below
OutKast
p892. 2003. 1.5 stars
Hip-hop/rap, so wrong audience. Limited talent spread too thinly over a double album. Pass.
2
Dec 16 2022
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Kala
M.I.A.
p916. 2007. 4 stars, 5 on a good day.
Brit electro hip-hop meets Burundi beat and other world music, which on paper sounds like a bloody awful idea - but it's actually rather good. Started with low expectations and found myself adding to the replay list.
4
Dec 20 2022
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The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan
Bob Dylan
p60. 1963. 4.5 stars.
Lyrically light years ahead of the competition at the time, and still a million times better than most of the dross served up today. He could knock up a decent tune as well - there are stone cold classics on this - and his voice isn't shot. Half a star docked for the occasional filler track.
5
Dec 21 2022
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Mama Said Knock You Out
LL Cool J
p649. 2 stars.
Hip-hop/rap, so the wrong audience. Seems well done of its kind though.
2
Dec 22 2022
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The ArchAndroid
Janelle MonĂĄe
p929. 2010. 2.5 stars.
Well done and definitely varied, but distinctly average. Very little of it stands out. Would not listen to it again.
2
Dec 23 2022
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Strangeways, Here We Come
The Smiths
p573. 1987. 3 stars
One of my musical blind spots. I don't like The Smiths, mostly because of Morrissey's whining voice, its like a mosquito on Valium. Set against that, this is actually OK - unlike most of their other albums, the songs don't all sound the same. Still a blind spot though.
3
Jan 09 2023
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A Christmas Gift For You From Phil Spector
Various Artists
p62. 1963. 5 stars.
Ah c'mon, you know every track on this. Listening to this is like catching up with a favourite family member or friend each year. And it's brilliantly done, the sound of a pre-Beatles, pre-JFK assassination American Christmas captured in one perfect moment. There isn't a weak track on this.
As for this being randomly generated... this turned up on my list on 23rd Dec. Co-incidence? I think not :)
5
Jan 10 2023
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I Never Loved a Man the Way I Love You
Aretha Franklin
p129. 5 stars.
One of the great voices on absolutely top form, with the songs and production to match it. There is not a weak track on this.
5
Jan 11 2023
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Elephant Mountain
The Youngbloods
p182. 1969. 3 stars.
Jazz influenced CSN&Y/Love clones. Very much a mixed bag - a couple of tracks are over 6 minutes long, which sets the pointless late 60's noodling alarms off, and a couple are less than a minute, so it's a bit pointless having them on. Bit of shame, because when it's good it's not bad at all.
3
Jan 12 2023
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The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars
David Bowie
p280. 1972. 5 stars.
Perfect.
5
Jan 13 2023
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Here Are the Sonics
The Sonics
p74. 1965. 2 stars.
Background noise for drunken 60s frat parties. This is an average garage band offering covers and a handful of barely adequate originals. Bonus point for putting the effort in though. Why is this on the list?
2
Jan 16 2023
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Tubular Bells
Mike Oldfield
p299. 1973. 5 stars.
Quality English musical eccentricity. I am not a fan of 70s prog-rock or pointless, meandering noodling with instruments - but this is good. What sets it well above the dross is the sheer variety of music themes and styles that Mike Oldfield manages to blend together, and none of them outstay their welcome before moving on the next one. Half a point deducted for the caveman grunts on side 2, but a bonus half a point for Vivian Stanshall.
5
Jan 17 2023
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Low
David Bowie
p380. 1977. 4 stars.
This is a strange one. First side is classic Bowie, great songs and delivery, with Tony Visconti on top form. The second side is a suite of electronic ambient tracks, this time with Brian Eno on top form. Not easily accessible but repays repeated listening.
4
Jan 18 2023
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Aqualung
Jethro Tull
p221. 1971. 2 stars
Suspect early 70's prog-folk rock. With a flute. FFS. This has not aged well - you can practically smell the stale patchouli and incense sticks - and it suffers from the usual 70s musical wankage. Pass.
"Never trust a hippy" - John Lyndon
2
Jan 19 2023
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Fred Neil
Fred Neil
p86. 1966. 3 stars.
Classy 60s singer/songwriter. Great voice and production. There is a direct line from this to Tim Buckley and "Grace". The only thing missing are more standout songs. Good stuff.
3
Jan 20 2023
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Clandestino
Manu Chao
p822. 1998. 2 stars.
Eclectic collection of songs, ideally suited to sun and warmer climes. Unfortunately it is January in Stoke and it's currently -1. Perfectly acceptable fare, but not sure it's essential listening.
2
Jan 23 2023
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The Downward Spiral
Nine Inch Nails
p748. 1994. 2 stars.
Unpleasantly, shouty noise with the occasional whimpering. There is not much to like here. Bonus point for Hurt. Oh, and Johnny Cash's cover is the definitive version, Trent.
2
Jan 24 2023
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25
Adele
Not in my edition of the book! 2015. 3 stars
No doubting that she can write a tune and has got a good voice but... I don't think she's moved on from her earlier (and better albums). This goes on a bit, and on a lot of the songs she sounds like a pub singer. It's perfectly acceptable fare, but it's not essential. If you're going to have one Adele album, listen to 21.
3
Jan 25 2023
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Rings Around The World
Super Furry Animals
p882. 2001. 2 stars.
Overly long pretentious tosh. Do we really need another album of eccentric noodling with the occasional decent song? No. Nothing to see here, move on.
2
Jan 31 2023
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Suicide
Suicide
p388. 1977. 2 stars.
The Doors meet Nick Cave, but without any talent or songs. OK for maybe two tracks, which is all you need. Not for me. Bonus point for the screaming.
2
Feb 01 2023
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Safe As Milk
Captain Beefheart & His Magic Band
p104. 1967. 3.5 stars.
60s psychedelic blues/rock smorgasborg. Great vocals. Ry Cooder on top form. Still sounds great now. All that is missing are some standout tunes. Points deducted for filler and outstaying its welcome - nobody needs an album with several tracks >6 mins.
3
Feb 02 2023
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Close To You
Carpenters
p199. 1970. 3 stars.
Yes, it's middle of the road. Yes, it's the background music to a thousand 70s cheese and wine parties. Yes, you can practically smell the prawn cocktail starters and black forest gateaux. Yes, it can be bland and frequently strays into Broadway show tune styling. And yet, and yet... it's one of THE great voices mostly set against arrangements that allow it to shine. There are at least two modern standards here (We've Only Just Begun, Close To You) which is more than most bands manage in a career. When it's good, its very good indeed.
3
Feb 03 2023
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Madman Across The Water
Elton John
p236. 1971.
Elton before he started strangling his vowels. Great voice, great songs, great production. Still sounds fresh today. Point deducted for some tracks straying to the usual early 70s 5 minutes+ wankage.
4
Feb 06 2023
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My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy
Kanye West
p928. 2010. 3.5 stars
Hip-hop/rap, so wrong audience, and comes with the usual foul language and misogynistic "lyrics" typical of the genre. Having said that, musically there is a LOT to like here - it's accessible, great hooks and faultless production. There's enough here to make me want to listen to his other albums, but I don't listen to those who admire Hitler.
"Bitch I'm a monster no good blood sucker/Fat muthaf-cker now look who's in trouble"
3
Feb 09 2023
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21
Adele
Not in my edition of the book! 2011. 5 stars.
Adele before she became a parody of herself. Cracking voice, and the albums is packed with great tunes. What's not to like?
5
Feb 10 2023
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Honky Tonk Heroes
Waylon Jennings
p301. 1973. 2 stars
Country, so wrong audience. It's OK, but its not great. On the plus side, it doesn't outstay its welcome.
2
Feb 13 2023
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xx
The xx
p926. 2009. 2 stars.
Stripped down ambient background music for hipsters. Perfectly acceptable, but utterly forgettable.
2
Feb 16 2023
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Highway 61 Revisited
Bob Dylan
p81. 1965. 3 stars
On the list for historical significance. It's difficult to state just how important and influential this was in the day - you've got the jump from folk to rock, the extended 5+ minutes tracks, and setting the bar for lyrical standards for everyone else. Having said that, it hasn't aged well - there is a lot of filler alongside the classics, and most of the tracks outstay their welcome.
3
Feb 20 2023
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Very
Pet Shop Boys
p714. 1993. 2 stars
Well produced but instantly forgettable pop fluff. It speaks volumes that the biggest hit on this is a cover. Not essential listening.
2
Feb 21 2023
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There's A Riot Goin' On
Sly & The Family Stone
p223. 1971. 3.5 stars
Classy 70s funk, the source of everything Prince went on to become. Close your eyes and you can see the flares and platform shoes. Points deducted for filler.
3
Feb 22 2023
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Kid A
Radiohead
p860. 2000. 3 stars.
Strays dangerously into ambient prog/rock wankage. Saved by a couple of good tunes and Thom Yorke's voice. Not their best work.
3
Feb 23 2023
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Hot Fuss
The Killers
Listed as p916 in my edition of the book but! p916 has K.I.A by Mila! 2004. 3 stars.
Oddly soulless pop-rock. Plenty of cracking tunes, and I feel I should like it more than I do, but Brandon Flowers voice puts me off.
"I've got soul but I'm not a soldier". Yeah, and I've got ham, but I'm not a hamster.
3
Feb 24 2023
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Walking Wounded
Everything But The Girl
p787. 1996. 4 stars
Classy ambient/electro pop with a great voice. 1 point deducted for some (most) of the tracks sounding the same.
4
Feb 27 2023
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Heartattack And Vine
Tom Waits
p467. 1980. 5 stars
A voice like Marmite, you either love it or hate it. I happen to love it. Great songs, great lyrics, great production, and he keeps it short and on point. What's not to like?
5
Feb 28 2023
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Power In Numbers
Jurassic 5
p883. 2002. 2 stars.
Hip-hop/rap, so wrong audience. Well done of its type but no redeeming features.
2
Mar 01 2023
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Sheer Heart Attack
Queen
p328. 1974. 3 stars.
Classy but arch early 70s rock. Underneath the shiny chrome production there is a decent rock band trying to get out. A couple of stand out tunes, but too much filler to repay repeated listens. Brian May seems like quite a good guitarist.
3
Mar 07 2023
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Ill Communication
Beastie Boys
p730. 1994. 2 stars.
White frat-boy rap that hasn't aged well. Not my thing and goes on far too long for what it is, but well done of its kind and enough variety on it to make it worth listening to once.
2
Mar 08 2023
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Let It Be
The Replacements
p522. 1984. 2 stars.
Distinctly average US band that can't make their minds up on whether they want to be The Clash or The Jam, but unfortunately lack the talent to be either. Not essential listening.
2
Mar 09 2023
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MedĂșlla
Björk
2004. Not in my edition of the book! 4 stars
Icelandic Kate Bush, all the weirdness without the tunes. Oddly appealing to listen to, and she has got a good voice. Not for everyone, but well worth a listen.
4
Mar 10 2023
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Vauxhall And I
Morrissey
p731. 1994. 3 stars.
Well, there are some good tunes on this, and the production is excellent. Set against that are Morrissey's nasal drone of a voice, lyrics that frequently stray into self pity, and a neo-fascist attitude. Not much to like here.
3
Apr 04 2023
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Something Else By The Kinks
The Kinks
p120. 1967. 4 stars
A near perfect snapshot of mid 60s Brit rock/pop, and the reason why Ray Davies is up there with Lennon/McCartney, Dylan and Townsend. Packed with knowing and slightly fey pop gems, and lyrically it's as sharp as a stiletto. One point docked for the 60s production which sets it firmly of its time.
4
Apr 05 2023
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Chemtrails Over The Country Club
Lana Del Rey
2021. Not in my edition of the book! 4 stars.
Quality songs laced with longing and melancholy, lyrics on point and a gorgeous voice. The only thing missing are standout tunes. Not her best album, but worth a listen.
4
Apr 06 2023
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Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not
Arctic Monkeys
p913. 2006. 2 stars.
Loud, obnoxious, shouty, average pub band that got lucky. Alex Turner's voice grates like chalk on a board - every time he opens his mouth I wanted to smack him to make him shut it. Bonus star for When The Sun Goes Down.
2
Apr 07 2023
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Oedipus Schmoedipus
Barry Adamson
p784. 1996. 3 stars.
Meandering, vaguely subversive, jazz-based instrumentals. Well done of its kind, but hardly essential.
3
Apr 10 2023
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The Clash
The Clash
p378. 1977. 3.5 stars.
Shouty garage band with some decent tunes that got lucky - right time, right place. Incredibly influential at the time, but hasn't aged well and there is a lot of filler.
3
Apr 11 2023
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Exile On Main Street
The Rolling Stones
p284. 1972. 2 stars.
Further evidence that the Stones are a great singles band and an average album band. There are no standout songs, lots of filler, and it sounds like it was mixed in a neglected aquarium.
2
Apr 12 2023
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Can't Buy A Thrill
Steely Dan
p257. 1972. 4 stars.
The only Steely Dan album you need. Standout tunes and quality musicianship, and it only occasionally strays into the jazz/rock wankage that they eventually succumbed to. All that is missing is a sense of excitement.
4
Apr 13 2023
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Mott
Mott The Hoople
p298. 1973. 4 stars.
Classy Brit glam rock that perfectly captures early 70s England. Camp, sharp and sardonic lyrics, some absolute pop gems, and it doesn't outstay its welcome.
4
Apr 14 2023
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Marquee Moon
Television
p388. 1977. 3.5 stars.
Strange but oddly attractive early alt rock effort. Came cold to this and was surprised how good it is. Points deducted for strained vocals and musical wankage - too many tracks >5 mins, and no-one needs a 10 minute+ track.
3
Apr 17 2023
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Songs In The Key Of Life
Stevie Wonder
p372. 1976. 3 stars.
Further evidence that Stevie Wonder makes great singles and so-so albums. This is far too long, falls into the trap of excessive 70s wankage on several tracks, and the production hasn't aged well. Don't get me wrong, there are some classics here, but they do show up the rest of the tracks as the filler that they are - a lot of this is simply bland. A bit of judicious editing and this could have been a 5 star single album.
3
May 10 2023
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The Stone Roses
The Stone Roses
p616. 1989. 4 stars.
Manc based Brit pop that taps into 60s jangly guitars and psychedelia. Some classics in here, and fabulous bass playing, but a point deducted for filler, excessively long tracks and the unnecessary wankage that is Don't Stop.
4
May 11 2023
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...And Justice For All
Metallica
p596. 1988. 1 star.
The unwanted hatefuck children of Van Halen and Motorhead (Van Halen on the distaff side). Loud, tedious and totally redundant. No-one needs an album of heavy metal with each track over 5 minutes long. Remember 70s prog rock and the wankage associated with it? This is the 80s heavy metal equivalent. Dreadful, shouty noise. One star for the guitar work.
1
May 18 2023
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Superunknown
Soundgarden
p733. 1994. 1.5 stars.
Tedious Nirvana clones, but without the songs or the talent. Adequately done, but redundant and with no memorable songs, and far too long. WTF is this doing on the list?
2
May 19 2023
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3 Feet High and Rising
De La Soul
p630. 1989. 2.5 stars
Hip-hop/rap, so wrong audience. Well done of its kind though, and with a sense of humour. Well chosen samples, but unlikely to listen again.
2
May 25 2023
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Cosmo's Factory
Creedence Clearwater Revival
p194. 1970. 3 stars.
Definitive evidence that Creedence were a great singles band and made so-so albums. There are classics on here, all released as singles - but there is a LOT of filler, mostly redundant covers of Before You Accuse Me, Ooby Dooby, My Baby Left Me and the abomination that is I Heard It Through The Grapevine. Don't get me wrong, when this is good it's excellent, but when you have a songwriter as good as John Fogerty on top form there really is no excuse for this amount of lazy filler.
3
May 29 2023
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C'est Chic
CHIC
p419. 1978. 3 stars.
