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Thu Feb 22 2024
3 Feet High and Rising
De La Soul
Took hip hop into new and exciting territory and made it accessible for a whole new audience. Took risks with its skits and opening the album with a quiz but that helped the album to be more cohesive.
5
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Mon Feb 26 2024
Blood On The Tracks
Bob Dylan
Boring, whiny voiced and overrated.
1
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Wed Feb 28 2024
Stardust
Willie Nelson
The songs are beautifully produced. Nelson has chosen some classic songs to cover. The music isn't to.my taste however and I find his voice pretty weak in terms of performance when compared to modern standards. That, coupled with the unoriginal songs covered brings the score down for me.
2
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Thu Feb 29 2024
Abraxas
Santana
Rocking songs, complex rhythms and melodies and sublime musicianship combine to make this a classic. You feel the Woodstock vibes as soon as it starts.
Roll up a fatty and enjoy one of psych rock's classic albums.
4
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Fri Mar 01 2024
Home Is Where The Music Is
Hugh Masekela
Beautiful music in a range of Jazz styles. I was expecting more African influencd music from other Hugh Masakela music I've heard. The musicianship is outstanding and an album I didn't know. I will definitely be returning to it on lazy Sundays and late evenings x
4
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Mon Mar 04 2024
Smash
The Offspring
I like the punk style and energy, listening to it over breakfast gave me plenty of pep for vigorously brushing my teeth. All the songs sound the same. About 140bpm, thrashy guitars, that croaky/whiny voice, occasional bass solo etc. etc. Couldnt they try one slower or acoustic number? Not something I personally would consider as one of the greatest albums of all time, but certainly fun to listen to.
2
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Tue Mar 05 2024
The World is a Ghetto
War
Oh yeah! Happy to see this pop up. Love War the music band. This is not one of the albums I own but I know a couple of tracks. City Country City is just beautiful - first heard David Mancuso play it at the London Loft. The World is a Ghetto is slinky, funky and political, just the way music should be. It's great stuff all round x
5
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Wed Mar 06 2024
Moss Side Story
Barry Adamson
It's pretty dark, probably a bit too dark for me. I feel like I want to see the film, but there isn't one so something is missing.
3
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Thu Mar 07 2024
Savane
Ali Farka Touré
Interesting to listen to the 'etymology' of the blues and hear a Senegalese version. Not so keen on the music. It's all a bit basic. I prefer my music more complex in terms of instrumentation and song structure x
2
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Fri Mar 08 2024
Heroes to Zeros
The Beta Band
I am really pleasantly surprised by this, it was exactly what I was hoping to get out of doing this. A great album that I missed the first time around. I will be going back to this for sure.
4
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Mon Mar 11 2024
Speakerboxxx/The Love Below
OutKast
Wasn't that familiar with this but knew the big hits. It's a fantastic album. I'm a big fan of the P-Funk and this ticks all my boxes. Samples are spot on and uses to devastatingeffect. The rapping is tasteful and eloquent, not bragging or OTT. Another album go back to.
4
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Tue Mar 12 2024
Stand!
Sly & The Family Stone
Like a favourite comfy old pair of slippers. Full of 60s optimism and psychedelic funky business. Good vibes and energy but also music with a message. What's not to like here?
4
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Wed Mar 13 2024
Unhalfbricking
Fairport Convention
Unusuallly uplifting yet melancholic music. Sandy Denny was an incredible talent that we lost too early. Who Knows Where the Time Goes is an absolute masterpiece. I can't believe Sandy Denny was only 19 when she wrote it. A bit too folksy cliché with the lyrics at times but still really liked most of it.
4
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Thu Mar 14 2024
Hybrid Theory
Linkin Park
I wasn't looking forward to this one. I thought it would be the kind of thing American soldiers listen to when driving tanks around and killing people. I was slightly pleasantly surprised by th hip.hop influence that made it listenable. Its far too whiny for my taste and talks about experiences that I find it hard to relate to - dark thoughts, insecurities etc.
