Oct 09 2023
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Unknown Pleasures
Joy Division
Dark, spooky vibes. Hypnotic instrumentals and haunted vocals. First time I've heard Joy Division and definitely interested in checking out their other record.
4
Oct 10 2023
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The Seldom Seen Kid
Elbow
Atmospheric folksy UK indie with some electronic elements. Soothing and catchy at times, sleepy at other times. Good harmonies and diverse song structures. Lead singer reminds me of the dude from Beta Band sometimes. Really pretty stuff but overstays its welcome a bit.
4
Oct 11 2023
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At San Quentin
Johnny Cash
I've never listened to a full Johnny Cash album. Something tells me this was not the one to start with. While his connection with the crowd is undeniable, I wasn't really drawn in by the tunes, and the recording sounds kinda shit. I look forward to checking out his other more well-regarded stuff. This one's a skip for me.
2
Oct 12 2023
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More Songs About Buildings And Food
Talking Heads
Another band that I'm not as familiar with as I should be. Very quirky new wave art pop stuff. Even some funky tunes in there. Byrne is a cartoon character (in a good way).
Has their cover of "Take Me to The River", which I've heard a bunch.
3
Oct 13 2023
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The Village Green Preservation Society
The Kinks
Pretty standard and inoffensive '60s rock. Admittedly my exposure to this decade of English rock is limited, but this sounds like other stuff I've heard from the era. Like I really don't know what the difference between this and The Beatles is--they sound identical to me. Pleasant songwriting and melodies but not adventurous or surprising enough to be interesting. Maybe it was ahead of its time and I'm just dumb? That's probably it.
3
Oct 14 2023
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Blonde On Blonde
Bob Dylan
Look. I respect Bob Dylan. The man is a poet, has a lot to say, and is a good songwriter. But this shit is just not my bag. I don't find it pleasant to listen to. Not a fan of the bluesy folk and harmonica and just general loudness of this. Dug the slow jams though. At 1hr12mn, it's also the first album in this challenge that I didn't listen to all the way through. 7-minute folk songs are absurd. The two stars simply reflect my enjoyment, not an objective rating of the music's quality.
Please give me an album I'll like listening to next, mr robot algorithm.
2
Oct 15 2023
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Hejira
Joni Mitchell
Joni took her music off of Spotify. Listened on YouTube.
More folksy storytelling like Dylan. Smooth and chill for the most part. I really like her voice, but the freewheeling nature of some of the songwriting keeps it from being super memorable.
3
Oct 16 2023
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OK Computer
Radiohead
Heard this one a hundred times. "Paranoid Android" is my generation's "Stairway to Heaven". Killer record, an alt rock classic. My fave by them.
5
Oct 18 2023
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The Only Ones
The Only Ones
Had never heard of this band before. Pretty solid proto-punk stuff. More like proto pop punk in a way because those hooks can be pretty catchy. They aren't grimey or hyper political. The first few songs are the highlights though. The album kind of feels plainer as it goes along.
3
Oct 19 2023
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Take Me Apart
Kelela
Finally some contemporary stuff! And it's an album I'm quite familiar with. Love this one and jammed it a lot when it came out. "Frontline" is still probably my favorite song by her.
4
Oct 20 2023
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Physical Graffiti
Led Zeppelin
Typical bluesy proggy rockin ass tunes from Zep, babayy. I'm less familiar with this one than their numbered albums, and I really enjoyed it. Some severe bangers, lots of great beats and grooves and instrumental breakdowns. Plant is as screechy and soulful as ever.
4
Oct 21 2023
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This Is Fats Domino
Fats Domino
Decent old timey blues and R&B. Nothing surprising, pleasant enough, nice short catchy songs.
3
Oct 22 2023
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Drunk
Thundercat
Modern classic. Motherfucker got Kenny Loggins and Michael McDonald on a track.
4
Oct 23 2023
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Africa Brasil
Jorge Ben Jor
Finally, something else brand new to me. But the very first song has lyrics and melody that fellow Brazilians SOULFLY used in one of their early records, so I was immediately struck with familiarity. This album is groovy as fuck. Smooth, vibey, funky. Would have loved this back when I was sample hunting. Solid old-school Brazilian samba soul music.
3
Oct 24 2023
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Electric Warrior
T. Rex
Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz. Snoozer of a light smooth classic rock album. Not into it.
2
Oct 26 2023
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Architecture And Morality
Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark
Really enjoy the electronic and often atmospheric production of this early-'80s record. These guys are apparently pioneers of electronic music and synth pop. Had never heard of them before this. Not huge on the vocals, but the production is pretty great especially for being so early in the tech/genre. Good music to work to.
3
Oct 27 2023
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Back to Basics
Christina Aguilera
Can't do Christina's throaty growly voice. Not my bag. I like smoother singers. Production is fine. Didn't listen to all of it because it's an 80-MINUTE DOUBLE ALBUM, which is completely unnecessary.
This challenge is starting to suck. Maybe 5 out of 15 albums have been good. How is this album past her prime essential in any way?
2
Oct 28 2023
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The Score
Fugees
Absolute banger. Three classic singles. Great verses and hooks on pretty much every track. The Chinese restaurant skit has aged...poorly.
5
Oct 30 2023
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The Köln Concert
Keith Jarrett
A pretty solo piano concert. Nice dynamics between soft and quiet vs loud and playful. Was pleasant music to grade papers to.
3
Oct 31 2023
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Black Holes and Revelations
Muse
This album already sounds super dated. Not a fan of the discount Thom Yorke vocals or the poppy electro rock instrumentals. These guys are just kinda cheesy. Maybe their other records are better? So far, the critics who put this list together seem kinda sus.
2
Nov 01 2023
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Led Zeppelin IV
Led Zeppelin
Really? Another Zeppelin already? 1001 albums and we're already repeating bands?
This is the most well known Zeppelin. Grew up listening to it. It still rips.
Next.
4
Nov 02 2023
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New Wave
The Auteurs
Boring ass brit pop alt rock that sounds like a thousand other bands. Very influential zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz.
2
Nov 03 2023
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Fleet Foxes
Fleet Foxes
Really enjoyed this. It's white boy folk but it's also psychedelic and sounds good as hell after a fat blunt. Spacey, heady folk shit. Pretty.
4
Nov 04 2023
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Tres Hombres
ZZ Top
Standard bluesy classic dad rock. Has a few iconic tracks, a good pace, good dive bar rock that I would rarely choose to listen to.
3
Nov 06 2023
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Fever Ray
Fever Ray
Fever Ray is singular. They're such a bizarre person, super psychedelic and weird and tribal, absolutely immersive music. I'd never heard their debut, and I'm so glad it got suggested. Hypnotic shit.
4
Nov 11 2023
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The Wildest!
Louis Prima
Fun old timey vocal jazz. Nothing I'd listen to unprompted, but certainly more interesting than all of the classic dad rock bullshit albums this app has been giving me this week.
3
Nov 13 2023
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Rum Sodomy & The Lash
The Pogues
Absolutely fucking not.
1
Nov 17 2023
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Let Love Rule
Lenny Kravitz
2
Nov 18 2023
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Dire Straits
Dire Straits
3
Nov 22 2023
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Destroy Rock & Roll
Mylo
2
Nov 24 2023
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Follow The Leader
Korn
5
Nov 26 2023
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Maverick A Strike
Finley Quaye
2