The sound of a thousand late 1970s nightclubs. Dated, but still fabulous - if you can't dance to this you need an undertaker. As with all disco albums, out stays its welcome after 15 mins when played outside its native habitat.
3
May 30 2023
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Youth And Young Manhood
Kings of Leon
Not in my edition of the book! 2003. 3.5 stars.
Well done but distinctly average rock with a couple of good tunes. Nothing outstanding here.
3
May 31 2023
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Another Music In A Different Kitchen
Buzzcocks
p411. 1978. 3 stars.
The inspiration for a thousand English kids to pick up a guitar in the late 70s, so points for that. Set against that are the dreadful nasal whine of Pete Shelley's voice and the lack of standout tunes. Bonus point for I Don't Mind.
3
Jun 06 2023
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School's Out
Alice Cooper
p278. 1972. 4.5 stars.
Class early 70s glam rock with a sense of humour, and which doesn't outstay its welcome. Suitably weird - big band jazz, opera and outstanding rockers - and it still sounds fresh today.
4
Jun 07 2023
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Let's Stay Together
Al Green
p283. 1972. 4 stars
Prime slice of early 70s soul, with one of the great voices on absolute top form. Point deducted for dated production.
4
Jun 08 2023
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The Gershwin Songbook
Ella Fitzgerald
p41. 1959. 5 stars.
One of THE great voices on absolute top form, with one of THE great arrangers, working together on one of THE great songwriters. What's not to like? Pure heaven.
5
Jun 09 2023
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Pet Sounds
The Beach Boys
p85. 1966. 5 stars.
The moment 60s pop music grew up, crystalised in 36 perfect minutes.
"This is the album of all time. What the hell are we (The Beatles) going to do?" - Paul McCartney after listening to Pet Sounds, 1966
5
Jun 12 2023
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The Genius Of Ray Charles
Ray Charles
p41. 1959. 3 stars.
A collection of mostly redundant covers, saved only by THAT voice and the arrangements. Not his best work - see 'What'd I Say' for that.
3
Jun 13 2023
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Africa Brasil
Jorge Ben Jor
p362. 1976. 2.5 stars
Came cold to this, didn't dislike it but wasn't blown away by it either. Unlikely to listen to it again.
2
Jun 14 2023
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Dust
Screaming Trees
p773, 1996. 2.5 stars
Average grunge band with some OK tunes. Well done of its kind, but nothing special and instantly forgettable.
2
Jun 15 2023
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They Were Wrong, So We Drowned
Liars
Not in my edition of the book! 2004. 1 star.
Pretentious, irritating, pointless noise. WTF is this shit doing on this list, and who selected it?
1
Jun 16 2023
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Dirt
Alice In Chains
p699. 1992. 4 stars.
Nirvana clones with some decent tunes. Came cold to this and was pleasantly surprised. On the replay list.
4
Jun 19 2023
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The Fat Of The Land
The Prodigy
p806. 1997. 2.5 stars
So, someone learnt how to programme a drum machine. This hasn't dated well - 10 seconds of it and you are immediately in the late 90s - and twenty years on it sounds tedious and repetitive. Perhaps you had to be there at the time to enjoy it.
2
Jun 22 2023
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Bongo Rock
Incredible Bongo Band
p287. 1973. 1 star.
Cheesy 70s album of mostly shit covers. This is what they play during the intervals between acts in working man's clubs in Hell.
1
Jun 23 2023
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Done By The Forces Of Nature
Jungle Brothers
p631. 1989. 2 stars.
Hip-hop/rap, so wrong audience. Listened to it once, don't remember anything about it.
2
Jun 26 2023
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Rumours
Fleetwood Mac
p384. 1977. 5 stars.
THE sound of late 70s white AOR in just under 39 perfect minutes, and it still sounds fresh today. There is not a weak track on this.
5
Jun 27 2023
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Neon Bible
Arcade Fire
Not in my edition of the book! 2007. 3 stars.
Came cold to this. Interesting, some good tunes in there. Points deducted for overly dramatic vocals and production which gets tiring reallll soon.
3
Jul 04 2023
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Metallica
Metallica
p676. 1991. 1.5 stars.
Lumpy, plodding Spinal Tap for the 90s, but with an irony bypass. Definitive proof that one classic song does not make an essential album. Bonus point for Enter Sandman.
2
Jul 05 2023
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Technique
New Order
p609. 1989. 1.5 stars.
Tedious electro disco, with no memorable tunes. WTF is this doing on this list?
2
Jul 06 2023
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Cafe Bleu
The Style Council
p523. 1984. 2 stars.
Self indulgent mismatch of styles and ideas - faux jazz, angry 80s Brit pop, and the abomination of failed white rap that is The Gospel. Don't get me wrong, there are a couple of Weller classics, but there are is far too much fat to repay repeated listens.
2
Jul 07 2023
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Superfuzz Bigmuff
Mudhoney
p589. 1988, 2.5 stars.
Adequately done prototype Nirvana. Didn't sell well at the time, hasn't improved with age.
2
Jul 24 2023
View Album
The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill
Lauryn Hill
p831. 1998. 2.5 stars.
Drum machine and hip-hop, so wrong audience, and it goes on for far too long without any standout songs. Set against that, she's got a great voice. Unlikely to listen to this again though.
2
Jul 25 2023
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Modern Sounds in Country and Western Music
Ray Charles
p54. 1962. 3 stars.
This really shouldn't work but... somehow it does. Points docked for the occasional saccharine over production and for being overly maudlin.
3
Jul 26 2023
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Crossing the Red Sea With the Adverts
The Adverts
p404. 1978. 2.5 stars
Punk, well done of its kind, sharp lyrics but the tracks tend to blur into the same loud noise. Very much of its time. Unlikely to listen to it again.
2
Jul 27 2023
View Album
Jagged Little Pill
Alanis Morissette
p1995. p772. 4.5 stars.
The source of every neurotic female singer/songwriter since 1995. Sharp lyrics and cracking tunes. Half a point docked for the occasional grating harshness of her voice.
4
Jul 28 2023
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Now I Got Worry
The Jon Spencer Blues Explosion
p791. 1996. 1 star.
As rough as a bear's arse.
1
Jul 31 2023
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Imagine
John Lennon
p232. 1971. 3 stars.
Further evidence the lack of quality control post-Beatles. On the plus side, there are some stone cold classics. On the downside, it suffers from early 70s wankage (How Do You Sleep, I Don't Want To Be A Soldier), and the production makes most of the songs sound as if they're coated in syrup. This hasn't aged well, a bit like John. Sorry mate.
3
Aug 07 2023
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The Rolling Stones
The Rolling Stones
p72. 1964. 2.5 stars.
Adequately done Brit 60s R&B, let down by the fact it's mostly covers, and none of them are an improvement on the originals. Probably on the list because of what they became, rather than the quality of this album.
2
Aug 08 2023
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Get Behind Me Satan
The White Stripes
Not in my edition of the book! 2005. 3.5 stars.
Perfectly acceptable stripped down millennium rock. Not their best work - see The White Stripes or Elephant for that - but still good. 4 stars if you like their sound, 3 stars if you don't.
3
Aug 09 2023
View Album
Jazz Samba
Stan Getz
p57. 1962. 2.5 stars.
Jazz/samba crossover, so wrong audience. Badly dated, close your eyes and you can smell the cigarette smoke and pineapple and cheese on sticks from a million pre-Beatles cocktail parties. Perfectly acceptable, just not my thing.
"Nice" - The Fast Show
2
Aug 10 2023
View Album
Eli And The Thirteenth Confession
Laura Nyro
p137. 1968. 2 stars.
Not sure what to make of this. She's got a decent voice, but it's set to "belt it out as loud as I can mode" more often than not. There are no standout tracks, and the 60s production veers too close to showtunes. Carole King did this type of thing far better.
2
Aug 11 2023
View Album
Paul's Boutique
Beastie Boys
p613. 1989. 3 stars.
White boy hip/hop/rap, so wrong audience. Having said that... actually quite enjoyed it. Not sure I'd revisit though.
3
Aug 14 2023
View Album
The Chronic
Dr. Dre
p698. 1992. 1 star.
Shit-hop. Foul mouthed, violent, macho posturing, misogynistic and badly dated rubbish. Sample lyrics: fuck, hoe, fuck y'all, motherfucker, nigga, suck my dick, bitch. Repeat per track.
1
Aug 15 2023
View Album
Stankonia
OutKast
p870, 2000. 1.5 stars.
Rap, so the wrong audience. The usual tedious rants about motherfuckers, banana niggas, gangsta shit, blowjobs, blunts, hoes, punk pussy ass bitches and pussy wreckers. Bonus half star for Ms.Jackson, but otherwise this got boring reallll soon.
1
Aug 16 2023
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Fear and Whiskey
Mekons
p534. 1985. 1.5 stars.
Poor man's Pogues, out of tune, no decent songs and with a worse voice than Shane MacGowan. Bonus star for keeping it short.
1
Aug 17 2023
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KIWANUKA
Michael Kiwanuka
Not in my edition of the book! 2019. 3 stars.
Well done indie soul-rock, but lacking standout songs. Not sure it is essential listening.
3
Aug 18 2023
View Album
2112
Rush
p362. 1976. 2 stars.
The epitome of 70s prog-rock wankage. Nobody needs a 20 minute+ opening track. And Geddy Lee sounds like his testicles have yet to drop. Bonus point for the musicianship, even if it is devoid of emotion.
2
Aug 21 2023
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Rage Against The Machine
Rage Against The Machine
p685. 1992. 2.5 stars
Loud and angry rock/rap fusion. When they discover how to write a tune they'll be quite good. Well done, but a bit too shouty for my tastes.
2
Aug 22 2023
View Album
Dummy
Portishead
p726. 1994. 4.5 stars.
Strange, surreal and bitter-sweet aural experience, like the soundtrack from a lost David Lynch adaption of Alice in Wonderland. Just when you think it's getting too pretentious it comes up like a stone cold classic like Sour Times or Glory box. And Beth Gibbon's voice is a thing of beauty.
4
Aug 23 2023
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American IV: The Man Comes Around
Johnny Cash
Not in my edition of the book! 2002. 3 stars
Very much a mixed bag of covers and a handful of originals. The trick with covers is to add something to the original and ideally make yours the definitive version, and that doesn't happen for a lot of the songs here. However - when it does, such as on Hurt - then the results are fantastic. Worth the entry fee just for a Cash original, "The Man Comes Around".
3
Aug 24 2023
View Album
Basket of Light
Pentangle
p166. 1969. 3 stars.
Perfectly acceptable and slightly twee 60s English folk, close your eyes and you can almost smell the patchouli oil and incense. Bonus points for quality musicianship and Jacqui McShee's ethereal voice. And as with most 60s albums, it doesn't outstay its welcome.
3
Aug 25 2023
View Album
Next
The Sensational Alex Harvey Band
p307. 1973. 2 stars
Average 70s Brit-rock album from an average Brit rock band with a frontman channelling his inner Tim Curry. They weren't really successful at the time, and this is perfect evidence of why - no real standout tunes, and the usual 70's rock wankage with 7+ minute songs. I suspect this is on the list because of memories of what a good live act they were.
2
Aug 28 2023
View Album
The World is a Ghetto
War
p282. 1972. 2 stars.
Not my thing. No standout songs, and no-one needs multiple meandering 8+ minute tracks.
2
Aug 29 2023
View Album
Talking Heads 77
Talking Heads
p382. 1977. 3.5 stars
Musically there's lots to like here - new wave meets dance - but I can't be doing with David Byrne's voice, he sounds like he has a hernia. On the plus side, its short. Bonus point for Psycho Killer.
3
Aug 30 2023
View Album
Born To Be With You
Dion
p344. 1975. 2 stars.
Springsteen on Prozac. On the plus side, it's short and it's in tune.
2
Aug 31 2023
View Album
Fleet Foxes
Fleet Foxes
p920. 2008. 4 stars.
CSN/John Phillips hybrid for the new millennium, which isn't a bad thing. Missing standout tunes but still good. On the replay list.
4
Sep 18 2023
View Album
Eternally Yours
The Saints
p418. 1978. 2.5 stars
Well done Aussie punk, with some decent tunes and added horns. Probably fantastic at the time, but sounds dated now. Not on the replay list.
2
Sep 20 2023
View Album
The Velvet Underground & Nico
The Velvet Underground
p114. 1967. 3 stars.
The perfect response to the Summer of Love, and very much a mixed bag. There are some stone cold classics on this (Venus In Furs, I'm Waiting For The Man) and it was hugely influential on late 70s punk/new wave. Set against that is a lot of filler - European Son is just noise - and Nico can't sing. Still worth a listen after 50+ years/
3
Sep 21 2023
View Album
Frank
Amy Winehouse
Not in my edition of the book! 2003. 4 stars.
One of the best debut albums ever made, and a perfect commentary on the early Millennium ladette culture. Great tunes, sharp lyrics, and THAT voice. What's not to like?
4
Sep 27 2023
View Album
Bizarre Ride II The Pharcyde
The Pharcyde
p691. 1992. 1 star
Another shit hip-hop/rap album. Wannabe Beastie Boys but without any talent.
1
Sep 28 2023
View Album
War
U2
p541. 1983. 3 stars.
U2 before they became flabby and self righteous. 1 point docked for Bono's near-hysterical vocals.
3
Sep 29 2023
View Album
Fresh Fruit for Rotting Vegetables
Dead Kennedys
p454. 1980. 3.5 stars.
You have to be in the right mood for this, but if you are, it's the only other punk album you need.
3
Oct 02 2023
View Album
Young Americans
David Bowie
p342. 1975. 2 stars
Just because it's Bowie doesn't mean it's good. Great production and vocally he's on point, but there is a lot of filler, very few standout songs, and it suffers from the usual mid-70's excessive track lengths. In addition, the cover of Across The Universe is an abomination.
"Ain't there one damn song that can make me break down and cry". Not on this album.
2
Oct 03 2023
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Tapestry
Carole King
p227. 1971. 4.5 stars,
THE template for every female singer-songwriter that came after. Half a point deducted for dated production, .but those songs still sound great 50 years on.
5
Oct 04 2023
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Fever Ray
Fever Ray
Not in my edition of the book! 2009. 3 stars.
Bjork clone, which is either a good or bad thing depending on your tastes. Bonus point for opening with the theme song from "Vikings".
3
Oct 06 2023
View Album
You Are The Quarry
Morrissey
Not in my edition of the book. 2004. 3 stars.
I was quite prepared to dislike this - I don't care for Morrissey's singing or his views - but its actually quite good. Decent tunes and some sharp lyrics, offset by the usual self pitying/self-loathing you expect from the miserable Mancunian racist.
3
Oct 09 2023
View Album
Reggatta De Blanc
The Police
p428. 1979. 4.5 stars
Quality Brit New Wave. Definitive proof that Sting can knock out a tune with the best of them, and that Stewart Copeland was a surprisingly decent songwriter. Half a point deducted for Sting's annoying cod-Caribbean vocals.
5
Oct 10 2023
View Album
If You Can Believe Your Eyes & Ears
The Mamas & The Papas
p90. 1966. 3.5 stars.
Classy folk-rock harmonies that stray dangerously into middle of the road easy listening. When it's good, its excellent - California Dreaming is a classic - but a lot of the time it's just bland.
3
Oct 11 2023
View Album
Night Life
Ray Price
p58. 1962. 2 stars.
Old time country and western, marinated in cigarette smoke and the bottom of a glass. OK for a couple of tracks and then gets depressing.
2
Oct 12 2023
View Album
The Marshall Mathers LP
Eminem
p859. 2000. 4 stars.
Foul mouthed white boy rap which usually would be an immediate nope, but this is good. At its best it's articulate, incisive, funny, and has some great riffs. Point deducted for usual racist, sexist and homophobic lyrics that come with the genre.
4
Oct 24 2023
View Album
The Sensual World
Kate Bush
p620. 1989. 4.5 stars.
