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Wed Feb 14 2024
Crooked Rain Crooked Rain
Pavement
I get why this album would be on the list, underground indie rock with (IMO) strong punk leanings but vocally and lyrically …. Not my cup of tea …
Probs wound’ve been a lot of fun in concert but outside of the experience of them live …. Not so interested ….
Gives me a vibe of what Elbow would’ve been playing in high school when they were trashed in a garage before they cut the lead singer/guitar player who was on an ego trip ….
1
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Thu Feb 15 2024
White Light / White Heat
The Velvet Underground
I get why this album would be on the list, underground indie rock with (IMO) strong punk leanings but vocally and lyrically …. Not my cup of tea … i’d describe it as discordant, experimental overly indulgent in reverb/new technology for the time …
wound’ve been a lot of fun in concert but outside of the experience of them live …. Not so interested ….
Gives me a vibe of what Elbow would’ve been playing in high school when they were trashed in a garage before they cut the lead singer/guitar player who was on an ego trip ….
2
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Fri Feb 16 2024
Yankee Hotel Foxtrot
Wilco
OK, this was a tough one for me to write. There are a lot of songs that I like on here, none that blew me away, none that got me hyped …. Again, a lot of good songs, Dunn I would put on a favorites type of list.
Singing is bland across all songs of the album. Lyrically is it interesting and a little too much fascination with technologies/reverb blah blah blah for taste.
A solid middle of the road album in my opinion
3
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Mon Feb 19 2024
Halcyon Digest
Deerhunter
OK, this was a tough one for me to write. There are a lot of songs that I like on here, none that blew me away, none that got me hyped …. Again, a lot of good songs, and I listened to in its entirety multiple times… Liking it more each time. This is the kind of thing I would love to have in the background while I was working or doing something else… Might be the kind of an album. I listen to regularly if I listen to it a couple more times!
Singing is bland across all songs of the album. Lyrically is it interesting and a little autotune makes the singing fit better… Really really like the use of odd sounds, and variety of Sounds used in the songs… Like the opening, which was fascinating to me
A very solid album in my opinion !!!
4
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Tue Feb 20 2024
L.A. Woman
The Doors
OK, I’ve never been a big doors fan, but this album is really good. I still think the synth keyboard is a bit overbearing But the arrangements are good, singing is high-quality, music is interesting from one song the next …
Got me to do a bit of a deep dive into doors music and enjoyed the ride quite a bit !
3
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Wed Feb 21 2024
Duck Rock
Malcolm McLaren
Well, that was interesting…
I spent a good bit of time giggling about what you would be thinking listening through that album… Did you get through all of it? You skip through some songs after the first 45 seconds?
That one might be interesting from a historical perspective in someway, but I don’t really get it…
2
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Thu Feb 22 2024
Every Picture Tells A Story
Rod Stewart
I thought this album was fabulous…
First, Rod’s voice is so unique and distinctive.
Second, really impressed with the arrangements of the music. Several unique sounds, which set apart songs by featuring different instruments and different styles. But throughout the album, each song was its own creation musically. It didn’t fall into the trap of over using any single trick.
Really like the opening song, Every Wind Tells a Story …. sort of rollicking tune that I don’t remember hearing before …. Surprised me a little.
Obviously, there are some classics, Maggie May is a great song …. Mandolin, Wind and Tomorrow is a Long Time are tremendous as well ….
What’s the surprise me the most were the two remakes,That’s All Righr Is one of my favorite classic songs. This version isn’t my favorite, but it’s such a unique cake from other versions. I’ve heard that I really enjoyed it. I’m Losing You On the other hand may be my favorite version. And if you can top the Temptations in my book… That’s some heavy lifting!
If we were giving tenths of a percent, this would’ve been a 4.7 or 4.8 to me and I think you’ve got a hit at least 4.7 for me to round up to a five star! So, my first five star review !!!
5
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Fri Feb 23 2024
Live!
