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Fri Jan 27 2023
Elvis Presley
Elvis Presley
Dude was a creep but “Blue Suede Shoes” is a bop. No denying that he’s inferior to the African-American artists he built his career off of.
Best songs: Blue Suede Shoes, I’m Counting On You, Trying To Get To You, Blue Moon
Worst songs: I Got A Woman (“She knows a woman’s place” is a no-go lyric), One-Sided Love Affair (he sang this one the way I imagine a cartoon bear would in a Disney movie).
3
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Sat Jan 28 2023
The Joshua Tree
U2
I knew one or two of these songs already. This album was not bad by any means, but I didn’t find it particularly interesting. It’s not something I would choose to listen to again.
2
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Sun Jan 29 2023
Dummy
Portishead
Never heard of Portishead before, though I realised while listening that I knew their song “Glory Box” from somewhere - I think it was used in an ad or something.
Definitely a weird album, I’m not usually into stuff this experimental-sounding. Fav tracks: Sour Times, It’s A Fire, Glory Box
Least fav tracks: Numb, Roads, Pedestal
While I liked some tracks, most didn’t do it for me.
3
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Mon Jan 30 2023
Gunfighter Ballads And Trail Songs
Marty Robbins
This was a really fun album, not at all what I expected.
Fav tracks: …Big Iron, They’re Hanging Me Tonight, Utah Carol
Least fav tracks: The Strawberry Roan, Saddle Tramp
3
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Tue Jan 31 2023
Live At The Star Club, Hamburg
Jerry Lee Lewis
This man was a racist pedophile who married seven times including his 3rd wife, also his thirteen year old cousin. Creep. Also, possibly a murderer. He hated black people while building his entire career off of black musicians’ skill, talent and innovation. He died around 5 months ago and I don’t think the world is particularly worse off as a result!
Didn’t like his voice and don’t think this was much different at it’s core from other music of the same rockabilly honky-tonk style genre (half the songs basically sounded the same, like Elvis but drunk). However I can certainly see how this live performance influenced rock and roll for years and years to come. To summarise: he rocked out.
Won’t be listening again as this isn’t really my genre of choice and… there’s only so far I can go with the “separate the art from the artist” thing.
Best tracks: Money, Great Balls Of Fire, Good Golly Miss Molly, Lewis’ Boogie
Worst tracks: School Confidential, Your Cheating Heart
3
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Wed Feb 01 2023
Berlin
Lou Reed
Undeniably depressing subject matter. The kids crying at the end of “The Kids” was very disturbing. Nonetheless, it’s great art even if it’s not super pleasant art. There’s not really a bad track on there, musically, though for the sake of my personal happiness I’ll be avoiding listening to “The Kids” and “The Bed” ever again, even though I think “The Bed” is an exquisitely written track.
Favourites were “How Do You Think It Feels”, “Oh Jim”, “Caroline Says II”, “Men of Good Fortune”, and, despite my desire to avoid hearing it again in the future, “The Bed”. Least favourites probably “The Kids” and “Caroline Says I”.
Struggled between 4 and 5 stars for the rating on this one … but I think the artistry merits a 5 in the end. Maybe like a 4.75 on a more detailed scale…
5
View Album
Thu Feb 02 2023
Every Good Boy Deserves Fudge
Mudhoney
I really enjoyed this album! Most of the songs kind of blended together for me, but there were none I disliked and overall I loved the general sound of the album.
Fav songs: Let It Slide, Check-Out Time
4
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Fri Feb 03 2023
Bayou Country
Creedence Clearwater Revival
This is country rock, very American. Kindly short & I thought the singer kind of sounds like Elvis? Maybe it’s just his accent or something. Some of the songs were okay, some were bad, one was great. Final question: what on earth does “chooglin” mean???
Best tracks: Proud Mary (Had no idea this was the original version of this song. I’m mostly familiar with the Glee version, but it’s a classic for a reason), Good Golly Miss Molly
Worst tracks: Graveyard Train (lyrically weak, way too long - over 8 minutes in an album with a 33 minute run time is insane for a track this bad), Bootleg (I spent half the song thinking he was saying “Voulez” before I checked the song title)
2
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Sat Feb 04 2023
Close To The Edge
Yes
This album has 3 songs. They are long.
I definitely understand why this is on the list, but it’s not something I’d listen to again. The first 3 minutes of this album felt like the musical version of a panic attack - that horrible energy was then resuscitated at around the 15 minute mark of this EIGHTEEN MINUTE track. Despite this, the first track was the best one on the album, with the following two paling in comparison to the point of boredom.
As a summary: prog rock is apparently not for me.
2
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Sun Feb 05 2023
Ray Of Light
Madonna
I’m generally quite fond of Madonna, but this album wasn’t for me. Other than the title track, I didn’t enjoy any of the songs.
1
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Mon Feb 06 2023
Hail To the Thief
Radiohead
I really enjoyed a few songs on this album (2+2=5 and Sail To The Moon) but found the overall effect to be a bit too whiny for me. It took several attempts for me to get through the whole album over a few weeks. 56 minutes felt like 56 hours. There were also some tracks on here that I really truly hated (The Gloaming was dreadful). An honestly painful listening experience at some points, and not at all what I anticipated based on my previous experiences of Radiohead (which has always been limited to their hits).
Best tracks: 2+2=5, Sail To The Moon, I Will, A Wolf At The Door
Worst tracks: Backdrifts, Go To Sleep, The Gloaming (my ears hurt)
2.5 stars, rounded down lol
2
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Tue Feb 07 2023
Let's Get It On
Marvin Gaye
According to the Rolling Stone’s Top 500 Albums list, this is the no. 1 album of all time, which is a lot to live up to. It’s also pretty short, just over half an hour long.
It’s a good album, no doubt. But best of all time is definitely a stretch. Enjoyable but not for me, and I didn’t love the sensual sighs in the background… don’t think it added anything, just made it sound rather trashy.
Favs: If I Should Die Tonight, Let’s Get It On, Come Get To This
3
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Wed Feb 08 2023
Exit Planet Dust
The Chemical Brothers
Went into this completely unaware of the background of this album, I’d never heard of The Chemical Brothers and I had no wi-fi to look them up. By the end, I was still kind of confused. Didn’t hate it.
Fav songs: Three Little Birdies Down Beats, Chemical Beats, Alive Alone
Least fav: the rest
2
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Thu Feb 09 2023
Siamese Dream
The Smashing Pumpkins
I’m with Rory Gilmore on this one. Not really for me.
Fav songs: Luna (the only one I liked enough to save), Mayonaise, Today, Spaceboy, Disarm, Silverfuck
3
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Fri Feb 10 2023
Rage Against The Machine
Rage Against The Machine
This is not the kind of music I usually enjoy or seek out, but I thought this album was actually very excellent. It’s basically just a socialist zine put to heavy guitar but somehow it really, really works. This album was released quite a while before I was even born, so this review is not influenced by nostalgia at all.
Fav tracks: Killing In The Name Of, Take The Power Back
Least fav track: Freedom
5 stars!
5
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Sat Feb 11 2023
The Undertones
The Undertones
I had listened to this album before, but it was nice to revisit it. I like it a lot.
Favs: Get Over You, I Gotta Getta, Teenage Kicks, Male Model, Girls Don’t Like It, Family Entertainment, I Know A Girl, (She’s A) Runaround
Least fav: Casbah Rock
4
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Sun Feb 12 2023
Devil Without A Cause
Kid Rock
I’ll admit I went into this totally biased, but it’s not AS bad as I assumed it would be, as someone who had never heard Kid Rock’s music before. Definitely not 1001 albums of all time material, though……… I feel like people often romanticise the 90s but this album made me glad to have not been born yet.
Best track: I kinda liked the funky auto tune on Only God Knows Why
Worst tracks: Welcome 2 the Party, Fuck Off, Where U At Rock, Bawitdaba, Cowboy, Devil Without A Cause, Roving Gangster, I Got One for Ya’, Somebody’s Gotta Feel This, Black Chick, White Guy/I Am the Bulldog (WHY is this song TWELVE MINUTES LONG????? I thought it was almost OVER).
1 star for…. creativity I guess 👍🏼
1
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Mon Feb 13 2023
S.F. Sorrow
The Pretty Things
Yeah this was a no from me. I liked some of the beginning songs in a vague sort of way, but it quickly begun feeling like an interminable slog of rote 60s psychedelia that I, as a non-drug user, will never be able to understand or enjoy. Some of the songs were dreadful, notably Defecting Grey, which made me want to drown myself rather than finish listening to. It was followed by three similarly bad songs which I truly HATED listening to. Concept albums are cool and all… but I need the music to be enjoyable to care about the concept. A 1 might be harsh but it’s how I felt by the end so I think it’s deserved.
1
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Tue Feb 14 2023
John Prine
John Prine
This feels like something they’d dance to in Friday Night Lights. I’m not really hugely into country, and the music on these tracks feels pretty average, nothing particularly notable.
Like others have pointed out, it has some pretty good lyrics. Bob Dylan apparently described John Prine’s music as “pure Proustian existentialism” but I’m not going to pretend that I’m well-read enough to know what that means. I like a good lyric but it needs to be set to music I like or it may as well just be poetry to me (and I would prefer it that way, I like poetry!)
It’s classic country, but it would be really hard for any country to get more than 3 stars from me. Each individual song was fine, but none really stood out to me, and listening to all the songs back-to-back I just found myself bored and waiting for it to end. Wasn’t a fan of the vocals either.
Best tracks: Your Flag Decal Won’t Get You Into Heaven (I liked the message of this one), Quiet Man, Donald and Lydia (did John Prine just predict long-distance sexting?(just to be clear this is a joke I understand what the song is about))
Worst tracks: Paradise (I really didn’t like the instrumental on this one), Hello in There, Six O’Clock News
2
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Wed Feb 15 2023
Truth
Jeff Beck
I liked the guitar on Blues Deluxe. The rest of this hasn’t really stood the rest of time in my opinion. Didn’t like the vocals and wouldn’t listen again.
It’s not bad but let’s just say when the next edition of this book comes out and they need to make some more space, this one could probably slide out unnoticed 👍🏼
2
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Thu Feb 16 2023
Strange Cargo III
William Orbit
A series of rather boring electronica songs that vary between songs that make you feel like they’re trying to brainwash you into a cult and songs that sound like the background music when you get a massage at a spa.
I love a spa trip but the music is not 1001 albums to listen to before you die material!
2
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Fri Feb 17 2023
Trafalgar
Bee Gees
This album is nothing like the Bee Gees most of us are familiar with; sadly, there is no disco in sight.
Nevertheless, it is a solid album of soft rock ballads, all of which are quite pleasing to the ear though not my genre of choice.
