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Tue Feb 07 2023
The Genius Of Ray Charles
Ray Charles
4
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Wed Feb 08 2023
Tigermilk
Belle & Sebastian
5
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Thu Feb 09 2023
Strangeways, Here We Come
The Smiths
4
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Fri Feb 10 2023
3 + 3
The Isley Brothers
Far more enjoyable than I’d expected and so many bangers on here that I knew well but could never have named the artist if you’d asked me.
5
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Mon Feb 13 2023
Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers
Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers
I liked the songs I already liked but was eager for the others to end. Made it through the whole album but won’t revisit.
2
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Tue Feb 14 2023
Ace of Spades
Motörhead
More fun and melodic than I expected
3
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Wed Feb 15 2023
Apocalypse 91… The Enemy Strikes Black
Public Enemy
It’s a brilliant and important album but I can’t go 5 because I have to be in the right mood to listen. It’s best on headphones for me, and when I’ve got a march on, heading some place.
4
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Thu Feb 16 2023
Rising Above Bedlam
Jah Wobble's Invaders Of The Heart
I wanted this to end so badly. The best of the album feels borrowed. The rest, cringe. There were delightful moments of 90s nostalgia early on but they got swallowed up by the overall awfulness of the rest of the album. Was wavering over 2 stars but song by song, Jah Wobble talked me down to 1.
1
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Fri Feb 17 2023
In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida
Iron Butterfly
Not my thing at all but I get it. It’s fine. One thing I have never realised is that it’s not ‘in the garden of Eden baby’ that they’re signing and that has blown my mind.
3
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Mon Feb 20 2023
Red Headed Stranger
Willie Nelson
An absolute pleasure to listen to. I’ve always liked Willie but never chosen to listen so really grateful to have this nudge.
4
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Tue Feb 21 2023
On The Beach
Neil Young
3
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Wed Feb 22 2023
Mothership Connection
Parliament
I really dislike funk but parliament are undeniably good at making it. It’s repetitive and there’s all this chat in the songs. It’s a great example of a classic from my second least favourite genre. I danced a bit during the first track, despite myself.
2
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Thu Feb 23 2023
Highway to Hell
AC/DC
One song I liked but oh so samey. I went with two stars because If You Want Blood reminded me of Empire Records, which isn’t a bad thing.
2
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Fri Feb 24 2023
Blur
Blur
More appealing to 2023 me than 1997 me. Almost perfect but Albarn’s mockney accent just grates on me.
4
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Mon Feb 27 2023
London Calling
The Clash
Excellent album. Very much reminds me of being little as my folks played this a lot.
4
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Tue Feb 28 2023
Buena Vista Social Club
Buena Vista Social Club
I have never listened to this lot, unless someone has been playing it, but it’ll go into regular rotation now. A real gift of this challenge
4
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Wed Mar 01 2023
Street Life
The Crusaders
Look, of course it’s really good but no. I can’t. I tried! I started off well with Street Life and then the rest. It was too smooth. Jazzy. It put me in mind of theme tunes to old dramedys.
1
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Thu Mar 02 2023
KIWANUKA
Michael Kiwanuka
I really love this album so was delighted that it appeared on the list to remind me to give it a listen again.
5
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Fri Mar 03 2023
Mama Said Knock You Out
LL Cool J
A fantastic listen. Some good, old-fashioned hip hop. I always enjoy hearing the moments that were borrowed by later tracks. It won’t be in regular rotation for me but it was properly good to hear.
3
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Mon Mar 06 2023
If I Should Fall From Grace With God
The Pogues
A really enjoyable listen. I’ll probably listen to more now that I’ve been nudged. It was a little odd listening to Fairytale of New York outside of the Christmas build up.
3
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Tue Mar 07 2023
Marquee Moon
Television
Great album. Jonny has been trying to get me to lists for a while and I’m so glad I had a reason to listen. Some incredible songs on here. The titular track is really special
4
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Wed Mar 08 2023
Frampton Comes Alive
Peter Frampton
His skill is undeniable but I got ever so bored. I get it but I’m not into it.
2
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Thu Mar 09 2023
Born To Run
Bruce Springsteen
Of course this was wonderful. One of my all time favourite songs lives here. Beautifully made. A joy to listen to.
4
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Fri Mar 10 2023
Gasoline Alley
Rod Stewart
Yeah fine. I was bored much of the time but his voice is actually gorgeous. Just won’t be taking it for a spin again, any time soon
2
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Mon Mar 13 2023
This Is Fats Domino
Fats Domino
Really good fun and very recognisable. Happy enough to listen and can defo recommend walking through Bristol city of an evening while listening. Really adds to the atmosphere.
3
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Tue Mar 14 2023
Raising Hell
Run-D.M.C.
Aw great stuff. I really like this album and miss the days when rap was slow enough so that I could understand what they were saying
4
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Wed Mar 15 2023
Isn't Anything
My Bloody Valentine
I’ve never listened to a full album by this lot and it was really good. Felt like the building blocks to a lot of later music I have loved. Some songs were stronger than others but the grungy feel was just right for me
3
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Thu Mar 16 2023
The Stooges
The Stooges
So freakin’ cool. It’s hard to believe some of these tracks were made in 69 as they feel so contemporary. A great listen. Some tracks didn’t do it for me but the bangers banged.
4
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Fri Mar 17 2023
Dirty
Sonic Youth
“I’ve been around the world a million times and all you men are slime.” Love love love this album. I have listened to plenty of Sonic Youth over the years but never sat to listen to an entire album. Nothing but love for this one.
5
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Mon Mar 20 2023
There's No Place Like America Today
Curtis Mayfield
A classic! It is obviously brilliant but it is never going to be my go to. Total respect for this album and glad to listen.
3
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Tue Mar 21 2023
The Wall
Pink Floyd
So much atmosphere. Impossible to listen to dispassionately because it’s so tied up in my youth. Much nostalgia for me. In an attempt to appraise it honestly though, it’s beautifully produced, has provocative lyrics and imagery, the music itself is sumptuous. A truly great album.
4
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Wed Mar 22 2023
Born In The U.S.A.
Bruce Springsteen
What I really like about this challenge is that a few times I get an album that I’m sold on and I don’t enjoy listening much. This is one of those. I’m like ‘yeah, course, born in the USA.’ And the listen through feels so underwhelming. Without the context and the appreciation of the entire catalogue, and album like this one doesn’t land the same. Grateful to The Boss for many things and some tracks on this album are incredibly important to me but it’s not one I’ll listen to over and again.
3
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Thu Mar 23 2023
Haunted Dancehall
The Sabres Of Paradise
I didn’t hate it but I did want it to end.
2
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Fri Mar 24 2023
The Man Who
Travis
No one’s saying that this album is better than Born in the USA, right? Just that I like it a lot more. I had to rate today based on how much I loved relistening to this album that I had on almost constant rotation for a few months in 1999. I know every word and can still sing along. I still love some of the moments that happen throughout; a moment in Luv when Fran Healy’s voice seems to crack a little with emotion. Or maybe not. Maybe I’m just being 16 again and hopelessly romantic. Either way, I enjoyed this too, too much.
4
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Mon Mar 27 2023
The Stone Roses
The Stone Roses
This album is perfect.
5
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Tue Mar 28 2023
The Clash
The Clash
Another great listen and such a pleasure to hear the two Clash albums so close together. Two years between them and the sound has matured so much. This album was a riot.
4
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Wed Mar 29 2023
Live And Dangerous
Thin Lizzy
Far more enjoyable than I imagined. Even live, this band sound so good.
3
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Thu Mar 30 2023
Cee-Lo Green... Is The Soul Machine
Cee Lo Green
Yeah I found this pretty dull. Cee-Lo Green definitely has his moments for me but none of them were on this album. Incredibly mediocre.
