Feb 02 2022
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In A Silent Way
Miles Davis
Jazz isn't my thing, but I do love the sound Miles got from his horn. Side one belongs to that omnipresent fizzing from the hi-hat and some of the coolest bass I've ever heard. I heard someone use the word "ambient" to describe the album. It is something you'd put on late at night while peacefully discussing with a couple of friends.
3
Feb 03 2022
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Kenya
Machito
I only lasted 4 songs before I started pushing the next song button in the hope that something would be different. Two stars because the musicians played well, but it sounded like every other Latin beat piece of big band music.
2
Feb 04 2022
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Urban Hymns
The Verve
This isn't one of the great albums. The best song is only memorable because of a sample of an orchestral rendering of a Rolling Stones' song. The rest is a reasonably pedestrian attempted copy of Oasis, but lacking the bite.
3
Feb 07 2022
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Forever Changes
Love
I'd never heard of Love until I started using Spotify. They frequently add Alone Again Or to a variety of playlists because it's such a genre hopper, with those excellent harmonies. The rest of the album doesn't disappoint, with that lovely contrast of sweet backing against some dark lyrics.
4
Feb 08 2022
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The Yes Album
Yes
4
Feb 09 2022
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My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy
Kanye West
Every time I hear n***** I hate a song. I'm an old fart who occasionally likes hip-hop, but I find it so cliched and repetitive, and that's the worst cliche. The second cliche is the name-checking that goes on with the intense self-interest that most of the lyrics feature. So far this is living up to the cliches. Cliche three is their hatred of women.
"So Appalled" is the ultimate joke, with one of these idiots busily yelling out, "F****** ridiculous, " as his contribution to art. The rest of them spout out whiny, misogynistic crap. Ok, I give up. I'm bored. I lasted 9 songs.
Musically it is interesting, almost orchestral. Lyrically... they whine more than a faulty gearbox.
I'm giving it two stars because one star means an album has nothing to recommend it. This has some good sounds. I wish they'd just shut up.
2
Feb 10 2022
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Penance Soiree
The Icarus Line
Angst factor 11 and rising. This is ultimate screamo from a band that can play. A whole album becomes repetitive. Will still listen again, however.
4
Feb 11 2022
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Phaedra
Tangerine Dream
Can you really expect a PNE supporter to like Blackpool?
I was surprised how enjoyable this was. That sequencer sound is very good to listen to.
4
Feb 14 2022
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I Never Loved a Man the Way I Love You
Aretha Franklin
What a piece of music! Four amazing songs that are a great as anything ever released. Five songs that are much more than filler. Then...a truly terrible version of "A Change Is Gonna Come." It almost made me stop the rating from five to four stars. It sounds like a bad attempt at the national anthem by a wannabe. Not the Queen of Soul.
But this album placed her at the absolute top. Magnificent!
5
Feb 15 2022
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Licensed To Ill
Beastie Boys
4
Feb 16 2022
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Sincere
Mj Cole
This is elevator music hell. Do people actually like this crap? It's boring enough to put you to sleep, but just irritating enough to keep you awake. This actually scores zero stars.
1
Feb 17 2022
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Remedy
Basement Jaxx
It's clever and catchy. But it's house. I didn't like dance music from my generation (disco), so I'm even less enamoured with EDM.
2
Feb 18 2022
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Foxbase Alpha
Saint Etienne
Carn't sleep put me to sleep. Started skipping tracks. Why am I getting house albums? Give me something that rocks or I'm out of here.
2
Feb 21 2022
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Technique
New Order
I heard the first track, Fine Time, which sounds like a Stock, Aitken, Waterman instrumental. Throw some Kylie vocals over the top and it's 1986. No thank you. Then comes, "All The Way," which threw me back to The Cure doing Inbetween Days. The rest of the album has me in a happy '80s place, hearing echoes of The Go-Betweens, Depeche Mode, and smidgens of The Smiths. I've always thought of New Order as innovators, now I'm hearing them as musical Bower Birds: collecting shiny things that turn into something that is very attractive.
4
Feb 22 2022
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Stories From The City, Stories From The Sea
PJ Harvey
It starts off innocently, a couple of fairly standard rocky numbers, which had me worrying about lack of diversity. Then we hit the numbers she did with Thom Yorke, which sandwich the genius of "The Whores Hustle..." Now we start hearing the Nick Cave influence.
There is light, shade, darkness. She uses that voice to stab you in the heart. When it's over, you feel bereft. Thank God for replay. I knew she was good, but this is the best album I've heard in years.
5
Feb 23 2022
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New Boots And Panties
Ian Dury
It's hard to go back and remember how shocking this was. It seems more naughty little boy nowadays, although Blockheads and Blackmail Man have a bit of serious bite to them. My Old Man is quite lovely. The less said about Billeracay Dickie and You're More Than Fair, the better.
4
Feb 24 2022
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Music For The Jilted Generation
The Prodigy
More EDM. So boring. Why would anybody buy a whole album.
1
Feb 25 2022
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Heroes
David Bowie
A couple of great songs, but I've discovered I rarely like instrumentals. I've never taken to the Berlin trilogy and time hasn't changed my opinion.
3
Feb 26 2022
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Pornography
The Cure
For those who don't know, Townsville is a tropical city, definitely not conducive to wearing long coats. Nevertheless, in 1985, I discovered that the West End hotel was the home of the city's goth scene. Both music is the best dance music, without question, as far as I'm concerned. It manages to have a hypnotic, insistent beat, while escaping the utter boredom and repetition of '70s disco, EDM, etc. Whenever they played a song I didn't know, but really liked, there was an excellent chance it came from this great album.
When you find out that it was recorded while they consumed vast quantities of alcohol and drugs, while Smith has stated he was suicidally depressed, it is no surprise this album is considered the beginning of goth rock. When they toured it was the first appearance of the big hair and make up that symbolised goth.
A wall of thundering noise that thrills me like few other albums.
5
Feb 26 2022
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Fulfillingness' First Finale
Stevie Wonder
A lot of meh, somewhat relieved by Boogie On Reggae Woman. Then you hear the clavinet lead into You Haven't Done Nothin', one of the greatest songs I've heard. Side two is a great Stevie journey: a slow ballad that makes your heartache, a sweet bit of samba soul, with that wonderful sound of the cuica, and a great soul song that fades out with a jam. Can't go give stars because the first side is a let down, but side two is everything that genius was capable of.
4
Feb 27 2022
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Parachutes
Coldplay
It feels like the same song being played over and over with all the feeling of a lounge band. Murph and The Magictones, anyone? I feel they're wearing beige velour. So boring. Pretty good if you need to be put to sleep.
2
Feb 28 2022
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Chelsea Girl
Nico
Manages boredom and irritation. "It was a pleasure then" is a collection of cacophony. Did those great songwriters (Dylan, Jackson, Hardin) write bad songs, or did she wreck them?
After listening to some other versions, the answer is that Nico can't sing
1
Mar 01 2022
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Sweet Baby James
James Taylor
James has always sounded a bit weedy, to me. This album doesn't change my mind. Fire and Rain is unquestionably brilliant, and there are some good lines in some of the other songs. But it isn't an album that I needed to hear.
3
Mar 02 2022
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Sister
Sonic Youth
Well that was disappointing. Just noise.
2
Mar 03 2022
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A Seat at the Table
Solange
I'm with the reviewers that say, "Sounds nice, good message, but oh so boring."
2
Mar 04 2022
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Yeezus
Kanye West
This is my 25th album and it's the second by this overrated tabloid fodder. Apparently his music changed with every album. Pity the lyrical content is still just as tawdry. He's either bragging or whining. I didn't have to listen to this. Nobody does.
1
Mar 05 2022
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Dig Your Own Hole
The Chemical Brothers
Chemical Brothers do EDM really well. The first couple of songs are enjoyable, but then I start remembering why I dislike EDM. Every song is an introduction that outwears its welcome. I keep waiting for a song to break out, but all they do is minor variations on the riff. Then that uptempo beat starts to irritate and agitate. I don't know how people manage to listen to a whole album without getting violent. Two stars because it is better than most.
2
Mar 06 2022
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21
Adele
It's kind of interesting that this top selling album isn't really a great album. It is a collection of big songs that doesn't really have the journey that a good album takes you on. It has some phenomenal songs by an artist who sings powerful songs brilliantly. But there's no contrast and it gets a bit boring and repetitive.
HOWEVER... it is bookended by four great songs, and they earn four stars.
4
Mar 07 2022
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Tigermilk
Belle & Sebastian
There's lots to like with this throwback. I was getting '60s hippie vibes, and was getting hopeful. But his voice becomes repetitive. There are far too many albums that suffer from lack of variety. This is one of them. Can someone explain why I must listen to this album?
3
Mar 08 2022
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Dummy
Portishead
Other reviewers have asked the same question: Why haven't Portishead been tapped for a James Bond theme? Beth has a great voice, totally suited to the slow beats that back her up.
I'd never heard this band, their name sounded like a folk band. Then I read something that said they were pioneers of trip hop. This immediately sent my antennae waving, not in a good way. But I've been pleasantly surprised and enjoyed their music, bar one important detail. I've listened to several albums recently that all suffer from a lack of variety. EDM is chronically guilty of that. Sadly, it becomes a bit wearing. But it's so well done it still gets four stars.
A couple of reviewers had a go at the scratching. IT'S 1994 FFS!
4
Mar 09 2022
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Innervisions
Stevie Wonder
It was a revelation when it came out. Living For the City a and Higher Ground are top shelf, but the rest doesn't reach that standard.
4
Mar 10 2022
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Crime Of The Century
Supertramp
What an introduction. Davies' wailing harmonica was so good, they used that instrument as the main intro to side two of Breakfast. "School" shows us exactly where they were in '74 - bridging the gap between prog and pop. What follows is a great album, showing us some serious rock, those Wurlitzer pianos, some thumping good rhythm, and a balance between art, rock and pop that few bands have managed. Somehow Hodgson's voice doesn't annoy, while Davies always has that extra bit of bite that makes him one of my favourites.
Then it finishes with those piano chords! Simple, unadorned, powerful, memorable. So what do you do? Turn it over and listen again.
Oh yes.... probably the best cover of any album, ever.
5
Mar 11 2022
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Melodrama
Lorde
Meh.
2
Mar 12 2022
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Appetite For Destruction
Guns N' Roses
They arrived with a massive explosion. There was some great rock around at that time, but it wasn't played on commercial radio. Instead we had that travesty known as "hair metal." Firstly, it wasn't metal, it was plastic pop with guitars. It didn't rock, it primped. I took one look at G'n'R and expected more of the same. Then I heard this!
It just launches and never sets down. Usually I get bored with too much of the same, but they rock so hard it doesn't matter. Like every great band it begins with the rhythm section. Slash peels off solos that Page would struggle to equal. Like all the great leads, he is melodic, not just some boring shredder like Steve Vai. Axl doesn't have a great voice, but it suits the songs.
This is one of the great debut albums, yet they went better with Use Your Illusion(s)...
5
Mar 13 2022
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The Hangman's Beautiful Daughter
The Incredible String Band
This album should be in the other book: 1001 albums you should avoid at all costs. I've never listened to an album so quickly. It went like this - Track 1: Listen for 20 seconds, scream in horror, skip to Track 2: listen for 15 seconds, vomit, skip to Track 3: listen for 10 seconds, feel a part of my soul die, no more skipping. This is worse than Crazy Frog, Brotherhood of Man, and Nyaan Cat, all on permanent loop. No amount of drugs accounts for this abomination being written, let alone recorded, let alone getting released!
1
Mar 14 2022
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Rum Sodomy & The Lash
The Pogues
Oh, how I wish I'd seen them live. Preferably in a pub with a dance floor. I love the little touches that elevate it above folk (I love good Celtic folk BTW). My favourite is the surf guitar solo on, "A Pistol For Paddy Garcia." I was expecting to mark this down because of repetition, but this glorious LP is packed with variety, fun, skill, and that spark of anger and rebellion that turns good into great.
5
Mar 15 2022
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The La's
The La's
Like many listeners I only knew that beautiful single, so was looking forward to the album. So it begins with a bunch of great pop songs, culminating in "There She Goes." That song deserves its place as a soundtrack favourite: jangly, sweet guitars and those glorious, uplifting harmonies. Pure pop perfection.
Then it starts getting interesting, a bit of rock, and some more introspective stuff. "Looking Glass" is a psychedelic masterpiece, I love how it finishes in a whirring blur. A bit of tightening and this is a five star album. I wish they'd recorded more. This is a great debut with a couple of great songs.
4
Mar 16 2022
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Toys In The Attic
Aerosmith
My first impression is that I know why they didn't make an impression in Oz. We had so many bands that knew how to rock. First two tracks - meh. A little bit of life in the third, but I'm still struggling to stay awake. "Walk This Way" sounded much better in 1986. Maybe it's the production, because there are some good songs trying to get out, but it sounds pretty pedestrian except for "Round and Round," which is good rock.
2
Mar 17 2022
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The Hissing Of Summer Lawns
Joni Mitchell
Nope. Joni wrote some great songs, but her albums drag. This one manages to combine dull with pretentious. What is it with this vocal delivery? Is she trying to demonstrate how clever and poetic her vocals are? The Jungle Line doesn't deserve to be on this album, it's much too good. Saves the album from a one star.
2
Mar 18 2022
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The Pleasure Principle
Gary Numan
That plaintive voice against the robotic background gives these songs way more heart than I expected. This is so early in the electronic era yet sounds better than most. He brings a lovely musicality, especially the swirls of sound that add colour to several pieces.
4
Mar 19 2022
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Debut
Björk
Expectations are an interesting thing. I was expecting something weird that would probably get 3 stars. I expected her voice to get annoying. There was a bit of weird, the correct amount of weird. I found the first few songs enjoyable: quirky, clever, upbeat. But all she was doing was luring me in to the stunning finish. All of a sudden I felt so much emotion. Each song in that second side is a mini masterpiece, a combination of vocal and musical excellence. Her voice! The variety of songs, complete with a potential James Bond theme. This has made 1001 albums worth it.
5
Mar 20 2022
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Cosmo's Factory
Creedence Clearwater Revival
Putting on a Creedence record is like answering the door to an old friend. Except this old friend still manages to surprise. If you haven't heard them for a while it's easy to forget how great Fogerty's voice is. The wonderful thing about Cosmo's Factory is that it's littered with hits, but the less well known songs are also brilliant. It has variety, it rocks, it has several killer riffs.
There is one fault: Why is Heard It Through the Grapevine so long? Ramble Tamble is long, but it never bores. Creedence did the best version of Grapevine (that riff alone, let alone the vocal). The first coda is fine, but they needed to stop. Doesn't stop it getting five stars.
5
Mar 21 2022
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Paris 1919
John Cale
That was surprisingly good. It does beg the question as to why Reed was the lead singer of the Velvet Underground. Because Cale can sing. In tune, even.
4
Mar 22 2022
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461 Ocean Boulevard
Eric Clapton
Not the most boring thing I've ever heard, but that's because I kept skipping. All the other guitar legends make albums that are boring because they try too hard to show us how clever they are. Borehand hides his only skill so we can hear lame vocals and trite lyrics. Then he covers great songs lamely. Then I find out he's a twat! This is not an important album, it's an example of a name that sells records.
2
Mar 23 2022
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Before And After Science
Brian Eno
The first side is great. Side two points towards that godawful ambient music that so many critics love. Why? Very boring. Background stuff. Fortunately this album doesn't fall too far into that category.
4
Mar 24 2022
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My Life In The Bush Of Ghosts
Brian Eno
Due to the randomness of the 1001 songs generator, this is my second Eno album in a row. I really enjoyed them both, which is a surprise because this isn't my type of music. I'd heard some of Eno's ambient stuff and found it dull, but this was a return to form, no doubt helped with the collaboration with that absolute genius (and pain in the arse) David Byrne.
I missed a lot of good music in the '80s, tending to stick to rock. I shall keep listening to more weird stuff.
4
Mar 25 2022
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Spy Vs. Spy: The Music Of Ornette Coleman
John Zorn
Nope. Big nope. That's worse than terrible. Does he actually make a living from this crap?
1
Mar 26 2022
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In It For The Money
Supergrass
They're Smashing Pumpkins... if Billy had a positive attitude. This is a lot of fun but it is too long.
4
Mar 27 2022
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Chirping Crickets
Buddy Holly & The Crickets
Like all albums of its era, this contained a lot of killer, and some filler. The best songs are at the top of the pantheon.
4
Mar 28 2022
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Electric Ladyland
Jimi Hendrix
Pretty boring. The hits are great, but most of it is self indulgent. He was an interpreter, a showman, and a guitar genius. But he needed to be in a band with some decent songwriters.
3
Mar 29 2022
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All Mod Cons
The Jam
3
Mar 30 2022
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Parsley, Sage, Rosemary And Thyme
Simon & Garfunkel
What an album! It begins with a merging of two glorious songs, which would be enough for some artists. It finishes with a chilling take on Silent Night. In between, it takes us to joy, sadness, longing, love. It's all killer, no filler. The blending of their voices is perfect, then Artie gets his moment on For Emily. If you think that's perfect, find a live version to listen to. He really is that good.
What's really amazing is that this wonderful album isn't their best. Bridge Over Troubled Water wins that accolade. That magnificent achievement is then dwarfed by Graceland, IMHO the greatest album of them all.
5
Mar 31 2022
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Cypress Hill
Cypress Hill
Whinge about life....check.
Use the n word.....check.
Brag.....check.
It starts off interestingly, but it's still this boring genre where you make a beat and talk over it. The cliches, misogyny, glorification of violence and conspicuous consumption are just another reason to hate this shallow shit.
1
Apr 01 2022
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The Köln Concert
Keith Jarrett
I wasn't expecting to enjoy this, having been subjected to some of that modal stuff, hard bop, and other totally unmusical styles of jazz. I read a review that said he improvises, which is usually code for harsh music from technical types who like to show off their skills. Or would he just play discordant chords, which seems to be another jazz piano trait.
NO! This is lovely, melodic, mostly peaceful music that can play away in the background, but is quite glorious to hear with headphones on. He understands melody and phrasing and has the happy knack of knowing when it's time to change things up.
4
Apr 02 2022
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A Love Supreme
John Coltrane
It immediately starts annoying me, like so much '60s jazz. Coltrane is all over the place, while the piano and drums fight for attention. When he stops playing, then they work together.
Part 2 has the same problem. Once Coltrane stops playing the piano takes over the lead and the drummer settles into rhythm. Then the pianist gets overexcited and starts banging chords, which are no doubt modal, but they just sound random to me.
Part 3 starts off with a good drum solo, but Bonzo did it better in triplets. In comes the piano and they work together well, until Daddy comes home and they start begging for his attention again. It settles down nicely for a while before Coltrane decides to show off again.
Part 4 is pretty good, maybe the drummer needs to stick to the kettle, that rolling rhythm was effective, there is no discordant battle, so it finishes the album nicely.
I'd like to mention the bass player, who just sits there and backs the others, except for his long and dull solo.
2
Apr 03 2022
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Veckatimest
Grizzly Bear
3
Apr 04 2022
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Gris Gris
Dr. John
That was quite entertaining, not as weird as I thought.
4
Apr 05 2022
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Paranoid
Black Sabbath
So do I write a review with hindsight or do I write the review I would have written as a 12/13 year old, nearly 50 years ago. Because I remember hearing this the first time. War Pigs was like nothing I'd ever heard before, and the rest of the album kept me enthralled. It still does. Some of the lyrics are trite, but it's a sonic masterpiece.
5
Apr 06 2022
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Low
David Bowie
"All hail the Berlin trilogy!" I think they should be called Low, parts 1, 2 and 3. This is music that only sold because of his name. I wonder how many praise these albums because they don't want to admit that they wasted their money.
I've learned a frightening word since I started listening to 1001 albums: AMBIENT. It is code for plain boring, weird boring, or monotonous pretentious twaddle. This album is just boring because I've heard it before. Back in the day it was weird boring.
I assume Lodger is also in the list. I hope not. Yesterday I had Paranoid, more of that ilk, thank you.
2
Apr 07 2022
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Trans Europe Express
Kraftwerk
My God that was boring!
1
Apr 08 2022
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Space Ritual
Hawkwind
Yesterday's album was a boring and repetitive effort. So I gave it one star and was looking forward to today's effort. When I saw what it was I had low expectations. They weren't met. I kept falling asleep but it sounded like the same song. 21 times! 1001 Alvin's has thrown up some wonderful surprises - PJ Harvey, 1 Eno album, Keith Jarrett, among others. But it has also introduced me to acts that were so unlistenable it defies logic that they made money.
1
Apr 09 2022
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Rattus Norvegicus
The Stranglers
4
Apr 10 2022
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Screamadelica
Primal Scream
What a let-down. The first track is quite a catchy song. Then it just goes on with that repititious music that is only bearable if you're taking pills, grinding your teeth, and drinking a truckload of water. I can understand people jumping up and down to this crap, but would you buy the album?
