Oct 18 2023
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Vivid
Living Colour
Sounds like the corniest hip hop group of all time really got into Jane’s addiction. Great Tony Hawk Pro Skater music, will probably never listen to the album again. 2.5/5
2
Oct 19 2023
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American Idiot
Green Day
These guys were more subversive when they wrote songs about jerking off.
2
Oct 20 2023
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Tragic Songs of Life
The Louvin Brothers
Not exactly musically adventurous but enjoyed the super dark lyrics juxtaposed with the cheery delivery. Era adjusted 3/5
3
Oct 23 2023
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OK Computer
Radiohead
Pretty, pretty good. Forgot how hard Johnny Greenwood goes on this album. Hall of famer and no doubter 5 stars in the opinion of this pig, in a cage, on antibiotics.
5
Oct 24 2023
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A Rush Of Blood To The Head
Coldplay
This sucked a lot less than I expected.
3
Oct 25 2023
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...And Justice For All
Metallica
Not really a Metallica guy
2
Oct 26 2023
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Rip It Up
Orange Juice
They should’ve limited it to 1000 albums
1
Oct 27 2023
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The Dark Side Of The Moon
Pink Floyd
4
Oct 30 2023
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The Number Of The Beast
Iron Maiden
I feel like a traitor to my culture not knowing a damn thing about metal, but I have to say this album was surprisingly enjoyable. Love Jack Black’s vocals, album rips from beginning to end.
3
Oct 31 2023
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A Girl Called Dusty
Dusty Springfield
Probably could’ve been 5 stars if it was a little shorter. A masterclass in stealing black music, extra points for making me feel like I’m in a Scorsese movie
4
Nov 01 2023
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Zombie
Fela Kuti
2
Nov 02 2023
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Freak Out!
The Mothers Of Invention
I don’t read anything about these until I listen to them so maybe this a groundbreaking satire and was incredibly biting in 1966, but it doesn’t hold up for me in 2023.
2
Nov 03 2023
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Paris 1919
John Cale
If it’s going to sound this bad, I would at least expect better lyrics than “Andalucia when can I see ya”. At least it was short
1
Nov 06 2023
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Innervisions
Stevie Wonder
5
Nov 07 2023
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The Stranger
Billy Joel
A bit cheesy at times but overall a pretty classic album. Actually feels like a connected album all the way through.
4
Nov 08 2023
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3 Years, 5 Months And 2 Days In The Life Of...
Arrested Development
Thought I was going to like this more. Running up to a 3 based on Tennessee and to a lesser extent Mr Wendel
3
Nov 09 2023
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Is This It
The Strokes
Somehow this album makes New York in 2001 sounds 100x cooler than Billy Joel made 1977 New York sound which is impossible.
Went into it planning to give it a 4 but enjoyed my drive to work so much I missed my turn. Extra points for this being Henry’s favourite album when he was 3.
5
Nov 10 2023
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Power In Numbers
Jurassic 5
Shocked this made the list! Wore this cd out driving around in David Berry’s turquoise Pontiac Sunfire.
4/5 on merit (One of Them was a skip then and still is) but when you’re 17 and eating a whopper riding shotgun around Sherwood Park with nowhere to go it’s a 13/5 so I’ll average it out to a 5.
5
Nov 13 2023
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25
Adele
She really misses that guy apparently. Her voice really is pretty incredible, wasn’t as slow as I thought it would be.
3
Nov 14 2023
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Illinois
Sufjan Stevens
Only made it halfway through, I feel like if Iistened to it a few times maybe I’d get it but I didn’t have the patience. Default 2
2
Nov 16 2023
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Remedy
Basement Jaxx
Nothing but 15 twink anthems. I can see why someone would like this album but I am not that person.
2
Nov 17 2023
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British Steel
Judas Priest
I haven’t really listened to these old metal albums before and I can’t tell if they’re supposed to be somewhat cheesy or if it’s just that they’re 30-40 years old but I have trouble taking them seriously. Still pretty fun though, guitars sound great.
3
Nov 20 2023
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You've Come a Long Way Baby
Fatboy Slim
This was a big disc man album for me when it came out. Doesn’t totally hold up, but I’ll round it up from a 3.6
4
Nov 21 2023
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The Seldom Seen Kid
Elbow
Had never heard of it, seemed Ok on the first listen.
3
Nov 22 2023
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Dr. Octagonecologyst
Dr. Octagon
A+ production, C- vocals. Kool Keith takes the theme way too seriously and his rap style still sounds like it’s 1988. Couldn’t stop thinking about how much better this album would’ve been if MF Doom did it
2
Nov 23 2023
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Licensed To Ill
Beastie Boys
Whenever I come back to this album I expect it to sound old or something only 20 year old me would like but it holds up so damn well. Whatever magic Rick Rubin puts into 3 jewish kids screaming absurd lyrics over a drum machine and guitar samples still fucking works somehow. Rounding down from 4.4
4
Nov 24 2023
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In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida
Iron Butterfly
Some real 60s shit, I think I needed to be in LSD. The first 5 songs are a complete waste of time, but in-a-Gadda is a classic though so I’ll round to 2 stars.
