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Thu Jan 11 2024
Odessey And Oracle
The Zombies
Having only been acquainted with the Zombie's hits (which I enjoy) before listening, this was a treat. I started "Care of Cell 44" and immediately thought it sounded like an early 2000's indie record, which threw me a bit. The song has some wonderful vocal harmonies, and they are clearly influenced by both The Beatles and Donovan, who I imagine were contemporaries. Butcher's Tale sounds like it was straight off a Donovan record. No bad songs on this one.
5
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Fri Jan 12 2024
Paul's Boutique
Beastie Boys
I have an ex that mostly ruined this album for me, along with License to Ill, by overplaying the hits from them when we were together. This one I tolerate more than License, but both Hey Ladies and Brass Monkey have some negative emotional attachment for me. I've come to enjoy the B. Boys later albums more than the early ones, so at least she didn't ruin them completely for me, but I'd much rather listen to Ill Communication or To the 5 Boroughs. These albums just sound so much more juvenile than their later work.
3
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Sat Jan 13 2024
With The Beatles
Beatles
Like many others, I prefer the later work of The Beatles. That said, this record is still pretty great. I've listened to "Meet the Beatles" many times (as that record is in my collection), and I did enjoy the expanded song list on the European release that I don't usually hear.
4
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Sun Jan 14 2024
Faith
George Michael
A well produced album that just isn't really my thing. Admittedly this is my first time listening in it's entirety. Faith is a catchy single, easily the strongest song on the album. Father Figure is a boring and forgettable ballad. I Want Your Sex is trying so hard to be a Prince song, and it falls short. One More Try is a solid 80s ballad and does a good job of showcasing George's voice. Kissing a Fool is decent, and shows what could have been if he hadn't gone the pop route. The rest of the album is pretty bad and forgettable.
1
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Mon Jan 15 2024
Moon Safari
Air
I thought this album was going to be completely new to me, but I do remember Sexy Boy from back in the day. I'm much more receptive to atmospheric music than I was then, so I ended up enjoying the album quite a bit.
4
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Tue Jan 16 2024
Synchronicity
The Police
B side of this album is much better than A side. What else to say, it's the Police. I like them OK. It's a decent album but doesn't really get me excited. Mother is objectively terrible.
3
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Wed Jan 17 2024
Headquarters
The Monkees
Not sure I'd call this essential listening.
1
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Thu Jan 18 2024
The Psychedelic Sounds of the 13th Floor Elevators
The 13th Floor Elevators
First time listening to this one! It's a solid album which I enjoyed. Electric Jug is weird and distinctive, which I can get behind. I added "You're Gonna Miss Me" to my classic rock playlist.
4
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Fri Jan 19 2024
Led Zeppelin IV
Led Zeppelin
I don't know what I can say about this album. It's amazing. I'd say it's peak Zeppelin, but they have so many other near-perfect albums that I'm not sure I can convince myself that is true. Still, not only are there no bad songs on the album, I'm pretty certain each of them could be a hit single in their own right.
Most over-rated song: Stairway to Heaven - Its a brilliant song, but it's success overshadows the rest of this amazing album.
Most under-rated song: Battle of Evermore - It's a Tolkien-esque epic in song. I love it. Reminds me of the Battle of Helms-Deep in LOTR.
5
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Sat Jan 20 2024
Bad
Michael Jackson
First LP I ever owned as a kid. It definitely fell out of favor as I grew older. Not as good as Thriller. IMO, this album begins the decline of Michael as an artist. For a pop album it's alright.
1
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Sun Jan 21 2024
Live At The Star Club, Hamburg
Jerry Lee Lewis
Solid live album. Jerry Lee Lewis has never been a favorite, but I like him well enough and it's clear he's a great live performer.
3
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Mon Jan 22 2024
Raw Power
The Stooges
A few good songs on this one. Search and Destroy is a classic, and Gimmie Danger is good. The title track, Raw Power, is alright too. I could probably leave the rest of the album.
4
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Tue Jan 23 2024
Wish You Were Here
Pink Floyd
OK, so I have traditionally hated Pink Floyd. But I'm going to listen to this and list my thoughts - good and bad.
Shine on You Crazy Diamond 1-5:
Four minutes of oscillating tone and the song finally starts. Hooray!
Some good guitar solos and drum fills in this section.
Eight and a half minutes and we have the first verse. Hooray!
Lyrics are solid poetry. They seem cliche, but I think that is me being cynical and viewing them thru the lens of hindsight.
Saxophone was unexpected and I don't remember this on previous listens. I can dig it.
Time signature change is interesting. Why only one at the end of the song.
Welcome to the Machine:
More long sections of long tones to start the song. At least this song gets moving quicker.
"Where have you been? It's alright, we know where you've been" this line is terrible.
What's with the redundant questions in this song. It's a mechanism that I don't think really works well.
Have a Cigar:
A song that doesn't fuck around in the intro and gets straight to it. Refreshing.
A self-referential song about sycophants. Seems self-indulgent (Which one is Pink?).