2
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Fri Mar 31 2023
One Nation Under A Groove
Funkadelic
Huh. Maybe I do like funk. Not all of the songs were available on the album so I patched together a Funkadelic experience and did not regret it. Grateful for this listen.
4
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Mon Apr 03 2023
Loveless
My Bloody Valentine
Scuzzy, grungy goodness.
3
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Tue Apr 04 2023
Dance Mania
Tito Puente
A lot of fun. Good summery record.
3
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Wed Apr 05 2023
The Scream
Siouxsie And The Banshees
Yep, an important album by and important band but her voice has always grated on me. Should be my cup of tea but isn’t.
3
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Thu Apr 06 2023
Gunfighter Ballads And Trail Songs
Marty Robbins
Brilliant storytelling and super enjoyable from the get go.
3
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Fri Apr 07 2023
The Dreaming
Kate Bush
Mad. A totally mad record. Kate Bush is a total legend but this isn’t the album I’ll listen if given a choice.
3
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Mon Apr 10 2023
Sweet Baby James
James Taylor
I found his voice lovely on the country tracks but thin on the blues.
2
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Tue Apr 11 2023
Horses
Patti Smith
It’s not my first listen and I don’t know if my mood was just exactly right or if I get it now when I didn’t before but I loved it this time. Loved it.
4
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Wed Apr 12 2023
Parklife
Blur
There are a couple of songs on this album that I’ll always love. I struggled with Blur when they first landed and this album kinda sums up just why. Damon’s into his mockney phase and it isn’t very pleasant. Even as a kid I felt that he was taking something that wasn’t his and it drove me crazy that others didn’t see it but I know now that’s because we all came from different places. Anyway, fun songs on here and moments of grace too, ie. This is a low.
2
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Thu Apr 13 2023
OK
Talvin Singh
Ok, well actually, pretty good
3
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Fri Apr 14 2023
Vulgar Display Of Power
Pantera
A fun listen and I could hear how many bands seem to have built their sound on these songs, such as incubus lol, but it wasn’t something I could listen to again.
2
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Mon Apr 17 2023
Live!
Fela Kuti
Wow. This was great. It’s way outside of my usual listening and I’ve always given this genre a wide north but I know Fela is a legend so I wasn’t too surprised when I enjoyed the listen as much as I did.
3
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Tue Apr 18 2023
Doolittle
Pixies
YASSSSS! I can listen to this all day long.
5
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Wed Apr 19 2023
White Blood Cells
The White Stripes
An excellent debut. I listened when it came out and the same songs jumped out for me this time too. It’s a nicer listen without all the hype.
4
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Thu Apr 20 2023
Queen Of Denmark
John Grant
I love John Grant. This has a few songs on that I first heard in the movie Weekend and was stunned when I did. His voice is so rich and sad. So many layers of feeling. Just glad to listen again.
4
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Fri Apr 21 2023
Scott 2
Scott Walker
Good and dramatic. Quite a voice!
3
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Mon Apr 24 2023
Listen Without Prejudice Vol. 1
George Michael
This is one of my all time favourite albums, thanks.
5
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Tue Apr 25 2023
Traffic
Traffic
It was perfectly good. Moments of funkiness and progginess that I heartily enjoyed but nothing jumped out for me.
3
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Wed Apr 26 2023
Da Capo
Love
Very 60s. I felt like I was in an Austin Powers movie. Psychedelic. Not for me.
2
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Thu Apr 27 2023
Leftism
Leftfield
A really good listen. I was too young to get it at the time. I didn’t think electronica was for me. Certainly not the case now. This is an amazing piece of work.
4
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Fri Apr 28 2023
3 Years, 5 Months And 2 Days In The Life Of...
Arrested Development
A really powerful album. One that I didn’t love back when but adult me feels quite differently. Wonderful poetry, beats that get you moving, it’s a win.
4
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Mon May 01 2023
Truth
Jeff Beck
Yeah I liked this more than I thought I would.
3
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Tue May 02 2023
Golden Hour
Kacey Musgraves
Ah I don’t like it. It’s fine. It’s well produced? It’s fine? I just find it a bit annoying really.
2
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Wed May 03 2023
Otis Blue/Otis Redding Sings Soul
Otis Redding
Beautiful. Perfect.
5
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Thu May 04 2023
Jagged Little Pill
Alanis Morissette
What a marvellous listen. I have missed this and I didn’t even know it.
4
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Fri May 05 2023
21
Adele
It’s a singles album for me. The singles are incredible but the rest don’t do a thing for me. Her latest album is gold and packed full of excellent songs, tells a story from beginning to end. This is her building up to finding that voice.
3
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Mon May 08 2023
It's A Shame About Ray
The Lemonheads
I didn’t like this at all and that’s interesting because I always thought I would have but just sorta missed the boat. Happy to revisit and see that I wasn’t missing a thing.
2
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Tue May 09 2023
More Songs About Buildings And Food
Talking Heads
Fun, weird, brilliant. I knew it would be. It’s not one I’ll go back to though. David Byrne’s voice has always grated on me
3
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Wed May 10 2023
Meat Is Murder
The Smiths
So much of The Smiths no longer works for me. A relisten is always good but a listen to less familiar tracks leaves me cold.
3
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Thu May 11 2023
Broken English
Marianne Faithfull
Some nice pop moments but mostly unremarkable
2
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Fri May 12 2023
3 Feet High and Rising
De La Soul
A great album. Loads of fun, such classics and the skits might even actually be funny, depending on my mood.
3
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Mon May 15 2023
Aladdin Sane
David Bowie
Sounds gorgeous and so very Bowie. Just not one I go back to often. It’s like the building blocks of what makes him such an incredible artist but in itself, I don’t fancy it
3
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Tue May 16 2023
Roxy Music
Roxy Music
This album surprised me. I thought I knew Roxy Music but I didn’t at all. It was far more challenging than I had expected. A good listen.
3
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Wed May 17 2023
Paris 1919
John Cale
This didn’t do anything for me throughout most of the listen. My ears pricked up during the second to last song but I forgot to care throughout the day. Inoffensive but dull.
2
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Thu May 18 2023
Hot Buttered Soul
Isaac Hayes
Sumptuous, interesting, classic. So much love for this one. Never thought I was a Hayes fan but I was wrong.
4
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Fri May 19 2023
Violent Femmes
Violent Femmes
I enjoyed this way more than I should have, given how purile some of this stuff is. I’ll listen again, for sure. How old is Blister in the sun, though?! Really thought that was a 90s record.
4
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Mon May 22 2023
Master Of Puppets
Metallica
That was a slog. I found it really boring.
2
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Tue May 23 2023
1989
Taylor Swift
Really enjoyable listen. The singles from this are top notch and the rest were alright too. Blank space is one of the greatest pop songs of all time and yes, I know that’s a big statement to make.
3
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Wed May 24 2023
This Nation’s Saving Grace
The Fall
Fine. I get The Fall but I don’t love The Fall
3
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Thu May 25 2023
Stankonia
OutKast
LOVE this album. So many bangers. It was a massive part of my youth too. These two crazies who rap really fast. They’re funky and sorta futuristic. Funny too. Yep, just a massive yep.
5
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Fri May 26 2023
Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band
Beatles
Oh The Beatles. What to say. I just don’t get on with it all but then a song comes on and I’m like ‘Ooo.’ This album has some of those on it.
2
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Mon May 29 2023
Hail To the Thief
Radiohead
It’s a perfect album. I can come back to this often and still hear something new each time I do. I wrote it off when it first came out as I was hoping for more like The Bends and every album after OK Computer just felt too left field. In my defence, I was very young. Now I’m delighted by how timeless and enjoyable a listen this is, along with the other less-indie records.
5
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Tue May 30 2023
The Suburbs
Arcade Fire
It’s a great album. It’s not my fave of theirs and I don’t pick it up often but I’d find it incredibly difficult to listen without thinking of sweaty summer nights dancing in crowds watching this racket play. It’s an even better album for conjuring those memories.
