Aug 17 2023
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Out Of The Blue
Electric Light Orchestra
3
Aug 18 2023
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Crime Of The Century
Supertramp
Title track is excellent.
4
Aug 19 2023
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The Village Green Preservation Society
The Kinks
I liked the last song on side one (Sitting by the Riverside). Tracks 2, 9 also good.
3
Aug 20 2023
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Crooked Rain Crooked Rain
Pavement
2
Aug 21 2023
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Play
Moby
Porcelain stands out but there's other good ones. Liked the chilled out beats: Rushing, Everloving, Inside, The Sky is Broken.
3
Aug 22 2023
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Who's Next
The Who
Baba O'Riley is iconic and Behind Blue Eyes is the other hit. First track of side 2 (Getting in Tune) stood out.
4
Aug 23 2023
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Grievous Angel
Gram Parsons
Leans very country. $1000 Wedding: good ballad. Also liked Ooh Las Vegas. ** 1/2
2
Aug 24 2023
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Seventh Tree
Goldfrapp
Pleasant dream pop/folktronica. Favourites: Road to Somewhere, A&E, Caravan Girl
3
Aug 25 2023
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Tea for the Tillerman
Cat Stevens
Gets to **** on the strength of Wild World and Father and Son. Sad Lisa also good.
4
Aug 26 2023
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Harvest
Neil Young
Interesting symphonic parts among the folk rock. Heart of Gold still the highlight.
3
Aug 27 2023
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La Revancha Del Tango
Gotan Project
Last Tango in Paris was good. Videogame menu music.
2
Aug 28 2023
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The Beach Boys Today!
The Beach Boys
Dance Dance Dance best of side 1, She Knows Me Too Well my favorite of the slower side 2.
3
Aug 29 2023
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The Bends
Radiohead
Fake Plastic Trees still beautiful. (Nice Dream) is a great deeper cut. Some iconic riffs on Just and My Iron Lung. No real misses.
5
Aug 30 2023
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Hot Fuss
The Killers
The two big hits aside, I liked the first track and Change Your Mind.
3
Aug 31 2023
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Rage Against The Machine
Rage Against The Machine
Full of good riffs and solos. Killing in the Name, Bullet in the Head, Know Your Enemy are standouts.
4
Sep 01 2023
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Dirty
Sonic Youth
Theresa's Sound-World was the highlight, cool post-rock sounding riffs. Also liked Sugar Kane and Chapel Hill. Actively disliked some others (ex: Drunken Butterfly) - vocals not working for me. Would listen again with some skips.
3
Sep 02 2023
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Permission to Land
The Darkness
Cool riff on second track but the vocals kill it for me. Love is Only a Feeling was good - doesn't have the same high pitched vocals.
2
Sep 03 2023
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Apocalypse 91… The Enemy Strikes Black
Public Enemy
Can't Truss It still goes hard, track 5 also solid. Aggressive beats. Bring Tha Noize with Anthrax is fun.
3
Sep 04 2023
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Konnichiwa
Skepta
Wild beat on Crime Riddim.
1
Sep 05 2023
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In Rainbows
Radiohead
All I Need is a track I hadn't paid enough attention to before - reminds me of Boards of Canada at times. JFIP is another standout. All very strong songs. At once sad and hopeful.
5
Sep 06 2023
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Movies
Holger Czukay
Persian Love is weird but good.
2
Sep 07 2023
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Among The Living
Anthrax
First two tracks are standouts, bass intro on Caught in a Mosh is killer. N.F.L., Indians and One World also very good, crushing riffs throughout.
5
Sep 08 2023
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Lady Soul
Aretha Franklin
First side wasn't really my thing, but a couple of tracks on the second side were working for me. Come Back Baby and Groovin'. Ain't No Way as well. Growing on me.
3
Sep 09 2023
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Since I Left You
The Avalanches
Electricity is cool, Frontier Psychiatrist also. Funky bass on Live at Dominoes.
2
Sep 10 2023
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Kala
M.I.A.
Didn't grab me at all until Jimmy. Tough to get through some tracks. ** for Jimmy and Paper Planes.
2
Sep 11 2023
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Purple Rain
Prince
I Would Die 4 U is nice and the title track is an epic. Underwhelmed by the rest but better on second listen - great synths on Computer Blue. Still didn't connect with Darling Nikki.
3
Sep 12 2023
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The Marshall Mathers LP
Eminem
Drug Ballad is really good. Some of the lyrics haven't aged well. Loads of hits on here though.
4
Sep 13 2023
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Only By The Night
Kings of Leon
First track is a nice intro. Sound not too varied throughout but it's pleasant. Enjoyed the last couple tracks.
3
Sep 14 2023
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It's Too Late to Stop Now
Van Morrison
Caravan was a standout. There's other good parts but I think this needs more time to digest properly.
3
Sep 15 2023
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The Chronic
Dr. Dre
Starts really strong. Dre Day is the best for me. Production amazing throughout but the deeper cuts don't hit as hard as the singles. Bitches Ain't Shit great closer though.
4
Sep 16 2023
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Sticky Fingers
The Rolling Stones
Some big hitters on here (Can't You Hear Me Knocking is a fav). Great solo to end Sway. Second side brings down the tempo but may be more interesting. Worth revisiting.
4
Sep 17 2023
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Duck Stab/Buster & Glen
The Residents
Unsettling. Blue Rosebuds stood out, but I don't want to listen to it again.
1
Sep 18 2023
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The Infotainment Scan
The Fall
Nice sound, good basslines throughout. I liked A Past Gone Mad. Flirts with greatness at times.
3
Sep 19 2023
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The Specials
The Specials
Catchy at times (Do the Dog, Nite Klub, etc). Good last track. ** 1/2
2
Sep 20 2023
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At Folsom Prison
Johnny Cash
Liking this more than I expected. Tracks 2-3 are good, 7, etc. Liking the slower songs.
4
Sep 21 2023
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Live At The Star Club, Hamburg
Jerry Lee Lewis
Only half the album seems to be on Spotify but I like the energy.
2
Sep 22 2023
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Mask
Bauhaus
2
Sep 23 2023
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Sound of Silver
LCD Soundsystem
Surprisingly funky beats, eg, on North American Scum. Someone Great is pretty. Fun sounds on the title track.
3
Sep 24 2023
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Beauty And The Beat
The Go-Go's
Tonite and This Town are good ones.
3
Sep 25 2023
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Figure 8
Elliott Smith
Liked tracks 3 and 5 and the piano on 7. Strong finish with Can't Make a Sound and the great outro. Dreamy stuff.
4
Sep 26 2023
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Court And Spark
Joni Mitchell
Cozy. Title track and Help Me two of the standouts, plus the first couple tracks of side two.
4
Sep 27 2023
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Songs Of Leonard Cohen
Leonard Cohen
Has a haunting quality to it. His voice leans a bit monotone. I liked the more melodic tracks, ex: The Stranger Song, So Long Marianne, Stories of the Street.
3
Sep 28 2023
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Welcome To The Pleasuredome
Frankie Goes To Hollywood
Relax still catchy. Good 80s bass on Two Tribes (and throughout). First half not doing it for me often enough but second half picks up with Black Night White Light, emphasizing the funky bassline and a couple great keyboard riffs, plus The Only Star in Heaven with good driving bass. The Power of Love is an epic closer. Could have been **** with less filler.
3
Nov 05 2023
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I Am a Bird Now
Antony and the Johnsons
Some interesting stuff here but maybe not for me. First track stands out. Would give it another spin.
3
Nov 06 2023
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Signing Off
UB40
King was a nice track, and Food for Thought. Some good instrumental sections too, but overall fades too much into the background to be great.
3
Nov 07 2023
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Transformer
Lou Reed
Standout: Satellite of Love.
2
Nov 08 2023
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Stankonia
OutKast
The 3 singles are all strong. Also liked Xplosion, Humble Mumble, Gangsta Shit. Second half better than expected, but too much filler to rate this very high. Skip the interludes too.
3
Nov 09 2023
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B-52's
The B-52's
Rock Lobster is really good and there's enough other strong material here. Fun riffs. Deranged sci-fi soundtrack feel on Planet Claire.
4
Nov 10 2023
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Peace Sells...But Who's Buying
Megadeth
No bad moments but Devils Island and My Last Words stood out, plus the obvious hits. Incredible leads and energy throughout, bass prominent in the mix (2004 remasters).
5
Nov 11 2023
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Strangeways, Here We Come
The Smiths
Beautiful and surprising from start to finish. A Rush and a Push... and Girlfriend in a Coma may be my favorites but that's just scratching the surface. Revelatory.
5
Nov 12 2023
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Beach Samba
Astrud Gilberto
Immersive at times but the changes in tone took me out of my reverie. I still think I would listen to it again.
3
Nov 13 2023
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Dusty In Memphis
Dusty Springfield
No doubt influential, but not doing much for me. The Windmills of Your Mind is good. ** 1/2
2
Nov 14 2023
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Elephant
The White Stripes
The Hardest Button to Button was pretty good. Nice riffs on Acorns and Hypnotize. Second half better.
2
Nov 15 2023
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The Contino Sessions
Death In Vegas
First track Dirge is great, driving bassline. Flying as well, another instrumental. Second half falls off compared to the start.
3
Nov 16 2023
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Countdown To Ecstasy
Steely Dan
Bodhisattva strong start and enjoyed the last track too, King of the World. Clicked more on second listen.
4
Nov 17 2023
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Dirt
Alice In Chains
Them Bones good opener, some nice midpaced tracks (Sickman, Dirt).
3
Nov 18 2023
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Meat Is Murder
The Smiths
Unexpected chord progression on the opener. There's some fast riffing too but maybe at its best when pretty - I Want the One I Can't Have or Well I Wonder. Barbarism Begins at Home is quick paced with a funky bassline.
5
Nov 19 2023
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Colour By Numbers
Culture Club
Karma Chameleon can't save this. Black Money and That's The Way kill any momentum side one had. Side two picks up with Miss Me Blind and Mister Man. It's ** overall but I would just listen to the second half.
2
Nov 20 2023
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Country Life
Roxy Music
Out of the Blue is very strong with great solos but followed up by some eclectic tracks, Bitter Sweet being particularly odd. Good finish though. There's enough highs here.
3
Nov 21 2023
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KIWANUKA
Michael Kiwanuka
Some interesting soundscapes.
2
Nov 22 2023
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What's Going On
Marvin Gaye
Still sounds fresh in 2023. The bass and percussion drives everything forward, strings are lush. Mercy Mercy Me stands out and the 7 1/2 minute Right On.
4
Nov 23 2023
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Slipknot
Slipknot
Heavy but I can't get into the vocals.
2
Nov 24 2023
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Space Ritual
Hawkwind
Fuzzy guitars and prominent bass. Backing flutes or sax. Some good solos and weird interludes. Orgone Accumulator is a highlight. ** 1/2
2
Nov 25 2023
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It Takes A Nation Of Millions To Hold Us Back
Public Enemy
Bring the Noise, Terminator X and Black Steel are highlights. Classic 80s rap beats.
3
Nov 26 2023
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Goodbye And Hello
Tim Buckley
First half is let down by Never Asked to Be Your Mountain, for me. Second half very strong though. Especially like Phantasmagoria in Two and the epic Goodbye and Hello.
4
Nov 27 2023
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Rising Above Bedlam
Jah Wobble's Invaders Of The Heart
Listened to this in bits and pieces (wasn't on streaming as an album) but still enough here to want to revisit. Lots of good basslines and soundscapes.
3
Nov 28 2023
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The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars
David Bowie
The two hits are good, and Star is strong also but not enough of the rest grabbed my attention.
3
Nov 29 2023
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Francis Albert Sinatra & Antonio Carlos Jobim
Frank Sinatra
2
Nov 30 2023
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Cloud Nine
The Temptations
Didn't like side one. Love is a Hurtin' Thing is pretty good.
2
Dec 01 2023
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Vespertine
Björk
It's Not up to You is good, dreamy stuff. Pagan Poetry one of the standouts. Love all the sparkly chimes and keys - short instrumental Frosti is beautiful. Sun in My Mouth and Heirloom also. Mix of cinematic soundscapes and tightly produced beats.
4
Dec 02 2023
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Music From Big Pink
The Band
It's all a bit laid back but there's some good moments here. The Weight for sure, but also We Can Talk and especially Chest Fever with its slow burn of a riff. Lonesome Suzie is grating though - don't like the vocal.
