Oct 11 2023
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Electric Ladyland
Jimi Hendrix
A fantastic album. I must admit to already owning this album so it was not a new listening experience. There are no weak tracks, time seems to stand still when this album plays, it flows from track to track so smoothly.
5
Oct 12 2023
View Album
Document
R.E.M.
I must admit that REM has always been a 'avoid at all costs' type band. I was familiar with their more well known tracks, and even like a couple of them, but the thought of a whole album was daunting. However, I was pleasantly surprised and after a couple of tracks found myself quite enjoying it. There were a few tracks that felt very similar, but overall a positive experience.
3
Oct 13 2023
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Gorillaz
Gorillaz
I didn't feel the need to stop listening is as much positivity as I can muster. It wasn't awful but equally, it wasn't memorable or inspiring. Even the well-known tracks weren't versions I was familiar with. It left me somewhat apprehensive of what other albums have made it on to this list.
2
Oct 16 2023
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Never Mind The Bollocks, Here’s The Sex Pistols
Sex Pistols
I really didn't expect to enjoy this album as much as I did, it's not the genre of music I would choose to listen to. Not a bad track on the album.
4
Oct 17 2023
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Sunday At The Village Vanguard
Bill Evans Trio
Wow. Not a very long listening experience but an amazing album. No weak tracks. The sound was so complete it was difficult to believe it was just a trio.
5
Oct 18 2023
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21
Adele
One or two semi-enjoyable tracks, the rest was just filler. The singers voice was very jarring. Hard pass from me.
1
Oct 19 2023
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Sunshine Hit Me
The Bees
Fairly sterile and boring. It felt like I was in a dentists waiting room. Not my cup of tea in the slightest.
2
Oct 20 2023
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Done By The Forces Of Nature
Jungle Brothers
I bought this album on release, back in the day, and listened to it more times than I can remember. It was a seminal part of my musical experience back then and it has fully stood the test of time. There was nothing else like it at the time. Imitators by the hundreds followed, which gives some idea of its impact. Every single track is momentous, an absolute joy to listen to.
5
Oct 23 2023
View Album
That's The Way Of The World
Earth, Wind & Fire
Another album that I already own and have listened to multiple times. It flows from track to track beautifully, no weak tracks, and several outstanding tracks.
4
Oct 24 2023
View Album
The Village Green Preservation Society
The Kinks
I was surprised, quite pleasantly, as my previous exposure to The Kinks was limited to their most well-known tracks. Musically none of the tracks stood out as headliners, but equally, none of them were weaker either. I probably wouldn't be rushing to listen to it again, but neither would I turn it off.
3
Oct 25 2023
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The Piper At The Gates Of Dawn
Pink Floyd
Sounded like a class of primary school were given an assortment of instruments, told to play for 40 minutes, and someone recorded it.
1
Oct 26 2023
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Celebrity Skin
Hole
A couple of strong tracks, too many that sounded like an angsty teenager trying too hard.
2
Oct 27 2023
View Album
Superfly
Curtis Mayfield
Really enjoyed this, so much that I listened to it multiple times. It has that 70's funk feel to every track which, as someone born in 1970, is very nostalgic and evokes a lot of memories.
5
Oct 30 2023
View Album
From Elvis In Memphis
Elvis Presley
One word to describe this album - beige. Beige as in, warm and comforting but also, beige as in, neutral and uninspiring. It certainly wasn't unpleasant but I won't be rushing to buy it or listen again.
3
Oct 31 2023
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Parachutes
Coldplay
I've never really warmed to Coldplay. I really wasn't expecting much from this album, but I was pleasantly surprised and generally enjoyed it.
4
Nov 01 2023
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Ys
Joanna Newsom
I thought I'd trodden on one of my cats!! If this passes for highly acclaimed mush then I'll pass.
1
Nov 02 2023
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Destroy Rock & Roll
Mylo
Wow. What an unexpected treasure. Very smooth and low-key. A fantastic album using old samples to make a unique and modern sound. Listened to the album 3 times in total and will listen again in future.
5
Nov 03 2023
View Album
White Light
Gene Clark
I managed to get about halfway through before switching it off. I can understand that for fans of this genre it probably has significance, but it's not for me.
2
Nov 06 2023
View Album
The Marshall Mathers LP
Eminem
I've listened to this album many times before as I bought it on release. It still stands up today.
4
Nov 07 2023
View Album
In Utero
Nirvana
I've never listened to a Nirvana album before, which I can appreciate is odd because I am a big admirer of Dave Grohl and the Foo Fighters. I really enjoyed this album, you can see some similarities between it and the Foo Fighters earlier albums. There were a couple of weaker tracks that took away some of the shine. I will definitely be listening to other Nirvana albums.
4
Nov 08 2023
View Album
Sister
Sonic Youth
Really not my thing at all. It rarely got better than "just about bearable". I did make it all the way through the full album, and I am still alive, so for that it gets my standard 2 stars!
2
Nov 09 2023
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Beauty And The Beat
The Go-Go's
A couple of excellent tracks, the rest were fairly average. As with a lot of previous reviews, this really isn't my preferred genre. My rating system governs that this should be 2 or 3 stars. Let's go with 3 because I knocked one out over a picture of Belinda Carlisle many years ago.
3
Nov 10 2023
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Street Signs
Ozomatli
I think its fair to say this is a unique band and sound. I thought it was great, but can appreciate it may not be everyone's groove.
4
Nov 13 2023
View Album
Highway 61 Revisited
Bob Dylan
It maybe a little unfair to say this, but this style of music is not on my standard rotation. As such I was expecting to last 1 or 2 tracks before losing interest and switching off. I managed to listen to the whole album and it was decent. That's a lot of waffle to say not much.
3
Nov 14 2023
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Chirping Crickets
Buddy Holly & The Crickets
My parents were from the same generation as Buddy Holly, so I grew up with an appreciation for him and his tragic circumstances. I also heard almost all of his material a lot. When listening to it now and trying to put myself into the shoes of the younger generations, I can understand why it may sound dated and not particularly inspiring - but that is understandable. The younger generations don't know that before Buddy Holly, and Elvis and a few others there was no Rock 'n Roll. They paved the way.
5
Nov 15 2023
View Album
Hotel California
Eagles
I've always liked the Eagles. My previous exposure has been limited to compilations and best of albums, this was my first experience of an album release and I was very impressed. There was not one weak track. They really were an amazing band.
4
Nov 16 2023
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Ellington at Newport
Duke Ellington
I'm a big fan of Duke Ellington anyway, so it was extremely unlikely I wouldn't enjoy this. Surprise, surprise - I loved it. I've got the '@Newport' albums by Ray Charles, John Coltrane and Thelonious Monk and will have to get this one now.
4
Nov 17 2023
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C'est Chic
CHIC
Fantastic album, imitated by many but never bettered. The epitome of 70's cool.
5
Nov 20 2023
View Album
The Queen Is Dead
The Smiths
I was jealous of the Queen and felt like taking my own life. I'm sure that people into this genre have wonderful things to say about this album, I however, have nothing positive to say so I'll just keep quiet!
1
Nov 21 2023
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A Love Supreme
John Coltrane
I have a copy of this album so nothing new to me here. I haven't listened to it for years though, and I can report back that it is still as cool and amazing as it was the first time I listened to it. I would think that even if jazz is not your 'thing' you would still enjoy this album.
5
Nov 22 2023
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The Black Saint And The Sinner Lady
Charles Mingus
Loved this album, it has a very unique sound. It really doesn't sound like it's 60+ years old. I listed to it multiple times, and will continue to listen to it in future.
5
Nov 23 2023
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Teen Dream
Beach House
It was ok. I listened to the whole album. I certainly didn't find anything I must listen to again, but equally nothing on there that forced me to stop listening. All a bit 'meh' really.
2
Nov 24 2023
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Transformer
Lou Reed
I found it very hit and miss. Some quite excellent tracks, others that were a steaming pile of horseshit. I think it's the most perfect example of 3 stars that I've come across so far.
3
Nov 27 2023
View Album
British Steel
Judas Priest
Another surprisingly good metal album. I don't have the knowledge of metal to determine if this is good, bad, or average. All I know is it was very listenable. I won't be rushing out to buy it or listen to any other Judas Priest albums, but all in all a positive experience.
3
Nov 28 2023
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The Bends
Radiohead
It was ok. I listened to the whole album. I certainly didn't find anything I must listen to again, but equally nothing on there that forced me to stop listening. All a bit 'meh' really.
2
Nov 29 2023
View Album
I Want To See The Bright Lights Tonight
Richard Thompson
I'd never heard of Richard Thompson before so was intrigued by this album. I didn't do my usual 'google' to get some idea of what to expect. The first few notes of track 1 made me wince, was this going be another "The Cramps" experience??? Nope, not at all, it was remarkably good by and large. One or two weaker tracks, and I was questioning my existence by the end of the album, but it was a good experience all round.
3
Nov 30 2023
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Live / Dead
Grateful Dead
I wasn't sure what to expect. I didn't hate it, but again, it didn't 'grab' me at any stage. In fact, I remember thinking "this first track goes on a bit" and then when I checked we had actually reached track 4! I guess that is the best analysis I can provide my experience - it was all a bit monotonous.
2
Dec 01 2023
View Album
The World is a Ghetto
War
Another fantastic album. I have other War albums and tracks in my collection, including some of the tracks on this album, but I've never listened to this particular album fully. Quite short, which is a shame, but that takes nothing away. Listened to it several times and have added it to my "buy a copy on vinyl" list.
5
Dec 04 2023
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Birth Of The Cool
Miles Davis
Another album I already owned so listening was not breaking any new ground for me. I loved it this album before. One of my favourites.
5
Dec 05 2023
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Disraeli Gears
Cream
The more well known tracks are excellent, but putting those to one-side the remaining tracks were also strong. I found myself turning up the volume a couple of times. Really enjoyed this album and will add it in to my playlist.
4
Dec 06 2023
View Album
The Colour Of Spring
Talk Talk
Not really my cup of tea. It wasn't unbearable, but not something I'd be striving to listen to again. A classic 80's sound really, and I lived through the 80's as a teenager, perhaps that explains my ambivalence towards it :)
2
Dec 07 2023
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D
White Denim
Very impressive. I'd never heard of White Denim before, and wasn't familiar with any of the tracks, but thoroughly enjoyed the whole album.
4
Dec 08 2023
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The Undertones
The Undertones
Great album, never listened to it before, even though it was released during my childhood.
4
Dec 11 2023
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The Age Of The Understatement
The Last Shadow Puppets
Another artist I wasn't at all familiar with and so, unsure what to expect. It sounded a lot older than it is, by that I mean, if I hadn't read the wiki page I would have thought it was from the 70's\80's rather than 2000-and-something. I made it through the whole album, which gives it a default 2 stars. I didn't really feel there was much there to give it 3 stars though.