Best tracks: How Can You Mend A Broken Heart, Israel, Trafalgar, Don’t Want To Live Inside Myself, Remembering
Worst tracks: When Do I, Lion in Winter, The Greatest Man in the World
4
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Sat Feb 18 2023
John Barleycorn Must Die
Traffic
Odd title, very jazzy which I wasn’t expecting. Very instrumentally focused, which is a shame as the singer has a nice voice. Overall the album was good, fun enough. Not really what I would choose to listen to, though, and it’s not a genre I can offer much in the way of insightful comments.
3
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Sun Feb 19 2023
Manassas
Stephen Stills
It’s a decent album, nothing objectionable about it, it’s just not really my style and wayyy too long
3
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Mon Feb 20 2023
Marquee Moon
Television
You can definitely see the influence this album had on post-punk music, and it’s very good album. One of the examples of an album that you really SHOULD listen to before you die, if you have any interest in music history. Yeah, I liked it.
Fav tracks: See No Evil, Friction, Elevation
Least fav: Prove It
4
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Tue Feb 21 2023
Tracy Chapman
Tracy Chapman
Enjoyable album.
Favs: Fast Car (really is one of the greatest songs ever in my opinion), Baby Can I Hold You, For My Lover, Talkin Bout A Revolution
Least favs: Behind The Wall
4
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Wed Feb 22 2023
Revolver
Beatles
Favs: Eleanor Rigby
Least favs: I’m Only Sleeping, Love You To, Most of the rest
I don’t want to be someone who hates on the Beatles just to be unique. I don’t hate the Beatles….. I just find I almost exclusively only enjoy their big hits. The rest of this album just didn’t do it for me.
2
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Thu Feb 23 2023
Supa Dupa Fly
Missy Elliott
This album is Supa Dupa Long!
Vibe of the album was generally cool, but there were very few stand-out tracks. Sorry Missy :(
Fav: Pass Da Blunt, Best Friends
Least fav: Busta’s intro, Izzy Izzy Ahh
2
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Fri Feb 24 2023
Dr. Octagonecologyst
Dr. Octagon
Vibe of this album summed up in one word is “Weird” which I usually quite enjoy… But I hated this. And it’s an hour in length, so basically torture. Only positive comment I really have is that it was certainly a unique concept! Terrible execution.
I didn’t enjoy his flow or voice, though some of the beats were fine. Lyrics were undeniably unique, but the interesting lyrical moments were undermined by some of the excruciatingly repetitive choruses (if you can call them that…) and the juvenile topics/jokes. It did improve as it went on, from the first 5 songs I honestly thought it was the worst album I’d ever heard but by the end I was less horrified.
Best tracks (i.e. vaguely bearable): Blue Flowers, Bear Witness, Dr Octagon, Technical Difficulties
Worst tracks: Intro (gross), 3000, I Got To Tell You (shockingly irritating for an interlude), Earth People, No Awareness (one of the worst songs I’ve ever forced myself to sit through), Girl Let Me Touch You (creepy), 1977
1
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Sat Feb 25 2023
xx
The xx
I’ve always loved “Intro” and “Angels” by The xx so I was excited to listen to this album. I liked how simple it sounds and overall I enjoyed it, but I do think that it sounds very 2009-2012, and I’m not sure how well it holds up in 2023 as being a “must listen” album rather than just a fun listen. Nonetheless, it was one of my favourite listens on this project so far.
Favs: Intro, Crystalized, Islands, Heart Skipped A Beat, Shelter, Night Time
Least fav: Basic Space
4 stars I think… maybe 4.5
4
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Sun Feb 26 2023
Who's Next
The Who
This was a solid album from The Who.
Fav songs: Baba O’Riley, The Song Is Over, Getting In Tune, Going Mobile, Behind Blue Eyes
Least fav: My Wife
4
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Mon Feb 27 2023
Stories From The City, Stories From The Sea
PJ Harvey
I’m already a PJ Harvey fan so this may be kind of biased. I love this album and I love PJ Harvey. “This Is Love” and “A Place Called Home” are outstanding. The worst song on this album (Beautiful Feeling) is still good.
Fav tracks: The Whores Hustle And The Hustler Whores, A Place Called Home, This Mess We’re In, You Said Something, This Is Love, We Float, Kamikaze, Big Exit, Good Fortune
Least fav: Horses In My Dreams (because I am scared of horses and certainly do not dream of them), One Line, Beautiful Feeling
5
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Tue Feb 28 2023
Talking Book
Stevie Wonder
This is the first Stevie Wonder album I’ve listened to. The great tracks were really great (Superstition is the most famous track of his for a reason), the bad ones were really bad (Big Brother was notably dreadful). The rest were mostly average, nothing special.
Fav tracks: You and I, Superstitious
Least fav: You’ve Got It Bad Girl, Big Brother
3
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Wed Mar 01 2023
Viva Hate
Morrissey
I know Morrissey thinks me and my family are like ruining Britain or whatever because of our race, so I should hate his music on principle but sadly, I cannot. My biggest guilty pleasure is not the 4 hour long Glee playlist I have on my phone but the fact I have The Smiths on there too.
Anyway, this was also good. Why does such an annoying person have to be good at music???
Best songs: Alsatian Cousin, Little Man, What Now, Everyday Is Like Sunday, Angel Angel We Go Down Together
Worst song: Dial-a-Cliché
4
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Thu Mar 02 2023
Highway to Hell
AC/DC
There is a definite accuracy to the complaint that all AC/DC songs sound the same. But this was still a great listen, and super fun. If an album is just a great song rehashed 10 times, it’s still made up of 10 great songs….
Best tracks: Highway to Hell, Walk All Over You, Touch Too Much
Worst track: Love Hungry Man
4
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Fri Mar 03 2023
Songs The Lord Taught Us
The Cramps
Great album cover. This album’s vibe in one word? Camp.
I enjoyed it but it is certainly weird, I can imagine that it would be a favourite of the vamps in What We Do In The Shadows. Many of the songs sounded very similar.
Fav tracks: I Was A Teenage Werewolf, The Mad Daddy, Fever (great cover)
Least fav tracks: Rock on the Moon
3.5 rounded up.
4
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Sat Mar 04 2023
Dig Your Own Hole
The Chemical Brothers
This is the second Chemical Brothers album I’ve had to listen to. I want to die.
Best tracks: Setting Sun, Where Do I Begin
Worst tracks: Everything else even the best tracks I would not willingly listen to again I feel like someone has taken a drill to my skull, drowned me until I was unconscious and then transported me to some kind of sick dystopia where my brain would be extracted and put inside of a robot I never want to listen to these guys again please tell me there are no more than 2 of their albums on this list or I might completely lose it. 1.5 rounded up
2
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Sun Mar 05 2023
Brown Sugar
D'Angelo
Urghgghhhhhhhhhhh
A mix of cringe and boring. Just not an enjoyable record at all. Would not listen again.
Best track: Lady
Worst track: Alright, Jonz in my Bonz, Higher, Brown Sugar, Cruising
1
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Mon Mar 06 2023
Arthur (Or the Decline and Fall of the British Empire)
The Kinks
Fun and enjoyable, I really liked it.
Fav tracks: Victoria, Australia, Yes Sir No Sir, Nothing to Say
Least fav tracks: Brainwashed, She’s Bought A Hat Like Princess Marina
4
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Tue Mar 07 2023
Let's Stay Together
Al Green
Sigh. It was fine. Not my genre of choice, was quite bored by it.
Best tracks: Let’s Stay Together, So You’re Leaving
Worst track: I’ve never found a girl, How can you mend a broken heart , Judy
2
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Wed Mar 08 2023
Live And Dangerous
Thin Lizzy
Seemed like pretty regular rock, nothing particularly special or unique about it. And an automatic deduction for being a live album.
3
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Thu Mar 09 2023
Dry
PJ Harvey
PJ Harvey is one of my favourite artists, this isn’t my favourite album of hers but it’s still pretty much flawless.
Fav tracks: Sheela-na-gig, Plants and Rags, Water, O Stella, Dress
Least fav tracks: None, they’re all good.
5
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Fri Mar 10 2023
Bitches Brew
Miles Davis
Another jazz album, another sad day for me. I don’t hate ALL jazz, but it’s safe to say experimental jazz is not for me, especially not almost 2 hours worth of it. In the words of Eleanor Shellstrop: “Ugh, I hate jazz. Every jazz song is like 40 minutes long. It’s like, we get it. You can blow on a trumpet.”
1
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Sat Mar 11 2023
Otis Blue/Otis Redding Sings Soul
Otis Redding
I’m not typically someone really into soul, but this was a nice listen. The covers were strongest, though Respect was an excellent song written by Redding himself.
Best tracks: Respect (Aretha did it better but this original version is still good), My Girl (one of my favourite songs ever), Rock Me Baby (honestly sounds like an early prototype of what would later become a Led Zeppelin song, I loved the guitar on it)
Worst track: Wonderful World, Satisfaction (his cover fell flat for me, the Rolling Stones original is much better)
3
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Sun Mar 12 2023
My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy
Kanye West
Disclaimer: I’m on Kim’s side, I’m on Taylor’s side, and I’m on Pete’s side. Kanye’s foray into anti semitism that he has now renounced because of 21 Jump Street ??? is not ok and disgusts me deeply. However I’ve decided to rate this album based purely off the music. I’ve never listened to more than a few of Kanye’s hits before.
The beginning of this album was so good I honestly thought I might have to give him a 5 against my will. Fortunately, then “All of the lights” came on, a very weak song despite my love for Rihanna. Monster would have been a very average song without that incredible Nicki verse, and I’m not giving Kanye credit for her talent! Runaway is apparently widely acclaimed but I thought it was nothing special, way too long and the last two minutes of nothing but distortion gave me a headache. Blame Game contained a lyric I found disturbing in light of the reality of domestic violence against women and the number of times victims are accused of lying “Lie and say I hit you… running my name through the mud”. It was made worse by the weird talking at the end of the song. Gross. I loved Dark Fantasy and Lost In The World.
Best tracks: Dark Fantasy, Power, Monster, Devil In A New Dress, So Appalled, Hell Of A Life, Lost In The World
Worst tracks: All Of The Lights, Runaway, Blame Game
A final shout out to this lyric: “No more drugs for me, pussy and religion is all I need” which pretty much seems to define Kanye to this day.
4
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Mon Mar 13 2023
The Pleasure Principle
Gary Numan
Robot music.
It’s good, but it feels like background music, not a huge amount of diversity in the tracks. Interesting to see how it clearly influenced the following decade of music though!
Fav tracks: They were pretty much all the same
Worst tracks: They were all decent
3
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Tue Mar 14 2023
Back To Black
Amy Winehouse
Amy Winehouse was the first celebrity death I was aware of. This album is absolutely iconic, and very very good.