3
Dec 03 2023
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Chore of Enchantment
Giant Sand
Eclectic mix. Not sure about the almost spoken vocals. X-Tra Wide has summer vibes, love the bass and flutes (?) Shiver is catchy, Astonished and No Reply are brooding, the latter with 2 beautiful solos. Surprisingly heavy slow riffs on Satellite.
3
Dec 04 2023
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Faust IV
Faust
Mesmerizing 11-minute drone rock opener, but the best section is Picnic on a Frozen River with its driving bass and weird, swirling melodies followed by the charming Giggy Smile. Great ambient sounds on Lauft, I could listen to a whole album of just this. 50 years old and still sounds futuristic.
5
Dec 05 2023
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Ready To Die
The Notorious B.I.G.
The more chill beats are the best parts, eg Machine Gun Funk and Warning. One More Chance goes hard, raunchy lyrics but the beat is smooth. Effortless flow but too much filler to be ***** and lose the skits.
4
Dec 06 2023
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On The Beach
Neil Young
If you weren't already depressed it might get you there.
2
Dec 07 2023
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Live 1966 (The Royal Albert Hall Concert)
Bob Dylan
There's some good stuff here. Obviously, Like a Rolling Stone stands out. And Dylan sounds good. I want to rate this higher but it's *** 1/2
3
Dec 08 2023
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Axis: Bold As Love
Jimi Hendrix
Castles Made of Sand and cover of She's So Fine are standouts for me. There's probably more to unpack here but this is more experimental than I expected.
3
Dec 09 2023
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Music for the Masses
Depeche Mode
It's top heavy but the synth beats are infectious.
4
Dec 10 2023
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Fred Neil
Fred Neil
I almost get proto post-rock vibes from the last track. Some good stuff here, if you're in the mood.
3
Dec 11 2023
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Yank Crime
Drive Like Jehu
Frenetic, quite progressive, but also very melodic especially tracks like Here Come the Rome Plows, Luau, & Bullet Train to Vegas. Lots of riffs. Not my favorite vocal style but it works for the most part.
3
Dec 12 2023
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Bat Out Of Hell
Meat Loaf
Hard to beat for the spectacle. Peaks at Paradise By the Dashboard Light but this is worth paying attention to for the duration.
5
Dec 13 2023
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Dr. Octagonecologyst
Dr. Octagon
Science fiction beats courtesy of Dan the Automator. Lyrics all over the place but the flow is good. Earth People is menacing - I like it.
3
Dec 14 2023
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Eagles
Eagles
Very country overall. Take It Easy probably the best here. Witchy Woman also quite good.
3
Dec 15 2023
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In A Silent Way
Miles Davis
Not what I expected, but in a good way. I get proto-ambient vibes with the jazz instruments and guitar creating dense atmospheres. Worth revisiting.
4
Dec 16 2023
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Violent Femmes
Violent Femmes
Has some redeeming features (Gone Daddy Gone) but hard to get through at times.
2
Dec 17 2023
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Introducing The Hardline According To Terence Trent D'Arby
Terence Trent D'Arby
Mostly inoffensive except the penultimate track with its nearly 6 minutes of acapella. Highlight: Wishing Well
2
Dec 18 2023
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Dub Housing
Pere Ubu
Vocals are grating. Some really weird music also, eg, Thriller! The short I will wait is fairly pleasant, unlike most of this album.
1
Dec 19 2023
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The Age Of The Understatement
The Last Shadow Puppets
Calm Like You is good. The record has a retro movie soundtrack feel, especially on tracks like My Mistakes Were Made For You.
3
Dec 20 2023
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First Band On The Moon
The Cardigans
Pleasant childlike quality to many of the songs but there is dissonance also (best example is Heartbreaker). Hard to contextualize Lovefool since it's such a recognizable hit. Very well crafted though.
3
Dec 21 2023
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461 Ocean Boulevard
Eric Clapton
I Shot the Sheriff is a bop. On side two I liked Please Be With Me and especially the pretty Let It Grow.
4
Dec 22 2023
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Boston
Boston
Great solos on several tracks. Nice guitar tone and keyboards. The deeper cuts are all pretty energetic with good riffs. More Than a Feeling is overplayed and it's all a bit cheesy but it's a fun listen. I can't fault it.
4
Dec 23 2023
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Tapestry
Carole King
It's Too Late, Home Again and You've Got a Friend among the standouts. Interesting to hear this version of the song that she wrote and James Taylor also recorded. Strong overall.
4
Dec 24 2023
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White Light
Gene Clark
Folk but with a mournful edge running through it. Certainly worth revisiting but this is a *** 1/2 for now.
3
Dec 25 2023
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Winter In America
Gil Scott-Heron
It's mostly poetry or spoken word over jazz with not much I would classify as a song. Worth checking out The Bottle, though. Hard to find on streaming services.
2
Dec 26 2023
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A Christmas Gift For You From Phil Spector
Various Artists
Serves a purpose. I listened a week after Christmas which may have hurt the rating.
3
Dec 27 2023
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Hot Shots II
The Beta Band
I like the more electronic tracks. Some interesting moments like Dragon with its repetitive melody and glitchy beats. Broke goes further into weird sounds and percussion. There's a lot going on here but I want to listen to it more.
4
Dec 28 2023
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Rapture
Anita Baker
First two singles didn't really stand out but enjoying the soulful basslines and keys on tracks like Been so Long. Mystery is a highlight - atmospheric and catchy - and No One in the World.
3
Jan 04 2024
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Being There
Wilco
Mixed bag. Far Far Away is very pretty. Forget the Flowers good too. More country than I expected, though there's variety here. Sunken Treasure strong start to disc 2. I also like The Lonely 1. There's a **** album in here somewhere.
3
Jan 05 2024
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Queens of the Stone Age
Queens of the Stone Age
Strong strong start with Regular John and especially Avon. Heavy, driving stuff. It's up and down after that but the good is good enough. You Can't Quit Me Baby another highlight. I listened to a reissue with extra tracks so won't fault the length. Listen on good headphones.
4
Jan 06 2024
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Aqualung
Jethro Tull
Epic prog rock. I don't like giving points for influence but you can see why people in Maiden, Guardian or Dream Theater liked this stuff. Feels like a complete album.
4
Jan 07 2024
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Caetano Veloso
Caetano Veloso
Surprisingly chill and melodic. Lazy Sunday kind of music but it hit right for me. Great vocals throughout.
4
Jan 08 2024
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Stories From The City, Stories From The Sea
PJ Harvey
This Is Love one of the admittedly few standouts on first listen. Closing track We Float is excellent however. Listened again - Big Exit is a good opener. There's other strong tracks too and the Thom Yorke collabs are interesting. I liked the more energetic, driving songs best though.
4
Jan 09 2024
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Dire Straits
Dire Straits
The bass on tracks like Six Blade Knife and In the Gallery combined with Knopfler's distinct guitar sound is perfect. Love the interplay of the guitars on Southbound Again and Lions is a great closer. There's a lot to unpack here - not just Sultans of Swing.
5
Jan 10 2024
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Let's Stay Together
Al Green
2
Jan 11 2024
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Steve McQueen
Prefab Sprout
Bonny is breezy 80s pop rock. I'm liking it. When Love Breaks Down as well. Surprisingly poignant guitars on Goodbye Lucille. Goes a little more avant garde on Horsin' Around and slows down for a few tracks, but still melodic throughout.
4
Jan 12 2024
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A Girl Called Dusty
Dusty Springfield
There's pleasant stuff here even if some of it runs together. Still has a nostalgic sound somehow with its expansive arrangements. Favorite track: Will You Love Me Tomorrow
3
Jan 13 2024
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The Downward Spiral
Nine Inch Nails
Up and down. Great synths and weird sounds, but March of the Pigs is the first standout song. Closer is still deranged sounding, almost hard to believe it was a hit. Nice ambient soundscapes on A Warm Place. Hurt is a beautiful closer.
3
Jan 14 2024
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G. Love And Special Sauce
G. Love & Special Sauce
I like This Ain't Living and Walk to Slide smooth flow to it. Funky and jazzy. Most of the rest isn't clicking with me.
2
Jan 15 2024
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Hot Rats
Frank Zappa
Weird and wonderful. Peaches En Regalia is beautiful. Willie the Pimp has the only lyrics on the album - and they're strange - before Zappa starts shredding. It's complicated music, but there melody everywhere as the guitars weave in and out of the other instruments. Some of the best stuff doesn't even have guitar, eg: Little Umbrellas. In the first part of The Gumbo Variations, sax and bass are just as happy to take the lead. Instant classic.
5
Jan 16 2024
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Vol. 4
Black Sabbath
Sabbath bring the riffs here, and they're heavy as hell. Dual guitars on display in the opener once it kicks off in the last third. Supernaut has a killer main riff and some interesting drumming. Snowblind chugs along with melodic guitars and a mournful solo - top stuff. Cornucopia's intro riff is just evil. There's time to catch your breath with Laguna Sunrise before the guitars bash your head in again. Then the closer is an epic with tempo changes and a beautiful harmony section.
5
Jan 17 2024
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Will The Circle Be Unbroken
Nitty Gritty Dirt Band
The instrumentals on disc 2 help redeem this. The End of the World (off disc 1) stands out, as well as Orange Blossom Special which flies along at breakneck pace. Overall it's way too country but there's some folksy stuff I like.
2
Jan 18 2024
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Fly Or Die
N.E.R.D
Smooth production you'd expect from the Neptunes. Enjoying the title track and its recurring synth riff. Jump and Breakout as well. Second half is weaker, but Chariot of Fire is a pretty good closer. Overall, this is as middle of the road as it gets.
3
Jan 19 2024
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L.A. Woman
The Doors
Expansive sound through headphones. Dark and moody at times. Pace picks up with the title track, driven along by bass and piano. Slow middle section before the guitar comes back in. I like this. Ominous riff and organ (?) on L'America. Riders on the Storm brings back the moody atmosphere with guitar and keys over rainfall sounds. Very good.
4
Jan 20 2024
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The Blueprint
JAY Z
Izzo is a classic but the production is good and varied throughout. Lots of soul influence. Nice strings on Girls. I like Heart of the City and the slower tracks like Song Cry and Blueprint. Eminem steals the show a bit on Renegade.
4
Jan 21 2024
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Neon Bible
Arcade Fire
A symphony of strings and indie rock. At once sad and hopeful. Powerful stuff. Best tracks: Intervention, Ocean of Noise, and the climactic No Cars Go.
5
Jan 22 2024
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I Against I
Bad Brains
Opener brings the speed and energy. Love the main riffs on House of Suffering and Re-Ignition. Secret 77 slows it down and goes in a different direction. Nice vocals and chord progressions. Solos too! Can't tell if this wants to be punk, or metal, or something else (new wave? last track sounds more like hard rock than anything) but it's a concise and enjoyable half hour.
4
Jan 23 2024
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The Gershwin Songbook
Ella Fitzgerald
I listened to the Very Best of the Gershwin Song Book (2007), there's also a four CD set (!) that I haven't heard all of. Ella's voice is great and the songs have a nostalgic quality but this just isn't making me want to revisit it straight away. Can't go higher than ***
3
Jan 24 2024
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Penthouse And Pavement
Heaven 17
I liked Play to Win and especially Soul Warfare with its pianos and prominent bass. Lots of weird squelchy synth sounds. The Height of Fighting also fun to listen to. Overall... weird... I can't decide if this should be ** or **** so I guess it's in between.
3
Jan 25 2024
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Lady In Satin
Billie Holiday
I like the music, could be from an old film. But her voice is grating and it ruins it for me. Apparently she was past her best here - I would like to listen to something older.
2
Jan 26 2024
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Here, My Dear
Marvin Gaye
Marvin Gaye brings the funk. Is That Enough stands out but the whole record is good. Chilled out beats.
4
Jan 27 2024
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Machine Head
Deep Purple
Highway Star is a perfect opener, hard driving with great solos. Pictures of Home also strong, interesting melodies and a big bass solo in the middle. Smoke on the Water too...and Lazy is mostly instrumental with a long intro before it picks up with some intricate lead work. Big chunky riffs on Space Truckin' to end it. Hard rock classic.
5
Jan 28 2024
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Fifth Dimension
The Byrds
I don't think I'm on enough drugs to appreciate this. What's Happening is pretty good. Some grim depressing stuff like I Come and Stand at Every Door. Not one to revisit.
