Nov 20 2023
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Who's Next
The Who
Skip tracks 4, 6
Well arranged songs. More epic than I typically like to listen to, but the quality is undeniable. Would not go out of my way to listen to this band. Good work, just not something I would put on a mix. Exhausted and bored after the first few tracks.
3
Nov 21 2023
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Life Thru A Lens
Robbie Williams
Wtf is this bullshit? No fucking way am I sitting through this horrendous pop crap. Fuck the dipshit who added this to the list.
1
Nov 22 2023
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Lupe Fiasco's Food & Liquor
Lupe Fiasco
Not for me. It’s well made. Just too pop/kanye. Meh. Stopped after 3 or 4 songs.
2
Nov 23 2023
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We Are Family
Sister Sledge
Love! Already had half the album in my favorites. Added a couple more.
5
Nov 24 2023
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Lam Toro
Baaba Maal
It’s okay. Not my favorite from Africa. Lots of singing. Very good production. Not great for mixes. Neutral for me.
3
Nov 27 2023
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Disraeli Gears
Cream
Really not my thing. I appreciate its place in music history. I can see why people like it. But it is driving me nuts and I really hate it right now. Had to stop after 4/5 songs.
2
Nov 28 2023
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Highway 61 Revisited
Bob Dylan
Oy. Yes, Dylan is important to music history and songwriting. But, Jesus, I do not like listening to his voice. Overall, this skews more honky tonk than I can handle. This album is not for me, at all. Stopped early.
2
Nov 29 2023
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Stripped
Christina Aguilera
No. Not interested.
1
Nov 30 2023
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Layla And Other Assorted Love Songs
Derek & The Dominos
Much better Clapton than Cream. It’s not bad. It’s just Clapton. Music is fine. Not my thing.
2
Dec 01 2023
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Trans Europe Express
Kraftwerk
4
Dec 03 2023
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Maxinquaye
Tricky
Been ages since I’ve listened to this one. I like it better now. There’s still some stuff that’s more sound than music, but this album is overall very good.
4
Dec 04 2023
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War
U2
It’s been a long time. I forgot how good they used to be. This album holds up. This is why the band got famous in the first place. This deserves a comeback. It’s easily the best thing they ever did. 10/10 bangers front to back. Every song was regularly played on the radio in NYC back in the day.
5
Dec 05 2023
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Don't Stand Me Down
Dexys Midnight Runners
Feels like I wandered into a recording session. Feel’s meandering, unedited, mumbling. This is not for me. It’s pub music at best and I don’t drink. Stopped
1
Dec 06 2023
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Planet Rock: The Album
Afrika Bambaataa
FUCK YES!!!!!!!!
The sound of my childhood. 10000 stars!
5
Dec 07 2023
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Heartattack And Vine
Tom Waits
So far this is better than I expected. I don’t drink enough to put this on regular rotation. But it’s clearly good, well written and uniquely performed. A full album of gravelly singing is a bit much for me. Instrumental bits are more successful. Too exhausted to fully listen to the last 3 songs.
3
Dec 08 2023
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Sulk
The Associates
First song is just a cocaine-fueled synth instrumental that then sounds like trash rattling in the wind. Second song sounds like Xymox, but off key and slowed down. Third song explains why I’ve never heard of this band. Fourth song - oy vey. It gets worse from here.
This is not good. I understand that this is early synth pop goth. At best, it sounds like a bad joke. The more I hear, the less I like.
1
Dec 09 2023
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Siembra
Willie Colón & Rubén Blades
FANTASTIC!
What a breath of fresh air in the never-ending slog of old white man music. More like this, please.
5
Dec 10 2023
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Superfuzz Bigmuff
Mudhoney
1
Dec 11 2023
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In The Wee Small Hours
Frank Sinatra
Love Sinatra. This album is perfect.
5
Dec 12 2023
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Harvest
Neil Young
I hate Neil Young’s voice.
1
Dec 13 2023
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Maxwell's Urban Hang Suite
Maxwell
This album holds up! Classic soulful R&B. This will get you laid.
5
Dec 14 2023
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Get Rich Or Die Tryin'
50 Cent
Is this a joke?
1
Dec 15 2023
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The Chronic
Dr. Dre
West coast bitches trying to act hard
1
Dec 16 2023
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The Atomic Mr Basie
Count Basie & His Orchestra
HELL TO THE MOTHER FUCKING YES!!!!
PERFECTION
5
Dec 17 2023
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Songs In The Key Of Life
Stevie Wonder
YAY!!
There’s a bunch of songs that just don’t resonate with me. But then the classics start and who can care about anything else. So many brilliant hits off this album.
5
Dec 18 2023
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Punishing Kiss
Ute Lemper
She has a nice enough voice. The music is well played and arranged. And yet, this stinks. Comes together like bad Broadway. Why was this made?
I will never listen to this again. Cannot get through a whole song. This is not good.
1
Dec 19 2023
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Axis: Bold As Love
Jimi Hendrix
WOOOHOOO!!!
5
Dec 20 2023
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Vauxhall And I
Morrissey
Used to love this fucker back in the day. Now he’s a big time racist, elitist piece of shit.
Had stopped listening by the time this one came out. There’s nothing necessary about this one. There’s no reason this should be on a list like this.
1
Dec 21 2023
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Dig Your Own Hole
The Chemical Brothers
Used to love this fucker back in the day. Now he’s a big time racist, elitist piece of shit.
Had stopped listening by the time this one came out. There’s nothing necessary about this one. There’s no reason this should be on a list like this.
5
Dec 22 2023
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Selected Ambient Works 85-92
Aphex Twin
Going in nervous. I appreciate this band, but they can be a little intense.
Ok, I take it back. This has been great. Might be their most listenable album. Ambient is the correct descriptor. It’s upbeat, easy to keep in the background, easy to work to. Honestly, I am really enjoying this album.
Another nice surprise off this list. Me likey.
5
Dec 23 2023
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Jazz Samba
Stan Getz
YAYAYAYAYAY!!!!!
Beyond perfect. This is another level of beautiful
5
Dec 24 2023
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So
Peter Gabriel
Oh snap! Another from the old collection. Love this album. Ages ahead of its time. It dropped like a bomb on 80s pop music.
It’s still so good. Better than most. Every note of this is flooding back from memory.
5
Dec 25 2023
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The College Dropout
Kanye West
Kanye is a Nazi piece of shit. Fuck him and fuck everyone who still supports him.
1
Dec 26 2023
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A Christmas Gift For You From Phil Spector
Various Artists
The only Xmas album that matters. Darlene Love could sing the phone book and it would be a fucking banger.
5
Dec 27 2023
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Aha Shake Heartbreak
Kings of Leon
I don’t hate this. Why don’t I hate this?
Overall, this was actually okay. Nothing new or innovative. It’s fine. It’s pop rock. Won’t listen to this again, though.
3
Dec 28 2023
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Bryter Layter
Nick Drake
Very pretty
4
Dec 29 2023
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Station To Station
David Bowie
It’s fucking Bowie.
5
Dec 30 2023
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1977
Ash
Here’s the thing. This sound was totally played out by the time this came out. It was tired already. The only people listening still were frat boys. It was top 40 junk.
There’s no soul in this music. It’s empty. Sounds like Pavement and I wouldn’t put them on a list like this either.
1
Dec 31 2023
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First Band On The Moon
The Cardigans
I was hoping to like this one. But baby voices are annoying and the music isn’t good enough to compensate. Boring, uninspired pop crap.
Men love that sexy baby sound.
1
Jan 01 2024
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Oar
Alexander 'Skip' Spence
Would be better with a head full of acid
2
Jan 02 2024
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Club Classics Vol. One
Soul II Soul
Fun hearing the whole album. Found a few more songs that I like. Not everything is great. That Do’reen sings like a goat. But overall, this is a good album.
4
Jan 03 2024
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Future Days
Can
4 songs in 40 minutes. This is brilliant.
5
Jan 04 2024
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Treasure
Cocteau Twins
So advanced for 1984. Truly unique.
Great band. Can’t remember the last time I listened to a full album. This was a treat.
4
Jan 05 2024
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The Dark Side Of The Moon
Pink Floyd
Confession: never listened to this before. Never really got into this band. What little I had heard seemed boring, or like you need a bunch of acid to enjoy.
This is probably amazing on headphones, while tripping balls. Probably great when paired with the Wizard of Oz, or whatever it was people would rave about. This is certainly a mood. And it is very well composed, serious song structure, real direction. Excellent musicianship. There’s nothing bad here.
Confession #2: I’m still mostly bored. Feels like I missed my window to develop a real affection for this band. Maybe you need to be young to be impressed by this. At this point, to my ears, it’s just alright. It’s good, but I’m not getting the full OMG experience.
This was very good, but I don’t see myself listening to it again. Don’t hate it, but won’t seek it out.
3
Jan 06 2024
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Surfer Rosa
Pixies
Oh fuck yes!
How have I never listened to this album? This is the one with Gigantic.
5
Jan 07 2024
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Melody A.M.
Röyksopp
Oooo! Looking forward to this one.
Very, very pretty. Really enjoyed this.
5
Jan 08 2024
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Green River
Creedence Clearwater Revival
Oy more hippies.
This is good for driving down the highway with the windows open.
It’s fine. Overall, it’s too loud and too country for my taste. It’s the kind of music that’s playing at a bar you don’t want to be in. Can’t get into it.
2
Jan 09 2024
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Clube Da Esquina
Milton Nascimento
This is the shit I came here for.
Fantastic. Loved this.
5
Jan 10 2024
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Brilliant Corners
Thelonious Monk
Oh this is going to be fun.
Ok, not my favorite. This is closer to what people who hate jazz, think jazz is.
It’s still pretty great and unique.
4
Jan 11 2024
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Meat Is Murder
The Smiths
Hello, darkness, my old friend.
5
Jan 12 2024
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John Prine
John Prine
I hate this kind of music.
1
Jan 13 2024
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Street Signs
Ozomatli
This is fun. Not perfect, but really good.
3
Jan 14 2024
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The Infotainment Scan
The Fall
Ok, the cover of Sister Sledge’s Lost in Music is kinda cool. Nice surprise.
Overall, I get it. The band is influential, prolific, and eclectic. It’s not bad, just not something I’d come back to.
My problem is that I only seem to like parts of their songs. Like, good music, but meh singing, that kinda thing. It’d be nice to enjoy a full song.
3
Jan 15 2024
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Kala
M.I.A.
Looking forward to this.
