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Tue Feb 20 2024
The Cars
The Cars
Starting STRONG! Uriel told me about the missed beat that The Cars kept on "Just What I Needed," and I can never unhear it. The last song sounds like a tribute to Queen? Queen started in 1970, and The Cars formed in 1976, so I like to think there might've been some mutual influence.
4
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Wed Feb 21 2024
Modern Sounds in Country and Western Music
Ray Charles
Oh, man. While I don't love a big band, I can't deny the likely influence of Ray Charles on songs like "Under the Boardwalk" (1964) by The Drifters and "(Sittin' On) the Dock of the Bay" by Otis Redding (1967). I lit up listening to "I Can't Stop Loving You" in mono and found myself switching between each L/R earbuds to hear the different parts of the song. What a trip. I preferred Disc 1 to Disc 2. By the time I made it to the second half of the album, I couldn't help but wonder who hurt this man. Who broke his heart? There were at least a half dozen songs in a row lamenting a lost love, and it felt like a hasty breakup. 60s music tends to remind me of Christmastime, and it's not my favorite. But I did like the album, all things considered!
3
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Thu Feb 22 2024
Green Onions
Booker T. & The MG's
Groundbreaking, but not for me. Hell knows how many films Booker T.'s music has been featured in. How many times it's been used by other artists. Let's be honest, his version of Abbey Road is better than the Beatles performing it themselves.
3
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Fri Feb 23 2024
Tres Hombres
ZZ Top
Ugh, okay, so I knew "La Grange," but nothing else really stuck out. The album is inconsistent the whole way through. One song, it sounds like something that might breathe life into RHCP. And then he seemed to rip off "Proud Mary" by Ike and Tina Turner on another. Reviews cite ZZ Top as sounding "Black" for being rockers, which is all sorts of funky. Not a fan of this one so much.
2
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Sat Feb 24 2024
The Wildest!
Louis Prima
White Louis is a national treasure, even though he (in part) ripped off Louis Armstrong. It took me 3-4 attempts to listen to this album because "Just A Gigolo" made me crack like a nut. He's hysterically expressive, and his unhinged usage of onomatopoeia and nonsense Italian gibberish is a class act. He's maybe less of a musical genius and more of a stand-up comedian caught up in the middle a swing dancing club. He could've been in Season 2 of "The White Lotus" for sure. Come to find out, he's the goddamn "Pennies From Heaven" guy! I about screamed! I went to NY for the first time this past fall, and my entire internal monologue was him going "SHOO- BEE, DO-BEE." Over. And. Over. I'd never felt more American in my life. Honorable mention: he did songs for "The Jungle Book." Who would've thought this guy proclaiming "I will be glad when you're dead!" about someone stealing his meatballs would write tunes for bears singing to children. The 50s were WACK AS HELL, but you can’t possibly listen to Louis Prima and feel an ounce of sadness.
4
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Sun Feb 25 2024
Every Picture Tells A Story
Rod Stewart
Rod Stewart, how you have let me down. I LOVE "Maggie Mae." Don't we all? The rest of the album was surprisingly mediocre. He bust out with "Amzing Grace" at one point, and I physically recoiled and skipped to the next song. I'll stick to "Da Ya Think I'm Sexy" thankyouverymuch.
3
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Mon Feb 26 2024
Led Zeppelin
Led Zeppelin
Black Sabbath does it better. What's rich is that I would rate this album higher, if it weren't for Robert Plant sounding like he's being kicked in the balls repeatedly. Can't stand the man's voice, even if the instruments are flawless.
2
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Tue Feb 27 2024
Electric Warrior
T. Rex
Fantastic, no notes. I'd only heard "Get It On" before and will be listening to more T. Rex discography for sure.
4
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Wed Feb 28 2024
Chris
Christine and the Queens
I had high hopes after hearing "Girlfriend." The level of production is squeaky clean the entire way through and sounds like a French Lorde/Tegan and Sara/SOPHIE. I liked that this album featured both English and French versions, which is something I would like to see more often from multi-lingual artists. Impressive, but it doesn't keep it's momentum the whole way through enough to hold my attention the whole time.
