Mar 01 2023
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Murmur
R.E.M.
4
Mar 02 2023
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Untitled (Black Is)
SAULT
Soulful, melancholic. Released soon after the George Floyd murder and the ensuing protests, which gives it additional emotional power.
3
Mar 03 2023
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Aja
Steely Dan
Soothing listening experience, groovy musical sections. Just fantastic drumming!
4
Mar 05 2023
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Rust Never Sleeps
Neil Young & Crazy Horse
Interesting that the album got heavier as it progressed. Raw guitars and simple but effective rhythms. Last song is a banger.
3
Mar 05 2023
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The Cars
The Cars
4
Mar 06 2023
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Stories From The City, Stories From The Sea
PJ Harvey
3
Mar 07 2023
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The Soft Bulletin
The Flaming Lips
3
Mar 08 2023
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Elvis Is Back
Elvis Presley
Very enjoyable and dance-y. Elvis vocals are a revelation to me! Short, sweet songs with a few diverse ones thrown in as well. Great fun!
4
Mar 09 2023
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Buenas Noches From A Lonely Room
Dwight Yoakam
2
Mar 10 2023
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White Light
Gene Clark
not much going for it in terms of personal interest. soft, slow and mellow. probably a 2.5
2
Mar 11 2023
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Transformer
Lou Reed
Different song styles, catchy groovy stuff. Some progressive messaging for a 1972 album with "Make Up". Overall good listen.
4
Mar 12 2023
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Third/Sister Lovers
Big Star
Nice rhythm section, groovy drumming. Catchy songs. Nothing overly memorable though. 3*
3
Mar 13 2023
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Rubber Soul
Beatles
Do I need to say anything about this masterpiece? Has long been my favorite Beatles album - or music albums period - upbeat, creative, diverse and endlessly replayable. Heard both the UK and the US release tracklists. Easy 5/5.
5
Mar 14 2023
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American Pie
Don McLean
The title track is the clear standout, but it's more than a decent album otherwise. The Grave is excellent, really tugged at my heartstrings. The album overall had a Simon-and-Garfunkelesque feel, and that's never a bad thing!
4
Mar 15 2023
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Billion Dollar Babies
Alice Cooper
First time listening to Alice Cooper. Much tighter, groovier and catchier than I expected. Great fun from start to finish, although I'm not really a fan of the choice of topics in their lyrics, but I suppose it's all a part of the overall persona. Well worth a second listen - and adding to my YouTube Music library is my way of keeping track of these. 4/5
4
Mar 16 2023
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La Revancha Del Tango
Gotan Project
Groovy and relaxing. Nothing that stood out to me. 3/5
3
Mar 17 2023
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Fire Of Love
The Gun Club
Fun record, fast and groovy, drummer on fire, not much wrong on that level. Would have appreciated some variety in the album. 3/5
3
Mar 18 2023
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Off The Wall
Michael Jackson
It's MJ! You can't go wrong with the King! I've of course heard the Thriller album and a number of other 80s/90s hits, but this album not really. When I saw it 'pop' up, I was super 'thrilled'! Ok yeah I'll stop that now.
On "Off the Wall", the only one I'd heard before was the opener, which immediately got me movin' (albeit like a robot - which is not the worst analogy for a tech employee in his 30s staring at a monitor for 10 hours a day). But honestly, the rest of the album doesn't feel new in any way - driving home the point that MJ's debut solo effort was some effort! You can immediately recognize and appreciate the impact this record would have had on future R&B, with the sweet bass licks, the falsetto singing with a generous helping of oohs and aahs, and drumming (on some tracks) which would make the greats proud!
This is a definite 5/5 for me.
5
Mar 19 2023
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Vulgar Display Of Power
Pantera
"Roses are red," I wrote in my journal, "Pantera is loud but Doom is eternal" 4/5
4
Mar 20 2023
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Young Americans
David Bowie
Enjoyable listen. Couple of tracks I immediately loved, #1 and #3. This might be the start of a long, beautiful friendship with Bowie albums!