Fela Kuti
All right, I like this shit… Not all of it, not gonna listen to it all the time or maybe even often … But I dig jazz and i enjoyed this !!!
4
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Mon Feb 26 2024
Peter Gabriel 3
Peter Gabriel
After listening to this album, I graded too high on a couple others this week. This is a true 5 ….
My favorite, Peter Gabriel album, and with the exception of Lead a Normal Life, there is not a song on this album that I don’t love (including the instrumental) !
Peter Gabriel does more with his vocals than any singer I can think of in terms of fluctuations in tone, pitch and vocalizations
I could go through each song, but each has unique aspects either in the music, the vocals, or the lyrics, which are completely enthralling to me. This album and its songs don’t seem to pander to simplicity and popish stylings like some of his later songs which made it big on the charts seemed too do.
Love this album and listened to it in its entirety 4 or 5 times this weekend ….
5
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Tue Feb 27 2024
Joan Armatrading
Joan Armatrading
The music is good and reasonably varied but that’s it ….
Don’t like her voice or how she uses it ….
1
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Wed Feb 28 2024
Hot Rats
Frank Zappa
Not what I was expecting …
Honestly, I kind of enjoyed this one. Nothing earth shattering, nothing that’s going to make the rotation for me but, it was enjoyable. I would describe it as jazz fusion, and again, that is not what I was expecting …..
3
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Thu Feb 29 2024
Younger Than Yesterday
The Byrds
I get that some of the stuff might’ve been seen as innovative at the time but I just don’t like it and I don’t think it’s very good.
I tried to keep in mind that this stuff was in the late 60s, but then I went back and listened to a sampling of some other bands’ albums that were released about the same time, the beach boys, the Mamas and Papas, Motown artists, and this album doesn’t measure up to their contemporaries
1
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Fri Mar 01 2024
Os Mutantes
Os Mutantes
In some respects, this is like the Byrd’s album we just listened to…. Not my cup of tea necessarily, but the music was significantly better in my opinion. Certainly understandable why this was considered an all-time class stoner album!
Would’ve thought a little bit more highly of it had they not used some odd flares in their music, like the whistle that, for me, simply served as a distraction from the song. But all in all, good music.
3
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Mon Mar 04 2024
Trafalgar
Bee Gees
This was pretty good musically, not my cup of tea, but the talent is clearly evident.
I’m struggling with how to rate these albums. So should it be what I personally think of them in terms of do I like them, will I listen to them again? Or should it be a rating of how I feel about the quality of the music/singing/arrangements etc.
Obviously tried to factor in the second, but if it comes down to the quality of the album versus whether or not, I like the music, I’m leaning towards my personal tastes moving forward ….
2
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Wed Mar 06 2024
Chirping Crickets
Buddy Holly & The Crickets
Good stuff !
Easy to understand why Buddy Holly was so revered in his day ….
Some truly classic tracks and a sound that affected an era …. Wonder where his music would’ve gone over the next couple decades ….
3
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Thu Mar 07 2024
Reign In Blood
Slayer
Hyper frenetic tempo throughout, vocals are simply dreadful …. If a zero star were allowable, this would be it ….
1
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Fri Mar 08 2024
There's A Riot Goin' On
Sly & The Family Stone
I was excited to listen to this album, and was a little disappointed. Almost seemed improvisational at times with both the music arrangement and vocals.
Still enjoy the heck out of it. It was one of the first really nice days of spring and I had the top down, listening to fly belt out some tunes …
3
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Tue Mar 12 2024
The Piper At The Gates Of Dawn
Pink Floyd
This album is interesting to me primarily because you can hear the beginning of the sound of Pink Floyd massive later on in their career, but they had a long way to go at this point.
Not enjoyable, but not particularly enthralling or exciting. …
2
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Wed Mar 13 2024
Before And After Science
Brian Eno
It’s not objectionable but not inspiring in any way. Much better musically than vocally or lyrically …. Meh ….
2
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Thu Mar 14 2024
Foxbase Alpha
Saint Etienne
OK, feel like I’m gonna take shit for this one, but ….. not bad …..
