Jan 18 2023
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Beggars Banquet
The Rolling Stones
Most of these tracks are classics. It's impossible to listen to them individually and not automatically hear what's coming next in your head because this albums is ingrained in our consciousness.
I'd put it in my top 3 Stones albums. The diversity of sound is great, leaning more into country/folk elements and heavy in blues lets Keith's riffing really shine.
Sympathy has been so prevalent in film and TV, but it is so fitting sometimes, both musically and lyrically. Who doesn't sing along to the Woo Woos at the end?
4
Jan 19 2023
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My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy
Kanye West
Close to the end of Ye's genius. After this and Yeezus, he really started slipping for me.
But this record is intense. It's challenging, ok a good way.
4
Jan 20 2023
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Paul Simon
Paul Simon
Paul's lyricism sets him apart, and with the addition of his musical exploration with Caribbean and Latin rhythms, this first solo record remains one of the greatest departures from a successful duo/group.
Few have successful solo careers after having intense success with a group, but Paul Simon has shown time and again he belongs amongst the greatest American songwriters of all time.
5
Jan 23 2023
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In It For The Money
Supergrass
Unless you did more than catch radio hits from the 90s Brit rock acts (Blur, Oasis, etc), you may have missed Supergrass.
Even this being right in my wheelhouse, I don't know this band very well and haven't listened to them in ages. Looking forward to a focused, first-time-in-twenty-five-years play through of this album....
And there ya go. Pretty good record, can see why it didn't cross the ocean, though.
3
Jan 24 2023
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Clandestino
Manu Chao
Interesting multi language album. Never heard of this one.
After listening, I definitely want to dig in a little to see why this made the top 1001 list. It's seems like it has a pretty big impact in Europe, even though it didn't make as big an impact in the US (at least English speaking).
2
Jan 25 2023
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Let's Stay Together
Al Green
This is the pinnacle. Love this record.
5
Jan 26 2023
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The Fat Of The Land
The Prodigy
Oh man one of my absolute favorites! These dudes are insane. Ridiculous live show.
Blasting this in my '92 Corsica, windows down, nothing to worry about in the world.
No other hard electronic band had the mainstream power like the Prodigy in those days. Their songs were rightly featured in some great films, and are still used to illustrate the frenetic action energy of a story.
5
Jan 27 2023
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New York Dolls
New York Dolls
3
Jan 30 2023
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Physical Graffiti
Led Zeppelin
4
Jan 31 2023
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Enter The Wu-Tang (36 Chambers)
Wu-Tang Clan
4
Feb 01 2023
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Group Sex
Circle Jerks
This is a pretty good punk record, but they've never been in my punk rotation.
2
Feb 02 2023
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Yoshimi Battles The Pink Robots
The Flaming Lips
I go back to this album over and over. The incredibly lush instrumentation, the storylines of the songs, just a great album from a unique band that's just on the fringe.
4
Feb 03 2023
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Yank Crime
Drive Like Jehu
This was a surprisingly great album! I have not heard of these guys, and though I don't spend my time fully engulfed in the punk world, I have a pretty good grasp on the variety of name brand punk bands.
So I came into this one clean slate, and really enjoyed it. It's got that Cali punk sound, like Dead Kennedys and a little like Snot, and overall a great mix of guitars and perfect vocals for the style.
Crazy they only had one major label album before splitting up.
Almost pulled a 4 star rating, but it's challenging when compared to so many other great albums, even when limiting to the punk genre. I'd toss em a 3.8 if I could.
3
Feb 06 2023
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Chicago Transit Authority
Chicago
I can't convey how much I enjoy a debate album that right up front introduces themselves and what you're getting into. I can't imagine what it was like to hear this when first released. Seems surprising to hear the way Chicago pulled these sounds together and made something that was definitively them.
4
Feb 07 2023
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Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness
The Smashing Pumpkins
Corgan and crew delivered an astonishing output during the sessions for this album. Incredible songs, amazing arrangements, the way this went beyond alternative to breakthrough to the mainstream.
Listen to the deluxe version with all the extra stuff. So good.
4
Feb 08 2023
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Come Away With Me
Norah Jones
This was a breakthrough when it happened of course. I'm not sure it holds up as well, since a lot of the hype was label driven. (Don't be mad at me.)
It's a really good album, no doubt. But is it a timeless masterpiece? Not sure.
Lonestar and Turn Me On are highlights for me.
2
Feb 09 2023
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Fisherman's Blues
The Waterboys
This is a great find. Enjoyed the heck outta this album, and look forward to more from them.
