Mar 06 2023
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Exodus
Bob Marley & The Wailers
v chill album! a good morning listen
4
Mar 07 2023
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Cypress Hill
Cypress Hill
It's eye opening that people in 1991 were rapping about the same things they are rapping about now when it comes to police brutality.
3
Mar 08 2023
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Something Else By The Kinks
The Kinks
4
Mar 09 2023
View Album
Raising Hell
Run-D.M.C.
Fun to put an artist to a song I have heard thousands of times (It's Tricky)
I can't believe Aerosmith ripped these guys off (Walk this way)
Run DMC could be honorary Beachy Boys members.
I really like this late 80's early 90's hip hop sound and the variety of beats they were able to produce with horns, scratching, and the sounds that remind me of playing Tony Hawk Pro Skater.
I appreciate that we got Cypress Hill just before this to get a better understanding on the East vs West coast rap debate that I know was prevalent back then. Lyrics aren't as heavy as the ones on Cypress Hill, but the beats are more fun!
Great album, would listen again.
5
Mar 10 2023
View Album
At Folsom Prison
Johnny Cash
Interested to know the history on this album. How did Folsom Prison get Johnny Cash to come there? I do appreciate a live album being on this list.
Dirty Old Egg-Suckin' Dog has to make a place in my vocabulary.
There's a song named Jackson, 5 stars.
I think I overlooked Johnny Cash just because I know his hits, but there's some good singin' here, nothing too crazy instrumentally, though. Great stage presence though. Do all of the solo musicians of this era have that molasses sounding voice like Johnny Cash, or does Johnny Cash sound like all the others?
4
Mar 11 2023
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Marquee Moon
Television
The song Marquee Moon is a great jam, I have a great appreciation for this song.
Overall a solid album, but didn't do anything special for me. I have a feeling this is an album that was cutting edge at the time, but doesn't seem that special to us nowadays because a lot of artists use Television's style and technique. Just a hunch.
Wasn't paying too much attention while listening to this album, could use a re-listen.
3
Mar 12 2023
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Young Americans
David Bowie
Listened to in the car to Vermont. Will listen again
4
Mar 13 2023
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She's So Unusual
Cyndi Lauper
3
Mar 14 2023
View Album
Morrison Hotel
The Doors
I liked it! A good mix of tempos. Some songs were bluesy, some were psychedelic. I put this album off for a while because we were skiing. I'm glad I did because this is not a skiing album.
4
Mar 15 2023
View Album
Crossing the Red Sea With the Adverts
The Adverts
More British Punk! Wow! Better than most punk I've heard on this list, but still not great. At least the songs are discernable from one another
3
Mar 16 2023
View Album
Devil Without A Cause
Kid Rock
Really funny if you look at this as an ironically funny album. If I didn't know who Kid Rock was I would think this is just some wannabe rapper who grew up in a upper middle class neighborhood. I love some of the radio edit censorship in this album.
Welcome 2 the Party is a lyrical masterpiece
2
Mar 17 2023
View Album
Suicide
Suicide
Pretty decent start to an album. Not a great finish.
I usually don't like hearing a strange man moan and ejaculate in high def while I'm trying to work, and "Girl" was no exception to that rule.
2
Mar 18 2023
View Album
Brothers In Arms
Dire Straits
Album starts off with 3 certified bangers. Money for Nothing and Walk of Life specifically are legendary songs.
The next couple songs definitely tone down the explosiveness and tempo, but are very nice songs to listen to regardless. A lot of good variety with the introduction of some brass.
The riffs Ride Across the River could be a song in Final Fantasy 9 or Crash Bandicoot.
I've heard the hits on this album hundreds of times, but the other songs on it are exceptional in their own right. I could argue the middle of the album feels a bit disjointed, but I think I really appreciate the variety of instruments, styles, and tempos Dire Straits employ here. Definitely not an album where "every song sounds the same".
This album makes me appreciate how available music is to us today. It'll be interesting to see if this album has songs that my kids and grandkids will listen in their day because there is no way that Money For Nothing ever dies.
5
Mar 19 2023
View Album
Tigermilk
Belle & Sebastian
Kinda reminds me of Spoon or Barenaked Ladies.
These are fun, upbeat songs. Electronic Renaissance is different, but I really like it.
Overall an album I enjoyed and would listen to again. After reading about it on Wikipedia I don't really understand why it's on this 1001 albums list. Something about the record label's success, maybe?
4
Mar 20 2023
View Album
Eternally Yours
The Saints
This is one of the better punk albums on this list so far. I really like Know Your Product. Singer's voice is good, but the iconic punk guitar sound just feels like it's the same song throughout.
3
Mar 21 2023
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Revolver
Beatles
I need to listen to the Beatles more.
4
Mar 22 2023
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Sign 'O' The Times
Prince
Some duds like Dorothy Parker, but lots of winners.
Slow Love is fantastic.
If Prince was my girlfriend then he'd be a pedo.
It's Gonna be a Beautiful Night is a certified JAM.
I wish I could see Prince perform live.
Some good songs, some great songs, some actual duds. Doesn't have me dying to listen to this album again any time soon.
4
Mar 23 2023
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All That You Can't Leave Behind
U2
Some absolute bangers to start the album. I feel like this album falls into one of those "every song sounds the same" categories.
Overall a good listen!
3
Mar 24 2023
View Album
Garbage
Garbage
Not digging it. Some of these songs I can't believe someone heard the lyrics/moaning and said "Yup, that's a good song!"
Too much angst for this boy.
Stupid girl < Dumb du du dumb dumb Girl
1
Mar 25 2023
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Songs From The Big Chair
Tears For Fears
4
Mar 26 2023
View Album
The Dreaming
Kate Bush
This album feels like it's supposed to be a musical, but not a musical I would watch.
Night of the Swallow is probably the best song.
Lots of screaming.
The beginning of the last song feels like it's going to be great, but then the screaming starts.
Hee Haw Hee Haw Hee Haw
2
Mar 27 2023
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Mama Said Knock You Out
LL Cool J
Solid to start, trails off at the end. There's something about 80's/90's hip hop beats and scratches that just make me happy.
Lyrics are kinda silly (Milky Cereal) with some serious themes (Illegal Search). Overall I would call this album "just for fun". Not dying to listen again, but not upset by any means.
3
Mar 28 2023
View Album
At Fillmore East
The Allman Brothers Band
Another live album! Excited to listen. Will probably end up comparing it to Folsom Prison.
Never really listened to Allman Bros, but I understand how they got to their level of reputation. Good band, good performance.
They've got a good dose of that southern rock that I like. Coincidentally they are from Jacksonville, just like Lynard Skynard. I wonder if they got some influence from them.
I will be giving this 4 stars. I think David Burt would give it 5 stars.
4
Mar 29 2023
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Southern Rock Opera
Drive-By Truckers
Starts out on a seriously emo note.
Like Pearl Jam, but you can understand the singer.
Three Great Alabama Icons reminds me of A7Xs Welcome to the Family.
One of the singers sounds like Jake Cinninger
These guys love talking about Lynard Skynard
This album is long. Not my cup of tea, but the guitar parts are good, like most other southern rock.
3
Mar 30 2023
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Scott 2
Scott Walker
Sounds like a movie soundtrack for a movie that was on the cutting edge of technicolor.
Did Bo Burnham write "Next"?
I could see a lot of these songs (Next / Girls and the Dogs) being in a Frank Sinatra Jr. Family Guy Episode with how crude/humorous some of the lyrics are.
Good voice, but I don't really understand the album.
2
Mar 31 2023
View Album
Hearts And Bones
Paul Simon
Paul Simon fucking rocks. We've got nice, folky guitar riffs followed by some funky bass and a legendary voice.
Not as good as Graceland, but these are all really good songs.
I think if everyone listened to Paul Simon, we would eliminate world anger.
4
Apr 01 2023
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(Pronounced 'Leh-'Nérd 'Skin-'Nérd)
Lynyrd Skynyrd
Oh fuck yeah, it's that band that the Drive-By Truckers wouldn't shut up about!
Tuesday's Gone? Banger.
Gimme Three Steps? Banger.
Simple Man? Banger.
Free Bird? Banger.
Lol I looked up Lynard Skynard on wikipedia and found this nugget: The Drive-By Truckers dedicated their album Southern Rock Opera (2001) to Lynyrd Skynyrd.[citation needed]
4
Apr 02 2023
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Horses
Patti Smith
Not for me.
2
Apr 03 2023
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Kick Out The Jams (Live)
MC5
Never heard of MC5 before this. Great opening song, great closing song.
This is some good old fashioned rock and roll!
4
Apr 04 2023
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Blonde On Blonde
Bob Dylan
Great song writing, I would like to go back and listen again while looking at all of the lyrics. Not the greatest voice in my opinion, but overall a solid listen. Never listened to much Bob Dylan before, and this album is not strong enough to change that.
3
Apr 05 2023
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Guitar Town
Steve Earle
Goodbye's All We Got Left to Say is good!
Love the guitar in Fearless Heart
Overall a pretty solid classic album that could go toe to toe with some Tom Petty or John (Cougar) Mellencamp albums.
4
Apr 06 2023
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Abattoir Blues / The Lyre of Orpheus
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds
A lot of these songs are great! Great voice, background singers, good composition of songs. I would say a lot of this is "sing talking", but it's really enjoyable. Feels like this album belongs to a movie or musical.
Not sure how I've never heard of Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds before, but I feel like he could go toe to toe with Tom Petty and other similar artists.
This album is almost a 5 for me.
4
Apr 07 2023
View Album
Leftism
Leftfield
Had no clue what this album was going to be like, wasn't expecting eletronic.
Melt is great - reminds me of playing Terraria.
A lot of these songs are good, although a bit repetitive. These songs would make very memorable songs for games on AddictingGames.com
There is a lot of influence from this album I can hear in some electronic songs today; especially in Inspection (Check One).
Overall I like the sounds of this album a lot, it is a bit repetitive like most early electronic. I think that if you compare it to most early electronic, though, it has a lot of fresh sounds.
This is a 3.5 stars at face value, but I'm giving it a nudge because it feels so original.
4
Apr 08 2023
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The Undertones
The Undertones
I feel like when I hear Bri'ish punk I can just skip it and give it a 3 for sounding good, but homogenous.
There's actually some good variety here relative to other punk.
I would probably give this a 3.5 stars, but rounded down because it's definitely not 4 worthy.
3
Apr 09 2023
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A Love Supreme
John Coltrane
I'm surprised my headphones didn't catch on fire with how hard Mr. Coltrane was going during Pt. III.
It was nice to get some jazz as a change of pace from the rest of this album list.
4
Apr 10 2023
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Kimono My House
Sparks
First two songs start out great! Originally I thought it was not in English.
I'm surprised this is from the 70's; it sounds like late 90s early 00s pop with some solid guitar mixed in.
The rest of the songs sounds more like rock.
Really unique and enjoyable album!
4
Apr 11 2023
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Ramones
Ramones
I don't think punk is my jam. All of these songs sound the same. Blitzkreig Bop is a bop.
2
Apr 12 2023
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Phaedra
Tangerine Dream
Reminds me of the soundscapes that Gabe from The Office creates. I definitely recommend headphones or a good stereo system for this album.
I kinda like these songs as like a background sound to a weird art exhibit or halloween, but 2 AND A HALF HOURS???
Seeing as this is from 1974 I feel like this is probably one of the first uses of the synthesizer, and thus the forefront of electronic music as a whole.
I honestly like the music, but the length of it all would require some psychedelics to keep my attention. Not really a good album to listen to while working. Maybe this could be the soundtrack to some abstract film that I wouldn't watch.
3
Apr 13 2023
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Gasoline Alley
Rod Stewart
Solid album, but nothing special to my ears. I feels like a lot of the classic/southern rock albums are blending together. I really like Rod Stewart's voice. It's talented singing meets pack a day smoker. Kinda reminds me of Brent Mydland's singing.
3
Apr 14 2023
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Planet Rock: The Album
Afrika Bambaataa
Not the best old school hip hop album so far, but definitely still a fun album. Another early electronic album, which I have respect for.
Renegades of Funk!! (Rage version is better)
I think I wanted to like this album more than I did.
Album cover reminds me of Bill & Teds Excellent Adventure.
2
Apr 15 2023
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Red Headed Stranger
Willie Nelson
Never really listened to Willie Nelson. I really like how unpolished the songs are from a production standpoint. His voice shines because when you hear the smallest flaws, you realize his raw voice is just that good.
Down Yonder was a great little ragtime intermission.
I enjoyed this album!
4
Apr 16 2023
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Siembra
Willie Colón & Rubén Blades
I really enjoyed this album. I enjoy salsa as a whole, but don't listen to it often. This album is very easy going and flows incredibly well.
Pedro Navaja was probably my favorite song.
This album definitely makes me want to listen to some more salsa.
4
Apr 17 2023
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Getz/Gilberto
Stan Getz
This is a delightful album to listen to. Incredibly calming background music while working. Gotta remember Stan Getz next time I have a dinner party with some new friends so I can pretend like I listen to classy music all the time.
All jokes aside, I think Evelyn would like this album the most.
4
Apr 18 2023
View Album
Play
Moby
I have definitely heard Porcelain sampled in another song (or vice versa), can't wait to forgot completely about this and then hear the song 4 years later, bringing back memories of the first time I listened to Moby.
Starts off kinda emo. It has an enjoyable sound to it that reminds me of The Matrix that I can't quite describe. Songs are pretty repetitive
The hard switch into Bodyrock was a bit jarring, but it made me pay attention again. Interestingly; the second half of Bodyrock samples a song from Planet Rock: The Album.
I did not listen to all of the B-sides, but I enjoyed this album enough. I can hear the influences it had on techno and other electronic music. Probably not going out of my way to listen to this album again, though.
3
Apr 19 2023
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Killing Joke
Killing Joke
Punk, Post Punk, who gives a shit?
I understand the important political aspects of punk and post-punk, but the music is not really my cut of the jib.
It's kind of funny to see the transition of punk from the 60's into the 90's and how much of a turn it makes entering the 00's.
Not for me
1
Apr 20 2023
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All Mod Cons
The Jam
ALL KEV CONS
Another punk album. How broad of an umbrella is punk?
Another 1001 Albums cross over with David Watts!
I really enjoyed this album. It has almost beach rock feel to it; great for a sunny 70 degree day. I would definitely listen to this album again or other works from The Jam.
4
Apr 21 2023
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Dusty In Memphis
Dusty Springfield
Holy hell! I saw "In Memphis" and was expecting some honky tonk southern drawl. What a pleasant surprise to get a voice like this!
I feel like there is a Spanish influence on this album with the drums, soft guitar, and maracas, especially in "Windmills of your Mind" and "Land of Make Believe"
Great album. I'm not sure that it's music I'll more regularly seek out, but I certainly enjoyed it!
4
Apr 22 2023
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Lady Soul
Aretha Franklin
Another great album. We are on a hot streak!
Great voice across all songs, I really appreciate the range of powerful, energetic songs that flow well with more melodic, softer songs.
Apart from Aretha holding down the songs with her voice, I think the rest of the band on this album deserve credit; especially the brass and backup singers. Wish I could give this 4.5 stars.
Never really listened to Aretha Franklin much before. I understand where all of the respect for her comes from. Another reason I appreciate this 1001 albums challenge.
4
Apr 23 2023
View Album
Music For The Jilted Generation
The Prodigy
Not feeling it right off the bat. I liked the middle/middle-end of Break & Enter.
Repetitive, Repetitive, Repetitive. At least there is some creativity with sound design so each song, while repetitive, is actually distinct from other songs.
I started to enjoy this more in the second half of the album as I was tuning it out more. Not sure if that's a good thing necessarily.
Overall, I thought I was really going to hate this album and was pleasantly surprised by it. Definitely fits the bill of 90's edge. Probably pairs well with Adderall and Finals Week.
3
Apr 24 2023
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Wonderful Rainbow
Lightning Bolt
Album art is pretty cool at least.
1
Apr 25 2023
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In Rainbows
Radiohead
Not in love with Thom Yorke's singing voice. I do really love the guitar, bass, and drums though.
I bet you could convince people that Weird Fishes / Arpeggi is a U2 song. Regardless, it is a certified jam.
All I Need is another certified jam. Love the entire crescendo at the end especially drums and keyboard.
Videotape is a great way to end this album. It's unsettling in a good way.
I definitely grew to appreciate Thom Yorke's falsetto more as another instrument in the whole ensemble as the album went on. The technical skill and variety of the guitar and drums are what really stood out to me. This album was good, but does not inspire me to get a silly mouse tattoo.
I wonder if this is the latest album that will be on this list.
4
Apr 26 2023
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Our Aim Is To Satisfy
Red Snapper
The first two songs were pretty rough to listen to. Almost wrote off the whole album. Shellback and Don't Go Nowhere saved this album from being a 1 star. Alaska Street and Belladonna were pretty good too.
I really disliked the voice effect that was used in this album. Had some cool hip hop/funk rhythms which I appreciate, but it feels like they didn't build enough on top of that. This album felt disjointed and repetitive, it could have been shortened to 30 minutes and still been the same.
Overall this album wants to be a good mix of genres, like how peanut butter and chocolate is a good mix, but it feels more like peanut butter and kiwi; probably not terrible, but definitely not aiming to satisfy.
2
Apr 27 2023
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Vento De Maio
Elis Regina
This is a fun album. Good singer, some elements of funk. Pretty solid all around.
3
Apr 28 2023
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A Walk Across The Rooftops
The Blue Nile
I'm liking this strong baseline. Great to listen to on a rainy morning.
I appreciate the emphasis on the singing, but I think Paul Buchanan's voice is *just* good, not great. I also really like another early adopter of synthesizers/electronic elements, especially these chime-y, whimsical sounds. It must have been so cool to listen to these sounds in the 80's.
Really pleasant album. I would like to give it a 3.5, but I'm rounding down to 3 because I don't feel like I'll listen to this one again for any reason.
3
Apr 29 2023
View Album
A Hard Day's Night
Beatles
This album is good, and it's hard not to directly compare it to Revolver, which is just a superior album in my opinion.
A lot of good songs on this album, but doesn't feel like any stuck with me. Pairs well with making homemade pasta for your roommates Last Supper.
3
Apr 30 2023
View Album
Beautiful Freak
Eels
Pretty weird and sad lyrics. Not the worst album I've listened to, but certainly not the best. Album art is freaky, but I kind of dig it.
2
May 01 2023
View Album
Vincebus Eruptum
Blue Cheer
Immediately reminds me of Jimi Hendrix and Deep Purple. Overall a pretty solid album and I can definitely hear the early heavy metal sounds that this album helped discover.
Enjoyable listen, but not too much more than that for me.
3
May 02 2023
View Album
Disintegration
The Cure
Started off good, but quickly started to lose interest in the album. A lot of the songs sounded the same. I enjoyed the piano, as well as some guitar and bass parts, but I could really do without the singing in almost every song.
2
May 03 2023
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Machine Gun Etiquette
The Damned
Feels like some of these songs could be in any Tony Hawk game. Some of the songs had weird jumps in tempo that were honestly a little confusing -- I had to check my phone to make sure the song didn't skip. There are a handful of songs that are definitely poppy, I'm surprised I have never heard any before.
I'm still trying to put my finger on what makes music punk. I did enjoy this album more than most other punk albums we have gotten, especially 70's and 80's British punk.
I oftentimes can't hear different accents when people sing in English; this is not one of those cases. It sounds like they are pretending to be Bri'ish.
Bonus points for names like Captain Sensible and Rat Scabies.
I enjoyed listening to this album. It feels like a stretch to give it a 4, but I'm gonna do it.
4
May 04 2023
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Now I Got Worry
The Jon Spencer Blues Explosion
AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH.
More punk. The curator of this list must really hate The Man.
This album was the worst parts of punk mixed with the worst parts of jazz mixed with a bad acid trip.
Did not like.
1
May 05 2023
View Album
I See A Darkness
Bonnie "Prince" Billy
First two songs were good. This album feels like one where the juice is in the lyrics, but I had trouble paying attention to lyrics. Besides that, a pretty mediocre album, but not awful.
Last song was pretty good.
2
May 06 2023
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Ragged Glory
Neil Young & Crazy Horse
Solid rock and roll. Nothing very special stood out to me. Good background music.
3
May 07 2023
View Album
Like A Prayer
Madonna
Has the same kind of rhythm as Brothers in Arms where it starts off with some bangers/upbeat songs, then really slows down which I don't quite understand. I really like these poppy songs though, I could certainly boogie this album.
Dear Jessie sounds like every Disney song ever (not a bad thing).
One of my biggest knocks is the album felt disjointed from song to song.
Pray for Spanish Eyes was probably my favorite after the first 2 songs.
3
May 08 2023
View Album
The Wall
Pink Floyd
I think this might be my first time listening to this album in earnest....
Happiest Days of Our Lives is a great interlude. Mother is an immediate standout to me as well.
In the Flesh is also great.
The sheer amount of variety that this album hits on is incredibly well done. From instruments and intensities to singers and solos; it all comes together nicely and kept me interested throughout.
I can't believe I went this long in my life without listening to this album in it's entirety. Definitely happy I read about the concept while listening to understand the songs greater meanings; Comfortably Numb especially.
5
May 09 2023
View Album
S&M
Metallica
When I saw this pop up as the next album it made my eyes light up. I can instantly give this a 5 because it's one of my favorite albums of all time. Not complaining about an excuse to listen to this album at 11am on a Tuesday though.
I listen to this album at least twice a year; once on family vacation at the beach and once during the fantasy football draft (who was that chick?).
Incredible composition and energy from start to finish, I would give my left nut to be at this show. At least we live in a time where so much music is available on demand.
A very thoughtful fusion of orchestral music and metal. Someone could do something like this to make a badass movie score with little to no dialogue.
5
May 10 2023
View Album
You Want It Darker
Leonard Cohen
Wasn't sure what I was getting into at the first song, but I was pleasantly surprised.
A very interesting album clearly focusing on death and life. It's not super depressing throughout; I appreciate the matter of fact view he has on death. It also hits harder knowing he died 17 days after the release of this album at the age of 82.
The focus is clearly on the lyrics, like poetry, and it does a good job making sure lyrics are clear and powerful. I would like to listen to this again while reading the lyrics instead of working.
Steer Your Way was a standout to me.
This album has taken the throne for latest album at 2016! (previously held by In Rainbows)
4
May 11 2023
View Album
Gentlemen
The Afghan Whigs
First song was not very good... Singer is kinda rough, like a budget Chris Cornell. Guitar solo in Gentleman was great.
I like the effect on the guitar used throughout. Lyrics remain angsty.
Overall, not bad, not great. Not going to listen to this band anymore, but didn't feel like they wasted my time.
3
May 12 2023
View Album
Country Life
Roxy Music
Bitter Sweet reminded me of Nightmare Before Christmas. I like the dude's voice a lot. A cool variety of instruments as well. I would definitely listen to this album again.
