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Wed Feb 02 2022
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
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Thu Feb 03 2022
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
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Fri Feb 04 2022
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
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Mon Feb 07 2022
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
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Tue Feb 08 2022
The Yes Album
Yes
4
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Wed Feb 09 2022
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
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Thu Feb 10 2022
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
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Fri Feb 11 2022
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
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Mon Feb 14 2022
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
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Tue Feb 15 2022
Licensed To Ill
Beastie Boys
4
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Wed Feb 16 2022
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
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Thu Feb 17 2022
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
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Fri Feb 18 2022
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
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Mon Feb 21 2022
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
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Tue Feb 22 2022
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
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Wed Feb 23 2022
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
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Thu Feb 24 2022
Music For The Jilted Generation
The Prodigy
More EDM. So boring. Why would anybody buy a whole album.
1
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Fri Feb 25 2022
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
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Sat Feb 26 2022
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
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Sat Feb 26 2022
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
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Sun Feb 27 2022
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
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Mon Feb 28 2022
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
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Tue Mar 01 2022
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
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Wed Mar 02 2022
Sister
Sonic Youth
Well that was disappointing. Just noise.
2
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Thu Mar 03 2022
A Seat at the Table
Solange
I'm with the reviewers that say, "Sounds nice, good message, but oh so boring."
2
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Fri Mar 04 2022
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
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Sat Mar 05 2022
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
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Sun Mar 06 2022
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
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Mon Mar 07 2022
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
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Tue Mar 08 2022
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
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Wed Mar 09 2022
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
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Thu Mar 10 2022
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
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Fri Mar 11 2022
Melodrama
Lorde
Meh.
2
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Sat Mar 12 2022
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
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Sun Mar 13 2022
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
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Mon Mar 14 2022
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
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Tue Mar 15 2022
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
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Wed Mar 16 2022
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
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Thu Mar 17 2022
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
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Fri Mar 18 2022
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
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Sat Mar 19 2022
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
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Sun Mar 20 2022
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
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Mon Mar 21 2022
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
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Tue Mar 22 2022
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
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Wed Mar 23 2022
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
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Thu Mar 24 2022
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
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Fri Mar 25 2022
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
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Sat Mar 26 2022
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
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Sun Mar 27 2022
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
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Mon Mar 28 2022
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
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Tue Mar 29 2022
All Mod Cons
The Jam
3
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Wed Mar 30 2022
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
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Thu Mar 31 2022
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
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Fri Apr 01 2022
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
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Sat Apr 02 2022
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
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Sun Apr 03 2022
Veckatimest
Grizzly Bear
3
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Mon Apr 04 2022
Gris Gris
Dr. John
That was quite entertaining, not as weird as I thought.
4
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Tue Apr 05 2022
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
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Wed Apr 06 2022
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
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Thu Apr 07 2022
Trans Europe Express
Kraftwerk
My God that was boring!
1
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Fri Apr 08 2022
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
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Sat Apr 09 2022
Rattus Norvegicus
The Stranglers
4
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Sun Apr 10 2022
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
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Mon Apr 11 2022
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
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Tue Apr 12 2022
Arthur (Or the Decline and Fall of the British Empire)
The Kinks
3
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Wed Apr 13 2022
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
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Thu Apr 14 2022
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
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Fri Apr 15 2022
This Is Hardcore
Pulp
3
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Sat Apr 16 2022
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
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Sun Apr 17 2022
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
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Mon Apr 18 2022
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
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Tue Apr 19 2022
Gorillaz
Gorillaz
That was really boring.
2
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Wed Apr 20 2022
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
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Thu Apr 21 2022
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
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Fri Apr 22 2022
The Healer
John Lee Hooker
4
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Sat Apr 23 2022
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
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Sun Apr 24 2022
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
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Mon Apr 25 2022
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
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Tue Apr 26 2022
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
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Wed Apr 27 2022
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
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Thu Apr 28 2022
The Contino Sessions
Death In Vegas
Pretty decent for instrumental.