4
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Wed May 31 2023
Morrison Hotel
The Doors
Classic psychedelic rock fare. Grateful for the vibes but I’m never delighted when I am faced with going back for one of these. I need to bring context to fully appreciate it because I can get terribly bored unless I remind myself that the music I love is here because this was first. That said, some lovely moments on this one. 10/10 for vibes but a solid 3 from me otherwise.
3
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Thu Jun 01 2023
American IV: The Man Comes Around
Johnny Cash
Such beauty, sadness, grace, humility. So many things that rarely come about when an artist covers a song. Johnny Cash is raw and vulnerable and his voice is cracked and full of emotion. I heard this album a lot back when it came out and naturally it means different things to me now. I cried listening (while cycling which isn’t a good look).
5
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Fri Jun 02 2023
Destroyer
KISS
At times, funny but then I’d remember it’s unironic and that it’s not a parody. The rest of the experience was characterised by boredom.
1
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Mon Jun 05 2023
Sea Change
Beck
Sad, gorgeous. Contains one of my favourite Beck songs of all time - Lost Cause.
3
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Tue Jun 06 2023
Fleet Foxes
Fleet Foxes
A nice listen. Better than I’d thought it’d be. I gave it a wide berth when it dropped because it felt just a bit too beardy. I liked it but I didn’t love it. Some gorgeous songs.
3
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Wed Jun 07 2023
Soul Mining
The The
I could listen to This is the Day on repeat for hours. It was fascinating once again to hear an album new to me that has so clearly inspired some of my favourite bands.
3
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Thu Jun 08 2023
Foxbase Alpha
Saint Etienne
I liked this a lot. I thought I knew their work but this album surprised me plenty. They were always lumped in with Britpop artists on compilations and I never understood how what I considered to be pop songs sat alongside what I now realise were also pop songs. I’ll listen again, for sure.
4
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Fri Jun 09 2023
Night Life
Ray Price
I hated it. Yup. Moralising and dull. Terrible combo.
1
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Mon Jun 12 2023
Off The Wall
Michael Jackson
It’s such a banger, despite the discomfort I have listening to Michael Jackson.
4
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Tue Jun 13 2023
It's Blitz!
Yeah Yeah Yeahs
Enjoyable reminder of days gone by. Really big fan of some of the tracks on here but I know I won’t go back to it
3
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Wed Jun 14 2023
Endtroducing.....
DJ Shadow
So cool. Very little else to say.
4
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Thu Jun 15 2023
Shalimar
Rahul Dev Burman
4
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Fri Jun 16 2023
Aftermath
The Rolling Stones
A few amazing songs make this album. The rest wasn’t for me.
2
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Mon Jun 19 2023
Arthur (Or the Decline and Fall of the British Empire)
The Kinks
A great album. Nothing unexpected here and a few lovely songs.
3
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Tue Jun 20 2023
Power In Numbers
Jurassic 5
Fine. Scratchy. Ok to listen to but it got a bit dull.
2
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Wed Jun 21 2023
Like Water For Chocolate
Common
Delightful
3
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Thu Jun 22 2023
Goodbye Yellow Brick Road
Elton John
4
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Fri Jun 23 2023
Nilsson Schmilsson
Harry Nilsson
Wow. Just brilliant. I had no idea.
4
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Mon Jun 26 2023
Brothers In Arms
Dire Straits
I grew up with this album. I love it. Mark Knopfler’s voice takes me to places I’m very happy being. The album cover art is so evocative. And of course the songs are just wonderful.
4
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Tue Jun 27 2023
Songs For Swingin' Lovers!
Frank Sinatra
A really enjoyable listen. A crooner improved my morning.
3
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Wed Jun 28 2023
Twelve Dreams Of Dr. Sardonicus
Spirit
It was surprisingly good. I did a massive eye roll at the prospect of listening to another 70s psychedelic rock album but it was far more entertaining than I imagined.
3
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Thu Jun 29 2023
The Blueprint
JAY Z
Jay-Z’s Blueprint ticks all my boxes. Nostalgia factor is high but so it the relistenability. I actually sighed in appreciation of his world weary lyrics like “I don’t want much, fuck I drove every car. Some nice cooked food. Some nice clean drawers.” It’s beyond charming. I love the flow and most (not all) songs aged beautifully because the production is just so on point, thanks to Kanye. It’s two artists at one of their peaks and I had a great time listening on my cycle to work.
5
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Fri Jun 30 2023
There's A Riot Goin' On
Sly & The Family Stone
Not at all my thing but sure. Good stuff and well made.
2
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Mon Jul 03 2023
Pretzel Logic
Steely Dan
It’s fine. It feels like I know it but I don’t. I think that’s due to Steely Dan being so distinctive.
3
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Tue Jul 04 2023
Let's Get It On
Marvin Gaye
Nice! I enjoyed it and played the sample spotting game as usual. As smooth as it was, I probably won’t go back for more than the titular song.
3
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Wed Jul 05 2023
Dig Me Out
Sleater-Kinney
I did not like this. It was too shrill. Thing is, it should be up my street. I’ve heard so much about Sleater-Kinney over the years in relation to bands I’ve loved. This was a surprise to me.
2
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Thu Jul 06 2023
Elephant Mountain
The Youngbloods
A genuinely likeable album that opens with a banger
3
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Fri Jul 07 2023
Rid Of Me
PJ Harvey
This is the right PJ Harvey era for me. I love how raw this is and recognisably hers too.
3
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Mon Jul 10 2023
Franz Ferdinand
Franz Ferdinand
I really think 2004 was a crap year for music. I remember listening to this album and thinking, is this all there is? In hindsight, it’s fine. It’s just not electrifying. If it came out in 2001 we’d have ignored it and FF would be a distant memory, like The Rakes. But yeah, it’s ok.
3
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Tue Jul 11 2023
Amnesiac
Radiohead
An incredible piece of work
4
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Wed Jul 12 2023
Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not
Arctic Monkeys
I bloody love this album. No need for me to listen today. I listen enough.
4
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Thu Jul 13 2023
Very
Pet Shop Boys
Interesting choice. I saw pet shop boys and thought it’d be something from their heyday but it was good to listen to them that bit later.
3
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Fri Jul 14 2023
Slippery When Wet
Bon Jovi
The singles on here are undeniably brilliant. I wasn’t sold on the idea of listening to the rest so took a bit of a run up. It was all so very 80s.
3
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Mon Jul 17 2023
Enter The Wu-Tang (36 Chambers)
Wu-Tang Clan
Ah Wu-Tang. I liked this so much more 20 years ago. Upon relistening, the production feels shonky and the violence gratuitous but then again, that was the point. I love what Wu-Tang did for hip hop but I’m not going to pick up more than the odd track from this again. Some classics! But it’s not going to get a regular revisit.
3
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Tue Jul 18 2023
Moving Pictures
Rush
This sounds so much like the songs that play over the credits to 80s movies. Probably very good but not for me.
2
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Wed Jul 19 2023
Midnight Ride
Paul Revere & The Raiders
Layered, sumptuous, sincere. I really enjoyed this and I did not expect to.
3
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Thu Jul 20 2023
Felt Mountain
Goldfrapp
Bigger than I expected. They were always just ok for me and I never knew there was much more than a bit of nice pop about them. I really liked this though.
3
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Fri Jul 21 2023
Hearts And Bones
Paul Simon
I liked this a lot more than I thought when the record began. It opens inoffensively and then some of the tracks on here are the kind that actually end up stopping you in your tracks. I was delighted.
3
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Mon Jul 24 2023
Paranoid
Black Sabbath
Not what I was expecting. Far more experimental and moody. Really interesting listen, given my preconceptions.