The drop to sound like it was playing on the radio was clever.
Wish You Were Here:
Nice acoustic solo at the beginning.
This is the first song that I think isn't particularly pretentious and has something to say.
Shine On You Crazy Diamond 6-9:
At least this one starts better than 1-8.
Bad part about bookending an album with a song is that it feels like you already listened to the song. This is amplified when the combined length of the two is 25 minutes and is half the album.
Outro is too long, but at least not as boring as the intro to 1-8.
Overall, I have to say this listen didn't really move the needle much for me. It's an album that relies heavily on it's concept, and it seems like it does so to build a story for the title track which is easily the album's best song. However, the other songs are uneven with the exception of Have a Cigar which suffers from being self-indulgent and lacks subtlety IMO. Shine on You Crazy Diamond is overrated and combines for half the total album runtime, which hurts the album tremendously.
3
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Wed Jan 24 2024
Horses
Patti Smith
I feel bad for not enjoying this, as Patti has been such a huge influence on much of the music I like. Her voice just really turns me off for some reason. She's clearly a good songwriter, and writes interesting lyrics, I just don't like her singing. Free Money was the first song on the album I found tolerable, and I almost turned it off before then.
2
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Thu Jan 25 2024
Connected
Stereo MC's
Had only heard the title track and Step It Up previous to this.
Funky little album. Not quite acid jazz, but some nice hip-hop beats mixed with some jazz and synth loops.
4
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Fri Jan 26 2024
Tago Mago
Can
First half of the album is pretty good: funky psychedelic rock. Back half of the album falls off hard into deeply experimental noise. Peking O is particularly annoying. Not for me.
2
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Sat Jan 27 2024
Sunday At The Village Vanguard
Bill Evans Trio
Solid jazz record. Some of the Bass solos were a but much for me, and I didn't like that there were multiple back-to-back takes of the same songs. But those are pretty minor quibbles.
3
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Sun Jan 28 2024
The White Album
Beatles
A top 3 Beatles album for me.
5
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Mon Jan 29 2024
The Rising
Bruce Springsteen
I just don't get it. I've never been much of a Bruce fan, but his music is so pedestrian and boring. Reading the reviews, it seems that "The Rising" is a popular song, but I just don't get it. It's an anthem with zero meaning other than to be an anthem. It says nothing about anything.
2
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Tue Jan 30 2024
Led Zeppelin II
Led Zeppelin
Not my favorite Zeppelin album, but still an essential record.
5
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Wed Jan 31 2024
Beggars Banquet
The Rolling Stones
4
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Thu Feb 01 2024
Pearl
Janis Joplin
I used to not care for Janis's tone, but I've grown to like it. This is a solid album.
4
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Fri Feb 02 2024
Tusk
Fleetwood Mac
2
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Sat Feb 03 2024
British Steel
Judas Priest
IMO, this is the second best Judas Priest album behind Screaming For Vengeance. But it's still a bloody good album by one of the bands that defines Heavy Metal. Great stuff, love it.
5
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Sun Feb 04 2024
Snivilisation
Orbital
I'm pretty picky when it comes to electronic music. This was fine, but didn't really stand out to me at all. It all plays like soundscapes to me, which I'm sure some people love. I find it sort of long-winded and boring for the most part. It's fine, but doesn't move me.
3
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Mon Feb 05 2024
From Elvis In Memphis
Elvis Presley
Elvis is a mixed bag for me. My mom was a big fan, so I grew up hearing a lot of him. As I aged, I discovered I like his early work that was much more blues influenced rather than his later more country and gospel inspired work. This album is interesting, as it has a strong country influence, but the backing by a soul band gives it a sound that is distinctly different than most country albums.
2
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Tue Feb 06 2024
The Fat Of The Land
The Prodigy
One of the best 90s EDM albums. While EDM isn't my particular cup of tea, I don't hate it.
4
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Wed Feb 07 2024
Run-D.M.C.
Run-D.M.C.
Old school hip-hop. Not bad, and very important, but it's like listening to Rock Around the Clock for hip-hop. The genre has grown so much since then and my tastes are more toward early 90's alternative hip-hop like Tribe, De La Soul, Digable Planets, etc. but you've gotta start somewhere.
3
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Thu Feb 08 2024
Caetano Veloso
Caetano Veloso
Very interesting. I never listened to Tropicalia before. I can dig it.
4
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Fri Feb 09 2024
(What's The Story) Morning Glory
Oasis
I've never been an Oasis fan. They aren't terrible I guess, but they are kinda derivative and sentimental. It feels like they wrote songs for marketability and broad appeal, which IMO, isn't good art. That coupled with the fact that the Gallagher brothers are insufferable, and even 30 years later I pass for more interesting music.
3
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Sat Feb 10 2024
It's Blitz!
