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Thu Jan 18 2024
Rumours
Fleetwood Mac
It is understandable why this particular Fleetwood Mac album would be so highly rated as it is chock-full of great songs by a great band. I would
not say it is their absolute best but it is "in the running" as it were.
5
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Mon Jan 22 2024
Surrealistic Pillow
Jefferson Airplane
I struggled with the inconsistent feel of the songs. Some chill, some dark, some funky... I don't think you need a particular thing that links the music to a particular sound or vibe per-se. It can be a goood thing or it can be kind of jarring in a way. There is nothing wrong with the band, but the disjointed feeling I got was not my vibe.
3
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Tue Jan 23 2024
A Hard Day's Night
Beatles
The Beatles are among the extremely rare "untouchables." All one need do is listen. They are timeless and a joy to listen to.
With that I can only rate this album against others in their canon. If I consider the subjective "how many gems are on this album" I feel safe to rate this one four stars.
4
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Wed Jan 24 2024
25
Adele
First of all, this album caught me off guard. More specifically Adele did.
She really is rather magnificent. She makes beautiful music no doubt.
Now for the other side of the coin...
I have an issue sometimes with certain bands and musicians where i like
or even love most of their music... but... listening to an album, song after song can get... repetitive. Adele has a very distinct voice and largely uses piano as an accompanying instrument. This makes her songs kind of start blending a bit, beautiful as they are individually.
Still though, taken in bits, I will give her more attention.
4
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Thu Jan 25 2024
2112
Rush
Rush is one of my all time favorite bands and as such it is impossible for me to be fully objective. This album contains one of my favorite all time
songs (A passage to Bangkok) as well so...
This album seemed intended to be a progression from a dystopian future to an idealized rebellion. Like Star Wars with guitars.
It is probably not their most accessible album but is a real gem for anyone already familiar with the trio.
5
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Fri Jan 26 2024
Heartbreaker
Ryan Adams
3
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Mon Jan 29 2024
Be
Common
I like trip hop and smooth jazz as a general thing, so this album musically is not far off my usual tastes. That being said I found myself just sort of
listening to most of the songs and only occasionally really connecting emotionally to any. While I will pay more attention to Common and have been woken to a genre I have paid too little attention to, I would like to give other artists, even some who collaborated on this very album, a closer listen.
3
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Tue Jan 30 2024
Aja
Steely Dan
I like Steely Dan. Good band. Some real classics. The band made its mark at a time where music was astonishingly "good" and a tremendous amount of great music was produced. I always considered Steely Dan as "somewhere in that mix," neither at the top nor the bottom of that very talented and prolific pile. So... does this album stand out, above and beyond? It is well made, professional music and I must shout out to a few gems in the mix. Aside from those, it must have to be someones "thing" to really get into past "yeah, it is pretty good."
3
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Wed Jan 31 2024
...And Justice For All
Metallica
Metallica is no doubt the epitome of "metal." They "are" what metal is. Honestly it is not my favorite genre. Made slightly worse, I don't love that constant underlying guitar riff, rhythme or whatever, that underlies all their music and makes them distinctly metal, and Metallica. At any rate I am aware of their mastery of craft and they put it all out there for their fans each and every time, which is worth a star simply by appreciation.
All that said -- if you are into metal or a student of genre, this is a "must
hear" album and is worth the time.
4
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Thu Feb 01 2024
Rip It Up
Orange Juice
Anyone who happens to know me understands that my musical tastes span a large range. They always have, thus I found it odd that I had never heard of Orange Juice. But there it is. I enjoy that they cross genre often and are never stuck in one place for long. The reggea beats, blues, jazz, even pop and funk intermix in really quite easy listening ways. With that said, I felt that no one song or style really blew me away. For me there were no hidden gems to be found or new favorites to be gained. Otherwise I enjoyed the album.
3
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Fri Feb 02 2024
Fisherman's Blues
The Waterboys
There are lots of ways to look at music critically. One is to consider whether it is era specific or "dated." Or, if it stands the test of time and is more or less "ageless." The Waterboys sound like a band from the 70's to me, they give off that kind of vibe. It is surprising than, that this album was from the late 80's. Now it must be known that the Waterboys have
among their catalog a couple of real gems. Overall I feel like they are a little too niche for me. I can't decide where to place them. I don't have the nastalgia mind to rave about their cult/ folk status, so they become one of those "yeah, they are Ok." bands.
3
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Mon Feb 05 2024
With The Beatles
Beatles
I can't rate the Beatles against the world because the Beatles are not liike any band before or after. They are THE band. Timeless, amazing, and untouchable. Listening and trying to figure out how they are the greatest band ever is actually an impossible task. They are "too simple" make it too easy... But here we are and there it is.
I will thus rate this movie based on their own catalog, and II feel like they improved over time from this groundbreaking start.
4
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Tue Feb 06 2024
Green Onions
Booker T. & The MG's
I had heard quite a few of these songs over the years and really liked them. Mainly it was over the radio or out somwhere so I never knew who the artists were. I would easily give this band a 3.5 so I will round up and call it a four.
4
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Wed Feb 07 2024
A Wizard, A True Star
Todd Rundgren
I had made myself a sort of scale with this five star system. I figure that any "normal" album should be at least a three. And over that would have to earn a bit more credit. However, under that and the album would have to have fundamental flaws that I couldn't get past. Todd Rundgren is definitely a good music producer. I think musically he might be just a bit to experimental. If I rate this three stars someone might say "OK, than rather normal then?" But it is not... really normal at all. It is, at its core, a little too weird.
2
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Thu Feb 08 2024
Morrison Hotel
The Doors
Okee Dokee... I am aware of the Doors. I don't live under a rock or somehow missed the memo. (I saw the film). Plus, I am "old enough" to have heard the Doors on the radio back iin the day. For some reason over the last few decades they have not gotten a heck of a lot of airplay, and I am really not into "oldies" stations.
Listening "fresh" to this album is a real mind blower. This album is over 50 years old. And it is, as it was, amazing! This is a "must listen" in my not always humble opinion.
5
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Fri Feb 09 2024
I Do Not Want What I Haven't Got
Sinead O'Connor
I try not to evaluate music, or fllm or any sort of art with too much of a critical eye on the artist. For example, I don't like Tom Cruise, but i respect his acting and commitment to his roles. Thus, I don't judge his movies as any lesser because of his personality outside that realm. I never liked Sinead O'Connor. I feel like she never had any solid agenda or platform of advocacy. Like she just hates on everyone and everything and blamed her life on everyone else. The flip flopping and drama just left me uninterested in her at all, thus I don't typically bother with her music. Now, with that said, she was surrounded by good musicians and has a good strong singing voice. The album is overlong but varied enough to not be boring.
3
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Mon Feb 12 2024
Black Holes and Revelations
Muse
I was waiting for this. I actually really like Muse, but actually didn't "know" Muse or make the connection to who made that song, etc. So while I like their sound and some of their songs, I had no idea who the band itself was. It was a nice discovery to put a name to music I always liked. I have to be careful in this rating becuase my subjective mood is in an odd space lately... (more negative than positive) and I am veering towards a "meh" attitude to the overall album. But! It IS music I have always favored, and my mood will change. So by way of promoting the band and their style of music...
4
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Tue Feb 13 2024
Bad
Michael Jackson
Michael Jackson has been called "the King of pop" for a reason. Hiis catalog and depth speak for themselves long after his untimely death. I think if he had been alive today the music industry would be a bit different, that is how influencial he was. Thiis is not my favorite album of his, (probably Thriller), but it is well rounded and has some nice moments.
4
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Wed Feb 14 2024
Selected Ambient Works 85-92
Aphex Twin
Yes. I will be buying this album next trip to the record store.
5
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Thu Feb 15 2024
Tellin’ Stories
The Charlatans
The Charlatans are an unfortunate band. They are lively and fun, overall quite entertaining and good, but they emerged at a time when lots of similar bands were doing similar things and they end up being one of those "Oh yeah! I have heard of them" bands. There is nothing wrong with them or their musicianship, yet there is nothing musically speaking, that makes them stand out in a list of lots of good musicians and bands that showed up on the scene around the same time.
3
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Fri Feb 16 2024
The Only Ones
The Only Ones
1978. For some reason this time period in music history was amazing. Punk, rock, alternative... it was all changing, molding, becoming everything it is today. Now we have stuff like trip-hop jazz techno fusion and everything and anything musically one can imagine. All thanks to these daring musicians in the 70's willing to push the envelope.
The problem with The Only Ones is that they were not the only ones, and they were not reallly groundbreaking or particular in the massive crowd of musicians breaking new ground at the time. Made worse, the lead singer, maybe a wonderful human being (IDK) sounds like he is on drugs most of the time and often the jazzy fusion bits sound like noise. Unfortunately there are so many bands on the essential listening list from this time period that this album winds up pretty far down the list...