Fav tracks: Rehab, Me & Mr Jones, Back to Black,
Least fav tracks: Addicted, Some Unholy War
4
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Wed Mar 15 2023
The Piper At The Gates Of Dawn
Pink Floyd
Before I started this challenge I had no idea just how much I dislike psychedelic music. But it turns out it’s my least favourite genre! Dreadful stuff. Horrible vocals and screeching instrumentation. Happy when it ended. No thank you.
And good God, what are these lyrics:
“I’ve got a clan of gingerbread men
Here a man, there a man, lots of gingerbread men
Take a couple if you wish
They’re on the dish”
…. followed by a never ending minute of discordant sounds for no reason????? Get me out of here.
1
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Thu Mar 16 2023
For Your Pleasure
Roxy Music
I found this to be a really fun album, and I love the album cover. It’s got some quirky tunes but I feel like the strange elements of it really elevate it. It doesn’t feel early 70s to me, it feels a lot more modern.
Fav tracks: Do The Strand, Strictly Confidential, In Every Dream Home A Heartache
Least fav: For Your Pleasure, Grey Lagoons
3.5 stars rounded up to 4
4
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Fri Mar 17 2023
Seventeen Seconds
The Cure
There are quite a few songs by The Cure that I really enjoy. Unfortunately, this album didn’t add to that catalogue.
Mostly just boring, to be honest.
Best tracks: In Your House, Seventeen Seconds
Worst tracks: Who’s to say? I involuntarily zoned out for most of it, both times I listened.
2
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Sat Mar 18 2023
Music in Exile
Songhoy Blues
Is desert blues the best music genre I never knew existed?????
Banger after banger. Great songs, not a bad track in there. Really groovy, I’ve saved the whole thing to my Spotify. No-skip album.
Fav tracks: Soubour, Wayei, Irganda, Al Hassidi Terei, basically all of them ngl
Least fav: Mali (but it’s still good)
5
View Album
Sun Mar 19 2023
Slippery When Wet
Bon Jovi
A bunch of hits on here, but, well, it’s pretty average isn’t it? Sanitised rock with nothing interesting to say and only vaguely enjoyable to listen to.
2
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Mon Mar 20 2023
Nebraska
Bruce Springsteen
I have listened to and enjoyed Springsteen before, but this just didn’t scratch that itch for me. It wasn’t bad but I wouldn’t listen to it again.
Fav tracks: Atlantic City
Least fav tracks: Nebraska, Open All Night
3
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Tue Mar 21 2023
The Cars
The Cars
Generally a fun album, I don’t really have anything bad to say but it didn’t amaze me or anything.
3.5 stars rounded up
4
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Wed Mar 22 2023
Water From An Ancient Well
Abdullah Ibrahim
It’s good jazz but, well, it’s still jazz. Not for me.
2.5 rounded up
3
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Thu Mar 23 2023
Goodbye And Hello
Tim Buckley
Listened to this twice. On my first listen, I wasn’t particularly impressed, but the second go I found I really enjoyed and appreciated it.
Jeff Buckley is certainly a superior talent to his father, and his music much more to my taste, but this is still very very good.
Fav tracks: I Never Asked To Be Your Mountain, Once I Was, Phantasmagoria in Two, Knight-Errant, Goodbye and Hello, Morning Glory
Least fav tracks: Carnival Song, No Man Can Find The War
4
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Fri Mar 24 2023
Led Zeppelin
Led Zeppelin
Not my favourite Led Zeppelin album (I’m particularly partial to Led Zeppelin III), but all Led Zeppelin tends to be good Led Zeppelin, even their debut.
Fav tracks: Babe I’m Gonna Leave You, You Shook Me, I Can’t Quit You Baby
Least fav tracks: Good Times Bad Times, How Many More Times
4
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Sat Mar 25 2023
The Downward Spiral
Nine Inch Nails
“She spreads herself wide open
To let the insects in
She leaves a trail of honey
To show me where she’s been
She has the blood of a reptile
Just underneath her skin
Seeds from a thousand others
Drip down from within
Oh my beautiful liar
Oh my precious whore
My disease my infection
I am so impure”
“Got me a big old dick and I, I like to have fun
Held against your forehead, well, I’ll make you suck it
Maybe I’ll put a hole in your head, you know, just for the fuck of it
Well I can reduce you if I want,
I can devour
I’m hard as fucking steel, I’ve got the power
I’m every inch a man and I’ll show you somehow
Me and my fucking gun,
nothing can stop me now
Shoot, shoot, shoot, shoot,
shoot, I’m gonna come all over you”
This came out before I was born and I’d never heard any of Nine Inch Nails’ stuff before though I had heard of the band. So no nostalgic influence here.
Honestly I quite like the sound of the songs on this (I like loud wall of sound music most of the time) but the lyrics were either ridiculous or disgusting 90% of the time. Like “poetry” written by a angsty teenage incel who thinks objectifying women and hating the world is super edgy and makes them superior to everyone else. It even ruins their hit song “Closer”. Was unsurprised to discover this album and this artist are linked to some truly horrible individuals.
It just doesn’t really hold up lyrically in this day and age. There’s nothing subversive or edgy about misogyny or male sexual violence, guys.
Best tracks: Hurt (excellent), Closer (despite the lyrics), Reptile (despite the lyrics), A Warm Place (fortunately no lyrics)
Worst tracks: I Do Not Want This, Big Man With A Gun
2.5 rounded down, could have been a 4 with different lyrics!
2
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Sun Mar 26 2023
Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere
Neil Young & Crazy Horse
This isn’t on Spotify and there’s also no full video of the album on Youtube so I had to listen to it on a playlist. The ads were sooooo annoying. Anyway, it was fine, I see it’s musical value but it’s not something I’d listen to again
3
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Mon Mar 27 2023
The Seldom Seen Kid
Elbow
I had no idea what to expect from this and found myself really pleasantly surprised! I really liked this, and I enjoyed all of the songs.
Fav tracks: Starlings, The Bones of You, The Loneliness of a Tower Crane Driver
Least fav track: One Day Like This
4
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Tue Mar 28 2023
Faith
George Michael
When George Michael died I basically went into mourning and listened to “Jesus to a Child” a million times for the next year. I love him.
This isn’t my favourite work of his, but it’s still very very good pop. The last half of the album is much weaker than the first, but it’s all good.
Best tracks: Faith, Father Figure, I Want Your Sex, One More Try
4
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Wed Mar 29 2023
Isn't Anything
My Bloody Valentine
I liked it, but I wish you could actually hear the vocals on half of these songs.
Fav track: Nothing Much To Lose
Worst track: All I Need
3
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Thu Mar 30 2023
Cafe Bleu
The Style Council
It was fine, I only really liked one song (You’re The Best Thing)
2
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Fri Mar 31 2023
Celebrity Skin
Hole
Celebrity Skin is an A+ song & I think Courtney Love is really cool. This album was very solid, very 90s, and I really enjoyed it.
Best tracks: Awful, Malibu, Reasons To Be Beautiful, Use Once & Destroy, Playing Your Song, Petals
Worst track: Hit So Hard
3.5 rounded up.
4
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Sat Apr 01 2023
Disintegration
The Cure
This took me a few listens to appreciate, but I’ve come to really like it.
Fav songs: Lovesong, Homesick, Pictures of You
4
View Album
Sun Apr 02 2023
Superfuzz Bigmuff
Mudhoney
I listened to the 1990 release “Superfuzz Bigmuff Plus Early Singles”. I liked this a lot.
Fav tracks: Touch Me I’m Sick, Mudride, Hate The Police
Least fav track: You Got It (Keep It Outta My Face)
4
View Album
Mon Apr 03 2023
Crocodiles
Echo And The Bunnymen
3.5 rounded up. It’s good post-punk in general, but I felt like the overall quality and consistency wasn’t as solid as I’d hoped.
4
View Album
Tue Apr 04 2023
Winter In America
Gil Scott-Heron
I am not into jazz. And I am definitely not into spoken word. The first few tracks were enjoyable, but the last few were extremely difficult to get through, I found myself counting the seconds waiting for it to end. I respect the concept and intention behind this, but I would not willingly listen to it again.
Also, it’s not on Spotify, so that was annoying.
2
View Album
Wed Apr 05 2023
Searching For The Young Soul Rebels
Dexys Midnight Runners
Very enjoyable album, glad to have listened to it. Super 80s.
Best tracks: Geno, Tell Me When My Light Turns Green
Worst track: I’m Just Looking
4
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Thu Apr 06 2023
Mermaid Avenue
Billy Bragg
This was a good folk album, though it’s not really to my taste.
Fav: California Stars
Least fav: Christ for President
3
View Album
Fri Apr 07 2023
Abattoir Blues / The Lyre of Orpheus
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds
I liked this much more than the other Nick Cave album I reviewed. This was great!
Fav tracks: O Children, Get Ready for Love, Cannibal’s Hymn
4
View Album
Sat Apr 08 2023
The Stooges
The Stooges
Iggy Pop is a creep
3
View Album
Sun Apr 09 2023
The Atomic Mr Basie
Count Basie & His Orchestra
Love a bit of swing !
4
View Album
Mon Apr 10 2023
Pretenders
Pretenders
This was great, I’d never listened to the Pretenders before & I’m glad I now have.
4
View Album
Tue Apr 11 2023
My Generation
The Who
My Generation is a good song. The rest of this was meh. I understand why, per the Wikipedia, the band themselves weren’t a huge fan of this album. I certainly doubt that it’s their best work.
3
View Album
Wed Apr 12 2023
1984
Van Halen
‘Jump’ is a decent song… but the Glee version is superior. Other than that, this album was trash, 33 minutes that felt like an eternity in hellfire.
1
View Album
Thu Apr 13 2023
This Nation’s Saving Grace
The Fall
It’s good.
Fav songs: Spoilt Victorian Child, Cruiser’s Creek
4
View Album
Fri Apr 14 2023
The Age Of The Understatement
The Last Shadow Puppets
This is a fun album, I loved the dramatic flares added to the songs.
Fav songs: The Age of the Understatement, Separate and Ever Deadly
Least fav song: Time Has Come Again
4
View Album
Sat Apr 15 2023
At San Quentin
Johnny Cash
This is a live album which makes it automatically bad as it shouldn’t be on this list!!!
Anyway
As interesting as the concept of performing at a prison is, I am not a Johnny Cash fan. I did not enjoy this. The songs were just not my style and I wasn’t entertained by his endless talking. He also played one song twice! This is not an album to listen to before you die, it’s an album to listen to in hell.
1.5 … rounded down
1
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Sun Apr 16 2023
The Only Ones
The Only Ones
The first two tracks of this album are wonderful songs. The rest…. are just fine. Generally a decent album, but it starts so strong that the rest of the album feels quite underwhelming.