2
Nov 27 2023
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Bridge Over Troubled Water
Simon & Garfunkel
Any album with a tribute song to an architect is an automatic 4+
4
Nov 28 2023
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Paranoid
Black Sabbath
Kinda reminds me of Eric B and Rakim/Run DMC era rap, you can hear all the elements of something new, but a primitive and not fully formed version of the genre yet. Ozzy’s vocals sounds awesome too.
3
Nov 29 2023
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Darkness on the Edge of Town
Bruce Springsteen
4
Nov 30 2023
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After The Gold Rush
Neil Young
Back to back Hemmer Hall of Fame albums.
4
Dec 01 2023
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Pills 'n' Thrills And Bellyaches
Happy Mondays
Very much feels like an album of a specific place and time and it is no longer that time or place.
2
Dec 05 2023
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Are You Experienced
Jimi Hendrix
I’ve never really been a huge Hendrix guy and expected to give it a respectful 3 stars but the further I got into the album the more I appreciated it. Kind of sounds like it was recorded on a tape recorder in Jimi’s apartment though, surprised there isn’t a remastered version where we could hear the guitars a little clearer.
4
Dec 06 2023
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The World is a Ghetto
War
I was into it for the first two songs and then the 13 minute instrumental track lost me completely.
2
Dec 08 2023
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Smokers Delight
Nightmares On Wax
Quite a run of albums without lyrics in English. I suppose this would be OK as background music, don’t get why it’s on the list.
2
Dec 11 2023
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The Cars
The Cars
What a first 3 song run to start this album. Drops off a bit after that but still a solid 4 for me.
4
Dec 12 2023
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Meat Is Murder
The Smiths
Every Smiths song kinda sounds the same to me, I feel like if I listened a few more times through I’d hear the lyrics more and maybe bump to a 4 but I found it drifting into background music too much
3
Dec 13 2023
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The Modern Dance
Pere Ubu
Not what I expected given the album cover/title! Proud of myself for making it all the way through whatever this is supposed to be. There are parts of it that I liked, but mostly unlistenable.
Hard to rate considering it’s not trying to be good in any conventional way. Rounding up to a 2, giving extra credit for making an album filled with breaking bottles and high pitched squealing sounds (bagpipes? recorder?!) making a list like this 50 years after it was made
2
Dec 14 2023
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Live At The Star Club, Hamburg
Jerry Lee Lewis
Jerry Lee is absolutely on fire, probably would’ve been more interesting if they kept more of the set on the album rather than cut it to 22 minutes.
I dont think I can give more than 3 stars to essentially a 20 min live cover album but it sure was fun.
3
Dec 15 2023
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Dig Your Own Hole
The Chemical Brothers
Back with another one of those block rockin beats! This album feels like it’s the background music for an hour long fight scene in the Matrix: Reloaded.
That’s certainly not a compliment but not totally an indictment either. 2 stars
2
Dec 18 2023
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It Takes A Nation Of Millions To Hold Us Back
Public Enemy
I’ve tried a couple times but never really gotten into PE. Chuck D has a great voice but is only an OK lyricist and Flavour Flav kind of sucks, but I think it’s mostly the production that I don’t like. NY rap is 2 or 3 years away from golden era Primo/Rza/Pete Rock beats and the bomb squad doesn’t quite measure up.
Black Steel in the hour of Chaos was the highlight for me, and of course tons of credit for the influence on conscious rap in the decades to come.
3
Dec 19 2023
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Blood On The Tracks
Bob Dylan
If not the best Dylan album at least in the top 3. Easy 5 star decision despite having to suffer through 7:46 of Idiot Wind.
5
Dec 20 2023
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Olympia 64
Jacques Brel
The French Frank Sinatra I guess? I few too many selections from the HMV “World Music” section for my liking
1
Dec 21 2023
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At Folsom Prison
Johnny Cash
May have been worth doing a stint at Folsom to witness this.
The tension in the room really comes through with the crowd and how he interacts with them. Even the announcements and interruptions add to it. I feel like Johnny could’ve started a riot any time he wanted. Sounds great for recording in a prison in the 60s too.
5
Jan 03 2024
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Dub Housing
Pere Ubu
These guys fucking love Pere Ubu
2
Jan 04 2024
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Sunshine Hit Me
The Bees
Was vaguely aware of the bees but hadn’t hear this album. Pretty good.
3
Jan 05 2024
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Foo Fighters
Foo Fighters
I don’t think the best Foo Fighters album but they have a really high floor.
Impressive that this is all Dave Grohl (plays all instruments). Maybe I’m just older and lamer or maybe it’s because rock music is so different now but FF seemed kinda generic and boring in the mid/late nineties but they sound awesome to me now. High 3 stars
3
Jan 08 2024
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Tapestry
Carole King
Banger after banger, hadn’t heard this before and didn’t realize how many hits/covers came from this album
4
Jan 09 2024
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Joan Armatrading
Joan Armatrading
Sounds like an unpaid act at a coffee shop. Made it 4 songs in. Rounding up from 1.7
2
Jan 10 2024
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Walking Wounded
Everything But The Girl
2
Jan 11 2024
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At Fillmore East
The Allman Brothers Band
3
Jan 12 2024
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The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars
David Bowie
Pretty high degree of difficulty to make a concept album this weird and keep the narrative coherent while somehow also filling it with catchy, radio friendly songs.