Yeah Yeah Yeahs
Not usually a pop fan, but I like the Yeah Yeah Yeahs. Maps is regularly in my playlists. They do a nice job blending electronic music and loud, fuzzy guitar with a punky dance pop sensibility. It works well for them. Some of the songs on this album are pretty melancholic, but are pretty solid. They disappoint people looking for the entire album to be like Heads Will Roll. Not every song hits for me, but there is plenty of goodness on this record.
4
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Sun Feb 11 2024
Shleep
Robert Wyatt
Too experimental for my tastes. Some of the songs are nearly unlistenable, while the others were mediocre for me at best.
2
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Mon Feb 12 2024
Fragile
Yes
Solid album with some really great standout songs: Roundabout and Long Distance Runaround are fantastic. Enjoyed this one, especially after my last two album listens, which were duds.
4
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Tue Feb 13 2024
Liquid Swords
GZA
Solid hip-hop album.
4
View Album
Wed Feb 14 2024
Chocolate Starfish And The Hot Dog Flavored Water
Limp Bizkit
This was shitty when it came out, and it's still shitty now. Why do you have to put the shame of my generation on display like this?
1
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Thu Feb 15 2024
Your Arsenal
Morrissey
Morrissey and the Smiths were never my favorite. Generally too self-loathing for my tastes. But if that's what your into...
3
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Fri Feb 16 2024
Who's Next
The Who
My favorite Who album. Love this one.
5
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Sat Feb 17 2024
Since I Left You
The Avalanches
Haven't listened to too much Avalanches previously. I knew Frontier Psychiatrist off this one, which is a funky and fun song. Title track is pretty good too, but the rest was average IMO.
Personal nitpick - Album as a whole suffers from my big issue with a lot of EDM: short loops repeated. I don't need to hear the same single lyric or short 1-2 second clip repeated 20 times in a row. It's repetitive and boring. Okay, off my soap-box now.
3
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Sun Feb 18 2024
Penance Soiree
The Icarus Line
This one was okay, but didn't resonate with me much. Kind of an odd pick for must listen records.
2
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Mon Feb 19 2024
D
White Denim
This has many qualities from genres I don't really care for much, namely jam-bands and southern rock. That said, it seems to elevate beyond those, especially with complexity and musicianship. It wasn't bad. Not something I think I'll come back to, but I can respect it.
3
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Tue Feb 20 2024
Different Class
Pulp
This really must be a band only the British care about. I remember Common People from William Shatner's cover of it. I found the album kinda boring.
2
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Wed Feb 21 2024
Want One
Rufus Wainwright
Well produced, but not really my thing.
2
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Thu Feb 22 2024
Better Living Through Chemistry
Fatboy Slim
I like Fat Boy Slim well enough, but this isn't my favorite album of his. It's okay at best. Favorite Song: Going Out of My Head.
3
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Fri Feb 23 2024
Coat Of Many Colors
Dolly Parton
I hate most country music, but Dolly is one of the exceptions. Her songwriting is so good. While I don't think I'd reach for this album often, I did enjoy it quite a bit. Very few can turn a phrase like Dolly does.
4
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Sat Feb 24 2024
Iron Maiden
Iron Maiden
Iron Maiden undeniably rocks. This isn't my favorite Maiden album, but it is far from bad. Hell of a debut album that deserves every bit of praise it gets.
5
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Sun Feb 25 2024
Very
Pet Shop Boys
Not my thing. Far too euro-pop for my tastes.
2
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Mon Feb 26 2024
Bummed
Happy Mondays
First song is extra terrible. After that it becomes more British 80's pop, like the Cure. Not my thing.
2
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Tue Feb 27 2024
The Köln Concert
Keith Jarrett
Not one that I would normally listen to, but it is a stellar performance. I usually enjoy piano-bar style jazz, which is very different from this, but his performance here is pretty amazing. I enjoyed it quite a bit.
4
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Wed Feb 28 2024
Unknown Pleasures
Joy Division
I know people love this album, and it's okay, but it is still sort of average for me. To 80s euro-pop for my tastes. Much better than The Cure however.
3
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Thu Feb 29 2024
Frank
Amy Winehouse
I wasn't familiar with any of the songs on this album. I think her big US breakout was after this one. That said, this was a stellar pop/jazz fusion album. I enjoyed it quite a bit. Amy had a great voice.
5
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Fri Mar 01 2024
Virgin Suicides
Air
Decent, although unremarkable, soundtrack.
3
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Sat Mar 02 2024
Hotel California
Eagles
Its fine I guess. It's the hotel art of rock music. Inoffensive and broadly appealing as possible and boring. Not something I'm going to listen to on purpose.
3
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Sun Mar 03 2024
Fire Of Love
The Gun Club
Pretty good. Can see later influence in the west coast punk scene from this. Love the blues influence, much more melodic than many other punk acts.
4
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Mon Mar 04 2024
Blunderbuss
Jack White
Jack's second best solo album IMO, behind Lazaretto. I like his solo work because it is a bit off the wall compared to his bands. Can be really interesting even if it doesn't always hit the mark.
4
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Tue Mar 05 2024
Live At The Regal
B.B. King
Fantastic blues album.
