Dec 01 2023
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Mothership Connection
Parliament
My very first review. What intrigues me to this website is getting exposed to albums I wouldn't necessarily choose to listen to. This album is a great example of that. Funk isn't really a genre I would normally seek out even though I enjoy similar types of music like Soul.
Musically I enjoyed this. I was almost instantly tapping my toes & bobbing my head to the grooves. Some of the funky jive-talk stuff was a bit annoying and for this reason I don't think the album has aged that well. Very of it's time. A few songs seemed quite one-dimensional and repetitive. It felt like they were all a couple of minutes too long.
I can see why this album might be deemed a classic though. You can certainly feel it's influence on the future sounds of Hip Hop and House music.
Best song - Mothership Connection (Star Child)
Worst song - P-Funk ( Wants to Get Funked Up)
2
Dec 04 2023
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Lady Soul
Aretha Franklin
Great vocal performance as you'd expect. In general I prefer up-tempo Soul songs and this album has some decent ones, namely 'Money Won't Change You' & 'Come Back Baby'. That being said, 'People Get Ready' was probably the highlight of the album for me. The other slower songs were not to my taste. I'd rate this album a solid two & a half but, as I preferred the cover songs over the original songs here, I've rounded it down to a two.
2
Dec 05 2023
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Siamese Dream
The Smashing Pumpkins
A good album but I thought I'd enjoy it a bit more than I did. I remember some of the singles when they first came out & 'Disarm' is such a brilliant song. 'Today' & 'Cherub Rock' are also great tracks too. Other than those three, the rest of the album was ok to listen to but nothing special.
3
Dec 06 2023
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The Stone Roses
The Stone Roses
I was a massive fan of this album, and the whole 'madchester' music scene, growing up in late 80s / early 90s UK. The Stone Roses seemed to ignite a whole movement with this album that spilled over into fashion as well. Much like Nirvana's Nevermind did with Grunge a few years later.
Listening to it now it still sounds great. Reni's drumming is just sublime (what a wasted talent), Squire's guitar work is on another level & with Mani's commanding baselines topped off with Brown just oozing front man charisma this band was the epitome of cool. Taking into consideration the singles they released either side of this LP the Roses were just untouchable.
Bookended by the brilliant 'I Wanna Be Adored' & 'I Am the Resurrection' there really aren't any poor songs on this record. 'Elizabeth My Dear' is the obvious dip in standards but as it's under a minute long it passes by relatively unnoticed. Every other song is 4 or 4.5 minimum. Along with the opening & closing tracks 'She Bangs the Drums', 'Sugar Spun Sister', 'Made of Stone' & 'This Is the One' are the other top-tier tracks here.
To be honest, I should probably be rating this a very solid 4 but sentimental feelings of nostalgia empower me to give it the Full Fathom 5 stars.
5
Dec 07 2023
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Bat Out Of Hell
Meat Loaf
I am very familiar with most of these tracks as I've had to endure awful renditions of them at many a karaoke. The album is like listening to a Bruce Springsteen parody rock opera. It's not something I'm going to listen to ever again but I guess it deserves higher than a 1.
2
Dec 08 2023
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Time Out
The Dave Brubeck Quartet
This album is pleasant enough to listen to. Good for background music but nothing here really grabs my attention.
2
Dec 11 2023
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Maggot Brain
Funkadelic
Not as Funky a sound as I was expecting, more straight out Rock. I enjoyed the opening track 'Maggot Brain' but didn't enjoy the closing 'Wars of Armageddon'. The songs in between were fine with 'Can You Get To That' be the better of them.
2
Dec 12 2023
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Foo Fighters
Foo Fighters
I do not understand the appeal of the Foo Fighters, I really don't. They have to be the blandest Rock band on the planet. I listened to this album from start to finish and nothing of note stood out to me at all.
1
Dec 13 2023
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Loveless
My Bloody Valentine
I like this album but not quite as much as I thought I would. Probably a bit too experimental for me. I've given it quite a few listens & I am appreciating it more with each play. It's actually quite surprising how critically acclaimed 'Loveless' is but maybe it's one that grows on you.
I found myself enjoying the more structured songs, if you could even call them that. 'When You Sleep', 'What You Want' & 'Soon' are great tracks.
Don't dismiss this album too quickly. After a couple of plays I would've rated it a 3 but now happy to give it 4 stars. I don't think it would ever be a 5 for me though, no matter how many times I hear it.
4
Dec 14 2023
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Out of Step
Minor Threat
Raw and energetic music. I've never even heard of this band before. The album is only 21 minutes long and as it speeds along it's quite hard to distinguish between each track. They are all fast paced punky numbers with shouty singing. Having said that there is nothing unenjoyable about any of the songs and I'm sure with further listening they would each stand out in their own way.
3
Dec 15 2023
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Deserter's Songs
Mercury Rev
This is a very interesting record. Quite jazzy in parts, multi-layered production, great bass playing. There are a few annoying instrumentals that break up the flow of the album, as well as the dreaded hidden track at the end. 'Holes' is by far the best song on the album. 'Tonite it Shows', 'Opus 40', Hudson Line' & 'Goddess on a Hiway' are also good.
I enjoyed this enough to make me want to look into the rest of their back catalogue.
3
Dec 18 2023
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Morrison Hotel
The Doors
It's easy to forget how good a blues band The Doors were. There is not a bad track on this album.
4
Jan 03 2024
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Never Mind The Bollocks, Here’s The Sex Pistols
Sex Pistols
45 years after being released it's hard to imagine what the impact of this album was at the time. Listening to it now, having heard some of these songs all my life, it doesn't blow me away as groundbreaking but I know it would've been in 1977.