2
Dec 12 2023
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Blood Sugar Sex Magik
Red Hot Chili Peppers
I'm a big admirer of the RHCP and have listened to this album multiple times before.
4
Dec 13 2023
View Album
Odelay
Beck
Another album that was so much more than I was expecting. I had heard a few Beck tracks before but had never really enjoyed them. I'm not entirely sure why because I thought this album was really good. So many influences that it's difficult to put a label on the genre - some rock, some pop, some soul, some blues etc.
4
Dec 14 2023
View Album
A Short Album About Love
The Divine Comedy
I really didn't get it. It wasn't bad as in 'The Cramps' type bad, but it was so bland that I just forgot it was even playing. Nothing memorable or even slightly toe-tapping good. I made it all the way through so for that it gets 2 stars.
2
Dec 15 2023
View Album
Let It Bleed
The Rolling Stones
Nice. I've already reviewed Beggars Banquet which was excellent, but this isn't quite as good (imo). There were a few excellent moments though, and so I will give it 4 stars (same as Beggars Banquet) as 3 stars doesn't feel right.
4
Dec 18 2023
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Live At The Harlem Square Club
Sam Cooke
4
Dec 19 2023
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Be
Common
4
Dec 20 2023
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Vol. 4
Black Sabbath
Surprisingly good. It's not something i would have chosen to listen to, but more fool me for having preconceived ideas.
3
Dec 21 2023
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Stripped
Christina Aguilera
I was expecting to last about 3 tracks before turning it off but I made it the whole way through - and even enjoyed large parts of it.
3
Dec 22 2023
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Step In The Arena
Gang Starr
Smooth as baby's bottom. Could listen to it all day.
4
Dec 25 2023
View Album
Kid A
Radiohead
Enjoyed it. A bit samey, to the point that it was difficult to distinguish between tracks, but overall positive.
3
Dec 26 2023
View Album
A Christmas Gift For You From Phil Spector
Various Artists
Smooth as baby's bottom. Could listen to it all day.
4
Dec 27 2023
View Album
The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill
Lauryn Hill
Fantastic album. Gem after gem, no weak tracks, everything stands alone as a great composition. Shame she's a tax-dodging cunt, but that takes nothing away from this beautiful album.
5
Dec 28 2023
View Album
Songs The Lord Taught Us
The Cramps
Fuck me that's a difficult listening experience. Quite proud I made it through the whole album, once is more than enough though.
1
Dec 29 2023
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Penance Soiree
The Icarus Line
Lucky for this album that it came along the day after listening to The Cramps, it made this album immeasurably better. Mind you, a bunch of saucepans being dropped down the stairs would sound better than The Cramps. Anyway, The Icarus Line is not my thing at all, but I listened to the whole album so 2 stars for that.
2
Jan 01 2024
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Led Zeppelin III
Led Zeppelin
Fantastic. Not what I was expecting in the slightest. Way more acoustic than I thought it would be. Listened several times and will put it into my library.
5
Jan 02 2024
View Album
The Downward Spiral
Nine Inch Nails
I'm starting to question my own musical tastes. Another good album when I was expecting very little, I had previously considered Nine Inch Nails as something way outside my preferences. There were a couple of moments that I didn't gel with, but in large it was a lot better than I expected. Somewhere between 3 and 4 stars, I'll go with 3 as 4 probably feels a bit too much based on other ratings I've given.
3
Jan 03 2024
View Album
The Man Machine
Kraftwerk
I've only ever really been exposed to Kraftwerk briefly, but I do enjoy electronic music so have always enjoyed their music. I thoroughly enjoyed this album, and listened to it back-to-back. I will listen to it again.
As an added bonus,. it reminded me of the Bill Bailey Kraftwerk homage and I watched that a few times and laughed my head off as usual.
4
Jan 04 2024
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Water From An Ancient Well
Abdullah Ibrahim
Never heard of Abdullah Ibrahim previously so wasn't sure what to expect. It wasn't the most exciting jazz I've ever heard, but it was easy to listen to and had a couple of standout tracks.
3
Jan 05 2024
View Album
Who's Next
The Who
Fairly meh, if you ask me. I was expecting a whole lot more. I didn't feel like I wanted to listen to it again ... ever. Which is a pretty bad sign. It wasn't awful, like some of the other albums I've listened to - so 2 stars feels about right.
2
Jan 08 2024
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Harvest
Neil Young
Sounded like one, long monotonous song that made me question the point of existing. Well, perhaps it wasn't quite that bad, but I do fail to see the attraction and why so many people rave about Neil Young. Maybe that says more about me than anything else.
1
Jan 09 2024
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Born To Run
Bruce Springsteen
Listened to it a few times, and it got better each time. I never thought I'd enjoy Springsteen but I was wrong.
4
Jan 10 2024
View Album
Calenture
The Triffids
Not a band or album I've heard or previously. I was expecting one (or more) of the tracks to trigger a memory, but it never happened. It's what I imagine AI would generate if you asked it create a bland 1980's sounding album. Pretty boring if you ask me, but I made it all the way through - so it gets 2 stars!
2
Jan 11 2024
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Born In The U.S.A.
Bruce Springsteen
I'll probably come across as a bit of a numpty here, but with all the accolades for this album I was left feeling a little bit disappointed after listening to it. That's not to say it wasn't very good, but I reviewed 'Born To Run' recently and I personally preferred that album ever so slightly.
4
Jan 12 2024
View Album
Home Is Where The Music Is
Hugh Masekela
A nice album. I have previously found the music of Hugh Masekela to be a little bit 'hard going', if you know what I mean by that. However, this album was very easy to listen to.
3
Jan 15 2024
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People's Instinctive Travels and the Paths of Rhythm
A Tribe Called Quest
In my top 10 albums of all time, works can not do it justice.
5
Jan 16 2024
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Amnesiac
Radiohead
I never really listened to Radiohead before. I reviewed Kid A on this site previously and was surprised how much I enjoyed it. This is another 'easy to listen to' album. I don't think it's as strong as Kid A.
3
Jan 17 2024
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Metallica
Metallica
I found myself getting more and more angry through each track - not because I hated the album or anything like that, it was just the style of m,usic is so abrasive and angry it just rubbed off on me. As you can probably tell, not my bag at all, but giving it 2 stars as I made it the whole way through.
2
Jan 18 2024
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The United States Of America
The United States Of America
Ended up burning my ears off with a bucket of acid! I'm all for pushing the boundaries, but this is the equivalent of punching the boundaries in the bollocks. I couldn't make it through the whole album.
1
Jan 19 2024
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Queen Of Denmark
John Grant
For large parts it was just about bearable, a couple of tracks I could listen to again.
2
Jan 22 2024
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Yankee Hotel Foxtrot
Wilco
It started out fairly slowly, the first track wasn't exactly a 'grabber'. However, it did get better and although it's probably not a genre I'm into I did enjoy it. I think 3 stars feels about right.
3
Jan 23 2024
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Pearl
Janis Joplin
Wow. This was so much more than I was expecting. I'd always thought Janis Joplin was a folk\rock artist - and perhaps there are other albums of hers that are more in tune with that stance - but this album was incredible. So much funk and soul filtering through. I listened to it 3 times back-to-back and fell in love a bit more every time.
I've been on this site for a few months now, and the one abiding lesson I've learnt is (in general) do not judge a book by it's cover (and don't believe your preconceptions about any artist).
5
Jan 24 2024
View Album
More Songs About Buildings And Food
Talking Heads
Very similar to the other Talking Heads album on this list that I've already listened to and reviewed. It's ok, not something I found myself raving about or even nodding along to, but listenable.
2
Jan 25 2024
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The Boatman's Call
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds
One or two tracks less monotonous and boring than the rest. I found myself shaking my head at the comments on YouTube - I didnt think the music and/or lyrics were amazing, unlike everyone else. Maybe you need to listen several times to develop an appreciation, but I have no desire to put myself through more listenings!
2
Jan 26 2024
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Green
R.E.M.
I'm not a fan of REM, bar one or two of their more catchy hits, I found this album to be completely 'on brand' for them i.e. a couple of toe-tapping hits and the remainder a load of fairly indistinguishable, up-your-own-arse, tosh.
2
Jan 29 2024
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Paul Simon
Paul Simon
Another case of 'don't judge a book by its cover'. I had preconceived ideas about Paul Simon (not all bad, honestly) but was blown away by this album. I don't think there is one track that let's it down. Listened multiple times and will continue to regularly listen.
5
Jan 30 2024
View Album
Synchronicity
The Police
Musically it was fairly average. As a 50-something it did evoke memories of my childhood, well, the more popular tracks did anyway. I never really got into The Police as a youth, and nothing I heard made me feel like I missed out. Oh yeah, and Sting can fuck right off, the pretentious git!
2
Jan 31 2024
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Mama Said Knock You Out
LL Cool J
I bought this on release (vinyl) and listened to it a lot. Sad to say it fell out of my rotation and I probably last listened to the complete album 20 years ago. What a fool I've been. An absolute masterpiece, not one bad track.
5
Feb 01 2024
View Album
Another Green World
Brian Eno
I call this kind of music 'receptionist', the sort you will hear in any dentists or doctors reception. It wasn't awful, but had no real substance and l have no desire to ever listen again. It gets 2 stars as I made it the whole way through without wanting to rip my ears off
2
Feb 02 2024
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Savane
Ali Farka Touré
I'm sure that to people familiar with this style of music this is an outstanding album. To me, as someone with minimal experience of this style of music, I found it very difficult to get into. The tracks all sounded very similar, so much so it felt like one long track. I made it the whole way through and can appreciate there is considerable musical ability on show. This all leads to my bog standard award of "my ears weren't bleeding, I didn't want to kill myself, and I made it all the way through the album" 2 stars!
2
Feb 05 2024
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Blood On The Tracks
Bob Dylan
I enjoyed it. Its not an artist or album I would have picked out, but I am slowly learning to ignore my preconceptions and give anything a chance.
3
Feb 06 2024
View Album
Stand!
Sly & The Family Stone
Another album that I already own, and absolutely love. It's a regular listen for me. It was ground-breaking, there really was no one else making music like this when it came out.
5
Feb 07 2024
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Nevermind
Nirvana
I'm beginning to rethink all my musical preferences, so many artists\albums that I thought I wouldn't like have turned out to be incredible. This is another one of those. Absolute perfection. Every track was a standalone belter. 5 stars all the way.
5
Feb 08 2024
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The Wildest!
Louis Prima
Fantastic toe-tapping album. It's exactly my 'kind of music' anyway, and I have several Louis Prima tracks in my playlist.
4
Feb 09 2024
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Vanishing Point
Primal Scream
Bang average. Quite reminiscent of the general 90s sound.
