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Tue Feb 20 2024
L.A. Woman
The Doors
I knew the hits well but the deep cuts were newish to me. I’m not sure if my knowledge of the hits made it seem uneven or if it truly is uneven. L’America stood out to me just for Jim’s distaste of America and his move to France around this time. You could hear some anger in that track. Personally, Riders on the Storm is my favorite track here. I could take a whole album that lets you drift into the mystic United States southwest with Ray’s keyboards twinkling over the top.
4
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Wed Feb 21 2024
Lost In The Dream
The War On Drugs
I want to like this album more than I actually do. I’ve definitely listened to it before. I guess this is just one of those albums that doesn’t quite do it for me.
3
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Thu Feb 22 2024
Revolver
Beatles
There is no way I can be unbiased on this one. Such a gem! The Beatles discovered drugs from their friend Dr. Robert and went to places we never imagined before. Leaving us in their trippy wake of Tomorrow Never Knows.
5
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Fri Feb 23 2024
Paul's Boutique
Beastie Boys
Oh, this album. I think I was vaguely aware this album came out in 1989 when I was 12 years old. I kinda remember Hey Ladies playing on MTV while thinking this doesn't sound like anything from License to Ill. Apparently critics and others dismissed this album at the time too. At least I have the defense that I was 12 years old. Fast forward to circa 1997-1998, and this was a staple CD for driving around with my friends. We appreciated it all, especially the super awesome samples of the Beatles among other very cool and very numerous samples. This album was a last of an era (no one can sample this liberally anymore) but also so ahead of its time it did not get the proper recognition it deserved until decades later. Shake Your Rump with its "disco call" and "The Sounds of Science" are stand outs. Hats off to you Beasties for making an ignored classic, and here's to more money to Sir Paul for all samples on the record.
5
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Mon Feb 26 2024
Power In Numbers
Jurassic 5
Good stuff. Have a weird thing about old rap albums. They just don’t seem as good if you weren’t listening to them when they were new and hot. I have a feeling this is how it will be for most of the rap albums I encounter on this journey.
3
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Tue Feb 27 2024
Debut
Björk
Really liked this album too! Way more eclectic than I realized. I missed too much good music in the 90s. Still had plenty of good music but wish I had branched out even more.
4
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Wed Feb 28 2024
Odessey And Oracle
The Zombies
While this isn't a timeless classic, I dig it man! This is more of a time capsule that is fun to revisit. I enjoyed the other songs I didn't know ("Care of Cell 44" and "Beachwood Park") but still doesn't come close to the all-timer "Time of the Season".
"What's your name? Who's your daddy?" Pure genius!
Great trippy 60s psych vibes galore.
4
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Thu Feb 29 2024
The Hangman's Beautiful Daughter
The Incredible String Band
I did NOT like this one. I did listen all the way through because I'm a masochist. I'm not sure there are enough drugs to ever make me listen to this again. This was like a bad D&D soundtrack gone wrong. I might accept this at the renaissance fair but even then I'd prefer just a dude with lute and some jaunty rhymes. While listening, I mostly debated whether I'm a guy who will give only 1 star. I've decided if I never want to hear it again, it will get a 1-star rating. Congrats to The Incredible String Band for earning my first ever 1-star review.
1
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Fri Mar 01 2024
Celebrity Skin
Hole
This one isn't as good as Live Through This but that guitar riff on the song "Celebrity Skin" is an all-timer. That is a 5-star riff! However, this is probably an under-appreciated album that should have got more love in the 90s and more love now. Anyway, 3-stars. I'll probably revisit this one again.
3
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Mon Mar 04 2024
There's No Place Like America Today
Curtis Mayfield
I like this one alright. Listened to it a few times but didn’t grab my attention.