Brilliant all rounder shows how it should be done - there are more ideas and invention here than most artists manage in an entire career. And This Woman's Work is possibly the best song she's ever written. Half a point docked for getting a little bit saggy around the rear, but its still fabulous. A bit like Kate :)
5
Oct 25 2023
View Album
The Hangman's Beautiful Daughter
The Incredible String Band
p132. 1968. 1 star.
60s folk addled by too many magic mushrooms. Meandering, tuneless songs, pretentious lyrics, and a vocalist singing flatter than a witch's tit. And it has a random sitar and a kazoo. This is an absolute clusterfuck of an album. Avoid.
"Never trust a hippy" - John Lyndon
1
Oct 26 2023
View Album
Live Through This
Hole
p740. 1994. 3 stars
Well done angry she-grunge, some sharp and hard delivery. Missing standout tunes though.
3
Oct 27 2023
View Album
Faust IV
Faust
p297. 1973. 1 star.
A double album of tedious hippy German electronica with +10 minute tracks? Fuck no.
1
Nov 08 2023
View Album
(Pronounced 'Leh-'Nérd 'Skin-'Nérd)
Lynyrd Skynyrd
p286. 1973. 2.5 stars.
Well done Southern state rock, but suffering from the usual early 70s wankage. No-one needs 9+ minute tracks, not even Freebird. They seem like quite good guitarists though.
2
Nov 09 2023
View Album
Maxwell's Urban Hang Suite
Maxwell
p785. 1996. 2 stars
Bland background music for hipster bars with no standout tunes. I hate this sanitised, washed out "R&B" with a loathing that goes beyond all understanding. Bonus point for classy production.
2
Nov 10 2023
View Album
The Last Broadcast
Doves
Not in my edition of the book! 2002. 2 stars.
Average millennial Britpop with no redeeming features. Played it once, can't remember any songs from it.
2
Nov 13 2023
View Album
Station To Station
David Bowie
p356. 1976. 4.5 stars
Schizophrenic blend of electronica, white boy soul and hard rock with some quality tunes thrown in. Shouldn't work, but somehow it does. Point deducted for the usual 70s wankage - no-one needs a Bowie track that is 10+ minutes long - but half a point bonus for the best ever cover of Wild Is The Wind.
4
Nov 14 2023
View Album
Bad
Michael Jackson
p580. 1987. 3 stars
Well, there's no denying he could knock out a tune - this is packed with hits - and Man In The Mirror is possibly the best thing he did. Vocally he's on top form, but set against that is the dated production and an awful lot of filler. And I can't shake off the embarrassment of listening to music made by a child molester.
3
Nov 15 2023
View Album
Close To The Edge
Yes
p263. 1972. 1 star.
The epitome of 70s prog rock wankage. Pretentious, tedious musical noodling, technically proficient but with all the soul of a ring wraith of Mordor. An 18 minute opening track? Fuck no.
1
Nov 16 2023
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Lost Souls
Doves
p856. 2000. 3.5 stars
Decent enough background music, with no standout tunes. Worth a replay though.
3
Nov 17 2023
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Play
Moby
p847. 1999. 4 stars.
Immediately accessible sampling album, and the background music to a million adverts. Point deducted for loss of freshness, but that's what you get for licensing your music to anyone who thinks it would be cool as the soundtrack for their car or perfume ad.
4
Nov 22 2023
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Hounds Of Love
Kate Bush
p538. 1985. 5 stars.
Her best album. Flawless.
5
Nov 23 2023
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Make Yourself
Incubus
p842, 1999. 3 stars.
Well done but distinctly average 90s metal. Desperately want to be Nirvana but lack the talent.
3
Nov 24 2023
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Spy Vs. Spy: The Music Of Ornette Coleman
John Zorn
p615. 1989. 1 star
Intolerable and unremittingly violent jazz improvisation. My ears are bleeding.
1
Nov 27 2023
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Odessey And Oracle
The Zombies
p153. 1968. 4 stars
Quality 60s Brit pop that hits the sweet spot between The Beatles and The Beach Boys. Gorgeous arrangements, quality songs, and Colin Blunstone has a wonderful voice. All that is missing is a sense of excitement.
4
Nov 28 2023
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Physical Graffiti
Led Zeppelin
p339. 1975. 2 stars.
Led Zep at their flabbiest. A double album of mostly average songs, with the decent ones victim to the usual mid-70s +5 minute rock wankage of the time. A bit of judicious editing and this could have a half decent single album.
2
Dec 04 2023
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Os Mutantes
Os Mutantes
p135. 1968. 2 stars.
Well, that was weird, and not in a good way.
2
Dec 05 2023
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Harvest
Neil Young
p258. 1972. 5 stars.
Quality early 70s singer/songwriter on top form. Not a weak track on this. Short, sweet and on point.
5
Dec 06 2023
View Album
Diamond Life
Sade
p518. 1984. 2 stars.
Bland background faux jazz/soul for 80s cocktail bars. Shiny production can't compensate for the mostly average songs, or the complete lack of emotion or passion in any of them. Most of the time Sade sounds like she is either bored or on Prozac. Hard to imagine that this was the soundtrack to a thousand Yuppie seductions.
2
Dec 07 2023
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Automatic For The People
R.E.M.
p690. 1992. 5 stars.
Perfect. And Nightswimming is possibly the greatest song ever written.
5
Dec 08 2023
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Electric Prunes
The Electric Prunes
p124. 1967. 2.5 stars
Well done but average 60s rock pop. One classic single does not make for essential listening before you die.
2
Dec 11 2023
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Document
R.E.M.
p566. 1987. 3.5 stars.
Quality jangly 80s guitar with some great songs and quite a bit of filler. Not their best work - see Automatic For The People for that - but still good.
3
Dec 12 2023
View Album
GREY Area
Little Simz
Not in my edition of the book! 2019. 2 stars.
Average and occasionally foul mouthed (c)rap. Bonus point for the couple of decent tunes on it like Selfish and Venom. Probably only on the list because she's black, female and British. Not essential listening.
2
Dec 13 2023
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Remedy
Basement Jaxx
p851. 1999. 1.5 stars
Average electronic dance album with zero redeeming features. Background music for every sticky carpeted backstreet student club. Bonus point for Red Alert.
1
Dec 14 2023
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Headquarters
The Monkees
p107. 1967. 2.5 stars
Average 60s pop album from an average 60s pop group. A couple of standout tunes, but there is a lot of filler. On the plus side, it is short.
2
Dec 15 2023
View Album
Me Against The World
2Pac
p758. 1995. 1.5 stars.
Starts off with the usual tedious, toxic masculinity driven, foul mouthed, misogynistic (c)rap, changes to decent lyrics with some serious points to make before returning to type on "Fuck The World" and "Death Around The Corner". In addition a lot of the tracks sound the same and just bleed into each other. There are better ways to spend 1 hour and 5 minutes of your life than listening to this.
1
Dec 18 2023
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Live At The Star Club, Hamburg
Jerry Lee Lewis
p74. 1964. 5 stars.
I'm not a fan of live albums, but this is terrifyingly good - early 60s raw musical energy, captured into a perfect 37 mins (YouTube version).
5
Dec 19 2023
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Amnesiac
Radiohead
Not in my edition of the book. 2001. 3 stars.
Well done, but lacking standout tracks and strays dangerously into prog rock wankage. Not their best work by any means - who selected this for the 1001 albums list?
3
Dec 20 2023
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Suzanne Vega
Suzanne Vega
p535. 1985. 2 stars.
Average 80s singer-songwriter with teenage angst lyrics, shiny production and quality guitar work. One standout track, but otherwise it's nothing exceptional - too many tracks sound the same, and it hasn't dated well. On the plus side it's short.
2
Dec 21 2023
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Tanto Tempo
Bebel Gilberto
p858. 2000. 2 stars.
Brazilian Sade for the new millennium. Bland background music for Ibiza hipster bars.
2
Dec 22 2023
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Olympia 64
Jacques Brel
p68. 1964. 2 stars.
Well done of its type, but definitely not my thing.
2
Dec 25 2023
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Franz Ferdinand
Franz Ferdinand
Not in my edition of the book! 2004. 5 stars.
Quality, edgy Brit indie pop. Cracking tunes, sharp lyrics - what's not to like?
5
Jan 04 2024
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The Predator
Ice Cube
p697. 1992. 1 star.
The usual foul mouthed tedious (c)rap. Sample lyrics: fuck, nigga, motherfucker, shit, bitch, whore. No thanks.
1
Jan 05 2024
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3 Years, 5 Months And 2 Days In The Life Of...
Arrested Development
p680. 1992. 1.5 stars.
Better than the average foul-mouthed (c)rap/hip-hop of the time. Well done of its kind but still not my thing at all.
1
Jan 08 2024
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Bookends
Simon & Garfunkel
p147. 1968. 4 stars.
Quality 60s folk-pop, infused with melancholy and only let down by the amount of filler on it. When it's good it's very good indeed, and Paul Simon is an underrated guitarist.
4
Jan 09 2024
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Catch A Fire
Bob Marley & The Wailers
p290. 1973. 3 stars.
Well done of its kind and some decent tunes, but reggae just leaves me cold. On the plus side, its short.
3
Jan 10 2024
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Music From The Penguin Cafe
Penguin Cafe Orchestra
p366. 1976. 2 stars.
Sounds like the incidental music from failed BBC sitcoms of the 1970s. Background noise for cheese and wine parties. Technically well done, but insipid and dull.
2
Jan 11 2024
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The Piper At The Gates Of Dawn
Pink Floyd
p112. 1967. 1 star.
This might have been tolerable if you were out of your head on a decent tab of LSD. As it is, it's just twee 60's hippy noodling.
1
Jan 12 2024
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Winter In America
Gil Scott-Heron
p327. 1974. 2 stars.
Sharp lyrics that are still relevant today, let down by meandering jazz improv with no trace of a tune. Not essential listening.
2
Jan 15 2024
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Born In The U.S.A.
Bruce Springsteen
p529. 1985. 4 stars.
Anthems for 80s American blue collar workers. Packed with hits, there is only one weak track on this ("Bobby Jean") and the lyrics are a direct counterpoint to the hope of "Born To Run". Not his best work, but still pretty damn good. Point deducted for dated 80s production and synths.
"I'm ten years burning down the road / Nowhere to run, ain't got nowhere to go"
4
Jan 16 2024
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There's No Place Like America Today
Curtis Mayfield
p354, 1975. 2 stars.
Well done of its kind without being remotely memorable, and it hasn't aged well - 30 seconds in and you're immediately transported to a world of long hair, sideburns, purple flared trousers and platform shoes. On the plus side, it's short.
2
Jan 17 2024
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Led Zeppelin II
Led Zeppelin
p176. 1969. 3 stars.
Adequate Brit blues/folk/rock blend, a couple of standout tracks and a lot of overly long filler. Bonus point for 'fessing up to losing his girl to Gollum.
3
Jan 18 2024
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Younger Than Yesterday
The Byrds
p118, 1967. 4 stars.
Quality 60's West Coast folk-rock that's aged really well. Point deducted for the filler, but this shows why they could have been contenders.
4
Jan 19 2024
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Devil Without A Cause
Kid Rock
p838. 1998. 1 star.
Foul mouthed white rap without the humour or intelligence of Eminem. Tedious, shouty noise. Why the fuck is this on the list?
1
Jan 22 2024
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The Number Of The Beast
Iron Maiden
p500. 1982. 2 stars.
Well done of its type, but heavy metal leaves me cold, and Bruce Dickinson sounds like he has a hernia.
2
Jan 23 2024
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Bat Out Of Hell
Meat Loaf
p389. 1977. 5 stars.
Bombastic, overproduced rock opera with a genuine sense of humour and cracking tunes. Love it.
5
Jan 24 2024
View Album
Low-Life
New Order
p541. 1985. 1.5 stars.
Annoying and whiny Mancs discover dance music and synths. They only have two songs, and they are spread very thinly over 40 minutes. And Bernard Sumner cannot sing. At least it is short.
1
Jan 25 2024
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Butterfly
Mariah Carey
p815. 1997. 2 stars.
Terrific voice let down by sub-par material. This is just bland background music for dinner parties.
2
Jan 26 2024
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Treasure
Cocteau Twins
p518. 1984. 3 stars.
Got to admit, the Cocteau Twins are one of my musical blind spots. I can appreciate the musicianship and they have some decent songs, but I find Liz Frazer's voice shrill and grating after a couple of tracks. And it's all a bit... soulless. Well done though.
3
Jan 29 2024
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The Next Day
David Bowie
Not in my edition of the book! 2013. 4 stars.
I tended not to listen to late Bowie albums, something I regret now. This was the first time I've heard this, and it's excellent - all it is missing is a standout singles track. Wasn't expecting it to be this good. Definitely on the replay list.
4
Jan 30 2024
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Buena Vista Social Club
Buena Vista Social Club
p808. 1997. 1.5 stars.
Well done but... average. Boring. Bland. Who picked this for the list?
1
Jan 31 2024
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Vivid
Living Colour
p589. 1988. 1 star.
Spinal Tap with an irony bypass. WTF is this doing on the list?
1
Feb 01 2024
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At Folsom Prison
Johnny Cash
p137. 1968. 5 stars.
Not a fan of live albums, but this one hits the sweet spot. Great songs, great voice, great atmosphere.
5
Feb 02 2024
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Deserter's Songs
Mercury Rev
p833. 1998. 2.5 stars.
Twee trippy psychedelic pop with fey vocals and one standout song (Goddess On A Highway). Other than that, this gets tiresome and pretentious reallll soon.
2
Feb 05 2024
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The Doors
The Doors
p116. 1967. 4 stars.
Astonishing debut, a weird combination of jazz, blues, psychedelic pop and theatre rock that somehow works. Point deducted for the excessive mid 60s wankage, and the occasionally dated production and arrangements
4
Feb 06 2024
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At San Quentin
Johnny Cash
p162. 1969. 4 stars.
Not as good as "At Fulsom Prison" - there is some definite filler here - but it's still fine. Makes you realise how good Cash was in his heyday.
4
Feb 07 2024
View Album
Third
Portishead
p922. 2008. 2.5 stars.
Not their best work - see "Dummy" for that - and it lacks any standout tunes and descends into noise very quickly.
2
Feb 08 2024
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Murmur
R.E.M.
p505. 1983. 3.5 stars.
Not their best work - see Automatic For The People for that - but this good stuff, jangly guitars and some cracking tunes let down by filler and obscure lyrics.
3
Feb 09 2024
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Meat Is Murder
The Smiths
p539. 1985. 3 stars.
Never cared for The Smiths - they are a musical blind spot for me - but this is good. Johnny Marr is a guitar genius. Points deducted for Morrisey's nasal whine and "oh woe is me" lyrics.
3
Feb 12 2024
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Abbey Road
Beatles
p164. 1969. 5 stars.
More ideas and creativity in 47 minutes than most bands manage in an entire career. Half a point docked for excessive wankage on "Oh Darling" and "I Want You (She's So Heavy)", but bonus half a point for the incredible song cycle on side 2.
5
Feb 13 2024
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Deep Purple In Rock
Deep Purple
p205. 1970. 2.5 stars.
So! This is the genesis of all those 70s heavy metal bands! Well of its kinds but suffers from ridiculous lyrics and excessive early 70s wankage. Nobody needs multiple tracks >7 minutes long, regardless of how well or fast you can play.
2
Feb 14 2024
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The Rise & Fall
Madness
p492. 1982. 2 stars.
Evidence - if it was needed - that Madness were a great singles band, but lacked the talent for a full length album. And to be honest the pub piano, cheesy sax and Camden accents get wearing after a couple of tracks.
2
Feb 15 2024
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Electric Music For The Mind And Body
Country Joe & The Fish
p102. 1967. 2 stars.
Pointless hippy-trippy noodling with no redeeming features.