3
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Tue Jul 25 2023
Crime Of The Century
Supertramp
Not at all what I knew supertramp for and pretty good.
3
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Wed Jul 26 2023
The Nightfly
Donald Fagen
I got bored
2
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Thu Jul 27 2023
Palo Congo
Sabu
Very good but too too much for me. I couldn’t listen again.
2
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Fri Jul 28 2023
Moby Grape
Moby Grape
2
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Mon Jul 31 2023
The Slim Shady LP
Eminem
Wherever I’ve returned to songs from this album I’ve felt uncomfortable. More than once I’ve said that this era of Eminem hasn’t aged well. Listening from beginning to end though is an entirely different experience. This album is an incredible piece of work. The thread that runs throughout (this is who you think I am) works to poke fun at the critics who can’t imagine that rap can be fictional. Having said all that, I still did die a few times of horror because these songs are so dark.
4
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Tue Aug 01 2023
Moon Safari
Air
Atmospheric, beautiful, unforgettable
4
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Wed Aug 02 2023
Live At The Regal
B.B. King
3
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Thu Aug 03 2023
Black Holes and Revelations
Muse
Urgh. Muse are such tryhards. My daughter asked me “Is this Radiohead?” and I was like “Absolutely not!” I’ve liked some tracks and the albums before this were way more interesting to me. This one, nope.
2
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Fri Aug 04 2023
Colour By Numbers
Culture Club
A couple of fun songs but nothing beyond that for me
2
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Mon Aug 07 2023
Talking Timbuktu
Ali Farka Touré
Too jazzy for me
2
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Tue Aug 08 2023
Heaven Or Las Vegas
Cocteau Twins
Gorgeous. Delightful.
4
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Wed Aug 09 2023
Fresh Fruit for Rotting Vegetables
Dead Kennedys
Such a lot of fun. Short songs, raced through. Really enjoyed it.
3
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Thu Aug 10 2023
Yeezus
Kanye West
What a massive album. I’ve given it absolutely no time and instead gone in search of the singles when I fancy it. I definitely slept on this one. I think Kanye has a habit of being ahead of his time. A long way ahead. I listen a lot and widely but kanye releases always feel like a miss to me until I go back. I wish I could listen for the moment though and not think about who the man has become (or perhaps always was, it just took me a while to clock it). It’s distracting and it affects the music deeply because so many of his songs pick up issues that he’s revealed himself to be deeply ignorant about, such as New Slaves. I also cringe when I hear Nina. It can feel like a sacrilege the way that he uses her voice. Still, a brilliant album.
4
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Fri Aug 11 2023
Step In The Arena
Gang Starr
Good, important, old school rap. I have much respect for these two but I can’t help get a bit bored listening
3
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Mon Aug 14 2023
Illinois
Sufjan Stevens
This album is beautiful. Absolutely gorgeous and I am so glad to listen to it. I will listen and listen again.
5
View Album
Tue Aug 15 2023
The Man Machine
Kraftwerk
More interesting than I suspected. I have never had much time for Kraftwerk. I saw them play live at Latitude years ago but it felt to me like a novelty act. Revisiting this album was good for me though. Richer and more layered than I’d remembered. Still repetitive.
3
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Wed Aug 16 2023
Lost Souls
Doves
Beautiful album, so much atmosphere. I have loved this for many years.
5
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Thu Aug 17 2023
Superunknown
Soundgarden
Moments of absolute glee but it bored me otherwise. Chris Cornell’s voice is stunning on this record and Black agile Sun takes me right back to the 90s and being frightened watching the video on mtv and not sure exactly why. The rest came and went. It is the more polished end of my much loved genre, grunge. But I don’t love polish. I thought I’d like this more.
3
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Fri Aug 18 2023
Third/Sister Lovers
Big Star
I put off listening to this because I wasn't sure I had the patience for something from this era but I surprised myself by really liking it.
3
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Mon Aug 21 2023
Electric Ladyland
Jimi Hendrix
A beautiful album.
4
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Tue Aug 22 2023
This Year's Model
Elvis Costello & The Attractions
Excellent album. I’ve been meaning to listen to Elvia Costello properly forever. He played a lot in my house growing up and I figured I’d like his work. This was a lovely listen.
4
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Wed Aug 23 2023
1984
Van Halen
Fun. Can’t say much else.
3
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Thu Aug 24 2023
E.V.O.L.
Sonic Youth
Gorgeous, scuzzy music
3
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Fri Aug 25 2023
I’m a Lonesome Fugitive
Merle Haggard
Meh
2
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Mon Aug 28 2023
You Want It Darker
Leonard Cohen
Gorgeous album
4
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Tue Aug 29 2023
Bitches Brew
Miles Davis
Surprisingly, I didn’t hate it. I can’t stand jazz but this was ok. It was mellow. It was manageable.
3
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Wed Aug 30 2023
Bayou Country
Creedence Clearwater Revival
I was bored.
2
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Thu Aug 31 2023
After The Gold Rush
Neil Young
Lovely album and one I’ve listened to plenty. It’s not on my relisten list but it’s always nice to go back.
3
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Fri Sep 01 2023
Will The Circle Be Unbroken
Nitty Gritty Dirt Band
Wow! Ok! Not awful at all. Not actually annoying. I liked this. I will head down into a bit of a rabbit hole with this.
3
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Mon Sep 04 2023
Blonde On Blonde
Bob Dylan
I grew up on Dylan and this album is of course one of those things that played and formed my taste going forward. It’s a great album and one that I could listen to many times but I rarely go back these days.
3
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Tue Sep 05 2023
Coat Of Many Colors
Dolly Parton
Beautiful storytelling. I’ve never listened to an entire dolly. Very glad I have now
4
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Wed Sep 06 2023
Two Dancers
Wild Beasts
Just not for me. His voice grates.
2
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Thu Sep 07 2023
John Prine
John Prine
Wow. Another delightful surprise. I don’t know how John Prine passed me by all these years but I’m grateful to have listened today.
4
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Fri Sep 08 2023
Liquid Swords
GZA
3
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Mon Sep 11 2023
Hard Again
Muddy Waters
3
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Tue Sep 12 2023
Melodrama
Lorde
Surprisingly good music here. I knew she had something to her but never felt to investigate. Grateful for this listen.
3
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Wed Sep 13 2023
Live At Leeds
The Who
This bored me. The Who always did. I tried but it all felt so samey.
2
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Thu Sep 14 2023
Superfuzz Bigmuff
Mudhoney
Fuzzy. This racket must have given birth to nirvana.
3
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Fri Sep 15 2023
Fishscale
Ghostface Killah
Great big beats! I loved it.
4
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Mon Sep 18 2023
Cloud Nine
The Temptations
Of course it’s good but it doesn’t move me at all.
2
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Tue Sep 19 2023
Beautiful Freak
Eels
Better than I had imagined and I’ve been putting off listening all these years. Another band that I know the singles but they weren’t compelling enough for me to either buy the cd at the time or go back to listen. Great music throughout but a little samey by the end
3
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Wed Sep 20 2023
Idlewild
Everything But The Girl
Beautiful and gorgeous and a great invitation to plough into the back catalog. Perfect.
5
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Thu Sep 21 2023
L'Eau Rouge
The Young Gods
I really tried and man, this lot make a hell of a noise but I found it mostly unlistenable. Kudos, there's a lot of heart and soul in this, but no thank you.
2
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Fri Sep 22 2023
Low-Life
New Order
Fantastic album and not one I’ve given any time to previously. It felt rough in a good way. I’d absolutely come back to this. It’s good to hear the building bricks of what came next for New Order and so many other artists too.
3
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Mon Sep 25 2023
Modern Sounds in Country and Western Music
Ray Charles
3
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Tue Sep 26 2023
Joan Armatrading
Joan Armatrading
Beautiful music.