3
Feb 12 2024
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Paranoid
Black Sabbath
Surprisingly good. I think this is the second Black Sabbath album I've reviewed and both were way better than expected.
3
Feb 13 2024
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Natty Dread
Bob Marley & The Wailers
Loved this album. Although it doesn't contain his well-known tracks (obviously 'No Woman, No Cry' is there, but it's a less well-known version) it's a lot more raw and unrefined than some of his later tracks - it almost feels like a live show.
4
Feb 14 2024
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G. Love And Special Sauce
G. Love & Special Sauce
I had no idea what to expect, so I went in pretty open-minded. I found it fairly monotonous and uninspiring. I didn't want to kill myself and made it all the way through the whole album - so for that it gets 2 stars.
2
Feb 15 2024
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Stories From The City, Stories From The Sea
PJ Harvey
Fucking dire, not something I would willingly put myself through again! I only made it through the first 4 tracks.
1
Feb 16 2024
View Album
Countdown To Ecstasy
Steely Dan
A very nice album that perfectly encapsulates the sound of the early-to-mid 1970's. I didn't find one track on there that had me fully engaged, but every single track was pleasant. Well worth a listen again, at some stage, but it wasn't an 'experience' in the same way that some of the other albums on this site were.
3
Feb 19 2024
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Beggars Banquet
The Rolling Stones
Loved it. I never really got into the Rolling Stones previously. The album flows really well and every single track is worth listening to.
4
Feb 20 2024
View Album
The Number Of The Beast
Iron Maiden
I'm not a metal head so usually end up reviewing these types of albums relatively lowly. There are a small number of metal albums that buck the tred - but this, sadly, isn't one of them. That's not to say it was awful, far from it, I made it through the whole album without wanting to switch it off. It's somewhere between 2 and 3 stars, I'll go with 2.
2
Feb 21 2024
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Songs From The Big Chair
Tears For Fears
Even though my formative years were during the 70's and 80's I didn't really subscribe to 'pop' music. I was familiar with the two classic hits from this album, but the rest of it was really virgin territory for me. Perhaps it was a result of familiarity with those two tracks but the rest of the album was instantly forgettable. That's not as bad as it sounds, any album that contains two iconic tracks can be considered well above average.
3
Feb 22 2024
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Live At The Regal
B.B. King
I really enjoyed this album. It was a lot more funk and sould flavoured than I expected, I was really anticipating a blues album. Definitely an album I will listen to again, and an artist I will explore further.
4
Feb 23 2024
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Queens of the Stone Age
Queens of the Stone Age
Decent enough, a couple of enjoyable tracks, not enough to make me listen again.
2
Feb 26 2024
View Album
James Brown Live At The Apollo
James Brown
Great album, if a little short. I'm a big fan of James Brown, and while you can see how this album was a stepping stone to his (almost sole) creation of the funk genre I don't think it counts as his best work. Absolutely worth listening to and I will definitely listen again, but there are other James Brown albums that provide a clearer picture of him, his sound, and what he contributed to the music scene.
4
Feb 27 2024
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Otis Blue/Otis Redding Sings Soul
Otis Redding
Fantastic. I already plenty of Otis Redding \ Stax \ Volt recordings and there was very little on here that was new to me or surprised me, but I still get a funny feeling listening to his incredible voice. One of a kind really.
5
Feb 28 2024
View Album
Rust Never Sleeps
Neil Young & Crazy Horse
I think I reviewed a Neil Young album previously and was not at all impressed. I wasn't expecting much from this but I have had enough surprises during the first ~100 albums to go in with an open mind. I'm glad I did, this album was immeasurably better than the previous experience. Maybe it was the added 'rock' impact from Crazy Horse (the other album was a lot more acoustic). The only downside for me is his singing voice, but it's not out of tune or anything awful like that, it just jars a bit with me.
3
Feb 29 2024
View Album
The College Dropout
Kanye West
I always avoided anything 'Kanye West' related as I've been under the impression he was a cunt. Those fucking awful Kardashians he hopped into bed with made matters worse. His gradual decline into being a mentalist added more fuel to the fire. In summary, he is a cunt, he's got more cuntier over time, the Kardashians are also cunts, but this is a great album! I'm very torn, I guess the only take away here is cunts can make good music.
4
Mar 01 2024
View Album
Emperor Tomato Ketchup
Stereolab
For the first time since I started this process I had a co-listener, namely my wife. I personally thought the album was very hit-and-miss - I enjoyed a couple of tracks, found a couple of tracks awful, and the rest were quite mundane. My wife's forthright review is "shit, the foxes fuckign outside our window made more pleasant noises". No longer wondering why I married her, are you?
2
Mar 04 2024
View Album
My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy
Kanye West
My previous review for Kanye as a person still stands. He's a class 1 cunt, no question. Musically he can be top-class though. Another very good album.
4
Mar 05 2024
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Smash
The Offspring
I'm happy to report that this album started poorly but got a lot better. I wouldn't rush out and buy a copy, but it was more than 'listenable'.
3
Mar 06 2024
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Fuzzy Logic
Super Furry Animals
I had some familiarity with this band. Like a lot of albums there were a couple of strong tracks and plenty of filler. I won;t be rushing to listen again but it wasn't bad enough to stop me making it through the whole album.
2
Mar 07 2024
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Now I Got Worry
The Jon Spencer Blues Explosion
Fairly easy listening. Nothing ground-breaking. A good example of blues rock, but I think are better examples.
3
Mar 08 2024
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Heaux Tales
Jazmine Sullivan
Fairly basic and simple. It wasn't unpleasant but it didn't sound any different from anything I hear being played by the urban youth today. Call me old-fashioned and\or demanding, but a good album is one that crosses boundaries i.e. old gits like me, and youngsters, and everyone in between, can agree it's a standout.
3
Mar 11 2024
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Fear Of A Black Planet
Public Enemy
This is an album I already own and have listened to hundred, if not thousands, of times. It brings back so many vivid memories. Smoking weed round the back of Chessington Industrial Estate in my mates XR3i Cabriolet, more mates sat in an 205 GTI (1.9 of course) next to us. Thinking we were the busines, probably looking like a right bunch of numpties. Happy days. Can't believe it was almost 35 years ago.
5
Mar 12 2024
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In Rainbows
Radiohead
Another Radiohead album, another middle of the road review by me. It was ok, a couple of tracks were really good, especially '15 Steps'. Maybe it's me, but I can't get too excited by Radiohead and ntierh can I get too despondent.
3
Mar 13 2024
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Something/Anything?
Todd Rundgren
After the first few tracks I was hooked, I thought this was going to be one of those albums where every track is top quality. Sadly, there were a few lulls where the tracks became stodgy and repetitive, but there were still many more strong tracks than guff. There are so many different styles on this album, I was reminded of The Faces and Motown and everything in between. All in all, I greatly enjoyed it and will listen again.
4
Mar 19 2024
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World Clique
Deee-Lite
Everyone should know 'Groove Is In The Heart' but would be hard-pressed to name another Deee-Lite track. That's a shame as this album contains plenty of great tracks that really capture the period when the 80's became the 90's.
3
Mar 20 2024
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Hejira
Joni Mitchell
This was a lot more jazzy than I was expecting. It was still quite folksy though. It didn't fill with me joy, but I didn't feel the need to rip my ears off either. I went with 2 stars but it's probably closer to 2.5 stars (definitely not 3 though). No one reads these reviews anyway, so why the hell am I explaining myself.
2
Mar 21 2024
View Album
Fragile
Yes
Not my cup of tea, not even close to being my cup of tea. It's listenable but drab. It sounds like the sort of music made by middle-aged city workers, when they get home at the week-end and have a cheeky glass of red wine with a line, or two, of columbian marching powder. It gets the 2 star treatment from me.
2
Mar 22 2024
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Smile
Brian Wilson
I struggle to see what the big deal is with Brian Wilson \ The Beach Boys. It wasn't bad, far from it, but it never really got me going either.
3
Mar 25 2024
View Album
Axis: Bold As Love
Jimi Hendrix
Wow. I've always loved the music of Jimi Hendrix, but this was an album I'd never listened to before. My mistake, I thought it was as good as anything else he's done. On my 'wants' list now and will be listening to it a lot more.
5
Mar 26 2024
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Court And Spark
Joni Mitchell
Surprisingly good. I was expecting typical folk music, and although you could feel that it was also a lot more jazz-tinged. I'm not a big fan of her vocals, it kind of jarred a bit with the style of music. Very listenable though.
3
Mar 27 2024
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Rocks
Aerosmith
I have a copy of Young Lust which is an Aerosmith anthology from ~2000. No tracks from the Rocks album are on Young Lust, which is a shame as Rocks was really good. It was a much more raw sound on Rocks than a lot of their later stuff.
4
Mar 28 2024
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KE*A*H** (Psalm 69)
Ministry
I've never heard an album before that was just one long 45 minute track .... wait, what's that, there were 9 distinct tracks? As you can tell I found it very difficult to distinguish the different tracks, there was a high degree of monotony for me. I did manage to listen to the whole album though, so it gets 2 stars!
2
Mar 29 2024
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Automatic For The People
R.E.M.
I've reviewed two R.E.M. albums previously as part of this musical journey. One was not so good, the other was a little better. This one was the best of the lot, but that's still "the tallest midget" type accolade. Some tracks were decent, some were dire.
3
Apr 01 2024
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Mothership Connection
Parliament
This is my music. I'm a proud owner of this album along with several other Parliament \ Funkadelic \ P-Funk albums. I could listen to this everyday and not get bored.
5
Apr 02 2024
View Album
Arthur (Or the Decline and Fall of the British Empire)
The Kinks
Wow, I really wasn't sure what to expect but this was fucking superb. There were several tracks I already knew but other than one or two lulls the whole album rocked.
4
Apr 03 2024
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One Nation Under A Groove
Funkadelic
I could just copy\paste my review for Parliaments Mothership Connection as that covers this album too. Love it. My kind of music. I own the album .... blah blah blah.
5
Apr 04 2024
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Want One
Rufus Wainwright
It wasn't 'pull my ears off' bad, but it wasn't something that ever really grabbed my attention. Quite morose really, like an angsty teen trying to be deep. Maybe I'm missing the point, but I'm not ever going to listen to it again and I'm not going to search out any more of his music.
2
Apr 05 2024
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Sticky Fingers
The Rolling Stones
This is the third Rolling Stones album I've had come up , and they have all been excellent. This was easily the best of the lot so far. Not one bad track, I listened to it three times on loop it was that good. Will be listening regularly from here on.
5
Apr 08 2024
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Heroes
David Bowie
If you put aside the Heroes track, which is very good, the rest of it was fairly bland.