4
May 13 2023
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The Seldom Seen Kid
Elbow
I like that this album has an almost whimsical tone to it. I also appreciate the depth in the tracks with the background vocals, horns, and strings.
Love the use of "holy cow" in One Day Like This. The whole song is very triumphant
This album feels like a 3.5. I feel like Tim would really like it.
4
May 14 2023
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Life Thru A Lens
Robbie Williams
Life Thru a Lens and Ego Agogo were bops, even if the lyrics are stupid.
This album is shades of that Kid Rock album with South of the Border. I'd argue the music is better, but the lyrics and singing are pretty garbage. Kinda whiny.
3
May 15 2023
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Atomizer
Big Black
First song is ROUGHHHHHHHHH, hard to continue the album after that one, but I have been pleasantly surprised before on this list.
Second song starts just as rough. I had to double check that the video I'm listen to this album on isn't terrible quality. Nope, it's just the songs sounding like barbed wire and sand!
I feel like there is actually some decent music behind the "rawness" of this album, but it sounds like they are mixing the audio with the sounds of a paper shredder trying to shred aluminum foil.
I would be interested to see King Gizz do a noise rock album.
1
May 16 2023
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Tidal
Fiona Apple
This is a good album, Great singer and the songs aren't repetitive or overly formulaic. No real highs or lows, but consistently good through the album. Love the choice of instruments.
Feels like a 3.5 stars kinda album. I liked it a lot, but there were no homerun moments that will push it into the 4 star rating. Sorry Fiona.
3
May 17 2023
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...Baby One More Time
Britney Spears
Poppy and catchy; no surprise there. I enjoyed this more than I expected to.
3
May 18 2023
View Album
Here's Little Richard
Little Richard
Another album like Lynard Skynard's where it's just banger after banger after banger. How the hell is anyone supposed to sit still when listening to there jams? Great voice, great instrumentals, great energy.
4
May 19 2023
View Album
Frank
Amy Winehouse
I understand the hype around Amy Winehouse after this album. It's a great album, and listening to it early on a Sunday morning while making breakfast and coffee is a home run time to listen.
This felt like a good R&B album with some jazz and soul thrown it; great combo. It didn't feel like this had highs and lows, it was consistently great from start to finish.
Definitely reaching for more Amy after this.
4
May 20 2023
View Album
Dookie
Green Day
Another album that is absolutely riddle with bangers. The trifecta of Lynard Skynard, Little Richard, and Green Day is complete.
Seriously, this is one of the best pop-punk albums/bands ever. I give this genre a lot of grief because it's so copy and paste; but these guys started it all, and only did it with a slightly whiny voice.
Longview has such an iconic baseline.
Feels like another 3.5 star album, but I'm giving it the Nostalgia Bump to 4 stars.
4
May 21 2023
View Album
Rip It Up
Orange Juice
This is a very interesting album. It feels very experimental, and I definitely like their science.
A Million Pleading Faces is a bop.
Breakfast Time feels like it needs to be made into a terrible short horror movie.
I bet Orange Juice had a lot of fun making this album.
Feels like yet another 3.5 album, but I'm going to bump it up to 4 because it felt so unique. We are on a streak of good albums.
4
May 22 2023
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My Aim Is True
Elvis Costello
This is a music album.
3
May 23 2023
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Pearl
Janis Joplin
I have never picked up Janis and I regret that after today. This album is incredible. Cry Baby, A Woman Left Lonely, and Buried Alive in the Blues were all incredible. I immediately listened to this album a second time after finishing. It's not often you listen to an album for the first time and it becomes a favorite; Pearl did that.
5
May 24 2023
View Album
Channel Orange
Frank Ocean
Glad to get some modern day R&B, excited to listen to this one again. This album gets you hooked with some nostalgia bait right from the get go.
Frank's voice is great.
One gripe is the intermittent audio that's from movies or videos, kinda takes me out of the whole album.
Super Rich Kids is a bop.
The drop in Pyramids got my amped up.
I like the overall variety and beats on this album, and I think it was a very good album; but I think I went into this one thinking I would like it more. I know it's critically acclaimed, but I think a lot of juice is in the lyrics, which I am not always paying attention to. I'm sure I'd give it higher marks if I was reading along with the songs.
3
May 25 2023
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Another Green World
Brian Eno
First song isn't great.
I like St Elmo's Fire, The Big Ship, and Little Fishes.
So far it feels like there are some good songs, one or two nothing songs, and some average songs. Every song sounds so different it feels like I'm shuffling a random playlist.
The short interludes were interesting.
I think this is one of the most engaged I've been on an album so far because I'm really trying to determine if I like it or not.
I would say this is an enjoyable listen. I appreciate the originality, but I'm not going to listen to this one again.
3
May 26 2023
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Live!
Fela Kuti
Right off the bat, this album cover makes me feel like I'm about to listen to people have a lot of fun jamming out for an hour.
OH boy was I right; you should judge a book by its cover.
Got some cool American Jazz fused with some African beats. Just some dudes jamming out big time. What's not to love?
4
May 27 2023
View Album
The Yes Album
Yes
Judging this album by it's cover I thought it was going to be some gloomy, droning songs; was not looking forward to it. I certainly did not expecting the first song to come out swinging like that. Certified jam right out of the gate.
Listen to this one with headphones cause they really like to play with stereo.
Some songs on here that I have definitely heard before like "I've Seen All Good People"
This album rocked from start to finish. Encapsulates classic rock, but has a unique sound with a variety of instruments and a great voice.
5
May 28 2023
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Endtroducing.....
DJ Shadow
This is a very original sounding album with tracks that sound like they are definitely from the 90's, but then there are tracks that sound like they came out this year.
I am giving praise for the variety in this one, but it doesn't flow very well and sometimes it feels like a song changed abruptly which I don't like.
Had some lows, a lot of middling songs, and a high or two. What Does Your Soul Look Like Pt. 1 was really good, but not so good to listen to the whole album ever again.
2.5 rounded down on this one.
2
May 29 2023
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The Gershwin Songbook
Ella Fitzgerald
I listened to "The Very Best of the Gershwin Songbook" before I realized it was a 4 disc set that I don't plan on listening to.
Some good morning tunes from a legend of American music. I have a lot of respect for early Jazz artists for practically giving American music an identity.
Mostly listened to this as background music in the morning, and it made for a very enjoyable morning.
4
May 30 2023
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Lost In The Dream
The War On Drugs
Great alternative album. Guitar shreds, keyboard slaps, and the voice is great. Has a lot of highs in the beginning and end, and is solid throughout.
4
May 31 2023
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Veckatimest
Grizzly Bear
Southern Point could easily be the best song on the album right from the hop.
I have heard Two Weeks several hundred times in my life, always fun to discover song names/artists after knowing the song forever.
Another good alternative/folk/indie album. Unfortunately it became a bit ho-hum after the great start. Good album to follow yesterdays Follow the Dream.
3.5 stars with Southern Point, 3 stars without it.
3
Jun 01 2023
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Layla And Other Assorted Love Songs
Derek & The Dominos
This is some David Burt music. Eric Clapton rocks.
4
Jun 02 2023
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In It For The Money
Supergrass
Interesting album that feels like a fusion of pop-punk, alternative, and some classic rock.
There are a lot of unique sounds in this song that all work really well together. Sometimes I Make You Sad is a stand out in this regard.
There are definitely some middling songs throughout that I start to tune out a bit, but this album feels so unique and their experimental sounds are all incredible while not straying too far from a traditional rock band sound.
Easy 4 star album. Interesting enough to listen to again.
4
Jun 03 2023
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Aladdin Sane
David Bowie
Another good Bowie album. Definitely a unique artist that I need to listen to more of.
4
Jun 04 2023
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Drunk
Thundercat
Next album to top the "latest album" list at 2017, surpassing You Want it Darker. This is great because Thundercat is a god on the bass.
4
Jun 05 2023
View Album
I'm Your Man
Leonard Cohen
I like this Leonard Cohen fella. Good voice, good lyrics, some interesting sounds/instruments used in this one.
3
Jun 06 2023
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The Köln Concert
Keith Jarrett
Nothing like listening to a man tickle the ivories for an hour. Good stuff.
4
Jun 07 2023
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There's A Riot Goin' On
Sly & The Family Stone
Good background music while working. Some good funk and soul to start the day.
3
Jun 08 2023
View Album
Queens of the Stone Age
Queens of the Stone Age
Power chords for days. Super repetitive and just drones on. Singer doesn't even sound like he wants to be there, his voice is so sterile and emotionless.
Had to take a break during this album and couldn't wait to finish.
1
Jun 09 2023
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The Nightfly
Donald Fagen
This is just such a cool album. Lots of unique, jaunty sounds in here. Listened to this one twice. It feels like a 3.5, but I think it has just enough uniqueness and chutzpah to push it into the 4 star realm.
4
Jun 10 2023
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In The Court Of The Crimson King
King Crimson
Starting off with the sample to a Kanye song, very neat!
21st Century Schizoid is a certified jam.
Singer's voice is amazing.
Very interesting mix of heavy metal, classical, and jazz(?), reminds me of S&M. This album sounds like it could have been released today.
This album is amazing. I like the story-telling aspect to it, reminds me of Rime of the Ancient Mariner. The Moonchild interlude goes a bit long, but that's the only blemish I could point out. I love this list for albums like this where I have never heard of the band. There are a lot of masterpieces to discover.
5
Jun 11 2023
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Is This It
The Strokes
The Strokes are solid, but the singer (Mr. Stroke) doesn't have much inflection to his voice which makes so many of the songs sound the same, despite some of the guitar and bass parts being really cool.
Decent album, but not too exciting. Not getting out of bed for this one.
3
Jun 12 2023
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Non-Stop Erotic Cabaret
Soft Cell
Tainted Love is another of those songs that I have heard hundreds of times but never knew who sings it.
This feels like stereotypical 70's/80's electronic/synth. I wouldn't be surprised if these guys started it.
Lyrics are a bit uncomfortable, but the rest of the music is pretty damn good.
I guess it's hard to complain about the weirdly sexual lyrics when the name of the album is an Erotic Cabaret...
2
Jun 13 2023
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Station To Station
David Bowie
Eh, kinda forgot I was listening to this album. Still appreciate the variety that David Bowie brings.
3
Jun 14 2023
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American Idiot
Green Day
I feel like Green Day has to be my favorite pop punk band for a genre I generally don't love. Lots of classics on this one with some lyrics that are more politically charged than most pop punk.
3
Jun 15 2023
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Highway 61 Revisited
Bob Dylan
Harmonica is cool. A lot of these songs sound the same. Good album, but no stand outs. Overall I appreciate Dylan's writing, but I wasn't paying too much attention to the lyrics while working.
3
Jun 16 2023
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The Downward Spiral
Nine Inch Nails
There were a couple times during this album I could feel myself getting into the chaos that NIN was slinging, but for the most part it's not my cuppa tea.
Reminds me of Twisted Metal.
Is this Math Rock?
2
Jun 17 2023
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Rio
Duran Duran
Absolute classic of a first song.
Has some fun pop/synth sounds that just screams 80's to me.
Nothing crazy about this album.
3
Jun 18 2023
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Midnight Ride
Paul Revere & The Raiders
These honkies can play! Got some 60's beach rock vibes in this album.
This album was an interesting mix of upbeat rock, some love songs, and some other slow songs.
Some pretty cool songs in here. Feels like a 3.5.
3
Jun 19 2023
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Peter Gabriel 3
Peter Gabriel
This is an interesting album that definitely had mental breakdown written all over it.
Games Without Frontiers and Lead a Normal Life were the two standouts to me.
Peter Gabriel has an all time singing voice.
3
Jun 20 2023
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Figure 8
Elliott Smith
There are some good songs at the beginning and end. Can't Make a Sound and Son of Sam to name names.
Overall some pretty unique sounds and instruments on this album which I appreciate, but overall was a pretty average sounding album.
3
Jun 21 2023
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I Against I
Bad Brains
Singer reminds me of Jake Cinninger. Pretty meh album. Not bad though.
2
Jun 22 2023
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Elephant
The White Stripes
Couple shining moments in this one. It's better than most rock from the early 2000's from a technical standpoint, but a lot of songs felt pretty repetitive and similar. Overall this probably warrants a re-listen just based on Jack White's ability.
3
Jun 23 2023
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White Blood Cells
The White Stripes
The The White White Stripes Stripes
I didn't know "We're Going to Be Friends" was a Stripes song.
Other than that this album had some interesting variety. I think it edges out Elephant just a bit, but still just an average album on first listen.
3
Jun 24 2023
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Beggars Banquet
The Rolling Stones
Pretty damn good album! Factory Girl and the end of Salt of the Earth were some standouts.
4
Jun 25 2023
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New Boots And Panties
Ian Dury
This was a weird album. I really liked the guitar, but really hated the guys voice. The middle of the album was really good, but the end turned into some garbage punk? I would give all my favorite parts of this album a 4, but the last two songs + his voice on every song takes it down to a 3.
3
Jun 26 2023
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Like Water For Chocolate
Common
I love this style of hip-hop. Really good album. Looks like the first song is a tribute to Fela Kuti who had that baller jam album a few weeks ago.
I like the beginning and the end of the album a bit more than the middle.
I like the story and how it's kind of a concept album.
There's a good amount of homophobic lyrics, but I get that 2000 was a bit different in that regard.
4
Jun 27 2023
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Green
R.E.M.
The singer of R.E.M. has such a distinct voice. I honestly didn't think he was American.
I've never listened to R.E.M. outside of their hits.
Guitar and the mandolin/ukelele are on point in "You Are The Everything" and "The Wrong Child". Reminds me of Eddie Vedder.
Orange Crush rules.
4
Jun 28 2023
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Every Picture Tells A Story
Rod Stewart
Another good Rod Stewart album. This one had more of the hits than Gasoline Alley. Overall I liked this album more.
Didn't know Rod Stewart was British, because his music just sounds so American. Not sure if other people think the same or if that's just ignorance on my part.
4
Jun 29 2023
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Blood, Sweat & Tears
Blood, Sweat & Tears
I was not expecting peaceful, orchestral music from the get go. Definitely settles more into a jaunty big-room style of music that I love.
Some parts remind me of Final Fantasy.
This was a very unique album. I really love the genres that it covered. I want to give this one a 4.5, but will settle for a 4.
4
Jun 30 2023
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Fuzzy Logic
Super Furry Animals
Didn't do the best job listening to this one. Was having the stop and start a bunch so I might need to listen again. Felt like punk and alternative put together, but not in your face about it.
I enjoyed a lot of the guitar solos.
Feels like a 3.5 that deserves another listen.
3
Jul 01 2023
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Tommy
The Who
Underture was awesome. Pete Townshend and Keith Moon are awesome. Lots of classics that just keep bringing up Mr. P. Wizard.
Never realized how fucked up the story of this album was until reading about it.
Great listen.
4
Jul 02 2023
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Heaven Or Las Vegas
Cocteau Twins
This feels like an album Kevin would like a lot. I also like this album a lot. It's early pop music that isn't overly poppy.
It got a little repetitive toward the end, but overall was enjoyable. Probably won't listen to this one again, but happy I listened once :).
3
Jul 03 2023
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Rage Against The Machine
Rage Against The Machine
These guys stole our group name >:(
Killing in the Name will always go hard till the day I die.
Some songs I never heard before. Take the Power Back was a favorite.
I think this album falls into the category of the songs being so lyrically driven, but I don't pay attention to the lyrics word for word, so a lot of the purpose of the album gets lost on me.
Tim Commerford has now entered my brain as a great bassist, based off this album.
Definitely an impactful album socially. Simple repetition of some phrases is effective.
4
Jul 04 2023
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The Queen Is Dead
The Smiths
Pretty cool rhythm and bass in the first song.
Liked the guitar in The Thorn Sided Boy.
I have heard of The Smiths, but never listened to them. With a name like that I expected some bland style of post-punk. I am pleasantly surprised by these lads; especially the bassist.
Not the strongest 4 on this list, but it warrants the 4 for the surprise factor as well as the variety of instruments working so well together.
4
Jul 05 2023
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Duck Rock
Malcolm McLaren
Was not expecting a serene soundscape to start this album.
Oh it's hip hop.
Oh it's world music.
I really like most, if not all of the songs on the album. Unfortunately it doesn't really sound like an album to me. It feels more like a playlist. I guess that's what you'll get from travelling the world in one album.
Definitely was grooving to a number of these songs
4
Jul 06 2023
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GREY Area
Little Simz
Oh baby another album coming in to usurp the title of latest album at 2019! Looks like Willow Smith on the album cover.
Damn this girl has flow. This is a really good rap album. I really liked Flowers.
4
Jul 07 2023
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Aha Shake Heartbreak
Kings of Leon
Has an interesting folky/southern twang to what I expected to be a more generic rock album. Seems like they found some success with commercial alternative rock and ran with it, which is the Kings of Leon that I know.
Pretty solid album. Not quite what I was expecting, but it is good.
3
Jul 08 2023
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Led Zeppelin
Led Zeppelin
Great album with hit after hit. I always think about how I don't listen to Led Zeppelin enough (since I don't listen to their albums often), but every time I go to listen to an album I recognize nearly every song.
Great vocals, guitar, drums, and bass. I love the inclusion of organ and some other instruments in there as well.
Minus 1 star for having a lot of rip offs on this album. NOT Cool Led Zeppelin!
4
Jul 09 2023
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Warehouse: Songs And Stories
Hüsker Dü
This album sounded like an AI generated album that was guaranteed to be commercially successful. The white bread of music.
3
Jul 10 2023
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Raw Like Sushi
Neneh Cherry
This album definitely influenced a lot of 90's pop/hip hop. There's some cool beats in this album, but overall not really my cuppa tea. I appreciate getting different genres than rock though. I'd probably give this one a 2.5 if I could.
3
Jul 11 2023
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D
White Denim
First couple of songs remind me of Unknown Mortal Orchestra. Back at the Farm is a jam.
I was already starting to hear shades of King Giz, then the flute came out in "River to Consider".
I could see this band slowly making it into my rotation.
4
Jul 12 2023
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Jack Takes the Floor
Ramblin' Jack Elliott
I think I expected to like this album more than I did. I generally like older American music from a history standpoint. While I enjoyed listening to the album from that perspective, I was never too invested in the music itself.
3
Jul 13 2023
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Tellin’ Stories
The Charlatans
I liked this album!
4
Jul 14 2023
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Dirt
Alice In Chains
The hits are great. Most of the other songs are a little ho-hum. Not in love with grunge, but I like the heavy metal riffs.
I don't know if it's intentional, but the singers voice keeps fluctuating from good to terrible as he sometimes just drones and moans when he isn't singing.
Overall; the hits buoy this album for me. Wouldn't choose to listen to this one again, but I know I'll be listening to The Rooster for the rest of my life.
3
Jul 15 2023
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Bayou Country
Creedence Clearwater Revival
Tons of hits of this one. Really like how short this one is. Guitar shreds. Little to complain about on this one.
4
Jul 16 2023
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Urban Hymns
The Verve
Bittersweet Symphony could be in my personal top 100 songs. Sonnet is a pretty good song too. The middle of the album gets pretty boring. Lucky Man was pretty good amidst the boring. I actually liked the ending a good bit too. All in all it ends up squarely as a 3.
It's way too long as well.
3
Jul 17 2023
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American Gothic
David Ackles
Another album that sounds like to belongs in a musical. That's not necessarily a knock, but it just stands out to me.
Fairly pleasant album to listen to, no real highs though.
3
Jul 18 2023
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Arrival
ABBA
A fun pop album that is helped by the fact it has songs on one of the most well known movie soundtracks. I expected to enjoy the songs from Mamma Mia and have everything else be average. I was pleasantly surprised by how good the overall album is. Fun lyrics, good singing, and not overly repetitive like a lot of pop is. Happy Hawaii is a great song to end it all on
4
Jul 19 2023
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Ys
Joanna Newsom
Her voice and the flow/cadence is really throwing me off. It feels like she is singing in a different time signature.
I am interested in the fact that this is not a traditional song structure with choruses and verses, but is instead more freeform; like a poem or a story
I think this album took some getting used to, but I really think it got better as it went along. That being said; it took me about 40 minutes to get to this point.
The instrumental composition is great in this album. The lyrics and song structure are interesting. I don't love her voice and cadence, however.
All in all, I was prepared to give this a 1 after the first song. Glad it got better, because it is fairly long. Another reason this album list is fun to go through, you get some genres you would never think of listening to.
3
Jul 20 2023
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The Doors
The Doors
Lotsa classics on this one. Didn't realize it was all from the 60s.
Some cool psychedelic sounds going on in here.
I felt like the later part of the album turned more into a story. The End was a cool song to end it. I'd probably listen to this one again.
4
Jul 21 2023
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Five Leaves Left
Nick Drake
Never heard of Nick Drake before. Great intro song; love me some folky jams in the morning.
Overall a nice easy listening album that I really enjoyed. I would definitely listen to this one again, but mostly as background music. Good job, Nick Drake!
4
Jul 22 2023
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Remain In Light
Talking Heads
I like Talking Heads in small doses. Listening to the whole album at once just feels disjointed and random. I generally appreciate how unique Talking Heads is, but it's a bit much for me and less enjoyable in long form.
Crosseyed and Painless and Once in a Lifetime are standouts to me.
There's some highs and some lows on this album. The Overload is kind of a dull song to end on.
I think I biasedly want to give this a 3, but I'll pretend I've never heard of Talking Heads and give it a 2.
2
Jul 23 2023
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3 Years, 5 Months And 2 Days In The Life Of...
Arrested Development
Good hip hop album. Really good beats for background/working music. Unfortunately (once again) I was not listening too closely to the lyrics.
Overall I enjoyed listening to this album like most of the early 90s hip hop that is on this list. Might give this one a more earnest listen sometime in the future because I think it deserves it. Until then; 3 Stars, 5 Possible, and 2 Left to Earn...
3
Jul 24 2023
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Music Has The Right To Children
Boards of Canada
Another great working album primarily made up of great beats. The first couple songs remind me of The xx. The Color Of The Fire was a cool song that reminded me of some of the interludes in Griz's Rainbow Brain.
Telephasic Workshop is a standout for sure.
Kinda funny that I mentioned Rainbow Brain because that album also has a song called "Roygbiv".
Kind of a long album that gets a little stale through the middle.
Finishes strong with One Very Important Thought and Happy Cycling.
Overall a pretty interesting early electronic album. Really enjoyable as background music.
4
Jul 25 2023
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Reggatta De Blanc
The Police
I didn't really like The Police before listening to this album. Not much has changed since listening to it.
The title track was pretty good, as well as the chorus in Walking On The Moon.
Besides that I find this album (and The Police) to be a pretty boring, uninspired, and nasally listen.
I probably had some bias going into this one, but I was never really excited listening to this album.