Already like several tracks on this one. Loved the video for Boyz. This whole aesthetic came out of left field. There was no one who looked or sounded like her.
Lots of fun, lively tracks. Very unique.
4
Jan 16 2024
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OK
Talvin Singh
Starts off sounding like the soundtrack for a Venice Beach guru cult, complete with gropey hot yoga sessions in a converted shipping container.
Cheap, cliche and very posery. Even the cover art looks like an AI prompt. Nothing feels authentic. Just a cash grab.
Nothing about this record is required listening. This was all very old sounding by ‘98. There are much better recordings that were overlooked for this mall muzak.
1
Jan 17 2024
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The Lamb Lies Down On Broadway
Genesis
Starts off a bit better than most progrock. Sounds better when it’s just Peter Gabriel singing.
It sounds like the soundtrack for a very tedious and heavy handed Broadway show. I’m shocked it hasn’t been become a jukebox musical, yet.
It’s very very 70s prog. Like omg, someone smash that keyboard. Definitely not something I will listen to again. This requires a lot of drugs.
Frustrating cause every time they get a good bit going, they start throwing in cheesy prog cliche sounds. Album is way, way too long. For early Genesis, it’s okay. But I can’t wait for it to end.
Peter Gabriel was smart to leave this band and go solo.
2
Jan 18 2024
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There's A Riot Goin' On
Sly & The Family Stone
Oh yay! This is the album with Family Affair.
Starts off hot and funky. I’m sold within the first 30 seconds. You can already hear the influence this had on George Clinton and Gil Scott Heron. It’s a rich tapestry of American soul. And it just gets better from there.
This is the kind of album that deserves its place in the pantheon of great recordings. Unique, interesting, relevant, influential and inspiring. It’s both experimental and complete. The band knew exactly who they were and what they wanted. There’s no searching, only quality and delivery.
How have I lived so long without listening to this album? What’s the point of life without this excellence?
Burn all that whiney, shitty hippie crap. I would rather have this record listed 100 times, than have it stand next to some of the hot garbage that’s on here. How you gonna put Robbie Williams and Cee Lo in the same room as this?
This record is so good, I wish I could give others -500 ratings. It’s so good, I want to violently shake the author and make him explain himself. Like, how dare you think half of this list could even come close to this.
This is my new favorite album and I’m only halfway through. There needs to be a higher rating than 5 for stuff like this. This is perfect. Not a note out of place.
I thought Sly was good before. But now I know that he was so much better than I could have imagined. He does not get a fraction of the praise that is heaped on his contemporaries. Throw Clapton, Dylan, Young and Creedence in the river. This is so much better. Even the yodeling song is better than most music on this list.
100,000/5
5
Jan 19 2024
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Autobahn
Kraftwerk
It’s hard to critique this band. They were a million years ahead of the rest of the world.
It’s amazing how listenable their albums really are. This one was pure techno, a good 20years before techno existed. It’s like 808 State, it’s a night at the Palladium. Really very very good compositions.
4
Jan 20 2024
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Be
Common
Nice smooth head boppin’ hip hop. It’s like easy-listening rap. I don’t dislike it. It’s very nice. Less edgy than Queen Latifah. But nice.
Skip Kanye the Nazi lover.
3
Jan 21 2024
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The Age Of The Understatement
The Last Shadow Puppets
This is pretty cute. Never heard of them. There’s quality here. Good vocals, good production, nice music. Not too pop, not gimmicky. Just good solid music. Me likey.
Feels like the kind of band that would play at The Roadhouse in Twin Peaks.
Can’t find anything bad to say about this. Good stuff.
4
Jan 22 2024
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Fleet Foxes
Fleet Foxes
Such a pretty album. This is just the loveliest singing and harmony. Choral folk, but somehow not at all corny. Genuinely pretty as fuck.
4
Jan 23 2024
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Amnesiac
Radiohead
WOOOHOOO!
Every album, from Ok Computer through In Rainbows, is absolutely brilliant.
5
Jan 24 2024
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Elephant Mountain
The Youngbloods
First track had me panicking with the fiddles, but it becomes a nice banger in the end. So far, this is better than most of the hippie shit on this list.
There’s something sincere here, something interesting and thoughtful. Not horrible at all. Well crafted music played with clarity. This actually pretty cute. Nice range, good attitude. Can’t hate it.
4
Jan 25 2024
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The Lexicon Of Love
ABC
Oh hot damn. What a nice surprise. Love this band.
The hits still hit. This band is fun 80s blue-eyed soul pop. There’s some good stuff here. It’s cute. Gets better as it goes.
It was probably more of a sensation when it dropped in ‘82. Today it feels a little dated. Not sure how it earned a spot on this list. It’s very good, but not exactly essential.
Definitely polished. I can see how this fuller sound influenced a lot of the British pop that followed. Can’t get Pet Shop Boys, Tears for Fears, Style Council or Duran Duran without this record.
That said, Look of Love is still fabulous and impossible not to love.
This is what Sam Smith thinks he sounds like. He does not.
4
Jan 26 2024
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Hearts And Bones
Paul Simon
Oh fuck yes.
Hearts and Bones and Train in the Distance are so beautiful that it hardly matters what the rest of the album sounds like.
There are some real clunkers. Overall it’s unfocused, or like he was trying out contemporary styles that just don’t suit him.
But what is good, is fucking amazing.
4
Jan 27 2024
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Scissor Sisters
Scissor Sisters
On paper I should love this band. But I have struggled to connect to their sound.
It’s too much like 70s Elton John and the Bee-Gees. That’s not a bad thing. Just too much of another artist’s well-established sound. It’s wall-to-wall falsetto and there’s nothing really new here. You could believably claim this was an album of covers. It feels calculated, not authentic.
They are supposed to be based in NYC, but it is not reflected in their sound at all. It’s London/Cali/Detroit at best. They sound like transplants.
I checked and, yes, they are from Arizona, Texas and Oregon. It shows.
I can’t say this is bad. It’s fine. It’s just not essential. And it’s a lot of falsetto! Tapping out early.
Oh and Better Luck Next Time totally ripped off Depeche Mode’s Never Let Me Down Again.
2
Jan 28 2024
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Fear and Whiskey
Mekons
Damn. The author of this book loves pub rock.
I don’t drink enough to make this sound good.
1
Jan 29 2024
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Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers
Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers
While I don’t totally vibe with Tom Petty’s music, I do respect its place in the pantheon of American music.
This is the definition of suburban rock. It requires teenagers in cars and keggers in the woods. It’s what the kids in Fast Times at Ridgemont High listened to. Not a bad thing. Just can’t relate.
3
Jan 30 2024
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Cheap Thrills
Big Brother & The Holding Company
I was fully prepared to hate this. But it’s fantastic.
Janis at her finest. Her range, control and emotion are pitch perfect in every track. How she made gravelly screaming sound good, is a work of magic.
Even the music is just right. Not overly self-indulgent. Genuinely good rhythm and blues, played very well. Really balanced sound.
This should be annoying. But it’s really great. It’s probably the best example of the genre. The fact that it’s recorded live, without any of the modern production ‘fixes’, proves how tight this band really was.
Again, I should totally hate everything about this, but there is not one flaw to be found.
5
Jan 31 2024
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Oxygène
Jean-Michel Jarre
For what it is, this is fine.
3
Feb 01 2024
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Gasoline Alley
Rod Stewart
Jesus. Ok, so I don’t have anything against Rod Stewart. He’s fine, whatever.
But wtf was the obsession with honky tonk back then? There’s a reason I chose to eliminate country music from this generator. It’s unbearable and grating.
This album has a lot of the things I dislike. Kept looking for even just one halfway decent song. No. Not here. This is shit. Steaming hot crap. I tried, but this is terrible.
1
Feb 02 2024
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Larks' Tongues In Aspic
King Crimson
Oh gosh. Exactly what is this? What is this for? Is someone supposed to enjoy listening to this?
Yeah, no. This is pure noise. Tapping out after 5 minutes. I can’t listen to this mess.
1
Feb 03 2024
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Destroy Rock & Roll
Mylo
Not sure how I have managed to hear a few of these before. Must have snuck into Napster/Limewire under different names.
Not bad overall. Not essential, but not bad. The song Destroy Rock and Roll is a very clear reference to Daft Punk’s Homework. Not great.
There are a few cute songs here. But most of this is pretty average. Not new or innovative. Too late in the game to be influential. It’s like easy-listening DJ music. If this intended to be the heir to Kraftwerk and 808 State, this is a poor example.
This is fine, but there are better records that deserve this spot.
3
Feb 04 2024
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São Paulo Confessions
Suba
Mid-90s nouveau samba. This is around the time of Bebel Gilberto’s crossover, and Towa Tei’s bossa nova sound. DJ lounge music was big. You can hear elements of Bjork and Tricky in this album. This downtempo sound was the counterpoint to the harder techno and electronica sound at the time. Mushroom jazz was just emerging in San Francisco.
Really enjoying this one. Wish I had heard this at the time. Excellent choice for this list.
5
Feb 05 2024
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Faith
George Michael
Oh fuck yes!! This was such a sensation when it came out. So many good pop songs. Everyone my age knows every word to Faith. Still holds up. This bitch could sing.
Father Figure is still weird. Once watched a carny play it for a 13yr old girl. She loved it. Following that track with I Want Your Sex was a choice.
I miss this golden-voiced weirdo. Forgot how much of this record was played on the radio. It was everywhere. The whole sound is emphatically 1987. Hard to hate. His stuff was always fun to sing along with. Wish he was still making records.
4
Feb 06 2024
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Dry
PJ Harvey
Goddamn this lady is insanely talented.
4
Feb 07 2024
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Bone Machine
Tom Waits
What is this movie that plays behind his eyes?
This is a lot fun. He created such a rich atmosphere, filled with curious characters. Tom Waits is just very unique, an acquired taste. I’m glad to have finally gotten there. His music is so so good.
5
Feb 08 2024
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D
White Denim
I think I just really don’t like psychedelic prog rock. This is just lost on me. Clearly it’s well made for what it is. But I’m gonna stab a bitch if I have to keep listening.
2
Feb 09 2024
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Le Tigre
Le Tigre
Kathleen Hanna performs with such abandon that it’s impossible not to enjoy whatever she’s doing.
This band is so much fun. It’s pure LES/Brooklyn pre-9/11. Extra bonus is the dig at Giuliani in My Metrocard.
I don’t care if I don’t love every song. The hits are so excellent, they carry everything else.
5
Feb 10 2024
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Songs For Swingin' Lovers!