2
Feb 16 2024
View Album
Out of Step
Minor Threat
p519. 1983. 2 stars.
Foulmouthed, shouty proto Green Day without the tunes - "Cashing In" could well be a Green Day discard. Already 5 years behind the curve when it was issued. Curiosity value only.
2
Feb 19 2024
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All Directions
The Temptations
p279. 1972. 3 stars.
Classy early 70s Motown, let down by filler and redundant covers. When it's good, it's very good indeed.
3
Feb 20 2024
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Purple Rain
Prince
p520. 1984. 4 stars.
Almost perfect. There are some classics on this - it's just let down by dated 80s synths and filler tracks.
4
Feb 21 2024
View Album
3 + 3
The Isley Brothers
p311. 1973. 3.5 stars.
Quality early 70s soul, let down by filler, redundant covers and the usual 70s excessive wankage - but when it's good, it's brilliant. Ernie Isley is an unsung guitar legend, and Summer Breeze may be one of the greatest songs ever.
3
Feb 22 2024
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Shaka Zulu
Ladysmith Black Mambazo
p577. 1987. 3.5 stars.
Extremely well done and pleasant to listen to, but not my thing at all. Glad I heard it once, but unlikely to listen to it again.
3
Feb 23 2024
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Yank Crime
Drive Like Jehu
p753. 1994. 1 stars.
Utterly redundant shouty punk rock that is 15 years too late. Why is this below average shit even on the list?
1
Feb 26 2024
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Joan Armatrading
Joan Armatrading
p363. 1976. 3.5 stars.
Classy mid 70s Brit singer-songwriter with a fabulous voice. All that's missing are standout tracks - if everything was as good as "Love And Affection", it would be 5 stars.
3
Feb 27 2024
View Album
More Songs About Buildings And Food
Talking Heads
p410. 1978. 2 stars.
There are some half decent tracks here, and Brian Eno's production is fantastic - but I can't be doing with David Byrne's voice, he sounds like a dog with its leg caught in barbed wire.
2
Feb 28 2024
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Entertainment
Gang Of Four
p440. 1979. 1 star.
Unpleasant proto Franz Ferdinand, but without the talent or tunes. Not much to like here.
1
Feb 29 2024
View Album
I Am a Bird Now
Antony and the Johnsons
Not in my edition of the book! 2005. 4 stars.
Gorgeous voice and production, and tracks infused with melancholy. The only things missing are more standout tracks.
4
Mar 01 2024
View Album
Django Django
Django Django
p932. 2012. 4 stars.
Came cold to this and was pleasantly surprised - quality harmonies and tunes. Sounds like Brian Wilson's hipster grandkids discovering surf rock and LSD. On the replay list.
4
Mar 04 2024
View Album
Stand!
Sly & The Family Stone
p178. 1969. 3.5 stars.
So this is where Prince stole his sound from! Quality late 60s soul-funk-rock hybrid. Still sounds fresh today. Points docked for the usual late 60s wankage on some tracks - no-one needs a 13 minutes+ guitar workout on "Sex Machine".
3
Mar 05 2024
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Rapture
Anita Baker
p559. 1986. 5 stars.
One of THE great soul voices on absolutely top form. This is fabulous.
5
Mar 06 2024
View Album
Warehouse: Songs And Stories
HĂŒsker DĂŒ
p572. 1987. 2 stars.
Average garage band that desperately wants to be REM, but lack the talent or songs. Nothing of interest here. Why is this even on the list?
2
Mar 07 2024
View Album
Nick Of Time
Bonnie Raitt
p627, 1989. 3 stars.
Music for US midwest roadside bars. Well done country/rock, but lacking standout tunes.
3
Mar 08 2024
View Album
The Dreaming
Kate Bush
p495. 1982. 3 stars.
Mad as a sack of frogs. This is Kate in her most screechy and oddest phase, with one of her worst songs (There Goes A Tenner) and the entire album switches from genre to genre like a hyperactive child with attention deficit disorder. And yet, and yet... strangely accessible. Bit like Kate :)
3
Mar 11 2024
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Suede
Suede
p704. 1993. 4 stars
The lost children of Ziggy Stardust. There are some cracking tunes in here - point deducted for a saggy middle section (bit like Brett Anderson) and his voice which gets annoying after a while.
4
Mar 12 2024
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Femi Kuti
Femi Kuti
p764. 1995. 1 star.
Probably fine if you like meandering Afrobeat noodling. I don't.
1
Mar 13 2024
View Album
You've Come a Long Way Baby
Fatboy Slim
p824. 1998. 2.5 stars.
The singles are great, the rest... mostly filler. And it gets tedious reaal soon. 3 stars on a good day.
3
Mar 14 2024
View Album
A Grand Don't Come For Free
The Streets
p901. 2004. 3 stars.
Starts off sounding like the council estate offspring of Jilted John, and the drum machine gets tedious reallll soon. And yet... somehow it turns it round with the last couple of tracks. "Dry Your Eyes" is a thing of beauty.
3
Mar 15 2024
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Before And After Science
Brian Eno
p373. 1977. 4 stars.
Sounds like Talking Heads on a good day. Startling good production, let down by a lack of standout tracks. One for the hi-fi purists :)
4
Mar 26 2024
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Hot Buttered Soul
Isaac Hayes
p183. 1969. 3 stars.
Fabulous production, and one of the great soul voices on top form. Set against that are excessively long tracks - 12+ minute workout on "Walk On By" and a 9+ "intro" to "By The Time I Get To Phoenix". There is a reason there were single versions of both of these. When it's good, its very good indeed.
3
Mar 27 2024
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Birth Of The Cool
Miles Davis
p34. 1957. 2 stars.
Jazz, so the wrong audience. Seems well done of its type, though. Unlikely to replay this.
2
Mar 28 2024
View Album
Don't Come Home A Drinkin' (With Lovin' On Your Mind)
Loretta Lynn
p125. 1967. 3 stars.
Tremendous voice and some great songs, let down by a lot of filler and a surfeit of steel guitars. Yeehaw.
3
Mar 29 2024
View Album
Rust Never Sleeps
Neil Young & Crazy Horse
p439. 1979. 5 stars.
Brilliant all-rounder shows how it should be done. There is not a weak track on this. Perfect.
5
Apr 19 2024
View Album
Nighthawks At The Diner
Tom Waits
p345. 1975. 3 stars.
Great voice, great lyrics and a sense of humour, but there are no tunes to speak of and I'm not a fan of cocktail bar jazz.
3
Apr 22 2024
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American Idiot
Green Day
p904. 2004. 5 stars.
A glorious trash from start to finish. There is not a weak track on this.
5
Apr 23 2024
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Since I Left You
The Avalanches
p870. 2000. 1 star.
Tedious sampling album that detracts from the original songs, intercut with random, annoying, out of tune sound bites. WTF is this shit doing on the list?
1
Apr 26 2024
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NEU! 75
Neu!
p338. 1975. 2 stars.
Bland, pointless mostly instrumental noodling. Bonus star for the production.
2
Apr 29 2024
View Album
Follow The Leader
Korn
p838. 1998. 1 star.
Foul mouthed, obnoxious, unpleasant and distinctly average heavy metal/rap fusion. This hurt my ears.
"You hate me/And I hate you". Yup, about right.
1
Apr 30 2024
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One Nation Under A Groove
Funkadelic
p408. 1978. 2 stars.
Well done of its kind, but wrong audience. Also subject to the usual late 70's wankage.
2
May 01 2024
View Album
Beggars Banquet
The Rolling Stones
p130. 1968. 3 stars.
Evidence that the Stones were once a decent blues/rock band. When it's good it's very good indeed, but there is a LOT of filler.
3
May 02 2024
View Album
Live At The Witch Trials
The Fall
p430. 1979. 2 stars.
Not their best work by means, but worth a listen if you enjoy sardonic Mancs in late 70s/early Thatcher era.
2
May 03 2024
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Slanted And Enchanted
Pavement
p678. 1992. 1 star.
Average garage band with no tunes. Why is this even on the list?
1
May 21 2024
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Searching For The Young Soul Rebels
Dexys Midnight Runners
p451. 1980. 3 stars.
The good: fabulous brass section and a handful of good songs.
The bad: Kevin Rowland's vocals. He can't sing and he has the worst articulation ever. It speaks volumes (unlike Kevin Rowland) that Spotify doesn't know most of the lyrics to the songs, probably because no-one can understand WTF he is saying.
3
May 22 2024
View Album
american dream
LCD Soundsystem
p947. 2017. 1 star.
Tedious electro dance that desperately wants to be Bowie, but lacks both the talent and the songs. And too many of the tracks descend into wankage - no-one needs a 12+ minute final track. WTF is this doing on the list?
1
May 23 2024
View Album
Boston
Boston
p357. 1976. 4 stars.
Quality late 70s American pomp rock with fabulous production, fabulous vocals and some great songs. Points deducted for the usual 70s wankage, but a bonus point for being the source of "Smells Like Teen Spirit".
4
May 24 2024
View Album
Stripped
Christina Aguilera
Not in my edition of the book! 2002. 3 stars.
Well, she's got a great set of pipes, and there are a handful of good songs on this - but there is also a LOT of filler. Better quality control and this could have been a 5 - as it is, it goes on far too long.
3
May 27 2024
View Album
Fuzzy
Grant Lee Buffalo
p710. 1993. 3 stars.
Decent voice and lyrics let down by a lack of memorable tunes. Interesting rather than essential.
3
May 28 2024
View Album
Sister
Sonic Youth
p579. 1987. 3 stars.
Noisy bridge between punk and grunge. Well done of its kind but no redeeming features.
3
May 29 2024
View Album
Viva Hate
Morrissey
p599. 1988. 4 stars.
There are some cracking tunes and lyrics here, even if most of them are about self loathing and despair. And I can't give 5 stars to any depressive racist Manc.
4
May 30 2024
View Album
Fire Of Love
The Gun Club
p480. 1981. 3 stars
Strangely alluring mix of garage band, punk and quality 60s influences (Creedence, The Doors), let down by a lack of quality songs. Worth a listen though.
3
May 31 2024
View Album
Crooked Rain Crooked Rain
Pavement
p725. 1994. 1 star.
Desperately average garage band with no tunes and a vocalist that can't sing. Most of this is just noise. WTF is on the list?
1
Jun 03 2024
View Album
Car Wheels On A Gravel Road
Lucinda Williams
p826. 1998. 4.5 stars.
Sounds like Sheryl Crow's older and arguably more talented sister :) Great voice, great lyrics and songs. Half a point deducted for the occasional lapse into yeehaw.
4
Jun 04 2024
View Album
Hearts And Bones
Paul Simon
p509. 1983. 2 stars.
Pales in comparison to his best work. Average at best, and there is a LOT of filler. Bonus point for "Johnny Ace".
2
Jun 05 2024
View Album
Exile In Guyville
Liz Phair
p708. 1993. 3.5 stars.
Sounds like Courtney Love's younger, pissed off sister, which ain't a bad thing. Came to this cold and was surprised how much I liked it. All it's missing are standout tunes.
3
Jun 06 2024
View Album
Odessa
Bee Gees
p165. 1969. 3 stars.
Pros: well, they knew how to knockout a tune, and the production is excellent.
Cons: suspect lyrics - something they never sorted throughout their long career - Robin Gibb's voice (the equivalent of vocal jelly) and a complete lack of any musical direction or coherence. It's a mess, but worth listening to.
3
Jun 07 2024
View Album
Qui sÚme le vent récolte le tempo
MC Solaar
p660. 1991. 1 star.
French rap. Non.
1
Jun 10 2024
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Live And Dangerous
Thin Lizzy
p409. 1978. 4 stars.
Not a fan of live or double albums, but this is an exception. A greatest hits set from one of the best live bands ever. Point deducted for the occasional lapse into late 70's wankage - no-one needs 7+ minute tracks or extended drum solos.
4
Jun 11 2024
View Album
Bossanova
Pixies
p642. 1990. 3 stars.
Average rock band with some decent tunes, but lyrically inept. You can hear the influence on Nirvana, it's just that Kurt Cobain did it better :)
3
Jun 12 2024
View Album
Punishing Kiss
Ute Lemper
p869. 2000. 2 stars.
Sounds like the original cast recording from a failed Edinburgh Fringe musical. Massively disappointing when you consider the song writing talent (Tom Waits, Nick Cave, Elvis Costello). And she has an annoyingly strident voice. Bonus point for being in tune.
2
Jun 13 2024
View Album
Rock 'N Soul
Solomon Burke
p69. 1964. 4 stars.
One of the THE great soul voices on peak form, let down by some sub-par material. When it's good, it's brilliant.
4
Jun 14 2024
View Album
(What's The Story) Morning Glory
Oasis
p770. 1995. 4 stars.
THE sound of Britain in the early 90s, and a decent Beatles clone to counter Blur's Kinks imitation. Some great songs here, fabulous production, and Liam Gallagher sings like a bastard. Point deducted for suspect lyrics, filler ("The Swamp Song"), and the obvious thefts from Slade, Gary Glitter and T.Rex.
4
Jun 17 2024
View Album
Arise
Sepultura
p669. 1991. 2 stars.
Well done of its type, but there is nothing here that hasn't been done before and better by Motorhead.
2
Jun 18 2024
View Album
Sunshine Hit Me
The Bees
Not in my edition of the book! 2002. 1 star.
Redundant bland pop songs from a bland pop group, with one song used for a car advert. Utterly forgettable. WTF is this doing on the list?
1
Jun 19 2024
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Post Orgasmic Chill
Skunk Anansie
Not in my edition of the book! 1999. 2 stars.
Average rock band with average songs, partially offset by (mostly) excellent vocals. Not much to like here.
2
Jun 20 2024
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The Last Of The True Believers
Nanci Griffith
p550. 1986. 3 stars.
Inoffensive 80's country album. Lovely voice and some classy songs, but strays in yeehaw too often and there's a lot of filler.
3
Jun 21 2024
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Roxy Music
Roxy Music
p276. 1972. 3 stars.
Inventive and schizophrenic debut that epitomises early 70s Brit Glam/Art rock. Points deducted for the dated sound - one track and you can immediately picture long hair, glitter, platform shoes and flares - and for Bryan Ferry's voice, which is an acquired taste.
3
Jun 24 2024
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The Seldom Seen Kid
Elbow
p922. 2008. 5 stars.
Fabulous Brit alt rock tinged with melancholy and gentle humour. There is not weak track on this.
5
Jun 25 2024
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Ctrl
SZA
p951. p207. 3 stars.
Well done but average millennium "R&B". Decent voice and explicit lyrics do not make for essential listening.
3
Jun 26 2024
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I Want To See The Bright Lights Tonight
Richard Thompson
p326. 1974. 5 stars.
Magnificent 70s Brit folk rock. Great vocals, great guitar work. Not a weak track on this.
5
Jun 27 2024
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Want Two
Rufus Wainwright
p900. 2004. 4 stars.
This is what you get if you splice the DNA of Scott Walker and Thom Yorke. Great voice, sharp lyrics with a dark sense of humour, and you have to admire the sheer variety of styles handled on the album. All that's missing are standout tracks.
4
Jun 28 2024
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Boy In Da Corner
Dizzee Rascal
p892. 2003. 1 star.
Rap/grime, so wrong audience. It's tedious beyond belief, and the Cockney accent makes this almost unbearable. Difficult to give any stars to someone who thinks it's OK to assault women.
1
Jul 01 2024
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Channel Orange
Frank Ocean
p923. 2012. 2 stars.
Formulaic, bland, uninspired plastic high pitched vocal "R&B". Background music when shopping at Monsoon. Big Joe Turner must be turning in his grave.
2
Jul 02 2024
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O.G. Original Gangster
Ice T
p664. 1991. 1 star.
Rap, so wrong audience. All the usual tedious, macho, misogynistic foul mouthed cliches. Might have been fresh and shocking at the time, now it just sounds dated and obnoxious. And at 1hr 12m it outstays its welcome reaaaaall soon.