Musically it's all very samey. Culturally it is massive though. How many people were inspired to pick up an instrument or start a band after this? It showed people they didn't have to be technically proficient to produce something important. You just needed passion & an idea. Punk reset how music could be produced & a lot of the bands I listen to today were spawned from this approach.
3
Jan 04 2024
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Lam Toro
Baaba Maal
I find it very hard to give this album a review so I'm not even going to try. It was pleasant enough to listen to but I wouldn't revisit it again.
2
Jan 05 2024
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Double Nickels On The Dime
Minutemen
I was expecting a more punky sound but musically this is all over the place. Very eclectic and disjointed. To me it has vibes of Frank Zappa's music. With over 40 songs it's hard to absorb, evaluate and appreciate in just a few listens. My gut feeling is it's a 3 star album so I'm just gonna go with that. With the further listening that's required it could easily go up or down a notch. It's definitely not 1 or 5 star though.
3
Jan 08 2024
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Tracy Chapman
Tracy Chapman
This is a great album. The themes of the songs are very political, which I enjoy. Sadly a lot of the issues she sings about are still relevant today, 35 years later. They all have a stripped back acoustic production which works well with her execelent songwriting.
Standout tracks are 'Talkin' 'bout a Revolution', 'Fast Car', 'Mountains o' Things' & 'If Not Now...'
4
Jan 09 2024
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The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill
Lauryn Hill
First time I've listened to this album. It's actually pretty good which surprised me a bit. I much prefer the harder edged rap tracks like 'Lost Ones' to the sung ballad tracks like 'The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill'. When she sings it's with that typical RnB - showing off their vocal range style - which really grinds my gears. When she raps though it's very good. Other songs of note are 'To Zion', 'Doo Wop (That Thing)', & 'Final Hour'
I wouldn't say this is the iconic album it's held up to be but then again it's not really my kind of music. 3 stars feels about right.
3
Jan 10 2024
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Stephen Stills
Stephen Stills
The only thing of note on this album is the song 'Go Back Home', and that's got more to do with Eric Clapton's guitar work. The rest is either terrible, boring or just a pile of self important pish. After one listen I was going to rate this a very generous 2 stars. I gave it another chance and my generosity quickly vanished. 1 star.
1
Jan 11 2024
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Faust IV
Faust
1. 'Krautrock' - I thought this offwas going to be 12 minutes of drone music. I like repetition as much as the next guy but that would've been too much. Luckily the song picks up halfway through. Pretty good.
2. 'The Sad Skinhead' - Interesting. A more standard guitar, bass, drums & vocals. A jangling punky number. Also good.
3. 'Jennifer' - The first two thirds of the song is really nice. Swirling guitar riff with pulsating bass line & relaxed beats. It then transforms into something completely different.
4. 'Just a Second' - Starts off as a normal song then after about a minute it changes to a long mixture of random field recordings.
...Okay, halfway through this I'm beginning to notice a pattern...
Is there a point where avant-garde experimental music just sounds like people making it up as they go along? Yes & this might be one of those occasions. There are moments when the music here is very enjoyable but after a few minutes the song will jolt away in a completely different direction. Listening to it is not unlike someone continually turning the dial on a car radio. You get short bursts of different musical styles one after the other. It's hard to tell when one track ends and the next one begins.
I'm pretty open minded when it comes music but this makes me realise I do like some sort of structure to be able to enjoy a song on its own merit. Despite of that, this album as a whole listening experience did not offend my senses, I just needed to re-adjust my mindset. 3 stars.
3
Jan 12 2024
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Virgin Suicides
Air
I haven't seen the movie so can only rate this album out of context & purely on the music alone. Unfortunately this leaves me listening to lots of uninteresting short instrumental background music. 'Ghost Song' is the only thing that grabbed my attention. I'm not sure why I had to hear this before I die. I'm not even going to give this a second listen.
1
Jan 15 2024
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Cosmo's Factory
Creedence Clearwater Revival
Credit where credit is due.
I know all music has it's influences but sometimes it's so just so blatant. Early Stones, early Beatles and half of the songs here owe such a great debt to Chuck Berry, Little Richard and all the old Blues masters. CCR don't try to hide this influence but I find it hard to give those songs any real credit. Tracks 5, 6, 7, 9 & 11 are however what I expect CCR to sound like. Of those, 'Up Around the Bend' & 'Who'll Stop the Rain' are decent songs. Tracks 1, 2, 3, 4, 8 & 10 just sound like a blues tribute band so I struggle to see the importance of this album, other than it's popularity. 3 stars.
3
Jan 16 2024
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At Folsom Prison
Johnny Cash
Great fun. Great energy. Great performance. Great song choices. Great audience reactions. Loved the random warden messages peppered between some of the songs. One of the best live albums I've heard. From start to finish this is a joy to listen to.
5
Jan 17 2024
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american dream
LCD Soundsystem
After the first 4 songs I was all ready to dismiss this record as 'not for me'. The album then picked up halfway through track 5 'How Do You Sleep?'. 'Call the Police' is the best song here - it sounds a bit like U2 or New Order after Hooky left. 'American Dream' is also decent so now after 8 songs I'm thinking maybe this isn't so bad after all. Cue the level dropping off once again. I guess the final song is ok in parts but overall the album is hit or miss. There's definitely a throwback to 80's electronic music and the singer sounds uncannily like Bono. I was thinking of rating it 2 stars but after a 2nd listen I've bumped it up to 3 stars. There's just enough to like hear to warrant it.