3
Feb 10 2023
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No Sleep 'Til Hammersmith (Live)
Motörhead
Not sure why they put a live album on the list vs any other Motorhead album, but I'll take it!
3
Feb 13 2023
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Talking Heads 77
Talking Heads
Great album start to finish.
3
Feb 14 2023
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John Barleycorn Must Die
Traffic
Great players. These guys live have to be a good show.
3
Feb 15 2023
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Microshift
Hookworms
I like this. Reminds me of LCD Soundsystem.
Never heard of them, but it's good stuff.
3
Feb 16 2023
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Ogden's Nut Gone Flake
Small Faces
This is okay for me. Not revolutionary or anything, so not sure it has a place in the 1001 list.
Some enjoyable songs, but Faces outshines Small Faces for me.
2
Feb 17 2023
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Repeater
Fugazi
More fugazi on this list please.
4
Feb 20 2023
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Apocalypse 91… The Enemy Strikes Black
Public Enemy
You could've grabbed any of the first few PE records for this list.
Bring Tha Noize with Anthrax tho, a solid track that was also featured on Tony Hawk's Pro Skater video game, cementing the legacy of Public Enemy in skate culture, video game culture, and music history.
3
Feb 21 2023
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At San Quentin
Johnny Cash
A certified classic. I like the Folsom recording better, but this one with A Boy Named Sue on it is fantastic.
4
Feb 22 2023
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Born In The U.S.A.
Bruce Springsteen
Big fan of Bruce, but I think this is one of my least fave of his "major" albums. The audio mix (esp on Born in the USA) is not great. The radio singles aren't exactly in my top either.
All that said, it's still Bruce. So you have to give credit where it's due to an American songwriting icon.
3
Feb 23 2023
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Darkness on the Edge of Town
Bruce Springsteen
A much better Bruce album
4
Feb 24 2023
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The Stranger
Billy Joel
My absolute favorite Joel collection. Every track is a killer.
5
Feb 27 2023
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Superfly
Curtis Mayfield
Great storytelling to work with the film, and this is the epitome of street style from the era.
3
Feb 28 2023
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Music For The Jilted Generation
The Prodigy
I'm more of a prodigy fan today than ever
4
Mar 01 2023
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The Black Saint And The Sinner Lady
Charles Mingus
An obviously brilliant record. Very challenging, but so enjoyable.
4
Mar 02 2023
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Wild Is The Wind
Nina Simone
What a heavy album.... She conveys a life experience that is raw and rough. Incredible.
4
Mar 03 2023
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Deserter's Songs
Mercury Rev
I get the relationship of this band and its era, but it wasn't great enough to be included in this list.
1
Mar 06 2023
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American IV: The Man Comes Around
Johnny Cash
Perfect. No artist has or will have a final album like this. From The track list, to the production, to the cultural environment, it was a perfect storm.
This note from the wiki sums it up:
Nine Inch Nails frontman Trent Reznor admitted that he was initially "flattered" but worried that "the idea of Cash covering 'Hurt' sounded a bit gimmicky," but when he heard the song and saw the video for the first time, Reznor said he was deeply moved and found Cash's cover beautiful and meaningful, going as far as to say "that song isn't mine anymore."
5
Mar 07 2023
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Songs For Swingin' Lovers!
Frank Sinatra
A certified classic. Some of the best of Sinatra, and the best tracks of the entire era were on this record.
5
Mar 08 2023
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Make Yourself
Incubus
This was peak 90s alternative. You had the spacy guitar distortion, the scratching turntables, the acoustic "power ballad", lyrics that were disenfranchised and (let's be honest) a bit whiny.
All-in-all, I love this record for the time that I first heard it because I was all of those things.
Now, it still has some nostalgia but I'm not sure if it came out today I'd be that into it.
3
Mar 09 2023
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On The Beach
Neil Young
4
Mar 10 2023
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Hms Fable
Shack
Lots of 90s rock sound here, mixed with the Liverpool/Beatles influence. Nice record.
3
Mar 13 2023
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Live!
Fela Kuti
I did not expect to want a Fela Kuti album on the day it showed up, but I was wrong. This live set with Ginger Baker is stellar.
4
Mar 14 2023
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3 + 3
The Isley Brothers
5
Mar 15 2023
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L.A. Woman
The Doors
Another classic. Jim's ramblings were an oddly perfect compliment to the brilliant musicianship of Manzarek and Krieger.
4
Mar 16 2023
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Penance Soiree
The Icarus Line
I like this album. It's another that I don't understand the criteria for it's inclusion in the 1001 list, though.
