View Album
Fri Feb 23 2024
MTV Unplugged In New York
Nirvana
Truly a great album without a single filler track. The Nirvana originals sound great in this format, a testament to Kurt Cobain’s song writing. Unexpected cover songs were expertly chosen and performed very well including Man Who Sold the World which is one my favorite covers of all time .
5
View Album
Sat Feb 24 2024
Seventeen Seconds
The Cure
Definitely a vibe on this record - minimal, stoic, dark. A Forest is the standout track; the synths and guitars sound great, and the song has some memorable melodies and harmonies (which the album for the most part lacks otherwise). Ultimately - the album is just too one-note to make for a great album experience.
2
View Album
Sun Feb 25 2024
Screamadelica
Primal Scream
While I like the incorporation of dance music in the percussion, the overall mix is a terrible distraction. Everything is at a level 10 all the time.
Just a little bit of editing would be nice here too. So many of these songs stick around two or three minutes past their welcome.
The gospel-ish chord changes and backing vocals have a super hokey Rolling Stones Can’t Always Get What You Want thing happening. Doing that for one song would have been ok for me, but they go back to it again and again throughout the album.
And don’t get me started on the vocals…
2
View Album
Mon Feb 26 2024
Never Mind The Bollocks, Here’s The Sex Pistols
Sex Pistols
It’s nothing more than a chintzy rock ‘n’ roll dumpster fire from a band whose mystique and lore always outshined their talent.
1
View Album
Tue Feb 27 2024
Red Headed Stranger
Willie Nelson
Timeless stories of the down and out sung only like Willie Nelson could. You’d know his distinct voice anywhere, and it’s prominently featured in the mix over the sparse but quite thoughtful instrumental arrangements. The production choices and quick sequencing of songs gives the album the feeling of a one-take intimate live performance.
3
View Album
Wed Feb 28 2024
Disraeli Gears
Cream
It was recorded in 4 days, and it sounds like it unfortunately. There are several classic guitar riffs here and a few catchy melodies and harmonies. But - it just doesn’t add up to anything interesting within the blues rock format. It takes more than just adding a pinch of psychedelia to innovate. In 1967, other bands were doing the rock thing better.
2
View Album
Thu Feb 29 2024
American Gothic
David Ackles
American Gothic sounds like a low rent Neil Diamond starring in an off-Broadway production full of sea shanties. This album confirms for me that Bernie Taupin’s best work was mostly, if not exclusively, with Elton John. Only regularly laughing out loud sustained me through all 44 minutes of this thing.
1
View Album
Fri Mar 01 2024
Machine Gun Etiquette
The Damned
My first listen to The Damned and damn if this album wasn’t the most fun I’ve had listening to a new band in years. Tons of catchy hooks here. But what kind of blew my mind was the eclectic mix of genres they dip their toe into throughout the album. I’ll be diving into their catalogue for sure. And this from a guy who thought he wasn’t a punk fan.
4
View Album
Sat Mar 02 2024
Paul Simon
Paul Simon
Perfectly inoffensive. Interesting? Not really. Memorable melodies? Nah. Going for the album though is outstanding production, every instrument sounds pristine as do the vocals. A lot of care went in to that as it also did into the thoughtfully performed accompaniments. Unfortunately, the songwriting just isn’t very good.
2
View Album
Sun Mar 03 2024
Younger Than Yesterday
The Byrds
Other bands did the psychedelic thing better. Like A LOT better. If this is their response to Revolver, they fell way short in their reply.
2
View Album
Mon Mar 04 2024
The Holy Bible
Manic Street Preachers
13 year year old me in 1994 would probably have been into this record. But I never heard it or even knew of it back then. In 2024, 43 year old me listening to it for the first time just wants these guys to lighten the fuck up.
2
View Album
Tue Mar 05 2024
Raising Hell
Run-D.M.C.