Fav tracks: The Whole Of The Law, Another Girl, Another Planet, Language Problem
Least fav tracks: City of Fun, As My Wife Says
3
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Mon Apr 17 2023
Swordfishtrombones
Tom Waits
This was a weird album. I loved it. Really fun, interesting music the whole way through.
4
View Album
Tue Apr 18 2023
Murder Ballads
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds
I didn’t hate it but I didn’t enjoy it either
3
View Album
Wed Apr 19 2023
O.G. Original Gangster
Ice T
It’s fine, a good rap album! There are a lot of rap albums I would put above this one, though.
3
View Album
Thu Apr 20 2023
16 Lovers Lane
The Go-Betweens
A nice surprise, never heard of these guys before but it was great
4
View Album
Fri Apr 21 2023
Low
David Bowie
It’s fine. Not Bowie’s best and shouldn’t be on this list!
3
View Album
Sat Apr 22 2023
Aftermath
The Rolling Stones
I liked this album, and they’re obviously influential, but I think it’s far from their best work…. Controversially, I am starting to feel like this list should really restrict itself to one or two albums from each artist. And if more, they have to be notably different from each other and distinct in the influence they have had. This does not meet that criteria.
3
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Sun Apr 23 2023
Picture Book
Simply Red
I usually like 80s soul pop and new wave. This was bad. No.
2
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Mon Apr 24 2023
Court And Spark
Joni Mitchell
Yes
5
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Tue Apr 25 2023
Billion Dollar Babies
Alice Cooper
Not sure what I expected Alice Cooper to sound like, but it wasn’t this! I was pleasantly surprised. Weird lyrics and kinda cheesy but I think that’s fun. 3.5 stars rounded up!
Best track: I Love the Dead (what a way to end the album! And it’s definitely the first and most likely last time I’ve enjoyed a song about necrophilia……)
4
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Wed Apr 26 2023
Yoshimi Battles The Pink Robots
The Flaming Lips
Really enjoyed this album.
Best tracks: Fight Test, In The Morning of the Magicians
No bad tracks. 4.5 rounded up.
5
View Album
Thu Apr 27 2023
Giant Steps
The Boo Radleys
I really liked this album and was shocked when I looked it up after listening and saw it was a product of the NINETIES. It makes sense to me more now as a product of 60s/70s nostalgia mixed with more recent musical influences. Cool concept, I enjoyed it.
Fav song: Wish I Was Skinny
4
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Fri Apr 28 2023
Will The Circle Be Unbroken
Nitty Gritty Dirt Band
My God, this album was never ending. Far, far too long - I wouldn’t even want to listen to a two hour album for a genre I actually enjoy, let alone two straight hours of country.
The songs themselves were mostly fine, though largely indistinguishable from one another.
3
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Sat Apr 29 2023
Head Hunters
Herbie Hancock
Pretty funky
4
View Album
Sun Apr 30 2023
Odelay
Beck
Not really my style but it wasn’t bad
3
View Album
Mon May 01 2023
Treasure
Cocteau Twins
fuck yeah !!!!
i love the cocteau twins. don’t understand a word they say but god bless them ❤️
best of the best: lorelai, beatrix, ivo
5
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Tue May 02 2023
Back At The Chicken Shack
Jimmy Smith
Good jazz
3
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Wed May 03 2023
25
Adele
Adele has a beautiful voice, but this album’s songs were just average pop ballads. She could sing a grocery list and it would sound good.
3
View Album
Thu May 04 2023
Jagged Little Pill
Alanis Morissette
Undeniably innovative, and generally very enjoyable.
In the words of that one Tiktok video:
“I’m smart but I’m stupid
I’m gay but I’m straight
I crop dust at Wholefoods, baby!
What it all comes down to
Everything’s gonna be fine fine fine”
Fav tracks: You Oughta Know, Ironic, Hand In My Pocket, You Oughta Know (Jimmy the Saint Blend/Your House)
4
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Fri May 05 2023
The Lexicon Of Love
ABC
Pretty average 80s pop, fun stuff and some of the songs were pretty good tunes
3
View Album
Sat May 06 2023
Bluesbreakers
John Mayall & The Bluesbreakers
It’s fine
Best track: All Your Love
3
View Album
Sun May 07 2023
Chemtrails Over The Country Club
Lana Del Rey
I’m a big Lana Del Rey fan. This isn’t her best work, but it’s still very good. The first few songs of this album are incredible, but I felt it lost steam as it went on.
Best tracks: White Dress, Chemtrails Over The Country Club, Tulsa Jesus Freak, Let Me Love You Like A Woman
Worst track: For Free
4
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Mon May 08 2023
good kid, m.A.A.d city
Kendrick Lamar
Great storytelling, very good album…… it’s like a 4.5 so I’ve rounded it up
Fav tracks: Money Trees, Swimming Pools (Drank), Sing About Me, I’m Dying of Thirst
Least fav: Sherane a.k.a. Master Splinter’s Daughter
5
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Tue May 09 2023
Feast of Wire
Calexico
It’s a decent album but I don’t really get why it’s on this list.
3
View Album
Wed May 10 2023
Bizarre Ride II The Pharcyde
The Pharcyde
I really liked this, it’s fun to listen to and musically it’s the exact kind of hip hop that I like. However, a lot of the lyrics are juvenile and outdated, which is less to my taste.
4
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Thu May 11 2023
There's No Place Like America Today
Curtis Mayfield
Sorry, this was just annoying to listen to. Gave me a headache as well. I don’t really get why anyone has given it a good score. I liked the first 30 seconds. Not for me
1
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Fri May 12 2023
Pieces Of The Sky
Emmylou Harris
I had never heard of Emmylou Harris before, and I was very pleasantly surprised. What a voice! I could listen to her sing a shopping list.
In researching her I have seen that she is known for mostly covering other songs, rather than writing her own (though she did that as well). Well, in my view, Aretha Franklin and Elvis Presley did the same and the music industry still considers them legends. I’m not usually fond of most country music, but I was very impressed by this record, and I think that says a lot as to Emmylou’s talent.
Fav track: Boulder to Birmingham
Least fav track: Queen of the Silver Dollar
4
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Sat May 13 2023
Blue Lines
Massive Attack
Really loved this album. I’d heard of Massive Attack before but honestly couldn’t have told you anything about them, couldn’t have even guessed their genre. I’m perhaps a decade too young for them, but I thought this was really fun. Great tunes. Sooo torn between a 4 and 5 for this one, I think it’s a solid 4.4/4.5….
Fav tracks: Safe From Harm, Daydreaming
Least fav track: Hymn Of The Big Wheel
4
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Sun May 14 2023
Fear and Whiskey
Mekons
I really enjoyed this, it’s weird and I haven’t heard much like it, which makes me like it more! Adding punk influence to any other music genre makes an album sound like heaven to me.
Fav songs: Psycho Cupid, Darkness and Doubt, Last Dance
Least fav songs: I liked them all
5
View Album
Mon May 15 2023
Fishscale
Ghostface Killah
Solid album, I liked it a lot but I didn’t like it as much as I like the Wu-Tang Clan’s work as a collective.
The only song I wasn’t into was Jellyfish.
4
View Album
Tue May 16 2023
The Genius Of Ray Charles
Ray Charles
Very nice, smooooooth album.
4
View Album
Wed May 17 2023
Roots
Sepultura
Surprisingly didn’t hate it! Quite enjoyed it, though I’m a complete newbie to the genre so can’t really judge it against its peers
4
View Album
Thu May 18 2023
Fear Of Music
Talking Heads
I’m a big fan of the Talking Heads but this is not my favourite work of theirs.
The album version of Life During Wartime really falls flat when compared to the live version, in my opinion. It’s still a good album though, I like it but expect more from them.
4
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Fri May 19 2023
It Takes A Nation Of Millions To Hold Us Back
Public Enemy
I really liked this, it was a cool & unique album.
Best track: Terminator X to the Edge of Panic
4
View Album
Sat May 20 2023
Made In Japan
Deep Purple
I don’t believe in live albums on this list. That being said, parts of this were decent and fun to listen to. Then I had to sit through the final 15 minutes (the last song was not on Spotify, so I had to pull it up on Youtube). I’ve never wanted an instrumental to end as badly as I wanted this to end. It just wouldn’t stop, I almost gave up.
2
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Sun May 21 2023
Mr. Tambourine Man
The Byrds
This was an interesting album, I really liked the tracks Mr Tambourine Man and I Knew I’d Want You. But otherwise I felt it was quite same-y
3
View Album
Mon May 22 2023
Joan Baez
Joan Baez
Absolutely incredible, transporting album. I adore her voice, and the songs were excellently chosen. The queen of folk to this day.
Favs: Silver Dagger, House of the Rising Sun, Henry Martin, El Preso Numero Nueve, Girl of Constant Sorrow
5
View Album
Tue May 23 2023
The Predator
Ice Cube
I enjoyed this album, but when it finished, Spotify immediately started playing Wu-Tang Clan, which made this feel very average in comparison.
3
View Album
Wed May 24 2023
Private Dancer
Tina Turner
Tina has a great voice, but these songs weren’t my favourite. They just had nothing to say, no meaning, no interesting instrumentations or melodies either … so like what’s even the point of making an album like this, let alone putting it on a list of 1001 albums to listen to before you die…….. I could have gone a million lifetimes without feeling this was an album missing from my life.
Fav tracks: Let’s Stay Together, 1984
Worst track: Private Dancer
2
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Thu May 25 2023
Pornography
The Cure
This is the third The Cure album this generator has given me. I did not enjoy this one….
The Cure is one of those bands where I enjoy their hits but their wider discography is very hit or miss for me. This album didn’t have a single hit. 100% a miss.
2
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Fri May 26 2023
The Healer
John Lee Hooker
I enjoyed the first two tracks on this album a lot. I also enjoyed "Sally Mae". The rest of the album was just okay, the rest of the tracks weren’t bad but were nothing special.
3
View Album
Sat May 27 2023
(Pronounced 'Leh-'Nérd 'Skin-'Nérd)
Lynyrd Skynyrd
Five stars for Free Bird
2 stars for the rest
3
View Album
Sun May 28 2023
Remedy
Basement Jaxx
This was a good dance album, not a genre I usually listen to by choice, but I really enjoyed this one on first listen. It had less of an impact the second time I listened, though. Definitely made me want to head straight to the club (a place I haven't been in 4 years...).
Best track: Red Alert
Worst track: Being With U, Don’t Give Up, Jazzalude
3
View Album
Mon May 29 2023
A Walk Across The Rooftops
The Blue Nile
It’s just kind of crap, isn’t it.
Only decent track was Heatwave but it was way too long.
2
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Tue May 30 2023
Band On The Run
Paul McCartney and Wings
This was a nice little album. I really liked the track “No Words”.
4
View Album
Wed May 31 2023
Selling England By The Pound
Genesis
Not really my genre of choice, but I appreciate what they did here. As far as prog goes this is better than most I’ve been forced to listen to before.
