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Mon Feb 12 2024
Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere
Neil Young & Crazy Horse
The first two songs were really fun and listenable. They were stuck in my head for a while. Neil Young and Crazy Horse sounded great together. The album took a nose-dive with the slower ballad-y songs.
Also this album isn’t on Spotify. I had to steal my boyfriend’s Apple Music. 😤
3
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Tue Feb 13 2024
The Cars
The Cars
Apparently my parents fucking love The Cars. Because I knew most of this album and I didn’t even realize these songs were The Cars. Still, the instrumental-heavy songs toward the back half of the album were boring and repetitive. And for that reason, I’m docking a point.
4
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Wed Feb 14 2024
Arrival
ABBA
Had a lil menty b during my second listen of this one. Nothing like crying to “Dancing Queen” as you drive down the 5. Either way, I love this album, so no chance I was gonna give it less than 5 stars.
The title track of this album was actually one of the only ones I hadn’t heard before. And it’s my least favorite song.
5
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Thu Feb 15 2024
Electric Ladyland
Jimi Hendrix
I’m really struggling to rate this album, because I know how successful it was, and how influential Jimi Hendrix is as a musician.
I just really didn’t love this album. It was long and it wasn’t cohesive. Every other song sounded like it was performed by a different band. I can respect the versatility they have as performers, but damn.
I also felt like some of the songs didn’t feel fully finished or thought out. Some of the songs just felt like a collection of random sounds without much melody. I suppose that’s the nature of the genre, but it isn’t for me.
A 2 star album, but I’ll grant it a bonus point for being so influential.
3
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Fri Feb 16 2024
OK Computer
Radiohead
I get why people like this album. It has very pretty sounds. I think I would have liked it better if I smoked some indica. Or if I could make out anything Thom Yorke was singing about.
Might smoke somethin and give it another listen.
4
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Mon Feb 19 2024
Parsley, Sage, Rosemary And Thyme
Simon & Garfunkel
Okay, on my first listen, I was genuinely gonna give this a 2. But I listened to it again, and god I love it so much. The music, the lyrics, the gentle pop that gets stuck in your head. Plus, some of these were among the first songs I would play on guitar and sing at girl scout camp — so there’s some nostalgia.
5
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Tue Feb 20 2024
Heaven Or Las Vegas
Cocteau Twins
This album was okay. It really didn’t do much for me. It sounded a lot like all the other synth-pop from the 80s that I’ve heard before, just this time, not in English. 🥴
This album also felt like a wall of constant sound all at the same volume. It didn’t have any levels, and it was therefore, fatiguing to listen to. Bonus points for being a short ass album though.
3
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Wed Feb 21 2024
The Trinity Session
Cowboy Junkies
God, this album felt timeless. Truly, if you asked me to guess what decade this album came from, I wouldn’t be able to.
Simple lyrics sung by a beautiful voice , with comforting music to accompany it.
I listened to it twice, and will likely listen to it again.
5
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Thu Feb 22 2024
If I Should Fall From Grace With God
The Pogues
This album was NOT what I was expecting. This sum campy sea shanty Irish jig typa shit.
It was a really fun listen, but probably not something I’d return to often (if ever).
3
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Fri Feb 23 2024
Olympia 64
Jacques Brel
This album was unique — I’m grateful for the experience of listening to it, but it wasn’t for me.
I heard the horns at the beginning of the very first song and got stoked for a big band album. But it was not big band at all. It was mostly a Frenchman singing so fast and garbling his words together. And don’t @ me, but French is an ugly language.
2
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Mon Feb 26 2024
Zombie
Fela Kuti
I had listened to this album previously on my other project, and given it 2 stars for being too long (and less compelling than the other albums of a similar genre I had listened to that week).
But this album is really listenable. Some parts, I’ll admit, do sound like my high school marching band. But the funky African beats made for a fun, easy listen.
3
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Tue Feb 27 2024
Bayou Country
Creedence Clearwater Revival
I LOVE Credence Clearwater Revival. I listened to this album like 3 times through today.