2
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Mon Feb 19 2024
Tea for the Tillerman
Cat Stevens
This whole week has been filled with solid, good musicians. However, and as it is for Cat Stevens, there are lots of solid, good musicans out there. As a singer songwriter, Stevens has a MASSIVE dose of competition. They all have room at the table and there are a couple of wonderful songs on this album that are worthy of his place there. However the table is rather long and he is down there among them. As good and professional as he is it still only gets him to a "yeah, he is Ok." place.
3
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Tue Feb 20 2024
In Rainbows
Radiohead
Here we have a curious case. I have been around since the beginning when Radiohead was topping the alternative pop charts with "fake plastic trees" and the like. I followed them throught the "groundbreaking" Kid A album, and now for something completely different here. Now for the difficult part: if you are a Radiohead fan all of this progression is amazing and innovative and ... cool! But, if you do not know Radiohead, this album, (just like Kid A actually) will lose some audience via its unusual quality. For example what genre is it really? Or the fact that Radiohead is very much still Radiohead on this album but only if you "know" the band. I think this album will be very polarizing in ratings.
3
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Wed Feb 21 2024
Lam Toro
Baaba Maal
I personally like Afro-centric beats. I knew of it from before Paul Simon brought it mainstream in "Graceland." There is something raw and emotional in it that makes it timeless and peaceful. I did struggle a bit with the language barrier in some songs, because in some the lyrics seemed so important. But otherwise I don't think it matters as you let the music in.
3
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Thu Feb 22 2024
Fishscale
Ghostface Killah
Rap is connected to hip hop which is connected to trip hop which connects to house which connects to techno and all of them intermix here and there. I like the beats and if the lyrics are clever I am in. This album gves us little treats with the "skit" sections, of which I love the one with the foul mouthed kid... I laughed out loud quite a bit and rather enjoyed this album.
3
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Fri Feb 23 2024
Kimono My House
Sparks
I try to see the good in all music. I suppose Sparks is a niche band and had a place somewhere wedged iinto that rock opera 70's thing. I struggled with good rock opera as I easily get bored with too much of one singer or style of music and rock operas have a tendancy to be a bit long. Not to say that I don't really like some rock operas. Just not all rock operas and unfortunately, this is not one of them...
2
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Mon Feb 26 2024
My Generation
The Who
I never had an "old soul" so I never quite understood the whole "nothin' better than classic rock" attitude. (The one that thinks everything else sucks after X decade). So I use a wary eye when people get nearly offensive in the way they insist on only listening to "classic rock" and wear the faded tee shirts to prove thier allegience. However, just like any tourist spot is such for a reason (like it really is breathtaking), bands like The Who prove to be pretty darn remarkable. So forgetting all the cud chewing and just hearing why The Who is so important to not just aging rockers, but to music and its continued influence today one gets the sense that sure, there are great bands being formed every day, but we might pay attention to those who broke the ground before us.
4
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Tue Feb 27 2024
The Band
The Band
There is no genre that I would ever deny outright. I have notiiced over my lifietime that every time I decide I don't like X genre, that I like something in it. This includes southern rock. In fact, it even includes several songs by The Band itself. However, southern rock is not among my favorite genres and outside a few outlying songs I am not really a fan. This album could metaphorically sum up my interest in the genre. Most of it is "meh" to me and a couple songs prop it up.
3
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Wed Feb 28 2024
High Violet
The National
The National remiinded me of Death cab for cutie. Kinda downbeat and EMO. I love DCab. I definitely like The National and this is a find for me. I was not totally on board with a solid album of downbeat, but that is more a product of the timing and liiving in a place with months and months of dark grey "beep" weather. So I will put them in my EMO playlist and yeah...
3
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Thu Feb 29 2024
Lust For Life
Iggy Pop
Ok. I am not gonna lie. With Iggy Pop I really don't care if his music is my thing or not. I do truly LOVE some of his songs and a couple are on this album, but it is actually the person himself I just love Iggy Pop, such an awsome, flawed, storied human being... and for that alone, outside anything about his influence on punk rock and iimportance within the music world and blah blah blah, he is important to me for a lot of philosophical reasons... Thus, like some people and Keanu Reeves (which i also get!!) I see Iggy Pop and I thumbs up!
5
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Fri Mar 01 2024
Shaka Zulu
Ladysmith Black Mambazo
One of my favorite albums of all time is Paul Simon's Graceland. It uses this band and I have loved this sort of sound ever since. With that saiid, the one thing that that album has that this one does not is instrumentals and drum beats. I had a hard time with just the vocals after a while, it is not something I am keen on, despite the emotional aspects and purity of it. Nevertheless, a remarkable group and a genre that could use a bit more mainstream exposure (if for a bit more instrumental backing).
3
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Mon Mar 04 2024
You Want It Darker
Leonard Cohen
This album is in two parts. I suppose Leonard Cohen is in two parts. One, a musician and the second, a poet. He mixes the two so seamlessly that it is easy to forget that he is a poet and a deep thinker and his words have impact, merely listening without focus on his music as such. But then something happens and you start to listen. Really listen... By turning his back on the devil he also has to turn his back on an angel... and then that last song... after one simply listens to melancholy strings and he reflects on his life and that one thing... Yeah, it could be a three star "musical" album or what it really is, a devastating and beautiful poetic story of life.
5
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Tue Mar 05 2024
Foo Fighters
Foo Fighters
I mean this is the fountain it all stems from. The holy grail of Foo magic. The Foo Fighters have always been there along with me... So yeah, in fact "Hell Yeah!" of course this is an essential album!
5
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Wed Mar 06 2024
Californication
Red Hot Chili Peppers
I have always liked The Red Hot Chili Peppers and am kind of proud of them for still being around and putting out good stuff. I was, in fact, surprised when this album came out and it was to such a high level, as many of the bands from back in the day kinda settle on "Ok" or stop producing at all. Definititely should be on a "listen to this" list for most people interested in any genre really, as it has elements of lots of different stuff and never gets out of control.
4
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Thu Mar 07 2024
On The Beach
Neil Young
I have had friends over the years that do not share my musical tastes. I can get past those that choose to ignore whole genres like techno or chant, but have a harder time with those that "hate X band." How can you hate a band? But I came to realize that it was often because they didn't like some political aspect or personal reason. But then there are those that simply don't like a band and it is nearly always because they don't like the singer's voice. I love (for example) Rush and Tom Petty. Both of which friends of mine have sited they don't like because they don't like the singers. I still question "every song?" But than again... I never could quite get into Neil Young. Lyrics are fine, band is fine... I think it is his voice actually. I just don't get anything emotional out of it. So I suppose I need to "get it" with my friends and know I too have this reasoning...
3
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Fri Mar 08 2024
Live!
Fela Kuti
I recently spoke of how I like Afrocentric sound, but struggled without any instrumentals and just the a cappella thing. I can like it but after a while it gets like (IDK) boring or something. Now we have the whole package in Fela Kuti, but even more so, we have Ginger Baker. Some pasty white guy that shows up in Nigeria and just crushes the percussions ... legend! I will look for this amazing album at my local record store because I want to here it on my home stereo now...
4
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Mon Mar 11 2024
Deja Vu
Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young
Again, Neil Young. His voice probably does harmonize well with this group, and the others, for ME, have appealing voices. So it is a step better overall than Young's titled album. However, it still features his voice often enough for me to find it a bit of a grind at times. I know that I am stepping on the toes of those that worship at the throne of Neil Young. I have my bands and their detractors as well. But it doesn't invalidate my feelings, nor theirs by me choosing a line. I really like Crosby, Stills, and Nash. Not so much Young. It is what it is...
3
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Tue Mar 12 2024
Live And Dangerous
Thin Lizzy
Thin Lizzy is another of those "good" basic bands that cover the entiire "core" of music, particularly within genre. In other words, Thin Lizzy is a hard rock, all in, put it out there 70's rock band. It doesn't take much research to realize that there were a LOT of bands like this, always has been, always will be. They are entertaining, "cool" and will have an overall generic appeal with a few hardcore fans. I suppose they also suffer from being around at a time when lots of amazing bands were around vying for air time. Nevertheless, they are solidly entertaining and good fun.
3
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Wed Mar 13 2024
Nick Of Time
Bonnie Raitt
Once again with the "pile" syndrome. A couple of times now I have considered this phenomenon. It is when there is nothing particularly bad about a band or musician, but that for whatever reason they sort of find themselves in a "pile" of somewhat similarly genred and well placed alternatives. Bonniie Raitt has some shining moments and uniqueness that puts her closer to the front of the line, but ultimately... meh.
3
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Thu Mar 14 2024
Bitte Orca
Dirty Projectors
Well, I suppose we all have our limits. I honestly wanted to like this band, they had those moments where they almost seemed quite brilliant, but each and every time they went into some experimental off key or weird mixy thing that threw everything off. I was like "you had this!" why did you throw your voice off like that? What did you do with that amazing riff? Why do you feel the need to be so Brooklyn hippy?
2
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Fri Mar 15 2024
What's That Noise?
