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Mon Jan 08 2024
Wish You Were Here
Pink Floyd
I understand why people smoke weed and watch laser shows of Pink Floyd albums.
Sandwiching the album between two extended prog-rock suites is a fun way to build to the release of the middle of the album. The title track definitely serves as the high point on the album in terms of a traditional song, but for my money "Shine On You Crazy Diamond, Pts. 6-9" is the most fun, and funky track on the album. An undeniable and jazzy groove that kicks off about six minutes into the track feels like it should be the end point of the album. But this funky denouement turns to a melancholy final three minutes, possibly to show regret over the loss of Syd Barrett as their guitarist.
3
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Tue Jan 09 2024
Bryter Layter
Nick Drake
*previously listened to*
A nice balance of gentle guitars, bright horns and flutes paired with Nick Drake's quiet yet emotive voice. The mix of Drake's dour vocals and pleasant and uplifting instrumentation seems almost reflected on the cover. Sitting in shadows, face concealed by hair and darkness, Drake is surrounded by a bright burst of color. It's intriguing to wonder what could've been in the career of Nick Drake if he was around to realize an album following in these blueprints.
4
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Wed Jan 10 2024
All Directions
The Temptations
A funky first half punctuated by the 12 minute "Papa Was A Rolling Stone" gives way to a traditional R&B Motown record. Truly a record of two halves as the first half builds to a psychedelic funk that you can get lost swirling around in, building on the work they started on the 1969 album Cloud Nine. The second half is all soaring strings and gentle vocals and can feel like a little bit of a whiplash but still pretty all the same.
3
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Thu Jan 11 2024
Either Or
Elliott Smith
It's ridiculous how obvious of an influence this album was on a generation of songwriters. Being able to connect Either/Or's legacy by threads of current indie rock is a treat of it's own.
Smith tells personal stories of sadness, addiction and loss by blending metaphors and direct connections of the places Portland had to offer him ("Alameda", "Rose Parade", a line on "Punch and Judy" about driving around Division street). A balanced mix of songwriter with acoustic guitar ("Between the Bars", "No Name No. 5", "Angeles") and punchy indie rock indicative of the 90's ("Pictures of Me", "Cupid's Trick").
Final track "Say Yes" is a sweet, if not overly optimistic reminder, that there is always something to hope and strive for even after events of resounding sadness because throughout it all we'll still "be around the morning after."
4
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Fri Jan 12 2024
Neon Bible
Arcade Fire
The meme that I remember was "Neon Bible sucks!" And I get that reaction but am glad I got to confront that notion. There is a reason this is the album that really pushed Arcade Fire into the spotlight.
The "challenging second album" motifs are present throughout: a orchestra in Budapest contributing to songs, recording in unconventional places (an old church the band bought an turned into a studio, and also next to a river) and a deeply confrontational theme spread throughout.
The themes of consumerism and religion crushing this nation are present everywhere you turn on this album. Dissonance seems to interplay with the lyrics to give a double whammy of reality that is sometimes hard to look in the eye. A lot of the songs have a neo-Springsteen feel to them, asking the bold question "What if the Boss had to come to grips with the beginning of the iPhone era instead of fast cars and leaving Jersey?"
Also, fuck Win Butler.
4
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Mon Jan 15 2024
Tapestry
Carole King
Pleasant and triumphant, it's not surprising in the slightest that this album sold maybe up to 30 million copies worldwide. King's voice feels so casually beautiful, almost like when that one friend sings karaoke and you realize "Wow you can just belt out a tune like that no problem huh?"
The songwriting is top notch, era defining stuff. Moments hook you in and swoon you before you realize half the album has gone by. "I Feel The Earth Move" is obviously the star here, a world beater of a song that is instantly recognizable and catchy.
4
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Tue Jan 16 2024
Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers
Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers
What I appreciate about this album is it's simplicity. The songs are on average around three minutes, say what they're trying to say, and get out. In an era that was defined by sprawling proggy epics, it is nice to see a release so concise and to the point.
Another great part of this album is that while it doesn't seem to be tied to the concept Rock & Roll fundamentalism, it's too aloof to be part of the then burgeoning punk movement, and not committed enough to the traces of Southern Rock that creep out in the second half. The boys just want to rock out and play their show, ideals (in either direction) be damned.
3
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Wed Jan 17 2024
Shleep
Robert Wyatt
It’s like a dream where everything isn’t quite arranged right and you only have a suggestion of things that you can remember. But despite everything feeling out of place, it doesn’t feel disorganized. It feels like a new way to accept reality.