4
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Wed Sep 27 2023
Among The Living
Anthrax
An ok listen. Really nice to hear while I'm working because despite it's noise, it doesn't command too much attention. I won't go back but it's fine.
3
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Thu Sep 28 2023
Little Earthquakes
Tori Amos
I really liked this. Such boldness and incredible songwriting.
3
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Fri Sep 29 2023
Maxwell's Urban Hang Suite
Maxwell
It's too smooth for me. I just can't.
2
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Mon Oct 02 2023
Live At The Harlem Square Club
Sam Cooke
Gorgeous and delightful. Thanks for the suggestion. I will listen again. I knew I liked Sam Cooke but I didn’t know just how much.
4
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Tue Oct 03 2023
Stories From The City, Stories From The Sea
PJ Harvey
It’s really good and I’ve loved some of these songs a long time but I’ve never found my groove with PJ Harvey.
3
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Wed Oct 04 2023
At San Quentin
Johnny Cash
This was a right joy to listen to
3
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Thu Oct 05 2023
Licensed To Ill
Beastie Boys
Always good to listen to this lot. It's scratchy and the production is sparse. It feels so different from what came later. Classic moments that lit me up throughout. Mmmm...drop!
3
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Fri Oct 06 2023
Californication
Red Hot Chili Peppers
I’ve always loved this album and found it again recently. Some of the songs here are absolute bangers but I do laugh a bit as I listen. There’s a lot of guff on here too. And the lyrics are outrageously bad in places. Still, I love it.
4
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Mon Oct 09 2023
At Folsom Prison
Johnny Cash
Wow. I enjoyed this far more than I did the San Quentin record.
4
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Tue Oct 10 2023
Funeral
Arcade Fire
It’s a perfect album. I’ve loved this for years and nothing has changed about that. Intense, beautiful, it bangs.
5
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Wed Oct 11 2023
Rubber Soul
Beatles
It was fine. I know I should love the Beatles but I can see why they're important but really can't enjoy them very much. A couple songs in here I can listen to endlessly but I wanted to skip most of them. I wish I got them but I don't.
3
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Thu Oct 12 2023
Introducing The Hardline According To Terence Trent D'Arby
Terence Trent D'Arby
Surprisingly good music. I knew TTD from my youth but never liked his sound and never really got the vibe either. Too smooth. Now, though, this smoothness really works for me.
3
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Fri Oct 13 2023
Histoire De Melody Nelson
Serge Gainsbourg
Absolutely brilliant. I’ve missed out on Serge and it’s good to have an introduction. This will go into rotation.
4
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Mon Oct 16 2023
Gorillaz
Gorillaz
A great album but less engaging than I remembered. It’s likely that I was excited by the concept at the time. Clint Eastwood is a stupidly good song. Like, so frickin good. Otherwise it was all ok.
3
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Tue Oct 17 2023
Rage Against The Machine
Rage Against The Machine
A great, great listen. Growing up with this kind of soundtrack has really shaped my musical tastes. I don’t often go back to it though so I was glad to have the nudge to. I probably never listened to this from beginning to end as I didn’t own the cd so chances are, this is the first proper listen. It does not disappoint.
4
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Wed Oct 18 2023
Who Killed...... The Zutons?
The Zutons
I did listen but I didn’t want to. I’ve never liked this lot. Just felt like a novelty, covers band, sticking to one era, except somehow they do that with original material. Uninspiring. But they can play their instruments so fine, I guess.
2
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Thu Oct 19 2023
Chocolate Starfish And The Hot Dog Flavored Water
Limp Bizkit
Oh so much worse than I remembered. I liked this! How? It’s bad. It has moments I’ll always be fond of but as an album, this just sucks.
2
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Fri Oct 20 2023
Trio
Dolly Parton
I really needed this. Beautiful harmonies and perfect songwriting. A gorgeous morning listen while I buzzed about the house. New to me but will stay in rotation.
4
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Mon Oct 23 2023
The Joshua Tree
U2
Unbelievably good. I’ve not listened to this album since I was a kid. I have been a bit meh on the U2 front for a couple of decades, infuriated by the cult of Bono. This was a fantastic reminder of why people care so much about this band. I could listen and listen. What an opening!
4
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Tue Oct 24 2023
Live At The Star Club, Hamburg
Jerry Lee Lewis
I was expecting plinky plonky piano and rock n roll that I have heard to death. Then when he struck up Money, I was like yeeeeah. Jigging in my desk chair.
3
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Wed Oct 25 2023
Infected
The The
I had high hopes for this album but it didn’t work for me at all. A little too scrappy with nothing to hang on to. Might have been my mood and the timing? But it’s not going to get into regular rotation for me.
2
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Thu Oct 26 2023
Connected
Stereo MC's
So very 90s. A couple of tracks that are objectively good, although not my cup of tea. I liked the songs when I was 9 though? Does that mean I need to give this album a decent rating? I think not.
2
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Fri Oct 27 2023
Drunk
Thundercat
Super cool. I’ve tried a few times though and always said “yes. This is cool” but never gone any further than that. It doesn’t excite me.
3
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Mon Oct 30 2023
Electric Warrior
T. Rex
I was expecting glitter and glam rock and was delighted to hear more than just this. I have never had a reason to really listen to T-Rex so this was a nice nudge. Good stuff in here.
3
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Tue Oct 31 2023
Cosmo's Factory
Creedence Clearwater Revival
I can absolutely see why this made it to the list. It’s not something that can work for me. Feels like I’ve already heard it all, a hundred times.
3
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Wed Nov 01 2023
En-Tact
The Shamen
This did nothing for me. I didn't expect it to either. I want to say something insightful about rave culture and the mainstream but I really CBA.
2
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Thu Nov 02 2023
The Modern Dance
Pere Ubu
This was a tough listen. Really noisy and I played it way too early. It was interesting though and felt fresh and new despite its years.
2
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Fri Nov 03 2023
Country Life
Roxy Music
I didn’t like this at all and I was expecting to. I listen to a bit of Roxy Music but I have gone to the albums a few years after this one.
2
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Mon Nov 06 2023
Bossanova
Pixies
Always happy to hear from Pixies. Brilliant album and a joy to listen to.
4
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Tue Nov 07 2023
Figure 8
Elliott Smith
Some songs are gorgeous. Really beautifully atmospheric numbers like Somebody That I Used To Know but the rest comes and goes without me really noticing until Elliot Smith breaks into my thoughts with one of his repetitive refrains that go round and round like a stuck record.
2
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Wed Nov 08 2023
The ArchAndroid
Janelle Monáe
A real stunner for a debut. Super cool and so much fun to be had.
3
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Thu Nov 09 2023
Maverick A Strike
Finley Quaye
I love this album. Always have. I had it on cassette years ago and used to listen in the car. I still regularly hit it up when I need something summery and light. It aged beautifully and I’m so glad to have a reason to listen again
4
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Fri Nov 10 2023
Music
Madonna
I did my best to listen without prejudice but this album has lyrics so insipid it’s insulting. The production is excellent but Madonna just kinda ruins it. And the cover of American Pie is bad enough that I can’t even listen. Just no. Catchy songs throughout so I’ll be singing Hey Mr Deejay for the rest of the week but I ain’t happy about it.
2
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Mon Nov 13 2023
Revolver
Beatles
I have a weird relationship with The Beatles. I can appreciate that they were doing something special but it's never really spoken to me. This album is absolutely the one I have enjoyed the most. Songs like Tomorrow Never Knows feel thoroughly timeless. Totally immersive and properly enjoyable. That said, other songs are a bit doo-doo, dah-dah like their other stuff. So it just about escaped a 4 star rating from me. That said, it got closer than any other Beatles listen and that's really nice and new.