2
Jan 29 2024
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Untitled (Black Is)
SAULT
Wildfires is smooth and quite catchy in a deep house kind of way. Monsters has a grimy beat and I like the vocal. There's some other good parts but it's too much filler to my ears.
2
Jan 30 2024
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Fleet Foxes
Fleet Foxes
Slower first couple of tracks before the tempo (and mood) picks up with Ragged Wood. Lots of more contemplative folksy parts which don't all grab me, but Blue Ridge Mountains is charming. Overall it's quite playful and uplifting.
4
Jan 31 2024
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Pet Sounds
The Beach Boys
The Beach Boys' answer to Rubber Soul has enduring classics like Wouldn't It Be Nice and God Only Knows, but also great deeper cuts. To name a few: Let's Go Away For Awhile is orchestral with chimes and drum rolls. Sloop John B ends side one with more interesting percussion over a rock beat. I Know There's An Answer is layered with harmonies and different sounds. Essential.
5
Feb 01 2024
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A Rush Of Blood To The Head
Coldplay
Some iconic stuff on here like the riff from In My Place and the piano melody in Clocks, but a lot of the songs just slip by. Pleasant, but not demanding full attention. Warning Sign is pretty good though. *** 1/2
3
Feb 02 2024
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evermore
Taylor Swift
Has to be considered in the context of her previous record but this isn't folklore side B. Underappreciated by some fans, this just may be the better album. The indie era is alive and well. Favorites: Willow, Tolerate It, Long Story Short.
5
Feb 03 2024
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The Low End Theory
A Tribe Called Quest
Appropriately, groovy bass lines are prominent and the backing music is atmospheric. Flow is measured, but lyrics incisive. At times, feels like this bridges the gap between the 80s and 90s. Beat on Infamous Date Rape is particularly nasty and Jazz (We've Got It) is super smooth.
4
Feb 04 2024
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The Who Sell Out
The Who
Listened to the mono Super Deluxe Version. Still not sure I love the mix. Tattoo and I Can't Reach You are nice, Silas Stingy also interesting with backing organ (?) but this isn't resonating with me overall.
3
Feb 05 2024
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Scott 4
Scott Walker
Stirring strings and Scott's full, round singing voice carry this. Nostalgic but not overly dated sounding. Standouts include Angels of Ashes and The Old Man's Back Again, but this was consistently good.
4
Feb 06 2024
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Guero
Beck
E-Pro is an energetic opener, nice crunchy guitar sound. Switches gears quickly into breezy rap-rock on track 2, with electronic and world music stylings. Girl starts with bleeps and bloops before breaking into alt rock. Continues to defy genre expectations or easy categorization as the record progresses, winding through folk/country with Emergency Exit. At the very least this is interesting.
3
Feb 07 2024
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Nilsson Schmilsson
Harry Nilsson
I like ballads but this is a bit sappy, eg, The Moonbeam Song. Coconut is just silly. Some of the more rock oriented songs are better like Jump in the Fire, but not enough to save it. Closes with another really slow ballad. Zzz.
2
Feb 08 2024
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Surf's Up
The Beach Boys
Much more subdued than some of their 60s work. The last three tracks are quite magical with Til I Die being the standout. Gets it to **** but I might just listen to side two next time.
4
Feb 09 2024
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Document
R.E.M.
Some good hooks in here. I like Disturbance at the Heron House. Couple big hits in It's the End of the World As We Know It and The One I Love. Strong stuff.
4
Feb 10 2024
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The Cars
The Cars
Strong start, fourth track goes off kilter a bit but the synths do a lot of lifting. At its best when it rocks hard and lets the keys fill in the backdrop, but there are some good moodier moments as well. Love the closer All Mixed Up. The 80s are coming and The Cars are driving us there.
4
Feb 11 2024
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Survivor
Destiny's Child
Some interesting keyboards, especially on Survivor and Fancy but compelling little riffs throughout. Outro even sounds like a Detroit house beat from the 80s. Just too much filler in the middle to be great but this is still a success.
3
Feb 12 2024
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Midnight Ride
Paul Revere & The Raiders
Some fun stereo effects on this one. I'm Not Your Stepping Stone is energetic with a simple but effective progression. Nice harmonies on All I Really Need Is You. Just about a three star record.
3
Feb 13 2024
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Grace
Jeff Buckley
Haunting acoustic riff sets the tone in the opener. Folk underpinnings and some angry alt rock guitars crashing through the calm to great effect. Unexpectedly pretty chord progressions with Buckley's clear voice piercing through. His take on Hallelujah just sparkles, maybe one of the best covers ever. We've covered a lot of ground by the time Forget Her fades out. Exceptional.
5
Feb 14 2024
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The Score
Fugees
The trio sound great from the first bars whether singing or rapping. Production is varied and precise with middle eastern influence on a few tracks. Ready Or Not hits hard over a stripped down beat. Killing Me Softly is warm and intimate with its backing chorus and prominent bass. No Woman No Cry takes us in a different direction but somehow doesn't feel out of place. Then Lauryn Hill saves her best rapping for the last track. Deserves to be listened to from start to finish.
5
Feb 15 2024
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Junkyard
The Birthday Party
Listened to most on YouTube, full album wasn't on streaming but this sucks. 0 stars
1
Feb 16 2024
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Rattus Norvegicus
The Stranglers
Far from the punk I expected, clean sounding and approachable. Opening track is catchy with a repetitive riff and backing keys. Fuzzy bass there underneath. Princess of the Streets is more psychedelic with its bass and keyboard intro, and features two melodic solos. (Get A) Grip is another standout, poppy but with complex keyboard work, and the long Down in the Sewer. There's a lot to like here.
4
Feb 17 2024
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good kid, m.A.A.d city
Kendrick Lamar
I expected to like this more than I did. Kendrick's style is unique and there are some good lyrics here but I wanted more hooks. His monotone rhythm still creates a compelling atmosphere, but it's not necessarily one I want to immediately revisit. Standouts: the title track.
3
Feb 18 2024
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Tubular Bells
Mike Oldfield
Iconic intro of course. This then goes places I didn't anticipate, covering a lot of ground over the two roughly 25 minute pieces. Both sides build to something approximating a crescendo near the end. Undoubtedly a classic. I'm docking a point for whatever those vocals are in part 2.
4
Feb 19 2024
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All Directions
The Temptations
I'm digging the long, atmospheric Papa Was A Rollin' Stone with its simple bass line. On the other side, I Ain't Got Nothin' and The First Time I Ever Saw Your Face scratch the same itch. Has a certain timeless quality to it.
4
Feb 20 2024
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Dookie
Green Day
Basket Case is the big hit but there's plenty of pretty iconic pop punk anthems here. One note stuff but it does it well and the album is the perfect length to keep energy levels high throughout.
4
Feb 21 2024
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Beyond Skin
Nitin Sawhney
All over the place, from chill soundscapes to drum n bass, hip hop, worldbeat and something that could have been in a Disney movie (Immigrant). Letting Go was good as well as the instrumental Tides with lively piano over ocean noises. At other times, was tough to get through.
2
Feb 22 2024
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Sunday At The Village Vanguard
Bill Evans Trio
Easy listening jazz. The piano is nice. Nothing in particular demanded my full attention but it's certainly not unpleasant to listen to. Would look up more Bill Evans in future.
3
Feb 23 2024
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Arthur (Or the Decline and Fall of the British Empire)
The Kinks
I like Some Mother's Son and there's a nice distorted riff on Brainwashed. The longer more complex songs like Australia and Shangri-La are my favorites. Goes in a more psychedelic direction on She's Bought a Hat... Overall good but not great.
3
Feb 24 2024
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Electric Warrior
T. Rex
It's very bluesy at times. Lean Woman Blues especially, but it's good if you like that kind of thing. Bang a Gong is the big hit, but Girl is a nice one too. Everything kind of just plods along.
3
Feb 25 2024
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Sex Packets
Digital Underground
Big time funk. Firmly in the 80s for a 1990 result but still some solid hip hop. Highlights: Freaks of the Industry and Doowutchyalike.
3
Feb 26 2024
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Blood On The Tracks
Bob Dylan
Gave this a couple tries but it's just not speaking to me. Nothing wrong with it, and there's some pleasant stuff so it sits at *** but it all runs together.
3
Feb 27 2024
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Imagine
John Lennon
Beyond the big title track, Jealous Guy is a nice slow burner with strings out of a movie soundtrack. Then we're straight into the bluesy It's So Hard. More strings come in to make it quite interesting. The longer I Don't Wanna Be a Soldier Mama kills the momentum somewhat, but Oh My Love is another good quiet piece. Last track Oh Yoko! has a bit of Bob Dylan in it. I do want to revisit this.
4
Feb 28 2024
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The Poet
Bobby Womack
Hard to listen without moving at least one body part. Bouncy, addictive bassline on the opener. The 7-minute Games is a highlight with female backing vocals and interplay of pianos, bass and sax. If You Think You're Lonely Know was the big hit, bringing more of the soulful stuff. Great, clear production throughout too.
4
Feb 29 2024
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NEU! 75
Neu!
Part ambient, part repetitive, driving rock. Mostly instrumental, brilliant in its simplicity and effectiveness. The 10 minute closing track might be the best part. Doesn't feel old at all.
5
Mar 01 2024
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Triangle
The Beau Brummels
Rock with a healthy dose of folk and psychedelia. Nice stereo effects. Only dreaming Now is good but the quiet, fantastical Magic Hollow is the clear standout.
3
Mar 02 2024
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Synchronicity
The Police
Brilliant and eclectic, in distinctly Police fashion. Grabbing you from the keyboard intro of Synchronicity I, followed by Walking In Your Footsteps with almost Caribbean sounding percussion and barely any guitars. O My God is mid paced, built around a funky bassline. Mother is the sole low point, bizarre vocals and carnivalesque melodies. Miss Gradenko brings back the groove and a catchy vocal hook. Synchronicity II is a straightforward rocker full of memorable riffs. Somehow side two is stronger, leading with Every Breath You Take, but King of Pain and Wrapped Around Your Finger might outshine it. Essential stuff.
5
Mar 03 2024
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Hail To the Thief
Radiohead
Full of interesting sounds, alien like at times. Sit Down Stand Up is haunting until the frenetic finale while Backdrifts is compelling with an unsettling progression. Where I End and You Begin is a highlight; this and There There are something approaching radio friendly, if any of it is. Perhaps just a bit too long and unfocused compared to the best of Radiohead.
4
Mar 04 2024
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Surrealistic Pillow
Jefferson Airplane
Listened to the original version ending with Plastic Fantastic Lover. Somebody to Love and White Rabbit are the big songs, but I also like the quiet, pretty riffs in tracks like Today and Comin' Back to Me.
4
Mar 05 2024
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The World is a Ghetto
War
First two tracks are forgettable but the longer pieces are much more interesting. City, Country, City is soulful and jazzy with enough melody to keep me engaged, over some tribal sounding drumming. Four Cornered Room brings the tempo down and goes in a bluesy direction, although, for me, the vocals detract from it. Title track is much better, more soul and saxophone over a steady beat.
4
Mar 06 2024
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Speakerboxxx/The Love Below
OutKast
Starts strong with fast techno-synth riffs alternating with slow passages on GhettoMusick. Incredibly varied beats and rapping on disc 1. Highlights: The Rooster, Bust, Flip Flop Rock, Last Call. Disc 2 starts with jazz piano and continues thru different genres. It's a wild ride, but a bit weaker than the first set. Highlights: Hey Ya, Roses, Behold a Lady, My Favorite Things. Speakerboxxx earns a *****, The Love Below *** 1/2, so we'll call it **** overall.
4
Mar 07 2024
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Blue
Joni Mitchell
Joni's singing is amazing and this is a pleasant listen, but I mainly connected with the piano tracks. The title track is beautiful and haunting, River and the closer are very good too. I'll need to revisit this. Annoyingly not on Spotify.
4
Mar 08 2024
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The Wall
Pink Floyd
Crystal clear production, the guitars and drums sound amazing. The children's chorus and Gilmour's solo on Another Brick in the Wall, Pt. 2 are iconic moments. Too many other highlights to mention (but Comfortably Numb has to be one of them), it's hard to imagine not wanting to listen to the whole record and just be transported to another world for 80 minutes.
5
Mar 09 2024
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1989
Taylor Swift
Listened to the original version. I don't know if this is my favorite Taylor Swift album but it's undoubtedly the one that launched her from stardom towards something beyond. No, I don't really need to listen to Shake it Off or Bad Blood every time but the section from Blank Space to Out of the Woods is pop perfection. The back end features some more subtle synth pop including the sleeper hit Clean to close proceedings. 13 songs, naturally.
