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Fri Sep 08 2023
A Girl Called Dusty
Dusty Springfield
A few 5 star tracks (I only want to be with you, when the love light starts shining thru his eyes, you don’t own me), and overall a 4 star album. This album (her UK debut) isn’t on the streaming service I use, but her US debut is (Stay Awhile/I Only Want to Be with You), which is a slightly reconfigured version. If you like this album then I recommend you check out the great compilation One Kiss Can Lead To Another: Girl Group Sounds Lost And Found. That four disc set is one of the single greatest music purchases I’ve ever made. Although there is an abbreviated 21 track version on streaming services.
4
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Mon Sep 11 2023
The Joshua Tree
U2
It is absurd how good the first three songs on this album are, but the rest of the album is so-so. Too much harmonica. Although I remember those three songs were everywhere when it was released when I was a kid, so they’re a little overplayed and worn out for me.
4
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Tue Sep 12 2023
Boston
Boston
I am burnt out on some classic rock and this album falls under that umbrella. I went through a classic rock phase in junior high, and a summer job in college would blast classic rock all day everyday. These songs are catchy and well-crafted, but I can’t picture myself intentionally listening to this album in the future.
4
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Wed Sep 13 2023
Talking Book
Stevie Wonder
So good. Will every 5 star album provoke this short of a review from me?
5
View Album
Thu Sep 14 2023
Peace Sells...But Who's Buying
Megadeth
It’s fine. Some metal is amazing, some metal I love. This is not it. If this was playing in a business I was at I would probably nod along, but I don’t see myself seeking out more Megadeth. For me, Slayer’s Reign In Blood is the top of the mountain for this type of metal/thrash.
3
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Fri Sep 15 2023
90
808 State
It’s fine. Is the author of the 1,001 book a white British guy in their 50s/60s? Because that’s the vibe I’m getting so far from these album choices (which is not a criticism). I love electronic music in general, and this album probably sounded futuristic when it was released, but now it sounds almost quaint. I feel like I’ve heard the sax part in Pacific 202 before. Maybe as a reference or joke in an Edgar Wright thing?
3
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Mon Sep 18 2023
The Doors
The Doors
It’s fine. More classic rock I am burnt out on due to over exposure. Silver lining: without The Doors we wouldn’t have Jimmy Fallon’s great version of Reading Rainbow’s theme song. I had a teacher in high school who thought I looked just like The Doors keyboardist Ray Manzarek.
3
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Tue Sep 19 2023
Court And Spark
Joni Mitchell
It’s fine. Her music never really grabbed me. That might have something to do with me not really paying attention to lyrics. A podcast I listen to (How Did This Get Made) love her and have been talking about her recently, so I was primed to give this a fair shot, but so far it hasn’t clicked for me. Clearly this album is well-crafted, and is understandable how the album went to 2 on the American charts.
3
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Wed Sep 20 2023
Celebrity Skin
Hole
I liked this more than I thought I would. I’m a sucker for layers of catchy guitar. First comparison that came to mind was Matthew Sweet. Surprised it was this album and not Live Through This, although maybe Hole has two albums on the 1,001 list.
4
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Thu Sep 21 2023
Fragile
Yes
Roundabout and Heart of the Sunrise are 5 star songs. It turns out I am not burnt out on Roundabout despite the short version being on heavy rotation on classic rock radio, and this might be the first time I’ve heard the original longer version. I first heard Heart of the Sunrise in a trailer for Buffalo ‘66. The rest of the album is fine but unremarkable.
4
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Fri Sep 22 2023
The Downward Spiral
Nine Inch Nails
Teenager me was bouncing off the walls and loving this album. I still love it. I clearly remember hearing this album for this first time. A friend bought it on release day and we blasted it on his dad’s fancy stereo. That was one of the single greatest album listening experiences of my life. It’s up there with when I first heard Neutral Milk Hotel or The New Pornographers.
5
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Mon Sep 25 2023
Nilsson Schmilsson
Harry Nilsson
Fun, solid, consistently good. Jump Into The Fire and Without You are my favorite tracks on this album.
4
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Tue Sep 26 2023
Cheap Thrills
Big Brother & The Holding Company
It’s fine. Yes, her voice is amazing, and the band is good, but this is another album I’m burnt out on due to overexposure to its most popular song.
3
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Wed Sep 27 2023
Moby Grape
Moby Grape
Fine, but I was a little bored. Once I thought of them as Peter, Paul, & Mary but with more electric guitars, I couldn’t shake the connection.
3
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Thu Sep 28 2023
Black Holes and Revelations
Muse
It’s fine. Starlight is a pretty good song and the strongest track on the album. Has it been in a car commercial or movie or something? It sounded familiar. I was surprised to see Lightning Bolt listed as an influence in the wiki description, but on close listening I guess I can hear some elements that slightly overlap between the two bands. Honestly, I ended up skipping through a few tracks, and instead spent the rest of my lunch listening to some of my favorite Lightning Bolt songs, including but not limited to: Dead Cowboy, Assassins, and Ride the Sky.
3
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Fri Sep 29 2023
Remedy
Basement Jaxx
Fun. A nice balance of repetitive and fluctuation. This music makes me think of tagging along with a friend to a clothing store that is not quite my style and costs more than I would typically spend.
