Oct 10 2023
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Green River
Creedence Clearwater Revival
Nostalgic, feel-good music. John Fogerty’s singing and the effortless, sophisticated guitar solos are the perfect combo. The bonus instrumental and live songs in the Expanded Edition are so good too.
Tracks that stood out to me upon 1st listen: 1 - Green River; 3 - Tombstone Shadow; 5 - Bad Moon Rising; (10) - Broken Spoke Shuffle; (11) - Glory Be; (13) Green River/Suzie Q (live)
Would I revisit this album: Yes!
4
Oct 11 2023
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Metallica
Metallica
This album was like pulling teeth for me... I did not care for the vocals or the lyrics ("I hunt therefore I am" ok dude). The songs felt very repetitive and full of machismo. I suppose heavy metal just isn't my genre.
Songs that I didn't hit skip on: 5 - Wherever I May Roam; 8 - Nothing Else Matters
Would I revisit this album: No. lol.
1
Oct 12 2023
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I Should Coco
Supergrass
I enjoyed listening to this album! The instrumentals are fantastic and kept me on my toes throughout. It gives the listener a breather from the high energy when needed, but still delivers through to the end. This isn’t the genre for me, but I would wholeheartedly recommend it to people who do like it.
Standout tracks: Actually all were great, especially from the middle onwards.
Would I revisit this album: Probably not.
3
Oct 13 2023
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OK Computer
Radiohead
Sometimes I get into weird music ruts where I listen to the same few albums for months on end and don’t touch stuff that I told myself I would revisit long long ago. I don’t listen to OK Computer (or Radiohead, for that matter) nearly enough. I was pulled into the soundscape from the first track all the way to the end — no skips. It's one of those rare albums where with each listen you discover a new detail to fall in love with.
Tracks that stood out to me upon this relisten: 3 - Subterranean Homesick Alien; 5 - Let Down
Would I revisit this album: YES. It’s going onto my heavy rotation.
5
Oct 14 2023
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Automatic For The People
R.E.M.
This album is gorgeously arranged. That reverb! The instrumentals take up biiiiiiig space without being too loud or overwhelming. I love the orchestral details. And my goodness does the lead singer enunciate: I can hear every word out of this man’s mouth clear as day. This is not my particular flavour of rock, but nonetheless I'm glad to have listened to it for the arrangements.
Tracks that stood out to me upon 1st listen: 4 - Everybody Hurts; 5 - New Orleans Instrumental No. 1; 10 - Man on the Moon
Would I revisit this album: Probably not. But maybe yes, if only for the instrumentals. I really did love track 5.
3
Oct 14 2023
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Achtung Baby
U2
This album sounds like the soundtrack to a 90s romcom. Not necessarily a bad thing, but to my 90s-baby sensibility it sounds super dated and cliché. Bono's style of singing got exhausting by track 5, which is unfortunate because all the track thereafter were on the longer side. I think I would've liked this album if the songs were solely instrumental.
Tracks that stood out upon 1st listen: 4 - Until the end of the World;
Would I revisit this album: No
2
Oct 17 2023
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My Generation
The Who
I grew up listening to a lot of The Who's stuff from the 70's (my dad was a fan), but for some reason never heard their stuff from their earlier years. As a huge fan of garage rock revival, it was so fun to listen to this album!
Songs that stood out to me upon 1st listen: 3 - The Good's Gone; 5 - ; 6 - Much Too Much; 7 - My Generation; 8 - The Kids Are Alright; 12 - The Ox
Would I revisit this album: Maybe!
3
Oct 19 2023
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Harvest
Neil Young
I don't believe I've heard any Neil Young's songs before, so I wasn't sure what to expect at the beginning of the album. His vocals put me off a little. But then I got to A Man Needs a Maid — the orchestral arrangement is just gorgeous.
Songs that stood out to me upon 1st listen: 3 - A Man Needs a Maid; 6 - Old Man; 7 - There's a World; 9 - The Needle & Damage Done
Would I revisit this album: Maybe, maybe not.
3
Oct 22 2023
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Your New Favourite Band
The Hives
I found it weird as fuck that a compilation album was included in the list so I cheated and listened to Veni Vidi Vicious. For such a famous and lauded album I felt kind of let down by how similar most of the tracks sounded. That said, I love how each one felt like quick little bursts of energy. I'd probably love them more in isolation from one another.
Tracks that stood out to me upon 1st listen (only listing the ones that appear on YNFB): Main Offender; Hate to Say I Told You So; Find Another Girl
Would I revisit VVV: No. Would I listen to YNFB based on my experience with VVV: Also no.
2
Oct 31 2023
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The Age Of The Understatement
The Last Shadow Puppets
I've loved this album for many years and I must say I didn't expect to see it on this list. I still remember the awe I felt when I first listened to it so long ago. The sweeping orchestral arrangements, the lyricism, the retro-inspired sound. The instrumental bridge in My Mistakes Were Made for You was my favourite part, I would always scrub back to relisten to it.
Would I say this is a "must listen before you die" album? Maybe not. But Arctic Monkeys fans who enjoyed the lush arrangements of Tranquility Base and The Car would absolutely love this and TLSP's 2nd album.