Frank Sinatra
Classics on top of classics. It’s perfect. Even if I prefer other renditions of these songs, there is nothing to complain about here.
5
Feb 11 2024
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Here, My Dear
Marvin Gaye
To me, this is hilarious. It’s genuinely very good. Music is beautifully composed, the singing is excellent. And the lyrics really are about the end of a relationship.
What tickles me is how on-theme all the songs are. The man was seriously upset by this marriage. He put it all out there. It’s a very cathartic project. If you’re going through it, this is the album for you.
Considering the other concept albums on this list, this has to be among the best. Setting a song about attorney fees to a sexy slow jam, is the chef’s kiss of pettiness.
5
Feb 12 2024
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Let's Stay Together
Al Green
The most beautiful song in the history of all space and time. It never gets old. It’s always a joy. Nothing is better than this song. Supremely romantic. Soulful and tangible. I could listen to this forever. And that’s just the first track.
Everything here is perfect. Al Green is the fucking best.
5
Feb 13 2024
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Catch A Fire
Bob Marley & The Wailers
Marley belongs in the top five artists of all time. Everything he did was amazing and timeless. This record is fantastic.
5
Feb 14 2024
View Album
I Should Coco
Supergrass
Alright is alright. The rest of this is too noisy for me. They are trying to be punk, but this is closer to frat rock. I really enjoyed the part where it got quiet, once I turned it off.
2
Feb 15 2024
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Repeater
Fugazi
Fugazi is one of those bands that’s difficult to critique. They had such an immense influence on music. Fugazi got America pregnant and birthed a million garage bands.
This record is fucking great!
The only thing wrong with this album is that it doesn’t have Waiting Room on it.
5
Feb 16 2024
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Superunknown
Soundgarden
Jesus Christ, it has been a long ass time since I listened to this. Had a friend in college that was in love with Chris Cornell. We sat up all night trying to decipher and transcribe the lyrics from all her favorite songs. Back in ye olden days.
I think I like this more now than I did back then. Miss the fuck out of Cornell’s voice. He sounds so great on Fell on Black Days. Forgot how much I loved this song. His voice was always best when he just sang. He could scream with the best, but he sang better than most.
Honestly, it was impossible not to jump around to all of my favorites first. You could release this today. It’s still so strong. Black Hole Sun, Spoonman… such classics. And that voice. “No one sings like you anymore.”
5
Feb 17 2024
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Only By The Night
Kings of Leon
Did we really need more than one album from this band?
This feels forced and phony.
2
Feb 18 2024
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Yeezus
Kanye West
Never. Fuck this Nazi.
1
Feb 19 2024
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Spy Vs. Spy: The Music Of Ornette Coleman
John Zorn
Can’t make it more than 5 seconds. This is noise. Unbearable noise.
1
Feb 20 2024
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Drunk
Thundercat
Such a weird little gem.
It’s like stream of conscious cool jazz. It’s a throwback tribute to the late 70s/early 80s liteFM sound. Calm, peaceful and trippy. Sometimes funny, sometimes intimate. And then he’ll just start meowing over some quiet storm r&b. It’s bizarre and wonderful.
This bitch had the nerve to dig up Kenny Loggins and Michael McDonald. I love how unapologetically nerdy the whole thing is.
There was probably a lot of mushrooms involved in the creative process. But the music is beautifully arranged and performed. The talent and skill are front and center. It’s really hard to make a project like this work so well. Respect.
Nice to see this on the list. It’s a unique treat all the way through. This made me a fan.
5
Feb 21 2024
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Palo Congo
Sabu
Yes yes yes! Already love the first song. Love having a chance to hear the whole album. Truly, this is exactly what I was hoping to find on this list.
Everything about this is perfect.
5
Feb 22 2024
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Trafalgar
Bee Gees
I don’t know if I hate how lame this is, or if I love how lame it is.
“Israel, Where there’s sand, Where there’s beautiful sand” I mean, wtf? Really?
I don’t think this was intended to be comical, but my god. Stopping after four songs. This is tedious.
2
Feb 23 2024
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Zombie
Fela Kuti
Funny. I was just listening to this earlier today. Fucking LOVE Fela!
This is genius.
5
Feb 24 2024
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In Utero
Nirvana
It’s been a long, long time. Like everyone else my age, I got this when it came out. Don’t love it as much as Nevermind or Unplugged. But there’s some really good tracks. There’s a handful I still really love.
4
Feb 25 2024
View Album
The Suburbs
Arcade Fire
I don’t know how, but about half of this album sounds familiar to me, even though I have almost never listened to this band.
Overall, it’s pretty good. Solid altpop. Nice transitions and range. Well produced. Can’t complain.
4
Feb 26 2024
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Myths Of The Near Future
Klaxons
Boring, dated, nothing new or interesting here. So, so dated.
1
Feb 27 2024
View Album
Cut
The Slits
Loved the hits for decades but never listened to the full record. Randomly got to see Ari Up perform at a party in Brooklyn, back in the 00s. She was tall and elegant, with no makeup and dreds to the floor. Cooler than cool could ever hope to be.
This record is better than expected. Apparently, Bjork’s been channeling Ari Up, all along. The influence of The Slits is far broader than I’d realized.
There’s something about Heard It Through the Grapevine that makes it one of the best covers of all time. And the original is immaculate. This version surpasses the typical karaoke style to make it feel fresh and reverential.
Another one of those albums that improves with age. Hard to remember this was just a few teenage girls in 1979. Very clever work.
5
Feb 28 2024
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She's So Unusual
Cyndi Lauper
How do I review the very first cassette that I bought for myself? Could probably sing every word off this one. I idolized her style back in the day. Girls wanted to dye her hair wild colors and run around in crinoline skirts. Cyndi came out of nowhere and was nothing like anyone else in pop music, at the time.
For all her irreverent affectation, her voice was undeniable. Kind of like Bjork before Bjork. Just as strong and controlled as any of the more traditional singers. And certainly better quality than her closest contemporary, Madonna.
Musically, this is still pretty solid. The Prince cover sounds as good as ever. Every woman my age can probably sing Time After Time by heart. And the song still hits exactly the same.
It’s been a long time since I listened to this album. Expected it to sound totally dated and cringey. But it’s not that at all. You could legitimately release some of this today and it would be more successful than it was back then.
She Bop is still hilarious, All Through the Night is still pretty. There’s a lot of range, different styles, a few surprises. Lots of unapologetic silliness and fun. This was definitely “Unusual”. Liberating for little girls at the time.
5
Feb 29 2024
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Brothers In Arms
Dire Straits
The first three songs were all over the radio, when this came out. The record benefited from the performance they did at Live-Aid with Sting. All it took was the phrase, “I want my MTV”, and this was solidified as a classic. People lost their minds.
It’s okay. Clearly well played, good musicians, standard composition. Definitely has its roots in the British pub rock scene. But it’s pretty dated by today’s standard. 80s saxophone, liteFM, lullaby blues guitar. It’s good for what it is.
3
Mar 01 2024
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Fear Of Music
Talking Heads
Starts with my favorite song of theirs.
5
Mar 02 2024
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I Never Loved a Man the Way I Love You
Aretha Franklin
I mean, what’s better than peak Aretha Franklin?
Every major performer has aspired to recreating the power and magic of Respect. No one has ever come close and no one ever will.
Since nothing further needs to be said about this masterpiece, I’d advise anyone who reads this review to please go watch Aretha Franklin’s funeral concert. It’s a who’s who of holy crap, all singing Aretha’s hits. And she organized this herself, before she passed. Cecily Tyson’s hat alone is worth the trouble. You’re welcome.
5
Mar 03 2024
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Rage Against The Machine
Rage Against The Machine
How do you review something this essential?
This is perfect and necessary. There’s a reason everyone can pull quotes off this record. Killing in the Name should be the national anthem.
5
Mar 04 2024
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The Last Broadcast
Doves
Holy shit, the lyrics for Words are essentially, ‘sticks and stones may break my bones, but words can never hurt me’. Are you serious?
Next song is pure Coldplay. This is where I check out.
2
Mar 05 2024
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American Gothic
David Ackles
First song is trite musical bullshit. Second song is pretty. Third is terrible. Fourth is pretty again, but it’s a 70s musical. And it just gets more melodramatic from there.
Bernie Taupin, Elton John’s composing partner is the producer of this album. There is clear quality and musicianship. But this is not for me.
2
Mar 06 2024
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Water From An Ancient Well
Abdullah Ibrahim
Big band jazz in South Africa just swings in a different way. This was absolutely lovely and unique. Wonderful recording.
4
Mar 07 2024
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Wild Wood
Paul Weller
Oh shit! Did not expect this one on the list. Got this back when it came out. The title song is great, but don’t remember much else.
First song is okay. Second song is a little too American. That title track still kills it. Instrumental Pt 1 is rad. All the Pictures is pretty. So is Country.
Another reviewer on here said that this album sounds like something Paul Weller made for himself, and that sounds accurate. He is clearly enjoying himself. There is range and excellent musicianship. This is probably more interesting for guitar players.
Overall, this is very nice. It’s not my favorite Paul Weller project. It’s a little too average white guy, for my taste. It’s probably fun to listen to while riding down a country road. But, I wouldn’t say this is essential listening.
3
Mar 08 2024
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This Is Hardcore
Pulp
How many Pulp albums are on this list?
So annoying and pretentious that I can’t even get through one song. This band is wildly overrated.
1
Mar 09 2024
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Hypocrisy Is The Greatest Luxury
The Disposable Heroes Of Hiphoprisy
It’s not the greatest album ever. But the work here is important, hard to find, and still totally relevant to modern society. That alone marks this as essential listening.
5
Mar 10 2024
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Let Love Rule
Lenny Kravitz
This gets credit for being rather unique when it premiered. No one else was really doing the old California rock & roll sound at the time. So, for that alone, it was a bit of a sensation. Plus, the man was beautiful.
The beginning of My Precious Love is a rip off of George Michael’s Father Figure. When you go through each song, you can better hear all the musical references. There’s really nothing new on this record. It’s fine. It’s a pop & roll retro wannabe. It was successful. Kravitz became a pin-up.
Someone else here said that it sounds like he went through his parents’ record collection and just copied what he heard. Frankly, it’s an accurate description. There’s no lyrical insight, no innovation. Just an average retro sound.
2
Mar 11 2024
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Brown Sugar
D'Angelo
Already liked a couple songs off this record. Several songs in, and I’m adding everything to my playlist. This is better than I expected.
Classic soulful, quiet storm r&b. This will get you laid. No fail. Even the song about murderous rage is sexy as fuck. The Smokey Robinson cover is a nice surprise. Well done.