3
Jan 18 2024
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Aja
Steely Dan
Wow, this is so Seventies it hurts. I tried to listen to this objectively and with an open mind but the ears like what the ears like. My ears didn't like this very much. I quite enjoyed 'Peg' but I'm not sure how much of that was down to it being a sample source for De La Soul's 'Eye Know'. I don't think that song alone did enough to stop this album for the dreaded 1 star.
1
Jan 19 2024
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Time Out Of Mind
Bob Dylan
This is the first Bob Dylan album to be generated for me so far. I do enjoy his earlier material but don't think I've listened to any of his newer stuff (from the last 40 years or so, lol). This 1997 offering is apparently a return to form so god only knows what he was putting out prior to this. There are a few good songs on here and he's obviously still such a brilliant songwriter so deep into his career. That in itself is an impressive feat. I enjoyed 'Standing in the Doorway' & 'Make you Feel My Love' the most.
2
Jan 22 2024
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Parallel Lines
Blondie
Growing up in the 80's I remember a lot of the singles from this album. 'Heart of Glass' & 'Sunday Girl' being particularly good songs. Listening to the full album for the first time I was expecting a little more from the rest of the tracks but to me they all just sound like fillers.
2
Jan 23 2024
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Crime Of The Century
Supertramp
I don't see the importance of this album. Musically it's ok I guess but very middle-of-the-road, uninspiring and just a bit wishy-washy. I can see why other people might enjoy it but I don't know why it's on this list.
1
Jan 24 2024
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Rock Bottom
Robert Wyatt
There is an experimental nativity to the sound on this album and I quite enjoyed Robert Wyatt's unusual vocals. I can see why some people may question it's importance but to me this record definitely belongs on this list for pushing musical boundaries.
'Sea Song' sets the tone nicely. It starts as an unconventional piano ballad before spiralling out of control.
'A Last Straw' I didn't like much.
'Little Red Riding Hood...' is a sprawling fast-paced jazzy number which is reminiscent of a Twin Peaks dream sequence.
'Alifib' & 'Alife' are two sides of the same song with the former being the more enjoyable.
'Little Red Robin Hood...' closes the album to the dulcet tones of Ivor Cutler.
This is another album that needs the right frame of mind to listen to & will benefit from multiple plays.
3
Jan 25 2024
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Ladies And Gentlemen We Are Floating In Space
Spiritualized
This is an album I own and have listened to often, albeit not for quite some time. There are some amazing songs on it but the album just feels too long. They could have cut out about 20 minutes and made it much stronger overall. It just feels a little over indulgent.
That aside it's still a worthy album. Almost hymn-like & gospel in parts and the band's name absolutely fits the music they produce. It does feel very spiritual although with darker undertones. The gods they worship are those of the Blues.
The opening title track is wonderfully symphonic with multi-layered vocals. 'Come Together' almost sounds like a sinister nursery rhyme. 'I Think I'm in Love' is a dreamy hymn with rhythmic chaotic droning repetition. 'All of my Thoughts' is a slow prayer-like song punctuated with frantic instrumental sections. 'Stay with Me' is slow & spacy. 'Electricity' is a fast wall of sound with organ & harmonica. Sounds like The Doors coked-up. 'Home of the Brave' starts out a confessional then descends into a slow feedback droning noise which spills over into the next track too. 'Broken Heart' is beautifully haunting. I wouldn't miss tracks 8, 10 & 11 if they weren't on this record which just leaves the closing 17 minute epic 'Cop Shoot Cop'. It shouldn't really work but after what you heard before it all makes perfect sense.
I'm torn over what to rate this. When it dropped I thought an easy 4 stars but the aforementioned length issues as well as the fact some of the verse structures sound a bit formulaic is swaying me. I do wish you could give half stars. I'm going to stick with 4 though. Rating this 3 star sets the bar too high for everyone else and I already feel like I'm being too mean with my scoring so far.
4
Jan 26 2024
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Solid Air
John Martyn
The only song I've heard from John Martyn is 'May You Never' and I love it. It appears on this album so was keen to hear whether the other songs sounded as good. Sadly they don't but there are some nice moments. 'Over the Hill' & 'The Man In the Station' are the other songs I did enjoy.
Although mainly a Folk album there are plenty of other styles flowing through this album. It's got a Jazzy feel to it but also gets quite Funky in some parts and Bluesy in others. The vocals can get a bit strange & mumbled on a few songs but overall it's a good listen. A solid 3.
3
Jan 29 2024
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Is This It
The Strokes
This isn't an overly complex album but I love it for what it is. The Strokes bang out top tune after top tune on this one. Brilliantly simplistic post-punk indie rock. Just your standard guitar, bass, drum & vocals but done so very well. 'Someday', 'Last Nite', 'Hard to Explain' & 'Trying Your Luck' are the highlights here but there aren't any songs that I don't like.
5
Feb 02 2024
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Liquid Swords
GZA
I don't know too much about rap music but this sounds pretty good. I like the simplistic backing tracks but not a big fan of the between-track-skits. Favourite tracks 'Liquid Swords', '4th Chamber' & B.I.B.L.E.
3
Feb 08 2024
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Parklife
Blur
I like the way Blur are always evolving and pushing their sound in new directions. When these songs first dropped it seemed to catch the mood of the times brilliantly. This is very English, very Nineties and can be quite cartoonish at times but there's no denying some of the songs are really good.
The highlights for me are 'Girls & Boys', 'End of a Century', 'Parklife', 'To the End', & 'This is a Low'.
Listening to the album now it does sound a little bit dated but it's still very strong.
4
Feb 16 2024
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Thriller
Michael Jackson
There are a couple of poor tracks on Thriller but mostly this is an excellent Pop album. It's not the sort of music I would choose to sit down & listen to because I tend to not like a lot of the mainstream music. Sometimes I just can't fathom why certain albums or artists sell so many records but with Jackson at his peak it's abundantly clear. 4- Stars.