2
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Tue Mar 05 2024
Get Behind Me Satan
The White Stripes
I forgot how much this album kicks ass! So fun to revisit some of my jams from the mid-2000s. At first, I thought they picked the wrong White Stripes album and thought it should have been Elephant. But this album actually is probably as good, maybe even better. Blue Orchid kicks major ass and is a great opening track but is definitely an outlier in terms of sound for this record. "The Nurse" with the cool marimbas featured lets you know this album covers a lot of ground. There are a few country-like offerings ("Little Ghost") and then one of my favorite White Stripes tracks on here is "Take, Take, Take". "Red Rain", "My Doorbell", and "The Denial Twist" are other standouts. I was excited to listen to this one twice!
5
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Wed Mar 06 2024
Time Out
The Dave Brubeck Quartet
Classic! I had the opportunity to see Dave Brubeck live around 2010. I think he was approximately 150 years old. Anyway, this is a great album. The opening track and Take Five are recognizable even for non-jazz fans. The whole album is solid. I got props from Susan for playing this yesterday. However, Julian says this is over-played and only deserves a 3-star rating. He’s only 13 and wrong. 😀
5
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Thu Mar 07 2024
Ready To Die
The Notorious B.I.G.
Not sure how to rank this one. I really couldn’t listen to it all the way through. I doubt I’ll put this one on again. Also, tons of tracks seem to be blocked by Spotify. I guess this just isn’t my jam.
3
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Fri Mar 08 2024
Rising Above Bedlam
Jah Wobble's Invaders Of The Heart
I super like this one! I wonder why I’ve never heard of it. Oh, because it was released 6 days after Nirvana’s Nevermind. I vaguely feel like I’ve heard Visions of You before. This shit had to be super popular with the hipster college kids in 1991 when they were dismissing grunge. I’ll be spinning this one again.
4
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Mon Mar 11 2024
Sea Change
Beck
Indie chill breakup album. Not as good as Bon Iver. Few good tracks like Golden Age and Lost Cause. Feels a little too long. Solid outing but I’m not pulling this one out too often.
3
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Tue Mar 12 2024
Master Of Puppets
Metallica
I want to like this one so much. All my cool metal friends tell me this is when Metallica was awesome before they sold out with the black album. I turned it on once on Tuesday morning and just couldn't play it. I finally listened to the whole thing today. Honestly it felt more like homework than checking out music. Master of Puppets is awesome though! Listened to that one a few times. Of course, I had been indoctrinated to that one from Stranger Things.
Anyway, another description for 3-star albums: albums that are critically acclaimed but that you just can't get into it for whatever reason. See Notorious BIG for another example.
3
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Wed Mar 13 2024
The Last Broadcast
Doves
The quintessential 2-star album. Okay listen, probably won't again.
I think the makers of this website must be huge Doves fans, a member of Doves, or a relative with Doves. I can't understand why this album is on this list.
2
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Thu Mar 14 2024
Among The Living
Anthrax
Pretty rad album. Indians and A Skeleton In The Closet were standouts for me. I'd listen to this one again in the future.
3
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Fri Mar 15 2024
Urban Hymns
The Verve
I've never heard another Verve song except for Bittersweet Symphony. I wasn't missing much. I won't be picking this one up again.
BTW - the funny hidden track thing is a definite relic of the 90s when CDs were the main format. I bet that confuses the heck out of the kids today. lol
2
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Mon Mar 18 2024
Live And Dangerous
Thin Lizzy
This one was better than I expected. Nice to pick an Irish band for St. Patrick's Day. I doubt I'll pick this one up much but it was a decent listen. Honestly though, I only made it 3/4 through this album. I'm sure I would have been a huge Thin Lizzy fan if I was in my teens or twenties in the 19070s.
3
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Tue Mar 19 2024
Guero
Beck
I forgot how consistent and thoroughly good this Beck album is. Some of his albums are a bit disjointed. Arguably, this might be his best album start to finish. Not the highs of Odelay but just straight solid gold alt-indie rock throughout. A few tracks jumped out to me on relistening (Black Tambourine, Go It Alone). Of course, there's the hits too (E-Pro, Que' Onda Guero, Girl, Hell Yes) Please remind this guero to play this album more!