1
Jul 03 2024
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Live At The Harlem Square Club
Sam Cooke
p62. 1963. 3 stars.
Pros: THAT voice, and some great material.
Cons: I'm not a fan of live albums. And strangely... it all felt a bit artificial... and dare I say it, soulless?
3
Jul 04 2024
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Pretzel Logic
Steely Dan
p333. 1974. 2 stars.
Technically excellent but ultimately soulless music for aged hipsters. It's the aural equivalent of a Ring Wraith. And they use a goddam awful electric piano, its a major part of their sound. On the plus side, it's short, even if it seems to go on forever. Bonus point for Rikki Don't Lose That Number.
2
Jul 05 2024
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Shalimar
Rahul Dev Burman
p345. 1975. 2 stars.
Weird selection. Schizophenric Indian film score that pilfers from multiple music genres. Well done, but why is this on the list? It feels like an afterthought - "better have some Bollywood in there, but make it accessible."
And for those with an interest in the actual plot of the film:
On the run from the police, Kumar, a thief, comes across a private invitation to the island of Sir John Locksley addressed to Raja Bahadur Singh. When the Raja is shot, Kumar takes him to a nearby hospital, dons a Sikh's turban, poses as the Raja's son and goes to the private island of John, where he finds all the other invitees are master criminals and gangsters. Kumar's guise does not fool anyone, including his former sweetheart, Sheila Enders who is oddly also on the island. Nevertheless Sir John permits him to stay on, as he feels that Kumar's career, though an amateur, is consistent with those already present. The reason why John has invited them is to find a successor to take his place as he is dying of cancer. He feels that one of his invitees can be trusted to take his place and for this he has arranged for them to steal a diamond (shalimar) worth one hundred thirty-five crores of rupees. This gem is placed in a secure place within his palace, which is alarmed, and guarded by armed men twenty-four hours a day. He challenges one of them to steal the shalimar, but if anyone fails then he or she is killed instantly. Pitted against such veterans, it looks like Kumar has gotten himself into a bind out of which he may not come out in one piece.
2
Jul 08 2024
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A Girl Called Dusty
Dusty Springfield
p70. 1964. 3 stars.
The source of all white female blue eyed soul. Mostly covers, and the production is horribly dated - but that's offset by THAT voice. When this is good it's excellent. Better quality control on the material and this could easily have been a 4 or a 5. When this is good it's excellent.
3
Jul 09 2024
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Dance Mania
Tito Puente
p37. 1958. 2 stars
Guaranteed to make any hip twitch. Well done of its kind, but not my thing. Unlikely to revisit.
2
Jul 10 2024
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Moondance
Van Morrison
p205. 1970. 4 stars
Quality Celtic soul, still sounds fresh today. Great vocals, fabulous horn section, all that's missing are more standout songs.
4
Jul 11 2024
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Hypnotised
The Undertones
p464. 1980. 4 stars.
Prototype Green Day. Short, sweet and wonderful punk-pop hybrid, let down by filler and a totally redundant cover. When it's good it's terrific.
4
Jul 12 2024
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Bug
Dinosaur Jr.
p597. 1988. 1 star.
Noisy, repetitive and redundant late 80s US indie rock. Each trac sounds the same, and the vocalist has an annoying nasal whine. Not much to like here.
1
Jul 15 2024
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Chicago Transit Authority
Chicago
p181. 1969. 1 star.
Frankenstein-esque blend of jazz and rock for stoned hippies - farting horns, squealing guitars and cowbells. No-one needs multiple 5 minute+ tracks of repetitive guitar noodling, regardless of how well it is done. And "Free Form Guitar" is wankage of the first order. Thank God for punk.
1
Jul 16 2024
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The Blueprint
JAY Z
p880. 2001. 1 star
(C)rap. Usual tedious, macho, misogynistic, foul mouthed nonsense. Bonus point for the production values and the obvious theft from Issac Hayes on the opener.
Sample "lyrics":
"Nigga's kidnap your babies/Spit on your lady/We bring knife to a fistfight/Kill your drama/We kill you motherfucking ants with a sledgehammer".
1
Jul 17 2024
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Nothing's Shocking
Jane's Addiction
p603. 1988. 1 star,
Shouty American guitar rock with no tunes, a whiny lead vocalist, and nothing much to say.
"It's just corporate dick rock. It's Van Halen with different makeup artists." - Dave Barbe.
1
Jul 18 2024
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Actually
Pet Shop Boys
p581. 1987. 3 stars.
Proof - if it were needed - that the Pet Shop Boys were a great singles band, but lacked the talent for a decent album. And it's dreadfully dated, darlings. Bonus points for "Rent" and the Dusty Springfield cameo.
3
Jul 19 2024
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Talking Timbuktu
Ali Farka Touré
p739, 1994. 2 stars.
Pleasant enough world music/blues crossover, and some great guitar work from Ry Cooder - but ultimately it's bland background noise.
2
Jul 22 2024
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Trio
Dolly Parton
p565. 1987. 3 stars.
Well done collection of country standards, and gorgeous harmonies. Having said that, it is mostly a covers album.
3
Jul 23 2024
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Elephant
The White Stripes
p893. 2003. 4 stars.
Fabulous stripped down guitar rock with some great tunes, that doesn't take itself too seriously. Point deducted for the redundant Dusty Springfield cover.
4
Jul 24 2024
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Court And Spark
Joni Mitchell
p320. 1974. 3 stars.
Well, the voice is great, and the lyrics are sharp - but there are no standout tunes, and the production has NOT dated well. Without the voice this would be soulless mid 70s West Coast FM listening.
3
Jul 25 2024
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Venus Luxure No. 1 Baby
Girls Against Boys
p724. 1994. 1 star.
Average garage band with average songs. WTF is this doing on the list? On the plus side, it's short.
1
Jul 26 2024
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Dog Man Star
Suede
p743. 1994. 4 stars.
Quality 90s Brit-pop spliced with Bowie Glam rock. Point deducted for excessive track wankage, and it does outstay its welcome.
4
Jul 29 2024
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Lost In The Dream
The War On Drugs
Not in my edition of the book! 2014. 2 stars.
The aural equivalent of a hipster non-alcoholic craft beer.
2
Jul 30 2024
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Only Built 4 Cuban Linx
Raekwon
p756. 1995. 1 star.
Not going to lie, this is the first album on the list that I gave up trying to listen all the way through. Tedious, foul mouthed garbage from guttersnipes. It's fucking horrible.
1
Jul 31 2024
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In Rainbows
Radiohead
p915. 2007. 5 stars.
Difficult to fault this, great songs, great vocals, great production. Not a weak track on this.
5
Aug 01 2024
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Haunted Dancehall
The Sabres Of Paradise
Not in my edition of the book! 1994. 1 star.
Tedious Brit electro music that wants to be Vangelis when it grows up. No-one needs multiple meandering tracks >5 minutes long. Why is this even on the list?
1
Aug 02 2024
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Hail To the Thief
Radiohead
Not in my edition of the book! 2003. 3 stars.
Perfectly acceptable, but not their best work by any means. Why is this on the list when there are already 4 other Radiohead albums on it, and even the band think this is one of their weaker efforts?
3
Aug 05 2024
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Infected
The The
p549. 1986. 2 stars (just)
Angry but average 80s Brit synth band that wanted to be Heaven 17. No memorable tunes, and the production has not aged well. No idea why this is on the list.
2
Aug 06 2024
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Sunshine Superman
Donovan
p121. 1967. 2 stars.
60's hippy-trippy nonsense, saved from a one star review by a couple of good tunes. I imagine that at the time, with a decent summer, a tab of LSD and a liberated hippy chick, this would have been fabulous. As it is, it's as faded as meadow wildflowers in autumn.
2
Aug 07 2024
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Steve McQueen
Prefab Sprout
p534. 1985. 1 star.
Weedy, pretentious, soulless 80s UK hipster pop. Wants to be The Style Council but lacks any edge and tunes. Extra point deducted for the stupid band name.
1
Aug 08 2024
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Lazer Guided Melodies
Spiritualized
p692. 1992. 1 star.
Tedious electro space rock. The bastard love child of the Stone Roses and Brian Eno, but without the quality or talent of either. This just goes on and on and on...
1
Aug 09 2024
View Album
Songs The Lord Taught Us
The Cramps
p454. 1980. 3 stars
Surfer/rockabilly/punk hybrid with a love of B-movie tropes and sense of humour. Points deducted for the lack of variety and the redundant covers.
3
Aug 12 2024
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Shadowland
k.d. lang
p598. 1988. 4 stars.
Strangely alluring country/jazz hybrid, matched with a fabulous voice. Terrific production, and it rarely strays into yee-haw. Perfect late evening music.
4
Aug 13 2024
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The Modern Lovers
The Modern Lovers
p356. 1976. 2 stars.
The bastard new wave children of The Velvet Underground.
At the time this was revolutionary - a whole generation realised that if these guys could pick up a guitar and make a record, so could they. Having said that, this hasn't aged well, and it has too much filler - one classic track does not make for an album of essential listening. Additional points deducted for Jonathan Richman's nasal whine.
2
Aug 14 2024
View Album
It's Blitz!
Yeah Yeah Yeahs
p925. 2009. 2 stars.
Unremarkable power pop with no standout tunes. Perfectly acceptable, but not essential listening in any way.
2
Aug 15 2024
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En-Tact
The Shamen
p635. 1990. 2.5 stars (3 on a good day).
Decent Brit electro-dance, with a couple of standout tracks. Needs a tab to be fully appreciated. Not essential listening, but worth a spin.
2
Aug 16 2024
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Double Nickels On The Dime
Minutemen
p526. 1984. 1 star.
Double album of mediocre demos from an average garage band with no tunes. WTF is this doing on the list?
1
Aug 19 2024
View Album
In Our Heads
Hot Chip
p933. 2012. 2 stars.
Insipid Brit electro pop. Well done of its kind, but totally unremarkable, and it definitely outstays its welcome. Not essential listening.
2
Aug 20 2024
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People's Instinctive Travels and the Paths of Rhythm
A Tribe Called Quest
p651. 1990. 2 stars.
Rap/hip-hop, so wrong audience. Well done of its kind but... meh.
2
Aug 21 2024
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Peace Sells...But Who's Buying
Megadeth
p551. 1986. 1 star.
Tedious generic heavy metal with no redeeming features and a vocalist who can't sing. Additional point deducted for the utterly redundant cover of I Ain't Superstitious. Willie Dixon must be rotating in his grave.
1
Aug 22 2024
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Trans Europe Express
Kraftwerk
p373. 1977. 3 stars.
The source of every 80s synth/sequencer band that followed. Still sound fresh today, but it does outstay its welcome. Additional point deducted for excessive wankage - no-one needs multiple 6+ minute tracks.
3
Aug 23 2024
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Crazysexycool
TLC
p731. 1994. 4 stars.
Classy 90s US R&B done right, and the source of a host of mostly poor imitations (Spice Girls, All Saints, Destiny's Child, Sugababes). To what heights could they have aspired if they hadn't gone bust and burnt down their boyfriend's house?
4
Aug 26 2024
View Album
Different Class
Pulp
p766. 1995. 5 stars.
Quality 90s Brit-pop with sharp lyrics, great tunes and a sense of humour. What's not to like?
5
Aug 27 2024
View Album
Five Leaves Left
Nick Drake
p168. 1969. 4 stars.
Startlingly good Brit folk. Vague echoes of the more melancholy tracks on Love's "Forever Changes", which ain't a bad thing. Point deducted for the occasional production lapse into saccharine.
4
Aug 28 2024
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Arc Of A Diver
Steve Winwood
p469. 1980. 2 stars.
Pros: one of the great white soul voices on show. One great song.
Cons: dated 80s production, and a lot of filler. No-one needs multiple tracks >5+ minutes.
2
Aug 29 2024
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Pornography
The Cure
p488. 1982. 1 star.
The Cure make great singles, but this is a self indulgent mess of noise. Avoid.
1
Aug 30 2024
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...The Dandy Warhols Come Down
The Dandy Warhols
Not in my edition of the book! 1997. 3 stars.
Album 500 from the list. American Oasis wannabees. Starts off well but gets flabby in the second half. Points deducted for excessive wankage - no-one needs multiple 5 minute+ tracks.
3
Sep 02 2024
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Miriam Makeba
Miriam Makeba
p51. 1960. 3 stars.
Fantastic voice, let down by dated production and a peculiar choice of material. Bonus point for the children's classic One More Dance.
3
Sep 03 2024
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Pump
Aerosmith
p625. 1989. 2 stars.
Overblown, sex obsessed,big haired cock rock with some decent tunes and NPC lyrics. Well done of its kind but definitely not essential.
2
Sep 04 2024
View Album
The Hour Of Bewilderbeast
Badly Drawn Boy
Not in my edition of the book! 2000. 2 stars.
Inoffensive and mostly forgettable collection of what sounds like Crowded House outtakes. Definitely not essential listening.
2
Sep 05 2024
View Album
The Modern Dance
Pere Ubu
p396. 1978. 1 star.
Unpleasant, pointless abstract noodling. Absolutely no reason for anyone to waste time on this. On the plus side, it's short.
1
Sep 06 2024
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Rid Of Me
PJ Harvey
p715. 1993. 1 star.
Not her best work by any means. Raw, shouty girl rock with no tunes. She improved as she got older.
1
Sep 09 2024
View Album
Real Life
Magazine
p407. 1978. 2 stars.
Limp post punk, saved from one star by "Shot By Both Sides".
2
Sep 10 2024
View Album
The Dark Side Of The Moon
Pink Floyd
p302. 1973. 4 stars.
The only hippies you can trust. Does meander a bit though.
4
Sep 11 2024
View Album
Fetch The Bolt Cutters
Fiona Apple
Not in my edition of the book! 2020. 2 stars.
Strong voice let down by a lack of standout tunes, and poor quality control - judicious editing on the length of most of the songs and unnecessary "extras" like dogs barking would have swung this to a 3. And when she realises that a song might contain more than one repeated verse, she could be quite good.
2
Sep 12 2024
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Lupe Fiasco's Food & Liquor
Lupe Fiasco
p908. 2006. 1 star.
Hip-hop/rap with strings and brass sections. Well done of its kind, but wrong audience. Will not listen to it again.
1
Sep 13 2024
View Album
New Gold Dream (81/82/83/84)
Simple Minds
p491. 1982. 3 stars.
Quality 80s synth pop/rock with decent songs and vocalist. Point deducted for straying into wankage once too often - nobody need multiple 5 minute+ tracks.
3
Sep 16 2024
View Album
Tragic Songs of Life
The Louvin Brothers
p26. 1956. 3 stars.
The primeval ancestor of Nick Cave's "Murder Ballads".
Most C&W songs are about jail, cars, trains, a dog, your partner cheating on you, or drinking. The only thing missing from this album is a song about a man who breaks out of jail, steals a truck, drives over a railway line, hits his dog on his way home, finds his wife in bed with his brother AND his sister, and then goes to a bar to get shitfaced.
3
Sep 17 2024
View Album
Californication
Red Hot Chili Peppers
p852. 1999. 3 stars.
Dated dad rock. A handful of great tracks on this, and on the plus side none of them outstay their welcome. There's a lot of filler though.
3
Sep 18 2024
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Juju
Siouxsie And The Banshees
p472. 1981. 4 stars.
The only Goth rock album you need. Have to be in the right mood for it though.
4
Sep 19 2024
View Album
Back To Black
Amy Winehouse
p910. 2006. 4 stars.
Not her very best work - see "Frank" for that - but it's still brilliant work from one of the very best voices and songwriters of the early millennium. Point deducted for the intrusive production and the occasional filler.
4
Sep 20 2024
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The White Room
The KLF
p672. 1991. 4 stars.
THE early 90s dance/trance/rave album. Still sounds wonderful today. The first half is faultless. Point deducted for excessive wankage ("No More Tears") on the 2nd half.