4
Feb 19 2024
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Moving Pictures
Rush
I don't think I've ever heard Rush before but I was aware of them as a band. The musicianship by the three band members is strong but it kinda feels like the songs are structured so they can show off all their skills. There's a moment halfway through the first song where the bass, drums & guitar seem to be playing 3 different songs. It all sounds a bit self-indulgent but perfectly listenable I guess. I'd imagine their fans are all pretty good at air guitar. I'd rate this 2+ stars. It's not quite a 3-.
2
Feb 20 2024
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Highway 61 Revisited
Bob Dylan
I probably know Bob Dylan's songs more from listening to some of his compilation albums rather than the studio ones so a couple of the tracks hear are familiar to me already. I do like them but hearing the rest of the songs on this LP I'm struck how similar they all sound, especially in vocal delivery. This leads to me zoning out a bit on each play through so it's not fully capturing my attention. Nice enough to listen to but not a brilliant album. Best songs are 'Like a Rolling Stone', 'Highway 61 Revisited', 'Just Like Tom Thumb's Blues' & 'Desolation Row'. A solid 3 stars.
3
Feb 21 2024
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Teen Dream
Beach House
After the first listen I really didn't like this. I decided to play it again later on & really started to warm to the sound (I was maybe in a better
frame of mind). That just underlines the need to give these albums 2 or 3 listens. It does pay off sometimes (but not always).
It's got a nice mellow vibe right through the record. It doesn't reach any real highs but equally it doesn't hit any lows. Very relaxing and inoffensive. Highlights are 'Zebra', 'Silver Soul', 'Walk in the Park' & '10 Mile Stereo'. 3- stars.
3
Feb 22 2024
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The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan
Bob Dylan
'Blowin' in the wind' is a such classic song and this kicks of the album. It's also the high point as the other songs don't quite match it's quality. Overall I find Dylan a bit raw and unpolished here like he is still to fully develop his own unique sound. It's a good insight into his musical development but not exactly what I was expecting to hear when this album dropped for me. 'A Hard Rain's a-Gonna Fall' & 'Don't Think Twice, It's All Right' are my favourites of the other songs. 3- stars.
3
Feb 29 2024
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Buenas Noches From A Lonely Room
Dwight Yoakam
I took this project on to get introduced to some great diverse music that has, so far, passed me by. To date, it has delivered on that promise but I wasn't expecting anything like this album. It's great that all genres get covered but I find it hard to believe that this is one of the best country albums on offer. I have to assume it is as it's on this list but to me it sounds very middle-of-the-road. 2- stars.
2
Mar 01 2024
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If I Should Fall From Grace With God
The Pogues
The Pogues are a band that just did their own thing, carved their own path and there's much to be admired about that. I love this album, it's so much fun to listen to. It's a bit of a rollercoaster ride that ebbs & flows between fast paced rowdy numbers and more thoughtful melancholy songs.
'If I Should Fall From Grace With God' starts the album brilliantly. 'Fairytale of New York' hands down the best Christmas song ever. 'Thousands Are Sailing' is an amazingly emotional song filled with happiness, sadness, hope and regret and it's simply just beautiful. 'Streets of Sorrow / Birmingham Six' & 'Lullaby of London' are great tracks too. The album has a few not so strong moments but overall this is a fine record. 4+ stars.
4
Mar 04 2024
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Wish You Were Here
Pink Floyd
Some albums are a collection of various individual songs & some albums need to be listened to as one entity. Pink Floyd tend to fall into the latter category and this is the case here. It's a good listen but doesn't blow me away. Bookended but 2 long compositions it has a nice flow throughout. The title track stands up on it's own and is excellent but the rest is just a nice listen. I like Pink Floyd but their work seems vastly overrated. This is 3- stars.
3
Mar 05 2024
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Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere
Neil Young & Crazy Horse
I always thought Neil Young's work with Crazy Horse was more full-on electric rock than some of the songs here. It's got quite a hippy slightly acoustic vibe on this album. There are some noisier tracks & I must admit I do prefer 'Down By The River' & 'Cowgirl In The Sand' to the rest of them. 2+ stars.
2
Mar 12 2024
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Meat Is Murder
The Smiths
The Smiths had such a distinct & unique sound. Mainly thanks to Marr's wonderful guitar work & Morrissey's lyrical themes and vocal delivery. Rourke & Joyce's rhythm section helped magically pull it all together. Pop music in the mid 80's was all glamour, big hair & flash expensive music videos and The Smiths were a breath of fresh air as they prided themselves on being very ordinary & working class. 'Well I Wonder' is my favourite tune here. I really like 'Meat is Murder' too but not enough to turn vegetarian, although I'd be surprised if the song hadn't converted a few people. 'The Headmasters Ritual', 'I Want the One I Can't Have' & 'Nowhere Fast' are other notable mentions. 4+ Stars.
4
Mar 13 2024
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Medúlla
Björk
I like some of Bjork's earlier work, including The Sugarcubes, but I don't like this. Medulla is very experimental and, whilst I admire the courage to record something like this, it's an extremely hard listen. A couple of the tracks caught my attention but not so much as I'd add them to any playlists for future enjoyment. 1+ star.
1
Mar 14 2024
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The ArchAndroid
Janelle Monáe
I haven't had a good grip on new music since about 2007 (it's an age thing) so a lot of the albums on this list after that point are definitely fresh listens. I've never heard of this artist and didn't even know what type of music to expect so the first play through was completely without prejudice or expectation. To be honest I don't know if you can label this album as it's all other place and not really in a good way. It seems to jump around stylistically but doesn't really connect with anything. Also, if your gonna make an album well over an hour long it needs to be justified. This doesn't do that, its just mediocre song after mediocre song. 2- stars.
