Dec 13 2022
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Purple Rain
Prince
4
Dec 14 2022
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KIWANUKA
Michael Kiwanuka
“Rolling” was the immediate standout track.
“I’ve Been Dazed,” “Piano Joint (This Kind of Love,” “Final Days,” and “Hero” were also favorites.
Would listen to again.
4
Dec 15 2022
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Bossanova
Pixies
Standout tracks on first listen: Cecilia Ann, Ana, Dig for Fire.
Interesting mix of surf rock with alt/goth rock. Slightly abrasive in a mostly good way.
3
Dec 16 2022
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Liquid Swords
GZA
3
Dec 19 2022
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Goodbye Yellow Brick Road
Elton John
4
Dec 20 2022
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The Soft Bulletin
The Flaming Lips
4
Dec 21 2022
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Fulfillingness' First Finale
Stevie Wonder
5
Dec 22 2022
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Hot Rats
Frank Zappa
5
Dec 23 2022
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The Only Ones
The Only Ones
4
Dec 27 2022
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Jagged Little Pill
Alanis Morissette
4
Dec 28 2022
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Songs The Lord Taught Us
The Cramps
4
Dec 29 2022
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Hunting High And Low
a-ha
3
Dec 30 2022
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London Calling
The Clash
5
Jan 02 2023
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Chirping Crickets
Buddy Holly & The Crickets
5
Jan 03 2023
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Let It Be
The Replacements
5
Jan 04 2023
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Histoire De Melody Nelson
Serge Gainsbourg
3
Jan 05 2023
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Little Earthquakes
Tori Amos
Winter 👏
4
Jan 06 2023
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Truth And Soul
Fishbone
Favorite Tracks: Freddie’s Dead; Ma and Pa; Question of Life; Bonin’ in the Boneyard.
Solid 4.
4
Jan 09 2023
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Fetch The Bolt Cutters
Fiona Apple
The percussion and piano on this album are constantly interesting and make the album a 5/5 for me.
Favorite Tracks: Under the Table, Shameika, Heavy Balloon.
5
Jan 10 2023
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In Rainbows
Radiohead
5
Jan 11 2023
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Van Halen
Van Halen
5
Jan 12 2023
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Marquee Moon
Television
4
Jan 13 2023
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Happy Sad
Tim Buckley
Favorite track: “Love from Room 109 …”
3
Jan 16 2023
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Deloused in the Comatorium
The Mars Volta
3
Jan 17 2023
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The Slim Shady LP
Eminem
2
Jan 18 2023
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The Infotainment Scan
The Fall
3
Jan 19 2023
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Hounds Of Love
Kate Bush
5
Jan 20 2023
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The Black Saint And The Sinner Lady
Charles Mingus
Favorites - Track B and Track C (first half)
4
Jan 23 2023
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Sound Affects
The Jam
Favorite - Pretty Green; That’s Entertainment
4
Jan 24 2023
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Teen Dream
Beach House
Very mellow, soft music. Nothing so catchy as to be distracting but still pleasant to listen to.
Favorite - Used To Be.
3
Jan 25 2023
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Damaged
Black Flag
Favorite - TV Party.
3
Jan 26 2023
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Blur
Blur
Favorites - Song 2, Movin’ On.
Album is a solid 3.5 or 4.
4
Jan 27 2023
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Are You Experienced
Jimi Hendrix
4
Jan 30 2023
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Physical Graffiti
Led Zeppelin
Favorites: Kashmir, Down by the Seaside,
4
Jan 31 2023
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The Undertones
The Undertones
This was a fun listen.
3
Feb 01 2023
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Fifth Dimension
The Byrds
Favorite track: Captain Soul.
3
Feb 02 2023
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Blood Sugar Sex Magik
Red Hot Chili Peppers
Songs I Liked: Breaking the Girl, Funky Monks, Under the Bridge.
2/5 - mainly because I didn’t really like the rap-style delivery on many tracks.
2
Feb 03 2023
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Signing Off
UB40
3
Feb 06 2023
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Remain In Light
Talking Heads
Favorite track: Once in a Lifetime.