Really enjoyed this album more than I thought I would.
4
Mar 12 2024
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Vincebus Eruptum
Blue Cheer
Their rendition of Rock Me Baby is criminally terrible. It should have disqualified them from ever recording another song.
I get why this was chosen for the list, but it sucks and I don’t like listening to it.
2
Mar 13 2024
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Stephen Stills
Stephen Stills
Love the One You’re With is a popular classic, though lyrically it’s kinda cynical. Rather on theme with the hippie lifestyle though.
Singing and melodies are nice, unsurprisingly. But it’s a lot of that rich white guy blues that hippies popularized. Dentist rock. The music is fine. But listening to the privileged sing the blues is agitating.
2
Mar 14 2024
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Histoire De Melody Nelson
Serge Gainsbourg
Getting mad at the story presented here is a bit like getting upset over Nabakov’s Lolita. By dismissing it totally, you kind of miss the point. It is a work of art, from the viewpoint of the bad guy. Nobody likes a pedo. Doesn’t mean you can’t tell a good story about one. And, at the time of its release, the subject of middle aged men having a mid-life crisis and chasing after ridiculously young women, was kind of the zeitgeist. Context helps when it comes to art.
Musically, this is really lovely. It’s even better if you don’t understand French. The twanging guitar and rhythmic drums of En Melody can be heard decades later in bands like Stone Roses and Ride. The low driving sound of Cargo Culte could have come from a Soundgarden song. The influence of this record is everywhere.
5
Mar 15 2024
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Third
Soft Machine
Trash
1
Mar 16 2024
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Ghosteen
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds
This is beautiful. Heavy but beautiful.
4
Mar 17 2024
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Henry's Dream
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds
This feels more like an event than a record. It sounds like the soundtrack to a stage show. Like, if you picture Nick Cave prowling around, narrating the story, while a full cast acts it all out, then this starts to make sense.
He’s got such a dramatic voice, it’s nearly operatic. As a performance, this album is excellent. But it’s not something meant for mixtapes.
4
Mar 18 2024
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Private Dancer
Tina Turner
Ok. This is the record with: What’s Love Got to Do with It, I Can’t Stand the Rain, Private Dancer, Let’s Stay Together, and Better Be Good to Me. Basically, all of her best songs. All from her first solo album.
This woman was a goddess.
5
Mar 19 2024
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There's No Place Like America Today
Curtis Mayfield
What a privilege to listen to Curtis Mayfield. Why did it never occur to me before that Prince was doing a Curtis Mayfield impression most of the time.
This record is excellent and too short.
5
Mar 20 2024
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Jagged Little Pill
Alanis Morissette
I cannot stand this woman’s voice. This is not for me.
2
Mar 21 2024
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Sunshine Hit Me
The Bees
It’s cute. Eclectic, different and well performed. Don’t hate it. It’s easy listening and inoffensive. Not essential, but nice. Good for background sound.
3
Mar 22 2024
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Sticky Fingers
The Rolling Stones
Can’t You Hear Me Knocking might be my favorite on this album. The longer version is much better than the radio edit. Too much honky tonk overall. But the good stuff is great.
4
Mar 23 2024
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Scream, Dracula, Scream
Rocket From The Crypt
Frat rock. Middle American mediocrity. Hate it. Can’t get through a whole song.
1
Mar 24 2024
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Duck Rock
Malcolm McLaren
Is this what cultural appropriation sounds like? The man took a bunch of sounds and styles from 80s NYC, threw them in a box and shook them up.
I don’t hate this. There’s a lot of good stuff here. McClaren has an ear for talent and he’s very good at promoting different ideas. But some of it feels a little strange. It’s almost like he’s looking at NYC culture as a wild curiosity. Sometimes it feels more like creatures on display at the zoo, than a celebration of diversity.
This is not to say that this is not a good record. I’d argue that it’s pretty great at times. I think the issue is with McClaren himself, who’s vocals feel more like PT Barnum hosting a circus. When it’s just music, it’s actually very good. He’s just a super weird cat of a man.
4
Mar 25 2024
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The Joshua Tree
U2
I cannot count the number of times I listened to this on my walkman, full blast, in the middle of the night. Pretty sure it was a bootleg cassette, too.
Bullet the Blue Sky, Running to Stand Still, In God’s Country, all still solid. The hits were hits for a reason, even if they were played to death. Anyone my age will struggle not to sing along. It’s reflexive.
Yes, they became insufferable after this, but it was a big deal at the time. And there’s really lovely production work here. Brian Eno and Daniel Lanois really worked a bit of magic to give U2 their big sweeping sound. Not my favorite of U2 album, but it is tough to hate on. The Edge is at his best here.
4
Mar 26 2024
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Smash
The Offspring
Never really got into this band. Too metal for my taste. Too Midwest college frat bitch. I dont like spending time with the people who listen to this.
1
Mar 27 2024
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Penthouse And Pavement
Heaven 17
Fascist Groove Thing is still a great song. Should be on the radio now. Haven’t heard Penthouse and Pavement in a million years. This all so perfectly 80s. Even the cover art is a spoof of the Yuppie takeover; a premonition of American Psycho, complete with executive ponytails.
Oh snap, I totally forgot about Play to Win. Jesus, this is such a blast from the past.
This is a fun little record. Did not expect to see it on this list. It’s really pretty good, though. Smart, upbeat, and funny. Final song is hilarious.
Not everything is intended to be serious.
4
Mar 28 2024
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The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan
Bob Dylan
Oy. That fucking harmonica!
I swear. I was halfway through Girl from the North Country, and genuinely falling in love with the song. For once, there was a truly beautiful song from Bob Dylan, that I could actually enjoy. And then that motherfucking harmonica came screaming out of nowhere, for no good reason. And now I just want to cry.
Masters of War is great. There’s no question that his songwriting is brilliant. It’s clear why this record landed like a bomb on the youth culture of the time. The influence off this one is ridiculous. Everyone from Bruce Springsteen to Beck has tried to do their version of this album.
Down the Highway, A Hard Rain, Don’t Think Twice, Corrina Corrina - all solid. Except for that goddamn harmonica. Like, if this album just didn’t have that painful mini bagpipe screeching through every song, I would genuinely love the fuck out of this album. But as it is, I have to stop, or I’m going to smash something. Seriously, how much do I need to drink, to make this stop hurting my brain?
I tried. All the parts without the harmonica were very nice. But I still prefer covers of Bob Dylan songs, just because of that arrestingly painful harmonica. Please kill me. It hurts.
2
Mar 29 2024
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A Walk Across The Rooftops
The Blue Nile
Feel like I heard something from this band back in the day, but there were a lot of bands trying this smooth new wave at the time. This is actually a really great example of the style.
Tinseltown in the Rain is catchy in that perfectly 80s pop song way. This whole record could be the soundtrack for an offbeat 80s movie. Rags to Riches is a clear influence on the band Underworld. There is a lot about the song structure here that would come back again and again. You could put Stay on the radio right now and people would lose their minds. Easter Parade sounds like a Peter Gabriel song.
This record is a lot better than expected. Really pretty melodies, not too loud, not too much of anything. Nice, calm, well crafted music, that is enjoyable to listen to. Interesting, complex, unexpected, sophisticated and yet, a toe-tapper.
4
Mar 30 2024
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At Mister Kelly's
Sarah Vaughan
Oh hells yes! How lucky are we to live on the same planet as Sarah Vaughan’s recordings. The singer’s singer. Her voice is impossibly flawless. Her entire catalog could be on this list. Not enough stars available.
5
Mar 31 2024
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Electric Prunes
The Electric Prunes
It’s alright. Onie is actually kinda pretty. Train for Tomorrow is good. But that’s really it. The rest is just boring. I don’t understand why this was selected for this list. Not enough here.
2
Apr 01 2024
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Heartbreaker
Ryan Adams
Apparently this guy’s a molester, so I’m skipping.
1
Apr 02 2024
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Peter Gabriel 3
Peter Gabriel
Overall, this is excellent. Still really fresh and relevant. His sound is really unique and balanced. Almost economical. Nobody else could pull this off.
4
Apr 03 2024
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I Want To See The Bright Lights Tonight
Richard Thompson
Makes sense that they came from Fairport Convention. This is nice, but it’s a bit slow. Title track has a bit of life to it. But the rest of this just really isn’t for me. Feels like this would be good for drinking alone on the moors. Very pretty, but I can’t wait for it to end.
2
Apr 04 2024
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Unhalfbricking
Fairport Convention
Already like Who Knows. Overall it’s much better than I expected. I like this better than some more well known artists. Feels unpolished in a good way. Not trying too hard. Just genuinely decent music. Love A Sailor’s Life. So far, fun and unpretentious. Not into everything, but it’s cute. 4/5
4
Apr 05 2024
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Live Through This
Hole
Not exactly looking forward to this. I think I like Courtney Love’s acting more than her singing.
At the time this came out, it felt like pre-packaged Riot Grrrl. It was widely assumed that she was just trying to market Lady Nirvana to the MTV Beach House crowd.
Violet is still pretty good. The music in Miss World sounds like it came off a Foo Fighters album. Plump starts off sounding like a PJ Harvey track. Asking for It sounds like Kurt Cobain covering a Liz Phair song. Honestly, most of this does.
To my ears, Hole suffers from a similar problem to Alanis Morisette and Cheryl Crow. Sure, the bands are tight and the records nicely produced. But they feel like generic Top 40. It’s the same lady in a different dress, so to speak. It’s too MTV and not very innovative.
2
Apr 06 2024
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Idlewild
Everything But The Girl
Oh, how I love this band. In the middle of all the grunge, metal and gangster rap of the late 80s, these two bitches went full easy-listening liteFM. And it’s goddamn great.
This is unironically wonderful. Today it might seem more like mall music. Like something playing gently in the background, at a luxury resort spa retreat, in wine country. And, yeah, you might have had five Chardonnays with lunch, but you’re on vacation, Brenda. Relax, you worked so hard for this. You earned this weekend away from grind. Let the sultry saxophone lull you, as all the tension in your body just melts away. You don’t need to think about anything ever again. You’re safe now. Everything is Idlewild.
4
Apr 07 2024
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The Low End Theory
A Tribe Called Quest
There are exactly zero flaws on this album. So incredibly influential. Q-Tip might be my favorite. This is really excellent.