Coldcut
I get the historic value of this album. But my groove is a bit more polished, more "into the future" than this. The issue for me is it is no "longer" 70's funk, and not "yet" true trip hop electronica. It is something in between. It reminds me of those early fusions between rock and hip hop that really endied up not quite committed to either. Some bands crush ther debut album and never quite reach that glory again, some bands grow better and better. I have the feeling that even though Coldcut became other bands and stuff, that collectively they got better than this. (Although it is humorous and does do "something" different.
2
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Mon Mar 18 2024
The Wall
Pink Floyd
I would call this a rock opera. It is a story or a jouney of sorts that taken collectively has a greater meaning. Looking at it this way, it is no doubt one of the greatest rock operas of all time. Taken as individual songs, it so happens to also be one of the greatest albums of all time and shows the absolute mastery of the musicians craft throughout.
This is considered an important part of rock history and an important album in that history. And ... It ought to be!
5
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Tue Mar 19 2024
Live At Leeds
The Who
The Who is a band I have always liked. The problem with "like" is it is not "love." I am not a fan-girl. Just I like them, I will generally tune in if something of theirs happens to be on the radio or in a store somewhere. The biggest problem here though, is not with liking or loving or a willingness to listen. It is that I am 100% sure if someone were there, in Leeds, this would have been an absolute life memory. But with no visuals but an album cover and crappy speakers... the (likely epic) 2 hour runtime just became a chore... So this amazing and worthy show by an A class band just doesn't translate well in our watered down digital age. At any rate, great band, poured their hearts out for their fans... Yeah!
4
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Wed Mar 20 2024
It Takes A Nation Of Millions To Hold Us Back
Public Enemy
Wow. The energy, the truth in what is said... the sad fact that it is even more important today than even then... The only thing lackiing now-a-days from then is maybe the underlying hope, or the idea that this is it, now we take our rightful place at the table. And in 2024 we are all ass backwards and this album probably couldn't even get made (and not at all be mainstream). Plus a major shout out to the humor it has and the just plain fun it is. I think it illustrates how you can be serious and angry and silly on the same album. Maybe we need a dose of "don't be so f*ing serious all the time" which we seemed to balance better back in the day.
3
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Thu Mar 21 2024
Q: Are We Not Men? A: We Are Devo
Devo
I forgot about Devo a little. I grew up with them in a sense, but they didn't seem particularly prolific so I would be like "oh, that's a pretty good song" and then a sometimes long pause. So Devo, while I like them, and this album is so fun, are one of those "Oh yeah, those guys are pretty good" bands. I also happen to like the genre and it it is naturally easy for me to enjoy. So while I really kind of like this, and would suggest it. It would have to, just like in the "old days" occur to me to think "Oh yeah, Devo..." and say "they are pretty good, yeah."
3
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Fri Mar 22 2024
Crocodiles
Echo And The Bunnymen
I was hoping this would happen. This album of the day thing. I had three wishes: discovering something new, Re-discovering something from the past, and making me more aware of music and genre, etc. in general.
The last one is an automatic and I enjoy that aspect of this project quite a lot. The first one has, and will continue, to happen as a natural result of listening to random albums every day. The middle one, the re-introduction to something I had (sort of) forgotten is most special.
Echo and the Bunnymen is a great band, I love this style and the gritty feel and always was a big fan. They just happened to slip off my radar even while going on Joy Division binges. (which I feel they share genre with). So this "re-discovery" is super appreciated and wonderful!
4
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Mon Mar 25 2024
Buena Vista Social Club
Buena Vista Social Club
I think this is so atmospheric and fun that it wins a lot of votes. Of course that is all music needs to do if it wants to. This is not about angst or edgy or dark, it is hopeful and lively, even with some of the darker themes. I can't think of any reason this should not be on a list of must listen to albums actually.
4
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Tue Mar 26 2024
Moon Safari
Air
I LOVE this. I was raised in USA. The French scene there, especially back in the day, was very niche and not largely present. I heard this music on college radio and loved it, but had no idea who it was, where it came from, nada. So now all these years latter have a name with a face with music I love! Great!
5
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Wed Mar 27 2024
OK
Talvin Singh
I quite liked this kind of ambient quirky world music album. It is easy to listen to, definitely an artist I will consider listening to more, yes. This album is "good." Not to be mean or undervalue the album in any way, the only thing it "suffers" in a very lightly held sense, is that it doesn't have anything in particular that other albums in world music or ambient music don't have. So, it almost feels like those late 70's rock band albums that get kind of lost in the crowd, but (!) Not quite! And that makes all the difference.
3
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Thu Mar 28 2024
Time (The Revelator)
Gillian Welch
At risk of sounding like a broken record, AND underwhelming a good album, I have to say the singer songwriter genre has a lot of great musicians in it, and I love the genre. But because of both those facts I have had to come up with a different way to rate their music. I have settled on an emotional connection, a feeling of closeness with the artists and how their music makes me feel. While I liked this album I didn't feel much of a connection to it (the last song worked!) but overall I felt like "yeah, they are Ok." and not OMG!
3
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Fri Mar 29 2024
Heartattack And Vine
Tom Waits
Tom Waits. I am perfectly divided with Tom Waits. I LOVE sometimes, and I can't listen at all other times.... I think one must be "in the mood" and not just jump into Tom Waits (at all, let alone an album). Yet Tom Waits is very very special. That is a fact that I will not ever ignore. Nobody else is or ever will be Tom Waits and that is something intangible, priceless... The only negative in this album is it lacks that story telling element that puts Tom Waits into an entirely different class of his own, which I would suggest is a "must do" on a lifes bucket list.
4
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Mon Apr 01 2024
Endtroducing.....
DJ Shadow
Wow. Should have known about DJ Shadow. Don't know why I didn't, but TBH, better late than never! Another good find by the 1001albumsgenerator. So yeah, shout out there.
This genre skates on "my" tastes and is easy for me to like. Instead of one or two songs that crush it for me, I kinda feel like the whole album has a consistently high vibe and definitely will pay more attention to DJ Shadow's work (from whenever).
4
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Tue Apr 02 2024
Smash
The Offspring
This might be an unfair rating. Music being a kind of "photograph" of life reminds us of times and places when we "first heard it" or the like. This is no nastalgia per se. It is actually a sort of fact of the human brain. So it is not a "wish to return" or a desire for today to be "like then" (although looking at today's world...) Anyhow, it is more like a feeling like "The Offsping were always cool, always there to kick in the adrenalin, when times turned towards the fun... and for that I throw out any "hard scientific objective" critiicism and just go with my gut.
4
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Wed Apr 03 2024
Face to Face
The Kinks
I have always liked the Kinks and have an album of theirs as it is. This one is from WAY before I tuned in to them, and serves to make me think of how underrated I myself have made them. I have a couple of late 70's early 80's albums, but this is their third and it is from 1966 (no wonder the Beatles feel to it). It makes me kind of feel bad for not paying more attention. Well, better late than never!
3
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Thu Apr 04 2024
New Gold Dream (81/82/83/84)
Simple Minds
This is annoying. Why? Because I like Simple Minds more than say... Metallica, but this site gave me the definitive Metallica album to rate. I am trying to be realistic. This album is not Simple Minds best. It is Ok. But a LOT of bands were around putting out good stuff and look at those numbers, they are not random, they are 1981 - 1984. Golden years in 80's music. So I get stuck with my profile saying I prefer "metal" to "indy" but they have me rate one of the greatest metal albums of all time and then have me rate obscure indy titles or so so albums from otherwise great bands... Kind of annoying.
3
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Fri Apr 05 2024
Golden Hour
Kacey Musgraves
I am normally "just Ok" with country music. It does, in all honesty, now a days at least, have to do with the political conservatism and MAGA bullshit that I find frankly offensive. But I see that Kacey Musgraves stirs the pot and is not playing that game. Good. She is also rather good at what she does and the music is never redundant or boring and I actually really enjoyed it. I will pay more attention to her from now on, country (sort of) or not.
3
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Mon Apr 08 2024
3 + 3
The Isley Brothers
I never quite knew about this band. I have, over many years and snippets of radiio and such, heard several of their songs, but never did I have a name to the music, nor listen to multiple songs (in a row) by this band.
I have now, and I was right blown away by it! These guys are amazing!
4
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Tue Apr 09 2024
Murmur
R.E.M.
Early REM is more or less among my all time favorite music. It is not nastalgiic, it doesn't make me "go back" or wish for times of old, it makes me feel present right now; it is hard to explain... I often describe it as raw, like "real" what one would experience in a small club on a Tuesday night at some ski resort. "Wow, this band is actually pretty good... what are they called again? They could get big..."
This music wakes me up in a way, I get the feeling of potential energy, like the band itself, of course REM DID get big, but for us all, individually, we too "could get big" and this music reminds me of that feeling...