2
Apr 09 2024
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Straight Outta Compton
N.W.A.
One of those rare albums that changed music in some way. Amazingly it's still relevant today, maybe more so that when it was originally released, which is amazing but also quite sad! I still have my vinyl copy of the original release, and it's a treasured possession. My 25 year-old son has his eyes on it, along with a lot of my other vinyl from around the same time - but no chance while I'm still breathing.
5
Apr 10 2024
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Alien Lanes
Guided By Voices
I wasn't a fan of lots of short tracks, it made listening quite frantic. It was quite beneficial for the weaker tracks, as they ended that bit quicker. For the odd decent track I wasn't at all disappointed it was over after 90 seconds. I guess what I'm saying is, it was tolerable but not great.
2
Apr 11 2024
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A Seat at the Table
Solange
Too morose, edgy and flat for me. It just sounds like music-by-numbers to me, there are hundreds of young R&B acts that sound just like this. There's nothing to distinguish this from any of those. It wasn't rip your eyes off bad, but I wouldn't ever seek it out again (or anything else by her).
2
Apr 12 2024
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Crossing the Red Sea With the Adverts
The Adverts
My lack of punk knowledge is probably surprising as a 70's child, and puts me in the minority. After being pleasantly surprised by the Sex Pistols album I was open-minded going into this album. It wasn't awful, but it was nowhere near as good as the Sex Pistols album. I'll go with 3 stars.
3
Apr 15 2024
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Hail To the Thief
Radiohead
Probably the weakest of what feels like too many Radiohead albums on this list. They haven't all been bad, but it's starting to feel a bit like 'The Emperors New Clothes' to me.
2
Apr 16 2024
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Arrival
ABBA
I've always been partial to a bit of ABBA, they were huge when I was growing up in the 70's. Like most people I know their biggest hits, and let's be fair they have a long list of hits, so I was expecting to find this album full of hits and strong lesser-known songs. I was a little disappointed, there were a handful of well known hits, but the rest of it was pretty boring.
3
Apr 17 2024
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We Are Family
Sister Sledge
Fantastic album. Although there aren't many tracks on the original album, there are four absolute bangers that every one will know unless they've been living in antartica! The remaining four tracks were also very strong and would probably have fared well if released as singles.
5
Apr 18 2024
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We're Only In It For The Money
The Mothers Of Invention
After a few minutes I wanted to stamp on my speakers, it was fucking awful. Then, bizarrely, your mind sort of adjusts to it and it's not quite as awful. I can't say that it ever reached the heights of me enjoying it, but I made it all the way through which seemed unlikely.
2
Apr 19 2024
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Here Are the Sonics
The Sonics
Seemd like a lot of covers, and very few original tracks. The original tracks were also the weakest part of the album. I feel like this is not a great example of 60's music, there must be hundreds if not thousands of albums like this that are immeasurably better.
3
Apr 22 2024
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This Is Fats Domino
Fats Domino
It's odd, listening to it now it sounds very dated. When it came out it was ground-breaking and spawned countless imitators. I've always loved Blue Monday, heard it years ago and listened to it more times than I can remember since. The rest of this album is rock solid too. It gets 5 stars from me for musical content and also impact!!!
5
Apr 23 2024
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Catch A Fire
Bob Marley & The Wailers
Fantastic album, not one weak track on it. It has a raw sound that I absolutely love. It made me want to roll one up and spark it, but it's been too long since I last did that and I'd probably kill myself doing that!
5
Apr 24 2024
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Bitches Brew
Miles Davis
I get that jazz is not for everyone, I understand that to some people it can sound jarring. This album is probably a very good example of that. However, to the ones who love jazz this is a masterpiece. I don't want to sound like a numpty, but you almost forget where you are and what's going on in your life when you listen to it. I've listened to it before and will listen to it again.
5
Apr 25 2024
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Neon Bible
Arcade Fire
I couldn't get into this at all. Sounded like a bunch of moody teenagers. Made it all the way through though, so it gets 2 stars.
2
Apr 26 2024
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Before And After Science
Brian Eno
Up it's own arse, complete load of shite. I made it to track 4. Me and my mates wanted to start a band back in the early 80's as young teens, we had one 'jam session' where we all played an instruemnt we had borrowed or bought - but had no musical skill or experience with. I'd bet good money we still sounded better than this album.
1
Apr 29 2024
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Exile On Main Street
The Rolling Stones
Probably the best of the bunch so far, in respect of the multiple Rolling Stones that have popped on this site. It grabbed me from the first few bars on the first track, all the way to the end. It might be a controversial thing to say, but Jaggers "club singer" style can get a bit jarring.
5
Apr 30 2024
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Strangeways, Here We Come
The Smiths
Very enjoyable, not at all what I had conditioned myself to expect. I grew up during The Smiths era and had never warmed to their music, if any, I actually found it awful. This album was pretty good.
3
May 01 2024
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O.G. Original Gangster
Ice T
"We all we got" if you know that reference you know what I'm about to say. I bought this album back in the day, after watching New Jack City. Haven't listened to it in years (or seen the film, for that matter) but it was amazing back then and still stands up now.
5
May 02 2024
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Disintegration
The Cure
I've always like The Cure, they are so far removed from my normal musical tastes but there is just something about their music that I love. I don't think this is their best album, but it is still very good.
4
May 03 2024
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Machine Head
Deep Purple
I was surprised how much I enjoyed this, it wasn't as heavy as I was expecting.
3
May 06 2024
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Revolver
Beatles
This is the first Beatles album that's come up this site, and I am onto day 146, so I am little surprised it's taken this long. As with a lot of highly-rated artists I was ot sure whether I would enjoy it or find it vastly over-rated. it turns out that I loved this album, every single track was fantastic.
5
May 07 2024
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Morrison Hotel
The Doors
Another pleasant surprise. Much better than I was expecting.
4
May 08 2024
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Venus Luxure No. 1 Baby
Girls Against Boys
Made it just short of halfway through before I had to turn it off. It just felt like anti-music to me, it's probably the sound the artist is going for but I'd rather shit in my hands and clap then listen to this sort of music.
1
May 09 2024
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The Hour Of Bewilderbeast
Badly Drawn Boy
This is a beautiful album. It flows so well from beginning to end, there are multiple high points but no real weak tracks. You easily lose track of time. I will definitely listen again.. and again.. and again!
4
May 10 2024
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John Lennon/Plastic Ono Band
John Lennon
Another album that exceeded expectations. Thank fuck Yoko One wasn't audible in any way, in fact, the wikipedia page for the album lists her contribution as "wind". The fuck does that mean? She guffed on record?
4
May 13 2024
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Hounds Of Love
Kate Bush
I feel like I'm not being let in on a big secret, why do large parts of the population absolutely rave about Kate Bush. The comments alone on youtube are bordering on fanatical. The album wasn't terrible, I made it all the way through and even enjoyed parts of it, but it's not one I'd actively pursue listening to again.
3
May 14 2024
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Led Zeppelin II
Led Zeppelin
Another album which was a lot better than I was expecting. I'm somewhere between 3 and 4 stars on this, think it's closer to 4 and I'm feeling generous.
4
May 15 2024
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Second Toughest In The Infants
Underworld
I enjoyed it. I think it's one of those albums you have to be in the right kind of mood for. I expected it to be very 'samey' but it didn't feel like that at all. Absolutely loved a couple of tracks.
4
May 16 2024
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Wonderful Rainbow
Lightning Bolt
Fucking awful. On a positive note, I now have an additional baseline of awfulness, comparable to aural-pain that was The Cramps album - in fact, this may have been worse. I made it as far as 30 seconds into track 2, and that's only because track 1 was less than a minute long and I gave it the benefit of being an 'amusing' attempt by the artist at providing a breif interlude of the band warming up.
1
May 17 2024
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Aftermath
The Rolling Stones
It doesn't measure up to some of their later albums, still pretty good though.
3
May 20 2024
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Sound of Silver
LCD Soundsystem
First track started off pretty good, the got worse and worse, by the end of the track I wasn't enjoying it much. Rest of the album was pretty bland too. NOt my cup of tea, but didn't have to turn it off, so 2 stars from me Harry!
2
May 21 2024
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...And Justice For All
Metallica
Not my cup of tea at all. This is the second Metallica album I've had to listen to and I could just copy\paste from my earlier review as they were identical listening experiences. No doubt, to metal heads, this is the business - bit to me it's painful and monotonous.
2
May 22 2024
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Live At The Witch Trials
The Fall
Fucking awful. Made it to track 4, after I had been forcing myself to give it a chance about 30 seconds into track 1. As much as I have been pleasantly surprised by a number of albums and artists I expected to dislike, there is a sense of patting yourself on the back when you expect something to be dog shit and it then turns out to be dog shit!
1
May 23 2024
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Fishscale
Ghostface Killah
A very strong album. Lots of different contributors give it a very varied feel.
4
May 24 2024
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Highly Evolved
The Vines
Not terrible, not amazing. Some decent tracks, nothing to make me sit up and re-listen. I reckon 3 stars is about right.
3
May 27 2024
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Superunknown
Soundgarden
Another nice surprise. The only disappointing aspect was it started off strongly and around tracks 9/10 there felt like a noticeable drop in quality.
3
May 28 2024
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Violator
Depeche Mode
The well-known singles tracks are definitely the stand-out tracks, but there are other strong tracks too. If you like electronic music, which I do to a degree, then you'll enjoy this album, which I did.
3
May 29 2024
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(Pronounced 'Leh-'Nérd 'Skin-'Nérd)
Lynyrd Skynyrd
I've got a fair few Lynyrd Skynyrd tracks in my playlists. They merged together so many different influences and created a catalogue full of great songs in just a few short years. Then tragedy struck and the world was deprived of them. Such a sad story, and one tinged with regret. Don't Ask Me No Questions (although, not actually on this album) is one of my favourite tracks of all time.
5
May 30 2024
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Maverick A Strike
Finley Quaye
I listened to this on a nice day in early Summer, and it fits that mood perfectly. It wasn't 'stand out' fantastic, but it had a few very good tracks and plenty of (imo) filler. I think 3 stars is about right.
3
May 31 2024
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Vespertine
Björk
I'm sorry, I just don't get the fuss about Bjork. It all feels a bit 'Emperors New Clothes' to me. Whilst listening I had a read of the wikipedia page for this album, fuck me, how did it get all these awards and recognitions? Maybe it's me, this wouldn't be the first highly-rated album that I've considered to be utter wank. Anyway, I can only rate based on what I think, and it gets 1 star (I didn't make it all the way through, had 2 tracks left when I finished reading the wikipedia article and felt it very unlikely that they would make me do a 180 on my feelings about this album, after 10 tracks of horse piss!