4
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Thu Feb 29 2024
Blackstar
David Bowie
What an unimaginable send-off! Imagine knowing you're actively dying and releasing a goodbye album two days before your passing. It gives me chills. You can practically hear Bowie slipping away in the opening track. His voice sounded more gravelly than usual. I was interested to find out that James Murphy, Kendrick Lamar, and other big names worked on this album. The context, Bowie's legacy, and his collaborators make the album. I genuinely don't think it would've charted otherwise, given how experimental it is.
3
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Fri Mar 01 2024
Iron Maiden
Iron Maiden
Rocky Horror, but for nondescript jocks who like Hair Metal-adjacent "stuff." It's so obnoxiously testosterone-fueled that it's almost like a parody of masculinity. I'll settle for Gwar over this any day of the week. I either need stoner metal, doom metal, or for heavy metal bands to commit to the bit and make things campy.
1
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Sat Mar 02 2024
Aftermath
The Rolling Stones
4/5 for how much misogyny is interlaced throughout the album, but it's stellar otherwise. Practically a perfect album. Michael showed me "Under My Thumb," and it's been a constant jam.
4
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Sun Mar 03 2024
NEU! 75
Neu!
This tickled an itch in my brain in the best way possible. What in the Arcade Fire/Rolling Stones/Joy Division??? It's like a blend of genres that I already like, and the soundscapes were a nice, unexpected touch.
5
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Wed Mar 06 2024
Club Classics Vol. One
Soul II Soul
This is like KAYTRANADA before KAYTRANADA existed. "Back to Life" will always be a banger. The whole album is seamless.
5
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Thu Mar 07 2024
All Hope Is Gone
Slipknot
"Psychosocial" and "Snuff" slap, and I love the drums portions of most of these tracks.
4
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Fri Mar 08 2024
Exodus
Bob Marley & The Wailers
This will always remind me of John's tape and making out on the bench seats in his car. Awkward now since Bob Marley is pro-Zionism. Oof.
4
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Sat Mar 09 2024
Remain In Light
Talking Heads
"Born Under Punches!" Jesus christ... that might be one of the most memorable opening tracks of all time. I fucking love that song. "Once in a Lifetime" is one of the best songs ever made. I'd need to listen to the album in full a few more times for the rest to really grow on me.
4
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Sun Mar 10 2024
Tellin’ Stories
The Charlatans
Oasis, but if Matt Schultz from Cage the Elephant was the frontman. Not a single song I didn't like.
4
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Mon Mar 11 2024
Bitte Orca
Dirty Projectors
Intolerable. I can't do it. I fuckin' hate this album and had to quit the first song in. It's Vampire Weekend, but I can't stand their vocalizations even more. I remember renting this album from the library in high school because of its hype on Pitchfork or some shit, and it didn't click then. Instead, it gave me misophonia. Still does, apparently.
1
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Tue Mar 12 2024
Gunfighter Ballads And Trail Songs
Marty Robbins
This album reminds me of my Pap, who I only recently realized groomed me throughout my childhood well into my teenage years, so... there's that. He used to hum songs like these incessantly. I can't possibly rate higher than a 3/5 for personal reasons. Gives me the ick.
3
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Wed Mar 13 2024
A Little Deeper
Ms. Dynamite
This gave off some Santigold vibes the first song or so in. I enjoyed the personal and political commentary on overcoming personal circumstances while simultaneously tackling oppression.
4
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Thu Mar 14 2024
Only Built 4 Cuban Linx
Raekwon
I can respect this as a concept album, but it's not for me. Heaven & Hell is the exception, but I've never gotten into Wu Tang or their members' solo work. Granted this was made in the 90s, but the use of f****t and blatant lyrical sexism is jarring.
2
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Fri Mar 15 2024
Meat Puppets II
Meat Puppets
Nirvana influence! Okayyy! I liked it very much. I maybe expected a more grungier sound, but I think it's because Kurt covered so many of their songs. What really got me was featuring multiple of the same song titles with different renditions. I've never seen that on a studio album.