As will Arrival, I cried to it as I drove down the 5. 🥰
It’s not quite a 5-star album to me, but it’s a classic. Tons of nostalgia.
4
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Wed Feb 28 2024
Everything Must Go
Manic Street Preachers
Bro finally. This is my genre. I would have ate this shit up in high school.
I can’t believe I had never heard of this band before, so I did a bunch of research. Fascinating.
I wanted to listen to some music from when Richey Edwards was still in the band, and let me tell you, it’s way better than this one.
Luckily, it’s on the list. 😉
4
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Thu Feb 29 2024
Dear Science
TV On The Radio
I didn’t like this. I find that I judge albums with a lot more scrutiny when they are from a genre/time period I’m more familiar with. And 2010s alt holds a very special place in my heart. I’m not sure how or why this album is chosen to represent that time and genre.
This album also confuses me, because the first half is full of shrill, screechy sounds. And then the second half of the album sounds completely different (and much more listenable).
2
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Fri Mar 01 2024
Station To Station
David Bowie
Really fun album, but too instrumental for my taste.
4
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Mon Mar 04 2024
American IV: The Man Comes Around
Johnny Cash
I hate Johnny Cash.
I didn’t like the way this sounded at all. Every song sounded like Cash was singing with cotton mouth through a set of dentures.
The only redeeming thing about this album is the lyrics, and even then, these songs were mostly covers.
1
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Tue Mar 05 2024
Hunky Dory
David Bowie
I’m about 40 albums into this journey, and so far, I’ve gotten THREE Bowie albums. That said, this has been my favorite one so far. Hell, I’d give it 5 stars just for “Changes.” That song holds a special place in my heart.
5
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Wed Mar 06 2024
Trout Mask Replica
Captain Beefheart & His Magic Band
This is objectively bad music. But it takes itself so unseriously, and I kind of find it intriguing. It’s so bad it makes me want to keep listening.
3
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Thu Mar 07 2024
Sunshine Superman
Donovan
I don’t totally love the sitar sounds on this album, but the middle 3 songs (Bert’s Blues through The Trip) are soooo good.
4
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Fri Mar 08 2024
Basket of Light
Pentangle
This album was not what I expected from the name of the band and the album art lol.
It wasn’t a terrible listen. But some of the singing is kinda… bad.
Sally Go Round the Roses was by far the best song on the album, but by the third listen, I was kinda tired of it.
3
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Tue Mar 12 2024
Synchronicity
The Police
This was such a fun listen. The middle chunk of the album (Mother through King of Pain) was just 80s alt-pop perfection.
I see a lot of reviews complaining about Mother, but I enjoyed the different sound.
Also King of Pain scratched an itch in my brain I didn’t even know I had. It’s an ear worm that will be on repeat for me for a little while.
5
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Wed Mar 13 2024
Odelay
Beck
Okay, I’m biased because I’ve never liked Beck. I saw him live in 2016, and his stage presence was as painful as his music.
At least now I can say I gave him another try, and my opinion still holds.
For me, this album was as objectively terrible as Trout Mask Replica. The difference is, Beck takes himself waaayyyy to seriously about it.
1
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Thu Mar 14 2024
Trans Europe Express
Kraftwerk
This album opens and closes SO STRONG. I love Europe Endless.
But damn, this album really suffers from how long and repetitive the songs are. Especially the 3 that follow Europe Endless. And since I’m rating the album as whole, it’s unfortunately, a 2 from me.
2
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Fri Mar 15 2024
Welcome To The Pleasuredome
Frankie Goes To Hollywood
I listened to this album 3 times, and I can’t figure out what to rate it, so I guess it’s getting a 3. I knew a lot of songs on this album! And I do tend to have some bias in favor of albums I’m more familiar with. But all in all, this album was too long and not cohesive. The songs didn’t sound like they all belonged on the same album.