4
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Mon Oct 02 2023
Africa Brasil
Jorge Ben Jor
Enjoyable. Very much my jam. This listen was my first exposure to this album and artist that I’m aware of. Sounds like something that would be in a Wes Anderson film, if it hasn’t already.
4
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Tue Oct 03 2023
Dirt
Alice In Chains
A couple of strong tracks, but overall just a so-so album. This album feels very of its time, which I respect as an achievement even though this album is not quite my thing.
3
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Wed Oct 04 2023
The Infotainment Scan
The Fall
Enjoyable, but got a little repetitive for me after a while, despite Mark E Smith being a compelling individual. The group is fine, and I’ve heard them here and there over the years, but I have never felt the need to dig into their extensive discography. I got bored about halfway through this album and started skipping through. But after that I went back and listened to one of their other songs I remember liking (Blindness), and I still really like that one.
3
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Thu Oct 05 2023
Deja Vu
Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young
Very good. For a folk rock album its guitars can get pretty scorching at times.
4
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Fri Oct 06 2023
Listen Without Prejudice Vol. 1
George Michael
Competent, fine, although Freedom is a 5 star song. I wouldn’t mind if I went grocery shopping and that song played on a constant loop in the store. A couple months ago I watched that Wham documentary on Netflix. It was decent, but I’m a sucker for music documentaries.
3
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Mon Oct 09 2023
Pet Sounds
The Beach Boys
Delightful. All killer, no filler. I bought this album during a trip to Kansas City to find an apartment for my first job after graduating college. This album was on a near constant loop while I drove around during that trip. This album provokes a lot of different feelings in me. I want Sloop John B played at my funeral.
5
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Tue Oct 10 2023
25
Adele
It’s fine. Great voice, polished production, but it’s just not for me.
3
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Wed Oct 11 2023
Water From An Ancient Well
Abdullah Ibrahim
Fine. Not my thing. Made me think of a brunch I went to at a museum restaurant in New Mexico that was mainly attended by much older people.
3
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Thu Oct 12 2023
Tidal
Fiona Apple
Very good. It still sounds fresh. It feels like it could be released now. Except the song The First Taste. That song sounds very ‘90s.
4
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Fri Oct 13 2023
Rising Above Bedlam
Jah Wobble's Invaders Of The Heart
Not for me. This probably sounded much fresher and more interesting in 1991, but not now for me. Kind of like how Myst was an amazing video game in the early ‘90s but I probably wouldn’t enjoy it as much now.
2
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Mon Oct 16 2023
Jazz Samba
Stan Getz
Fine. A couple strong tracks. Another album that makes me think of a brunch at a museum restaurant primarily attended by older people.
3
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Tue Oct 17 2023
Songs In The Key Of Life
Stevie Wonder
So good. One of my all time favorite albums. There are weaker moments here and there, but overall its many strong moments are delightful. A friend of mine used to take a random line or two from Stevie Wonder’s lyrics, print them out without attribution, then anonymously post them around at his job.
5
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Wed Oct 18 2023
Grace
Jeff Buckley
Very good. Strong tracks with interesting twists and turns. Sounds very ‘90s, but in a good way. I went through a phase in college where I listened to this regularly. This album evokes multiple memories from that time. In particular it makes me think of a coffee shop where I first met Mark, where he and another friend of mine (RIP) had submitted movies to a film festival.
4
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Thu Oct 19 2023
Second Toughest In The Infants
Underworld
Fine. Not bad. I imagine it sounded a lot more groundbreaking and interesting back when it was originally released.
3
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Fri Oct 20 2023
Slayed?
Slade
Fine. Decent classic rock. A few years ago I watched Slade’s movie Flame, which was okay. My biggest memory of watching that movie is being thankful for subtitles, because I was not familiar with their accents and could barely understand what they were saying.
3
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Mon Oct 23 2023
Let's Get It On
Marvin Gaye
Delightful. Sounds great. I’m not sure, but this album might be about sex.
4
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Tue Oct 24 2023
GREY Area
Little Simz
Good. I’m pretty sure I recently heard the songs Selfish and Venom in a show or movie or something, but I can’t recall what.
3
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Wed Oct 25 2023
Pelican West
Haircut 100
Boring. Bland. Generic. Not my thing. I’m guessing the author has a strong emotional attachment to this album unrelated to its quality, possibly due to coming of age when this album was popular. A couple of songs came close to being catchy, but nothing ever crested that hill for me.
2
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Thu Oct 26 2023
Cafe Bleu
The Style Council
Competent snooze-fest. Not my thing.
2
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Fri Oct 27 2023
Opus Dei
Laibach
Fine. In general I love industrial music, but this album didn’t grab me. The militaristic marching band vibe is a clever gimmick, and I know its intent is to mock fascism, but it is a little off putting at times with everything that’s going on these days. Although this album motivated me to listen to Laibach’s album Let It Be (yes, a cover of most of that Beatles album), and that album is a solid 4 out of 5.
3
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Mon Oct 30 2023
Wish You Were Here
Pink Floyd
Very good. Another band that was omnipresent when I was younger, but didn’t charm me enough to seek out any of their stuff to buy. Although in high school some friends of mine who were into Pink Floyd had me tag along with them to a concert during their tour for The Division Bell. That was a great show.
4
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Tue Oct 31 2023
The Band
The Band
Pretty good. Up On Cripple Creek is a five star song. Overall this album is weaker than I remember. I went through a small phase of getting into The Band about 20 years ago. Honestly my favorite album of theirs is The Basement Tapes, even though that is basically a Bob Dylan album.
