Sep 09 2023
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Is This It
The Strokes
5
Sep 10 2023
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Africa Brasil
Jorge Ben Jor
Very lovely sound, really well produced. The hooks didn't grab me too much, though. Would make nice mood music, but I don't see myself listening to it intently. Kinda want to listen again with headphones.
3
Sep 11 2023
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Let's Get It On
Marvin Gaye
Very beautiful and lush, feels like it deserves a dedicated listening session - not so great for grabbing attention while working. The instrumentals and melodies also begin to blend together a bit.
3
Sep 12 2023
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Led Zeppelin
Led Zeppelin
Some very fun, big, nimble riffs. And obviously the drumming is sick af. Some of the bluesy stuff feels a bit rote.
4
Sep 13 2023
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Smash
The Offspring
The "sad punk" vibe gets a little tiring - the mood is a little drab and rainy despite the speed. Probably because of Dexter's vocal style and the minor keys. Gets kinda monotonous as the album goes on.
3
Sep 14 2023
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Physical Graffiti
Led Zeppelin
So far, feels like an improvement on Zeppelin I in every way. The riffs are super fun and the songs sound a lot more varied. Drags on a bit due to the length, but there are consistent bangers across the track list.
4
Sep 15 2023
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If I Could Only Remember My Name
David Crosby
First song is really beautiful. I really love the vibey, psychedelic moments - especially with the vocal harmonies. After listening a second time, I fucking love this. It feels psychedelic in the best way.
4
Sep 16 2023
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Horses
Patti Smith
Really didn't vibe with the vocal style. I'm sure this was groundbreaking when it came out, but a lot of the ideas here feel a little cliche now. I might like the album a bit more if knew the lyrics well, but I don't see myself returning to this any time soon.
2
Sep 17 2023
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The Low End Theory
A Tribe Called Quest
Very nice sound, the production is impeccable. The hooks aren't really there, but I don't think that's the point. This is a perfect album to work to or put on at a gathering.
4
Sep 18 2023
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Crime Of The Century
Supertramp
Something about the vocal style and instrumentation annoys me a little - it feels a bit overdone and cheesy. Some of the songs are really beautifully arranged, though. I appreciate the variety of instruments present, and there's a nice balance between weird and traditional vibes.
3
Sep 19 2023
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Bad
Michael Jackson
Hooks are insane, production is vibrant and huge. Some of the songs don't hit as hard as others, but this has bangers throughout the whole track list.
4
Sep 20 2023
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Ambient 1/Music For Airports
Brian Eno
Track one is beautiful, obviously. The synthetic choral sound on 2/1 and 1/2 gets a little old, and feels a bit dated now. Last track is also very beautiful in a melancholic way.
3
Sep 21 2023
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Supa Dupa Fly
Missy Elliott
Really like Timbaland's production on this, it's very smooth, crisp, and punchy. Missy's style on this was wayyyy more subdued than I had expected, only being familiar with her big hits prior to this listen. A lot of the album kinda floated along in the background, but it sounded great.
3
Sep 22 2023
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Back to Mystery City
Hanoi Rocks
Very fun and big sound! Feels like a cross between hair metal and rock n roll.
3
Sep 23 2023
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Off The Wall
Michael Jackson
Awesome, but definitely less bangers than Bad, and not quite as distinct sounding
3
Sep 24 2023
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Out Of The Blue
Electric Light Orchestra
Turn to Stone is such a fuckin electric way to open an album. I really love how wide the instrumental palette is here, especially stuff like the mariachi band on Across the Border. Thunder and Lightning is beautiful and uplifting.
4
Sep 25 2023
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Meat Is Murder
The Smiths
The whole instrumental vibe is lovely and lush. The slower tracks are a little boring to sit through, and a couple of the less jangly songs don't stand out as well. Morrissey's voice is beautiful but also a little depressing.
4
Sep 26 2023
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Tommy
The Who
Singing is kinda weak on some of these tracks - kinda the same effect as Supertramp, where it seems like they're really straining. The amount of times they reference "deaf, dumb, and blind" seems gratuitous. I'm still struggling with the vocals as well - Sensation felt hard to sit through. There's something edgeless about the sound of this whole thing that makes it feel weirdly plastic. I'm also not sensing much in the way of hooks, most of the songs lack a distinct chorus. Some of the more low-key moments like Welcome can sound quite lovely when the harmonies and acoustic guitar are prominent.