4
Jan 15 2024
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Blood Sugar Sex Magik
Red Hot Chili Peppers
Loooong album, more up’s and downs than I remembered. Highs are really good though, there’s a 4.5 star 13 track version of this album but the “Mellowship Slinky in B minor”s bring it down to a 3 for me.
3
Jan 16 2024
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Five Leaves Left
Nick Drake
Got bored after a few songs
2
Jan 17 2024
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I Do Not Want What I Haven't Got
Sinead O'Connor
Sinead must have been fun at parties. Had its moments but was a slog for the most part.
2
Jan 18 2024
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Unknown Pleasures
Joy Division
3
Jan 19 2024
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Siamese Dream
The Smashing Pumpkins
Pretty awesome actually. I had only listened to Melancholy before front to back and kind of thought it was more of a singles album with a lot of filler but this was the opposite, I liked the deeper cuts better than the singles that made the radio.
4
Jan 23 2024
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The Black Saint And The Sinner Lady
Charles Mingus
Not a big Jazz guy but enjoyed this thoroughly
3
Jan 25 2024
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Red Headed Stranger
Willie Nelson
Pulls off the country concept album!
4
Jan 26 2024
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Moss Side Story
Barry Adamson
Is this a soundtrack to something? Cannot fathom why it is on this list
1
Jan 29 2024
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Highway to Hell
AC/DC
Every song is the same but who cares, this album is a hell of a lot of fun. 3.4
3
Jan 31 2024
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Blunderbuss
Jack White
The best solo Jack White album still isn’t as good as the worst White Stripes Album.
3
Feb 02 2024
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The Band
The Band
Cripple Creek is still a banger, the rest is fine. 2.9
3
Feb 05 2024
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Abraxas
Santana
2
Feb 06 2024
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Talking Book
Stevie Wonder
Sappy Stevie is not my favourite but Superstition is one of the greatest songs of all time so that alone brings it up by a star.
3
Feb 07 2024
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Colour By Numbers
Culture Club
Was worried this would be a one track album and boy were my concerns validated. I’m it’s better moments it’s a little Prince adjacent (I liked miss me blind) but overall it’s just shitty, sappy, surprisingly political pop.
2
Feb 08 2024
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Hail To the Thief
Radiohead
Definitely a second tier Radiohead album but that’s still a pretty high floor
4
Feb 09 2024
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Phrenology
The Roots
Probably the 3rd best Roots album, surprised it’s on the list but really enjoyed revisiting it, I listened to it a ton when I got the CD when it came out but hardly at all since then. Thought is incredible and somehow is just as good (maybe better?) today. Somewhere between a 3 and a 4 for me
3
Feb 12 2024
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On The Beach
Neil Young
First time I’ve ever listened to this one, thought it was great.
5
Feb 14 2024
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This Is Fats Domino
Fats Domino
Blueberry hill is really all you need to listen to
2
Feb 15 2024
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Here Come The Warm Jets
Brian Eno
Sounds like the soundtrack to a Kubrick movie. I’m not sure if this is weird/brilliant or just weird/dumb. I few like if I listened to it 4 or 5 times through I might end up loving it or thinking it sucks so I’ll split the difference for now. 2.4
2
Feb 19 2024
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Raw Power
The Stooges
Probably will not listen to again but a 3 out of respect
3
Feb 20 2024
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Exile On Main Street
The Rolling Stones
The rare successful double album! Maybe not the best stones album but definitely the one that feels the most cohesive. Keith said that their ambition was to be the greatest blues band in the world and this album feels like the best possible version of that. Add that it was recorded in a mansion on a canal (Main Street) in France while dodging tax/drug charges from the British government (exile) adds to the whole experience
5
Feb 21 2024
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Bookends
Simon & Garfunkel
Several songs that I thought were on this album are actually on BOTW. I’m not sure I needed a 2 min track of old people talking but it still had its high points (America, Mrs Robinson, Hazy Shade….I even like the zoo song). 3.4
3
Feb 22 2024
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Microshift
Hookworms
Hadn’t heard of the band before, after the first 30 seconds of the first song I thought we were headed to 1-star territory but it totally redeemed itself the more I listened. Had the stereo turned all the way up, might keep it on rotation in the car for the weekend. 3.0 on the nose.
3
Feb 23 2024
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Sweet Baby James
James Taylor
What a fraud. The best parts are when he’s pretending to be a poor white kid from the country instead of a prep school kid from Boston. The worst parts are when he’s trying to sound like Robert Johnson, it’s musical black face. Fuck you James Taylor
1
Feb 26 2024
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Bat Out Of Hell
Meat Loaf
Reminds me of that puppet vampire rock opera in Forgetting Sarah Marshall
2
Feb 27 2024
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My Aim Is True
Elvis Costello
At times I was into it, at other times the poor production, amateur musicianship, and Elvis’ singing style was more grating than charming. 2.6
3
Feb 28 2024
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MTV Unplugged In New York
Nirvana
I’d heard/seen bits and pieces of this album before but never listened or watched it all the way through. Lives up to its classic status, Cobain’s talent/charisma/intensity is undeniable. Need to go watch it now.