5
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Wed Mar 06 2024
Illinois
Sufjan Stevens
It was okay. Back end of the album was better than the early songs, which were much more experimental and odd.
3
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Thu Mar 07 2024
Tanto Tempo
Bebel Gilberto
This was really great. I enjoyed it a lot.
4
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Fri Mar 08 2024
1984
Van Halen
Hot For Teacher is a great song. From Alex Van Halen's "motorcycle engine" drum opening to the clever snark of the lyrics to the bluesy guitar line, this is easily the best song Van Halen ever made. Just brilliant.
The rest of this album doesn't live up to that song.
Jump is terrible IMO. Eddie's fascination with synth guitars just doesn't do it for me. I hate that song. Can't stand I'll Wait either.
Panama, Top Jimmy and Girl Gone Bad are the other standouts. The rest of the album is okay I guess.
One brilliant song, some okay songs, and a few bad songs representing the shift the band was making. It is really no surprise why Roth left after this album as the band was clearly heading in a new direction.
4
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Sat Mar 09 2024
To Pimp A Butterfly
Kendrick Lamar
It's not terrible, but it isn't the sort of hip-hop I personally like.
2
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Sun Mar 10 2024
Nevermind
Nirvana
I listened to this album on repeat for years after it came out. It was so different than everything else that was popular when it released, and my adolescent brain just soaked it up like a sponge. It opened the door from pop hits I was hearing on the radio to seeking hard rock, punk and metal elsewhere. I still love the album, but it isn't in my top albums anymore. I can't deny that it left an indelible mark on my taste however.
That said, every song on this album hits and it is a near-perfect album. I won't call out the singles, because they've been analyzed to death. My favorite underrated songs on this album are Breed, Drain You and Lounge Act.
5
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Mon Mar 11 2024
Green Onions
Booker T. & The MG's
5
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Tue Mar 12 2024
Kid A
Radiohead
I like early Radiohead. This was the point where their sound changed to a much more atmospheric and passive experience, and I don't think that will ever resonate with me as much as other forms of music.
3
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Wed Mar 13 2024
Actually
Pet Shop Boys
The guy who made this list loves the Pet Shop Boys. Guy on the album cover gets it. Yawn.
2
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Thu Mar 14 2024
American Gothic
David Ackles
Like Neil Diamond singing Leonard Cohen songs.
2
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Fri Mar 15 2024
Electric Ladyland
Jimi Hendrix
4
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Sat Mar 16 2024
Cloud Nine
The Temptations
A bit more funky than I'm used to from The Temptations as they move into the 70s. I like it a lot.
4
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Sun Mar 17 2024
La Revancha Del Tango
Gotan Project
Really enjoyed the first half of this album. The back half drops off, but was still okay.
4
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Mon Mar 18 2024
Stardust
Willie Nelson
Not a big country western fan, but Willie is one of those songwriters that is so prolific you have to respect them. So many of these songs have been covered by other artists that familiarity alone makes them enjoyable.
3
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Tue Mar 19 2024
Garbage
Garbage
Probably my favorite Garbage album. 2.0 comes pretty close however. Great stuff.
5
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Wed Mar 20 2024
Junkyard
The Birthday Party
Spotify describes The Birthday Party as one of the darkest and most challenging post-punk groups. Challenging is right. Woof.
1
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Thu Mar 21 2024
Heroes to Zeros
The Beta Band
Beta Band is always a good listen. Three EPs is still my favorite, but this one is pretty good too.
4
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Fri Mar 22 2024
The Idiot
Iggy Pop
This one is a little too Bowie for my tastes. It's okay, but not really my jam. Much prefer his second solo album Lust for Life.
2
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Sat Mar 23 2024
Abattoir Blues / The Lyre of Orpheus
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds
Decent album, although it seemed to drag in some places. Didn't love it, didn't hate it.
3
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Sun Mar 24 2024
Emergency On Planet Earth
Jamiroquai
5
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Mon Mar 25 2024
Back In Black
AC/DC
Solid album, pretty classic. Iron Man really solidified it in the public zeitgeist.
5
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Tue Mar 26 2024
Teen Dream
Beach House
Atmospheric indie-like pop music. It's alright for what it is, but I'd have to be in a mood for it.
3
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Wed Mar 27 2024
Songs From A Room
Leonard Cohen
I don't really like Leonard Cohen's work. Too melancholy, but in a way that I don't really relate to. Just not for me.
2
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Thu Mar 28 2024
Mama's Gun
Erykah Badu
It's okay. A little too modern-day R&B for my tastes (I prefer retro-soul and classic R&B), but I didn't hate it.
3
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Fri Mar 29 2024
Endtroducing.....
DJ Shadow
Definitely not for me.
1
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Sat Mar 30 2024
The Chronic
Dr. Dre
There is a lot of nostalgia wrapped up in this record for me. For what it is, its fantastic and I like it more than almost all gangsta rap. That said, it's still gangsta rap, which I don't usually like. Not my kind of hip hop. It gets rated higher for standing out for its genre and the nostalgia factor.