4
Mar 21 2023
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Talking Heads 77
Talking Heads
My twin bro Sai's recent obsession, Talking Heads, tends to be brought up in any conversation - as is his wont (-_-) - but I hadn't yet given it a chance (as is probably mine). Now despite that - or because of it? - I went into it with fairly low expectations. The first few songs felt like samplers, setting me in the mood, but once I got into it, I was hooked! Very catchy and upbeat, puts a smile on my face. I think I can listen to music like this for hours! Just hope it has the retaining power which, so far, hasn't always happened with artists that sound like them. Thankfully I've got the aptly-named playlist "Talking Heads - average" to help out ;)
4
Mar 22 2023
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At Budokan
Cheap Trick
Energetic live album with breathless drumming. Good old 70s rock.
3
Mar 23 2023
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Slipknot
Slipknot
Technically talented, lyrically demented. Every good thing the music does is instantly negated by the objectionable lyrics. Clearly people like it and I'd assume it's done for theater, but it's just not for me. 2/5
2
Mar 24 2023
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Lust For Life
Iggy Pop
Enjoyable listen. Drumming reminds me of John Bonham, and the singing/writing of Jim Morrison and occasionally of Plant. Parody? Or respect? Either way, it gets a high 3/5 from me; I would listen again.
3
Mar 25 2023
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OK Computer
Radiohead
PREFACE: I've given this album a try in the past, but it never "stuck" or I never "got" it. And I know it's considered one of the all-time greats, especially from a 21st century viewpoint, and therefore this time I'm going to go in having done a bit of reading, so I know what to expect.
REVIEW:
[First listen] Really appreciated the experimentation being demonstrated here, with the unique sounds, wailing style of singing, and the recording which is very raw, giving me a 'live' vibe - never been a problem for me, that!
[Second listen] Appreciating the guitar a lot more. Also quite sure there's a number of other instruments being used in songs such as "Paranoid Android", and the music sort of builds up to a great crescendo very often in the album. And the jumps between slow and fast are reminiscent of more recent music I've heard such as Steven Wilson's "Hand. Cannot. Erase", pointing towards this album's influence on future artists of a similar vein. I'm also trying to keep an eye out for the lyrics. I am aware of the album's overall theme, but connecting it to these lyrics doesn't seem straightforward at this time. No matter, I'll be happy to read about it later. The bandmembers do not consider it a "concept album". Interesting.
Overall a very consistently enjoyable listen. There is definitely more to appreciate and gather from it on future listens. For now, a high 4/5 from me.
4
Mar 26 2023
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In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida
Iron Butterfly
Really solid from start to finish. The last one is a standout but even otherwise, the consistent quality of bass/drums, despite the real lack of variety in the songs, was right up my alley. The influence it had on metal bands is quite clear as well. Lowish 4/5.
4
Mar 27 2023
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No Sleep 'Til Hammersmith (Live)
Motörhead
I can't quite remember a time I haven't enjoyed Motorhead, despite having not really explored them all that much. My brother is a massive fan of the Overkill album, while I have a soft spot for their self-titled debut. 'Iron Horse' and 'Motorhead' are great songs. Rediscovering 'Overkill' and 'No Class' was a joyful experience. The energy that comes across even in the studio recording is multiplied several times live, and all that comes out in this album. I can only imagine how it must have felt actually being there to take it all in. One of the special efforts which I'm sure I'll never tire of. 5/5.
5
Mar 28 2023
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The Rolling Stones
The Rolling Stones
Rolling Stones before they found their sound. Honestly "their sound" itself isn't quite my thing, and this particular album, seemingly a cover album, even less so. 2/5
2
Mar 29 2023
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Let Love Rule
Lenny Kravitz
A few good songs with a very diverse style. I could see Beatles and Jimi Hendrix influences in several places. Would give it a relisten; for now, high-ish 3/5.