2
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Fri Mar 15 2024
Hotel California
Eagles
Well known big hits and very grown up adult rock. Highly polished and slickly produced but the sound is a bit too.country influenced at times for my taste. Meh x
3
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Mon Mar 18 2024
Highway 61 Revisited
Bob Dylan
Not a Dylan fan at all. I think he sounds like a sheep singing. This is paletable even for me however - peak Dylan if you will. Upbeat, incisive and eloquent - a young man full of energy and cynicism.
3
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Tue Mar 19 2024
Sunday At The Village Vanguard
Bill Evans Trio
This seems like very grown up music. Full of masterful musicianship and expertly played Instruments. I would definitely come back to this for chilled Sunday afternoons with a roast dinner and a glass of wine.
3
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Wed Mar 20 2024
Different Class
Pulp
Avoided this at the time as it was everywhere and heard it at every student disco night. I enjoyed the kitchen sink drama style lyrics - very relatable and familiar. Not one I'll go back to but not one I'm going to avoid anymore.
3
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Thu Mar 21 2024
Arrival
ABBA
Got the record of this but never play it as I'm not a big ABBA fan. Very appropriate to be listening to in Stockholm, fits the vibe nicely. Too syrupy and sweet for me. I get too much of a 'schlager' vibe.
2
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Fri Mar 22 2024
Hms Fable
Shack
Its what I imagine Bob Dylan would sound like if he was a Gen Xer and born in the 70s. Very vanilla 90s rock music, not indie rock, it's quite hard to describe as it has no distinguishing features. Not my thing at all, why is this anywhere near 1001 albums to hear before you die?
1
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Mon Mar 25 2024
Bookends
Simon & Garfunkel
Beautiful music, with beautiful lyrics. The songwriting, the harmonies, the melodies its all almost perfect. Every song checking in at under 3 minutes makes feel so modern too. I couldn't help but sg along to the bit hits we all know too. Easy to see why it is in the 1001.albuns you must hear list.
5
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Tue Mar 26 2024
Is This It
The Strokes
I enjoyed this more than I thought I would. Pretty basic and simple rock music, four beats to the bar, banging away most of the time. Not.something you call sophisticated but it has energy and swagger.
3
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Wed Mar 27 2024
Destroyer
KISS
Overblown and theatrical glam rock, as you would expect. Lots of songs about being in love and getting girls, which is not totally the usual fare for a metal band. This was probably before what we think of as metal, so late glam rock. Not a big fan of this.
2
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Thu Mar 28 2024
Hypocrisy Is The Greatest Luxury
The Disposable Heroes Of Hiphoprisy
I loved this after nit hearing in for over 30 years. Incisively cutting about the state of the USA in 1992 using socially aware lyrics to create music with a powerful political message. I can't stand rappers who brag and the Heroes never do. Most of the issues they pointed out have not changed or you just substitute one name for another - social media for TV for example, so its still.as cutting and still as relevant today. They continue the valuable line from Gil-Scott Heron through Public Enemy. Loved it x
5
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Fri Mar 29 2024
Ghosteen
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds
3
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Mon Apr 01 2024
Led Zeppelin II
Led Zeppelin
Classic x many great memories of listening to this as a 17 year old
4
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Wed Apr 03 2024
Bayou Country
Creedence Clearwater Revival
Bog standard country Rock. Pretty boring to listen to - all 4 beats to the bar and no surprises or syncopation.
2
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Thu Apr 04 2024
Sincere
Mj Cole
Soulful, syncopated and funky in a UK garridge style. Enjoyed it more than I thought. Sounds fresh even after 24 years. Bit of a one trick pony however.
3
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Fri Apr 05 2024
The Last Of The True Believers
Nanci Griffith
Not my thing at all. Really boring country Americana singer songwriter love songs. So cheesy and sincere. Eurgh x
1
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Mon Apr 08 2024
L.A. Woman
The Doors
Overly familiar songs that I've heard a bit too much over the years in pubs etc. Still quality in parts though.