4
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Thu Jan 18 2024
Power In Numbers
Jurassic 5
*previously listened to. A LOT*
Power In Numbers does an impressive feat in hip hop: it blends technical excellence with unmitigated soul. A fully realized album that is able to keep things fresh and still plays well today.
The bulk of the album is produced by Jurassic 5's resident producers, Nu-Mark and Cut Chemist, which adds a sense of cohesiveness. Furthermore, most of the quests spots are underground hip hop veterans (minus the odd, but well fitting Nelly Furtado feature) which meld well into the album.
Technically everyone shows up at all times. The "give the drummer some" moment of "Acetate Prophets" which lets Nu-Mark and Cut Chemist chop up some of the more oddball samples that would have gone missed under the MC's pyroclastic flows. A particular example of verbose agility is Chali 2na's verse on album stand-out "A Day At The Races." 2na's deep voice moves and glides effortlessly across the beat, providing one of the best technical rapping displays I've ever heard.
Technical prowess as a praise in hip hop often comes with the hidden diss of "but they're not really saying anything." All the MCs of J5 are equally talented at painting a picture of telling a story, sometimes together like in "Remember His Name." Their voices all seem to compliment each other sonically which works separate on when they work together on a hook.
5
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Fri Jan 19 2024
Parallel Lines
Blondie
It's amazing that a band as eclectic as Blondie made more or less a straight up pop record. Blondie was influenced by so much from New Wave to punk top surf rock to disco and yet, this is a pretty standard pop rock affair.
Debbie Harry's amazingly emotional and moody voice is so wonderful all over this record. A solid record from a great band, but this definitely feels like Okay Songs around a couple Phenomenal Songs.
3
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Mon Jan 22 2024
Doolittle
Pixies
It's amazing how many catchy and instantly memorable songs there are on this album. Songs like "Debaser," "Here Comes Your Man," and "Monkey Gone to Heaven" are worth the price of admission on their own but there is so much to see.
Despite the generally poppier numbers getting the most attention (hello "Wave of Mutilation" in Rock Band being my introduction to the Pixies), this album is full of a smattering of sounds that would go on to define 90's rock. Nosier songs never feel overcrowded and quieter songs like "Hey" let you truly appreciate the space in the recording.
"Silver" is another stand out in this way. A slow, plodding song that seems to breathe and let each instrument occupy it's own space. It's funeral dirge pace is highlighted by the song being less than three minutes, but somehow still taking up vast amount of space as well as time.
3
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Tue Jan 23 2024
Bat Out Of Hell
Meat Loaf
To me this feels like Bruce Springsteen for theatre nerds. I don't necessarily think the music is bad but I think this is more of a me issue. A good operatic power ballad is fine but every song feels to hit those notes.
2
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Wed Jan 24 2024
Lazer Guided Melodies
Spiritualized
Once in college, a friend and I went to her friend’s house to drink and smoke weed and do the usual college kid things. We maybe played Jenga and definitely beer pong where someone won with a 360 no look shot.
One of the guys was very very high and asked for some chill out music. My friend and I ribbed him by putting on other, more interesting music. I put on the sprawling psychedelic “Hey Jane” by Spiritualized from their 2012 album Sweet Heart Sweet Light. I bet he wished I put on Lazer Guided Melodies instead.
4
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Thu Jan 25 2024
Leftism
Leftfield
The hardest part about an electronic album is making a cohesive statement or piece that isn’t just “Here’s an hour of songs that are like the ones on the single.” Leftfield does a good job of at least creating a little bit of intrigue with a smattering of influence and genres.
Very much a sampling of the 90’s rave scene, this album never stays in one place for too long. Sequencing wise it felt like a reasonably paced album with highs and lows dispersed throughout.
3
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Fri Jan 26 2024
My Aim Is True
Elvis Costello
A good mix of different influences. It’s clear Costello has a knack for many different styles of music. Some very very catchy and well done songs but nothing too terribly memorable.
Feels like the the 70’s rock album you think your dad would like but he doesn’t actually like or “get” at all.
3
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Mon Jan 29 2024
With The Beatles
Beatles
So here's the thing: The Beatles are this amazing, groundbreaking band that changed how we think about bands but this right here is just An Album.
A lot of good and fun songs but to me this is just the Beatles starting to become a very popular band and not necessarily become the dominant cultural force that they are today.