Between the title and the intro song I thought, “ Oh crap do I really have to listen to this whole thing?” The song song was just Meh But then #3, Wilson really made me depressed that I was gonna have to listen to the whole thing. From that point on though, most of the songs had low-key club by that reminded me of Sade. The kind of stuff I wouldn’t mind having out in the background I was getting some work done.
Maybe I like it as much as I did after the first three songs is because it lowered my expectations so far OK tunes made me feel somewhat elated !
3
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Fri Mar 15 2024
Autobahn
Kraftwerk
Read the wiki page about this album before I listen it was kind of excited to hear it. Particularly after seeing The artist who allegedly credited this album as influential in their careers.…
I don’t see it more importantly, I didn’t hear it. Sure it’s a blend of instruments with electronics, but that’s about the Extent of it.
Not offensive, except the vocals when they appeared, but not inspiring.
2
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Mon Mar 18 2024
Grievous Angel
Gram Parsons
Liked the male female vocalizing on tracks that utilized it ….. the ballads were not noteworthy as Gram’s vocal weren’t distinctive enough to carry them …. Musically, the guitar work was pretty impressive without being overused ….
3
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Tue Mar 19 2024
Scissor Sisters
Scissor Sisters
I enjoyed the bulk of this album.
Not great or revolutionary, but enjoyable.
Take Your Mama and Better Luck Next Time were the highlights …. Comfortably Numb wasn’t, but they did completely remake it, practically unrecognizable ….
3
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Wed Mar 20 2024
Greetings From L.A.
Tim Buckley
Pleasantly surprised at how much I enjoyed this album… Rockabilly type vibe With rollicking vocals and musicianship …. And of course, there seem to be a running theme through this album. How should I put it… Oh, I know, Sex …
Had never heard of Tim Buckley, but I liked it so much. I pulled up the rest of this catalog and listen to a little bit… Rest of his work, not so much… But I did like this one!
4
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Thu Mar 21 2024
Django Django
Django Django
Art Rock, interesting… Musical.ly a three, vocally oh one… Not much more to say. …
I kept wondering what this album would’ve been like with Paul Simon or Van Morrison or. Billie Joe Armstrong. …
2
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Fri Mar 22 2024
Steve McQueen
Prefab Sprout
I didn’t pick up on any particular sound or theme to this album. Admittedly, I listened to it A couple songs at a time rather than straight through, which is what I typically do. I didn’t dislike the music, but didn’t pick up on anything worthy musically, vocally, or lyrically.
2
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Mon Mar 25 2024
Homework
Daft Punk
I like most of this… Kind of feel like it’s a Composer/conductor Just picking and putting them together as he/she feels so moved…
Not like it’s gonna be on the heavy rotation, but I’ll listen to some of this in the future.
3
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Tue Mar 26 2024
Achtung Baby
U2
Not my favorite U2 album, but it is undeniably great music… The quality of musicianship, vocals and lyrics are Impossible To deny.
4
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Wed Mar 27 2024
The Libertines
The Libertines
3
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Thu Mar 28 2024
John Lennon/Plastic Ono Band
John Lennon
This album was very surprising to me… I haven’t listened to much of Lennon solo stuff and as an album, I wasn’t expecting what I heard. To my ear is, these songs are very simple musically, the most interesting part about them are the vocal gymnastics, Lennon uses/experiments with and the personal nature of the songs. There’s several songs that I was particularly intrigued by such as Well Well Well, Isolation and Cold Turkey ….
On Well Well Well, he uses vocal styling bouncing back and forth b/w standard singing voice and pseudo screaming (Cold Turkey as well -pun!) …. isolation he plays with the pronunciation of the lyrics ….
Cold Turkey and Mother, mummy’s Dead and Hold On seem like he’s simply singing lyrics he needs …. Very personal ….
Anyway, liked it a LOT, wasn’t expecting that ….