2
Sep 27 2023
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Buena Vista Social Club
Buena Vista Social Club
Very chill, relaxing vibe throughout. The instrumentals sound great, especially the piano. Obviously I can't make out the lyrics, but the vocals sound nice to me. It's not super hooky, but the sound is so great that I could listen to this as ambient music any time.
4
Sep 28 2023
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The Notorious Byrd Brothers
The Byrds
I really love the mystical, soft, and experimental nature of this. Love all the different instruments that are played with too. Crosby hasn't missed so far.
4
Sep 29 2023
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Remedy
Basement Jaxx
Ehhhhh. There were some cool ideas here and there, but overall none of these songs really grabbed my attention. There are also some *really* annoying bits, like the vocals in Yo Yo
2
Sep 30 2023
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Cloud Nine
The Temptations
The vocals are insane. Really like the production as well, especially for the time.
3
Oct 01 2023
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Oar
Alexander 'Skip' Spence
I liked the amount of experimentation going on. It was kind of a downer of an album, a few tracks just felt bleh.
3
Oct 02 2023
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Leftism
Leftfield
Really love the sped-up reggae groove on the first track. Overall vibe of the album is very euphoric, with some high-energy parts and some much mellower.
3
Oct 10 2023
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Music for the Masses
Depeche Mode
It was a little drab for me. Kinda floated by in the background. Upon the third listen though, the album really popped for me. I'm not typically into the gothic vibe, but there are some really good hooks and fun use of instrumentation here. It gets a liiiittle too Danny Elfman at points, but this is a very fun but dark listen. The bass synth in Agent Orange is so wild.
3
Oct 11 2023
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John Prine
John Prine
Really like the lyrics on this, very woke for the era. Very simple sound, but it does a good job of frontlining the lyrics.
3
Oct 12 2023
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British Steel
Judas Priest
Right off the bat, vocals seem a little weak. Interesting how much the sound varies from song to song here. There's some stuff that points towards their later defining sound, but there are also a few hair metal bops and a few boomer-ass tracks. It was decent overall, but if I wanted to listen to Judas Priest, I'd probably just put on Painkiller.
3
Oct 13 2023
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Brilliant Corners
Thelonious Monk
I feel like I'm too much of a jazz normie to understand why this is good, but I really like how it sounds. Bemsha Swing has a kinda of tiresome melody.
4
Oct 14 2023
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OK Computer
Radiohead
Mannnnn I want so badly to understand why so many people say this is one of the greatest albums ever. There are some really beautiful sounds here. That part in Paranoid Android really kicked my ass the first time I heard it. Karma Police is a classic. But something about Thom Yorke's voice bums me out a little bit, it just feels so drab most of the time. I will say that I've enjoyed the album more every time I've heard it (4 times). Despite that, it still just feels like a great album, not an essential one. Maybe you had to be there.
3
Oct 15 2023
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The Contino Sessions
Death In Vegas
I really really really can't stand this guy's edgelord-ass vocals. I don't know the last time I hated a song as much as Broken little sister. Some of the instrumental cuts are nice and vibey, but the overall palette just doesn't sit right with me. Soul auctioneer wasn't bad either, kinda sounds like Bob Dylan. Overall, I can't imagine wanting to listen to this front to back again.
2
Oct 17 2023
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Different Class
Pulp
I really love Jarvis Cocker's voice. The whole album feels very modern despite its age - I can definitely feel this influence of this on bands like The 1975 and especially Bleachers. The instrumentation is varied in a really satisfying way, and there are some really epic feeling song structures.
4
Oct 18 2023
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Winter In America
Gil Scott-Heron
Gil's voice is very interesting and powerful. I really really really liked the poetry at the end.
4
Oct 19 2023
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Kenza
Khaled
Quine El Harba is such a banger, I really like the instrumental. The vocals on track 1 felt pretty strained. Trig Lychee sounds wicked ahead of its time, very much reminds me of Kygo type stuff. The beat on E'dir E'sseba is awesome too. Gouloulha had annoying vocals once again. This one has some really great tracks, but also some pretty annoying ones.