5
Feb 29 2024
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Movies
Holger Czukay
Listened to about 45 seconds of the first 2 songs and turned it off. Apologies to Holger if it got better and I missed it.
1
Mar 05 2024
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Doggystyle
Snoop Dogg
Dr Dre is the most important artist of the last 50 years in my opinion and he’s in his prime on this one.
Beats are an 11/10, snoop’s in his bag and the album starts incredibly strong but tails off a bit towards the end and most of the features are mediocre (except the incomparable Nate Dogg of course).
Also the height of skits in rap albums which take more off the table than they add.
4.2/5
4
Mar 06 2024
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Pretzel Logic
Steely Dan
Steely Dan seems to have developed some sort of cult hipster following in recent years so I thought this might be sneaky good, but it just seems mediocre to me.
2
Mar 07 2024
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Fishscale
Ghostface Killah
I had given up on Wutang adjacent albums by the 2000s so I missed this one. Mistake on my part, not a perfect album but it might be the only successful former wu member to have an album still retain some of the RZA sound but evolve to other producers (helps when you work with Just Blaze, Pete Rock, Dilla, Doom). 3.4
3
Mar 08 2024
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The Madcap Laughs
Syd Barrett
2
Mar 11 2024
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KIWANUKA
Michael Kiwanuka
Completely new to me. Dull in parts in my opinion but overall pretty cool
3
Mar 12 2024
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Beauty And The Beat
The Go-Go's
Like a middle aged music critic I found myself nostalgic for guitar driven pop music. All the songs are kind of the same and various degrees of catchiness. Our lips are sealed holds up
2
Mar 13 2024
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Countdown To Ecstasy
Steely Dan
Liked this one better than the last Steely Dan album, but I might just not be a Steely Dan guy. 2.4
2
Mar 14 2024
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Loveless
My Bloody Valentine
I know this is a beloved album, but do they really Iove it or are they just trying to look cool? There certainly is a beauty to the distortion/wall of sound feel to it but 50 minutes of it is too much for me. I’d like to understand at least a couple words or on some songs even melody of some kind. Maybe if I was on the right drugs this album would be life changing but sober on the drive to work it’s a concept that doesn’t work for me.
2
Mar 18 2024
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Tusk
Fleetwood Mac
Glad they gave us the weekend for this album as it’s a long one. Tough to follow up Rumours and suffers from what you’d expect, bloated album that sounds disjointed. Sounds more like each band member is taking turns writing songs than a band, which I guess is the interesting part of the album as the band breaks apart. I like Tusk the song a lot better than Tusk the album.
2
Mar 19 2024
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Ill Communication
Beastie Boys
This album and check your head are blended together in my head as a good but not great Beastie period. Prefer the beasties hip hopping more than rocking. 3.4
3
Mar 20 2024
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Aladdin Sane
David Bowie
Certainly not the best Bowie concept album (are they all concept albums?) but I enjoyed it for the most part.
3
Mar 21 2024
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I'm Your Man
Leonard Cohen
It sounds like a mash up album where they took Cohen’s vocals and laid them over some random synth backing tracks and back up singers. It kinda works sometimes but even when it doesn’t it’s at least kind of funny (Jazz police)
2
Mar 22 2024
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Back to Mystery City
Hanoi Rocks
Best Finnish Glam rock album of all time?
2
Mar 25 2024
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Hot Fuss
The Killers
Have never been a oilers fan but I have to admit there are a lot of hits on this album
3
Mar 26 2024
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At Mister Kelly's
Sarah Vaughan
Great voice but it didn’t do much for me.
2
Mar 28 2024
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Millions Now Living Will Never Die
Tortoise
Forcing Alicia to listen to these on vacation. Her review: “Sounds like music from a coffee shop with a bunch of random noises mixed in”
1
Mar 29 2024
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Closer
Joy Division
Maybe a 4, need a relisten.
3
Apr 01 2024
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Thriller
Michael Jackson
If not the GOAT pop album, certainly in the conversation. 40 years later and half the album would be hit singles. Some weak spots but it feels weird to give Thriller anything less than 5 stars
5
Apr 02 2024
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Dummy
Portishead
1994 was the peak of rap production in my opinion so I’m a sucker for the beats on this album, though I’d much rather hear the Pharcyde rap over them than this girl sing over them.
3
Apr 03 2024
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Hysteria
Def Leppard
Is this the worst music the world has ever produced or do I just need to lighten up and have some fun? This was the debate I had with myself while listening to this album.
If AC/DC is a cold beer at BPs, Def Leppard is the warm Lucky lager at the bottom of your hockey bag that under the right circumstances might make you say “that wasn’t as bad as I thought it was going to be”
2
Apr 04 2024
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Music From The Penguin Cafe
Penguin Cafe Orchestra
Stones. Beatles. Zeppelin. Penguin Cafe Orchestra. Not necessarily in that order
1
Apr 08 2024
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Kid A
Radiohead
One of the best albums of the 21st century. Themes of technology induced anxiety have aged incredibly well, everything in its right place is the best RH song in my opinion.