3
View Album
Thu Jun 01 2023
Is This It
The Strokes
I love The Strokes. And what a debut!
The only question I have to ask myself with this album is whether to give it 4 stars or 5 stars. It’s a great album - but is my favourite of theirs? No. Is it still worthy of a 5? …. Yes I think so.
Fav tracks (they’re all good): Someday, Soma, Is This It, Hard To Explain
Least fav: Barely Legal (great song, creepy concept)
5
View Album
Fri Jun 02 2023
Bummed
Happy Mondays
It’s not TERRIBLE but it’s also not GOOD. The vast majority of songs sound exactly the same. This is a forgettable album, definitely not something one must listen to before they die.
Worst songs: Country Song, Mad Cyril
2 stars
2
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Sat Jun 03 2023
Electric Warrior
T. Rex
This is a good album full of good songs, all of which are outshone by Cosmic Dancer, which is excellent. But the rest is still good.
Best songs: Cosmic Dancer
Worst song: Rip It Off
4
View Album
Sun Jun 04 2023
Surf's Up
The Beach Boys
The first two tracks of the album were really fun and gave me high hopes for the rest, but although I enjoyed the rest it wasn’t as great as I had hoped.
Best tracks: Don’t Go Near The Water, Long Promised Road, Student Demonstration Time, Feel Flows
Worst track: Take A Load Off Your Feet
4
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Mon Jun 05 2023
Born To Run
Bruce Springsteen
‘Born To Run’ is a great song. The whole album is good, though not really to my taste.
4
View Album
Tue Jun 06 2023
Bad
Michael Jackson
Four of the tracks on this album were featured on Glee (Bad, Man In The Mirror, Smooth Criminal, I Just Can’t Stop Loving You) And two of the Glee versions were better (Bad and Smooth Criminal)
The great tracks on this album are excellent pop songs, and hits for a reason. The rest just feels like weak filler.
Best tracks: The Way You Make Me Feel, Man In The Mirror, I Just Can’t Stop Loving You, Dirty Diana
Worst tracks: Liberian Girl (wtf), Just Good Friends, Another Part of Me
3
View Album
Wed Jun 07 2023
Honky Tonk Heroes
Waylon Jennings
Some decent country music. When I started playing the album the first 30 seconds was actually really nice. Then the song kind of switched vibes and the album went back to being all honky tonky. Just not my genre, but it was fine.
3
View Album
Thu Jun 08 2023
Fetch The Bolt Cutters
Fiona Apple
Awesome album, I’m shocked to see how controversial it seems to be. Philosophically I am opposed to putting albums from the last 5 years on the list, but I loved this album and at least it still holds up 3 years later! I felt it had a couple of weak songs that have brought it down from 5 to 4 stars
Fav songs: For Her, Under The Table, I Want You To Love Me, Shameika
Least fav: Newspaper, On I Go
4
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Fri Jun 09 2023
Live At The Witch Trials
The Fall
I did not like this
2
View Album
Sat Jun 10 2023
Gorillaz
Gorillaz
Solid album, I enjoyed it
4
View Album
Sun Jun 11 2023
Warehouse: Songs And Stories
Hüsker Dü
I liked the music itself, but as an album it was very long and most of the songs were quite same-y.
3
View Album
Mon Jun 12 2023
Dookie
Green Day
This album feels very 2003, which I guess makes it ahead of its time since it turns out it came out in 1994! It’s a cool album, not amazing though I can see how it clearly influenced the next decade of rock music.
Fav tracks: Basket Case, When I Come Around
4
View Album
Tue Jun 13 2023
Murmur
R.E.M.
It’s a good album, but I was a bit bored by it
3
View Album
Wed Jun 14 2023
Darklands
The Jesus And Mary Chain
I liked this album, good vibe.
Best song: Darklands
4
View Album
Thu Jun 15 2023
Tical
Method Man
Decent rap album, nothing particularly special about it though
3
View Album
Fri Jun 16 2023
Live At The Regal
B.B. King
It’s a very solid live blues album. Unfortunately, even a very solid live blues album is just not my style.
3
View Album
Sat Jun 17 2023
Moondance
Van Morrison
I didn’t expect to like this at all, but I actually did! Some of the songs were really great.
Fav track: Crazy Love
Least fave: Glad Tidings
3
View Album
Sun Jun 18 2023
Transformer
Lou Reed
I really liked this album.
Fav tracks: Vicious, Hangin’ Round, Walk On The Wild Side, Perfect Day
4
View Album
Mon Jun 19 2023
Kid A
Radiohead
It took me a few listens, but I did like this. Very different to anything else I’ve really listened to.
Fav tracks: Everything In Its Right Place, Optimistic, Motion Picture Soundtrack
4
View Album
Tue Jun 20 2023
Garbage
Garbage
Solid album, I liked it a lot.
Fav tracks: Queer, Only Happy When It Rains, A Stroke Of Luck, Milk
4
View Album
Wed Jun 21 2023
Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band
Beatles
After being seriously disappointed by ‘Revolver’, I was relieved by the beginning of this album, which showed itself immediately to be significantly better.
The first few songs of this album were really great, though I felt the rest was not as good. It redeemed itself with the final few tracks.
Solid 3.5
4
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Thu Jun 22 2023
Another Green World
Brian Eno
sorry i just don’t get it
2
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Fri Jun 23 2023
Tidal
Fiona Apple
‘Sullen Girl’ and ‘Criminal’ are two truly excellent songs that I was already familiar with. This was my first time listening to the album in its entirety, there’s not a bad track in there, and it’s unbelievable how young she was when she made this.
Best tracks: Sullen Girl, Criminal, The Child Is Gone, Never Is A Promise
5
View Album
Sat Jun 24 2023
Heaven Or Las Vegas
Cocteau Twins
Sooooo good. Couldn’t tell you a single lyric, though.
Favs: Cherry-coloured Funk, Heaven or Las Vegas, I Wear Your Ring, Frou-Frou Foxes in Midsummer Fires
5
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Sun Jun 25 2023
Rings Around The World
Super Furry Animals
This album was fine, it’s basically a product of nostalgia. I don’t really think it belongs on this list.
3
View Album
Mon Jun 26 2023
Sheer Heart Attack
Queen
This is a good album, but it’s not Queen’s best.
Best tracks: Brighton Rock, Killer Queen, Tenement Funster, Flick of the Wrist, Lily of the Valley, Dear Friends
Worst: In The Lap Of The Gods, In The Lap Of The Gods… Revisited, Bring Back That Leroy Brown
4
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Tue Jun 27 2023
Violator
Depeche Mode
Depeche Mode is an excellent band, and this was a great album. It’s not my favourite of theirs, though.
Best tracks: Enjoy the Silence, Personal Jesus, Blue Dress
Worst: Sweetest Perfection, Waiting for the Night
4
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Wed Jun 28 2023
Penthouse And Pavement
Heaven 17
I can definitely understand why some people don’t like this album, but I found myself oddly appreciating it for what it is. Very much a product of its time, though with it has admirable messaging that remains relevant to the present day.
Fav tracks: (We Don’t Need This) Fascist Groove Thang, Penthouse and Pavement, The Height of the Fighting
4
View Album
Thu Jun 29 2023
Kind Of Blue
Miles Davis
I apologise in advance, and I know that to many jazz fans this is heresy, but PLEASEEEEEEE MR GENERATOR STOP GIVING ME MILES DAVIS ALBUMSSSSSSSSSSSS I HATE THEM SOOOOO MUCH PLEASE PLEASE LET ME ESCAPE FROM THIS HELL THAT I AM IN I FEEL LIKE ILL NEVER ESCAPE THE JAZZ AND THE ONLY KIND OF JAZZ I LIKE IS SWINGGGGGGG
The last minute or two of ‘Freddie Freeloader’ was pretty good, but 45 minutes of this kind of jazz feels like 500 years of any other genre
2
View Album
Fri Jun 30 2023
Trio
Dolly Parton
There are some truly excellent songs on this album; and paired with the beautiful voices of the trio, it makes for a very good country album. A pleasure to listen to.
Best tracks: Making Plans, To Know Him Is To Love Him, Hobo’s Meditation, Telling Me Lies
4
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Sat Jul 01 2023
Black Holes and Revelations
Muse
This album was okay, but what seemed notable at the time has not stayed that way - I don’t think it belongs on this list.
Best tracks: Starlight, Supermassive Black Hole
3
View Album
Sun Jul 02 2023
Blonde On Blonde
Bob Dylan
Good album, found it kind of samey though. Apparently I already listened to it before, but I don’t remember it, so that’s something
4
View Album
Mon Jul 03 2023
Locust Abortion Technician
Butthole Surfers
This album was certainly interesting and unique…. but I actually quite enjoy it. EXCELLENT album title. ‘Human Cannonball’ is a song I’ve had saved to my Spotify for a number of years, but I find the rest of the album is also really good (though less easy to sing along to), albeit confusing. It’s hard to know what their intention was with “22 Going On 23”, and I don’t like some of their comments about it (assuming the woman was lying is strange to me) - but what they did with it musically is very interesting. I like the art, I’m not sure I like their ethos behind it.
Fav tracks: Pittsburgh to Lebanon, Human Cannonball, The O-Men, U.S.S.A, Kuntz (although I do wonder whether this track would be classed as culturally insensitive…. it was pleasing to my ears).
4
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Tue Jul 04 2023
Master Of Puppets
Metallica
Not really into metal but this was just objectively an excellently crafted album. I’d obviously heard of it before but this was my first time actually listening to Metallica, and I was pleasantly surprised. Pretty good!
4
View Album
Wed Jul 05 2023
Tubular Bells
Mike Oldfield
This was weird! I liked parts of it and not so much others, but the downside of the extremely long song lengths is there’s not a single song I liked completely, as each had sections I enjoyed and sections I didn’t.
3
View Album
Thu Jul 06 2023
Hms Fable
Shack
Incredibly, incredibly mediocre. Definitely not an album you have to listen to before you die.
2
View Album
Fri Jul 07 2023
You Want It Darker
Leonard Cohen
Beautiful.
Fav tracks: You Want It Darker, Treaty, On The Level, Traveling Light, Leaving The Table, Steer Your Way, String Reprise/Treaty
5
View Album
Sat Jul 08 2023
Thriller
Michael Jackson
A solid proportion of this album is undeniable excellently crafted pop. There are some let downs, which combined with Mr Jackson’s personal transgressions, make me unwilling to give this a 5
Best tracks: Billie Jean, Thriller, Beat It, Wanna Be Startin’ Somethin’ (though the Glee version is superior)
Worst: The Lady In My Life
4
View Album
Sun Jul 09 2023
Being There
Wilco
This album had a very strange affect on me. I found myself simultaneously liking and disliking all of the songs. They all had elements that I enjoyed, but then something else about the song would bring me back down. It’s a long album, but it’s definitely an interesting one, even if I’m not sure how I really feel about it.