4
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Sun Mar 31 2024
Henry's Dream
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds
Sounds like Bruce Springsteen.
2
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Mon Apr 01 2024
In Utero
Nirvana
Not as good as Nevermind, but a stellar album none the less.
5
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Tue Apr 02 2024
Yankee Hotel Foxtrot
Wilco
I really want to like Wilco, but have the hardest time getting into them. They aren't bad by any stretch, just don't hook me. The exception to this is "Heavy Metal Drummer", which is a great song.
3
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Wed Apr 03 2024
Cosmo's Factory
Creedence Clearwater Revival
Creedence is interesting. They are southern rock (which I don't really care for) mixed with strong Mississippi blues. It works for them, and I get why they'd be a strong political voice of the time. Great stuff.
5
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Thu Apr 04 2024
Winter In America
Gil Scott-Heron
4
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Fri Apr 05 2024
Green River
Creedence Clearwater Revival
Two Creedence albums in three days. Random is random.
This is a decent album. Not as good as Cosmo's Factory as it is less blues influenced and more southern folk. Still has some classic and essential songs on it.
4
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Sat Apr 06 2024
Disintegration
The Cure
Not terrible, but I still can't get into The Cure. Just too melancholy for me.
2
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Sun Apr 07 2024
Violent Femmes
Violent Femmes
Violent Femmes are great. This album has a ton of their classics and is solid from start to finish. Love it.
5
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Mon Apr 08 2024
White Blood Cells
The White Stripes
While Elephant was the album that fostered my obsession with the White Stripes, White Blood Cells introduced me to their genius. It is a really great album.
5
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Tue Apr 09 2024
Hybrid Theory
Linkin Park
This album was the soundtrack of my sophomore year of college.
Nu-metal, but stands above most other acts of the genre and may be the best of the genre. Still definitely bro-metal.
This is their best work IMO, as their Meteora just didn't resonate the same way for me. RIP Chester.
4
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Wed Apr 10 2024
Marcus Garvey
Burning Spear
A solid reggae album. Good stuff.
4
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Thu Apr 11 2024
If You Can Believe Your Eyes & Ears
The Mamas & The Papas
Mama's and the Papa's aren't the most exciting 60s act, but they have their charm. The hits really bring it and Cass Elliot has a great voice.
3
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Fri Apr 12 2024
Boston
Boston
Time to crank it up! I love this album so much, but didn't get into it until I was in my 30s. Now it is one of my favorites. The composition and production on this album are all stellar.
Favorite Song: Foreplay/Longtime
5
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Sat Apr 13 2024
Crime Of The Century
Supertramp
Sounds like a mix of Pink Floyd and ELO. Okay I guess.
2
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Sun Apr 14 2024
Vulnicura
Björk
I like Bjork, but I do enjoy her first three albums most. Her music gets more abstract as time goes on, and loses me eventually. This one is a difficult listen, but is okay to my tastes.
3
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Mon Apr 15 2024
Black Sabbath
Black Sabbath
4
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Tue Apr 16 2024
Tommy
The Who
It's a solid album, and interesting in the fact that it pretty well created the rock opera. Pinball Wizard certainly stands above.
3
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Wed Apr 17 2024
Slipknot
Slipknot
This is the first time I've listened to a Slipknot album in it's entirety. It didn't change my opinion of them.
Musically, they are mix of nu-metal and black metal. Their music isn't great IMO, and could benefit greatly from more dynamism and better song structure. Most songs are just going 100% as loud and fast as they can. The drummer can't resist throwing in fills every chance they get, even when inappropriate.
But it's clear they aren't selling music. They sell their image, a character they play. I find the image silly. It's 100% bullshit posturing designed to make them (and their listeners by proxy) feel less insecure about their struggles in life.
1
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Thu Apr 18 2024
Haut de gamme / Koweït, rive gauche
Koffi Olomide
3
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Fri Apr 19 2024
Bayou Country
Creedence Clearwater Revival
This is the third Creedence album I've come across on the list so far, and I would rate it worse than Cosmo's Factory and on par with Green River. Born on the Bayou and Proud Mary are the standout songs, with the rest of the album being solid but not exceptional. Pretty short album as well.
4
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Sat Apr 20 2024
Songs For Swingin' Lovers!
Frank Sinatra
Frank is the king of standards singers, and this is his most well known and celebrated album. It's great and deserves every bit of praise.
5
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Sun Apr 21 2024
Celebrity Skin
Hole
Live Through This is a much better album. But given the state of mainstream rock in 1998, I guess you could have done worse than this album. Still, I didn't like it then and it hasn't grown on me since.
2
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Mon Apr 22 2024
Younger Than Yesterday
The Byrds
3
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Tue Apr 23 2024
It's Too Late to Stop Now
Van Morrison
Don't know Van Morrison beyond his hits. He's alright, although I don't think a live album is really the best way to expand my appreciation of him. He's a solid live performer, I just think his album work is likely to resonate with me more. Overall, it was an enjoyable if not ground breaking listen for me.