5
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Wed Apr 10 2024
Shaft
Isaac Hayes
This threw me back to the actual movie and the whole movement to claim space in a racist environment. I think of the energy in the ghetto hero and the real inspiration behind it. The music is perfect and has the same tonal value. It is nice to hear the soundtrack complete as opposed to just during the film. I had not realized it was a soundtrack in itself. It is definitely cool.
3
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Thu Apr 11 2024
Music Has The Right To Children
Boards of Canada
This album is super weird.
It moves from outright creep city to sublime. It moves from jarringly experimental to satisfying groove... I went back and forth on my feelings and thoughts about it practically every other song. Is it good? I think it has enough in it to recommend a listen, but one must be wary that it is... not necessarily an easy album to get through directly. On balance I suppose I "almost" kind of like it, and maybe, just maybe if I am in the right sort of mood I might like the creepy bits...
3
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Fri Apr 12 2024
Stand!
Sly & The Family Stone
Wow. In todays English I will say "This shit is DOPE!"
Even in more normal speak, this is the real deal as far as deep amazing funk is concerned. I love this album... yet another find here that I will seek out in my local record store... Yes!
5
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Mon Apr 15 2024
Ramones
Ramones
This album is exactly like Metallica's album I reviewed here some time ago.
The truth iis that this album IS punk. It defines it and is core to it in every way. This is the Ramones. This is ... important on every level in defining and understanding the punk era and genre. In fact, the only real difference between the core metal band's core metal album is that while I am "just OK" with metal as a genre personally, I LOVE punk and all it encompasses, so there is that!
5
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Tue Apr 16 2024
Raw Power
The Stooges
Like with Keanu Reeves, when I see Iggy Pop, I upvote. This is early stuff, raw and a bit ambiguous in message. Lots of sex, drugs, and rock-n-roll going on here. But it has one element that I always like, whether it is a singer-songwriter, a jazz fusion band, or a hardcore punk drug fueled mosh fest... it is "real." They are right there present with their audience, interactive and special. There is a lot to love here, and less to gloss over than might be usual for (what I listened to) which was a sprawling multii-hour 29 track long show. The fact I never got bored or turned away once is telling...
4
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Wed Apr 17 2024
Cut
The Slits
Okee Dokee... The Slits... ... Yup. Gotta' nope out on this one... For my tastes it is too... weird maybe? It isn't like I wasted my time or was not entertained or it has no value musically in my opinion, it is more to do with finding no place to settle... the singer outright screams sometimes, the music is... kinda jarring often... lyrically it is sometimes funny and sometimes saying something but often kind of garbled and jumbled and I suppose meant to be social critical fun... But yeah, sorry... just too weird.
2
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Thu Apr 18 2024
Haunted Dancehall
The Sabres Of Paradise
I often say, on reviewing an album, about how it is good, fine, well done, BUT: yeah, it iis among the many and doesn't stand out per se and meh...
Now I could technically say something similar about Sabres of Paradise... except that they are not quite "among the many." Not really. They seemed to me, song after song, to be just a step up from the greater crowd, hinting at something in there that gives them a spot at the head table. I will put them on my playlist and go through their catalog to see how I feel after that, but with this single album, things are looking pretty good.
3
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Fri Apr 19 2024
Here, My Dear
Marvin Gaye
I once heard a person claim that they didn't like Shakespeare because his work was "cliche.' " Granted we have seen ten thousand renditions of Romeo and Juliet, but considering HE WAS THE FIRST (!) he can't be working with cliche's. Everyone else can (possibly). Marvin Gaye's album has that underlying "OMG! Does that actually work?" feel to it. Even if he cannot be cliche' as an original swooner, the swooniness of it feels like it tries too hard, like it is part of the date night script. Perhaps it is just a tad too "same message" for the contemporary audience. If someone puts this album on in the background of a nice dinner I might think "that is just a little cringe..." But otherwise it is quite smooth and songs taken individually may well be "all that."
3
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Mon Apr 22 2024
Siamese Dream
The Smashing Pumpkins
Funny how I don't love Billy Corgan's voice yet still find this to be both one of the best bands ever, and this album just great. It could have to do with how I like "whole" bands, and not just individual singers first. Not that I don't love singer/ songwriters and all that, but I appreciate that the background musicians have a name, and in the Pumpkin's case, they matter by contribution and are part of a whole that is wonderful.
5
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Tue Apr 23 2024
Talking Book
Stevie Wonder
First of all, II beliieve that Stevie Wonder has a place on any sort of 1001 album before you die list. It is good to know who Stevie Wonder is and the culture and history around his coming to fame. With that said, he has that soft voice and easy style that is shared by many a fine musician. The jazzy insrumentals are also highly professional and seen in many spaces. I personally find a female voice accompanying a jazz background to be more fulfilling than a male, but this is not a criticism of thiis music in any way. The issue may come down to one of two choices: Do you buy into the life story/ hype of Stevie Wonder as a legend, or do you listen to this album and rate it in an open and honest way? I choose the latter.
3
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Wed Apr 24 2024
American Pie
Don McLean
Odd how the person responsible for one of the most famous songs of all time "fits" in a way with that song. See, American Pie (clearly so well known that the albun is named after that one song) is telling. It is an overlong song and it doesn't pull any punches as to its goal of being a sad song meant to be so. The entire album feels like this and I can't help feel somewhat manipulated, like I am intentionally trying to search up EMO before EMO was a thing... It is never a problem to seek out sad songs, listen to them, write them, perform them... but should I be compelled to go out and buy an album full of them? I can't fault McLean for being great at the one song at a time thing, but unless you are really in the mood, maybe not listen to an entire album at once?
3
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Thu Apr 25 2024
Shadowland
k.d. lang
Hmm... I never got into K.D. Lang and now I understand why. I find her perfect as in capital P perfect for the role of lounge, jazz singer. And on occasion, beautifully, she does just that. But... But. For the most part she went with country western and rolled with it. Now. For me there are three styles of vocals in country music. The sultry, sexy, deeply country voice (swooner voice), the lively, also deeply country, twangy, no apologies hardcore "Nashville" style, OR, the "Taylor Swift sometimes does a country song" Pop/ country mixer voice. Great. Where does K.D. Lang fit into all this? Yeah, she doesn't. She is a jazz singer who for some reason went country but ... I just don't feel the vibe. Anyhow, she is "professional" and has a solid voice so sure...
3
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Fri Apr 26 2024
Ctrl
SZA
I did not come into this album blind. I came into this album expecting a trudge fest. Not my favorite genre, thinking it iis going for the gansta' thing with the explicit content... I did not get what I expected. Yup, it iis explicit, but somehow it makes it WAY more genuine, more real and honest. I felt this music, like a connection to its deeper meaning and all that mumbo jumbo. Instead of looking at how much time was left or how many more songs I had to trudge through, I felt like I would have been fine to hear more, although it ended well, in a heartfelt way that only further made me really really like this...
4
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Mon Apr 29 2024
Straight Outta Compton
N.W.A.
Once again with an ironclad CANON album. This is not only a must hear, but it is also socially very relevant, perhaps even moreso today than it was originally. It was brave then, now I don't even think anyone would dare be brave enough to put the truth out there quite like this... It is a shame really, and they did it with an extreme presence of mind that makes it as humorous as it is honest.
This album was brilliant the day it came out and it still is. Hell yeah!
5
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Tue Apr 30 2024
The Downward Spiral
Nine Inch Nails
I now see that I have a love/ hate relationship with Nine Inch Nails. The passion and depth of his angst have been a beacon with his music and the gritty rawness is always amazing. But it starts to feel hopeless, bleak, like damn dude, lighten up... But it doesn't. I love industrial music (for reasons I don't understand) but it is not necessarily dark and ominous. This is. Under the right circumstances I can really embrace this, I really do like it a lot, and always have. It is like a great movie that nobody can favorite because it would be way too emotionally taxing. Great does not equate love in these cases. I think we need to take Nine Inch Nails in smaller doses than a full on album all at once..
3
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Wed May 01 2024
Casanova
The Divine Comedy
Almost the opposite of Trent Resnor's Nine Inch Nails dreadfest, this is much lighter and tongue in cheek funny. It does suffer from beng almost too simple musically, only saved by the "actually decent" voice of the singer and the clever laugh out loud lyrics. I don't think I would go as far as to call this a must hear album, but it IS a lot of fun!
3
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Thu May 02 2024
The Suburbs
Arcade Fire
"Today I learned..." Today I learned that even bands I really like are not that interesting "in a row." For a long time I would hear an Arcade Fire song and think "I really like this" but ultimately not follow them too closely for some reason. This has repeated over many years with me and Arcade Fire. Today I learned why. I can, and often do, come across an Arcade Fire song in a random playlist or out and about and think "thiis song is great, I love this band!" But now that I have listened to an entire album... see, individually they are great. But they have a too similar sound across songs, too similar theme across the whole album, and even share lyrics between songs in one case... I believe it was an experiment to make different feelings with the same lyrics but it didn't quite work OR both songs failed to deliver whatever the underlying message was meant to be... I love this band... one song at a time!