2
Apr 11 2022
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More Specials
The Specials
Why has it taken me over 40 years to hear this gem? About half of the 21st century's music is influenced by this album. It's of its time, yet harkens strongly to the future. I thought Ghost Town was an outlier, but you can hear them building up to it.
It's taken me nearly 50 years to realise what I need in an album - variety, but with an overarching connection. So many albums become boring, I'm thinking of famous ones like Exile On Main Street, and almost every electronic album. Then we have some that vary too much - psychedelic music springs to mind. This is why classic bands like Queen, Beatles, Led Zep, were able to release so many great albums: they instantly sound recognisable, but provide a dish of varied ingredients.
Dammers nearly went too far - International Jet Set, but this is a great, skilful, sometimes funny, almost apocalyptic joy.
5
Apr 12 2022
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Arthur (Or the Decline and Fall of the British Empire)
The Kinks
3
Apr 13 2022
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Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band
Beatles
I've listened to this album hundreds of times, yet when I saw it come up I got a little thrill. I can play this album in my head and not miss a beat. My first musical memory is The Fabs. I've loved them for nearly 60 years because they were the greatest. They still are.
This album is one of the main reasons we love albums.
5
Apr 14 2022
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Giant Steps
The Boo Radleys
Lots of little Beatles' references in this ode to psychedelia. At one stage you'd swear they're writing a new chapter of Strawberry Fields. They start off flexing their shoegaze muscles and manage to throw out some crunchy guitar and storming drums. I've Lost The Reason is an encapsulation of the whole album. Twee verse with a bit of Beach Boys harmonies, then they bust out a massive chorus that pays homage to Kurt, but with weird distorted sounds a la Sergeant Peppers.
I hope they had fun making this, because I had fun listening.
4
Apr 15 2022
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This Is Hardcore
Pulp
3
Apr 16 2022
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Blood On The Tracks
Bob Dylan
Every time I listen to this masterpiece I notice something new. This time it was that jump from the sheer fun of Lily, Rosemary and the Jack of Hearts to the wistful wonder of If You See Her, Say Hello. I've heard the latter song many times but it is so much more effective in the album. It's a phenomenal album. There is a reason why he's a Nobel laureate. This is a big part of it.
5
Apr 17 2022
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Dry
PJ Harvey
What a debut. She doesn't mind spilling her heart all over the stage. She arrived fully formed and just got better. Just when it was getting a bit same-ish, the last four songs just blew me out of the water.
4
Apr 18 2022
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People's Instinctive Travels and the Paths of Rhythm
A Tribe Called Quest
Very cool start, but I'm worried that 70 minutes will be too long.
Sadly, it's like a lot of hip-hop. Interesting start, then they repeat a beat while talking. Choruses can be good, but it's so repetitive.
2
Apr 19 2022
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Gorillaz
Gorillaz
That was really boring.
2
Apr 20 2022
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Here Are the Sonics
The Sonics
This smashed me over the head in 2022. Imagine what effect it had in 1965. The Witch is amazing, Roslie's vocals are insane, something he carries on for the whole album. But the ultimate sound is that quivery bass. I don't know if it's backed by bass pedal, but it just sounds EVIL! Only 30 minutes. Perfect. It leaves you begging for more.
Apparently the Seattle scene was full of bands like The Sonics. If I ever get a ride in the TARDIS I'm going to Seattle in the early '60s. Then I'll stay for 30 years. (I won't be going to Starbucks. That coffee is awful)
5
Apr 21 2022
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Sound Affects
The Jam
This is one of the great punk/new wave albums. The songwriting genius of Weller is the backbone, Buckler laid down some great beats, but it was the phenomenal bass of Bruce Foxton that pinned it all together.
5
Apr 22 2022
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The Healer
John Lee Hooker
4
Apr 23 2022
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Dire Straits
Dire Straits
This was something different when it came out. Lots of blues and country influences with Knofler's guitar giving it so much colour. It still sounds good. Interestingly, their biggest album, Brothers in Arms, sounds way more dated.
4
Apr 24 2022
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Dog Man Star
Suede
It's always interesting to find a band like Suede, that have had long-lasting success in the UK, yet are quite unknown here in Australia. I can see why they haven't hit it here, we tend to go for more straightforward music.
This is a little bit prog, a little bit pomp, and quite enjoyable.
4
Apr 25 2022
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The Joshua Tree
U2
The first three songs are great, individually. But they are so similar that you can be excused for thinking that boredom is about to arrive. Then along comes Bullet The Blue Sky, a bolt out of the blue. The rest of the album shows a variety of songs, some that rock, some that sound like folk, and one that does both and is probably the best song on the album: Red Hill Mining Town.
Yes, Bono is a douche, and they have become monstrously egotistical, and this album was the start of that. But it's still a great album.
5
Apr 26 2022
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NEU! 75
Neu!
The first side is boring and inoffensive. Side two starts out promisingly, then he starts screaming. One star because I wasted a car ride and couldn't pull over to change to something decent.
1
Apr 27 2022
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She's So Unusual
Cyndi Lauper
The fact that She Bop follows Time After Time says everything about this album. Everything she does is joyful.
5
Apr 28 2022
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The Contino Sessions
Death In Vegas
Pretty decent for instrumental.
3
Apr 29 2022
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Fun House
The Stooges
3
Apr 30 2022
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Are You Experienced
Jimi Hendrix
I was 7 when this came out, but I rarely heard any of his songs for another 10 years. What an absolute barnstormer this is now, let alone 55 years ago. All killer, no filler, funky, rocking, guitar pyrotechnics. It has it all. 55 stars.
5
May 01 2022
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Deja Vu
Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young
It's quite amazing that this album was recorded in such a disjointed fashion. How did they get those beautiful harmonies without singing together? It just shows their genius. I'm assuming that Stills was the conductor, he is one of the true geniuses of modern music.
The addition of Young takes them to another level. While none of the songs reached the transcendent heights of Suite: Judy Blue Eyes, they still were a level above anything released at the time. Except for the excitement that was happening on the heavier spectrum, of course.
5
May 02 2022
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World Clique
Deee-Lite
3
May 03 2022
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The Gershwin Songbook
Ella Fitzgerald
That was even better than I expected. Nobody does the standards better than Ella. Not Frank, not Bing. Nobody. That voice is so warm, so smooth, so perfect. If you want to be picky, some of the lyrics don't fit my feminist leanings. But Someone To Watch Over Me is a song with astounding longing, just pouring from the singer's heart. The secret is in the delivery - straight. No warbles, no melisma, no screeching out high notes, just honouring the melody.
5
May 04 2022
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You've Come a Long Way Baby
Fatboy Slim
I find EDM repetitive and boring. NOT THIS! Just when it's in danger of becoming boring, he wanders off into something knew. It's a lot of fun, some of those odd, mangled vocals remind me of naughty boys playing with words and fart sounds. It's when he segues into those big beats that he shows his mastery. This is so far above anything in this genre, except maybe Daft Punk.
5
May 05 2022
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I’ve Got a Tiger By the Tail
Buck Owens
I'm pretty disappointed. Lots of heartache, but not one dawg! No trucks! I had to laugh at some of the lyrical content, but found it highly enjoyable.
4
May 06 2022
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Life Thru A Lens
Robbie Williams
Ok. Couple of good songs, but it's background stuff at best.
I was debating two or three stars, but Baby Girl's Window added an extra layer of wedding band blandness.
2
May 07 2022
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Doolittle
Pixies
What's not to love. Black Francis spirits and screaming out these strange stories, backed by that solid rhythm. But the thing that takes it next level is Joey Santiago's sonic wails, they just accentuate everything. Here Comes Your Man is great pop, written by Francis when he was 15.
5
May 08 2022
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Wild Wood
Paul Weller
Mmm. Sounds like classic rock by some American band I've never heard of. Ok bit it's no Jam or Style Council. To answer Paul's question... his fire has gone out. (For this album anyway)
3
May 09 2022
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The Hour Of Bewilderbeast
Badly Drawn Boy
2
May 10 2022
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Listen Without Prejudice Vol. 1
George Michael
4
May 11 2022
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Vauxhall And I
Morrissey
This belongs in 1001 albums you say, "Meh!" to.
2
May 12 2022
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Pacific Ocean Blue
Dennis Wilson
4
May 13 2022
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Live At The Star Club, Hamburg
Jerry Lee Lewis
4
May 14 2022
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Fragile
Yes
Some bits good, but so many bits of keyboard and bass playing quickly with no connection to the song. I actually prefer '80s Yes.
2
May 15 2022
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Moby Grape
Moby Grape
I knew nothing about this band, yet they produced this stunner. I particularly love those slightly bluesy numbers with that distinctive late-60s bass. Whichever of those great singers had that raspy voice, he is a good as anyone. Ever!
That manager deserves to live in he'll with Kenny G being piped in.
5
May 16 2022
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Alien Lanes
Guided By Voices
Some good bits. Some average bits. I do mean bits, because they aren't songs.
3
May 17 2022
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Pretzel Logic
Steely Dan
4
May 18 2022
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Hms Fable
Shack
This was a lovely surprise. I thought I was going to hear Oasis with Michael Stipe as lead singer. But then we get these folk songs, as well as lush songs with strings in the background. This is the album that Oasis wished they could make.
4
May 19 2022
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Head Hunters
Herbie Hancock
2
May 20 2022
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Joan Armatrading
Joan Armatrading
She has a great voice, but it gets a bit tedious until the last two songs.
4
May 21 2022
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Born In The U.S.A.
Bruce Springsteen
This is the album that launched Bruce into the stratosphere. It rocks. It tells stories. It has so much heart. It has "I'm On Fire," which must be one of the greatest songs about desire that's ever been written.
5
May 23 2022
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The Slider
T. Rex
For a while there, I thought that T-Rex kept recycling three songs, which is appealing but repetitive. Then they started breaking out on the second side. Chariot Choogle is a much fun as the title suggests. Great album.
5
May 24 2022
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John Barleycorn Must Die
Traffic
Steve Winwood has one of the great soul voices. They should have stuck with soul.
3
May 25 2022
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Odessey And Oracle
The Zombies
Side one has that baroque stuff that flooded the market in 1967/68. But it gets way more interesting on side two. Time of the Season is a step above everything else. The closest I can come is to describe it as sinuous. There is a reason why The Beatles and Stones are so much more successful than all other '60s bands. They took psychedelia to strange, wonderful places, then moved on.
4
May 26 2022
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Bubble And Scrape
Sebadoh
I was listening to REM before this came up. The contrast is significant and Sebadoh don't come out of it favourably. Some reasonable songs but lots of noise. I don't think I'd feel happy listening to this mix if I'd made it.
2
May 27 2022
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Atomizer
Big Black
That was angry fun. I heard bits of The Pixies as well as some angsty metal. There was a pop sensibility hiding in well constructed, musical songs.
4
May 28 2022
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Surrealistic Pillow
Jefferson Airplane
4
May 29 2022
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Fishscale
Ghostface Killah
1
May 30 2022
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Hearts And Bones
Paul Simon
It's a little bit samey, but it's still Paul Simon. I'm very glad it's failure helped propel him to trying out some different sounds, because Graceland is my favourite album of all time.
When listening to this unfamiliar album I was inclined to mark it down, but when I listened to it objectively, I realised that it had some great moments.
4
May 31 2022
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System Of A Down
System Of A Down
I'm 61, but courtesy of my sons I know, and love SOAD. This album is a nice introduction to this band. This introduction, however, isn't a handshake. It's a musical assault of glorious insanity. I mean, it's seriously warped. It's ANGRY! They are unique, they are wonderful. I'm a little afraid that I won't sleep well tonight. Or at all.
5
Jun 01 2022
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Broken English
Marianne Faithfull
4
Jun 02 2022
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Walking Wounded
Everything But The Girl
As soon as I read trip-hop I expect that I'm going to get irritated WHILE also being put to sleep. I guess that is a compliment to this style of boredom.
2
Jun 03 2022
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Lady Soul
Aretha Franklin
This is just bliss. Hearing songs I've never heard before that are phenomenal. The best example is Good To Me As I Am To You. That song has everything! Aretha blows every other singer into the weeds. Then it's followed up by Come Back Baby which has that classic groovy bass that signified the late '60s/early '70s.
5
Jun 04 2022
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Your New Favourite Band
The Hives
Really enjoyed it at the start, but the songs all blur into each other.
3
Jun 05 2022
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Enter The Wu-Tang (36 Chambers)
Wu-Tang Clan
Nope. Just nope. Every hip-hop cliche ever made. Beyond terrible.
1
Jun 06 2022
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Woodface
Crowded House
A bunch of hits backed up by songs that the competition wish they could write. A lot of negative reviews probably due to the content of Chocolate Cake. Americans really can't take criticism, it seems.
5
Jun 07 2022
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Harvest
Neil Young
There are some great songs, but it's not 5 star Neil.
4
Jun 08 2022
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Melody A.M.
Röyksopp
So I put this on towards the end of a car trip, because putting ambient/dance/electronica on can be dangerously soporific. This is better than most of its genre, but it still begs the question: Why don't they try to write an actual song? They do the same thing we used to do in the 60s/70s/80s... which was to jam with your friends. Sometimes you came up with a good sound and tried to turn it into a song. But these electronic types record it and put it out. They're fragments, not songs.
2
Jun 09 2022
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The Marshall Mathers LP
Eminem
What a whiny bitch.
2
Jun 10 2022
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3 Years, 5 Months And 2 Days In The Life Of...
Arrested Development
Musical. Fun. Positive. These aren't words I'd usually attach to hip-hop, but not really a surprise as they come from the South. That area gave birth to some of the greatest genres (blues and jazz to begin with) but it also took different types of music and just made them better.
3
Jun 11 2022
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The Queen Is Dead
The Smiths
I really wanted to hate this, but it has some good songs and Morrissey’s odd voice gives the songs a lot of their character.
4
Jun 12 2022
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Suede
Suede
Oasis, Blur, and Pulp are well known in Australia, but I don't remember Suede. This is a pity as they play some intriguing intriguing. I particularly enjoyed Where Pigs Don't Fly, with that haunting guitar in the background.
4
Jun 13 2022
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Goodbye And Hello
Tim Buckley
What I expected. Some of it good, some of it twee (the title track is excruciating). Everyone needs to listen to Knight Errant: I love her upstairs, I love her downstairs, But I love my lady's chamber.
I can't stop laughing.
3
Jun 14 2022
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Sweet Dreams (Are Made Of This)
Eurythmics
After listening to their debut effort I wasn't holding out much hope. I love Annie's voice (weapon) but found it had that repetitive dullness that colours so much euro-electronic stuff (that definitely includes the humdrum that is Bowie's Berlin trilogy). But they got their groove going in this one, retaining the experimental edge while truly displaying their rhythmic, melodic pop sensibility. Songs like Somebody Told Me have that hypnotic quality while being fun.
5
Jun 15 2022
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Ready To Die
The Notorious B.I.G.
Another loud man boasting about his prowess. It manages to be boring, yet highly irritating at the same time. Thank God they started making decent music in the south, because this east coast/west coast stuff is uniformly poor.
1
Jun 16 2022
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Eliminator
ZZ Top
The only band that successfully married boogie with the '80s. The album is way stronger than I thought it would be.
4
Jun 17 2022
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Rid Of Me
PJ Harvey
Not as good as her first album as some songs are very grungey. When she gets back into pouring her heart out and screaming, she's much better.
4
Jun 18 2022
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Kind Of Blue
Miles Davis
So seductive. So cool. This can be background music, but it slowly, languidly, pulls you in until it's just you immersed in the gentle swishing of the ocean, which is actually Jimmy Cobb on the brushes. There's a cracking fire that warms you. That's Miles.
I can resist most jazz. I actively hate free jazz and hard bop, which are less musical than hip-hop. But this is irresistible.
5
Jun 19 2022
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Duck Rock
Malcolm McLaren
3
Jun 20 2022
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Private Dancer
Tina Turner
That was a pleasant surprise. Even the singles sounded better, not as produced. That cover of 1984 was excellent, paying homage to Bowie's version by going a little further than he did.
5
Jun 21 2022
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There's A Riot Goin' On
Sly & The Family Stone
What a hot mess! How can someone come up with such brilliance while being totally fucked up? Spaced Cowboy is now my new favourite song of all time. Country funk is even more fun than country rap. This was already a five star album, but the last three songs belong in the stratosphere.
I always thought that Parliament/Funkadelic had released the weirdest, and best, funk. But this is next level greatness. I could happily listen to the bass by itself.
5
Jun 22 2022
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Faith
George Michael
Faith was the first time I'd ever liked a George Michael song, but the remaining songs left me cold. At the time I was a pub rock devotee with a dislike for anything that had a dance or electronic bent. How my tastes have changed. Anything with a bit of funk lures me in and this album oozes funk. Yesterday's album was that batshit crazy "There's a Riot Going On," which is the godfather of '70s funk. This is its sexy nephew.
5
Jun 23 2022
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The Next Day
David Bowie
Pretty boring considering the secrecy of his return. Where Are We Now is head and shoulders above the others, with that powerful, yet fragile, delivery that makes it feel more like Blackstar (which is a far better album).
3
Jun 24 2022
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Jazz Samba
Stan Getz
So we should blame it on Getz and Byrd. Latin rhythms make any kind of music better. Basically this is ridiculously cool jazz.
4
Jun 25 2022
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The Stranger
Billy Joel
5
Jun 27 2022
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Dr. Octagonecologyst
Dr. Octagon
It's a pity it went on forever.
3
Jun 28 2022
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Power In Numbers
Jurassic 5
Wow! I find hip-hop to be frequently boring and the lyrical content to come from two schools: boastful excess or whiny promises of violence. I'm lying here with a nasty dose of covid, yet this has me bopping. The vocalists (MCs? Talkers?) are great, taking over, harmonising, using their differences to emphasise their lyrics. I particularly like the deep voice. He's so musical. It is too long and they fell into that familiar genre failure, using that n-word.
4
Jun 29 2022
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Arc Of A Diver
Steve Winwood
I think Steve has a great voice and his singles are uniformly great. But the gap between the good and the meh is pretty big.
3
Jun 30 2022
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Tracy Chapman
Tracy Chapman
That voice! She has that rich, low, smooth tone that makes you feel warm and comfortable. But then she has this quaver, that makes you feel the pain that shines in so many of her stories.
5
Jul 01 2022
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At Folsom Prison
Johnny Cash
This is just wonderful. So much humour, so much love.
5
Jul 02 2022
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Bitches Brew
Miles Davis
That wasn't pleasant.
1
Jul 03 2022
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Murmur
R.E.M.
5
Jul 04 2022
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Loveless
My Bloody Valentine
I tried to get this. Some sounds worked, but I like to hear vocals, not some ambient fuzz.
3
Jul 05 2022
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London Calling
The Clash
I can't believe I haven't listened to this album before. I was 19 when it came out. But then again, we were arguing over whether Chisel or The Angels were best. (Chisel. Not really close once you'd seen both bands live)
My main exposure to punk was through reviewers who kept saying wonderful things about music that I found had no depth and no breadth. Siouxsee and the Banshees, The Damned and The Clash all had a couple of good songs, but didn't sound like the saviours of music they were written up to be. Never Mind The Bollocks was something else. It was a raging, roaring, thumping, sonic masterpiece.
So, when the critics went into paroxysms of delight about London Calling I wasn't falling for their message. Which is strange, because the title song was electric. Still is.
Now I've heard it, and I realise I have heard all the songs. Is it 5 stars? Probably. Are there better albums from that time? Oh yes. A selection from 1979/1980 includes The Wall, East, True Colours, Glass Houses, Scary Monsters, Breakfast in America, 52nd St, and Parallel Lines. All of those are better than this album, but they weren't punk/new wave so the critics dismissed them. Blondie didn't count because they were American. Even though they were punk before the English knew what punk was.
5
Jul 06 2022
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Tusk
Fleetwood Mac
5
Jul 07 2022
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Songs The Lord Taught Us
The Cramps
What a wonderful piece of weirdness.
4
Jul 08 2022
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Dig Me Out
Sleater-Kinney
3
Jul 09 2022
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Frank
Amy Winehouse
Good voice. Boring songs.
2
Jul 11 2022
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En-Tact
The Shamen
This isn't the worst thing I've heard, but I think I'd prefer to hear someone vomiting than listen to the rest of this album. Why is this on 1001 albums? It's a tepid example of a forgettable genre from the '90s.
1
Jul 12 2022
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Clube Da Esquina
Milton Nascimento
This is really quite wonderful. Milton's voice soars beautifully, sometimes strangely, above this beguiling mix of surprisingly western music that is sprinkled with splashes of Latin flavour. It is different, yet familiar.