Listened to OK computer again right after to compare, not sure which one is best but they have more in common tonally than I think most people think, just OK has more guitars and slightly more traditional song structure. Easy 5 stars
5
Apr 09 2024
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Rust Never Sleeps
Neil Young & Crazy Horse
More good Neil on the list. Halfway through the album I was getting a little tired of it all being acoustic, then Neil went electric just when we needed it.
4
Apr 10 2024
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Brothers
The Black Keys
If the ultimate measure of an album is how many whiskey commercials it’s featured in, this would be the GOAT.
While obviously the most successful Black Keys album, I’ve never thought it was the best but maybe that’s just me trying to go against the grain. Hit after hit for the first 6 or 7 songs and while it goes a little long it’s pretty solid all the way through.
4
Apr 12 2024
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Duck Rock
Malcolm McLaren
2
Apr 15 2024
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Abattoir Blues / The Lyre of Orpheus
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds
I was worried I was going to hate this album and offend Mitsy with a bad review, fortunately it’s pretty fucking awesome on the first listen. Hiding all the way the standout track in my opinion
4
Apr 17 2024
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Live Through This
Hole
3
Apr 18 2024
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Let It Bleed
The Rolling Stones
My favourite Stones album and my favourite Beatles album in the same week. My favourite version of the stones is when they’ve got the country blues/southern rock lean to them and there’s a lot of that on this album. Even if all the middle was shit (it’s absolutely not shit) I might give it 5 stars for starting with Gimme Shelter and ending with You can’t always get what you want.
5
Apr 19 2024
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Mermaid Avenue
Billy Bragg
3.7. Can’t go wrong with Billy Bragg
4
Apr 22 2024
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Abbey Road
Beatles
The run of great Friday albums continues. This is the best Beatles album in my opinion. It should feel disjointed given they were basically taking turns writing their own songs but they all work together somehow. I even like Maxwell’s silver hammer.
5
Apr 23 2024
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Pet Sounds
The Beach Boys
I waffled between thinking this is saccharine bullshit and the melancholy Brian Wilson songwriting classic it’s supposed to be. I think I need a few more listens to decide whether to bump this to a 4 or down to a 2.
3
Apr 24 2024
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Juju
Siouxsie And The Banshees
Solid 3
3
Apr 25 2024
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Midnight Ride
Paul Revere & The Raiders
2.4 - certainly preferred to the psychedelic rock that was going on at the time but nothing particularly stood out good or bad for me
2
Apr 29 2024
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Neon Bible
Arcade Fire
AF is too pretentious for me to be a big fan but I do appreciate the effort they put into making whole albums. This isn’t my favourite but it gets better as it goes along and “keep the car running”is a banger
3
Apr 30 2024
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Mothership Connection
Parliament
Would be a 3 for me on its own merit (unfunky UFO is the best song I hadn’t heard before) but the fact that most songs are sampled in 90s hip hop songs bumps it up. Is Dr Dre’s career even possible without Parliament?
4
May 01 2024
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Rain Dogs
Tom Waits
Inconsistent but it certainly has its moments (clap your hands, gun street girl, union square). At its low points it sounds like the bad guys’ theme in a Tim Burton cartoon, which really isn’t that bad.
3
May 03 2024
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War
U2
I’ve always thought U2 was an overly self serious band who people who don’t really like music say is their favourite band. This album didn’t do anything to disabuse me of that opinion, but I can’t say I hated it. I haven’t totally closed my mind to the possibility that I might like one of U2s albums but it’s not this one. 2.3
2
May 06 2024
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2112
Rush
Impressive musicianship but doesn’t really do it for me.
2
May 07 2024
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Led Zeppelin II
Led Zeppelin
Every Zeppelin album is such a good time. I thought this was my least favourite of the first 4 going into it but it may have jumped up the list. The 3 song stretch of Heartbreaker, Living Loving Maid, and Ramble On is as good as it gets.
5
May 08 2024
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Southern Rock Opera
Drive-By Truckers
A lot of my favourite albums/movies/tv shows are ones that feel disctintive to a time and place and culture. In addition to being just a flat out awesome rock album, the album transports you to the late 90s/early 00s rural south. I feel like I’m drinking a beer in a field somewhere with a bunch of dudes with Skynard sleeveless shirts. It helps when you have Cooley and Hood writing all the songs too.
5
May 09 2024
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Doolittle
Pixies
4
May 10 2024
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Killing Joke
Killing Joke
Seemed fine, wasn’t in the mood for it and lasted 3.5 songs
2
May 13 2024
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Green Onions
Booker T. & The MG's
Less of a one song album than I anticipated but it’s hard for me to get into any all instrumental album 2.8
3
May 14 2024
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Remain In Light
Talking Heads
A lot of my 4 star albums are ones that I really like but they aren’t inventive/influential enough to be true 5 star albums (this is it by the strokes for example). This album is kind of the opposite. I think I like the idea of the Talking Heads more than I actually like the music. I can see why this would be someone’s favourite album but even though I like it, I’m not sure how many times I’d actually put this on to listen to. Highs are still really high though, I’m gonna go 3.6 and round up.
