Feb 09 2023
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Amnesiac
Radiohead
Three songs in, this album is WAY ahead of its time. Love the use of electronic elements. So far I can't predict anything.
Notable tracks -
I Might Be Wrong
Knives Out
Overall pretty solid and unpredictable. Seems like a good jumping off point for more Radiohead for me...
8/10
4
Feb 10 2023
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Beauty And The Beat
The Go-Go's
I'm surprised I haven't heard this band before. They're like the Housemartins if they were women. Great indie rock and roll. Wait, Belinda Carlisle is the drummer?!
Okay the Housemartins similarity has faded as the album has gone on...a lot more punk rock this second half.
Notable Songs -
How Much More
Tonite
Lust To Love
Overall pretty good. Surprisingly the more punk side started to wash over me a bit more, a lot more interesting in the first half.
7/10
3
Feb 13 2023
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Dusty In Memphis
Dusty Springfield
Ohhh okay Son Of A Preacher Man? I know this chorus. Instrumentation is really nice, and the mix is interesting too. Drums hard right, strings, guitars and bass in the left. One ear listening allows for completely different experiences.
The pickup in Windmills was the first thing that perked my ears up a bit.
Oh, Randy Newman and Burt Bacharach are credited writers on this album. Burt died like two days ago.
This album nearly put me to sleep, honestly. She's got a good voice, the instrumentation and orchestration were nice but man was it slow and tiresome. The whole album is the same song.
Notable Songs -
The Windmills Of Your Mind
2/10
1
Feb 14 2023
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Document
R.E.M.
YEAH! REM! Can you really go wrong with REM?
I wonder if people actually know ALL the lyrics to ITEOTWAWKI...great song though.
Michael Stipe's voice is so irreplicable. What a pleasure it must have been to hear him in the studio.
I can absolutely hear where their influence has passed down from this record.
King Of Birds - I love the sound of the Dulcimer. Very Trashcans!
Notable Songs -
It's The End Of The World As We Know It (And I Feel Fine)
Lightnin' Hopkins
6/10 - it's a good album but I know there are better REM records than this one.
3
Feb 15 2023
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Ten
Pearl Jam
My first Pearl Jam album.
I understand all the Eddie Vedder memes.
Once is a great opener.
I love the drum sound on this record. I wonder who engineered it?
Dave Hillis...can't say I've heard of him but he's worked with some big big names.
It's slightly become a bit of a "set and forget" album...easy to just put on and not pay much attention to. Still good background music.
Notable Songs -
Once
Black - Mainly for the outro!
6/10
3
Feb 16 2023
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Talking Book
Stevie Wonder
3
Feb 20 2023
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Strangeways, Here We Come
The Smiths
STRANGEWAYS! I love this album. A Rush And A Push was probably the first Smiths song I loved. Something about that keyboard line.
I could very easily add the whole record to the Notable Songs list...
It's just too good.
Notable Songs -
A Rush And A Push And The Land Is Ours
I Started Something I Couldn't Finish
Girlfriend In A Coma
10/10 Album. No skips or lesser songs. No complaints. Love it.
5
Feb 22 2023
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Hunting High And Low
a-ha
[Alan Partridge Voice] A-HAAAAA!
Take On Me is one of the greatest songs ever written. Fight me.
I didn't know Take On Me was the opener for this album...strong start. What a great snare sound...never really paid attention to the snare like that.
Following such a strong opener is always difficult, Train Of Thought does okay. Reminds me a bit of a Bowie type of song.
Title track is excellent. I love the more understated sound of this one. The switches from major to minor in interesting places was very refreshing. It's suddenly become massive. BIG DRUMS! Love the orchestration too.
The Blue Sky was nice, left a bit to be desired though towards the end. Just kinda fizzled out.
The Sun Always Shines On TV...I feel like I've heard this before?
A-Ha are at their best when they go for more minor chord progressions imo. That's where they hit my interest points the most.
Notable Songs -
Take On Me
Hunting High And Low
I Dream Myself Alive
9/10
5
Feb 24 2023
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Gunfighter Ballads And Trail Songs
Marty Robbins
This is some Cowboy stuff! Wild West!
I love how big storytelling was in music back during this time.
It's a bit...depressing.
It's objectively good and interesting, but not for me I don't think...at least not now.
Notable Songs -
Big Iron
3/10
2
Feb 28 2023
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The Dark Side Of The Moon
Pink Floyd
Dark Side Of The Moon. Perhaps the most iconic album cover ever? It's certainly up there.
I don't think I've sat and listened closely enough to this album before, so this should be a good one.
Yeah this is WAY ahead of its time.
It's so seamless.
Great Gig had me until the wailing.
Another timeless record. Loved it.
Notable Songs -
Breathe
Time
8/10
4
Mar 01 2023
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The Contino Sessions
Death In Vegas
This one is completely new to me. I don't think I've heard anything by this band before.
Dirge is a very good opener.
I like the vibe, vocals reminded me Charlie Kelly high on spray paint doing his impression of Bob Dylan though.
Notable Songs -
Death Threat
Flying
Lever Street
Luther's Funk
4/10 - Good but a little over indulgent. Gratituitous song length.
3