3
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Fri May 03 2024
In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida
Iron Butterfly
Iron Butterfly has an unfortunate situation. They were big when the biggest bands in recent history were emerging. This makes them "somewhat" down the list of bands in the time period, which, by default, makes them get less air play even today. So... while they are "really quite good" they are only really known by most for "that one song" which, happens to be ... unbelievably amazing, especially with the drum solo part in place and not the radio cut. It is hard for bands today for the same reasons of saturation and markets, so it is nice to give a listen to the roots of metal, so yeah, definitely worth the listen.
3
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Mon May 06 2024
At Mister Kelly's
Sarah Vaughan
Sarah Vaughan is a great example of a person finding their niche. She has a wonderful "jazz" voice. Her music is like how jazz should sound. It is too bad I am so poor with knowing the genre. Sometimes I listen to jazz music all day long, but never really connect names and faces and bands. Nevertheless this is really top knotch!
4
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Tue May 07 2024
Catch A Fire
Bob Marley & The Wailers
II have said now probably in as many reviews as I have done here, that I have a wildly eclectiic music taste, and while I do have my go to favorites, I can listen (and enjoy) most genres. Reggae is no different, although it does that thing that specific genres do to me naturally, and make me visualize a scene where I might be listening live, or simply place me in a kind of narrative I connect with the music. Reggae and especially Bob Marley's style, smooth and mature, make me want to chill out and walk barefoot in a tropical forest, just off the beach and sit around getting high with a few like minded strangers that become forever friends wiithout a thought about it. And that is a really nice thought I think...
5
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Wed May 08 2024
Heaven Or Las Vegas
Cocteau Twins
This is a hard review for me because the genre the Cocteau Twins operates in is my main go to. So there are two things to consider. I have a huge pool of artists floating around to consider, and most of them I view as having "this song" or "that song" I really love, and don't dig deep into their playlists. Also, those I have dug deep on are really quite special to me for whatever reason and I have been swimming in their pools for a long time. I have been viewing the Cocteau Twins mainly from the first pool, and LOVE a few of their songs. On the other hand, after a full album listen, I can see that I could get into this band enough to maybe consider putting them into my first pool after all. It may take a bit of a deeper plunge is all.
3
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Thu May 09 2024
L.A. Woman
The Doors
The Doors, The Beatles, Pink Floyd... certain bands are part of the musical canon of the 20th century and always will be. If one stops and considers time and place AND the natural abilities of these people it becomes truly remarkable and sensible that they remain so beloved. The Doors must have blown peoples minds when this came out. Of course it would be controversiial, it is almost brutal in its openness. But wow, thiis really truly is a corker!
5
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Fri May 10 2024
Sound of Silver
LCD Soundsystem
Thank You "One album a Day" (1001albumgenerator.com).
Sometimes word of mouth and the youtube algorythm miss something. I almost alway need a second listen to really get sold on an album. Very rarely, I think I can count on just my fingers, has an album shown up and I just crush the like button on. LCD Soundsystem is literally everything I like in music wrapped in a neat, tight package. I am gobsmacked that I never heard them before, not even a single in fact. But that does not matter, as yesterday, I was introduced by this website... I love love love this stuff!
5
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Mon May 13 2024
Led Zeppelin IV
Led Zeppelin
Honestly, even if old school rock is not my go to genre, the fact of the matter is that this remains, and stands the test of time, taste, trends, and even after having heard each of these songs a billion times, this is one of the greatest rock and roll albums of all time and will remain so forever. It is hard to imagine what it must have been like to hear this for the first time when it came out.
5
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Tue May 14 2024
Exile On Main Street
The Rolling Stones
The Rolling Stones are what I call an "elite" band. They are among a very few that have been around forever and never fail to be steady and put out good to sometimes great music. I also like Mick Jagger's voice and...
and... I have had a lifelong fascination with the way the band lives their lives. They always stuck together and the crazy Club 54 lifestyles and just a life really lived, and they play on! Amaze...
4
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Wed May 15 2024
Teenage Head
Flamin' Groovies
Okee Dokee... So yesterday I listened to The Rolling Stones. Today I listened to this. Unfortunate timing? Not my favoriite genre? IDK. For some reason I felt like it is all "OK," but couldn't wrap my head around why it would be one of the 1001 album must hears? This project has been wonderful, eye opening, interesting, and even these questionable choices give a certain pleasure in the discovery. With this album... it isn't good or bad, it just... like "is." For example, it is like as if we were on a road trip and stopped at some restaurant/ club and they were playing in the background and someone would say, "hey, these guys are pretty good. How is your cheesburger?"
3
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Thu May 16 2024
Wild Wood
Paul Weller
This album is probably one of those that is relegated to the second table at the wedding. I hear both Eric Clapton and Leonard Cohen in the music which is a great thing! On the other hand I can opt to listen to either of those musicians directly and kind of skip the middleman. It isn't so much that it is "like" something else as much as it doesn't have enough unqueness on its own to be distinct from something else...
3
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Fri May 17 2024
The Pleasure Principle
Gary Numan
EDM, electronica, cyber-punk, techno... synthwave and its assorted sub-genres... it is ALL in large part grandfathered by Gary Numan. This album is from 1979 (!) The overall consistency and lyrical timelessness of this album is amazing. (Also) even though I have not dusted off my Gary Numan CD's in a while... I actually HAVE Gary Numan CD's to begin with!
5
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Mon May 20 2024
Ágætis Byrjun
Sigur Rós
Oh, this is really quite lovely. Honestly one of the first times I was like "oh no, here we go" and was super pleasantly surprised. This is really nice music and I have them now favorited and will listen more to this new age(y) spiritual folk band. The male leads voice reminds me of Smashing Pumpkins in a way. Nice.
4
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Tue May 21 2024
Back To Black
Amy Winehouse
There is no doubt Amy Winehouse had talent. Her lyrics are very specific and laced with "after-sight is 20/20" wisdom of her untimely demise. She had that strong jazzy voice and it fit her song qualities well. I am angry with those around her who were enablers and profited from her state of being. I am angry that those closest to her were not able to say "you've
gotta' step off this crazy train." And, I am angry with her. Just as I am with so many bright shining stars that take their own lives (intentionally or not). And... I am angry with a system that overvalues worth by dedicaton to work, skills, or financial success and undervalues mental health entirely. Oh but she died young (!) PR gold! Somebody "wins" ...
3
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Wed May 22 2024
John Prine
John Prine
Interestingly enough, after coming off the Amy Winehouse album, I am seeing a certain "why" in how I feel about certain music and musicians. It isn't like this is "bad" (consider Amy Winehouse, not "bad" either). It is just that it is targeting a certain demographic, and not a big sweeping one, but an addict down one your luck one or, in this case, a life long done you down low and you gotta' just accept your lot in life...
But for those who don't buy it, The bottle does not empty itself. You can't leave a place if you don't get up and go. I don't feel the life sucks then you die thing so much. Taking responsibility is not the same thing as resigning to ones fate (which is never set in stone). So while it is Ok, even decent, I can't really cry over any of it personally.
3
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Thu May 23 2024
Sweet Baby James
James Taylor
Whether by coincidence or matrix, this site has given me essentially three singer songwriters in a row. Amy Winehouse being a talented trainwreck, John Prine is all about the downtrodden country "my pickup truck broke down and my wife left and I don't have the money for booze..." sort of feel. Neither are in any way bad musically and they have thier places to be sure, but now we have James Taylor!
This is what singer/ songwriter is all about. Life without total angst or total hardship. Just about normal people living and getting thrown those curveballs that sometimes graze and sometimes hurt bad. But there remains a hope in his work and a depth that is hard to obtain.
4
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Fri May 24 2024
Unhalfbricking
Fairport Convention
I am on the fence here. I was not personally a big fan of the main singer but found, especially at certain moments, the instrumentals to be really good. Maybe in a way I felt like I didn't have the interest to put a lot of attention into it overall, but at the same time couldn't say it was particularly bad or of any sort of poor quality. Whether it ought be on a list of must hear albums is questionable. This, of course, is always qualfied by the idea that it stands alone and has no special historical value attached. In those cases the essential listenng idea changes. In this case I was not really interested enough to see if Fairpoint Convention has any historical significance. A couple of songs I felt were rather strong. Otherwise...
3
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Mon May 27 2024
Superunknown
Soundgarden
This is a very good album by a very good band. I was there when it dropped and was, as everyone else, rather blown away by it. It has aged well, although the late Chris Cornell actually got even better (!) and in a sense Soundgarden was overshadowed by this. Nevertheless, a major player back in the day and still worthy, extremely worthy to own this album.