Raw, in your face beats, samples, and rhymes. Peter Piper is the standout track, making a Bob James sample an iconic part of hip hop. It’s Tricky and My Adidas are bangers too. From Rock This Way on though, the samples and beat programming become more and more clunky as you go making for a good but not great album experience.
3
View Album
Wed Mar 06 2024
Elvis Presley
Elvis Presley
Spanning multiple genres, Elvis delivers an electrifying vocal accompanied by razor sharp instrumentals. Every performance is passionately delivered. Had he trimmed the filler tunes (Tutti Frutti?!?!) and included Heartbreak Hotel, this would arguably be the most import rock album of all time that wasn’t made by four guys from Liverpool.
4
View Album
Thu Mar 07 2024
Scott 2
Scott Walker
So pompous, so melodramatic, so grandiose, so misogynistic, so homophobic. And that’s just the vocal…. This is a something only a creepy uncle could love when he’s taking time off from making women feel uncomfortable…
1
View Album
Fri Mar 08 2024
The Trinity Session
Cowboy Junkies
3
View Album
Sat Mar 09 2024
Parklife
Blur
A britpop gem. From here, Damon Albarn really comes into his own. Super clean production on this one as well. Everything shimmers and jangles along.
4
View Album
Mon Mar 11 2024
I’m a Lonesome Fugitive
Merle Haggard
Cool vibe but every song sounds more or less the same and covers more or less the same subject matter. Just listen to “I’m a Lonesome Fugitive”, and then move on. You’ve heard the whole album.
2
View Album
Wed Mar 13 2024
Talking With the Taxman About Poetry
Billy Bragg
In spite of sparse instrumentation (just a dude with his guitar for the most part), this album buzzes and jolts along at a frenetic pace through syncopated strumming, a deft touch with effects, and the occasional tambourine, handclap, or striking of a metal bar. The lyrics and vocals are passionate, witty, blunt, and dead serious.
3
View Album
Thu Mar 14 2024
Forever Changes
Love
Drawing from folk, psychedelia, classical, pop, and even a hint of mariachi, Love delivers one of the great albums of the late 60s LA scene. The interplay of acoustic guitar and drums, masterful orchestral arrangements, and lyrics that cast a skeptical sneer at the Summer of Love make for a most satisfying 60s rock album experience.
4
View Album
Fri Mar 15 2024
The Piper At The Gates Of Dawn
Pink Floyd
Not a big Syd Barrett guy…. Sorry…
2
View Album
Sat Mar 16 2024
The Downward Spiral
Nine Inch Nails
A digital nightmare. Brilliant.
4
View Album
Wed Mar 20 2024
Yoshimi Battles The Pink Robots
The Flaming Lips
While it doesn’t reach the emotional heights of The Soft Bulletin,
4
View Album
Thu Mar 21 2024
Desperate Youth, Blood Thirsty Babes
TV On The Radio
1
View Album
Fri Mar 22 2024
The Cars
The Cars
3
View Album
Wed Apr 03 2024
Neon Bible
Arcade Fire
4
View Album
Fri Apr 05 2024
Fire Of Love
The Gun Club
2
View Album
Sat Apr 06 2024
Station To Station
David Bowie
4
View Album
Mon Apr 08 2024
Triangle
The Beau Brummels
Well produced. Pretty boring.
2
View Album
Tue Apr 09 2024
The Slim Shady LP
Eminem
This was novel and fun in 1999. It hasn’t aged well to say the least.
2
View Album
Wed Apr 10 2024
Arc Of A Diver
Steve Winwood
2
View Album
Thu Apr 11 2024
Punishing Kiss
Ute Lemper
1
View Album
Mon Apr 15 2024
Superunknown
Soundgarden
Not perfect but close. The last 4th of album after The Day I Tried to Live could have probably been trimmed down to move me from a 4 star to a 5 star.
4
View Album
Tue Apr 16 2024
Teen Dream
Beach House
4
View Album
Sun Apr 21 2024
Headquarters
The Monkees
1
View Album
Mon Apr 22 2024
Nowhere
Ride
2