4
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Wed Mar 20 2024
We're Only In It For The Money
The Mothers Of Invention
I didn't hate this album but I don't like it much either. I did chuckle at a few of the songs and their political barbs and mocking. The whispering part was okay once but just stop it after that. 2 stars only because I did laugh at the cultural satire. Otherwise, maybe not forgettable but definitely not one I'll be picking up again.
2
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Thu Mar 21 2024
Melody A.M.
Röyksopp
I liked this album overall. I let it play a few times. I might revisit this. "Remind Me" is on an old playlist I've been listening to for almost 20 years so it was weird to hear a bunch of songs I didn't know with one I know really well. Kinda like a lot of CD purchases in the 90s. Anyway, vibes are cool but this is not music that will change your life.
3
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Fri Mar 22 2024
Siamese Dream
The Smashing Pumpkins
I like this album even better than I did in the 90s. I wasn't much of a Smashing Pumkins guy tbh. I was ride or die for Stone Temple Pilots. (I guess I needed a little more hair metal and glam in my grunge.). Anyway, this is an awesome grunge record. Disarm is so good. Also, I heard on a podcast recently that Courtney Love wrote in a letter to Billy Corgan the words: "the killer in me is the killer in you." Mind blown.
Cherub Rock is also one of the better rockers from the 90s.
4
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Mon Mar 25 2024
Led Zeppelin II
Led Zeppelin
This is my gateway Zeppelin album and probably was for others too. I found my dad’s album of this and was immediately hooked. Of course Whole Lotta Love was my favorite back then but as I've dug in further, I’m now solidly enamored with Bring It on Home, which is my current favorite Zepp tune.
This album is stocked with bangers, What Is And What Should Never Be is a standout for me personally. And 4 minutes of Bonham on Moby Dick, yes please!
If I had to drop a song it would be Lemon Song which say a lot about the quality of this album.
Give me more of this!
5
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Tue Mar 26 2024
Ágætis Byrjun
Sigur Rós
Sigur Rod is a cool and awesome group. I was introduced to them via the Vanilla Sky soundtrack with Svefn-g-englar which is an awesome track. For whatever reason I’ve n ver listened to this album in full or just don’t remember. I really listened to () a bunch and love that album. This album is way more varied and indie rock than I expected. I’ll probably check this one out again but most likely will just listen to Svefn-g-englar and their weird pseudo-English over and over.
3
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Wed Mar 27 2024
Rum Sodomy & The Lash
The Pogues
It's alright. I'll crank this up next St. Patrick's Day but probably won't be revisiting this otherwise.
2
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Thu Mar 28 2024
16 Lovers Lane
The Go-Betweens
I dug this one a bunch. Check out Cattle and Cane by the Go-Betweens. That’s a great track I was already familiar with.
3
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Mon Apr 01 2024
The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill
Lauryn Hill
That Thing is an all-timer. Outstanding album
4
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Tue Apr 02 2024
Paul Simon
Paul Simon
I listened to this one through but I was distracted. It was more chill than I expected. I see why I only know the hits off of this one. Me and Julio is an all-timer but a lot of the rest is meh.
3
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Wed Apr 03 2024
Pieces Of The Sky
Emmylou Harris
This sounded great. Not really the kind of music I dig. But she did cover the Beatles, so she’s cool with me.
3
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Thu Apr 04 2024
Teen Dream
Beach House
Love some Beach House dream pop. I actually listened to Depression Cherry this week before this album was revealed. Overall this album is fine but there is nothing as magnificent and captivating as Space Song or Myth. All of their albums are still good for floating and drifting off to.
3
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Fri Apr 05 2024
Supa Dupa Fly
Missy Elliott
Way more R&B than I expected. I had never listened to this one before. I wanted more rap as I owned and have listened to Missy’s later albums especially Under Construction. I might have to revisit this one to truly get it.