2
Jul 26 2023
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G. Love And Special Sauce
G. Love & Special Sauce
Started out fairly solid, and never really deviated from solid. Some cool hip-hop sounds to begin and moved a bit more towards blues.
Good listen, nothing spectacular to me though.
3
Jul 27 2023
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3 Feet High and Rising
De La Soul
There's some cool beats in here to start; but it overall feels pretty boring and not very well produced. The game show interludes didn't really make sense to me either. The main rapper has a cool voice, but there isn't much else that he brings to the table. It got a bit better at the end, but nothing to write home about.
It's a shame because I generally like this era of hip hop, but this wasn't quite it.
Eye Know was a standout for this one.
2
Jul 28 2023
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Isn't Anything
My Bloody Valentine
Off beat and moaning, like a crackhead faking an orgasm.
The best thing I can call this album is generic.
1
Jul 29 2023
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Ace of Spades
Motörhead
THE ACE OF SPADES!!! What a song.
I've never really listened to Motorhead so I'm excited.
Mr. Motorhead must have chronically sore vocal cords, because his voice is fairly guttural in a good way.
A lot of these songs sound the same, but they all shred, so I'm not complaining.
A Motorhead concert seems like it would be a real clambake!
4
Jul 30 2023
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Dear Science
TV On The Radio
I love the beat switch in Halfway Home. There are a lot of unique sounds in this one; each song is fairly distinct.
Golden Age was cool listen.
Overall this album was very unique, I loved how everything was different without being discombobulated. I really did enjoy the album, but I don't think I'll ever go back to it.
4
Jul 31 2023
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Paul's Boutique
Beastie Boys
These are more of the 90's hip hop sounds that I like. Drums and scratches are nostalgia inducing.
Lol @ 5-Piece Chicken Dinner
I like that I didn't recognize any songs on this album, but still really enjoyed it.
4
Aug 01 2023
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The Stranger
Billy Joel
The classics on this album are certified bangers: Good Die Young, Italian Restaurant, and Movin' Out are all going to outlive me.
All of the other songs I haven't heard before are also great pieces. Great voice, lyrics, piano, and brass in this album.
5
Aug 02 2023
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The Clash
The Clash
Went into this expecting it to be bland British punk. Left thinking this was actually pretty solid and a little less bland than most other punk we have listened to so far. The guitar solos were pretty dang good throughout.
Cheat was the best song, loved the effect at the end.
Overall I think the last half of the album was a bit better than the first half, but not enough to push it to a 4 star.
3
Aug 03 2023
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Fromohio
fIREHOSE
dAMN tHIS iS a gOOD aLBUM. Guitar, bass, and vocals are all great together. Short and sweet. Doesn't have the gravitas that a 5 star album would normally have, but everything else is there. I would give this a 4.5, but I'm rounding down because it's just hard to call this a 5 star. Really enjoyable listen though!
4
Aug 04 2023
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xx
The xx
Awww yeah, excited to listen to this one after loving The Boards of Canada. Intro is an all time song. Overall this is more indie/folky than BoC, but it just feels similar.
If Elon Musk could create a band he would name it The xx.
This is such a chill album. I would hypothetically take mushrooms and listen to this on the beach in North Carolina next week.
I haven't listened to this album in full before, but I certainly recognized many songs from it. This album is great, no real low points and plenty of high points. It's also a unique album in that I wouldn't really put it on for a group of people, but it's a great solo listen.
Stars to end the whole album is perfect. It has incredible production with those booming bass notes.
This is a sneaky 5.
5
Aug 05 2023
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MTV Unplugged In New York
Nirvana
Love me a live album. I've actually never listened to this one despite being recommended it numerous times. Lotsa classics, loved hearing it acoustic. Nirvana is good, but they aren't necessarily my favorite. 4 stars for the gang though.
4
Aug 06 2023
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Vanishing Point
Primal Scream
This is like electronic noise rock. Noisetronica if you will.
Star was a pretty good song. Stuka was not.
The singer reminds me of The Verve. Some of the experimental aspects remind me of Radiohead.
Idk about this one. Found myself headbopping a couple times, but spent more time waiting for the album to finish up.
2
Aug 07 2023
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The Specials
The Specials
This is a nice sounding album right out of the gate. A little reggae/punk? A good combo in my eyes.
Feels like some beach rock. It's easy to listen to, but gets a little bit monochromatic throughout the album. Overall was an enjoyable listen, but didn't have much variety to send it to 4 stars.
I could see this whole album playing on repeat at a place like Mackey's on a Tuesday afternoon.
3
Aug 08 2023
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Live At The Harlem Square Club
Sam Cooke
Short, sweet, and to the point. This performance is a real clambake. It sounds like this show was done in a very small, intimate club which would have been a blast to be at.
Love these old soul/jazzy songs and the energy and swagger that Sam Cooke possesses here. Could definitely start my day with this album every morning.
4
Aug 09 2023
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Club Classics Vol. One
Soul II Soul
Not really feeling this one too much. African Dance is the first song that really got me going. There are some pretty cool beats and rhythms in here, especially Happiness. The beat in Back to Life was definitely a headbopper.
Not necessarily bad, but not quite my taste and a bit boring. There are a couple good patches, but I would not want to be in a club that was playing these classics for very long.
2
Aug 10 2023
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Raw Power
The Stooges
I hate the mixing on the first tack. Why do the guitars sound so flat and muted? Not looking forward to the rest of the album after this first song.
There were a couple cool guitar parts I guess. Overall this is a no from me dog. Punk is not good music.
1
Aug 11 2023
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Step In The Arena
Gang Starr
I was mowing the lawn while listening to this one so I don't have a song by song recap. I love these 90's hip hop albums, definitely head bopping and grooving at the beginning on this album. Mr. Starr has pretty good flow. Some of his lyrics are better than others. He doesn't have very much change in his tone though which causes the album to turn a bit bland.
Overall it started out well, but I kinda checked out later in the album. Could have been shorter. I could maybe give this one 3.5 stars, but I'm rounding down.
3
Aug 12 2023
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One Nation Under A Groove
Funkadelic
Pretty solid funky album. My favorite was P.E.Squad, Doo Doo Chasers ('Going All-The-Way Off' Instrumental) which was one of the bonus EPs. All of the songs were good though.
I enjoyed this one! A soft 4.
4
Aug 13 2023
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Suzanne Vega
Suzanne Vega
The intro to Straight Lines sounds like a Rush song. A solid folky album. Didn't love it, didn't hate it.
3
Aug 14 2023
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Cloud Nine
The Temptations
This was a nice album to listen to. Don't have much else to say about it. Probably in the 3.5 range, but not a 4.
3
Aug 15 2023
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Tracy Chapman
Tracy Chapman
Great voice, good songs, enjoyable listen. A solid 4.
4
Aug 16 2023
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Autobahn
Kraftwerk
This was a album starts out great with a whimsical song. Kometenmelodie 1 felt a bit listless, but not necessarily bad.
Kometenmelodie 2 sounded like a song out of Terraria, which is one of my all time favorite video games.
Mitternacht was not as much of a song as I would have liked, but at least it was short.
Finishing the album with pianos and flutes was a fun juxtaposition to the rest of the album.
Overall this album was really enjoyable. I was expecting the album to be super techno like their song Kernkraft. I was pleasantly surprised!
4
Aug 17 2023
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Hot Rats
Frank Zappa
This album was cruising to a 5 star rating with stand outs of Peaches En Regalia and Son of Mr. Green Genes. I really liked the variation in each song, and how each song was an absolute jam. The back half of Gumbo and the entirety of Camel were just a little too loose for my liking. Don't get me wrong; I still liked those songs, but they just weren't good enough to give it a 5 star. 4.49 stars for this album.
4
Aug 18 2023
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Elvis Presley
Elvis Presley
Some classics on here. Overall a good album. It's cool to listen to the earliest of rock and roll. Blue Suede Shoes and Tutti Fruitti (Little Richard version is better) were good ones off the album.
Feels like a 3.5 because it is Elvis and is the foundation for rock and roll, but I'll give it a 3 after I take that bias away.
3
Aug 19 2023
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Surfer Rosa
Pixies
This album was alright. Some punk sounds to it, but not entirely punk. Some parts shred, some parts didn't. Didn't listen to this one too closely. Tony's Theme would be a great song to listen to if you have a friend named Tony who warranted a theme song. TOE - NAY!
2
Aug 20 2023
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Parallel Lines
Blondie
Didn't know what to expect out of this one. Had more rock n' roll than I expected. Fun songs that are good. A little beach rocky and poppy. A little too monochromatic to be a 4, but it's in the 3.5 range.
3
Aug 21 2023
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Songs For Swingin' Lovers!
Frank Sinatra
A legendary musician playing some legendary music. I always enjoy big band and this is no exception. I feel like Frank Sinatra was the smoothest mfer during his time. He probably made so much whoopee.
The album starts to feel a little bit samey towards the end, but I don't care because it's so great.
5
Aug 22 2023
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Led Zeppelin IV
Led Zeppelin
This album starts with a bit of a southern/country twang, and then it falls into a more fantasy-esque sound with the mandolin from Battle of Evermore until Going to California. Afterwards it switches back into that rock n' roll style.
I like this album more than Led Zeppelin I. I already dinged that one a star for having stolen songs, but I won't do it here.
5
Aug 23 2023
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Nighthawks At The Diner
Tom Waits
Love this jazz. An interesting live album where he's having some conversation with the audience. Some story telling, some straight comedy. An enjoyable listen, and would be cool to be there in person.
We're on a bit of a hot streak lately, not too many misses.
4
Aug 24 2023
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Lost Souls
Doves
There's some interesting sounds and effects used at the beginning of this album. It was a pretty unique and relaxing album until Catch The Sun which felt extremely out of place. It feels like an emo Foo Fighters song that was created to be a radio hit.
Reprise was a lovely little number.
This album had an interesting back and forth of being really relaxing and calm, to have unsettling ends of songs.
This album feels like it has some legs to get to a 4, but I don't see myself revisiting this one anytime soon.
3
Aug 25 2023
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Shaka Zulu
Ladysmith Black Mambazo
There is no doubting that these songs are beautiful, but 46 minutes of acapella is not really engaging to me. Took me 3 days to listen to this in parts.
A lot of these songs would be cool as interludes in a non-acapella album.
Fun note; it was produced by Paul Simon!
Overall takeaway: good album objectively, but subjectively I was ready for it to be over after 2 songs because acapella was just not my jam.
2
Aug 26 2023
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Funeral
Arcade Fire
Never really listened to Arcade Fire besides Wake Up. Glad it's on this album because it's a top 100 song for me.
This album so far is a unique intersection of rock and folk with a touch of emo. I love the beat switches in their songs.
Rebellion is also a familiar song.
Good album, will probably listen again.
4
Aug 27 2023
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Calenture
The Triffids
Never heard of this band, no clue what to expect.
It feels like that genre of 80's rock that was a bit softer like Bonnie Taylor or Genesis. Has a bit of southern twang to it at points
Pretty solid album. Nothing I'll go back for though.
3
Aug 28 2023
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Talking With the Taxman About Poetry
Billy Bragg
I enjoyed the musical aspects of this album. I didn't listen much to the lyrics (again) but I feel like this is an album where the lyrics are most important. Feels very patriotic/anti-establishment.
I actually listened to this one twice because I forgot to rate it after the first listen. Probably won't listen to this one a third time, but I have really enjoyed it. It's classified as punk, but doesn't suck!!
3
Aug 29 2023
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Hounds Of Love
Kate Bush
Trying not to let the last Kate Bush album cause too much bias here.
I know "Running Up That Hill" topped Billboard recently because of Stranger Things, but it wasn't that special of a song...
Waking the Witch certainly got my attention.
Jig of Life was solid too.
This album is better than The Dreaming. Still wasn't anything great. Points for originality as well. Maybe 2.5 for this one...
2
Aug 30 2023
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Younger Than Yesterday
The Byrds
Nice beachy, old school rock n roll album. Easy and pleasant to listen to! CTA - 102 was interesting, and I thought it was going to mark a drastic change in the style of the album, but then it just went back to its regular sound.
Nothing too crazy about this one, but it was good.
3
Aug 31 2023
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Power In Numbers
Jurassic 5
One of those albums that likely wasn't appreciated properly because I listened while working and couldn't pay full attention to the lyrics.
The start of the album was a bit average, but I started getting into the groove around the middle.
Last song is pretty good.
3
Sep 01 2023
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Violator
Depeche Mode
Some cool trippy sounds going on in this one. Singer sounds like Bo Burnham.
Didn't love the front half, but started getting into the groove later in the album.
I think this album had some 3.5 star material in it, but it was outweighed by repetitive, emo sounds. Would probably be a 2.5 star for me.
3
Sep 02 2023
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The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan
Bob Dylan
Wasn't listening to the lyrics all that much, but man can this guy shred the harmonica. Decent background music, probably better with some active listening.
3
Sep 03 2023
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Astral Weeks
Van Morrison
Pretty good album. Don't have too much to say about it though. I like the voice, and the whole album has good flow.
3
Sep 04 2023
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D.O.A. the Third and Final Report of Throbbing Gristle
Throbbing Gristle
???
1
Sep 05 2023
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Blood Sugar Sex Magik
Red Hot Chili Peppers
Funky! The bass and drums go hard in this album from start to finish.
Definitely has some RHCP classics, as well as plenty of great deeper cuts. I know a lot of people say this is the Chili Peppers best album, but I don't quite agree. Probably has to do with when I grew up.
Great album nonetheless.
4
Sep 06 2023
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Boston
Boston
This is one of those automatic 5 albums for me. One of my favorite albums of all time. Every song is a banger.
Best selling album of all time when it first came out. I think my mom has said something along the lines of "Of course I have that album, everybody had that album!"
This is also an incredible album to be a band's first.
Love this album, glad I got to listen again.
5
Sep 07 2023
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Tres Hombres
ZZ Top
ZZ Top shreds. Love the southern twang of their catalogue. Wasn't paying the greatest attention (like most albums), but this was a solid, raw, guitar heavy album. Probably a 3.5 for me, but I'm in a good mood and ZZ Top have great beards.
4
Sep 08 2023
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Chelsea Girl
Nico
Nico sounds a bit like Moira from Schitt's Creek. Jackson Browne was the guitarist on this, that's cool.
I think I recognize "Chelsea Girls" and "I'll Keep It With Mine".
Overall this album is good musically, I enjoyed the strings and flute. However, it wasn't a very engaging listen to me.
I think it's objectively a better album than I am giving it credit for, but it's not really my cuppa tea. Soft 3 here.
3
Sep 09 2023
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Parsley, Sage, Rosemary And Thyme
Simon & Garfunkel
Short and sweet. Delightful folk rock by none other than Paul Simon. Cant be sad listening to this album until the 7 O Clock News.
4
Sep 10 2023
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The Suburbs
Arcade Fire
I didn't expect two Arcade Fire albums on this list.
A pleasant, triumphant sounding album. I enjoy the seamless transition from one song to the next.
I like the electronic/strings mix in Half Light II, feels very much like an Arcade Fire song.
There is a lot of variety in this album. When Sprawl II came on, I thought the album had ended and went to a random artist.
I was tuning in and out on this album, but I think it certainly deserves another listen. It had a distinct sound to it, and I didn't recognize any songs on it.
4
Sep 11 2023
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The Man Machine
Kraftwerk
WE ARE DA RrrOBOTS!
Great beginning and middle of an album, but it kind of trailed off toward the end. I was bumping to this one with some energy all the way through!
4
Sep 12 2023
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Electric Ladyland
Jimi Hendrix
I don't really listen to Jimi's albums, and that is going to have to change.
I don't want to overstate this, but this guy can play the guitar.
A cool funky, psychedelic, and bluesy mix of rock. I'm here for it.
Voodoo Chile is a certified jam.
I didn't know Watchtower was a cover.
There is some really raw sounds, especially in the guitar, but it sounds well produced.
This album is 75 minutes long, and I'm not mad about that at all.
4
Sep 13 2023
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Two Dancers
Wild Beasts
I really thought the intro to the first song was awesome and this album was going to go place, then the singer started singing. Not a fan of the voice.
The singers voice gets more tolerable over the course of the album, but the songs all feel very similar.
Feels like some pretty standard indie music. I like the pluckiness of the guitar.
Overall there were a couple bright spots in this album, and very few lows, but most of it was average or so. This album is pretty solidly in the 3 category.
3
Sep 14 2023
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One World
John Martyn
This album is an interesting one. A lot of variation between songs that all fit nicely together. I was a bit off put by John Martyn's voice, and overall think it detracts from the instrumentation in each song.
The album really picked up with Big Muff, Couldn't Love You More, Dancing, and Small Hours.
I enjoyed this album to the tune of 3.5 stars, but I think the uniqueness and flow of this entire album brings it squarely into the 4 category.
4
Sep 15 2023
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All Hope Is Gone
Slipknot
There's definitely aspects on Slipknot that I enjoy. The drums, bass, and guitar are enjoyable. The singing is not. I have never been a fan of the edgy nu-metal bands singers, but if you eliminated vocals, this would be an awesome album to listen to.
Gehenna was a change of pace, but I didn't like that song, so it doesn't get brownie points.
Snuff was another change of pace, although a bit too emo for my tastes. It sounds like a buzz ballad.
All Hope is Gone is probably my favorite off the album. Good message, great drums, and I appreciate the beat switches throughout.
Overall I love the energy that this album showcases. I also understand the message that this album is trying to get across, but it's not expressed in the way that I find appealing; which is why I feel like Slipknot and bands like them are popular across "misunderstood" people. This album is in potential 4 star territory for me, but I really have to knock it down for how off putting the singing is and how long the album goes. Definitely some bright spots that I really like in this album, though.
3
Sep 16 2023
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Aftermath
The Rolling Stones
Paint it Black is an all-timer, although it doesn't seem to fit very well into the rest of the album.
Feels a little bit like surf rock at time, but then there are other times that have a bit of ragtime piano to them. Not really what I was expecting, as I don't listen to the Stones very often.
This album was fine, not really that interesting to me though.
3
Sep 17 2023
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Paranoid
Black Sabbath
This album really starts out with the bangers that are associated with Black Sabbath.
Great early heavy metal, no real low points in this one. Lots of highs. I'm sure lots of people will give this one a 5, but it's a 4 for me!
4
Sep 18 2023
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Face to Face
The Kinks
Nothing really stands out about this album. Maybe because I'm listening to it right after Aftermath and it just exudes 60's rock.
Another one of these albums right around a 3.
3
Sep 19 2023
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Be
Common
The beats on this album are definitely my favorite part. There are some high points with the lyrics, but once again, I'm not listening that closely while working so a lot of the message gets lost on me.
Overall this is a fine album. It had me head bopping a few times. If this was Album of the Week I would definitely spend more time active listening to these albums.
3
Sep 20 2023
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Time Out Of Mind
Bob Dylan
Standing in the Doorway sounds like Dire Straits :)
I like this album more than the other Bob Dylan albums we have gotten so far, but I am firmly in the camp that Bob Dylan is not really my type of music.
This one is a 3.5 but, like most Bob Dylan we have heard, I am rounding down because it feels like a lot of the same throughout the album. Not too exciting.
3
Sep 21 2023
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Traffic
Traffic
This album just sounds great! Almost sounds like Grateful Dead in a way. Love the keyboard and the vocals. Never hit a low point in this album. Nice variety throughout the album. I would definitely listen to this one again.
4
Sep 22 2023
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My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy
Kanye West
Fuck Kanye
4
Sep 23 2023
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This Year's Model
Elvis Costello & The Attractions
Some really good basslines in this album. Better than I expected from Elvis Costello since I wasn't crazy about the other albums that we have review by him.
Definitely a poppy sound to this album. This one approaches 4 territory, but it would be a stretch to put it there.
3
Sep 24 2023
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Paul Simon
Paul Simon
A nice, calm, folky album for a gloomy day. Pretty good combination.
Not a lot of songs that I recognize on this album except for Julio which is one of his bangers.
I like a lot of Paul Simon's music, especially his voice and lyrics. Might not be the best music of all time, but it always puts me in a good mood when I listen to Paul Simon. This is a 4 with some bias helping out.
4
Sep 25 2023
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Viva Hate
Morrissey
This feels like a story in an album but, as always, I am working while listening so it's hard to follow.
Didn't love Morrissey's voice in the first couple songs as it was moaning and whiny. It either got better or I got used to it and it was fine.
This feels like a very technically advanced album with a tone that I don't really resonate with. Maragaret on the Guillotine was good as was Suedehead, with the latter being a bit of a poppy change to the whole album.
Didn't know what to expect from this album except I think I have heard that Morrissey is an exceptional guitar player. I would say that the guitar in this album is above average, but I may not understand what a good guitarist sounds like.
Some highs could convince me to give this a 3.5, but its a bit more square in the 3 department for me.
3
Sep 26 2023
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Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band
Beatles
This is such a pleasant album! I didn't listen to the Beatles growing up so I feel like I don't have as much familiarity/nostalgia associated with it. It is still a terrific album with tons of variety and crystal clear production. I like the variety of instruments and singers that are used throughout.
The album feels simple and complex all at once. It is easy to throw on as background music, but there is also a lot of nuanced instruments and vocals that are layered throughout.
Good stuff, Beatles!
4
Sep 27 2023
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This Nation’s Saving Grace
The Fall
This sounds like it'll be grungy right from the start. Hopefully it doesn't stay that way.
I like Barmy. Paintwork was fine relative to the rest of the album. I'm really looking for some highs here. Rollin' Dany was good too.
This album doesn't feel like it has a message or anything.
Tirelessly repetitive and boring. Punk is bad.
1.5 stars? Rounded up because it isn't blatant garbage like some other albums we have encountered.
2
Sep 28 2023
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Here, My Dear
Marvin Gaye
Pretty good funk music. I listened to this one a couple of times because I kept forgetting to write a review. It definitely got better the more I listened to it, and it gets better throughout. There are some serious jams in here. It also works really well as a background album. A soft 4 for me.
4
Sep 29 2023
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Natty Dread
Bob Marley & The Wailers
Some solid reggae that is more suited for casual listening. I honestly expected more out of this album. Didn't hate it by any stretch of the imagination, but I would hope this is the worst Bob Marley album that we listen to, because Exodus was great.
3
Sep 30 2023
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Come Away With Me
Norah Jones
Pretty chill album that doesn't really have highs or lows. Her voice is fine, but nothing special. I think the other instruments do a lot to make this album as good as it is. Once again I listened to this mostly as background music, but Nightingale caught my ear; there's some good depth to this song.
3
Oct 01 2023
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Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not
Arctic Monkeys
Didn't love the start of this album. It felt like generic rock that wanted to be punk. I've said it before, but it's hard to hear an artists accents, so it's hard to tell where in the world they are from. Not the case here, these Monkeys really emphasized the fact that they are English.
Overall, the album got better as it progressed, but it still feels just like a rock album. Mardy Bum was a stand out and the basslines were pretty solid throughout.