Songs that stood out to me upon this revisit: 5 - The Chamber; 7 - My Mistakes Were Made for You; 11 - Meeting Place; 12 - Time Has Come Again
Would I revisit this album: Hell yeah!
4
Nov 01 2023
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Hounds Of Love
Kate Bush
I'm so glad I got to revisit this album today. Everything about Hounds of Love is so perfect and intentional: Kate's vibrant, dark, emotive vocals, the instrumentals, the flow of each track into the next. No skips! She is the blueprint! I'm so ever grateful to her for her art and for inspiring so many artists after her.
Tracks that stood out to me upon this revisit: 1 - Running Up That Hill; 2 - Hounds of Love; 3 - The Big Sky; 5 - Cloudbusting; 9 - Watching You Without Me; 11 - Hello Earth; 12 - The Morning Fog
Would I revisit this album: YES!
5
Nov 02 2023
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Violator
Depeche Mode
One of the sexiest albums I've heard in a while. I listened to the 2006 remaster and it's sooooo gorgeously produced -- dark, brooding, glittering. Synth pop isn't really something I reach for, but I enjoyed this album very much and would wholeheartedly recommend it to enjoyers of the genre.
Tracks that stood out to me upon 1st listen: 1 - World in My Eyes; 3 - Personal Jesus; 4 - Halo; 5 - Waiting for the Night; 7 - Policy of Truth; 8 - Blue Dress
Would I revisit this album? Maybe!
4
Nov 10 2023
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Franz Ferdinand
Franz Ferdinand
The influence this album had on my taste cannot be understated... it feels kind of blasphemous that I discovered them through that iPod Touch commercial (no, you girls will never know!) but here we are, 14 years later. I still love Alex Kapranos' vocals, the clever lyrics, and the sharp riffs. I recall they once said that they want to make records that girls can dance to and THIS IS IT.
Tracks that stood out to me upon this revisit: 1 - Jacqueline; 3 - Take Me Out; 4 - The Dark of the Matinee; 6 - Cheating on You; 7 - This Fire (this was such a fun song performed live); 8 - Darts of Pleasure; 9 - Michael
Would I revisit this album? Yes, absolutely!
5
Nov 14 2023
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The Queen Is Dead
The Smiths
I had meant for a long time to check out The Smiths so I'm super glad for the nudge. Track 1 (The Queen Is Dead) is SUCH a strong opener. I'm a sucker for the lush guitars and the long, luxurious instrumental outro. Morrissey's vocals are so lovely too -- perfectly capturing wryness and sincerity and heartbreak.
Tracks that stood out to me upon 1st listen: 1 - The Queen Is Dead; 3 - I Know It's Over (god I nearly cried); 9 - There's A Light That Never Goes Out
Would I revisit this album? Yes!!
5
Nov 15 2023
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Queen Of Denmark
John Grant
I was instantly enchanted by track 1's delicate guitar riffs and soprano vocalizations in the bridge. I love the instrumentation throughout the album: it's restrained and not overwhelming, delivering just what it needs. Tracks 5 and 6 provide a touch of levity, but where this album shines for me is in the ballads -- profound and vulnerable.
Tracks that stood out to me upon 1st listen: 1 - TC and Honeybear; 3 - Where Dreams Go to Die (I cried); 7 - It's Easier; 10 - Caramel; 11 - Leopard and Lamb; 12 - Queen of Denmark
Would I revisit this album? I want to say yes because it's genuinely beautiful but I don't think I can handle the second-hand heartbreak again anytime soon. It'll be in the back of my mind though.
5
Nov 20 2023
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Parachutes
Coldplay
Parachutes isn't half as bad as some people say it is, but I'm not sure it's a "must-listen" from front to end either. It has moments where it shines in a modest way though. It's simple, comforting, and fuss-free. I do miss this era of Coldplay.
Tracks that stood out to me upon this revisit: 4 - Sparks; 5 - Yellow; 7 - Parachutes; 8 - High Speed; 10 - Everything's Not Lost (Life Is For The Living
Would I revisit this album? Probably not.
3
Nov 27 2023
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Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not
Arctic Monkeys
YEAHH Arctic Monkeys! I've loved this album for many years, and after all this time there are still zero skips for me. Witty, clever lyrics. Banger tunes. A perfect debut album!!
Standout tracks: I love them all but Mardy Bum's my fave... it feels so warm
Would I revisit this album? It's already on regular rotation!
5
Nov 29 2023
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Hejira
Joni Mitchell
Until now I've only heard Joni's Blue and Ladies of the Canyon, both of which I adore. Hejira is definitely different from those albums' guitar- and piano-driven sounds and I LOVE IT TOO. Joni's vocals and lyrics are just so so singular and special. No skips. I can't wait to put this on my regular rotation.
Would I revisit this album? Absolutely!!
5
Dec 01 2023
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Debut
Björk
Somehow this is my first time listening to Björk's music -- like, ever. This album took me by surprise. It's wild and raw and sensual, rough around the edges in the most wonderful way! I love the rough timbre of her voice and had fun listening to it.
Tracks that stood out to me upon 1st listen: 1 - Human Behaviour; 5 - Like Someone in Love; 6 - Big Time Sensuality; 9 - Come to Me
Would I revisit this album? I'm not sure. I look forward to listening to her later albums though.
4