3
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Mon Apr 08 2024
Harvest
Neil Young
Heart of Gold, Old Man, Needle and the Damage Done. All classics. Not one I reach for often but still iconic.
For some reason this got me into a My My, Hey Hey rabbit hole this weekend. Never realized there were 2 different versions of this song:
- My My, Hey Hey (Out of the Blue)
- Hey Hey, My My (Into the Black)
Both are great but I prefer the lyrics of Blue but the Black rocks!
Anyway, the godfather of grunge is awesome!
4
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Tue Apr 09 2024
American IV: The Man Comes Around
Johnny Cash
This was like listening to a deity. Huge respect and admiration but not as entertaining as I hoped. Cash's version of the Hurt is amazing though!
3
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Wed Apr 10 2024
Maggot Brain
Funkadelic
Just the first 2 tracks make this a great album. Maggot Brain is Funkadelic going psychedelic. Can You Get to That has always been a song i dug a lot but then got a second wind with me when Mt Joy started covering it in the middle of Astrovan. Anyway, I like this album a lot.
4
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Thu Apr 11 2024
Bert Jansch
Bert Jansch
This was a cool album. I think I would have been a huge fan in 1965. Seems like others do this kind of music better now.
This did lead me down a Roy Harper hole. Yes, the Hats off to (Roy) Harper guy. Did you know he is the singer on Pink Floyd's "Have a Cigar"? I hope I just blew your mind like mine was blown last night.
Anyway, chill stuff but I probably won't revisit this again. I liked it well enough to play it through twice.
3
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Fri Apr 12 2024
Solid Air
John Martyn
I really liked this one! I'll be re-listening to this one again. Over the Hill was a standout to me. How have I never heard of this artist or album before?
John Martyn > Bert Jansch
4
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Mon Apr 15 2024
A Love Supreme
John Coltrane
I know this is a classic jazz album. I couldn’t make it through all the way. I’m going to give it another listen tonight.
3
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Tue Apr 16 2024
Hunky Dory
David Bowie
I'm really debating between 4 and 5 star on this one. There are some amazing tracks (Changes, Life on Mars, Queen Bitch, Pretty Things) but then there are some less desirable tracks (Kooks to point one out). I really like the Andy Warhol track. I heard this album didn't go platinum until the 80s. Bowie's genius was on display here but people didn't get it for a while. I can relate as it took me several years to "discover" Bowie. Somehow, I didn't know or I forgot that Bowie played the saxophone. He even plays the saxophone on Changes! Anyway, not quite there for a 5-star album. But some amazing highs!
4
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Wed Apr 17 2024
Bridge Over Troubled Water
Simon & Garfunkel
What a great album. I even like the tracks I had never listened to, especially liked Keep the Customer Satisfied. The Boxer is an all-timer and I just read that they spent hundreds of hours recording and producing that song. There is only the single drum part which was recorded in the lobby of the record company building. Paul Simon is a musical genius and Art Garfunkel was a great friend. But seriously Art owns Bridge Over Troubled Water. Amazing song. Love this.
5
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Thu Apr 18 2024
Brown Sugar
D'Angelo
I enjoyed this. It's not really for me. I can see why people are into it.
I played this around Susan and she wasn't into it. It didn't work as intended. :) Almost dropped a star for not working.
3
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Fri Apr 19 2024
Yankee Hotel Foxtrot
Wilco
One of my dessert island albums. This is truly a masterpiece. Jesus, Etc. is the standout track but the whole sonic landscape of picking up radio signals across the midwest is so cool. The weird "Yankee, Hotel, Foxtrot" voice at the end of Poor Places is one of my favorite parts of the album. Heavy Metal Drummer might be the only track that doesn't fit in on this album but it's such a great song about reminiscing about the good ol' days that it still works in the middle of this album. I'm going to go put on the headphones and listen to it again.
5
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Mon Apr 22 2024
Straight Outta Compton
N.W.A.