3
View Album
Mon Jul 10 2023
Live Through This
Hole
An incredible album, every track was brilliant.
Best tracks: Violet, Miss World, Jennifer’s Body, Doll Parts, She Walks On Me, Rock Star
5
View Album
Tue Jul 11 2023
The Queen Is Dead
The Smiths
Fuck Morrissey but this album is good.
Best tracks: Frankly Mr Shankly, I Know It’s Over, Bigmouth Strikes Again, There Is A Light That Never Goes Out
Worst tracks: Some Girls Are Bigger Than Others, Never Had No One Ever
4
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Wed Jul 12 2023
Urban Hymns
The Verve
“Bittersweet Symphony” is an iconic track. The rest of this felt like pretty standard, unremarkable 90s music.
Best tracks: The Drugs Don’t Work, Bittersweet Symphony
3
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Thu Jul 13 2023
Movies
Holger Czukay
Really weird. But…… I kinda liked it?
3
View Album
Fri Jul 14 2023
Infected
The The
This is VERY 80s. I liked the first track, the rest varied between average and terrible.
2
View Album
Sat Jul 15 2023
In The Wee Small Hours
Frank Sinatra
I was bowled over by the title track and started to expect high things from this album. Sadly I was disappointed! The rest is fine, but feels pretty rote, like background music rather than anything interesting.
Best track: In The Wee Small Hours Of The Morning
3
View Album
Sun Jul 16 2023
The Infotainment Scan
The Fall
Listening to this album I was faced with many questions. Why does this band have more than one entry on this list? Why do the first few songs sound like if Pavement was mediocre? Why do the rest sound like the Talking Heads were being tortured? Why am I listening to this? Will I ever escape? Is Robert Dimery a psychopath?
We’ll never know the answers to these questions. But I do know that I will not be listening to this album again.
2
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Mon Jul 17 2023
American IV: The Man Comes Around
Johnny Cash
This is the second Johnny Cash album the generator has given me, and I can now say that I just don’t get the Johnny Cash thing. His voice is not for me.
This album was compiled mostly of covers. I knew a number of these songs in their original form or via other covers, and for the most part I don’t think Johnny Cash brought anything new to them. I prefer the originals/other versions for Hurt, Personal Jesus, Bridge Over Troubled Water, and First Time I Ever Saw Your Face.
I thought the nicest covers on this album were In My Life and We’ll Meet Again.
Overall meh
2
View Album
Tue Jul 18 2023
Let It Bleed
The Rolling Stones
Solid album.
Best tracks: You Can’t Always Get What You Want, Gimme Shelter, Love In Vain
Worst tracks: You Got The Silver
4
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Wed Jul 19 2023
Now I Got Worry
The Jon Spencer Blues Explosion
Wasn’t into it
2
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Thu Jul 20 2023
Raw Like Sushi
Neneh Cherry
All the tracks sounded the same, not for me but it’s fine I guess. Only good song was My Bitch
2
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Fri Jul 21 2023
En-Tact
The Shamen
I liked “Move Any Mountain”, though I’m not sure why it’s misspelt on Spotify.
I listened to the 1991 US version because that’s what was on Spotify. The rest was not for me.
2
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Sat Jul 22 2023
Heroes
David Bowie
Pretty good
4
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Sun Jul 23 2023
Second Toughest In The Infants
Underworld
Dear Great Gods of the Generator,
Please stop giving me electronica albums.
1
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Mon Jul 24 2023
Signing Off
UB40
I gained absolutely zero enjoyment from this album. Apparently I don’t get the British Reggae thing… and I’m glad I don’t. I’d give it 0 stars if I could
1
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Tue Jul 25 2023
The Black Saint And The Sinner Lady
Charles Mingus
Good jazz is still jazz to me. Appreciate this guy’s talent but won’t be listening again. Was in the queue for passport control listening to the last track and it was a never ending song in a never ending queue. So. Thanks Charles
2
View Album
Wed Jul 26 2023
Vulgar Display Of Power
Pantera
Not to my taste, but it’s fine for what it is.
3
View Album
Thu Jul 27 2023
Live / Dead
Grateful Dead
Having listened to this, I must say that I really cannot understand why people used to follow this band around on their tours. Just an hour of nothing
1
View Album
Fri Jul 28 2023
Music Has The Right To Children
Boards of Canada
I’d rather have a lobotomy than listen to this again
1
View Album
Sat Jul 29 2023
Come Away With Me
Norah Jones
Boring
1
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Sun Jul 30 2023
Apocalypse 91… The Enemy Strikes Black
Public Enemy
Solid album, good listen
4
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Mon Jul 31 2023
The Sounds Of India
Ravi Shankar
I actually was exposed to quite a lot of classical Indian music growing up, but I was never a fan and I’m afraid that hasn’t changed. Just not my style.
2
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Tue Aug 01 2023
Channel Orange
Frank Ocean
A great album. So many amazing tracks. But I prefer Blonde (which would get a 100/5 from me).
Fav tracks: Thinkin Bout You, Super Rich Kids, Pilot Jones, Pyramids, Lost, Bad Religion, Pink Matter, Forrest Gump
4.5 stars (rounded up)
5
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Wed Aug 02 2023
Time (The Revelator)
Gillian Welch
I liked the first song. That was all.
Best track: Revelator
Worst tracks: My First Lover, Dear Someone, Red Clay Halo, Elvis Presley Blues + all the rest.
1
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Thu Aug 03 2023
Ambient 1/Music For Airports
Brian Eno
It’s background music. Music for airports indeed. Does what it set out to do, can’t say I enjoyed listening though
2
View Album
Fri Aug 04 2023
The Rolling Stones
The Rolling Stones
Meh
3
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Sat Aug 05 2023
Ellington at Newport
Duke Ellington
Loooooong. And half the tracks weren’t even songs, just him introducing his band. The actual music itself was definitely quality jazz, but I’m still not a huge fan of the genre.
3
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Sun Aug 06 2023
When I Was Born For The 7th Time
Cornershop
This album was weird and definitely not perfect, but it was fun! I enjoyed listening to it
4
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Mon Aug 07 2023
Here, My Dear
Marvin Gaye
Massively preferred this to “Let’s Get It On”
4
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Tue Aug 08 2023
Hot Rats
Frank Zappa
Why did no one tell me how cool Frank Zappa was ????
Best track: Peaches En Regalia
4
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Wed Aug 09 2023
Felt Mountain
Goldfrapp
Have had some seriously shit electronica albums from the generator recently. Glad to say this is not one of them
4
View Album
Thu Aug 10 2023
New York Dolls
New York Dolls
Fun album, I liked most of the songs (except from Lonely Planet Boy)
3.5 (rounded up)
4
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Fri Aug 11 2023
Henry's Dream
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds
This is my third Nick Cave album from the list! It was good, but not as great as Abattoir Blues / The Lyre Of Orpheus.
3
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Sat Aug 12 2023
21
Adele
This album has some serious, serious hits on it. I was surprised to see quite how many of Adele’s greatest songs are on this one album. The rest of it fell flat for me, however. Half of the album was just useless filler.
Best tracks: Someone Like You, Set Fire To The Rain, Rolling In The Deep, Rumour Has It, Turning Tables
3
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Sun Aug 13 2023
Merriweather Post Pavilion
Animal Collective
This album was decent. There were aspects of it that really reminded me of major bands eg early Pink Floyd, Queen, The Beatles, but it was all mashed together to create something new. I think it’s cool artistically, but I liked it - didn’t love it.
3
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Mon Aug 14 2023
Elephant Mountain
The Youngbloods
Considering the fact that I have always had a healthy dislike of country-rock, and have always felt a general disdain towards the psychadelic, I was really surprised by my reaction to this album. I kinda loved it? It was all the best of a music decade that has always kind of fell flat to me. A really nice melding of genres, with some truly gorgeous songs.
Best tracks: Beautiful, Darkness, Darkness, Quicksand
Worst track: Trillium
5
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Tue Aug 15 2023
Dirt
Alice In Chains
I’d heard of Alice in Chains before, but somehow in my brain I thought they were the same as Alice Cooper….. Both a bit before my time. I was really pleasantly surprised by this album, it was great. I listened to it like 3 times in a row.
Best tracks: Rain When I Die, Dirt
Worst track: Rooster
5
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Wed Aug 16 2023
All Mod Cons
The Jam
Just immensely average. Nothing interesting about it. I forgot it as soon as I finished it
2
View Album
Thu Aug 17 2023
Be
Common
Pretty good, but some of the tracks weren’t for me.
Worst tracks: Testify, It’s Your World
4
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Fri Aug 18 2023
It's Too Late to Stop Now
Van Morrison
With each live album I get I become more and more militantly against them. They’re not albums that should be ranked anymore than a ‘Best Hits’ compilation should be!
Anyway the music was fine, the album was long, and it was a live album so…. 3 stars
3
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Sat Aug 19 2023
The Slim Shady LP
Eminem
Any musical value to be derived from this was automatically cancelled out by just how FUCKING ANNOYING IT IS. I don’t like him, I don’t like his voice, I don’t like his lyrics. No thank you!
2
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Sun Aug 20 2023
Heaux Tales
Jazmine Sullivan
Really average, honestly. Not sure why it’s on the list!
2
View Album
Mon Aug 21 2023
3 + 3
The Isley Brothers
Not generally my kind of thing, but definitely very good regardless. Some iconic tracks on here.
4
View Album
Tue Aug 22 2023
Exile On Main Street
The Rolling Stones
I loveddddd some of the early songs on this album. But at around the halfway point it lost its momentum for me - became a bit too country rock for my tastes - and then it dragged on until the end.
4
View Album
Wed Aug 23 2023
Midnight Ride
Paul Revere & The Raiders
Very 60s, not bad.
3
View Album
Thu Aug 24 2023
Boston
Boston
Solid rock album, but to me it kind of lacks emotion/feeling.
4
View Album
Fri Aug 25 2023
To Pimp A Butterfly
Kendrick Lamar
Undeniably an excellently crafted work of art; but it’s less to my personal taste than good kid, m.A.A.d city.
4
View Album
Sat Aug 26 2023
Licensed To Ill
Beastie Boys
Some fun tracks, but overall a bit juvenile for my tastes.
3
View Album
Sun Aug 27 2023
Ogden's Nut Gone Flake
Small Faces
Weirdly rather fun. Nice surprise.
4
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Mon Aug 28 2023
Your Arsenal
Morrissey
Average, not his best
3
View Album
Tue Aug 29 2023
Bridge Over Troubled Water
Simon & Garfunkel
Really, really good. Fav track was Cecilia.
4
View Album
Wed Aug 30 2023
A Hard Day's Night
Beatles
It was okay 👍🏼 ‘If I Fell’ was nice.