4
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Tue May 28 2024
Getz/Gilberto
Stan Getz
If one where to ask me to define "lounge" music as I see it, it is like jazz but not quite, contemporary without poppiness... Relaxiing but not background, joyful but not new-age. ... ... OR (!) I could just point to this album and say "yeah, lounge is like... just listen to this." Because this IS lounge at it's best and core. This is so nice and relaxing and fundamentally what we listen to music for in the first place. It doesn't matter if many don't understand the lyrics. You just listen and chill. This is very easy to listen to and really deserves to be on this list of must hear albums!
4
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Wed May 29 2024
Gorillaz
Gorillaz
I fully believe that the Gorillaz must be polarizing. Some people must not get them at all, and others, like me, are big fans. I think it would be essential to be good with all things electronic and move towards trip hop and move towards electo-pop without finding it all to jarring. For me it works. For others, IDK? This is one of those albums that I find very satisfying and it shows the absolute huge range this band can operate in. The only reason I will not give this album five stars is because I don't know if it is my favorite album of theirs. I will have to spend the time determining which one is, or not... But this is really good stuff people!
4
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Thu May 30 2024
Unknown Pleasures
Joy Division
I have a special relationship with Joy Division. I never am able to place it exactly. But of all the bands and music and styles I love and like and listen to, few particular bands or musicians affect me quite the same as Joy Division. I feel the music more than groove with it. There are only a small handful of bands that affect me like this: where I have to kind of stop what I am doing and just feel the vibe. It is like reading a good book or poem or viewing special art, and for a moment the world kind of stops and you just exist with this connection with the artist(s). There are individual songs that do this, but rarely a band, or album that does. But here it is.
5
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Fri May 31 2024
Myths Of The Near Future
Klaxons
For me the Klaxons fit that group I speak of that gets relegated to the corner table while better and stronger bands headline. It isn't that they are particulary bad or uninteresting. It is more to do with they are not specifically good or directly interesting.
I would put this band in that pool where you question whether the allbum is a "must listen" or kind of a "yeah, I've heard of them..."
3
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Mon Jun 03 2024
A Rush Of Blood To The Head
Coldplay
Coldplay is a great band. Not only that but I had an opportunity to listen up close to a concert and they are really good at the live shows. They put themselves out there and it shows. I think this is a very good representation of them if someone were to be introduced. I think I would rate a greatest hits album probably five stars and a "regular" album well...
4
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Tue Jun 04 2024
There's No Place Like America Today
Curtis Mayfield
It took me a while to think about this album. It was not bad or anything even close really. It is quite good actually. Of course it is "supposed to be" although in this case that does not hurt my thinking about it. I think maybe what it is is that while a couple of songs were indeed outstanding, I kind of felt like "yeah, this is Ok." I was never bored but I didn't feel the need for any volume raising or double takes. (with a shout out to the opening song).
3
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Wed Jun 05 2024
Led Zeppelin II
Led Zeppelin
I stand corrected. I had assumed (as I am not a huge "classic rock" fan) that Led Zeppelin IV was the cat's meow for this band. Nope. Turns out that (as I said, not a huge fan of the genre) pretty much Led Zeppelin is one of the best bands in existence and their catalog extends WAY past the "oldies" radio station playlist. Wow! Just WOW! This band IS seriously amazing... I think of some "supergroups" that emerge now and then, that perfect collision of great musicians coming together. But as great as most of the supergroups are, they are largely expected to be so and built on purpose for that effect. I think Led Zeppelin just "happened" naturally and that makes all the difference.
5
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Thu Jun 06 2024
Protection
Massive Attack
I can't give this a rating based on any science, historical, or cultural significance or any logical reasoning. Why? Because for whatever reason, I have a pure love for Massive Attack, the genre, the groove, the vibe... This is not their best album (in a way) but it still falls under that "Oh, you didn't really like this? Welp... That's too bad because to me it is awesome and needs no defending."
Most of the time when listening to an album of the day there is a distinct change between "my" playlist and whatever it was I was listening to and I have two common reactions: "Oh, it is over already" or "thank goodness that is finally done." This album is among the few where I didn't even notice when it ended and my playlist began.
5
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Fri Jun 07 2024
I See You
The xx
Jamie XX is one of my favorite DJ's. In fact I have a couple of his songs in my best ever list. This album has some wavering at first between electro-pop and even a K-pop feel until it finds its deeper groove -- and when it does (!). I think the idea of "unleashing" Jamie's production is the key to The XX's strength. The other musicians are good on their own, but really brought out into the more electronica deeper vibe by Jamie. I think they might have suffered from a too "poppy" sound if not for that marriage. But of course there was, and is that blending, and there are a couple of corkers on this album because of it.
4
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Mon Jun 10 2024
The Joshua Tree
U2
I have occasionally wondered what happened to U2. They were one of the biggest names all through the 80's and had hit after hit. Joshua Tree is a great great album with no misses. Yet today they are just not known much at all. So I read about it and did some research and it turns out that the always somewhat political band I guess kind of took it too far somehow and lost favor. This is not the first case I have first hand knowledge of where a band gets political or too big for ther Egos and the like. It really really is too bad in this case becuase they are, musically a great band. They were the real deal and should be a true legacy band. Nevertheless, regarding albums, anyone recommending or listening to this album can't do wrong by it and will most certainly find themselves wondering "who ARE these guys!?!"
5
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Tue Jun 11 2024
Dookie
Green Day
I bought this album when it came out and liked it a great deal. Still do it turns out. Remarkably if one takes it at face value it speaks a bit of gen X angst. If one digs deeper it reflects on how the gen X "whatever" was not so far off as it seems we cannot politically move forward. I hope for a day when the meanings and lyrics of this album will be novel and odd, but truth be told, just like with NWA, unfortunately it is more relevant than ever...
4
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Wed Jun 12 2024
Pump
Aerosmith
Aerosmith is a hard band for me. I know that they are above the fold and are an A-list band. They ARE great. I just... am kind of indifferent towards them. Like "yeah, they are Ok... That song is pretty great, and that one..." But they don't as a whole drive my in any particular way. I don't seek them out or think I will buy this album. And I am not sure why? They have a good range, they are never boring. They have theiir own sound and it is definitely good... I guess sometimes it is just how it goes.
3
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Thu Jun 13 2024
Dear Science
TV On The Radio
This is a unique review. I believe I would rate this band higher, in fact, I think I am likely to, once I hear them more and get into them. See, with TV on the Radio, I never even heard a single song of theirs by accident somewhere along the way! So, while I am intrigued and interested in both their style and sound, I am painfully unfamiliar with their work. That means that since this is the very first time I ever heard them, I don't know quite what to think yet. I have a feeling someday I would revisit this review and go a bit higher. But for now I will play it safe and call them a strong worthy band.
3
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Fri Jun 14 2024
Germfree Adolescents
X-Ray Spex
This is actually prretty great. I am definitely a punk fan and this fits right in there as it should. I am surprised sometimes by how many bands and musicians I never heard of. This band also has a bonus of having a sound that could have been made yesterday for some reason. Genres like punk don't necessarily age as some others might as it is, and many of the themes are still hanging in the air today. The hard part here is that while it is varied and interesting, the lead singers super strong voice, by default, kind of makes the songs blend together sometimes. I found myself semi-consciously looking at how many songs were left as I began getting antsy towards the end. Nevertheless! Worthy and interestiing, especially if you are into anything punk or want to hear a non auto tuned voice for a while!
3
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Mon Jun 17 2024
Definitely Maybe
Oasis
I always liked Oasis and was around when they hit it big, then fell off the apple cart by the lead singer becoming an ego-maniac and they kind of got cancelled before it became a thing. Nevertheless I actually do think they are a good band and while not "as big as the Beatles" (which is what the lead singer decided to declare...) They are hit-makers. This album is no different and has a few great and memorable songs. Thus while this album is a very good "must listen" for this project, I am on the fence as to whether I feel bad they are not "known" too much today or whether they should have eaten a bit of humble pie and kept going.
3
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Tue Jun 18 2024
Talking Heads 77
Talking Heads
Doing reviews has certain traps. i am a long term film critic and have a deep, objectively sensible system in place to reduce bias and increase overall consistency. With music it is more seat of the pants but I still try to be objective as possible. This is why, for instance, while I don't even like Metallica all that much, I gave their album a high rating in knowing it is canon and deserviing (although personally that was the first and last time in a LONG time that I listened to them). Thus someone scanning my ratings might think I really like classic rock or metal but I actually don't favor either really. I personally like the Talking Heads and the alternative genre more. Yet this album suffers a certain fate that many do: It sits among others that while all unique in their own way, is not a particular "must listen" if one is not a superfan. They grew as a band from here and it was fun to listen to, but it feels like a band in development album.
3
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Wed Jun 19 2024
Every Good Boy Deserves Fudge
Mudhoney
Mudhoney gives me an old school small club raw feel that I can't explain outside of a good vibe feeling, mellow, groove with the music sort of apres-ski sort of thing. They also have a strong punk vibe and a good alt-fun without a big ego sort of feeling. Notice that this band is, for me, all about feeling, and not so much about stellar "forever" music. I think some bands are destned for this sort of role. I don't want to sound mean by saying "almost famous" but it is not mean because they have that "cool" everyone is going to like them even if they are not in the spotlight vibe and seem to perfectly fine with that. Truth be told my comment effects the actually famous worse, as they are marketed as so amazing and awesome and the next best thing but burn out quickly, while bands like Mudhoney will always be worth a listen.
