I really did try to make my mind a blank slate, erase everything I know about this turd, and try to find something to enjoy in this, but I failed. It's just not good. The lyrics, the vocal performance, the music itself, none of it works for me. It just feels extremely uninspired, lazy, and hollow (which is kind of incredible considering how much this dude talks about eating shrooms). I can't even lean on nostalgia for this one despite being a youngster when this album came out. If Picture with Sheryl Crow was on this album it would maybe get a 2, as that's the only Kid Rock song I can recall ever enjoying. A smidgen of sincerity goes a long way. Also, this being classified solely as "metal" is offensive. I did crack a smile once during this album, and that was in Where U at Rock where his little voice goes from left ear to right ear saying "over here," "over there." That shit was funny.

One of my favorite new-to-me albums I've gotten on this list. Sometimes double albums can feel like a drag, but this one could've kept going and I wouldn't have been upset. I enjoyed every last song, zero skips on this album for me. There are times where a song sounds like it's going to be a generic pop/indie song, but then he puts his own little twists in there that make it utterly unique and just plain cool. It's a super fun album, but it always maintains a little edge to it which I just love. I've been a Pixies fan for a very long time and am ashamed that I haven't listened to Frank Black's records sooner. I'm going on a short road trip next weekend and already can't wait to play this during my drive. Perfect spring time drive music. Finding albums like this makes this whole experience so worthwhile.

What can I say that hasn't already been said about this album? Probably not much. As an avid music lover, being asked who my favorite artist is has always been a stressful question, but my easy answer is simply The Smashing Pumpkins. I've been a massive fan since I was probably about 16 when I bought Rotten Apples, their "greatest hits" album from a local music store, then proceeded to dive into their albums properly. This album is just such a power-house. It's got the hits like Tonight, Tonight, 1979, Bullet With Butterfly Wings, and Zero (hits that have never overstayed their welcome, in my mind), but it also has some wonderful overlooked treasures. In the Arms of Sleep is probably in my top 5 SP songs of all time. This song is absolutely gorgeous and has some of my favorite vocals from Corgan. Jellybelly, Here is No Why, To Forgive, An Ode to No One, Cupid de Locke, Muzzle, Porcelina of the Vast Oceans, Where Boys Fear to Tread, Bodies, Thru the Eyes of Ruby, X.Y.U, like holy crap there are so many bangers on this album. It has the nice soft ballads, screeching vocals with heavy distortion, and everything in between. And while it covers this whole spectrum, it all still feels like it maintains an identity. These songs are all undeniably Mellon Collie. I love it all. I also feel the need to shout out The Aeroplane Flies High (Turns Left, Looks Right), a song that was cut from the album but can be found on the deluxe version, great tune.

Had this in my ears as I went outside to enjoy the 2024 eclipse, specifically Desired Constellation, and wow. I couldn't have picked a better soundtrack for an eclipse if I tried. This album is delightfully weird, wonderful, and utterly singular. It had been many years since I'd heard this album, and I definitely have a deeper appreciation for it after revisiting it.

I really did try to make my mind a blank slate, erase everything I know about this turd, and try to find something to enjoy in this, but I failed. It's just not good. The lyrics, the vocal performance, the music itself, none of it works for me. It just feels extremely uninspired, lazy, and hollow (which is kind of incredible considering how much this dude talks about eating shrooms). I can't even lean on nostalgia for this one despite being a youngster when this album came out. If Picture with Sheryl Crow was on this album it would maybe get a 2, as that's the only Kid Rock song I can recall ever enjoying. A smidgen of sincerity goes a long way. Also, this being classified solely as "metal" is offensive. I did crack a smile once during this album, and that was in Where U at Rock where his little voice goes from left ear to right ear saying "over here," "over there." That shit was funny.

Man, I just really don't like glam, pre-glam, whatever this is. I couldn't stop thinking that the vocalist sounds like Dr. Rockso The Rock and Roll Clown before he got addicted to cocaine.

I was a 16 year old little hipster when this album came out, so obviously I was obsessed with it. This is one of those time capsule albums for me. Hearing it just immediately takes me back to that time of my life, driving around with my friends in my used Volkswagen Jetta that was given the name "Caca Dart" by my dad because it was a piece of shit. I'd love to know how many times this CD played in good ol' Caca Dart. Time to Pretend, Electric Feel, and Kids are all undeniable bops, but I also think Weekend Wars, The Youth, and The Handshake are unsung heroes on this album. I would be really interested to know how I would receive this if I was hearing it for the first time today. Alas, I am human, and cannot deny the nostalgia that oozes off this album for me, so it's a 5.