For those of you who can't find it on Spotify:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kjqb9_OEySY
Kudos to Dimitris Dimakis for sharing :)
4
Sep 23 2024
View Album
Midnight Ride
Paul Revere & The Raiders
p91. 1966. 2 stars.
Uninspiring Byrds and Monkees hybrid. Perfectly adequate without being the least bit essential.
2
Sep 24 2024
View Album
Off The Wall
Michael Jackson
p443. 1979. 3 stars.
Before he went weird and starting re-organising his face, Michael Jackson was a bona fide contender for the future of disco and R&B. Some great tunes, great vocals, wonderful production. Points deducted for excessive filler on the second side. Probably just edges Thriller as his best work.
Still a bit uneasy about giving 3 stars to a kiddy fiddler.
3
Sep 25 2024
View Album
1977
Ash
p795. 1996. 3 stars.
Lightweight Northern Irish Oasis wannabees with some decent tunes, let down by excessive guitar wankage, filler and limp vocals.
3
Sep 26 2024
View Album
Moss Side Story
Barry Adamson
p624. 1989. 3 stars.
Strangely alluring soundtrack without a film. Echoes of film noir, British gangster films and Twin Peaks. Points deducted for outstaying its welcome. Not everyone's cup of tea, but I enjoyed it.
3
Sep 27 2024
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Who Killed...... The Zutons?
The Zutons
Not in my edition of the book! 2004. 2 stars.
Well done but average band produces well done but average music. Why is this on the list?
2
Sep 30 2024
View Album
Sweet Baby James
James Taylor
p216. 1970. 2 stars.
The source of an entire generation of 1970s male middle of the road singer/songwriters. There are a handful of standout songs (Sweet Baby James, Fire and Rain) and decent guitar picking, but it lacks any sense of excitement and there is a LOT of bland filler. On the plus side, it's short.
2
Oct 01 2024
View Album
Raw Power
The Stooges
p310. 1973. 3 stars.
Primeval roots of punk with vocal nods to Jim Morrison and Jagger before he became old and flabby. Short, sweet and on point. Points deducted for lack of standout tunes, ropey lyrics and letting themselves down with excessive wankage on the last track.
3
Oct 02 2024
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...Baby One More Time
Britney Spears
Not in my edition of the book! 1999. 1 star.
If you eat an entire bag of fairground candyfloss, you might enjoy it at the beginning, but after a while your teeth start screaming and at the end you feel vaguely embarrassed with yourself for having eaten it all.
Listening to this album, I enjoyed it at the beginning, but after a while my ears started bleeding and at the end I was vaguely embarrassed at having listened to an entire Britney Spears album.
1
Oct 03 2024
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Tonight's The Night
Neil Young
p346. 1975. 3 stars.
Bit of a mixed bag, this one - a lot of filler, and possibly his worst vocal performance ever on "Mellow My Mind." With better quality control this could easily have been a 4. Still worth a listen.
3
Oct 04 2024
View Album
Ghosteen
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds
Not in my edition of the book! 2019. 3 stars.
Not his best work. Powerful? Yes. Essential listening? No.
3
Oct 07 2024
View Album
Black Metal
Venom
p498. 1982. 3 stars.
Motorhead wannabees with an interest in demons, satanism and horror. Once you realise this is a Spinal Tap parody it's quite amusing. Prefer the Justin Bieber cover of "Don't Burn The Witch" though.
3
Oct 08 2024
View Album
Cee-Lo Green... Is The Soul Machine
Cee Lo Green
p898. 2004. 1.5 stars.
Egotistical, misogynistic, foul mouthed crap. 20 years on and this already sounds dated. Bonus star for the classy horn section.
1
Oct 09 2024
View Album
Queen Of Denmark
John Grant
p929. 2010. 5 stars.
Fabulous collection of songs covering desire, self loathing and broken relationships. Great voice, sharp lyrics and stripped down production. And the title track is possibly the greatest breakup song ever written.
5
Oct 10 2024
View Album
Paranoid
Black Sabbath
p202. 1970. 5 stars.
The only heavy metal album you need. Not a weak track on it, and it still sounds fresh today.
5
Oct 11 2024
View Album
Tom Tom Club
Tom Tom Club
p482. 1981. 3 stars.
Average early 80s disco/dance/rap. Well done of its kind, and excellent production, but not essential listening.
3
Oct 14 2024
View Album
Every Picture Tells A Story
Rod Stewart
p242. 1971. 3 stars.
Peculiar blend of pub rock, folk and 60s Brit blues. Doesn't always work, but when it does it's splendid. Points deducted for redundant covers, and lyrically it hasn't dated well.
3
Oct 15 2024
View Album
A Hard Day's Night
Beatles
p66. 1964. 4.5 stars.
Loveable moptops set the gold standard for early Brit 60's pop. It's packed with classics and standards. Half a point deducted for the one filler ("When I Get Home"), but other than that it's home runs all the way.
4
Oct 16 2024
View Album
The Good, The Bad & The Queen
The Good, The Bad & The Queen
Not in my edition of the book. 2007. 2 stars.
Sounds like a Blur album. Great if you like Blur, which I don't. Well done but no standout tracks. Is it me or does Damon Albarn always sound like he has a bad sinus infection?
2
Oct 17 2024
View Album
The Message
Grandmaster Flash & The Furious Five
p486. 486. 4 stars.
Not a fan of hip-hop/rap, but this hits a sweet spot. It's dated well, doesn't outstay its welcome and contains one stone cold classic in the title track. Point deducted for the worrying homoerotic "tribute" to Steve Wonder.
4
Oct 18 2024
View Album
Bright Flight
Silver Jews
p871. 2001. 3 stars.
C&W based REM wannabee. Lyrically sharp, but no standout tunes and the vocalist sounds like they just took Prozac. On the plus side, it doesn't outstay its welcome.
3
Oct 21 2024
View Album
Signing Off
UB40
p468. 1980. 2 stars.
Soulless Brit faux reggae that outstays its welcome. Far too smooth and saxophone laden, it has multiple +6 minutes tracks, redundant covers and direct pilfering (the verse melody of "Burden of Shame" is a direct steal of Van Morrison's "Moondance"). Saved from one star by the hit singles.
2
Oct 22 2024
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No Sleep 'Til Hammersmith (Live)
Motörhead
p474. 1981. 2 stars.
Not a fan of live albums, although this one does manage to capture the raw energy of Motorhead on top form. Starts off with a classic and then goes downhill from there. Stick with the studio albums.
2
Oct 30 2024
View Album
In It For The Money
Supergrass
p816.1997. 4 stars
Sounds a collection of quality discards from the 60s - Small Faces, Kinks, Stones. Still fresh nearly 20 years on.
4
Oct 31 2024
View Album
Future Days
Can
p293. 1973. 1 star.
70s ambient jazz-rock with multiple 8+ minute tracks and a 19+ minute monstrosity to end with. Fuck no.
Previous collaborations between Germany and Japan did not end well either.
1
Nov 01 2024
View Album
evermore
Taylor Swift
Not in my edition of the book! 2020. 3 stars.
Sounds like Lana Del Rey's younger cousin, even down to some of the vocal phrasing. Decent tunes, sharp lyrics, but it does seem over emotionally wrought and veers dangerously into teenage girl poetry at times.
3
Nov 04 2024
View Album
Innervisions
Stevie Wonder
p304. 1973. 4 stars.
Now we're talking. Stevie's best album, packed with great tunes and sharp lyrics, and it doesn't outstay its welcome. 1 point docked for the dated synths and occasional lapse into 70s wankage on a couple of tracks.
4
Nov 07 2024
View Album
Tical
Method Man
Not in my edition of the book! 1994. 1 star.
(C)Rap. Tedious, dated, misogynistic, obnoxious, foul-mouth rubbish. Give it another 50 years and people will wonder why anyone ever wanted to listen to it.
1
Nov 08 2024
View Album
Le Tigre
Le Tigre
Not in my edition of the book! 1999. 4 stars.
The cynical granddaughters of The Go-Gos. Great tunes, angry vocals, cynical lyrics. Point deducted for filler on the last couple of tracks.
4
Nov 11 2024
View Album
Beauty And The Beat
The Go-Go's
p473. 1981. 3 stars.
Prototype Bangles, but without the harmonies. Outside of the singles, there's a lot of filler. Credit for opening the door for every other girl band writing their own material that followed.
3
Nov 12 2024
View Album
Sweet Dreams (Are Made Of This)
Eurythmics
p512. 1983. 2 stars.
Not their best work by any means - see "be Yourself Tonight", "Revenge" and "Savage" for that - and outside of the singles there's a lot of filler and half baked songs that outstay their welcome. Set against that, we've got excellent production and THAT voice.
2
Nov 13 2024
View Album
Good Old Boys
Randy Newman
p333. 1974. 4 stars.
American satire at it's finest, with lyrics as sharp as a stiletto, and some great tunes. Guaranteed to cause offence. Strange that you can tune into any radio and hear rappers talk about n****s, but you'll never hear "Rednecks" played.
4
Nov 14 2024
View Album
Broken English
Marianne Faithfull
p437. 1979. 5 stars.
How to grow old disgraceful. Fabulous and filthy lyrics, great tunes and production, and that voice sounds as lived in as a favourite cracked leather jacket.
5
Nov 15 2024
View Album
Sincere
Mj Cole
Not in my edition of the book! 2000. 1 star.
A double album of tedious 5 minute+ samples, rap and electronic beats. Fuck no. Why is this on the list?
1
Nov 22 2024
View Album
The Low End Theory
A Tribe Called Quest
p665. 1991. 1 star.
Hip-hop/rap. Every track sounds the same. Tedious beyond belief.
1
Nov 25 2024
View Album
Dr. Octagonecologyst
Dr. Octagon
p774. 1996. 2 stars.
Rap, so wrong audience. It's also a surreal, vulgar and frequently funny mix of porn, B-movie audio tracks and sci-fi geekiness. Weird. Not sure I'll listen to it again, but I'm glad I did.
2
Nov 26 2024
View Album
Pills 'n' Thrills And Bellyaches
Happy Mondays
p644. 1990. 3 stars.
If you were in a field with a thousand other people, completely off your tits on E, then I can imagine this would be a 5 star album. In the cold morning light, this has not aged well - pilfered hooks and bass lines, covers and Shaun Ryder can't sing.
2
Nov 27 2024
View Album
That's The Way Of The World
Earth, Wind & Fire
p353. 1975. 2 stars.
Slick but bland 70s R&B. Completely unmemorable.
2
Nov 28 2024
View Album
In Utero
Nirvana
p711. 711. 4 stars.
Well, he knew how to write a riff and tune. The lyrics need work though. Still yards ahead of the rest of the pack.
4
Nov 29 2024
View Album
Black Holes and Revelations
Muse
Not in my edition of the book! 2006. 3 stars.
The spiritual grandchildren of Queen circa 1976. Overblown and pretentious, and there is a LOT of filler. Saved from a 2 by a handful of cracking stadium rockers.
3
Dec 02 2024
View Album
The Psychedelic Sounds of the 13th Floor Elevators
The 13th Floor Elevators
p96. 1996. 3 stars.
Strangely alluring cross between early Stones and LSD infused riffs, with Roky Erikson channelling his inner Mick Jagger. Set against that we have dated production and too much filler.
3
Dec 03 2024
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Smokers Delight
Nightmares On Wax
p754. 1995. 1 star.
Music for hipster elevators. Once heard, immediately forgotten.
1
Dec 06 2024
View Album
Slayed?
Slade
p261. 1972. 4 stars.
Once you get past the platform shoes and flares, you find the spiritual British cousins of Creedence Clearwater Revival. No-nonsense pub rock with one of THE great vocalists. Point deducted for the redundant covers.
4
Dec 09 2024
View Album
Scott 4
Scott Walker
p188. 1969. 4 stars.
Possibly the most subversive album of the 60s - a collection of seemingly middle of the road arrangements disguising sharp observations on society, the Cold War and emotional fragility. And of course it has THAT voice. 1 star deducted for the lack of standout songs.
4
Dec 10 2024
View Album
Ogden's Nut Gone Flake
Small Faces
p148. 1968. 1 star.
Self indulgent, pretentious, drug-addled crap. I cannot be doing with the bloody awful Cockernee music hall numbers or Stanley Unwin's gibberish.
"I'll sing you a song with no words and no tune (twiddly-bey)/To sing on your khazi while you suss out the moon, oh yeah". FFS
1
Dec 11 2024
View Album
Fromohio
fIREHOSE
p613. 1989. 1 star.
A band that desperately wants to be REM but lacks the talent or the songs. On the plus side, it's short.
1
Dec 12 2024
View Album
Public Image: First Issue
Public Image Ltd.
p406. 1978. 1 star.
Puerile, angry 6th form lyrics offset by decent stripped down drum and bass. The only one worth listening to is the title track. And as for the 9+ minute opener - i's like punk never happened, eh John?
1
Dec 13 2024
View Album
Larks' Tongues In Aspic
King Crimson
p289. 1973. 1 star.
70s prog-rock wankage. Saved from zero stars by Fripp's guitar work.
1
Dec 16 2024
View Album
Teenager Of The Year
Frank Black
p724. 1994. 1 star.
Average vocals, average songs, average playing. And it's a double album. Who decided this was essential listening?
1
Dec 17 2024
View Album
Heaux Tales
Jazmine Sullivan
Not in my edition of the book! 2021. 4 stars.
Quality R&B, sounds like Beyonce's sister. An ideal riposte to all those misogynistic rappers who refer to women as bitches and whores. Point deducted for liberal use of the n* word, which in going to date these tracks soooo badly in about 10 years time.
4
Dec 18 2024
View Album
Modern Kosmology
Jane Weaver
p946. 2017. 3 stars.
This decade's Goldfrapp. Lovely voice, and an eclectic mix of synth, folk, electro pop and psychedelia. All that's missing are standout tunes.
3
Dec 19 2024
View Album
1999
Prince
p485. 1982. 3 stars.
Starts off rock hard and ends sadly limp and flaccid. There's not doubt he could write a tune, and was an exceptional musician, but no-one needs a double album of multiple 7+ minute tracks. A bit of judicious editing into a single album and this would have been an easy 5 stars.
3
Dec 20 2024
View Album
Phrenology
The Roots
p889. 2002. 1 star.
Pretentious, foul mouthed obnoxious (c)rap.
1
Dec 23 2024
View Album
Planet Rock: The Album
Afrika Bambaataa
p545. 1986. 1 star.
The genesis of hip-hop, so wrong audience. Bonus point for the pilfering of Kraftwerk, but it's difficult to award anything but 1 star to kiddy fiddlers.
1
Dec 24 2024
View Album
Sometimes I Wish We Were An Eagle
Bill Callahan
Not in my edition of the book! 2009. 1 star.
Sounds like he's on a significant dose of Prozac. Tedious, pretentious lyrics and no tunes. Bonus point for the string arrangements.
"It's time to put God away". More like time for Bill Callahan to consider another career.
1
Dec 25 2024
View Album
Arular
M.I.A.
Not in my edition of the book! 2005. 1 star.
Hip-hop/rap with a sarf Landan accent. Unbearable. I get the impression she is on the list because she is female, black and British.
1
Jan 03 2025
View Album
A Little Deeper
Ms. Dynamite
Not in my edition of the book! 2002. 3 stars.
Surprisingly good Brit R&B - decent voice, quality production and some decent songs. Lyrically sharp and a slap in the face for the sexist, misogynistic male rappers on the list. Points deducted for filler. And to be honest, it's not essential listening.
3
Jan 06 2025
View Album
American Pie
Don McLean
p239. 1971. 3 stars.
Other than the obvious mega hits, this is generic early 70's 'Merican singer-songwriter material. Well done of its kind though, and on the plus side it's short. Point deducted for recycling "Vincent" for "Empty Chairs".