2
Mar 15 2024
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Veckatimest
Grizzly Bear
Dull. I like indie / alternative music in general but this is very uninteresting. I'm surprised this even makes the list. It kinda sounds like Sufjan Stevens but nowhere near as good. 'Two Weeks' is an upbeat enough song and I can see some promise in this music but ultimately it's a poor album. 2- Stars.
2
Mar 18 2024
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There's No Place Like America Today
Curtis Mayfield
Love the music on 'Billy Jack'. It's quite a simple repetitive funky backing track but it definitely grooves. Add in some brilliant horns between the verses and you have one fine fine song. 'So In Love' is great too. Lots of organ, lots of horns, nice bass line. There are moments here where I can pick up on the influence Mayfield has had on other artists I like, most notably The Afghan Whigs.
I haven't really dived into the lyrical content of this album but it's obviously quite political. I was expecting an angrier, more harder edged sound before I played it but actually it's a quite soft and thoughtful record. I will definitely revisit this one as I'm sure it'd be rewarding. 3- stars.
3
Mar 19 2024
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Bryter Layter
Nick Drake
I've not really heard too much Nick Drake before and certainly never listened to this album. What strikes me the most is how much it reminds me of Belle & Sebastian. Drake was obviously a massive influence on this band almost to the point where I need to reassess my fondness for them. Belle & Sebastian seem to have straight up copied this sound and although I do prefer their songs to Drake's I'm not sure I can listen to them in the same way again. I guess this just highlights the progressive nature of music and it's evolution. Everyone is standing on the shoulders of giants.
This album is pretty good. Acoustic in nature but with lots of orchestral parts and quite jazzy in places. 'Hazey Jane 2', 'One of These Things First' & 'Hazey Jane 1' are my favourite songs but the others are pleasant enough. 3- stars.
3
Mar 20 2024
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Wonderful Rainbow
Lightning Bolt
I like that this is on the list. I know it isn't one of the greatest albums ever recorded but that isn't what the book is all about. I'm glad I've listened to it and I might even check out some of their other stuff. This album certainly wakes you up and listening to it seems weirdly energising. I really don't like the sporadic vocals though. They don't add anything to the songs. Favourite song has to be 'Crown of Storms'. 2 stars
2
Apr 05 2024
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Kala
M.I.A.
I had heard 'Paper Planes' before and think it's a great song so when this album appeared I was keen to see what else I'd enjoy from M.I.A. The answer is not very much. The rapping or singing is very flat and uninteresting and needs a good backing track to lift it up but unfortunately this doesn't happen very often.
'Paper Planes' is by far the best thing here and does just enough to save it from 1 star. '20 Dollar's & 'Xr2' have a little something about them but the rest is just bad. 2- stars.
2
Apr 08 2024
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The World is a Ghetto
War
This is quite a slow album and is seems to fall through the cracks a bit. It's funky but not full on funk. It's slightly jazzy, slightly soulful, slightly Latin but doesn't really hit home anywhere stylistically. No songs jump out at you either but there are some nice moments going on. Ultimately it's doesn't have an edge to it and it's just a bit dull. A solid 2 stars.
2
Apr 09 2024
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Fever To Tell
Yeah Yeah Yeahs
I found the vocals very annoying. Edgy post Riot-Grrrl nonsense. The music is pretty bad too until towards the end of the album. 'Maps' & 'Y Control' are fairly decent to be fair and helps it to scrape a very low 2 stars. 2- by my ratings.
2
Apr 10 2024
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Fuzzy Logic
Super Furry Animals
This album reminds me of my music buying youth. You hear a couple of good singles from the same band and on the strength of that you decide to buy their album. You'd excitedly rush home to listen to it only to discover that every song, other than the two you already liked, were absolute garbage. This is why I like modern streaming services - you can listen to anything without too much financial risk.
To be fair though this one isn't quite as bad as that but it was an album & band that was on my buying radar back in the 90's. I loved the 'Something 4 the Weekend' single. It's still a great catchy song. 'If You Don't Want Me to Destroy You' was another single of theirs I liked. On the rest of the album they sound too much like they're copying Blur or the Beatles and not really pulling it off. I'd listened to this again though. 3- stars.
3
Apr 11 2024
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Nothing's Shocking
Jane's Addiction
Such a mature sound for a debut album. Ahead of it's time and surely very influential on other bands. The sound here is like a stepping stone from LA metal to alternative rock which the grunge scene would then kick on from, a few years later.
'Jane Says' is just brilliant and I love the inclusion of steel drums. 'Ocean Size', 'Ted Just Admit It', 'Standing in the Shower Thinking', 'Mountain Song', 'Idiots Rule' & 'Pig's in Zen' are also great songs. This album rocks. 4- stars.
4
Apr 19 2024
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Time (The Revelator)
Gillian Welch
This album is very stripped down, mostly just acoustic guitar & vocals. There are a few moments when the sound is more built up with additional instruments & backing vocals and I feel this elevates her voice somewhat. It's nice enough but nothing on here really excites me. 2+ stars.
(If anyone enjoys this album then you should check out Laura Cantrell's 'Not the Tremblin' Kind'. Similar to this but better IMHO.)
2
Apr 22 2024
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Pretzel Logic
Steely Dan
I just don't get Steely Dan. This is the 2nd album I've had from them & it's just as bad, if not worse, than the 1st one. Very Seventies, very dated, very dull. It's only 33 minutes long but it felt like a lot more. 1 star.