4
Feb 07 2023
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Sweet Dreams (Are Made Of This)
Eurythmics
The album is consistent and cohesive in its 80s new wave, synth sound, making for an enjoyable front-to-back listening experience. Nothing quite reaches the high of Sweet Dreams, but it’s placement in the middle of the album creates a good build up and cool down effect. Solid 4/5.
4
Feb 08 2023
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Astral Weeks
Van Morrison
3
Feb 09 2023
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Here Come The Warm Jets
Brian Eno
3
Feb 10 2023
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Queen Of Denmark
John Grant
5
Feb 13 2023
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Eliminator
ZZ Top
3
Feb 14 2023
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High Violet
The National
Favorites: Afraid of Everyone, England, Vanderlyle Crybaby Geeks.
Enjoyable album, though nothing really jumped out about it. Just … enjoyable.
3
Feb 15 2023
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Sweet Baby James
James Taylor
3
Feb 16 2023
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xx
The xx
My pet peeve is when I need to look up the lyrics to a song because the vocalist is mumbling or marble-mouthed. On this album, the music is so subdued/minimal that I shouldn’t have had a hard time understanding the vocalists, yet I did.
The arrangements were pleasant, though. If I had to pick a favorite: Night Time.
2
Feb 17 2023
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Qui sème le vent récolte le tempo
MC Solaar
With the caveat that I don’t know what the lyrics mean, this is a 5/5. The jazz-funk-rap production was really interesting and the vocal delivery is smooth.
5
Feb 20 2023
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Bandwagonesque
Teenage Fanclub
3
Feb 21 2023
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Exodus
Bob Marley & The Wailers
5
Feb 22 2023
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Dear Science
TV On The Radio
I liked the variety on the album.
3
Feb 23 2023
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Music in Exile
Songhoy Blues
5
Feb 24 2023
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Entertainment
Gang Of Four
“Damaged Goods” is one of the catchiest songs I’ve heard from this list of albums so far.
4
Feb 25 2023
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Clube Da Esquina
Milton Nascimento
3
Feb 26 2023
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Debut
Björk
Favorites: Human Behaviour; Venus as a Boy; Big Time Sensuality; The Anchor Song.
5
Feb 27 2023
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Garbage
Garbage
3
Feb 28 2023
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Modern Sounds in Country and Western Music
Ray Charles
This album has so many things going for it:
- The concept: country/folk/western songs reworked into pop/soul/jazz is genius, in my opinion. And the execution is great.
- The instrumentation: the orchestra! The piano! Beautiful arrangements.
- The voice: his voice makes the whole thing work.
My only complaint is that it’s a little on the long side to listen as a whole. Doesn’t detract from the actual music though.
5
Mar 01 2023
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Mr. Tambourine Man
The Byrds
3
Mar 03 2023
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Punishing Kiss
Ute Lemper
It’s a 4.
4
Mar 04 2023
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British Steel
Judas Priest
“The Rage” has a cool funk/reggae intro which was surprising in a metal track.
“Grinder” is really catchy.
Album: 4/5.
4
Mar 05 2023
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Call of the Valley
Shivkumar Sharma
Finding albums like this-which I likely never would have discovered on my own-is exactly why I am doing this.
3
Mar 06 2023
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Maggot Brain
Funkadelic
Fantastic except I didn’t care for the last track.
4
Mar 07 2023
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Superunknown
Soundgarden
Good album all-around but Chris Cornell’s vocals are the highlight.
4
Mar 08 2023
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White Ladder
David Gray
5
Mar 09 2023
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Parsley, Sage, Rosemary And Thyme
Simon & Garfunkel
Favorites: The Dangling Conversation, Scarborough Fair, Homeward Bound, Feelin Groovy, and For Emily.
4/5.
4
Mar 10 2023
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The Wildest!
Louis Prima
A purely fun listen all the way through.
5/5.
5
Mar 11 2023
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Kenya
Machito
4
Mar 12 2023
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Hot Buttered Soul
Isaac Hayes
5
Mar 13 2023
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You've Come a Long Way Baby
Fatboy Slim
It was a 5 when I heard it as a kid and it’s a 5 now.
5
Mar 14 2023
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Nilsson Schmilsson
Harry Nilsson
3
Mar 15 2023
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Post Orgasmic Chill
Skunk Anansie
Album title is misleading because this is not “chill”. Lots of energy across the album. The strong vocals are a standout.