1
Jun 03 2024
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I Should Coco
Supergrass
I was a little bit disappointed. The well-known tracks were a cut above the rest of the album. It wasn't bad, but equally not good enough to make me want to re-listen. I reckon 3 stars is about right.
3
Jun 04 2024
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Dummy
Portishead
A very good album, it really brings back vivid memories of the 90's. Has a very sparse and raw feel to it, which makes a pleasant change from the over-produced crap which seems to have taken over everywhere.
4
Jun 05 2024
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Pelican West
Haircut 100
I grew up during this era and although familiar with Haircut 100 they weren't what I would consider "my kind of band", I had almost dismissed them as a bit of a gimmick really. I was very, very wrong - this is a fantastic album. I don;t think there was one weak track. I will be listening again.
5
Jun 06 2024
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Selling England By The Pound
Genesis
This feels so far removed from the later Genesis output that I am a little torn. I like a lot of their later music, but this album has the "angsty teen trying to look clever \ different" feel to it. I know that's not a great explanation, but I can't really put it into words. It all sounds a bit like "musical wanking" to me. Made it all the way through so it gets 2 stars by default. I just don't feel it deserves 3 when I think of other albums I gave 3 stars to.
2
Jun 07 2024
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Music From Big Pink
The Band
That was so much better than I expected. The only gripe is the vocals were a little bit 'Dog & Duck', but as a whole it was really good.
3
Jun 10 2024
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Station To Station
David Bowie
Decent album, nothing more. I didn't hear one track that grabbed my attention, but it was easy to listen to and there were no "fuck me, this is so bad I have to turn it off" moments (and there have been numerous albums like that in this list, which still surprises me, but I guess that's what keeps life interesting as we all like different things)!
3
Jun 11 2024
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Illinois
Sufjan Stevens
It was ok, a couple of tracks were approaching good. I doubt I'd listen to it again willingly, but I wouldn't turn it off if it came on the radio. I think 2 or 3 stars is about right.
2
Jun 12 2024
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Heavy Weather
Weather Report
This is my kind of music, so I am a bit biased, but this is a really good album. I've heard a few of the tracks before, but not the whole album. Really easy to listen to, no 'skip-me' tracks.
4
Jun 13 2024
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Zombie
Fela Kuti
A lot better than I was expecting, based on a couple of other African artists that had previously cropped up on this list. It was a lot more 'western' than I was expecting, some really strong funk vibes coming through. I guess, if you think it about long enough, then funk music has long roots in african music anyway.
3
Jun 14 2024
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Surrealistic Pillow
Jefferson Airplane
Another good album. It really had the late 60's psychedelic \ hippie sub-culture feel. There were quite a few tracks that I'd heard in TV shows, films, adverts etc and never knew where they came from.
4
Jun 17 2024
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The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan
Bob Dylan
I enjoyed it, I can't deny that. However, I don't think it's amazing. Musically, it's very sparse, just a guitar and a voice on most tracks. I think those are very complementary instruments anyway (as an aside, I don't think his singing voice is very good). I think you could find many singer\songwriters and buskers churning out equally good material.
3
Jun 18 2024
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Dookie
Green Day
The 90's really was a great decade for music. So many different types\genres coming to the fore and progressing in different directions. This is another great album.
4
Jun 19 2024
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Greetings From L.A.
Tim Buckley
I'll admit to not really knowing who Tim Buckley was before listening to this album. I'd seen and heard the name, but couldn't tell you any of his songs. I wasn't sure what to expect, and perhaps that helped my listening experience as I had a completely open mind. I thought it was a very good album, the first few tracks were excellent, there was a short lull (drop in quality) but it finished on a high with with the final track. Wikipedia lists it as Funk and R&B - and while it certainly had elements of those I thought it was more folk pop.
3
Jun 20 2024
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Let's Stay Together
Al Green
Fantastic album, full of great tracks, even the lesser known ones. IT's a little short and leaves you wanting more, but that's probably a feature of the era it was made in.
4
Jun 21 2024
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Youth And Young Manhood
Kings of Leon
Pretty good album. I already had a copy of 'Because of the Times' which is a fantastic album. On first listen this album is not as good, but I will have a few further listens to see if that opinion changes.
3
Jun 24 2024
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It's Blitz!
Yeah Yeah Yeahs
It went from bearable to annoying about half-way through. It's not something I'd ever want to hear again, but it's not 'The Cramps' bad and I did listen to the whole album.
2
Jun 25 2024
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Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere
Neil Young & Crazy Horse
I quite enjoyed this. I've reviewed one other Neil Young + Crazy Horse album which I also liked, the standalone Neil Young album I listened to was bobbins (UK slang for shite). My take away so far is Crazy Horse is what makes Neil Young palatable to me.
3
Jun 26 2024
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So
Peter Gabriel
Sledgehammer was a huge hit when I was a teenager, but aside from that track the rest of the album was fairly meh. Made it all the way through though, so the obligatory 2 stars are given.
2
Jun 27 2024
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The Gershwin Songbook
Ella Fitzgerald
I absolutely love this. The songs are beautiful and Ella Fitzgerald's voice is as smooth as honey. I wouldn't be able to understand anyone who can't at least appreciate this album, it may not be your 'thing' but it is undoubtedly one of the best I've listened to so far.
5
Jul 02 2024
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Groovin'
The Young Rascals
Another great album. I quite like a lot of these 'older' albums from the 60's and 70's as the artists didn't feel the need to pad the album out with shite. Very often the best albums are the ones with 8 to 12 strong tracks that leave you wanting more.
4
Jul 03 2024
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Guero
Beck
Another fantastic album from Beck. I'm quite annoyed that I haven't really given him a chance previously. This album seemed to span about 10 different genres. One of the signs of a good album, in my opinion, is when the album ends and you feel like you've only been listening for a few minutes.... and that's how this felt to me. I will definitely be listening again, and also checking out his back catalogue.
5
Jul 04 2024
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Buffalo Springfield Again
Buffalo Springfield
Wow, very surprised by this. So much better than I was expecting. When I saw Neil Young's name I was a bit worried, but this was almost like a time capsule from the 60's. I don't think there was one weak track on it, and I really enjoyed several of them.
5
Jul 05 2024
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Abattoir Blues / The Lyre of Orpheus
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds
This is doing my nut in. I listened to a different Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds album earlier in this list and it was bad, not rip-your-ears bad but not something I enjoyed in any way. Then this album comes along, and although there were plenty of low points and tracks that weren't very good, I found myself enjoying it. I preferred Abattoir Blues to The Lyre of Orpheus.
3
Jul 08 2024
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Master Of Puppets
Metallica
I think I'm slowly becoming a fan of heavy metal, and I never saw that coming. This was a really good album, from the false beginning of 'Battery' to the final notes of 'Damage, Inc'. When you realise how young the members of Metallica were when they made this album it just makes it more impressive.
4
Jul 09 2024
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Marquee Moon
Television
It was ok, listenable, nothing good but nothing bad.
2
Jul 10 2024
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The Clash
The Clash
This isn't my kind of music. That being said, it wasn't too bad.
3
Jul 11 2024
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Head Hunters
Herbie Hancock
This album is one I already own and is regularly played. I'm so happy it is on this list as I absolutely love it, and it's a form of validation (especially when compared to some of the absolute shite I've encountered on this list already!). It was one of the albums that really turned me on to music. Only four tracks but every one is a gem.
5
Jul 12 2024
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Getz/Gilberto
Stan Getz
I really enjoyed this, the instruments and vocals were perfectly matched. Grab a nice cool drink, like a cuba libra or mojito, a chair in the sun and listen to this. It doesn't get much better.
4
Jul 15 2024
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I Never Loved a Man the Way I Love You
Aretha Franklin
Another fantastic album. Every track is beautifully crafted. The covers of the Sam Cooke tracks are, arguably, better than the originals - and the originals are themselves incredible. Muscle Shoals and Stax are, imo, the studios that produced the best output in the 60's.
5
Jul 16 2024
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Hard Again
Muddy Waters
Whilst I'm not an avid listener to The Blues my musical tastes do include genres that have some commonalities with this style of music. The album itself was very 'listenable' but equally there were no standout or weak tracks, it just sort of blended into one 40 minute track with a few gaps. That being said, I could happily listen to it again - and who knows, maybe the tracks would become more distinct.
3
Jul 17 2024
View Album
Kala
M.I.A.
Wow, what an album. I don't think I've heard anything else remotely like that. The mix of so many genres and it not feeling laboured or forced is incredible. I always think the sign of a good album is when you feel like you've only been listening a few minutes but you've actually listened to the whole album. Added to my playlist and will be a regular listener.
5
Jul 18 2024
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New Boots And Panties
Ian Dury
A few weeks ago I started thinking the quality of albums on this list had started to decrease, and then I hit a rich seam of good albums ... and this is another very good album. So many different influences on here, so much that it's difficult to pigeon-hole it. It was very much a product of it's time, but nearly 50 years later it still sounds great.
4
Jul 19 2024
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The Hissing Of Summer Lawns
Joni Mitchell
I quite enjoyed this, it wasn't as folksy as I was expecting. You can really feel the jazz influences.
3
Jul 22 2024
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Hybrid Theory
Linkin Park
I've never really been tempted to give Linkin Park a chance, the snippets I've heard before did nothing for me. I was pleasantly surprised by this album, don't get me wrong as I don;t feel like I've missed out on much over the last 20ish years, but it was a lot better than I expected.
3
Jul 23 2024
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Siamese Dream
The Smashing Pumpkins
This is a really good album. It flowed so well from beginning to end (apart from the shitty youtube ads!). It passed my rule - if you get to the end of the album and wonder where the time went then it's a good album. I will definitely listen again.
4
Jul 24 2024
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Everything Must Go
Manic Street Preachers
Another album I already own, so no surprises on here. I hadn't listened to it for a few years and was struck by how contemporary it sounds, it could have been released in 2024! Aside from a couple of weaker tracks, it's an absolute cracker.
4
Jul 25 2024
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A Girl Called Dusty
Dusty Springfield
A perfect snippet of 60's. It's incredible to think this was her first album, she really was a very natural singer.
4
Jul 26 2024
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Soul Mining
The The
I made it all the way through, so it gets 2 stars by default. I felt it never really got going, none of the tracks ever made me stop and listen, it was all a bit meh really.
2
Jul 31 2024
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Young Americans
David Bowie
Bowie was another artist I never really 'got'. I always considered him a bit of a freak. To give him his dues, this is a really good album, with several standout tracks.
4
Aug 01 2024
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Pacific Ocean Blue
Dennis Wilson
This was way better than expected. I don't really get the fuss about The Beach Boys, and the Brian Wilson \ Smile album I reviewed previously was fairly shite. This wasn't anything like the Beach Boys, a lot more gritty and real.