3
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Fri Apr 29 2022
Fun House
The Stooges
3
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Sat Apr 30 2022
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
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Sun May 01 2022
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
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Mon May 02 2022
World Clique
Deee-Lite
3
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Tue May 03 2022
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
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Wed May 04 2022
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
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Thu May 05 2022
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
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Fri May 06 2022
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
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Sat May 07 2022
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
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Sun May 08 2022
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
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Mon May 09 2022
The Hour Of Bewilderbeast
Badly Drawn Boy
2
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Tue May 10 2022
Listen Without Prejudice Vol. 1
George Michael
4
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Wed May 11 2022
Vauxhall And I
Morrissey
This belongs in 1001 albums you say, "Meh!" to.
2
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Thu May 12 2022
Pacific Ocean Blue
Dennis Wilson
4
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Fri May 13 2022
Live At The Star Club, Hamburg
Jerry Lee Lewis
4
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Sat May 14 2022
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
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Sun May 15 2022
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
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Mon May 16 2022
Alien Lanes
Guided By Voices
Some good bits. Some average bits. I do mean bits, because they aren't songs.
3
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Tue May 17 2022
Pretzel Logic
Steely Dan
4
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Wed May 18 2022
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
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Thu May 19 2022
Head Hunters
Herbie Hancock
2
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Fri May 20 2022
Joan Armatrading
Joan Armatrading
She has a great voice, but it gets a bit tedious until the last two songs.
4
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Sat May 21 2022
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
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Mon May 23 2022
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
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Tue May 24 2022
John Barleycorn Must Die
Traffic
Steve Winwood has one of the great soul voices. They should have stuck with soul.
3
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Wed May 25 2022
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
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Thu May 26 2022
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
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Fri May 27 2022
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
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Sat May 28 2022
Surrealistic Pillow
Jefferson Airplane
4
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Sun May 29 2022
Fishscale
Ghostface Killah
1
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Mon May 30 2022
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
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Tue May 31 2022
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
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Wed Jun 01 2022
Broken English
Marianne Faithfull
4
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Thu Jun 02 2022
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
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Fri Jun 03 2022
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
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Sat Jun 04 2022
Your New Favourite Band
The Hives
Really enjoyed it at the start, but the songs all blur into each other.
3
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Sun Jun 05 2022
Enter The Wu-Tang (36 Chambers)
Wu-Tang Clan
Nope. Just nope. Every hip-hop cliche ever made. Beyond terrible.
1
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Mon Jun 06 2022
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
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Tue Jun 07 2022
Harvest
Neil Young
There are some great songs, but it's not 5 star Neil.
4
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Wed Jun 08 2022
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
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Thu Jun 09 2022
The Marshall Mathers LP
Eminem
What a whiny bitch.
2
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Fri Jun 10 2022
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
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Sat Jun 11 2022
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
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Sun Jun 12 2022
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
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Mon Jun 13 2022
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
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Tue Jun 14 2022
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
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Wed Jun 15 2022
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
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Thu Jun 16 2022
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
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Fri Jun 17 2022
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
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Sat Jun 18 2022
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
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Sun Jun 19 2022
Duck Rock
Malcolm McLaren
3
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Mon Jun 20 2022
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
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Tue Jun 21 2022
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
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Wed Jun 22 2022
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
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Thu Jun 23 2022
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
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Fri Jun 24 2022
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
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Sat Jun 25 2022
The Stranger
Billy Joel
5
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Mon Jun 27 2022
Dr. Octagonecologyst
Dr. Octagon
It's a pity it went on forever.
3
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Tue Jun 28 2022
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
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Wed Jun 29 2022
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
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Thu Jun 30 2022
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
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Fri Jul 01 2022
At Folsom Prison
Johnny Cash
This is just wonderful. So much humour, so much love.
5
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Sat Jul 02 2022
Bitches Brew
Miles Davis
That wasn't pleasant.