2
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Tue Apr 09 2024
1984
Van Halen
Enjoyed this more than I thought I would. Eddie Van Halen is truly blistering on guitar and David Lee Roth's powerful voice compliments that. The 80s casual sexism hasn't aged well but it is of its time. I would love to play 'Hot For Teacher' at our next Prom disco.
3
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Wed Apr 10 2024
Truth
Jeff Beck
What Led Zeppelin would sound like if they had Rod Stewart as lead singer, basically.
3
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Thu Apr 11 2024
Maggot Brain
Funkadelic
If I had the talent to make music then this is the music I would make. Funky psychedelia with a sense of humour. Eddie Hazell on guitar is as blistering as Van Halen or Hendrix. Wonderful.
5
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Fri Apr 12 2024
American IV: The Man Comes Around
Johnny Cash
I quite enjoyed his cover of Hurt but it is the spund of an old man at the end of his life, which I found quite depressing. The cover choices are interesting but not the Music however. I cannot relate to the lonesome cowboy thing st all.
2
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Mon Apr 15 2024
Pet Sounds
The Beach Boys
I think this is the first time I have heard this album from start to finish. Amazing vocals and harmonies and very familiar songs at times. Shame it hasn't got Good Vibrations on it!
4
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Tue Apr 16 2024
Lust For Life
Iggy Pop
Solid rocking songs with a great fun attitude. Knew the big hits from the 90s Trainspotting revival and enjoyed the rest of the album too.
4
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Wed Apr 17 2024
The Holy Bible
Manic Street Preachers
Putting my prejudices aside, I gave this a fair go and was pleasantly surprised. I knew what to expect and I enjoyed the messages of some songs, the tight guitar playing and the powerful voice of the singer. Probably never going to listen to it again but its still pretty good.
3
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Thu Apr 18 2024
Skylarking
XTC
Wonky and complex psychedelia, which I really like. I knew Dukes of the Stratosfear who ate the same people but not this. Definitely coming back to it again.
4
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Fri Apr 19 2024
Femi Kuti
Femi Kuti
Yes! this is exactly what I am.listening to a lot of right now. Polyrhythmic, funky and righteous. Continuing his father's rich legacy with more of the same.
5
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Mon Apr 22 2024
Illmatic
Nas
This is what hip hop should sound like. Hard beat, hard rhymes, stories of life on the Streets of New York. Killer.
4
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Tue Apr 23 2024
Frank
Amy Winehouse
I hadn't listened to this album as a whole piece before. What a voice, foregrounded by simple jazzy arrangments. Powerful.stuff.
4
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Wed Apr 24 2024
It's Too Late to Stop Now
Van Morrison
Standard blues rock fare from everyone's favourite Irish curmudgeon. Impressive arrangements and playing, especially for a live set up.
2
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Thu Apr 25 2024
Haunted Dancehall
The Sabres Of Paradise
Like putting on a favourite old pair of jeans. I remember getting this album at Christmas 1994 and rinsing it on the Walkman. Wilmot is still Killer but it has aged. The production is still original sounding. Weather all was God.
4
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Fri Apr 26 2024
Faust IV
Faust
3
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Mon Apr 29 2024
The Wall
Pink Floyd
Another Brick in the Wall is a great song, but the album is over-long and bloated.
2
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Tue Apr 30 2024
Zombie
Fela Kuti
The combination of funky, syncopated rhythms, amazing musicianship and powerful political messages hits the sweet spot for me.
5
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Wed May 01 2024
Wish You Were Here
Pink Floyd
I knew all the songs but hadn't really listened to the whole album. It's a good as Dark Side of the Moon.
5
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Thu May 02 2024
Grace
Jeff Buckley
Obviously Hallelujah is an all time classic song but the rest of the album was a bit soporific, even when listened to on a chilled morning.
2
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Fri May 03 2024
Liquid Swords
GZA
Stone hard NY hip hop. From the source to the next step in the 90s. Could have had a bit more soul or funk as a criticism.
3