5
Mar 10 2024
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Post Orgasmic Chill
Skunk Anansie
Opens with a d'n'b beat before crunchy alt metal riffing comes in underneath female vocals. We Don't Know Who You Think You Are has a quite heavy, groovy main riff - I dig it. Secretly goes symphonic with strings and a sweeping, melodic chorus. Cheap Honesty brings back the heavy guitars and it works. Good bass too. The album covers a ton of ground, but for me it's not focused enough to be great.
3
Mar 11 2024
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She's So Unusual
Cyndi Lauper
Girls Just Want To Have Fun is appropriately joyful, if overplayed, but the melancholy Time After Time and sparkling All Through the Night are the real winners here. The rest of the record keeps the energy levels high and the synths drive the low end. Analogue never sounded better.
4
Mar 12 2024
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Head Hunters
Herbie Hancock
Chameleon opens with a simple, funky bassline before overlapping waves of synths come in, almost overwhelming the listener, then retreating. The bass becomes more insistent and the synths softer. The clavinet (?) comes in and the drumming is intricate, then the bassline from the intro returns. Watermelon Man is shorter, with pan flutes creating a vibrant atmosphere. Sly stays closer to jazz, with a rapid tempo and very complex rhythm section. Vein Melter is calmer, with fragments of melody over a rhythm recalling a marching band. Incredibly dense and rewarding music.
5
Mar 13 2024
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Throwing Muses
Throwing Muses
Lighter and more accessible than I expected for something punk adjacent. Hate My Way has a proto indie rock sound to it, to me. Nice intro riff on Vicky's Box. At times it leans more folk. Listening on YouTube so harder to pick out individual tracks, but not enjoying the second half as much. Last track is my least favorite.
2
Mar 14 2024
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Don't Stand Me Down
Dexys Midnight Runners
Do not like the vocals in the opener. Weird spoken interludes too. Some good moments in the surprisingly long This Is What She's Like, especially the second half. Next track is slow and not sure it needs to be 7 minutes long either. Closes with a bizarre 8 minute folk song. Is the singer deaf? If so, this is very impressive. The parts with an established groove are better but I can't get past the vocals and there's too many parts of the album that don't make sense to me.
1
Mar 15 2024
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GI
Germs
Fast and frantic punk, with song lengths in the 1-2 minute range except for the closer. Strange Notes has a great bassline, and it's prominent in the mix. Lexicon Devil has the same driving bass. The last track is nearly 10 minutes of mid-paced groove with dissonant, distorted guitars. This really isn't my thing, but I'm glad it exists.
3
Mar 16 2024
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Seventeen Seconds
The Cure
Dark, moody, and stripped down with the bass and drums driving things along. A Forest is the only big hit on the record but this is a tight collection of songs. Other highlights: Play for Today, Secrets, M.
4
Mar 17 2024
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Bizarre Ride II The Pharcyde
The Pharcyde
West coast old school hip hop, this draws more from the past than Dre's brand of g-funk that would take over the scene. The MCs go hard and fast, the beats have a lot going on. Some parts are dark, some uplifting, but there's hypnotic energy on every track. Better Or 4 Worse and On the DL have the smooth keys I like, Passin' Me By brings the funky bass and horns. Return of the B-Boy is a strong closer with an infectious bassline.
4
Mar 18 2024
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Nixon
Lambchop
Much more easy listening than I expected. Not enjoying the vocals for the most part. Otherwise, fairly dreamy stuff but nothing much is making me pay close attention. The Petrified Florist has a bit of a darker edge, but it's too little too late.
2
Mar 19 2024
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Gunfighter Ballads And Trail Songs
Marty Robbins
Big Iron is lively and fast paced but it's mostly followed by a collection of - appropriately - ballads which all blend together. If I had to pick one, The Master's Call is it.
2
Mar 20 2024
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Back To Black
Amy Winehouse
Rehab is overplayed but You Know I'm No Good and Back to Black work for me. The title track hits that James Bond soundtrack vibe I like, with the strings and Winehouse's plaintive vocals. There's a timeless quality to this, it doesn't sound like it's trying to be retro but it clearly draws from the soul catalogue of the past.
3
Mar 21 2024
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Talking Heads 77
Talking Heads
Two playthroughs, but probably not enough for it all to click. The Book I Read is one I liked. Psycho Killer second to last is an interesting placement for the biggest song on the album. One of the best bass lines of all time. It's enough to push it up **** territory almost on its own. The rest is good enough to get there.
4
Mar 22 2024
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Bitte Orca
Dirty Projectors
Some pretty moments but this really didn't resonate with me.
2
Mar 23 2024
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Highway to Hell
AC/DC
It's AC/DC. You know what you're getting, but there's definitely some riffs here. Touch Too Much is a nice one, and Beating Around the Bush has some good leads. The closer Night Prowler slows it down which helps. I don't know. Maybe trying to break this down song by song is missing the point.
3
Mar 24 2024
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Slippery When Wet
Bon Jovi
Strong start with the two big hits back to back, but it's the middle section (from Wanted Dead or Alive through I'd Die For You) that really shines with plenty of catchy hooks, solos and keyboards. A fun album, firmly rooted in the 80s, and it doesn't suffer from it.
4
Mar 25 2024
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Out of Step
Minor Threat
Not a second to waste on this 21:36 long album. Fortunately, the guitars and bass sound great. Credit where credit's due.
3
Mar 26 2024
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That's The Way Of The World
Earth, Wind & Fire
The title track features a nice combination of funky bass and breezy guitar licks. Cozy atmosphere. Happy Feelin' is great as well. All About Love slows it way down and has a super cool psychedelic outro. Pan flutes feature in the intro to Africano before polyrhythmic drums come in and excellent saxophone. It's a jazzy instrumental but with a real groove, my favourite track. See the Light keeps the same jazz bass but the vocals re-enter. I would love a whole album of this. I debated not giving this full marks but the highs are high enough.
5
Mar 27 2024
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Closer
Joy Division
Interesting drumming on the somewhat unsettling, noisy Atrocity Exhibition. Isolation then opens with an actual bass riff and bright synths. As the album unfolds, the sparse arrangements and monotone vocals only serve to highlight the drums and fuzzy guitars. It's dark, but there's an energy I find compelling. At times mechanical sounding, often dystopian, especially the keyboards. A Means to an End has a catchy riff though, and Decades is startlingly melodic as it builds to a cathartic release. Stunning.
5
Mar 28 2024
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Under Construction
Missy Elliott
Feels like the early 2000s was an awkward time for hip hop, these beats don't sound fresh despite some big name collabs. Production is boring and Missy's lyrics are making me cringe. Really awful opening and closing monologues too. Leave this one in the past.
1
Mar 29 2024
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Live And Dangerous
Thin Lizzy
Twin guitar attack! Love the harmonies and the dueling solos. The bass is clear in the mix too. They can slow it down when needed, like Still In Love With You, complete with extended solos. The smooth transition into The Boys Are Back In Town is a ton of fun. Other highlights: Emerald, Massacre, Don't Believe A Word, Are You Ready, Suicide. Top notch hard rocking live stuff from start to finish.
5
Mar 30 2024
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Power In Numbers
Jurassic 5
What's Golden is the standout with its super grimy beat, but the whole record is strong. The tracks are varied, pulling from different genres and styles. Minimal filler, no interludes. The second half is weaker, keeping it from earning top marks, but would definitely play this one again.
4
Mar 31 2024
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London Calling
The Clash
The title track is as effective as ever, but the rest is new to me. Brand New Cadillac has some real bite and an old school sounding rock'n'roll riff. Most of the first half of this double album is good. More melodic than I expected but with a hard edge. Pretty at times (ex: Lost in the Supermarket). Other highlights: Hateful, The Guns of Brixton. On to the second half, Death or Glory and The Card Cheat are standouts. I'm Not Down and Train in Vain, too. I wish this was a touch more focused, but it's probably still a five star album. So many great basslines and riffs.
5
Apr 01 2024
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Live Through This
Hole
Angry at times, but not very memorable.
2
Apr 02 2024
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Moondance
Van Morrison
The title track has a piano bar kind of vibe with the bass underpinning everything. All of the songs are pleasant and would be great background music. Which means it's stuck in the realm of *** albums for me.
3
Apr 03 2024
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Hunting High And Low
a-ha
Take On Me and the massive ballad of a title track carry a lot of weight here. Living a Boy's Adventure Tale has some luscious pads and synth bass. Last two tracks are strong too, including more serious bass on Here I Stand and Face the Rain. Pretty vocals throughout. Volume levels are uneven which is slightly annoying, but I won't dock it points.
4
Apr 04 2024
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Veckatimest
Grizzly Bear
I do like parts of this but on the whole it's a strange, haunting album. Ready, Able was my favorite track. It's possible this would click with more listens.
3
Apr 05 2024
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Broken English
Marianne Faithfull
This is largely unpleasant but very middle of the road for the most part. Guilt is a smooth little number with driving bass and backing sax. Very good. What's the Hurry is also good with nice guitar solos and Why'd You Do It has a decent groove to it (with surprisingly graphic lyrics that were a distraction!) Overall held back by the slower plodding stuff though.
3
Apr 06 2024
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Yankee Hotel Foxtrot
Wilco
The keyboards really make some of these songs pop (eg, Kamera, Radio Cure) and Jesus, Etc remains a powerful piece of indie rock. Heavy Metal Drummer has some real bite to it. There's nothing left of the old country Wilco by now, except maybe a feeling at some points. This isn't a classic for me, but I think I get why it is for some.
4
Apr 07 2024
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Second Toughest In The Infants
Underworld
They don't make stuff like this anymore. Acid tinged, hard edged house beats on the opener with a hypnotic melody that enters in the last third. Then we change tack, and Ban style starts with ambient breakbeats. Sappys Curry leans closer to rock, but with a psychedelic keyboard solo in the second half. Dense and very atmospheric. Then Confusion the Waitress has bleepy synths and a steady kick drum. Pearl's Girl is the biggest 'hit' on the record and it makes me wish I was at a warehouse rave in the 90s. Air Towel pulls from Detroit techno. This really covers a lot of ground.
5
Apr 08 2024
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Want One
Rufus Wainwright
Oh What a World is very slow but swells to a crescendo. Curious to see where we go from here. Next track is more upbeat. Everything is very theatrical, this could be in a musical. Go Or Go Ahead is also pretty good. There's something too... overproduced (?) about this preventing me from connecting with it. Or maybe it's his singing. And Vibrate's "my phone's on vibrate for you" lyric is cringe worthy. By the second half I'm just looking to see when this is going to end.
2
Apr 09 2024
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A Love Supreme
John Coltrane
I'm realizing some things about jazz. I prefer piano to sax. And I can get down with jazz fusion, but this stuff - although important - might not be for me. Moments I appreciated: the piano driven middle section in Resolution, the drum intro to Pursuance and lightning quick piano bit after that. Less compelling: the unaccompanied bass solo outro on the same track. ** 1/2 but rounded up on artistic merit.
3
Apr 10 2024
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Achtung Baby
U2
Something about the production bothers me. It's muffled, or the instruments aren't as distinct as I'd like. The weird pseudo industrial sound they're going for sounds dated. The bigger problem is I just don't like most of the songs. One is sappy, and the rest are largely unmemorable to bad. Favourite track: Acrobat. First U2 album on the list, I hope it gets a lot better than this.
2
Apr 11 2024
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Clandestino
Manu Chao
Very intimate sounding recording, as if you're in the room with him. Bongo Bong and Je ne t'aime plus is a quite special and unique two part song with lyrics in English and then French. There's a repetitive melody and some instrument I don't recognize. Mentira again has a repeating riff for the whole song, but it's charming and appealing in its simplicity. Minha galera is a highlight from the second half. Overall, a compelling hour of music that defies categorization for me.
4
Apr 12 2024
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The Real Thing
Faith No More
Some of this is basically metal, like Surprise! You're Dead, but otherwise it's a somewhat confusing mix of genres. The intro is a solid hard rocker. Hit single Epic probably sounded fresh in 1989 but I don't think it does now. There's some good moments: I liked the distorted bassline and guitar work in The Morning After. Woodpecker from Mars is an interesting track with a middle Eastern sounding riff and an extended breakdown. The cover of War Pigs is fun. I don't know what to make of this.