Favorites: Tracy’s Flaw; Good Things Don’t Always Come To You.
Solid 3/5.
3
Mar 16 2023
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Drunk
Thundercat
Experimental and eclectic in the best way. The remix album of this — titled “Drank” — is also fantastic.
5/5.
5
Mar 17 2023
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Bad Company
Bad Company
Good execution of the genre. Nothing too creative or noteworthy, but enjoyable for what it is.
3
Mar 18 2023
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The Cars
The Cars
I was surprised to learn that the singles from this album - Just What I Needed; My Best Friend’s Girl; and Good Times Roll - didn’t chart very high, because they are played a lot on the radio and at events still today. Everyone seems to know these hits.
I was further surprised to learn that “You’re All I’ve Got Tonight,” and “Bye Bye Love” weren’t singles at all, because they seem just as universally known/recognizable to me. Maybe my perception is skewed from my parents’ listening habits.
This album is full of hits. And it was the band’s debut. It gets a 5 from me.
5
Mar 19 2023
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Step In The Arena
Gang Starr
3
Mar 20 2023
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Liege And Lief
Fairport Convention
3
Mar 21 2023
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Dookie
Green Day
3
Mar 22 2023
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Here Are the Sonics
The Sonics
3
Mar 23 2023
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Tea for the Tillerman
Cat Stevens
4
Mar 24 2023
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Armed Forces
Elvis Costello & The Attractions
4
Mar 25 2023
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Fever To Tell
Yeah Yeah Yeahs
3
Mar 30 2023
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Maverick A Strike
Finley Quaye
Finley Quaye's best song (“Dice”) isn’t on this album, but this album is just as perfectly mellow. Wonderful listening experience.
4
Mar 31 2023
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Tubular Bells
Mike Oldfield
3
Apr 01 2023
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Selling England By The Pound
Genesis
4
Apr 02 2023
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Toys In The Attic
Aerosmith
3
Apr 03 2023
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White Light / White Heat
The Velvet Underground
3
Apr 04 2023
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Led Zeppelin IV
Led Zeppelin
5
Apr 09 2023
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Strangeways, Here We Come
The Smiths
2
Apr 10 2023
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Chris
Christine and the Queens
4
Apr 11 2023
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Sign 'O' The Times
Prince
4
Apr 12 2023
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Rapture
Anita Baker
5
Apr 13 2023
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Either Or
Elliott Smith
5
Apr 14 2023
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Pornography
The Cure
Atmospherically gloomy.
4
Apr 15 2023
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Pearl
Janis Joplin
Songwriting and Joplin’s ability to emote on this album warrant the 5 star rating
5
Apr 16 2023
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Groovin'
The Young Rascals
Overall, this is an enjoyable album. It’s inoffensive but became a bit uninteresting at points - I loved it as background music, though. It is interesting that some of the songs went on to be covered by other famous artists - clearly there is some draw to these songs.
Favorite tracks: A Place In The Sun; It’s Love.
3/5.
3
Apr 17 2023
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Stankonia
OutKast
This album is just nonstop grooves, which can make it surprising when you dive into the serious lyrical content on some of the tracks. There’s a lot in here.
Ms. Jackson might be one of the stickiest, catchiest choruses ever. Looking back, Ms. Jackson was just a sign of the massive hits to come on OutKast’s next album.
Favorite tracks: B.OB.; Ms, Jackson; Red Velvet; So Fresh So Clean; Stankonia; Toilet Tisha.
5/5.
5
Apr 18 2023
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Live At The Star Club, Hamburg
Jerry Lee Lewis
The only thing I will say about this artist or album is that other artists have recorded great covers of some of these songs.
1
Apr 19 2023
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Bryter Layter
Nick Drake
The album is quiet and relaxing. The folk music with string accompaniment creates a nice atmosphere. Lost a few stars because the music is so calm that it fell to the background too often while I was listening.
3/5.
3
Apr 20 2023
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Is This It
The Strokes
This album has so much energy. The bass lines were really fun. I’m glad I read the other reviews and learned that “New York City Cops” was taken off the U.S. version of the album - it was worth the listen. Overall a cohesive and consistently solid album.
Favorite tracks: Soma, Someday, Last Night.
5/5.