1
Apr 29 2024
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Transformer
Lou Reed
I've never listened to this album before but had heard 'Perfect Day', 'Walk on the Wild Side' & 'Satellite of Love'. Those 3 are great and by far the standout tracks. Of the others I also liked 'Vicious'. The rest not so much. The music is decent on them but some of the lyrics are really bad. I only tend to pick up on lyrics after quite a few listens but here they do jump out & not in a good way. Overall it's a solid 3 stars.
3
Apr 30 2024
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Let's Get It On
Marvin Gaye
Decent album. Not a fan of the 4 slower songs but I do like the other 4, especially the title track 'Lets Get It On'. 3- stars.
3
May 01 2024
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The Who Sell Out
The Who
I'm actually surprised by how psychedelic this album is but the fact it was released in 1967 does explain it. I always think of Sixties The Who with a harder Mod sound. This just sounds quite generic for it's time. All forced weirdness with sprinklings of comic quirkiness. Probably sounds the same as a hundred other late Sixties albums. Quite disappointed as I was expecting much better when this one dropped. 1+ star.
1
May 02 2024
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The Genius Of Ray Charles
Ray Charles
This is not really my thing. It's pleasant enough and fine as background music in a coffee shop but not something I would sit down and 'listen' to. Musically all the songs sound very similar which doesn't help to hold my attention. 2- stars.
2
May 03 2024
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Feast of Wire
Calexico
Great mix of styles running through this album but it still manages to feels cohesive. 'Sunken Waltz' is the best offering but nothing really blows me away. 2+ stars.
2
May 06 2024
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Franz Ferdinand
Franz Ferdinand
Very catchy, very clean sound. Vibes of the late 70's early 80's post punk era. A little bit twee but still very enjoyable. A lot of the songs get you moving & bopping about which is fun. I do feel like they lean too much on the music of the past so need to be downgraded for that. 3+ stars. Best song 'Take Me Out'.
3
May 07 2024
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The Band
The Band
Brilliant album. It seems to capture a moment in time from the deep South USA without ever feeling at all dated. 5 stars.
5
May 08 2024
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NEU! 75
Neu!
Very good, really enjoyed listening to this. Mostly instrumental with rolling melodies & pulsing beats. When there is singing it sounds very Punk-like and this predates that scene so must've been a bit of an influence. Also quite ambient too at times. Of today's bands this reminds me most of 'War On Drugs'. 4- stars.
Favourite track - 'Seeland'
4
May 09 2024
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With The Beatles
Beatles
I definitely prefer the later Beatles sound. This is ok with a few classic tracks on it. It's a mixture of covers and self penned songs. 'All My Loving' is by far the best offering. The rest vary in quality but they all sound really sharp and undeniably iconic for the era. 2+ stars.
2
May 10 2024
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Young Americans
David Bowie
I like that Bowie was always evolving. I didn't necessarily enjoy every change of style but you had to admire him for never standing still. Here we have soulful Bowie. This album has a lot to enjoy without actually blowing me away. I really like the horns & backing vocals that weave throughout this album. Favourite track is 'Right', I just love that guitar riff. Solid 3 stars.
3
May 13 2024
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Electric Ladyland
Jimi Hendrix
Listening to this album I get the feeling it would be so so much better as a live experience. I'm not sure the production lifts the sound to where it should be but you absolutely get the sense of Hendrix's brilliance. A lot of the songs drift off into improvised directions as if we're listening to a band rehearsing. I kinda like the looseness of that but sometimes it goes on for too long. 3- stars
3
May 14 2024
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1999
Prince
The opening 3 tracks are really good. Unfortunately the rest of the album is a bit of a slog. The remaining songs are just self indulgent and far too long. Only one of them is under 5 mins. Down-marked accordingly. 2+ Stars.
2
May 15 2024
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Arc Of A Diver
Steve Winwood
When the first track gets going you can hear the structures of a decent song but the instrumentation is very off-putting. It's all programmed drums and synthesizers. It's like they are utilising the latest technology just for the sake of it. I get the feeling this would sound a bit better if done with traditional instruments.
The other things that hits me is how it all sounds like Phil Collins / Peter Gabriel / Marrilion. All very prog rock but probably not the best example of it. Like many albums I've had so far, I don't see what is so significant about this that I had to hear in my lifetime. 2- Stars.
2
May 16 2024
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...And Justice For All
Metallica
This album has a very formulated sound which makes it hard to distinguish between some of the songs. That said the fast pace of them is enjoyable. The first one to break the formula is 'One'. It's the song I liked the most on this album and it's definitely has more dimensions to it than the bulk of them. Overall this is ok but not really my cup of tea. 2+ Stars.
2
May 17 2024
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All Mod Cons
The Jam
Good solid album. A few stand out tracks but the rest are ok too. I like the social commentary of Weller's writing and the jangling punky vibe to the music. 3 stars.
Best songs - To Be Someone, English Rose, A Bomb In Wardour Street & Down In The Tube Station At Midnight.
3
May 20 2024
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Tommy
The Who
Having been disappointed with a previous Who album, I thought this was much better. Obviously each song tells a small part of the bigger story and I did enjoy listening to the narrative. I will need to watch the film adaptation of this album. Most of the songs don't really stand up on their own outside of the concept but 'Pinball Wizard' & 'Go To The Mirror!' do. A solid 3 stars.
3
May 21 2024
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Abraxas
Santana
I can appreciate the musicianship here but, to be honest, the songs don't blow me away. There's nice elements of Jazz, Hendrix, Latin & Rock all nicely packaged into nice tunes. It's nice enough but nothing amazing. 2+ stars.