4
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Wed Nov 01 2023
Stankonia
OutKast
Very good. This was my first time listening to the entire album. Earlier I had only heard the popular songs from it. That heavy rotation is well deserved, because this album has a few five star songs (So Fresh, So Clean, Ms Jackson, B.O.B.). Last summer I attend a music festival where Big Boi was one of the headliners, and that was a great show.
4
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Thu Nov 02 2023
Tapestry
Carole King
Pretty good. Sounds great. I enjoyed this album more than I thought I would. GILMORE GIRLS FOREVER.
4
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Fri Nov 03 2023
Ananda Shankar
Ananda Shankar
Decent.
3
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Mon Nov 06 2023
The Seldom Seen Kid
Elbow
Milquetoast millennial make-out music. I’m sorry, that was too mean. That’s probably not even an original thought. I’m probably read or heard that somewhere and unremembered it.
3
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Tue Nov 07 2023
Automatic For The People
R.E.M.
It boggles my mind that this album didn’t reach number one in America. This album was everywhere! And justifiable so since it is very good! Garth Brooks had the number one album that week, by the way. I like REM, they are good, but I don’t consider myself a fan, if that makes sense.
4
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Wed Nov 08 2023
Rust Never Sleeps
Neil Young & Crazy Horse
Fine. I watched the concert movie for this about 20 years ago. I remember enjoying that movie more than listening to this album now. The closing Hey Hey My My is my favorite track on this album.
3
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Thu Nov 09 2023
Here, My Dear
Marvin Gaye
Fine. This album didn’t grab me like his other higher profile albums. Turns out I have a short attention span for listening to a guy talk about his divorce. It felt like reading something on Twitter.
3
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Fri Nov 10 2023
Maxinquaye
Tricky
Pretty good. Nice and mellow. Although nothing grabbed me enough to up the rating to a four.
3
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Mon Nov 13 2023
Tea for the Tillerman
Cat Stevens
Dang, before now I didn’t realize what an emotional connection I have to Wild World. Maybe another song to add to my funeral playlist (aka “STINK-BOY JAMZZZ VOL 69”). Or maybe not.
4
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Tue Nov 14 2023
Graceland
Paul Simon
Very good. Still very catchy. Although wow do I not like some of the bass guitar sounds on this album.
4
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Wed Nov 15 2023
Beach Samba
Astrud Gilberto
Decent. Sounds like something that would play (has played?) during a montage in an Austin Powers movie.
3
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Thu Nov 16 2023
Rattlesnakes
Lloyd Cole And The Commotions
ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ
2
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Fri Nov 17 2023
Dig Me Out
Sleater-Kinney
Pretty good. Honestly, no one song really stood out to me, but the entire album overall is strong enough to get four stars.
4
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Mon Nov 20 2023
Toys In The Attic
Aerosmith
If cocaine made a noise, then this album would be it. And it’s actually pretty catchy. I’m almost angry at how good Walk This Way is.
4
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Tue Nov 21 2023
Young Americans
David Bowie
I can’t think of anything clever to say about this good album and multiple great songs because I’m still mad at Aerosmith for tricking me into giving their album four stars.
4
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Wed Nov 22 2023
3 + 3
The Isley Brothers
Very good. But needs more math.
4
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Thu Nov 23 2023
Sunshine Hit Me
The Bees
Fine. Decent vibes overall. I actually bought this album 18 years ago (at an Amoeba in San Francisco on August 5, 2005). I think my reaction then was similar to now. If I recall correctly, I think I bought this album because a review said fans of Beta Band might enjoy it. My copy of the CD says their name is “A Band of Bees”. There was probably already a band called “The Bees” in America when it was released.
3
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Fri Nov 24 2023
Music From The Penguin Cafe
Penguin Cafe Orchestra
Nice. Mellow vibes, but bordering on virtuosic navel gazing. Reminds me of music that would play during Mr Rogers segments where they would tour a factory or something.
3
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Mon Nov 27 2023
Live At The Star Club, Hamburg
Jerry Lee Lewis
Great artist, bad person? The energy on this album is bonkers, but I admit to feeling uneasy enjoying this music knowing what I know about his life.
3
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Tue Nov 28 2023
Cloud Nine
The Temptations
Pretty good. The first three songs were the most interesting.
3
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Wed Nov 29 2023
Psychocandy
The Jesus And Mary Chain
Delightful. This album hits a sweet spot that balances noisy and catchy. Like a cute little dog that won’t stop howling, but in a good way.
4
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Thu Nov 30 2023
Talk Talk Talk
The Psychedelic Furs
Adequate.
3
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Fri Dec 01 2023
Tracy Chapman
Tracy Chapman
Fine. I remember Fast Car being a hit when I was a kid. That song seemed to be everywhere for a while!
3
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Mon Dec 04 2023
At San Quentin
Johnny Cash
Delightful. There are a few different versions of this album floating around. Try to seek out the version (legacy edition?) with Big River, I Still Miss Someone, and Jackson. I love those songs.