3
View Album
Thu Aug 31 2023
Pretzel Logic
Steely Dan
It’s like kinda good I guess? But I don’t really get it. Not bad, not good, just is.
3
View Album
Fri Sep 01 2023
The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars
David Bowie
Probably my fav Bowie album that I’ve gotten on the generator so far - it’s really fun and interesting.
Best tracks: Five Years, Starman
Worst track: It Ain’t Easy
4
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Sat Sep 02 2023
Brothers In Arms
Dire Straits
First couple of songs were great; then it dropped off and became quite dull
3
View Album
Sun Sep 03 2023
Liquid Swords
GZA
This was really really good, probably one of the best rap albums I’ve had generated so far.
4
View Album
Mon Sep 04 2023
California
American Music Club
Quite liked this one
4
View Album
Tue Sep 05 2023
Stardust
Willie Nelson
Cover albums do very little for me unless there is something particularly interesting about either the voice or the arrangements. I was rather bored by this.
2
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Wed Sep 06 2023
Spy Vs. Spy: The Music Of Ornette Coleman
John Zorn
Weird as hell but strangely infectious! Don’t know what it says about me that I preferred this to any other jazz album I’ve had generated for me in the past 10 months, but I did. It’s fun and interesting and made me want to wiggle like a worm.
5
View Album
Thu Sep 07 2023
On The Beach
Neil Young
This was a lovely album. I definitely preferred it to ‘Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere’ which was the first Neil Young album I heard as part of this list.
5
View Album
Fri Sep 08 2023
At Fillmore East
The Allman Brothers Band
Decent, I liked a lot of it, but too long for me. As live albums go, definitely one of the better ones.
4
View Album
Sat Sep 09 2023
Arrival
ABBA
This album is packed with hits, but the filler songs are bad.
4
View Album
Sun Sep 10 2023
The Sun Rises In The East
Jeru The Damaja
Pretty decent, but I’ve heard better
3
View Album
Mon Sep 11 2023
That's The Way Of The World
Earth, Wind & Fire
Generally enjoyable, and I really liked “Shining Star”, but none of the other tracks really stood out to me.
3
View Album
Tue Sep 12 2023
Beautiful Freak
Eels
I had never heard of this artist or this album before; what a treat! It’s a great album, with wonderful songwriting. Some songs reminded me of other artists I enjoyed (“Mental” in particular struck me as a sensible version of a Manic Street Preachers song).
Fav songs: Novocaine for the Soul, Susan’s House, My Beloved Monster, Mental, Manchild
5
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Wed Sep 13 2023
Happy Sad
Tim Buckley
Yeah, Happy Sad was not for me. I really liked Goodbye and Hello, but there was really only one song on here that reminded me of that album (Sing a Song for You). The rest of this just felt kind of drab - or I’d like small aspects of a song, only for it to be dragged out so long I ended up hating it.
2
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Thu Sep 14 2023
If You Can Believe Your Eyes & Ears
The Mamas & The Papas
One great song, some good songs, some average songs, and some bad songs. And John Phillips should have died in jail. I don’t believe in Hell, but if there’s one man who is guaranteed a spot down there, it’s him.
3
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Fri Sep 15 2023
Happy Trails
Quicksilver Messenger Service
Found this fun enough. Liked the guitar. Got a lot of work done with it so I guess it’s pretty effective study music. The tracks with lyrics were the strongest.
3
View Album
Sat Sep 16 2023
Tusk
Fleetwood Mac
Honestly really good. Less stand out tracks than “Rumours” but more consistent in quality. Towards the end it veered off a bit - kind of to be expected in such a long album. But I liked it.
4
View Album
Sun Sep 17 2023
Dog Man Star
Suede
This album is fine. Unfortunately for Suede, while listening to this album I had an increasingly irritating encounter with a bureaucratic process which drove me to insanity and for which this album was the soundtrack for. So now I kind of hate it
3
View Album
Mon Sep 18 2023
Club Classics Vol. One
Soul II Soul
The thing about this album is that it has some really good iconic songs…. which aren’t on the main track listing. “Back To Life” as on the album is a drab, a capella boring draft version of their actual hit, which was only included on the 10th anniversary edition bonus tracks. Which is perplexing to me but is reflected by both Spotify and Wikipedia’s information. I usually never consider bonus tracks in an album review, but in this case that is taking away their biggest hit from this album. So I’m confused.
Anyway there are three good songs on this album (if we consider the popular version of Back To Life to be the “real” version): Back To Life (However Do You Want Me), Keep On Movin’, and Jazzie’s Groove. The rest is dull filler.
2
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Tue Sep 19 2023
Cloud Nine
The Temptations
Not bad …
Fav tracks: Cloud Nine, Runaway Child Running Wild, Love is a Hurting Thing, Why Did She Have To Leave Me (Why Did She Have To Go)
4
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Wed Sep 20 2023
New Wave
The Auteurs
Rather dreadful tbh. Maybe one or two decent songs, mostly a slog.
2
View Album
Thu Sep 21 2023
Elephant
The White Stripes
Really good, I’d only ever heard Seven Nation Army before but the whole album was great. It’s packed full with great songs.
Fav tracks: It’s True That We Love One Another, In The Cold, Cold Night, There’s No Home For You Here, You’ve Got Her In Your Pocket
5
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Fri Sep 22 2023
Countdown To Ecstasy
Steely Dan
I hate to admit it but I liked this one
4
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Sat Sep 23 2023
Madman Across The Water
Elton John
Tiny Dancer is incredible. The rest was mostly good, with a couple of exceptions (The lyrics of “Indian Sunset” and “Rotten Peaches” were each dreadful in very different ways, though Elton’s singing and arrangement remained excellent).
4
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Sun Sep 24 2023
Alien Lanes
Guided By Voices
I kinda liked it but then I also kind of didn’t? But then I did again. And then I got bored. And then I liked it again. And then I got distracted and it ended.
3
View Album
Mon Sep 25 2023
D.O.A. the Third and Final Report of Throbbing Gristle
Throbbing Gristle
It kinda made my head hurt, but like, in a good way? There were only two tracks I could do without (Valley of the Shadow of the Death and Dead On Arrival). The rest of the album was interesting, and I’d happily listen to it a few more times.
4
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Tue Sep 26 2023
The Yes Album
Yes
Of the many repeat artists on this list, I have to say that Yes may be be the most frustrating of all.
I don’t enjoy listening to them, and find their music immeasurably dull. Knowing as I do that I still have at least one more Yes album to go before I may be free of them forever, I dread the inevitable day that I have to subject my ear drums to this kind of brain-smoothing music again.
2
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Wed Sep 27 2023
Odessa
Bee Gees
Weird! There are parts of it that sound like a Hans Zimmer soundtracks and other parts that sound like the B side to a Beatles album. I didn’t mind it!
3
View Album
Thu Sep 28 2023
Pelican West
Haircut 100
Fun enough to listen to, very 80s - not sure in what way it qualifies for this list though … you could die without listening to this and will have missed very little.
3
View Album
Fri Sep 29 2023
Untitled (Black Is)
SAULT
This was a surprising album, I’d never heard of it before. It’s at its best where it allows itself to truly shine musically - the vocals in particular were excellent. The spoken word segments were a major detractor, and really dated this album to the year it was produced.
4
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Sat Sep 30 2023
Rumours
Fleetwood Mac
The Glee episode dedicated to this album had a strong influence on my teen years….. and the album itself definitely earned its spot on this list. I was kind of disappointed by some of the tracks on here I hadn’t heard before - no sneaky wonders left to discover on here; the ones you know are the ones that are great.
Best tracks: THE CHAIN, Dreams, Don’t Stop, Songbird, Go Your Own Way, I Don’t Want To Know
Worst tracks: Second Hand News, You Make Loving Fun
4
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Sun Oct 01 2023
Green River
Creedence Clearwater Revival
Mercifully short yet still too long for me. I disliked this even more than I disliked Bayou Country. The love for this band is just something I cannot comprehend on any level, the worst aspect for me is the vocals, which I find abrasive and unenjoyable. I would never listen to this willingly. It’s boring at its best and painful at its worst. Only good song was the final track “The Night Time Is The Right Time”. Without that track, this would be a 1 for me.
2
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Mon Oct 02 2023
The Sensual World
Kate Bush
What can I say? The woman’s a genius and “This Woman’s Work” is brilliant.
Best tracks: This Woman’s Work, Between A Man And A Woman, Rocket’s Tail, Deeper Understanding, Love And Anger
5
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Tue Oct 03 2023
Music for the Masses
Depeche Mode
This is a great album
Fav: Never Let Me Down Again, The Things You Said, Strangelove, I Want You Now
5
View Album
Wed Oct 04 2023
Snivilisation
Orbital
I’m sorry to fans of this genre but I have yet to see any value in it
2
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Thu Oct 05 2023
Pump
Aerosmith
I’ve just never really gotten the Aerosmith thing. And this album felt rather …. empty…. soulless….. etc…… etc…..
2
View Album
Fri Oct 06 2023
Emergency On Planet Earth
Jamiroquai
The music itself is fine, but it feels like a pretty pale imitation of other work in the genre…………… some of the lyrics made it very clear that they’re English guys trying to write about freeing themselves from oppression, it just doesn’t really work.
2
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Sat Oct 07 2023
Home Is Where The Music Is
Hugh Masekela
I still don’t get jazz. The last track was kinda cool.
2
View Album
Sun Oct 08 2023
The Velvet Underground & Nico
The Velvet Underground
Some incredible songs on this album. Then a lot of good songs that aren’t quite on their level. Not perfect, but very very good
4
View Album
Mon Oct 09 2023
Smokers Delight
Nightmares On Wax
tfw ur kept on hold for 74 minutes straight
1
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Tue Oct 10 2023
Blur
Blur
The first two tracks were great; the rest was rather average.
3
View Album
Wed Oct 11 2023
2112
Rush
Fine, I guess? Not really my style but I wasn’t annoyed by it either. Didn’t love the title track, but I did like “Tears”. Solid 3
3
View Album
Thu Oct 12 2023
Broken English
Marianne Faithfull
Felt rather before its time in many ways, with an almost 90s twist to it. At the same time, it reminded me of some incredibly talented women of that era, namely Patti Smith and Stevie Nicks. I liked it, didn’t love it.
4
View Album
Fri Oct 13 2023
Rum Sodomy & The Lash
The Pogues
A fun listen
4
View Album
Sat Oct 14 2023
Sunday At The Village Vanguard
Bill Evans Trio
Possibly the most painful jazz album I’ve had to sit through thus far. I’m sorry, I just don’t get it. It’s so boring.