3
Apr 13 2024
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xx
The xx
Intro is obviously good in a car commercial kind of way. Islands and Heart Skipped a Beat are the next songs that grabbed my attention. It's very sparsely arranged stuff with some nice melodies and a mix of male and female vocals. Not all the songs do anything for me, but it's an easy listen.
3
Apr 14 2024
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Elvis Is Back
Elvis Presley
The opener sounds like what I want classic Elvis to be. After that, more poignant than I expected, from the slow burn of Fever to the melancholic harmonies on The Girl of My Best Friend. There's some very bluesy tracks I didn't enjoy as much, but I did like the piano driven ballad Thrill of Your Love. Other highlights: Soldier Boy, Such a Night. Yes, this is a good album.
4
Apr 15 2024
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Close To You
Carpenters
Full of nostalgia, with the strings and pretty vocals of Karen Carpenter creating a calming atmosphere. Maybe It's You is a standout in the first half. The title track is a hit I didn't realize I knew ("why do birds suddenly appear...") There's a fantasy, dreamlike quality about a lot of this, but especially the slower songs in the second half like Crescent Noon and Mr Guder. Another Song even goes a bit proggy at the end. Uneven, but enough of this is very interesting.
4
Apr 23 2024
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3 + 3
The Isley Brothers
That Lady and Summerbreeze have some great distorted guitar. The second song is a slow ballad that I didn't like as much. The rest is pretty solid funk/soul. I gave this a few goes but there's not enough standouts for me to call it better than good.
3
Apr 24 2024
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Rio
Duran Duran
The popular songs are probably the best on here but there's a hard edge to most of the album I really like. Rio has a twisted bass riff and more layers to it than I expected, while Save a Prayer has a very familiar sounding synth riff that was probably sampled later. Last track The Chauffeur deviates from the formula and is mid paced with a simple repeated melody that's very effective. An 80s classic, if not quite perfect.
4
Apr 25 2024
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Let It Bleed
The Rolling Stones
Gimme Shelter is an all time Stones rocker. Next two tracks are very bluesy and for me the low point. Live With Me much better with groovy bass and a bit more drive to it. Nice backing piano and sax. The title track is another good one with the guitars and piano intertwining. On side two, Midnight Rambler is a 7 minute blues rock epic, You Got The Silver is shorter but in the same country vein. Monkey Man goes in a different direction with focus on vibraphone (?) and I like it a lot. You Can't Always Get What You Want is a classic closer, long but with lots going on. Played the 50th anniversary edition and it sounds like it's ready for another 50 years. Pay attention and listen in good headphones and this will reward you.
5
Apr 26 2024
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3 Feet High and Rising
De La Soul
I'm sure this was influential but I'm not vibing with it. Uh, searching for positives...I liked the bass on Ghetto Thang. Unfortunately some of the tracks were just bad (ex: Take it Off, Do As De La Does). Needs a lot of editing, but even then I'm struggling to imagine listening to this again.
2
Apr 27 2024
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Liquid Swords
GZA
The first and last tracks may be the standouts to me but the whole album has great production, menacing while not being overproduced. Atmospheric stuff. Strong rapping throughout. No throwaway interludes or skits. Consistently good and one I'd like to come back to.
4
Apr 28 2024
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In The Wee Small Hours
Frank Sinatra
I don't dislike it but it all blends together for me. Not much to say so *** sounds right.
3
Apr 29 2024
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So
Peter Gabriel
Red Rain is a triumphant opener, especially the chorus. Sledgehammer has nice bass and that same 80's sound but it's less memorable for me. Then Don't Give Up is a quiet duet, maybe sounds too much like a soundtrack but Kate Bush sounds good on it. That Voice Again and especially Mercy Street are very strong tracks, subtle but powerful, dense instrumentation and emotional vocals. Big Time is more upbeat but forgettable. Then we go a bit more avant garde for two tracks before the melodies return on In Your Eyes. I like this quite a bit, but it's uneven. Maybe that's the point.
4
Apr 30 2024
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The Stone Roses
The Stone Roses
I Wanna Be Adored had a classic riff, there's some aggression here but it mostly fades into a dreamy sort of atmosphere. She Bangs the Drums opens with a great bass riff and some noisy guitars, but the overall effect is still soft somehow. The chorus evokes the 1960s. The next few songs don't really hit the same heights until Made of Stone, which is as good as the first two with a catchy chorus and nice melodies. I Am The Resurrection is a strong closer with an extended instrumental second half.
4
May 01 2024
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Bad
Michael Jackson
Bad (the song) is pretty good but The Way You Make Me Feel is perhaps better, bouncy and high energy. Speed Demon has an awesome bass intro and lots of fun sounds. Straight into the chill Liberian Girl with smooth bass and strings. The bass is so good on most of the album, hard not to move a body part while listening. Man in the Mirror is another highlight, and Dirty Diana with its brooding atmosphere. Then the 10th track is Smooth Criminal. It's unfair to have this many hits.
5
May 02 2024
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My Life In The Bush Of Ghosts
Brian Eno
Brooding, unsettling but somehow compelling stuff. The tribal drumming is the backdrop for the first part. Melodies are not overt but do emerge from the chaos. On Regiment, there is a more standard groove before a striking vocal hook and warbling synth come in. This definitely leans towards fusion, and it's greater than the sum of its parts. Come With Us is maybe the strangest track, cold and metallic. Mountain of Needles, and indeed the rest of the album, continues in an ambient vein. I find it hard to rate this, but it feels impactful.
4
May 03 2024
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Stardust
Willie Nelson
Relaxing, cozy interpretations of pop standards. I probably like the first half more, but it's all pretty pleasant stuff, even veering a bit into jazz territory with On the Sunny Side of the Street and Don't Get Around Much Anymore. Highlights: Blue Skies, All of Me, Unchained Melody, Don't Get Around Much Anymore.
3
May 04 2024
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Birth Of The Cool
Miles Davis
I might not be cool enough for this. I'm trying to trick my brain into liking jazz but something isn't clicking. I do appreciate how music from this era doesn't have that timeless quality that stuff from the 60s can have, rather it transports you to the 40s or 50s. And that's interesting. But it all runs together for me.
3
May 05 2024
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The Soft Bulletin
The Flaming Lips
Quirky, pretty, but eclectic stuff with a bunch of different instruments. Hard to pigeonhole this genre wise. Certainly lots of indie (dream) pop sounds but it really does cover quite a lot of ground. Some really beautiful moments like the sad melody on Race for the Prize or the intro to A Spoonful Weighs a Ton. Whiny vocals at times is the only negative for me, keeping it from being outstanding. Unsurprisingly, then, the largely instrumental The Observer was another highlight. Very good.
4
May 06 2024
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Born To Run
Bruce Springsteen
Strong start with Thunder Road and the title track is an all American classic. It fizzled out a bit after that, for me. Had higher hopes for the epic closer Jungleland which never really hit the heights it threatened. Parts of this album sound like if Meatloaf had shown more restraint, which isn't what I was expecting here. Good, not great, but definitely some choice cuts to come back to.
3
May 07 2024
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My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy
Kanye West
Feels like a momentous record, even if it all didn't click with me on first listen. Dramatic, theatrical, with a fantastic list of collaborators. Is rap opera a genre? All of the Lights is a 10/10 single, including the intro interlude. Favourite tracks: Dark Fantasy, Power, All of the Lights, So Appalled, Runaway, Hell of a Life. Not perfect, but the highs are very high. Credit where credit's due.
5
May 08 2024
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This Is Fats Domino
Fats Domino
If this is Fats Domino, I guess I don't need to listen to more of him.
2
May 09 2024
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Surfer Rosa
Pixies
One of those big albums I'd heard very little of. Mostly short, energetic tracks. Drum sound is great. Straight away, great intro riff on Bone Machine, the bass following suit. Strong guitar work continues on Break My Body. Easy to see how this influenced Kurt Cobain. River Euphrates is catchy and fast and then it's Where Is My Mind? Iconic song with the big slow riff and plodding bass. Things get a little weird and a little more punk rock towards the end, but I don't mind the detour. Brick Is Red closes with some more of the fuzzy alt rock sounds. Verdict? Good, maybe very good.
4
May 10 2024
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Different Class
Pulp
There's something about this that just washes over me. Maybe the production needs more bite to it, but the songs aren't very interesting either. Multiple 6-minute songs that don't need to be that long either. If I'm being honest, I don't want to listen to this again. Common People is pretty good, though.
2
May 11 2024
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Never Mind The Bollocks, Here’s The Sex Pistols
Sex Pistols
Probably not as shocking, nearly 50 years on. Not as raw as I remembered either, and there's a nice groove to it at times. Still plenty full on though. Highlights: Holidays in the Sun, Liar, Anarchy in the UK, Sub-Mission. I enjoyed this but it's not something I'll come back to straight away.
3
May 12 2024
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Risque
CHIC
DISCO. If you aren't moving something as soon as Good Times starts, there's no hope for you. Later sampled by Sugarhill Gang, and probably others. The bass lines lay down a fierce groove throughout. I didn't like the slower songs as much until Will You Cry, great ballad with powerful backing strings. **** for Good Times, most of the rest is still worth a spin.
4
May 15 2024
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Californication
Red Hot Chili Peppers
The rhythm section is so tight and really defined the sound of the album for me. Parallel Universe is a perfect example. Scar Tissue is the first radio hit off the record, and I didn't realize how good the solos are. The title track is hard to contextualize here as I've heard it so much. Unfortunately after this a lot of tracks go by that aren't clicking for me. This Velvet Glove is a nice slow builder though. As an album I found it top heavy, too long, and not outstanding overall but glad to have discovered Parallel Universe.
3
May 16 2024
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Something Else By The Kinks
The Kinks
This is pretty good, but other than the last track most of it doesn't feel essential. I wish the production or mixing was a bit better. At times it's quite a dark, even dissonant album though. And I always find it interesting when the biggest song is the last one. Standouts: Death of a Clown, Tin Soldier Man, Afternoon Tea & of course Waterloo Sunset, which is worth *** on its own.
3
May 17 2024
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Time (The Revelator)
Gillian Welch
Opening track is quite lovely, quiet and acoustic. The next couple songs are a lot more twangy but it's stripped down and her voice isn't overly country. I much prefer the folky, Americana sounding songs like Revelator, April the 14th and Everything Is Free. The long last track I Drama Highway is more of the bluesy stuff I like the highlight of the album. Relaxing stuff, but emotionally charged. Good find.
4
May 18 2024
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Tusk
Fleetwood Mac
Sara is a special song, interesting chord progressions and a steady rhythm. What Makes You Think You're the One is more upbeat with driving bass and pianos. Vocals alternate between more agressive and then calm on Storm, completing a trio of very good tracks. The last song on the first half, Sisters of the Moon, is another driving slow builder, guitars and vocals coming together beautifully. Brown Eyes on the second half is strong again, low key with bass and vocals taking center stage. I actually can't keep listing every good song because there's a lot. Is it a five star album, 74 minutes long with its offbeat moments and all? I think so.
5
May 19 2024
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The Black Saint And The Sinner Lady
Charles Mingus
Jazzy and lots of sax initially, but more than that. Very interesting piano on Track C. Then it becomes a Latin sounding fusion piece. Super cool. There's some great parts in the last two pieces too. Really a mix of genres (often alternating instruments and styles in the same track) but often melodic. Not really my thing; maybe it should be.
4
May 20 2024
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Elastica
Elastica
S.O.F.T. was my favorite, but it's Nirvana light. Never Here isn't bad either. I just don't care enough about this to give it more than **
2
May 21 2024
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Rust Never Sleeps
Neil Young & Crazy Horse
Predictably, I like the parts that lean more rock, like Powderfinger. Sedan Delivery has some catchy guitars but the vocals aren't working for me. Hey Hey My My (Into the Black) opens with a surprisingly heavy, grimy riff. On relisten, the solo acoustic stuff has some merit but Neil's voice is keeping it from being good. I do like the bookending of My My Hey Hey and Hey Hey My My though. ** 1/2
2
May 22 2024
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Wonderful Rainbow
Lightning Bolt
The intro had me concerned, but Assassins leads with such a demented yet groovy riff I can't help but like it. The bass tone is insane. Mostly instrumental. Weird drum sound. Dracula Mountain is more of the same. 2 Towers has a complicated intro then a heavy riff kicks in and doesn't stop. After about four minutes the riff evolves into something new and twisted. I love it. There's some pretty parts too, like the middle part of On Fire or the short title track (which is followed by maybe the most chaotic track on the album). Duel in the Deep closes things out with droning, noisy fury. I don't think I can give this top marks because it's mentally exhausting but I'm glad it's on the list.