3
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Thu Jun 20 2024
Vivid
Living Colour
Hmm... Living Colour. I have always thought Living Colour was awesome. They are a great band. Perhaps now and then a song seems to go a bit retro, but for the most part time has not dulled their edges. I do wonder (without bothering to research it right now) what actually happened to them? They were an exciting new thing for a while, and the songs here reflect that, but they are not exactly a household name anymore? Huh. Anyhow, this album, and band overall, is well well worth the time to give a listen to.
4
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Fri Jun 21 2024
Larks' Tongues In Aspic
King Crimson
This is one of those reviews where I can't let my personal ttastes override any sense of historic value. I am aware that KC was an innovative and early pioneer of PROG rock, one of my favorite genres, and that they are musically solid. But I can't, and never really could, get "into" KC. Just not my thing. If I gave them a three star "decent/ good" rating it would have to only rely on what I feel history would overall demand, not really what I feel myself, and honestly, I think that those who have not heard them before or for those who don't remember their sound, MEH. I could have skipped it.
2
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Mon Jun 24 2024
Rock 'N Soul
Solomon Burke
When I was a teenager a lot of my eclectic style was being helped by my dad. He listened to rock, country, pop, jazz, and a healthy dose of folk/ singer songwriter stuff. He liked some of the stuff I listened to and I liked quite a bit of the stuff he did. One day an "oldy" came on the radio and the DJ made a deal of it. My dad said "I was around when this song came out. It sucked then, and it still sucks." The song in question was not a good song, I don't even remember what it was. Then my dad added something: "Just because a song is a 'classic' or an oldy or whatever, that does not make it automatically good."
When I listened to this album, as a person who likes jazz and blues and this sort of genre, I had the feeling that it was... Ok. Nothing blew me away, I never paused and said "yeah, there it is." I am sure it is fine or whatever; but that is the problem. I won't remember it specifically and I don't want to need a companion booklet to understand why it is supposed to be great.
2
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Tue Jun 25 2024
From Elvis In Memphis
Elvis Presley
Of course I have "heard" Elvis. I know the memes and the cultural phenomena and the whole thing. What I didn't do was grow up in that era, or know his catalog of music. I do like his movies, but I am not sure I paid full attention to the music. So my musical exposure to Elvis is often limited to snippets and soundbites heard "in the wild" or in pieces in movies and the like. Listening to a full album I am astonished by his range, in his voice and style-wise. His lyrics range from playful to tragic and they don't have that all too common pretense to BE sad songs. He makes it easy and when this album ended and my playlist started (automatically as it is) I was somewhat disappointed not to hear a few more "Elvis songs."
4
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Wed Jun 26 2024
Live At The Star Club, Hamburg
Jerry Lee Lewis
There were three things going through my mind while listening to this. One was "this was WHEN!?!" Two was "this guy really poured himself out for his audience," and three was "this is a rare gem."
I wish they had allowed the recording to cover a bit more of the audience and his interactions to make it all the more personalized, but still just to be able to hear this piece of history is really something special. This happened before I was born and still I feel like it is an essential listen for today's music lovers. It is truly timeless.
5
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Thu Jun 27 2024
Surf's Up
The Beach Boys
The Beach Boy's are a tough band for me to rate. I feel like they are up and down with me. Sometimes I sense the strong visual California surf vibe and sometimes ... I guess I will say it is "less fun?" I love that they sing about the environment, I love that they are original and competent. I think maybe that they are a band that got to the head table by being quite specific and niche. Like if they dared stray too far off their strongest vibe they would be second best. Some bands have massive talent and range, others have massive energy and just blow away the listener by it. The Beach Boys are a bit quieter, like someone's Aunt's favorite band. "Not that she has bad taste, just ..."
3
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Fri Jun 28 2024
xx
The xx
Normally when II do this rating I feel obligated, as a critic, to use that sort of objective theory to justify my ratings. It makes sense for two reasons: One is that just saying "I liked/ disllked this" and just a number has little to no meaning to the reader, and two, there is value in learning about the artists and musicians and understanding their place in history as a part of being part of this human world and it is niice to know, if one diid not, about why and how a particualar musician might have a place (at what I
call) the head table.
With XX I have to admit it matters less the story and more how this band, this genre, these artists just touch my soul. Often this musiic is just pure emotion for me. I can't explain it, but perhaps sometimes that is OK too! Just like that kind of movie that you like for no apparent reason other than it feels just like a pleasure to watch, I love love LOVE this band!
5
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Mon Jul 01 2024
Raising Hell
Run-D.M.C.
It took me a long time to appreciate the mix between rock and rap that this album highlights. But my musical understanding of genre and the various fusions of it have shown me by now that there is no "mistake" or compromise or selling out, etc. Run-DMC is funny, relevant, no doubt classic and iconic as a band and thier music does well against the test of time. This album is one of those that makes me hesitate when nastalgic and generation specific comments are made about music not being what it used to and all that. Generally I find it cringe, but you know ? ... Who is the contemporary Run DMC? This also goes in reverse, Yes, great music drops every day! But don't get overly smug about just HOW great something is until you take a little trip back in time.
4
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Tue Jul 02 2024
Court And Spark
Joni Mitchell
I finally figured it out So I think Joni Mitchell has both an amazing, real, and pure voice. I also think she is deeply poetic and draws out a lot of feeling in her lyrics. I am always likely to pause or stop whatever I am doing to listen out one of her songs. Nevertheless, at the end of the day I am stuck by the paradox: "Yeah, she is great!" followed by "No, I don't have any of her albums." And this 1001 album site has helped me to understand why! There are no drops, beats, tonal changes, primal screams, ... in short, there is no drama. It is sweet, gentle, sometimes poignant, but she is best if listened to as a blend, on the radio, or in a mix or some other way than a continued line up of songs (although all bets are off if one had the chance to see her live!) In real life, that voice... Yeah.
3
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Wed Jul 03 2024
Brutal Youth
Elvis Costello
Elvis Costello coming on the wings of a Joni Mitchell review is actually perfect. See, I really like both these musicians BUT neither of them are staples in my archive. I have spent time thinking about that, and other musicians over time that I kind of "let go." Elvis Costello has a few songs that are on my all time favorites list. So why is he not himself on the short list? Well, lyrically he is as poetic as MItchell, and his musical style is unique and interesting. I think maybe it is because when casually listening it is hard to make out his lyrics. There is an old joke about how they made a mixed album with "songs you can hum to." All of them chosen because somewhere along the way the lyrics become hard to follow so instead of singing, you kind of "hum" along. I think one must really HEAR what Elvis Costello is singing to FEEL his true power. Luckily there are plenty of people who don't have this struggle. Too bad for me.
3
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Thu Jul 04 2024
If You're Feeling Sinister
Belle & Sebastian
Interesting that sometimes I come across a band that I am completely unfamiliar with. Not even that I don't recognize the band's name or the singers, etc. but I have never heard a single song from this album in my life. This makes my review both perfect and flawed at the same time. Perfect because gone is any nostalgia or sentiment to cloud my judgements (which does happen sometimes) But flawed because without having a few listens, allowiing music to "grow on us" we can be a bit too harsh, too quick to judge (literally). So I focused on the feeliings and a bit on the musical qualities found here. The feel I get is a kind of calm, sex positive and open future vibe. (Weiirdly specific but yeah...) and musically they are fair to middling and one can grow either to like them more or pass them by with equal regard.
3
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Fri Jul 05 2024
Francis Albert Sinatra & Antonio Carlos Jobim
Frank Sinatra
Strange how of course everyone "knows" Frank Sinatra, and a few can sing a few bars of his songs. But after listening to this album from start to finish, I have to admit his fame is well deserved AND as astonishing as it may seem, his lyrics still remain relevant today. It is much more about mood and feeling than I had ever considered as I have only been exposed to his music via film or other scenario based cultural artifacts. But just alone, listening... It makes you hard pressed not to wonder, if it is true, who exactly IS making music like this today?
4
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Mon Jul 08 2024
Transformer
Lou Reed
Lou Reed is a pioneer. I always felt he has a spoken word punk style. II think he is special, like in a special category that lies outside mainstream but is of critical importance to the entire music world. Artists who are hard to put in a box because they make their own. Many musicans over many years have broken molds and designed theiir own boxes, but few can claim their place at their own table right up next to the bigwigs. The only way to understand this review is to listen to this album. Then it will come clear that where else is he supposed to fit in?