This one is pretty squarely a 3 for me.
3
Oct 02 2023
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Illmatic
Nas
Listened to this one a couple times as well. The beats and flow on this album are unmatched. Definitely had me head bopping all the way through. I didn't know "The World is Yours" was Nas, but that song rocks.
Rap still isn't really my cup of tea, but I appreciate this one more than most other 90's rap.
4
Oct 03 2023
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Fleet Foxes
Fleet Foxes
My sister introduced me to Fleet Foxes with the album so I'm excited to listen to it again. It certainly has a wanderlust vibe to it. If "Into the Wild" needed a new soundtrack, this album would be a perfect fit. Wish I had enough time to see them at Roo. I also think the rise of Fleet Foxes and the comeuppance of Hipsters is not a coincidence
I really like this album, and it gets bonus points when listening to it in fall weather. The singer has a great voice and I enjoy the songs that have beat switches in their midst. The songs do sound a bit samey which is generally a knock on albums, with no exception made here.
Overall this album starts out really strong in the 4 star category, but slowly declines into the 3 star territory when songs start to blend together. There's still enough great songs on here to keep it as a soft 4.
4
Oct 04 2023
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Electric Warrior
T. Rex
Not sure what to expect on this album. I like the strings on Cosmic Dancer.
Feels like they got a ton of inspiration from The Beatles.
Bang a Gong is a song that I had never looked up the artist for. Disappointed by the lack of gong in this number.
Another ho-hum album.
3
Oct 05 2023
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California
American Music Club
Some folky/country music to start us off which I can totally get behind.
Is the last 2 minutes of Laughingstock just silence?
Lonely wasn't great songwriting.
I feel like I am constantly changing the volume on the songs so I can hear. I am listening on YouTube though so maybe that has something to do with it.
Blue and grey shirt was pleasant, but very much a white bread song.
Bad Liquor is sporadic and loud all of the sudden? Doesn't really fit in.
Overall not terrible music, but it really just seemed so lackluster and felt like they just wanted to appeal to 80% of white Americans. I don't think I would enjoy having a beer with these guys.
I want to give this a 1 star so badly, but it is objectively better than the 1-stars I have given out.
Soft 1.5
2
Oct 06 2023
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Black Sabbath
Black Sabbath
Guitar shreds, Bassist shreds, Ozzy shreds the vocs. The Wizard is great. Whole album good, not many words needed.
4
Oct 07 2023
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Moondance
Van Morrison
Van Morrison's voice is distinguished and talented. A nice upbeat folky/bluesy album that is probably best listened to while not at work.
Moondance is a great jazzy number. The songs start to sound similar throughout, until the intro to Everyone to catch your attention.
Solid 4!
4
Oct 08 2023
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Countdown To Ecstasy
Steely Dan
This has a nice calm vibe to it that I am really enjoying. A lot of piano and almost beachy guitar riffs that remind me a bit of Santana.
I enjoyed this one enough to be about 3.5 stars, maybe close to 4, but I doubt I'll ever come back to this album. Good listen though!
3
Oct 09 2023
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Moss Side Story
Barry Adamson
Interesting album that could be interpreted as a movie with just a soundtrack. There are definitely some highs to this, but overall I don't really understand the style of album it is trying to be. Most of the songs blend together so it's hard to remember which songs were the standouts, but there are a couple of them sprinkled throughout.
The Man with the Golden Arm was a solid end.
It's not all that bad, but I wouldn't do drugs and listen to this album.
2
Oct 10 2023
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good kid, m.A.A.d city
Kendrick Lamar
The production on this album is insane. I really enjoy the overall story being portrayed as well about a kid growing up in the streets and how he is influenced by different members of the same community.
There's obviously some hits that I recognize to varying degrees, but Compton may have been my favorite song and a great one to go out on.
I'm glad I focused while listening to this one, because I got a lot out of all of the lyrics and features.
Overall I enjoyed this about as much as I expected. I want to reiterate how much I enjoyed the production/mixing in my headphones. This is an album that likely gets better with more listens as you get to unpack the lyrics more and more. After one listen, this one is a strong 4.
4
Oct 11 2023
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The Real Thing
Faith No More
Epic was another song where I have heard the song a thousand times (maybe from GTA San Andreas?) but have never heard of Faith No More.
This is a good album to listen to while cutting grass. They really accentuate some basslines which is cool.
Pretty decent metal album, but nothing too special in my eyes. War Pigs cover was cool, but they didn't really do much to it. Probably good enough for a 3.5, but rounding down because not much stuck out to me besides the songs I recognized. Good for what it is, but I'm not clamoring for more.
3
Oct 12 2023
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Oar
Alexander 'Skip' Spence
I'm 30 minutes in and I'm ready for this to be over. So boring. Is this shoegaze?
This album and American Music Club back to back was a terrible waste of time.
You can go ahead and 'Skip' this album if you want to keep an hour of your time.
1
Oct 13 2023
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The Age Of The Understatement
The Last Shadow Puppets
I love the orchestral nature of this album, almost like Sinatra Jr. The organ makes it very Halloween appropriate. A couple of the songs sound a bit like Vampire Weekend as well.
Very unique album. The way it is produced had me thinking it was from 1985. I didn't realize it was released in 2008 until I was almost finished.
I would listen to this one again for sure.
4
Oct 14 2023
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Court And Spark
Joni Mitchell
I really liked the first song. After the first song I was expecting a sneaky 4, maybe 5 star album to come out from this.
Unfortunately I kinda zoned out for this one while working. It all starts sounding similar. That being said, I liked her voice and it was never bad.
Probably deserves another listen, but I'll call it as I see it after one listen for this one.
3
Oct 15 2023
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The Last Broadcast
Doves
Starts out as pretty generic sounding alternative; a bit reminiscent of U2.
The middle, starting with M62 Song, takes a turn down a street that I'd prefer not to be on as it becomes more like a soundscape album.
I started this expecting it to be average at best after a song or two, and it kind of underperformed in my eyes.
Nothing special, not terrible.
2
Oct 16 2023
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Kollaps
Einstürzende Neubauten
I was just thinking the other day how we have only had English and Spanish albums.
Oh crap, this is the lowest rated album globally on this list. Buckle up!
Obligatory "would not do drugs" comment.
Jet'm has an actual instrument!
I could see this being the soundtrack to a movie that is just the "Lust" part of Se7en for an hour.
Spionagedub and Rivieradub aren't terrible. If more of the album was like that then I could take it more seriously.
There's already too much music to listen to, I don't think I need to listen people push the boundaries of what can be considered "music".
1
Oct 17 2023
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The Number Of The Beast
Iron Maiden
Excited to listen to this one again. Going into this a bit biased because I'm expecting to give it 4 or 5, and just have to decide between the two.
Yup, this is a good album.
Every song is shreds, and Bruce Dickinson's voice in legendary.
I love albums that are only 6-8 songs, they tend to blend together less in my opinion.
5
Oct 18 2023
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To Pimp A Butterfly
Kendrick Lamar
During the start of this album I was thinking it was better than Good Kid maad City, but the middle of the album started to fall off a bit for me. Luckily the end of the album brought me back, especially with Blacker the Berry and i.
I listened to this one a few days before actually writing the review so I don't have much detail here.
4
Oct 19 2023
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Tubular Bells
Mike Oldfield
What a cool album. There were shades of Final Fantasy in this album. It was a cool touch to introduce all of the instruments as they were added. This feels like a world music album with the variety of instruments, including bagpipes and Spanish guitar.
I'm only reviewing based on Tubular Bells pt 1 and 2.
Such a pleasant album I'll likely listen to again. I thought the album was going to be very simple and repetitive due to the first few minutes. The only real downside of this album was the weird moaning in Pt. 2. Everything else was a high throughout the entirety. I enjoyed the fact that it was just 2 long songs that gave Mr. Oldfield room to draw out and experiment during songs, almost like a jam band.
Would pair nicely with a day at the Renaissance Festival.
This album is a sneaky 5 in my opinion. I was in between 4 and 5, but the uniqueness of the album and the fact that it elicited joy while I was deep cleaning the bathroom pushes it into 5 territory.
5
Oct 20 2023
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Band On The Run
Paul McCartney and Wings
First two songs are classics. Rest of the album is good. I haven't listened to this one before, but there's not too much to say. Really good classic rock.
4
Oct 21 2023
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The Genius Of Ray Charles
Ray Charles
The title of this album sounds like a biography or a documentary; it's funny that he named it himself. Big brain stuff, Ray.
This is nice pleasant album to listen to with practically zero flaws. That being said, it was a steady level of high throughout this album, but no real peaks that especially resonated with me.
This album sniffs 4.5 stars for me, but didn't quite do enough for me personally. Good listen for sure though.
4
Oct 22 2023
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Gris Gris
Dr. John
The combo of the album art, the name Dr. John, and the first song being named Gris-Gris Gumbo Ya Ya means we are in for a weird 33 minutes and 20 seconds.
Feels like a group of guys and gals smoking some hasheesh and playing around with their various instruments for a bit and recording it.
Not terrible, but I can't say it was good. I feel like we could probably make an album equal in quality to this ourselves.
2
Oct 23 2023
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Iron Maiden
Iron Maiden
Listened to this twice. It's pretty good as far as metal goes, but I was hoping for a bit more from Iron Maiden. Maybe because it's their first album? Either way it was still an enjoyable listen. 3.5 rounding up because it shreds
4
Oct 24 2023
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Exile On Main Street
The Rolling Stones
Love the sax, love the keyboard, love the harmonica, love the voice. This album is a jam; I really enjoyed Stop Breaking Down.
The southern rock tune combined with Jagger's voice reminds me of Van Morrison.
Not much of a Stones guy, but I think this album changed my mind, the boys be jammin.
4
Oct 25 2023
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Mothership Connection
Parliament
I appreciate funk as much as the next guy, but nothing about this album really stood out to me. It was a solid album that had me bumping at points, but overall it was pretty homogenous.
Good not great.
3
Oct 26 2023
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Live / Dead
Grateful Dead
I expected to like this a lot more. The feedback song to end the album doesn't really make sense to me. I can deal with dissonance in small doses, and when properly timed its a great way to build tension, but this one wasn't it.
I don't think this album would get someone to be a fan of the Dead.
3
Oct 27 2023
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Songs The Lord Taught Us
The Cramps
This all felt the same. There was one good jam towards the end, that was about it for me.
2
Oct 28 2023
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Purple Rain
Prince
All time intro song on this album.
Overall I think the singles do a lot of the heavy lifting on this album (seeing as 5 of the 9 songs are singles). I wish this was a deeper/more consistent album.
Although the message of Purple Rain matches the rest of the album, but the tempo/style is kind of a mismatch. Still a banger of a song though.
Overall I really enjoy the style of Prince with banging guitar solos mixed with some early electronica, but the middle of this album is kinda forgettable when you listen to it more critically.
I feel like we are not far from some new musician gaining popularity by emulating and refining Prince's style.
This is a 3.5 album, but I'm biasedly rounding it up because of how much I like the singles. If you got rid of the rest of the non-singles on this album I would have this in the 4 or 4.5 range.
4
Oct 29 2023
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Bookends
Simon & Garfunkel
Very short, pretty bland. Love me some Paul Simon but this one can stay on the shelf.
3
Oct 30 2023
View Album
Bandwagonesque
Teenage Fanclub
Not my favorite. Pretty repetitive. Is This Music was a redeeming end to the album, but that was about it.
2
Oct 31 2023
View Album
Odelay
Beck
Oh man I was disappointed by this album. I thought Beck would be better.
Points for being experimental, no points for being bad.
There are like two good songs on this album.
I thought the album has ended when it got to Ramshackle because it was so different.
Couldn't really follow this one.
2
Nov 01 2023
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The Good, The Bad & The Queen
The Good, The Bad & The Queen
Pretty boring album. The last two songs had some legs though. Those two songs brought this album from a 1 to a 1.5 for me.
Shoegaze?
1
Nov 02 2023
View Album
American Beauty
Grateful Dead
Not a huge Dead listener, but I feel like this album is comprised of their highly popular songs. I recognized almost all of them. Good stuff.
This album is so chill and feel good. Steadily great throughout. This is what I was hoping for when we got Live / Dead.
5
Nov 03 2023
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A Date With The Everly Brothers
The Everly Brothers
This album is white bread. Nothing special, but solid. You can bring it to the beach for lunch and you'll have no complaints. Don't feed white bread or this album to ducks, choose oats instead.
3
Nov 04 2023
View Album
Ten
Pearl Jam
A good warmup album for our trip to Seattle.
Oceans was a good one that I haven't heard before. The songs I already know on this album are all fantastic.
Don't care for Release to end it all.
Overall it's a good album, although I don't love grunge as a whole.
Giving this one a soft 4 to be honest. The hits on this one help out a lot. Would be better if it was named Mookie Blaylock.
4
Nov 05 2023
View Album
Da Capo
Love
Not at all what I was expecting out of this album.
Starts sort of whimsically, and continues through the album with jam after jam.
Solid and easy-listening!
4
Nov 06 2023
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Tapestry
Carole King
Well done album! Carries a similar energy to Janis Joplin. Great singing voice with heavy piano backings. Very simple and well executed throughout.
4
Nov 07 2023
View Album
Songs Of Leonard Cohen
Leonard Cohen
Good voice. Not really my style of music though. Not bad though.
3
Nov 08 2023
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The Man Who
Travis
I think 15 year old Jackson would have liked this more.
Not very exciting. Not bad.
3
Nov 09 2023
View Album
Fisherman's Blues
The Waterboys
Initial thoughts:
1. This album is way too long if it's actually 1:42.
2. The mandolin and violin go ballistic in the first song. If this energy is carried throughout, we are going to have a proper good time.
We just missed these guys come to the 9:30 Club on October 22, 2013... damn.
I ended up having my last song be "This Land is Your Land" for the purposes of this review as that's the last track according to Wikipedia. I will probably continue to listen to the rest of the songs.
There's definitely some really high highs in this album. The mandolin and violin continued to go hard, but I appreciated some of the more mellow parts of the album.
I had a proper good time.
5
Nov 10 2023
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Sweetheart Of The Rodeo
The Byrds
I really enjoy old country music and have been waiting a while for an album like this.
There is something about this album that just makes you feel good. The album is a bit homogenous, but I think it is really well done and doesn't really have any low points.
I really prefer 60s albums like this compared to bands like the Everly Brothers.
3.5 rounding up
4
Nov 11 2023
View Album
Are You Experienced
Jimi Hendrix
Solid album. No real standouts for me, honestly. Just solid play throughout. Guitar, drums, and bass all slap. They all get their time to shine which I like.
I honestly expected to like this a bit more, especially because I listened during a run where I can focus a bit more.
3
Nov 12 2023
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Larks' Tongues In Aspic
King Crimson
Love the intro going from soft and slightly discordant to a booming, heavy metal riff.
Exiles is a standout to me, I appreciate the variety of instruments and improvised sounds.
I have bashed certain albums for being too experimental that it isn't really music anymore. I would like to point those albums to this album as an exhibit on how to do experimental. The sounds are unique, but familiar, the rhythms/tempos don't get too far out of whack, and the rest of the album is actually good.
Overall this album isn't quite as good as The Court of the Crimson King, but that's a high bar to surpass. I think this one is closer to a 3, but then I listened to the bonus tracks which brings it to a soft 4.
4
Nov 13 2023
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Crocodiles
Echo And The Bunnymen
Don't have too many thoughts on this one. Good basslines. No real highs or lows.
3
Nov 14 2023
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It Takes A Nation Of Millions To Hold Us Back
Public Enemy
The name of this album and the intro made me think this was a going to be a very serious, hard hitting album. Then Cold Lampin' with Flavor played...
I think Griz has played the saxophone sample from "Show 'Em Whatcha Got" at concerts before.
The transitions between songs aren't very great. I had to double check I wasn't on shuffle a couple of times.
This album is too long and none of the songs are particularly good. I was ready for it to end about 15 minutes in.
This is teetering into the 1 star category.
2
Nov 15 2023
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Sail Away
Randy Newman
Good whimsical album with an iconic voice. This is just a happy album that I could definitely see popping on during a weekend morning.
Probably a 3.5, but I'll round up.
4
Nov 16 2023
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Lust For Life
Iggy Pop
3
Nov 17 2023
View Album
Celebrity Skin
Hole
Pleasantly surprised by this one. I was expecting some edgy garbage tunes. Enjoyed the listen, not quite enough for a 4, but I considered it a couple of times.
3
Nov 18 2023
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The Predator
Ice Cube
Feels like a generic rap album. Didn't get much from it. There were some good beats, but they were that 90s style where they're too prominent while also being too repetitive.
There was some good flow especially at the beginning.
2
Nov 19 2023
View Album
Coat Of Many Colors
Dolly Parton
I really like this era of country. The bassist was doing a good job which is not something I usually equate with country music.
Short and sweet and I like Dollys voice and cadence.
4
Nov 20 2023
View Album
Music for the Masses
Depeche Mode
Not a bad album, I just didn't really like it.
Nothing was probably my favorite.
Pimpf is boss music.
Listening to the last couple songs while driving alone at night in the rain seemed appropriate.
2
Nov 21 2023
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Catch A Fire
Bob Marley & The Wailers
Lovely album to listen to the morning before Thanksgiving while I pretend to be working.
No More Trouble was a song I haven't heard before, but certainly enjoyed.
Nothing too crazy going on with this album, but really great for what it is.
I'm rating this before the Jamaican versions of songs on the 50th Anniversary edition of this album.
4
Nov 22 2023
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School's Out
Alice Cooper
This had a lot more electronic and blues to it than I anticipated. I was expected straight up rock n' roll with some hair metal.
First song is a classic. At one point in your life you listened to School's Out while leaving school for summer for the last time and never got to leave school for summer ever again :(
The rest of the album had tons of variety and fun elements that I was not expecting. Alma Mater and Grand Finale was a great way to end things.
4
Nov 23 2023
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Want One
Rufus Wainwright
First couple songs were cool, then it kinda faded to the background.
3
Nov 24 2023
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Let It Be
The Replacements
This was an interesting album for sure. It definitely feels like punk most of the time, but there was a good variety in the instruments and the composition of the songs. Even songs like Unsatisfied showed the vocal range of the singer.
The latter half of the album started fading out as I was working, but there were riffs in every song or two that would catch my ear. This feels like a 3.5 that probably earned a re-listen.
4
Nov 25 2023
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The Score
Fugees
Another album that isn't necessarily bad, I just didn't car for it. Too slow for my tastes. I appreciated all of the different voices that are featured throughout.
As with most rap, I tend not to be able to focus on the lyrics which I know is very important to their albums.
That being said, this one fought for a 3 star for my personal tastes. Probably a 2 from my gut, but I have to recognize that it is a pretty good album despite my tastes.
3
Nov 26 2023
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1989
Taylor Swift
T Swizzz!
Pretty great pop for what it is. Loads of bangers in this one especially Shake it Off and Welcome to New York.
The songs themselves are pretty repetitive, but this is pop music so it's understandable. If you like singalongs, this is right up your alley.
The last couple songs started to lose me, but it was so solidly a 4 before those songs that it didn't really move the needle for me.
I enjoyed cooking dinner and listening to this one. I think I might listen to Taylor's version next.
4
Nov 27 2023
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1999
Prince
Poppy, repetitive album with no real exciting moments besides the very beginning (1999) and about 30 seconds of Lady Cab Driver.
This album could have been 30 minutes long and had the same impact. All of the songs are way too long for how little they actually provide.
Definitely the worst of the Prince albums we have had so far.
2
Nov 28 2023
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Talking Heads 77
Talking Heads
No real low points on this album. Uh-Oh is a good start to an album. The Book I Read and First Week / Last Week are favorites; love the xylophone/marimba on First Week/Last Week. Psycho Killer obviously we all know.
Overall I like David Byrnes mannerisms. The guitar and piano parts are great throughout the album as well.
Soft 4 here.
4
Nov 29 2023
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If You're Feeling Sinister
Belle & Sebastian
Three.
3
Nov 30 2023
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Heavy Weather
Weather Report
Absolute firecracker of an album.
Starts out hot as a fireball and quickly switches to a cooler tempo with A Remark You Made and then builds and builds back up to super hot fire before ending with Havona.
The Orioles need to get the rights to Birdland and make an 80s themed hype video using it and use it around the ballpark to get the fans jazzed up.
This album is incredible. Every instrument had time to shine and took full advantage of the spotlight. The drummer deserves a special accolade because that man kept driving the beat without a single hesitation or slip up.
5
Dec 01 2023
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...And Justice For All
Metallica
Heavy metal \m/!
Album starts out swinging, but after "One" it starts to feel very homogenous, although still good.
To Live is To Die brings it back to the feeling of "One" with a few tempo switches that I really enjoy.
Dyer's Eve is a good finish.
Overall this is a solid 4. Blackened, And Justice, and One are obvious favorites.
4
Dec 02 2023
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Stankonia
OutKast
Not my favorite. The classics slap, but I didn't really find any other gems in this album except for maybe B.O.B which sounded like Flux Pavilion produced it.
The album Kinda reminded me of Prince's 1999, especially with how sexual it is.
It's also entirely too long, it felt like I was slogging through.
Maybe this deserves another listen? Idk not really in my wheelhouse.
3
Dec 03 2023
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Bluesbreakers
John Mayall & The Bluesbreakers
I've done some reading about Eric Clapton since my last review (Derek and the Dominos) and boy he is a piece of shit.
Great musician though. 4 stars.
4
Dec 04 2023
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Introducing The Hardline According To Terence Trent D'Arby
Terence Trent D'Arby
Had to find this one of Youtube, which I don't normally love. However, I liked watching some of videos. Terence had some superstar energy with the hair and the dance moves.
Dance Little Sister was my favorite. Let's Go Forward was solid too.
His voice is good and has a good range, but nothing about this album really encapsulated me.
3
Dec 05 2023
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Off The Wall
Michael Jackson
Started off strong, fell into a lull in the middle. Burn This Disco Out was a good, fun finish. This one probably warrants a re-listen, but for now it gets a 3.
3
Dec 06 2023
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Van Halen
Van Halen
Fun, up tempo album with loads of memorable riffs. Love David Lee Roth's voice and their use of backup vocals.
Commendations are also in order for this being a debut album.
I feel like this is a rare album where the "deep" tracks are better than some of the hits. Ice Cream Man being one of those songs.
I had high expectations coming into this one and they were surpassed. Hard to find a flaw in this album. Every song is good and it doesn't really run together at all.
This 5 isn't completely out of left field, but it definitely wasn't a slam dunk going into the album. Very pleased with this one.
5
Dec 07 2023
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Talking Timbuktu
Ali Farka Touré
Kinda boring. Couple bright spots though. Kinda gets the same review of Ladysmith Black Mambazo.
2
Dec 08 2023
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Physical Graffiti
Led Zeppelin
I feel like I take Led Zeppelin for granted. No matter what album comes on, I recognize at least 50% of the songs on them, but I have rarely every listened to Led Zeppelin albums before.