5
Apr 08 2024
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Truth And Soul
Fishbone
In high school, I had the maddest crush on a guy who had the Fishbone logo painted on the back of his jacket. He was the only mildly punk boy in the area and he had excellent taste. *swoon*
Freddie’s Dead sounds brand new. I love what another reviewer said about this band: they are a black ska punk band from the 80s that white bands would try to imitate all through the 90s. Dead accurate. Not a damn one of those white boys ever came close to this.
Joyful energy, strong vocals, tight band, slapping beats, killer range. So rare. This is a real gem. So glad to see it included here. Saving every song so far. Forgot how much I loved this guy’s voice. Halfway through, I’m calling this a solid 5.
5
Apr 09 2024
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Konnichiwa
Skepta
This probably sounds great riding around in one of those SUVs with the blaring thumping base, that really just annoys everyone around them.
Meanwhile, this just meh. Sounds like everything else that gets blasted too loud by dickheads. Too boring to finish.
1
Apr 10 2024
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Smokers Delight
Nightmares On Wax
This is actually pretty nice. Totally new to me. It’s good. Calm uptempo background music. Very chill and uninvasive. I like it. Will definitely revisit. Good choice for this list.
4
Apr 11 2024
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Reggatta De Blanc
The Police
6/11 songs are already saved to mixes. This is hands down my all-time favorite band, ever, ever. If you don’t like this, I feel bad for you.
5
Apr 12 2024
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Time Out Of Mind
Bob Dylan
There is too much Bob Dylan on this list. But maybe this is finally wearing me down a little.
The absence of the harmonica is such a treat. Feels like I can finally enjoy the music a little more. And he’s not bombarding the listener with a wall of unpunctuated text. There’s room to breathe.
Even though his voice has become charred gristle and he makes no effort to reduce his nasal tendencies, there’s something good here. His raw vocals compliment the intimate emotion and heartbreak in his lyrics. The music is really good. I actually saved a song. That’s miraculous.
I swear he goes out of his way to make his music difficult to enjoy. It’s like he’s afraid to show off how good it really is. Just like Neil Young, I wish I could peel back the noise.
Let me like you, dammit!
3
Apr 13 2024
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Here's Little Richard
Little Richard
The inventor of Rock’N’Roll. Wooo!
5
Apr 14 2024
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Modern Kosmology
Jane Weaver
I’ve already got the title track off this saved to a playlist, but never heard anything else by her. So far this is really good. Almost feels like she made it by herself in her basement. Like, her voice almost sounds like it’s in the room with you. Despite the layers of music and filters and samples, she feels unvarnished somehow. Hard to describe.
But this is actually really good. Not too heavy handed, not a lot of posing. A real toe tapper. Very nicely engineered, good balance.
There are elements on this record that are clearly inspired by a lot of other artists on this list. This is an excellent distillation of the past into something new. Enjoying every song, no skips. Almost like Velvet Underground meets Goldfrappe.
Very nice surprise. Really enjoyed this.
4
Apr 15 2024
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Sex Packets
Digital Underground
Knowing that George Clinton and Bootsy Collins produced The Humpty Dance, explains the fun funky vibe. Hip hop was mostly gangsta rap by this point. So this was a good reprieve from the anger, a reminder that music can be enjoyable.
This is a lot better than I expected. Good beats, nice samples, decent raps, chill and positive vibe. If anything, maybe the songs are a little long, but that’s nitpicking. All the P Funk bits are a welcomed delight.
I will say that songs like Freaks of the Industry made adolescent boys an absolute nightmare to deal with at the time. While it’s totally fine for adults, this kind of stuff added fuel to fire for Tipper Gore’s warning label campaign. It made it easier to censor explicit political language, which was more popular. This is why we can’t have nice things.
Overall, this is a pretty good album. Solid groove throughout. Nothing terribly annoying. Nice range, easy to enjoy.
4
Apr 16 2024
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Happy Trails
Quicksilver Messenger Service
Makes sense they came up in the psychedelic San Francisco scene. You can hear the Grateful Dead in their guitar work. There’s even a note of the California surfer sound.
Normally, I hate this kind of music. But so far, it’s alright. Bitch is tearing it up on When You Love. It’s nice that the songs flow straight into each other. Feels like an unbroken musical experience. Where You Love, How You Love and Which Do You Love are interesting and experimental.
I should not be enjoying a psychedelic jam band, but I think that’s what’s happening here. It helps that it’s mostly really well-played instrumental music. Words would not be helpful here. Better that they let the music do the talking. Makes absolute sense when you learn that the full six song suite was based on Bo Diddley’s original 1956 Who Do You Love. Pretty brilliant reinterpretation.
Should hate, cannot find cause.
4
Apr 17 2024
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En-Tact
The Shamen
You had to be there… When this dropped it felt so fresh. It was like a British Information Society, with rap. This was the original club music. It was raves at the Hacienda. It was among the precursors to Techno.
Move Any Mountain could still stand on a workout mix. The rest of this isn’t bad, actually. Yes, it’s dated, but there’s some real work here. It’s got that experimental vibe you get off an early Depeche Mode album.
Possible Worlds is easy background music. This record might be a good choice for studying. Uptempo, but not droning or too invasive. A toe-tapper. Sounds better blasted at a thousand people high on Xtasy at 3 in the morning.
Also, this band’s videos defined the standard techno music video. Check out the film It’s All Gone, Pete Tong for a perfect parody.
3
Apr 18 2024
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Emperor Tomato Ketchup
Stereolab
Loving this even more than I thought I would. Love the way their songs build up with layers. Deceptively complicated. There’s clear, sophisticated music education. Overall, this is really excellent.
4
Apr 19 2024
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Winter In America
Gil Scott-Heron
Oh shit! So excited for this one. Love this artist.
It’s a relief to find this beautiful recording posted on YouTube. Undeniably great. He was a poet. He was a genius. Raw soulful singing, luscious music. Get into it!
5
Apr 20 2024
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Dr. Octagonecologyst
Dr. Octagon
This is so stupid that I absolutely love it. It’s Bronx weirdness unbridled. Yeah, the characters in this audio porno comic book are juvenile. And yeah, the lyrics are graphic. But there is so much greatness on this record.
Kool Keith’s heavy neighborhood accent is my favorite thing in the world right now. Nearly shed a tear when he rapped about getting his shirt “out the dry cleaners”. If you know, you know.
The music though, is the star. Non-stop head boppin’ beats. And the scratching! This is genius level mixing.
Fuck it all, I’m giving this a solid 5.
5
Apr 21 2024
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Fulfillingness' First Finale
Stevie Wonder
Wonderful. A bit too conceptual/70s jazz to be my favorite. But it’s undeniably beautifully crafted. 4/5
4
Apr 22 2024
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Cee-Lo Green... Is The Soul Machine
Cee Lo Green
This is shit. There’s no hook on any of these tracks, no soul, no innovation, nothing unique or special in any way. The lyrics sound like voicemails. 1/5
1
Apr 23 2024
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Ocean Rain
Echo And The Bunnymen
Have not heard Silver in 30 years and every word flooded right back from the first notes. Goddamn I miss this band.
“C-c-cucumber, c-c-cauliflower, c-c-cabbage.” Yes, they really did that. Gothy, weird, dramatic and fun. Cool kids my age know every note of Killing Moon. There’s probably a clockwise kicking, swaying dance to go with it. And Ian McCulloch is great to sing along with.
Fabulous hits off this album. Still sound excellent. Don’t love all of this, but the good stuff makes it 4/5.
4
Apr 24 2024
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Coles Corner
Richard Hawley
I swear that I Sleep Alone is a total ripoff of the Stone Roses’ Waterfall. You can hear it in the second half.
Ok, so this was cute. Very nice, easy listening. Lots of late 50s / early 60s sounds throughout. Kinda dreamy. Kinda like old Los Angeles. Every song reminds me of something else I’ve heard.
He didn’t reinvent the wheel here. But he made a pretty good wheel.
3
Apr 25 2024
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The Predator
Ice Cube
Some of this is feels loud to me like heavy metal. Title track gives his voice room to breathe. It was a good day is a 90s classic.
Overall, this is better than expected. It’s still a lot of bitches and hos, though. Don’t Trust ‘Em is annoying and degrading. The non-stop misogyny throughout is off-putting at best. It’s too much of the he-man woman-haters club.
Giving up on the rest of this.
2
Apr 26 2024
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Marcus Garvey
Burning Spear
Already love Marcus Garvey. This whole album is fantastic. Not just perfect reggae, but perfect music. Really lovely, energetic and enjoyable. Not a damn thing wrong with this record.
5
Apr 27 2024
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Better Living Through Chemistry
Fatboy Slim
This isn’t the album with all the hits and Spike Jones videos.
Not bad at all. It’s really cute. Definitely 90s. Nice, energetic, upbeat. Good for background music while working out, cleaning or studying.
3
Apr 28 2024
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Juju
Siouxsie And The Banshees
Five songs in 20 minutes, and one is a remix. Painfully short record from this excellent band.
4
Apr 29 2024
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Your Arsenal
Morrissey
This is perfectly fine. But there’s nothing new. Just meh. It’s a lot of the same-old.
3
Apr 30 2024
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The Hangman's Beautiful Daughter
The Incredible String Band
This sounds like a parody record. Are we sure this isn’t a joke? It’s such a random combination of sounds. First song has a banjo, sitar, rubber band and spoons.
Oh no, second song is worse. This is not good. If this was recorded by Monty Python it would make more sense. But as a collection of music intended to be listened to and enjoyed, no.
1
May 01 2024
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Brothers
The Black Keys
This is really solid. Not perfect, but definitely very good. Saved a bunch off this. 4/5
4
May 02 2024
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Alien Lanes
Guided By Voices
How is this special? Not impressed at all. The mix is annoying af. This is just more whiteboy bullshit. 2/5
2
May 03 2024
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Power In Numbers
Jurassic 5
This was a really fun surprise. Never heard this before. Automatically liked everything. Good, soulful jazzy hip hop, with real singing and real flow. Nothing here to hate.
5
May 05 2024
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Hotel California
Eagles
A lot of people have strong feelings about this band. I do not.
This is fine.
3
May 06 2024
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Shleep
Robert Wyatt
This is interesting. I don’t hate it. Even though it’s a bit proggy, it’s actually listenable. It’s like if Peter Gabriel and Radiohead did a collaboration, and let Brian Eno produce it. Not bad at all, but very interesting. If anything, it sounds kind of contemporary. Certainly not 30 years old.
It’s experimental without getting lost up its own ass. Jazzy, free flowing, expressive, cinematic, but really very listenable. I liked this quite a bit. Such a clear influence on Radiohead.