5
Jul 13 2022
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Thriller
Michael Jackson
I never owned it, but I'd certainly heard every song, many times. All killer, all thriller, no filler.
5
Jul 14 2022
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Street Life
The Crusaders
I live in a small country town with no elevators. The first song was alright, but then they put me in the longest elevator ride.
2
Jul 15 2022
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Architecture And Morality
Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark
That's another album I wish I'd heard back in the day.
4
Jul 16 2022
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Bad
Michael Jackson
5
Jul 17 2022
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GI
Germs
The band are thrashing away well but Darby is just irritating.
2
Jul 18 2022
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Kid A
Radiohead
My attention is starting to wander. How to Disappear Completely is the song that makes your attention disappear. It's also grating enough to keep you listening while you really want to do something else. In Limbo is closer to in hell. No. Just no.
I approached this album with trepidation when I read that it was Radiohead goes electronic/ambient. They manage to salvage some intriguing sounds, but hearing Yorke whining over repetitive beats isn't a pleasant experience. The big question. Is the drop in quality from OK Computer to this badly polished turd, the biggest in the history of music?
Sometimes, it's what you hear after the album finishes that tells the story. I was barely paying attention when a crunching riff backed by a driving rhythm came on. It's Queens of the Stone Age. It's the chaser that I badly needed.
2
Jul 19 2022
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Back To Black
Amy Winehouse
There are some great songs, but I found myself drifting off. I think there's too much similarity between songs.
3
Jul 20 2022
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Back to Mystery City
Hanoi Rocks
Ok.
3
Jul 21 2022
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Chris
Christine and the Queens
Not the most boring thing I've ever heard, but it's up there.
2
Jul 22 2022
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Tommy
The Who
It's taken me years to work out what's wrong with The Who. They've performed some of the greatest songs of all time, but I find the quality drops if you listen to a whole album. Who's Next is an exception, but usually a Who album has too much filler.
So part of their problem is lack of good songs, but Tommy has good songs. I have two problems with this album. Firstly, any song that doesn't have Townsend power chords tends to be weedy. Secondly, their vocals aren't up to snuff. Roger needs to be singing balls-out rock or he should shut up. Pete should never sing. They needed to hand these songs over to other musicians. Except Pinball Wizard. That is magnificent.
3
Jul 23 2022
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xx
The xx
I just wrote a review about The Who in which I started that they are boring unless they are rocking it with massive Townsend power chords. Now I'm about to listen to stripped-down, minimalist, pop. All this from a group I've never heard of. Not holding out much hope.
It wasn't awful, but it was a long way from being something I need to hear. The vocalists are having a "lame-off" over uninspiring music. Not bad if you need to sleep
2
Jul 24 2022
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The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill
Lauryn Hill
Big nope. I'd prefer to grate my ears off than subject them to this.
1
Jul 25 2022
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Celebrity Skin
Hole
I was already a fan of Celebrity Skin and Malibu, but this album outperformed my expectations. I really like it when Courtney uses her voice differently, like the power pop sound of Awful or the Kurt inflection of Northern Star. When I read that Billy Corgan had contributed to this album I knew I'd like it. This album is a gem.
One question. Surely Boys On The Radio is an REM track? The lyrics are a bit too direct, but the sound comes straight from Athens, Georgia.
5
Jul 26 2022
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Fetch The Bolt Cutters
Fiona Apple
What a intriguing collection of words and sounds. Lots of dark humour and anger.
4
Jul 27 2022
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Oar
Alexander 'Skip' Spence
Why do I like this album? Muddy vocals, muddy instruments. It's the ultimate late night, stupendously drunk, sad but containing sardonic humour, epic. I hear Jeff Buckley, then I hear Tom Waits! This is the poster child for pain producing great art. This is the reward for sponsoring 1001 albums. I'd never heard anything about this man before.
5
Jul 28 2022
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Live 1966 (The Royal Albert Hall Concert)
Bob Dylan
Whenever I have the chance to see Bob live, I listen to this album or watch Pennebaker's/Scorsese's films. They are so good that I know I must go. Then I watch a few minutes of Rolling Thunder (I can't listen to the whole thing) and save my money.
This album is perfect, particularly Tamborine Man, which he attacks, and the sheer noise of Baby, Let Me Follow You Down. Bob and the band are having so much fun. I wish he'd taken it down a few notches for Ballad of a Thin Man. The band have that sardonic tone down, but Bob's into full noise mode, not servicing the lyrics. Meanwhile, that nasal bellow is perfect for Like a Rolling Stone. "No secrets to conceeeeeeeeeeeeeal!" Perfect!
5
Jul 29 2022
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Ritual De Lo Habitual
Jane's Addiction
It's a pity they couldn't have sprung for a decent vocalist.
1
Jul 30 2022
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The Village Green Preservation Society
The Kinks
3
Jul 31 2022
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Purple Rain
Prince
The king of funk decided to write the most blistering rock song of all time. That opens a stunning album. I prefer the purple one's funk which is why Die 4 U is probably my favourite track. But the album just a sublime over the top piece of glorious madness.
5
Aug 01 2022
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Mothership Connection
Parliament
4
Aug 02 2022
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Risque
CHIC
Quite good but a bit repetitive. It's dance music, not made for listening to.
3
Aug 03 2022
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I’m a Lonesome Fugitive
Merle Haggard
Nope. Just nope.
1
Aug 04 2022
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Chemtrails Over The Country Club
Lana Del Rey
That was a boring as anything I've heard in a long while.
1
Aug 05 2022
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Buena Vista Social Club
Buena Vista Social Club
It's pleasant, but I prefer Latin music that smokes with heat, not as background drinking sounds.
3
Aug 06 2022
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A Nod Is As Good As A Wink To A Blind Horse
Faces
That was disappointing. Everything blurred into one except for the last song, which had some life.
2
Aug 07 2022
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Synchronicity
The Police
5
Aug 08 2022
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Dookie
Green Day
Energetic but repetitive.
3
Aug 09 2022
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Let's Get It On
Marvin Gaye
4
Aug 10 2022
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Maverick A Strike
Finley Quaye
Wasn't bad, but I couldn't get over the Scotsman trying to sound Jamaican.
3
Aug 11 2022
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Home Is Where The Music Is
Hugh Masekela
2
Aug 12 2022
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Slippery When Wet
Bon Jovi
I tried to listen to it all. But they're so irritating, while being boring and repetitive. I remember finishing an assignment with the radio blaring non stop hair metal all night. I wasn't listening, just having it in the background. It was one long song, with exaggerated drum beats, shouted choruses, generic solos, and great dollops of pretentiousness. Listening to an album of this crap gives me that same feeling. What's really sad is that I believe Jon is a good person who writes good stories.
2
Aug 13 2022
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Catch A Fire
Bob Marley & The Wailers
4
Aug 14 2022
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25
Adele
6 tracks in and my attention's starting to wander. She reminds me of the date from hell. You know the one. She is really attractive with this sardonic sense of humour. After two cocktails she's given the bottle of white a fair going over, and is now totally off about a past relationship. The humour has gone and you are just waiting for the night to end. It's nice for Adele that's she's made a bucket of money from her angst, but maybe it's time to move on.
2
Aug 15 2022
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The Scream
Siouxsie And The Banshees
The title obviously refers to the vocals. Really unpleasant for too much of the album. Even a song like Mirage, which is quite musical, suffers because she only sings two notes. It's a pity the vocals are so poor because I like the backing.
2
Aug 16 2022
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Coles Corner
Richard Hawley
Quite nice but it needed more fundamental range.
3
Aug 17 2022
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Hunting High And Low
a-ha
That is the most '80s sounding album of all time.
3
Aug 18 2022
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Who's Next
The Who
This is the greatest Who album: all killer, no filler. All the faults of Tommy were corrected. They remembered they were a rock band, so we have Moon and Entwhistle driving the songs with Pete crunching out lots of power chords. The songs are strong because we don't have to put up with all those twee bridging things that filled up so much of Tommy. But then they'd also improved. Roger's voice has depth and power, let alone that famous scream. Pete is becoming a lead guitarist, without wandering off into extended solos. Of course, this was also the album that he started using, changing, the synthesiser.
This album contains three of their best-known songs, which are great songs. But I've long been mystified by the lack of acclaim for "The Song Is Over." It starts with typical weedy Townsend vocals, but then it has one of Roger's great vocals on the chorus. I'm a huge fan of the blatant metaphors on "Getting In Tune." I could go on, but I believe this is The Who's finest and one of the great albums, an important part of the bridge between the '60s and '70s.
5
Aug 19 2022
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Country Life
Roxy Music
4
Aug 20 2022
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Virgin Suicides
Air
Not interested in the movie. Really not interested in a soundtrack. I don't want to listen to the Star Wars soundtrack, which totally added to a wonderful movie, so why would I listen to this? Yawn.
1
Aug 21 2022
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Young Americans
David Bowie
I swear his voice was at its peak here. Nothing like a mountain of cocaine to add character. His Beatles cover is in the running for worst of all time, although I think that accolade goes to John Farnham for his histrionic attempt at "Help."
Despite the critical love for the boring Berlin trilogy this is his last good album until Scary Monsters. I was debating whether it was 4 or 5 stars, but that dismantling of "Across The Universe" knocks it down a peg.
4
Aug 22 2022
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Sign 'O' The Times
Prince
That was the quickest 80 minutes of my life. Usually a double album tends to drag. But this just barrels through a barrage of different genres until it's finished. Which is disappointing because I don't want it to end. Then I remember that I can start all over again. This is the best double album I've heard. Sorry White Album. Sorry Physical Graffiti. Sorry Frampton. (Only kidding there. That album begins to pall by song 3) The teeny-tiny genius truly came from another planet. How can you get so much variety from a solo songwriter. Oh. Yes. He invents a new persona. Camille is breathtaking. So is this album.
Sometimes Spotify gets out right. After the last strains of "Adore" faded, I was greeted by Strawberry Letter 23, the Brothers Johnson version. This is one of my favourite songs and definitely fits the vibe.
5
Aug 23 2022
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Blood Sugar Sex Magik
Red Hot Chili Peppers
This is phenomenal! It's a double album that keeps you excited for the whole ride. I still haven't heard a chillies song I don't like and I get to see them in January!
5
Aug 24 2022
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Suzanne Vega
Suzanne Vega
4
Aug 25 2022
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Soul Mining
The The
4
Aug 26 2022
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Live At The Harlem Square Club
Sam Cooke
4
Aug 27 2022
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Lady In Satin
Billie Holiday
Her voice was shot and everything became repetitive.
3
Aug 28 2022
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Ragged Glory
Neil Young & Crazy Horse
So this gets categorised as garage or grunge. But it has more than a twang of country in it with those lazy riffs. Then we hit Days That Used To Be and Love And Only Love. Both of those songs could have been released on Everybody...in 1969. Whatever you classify it as it's a whole lot of fun. Special shout out to the feedback finishes which just add the cherry to the top of this delicious confection. I love the fact that a renegade like Young has remained relevant, popular, and cranky for nearly 60 years. Meanwhile the band are obviously having so much fun. All this from an album I knew nothing about.
4
Aug 29 2022
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I Should Coco
Supergrass
I'd Like To Know is probably the best introduction to a debut album ever! This album surely is a tribute to their parent's recited collections. Frenetic fun from a band that was a step above the other Britpop purveyors.
5
Aug 30 2022
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If I Should Fall From Grace With God
The Pogues
This is just glorious. I'm particularly in love with Sit Down By The Fire, but the whole album just sings with a vibrancy that brings a smile to your face. As a descendant of the Irish diaspora my celtic heart beats happily to this. I'm glad this is part of my heritage, as it makes up for skin that burns in an Australian winter. Summer is just a nightmare.
4
Aug 31 2022
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Otis Blue/Otis Redding Sings Soul
Otis Redding
That was a ripper.
5
Sep 01 2022
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Band On The Run
Paul McCartney and Wings
The best album by an ex-Beatle. Better than George's epic (triple albums are always too much), John wrote great songs but uneven albums. Ringo - his wife is the best looking. Seriously, this just proved he's a genius, even Mamunia. Let Me Roll It is one of the greatest answer songs of all time.
5
Sep 02 2022
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Nevermind
Nirvana
What can I say? This rocks like few others ever have. Smells Like Teen Spirit is one of the great songs, but I've been in love with Lithium since I first heard it. The music and lyrics work together perfectly. Seriously, there are only great songs and better songs.
5
Sep 03 2022
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American Beauty
Grateful Dead
It's inoffensive but I fail to see why deadheads are so fanatical.
3
Sep 04 2022
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Olympia 64
Jacques Brel
Well well. I want expecting much but I found this enjoyable. So I did some research which led to Bowie singing Amsterdam (good, but not at Brel's level) and live clips of Brel. So much emotion. And sweat.
4
Sep 05 2022
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The Who Sell Out
The Who
Nothing special. Not a patch on Who's Next.
3
Sep 06 2022
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Cross
Justice
Sounds ok but it's EDM, it gets boring.
2
Sep 07 2022
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Aftermath
The Rolling Stones
4
Sep 08 2022
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Speakerboxxx/The Love Below
OutKast
I'm a white, boomer male. I've found hip-hop and modern R'n'B to be boring, with R'n'B also being insipid. So a two hour album should be a chore. Not a chance! This sprawling epic is one of the best albums I've ever heard. Big Boi sticks to his genre but the addition of all these collaborators adds variety to what are superior songs. Then we get Andre who starts with jazz! Just as it starts getting a bit too much he throws in that stupendous version of My Favourite Things (huge nod to John Coltrane) and a very cool guest appearance by Norah Jones. Outstanding!
5
Sep 09 2022
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Bringing It All Back Home
Bob Dylan
5 stars isn't enough.
5
Sep 10 2022
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Blur
Blur
This is 1000 times better than that twee stuff they farted out when Britpop was a thing. (In England, mind you. Here in Oz we liked Oasis, but Blur and Pulp? Nah.) It rocks in places, there is homage paid to psychedelic Beatles, and a couple of tracks score quite highly on the weird shit-o-meter. Great stuff. Much better than I thought it would be. Woohoo!
5
Sep 11 2022
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Colour By Numbers
Culture Club
So I'm enjoying the first few songs, then on comes That's The Way, where Helen Terry flexes her vocal muscles. This then leads into The Church of the Poisoned Mind, where the band rips into this bouncy, irresistible tune where Helen once again soars. Those two songs are worth the price of admission. This is a perfectly designed album, with a natural flow that is perfectly signed off by Victims, a song that deserves greater recognition for it's clever mix of big ballad and minor key sadness.
5
Sep 12 2022
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Liquid Swords
GZA
More gangster crap. Boring and ugly.
1
Sep 13 2022
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Rust In Peace
Megadeth
Intro that doesn't got three test of the song. Check.
Crunchy riff. Check.
Shredding solo that shows technical versatility but detracts from the song. Check.
Repeat ad nauseum.
Two stars for the riffs but this is very boring.
2
Sep 14 2022
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You Want It Darker
Leonard Cohen
There is some nice tasty backing and some clever lyrics but I still find him annoying.
2
Sep 15 2022
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The Last Of The True Believers
Nanci Griffith
This just irritates me. I put on some beach boys to clean out my ears.
2
Sep 16 2022
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Siembra
Willie Colón & Rubén Blades
2
Sep 17 2022
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Younger Than Yesterday
The Byrds
It's OK and it's nice to hear the emergence of country rock but it doesn't have anything that grabs me.
3
Sep 18 2022
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Nilsson Schmilsson
Harry Nilsson
Without You is so wonderful you'd buy the album just for that. Then you get this eclectic mix from The Beatles favourite singer (and favourite band). Jump Into The Fire is a great song that features the that bass legend, Herbie Flowers in one of his finest appearances. The whole album is breathtaking.
5
Sep 19 2022
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Come Away With Me
Norah Jones
This is the perfect late night headphones album. That voice! Lovely songs that slowly invite you to a place of peaceful joy.
5
Sep 20 2022
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Out Of The Blue
Electric Light Orchestra
It has some great moments, but it should have been culled into one disc. New World Record and Discovery were stronger.
4
Sep 21 2022
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Bryter Layter
Nick Drake
I was so impressed by this man I knew nothing about. I swear that he had influenced every singer songwriter of the past 50 years
5
Sep 22 2022
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Mr. Tambourine Man
The Byrds
The mid-60s belonged to The Byrds. Pleasant listening with a couple of great tracks.
4
Sep 23 2022
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There's No Place Like America Today
Curtis Mayfield
When Seasons Change puts the blues into rhythm and blues! So In Love throws back to Stax in the mid-'60s. After an outstanding start it did tail off.
4
Sep 24 2022
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Fleet Foxes
Fleet Foxes
Sounded good to start with but I lost concentration pretty quickly. The word "pretentious" keeps entering my consciousness. Then I read some quotes by Robin Pecknold, he is pretentious with a capital W.
The annoying thing is that I can hear echoes of Brian Wilson, which should make me want to like it, but it just sounds try hard.
I'm getting to the end and it's just sounding annoying. Bellowing out "Oliver James!" at the end of a song doesn't help.
Spotify decided to play Belle and Sebastian after this album had finished. I think that comes from a playlist entitled "Overrated Twaddle."
I'm going to listen to Queen now, to get my good humour back. They were over the top, but with tongue wedged firmly in cheek.
1
Sep 25 2022
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1999
Prince
I thought it was starting to drag then I hit the funktastic All The Critics. Only the purple one can get away with that stripped down repetitive groove. If you can get an over 60 white man dancing you must have something. But I think International Lover is my new favourite song. I smiled, then giggled, then bellowed with laughter. He is that naughty little boy who keeps getting away with it. So much fun.
I decided to re-listen because I needed to decide if this was worth four or five stars. That bass on Lady Cab Driver, perfect mix of '70s and '80s funk. Then it gets into that rocky little jam that becomes a full on shred. Oh yeah!
5
Sep 26 2022
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Steve McQueen
Prefab Sprout
This album was obviously meant for the 1001 insipid albums list. They almost grabbed my attention on Goodbye Lucille which built up to a chorus where the singer started putting in a bit of feeling. Then back to the humdrum verse. Then they really crushed my interest with the next song, followed by the next ad nauseum.
I didn't know them. They were only successful in the UK which really tells the story. Lots of great British music hit our charts during the 2nd invasion (I'm Australian) but this stuff has nothing of interest.
Horsin' Around is the final nail in the coffin. This album may end up with only one star.
Yep. One star. It went from insipid to annoyingly twee.
1
Sep 27 2022
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Hunky Dory
David Bowie
5
Sep 28 2022
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Elvis Is Back
Elvis Presley
3
Sep 29 2022
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Dear Science
TV On The Radio
This was pretty good. I particularly liked the funkier songs.
4
Sep 30 2022
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Dusty In Memphis
Dusty Springfield
It was so good I listened twice. The second tin through was even better.
5
Oct 01 2022
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The Genius Of Ray Charles
Ray Charles
If this was anyone else is probably be raving. Lush arrangements backing a smoky voice that puts out plenty of emotion. But it's Ray. He sings sassy rhythm and blues. This is too middle of the road. It features those awful choral backing harmonies that were prevalent at this time. This is particularly damaging on the final track. Ray is singing in that special bluesy tone that only he owned. Then in come the harmonies, turning it back into schmaltz.
3
Oct 02 2022
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Let's Stay Together
Al Green
4
Oct 03 2022
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Done By The Forces Of Nature
Jungle Brothers
I lasted half way but it is way too repetitive.
2
Oct 04 2022
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...And Justice For All
Metallica
Eye of the Beholder has a great riff.. at first. Then we get all these jarring changes. But it is a vehicle for Kirk to throw in a couple of good solos.
Did I just hear the Winkies at the start of The Frayed Ends of Sanity?
Dyers Eve is insane! I think my favourite is The Shortest Straw. But the whole album just smacks you down with all those crunchy riffs.
5
Oct 05 2022
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Very
Pet Shop Boys
Early '90s dance. I wasn't expecting much even though I've enjoyed their hits, including Go West. There is something quite beguiling about Tennant's vocals that elevates the repetitive backing well above most examples of the genre. Dreaming of The Queen and Yesterday When I Was Mad provide a 1-2 punch, both lyrically and musically.
4
Oct 06 2022
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S.F. Sorrow
The Pretty Things
That is so much better than Tommy! Some wonderfully offbeat moments by a band that also did some great Stones-like stuff earlier in their career.
4
Oct 07 2022
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Vanishing Point
Primal Scream
2
Oct 08 2022
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Since I Left You
The Avalanches
So we finally get an Australian act. Yay! What a let-down. Stitching together bits of other people's work isn't music. At least the first "song" has some sort of variation. But by the time you get to Flight Tonight all interest is lost. Can you seriously take pride in the never ending repetition of a few seconds of sound? Why MUST I listen to this? Music requires some musical skill. This just requires copy and paste.