1
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Sun Jul 03 2022
Murmur
R.E.M.
5
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Mon Jul 04 2022
Loveless
My Bloody Valentine
I tried to get this. Some sounds worked, but I like to hear vocals, not some ambient fuzz.
3
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Tue Jul 05 2022
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
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Wed Jul 06 2022
Tusk
Fleetwood Mac
5
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Thu Jul 07 2022
Songs The Lord Taught Us
The Cramps
What a wonderful piece of weirdness.
4
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Fri Jul 08 2022
Dig Me Out
Sleater-Kinney
3
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Sat Jul 09 2022
Frank
Amy Winehouse
Good voice. Boring songs.
2
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Mon Jul 11 2022
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
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Tue Jul 12 2022
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
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Wed Jul 13 2022
Thriller
Michael Jackson
I never owned it, but I'd certainly heard every song, many times. All killer, all thriller, no filler.
5
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Thu Jul 14 2022
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
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Fri Jul 15 2022
Architecture And Morality
Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark
That's another album I wish I'd heard back in the day.
4
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Sat Jul 16 2022
Bad
Michael Jackson
5
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Sun Jul 17 2022
GI
Germs
The band are thrashing away well but Darby is just irritating.
2
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Mon Jul 18 2022
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
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Tue Jul 19 2022
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
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Wed Jul 20 2022
Back to Mystery City
Hanoi Rocks
Ok.
3
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Thu Jul 21 2022
Chris
Christine and the Queens
Not the most boring thing I've ever heard, but it's up there.
2
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Fri Jul 22 2022
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
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Sat Jul 23 2022
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
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Sun Jul 24 2022
The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill
Lauryn Hill
Big nope. I'd prefer to grate my ears off than subject them to this.
1
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Mon Jul 25 2022
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
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Tue Jul 26 2022
Fetch The Bolt Cutters
Fiona Apple
What a intriguing collection of words and sounds. Lots of dark humour and anger.
4
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Wed Jul 27 2022
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
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Thu Jul 28 2022
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
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Fri Jul 29 2022
Ritual De Lo Habitual
Jane's Addiction
It's a pity they couldn't have sprung for a decent vocalist.
1
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Sat Jul 30 2022
The Village Green Preservation Society
The Kinks
3
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Sun Jul 31 2022
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
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Mon Aug 01 2022
Mothership Connection
Parliament
4
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Tue Aug 02 2022
Risque
CHIC
Quite good but a bit repetitive. It's dance music, not made for listening to.
3
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Wed Aug 03 2022
I’m a Lonesome Fugitive
Merle Haggard
Nope. Just nope.
1
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Thu Aug 04 2022
Chemtrails Over The Country Club
Lana Del Rey
That was a boring as anything I've heard in a long while.
1
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Fri Aug 05 2022
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
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Sat Aug 06 2022
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
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Sun Aug 07 2022
Synchronicity
The Police
5
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Mon Aug 08 2022
Dookie
Green Day
Energetic but repetitive.
3
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Tue Aug 09 2022
Let's Get It On
Marvin Gaye
4
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Wed Aug 10 2022
Maverick A Strike
Finley Quaye
Wasn't bad, but I couldn't get over the Scotsman trying to sound Jamaican.
3
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Thu Aug 11 2022
Home Is Where The Music Is
Hugh Masekela
2
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Fri Aug 12 2022
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
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Sat Aug 13 2022
Catch A Fire
Bob Marley & The Wailers
4
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Sun Aug 14 2022
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
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Mon Aug 15 2022
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
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Tue Aug 16 2022
Coles Corner
Richard Hawley
Quite nice but it needed more fundamental range.
3
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Wed Aug 17 2022
Hunting High And Low
a-ha
That is the most '80s sounding album of all time.