4
Aug 02 2024
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Django Django
Django Django
Very very average. It was so mundane and middle-of-the-road it sounded like it could have been created any time between 1965 and the present day - by a single person with a semi-decent casio keyboard bought from argos. Not one track stood out as excellent, equally none were dog-shit awful. I'll give 3 stars as I made it all the way through without considering turning it off (but that's maybe due to being in a coma from the blandness of it!)
3
Aug 05 2024
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Enter The Wu-Tang (36 Chambers)
Wu-Tang Clan
I still regularly listen to this album some 30+ years after release. It was ground-breaking at the time and still sounds fresh and relevant today. On a related note I saw GZA at Dreamland in Margate in the summer of 2023 (he was performing, and not just a on the rides with his family) and it was fucking awful!!
5
Aug 06 2024
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Californication
Red Hot Chili Peppers
Definitely deserves to be on this list. I've got a couple of other RHCP albums and listen to them regularly.
4
Aug 07 2024
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Fetch The Bolt Cutters
Fiona Apple
Made it to the beginning of track 3 after being tempted to switch off half way through track 2. It was truly awful.
1
Aug 08 2024
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Electric Prunes
The Electric Prunes
Complete and utter dogshit. No musical quality that I can discern.
1
Aug 09 2024
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At Fillmore East
The Allman Brothers Band
I didn't realise it was live until I started reading the wikipedia page. It sounds amazing. The guitar playing was amazing. I can fully understand why it's on this list. I loved it and will listen again, and again, and again ....
5
Aug 12 2024
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The Doors
The Doors
A decent album, nothing on there to make me stop listening. There were two more well-known tracks, and they were basically a distillation of the rest of the album. If it came on again I'd probably listen to it, but I wouldn't actively search it out and listen again. That, to me, is the sign of a 3 star album.
3
Aug 13 2024
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Bookends
Simon & Garfunkel
I could, and possibly should, have stopped listening after the first 5 or 6 tracks. The track of old people just talking - what the fuck is that all about? The last couple of tracks were better though. I've never really understood the love for Simon and Garfunkel, and this album has done nothing to help in that regard.
2
Aug 14 2024
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Strange Cargo III
William Orbit
Really good example of chill-out electronic music.
3
Aug 16 2024
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Trio
Dolly Parton
Yee-haw. I'm a fat middle-aged white boy in South-East England so this album is probably way outside the norms of my musical tastes - but it was pretty good. I mean, I won't be rushing out to buy it, but it was easy listening.
3
Aug 19 2024
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American IV: The Man Comes Around
Johnny Cash
This is the first Johnny Cash album that's come up on the list for me. I wasn't expecting much, and it managed to slightly exceed those expectations. I appreciate the guy was 70+ when he recorded this, but his vocals weren't very good. Musically it was very sparse, which I'm was an intentional less-is-more approach. I listened all the way through and there were a couple of decent tracks. It's 3 stars from me.
3
Aug 20 2024
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If You Can Believe Your Eyes & Ears
The Mamas & The Papas
Vocally this is fantastic - the two female voices are quite different but equally distinctive, and they just complement each other perfectly. Musically I found it quite sparse, but maybe that was intentional to let the voices do the talking (no pun intended). Plenty of classic tracks, both originals and covers. It's easy to see why this album is so highly lauded by lots of people.
4
Aug 21 2024
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Dig Your Own Hole
The Chemical Brothers
This is a exceptional album, it was one of the first of it's kind and paved the way for this style of music. I don't think there is one weak track on it. I've listened to it before, and will listen to it again.
5
Aug 22 2024
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Odessey And Oracle
The Zombies
I'd never heard of The Zombies so I wasn't sure what to expect. I thought the first track was pretty bad, but experience on this site has taught me to be patient and the album soon got better. There were a few more 'poor' tracks but overall it was pretty good. I'll go with 3 stars, but it is probably 3.5 stars in reality (but definitely not 4 imo)!
3
Aug 23 2024
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Bad Company
Bad Company
This is a great album. The songs are so well written. There's a real range of tracks too, not just copies of the same track. I do believe that the 70's was a real peak period for music production. Paul Rodgers is a great singer, which obviously helps too.
5
Aug 26 2024
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The Velvet Underground
The Velvet Underground
It never felt like it got going, if you know what I mean. It wasn't bad. Bland is probably the best word to describe it.
3
Aug 27 2024
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Heaven Or Las Vegas
Cocteau Twins
Started off hating it, the first track was just annoying, no real content to it. After that it started to get better and by the end I was actually enjoying it - in a "nostalgic, sound of the 80's" way. It made me think that maybe you have to get into the right mood to enjoy it, so I listened to track 1 again - it was still fucking awful though! Overall, better than I was expecting.
3
Aug 28 2024
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Permission to Land
The Darkness
Another album I know very well, I bought it after hearing 'I believe in a thing called love' on Soccer AM. I was blown away by the album, and still am now. I don't think there's a bad track on it. I don't think there are too many bands with such a distinctive, identifying sound.
5
Aug 29 2024
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Fifth Dimension
The Byrds
It was ok, a couple of tracks were marginally better than the rest. It wasn't so bad I needed to turn it off, but I won't be listening again.
2
Aug 30 2024
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Buena Vista Social Club
Buena Vista Social Club
I listened to this many years ago, I think I had a CD copy at one time. I forgot how good it is. I'll be listening again now I've rediscovered it.
4
Sep 02 2024
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Brothers
The Black Keys
This is a fantastic album. I can't really label it a particular style or genre, there were many different influences. If I had to name it I would call it blues-rock-funk. I don't think there were any weak tracks. It flowed so well. I listened to it twice initially and will be delving into the artists catalogue.
5
Sep 03 2024
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Songs In The Key Of Life
Stevie Wonder
I already own it and have listened to it more times than I can remember. It's one of the few albums I can listen to back-to-back and not get bored. Every track is a masterpiece. It perfectly encapsulates the 70's for me. It really was a golden period for music, and for Stevie individually it was the culmination of his classic period. If you don't like this you're probably someone I don't want to know!!
5
Sep 04 2024
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Rio
Duran Duran
I was a teenage for most of the 80's and always found Duran Duran to be utter wank. This album didn't really change my mind significantly. It was better than I expected, but still not something I would actively seek out to listen to. Le Bon's voice just grates on me, and musically it's fairly basic.
3
Sep 05 2024
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Blood, Sweat & Tears
Blood, Sweat & Tears
This was not at all what I expected, in a positive way. I was expecting a country\folk\rock album, but although there are elements of that it was primarily a jazz sound that I heard. Some tracks were a little weaker, but as a whole it was very good. A particular highlight is Spinning Wheel, which was sampled with great effect by 3rd Bass on the Sons of 3rd Bass track (a favourite of mine). I give it an unexpected 4 stars!
4
Sep 06 2024
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Heartbreaker
Ryan Adams
The ads on youtube sounded better than some of the tracks. I made it all the way through, but it was insepid to the extreme. Like eating a bowl of dry special k cereal.
2
Sep 09 2024
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The Velvet Underground & Nico
The Velvet Underground
It wasn't as good as the other Velvet Underground album I already listened to via this site - and that got 3 stars, and a fairly mediocre rating. I wasn't sure who Nico was and and their involvement in this album. I had to google this information and, perhaps, unsurprisingly she was the 'singer' that strangled a few tracks. Sorry, it's a no from me.
2
Sep 11 2024
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Led Zeppelin
Led Zeppelin
Another good album from Led Zeppelin. I think III is the best of the bunch that I've heard so far, but this is up with with II.
4
Sep 12 2024
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To Pimp A Butterfly
Kendrick Lamar
I was expecting a lot but was left disappointed. When I looked at the list of contributing artists it was either someone I'd never heard of, or someone I'd always enjoyed and admired. Musically it was ok in places, but generally I felt it was trying too hard to be edgy. The rapping was pretty similar, too edgy for me and made my ear hurt. On reflection, maybe it's my age, I am in my 50's - but I grew up listening to rap, funk, soul, hip-hop etc and they are my preferred genres. I'm confused, maybe if I listen to it again I will like it, but that is not on my agenda.
3
Sep 13 2024
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The Pleasure Principle
Gary Numan
This was as 80's as a rubiks cube wearing spandex and deely boppers. It wasn't bad, a bit monotonous, vocally he's very robotic but I get the impression that's intentional. I reckon 3 stars is about right.
3
Sep 16 2024
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The Band
The Band
Well I never.... another album from an artist I'm not very familiar with that turns out to be a bit of a gem. I find it difficult to pigeon hole this into any specific genre, seems like a lot of ingredients here to make a fairly unique sound. I will be listening again.
5
Sep 17 2024
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Tracy Chapman
Tracy Chapman
You can't really fault this album. It was something completely different when it came out, and it snowballed to the point that everyone seemed to have a copy and listen to it almost constantly. It didn't matter what your usual choice of music was, you had a copy of this album. Several standout tracks, not one weak track.
5
Sep 18 2024
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It's A Shame About Ray
The Lemonheads
Not my cup of tea in the slightest. I did make it all the way through so it gets 2 stars.
2
Sep 19 2024
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Leftism
Leftfield
It's like someone bottled the 90's and condensed it into an album. It's not an album I'd heard in it's entirety before, but I had had several of the tracks individually. It was nicve, very easy to listen to, but nothing ground-breaking - there are many better examples of this type of music from the same period in time.
3
Sep 20 2024
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E.V.O.L.
Sonic Youth
In some ways, this album is approaching a record, it's the only one I've reviewed that somewhat approaches the awfulness of 'The Cramps' album (don't think I'll ever get over the experience of that one, it was horrendous). Couldn't make it all the way through so it's a 1 star for me.
1
Sep 23 2024
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Abraxas
Santana
This was exactly my kind of album. So smooth and just effortlessly moves from track to track. I could listen to it multiple times on repeat, in fact, I already did.
5
Sep 24 2024
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There's No Place Like America Today
Curtis Mayfield
I wasn't aware of this Curtis Mayfield album, although I have several of other solo albums and some of the Impressions tracks. This is a gem, so understated, no heavy production - just pure, raw funky-soul vibes. I love it and have added it to my wants list. Perfection.
5
Sep 25 2024
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Shleep
Robert Wyatt
There were a couple of tracks that drifted aimlessly and had me reaching for the skip\next button, but there were many more tracks that I really enjoyed, perhaps surprisingly. Vocally it was pretty dire, but musically it was pretty good.
3
Sep 26 2024
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Isn't Anything
My Bloody Valentine
I tried, I really did, but it was fucking awful. They didn't sound very competent on their instruments at all, and vocally it was like someone mumbling through their sleeve. I have a strong feeling this is entirely the sound they are going for - and if it is, they absolutely nailed it - but it's got no musical merit in my world.