1
Oct 09 2022
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Here's Little Richard
Little Richard
5
Oct 10 2022
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Palo Congo
Sabu
4
Oct 11 2022
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No Other
Gene Clark
Loving the CSN harmonies on Silver Raven. Strength of Strings has a big Neil Young vibe. Life's Greatest Fool and Silver Vial definitely remind me of Mike Nesmith's solo stuff. I was pleasantly surprised with this.
4
Oct 12 2022
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Moss Side Story
Barry Adamson
I read a review that compared this with The Avalanches. Expecting something between meh and really irritating.
It was slightly above meh. Some reasonable sounds but I still fell asleep. Not going back to hear what I missed. Why is this in this list?
2
Oct 13 2022
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Rust Never Sleeps
Neil Young & Crazy Horse
5
Oct 14 2022
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Brothers
The Black Keys
I LOVE this cover. Never Give You Up is a faithful cover that manages to give it a blues edge. Howlin For You is the standout track.
4
Oct 15 2022
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Siamese Dream
The Smashing Pumpkins
Soma takes you on such a journey. Billy's voice always sounds creepy when he songs slowly, which is why that little break in the middle of Geek U.S.A. is so brilliant. The rest of the song is such a great thrash. Mayonnaise is surely the song that Courtney played before forming Hole. Silverfuck is just a monster. I'm going searching for live videos now.
5
Oct 16 2022
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Millions Now Living Will Never Die
Tortoise
First song was ok. Then I thought it had finished, but no! It had devolved into this mushy slow ambient horror. The second song has a good riff, but like all instrumental stuff it sounds like they're jamming but they don't get anywhere. Sounds are OK but I need songs with lyrics.
2
Oct 17 2022
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Something/Anything?
Todd Rundgren
That went downhill fast. I Saw the Light is a great song, but then it's just totally forgettable. Some Folks Is..... is quite a blast, but that's it.
2
Oct 18 2022
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Africa Brasil
Jorge Ben Jor
That was very enjoyable. I thought I was hearing Rod Stewart for a few seconds.
4
Oct 19 2022
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Blue
Joni Mitchell
This is immeasurably better than The Hissing of Summer Lawns. Her vocal excesses fit the songs and just give you that extra dose of emotion. That long note in River is so wistful. Wow!
5
Oct 20 2022
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(What's The Story) Morning Glory
Oasis
5
Oct 21 2022
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Happy Sad
Tim Buckley
This was pretty good. A lot less annoying than his son.
3
Oct 22 2022
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Nebraska
Bruce Springsteen
So bleak. So perfect. This is the first time I've ever sat down and listened to this album. I know most of the songs really well. The others are familiar. Hearing the whole album should be depressing but I'm too busy with my feelings of awe. Simple songs with sparse backing, sung by a singer with limited range should be a recipe for boredom. Far from it. Springsteen imbues the songs with so much passion that he takes you with him into this dark land and you enjoy the ride
5
Oct 23 2022
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To Pimp A Butterfly
Kendrick Lamar
Some genius. Foul-mouthed whinging little sook. Manages to get that balance between irritating and boring.
1
Oct 24 2022
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I Against I
Bad Brains
Pretty decent backing but the vocalist tends to get annoying. Spotify played The Cramps after this album. My head started banging and my body got moving which tells me that Bad Brains are just missing out on some life.
3
Oct 25 2022
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The Low End Theory
A Tribe Called Quest
They start a beat then someone talks over the beat. Rinse and repeat. It's not offensive like gangster rap but it's boring and it's not music.
1
Oct 26 2022
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A Walk Across The Rooftops
The Blue Nile
The further you get from that diabolical "Rooftops" song, the better it gets. "Stay" has a nice groove, while "Easter Parade" sounds like a Tom Waits song, sweet and melancholic. Then it loses steam when it gets to "Automobile Noise." It should be renamed Dull Noise. A couple of four star songs drag third album into three star territory. Just.
3
Oct 27 2022
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Treasure
Cocteau Twins
Dream pop with unintelligible lyrics. This should just irritate me with tweeness. But it doesn't. There's some truly intriguing sounds here. My attention started to wander, however.
3
Oct 28 2022
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Hypocrisy Is The Greatest Luxury
The Disposable Heroes Of Hiphoprisy
5
Oct 29 2022
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Physical Graffiti
Led Zeppelin
Unlike the previous 5 Led Zep albums I had to think before giving it 5 stars. Then I listened closely and realised that comparing Led Zep with other bands is unfair. A pity they didn't make this a single disc, then Presence could have been Achilles, Nobody's Fault and a bunch from Physical Graffiti.
5
Oct 30 2022
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Make Yourself
Incubus
When I hear late '90s rock I sometimes wonder of there was just one drummer doing all these tracks. There is little originality except for The Warmth which piqued my curiosity. It has some great sounds and some interesting rhythmical variations. Drive isn't representative of their sound but that's no bad thing because it is a great piece of laidback pop with great harmonies on the chorus. Clean is great! That build up in the intro and the dirty bass in the verses are worth the price of admission.
I wonder if they've released a remix with no scratching. I've yet to hear anything by anybody that is improved by scratching. Just grab a percussion instrument, any one, and it'll do better.
Brandon Boyd has a great voice, bringing more musicality and a level of sweetness to these songs.
4
Oct 31 2022
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Club Classics Vol. One
Soul II Soul
Keep on Movin' didn't start me moving. Fairplay sounds OK.... for about 15 seconds, then it descends into depressing lameness. The women have good voices but the songs are so uniformly awful that I just kept skipping. Back To Life is a step above the rest but not enough to save this borefest from a 1 start rating. If Jazzie's Groove was on a 5-star it would drag it down to 1 star. That is the worst assault on my ears ever. Although Ambition goes close. Worst rapping ever! No competition! Whatever drugs they were on are a danger to humanity.
1
Nov 01 2022
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Talking Heads 77
Talking Heads
It starts with Tina's bass. It's direct, primitive, a heartbeat. There's an irresistible brew of jagged, danceable tunes with David's voice over the top. He should be irritating but he's not. This is possibly their weakest album yet it's an easy 5. This album came out when I was 17 but I didn't discover it until I was 57.
5
Nov 02 2022
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Vol. 4
Black Sabbath
4
Nov 03 2022
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Boston
Boston
5
Nov 04 2022
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Strangeways, Here We Come
The Smiths
WHY THE FUCK WOULD YOU DO A SONG ABOUT A GIRLFRIEND IN A COMA? Two songs later he's singing poignant lyrics about love and the sadness that comes from its lack. Then we get a nasty song wishing an ex an unhappy birthday which is full of hatred. He was 28 when he wrote this, surely he's past teenage melodrama by now.
Seriously, Morrisey is a gigantic twat from just reading his lyrics, let alone his public rantings. Somehow his whiny voice works while Johnny and the rest of the band are brilliant. If I kept listening to this is probably go 5 starts as it is quite addictive.
4
Nov 05 2022
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Bandwagonesque
Teenage Fanclub
4
Nov 06 2022
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Gentlemen
The Afghan Whigs
I've had a run of bands that I'd never heard of in the last two weeks. Some of them I've listened to several times as well as going for a dive into their catalogue. That won't be happening with The Afghan Whigs. The most interesting song is The Curse which features a guest vocalist. Dulli needs to try something other than yelling when he sings.
There are some good sounds but album blurs into sameness because of Dulli's dullness.
3
Nov 07 2022
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Kilimanjaro
The Teardrop Explodes
This is one of those bands I'd heard of but know nothing about. Although as soon as I heard Reward my memory was pricked by one of the great dance numbers.
Definitely enjoying the surging bass and drums on Second Head. Then it pops nicely into Poppies which builds very nicely to a satisfying conclusion. When I Dream is a great conclusion to the album with its psychedelic slow fade giving more than just a gentle nod to a certain Liverpool band.
5
Nov 08 2022
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Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere
Neil Young & Crazy Horse
5
Nov 09 2022
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Merriweather Post Pavilion
Animal Collective
I kept turning the volume down. It doesn't immediately sound bad but it builds up. Summertime Clothes is a bit gentler, maybe even a bit infectious. I like the vocals on most tracks. Sometimes. But the constant echoing does annoy me. Interesting, but I'm not going to try it again.
3
Nov 10 2022
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Hail To the Thief
Radiohead
This is so much better than those boring things that preceded it. There's tension and build up in the songs. Yorke's vocals are atmospheric, whereas they'd descended into irritating, fingernails on the blackboard. We Suck Young Blood is freaky, creepy perfect.
5
Nov 11 2022
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Beach Samba
Astrud Gilberto
Pleasant.
3
Nov 12 2022
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Parallel Lines
Blondie
This was one of three albums that were played at almost every party I went to the year after school finished. The others were Rumours and Rocky Horror. Why Parallel Lines? Because it is full of bangers that force you to dance! It loses a little impetus with Pretty Baby and I Know... then side two roars into life with 11:59. Even the two lesser tracks are better than any power pop because THEY STARTED POWER POP. It's driven by Clem Burke's power which is then topped by layers of instruments which enhance but never get in the way of Debbie's golden vocals.
This is unquestionably the best pure pop album of the '70s.
5
Nov 13 2022
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Moon Safari
Air
This was a big surprise. So musical, laidback but inviting. It's drenched with '70s feel. Then it steals that drum sound from Do It Again. Classic!
4
Nov 14 2022
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Da Capo
Love
3
Nov 15 2022
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The Velvet Underground
The Velvet Underground
Any album that can contain Pale Blue Eyes and The Murder Mystery is going to be either brilliant, or a mess. This is brilliant with none of the horrendous irritation that we were delivered when Nico was around.
5
Nov 16 2022
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Abraxas
Santana
Holy shit! That first hit of Carlos' guitar on the first song! Then we hear the congas, so I'm expecting a balls-out, totally Latin jam. Oh no.... cool jazz with some psychedelia in the background. That electric piano sounds like Ray Manzarek is riding on the storm.
Then the segue into his most famous lick. I'm two songs in and I'm in awe! Can they keep it up? Well.... the next song is Oye Como Va which is another classic. Then into Incident at Neshabur which is atmospheric and wonderful.
Flip the disc to Se a Cabo. Rocking riff, polyrhthms and a bit of fun to finish. It just keeps being brilliant:Mother's Daughter has Gregg Rolie bashing out some great bluesy vocals. Samba Pa Ti is the only song that Carlos dominates. It then finishes with some more Latin flourishes.
This album showcases a band that has taken sounds from North and South America and merged them into an irresistible brew. Fabulous!
5
Nov 17 2022
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Frampton Comes Alive
Peter Frampton
3
Nov 18 2022
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Paul's Boutique
Beastie Boys
Oh goody. The shouty boys are back. I'm going to listen to this while doing the dishes which is a problem because I can't press skip while wearing gloves. Maybe they'll surprise me. For one song they did. Cool and mellow. They did get shouty but there was a lot of variety and a lot of humour. Schoolboy humour, but I enjoyed it.
4
Nov 19 2022
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Iron Maiden
Iron Maiden
That was good. Lots of high energy riffage. Yes, they sounded better when Dickinson arrived on the scene but this was a great debut.
4
Nov 20 2022
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Southern Rock Opera
Drive-By Truckers
The mix is so murky, the outright theft of Lynyrd Skynyrd riffs is blatant. This just sounds so good. Days of Graduation made me laugh so much I had to pause the music and gather myself. There is darkness and humour. The correct name for this genre must be Southern Gothic.
The Southern Thing sounds like Don Henley on guest vocals. I love the fact that we're getting history lessons. Good history, nuanced history. Then it finishes with the devastating Angels and Fuselages. Who would think that "Scared shitless" would be poetry.
This is why I subscribed to this list, it's a totally unexpected piece of genius.
5
Nov 21 2022
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Real Life
Magazine
Pretty boring then you hear a good song and think it's getting better. Then they spoil it with a track like Parade. Get a singer with a decent voice ffs! Boring and annoying. Never heard of them back in the day. Wasn't missing anything.
2
Nov 22 2022
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Heaven Or Las Vegas
Cocteau Twins
Two Cocteau Twins albums that you must listen to before you die. If you plan to die of confused boredom, that is.
1
Nov 23 2022
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Eli And The Thirteenth Confession
Laura Nyro
This is the ultimate try too hard album. An aural assault.
1
Nov 24 2022
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Sea Change
Beck
How can such a downer of an album be so good? I know that heartache is responsible for many great songs but I thought an album of depression might be too much. Nope! I'm now listening to Sunday Sun, where a ray of light is piercing through the gloom. He's taken me on a journey that I'll have to visit again.
5
Nov 25 2022
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Songs Of Leonard Cohen
Leonard Cohen
Very compelling and I don't know why. I guess it's just good to go along for the ride.
4
Nov 26 2022
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Stankonia
OutKast
If it was based on sound alone I'd give this 5 stars. But it loses one for the overuse of THAT word and another for a combination of sexism and two foul songs. One is Snappin' and Trappin' which has vile misogyny courtesy of guest talker Killer Mike. The other is the song I was looking forward to which had Cee-Lo. Don't listen to it. The beat is a confused mess.
3
Nov 27 2022
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The New Tango
Astor Piazzolla
That was the most boring thing I've ever heard.
1
Nov 28 2022
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New Forms
Roni Size
There are lots of jokes about drummers and bass players. This is what happens when they decide to bring those jokes to life. Words can't express how disturbed I am that these people actually get paid for this.
1
Nov 29 2022
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Grace
Jeff Buckley
4
Nov 30 2022
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Tonight's The Night
Neil Young
4
Dec 01 2022
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Close To The Edge
Yes
There are so many things to dislike about this album. Ridiculously long songs, Anderson's helium-infused vocals, the sheer wankery of some of their vocals. Yet I really like it and it took me a while to realise why. When they get in the groove they rock! Somehow they stay in the groove even through all the key and time changes.
4
Dec 02 2022
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Morrison Hotel
The Doors
4
Dec 03 2022
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Be
Common
Some of the sounds are good and the lyrical content is better than most of this genre. But it's still just people talking over a beat which ultimately bores me.
2
Dec 04 2022
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Songs Of Love And Hate
Leonard Cohen
Diamonds in the Mine is unbelievable. He starts off with a sardonic, Dylanesque voice. But it finishes with this coarse shouting. Try and ignore that if you can. The whole thing is just ridiculously brilliant.
5
Dec 05 2022
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Damaged
Black Flag
OH YEAH!!!!!! That clears your sinuses. I remember listening to a punk playlist from America and was a little underwhelmed. There was some great pop and garage rock, but it lacked attitude. Then I heard this cacophonous blast of guitars, drums and angry vocals. Just when it couldn't get any better they threw in these shouted extras from the rest of the band. It won't call it harmonies or a chorus, it just sounded like a bunch of blokes with beers telling from the front row. Then I realised they were singing about getting pissed (drunk) and I knew I'd found something special.
A great thing about Black Flag is that they've moved on and showed all their musical influences in later albums.
This album is a fantastic blast of anger and confusion.
5
Dec 06 2022
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Hot Fuss
The Killers
All the hits at the start but I'm enjoying the variety of the second half. Believe Me Natalie is such a U2 homage, while Everything Will Be Alright is wistful and hopeful. Meanwhile the closing song is just hilarious.
5
Dec 07 2022
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Jagged Little Pill
Alanis Morissette
When you realise the bass on You Oughta Know is one of the best lines of all time, it's no surprise that Flea played it. Just a great album. Several songs that are played way too often but they're so good they never lose their freshness. Always something else to please your ears.
5
Dec 08 2022
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If You Can Believe Your Eyes & Ears
The Mamas & The Papas
Straight Shooter riff isn't a million miles from Last Train to Clarksville. The vocals have a passing resemblance to the Hollies. The last four songs are filler. It does contain sponge of the greatest pop ever recorded. I love the fact that John Phillips went from Svengali to being cuckolded and writing about it. He was a genius, and a twat.
4
Dec 09 2022
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The Stooges
The Stooges
1969 committed many crimes, because there is no other year that would convince a band like The Stooges to record We Will Fall. It is supposedly 10 minutes and 18 seconds long. It seemed like hours of my life passed before I pressed skip. That's right. I didn't even finish it.
The Stooges save themselves with the next track being No Fun. It is a lot of fun, with Iggy doing his best Jagger, finishing with a couple of barks. Ron Asheton is a killer guitarist. He gives his best Hendrix on Real Cool Time.
4
Dec 10 2022
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Elephant
The White Stripes
Anybody who doesn't find themselves bopping to Black Math has no pulse. There's more light and shade than I was expecting with quieter songs like You've Got Her In Your Pocket. The guitar on Ball and Biscuit is perfect, both rhythm, lead, and that muddy, squealing solo.
5
Dec 11 2022
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Gunfighter Ballads And Trail Songs
Marty Robbins
3
Dec 12 2022
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Shake Your Money Maker
The Black Crowes
This takes me back to the '70s, when there was lots of boogie. Lots of meaty riffs all driven by that gunshot snare. What's not to love.
4
Dec 13 2022
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One Nation Under A Groove
Funkadelic
Groovallegiance has the funkiest bass..... then along comes that lead break! The funk band CAN play rock. That is the most driving bit of rock I've heard in ages. Doo Doo chasers had many funny bits, but I'm hearing a falsetto backed by shredded guitar. Remember that a purple clad genius from Minnesota was recording when this came out. This album has so many layers. To think I knew nothing about GC when this came out. So many wasted years.
5
Dec 14 2022
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Songs In The Key Of Life
Stevie Wonder
Great album with some of the best songs ever written. A peaceful, uplifting journey that does have a couple of fillers. The great songs and the overall beauty lets it squeak in to 5 star territory
5
Dec 15 2022
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Protection
Massive Attack
Some interesting sounds but I'm still in danger of falling asleep while standing. By the time I got to Spying Glass I was ready for the skip button. Once again, as is the case with most modern music, the best song is Better Things. It has a guest female vocalist who sounds great. Then they follow it with a hip-hop talk. I find rap with an English accent sounds even stupider that the usual American talker. Don't get me started on Australian accents (I'm Australian BTW).
2
Dec 16 2022
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Sex Packets
Digital Underground
That is the most tedious piece of crap I've ever failed to not listen to.
1
Dec 17 2022
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Rocks
Aerosmith
2
Dec 18 2022
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The Last Broadcast
Doves
Insipid and unoriginal. There is no reason for this to make this list.
2
Dec 19 2022
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Go Girl Crazy
The Dictators
That cover of I Got You Babe is glorious. Overall this was pretty good fun with the last track being a glorious surf rock throwback.
4
Dec 20 2022
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(Pronounced 'Leh-'Nérd 'Skin-'Nérd)
Lynyrd Skynyrd
4
Dec 21 2022
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Hot Buttered Soul
Isaac Hayes
3
Dec 22 2022
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Imperial Bedroom
Elvis Costello & The Attractions
2
Dec 23 2022
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The Clash
The Clash
That was very boring.
2
Dec 24 2022
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Surfer Rosa
Pixies
4
Dec 25 2022
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Supa Dupa Fly
Missy Elliott
Busta is not the person you want to introducing an album. He's a boring moron who can swear. Which sums up this repetitive, dated, cliche-ridden waste of space.
1
Dec 26 2022
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A Christmas Gift For You From Phil Spector
Various Artists
My only complaint is that this arrived at 3 on Christmas afternoon, so I finally listened to it around 10 that night. If it had arrived a week before it would have been in permanent rotation while I spent 3 days on the road. If anyone needs proof that Darlene Love is one of the greats, then this album is it. This is a most joyous, perfect piece of pop.
5
Dec 27 2022
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Fever To Tell
Yeah Yeah Yeahs
Karen O's voice reminds me of PJ Harvey with a little of Courtney Love's raspy twang and some of Katie Steele's sexy tones. She takes it all to the next level. While I find some of her vocal affectations a bit much, the basis of their music is crunchy guitar riffs and drums that don't take prisoners. The whole package rocks. What more can you want? Maps and Y Control are tonally different from the rest of the album and push it up to 5 star status. Both songs really grabbed me, so the contrast with some of their extremes just makes this album a great package.
5
Dec 28 2022
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Juju
Siouxsie And The Banshees
4
Dec 29 2022
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Roger the Engineer
The Yardbirds
5
Dec 30 2022
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That's The Way Of The World
Earth, Wind & Fire
4
Dec 31 2022
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Hotel California
Eagles
I always listen to every album before I review them. Which is totally unnecessary with this one. I have no idea how many times I've listened to this. Hundreds, easily. I still love putting it on again because it is a piece of genius that should get a higher rating. That's the problem with great albums from a certain era, they get overplayed so people get sick of them. Not me. It's note perfect. All killer, no filler. Some of the greatest harmonies this side of The Beach Boys, twin guitar leads from Felder and Walsh, Henley's bluesy voice.
5
Jan 01 2023
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If I Could Only Remember My Name
David Crosby
3
Jan 02 2023
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Metallica
Metallica
3
Jan 03 2023
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Rio
Duran Duran
4
Jan 04 2023
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Rattlesnakes
Lloyd Cole And The Commotions
Two good songs but his voice gets boring.