3
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Wed Apr 24 2024
Third/Sister Lovers
Big Star
Meh
2
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Thu Apr 25 2024
Third
Portishead
I want to like it, but it's just a tad too much experimental noise nonsense for my tastes.
2
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Fri Apr 26 2024
Highly Evolved
The Vines
Solid album. Get Free is easily better than the rest of the songs (it's really great), but the others are quite listenable even if they aren't stellar.
4
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Sat Apr 27 2024
3 + 3
The Isley Brothers
I love some old-school soulful R&B. Great stuff.
5
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Sun Apr 28 2024
Fuzzy Logic
Super Furry Animals
Didn't like it that much.
2
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Mon Apr 29 2024
The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars
David Bowie
I knew the Bowie was coming eventually. It's a decent album, although not really my particular taste. I do like Suffragette City however. That song is a banger.
3
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Tue Apr 30 2024
Automatic For The People
R.E.M.
I've always liked REM.
4
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Wed May 01 2024
Paranoid
Black Sabbath
Great album. After listening to their debut earlier, its amazing how much this pushed them to the next level.
5
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Thu May 02 2024
White Light / White Heat
The Velvet Underground
Revolutionary for the time it was created, but very much still noise proto-punk. That really isn't my thing. I respect it, but I don't like it.
2
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Fri May 03 2024
Aladdin Sane
David Bowie
It's overly dramatic, but that's glam rock for you and this is pretty much peak glam rock. More musically diverse than Ziggy Stardust, but not as impactful. Still not a huge Bowie fan, but he does what he does well. A solid album that I don't enjoy that much on a personal level.
3
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Sat May 04 2024
Songs In The Key Of Life
Stevie Wonder
I love Stevie. Of his two most popular albums, I enjoy Talking Book more, but this one is still a tour-de-force. The one-two punch of Sir Duke and I Wish is the strongest on the album, but the rest is still quite the ride.
5
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Sun May 05 2024
Happy Trails
Quicksilver Messenger Service
Started as solid blues-inspired psychedelic rock (great!) which devolved into a long winded jam session. Not my thing.
2
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Mon May 06 2024
John Lennon/Plastic Ono Band
John Lennon
3
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Tue May 07 2024
Play
Moby
Better than I remember it being. Southside was overplayed when it was released, so I got sort of sick of it.
3
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Wed May 08 2024
The Last Of The True Believers
Nanci Griffith
Country really isn't my thing.
2
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Thu May 09 2024
Murmur
R.E.M.
Not my favorite R.E.M. album, but a pretty good one. A nice easy listen.
4
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Fri May 10 2024
Trio
Dolly Parton
Quite the trio indeed. Dolly's songwriting comes thru, even if I'm not one for country music.
3
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Sat May 11 2024
Bringing It All Back Home
Bob Dylan
Not in love with Dylan's voice, but he's a hell of a songwriter.
4
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Thu May 16 2024
Chelsea Girl
Nico
A somewhat odd album musically. Nico has an interesting voice. Didn't resonate with me much, but it was different.
3
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Fri May 17 2024
The Stranger
Billy Joel
I'm not the biggest Billy Joel fan in the world, but this album has some classics and I respect it. There is some really good songwriting on this one, particularly Vienna and She's Always a Woman.
3
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Sat May 18 2024
Deja Vu
Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young
I don't really like the big hits from this one (Teach Your Children and Our House). The rest of the album is alright. The songs where Neil Young takes the lead are my favorites, which isn't a surprise since I like his solo work.
3
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Sun May 19 2024
Lazer Guided Melodies
Spiritualized
Didn't love it or hate it. It was just sort of there. Atmospheric melodies aren't really my thing, and this has them in spades, but at least it was unoffensive. But it wasn't really remarkable to me either.
3
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Mon May 20 2024
London Calling
The Clash
I love this album. An essential album in my collection.
5
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Tue May 21 2024
Lady Soul
Aretha Franklin
Aretha is great. This album doesn't disappoint and has some of the classics.
5
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Wed May 22 2024
Pacific Ocean Blue
Dennis Wilson
Solid production and performance, but I didn't care for the songwriting much.
2
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Thu May 23 2024
Fun House
The Stooges
Yet another Stooges/Iggy Pop album. Its fine.
3
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Fri May 24 2024
Beautiful Freak
Eels
I've absolutely adored this album since shortly after it's release. E does a fantastic job of contrasting the bleak with the beautiful, producing a record that is melancholy yet strangely optimistic in it's own way. It really is a fantastic listen.
5
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Sat May 25 2024
Harvest
Neil Young
I like Neil Young, and this is one of his more enjoyable albums.
5
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Sun May 26 2024
Let It Bleed
The Rolling Stones
Book-ended by two solid songs, one of which is one of their best. The rest of the album is pretty mediocre IMO, but I really don't like country or gospel that was influencing this album.