1
Sep 27 2024
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The Dark Side Of The Moon
Pink Floyd
I was probably in a minority being someone in my 50's that's never listened to this album before. It wasn't really what I was expecting, it seemed a bit more electric rather than rock. That being said, it was pretty good with a couple of standout tracks.
3
Sep 30 2024
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Hot Rats
Frank Zappa
It was another "better than expected" experience. I was expecting it to be completely "out there" garbage and there were several moments when it veered towards that, but it course corrected pretty quickly. Quite jazzy, I was expecting folk \ rock type music. I wouldn't put it in any "greatest albums of all time" lists, but it was eminently listenable.
3
Oct 01 2024
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Tusk
Fleetwood Mac
I'm very "take it or leave it" when it comes to Fleetwood Mac. I've never had to stop listening to one of their tracks, and (even when it comes to their biggest hits) never wanted to re listen. They are the epitome of beige to me. This album didn't change that at all. As such, 3 stars is the perfect rating.
3
Oct 02 2024
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Sign 'O' The Times
Prince
Prince is right up there for me, by that I mean right up there with a lot of other well respected artists that I just don't get. I'll admit that he has released more than a handful of songs that I do actually like, but fuck me, this lad released 1000's of songs so there were always going to be a few I liked. This album was fairly boring to me - simple drum beats, rhythmic chanting, nothing special....
3
Oct 03 2024
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Music in Exile
Songhoy Blues
That was a rollercoaster. After 10 seconds of the first track I was considering turning it off. I persevered and after a couple of tracks I was actually enjoying it. By the end of the album it had all got a bit too 'samey' for me and I'd just about had enough. Musically it was quite unique, I could hear the obvious and expected influences from Africa, but also some rock and folk tones too. I won't be rushing to hear anymore of their work, or even give this particular album a rerun - but it was worth listening. Another 3 stars from me.
3
Oct 04 2024
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Golden Hour
Kacey Musgraves
It was ok. I listened to the whole album and there was not one song that jarred with me. Equally, nothing really caught my attention. She's got a nice voice, very smooth and clear. Musically I've never gelled with country music, and this is about as pop-orientated as country music gets and I still couldn't gel with it. Another 3 star album for me.
3
Oct 07 2024
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Off The Wall
Michael Jackson
He was an absolute not job, but he could make great music - and he knocked out a few amazing albums over a 15 year stretch, including this one. Say what you want about him inn a non-musical sense, but musically he is one of the greatest artists of all time. Every track is a banger!
5
Oct 08 2024
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xx
The xx
If anyone was stupid enough to read my reviews they would see a small number of recurring patterns, and this album falls in the "I wasn't expecting much, but it was better than I expected, although still not particularly good" pattern. It probably lies somewhere between 2 and 3 stars, I'm feeling generous so will give it 3.
3
Oct 09 2024
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Blonde On Blonde
Bob Dylan
I don't really get Bob Dylan. It's not that he's not talented or his songs are shit, but I don't get the reverence he's afforded. Maybe you had to be around in the 60's (although plenty of younger people also worship him too)! Take this album for example, it was ok, there wasn't anything offensive or jarring on there - but to me it sounded no different from any bloke+guitar you can hear down your local pub on a Friday or Saturday night. In much the same vein as Ed Sheeran really ... don't get me started on that monotonous ginger cunt, it still brings me some happiness that after 250 or so albums on this site I've yet to be served an Ed Sheeran album. If (when) that happens I may have to stop listening.
3
Oct 10 2024
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Rock 'N Soul
Solomon Burke
I've got a compilation CD of his greatest hits, and there's a few from this album on there. There's a rawness about his voice that makes an average song into a good one, and a good song into a great one. I really enjoyed this album. It probably sounds really dated and old to the younger crowd, but to me there's very much "a less is more" element to good music.
4
Oct 11 2024
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Heroes to Zeros
The Beta Band
Never heard of this band before, and I'm quite pleased about that. I couldn't get into it at all. The vocals were annoying, the music was soft and boring. If it was a colour it would be beige. If it was a food it would be porridge. Just bland, boring, nothingness. I did just about make it all the way through, so it gets 2 stars.
2
Oct 14 2024
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The Slim Shady LP
Eminem
I remember this album being released. I bought a copy. I played it a lot. Everyone was playing it a lot. I still listen to it now and then. The funny thing is, though, that over time I have become a bit more critical. It's still very good, but there are too many weak tracks on there for my liking. If an album gets 5 stars it's because every track is good (or more 1 or 2 slightly weaker tracks). I'll go with 4 stars for that reason alone.
4
Oct 15 2024
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Parallel Lines
Blondie
I was a young lad when this album came out. I remember all of the classic tracks but I've never listened to the complete album previously. It was exactly how I expected it to be. It's a symbol of the late 70's when music was changing constantly. I would listen again if it came on, but I wouldn't actively seek it out to listen again. It's got 3 stars written all over it!
3
Oct 16 2024
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Ten
Pearl Jam
I've heard the name Pearl Jam previously, but I wouldn't have been able to name a single track of theirs. It just wasn't the sort of music I listened to ... until recently. After being blown away by the Nirvana album, and learning how Pearl Jam were considered to be of a similar genre, I was looking forward to this. The album started slowly, and didn't reach the (admittedly, lofty) heights of Nevermind, but it was still very good.
4
Oct 17 2024
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Southern Rock Opera
Drive-By Truckers
I don't know what to make of that. At times it sounded like a bootleg version of the Eagles, just with shittier songs. At other times it sounded like a counterfeit Bryan Adams, but with shittier songs - and his songs are shitty enough as it is, so make of that what you will will. I made it all the way through, so it gets 2 stars, but I just can't bring myself to give it 3 stars. More than once I checked to see how long was left - and that, to me, is not a good sign. I'm sticking with 2 stars.
2
Oct 18 2024
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Crazysexycool
TLC
That took me back. I hadn't listened to this album in years. It still sounds great even now, 30 years later. There are a few filler tracks that do let it down, but there are more than enough absolute classics that far outweigh the weaker tracks and elevate it. It was ground-breaking in many ways at the time, and led to a whole host of other female groups combining R&B and rap.
5
Oct 21 2024
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The Score
Fugees
An absolute classic album for people of my generation - if you're into this sort of music, and perhaps even if you aren't. It was one of the soundtrack albums of 1996, and beyond. I don't think there is one weak track on it. The vocals complement each other, and the music, perfectly. I listened to it one, then again, for a grand total of "two times"!
5
Oct 22 2024
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Garbage
Garbage
Fairly bland, found myself falling asleep. I don't doubt that people who like this kind of music will think this a cracking album, but it was all a bit moist for me.
3
Oct 23 2024
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What's Going On
Marvin Gaye
One of my most treasured possessions is an original copy of this LP. I love every single second of this album. It is musical perfection to me. I listen to it regularly (not the original LP, that's too precious). Although only a few tracks were released as singles I feel like every single track stands on it's own and would have had success as a single release. The fact that it grows in popularity as time goes on is a mark of it's quality.
5
Oct 24 2024
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The Poet
Bobby Womack
I like Bobby Womack and his music, going back as far as The Valentinos. There's a couple of good tracks on this album, and several nice tracks, but even with my bias towards this kind of music I'm struggling to see what makes this album one of the 1001 I must hear.
3
Oct 25 2024
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Paris 1919
John Cale
It was ok, some nice moments, but another one where I'm unsure why it's included on this list. I didn't consider turning it off, nor would I seek it out again for a re-listen. That has got 3 stars written all over it.
3
Oct 28 2024
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Doolittle
Pixies
This is not really my thing. It's quite angsty and almost emo-y, if you know what I mean. I did manage to make it all the way through and there were a couple of musical highs - but sadly, the rest of it was one long low, and the vocals were pretty awful. I hope this is the only album from this band in the list, that says it all I suppose.
2
Oct 29 2024
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Moving Pictures
Rush
I couldn't get into this at all. If it wasn't for the youtube adds between each track it would just have sounded like a single track lasing 40 minutes, played by a bunch of teenagers on instruments they bought from the toy section of Argos. I made it all the way through so it gets 2 stars ... just!
2
Oct 30 2024
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Dirt
Alice In Chains
Another album that I couldn't get into. Admittedly it's not really my genre, but I can think of many other albums that aren't really "my thing" that I thoroughly enjoyed. I did make it all the way through so it gets 2 stars!
2
Oct 31 2024
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Peter Gabriel
Peter Gabriel
The shit run continues. I've had a few bad albums in a row, and this one is as bad as any of them. I already had one of his albums and gave that 2 stars .... after hearing this that other album now feels like it should have been rated higher. Utter horse shit. I could make better music than this.
1
Nov 01 2024
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Mask
Bauhaus
The run of awful albums continues. How the fuck did this end up on the list? I have a rule that if I listen to the whole album it gets 2 stars - and while I did make it the whole way through, I did so while composing a couple of emails complaining to companies that have messed up dealings with me. The true awfulness of the music was obscured by my pre-occupation!
1
Nov 04 2024
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Exodus
Bob Marley & The Wailers
Strangely, the lesser known tracks stand up really well against the more well-known tracks. A fantastic album. It's nice to finally get another genre-defining album after the recent dross I'd been served up.
5
Nov 05 2024
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Blue Lines
Massive Attack
Very few albums \ artists \ tracks have the effect of transporting you to a place and\or time. This is one of those albums though. The hairs on the back of my neck stood up and I was back with my mates in the early 1990's - driving round in Tommy's 205 GTi (1.9 obviously) or Jay's XR3i cab. Another genre-creating album, one of the easiest 5 starts I've given.
5
Nov 06 2024
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The Infotainment Scan
The Fall
After a run of dog-shite albums I had two 5-stars in a row, and then I got served up this monstrosity. Absolute garbage. I wanted to turn it off half-way through the first track but was intrigued about the cover of 'Lost In Music' so stuck it out. Fuck me, they butchered that song. I skipped to the next track for one last chance, and it was the worst of the three sofar. I had no hesitation to stop listening. The singers voice is horrific, just really grates on you, and doesn't complement the music in anyway. The music is pretty poor to start with.
1
Nov 07 2024
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Solid Air
John Martyn
Vocally it was just some old geezer mumbling, I didn't enjoy that aspect at all. However, musically there were some very nice tracks. It was very difficult to put a genre on it - could pick out some influences from folk, rock, jazz.
3
Nov 08 2024
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Ctrl
SZA
It was listenable. It sounded like x number of artists you hear on urban \ contemporary radio nowadays. I didn't find anything on there that would make me listen again.
3
Nov 11 2024
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Rumours
Fleetwood Mac
This album takes me back to being a child in the 70's. It felt like every track was played on the radio fairly frequently. It's one of those albums where every track is well-known and well-regarded in it's own right. You can't fault it really, and when you discover the turmoil that was happening between the band members when producing this it is even more impressive.