3
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Thu Aug 18 2022
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
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Fri Aug 19 2022
Country Life
Roxy Music
4
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Sat Aug 20 2022
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
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Sun Aug 21 2022
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
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Mon Aug 22 2022
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
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Tue Aug 23 2022
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
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Wed Aug 24 2022
Suzanne Vega
Suzanne Vega
4
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Thu Aug 25 2022
Soul Mining
The The
4
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Fri Aug 26 2022
Live At The Harlem Square Club
Sam Cooke
4
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Sat Aug 27 2022
Lady In Satin
Billie Holiday
Her voice was shot and everything became repetitive.
3
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Sun Aug 28 2022
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
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Mon Aug 29 2022
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
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Tue Aug 30 2022
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
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Wed Aug 31 2022
Otis Blue: Otis Redding Sings Soul
Otis Redding
That was a ripper.
5
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Thu Sep 01 2022
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
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Fri Sep 02 2022
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
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Sat Sep 03 2022
American Beauty
Grateful Dead
It's inoffensive but I fail to see why deadheads are so fanatical.
3
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Sun Sep 04 2022
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
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Mon Sep 05 2022
The Who Sell Out
The Who
Nothing special. Not a patch on Who's Next.
3
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Tue Sep 06 2022
Cross
Justice
Sounds ok but it's EDM, it gets boring.
2
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Wed Sep 07 2022
Aftermath
The Rolling Stones
4
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Thu Sep 08 2022
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
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Fri Sep 09 2022
Bringing It All Back Home
Bob Dylan
5 stars isn't enough.
5
View Album
Sat Sep 10 2022
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
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Sun Sep 11 2022
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
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Mon Sep 12 2022
Liquid Swords
GZA
More gangster crap. Boring and ugly.
1
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Tue Sep 13 2022
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
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Wed Sep 14 2022
You Want It Darker
Leonard Cohen
There is some nice tasty backing and some clever lyrics but I still find him annoying.
2
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Thu Sep 15 2022
The Last Of The True Believers
Nanci Griffith
This just irritates me. I put on some beach boys to clean out my ears.
2
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Fri Sep 16 2022
Siembra
Willie Colón & Rubén Blades
2
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Sat Sep 17 2022
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
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Sun Sep 18 2022
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
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Mon Sep 19 2022
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
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Tue Sep 20 2022
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
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Wed Sep 21 2022
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
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Thu Sep 22 2022
Mr. Tambourine Man
The Byrds
The mid-60s belonged to The Byrds. Pleasant listening with a couple of great tracks.
4
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Fri Sep 23 2022
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
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Sat Sep 24 2022
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
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Sun Sep 25 2022
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
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Mon Sep 26 2022
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
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Tue Sep 27 2022
Hunky Dory
David Bowie
5
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Wed Sep 28 2022
Elvis Is Back
Elvis Presley
3
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Thu Sep 29 2022
Dear Science
TV On The Radio
This was pretty good. I particularly liked the funkier songs.
4
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Fri Sep 30 2022
Dusty In Memphis
Dusty Springfield
It was so good I listened twice. The second tin through was even better.
5
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Sat Oct 01 2022
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
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Sun Oct 02 2022
Let's Stay Together
Al Green
4
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Mon Oct 03 2022
Done By The Forces Of Nature
Jungle Brothers
I lasted half way but it is way too repetitive.
2
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Tue Oct 04 2022
...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
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Wed Oct 05 2022
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
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Thu Oct 06 2022
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
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Fri Oct 07 2022
Vanishing Point
Primal Scream
2
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Sat Oct 08 2022
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
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Sun Oct 09 2022
Here's Little Richard
Little Richard
5
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Mon Oct 10 2022
Palo Congo
Sabu
4
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Tue Oct 11 2022
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
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Wed Oct 12 2022
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
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Thu Oct 13 2022
Rust Never Sleeps
Neil Young & Crazy Horse
5
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Fri Oct 14 2022
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
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Sat Oct 15 2022
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
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Sun Oct 16 2022
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
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Mon Oct 17 2022
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
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Tue Oct 18 2022
Africa Brasil
Jorge Ben Jor
That was very enjoyable. I thought I was hearing Rod Stewart for a few seconds.