3
Jan 05 2023
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Heaux Tales
Jazmine Sullivan
Not horrendous. Just boring. My idea of hell is a road trip where the DJ plays non-stop R'n'B. It's such an insipid genre.
1
Jan 06 2023
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Sheer Heart Attack
Queen
It's Queen. It's brilliant.
5
Jan 07 2023
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Brilliant Corners
Thelonious Monk
Just when it starts getting musical (to me that means that the next note has some pleasing relationship to the last) off they go with some random, discordant plinking or plucking or some arhythmic stuff from the drums.
Jazz really wanted to be overtaken by rock, because so much of the late '50s early '60s stuff is just plain ugly. Pannonica is mostly smooth and silky. The second side is less harsh but boring. Once again I'm convinced that
Monk is the most overrated musician ever. He just hits random keys and everybody genuflects at his altar.
Waste of my time.
2
Jan 08 2023
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Rage Against The Machine
Rage Against The Machine
I shouldn't like this so much but the whole album roars.
5
Jan 09 2023
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Pearl
Janis Joplin
4
Jan 10 2023
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Violent Femmes
Violent Femmes
4
Jan 11 2023
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Scum
Napalm Death
This is even worse than K-Pop.
1
Jan 12 2023
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Planet Rock: The Album
Afrika Bambaataa
1. Hip-hop isn't a favourite of mine.
2. Electronica isn't a favourite of mine.
3. It's dated.
4. Despite the three strikes I like this.
It just sounds like they're having a whole bunch of fun and that means that the listener is having fun too.
Who You Funkin' With has the funkiest bass and some of the funniest raps.
I'm in the uncomfortable position of debating between 4 and 5 stars.
4
Jan 13 2023
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School's Out
Alice Cooper
4
Jan 14 2023
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MTV Unplugged In New York
Nirvana
5
Jan 15 2023
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Let's Get Killed
David Holmes
That was the biggest waste of time in ages. 10 minutes of this is worse than any torture ever devised.
1
Jan 17 2023
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Legalize It
Peter Tosh
3
Jan 18 2023
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Bert Jansch
Bert Jansch
His difficulty with finishing songs cleanly is the big clue to my untutored ear that this was a home recording. This is a lovely album.
5
Jan 19 2023
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Caetano Veloso
Caetano Veloso
3
Jan 20 2023
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Rising Above Bedlam
Jah Wobble's Invaders Of The Heart
4
Jan 21 2023
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It's Blitz!
Yeah Yeah Yeahs
Yeah Yeah Yeah! This band is the gift that keeps giving.
4
Jan 23 2023
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Wild Gift
X
Wimpy backing to annoying vocals. This is about as punk as Celine Dion but her voice is marginally better.
I'm starting to hit skip.
Just not in the mood for weeny punk pretenders. Just because you said "Fuck" doesn't make you punk. I've heard this compared with the debuts from Siouxsee or Clash. Fair cop. Their debut albums sucked but they got much better. This is the third album from X. They obviously weren't improving.
1
Jan 24 2023
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Songs For Swingin' Lovers!
Frank Sinatra
They're all the same song! Well played, well sung, (although he always sounds like he's phoning it in) but he could play the same song 15 times and I wouldn't know.
2
Jan 25 2023
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At San Quentin
Johnny Cash
He was an original. This is a great example of why he remained cool and relevant for all of his life.
5
Jan 26 2023
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Tubular Bells
Mike Oldfield
5
Jan 27 2023
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White Blood Cells
The White Stripes
5
Jan 28 2023
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Oracular Spectacular
MGMT
I don't give 5 stars to a band I know nothing about. Correction. I hadn't given 5 stars to an unknown band until now. Other than Kids I'd never heard any of this album but I'm adding them to my deep dive playlist. So much variety, so many influences, so catchy.
5
Jan 29 2023
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Talking With the Taxman About Poetry
Billy Bragg
3
Jan 30 2023
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Daydream Nation
Sonic Youth
That was a thousand times better than the other Sonic Youth album. But it's still only average. Their other album was horrendous. This isn't a band I need to listen to.
3
Jan 31 2023
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Californication
Red Hot Chili Peppers
Once you realise that Scar Tissue is a perfect song then everything else falls into place. Frusciante's solo is one of the greatest by anyone. Ever.
Get On Top is a classic Chili's breakdown that is sandwiched amongst famous, much more mellow, songs. That makes it even more fun while also setting the scene for the title track's anthemic grandeur. Right On Top is just insane then we go to the sweetness of Road Trippin'. Not many bands can get away with that but RHCP do it with ease.
5
Feb 01 2023
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2112
Rush
4
Feb 02 2023
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A Grand Don't Come For Free
The Streets
This talentless twat talks about "songs." How can you call those things, songs? He burps out this incredibly boring story of some loser doing things that nobody cares about. It has the same beat that a thousand other "songs" inflicted on us then he makes it even more grating by totally missing the beat while he talks. Not raps. Talks. There is no flow, no poetry, just nothing. Meanwhile this charlatan actually has people parting with their hard-earned to own this drivel or go to his shows.
There's a sucker born every minute. Surely the creator of this list got payment for including this shit on the list.
1
Feb 03 2023
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Darklands
The Jesus And Mary Chain
I knew they were Scottish from the first chords, although I hear echoes of Hoodoo Gurus and The Church (both great Australian bands).
4
Feb 04 2023
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Queen Of Denmark
John Grant
Wow! He just puts it out there. All this catharsis sung with a beautiful voice and great backing. JC Hates Faggots is the most unsubtle song I've ever heard. Then he follows it up with a straightforward love song which is then succeeded by a late night, whiskey-soaked break-up song.
5
Feb 05 2023
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Dare!
The Human League
3
Feb 06 2023
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m b v
My Bloody Valentine
That was boring.
2
Feb 07 2023
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Being There
Wilco
5
Feb 08 2023
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All That You Can't Leave Behind
U2
So much hate. Yeah, he's a wanker, but he's avoided sex and drugs while continuing to play rock and roll.
This was a good album with a great mix of past and present.
5
Feb 09 2023
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Bongo Rock
Incredible Bongo Band
What just happened? An instrumental album featuring the bongos was going to start off ok, then get boring quickly. Nope! Not in the least. It's an ode to the rhythm section with some of the greatest rearrangements of popular songs. Especially the surf songs. Particularly Pipeline. This was such a wonderful surprise.
5
Feb 10 2023
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Machine Gun Etiquette
The Damned
I love Captain Sensible's lead work, pretty impressive for a man who was the bass player. While listening to the breakout on Looking At You it becomes apparent that Dave and Captain are able to go off on their tangents because the rhythm section keeps it nailed down.
4
Feb 11 2023
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Foo Fighters
Foo Fighters
4
Feb 12 2023
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The Notorious Byrd Brothers
The Byrds
4
Feb 13 2023
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Viva Hate
Morrissey
Meh.
3
Feb 14 2023
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Every Picture Tells A Story
Rod Stewart
Side one is good, while side two is amazing. Reason To Believe is yet another stunning cover of a Tim Hardin song. Rod is one of the great interpreters of other people's songs. He also wrote a few classics. Mandolin Wind is one of the best songs of that era.
5
Feb 15 2023
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Now I Got Worry
The Jon Spencer Blues Explosion
1
Feb 16 2023
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Play
Moby
Well that was beyond boring. The best thing about repetitive drivel is that you can press skip after 30 seconds and be guaranteed to have missed nothing.
1
Feb 17 2023
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Nighthawks At The Diner
Tom Waits
Yawn.
2
Feb 18 2023
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Countdown To Ecstasy
Steely Dan
4
Feb 19 2023
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The Number Of The Beast
Iron Maiden
They're so dumb and Bruce is so over the top that I shouldn't give it 5 stars, but listen to the drums and bass running along while the guitars do their thing. Love it.
5
Feb 20 2023
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Fuzzy Logic
Super Furry Animals
My first thoughts were that it was too silly, but then I realise that this is the ultimate party band and sounds so much better than Blur and Pulp. (I like Oasis)
5
Feb 21 2023
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Station To Station
David Bowie
The title track is a weird epic. I remember seeing Bowie singing about the return of the thin white duke and wondering why I'd never heard of him before. Golden Years wah wah wah: is simply sublime funk. Word on a Wing is a desperate track which sometimes sounds too melodramatic. TVC 15 is a spectacular piece of nonsense that builds to a nice crunchy finish. Stay has that glorious guitar interplay backed by THAT bass. When Bowie finally decides to interject he puts in one of his finest vocals. It sounds like three levels with that desperate high voice giving it so much drama. Then the bands plays it out in that great jam. Delicious! He finishes with a melodramatic cover of a song that needs emotion, Wild is the Wind. To me there is one version that beats his, Nina Simone's live cut from 1966 (I think).
I don't belong to those who like the Berlin trilogy. I think he dipped badly in the late '70s. But those 3 let downs were bookended by two fabulous discs: this one and Scary Monsters.
5
Feb 22 2023
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All Directions
The Temptations
I love those numbers where each singer drops in for his little bit. I just realised that's where MCing came from.
4
Feb 23 2023
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KIWANUKA
Michael Kiwanuka
You Ain't the Problem: nice groove that starts with a distinct Latin flavour. It has a summery, almost mid-70s vibe.
Rolling: very insistent rhythm with sprinkles of psychedelia in the keyboard sound and the background vocals.
I love Piano Joint. It has that late night, melancholic hopefulness that is so hard to get right and so perfect when it is done right.
Living in Denial is Philly Soul without the almost incel-like misogyny that pervaded it.
Maybe I'm not making it clear just how fucking wonderful this album is. His voice is bringing soul back. The backing is perfect.
Am I a Hero encapsulates why this man is so superior to his contemporaries. He finds a sound and loops it, just like so many acts nowadays. But then he adds a great groove and an awesome vocal with a message.
Solid Ground is so simple, his voice and a sparse backing. It feels so sad. Then it builds up to an almost discordant climax. Very effective.
Light is nice and bluesy, then that great guitar finishes it off perfectly.
It's no surprise that Spotify then went to Bill Withers after this. Michael Kiwanuka is his spiritual successor.
5
Feb 24 2023
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Rip It Up
Orange Juice
Forgettable.
3
Feb 25 2023
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Red Headed Stranger
Willie Nelson
4
Feb 26 2023
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Savane
Ali Farka Touré
The title track sounds like the riff from Child in Time, but on a Reggae beat! Penda Yoro is a blues jam, with a polyrhthm. Totally danceable. This was a very pleasant surprise.
5
Feb 27 2023
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The Predator
Ice Cube
I hate this rubbish. I've heard this message without all the vileness.
1
Feb 28 2023
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A Girl Called Dusty
Dusty Springfield
5
Mar 01 2023
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Bizarre Ride II The Pharcyde
The Pharcyde
That was a waste of time.
1
Mar 02 2023
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Ananda Shankar
Ananda Shankar
Metamorphosis is a five- star banger that just keeps building. This was quite enjoyable.
3
Mar 03 2023
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The Score
Fugees
They were on some good drugs because some of what they say is bizarre. Funny, but weird. I do love the constant dropping of little musical references. This was so many levels better than the garbage coming from most of their peers.
4
Mar 04 2023
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Ten
Pearl Jam
Once is probably the greatest intro song ever. Even Flow has Eddie do that slow/fast thing, it's always been a favourite. Alive is the anthem that all other bands wish they'd recorded. Why Go is frantic, with a desperate sound. Black is a quiet song, giving us a break before Jeremy arrives. What a song, even without the video. So much repression which then bursts out, mirroring that horrifying tale. Oceans is a sort of hippy Led Zep song, very much sounding like LZ III. Porch sounds like a live favourite, it's such a jam.
5
Mar 05 2023
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Tanto Tempo
Bebel Gilberto
4
Mar 06 2023
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Bone Machine
Tom Waits
I heard Nighthawks a week or so ago and found it boring. So I approached this one ready to hand out 1 or 2 stars. After the first song I was thinking 3, then as I immersed myself in this odd sonic experience, I was thinking 4. By the time I'd run through Murder in the Barn, Black Wings, Whistle Down the Wind and I Don't Want to Grow Up I had to go 5.
He takes you on a journey through weird, wonderful, scary, and hilarious. Each song uses a different voice. Each voice should grate on the ear but he's like Dylan. His voice fits the songs. He even sounds like Dylan at one stage.
Bloody brilliant!
5
Mar 07 2023
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Tres Hombres
ZZ Top
4
Mar 08 2023
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Life's Too Good
The Sugarcubes
4
Mar 09 2023
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This Nation’s Saving Grace
The Fall
Was sort of enjoying it but it just got annoying. It sounds like where the Stones may have gone if they didn't care about what they sounded like.
2
Mar 10 2023
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The Poet
Bobby Womack
3
Mar 11 2023
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Honky Tonk Masquerade
Joe Ely
Some really horrible cliched country, but then there are songs like Boxcars, which is brilliant, and Fingernails, which is a great piece of rockabilly.
2
Mar 12 2023
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Water From An Ancient Well
Abdullah Ibrahim
3
Mar 13 2023
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Maxwell's Urban Hang Suite
Maxwell
Kenny G meets '70s elevator music. This is something they should add to the torture arsenal at Guantanamo. 10 minutes of this and I was admitting to everything from being Jack the Ripper to actually being Q.
2
Mar 14 2023
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Everything Must Go
Manic Street Preachers
So far it's got some crunchy rock bit it's all a bit samey. The lead singer is a hair's breadth away from being painful.
Then we get a nice light touch with Small Black Flowers. The Girl Who Wanted to be God had a nice funky bass. Removables starts off like Nirvana Unplugged work the lead singer getting a bit of Kurt, except he doesn't sound funereal.
3
Mar 15 2023
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Killing Joke
Killing Joke
4
Mar 16 2023
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Amnesiac
Radiohead
I Might Be Wrong is just so cool, that funky bass line is a joy. You and Whose Army? Wow! I've been too busy listening to write notes. Dollars and Cents just got completely under my skin. Maybe I want in the mood, but I found Kid A to be disappointing, whereas this weird collection is just magnificent.
5
Mar 17 2023
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The White Album
Beatles
5
Mar 18 2023
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In The Wee Small Hours
Frank Sinatra
Sorry. More than one Sinatra song is boring. He's supposed to be sad but there's no emotion.
2
Mar 19 2023
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Welcome to the Afterfuture
Mike Ladd
Started off ok but started to drag.
2
Mar 20 2023
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Rhythm Nation 1814
Janet Jackson
Plenty of cringy moments with those interludes. Lots of repetitive industrial percussion and a couple of R'n'B songs (I hate that wimpy genre.). Despite all that there are lots of enjoyable moments and I find myself dancing along to Rhythm Nation et al. Black Cat almost makes it a 4-star.
3
Mar 21 2023
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The Specials
The Specials
5
Mar 22 2023
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Me Against The World
2Pac
1
Mar 23 2023
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The Velvet Underground & Nico
The Velvet Underground
Some bearable songs but they aren't very good, with two average singers.
2
Mar 24 2023
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Sound of Silver
LCD Soundsystem
Boring!!!!!!
1
Mar 25 2023
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The Atomic Mr Basie
Count Basie & His Orchestra
Kid From Red Bank explodes and is then followed by the cheekily suave Duet. After Supper lives up to its name, a smoky blues number. Flight of the Foo Birds is big, bold and brassy. So far each track has featured a different lead and a different vibe. This one has had trumpet, sax, and the whole brass section lead it. Double-O is classic jazz, with the lead being handed over to everybody. It's a great track that is really driven by the bass. The sax at the end is invigorating. The whole song would have couples racing out onto the dance floor. I wish that Teddy the Toad had stayed with the piano, the brass was a bit dull. Whirly-Bird is exhilarating, once again it's all about the bass, with plenty of treble from the brass. Midnight Blue is so suave. The quieter moments give us plenty of time to enjoy The Count's piano. Splanky is fun while Fantail just keeps building, while once again that man, Eddie Jones, nails it with the bass. Lil Darlin' is a standard that just sweetly sweeps you out the door.
5
Mar 26 2023
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A Hard Day's Night
Beatles
When you consider that the title track is my first musical memory, it's no surprise I love this album. They were on the greatest roll that any band has ever had.
5
Mar 27 2023
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All Hail the Queen
Queen Latifah
Not looking forward to this. Even those who grew up with it can't give it 5 stars. I'm guessing I'll start pressing skip after the first "song."
It was a boring and predictable as I expected.
1
Mar 28 2023
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Lost In The Dream
The War On Drugs
I kept hearing touches of Dylan in his phrasing, then he went full Zimmerman on the final song.
4
Mar 29 2023
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Layla And Other Assorted Love Songs
Derek & The Dominos
So I'm going to sit here and fall asleep. Layla has that pointless, endless coda. Seriously, this bloke is only good as a guest performer. Only in the studio. I'm suspecting that his live guest appearances become extended wank-fests. There is no way this should be on any greatest album lists.
1
Mar 30 2023
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Skylarking
XTC
4
Mar 31 2023
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Nick Of Time
Bonnie Raitt
She can play, she has an excellent voice, burr mist of the album was dull. The last 3 songs were much better.
3
Apr 01 2023
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Parklife
Blur
3
Apr 02 2023
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Public Image: First Issue
Public Image Ltd.
Jah Wobble is the king of the groove. I don't care what everyone else is doing and sometimes I wonder if they do, but it doesn't matter because he just drives every song.
5
Apr 03 2023
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The Piper At The Gates Of Dawn
Pink Floyd
A couple of great songs and a lot of twee rubbish.
3
Apr 04 2023
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Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness
The Smashing Pumpkins
5
Apr 05 2023
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Eternally Yours
The Saints
Album number 417 is the 2nd Australian disc I've been given. First was The Avalanches, a truly, stunningly boring piece of repetitive twaddle. But this is the business! Bailey's nasal snarl over Kuepper's buzzsaw wall of sound is head-bangingly perfect. Know Your Product joins I'm Stranded in the pantheon of Oz Rock.
They should headline the opening ceremony at the 2032 Olympics.
5
Apr 06 2023
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The Psychedelic Sounds of the 13th Floor Elevators
The 13th Floor Elevators
5
Apr 07 2023
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Abbey Road
Beatles
5
Apr 08 2023
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I'm Your Man
Leonard Cohen
5
Apr 09 2023
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The Black Saint And The Sinner Lady
Charles Mingus
After 6 5-star albums in a row I suppose I had to get some jazz. Not as bad as Ornette Coleman but it still has a lot of jarring sounds.
2
Apr 10 2023
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Django Django
Django Django
I think WOR is my favourite song of the decade. I started off unsure, then beguiled, but when that surf rock rhythm started pounding, I was enthralled.
5
Apr 11 2023
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Golden Hour
Kacey Musgraves
Inoffensively pleasant. Doesn't sound like an album I must listen to, though.
3
Apr 12 2023
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Autobahn
Kraftwerk
3
Apr 13 2023
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Black Monk Time
The Monks
Wow! Somebody needs to do a doco on these legends. Had never heard of them but won't ever forget them.
5
Apr 14 2023
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Butterfly
Mariah Carey
Truly this is one of the worst things I've ever listened to. She may have a good voice but why does she have to warble away like that? Truly terrible.
1
Apr 15 2023
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Fresh Fruit for Rotting Vegetables
Dead Kennedys
I shouldn't like this so much. I'm listening to Funland at the Beach with an embarrassed grin on my face. Holiday in Cambodia has everything that a song needs. Then we finish with the "reconstructed" Viva Las Vegas: "Got coke up my nose to dry up the snot." Truly wonderful/horrible.
5
Apr 16 2023
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Francis Albert Sinatra & Antonio Carlos Jobim
Frank Sinatra
Not quite as boring as the other Frank albums I've listened to. Still boring.
2
Apr 17 2023
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Mama's Gun
Erykah Badu
There are some good sounds and her voice has lots of emotion. But there's just something inherently boring about neo-soul and R'n'B. It's too soft. It's like pop music of the '40s and '50s as sung by crooners. Just background. Inoffensive, but finally irritating. Bag Lady has a bit of oomph but the rest of it induces sleep. I couldn't wait to finish this and get back to some '70s funk. That's never going to be elevator music.
3
Apr 18 2023
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Elephant Mountain
The Youngbloods
Pleasant, and I understand that it was a transition from psychedelic to country rock, but it's not a "must-listen." Beautiful has a bit more oomph to it. Then it was followed by a not-funny attempt at humour. Sham is a genuinely good piece of rock, with some soulful singing, staccato guitar and thrashing drums.
3
Apr 19 2023
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Sail Away
Randy Newman
Great lyricist but can be a bit annoying with that music hall shtick. I was going 3 stars but some of his wordplay is so acerbic that I found myself smiling frequently.