4
May 15 2024
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Peter Gabriel 3
Peter Gabriel
Interesting enough. Found the first half better than the second for the most part. Thought it was at its worst when it was overtly political or sentimental (we get it on Family Snapshot, you miss your Dad). Sonically sometimes the “experimental” stuff worked for me and other times is was too sparse or disjointed. 2.7
3
May 16 2024
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Transformer
Lou Reed
I haven’t spent much time listening to Lou Reed in the past, but enjoyed this one on the first listen. Almost feels like beat poetry put to music at times, which sounds terrible but it works with Reed’s voice and lyrics (Reed’s storytelling is excellent) and the spare production. The album sounds like it could’ve been produced by Rick Rubin in a different generation.
I feel like an easy marker lately but a 3.8 for me.
3
May 17 2024
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Desperate Youth, Blood Thirsty Babes
TV On The Radio
3
May 20 2024
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Violator
Depeche Mode
Not exactly in my wheelhouse, but Personal Jesus is still a banger.
2
May 22 2024
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Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness
The Smashing Pumpkins
Much prefer the debut album, classic double album that’s too ambitious in my opinion. 2.6
3
May 23 2024
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Ramones
Ramones
I know the simplicity of the songs is the point but 50 years later it’s no longer novel or edgy, it’s mostly just monotonous and boring. Obviously hugely influential and I like the one song, just not 14 times in a row. 2.2
2
May 24 2024
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Slipknot
Slipknot
Not for me and I only made it a few songs in but I actually appreciated it more than I thought I would.
2
May 27 2024
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1989
Taylor Swift
First time I’d listened to a Taylor Swift album. Not sure if this is considered her best one or not but overall I thought it was a pretty serviceable pop album. I can see where she gets the reputation as being disingenuous, the overall theme of the album seems to be “I’m a relatable hot mess” from the most prolific and successful pop star of her generation. Shake it off had me turn the volume up as always.
3
May 29 2024
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Made In Japan
Deep Purple
The great Tokyo wankfest of ‘72. The songs are fine, band sounds good, and the crowd is clearly into it but it’s 70% mastubatory solos that I mostly fast forwarded through. 1.8
2
May 30 2024
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Tago Mago
Can
2
May 31 2024
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Mama's Gun
Erykah Badu
At its best, sounds a lot like D’Angelo’s brown sugar (didn’t change know, my life). Lost me when the songs were more about the vocals or the lyrics than the music. Turned a couple up but then skipped a bunch. 2.2
2
Jun 03 2024
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Straight Outta Compton
N.W.A.
Most attention (for good reason) was paid to the lyrics when it came out but 40 yrs later it’s the production that stands out. The Dre beats are light years ahead of the simple drum machine production you hear in all the late 80s east coast rap and this album starts him on a path to be the most influential musician of his generation (in my opinion). Also Ice Cube is really the only good rapper in the group and he’s absolutely shot out of a cannon on this album. No doubter 5 stars
5
Jun 04 2024
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Liquid Swords
GZA
Your favourite rapper’s favourite Wutang member. Probably the best of the debut Wu solo efforts (and probably the closest to 36 chambers in tone). A few bangers that are as good as anything from the Wu (duel of the iron mic, 4th chamber, shadow boxin), but on some of the tracks Gia’s subdued (albeit technically brilliant) rapping doesn’t pop like it does when contrasted with the other members of the clan.
4
Jun 05 2024
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The Nightfly
Donald Fagen
Billy Joel but he sucks. 1.7
2
Jun 06 2024
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The Bones Of What You Believe
CHVRCHES
I was vaguely aware of the band but in my head they had a male lead singer (maybe I was thinking Eric Church?). Decent pop album I guess, no idea what makes this album significant enough to make this list.
2
Jun 07 2024
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Berlin
Lou Reed
Accidentally listened to the live version. Not sure I got it as there’s clearly some kind of narrative but I liked it anyway
3
Jun 10 2024
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More Songs About Buildings And Food
Talking Heads
The take me to the river cover is a banger. The rest of the album is typical talking heads, I like the vibe but I kind of find myself passively listening or thinking of other stuff
3
Jun 17 2024
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Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not
Arctic Monkeys
My number 1 draft pick for albums to drink 1000 beers to. Alex Turner is overqualified to write songs about going out, getting drunk, and picking up girls but it’s really his lyrics that make the album special. Turner manages to capture the drunken excitement, anxiety, regret, and more than anything the absurdity of it all on songs that would’ve rocked even with the dumbest lyrics possible.
5
Jun 18 2024
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1999
Prince
Starting off with 1999 and little red corvette is pretty strong. Hit and miss for me after that, but the hits are pretty fun
3
Jun 21 2024
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Club Classics Vol. One
Soul II Soul
However do you want me? However do you need me? - questions that define a generation. I can’t believe I had to wade through 13 mostly forgettable songs to get to the real Back to Life version which totally holds up. I also like the horns in Jazzies’s groove, sounded like a prime De La beat.
2
Jun 24 2024
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Talking Heads 77
Talking Heads
4
Jun 25 2024
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Funeral
Arcade Fire
I think this is my favourite AF album. Holds the narrative and sonic structure pretty consistently and Wake Up is the best song they’ve made in my opinion. 4.1
4
Jun 26 2024
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Stand!
