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Thu Jan 18 2024
James Brown Live At The Apollo
James Brown
You just can’t beat the work of the “hardest man in show business.” This is such a unique moment in the transition from big band to funk, making heavy use of a full brass band. It was interesting that the curators chose a live album rather than one of his more produced works, but it’s fitting, since he really made live albums successful in a time when they were mostly duds. it was really cool to hear him interact with the audience, and this was my first time listening through this particular album. Not only is his music phenomenal for pure enjoyment, but you have to respect the man’s ability to break out of the gospel mold, impact culture at large, and largely break out of the segregated nature of the music industry!
5
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Sun Jan 28 2024
Stories From The City, Stories From The Sea
PJ Harvey
This is not my cup of tea. The vocals, the lyrics, and the instrumentation all felt tired and uninteresting
2
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Tue Jan 30 2024
Let's Stay Together
Al Green
Rhythmic, soulful, classic, seductive- this album has it all! Except an ending. For all his many talents, Al Green cannot end a song.
5
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Wed Jan 31 2024
My Life In The Bush Of Ghosts
Brian Eno
A strange blend of blade runner soundtrack, mad scientist delivering a sermon, and hari krishna worship, this album did not have much appeal for me. Very experimental, with diverse ethnic influences and eclectic instrumentation, but unfortunately without regard to aesthetics
1
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Thu Feb 01 2024
Supa Dupa Fly
Missy Elliott
Overall, a well done collaboration. At its height this album features well written lyrics and plays with syncopation and other rhythms while staying melodically enjoyable. On the other hand, 50% of the album is repetitive and uninteresting, and could be cut without significantly impacting the whole
4
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Fri Feb 02 2024
Channel Orange
Frank Ocean
Chill, enjoyable album typical of early 2010s rnb/hip hop featuring simple samples and a strong emphasis on aesthetically pleasing lead vocals in the style of John legend.
4
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Sat Feb 03 2024
The Cars
The Cars
Overall very enjoyable rock album perfect for grooving. Good variation of songs within the genre, with some true foot tappers! The album benefits from strong, driving rhythm guitar and prominent percussion.
4
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Sun Feb 04 2024
Rain Dogs
Tom Waits
The infamous “pirate” album, with none of the fun of sea shanties. This is an album only a music critic could love. I couldn’t make it all the way through a single song.
1
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Mon Feb 05 2024
The Scream
Siouxsie And The Banshees
A pivotal album which influenced the post punk scene, it has some innovative use of effects and guitar. There are some bright spots in the album, but I generally found it lackluster and uninteresting compared to later efforts in the genre
3
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Tue Feb 06 2024
Homework
Daft Punk
No doubt, a pivotal album for DJs everywhere, emphasizing simple, repetitive patterns of drum beats, base notes, and effects. However, far too repetitive for my liking.
2
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Wed Feb 07 2024
Machine Head
Deep Purple
I don’t often listen to metal, but found this album surprisingly enjoyable. Vocals and instrumentation worked together seamlessly
4
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Thu Feb 08 2024
Henry's Dream
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds
I really wanted to like this album, since nick cave has such a devoted following as a lyricist and original musician. But while the recording, instrumentation, and effects were often innovative, on my first listen I didn’t find his lyrics to be extraordinary, and his grating voice made the album all but unlistenable.
2
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Sun Feb 11 2024
The Grand Tour
George Jones
George jones is the real deal! Classic country with all the acoustic and slide guitar you could ask for, with some witty lyrics thrown in on the side!
4
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Mon Feb 12 2024
Beauty And The Beat
The Go-Go's
This is great pop! Really enjoyed this!
4
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Tue Feb 13 2024
Heroes
David Bowie
Bowie has some truly wonderful music! This isn’t it.
2
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Thu Feb 15 2024
Djam Leelii
Baaba Maal
3
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Fri Feb 16 2024
Fly Or Die
N.E.R.D
2
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Sat Feb 17 2024
Dire Straits
Dire Straits
5
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Mon Feb 19 2024
All Mod Cons
The Jam
Im not a big punk guy (others may disagree) but I found this album really enjoyable! Good guitar riffs and enough variation in style to keep things interesting! The jam’s admiration for the who definitely shines through
4
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Wed Feb 21 2024
Mama Said Knock You Out
LL Cool J
This album was surprisingly enjoyable! A fun stepping stone from 80s hip hop to 90s rap with classically self-inflated and hypersexualized lyrics (compensating much?) with a judicious use of sampling. Overall a fun album, if not one I’m likely to return to.
4
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Thu Feb 22 2024
Don't Come Home A Drinkin' (With Lovin' On Your Mind)
Loretta Lynn
The quintessential breakup album by the queen of country. This is everything.
5
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Fri Feb 23 2024
My Generation
The Who
It’s very good, so I’m sorry to say. But nobody does the Beatles like the Beatles. Cute to see the who try, though.
5
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Sat Feb 24 2024
The Slim Shady LP
Eminem
Impressive lyrics and rhythm. I have to respect Eminem’s rapping ability, as well as his commitment to this concept album. I enjoy some morbid humor, but this was altogether too dark and deranged for me to enjoy it much. Respect, but won’t be returning for another listen.
3
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Sun Feb 25 2024
Infected
The The
I was pleasantly surprised by this cross between Men at Work and Michael Jackson’s Thriller. Aside from the heavy use of synth and distortion that is required for an 80’s album, it also seemingly tries to fit in every other instrument, from xylophone to harmonica. It is very much a product of its milieu, and I fail to see much that it offers in terms of originality. It was better than the band name, album cover, and reviews led me to believe. But I won’t be coming back for another listen. Not my cup of tea.