Hot damn, this album was freakin' sick! I've always considered myself to be a bit of a Beastie Boys hater. Fight For Your Right, Brass Monkey, No Sleep Til Brooklyn, Girls...all these songs never did much for me/actively got on my nerves. Sabotage was the only Beastie Boys song I was fan of before starting this. I had Paul's Boutique earlier in this project and found myself kind of having the "kombucha lady" reaction on first listen. I listened to that one a few times to try and fully absorb it and ended up really digging it after I was able to break myself out of my bias I had about the Beastie Boys coming in. This one blew me away instantly on first listen. All of the genre shifting is done masterfully and doesn't feel jarring at all. I also really loved the instrumentals sprinkled throughout. It's a shame that most of their big time hits came off Licensed to Ill, because that's what I've been basing my opinion of these guys on all these years. I think today I officially became a fan, this album was a very nice surprise that sparked some joy on a Monday morning at my boring office job.

One of my all time favorite albums. I was a HUGE Radiohead fan in high school. My friend lent me his copy of The Bends my freshman year and the rest was history. I was 16 when this came out, and for my 17th birthday my parents got me tickets to see them in concert on the In Rainbows tour. To this day it is one of the best gifts I have ever received. They didn't know Radiohead's music at all, they just knew that I was obsessed with them and somehow knew they were on tour and got me tickets, I was absolutely stunned. I bought a wall flag/fabric art at this show and it has been prominently displayed in every place I've lived since, so I think of this concert often. One of the most incredible live performances I've ever witnessed, and I feel so fortunate that I had the opportunity to be there.

Man, I hadn't listened to this album in years. I've lived in Oklahoma my entire life. As a young music lover in OK, seeing The Flaming Lips live was like a rite of passage. My moment came in the summer of 2007 when I was 16. Tulsa used to hold a little music festival called Dfest (RIP, I wish they'd bring Dfest back). My parents drove me and two of my friends out to Tulsa, and man we just had the time of our lives. This was my first like "holy shit" live music experience. When Wayne Coyne rolled out in that bubble and was rolling around in the crowd?? The UFO, the lights? I also think it's the first time I ever smelled weed (I was a late bloomer). Gosh, it was such an incredibly fun concert. About a week or two later, I was driving with my friend over to his house to play some Guitar Hero, when all of a sudden I notice Wayne Coyne standing outside a building near my friend's neighborhood, which is very weird since we live in a suburb outside of OKC, so this felt very random, but there was no mistaking it, that was Wayne Coyne. My friend convinced me to stop to say hello. So I stop and excitedly tell Wayne that I just saw him at Dfest, I even still had my bracelet on from the festival. He was so kind, and invited us inside the building to sign some posters for us, turns out the building was just full of Flaming Lips promo stuff. Listening to this album just brought all those memories rushing to the surface. While I could probably go without hearing Do You Realize?? anymore (this song has kinda worn out its welcome with me), this album is just wonderful. Fight Test is such a great opening track, and I think In the Morning of the Magicians is the unsung hero of this album, such a beautiful song.

Gosh, I'm having a nice slew of some of the keystone albums of my youth lately. I absolutely love Animal Collective, this album is just incredible. In the Flowers is one of my all time favorite songs. I'll never forget the first time I heard it. When that climax hit, I swear I went to outer space. So many undulating layers in this song that just make you feel like you're floating in water, then you get that masterfully crafted climax. I've heard this song so many damn times but it still gives me chills every time I hear it. The way the synth and percussion play together in this bit just gets me every time. Then it just kind of trickles away and transitions into the immaculate layering of vocals and synths in My Girls (which has an amazing music video that I always seem to play it in my mind when I hear the song). And then it just continues on this way for the rest of the album, it just onto the next and the next like water and it's all wonderful. Also I'd be remiss if I didn't mention the absolutely perfect album art. Such a special album that will always make me think of my freshman year of college. From beginning to end, this album is such an incredibly fun journey. Still on my bucket list to see these guys live, the stars just haven't aligned for me in that regard. Gotta hold out hope for that 20 year MPP anniversary which will be here before we know it. And my brain just wobbled after typing that, how has it already been 15 years since this came out, what on earth??