5
Apr 21 2023
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Chemtrails Over The Country Club
Lana Del Rey
On this album, Lana takes a more diaristic approach to lyrics and an almost spoken-word approach to singing. The album is good, but it stripped back some of the reasons I enjoy Lana’s vocals and music. It is difficult to rate this album in isolation especially when it was Lana’s next release after “Norman F*****g Rockwell!” - her Grammy-nominated album which I consider to be her best album. But given that context, it also isn’t surprising that Lana decided to switch thing ups a bit for “Chemtrails.” If it was up to me, “Norman” would replace “Chemtrails” on this list.
My favorite track on the album is probably Yosemite, which is unsurprising because it was originally written for one of Lana’s earlier albums and has some of those LDR hallmarks. I also enjoyed the country-inspired tracks Breaking Up Slowly, Dance Till We Die, and For Free.
A great album for a mellow, rainy afternoon. But not necessarily a “must listen” in my opinion. For that reason, 3/5.
3
Apr 22 2023
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Doolittle
Pixies
A wild ride of an album the whole way through - the tracks switch things up from one another such that I never knew what to expect next. Really enjoyed the variety.
Favorite tracks: I Bleed, Here Comes Your Man, Hey, Silver.
4
Apr 23 2023
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The Scream
Siouxsie And The Banshees
Favorite tracks: Carcass; Mirage
4/5.
4
Apr 24 2023
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No Other
Gene Clark
Great mix of country and folk-rock.
Favorite: Strength of Strings.
3
Apr 25 2023
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At Budokan
Cheap Trick
It sounds like you had to be there to enjoy it.
3/5.
3
Apr 26 2023
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C'est Chic
CHIC
Fantastic disco album from start to finish. Easily a 5/5.
Favorite Tracks: Happy Man, Le Freak, Sometimes You Win, I Want Your Love.
5
Apr 27 2023
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Scott 2
Scott Walker
Incredibly theatrical and dramatic in terms of vocal delivery and instrumentation. The wall-of-sound orchestral backing is really rich but became almost too much two-thirds of the way through — kind of like eating one too many pieces of a really rich chocolate cake, it starts off good and I think I want more but then it suddenly becomes just too much.
3
Apr 28 2023
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Connected
Stereo MC's
Eclectic mix of 90’s electronic music and hip hop with the very pleasant surprise of saxophone and jazz flute throughout. The album worked better than I would have expected. Had no difficulty listening all the way through.
The only detractor would be the vocals, although they fit into the mix well on here.
Favorites: Fade Away; Connected.
4/5.
4
Apr 29 2023
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In Utero
Nirvana
Favorite track: All apologies.
4
Apr 30 2023
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Bitte Orca
Dirty Projectors
Inventive, surprising, and almost unlistenable. This album goes out of its way to create extra tension so the resolution feels much more satisfying - I’m not quite sure if that’s a positive quality or not yet. Certainly unique and hard to describe, so it gets a 3/5 for eccentricity.
3
May 01 2023
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Peace Sells...But Who's Buying
Megadeth
Metal generally doesn’t do a whole lot for me, but I’ll admit that the guitar riffs sound complex and technically well-executed. So, points for that.
Standout: Good Mourning / Black Friday.
2/5.
2
May 02 2023
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Melodrama
Lorde
The decision to root the majority of this synth pop album in piano is what makes it feel timeless yet very much a product of the 2010s. It works really well.
The album art captures the essence of the album in its composition and color choice.
Favorite tracks: Almost impossible to choose, but likely between Liability, The Louvre, and Loveless.
5/5.
5
May 03 2023
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Trans Europe Express
Kraftwerk
Minimalist, repetitive, and catchy. I can see how this was inventive for its time, although it can feel a bit dated amongst electronic music now. Overall, a cohesive album and enjoyable listen.
Favorite tracks: Showroom Dummies, The Hall of Mirrors.
4/5.
4
May 04 2023
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Swordfishtrombones
Tom Waits
A wild ride.
4
May 05 2023
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Black Holes and Revelations
Muse
3
May 06 2023
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Urban Hymns
The Verve
Consistently mellow ambient psychedelic-britpop. The 4 singles - Bittersweet, Sonnet, The Drugs Don’t Work, and Lucky Man - are fantastic. Easy full listen.