This album is long, but is very solid from cover to cover. Probably could have listened more intently, but there weren't any blemishes that I heard.
4
Dec 09 2023
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Highway to Hell
AC/DC
Never been a huge AC/DC guy. Not much changed for me here.
3
Dec 10 2023
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Highly Evolved
The Vines
Really like the album cover right off the bat.
Really hate this guy's voice right off the bat.
There ended up being a couple of OK songs, but this album was fighting an uphill battle the entire way and lost.
Punk bad.
2
Dec 11 2023
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Abraxas
Santana
Perfect way to start a morning. Seamlessly transitions from the chillest beats to some some hot guitar solos. I love how Santana has a such a distinct sound, but without all of his songs sounding the exact same.
One of my favorite stories my mom tells is about the time she blacked out at a Santana concert at Merriweather.
5
Dec 12 2023
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All Directions
The Temptations
Good voice. Liked the drums. Nice for a chilled out day. That's about it. Decent funk, Okay soul. I probably won't think about this album again.
3
Dec 13 2023
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Disraeli Gears
Cream
Need to listen to this one back, but it's a strong 3.5 on the first pass.
The middle of the album really felt like Hendrix which isn't that surprising.
Hope we get more Cream!
4
Dec 14 2023
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Debut
Björk
This album felt all over the place while also sounding like it came from a children's TV show. Everything was super basic sounding, and I don't really care for her voice.
2
Dec 15 2023
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We're Only In It For The Money
The Mothers Of Invention
This album did drugs and listened to me. WTF were some of these ramblings???
The lows were LOW and the highs were good.
I think if they took out all of the junk, this would be a very solid 15 minute album.
2
Dec 16 2023
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Born To Run
Bruce Springsteen
I have always appreciated Springsteen's voice and the energy of his tracks. This album did not fail to deliver on those.
The the greatest album of all time, but an enjoyable listen for sure.
4
Dec 17 2023
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Pornography
The Cure
Boring goth music. Similar to Depeche Mode but worse.
Nothing really exciting in this album except for a couple cool guitar parts that I picked up on. Other than that I was hoping for redemption from their last album because I know The Cure is extremely popular. I can't figure out why after 2 albums.
2
Dec 18 2023
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Surf's Up
The Beach Boys
Enjoyable listen, but didn't blow my socks off.
3
Dec 19 2023
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All Things Must Pass
George Harrison
Had something longer written out but erased it, here's the gist:
Long album. Spotify has the track listing all messed up. Really good music. Nothing innovative, but a very high level of musicianship in each and every song. Faded to the background a bit.
3.5 rounded up because this is a flawless, albeit not too exciting album. Probably too long for me to ever re-listen, but I feel like this really earned 4 stars.
4
Dec 20 2023
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Call of the Valley
Shivkumar Sharma
Not really anything that I would reach for again. Not bad, but this would definitely classify as background music. Fairly peaceful for working. I hear some similarities to American folk.
I could envision a short film having this as the soundtrack. Something like Into the Wild.
3
Dec 21 2023
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Triangle
The Beau Brummels
Didn't hate the length. Interesting mix of country into some more whimsical style, almost like psychedelia.
Started to fall into the 2 star range in the middle, but the last song saved it. I think I would give this one another listen because it's unique and short, but nothing really grabbed me after just 1 listen.
3
Dec 22 2023
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Spy Vs. Spy: The Music Of Ornette Coleman
John Zorn
In my professional opinion, they should have played better so that this album would have sounded better.
I hate John Zorn more than I hate Jim Zorn after listening to this.
1
Dec 23 2023
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Pretzel Logic
Steely Dan
This album I had chilling in the background, but I really enjoyed it. It was an especially nice reprieve from Spy vs Spy.
Short and sweet which is nice when you are trying to catch up.
I should throw Steely Dan on more often.
4
Dec 24 2023
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Crosby, Stills & Nash
Crosby, Stills & Nash
Started off as a pretty jaunty album, but quickly faded into background folk.
Maybe a 2 here because it was pretty boring, but I'm going true neutral for this average and inoffensive album.
3
Dec 25 2023
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Sincere
Mj Cole
The techno beat to start caught me a little off guard, but I enjoyed it for a bit. Then it just got repetitive.
This album oozes early 2000's. It reminds me of the Music Choice channels on TVs.
British people rapping will always amuse me. It has such a Caribbean influence and the slang is hilarious.
All in all, pretty long and boring album, but I've heard worse. 2.5 rounding up.
3
Dec 26 2023
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A Christmas Gift For You From Phil Spector
Various Artists
Some absolute classics here. I'm not a huge Christmas music person, but you never want to go a year without listening to a small dose of this stuff.
Probably a 3/3.5 without context, but it's the holidays and I'm no Grinch.
4
Dec 27 2023
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So Much For The City
The Thrills
Middle of the road indie album. Not super inventive. I enjoyed One Horse Town for the bells/xylophone and Big Sur for their synth. The harmonica in the last song was a nice way to end.
This one started to drift into 3.5 star territory, but I really don't feel like it was exciting enough to warrant a 4.
3
Dec 28 2023
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Sunshine Superman
Donovan
This album was fine. Pretty middle of the road 3.
3
Dec 29 2023
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Next
The Sensational Alex Harvey Band
Some interesting stuff in this album. Some interesting lyrics for sure.
There were some parts I really liked, but other than that it feels like a pretty forgettable album.
3
Dec 30 2023
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My Generation
The Who
Pretty damn long and pretty mid. Some solid classic rock sounds throughout with no blemishes. However, nothing really stood out to me. It felt like they played out of rhythm a ton, which I assume was done on purpose.
Not nearly impactful enough to warrant the length.
3
Dec 31 2023
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System Of A Down
System Of A Down
There's a couple cool moments in this album, with Spiders and Sugar being the standouts. However, the speed and energy that is the clear upside of this album doesn't feel very cohesive.
Little too screamo for me.
2
Jan 01 2024
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The Black Saint And The Sinner Lady
Charles Mingus
I really appreciate the idea of improv jazz, but it seems so difficult to execute with each instrument being so bold. These guys seemed to have much better cohesion when they sped up, but as the songs slowed down I started to feel disinterested in the dissonance.
It got better toward the end. I think Track C and Medley: Mode D-Trio were a step above Tracks A and B.
The easiest comparison to make is to John Coltrane, which was easily a start better than C. Mingus in my eyes.
3
Jan 02 2024
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Music in Exile
Songhoy Blues
This certainly has a bluesy, southern rock twang to it that I enjoy. I also enjoy that it's not in English, because I barely pay attention to the lyrics anyway.
Pretty middle of the road album though. Nick was a standout.
Reading the story of this band is pretty enlightening, but it's not influencing my rating on the album too much. Apparently they were influenced by Ali Farka Toure who we just listened to recently.
3
Jan 03 2024
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Connected
Stereo MC's
This album is what I expected Beck to be more like. Such a chill, head-bopping album.
Nothing crazy exciting, but I was nodding along the whole time to the beat. The interspersed sax, guitar, and piano are great touches. The lyricist has great flow.
Definitely thought this was a strong 4 star right out of the gate, but it slowly drifted down to 3.5.
This one gets the nudge to 4 stars because I was certainly grooving the whole time and so that it can be my 1,000th star.
4
Jan 04 2024
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Freak Out!
The Mothers Of Invention
This album is hilariously trippy. Who ARE The Brain Police?!?!
The end of the album certainly went off the rails...
I was actually more entertained by this album than by other albums with similar eccentricity to them. The psychedelic stuff was good, and the weird stuff wasn't assaulting.
Probably did enough for a 3.5, but I'm rounding down because there's no way I listen to this one again.
3
Jan 05 2024
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Go Girl Crazy
The Dictators
This is one of the blandest things I have heard. I'm going to have some plain white toast for breakfast to spice up my morning after this.
The last song actually wasn't bad, albeit a bit shallow.
Handsome Dick Manitoba is the coolest thing about this album.
2
Jan 06 2024
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Pretenders
Pretenders
Too much punk on this list! It all sounds the same. Luckily it has been a while since we had a lot of punk, but now we get two in a row...
This album was much better than I anticipated, but certainly a far cry from punk, especially in the latter half.
The Wait was one album that stood out to me with the nice basslines.
I could even venture giving this a 3.5 if there were half stars. But there ain't, sorry Pretenders!
3
Jan 07 2024
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My Life In The Bush Of Ghosts
Brian Eno
Experimental, noodley album. Nothing too exciting. Too long and boring to ever go back to. There were a couple bright spots like Solo Guitar w/ Tin Foil, Jezebel Spirit, and Mea Culpa.
Probably a 2.5 here, rounding down based on length.
2
Jan 08 2024
View Album
Untitled (Black Is)
SAULT
The production quality and the beats are very solid on this album, especially during Only Synth in Church and Monsters. Feels good to listen with headphones on.
It does get a bit repetitive though and the lyrics aren't doing much for me.
3
Jan 09 2024
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Smash
The Offspring
I generally like this era of punk with The Offspring, Green Day, and Sum 41. The speed of this album is certainly engaging. The Offspring have some seriously iconic hooks in their discography, with Come Out and Play being one of them.
This is another album that is very homogenous so it gets stale by the end. I have a hard time giving this one any higher than a 3.5 with a pretty heavy nostalgia bias. Enjoyable, but I'm not clamoring for more Offspring after this.
3
Jan 10 2024
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Buena Vista Social Club
Buena Vista Social Club
Nice relaxing tunes to work to. Another album that really benefits from headphones. The bass, drums, and soft guitar all sound great and it feels like the musicians are in cruise control working together.
All in all, this did run together but it worked very well as background music. This is a pretty square 3.5 for me. Rounding down just because I probably won't replay this one ever again.
Someone get me mojito and some sunshine!
3
Jan 11 2024
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Pet Sounds
The Beach Boys
All time song as the leadoff track. Beatles-esque throughout.
Sloop John B was another standout to me.
Very pleasant, easy listening album with very few if any lows. I could see myself revisiting this album.
4
Jan 12 2024
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Eagles
Eagles
If you don't like my music get your own fucking cab!
Pretty solid classic rock with a handful of hits. Exactly as expected from The Eagles. Not the strongest 4, but a 4 nonetheless.
4
Jan 13 2024
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Speakerboxxx/The Love Below
OutKast
There is a lot going on in this album, but I don't really have the capacity to write a length review because this bad boy was loooooong.
As far as 2+ hour albums go, this one was very good. I still don't love super long albums, but this one had plenty of variety and depth to entertain me from start to finish. A ton of cool features on the rap tracks.
As much as I love Hey Ya, it did not feel like it belonged in the album at all. Maybe it's because I have heard it 1000 times before, but it just felt like a radio hit in an otherwise deep cut album. Roses played well with the rest of the album though.
I'm currently typing this during My Favorite Thing which is really giving me the rhythm to keep typing.
I likely won't listen to this one ever again just because of the length, but I really enjoyed it.
4
Jan 14 2024
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Tarkus
Emerson, Lake & Palmer
Definitely love the synth and the vocals. The lyrics remind me of certain Iron Maiden songs in a way that sounds like a legend is being told.
Also reminds of of King Crimson in the structure of the whole album.
This is a strong strong 4.5 that I was really looking for something to push it into the 5 star realm. Then I saw the album cover again after finishing.
5
Jan 15 2024
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Cosmo's Factory
Creedence Clearwater Revival
CCR hits are always welcomed by me. I didn't know much else besides their hits on this one, but I really loved Ramble Tamble and Ooby Dooby.
Another southern rock album that impressed.
4
Jan 16 2024
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Hotel California
Eagles
Not as good as their first album. Barely a 3 here.
3
Jan 17 2024
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Trout Mask Replica
Captain Beefheart & His Magic Band
There are definitely a couple parts in this album that are pretty good, but I'm barely giving that any weight because the rest was just not music.
This is another album where they are just being "random" for the sake of being weird.
I don't have the capacity to try and scrounge a 2 star out of this album.
1
Jan 18 2024
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Floodland
Sisters Of Mercy
As soon as I saw the album cover I knew I was in for a Depeche Mode type album.
This Corrosion and Flood II were standouts. Otherwise this gets a similar review to Depeche Mode where I don't think the album is bad, I just really dislike this emo 80s era personally. That being said, this wasn't as bad as I expected, just really repetitive. This could warrant a 2.5, but I'm rounding down because I'm feeling spiteful today.
2
Jan 19 2024
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Document
R.E.M.
There's something about REMs vocals that sound cheesy to me.
A couple of songs I recognized, but pretty boring honestly. The last song was a pretty lame song to end the whole thing on.
Seemed like this album had some doom & gloom themes to it that I didn't really jive with.
Was disappointed in this one.
2
Jan 20 2024
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The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars
David Bowie
Very solid album! Probably my favorite Bowie album so far. I was honestly expecting more (knowing how highly it is rated) but I still enjoyed it a ton.
I still don't think I quite understand the David Bowie hype. I think this is our fourth Bowie album and I have just been whelmed by him.
Ziggy Stardust was my favorite song to play on Guitar Hero. I played it so much that I could play the first ~30 seconds with my eyes closed.
4
Jan 21 2024
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Joan Baez
Joan Baez
Good voice. That's about the only thing I really liked about the album. Everything else was just not in my personal taste. Not very exciting as it's really just a guitar and a voice for an hour.
This one is falling under a similar rating to Depeche Mode where I think the music is objectively good, but it doesn't resonate with me personally.
Another plus to this album is that it was recorded in 1960 and it sounds flawless. That is impressive especially because there is no mention of remastering.
2
Jan 22 2024
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Doggystyle
Snoop Dogg
This album cover radiates early 90's and I love it.
I am enjoying the transitions/interludes on this one.
Beats and flow are on point.
Not entirely my taste, but I enjoyed this for the most part. The earlier part of the album had more sticking power than the back half. This is a 3.5 that could go either way, but because I don't feel like I'll come back to this one, I'm gonna round down.
3
Jan 23 2024
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Californication
Red Hot Chili Peppers
All time intro riff to start this thang. Great basslines throughout. One of my favorite bands and oldest known albums so some decent bias here.
There's a mix of really raw sound and polished sound in this album that I have never really paid attention to before this listen.
I can understand why people don't like RHCP/Anthony Kiedis in particular, but I do.
I like dirt.
5
Jan 24 2024
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The Grand Tour
George Jones
Solid old school country. This one is solidly a 3.5. Pretty inoffensive, but I really like the tempo of the whole album. The upright bass will always be one of my favorite parts of country/Americana.
4
Jan 25 2024
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Rain Dogs
Tom Waits
I had a bit more of a review that I accidentally deleted but here goes:
First song sounds like an R-rated Disney tune.
This is not the Tom Waits that I remember...
This is an album that likely gets a lot of praise from its lyrics. It feels like the music surrounding the lyrics on this album aren't great sounding, but that's the purpose. It sounds like this album is about economic disparity, especially among immigrants.
This album definitely warmed up on me as it continued. Climbed all the way from a 1 to a low 3. I'm sure if I was reading the lyrics as I listened I would enjoy this a lot more, but that's not how I listen to music so it doesn't gain that benefit.
Diamonds and Gold and Hand Down Your Head were standouts to me.
3
Jan 26 2024
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Heroes to Zeros
The Beta Band
One of the cooler album covers so far.
This album had a ton of variety that I appreciated. Very unique sound without being overboard on randomness.
Pure For was a great end, especially with those bass kicks.
4
Jan 27 2024
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Rumours
Fleetwood Mac
I have been looking forward to this album! This is like that Lynard Skynard album where every song is just hit after hit.
Very solid album from start to finish. I expected this to nail a 5 star from the hop, but it never quite got there for me personally. Lots of variety in the songs, different talented singers, each instrument had time to shine, but there was never that rock out moment that I was looking for.
Very high 4 that doesn't quite crack 5 stars when I put it toe to toe with Janis Joplin or other 5 star albums.
4
Jan 28 2024
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Bitte Orca
Dirty Projectors
Really loved the intro to the first song, but it fell off a bit when the vocals came in.
I can't tell if this is in a weird time signature that I just can't pick up, or if the instruments just felt discordant from the vocals the entirety of the album.
A couple pluses about this album was using multiple singers and having some unique sounds in the instruments. Other than that, I never really got into a groove with this one.
I was really looking forward to the album after the intro to the first song, but that seems to be the high point of the whole thing. Only about 20 seconds of a high point at the very beginning does not make for a great album.
2
Jan 29 2024
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The Libertines
The Libertines
Pretty solid album that was made better by reading the story behind it. Not much else to say except I was expecting some crap punk and I'm happy it wasn't that.
What Katie Did was a standout.
3
Jan 30 2024
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Stardust
Willie Nelson
Little bit slower and more deliberate than Red Headed Stranger, but we all need to slow down every once in a while! Very peaceful, clear vocals that I appreciate.
Great singer/songwriter for a genre that I generally am not giving rave reviews on.
If I had to say, I enjoyed Red Headed Stranger more, but they can both belong right here in the 4 category.
4
Jan 31 2024
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Nevermind
Nirvana
Definitely some bangers on here that will always get me rocking out. I thought this album was just going to have 2-3 hits, but it's probably 6-7 which impressed me.
However, the last couple songs leave a lot to be desired.
Endless, Nameless is a good exhibit of what I don't like about grunge. Drums are awesome in it though.
The last two songs were so bad that I almost went to rate this a 3, but I went back and listened to a couple other songs back and realized that wouldn't be fair.
4
Feb 01 2024
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A Girl Called Dusty
Dusty Springfield
Hell yeah, Dusty's last album was awesome. Looking forward to this one.
Fantastic voice and nice instrumentals throughout. Such an enjoyable, uplifting listen.
Went into this hoping to match Dusty in Memphis, but this surpassed it (from what I remember).
Lovelight Starts Shining is an absolute bop.
Listened to this twice in a row as I couldn't decide if it deserved the bump from 4 to 5. I think Dusty deserves it.
5
Feb 02 2024
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The Boatman's Call
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds
Good, but definitely a slow and heavy album. Not exactly what I'm looking for on a Friday. No doubt Nick Cave has a wonderful, clear voice with strong lyrics.
Not quite as good as I remember the last Nick Cave album, but still enjoyable for what it is.
3
Feb 03 2024
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Let's Get It On
Marvin Gaye
Short and sweet with one of the most well-known intros in the world.
There's some good vocals and all going on in this album which leads me to a 3.5, but I personally didn't hear much to ever really hook me in, despite being such a short album.
3
Feb 04 2024
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Hypocrisy Is The Greatest Luxury
The Disposable Heroes Of Hiphoprisy
Absolutely no subtlety in the messaging on this album, and I understand why they chose to be so blunt. Not beating around the bush at all. I appreciate the artistic choice, even if it makes for some rather boring beats.
This one gets a strong 4 for really hammering in the message about discourse with America and not getting pretty with it. Unfortunately from a musical perspective I see it more in the 2 range because frankly, it is boring beats and vocals. I understand that messaging/politics is a cornerstone of music, but I also like to bop to my tunes. I'll average these takes out to a 3.
3
Feb 05 2024
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John Lennon/Plastic Ono Band
John Lennon
This album was pretty boring and simple, never really finding a groove. Now I'm on Well Well Well and Goose is making weird faces at the speaker.
John still has a great voice and I feel like that is carrying this album. Everything else about this album seemed not good. Definitely gets an extra knock because it's John Lennon and id expect him to write a better album than this.
2
Feb 06 2024
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Ágætis Byrjun
Sigur Rós
This is my type of album! Incredible production and a beautiful listen on headphones. To top it all off, it's in a foreign language so I don't have to try and understand the lyrics and I can just enjoy the voice as an instrument ala Radiohead.
Sigur Ros now sits firmly as my second favorite Icelandic artist in between Dadi Freyr and Bjork.
I don't know if it's because I listened to Bittersweet Symphony this morning, but this sounds similar to The Verve in spots.
This album started off as a solid 4, but slowly drifted into a very average album as it progressed.
Definitely a handful of songs I really liked especially at the beginning and Olsen Olsen, but I can't imagine I'll pick this album up again in the future.
3
Feb 07 2024
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Private Dancer
Tina Turner
What an impressive head of hair on the album cover! Homegirl was making sure she was tall enough to ride all of the rides at Six Flags.
I don't understand why there is a US order of songs and an International order, but I queued it up to follow to US order. USA! USA! USA!
Love this plucky, synthy, energetic 80's sound right off the bat.
Fun album full of energy that is right up my alley. Enjoyed every song. Very high 4 on here.
4
Feb 08 2024
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Giant Steps
The Boo Radleys
Starts out a bit all over the place with some scratchy garage rock, some of that reggae guitar sound, into an emo/whimsical tune in I Wish I Was Skinny, which happened to be a standout.
This album definitely doesn't sound the same throughout with all the random instruments they throw in, I have to give it points there.
Thinking of Ways is another standout that starts and finishes with a cacophony of new instruments.
I'm at Spun Around and I don't really know what to make of this album. It is unexpected at every turn and there are times I think it hits, and other times it misses. I'm happy, at least, that it's not just bland from start to finish.
Back to the reggae sound with Lazarus. Also happened to be a standout for me.
This one fluctuated between a 2 and 3 throughout. So I'll split it down the middle and round up for their arsenal of random instruments that they employed.
3
Feb 09 2024
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Bad Company
Bad Company
This is a poster child for 3 stars. Solid music, but ultimately pretty forgettable. Seagull was probably my favorite track.
3
Feb 10 2024
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Kid A
Radiohead
Definitely dark and gloomy. There were a couple moments in this album that sounded really beautiful. I appreciate the dreamy sounds in this one accompanied by a prominent baseline. However, these moments were few and far between so I never really got sucked into this album. How To Disappear Completely was by far my favorite. The ending of Tree fingers was good too.
I can understand the love for Radiohead, as they have a very unique and melancholy sound, but it's just not the stuff for me.
I really tried to justify a 3 here for Kev, but I couldn't find it in this album.
2
Feb 11 2024
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Will The Circle Be Unbroken
Nitty Gritty Dirt Band
Great music, but didn't necessarily need 2 hours of it. However, of all albums to be 2 hours, this one I welcome most as it is very easy listening and makes the work day go by a bit faster.
Probably a 3.5, but I'm gonna round down for length and homogeneity
3
Feb 12 2024
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Car Wheels On A Gravel Road
Lucinda Williams
IDK about this one. There is something about her voice that irritates me. Maybe there is something about the tempo of these tracks that is throwing me off. The guitar work is pretty good, but for some reason this is just a struggle to get through. This just feels like cheesy emo music with a country twang.
I think my final take on this is I was probably irrationally angry at it and it deserves another shake, but I can't actually see myself ever listening to this one again. I don't know anything about Lucinda, but it feels like disingenuous pandering to wannabe cowboys.
Song named Jackson redeems it all.
