View Album
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
View Album
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
View Album
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
View Album
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
View Album
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
View Album
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
View Album
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
View Album
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
View Album
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
View Album
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
View Album
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
View Album
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
View Album
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
View Album
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
View Album
Fri Mar 01 2024
Station To Station
David Bowie
Really fun album, but too instrumental for my taste.
4
View Album
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
View Album
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
View Album
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
View Album
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
View Album
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
View Album
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
View Album
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
View Album
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
View Album
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
View Album
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
View Album
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
View Album
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
View Album
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
View Album
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
View Album
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
View Album
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
View Album
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
View Album
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
View Album
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
View Album
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
View Album
Tue Apr 02 2024
Iron Maiden
Iron Maiden
A good 80s rock album, but there’s nothing exceptionally unique about this.
4
View Album
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
View Album
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
View Album
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
View Album
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
View Album
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
View Album
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
View Album
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
View Album
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
View Album
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
View Album
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
View Album
Wed Apr 17 2024
Movies
Holger Czukay
The first song was fun and interesting, but then I got bored fast. This album somehow made 39 minutes feel never-ending.
2
View Album
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
View Album
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
View Album
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
View Album
Tue Apr 23 2024
Modern Sounds in Country and Western Music
Ray Charles
The big band was fun, and Ray Charles has a great voice. But this album feels very dated. I really disliked the Disney-sounding female harmonies that backed a lot of the songs.
2
View Album
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
View Album
Thu Apr 25 2024
Rubber Soul
Beatles
This almost for a 4 out of me for being the best Beatles album I’ve heard from this list so far. But I’m docking a point for that creepy ass “Little Girl” song.
3
View Album
Fri Apr 26 2024
Made In Japan
Deep Purple
I usually dislike live albums, but this was fantastic. Some good, pure, rock and roll.
4
View Album
Mon Apr 29 2024
Brilliant Corners
Thelonious Monk
This was nice enough. It is not as good as some of the other jazz I’ve heard so far from this list, so it’s just a 3 for me.
3
View Album
Tue Apr 30 2024
In The Court Of The Crimson King
King Crimson
This album took me a long time to get through. The first song absolutely goes, but everything after that is a painful, twinkly, snoozefest.
2
View Album
Wed May 01 2024
Bert Jansch
Bert Jansch
The best of the “just a guy and his guitar” albums so far.
4
View Album
Thu May 02 2024
Don't Stand Me Down
Dexys Midnight Runners
Disappointing. The music was good, but there was too much talking.
No, I don’t want to listen to an English guy talk over “Sweet Home Alabama” for 6 minutes.
2
View Album
Fri May 03 2024
Moby Grape
Moby Grape
This was a great listen! I can’t believe these guys only have 67K monthly listeners on Spotify.
4
View Album
Mon May 06 2024
Deja Vu
Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young
Dang, these 4 men are all over this list. But I can’t complain! This was a wonderful listen and I appreciate the different sounds each member brings to the group.
4
View Album
Tue May 07 2024
Homework
Daft Punk
I wanted to like this album so bad. “Around the World” is such a fun song. An hour-fifteen is just mind-numbingly long for how little diversity in sound this album provides.
2
View Album
Wed May 08 2024
A Grand Don't Come For Free
The Streets
13-15 year old me would have ate this shit up. But now, I recognize how whack the flow is. Still, there were one or two songs on this album I could see myself returning to (Fit but you Know It and Dry Your Eyes).
3
View Album
Thu May 09 2024
If You're Feeling Sinister
Belle & Sebastian
When I first listened to this album, I was kinda meh on it. But man did it grow on me. This is the kinda guy-with-his-guitar shit I like. I was boppin around my kitchen doing chores to this shit at like 10pm last night. 🔥
4
View Album
Fri May 10 2024
Skylarking
XTC
Pretty good stuff! There’s definitely a song or two in here I could see myself returning to. (That’s Really Super, Supergirl and Dear God)
It’s a bit too 80s British cheese for me in some places.
3
View Album
Mon May 13 2024
Doolittle
Pixies
Fuck yes. Where has this been all my life? Awesome sauce front-to-back.
5
View Album
Tue May 14 2024
Who's Next
The Who
All of The Who’s music tends to blend together for me.
It’s easy listening though!
3
View Album
Wed May 15 2024
Shleep
Robert Wyatt
I can see what this is trying to do, but I feel like it’s trying too hard. Robert Wyatt’s voice sounds very old, which is not appealing. I also feel like the album is not cohesive in terms of sound.
2
View Album
Thu May 16 2024
MTV Unplugged In New York
Nirvana
I’m a fan of most of the songs on here, but not a fan of the live feel.