5
May 07 2023
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The Specials
The Specials
This 1979 guitar-driven ska clearly sounds like the blueprint for so much of the 1990s ska punk revival. Fantastic album.
Favorite Tracks: Monkey Man, Stupid Marriage.
Absolutely a 5/5.
5
May 08 2023
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Brothers In Arms
Dire Straits
Synth-rock with country influences. I really enjoyed the sound of this album, and the balance of grit and polish. The saxophone on Your Latest Trick was a treat!
It’s difficult to ignore the use of a homophobic slur on the otherwise catchy Money for Nothing, though. While sung from the perspective of a character and not necessarily the artist/band, it is jarring and seems ill-intentioned. Also unnecessary in the songwriting.
3
May 09 2023
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Rust Never Sleeps
Neil Young & Crazy Horse
Acoustic 1st half vs. electric 2nd half was an interesting experience.
3
May 10 2023
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A Wizard, A True Star
Todd Rundgren
This album has an antsy, can’t-sit-still energy to it that was jarring at first but ended up working well in the context of the whole album. Wildly imaginative and experimental, jumping between 1 minute ideas and 5+ minute songs.
Zen Archer was a trip.
But “I’m so proud / ooh baby baby / la la means I love you / cool jerk” was a top notch 10-minute soul journey that came out of nowhere.
5/5.
5
May 11 2023
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Bug
Dinosaur Jr.
Grunge, noise-rock isn’t normally thing, but this album scored points with the guitar playing and how modern it sounds for being released in 1988 (I would’ve believed it was released in the early 00s).
The vocals lost points.
3/5.
3
May 12 2023
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The Madcap Laughs
Syd Barrett
Bleak (but sometimes whimsical) psychedelic folk rock. Reading the background of how this album came to exist is quite sad, and it’s easier to understand the album in that context of mental health issues.
Some good melodies in here and the lyrics are almost humorous if not depressing. The vocals are very hit or miss for me - I It’s In You was notable in how much I disliked the vocals.
2
May 13 2023
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The Next Day
David Bowie
Great.
4/5
4
May 14 2023
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Maxinquaye
Tricky
Dark and moody, but a vibe.
Favorite tracks: Black Steel; Hell Is Round the Corner; Aftermath; Brand New You’re Retro.
4/5.
4
May 15 2023
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Head Hunters
Herbie Hancock
Jazz funk.
5/5.
5
May 16 2023
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The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill
Lauryn Hill
Hill’s voice is incredibly versatile which helps makes this album so interesting. It’s a long album, but it doesn’t feel like it.
Standout: Can’t Take My Eyes Off of You.
4/5.
4
May 17 2023
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The Nightfly
Donald Fagen
This is excellent jazzy pop music.
Standout: New Frontier.
5/5.
5
May 18 2023
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Surfer Rosa
Pixies
The vocals are a standout because they work even when they shouldn’t.
Favorite track: Vamos (Surfer Rosa); Gigantic.
4/5.
4
May 19 2023
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Yoshimi Battles The Pink Robots
The Flaming Lips
Standout: All We Have Is Now.
5/5.
5
May 20 2023
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Fear Of Music
Talking Heads
The disco rhythms mixed into the rock instrumentation works really well. This album is a fun listen.
Standouts: Mind; Life During Wartime;
4
May 21 2023
View Album
Very
Pet Shop Boys
All killer, no filler.
In context, this album being released around the time one member of PSB came out publicly adds heavy weight to the lyrics of many songs. Yet the music remains upbeat and bright throughout.
Hard to pick a favorite, but I’ll say “To Speak Is a Sin.”
5/5
5
May 22 2023
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Sister
Sonic Youth
Noisy experimentation, but in a good way.
4
May 23 2023
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Lady Soul
Aretha Franklin
Timeless.
5/5.
5
May 25 2023
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Butterfly
Mariah Carey
It doesn’t have quite the high moments as Daydream (Fantasy, Always Be My Baby, One Sweet Day), but it clearly builds on and experiments with the success of those hip-hop/soul-influenced-pop formulas. Honey is a smooth album all the way through.
Standout: Fly Away was a fun moment.
4/5.
4
May 26 2023
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At Folsom Prison
Johnny Cash
Wild concept, but very charismatic performance.