4
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Wed Oct 19 2022
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
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Thu Oct 20 2022
(What's The Story) Morning Glory
Oasis
5
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Fri Oct 21 2022
Happy Sad
Tim Buckley
This was pretty good. A lot less annoying than his son.
3
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Sat Oct 22 2022
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
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Sun Oct 23 2022
To Pimp A Butterfly
Kendrick Lamar
Some genius. Foul-mouthed whinging little sook. Manages to get that balance between irritating and boring.
1
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Mon Oct 24 2022
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
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Tue Oct 25 2022
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
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Wed Oct 26 2022
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
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Thu Oct 27 2022
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
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Fri Oct 28 2022
Hypocrisy Is The Greatest Luxury
The Disposable Heroes Of Hiphoprisy
5
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Sat Oct 29 2022
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
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Sun Oct 30 2022
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
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Mon Oct 31 2022
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
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Tue Nov 01 2022
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
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Wed Nov 02 2022
Vol. 4
Black Sabbath
4
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Thu Nov 03 2022
Boston
Boston
5
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Fri Nov 04 2022
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
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Sat Nov 05 2022
Bandwagonesque
Teenage Fanclub
4
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Sun Nov 06 2022
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
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Mon Nov 07 2022
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
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Tue Nov 08 2022
Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere
Neil Young & Crazy Horse
5
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Wed Nov 09 2022
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
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Thu Nov 10 2022
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
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Fri Nov 11 2022
Beach Samba
Astrud Gilberto
Pleasant.
3
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Sat Nov 12 2022
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
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Sun Nov 13 2022
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
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Mon Nov 14 2022
Da Capo
Love
3
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Tue Nov 15 2022
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
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Wed Nov 16 2022
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
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Thu Nov 17 2022
Frampton Comes Alive
Peter Frampton
3
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Fri Nov 18 2022
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
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Sat Nov 19 2022
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
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Sun Nov 20 2022
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
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Mon Nov 21 2022
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
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Tue Nov 22 2022
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
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Wed Nov 23 2022
Eli And The Thirteenth Confession
Laura Nyro
This is the ultimate try too hard album. An aural assault.
1
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Thu Nov 24 2022
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
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Fri Nov 25 2022
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
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Sat Nov 26 2022
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
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Sun Nov 27 2022
The New Tango
Astor Piazzolla
That was the most boring thing I've ever heard.
1
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Mon Nov 28 2022
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
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Tue Nov 29 2022
Grace
Jeff Buckley
4
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Wed Nov 30 2022
Tonight's The Night
Neil Young
4
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Thu Dec 01 2022
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
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Fri Dec 02 2022
Morrison Hotel
The Doors
4
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Sat Dec 03 2022
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
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Sun Dec 04 2022
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
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Mon Dec 05 2022
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
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Tue Dec 06 2022
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
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Wed Dec 07 2022
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
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Thu Dec 08 2022
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
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Fri Dec 09 2022
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
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Sat Dec 10 2022
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
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Sun Dec 11 2022
Gunfighter Ballads And Trail Songs
Marty Robbins
3
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Mon Dec 12 2022
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
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Tue Dec 13 2022
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
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Wed Dec 14 2022
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
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Thu Dec 15 2022
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
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Fri Dec 16 2022
Sex Packets
Digital Underground
That is the most tedious piece of crap I've ever failed to not listen to.
1
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Sat Dec 17 2022
Rocks
Aerosmith
2
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Sun Dec 18 2022
The Last Broadcast
Doves
Insipid and unoriginal. There is no reason for this to make this list.
2
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Mon Dec 19 2022
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
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Tue Dec 20 2022
(Pronounced 'Leh-'Nérd 'Skin-'Nérd)
Lynyrd Skynyrd
4
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Wed Dec 21 2022
Hot Buttered Soul
Isaac Hayes
3
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Thu Dec 22 2022
Imperial Bedroom
Elvis Costello & The Attractions
2
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Fri Dec 23 2022
The Clash
The Clash
That was very boring.