4
Apr 20 2023
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Greetings From L.A.
Tim Buckley
What's annoying is that I like this kind of funky, sexy, bluesy jam. Tim just needed to dial back the affectations a bit and this would be a really good album.
3
Apr 21 2023
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Only Built 4 Cuban Linx
Raekwon
There isn't a cliche this person doesn't hit. Person, not musician. This is dire.
1
Apr 22 2023
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B-52's
The B-52's
5
Apr 23 2023
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Smile
Brian Wilson
This album grows on you, just like Pet Sounds. Keep listening and you will become entranced.
5
Apr 24 2023
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Lazer Guided Melodies
Spiritualized
Ho hum.
3
Apr 25 2023
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Let It Be
The Replacements
4
Apr 26 2023
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The Chronic
Dr. Dre
1
Apr 27 2023
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The Grand Tour
George Jones
Yes, Virginia. There is something worse than gangsta rap.
1
Apr 28 2023
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They Were Wrong, So We Drowned
Liars
2
Apr 29 2023
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Dirt
Alice In Chains
5
Apr 30 2023
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Yank Crime
Drive Like Jehu
2
May 01 2023
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On The Beach
Neil Young
4
May 02 2023
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Your Arsenal
Morrissey
It's Morrissey and here I am deciding between 4 and 5 stars!!! This is what happens when Mick Ronson is the producer. This album rocked! The mopey songs just add counterbalance.
4
May 03 2023
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Don't Come Home A Drinkin' (With Lovin' On Your Mind)
Loretta Lynn
2
May 04 2023
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Black Metal
Venom
2
May 05 2023
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Vulgar Display Of Power
Pantera
The riff isn't bad, then the lead yeller starts yelling. He obviously wants to be Hetfield, but he also has this dramatic thing going. Good metal drags you in to an experience. Cliched metal is intensely boring. This is next-level cliche.
1
May 06 2023
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Ágætis Byrjun
Sigur Rós
Pretty good lullaby music. Every song just drags.
2
May 07 2023
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Made In Japan
Deep Purple
4
May 08 2023
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Green River
Creedence Clearwater Revival
Such a great album. The deep cuts are so good.
5
May 09 2023
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evermore
Taylor Swift
4
May 10 2023
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Let England Shake
PJ Harvey
There comes a point in every PJ Harvey album when you realise you're hooked. This time it was On Battleship Hill. Once again I was lured in to the world she'd made. So I finished it and listened again. It's what you do with the glorious, varied genius that is Polly Jean.
5
May 11 2023
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Rock Bottom
Robert Wyatt
No. Lots of musicians doing their own thing. Discordantly.
1
May 12 2023
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New Wave
The Auteurs
Surely the lead singer is holding his nose while he sings. This is a truly annoying piece of crap.
1
May 13 2023
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Like A Prayer
Madonna
I was pleasantly surprised to find this as underwhelming as it was. Because I'd always wondered if I'd missed out on some genius, which is what so many people tell us she is. I hate the video of Like a Prayer, but it is a strong song, while Cherish is a sweet bit of pop. Is forgotten just how boring Express Yourself was. Truly terrible. The rest was lightweight and really quite boring. Just filler. As for Dear Jessie: people go to jail for less.
Madge is the ultimate triumph of style over substance.
2
May 14 2023
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The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars
David Bowie
This has been one of my favourite albums since I first heard it. Easiest 5 star award. Not one song is less than 5 star. Probably the ultimate all killer, no filler.
5
May 15 2023
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Sheet Music
10cc
A little bit too over the place.
3
May 16 2023
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Bossanova
Pixies
4
May 17 2023
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Emperor Tomato Ketchup
Stereolab
4
May 18 2023
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With The Beatles
Beatles
5
May 19 2023
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KE*A*H** (Psalm 69)
Ministry
The best riffs had the worst vocals.
3
May 20 2023
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Live Through This
Hole
3
May 21 2023
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Infected
The The
A combination of generic '80s pop with socially conscious lyrics that are really quite cringeworthy. But what really deals the deal is the vocalist. He's trying something but failing. The '80s had some great music but a lot of misses. This is bottom of the pile.
2
May 22 2023
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Lupe Fiasco's Food & Liquor
Lupe Fiasco
Interesting sounds and really boring lyrics. Yesterday's album was a British group from the '80s with exactly the same problem. Socially conscious but lacking any imagery or imagination. Pity, because he sounds OK.
4 tracks later. Attention starting to wander because it is hip-hop. I need songs, not talks. There is a lack of light and shade when someone keeps talking over a beat.
2
May 23 2023
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Hypnotised
The Undertones
The vocalist is so familiar. Surely not.... but yes! Bloody Feargal Sharkey! Why didn't I know about this band? Energetic, fun, funny, sarcastic, with variety. A night with these boys on stage and you'd be a sweaty mess.
4
May 24 2023
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Wish You Were Here
Pink Floyd
5
May 25 2023
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Come Find Yourself
Fun Lovin' Criminals
3
May 26 2023
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Led Zeppelin III
Led Zeppelin
This is my favourite LZ album and one of the best albums that I know. Side 1 has two of the greatest songs ever recorded, Immigrant Song and Since I've Been Loving You (Jimmy doing his Janis homage), but it's side two that really gets me going. It's such a journey.
5
May 27 2023
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Freak Out!
The Mothers Of Invention
I was amazed at how normal it sounded. The lyrics were wonderfully satiric, and delivered sardonically, but it wasn't weird or freaky. Then I hit It Can't Happen Here. That is an acid trip come to life! Then we get the sonic palette being fully expanded on that final track.
This is a brilliant album, with a special nod going to Don't Put Your Head On My Shoulder. Sorry, that should read Go Cry On Somebody Else's Shoulder. I love where he satirises the love song genre.
5
May 28 2023
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Truth And Soul
Fishbone
I'm hanging the washing and bopping along. This was fun.
4
May 29 2023
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Peter Gabriel
Peter Gabriel
5
May 30 2023
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Slayed?
Slade
4
May 31 2023
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Music From Big Pink
The Band
Is this the most overrated album of all time? A couple of decent songs in amongst the dreck, all of them badly sung and poorly played.
2
Jun 01 2023
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Shaft
Isaac Hayes
It's a soundtrack with one song! No!
1
Jun 02 2023
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Seventeen Seconds
The Cure
4
Jun 03 2023
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Arrival
ABBA
Fernando was number one in Australia for 14 weeks! Money, Money, Money and Dancing Queen spent a combined 14 weeks at the top. I was one of those sick of ABBA by then. So it's good to finally listen to the whole album finally.
What's not to like: the blending of those two voices with Benny and Bjorn's brilliant arrangements were at their peak here. I wonder why Tiger wasn't a single, but they were spoiled for choice. A couple of fillers prevents it getting 5.
4
Jun 04 2023
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The Sounds Of India
Ravi Shankar
Got bored very quickly.
2
Jun 05 2023
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Van Halen
Van Halen
5
Jun 06 2023
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Psychocandy
The Jesus And Mary Chain
4
Jun 07 2023
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Myths Of The Near Future
Klaxons
What a nice surprise that was. Some say that rock is dead, certainly it doesn't dominate, but bands like Klaxon take rock into this century with aplomb. It's noticeable that they take us on a journey from obvious rock to stuff which is a little more electronic, a bit more dance oriented. Yet I think the last few songs, which feature some killer bass work, actually rock harder while bringing on the funk.
5
Jun 08 2023
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Bridge Over Troubled Water
Simon & Garfunkel
5
Jun 09 2023
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Out of Step
Minor Threat
3
Jun 10 2023
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Snivilisation
Orbital
I set the expectations bar low and this proved twice as boring as the worst electronica. I was driving ffs! While waiting at the lights I started nodding off.
1
Jun 11 2023
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Hejira
Joni Mitchell
2
Jun 12 2023
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Sunshine Superman
Donovan
3
Jun 13 2023
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The Dreaming
Kate Bush
3
Jun 14 2023
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Unhalfbricking
Fairport Convention
This is a great album! Above everything else are the vocals; whether they are the sweet harmonies or Sandy's solo beauties. I knew who Fairport Convention were but had never listened to them. I'm rectifying that error from now on.
5
Jun 15 2023
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Vespertine
Björk
4
Jun 16 2023
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Raw Power
The Stooges
3
Jun 17 2023
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Like Water For Chocolate
Common
Uncommonly boring.
1
Jun 18 2023
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Cheap Thrills
Big Brother & The Holding Company
I took away a star because it's a fake live album. But that's okay because I wanted to give it 6 stars.
5
Jun 19 2023
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The Blueprint
JAY Z
Typical foul-mouthed rubbish. This is a zero star piece of crap.
1
Jun 20 2023
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Dub Housing
Pere Ubu
1
Jun 21 2023
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3 Feet High and Rising
De La Soul
4
Jun 22 2023
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Metal Box
Public Image Ltd.
1
Jun 23 2023
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Sunday At The Village Vanguard
Bill Evans Trio
2
Jun 24 2023
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The Doors
The Doors
5
Jun 25 2023
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The Trinity Session
Cowboy Junkies
4
Jun 26 2023
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Zombie
Fela Kuti
3
Jun 27 2023
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Entertainment
Gang Of Four
Clearly defined voice, drums, guitar and bass leaves all this space. It works so well that when they change it up (the climax of Damaged Goods is a classic example) it has so much power.
5
Jun 28 2023
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Fire Of Love
The Gun Club
2
Jun 29 2023
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Buffalo Springfield Again
Buffalo Springfield
3
Jun 30 2023
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Cee-Lo Green... Is The Soul Machine
Cee Lo Green
2
Aug 01 2023
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So
Peter Gabriel
5
Aug 02 2023
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Live At Leeds
The Who
2
Aug 03 2023
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Paul Simon
Paul Simon
5
Aug 04 2023
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Fly Or Die
N.E.R.D
4
Aug 05 2023
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Meat Puppets II
Meat Puppets
Curt Kirkwood has annoying vocals but the band just has something. 4 stars because the instrumental tracks are great.
4
Aug 06 2023
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Permission to Land
The Darkness
One of the great debut albums. Over the top nonsense with tongue firmly wedged in cheek. Which cheek? Have a listen and you decide.
5
Aug 07 2023
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Strange Cargo III
William Orbit
Bored now.
1
Aug 08 2023
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Idlewild
Everything But The Girl
1
Aug 09 2023
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Automatic For The People
R.E.M.
I could listen to Stipe's voice forever. This is one of the best albums of all time.
5
Aug 10 2023
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Surf's Up
The Beach Boys
This is simply brilliant! It takes you on a journey of joy and darkness like few others can do. But that's just an aperitif for the title track and Carl's vocal tour de force. Must be heard with headphones.
5
Aug 11 2023
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Exit Planet Dust
The Chemical Brothers
1
Aug 12 2023
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Safe As Milk
Captain Beefheart & His Magic Band
3
Aug 13 2023
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Tom Tom Club
Tom Tom Club
4
Aug 14 2023
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The Only Ones
The Only Ones
4
Aug 15 2023
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The ArchAndroid
Janelle Monáe
That just blew me away! She takes a range of disparate genres, does them better than anybody else, and manages to make a cohesive piece of magic.
5
Aug 16 2023
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Under Construction
Missy Elliott
Dear Missy. It's easy to hate your music without being a hater. I'm a pretty decent person but your "music" manages to mix boredom, irritation and the stupidest, most puerile lyrical content which seems to infest your genre. I'm going to listen to yesterday's album from Janelle Monae again. There is an artist worth listening to.
1
Aug 17 2023
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The World is a Ghetto
War
3
Aug 18 2023
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Live / Dead
Grateful Dead
I thought studio Dead was bad. Deadheads must take a lot of drugs to make this palatable.
1
Aug 19 2023
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São Paulo Confessions
Suba
1
Aug 20 2023
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Warehouse: Songs And Stories
Hüsker Dü
4
Aug 21 2023
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Connected
Stereo MC's
4
Aug 22 2023
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White Ladder
David Gray
3
Aug 23 2023
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Deep Purple In Rock
Deep Purple
4
Aug 24 2023
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Sticky Fingers
The Rolling Stones
Any album that fumigated with Moonlight Mile is perfect.
5
Aug 25 2023
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I Want To See The Bright Lights Tonight
Richard Thompson
4
Aug 26 2023
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Scott 4
Scott Walker
The first song was fun but it went down quickly. It becomes this strange forced muddle of unlovable boredom. His lyrics seem very odd in a way I can't pin down. It reminds of mid-70s Joni Mitchell, and I detest mid-70s Joni Mitchell.
2
Aug 27 2023
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Casanova
The Divine Comedy
Nobody needs to hear that dismal crap.
1
Aug 28 2023
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Moving Pictures
Rush
The production is way too clean! There's a whole bunch of stuff I could like but it's way too polite. I'm betting that they'd sound much better live.
3
Aug 29 2023
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At Fillmore East
The Allman Brothers Band
Boring.
2
Aug 30 2023
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D.O.A. the Third and Final Report of Throbbing Gristle
Throbbing Gristle
This has only the 2nd lowest overall rating. I'm not liking forward to what came last. This excrement is a waste of time.
1
Aug 31 2023
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Third
Portishead
I'm glad I didn't skip this, which I was tempted to do after hearing their earlier stuff. Fuck I hate trip hop. But this is magnificent: slow, moody, muscular, weird. I swear that it sounds like Kate Bush at times.
5
Sep 01 2023
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Manassas
Stephen Stills
5
Sep 02 2023
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Picture Book
Simply Red
One great song doesn't make an album.
2
Sep 03 2023
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Birth Of The Cool
Miles Davis
It is cool but all tends to merge into a wallpaper sound of sameness. Sometimes Myles gets some dynamism going but not often enough.
2
Sep 04 2023
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Sometimes I Wish We Were An Eagle
Bill Callahan
4
Sep 05 2023
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Vento De Maio
Elis Regina
2
Sep 06 2023
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American IV: The Man Comes Around
Johnny Cash
5
Sep 07 2023
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Rejoicing In The Hands
Devendra Banhart
I tried but that voice travels from different to irritating pretty quickly.
2
Sep 08 2023
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Time Out
The Dave Brubeck Quartet
4
Sep 09 2023
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Shleep
Robert Wyatt
One half decent song followed by one unlistenable piece of crap. Repeat. No thanks.
2
Sep 10 2023
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Solid Air
John Martyn
Lots of try too hard wankfest. Even when he comes out with a truly excellent piece of funk he souls it with that irritating put on vocal.
2
Sep 11 2023
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Marquee Moon
Television
4
Sep 12 2023
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Time (The Revelator)
Gillian Welch
3
Sep 13 2023
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Green
R.E.M.
5
Sep 14 2023
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Superunknown
Soundgarden
There are some good moments but way too much of that slow heavy dirge material.
3
Sep 15 2023
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Superfuzz Bigmuff
Mudhoney
Yesterday I listened to Soundgarden's multi-million-selling album which I found to be turgid. Meanwhile this pre-grunge EP is EP-IC! That guitar sounds is glorious, while the songs have so much life and power.
4
Sep 16 2023
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Peter Gabriel 3
Peter Gabriel
5
Sep 17 2023
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Every Good Boy Deserves Fudge
Mudhoney
5
Sep 18 2023
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Isn't Anything
My Bloody Valentine
Let's mix some stoner/spacey vocals with some decent rock instrumentals. No? Let's just try some really annoying slower songs with a coalition of clashing sounds.
This whole album sounds like the work experience guy did the mixing. This shit isn't just irritating, it's aggravating.
2
Sep 19 2023
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Black Sabbath
Black Sabbath
In 1970 this was absolutely 5 star with nothing that came close to it. But it was overtaken by Paranoid. Still... the title track is a doom laden killer, while we hear some great riffs from Tommy and that glorious swing that Bill brought to the party. It's still a great introduction to the band (including some naff lyrics from Ozzie).
4
Sep 20 2023
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For Your Pleasure
Roxy Music
3
Sep 21 2023
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Tank Battles
Dagmar Krause
Yeah....Nah! Life's too short to listen to that.
1
Sep 22 2023
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The Coral
The Coral
Showed some promise but it just ended up being silly nonsense.
2
Sep 23 2023
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american dream
LCD Soundsystem
3
Sep 24 2023
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McCartney
Paul McCartney
3
Sep 25 2023
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A Night At The Opera
Queen
Easiest 5 start rating if them all. This is the album that started my lifelong love of Queen. There are people who don't like I'm In Love With My Car. Inconceivable! Roger had one of the great rock voices of all time it's just that he was in a band that had the greatest front man with the greatest voice of them all. Four great musicians, four great songwriters and the sheer audacity to turn prog rock into pomp rock.
There's a song about time dilation from a man whose doctoral thesis was in the field of cosmology. Yep... it is rocket science.
Oh yes. That guitar sound comes from a guitar built by Brian and his dad feed through a pre-amp built by John.
5
Sep 26 2023
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British Steel
Judas Priest
2
Sep 27 2023
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Teen Dream
Beach House
I'm beginning to think that dream pop is like The Grateful Dead. You need to take the right drugs to enjoy this humdrum silly nonsense.
2
Sep 28 2023
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Run-D.M.C.
Run-D.M.C.
Nooooooooooo!!!!!!!!!
1
Sep 29 2023
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Pump
Aerosmith
2
Sep 30 2023
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Actually
Pet Shop Boys
3
Oct 01 2023
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Rings Around The World
Super Furry Animals
This is really irritating and I'm not sure why. But every track causes me to get a bit more peeved, miffed even. It's not outright crap like Bon Jovi or Aerosmith but I really don't like this.
2
Oct 02 2023
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Oedipus Schmoedipus
Barry Adamson
1
Oct 03 2023
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Heavy Weather
Weather Report
Pleasant enough background music but I'm not giving a pass mark to something that is too boring to remember.
2
Oct 04 2023
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Black Holes and Revelations
Muse
One of the most gloriously OTT albums ever released. Knights of Cydonia is magnificently ridiculous, yet the song itself pales in comparison with that absurdly stupid video. This may bit be their best album but it is certainly my favourite
5
Oct 05 2023
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Only By The Night
Kings of Leon
Before I listen I have to say that I hate Sex On Fire, so it will be interesting to see if the rest of the album makes up for that overblown rubbish.
Closer: nope. Ponderous crap with the same vocal stylings. He sounds like he has a massive dose of constipation.
Then I remembered Use Somebody is of that same turgid, earnest style. Not looking good.
Manhattan is better... lighter. Sounds like Christine McVie on the synth.
Revelry is very good, it has a nice laidback feel.
Seventeen is disturbing but good.
Notion - no.
I Want You - dull.
It just finished up being meh. There are a few good songs in the middle but they are flanked by songs that are just plain annoying.
2
Oct 06 2023
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Roots
Sepultura
Stupid growling vocals automatically means one star. Only because we can't vote zero.
1
Oct 07 2023
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Bummed
Happy Mondays
2
Oct 08 2023
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Survivor
Destiny's Child
2
Oct 09 2023
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Twelve Dreams Of Dr. Sardonicus
Spirit
In the words of the bard, "This is some seriously good shit!"
Everyone knows about Page ripping off the intro of Taurus which was somehow thrown out of court. What most of us don't realise is that they released some brilliant music despite never being big. Maybe they received some airplay on the US because I never heard of them in Australia.
They are a band I'm going to dive into. Maybe the rest of their albums weren't as good but I'm expecting to hear something good.
5
Oct 10 2023
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Whatever
Aimee Mann
4
Oct 11 2023
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LP1
FKA twigs
You can tell she harkens to Kate Bush, Tori Amos and Brisbane's own Kate Miller-Heidke. But there's a massive difference: they are all eccentric with high voices but the other three actually sing coherent songs. I don't know what this singer is supposed to be doing, but it isn't musical - just random noises. This is one of the worst things I've ever listened to.
1
Oct 12 2023
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Something Else By The Kinks
The Kinks
Just a bunch of lightweight, same- sounding, twee bits of fluff. This from the band that is considered a progenitor of heavy rock/metal. Most disappointing.
2
Oct 13 2023
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Beyond Skin
Nitin Sawhney
I read a review that compared this with FKA Twigs and Massive Attack, acts that I've given one star reviews of. Not looking promising.
It's better than those acts. Still boring, but better. Pilgrim is probably the worst piece of music I've ever heard, managing to be boring, irritating, pretentious and dumb at the same time.
2
Oct 14 2023
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Trafalgar
Bee Gees
That was a turgid little journey. Every song the same.
2
Oct 15 2023
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One World
John Martyn
There's a song you like them a song you hate. Then you teach the final track, which I liked and hated.
2
Oct 16 2023
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Abattoir Blues / The Lyre of Orpheus
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds
Always thought an album of Nick would be too much, let alone a double. How wrong was I. Second listening was even better. Some of the funniest dark lyrics ever.
5
Oct 17 2023
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Get Behind Me Satan
The White Stripes
A million stars. Surely the best band of the century.