Standout: Jackson.
5/5
5
May 27 2023
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Arthur (Or the Decline and Fall of the British Empire)
The Kinks
Theatrical with great melodies.
Standouts: Shangri-La; She’s Bought A Hat …; Nothing to Say.
4/5.
4
May 28 2023
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Pretenders
Pretenders
I listened to “Pretenders” right after Blondie’s “Parallel Lines,” which made for an interesting comparison. “Pretenders” is an edgier version of the pop-punk-rock-new wave combo, also with a talented female vocalist. A great debut album, but less instantly catchy and memorable tracks than Blondie.
Standout: Precious; The Phone Call; Brass in Pocket.
3/5.
3
May 29 2023
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Rid Of Me
PJ Harvey
A lot of raw emotion packed into a Lo-fi sound.
Standouts: Man-size.
3
May 30 2023
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People's Instinctive Travels and the Paths of Rhythm
A Tribe Called Quest
Big fan of the hip hop production, vocal delivery, and writing on this album. It’s a long album but never got boring.
Standouts: Rhythm; Go Ahead In The Rain; Bonita Applebum; Can I Kick It?
4/5.
4
May 31 2023
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Parallel Lines
Blondie
This album effortlessly mixes punk, new wave, and pop elements (and disco too!). The vocals are excellent and vary enough to give different personalities to each track. The massive hits (Heart of Glass; One Way or Another) are fantastic but the rest of the album holds up just as well.
Standouts: I Know But I Don’t Know; Sunday Girl; Pretty Baby; Heart of Glass.
5/5.
5
Jun 01 2023
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Sheer Heart Attack
Queen
Standouts: Lily of the Valley; In the Lap of the Gods…Revisited; Killer Queen.
4/5.
4
Jun 02 2023
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Inspiration Information
Shuggie Otis
Very easy listening. *Note - I need to re-listen.
Standout: Sparkle City
3
Jun 03 2023
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(What's The Story) Morning Glory
Oasis
Anthemic bar songs. Great for what it is.
4
Jun 04 2023
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Cross
Justice
This is a great French electronic album with rock influences.
Standouts: Genesis, Waters of Nazareth, D.A.N.C.E.
4/5.
4
Jun 05 2023
View Album
Parklife
Blur
Fun album. Very 90s.
Standouts: Girls & Boys; London Loves; Trouble in the Message Centre; To the End.
4
Jun 06 2023
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If You Can Believe Your Eyes & Ears
The Mamas & The Papas
Standouts: California Dreamin; The ‘In’ Crowd
3
Jun 07 2023
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Floodland
Sisters Of Mercy
Suddenly I am wearing all black and eyeliner.
Standouts: all 46 minutes. And the album artwork. “This Corrosion.”
5/5.
5
Jun 08 2023
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Shake Your Money Maker
The Black Crowes
A really enjoyable blues-rock album. Great length, never got boring.
Standouts: Jealous Again; She Talks to Angels.
4/5.
4
Jun 09 2023
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My Generation
The Who
Never listened to this album in full before. It was enjoyable, and a strong debut album, though I prefer the band’s later music.
3
Jun 10 2023
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It's Blitz!
Yeah Yeah Yeahs
The album starts out really strong with the synth-rock “Zero” and “Heads Will Roll,” but loses steam after that. I think I expected more of that same energy for an album titled “It’s Blitz!” (On that note, I really enjoyed the iTunes-exclusive tracks “Faces” and “Clap Song” because they had that upbeat synth-funk-rock sound.) “Skeletons” and “Dragon Queen” are standouts among the remaining tracks. Overall, the use of synths in a more rock-oriented way (as opposed to dance) kept the album interesting even on the lower-energy tracks.
Also, the album art is great.
3/5.
3
Jun 11 2023
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Tidal
Fiona Apple
The jazz elements/influences and Apple’s vocal delivery really stood out and made this album attention grabbing.
4
Jun 12 2023
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The World is a Ghetto
War
Excellent album. Very funky.
Standouts: The Cisco Kid; The World Is a Ghetto.
4
Jun 13 2023
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Lost In The Dream
The War On Drugs
Melancholic indie rock. Overall a consistent album, almost to the point of the songs being indistinguishable (especially the drum parts). But also easy to press play and sit back.