5
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Fri Mar 29 2024
Bad
Michael Jackson
Not like to say about this other than it all-time classic. Whether it’s your preferred type of music or not, hard to argue the Quality throughout the Is top notch
4
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Mon Apr 01 2024
Stankonia
OutKast
Moments of brilliance with a whole lot of not much worthwhile in between. …..
2
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Tue Apr 02 2024
Done By The Forces Of Nature
Jungle Brothers
3
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Wed Apr 03 2024
Lupe Fiasco's Food & Liquor
Lupe Fiasco
Didn’t recognize the name of this artist at all. Was very pleased with this album. In my mind, it is one of the best I’ve ever heard of it genre in terms of quality of the music and vocals stylings, particularly with regard to the use of back up vocals/singing mixed with the rap.
Lupe flexes Is using several different techniques on the album.
With regards to the music, there are several songs that have a strong R&B feel with hints of jazz, which I liked quite a bit.
I enjoyed the album so much. I dug it into his library a little bit and recognize a few songs.
I also enjoyed variety of topics and the smartness of the lyrics..
If there had been just a touch more variety in terms of tempo, I would have probably given this a five star rating, as it is, is very, very solid.
This is the kind of album. I was hoping to hear when I joined into this 1001. Journey !!!
4
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Thu Apr 04 2024
Illinois
Sufjan Stevens
Interesting album… I would describe this as folk more than alternative. Although I say that more because of the vocal stylings.
Musical arrangements for to Intricate and layered, The guy knows how to put a song together!
At the end of the album, though, not my cup of tea.
2
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Fri Apr 05 2024
Ladies And Gentlemen We Are Floating In Space
Spiritualized
Some pretty good stuff on here, but a little less consistent than I would like…
2
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Mon Apr 08 2024
Queen II
Queen
You can certainly hear the beginnings of What became came the signature sound of Queen …. Certainly not my favorite album by them, but solid…
3
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Tue Apr 09 2024
Apocalypse 91… The Enemy Strikes Black
Public Enemy
Not a whole lotta variety in terms of vibe n tempo but the vibe n tempo it hits are on the mark …. GOOD stuff …
3
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Wed Apr 10 2024
In It For The Money
Supergrass
Really like this album… Music and arrangements were interesting and varied …. Particularly liked tonight and Sun hits the sky
They used instruments and interesting ways and in a larger variety than most bands, and I dug it !
4
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Fri Apr 12 2024
Traffic
Traffic
Solid album… Didn’t think anything was over the top right although it to be fair, was kind of distracted by what I was doing while I was on.
2
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Tue Apr 16 2024
The Healer
John Lee Hooker
A true blues album… LOVE IT !!! It is somewhat homogenous but when it hits the right note (pun) you don’t need to stretch into other areas.
So much goodness, every song, fabulous collabs with awesome artists, doesn’t get much better !!!
5
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Wed Apr 17 2024
Dare!
The Human League
Not my fav but it had its moments …
2
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Mon Apr 22 2024
Talking With the Taxman About Poetry
Billy Bragg
Well, that was interesting. Felt like it should’ve been the soundtrack to Broadway play drama? Stance? Not sure what kind of play but felt like I had to really concentrate on the music to get anything out of it ….
1
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Tue Apr 23 2024
Axis: Bold As Love
Jimi Hendrix
The talent is undeniable.
The style is unique and identifiable.
Love the heavy interplay between percussion and guitar as well as the vocal style of Hendrix
4
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Fri Apr 26 2024
The Hour Of Bewilderbeast
Badly Drawn Boy
Really enjoyed the music. The variety of instruments, arrangements…
Overall found this to be Slightly upbeat, but. very calming,
Listen to it multiple times.
4
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Tue Apr 30 2024
Back to Mystery City
Hanoi Rocks
Didn’t find it to be particularly innovative or inspiring in anyway… May have been much more so it is time, but I found it very run of the mill …. Pretty good, nothing special for me. I certainly see how others could listen and get all hyped by it ….
2