4
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Tue Dec 05 2023
Appetite For Destruction
Guns N' Roses
I clearly remember when I heard this album for the first time. I was around 10 years old and at a church summer camp. I’m pretty sure it was during the year this album became huge. The camp counselor who was in charge of our bunkhouse told me and the other kids “you guys gotta listen to this” and played us a cassette of this album on a boombox. We played that album a lot during that camp. The counselor’s name was Steve, which I only remember because they were fascinated that someone with a common name like Steve helped make this album with people with uncommon names like Axl, Slash, Izzy, and Duff. The big three songs on this album are solid five star songs, among the greatest songs of the 20th century, and Paradise City might need to be played at my funeral. I know this album was everywhere for a while, but I still haven’t tired of those three songs. The rest of the album is fine. I listened to this album over lunch at work, and I got choked up a little bit during Paradise City when the bridge or faster whatever part starts about two thirds in. What is this 1,001 project doing to me?
4
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Wed Dec 06 2023
Homework
Daft Punk
Fun. Da Funk and Around the World are great, but the other songs didn’t grab me.
3
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Thu Dec 07 2023
Tank Battles
Dagmar Krause
Maybe it sounds better in German. The English version I found on YouTube is not my thing. I gave up after a few songs.
2
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Fri Dec 08 2023
Buena Vista Social Club
Buena Vista Social Club
Delightful. Although it kind of has the vibes of “background music at nice restaurant”. I’m a big fan of Ry Cooder who helped make this album. If you like this album, then I recommend you also listen to the album Buenos Hermanos by Ibrahim Ferrer, one of the vocalists this album.
4
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Mon Dec 11 2023
Hot Rats
Frank Zappa
Delightful. I was already a Zappa fan, so this hit the spot. Although I understand and respect that Zappa is one of those artists that people generally either really like or really don’t like. That Zappa documentary from a couple years ago is decent for that kind of thing. It’s not on this album, but my favorite Zappa song is Apostrophe’.
4
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Tue Dec 12 2023
The Wall
Pink Floyd
Fine. I don’t own this album but over my lifetime I’ve probably heard the big songs on this album a significant quantity more than most of the albums I own.
3
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Wed Dec 13 2023
Is This It
The Strokes
I remember buying this and listening to it a pretty fair amount when it was first released. I enjoyed it back then and I enjoy it now. Back in 2001 I saw them perform in Lawrence, Kansas, shortly after this was released. It was a disappointing show. The singer was pretty drunk or something, and was sloppy enough to where other people in the band were visibly frustrated with them.
4
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Thu Dec 14 2023
Tago Mago
Can
Enjoyable. This album is very much my jam. Now this is the weird German stuff I can groove to. Although a couple of the songs drag a little bit at times.
4
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Fri Dec 15 2023
Fifth Dimension
The Byrds
Fine. Nothing grabbed me. Even the big song on here Eight Miles High was kind of a snoozer for me.
3
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Mon Dec 18 2023
Heroes
David Bowie
Heroes is a five star song (hat tip to Godzilla). The rest of the album is pretty good. About 20 or so years ago I went through a phase where I listened to this album pretty regularly.
4
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Tue Dec 19 2023
The Soft Bulletin
The Flaming Lips
A great album. Back in Y2K I would have likely given this 5 stars, but now I hesitate to do so. Not sure why. Did I overplay it? Did I grow weary of TFL’s extra-ness? Was it hearing that Wayne might not be a nice person?
4
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Wed Dec 20 2023
Permission to Land
The Darkness
Fine. This would be fun playing in the background of a bar or video game or whatnot, but I don’t see myself seeking this out.
3
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Thu Dec 21 2023
Ace of Spades
Motörhead
Ace of Spades is such a good song. I’ve heard that song many times but it has not yet worn out its welcome. The rest of the album is solid, but Ace of Spades is the only five star song on the album.
4
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Fri Dec 22 2023
Bitches Brew
Miles Davis
Interesting. Enjoyable. Nothing really stood out to me as something I would go back to and specifically listen to, but overall a good album.
3
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Mon Dec 25 2023
The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan
Bob Dylan
I admit I’m not much of a lyrics person, but I can’t deny the achievements in this album.
4
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Tue Dec 26 2023
A Christmas Gift For You From Phil Spector
Various Artists
It’s understandable that David Letterman had Darlene Love on his show to perform Christmas (Baby Please Come Home) every year for 28 years. It’s one of the greatest songs of all time! Christmas or otherwise.
4
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Wed Dec 27 2023
Mothership Connection
Parliament
Fun. Enjoyable. I greatly appreciate how “funk” as a topic in general is the central focus for a large portion of this album.
4
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Thu Dec 28 2023
What's Going On
Marvin Gaye
Beautiful. The title track and Mercy Mercy Me are five star songs, and the rest of the album is delightful.
4
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Fri Dec 29 2023
Bryter Layter
Nick Drake
Fine. Pleasant. Although the song Fly is a small child pointing at me saying “you feel sad now”.
3
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Mon Jan 01 2024
Electric Warrior
T. Rex
Enjoyable grooves. Bang a Gong is a great song but not great enough to up the album’s rating beyond a 3.
3
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Tue Jan 02 2024
The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars
David Bowie
I’m borderline on 5 or 4 stars for this one. My rating is just barely 5 stars. I don’t know why I’m so hesitant. The album has an amazing feel from start to finish. Maybe what tipped the scales to 5 for me is that so much of the music is acoustic (guitar, piano, vocals), but yet the album is still so heavy. This album is something where if I was at bar and this entire album was playing, then my reaction would be “HECK YEAH”. Maybe that’s my litmus test for a 5 star album?