3
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Mon Mar 18 2024
Be
Common
This was a great listen. I did have a breakdown while driving and listening to this one, so you know it’s good.
I’m really shocked I had never heard of this person before. (Both because of his work and also who he’s dated. 🤪) “Be” sounds like the kind of album my Dad would have played for me as a kid.
Great rhythm and flow, great lyrics. A little bit of Christian undertones?
4
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Tue Mar 19 2024
Blue Lines
Massive Attack
My first listen of this album had be like, “boo, dogshit, 1 star.” But then I listened to it the next day, and I was like, “what crack was I smoking yesterday?? Is this even the same album.”
The music is very groovy and listenable. Some of the vocal performances (particularly the female performances) are not my favorite. But it’s certainly not a bad album.
3
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Wed Mar 20 2024
Forever Changes
Love
The first song on this album had me stoked. The intro acoustic guitar was soooo lovely. But the rest of the album kind of fell flat. It didn’t leave a very big impression on me — it kinda sounded like generic 60s pop. I got some hints of The Monkees, but… not as good.
3
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Thu Mar 21 2024
Duck Stab/Buster & Glen
The Residents
This shit is fucking awesome. Don’t get me wrong, it’s objectively bad music. But it’s SO interesting. It reminded me of the music that would play during a creepy Disneyland ride, and the theme song of American Horror Story. I wanted to keep listening to hear how the album progressed.
If I’m being honest, this is not a good album to work to. I was working on a stressful task during the last 3 songs, and I started to have an anxiety attack.
All that said, super fun listen. Birthday Boy - Version 1 shall be my birthday anthem henceforth.
4
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Fri Mar 22 2024
Seventh Tree
Goldfrapp
The album art really threw me with this album. 😅 I was expecting more indie, less synth. It was a weird blend of genres.
It was a nice listen, though, I didn’t love the production. The parts where the singing sounded the best, the synth drowned her out. I also didn’t love that you could hear the mouth noises and static from the vocal recording.
I dug a bit deeper into this band because I was curious, and damn, Supernature is so good. They do electronic dance right. This was a bit more of a miss.
3
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Mon Mar 25 2024
1984
Van Halen
I keep getting surprised by how repetitive and pop-y 80s rock music is. Even still, I can’t say I don’t like it.
Hot For Teacher will always be a bop.
4
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Tue Mar 26 2024
Crosby, Stills & Nash
Crosby, Stills & Nash
I’ve put myself in a bit of a pickle here… because now every time I want to give an album lower than a 4, I have to ask myself, “Is this worse than Duck Stab?” Of course it’s not.
This is a nice listen — some fun yacht rock.
But it’s a bit boring. It reminds me a lot of Paul Simon’s solo work. But of course, he does it better.
3
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Wed Mar 27 2024
1989
Taylor Swift
Ever since I started taking antidepressants, I live for pop music. This is quintessential Taylor Swift pop. And god, I love a good breakup song.
As someone who was a young teen when this album came out, some of the songs feel stale/overplayed. But I can’t deny how fun of a listen this is.
5
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Thu Mar 28 2024
Dookie
Green Day
I probably like Green Day more than any other band on this entire list, so prepare for a biased take:
This album is so fun. So good. The baselines are iconic and instantly recognizable (She, Longview). It has some of the best opening lyrics (Basket Case).
This album is a mainstay in my angsty ass life.
5
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Fri Mar 29 2024
Rum Sodomy & The Lash
The Pogues
I don’t know why on Earth The Pogues were included on this list more than once. It’s fine enough music, but it loses its unique charm after the second album. Unfortunately this one didn’t do it for me.
2
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Mon Apr 01 2024
Come Away With Me
Norah Jones
I didn’t love this. And I was trying to figure out why it didn’t strike me as much as Cowboy Junkies — theoretically they have a similar vibe?
But Norah Jones’ voice just doesn’t sound as timelessly beautiful to me. It’s almost as if she’s singing in cursive haha.