Seven songs deep and I’ve already saved six of them. That’s pretty fucking outrageous. This is exactly the kind of record that should be on this list. Excellent stuff.
5
May 07 2024
View Album
Justified
Justin Timberlake
Rock Your Body is his best song, ever, and it’s still a great party track. I have watched a room full of music snobs genuinely dance their asses off to this song. Still slays. This song deserves a 5, but the rest is a solid 3.
3
May 08 2024
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Sea Change
Beck
This was really pretty. Not my favorite Beck. But genuinely, very good. Much more interesting than expected.
4
May 09 2024
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Getz/Gilberto
Stan Getz
It’s so nice when you get one of your all time favorites. This is impeccable. One of the most perfect and beautiful records ever.
5
May 10 2024
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Foxbase Alpha
Saint Etienne
Goddamn, it’s been a long time!
I like this better now. The hits still hit.
4
May 11 2024
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Shalimar
Rahul Dev Burman
Sample heaven. Desperately want to see this film. This was a great soundtrack. Some real bangers. Naag Devta is rad. This whole album is rad af. Funky, jazzy Indian disco. Wish there was more like this on this list.
5
May 12 2024
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Sail Away
Randy Newman
When I was a kid I genuinely believed that Randy Newman was mentally challenged, because of the way he sang. He sounded just like the Down’s syndrome kid down the street. I have never been able to shake this impression of Newman. No matter how well written and composed his music might be, to me he will always be ‘that special needs guy’.
2
May 13 2024
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Is This It
The Strokes
I remember when everyone in the LES was buzzing about this band. Never got the hype.
Honestly, I think you have to be young to be impressed with this. There’s nothing new here. Feels on par with Lenny Kravitz, in terms of authenticity. They listened to their parents’ records and tried to imitate. But this is just pop music. Anyone who says the word “punk” needs to be slapped in the mouth.
2
May 14 2024
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Songs From A Room
Leonard Cohen
My cat really loved this album. It’s excellent.
4
May 15 2024
View Album
Technique
New Order
Haven’t heard this in 30 years. Fine Time actually holds up, sounds better now. All the Way sounds like The Cure’s Close to Me.
It’s not my favorite New Order. This is fun and had a bunch of hits. But mostly, it feels like they had a little too much fun with the samples on the Casio. It’s a little too basic for such an influential band.
3
May 16 2024
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A Seat at the Table
Solange
Really lovely. Genuinely well done. Very pretty songs. Easy listening. Saved a bunch. Very impressive.
4
May 17 2024
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Gold
Ryan Adams
Apparently this guy’s a molester, so I’m skipping.
1
May 18 2024
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Seventh Tree
Goldfrapp
This was cute. Goldfrapp is always good. This runs a little pop for me. But it’s really nice, upbeat, not annoying.
3
May 19 2024
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I'm Your Man
Leonard Cohen
This works and bombs at the same time.
3
May 20 2024
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Queen Of Denmark
John Grant
Ok, this is a charmer.
Totally reads like the Michigan sound. You can hear all the influences on this record, without anything being a direct rip off. There’s SuperTramp and Elton John, mixed with Beck and Father John Misty. But somehow it works as one coherent sound. And the lyrics are fantastic.
4
May 21 2024
View Album
Group Sex
Circle Jerks
14 songs in 15 minutes tickles my soul. I hate how much I love this. Never thought I’d really enjoy this band. Fuck me, this is excellent. I really missed the boat.
Really fun, fast paced, upbeat, toe-tapping, headbanging old west coast punk. And yet, the band is pretty tight, the singer is really clear and articulate. Lots of tracks worth saving. It’s like The Dead Milkmen, but angry and more organized.
5
May 22 2024
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John Lennon/Plastic Ono Band
John Lennon
There’s some really nice stuff here. Like the other solo projects, this doesn’t measure up to the standard set by The Beatles. But that bar is unrealistic.
I’ll say this is fine and nice. Definitely emotional. But the music gets a little same-y. Not the most interesting or compelling. It’s certainly a stripped down version of his style. But it can get a bit bland and overly simplistic. The whole recording is simultaneously both pretty and kinda tedious.
3
May 23 2024
View Album
In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida
Iron Butterfly
Not my kind of thing, but I don’t mind it. Fully expected to cringe the whole way.
Most Anything is cute. My Mirage is some slammin’ psychedelic goth vibes. I should hate this, but it’s fabulous. A million times better than Grateful Dead. These dudes actually know how to play their instruments.
Termination and Are You Happy are dark, but in a fun way. Almost like if The Monster Mash was a band, that occasionally took acid.
4
May 24 2024
View Album
It's A Shame About Ray
The Lemonheads
Ah, the early 90s. It was such an innocent time for pop culture.
This album hit right when MTV got serious about college radio bands. Evan Dando’s hair was perfectly TV ready. That’s really all that set this band apart from the 10000 other bands that sounded exactly like this. The Mrs. Robinson cover was an excellent gateway to the mainstream. Lots of indie bands were doing nostalgic covers at the time.
It’s a cute album. Better than expected. Not annoying. Indie Pop. It’s fine. Not amazing. Met Dando and Hatfield once. They were sweet kids.
3
May 25 2024
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Birth Of The Cool
Miles Davis
The best of all time.
5
May 26 2024
View Album
Out Of The Blue
Electric Light Orchestra
Is it normal to hate and love something, in equal proportion? Like I hate this style for how cheesy it is. But it’s so unapologetically cheesy, that I have to respect it. Also, it’s hard to hate on something that’s mostly jolly, earnest and naive. Also, too, there’s an adequate amount of cowbell.
That said, I prefer The Darkness, and won’t listen to this again.
3
May 27 2024
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My Life In The Bush Of Ghosts
Brian Eno
This was interesting. Different, experimental and challenging. Not exactly easy to listen to. Not a background or mix kinda record. But there’s definitely some good work here.
3
May 28 2024
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My Aim Is True
Elvis Costello
Never realized how many classics came off his debut album. His whole sound and brand came out fully formed and fully trained. It’s such a lovely tribute to different styles of music. Retro made into something fresh. And so well written. Crazy impressive. Seriously, no wrong notes. Like this a whole lot more than I thought I would. How tf is this a debut?!
5
May 29 2024
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La Revancha Del Tango
Gotan Project
Really calm and pretty background music. Spanish lyrics set to French cafe music. It’s easy and inoffensive. Good for relaxing or studying.
4
May 30 2024
View Album
Sound of Silver
LCD Soundsystem
Very interesting work. Always ambitious, never quite the same. Great band.
4
May 31 2024
View Album
Blood, Sweat & Tears
Blood, Sweat & Tears
Variations on a Theme Pt 1 is really pretty. Pt 2 sucks.
This is very much from the Groovy portion of the 60s. It’s okay overall. Clearly good musicians, clearly trying to do something. It’s a bit heavy handed for casual listening. Feels better suited to movie soundtracks.
It’s kind of all over the place. It’s okay, but I don’t see what makes this worthy of this list. Not necessary.
You Made Me So Very Happy is still pretty good.
3
Jun 01 2024
View Album
This Year's Model
Elvis Costello & The Attractions
If his first album was a tribute to all of the music that influenced him, this second album would be the one that went on to influence so many other artists. You can hear The Replacements, Cocteau Twins, The Pixies and Smashing Pumpkins. It’s stupid how far this album reached.
5
Jun 02 2024
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Buffalo Springfield Again
Buffalo Springfield
It’s alright. Like, I get why it was sensational at the time it was released. There’s obviously good stuff happening here. They clearly made a real effort to make something nice. And it is definitely nice.
But I struggle to connect with this style. Always feels like I need to be on drugs to get why it’s so wonderful. It’s fine. But that’s about it for me. And it doesn’t even have the song I like by them.
Rock & Roll Woman is really solid though!
3
Jun 03 2024
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Let's Get Killed
David Holmes
Ok, the astrologist on Gritty Shaker was a real guy in Greenwich Village at the time. He would hang out around the parks with his charts and sheets of paper and offer readings for a few bucks. But he would rattle everything off by memory. He was amazing and funny and a real local character. I’m ashamed to say that I had forgotten about him. But I’m so thrilled that he was immortalized on a popular record. The world got to meet him. The bucket drummers and street performers are all very endearing and authentic. The parts that are Holmes are okay. But the parts that are the real city recordings are the good. They are actual gems in a time capsule. 90s Manhattan was a fabulous dream. Overall, this is nice background music. Good for imagination time. A little heavy handed and obvious. But a nice relic of the time and place.
3
Jun 04 2024
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Rust Never Sleeps
Neil Young & Crazy Horse
My My Hey Hey is pretty okay, except for the harmonica. I still really don’t enjoy Young’s voice. The music is nice, lyrics are interesting. Just wish someone else was singing, and that I could take a sledgehammer to that fucking harmonica. I have the same issue with Bob Dylan.
I wish I could stand more than five minutes of his singing. But, like Dylan, it’s just too whiny and does my head in. Like, who told him to sing? Why?
Can’t take it anymore. Bailing.
2
Jun 05 2024
View Album
Real Life
Magazine
This is so fun and wonderful. Shot By Both Sides is excellent. Beautician in the Sky is ridiculous. Really enjoyed this record overall. Interesting, unserious, well made, and surprising. Real hidden gem.
4
Jun 06 2024
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Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness
The Smashing Pumpkins
It’s been a thousand years since I’ve listened to this. But it’s all coming back. This was huge at the time.
Yeah, I don’t even need to finish it to know it’s at least 4/5.
4
Jul 20 2024
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Hot Buttered Soul
Isaac Hayes
Impossibly fabulous. Only Sir Isaac Hayes could pull this off.
His version of Walk On By is fucking brilliant. 5/5
5
Jul 21 2024
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Boy In Da Corner
Dizzee Rascal
People really like listening to this? Why? Which part? Goddamn this is really unpleasant in absolutely every way.
1
Jul 22 2024
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Wish You Were Here
Pink Floyd
Yeah, I really missed the age when you’re supposed to be blown away by this band. This record requires LSD and a laser light show. Otherwise, it’s just fine.
3
Jul 23 2024
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The Band
The Band
Jesús, I really hate this style of music. It’s that old white guy music that I associate with small town racist boomers. Cannot listen to a full song.
2
Jul 24 2024
View Album
Millions Now Living Will Never Die
Tortoise
Ok this is interesting. Probably a lot better on headphones. Really enjoy the way the sounds and melodies rise up and evolve. Gives your mind something to play with, while you’re busy doing other things. Don’t hate this.