3
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Mon May 27 2024
Imperial Bedroom
Elvis Costello & The Attractions
I like Costello a lot, but this isn't my favorite album of his. Would much rather listen to Armed Forces or Last Year's Model. That said, it's still pretty good.
3
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Tue May 28 2024
Californication
Red Hot Chili Peppers
One of the better RHCP albums.
5
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Wed May 29 2024
Cut
The Slits
Decent, melodic 70's punk.
3
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Thu May 30 2024
Chore of Enchantment
Giant Sand
After I got thru the introductory track, I ended up enjoying this more than expected. It's experimental, but still has melody.
3
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Fri May 31 2024
Stories From The City, Stories From The Sea
PJ Harvey
Decent album, but I'm not in love with PJ's voice. Overall a pretty good listen.
3
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Sat Jun 01 2024
The Atomic Mr Basie
Count Basie & His Orchestra
Basie is a jazz icon, and rightfully so. Not my favorite thing to listen to, but certainly enjoyable.
4
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Sun Jun 02 2024
All Things Must Pass
George Harrison
It's a decent album. Some good songs, some I don't really care for much.
3
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Mon Jun 03 2024
The Velvet Underground & Nico
The Velvet Underground
It's okay, but it doesn't really do much for me.
3
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Tue Jun 04 2024
Brilliant Corners
Thelonious Monk
A fantastic jazz album. Monk's music has a quiet cool about it that I love.
4
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Wed Jun 05 2024
Double Nickels On The Dime
Minutemen
Solid post-punk album. Nice and melodic punk without too much aggression.
3
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Thu Jun 06 2024
You're Living All Over Me
Dinosaur Jr.
3
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Fri Jun 07 2024
Modern Sounds in Country and Western Music
Ray Charles
5
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Sat Jun 08 2024
Joan Armatrading
Joan Armatrading
It was okay, but didn't really stand out to me.
3
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Sun Jun 09 2024
Either Or
Elliott Smith
I'm a big Elliot Smith fan, so I was quite delighted to have an excuse to throw this record back on the turntable.
This is easily his most popular album, coming out shortly after his big break on the Good Will Hunting soundtrack's Miss Misery, which was nominated for an Oscar. This was his final release on the Kill Rock Stars label before signing with Dreamworks. I feel like it's also had a resurgence recently due to Between the Bars being featured on the show Rick and Morty.
It is probably his most consistent album, with every song being pretty spectacular. Rose Parade is probably my favorite song on the album due to sentimental attachment. The fact that this album came up for me on the day of the Grand Floral Parade here in Portland couldn't be more fitting, and is a super odd coincidence.
5
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Mon Jun 10 2024
The Genius Of Ray Charles
Ray Charles
Ray is always a joy to listen to. Great stuff.
5
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Tue Jun 11 2024
Figure 8
Elliott Smith
5
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Wed Jun 12 2024
Billion Dollar Babies
Alice Cooper
Alice Cooper is okay, but I've never been a huge fan. Listenable, but I wouldn't seek it out. This album seems to have his best known hits. Necrophilia song at the end is pretty creepy, but I suppose that is the point.
2
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Thu Jun 13 2024
Raw Like Sushi
Neneh Cherry
Not my particular cup of tea when it comes to hip-hop (a little too old school), but I imagine it was pretty groundbreaking at the time. I don't remember much representation for women in that genre then.
2
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Fri Jun 14 2024
Elvis Is Back
Elvis Presley
I like the more blues Elvis songs. This one has a distinct late 50's rock feel, which isn't my favorite.
2
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Sat Jun 15 2024
At Mister Kelly's
Sarah Vaughan
A pretty enjoyable listen. I like jazz singers, so this was a win for me.
4
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Sun Jun 16 2024
Dire Straits
Dire Straits
I've always been a "greatest hits" guy when it came to Dire Straits. I enjoy them, but really wasn't exposed to much more than the hits. This was a fun listen for me which I enjoyed. I'm a sucker for blues-influenced rock, and they have a great blues/soft rock blend.
4
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Tue Jun 18 2024
Get Behind Me Satan
The White Stripes
White Stripes are great. White Orchid is one of their best.
5
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Wed Jun 19 2024
The Velvet Underground
The Velvet Underground
Reminds me of 2000's indie pop more than punk. Probably not a bad thing.
3
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Thu Jun 20 2024
AmeriKKKa's Most Wanted
Ice Cube
I can appreciate Cube's skill and talent, but this album was a slog for me.
3
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Fri Jun 21 2024
Chicago Transit Authority
Chicago
Surprisingly I enjoyed this record. I was expecting Peter Cetera pop ballads, which isn't really this sound of this one. A shame Chicago didn't stick with this sound.
4
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Sat Jun 22 2024
Sign 'O' The Times
Prince
Never really got on the Prince hype train. Prefer his older work which is much more funky.
2
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Sun Jun 23 2024
Rio
Duran Duran
A fine album with some good songs on it. Not my favorite kind of music, but it's pretty decent and I like it well enough.