3
Oct 20 2023
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Transformer
Lou Reed
Holy shit this is so great. I never realized what an influence this dude had on indie music. This reminds me a lottt of Pavement. Really impressed with the guitar Solo on Vicious.
5
Oct 21 2023
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Catch A Fire
Bob Marley & The Wailers
I like how the beginning of Concrete Jungle sounds like it's gonna be a funk song, before dropping into the reggae groove. All in all, this sounds about how I expected. Obviously Stir It Up is a banger. Overall, I just have a hard time listening actively to reggae.
3
Oct 22 2023
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Wish You Were Here
Pink Floyd
Have a Cigar has such a nice beat, and I really like the vocals. Welcome to the Machine felt a little slow and boring to me, and the synths were a bit annoying. Shine on You Crazy Diamond (Parts I-V) didn't really grab me the first couple of listens, but I'll give it a few more tries. Wish You Were Here is absolutely beautiful. On third listen, the intro to Shine On is really vibey and kinda epic, reminds me a little bit of that Flume song.
3
Oct 23 2023
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I Want To See The Bright Lights Tonight
Richard Thompson
The instrumentation and melodies on When I Get to the Border are beautiful. There are some really beautiful melodies all throughout. The more low-key tracks don't do much for me. The Little Beggar Girl sounds too much like Do Your Ears Hang Low.
3
Oct 24 2023
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Talking Book
Stevie Wonder
Maybe Your Baby is so cool, especially the vocals and bass. Obviously Superstition is a slapper. Big Brother has a really nice folky vibe to it. The beginning of Lookin For Another Pure Love almost sounds like Jimmy Buffet lol. Really love the sax on Tuesday Heartbreak. Blame it On the Sun has some beautiful melodies
4
Oct 25 2023
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Tidal
Fiona Apple
First track SLAPS. I love her voice, and the instrumental hits hard while also being very attractive - makes me think of some White Stripes tracks.
3
Oct 26 2023
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London Calling
The Clash
Absolute classic. Perfect album
5
Oct 27 2023
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The Coral
The Coral
I kinda struggle with this super-emotive vocal style. Kinda feels faux-deep/boomer-y. I guess it's commendable how many genres the test out here. Goodbye has a nice retro vibe to it. Waiting for the Heartaches has a really insipid rhyming scheme. Bad Man just continues the trend of me hating the vocals. The last track had some line about seashells on the seashore, and then it ends with "calendars and clocks, dickory-dock" over and over and o v e r. There are some really interesting ideas throughout the album but they're drowning in a sea of obnoxious and trite music, vocals, and lyrics. This whole gives me very "local band who plays in coffee shops and wears drug rugs" vibes.
1
Oct 28 2023
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Moondance
Van Morrison
First two tracks are obvious classics. The instrumental palette is extremely nice across the album. The vocals on Crazy Love are way softer than I knew he could get. Everyone is very cute sounding, and I love the harpsichord.
3
Oct 29 2023
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The La's
The La's
So far, none of the album comes even close to There She Goes. Kinda vibey but also a little generic feeling. Much more rock-n-roll than I was expecting. All By Myself is SO boring. Over is another snoozefest. It also just feels a little boomer-y overall. Not a fan
2
Oct 30 2023
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Under Construction
Missy Elliott
Obviously, some classic bangers on here. I really like the spoken intro/interludes, they make the album feel really candid. Even though not all of the songs stuck on the first listen, I just really loved the overall vibe of the album, and the instrumentals were great.
4
Oct 31 2023
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Pretzel Logic
Steely Dan
The slower vibe of the album was a bit of a letdown after Boddhisatva. That being said, I really like the lyrics on here, they feel really playful and precocious. The varied instrumentation is very fun, and I like the sometimes experimental production. The group vocals and brass section on My Old School are sick.
3
Nov 01 2023
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Countdown To Ecstasy
Steely Dan
I was a little let down by the slower pace following Boddhistva as an opener. Really didn't care for Boston Rag, too slow and not catchy at all. The instrumental palette and use of effects across the album is awesome, thought. Was pretty into Your Gold Teeth, Show Biz Kids, and King of the World. REALLY loved My Old School, very fun with the group vocals and brass.
4
Nov 02 2023
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Safe As Milk
Captain Beefheart & His Magic Band
The level of influence is immediately obvious - I definitely hear a lot of White Stripes in here, like on Yellow Brick Road. Zig Zag Wanderer is a massive banger.