3
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Tue Apr 02 2024
Iron Maiden
Iron Maiden
A good 80s rock album, but there’s nothing exceptionally unique about this.
4
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Wed Apr 03 2024
She's So Unusual
Cyndi Lauper
The front half of this album was a 5. The back half of this album gets a 1.
Cyndi has a unique voice, and when it works it works. And when it doesn’t she sounds like a fucking giggle stick. Or a groan tube. Whatever it’s called.
Also minus points because the transition in He’s So Unusual almost made me crash my car.
3
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Thu Apr 04 2024
Highway 61 Revisited
Bob Dylan
I’m looking forward to more Bob Dylan on this list. This one was just okay. The harmonica was quite shrill all over this album, making for an unnecessarily difficult listen.
3
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Fri Apr 05 2024
With The Beatles
Beatles
This was a nice listen. But I can’t give an album with this many covers a very high score. Especially when the black artists they’re ripping off do it better.
3
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Mon Apr 08 2024
Hybrid Theory
Linkin Park
This probably comes as no surprise, but I’m a fan. I appreciate the blend of the harder rock, more pop-rock, and sometimes hip-hop.
It’s a little more overtly angsty than the stuff I listened to in my angsty teen phase, but it still has a special place in my heart.
5
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Tue Apr 09 2024
Innervisions
Stevie Wonder
I didn’t even know this Stevie Wonder album, but it was great! His voice is amazing. I love the variety of genre he is able to present while still sounding like a cohesive album.
5
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Wed Apr 10 2024
Your Arsenal
Morrissey
I’ve always shit on Morrissey for the same reasons I shit on Beck, but this was enjoyable… definitely in my wheelhouse of genres I gravitate toward.
4
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Thu Apr 11 2024
Two Dancers
Wild Beasts
A nice, listenable alt-pop album. It reminds me of Glass Animals a bit. I’ll probably return to this one.
4
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Fri Apr 12 2024
Revolver
Beatles
Another Beatles album that I’m just not too crazy about. The songs all kind of blend together. It was enjoyable enough, but I probably won’t return to anything other than the hits. And I am the kind of goober that likes Yellow Submarine.
3
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Mon Apr 15 2024
My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy
Kanye West
If we’re separating the art from the artist, this feels like an easy 5 stars. It’s definitely long, but it doesn’t feel long.
This has always been my favorite Kanye album, but it also is the one I have spent the most time with. I anticipate seeing some of his earlier work on this list, so we’ll see if this remains the favorite.
5
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Tue Apr 16 2024
The Chronic
Dr. Dre
I feel like this is gonna be a hot take, but the production was actually my least favorite part of the album. I didn’t mind the misogyny and dick jokes.
But the shrill synth all over this album? Absolutely unlistenable: ear blood.
And the jingle bells/tambourine that starts at the top of 4 and doesn’t end until the end of track 5 was so painful. My ears heaved a sigh of relief when it ended.
1
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Thu Apr 18 2024
Bongo Rock
Incredible Bongo Band
Lmao the bongos were absolutely the worst part of this album. They reminded me of my high school’s drum line.
The horns were nice and interesting enough, but I am a lyric girly through and through.
2
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Fri Apr 19 2024
Layla And Other Assorted Love Songs
Derek & The Dominos
I really expected this to be a bunch of floaty yacht rock songs. Don’t get me wrong, I love yacht rock. But I was pleasantly surprised by how much electric guitar the songs have. It was a good listen that left a really good first impression.
4
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Mon Apr 22 2024
Ill Communication
Beastie Boys
I liked this album well enough. I’m a huge fan of Licensed to Ill and Paul’s Boutique, so I was disappointed by the lack of rap on this album.
I had to keep checking to see if Spotify accidentally started playing something else — I was so confused.
3
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Wed Apr 24 2024
Sex Packets
Digital Underground
This album was super fun. Full of funny bits and didn’t take itself too seriously.
It was made even better by the clean vocals any groovy beats backing every song. I definitely plan to revisit this album.
5