4
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Sat Mar 16 2024
Brilliant Corners
Thelonious Monk
I'll get around to listening to this in full. It's just that I can't stand jazz.
2
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Sun Mar 17 2024
A Wizard, A True Star
Todd Rundgren
Stellar. Like a psychedelic Queen, but less anthemic.
5
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Mon Mar 18 2024
Sea Change
Beck
Surprisingly lousy and boring, even as background music. I like Beck, too, but this was a letdown.
2
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Tue Mar 19 2024
London Calling
The Clash
4/5 only because I feel like this album is overhyped to the extent that most people automatically rate it a 5/5. "Lover's Rock" got on my nerves, but the rest of the album is solid. I prefer Combat Rock if I had to pick between that and London Calling.
4
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Wed Mar 20 2024
The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill
Lauryn Hill
Warm, soulful, amd intensely empowering. But I really need to research artists like Bob Marley and Lauryn Hill's reverence of Zion and whether it's at all related to uphold Zionism.
4
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Thu Mar 21 2024
Kind Of Blue
Miles Davis
Maybe the only jazz I've ever genuinely enjoyed.
4
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Fri Mar 22 2024
Zombie
Fela Kuti
Badass...such a moving and eclectic way to stick it to oppressive government powers. I wish it was longer and want to listen to "Gentleman" next.
4
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Sun Mar 24 2024
Live Through This
Hole
5
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Mon Mar 25 2024
Talk Talk Talk
The Psychedelic Furs
I completely forgot about "All of This and Nothing" and will be playing it on repeat. God, I love this album. So underrated.
5
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Tue Mar 26 2024
Pretenders
Pretenders
Outside of "Brass in Pocket," I find the lead singer's cadence/vocal style irritating and sorta corny. Just average.
3
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Wed Mar 27 2024
Music From Big Pink
The Band
"The Weight" is a classic, and I dig the cover art. This album is what I picture every dad who was a teenager or in their 20s in the late 60s/early 70s adoring (and for good reason). Maybe not the greatest album ever, but it holds up well.
4
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Thu Mar 28 2024
Elvis Is Back
Elvis Presley
Here comes the Elvis slander: he's just some fella with wild hip gyrations, unnaturally jet black dyed hair, and a 4th grade reading level of lyricism. To me, he's highly overrated, and his music sounds like janky Christmas-adjacent. I disliked this album more and more as it progressed. Can we stop venerating him??
2
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Fri Mar 29 2024
Second Toughest In The Infants
Underworld
NEED MORE BORN SLIPPY. Where's the damn reissue??
I need this whole album played at some sketchy, dark warehouse show on repeat.
4
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Sat Mar 30 2024
Illinois
Sufjan Stevens
Just okay. Like a softer, more sentimental Fleet Foxes or Beirut. Sufjan is a bit too politely theatric for me, and the chorus parts of his songs can sound like seeing a small live stage performance. He's talented, but he doesn't do it for me.
3
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Sun Mar 31 2024
Crime Of The Century
Supertramp
4
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Mon Apr 01 2024
This Year's Model
Elvis Costello & The Attractions
White ska-adjacent Lenny Kravitz with a touch of B-52s.
3
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Tue Apr 02 2024
Green River
Creedence Clearwater Revival
Just alright. Your dad probably likes this, especially "Bad Moon Rising." The rest of the songs sound pretty much the same and sorta blur together.
3
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Thu Apr 04 2024
Walking Wounded
Everything But The Girl
Like Dido, but hornier. I'm admittedly a sucker for trip-hop, too.
4
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Fri Apr 05 2024
Selected Ambient Works 85-92
Aphex Twin
5
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Sat Apr 06 2024
Madman Across The Water
Elton John
4
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Sun Apr 07 2024
Suede
Suede
4
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Wed Apr 10 2024
Lost In The Dream
The War On Drugs
5