4
Nov 03 2023
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Every Good Boy Deserves Fudge
Mudhoney
So far, this is really floating by in the background. feels like kinda generic grunge.
2
Nov 04 2023
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Neon Bible
Arcade Fire
Black Mirror was a little boring, but I liked the piano melody. Keep the Car Running is one of my all-time favorite songs. Neon Bible felt similarly boring, kinda just repeating the same thing over and over. Really like the grandiosity of No Cars Go. Intervention has a great sense of progression, love the way it builds up.
3
Nov 05 2023
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american dream
LCD Soundsystem
I've really come around on Oh Baby. I used to think it was a little too slow and vibey, but it has a really nice atmosphere. Love the energy on Other Voices, and the woman's spoken vocals are awesome. Change Yr Mind didn't gel with me - didn't like the slow, downtrodden energy. Call the Police is very epic feeling, kinda reminds me of All My Friends. Really don't care for the ballad-y vibe of American Dream, but I do love the descending synth part.
4
Nov 06 2023
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C'est Chic
CHIC
Very vibey overall, almost too much so. I had a hard time staying focused. Good background music though.
3
Nov 07 2023
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The Slim Shady LP
Eminem
The first leg is awesome. Really like Guilty Conscience - the bars are hilarious and I love the back-and-forth between Em and Dre. '97 Bonnie and Clyde is kind of obnoxious and edgy but not in a fun way. Role Model is hilarious. I always thought Eminem was annoying, but this might be the funniest rap album I've ever heard.
4
Nov 10 2023
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Talk Talk Talk
The Psychedelic Furs
This is way heavier than I expected based on the band name and cover art. I really like the aggression of the vocals and the weirdness of the instrumental. As the record went on, the vocals started to wear me down. I also didn't find the songwriting very memorable.
2
Nov 11 2023
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Figure 8
Elliott Smith
I didn't expect to like this nearly as much as I did. I had heard Elliott was very melancholic, which isn't typically my vibe. He def is, but this isn't just an hour of mournful acoustic ballads. The instrumentation and production is beautiful and vibrant. Elliott's voice is very expressive, and he writes mean hooks. I was honestly blown away by this.
4
Nov 12 2023
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The White Room
The KLF
I liked the spoken word bits sonically, but they often felt obnoxiously "deep". Like some self-proclaimed old soul waxing poetic about the meaning of life. This seems to be a weird trend in electronic music specifically. The beats are decent.
2
Nov 13 2023
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Underwater Moonlight
The Soft Boys
Really fun album overall. A little punky, a little Beatles, it just sounds like they're having a great time. The songwriting is tight and catchy, and there's a lot of variety.
4
Nov 14 2023
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(Pronounced 'Leh-'Nérd 'Skin-'Nérd)
Lynyrd Skynyrd
There really aren't any skips on the record. I was pleasantly surprised by the tracks I hadn't heard before. Obviously, Free Bird, Gimme Three Steps, Tuesday's Gone, Simple man are all certified hood classics.
5
Nov 15 2023
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The College Dropout
Kanye West
Lots of classics on this. Kanye's a fuckin Nazi tho
3
Nov 16 2023
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The Village Green Preservation Society
The Kinks
I keep running into this issue with albums of this era - everything kinda sounds like the Beatles, but not *quite* as good. Still, I really like the humor on this album, and the songs are written well. There's a decent amount of stylistic experimentation as well, which I love.
3
Nov 17 2023
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So
Peter Gabriel
Love the variety of instrumentation here. The female vocals are hauntingly beautiful on Don't Give Up. Big Time is a banger, but it sounds so aggressively 80's. Nothing quite lives up to Sledgehammer, but overall I like the album.
3
Nov 18 2023
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Elvis Presley
Elvis Presley
Lots of catchy stuff on here! Unfortunately, this is such a foundational sound that it feels a bit overdone/obvious now.
3
Nov 19 2023
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Aqualung
Jethro Tull
Definitely felt like a very cohesive concept album. This is both a plus and a minus - there were a couple parts that gave me "Tommy" PTSD. Unlike that album though, the occasional monotony isn't suffocating, and I could definitely see returning to this. Unfortunately, I feel like the cohesion took precedence over making an album with a varied palette.