3
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Tue Nov 14 2023
OK Computer
Radiohead
This album is perfect. I really love Radiohead and can revisit their albums endlessly without getting bored. This one signals their move towards electronic music and it’s hard to imagine now but at that point, a band like this were just not supposed to do that. And they did it beautifully. Their desire to grow and change as artists is so clear when on this album. It’s a masterpiece.
5
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Wed Nov 15 2023
Sincere
Mj Cole
It's a likeable album with a whole lot of vibe. I knew the two big tracks, and being a bit of a garage girl I was glad to give the album a shot. It was an enjoyable listen. Not spectacular but top marks for atmosphere.
3
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Thu Nov 16 2023
Songs The Lord Taught Us
The Cramps
This was great fun to listen to. Love a bit of punk and always good to hear something nice and early
3
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Fri Nov 17 2023
Marcus Garvey
Burning Spear
So good to hear this album. I knew Burning Spear and who they were but hadn’t given them any rotation. It’s a fantastic piece of work.
3
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Mon Nov 20 2023
Jazz Samba
Stan Getz
I didn’t hate this, which is massive for me. Jazz gets right under my skin. It’s lovely to have to listen to the kinds of things I’d avoid though because I could get along with this. A bit.
3
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Tue Nov 21 2023
Elvis Presley
Elvis Presley
It’s Elvis. Of course it’s good. Classic songs and that voice. I just don’t care all that much though. But hey, if I were much older I’d probably have a bit more reverence.
2
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Wed Nov 22 2023
Something/Anything?
Todd Rundgren
It was nice. It sounded like the seventies. Super smooth in places.
3
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Thu Nov 23 2023
Manassas
Stephen Stills
I find these kinds of albums really difficult to rate. I can hear the influence they have had on the music I love. I can see that they are really good musicians and the production or whatever is sound. I just find it hard to stay engaged with it. I am glad when it’s over even though I can hear that actually, the music isn’t bad at all. So a 3 star rating that appreciates the work but says no when I’m asked if I’d listen again seems the right fit.
3
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Fri Nov 24 2023
The Hissing Of Summer Lawns
Joni Mitchell
This is Joni but it’s not my Joni. I love her voice but on these songs, it doesn’t quite work for me.
2
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Mon Nov 27 2023
Music for the Masses
Depeche Mode
LOVED this. I have always liked Depeche Mode but never actually listened to an album. Weird. Glad to pick this one up.
4
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Tue Nov 28 2023
Toys In The Attic
Aerosmith
This was bad. I like a bit of Aerosmith but I found it very hard to get through this. Walk This Way salvaged it for me but only just.
3
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Wed Nov 29 2023
Roots
Sepultura
I liked this a heck of a lot more than I thought I would. Metal is a strange genre for me. I love punk, alt rock, grunge, but I think I was born slightly late to appreciate Rock-rock. So listening to this was enlightening. It ticked so many of my boxes. A good listen that really engaged me.
3
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Thu Nov 30 2023
A Short Album About Love
The Divine Comedy
I actually get it! Years of listening to this music as a teenager and all the way through I was like ‘oooook then.’ This time around, his voice is so gorgeous and the lyrics, hilarious and darkly satirical. Coming back around for this lot.
3
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Fri Dec 01 2023
Aja
Steely Dan
Ooo yes. Super smooth, hella enjoyable.
3
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Mon Dec 04 2023
Parsley, Sage, Rosemary And Thyme
Simon & Garfunkel
I love listening to Simon & Garfunkel so this was an absolute pleas
4
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Tue Dec 05 2023
That's The Way Of The World
Earth, Wind & Fire
Cor this was fun. I really enjoyed bopping my head to this. It felt current too, in ways I hadn't expected. Glad I went back for a listen.
4
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Wed Dec 06 2023
Yank Crime
Drive Like Jehu
Yes! This all happened so much earlier than I thought, it seems. A great racket I’d never even heard of.
3
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Thu Dec 07 2023
Machine Gun Etiquette
The Damned
Wonderfully noisy stuff. A great accompaniment to a trip home from Berlin too.
3
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Fri Dec 08 2023
Bad
Michael Jackson
I don't want to rate this at all. It's obviously very good but the man is a big NO for me. I will hit 2 because yay for the production and artistry but the man ruined some people's lives quite profoundly so that colours my enjoyment.
2
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Mon Dec 11 2023
Stardust
Willie Nelson
Loved this album. Can’t say I’ve listened to much Willie Nelson before this but I’ve always had a lot of respect for the guy’s career and enjoyed the songs I have heard. This was beautiful though. Great songwriting, hell of a voice.
4
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Tue Dec 12 2023
Maggot Brain
Funkadelic
This absolutely bangs. I have missed a corner of music and this quest has given me that back. This album is astounding.
4
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Wed Dec 13 2023
Hysteria
Def Leppard
I tried!
2
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Thu Dec 14 2023
Straight Outta Compton
N.W.A.
Yes maaaate! So good to listen to this on a Thursday morning in December. Lyrically brilliant and then awful. Musically the same. The beats are either incredible or so sparse it’s barely a song. Great to hear lyrics said here first that get used in hip hop for the next few decades too.
4
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Fri Dec 15 2023
LP1
FKA twigs
Beautiful. Gorgeous. Almost perfect.
4
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Mon Dec 18 2023
Madman Across The Water
Elton John
It was Elton so yay but apart from the super strong opening with Tiny Dancer, the rest didn’t work for me.
2
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Tue Dec 19 2023
Led Zeppelin II
Led Zeppelin
Objectively brilliant but I didn’t want to listen much. I grew up with this as a bit of a backdrop and always knew it was important music but it never entertained me.
3
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Wed Dec 20 2023
BEYONCÉ
Beyoncé
I love a bit of Bey but I’m a singles girl when it comes to her. The albums have never really done it for me. That all changed at Lemonade but up until that point I could take or leave. A track or two stood out from the pack and it was a joy to hear songs like 7/11
3
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Thu Dec 21 2023
Oar
Alexander 'Skip' Spence
I'm so glad I managed to listen to this. It's incredible. I am struggling to find words to put to it.
4
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Fri Dec 22 2023
Is This It
The Strokes
This is the perfect album. I love every song. Each moment I could recognise from the tiniest of clips because the sound they’ve created is so distinctive and stylised. Always a joy to listen to and it’s never not in rotation for me.
5
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Mon Dec 25 2023
The Black Saint And The Sinner Lady
Charles Mingus
I find jazz so hard to listen to but this was really interesting. I couldn’t just put it on and chill though. This has to be an assignment.
3
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Tue Dec 26 2023
A Christmas Gift For You From Phil Spector
Various Artists
The perfect, classic Christmas album. I love this record and it’s in heavy rotation every year.
5
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Wed Dec 27 2023
Graceland
Paul Simon
A really beautiful album. I’ve listened before but so passively. It was a pleasure to listen to again after all these years.
4
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Thu Dec 28 2023
Iron Maiden
Iron Maiden
I didn't hate it but I did find it very easy to ignore. Guitars and stuff. Riffs. Nothing very interesting to me.
2
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Fri Dec 29 2023
Raw Power
The Stooges
In context, quite excellent, very important and groundbreaking work. Upon listening though, it's good. I liked it.
3
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Mon Jan 01 2024
Cheap Thrills
Big Brother & The Holding Company
Bloody hell, that voice. What an album and what a sound. Transportative.
4
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Tue Jan 02 2024
The Doors
The Doors
Fine, atmospheric and with beautiful production but it doesn't work for me lyrically. Again, it's that decision whether to rate based on how much I enjoyed listening or the context in which it was created. I'm going to say it's just fine.
3
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Wed Jan 03 2024
Machine Head
Deep Purple
Remarkably enjoyable. I've never had much of a reason to dip in to Deep Purple but this was soulful, it rocked, and it was a thoroughly enjoyable listen. I probably wouldn't throw it on again but I didn't wish most of these songs away.