3
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Mon Feb 26 2024
The Modern Dance
Pere Ubu
Avante garde. The modern art of music. Not my cup of tea.
2
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Tue Feb 27 2024
Back In Black
AC/DC
The perfect soundscape for driving through the home of the 101st ABN DIV in my truck. It may be overplayed, but man, this album has some incredible guitar licks!
5
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Thu Feb 29 2024
Crosby, Stills & Nash
Crosby, Stills & Nash
Great guitar work and harmonies. This album consists of morose 70s folk that never quite distinguishes itself from Simon and Garfunkel. But it’s an enjoyable listen, nonetheless
5
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Fri Mar 01 2024
Make Yourself
Incubus
Altogether bland album that imo fails to distinguish itself from the late 90s/early 2000s soundscape. The only standout song was “I miss you” due to the raw vocals, which I appreciated.
3
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Sat Mar 02 2024
Never Mind The Bollocks, Here’s The Sex Pistols
Sex Pistols
I’m a product of my time, and the subversive nature of punk rock is lost on me. Sadly, it all ends up sounding the same. Something for me to work on, but in the meantime I probably won’t be seeking out this album for additional listens
3
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Sun Mar 03 2024
Tommy
The Who
A bit of a marathon, but managed to stay varied and interesting throughout. The who has really come into their own by this album, and I love it!
5
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Thu Mar 07 2024
All Things Must Pass
George Harrison
4
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Sat Mar 09 2024
Foo Fighters
Foo Fighters
5
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Tue Mar 12 2024
Let's Get It On
Marvin Gaye
5
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Wed Mar 13 2024
Power In Numbers
Jurassic 5
Excellent. This is pure hip hop. Very versatile mood- good for everything from working out to chilling with a cup of tea
5
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Thu Mar 14 2024
Blood And Chocolate
Elvis Costello & The Attractions
Not awful, but not great. Reminds me of an album of bob dylan b-sides if Dylan were the frontman for a garage band. There were some catchy tunes, but not enough to bring me back.
3
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Fri Mar 15 2024
Public Image: First Issue
Public Image Ltd.
1
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Mon Mar 18 2024
Kind Of Blue
Miles Davis
Simply the best of jazz
5
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Wed Mar 20 2024
The Yes Album
Yes
Equal parts David Bowie and doc Watson. Freaking awesome!
5
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Fri Mar 22 2024
I Should Coco
Supergrass
4
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Sat Mar 23 2024
Brothers In Arms
Dire Straits
4
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Sun Mar 24 2024
Suzanne Vega
Suzanne Vega
There’s some great instrumentation in this album, buried underneath her lackluster singing. It would be better without the vocals.
3
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Mon Mar 25 2024
Treasure
Cocteau Twins
That was weird.
3
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Thu Mar 28 2024
Kid A
Radiohead
3
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Fri Mar 29 2024
Hail To the Thief
Radiohead
4
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Sat Mar 30 2024
Let It Bleed
The Rolling Stones
5
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Wed Apr 03 2024
Raw Power
The Stooges
2
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Thu Apr 04 2024
Songs Of Love And Hate
Leonard Cohen
I love and hate old Leonard. He’s such a poet, but not much of a singer. He clearly needed a therapist though.
4
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Fri Apr 05 2024
Guero
Beck
Go it alone was pretty good. The rest of the album was entirely forgettable
3
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Sat Apr 06 2024
The World is a Ghetto
War
What a great soul album! I’d never listened though a whole war album, but I really enjoyed this!
5
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Sun Apr 07 2024
Tanto Tempo
Bebel Gilberto
I love bossa nova, but I’m not sure this album was worth dying for. This is not my favorite bossa nova album. Not even my favorite Gilberto.
3
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Sat Apr 13 2024
The Velvet Underground
The Velvet Underground
Overrated and overall felt like a letdown. Not unlistenable, but it didn’t live up to the world changing hype
3
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Thu Apr 18 2024
The Band
The Band
Very enjoyable folk! Quite listenable
4
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Sat Apr 20 2024
Hard Again
Muddy Waters
This is blues as it was meant to be! Every minute of this album make you want to tap your foot and join the beat. I will definitely be coming back to this one!
5
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Sun Apr 21 2024
The Good, The Bad & The Queen
The Good, The Bad & The Queen
Not unlistenable. It has its pleasant moments, but this album feels monotonous and unoriginal. I’m left unconvinced that this album has a place on this list.
3
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Tue Apr 23 2024
Blood Sugar Sex Magik
Red Hot Chili Peppers
The worst RHCP album IMO, but the closest to British post punk, so it’s the one included in this list. At least the album includes “under the bridge,” the only song that stands out.
3
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Wed Apr 24 2024
Goodbye And Hello
Tim Buckley
Tim has a very medieval minstrel style. He’s not my cup of tea to begin with, but the album also never seems to hit a groove.
2
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Thu Apr 25 2024
Fever Ray
Fever Ray
3
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Fri Apr 26 2024
If I Should Fall From Grace With God
The Pogues
Would be great fun live in an Irish pub. Difficult to listen to more than an hour though
3
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Tue Apr 30 2024
1989
Taylor Swift
A glorious album by the other queen of pop. Enjoyable all the way through, and with enough variation to keep it interesting
5
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Wed May 01 2024
Duck Rock
Malcolm McLaren
Very cool use of diverse influences and beats from around the world
4
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Thu May 02 2024
The Soft Bulletin
The Flaming Lips
Man, I do love the flaming lips! Not their best album imo, but still pretty great
4