Mar 24 2023
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Violator
Depeche Mode
It's dark, but not really kind of gothic atmosphere at all - It flirts with you sensually to move your body while unnecessarily in the mood for dance mode. And this LP boasts some of the most killer rhythmic shaking I've known, like \"World in My Eyes\" & \"Policy of Truth\" (sexiest dance rhythm ever!)
Fav track: Waiting for the Night
4
Mar 25 2023
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If You Can Believe Your Eyes & Ears
The Mamas & The Papas
When men & women can be truly harmonizing, it's magic! Even in the naivest format here. But what's the matter anymore when masculinity & feminity can be together peacefully?
Fav track: California Dreamin'
5
Mar 26 2023
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John Barleycorn Must Die
Traffic
John Barleycorn has 6 minutes 20 seconds left to die. If I'm gonna die, I would like to be played this song to. This song hit me right at the first listening. And after the closing track which came right after the title track ended, I knew I wasn't be deceived because the LP finished our experience by a true emotional song, not a filler or kinda. I don't have to skip any second at all, though not all of these are absolutely excellent
Fav track: John Barleycorn (Must Die)
4
Mar 27 2023
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Little Earthquakes
Tori Amos
She showed her (and women's, I assume) vulnerabilities to the world with incredible bravery. Like, the disc opens with "Crucify" reminds me about Odysseus ties himself to the sailboat pillar to hear - not to hide - the voice of sirens while the other sailors cover their ears to avoid (though It doesn't actually relate to the lyrics). She crucifies herself on the piano with no attempt to hide away any of vulnerabilities at all, thus, at last, reaches to a carthasis that made her delivery becomes redemptive and universal. And again, no songs are worth to be skipped.
Fav track: Winter.
5
Mar 28 2023
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Cosmo's Factory
Creedence Clearwater Revival
Appreciate the musicianship and the so-so-hard-rock-kinda singing voice of John Fogerty, but that's all I can say about this very acclaimed album from a very acclaimed swamp rock band. To be honest, I have almost no empathetic feeling toward the highly influential 62-71 "rock" music era, only got of those about 10 favorite albums, 'cause they're the kind that share "mutuality" to me, probably. Thus, the highest rank is 3 stars. If 4 or 5 is dropped down, It surely has thing(s) beyond rationalities to be my favorite (like, "It touched my heart" and Co.)
3
Mar 29 2023
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Come Away With Me
Norah Jones
This album sounds so acoustic, and Jones's voice is "rawer" than I think, plus the production is more "lo-fi" than other Blue Note records I've known, thus leverages the intimacy & emphasize the sincerity. Jones and her music really wants to befriend with you - the listeners, and invite people to come away with her. Of course I'll join, how am I able to refuse this devotional delivery, huh?
4
Mar 30 2023
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Picture Book
Simply Red
Well-crafted songs, well-played musicianship, and well sung. But I think it's too formal & too formulaic (in their own way, in what they are able to write & play) to be really original and really emotional (also inspirational).
3
Apr 01 2023
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Revolver
Beatles
Too much has been said about this since 1966 till now and of course Revolver will be kept on speaking about even later, so my poor language shoulds express no more verbose things.
Fav Track: Yellow Submarine
5
Apr 02 2023
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3 Feet High and Rising
De La Soul
In 1989, along with Beastie Boys, these guys proved themselves as the vanguard of "alternative" approaching in hip hop context. They expanded the sound in every possible direction - sample(delia), "progressive" yet diverse musicality by trying to absorb all kind of popular black music (& probably music in general - De La Soul surely wanted to!). They also consciously moved away from aggressive macho/gangsta vibe, used the lyrics and sounds in an obviously more intellectual manner. If you want to know what's more about hip hop than "street" & "criminal" kind of content, this LP is the best to start with.
Fav Track: Buddy (Ft Jungle Brothers & Q-Tip)
5
Apr 03 2023
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...Baby One More Time
Britney Spears
The non-single tracks seriously lacks of musicality, hardly remarkable at all, but the singles are nostalgic to me, personally (yes!). Spears's voice is sometimes little annoying but bearable overall. I want to rate this 2.5, but it's impossible, so 3.
3
Apr 07 2023
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Different Class
Pulp
It's a different kind (Britpop) of class (masterpiece!) from the past - also Pulp's magnum opus.
Fav Track: Something Changed
5
Apr 13 2023
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Music for the Masses
Depeche Mode
On the first listen, I think that this is a transitional effort to Violator. Am I reasonable rationally? Maybe I'll change my vote later.