2
Feb 13 2024
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With The Beatles
Beatles
14 songs in 33 minutes is pretty impressive.
Short and sweet. Sounds more like the Beach Boys with a surfer pop rock sound.
I think this one falls around the 3.5 range, but it gets the Beatles Bump. I think I take a lot of The Beatles for granted, but I'm sure this was awesome in 1963.
4
Feb 14 2024
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Signing Off
UB40
Incredibly solid reggae/electronic fusion that is right up my alley. Great for easy listening. No extraordinary highs and certainly no low points. I could day drink at Seacrets with this album on repeat and have no issues.
4
Feb 15 2024
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Millions Now Living Will Never Die
Tortoise
Interesting album here that felt like a bit of a jam. Some pretty cool stuff going on in this one that could warrant a 4, but not ever really exciting enough to bring it there.
3
Feb 16 2024
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Technique
New Order
These songs are heavy on the synth effects. Some of these songs sound like the soundtrack to some random platformer video games for the PS1. Then we get into that 80's dark electronic sound like Depeche Mode that I don't care for at all.
High 2!
2
Feb 17 2024
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Neon Bible
Arcade Fire
Love Arcade Fire's use of choir singing and beat switching in their songs. It gives it a uniquely triumphant sound to their songs. No Cars Go was a standout.
Overall not the best Arcade Fire album, and I'm not really sure why we have gotten 3 AF albums so far. Cool album cover though.
This one ultimately fell into the background for me. Nothing exceptional, but good indie/alternative tracks.
3
Feb 18 2024
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The World is a Ghetto
War
I was expecting this to be a really heavy, blunt rap album similar to Hypocrisy is the Greatest Luxury.
City, Country, City was a bop.
Good album 👍
4
Feb 19 2024
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I Do Not Want What I Haven't Got
Sinead O'Connor
snooooooze.
I think it's pretty telling that her most successful single (Nothing Compares 2 U) is a cover. Her next highest praise in the Wikipedia page is that "The single 'Emperor's New Clothes' found moderate success".
I usually reserve 1 star for things that are arguably not music. This is a low 2. We are talking 1.5000001 stars.
2
Feb 20 2024
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Violent Femmes
Violent Femmes
It is an instinctive reflex to clap or drum those 4 notes in the first song.
Rest of the album isn't great. Some cool basslines, but other than that it is a boring, droning album.
I can't tell if I'm in a bad mood, but I have been giving a lot of 2s and 3s lately.
2
Feb 21 2024
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A Little Deeper
Ms. Dynamite
Nice flow, solid beats. Loved the guitar in the beginning.
As extensive as my knowledge of female British rappers goes, this is squarely my second favorite album by that demographic.
Danger is a bit of a switch to a bit more speed, flow, and the rappers switch to a more pronounced African accent which sounds pretty cool. Definitely a standout song for me.
This has been a pretty solid album, not exactly blowing me away, but I'm bopping along. I'd say this is close to the 3.5 range, but I am going to round down because I think it is a clear step down from Little Simz's GREY Area.
3
Feb 22 2024
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Nick Of Time
Bonnie Raitt
Can't wait to talk to Kev's mom about Bonnie Raitt when I see her next. She has a pretty good college-aged story about meeting Bonnie Raitt that I'll have her tell me again.
Love Letter is a jam!
Definitely errs on the side of folk, but there is definitely that 80's electronic sound in a lot of songs
Came out to a hot start, but settled into a standard album for me. Kinda forgot I was listening tbh.
3
Feb 23 2024
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Bone Machine
Tom Waits
Not really vibing with this one. It is very raw and his voice doesn't really jive with me. I get that some of it is exaggerated, but I don't really understand the gravelly voice. Is that his natural voice? Is he trying to sound like that?
A Little Rain was actually good
I would be upset to see Tom Waits show up on this list a 4th time.
2
Feb 24 2024
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The Slim Shady LP
Eminem
Eminem is truly a unique lyricist. Incredible flow and rhyming capabilities, but he chooses to rap about some weird shit.
All time intro song. Other than that, it's not really my cup of tea from a music perspective. It is definitely an interesting way to go about the album with the skits and the storyline that is followed throughout.
Wanted to like this one more.
3
Feb 25 2024
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Casanova
The Divine Comedy
Pleasant and unique album. This sounds like the lovechild of Frank Zappa and Randy Newman.
4
Feb 26 2024
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Goodbye Yellow Brick Road
Elton John
Another pleasant album that is nearly flawless. Bennie and the Jets is kind of an annoying song, but just for the "BENNIE" parts. The rest of it is a jam.
Mr. John certainly knows how to tickle the ivories.
A good mix of classic piano with some electronic mixed in which I wasn't expecting.
This one flirts with 5 star territory. I will likely listen to this one back.
4
Feb 27 2024
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Straight Outta Compton
N.W.A.
Good flow, great beats. Love the scratching.
If It Aint Ruff is a real treat to listen to on headphones.
Rap's not usually my game, but this is one of the better ones I have heard on this list so far.
4
Feb 28 2024
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First Band On The Moon
The Cardigans
Good poppy jaunt. Idk how to explain this, but it feels like this album should be in sung in French.
It's been a while where I have been blindsided by a song that I have heard a million times when Lovefool came on.
Really solid poppy album. A strong 3, but not getting out of bed for this one.
3
Feb 29 2024
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Skylarking
XTC
Skylarkbunting.
4
Mar 01 2024
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In The Wee Small Hours
Frank Sinatra
One of the smoothest voices of all time. Easy to listen to, but made me a bit sleepy. Didn't like this quite as much as Swingin' Lovers, but still got the job done.
4
Mar 02 2024
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Deja Vu
Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young
Is this the shortest album we have had? 21 minutes is shorter than a TV episode.
Peaceful tunes with a good harmony between the boys.
Another strong 3 album, but nothing spectacular to warrant a 4.
3
Mar 03 2024
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The Message
Grandmaster Flash & The Furious Five
First couple songs were good, including the beginning of Scorpio. Unfortunately Scorpio went on too long.
I think I wanted to like this one more. Couple of hits that are good, the rest of the album is fine too. Didn't really do much for me.
3
Mar 04 2024
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More Songs About Buildings And Food
Talking Heads
Solid album that isn't carried by it's big hits like I have experienced with other Talking Heads albums.
Was listening to this one while bouncing inside and outside while grilling so I don't have any real stand outs or details to share, but I was always grooving to this one.
4
Mar 05 2024
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Sunday At The Village Vanguard
Bill Evans Trio
Lovely soft jazz to start a day. Very easy to listen to. Not really sure why there's two takes for each song, but it barely made a difference in an album like this.
Pretty much as square of a 4.0 as you could get. No blemishes, but not a ton of wow factor.
4
Mar 06 2024
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Brilliant Corners
Thelonious Monk
b2b jazz!
This one certainly has a different feel than the Bill Evans Trio. I really like that this album gives each instrument time to shine and it isn't too chaotic like some Jazz.
4
Mar 07 2024
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Bug
Dinosaur Jr.
Nice album cover!
Singer bad!
Music is fine!
Mixing isn't great!
Barely a 3!
NEVERMIND I JUST TURNED ON DON'T!
2
Mar 08 2024
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Electric Prunes
The Electric Prunes
Sounds a little like the Beatles. Pretty solid. Don't have too many details to discuss on this one. Could probably reach a 4 on a re-listen, but I doubt I'll ever do that.
Good band name.
3
Mar 09 2024
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Gorillaz
Gorillaz
I enjoyed this number a good deal. Reminds me a bit of Radiohead in the experimental/gloomy aspect. Not quite as weird or dark as RH, but that's where my head is at.
Double Bass was a standout for me.
Couple of hits on here I recognized. The album is a bit all over the place. There's certainly a couple of 4 star songs on this album, but the album as a whole doesn't quite get there for me.
3
Mar 10 2024
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25
Adele
I have never listened to Adele besides her radio hits, so I am really excited for this one because I truly think she is one of the best singers of this generation.
I really like how the instrumentation is simple and bold, allowing Adele's voice to shine.
Water Under the Bridge was probably my favorite off this one.
I really enjoyed this album. I think her bravado and emotion paired with the orchestra is putting this album into the 5 star discussion. Low 5 for this one.
5
Mar 11 2024
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Ill Communication
Beastie Boys
I like the hip-hop and funk aspects of this album, but some of the rap and punk aren't great. The whole album feels kind of muddy to me, with something nice catching my ear maybe once every song or two.
Futterman's Rule was great, Sabotage was great, Ricky's Theme was great.
Overall kinda reminds me of Gorillaz with how the album is all over the place genre-wise.
IDK... I like some of the songs, but I really dislike the chaotic makeup of the album as a whole. Let's put this one in the 2.5 range. Rounding down to 2 to send a message.
2
Mar 12 2024
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Who's Next
The Who
Baba O'Riley is another one of those all time songs. Fitting that it opens up this album.
The Who sounds so American.
This reminds me of that Lynard Skynard album where it is just banger after banger after banger. Hard to find any criticisms of this album.
5
Mar 13 2024
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Locust Abortion Technician
Butthole Surfers
This album name and band name duo does not spark optimism that this album will be very good. Hopefully I'm wrong.
Goddammit I hate being right.
1
Mar 14 2024
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Every Good Boy Deserves Fudge
Mudhoney
I expected this to be kinda funky based on the artist name. Kinda feels like a better version of the Butthole Surfers as we come right off from that ride.
Move Out was probably the best.
Grunge still continues to be toward the bottom of my list of favorite genres, but this one wasn't terrible, but it wasn't good either.
2
Mar 15 2024
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McCartney
Paul McCartney
Folky!
Momma Miss America is a jam. I'm fairly certain Gramatik must have sampled this song. I'll have to track down which song it is.
Singalong Junk is a peaceful number.
This album felt a bit lackluster to begin (for Paul McCartney) but really shaped up toward the end to square away the 4 stars that I wanted to give it.
4
Mar 16 2024
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Made In Japan
Deep Purple
Highway Star will always remind me of Rock Band.
Fun live album with some good jams. I like their use of the synth. It gives me a little hint of prog rock which I enjoy.
4
Mar 17 2024
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Close To The Edge
Yes
Loved The Yes Album. Excited for this one.
Definitely a good album, but strictly compared to The Yes Album there is something missing from making it great.
And You and I sounds like a Led Zeppelin song.
4
Mar 18 2024
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Dire Straits
Dire Straits
Wonderful guitar work. Nice and buttery with a few shreddy bits that I can get down with. A nice southern sounding voice.
Sultans of Swing kinda sounds like a Dire Straits song.
I feel like we have had a lot of close 5s recently which is nice. This one is another close one, but it doesn't quite have that chutzpah that would push it over the edge. Really enjoyable listen though!
4
Mar 19 2024
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Led Zeppelin II
Led Zeppelin
I've said it before and ill say it again: it's insane how many LZ songs I have heard a hundred times without ever really choosing Leddy Z.
Lots of really good rock with that whimsical sound that they can weave in and out of their tracks. This one didn't have thoss fantasy style interludes that I really liked in the last one we listened to.
Solid album start to finish, but again, doesn't have the chutzpah for a 5.
4
Mar 20 2024
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Out Of The Blue
Electric Light Orchestra
Night in the City needs more cowbell.
The Whale was trippy, liked it!
Overall a really good album that has a electronic uniqueness to it that I have always enjoyed about ELO's hits. First time listening to an album all the way through and it certainly lived up to what I expected.
4
Mar 21 2024
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Truth And Soul
Fishbone
Funky ska with some guitar shredding? Sure!
Pretty decent music. Can't really find any flaws, but no songs really stuck out either.
Sounds like a band that you kind of know 2 of the members from high school or college and you like one of their songs and every time in comes on when you are playing music you can say "yeah I went to high school with these guys. Smoked weed with one of them one time. They aren't the greatest, but they played the afternoon slot at a beer festival I was at one time."
3
Mar 22 2024
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Rock 'N Soul
Solomon Burke
Short and sweet. Good pipes. Good rhythm. A strong 3.
3
Mar 23 2024
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Stories From The City, Stories From The Sea
PJ Harvey
Slow, grungy, and boring. Not my cup of tea.
ol' Thommy getting some features!
2
Mar 24 2024
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2112
Rush
Don't need to say much about the opening track, will always be a favorite of mine.
I love the whispery bits in The Twilight Zone.
Lessons has a bit more of a folky vibe which is a change up to the rest of the album, before getting right back into the rock.
I really expected to give this one a 5 when it popped up, but besides 2112 being an all time song, the other songs were right in that 4 category. Maybe it's because I have listened to this album a bunch before, maybe because I think Moving Pictures is better, idk.
All said, high high 4.
4
Mar 25 2024
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Here Come The Warm Jets
Brian Eno
Oh boy another Eno album, time to buckle in because I have no clue how weird this'll get.
Took two songs to get into some Teletubbies sounding BS with a nice racially charged song title to boot.
Definitely some weird songs, but honestly I was vibing with it a bit more today. The end of Dead Finks Don't Talk made me consider giving this a 2, but it was short lived. Warm Jets was a great close out song.
3
Mar 26 2024
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Get Behind Me Satan
The White Stripes
Great album name.
My Doorbell was fun.
Everything else was just some alternative rock to me.
3
Mar 27 2024
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Nebraska
Bruce Springsteen
Nice album to listen to on a rainy morning. Don't have too many notes on this one except that it was enjoyable, but nothing special to me. The singer/songwriter style has never been my favorite, so I'm not entirely surprised that I didn't fall in love with this one.
3
Mar 28 2024
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Post Orgasmic Chill
Skunk Anansie
Dang, I usually don't care for this slow, grungy style of rock, but this one was a fairly enjoyable listen from start to finish. It didn't all feel the same and it wasn't whiny. The vocals are powerful without being overbearing. The instrumentation has a good variety and doesn't get boring.
This is one where I would give it a 4 if you compared it to others in its genre, but it's still just a 3 for me in the grand scheme of The List.
3
Mar 29 2024
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Live At The Regal
B.B. King
Love these live albums where you can hear the artists hamming it up with the audience. Really good music on top of this. It's easy to see why B.B. King is so revered.
A real jumping album. Sounded like a real clam bake.
Dude probably caught so much tail.
4
Mar 30 2024
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Rust Never Sleeps
Neil Young & Crazy Horse
Maybe the most generic album I've listened to.
Powderfinger and Hey Hey, My My sounded so different (production wise) from the rest of the album that I thought I had changed artists.
Not impressed.
2
Mar 31 2024
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Slipknot
Slipknot
Really love the drumming and the overall energy that Slipknot brings. I have never really been a fan of their lyrics or their vocals, but the vocals are a lot more bearable than I remember from All Hope is Gone.
I wasn't sure if this was worthy of 4 territory just because it's not my personal taste, but I was definitely vibing to it so it definitely gets that push over the line. The drums are truly the focal point for my admiration of this album. Don't know if I'll ever listen to it again, but I enjoyed this dance. I also love the idea of listening to Slipknot while grinding away at Excel on a Tuesday morning. Just the way they intended for it to be listened to.
4
Apr 01 2024
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Stripped
Christina Aguilera
Her voice starts off pretty good, but then it kinda falls into a more average pop voice.
Not too impressed halfway through and I am not thrilled that this is well over an hour long.
The last half picked up a good bit once "Beautiful" hit. I'd say this brought it up to a soft 3. Wasn't my favorite listen, especially how long it went, but there was some stuff to like in here.
3
Apr 02 2024
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Abbey Road
Beatles
Every song is a banger. Every member gets a moment to shine, especially in The End which I love. Carry That Weight is a favorite of mine, especially with the transition into The End.
Octopus's Garden is another favorite.
It's crazy how many Beatles songs are so familiar when I have never really done a deep dive on them.
I feel like you could put this on during any road trip with any human and they will enjoy it.
5
Apr 03 2024
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Nowhere
Ride
There's some stuff I like in this album, like Dreams Burn Down, Vapour Trail, and Unfamiliar. There's other stuff I dislike about the album, like Nowhere.
Sennen is an odd one because I do like it, but I think the guys voice takes away from it.
Either way, none of it was good or bad enough to sway me either way. Ultimately this is on the boring side for me, but there's a world where I could really get behind this. Maybe if they upped the tempo a skosh. Would be better if the singer wasn't there I think.
3
Apr 04 2024
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You've Come a Long Way Baby
Fatboy Slim
A lot of memorable songs that I didn't know were Fatboy Slim. A lot of interesting looping techniques used here. It doesn't feel like the greatest DJing/looping, but I also think this has to be on the forefront of that technique. I am enjoying it so far, despite it's repetitive nature.
Wearing headphones during the intro to Kalifornia feels like the song is inside my brain.
This has enough hits and depth to cruise to a comfortable 4. Really enjoyable listen that I could see revisiting and it and I feel like this album is a good poster child for this 1001 albums list as it is a different take on traditional music.
4
Apr 05 2024
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KIWANUKA
Michael Kiwanuka
I missed calling out the SAULT Untitled (Black Is) for latest album (June 2020), but this one fits into second place at November 2019. I wouldn't be surprised if this is the last time I make a mention of latest albums over the next ~600 albums.
This is a terrific album. Beautiful voice with clean, chill backing instrumentation. Feels like it's somewhere between Gary Clark Jr and Jungle.
Easy 4
4
Apr 06 2024
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Liquid Swords
GZA
There's definitely beats that get my head bopping throughout. Flow is good too. Nothing really exciting here for me though. Just a rap album with a cool album cover.
Nothing earth shattering here either good or bad.
3
Apr 07 2024
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Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness
The Smashing Pumpkins
2 hours. Buckle up. At least it is a reputable band and not someone unheard of so it's a bit easier to prepare for this.
Album feels like a bit of a grab bag with some whimsical sounding songs and some grungy songs.
Definitely some of their more popular songs sprinkled in here as well.
As with most albums, they tend to lose points for me when they are this long.
The singer's voice is not that wonderful, but the instruments go!
Tales of a Scorched Earth was pretty bad. As was XYU.
I think there is a lot of good stuff in this album and I really like the variety, but I feel like as it gets longer I start to pick up more on the songs I don't like. It's like they're cutting their product with filler. The musicians should leave that practice to the cartels.
Definitely has a some high 4 potential, but it slowly crept into the 3.5 category and then I was just happy for it to be over. Side 1 was significantly better than Side 2.
3
Apr 08 2024
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Diamond Life
Sade
Enjoyable listen that had me going in and out of paying attention while working. A nice jazzy number is always welcome in my headphones. Definitely caught some 4 star moments in here, but ultimately I was tuned out for too much of it to really warrant a 4. Definitely a high 3 though.
3
Apr 09 2024
View Album
Can't Buy A Thrill
Steely Dan
Another good one from Steely Dan. Has some nice jazzy tones to it while providing some bangers.
Hopefully this isn't the end of Steely Dan (being the third album we have gotten). It certainly won't be the end of my listening to them.
4
Apr 10 2024
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GI
Germs
Thought this was gonna be a long one being 16 songs, but like some other punk songs we have listened to, it is only about 2 mins per song.
Pretty terrible way to start the morning. Basslines are pretty sweet though.
Singer sucks and is constantly off beat. Take him out and we maybe have a 3 star album? Strange Notes actually goes hard and then he just spews some incoherent noise all over the track.
The mixing in Our Way sounds like the band is underwater. idk what's up with that.
low 2. the voice was irredeemably bad.
2
Apr 11 2024
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Movies
Holger Czukay
Very interesting album here. I really like how forward the doohickey is in the mix. The contraptions are certainly going in on some of these songs. Could have used more thingamajig throughout, since it really shone in Oh Lord, Give Us More Money.
Honestly though, this started out a bit hectic but really settled in the second half. Maybe not so good to get all the way into 4 stars, but I was grooving for a good portion of this.
3
Apr 12 2024
View Album
Chicago Transit Authority
Chicago
Big band, jazzy, funky rock n' roll? Nails all my favorites. I would love to listen to this on a day where I'm feeling a bit more spry, but it has all the makings of a 5 star album right out of the gate.
Didn't love Free Form Guitar much, but that's gotta be the only blemish on this one. All other guitar shredding songs on this album make up for this though.
I think this one deserves a re-listen because I'm a bit distracted at work, but I am erring on the side of "fuck yeah this album was awesome" that will hopefully be even better after a second listen.
5
Apr 13 2024
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Ready To Die
The Notorious B.I.G.
Definitely some classics on this album that even I have heard plenty of times.
GIMME THE LOOT!
I didn't appreciate the porn blasting in my headphones while mowing the lawn.
The beat in Unbelievable is top notch.
Not generally a rap fan, and this honestly didn't do much to change that. He's got some serious flow and the lyrics are full of emotion, but I just doubt I'll ever listen to this again.
That being said, the hits are great, the beats had me bopping, and I enjoyed it more than I expected to. It just takes some active listening to appreciate everything.
High 3 personally.
3
Apr 14 2024
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Electric
The Cult
Pretty mid.
3
Apr 15 2024
View Album
Brothers
The Black Keys
The bass and drums sound so clean and clear in the headphones.
Black Mud is great.
I really liked the stretch from Black Mud -> Ten Cent Pistol.
Never was a huge fan of The Black Keys hits, but there is a lot more depth to this album than I would have expected.
4
Apr 16 2024
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Djam Leelii
Baaba Maal
A pleasant sounding, but repetitive album. The guitar players aren't the most precise players by any means, but they had plenty of good riffs throughout the album.
This has to be my favorite Senegalese album of all time.
3
Apr 17 2024
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Smokers Delight
Nightmares On Wax
This is an album to put on if you just need to chill tf out. Nice bassline to keep you grooving, nice and relaxed beats. It's a bit repetitive, but not overly so; just enough to sound a touch predictable before they throw a small change in the beat or background. Really great for focusing.
Trails off a bit toward the end, but I thought it was still pretty dang solid.
4
Apr 18 2024
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Gunfighter Ballads And Trail Songs
Marty Robbins
Sure. Definitely feels like a 50's album. As I was finishing I was like "I have totally heard El Paso somewhere". It turns out I heard it about 20 minutes earlier.
Idk there's nothing really wrong with this to make it less than a 3, but I can't really warrant giving it a 2.
3
Apr 19 2024
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The Wildest!
Louis Prima
Nice uptempo jazz to give you a shot of energy in the morning.
Definitely has some funny old-timey lyrics like Banana Split for my Baby. Otherwise it is really good jazz that makes you want to dance.
Night Train was terrific.
4
Apr 20 2024
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Twelve Dreams Of Dr. Sardonicus
Spirit
I was expecting more of a Frank Zappa type album from a band named Spirit with this album name, but I was pleasantly surprised. It is a lot closer to generic classic rock, but with a bassline that flows well and dips into some psychedelic tuneage without going overboard.
Don't care for the alternates for Animal Zoo and Morning Will coming before the final song on Spotify, but that's just a small complaint that won't really knock any stars.