5
Oct 18 2023
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The Idiot
Iggy Pop
3
Oct 19 2023
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Who Killed...... The Zutons?
The Zutons
4
Oct 23 2023
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Endtroducing.....
DJ Shadow
1
Oct 24 2023
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I Am a Bird Now
Antony and the Johnsons
That voice is just annoying.
2
Oct 25 2023
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Reggatta De Blanc
The Police
4
Oct 26 2023
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A Wizard, A True Star
Todd Rundgren
The only good bit was the soul compilation.
2
Oct 27 2023
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Teenage Head
Flamin' Groovies
4
Oct 28 2023
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Deloused in the Comatorium
The Mars Volta
The lyrics are merely there to fill in the space, like another instrument. But who cares when it's this good!!!??
5
Oct 29 2023
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Definitely Maybe
Oasis
Great sounds, love Liam's voice, but it has that familiar Oasis sameness.
4
Oct 30 2023
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Little Earthquakes
Tori Amos
If you're unsure what rating to give this album, just listen to the final two songs.
5
Oct 31 2023
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Born To Be With You
Dion
2
Nov 01 2023
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Fisherman's Blues
The Waterboys
OK. Didn't know of this album but I was busy falling in love with its wonderful folk/rock when I heard When Ye Go Away. It has a glorious combination of celtic fiddle and voice which contrasts and complements this laidback country-ish guitar. So lovely, so clever. That sold the deal.
5
Nov 02 2023
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We Are Family
Sister Sledge
As much as I love hearing Nile's guitar and Bernard's oh so funky bass, the rest of it leaves me cold. The vocals are sterile. I can hear they have good pipes but they sound reticent.
3
Nov 03 2023
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Djam Leelii
Baaba Maal
4
Nov 04 2023
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Immigrés
Youssou N'Dour
3
Nov 05 2023
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Rapture
Anita Baker
You don't have to hate music to like this (if you do then listen to noise rock or avant-garde), but you DO have to be totally disinterested. 2 stars because she does have a great voice. This album would be in the top ten examples of ultimate cheese.
2
Nov 06 2023
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Music
Madonna
That a cringeworthy cover of one of the most loved songs of all time is probably one of the better songs on this debacle says it all. Madge is the poster child for the history of pop music. Take a black genre, make it palatable for a white audience, rinse and repeat. She has tried to rise above her insipidness by flashing her "edgy" image all over any willing media platform.
If you need reminding just how insipid she is, the first two songs feature electronically altered vocals. They're awful but still way better than those songs that feature her natural voice.
This is a truly horrid album. But not as bad as Like A Prayer. Nothing is worse than that shit.
1
Nov 07 2023
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Master Of Puppets
Metallica
Disposable Heroes is magically manic, complete with fake finish. Hammett's solo is also quite musical instead of his usual jarring speedshow. A bit more light and shade and a bit less Orion would give this 5 stars.
4
Nov 08 2023
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Songs From The Big Chair
Tears For Fears
Hadn't listened to it for a while. I'd forgotten how good it was. Head Over Heels is just about perfect.
5
Nov 09 2023
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A Northern Soul
The Verve
That was a pleasant surprise. So much better than Urban Hymns.
4
Nov 10 2023
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Chocolate Starfish And The Hot Dog Flavored Water
Limp Bizkit
Doing a crunchy riff and screaming fuck doesn't make you Rage Against the Machine. I really don't know which is worse, Durst's voice or the lyrics. Why did they hire angry 14 year olds to write them?
Seriously, sometimes they sound OK but most of it is poor.
2
Nov 11 2023
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Movies
Holger Czukay
3
Nov 12 2023
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Seventh Tree
Goldfrapp
4
Nov 13 2023
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Oxygène
Jean-Michel Jarre
4
Nov 14 2023
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Bug
Dinosaur Jr.
They Always Come is a mess. I'm quite impressed that the vocals and guitar are permanently out of sync when they're performed by the same person. I'm getting bored and irritated now. That sludgy sound needs some refinement. Or just an off button.
2
Nov 15 2023
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Queen II
Queen
Queen's proggy high water mark. After this they expanded their palette, becoming the eclectic, magnificent group that will always be my favourites. This is how prog should be: Freddie's imaginary fantasy world of Rhye is front and centre. He performs a song about a painting! We get chord and timing changes in abundance. Four superb musicians show us what they have. Yet it never falls into the twin prog evils - overly long songs and unnecessary (boring) solos. Brian is the greatest at playing solos that serve the song. If you want to see extended solos see them live. My favourite album by my favourite band but not my favourite of all time. People are strange.
5
Nov 16 2023
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Happy Trails
Quicksilver Messenger Service
1
Nov 17 2023
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Ocean Rain
Echo And The Bunnymen
4
Nov 18 2023
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Second Toughest In The Infants
Underworld
Well that was pointlessly annoying.
1
Nov 19 2023
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Bright Flight
Silver Jews
This is just shit.
1
Nov 20 2023
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Ellington at Newport
Duke Ellington
The sounds they got out of the trumpet. It sounds like a human voice at times. I may have had trouble listening to the full 2 hour plus recording. But the original record is fantastic.
5
Nov 21 2023
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Pictures At An Exhibition
Emerson, Lake & Palmer
4
Nov 22 2023
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Gasoline Alley
Rod Stewart
The songs I don't know sound generic. The songs I do know, It's All Over Now and Country Comfort he does an abominable job. Quite an abysmally boring album. Congratulations to Jack Reynolds for the worst backing vocals of all time.
2
Nov 23 2023
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Mott
Mott The Hoople
3
Nov 24 2023
View Album
Untitled (Black Is)
SAULT
I get it. There's a message. But it has the lyrical complexity of a thirteen year old's essay. Boring lyrics and repetitious music don't do it for me.
1
Nov 25 2023
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Yoshimi Battles The Pink Robots
The Flaming Lips
4
Nov 26 2023
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Odelay
Beck
I don't hear the genre hopping that people either praise or hate. Most songs are just set to a drum machine beat that stays the same until the next song. New beat, yes he plays with the sounds, but it gets very samey. Until Ramshackle. That is good, although Waronker sounds like a drum machine.
2
Nov 27 2023
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Murder Ballads
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds
4
Nov 28 2023
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Two Dancers
Wild Beasts
Really stupid, pretentious lyrics delivered in a really stupid, pretentious voice.
1
Nov 29 2023
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Desperate Youth, Blood Thirsty Babes
TV On The Radio
This obviously came from a different list, 1001 albums you'll skip through because it's absolute shit. That droning pulse is awful, the lyrics are trite, but that all pales into insignificance with those grating vocals.
1
Nov 30 2023
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Logical Progression
LTJ Bukem
Drum and bass. I'm going to be hitting skip. Lots. Yep. As awful as any of that genre.
1
Dec 01 2023
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The Wall
Pink Floyd
Hullo old friend, it's been a while. I'd forgotten just how wonderful you are.
5
Dec 24 2023
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Eagles
Eagles
4
Dec 25 2023
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Scott 2
Scott Walker
2
Dec 26 2023
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Time Out Of Mind
Bob Dylan
Just brilliant. Bob drags is through his influences with a bleeding heart and a voice that fits perfectly. There's something about the delayed delivery of the lines on Can't Wait that makes me laugh.
5
Dec 27 2023
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Rumours
Fleetwood Mac
Don't need to listen to hand out 5 stars. This was on the turntable at every party. I've owned it and played it constantly yet never get sick of it. One of my top 5.
5
Dec 28 2023
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Five Leaves Left
Nick Drake
4
Dec 29 2023
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Talk Talk Talk
The Psychedelic Furs
4
Dec 30 2023
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16 Lovers Lane
The Go-Betweens
The sheer rarity of an Australian act hitting this list just makes me sad that the rest of the world has missed so much great Oz rock. A very good album with a couple of bangers. Vale Grant.
4
Dec 31 2023
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Pretenders
Pretenders
Why didn't I get this album in 1979/80? I really loved their singles but this album takes it to the next level. Precious has so much attitude, while The Wait is just a jammin' good time.
5
Jan 01 2024
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Figure 8
Elliott Smith
He sounds better with plenty of backing. His voice gets very boring really quickly. I was vacillating between 2 and 3 stars because this is all kinds of meh without being offensive. Then Spotify played Nick Drake after this album was finished. It made me realise that I wasted 54 minutes on something that is many magnitudes less than Nick and other good/great songwriters. If my rating saves one person from wasting time on this piece of white bread with no crust then I've served my purpose.
2
Jan 02 2024
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Want One
Rufus Wainwright
Rufus is like a rich dessert. Really good for a couple of bites, but becomes way too much too quickly.
2
Jan 03 2024
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Tarkus
Emerson, Lake & Palmer
I've worked out ELP. They should only adapt other people's music. Who seriously thinks 20 minutes of fast scales with a few interruptions makes a good song?
The 2nd thing is that Emerson is a very average keyboard player. He plays scales and that's about it. When he tries to bust out some Jerry Lee Lewis he is quite lamentable. If you want to hear someone who could sing from symphonic to a killer impersonation of The Killer, go and listen to Man On The Prowl from The Works by Queen. Freddie nails it.
2
Jan 04 2024
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The Suburbs
Arcade Fire
4
Jan 05 2024
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Want Two
Rufus Wainwright
I had the first half of this two days ago. I compared it with an overly rich dessert. No way I want this as well.
2
Jan 06 2024
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Destroy Rock & Roll
Mylo
Someone compared this with Sneaky Sound System and Pnau, another mentioned The Avalanches. All three of those acts are solid 1-star acts that manage to mix tedium and irritation. I'm about to listen to this so I'll let you know whether tedium or irritation won.
Boring intro followed by trap beat followed by aimless vocalisation. Tedium is well in front. WAIT! There's an interlude. It's fucking dull! Back to the vocalisation. Skip time.
Second verse (song)! Same as the first. (Actually even duller)
Do people dance to this shit? It's so dull.
Final score: Tedium easily won. Rock and roll didn't feel any pain at all.
1
Jan 07 2024
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Superfly
Curtis Mayfield
4
Jan 08 2024
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Berlin
Lou Reed
Wow! That was something else! I really didn't want to keep listening breeches the end was inevitable, compelling, and tremendously sad.
5
Jan 09 2024
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Disintegration
The Cure
Ok! I get it! The slow build-up, adding layers, one instrument at a time, it builds tension and atmosphere. It works, but it gets so repetitive. Songs like Prayers For Rain and (especially) Lullaby work. But there are a lot of forgettable tracks.
2
Jan 10 2024
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High Violet
The National
Stupidly boring. They sound like they don't like what they're doing.
1
Jan 11 2024
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The Renaissance
Q-Tip
The samples are good, then he starts talking in that wimpy, nasal style. Gets very boring very quickly.
1
Jan 12 2024
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Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not
Arctic Monkeys
Geordie Shore done by no talents. Try and talk to a girl when you're sober you useless twat!
3 stars less 1 for the repetitiveness less 1 for the Geordie Shore shit.
1
Jan 13 2024
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Truth
Jeff Beck
4
Jan 14 2024
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The Fat Of The Land
The Prodigy
Revolting shit. Somebody should smack these bitches up.
1
Jan 15 2024
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Femi Kuti
Femi Kuti
4
Jan 16 2024
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Opus Dei
Laibach
4
Jan 17 2024
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The Madcap Laughs
Syd Barrett
Combines the worst of early prog and psychedelia with hints of lame folk vocals. Early Pink Floyd had good moments courtesy of Syd, but he also contributed some awful guff.
1
Jan 18 2024
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Cafe Bleu
The Style Council
The best songs are the instrumentals or those with guest vocalists, which is weird because I think Weller is a great singer.
3
Jan 19 2024
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The Boatman's Call
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds
5
Jan 20 2024
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Henry's Dream
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds
It's been Cave month. Yesterday was The Boatman's Call while Murder Ballads was only a couple of weeks ago. This one definitely fits with Murder Ballads as he tells dark stories to a noisy, yet musical backing. The only relation to Boatman's Call is his voice and his incredible poetry. Generally the nastier the song, the more poetic the lyrics. He is a true genius.
5
Jan 21 2024
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Pills 'n' Thrills And Bellyaches
Happy Mondays
That annoying, unnecessarily busy drumbeat that permeated the '90s combined with that half whine/half shouted vocal all mixed together in a repetitive mess that is probably fine if you're drugged-up on a Friday night. It's just a drag. I'm going to keep listening to decide between 1 or 2 stars.
2 stars because it's dull but not horrible. The best sound is the sampled (stolen) riff from He's Gonna Step On You Again. The rest of the song is a pastiche of '90s kitsch horror.
2
Jan 22 2024
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Arular
M.I.A.
"Most sparkling debut since Madonna."
Madonna is overrated shit, this is unlistenable shit. Fair call.
1
Jan 23 2024
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Armed Forces
Elvis Costello & The Attractions
4
Jan 24 2024
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Lam Toro
Baaba Maal
I wish I could translate his lyrics. I didn't need to with Sy Sawande, he was singing with so much regret it was heartbreaking. I finally looked up a translation of the title " I'm Sorry." Perfect.
4
Jan 25 2024
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The Beach Boys Today!
The Beach Boys
Those harmonies! Brian is a genius.
4
Jan 26 2024
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Ill Communication
Beastie Boys
Beastie Boys: still yelling. Still have nothing to say. Just STFU already!
1
Jan 27 2024
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Smash
The Offspring
A bit less shouting and it would be 5 stars
4
Jan 28 2024
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Apple Venus Volume 1
XTC
I consider Drums and Wires and (especially) English Settlement to be some of my favourite music. I can hear some of those pastoral sounds taken to their ultimate limit in this album. But this has all the worst excesses of a lot of British '60s psychedelia. It's like they have a big red button marked TWEE!!!! It should be tapped gently....occasionally. This sounds like they kept bashing it. TOO MUCH, GENTLEMEN! Too much.
2
Jan 29 2024
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A Rush Of Blood To The Head
Coldplay
Not the worst really successful artist in the world, because that honour belongs to Madonna, but they are up there. I actually understand why people like Madge but I cannot comprehend people's love for this porridge.
I'm just imagining a double act of meh, that would actually (horrifyingly) get a good crowd: Coldplay and Ed Sheeran.
1
Jan 30 2024
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Future Days
Can
1
Jan 31 2024
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Felt Mountain
Goldfrapp
2
Feb 01 2024
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Car Wheels On A Gravel Road
Lucinda Williams
Some of her songs are Randy Newman on Family Guy, where he sings every mundane thing they do. She makes sex boring in the first song! It does get better but I'm not feeling drawn. Her voice sucks the life out of any of her good lines. This would easily win the Grammy for Lifetime Mundanity.
2
Feb 02 2024
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All Hope Is Gone
Slipknot
Love the crunchy riffs but that stupid growling/shouting noise just spoils it. That vocal style is automatic 1-star territory.
1
Feb 03 2024
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Lost Souls
Doves
2
Feb 04 2024
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Honky Tonk Heroes
Waylon Jennings
3
Feb 05 2024
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Fear and Whiskey
Mekons
4
Feb 06 2024
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Ingenue
k.d. lang
She puts so much feeling into such subtle songs. She probably wouldn't pass the auditions for one of those TV talent shows and their need for histrionic caterwauling. Yet she also avoids the boredom that other laidback singers (e.g. Lucinda Williams) tend to inflict. It's all down to that voice and the brilliant performance of her band.
5
Feb 07 2024
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Achtung Baby
U2
Less preachy worth some great hooks.
5
Feb 08 2024
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Hot Shots II
The Beta Band
Started off ok but it's starting to get a bit wearing like most electronica. They do love their repetition, don't they. It reminds me of Grateful Dead and their ilk. What do they have in common? You need drugs to like this stuff.
3
Feb 09 2024
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Sulk
The Associates
So it started with an instrumental and I was wanting vocals. Then I heard his voice. Think the worst of Bowie's excessive overkill on the Berlin trilogy (I detest the Berlin trilogy) but with no break. This is some of the worst noise ever committed to disc. Truly awful shit.
1
Feb 10 2024
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Stripped
Christina Aguilera
She tries sexy but makes it boring. A ballad: long and boring. Empowerment is extra boring. Factory music by someone who's trying way too hard.
2
Feb 11 2024
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Ambient 1/Music For Airports
Brian Eno
1
Feb 12 2024
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Vincebus Eruptum
Blue Cheer
There are some decent songs trying to break out here, but it sounds like a bunch of high school kids trying to get together while they've dragooned their mate in to do the sound deskand he keeps playing with sliders trying to get a coherent sound. Meanwhile, the drummer's mother recorded it on a Dictaphone she was holding outside the room because they were playing too loud.
2
Feb 13 2024
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Liege And Lief
Fairport Convention
2
Feb 14 2024
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Get Rich Or Die Tryin'
50 Cent
Total utter shit. Nothing stinks as badly as this.
1
Feb 15 2024
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Orbital 2
Orbital
The Brown Album. Shit is brown. I know why we must listen to this, because there isn't a word that explains something that is too dull to be boring. So we need a literal example. Why did this dull duo get TWO albums in this list?
1
Feb 16 2024
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Court And Spark
Joni Mitchell
4
Feb 17 2024
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Music for the Masses
Depeche Mode
Sorry. Got distracted. All of a sudden I was near the end of the album where all these generic 80s songs blurred into each other. Definitely not a game changer.
2
Feb 18 2024
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Sweetheart Of The Rodeo
The Byrds
Whenever I hear people comparing this with Songs From Big Pink I do get their point. But this is miles above that poorly sung effort. It is also so much better than a lot of country music of that time. Why? Those harmonies.
4
Feb 19 2024
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Electric Warrior
T. Rex
4
Feb 20 2024
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Coat Of Many Colors
Dolly Parton
4
Feb 21 2024
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Junkyard
The Birthday Party
No. I love The Bad Seeds but this is too far gone. Every time the band get a bit musical, Nick has to go full scream.
2
Feb 22 2024
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Peggy Suicide
Julian Cope
Isn't it nice to get something from the '80s that doesn't scream '80s? Restrained use of synths, no gated reverb, just good musicianship. A surprising gem.
4
Feb 23 2024
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Pink Flag
Wire
Another previously unknown band that I'm going to deep dive.
4
Feb 24 2024
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Horses
Patti Smith
I really hate Birdland, which goes on (and on) for 9 minutes. The album is saved by the other 9-minute piece.
3
Feb 25 2024
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Exodus
Bob Marley & The Wailers
5
Feb 26 2024
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Brothers In Arms
Dire Straits
1985 me gives this 5 stars. 2024 me found it boring and plodding. He needed someone to edit all that noodling out. I still like their first two albums but there's a reason why I skip any of these songs on a playlist.
2
Feb 27 2024
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Raising Hell
Run-D.M.C.
When they run out of inspiration they start bragging, but there are some clever lyrics. Dumb Girl hasn't aged well. Raising Hell is a great rock song (thanks Rick). I loved this, although Daryl should get over the McDonald's obsession.
4
Feb 28 2024
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This Year's Model
Elvis Costello & The Attractions
4
Feb 29 2024
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Songs From A Room
Leonard Cohen
3
Mar 01 2024
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Chore of Enchantment
Giant Sand
2
Mar 02 2024
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BEYONCÉ
Beyoncé
Let's see. Let's do a vocal gymnastics song....check!
Talk over that horrible bass hum...check!
Now be really dreary over boring drumbeat....check!
What about talk/sing really quickly over combo hum and boring drumbeat....yeah!
Let's try sexy. The secret is to make it so glaringly obvious that this song is "edgy." Fuck off, it's just crass.
I've heard her do some good songs, but this is every bad pop cliche thrown in the blender.
Hard pass.
1
Mar 03 2024
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Dance Mania
Tito Puente
2
Mar 04 2024
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Deserter's Songs
Mercury Rev
Very meh.
2
Mar 05 2024
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Ys
Joanna Newsom
Not available on Spotify. After finding it on YouTube I don't think Spotify are too broken hearted. Truly appalling rubbish presented by one of the worst voices ever.
1
Mar 06 2024
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Highway to Hell
AC/DC
My favourite Acca Dacca.
5
Mar 07 2024
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Haunted Dancehall
The Sabres Of Paradise
1
Mar 08 2024
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Billion Dollar Babies
Alice Cooper
Oh yeah!!!!!!!!!!
5
Mar 09 2024
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Back At The Chicken Shack
Jimmy Smith
3
Mar 10 2024
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Natty Dread
Bob Marley & The Wailers
4
Mar 11 2024
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Getz/Gilberto
Stan Getz
Stan Getz is so smooth. He and Gilberto turned a form of dance music into wistful mood music. Astrud's contributions just add the icing to the cake.
5
Mar 12 2024
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The Infotainment Scan
The Fall
Some of backing is so good, but that affected, atonal, wankerism is just wrong. It's even worse when he attempts to sing. Then it's just baaaaaadddd karaoke.