3
Jan 07 2025
View Album
Siamese Dream
The Smashing Pumpkins
p706. 1993. 2 stars.
Noisy, shouty Nirvana wannabees without the talent, plus they have a whiny lead vocalist. There's a couple of decent tunes, but it's still a slog to listen all the way through. And no-one needs multiple +5 minute tracks. Pass.
2
Jan 08 2025
View Album
Justified
Justin Timberlake
Not in my edition of the book! 2002. 1 star.
Bland, soulless, white "R&B" that desperately wants to be Michael Jackson but without the tunes. Who the fuck decided this was essential listening?
1
Jan 09 2025
View Album
Yeezus
Kanye West
p935. 2013. 2 stars.
Rap, so wrong audience. Bonus points for the quality production. Point deducted to balance out the size of his ego.
2
Jan 10 2025
View Album
Seventh Tree
Goldfrapp
Not in my edition of the book! 2008. 3 stars.
Not her best work - see Black Cherry for that - but it's still fine. Gorgeous voice and atmospheric strings, but a lot of the songs do blend into each other. Bonus point for "A&E" which is the best overdose song ever.
3
Jan 13 2025
View Album
Who's Next
The Who
p227. 1971. 4 stars.
Class 60s act show how to transition to the 70s in style. This is the yardstick against which all 70s rock albums need to be measured. It's not perfect - it gets flabby in the middle - but when it's good (and most of it is) it's brilliant.
4
Jan 14 2025
View Album
What's That Noise?
Coldcut
p623. 1989. 2 stars.
Average late 80s background student party music. Starts off with a classic and then descends into aimless sample noodling. Bonus point for "Not Paid Enough".
Not on Spotify so thanks to 3dou for the YouTube link for the full album:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tgYhZ5Ennig
2
Jan 15 2025
View Album
Beautiful Freak
Eels
p780. 1996. 4 stars.
Quality songs on isolation and loneliness, interspersed with a sense of hope and longing. Point deducted for occasional filler.
4
Jan 16 2025
View Album
Killing Joke
Killing Joke
p460. 1980. 2 stars.
Angry, unpleasant noise that goes on for far too long. Bonus point for the quality drumming and bass and the occasional half decent riff.
2
Jan 17 2025
View Album
The Grand Tour
George Jones
p332. 1974. 2 stars.
Mostly melancholic yeehaw. Now I need a hard drink. On the plus side, it's short. Then again, so is my hard drink.
2
Jan 20 2025
View Album
Virgin Suicides
Air
p857. 2000. 2 stars.
Mostly limp, ambient noodling. You will have a more enjoyable experience watching the film.
2
Jan 21 2025
View Album
Truth And Soul
Fishbone
p588. 1988. 1 star.
Average American band with no tunes, cover versions and an annoying sound. Fuck no. Why is this on the list?
1
Jan 22 2025
View Album
The Gilded Palace Of Sin
The Flying Burrito Brothers
p161. 1969. 2 stars.
Prototype Eagles, but without the standout tunes and a bit too much yeehaw. You can see why it was influential, but it's not my thing.
2
Jan 23 2025
View Album
Life's Too Good
The Sugarcubes
p601. 1988. 2 stars.
Icelandic B-52s, but without the songs or humour. And frankly, Bjork's voice gets really annoying after a while.
2
Jan 24 2025
View Album
OK
Talvin Singh
p837. 1998. 1 star.
On paper, drum and bass with Indian influences sounds like a good idea. In reality, it's just a mis-mash of tedious noise.
1
Jan 27 2025
View Album
Pacific Ocean Blue
Dennis Wilson
p386. 1977. 2.5 stars.
70s Beach Boys, but with rough vocals and no standout tunes. Fabulous production though.
2
Jan 28 2025
View Album
If I Should Fall From Grace With God
The Pogues
p585. 1988. 5 stars.
Absolutely brilliant - possibly the greatest live band ever and one of the great songwriters on absolutely top form. And it has the best Christmas song ever on it. God bless you, Shane and Kirsty.
5
Jan 29 2025
View Album
Goo
Sonic Youth
p652. 1990. 1 star.
Noisy generic Stateside proto grunge that goes on far too long. This would be a far better album if they lost the excessive guitar wankage at the end of most of the tracks.
1
Jan 30 2025
View Album
Street Signs
Ozomatli
Not in my edition of the book! 2004. 1 star.
Background Latin hip-hop for soulless cocktail parties. Additional point deducted for spending as much time finding the tracks as actually listening to them.
1
Jan 31 2025
View Album
Blonde On Blonde
Bob Dylan
p87. 1966. 3 stars.
Double album, so a point immediately deducted for filler. Another point docked for Dylan's voice which grates, especially on a double album. Bonus point for the quality song writing - lyrically he's light years ahead of the pack, even if it's unclear what the hell he means on most of the tracks - and for The Band. With a bit of editing this would have been an easy 5 star single album.
BTW - isn't it amazing how much a young Dylan looks like Timothee Chalamet? When they create a time machine they should cast him in a biopic of the actor.
3
Feb 03 2025
View Album
The New Tango
Astor Piazzolla
p573. 1987. 1 star.
Don't like jazz. Don't like vibraphones. Don't like accordions. Don't like live albums. This is live jazz with a vibraphone and an accordion. Fuck no.
And for the reviewer who wrote that we need to understand classic tango, some jazz, but even more so how Piazzolla internalizes the experimental legacy of composers such as Bartok or Stravinsky to enjoy this, and then accuses us all of colonial bias - try not being such a pretentious, condescending, sanctimonious musical snob, "friend". It's music FFS, and you either enjoy it or you don't.
1
Feb 04 2025
View Album
The Renaissance
Q-Tip
p919. 2008. 1 star.
Hip-hop, so wrong audience. Seems well done but... meh. It speaks volumes that the best tracks are those with samples from other artists.
1
Feb 05 2025
View Album
Mask
Bauhaus
p481. 1981. 2 stars.
Average Brit Goth rock. Makes you appreciate Siouxsie and The Banshees. Bonus point for having a sense of humour.
2
Feb 06 2025
View Album
Chore of Enchantment
Giant Sand
Not in my edition of the book! 2000. 1 star.
Dull hipster bar noodling that goes on for far too long, with a vocalist channelling a stoned Lou Reed. Who decided this was essential listening?
1
Feb 07 2025
View Album
James Brown Live At The Apollo
James Brown
p63. 1963. 2 stars.
Not a fan of live albums, especially ones that have overdubbed applause. Good sound, but didn't hit the sweet spot for me.
2
Feb 10 2025
View Album
Pink Moon
Nick Drake
p274. 1972. 4 stars.
Lovely, haunting melodies masking a sense of melancholy and desperation. The perfect soundtrack for a cold grey February morning. And he was a decent guitarist. Point deducted for a lack of standout tunes.
4
Feb 11 2025
View Album
Too Rye Ay
Dexys Midnight Runners
p490. 1982. 1 star.
Straight up, let me say that I cannot be doing with Kevin Rowland's voice. He has the worst articulation of ANY singer, I can't tell WTF he is singing. And why bother with this mutated horror of Irish fiddles and horns when you can listen to Van Morrison? It just sounds and feels derivative, down to the pretentious album cover.
1
Feb 12 2025
View Album
Blood And Chocolate
Elvis Costello & The Attractions
p544. 1986. 5 stars.
A stark reminder of just what he was capable of, and how far he as fallen in recent years. Stiletto sharp lyrics and cracking tunes. Essential Costello listening.
5
Feb 13 2025
View Album
With The Beatles
Beatles
p59. 1963. 2 stars.
Just because something is popular doesn't mean its good. Far too much filler and redundant covers. Saved from 1 star by a handful of Lennon-McCartney classics, plus an honourable mention for the cover of "Money".
2
Feb 14 2025
View Album
Iron Maiden
Iron Maiden
p463. 1980. 1 star.
Generic Brit heavy metal. It's Spinal Tap, isn't it? On the plus side, its short.
1
Feb 17 2025
View Album
Here, My Dear
Marvin Gaye
p418. 1978. 3 stars (just).
Possibly the greatest breakup album ever, just in time for Valentine's Day 2025 ;) Not his best work, but it's still pretty damn fine, and shows up wannabees like D'Angelo and Craig David for the pretenders they are. Great vocals, fabulous late 70s slick production, let down by too much filler (it's a double album) and a lack of stand out tracks.
3
Feb 18 2025
View Album
The Nightfly
Donald Fagen
p494. 1982. 2 stars.
No denying he can knock out a decent tune, and lyrically he's sharp, and technically it's flawless - but it's also soulless, and veers into hipster bar background noise far too often.
2
Feb 19 2025
View Album
Copper Blue
Sugar
p693.1992. 3 stars.
Well done grunge with REM inflections, but lacking standout tunes. Nothing special.
3
Feb 20 2025
View Album
In The Court Of The Crimson King
King Crimson
p185. 1969. 2 stars.
Technically proficient, pretentious prog rock wankage, with lyrics as fey as a pixie.
2
Feb 21 2025
View Album
Songs For Swingin' Lovers!
Frank Sinatra
p30. 1956. 4 stars.
The great American songbook, with Frank and Nelson on top form. Absolutely timeless. Point deducted for a lack of any real variety though.
4
Feb 24 2025
View Album
Destroy Rock & Roll
Mylo
p899. 2004. 1 star.
Tedious background music for hipster bars. It speaks volumes that the best track on it is samples from the hits of two other artists.
1
Feb 25 2025
View Album
Don't Stand Me Down
Dexys Midnight Runners
p542. 1985. 1 star.
There are three Dexy's albums on this list, and only one of them deserves to be on it. This isn't it. Sounds like a collection of discarded tracks from "Too-Rye-Ay" that weren't strong enough to make the final cut. Kevin Rowland sounds like he is trying to sing whilst gargling pebbles and being strangled. I just wish someone had finished him off properly. And no-one needs multiple 5+ minute tracks - it's like punk never happened, eh Kev?
1
Feb 26 2025
View Album
AmeriKKKa's Most Wanted
Ice Cube
p648. 1990. 1 star.
(C)rap. Violent, misogynistic, offensive rubbish that seems to go on forever. People will listen to this in 20 years and wonder how it was ever considered acceptable listening.
Sample lyrics:
Motherfucker / Nigga / Fuck a punk / Nigga / Bitches / Nigga / Hoes / Nigga / Fuck you / Nigga / Shit / Nigga / Kick the bitch / Nigga / Bullshit / Nigga / Pussy / Nigga / Slut / Nigga
Repeat ad infinitum
1
Feb 27 2025
View Album
If I Could Only Remember My Name
David Crosby
p222. 1971. 2 stars.
Meandering hippy noodling. Sounds like outtakes from a CSNY album - "sorry Dave, these don't make the final cut." On the plus side, it's short, and has some gorgeous harmonies.
2
Feb 28 2025
View Album
Better Living Through Chemistry
Fatboy Slim
p774. 1996. 1 star.
More background noise for hipster bars :( Tedious, repetitive loops with no redeeming features. Not essential listening.
1
Mar 03 2025
View Album
Horses
Patti Smith
p348. 1975. 3 stars.
Hugely influential album for punk and a whole generation of female singer/songwriters - but it's not aged well, and there is a LOT of filler. No-one needs multiple 9+ minute tracks.
3
Mar 04 2025
View Album
Fuzzy Logic
Super Furry Animals
p773. 1996. 2 stars.
Average Taff band with half decent tunes and crap lyrics. No need for this to be on the list.
2
Mar 05 2025
View Album
Whatever
Aimee Mann
p709. 1993. 2 stars.
Sheryl Crow, but without the tunes. Well done, but not exceptional in any way. Bonus point for "Stupid Thing". Why is this album on the list?
2
Mar 06 2025
View Album
Live 1966 (The Royal Albert Hall Concert)
Bob Dylan
p822. 1998. 1 star.
A live double album of Bob Dylan's nasal whine. Fuck no. Not one song on this adds anything to the studio versions. The second album is better, but that's not saying much. This is only on the list because of the Judas moment, and that is NOT a good reason to listen to this abomination.
1
Mar 07 2025
View Album
SĂŁo Paulo Confessions
Suba
p839. 1999. 1 star.
Background music for shopping at Ikea. Why is this on the list?
1
Mar 10 2025
View Album
Ys
Joanna Newsom
p912. 2006. 1 star.
I am sure all of us have wondered what the songs from a failed off-Broadway musical with discarded lyrics by Highway 61 era Bob Dylan, sung by an American Bjork and with orchestration by Andrew Lloyd Webber would sound like. It's fucking awful.
Whoever nominated this for essential listening needs to taken outside and given a good kicking. Twice.
1
Mar 11 2025
View Album
Morrison Hotel
The Doors
p198. 1970. 4 stars.
Now we're talking. One of the great American bands on top form, stripped of most of their 60s hippy flabbiness and back to their blues/rock roots. Point deducted for suspect lyrics.
4
Mar 12 2025
View Album
Teenage Head
Flamin' Groovies
p250. 1971. 3 stars.
Average early 70s US blues/rock garage band. Good fun, but definitely not essential listening. On the plus side, it's short.
3
Mar 13 2025
View Album
Sign 'O' The Times
Prince
p567. 1987. 3 stars.
As with all double albums, it's self indulgent, flabby and packed with filler - no-one needs a 9 minute live track. Bit of a shame really, because when it's good it's brilliant. A bit of judicious editing and this would be an easy 5.
3
Mar 14 2025
View Album
KE*A*H** (Psalm 69)
Ministry
p695. 1992. 3 stars
Well done Stateside industrial metal with a sense of humour. Makes you realise just how influential Motorhead were. Points deducted for excessive wankage on multiple tracks.
3
Mar 17 2025
View Album
The Libertines
The Libertines
Not in my edition of the book! 2004. 2 stars.
Massively hyped up but average Brit pub rock band with a couple of half decent songs. And Pete Doherty can't sing.
2
Mar 18 2025
View Album
The Atomic Mr Basie
Count Basie & His Orchestra
p31. 1957. 2 stars.
I don't like jazz or big bands, so wrong audience. Seems well done though.
2
Mar 19 2025
View Album
Paris 1919
John Cale
p292. 1973. 4 stars.
Strange but lovely Brit/70s West Coast hybrid with odd lyrics. And it's short.
4
Mar 20 2025
View Album
Parachutes
Coldplay
p862. 2000. 3 stars.
Proof that just because something sells millions, it's not essential listening. Yes, they can knock out a decent tune, but there is a lot of filler and it becomes bland background noise reallll fast.
3
Mar 25 2025
View Album
Bone Machine
Tom Waits
p694. 1992. 5 stars.
American companion piece to Nick Cave's "Murder Ballads". Sharp lyrics mixed with rage, longing, anger and melancholy. If you can live with the gravel vocals (and I can) this is an easy 5 stars.
5
Mar 26 2025
View Album
Brutal Youth
Elvis Costello
p730. 1994. 4 stars
Costello and the Attractions on top form. Cynical, razor sharp lyrics that make you want to take a shower after listening, and some cracking tunes. Point deducted for his voice, which is annoying.
4
Mar 27 2025
View Album
Strange Cargo III
William Orbit
p722. 1993. 1 star.
"You are in a queue and your call will be handled shortly".
Cue William Orbit. Tedious call centre music from a Moby wannabee without the talent or samples.
"Your call is important to us. Please remain on the line."
1
Mar 28 2025
View Album
Black Sabbath
Black Sabbath
p198. 1970. 1 star.
Below par Brit heavy metal with schoolboy lyrics and a naff cover. Like Wyld Stallyns, they got better. Genre defining, possibly. Essential listening, no.
1
Mar 31 2025
View Album
Joan Baez
Joan Baez
p48, 1960. 3 stars.
A wonderful crystal clear voice, and some excellent guitar work - but it's let down by the material, and a lot of the songs tend to just blend into each other.
3
Apr 01 2025
View Album
Crocodiles
Echo And The Bunnymen
p457. 1980. 2 stars.