4
Jul 25 2024
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A Girl Called Dusty
Dusty Springfield
Blue eyed soul. Impossible not to get swept up in her singing. Fun to sing along with. More subversive than you might think. Excellent. 4/5
4
Jul 26 2024
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Freak Out!
The Mothers Of Invention
My problem with Zappa is that he is so clearly talented. He could sing, write, play, arrange, produce, everything. And when he tries, he’s very good.
But so much of this record is dedicated to “freaking out the normies”, that the good bits get lost. It’s like Weird Al, but without the sweetness and silliness. Zappa had little more than contempt for pop culture. His writing, again, is compelling. But singing off-key and being annoying to make a point, still makes you annoying. And it kills me. Cause the sound mixing is so good that he even made harmonicas work.
Trouble Every Day is rad. But that’s it for me.
3
Jul 27 2024
View Album
Sunday At The Village Vanguard
Bill Evans Trio
This is very nice. Not my favorite. Too many bass solos. But the parts that are good are very good.
More of a musician’s musician.
4
Jul 28 2024
View Album
Oracular Spectacular
MGMT
Don’t know much by this band. But already got 3 saved. Looking forward to the whole thing.
Ok, the 3 I liked before, I still really like. The rest is fine. But I didn’t grab anything new. Still good overall, though. 4/5
4
Jul 29 2024
View Album
Supa Dupa Fly
Missy Elliott
Oh hells yes!
This is fantastic. Only ever heard the hits. But the whole album is great. Excellent flow all the way. Makes me wish I could smoke blunts with Missy all day. Innovator. Creator. Iconoclast.
5
Jul 30 2024
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Bridge Over Troubled Water
Simon & Garfunkel
This is impossible. There’s no flaws here. It’s an immaculate recording. Paul Simon is a genius. 5/5
5
Jul 31 2024
View Album
Your New Favourite Band
The Hives
I liked this a lot more than I expected. Fun, upbeat, well played, nicely produced. Somehow not too loud. Normally I despise modern bands attempting the old punk style. But this kind of works. Should hate. Can’t.
4
Aug 01 2024
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Exodus
Bob Marley & The Wailers
5555555555555555555555555/5
Bob Marley is always the best. This is perfection.
5
Aug 02 2024
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Headquarters
The Monkees
Starts off sounding like the Beatles. Some genuinely good tracks. A good variety of sounds and styles. Not everything is great, but overall pretty good.
4
Aug 03 2024
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Bitte Orca
Dirty Projectors
This was interesting.
4/5
4
Aug 04 2024
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Tigermilk
Belle & Sebastian
Enjoyed this much more than expected. Lots of fun tracks, good lyrics, soft singing. Never too loud or boring. Very interesting and well made.
4
Aug 05 2024
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At Fillmore East
The Allman Brothers Band
This is some serious drinking music. Privileged white man blues. Yes, they could play. But at what cost? 2/5
2
Aug 06 2024
View Album
The Renaissance
Q-Tip
Q-Tip might be my favorite rapper. I can understand everything he says. His whole vibe has always been chill.
This is really nice. Saving tracks left and right. This is exactly my speed rn. 5/5
5
Aug 07 2024
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Golden Hour
Kacey Musgraves
Never heard her stuff. She has a nice voice, but modern country pop is not an exciting genre.
Ok, 2nd song and now I hate her voice and this heinous mall muzak. This is everything wrong with modern music. I want to set this on fire. 1/5
1
Aug 08 2024
View Album
Born To Be With You
Dion
WTF is this country twanging bullshit coming from a boy from Belmont Avenue?
This is terrible. There’s a good dose of Christian rock. How TF did Phil Spector produce Christian music?
This is really schmaltzy and unsettling. It’s the kind of music you might hear at, what you later find out is, a cult. Stopping before I get converted and join a commune. 1/5
1
Aug 09 2024
View Album
Hejira
Joni Mitchell
It’s not my favorite. This is very pretty. She sounds amazing. Production, all of that is excellent.
My issue is with the songwriting style that was popular at the time: I’m sitting here and I’m doing this, and now I’m over here doing some other thing… And it’s just an endless meandering list of things scribbled in a journal.
Coyote, Song for Sharon and Black Crow have more structure, and are more cohesive, to my ears. 3/5
3
Aug 10 2024
View Album
Cross
Justice
Already love DANCE, so I’m excited to hear the rest.
Well, I still like that one song, but that’s it for me. 3/5
3
Aug 11 2024
View Album
Dub Housing
Pere Ubu
You can totally hear the influence this had. Pixies, TV on the Radio, King Missile, just to skim the surface. It’s experimental punk, but well played. Never proggy. Reminds me a bit of Captain Beefheart. Certainly an acquired taste. Very interesting. Definitely different. Don’t love, but don’t hate. It’s kinda fun. 3/5
3
Aug 12 2024
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O.G. Original Gangster
Ice T
This is kinda boring. 2/5
2
Aug 13 2024
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Casanova
The Divine Comedy
Yeah, I’m not really getting what’s so special. He’s clearly trying to do something here. It’s definitely Pop. But it’s just like, slightly better Pulp, mixed with Marc Almond. It’s fine, but kinda boring.
2
Aug 14 2024
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Guitar Town
Steve Earle
Loved him on The Wire. But honkey tonk makes me stabby. I know it’s good, but I just can’t listen.
3
Aug 15 2024
View Album
The Marshall Mathers LP
Eminem
I must admit, I’ve avoided this artist as much as possible. He always struck me as an overrated, wannabe edge lord. His whole brand is insufferable.
The misogyny, violence and bigotry are pervasive and oppressive. It’s an onslaught of words, like Bob Dylan, but few of them are pleasant. I get that there was a big audience for this. It’s just miserable to listen to.
The music is pretty good. I just wish he’d stfu and let me enjoy it.
2
Aug 16 2024
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Doolittle
Pixies
Every note of this record is stitched into my soul. Easily one of the best and most influential albums on this list.
10Million/5
5
Aug 17 2024
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A Wizard, A True Star
Todd Rundgren
While I can appreciate the work that was done here, there are big chunks of this that don’t do it for me. There are bits I really like, but not as much.
You can definitely see the influence this had on other artists (Queen?). It’s creative and different, very well made. But the psychedelic bits are lost on me. This is probably fabulous on LSD.
Sometimes I Don’t Know, Does Anybody Love and the Medley are very good. He’s gotta be a monster at a karaoke bar.
3/5
3
Aug 18 2024
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Talking Book
Stevie Wonder
Stevie!! Always a joy. 5/5
5
Aug 19 2024
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Goodbye And Hello
Tim Buckley
Pleasant Street is really pretty good. I Never Asked to Be Your Mountain, too. The transition into Once I Was feels very Radiohead.
Don’t love everything, but there’s some interesting stuff. Sometimes he sounds like Grace Slick at the Ren-Faire. 3/5
3
Aug 20 2024
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Paris 1919
John Cale
There’s some really pretty stuff here. Don’t love everything, but there’s a really nice, relaxed vibe. Definitely interesting and complex.
4
Aug 21 2024
View Album
Buena Vista Social Club
Buena Vista Social Club
This was such a sensation when the documentary came out. Feels even more beautiful now. What a precious treasure for world culture. So intensely sublime and perfect. Makes me hate every other record on this list. Throw it all away. Music doesn’t get better than this.
Infinity/5
5
Aug 22 2024
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Venus Luxure No. 1 Baby
Girls Against Boys
12,000 monthly listeners is suspicious.
This is actually kinda cute. Good head bopping, driving beat. It’s loud, but not too bad. Not too serious. Well produced. You can actually hear the instruments and the singing. There’s a good flow from song to song. Balanced, interesting, well crafted. It’s kinda sorta like Soundgarden, mixed with Fugazi and Sonic Youth. It works. Saving most of this.
After reading some of the other reviews, I fully expected to hate this. But it’s not bad at all. Fun record. This aged a hell of a lot better than some of the more popular bands on this list. Bitches are sleeping on this one.
4/5
4
Aug 23 2024
View Album
Nowhere
Ride
I have not heard this band since the early 90s. This is a nice blast from the past. So 1990.
Think I like this more now. Seagull is a banger. The whole album is an easier listen than I expected. Nice head bopping background music. Not too loud, but not boring either. A really good example of the style of the time.
4/5
4
Aug 24 2024
View Album
Surrealistic Pillow
Jefferson Airplane
It’s the one with the hits! Looking forward to learning more.
This is okay. Really like Grace Slick. She’s got a unique style. The music is good, too. Not loving the guy’s singing as much. Wish she got more leads.
Overall, this is truly hippie dippie, summer of love music. It’s still got the hopeful, naive sound. It’s cute. The hits still hit. You can understand why this was popular at the time. This is probably a delight to listen to at a picnic in the park, smoking reefer with your friends. 3/5
3
Aug 25 2024
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Maverick A Strike
Finley Quaye
I remember the name and nothing else, so this’ll be fun.
Ok funky reggae. This is cute. Easygoing, mostly mellow. Nice rhythm for background music. Gets much better in the second half. Can’t complain.
The man wrote his own Spotify bio. That’s too pure. Sweet and Loving Man, indeed. 4/5
4
Aug 26 2024
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Rain Dogs
Tom Waits
His sound is so unique. This record is excellent.
5
Aug 27 2024
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21
Adele
It’s a shame this has been played to death. But it’s no wonder it was a sensation. Quality pop music, unique voice, extraordinary talent. Shocking for someone so young. The Cure cover is a nice surprise. Some of the songs are a bit typical, but overall, this is pretty remarkable. 4/5
4
Aug 28 2024
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I See You
The xx
This is very nice. Clearly made by very well trained musicians.
But there’s just something not really working for me. I think that I’m too old and jaded. There’s an earnestness to this record that speaks better to younger ears. It’s all very polished. Also, breathy singing has been way overdone in the last 20 years.
For pop music, this is very good. But I am not the target demographic.
Dangerous and Replica are good.
3/5
3
Aug 29 2024
View Album
Songs The Lord Taught Us
The Cramps
This is so much fun. Love this band. Enjoying this way more than expected. It’s fucking rad. Atmospheric, sexy, cinematic vampire Rockabilly. No one can do it like they did.
No flaws.
5/5
5
Aug 30 2024
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Shake Your Money Maker
The Black Crowes
While the music is well played and the record is well produced, I still don’t like this.
It’s the whole calculated retro sound-a-like cash grab that is off-putting. It’s nouveau drinking music for mid-western white guys. Feels mind-numbing and ultimately, soulless.