2
Jun 04 2024
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Ágætis Byrjun
Sigur Rós
This one needs a few listens & a bit of time to start appreciating. It's good but can be a bit dull in places. A lot of songs start out slow but improve & build towards the end but most of them do tend to be overly long. This would've been a very good album if it'd been edited down by about a third. It's still a solid 3 stars though.
Songs of note are 'Sraralfur', Flugufrelsarian', 'Ny Batteri' & 'Olsen Olsen'.
3
Jun 05 2024
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#1 Record
Big Star
I'm aware of the influence this band has had on the alternative/indie music scene but never really fully listened to them. I wasn't expecting it to sound so Glam & Pop-like but the fact it was released in 1972 kinda explains why. It's a very good album with great production & well crafted songs. It definitely deserved more success at the time of it's release. Looking forward to hearing more from this band. 3+ stars.
3
Jun 06 2024
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BEYONCÉ
Beyoncé
'Pretty Hurts' opens this album and it's actually pretty good which caught me off guard as I wasn't expecting much when this dropped. 'XO' is the only other song I enjoyed but I guess 'Drunk in Love' is decent up until Jay-Z crashes the party. 2- stars.
2
Jun 07 2024
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I Never Loved a Man the Way I Love You
Aretha Franklin
2nd Aretha album for me so far. Similar feeling for this one as with 'Lady Soul'. I much prefer the upbeat songs to the slower ones. I Also much prefer the cover songs to the original ones. A solid 2 stars.
2
Jun 12 2024
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Crosby, Stills & Nash
Crosby, Stills & Nash
I know this is a critically acclaimed album but it doesn't do much for me. They have a very difinetive sound with very tight harmonies and the musicianship is good. The album starts off strong and ends pretty strong but the middle songs have me drifting off and barely paying any attention. 2- stars.
2
Jun 13 2024
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Ten
Pearl Jam
This album comes out of the blocks running. 'Once', 'Even Flow', 'Alive' & 'Black' are all great tracks. The sound is a little bit smoother than other grunge bands but it definitely packs a mighty punch. The quality of the songs do start to tail off towards the end and I guess this stops it from getting all 5 stars. 4+ stars.
4
Jun 14 2024
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Slanted And Enchanted
Pavement
'Summer Babe' & 'Here' are really great and I love the unpolished lo-fi slacker sound. I do find with any left-field or experimental music that not everything lands with me, but that's ok. When it does land it's totally worth it. 3 stars.
3
Jun 20 2024
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Homework
Daft Punk
I find it difficult to review a dance album but I did enjoy about half of the tracks here. The music is good but a bit long & repetitive. 'Around The World's being a fine example of that. Overall this would be good as background but not something you'd just sit down and listen too. 3+ stars.
3
Jun 21 2024
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Document
R.E.M.
I'd heard & liked of a few of the singles from 'Green' when they first came out but I wasn't really aware of the band until they exploded with their 'Out of Time' album. What a joy it was working my way through their back catalogue.
'Document' is brilliant. It's a much bigger sound than previously and you can sense them starting to grow into the superstars they became. 'Finest Worksong' is a great opener. 'Exhuming McCarthy' has a sharp jagged rhythm that gets the songs point across so well. I love the horns on 'Fireplace'. There's so many other great songs here and the even the few that aren't top notch are still pretty good. 5 stars.
5
Jun 24 2024
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The Clash
The Clash
This is The Clash at their Punkiest. I like the way their sound eventually evolved away from pure Punk but this is their debut so the raw explosiveness is here in abundance.
'Janie Jones', 'White Riot' & 'Police & Thieves' are reall good. I struggle to connect with some of the other songs though. It feels like you had to be there in 1977 to really appreciate the impact of the UK punk scene. Looking back over 45 years later it's hard to get too excited by this raucous rock music. 3 stars
3
Jun 25 2024
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The Wall
Pink Floyd
2+ Stars. (6/15)
2
Jun 27 2024
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The Holy Bible
Manic Street Preachers
The Manic's have written a few decent songs but none of them live on this album. Everything here kind of sounds the same. 'Yes' & 'She Is Suffering' are the only songs I'd want to hear again. Not exactly bad to listen to but it's all just a bit one dimensional. The vocal delivery is mostly very samey and the music just sits in the background not really going anywhere. It's not bad but it's not essential listening either. 2- stars.
2
Jun 28 2024
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Ctrl
SZA
I'm totally ok with this album being on the list but the truth is I'm a little lost when it comes to this sort of music & it makes me feel really old lol.
I don't like most of the songs here although the odd tune does catch my ear but then the lyrics just put me off those ones too. I'm happy to just let this pass me by. 2- stars.
2
Jul 01 2024
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Straight Outta Compton
N.W.A.
3 Stars. (8/15)
3
Jul 02 2024
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Guero
Beck
2 Stars. (4/15)
2
Jul 03 2024
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Live 1966 (The Royal Albert Hall Concert)
Bob Dylan
2 Stars. (5/15)
2
Jul 04 2024
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Faith
George Michael
3+ Stars (9/15)
3
Jul 05 2024
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Eli And The Thirteenth Confession
Laura Nyro
3 Stars (8/15)
3
Jul 08 2024
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The Village Green Preservation Society
The Kinks
2 Stars (5/15)
2
Jul 12 2024
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Blood Sugar Sex Magik
Red Hot Chili Peppers
2+ Stars (6/15)
2
Jul 15 2024
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Rubber Soul
Beatles
3- Stars (7/15)
3
Jul 16 2024
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Sign 'O' The Times
Prince
2 Stars (5/15)
2
Jul 25 2024
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Raw Power
The Stooges
3 Stars (8/15)
3
Jul 26 2024
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Appetite For Destruction
Guns N' Roses
3 Stars (8/15)
3
Jul 29 2024
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Stories From The City, Stories From The Sea
PJ Harvey
3+ Stars (9/15)
3
Jul 30 2024
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Debut
Björk
3+ Stars (9/15)
3
Aug 02 2024
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Something/Anything?