4
May 23 2024
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Happy Sad
Tim Buckley
Very calm and generally pleasant stuff that didn't stick with me. I think there's a time and place for this, and a depth to it that may be revealed through repeated listens, but for now it's middle of the road for me.
3
May 24 2024
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Atomizer
Big Black
Kerosene definitely has a great riff, it's aggressive, dirty, and industrial sounding. Nice bass sound. Lyrics and vocals are a bit weird but it works for this song, especially the chorus. Unfortunately while the rest of the album has the same sound, nothing really pops like this one. Hell of a song though. ** 1/2
2
May 25 2024
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Raw Power
The Stooges
Listened to the Bowie Mix, 2023 remaster. Search and Destroy is a nice opener, catchy and energetic. Gimme Danger is more toned down and psychedelic, some acoustic guitars in the mix. It's weird but I'm enjoying it. Then straight back into hard rock territory on Your Pretty Face. Good riffs and solos. I wish the mixing was a bit cleaner but the guitars still sound good. Penetration is... strange. Sums up this record, a bit of everything, but not all good. The second half is weaker too. It's a miss for me.
2
May 26 2024
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Duck Rock
Malcolm McLaren
Pretty, mostly instrumental Obatala instantly creates a mood. World music inspired. Buffalo Gals has a quirky intro, radio DJ samples, record scratches, and an old school hip hop sound to it. Programmed drums and synth bass. Double Dutch gets even weirder, with complicated melodies, but it's lots of fun. We go deeper into the Latin or Caribbean inspired sounds next, with classical guitar featuring. Punk It Up is a highlight. Back to instrumental next with Legba and it's incredible and cinematic, percussion like maracas with multiple overlapping synth melodies. Song for Chango is good too, tropical sounds. World's Famous is a short but excellent track, jazzy hop hop. I was hoping for another instrumental but the outro sounds like line dancing music. Never let them know your next move.
4
May 27 2024
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Celebrity Skin
Hole
Not as raw as I expected. Title track is first. Awful is a catchy rocker and Hits So Hard is smooth with a simple repeated riff. Malibu is along the same lines, and it's growing on me. Almost shoegaze at times but there's an edge to it. Later on, Northern Star goes in a more acoustic direction, possibly overstaying its welcome. I think the album overall is too long but the closer Petals is worth it. Not sure how to rate this, nothing is unpleasant but it also seems to play things very very safe.
3
Jun 11 2024
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The Stranger
Billy Joel
Title track is good, and I liked the sax in Just The Way You Are. A bit too sappy from the Piano Man at times, but when the pace picks up it's better. Vienna is the biggest song off this? Another ballad and it doesn't really connect with me. She's Always a Woman is more interesting, albeit yet another ballad. Just not enough here for me to get excited about.
3
Jun 12 2024
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Tarkus
Emerson, Lake & Palmer
Twenty minute title track. It sounds like demented boss battle music in the best possible way. You could drop parts of this into Chrono Trigger and it would work. I think it's the organs and the bass. The Moog synths do a lot of work too. Super fucking cool. Eventually, we fade out, and then back for a dramatic finale. On side two, Bitches Crystal is more of the same from the title track with aggression and delicate keys. Sounds like ragtime piano. The Only Way and Infinite Space is a interesting two parter with a moody instrumental. The last two tracks don't hit the heights but it doesn't matter.
5
Jun 13 2024
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Disintegration
The Cure
The singles may be the catchiest tracks but there's so much other good stuff here. In an album full of haunting atmospheres, The Same Deep Water as You is a 9 minute track that really leans into the brooding, mournful theme. The title track is another entrancing piece that doesn't feel as long as it is, Homesick too. The album can be divided in two halves - the shorter or more radio friendly songs and then the deeper, longer songs. I questioned the runtime of this initially, but somehow it works, even feels essential. Probably their crowning achievement?
5
Jun 14 2024
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Psychocandy
The Jesus And Mary Chain
Not enjoying this. Was hard to get through some tracks like In a Hole and Never Understand which are just noisy. At least most of the time there's a song underneath the noise and feedback, but this still isn't likely one I'll listen to again. Favorites: Just Like Honey, The Hardest Walk. Tempted to give 1 star because some of it's so obnoxious, but I'll be kind and round up. * 1/2
2
Jun 15 2024
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Getz/Gilberto
Stan Getz
The Girl From Ipanema, with two versions included here, is definitely a good one but nothing else here really stood out. Good calm background music nevertheless.
3
Jun 16 2024
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Darklands
The Jesus And Mary Chain
Okay this is something different than the last one. Much much more gentle and approachable. Maybe too much so. But I'm nodding my head at some of this and it's all quite nice. Not great, but good.
3
Jun 17 2024
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Coat Of Many Colors
Dolly Parton
Title track is pleasant and Travelling Man is a bit of a bop. Then it gets a bit too country but there's more stuff in here I like in the second half: Early Morning Breeze in particular is a great song that leans more folk than country to me. The Way I See You is strong with nice piano backing, and Here I Am has pretty melodies and powerful vocals. Cool bassline too. I can't rate this higher but the second side is worth listening to at the very least.
3
Jun 18 2024
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Home Is Where The Music Is
Hugh Masekela
Maybe some of this jazz stuff is starting to stick. If I had to describe this in a word: cozy. Sunday morning coffee kinda music. The trumpet (sorry, flughorn!) and piano are great. Bass has a supporting role but still sounds good. One to play again for sure.
4
Jun 19 2024
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Underwater Moonlight
The Soft Boys
Much more immediately engaging than I expected, with driving bouncy bass and sing a long choruses. Very melodic guitar work and there's what sounds like a sitar at one point. Captures some of the 60s rock sound but with a sharper edge to it. Insanely Jealous of You is less neo-psychedelia and more post-punk, to me, but it works. There's some misses (Old Pervert) but this is solid. Favourites: Kingdom of Love, Tonight, Underwater Moonlight.
3
Jun 20 2024
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Pieces Of The Sky
Emmylou Harris
Boulder to Birmingham is a brilliant, sad tune. I like Before Believing as well, with more quiet guitar and piano. Emmylou's voice certainly takes center stage. Most of the rest is probably too country for me, although I like her versions of Coat of Many Colors and For No One. I'm stuck on ** because I don't really want to listen to this all the way through again, but glad to have found Boulder to Birmingham.
2
Jun 21 2024
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No Sleep 'Til Hammersmith (Live)
Motörhead
I should like it more but Motorhead have never been a huge favorite. Once you've heard Ace of Spades you feel like you've heard a lot of this. Some really good solos though (eg, on Overkill) and the energy is obviously there. I'm digging the more midpaced groove on Metropolis too. Can't give it less than a 4 for sheer energy.
4
Jun 22 2024
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Revolver
Beatles
Listened to the 2022 mix in stereo. Eleanor Rigby continues to be one of their most beautiful songs but I'm Only Sleeping might be better, carried by the delightful bass melody. There's some eastern sounding instrumentation which segues into Love To You. Here There and Everywhere is another hit with pretty vocal harmonies. There's quirkier stuff here, like the tongue in cheek intro Taxman, and certainly Yellow Submarine, but the latter is undeniably catchy. She Said She Said closes the first side with the most guitar driven track so far. The second half maintains the same rhythm of ethereal, charming songs, with For No One and the slightly unsettling I Want To Tell You two of the standouts. It's an incredible blend of styles and instruments. It feels like every note is precisely placed, a tour de force.
5
Jun 23 2024
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Straight Outta Compton
N.W.A.
Title track and Fuck Tha Police epitomize classic rap, full of samples but with brutal lyrics that were ahead of their time. Really good 1-2 punch. Gangsta Gangsta isn't as good but If It Ain't Ruff is another strong one, Ren rapping solo over a simple beat. Then we have a couple of slower tracks with funky bass and interesting percussion. Something Like That and Express Yourself come close to hitting the heights again, but the second half is weaker and I'm torn over the final rating. Still a really great sounding album and undoubtedly a classic.
4
Jun 24 2024
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OK
Talvin Singh
Lush ambient soundscapes, drum n bass and traditional Indian music. I'm trying not to make an "OK" joke. I actually kind of like this, but struggling to see how this is more consequential than any of the other electronic albums I listened to from the 90s or 2000s.
2
Jun 25 2024
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The Dark Side Of The Moon
Pink Floyd
It's almost hard to pick individual songs out because it feels like one single piece. Ebbs and flows, masterfully trapping us under its spell. What more can be said about this album? In terms of moments, though, I really like how the disorienting, psychedelic keys of On the Run segue into the intro of Time. Money has its iconic bassline, but it's the guitar and saxophone leads that really shine. Any Colour You Like is another instrumental, keyboard heavy section, bringing us gently back down after the high of Us and Them. Brain Damage and Eclipse blend together, one more climax before things finish as they started, with a heartbeat and empty space.
5
Jun 26 2024
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The Rising
Bruce Springsteen
Good start with straightforward rocker Lonesome Day. I also like Waitin' On a Sunny Day with its dense, almost maximalist production. Nothing Man follows, country rock but pleasing to my ear. This is polished stuff compared to earlier Springsteen but the formula works. Radio ready rock with an orchestra full of instrumental backing. Not everything is a hit, and there's some forgettable tunes amongst the 72-minute runtime. Strong finish though, You're Missing being the standout of the back half for me, downtempo and melancholy with cello and organ. Paradise is another stripped down slow one, and My City of Ruins is a decent closer featuring a gospel sounding refrain. Cut a few songs from the middle and this is really really strong - as is, still very good. Glad this came up.
4
Jul 13 2024
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Bright Flight
Silver Jews
The half-spoken vocals are taking some getting used to, but I can get behind the country/indie sound in theory. Very pretty guitar harmonies on Room Games and Diamond Rain. Short instrumental Transylvania Blues is my favorite track, with driving bass and distorted guitar. Strays too far into country at times. The lyric in Tennessee is really, "cause you're the only ten I see"? Nevertheless, there's an earnestness here I appreciate.
3
Jul 14 2024
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White Blood Cells
The White Stripes
There are some riffs in here, but the garage rock aesthetic isn't working for me. Neither are Jack White's vocals which can get a bit too strained. Overall more misses than hits unfortunately. Offend In Every Way is my favorite song, a vaguely country rock sounding riff with the right amount of groove. Some others like Aluminum or This protector see just weird. It's not good.
2
Jul 15 2024
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Done By The Forces Of Nature
Jungle Brothers
Nothin wrong with this but I expected to be more into it. Beats feel very plain and the tracks mostly run together. Some funk, but I want more.
3
Jul 16 2024
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Buena Vista Social Club
Buena Vista Social Club
Played the 25th anniversary edition. Chan Chan is good and I like the jazzy, piano driven tracks like Pueblo Nuevo, Murmullo, and the title track. Most of the rest sounds like generic Latin music to my ears. Still an easy *** for Chan Chan and the piano pieces.
3
Jul 17 2024
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Arc Of A Diver
Steve Winwood
Spanish Dancer stood out, breezy and warm. Night Train opens with funky bass and guitar licks, then kicks into gear with piano and an anthemic chorus. I'm digging this. I relistened to the first half and the first two tracks aren't doing much for me but Second Hand Woman is another nice one. Dust is a pretty good closer. I like 4 of the 7 tracks quite a bit, good enough for ****. Also impressed that Winwood plays all the instruments on the album!
4
Jul 18 2024
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Truth And Soul
Fishbone
Weird and hard to categorize. Some ska here for sure with the horns but other genres too, mostly high energy stuff. I don't particularly care for a lot of this, but One Day has very cool riffs and a stop start rhythm to it. Subliminal Fascism is interesting too.
2
Jul 19 2024
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American Gothic
David Ackles
Opening title track is very theatrical, the piano dominating and horns in the background. Love's Enough is a quiet piano ballad. Things continue in the same vein, if anything leaning more into the musical theater sound. There's some interesting atmospheres here, but I still feel like I'm listening to a play. The last track, Montana Song, is so long and such a chore to get through that it dragged down my already low opinion of the album. Really bad lyrics too.