5
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Wed Jan 03 2024
Life Thru A Lens
Robbie Williams
Competent but meh. Feels like market research corporate middle of the road coattail riding photocopy of a photocopy of a photocopy pop. Although I will confess to his song Millenium being a guilty pleasure of mine.
2
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Thu Jan 04 2024
Imperial Bedroom
Elvis Costello & The Attractions
Fine. Boring. Elvis Costello has great songs, but unfortunately none of them are on this album.
3
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Fri Jan 05 2024
Mama Said Knock You Out
LL Cool J
Decent. Peaks and valleys. Mama Said Knock You Out is a 5 star song. That song was popular with my friends and I in junior high when it was released.
3
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Mon Jan 08 2024
Pearl
Janis Joplin
Fine. This feels like another artist I’ve been overexposed to (which I might have also said for a different album with Janis). The big songs on here are pretty good, and I wouldn’t change to station if they started playing on the radio.
3
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Tue Jan 09 2024
Superunknown
Soundgarden
Decent. I was never a Soundgarden fan back in the day, but I remember liking Spoonman and Black Hole Sun when they were released, and those are both still great songs.
3
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Wed Jan 10 2024
Figure 8
Elliott Smith
Pretty good. I don’t remember buying anything by them way back when, but they’re one of those artists I enjoyed whenever a friend put them on, or I heard while out and about, or on tv or whatnot.
4
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Thu Jan 11 2024
Brothers
The Black Keys
Decent. I didn’t mind listening to it, but I don’t see myself seeking it out specifically.
3
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Fri Jan 12 2024
Djam Leelii
Baaba Maal
Delightful. I have a soft spot for guitar centric albums that do interesting things with music from different parts of the world. If you like this album then I recommend you also check out the album In the Heart of the Moon by Ali Farka Touré and Toumani Diabaté.
4
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Mon Jan 15 2024
(Pronounced 'Leh-'Nérd 'Skin-'Nérd)
Lynyrd Skynyrd
A victim of its own success. This album has been played to death. “Change the station!”, I bark in one breath. This review is not a limerick (just ask Jim or Rick).
2
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Tue Jan 16 2024
Remain In Light
Talking Heads
Delightful. Once In A Lifetime is a five star song.
4
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Wed Jan 17 2024
Liquid Swords
GZA
Good. I enjoyed this album, although I’m not as familiar with hip-hop as I should be.
3
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Thu Jan 18 2024
american dream
LCD Soundsystem
Fine. A decent album.
3
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Fri Jan 19 2024
New Wave
The Auteurs
Fine. Nothing really stood out to me other than it sounds like a precursor to The New Pornographers. A few songs into this album I found myself wanting to listen to TNP’s album Mass Romantic instead of finishing this album.
3
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Mon Jan 22 2024
Tres Hombres
ZZ Top
Delightful. For me in a normal mood this album is four stars. For me in the right mood this album clicks up to five stars. About 20 or so years ago I read some other list about the best albums of all time and Tres Hombres was on it. My reaction was “Really? That doesn’t seem right”. But then I listened to the album and realized it deserved to be on that list. These beardos have not yet worn out their welcome with me.
4
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Tue Jan 23 2024
Music in Exile
Songhoy Blues
Awwwwwww yeahhhhhh. Like I wrote a few reviews ago, I have a soft spot for guitar centric albums that do interesting things with music from around the world. This is album is very much my jam. This album is interesting and doesn’t veer into bland background music in a coffee shop territory. If you like this album then I recommend you check out Ali Farka Touré.
4
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Wed Jan 24 2024
Elastica
Elastica
Good but uneven. One five star song (Connection), a couple four star songs, a few more three star songs, and maybe one or two blah two star songs.
3
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Thu Jan 25 2024
Atomizer
Big Black
Musically: yum, yes please, delightful.
Lyrically: yikes, no thank you, too real.
Another example of my tendency of focusing on the music and ignoring the lyrics. Their album SAF was a favorite of mine in college.
4
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Fri Jan 26 2024
Vulnicura
Björk
Decent. The world is a better place with Björk in it. I wish Björk would release a series of albums with standards from various genres, kind of like Willie Nelson or Johnny Cash did.
3
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Mon Jan 29 2024
Born To Run
Bruce Springsteen
Pretty good. I never really got into Bruuuuuuuuuce, but I was never annoyed when their music started playing somewhere. Born To Run is a five star song. If this website had the option to give the album three and a half stars then that’s what I would choose, but it doesn’t so I’ll go with three stars.
3
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Tue Jan 30 2024
The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill
Lauryn Hill
I remember this album being huge when I was in college when it was released. Doo Wop (That Thing) was everywhere, and rightly so, it’s a five star song. The rest of the album is pretty good, but nothing else really grabbed me.
3
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Wed Jan 31 2024
Desperate Youth, Blood Thirsty Babes
TV On The Radio
Pretty good. A great vibe overall, but none of the songs on here grabbed me like some of their songs on other albums.
3
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Thu Feb 01 2024
Either Or
Elliott Smith
Pretty good. This listen reminded me of living in Iowa City in the late ‘90s.