1
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Sun Oct 15 2023
American Gothic
David Ackles
Weird! It’s basically full of songs that function as mini-stories. It had many moments in which it felt like the soundtrack to an averagely written musical. I don’t really have anything else to say, I didn’t hate it but wouldn’t say I liked it either. A solid 3.
3
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Mon Oct 16 2023
Fragile
Yes
There was this one section in ‘Five per Cent for Nothing’ that made me want to tear my brain out of my skull and throw it against the wall. NO MORE YES. I’m BEGGING YOU, Lord Master Generator.
1
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Tue Oct 17 2023
Superunknown
Soundgarden
Good album but it’s not really my style.
4
View Album
Wed Oct 18 2023
Heartattack And Vine
Tom Waits
Not as fun as Swordfishtrombones, which I really enjoyed, but still worth a listen just for “Ruby’s Arms”, which I loved.
3
View Album
Thu Oct 19 2023
In Rainbows
Radiohead
Radiohead remains a band where I need to listen to their albums a few times in order to “get” it. I preferred Kid A to this though.
4
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Fri Oct 20 2023
Fly Or Die
N.E.R.D
Started off good… then deteriorated. It was fun till it wasn’t. A concept that could have been really good, but missed the mark for me.
2
View Album
Sat Oct 21 2023
Violent Femmes
Violent Femmes
So good
5
View Album
Sun Oct 22 2023
Paul's Boutique
Beastie Boys
Honestly an excruciating listen. Did not enjoy it at all. I don’t get it and never will.
1
View Album
Mon Oct 23 2023
The White Room
The KLF
The beginning of this kind of made me feel like I was having a panic attack, but I kind of liked it anyway? Then it got less chaotic and more chill and became a bit boring in comparison to how it started.
3
View Album
Tue Oct 24 2023
Tea for the Tillerman
Cat Stevens
A very solid album
4
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Wed Oct 25 2023
90
808 State
Seems to have been very influential for a lot of the electronic dance music that has been made since this came out. Unfortunately, I don’t enjoy any of the electronic dance music that this has influenced, and I didn’t enjoy this either
2
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Thu Oct 26 2023
I Do Not Want What I Haven't Got
Sinead O'Connor
Excellent. RIP ❤️
5
View Album
Fri Oct 27 2023
In Utero
Nirvana
Cobain’s vocals are a hit or miss for me. Some good songs on here, but mostly I just felt meh about it.
Fav tracks: Pennyroyal Tea, Rape Me
3
View Album
Sat Oct 28 2023
Definitely Maybe
Oasis
I didn’t want to like this. But I did. I liked it a lot. Fml
5
View Album
Sun Oct 29 2023
Time Out
The Dave Brubeck Quartet
A pleasant listen. Preferred it to most jazz on the list. Still not my style though
3
View Album
Mon Oct 30 2023
Birth Of The Cool
Miles Davis
Jazz, blissfully brief. Still not my style but better than many of the others I’ve had generated. I liked the final track with vocals (probably why I enjoyed it more) “Darn That Dream”
3
View Album
Tue Oct 31 2023
Physical Graffiti
Led Zeppelin
Not my favourite Led Zeppelin album, and a bit too long. But good nonetheless.
Best tracks: Kashmir, In The Light
Least fav: Custard Pie
4
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Wed Nov 01 2023
Time Out Of Mind
Bob Dylan
This was the first time I’ve sat down and listened to a Bob Dylan album. His voice has always put me off. But I ended up really enjoying it, though I thought it got a bit old the longer it went on.
4
View Album
Thu Nov 02 2023
New Forms
Roni Size
I don’t tend to enjoy this genre, I really don’t. However, I found I quite enjoyed this, despite its EXTREME length. Nice listen.
3
View Album
Fri Nov 03 2023
Modern Sounds in Country and Western Music
Ray Charles
Honestly really really good, and a great listen
4
View Album
Sat Nov 04 2023
Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers
Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers
Solid rock, enjoyable, nothing revolutionary
4
View Album
Sun Nov 05 2023
I'm Your Man
Leonard Cohen
Love a bit of Leonard but I thought the first half of this album was incredibly strong but the second half was a lot weaker.
4
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Mon Nov 06 2023
Vivid
Living Colour
It was okay.
3
View Album
Tue Nov 07 2023
Tommy
The Who
The music itself was fine but nothing special, the story kind of meh, and it’s not something I’d bother listening to again
3
View Album
Wed Nov 08 2023
Third
Soft Machine
Very few songs are good enough to justify being almost 20 minutes long. None of these songs were worth the length.
2
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Thu Nov 09 2023
Parachutes
Coldplay
Coldplay: a band people love to pretend to hate. I say pretend because their music is so inoffensive that the hatred really is just posturing. You can find them average, but the level of hate has always been pretty clearly just to go against what’s popular. The obnoxious music culture of the 2000s.
When I was a teenager, Coldplay was really my first introduction to music. I grew up in a family where music consisted solely of top 40 hits. Coldplay certainly fit that category, but it was Coldplay that led me to something new - led to me discovering new music and genres I had never even really imagined before. I loved this album then.
A decade later, I still enjoy it. It’s nothing revolutionary, music-wise. It’s far from the best album on this list, and I haven’t listened to it in years. But it still has some excellent tracks (“Shiver”, “Yellow”, “Sparks” are standouts) and doesn’t really have any bad ones.
Bland they may be, but bad they were not (though I won’t comment on some of their more recent albums). This is one of their best.
4
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Fri Nov 10 2023
Suede
Suede
Meh
2
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Sat Nov 11 2023
A Rush Of Blood To The Head
Coldplay
Not as good as Parachutes
3
View Album
Sun Nov 12 2023
Mothership Connection
Parliament
Funky band name, funky album cover, funky music. Just not that into funk I’m afraid.
3
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Mon Nov 13 2023
White Blood Cells
The White Stripes
“Fell in Love with a Girl” and “We’re Going to Be Friends” make this a 4 on their own. A lot of the rest was great too, only one or two of the early tracks didn’t work for me.
4
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Tue Nov 14 2023
Led Zeppelin III
Led Zeppelin
You know, for many years I’ve been going around saying that Led Zeppelin III is my favourite Led Zeppelin. It DOES contain my top two favourite Led Zeppelin songs - Tangerine and Since I’ve Been Loving You. But sitting down for this challenge and listening to this the whole way through…. it’s a much weaker album than I remembered it being. Especially the last track, what a crappy way to finish the record off. Anyway. I still like it. Just not as much as I thought I did.
4
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Wed Nov 15 2023
Damaged
Black Flag
I kinda liked it, it’s very loud, cool how it was so different from the norm. Deserves its place on the list though it’s not something I’d listen to a lot. “Six Pack” is a cool song though.
4
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Thu Nov 16 2023
Armed Forces
Elvis Costello & The Attractions
Generally a fun listen, but got kind of same-y as it went on. The random slur was jarring.
4
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Fri Nov 17 2023
Third
Portishead
Dreadful. I gained no enjoyment from this. Booooooooo
1
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Sat Nov 18 2023
Pet Sounds
The Beach Boys
Some great tracks on here but the rest did very little for me.
Best tracks: Wouldn’t It Be Nice, God Only Knows
Worst track: I’m Waiting For The Day
3
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Sun Nov 19 2023
Songs For Swingin' Lovers!
Frank Sinatra
Enjoyable enough listen, but most of the tracks kind of blended together in an inoffensive easy listening mix.
Best track: You Make Me Feel So Young
Worst track: Makin’ Whoopee (bc …. what the fuck are those lyrics)
3
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Mon Nov 20 2023
Rejoicing In The Hands
Devendra Banhart
I have listened to this album before and didn’t think much of it at the time, I thought it was just fine and found the voice rather grating. Listening to it again was a bit humbling. I was entranced. It’s a beautiful album full of beautiful songs, even if the voice feels like the indie “welcome to my kitchen” stereotype. I listened to it like 3 times yesterday.
5
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Tue Nov 21 2023
Queen II
Queen
Like many people, I basically grew up on Queen thanks to my father. I was already pretty familiar with this album but it was nice to revisit it. There are some GREAT
tracks on here, and even the ones that aren’t necessarily to my usual taste are still pretty good.
Best tracks: Father To Son, White Queen (As It Began), Nevermore, The March Of The Black Queen, Funny How Love Is, Seven Seas Of Rye
Worst track: The Loser In The End
5
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Wed Nov 22 2023
Shleep
Robert Wyatt
I spent most of this album feeling mostly puzzled about whether I was enjoying it or not. Ultimately, I think I liked it, though I struggled with some of the lyrics.
4
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Thu Nov 23 2023
Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness
The Smashing Pumpkins
This album was long. Its length made me want to dislike it. I listened to it a few times seeking any substantial flaw that I could use to give it a 4 instead of a 5. Unfortunately, despite its length, it is a perfect album. Even the songs that weren’t to my personal taste were essential to the album itself as a work of art. I have no choice but to give it a 5.
Also, is it just me or does the song Thirty-Three sound just like Journey To The Past from the movie ‘Anastasia’?????
5
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Fri Nov 24 2023
Logical Progression
LTJ Bukem
Ok, first of all I am morally opposed to the idea of a compilation album being on this list. Second of all, this album was basically impossible to track down. There’s a “Logical Progression” album available on Spotify that does not contain any of the tracks listed on Wikipedia. It’s mostly available on Youtube but still missing some tracks, though you can find the missing tracks individually. So it was a high maintenance album to listen to in order. Oh, it’s also TWO AND A HALF HOURS LONG.
So, was it worth it? No.
Was it at all good? Kinda. The tracks were all decent as far as the genre goes, though I wouldn’t listen to it again. They all sounded the same to me.
If it was significantly shorter and not a compilation album I may have given it a 3, but…. it IS two and a half hours long, and it IS a compilation album. Which is cheating.
2
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Sat Nov 25 2023
Ill Communication
Beastie Boys
Is it necessary for the Beastie Boys to have so many albums on this list? I wouldn’t have thought so but it seems they have more fans than I would have supposed. Compared to the other two Beastie Boys albums I’ve listened to through this project, this was decent & almost sneakily catchy at times. I wouldn’t listen to it again though.
3
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Sun Nov 26 2023
Ágætis Byrjun
Sigur Rós
Listened to this twice to see if I was missing something. Liked it less the second time. It’s fine background music I guess
3
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Mon Nov 27 2023
Let's Get Killed
David Holmes
excruciating
1
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Tue Nov 28 2023
Red Headed Stranger
Willie Nelson
Solid stuff
4
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Wed Nov 29 2023
Sincere
Mj Cole
Decent UK garage album, though trying to match the tracklist of the original album with what was available on Spotify was a pain. Not something I would listen to again, but it was unobjectionable background music.
3
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Thu Nov 30 2023
Faust IV
Faust
An unpleasant listen
1
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Fri Dec 01 2023
Maxinquaye
Tricky
a few decent songs, many bad ones
2