I'd rank it 3-4 stars on its own, but in the context of it being a "must listen" record, I'm not sure it meets those aspirations.
2
Mar 17 2023
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Music Has The Right To Children
Boards of Canada
Big fan of this duo. Though this isn't my number one fave album of theirs, it belongs on the list because it's such an amazing debut.
5
Mar 21 2023
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White Blood Cells
The White Stripes
I love this album. Perfect timing when it was released to get on the raw rock wave of the early 00s
5
Mar 22 2023
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More Specials
The Specials
Amazing talents. Such incredible grooves, I will listen to this album on repeat
4
Mar 23 2023
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C'est Chic
CHIC
Look, it's great. Nile's guitar work, I mean, come on.
But is it for me? I don't think so.
3
Mar 24 2023
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You Want It Darker
Leonard Cohen
Another really heavy album. Cohen's anguished vocals are perfect for the tone of these songs.
4
Mar 27 2023
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Fragile
Yes
Another prog masterpiece
4
Mar 28 2023
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Tracy Chapman
Tracy Chapman
You forget how good some of her songs are, since Fast Car is so overplayed.
3
Mar 29 2023
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We're Only In It For The Money
The Mothers Of Invention
I don't know what else there is to say about Zappa...
5
Mar 30 2023
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Dance Mania
Tito Puente
Great performances.
4
Mar 31 2023
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Tuesday Night Music Club
Sheryl Crow
Excellent debut.
4
Apr 03 2023
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Tigermilk
Belle & Sebastian
This is a good intro to the indie scene from the early 00s
3
Apr 04 2023
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The Band
The Band
Undeniable masterpiece
5
Apr 05 2023
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Joan Armatrading
Joan Armatrading
Wow, what a voice. Passionate and beautiful songs. Can't skip on Glyn Johns and the work he's done over the years, either.
5
Apr 06 2023
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Welcome To The Pleasuredome
Frankie Goes To Hollywood
This was such a massive cultural record for it's time. New sounds, but moreso the suggestive themes that caused (mainly male) Brits to be quite uncomfortable. And for that alone, it gets too marks. Hahah
Besides that, these are some really good tunes, earworms, chill vibes. Love it.
4
Apr 07 2023
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The Doors
The Doors
5
Apr 10 2023
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Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere
Neil Young & Crazy Horse
5
Apr 11 2023
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Liquid Swords
GZA
I really enjoy how much GZA leans into the classic Kung Fu movie themes.
3
Apr 12 2023
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Yeezus
Kanye West
I think it's my favorite Kanye album. The dude is a nut job, but I like it.
4
Apr 13 2023
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Safe As Milk
Captain Beefheart & His Magic Band
4
Apr 14 2023
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New Forms
Roni Size
3
Apr 17 2023
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Trans Europe Express
Kraftwerk
4
Apr 18 2023
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The Stone Roses
The Stone Roses
3
Apr 19 2023
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Truth And Soul
Fishbone
3
Apr 20 2023
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Everything Must Go
Manic Street Preachers
3
Apr 21 2023
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Mr. Tambourine Man
The Byrds
5
Apr 24 2023
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Crosby, Stills & Nash
Crosby, Stills & Nash
A stone cold classic. Encapsulated the laurel canyon vibe.
5
Apr 25 2023
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The Wildest!
Louis Prima
Fun record, good to put on for a certain vibe.
3
Apr 26 2023
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(What's The Story) Morning Glory
Oasis
The best. Such a perfect album.
5
Apr 27 2023
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Hybrid Theory
Linkin Park
1
Apr 28 2023
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Tical
Method Man
The way any of the WuTang era melds lofi beats and Kung Fu spirit with hard lyrics, it's such a microcosm of hip hip that can never be replicated.
5
May 01 2023
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S&M
Metallica
4
May 02 2023
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Double Nickels On The Dime
Minutemen
Great punk record. Cool double album concept, smashing blend of styles, good mix of lyrical content.
4
May 03 2023
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Me Against The World
2Pac
One of the best poet rappers to do it.
5
May 04 2023
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Emperor Tomato Ketchup
Stereolab
It's fine. Pretty cool.
2
May 05 2023
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Idlewild
Everything But The Girl
It's pretty fine
3
May 08 2023
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Innervisions
Stevie Wonder
An obvious five star choice for this list.
5
May 09 2023
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First Band On The Moon
The Cardigans
I only knew the Cardigans from the Love song, and I wouldn't say I enjoyed it.
But this is overall a really good record. I liked a lot of it. May have to check out more.