3
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Fri Feb 02 2024
Red Headed Stranger
Willie Nelson
I love this album. It has its peaks and valleys, but it’s one of my favorite albums of all time. I listened to this album a lot back in 2002-ish after reading about it in some other greatest albums list. In 2008 I saw Willie perform and it was one of the best concerts of my life (in top three or five?). I splurged and bought a seat in the second row, and was close enough to shake Willie’s hand after the show. I also lucked out in that his legendary band members Paul English and Bobbie Nelson were still with him (for a fun(?) read search for the article Watching Willie’s Back by Joe Nick Patoski). As a kid I remember reading a storyline in the Doonesbury comic of a character dying but being happy that they were listening to Pet Sounds shortly before they “bit it”. What album would I want in that situation? Maybe Red Headed Stranger.
5
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Mon Feb 05 2024
The Queen Is Dead
The Smiths
Pretty good. Another situation of great artists, possibly terrible person? When I listened to this last week I can’t remember if I decided on three or four stars for this one. Since I can’t recall I guess I’ll go with three.
3
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Tue Feb 06 2024
Franz Ferdinand
Franz Ferdinand
This album has aged pretty well. I liked it back when it was released, but haven’t listened to it since then. A lot of the songs are still strong. Take Me Out is still a five star song.
4
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Wed Feb 07 2024
Juju
Siouxsie And The Banshees
Pretty good. Interesting. I’m only familiar with one or two songs from Siouxsie And The Banshees, so this album was new to me. Nothing stood out to me as a five star song on my first listen, but overall the album is strong enough to get four stars from me.
4
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Thu Feb 08 2024
Abbey Road
Beatles
More like “Owl Be Rowdy”, amirite? I don’t know what that means. Anyway. One of my all time favorite albums, from what might be my all time favorite band. If I had a couple beers in me I could probably talk about this album and things tangentially related to this album for an hour or more. As a kid when I was old enough to play records from my parents’s collection I gravitated to The Beatles and listened to them a lot. That experience probably has a lot to do with what my music tastes are now.
5
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Fri Feb 09 2024
A Love Supreme
John Coltrane
Enjoyable. I won’t pretend to fully understand what’s all going on in this album, but it held my attention and I was curious what would happen next.
4
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Mon Feb 12 2024
S&M
Metallica
No. This album should not be on this list. Metallica has multiple albums that deserve to be on this list, but this album is not one of them. Sorry. This album isn’t bad, it just feels like something for superfans.
2
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Tue Feb 13 2024
It's Blitz!
Yeah Yeah Yeahs
So good. If Maps was also on this album then I might have rated this five stars.
4
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Wed Feb 14 2024
Peter Gabriel
Peter Gabriel
Fine. Kind of boring. Barely three stars. Solsbury Hill is a good song, but for me that song has been played to death. Whenever I hear that song I think of the jokes where people made a fake movie trailer using that song and scenes from a horror movie or whatnot to make the movie look like a lighthearted romantic comedy.
3
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Thu Feb 15 2024
Q: Are We Not Men? A: We Are Devo
Devo
So good. So fun. Still sounds fresh. Their version of Satisfaction is a five star song. The podcast 99% Invisible recently had a good episode called Devolutionary Design that was all about the cover art for this album.
4
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Fri Feb 16 2024
Californication
Red Hot Chili Peppers
This band makes me think of being in junior high when their earlier album blood sugar etc was hugely popular. This album is fine. It kind of became omnipresent wallpaper during its height.
3
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Mon Feb 19 2024
Power In Numbers
Jurassic 5
Pretty good overall. Although nothing really grabbed me as being a standout track.
3
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Tue Feb 20 2024
Foo Fighters
Foo Fighters
Pretty good. A lovely balance of poppy and heavy. A few four star songs. I remember this album being a big deal when it came out.
3
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Wed Feb 21 2024
Maxwell's Urban Hang Suite
Maxwell
Nice. Chill vibes abound.
3
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Thu Feb 22 2024
Traffic
Traffic
Okay. No tracks stood out to me. Although I guess Feelin’ Alright makes me feel alright. This album sounds like one that would be playing in a used record store where the employee on duty is 10 or more years older than me.
3
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Fri Feb 23 2024
Ágætis Byrjun
Sigur Rós
Yowzers. Another album I didn’t realize I had this strong of an emotional connection to. I listened to this album a lot back when it was released. Svefn-G-Englar is a five star song and provokes feelings. Parts of this album still sound like it’s been transported to the present day from the future. I’m listening to this over lunch and now I don’t want to go back to work.
4
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Mon Feb 26 2024
Cross
Justice
Very good. Very fun. Overall still sounds fresh. I remember this making waves back in the day.
4
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Tue Feb 27 2024
Rock 'N Soul
Solomon Burke
I love love love love love Solomon Burke. Cry to Me is the first song in this project I wanted to rate six stars. The album is delightful overall and has its peaks and valleys. I first became aware of him via their excellent 2002 album Don't Give Up on Me. A well curated best-of compilation of Solomon Burke would easily earn five stars from me.
4
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Wed Feb 28 2024
Led Zeppelin III
Led Zeppelin
Pretty good. This album sounded fresher and more interesting than I thought it would given Zep’s heavy rotation/exposure the past few decades.
4
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Thu Feb 29 2024
The Gilded Palace Of Sin
The Flying Burrito Brothers
Delightful. My first time hearing this album. I’ve heard the band’s name here and there, and heard other music band members contributed for other projects, but this is my first burrito exposure.