3
Mar 30 2023
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Parsley, Sage, Rosemary And Thyme
Simon & Garfunkel
Beautiful.
4
Mar 31 2023
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Definitely Maybe
Oasis
Quite a catchy sound and good, clean alt-rock guitars. Not a big fan of the singing. 3/5
3
Apr 01 2023
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Bongo Rock
Incredible Bongo Band
Very enjoyable listen. Great musicianship and catchy tunes, particularly the opener and the cover of In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida. In the high 4's, but 4/5 for now. In my YTM library.
4
Apr 02 2023
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You Want It Darker
Leonard Cohen
Leonard Cohen would make for a good sleep therapist if you didn't understand English. If you did, someone better tell him you were looking for music, not a talking album.
2
Apr 03 2023
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Blood And Chocolate
Elvis Costello & The Attractions
A few standouts in a reallly consistently listenable album. Loved "I want you" and "Blue chair". Chorus sections are great, highly energizing, and exactly what makes rock music so good. Low 4/5.
4
Apr 04 2023
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Axis: Bold As Love
Jimi Hendrix
Great musicianship across the board. For a 3-member band, this is truly a masterful performance. A couple of standouts including Little Wing and Spanish Castle Magic, but I need to give the others a relisten. 4/5
4
Apr 05 2023
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Deserter's Songs
Mercury Rev
Mellow and trance-like at times. There's a mood for albums like these, such as nighttime road trips, but otherwise I didn't find a lot to connect with. Wikipedia says it shares a bond with The Soft Bulletin by The Flaming Lips (an album I've already heard) so I'll consider listening to them together in the future. 3/5
3
Apr 06 2023
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Bat Out Of Hell
Meat Loaf
I was watching a TV show (Maid) where this album is referenced, and it immediately got me excited for when I get this album - lo and behold, the very next day I get it!
This is such an easy 5/5 - one of my favorite albums. Pure rock, great vocals and instruments that enhance the drama of the subject matter. "Paradise By The Dashboard Light" and "Bat Out Of Hell" are my standout favorites, but the whole album is great.
5
Apr 07 2023
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Happy Trails
Quicksilver Messenger Service
Enjoyable classic rock music.. right up my alley.
4
Apr 08 2023
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Out Of The Blue
Electric Light Orchestra
The music is okay, enjoyable even. It reminds me of the sort of hits Queen regularly belted out in the late 70s and early 80s. But damn if the album doesn't go on and on! Its sheer size may put me off future listens, and it even affects my ability to pick a few standouts in what was, to be fair, a consistent listen. Closer to a 3 than a 2, but I'm rounding down so 2/5
2
Apr 09 2023
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John Barleycorn Must Die
Traffic
Good enjoyable prog rock. Enjoyed the title track and the opener. Higher side of 3/5. Worth a relisten.
3
Apr 10 2023
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Bad
Michael Jackson
Smooth Criminal, Bad, Dirty Diana, Man in the Mirror, plus a bunch of good-to-great songs. Wow.
P.S.: "Smooth Criminal except every other beat is missing" - YouTube. Do itashimashite.
4
Apr 11 2023
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Pretzel Logic
Steely Dan
Solid and smooth, so listenable as usually is the case for Steely Dan. Really starting to enjoy this band after having heard Aja and absolutely loving it. 4/5 with a promise to listen to it again in the future!
4
Apr 12 2023
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The Idiot
Iggy Pop
It got off to a nice start. I liked the electronic-inspired opener. Otherwise it was a fairly okay listen, although I may need to give it another go. 3/5
3
Apr 13 2023
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Bitte Orca
Dirty Projectors
Decent, but I would have to give it another chance to really appreciate it. Having said that, "No Intention" is just wonderful! The album also ended really well, although I will admit this was not a "one sitting" listening experience for me. 3/5
3
Apr 15 2023
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The Wildest!
Louis Prima
Reminds me of the few old Italian songs I've heard, dance friendly and enjoyable. 3/5
3