3
May 10 2023
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School's Out
Alice Cooper
3
May 11 2023
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The Gershwin Songbook
Ella Fitzgerald
A once in ever kind of talent
5
May 12 2023
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The Hour Of Bewilderbeast
Badly Drawn Boy
Could be the mood I was in but I didn't get this one at all b
1
May 15 2023
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Marquee Moon
Television
4
May 16 2023
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Music for the Masses
Depeche Mode
4
May 17 2023
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Elastica
Elastica
2
May 18 2023
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Winter In America
Gil Scott-Heron
He's cool, inspired but also real. Influential but way outside of the mainstream.
3
May 19 2023
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Speakerboxxx/The Love Below
OutKast
Fun, but a lot of filler. I liked the concept of Andre and Big Boi doing their own style.
3
May 22 2023
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I Never Loved a Man the Way I Love You
Aretha Franklin
4
May 23 2023
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Electric Ladyland
Jimi Hendrix
5
May 24 2023
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The Lamb Lies Down On Broadway
Genesis
So musically, this is epic. I love the sounds, the orchestrations, everything.
Lyrically, however, and the "story"? What the heck is happening here?
3
May 25 2023
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Heroes
David Bowie
5
May 26 2023
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Superfuzz Bigmuff
Mudhoney
I like these guys. I've of those "bands that the other big name bands listened to" kinda things. Kinda can't have Pearl Jam and Soundgarden without Mudhoney.
3
May 29 2023
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Raw Power
The Stooges
4
May 30 2023
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Five Leaves Left
Nick Drake
This is one of those great ones that, upon release, the critics at the time felt was mostly blah. I don't understand it, this is such a great album, and an incredible debut.
It makes me wonder the mindset of the critics of the era; were they too into Dylan or Simon/Garfunkel and other folk acts? Were they coming off the Beatles high and didn't know what they were listening to? Did they just write it off as a university kid making a record?
5
May 31 2023
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Walking Wounded
Everything But The Girl
Nice chill album.
3
Jun 01 2023
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Sincere
Mj Cole
2
Jun 02 2023
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The New Tango
Astor Piazzolla
Phenomenal.
5
Jun 05 2023
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Juju
Siouxsie And The Banshees
Every indie female fronted band (and most indie bands, for that matter) from the 2000s to now owe a lot to Siouxsie.
But, I'm not a massive fan, so I see the value of them on the list, but for me, it's still only a 2 star.
2
Jun 06 2023
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Let's Get It On
Marvin Gaye
Oh man this record is so good
5
Jun 07 2023
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Moondance
Van Morrison
A magical record, such great musicality and represents a wonderful era of songwriting.
5
Jun 08 2023
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Crazysexycool
TLC
You know... It's good. But doe sit hold up? I'm not sure.
2
Jun 09 2023
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Bright Flight
Silver Jews
Great roots poetry!
4
Jun 12 2023
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Music in Exile
Songhoy Blues
Crazy cool sounds from Mali. Love the rhythms and the guitar work.
4
Jun 13 2023
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Grace
Jeff Buckley
This guy was shockingly good. Amazing playing style, crazy creative vocal style, and then vanished. Wow.
5
Jun 14 2023
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Automatic For The People
R.E.M.
I've always liked these guys, but this album when it came out was absolutely perfect for what they were trying to do. That three album spam from Out Of Time to Monster are just fantastic.
Plus, get orchestrations from JPJ on this record, which is a massive bonus.
5
Jun 22 2023
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Sticky Fingers
The Rolling Stones
Superb album from British rock royalty
4
Jun 26 2023
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At Folsom Prison
Johnny Cash
5
Jul 10 2023
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Neon Bible
Arcade Fire
These guys were massive indie favorites on release, though I'm not entirely sure the album holds up as much on listening today, perhaps the hindsight view of their frontman.
3
Jul 11 2023
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In Rainbows
Radiohead
A brilliant concept and the instrument is amazing. Greenwood's talents writing movie scores really on display.
4
Jul 17 2023
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Wish You Were Here
Pink Floyd
Maybe my favorite PF to listen to straight through.
5
Aug 16 2023
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Queens of the Stone Age
Queens of the Stone Age
It's been 25 years since I was in high school, but this reminds me heavily of the kind of zone I was in then. I still listen to QOTSA anytime I wanna just chill. (I did like Songs for the Deaf better, tbh)
3
Aug 17 2023
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The White Album
Beatles
I love the swing toward off the wall creativity on the white album. So much lore about the making of this collection. Not all winners, but a delight.
4
Sep 07 2023
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Blood Sugar Sex Magik
Red Hot Chili Peppers
4