3
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Tue Jan 30 2024
The Dark Side Of The Moon
Pink Floyd
One of the more difficult tasks with listening to highly influential music, especially something you missed, is that the tropes and concepts you are already well played out ideas and not as innovative as presented on an album.
That being said, obviously this is a fully succinct work and there’s a reason it’s so beloved, emulated and frankly just well known. I was surprised how many of these songs I was familiar with despite never seeking out this album, or really much of Floyd.
4
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Wed Jan 31 2024
Aladdin Sane
David Bowie
What a funny little album to have to think about: following Bowie's career defining glam statement this album featuring one of the most iconic visuals of his whole career but is musically Just Okay. Aladdin Sane isn't a bad record at all but it's tantamount to basically any other American rock record at that point.
3
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Thu Feb 01 2024
Ellington at Newport
Duke Ellington
In terms of pacing, Ellington at Newport captures the ferocity of a live show in it's purest essence. A well laid out LP shows masters at work and highlights the thunderous moments that eventually revitalized Ellington's career.
The suite of new songs on the A Side is fun a playful, meant to elicit reaction and awe from the Newport crowd. Even if historically the performances slightly underwhelmed the crowd, they're still wonder numbers and serve as the palette for which the rest of the performance would be judged by.
Side B is a different sort of animal altogether, bringing two stomping 1930's pieces back into the (when it was recorded) current scope. "Jeep's Blues" is a perfectly suitable number that will be overshadowed by the next track. And what a shadow that is.
The live recording of "Diminuendo and Crescendo in Blue" showcases a raucous saxophone solo that sends the audience into an uproar. Being a live recording, we can really feel the energy of this performance from the audience gasps to the encouraging shouts of Duke and other band members encouraging Paul Gonsalves through the solo.
4
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Fri Feb 02 2024
I Never Loved a Man the Way I Love You
Aretha Franklin
3
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Mon Feb 05 2024
Parachutes
Coldplay
2
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Tue Feb 06 2024
Arrival
ABBA
2
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Wed Feb 07 2024
Daydream Nation
Sonic Youth
One of the very exciting things about Daydream Nation is that you're never quite sure when or if it'll all fall apart. Occasionally an otherwise solid riff devolves into noise or discord. It's all in favor of keeping you on your toes and taking you along for a wonderful jouyrney.
5
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Thu Feb 08 2024
A Seat at the Table
Solange
A nice blending of different elements of R&B from different eras. Amazing production and a wonderful selection of features help a coherent theme that ties it all together.
4
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Fri Feb 09 2024
Urban Hymns
The Verve
I’m pretty sure every Britrock album I’ve ever heard has sounded like every Britrock album I’ve ever heard before (maybe minus Stone Roses). A fine album with that might overstay its welcome a bit.
3
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Mon Feb 12 2024
Garbage
Garbage
An interesting album with some catchy songs and fun ideas. Truly a fun bending of genres and influences but in a way that is stuck in a time capsule. A product of the 90's in that sense, and also with a long runtime probably due to the evolution of the CD as the main format for albums.
3
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Tue Feb 13 2024
A Love Supreme
John Coltrane
*previously listened to*
A fully realized album that sees chaos erupt into peace and the cycle continuing until on the strained poem of Coltrane's sax is left. From the opening moments of the double bass riff to the very end, this is a captivating album.
Jazz sometimes gets bemoaned as one of two things: background music or a caterwauling of notes. While A Love Supreme veers into the latter of those descriptions, it displays a deft hand at placing everything in just its right place. It's centered and exact while also feeling transcendent and spiritual.
4
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Wed Feb 14 2024
Ten
Pearl Jam
Yeah, like for sure dude.
3
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Thu Feb 15 2024
A Nod Is As Good As A Wink To A Blind Horse
Faces
3
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Fri Feb 16 2024
The Stone Roses
The Stone Roses
A fun mix of jangle pop and psychedelia. It feels to bridge the gap between the darkness of 80's UK indie rock and a more vibrant scene of dance music that would only just begin to bubble in the early 90's. While the hits aren't quite so memorable in the latter half of the album, the early songs have killer song writing and show a focused band at work.