3
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Thu Jan 04 2024
Stripped
Christina Aguilera
Oh I know this album well. I listened plenty in those way too low jeans, on my discman. Such a great bit of pop music and a nice bit of defiant art in response to the mudslinging she had to endure from the media as a woman in the public eye in that decade.
4
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Fri Jan 05 2024
Songs From The Big Chair
Tears For Fears
A really good listen from a band I’ve always liked well enough but not really gotten to know about.
3
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Mon Jan 08 2024
Innervisions
Stevie Wonder
It’s a brilliant, beautiful, classic album. Tonnes of atmosphere and the production is perfect. I listened to it on vinyl because it’s one of those records I dug out of a charity shop and felt like a winner.
4
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Tue Jan 09 2024
Tracy Chapman
Tracy Chapman
This album is really important to me. I grew up listening and have never really stopped. Lyrically brilliant and musically stunning. Incredible that she just won Country Song of the Year in 2023 for Fast Car, so many years after release and what a deserving song! It is totally perfect.
5
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Wed Jan 10 2024
Mermaid Avenue
Billy Bragg
I didn’t know this project existed and it was a great listen when I popped it on. What a combo of artists!
3
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Thu Jan 11 2024
(Pronounced 'Leh-'Nérd 'Skin-'Nérd)
Lynyrd Skynyrd
Proper classic here with one of the greatest songs of all time on the track listing. Can’t argue with that. I enjoyed it. More soulful than I imagined. Not just rock.
3
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Fri Jan 12 2024
#1 Record
Big Star
This was a bit of a slog. It just doesn’t speak to me. Can see it’s value but I liked maybe one song?
2
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Mon Jan 15 2024
The Downward Spiral
Nine Inch Nails
Brilliant album. Noisy in the right way.
4
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Tue Jan 16 2024
Layla And Other Assorted Love Songs
Derek & The Dominos
Oh Clapton! I didn’t realise it was him. Quite an album. I rolled my eyes but enjoyed the opening tracks so much. Sagged again in the middle but then came back around for Layla. It was only at that point I realised it was Clapton. A really good album. I’d return to a few songs for sure.
3
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Wed Jan 17 2024
Warehouse: Songs And Stories
Hüsker Dü
Yup. This could be early REM. It’s a shame they didn’t blow up like REM did. It’s a great album.
3
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Thu Jan 18 2024
Seventh Tree
Goldfrapp
Better than I had expected and gave me an opportunity to address this weird dislike for Goldfrapp which must have been based largely on her positioning as an indie icon of sorts. Which wasn’t her call anyway. A good album with some really cool moments.
3
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Fri Jan 19 2024
Yankee Hotel Foxtrot
Wilco
I'll absolutely come back to this one. Brilliant. I loved Jesus etc and had it on a playlist somewhere but hadn't gotten to explore the rest of the band's stuff. Really pleased to be exposed this this. Right up my street.
4
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Mon Jan 22 2024
Blue Lines
Massive Attack
Erring on the side of four stars because there’s maybe 2 tracks I’d skip but wow it’s hard to call. This album is a real classic. There are huge songs on here that I’ve had in my life for years and still stop me in my tracks if they come on the stereo. Be Thankful, Unfinished Sympathy and Safe From Harm. Grateful this is on this list and for the drive to work that saw these songs blaring out Friday morning.
4
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Tue Jan 23 2024
Elephant
The White Stripes
It’s basically good. Just fine. I was never really swept up in all this. It felt like good songs but the most exciting tracks by White Stripes came an album earlier for me. The more polished they were, the more the good stuff got stripped away.
3
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Wed Jan 24 2024
Giant Steps
The Boo Radleys
I was not expecting this. Not just an indie album by any accounts. More experimental than MOR with moments of indie pop but them being the exception rather than the norm. Knowing Boo Radeleys for their smash hit lead me to put off listening to this one but I’m glad I came back around. I’ll listen again. It’s very good.
4
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Thu Jan 25 2024
Elvis Is Back
Elvis Presley
A good album to pick up. I can't even imagine how much this would have been loved when it was first recorded. Elvis always souonds old and tired to me but of course, that's because I heard it coming out of tinny pub jukeboxes growing up. I enjoyed it more than I thought I would.
3
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Fri Jan 26 2024
Ingenue
k.d. lang
I found this to be quite boring. The epitome of MOR music. I won’t be going back to it.
2
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Mon Jan 29 2024
The Atomic Mr Basie
Count Basie & His Orchestra
I didn’t hate this. I felt something while I listened. A lot of the time it was irritation but some of the time it was anything but. I really don’t get on with jazz but this was an album I would have been sad never to hear. Some of it made me feel like I was a gunshot detective, on the trail of gangsters, some took me to some underground speakeasy cloudy with smoke. I felt like getting shit done sometimes as I listened. Basically, it was very good. I miiiight just return.
3
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Tue Jan 30 2024
Songs Of Leonard Cohen
Leonard Cohen
A beautiful and perfect album. A lyricist like no other. Except maybe Dylan? So long, Marrianne is one of my all time favourite songs and so a joy to hear. I’ve heard plenty of Cohen but never listened closely so this was a fantastic listen.
5
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Wed Jan 31 2024
Emergency On Planet Earth
Jamiroquai
I did try but it felt like. Load of nonsense at the time and unfortunately that hasn’t changed for me.
2
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Thu Feb 01 2024
Sound Affects
The Jam
Great stuff. Something to get me bobbing around the house this morning.
4
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Fri Feb 02 2024
Heavy Weather
Weather Report
Smooth and soulful. It's good but I don't like it.
2
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Mon Feb 05 2024
Different Class
Pulp
I love this album. It ages so well. The songs on this are so good that they could have released almost any. One of my fave pulp songs lives here and it was never released. A beautiful bit of social commentary, some dark storytelling and so much humour. And you can dance to it! What more can you want.
5
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Tue Feb 06 2024
Paul Simon
Paul Simon
Beautiful album. This was a joy to listen to. I had imagined it’d be good but not that it’d be this pretty and fun.
4
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Wed Feb 07 2024
Bridge Over Troubled Water
Simon & Garfunkel
I find it hard to put into words how much and why I love this album. It’s perfect.
5
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Thu Feb 08 2024
Untitled (Black Is)
SAULT
Innovative but still really enjoyable. I was really happy to see this album on the list.
4
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Fri Feb 09 2024
90
808 State
Far more enjoyable listening to this understanding what the 808 actually is. Back when it was released I couldn’t work out all the hype. It seemed just like any other dance music.
3
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Mon Feb 12 2024
S&M
Metallica
Beautifully done. A really special performance.
3
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Tue Feb 13 2024
A Rush Of Blood To The Head
Coldplay
Yeah so I rarely return to Coldplay as their later work is so bad that the earlier work is tainted for me. Parachutes is the exception and is in regular rotation but this album was a wonderful listen. Songs on here that I really liked at the time still resonate. Green Eyes, The Scientist. Pretty songs, pounding drums, synth? I think synth. Anyways, it was a good listen and I was glad of the reminder. I’ll draw a line at X & Y though. That won’t work for me.
3
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Wed Feb 14 2024
São Paulo Confessions
Suba
Cool but repetitive in places. Some songs I loved and others I wanted to skip.
3
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Thu Feb 15 2024
Chicago Transit Authority
Chicago
I tried but it was all kinds of irritating to me. Objectively I can see that it’s good stuff but I didn’t enjoy it. It’s jazzy, middle of the road stuff.
2
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Fri Feb 16 2024
Nothing's Shocking
Jane's Addiction
It’s good. Really good. The singers voice always grated on me but there are moments on this album where his voice is beautiful. Songs like Summertime Rolls are nice and psychedelic. A little timeless. So much of the late 80s, early 90s sound across the rest of the album.