2
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Sat Dec 24 2022
Surfer Rosa
Pixies
4
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Sun Dec 25 2022
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
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Mon Dec 26 2022
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
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Tue Dec 27 2022
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
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Wed Dec 28 2022
Juju
Siouxsie And The Banshees
4
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Thu Dec 29 2022
Roger the Engineer
The Yardbirds
5
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Fri Dec 30 2022
That's The Way Of The World
Earth, Wind & Fire
4
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Sat Dec 31 2022
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
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Sun Jan 01 2023
If I Could Only Remember My Name
David Crosby
3
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Mon Jan 02 2023
Metallica
Metallica
3
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Tue Jan 03 2023
Rio
Duran Duran
4
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Wed Jan 04 2023
Rattlesnakes
Lloyd Cole And The Commotions
Two good songs but his voice gets boring.
3
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Thu Jan 05 2023
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
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Fri Jan 06 2023
Sheer Heart Attack
Queen
It's Queen. It's brilliant.
5
View Album
Sat Jan 07 2023
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
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Sun Jan 08 2023
Rage Against The Machine
Rage Against The Machine
I shouldn't like this so much but the whole album roars.
5
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Mon Jan 09 2023
Pearl
Janis Joplin
4
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Tue Jan 10 2023
Violent Femmes
Violent Femmes
4
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Wed Jan 11 2023
Scum
Napalm Death
This is even worse than K-Pop.
1
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Thu Jan 12 2023
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
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Fri Jan 13 2023
School's Out
Alice Cooper
4
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Sat Jan 14 2023
MTV Unplugged In New York
Nirvana
5
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Sun Jan 15 2023
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
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Tue Jan 17 2023
Legalize It
Peter Tosh
3
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Wed Jan 18 2023
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
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Thu Jan 19 2023
Caetano Veloso
Caetano Veloso
3
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Fri Jan 20 2023
Rising Above Bedlam
Jah Wobble's Invaders Of The Heart
4
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Sat Jan 21 2023
It's Blitz!
Yeah Yeah Yeahs
Yeah Yeah Yeah! This band is the gift that keeps giving.
4
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Mon Jan 23 2023
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
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Tue Jan 24 2023
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
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Wed Jan 25 2023
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
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Thu Jan 26 2023
Tubular Bells
Mike Oldfield
5
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Fri Jan 27 2023
White Blood Cells
The White Stripes
5
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Sat Jan 28 2023
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
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Sun Jan 29 2023
Talking With the Taxman About Poetry
Billy Bragg
3
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Mon Jan 30 2023
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
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Tue Jan 31 2023
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
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Wed Feb 01 2023
2112
Rush
4
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Thu Feb 02 2023
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
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Fri Feb 03 2023
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
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Sat Feb 04 2023
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
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Sun Feb 05 2023
Dare!
The Human League
3
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Mon Feb 06 2023
m b v
My Bloody Valentine
That was boring.
2
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Tue Feb 07 2023
Being There
Wilco
5
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Wed Feb 08 2023
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
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Thu Feb 09 2023
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
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Fri Feb 10 2023
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
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Sat Feb 11 2023
Foo Fighters
Foo Fighters
4
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Sun Feb 12 2023
The Notorious Byrd Brothers
The Byrds
4
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Mon Feb 13 2023
Viva Hate
Morrissey
Meh.
3
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Tue Feb 14 2023
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
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Wed Feb 15 2023
Now I Got Worry
The Jon Spencer Blues Explosion
1
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Thu Feb 16 2023
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
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Fri Feb 17 2023
Nighthawks At The Diner
Tom Waits
Yawn.