3
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Mon Jun 24 2024
Rock 'N Soul
Solomon Burke
I like rock music. I like soul music. However, this didn't really raise the bar at all for me. It was fine, but didn't grab my attention.
3
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Tue Jun 25 2024
Sticky Fingers
The Rolling Stones
A little too country-western influenced for my tastes, but its a pretty typical Stones album. It's okay.
3
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Wed Jun 26 2024
Public Image: First Issue
Public Image Ltd.
Never really dug Johnny Rotten (Lydon) much outside of my teenage Sex Pistols phase. This took that vibe to experimental noise-punk. Not really my vibe.
2
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Thu Jun 27 2024
Definitely Maybe
Oasis
Ugh. Oasis.
2
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Fri Jun 28 2024
Homework
Daft Punk
Never been a big fan of Daft Punk, particularly their earlier work. I prefer more complex drum rhythms and less repetitive, experimental noise. This listen certainly didn't change my mind.
1
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Sat Jun 29 2024
Nilsson Schmilsson
Harry Nilsson
Didn't recognize the album cover or the names, but certainly knew the hits. Good album with an interesting mix of sounds. Still very 70's.
4
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Sun Jun 30 2024
The La's
The La's
I was already familiar with "There She Goes", but the rest of the album was new to me. Solid listen.
4
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Mon Jul 01 2024
Blood And Chocolate
Elvis Costello & The Attractions
Elvis is always great. This isn't one of my favorites of his, but it's still pretty good.
4
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Tue Jul 02 2024
Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band
Beatles
Not my favorite Beatles album, but still a masterpiece.
5
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Wed Jul 03 2024
Vauxhall And I
Morrissey
Morrissey is too mopey for my tastes, which is a shame because the music could be good if it weren't for his voice.
3
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Thu Jul 04 2024
Treasure
Cocteau Twins
Not really my thing.
2
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Fri Jul 05 2024
Sweetheart Of The Rodeo
The Byrds
I usually like The Byrds, but I didn't care for this one at all.
1
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Sat Jul 06 2024
It Takes A Nation Of Millions To Hold Us Back
Public Enemy
Public Enemy is an interesting group. More political than N.W.A. but with plenty of the same themes. I think it hits in a different way for me.
4
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Sun Jul 07 2024
Traffic
Traffic
Odd little 60's act. Reminds me of a lot of the other bands of the time.
3
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Mon Jul 08 2024
Ellington at Newport
Duke Ellington
3
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Tue Jul 09 2024
Marquee Moon
Television
An interesting album. Weird for punk songs to be longer than a few minutes :D. The title track is fantastic (although a bit too long IMO), and the rest of the album is good if not remarkable.
4
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Wed Jul 10 2024
The Band
The Band
Blah.
1
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Thu Jul 11 2024
Shadowland
k.d. lang
Ugh, country. Not my cup of tea.
2
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Fri Jul 12 2024
Ctrl
SZA
Not the kind of R&B I enjoy.
2
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Sat Jul 13 2024
This Year's Model
Elvis Costello & The Attractions
One of my favorite Elvis albums.
5
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Sun Jul 14 2024
The Notorious Byrd Brothers
The Byrds
3
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Mon Jul 15 2024
The Gilded Palace Of Sin
The Flying Burrito Brothers
Didn't enjoy this at all. More country.
1
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Tue Jul 16 2024
The Low End Theory
A Tribe Called Quest
Love this album. One of the greatest hip-hop records of all time.
5
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Wed Jul 17 2024
Jagged Little Pill
Alanis Morissette
Growing up I hated this album (outside of "You Oughta Know"), but I've warmed to it a bit more. Meta commentary wasn't really a thing in the 90s, but a song about irony which contains no irony is pretty ironic and pretty clever.
3
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Thu Jul 18 2024
Mr. Tambourine Man
The Byrds
Lots of The Byrds these past few weeks. This is the best of them IMO, and the album I think defines them.
4
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Fri Jul 19 2024
Guero
Beck
One of my favorite Beck albums. It's a pretty groovy listen.
5
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Sat Jul 20 2024
The Doors
The Doors
One of the best Doors albums. I'm not as into them as I was growing up, but they are still a solid listen.
4
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Sun Jul 21 2024
The Grand Tour
George Jones
Country sucks.
1
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Mon Jul 22 2024
Here, My Dear
Marvin Gaye
A decent listen.
4
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Tue Jul 23 2024
Lost In The Dream
The War On Drugs
A little more atmospheric than I like, but not horribly so and not in an annoying electronic way. It was okay.
3
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Wed Jul 24 2024
Vanishing Point
Primal Scream
Was okay, but didn't really do too much for me.
3
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Thu Jul 25 2024
Bookends
Simon & Garfunkel
Pretty classic and a solid album for sure. Some timeless songs on this one.
4
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Fri Jul 26 2024
A Night At The Opera
Queen
Queen is great. Although my favorite songs are not all on this one, it is probably the most essential Queen listen. Bohemian Rhapsody is a force of nature.
4