2
Mar 14 2024
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Third
Soft Machine
1
Mar 15 2024
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Modern Life Is Rubbish
Blur
Blur...pronounced bleuh.
2
Mar 16 2024
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Blood And Chocolate
Elvis Costello & The Attractions
Next Time Round nearly pushed it up to 4 stars.
4
Mar 17 2024
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Bitte Orca
Dirty Projectors
So many emotions. All negative. This reminds me of an 8-year old's school project. You know the one. They just got glitter pens so everything is glitter. Lots of pretty pictures with no content. That they manage to earn money from Rhoda triple is an embarrassment.
1
Mar 18 2024
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Le Tigre
Le Tigre
5
Mar 19 2024
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A Little Deeper
Ms. Dynamite
Nice voice and some songs are OK but naggingly familiar. She copies someone like Pink and sounds alright. Then she does that neo-soul (polite way of saying "dull and boring.")
2
Mar 20 2024
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Wild Is The Wind
Nina Simone
Nina was always very florid and this album definitely ratchets it up. I think she needs a bit of instrumentation, because then she tones it down a bit.
4
Mar 21 2024
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At Budokan
Cheap Trick
Fun rock 'n' roll from a band that really shone live.
4
Mar 22 2024
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Punishing Kiss
Ute Lemper
Fell asleep while listening, which tells the story. Those duets with Kurt Weill (correctly pronounced vile) are a special torture.
2
Mar 23 2024
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Pyromania
Def Leppard
It doesn't sound as bad as they look. But seriously, the drummer sounded one-handed when he had two arms. Decent riffs, but over produced. The less said about the solos the better. There is nothing as bad as lame and long.
2
Mar 24 2024
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Boy In Da Corner
Dizzee Rascal
There is something worse than gangsta rap. Gangsta rap with a cockney accent. This was hilariously cliched and stunningly bad.
1
Mar 25 2024
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Pink Moon
Nick Drake
5
Mar 26 2024
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Exile On Main Street
The Rolling Stones
This album is a definite must, because it is the greatest example of a perfect single album hiding inside a double. I haven't decided which tracks make the cut, but I do know that side 3 is a gigantic waste of space.
4
Mar 27 2024
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Beggars Banquet
The Rolling Stones
The start of a run of great albums that all proved that Exile should have been a single album. There's s great merge of blues, country and they've kept some of the psychedelic touches in songs like Sympathy. The last two songs on side 1 are a bit meh, but then they launch into Street Fighting Man. Side 2 is peak Stones.
5
Mar 28 2024
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Lust For Life
Iggy Pop
4
Mar 29 2024
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If You're Feeling Sinister
Belle & Sebastian
You need to hear this a few times. By the third listen his voice is no longer annoying, it suits the strange little stories he tells.
5
Mar 30 2024
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Music in Exile
Songhoy Blues
5
Mar 31 2024
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Playing With Fire
Spacemen 3
They really need someone who can turn those sounds into songs. I kept going from hopeful to bored to just plain annoyed. Suicide is 11 minutes long. It's that song trying to make the listener suicidal?
2
Apr 01 2024
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Grievous Angel
Gram Parsons
You'd give 5 stars just for Gram and Emmy-Lou's heart rending performance of Love Hurts. Actually you'd give 5 stars just for that last exhalation of those two words. But it's backed up by a glorious collection of what makes country great.
5
Apr 02 2024
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Neon Bible
Arcade Fire
5
Apr 03 2024
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Take Me Apart
Kelela
This is the music you hear in a clothing store that caters to teen girls with vanilla style. Boring with a side of meh. Quite a nice voice but dreary songs.
2
Apr 04 2024
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Non-Stop Erotic Cabaret
Soft Cell
4
Apr 05 2024
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Scissor Sisters
Scissor Sisters
4
Apr 06 2024
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Blonde On Blonde
Bob Dylan
5
Apr 07 2024
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Heroes to Zeros
The Beta Band
4
Apr 08 2024
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John Prine
John Prine
It's great when someone surpasses your expectations. Simple stories, told with no drama, but so many leave a year or two behind.
5
Apr 09 2024
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No Sleep 'Til Hammersmith (Live)
Motörhead
Aceof Spades and Overkill are great songs, but the rest just blurs into hyperkinetic noise with Lemmy desperately shouting. Sorry.
2
Apr 10 2024
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Diamond Life
Sade
I didn't like her singles back then but I'm trying to go in open-minded. Smooth Operater isn't a good start. Too slick. Next song is better but it's like a chocolate tart. Too smooth and rich. When we get to Frankie's First Affair, which is the first unfamiliar song, I'm in the land of don't care.
This is a collection of dreary songs that are making me sleepy while drinking coffee.
Sade: All filler, no killer. Now I have to decide if the good musicianship gives it two stars.
Nope. Those cookie-cutter songs are unforgivable.
1
Apr 11 2024
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Born To Run
Bruce Springsteen
Oh wow! This album is 50 next year. It is still a yardstick and still sounds great.
5
Apr 12 2024
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Destroyer
KISS
My favourite Kiss album. I played it too death. It is still wonderful.
5
Apr 13 2024
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Can't Buy A Thrill
Steely Dan
4
Apr 14 2024
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Never Mind The Bollocks, Here’s The Sex Pistols
Sex Pistols
I remember expecting to hear discordant noise. What I got was a wall of guitars backing Lydon's snarl. Songs that ranged from anger to WTF? (Bodies is the starring example of that)
Just brilliant.
5
Apr 15 2024
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Electric Music For The Mind And Body
Country Joe & The Fish
Make sure you skip Sad and Lonely. Truly terrible. But the rest of this album is quite decent. You can really see the link between country and psychedelia.
3
Apr 16 2024
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Beauty And The Beat
The Go-Go's
Just irresistible. Those backing vocals have a soothing effect behind the spikiness that is their hallmark.
5
Apr 17 2024
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Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers
Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers
4
Apr 18 2024
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Meat Is Murder
The Smiths
I was laughing during the last (title) track. Why didn't Marr team up with a decent singer? Combine the histrionic lyrics with those whiny vocals and that poorly worded final song is just a joke.
2
Apr 19 2024
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Talking Timbuktu
Ali Farka Touré
This is just bliss!
5
Apr 20 2024
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Low-Life
New Order
A chips of decent songs surrounded by boring '80s electronica.
2
Apr 21 2024
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Maxinquaye
Tricky
Exactly what I expected: boring, boring, boring
1
Apr 22 2024
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Follow The Leader
Korn
I was a bit confused by the plethora of negative reviews. Chunky riffs gave it promise. Then he started doing whatever you call those vocal twitches. At first time I thought he was about to vomit. Then he does another weird one followed by the dreaded "growl-shout." I agree with the reviewer who couldn't stop laughing. This is hilariously bad. Absolute shit, but funny.
1
Apr 23 2024
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Tical
Method Man
This person keeps teasing is with an introduction that is musical. Then we proceed into the standard hip-hop routine: repetitive beat with person talking. There are some who claim this isn't gangsta rap. Let's see, does he go on foul-mouthed rants threatening violence. That's a big yes. Same shit. Same rating.
1
Apr 24 2024
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Floodland
Sisters Of Mercy
Took much dull plodding and waaaaaay too much gated reverb from the drum machine.
2
Apr 25 2024
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Konnichiwa
Skepta
Boring with an English accent.
1
Apr 26 2024
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Homework
Daft Punk
I like the sounds, but it's so repetitive.
2
Apr 27 2024
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In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida
Iron Butterfly
Side 2 is iron while side 1 is mainly butterfly. I definitely prefer iron. Are You Happy is the epitome of a freak-out. Great song.
4
Apr 28 2024
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Mask
Bauhaus
4
Apr 29 2024
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Slanted And Enchanted
Pavement
A whole album of stoner rock gets a bit wearing. Maybe I need to revisit the '80s and light up a few cones then listen.
2
Apr 30 2024
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Youth And Young Manhood
Kings of Leon
1000 times better than the turgid repetition of Only By The Night.
4
May 01 2024
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Don't Stand Me Down
Dexys Midnight Runners
2
May 02 2024
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First Band On The Moon
The Cardigans
3
May 03 2024
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Fear Of Music
Talking Heads
Every song comes back to that married couple rhythm section, which is ridiculous because Jerry Harrison produces all these amazing licks and David Byrne is one of the great geniuses. I love to listen to each song while concentrating on one instrument. Then repeat the song and focus on a different instrument.
Memories Can't Wait is an assault on the senses, TURN IT UP!!!!!!!!!
5
May 04 2024
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Modern Kosmology
Jane Weaver
At least it isn't too electronic. Then comes track 3. This is an awful genre.
1
May 05 2024
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It's Too Late to Stop Now
Van Morrison
4
May 06 2024
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Graceland
Paul Simon
My favourite album of all time. Absolute game changer.
5
May 18 2024
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Central Reservation
Beth Orton
Dull, dull, dull.
2
May 19 2024
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Maggot Brain
Funkadelic
You give this 5 stars just for the title track. Eddie Hazel wipes the floor with a true face-melter. The rest is so heavy, so dark, so perfect.
5
May 20 2024
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It's A Shame About Ray
The Lemonheads
It's OK but shouldn't get 5 stars. This is pleasant pop released while grunge turned everything up to 11.
3
May 21 2024
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Os Mutantes
Os Mutantes
That is what psychedelia should be: weird and musical.
5
Jun 06 2024
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Rubber Soul
Beatles
This is where it all started changing. Not only that but it has two awesome Lennon songs: Nowhere Man and In My Life. Fortunately the nasty misogynistic song is at the end so it's easy to skip.
5
Jun 07 2024
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The Man Who
Travis
A bit derivative, with a bit of Coldplay, a dollop of Oasis, and a massive bucket of Radiohead. Then we get Why Does It Always Rain On Me? That doesn't sound like anyone else, it just sounds memorable. I read a few negative reviews and was expecting something repetitive. Nuh uh! The atmosphere is sad lad, but it's quite intriguing.
4
Jun 08 2024
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The Dark Side Of The Moon
Pink Floyd
It's a close to perfect as an album can be.
5
Jun 15 2024
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Scream, Dracula, Scream
Rocket From The Crypt
How can such a thrash be so boring?
2
Jun 16 2024
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This Is Fats Domino
Fats Domino
4
Jun 17 2024
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My Generation
The Who
4
Jun 18 2024
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Shalimar
Rahul Dev Burman
2
Jun 19 2024
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Underwater Moonlight
The Soft Boys
3
Jun 20 2024
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What's Going On
Marvin Gaye
4
Jun 21 2024
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Crooked Rain Crooked Rain
Pavement
Why do so many stoner-rock bands have bad singers. He sounds like the karaoke act who gets lots of encouraging applause because he keeps trying to hit moderate notes and misses badly.
This is really bad.
1
Jun 22 2024
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Guitar Town
Steve Earle
Why do so many reviewers compare this country cringe with Springsteen? I finally realised why I like some country and absolutely despise others. If you're going to put on this "good ol' boy" accent then you are going to set yourself up for all the cliches. Unlistenable garbage.
1
Jun 23 2024
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Quiet Life
Japan
This got boring quickly.
2
Jun 24 2024
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Live And Dangerous
Thin Lizzy
Those twin guitars and Phil's bass attack. What's not to love.
5
Jun 25 2024
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The Bends
Radiohead
5
Jun 26 2024
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Another Green World
Brian Eno
Eno is a great producer but this is passable at best. It's not passable when he sings.
2
Jun 27 2024
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Headquarters
The Monkees
3
Jun 28 2024
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Stardust
Willie Nelson
5
Jun 29 2024
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Hot Rats
Frank Zappa
I always thought people didn't like Zappa because his music was inaccessible. It's just boring! They just noodle along them start another noodle. It's not good enough to be jazz, just very, very dull.
2
Jun 30 2024
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Shaka Zulu
Ladysmith Black Mambazo
4
Jul 01 2024
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Astral Weeks
Van Morrison
4
Jul 02 2024
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Inspiration Information
Shuggie Otis
Dull.
1
Jul 03 2024
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Illinois
Sufjan Stevens
I quite often enjoy stuff that is off-putting, but not for 70+ minutes.
2
Jul 04 2024
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Winter In America
Gil Scott-Heron
4
Jul 05 2024
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Germfree Adolescents
X-Ray Spex
Dear Poly,
STOP YELLING ....OK!!!!!!!
2
Jul 06 2024
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At Mister Kelly's
Sarah Vaughan
I'm sure I'd like this if I was musically educated but my plebeian ears find this style of jazz to be irritating. It just sounds like everybody has to show off their chops instead of working cohesively. If you want to vamp wait until you get a space and remember you are the singer's backing band.
Sarah has a great voice but I'm not a fan of her phrasing.
2
Jul 07 2024
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Buenas Noches From A Lonely Room
Dwight Yoakam
It's better than Nashville crap, but it's still crap.
2
Jul 08 2024
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Raw Like Sushi
Neneh Cherry
"Eclectic mix of genres." Interesting. After a passable beginning it settles into a predictable late '80s meh. Every song has that same beat and embarrassingly familiar instruments. The genre is cringe.
2
Jul 09 2024
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Channel Orange
Frank Ocean
A perfect blend of every wimpy sound I hate. The parental advisory should be that your child might become infected by shit music.
1
Jul 10 2024
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American Idiot
Green Day
Love the wall of guitars.
5
Jul 11 2024
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Street Signs
Ozomatli
4
Jul 12 2024
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Behaviour
Pet Shop Boys
Started off dull and stayed the same. No redeeming qualities at all. Why did they stop making that dramatic music? I hope they credited casio.
1
Jul 13 2024
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Brown Sugar
D'Angelo
Dullest album, wimpiest voice.
1
Jul 14 2024
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good kid, m.A.A.d city
Kendrick Lamar
I hate this bloke and his misogynistic, foul-mouthed rants.
1
Jul 15 2024
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Antichrist Superstar
Marilyn Manson
How many people bought this because they were rebelling? How many listened to it once and realised they'd wasted money on a poseur?
In the last three days I've had the really boring 1990 Pet Shop Boys, Kendrick Lamar's misogynistic whining, now this. Have I offended God?
1
Jul 16 2024
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Bat Out Of Hell
Meat Loaf
Perfectly OTT. He was outstanding live. RIP Meat.
5
Jul 17 2024
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Apocalypse 91… The Enemy Strikes Black
Public Enemy
2
Jul 18 2024
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Back In Black
AC/DC
If only Bon had sung these songs.
4
Jul 19 2024
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In The Court Of The Crimson King
King Crimson
The first minute of this album is good. Then they go off on pointless noodling. But it gets worse. How about the vastly wimpy I Talk To The Wind? But things can still get worse. Moonshine is 12 minutes (seemed like 12 decades) of guitar/vibraphone (or glockenspiel) pointlessness. The title track is stupidly self-indulgent.
If you want to listen to prog, find Queen II. They do stretch out to 6 minutes for a song, but those songs are full of dense ideas and power. If you played King Crimson to impress girls you would remain a virgin. I was going 2 stars because they play well. But insipid shit like this should be dumped.
1
Jul 20 2024
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Tuesday Night Music Club
Sheryl Crow
That was disappointing. She never gets out of 2nd gear except for We Do What We Can. I get the feeling that too much weed was smoked.
2
Jul 21 2024
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Triangle
The Beau Brummels
Started off ok then I went to sleep
2
Jul 22 2024
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Devotional Songs
Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan
I love listening to the effect South Asian music has had on western music since the mid-'60s. But I've realised that I don't like listening to that music for any length of time. Not my cup of tea.
2
Jul 23 2024
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Here Come The Warm Jets
Brian Eno
3
Jul 24 2024
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Either Or
Elliott Smith
4
Jul 25 2024
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Gold
Ryan Adams
3
Jul 26 2024
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The Stone Roses
The Stone Roses
4
Jul 29 2024
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Third/Sister Lovers
Big Star
2
Jul 30 2024
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The Visitors
ABBA
4
Jul 31 2024
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I See You
The xx
When Oliver sings solo this is quite dull. However, Romy has a wonderful, warm tone that saves this album.
3
Aug 01 2024
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Let Love Rule
Lenny Kravitz
2
Aug 02 2024
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Ace of Spades
Motörhead
Lemmy's voice becomes grating by the 2nd song.
2
Aug 03 2024
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The Lexicon Of Love
ABC
This was headed for a high 4-star rating until it reached All Of My Heart. If forgotten how perfect that song was.
5
Aug 04 2024
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Medúlla
Björk
Surely not even Bjork could pull off an almost totally vocal album. She triumphs.
5
Aug 05 2024
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1977
Ash
I want sure if this would get a pass. Reasonable chunky riffs but pretty weedy vocals. Then I reached Let It Flow. That's the most irritatingly nasal vocal I've heard in a long time.
2
Aug 06 2024
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Chicago Transit Authority
Chicago
4
Aug 07 2024
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Hard Again
Muddy Waters
4
Aug 08 2024
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The United States Of America
The United States Of America
There were 2 decent songs and a few moments, but I don't do drugs and you need to be in a different place to get this.
2
Aug 09 2024
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The Man Machine
Kraftwerk
They put on these electronica albums. I listen in the vain hope of getting something interesting. Nope.
1
Aug 10 2024
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Next
The Sensational Alex Harvey Band
The title track is horrendous while the 2nd track is abhorrent. While there are a couple of decent tracks I'm not going to listen to this again.
2
Aug 11 2024
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The Soft Bulletin
The Flaming Lips
Exasperating, as there were some decent songs spoiled by the drum mix. It sounds like they're back in the garage but not in a good way.
2
Aug 12 2024
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Haut de gamme / Koweït, rive gauche
Koffi Olomide
3
Aug 13 2024
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Shadowland
k.d. lang
2
Aug 14 2024
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Traffic
Traffic
Traffic is one of those famous bands that I'd never heard. Now I know why, they are insipid. The best song on the album is Feeling Alright and its best feature is the Joe Cocker cover. Normally that isn't a criticism as Joe's covers are legendary. But in this case his version is many orders of magnitude better than the original. Were they smoking too much weed? This album has the oomph of a fly crawling across the desk on a stinking hot day....pass.
2
Aug 15 2024
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Phrenology
The Roots
Some "songs" (what do you call it when it's a repetitive beat with someone talking over the top with little relationship to the music) consist of a beat with someone talking in that earnest, angry fashion. Some of them have a bit of tinkling over the repetitive beat while someone talks earnestly. Some of them even have a background singer, which is so wimpy it gets lost. All of it is soul-numbingly boring. Oh yes. He likes saying that word because he's obviously cool.
There is plenty of hip-hop with variation and musicality that deserves to be on this list. This doesn't.
1
Aug 16 2024
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OK
Talvin Singh
I'm reading reviews that mention electronica (not promising) and ambient, which is code for too boring to be elevator music.
It was even worse than I predicted. Easiest 1 rating in nearly 2 years
1
Aug 17 2024
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When I Was Born For The 7th Time
Cornershop
3
Aug 18 2024
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You're Living All Over Me
Dinosaur Jr.
2
Aug 19 2024
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Wonderful Rainbow
Lightning Bolt
This is their most accessible album. The others would surely be a powerful emetic.
1
Aug 20 2024
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Highway 61 Revisited
Bob Dylan
5
Sep 07 2024
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Smokers Delight
Nightmares On Wax
Nope. That's a waste of my life.
1
Sep 19 2024
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Vivid
Living Colour
1001 albums that sound horribly dated.
1001 albums that faded into insignificance because they are insignificant.
This dreck is top 10 on both of those lists.
2
Sep 20 2024
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Stephen Stills
Stephen Stills
Where has this been all my life? The songs on this album vary between great and excellent. Stephen Stills possesses a brilliant voice, awesome songwriting ability, AND he is a top notch guitarist.
5
Sep 21 2024
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The Real Thing
Faith No More
4
Sep 22 2024
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The Rise & Fall
Madness
4
Sep 23 2024
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White Light / White Heat
The Velvet Underground
Surely the worst album that regularly pops up on "best of" lists. Monotonous, noisy, lyrically offensive. VU are like a comedian who thinks it's cool to be crass. Nah... just boring.
1
Sep 24 2024
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Franz Ferdinand
Franz Ferdinand
4
Sep 25 2024
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Duck Stab/Buster & Glen
The Residents
I tried. But this was really trying.
1
Sep 26 2024
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Queens of the Stone Age
Queens of the Stone Age
Humdrum
2
Sep 27 2024
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Led Zeppelin II
Led Zeppelin
5
Oct 06 2024
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More Songs About Buildings And Food
Talking Heads
4
Oct 07 2024
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Step In The Arena
Gang Starr
Somebody steals a bit of music and repeats it. Somebody talks over it. Rinse & repeat. I think I'll go and watch the grass grow as it's easy more exciting.
1
Oct 08 2024
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Tidal
Fiona Apple
4