5
Nov 12 2024
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Queen II
Queen
I can completely see why this album is included. It's not Queen's best album, but you can see it as a precursor to their best period. The sound was almost there, there are a few tracks that really show it. Not quite 5 star material for me, but a fucking good album nevertheless!
4
Nov 13 2024
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Violent Femmes
Violent Femmes
I had no idea who this band was. I was familiar with the opening track, it's been used in TV, film and adverts before - but I couldn't have told you who it was by. After that I was expecting the rest of the album to be pretty bad, but it was actually quite listenable. I wouldn't say it was my thing, or that I will seek it out again though.
3
Nov 14 2024
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Femi Kuti
Femi Kuti
I'm listening to these albums on youtube (I don't have any of the music subscription services) and there was no 'complete' album I could find. I had to find the tracks individually, I didn't manage to find all of them. It's possible all that extra effort clouded my judgement but I wasn't ever really 'feeling' the music. The fact I put in this extra effort for a few tracks probably means it's about 2 stars.
2
Nov 15 2024
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Pictures At An Exhibition
Emerson, Lake & Palmer
That was a hard listen. It wasn't without some musical merit, but it was so far up itself it was generally unpleasant. I did listen to the whole album, mostly in a "driving past an accident on the motorway and you have to look over" way, so it's 2 stars.
2
Nov 18 2024
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Stankonia
OutKast
Fantastic album. If you were old enough to remember the 90's and were into urban music then you would probably remember this was ground-breaking. Outkast has a very unique sound.
5
Nov 19 2024
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Meat Is Murder
The Smiths
Another very surprising outcome. This is the 3rd Smiths album I've had on this list and the previous 2 were split between good and bad experiences. This was another good experience. A couple of really good tracks, and the rest weren't bad either.
4
Nov 20 2024
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Dig Me Out
Sleater-Kinney
It's a pass from me. It wasn't entirely without merit, I made it through the whole album so there must be some musicality in there. The vocals were pretty awful. It just sounded like one long track, there was no discernible difference - to me at least.
2
Nov 21 2024
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Chicago Transit Authority
Chicago
I've always enjoyed Chicago. This album is an absolute belter, the musicianship is amazing and the tracks effortlessly show that. Not a single weak track on there.
5
Nov 22 2024
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Woodface
Crowded House
Another group that I've always liked. I bought Recurring Dream, a compilation of their greatest hits, many years ago and it has been on fairly regular rotation since then. Plenty of Woodface tracks are on the compilation, but there are several others I was hearing for the first time. The whole album was great, even the new songs. The vocal are always amazing, beautiful harmonies and the lyrics are very clever. Musically the can tend to sound very 'samey' - but then you could probably level that accusation at nearly every band. I think there will only be a very small number of people that don't like this album.
5
Nov 25 2024
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1989
Taylor Swift
I couldn't even last 1 song. Fucking awful person, even worse as an artist. No musical merit whatsoever. Her unbelievable popularity is one of the most damning indictments of her generation. One of the few times I have wished that this site allowed zero stars!!!!
1
Nov 26 2024
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The Joshua Tree
U2
I can't listen to any U2 songs without thinking of https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H8dZwXnMrRU ...
I didn't dislike the album, the 3 more well-known tracks that leads off the album are good. The rest of the album is fairly bland.
3
Nov 27 2024
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Our Aim Is To Satisfy
Red Snapper
I'd never heard of this band or, by extension, this album. After a quick read of the linked wikipedia page I was quite excited, it sounded like it would be right up my street. However, I was quite wrong. I couldn't really get into it. It wasn't bad, just very mediocre, like a chicken-in-a-basket version of Radiohead.
3
Nov 28 2024
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The Specials
The Specials
The Specials, Bad Manners, Madness, The Beat etc.. I was around when this was all happening. It was incredible. I didn't appreciate at the time that many of these songs were covers. I imagine that my kids, and their kids, would not enjoy this album, but to me it evokes so many memories that I can't do anything other than give it 5 stars!
5
Nov 29 2024
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Oar
Alexander 'Skip' Spence
I'm going to break one of my conventions with this album. I made it all the way through which gets a guaranteed 2 stars minimum, but for this album it's only going to get 1. Let's be honest here, it's rambling, mumbling shite, with minimal musical merit and next to no instrumentation. I only made it all the way through as I got sucked into a rabbit hole reading about the artists life. If I was grading on that it would be 5 stars!
1
Dec 02 2024
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Rubber Soul
Beatles
This is the second Beatles album I've served up, and after being pleasantly surprised how much I enjoyed the first one it's more of the same here. I've never got The Beatles before, but there is no denying that they created some great music. It wasn't as good as Revolver (the other album) but not far off.
4
Dec 03 2024
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3 Feet High and Rising
De La Soul
This album had a seismic impact when it was released. I've still got the original vinyl copy I purchased on import. There was nothing else really like it. The skits between tracks, the lyrics, the humour, the sound! I'm probably in a minority by saying the follow-up album -De La Soul Is Dead - is better. That really is splitting hairs though, they are both incredible. One of the easiest 5 stars I've given.
5
Dec 04 2024
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Sulk
The Associates
At last, an album bad enough to challenge The Cramps. I wanted to turn it off after about 30 seconds of the first track, but I've been surprised many times while working through the albums on this list so I persevered. Made it to track 3, and that was a huge fucking effort to not turn off. Musically it was awful, vocals were just as bad. The only plus side was this is the bands only release, thank fuck for that!
1
Dec 05 2024
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Deserter's Songs
Mercury Rev
What a pleasant surprise. I made the mistake of reading about the artist and album before actually listening, which allowed my prejudices to kick in and tell me "you ain't gonna like this". They were wrong (for once), the first track was beautifully haunting, and the final track was uplifting and joyous. In between, there were undoubted low points but also many high points. It was difficult to pigeon-hole this music - I could hear many influences throughout such as pop, jazz, soul, rock, etc. I can't quite give it 5 stars, but it's an easy 4 stars.
4
Dec 06 2024
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Feast of Wire
Calexico
Another cracking album. It was very understated and easy to listen to. Perfect for a warm night, a few beers and a bottle of rum.
4
Dec 09 2024
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After The Gold Rush
Neil Young
I've previously reviewed a few Neil Young solo albums, and a few with Crazy Horse and Buffalo Springfield. I don't know if I should be surprised but I've rated one album a 1 and 1 album a 5 - and a couple in between. This one was on the 'better'side. First of all, his vocals are fucking awful - he sounds like my 90 years Grandma just before she croaked. Musically it was quite nice, easy to listen to . I wouldn't seek it out again though, but wouldn't turn it off it came on by chance. That to me is 3 star material!
3
Dec 10 2024
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good kid, m.A.A.d city
Kendrick Lamar
In the words of Andy Townsend - \"not for me Clive\". It sounded like someone with ADHD just saying random sentences as quickly as possible, while his mates messed about with a drum machine and a Casio keyboard. I am a big fan of rap\hip-hop, albeit I am in my 50's so I'm probably much more 'old school' than most, but this album did nothing for me. Maybe I need to give it a few listens to appreciate it, but I needed a tiny spark from the first listen to do that, and I got nothing. It's 2 stars for me.
2
Dec 11 2024
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Your Arsenal
Morrissey
This is the first Morrissey album I've ever listened to. I was also in a similar situation in respect of The Smiths, and I've listened to three of their albums via this website - one bad, two good. As a result of my experience with The Smiths albums I wasn't sure what to expect from this album, I am pleased to say this was another good, in fact great, album. Eminently listenable, the lyrics are really clever, the music is top-notch, and I like his singing voice. There wasn't one bad track. I absolutely loved "You're the One for Me, Fatty" and "Certain People I Know". I will be listening again for sure.
5
Dec 12 2024
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The Slider
T. Rex
Another really enjoyable album. I was a child in T. Rex's heyday. Marc Bolan died just up the road from where I lived as a child. So I have a bit of an affinity with their music. I had heard a few tracks on this album before, but even the tracks I was hearing for the first time were good. Not really 5 star material, but a comfortable 4 stars!
4
Dec 13 2024
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Scott 4
Scott Walker
It wasn't bad at all. Musically it was ok and he has a nice singing voice and style. I just couldn't get into it. It sounded a bit like all the songs were made up on the spot. At times his voice veered into Vic Reeves doing his club singer, or Neil Hannnon and The Divine Comedy.
3
Dec 16 2024
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Dire Straits
Dire Straits
This was great. I've obviously heard 'Sultans of Swing' before, but the rest of the album was new to me. There weren't any weak tracks. It was a little bit short, but there's no point padding an album with filler. I will make sure to listen again.
4
Dec 17 2024
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A Night At The Opera
Queen
Who doesn't love a bit of Queen. There are parts of this album that are absolutely bonkers, and I mean that in a nice way. In fact, the whole album is almost completely bonkers. And therein lies the whole majesty (geddit?) of Queen. They were almost unique in their sound, nothing like it before or since.
5
Dec 18 2024
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Beyond Skin
Nitin Sawhney
It wasn't awful. It was fairly boring really. There were a couple of brief moments (The Pilgrim was one) where it briefly got interesting, but generally it was nondescript and boring. I wouldn't bother listening to it again.
2
Dec 19 2024
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Ambient 1/Music For Airports
Brian Eno
I've had 2 previous Brian Eno albums on this list, and both were utter horse-shit. I wasn't expecting much from this, and it duly obliged. In fairness it was nowhere near the banality of one of the previous Eno albums, and was on a par with the other one. I get that it was the ambient music ground-breaker, but any old prick with a keyboard could have made this album by just striking one or two keys periodically. I was a given a voucher for a massage last year and this music could have been what they played during the massage, it sent me to sleep then and it did the same now.
1
Dec 20 2024
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Loveless
My Bloody Valentine
Fuck me, what a surprise. The surprise being that this is the second album from this band I've been served up on this site. I am amazed that anyone would think this is a good album. At least there is consistency, because it was exactly the same listening experience for me as the first album of theirs. So much so I have copied my comments below, as there are just as apt for this album....
\"I tried, I really did, but it was fucking awful. They didn't sound very competent on their instruments at all, and vocally it was like someone mumbling through their sleeve. I have a strong feeling this is entirely the sound they are going for - and if it is, they absolutely nailed it - but it's got no musical merit in my world.\"
Please, please, please, I hope there are no more of their albums on this list.
1
Dec 23 2024
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You've Come a Long Way Baby
Fatboy Slim
It's barely believable that this album is almost 30 years old. It was one of the first albums of it's kind. There are multiple tracks on here that absolutely became anthems, and several others that were overshadowed by these through no fault of their own. If you don't like, or at least appreciate, this album you should check your pulse.
5