2
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Sat Feb 18 2023
Countdown To Ecstasy
Steely Dan
4
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Sun Feb 19 2023
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
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Mon Feb 20 2023
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
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Tue Feb 21 2023
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
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Wed Feb 22 2023
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
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Thu Feb 23 2023
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
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Fri Feb 24 2023
Rip It Up
Orange Juice
Forgettable.
3
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Sat Feb 25 2023
Red Headed Stranger
Willie Nelson
4
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Sun Feb 26 2023
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
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Mon Feb 27 2023
The Predator
Ice Cube
I hate this rubbish. I've heard this message without all the vileness.
1
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Tue Feb 28 2023
A Girl Called Dusty
Dusty Springfield
5
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Wed Mar 01 2023
Bizarre Ride II The Pharcyde
The Pharcyde
That was a waste of time.
1
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Thu Mar 02 2023
Ananda Shankar
Ananda Shankar
Metamorphosis is a five- star banger that just keeps building. This was quite enjoyable.
3
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Fri Mar 03 2023
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
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Sat Mar 04 2023
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
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Sun Mar 05 2023
Tanto Tempo
Bebel Gilberto
4
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Mon Mar 06 2023
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
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Tue Mar 07 2023
Tres Hombres
ZZ Top
4
View Album
Wed Mar 08 2023
Life's Too Good
The Sugarcubes
4
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Thu Mar 09 2023
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
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Fri Mar 10 2023
The Poet
Bobby Womack
3
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Sat Mar 11 2023
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
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Sun Mar 12 2023
Water From An Ancient Well
Abdullah Ibrahim
3
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Mon Mar 13 2023
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
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Tue Mar 14 2023
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
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Wed Mar 15 2023
Killing Joke
Killing Joke
4
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Thu Mar 16 2023
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
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Fri Mar 17 2023
The White Album
Beatles
5
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Sat Mar 18 2023
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
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Sun Mar 19 2023
Welcome to the Afterfuture
Mike Ladd
Started off ok but started to drag.
2
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Mon Mar 20 2023
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
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Tue Mar 21 2023
The Specials
The Specials
5
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Wed Mar 22 2023
Me Against The World
2Pac
1
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Thu Mar 23 2023
The Velvet Underground & Nico
The Velvet Underground
Some bearable songs but they aren't very good, with two average singers.
2
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Fri Mar 24 2023
Sound of Silver
LCD Soundsystem
Boring!!!!!!
1
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Sat Mar 25 2023
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
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Sun Mar 26 2023
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
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Mon Mar 27 2023
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
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Tue Mar 28 2023
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
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Wed Mar 29 2023
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
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Thu Mar 30 2023
Skylarking
XTC
4
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Fri Mar 31 2023
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
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Sat Apr 01 2023
Parklife
Blur
3
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Sun Apr 02 2023
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
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Mon Apr 03 2023
The Piper At The Gates Of Dawn
Pink Floyd
A couple of great songs and a lot of twee rubbish.
3
View Album
Tue Apr 04 2023
Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness
The Smashing Pumpkins
5
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Wed Apr 05 2023
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
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Thu Apr 06 2023
The Psychedelic Sounds of the 13th Floor Elevators
The 13th Floor Elevators
5
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Fri Apr 07 2023
Abbey Road
Beatles
5
View Album
Sat Apr 08 2023
I'm Your Man
Leonard Cohen
5
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Sun Apr 09 2023
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
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Mon Apr 10 2023
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
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Tue Apr 11 2023
Golden Hour
Kacey Musgraves
Inoffensively pleasant. Doesn't sound like an album I must listen to, though.
3
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Wed Apr 12 2023
Autobahn
Kraftwerk
3
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Thu Apr 13 2023
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
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Fri Apr 14 2023
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
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Sat Apr 15 2023
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
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Sun Apr 16 2023
Francis Albert Sinatra & Antonio Carlos Jobim
Frank Sinatra
Not quite as boring as the other Frank albums I've listened to. Still boring.