Todd Rundgren
1+ Stars (3/15)
1
Sep 17 2024
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Hard Again
Muddy Waters
3- Stars (7/15)
3
Sep 18 2024
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James Brown Live At The Apollo
James Brown
3- Stars (7/15)
3
Sep 19 2024
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You Want It Darker
Leonard Cohen
2+ Stars (6/15)
2
Sep 20 2024
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Heartattack And Vine
Tom Waits
3 Stars (8/15)
3
Sep 23 2024
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The Suburbs
Arcade Fire
4+ Stars (12/15)
4
Sep 24 2024
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Talking Heads 77
Talking Heads
3- Stars (7/15)
3
Sep 25 2024
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Behaviour
Pet Shop Boys
2 Stars (5/15)
2
Sep 26 2024
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Goo
Sonic Youth
3+ Stars (9/15)
3
Sep 27 2024
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Risque
CHIC
2+ Stars (6/15)
2
Sep 30 2024
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Enter The Wu-Tang (36 Chambers)
Wu-Tang Clan
3 Stars (8/15)
3
Oct 01 2024
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Tapestry
Carole King
2+ Stars (6/15)
2
Oct 02 2024
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Different Class
Pulp
4 Stars (11/15)
4
Oct 03 2024
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Achtung Baby
U2
3 Stars (8/15)
3
Oct 04 2024
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D
White Denim
2 Stars (5/15)
2
Oct 07 2024
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Raising Hell
Run-D.M.C.
3- Stars (7/15)
3
Oct 08 2024
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Arthur (Or the Decline and Fall of the British Empire)
The Kinks
2 Stars (5/15)
2
Oct 09 2024
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From Elvis In Memphis
Elvis Presley
3 Stars (8/15)
3
Oct 10 2024
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On The Beach
Neil Young
2+ Stars (6/15)
2
Oct 11 2024
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The Next Day
David Bowie
2 Stars (5/15)
2
Oct 14 2024
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Live At Leeds
The Who
3- Stars (7/15)
3
Oct 15 2024
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Cloud Nine
The Temptations
2- Stars (4/15)
2
Oct 16 2024
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When I Was Born For The 7th Time
Cornershop
3- Stars (7/15)
3
Oct 17 2024
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Stardust
Willie Nelson
1- Star (/15)
1
Oct 18 2024
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Ritual De Lo Habitual
Jane's Addiction
3 Stars (8/15)
3
Oct 21 2024
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Murmur
R.E.M.
4+ Stars (12/15)
4
Oct 22 2024
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Modern Sounds in Country and Western Music
Ray Charles
2- Stars (4/14)
2
Oct 23 2024
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Either Or
Elliott Smith
3- Stars (7/15)
3
Oct 24 2024
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Dirty
Sonic Youth
4+ Stars (12/15)
4
Oct 25 2024
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Rattus Norvegicus
The Stranglers
2+ Stars (6/15)
2
Oct 27 2024
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OK Computer
Radiohead
5 Stars (14/15)
5
Oct 28 2024
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Garbage
Garbage
2- Stars (4/15)
2
Oct 29 2024
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Born In The U.S.A.
Bruce Springsteen
4- Stars (10/15)
4
Oct 30 2024
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Green Onions
Booker T. & The MG's
2- Stars (4/15)
2
Oct 31 2024
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Smile
Brian Wilson
3- Stars (7/15)
3
Nov 01 2024
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3 + 3
The Isley Brothers
3+ Stars (9/15)
3
Nov 02 2024
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Surfer Rosa
Pixies
4 Stars (11/15)
4
Nov 03 2024
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Chore of Enchantment
Giant Sand
2 Stars (5/15)
2
Nov 04 2024
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Le Tigre
Le Tigre
3 Stars (8/15)
3
Nov 05 2024
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Abattoir Blues / The Lyre of Orpheus
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds
3+ Stars (9/15)
3
Nov 06 2024
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Electric
The Cult
2 Stars (5/15)
2
Nov 07 2024
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Every Good Boy Deserves Fudge
Mudhoney
3 Stars (8/15)
3
Nov 08 2024
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Rings Around The World
Super Furry Animals
3- Stars (7/15)
3
Nov 09 2024
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Blood On The Tracks
Bob Dylan
2+ Stars (6/15)
2
Nov 10 2024
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Planet Rock: The Album
Afrika Bambaataa
2 Stars (5/15)
2
Nov 11 2024
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At Newport 1960
Muddy Waters
2+ Stars (6/15)
2
Nov 12 2024
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Ready To Die
The Notorious B.I.G.
3- Stars (7/15)
3
Nov 13 2024
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Exodus
Bob Marley & The Wailers
5- Stars (13/15)
5
Nov 14 2024
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Rejoicing In The Hands
Devendra Banhart
1- Stars (1/15)
1
Nov 15 2024
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Innervisions
Stevie Wonder
3- Stars (7/15)
3
Nov 16 2024
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Hounds Of Love
Kate Bush
3 Stars (8/15)
3
Nov 17 2024
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Killing Joke
Killing Joke
3 Stars (8/15)
3
Nov 19 2024
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You've Come a Long Way Baby
Fatboy Slim
3 Stars (8/15)
3
Nov 20 2024
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Scum
Napalm Death
1- Stars (1/15)
1