4
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Fri Mar 01 2024
There's A Riot Goin' On
Sly & The Family Stone
A beautiful sloppy mess. It feels like the wheels are about to fall off but I love where it’s headed.
4
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Mon Mar 04 2024
Surfer Rosa
Pixies
So good. Still really fun. This album has aged well.
4
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Tue Mar 05 2024
Tusk
Fleetwood Mac
An uneven mix. I enjoyed the songs The Ledge and That’s All for Everyone and That’s Enough for Me and Tusk, but not much more than that. The song Tusk sounded pretty good cranked up in a car. Maybe some bands should have a best-of compilation on this list instead of specific albums.
3
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Wed Mar 06 2024
Talking Timbuktu
Ali Farka Touré
*I climb onto my house’s roof, stand on its peak, arms outstretched, shouting to the heavens*: THIS IS WHAT I’M TALKING ABOUT! THIS IS THE GOOD STUFF!
I’m a big fan of both of these guys (Ali & Ry). I love this album, although it does have some weaker moments. Yes, this album has major ‘90s coffee shop vibes, but this album for me is the pinnacle of that vibe in a good way. I remember the song Diaraby being a theme song on a public radio show I listened to about 20 or so years ago, so that song is etched into my soul forever. Thankfully it’s a good song. I’d rate this album 4.5 stars if I had the option. But since I can’t, five stars feels better than four for this album.
5
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Thu Mar 07 2024
You Are The Quarry
Morrissey
No thank you. The actions of the person have overshadowed the actions of the artist. Also, the music on this album is meh.
1
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Fri Mar 08 2024
Foxbase Alpha
Saint Etienne
Fine. This album probably sounded much fresher and cutting edge when it was first released. Now it sounds kind of stale/boring/cliche, but still has some catchy moments.
3
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Mon Mar 11 2024
Stardust
Willie Nelson
Love love love. Beautiful. Soothing.
5
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Tue Mar 12 2024
Never Mind The Bollocks, Here’s The Sex Pistols
Sex Pistols
A lot of this albums still sounds great. It has an odd balance of sounding fresh/revolutionary but then also sounding like Chuck Berry with extra distortion.
4
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Wed Mar 13 2024
Nowhere
Ride
Delightful. Very much my jam. Although thinking about the album a few hours after listening to it, its vibes are more memorable than its hooks.
4
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Thu Mar 14 2024
Haunted Dancehall
The Sabres Of Paradise
Meh. Assuming this album sounded fresh and exciting in 1994, it has aged poorly.
2
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Fri Mar 15 2024
Surrealistic Pillow
Jefferson Airplane
Decent album overall. Somebody to Love and White Rabbit are both great songs, but a little overplayed for me.
3
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Mon Mar 18 2024
Seventeen Seconds
The Cure
Decent. A Forest is a five star song. I’m curious to check out other Cure albums from this same time period, since I’ve heard good things about those.
3
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Tue Mar 19 2024
Here's Little Richard
Little Richard
So good. Little Richard made the world a better place. A complicated person who created amazing art and lived an unbelievable life. His authorized biography is a wild ride.
5
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Wed Mar 20 2024
Done By The Forces Of Nature
Jungle Brothers
Pretty good. Enjoyable. Sounds like something that would play in the background at Record Collector in Iowa City.
3
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Thu Mar 21 2024
Aha Shake Heartbreak
Kings of Leon
Decent. Fine, but not compelling enough to make me curious about what their other albums sound like.
3
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Fri Mar 22 2024
A Walk Across The Rooftops
The Blue Nile
Fine. Sounds like something that would play during a montage in an ‘80s movie.
3
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Mon Mar 25 2024
Murmur
R.E.M.
Very good. Very impressive for a debut album by a bunch of young’ins that were basically a college band. Radio Free Europe is a great song.
4
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Tue Mar 26 2024
Cosmo's Factory
Creedence Clearwater Revival
I remember listening to this record as a kid when my parents would let me play their records on the turntable. As a kid I was fascinated by the bicycle on the cover. Not sure why. Maybe since it’s out of place in that context? Anyway. Great album. Lookin’ Out My Back Door is one of the greatest elephant related songs ever written.
4
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Wed Mar 27 2024
Stories From The City, Stories From The Sea
PJ Harvey
Pretty good. I remember listening to and liking this album back when it was released. There are highlights throughout the album (Big Exit, One Line), but overall I don’t like the album as much as I did 20ish years ago.
3
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Thu Mar 28 2024
Aqualung
Jethro Tull
Decent. The title track and Locomotive Breath are flautist epic-sauce (as (the) kids (used to) say (10 or 20 years ago)), but nothing else really stood out to me.
3
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Fri Mar 29 2024
They Were Wrong, So We Drowned
Liars
Fine. Sort of interesting, but nothing grabbed me enough to inspire a repeat listen or search out their other material.
3
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Mon Apr 01 2024
Head Hunters
Herbie Hancock
So good. Whenever I type the word “funky” this album should start playing. Although to be honest, I prefer Mongo Santamaria’s version of Watermelon Man (which I became familiar with thanks to the Out Of Sight soundtrack).
4
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Tue Apr 02 2024
Strangeways, Here We Come
The Smiths
Fine. A couple catchy songs. But (copied and pasted from my review of a different Smiths album in this project): another situation of great artists, possibly terrible person?