1
Jul 20 2024
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Yoshimi Battles The Pink Robots
The Flaming Lips
They achieve a cool sci-fi aesthetic in the first couple of tracks with the retro future sounding synths. Very dense sonically. Fight Test is a good intro but One More Robot is great, atmospheric with sad sounding melodies and a beautiful orchestral coda. The two parter title track is full of weird sounds but never really gets going. At its best in the more energetic tracks like Are You a Hypnotist?? Vocals hold the album back for me though, he gets whiny at times. Nevertheless some great soundscapes. Hard to describe, but one of those albums you just need to listen to.
4
Jul 21 2024
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The Idiot
Iggy Pop
If I had to describe it in a word, it's cool. Instruments sound great, the bass tone especially. I don't like all the early songs, but Funtime works for me and China Girl is exceptional. Followed by another strong one in Dum Dum Boys, built around a bluesy but quite heavy riff. The last track Mass Production is slow and also heavy, gradually building with pounding bass and psychedelic effects. It's a trip.
4
Jul 22 2024
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Heroes to Zeros
The Beta Band
Bit all over the place, often changing mid song. Assessment is light and poppy until a grungy riff enters in the second half and it builds to a frenetic finish. Space is more psychedelic with acid bass and Lion Thief is chilled out and atmospheric. The next few tracks mostly stay in this dreamy space and then Out-Side is back to alt-rock/grunge, until a pretty acoustic riff and piano come in at the end. Really like the riff and drums on Liquid Bird. Not sure this feels a cohesive album. I wish more of it resonated with me. Favourite songs: Lion Thief, Liquid Bird.
3
Jul 23 2024
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Made In Japan
Deep Purple
I know this is a classic but it's a bit of a slog. Some really great versions of songs in here along with a lot of extended guitar noodling, drum solos and crowd work. The best part is probably the first half of Space Truckin before things go off the rails a bit. 3 stars because of the material but I'd rather listen to the studio versions for the most part.
3
Jul 24 2024
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Another Music In A Different Kitchen
Buzzcocks
Punk but very melodic with a lot of good riffs. Nice interplay between guitars and bass on Fast Cars and the guitar tone is great. You Tear Me Up has a neat double time section, and Get On Our Own even has a solo. Fiction Romance is another catchy one. The drum intro to Autonomy bears a striking resemblance to Run to the Hills - coincidence? It's another strong song in any case with the dual guitars shining. Loses momentum with the long Moving Away From The Pulsebeat followed by the somewhat cringeworthy Orgasm Addict. I still liked this overall.
3
Jul 25 2024
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Call of the Valley
Shivkumar Sharma
I don't care if the Beatles liked this, I don't.
1
Jul 26 2024
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Calenture
The Triffids
Opener is uninspiring pop but I like the piano on the second track. Gets a bit (maybe a lot) sappy sounding on tracks like Blinder By The Hour or Save What You Can. Overall, not one to revisit but a couple good moments. Favourites: Kelly's Blues, Open For You.
2
Jul 27 2024
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Paul's Boutique
Beastie Boys
There's a really dirty bass riff in Shake Your Rump that was great. I quite like the beats but some of the rapping takes a bit of getting used to. Constant sampling. The Sounds of Science started off weird but gets going in the second half and 3 Minute Rule has another real grimy bassline, digging it. First verse is particularly good. Looking Down the Barrel of a Gun might be the best track here, menacing heavy stuff. Car Thief also good and the multi part finale is a pretty strong finish. Not everything hits, but this is important stuff.
4
Jul 28 2024
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Bryter Layter
Nick Drake
Lively mix of acoustic folk rock with orchestral arrangements. Beautiful instrumental intro. The vocals didn't click at first but by the third track I'm feeling it. Great riff and soft backing sax. There's a melancholy feel to everything without it ever sounding funereal. One Of These Things First is another good one with intricate guitar and piano. On Poor Boy, the music leans more towards jazz but the backing vocals could be gospel. Maybe the best track. Northern Sky challenges it with more piano and sparkling chimes. Evocative and nostalgic album, but still sounds fresh. Timeless.
5
Jul 29 2024
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Treasure
Cocteau Twins
Soundscapes alternating between dreamy and vaguely unsettling. The layered female vocals are largely unintelligible. Mechanical sounding programmed drums. And yet, the overall effect is organic and beautiful. Ivo and Lorelei are pretty, but Persephone is better; built around a dark, driving low end rhythm. Pandora and Aloysius are melodic again and uplifting. Strong closer in Donimo. Nothing else quite sounds like this. A treasure indeed.
5
Jul 30 2024
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Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers
Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers
At times bluesy, others more hard rocking. It's a concise record: 10 tracks at just over half an hour, but not a great one for me. Luna with its quiet organ playing is the most interesting song. Other highlights: Breakdown, Strangered In The Night.
3
Aug 17 2024
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Nick Of Time
Bonnie Raitt
There's some good licks here but not enough is making me sit up and pay attention. Real Man has a bit of actual drive at least. Too many slower tracks that meander around and don't get anywhere. Middle school slow dance isn't an aesthetic I need to revisit. The rest isn't good enough either. Too country, or too bland, I don't know.
2
Aug 18 2024
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Gorillaz
Gorillaz
Not what I expected, starts off very alt rock and then goes through a whole bunch of different genres. Clint Eastwood is the big hit. Some really nice laid back beats in the middle section. I think I'd have to be in the right mood to listen to this all the way through, but the production is so good I'm tempted to bump it up a notch. Other highlights: Tomorrow Comes Today, Double Bass, Rock the House.
4
Aug 19 2024
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Henry's Dream
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds
Bit of a weird one. Straight to You is the best by far and some of the rest was bad. Not awful, but I don't want to listen to more of this.
2
Aug 20 2024
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Kid A
Radiohead
It's hard to describe how this sounded when it first came out. It's lost none of its appeal and aura since then. Everything In Its Right Place sets the tone with the first few notes and stuttering vocal samples. The title track has a subtle groove and music box motif, recalling Boards of Canada. It's never quite straightforward rock, but there's riffs to be had in tracks like National Anthem and Optimistic, then full on ambient in Treefingers, and the sweeping epic sadness of How To Disappear Completely. The climax is surely Idioteque: mesmerizing vocal melodies and synths over broken up, glitchy beats. But there's something here for almost everyone. Play this to the aliens when they contact us.
5
Aug 21 2024
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Deloused in the Comatorium
The Mars Volta
It doesn't suffer from the cardinal sin of being boring. This may be too avant garde for me, but there's plenty of more melodic sections I liked. Lots going on and I probably didn't absorb the majority of it, but I'm not up for an immediate relisten either. Best songs: Roulette Dares (The Haunt Of), Eriatarka, Cicatriz Esp.
3
Aug 22 2024
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american dream
LCD Soundsystem
If the Talking Heads or Bowie made am LCD Soundsystem album it might sound like this - this was intentional apparently, at least the Bowie influence. I do like some of the songs, I Used To on the first half and Call the Police and the title track on the second half. There's lots of good bass and the production is slick. I'm left wanting more though. This feels derivative and a bit empty.
3
Aug 23 2024
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Led Zeppelin IV
Led Zeppelin
My interest is piqued. One of the biggest albums of all time but not one I'm very familiar with. Black Dog is a decent opener with some good riffs but not as memorable for me as Rock and Roll, which really turns up the speed and heaviness. Insane rhythm section. The Battle of Evermore is totally different, with mandolin and no drums at all. Stairway is Stairway. Still one of the all timers that builds to a hell of a solo and finish. The next couple of tracks are more subtle, Four Sticks in particular standing out with its dense layers of sound and riffs. Going to California is a pretty acoustic folk number and a highlight for me. Finally, When the Levee Breaks opens with thunderous drumming and then a heavy blues riff. It rumbles on at a mid pace with an incredible groove. Eight tracks that all bring something different to the table and the quality of the playing is immense. Complex arrangements. I might be a convert.
5
Aug 24 2024
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Madman Across The Water
Elton John
Tiny Dancer is sure a strong opener. We have a couple of less memorable piano tunes next, but the title track made me sit up and take notice. Much more bite to it and very cinematic. Indian Sunset has some good moments too and Holiday Inn leans more prog rock than I expected. I don't like everything though so it's hard to give this an overall rating higher than ***.
3
Aug 25 2024
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Bringing It All Back Home
Bob Dylan
Not everything clicks with me but the best parts are so good it carries the rest. If I had to choose, I like the acoustic second half better. Has a momentous feel to it. By the time we get to the quiet closer, I'm sad but happy it happened. Favorite songs: She Belongs to Me, Love Minus Zero, Mr Tambourine Man & It's All Over Now, Baby Blue.
4
Aug 26 2024
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The Predator
Ice Cube
Lots of good tracks on here. Angry, both the beats and the lyrics. I really like When Will They Shoot and Wicked to start things off. It Was a Good Day is obviously a banger but We Had To Tear This Motherfucka Up right after goes hard. Wasn't familiar with a lot of this record. Gangsta' Fairytale 2 another deep cut I vibed with. Check Yo Self isn't as good as the remix but still a solid addition. I don't know if this is the best Cube record but you could do a lot worse.
4
Aug 27 2024
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Five Leaves Left
Nick Drake
More stripped down than Bryter Later but there are still plenty of parts with backing strings. I liked River Man, and Day Is Done is especially poignant, a beautiful mix of vocal melodies and acoustic instruments, all melding with the strings. Man In A Shed us another excellent song with the piano and bass taking center stage. I'm rating this lower than Bryter Later but it's an easy 4-star. Interested to hear Pink Moon when that comes up.
4
Aug 28 2024
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Third
Soft Machine
Hoo boy. We're getting really jazzy with this one. The first side doesn't work for me. Too avant garde. Slightly All The Time is a lot better. Is this a rock song? I don't think so. But there's a discernible rhythm for much of it and I like the saxophone and psychedelic keyboards. Moon In June actually has vocals! Even if the lyrics are weird. Good keyboards again, and there's some nice guitar in the middle section. The last track has an extended ambient intro before the bass and sax really take off. The end is slower with the drums more prominent. This is a weird one because I enjoyed most of this, but it's on the long side and the first track didn't resonate with me. After playing it again, I get a bit more out of the first side but I still think it's a bold move opening with this piece.
3
Aug 29 2024
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Low-Life
New Order
I love an album that starts with heavy hitters and builds, it feels like any of the first four tracks could be the strongest one yet. Tons of energy, amazing bass sound and keyboards. The instruments are clear and distinct in the mix. After Sunrise it's the perfect time to slow things down with the instrumental Elegia. The rest of the second half is upbeat again, with Sub-culture being my favorite on the side and maybe the record. Very nostalgic synth sound for me. 8 songs, 40 minutes, perfect length. Everything's good so I can't help but give this top marks.
5
Aug 30 2024
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Bubble And Scrape
Sebadoh
The first couple songs are pretty good but I didn't like the next couple after that. Somewhat bizarre change of dynamic, much more dissonant and harsh sound with an off key harmonica in Fantastic Disaster. No. It's certainly an eclectic mix of styles. I generally don't like most of it, whether it's lo-fi, garage rock, punk, alt rock or indie or whatever. Sacred Attention is a bright spot, I like the riffing. The acoustic Think as well. Overall, too many songs too, felt incredibly long for only 46 minutes. Not for me.
2
Aug 31 2024
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Peter Gabriel 3
Peter Gabriel
Super interesting percussion on the first couple of tracks. No Self Control is a big track, difficult to describe. The synths do a lot of work. I Don't Remember has really cool bass and it builds to a melodic chorus. Family Snapshot is a power ballad with pounding drums in the second half. Games Without Frontiers is more understated but the vocals, percussion and synths continue to be excellent. Lead a Normal Life is built around quiet keyboard melodies. Biko is stranger with tribal sounding drums and bagpipes. This stuff feels ahead of its time. I just can't decide if I really like it or not. It makes me want to listen again though.
4
Sep 01 2024
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Sulk
The Associates
There's enough here I didn't mind (ex: Gloomy Sunday) that keeps me from rating this lower, but the misses are truly weird. After side one don't want to listen to this ever again. Side two may be changing my mind. I do like the bass a lot on the first two tracks. The high pitched vocals ruined Party Fears Two though. Short instrumental Nothinginsomethingparticular is a strong finish. I can't give this more than **
2
Sep 02 2024
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New Forms
Roni Size
I ended up liking some of this, especially the second disc which had a lot more ambient, jazzy vibes. But the audacity of putting a 2 and a half hour long drum n bass album on the list. Can't go higher than **, I think just disc 2 on its own would have been a *** or better.