Fav Track: Sacred
3
Apr 14 2023
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Licensed To Ill
Beastie Boys
With this extraordinary debut, The Beastie Boys didn't only takes "garbage" music of black people's street culture to get it married with party rock sounding of white people by serious attempt to set up a musical revolution, but also built a bridge between black people & white people by getting them laugh and dance and rock so hard yet highly funky through 3 distinct funny deliveries of humors.
Fav Track: Fight for Your Right
5
Apr 15 2023
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Deep Purple In Rock
Deep Purple
Hardest rocking LP by Deep Purple & this also set a new phase for their career. Their sound is not as dark & heavy as Black Sabbath, as aggressive & technical as Led Zeppelin but the most unpredictable & most smooth among the three.
Fav Track: Child in Time
4
Apr 18 2023
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Fragile
Yes
The shape of classic Yes line-up has formed! In addition, Chris Squire performed one of the best rock bassline in "Roundabout" (My favorite of all time!)
Fav Track: Mood for a Day
4
Apr 22 2023
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The Number Of The Beast
Iron Maiden
Excellent artcover, and music also. A moment when Dickinson era set it's domination
Fav Track: Hallowed Be Thy Name
5
Apr 28 2023
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Pink Flag
Wire
Alright....alright....alright....AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA....................
Fav Track: Pink Flag
5
Apr 29 2023
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Led Zeppelin IV
Led Zeppelin
The most acclaimed Hard Rock album, with a charismatic closing track.
Fav Track: When the Leeve Breaks
5
May 03 2023
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Highway 61 Revisited
Bob Dylan
When Dylan went electric, everybody went electric.
Fav Track: Ballad of A Thin Man
5
May 18 2023
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Van Halen
Van Halen
Arguably the best guitar-rock-sounding album
Fav Track: Ain't Talking 'bout Love
5
May 23 2023
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Songs From The Big Chair
Tears For Fears
A sophisticatedly produced synth-guitar-pop, and add more 'hammering' edge than their synth-based pop contemporaries. But between me and this, there's no bridge now.
Fav Track: Shout
3
May 28 2023
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Talking Heads 77
Talking Heads
This contains punk ethics, but abandons the abrasive & harsh tone sounding, adds much more intellectual stance delivered with very dancey shaking, and, even something or more that I'm not really able to recognize at first listening.
Plus, within this formal rock group set up, the guitar isn't lead instrument anymore, and even soloing would be left out permanently in their later records.
Fav Track: The Book I Read
5
Jun 03 2023
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The Velvet Underground & Nico
The Velvet Underground
This is the birth of "alternative/indie" aesthetics of rock music, or, more exactly, rock music as we know today. Tucker's no-bass-drum sounding, Cale's "avant-garde" arranging, Morrison's guitar-rocking, and of course, Reed's revolutionary Ostrich noise with decadent lyricisms, we have the rock music that totally abandon the "blues.", thus sets the musicians apart from the bluesy-rock-'n-roll fundamentality but still remains the music in rock context.
Fav Track: Venus in Furs
5
Jun 20 2023
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Paranoid
Black Sabbath
The definition of the most distinguished subgenres of rock music named Heavy Metal, particularly "dark-gloomy-sounding" side.
Fav Track: Iron Man
5
Jun 22 2023
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Endtroducing.....
DJ Shadow
Instrumental Hip Hop? Sampledelia? Plunderphonics? Masterwork of production technique? Soundscape collaging? I don't know at all, but it's there. And hey, is this "
avant-garde" somehow? Perhaps it's more pop, but who will waste time to notice since most importantly, Endtroducing... is surprisingly soulful with various vibes & moods.
Fav Track: Midnight in a Perfect World.
5
Jun 25 2023
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London Calling
The Clash
Highly eclectic, highly musical, highly accessible, highly straightforward, highly sociopolitically conscious, and proven to be highly influential. When Punk entered simultaneously the "Alternative" & "Pop" territory at its finest.
Fav Track: The Guns of Brixton
5
Jul 06 2023
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Ramones
Ramones
"I Don't Care!"
Fav Track: Havana Affair
5
Jul 08 2023
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Highway to Hell
AC/DC
"She told me to go to Hell."
R.I.P Bon!
Fav Track: Shot Down in Flames
4
Jul 21 2023
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E.V.O.L.
Sonic Youth
Adding Steve Shelley to the crew, Sonic Youth made their transition into more melodic sensibility territory while not abandoning the atonal post-punk aesthetic while the guitar sound became more "alternative" than ever. Sonic Youth's legendary status was ready to be leveraged from then on.