Sly & The Family Stone
Kind of hilarious that the unity anthem “Everyday People” is on the same album as “Don’t call me nigger, Whitey”. These guys are just the coolest motherfuckers 3.8
4
Jun 27 2024
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Hypocrisy Is The Greatest Luxury
The Disposable Heroes Of Hiphoprisy
Sick public enemy cover band. Perhaps the real “hiphopcracy” is making a painfully earnest social justice album while completely ripping off the originators of conscious hip hop.
1
Jun 28 2024
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Sticky Fingers
The Rolling Stones
Probably the best Stones album and my second favourite album to drink 1000 beers to. Dennis Leary has this bit where he says he wants to open a bar called O’Leary’s that only serves Budweiser and Bushmills and only plays the Stones and that’s what I think of when I listen to this album.
5
Jul 01 2024
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Synchronicity
The Police
Slower and weirder to get going than I would’ve thought (didn’t see “Mother” coming). Looking at the track list I thought I only knew “every breath you take” but the 4 song run from “synchronicity II” to “wrapped around your finger” is pretty good and all familiar. I probably won’t be playing this all weekend but I enjoyed the first listen.
3
Jul 02 2024
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Natty Dread
Bob Marley & The Wailers
I feel like I should’ve liked this more than I did. Kinda dull and repetitive, maybe I should’ve been smoking weed. 2.3
2
Jul 04 2024
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Konnichiwa
Skepta
I hadn’t heard of Skepta before. While it was a bit repetitive (50%+of the beats had sirens) and the skits were grating at times, I thought it was a pretty decent rap album. 2.6
3
Jul 05 2024
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Ellington at Newport
Duke Ellington
I’m not going to have to time to listen to a 2hr Jazz album today but the Duke and the band obviously sound great. I like how they left all the MC parts in, it kind of just seemed like any other night at the Newport Jazz festival. I can’t imagine they thought anyone would be listening to the recording 70 years later which I think gives you a better feel for the time and place.
3
Jul 08 2024
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The Score
Fugees
Classic hip hop. Wyclef produces solid beats and is entertaining on the mic, and Pras competently fills the role of Chris Bosh to Clef and Lauryn’s Wade and Lebron but Lauryn Hill is clearly the star. L is like if Whitney Houston could rap like Andre 3000. It’s a shame we only get one more album out of her, you’d be hard pressed to find anyone in Hip Hop history with more talent.
5
Jul 09 2024
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Can't Buy A Thrill
Steely Dan
I almost skipped this one after the last 2 Steely Dan entries in this list but I’m glad I changed my mind halfway to work. Still not exactly my favourite band but I now at least understand the appeal as this album is far superior to the other two in my opinion. The 3 singles are the highlights (if you don’t sing along to Dirty Work you’re a stronger man than I) but the deep tracks were pretty solid too (Midnite cruiser being my favourite). Solid 3.3
3
Jul 11 2024
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Live At Leeds
The Who
Well executed live album but not a huge Who fan
3
Jul 12 2024
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Younger Than Yesterday
The Byrds
Title track was catchy, otherwise forgettable in my opinion
2
Jul 16 2024
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Live At The Harlem Square Club
Sam Cooke
I can think of worse ways to use a Time Machine than to go back to the Harlem Square club in 1962 to see Sam Cooke
5
Jul 17 2024
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Chocolate Starfish And The Hot Dog Flavored Water
Limp Bizkit
The most 2000 album possible (he dedicates a song to Ben Stiller for fuck sakes). Limp Bizkit obviously sucks but I was trying to figure out why they were so huge.
I was in Nashville a few weeks ago and saw a version of a bar band that I’ve seen a few times now. They have a charismatic lead singer who stands on the bar and gets into it with the crowd and who flips back and forth between genres and does medleys of seemingly unrelated songs. It’s a great time in a crowded bar after 9 Coor’s banquets. This should have been Fred Durst’s career. Holding down the 10-12 Saturday slot at Blake Shelton’s bar, closing with Devil Went down to Georgia with Sweet Child of Mine thrown in the middle of it.
However, through some fucked up cosmic aligning of stars Limp Bizkit briefly became the biggest band in the world. I think what happened is they happened to catch the tail end of the era where people identified as fans of only one genre of music, but just as the internet was making it a lot easier to discover a much more diverse catalog. Limp Bizkit rips off/samples/interpolates Nine Inch Nails, Rakim, The Eagles, and even the Mission Impossible theme on this album. It (rightly) feels extremely derivative today but it was novel in 2000 and I think appealed to people who liked “life in the fast lane” but didn’t think it was cool to say so. Throw in the generic heavy guitars, even more generic “fuck the man” lyrics, and enough references to sex to make teenagers not want their parents to hear it and all of a sudden they’re selling out arenas. What a time to be alive.
2
Jul 19 2024
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Truth
Jeff Beck
I had always seen Jeff Beck mentioned in the great guitarist conversations but never really spent any time listening to him. Not much I like more than a bluesy guitar and Beck certainly delivers that here. Feels like Led Zeppelin 0 and that’s definitely a compliment.
3
Jul 22 2024
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There's No Place Like America Today
Curtis Mayfield
Got into the car in a bad mood, got out in a good one.