Ended up being a bit of a background album, but I really enjoyed it and will likely come back to this one. It's a bit too hot today, but this album would be perfect for a nice spring day with the windows open.
Just like someone who is missing a finger, I give this a high-4
4
Apr 21 2024
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Either Or
Elliott Smith
Perfectly fine album, nice and short. Made me a bit sleepy.
3
Apr 22 2024
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Bat Out Of Hell
Meat Loaf
Holy hell, if the rest of the album can match "Bat Out of Hell" then this has all the makings of a 5 star album. I was expecting some garbage punk with a name like Meat Loaf.
Loving the keys, the sax, and the vocals; both lead singer and chorus.
All Revved Up with No Place to Go scratched that same itch from the intro song.
I have definitely heard Paradise before.
Settled into a 4 by the end of this one.
4
Apr 23 2024
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Scott 4
Scott Walker
Great voice, Scott! Has a bit of a bossa nova feel to the album with a grooving bassline.
This one is definitely better than Scott 2.
3
Apr 24 2024
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Bert Jansch
Bert Jansch
We are certainly in a older, folky, singer/songwriter groove right now.
Just not really my jam, kinda just sounds the same. Could have been 20 minutes shorter.
This is one of those ones where there is nothing wrong with the music to bring it down, but I feel like a 3 would be overstating my personal enjoyment of the album.
2
Apr 25 2024
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Colour By Numbers
Culture Club
hahaha what an all time song to be the intro to this album.
This certainly has the cheese.
Kinda odd that it went from bubbly dancey pop music to a slower ballad of Victims.
I was enjoying the first couple songs of this album for what they were, but it feels a bit long as it falls off through the middle of the album.
Melting Pot brought it back to what I was expecting the whole album to me.
I think I might be irrationally harsh here with how much I disliked the structure of this album. Liked the pop and cheese. Disliked the ballads. Hated that they were all mashed into one incoherent album.
2
Apr 26 2024
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Come Find Yourself
Fun Lovin' Criminals
Pretty chill album that was nice to vibe to during work. There were a couple samples that I recognized, but I wasn't keeping track of any of the titles during this one.
One or two songs I really liked on this one, otherwise was pretty middle of the road.
We'll call this one a 3+.
3
Apr 27 2024
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Welcome to the Afterfuture
Mike Ladd
A couple standouts like Airwave Hysteria and To the Moon's Contractor that I really enjoyed on this one.
Otherwise, not my jam.
2
Apr 28 2024
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Fever To Tell
Yeah Yeah Yeahs
Maps is a Rock Band classic and the lone bright spot on this album. It also is feels so out of place on this album being that it is a good song.
1
Apr 29 2024
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Green Onions
Booker T. & The MG's
Never heard of this band or this album, but I have definitely heard Green Onions a hundred times in my life.
Loads of organ-forward jazz to start and then it switches into more of a surf rock style.
Overall I liked the sound, but it was pretty samey the whole way through with nothing too exciting going on.
Definitely teeters on a 4, but I'll pull out another 3+ for this.
3
Apr 30 2024
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A Grand Don't Come For Free
The Streets
Lol wtf is this first song. It sounds like a song you'd fine on YouTube in 2008. The vocal mixing is awful. The beat goes pretty hard though.
The rappers lack any flow or emotion. It's like if an Elmer's gluestick could rap. Maybe if the guy didn't bet so irresponsibly on the footy, we wouldn't be in this spot.
These beats are also so repetitive. It's like they took one or two sets of 4 measures for each song and spliced them together.
What Is He Thinking might have been the best song? Maybe Empty Cans?
1
May 01 2024
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Sometimes I Wish We Were An Eagle
Bill Callahan
Good voice, calm tunes, nice strings.
High 3.
3
May 02 2024
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(What's The Story) Morning Glory
Oasis
90's alt-rock in a can.
Champagne Supernova is an all-timer.
3
May 03 2024
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Hunky Dory
David Bowie
This is a fine enough album. I still don't think I understand why Bowie has such renown. I get his personality/ies, but after 5-6 albums on this list, it never feels incredible to me.
3
May 04 2024
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Tanto Tempo
Bebel Gilberto
Really enjoyed this laid back sound. It definitely felt pretty homogenous, but there was just enough variety, especially in some of the soundscapes that were present in the background. 40 minutes was a bit longer than I needed for an album like this. I wouldn't say it was too long, just that I had gotten my fill about 25-30 minutes in.
4
May 05 2024
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Yoshimi Battles The Pink Robots
The Flaming Lips
Love this album. It's pretty much incredible from start to finish. I gained a deeper appreciation for Yoshimi Battles pt2; song fucks. The whole album has a perfect amount of psychedelia to it and I love the sound design to include things like bird calls in the background.
I will always remember winning tickets to see these guys at The Anthem and all of their balloons, inflatables, and robot bird toys.
5
May 06 2024
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Coles Corner
Richard Hawley
I think this is another one in that 3-4 range. I think I'll go with a 3 because ultimately I was pretty happy for this one to end even though it was an appropriate length of an album. I only need like 2-4 of these types of songs to get my fill.
3
May 07 2024
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Truth
Jeff Beck
4
May 08 2024
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The Modern Lovers
The Modern Lovers
slightly whiny, monotone voice. Repetitive rhythms. Some nice shreddy moments.
Not bad for punk.
3
May 09 2024
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Seventeen Seconds
The Cure
Secrets is a good tune.
A lot less of the singer on this album, which I appreciate. It feels like a gloomy soundscape which I can appreciate, but it isn't really my cuppa.
A Forest is another good tune that has a nice guitar section throughout.
Still don't understand The Cure, but this is the best of the 3 albums we have had so far.
3
May 10 2024
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Rock Bottom
Robert Wyatt
Feels like the whole first song is offbeat. Math rock, perchance????
waawaawaaaaawawawaaawaaaWAAWAA
Kinda weird, some bright spots, but also some scratchy bad tuneage in there.
2
May 11 2024
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Immigrés
Youssou N'Dour
25 albums later and I have a new favorite Senegalese album of all time!
My one (very surface level) note is that this feels a lot more Latin inspired or Latin adjacent than I expected. I was expecting heavier African and French sounds.
Pretty solid, all things considered. I enjoyed this enough, but it's generally repetitive and doesn't feel super complex. Nice background music, but probably won't think of this one again unless we get more music out of Senegal.
3
May 12 2024
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At San Quentin
Johnny Cash
So does Johnny Cash just play in prisons or....?
Excited for this one, because after re-listening to Folsom I regret only giving it a 4.
The censorship is definitely throwing me off lol (non-Legacy edition)
I enjoyed the banter on this one again, but because the whole album is only 34 minutes, it felt like he only played music for about 20 minutes.
This one I am giving a soft 4. Folsom is better.
4
May 13 2024
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Liege And Lief
Fairport Convention
I like the lady's voice. Besides Matty Groves, there wasn't another standout to me.
3
May 14 2024
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Chirping Crickets
Buddy Holly & The Crickets
About as inventive as I can expect an album from 1957 to be. Nothing really bad about this one, but there was also nothing special about it.
3
May 15 2024
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21
Adele
Another great Adele album that really showcases her pipes. This one had a bit more going on in the background than "25", but it still hit similar highs for me.
4
May 16 2024
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Hypnotised
The Undertones
Hilarious album cover.
Kinda feels like punk meets beach rock.
Kevin = Cuzzo #1. So perfect. So golden.
3
May 17 2024
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Cupid & Psyche 85
Scritti Politti
Funny artist name that I have never heard of.
Lotsa cheese on this one.
I like the cheese, but I have heard better cheese.
3
May 18 2024
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What's Going On
Marvin Gaye
Jam after jam after jam after jam.
Honestly no stand outs, but just solid throughout. Gaye is definitely going to be more heavily involved in my weekend mornings going forward.
4
May 19 2024
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Ladies And Gentlemen We Are Floating In Space
Spiritualized
Before even starting, this is a great album name. It sounds like something the Flaming Lips would name a song or an album.
A rather mellow, symphony-esque album. Kind of a cruising 3 that gets points for uniqueness. Very spacey and trancey.
Last song was a cool journey. High 3!
3
May 20 2024
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Parachutes
Coldplay
I really like Coldplay so there may be some bias in here.
I enjoy that this has a bit of an unplugged sound compared to their more recent stuff. Very solid indie rock. The fact that this came out in 2000 makes me think that this album influenced a lot of the '00s indie.
Overall though, while it is a very solid album, there weren't too many standouts. Nothing about this album blew me away, especially since I'm fairly familiar with their catalog so I know they have better albums.
High 3 :)
3
May 21 2024
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Shadowland
k.d. lang
An interesting blend of honky-tonk style country, but mixed in with some jazzy notes. Kinda had this one on as background music so I didn't catch much in the way of lyrics, but the voice is great and the music is great for background.
It felt rather repetitive and I probably won't listen to this one again, but I enjoyed it for what it is!
4
May 22 2024
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Foxbase Alpha
Saint Etienne
Started out fairly reminiscent of Boards of Canada.
The beginning was definitely a bit better. The back half wasn't bad, but it felt like it moved to a bit more of a poppy sound. The songs are a bit repetitive, but for an album like this, that's kind of the point.
Maybe a song or two in here were 4 star quality, but the rest was solidly a 3.
3
May 23 2024
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Oxygène
Jean-Michel Jarre
Sounds like the soundtrack to a space-faring indie video game.
Obligatory "would take drugs and listen to this album".
I really enjoy electronic albums like this and this was no exception.
4
May 24 2024
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For Your Pleasure
Roxy Music
Editions of you was sweet.
Kind of a weird album with how they treated the vocals, but I was definitely grooving at points.
3
May 25 2024
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Brown Sugar
D'Angelo
Jonz In My Bonz is a great title.
Me and Those Dreamin' Eyes of Mine put some boogie in my bones while I was making lunch.
Not my normal cup of tea, but certainly enjoyable. Basslines were bumping!
I think this one is a 4, but it definitely got a nudge for being something that is better than I expected. Probably won't listen to this again cause it's not really my style, but it was good one.
4
May 26 2024
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Superfuzz Bigmuff
Mudhoney
Great album name, but I am not excited to listen to more Mudhoney.
This album is actively stressing me out because I hate it, but it's not as overtly bad as something like Kollaps so I am trying to find good things to say about it. So far the only thing I really like is how crisp the bass kicks are on the drum.
A much much worse Alice in Chains.
1
May 27 2024
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Hysteria
Def Leppard
Definitely listened to a lot of Def Leppard when I was younger playing games like Runescape, Guild Wars, and Kal Online.
Album art reminds me of Yu-Gi-Oh.
Wish I could have listened to this in the middle of Virginia on my way to Charlotte during the longest solo roadtrip of my life.
One thing that I can't quite shake is that this sounds very commercial. Idk if it's a characteristic of this glam rock genre, but it feels like it has little authenticity. Kind of like pop rock I guess?
3
May 28 2024
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Vivid
Living Colour
Cult of Personality was a GTA staple.
This feels like some standard heavy metal/rock, but it oddly has a few songs that feel like pop songs? The bass lines made me think of Primus at times.
A fine album.
3
May 29 2024
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Berlin
Lou Reed
Kinda folky, kinda emo, kinda boring.
Last song was pretty interesting. It felt like a happy and triumphant song even though it was a "sad song". Maybe something about the lady finally finding peace after razoring her arms?
Probably could get a lot out of this album if I listened again and more in-depth, but overall not really doing anything for me.
2
May 30 2024
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Modern Sounds in Country and Western Music
Ray Charles
It's just great music.
4
May 31 2024
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Architecture And Morality
Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark
Like a mix of Depeche Mode and Kollaps at points. Definitely didn't care for most of the album, but the end of the album did have some redeeming qualities.
2
Jun 01 2024
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461 Ocean Boulevard
Eric Clapton
Er🤢 👏 ton
3
Jun 02 2024
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The Only Ones
The Only Ones
Singer's voice is dull, but otherwise this album was okay.
3
Jun 03 2024
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Trans Europe Express
Kraftwerk
I think this is my least favorite of the 3 Kraftwerk albums so far although I still enjoyed it. Definitely like their cut of the jib though. Recommended to listen with good headphones, since my running earbuds weren't really cutting it for the first couple songs.
This is maybe a 3.5, but it is notably worse than the other two albums, so I am rounding down.
3
Jun 04 2024
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Music From The Penguin Cafe
Penguin Cafe Orchestra
I gotta say that this is a delightful album except for the discordant parts. I think I understood the back and forth, but I still don't really care for it. Probably tops out at a 4 for certain songs, but the lows are equal to the highs, so I think it averages right as a square 3.
3
Jun 05 2024
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Phrenology
The Roots
Couple of good songs on here, but no real duds. The beats early on were pretty dry, but they seemed to get better as the album went on.
I liked that there seemed to be a few high profile features and you can really hear the influence on each song form the features.
Not really my jam, but it was fine.
3
Jun 06 2024
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Modern Life Is Rubbish
Blur
Nothing crazy about this one. Some decent basslines and energy, but feels like a punk album in the sense that it's repetitive and the singer's voice is whiny. Low 3.
3
Jun 07 2024
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Dance Mania
Tito Puente
A nice lively jaunt to end the work day. Sounds damn good for being released in 1958.
High 3.
3
Jun 08 2024
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Second Toughest In The Infants
Underworld
Not the hugest fan of straight up techno, but it certainly helped me crush some spreadsheets!
Definitely repetitive (by nature), but I actually enjoyed many stretches of this album. I think the vocals, while not bad, detracted from the album. IT feels like the vocals are just trying too hard to be edgy and cool (not unusual for the 90s).
Can't say I would listen to this one again, but I wouldn't be mad if Underworld came up on this list again.
Low 4 when doing tedious computer work, probably a 3 in most other atmospheres.
4
Jun 09 2024
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Ray Of Light
Madonna
I have never really listened to Madonna, but I didn't expect the 90's techno beats. I really enjoyed the first song.
Although the middle of the album has fallen off a bit, one thing remains consistent and that is her voice being fantastic and I like the beats.
Sky Fits Heaven was another good one.
After all was said and done, meh. Thought we might have had a sneaky 5 at the beginning
3
Jun 10 2024
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Don't Stand Me Down
Dexys Midnight Runners
idk if I'm in a slump, but all of these albums are sounding so mid to me lately.
3
Jun 11 2024
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Konnichiwa
Skepta
I have such a soft spot for British rap because it just sounds hilarious. Big tings and such.
The interludes were pretty dumb, but the beats, flow, and energy are all there.
A couple blemishes, but a really solid 4 otherwise!
4
Jun 12 2024
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Surrealistic Pillow
Jefferson Airplane
Reminiscent of the Beatles a bit. Not nearly as good though. High 3.
3
Jun 13 2024
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The La's
The La's
3
Jun 14 2024
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Virgin Suicides
Air
Some songs like Dead Bodies and Ghost Song were pretty good. I think all of these songs are a bit better individually or would do better in they were put into other full albums as a sort of interlude.
As a whole album, though, this was pretty boring to listen to.
2
Jun 15 2024
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Teenage Head
Flamin' Groovies
The name "Flamin' Groovies" sounds like a band I would love. The album art immediately makes me think this is going to be some low budget punk or garage rock.
Kinda folky though.
Nothing spectacular about this one, but nothing bad either.
3
Jun 16 2024
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B-52's
The B-52's
Rock Lobster has some incredible animal limitations.
Other than that this is some fairly basic rock music and the girls voice sucks.
2
Jun 17 2024
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São Paulo Confessions
Suba
Entirely too repetitive and never really exciting. Maybe if you were at a dance club on acid this album would be good.
1
Jun 18 2024
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Frampton Comes Alive
Peter Frampton
Absolute guitar shredder. Peter Frampton is one of those artists where I have heard their songs a million times, but I couldn't really name a Peter Frampton song.
I feel like live albums are always going to get a half star bump.
4
Jun 19 2024
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Listen Without Prejudice Vol. 1
George Michael
Nice pleasant AM album. Great voice from Mr. Mike along with a nice variety of smooth instruments.
We have been on a stretch of so many mid albums that this is a nice breath of fresh air.
4
Jun 20 2024
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Eliminator
ZZ Top
Man I didn't realize how similar ZZ Top songs sound to each other. Couple of legendary hits on this one. TV Dinners was a funny one. I like ZZ Top and figured this would be a 4, but I never really felt like this album deserved that.
3
Jun 21 2024
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Entertainment
Gang Of Four
Sure. One of the better punk/post-punk albums thus far.
3
Jun 22 2024
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James Brown Live At The Apollo
James Brown
Lots of screaming.
3
Jun 23 2024
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I’m a Lonesome Fugitive
Merle Haggard
One of those albums that are just a solid 3. I feel like a lot of these older country albums are just good music, but that's about it. Happy it wasn't any longer than ~30 mins.
3
Jun 24 2024
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That's The Way Of The World
Earth, Wind & Fire
Exactly as good of an album I would expect from EWF. Africano was a favorite, as was See the Light
4
Jun 25 2024
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Arthur (Or the Decline and Fall of the British Empire)
The Kinks
Odd naming convention for an album, but it reminds me of the movie Birdman (Or the Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance) and PetroDragonic Apocalypse; or, Dawn of Eternal Night: An Annihilation of Planet Earth and the Beginning of Merciless Damnation
^^ That is probably the most words I have written before even listening to a second of the album
This album has the GROOVE!
It started out as a very solid first half, and only got better from there.
Similar sounds to The Beatles which makes sense.
Australia was one of my favorites and I liked the use of the harpsichord all around.
Around the halfway point of the album I was trying to figure out if this just *felt* like a 5 compared to a lot of our recent catalog. Now that I'm at the finish I can confidently say this is a 5. I could listen to this album just about any day.
5
Jun 26 2024
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En-Tact
The Shamen
Not my fave. There are definitely some cool aspects of this album, but for the most part it seemed just like jumbled sounds. 666 Edit being the hallmark of that comment.
2
Jun 27 2024
View Album
Back At The Chicken Shack
Jimmy Smith
A nice and smooth ride all the way through. Perfect amount of time. Would definitely put this on as background music for a function.
4
Jun 28 2024
View Album
Django Django
Django Django
A great flowing album with tons of different techniques being used. Great start to the day.
4
Jun 29 2024
View Album
Dog Man Star
Suede
This album is pretty much just an album that kept swinging between a 2.75 and a 3.25 stars.
The Asphalt World was incredible. If the whole album was like that we'd be looking at a 5 star for sure.
Great ending to the album that makes me want to re-listen, but after a first pass it has to settle for a 3.
3
Jun 30 2024
View Album
Kenza
Khaled
The rendition of Imagine was awesome!
Kinda poppy, but I'm really grooving to this one.
Really liked El Bab, too. Has a Caribbean/reggaeton sound to it.
A little long for my tastes, but the album was very solid to have on while working to tune out a bit while still jamming a bit.
4
Jul 01 2024
View Album
Low-Life
New Order
A better Depeche Mode.
4
Jul 02 2024
View Album
The Hour Of Bewilderbeast
Badly Drawn Boy
Guitar noodly and voice droney.
This Song almost made me sick listening to it with headphones on holy fuck. I hated this song, but I kinda appreciate the capability to give me vertigo.
Overall there were a couple times where this album flashed 4 star potential and my ears perked up, but there were also plenty of times where the songs just came and went without much of a thought.
An interesting album that I have no interest in revisiting.
3
Jul 03 2024
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Seventh Tree
Goldfrapp
Couple of good songs, but I don't care for the breathy vocals. Low 3.
3
Jul 04 2024
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Pump
Aerosmith
Really good choice for a morning run with it's high energy, simple beat structure, Steven Tyler screaming in my ear, and a couple hits to sing along to.
First half or so of the album feels very much the same, then Janie's Got a Gun starts and it turns the corner into a bit more variety.
Steven Tyler should definitely be dead already cause I think he did dumpster loads of cocaine, which naturally means he will probably live to be like 93.
Honestly, this felt like the poster child for American classic rock at the beginning which would have been a square 3, but as the album continued it just got better and better.
4
Jul 05 2024
View Album
Lupe Fiasco's Food & Liquor
Lupe Fiasco
I like the energy and tempo of the beats, but unfortunately it feels like most songs have beats with very little variety.
All time song with Kick Push.
This feels like a good album to demonstrate the transition from 90's-00's hip hop into the '10s hip-hop.
I think this is a pretty good album, I just cant bring myself to hit that 4 button.
3
Jul 06 2024
View Album
Metal Box
Public Image Ltd.
Radio 4 was the best song by far and it gets the benefit of being the end of this charade of an album.
This was pretty awful.
Shoegaze???
1
Jul 07 2024
View Album
Talking Book
Stevie Wonder
Another good morning run album, but for different reasons than Aerosmith.
Smooth tracks with few real standouts (Superstition is obviously a hit), but also never any low points at all.
4
Jul 08 2024
View Album
Smile
Brian Wilson
Acapella, more like acapell-NAWWWW
Mrs. O'Leary's Cow was a trip.
Interesting concept, didn't care for the execution. Definitely grew on me towards the end though.
2
Jul 09 2024
View Album
Basket of Light
Pentangle
Not very exciting. Not bad though. Not sure why there's 3 copies of Sally Go Round on the album.
Was ready for this one to wrap up after about 15 minutes. 2.5 here that I definitely want to round down.
2
Jul 10 2024
View Album
Playing With Fire
Spacemen 3
2 hours?! Fuck that. Especially for an album like this...
I only listened to the original releases and that was already too long.
I get the concept of this album and I could appreciate bits and pieces of this album, but it was just not enjoyable.
Shoegaze???? I bet Kev and Brandon liked this one.
Low 2.
2
Jul 11 2024
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Opus Dei
Laibach
The first half was pretty enjoyable and I wholeheartedly had it cruising to a 3 star review.
Unfortunately it took a turn toward not being music anymore and just being some industrial percussion BS.
Standouts were Opus Dei and The Great Seal.
I wanted this to hold onto a 3 so badly, but the end wasn't really music anymore.
2
Jul 12 2024
View Album
Butterfly
Mariah Carey
Production is clean and I can recognize that she has a great voice, but I can't stand the breathiness and excessive moaning.
Not a bad album, but definitely not one that enjoyed. This is surprising because I definitely think 28 year old straight white males is Mariah's exact target demographic.
2
Jul 13 2024
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The Velvet Underground & Nico
The Velvet Underground
Solid first half of the album. Fell off toward the end around Heroin.
The singer reminds me of Nude Party
3
Jul 14 2024
View Album
A Wizard, A True Star
Todd Rundgren
Interesting album cover. I can only imagine how this album is about to go.
That's about what I expected.
Landed right around the 3.5 mark. I'll give it the bump up for being the right kind of weird for me (take notes, Zappa).
4
Jul 15 2024
View Album
Street Life
The Crusaders
This album rocked. So clean and smooth. Another good Sunday morning album.
One of those albums that is just so damn close to a 5 star, but it is just missing that small, unquantifiable "it" factor. Definitely coming back to this one though.