Barely adequate Scouse New Wave. There are hints of the 13th Story Elevators, which is a good thing, but there's no real variety - once you've heard one track, you've heard 'em all. On the plus side, it's short.
2
Apr 02 2025
View Album
Phaedra
Tangerine Dream
p323. 1974. 2 stars.
I can see why it was influential, but electronic hippy noodling with 17+ minute tracks tend to leave me cold.
2
Apr 03 2025
View Album
BEYONCĂ
Beyoncé
p936. 2013. 2 stars.
Well, she's got a great voice and some decent lyrics - but there's no standout tunes, it goes on far too long for what it is, and it's horribly dated.
2
Apr 04 2025
View Album
Reign In Blood
Slayer
p554. 1986. 1 star.
Redundant Motorhead wannabees with half decent lyrics. However, there is nothing here that hasn't been done before.
1
Apr 07 2025
View Album
Scissor Sisters
Scissor Sisters
Not in my edition of the book! 2004. 4 stars.
Quality camp rock, with some brilliantly catchy songs and sharp lyrics. The opening four song sequence is brilliant. Point deducted for filler.
4
Apr 08 2025
View Album
Cloud Nine
The Temptations
p177. 1969. 3 stars.
Fine example of late 60s Motown production line soul. Unfortunately Motown was focused on singles, so there is a lot of filler here - and how many covers of "I Heard It Through The Grapevine" does anyone need?
3
Apr 09 2025
View Album
This Is Hardcore
Pulp
p828. 1988. 4 stars.
An exercise in self disgust that make you want to take a shower after listening. Sharp lyrics, all that's missing are standout tunes.
4
Apr 10 2025
View Album
Music in Exile
Songhoy Blues
Not in my edition of the book! 2015. 3 stars.
Intriguing African blues band. Well done of its kind, but the tracks do tend to blur into each other. Not sure I'd listen to it again, but glad I did.
3
Apr 11 2025
View Album
Clube Da Esquina
Milton Nascimento
p266, 1972. 2 stars.
Inoffensive Brazilian pop with no redeeming features. Pass.
2
Apr 14 2025
View Album
Natty Dread
Bob Marley & The Wailers
p334. 1974. 3 stars.
Not a fan of reggae, but this is good. Sharp lyrics and fine tunes. Not sure I'd listen to again due to musical preferences, but I can appreciate the impact it must have had.
3
Apr 15 2025
View Album
Blood, Sweat & Tears
Blood, Sweat & Tears
p168. 1969. 1 star.
Music for 70s Las Vegas cabaret. Variations of classical music, jazz noodling, an 11 minute track and farting horns. And the arrangement of And When I Die is an abomination. Fuck no.
1
Apr 16 2025
View Album
Electric
The Cult
p567. 1987. 3 stars.
Brit Guns'N'Roses clone. Points deducted for excessive guitar wankage and redundant covers.
3
Apr 17 2025
View Album
World Clique
Deee-Lite
p636. 1990. 1 star.
Proof that one mega hit does not mean this album is essential listening. Bland, insipid 90s dance music that has dated badly.
1
Apr 18 2025
View Album
Illinois
Sufjan Stevens
p907. 2005. 3 stars.
Far too long for what it is, but when it's good it's brilliant. Disturbing lyrics and haunting tunes - it's just too flabby. A bit of judicious editing and this could have easily been a 5.
3
Apr 21 2025
View Album
Survivor
Destiny's Child
Not in my edition of the book! 2001. 2 stars.
Starts of strong and fades badly into background music for ladies hairdressing salons. Great vocals, but far too long for what it is. It speaks volumes that the best track on it ("Bootylicious") is a straight rip of Stevie Nicks "Edge of Seventeen".
2
Apr 22 2025
View Album
Maggot Brain
Funkadelic
p246, 1971. 3 stars.
Weird, but in a good way. Suffers from the usual early 70s wankage on some of the tracks, but there's enough here to keep interest. And guitarist Eddie Hazel is a bit good.
3
Apr 23 2025
View Album
John Lennon/Plastic Ono Band
John Lennon
p200. 1970. 4 stars.
The Gospel of St.John. Very much a mixed bag of primal scouring of the soul and lovesick soppiness, but when it's good it's brilliant.
4
Apr 24 2025
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Our Aim Is To Satisfy
Red Snapper
Not in my edition of the book! 2000. 1 star.
"Our Aim Is To Satisfy." Fail.
Tedious electronic sampling with no redeeming features. WTF is this doing on the list?
1
Apr 25 2025
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Smash
The Offspring
p734. 1994. 3 stars.
The bastard love children of Nirvana and Green Day. Shouty punk power pop, lots of energy but lacking standout tunes.
3
Apr 28 2025
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Cypress Hill
Cypress Hill
p658. 1991. 1 star..
(C)rap. Foul mouthed, tedious, offensive nursery rhymes about drugs and killing people.
1
Apr 29 2025
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The Stooges
The Stooges
p189. 1969. 4 stars.
This is what you get if you put early Stones, the 13th Story Elevators and The Doors into a blender. Short, sweet and on point - all it's missing are more standout songs.
4
Apr 30 2025
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The Lamb Lies Down On Broadway
Genesis
p316. 1974. 1 star.
A prime example of pretentious, self indulgent musical and lyrical 70's wankage, all on an excessive double album.
It's shit like this that gets the 70's a bad name.
1
May 01 2025
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California
American Music Club
p599. 1988. 2 stars.
Inoffensive REM clone without the tunes.
Point deducted for having to go YouTube to find it:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RUmXZEPwsTE
2
May 02 2025
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Let's Get Killed
David Holmes
p804. 1997. 1 star.
Tedious background music/samples with no redeeming features. WTF is this even doing on the list?
1
May 05 2025
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Junkyard
The Birthday Party
p498. 1982. 2 stars.
Prototype "Grinderman". Probably included because of what Nick Cave went on to do, but this isn't essential listening.
2
May 06 2025
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Throwing Muses
Throwing Muses
p555. 1986. 2 stars.
Primeval Voice of The Beehive, but without the tunes. Not essential listening.
2
May 07 2025
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Stephen Stills
Stephen Stills
p199. 1970. 4 stars.
How to transition from the 60s to 70s in style. Quality, understated singer/song writing with fabulous production. Point deducted for occasional 70s guitar wankage.
4
May 08 2025
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Microshift
Hookworms
p951. 2018. 1 star.
Microshit more like. Bland noise with limp vocals. Zero redeeming features. WTF is this on the list?
1
May 09 2025
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Violator
Depeche Mode
p640. 1990. 2 stars.
Dated synths, two decent songs and a LOT of filler do not make essential listening.
2
May 12 2025
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Roger the Engineer
The Yardbirds
p98. 1966. 3 stars.
60s mismash of sub-par songs and bland vocals, saved from a 2 star rating by incendiary guitar work from Jeff Beck. I suspect this one is on the list as a reminder of how good they were as a live act.
3
May 13 2025
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Another Green World
Brian Eno
p337. 1975. 2 stars.
Bland ambient music with awful vocals and lyrics. "I'll tie your shoe". Saved from 1 star by a couple of lovely instrumentals. Next time Brian, no need to sing, eh?
2
May 14 2025
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The Boatman's Call
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds
p809. 1997. 4 stars.
Nick Cave moping. Some great songs on this, but there is a lot of filler as well.
4
May 15 2025
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Lady In Satin
Billie Holiday
p38. 1958. 3 stars.
Wonderful voice and inflection, let down by substandard material and syrupy arrangements. Not her best work, but a good introduction to the talent.
3
May 16 2025
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Blunderbuss
Jack White
p934. 2012. 5 stars.
Fabulous white blues/rock. Not a weak track on this.
5
May 19 2025
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Foxbase Alpha
Saint Etienne
p668. 1991. 2 stars.
Tedious, repetitive 90s Brit electro pop. It speaks volumes that the best track on this is a cover of a Neil Young song. Not essential listening.
2
May 20 2025
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Mr. Tambourine Man
The Byrds
p80. 1965. 4 stars.
The template for folk rock in 31 near-perfect minutes. Still sounds fresh today. Point deducted for the suspect cover of "We'll Meet Again".
4
May 21 2025
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Something/Anything?
Todd Rundgren
p267. 1972. 3 stars.
70s double album with lots of filler and "look at how clever I am" noodling, so points immediately deducted. On the plus side, when it's good it's fabulous - great songs, sharp lyrics, and he played every instrument. A bit of judicious editing and this would be an easy 5.
3
May 22 2025
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Meat Puppets II
Meat Puppets
p515. 1983. 2 stars.
Some good songs and guitar playing let down by truly dreadful singing.
2
May 23 2025
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Master Of Puppets
Metallica
p548. 1986. 2 stars.
Generic heavy metal, saved from 1 star by some decent riffs. There is nothing here that's hasn't been done better before.
2
May 26 2025
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Songs Of Love And Hate
Leonard Cohen
p243. 1971. 2 stars.
He can't sing, and he can't write a tune. Saved from 1 star by decent lyrics.
2
May 27 2025
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Oar
Alexander 'Skip' Spence
p189. 1969. 1 star.
Well, it's in tune, and has some fine guitar work. Apart from that, nothing to recommend it. And it does outstay its welcome REALLL soon.
1
Jun 02 2025
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The Beach Boys Today!
The Beach Boys
p76. 1965. 4 stars.
Protype "Pet Sounds" and an almost perfect example of mid 60s West Coast Surf rock. What sets it apart from the rest of the pack is the evolution of Brian Wilson's songwriting from cars and girls to lyrical vulnerability.
Point deducted for the inane chatter that is the final "track". Sometimes, too much pot is not a good thing, guys.
4
Jun 03 2025
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Pelican West
Haircut 100
p494. 1982. 1 star.
The epitome of bland, crap UK early 80's pop. It's like punk never happened. Every track sounds the same, the lyrics are shite, and that chittering guitar gets annoying REALLL soon. WTF is this doing on the list?
"Is it down to the lake I fear". What's so fucking scary about the lake, eh?
1
Jun 04 2025
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Private Dancer
Tina Turner
p524. 1984. 4.5 stars.
How to make a comeback in style. One of the great voices and live performers on top form, coupled with great songs. Even the covers sound fresh. Half a point deducted dated synths.
As for the album cover: she might have her legs crossed but you can still see Tina Turner's pussy.
4
Jun 05 2025
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Q: Are We Not Men? A: We Are Devo
Devo
p416. 1978. 2 stars.
Soulless US electro rock. Once heard, immediately forgotten.
2
Jun 06 2025
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Two Dancers
Wild Beasts
p923. 2009. 2 stars.
Decent production and handful of half decent songs do not make for essential listening. And I cannot be doing with one of the singer's squealing falsetto, if makes my ears bleed.
Note to self: if no-one is talking about an album more than 5 years after it came out, it's not essential listening.
2
Jun 09 2025
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I Do Not Want What I Haven't Got
Sinead O'Connor
p650. 1990. 4 stars
Fine voice and arrangement, let down by some filler. Still fabulous after all this time though. Rest in peace, ya lovely mad Irish bitch.
"And I liked it all/Like the times we did it so hard/There was blood on the wall"
4
Jun 10 2025
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Cupid & Psyche 85
Scritti Politti
p543. 1985. 2 stars.
"Scritti Politti" translates roughly to "political writings" in Italian. It also translates as "dated 80s synths with flaccid vocals". This has not aged well. I cannot imagine any reality where this is essential listening.
Saved from 1 star by the admittedly catchy singles.
2
Jun 11 2025
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It Takes A Nation Of Millions To Hold Us Back
Public Enemy
p604. 1988. 2 stars.
Rap, so wrong audience. Seems well done of its type though.
2
Jun 12 2025
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Cross
Justice
Not in my edition of the book! 2007. 1 star.
Tedious and annoying electronic noodling. Sounds like the background music from early video games. WTF is this shit doing on the list?
1
Jun 13 2025
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Smile
Brian Wilson
Not in my edition of the book! 2004. 5 stars.
One of the great songwriters and arrangers on absolutely top form. We can only imagine what it would have sounded like in 1967 with the Beach Boys in their prime. As it is, it's still pretty damn fine.
This was generated for me to listen to the day after Brian Wilson died. Randomly generated? I think not :)
5
Jun 16 2025
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Revolver
Beatles
p84. 1966. 5 stars.
Flawless. Arguably their best album.
5
Jun 17 2025
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Fun House
The Stooges
p214. 1970. 2 stars.
Starts off tight and becomes increasingly tedious and flabby as it goes on. No-one needs multiple 6+ minute workouts, not even Iggy, who is channelling his inner Jim Morrison on this. On the plus side, the entire album is short.
2
Jun 18 2025
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Exodus
Bob Marley & The Wailers
p375. 1977. 3 stars.
Reggae. so wrong audience. On the plus side, some classic tunes. Just doesn't do it for me.
"I don't like reggae/oh no"
3
Jun 19 2025
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Tellinâ Stories
The Charlatans
P785. 1996. 1 star.
Poor man's Oasis without the tunes or the talent. Not much to like here.
1
Jun 20 2025
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Surfer Rosa
Pixies
p595. 1988. 3 stars.
Proto Nirvana. Needs works on the lyrics. Some decent tunes. Good, but not exceptional.
3
Jun 23 2025
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Idlewild
Everything But The Girl
p588. 1988. 2 stars.
UK k.d.laing clone. Bland background music for late 80's cocktail bars, complete with cheesy sax. Shame really, because there are a couple of half decent songs on here - it's just missing any sense of excitement.
2
Jun 24 2025
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Wild Gift
X
p478. 1981. 1 star.
Average garage band with average songs. There are zero reasons why this should be considered essential listening. On the plus side, it's short.
1
Jun 25 2025
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The Scream
Siouxsie And The Banshees
p422. 1978. 2 stars.
70's Goth/punk template. Influential, but let down by too much filler and dreadful production - it sounds like it was recorded in a mud bath. And no-one needs 6+ minute tracks.
2
Jun 26 2025
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Peter Gabriel 3
Peter Gabriel
p455. 1980. 2 stars.
Not his best work by any means, far too much filler to make this a repeat listen. Saved from 1 star by the handful of decent songs and one hit. He got better as he went on.
2
Jun 27 2025
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Billion Dollar Babies
Alice Cooper
p308. 1973. 3 stars.
Early 70s shock rock, badly dated but saved from obscurity by a handful of decent singles. How easily offended we all were in our youth ;)
3
Jun 30 2025
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Among The Living
Anthrax
p563. 1987. 2 stars.
This is what you get if you cross Motorhead with Iron Maiden. Well done of its kind, but there is nothing here that hasn't been done before and better.
2
Jul 01 2025
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At Budokan
Cheap Trick
p440. 1979. 2 stars.
The musical equivalent of winning the lottery. Average US band with average songs somehow sells 3 million copies with a live album. WTF.
2
Jul 02 2025
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Kilimanjaro
The Teardrop Explodes
p468. 1980. 2 star.
This has not aged well. Average songs and dreadful lyrics. One great song ("Reward") but that's it.
1
Jul 03 2025
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The Wall
Pink Floyd
p441. 1979. 4 stars.
An odyssey of fear and self loathing. Great songs, sharp lyrics and fabulous guitar work. The only double album you need. Point deducted for straying into rock theatre.
4
Jul 04 2025
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A Walk Across The Rooftops
The Blue Nile
p508.
Bland background music for expensive hi-fi systems. Once heard, immediately forgotten.
1
Jul 07 2025
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The Velvet Underground
The Velvet Underground
p172. 1969. 1 star.
Mostly average 60s songs from a mostly average 60s band. You can see why it didn't sell at the time. Reduced from 2 stars to 1 because of the abomination that is "The Murder Mystery".
1
Jul 08 2025
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Forever Changes
Love
p109. 1967. 5 stars.
The only hippies you can trust. Arguably the greatest album of the Summer of Love.
5