2
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Mon Apr 17 2023
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
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Tue Apr 18 2023
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
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Wed Apr 19 2023
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
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Thu Apr 20 2023
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
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Fri Apr 21 2023
Only Built 4 Cuban Linx
Raekwon
There isn't a cliche this person doesn't hit. Person, not musician. This is dire.
1
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Sat Apr 22 2023
B-52's
The B-52's
5
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Sun Apr 23 2023
Smile
Brian Wilson
This album grows on you, just like Pet Sounds. Keep listening and you will become entranced.
5
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Mon Apr 24 2023
Lazer Guided Melodies
Spiritualized
Ho hum.
3
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Tue Apr 25 2023
Let It Be
The Replacements
4
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Wed Apr 26 2023
The Chronic
Dr. Dre
1
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Thu Apr 27 2023
The Grand Tour
George Jones
Yes, Virginia. There is something worse than gangsta rap.
1
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Fri Apr 28 2023
They Were Wrong, So We Drowned
Liars
2
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Sat Apr 29 2023
Dirt
Alice In Chains
5
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Sun Apr 30 2023
Yank Crime
Drive Like Jehu
2
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Mon May 01 2023
On The Beach
Neil Young
4
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Tue May 02 2023
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
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Wed May 03 2023
Don't Come Home A Drinkin' (With Lovin' On Your Mind)
Loretta Lynn
2
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Thu May 04 2023
Black Metal
Venom
2
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Fri May 05 2023
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
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Sat May 06 2023
Ágætis Byrjun
Sigur Rós
Pretty good lullaby music. Every song just drags.
2
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Sun May 07 2023
Made In Japan
Deep Purple
4
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Mon May 08 2023
Green River
Creedence Clearwater Revival
Such a great album. The deep cuts are so good.
5
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Tue May 09 2023
evermore
Taylor Swift
4
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Wed May 10 2023
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
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Thu May 11 2023
Rock Bottom
Robert Wyatt
No. Lots of musicians doing their own thing. Discordantly.
1
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Fri May 12 2023
New Wave
The Auteurs
Surely the lead singer is holding his nose while he sings. This is a truly annoying piece of crap.
1
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Sat May 13 2023
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
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Sun May 14 2023
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
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Mon May 15 2023
Sheet Music
10cc
A little bit too over the place.
3
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Tue May 16 2023
Bossanova
Pixies
4
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Wed May 17 2023
Emperor Tomato Ketchup
Stereolab
4
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Thu May 18 2023
With The Beatles
Beatles
5
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Fri May 19 2023
KE*A*H** (Psalm 69)
Ministry
The best riffs had the worst vocals.
3
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Sat May 20 2023
Live Through This
Hole
3
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Sun May 21 2023
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
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Mon May 22 2023
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
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Tue May 23 2023
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
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Wed May 24 2023
Wish You Were Here
Pink Floyd
5
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Thu May 25 2023
Come Find Yourself
Fun Lovin' Criminals
3
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Fri May 26 2023
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
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Sat May 27 2023
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
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Sun May 28 2023
Truth And Soul
Fishbone
I'm hanging the washing and bopping along. This was fun.
4
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Mon May 29 2023
Peter Gabriel
Peter Gabriel
5
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Tue May 30 2023
Slayed?
Slade
4
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Wed May 31 2023
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
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Thu Jun 01 2023
Shaft
Isaac Hayes
It's a soundtrack with one song! No!
1
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Fri Jun 02 2023
Seventeen Seconds
The Cure
4
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Sat Jun 03 2023
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
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Sun Jun 04 2023
The Sounds Of India
Ravi Shankar
Got bored very quickly.
2
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Mon Jun 05 2023
Van Halen
Van Halen
5
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Tue Jun 06 2023
Psychocandy
The Jesus And Mary Chain
4
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Wed Jun 07 2023
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
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Thu Jun 08 2023
Bridge Over Troubled Water
Simon & Garfunkel
5
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Fri Jun 09 2023
Out of Step
Minor Threat
3
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Sat Jun 10 2023
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