3
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Mon Feb 19 2024
Deja Vu
Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young
Incredibly likable. I hadn’t expected to enjoy it quite so much as I did
3
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Tue Feb 20 2024
Illmatic
Nas
It’s a great album. The blueprint to so much of what came after too. Love the beats, the lyrics, Nas’s voice. Brilliant.
4
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Wed Feb 21 2024
Queen II
Queen
So very operatic for a rock album. I really appreciate what they’re doing here but it is not at all for me.
2
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Thu Feb 22 2024
Movies
Holger Czukay
This is wild. A lot is going on here. I tried to listen first time around but found it too chaotic and then I had some writing to do that I'd been putting off and found it was the perfect soundtrack to motivate me. Would I put it on again? It's unlikely. But it was good while I needed it.
3
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Fri Feb 23 2024
The Low End Theory
A Tribe Called Quest
Absolutely brilliant
4
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Mon Feb 26 2024
Smash
The Offspring
LOVED this album. Did then and still do.
4
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Tue Feb 27 2024
Ten
Pearl Jam
A genuinely likable album. I spent years rolling my eyes at Pearl Jam but enjoyed this loads. Felt very much in my wheelhouse, sonically. 90s, grungey, not sure what else I’d want.
3
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Wed Feb 28 2024
Arrival
ABBA
There are songs here I absolutely love. Joyous, beautifully produced pop music. Timeless! But the other tracks I could have skipped all the way through.
3
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Thu Feb 29 2024
Lost In The Dream
The War On Drugs
Absolutely brilliant. This came up he same week I’d realised it had been a while since I put this on. Love the band and this is their best album.
4
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Fri Mar 01 2024
16 Lovers Lane
The Go-Betweens
It sounded a lot like something I’d like but I couldn’t get along with it. Each song sounded similar to the next.
2
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Mon Mar 04 2024
Ágætis Byrjun
Sigur Rós
It’s beautiful, bewitching, beguiling. Other be words. Magical.
4
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Tue Mar 05 2024
From Elvis In Memphis
Elvis Presley
Another strong Levi’s album. Rich in sound, nice to listen to and lots of swaying and head bobbing while I did. He’s not my guy but this is undeniably great.
3
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Wed Mar 06 2024
Cypress Hill
Cypress Hill
Yep! An album I needed to listen to. It was such good fun. They’ve never been my fave as they get 10/10 for vibe but are best enjoyed song by song. The repetition across a whole album just bores me a bit. So a great listen but returning often is unlikely for me.
3
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Thu Mar 07 2024
In It For The Money
Supergrass
Richard III has to be one of my fabou Songs of all time. And the album itself is ace but there are still a few of those teenage numbers in here that didn’t even do it for me when I was a teenager so it’s far from perfect. Still, a great listen.
3
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Fri Mar 08 2024
american dream
LCD Soundsystem
Same experience I always have with LCD Soundsystem - I look forward to listening and a like what I hear but I’m not rapt. It is amazing in places and I get it. I get the hype too. But I’m always having to remind myself to pay attention. 10/10 for vibes, inventiveness and making something clever that you can dance to too. Not 10/10 for enjoyment though.
3
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Mon Mar 11 2024
What's Going On
Marvin Gaye
Oh my god it’s beautiful. I love this album. Lyrically and musically it’s perfect.
5
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Tue Mar 12 2024
In The Court Of The Crimson King
King Crimson
Sheesh. Ok I know it’s a classic and yes, of course, well done this lot but it’s way too jazzy for me.
2
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Wed Mar 13 2024
I Against I
Bad Brains
It’s clear why they are cited as influential by so many artists. It is a miracle I hadn’t listened before but glad I did.
3
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Thu Mar 14 2024
La Revancha Del Tango
Gotan Project
It’s good. Really good. But it also really feels like background music
3
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Mon Mar 18 2024
Murmur
R.E.M.
I loved this. It was the most ridiculously well timed listen too, given that I was on my last day of a trip to Seattle. I adore REM but never went this far back to listen so was grateful for this one
4
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Wed Mar 20 2024
Fever Ray
Fever Ray
I don’t know what I was expecting but it wasn’t this. It was darker. I liked it.
3
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Thu Mar 21 2024
Behaviour
Pet Shop Boys
Yes. I really like this pair. It isn’t the album I’d most like to have in my ears but it was still very good.
3
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Fri Mar 22 2024
The Velvet Underground
The Velvet Underground
Just fine really. Worth reminding myself that it’s a 55 year old album and looking at it that way because I can get a bit bored of aabb rhyme schemes and pretty lyrics (even when they are laden with sarcasm)
3
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Mon Mar 25 2024
Sticky Fingers
The Rolling Stones
A good album. Some brilliant songs. They’ve never really been my cup of tea but moments like Wild Horses stop me in my tracks.
3
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Tue Mar 26 2024
In A Silent Way
Miles Davis
I didn’t hate it, despite it being jazz. I wish they’d all play their instruments in a way that made sense to me though. Miles Davis did some lovely trumpeting.
3
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Fri Mar 29 2024
Happy Sad
Tim Buckley
Songs like Sing a Song For You are exquisite and his voice is stunning. Absolutely stunning. Then you have songs like Gypsy Woman where I just spend most of it wanting it to end. I really don’t know how to rate a record like this. It’s clearly very good but I wouldn’t like to listen again.
3
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Mon Apr 01 2024
Let It Bleed
The Rolling Stones
This was excellent. Probably the only album by the stones that I’d gladly throw on to listen to. Magical opening.
4
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Wed Apr 03 2024
Sometimes I Wish We Were An Eagle
Bill Callahan
Loves me a bit of Bill. His lyrics like prose, he just sings whatever he needs to and his voice is so beautiful.
4
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Thu Apr 04 2024
Physical Graffiti
Led Zeppelin
I'll admit I rolled my eyes when I saw it was Led Zepplin but I quickly took that back. It's a great listen. I found myself nodding along, foot tapping, feeling properly engaged. It's soulful and it rocks. It is a gift of this challenge that I think I know a band and I've written them into history as one of those things people like but I don't much, and then I listen. So yep. Good stuff.
4
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Fri Apr 05 2024
Court And Spark
Joni Mitchell
Blue is my Joni Mitchell album and I’ve been disappointed to learn that it’s the only one that really does anything for me. This was ok but I was glad when it was over. It neither offended nor engaged me.
2
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Wed Apr 10 2024
Unhalfbricking
Fairport Convention
Wow. Beautiful music. I have a huge gap where this kind of folk should be. Grateful to have listened today. I’ll pick up more of these albums too.
4
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Thu Apr 11 2024
Talking With the Taxman About Poetry
Billy Bragg
Politics, love, family. A brilliant album. New to me as a full album, although I’ve had plenty of time with his songs. Much enjoyed
4
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Fri Apr 12 2024
Fulfillingness' First Finale
Stevie Wonder
Beautiful as always when it comes to Stevie. I didn’t realise the song They Won’t Go When I Go was his and it is such a wonderful piece of music
3
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Mon Apr 15 2024
2112
Rush
That was a lot.
2
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Tue Apr 16 2024
At Fillmore East
The Allman Brothers Band
That combo of undeniably good but totally uninteresting to me
2
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Wed Apr 17 2024
Bluesbreakers
John Mayall & The Bluesbreakers
Fine
2
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Tue Apr 23 2024
The Yes Album
Yes
I can’t get into any more of this 70s prog rock. I need smaller doses. Perhaps if I’d listened amongst other genres I’d be ok but this has been a long streak of 70s rock. I had to go back to Guns and Roses to feel better.
2
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Wed Apr 24 2024
Goodbye And Hello
Tim Buckley
Beautiful album. His voice is incredible and it was good to spend some time in folk as a genre. I knew Once I Was and was kinda keen but some of the other tracks here were really sumptuous.
3
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Thu Apr 25 2024
Skylarking
XTC
80s goodness. Great to do a full album
3