This album is legendary. Do I like it a bunch or want to listen to it often? Not really. It basically invented gangsta rap (apologies to Ice-T) and introduced the world to Ice Cube, Dr. Dre, and Eazy-E. I had an uneasy relationship with the lyrics as a young man and my uneasy relationship with the lyrics and misogyny has only gotten more strained as a middle-aged man. "Straight Outta Compton" and "Express Yourself" are the standout tracks for me.
3
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Tue Apr 23 2024
Aqualung
Jethro Tull
I actually listened to this one on vinyl yesterday. What an underrated album and group?!? I really enjoyed this one. I didn't realize this was a concept album. "Cross-Eyed Mary" is a banger! And Aqualung is amazing with that killer riff. Even led me to listen to Jethro Tull for a couple of hours. Somehow they don't have the respect of their peers. Maybe it's because of the flute. Anyway, I'll be reaching for this one again.
4
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Wed Apr 24 2024
Natty Dread
Bob Marley & The Wailers
Bob Marley is great! But this album is just okay.
That's not "No Woman No Cry"! So weird to hear the recorded version after hearing the Legend version a million times. Does this prove the live version is superior or have I just heard the live version so many times that any other version would sound weird? Still kinda shocking to hear the version on this album.
Lively Up Yourself is great! But the rest of the album kinda blended together for me. Maybe I'm just spoiled from Legend and Natural Mystic being greatest hits collections. Shrug.
3
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Thu Apr 25 2024
Get Rich Or Die Tryin'
50 Cent
50 Cent was alright album. I liked this better than some of the other rap albums we’ve listened to here so far. I forgot how much I like the track P.I.M.P. It’s so catchy! In Da Club is still a banger and should be played for everyone’s unbirthday because we don’t give a fuck it’s not your birthday.
3
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Fri Apr 26 2024
Call of the Valley
Shivkumar Sharma
Really liked this one! It was perfect for a rainy Saturday morning this past weekend. I'll pull this one out when I need to chill out again.
3
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Mon Apr 29 2024
Ten
Pearl Jam
There are clearly some classic tracks on this one. I don't love it like a child of the 90s should. For whatever reason I've always been pretty neutral to Pearl Jam. Anyway, some of the tracks are simply iconic (Alive, Evenflow, Jeremy). Pearl Jam is right there at the turning of the tide when grunge and alternative took over the mainstream in 1991.
4
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Tue Apr 30 2024
(Pronounced 'Leh-'Nérd 'Skin-'Nérd)
Lynyrd Skynyrd
This one is pretty great. Got a little too country for me before bringing down the house with (lifts up lighter in the air) FREE BIRD!!!!! I Ain't the One is a hidden gem and one I hadn't heard before. I also enjoyed Poison Whiskey too. I'll rock out to this one again.
4
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Wed May 01 2024
Hard Again
Muddy Waters
Muddy is a legend. Mannish Boy is an all time banger!
4
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Thu May 02 2024
Electric Music For The Mind And Body
Country Joe & The Fish
I heard this band name inspired Sgt Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band album title. Sadly this is not a Sgt. Pepper’s. The jam band songs were pretty good. I did take note of the LBJ bashing song “Super Bird”. I also liked the first two tracks: “Flying High” and “Lorraine” but the psychedelic stuff just was blah.
2
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Fri May 03 2024
Honky Tonk Heroes
Waylon Jennings
Not really my jam but I liked this pretty well. Honky Tonk Heroes and Ain't No God in Mexico stood out to me. I don't usually notice this but the bass really jumped out at me on the recording. Not sure if it was the playing, recording, or mix but damn it sounded good and added a drive to the songs.
3
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Mon May 06 2024
Blackstar
David Bowie
Bowie made the best Radiohead album on the 2010s. This is pretty dark but I assume it was meant to be since he was dying. It felt a little hard listening through this one. Blackstar is a standout track. Plus there is one line in "Tis a Pity She Was a Whore" that cracked me up. I'll go back to Hunky Dory way sooner than I'll head back to this one.
3