2/5
2
Aug 31 2024
View Album
#1 Record
Big Star
Yeah, I don’t know. This is good. Nothing really wrong with it. Just feels a little ordinary for this list. It’s fine. But not essential. 3/5
3
Sep 01 2024
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KIWANUKA
Michael Kiwanuka
Heard a few tracks off his first album, so I’m looking forward to this.
This definitely sounds better on headphones. Nice, calm, pretty, well made. Relaxing and easy to enjoy. Gets better with repeat listening. Nothing to complain about.
4/5
4
Sep 02 2024
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Illinois
Sufjan Stevens
It helps that he has a quiet voice. It’s cute. A little like a musical. But a pretty good one. It doesn’t all resonate with me, but I appreciate the effort. It’s a nice project. It is too long, though. Tapping out after 12 songs. That’s enough. 4/5
4
Sep 03 2024
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In The Court Of The Crimson King
King Crimson
Oy. Are we really pretending this is nice to listen to? This is music for sociopaths.
Grinding my teeth halfway through the first song. This is atrocious. Fuck everyone who says this is good. There’s something wrong with you. This is intensely pretentious and overrated.
If this was a physical record, I would smash it.
1/5
1
Sep 04 2024
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Stankonia
OutKast
This has So Fresh, So Clean and Bombs over Baghdad.
This was cute. I prefer the other OutKast album on the list, but this is very good. Too many dicks and hos. But otherwise good.
4
Sep 05 2024
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Ill Communication
Beastie Boys
This is easily their best album. This is where their sound matured.
10 Millones/5
5
Sep 06 2024
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Groovin'
The Young Rascals
Real solid pop music here. A traditional radio song structure. Not exactly innovative, but solid and reliable. Good melodies, good singing, good range of styles, relatable lyrics. More depth than you’d expect. No surprise there were so many singles.
4/5
4
Sep 07 2024
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New York Dolls
New York Dolls
Aww fuck yeah!
L-U-V
5/5
5
Sep 08 2024
View Album
Blunderbuss
Jack White
I really like the music. Jack White is an excellent student. The pop structure is there. Smooth af production.
He never reinvents the wheel, but he makes very nice wheels.
Honestly, I love Jack White, but the music is so good, sometimes I kinda wish someone else was singing.
4/5
4
Sep 09 2024
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The Soft Bulletin
The Flaming Lips
Never really listened to this band before. This is nice. Some parts are better than others. Don’t always like the off-key twanging singing. It subtracts more than it adds. Cause the music is very good.
Easy to see why this was popular with the festival set. Probably wonderful when you’re young and tripping on acid with 50,000 of your closest friends.
4/5
4
Sep 10 2024
View Album
Infected
The The
Aww shit! Memory motherfucking lane again.
Caught them at CBGB’s with Johnny Marr, back around ‘94. We snuck backstage so a friend could give Matt a letter. He was the nicest, kindest, sweetest man to her. Was truly human and decent. Absolutely had a positive effect on her. Matt Johnson is more fabulous than he has any right to be.
Love this band, love this record as much as their others.
5/5
5
Sep 11 2024
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Green Onions
Booker T. & The MG's
Yes. This is the shit I’m here for. Twelve songs in 36 minutes, and the first one is fucking Green Onions. Automatically the coolest on the list.
5
Sep 12 2024
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Abraxas
Santana
Fuck yeah!
Normally I hate guitar heavy recordings. But Santana makes that bitch sing. This is a work of art.
5
Sep 13 2024
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Roger the Engineer
The Yardbirds
Christopher Guest’s character in Spinal Tap is a dead on impression of Jeff Beck. Makes me like this more.
This is not my usual thing, but it is legitimately very good. So influential.
4
Sep 14 2024
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Liquid Swords
GZA
Good beats, not loud, easy to play as background music. Head bopping, not boring. Doesn’t sound dated either.
3/5
3
Sep 15 2024
View Album
Django Django
Django Django
I had forgotten about this band. Glad to find them here. This is really excellent. Saved half of it. Quality modern music. Like, if The Stone Roses, Beck and Hot Chip were in a band that played at The Road House in Twin Peaks.
4
Sep 16 2024
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Parallel Lines
Blondie
I mean…
5
Sep 17 2024
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Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band
Beatles
Come on now.
5
Sep 18 2024
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1989
Taylor Swift
Honestly, the only song of hers that I know is Shake it Off.
First song is the gentrifier’s anthem. Go away. Native New Yorkers don’t want you.
This is very much not my thing. Way too pop. Like, sanitized pop. Made to be piped into the background of shopping centers kinda pop. It’s all very well made. But, it’s over-polished.
I think that’s the thing that doesn’t totally click for me. Feels like I’m listening to Disney Radio.
There’s nothing wrong here, really. It’s cute for modern pop music. It’s better than expected. But I feel absolutely ancient listening to this.
3
Sep 19 2024
View Album
The Libertines
The Libertines
Three songs in and I’m not seeing the quality here. This kinda insufferable. Just average, nothing. Okay, five songs and I really don’t like this.
Pure wanker trash. There is nothing here.
2/5
2
Sep 20 2024
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At Budokan
Cheap Trick
Essentially, this is fine, clearly influential and well made, but it’s not something I like enough to revisit.
3
Sep 21 2024
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Scott 2
Scott Walker
JACKIE!!
This man’s voice is unreasonably good. None of this should work. But he’s fabulous.
4
Sep 22 2024
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Yank Crime
Drive Like Jehu
Sounds like a crappy cheap copy of Jane’s Addiction.
2
Sep 23 2024
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Bluesbreakers
John Mayall & The Bluesbreakers
There is too much Clapton on this list!
Look. This is fine. The music is clearly well performed. But this style of white, boomer boy blues is way too over-represented on this list. Absolutely unnecessary.
2
Sep 24 2024
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Gris Gris
Dr. John
Aw damn. I fucking hate Dr. John. His usual schtick grates my nerves. Mostly, he sounds like Tom Waits mixed with Captain Beefheart, but kinda gross and creepy, like Randy Newman.
This is the most I have ever been able to tolerate by this artist. The music is actually very good. But his singing makes my skin crawl. It’s like too much ASMR, piled on top of some really decent tunes. I’d like this so much more, if he just didn’t open his mouth. This is probably much more interesting with a head full of acid and PCP.
I can’t say this is terrible. The music is nice. Just don’t like his voice. Spotify really needs a “mute the singer” button. 3/5
3
Sep 25 2024
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Central Reservation
Beth Orton
This is alright. It’s nice. Kinda pretty sometimes. But nothing to write home about. It’d be better without the breathy singing gimmick. Mostly, the whole thing is just same-y and boring.
Don’t hate, but don’t really like that much either. It’s fine. Too average for a list like this, though. 2/5
2
Sep 26 2024
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We're Only In It For The Money
The Mothers Of Invention
Zappa has a strange sense of humor. This is like a Dr. Demento show with nothing to laugh at or enjoy. Zappa was a genius in so many ways. But this is painful to listen to. Every time it starts to sound like music, he goes out of his way to ruin it. I’m sorry I gave this second chance. 1/5
1
Sep 27 2024
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The Modern Dance
Pere Ubu
Yeah this is a lot more challenging than their other album on the list. More noise, less fun. Last song is pretty good, though. 2/5
2
Sep 28 2024
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Seventeen Seconds
The Cure
Ho-ly shit! Didn’t expect another Cure album. This is a very nice surprise.
Never realized that The Forest was from so early in their catalog. This whole album is very good. Not my favorite. But the work here is surprisingly strong and smart.
4
Sep 29 2024
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Junkyard
The Birthday Party
Sounds a bit like a screaming gothic Primus. It’s sort of alright in some spots. But it’s trying too hard to be edgy and discordant. Not really hearing anything special. Just a lot of noise. And screaming.
This is what clueless posh people think Punk is supposed to sound like. This is the bullshit they use in movies. Feels like the author was just fanboying again and wasting a spot.
We all agree that Nick Cave is wonderful, but this was unnecessary. There are better things to listen to. This is shit, Mary.
1/5
1
Sep 30 2024
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Entertainment
Gang Of Four
Oh fuck yes!
So fun and interesting and influential. It’s still pretty fabulous.
5/5
5
Oct 02 2024
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Beyond Skin
Nitin Sawhney
This was pretty good. Interesting. Nothing amazing, but certainly well made. Indian trip hop, very mellow and thoughtful. Good for disco naps.
3/5
3
Oct 04 2024
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Endtroducing.....
DJ Shadow
This was good. Interesting and experimental. Heavy mixing of familiar tracks to create new songs. Nice background music.
3/5
3
Oct 05 2024
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Legalize It
Peter Tosh
It’s fucking Tosh, man. He was so far ahead of his time.
This is better on headphones. Quality reggae, sensitive lyrics, gentle vocals. It’s like sharing a spliff with an old friend. Let Jah be praised.
4/5
4
Oct 06 2024
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Smile
Brian Wilson
I fucking hated this.1/5
1
Oct 07 2024
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Band On The Run
Paul McCartney and Wings
It’s ridiculous how prolific Paul McCartney has been in his career. Five full albums in three years, after The fucking Beatles, is insane. More impressive that he played most of the instruments here, too.
It’s pretty good. Nice and sweet, with a few surprises. Not all bangers, but decent pop.
3/5
3
Oct 08 2024
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BEYONCÉ
Beyoncé
Two discs is a bit much. There’s no doubt Beyoncé has a wonderful voice. If I were a teenager, I’d probably be impressed with the production and range.
Drunk in Love is fun. But Jay-Z doesn’t really add anything. Rich people singing about rich people problems, has limited appeal.
Blow is cute. First two songs are skippable. Partition is fun, from 2 min in.
3/5
3
Oct 09 2024
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Forever Changes
Love
Never knew that Alone Again Or was by this band. All this time I thought The Damned wrote it. The original is very nice, but a bit of an adjustment.
This record is so ‘60s, it’s almost laughable at times. The Red Telephone sounds like a parody.
Overall, it’s cute. They tried. But it’s not something I am likely to revisit much.
3/5
3
Oct 11 2024
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Rid Of Me
PJ Harvey
Nobody rocks harder than this tiny little white lady. She’s fearless. And yet her music is complex, different and compelling. And never a note out of place.
4/5
4
Oct 12 2024
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Step In The Arena
Gang Starr
Really liked this one. Good beats, good flow. It’s very early 90s hip hop, but still feels fresh. On par with Arrested Development and Digable Planets. Precursor to trip hop, lounge and mushroom jazz.
4/5
4