4
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Mon Feb 19 2024
Nevermind
Nirvana
4
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Tue Feb 20 2024
Parklife
Blur
3
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Wed Feb 21 2024
Underwater Moonlight
The Soft Boys
3
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Thu Feb 22 2024
Duck Stab/Buster & Glen
The Residents
3
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Fri Feb 23 2024
Bongo Rock
Incredible Bongo Band
3
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Mon Feb 26 2024
Lost In The Dream
The War On Drugs
5
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Tue Feb 27 2024
The World is a Ghetto
War
3
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Wed Feb 28 2024
Getz/Gilberto
Stan Getz
3
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Thu Feb 29 2024
Felt Mountain
Goldfrapp
3
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Fri Mar 01 2024
Buenas Noches From A Lonely Room
Dwight Yoakam
3
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Mon Mar 04 2024
White Blood Cells
The White Stripes
4
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Tue Mar 05 2024
My Generation
The Who
3
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Wed Mar 06 2024
Hounds Of Love
Kate Bush
4
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Thu Mar 07 2024
Electric Warrior
T. Rex
3
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Fri Mar 08 2024
Modern Sounds in Country and Western Music
Ray Charles
3
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Mon Mar 11 2024
Moon Safari
Air
4
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Tue Mar 12 2024
Young Americans
David Bowie
Fame is a great song but not enough to make this interesting
2
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Wed Mar 13 2024
Fragile
Yes
Fame is a great song but not enough to make this interesting
2
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Thu Mar 14 2024
Scream, Dracula, Scream
Rocket From The Crypt
Fame is a great song but not enough to make this interesting
3
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Fri Mar 15 2024
(What's The Story) Morning Glory
Oasis
Wonderwall is a great song but not enough to make this interesting
3
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Mon Mar 18 2024
You've Come a Long Way Baby
Fatboy Slim
3
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Tue Mar 19 2024
Strangeways, Here We Come
The Smiths
4
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Wed Mar 20 2024
Raw Power
The Stooges
3
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Thu Mar 21 2024
Born To Run
Bruce Springsteen
5
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Fri Mar 22 2024
Survivor
Destiny's Child
3
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Mon Mar 25 2024
Gunfighter Ballads And Trail Songs
Marty Robbins
3
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Tue Mar 26 2024
Kind Of Blue
Miles Davis
5
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Wed Mar 27 2024
Hunky Dory
David Bowie
The use of piano is nice and catchy. But that’s about it.
3
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Thu Mar 28 2024
Devotional Songs
Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan
3
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Fri Mar 29 2024
Life's Too Good
The Sugarcubes
3
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Mon Apr 01 2024
Transformer
Lou Reed
3
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Tue Apr 02 2024
1984
Van Halen
Surprised I have heard more of these tracks than expected, probably on radio or movies. It’s amazing what nostalgia can do for rock mediocrity.
2
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Wed Apr 03 2024
I Should Coco
Supergrass
3
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Thu Apr 04 2024
Elvis Is Back
Elvis Presley
3
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Fri Apr 05 2024
Here Are the Sonics
The Sonics
4
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Mon Apr 08 2024
1999
Prince
3
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Tue Apr 09 2024
Seventeen Seconds
The Cure
3
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Wed Apr 10 2024
Beyond Skin
Nitin Sawhney
3
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Thu Apr 11 2024
Sound Affects
The Jam
3
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Fri Apr 12 2024
Crosby, Stills & Nash
Crosby, Stills & Nash
3
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Mon Apr 15 2024
Tommy
The Who
3
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Tue Apr 16 2024
Led Zeppelin IV
Led Zeppelin
“Going to California” and “When the Levee Breaks” saved this album from being boring to me.
3
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Wed Apr 17 2024
Femi Kuti
Femi Kuti
4
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Thu Apr 18 2024
Songs The Lord Taught Us
The Cramps
3
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Fri Apr 19 2024
I See You
The xx
5
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Mon Apr 22 2024
Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not
Arctic Monkeys
3
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Wed Apr 24 2024
Roots
Sepultura
3
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Thu Apr 25 2024
Exit Planet Dust
The Chemical Brothers
3
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Fri Apr 26 2024
Imperial Bedroom
Elvis Costello & The Attractions
3
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Mon Apr 29 2024
Deep Purple In Rock
Deep Purple
3
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Tue Apr 30 2024
American IV: The Man Comes Around
Johnny Cash
3
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Wed May 01 2024
Trio
Dolly Parton
3
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Thu May 02 2024
The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill
Lauryn Hill
4
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Fri May 03 2024
Stories From The City, Stories From The Sea
PJ Harvey
3
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Mon May 06 2024
Eagles
Eagles
3
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Tue May 07 2024
The ArchAndroid
Janelle Monáe
3
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Wed May 08 2024
Future Days
Can
4
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Thu May 09 2024
Ladies And Gentlemen We Are Floating In Space
Spiritualized
3