3
Jul 24 2024
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Brothers In Arms
Dire Straits
Best off just playing the first 3 songs on a loop, falls off a cliff after that. Money for nothing is a great song though and I can’t think of too many better band names than “Dire Straits”
3
Jul 25 2024
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Fun House
The Stooges
I always thought Raw Power was supposed to be their classic but I liked this one better, lost me a bit near the end and a couple of the songs probably didn’t need to be 7 mins long but that’s picking nits for an album that’s pretty fucking awesome front to back.
4
Jul 26 2024
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Tonight's The Night
Neil Young
I think I’ve been sleeping on Neil, another awesome album I had never even heard of.
4
Jul 29 2024
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We Are Family
Sister Sledge
I hope the sledge family made a fortune off of “Big Willie Style”
3
Aug 14 2024
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Goodbye Yellow Brick Road
Elton John
Didn’t have myself pegged as an Elton fan but had a great time through most of this album (Jamaican jerk off is regrettable). Benny and the Jets is a great song and Saturday Nights alright brings me back to 90s HNIC intros
4
Aug 15 2024
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Viva Hate
Morrissey
Morrissey does longing and desperation really well but it becomes pretty dour over a whole album. I like when “everyday is like Sunday” shows up in the right playlist but things would have to be going pretty rough for me to listen to this for an hour again.
3
Aug 16 2024
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Searching For The Young Soul Rebels
Dexys Midnight Runners
My first thought was it’s hilarious to pick the Dexy’s album without Come On Eileen on it but it was somewhat interesting. The album is all over the place, sometimes it felt like they were trying to be a more ska version of the clash other times it’s kind of goofy pop. I’m a sucker for the horns though
2
Aug 19 2024
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Metallica
Metallica
Wanted to get into this one but I just don’t think I’m ever going to be a Metallica fan. Enter Sandman is a hall of fame opener to an album though and is worth an extra star.
3
Aug 21 2024
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Sweetheart Of The Rodeo
The Byrds
Sounded more like a parody of a country album than the pioneering country rock album it was (according Wikipedia) but it sounds like they took a huge career risk to make it so I respect that.
2
Aug 22 2024
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Lady Soul
Aretha Franklin
1968 must’ve been a hell of a year to go the record store. Tough to argue anyone’s ever had a better voice than Aretha, but I’m not sure if most of these songs take full advantage of it. It’s one of the rare albums that’s too short and some of the songs are under 3 mins and don’t totally feel finished.
4
Aug 23 2024
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The Piper At The Gates Of Dawn
Pink Floyd
Dark side of the moon it aint
2
Aug 26 2024
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In Utero
Nirvana
Remarkable that this album follows nevermind. Usually the follow up to the breakthrough album gets softer, more commercial, or at least less angry. In Utero goes the other way but with the production and talent of the biggest band in the world. A testament to Cobain’s talent and maybe why there was never going to be a 4th album. I’ve never considered myself a nirvana fan but each time they’ve come up on this list I’ve found myself listening to and thinking about them for days afterward.
5
Aug 27 2024
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Paul's Boutique
Beastie Boys
Total flop when it was released because it was so different from Licence to ill, but rightly now considered a classic. Appropriately samples from the 2nd half of Abbey Road (one of a million samples that would cost a fortune only a couple years later, but labels hadn’t caught on yet) as the whole album feels like one big medley. I’ve probably listened to the album 100 times but I’m not sure I’ve ever just put on one song, they don’t really work in their own but altogether its a one of a kind 5-mic album
5
Aug 28 2024
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You Want It Darker
Leonard Cohen
Pretty impressive for an album so late in life. I guess when your style is pretty much spoken word you can sustain it for a lifetime.
3
Aug 29 2024
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Under Construction
Missy Elliott
This is a Brett Knutson exclusive.
This album has aged like milk. Most glaringly (and gratingly) are the Timbo beats but Missy’s rap style too all sound extremely 2002 and I now remember why this is the worst era in rap history. Maybe 20 years ago is just old enough to seem extremely outdated, but not yet old enough to be cool again and in 10 years this will be a 4 star album but I doubt it.
2
Aug 30 2024
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Tres Hombres
ZZ Top
Is La Grange about a whorehouse? If so, pretty cool it’s been on the radio for 50 years.
Overall not overly compelling music (though I did turn it up when la grange came on). Clearly can play the he’ll out of their guitars but I found myself thinking about other stuff 90% of the time. 2.3
2
Sep 02 2024
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In A Silent Way
Miles Davis
Don’t give this enough time for a proper review
3
Sep 04 2024
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Moon Safari
Air
Liked some of the songs that were more daft punk-esque (l’femme de argent, Kelly watch the stars) did not like the songs with vocals. 2.3
2
Sep 05 2024
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Elastica
Elastica
Take out “Indian Song” and this album pretty much rocks front to back. My algorithm has failed me by never suggesting Elastica before. I was vaguely aware of them but I had them pegged as an 80s pop band but they’re a lot closer to Everclear than the Bangles
4
Sep 06 2024
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Jazz Samba
Stan Getz
Warm weather jazz, a nice accompaniment to a sunny drive to work this morning
3