4
Jul 16 2024
View Album
Rocks
Aerosmith
This is rock.
3
Jul 17 2024
View Album
Desperate Youth, Blood Thirsty Babes
TV On The Radio
Gotta give it to them for having some unique music without being overboard on straight weirdness. But otherwise was kind of a boring album. Low 3
3
Jul 18 2024
View Album
Tom Tom Club
Tom Tom Club
Love getting random songs that are sampled in more recent music, like with Genius of Love. One of my favorite parts about this 1001 albums jaunt.
Kind of spacey pop, but nothing special.
High 2 I guess.
2
Jul 19 2024
View Album
Golden Hour
Kacey Musgraves
Pretty average album. Kinda country kinda pop. Not my wheelhouse, but it wasn't bad.
3
Jul 20 2024
View Album
Public Image: First Issue
Public Image Ltd.
This album was a variety show! Some good punk, some bad punk, some shreddy bits. Overall not my favorite listen, but had its moments.
3
Jul 21 2024
View Album
Goo
Sonic Youth
Bad punk. Very samey. Noisy.
1
Jul 22 2024
View Album
Never Mind The Bollocks, Here’s The Sex Pistols
Sex Pistols
Why is there so much punk? I'm tired, pops.
2
Jul 23 2024
View Album
Slippery When Wet
Bon Jovi
Unapologetically 80's power ballads with some fairly shallow lyrics. That being said, I enjoyed this album for what it is. High energy, easy to listen to, and pretty much the right length.
Feels like a good album to listen to while drinking 3 dozen beers in a van in October...
4
Jul 24 2024
View Album
Supa Dupa Fly
Missy Elliott
Found myself randomly jamming a couple times, but not enough to check any songs to specifically call out. Other than that, it was pretty slow and boring. Kinda feels like the whole thing is on some Xanax. Definitely felt like 90s rap.
Barely a two here.
2
Jul 25 2024
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Let's Get Killed
David Holmes
Not really sure what to think of this one. Trippy electronica I guess? I liked the first half a bit better and was solidly grooving to it, but it just got a bit lackluster as time went on. I'll give this a generous 3, because it was subjectively a better listen than Missy Elliott with the main drawback being its length.
3
Jul 26 2024
View Album
Talk Talk Talk
The Psychedelic Furs
This was fine. Pretty fuzzy, pretty pop. Had this on in the background, so maybe there was more to it, but it felt like generic British punkish album to me.
3
Jul 27 2024
View Album
The Infotainment Scan
The Fall
Another grungey/punky album... This guys voice is not that great.
There were some interesting effects used as well as a good variety of instruments, but there was also a lot of droning repetition with below-average vocals.
Past Gone Mad was the best song and the album cover is pretty cool.
2
Jul 28 2024
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Roxy Music
Roxy Music
No notes.
3
Jul 29 2024
View Album
Porcupine
Echo And The Bunnymen
Feels like a poppier Talking Heads with a dash of Depeche Mode. A fine enough album, on the higher side of 3
3
Jul 30 2024
View Album
The Marshall Mathers LP
Eminem
Very real and very raw album. Definitely a weird one to listen to at 8am on a Tuesday.
I'm happy Eminem is as real as he is because I feel like if he wasn't well adjusted he would be saying some absolutely off the wall stuff in the media these days.
4
Jul 31 2024
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Elephant Mountain
The Youngbloods
Very pleasant album. Had a good amount of variety as well.
4
Aug 01 2024
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Scissor Sisters
Scissor Sisters
Liked the singers voice for the most part. Interesting album that felt like a melting pot of a lot of sounds. I hear some disco, punk, rock n' roll, alternative, folk.
Overall this lands at a 3.5.
4
Aug 02 2024
View Album
Guero
Beck
I can appreciate the experimentation that Beck employs, but I just don't really enjoy the music to a high degree. Points for his technical skills, but he doesn't really pass the ear test for me personally.
3
Aug 03 2024
View Album
This Is Hardcore
Pulp
A bit of and odd one. Not bad though. Not really sure how to classify this one, but the singer hits that Depeche Mode vibe that I don't love. The end had a nice triumphant sounding finish that reminded me of some band that I can't quite put my finger on.
Ending pulled it from a low 3 to a regular 3.
3
Aug 04 2024
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Joan Armatrading
Joan Armatrading
Hell yeah. Best singer/songwriter album on this list so far? Cruising on a nice day with the windows down may have helped this one a bit, but I still think it would be a 4 regardless. A good mix of energy and musical styles.
4
Aug 05 2024
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The Who Sell Out
The Who
This one probably could have used a closer listen because there aren't really any hits on it and I was knee deep in work.
Still felt like this had some solid "Who" sound, but it felt like they went goofy style on it intentionally.
I want to re-listen to this one because I feel like I missed a lot of the tongue in cheek jokes that were going on. I will give it a 3.5 rounded up for its potential
4
Aug 06 2024
View Album
NEU! 75
Neu!
Wonderfully peaceful beginning makes me want to play Minecraft for hours on end on a rainy day.
Hero was not a great track with whatever the vocals were supposed to be. Instruments were fine, but this track was so different from what I was getting from the first half of the album. I am glad that E-Musik got the album back on track. After Eight felt out of place too, but I liked it a lot more than Hero.
Honestly without Hero and After Eight this is a high 4 for me. I still think it gets the 4, but I feel like it was such a cohesive album before listening to those songs.
4
Aug 07 2024
View Album
Wild Gift
X
For the most part I like the woman's voice. Has a kind of country/folky tone to it. Sometimes it sounds a bit whiny, but that's on par for punk.
Happy with the length of this one. Standard sounding punk that I feel like moves toward a more palatable sound compared to British punk. Maybe started influencing pop punk a bit?
3
Aug 08 2024
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Ogden's Nut Gone Flake
Small Faces
Not sure what Ogdens' Nut Gone Flake means, but it sure is provacative.
Fuzzzzzy to start this album. I listened to the Stereo version and they went a bit too hard on the stereo effects at some points, but for the most part it was well done.
Overall felt like a mix of Beatles, Jimi, and even Led Zep at points.
This felt like a 3.5, but a round down because it never truly captured my attention. I would give this a relisten though to see if it improves.
3
Aug 09 2024
View Album
Ambient 1/Music For Airports
Brian Eno
Fitting that I am listening this right before going to the airport.
Not something I would like to listen to in the airport, unless this was the score for a movie that I am in where I am having an introspective/melancholy flight.
This is something I would listen to early in the morning to feel peaceful and focused during work though (exactly what I am doing now).
Very beautiful album that I will likely never listen to again. Maybe my favorite Eno album so far? It's very different from his other 37 albums that are on this list.
4
Aug 10 2024
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Who Killed...... The Zutons?
The Zutons
Pretty good music, but ultimately pretty bland and inoffensive. Picturesque 3 stars.
3
Aug 11 2024
View Album
The White Room
The KLF
This is exactly what a 1991 electronic album would sound like if someone asked me to describe it.
I feel like the 90's rave scene must have been absolutely wildin' to some very average music.
Low 3 here
3
Aug 12 2024
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Stand!
Sly & The Family Stone
Definitely was catching a groove on this one, especially during Sex Machine.
Soft 4 here, but I'd be happy to get more Sly on this list.
4
Aug 13 2024
View Album
1984
Van Halen
Hot for Teacher always a fun listen. Girl Gone Bad is a jam that I haven't heard before.
This album as a whole feels significantly flatter than "Van Halen". Maybe I wasn't listening to it loud enough.
High 3
3
Aug 14 2024
View Album
Kenya
Machito
This would be perfect music to listen to in a restaurant. Fairly repetitive and easy to fade into the background. Can't deny that I enjoyed each song, but all the songs sounded pretty much the same. Another 3.
3
Aug 15 2024
View Album
A Nod Is As Good As A Wink To A Blind Horse
Faces
Feels like we are on a stretch of short albums which I really appreciate as I claw my way back to being caught up (I am behind by 35 at this writing)
Recognized Stay With Me.
Memphis has a great second half and I enjoyed Too Bad.
I may not have been paying great attention, but as far as this style of rock goes, it is just a notch above average. Pretty jammy, but nothing really stood out to me.
Last song had some distortion and some steel drums (?) that felt like they came out of nowhere.
3
Aug 16 2024
View Album
No Other
Gene Clark
Old country is so different than new country and I always really enjoy it. I feel like this one landed in the 3.5 realm, but if I listened to it in the right atmosphere it would get the bump.
3
Aug 17 2024
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White Ladder
David Gray
Please Forgive Me is a classic. That thumping bass at the end is such a pleasant sound. Also the song was in Scrubs.
The album as a whole wasn't necessarily my favorite, but I can't deny how powerful his voice is, how clean the instruments are, and how the whole thing is produced. I think there is a lot more in the lyrics than I picked up on. Feels a bit like Citizen Cope.
4
Aug 18 2024
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Black Holes and Revelations
Muse
Starlight and Knights of Cydonia are all-timers. City of Delusion was a good one that I hadn't heard before.
This was a unique album that isn't "all over the place" but it definitely doesn't stay directly in one lane. There is some regular rock, some grunge, and some electronic/ethereal sounds. Reminds me a bit of Arcade Fire in that sense.
Never listened to Muse besides their hits before this. There were some bright spots, and few low spots, but it never really hooked me. This was close to a 4, but there's something missing that I was expecting.
3
Aug 19 2024
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Fred Neil
Fred Neil
Fred Neil
4
Aug 20 2024
View Album
American IV: The Man Comes Around
Johnny Cash
Holy hell this is Johnny Cash's 67th album. Lotta covers though.
There is something about the mixing of his vocals that is irking me. It almost sounds like one of those commentary albums where the voice is just so far on top of the track.
Personal Jesus was a pretty meh cover.
Hard to hate the voice or the strums of the guitar, but there isn't one I would come back to. Still enjoy the Cash though.
3
Aug 21 2024
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Everything Must Go
Manic Street Preachers
Feels like pretty standard early 00's alternative rock. Seeing as this is from 1996 I can see why its on this list. They used a fair amount of effects and let the guitarist do his thing a number of times which was neat, but ultimately this is just an album that I listened to and that's about the extent of my feelings toward it.
3
Aug 22 2024
View Album
More Specials
The Specials
Pearl's Cafe having the line "When I saw you I thought you were a wet dream come true" is absolutely unhinged. I can't wait to use it myself.
Talk about a variety hour!
Holiday Fortnight sounded like a pina colada tastes.
International Jet Set was just oozing cool.
Not the highest of 4's, but in no way could I hit the 3 button on this one. Loved the variety and laid back nature of it.
4
Aug 23 2024
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Penance Soiree
The Icarus Line
There were a couple decent songs in the first half even though this isn't my favorite type of music. The end fell off pretty hard with White Devil and Meatmaker.
2
Aug 24 2024
View Album
Me Against The World
2Pac
Good beats, good flow. Never been a huge rap fan and this doesn't really change much for me. The wikipedia page is definitely interesting with all the events surrounding the release of this album.
3
Aug 25 2024
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Too Rye Ay
Dexys Midnight Runners
This album came and went. I feel like you could listen to this whole thing on shuffle and it would sound the exact same.
Horns and strings are definitely a favorite of mine to be included, but this album just had too much of it.
All that being said, Come on Eileen is a certified banger.
3
Aug 26 2024
View Album
Crooked Rain Crooked Rain
Pavement
Listened to pavement while running on pavement.
Don't care for the singers voice.
Had a bit of a groove in the third quarter of this album, but then we got back to whiny voice. Was trending toward the "low 3" category, but after the last two songs it confidently hits the "square 2" category
2
Aug 27 2024
View Album
Appetite For Destruction
Guns N' Roses
Speed! Tempo! Energy!
Pretty sure that Paradise City was the coolest song in the world when I was a kid.
Sweet Child o Mine will be forever recognizable.
Everything else about this album was just fine.
3
Aug 28 2024
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Trio
Dolly Parton
Great album. Feels good to listen to. Good pipes and a chill guitar.
4
Aug 29 2024
View Album
Groovin'
The Young Rascals
They really took full liberty on the use of stereo at the beginning. I almost had to switch to the mono version.
Had some hints of Beatles and some Jimi in there, but it was still pretty mid.
Cool album art
3
Aug 30 2024
View Album
Axis: Bold As Love
Jimi Hendrix
Absolutely solid album. Can't hate on Jimi tunes.
Bold as Love is one of the best last songs on album holy hell.
4
Aug 31 2024
View Album
Dare!
The Human League
Sounds like a poppier Depeche Mode. Some of the electronic work is really enjoyable in this album, but I can't get over the singers voice and the lyrics. It just sounds like a hopeless romantic stalking a girl.
Low 3, saved by the nuggets of electronic goodness
3
Sep 01 2024
View Album
S.F. Sorrow
The Pretty Things
Fairly raw sounding. Love the psychedelia and the singers voice. Got a bit gritty at times.
Big props for this being done in the 60s.
This one hits the 3.5 star range, but I'm rounding up for the sheer fact that I feel like I have been giving out way too many 3s lol.
4
Sep 02 2024
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Damaged
Black Flag
Bad, boring album.
TV Party was funny! Glad this was a shorter album and had one good song.
1
Sep 03 2024
View Album
Different Class
Pulp
This Common People song has been on a playlist of mine for probably 10 years. Always odd to hear songs like that in the wild.
Other than that song this album didn't really feel like much.
The only song that made me perk up was the first song that autoplayed after the album ended.
2
Sep 04 2024
View Album
Tuesday Night Music Club
Sheryl Crow
This is a pleasant pop album with a country/folky twang. I like Sheryl's voice on top of that so this album was just a solidly good listen. She also played at Bonnaroo when I went and, even though I didn't see her, she reminds me of that festival.
4
Sep 05 2024
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AmeriKKKa's Most Wanted
Ice Cube
More good flow from Ice Cube. Beats were solid as well. Feels like a 4 in the rap world, but in the multi-genre world, it doesn't quite get there. I enjoyed this more than the last Ice Cube album apparently.
3
Sep 06 2024
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Goodbye And Hello
Tim Buckley
Chill, peaceful, and a song about munching box. What more could you ask for?
4
Sep 07 2024
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Only Built 4 Cuban Linx
Raekwon
Another solid rap album, but nothing really special to me. It is a notch below the recent Ice Cube album.
3
Sep 08 2024
View Album
The Renaissance
Q-Tip
Like the funky beats and flow in this one.
The first half of "Move" was pissing me off with that vocal sample.
Lost me a bit in the middle-end, but came through strong to finish with Believe and Shaka.
4
Sep 09 2024
View Album
I See You
The xx
Not quite as good as their other album, but that's a high bar to surpass. Still enjoyed it a fair bit, but if I'm feeling like The xx I'm just going with xx. Low 4 for me.
4
Sep 10 2024
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Licensed To Ill
Beastie Boys
Not sure if the "point" of this album was to sample a ton of other songs as a riff off the "licensed" naming of the album, but I like the songs they chose to sample.
I always appreciate BBs rapping style of switching off words with one another.
Do the Beastie Boys make the best music in the world? No.
Do I enjoy the high energy funky beats with lyrics that don't take themselves too seriously? You're damn right.
4
Sep 11 2024
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Foo Fighters
Foo Fighters
Don't know if I have ever listened to this one from start to finish. I believe every instrument on this one was done solely by Dave.
Weenie Beenie was an interesting turn with an interesting track name.
I thought the first half was pretty good with Big Me being a favorite of mine. The second half felt a little less inspired.
This feels like a 3.5, but I'm going to round down because I'm sure I am biasedly enjoying it a bit more because I listed to FF a lot. Also rounding down because Dave went ahead an sired a child out of wedlock which is kinda fucked up dude.
3
Sep 12 2024
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Blackstar
David Bowie
Not for me. Didn't really understand it and nothing jumped out at me.
2
Sep 13 2024
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Music From Big Pink
The Band
Love this. Definitely moments where I was thinking 5, but I think the ending just fell a little too low for me. Loved the variety with some classic folkiness, some electronics, some ragtime-esque sounds. Plenty of depth with a couple of hits too. Great stuff.
4
Sep 14 2024
View Album
Shake Your Money Maker
The Black Crowes
Good sound, but pretty uniform from start to finish. Liked the energy, but nothing special. Enjoyed the album on just one listen, but it doesn't have me clamoring for a re-listen or more Black Crowes. High 3
3
Sep 15 2024
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Vauxhall And I
Morrissey
Solid, nice voice, nothing crazy. If this is singer/songwriter then it's high up there for singer/songwriter albums.
3
Sep 16 2024
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American Pie
Don McLean
American Pie (the song) is an all timer that does a lot of heavy lifting here. The rest of the album has no surprises. I have never listened to Don McLean, but it all sounded like American Pie. This is on the high side of 3
3
Sep 17 2024
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New York Dolls
New York Dolls
On the better side of mediocre. A bit more variety than I was expecting, but never heard anything special
3
Sep 18 2024
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Bizarre Ride II The Pharcyde
The Pharcyde
Really enjoyed the beats and the flow. The beats hit those 90's beats that get me grooving as a walk around the house perfectly and the flow is reminiscent of Tribe.
Biggest blemish on this album is some of the crazy skits that are like Eminem's odd ass skits.
Remove all of those skits and this gets 5 star considerations.
4
Sep 19 2024
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Dirty
Sonic Youth
I really try to not let first impressions weigh too heavily on the rest of an album, but this one only took 5 seconds for me to think that it was going to be a 2 star album. Hopefully it gets better, but it started in the hole.
Sugar Kane was fine. Purr was fine. These songs saved this from being a 1.
2
Sep 20 2024
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Bright Flight
Silver Jews
Sure. Not really my taste, but sure.
Reminds me of Leonard Cohen.
3
Sep 21 2024
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Bringing It All Back Home
Bob Dylan
This album is getting me to understand why people hold Bob's songwriting in such high regard. Very unique song structure.
Looking back at all of the other Bob Dylan albums we have listened to I have given every single one a 3. This is one that falls into the 3.5 category, but this time I am rounding up because I listened to it on a chilly, sunny October morning while walking Goose. This album was in the right place at the right time.
4
Sep 22 2024
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Arise
Sepultura
Like: the speed and energy
Dislike: the vocalist, the fact that it all sounds the same.
Enjoyable shallow listen, but that's about it.
3
Sep 23 2024
View Album
Nothing's Shocking
Jane's Addiction
Is the guy running this doing these things on purpose? Foo Fighters right after Dave Grohl news and then Jane's Addiction right after their fight? Would be a crazy coincidence if it's not intentional.
Never really listened to JA, but it reminds me a bit of Alice in Chains, just a little less metal and a little more alternative. They still have some fairly punchy basslines, but the album as a whole is a bit lighter in tone.
Good album.
4
Sep 24 2024
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Heroes
David Bowie
I can't believe the actor from Zoolander has had so many albums on this list.
Moss Garden was a brilliant change of pace.
Was this my favorite Bowie album? Probably.
Is it because it was the album I was most focused for? Probably.
4
Sep 25 2024
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Another Music In A Different Kitchen
Buzzcocks
Fine enough punk. A little longer than most punk albums. Has a lot of the same criticisms where it sounds like a lot of the same, but I feel like this album had a bit more variety.
Still didn't wow me in any sense.
3
Sep 26 2024
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Maxinquaye
Tricky
This started out like a whiny boring album, but Brand New Your Retro was a good change of pace. Then we went back to boring and whiny.
Not for me.
2
Sep 27 2024
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Unhalfbricking
Fairport Convention
Singer reminds me of Joni Mitchell's Court and Spark that we got almost a year ago.
Absolutely nothing wrong with this album.
3
Sep 28 2024
View Album
Destroy Rock & Roll
Mylo
Yeah I can get down to this. Especially Valley of the Falls, Destroy Rock & Roll, and Ottos Journey. Sunworshipper was good, but that vocal sample was repeated 2 more times than needed.
Feels a bit meta to listen to Destroy Rock & Roll list off this entire list.
Gives me slight Boards of Canada vibes, but more dancey. Not quite a 5, with a couple of minor duds, but there are a couple songs that push it that direction.
4
Sep 29 2024
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Innervisions
Stevie Wonder
Exactly what I would expect from Stevie Wonder.
Is this version of Higher Ground the original or a cover? Either way it's good.
Had this on in the background while cooking dinner which I highly recommend.
4
Sep 30 2024
View Album
Orbital 2
Orbital
Certain albums have 80s cheese. This album has 90s electronic cheese.
It took a second for me to settle into this one, but if you throw on some headphones and just get shit done around the house, this is a good album to pick. Obviously repetitive given the nature of the genre, but I think they did really well with the sound design and variety to keep it fresh.
I listened to this in two parts and I'll tell you it feels very different at 7pm compared to 7am.
Don't know if I would deep dive Orbital again, but I could see myself throwing this album again to focus.
My third high four in a row.
4
Oct 01 2024
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Maxwell's Urban Hang Suite
Maxwell
This is like the exact opposite of Orbital 2. I get sucked in immediately, and then settled in for the ride. Another great fall morning walk album. Sumthin' Sumthin' has an especially thumping baseline that I love. Probably the highlight of the album.
Don't care for the breathy, falsetto singing. Reminds me of Mariah Carey.
I think ultimately this one started out hot, but went a little too long. I started to get a bit bored. The Suite Theme was nice and chill.
I had high hopes for this one at the beginning, but it lost me along the way. High 3.
3
Oct 02 2024
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Infected
The The
This falls right into that Depeche Mode realm. Couple of cool bits, but has a darker tone to it.
Hope that guy in the global review with AIDS is doing alright.
2 bordering on 3.
2
Oct 03 2024
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Boy In Da Corner
Dizzee Rascal
While British rap makes me laugh, this feels a lot like M.I.A's album where it's very simple beats backing some average/mediocre lyrics and flow. Way too long as well.
2
Oct 04 2024
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Arular
M.I.A.
I'm seven songs in and it seems like she is just talking about herself the entire time.
Hombre had me bumping.
This was nothing special.
2
Oct 05 2024
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The Hangman's Beautiful Daughter
The Incredible String Band
This is an album I'd expect to hear at the Renaissance Festival. Definitely had it's moments with the harp. Paired nicely with a walk in the woods.
3
Oct 06 2024
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The United States Of America
The United States Of America
I only listened through The American Way of Love as that is the original release. I also didn't like it enough to go through another 30 mins of bonus tracks.
Fine enough album. Some of the effects/random instruments were good, but for the most part they just felt chaotic. I don't think I understood this album. Probably a politically charged or satirical album. Maybe it made more sense living during the Cold War.
3
Oct 07 2024
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Os Mutantes
Os Mutantes
Kinda weird and random, felt like a Portuguese "The United State of America".
Very few actual thoughts on this album cause it never really grabbed me.
2
Oct 08 2024
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Nixon
Lambchop
This is exactly what I think of when I see the words "countrypolitan" and "chamber pop".
3