2
Sep 03 2024
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The Queen Is Dead
The Smiths
It's The Smiths at the height of their powers. I Know It's Over is great, especially the second half. Cemetry Gates is a lively short one with great guitars and bass. The energy levels stay high as it transitions into Bigmouth with its memorable, jangly riff. The next riff, coming in with the verse, is even better. It's a frenetic, breathless track. There Is a Light That Never Goes Out must be the best song here, gloomy even for Morrissey, but with incredible vocals and strings bringing everything together. Some Girls is a brilliant closer too. Their best work? Maybe.
5
Sep 04 2024
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Smash
The Offspring
Lotta riffs here. It's a little bit more punk than later Offspring I've heard. Two big singles in Come Out and Play and Self Esteem. Kinda one note otherwise but it doesn't overstay its welcome and I appreciate that.
3
Sep 05 2024
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BEYONCÉ
Beyoncé
Production value is unsurprisingly high but I'm not sure many of the songs justify the extended run time. Largely very slow paced. Drunk in Love still meanders on a bit but has a pretty good hook. I was about to write off Angel until a cool synth riff came in in the middle. I wish there was more of this. Rocket is 6:31 (!) long and unfortunately one of the most boring songs here. XO is pretty good, and the last few tracks are shorter, at least, but still so slooow. I might like this more as instrumentals, which kind of defeats the point of a Beyonce album. At least I get to skip the second disc of extra tracks and remixes.
2
Sep 06 2024
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Run-D.M.C.
Run-D.M.C.
The beats are pretty stripped down and the rapping definitely sounds dated, but you can hear the hard edge here that would inspire the next gen of hip hop. Rock Box is where it's at though, with its big guitar riff underpinning it. A preview of Walk This Way. The single It's Like That is still good. I'm not in a hurry to listen to all this again, but I respect it.
3
Sep 07 2024
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Jazz Samba
Stan Getz
Okay, we haven't had any jazz in a while. I'm ready for this. Beach house vibes. I like it, it's quite calming. You can let it fade into the background if you want, but there's detail here to unpack. Entrancing. Favorite tracks: Desafinado, Samba Triste.
3
Sep 08 2024
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The Sensual World
Kate Bush
Took me a while to get into this, but The Fog has some powerful violins which play nicely off Kate's distinctive voice. Interesting song. Didn't connect much with the rest of side one. There's some good slower stuff on the second side like Never Be Mine, probably my favorite track. Lots of different backing instruments, mystical vibes. Rocket's Tail is more guitar based with a surprising groove to it once it kicks off. Dramatic piano ballad This Woman's Work closes the album, but it didn't quite work for me. I listened to this twice and got more out of the early tracks this time but this is just good overall, not great.
3
Sep 09 2024
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Oracular Spectacular
MGMT
Three big singles here, but a lot of the rest of this just washed over me. I had higher hopes. I'd revisit this, but sometimes the hits are the hits for a reason. The closer was pretty decent though. Best tracks: Time to Pretend and Kids.
3
Sep 10 2024
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Aladdin Sane
David Bowie
Opens with straightforward rocker Watch That Man, then the title track is built around some very cool piano and a repetitive bass riff. Liking this a lot. Panic in Detroit also has a great main riff and some unexpected progressions. More good bass work and it's prominent in the mix. Cracked Actor is a strong upbeat little number too. Onto side two, Time is theatrical and glam with an emotional feel to it, I'm engaged and waiting to see where it goes next. Maybe my favorite track so far, but The Prettiest Star is good too with nice guitar work. Then we have a Stones cover and after that The Jean Genie, which for me feels out of place with its bluesy riffs and harmonica. Back on track with the piano based Lady Grinning Soul, and its slightly unsettling melodies. I think there are Bowie albums I'll like more but we're still in **** 1/2 territory. I'll be strict and round down.
4
Sep 11 2024
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Pink Moon
Nick Drake
On first listen, I'm underwhelmed. I knew what to expect: acoustic guitar and vocals are the only instruments apart from a piano on the opening track. What I didn't realize is how truly bleak and sparse it would be. Favorites after one play are Things Behind the Sun and Parasite. At only 28 minutes, this deserved another listen. Place to Be and From the Morning stood out this time, but there's still parts that just don't do it for me, like Horn and Know. ... I keep coming back to this so I guess there's subtlety here to unearth. Can be quite beguiling.
4
Sep 12 2024
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Let's Get It On
Marvin Gaye
Soulful and deep. The title track is the big one but I'm enjoying Please Don't Stay, especially the drumming. If I Should Die Tonight slows things down more and walks on the edge of sappy, but doesn't cross it. The backing strings help. Keep Gettin' It On is next with the tempo brought back up and the rhythm section is impeccable again. On the back half, Distant Lover is a standout, slow but moodier. You Sure Love To Ball as well with the interplay of bass, strings and sax. There's no real duds here. The basslines never stop. I can't decide but if you want to give this 5 stars I'm not mad.
4
Sep 13 2024
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Real Life
Magazine
Much more synths than I expected, in a good way. Definitive Gaze is a nice opener and My Tulpa as well with good keyboards and a bouncy rhythm. Shot By Both Sides ups the energy more and brings the riffing. Catchy stuff. Then Recoil goes much more punk. Lots of variety here. Difficult to categorize but I like most of it. Motorcade is maybe the best song, a six minute epic with some moody passages and a super fast middle section. It all feels very fresh.
4
Sep 14 2024
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You Want It Darker
Leonard Cohen
Dark and moody indeed. The title track sets the tone, a groovy bassline and Cohen's distinctive gravelly half-spoken vocals, with backing chorus emphasizing the religious feel. Leaving the Table is slow and bluesy and another strong track. If I Didn't Have Your Love is even better, emotionally charged with backing keyboards. It Seemed the Better Way is my favourite, though, with a captivating melody and tribal sounding percussion. Steer Your Way is a touch more upbeat, driving bassline and melodies underpinning a strong vocal performance. During the outro I'm left considering that this was recorded so near the end of his life. Maybe the depth of these pieces owes something to wisdom gained through the years. Anyway, a special album.
5
Sep 15 2024
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The New Tango
Astor Piazzolla
Playing the live album recorded at Montreux - hope it's the right one. It's mostly pleasant and easy listening to start. Gary Burton steals the show a bit on Vibraphonissimo. Little Italy is quite pretty as well. It all started to wash over me after a bit, although Operation Tango had some good parts.
2
Sep 16 2024
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A Northern Soul
The Verve
It's fairly middle of the road stuff. Dragged down by longer songs that don't really go anywhere. The title track is a bit better, with a heavier groove, and at least Brainstorm Interlude is trying to do something different with a more psychedelic sound. Overall, too long and not enough here to warrant a repeat listen. Highlights: On Your Own, History
2
Sep 17 2024
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To Pimp A Butterfly
Kendrick Lamar
First track hits hard with an eerie funk groove. Sick. King Kunta is next, a big track with a catchy hook. Institutionalized is more low key, but I like These Walls, a smooth beat and an old school sounding chorus. Not vibing with 'u', but we're back with Alright and its stop-start beat and aggressive rapping. How Much a Dollar Cost and Complexion are other standouts for me. The Blacker the Berry is even better, a dark rumbling beat matching the angry lyrics. By the end, I'm feeling the weight of this album, there are parts that are harder to get through but the artistry is obvious.
4
Sep 18 2024
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Black Sabbath
Black Sabbath
The title track is a slow burn, doomy and heavy until the tempo picks up at the end. Hell of an entrance. The Wizard is built around bluesy harmonica and heavy riffing. The guitar tone is insane considering this is 1970. The punishing riffs continue into the long multi-parter next. There's a great bass part about halfway through and then some surprisingly melodic harmonies and soloing on N.I.B. Wicked World is again focused on drilling the bass riffs into your brain. Another multi-part suite to close and it really starts to chug along two thirds of the way through. Geezer Butler's bass is again stealing the show for me. Then we have a bit of a rambling collection of solos but it does come together for one last set of riffs and vocals. As influential as this is, it's also extremely listenable in its own right. I'm not giving 5 stars only because I know there's several albums of theirs I'd reach for first, but it's close.
4
Sep 19 2024
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Ray Of Light
Madonna
William Orbit's production takes us through a variety of different EDM subgenres. There's particular emphasis on trip hop and downtempo beats, but some of my favourites are the more uptempo ones like Skin with its driving four on the floor beat. I also like Nothing Really Matters and especially Sky Fits Heaven, with its dreamy keyboard melodies and acid tinged synths. Amongst the slower songs, Frozen is a high point, featuring soaring strings and broken up beats. The Power of Good-Bye is another symphonic anthem and maybe the best pure pop song here. Not all the tracks hit, but the good ones are very good.
4
Sep 26 2024
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Off The Wall
Michael Jackson
This is pre- Thriller MJ with a definite disco sound to it. Two biggest tracks right off the bat, of the two I prefer Rock With You. It's lively nonstop action after that with great basslines, Get on the Floor and the title track are another solid 1-2 punch. We slow it way down for She's Out of My Life, which transitions nicely into the smooth I Can't Help It. I would definitely reach for this again even if it doesn't quite hit the heights of what's to come in the 80s.
4
Sep 27 2024
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Chris
Christine and the Queens
There's some good beats here, I like The walker with its dream pop vibes. The English vocals are a bit weird at times. Maybe I should have listened in French... Some of the tracks I dislike but it's mostly inoffensive. This was a brand new artist for me so happy to have heard some of it, but I won't be going back to this except for maybe The walker.
2
Sep 28 2024
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The Number Of The Beast
Iron Maiden
The start of a golden era that produced 5 stone cold classics in a row. With Bruce at the helm Maiden are ready for the big time and boy do they hit the mark. Hard for me to go track by track with songs I know so well already. There's some lesser known stuff on here that are some of the best Maiden tracks though, like the power ballad Children of the Damned and The Prisoner. If I have to be critical, Hills was never my favorite and the title track is overplayed too. Invaders isn't their strongest opener either. But we have Hallowed Be Thy Name to right all wrongs. The classic Maiden closer. In terms of complexity and songwriting, just a cut above what most metal bands were doing in the early 80s. Or any time in the 80s really. Steve's bass playing, the twin guitar attack, what can you say? And this isn't even the best of their classic albums.
5
Sep 29 2024
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Sometimes I Wish We Were An Eagle
Bill Callahan
I like the quiet, indie-folk sound but most of the vocals don't really work for me. Hard to rate. Favorite tracks: All Thoughts Are Prey To Some Beast, Faith/Void
3
Sep 30 2024
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The Dreaming
Kate Bush
Weirder than I expected. I can't decide if I like some of this or not. There Goes A Tenner appeals to me as do parts of the second half, but a lot of it was a chore.
2
Oct 01 2024
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Brilliant Corners
Thelonious Monk
Music that makes you feel like you're too dumb to understand it. Maybe I'm just not in a jazz mood today. I do like the atmosphere and it sounds great. So I won't dock any points but I'm having trouble justifying going higher than *** either.
3
Oct 02 2024
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Rum Sodomy & The Lash
The Pogues
Fun and catchy overall. Wild Cats of Kilkenny is a nice atmospheric instrumental. Surprisingly emotional at times, eg the female vocal led ballad I'm a Man You Don't Meet Every Day. Followed by A Pair of Brown Eyes, strong also. The Band Played Waltzing Matilda is a great closer. Not really feeling all of this, but there's always a time and place for Celtic drinking songs. *** 1/2
3
Oct 03 2024
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Sheer Heart Attack
Queen
It's quite varied. Killer Queen is great. I dig the three-part suite Tenement Funster / Flick of the Wrist / Lily of the Valley. Now I'm Here with its disctinctive vocal harmony part is another standout. Gets quite hard rocking in songs like Stone Cold Crazy. As an album, I wanted to like this more but it's messy and I found myself wishing the production was clearer. The second half is also weaker. I know this isn't their best but still interesting.
3
Oct 04 2024
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The Nightfly
Donald Fagen
I didn't know what to expect but I like this. The bass is the star of the show. I.G.Y. sets the tone and Green Flower Street leans further into the smooth basslines and R&B vibes. Ruby Baby has pop vocal sensibilities with jazzy backing piano. Neat. Maxine is more emotional and nostalgic sounding. The second half is just as good, The Goodbye Look in particular has a super cool keyboard. It's giving calypso. Jazzy outro. Easy 4 star.
4