Standouts: Red Eyes; Burning; Eyes to the Wind; In Reverse.
4/5.
4
Jun 14 2023
View Album
Dirt
Alice In Chains
With the caveat that this type of hard rock rarely does anything for me, there were moments on this album when the vocals were a bit clearer and I really started to appreciate the melodies and hooks. I’m rating this a 4 because it overcame my natural disinterest in the genre.
Standouts: Rooster; Rain When I Die.
4
Jun 15 2023
View Album
Hysteria
Def Leppard
A pop album masquerading as hard rock / soft metal, but in a great way. Mutt Lange production is insanely catchy.
4
Jun 16 2023
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Take Me Apart
Kelela
The production on this album, largely by Jam City and Arca (with Ariel Rechtshaid! which meant I was very likely going to like this album), really shines. So much so that Kelela’s vocals—which are good and add a quality of tenderness to the brash-at-times production—take a backseat to the production. Ultimately, I preferred the Jam City-produced tracks over Arca’s. LMK and Truth or Dare we’re highlights.
This album made me want to switch over to Tinashe’s 333, so that’s what I’m listening to now that I’ve finished Take Me Apart.
3/5.
3
Jun 17 2023
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More Songs About Buildings And Food
Talking Heads
I really liked the bass lines and percussion on this album - a lot of interesting stuff happening. The vocal delivery here is just so odd, yet it doesn’t feel too out of place with the music, which is a feat of its own. I ended up being quite fascinated with how it all works together.
Standouts: I’m Not In Love; Take Me To The River.
4
Jun 18 2023
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All Directions
The Temptations
Groovy, funky, and way too short.
5
Jun 19 2023
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Disintegration
The Cure
Moody, gothic, and hypnotic. The instrumentation was beautiful.
Standouts: Prayers for Rain; The Same Deep Water As You; Disintegration.
5/5.
4
Jun 22 2023
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Destroyer
KISS
Beth!
3
Jun 23 2023
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Nighthawks At The Diner
Tom Waits
The fact that this album was recorded with an in-studio audience to create the atmosphere of a jazz club live performance is very effective.
4
Jun 25 2023
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Os Mutantes
Os Mutantes
This was a surprise treat! Brazilian psychedelic rock with bossa nova influences. This hit the spot in a way I wasn’t expecting.
5
Jul 01 2023
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Fear and Whiskey
Mekons
The punk-rock-country fusion was a bit jarring at first but eventually won me over. This album sounds a lot more modern than a 1985 release.
Standouts: Hard to Be Human; Last Dance.
4
Jul 02 2023
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GREY Area
Little Simz
Standout: Flowers feat. Michael Kiwanuka (whose album was the 2nd album I listened to way back at the start of this list).
4
Jul 03 2023
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Introducing The Hardline According To Terence Trent D'Arby
Terence Trent D'Arby
I really enjoyed the soul vocals over 80s pop production on this album.
Standouts: Seven More Days; If You Let Me Stay.
4
Jul 04 2023
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Disraeli Gears
Cream
Standout: Sunshine of Your Love.
3
Jul 05 2023
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Hard Again
Muddy Waters
Fantastic blues album from start to finish.
5
Jul 06 2023
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Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere
Neil Young & Crazy Horse
Down By the River and Cowgirl In the Sand were enjoyable.
3
Jul 22 2023
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She's So Unusual
Cyndi Lauper
4
Jul 23 2023
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Oracular Spectacular
MGMT
3
Jul 24 2023
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1999
Prince
5
Sep 02 2023
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The Köln Concert
Keith Jarrett
5
Dec 09 2023
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Oxygène
Jean-Michel Jarre
Loved this
4
Dec 10 2023
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Nick Of Time
Bonnie Raitt
3
Dec 14 2023
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Second Toughest In The Infants
Underworld
3
Dec 15 2023
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Brilliant Corners
Thelonious Monk
4
Dec 16 2023
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Zombie
Fela Kuti
4
Dec 17 2023
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I Want To See The Bright Lights Tonight
Richard Thompson
3
Dec 21 2023
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Back At The Chicken Shack
Jimmy Smith
3
Jan 23 2024
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In A Silent Way
Miles Davis
5