3
View Album
Fri May 17 2024
Club Classics Vol. One
Soul II Soul
This is enjoyable, but not my genre of choice. As a result, it didn’t leave much of an impression on me.
3
View Album
Mon May 20 2024
Rumours
Fleetwood Mac
Uhm, any album that has an entire Glee episode dedicated to it is an immediate 5.
On a serious note, this album is timeless, easy listening. So excited to have this as my Friday album and listen to it all weekend long.
5
View Album
Tue May 21 2024
Stankonia
OutKast
Super fun listen. My only complaint is that the album is heavily front loaded. The back-half isn’t quite as good.
4
View Album
Wed May 22 2024
A Northern Soul
The Verve
This is the kinda stuff I like, so it was an easy listen and an easy 4. I’m surprised to see this has such low reviews tbh.
4
View Album
Thu May 23 2024
Opus Dei
Laibach
This shit sounds like I’m watching a WWII Disney cartoon and I’m here for it. Very refreshing.
3
View Album
Fri May 24 2024
You Want It Darker
Leonard Cohen
Learning how close to Cohen’s death this album was released certainly makes the lyrics more haunting. But it’s not any easier to listen to.
2
View Album
Mon May 27 2024
Songs In The Key Of Life
Stevie Wonder
A no-skip double album is quite the feat. I was raised with many of these songs and will return to many of these songs again.
5
View Album
Tue May 28 2024
Amnesiac
Radiohead
Radiohead feels like a “if you get it you get it and if you don’t you don’t” band.
And I don’t get it.
3
View Album
Wed May 29 2024
Talking Heads 77
Talking Heads
I was on the fence about giving this album a 5. So with my hesitation, I’ll give it a 4.
It was super enjoyable though. I’m definitely taking a few songs away from it.
Of course, this was my genre of choice before starting this project.
4
View Album
Thu May 30 2024
Ramones
Ramones
When I first saw that this was my album-of-the-day, I thought, “easy 5-stars.”
But after listening closely, I’m surprisingly meh on it. It’s a fun listen, no doubt, but all the songs sound exactly the same. The lyrics are super repetitive (when you can even understand them).
Plus I’m docking a point for the song about dating a little girl.
3
View Album
Fri May 31 2024
Joan Baez
Joan Baez
A beautiful voice singing simple, delightful songs.
5
View Album
Mon Jun 03 2024
The Atomic Mr Basie
Count Basie & His Orchestra
A nice listen. This is definitely the oldest one so far (and obviously so).
It was exactly what I needed today, too (I was too stressed for lyrics).
The big-band really lifted my spirits. :)
3
View Album
Tue Jun 04 2024
Vol. 4
Black Sabbath
Tbh if you played me Black Sabbath, Led Zeppelin, and Iron Maiden, I wouldn’t be able to tell you which was which.
Unless you played me the song Changes off of this album. Then I was grimace and turn it off.
2
View Album
Wed Jun 05 2024
Now I Got Worry
The Jon Spencer Blues Explosion
This album was just okay. It really feels like they’re trying too hard.
3
View Album
Thu Jun 06 2024
Caetano Veloso
Caetano Veloso
This was a nice album. I really enjoyed the music itself. Veloso’s voice was kind of grating on the tracks with a lower register.
3
View Album
Fri Jun 07 2024
Fear Of A Black Planet
Public Enemy
So fucking good. Awesome beats and political commentary.
5
View Album
Mon Jun 10 2024
Songs From The Big Chair
Tears For Fears
Idk man. Head Over Heels absolutely fucking goes. After rediscovering it, I’m not surprised if it ends up one of my most played songs of the year. But overall I think this album is rated too highly. I think a lot of the people on this website are rating from a place of nostalgia (of which I am sometimes guilty).
The songs are way too long and incredibly repetitive. The music is generally great — very of-the-time. But the vocalists sound like they could be Muppets.
3
View Album
Tue Jun 11 2024
Bossanova
Pixies
This one didn’t strike me nearly as much as the other Pixies album I just had (Doolittle). In fact, I think having that one so recently made this one fall a little flatter.
3
View Album
Wed Jun 12 2024
Follow The Leader
Korn
I really feel like this album/Korn is over-hated. Yes, the gra-a-a-a and the growling was cringey, but the music itself wasn’t the painful noise I was expecting. This was an interesting and unique listen — something I appreciate from this project, even if I won’t return to the album anytime soon.