4
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Tue Jul 09 2024
Sunday At The Village Vanguard
Bill Evans Trio
Bill Evans is clearly a master at work. This is the kind of music one can listen to all day while focusing on work or whateter activities they might be doing without any jarring, pressing need, or sudden urge to turn things down or up or off. Perfect lounge music 10/10. Now... if there is a problem with lounge music, this kind of lyric free soft jazz, it is that it is so very steady, so clean and functionally neutral, that outside of its calming, mellow affect, it really has no emotional impact or challenges. I will grant this album four stars because after it was done I let the youtube matrix play his next, even longer album because it fit my mood as background. However, if one is seeking a bit more emotion or thrill or variety, you might want to leave this one for a day you have had enough stress and just need to calm things down.
4
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Wed Jul 10 2024
Doolittle
Pixies
The Pixies are a band that I have alway personally liked. The fuzzy genre fits my personality, they have high energy, they are weird enough in a way to be able to get away with seeming slightly unhinged, as if they dare the audience to keep following. But that IS post-punk, grunge, hard edged new wave, dirty club, absolutely political with denial, whatever you wish to grab from it. I think that for a lot of new or unfamiiliar listeners the very idea that they are so difficult to pin down can be daunting. As far as their place at the table, I don't think they would giive two shits one way or another. For me that makes them all the more appealing, but I can't speak for others even those I may well respect. Thus my final thought is that I am not sure the Pixies are for "everyone" but someone is going to think this is a gem.
3
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Thu Jul 11 2024
Something/Anything?
Todd Rundgren
I may have needed an album like this as a base. It sometimes gets hard to rate music because it can change based on way too many factors, genre, consistency, artisic merit, lyrical quality, historic value, number of people already doing the same thing, sometimes even the person themselves may be controversial... and I only named the tip of an iceberg! So I feel stuck sometimes, or feel I could have made a mis-judgement. So an album like this is necessary now and then. This album is a perfect three star album! It is "good." It is "solid and well done." It is worth listening to but not essential, it has a couple of great songs and a couple of less memorable ones, it represents a 70's rock vibe without any strings. It is like a movie you saw many years ago, liked, but only bother to watch it if it comes out on TV now and then. In a word, it is a "three."
3
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Fri Jul 12 2024
Like Water For Chocolate
Common
I like hip hop. I think Common has a place in the low fi necessarily honest and artistic lyrical department. I like hip hop that makes me feel energy, a deep call to action, and for moments this album does that. On the other hand it is somewhat low key and kind of "too mellow" to cause me to stand up and be counted. I suppose I consider hip hop the urban version of punk, which in both cases means rebellious, angry and satisfying as we team up against the oppressors. Here, we have the anger, but it is more desperate, a losing battle that no one seems to care about, a reflection of the truth of today unfortunately. There is socio-poliitical value to be found here for sure, but musically. It is "OK."
3
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Mon Jul 15 2024
Tusk
Fleetwood Mac
I mean... I tihnk I love the idea that critics panned this album when it came out. Makes one wonder what the heck kind of music was otherwise being produced at the time? Cause as far as I can tell thiis is ... What? Are you kidding me? Those critics must be those idiots who bitch on line all the time about how they don't make music like they used to, forgetting that they bitched about it back then too!
Seriously? This is ... it doesn't get much better than this!
5
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Tue Jul 16 2024
Rio
Duran Duran
Rio is and was a mega-hit album. In fact Duran Duran was one of those bands I loved to hate until my Dad and I started watching a late night show called "Night-Flight" that showed more adult oriented music videos and Duran Duran was a staple. It wasn't that I didn't like their music, which speaks for itself (just listen), but they became super famous and I was rebelling against "the man" and it seemed they had gone corporate. Nevertheless, I "secretly" always liked Duran Duran and this album remains a pretty good example of why. Also, I notice that unlike a pretty good chunk of 80's music, this has aged well and does not automatically conjure up the "nastalgia" dreamers.
4
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Wed Jul 17 2024
Fever Ray
Fever Ray
I live in the same city as Fever Ray started. We have a good music base here and quite a few people find fame. It is special.
Also, I have never heard of Fever Ray even with the youtube recommendation algorythm and internet radio and ... my just being part of that pseudo-genre that they are in. Needless to say I was very excited to make this discovery and once again thank the 1001 album web-site for this experience.
Funny how some of my favorite music will have like 10000 views in 7 years and a local band within my interest has millions of views over dozens of songs and I had never heard (or maybe offhand that one song one time) anything from them... The music world is so weird. I love it.
4
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Thu Jul 18 2024
Harvest
Neil Young
Argh.... It had to happen sooner or later. I am ... not going to lie. I am a fairly outspoken person. If I have a belief I can back up with science or some kind of real world proof, I may not let go. Some musicians, regardless of their musical quality can "lose me" by their political or other agenda policies. Neil Young is NOT one of those!! I have no reason not to think I would personally like the guy. So now I am caught. I have no reason to dislike what amounts to a guy who has truly classic hits and a massive head of the table following... But... But.... I . don't . like . Neil Young's voice all that much... Sorry. I really am. I have two friends that come to mind: One that hates on RUSH and the other on Tom Petty because they don't like their voices. The good news is I am going to temper my own feelings with my advice to them: "Surely you don't hate ALL their music because of that one thing?" And I see that Neil Young lyrically, instrumentally, and just overall IS actually a master of his craft. I do not like Neil Young's voice. But for those that might, I think you are going to like this album.
3
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Fri Jul 19 2024
Teenager Of The Year
Frank Black
I was around when Frank Black "hit it big" with headache and a couple other tunes. To me, back then I would listen to the radio, often college alternative stuff, and after listening to a couple good songs from the same artist I would take the plunge and buy the CD. Sometimes it was a win and I loved the band or musician and still do. On the other hand, there were those where, disappointingly, the "hits" on the radio were the only songs that actually were all that interesting... I never bought Frank Black back in the day, but after this listen, I would probably put him into the "oh well, I guess I bought the album for a couple of songs" category. Also, not to bad mouth his style or whatever, but he sounds "like" a lot of bands at the time, and ends up for me not quite at the head table.
3
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Mon Jul 22 2024
So
Peter Gabriel
After rating what essentially is a "one hit wonder" revisiting this gem was a real treat. I remember when this came out and some of the songs started getting radio play and I was thinking it might be worth checking out. Eventually I picked it up and realized that it is one of those "good from start to finish" or "no throwaways" albums. I believe I had this on tape and had not heard it for decades, but here it is and yeah, it is truly a great album. Peter Gabriel in general is one of those musicians that the young generations should be exposed to and get to know. This one would be worthy this list, even if it were 101 albums you should hear.
4
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Tue Jul 23 2024
Madman Across The Water
Elton John
Of course it is no thing to say Elton John is legend. Deservedly so. Even here we have classic wonderful songs that will continue to stand the test of time. We also have songs that I have never or rarely ever heard on an album from 1971. I think this is telling. I have spoken of this before: a voice and a piano can be sublime. The same voice and piano over and over however, can become... I don't know. I don't want to say boring but maybe one would need to be a quite specific super fan to hit repeat and listen over and over. Actually for me this defines his career. A huge personality, beloved, huge hits, beloved, and a lot of "stuff" in-between.
3
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Wed Jul 24 2024
The Specials
The Specials
So. SKA. I like reggea and big beat, upbeat, high tempo dance style music. I see it as one of those genres you would here at a summer outdoor park and everyone gets into the dance and fun and there are vintage cars and clever costumes... Of course it would be fun!
I think maybe that is the trouble... See, that IS where this band shines. It is definitely a live, open, high spirit, high energy, go for it boozy blowout band. It is hard to zone out or tone down if you are trying to casually listen on a Tuesday afternoon. It doesn't allow for doing anything else. It is like the difference between a good movie you have to focus on and an OK movie that doesn't challenge you as much. Sometimes you just choose not to watch the better movie because it is requires too much head space.
3
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Thu Jul 25 2024
Hejira
Joni Mitchell
Joni Mitchell is a rare human. If you listen to her lyrics you realize that she is putting herself out there, open, vulnerable, and raw. That is (to me) so lacking today. That kind of intimacy is precious. I am probably so very different than her in so many ways that AI would not put us on the same matrix. Yet I feel her lyrics, they are my feelings in many ways. Sometimes paradoxical, like some may hear the words but not understand what she is saying. Some see her as sad or melancholy, I see her strength and humanity. I think there is a lesson here; in vulnerability comes strength. Words can be twisted and poisoned but truth is steadfast. Also this is a GREAT road album.
5
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Fri Jul 26 2024
Tom Tom Club
Tom Tom Club
Huh. Ok, I have heard a couple of these songs but never did I "hear of" the Tom Tom Club. It could be that I heard them in nightclubs or on the radio on occassion, IDK. The thing is that I like this style. It is hard to pinpoint in a way, but the beats and the energy are just easy for me to groove on. Sometimes people spend years searching for "that song" from back in the day, others, like me in this case, stumble on an older tune that they did not realize they were missing. Even better news in this case is the rest of the album is just as interesting as the stuff I was familiar with. Good find for me!
4