Fav Track: Marilyn Moore
5
Jul 22 2023
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...And Justice For All
Metallica
Jason's bass sound was turned down to be totally invisible. It was absolutely unjust. Thus the musical prowess of the whole album was ruined.
Fav Track: Eye of the Beholder.
3
Aug 05 2023
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Never Mind The Bollocks, Here’s The Sex Pistols
Sex Pistols
One & for all, the fundamental subversion of rock & roll. There's nothing left to hold or hope, even their fate & career!
Fav Track: Problems
5
Aug 27 2023
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Parachutes
Coldplay
This is my girlfriend's most favorite album ever, and even so, It was released on my birthday. IMO, Parachutes is perhaps the best conclusion for Britpop era & gave the British Pop Rock the best starting point for the new century.
Fav Track: Trouble
5
Aug 29 2023
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Rage Against The Machine
Rage Against The Machine
FUCK YOU, I WON'T DO WHAT YOU TELL ME!
The rhythm section, especially bassist Tim Commerford is rather overlooked, but they made some of the most violent funky stomps alongside the like of Faith no More. Morello is a DJ without scratching disc & guitarist without guitar-hero convention. And de la Rocha is without a doubt, the most "trebling" & "intimate" MC, if we consider him as a rapper than a rock singer, perhaps.
Fav Track: Shelter for Nothing
5
Sep 21 2023
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Autobahn
Kraftwerk
It starts with morning (on autobahn), drives in nightime (the sessions of Autobahn track) then stops & chills at midnight (Comet Melody 1 &2, Mitternacht) and wakes up to walk on the dawn as the sun rising (Morning Walk). This album begins a new phase for the band, as they totally emphasizes on synthesizer through pop sensibilities onward & influence on almost every electronic-pop vibe that came later.
Fav Track: Autobahn
5
Sep 27 2023
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No Sleep 'Til Hammersmith (Live)
Motörhead
Shit, this rocks so fucking hard!!!
Fav Track: Metropolis
5
Oct 01 2023
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Faust IV
Faust
Probably the most accessible Faust's LP. Brian Eno perhaps got inspiration from this to create Ambient.
Fav Track: Krautrock
5
Oct 26 2023
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The Real Thing
Faith No More
Faith no More is not one-hit wonder at all, Angel Dust would prove it 3 years later. But this albums, although considered very influential by many musicians, loses some of it consistency in the second half after being very hard-hitting in the first half.
I prefer this album's version of War Pigs than the original one by Black Sabbth a little bit. No blasphemy at all, only personal bias for Patton's voice
Fav Track: It's pretty hard, but final choice falls into From out of Nowhere
4
Nov 07 2023
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Hybrid Theory
Linkin Park
In my country, In the End is one of the most popular songs from foreign music. Many people of my generation also started to fall in love with rock music in general through Linkin Park, especially with their early days. And most of them, if asked, will choose Hybrid Theory as their favorite (or even further, most favorite) among other albums in 2000s, probably 2000s music overall, and me is not exception (though It doesn't mean their music is superior to all music came from the same era).
(I rank it 5 not 4, just for personal preference)
Fav Track: Forgotten
5
Nov 15 2023
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Jagged Little Pill
Alanis Morissette
This was my favorite LP in the first half of 2016, while I was still a university student. After years, there are half of the tracks continues being loved, while other half are not.
Fav Track: All I Really Want
4
Jan 29 2024
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The Bends
Radiohead
Most introverted & depressive Britpop album.
Fav Track: Black Star
5
Feb 11 2024
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Roots
Sepultura
Max himself didn't want to lose the connection to his ancestral roots. Especially, his later works with Soulfly expanded even deeper
Fav Track: Lookaway
5
Feb 14 2024
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Remedy
Basement Jaxx
About 2 or 3 tracks are interesting: Rendez-vu, Always Be There, Don't Give Up
Fav Track: Always Be There
3
Apr 05 2024
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Reign In Blood
Slayer
The definitive beginning of Extreme Metal. They never matched the intensity & speed of this again, with too much repetitions.
Fav Track: Angel of Death
4
Apr 10 2024
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Vulgar Display Of Power
Pantera
Darrell's guitar sound is up from classic to legendary status. Anselmo abandons falsetto permanently. The first 5 songs are some best known, but the songwriting becomes less focused in the last half, similar to Cowboys from Hell.
If Pantera hadn't come up with this, Nu Metal still would have been born, because of Faith no More & Mr. Bungle, even Helmet & some acclaimed funk rock/metal acts of 80s, 90s (Rage Against the Machine, for example)
Fav Track: Mouth for War
4