3
View Album
Thu Jun 13 2024
Halcyon Digest
Deerhunter
The first song of this album SUCKS hahaha. I actually listened to it 5 days ago, and immediately turned it off because I wasn’t in the mood for such a snooze of an album.
As such, the middle chunk of this album really surprised me. It was pure indie goodness. I’m really surprised I hadn’t heard some of the middle tracks before, but then again, it came out a few years before my time.
If I were just rating the middle portion, this would be a 4.5 album — pushing 5 even:
But the end is as much for a drag as the beginning, and for that reason, it’s just a 3.
3
View Album
Fri Jun 14 2024
Raw Power
The Stooges
I listened to this 3 times (the Iggy mix once and the Bowie mix twice — and I still can’t discern a difference between the two).
To be quite honest, I liked it less and less with every listen. This take feels hypocritical having just given Korn a 3, but the grunting and groaning all over this album was kinda… cringe.
That said, I can hear how this album influenced the grunge music of the decade that followed, so, 2 stars.
2
View Album
Mon Jun 17 2024
Rage Against The Machine
Rage Against The Machine
LOL I hella has Rage Against the Machine and 30 Seconds to Mars confused in my head for some reason (blasphemous, I know).
This kicked ass. What an album to listen to as I drove to work on Monday morning.
My angsty ass will be returning to this for sure.
4
View Album
Tue Jun 18 2024
Lust For Life
Iggy Pop
This was a pleasant surprise — it has all the sounds of modern alt+pop+rock that I love. Surely Iggy Pop paved the way for much of the music I consume on a regular basis.
Much of this album reminded me of Franz Ferdinand.
Also, Iggy Pop’s vocal intonations reminded me of Tim Curry’s singing in Rocky Horror Picture Show. A weird comparison maybe, but I can’t unhear it.
Regardless, I see myself returning to the first 6 tracks of the album. The whole first 2/3!
5
View Album
Wed Jun 19 2024
The Gershwin Songbook
Ella Fitzgerald
Yes the album is long, but it’s incredibly listenable. In fact, I split up my listening over 2 days. The day after I got this album, I had to listen to Leonard Cohen. Returning to this was a breath of fresh air.
That said, a lot of the songs have similar sounds and themes. There is certainly room to filter some songs out here.
Additionally, I’m docking a point for the song about being a little girl looking for her little boy. Yuck. Why do 50s and 60s albums seem to love the little boy/little girl lyric??
3
View Album
Thu Jun 20 2024
I'm Your Man
Leonard Cohen
Fucking bad. I see many reviews praising the lyricism, but I don’t get it. A lot of the lyrics are creepy. I don’t want to hear an old man growling lustfully about naked women over shitty 80s synth.
The silver lining is: I’m only 6 months in, and I’ve already suffered through 3/4 Leonard Cohen albums on this list. I got them out of the way.
1
View Album
Fri Jun 21 2024
Strange Cargo III
William Orbit
This sum FitnessGram PACER test type music. It was nice enough to listen to while I worked. That said, if I listened to this while I was driving, I’d fall asleep at the wheel.
2
View Album
Mon Jun 24 2024
Oracular Spectacular
MGMT
The 3 hits from this album (Time to Pretend, Electric Feel, and Kids) absolutely eclipse the other songs. But I have to admit, the hits all bang (and hold up). And the other tracks aren’t bad.
All in all, this is a fantastic representation of 2000s alt.
4
View Album
Tue Jun 25 2024
Aqualung
Jethro Tull
I genuinely procrastinated listening to this album because I was not prepared to slog through the heavy metal I was expecting (based on the looks of the album art and the band name).
I was really, really pleasantly surprised! I even considered giving it a 5, but I don’t think I LOVE it so much as my really, really low expectations were exceeded.
I also appreciate the diversity of sound throughout this album, while still sounding like a cohesive collection of songs.
And God damn I fuckin love a pan flute.
4
View Album
Wed Jun 26 2024
Penthouse And Pavement
Heaven 17
I really dug some of the songs on this album — particularly the songs that seem to have been released as singles (Fascist Groove Thang, I’m Your Money, Let’s All Make a Bomb) so the band chose right.
I will definitely be returning to some songs on this album (Fascist Groove Thang has already been on some of my playlists), but there are plenty of songs here I could do without.
3
View Album
Thu Jun 27 2024
Isn't Anything
My Bloody Valentine
After the first song I RAN to the reviews because wow. Ow my ears.
I stuck it out, and there are some songs here that sound like actual music. But this album mostly just makes me feel like I have tinnitus.
2
View Album
Fri Jun 28 2024
S.F. Sorrow
The Pretty Things
This album didn’t leave a huge impression on me. I was really into it after the first few songs, but as the album went on, it became more psychedelic, and I got bored.