3
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Wed Apr 03 2024
Talking Heads 77
Talking Heads
Delightful. I love Talking Heads, there are some great songs on this album, but I can’t quite bring myself to give this album five stars due to its unevenness.
4
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Thu Apr 04 2024
Inspiration Information
Shuggie Otis
Delightful. If you like this album then be sure to also check out his song Strawberry Letter 23 (which is sometimes included on re-issues of this album, but sometimes not).
4
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Fri Apr 05 2024
Gentlemen
The Afghan Whigs
Fine. It definitely sounds like an album from 1993.
3
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Mon Apr 08 2024
Hard Again
Muddy Waters
Very good. If you like this album then I recommend you also check out his album Electric Mud which has a slightly bonkers psychedelic twist to it.
4
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Tue Apr 09 2024
Hotel California
Eagles
“Ugh”, I reacted to seeing this album as today’s selection. Yeah, there’s some decent songs on here, but for me this is one of those bands that has been played to death. Random factoid: I read somewhere that at their peak there was a 12 or 18 month span where they were selling over a million albums a month.
3
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Wed Apr 10 2024
Tommy
The Who
Okay. I didn’t finish it. Some catchy hooks. The Who have some things I love, but this album isn’t it. I’m not a lyrics person so a start to finish narrative really isn’t what I’m looking for in an album.
3
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Thu Apr 11 2024
From Elvis In Memphis
Elvis Presley
Decent album overall. Makes me think of being a kid and wandering around in general stores or drug stores. Suspicious Minds is a great song and seems like something people will still be listening to centuries from now.
3
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Fri Apr 12 2024
Vespertine
Björk
swan swan swan swan
swaaAaAaAaAaaanNnNnN
SWWWAAAAAAAaaaaaaaannnn
Having said/sung/typed that, I’ll repeat what I said for a different Björk album in this project:
The world is a better place with Björk in it.
3
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Mon Apr 15 2024
The Atomic Mr Basie
Count Basie & His Orchestra
Fun. Although kind of bonkers album art. In high school I played trombone in jazz band so I felt very much at ease listening to this. If you like this album then I recommend you also check out the album Sinatra At The Sands where Basie and his orchestra are Frank’s backing band.
3
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Tue Apr 16 2024
Debut
Björk
Björk felt like the future in the ‘90s and they still feel like the future today. Human Behavior is a five star song, but the rest of the album is also strong (although some songs have aged better than others).
4
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Wed Apr 17 2024
Berlin
Lou Reed
Fine. Not really my thing. I love some of Lou’s solo stuff and VU stuff, but this album did not grab me. This album makes me think of Rocky Horror. Or do I have that backwards? Did Berlin (1973) influence Rocky Horror (1975)?
3
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Fri Apr 19 2024
Konnichiwa
Skepta
Fine. Nothing really grabbed me.
3
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Mon Apr 22 2024
The Fat Of The Land
The Prodigy
Pretty good overall, but some parts haven’t aged well. Firestarter was one of those songs that seemed to be everywhere at its height of popularity. Firestarter is still an exciting song.
3
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Tue Apr 23 2024
We Are Family
Sister Sledge
I have no idea why, but this album makes me think of watching cable tv as a kid in the ‘80s.
3
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Wed Apr 24 2024
Modern Kosmology
Jane Weaver
Decent. Nothing really stood out other than the agreeable vibes that reminded me of other bands such as Stereolab, Broadcast, etc.
3
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Thu Apr 25 2024
Sometimes I Wish We Were An Eagle
Bill Callahan
Fine. Pleasant. Am I a horse?
3
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Fri Apr 26 2024
The Predator
Ice Cube
Pretty good. It Was A Good Day is a great song, and the rest of the album is solid overall. Although the inserts/skits aren’t really my thing. This album might be the first one we’ve come across in this project where every song is labeled “E” for explicit in my music app of choice. I should not blast this album while driving around with my windows down.
4
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Mon Apr 29 2024
KIWANUKA
Michael Kiwanuka
Very good. This album was a pleasant surprise. This was my first exposure to this artist and I really liked it.
4
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Tue Apr 30 2024
Blonde On Blonde
Bob Dylan
Pretty good. Quite a few highlights and some delightful guitar pickin’ & strummin’, but not my favorite Dylan album. Okay, since you asked, my favorite Dylan album is The Basement Tapes.
4
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Wed May 01 2024
One Nation Under A Groove
Funkadelic
Delightful. Dense, complex, balanced, beautiful. A shame this album seems hard to find.
4
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Fri May 03 2024
Meat Puppets II
Meat Puppets
Pretty good. I dig the country punk vibes.
4
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Mon May 06 2024
Arrival
ABBA
Decent, fun. Sort of like Tabey said for an earlier album, it feels like I’m at a wedding reception. Fernando.
3
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Tue May 07 2024
White Blood Cells
The White Stripes
Very good. I listened to this album a fair amount when it was first released. Overall the album holds up rather well. I almost saw them perform on their tour for this album. Unfortunately the small club they were booked to play in Kansas City went out of business a week or two before their concert and it did not get rescheduled/relocated from what I could find. Then they became huge. You’re welcome.
4
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Wed May 08 2024
Siembra
Willie Colón & Rubén Blades
Fine. Likely due to my unfamiliarity with this genre of music, I find it challenging to observe the nuances in this album that place it above its peers and as being worthy of its place on this list. That lack of comprehension is a failing on my part.
3