3
Nov 20 2023
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Snivilisation
Orbital
I'm starting to sense a pattern in the types of electronic music that make their way onto this list. The author seems very fond of ambling, somewhat esoteric 90's-era albums. I appreciate low-key vibes as much as the next person, but I wouldn't hate something with a bit more meat.
2
Nov 28 2023
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The Stone Roses
The Stone Roses
I love the 60's of it all. The vibe throughout is very psychedelic and jangly. There are some really interesting production choices that elevate it above just being a retread. The hooks aren't always super catchy, but that's forgivable given how beautiful this sounds
4
Nov 29 2023
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The Fat Of The Land
The Prodigy
I'm blown away by how hard this production hits given its age. I often find that older stuff (especially metal and electronic) lacks the bite of modern production, but this has it. The bass is thick, and everything sounds big af.
3
Nov 30 2023
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Lazer Guided Melodies
Spiritualized
The surprise second half of If I Were With Her Now really blew me away the second time - the beginning also reminds me of I Got A Feeling. The overall sound of the album is extremely vibey. I normally like higher-energy stuff, but I think these guys are really at their best when they're leaning into the softer side of their sound. I Want You has big Freedom! '90/Movin' Up energy.
3
Dec 01 2023
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Truth And Soul
Fishbone
Initial thoughts on first track: instrumental is sick (although some of the background production elements could definitely be removed), vocals are pretty mid and a little annoying. I really love how much genre mixing is going on here. When the singer isn't trying to do the Rockstar voice, he sounds way more palatable.
4
Dec 02 2023
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On The Beach
Neil Young
Very vibey and folky, acoustic, hippy-ish. It's nice, but not really my jam. It gives the vibe of something that's better when you know the lyrics. The mood is very wistful and melancholy.
3
Dec 03 2023
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Sweet Dreams (Are Made Of This)
Eurythmics
So far I love the instrumental palette and the production, everything is so lush. Obviously, Annie Lennox's vocals are amazing.
4
Dec 04 2023
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Scream, Dracula, Scream
Rocket From The Crypt
First song has really nice punky energy. I was kinda surprised to hear the horns come in on Born in '69! The singer's voice is so-so, it's pop-punk adjacent, but has a little more of a "dude" edge to it. This pairs nicely with the Fishbone album. I'm on track 13 now, and the vocals are really starting to wear on me. This also has a bit of that trite Gen X humor, like Come See, Come Saw. Idk, I got real sick of this by the end.
2
Dec 05 2023
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Disraeli Gears
Cream
Pretty decent all around, but it sounds *so* of its era. The quirky British-ness of it all gets a little overbearing.
3
Dec 06 2023
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Rust Never Sleeps
Neil Young & Crazy Horse
Right off the bat, sounds like I'm in for another sadboi album. I do love the general vibe on track one though, the main guitar riff sounds pretty iconic, and I love the harmonica.
3
Dec 07 2023
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Let England Shake
PJ Harvey
It feels like I'm not the target demo for this album. A lot of her vocalization gets on my nerves a bit, and I don't know enough about the history of England for this to resonate with me emotionally. Musically it doesn't really stand out to me.
2
Dec 08 2023
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Dummy
Portishead
They're really nailing the atmosphere they're going for here. I wish I could say it was the kind of atmosphere I enjoy, but it's not. The whole vibe here is very dark and moody, which just kinda bums me out. I do love the theremin on the first track, sounds very spooky. It's a Fire has a pretty beautiful sound and melody. Absolutely can't stand the "jazzy gal" voice on Glory Box. Overall though, I have to give credit to how singular the vision is here, and how well the production and instrumentation is put together. It feels way ahead of its time.
3
Dec 09 2023
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The Wall
Pink Floyd
Idk man. I'm starting to think I just don't vibe with Pink Floyd that much. It feels like the middle ground between full-on prog and classic rock, but not in a good way. There's so much downtime padding out this track list, it felt like more often than not I was just waiting for something interesting to happen. Comfortably Numb is amazing though.
3
Dec 10 2023
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LP1
FKA twigs
Really love the production - very forward thinking for its time, and the percussion especially is crisp af. Her voice is totally beautiful and impressive. That said, the overall vibe is pretty melancholy, and I didn't really hear anything that reached the heights of Two Weeks.
3