That said, I do appreciate the wide variety of sounds and genres encompassed in this one album. It’s as if all the different eras of The Beatles got condensed into one project.
3
View Album
Tue Jul 02 2024
Hard Again
Muddy Waters
I appreciate the blues representation! This was a quick, easy listen, but you could have given me any blues album and I wouldn’t know the difference.
3
View Album
Wed Jul 03 2024
Loveless
My Bloody Valentine
I really want to like this because, as with Radiohead, it feels “cool” to like this. But I’d be lying to myself if I rated it any higher. Truth be told, I just prefer my music to have more structure. I’m big on drums, baselines, and lyrics, of which this album has none.
2
View Album
Thu Jul 04 2024
Elastica
Elastica
Now this is some good shit. I love the female representation in this genre. The baselines all over this album are sick as hell. I will be returning to this album — this is one of my favorite discoveries of this project so far.
5
View Album
Fri Jul 05 2024
The Madcap Laughs
Syd Barrett
This reminds me of when I was 9, and I would sit at my parents’ computer playing Webkinz, just singing any lyrics that rhymed. For hours.
Syd Barett really captures that childlike whimsy here, and I’m super into it. The music was great too — a very fun, very easy listen.
4
View Album
Mon Jul 08 2024
Live At The Star Club, Hamburg
Jerry Lee Lewis
Makes me want to go to a sock hop real bad. I loved the energy of this album. I’m sad to hear Jerry Lee Lewis is so poorly regarded.
4
View Album
Tue Jul 09 2024
Stardust
Willie Nelson
Now THIS is how you do harmonica. This was such an enjoyable listen. Normally I’d dock for it being a cover album, but Idc I’ve never heard the originals.
5
View Album
Wed Jul 10 2024
Orbital 2
Orbital
This music would be fun to do drugs and dance to at a strobing night club.
Unfortunately, I listened to this in the morning at my well-lit desk job.
I actually had to split my listening up into two days, because I was super stressed out yesterday, and this album was giving my anxiety.
3
View Album
Thu Jul 11 2024
Antichrist Superstar
Marilyn Manson
I didn’t hate this. It was surprisingly far less scream-y (and therefore, far more listenable) than I expected.
You can’t deny, “I wasn’t born with enough middle fingers” is a bar.
3
View Album
Fri Jul 12 2024
Ananda Shankar
Ananda Shankar
Every song on this album sounded like the music that would accompany a spooky Mario level.
2
View Album
Mon Jul 15 2024
Van Halen
Van Halen
Van Halen continues to be my favorite of the late-70s/early 80s rock bands, and this album is no exception.
4
View Album
Tue Jul 16 2024
Surrealistic Pillow
Jefferson Airplane
I got some Monkees and some Fleetwood Mac vibes from this band that I had never heard of before, but will definitely be returning to. I really enjoyed it! It holds up super well.
5
View Album
Wed Jul 17 2024
Music in Exile
Songhoy Blues
It was interesting to hear how much Western rock influence this album seems to have. This album put me in a good mood! That said, it felt long. I’m a big lyric lover, so any album where I can’t hear or understand the lyrics is hard to listen to for more than 30 minutes.
3
View Album
Thu Jul 18 2024
...Baby One More Time
Britney Spears
I LOVE pop music, I love Britney, and …Baby One More Time is an absolute smash of a debut single.
But, this album is dated as hell. The music on it sounds like it came out in the early 90s. I was surprised to see it was 99.
3
View Album
Fri Jul 19 2024
Stand!
Sly & The Family Stone
I made the unfortunate choice of listening to this album for the first time while stuck in bumper-to-bumper traffic and Sex Machine gave me an anxiety attack lmao.
So I gave it a week and listened again, and boy am I glad I did. If I’m learning anything about myself through this project, it’s that I LOVE funk music.
5
View Album
Mon Jul 22 2024
In Rainbows
Radiohead
Guys I think I’m starting to get it. Up-tempo Radiohead is much better than whiney ballad Radiohead.
This is definitely my best experience with them so far. Or… maybe I’m just in a good mood today.
4
View Album
Tue Jul 23 2024
25
Adele
This album came out during my junior year of high school (probably the worst year of my entire life) so returning to it is interesting. I’m not old enough to be able to associate most of the other albums on this list with a specific time in my life.
I was surprised how “meh” this album is. Adele is an incredible vocalist, but much of the music on this album sounds like royalty free travel vlogger music. I feel like 21 is a much better Adele album, so if this is her only entry on the list, I’m surprised this is the one they went with.
3